It was lower last season.
Another 6 points would have seen us 3rd. But ultimately an enjoyable season. Just a shame the greedy six (apart from Arsenal) all made some European competition.
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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
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Another 6 points would have seen us 3rd. But ultimately an enjoyable season. Just a shame the greedy six (apart from Arsenal) all made some European competition.
I think a lot of that will depend on the manager. Will he keep his job? Not sure. Either way teams without European football struggle.
I’d be very happy to start next season with our current line up (including Lingard!), but will be surprised if we manage that.
Nothing I have read suggested that Arsenal wish to part ways with Mikel Arteta; I'd imagine that he is secure until at least the middle of the coming season.
Besides, Arsenal are not a club that readily discards managers at will.
Re European football, while I know that it generates revenue, unless one actually wins - for example - the Europa Cup, to my mind, it is a complete waste of time and resources.
Personally, I would have been happier if Arsenal had not qualified for the Europa Cup this past season, but had focussed on team building, instead.
However, I will take solace from five consecutive PL victories, and paradoxically, I think that Arsenal may do better next season.
While Leicester have been beset with a large number of injuries, their collapse at the end of the season is similar - unfortunately - to what happened last season. However, they did win the FA Cup - I'm delighted about that - and, this is still an impressive achievement for them.
Re Liverpool, the injury to van Dijk was catastrophic for their season, but, with luck, he should be restored to them next season.
Manchester City have a superb team and bottomless resources, while, under OGS, Manchester United seem (finally) to be crafting some semblance of what looks to be turning into a rather good team (rather than a disjointed collection of gifted individuals, who cannot play as a collective team).
Spurs will miss Harry Kane, once he engineers his departure (probably to Manchester City) and, for all of their talent, it is worth noting that the current Spurs team haven't (yet) won any silverware, of any description, or, for that matter, any titles.
West Ham had an excellent season, while Chelsea, are still less than the sum of their expensive yet talented, parts, but are set to improve.
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Arsenal should stick with Arteta in my opinion.
The average over the last ten years is about 71 points, so 2020's 4th place points total was very low.
I think Chelsea will be a tougher team next season. Their early form under Frank Lampard was soon reversed when a more experienced pair of hands came in.
Man City are an ageing squad, but bringing in Harry Kane will go a long way to replacing Aguero.
Yes Liverpool’s injuries that we have heard so much about all season cost them. But our form left us when we had Rice, Antonio and Cresswell out. Unfortunately we are not in the position to bring in internationals when our first team is injured.
Yes 2020 was not a typical year either was it. Hopefully things (in terms of Covid and fans etc) will be more normal.
Personally I think a points deduction for the greedy six would have been the correct way to go. But of course that would take courage.
Chelsea will definitely be better next season, They thrive on squad/managerial turnover.
Man City have unlimited resources, they can afford to bring in any player they need. As long as Pep is in charge they will be perennial title contenders, and this year they will almost certainly win the CL unless they choke hilariously (There is always hope). Liverpool's injuries were severe this season. With our starting center back again available, with Thiago, among others, bedding in, and (hopefully) retaining our front three I expect Liverpool to challenge for trophies again. Wijnaldum will be a loss but there are reasonable replacements available.
West Ham may have a thinner squad than the "Big Six" or whatever - but they are the sixth-placed team out of the entire English league pyramid...so not exactly chumps! You're going to haul in something north of £130 million for finishing sixth.
What an awful bookend to the season the capitulation at London Stadium was for the Saints.
Diabolical defending and no real plan. Sounds like our entire season!
I almost wish we'd been relegated, just to spur the board into action, but alas, mid-table is what we have, so the idiots that run the club will see that as a successful campaign.
We'd better invest over the summer, or we'll be at the foot of the table come Christmas.
Diabolical defending and no real plan. Sounds like our entire season!
I almost wish we'd been relegated, just to spur the board into action, but alas, mid-table is what we have, so the idiots that run the club will see that as a successful campaign.
We'd better invest over the summer, or we'll be at the foot of the table come Christmas.
It is notable that PSG failed to win Ligue 1 this season, with Lille taking top honors. PSG are massively wealthy bullies and ought to be pitilessly dominating the French League. But their repeated failure to win the CL and even win their league this season does show the flaws in having a league with no meaningful competition for the title.
