Football – 2023/24 Season

which one is it going to be Eddie??

That’s the issue. Rumours are that Howe and Ashworth fell out about purchases and the latter felt Howe had too much say in the recruitment side of things. He probably does, hence looking at Lloyd Kelly, Aaron Ramsdale in particular.  We need to box clever in the summer but PRS should mean there could be some decent deals about.

I hope to god they add Dubravka to that list of sales. He appears unable to save anything to his right hand.

Seems we must invest to keep hold of the bluechip players. I’d rather face 6 point deduction that not have Guimaraes or Isak. They more than make up for that.

Seems we must invest to keep hold of the bluechip players. I’d rather face 6 point deduction that not have Guimaraes or Isak.

Think we’ll keep Isak, Bruno we can possibly afford to sacrifice as Tonali is waiting in the wings. Longstaff and Burn will hang around as a squad players, Dubravka, Wilson, Almiron etc will be gone. If Bruno does stay then getting him and Tonali playing together will be the key. Crack that problem with JoeLinton as the battering ram the toon midfield next season could be quite spectacular.

Are you seriously suggesting that’s not a competitive league?

That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. It’s utterly dominated by one club.

Hardly dominant this season. If City win it, it will be by default. Both Liverpool and Arsenal have fluffed their lines and have no-one to blame but themselves. We were down in fifth halfway through the season, spent very little time at the top of the league until the last month or so.

MOT ALAW

Brilliant performance from Leeds! Hope we can take same attitude and strategy into the playoff final!
MOT ALAW

That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. It’s utterly dominated by one club

That’s just utter nonsense. They haven’t even won the league yet and there’s only one game left, because they’ve been pushed right to the line by Arsenal and until 2 weeks ago, Liverpool.

In the previous few seasons, there’s been a single point in it twice, over an entire season. These are the finest of margins.

Thats hardly like other leagues where there are one or two massive clubs who just win it by miles every season. Bayern/PSG/Real/Barcelona/Celtic/Rangers

I hate to say it but Citeh have won it because they have an incredible squad and the best manager in the world. Other squads have done the same in the past. Arsenal ‘invincibles’ and Uniteds ‘Class of 92’, Chelski under Maureen

To take Citehs recent dominance to say the league isn’t competitive is just patently ridiculous. Most of those seasons it’s gone down to the last kick of the last game for them to win it

Out of interest, other than the championship, which league would you say is more competitive?

In a splinter arsed way you’re both right.

The ‘race for the title’ is close for sure but it isn’t a simple race, every step is an discrete, binary contest. And the majority of those contests aren’t really contests, because these 2/3 sides are so dominant. That doesn’t mean their opponents don’t try hard, and that if you have a bad day then you won’t lose the contest, but turn up and play to anywhere near your level and while you might have to break a sweat – City, and in the main Arsenal, will prevail.

I looked at City’s record to make the point. P37, W27, D7, L3. GD +60, scoring 2.5g/g, conceding <1.

Even more, they had by their standards a crummy start to the season. They lost 2 in a row (one to Arsenal) in late Sep / early Oct (g7 and g8) and again to Villa in early Dec (g15). They haven’t lost in 22 games, and have drawn 3 since the start of the year – against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal who probably are the three next best teams (Chelsea arguable but recent form has been honestly pretty good). Since start of the year, P18, W15, D3, F51, A10. Making average result 3:0 or 3:1 and that’s without humping someone for 7 or 8 to boost the numbers. They can win with relative ease against almost anyone, and then rest players once the game’s safe, etc.

Arsenal’s is only slightly less compelling – W27, D5, L5, F89, A28. Their last 18 they’ve lost twice (Fulham, and Villa), D1 (City) and have a 53/10 GD in that time, but half those goals came in 5 games where they dominate and score 5 or 6 – the rest are 2:0 or 2:1 sort of affairs where there isn’t quite the same inevitability to it.

Liverpool for all their failings this year have lost only 4, but drew too many.

So yes, the race is still on, but unless there’s a huge last day surprise, both sides will win and City will sneak it.

The big worry for most is they threw money at trying to match City, and failure will potentially mean less money to challenge next season and beyond, Liverpool are going to have a bit of a change over the summer due to Klopp leaving, and Salah probably on the move, Chelsea will have to sell a few i’m guessing, and ManU are not sure what they’re doing, Arsenal might be ok, not sure how much they extended themselves last summer, but City again seem to sell then buy and must have a fair chunk to throw at any issues they have in the team over summer.

I’m not actually trying to slag him off, but given his reputation I’m quite surprised how relatively modest Klopp’s trophy record is after 9 and a bit years at Liverpool. 1 x Premier League, 1 x Champions League, an FA cup and couple of League cups. Not to be sniffed at obviously & you have to take into account how Liverpool were when he took over, but somehow it seems a bit less than you might expect especially with all the fuss over his departure.

It’s a shame really, because Arsenal have easily been the team of the season, playing superb football at times, while City have misfired often and scraped results here and there, and looked unconvincing head to head against their title rivals.

Change four results and Klopp would have won 3 CL and 3 PLs. Fine margins! I think your point about where they were when he took over is key – a shambles, basically. Also consider his attacking style, great to watch, especially 2016-18 when the defence was dodgy, they just tore into teams, pretty chaotic but great fun.

