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

[rdbase]

@hilarious
Agreed, I’m not a fan of international football at the best of times but this year especially it should have all been scrapped except possibly the qualifiers for the Euro’s.
Under no circumstance should the Nations League & friendlies be taking place when we are in a global pandemic.

Yes I would need to agree with you on this one.
Even though I like sports and it commencing for the regular league play.
I read a ticker saying one team had to withdraw 5 players due to the pandemic.
Even during the weekend in the NCAAF several matches were cancelled due to it.
I think I read half of a team had tested positive and they can catch it quite easily because they probably use the same facilities to train.
So these friendlies and even Nation league games are really unnecessary because they literally amount to nothing in the grand scheme of things in the end.
Unlike the EPL and league play which determines who hoists the trophy at the end of the season.

Yeah, I put my provisional scores in before the international break and I've gone for many draws including two from the ones above but I'll likely change some though it will be hard to decide which ones. I've provisionally backed Liverpool to win at home but I might go for another draw given Liverpool's injuries. They still might be too strong for them at home though.

Mo Salah did test positive for covid-19 so wouldn't count on him playing for the remainder of the year due to sport league protocols in england.
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2020/11/mohamed-salah-could-still-be-fit-for-leicester-as-egypt-expect-negative-test
Making it even tougher for a roster depleted LFC team to compete for top 5 in the EPL.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/13/football/mo-salah-tests-positive-covid-19-egypt-spt-intl/index.html

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[hilariousetc]

Yes I would need to agree with you on this one.
Even though I like sports and it commencing for the regular league play.
I read a ticker saying one team had to withdraw 5 players due to the pandemic.
Even during the weekend in the NCAAF several matches were cancelled due to it.
I think I read half of a team had tested positive and they can catch it quite easily because they probably use the same facilities to train.
So these friendlies and even Nation league games are really unnecessary because they literally amount to nothing in the grand scheme of things in the end.
Unlike the EPL and league play which determines who hoists the trophy at the end of the season.

I wonder if they will cancel or delay the games if people keep catching covid whilst they're on international duties? They can always play them at the end of the season and I think taking a break from them would be a good idea right now. Places like aeroplanes are probably the worst place to be during a pandemic as there's a lot of outside staff on them who might not be tested as well as athletes are and the air is constantly recycled so it's like an incubation chamber for infectious diseases. Have any managers complained about the internationals or called for them to be scrapped?

Mo Salah did test positive for covid-19 so wouldn't count on him playing for the remainder of the year due to sport league protocols in england.
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2020/11/mohamed-salah-could-still-be-fit-for-leicester-as-egypt-expect-negative-test
Making it even tougher for a roster depleted LFC team to compete for top 5 in the EPL.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/13/football/mo-salah-tests-positive-covid-19-egypt-spt-intl/index.html

I don't think he'll be out for the rest of the year unless there's some restrictions that say people who have had covid have to do so. I'm sure they'll allow he back as soon as he tests negative. Ronaldo was out for a few weeks I think but that's because he kept testing positive. I saw that he apparently was claiming the tests were defective and giving false positives as well which would make sense since he was asymptomatic. I don't really trust those tests at all and they could quite easily be detecting something else or remnants of the diseases that aren't active any more.

[casperBGD]

Mo Salah did test positive for covid-19 so wouldn't count on him playing for the remainder of the year due to sport league protocols in england.
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2020/11/mohamed-salah-could-still-be-fit-for-leicester-as-egypt-expect-negative-test
Making it even tougher for a roster depleted LFC team to compete for top 5 in the EPL.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/13/football/mo-salah-tests-positive-covid-19-egypt-spt-intl/index.html

I don't think he'll be out for the rest of the year unless there's some restrictions that say people who have had covid have to do so. I'm sure they'll allow he back as soon as he tests negative.

yeah, i also think that he will be back when he tests negative, i do not see why he did not play when negative, you can go to the street if you are negative, why should not you play football

without Salah LFC will have more issues with scoring, but i think that they could compete for the title, all other teams in the top 5 are in worst form than them, and there are underdogs on the top currently, although i think that Tottenham will stay there

[examplens]

Mo Salah did test positive for covid-19 so wouldn't count on him playing for the remainder of the year due to sport league protocols in england.
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2020/11/mohamed-salah-could-still-be-fit-for-leicester-as-egypt-expect-negative-test
Making it even tougher for a roster depleted LFC team to compete for top 5 in the EPL.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/13/football/mo-salah-tests-positive-covid-19-egypt-spt-intl/index.html

