Indeed. Left it late though. We can only finish sixth or seventh now. Unless Everton can overturn out GD by 8 goals.
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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
- Start date
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West Ham have won 3-1 against West Brom.
The "own goal" by Tomas Soucek has now been awarded to the corner-taker from West Brom.
West Ham now have 62 points and are 6th in the table.
If they draw or beat Southampton on Sunday, they will remain 6th, should still play in Europe, and as Scepticalscribe pointed out, would be the 2nd best London-based team in the league.
Liverpool have beaten Burnley 3-0 tonight and are in 4th place, with a better goal difference (24) than Leicester (20).
Leicester (H) would have to beat Spurs (A) and Liverpool (H) would have to draw/lose against Crystal Palace (A) on Sunday (Roy Hodgson's last game as a manager) in order for Leicester to finish in the top 4.
Chelsea (A) could also draw against Aston Villa (H) on Sunday (68 points), and if both Leicester and Liverpool win (69 points each), then Chelsea could be pushed out of the top 4.
The "own goal" by Tomas Soucek has now been awarded to the corner-taker from West Brom.
West Ham now have 62 points and are 6th in the table.
If they draw or beat Southampton on Sunday, they will remain 6th, should still play in Europe, and as Scepticalscribe pointed out, would be the 2nd best London-based team in the league.
Liverpool have beaten Burnley 3-0 tonight and are in 4th place, with a better goal difference (24) than Leicester (20).
Leicester (H) would have to beat Spurs (A) and Liverpool (H) would have to draw/lose against Crystal Palace (A) on Sunday (Roy Hodgson's last game as a manager) in order for Leicester to finish in the top 4.
Chelsea (A) could also draw against Aston Villa (H) on Sunday (68 points), and if both Leicester and Liverpool win (69 points each), then Chelsea could be pushed out of the top 4.
I can't see my Saints putting up much of a fight against the Hammers, if I am honest. They seem to have just gone off the boil again and despite playing some very attractive football, seem to have zero killer instinct.
Hammers to take the points and Saints to limp into the off-season to be stripped of all decent players again and start all over again - over achieving in the first half of the season and falling to pieces in the second half as the lack of investment starts to show.
One game left and lots of teams with plenty left to play for. It will be good to hear fans roaring at Anfield again.
I remember watching a VR video of Anfield (pitchside), as the crowd roared into life and belted out "YNWA". Spine tingling. And I'm not, nor never have been a Liverpool fan.
Fair to say, there's nothing quite like it...
I think it would show the contempt they have for the ESL debacle if they decided to not show up!
I'm torn, of course. BOTH my clubs have been making boneheaded decisions lately and it's stressing me out - football is supposed to be an escape, not just another manifestation of everything that's wrong with the world.
Right now Spirit of Shankly have been having talks with FSG, just as the Nordecke had talks with Columbus ownership after the re-rebrand affair. So for the present, while I am not buying any club merchandise or going to matches, I am not blaming supporters who do. I am waiting to see how things go moving forward. Both owners made big mistakes but have the opportunity to fix things.
Ugh, I still hate the new Columbus Crew crest, even in its revised form. And I suspect we'll be stuck with it for a while now. I hope it gets replaced in a few years or I may never buy another piece of Crew merch.
Out of interest have you ever been to Anfield? I’ve not. But then I’ve not been to West Ham since we moved from Upton Park.
I haven't. A few years ago I was attending a conference in Northern Ireland and tried to plan a side trip to see ‘Pool at Anfield but the timing just didn’t work. I will get there some day.
Just as it’s hard for non-local fans to fully understand the ways in which a club is embedded within its local culture, it may be hard for local fans to understand what it's like to have to cross oceans just to watch your team play in person once - especially if the only game you ever watch is a random league or cup match and you have no idea if the game will be any good.
And yes, Liverpool do international tours but I've never bothered with the summer tour games in the US...prices are extortionate and the games are meaningless. If they played a friendly against Columbus I'd have to do it but otherwise, nah.
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To be honest I understand. It’s 3 and 1/2 hours to get to the London stadium for me. That and the fact it’s all season tickets these days.
I’d love to go see them now and again but it doesn’t really suit my lifestyle.
