2021-22 English Premier League Discussion Thread

[HIF]

Leicester clearly resting players for the European match on Thursday. Big difference for Arsenal who have had all week to prepare for us and can play their first choice team.

[wco81]

I think this match just goes to show the new face of the Premier league. There are 2 or 3 big spending top clubs who are well run and guaranteed CL football; then there are the 3 clubs who are not so well run and inconsistent but with major financial backing in the form of super wages, who should fill out CL and Europa league most seasons. Then there are 3 or 4 well run smaller clubs who can challenge for Europa league on an intermittent basis, then 3 or 4 not so well run smaller clubs who could challenge if they sort out their organisation leaving 5 or 6 relegation battle teams whose drop payments mean they can yo-yo if they do get relegated.

That's been the case for a long time now hasn't it?

Big spenders also generate big revenues, though they may be willing to spend more than they bring in.

And the wealthiest clubs are owned by foreigners.

In a given year there are at most a half dozen clubs who are threats to win the league and maybe a couple more beyond that who are able to contend for the top 4.

Europa must bring some additional TV money but nothing like UCL?

[Slim Charlez]

Leicester clearly resting players for the European match on Thursday. Big difference for Arsenal who have had all week to prepare for us and can play their first choice team.

You think Rodgers is out in the summer? Things seem to have stagnated there, Graham Potter would fit in like a glove IMO.

[wco81]

Woah, City was held by Palace today?


What's with all the postponements? Google shows 5 matches to be postponed this weekend.

[HIF]

Leicester clearly resting players for the European match on Thursday. Big difference for Arsenal who have had all week to prepare for us and can play their first choice team.

You think Rodgers is out in the summer? Things seem to have stagnated there, Graham Potter would fit in like a glove IMO.

I don't think Rodgers is out unless we fall away in these final few weeks or lose heavily in Europe on Thursday. We haven't stagnated, we've been crippled by injury. If this was Liverpool and Klopp you'd hear about it a lot more. We have had the equivalent of Virgil, Matip, Alexander arnold, Robertson (and whoever Liverpool's next 2 best defenders are) out all season and missing Mo salah for 3 months. Would Liverpool win the league in that case or would Klopp be fired?

I like Potter and would happily have him as our next coach but don't see it happening.

[Baseline81]

I don't think Rodgers is out unless we fall away in these final few weeks or lose heavily in Europe on Thursday. We haven't stagnated, we've been crippled by injury. If this was Liverpool and Klopp you'd hear about it a lot more. We have had the equivalent of Virgil, Matip, Alexander arnold, Robertson (and whoever Liverpool's next 2 best defenders are) out all season and missing Mo salah for 3 months. Would Liverpool win the league in that case or would Klopp be fired?

I like Potter and would happily have him as our next coach but don't see it happening.

Why the dig at Liverpool?

Keep in mind, Liverpool still finished fourth last year despite losing its top-3 center backs (Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez). Early on Fabinho or Henderson filled in as replacements. By the end, the defense consisted of Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips.

Jota was lost the second half of that season as well.

[KG Leonard]

You look at that City team with all those players who led their other EPL clubs before they get sold to City, like Mahrez and Grealish and it's so unbalanced, the richer the club, the more it can snipe good players from other clubs and just get stronger.

It was that way with Juventus in Serie A winning all those consecutive league titles.

It's honestly worse than NBA super teams, at least the US leagues have salary caps and luxury taxes.

FFP is a joke -- did City miss any UCL seasons?

NBA wouldn't allow this,if money ruled NBA like it has ruined club football with City making PL the French league like PSG wins every year.

Lakers earn billions in TV revenues that is more than club football because they have 13 million California base. Similar with New York Knicks. Knicks have been joke in NBA since 90s. Lakers spent 2010s with losing records,they are out playoffs now despite winning title in 2020. They lost a lot of players to get two superstars and it backfired royally. Super team era is over in NBA because you can't win without bench,rollplayers.
The best teams who are winning titles now have 1-2 stars,alot decent roleplayers because there is luxury tax fines,100s of millions if you go above wage budget. The owners are punished while FIFA rules are a joke to Qatar,Dubai owners of City,PSG....

[The_Brecht]

I expect a loss tonight against Liverpool, but it's an interesting match to see where Arsenal is at the moment.

[HIF]

I don't think Rodgers is out unless we fall away in these final few weeks or lose heavily in Europe on Thursday. We haven't stagnated, we've been crippled by injury. If this was Liverpool and Klopp you'd hear about it a lot more. We have had the equivalent of Virgil, Matip, Alexander arnold, Robertson (and whoever Liverpool's next 2 best defenders are) out all season and missing Mo salah for 3 months. Would Liverpool win the league in that case or would Klopp be fired?

