Premier League 2023/24 Thread

[Tubby23]

That's because it's not run independently but by one of their own whose only interest is in protecting his colleagues.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

The bigger issue IMO is that the Premier League refs feel VAR is there to show why the referees were right and not to get the call right.

I have a lot of sympathy with that view in light of some of the absolutely awful decisions that have stood this season, and we're only two weeks in.

The wider issue is that football as a sport is terrible at evolving from a regulatory perspective. The NFL at least has a process where rules are consistently scrutinised and subject to change every year. Some of them are even brought in on a temporary basis to test them. Largely, that works very well, and other sports are also generally competent at bringing in changes that actually work, particularly when it comes to technology. But football is both very slow to make changes and then is staggeringly incompetent when it does. VAR is just the most recent and in many ways ultimate example of it. So many areas where it's gone wrong or not been implemented in anything close to an optimum way.

 

[Joseph Snapple]

ahem

Poocastle

 

[Tubby23]

Brighton are an excellent team. It's not an entirely surprising result

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Everton 'new ownership agreement reached'
Club statement: "777 Partners has signed an agreement with Farhad Moshiri to acquire his full stake in Everton Football Club, which accounts for 94.1% of the club's shares."

Farhad Moshiri, a shareholder since 2016 and majority shareholder since 2018, said: The nature of ownership and financing of top football clubs has changed immeasurably since I first invested in Everton over seven years ago. The days of an owner/benefactor are seemingly out of reach for most, and the biggest clubs are now typically owned by well-resourced PE firms, specialist sports investors or state-backed companies and funds.

I have been open about the need to bring in new investment and complete the financing for our iconic new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, on the banks of the Mersey, which I have predominantly financed to date. I have spoken to a number of parties and considered some strong potential opportunities. However, it is through my lengthy discussions with 777 that I believe they are the best partners to take our great Club forward, with all the benefits of their multi-club investment model.

As a result of this agreement, we have an experienced and well-connected investor in football clubs who will help maximise the commercial opportunities, and we have secured the complete financing for our new stadium, which will be the critical element in the future success of Everton. Today is an important next step in the successful development of Everton and I look forward to closely following as our Club goes from strength to strength.

Of course, none of this could have been achieved without the hard work of everyone at the Club. From our team at the training ground, our commercial and support teams through to matchday employees, I extend my sincerest gratitude.

And to our fans, the last few years have been challenging but you have supported the Club through it all and consistently been our twelfth man. You are the best fans and deserve success.

 

[Tubby23]

Thank god he's gone but this won't change anything

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Tubby23]

View attachment 3290

Could equally be wearing an Everton top, that said we finally won a game!

 

[Crystal]

Not Prem, but this still makes me smile. I know it's the kids, but still...

 

[Joseph Snapple]

Would be curious to hear thoughts on this VAR mess. My gut, newbie thought is that people should be fired for it but idk what else. It's really fucking stupid, and even dumber that gambling payouts mean it can't/wont be corrected.

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Tubby23]

Everton's chairman Bill Kenwright passed overnight. While I think Bill was a part of our problem over ethe last couple of seasons, he was an incredibly passionate supporter of the Club. RIP

 

[Crystal]

Everton's chairman Bill Kenwright passed overnight. While I think Bill was a part of our problem over ethe last couple of seasons, he was an incredibly passionate supporter of the Club. RIP

That's truly tragic, may he rest easy.

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Tubby23]

View attachment 3996

Lol, quality.

Chelsea were just putrid against Brentford

 

[VashTheStampede]

Typical Chelsea. Brilliant to open the game. Waste several sure chances. Blow the game in the second half.

Tired of waking up early on Saturday just to spend the rest of the day in a bad mood.

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Tubby23]

Typical Chelsea. Brilliant to open the game. Waste several sure chances. Blow the game in the second half.

Tired of waking up early on Saturday just to spend the rest of the day in a bad mood.

Chelsea fans and Everton fans living the same life

 

[VashTheStampede]

These last couple weeks of Chelsea matches have been a very entertaining way to shed years off my expected lifespan.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Poch signing (not that there was anyone available other than Mourinho that I would have been happy with) but it looks like he might be building something.

 

[Tubby23]

Poch is an incredible manager, the stupidest thing that ever happened was him leaving Spurs

 

[Webster]

These last couple weeks of Chelsea matches have been a very entertaining way to shed years off my expected lifespan.

I wasn't a huge fan of the Poch signing (not that there was anyone available other than Mourinho that I would have been happy with) but it looks like he might be building something.

It could be worse, Vash: imagine being an Everton fan after their 10pt deduction.

 

[VashTheStampede]

Yeah. We've constantly got one of those hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles if you believe the media, but it's been going on so long that it feels like a myth. When they dropped the hammer on Everton it was a sobering moment.

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[VashTheStampede]

I keep these random sports threads alive with memes

 

[Tubby23]

That you do and supporting crap teams.

 

[Tubby23]

A reminder Everton would be 8th if the Prem weren't shills

 

[VashTheStampede]

 

[Webster]

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

So how far up and how quickly do you all think wrexham will climb? My phone keeps sending me push notifications about them despite subscribing to nothing nor watching the TV show they made on them.

 

[Crystal]

So how far up and how quickly do you all think wrexham will climb? My phone keeps sending me push notifications about them despite subscribing to nothing nor watching the TV show they made on them.

