2020/21 Premier League Thread: VAR Check Complete - No Cough

[Dolphin Ziggler]

First topic message reminder :

We have our 20 as Fulham take the playoff spot and we welcome back West Brom, Fulham and, most importantly to the nation (apparently) Leeds.

[Atila]

I didn't much care for the Champions League when it started either. There was nothing wrong with the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup and the Uefa Cup. These changes are all about money and if it goes through, just give it a few seasons and fans will shallow it all up and be watching it on TV.

[Lowlandbrit]

Agree that a lot of the outrage is people worried about their own pockets under the guise of respect for the game/fans. I almost wonder if the clubs are hoping they get thrown out of the existing organisations so they can do it as a full time league without taking all the blame. Would actually be great for their leagues if PSG and Bayern joined imo.

[GSC]

I still can't get over Arsenal and Spurs being in a European super league

[Guest]

Mourinho sacked

[hampo17]

Talk doing the rounds on social media that he was sacked after refusing to take the team on to the training ground, after the announcement about the super league.

Fair play to him if he's stood his ground over that.

[Soul Requiem]

Talk doing the rounds on social media that he was sacked after refusing to take the team on to the training ground, after the announcement about the super league.

Fair play to him if he's stood his ground over that.

He's made millions managing and subsequently getting sacked by five of the twelve teams. It's a nonsense of a story with zero validity.

G Nev I however will defend; a one club man who does a lot for his local community. He's employed by Sky who are partially responsible for these plans but he does at least use that platform for the furtherment of the game.

[JAS]

Talk doing the rounds on social media that he was sacked after refusing to take the team on to the training ground, after the announcement about the super league.

Fair play to him if he's stood his ground over that.

He's made millions managing and subsequently getting sacked by five of the twelve teams. It's a nonsense of a story with zero validity.

G Nev I however will defend; a one club man who does a lot for his local community. He's employed by Sky who are partially responsible for these plans but he does at least use that platform for the furtherment of the game.

He's won league titles in 4 countries & numerous other silverware including Champions League with multiple Clubs. So I'd say he's well placed to have a say, despite the fact that he's now a fading star as a manager. I'd like to hear him say his thoughts on camera in interview not just let it circulate as a rumour though.

Fully agree on Neville though, who despite his clear anger, manages to put across a very coherent, impassioned and on-point critique.

[Duty281]

I didn't much care for the Champions League when it started either. There was nothing wrong with the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup and the Uefa Cup. These changes are all about money and if it goes through, just give it a few seasons and fans will shallow it all up and be watching it on TV.

I think this is the final tipping point for a lot of fans. Football, at the top, hasn't been about fans for decades, but an illusion has been sustained that it is. This new ESL which p!sses all over the history and tradition of football, is opposed by the vast majority of fans, is nakedly finance-based not merit-based, and is ring-fenced to include the same 15 clubs year after year, with only five other clubs arriving on merit, firmly destroys that illusion.

I personally hope FIFA and UEFA and the various national bodies kick the 12 clubs out of their respective national leagues and ban them, and any players and coaches that sign up for it, from all of their competitions, including the World Cup.

[Duty281]

Oh and Mourinho got sacked? About time. I doubt there's any credence to the stories linking it to the ESL, but it'll be interesting to see if other managers/players who oppose the idea leave their clubs e.g. Klopp.

[Geordie]

i wonder how players like Harry Kane etc feel about it.

[Geordie]

Relegate the teams to non league, ban them from any other competition and all their players (who stay with them) are unable to play for the international sides..

Promote 6 from the champs, and each lower division...and move on.

All is good.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

It’s all a lot of idealistic talk, but clubs in the English football pyramid are lucky to survive right now. Those that have. Take away the kind of money that having those six brings to English football and it’s not a bright future.

Comes across like Lionel Hutz’s theories on life without lawyers.

[GSC]

It's idealistic and unrealistic but equally the "big" (in quotes because spurs and arsenal barely qualify) 6 have shown theyre never going to be content.

Even beyond that the PL itself is some temple to greed that's corrupted the entire pyramid below it. Most of the championship running themselves into the ground to try and reach the holy grail, teams whose only ambition is to cling to the bottom of the PL by any means necessary, or even less, in Norwich's case they've worked out they only need to try every other season to keep the money flowing.

