The Premier League thread

Poor defensively, but feels like progress since the shite we used to play under Poch.

metro.co.uk/2024/10/21/former-england-star-slammed-refusing-let-young-liverpool-fan-score-penalty-21835851/

Well done, he’s only 13

Keeper...

Good technique though, like that.

Poor game really but thought we deserved it. Eighth after 8 games, not too shabby.

Just confirms what we all knew really. Govt ans PL all complicit.

I see we have appealed Saliba's red card. I imagine on the grounds that Tosin only got a yellow. I don't expect it to get anywhere, but when PGMOL are apparently trotting out bollocks stats to try and justify it, it looks a bit shaky (Evanilson's top speed is 1kmph more than White's, so he was never going to catch him...)

Agree on the lack of pace, but seems very unlikely Palace sell Eze is January. It'd be tantamount to accepting relegation. I don't think they need the money more than they need the player. I like him too but not at what it would cost.

I don't really see what grounds we have for the appeal on Saliba, other than we don't like the subjective decision relative to other subjective decisions, and the ban on top of already being down to 10 for 60 mins 'feels a bit harsh'. Hope I'm wrong but it seems frivolous, and I suspect the club should be picking its battles better.

More generally I'd like to see a review of the rules around automatic one match bans. Ward-Prowse and Saliba got the same one match ban and that doesn't seem reasonable given the degree of intent and timings of those offences.

Rugby is so much more progressive in this regard. Trialing 20min red cards this autumn as it's recognised that certain offences need more than a yellow, but also aren't severe enough to warrant rendering the match a non-contest, nevermind influencing subsequent games.

How 'marginal' red cards should impact the present game and subsequent games should both probably be reviewed as separate (but related) items.

The way the 20min red trial will work in Rugby is that the offending player goes off immediately then after 20mins the offending club can substitute on a replacement. It will be used for instances like 'accidental head contact' but not for 'deliberate and dangerous' foul play. It all just seems very sensible to me, at least in terms of what they are trying to achieve.  I wish football would have similar grown up conversations about this stuff rather than obsess about offside lines.

Just because the head of PIF and the head of the government are the same person and the deal couldn’t take place doesn’t mean the state is involved. The club wrote down a promise to say so!

Maybe we should just accept defeat. If you can't beat them, join them. Everyone gets a state owner! Starmer to cancel HS2 and buy Arsenal and Prince William can sell the Balmoral Estate to buy Villa.

Does this come in red?

…and hopefully not rushed back into duty playing for them.

External uplighting went on for the first time today. Going to be the best stadium in the Championship etc.

Reminds me of Stamford Bridge in the 90s!

Not good news.