2023-24 English Premier League Discussion Thread

[The_Brecht]

Kelleher is a really decent keeper!

[SgtPepper]

Ahaha Jackson off for Mudryk. Klopp was laughing when Gallagaher was replaced by Madueke. I would say RIP Chelsea, but Pool hasn't had a goal threat in a while, and probably if Chelsea doesn't score the match goes to penalties.

It is pretty shocking how unskilled a passer Madueke is. But I suppose for that to be the most noticeable problem, it implies he's at least winning balls and presenting passing options enough that he's getting possession which is much more than can be said of Mudryk. Mudryk has been doing his best Hazard (Real Madrid version) impression and being totally invisible from all phases of play.

[SgtPepper]

And so goes the game from a goal by Pool's only surviving starter of the spine.

[MetalFingaz]

It's so satisfying beating Chelsea. Poch playing for penalties against Academy kids with about 15 appearances between them.

[SgtPepper]

Poch playing for penalties against Academy kids with about 15 appearances between them.

"Kid on the stands mocking Chelsea, kids on the pitch mocking Chelsea you love to see it."
Chelsea should have a friendly with u17 Barca after the latter are ko'ed from the CL, would make so much money from a stadium full of trolls.

[Pipp33]

It's so satisfying beating Chelsea. Poch playing for penalties against Academy kids with about 15 appearances between them.

Poch's comments after the game are always excuses."Players tired", " we're a young team". Does he ever just say we were'n't good enough.

[Baseline81]

Poch's comments after the game are always excuses."Players tired", " we're a young team". Does he ever just say we were'n't good enough.

Why were his players tired?

Liverpool played Luton Town midweek while Chelsea had the week to prepare for the final. Additionally, Chelsea were not involved in European matches.

[Pipp33]

Poch's comments after the game are always excuses."Players tired", " we're a young team". Does he ever just say we were'n't good enough.

Why were his players tired?

Liverpool played Luton Town midweek while Chelsea had the week to prepare for the final. Additionally, Chelsea were not involved in European matches.

Agree completely.

He specifically said Chilwell and Gallagher were both very tired and they needed to sub them off......so what? Liverpool subbed on an academy side.

Poch has runs on the board as being a good manager, but all I've heard since his arrival at Chelsea is excuses and time is needed. If he's such a great manager, why can't he improve the players he's got there more than he has. Yes, they've bought badly, but they haven't bought players that are on the scrap heap.

Emery walked into Villa with the side sitting in the relegation zone and made an instant impact with no additional players and then only added Moreno after that in his first partial season. That's great management. He demanded the players adapt to his system and style of play and gave them the knowledge to do so. And has still kept us in the Top 4 hunt this season even with playing or 4th/5th and 6th options at CB regularly through the season (5th and 6th options played the whole second half in game just gone). No excuses from him and we've had significant injuries all season too.

It was rumoured that Villa chased Poch initially.....got to say that I'm ecstatic that we got Emery instead.

[wco81]

Everton’s penalty reduced from 10 points to 6, raising them to 15th place.

But they have another potential penalty looming.

Meanwhile, not a word about City. That club probably means too much money to the PL so no penalties forthcoming?

[Baphomet]

Everton’s penalty reduced from 10 points to 6, raising them to 15th place.

But they have another potential penalty looming.

Meanwhile, not a word about City. That club probably means too much money to the PL so no penalties forthcoming?

The Premier League has massively **** this up. The handling of this FFP situation has been a debacle from the start.

I'm not an expert on this matter by any stretch of the imagination, but from a sporting perspective, levying and then modifying a points deduction during a season feels reckless considering the relegation permutations Everton's initial deduction had. It will have affected the strategy of other clubs around them.

Some have speculated that it's about softening the expectations for City's inevitable slap on the wrist, but that feels too conspiratorial to me. It's likely more to do with plain incompetence than conspiracy.

[Baphomet]

Agree completely.

He specifically said Chilwell and Gallagher were both very tired and they needed to sub them off......so what? Liverpool subbed on an academy side.

Poch has runs on the board as being a good manager, but all I've heard since his arrival at Chelsea is excuses and time is needed. If he's such a great manager, why can't he improve the players he's got there more than he has. Yes, they've bought badly, but they haven't bought players that are on the scrap heap.

Emery walked into Villa with the side sitting in the relegation zone and made an instant impact with no additional players and then only added Moreno after that in his first partial season. That's great management. He demanded the players adapt to his system and style of play and gave them the knowledge to do so. And has still kept us in the Top 4 hunt this season even with playing or 4th/5th and 6th options at CB regularly through the season (5th and 6th options played the whole second half in game just gone). No excuses from him and we've had significant injuries all season too.

It was rumoured that Villa chased Poch initially.....got to say that I'm ecstatic that we got Emery instead.