It's easy to get suckered in to the lure of what the PL is, but for the first time I think I'm genuinely happier to be outside it. It's a bloated corpse that's corrupted football

[Atila]

I'm in no way an Arsenal fan but they are easily a big 6 club in England. They're only behind Liverpool and United in terms of trophies won.

[GSC]

They're also 9th (10th if Leeds win) and have been on a decline for years. It used to be a big 4 (and still didn't include spurs) and now it's 6 even though Arsenal are closer to fighting relegation than the title

[GSC]

By rights can Leicester make it a big 7?

[formerly known as Sam]

I'm in no way an Arsenal fan but they are easily a big 6 club in England. They're only behind Liverpool and United in terms of trophies won.

We're heading towards 20 years since they won anything. They aren't regulars in the top four anymore. They are a mid table club these days. They are desperate for inclusion in this Super League because they want to become relevant again much like Spurs. They aren't going to be regulars at the top table in any other way.

Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool the rich man's play things are well ahead of them and in this for the money. Currently Leicester and West Ham are operating at a higher level on less resources.

[Atila]

I'm in no way an Arsenal fan but they are easily a big 6 club in England. They're only behind Liverpool and United in terms of trophies won.

We're heading towards 20 years since they won anything. They aren't regulars in the top four anymore. They are a mid table club these days. They are desperate for inclusion in this Super League because they want to become relevant again much like Spurs. They aren't going to be regulars at the top table in any other way.

Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool the rich man's play things are well ahead of them and in this for the money. Currently Leicester and West Ham are operating at a higher level on less resources.

In the past 20 years they have won 2 Prem titles and 7 FA Cups. It's been awhile since the last Prem title but the last FA Cup was won 9 months ago.

[westisbest]

I'm in no way an Arsenal fan but they are easily a big 6 club in England. They're only behind Liverpool and United in terms of trophies won.

Agree with this.

On another note, pretty special when they won the league by going the whole season unbeaten.

[formerly known as Sam]

I'm in no way an Arsenal fan but they are easily a big 6 club in England. They're only behind Liverpool and United in terms of trophies won.

We're heading towards 20 years since they won anything. They aren't regulars in the top four anymore. They are a mid table club these days. They are desperate for inclusion in this Super League because they want to become relevant again much like Spurs. They aren't going to be regulars at the top table in any other way.

Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool the rich man's play things are well ahead of them and in this for the money. Currently Leicester and West Ham are operating at a higher level on less resources.

In the past 20 years they have won 2 Prem titles and 7 FA Cups. It's been awhile since the last Prem title but the last FA Cup was won 9 months ago.

Yeah you're right I was thinking Premiership which they've not won since 2004 hence nearly 20 years. Should have done the old Google to check the cup comps.

[Soul Requiem]

Leeds somehow salvage a draw against the super Liverpool.

[westisbest]

Fair play to Leeds. They’ve had a cracking season.

[Duty281]

Arsenal are not one of the 'big six' anymore. They've been on the decline for nearly 15 years, with the odd blip like when they challenged Leicester for the title, and are now a mid-table PL club about to fall out of UEFA's European competitions entirely. They're historically a big club, certainly, but so are Villa, Everton and, to some extent, Forest.

[JAS]

Arsenal are not one of the 'big six' anymore. They've been on the decline for nearly 15 years, with the odd blip like when they challenged Leicester for the title, and are now a mid-table PL club about to fall out of UEFA's European competitions entirely. They're historically a big club, certainly, but so are Villa, Everton and, to some extent, Forest.

Yet they’re in a European semi-final at the moment!! It’s a good illustration of the point though. The point being that this idea is about wealth, preserving wealth, further developing wealth, insulating against catastrophic income drop. All at the expense of others who may currently have better sporting merit but not quite the same wealth.

Uefa have been pandering to that ethos for years, what has happened is that the richest clubs have got richer, greed has festered and now not even the system that was gamed to help them is good enough.

It’s time for uefa and the FA of England Spain and Italy to decide if they’re going to be Chamberlains or Churchill’s.

[Soul Requiem]

Arsenal are not one of the 'big six' anymore. They've been on the decline for nearly 15 years, with the odd blip like when they challenged Leicester for the title, and are now a mid-table PL club about to fall out of UEFA's European competitions entirely. They're historically a big club, certainly, but so are Villa, Everton and, to some extent, Forest.

