Premier League

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, speeeeeeedie said:

I was watching Man U-Arsenal yesterday and the commentator said that Liverpool have only 3 more points now than they did at this stage last season. Arsenal's gap is now a whopping 15 points with a game in hand. The title will be sewn up before Easter if the status quo is maintained.

The game itself was underwhelming. Man U spent over £100m on two number 9's in Hojlund and Zirkzee who managed to make toothless Arsenal look better equipped. Zirkzee plays scared and Hojlund has the first touch of a trampoline.

Zirkzee is a number 10 not a number 9. 

1 hour ago, speeeeeeedie said:

Slot has done remarkably well but he could be in for a rude awakening next season if any or all of the 3 out of contract players opt to leave. Bradley looks like he can replace TAA, but it's nigh on impossible to replicate Salah and van Dijk's contributions.

Liverpool would have planned for all 3 to leave and I think Salah and Van Dijk will stay but TAA is going. I think we know who they will sign his replacement. 

Slot has done a great job cos he has changed bits and on Saturday, he made 3 changes at half time. 

1 hour ago, speeeeeeedie said:

Relegation is all but sorted too. All 3 promoted teams were odds on for the drop before a ball was kicked. Southampton were saddled with Russell Martin. Leicester lost their manager and best player to Chelsea. 2 promotions in 2 years was a bridge too far for a hardworking yet limited Ipswich side.

The 2023-24 season was very similar with all 3 promoted teams ill-equipped to avoid relegation. Burnley decided to try to make money by buying project players with a sellable upside rather than trying to stay up. Sheff Utd sold or had to return the good players who got them promoted, and Luton tried their hardest but, like Ipswich, it was too soon for them to build any foundations.

Southampton managerial change was pointless, Juric will be gone in the summer. Rohl will probably come in. Given how things are going at Sheffield Wednesday and his problems with the owner. 

Leicester don't look the same team as last season. I wouldn't be surprised if Ruud stays and actually build his own team. They didn't sign enough players in January and worried about the PSR rules. 

Ipswich, Probably the season favourites and will keep most players 

[wilsdenrover]

The inequality gets even worse:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgdky6xd4wo

[speeeeeeedie]

I watched a couple of games over the past few days. 

Man U lost again. They had 23 shots on goal yet at the end resorted to bringing on Harry Maguire as an "emergency" striker who had an effort cleared off the line. Rashford scored for Villa. 

How Tarkowski didn't get sent off for his follow through on MacAllister is a strange one. He could have easily broke his leg.

Leicester lost again, albeit away at City. What is van Nistelrooy's record? It has to be terrible.

I see why ACD left Arsenal last year. My guess is that he saw Nwaneri coming through and realised that his days were numbered. I'll discount the fact that aside from his debut he's been fruitless for Rovers.

One moment in Arsenal's game annoyed me. Gabriel went down injured on the edge of his own box. Arsenal had possession at the time and carried on playing. They had a shot with the ball breaking to a Fulham player and immediately all the Arsenal players are shouting at the Fulham lads to put the ball out. Thankfully they didn't listen and carried on, just as Arsenal did.

[Upside Down]

one for all the "hoo wud biy uz wez a smol klub" lemmings

[Exiled_Rover]

13 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

one for all the "hoo wud biy uz wez a smol klub" lemmings

I'm obviously incredibly biased, but we're a Premier League club - similar to how Sunderland and Leeds should be Premier League clubs too.

[Upside Down]

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

I'm obviously incredibly biased, but we're a Premier League club - similar to how Sunderland and Leeds should be Premier League clubs too.

I would say you have to be in the premier league to be a premier league club but a small club, just like the two others you mentioned, we fucking ain't.

We were a small club when compared to the likes of Liverpool and the red scum, but in comparison to most, if not all of the teams in this division we're either greater than or equal to.

[roversfan99]

That has to be the end for Ange. A manager with an opinion of himself that is well beyond his ability.

[47er]

How the hell did Tarkowski escape a red card ?

[KentExile]

Just seen Ipswich's accounts from last season (made public last week)

The narrative was plucky little Ipswich punching above their weight.  

