2021-22 English Premier League Discussion Thread

[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....

However in football more than once an East midlands team have won the CL (equivalent).

This is the romantic history of football i miss, I'm more nostalgic to personally when Leeds was in CL seminal 2001,I was teen fan of AS Roma,Totti era then. When Porto won it,that was exciting times of surprising winners,shocks. Talking about 70s,80s CL winners like Nottingham Forest is beautiful but ancient history that doesn't exist in the same sport as super teams era of club football.

This is also why it is great to see Leeds back in PL,hope they find the right coach to stay in PL.

[HIF]

Arteta now complaining that Villa had more prep time than them for the match today - I didn't hear him complaining how unfair it is that his team had over a week to prepare for the Leicester match whilst Leicester played 2 big European matches on the Thursday either side. Neither did Rodgers. Klopp again complaining that Burnley will have an advantage over Liverpool because they have less international players. WTF?

Just to let you know Leicester will play 7 games in 21 days shortly and that's WITH a squad full of injuries. I'm sure Brendan won't whinge on like Klopp or Arteta do when they don't have every advantage possible to beat teams.

[KG Leonard]

Arteta now complaining that Villa had more prep time than them for the match today - I didn't hear him complaining how unfair it is that his team had over a week to prepare for the Leicester match whilst Leicester played 2 big European matches on the Thursday either side. Neither did Rodgers. Klopp again complaining that Burnley will have an advantage over Liverpool because they have less international players. WTF?

Just to let you know Leicester will play 7 games in 21 days shortly and that's WITH a squad full of injuries. I'm sure Brendan won't whinge on like Klopp or Arteta do when they don't have every advantage possible to beat teams.

https://theathletic.com/3194634/2022/03/19/as-yet-another-fixture-row-rumbles-on-which-premier-league-team-has-really-had-it-toughest-this-season?source=user-shared-article

This article destroys Arteta's whining since it has the data to show they had the least amount of fixures with 3 day window,atleast top 3 team among those teams since unlike Leicester, West Ham,CL teams they have no European football.

[wco81]

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....

However in football more than once an East midlands team have won the CL (equivalent).

This is the romantic history of football i miss, I'm more nostalgic to personally when Leeds was in CL seminal 2001,I was teen fan of AS Roma,Totti era then. When Porto won it,that was exciting times of surprising winners,shocks. Talking about 70s,80s CL winners like Nottingham Forest is beautiful but ancient history that doesn't exist in the same sport as super teams era of club football.

This is also why it is great to see Leeds back in PL,hope they find the right coach to stay in PL.

Only 20 years ago but sport has changed.

In particular, salaries make it all but impossible for small clubs to have a Cinderella run like that any more.

A club in a second-tier league can maybe have a superstar but the rest of the team is too untalented to compete with clubs which would have been like all-star team or having national team level of talent.

[KG Leonard]

However in football more than once an East midlands team have won the CL (equivalent).

This is the romantic history of football i miss, I'm more nostalgic to personally when Leeds was in CL seminal 2001,I was teen fan of AS Roma,Totti era then. When Porto won it,that was exciting times of surprising winners,shocks. Talking about 70s,80s CL winners like Nottingham Forest is beautiful but ancient history that doesn't exist in the same sport as super teams era of club football.

This is also why it is great to see Leeds back in PL,hope they find the right coach to stay in PL.

Only 20 years ago but sport has changed.

In particular, salaries make it all but impossible for small clubs to have a Cinderella run like that any more.

That is what makes it depressing sometimes, sad the way things changed.

The thing I miss most is not knowing who wins every year and the feeling of being shocked,thrilled by Leicester winning the PL with a striker from the lower leagues, Kanté from French second division. 2016 might as well be 1989 or 2000 without how unlikely the kind of run ever happening again.

[LDNMagic90]

Arteta now complaining that Villa had more prep time than them for the match today - I didn't hear him complaining how unfair it is that his team had over a week to prepare for the Leicester match whilst Leicester played 2 big European matches on the Thursday either side. Neither did Rodgers. Klopp again complaining that Burnley will have an advantage over Liverpool because they have less international players. WTF?

Just to let you know Leicester will play 7 games in 21 days shortly and that's WITH a squad full of injuries. I'm sure Brendan won't whinge on like Klopp or Arteta do when they don't have every advantage possible to beat teams.

I'm tired of his and Arsenal fans/media moaning man. During and after the game they were saying Mings needed to be sent off for a challenge that was not even a foul in the first place lol yet he got a yellow. Talks of us (Villa) being a dirty team which we are not, we weren't even playing that aggressive until they started diving everywhere (Saka and ESR I'm looking at you).

They claim they are hard done-by with decisions not going there way, and I have seen they have been screwed at times however its very rich for any big 6 side to complain about decisions/refs when they literally favour them all the time except when they play each other.

[The_Brecht]

It's not necessary imo, but every team does it.

I have more problems with the whining about teams and fans celebrating a win.

[KG Leonard]

It's not necessary imo, but every team does it.

I have more problems with the whining about teams and fans celebrating a win.