They have a nice big 60,000 seat stadium though.

[superflyweight]

Arsenal are not one of the 'big six' anymore. They've been on the decline for nearly 15 years, with the odd blip like when they challenged Leicester for the title, and are now a mid-table PL club about to fall out of UEFA's European competitions entirely. They're historically a big club, certainly, but so are Villa, Everton and, to some extent, Forest.

They have a nice big 60,000 seat stadium though.

Which will become redundant when the "franchise" gets moved to Macau.

[Soul Requiem]

Arsenal are not one of the 'big six' anymore. They've been on the decline for nearly 15 years, with the odd blip like when they challenged Leicester for the title, and are now a mid-table PL club about to fall out of UEFA's European competitions entirely. They're historically a big club, certainly, but so are Villa, Everton and, to some extent, Forest.

They have a nice big 60,000 seat stadium though.

Which will become redundant when the "franchise" gets moved to Macau.  

They'll be able to use it twice a year for Super Saturday.

[GSC]

I dunno they can convert it into another block of flats that aren't fit for purpose

[Guest]

This ESL won’t get off the ground

[GSC]

Not sure it'll last to week's end. guessing if the pl threatens expulsion then City and Chelsea will break

[Lowlandbrit]

It’s time for uefa and the FA of England Spain and Italy to decide if they’re going to be Chamberlains or Churchill’s.

That would be the Spanish FA that played their super cup in Saudi Arabia? It's also a shame that everyone seems too outraged to properly appreciate FIFA saying players need to stand with fans over money or they can't go to the Nov/Dec Qatar world cup.

[Duty281]

This ESL won’t get off the ground

According to The Times, 'at least' one English club invited into the ESL is considering withdrawing after being taken aback at the volume of opposition from fans.

[Atila]

This ESL won’t get off the ground

I don't think it's going anywhere either. Uefa will dilute the format of the current Champions League allowing more teams to compete meaning more games and more money.

[GSC]

Don't think that's the sticking point, this is about who controls the competition

[GSC]

Chelsea are now backing out so this may be wrapping up quickly

[Soul Requiem]

I'd dock all six teams points to ensure they miss out on European football next season. They have all brought the game into disrepute.

[hampo17]

I said on last nights podcast that I wouldn't follow Liverpool if this went ahead, and the more I've read today about how our owners have been one of the drivers behind this, the more I've found myself questioning whether I will follow them even if they pull out.

[GSC]

City now out too.

This is going to end up being 20 north London derbies a year

[hampo17]

Barcelona now as well

[GSC]

It's dead but let's not waste the momentum of the last 48 hours and make sure it stays dead

[Duty281]

Chelsea, City and Barca all out? Just 8 more clubs need to pull out and maybe, just maybe, Arsenal will win the European Super League.

In all seriousness, it looks like a dead duck now. A fan backlash has, it appears, achieved something. But it's been a strange few days. Reminds me, a little, of game 39, although that didn't attract anywhere near as much ire.

I hope the net effect of this is that some rotten clubs go under, and even more rotten owners get the hell out of the game. But more importantly I hope football tries to find a surer and more cost-effective financial platform across Europe. And I hope fans get better control of their clubs - emulating the Germans seems the way to go.

[GSC]

Atletico have gone as well apparently

[GSC]

We'll see if Boris' bluster matches his bite but the German model seems necessary in light of this

[GSC]

Woodward has fallen on his sword at United

[hampo17]

The Super League will be called off tonight after the 12 clubs involved called an emergancy overnight meeting.

In other rumours, Ed Woodward has apparently resigned from Manchester United.

[Soul Requiem]

There won't be a single Man United fan disappointed by that news, has almost single handedly set the club back years.

[GSC]

Now for the Glazers/FSG/Kroenkes

[Duty281]

Amazed me that Woodward ever got a job in football. Great news for United and football as a whole.

Hopefully the start of football draining the swamp.

[GSC]

Agnelli gone, Perez under pressure. Suspect all the ring leaders now have untenable positions

[GSC]

Amazed me that Woodward ever got a job in football. Great news for United and football as a whole.

Hopefully the start of football draining the swamp.

Surprisingly he got the role based on helping the Glazers saddle the club with debt

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