The reality was that their accounts show that their wage bill last year was a shade under £40M (£38,982,000).  Rovers by comparison was about half of that (£21,981,656)

Shows what is required to get a team promoted

 

Edited Saturday at 14:39 by KentExile

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

Just seen Ipswich's accounts from last season (made public last week)

The narrative was plucky little Ipswich punching above their weight.  

The reality was that their accounts show that their wage bill last year was a shade under £40M (£38,982,000).  Rovers by comparison was about half of that (£21,981,656)

Shows what is required to get a team promoted

 

They gambled and went for it. I thought they were incredibly lucky last year - they weren't one of the better teams we played.

[wilsdenrover]

5 hours ago, KentExile said:

Just seen Ipswich's accounts from last season (made public last week)

The narrative was plucky little Ipswich punching above their weight.  

The reality was that their accounts show that their wage bill last year was a shade under £40M (£38,982,000).  Rovers by comparison was about half of that (£21,981,656)

Shows what is required to get a team promoted

 

Their accounts also showed they spent £89 million on players since promotion and they’re almost certainly coming straight back down.

The money in the game gets more and more obscene. 

[Mashed Potatoes]

5 hours ago, KentExile said:

Just seen Ipswich's accounts from last season (made public last week)

The narrative was plucky little Ipswich punching above their weight.  

The reality was that their accounts show that their wage bill last year was a shade under £40M (£38,982,000).  Rovers by comparison was about half of that (£21,981,656)

Shows what is required to get a team promoted

 

The £38.9m figure you quote is misleading. Per Note 7 of the accounts it includes £15.6m of bonus costs payable on the club's promotion to the Premier League. Deduct that from the £38.9m and you get a number not hugely different from our wage bill.

[Mashed Potatoes]

22 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Their accounts also showed they spent £89 million on players since promotion and they’re almost certainly coming straight back down.

The money in the game gets more and more obscene. 

They are coming back down but would expect to recoup a lot of their transfer expenditure if they move on Delap,Hutchison and Greaves.

[chaddyrovers]

11 hours ago, Mashed Potatoes said:

They are coming back down but would expect to recoup a lot of their transfer expenditure if they move on Delap,Hutchison and Greaves.

Delap has £40m release club if they get relegate. Been linked with Chelsea and Man Utd

Ipswich will be promotion favourite next season. 

I wouldn't be if Leicester struggle next season and it will be interest if they change head coach. Southampton will get rid of Juric and I expect Rohl to take over. 

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

19 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

They gambled and went for it. I thought they were incredibly lucky last year - they weren't one of the better teams we played.

Average players - good manager. Sound familiar ?

[Tom]

I don’t watch much footy these days, watching the second half of the Manchester derby has reminded me why 

[Mattyblue]

Neville telling it how it is re modern football. His Sky employers won’t like it, I’d imagine though…

[chaddyrovers]

Manchester derby was an awful watch 

Fulham vs Liverpool was a great game of football and very enjoyable for a neutral fan

[roversfan99]

The Premier League has been crap this season. An average Liverpool side miles ahead and the promoted sides massively cut adrift. 

[K-Hod]

13 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Neville telling it how it is re modern football. His Sky employers won’t like it, I’d imagine though…

Neville nails it here. I think with the sterile, aimless, constant passing, not enough shots, not enough crosses, Rovers being devoid of ambition, I can never be bothered watching it, or even playing it either these days.

[arbitro]

Neville is bang on.

Probably the most sterile derby match ever - I've seen testimonials played with more intensity.

[Waggy76]

1 minute ago, arbitro said:

Neville is bang on.

Probably the most sterile derby match ever - I've seen testimonials played with more intensity.

Spot on, I watched 20 mins and switched sports Middlesex v Lancashire in the County Championship on you tube. 

Could be an interesting finish today. 

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Neville is bang on.

Probably the most sterile derby match ever - I've seen testimonials played with more intensity.

Neville and Keane was bang on post game. It was awful game to watch and both teams didn't take a risk and I was disappointed by Pep playing that way. 

[chaddyrovers]

Looks like Southampton have sacked Juric now. An appointment that never made sense. 

 

Surely they go for Rohl now, Wouldn't surprise me if they go for him now

 

[simongarnerisgod]

massive rebuilding jobs for southampton and leicester,both of them so bad i doubt they will bounce back straight away,ipswich will be favourites to go straight back up,though they need to sort that dreadful defence out