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

[tokeweed]

@tokeweed yep, we've been pursuing him (or Klopp has anyway) for at least 3 seasons now, but he's always been too expensive, and then it was also a matter of timing, and now our old backroom acquisition people are gone also, so I'm not sure. It does appear owners are finally willing to consider the fee but then now we're not the only ones.

Ah yeah...  When he was at Birmingham, I couldn't get why no EPL club had acquired him way cheaper than what BVB will be asking for during the transfer window.  And from what I've been reading, BVB might not even let him go that easily and would want to hold him down with a new contract that would surely make his asking price go up a bit.  He'll prolly become the most expensive 20 year old during the summer.

And what is it with BVB.  They seem to always know where to get them cheap.  :/

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[Trofo]

Some intersting transfers just before deadline. Sabitzer to United on loan until season ends. Should come very handy since United lost Eriksen and Van Der Beek to injury for a long time.

Chelsea decided to have a 50 players squad    I guess their owner still thinks this is NFL. They signed more players than they have wins this season. Even when somebody wants to buy their players like PSG with Ziyech they send final docs wrong three times and let time run out. Seems like both player and club are pissed.

Chelsea also bought Fernandez for record breaking fee. Of course they can't do that do to financial fair play but no problems. They hired a company that will pay Benfica money immediately and they will pay out that company on a schedule that is ok with financial fair play. This is getting ridiculous.

[cryptofrka]

Some intersting transfers just before deadline. Sabitzer to United on loan until season ends. Should come very handy since United lost Eriksen and Van Der Beek to injury for a long time.

Chelsea decided to have a 50 players squad    I guess their owner still thinks this is NFL. They signed more players than they have wins this season. Even when somebody wants to buy their players like PSG with Ziyech they send final docs wrong three times and let time run out. Seems like both player and club are pissed.

Chelsea also bought Fernandez for record breaking fee. Of course they can't do that do to financial fair play but no problems. They hired a company that will pay Benfica money immediately and they will pay out that company on a schedule that is ok with financial fair play. This is getting ridiculous.

I just commented on this on the Transfers thread. Boehly acts like a kid on Playstation, it's getting ridiculous.
They bought 100+ million of players that they won't even be able to register for Europe.

In this environment I don't expect Potter to last the full season. Considering that he left a flying team to go there, he'll probably be the loser of the year (although a very rich one).

[Trofo]

In this environment I don't expect Potter to last the full season. Considering that he left a flying team to go there, he'll probably be the loser of the year (although a very rich one).

Yeah I am not feeling sorry for him, he got a nice contact and if they want to sack him it will be a hefty payout. He has his success with Brighton in CV and he will find new job without problems.

He is young and still has a lot of proving to do, but when that happens to managers closer to retirement, it is almost like winning on lottery. Couple of years of fully paid holidays, sign me up 

[Igebotz]

Chelsea decided to have a 50 players squad    I guess their owner still thinks this is NFL. They signed more players than they have wins this season. Even when somebody wants to buy their players like PSG with Ziyech they send final docs wrong three times and let time run out. Seems like both player and club are pissed.

Hahaha PSG arrived late, why did they have to wait until 24 hours before the deadline if he was that important to them? BTW, nobody was at home to send proper docs, the rest of the team was in Portugal dealing with Rui Costa and Benfica, and I hope Ziyech understands that we asked the kiddo at home to delay the deal because we weren't sure about the Enzo deal yet, and we didn't want to lose both Ziyech and Enzo on the same night. Ziyech was frustrated, but it was for the best; he would now play with proper midfielders and wingers until next season.

We are preparing for next season.

Chelsea also bought Fernandez for record breaking fee. Of course they can't do that do to financial fair play but no problems. They hired a company that will pay Benfica money immediately and they will pay out that company on a schedule that is ok with financial fair play. This is getting ridiculous.

People thought Todd Boehly was joking when he fired Cech and Marina and hired a Director of Business. He assembled the best recruitment team, hacked the FFP system, got players worth over €600 million, paid less than €120 million upfront, and spread the rest over 7-8 years installments.

[darxiaomi]

Chelsea also bought Fernandez for record breaking fee. Of course they can't do that do to financial fair play but no problems. They hired a company that will pay Benfica money immediately and they will pay out that company on a schedule that is ok with financial fair play. This is getting ridiculous.

People thought Todd Boehly was joking when he fired Cech and Marina and hired a Director of Business. He assembled the best recruitment team, hacked the FFP system, got players worth over €600 million, paid less than €120 million upfront, and spread the rest over 7-8 years installments.

Mmm im not so sure of that.... Chelsea its so up in the boat of the "new gen gems" but most of them are not prove anything, and anothers are B players not a TOP TOP. SO this can ended really well if all goes like planing or go to a complete failure.

