English football 2024-25

[Durhamfootman]

the mighty irons!

[Durhamfootman]

Newcastle had to beat Chelsea today and eventually they obliged. Hard work, I understand

For a long time it has been assumed that Arsenal were certain to join Liverpool in securing CL football for next season and the race was on for the other 3 spots. Suddenly though, if Arsenal were to lose to Newcastle again next week, then it is perfectly conceivable that they might have to go to Southampton on the final day of the season still needing at least a point to be sure of a place. Villa who looked outside bets are certainly capable of beating Spurs and Man U, Chelsea and Man C could definitely win both of their remaining games and without that final day point, Arsenal could find themselves finishing 6th. I'm sure the chances of them not getting at least a point against the worst side in the league are pretty remote, but if they are looking over their shoulder for that final game, who knows what could happen

If they beat Newcastle, then suddenly it will be my boys looking over their shoulder, needing to beat Everton on the final day....... Pickford in goal with every Sunderland fan willing him on.... what could go wrong?

Fortunately for my sanity I'd be perfectly happy with a Europa league place. If two really poor teams like Man U and Spurs, playing really poor football can both end up in the Europa league final, then why couldn't Newcastle? They won't win anything in the Champions league. Newcastle have less depth in their squad than they had 2 years ago and it was too much for them then. People talk about the money, but would going out early of the CL really be that much more lucrative than going all the way in the EL. I mean it might.... I really have no idea, but perhaps winning trophies becomes a habit. Again I point to Man U who have been rubbish for a few seasons now.... a shadow of the teams they used to boast.... yet won the League cup 2 years ago, the FA cup last year and maybe the EL this year

[mikesiva]

Crystal palace 1-0 Manchester City

Crystal palace win their first ever FA Cup!

[Durhamfootman]

yes, congrats to them.

I knew exactly what their fans were feeling at the end of that game and I'm delighted for them

[Durhamfootman]

1-0 to the Arsenal

I had a feeling that they'd win and that it would only be by the odd goal

can't complain.... they were bound to win one of the four matches this season eventually

All comes down to the Pickford Everton game. There is definitely the chance of ending up finishing 6th for my boys, but as I've said repeatedly I won't mind missing out on the CL and having to settle for the EL.

[bigfluffylemon]

The race for the CL has been the only interesting thing about the PL this season as 1, 2 and relegation have been nailed on for ages. Couldn't be closer, with 5 teams in contention being separated by 1 point.

And there will be 10 PL teams in Europe next year

[sussexpob]

I knew exactly what their fans were feeling at the end of that game and I'm delighted for them

Like everyone watching, the Palace fans were probably too stunned to notice they won the cup, and were still wondering how Dean Henderson wasn't sent off for the most blatant red card in the history of football. I literally wonder if anyone exists that agrees it wasnt a red? None of the pundits/media/social media comments I have seen agreed it was only yellow.

Once again, the only person who disagreed with the world was the VAR referee. I guess he was under orders to facilitate the fairytale as much as possible?

[Durhamfootman]

The race for the CL has been the only interesting thing about the PL this season as 1, 2 and relegation have been nailed on for ages. Couldn't be closer, with 5 teams in contention being separated by 1 point.

And there will be 10 PL teams in Europe next year

6 teams into the CL (top 5 plus 1 of the two worst teams not to be relegated)
2 teams into the EL (6th place plus Palace)
1 team (7th place) into the ECL

there are a couple of scenarios where 8th place could sneak into Europe which would give you the 10, but that depends on Chelsea winning the ECL final (getting them an extra EL spot) AND finishing 7th... OR.... Chelsea winning the ECL final and finishing in 6th place with Newcastle in 7th. If Chelsea win the ECL and finish higher than 6th there will be no PL team in the ECL next year (unless it's Newcastle, presumably).

Complicated, isn't it? Lots of moving parts. Still.... 9 or 10 teams in Europe next season.... there'll be a lot of tired teams

[Durhamfootman]

still wondering how Dean Henderson wasn't sent off for the most blatant red card in the history of football.

Nick Pope would have been sent off

yes, he was a very lucky man, but that aside he had a terrific game.

