Sportsbet.io's English Premier League Football Pool Discussion Thread

[Harkorede]

That 10 bucks is mine already

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8139437/amp/Start-June-1-play-matches-SIX-weeks-Premier-Leagues-plan-save-season.html

The Premier League's new 'plan to finish the season': Start again on June 1, play all of the matches in just SIX weeks and begin the 2020-21 campaign in early August to stave off financial disaster

Okok...  Can we wait until the first matches are played?  I'll pay you then.  You just never know..  I don't trust anything I read right now.  At first I really thought this whole thing was gonna over in a couple weeks or so.  But now...  Dunno.

I would say that could be the best case scenario, but to be realistic it might be not so plausible. For that happened there would need to be a huge reduction in the numbers of active Covid-19 cases or a vaccine, neither of which is happening yet. While I would still take any 1:1 bet that the current season would get completed before a new one gets underway, I would sure take a bet against it starting as early as June 1st.

[1714713320]

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[1714713320]

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[tomahawk9]

@DeathAngel  That article is almost a month old, and things were different three weeks ago: In March 22 there were around 6k confirmed covid19 cases in the UK, now it's almost 90k. Also, this article was published just a few days before the Primer Minister tested positive for the virus, an "event" that changed everything.

I think the FA was not expecting things to escalate so quickly which is why they thought that plan was a solid plan. It could still be, though, maybe it needs some changes. Nonetheless, thx for the link, didn't know about this "all games in just six weeks" plan.

[examplens]

I think the FA was not expecting things to escalate so quickly which is why they thought that plan was a solid plan. It could still be, though, maybe it needs some changes. Nonetheless, thx for the link, didn't know about this "all games in just six weeks" plan.

There are a 92 games remains to play in PL + FA + league cup. I don't think they can finish it all in two months. I see no reason to delay the start next season and make some changes in cups competition, like only one game with extra time & penalties if ends in a draw. So it can be resumed after 1st Jully, I guess the pandemic could be significantly controlled by then.
there will not be or will be a very short break between the two seasons, but now all of them have an unplanned vacation.

[hilariousetc]

^  That post should be I got another 'free' 10 bucks for you, not 'from'.    But I think you got the point.

So I guess we'll see what's gonna happen around May..?

That 10 bucks is mine already

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8139437/amp/Start-June-1-play-matches-SIX-weeks-Premier-Leagues-plan-save-season.html

The Premier League's new 'plan to finish the season': Start again on June 1, play all of the matches in just SIX weeks and begin the 2020-21 campaign in early August to stave off financial disaster

Okok...  Can we wait until the first matches are played?  I'll pay you then.  You just never know..  I don't trust anything I read right now.  At first I really thought this whole thing was gonna over in a couple weeks or so.  But now...  Dunno.

I wouldn't pay out any bet on this until the first ball has been kicked... or the last. The games could be announced then cancelled or postponed again for numerous reasons, or they might not manage to finish the season either.

I think the FA was not expecting things to escalate so quickly which is why they thought that plan was a solid plan. It could still be, though, maybe it needs some changes. Nonetheless, thx for the link, didn't know about this "all games in just six weeks" plan.

There are a 92 games remains to play in PL + FA + league cup. I don't think they can finish it all in two months. I see no reason to delay the start next season and make some changes in cups competition, like only one game with extra time & penalties if ends in a draw. So it can be resumed after 1st Jully, I guess the pandemic could be significantly controlled by then.
there will not be or will be a very short break between the two seasons, but now all of them have an unplanned vacation.

The season would have nearly been over within two months anyway. The first game postponed was on the 11/03 and the final games where scheduled  for 17/05. I don't think they should cram them all in to a very small time frame but maybe they could play midweek games so it'll be over within half the time.

[DeathAngel]

@hilarious

I think each team could play 2 games per week & it’ll all be done in 2 months then. What happens with the CL & EL though?
UEFA have already said they will be completed too.

[hilariousetc]

@hilarious

I think each team could play 2 games per week & it’ll all be done in 2 months then. What happens with the CL & EL though?
UEFA have already said they will be completed too.