The Ferndadez transfer..... ridiculous ammount like all the transfer in this "new" football, so Fernandez its more expensive than a CR7 in his prime..... come on, and before you say anything im Argentinian an im happy for him but the reality its only one, we need to stop with all this shit, also with that pantomime to pay this high transfers fee who point Trofo.

And you buy a player who CANT play UCL the only tournament when you have a little chance in this season? No words.

The only full win i see its....... yes the player and River Plate that they stayed with  the 30% of a future transfer.... so they pocket 40 millions euro.

[Igebotz]

Mmm im not so sure of that.... Chelsea its so up in the boat of the "new gen gems" but most of them are not prove anything, and anothers are B players not a TOP TOP. SO this can ended really well if all goes like planing or go to a complete failure.

You cannot classify the players we signed as B players because they were already first team players and not bench warmers in their formal teams and have proven success in their local league and UEFA competitions. They might struggle to adapt over time if the new system is not suited to them, but I don't see them becoming a total failure.

The Ferndadez transfer..... ridiculous ammount like all the transfer in this "new" football, so Fernandez its more expensive than a CR7 in his prime..... come on, and before you say anything im Argentinian an im happy for him but the reality its only one, we need to stop with all this shit, also with that pantomime to pay this high transfers fee who point Trofo.

Wake up, man! It's not 2009 anymore; everything is absurdly expensive right now. BTW, Ronaldo's transfer fee from Manchester United to Real Madrid set a world record; it took Bale to break it when he transferred from Tottenham to Madrid. If unproven players like Antony, Lukaku, and J. Grelish were purchased for €100m, then Enzo, the youngest player in the world at the moment is worth €120m in today's irrational market. BTW it was his release clause you either pay or let him be.

And you buy a player who CANT play UCL the only tournament when you have a little chance in this season? No words.

we bought then to prepare for next season, this season is already gone and BTW we can still register 3 players for our remaining UCL games 

The only full win i see its....... yes the player and River Plate that they stayed with  the 30% of a future transfer.... so they pocket 40 millions euro.

we don't care about what you see, we got our players lol.

[Trofo]

And you buy a player who CANT play UCL the only tournament when you have a little chance in this season? No words.

we bought then to prepare for next season, this season is already gone and BTW we can still register 3 players for our remaining UCL games 

It was a rule until 2018/19 season that you can't register players for Champions League if they were already registered for another club. I think darxiomi thought about this rule when he wrote this. So Chelsea can register Fernadez, Murdryk and Felix for their 3 players but they will have to drop Ziyech or maybe injured Pulisic/Fofana to make space. That also means that they will not be able to register other newcomings such as Badiashile and Madueke.

[darxiaomi]

Yes, i was talking about that rule i didnt know that have changed.

Igebotz you are talking like a fan so you dont see the thinks clear, and also i see you follow so much  the press and market manipulation, they are B or sub A players until they prove otherwise.

Lets recap the names:

- Wesley Fofana, who is him? in which big team he played? what tournament he wins? 000000000000. They can be a gem, yes maybe only time can show this. But for the press a mighty player.... yeahhhhh fighting relegation with Leicester.....

- Badiashile, what he win? what he make? another promises.

- Mudryk, the same, and this boy i see him in a lot of match with Shaktar and Ukraine, and he took al the bad decissions for end the plays. If he doesnt learn somethings he is going to home more early than later.

- Joao Felix..... no words a man called to be the next CR and was a complete failure under pressure in ATM.

- Madueke? Again the same how many big matches he play? against who? yes the answer its 0 again.

And the list can go on, you need key players and a few youngers not a lot of youngers.


All this players hasnt feel the real pressure on his shoulder, they arent proved in combat. Only Joao Felix and until now was a disaster.

Enzo Fernandez yes its an extraordinary player and prove to have the balls to fight for big thinks.

[Igebotz]

And you buy a player who CANT play UCL the only tournament when you have a little chance in this season? No words.

we bought then to prepare for next season, this season is already gone and BTW we can still register 3 players for our remaining UCL games  

It was a rule until 2018/19 season that you can't register players for Champions League if they were already registered for another club. I think darxiomi thought about this rule when he wrote this. So Chelsea can register Fernadez, Murdryk and Felix for their 3 players but they will have to drop Ziyech or maybe injured Pulisic/Fofana to make space. That also means that they will not be able to register other newcomings such as Badiashile and Madueke.

The same thing happened with loan players a while back when they weren't allowed to play against their primary club, and I'm sure Darxiomi didn't realize we now have new rules that allow players to represent more than one team in all UEFA competitions.

With Jorginho leaving for Arsenal, we should have 4 slots open. Sure, Maueke will be dropped, but we need Badiashile on the team because he's been the backbone of our defense since his debut..

