English football 2024-25

[Durhamfootman]

it hadn't occurred to me before, but it was pointed out to me today that Newcastle had to beat each of the current PL top 4 sides to win the league cup.

[mikesiva]

FA Cup semi finalists

Crystal palace
Nottingham forest
Aston villa
Manchester City

[bigfluffylemon]

Forest 1 United 0

A very satisfying result. My father-in-law has been a Forest fan since his student days at Nottingham over 50 years ago, so he's over the moon with this season.

And I've always had an irrational hatred of Manchester United since the 90s when it seemed everyone at school, most of whom had never been north of the Watford Gap in their entire lives, were suddenly United 'fans' just entirely coincidentally as they started winning everything. Enjoying seeing them suffer.

[Durhamfootman]

the thing I just can't get my head around is that this Man Utd team is the worst team that I can remember them having and has been for 3 years at least. Yet 2 years ago they won the League cup, last year they won the FA cup, this year they might go on and win the Europa league cup. How does that happen?

[bigfluffylemon]

Southampton denied by a late equaliser so still haven't exceeded the 11 points all time low of Derby in 2008. I suspect they'll squeak past it, but they could be relegated as early as Sunday - 19 points adrift of Wolves with 8 games to go.

[Durhamfootman]

workman like win for Newcastle over Brentford. Largely dominated the game, but weren't quite on the money. Still, they got the 3 points after the euphoria of the cup win, which could have affected them

[mikesiva]

Liverpool 1-0 Everton

One step closer to the title.

[Durhamfootman]

they seemed a bit lucky last night, Liverpool. Everton had one disallowed for a marginal offside, then hit the post on the counter, and I'm still trying to work out why Diaz wasn't offside for Liverpool's goal. Luckiest boy of the night award goes to Tarkowski for a challenge on MacAllister that was either wildly reckless or committed and full blooded, depending on the colour of your scarf. He got a lot of contact on the ball, which might be the only thing that saved him from a red card, because it looked dangerous to me

[Gingerfinch]

He should have gone for me. Pickford was also lucky. He may no attempt to play the ball when going in on Nunez.

[Durhamfootman]

it was bad enough when Chelsea avoided PSR sanctions last year by selling their own hotels to themselves for £76million, but now they appear to have turned this year's £70million loss into a £128million profit by selling their women's team to themselves for £198million

they're just taking the ssip aren't they?

[mikesiva]

Forest 1 United 0

A very satisfying result. My father-in-law has been a Forest fan since his student days at Nottingham over 50 years ago, so he's over the moon with this season.

Nuno has done an amazing job with Nottingham. He's taken them from the relegation zone to champions league contenders.

He's built the team around solid defence. A good goalkeeper in Sels, and two outstanding central defenders in Murillo and Malenkovic. They sit in a low block and are happy to concede the majority of possession in most of their matches, hitting teams on the counter attack through speedy wingers Elanga and Hudson Odoi, who were deemed not good enough to play for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. That, combined with old style centre forward Wood shows that your team doesn't have to play like Barcelona and Manchester City to be successful.

[Durhamfootman]

Forest have been very refreshing.... not necessarily in terms of the way they play, but in the way that they've broken up the 'usual 6' monopoly this season. A few teams have done something similar, but none as effectively as Forest have

I'm particularly pleased for Chris Wood, who got a bit of stick at Newcastle for not scoring enough goals. The move away was good for him, because the current Newcastle playing ethos was never going to suit him had he stayed, but the Forest style plays to his strengths and he's thrived. Furthermore, he's taken the confidence from this season's form into the international comps and done well for NZ too

[Durhamfootman]

it was bad enough when Chelsea avoided PSR sanctions last year by selling their own hotels to themselves for £76million, but now they appear to have turned this year's £70million loss into a £128million profit by selling their women's team to themselves for £198million

they're just taking the ssip aren't they?

although seemingly their accounts have not yet been verified by the FA and signed off for this year. They are still picking over the valuations. Newcastle at end of the Ashley era, had a big ground, a 52,000+ average attendance, a squad valued at hundreds of millions and a turnover of £150million a year. The club was valued at £305 million. Chelsea women play to an average crowd of 4,000, have a squad worth a fraction of the then Newcastle squad and generate £9million a year, yet Chelsea have chosen to value this at almost £200million. Perhaps the powers that be won't accept this, but I won't be holding my breath waiting for them to make a stand..... obviously they would if it was Leicester

[sussexpob]

He's built the team around solid defence. A good goalkeeper in Sels, and two outstanding central defenders in Murillo and Malenkovic. They sit in a low block and are happy to concede the majority of possession in most of their matches, hitting teams on the counter attack through speedy wingers Elanga and Hudson Odoi, who were deemed not good enough to play for Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. That, combined with old style centre forward Wood shows that your team doesn't have to play like Barcelona and Manchester City to be successful.

Ola Aina too has been excellent for me. Amazing when you think he is playing this level at 28 years old after the most meh careers ever. Have to credit the manager for bringing up these players levels

[sussexpob]

although seemingly their accounts have not yet been verified by the FA and signed off for this year. They are still picking over the valuations. Newcastle at end of the Ashley era, had a big ground, a 52,000+ average attendance, a squad valued at hundreds of millions and a turnover of £150million a year. The club was valued at £305 million. Chelsea women play to an average crowd of 4,000, have a squad worth a fraction of the then Newcastle squad and generate £9million a year, yet Chelsea have chosen to value this at almost £200million. Perhaps the powers that be won't accept this, but I won't be holding my breath waiting for them to make a stand..... obviously they would if it was Leicester

Had this exact conversation with some friends when they did it a couple of months back. The amazing thing is, Lyon Woman, who are the dominant force in European Woman's football throughout its professional era, were sold for 5-6 times less the price recently, and that was seen as a risky valuation considering the profitability of it (and Lyon get bigger crowds than most in Woman's football) .

Its not in anyway justifiable, but they will get away with it on the argument of growth potential as an investment.