In a sense, I'm sort of glad that Pochettino has gone to Chelsea and is struggling. Not because I have anything against him personally, he did a good job at Spurs, but because it ends the yearning that a large group of Spurs fans have had for his return. Even if Postecoglou fails at Spurs and moves on within the next year or so, there won't be anyone clamouring for Pochettino anymore. Even though Spurs and Chelsea have shared numerous managers in the past, Poch feels tainted now.

He's a good coach in regards to establishing systems and has a fairly clear tactical modus operandi, but has limitations when it comes to in-game adjustments and leadership. His substitutions were appalling, even at Spurs' peak in the mid-late 10s. We're also well accustomed to his rambling nonsensical press conferences.

And of course, Sunday wasn't the first time he was out coached by Klopp in a final.

[wco81]

Yeah I didn't even think about that. Everton has more margin from relegation now but one or two other clubs now have less margin to avoid relegation.

[Pipp33]

Everton’s penalty reduced from 10 points to 6, raising them to 15th place.

But they have another potential penalty looming.

Meanwhile, not a word about City. That club probably means too much money to the PL so no penalties forthcoming?

The Premier League has massively **** this up. The handling of this FFP situation has been a debacle from the start.

I'm not an expert on this matter by any stretch of the imagination, but from a sporting perspective, levying and then modifying a points deduction during a season feels reckless considering the relegation permutations Everton's initial deduction had. It will have affected the strategy of other clubs around them.

Some have speculated that it's about softening the expectations for City's inevitable slap on the wrist, but that feels too conspiratorial to me. It's likely more to do with plain incompetence than conspiracy.

The Premier League's handling of any FFP investigations is almost Government like in the length of time an investigation takes and
the sloppy outcomes.

Why announce publicly any penalties to Everton, if they can appeal and have that changed? Advise Everton of the pending penalty and allow the appeal and then announce the final decision.

BUT it all needs to be handled in a quicker and more transparent process.

They keep saying the Mani City investigation is very complex...but it's taking forever

[wco81]

If I'm not mistaken, Juventus has been penalized twice in the last 20 years, once being relegated and last spring, got a 10-point deduction which has kept them out of the UCL and Europa this season.

When Italians are showing more accountability than the English, that's not a good sign.

Especially, City is owned by either a sovereign wealth fund or just oil money not even held by a state.

Kind of like the NBA, which has started cozying up to Gulf entities as potential owners, maybe the PL doesn't want to discourage certain potential owners who are only going to drive up club valuations every time a major club changes hands.

[msmoore66]

Spurs and to some extent Villa's mediocre form has allowed United into the top four race. Unfortunately because some English teams have dropped a bollock in the Champions League this season, 5th spot may not be enough to qualify as I believe Italy and Germany currently hold the extra spots.

we're a coming lol!!!!
if we get one this year that would be hilarious and SHAME on all those teams above! even though we've spent like a zillion dollars on dudes like Antony who have 0 freaking stats for this year
unfortunately, with no Licha and Shaw our ability to control and move the ball forward are severely hindered so it will be super tough

I once saw Antony described as the "world's most expensive fidget spinner" and that lives rent free in my head at all times.

Haha same here, one of the best and actually accurate descriptions I've seen of a player.

[MaliBrah]

Man fingers crossed City and Liverpool drop some points. We are blitzing teams in the league and not even budging up the standings LOL. That december cold streak of finishing and letting some weird goals in is going to cost us isn't it.

Can't wait till Pep walks away as well. Hope it's sooner rather then later as there isn't anyone else suited to make that leap at this moment. Things change fast though.

[wco81]

Pool scored a winning goal in the 99th minute?

Maybe team of destiny this year.

[Pipp33]

Man fingers crossed City and Liverpool drop some points. We are blitzing teams in the league and not even budging up the standings LOL. That december cold streak of finishing and letting some weird goals in is going to cost us isn't it.

Can't wait till Pep walks away as well. Hope it's sooner rather then later as there isn't anyone else suited to make that leap at this moment. Things change fast though.

Was cheering City on against Manu, to keep an 11pt gap from Villa to Manu.

Not often I want City to win, but if Villa can win 5 from 11, that gets us to 70 points and Manu would need 9/11 to catch us. And whilst Villa have a tough run home, 5 from 11 is completely within our own control. 5 home games is completely possible, and we are 4th on the table for away points.

Massive game against Spurs next fixture..thankfully at home, which helps a bit. A win gives us 8 points on Spurs, or a Loss sees them within 2.

We have City and Arsenal away in our final games, so they will be extremely tough to walk away with any points, but fingers crossed.

Hopefully the Prem gets 5 spots in CL and Spurs and Villa both make it...with Manu and Chelsea looking on is disbelief

[magik9113]

United must send Amrabat back to Fiorentina. Poor guy has been awful in England

[MaliBrah]

This Arsenal team is the 2nd youngest team in the league and they're unbelievable. We may not get it done this year and credit to two teams with legendary coaches and hall of fame players of their own but I'm starting to believe we will eventually break through. Fingers crossed.

We put ourselves in a bit of a hole with the Havertz CM experiment and the inability to finish anything during the winter. Praying for some luck and hope we can take care of business.