That’s just utter nonsense.

Oh sure. Five titles in six seasons, most likely six in seven. If that’s not dominance, I don’t know what is. It’s a great shame that the EPL seems to have gone the way of the other major European leagues. On reflection it may have been better if the European breakaway had happened and the oil state and billionaire playthings duke it out amongst themselves.

Yes, that sounds like a really rational analysis

Anyway… depending on the outcome of upcoming court cases they may end up with the same number of Premier League titles as Lance Armstrong has yellow jerseys

Klopp did something that is very hard to do, he changed them from a sulky shambles to a group with a winning mentality. Club culture is the hardest thing to change. Fine marg

Look at ManYoo now, they’re an omnishambles. I bet they wish they could have had Klopp’s successes and certainly his dynamism.

Klopp really brought a few things with him, the high press that Liverpool played changed how many teams went about their tactics, he rebuilt the team to do this, and the reality is, Man City were miles ahead, Liverpool were really just trying to get ahead of the rest, and then challenge if they could.

Yes, that sounds like a really rational analysis

Cheers!

Oh sure. Five titles in six seasons, most likely six in seven. If that’s not dominance, I don’t know what is

In the same way that Lance Armstrong dominated the Tour.

(Checks TdF records…..well, that’s odd…..)

Wouldn’t have thought Man City have been doping but then Jack Grealish….

In the same way that Lance Armstrong dominated the Tour.

Suppose they are found guilty – do you really think their titles will be expunged from the record? I think at worst, they’ll have a single season points deduction.

I wouldn’t be a fan of taking away their titles. Do you then award the title to the team that finished 2nd. If my team ‘won’ the title that way it would feel pretty hollow. What about those teams who were in 18th place & relegated? Do they get compensation as everyone moves up a place? It opens up a whole can of worms & would just make all those seasons meaningless. I would prefer they had a multi-season points deduction or just a relegation. Everyone would know that their titles have an asterix against them in any case.

Suppose they are found guilty – do you really think their titles will be expunged from the record? I think at worst, they’ll have a single season points deduction.

My tongue was in my cheek when I posted the Lance Armstrong comment. I’m not sure the PL rules extend to removing previous titles, so I think it would only be a substantial points deduction.

Been a few pundits talking about the record back to back titles and then mentioning the “elephant in the room” as one called it. Very disappointing that Everton and Forest get points deducted relatively promptly and Man City seem to just keep on keeping on. They are either guilty or innocent and people must know which by now.

Rumours the case will be heard in autumn. Retrospective stripping of titles doesn’t seem right to me, to be honest. Other clubs have spent more than them – problem is they’ve bought better and coached better.

Lots of clubs are guilty of creative accounting practices

Few were as successful as Citeh

Reading have been fined a fair few times for it’s owner’s shady practice by the same same body that approved said owners  as Fit and Proper.

Good to see Santa making an appearance with the league trophy today at Celtic Park 😆

Thought it was Danny McGrain.

Reading have been fined a fair few times for it’s owner’s shady practice by the same same body that approved said owners as Fit and Proper.

You’d think it was an either/or situation

Anyway, I’m sure Ipswich will be able to get relegated back to the Championship next season without the need for additional points deductions!

all a bit flat and predictable…..

At least it went to the final day this year. For 2 minutes of it or so…

Foden is on fire at the moment. No wonder he got player of the season.

I’ve had a bet on 5 nil to City and the odds were only 9/1

I’ve had a bet on 5 nil to City and the odds were only 9/1

Never mind. What bets has Mrs Binners got on this afternoon?

suddenly, 2 goals in it….. one at each game and the trophy’s in a fast car down the M1

What bets has Mrs Binners got on this afternoon?

I don’t think she’s put any on today. She’s still sulking about Bolton yesterday. My betting is up to its usual standard 🙄

Actually I just asked her and she’s only put one bet on… United to lose to Brighton

Anyway… 2 contenders for goal of the season so far today from Kudus and Caicedo, though I still think that’ll probably go to Garnacho

Gosh, another massively surprising EPL season.

I’m just happy we won’t be spending Thursday nights in Kazakstan. That’s about the only positive to take from this truly awful season.

Unfortunately I see us starting next season with largely the same gang of donkeys as we won’t be able to offload them due to their long, ludicrously overpaid contracts. Christ only knows who the manager will be.

Gosh, another massively surprising EPL season.

what are you complaining about? Someone different got a UCL place! The competitiveness has been unreal!

Villa bookended their season nicely! You can say on the beach but Palace made I think 3 places and just over £9m from today’s results.

9m?

That’s a Saudi Arabian’s loose change isn’t it?

what are you complaining about? Someone different got a UCL place! The competitiveness has been unreal

A point quite a few of us have made. I’d argue that the reason Citeh are so good is because they’re constantly being pushed by the level of competition that means you just can’t slip up. If you have a bad day at the office, you will be punished by pretty much any squad in the league.

The quality of football in the Premier League, both in skill and athleticism, is off the chart. just look at the goals scored today. 2 absolute worldies and I’ve only seen the goals from a couple of matches

But apparently there’s just no pleasing some people