2025/2026 English Premier League Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Locke

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...parma-defender

Italian CB, excellent.

Young italians never seem to develop well in the EPL, which hopefully isn't the case this time because Italy needs some of these promising youngsters to actually develop into world class talents.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I said it in the previous thread, but I give Liverpool a lot of credit for not deluding themselves into thinking they won last year in dominant fashion against a stacked PL. They were very good, but last year was easily the worst quality PL season since the Leicester miracle and they faded in the second half once Salah cooled off from his torrid start. Also wonder if seeing Man City implode last year made them think it was better to risk turning it over a year too soon rather than a year too late.

Exactly.

Salah - Incredible, but getting up there in age.
VVD - Incredible, but getting up there in age.
Robertson - Same plus injuries

Now we get to see how Slot can manage minutes.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Young italians never seem to develop well in the EPL, which hopefully isn't the case this time because Italy needs some of these promising youngsters to actually develop into world class talents.

VVD will sort him out. Liverpool's got your back!

[Matty81]

I can't believe Liverpool are haggling over so hard over a 10 million valuation gap for Guehi. They are getting an absolute steal if they pay 40 million for him. I get that he only has one year left on his contract, but you're buying England's starting CB who just turned 25, a club captain who has a ton of proven premier league and cup experience already... insane to me they would be hard balling Palace and offering 20-25 million after they just paid 30 million for some no name Italian, who by all accounts looks a good prospect but has played 17 Serie A games. And nevermind the unproven players that are going for 50 million plus.

I know they are betting he will go there next summer on a free if they don't pay a fair price this window, but some of the other big boys in europe who can't compete on a transfer fee but can on wages will be involved next summer if they wait for his deal to run down, and they need the help now, I thought VVD looked a step or two slower this year in the shield. Also for Palace it absolutely cooks them the later this goes into the window and the less time they have to replace him.

Some talk gathering steam that an Elliott Guehi swap might happen with Palace paying an extra 10-20, which makes a lot of sense if Eze goes to Spurs. but 80% of the stuff online right now is made up crap so hard to tell if that is real

[MegaErtz]

I think the deal hinges on whether Liverpool can offload Konate. He seems intent on leaving next summer on a free, so no need to bring in Guehi if they can swap Konate for him next summer for nothing.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

I think the deal hinges on whether Liverpool can offload Konate. He seems intent on leaving next summer on a free, so no need to bring in Guehi if they can swap Konate for him next summer for nothing.

I get the logic, but I think waiting and gambling they will get him is a huge risk when you can get a player of that quality for 35-40 million now. They should have bought him over the Italian player... the kid looks like a decent prospect but he may never even be a premier league starter and you could have had one of the best CBs in the world in my opinion for almost the same price, it's a crazy decision.

If they need more money now, I think they should move once the greek CB is sold, as it sounds like he'll be gone in the next couple weeks for 15 million or so.

I feel like one of the Spanish giants will come in for Guehi next season if he shows well in europe this year, those clubs seem to do their business on frees lately with their transfer funds being lower but their wage bills are still massive. And as much as Liverpool are a great side, I don't think most players would choose them over a giant club in the spanish sun. Or what if Liverpool stumble this year and someone else like Chelsea is on top next summer who also have interest in him. They have a free hit right now and should take it.

[Locke]

New Rules! Everyone's favourite!

1. The war on holding on corners and set pieces

Throughout the second half of last season, players holding an opponent inside the penalty area seemed to be on the increase -- and now it will be an area of focus for referees in 2025-26.

The considerations:

- Sustained holding. If the holding is fleeting, there may be no impact on the opponent

- Impact on an opponent's ability to play or challenge for the ball

- A clear non-footballing action where the offending player has no interest in playing the ball

- Mutual holding by both players usually will not be penalised

There's also going to be a focus on simulation

2. Goalkeeper holding the ball for too long = corner

We know the situation. A shot comes in or a corner is floated over, and the goalkeeper first flops on the ground for 10 seconds, or longer. Then he stands up, surveys his options, and looks around. Maybe then he'll release the ball, only after some 30 seconds have been lost. Spread that across a game, and it can have a real effect on a match.

It's been a bugbear of supporters for quite a while. Most often used by away teams trying to protect a lead in a difficult match, it has evolved somewhat to become part of a team's tactics simply to frustrate the opposition.