@Darxiomi Please give us a break. We're done buying old proven players who got us to where we are now; instead, we're putting together a team of young players for the next 7-8 years.

[darxiaomi]

@Darxiomi Please give us a break. We're done buying old proven players who got us to where we are now; instead, we're putting together a team of young players for the next 7-8 years.

Hahahaha, yes in this one you have plenty of reason, i dont know why and how Chelsea cant wake up with some good players, but well its not an easy way when you fall.

Look at Liverpool ton of years in sorrow to again fight in top places, Man utd 10 years trying to find again the spirit, Arsenal.... another 10/15 years, so.... take a look to the long way.

[Igebotz]

@Darxiomi Please give us a break. We're done buying old proven players who got us to where we are now; instead, we're putting together a team of young players for the next 7-8 years.

Hahahaha, yes in this one you have plenty of reason, i dont know why and how Chelsea cant wake up with some good players, but well its not an easy way when you fall.

Look at Liverpool ton of years in sorrow to again fight in top places, Man utd 10 years trying to find again the spirit, Arsenal.... another 10/15 years, so.... take a look to the long way.

We have the resources to always stay at the top, and having been the most successful English team for some time now, we feel pressure to go a season without competing for a trophy, we are known to buy players for quick success but now the new owners are thinking about a long term structure with Potter, it may take some time to get to where we want to be now, but we will get there eventually.

took Klopp 3+yrs to dust off and rebuild Liverpool, and Roberto Manchini did the same for Manchester City. Potter needs our patience.

[buwaytress]

Came in here to comment but I see it is all out there already heh.

You know, I thought I had seen it all. And I thought with all the rules in place, with all the punishments dealt out, with all the outcry and lessons learnt, we would not see fantasy manager anymore.

How naive of me -)

Wonder which other clubs will now get infected. Newcastle? Everton?.... Liverpool?

[Harkorede]

took Klopp 3+yrs to dust off and rebuild Liverpool, and Roberto Manchini did the same for Manchester City. Potter needs our patience.

The problem isn't about how much time Potter needs, I've always been an advocate of the fact that these coaches needs time to build a team of their choice, but neither of Chelsea signings so far seemed to have been solely based off on Potter's decision or recommendation to be quite honest, I believe that most of these signings have been literally due to just hype, more of a panic buying and nothing more than a purchase influenced by scouts and a few board members votes or something of such, because I really don't think Potter suggested to the club that none of the host of talents they've got would not fit in to his plans/styles and if it were to be him calling the shot, you would expect a couple of bids for some Brighton player, at least that squad have the most impact on why Potter was regarded very highly and why he got the job to begin with.

All I see is a potential post Neymar-esque Barcelona team for Chelsea right now, and the first reference would always be towards the amount spent so far.

[Trofo]

With Jorginho leaving for Arsenal, we should have 4 slots open. Sure, Maueke will be dropped, but we need Badiashile on the team because he's been the backbone of our defense since his debut..

Doesn't work like that, you can only register 3 new players in CL in this slot. Even if you lost 5 players you could only add 3 new ones. Chelsea has 24 registered players at the moment. Jorginho frees one spot and they need to drop one of the players I mentioned before to even have space for that 3 players. Max you can have for CL is 25.

I agree with darxiami points, players you bought are players for the future and limited immediate impact and I have a feeling Boehly doesn't understand that and will expect results at latest next season. Potter needs time but he will not get time after Chelsea spent this much, now he needs results soon.

[swogerino]

With Jorginho leaving for Arsenal, we should have 4 slots open. Sure, Maueke will be dropped, but we need Badiashile on the team because he's been the backbone of our defense since his debut..

Doesn't work like that, you can only register 3 new players in CL in this slot. Even if you lost 5 players you could only add 3 new ones. Chelsea has 24 registered players at the moment. Jorginho frees one spot and they need to drop one of the players I mentioned before to even have space for that 3 players. Max you can have for CL is 25.

I agree with darxiami points, players you bought are players for the future and limited immediate impact and I have a feeling Boehly doesn't understand that and will expect results at latest next season. Potter needs time but he will not get time after Chelsea spent this much, now he needs results soon.

I think that Chelsea after spending this much should realize that the impact can only be felt the next season or during the end stages of this one as a minimum,new players need time to "synchronize" with the team and as such Potter cannot do much in this context.I know that Chelsea have had bad results but changing often the manager is a solution that 99.99% of the time does not work so for Chelsea management is better to call it a day for this season and grant Potter all the time needed for him to bring result during next season.

