2019/20 Premier League Thread - The Longest Season

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

2019/20 Barclays season thread

Start off by asking how long you think Ole will last at the wheel? For me, sacked by February 2020

[No name Bertie]

Nigel Pearson sacked with 2 games to go

He may have already saved them.  Bournemouth were not favorites to get many points from in form Southampton and then away to Everton.   While Aston Villa have to play an in form Arsenal, who have beaten both Liverpool and Man City in recent games, and an in form West Ham away.

The Bournemouth story has been a bit of a fairy tale.  They have a ground capacity of around 11,000 which is really a league one type of following.

[GSC]

Emotionally but financially they've been one of the better backed sides compared to money brought in. Just blown a lot on players like Ibe and Solanke.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Nigel Pearson sacked with 2 games to go

He may have already saved them.  Bournemouth were not favorites to get many points from in form Southampton and then away to Everton.   While Aston Villa have to play an in form Arsenal, who have beaten both Liverpool and Man City in recent games, and an in form West Ham away.

The Bournemouth story has been a bit of a fairy tale.  They have a ground capacity of around 11,000 which is really a league one type of following.

Lol come off it - that incredible fairytale of the Russian billionaire backed club breaking all FFP rules to get promotion! What a Cinderella story!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Nigel Pearson sacked with 2 games to go

He may have already saved them.  Bournemouth were not favorites to get many points from in form Southampton and then away to Everton.   While Aston Villa have to play an in form Arsenal, who have beaten both Liverpool and Man City in recent games, and an in form West Ham away.

The Bournemouth story has been a bit of a fairy tale.  They have a ground capacity of around 11,000 which is really a league one type of following.

Lol come off it -  that incredible fairytale of the Russian billionaire backed club breaking all FFP rules to get promotion! What a Cinderella story!

But FFP is bad, City said so.

To be fair, it is still a bit of a fairytale. Certainly would feel that way as a Bournemouth fan

[dyrewolfe]

Nigel Pearson sacked with 2 games to go

He may have already saved them.  Bournemouth were not favorites to get many points from in form Southampton and then away to Everton.   While Aston Villa have to play an in form Arsenal, who have beaten both Liverpool and Man City in recent games, and an in form West Ham away.

The Bournemouth story has been a bit of a fairy tale.  They have a ground capacity of around 11,000 which is really a league one type of following.

Lol come off it -  that incredible fairytale of the Russian billionaire backed club breaking all FFP rules to get promotion! What a Cinderella story!

But FFP is bad, City said so.

To be fair, it is still a bit of a fairytale. Certainly would feel that way as a Bournemouth fan

Nonono...you've got it all wrong. City complied fully with FFP...according to the Court of Arbitration for Sports. They clearly think FFP is a good idea.

Though I still don't get the €10m fine for "failing to co-operate with UEFA".

[GSC]

They upheld the fine I think rather than adding it given it was passed out as punishment for not complying with the investigation rather than the breaches themselves.

UEFAs basis for the ban itself was based on evidence that fell out of their 5 year statute of limitations which is why that part got thrown out.

Anyway, you can look at Bournemouth as a Cinderella story coming up through the tiera, but the idea that they're any kind of plucky underdogs at this point doesn't hold, they're probably going down because of poor recruitment (and former future big thing Eddie Howe) rather than any kind of resource gap to the sides around them.

[Duty281]

Good news for Villa/Bournemouth as City are totally shredding Watford's goal difference.

Maybe Villa or Bournemouth will only need three points to survive?

[GSC]

Good news for Villa who now need to get at least 1 win from 2 disinterested side

[No name Bertie]

The way teams are playing one would expect Arsenal to beat Aston Villa.  The advantage Aston Villa have is they played five days ago on Thursday while Arsenal played three days ago on Saturday, so Villa should be able to bring more energy to the game than Arsenal.  Playing at home is also an advantage but not much of one given it is played in an empty stadium.

[GSC]

There's also that arsenal's players have nothing riding on this game

[Duty281]

Villa will have to attack which makes them vulnerable on the counter. Arsenal will go bish-bash-bosh and win 3-1.

[westisbest]

Good first half. Christ we need that second goal. Can see Arsenal scoring.

So far so good. Very long and nervous second half to come.

Ooooo me nervs.

[guildfordbat]

You ok out there, westi?

[Duty281]

Top win for Villa. Should be safe now.

[GSC]

1 game shootout, all 3 sides playing against teams that can't be arsed.

Goal difference also a factor

[westisbest]

Massive win. Finally, finally held onto a win.

In our hands. Win and we are safe. Draw we maybe safe. Even a loss and we could still stay up.

