Premier League 25/26 Thread

[weasel]

@Cazza that's non league level defending. You gave them at least two goals

 

[edd_jedi]

Goal of the season contender from Castellanos though! Don't worry we're playing Chelsea tomorrow, could easily halve your goal difference deficit

 

[lejackal]

We should have had a penalty and probably a red card. One to go.

 

[Cazza]

@Cazza that's non league level defending. You gave them at least two goals

Aye. Disastrous defending and Nuno's tactics/selection were bizarre. We played well once he changed it, but already 2-0 down. Gutted. Cracker from Taty, though. That boy is so unlucky- must've hit the post 4 or 5 times now.

That's us done, now. Ultimately, complete mismanagement by the board for many years have lead to this. Potter was shocking at the start of the season and left us in a terrible mess. Nuno's done pretty well, but has screwed up a few times, which has cost us. Interesting to see the ref review from the Brentford game say we should've had 2 pens. There have been such a load of decisions against us, I do wonder if there is something going on.

As for Havertz last night. Good grief! A Burnley player doing that gets sent off, no question.

 

[Cazza]

We should have had a penalty and probably a red card. One to go.

Didn't see the pen, but that was a definite red. Above the ankle, studs up, dangerous, reckless. Yet another ***** decision.

 

[weasel]

Aye, how Havertz stayed on I will never know.
There wasn't a huge amount of force which may have saved him, BUT it's studs up, late, feet off the ground, and from behind.

The standard of refereeing gets worse by the week.

@Cazza I saw that, about your pens, what was the score in that game? These pish poor decisions are costing teams relegation or european spots.
That handball not given against Muembo in the Utd game was a joke. How the Ref can look at the screen, SEE the handball (you cant ******* miss it) and decide "nah, no advantage to the bloke who then gets a free shot setting up Utd's goal" is ridiculous. Club loyalty aside, that Ref shouldnt do the PL again.

Bye bye Pep.
Amazing manager, and one of few who doesn't strike me as a ******. But I wonder how history will judge his time in the PL. No doubt it will depend on City's charges. Which is a tad unfair on him, he cant control their cheating, but also totally justified as he was handed a deck tilted in his favour. Assuming they are found guilty.

 

[Cazza]

Aye, how Havertz stayed on I will never know.
There wasn't a huge amount of force which may have saved him, BUT it's studs up, late, feet off the ground, and from behind.

The standard of refereeing gets worse by the week.

@Cazza I saw that, about your pens, what was the score in that game? These pish poor decisions are costing teams relegation or european spots.
That handball not given against Muembo in the Utd game was a joke. How the Ref can look at the screen, SEE the handball (you cant ******* miss it) and decide "nah, no advantage to the bloke who then gets a free shot setting up Utd's goal" is ridiculous. Club loyalty aside, that Ref shouldnt do the PL again.

Bye bye Pep.
Amazing manager, and one of few who doesn't strike me as a ******. But I wonder how history will judge his time in the PL. No doubt it will depend on City's charges. Which is a tad unfair on him, he cant control their cheating, but also totally justified as he was handed a deck tilted in his favour. Assuming they are found guilty.

We lost 3-0. Their first goal should've also been disallowed and scorer sent off for a serious foul play follow-through on Mav. Had a goal disallowed for an offside elbow and hit the woodwork 4 times. Their second goal was a soft penalty. A bonkers game.

 

[Cazza]

I don't mind Pep, apart from the constant spitting! I always wonder exactly how good managers like that are, though. He's literally had everything he wanted at his finger tips. How would he have fared with a mid-table team with limited funds, or a Championship team?

 

[edd_jedi]

Southampton kicked out of the play offs, didn't see that coming! It's not like any footballing body to have some balls.

 

[lejackal]

Stay humble bro

 

[theforceuk]

Congratulations Arsenal and @lejackal bloody hard league to win!

 

[lejackal]

So @Cazza @edd_jedi - final day decider

 

[Michael Sith]

Congrats to Arsenal, Happy days Carl, you planning any celebration?

