Premier League 22/23 Thread

[weasel]

So after last night's result one of Everton or Leicester will definitely go down, I would actually like Leeds to beat Spurs this weekend now so we can dodge the Conference League and both went down! Who do you think will survive? I reckon Everton will scrape it, Leicester look like they've given up already.

I've also just noticed Chelsea will definitely now finish in the bottom half, that was 600m well spent it just shows that much as people call City cheaters, money alone doesn't buy success.

Aye, I get the logic Edd, though surely Spurs as an English side, should have a decent shot at that Europa conference farce thing? Granted, It's Spurs and they'll find a way to **** it up, but you would be one of the favourites from the start. It may be a crap competition, but it is still a trophy.

Sadly, I think Everton will stay up. I'd like to Leicester survive, if only so Leeds and the Fat Sam BS get put to bed forever, and Everton pay the price for their years of horrendous mismanagement.

 

[weasel]

I'd be more questioning why watching the match was initially deemed more important than your son's birthday

I've been to a four year old's b'day party. I can fully understand why he was taking any chance to escape!

 

[lejackal]

I've been to a four year old's b'day party. I can fully understand why he was taking any chance to escape!

Oh I get that completely

 

[_Lee_]

Well lads, as a long time Luton Town fan and ST holder I will be there on Saturday, 11 rows from the front. What a rocky ride it has been. I remember when we were playing the likes of Hyde and Barrow and getting beaten on those ******, freezing winter nights but it has been worth it.

In a time where money rules football its nice to see us finally get our chance at football immortality, and do what hasn't been done before. 10 years ago we were in the conference after being docked 30 points by those bastards at the FA - and no one has been docked that much since. This means so much to us, and if we are successful it helps our new stadium being built and it also ensures we fought back from the dead when the FA tried to finish us.

Whether you support Arsenal, Man City or whoever this will be the biggest fairytale ever. Whatever happens its a good time to be a Lutonian!

 

[theforceuk]

You going dresses as Darth Vader so we can all spot you @_Lee_ Good luck mate hope it goes your way.

 

[edd_jedi]

I do love that for many teams and fans, just being in the premier league is a huge honour. I think a lot of supporters forget how lucky they are sometimes, some of these clubs have never won a major trophy

 

[weasel]

Aye, good luck to Luton. I don't mind who comes up, if I had to pick one it would probably be Luton purely cos they have never been up, but both clubs have had their fair share of **** and both will effectively be new faces in the PL.

 

[Cazza]

Well lads, as a long time Luton Town fan and ST holder I will be there on Saturday, 11 rows from the front. What a rocky ride it has been. I remember when we were playing the likes of Hyde and Barrow and getting beaten on those ******, freezing winter nights but it has been worth it.

In a time where money rules football its nice to see us finally get our chance at football immortality, and do what hasn't been done before. 10 years ago we were in the conference after being docked 30 points by those bastards at the FA - and no one has been docked that much since. This means so much to us, and if we are successful it helps our new stadium being built and it also ensures we fought back from the dead when the FA tried to finish us.

Whether you support Arsenal, Man City or whoever this will be the biggest fairytale ever. Whatever happens its a good time to be a

Well lads, as a long time Luton Town fan and ST holder I will be there on Saturday, 11 rows from the front. What a rocky ride it has been. I remember when we were playing the likes of Hyde and Barrow and getting beaten on those ******, freezing winter nights but it has been worth it.

In a time where money rules football its nice to see us finally get our chance at football immortality, and do what hasn't been done before. 10 years ago we were in the conference after being docked 30 points by those bastards at the FA - and no one has been docked that much since. This means so much to us, and if we are successful it helps our new stadium being built and it also ensures we fought back from the dead when the FA tried to finish us.

Whether you support Arsenal, Man City or whoever this will be the biggest fairytale ever. Whatever happens its a good time to be a Lutonian!

The docking of points is fine for teams like Luton, yet the powers that be completely rejected possible points deductions of the Sky 6, when they were going to form the Euro Super League 'because it would punish the fans'! So their fans are different, are they? Sums up modern football.