Can enjoy the next few days and let nervs wait till Sunday.

[No name Bertie]

Massive win. Finally, finally held onto a win.

In our hands. Win and we are safe. Draw we maybe safe. Even a loss and we could still stay up.

Can enjoy the next few days and let nervs wait till Sunday.

If both Watford and Villa draw, then Villa definitely stay up.  If Watford and Aston Villa both win or both lose it will go down to goal difference.  

Villa currently have a better goal difference by one, and have scored six more goals than Watford (which comes into play if they have identical points and identical goal difference).

So Aston Villa are now in an excellent position to save themselves but depending on final day scores it is still possible for any two of Bournemouth, Watford and Villa to go down.  West Ham's highly favorable goal difference means they are realistically safe.

[Duty281]

In an unlikely scenario, if Bournemouth draw or lose by any margin AND Watford win 7-5 AND Villa win 1-0*, then Watford and Villa would be tied on points, GD, goals scored and the H2H record. It would then go down to away goals scored in the H2H meetings, which Watford lead 1-0 in. Imagine being relegated because of that!

*8-6 and 2-1, 9-7 and 3-2 are also acceptable etc.

The last recourse after away goals in a H2H is a play-off, but I can't see any relegation scenario in which that would happen...it would arguably be fairer than away goals in H2H!

However, if Manchester United beat West Ham 5-3 and Leicester beat Man Utd 1-0*...we will get an extra play-off game for fourth place (presuming Chelsea get three or more points from their final two games) sending the Sky machine into super hype mode.

*No other scores acceptable, alas.

[Duty281]

United get a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Ham, meaning Leicester will have to beat United to secure top four. If Leicester do beat United, it will be United's lowest ever points tally in a PL season (a draw would level it with their previous worst).

[No name Bertie]

West Ham are now mathematically safe.   West Ham are one of the in form teams of the Premier League and I was thinking they might beat and possibly thump Aston Villa.  But although they are in form I think mentally they will be euphoric in securing their place in the Premier League and will likely play at a slower pace this Sunday.  Aston Villa have one day extra to recover and prepare and maybe their urgency in play might be a key factor.

[JDizzle]

United get a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Ham, meaning Leicester will have to beat United to secure top four. If Leicester do beat United, it will be United's lowest ever points tally in a PL season (a draw would level it with their previous worst).

A draw could still be enough for Leicester - if Chelsea lose their last two, which is possible given they play Liverpool and then Wolves. Hopefully they get the point they need tonight so have no stresses come the final game.

[GSC]

Leicester will have to go for the win, Chelsea should be safe

[GSC]

That said, no idea what CL looks like next year but presume extra value in finishing 3rd and not qualifying

[JDizzle]

Yeah, and Leicester having to attack should play into United’s hands who should murder them on the counter. Still, would like it wrapped up tonight for Chelsea.

[No name Bertie]

We have to also consider that since the resumption to the Premier League teams have been playing on average every three days and now is the time when this catches up on their bodies (including injuries and niggles) as well as mental fatigue.  It also tests the squad depth so, for example, although Man Utd's first team are now excellent when fit, as soon as they have to bring in non first team members the quality drops.

[No name Bertie]

I have been watching the championship results and there have been big swings in fortune.

[Duty281]

West Brom (zzzzzz) promoted to Premier League despite drawing tonight, all because Brentford couldn't beat Barnsley.

Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff and Swansea populate the play-offs. Forest missing out at the last moment, because they got bizarrely smashed at home to Stoke.

[No name Bertie]

Relegated to the first division are Hull, Wigan and Charlton. Wigan are appealing their 12 point penalty and if the appeal is accepted then Barnsley will go down instead of Wigan.

[GSC]

Bottled it as per

[JDizzle]

Kepa needs firing into the sun.

[No name Bertie]

Everything to play for on the final day of the Premier League season:
Any of Man Utd, Chelsea and Leicester could finish third or fourth.
Any of Aston Villa, Watford and Bournemouth could avoid relegation, but Villa favorite to stay up.

[westisbest]

If we keep playing like we have been doing in the last few games, then we could well beat West Ham.

Watford. Who knows if arsenal will rest to many players. Hopefully they will be to strong.

Bournemouth, will be one to look out for. Could very well beat Everton. A draw is no good to them. They have to win, this could backfire on them. Everton will want to finish on a high.

So annoying our game is on B bloody T.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I should imagine our intensity drops now but we have looked good of late. I suspect we won’t be the free win that some other sides would have been

[Crimey]

Feels like Bournemouth have just slept walk into relegation. I have a feeling Watford are going to pull themselves out of it with a win against Arsenal who will have eye on the FA Cup Final and have struggled recently against teams they have needed to break down.