I don't think he'll be out for the rest of the year unless there's some restrictions that say people who have had covid have to do so. I'm sure they'll allow he back as soon as he tests negative.

yeah, i also think that he will be back when he tests negative, i do not see why he did not play when negative, you can go to the street if you are negative, why should not you play football

without Salah LFC will have more issues with scoring, but i think that they could compete for the title, all other teams in the top 5 are in worst form than them, and there are underdogs on the top currently, although i think that Tottenham will stay there

as if I sensed that Liverpool might have trouble with team selecting. I'm not sure how much time players have to pause after a negative test?
but not only happen to them. Kasper Schmeichel, he also suffered an injury and is not sure he will be fit for next Liverpool vs. Leicester match. It will be the hard and long season to all teams.

[hilariousetc]

as if I sensed that Liverpool might have trouble with team selecting. I'm not sure how much time players have to pause after a negative test?
but not only happen to them.

I think about it's 14 days in the UK, or that's how long you have to quarantine for. Maybe it's different for sports but two weeks seems a safe bet. However, if you keep testing positive like Ronaldo did that will delay things again and again.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have received a positive test result

Stay at home and begin to self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms start. Arrange to have a test for COVID-19 if you have not already had one. The result of the test will determine how long you must stay at home and self-isolate.

Stay at home while you are waiting for a home test kit or a test site appointment.

A positive test result means you must complete a 10-day isolation period.

If your test is negative, you can stop self-isolating as long as you are well.

If you do not have symptoms but have tested positive for COVID-19, stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from the day the test was taken. If you develop symptoms after your test, restart your 10-day isolation period from the day the symptoms start.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Kasper Schmeichel, he also suffered an injury and is not sure he will be fit for next Liverpool vs. Leicester match. It will be the hard and long season to all teams.

They really should pause or delay the Nations League as far too many people are going to be out with injuries and positive covid tests. Losing Schmeichel would be devastating to Leicester. He's one of the best keepers in the league in my opinion. They can play the nation games at the end of the season.

[casperBGD]

as if I sensed that Liverpool might have trouble with team selecting. I'm not sure how much time players have to pause after a negative test?
but not only happen to them.

I think about it's 14 days in the UK, or that's how long you have to quarantine for. Maybe it's different for sports but two weeks seems a safe bet. However, if you keep testing positive like Ronaldo did that will delay things again and again.

I am not sure about this 14 days, that could quarantine when you are positive, but I do not get why do you need quarantine after tested negative (when you were positive before that)
as far as I know, there is a quarantine when you are a contact, and you are in quarantine before tested positive or negative, but when you were positive, I think that you can go out as far as you test negative (it was a case with Ronaldo, he tested negative and played first match after that) - when you test negative after you had Covid-19, you are not threat, because you do not have it at that moment (and probably have some immunity, we do not know how long that immunity will last, but for sure it is strongest after testing negative for the first time)

[hilariousetc]

as if I sensed that Liverpool might have trouble with team selecting. I'm not sure how much time players have to pause after a negative test?
but not only happen to them.

I think about it's 14 days in the UK, or that's how long you have to quarantine for. Maybe it's different for sports but two weeks seems a safe bet. However, if you keep testing positive like Ronaldo did that will delay things again and again.

I am not sure about this 14 days, that could quarantine when you are positive, but I do not get why do you need quarantine after tested negative (when you were positive before that)
as far as I know, there is a quarantine when you are a contact, and you are in quarantine before tested positive or negative, but when you were positive, I think that you can go out as far as you test negative (it was a case with Ronaldo, he tested negative and played first match after that) - when you test negative after you had Covid-19, you are not threat, because you do not have it at that moment (and probably have some immunity, we do not know how long that immunity will last, but for sure it is strongest after testing negative for the first time)

It's just a precautionary measure. The disease doesn't magically leave your body one day to the next and you have to quarantine for x amount of days even after a negative test because the disease has a an incubatory period. You could mix with someone who has it on Monday, get a test Tuesday and it comes back negative on Wednesday and by Friday you start showing symptoms and you have another test and it comes back as positive. In that time you could have unknowingly infected dozens of people and they go on to do the same.

