Thread: The Premier League 2021/22

Even if Romesh Rangabnathan or whatever his name is manages to convince your prima donnas to turn up, you might get a step closer to the Europa Conf but its a long way to May and you'll be relying of a lots of teams to do Merchandise a favour.

An unexpectedly good number of midweek games this week. I watched Newcastle last night, thinking last night had to be their night, but we're now into territory where, despite their millions, they're gonna be in a serious battle to get out of the relegation zone. They've got Burnley at home on Saturday too, which is yet another 6 pointer.

The January window will be very very interesting because truly elite players aren't gonna come for a relegation battle. They're surely gonna be in for the likes of Lingard, Barkley etc though?

Merseydive derby tonight...

This time in 2018, 21 players had scored five goals or more.

This year the number is 12.

And yeah, Newcastle desperately need to beat Burnley. Ciaran Clarke is a long way from good enough for this division. They need two new full backs too.

Originally Posted by cyrille

And yeah, Newcastle desperately need to beat Burnley. Ciaran Clarke is a long way from good enough for this division. .

If you were Eddie Howe or a barcode fan, you'd be tearing your hair out.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

An unexpectedly good number of midweek games this week. I watched Newcastle last night, thinking last night had to be their night, but we're now into territory where, despite their millions, they're gonna be in a serious battle to get out of the relegation zone.

The Saudis probably won't get the joke when they're relegated. The whole of England outside of Newcastle though will be pissing themselves.

Originally Posted by cyrille

This time in 2018, 21 players had scored five goals or more.

This year the number is 12.

Was looking for a new striker on that fokin' Fantasy Football nonsense and only two, Ant & Vardy, actually have any. Tiz a different game nowadays with all this fancy-dan false number nines and 5 metro-tactical counter attacking midfielders with no striker pish.

Originally Posted by Edmond

The Saudis probably won't get the joke when they're relegated. The whole of England outside of Newcastle though will be pissing themselves.

I too am looking forward to March, should be confirmed by then

Originally Posted by Edmond

Tiz a different game nowadays with all this fancy-dan false number nines and 5 metro-tactical counter attacking midfielders with no striker pish.

On the bright side don't you get more points for defenders that score?
#541formation

Originally Posted by Edmond

Tiz a different game nowadays with all this fancy-dan false number nines and 5 metro-tactical counter attacking midfielders with no striker pish.

On the bright side don't you get more points for defenders that score?
#541formation
#451 formation

Originally Posted by Joe 90

#541formation

Pish.

Mid-table Eddo Cheddo's masterplan is ready to take off.

This is such an unusual footie year that its thrown a spanner in my Fartasy Manager brilliance, i am refusing to be dispirited.

1-0 after 11 minutes. Could be 4 already.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

They need, what, 35 points to avoid relegation?

I think there's about 16 games to the end of the season from the time the transfer window opens to the end of the season.

The question you should be asking is how much will the Custodian of the Two Holy Chequebooks be prepared to spend.

Who's gonna sign up for a relegation battle? They can afford whoever they want, but many of the players they want will have no interest in going there at the moment.

The pertinent question is if they will be able to attract players of sufficient calibre to get them out of this mess.

Ruben!!

Bernardo

Goal of the season!

The best Portuguese player in the world..

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Who's gonna sign up for a relegation battle? They can afford whoever they want, but many of the players they want will have no interest in going there at the moment.

The pertinent question is if they will be able to attract players of sufficient calibre to get them out of this mess.

Which leads to "what will attract players" and goes back to...

how much will the Custodian of the Two Holy Chequebooks be prepared to spend.

I tend to agree... If you pay them they will come.

How many football prossies have gone to China.


That said, how many would choose Newcastle over Shanghai Chingchongchang FC for the same coin.

Originally Posted by Edmond

How many football prossies have gone to China.


That said, how many would choose Newcastle over Shanghai Chingchongchang FC for the same coin.

Paul Rideout finished his career in China *, it wasn't exactly Messi money.



(* Nearly finished. I think he ended up at Tranmere. Does that count?).

So did Rolf Redneck get his work permit yet?

Originally Posted by cyrille

I tend to agree... If you pay them they will come.

I think one thing in the barcodes' favour is the Qatar World Cup on the distant horizon (although it's obviously not in the summer following the season), so players are gonna want to be playing. However, they're still not gonna be shopping from the top shelf when they're in the mess they're in.

And, If that mess becomes even worse by the time January comes around, you're gonna need Superman to get you out of the hole. Not the likes of Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

If that mess becomes even worse by the time January comes around, you're gonna need Superman to get you out of the hole. Not the likes of Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly.

Obviously there comes a time when there's no realistic hope, but Jesse Lingard on loan signed early in January could have got half a dozen goals for West Brom last season, and made all the difference.

We lost lots of games by one goal.

We got Robert Snodgrass instead, who got injured with the last manager and has fallen out with the current one.

It emphasises what a big week they've got this week with Norwich and Burnley.

Their next games before January are Leicester away, Liverpool away, City at home, (a hopefully rejuvenated) United at home and Everton away.

There could very well be little in the way of realistic hope by the time the new year comes around. They must win against Burnley.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Obviously there comes a time when there's no realistic hope

It is never in December.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

It emphasises what a big week they've got this week with Norwich and Burnley.

Their next games before January are Leicester away, Liverpool away, City at home, (a hopefully rejuvenated) United at home and Everton away.

There could very well be little in the way of realistic hope by the time the new year comes around. They must win against Burnley.

Like I said, there are 16 games Jan to the end of the season. 48 points. They have 7.

Maybe 40 is around what should do it.

So perhaps they only need 33.

Plus what they can get between now and then.

I wouldn't say they are at deaths door yet, looking at the teams above them.