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[Football] Premier League this season



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Hovegull

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2022
616
So far an interesting season being that the winner and the relegation spots are pretty much decided and have been for a while…and the mid table is actually the most interesting part as so many are in contention for 6th place.

For Liverpool to be so far out in front, whilst not playing the best football ever seems to be suggesting something.
Is it that a handful of teams have completely underachieved and therefore Liverpool have had no competition pretty much from the get go.
Or have the mid table teams done much better than expected and improved their quality and therefore won more games than usual whilst being more of a threat to play against.
Or have teams such as Spurs and United being so atrocious given everyone a boost, along with the fact that any team can now beat Man City and it’s not of any consequence.
 




Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
71,405
Withdean area
Hovegull said:
So far an interesting season being that the winner and the relegation spots are pretty much decided and have been for a while….

For Liverpool to be so far out in front, whilst not playing the best football ever seems to be suggesting something.
Is it that a handful of teams have completely unachieved and therefore Liverpool have had no competition pretty much from the get go.
Or have the mid table teams done much better than expected and improved their quality
Click to expand...

Until Arsenal lost to West Ham on 22 Feb, the media/pundits thought Liverpool had cracked, drooling over Arteta’s mass defence, 1-0 wins and clever use of Pulis ball at set pieces and running the clock down in first halves as we saw at the Amex … WTF after a £750m spend. Arteta tried to play mind games with a couple of comments, completely ignored by Slot. Forest were never really in it, City imploded, so a two horse race. Arteta, their fans and some media fanboys examined ref/VAR decisions to the nth degree post match after match for 6 months, any non-win due to they’re all out to get us.

There’s been a financial trend for possibly 4 years now where 17 clubs have unprecedented broadcasting riches, spent wisely making excellent first XI’s. Squads that are tired from a midweek European game, face a fully energised Bmuff, Albion, Fulham at the weekend waiting to run them ragged, and they often do. Upset results are common. Incompetence from top to bottom eg Spurs, West Ham and ManU exploited by all and sundry. 20 years ago it was almost a procession that the top 5 were pretty much the same clubs, perhaps one club only having a mid table season.
 
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BevBHA

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2017
2,714
I think it’s a reflection that the other clubs outside the ‘big 6’ now mostly all have one or multiple players that could easily play for the top teams. Just look at Cunha at wolves. He could play for any team in this league easily, and they are 17th!

I think gone are the days of a run away top 4 or top 6, I think this will be the new norm.
 


H

Hovegull

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2022
616
A lot of people thought Chelsea would be in the race this year too…yet whilst they haven’t done as badly as last season, they could have done a lot more this season. We’ve proved that beating them is as easy as being thumped 5-0 by them.
 


kevo

kevo

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2008
10,119
We currently have THIRTEEN points more than Spurs and United. Whatever way you think about it, that is quite incredible.

I think the 'paradigm shift' is that once a club becomes established in the Premier League, there is now a more level playing field as income comes from TV money not how many people come through the turnstiles.
 




Eeyore

Eeyore

Munching grass in Queen's Park
NSC Patron
Apr 5, 2014
27,608
kevo said:
We currently have THIRTEEN points more than Spurs and United. Whatever way you think about it, that is quite incredible.

I think the 'paradigm shift' is that once a club becomes established in the Premier League, there is now a more level playing field as income comes from TV money not how many people come through the turnstiles.
Click to expand...
I would also add that wise recruitment strategy realises that there is a not a lot of difference between a £25m player and a £60m player if you get it right.

See, err, Brighton.
 


W

warmleyseagull

Well-known member
Apr 17, 2011
4,472
Beaminster, Dorset
The intensity of playing in Europe has a bearing, even just the extra two games in CL; Villa won yesterday for first time after playing previous midweek. Arsenal have had striker problem, City had the run that no-one on the planet would have forecast caused by poor replacement planning for De Bruyne, Walker and others, and over reliance on Rodri. Liverpool will struggle next season if they lose Salah, AA, and Van Dijk
 


H

Hovegull

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2022
616
Heard a stat that if the PL had started when Moyes took over Everton, they’d be top of the league. If it had started when Amorim took over at United, they’d be 4th from bottom.