[casperBGD]

It's just a precautionary measure. The disease doesn't magically leave your body one day to the next and you have to quarantine for x amount of days even after a negative test because the disease has a an incubatory period. You could mix with someone who has it on Monday, get a test Tuesday and it comes back negative on Wednesday and by Friday you start showing symptoms and you have another test and it comes back as positive. In that time you could have unknowingly infected dozens of people and they go on to do the same.

I think that we misunderstood each other, completely agree with all that you stated about the possible infection, if you had a contact, you have to go to quarantine, but if you had it, and then tested negative - a.k.a. cured, then you can go out without quarantine, since you won over disease, at least that is the rule in Serbia
you have to be in quarantine while you had the disease, that is for certain

and I think that the same happened to Ronaldo, he tested positive several times, but as soon as he tested negative, he played in the first match afterwards, if I am not wrong

[tokeweed]

Anybody else think it's gonna be another 'Leicester moment' again at the EPL this season?  I just looked at the table and if there's a season for either Mou or Rodgers to win the EPL trophy with their respective clubs, it's this one surely.

Spurs is at 9.89 and LCFC at 25.84.

[tokeweed]

^  Yup.  But then again that exactly makes my argument.  City and LFC are the favorites to win, yet have been underwhelming really.  So maybe...  Spurs and Leicester wouldn't be a bad look.

Edit:  I'm no betting sharp.  So take that as a degen's perspective.  

Edit:  The guy I was replying to deleted his post.  Naughty naughty..  Tsk tsk.

[DeathAngel]

Just about to put my predictions in guys, finally we’re nearly back to the real stuff. No international break now until March, woo hoo!

[hilariousetc]

Anybody else think it's gonna be another 'Leicester moment' again at the EPL this season?  I just looked at the table and if there's a season for either Mou or Rodgers to win the EPL trophy with their respective clubs, it's this one surely.

Spurs is at 9.89 and LCFC at 25.84.

My money wouldn't be on Leicester as I'm sure they'll run out of steam at some point and even though they're sitting in first place right now I don't think they've played exceptional and did lose their first two games to West Ham and Villa, but at the same time them eventually winning it wouldn't surprise me either. I can easily see a team outside the big 3 or 4 winning it this season though. Spurs could be in with a shot especially if Bale starts performing. I think they've got just as much chance as City or Liverpool this year, especially considering all the injuries the latter has now, but it's still far too early to say and this year is surely an anomaly with covid and no fans etc so who knows what could happen. I'd like to see a different team outside of the usual suspects though. It's a shame Villa and Leeds bottled it a bit recently as seeing them do well would have been nice especially newly promoted Leeds who I had to be a relegation favourite (and still might be if they don't turn things around). Some big games this week like Spurs and City, Leicester/Liverpool so that could shake up the table a bit and it will be interesting to see where teams sit after it.

[swogerino]

Just about to put my predictions in guys, finally we’re nearly back to the real stuff. No international break now until March, woo hoo!

It is the last day of the boring Nations League today.I am also going to put my picks in and I was lazy to do so because I thought the Internationals would keep going with even more boring games like friendlies but a good thing these are out of the way.Thanks for reminding us as most probably many other pool players haven’t put their predictions yet.

[cryptofrka]

@all LFC supporters out there

You guys really got an extraordinary run of bad luck lately. First Salah with corona and then Robertson and now I hear even Henderson got injured.
So that is now whole first team defense (Robertson, Dijk, Gomez, Arnold) + Fabihno, then you are missing Thiago, Henderson and Salah. Who is gonna play?

Good thing Jota started really well so attack should be more than fine, midfield you can sort of also make work but defense is a total problem IMHO.

Sorry, was away for a couple of days. I think it's really hard to say at this point, I hope Robertson will be OK. I expected Rhys Williams to start alongside Matip but he's also picked up an injury in the England camp and was sent back home.

A lot of players are close to returning but our lineup will still be really weak. My guess would be something like Alisson - Milner, Phillips, Matip, Robertson - Wijnaldum, Keita, Jones - Mane, Jota, Firmino.

[LTU_btc]

Anybody else think it's gonna be another 'Leicester moment' again at the EPL this season?  I just looked at the table and if there's a season for either Mou or Rodgers to win the EPL trophy with their respective clubs, it's this one surely.

Spurs is at 9.89 and LCFC at 25.84.