I like Potter and would happily have him as our next coach but don't see it happening.

Why the dig at Liverpool?

Keep in mind, Liverpool still finished fourth last year despite losing its top-3 center backs (Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez). Early on Fabinho or Henderson filled in as replacements. By the end, the defense consisted of Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips.

Jota was lost the second half of that season as well.

I make the dig at Liverpool because Klopp is a whiny coach who complains about everything, he complained about missing players yet he has had a fantastic run with injuries compared to many. I remember the days of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, the delights of Keegan and Dalgleish, I used to think of Liverpool as my "second team" when I was a young lad and Leicester were mostly second division. I hate the way Klopp whinges on when he is in such a beautiful position. Stop making excuses and either win or accept that other teams are better.

[HIF]

You look at that City team with all those players who led their other EPL clubs before they get sold to City, like Mahrez and Grealish and it's so unbalanced, the richer the club, the more it can snipe good players from other clubs and just get stronger.

It was that way with Juventus in Serie A winning all those consecutive league titles.

It's honestly worse than NBA super teams, at least the US leagues have salary caps and luxury taxes.

FFP is a joke -- did City miss any UCL seasons?

NBA wouldn't allow this,if money ruled NBA like it has ruined club football with City making PL the French league like PSG wins every year.

Lakers earn billions in TV revenues that is more than club football because they have 13 million California base. Similar with New York Knicks. Knicks have been joke in NBA since 90s. Lakers spent 2010s with losing records,they are out playoffs now despite winning title in 2020. They lost a lot of players to get two superstars and it backfired royally. Super team era is over in NBA because you can't win without bench,rollplayers.
The best teams who are winning titles now have 1-2 stars,alot decent roleplayers because there is luxury tax fines,100s of millions if you go above wage budget. The owners are punished while FIFA rules are a joke to Qatar,Dubai owners of City,PSG....

Whilst I agree fully with your sentiments here I disagree with what you say on the lakers. The idea of equality in the NBA has become false because of the ring chasers who play for under market value. Player power is as bad in the NBA as in european football.

[HIF]

I expect a loss tonight against Liverpool, but it's an interesting match to see where Arsenal is at the moment.

This is the truth.

I expect Liverpool to pull Arsenal's pants down and Rodger them roughly but if Arsenal can win here it shows that they have turned a corner. People underestimate how much easier it is to win in the league when you aren't playing in Europe.

[KG Leonard]

You look at that City team with all those players who led their other EPL clubs before they get sold to City, like Mahrez and Grealish and it's so unbalanced, the richer the club, the more it can snipe good players from other clubs and just get stronger.

It was that way with Juventus in Serie A winning all those consecutive league titles.

It's honestly worse than NBA super teams, at least the US leagues have salary caps and luxury taxes.

FFP is a joke -- did City miss any UCL seasons?

NBA wouldn't allow this,if money ruled NBA like it has ruined club football with City making PL the French league like PSG wins every year.

Lakers earn billions in TV revenues that is more than club football because they have 13 million California base. Similar with New York Knicks. Knicks have been joke in NBA since 90s. Lakers spent 2010s with losing records,they are out playoffs now despite winning title in 2020. They lost a lot of players to get two superstars and it backfired royally. Super team era is over in NBA because you can't win without bench,rollplayers.
The best teams who are winning titles now have 1-2 stars,alot decent roleplayers because there is luxury tax fines,100s of millions if you go above wage budget. The owners are punished while FIFA rules are a joke to Qatar,Dubai owners of City,PSG....

Whilst I agree fully with your sentiments here I disagree with what you say on the lakers. The idea of equality in the NBA has become false because of the ring chasers who play for under market value. Player power is as bad in the NBA as in european football.

Player power is bad that contracts are not respected by superstars,they can change teams and destroy good teams like Lebron did with Lakers this season with Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony etc. They can't create super team dynasties like in Football.
The owners are expected to change the salary cap, new deals to fight against player power. That is the difference it is a league of NBA,owners,player association. They meet to change every power imbalance. NBA is proof national Super League works. It is not perfect but 3-5 teams doesn't dominate a continent like in Football.

[wco81]

Well you don't have top European football players banding together to be on the same club like you have in the NBA.

Players are content to get big salaries and a team which can be in the UCL.

Otherwise, there is no teaming up.

But the nature of the sport doesn't really make that work anyways.

You can't just have Ronaldo and Messi in their prime team up and expect them to win every UCL or say 3 UCL titles in 5 years because 2 players aren't enough to dominate football matches for a whole season.

Clubs don't have salary caps so they can load up at almost every position, maybe even have strikers on the bench to hoard some good players if they want, just to deny other clubs those players or stash them.