Man City should have won that game at a canter with all their possession, but as Arsenal keep on proving, possession is no good unless you actually do something with it. Palace probably should have won that 2-0 with hardly any possession at all

[sussexpob]

there are a couple of scenarios where 8th place could sneak into Europe which would give you the 10, but that depends on Chelsea winning the ECL final (getting them an extra EL spot) AND finishing 7th... OR.... Chelsea winning the ECL final and finishing in 6th place with Newcastle in 7th. If Chelsea win the ECL and finish higher than 6th there will be no PL team in the ECL next year (unless it's Newcastle, presumably

The pundits I think misunderstand the fact that 7th place is only in the race because Newcastle are above that spot and not because the Carabao place goes to 7th in the league. Newcastle have no impact on a potential extra spot, because in worst case scenario a 7th spot means they do not qualify for Europe on league performance, but do so on winning the League Cup.

If Chelsea finish 6th and win in Europe, their 6th spot qualification of Europa League goes to 7th, Conf League to 8th..... BUT if they finish 7th, their win in the Conference League would elevate them into the Europa League, but their Conf league is not passed on.

So essentially, Chelsea 6th - Extra position in Conf for position 8. If Newcastle were 7th, they elevate to Europa League on league performance. Conference league decided on League performance and not cup win.

Chelsea 7th - No Conference League team from England, Chelsea play EL - no other permutations.

If Chelsea and Newcastle finish top 5, 6 goes to EL, 7 goes to Conference league on league merit - Chelsea win in Europe has no impact.

[Durhamfootman]

Carlisle can't do it, can they?

Nope

lost late on to Cheltenham, but didn't matter in the end because Tranmere won and secured their own safety

Will Sparky stay or go? Whether Carlisle come straight back up will likely depend on him being persuaded to stay on for the project.

Going to stay, which I think (hope) is good news for Carlisle. With any luck the American owners will realise that if they are going to back the manager in the transfer market then it's pointless doing so and then sacking that manager a few weeks later. With the large number of players now surplus to requirements, but on big wages and with long contracts, Sparky is going to have to 'do an Eddie' and try to get the best he can out of those players that he can't move on

[sussexpob]

Ratcliffe is a big daft barmpot. I mean he made these comments earlier in the season about the need to rebuild OT, but then the things he then said appeared to suggest that he'd convinced himself that somehow the FA ought to pay for it.... because.... I don't know... because it's important, or because Man U are that important, or because he's a great big t1t, or something

Talking about the big daft barmpot.... It seems Tottenham ensured that every single one of their official staff members received a ticket for the Europa League Final along with travel arrangements, but meanwhile at United they decided to sell the tickets instead inviting no one at the club....Fair play to the manager setting the ball rolling by pledging to pay for 30 people, which was swiftly followed by team Captain Bruno offering to bring 60, and then a whole host of club legends like Patrice Evra and Eric Cantona also getting involved, along with current influential players. The community of players ended up doing what the club should have.

It was well known that Ferguson knew everyone at the club by name, knew their wives, knew how their family were doing..... and apparently despite his temper in sporting context, was a good guy who treated everyone with respect. And you wonder why United has gone down the sh*tter with a guy like Ratcliffe?

A few grand on tickets for the guy who cooks the players breakfast.... its priceless in a footballing context. Club is bloody rotten...as is the owner.

[Durhamfootman]

In better big daft barmpot news, his company has lost something like a quarter of its value.... couldn't happen to a nicer guy

d1ckhead

[Durhamfootman]

I tried to post earlier to express my hope that Sunderland would win, but also my doubt that they actually could, but it went funny on me and I lost the entire post

well... they left it late, but they did just that. Trailing 1-0 for most of the game they scored an equaliser with 15 to go and the winner deep into stoppage time

Sheff Utd had a goal controversially ruled out for off side (player interfering) shortly after going 1-0 up and I guess their fans will argue that it that doesn't get chalked off then the task would have been too big for Sunderland

I'm really pleased for Sunderland. I have no idea how they turned their awful late season form around, but they mastered the art of the late, late winner in the 3 knockout games, so fair play to them

the fans will be ecstatic... the police will be preparing to throw a ring of steel around the derby grounds already ahead of next season, horses everywhere will be taken to the vets to get their teeth checked just in case

[Durhamfootman]

I also tried to say earlier that Sunderland's only real hope against Sheff Utd was that this season seems to have been the year of the underdog with Newcastle, Palace and Spurs winning cups

I really thought they had no chance. They lost a player to injury after 3 mins, could have been 2 down on occasions in each half and yet prevailed. From what I was reading, whilst the match was going on, Sheff Utd seemed perfectly content to let Sunderland have lots of possession in the second half, hoping to hit them on the break and put the game to bed, but it backfired on them big style. I always think that you have to positive and proactive to give yourself the best chance of winning these big games. I know being completely negative worked out for Spurs, but they were up against a team with no goals in them