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The 2019-2020 Football Thread

Scepticalscribe said:
I sincerely hope that they don't, but I fear that whatever sanction is handed to them (perhaps a one year ban, rather than two) may be less than they deserve.
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We will find out soon. If Man City escape punishment it leaves the entire concept of FFP in ruins. Moreover, the post-COVID football landscape already looks set to be one of increased inequality; leagues will be increasingly lacking in competition and bankruptcy will affect more and more teams. Without spending controls we will end up in a situation where every league looks like the Scottish Premier League, i.e. not really a competition, but an exhibition for a couple dominant players.
 
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Apple fanboy said:
0-2 up at half time against Norwich, with Watford also losing. Could be feeling almost safe tonight.

Antonio seems like a different player since the restart. 2 goals today.
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I think West Ham are safe, for I cannot see Norwich coming back in this game from two goals down. As of this afternoon, I assume that Norwich are doomed.

Moreover, Watford are behind to Newcastle; even if they manage to scramble a point, and claim a draw, they won't threaten West Ham's position.
 
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Apple fanboy said:
I do nearly put in in my fantasy team this week. Wish I had now!
Hard to see any of the bottom three getting out of it now. A 6 point gap. Winner of our game against Watford is guaranteed safety imo.
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I think that you have already guaranteed your safety; Norwich are doomed and have been formally relegated, and I cannot see - at this late stage in the season, - either Villa or Bournemouth making up six points (which is the minimum they need, and that assumes that neither Watford nor West Ham will claim further points for the remainder of the season.)

Watford and West Ham have all but saved themselves.
 
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Its just politics and we have enough of that outside of football. Just another VAR incident but not on the pitch. Whatever they get they get lets not over analyse it.
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I so don't want to see Bournemouth go down there style of play is needed in the EPL.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
I think that you have already guaranteed your safety; Norwich are doomed and have been formally relegated, and I cannot see - at this late stage in the season, - either Villa or Bournemouth making up six points (which is the minimum they need, and that assumes that neither Watford nor West Ham will claim further points for the remainder of the season.)

Watford and West Ham have all but saved themselves.
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I'm happy with that. Since the restart we have played like a different team. Confidence is high and the team are performing well. Hopefully after a short summer break we can carry that form into the new season.
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Lord Blackadder said:
I believe they call a four goal tally for a player a ‘haul’

The relegation battle is over.
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He's in danger of getting into double figures for West ham in a season. When you look at the figures that doesn't happen all that often!
 
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The thing is, I never thought that Watford were in real danger; true, until the restart, they haven't really bestirred themselves (neither have West Ham), and begun to register victories, but they have had ten draws, which suggests to me that they are not all that easy to defeat, and I assumed that they would clock up another few draws, which would have guaranteed safety (but slowly).

For both Watford, and West Ham, two key victories have come at just the right time; it will be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, for Villa or Bournemouth to close that gap of six points on either of the two teams.
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steve1960 said:
I so don't want to see Bournemouth go down there style of play is needed in the EPL.
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After today, I cannot see any way for them to make up the difference - six points, that is, two victories, and remember, that they have won only seven matches all season - between themselves and the two teams (Watford and West Ham) that lie immediately above them.
 
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Burnley spoil Liverpool’s perfect record at Anfield through a slightly lucky goal, extraordinarily dogged defending and several excellent saves by Pope. They are an extremely frustrating team to play against. Built to feed off the tiniest of scraps. Liverpool would have won if any other keeper had been between the sticks but Pope is on fire at the moment.

Oh well, hats off to Dyche. Arsenal next, a team who are easier than Burnley to score on but also bring more firepower.

EDIT: Oh, and this decides it for me. I hate drinks breaks and I can't wait till they do away with them. It breaks up the rhythm of the match and introduces a wildcard element. If it needs to be done because of heat, sure, go ahead. but otherwise get rid of it.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Burnley spoil Liverpool’s perfect record at Anfield through a slightly lucky goal, extraordinarily dogged defending and several excellent saves by Pope. They are an extremely frustrating team to play against. Built to feed off the tiniest of scraps. Liverpool would have won if any other keeper had been between the sticks but Pope is on fire at the moment.

Oh well, hats of to Dyche. Arsenal next, a team who are easier than Burnley to score on but also bring more firepower.
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Pope was superlative, and Burnley are a well managed and well organised team, difficult to defeat; still, Liverpool had their chances, and failed to convert them when they had the Burnley goal under virtual siege for a period of time in the first half.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Burnley spoil Liverpool’s perfect record at Anfield through a slightly lucky goal, extraordinarily dogged defending and several excellent saves by Pope. They are an extremely frustrating team to play against. Built to feed off the tiniest of scraps. Liverpool would have won if any other keeper had been between the sticks but Pope is on fire at the moment.

Oh well, hats off to Dyche. Arsenal next, a team who are easier than Burnley to score on but also bring more firepower.

EDIT: Oh, and this decides it for me. I hate drinks breaks and I can't wait till they do away with them. It breaks up the rhythm of the match and introduces a wildcard element. If it needs to be done because of heat, sure, go ahead. but otherwise get rid of it.
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Agree. Its not even that hot!
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Pope was superlative, and Burnley are a well managed and well organised team, difficult to defeat; still, Liverpool had their chances, and failed to convert them when they had the Burnley goal under virtual siege for a period of time in the first half.
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I think Liverpool did enough today and against most opponents would have scored 2-3. But Pope was excellent and Burnley's goal was a bit lucky - a free kick from an incorrect offside decision preceded by a drinks break that probably dropped players' focus just a tiny bit. Fine margins.

Dyche deserves a lot of credit. Burnley probably won't win anything under him, that's tyranny of the inequality in the sport, but they are built to stay in the Premier League as long as they want if they keep playing like this.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
I think Liverpool did enough today and against most opponents would have scored 2-3. But Pope was excellent and Burnley's goal was a bit lucky - a free kick from an incorrect offside decision preceded by a drinks break that probably dropped players' focus just a tiny bit. Fine margins.

Dyche deserves a lot of credit. Burnley probably won't win anything under him, that's tyranny of the inequality in the sport, but they are built to stay in the Premier League as long as they want if they keep playing like this.
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Agreed, Dyche deserves enormous credit; eking a draw from the Premiership champions at Anfield is no mean achievement.

Re focus, I think Liverpool's issue does not come down to the drinks breaks, but the fact that they have already won the Premier League in a season well beyond when they would normally have expected to have been playing in a domestic league, and that their focus, concentration and motivation is somewhat erratic as a consequence.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Agreed, Dyche deserves enormous credit; eking a draw from the Premiership champions at Anfield is no mean achievement.

Re focus, I think Liverpool's issue does not come down to the drinks breaks, but the fact that they have already won the Premier League in a season well beyond when they would normally have expected to have been playing in a domestic league, and that their focus, concentration and motivation is somewhat erratic as a consequence.
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Agreed. As I said the other day a record points tally isn’t that exciting to a player. Winning trophies is what people remember.
I think their minds are already on holiday or thinking about next season.
Personally if I was Klopp I’d be resting the stars and playing the kids.
 
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