One of the great things about MLS is that (COVID aside) for most fans it's still possible to roll up on an average match day and buy tickets at the stadium for non-crazy prices. And all you have to do to buy the ticket is fork over the cash - you don't have to be a member of anything or sign up for anything or be in a lottery or whatever...
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I have no particular love for Atletico Madrid, but I am quite pleased to see both Real and Barca fail to win the league title this season - particularly Real as is this whole steaming pile of ESL is most closely associated with Real's president. And yet despite all the BS (and being broke) they were just two points from a title. The Spanish league is a joke.
With that being said, Luis Suarez carried Atleti on his back at times and came up big today. He's a controversial figure but he possesses talent few strikers alive today can equal, though he's towards the end of his career now.
With that being said, Luis Suarez carried Atleti on his back at times and came up big today. He's a controversial figure but he possesses talent few strikers alive today can equal, though he's towards the end of his career now.
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In the Bundesliga, Robert Lewandowski has managed to score 41 goals (only within the league games) - beating Gerd Muller's 49 year old record of 40 goals within the top league in one season. His goal was literally the last kick of the game and he probably had at least 6 blocked attempts beforehand.
Please bear in mind that Robert was injured for 5 of the 34 games this season, and he still managed to pull off this feat.
A certain Erling Braut Haaland scored a total of 41 goals (in all competitions) this season - the first time someone under 21 years old to do so in the Bundesliga.
Tomorrow will be exciting as the final Premier League games this season kick off at 4pm (UK time) tomorrow.
The Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester games will be the main attractions.
Please bear in mind that Robert was injured for 5 of the 34 games this season, and he still managed to pull off this feat.
A certain Erling Braut Haaland scored a total of 41 goals (in all competitions) this season - the first time someone under 21 years old to do so in the Bundesliga.
Tomorrow will be exciting as the final Premier League games this season kick off at 4pm (UK time) tomorrow.
The Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester games will be the main attractions.
@JamesMike: There is a lovely profile/interview with the extraordinarily impressive Marcus Rashford in today's edition of the Guardian. Well worth reading.
He’s an amazing striker, though his numbers are probably helped by playing for a team that has totally dominated the league for years.
I think it’s safe to say that nobody will ever beat Dixie Dean’s single season goals record in England, at least not under the current rules.
Number of games (22 league clubs as opposed to 20).
VAR disallows more goals and offsides than there used to be.
Clubs used to play a lot more attacking football with 3 forwards not being uncommon.
Thank you.
I hope my team can end the season with a victory today.
We got the win.
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Looking good for it at the moment. As are we. But we’ve thrown 3 goal leads away so a 2 goal lead thrown away should be no problem!
Just need Villa to get the win and Palace.
Ugh, I'm left feeling deflated for Leicester. I really wanted to see them qualify for a top four spot. They are a more interesting story and have more of an identity than Chelsea's constant merry-go-round of managers and players. Chelsea 'qualified' for the CL with a lame defeat against Villa. Congrats. 
I think I am being influenced by my Arsenal-supporting friend, but no love from me for Spurs and Kane today. They spoiled Leicester's CL qualification AND Kane's goal steals him the golden boot from Salah.
Arsenal fans should probably actually rejoice that they've avoided a lower-tier European spot as it enhances their chances of a top four finish next year - less matches, fresher legs.
I think I am being influenced by my Arsenal-supporting friend, but no love from me for Spurs and Kane today. They spoiled Leicester's CL qualification AND Kane's goal steals him the golden boot from Salah.
Arsenal fans should probably actually rejoice that they've avoided a lower-tier European spot as it enhances their chances of a top four finish next year - less matches, fresher legs.
Also gutted Leicester didn’t make it and Chelsea and Liverpool did. No justice.Ugh, I'm left feeling deflated for Leicester. I really wanted to see them qualify for a top four spot. They are a more interesting story and have more of an identity than Chelsea's constant merry-go-round of managers and players. Chelsea 'qualified' for the CL with a lame defeat against Villa. Congrats.
I think I am being influenced by my Arsenal-supporting friend, but no love from me for Spurs and Kane today. They spoiled Leicester's CL qualification AND Kane's goal steals him the golden boot from Salah.
