2020/2021 English Premier League

[Roughneck]

Rennes could have gotten twice as much for Mendy if they held out just a couple more days.

[VladtheImpaler]

Well, that was frustrating. Didn't show up in the first half, then should have won it in the 2nd, but missed a bunch of sitters. MCI without Laporte is very vulnerable and Mendy sucks - should have been awake to start the game.

[J epworth]

Emi Martinez with the perfect start to his Aston Villa career, with a huge penalty save for his first save of the season. Happy with the new signings so far, if they manage to get Rachica so villa can have pace on both wings and get Grealish back centrally it’ll be a perfect transfer window.

[Slava]

Quite a scenario developing today as Spurs are supposed to play Leyton Orient in the League Cup. There are something like 9 positive cases (or maybe as many as 18, apparently) for Orient, so they can't play. They also can't find a way to reschedule this because Spurs are already playing 4 games this week (which in and of itself is ridiculous, and surely the FA should've done something about that in the first place).

Anyway, you might think that they've thought this kind of eventuality through? I guess they have, only Orient doesn't want to forfeit, the game can't be played or rescheduled in time for the 4th round and no one seems to have conclusive info on what is going to happen. Kick off is supposed to be in 2.5 hours.

[Matty81]

Return of fans pushed back... going to have a huge impact on the lower league clubs financially. Expect premier league clubs to pillage any prospects of quality from the champ and league 1 to stock their benches and u23s over the next couple months.

The EPL clubs will take a hit too, especially the bigger clubs who are bringing in 40-60k a game at home and rely on gates as a meaningful chunk of their revenue, but still getting pretty significant tv payments and would expect the smaller prem teams with smaller crowds and the champ teams getting parachute payments are in the best spot and taking the smallest hit. (or I guess even better to have a sugar daddy owner where money is no object a la City/Chelsea/Wolves/Everton lol)

[Swift]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Return of fans pushed back... going to have a huge impact on the lower league clubs financially. Expect premier league clubs to pillage any prospects of quality from the champ and league 1 to stock their benches and u23s over the next couple months.

This kind of thing may be seen as a positive by lower league clubs in the short term. They get to reduce their wage bills (maybe offloading some of their higher earners) and bring some cash into the club. Not great in the long term obviously, but a lot of them are just trying to keep their heads above water right now. I see that the govt is preparing a bailout too.


The National League is expected to postpone the start of their season. They were expecting matchday revenues and won't be getting that now.

[Matty81]

Yeah if the teams can completely shut down probably makes life easier... the clubs who have to keep playing trying to meet payroll and play with no ticket revenue who don't get the EPL TV money or parachute payments are going to be hurting, expect the lowball offers are going to be flowing

[Locke]

I may have to consider becoming a Wrexham United Fan.

The Wrexham Supporters Trust Board, which runs the former EFL team, announced on Wednesday that Reynolds, who has starred in films such as "Deadpool" and "Blade: Trinity," along with fellow actor Rob McElhenney have been in talks with the club over a proposed investment.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/wrexham/...r-club-wrexham

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Slava

Quite a scenario developing today as Spurs are supposed to play Leyton Orient in the League Cup. There are something like 9 positive cases (or maybe as many as 18, apparently) for Orient, so they can't play. They also can't find a way to reschedule this because Spurs are already playing 4 games this week (which in and of itself is ridiculous, and surely the FA should've done something about that in the first place).

Anyway, you might think that they've thought this kind of eventuality through? I guess they have, only Orient doesn't want to forfeit, the game can't be played or rescheduled in time for the 4th round and no one seems to have conclusive info on what is going to happen. Kick off is supposed to be in 2.5 hours.

Wasn't it cancelled the night before? I know not officially but all the journos said it wouldn't be going ahead

The most ridiculous part was ollie holt saying how dare spurs take advantage of orient and get a bye to the next round, this will kill smaller clubs

Well ollie, spurs paid for their covid tests, and the spurs captain sponsors their shirts... maybe pick a different example

[Slava]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Wasn't it cancelled the night before? I know not officially but all the journos said it wouldn't be going ahead

The most ridiculous part was ollie holt saying how dare spurs take advantage of orient and get a bye to the next round, this will kill smaller clubs

Well ollie, spurs paid for their covid tests, and the spurs captain sponsors their shirts... maybe pick a different example

Well everyone knew they’d have to do something, but it wasn’t officially called off until a couple hours ahead. And at the time they were still deciding what to do. They could have waited until tomorrow, because a loss in Macedonia would open some dates!

I actually think this was poorly handled. Spurs paid for the tests and obviously it’s a good thing they did. But the problem here is that it encourages less testing. You get the positives and lose the opportunity for the game. I don’t know what the solution is here (maybe moving league games until they could be made up later), but to have Orient just miss out on the game in general isn’t great.

[VladtheImpaler]

Well, at least the Wolves' 3rds are a sweet, sweet burgundy.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Well, at least the Wolves' 3rds are a sweet, sweet burgundy.

Now they are truly team Portugal

[VladtheImpaler]

Another Portuguese national team player to the Wolves to replace Doherty - Semedo. Mendy to Chelsea done. Rice next. Loftus-Cheek loan to Southampton? That should be good for both teams and the player because he looks awful in blue, but might find his stride in a different set-up.

[devo22]

Brighton have hit the woodwork 5 times today, crazy. Extremely unlucky if they lose this, they have been the better team and it hasn't been close.

[VladtheImpaler]

Jebus, how I hate that fluky POS team.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Jebus, how I hate that fluky POS team.

It's ok Team Mendes. You'll grow to love them.

[The Big Chill]

I only saw bits and pieces, but United looked terrible. Lucky to get one point, let alone three.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I only saw bits and pieces, but United looked terrible. Lucky to get one point, let alone three.

Oh, no argument there.
They were crap.
But something special to get a penalty after the final whistle. Clear penalty.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Oh, no argument there.
They were crap.
But something special to get a penalty after the final whistle. Clear penalty.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Ole time > Fergie time.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I only saw bits and pieces, but United looked terrible. Lucky to get one point, let alone three.

yup, shambolic display again. Brighton deserved to win this.