[Igebotz]

The problem isn't about how much time Potter needs, I've always been an advocate of the fact that these coaches needs time to build a team of their choice, but neither of Chelsea signings so far seemed to have been solely based off on Potter's decision or recommendation to be quite honest, I believe that most of these signings have been literally due to just hype, more of a panic buying and nothing more than a purchase influenced by scouts and a few board members votes or something of such, because I really don't think Potter suggested to the club that none of the host of talents they've got would not fit in to his plans/styles and if it were to be him calling the shot, you would expect a couple of bids for some Brighton player, at least that squad have the most impact on why Potter was regarded very highly and why he got the job to begin with.

Let me remind you that Potter assembled those recruitment teams; there is no way they would go for a player not on his A or B list, and BTW, I don't think there was any media hype for the Fofana, Badiashile, and Madueke deals; they were all secret scouts deals; the only deals we could argue received media attention were the Mudryk and J. Felix deals, and that was because some of the top clubs were interested in them. Chelsea was the only club to make direct contact with Benfica, and the deal received so much attention due to the price tag and the manner in which it was concluded between the clubs. Nothing has been done behind Potter's back, in my opinion.

Brighton is not our academy; they are a serious club that is doing well for itself, so don't expect Potter to get any player he wants from the team simply because he was their formal coach; he wanted Moises, but the club refused to sell. ETH attempted the same thing with Ajax, but we all saw how that turned out.

I agree with darxiami points, players you bought are players for the future and limited immediate impact and I have a feeling Boehly doesn't understand that and will expect results at latest next season. Potter needs time but he will not get time after Chelsea spent this much, now he needs results soon.

This season is already over; our main goal now is to qualify for one of the UEFA competitions and focus on next season. Nkunku, Lukaku, and Gusto will all join the team in June. The only player who could force us back into the market is Felix; if he impresses the coach, the club will almost certainly pay his release clause. Potter has a large squad to manage. Haha

[Harkorede]

Let me remind you that Potter assembled those recruitment teams; there is no way they would go for a player not on his A or B list, and BTW, I don't think there was any media hype for the Fofana, Badiashile, and Madueke deals; they were all secret scouts deals; the only deals we could argue received media attention were the Mudryk and J. Felix deals, and that was because some of the top clubs were interested in them. Chelsea was the only club to make direct contact with Benfica, and the deal received so much attention due to the price tag and the manner in which it was concluded between the clubs. Nothing has been done behind Potter's back, in my opinion.

You sound very much to have an insider feeding you with these information that are rather limited to the public, huh. Fofana was also a deal borne out of extreme desperation as well, hence the reason why Leicester were able to capatilse on Chelsea's desperation.

I'm not saying that those deals were done without Potter's consent of course, but that doesn't mean those were his solely his choices of players, I really don't know what coach is already scouting for players for a club that he doesn't even have any idea he was going to manage, that said I don't think a club trying to build for future players go for them in the more tensed January and more so in the final days and dying moments of the deadline, that could only suggest nothing but extreme desperation, and need for immediate result. The obvious fact I feel right now is that if Chelsea season still end being up worse (let's say failure to make the UCL and Europa League as things currently stand), Potter might not even get to be in-charge come next season.

Brighton is not our academy; they are a serious club that is doing well for itself, so don't expect Potter to get any player he wants from the team simply because he was their formal coach; he wanted Moises, but the club refused to sell. ETH attempted the same thing with Ajax, but we all saw how that turned out.

But Arsenal got Trossard one of their best players this season without having to try too hard.

[Welsh]

What a terrible season for Liverpool. Can't seem to sell the club, so we're stuck with owners that don't want us, we've had one of our worst seasons in recent memory, definitely our worst under Klopp. We've just had the chance to mitigate some of our problems by making a few signings, and we basically didn't do anything. Especially, to that midfield that needed reinforcement. Looks like we've accepted our fate this season. I guess we must be holding out for some big moves in the summer, right?

I'm going for a Fulham win, Arsenal win, Aston Villa win, and Brentford win this weekend. Liverpool have Wolves, so we'll probably lose against then, let's be honest. We haven't had the best of luck with them recently.

[Ulven]

What a terrible season for Liverpool. Can't seem to sell the club, so we're stuck with owners that don't want us, we've had one of our worst seasons in recent memory, definitely our worst under Klopp. We've just had the chance to mitigate some of our problems by making a few signings, and we basically didn't do anything. Especially, to that midfield that needed reinforcement. Looks like we've accepted our fate this season. I guess we must be holding out for some big moves in the summer, right?

I'm going for a Fulham win, Arsenal win, Aston Villa win, and Brentford win this weekend. Liverpool have Wolves, so we'll probably lose against then, let's be honest. We haven't had the best of luck with them recently.

Liverpool and their fans are going through a difficult period. Disappointment has resulted from a lack of investment in the team, combined with a poor run of form. While it's understandable to hope for better in the summer transfer window, it's critical to stay focused on the present and support the team in the meantime. Good luck with your weekend predictions; it will be fascinating to see how the games unfold.