The Premier League - 2021-2022

Interesting idea. I agree some sort of Premier League 1 and 2 to allow the big six the space for their European league is extremely likely within five years.

 

Completely incomparable gambles.

 

Yes.
It's going to happen sooner than later.
The sooner the better I hope.

 

I think the advantage of this model is that it allows 32 teams to participate in the PL even though the bottom 20 are essentially in a PL2 for half the season. It means that a lot more teams can exist within the premier league format rather than rebranding the championship as PL2 which wouldnt really change anything apart from probably transfer wealth from the elite to clubs like us and Forest which would result in the top clubs being less competitive in Europe and having worse players.

My model would generate much more cash for the PL as a whole, there would be a lot more big games and the overall quality of football would be higher. It would also mean about a third of league clubs could participate in the PL each season which would benefit a lot of small and medium sized clubs like us.

Examples:
Watford - would be much more likely to be an 'established' PL team. In the 1st half of the season we would play 5 of the big 10 (current big 6 plus Newcastle, Celtic, Rangers and the Irish franchise). In the 2nd half of the season we would be competing with teams like Palace, Villa, Forest and Middlesbrough to stay in the PL.

Man City - would play 11 games against teams outside the big 10 in the first half of the season but almost all their games in the 2nd half would be more competitive higher quality games against big 10 sides. They would make even more money, have an even better team and be even more competitive in Europe.

Everyone's a winner!

 

In the past month or so I've gone from thinking we might have a slight chance of staying up, to realising we're down and wanting Everton to join us, to realising that Burnley would be a less difficult opponent for us in the Championship, to realising that we're probably not going up regardless of who comes down with us, with Leeds being added to the mix for good measure. Come on Burnley I guess?

 

Those prats at Goodison throwing flares onto the pitch. Didn't they notice the trouble Richarlison is in for throwing one back, and the risk of punishment for the club?

 

That's because they were playing the current media darlings.

 

The parade of shame: Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton.
The four teams who couldn't beat one of the worst to ever 'grace' the Premier League.

 

Fact I've just realised from yesterday's games: West Ham are the only team to take points from Man City and lose the reverse fixture. All the 8 other games City have failed to win have come home and away against Palace, Liverpool, Southampton and Spurs.

 

Man City are the only members of the current top 4 not to lose at the London Stadium. Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal did.

Spurs are unbeaten in all four matches this season against Liverpool and City.

@WillisWasTheWorst thats a good stat you posted. It’s a little like the opposite of us isn’t it, in the sense that a large percentage of our unbeaten matches have come against the same clubs.,Man u, Villa, Everton, Newcastle

 

Where’s the pre-season prediction thread? Nearly time to crack that open

 

Number one in Europe.
I understand that Watford now hold the record for the number of nutmegs achieved in one season.
PSG were the previous holders of such a prestigious award.
Champions League here we come..

 

Yeah, if Sunderland come up from L1 don’t rule out even them challenging. Wycombe - not so much, LOL.

 

It could potentially be bad for Scottish football but it would make it more competitive. Theyd keep their European places so it would give other scottish teams the chance to qualify for the CL. Celtic and Rangers would have to qualify for the CL via the PL as with Cardiff and Swansea etc. They could potentially take part in the scottish cups instead of the English ones. Relegation for the Scottish and Northern Irish (has to be in the UK) teams would be the same as with Cardiff, Swansea etc.
I dont see how UEFA could block this given the precedent of UK teams outside of England playing in the English leagues. Obviously if the Irish team was in Dublin it'd be a different situation. Id sell a franchise near a motorway in NI, between Belfast and Dublin. They could build the stadium in a field. Im sure they could easily sell 60k seats a game for a PL team on the island.

 

More damning and disturbing news out of the club. The club is clearly an utter train wreck. This has been going on for years now. We need a clear out at the top of the club. The decision makers are not fit for purpose.
https://www.football365.com/news/hodgson-watford-squad-feel-team-mates-no-support-premier-league

 

Having watched their play-off semi final, I think Sunderland would have a lot to do to upgrade their squad enough to seriously challenge in their first season. However, being a big club definitely gives them a competitive advantage when it comes to player recruitment if everything else is equal.

 

I dont really see it as blame. More a case of shining a light on how deep rooted the problems at the club are. Foster is basically saying the dressing room is unmanagable. He's seen a lot in football and is an honest guy. I believe him. Roy goes on to point the finger at the owners and the decsion makers. Whatever u think about Roy, he knows more about football than anyone at WFC and anyone on this forum. He literally just pointed the finger at the owners and decision makers. I believe both Roy and Foster. Both are honest men with integrity, both are the most experienced person in the Premier League in their position. Thanks to both for shining a light on the Pozzbury trainwreck. How many people on this forum could do their dad's job as well as them? I dont think I could and I know Gino sure as hell can't. That doesn't mean he should step down but it does mean he should surround himself with people who are much more talented than he is NOT yes man charlatans. Time to end this disastrous jumped up little caesar rich kid circus Gino! Man up u little biyatch!!

 

tbf I think that's a red herring. We don't know what other players are up to - spending hours a day gaming anonymously, which seems to be the hobby many players these days are into, is more likely to affect concentration levels than a bit of podcasting.

 

Anne Swanson on the bench for Arsenal tonight....go girl!

 

Arsenal game or Luton game??

 

I felt exactly so when as the Hornets stuck it to AV in week one! Oh how cheerily this year started…
That said, I’m looking forward to Championship games again!!

 

Newcastle 1-0 up against Arsenal.

Clearly I underestimated them when I say Arsenal's game against them was more than winnable, Newcastle often make it tough for the top teams even when they're very average.

 

I think out of the numerous chokes Arsenal have had, that has to be up there among the biggest.

Four points clear with three games to go with actually a golden opportunity to put their only rival for the last Champions League spot all but out of reach - and they've already blown it bar a miracle from Norwich.

 

Southampton take the lead against Liverpool then start singing the National Anthem. Superb.

 

This Sheff Ewe Forest match is a bit tasty

 

Much though I dislike City I hope Southampton win this so we can hear the end of this media hyping of this “exciting” title race which is really the English equivalent of Rangers vs Celtic.