Fantastic Luton have made the final- good luck!

 

[Cazza]

Aye, good luck to Luton. I don't mind who comes up, if I had to pick one it would probably be Luton purely cos they have never been up, but both clubs have had their fair share of **** and both will effectively be new faces in the PL.

They were up for a while in the 80's. Bit of a fairytale if they make it all the way back up again though, after all they've been through.

 

[weasel]

Aye, I remember them being up. I still have my old football albums from the mid 80's

 

[_Lee_]

Same here chaps. My first game was against Man Utd in 1984. We had a good run I'm the old Div 1, and signed up for the premier league but unfortunately got relegated the season before.

We were treated like **** by the so it's been good to see the rise back from NL oblivion.

 

[edd_jedi]

Top 4 wrapped up, so just the relegation battle to watch on Sunday. Assuming nobody cares about the Conference League qualifier saying that I hope West Ham win it, and as you say @weasel it's still a trophy - I seem to remember last time Spurs were in it, we were disqualified because of a dispute over a rearranged fixture date due to covid. Add that to poisoned lasagne and the long list of other ridiculous reasons that only Spurs could suffer.

 

[weasel]

I'd forgotten about that disqualification Spurs got. They do have an amazing ability to find new ways not to win things.

 

[lejackal]

Here's a bit of an article about the "richest game in football" and potential changes to parachute payments.
Not exactly that insightful but it's topical at least
https://www.cityam.com/parachute-payments-uncertainty-clouds-the-future-of-footballs-richest-game/

 

[Cazza]

Top 4 wrapped up, so just the relegation battle to watch on Sunday. Assuming nobody cares about the Conference League qualifier saying that I hope West Ham win it, and as you say @weasel it's still a trophy - I seem to remember last time Spurs were in it, we were disqualified because of a dispute over a rearranged fixture date due to covid. Add that to poisoned lasagne and the long list of other ridiculous reasons that only Spurs could suffer.

Were they going to go through? Thought they'd struggled a bit, anyway- lost a couple and drew, if I remember correctly? Lost to Mura

 

[Cazza]

I was quite sceptical about the Conference league- but have loved it. I know we've done well, but think it's actually a bit undervalued as a competition. Crazy that the venue for the final only holds 20k!

 

[weasel]

Yeah that does seem needlessly small. I get UEFA trying to let "smaller" stadiums/countries host a European final, but surely there are bigger stadiums they could use? The final is still going to be a huge event for the two teams involved and given UEFA keep about 60% of the tickets for themselves and their "partners" (sponsors and people who pay them bribes) that really doesn't leave much for the 2 clubs involved.

 

[Cazza]

Really disappointing, when you consider both finalists are big clubs, but have had little success, especially recently. The fans may not get another opportunity to see a European final for a long time. Misjudged, to say the least.

 

[weasel]

Disappointed to see Everton stay up. Delighted to see the latest instalment of the Fat Sam show end in relegation. Here's hoping Chairmen now realise he isn't actually that good a manager.

 

[lejackal]

In fairness (not that I think he's great or anything) he was handed a real poisoned challis this time.

I'm strangely annoyed Everton stayed up, maybe because we got the full "new manager bounce"

Overall it's been a fantastic season, I'm disappointed we couldn't get over the line, and almost as annoyed that Dortmund couldn't either.

What a send off for Xhaka today, so close to a hat trick

 

[weasel]

In fairness (not that I think he's great or anything) he was handed a real poisoned challis this time.

Aye, that is true, but he knew what he was getting in to. Hopefully he can go drink pints of white wine elsewhere now. I liked Roy Keane's comments on the chances of seeing him manage in the championship "with his ego……"

Overall it's been a fantastic season

Weirdly I prefered last year, bar the last two games.

Dortmund couldn't either.

I saw the second half of that game, they played like there was only 2 mins left from the kick off. Mainz could have had 5 if they had a clue how to play on the break and if they didn't have Jason Lee up front. Genuinely, Mainz main striker was called Jason Lee, and was as much use as our mate from the 90's.
If you have a home game against a side with nothing to play for to win your first title in 10yrs and manage to go 2 down at HT as well as missing a penalty. Then you're probably the German Spurs.