Arsenal fans should probably actually rejoice that they've avoided a lower-tier European spot as it enhances their chances of a top four finish next year - less matches, fresher legs.
Not really bothered by the golden boot outcome. No love for either player.
Arsenal top four next season? I somewhat doubt it. They’ll struggle to keep hold of their best players or attract top talent after their worst finish in 25 years.
Aston Villa had beaten Chelsea 2-1, Liverpool beat Palace 2-0.
Sadly, Leicester lost 2-4 to Spurs - placing the Foxes 5th in the table (Europa League), Liverpool moving to 3rd and Chelsea taking 4th place (despite their loss to Villa).
West Ham hammered Southampton 3-0 - placing the Hammers 6th in the table (Europa League), leaving Spurs to play in the Europa Conference Cup, with Arsenal & Everton missing out in Europe altogether.
Man City won 5-0 against Everton - Agüero scoring the last 2 goals of the game (his last PL game for City); and Sigurdsson missing a penalty.
Sheffield Utd managed to beat Burnley 1-0 - making it W 10, D 2, L 26 for the Blades; and Burnley the only non-relegated club not to reach 40 points this season.
Nest week, we have the Europa League final (Man Utd v Villareal) & UEFA Champions League final (Man City v Chelsea).
Sadly, Leicester lost 2-4 to Spurs - placing the Foxes 5th in the table (Europa League), Liverpool moving to 3rd and Chelsea taking 4th place (despite their loss to Villa).
West Ham hammered Southampton 3-0 - placing the Hammers 6th in the table (Europa League), leaving Spurs to play in the Europa Conference Cup, with Arsenal & Everton missing out in Europe altogether.
Man City won 5-0 against Everton - Agüero scoring the last 2 goals of the game (his last PL game for City); and Sigurdsson missing a penalty.
Sheffield Utd managed to beat Burnley 1-0 - making it W 10, D 2, L 26 for the Blades; and Burnley the only non-relegated club not to reach 40 points this season.
Nest week, we have the Europa League final (Man Utd v Villareal) & UEFA Champions League final (Man City v Chelsea).
A mere six point swing would have seen Arsenal qualify for the CL this season, so if they are that close in their worst finish for some time I think that, with less fixture congestion, they have a really good shot next season. The same can probably be said for every club from 5th to 9th, including West Ham.
Of course, both Chelsea and Liverpool substantially underperformed this season, for different reasons, and yet both still qualified, so the points total required for qualification will likely be higher next season.
Leicester can still take comfort in their FA Cup win, which, while less important than the CL to owners and club suits, still means more to fans.
Agree with both @Lord Blackadder & @Apple fanboy about Leicester; I'm very sorry that they didn't manage a top four finish, and thereby secure a CL place; that is something that I would have loved to have seen.
Re Arsenal, I agree with @Lord Blackadder's analysis, and not just because I support the team.
Firstly, and paradoxically, I'm actually pleased that they failed to qualify for Europe, especially for such a meaningless competition, - and I've held this view about the second and third tier European competitions for quite some time, and have posted here to that effect - for it is one that would consume time, players and resources, to no positive effect.
Instead, I'd prefer to let them take this time to build the team properly, from the rear, and focus on defence and midfield.
And secondly, Arsenal have actually won their last five PL matches; they haven't won five consecutive PL matches for a number of years. I would expect them to be able to build on that, next season, and thus, keep most of their better players, and hopefully, clear out some of the remaining deadwood.
Re Arsenal, I agree with @Lord Blackadder's analysis, and not just because I support the team.
Firstly, and paradoxically, I'm actually pleased that they failed to qualify for Europe, especially for such a meaningless competition, - and I've held this view about the second and third tier European competitions for quite some time, and have posted here to that effect - for it is one that would consume time, players and resources, to no positive effect.
Instead, I'd prefer to let them take this time to build the team properly, from the rear, and focus on defence and midfield.
And secondly, Arsenal have actually won their last five PL matches; they haven't won five consecutive PL matches for a number of years. I would expect them to be able to build on that, next season, and thus, keep most of their better players, and hopefully, clear out some of the remaining deadwood.
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