[Crimey]

I should imagine our intensity drops now but we have looked good of late. I suspect we won’t be the free win that some other sides would have been

Are you going to be happy with sticking with Moyes next year? Despite the joke he has become these days, he's done a good job with you again (albeit avoiding relegation isn't what you want to do year on year). If he can turn West Ham into what Everton were under his reign, I'd have thought most would be happy with that?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Neither happy nor unhappy, really. His safety first attitude does frustrate me, but we’ve played some nice stuff at times and his attitude in the window seems to be about sorting problems without blowing money.

I’d be very surprised if he has long term success, but I think he’s benefitted from having no fans at games and it may have relieved him from some tenser and angrier fans. Allardyce built year on year but also played boring football and it never did fit.

Everton liked the scrappy underdog mentality in a time where that kind of thing could break the top 6. That isn’t so easy now and it won’t play as well when it’s aiming for 10th and sacrificing cups

[GSC]

Pearson might not have kept Watford up but it sealed relegation. Weird decision

[Duty281]

There is nothing more "the Premier League is back" than that goal not being given. If Villa stay up by a point...

Indeed...

[Guest]

Relying upon Wes Morgan to get you into the top 4 was always going to end in tears. Shame for Leicester, but injuries ruined them.

[westisbest]

What about the goal that wasn’t given away at Palace.
Blatant handball away at arsenal.

Yes that goal against Sheffield United should have counted. Poor goalkeeping and technology.

We’ve been robbed a good few times this season.

We stayed up. That’s what counts.

38 game season.

Bring on next season

UTV.

[Atila]

Congratulations to Ole Solskjaer. Despite what the haters say, 3rd in your first full season isn't bad. What's funny is that Tottenham were supposed to be a better team than United and supposedly had better managers in Pochettino and Mourinho but Ole and United managed to finish above them.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

To be honest, we can all point at decisions that didn't go in our favour cos of opinion. But that one wasn't opinion, it was the technology not working and the systems in place around it were being managed by morons.

Shame for Bournemouth, lol at Deeney, but well done Villa. They were poor today too, but the job is done and now a weird summer. Does Grealish stay? Cannot see how that team survives again without more investment, and especially if Grealish goes.

[GSC]

Shame for Leicester but they ran out of steam since the start of the year. Positive first full season for Rodgers but need to recruit well to fill out the squad

[westisbest]

To be honest, we can all point at decisions that didn't go in our favour cos of opinion. But that one wasn't opinion, it was the technology not working and the systems in place around it were being managed by morons.

Shame for Bournemouth, lol at Deeney, but well done Villa. They were poor today too, but the job is done and now a weird summer. Does Grealish stay? Cannot see how that team survives again without more investment, and especially if Grealish goes.

If those decisions had gone our way, we stay up by more than a point.

Thought we played ok today.
Think Jack will go.
We played to much around him, which we had to as he is out best player.

Think he will do a good job at a better club. Good luck to him if/when he does go.
We need to invest wisely now.

Plus about staying up is we will attract better players than if we had gone down.

[GSC]

Cuts both ways but it's an irrelevant talking point for me.

Villa dug deep and got the results when they needed them.

[westisbest]

Cuts both ways but it's an irrelevant talking point for me.

Villa dug deep and got the results when they needed them.

Exactly GSC.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cuts both ways but it's an irrelevant talking point for me.

Villa dug deep and got the results when they needed them.

Does it? Has anyone else been cost points because the technology quite literally failed? And then the VAR that could have supported it wasn't looked because the set up was too dumb?

We all get decisions in our favour and not. And we all remember the ones we got, not the ones that didn't work out for us. It's just wild that that moment was so decisive.

Tell ya what, if Villa don't buy a striker, they're down next year regardless. All of them are awful.

[GSC]

And if Villa go into today's game a point less, it influences their entire approach and games before this. Can't just isolate one moment and say everything else remains the same.

Without even getting into the realms of whatever the **** VAR has been doing this season.

With their season on the line Villa got 8 points from their last 4 games (and really should've been 10). That's why they stayed up.

[GSC]

Watford and Norwich will keep doing what they do, but the interesting one for me is Bournemouth.

They've stalled as a club and Howe's career with it. Whether they can jump start again in the Championship, or whether it's worth a fresh start is up in the air

[westisbest]

Most not all Dolph.

Go and have a lie down. Seems the final day excitement has got to you.

I agree, we need a decent striker though.

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