Not as high as they think. I think they'll struggle climbing without further investment.

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

Not as high as they think. I think they'll struggle climbing without further investment.

I agree with that. But just checking out the table they seem in decent shape to climb up once more at this point. I feel like they might be a middle team in the next level and then check to see if Hollywood can come give them more.

 

[Crystal]

I agree with that. But just checking out the table they seem in decent shape to climb up once more at this point. I feel like they might be a middle team in the next level and then check to see if Hollywood can come give them more.

Yeah, I agree with that, they're pulling hard on their Hollywood connections to see them gain funds, but as they're finding out, it's expensive to run a team. Takes corporate investment

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

Yeah, I agree with that, they're pulling hard on their Hollywood connections to see them gain funds, but as they're finding out, it's expensive to run a team. Takes corporate investment

Disney Presents:

 

[Crystal]

Disney Presents:

The Wrexham Mice!

 

[Webster]

So how far up and how quickly do you all think wrexham will climb? My phone keeps sending me push notifications about them despite subscribing to nothing nor watching the TV show they made on them.

Yeah, I agree with that, they're pulling hard on their Hollywood connections to see them gain funds, but as they're finding out, it's expensive to run a team. Takes corporate investment

Agree w/Crystal here; w/out substantial additional investment, they'll struggle to survive in League 2, much less move up to League 1.

 

[Crystal]

Yeah, it's a money game the higher up you go and as much as the Wrexham duo have movie money, it can only go so far.

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

Yeah, it's a money game the higher up you go and as much as the Wrexham duo have movie money, it can only go so far.

Movie star money is a lot to us, but it's nothing to oil barrons.

 

[Crystal]

Movie star money is a lot to us, but it's nothing to oil barrons.

Yep, it's astronomical to us, but pennies in football.

 

[Tubby23]

Yep they potentially move up on more league but no further than that. Even that feels unlikely.

Unfortunately for the people of Wrexham this is likely to be a flash in the pan, and I don't really see an asset that someone with PL football level wealth would be interested in. They're light years behind in terms of stadium, facilities, training grounds, staff etc.

 

[Crystal]

Yeah, that's another super valid point. The infrastructure just isn't there. If it were Bolton, a team that HAS a premier league infrastructure and just...fell apart, then a dose of wealth could help push them to be more than a blip on the radar again, but Wrexham have a long, long way to go.

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

I mean I would love to see them able to do it, but I also doubt it. It would give hope to fans of all teams that it could happen "one day" but that would also be a lot of false hope (that some people probably already have, to be fair).

 

[Crystal]

Yep, there are a lot of teams in the EFL and the national league that *think* they're going to climb that pyramid, but the realities of football, the economics of the game just make it so prohibitive that without a billionaire backer or a group of millionaires with money to throw around you're not even making the Championship, let alone the Premier Leauge

 

[Tubby23]

Agreed, you look at the training facilities etc of even the "poor" PL clubs and they're light years ahead of Wrexham.
As you mention the likes of Bolton, Sunderland etc who had long tenures in the PL and now sit in the Championship or lower may be able to get themselves up through the league's with investment but Wrexham basically has to build a whole new business.

To be competitive enough financially and on-fiel to get up thought the league's they likely need:
- 15-20K seat stadium
- training ground with minimum 6 outdoor pitches and probably another 4-5 indoor
- weight room, hydrotherapy pools, sauna rooms, extended locker rooms, cafeteria etc
- chef on staff, 7-8 physiotherapists, club psychologist, coaches at every position (this they likely have but on a full time basis) etc

They probably need in the region of £1-1.5 billion in investment into the actual Club so you need an honour worth 7-8x that, who is liquid enough to do so and get banks etc on board.

All while meeting the rules and regulations of financial fair play

 

[Crystal]

Let's not forget the improvements needed in the academy, too. Can't build a team and not focus on its' future! That's huge money, as well

 

[Advocate for Ants! Mouth]

I'm just waiting for the next round of "we are this team" with well liked Hollywood actors to get them world famous. Keanu Reeves and Tom Hanks want to go in on a team?

 

[Crystal]

I'm just waiting for the next round of "we are this team" with well liked Hollywood actors to get them world famous. Keanu Reeves and Tom Hanks want to go in on a team?

Oh please let it be FC United of Manchester. We Are FCUM, the gross teen in me needs that.

 

[Tubby23]

I'm just waiting for the next round of "we are this team" with well liked Hollywood actors to get them world famous. Keanu Reeves and Tom Hanks want to go in on a team?

Hanks likely won't buy any team that isn't Aston Villa as he has been a fan since the mid-80s and when I say fan I mean a real proper fan who actually knows what's going on.

 

[Tubby23]

The most likely we get Hollywood ownership of a good team is as very much a bit part player.

Like LeBron's ownership stake in Liverpool

 

[Crystal]

Hanks likely won't buy any team that isn't Aston Villa as he has been a fan since the mid-80s and when I say fan I mean a real proper fan who actually knows what's going on.

Definitely helps when an investor or owner actually gives a damn about the team. I'm loving Sharon Brittan in Bolton, she came in and learned about the club, took an interest in the club, brought back some of the legends who had been shut out by the previous owner and she runs the club as someone who cares about what happens for the fans. So many just don't get it or don't care and it shows. If someone came in with money that knows and gives a damn, that's a win win for everyone in a club