 

[edd_jedi]

So @Cazza @edd_jedi - final day decider

Yes who would have guessed that after not winning any of their previous 8 games, Chelsea would suddenly find form against Spurs? Nothing fishy about that…

Well done @lejackal I'm pleased for you, mad to think that when I first started this forum back in 2005 Arsenal were defending champions the previous season, feels like a lifetime ago!

 

[Cazza]

Well done, Carl!

 

[Cazza]

Watched the second half of Chelsea/Spurs. Awful game! Spurs looked more organised, and worked hard, but just lacked the quality, whereas Chelsea were all over the place, but had sporadic quality. Maddison looked good

So, it goes to the last game. I think Spurs should get at least a point against a checked-out Everton. Not sure what will happen in ours- looks a bit like we've lost the will and Leeds have been excellent. We'll see on Sunday!

 

[Michael Sith]

As a Utd supporter don't want to see Spurs or WH go down, shame for either to go but that's football!

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep anything could happen on Sunday. I was thinking earlier, has there ever been a season in the entire history of English football where one of two rivals have won the league and been relegated? I don't think it's ever happened to United/City, Liverpool/Everton, Newcastle/Sunderland etc. So this could be a history making week for all the wrong reasons

 

[lejackal]

95/96 - Man U champions and Man City relegated

 

[weasel]

Manchester clubs don't count!


Last day of the season is gonna be interesting for Spurs and WH, the rest is settled. That Haaland goal all but guarantees Pool (a very undeserved) CL spot. Bar them losing and Bournemouth winning by a combined 7 goals.

Come on Villa tonight!


Oh and very begrudging congrats to the most god awful side to watch in world football. GBH FC win the league, cue everyone copying their example. Although, I did see Cockarella (that's the correct spelling, isn't it?) getting booked for holding yesterday. Weird that Arsenal have been allowed to do it all season without punishment

 

[edd_jedi]

I haven't watched many Arsenal games, but the football in general has been attrocious all season, and lots of people are blaming them for this new negative trend. The fact 79 points was enough to win the title says all there is to say about the quality, 20 odd less than most other recent seasons. What a breath of fresh air the Bayern Vs PSG CL semi-final was a few weeks ago, that was a proper football match, none of this American Football set piece nonsense.

Still staggered by the inconsistency and incompetence of VAR too, Romero has had about five red cards this season, how did Havertz get away with it? It's unfair, there is no other word for it.

 

[weasel]

Agree 100% with your first paragraph.

As for the second one, it's not "VAR" as such. It's the morons using it. PL refs are some of the worst around, and they get worse every year.

And, yeah, that Havertz one was a red.

 

[lejackal]

I haven't watched many Arsenal games, but the football in general has been attrocious all season, and lots of people are blaming them for this new negative trend. The fact 79 points was enough to win the title says all there is to say about the quality, 20 odd less than most other recent seasons. What a breath of fresh air the Bayern Vs PSG CL semi-final was a few weeks ago, that was a proper football match, none of this American Football set piece nonsense.

Still staggered by the inconsistency and incompetence of VAR too, Romero has had about five red cards this season, how did Havertz get away with it? It's unfair, there is no other word for it.

82, not 79 and we could end on 85
Pool got 84 total last season
Citeh 91 the year before (Arsenal 2 behind)
Citeh 89 in 22/23 (arsenal 5 behind)

Let me know where the 20 point difference most other seasons is.

The football isn't pretty, but it squeezes teams into deep blocks, even Pool and City at times. Blaming the whole (minor) reduction in points to win on Arsenals style of play is poor analysis IMO. Look across the board, the teams at the bottom are full of internationals. Every team can beat every other.

 

[edd_jedi]

Sorry, what I meant was that's a point more than City are currently on, granted they could still finish on 81 points. I'm pretty sure over the 34 years of the PL, that's on the low side, there have been plenty of 90 point finishes and possibly even one centenary? Would have to check.

But you're right, the league is much more competitive than it was, which I would previously have said was a good thing but the entertainment value has definitely dropped for me, and as I said that's mostly from watching non-Arsenal games. We all know football goes through trends, playing out from the back was the previous fad, I just hope this wrestling in the box one dies a quick death! I want to see goals like the ones Villa scored last night, not 15 minute VAR reviews (well done Villa by the way)

 

[theforceuk]

Comparing point totals on previous seasons is pointless, 25/26 season Arsenal accumulated the most points. Football hasn't been great this season, but Arsenal have been the best team.