There's only a handful of teams left in the competition so it shouldn't be that hard for them to fit them in somewhere. Maybe some teams will have to play three games a week if necessary. They could maybe play the Champions League games after all the domestic leagues have finished also. Might be something to look forward to or at least replace the postponed Euros in the summer (assuming football can be played by then). Can't see the PL being resumed anytime soon though as things are still getting worse here but restrictions in some mainland European countries seem to be improving.

[cryptofrka]

Yeah, my opinion is that the CL will be played more like Euros - with a duration of maybe a week or 10 days total, probably after the seasons end. I cannot imagine a situation in which a team like City plays a game without fans in an isolated environment and then has to fly to Italy for a CL game.

Logistically the easiest thing would be to invite all teams to camps near a location with few good stadiums and play CL in a different format - quick and continuous knockout.

[tokeweed]

@hilarious

I think each team could play 2 games per week & it’ll all be done in 2 months then. What happens with the CL & EL though?
UEFA have already said they will be completed too.

What hilarious said...  We just have no idea what's gonna happen.  If it were up to me, I'd love to be wrong and have the league restart asap.  The people need it for some sense of normalcy imo.

[buwaytress]

@toke don't count your $10 just yet!

Looks like Option 3 (closed doors) is all but confirmed to be the way to end this season across Europe, according to the European League dep SecGen, quoted by BBC today.

He also says "a small number" of countries are considering a cancellation, but also: "There's no doubt it will be behind closed doors".

Not if, but when;)

[examplens]

Due pandemic time, probably most stupid what you can do is to sell a football club, sell while it is cheap.
People, what do you think of this:

"A Newcastle United takeover has moved a step closer after new documents show owner Mike Ashley has entered into a charge agreement with potential buyer Amanda Staveley."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52284645

do we have a new project like Chelsea or Manchester City? Top six going to be top seven 

[cryptofrka]

Due pandemic time, probably most stupid what you can do is to sell a football club, sell while it is cheap.
People, what do you think of this:

"A Newcastle United takeover has moved a step closer after new documents show owner Mike Ashley has entered into a charge agreement with potential buyer Amanda Staveley."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52284645

do we have a new project like Chelsea or Manchester City? Top six going to be top seven  

Well, Ashley's trying to find a buyer for the last 5 years. Quoted 300 million$ was the amount he rejected in 2017 so I don't think he will sell it on the cheap.

On the other side - this Amanda Staveley must have some serious connections in the Middle East. She was behind the Abu Dhabi deal with City, was behind the proposed DIC takeover of LFC (which would have given her a place on the board of directors) and was behind the deal in which Mansour bought a part of Barclays.

Ashley bought ther club for something like 150 mil$ 15 years ago and is hated on Tyneside, so I expect him to sell sooner rather than later.

[DeathAngel]

Imagine if Newcastle become a top club 
It might not be possible now though because of FFP, Man City did it in time before FFP existed.

[Indymoney]

Imagine if Newcastle become a top club 
It might not be possible now though because of FFP, Man City did it in time before FFP existed.

I am also feeling like this now New Castle time is coming back as Manchester City because they will their best for good result in EPL.

[hilariousetc]

Yeah, my opinion is that the CL will be played more like Euros - with a duration of maybe a week or 10 days total, probably after the seasons end. I cannot imagine a situation in which a team like City plays a game without fans in an isolated environment and then has to fly to Italy for a CL game.

Logistically the easiest thing would be to invite all teams to camps near a location with few good stadiums and play CL in a different format - quick and continuous knockout.

I think that's what they should do and play it as some sort of tournament within a month or two after the domestic leagues have finished or something. All teams fly to a neutral county and play all the games in the same ground or two. You probably don't need to play both legs then either so that will cut the tournament down by half. I think it will have to be done something like this as organising pan-European matches is much more difficult than the domestic games if they even get going anytime soon.

@toke don't count your $10 just yet!

Looks like Option 3 (closed doors) is all but confirmed to be the way to end this season across Europe, according to the European League dep SecGen, quoted by BBC today.

He also says "a small number" of countries are considering a cancellation, but also: "There's no doubt it will be behind closed doors".

It's much easier to void the smaller leagues where there's not that much money involved. The lower leagues have already been quietly cancelled in England.