[Baseline81]

I make the dig at Liverpool because Klopp is a whiny coach who complains about everything, he complained about missing players yet he has had a fantastic run with injuries compared to many. I remember the days of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, the delights of Keegan and Dalgleish, I used to think of Liverpool as my "second team" when I was a young lad and Leicester were mostly second division. I hate the way Klopp whinges on when he is in such a beautiful position. Stop making excuses and either win or accept that other teams are better.

It's quite comical you point the finger at Klopp when nearly every manager complains. Look at Arteta stating "Thank you so much to the PL" in his post-game conference tonight. Whining about the schedule despite being out of every cup competition. Good luck next year playing twice a week.

And when it comes to injuries, did I not just point out how wrecked last season's squad was? This year, they've had key players miss matches due to COVID and the AFCON. Harvey Elliott, who was a starter to begin the campaign, was lost for half a season with an ankle injury. Thiago, Henderson and Keita rotate because one or even two of the three are injured each week.

Posters like you or fans calling the club LiVARpool make me chuckle.

[HIF]

I make the dig at Liverpool because Klopp is a whiny coach who complains about everything, he complained about missing players yet he has had a fantastic run with injuries compared to many. I remember the days of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, the delights of Keegan and Dalgleish, I used to think of Liverpool as my "second team" when I was a young lad and Leicester were mostly second division. I hate the way Klopp whinges on when he is in such a beautiful position. Stop making excuses and either win or accept that other teams are better.

It's quite comical you point the finger at Klopp when nearly every manager complains. Look at Arteta stating "Thank you so much to the PL" in his post-game conference tonight. Whining about the schedule despite being out of every cup competition. Good luck next year playing twice a week.

And when it comes to injuries, did I not just point out how wrecked last season's squad was? This year, they've had key players miss matches due to COVID and the AFCON. Harvey Elliott, who was a starter to begin the campaign, was lost for half a season with an ankle injury. Thiago, Henderson and Keita rotate because one or even two of the three are injured each week.

Posters like you or fans calling the club LiVARpool make me chuckle.

You've clearly chosen the correct bandwagon to follow as you are proving to be as whiny as your manager. Squad full of superstars, massive money spent on transfers, ludicrous wages and yet you complain that 1 or 2 other teams have more money that you. Truly pathetic. Arteta is a whinger too, he's been brought up on the Klopp diet of whinging. MOST managers don't but then again you clearly have no idea about the majority of teams in football, you think only a few CL teams exist. You sound like the target fan for a super league.

You've had 1 season of injuries but you have a massive expensive squad to cover it. Some teams have to live with smaller squads and injuries and still compete in the league. Your injuries have NOT been as bad as Leicester's once over the last few years, stop your Klopping.

Get back in your Eurobubble to cry, you glory hunting LiVARpool supporter. You bring the name of the good Pool supporters on this site down and make me hope that Man City tan your ass.

[Baseline81]

You've clearly chosen the correct bandwagon to follow as you are proving to be as whiny as your manager. Squad full of superstars, massive money spent on transfers, ludicrous wages and yet you complain that 1 or 2 other teams have more money that you. Truly pathetic. Arteta is a whinger too, he's been brought up on the Klopp diet of whinging. MOST managers don't but then again you clearly have no idea about the majority of teams in football, you think only a few CL teams exist. You sound like the target fan for a super league.

You've had 1 season of injuries but you have a massive expensive squad to cover it. Some teams have to live with smaller squads and injuries and still compete in the league. Your injuries have NOT been as bad as Leicester's once over the last few years, stop your Klopping.

Get back in your Eurobubble to cry, you glory hunting LiVARpool supporter. You bring the name of the good Pool supporters on this site down and make me hope that Man City tan your ass.

Watch on YouTube

[Baphomet]

Let's ease up on the accusations of bandwaggoning and name calling. Not really needed or called for.

I just wanted to post about Dejan Kulusevski and Bentancur. Spurs have been comically inconsistent this season but after watching Juventus get dumped unceremoniously out of the Champions League last night, I couldn't help but think they could have used these players to some capacity. I get that they had to make financial room for Vlahovic, but the main thing that occurred to me is that their squad depth is appalling for an elite club, and watching Kulu and Bentancur adapt to the PL very quickly makes you wonder.

Kulusevski is great. He's strong and physical, has a wand of a left foot on him and looks unphased by the pace of the Prem. Might seem like a silly comparison but he reminds me of West Ham's Jarrod Bowen.

Last night was a good away win against a solid Brighton team, though admittedly one in decline results wise. Follows up a bad result against a poor United side, which realistically left us with only slim hopes of a CL place at this point.