Congratulations Aston Villa!

 

[weasel]

The football isn't pretty, but it squeezes teams into deep blocks, even Pool and City at times.

Eehhh, Wolves and Burnley had Liverpool playing a deep block. Include City as an example of Arsenal outplaying a good side, by all means, but when you include ***** like Liverpool……. Lol

I think Edd is referring to the period when City beat Pool by a point, 98 to 97, then Pool got 90 odd the next year and then City hit a hundred pts. I think mid 80's is about average for title winners. Give or take a couple of points.

As for comparisons over years, I agree and I don't. It all depends how you want to look at it. Is a "lower" title winning points total a reflection of a more competitive league, or (relatively) weaker title winner? Two sides of the same coin, you can make the argument whatever way you want. The best way is probably to judge it on how English sides do in Europe, but even that has an element of luck. Kind draws help. Drawing PSG in the knock out rounds ehhh doesn't.

Leicester won it with 81 points and I don't think many of us would argue with them being one of the weaker title winning sides. And I don't mean that in any way to diminish what they won.


And, yes, congrats to Villa. Nice to see them winning it.
Fingers crossed for Palace cough and PSG cough

 

[Cazza]

Looks like an interesting England squad. Agent Tuchel! I agree with leaving out Foden and Palmer. However, how the hell do Burn, Henderson, Toney, Stones, Madueke, Gordon, Mainoo etc make the squad at the expense of the likes of Gibbs-White, Bowen, Wharton. I would've taken slabhead as well. Gibbs-White has more goal contributions than Saka and Madueke combined. So does Bowen. How many has Madueke scored this season? 2?

 

[edd_jedi]

I read an interesting HYS comment (which means it's probably nonsense) that theorises he's prioritised players who he thinks can create magic out of nothing over players who rely on being surrounded by superstars (eg Foden and Palmer.) A good non-England example is Gareth Bale, who single handedly carried both Spurs and Wales. Then of course you have Messi, Ronaldo etc.

I see the logic, whether it's accurate or plays out, who knows!

 

[weasel]

Looks like an interesting England squad. Agent Tuchel! I agree with leaving out Foden and Palmer. However, how the hell do Burn, Henderson, Toney, Stones, Madueke, Gordon, Mainoo etc make the squad at the expense of the likes of Gibbs-White, Bowen, Wharton. I would've taken slabhead as well. Gibbs-White has more goal contributions than Saka and Madueke combined. So does Bowen. How many has Madueke scored this season? 2?

Likewise, I agree on Foden and Palmer. Both have been poor this season. In mitigation both played in that money grab/club world cup last summer, so have been playing for a year solid. They are entitled to a dip and due a break.

I suspect Stones/Maguire was an 'either or'. Not sure why as both have tonnes of expereince. Stones is head and shoulders better but he has played about 300 minutes all season. Is he now going to manage, potentially, eight(?) games in 5 weeks?

Dan Burn is strange one. Especially as Lewis Hall looks a better defender and long term prospect. Hendo is in for experience. But then why not bring him as a "coach"? Toney for penalties, apparently. Which is a waste of a spot in my mind and all but guarantees he will miss any penalty he takes.
Gordon is strange call. Mainoo, I do rate, albeit I preferred it when he was left in the reserves . Wharton, I would have taken all day long. Class act that boy.

Gibbs-white and Bowen were unlucky. Not sure what more the former could do.
Luke Shaw is unlucky too, solid player, versatile (he can play CB and look like a CB and not a LB filling in) plus he had a virtually injury free season.

 

[theforceuk]

Luke Shaw and Maguire are both poor, I've never rated Maguire and Shaw is a shadow of the player he was.

The way the media are going on about Maguire and the way he is on SM anyone would think prime Gerrard has been dropped. Maquire has not played a competitive game for England for 2 years. I like the squad, end of favourites FC under Southgate, Henderson is my only
WTF?