Will Amorim get another season?
Which other managers are unlikely to make it to Christmas 2025?
 




bhafc99

bhafc99

Well-known member
Oct 14, 2003
7,585
Dubai
Eeyore said:
I would also add that wise recruitment strategy realises that there is a not a lot of difference between a £25m player and a £60m player if you get it right.
Click to expand...
Ability and skills-wise I think you’re right.

But maybe there is a difference in attitude. And in fact the £25m player is often more eager to be part of a team unit, and less likely to suffer from a prima donna ‘galatico’ mindset that doesn’t always gel as a team. That (arguably) has been one of Man Utd’s issues over recent years.
 


JBizzle

JBizzle

Well-known member
Apr 18, 2010
6,588
Seaford
Hovegull said:
Heard a stat that if the PL had started when Moyes took over Everton, they’d be top of the league. If it had started when Amorim took over at United, they’d be 4th from bottom.

Will Amorim get another season? - Yes, he will.
Which other managers are unlikely to make it to Christmas 2025? - I reckon Maresca will go in about November, RvN and Juric will be sacked at the end of the season (if they get far)
Click to expand...
Everton have 16 points since the 11th Jan when he was appointed, Palace have 18, as do we and Liverpool have 23. That's just off the top of my head
 








Nobby Cybergoat

Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
9,482
I don't think there are any patterns to discern here.

Liverpool, are a solid side with the best attacking player in the world. If nobody else really gets it together, that should be easily enough

Arsenal are not all that. They seem to be appalled they've had to cope with this thing called "injuries". But this has allowed them to bring through young players, which they otherwise would not have done. They should be competitive for years to come, but I doubt will win anything

Agree with what everyone has said that conditions are ripe for a team to come from the middle and really threaten at the top. I didn't think it would be Forest, but well done to them
 


G

Greg Bobkin

Silver Seagull
May 22, 2012
17,134
Hovegull said:
Heard a stat that if the PL had started when Moyes took over Everton, they’d be top of the league. If it had started when Amorim took over at United, they’d be 4th from bottom.

Will Amorim get another season?
Which other managers are unlikely to make it to Christmas 2025?
Click to expand...
Moyes to Old Traff...

Oh.
 




Beanstalk

Beanstalk

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2017
3,267
London
It's the healthiest I've seen the Premier League. 14 points separate 16th and 5th - last year at this stage it was 29 points, 21 the year before. For the first time I can think of, there are five teams within 3 points of a Champions League place (5th place coefficient does help this). Liverpool will be worthy champions and if they can continue their PPG form so far, then they will finish on 92 points, more than any team have amassed in the last three years - ignore Arsenal's weak attempt to challenge them.

The level of talent across the league is remarkable. Wolves have one of the best players outside the top 4 in Cunha and really, should be on track to go down. They're currently cruising towards 31 points if they continue their form and that should, generally, be enough to relegate you. The promoted three's inability to score or defend is absolutely mental (only three sides to have under a goal a game scored and the three leakiest defences). Saying that, Delap could potentially finish as a top 10 scorer in the league.
 


A

alanfp

Well-known member
Feb 23, 2024
232
So to answer the questions in the op's post:
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
dunno.

But either way, isn't it entertaining! This season in particular, you never know what the final result is going to be and that's the great thing about watching all sorts of sport. And also why I never leave a football match until the final whistle has been blown.
 


H

Hotchilidog

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2009
9,374
The teams in the middle are better and the league is all the better for it. We are good, Bournemouth and Fulham are also good. Brentford are decent if not at the level of the previously mentioned teams. Forest have spent a load of cash, but Nuno has done a great coaching job in maximising the potential of his squad.

I think the likes of Spurs and United are just badly run football clubs, idiot owners and impatient fanbases making room for better run anymore adventurous teams to take their place.

Whilst there is no drama at the top or bottom, the competition for those European spots will be thrilling, and we are involved. 10 cup finals and a possible ACTUAL cup final await.
 


H

Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
3,788
Top teams underperforming
Mid table teams overperforming
Bottom 3 light years away from anyone but Wolves
 


Mellotron

Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
32,742
Brighton
As others have said - most starting 11s between 3rd-16th are much of a muchness, but the right mentality, motivation and a manager with a cogent plan can be the difference.

I think we are also seeing a lot of sides "in transition", and Man City and Arsenal both running out of steam a little after gargantuan efforts the last few seasons.
 


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