 

[edd_jedi]

A season to forget for Spurs fans. The most frustrating thing about it is we scored 70 goals, 12 more than United in third! We just conceded twice as many as anyone else in the top half. How many seasons have I been saying our defence is useless for now? Surely somebody at Spurs must look at the tables and realise this soon, otherwise nothing will change.

Not sure if anyone saw the Leeds match yesterday but Moura's Maradonna-esque goal was an amazing send off for his final game, he's had some great moments over the years, just a shame he cost us a few points this season. But I guess mistakes are more likely if you only play a few minutes here and there. Good luck to him wherever he goes next.

So no European football for the first time in about 15 years, could be a blessing in disguise for the rebuild, although will obviously make it harder to attract top players and managers. Obviously the big question is whether Kane is here next season or not, but either way he'll be 30 soon so need to look beyond him anyway.

 

[theforceuk]

I think Spurs may still get conference league?

 

[weasel]

Nah, they missed out. Villa got it. If WH win the Conference league all that happens is they qualify for the EL, as far as I know.

Not sure if UEFA still do the auld "fair play" spots, or what competition that gets you in to. It used to be EL, but that was pre the Europa Conference. That would be Spurs only chance.

Big summer for Spurs, and a lot of sides. Chelsea need shot of 47players, to TRY and balance the books if nothing else. Pool, need a new midfield, and possibly a CB if Gomes and Matip were as bad as I've heard on Sunday. Utd need a few more quality players across the squad, and a striker. Arsenal, likewise, need more quality/depth in the squad. City need……nothing. City will probably get three 50m players, who will sit on the bench.

Spurs' summer will all depend on what Harry Kane does. If he goes they have real problems. They then need a striker as well as the 4 defenders, and a keeper with Lloris away, a midfielder or two wouldnt go a miss either. Ohh and a decision on Kulesevski too. But maybe appointing a manager first would be an idea!? Someone who has a clue and who will be given time AND money. Optimistic?

I saw someone arguing that Harry Kane with 30 PL goals has done a **** tonne better than Haaland with 36. Given the latter plays for a side who stroll the league, score goals for fun and have KVD to feed you sitters. Whilst Harry Kane plays in a struggling Spurs side who are/have none of those things. Yer man has a point. Definitely a better achievement.

 

[edd_jedi]

I don't think we have any Leicester fans here, but here's a hyopothetical question for you - as a supporter, would you rather follow a team that has won (fluked) the PL title and are now back in the championship, having spent only a few years in the top tier. Or would you prefer to support a team like Everton, Spurs etc that have been in the top tier for decades but never won anything? I guess City and Chelsea also fall into the first category, having both been in lower leagues in recent history, although both have had dominant periods unlike Leicester.

I ask because while it must be gutting to get relegated, I imagine the play offs are quite exciting.

 

[lejackal]

Putting it another way @edd_jedi, would you be happy to take a FA Cup and a league title if you had to agree to relegation within 10 years?

 

[theforceuk]

I would if I were a Spurs fan, they would go straight back up. I would take relegation for Man Utd if it meant the Glaziers would fully sell.

 

[weasel]

If the Glazier's keep leeching money out of Utd at their current rate relegation could be on the cards in a few (5+) years. Fingers crossed they stick about, or take the piss so much with their asking price that not even someone whose first name is "sheik" is tempted to buy them.

 

[Cazza]

Just a heads up that BT Sport is making all of the European cup finals free to air, through Youtube, the app and Virgin. Happy days!

 

[theforceuk]

If the Glazier's keep leeching money out of Utd at their current rate relegation could be on the cards in a few (5+) years. Fingers crossed they stick about, or take the piss so much with their asking price that not even someone whose first name is "sheik" is tempted to buy them.

No way the Glaziers can hold onto the club for another 5 years, we are broke. It's either full sale to Qatar or part sale to Jim Radcliffe. I would prefer full sale but Jim Radcliffe is better than nothing. Apparently Utd have £30 million in the bank.