I'm very sceptical about Leicester chances to make another miracle. I think they will start dropping points eventually. Their squad isn't deep enough to compete with Liverpool City or Spurs. And don't forget that they also play in Europa league, so they don't have many chances to rest their players. While FA and EFL cup didn't even started for them. If Foxes will finnish in TOP 4, it would be great result for them I think.
Spurs have good chances to take psrt in title race, but no waythqt I'm going to bet on them.

[kryptqnick]

@hilarious
Agreed, I’m not a fan of international football at the best of times but this year especially it should have all been scrapped except possibly the qualifiers for the Euro’s.
Under no circumstance should the Nations League & friendlies be taking place when we are in a global pandemic.

Yes I would need to agree with you on this one.

My country fails to understand this. There was a France vs Ukraine match a while ago which I described in this thread, with Ukraine not standing a chance because of multiple positive COVID tests of the players. And yet just this week Switzerland cancelled a match with Ukraine because a few days before the match 8 players had positive COVID-19 tests. I'm glad that Switzerland took it seriously because the Ukrainian COVID-19 situation is horrible, and yet the head coach of our national team was basically outraged by this decision since "enough players had negative tests".

[Trofo]

I'm very sceptical about Leicester chances to make another miracle. I think they will start dropping points eventually. Their squad isn't deep enough to compete with Liverpool City or Spurs. And don't forget that they also play in Europa league, so they don't have many chances to rest their players. While FA and EFL cup didn't even started for them. If Foxes will finnish in TOP 4, it would be great result for them I think.
Spurs have good chances to take psrt in title race, but no waythqt I'm going to bet on them.

Agree about the Leicester, there is just no way they repeat that performance and take the title. They don't have the squad depth to see it trough, especially with European games as well. If they manage to end inside top four and clinch Champions League place that will be more than they had right to hope for.

I am expecting them to make Liverpool season a bit tougher in the next game though. They are perfect team to capitalize on those missing defenders.

I am expecting LFC and City to be on top in the end no matter what problems hit them on the road and Chelsea probably has the best chance to take 3rd spot with United, Spurs, Everton and Leicster maybe having some chance of upset.

[big_daddy]

Finally another prediction week on pool from tomorrow
The covid situation is a pain in the ass... having that variable on top of all mertics and stats can easily change my prediction for the pair
For example, Liverpool is playing against Leicester without 9 players, at the moment
And their performance is not as I expected will be on the start of the season... Idk, a possible underdog to catch on Saturday here

[hilariousetc]

@hilarious
Agreed, I’m not a fan of international football at the best of times but this year especially it should have all been scrapped except possibly the qualifiers for the Euro’s.
Under no circumstance should the Nations League & friendlies be taking place when we are in a global pandemic.

Yes I would need to agree with you on this one.

My country fails to understand this. There was a France vs Ukraine match a while ago which I described in this thread, with Ukraine not standing a chance because of multiple positive COVID tests of the players. And yet just this week Switzerland cancelled a match with Ukraine because a few days before the match 8 players had positive COVID-19 tests. I'm glad that Switzerland took it seriously because the Ukrainian COVID-19 situation is horrible, and yet the head coach of our national team was basically outraged by this decision since "enough players had negative tests".

Every country seems to be doing their own thing. I saw some of the international games had fans there in the stadiums whilst there's zero in the UK and many other places.

Finally another prediction week on pool from tomorrow
The covid situation is a pain in the ass... having that variable on top of all mertics and stats can easily change my prediction for the pair
For example, Liverpool is playing against Leicester without 9 players, at the moment
And their performance is not as I expected will be on the start of the season... Idk, a possible underdog to catch on Saturday here

I'll probably go for the draw. Might put my both teams to score in both halves with 2 corners each half and 2 cards each bet on.

Skybet have another good offer on. Put any bet on the Spurs/City game and get a free £5 bet to use on anything:



Minimum bet is o 0.05p. Think I've had at least 5 of these free £5 bets this season.

[casperBGD]

with all the news regarding Covid, I would say that draw is the best option for Liverpool and Leicester match, although goals can be expected, it is not that if someone is missing from Liverpool that they will play with some youngsters, they have good and deep team subs, to cover situations like this
would not call the same for Leicester, and if Kasper is out (did not saw confirmation for this), that could have much more influence on their game, than Salah on LFC

from the others, Tottenham seems to be a team to watch, even for the title, Murinho knows how to play long seasons with 1:0 wins, and they are pretty tough contender for the title, especially if others lose some points in this early stage, as City already did
that is a match of the week for me, and I think that City is far from win tomorrow