[KG Leonard]

Clubs don't have salary caps so they can load up at almost every position, maybe even have strikers on the bench to hoard some good players if they want, just to deny other clubs those players or stash them.

This is the problem with richest teams having 20 stars, quality players just to weaken the smaller teams. The problem is as you European football is different leagues, a big league could make rules to even the balance of power.

If West Ham or Tottenham or Everton or Sevilla or Dortmund or Nice can almost never win the league or CL today what is the point of competition in club football? Other than making billions for owners....
For fans globally like me who doesn't live in Birmingham and follow local team Aston Villa. Sadly I could see European Super League in the future if there is only few teams who dominate anyway. That is why I'm so jealous of US sport league fans. If you follow NBA in San Antonio or Memphis or Minnesota you can dream about the title with salary cap,trade system. You won't automatically lose every year to New York or LA or Chicago like in European versions.

Not as much fun as rooting for PSG,City,Chelsea,Real, Bayern etc to lose one year in 10....

[HIF]

Clubs don't have salary caps so they can load up at almost every position, maybe even have strikers on the bench to hoard some good players if they want, just to deny other clubs those players or stash them.

This is the problem with richest teams having 20 stars, quality players just to weaken the smaller teams. The problem is as you European football is different leagues, a big league could make rules to even the balance of power.

If West Ham or Tottenham or Everton or Sevilla or Dortmund or Nice can almost never win the league or CL today what is the point of competition in club football? Other than making billions for owners....
For fans globally like me who doesn't live in Birmingham and follow local team Aston Villa. Sadly I could see European Super League in the future if there is only few teams who dominate anyway. That is why I'm so jealous of US sport league fans. If you follow NBA in San Antonio or Memphis or Minnesota you can dream about the title with salary cap,trade system. You won't automatically lose every year to New York or LA or Chicago like in European versions.

Not as much fun as rooting for PSG,City,Chelsea,Real, Bayern etc to lose one year in 10....

You have a lack of understanding of Football which is a far far far larger and more important sport than the NBA or any American league which you typically class as a world league. Basketball is played in most countries in the world and yet you are saying that the NBA shows how basketball is "democratised" and equal. Of course it isn't even the NBA has no equality but there certainly is no chance a team from the East Midlands could win the title of "World Champion". However in football more than once an East midlands team have won the CL (equivalent). A superleague will only focus money it will still be won by the same small group of teams ans other "big" teams will become small teams. It also defeats the whole ethos of football but then as a "global" fan you clearly don't understand that.

[KG Leonard]

Clubs don't have salary caps so they can load up at almost every position, maybe even have strikers on the bench to hoard some good players if they want, just to deny other clubs those players or stash them.

This is the problem with richest teams having 20 stars, quality players just to weaken the smaller teams. The problem is as you European football is different leagues, a big league could make rules to even the balance of power.

If West Ham or Tottenham or Everton or Sevilla or Dortmund or Nice can almost never win the league or CL today what is the point of competition in club football? Other than making billions for owners....
For fans globally like me who doesn't live in Birmingham and follow local team Aston Villa. Sadly I could see European Super League in the future if there is only few teams who dominate anyway. That is why I'm so jealous of US sport league fans. If you follow NBA in San Antonio or Memphis or Minnesota you can dream about the title with salary cap,trade system. You won't automatically lose every year to New York or LA or Chicago like in European versions.

Not as much fun as rooting for PSG,City,Chelsea,Real, Bayern etc to lose one year in 10....

You have a lack of understanding of Football which is a far far far larger and more important sport than the NBA or any American league which you typically class as a world league. Basketball is played in most countries in the world and yet you are saying that the NBA shows how basketball is "democratised" and equal. Of course it isn't even the NBA has no equality but there certainly is no chance a team from the East Midlands could win the title of "World Champion". However in football more than once an East midlands team have won the CL (equivalent). A superleague will only focus money it will still be won by the same small group of teams ans other "big" teams will become small teams. It also defeats the whole ethos of football but then as a "global" fan you clearly don't understand that.

I understand the global nature football, world sport much bigger than basketball, I did say it is too big to make a national league like US sports. NBA is just an example because the best African,European,Asian players go there to play there with the best players,most money. European top 5 leagues, Champions League is the center of World club football for the same reason. Most fans from UK to East Africa don't follow Asian Champions League. PL is the most popular league in world football right now just like the NBA is the focus for us basketball fans around the globe. That's why PL is worth so much money.

I think you misunderstood what I said about Super League, I hate the idea of it and hope to never seen it. I was just more cynical that the big teams that want the super league have broken the system with their power,money that is not far from playing their own league with how they dominate. I rather watch regular football clubs than those disgusting teams. I love the failure of PSG,City to win CL.