The Premier League - 2019/20

Saudi Arabia sovereign-wealth fund/Saudi Crown Prince in talks to buy Newcastle:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-in-340m-takeover-talks-21357266

Grim.

 

Supposedly a cousin of one of the Sheikhs was interested not too long ago, but they weren't actually that wealthy.

I wonder if the Newcastle fans will keep protesting once they have owners even more morally dubious than Ashley, or if the likely extra money will keep them quiet.

 

They probably just saw the words ..castle and though that must be posh, we'll buy that.

 

For something similar they could have also bought Peterborough.

 

Why are the BBC showing Manchester City at home to Fulham? What a boring choice. A prem game from last season, half empty stadium, no atmosphere, away fans eating hummus in the stands....

 

Viewing figures and sponsors.

 

There are many matches id have watched. But this isn't one of them. Spectacle over 20 minutes in.

 

The BBC sports reporter on the news this evening described the Shrewsbury v Liverpool result as “a major shock”. Was it?
They didn’t win, they will almost certainly lose the replay and they were largely playing a Liverpool youth team who were previously smashed by Aston Villa.
Our defeat to Tranmere rightly wasn’t classed as a major shock, given the circumstances, and I think it’s very difficult to get one in the Cup these days. Perhaps the only true one would be if a lower division club beat Man City, who always put out a very strong, if not their strongest, team.

 

Had VAR been available at Shrewsbury, I think they would have been awarded a 2nd penalty for the clear handball in the area by the Liverpool defender late in the game.

Just another reason that VAR should not be used in the FA Cup!!!

 

But on the other hand they wouldn’t have been awarded the first as the foul was just outside the area.
VAR in the cup is equal for both teams. Bit like a pudding pitch. Either the’ve got it or they haven’t, but what is bizarre is one game may have it but the replay doesn’t.
( But same as a pudding pitch I suppose).

 

And Liverpool would also have had a penalty in the first half, for clear handball.

 

I don’t think it is the same as the pudding pitch.

That is a “natural” phenomenon and, while human intervention can improve it, there are limits to what can be done.

The presence or absence of VAR is purely within human control, in this case the control of those who make the rules of the game.

 

Use or non use of VAR can be argued both ways for cup games I guess.

 

On this forum anything can be argued at least three ways.

 

I disagree.

 

With Liverpool's announcement that they will treat the replay to Shrewsbury as an U23 match, including the U23 manager, I think the football lawmakers need a rethink on squad sizes.

Personally I think it's disrespectful to the competition that Klopp is not going to be taking the team, there is no reason for that, apart from making a point.

However, here is my proposal in enabling clubs to field stronger teams throughout periods of fixture congestion.

• First, I would increase the 25-man squad to 26. Each team can have one extra player right across the board.
• Then, I'd change the U21 rule, meaning any 'home grown' player under the age of 23 can be used.
• Finally, any player who came through your academy can be used in your squad regardless of age. So in our case we could have 26 players plus Mariappa and all those youngsters under 23.

It would improve the overall size of squad and would help teams to play stronger sides in cup replays or over Christmas, for example.

You could maybe expand the 18-man matchday squad to 19 as well, so more players are included.

 

Klopp is the biggest **** in world football. The mask slips everytime something doesnt go his way. He's a nasty piece of work.

Of course most of the posters on here would like to fellate him. Our fans are a joke.

 

I've been telling anyone who will listen the same ever since we beat them 3-0 in the first PL season. He was a sore loser that day.

 

Or, rather than allowing clubs to stockpile players, the authorities could stop the proliferation of pointless competitions so that those with history and substance can be competed for properly.

 

That's the kind of binary thinking that's deeply offensive in this day and age.

 

Not for computer programmers it isn't.

 

How can it be right that based on my #853 scenario had the game been at Liverpool they could be out of the cup already, but because it was at Shrewsbury Liverpool have got a replay?

Not only is that unfair to the teams involved but also to other teams taking part in the FA Cup that played under VAR conditions. In fact a prime example is that had our 3-3 draw with Tranmere been played at there ground we would have won 3-1 and would have played Man U Sunday instead of them.

VAR should only be used in the PL at present until all other leagues in the professional game in England have VAR facilities as well, otherwise it is not a level playing field IMO.

 

I don't really see it as stockpiling. One extra player is not too much. You would be rewarded for producing your own players as well under this system and giving more opportunity to younger players, as those U23's can be included instead of being moved on once they reach 21.

 

There are 10 types of people in the world.

Those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

So when we buy Jadon Sancho, would he count as a player who came through our academy?

 

Yes...and Harry Kane.

 

Its time we exercised that buy-back clause.
Not that he'd get in the team ahead of Troy.

 

Did you not read the posts in response to our original scenario? Whilst I didn't watch it, others have said if VAR had been used Liverpool would also have had an earlier penalty and a Shrewsbury goal would have been disallowed.

 

It's nearly Cheltenham festival time so I expect he has to return the teeth to their rightful owner!

 

Yes I did read the responses and that is why I said it was BASED ON MY SCENARIO IN #853 and not on what they had pointed out

 

Does a trial count as "coming through the academy"?