3. What about VAR?

The Premier League will continue to apply a high threshold on VAR interventions, underpinned by "referee's call," with 83% in support of it in the Premier League's football stakeholder survey of coaches, captains, ex-players and supporters.

VAR errors last season fell to 18 (from 31 in 2023-24) though fan perception probably doesn't match that.

Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be in place from round one, which should help to reduce delays. Last season, the average VAR delay per match fell from 64 seconds to 39 seconds.

The SAOT replays will now be showed on the big screens inside grounds, along with disallowed goals.

4. Handball penalties

Last season the Premier League only saw nine penalties awarded for handball -- by far the lowest number across the top leagues in Europe.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...refcam-holding

Theres a bunch more but I cant post that much of an article so go have a look!

[Slava]

lol, only 9 handball penalties because no one knows what it is anymore.

[Locke]

I do like not letting the goalies hang on to the ball forever, that always annoys me. Although, it doesnt hurt that this rule effectively ends Jordan Pickford's entire career.

I'll wait and see.

The scrums at corners and set pieces? Very subjective.
Handball? As you said, very subjective.

Lets see how it pans out over the season.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

I do like not letting the goalies hang on to the ball forever, that always annoys me. Although, it doesnt hurt that this rule effectively ends Jordan Pickford's entire career.

I'll wait and see.

The scrums at corners and set pieces? Very subjective.
Handball? As you said, very subjective.

Lets see how it pans out over the season.

Well, we already know how it plays out. Clubs like United, Liverpool, City, Arsenal, and Chelsea get the better decisions, while other clubs get a bunch of weird rulings about why that is handball against them or whatever.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well, we already know how it plays out. Clubs like United, Liverpool, City, Arsenal, and Chelsea get the better decisions, while other clubs get a bunch of weird rulings about why that is handball against them or whatever.

And they say all you Spurs fans are like a ray of sunshine.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mean effectively calling Spurs a small club is a curious approach lol.

[Slava]

I think Tottenham is a big club and I don't think City is. But that's not really the point...we all know how this plays out.

[devo22]

Roma have made an offer worth £20million (€23.2m, $27.1m) to sign Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho on a permanent transfer.

The bulk of the Italian club’s offer is a fixed upfront fee, which is inclusive of add-ons, but there is an acknowledgement that it would be a tricky deal to complete. Club-to-club talks are at an early stage and there has not yet been any indication from Sancho on whether he would be open to the move.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...shared_article


"tricky deal" my ass. Rome is actually a sweet landing spot off the pitch, he ought to be thankful for an offer like that.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Slava

I think Tottenham is a big club and I don't think City is. But that's not really the point...we all know how this plays out.

Funny story, Spurs got more net benefit from VAR last year than City...or any of the "big clubs" for that matter. Newcastle getting more than twice as much benefit as anyone else is interesting, though. Saudi bucks trump Dubai bucks, I guess.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...e-club-2024-25

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean effectively calling Spurs a small club is a curious approach lol.

I'm a Spurs fan but let's be honest here - when it comes to prestige and influence they aren't on the same level as United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and City.

Like it or not but Spurs are probably the top of the next tier of teams when it comes to EPL prestige and influence. (Probably includes teams like Everton, Newcastle, Villa, West Ham in that next tier)

And I think that would be supported by the table and results over the last 25 years. Since 00/01 the only team that wasn't one of the Big 5 to win a title was the magical Leicester season. And those 5 teams also the top 5 in terms of total results in that time too - https://www.football365.com/premier-...r-league-table

If Spurs want to break into that group they need to figure out how to actually win the EPL.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The whole concept of "big club/small club" is just for childish banter. It's really "rich club/poor club" and Spurs are certainly rich now that they've got that sweet stadium money flowing in. But really, all PL teams are richer than most of Europe, you see these rumours of Fulham and West Ham throwing £50 million at players, their La Liga or Bundesliga equivalents can't even come close to having that ability.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The whole concept of "big club/small club" is just for childish banter. It's really "rich club/poor club" and Spurs are certainly rich now that they've got that sweet stadium money flowing in. But really, all PL teams are richer than most of Europe, you see these rumours of Fulham and West Ham throwing £50 million at players, their La Liga or Bundesliga equivalents can't even come close to having that ability.

Yeah EPL has the money that the Serie A, Bundesliga, and La Liga can't compete with.

And outside of the biggest clubs in those leagues you're going to see them become a feeder for the EPL more and more as time passes and more money gets fed into the EPL.