Meanwhile, Columbus beat NYC FC this weekend 2-0 thanks to two free kick goals from Lucas Zelarayan. Both goals were good but the second was superb. The amount of bend he put on it to get the ball up, over the wall, and then back down into the goal was world class.
Meanwhile, Columbus beat NYC FC this weekend 2-0 thanks to two free kick goals from Lucas Zelarayan. Both goals were good but the second was superb. The amount of bend he put on it to get the ball up, over the wall, and then back down into the goal was world class.
Yes that second goal was good. But I think Fabanski would have got a finger tip to it.
Good season for Newcastle. They stayed up! I lived there for a bit (when Keegan was manager) and went to a few games at St James’s Park.Wathing you guys talking about your teams…Chelsea,Arsenal,MU…PSG… i got nothing to say, my favorite team is Dinamo Bucharest…
from England i love Newcastle, Italy-Parma, and Spain-Deportivo… i got nothing to say about performance
They were quite impressive in the second half of the season. For a while it looked like Fulham might pull past them in the relegation fight, but Newcastle went on a torrid run and pulled away, and ended up all the way up in 12th. Brucie did a good job.
All that's left now are a couple of cup finals. Man Utd will surely be sweating the health of Harry Maguire for the EL final — it's going to be a major challenge to beat Villareal without him playing, as neither Tuanzebe or Bailly fill me with much confidence at the moment.
Honestly glad United lost that penalty shootout. A trophy would paper over the dire lack of depth in United's squad. Having Martial and Maguire available would probably have made the difference, but they need better depth to handle the inevitable injury absences. Guess we'll see how the new transfer brain trust gets on with Ed Woodward thankfully taking a back seat.
At least some of this falls at Ole's feet. He started a very attacking XI, fair enough — but there was nothing on the bench that he could bring in to change the game. Bruno, Pogba, and Rashford were all poor throughout, but who could come in and offer more of a threat?
Pau Torres looked good throughout, despite getting beaten by Cavani off a fairly fortuitous bounce. He's rumored to be a summer target. He or Varane would help out a lot.
At least some of this falls at Ole's feet. He started a very attacking XI, fair enough — but there was nothing on the bench that he could bring in to change the game. Bruno, Pogba, and Rashford were all poor throughout, but who could come in and offer more of a threat?
Pau Torres looked good throughout, despite getting beaten by Cavani off a fairly fortuitous bounce. He's rumored to be a summer target. He or Varane would help out a lot.
Congratz to Villarreal, from a Manchester United fan. We were just not good enough 😩
Man Utd definitely need more depth, and as mentioned before, this time Woodward would have less influence in the upcoming transfer window, and that scouts would have a better say in chasing potential transfers.
Tonight, Emery's team had neutralised Man Utd's attack, and United had no visible Plan B tonight.
A few things would need to be improved in order for them to win some silverware in the next year or too.
They have improved from last year in the EPL - (2019/20 - W18 D12 L8 [3rd] v 2020/21 - W21 D11 L6 [2nd]).
At least they have the summer to regroup and improve further.
They are in the Champions League next year - which may help recruit better quality players across the main three outfield positions.
Tonight, Emery's team had neutralised Man Utd's attack, and United had no visible Plan B tonight.
A few things would need to be improved in order for them to win some silverware in the next year or too.
They have improved from last year in the EPL - (2019/20 - W18 D12 L8 [3rd] v 2020/21 - W21 D11 L6 [2nd]).
At least they have the summer to regroup and improve further.
They are in the Champions League next year - which may help recruit better quality players across the main three outfield positions.
I’m headed to Manchester to teach a certain unnamed goalkeeper how to kick a penalty shot! LOL!
Let's face it...Goalkeepers aren't strikers. Nor should they be expected to be. Pretty rare that a good goal scoring centre forward would make a fine goalkeeper.
Brutal way for Man U to end their European campaign, but I'm not a fan, so quite enjoyed the spectacle.
Brutal way for Man U to end their European campaign, but I'm not a fan, so quite enjoyed the spectacle.