I couldn't believe my ears when I heard people complaining about Arsenal players celebrating a win in Tifo podcast. What's the point of Football if fans, players can't be happy for a win, a good game?
Don't ruin the game by taking out the joy,happiness,sadness and the real emotions.

[HIF]

Who feels sorry for poor Paul Pogba?

[danfantastk32]

Who feels sorry for poor Paul Pogba?

[LDNMagic90]

Who feels sorry for poor Paul Pogba?

All I know is that Raiola is going to make BANK this summer from Pogba's new contract, Gravenberch eventual transfer and Halaand's transfer. He's easily going to bring in close to £200 mill in agent fees.

[HIF]

Who feels sorry for poor Paul Pogba?

All I know is that Raiola is going to make BANK this summer from Pogba's new contract, Gravenberch eventual transfer and Halaand's transfer. He's easily going to bring in close to £200 mill in agent fees.

It's always about the money with Raiola and Pogba.

[LDNMagic90]

Who feels sorry for poor Paul Pogba?

All I know is that Raiola is going to make BANK this summer from Pogba's new contract, Gravenberch eventual transfer and Halaand's transfer. He's easily going to bring in close to £200 mill in agent fees.

It's always about the money with Raiola and Pogba.

Honestly, Villa have been loosely linked with Pogba which I think is bs by the way. It’s probably to make a team pay more wages for him. £500k a week for Pogba and that’s before the signing on fee and other bonuses it’s crazy. The total will be over £50 mill and that’s without a transfer fee. Generally free transfers these days have crazy costs because of the increased signing on fee.

It’s a shame because I like Pogba and I think if he was guided a bit better then he could’ve really dominated.

As for Raiola, he’s a parasite. Just like Jonathan Barnett, they have completely messed up football transfers. I get they have a job to do but why are agents able to get paid so much and cause so much problems for clubs.

[SgtPepper]

Pogba's going to have a bunch of great options this summer despite his humdrum United stint due to general post-COVID free transfer optionality and the lag between clubs catching up on revenue lost and deferred last year. I wouldn't be surprised if PSG, Bayern, Juve, Inter, Atleti all go for him given the holdouts within those squad midfields for renewal or desperation for younger/better blood.

I also doubt he stays in England since Man U would have been willing to relatively pay him more for being a homegrown, and because the continental English teams probably can't (though I would LOVE to see him go over to Liverpool as a Milner successor for historic trolling).

[Baphomet]

United certainly won't miss Pogba. Feels like he never plays two games in a row for them, and only turns up when he feels like it. He and Raiola are con artists.

The break-in is unfortunate, though. Hope his family are alright.

[Baseline81]

Appears Klopp's "whining" has paid off, HIF.

In all honesty, the Premier League is the only major league in Europe to restrict the number to three.

Read on Twitter

[LDNMagic90]

Appears Klopp's "whining" has paid off, HIF.

In all honesty, the Premier League is the only major league in Europe to restrict the number to three.

Read on Twitter

I'm torn with this rule changing, because this is going to largely benefit top 6 teams only. Other teams don't have good depth hence why they are mid to lower table sides. Now imagine City losing 1-0 to Brighton and now can sub on 5 players that can easily start for Brighton, meanwhile Brighton only having fringe players to sub on that would barely make the bench for other prem teams.

[HIF]

Appears Klopp's "whining" has paid off, HIF.

In all honesty, the Premier League is the only major league in Europe to restrict the number to three.

Read on Twitter

The rich get richer.

[KG Leonard]

Appears Klopp's "whining" has paid off, HIF.

In all honesty, the Premier League is the only major league in Europe to restrict the number to three.

Read on Twitter

I'm torn with this rule changing, because this is going to largely benefit top 6 teams only. Other teams don't have good depth hence why they are mid to lower table sides. Now imagine City losing 1-0 to Brighton and now can sub on 5 players that can easily start for Brighton, meanwhile Brighton only having fringe players to sub on that would barely make the bench for other prem teams.

Let's be realistic City will destroy Brighton like they scored 7 against Watford with 3 subs or 5 subs. The rich are already too powerful.

I think 5 subs is good if it gives more playing time, rest for all players in the 20 teams. It might protect players in Cups, extra time games,protect tired players, against injury risk.

[HIF]

Appears Klopp's "whining" has paid off, HIF.

In all honesty, the Premier League is the only major league in Europe to restrict the number to three.

Read on Twitter

I'm torn with this rule changing, because this is going to largely benefit top 6 teams only. Other teams don't have good depth hence why they are mid to lower table sides. Now imagine City losing 1-0 to Brighton and now can sub on 5 players that can easily start for Brighton, meanwhile Brighton only having fringe players to sub on that would barely make the bench for other prem teams.

Let's be realistic City will destroy Brighton like they scored 7 against Watford with 3 subs or 5 subs. The rich are already too powerful.

I think 5 subs is good if it gives more playing time, rest for all players in the 20 teams. It might protect players in Cups, extra time games,protect tired players, against injury risk.

Bending over backwards to help the big 6 . It's another nail in the coffin of real football. It makes me wish the superleague had got off the ground so that those who want elitist football can have it and the rest of us can watch real football.