Due pandemic time, probably most stupid what you can do is to sell a football club, sell while it is cheap.
People, what do you think of this:

"A Newcastle United takeover has moved a step closer after new documents show owner Mike Ashley has entered into a charge agreement with potential buyer Amanda Staveley."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52284645

do we have a new project like Chelsea or Manchester City? Top six going to be top seven 

Why would Newcastle be any different than they are now? Mike Ashley is a billionaire. He is a tightwad though. It's also much harder to buy teams and just throw a load of cash at them and make them succesfull with all the financial fair play rules they have post City-buyout.

[cryptofrka]

I think that's what they should do and play it as some sort of tournament within a month or two after the domestic leagues have finished or something. All teams fly to a neutral county and play all the games in the same ground or two. You probably don't need to play both legs then either so that will cut the tournament down by half. I think it will have to be done something like this as organising pan-European matches is much more difficult than the domestic games if they even get going anytime soon.

I think they will still keep the 2-legged format. They have to for the Last 16 round because the 1st leg has already been played (2nd as well for some teams) and then there's not a big difference in number of games if you play 1 or 2 - it comes down to difference of 6 games (4 in QF and 2 in the semis). These are the ones that bring the highest revenue though so I have a feeling clubs would be required to play them as it was meant to be.

Also - the 'one or two grounds' rule would be hard as well - the grass would be beyond repair for the final few games.

Why would Newcastle be any different than they are now? Mike Ashley is a billionaire. He is a tightwad though. It's also much harder to buy teams and just throw a load of cash at them and make them succesfull with all the financial fair play rules they have post City-buyout.

We still have to see if the FFP will survive in its current format after the corona crisis. I have a feeling they will drastically lower the requirements - most clubs are not solvent in this period.

[buwaytress]

Yeah, can't see Newcastle going the way of Chelski or Citeh. EVEN if they found a way to circumvent FFP, there's no longer a road to moneybag trophies in the EPL if you can't back it up with actually decent coaching and strategy. Think the Toon Army is just business sense now, an owner reviled for years, a club still capable of attracting big name coaches, a decent fanbase that's hungry. Might be more of an Arsenal money-spinner than Sheikh-powered ambition.

[cryptofrka]

I sure hope that Newcastle will get decent ownership. I really like them as a club, they have loyal and passionate fans, huge support and are one of the big Premiership clubs if you look at all elements combined.

They are lacking any decent results, agreed, but are still a club that needs only money to be competitive because everything else is more or less in place. I do have a soft spot for them, 2 Croatians played there (OK, Viduka is actually Australian but he played in Dinamo Zagreb), Rafa Benitez was a coach, Dalglish being there with Rush and Barnes, the whole football story on Tyneside is good. I think they bring a bit more to the Premier league, something that clubs like Bournemouth (just an example) do not.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

Newcastle fans hate Mike Ashley so for them I guess a new owner is great even if it’s headed by a guy with blood on his hands. Like others have said you can’t just spend hundreds of millions on players any more due to tighter FFP rules. I suppose the first target for Newcastle is to try & get Europa League football & try to win a trophy.

[Harkorede]

Like others have said you can’t just spend hundreds of millions on players any more due to tighter FFP rules. I suppose the first target for Newcastle is to try & get Europa League football & try to win a trophy.

Yes, I couldn't agree more. However, with several talks about the FFP rule being held on a leash or become at least very flexible over the next few years, perhaps the new owner could get to spend more than normal. That being said, It's still going to take a lot more than just spending for Newcastle to establish themselves as one of the big dogs in the league.

[BitSat19]

Like others have said you can’t just spend hundreds of millions on players any more due to tighter FFP rules. I suppose the first target for Newcastle is to try & get Europa League football & try to win a trophy.

Yes, I couldn't agree more. However, with several talks about the FFP rule being held on a leash or become at least very flexible over the next few years, perhaps the new owner could get to spend more than normal. That being said, It's still going to take a lot more than just spending for Newcastle to establish themselves as one of the big dogs in the league.

Its not all about spending they need to set their targets for future and establish team for this all its more important because if they able to have this all in early days then surely in next 2 or 3 seasons they can go in very good position like past and this could be very interesting for Premier League with another quality team in race for top.