Today's Football 2023-24

[Goaljira]

They've conceded 5 in each of their last 4 home games now?

I'd be finding something else to do for the rest if the season because, fuck that.

[Gash]

Put a £1 on at 150/1 for 10-0 when it was 3-0. Could happen.

[Gash]

Looked a fairly painful brush of Martinelli's fringe that, hope he's okay.

[Toffee1]

Looked a fairly painful brush of Martinelli's fringe that, hope he's okay.

Very Harry Kanesque.

[Cereal Killer]

Tom Davies was playing?

[Cozzie]

Piss take this.

[Cods]

Ben Brereton Diaz not played, would've thought it might have helped.

Isn't Ollie Arblaster an interestingly surnamed footballer...

[biziclop]

Ben Brereton Diaz not played, would've thought it might have helped.

Isn't Ollie Arblaster an interestingly surnamed footballer...

From a great family of proud yorkshire stormtroopers.

[Shogun]

The financial side of football is killing competitiveness in English football and I think we've seen that this season. Even though they've both been receiving parachute payments, Burnley bet on the wrong horse with Kompany and their signings whilst Sheffield United just didn't spend the money because the owners would rather have it themselves. On the flip side, you've got a well-run club in Luton who have a decent coach and a clear togetherness whilst they've taken good punts on Barkley and Townsend which has led to them receiving plaudits all season but they're still 18th and barring points deductions then that'll be where they finish.

The recent team that have come up and stayed up is Nottingham Forest. They didn't receive any parachute payments and decided to spunk millions at 34324 players to be competitive... and it worked. They stayed up. However, arbitrary Profit & Sustainability rules means they wasn't 'allowed' to spend that much money and they're going to be given a points penalty for it that could well see them relegated anyway.

The gap between the Premier League and the Championship means that you've got to spend all the money you can within the P&S rules and almost every single signing needs to work out and even then it might not be enough. If it isn't then suddenly you're back in the championship with a bunch of players on Premier League wages and probably about £100m worse off which is only going to get worse if you don't come back up instantly which is a big part of Stoke and Watford's current state.

I look at the championship and I think Leicester, Leeds, Southampton and maybe West Brom at a push are capable of being competitive. The fact that three of those were in the Premier League last season just shows this current loop now of a Premier League of 23/24 teams consistently with a few taking a year or two out before coming back in. If you're Blackburn, Millwall, Swansea or any club like that which hasn't been in the Premier League within the previous three years then any sustained run in the Premier League is likely to be a pipe dream. It's so so difficult.

AND THEN... You get in the Premier League and the gap to being competitive at the top end is harder than it ever has been. You've got 6 clubs that can outspend the rest of the league significantly and they've done just that. Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City have lost one match at home between them this season whilst we've won 3 out of 14. How on Earth are you meant to get to that level? I suspect the point is probably you're not supposed to.

[Cods]

From a great family of proud yorkshire stormtroopers.

Given their renowned accuracy t' target, bobbins, tha knows.

Eh oop, watch mah mouth.

[CannockPricey]

The financial side of football is killing competitiveness in English football and I think we've seen that this season. Even though they've both been receiving parachute payments, Burnley bet on the wrong horse with Kompany and their signings whilst Sheffield United just didn't spend the money because the owners would rather have it themselves. On the flip side, you've got a well-run club in Luton who have a decent coach and a clear togetherness whilst they've taken good punts on Barkley and Townsend which has led to them receiving plaudits all season but they're still 18th and barring points deductions then that'll be where they finish.

The recent team that have come up and stayed up is Nottingham Forest. They didn't receive any parachute payments and decided to spunk millions at 34324 players to be competitive... and it worked. They stayed up. However, arbitrary Profit & Sustainability rules means they wasn't 'allowed' to spend that much money and they're going to be given a points penalty for it that could well see them relegated anyway.

The gap between the Premier League and the Championship means that you've got to spend all the money you can within the P&S rules and almost every single signing needs to work out and even then it might not be enough. If it isn't then suddenly you're back in the championship with a bunch of players on Premier League wages and probably about £100m worse off which is only going to get worse if you don't come back up instantly which is a big part of Stoke and Watford's current state.

I look at the championship and I think Leicester, Leeds, Southampton and maybe West Brom at a push are capable of being competitive. The fact that three of those were in the Premier League last season just shows this current loop now of a Premier League of 23/24 teams consistently with a few taking a year or two out before coming back in. If you're Blackburn, Millwall, Swansea or any club like that which hasn't been in the Premier League within the previous three years then any sustained run in the Premier League is likely to be a pipe dream. It's so so difficult.

AND THEN... You get in the Premier League and the gap to being competitive at the top end is harder than it ever has been. You've got 6 clubs that can outspend the rest of the league significantly and they've done just that. Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City have lost one match at home between them this season whilst we've won 3 out of 14. How on Earth are you meant to get to that level? I suspect the point is probably you're not supposed to.

This is a spot on analysis of the problem and then I just don't understand Bournemouth. Assuming they stay up this year which looks very likely now, next year will be their eighth out of the last ten in the PL.

Their ground capacity means that they would have the lowest gates in the Championship bar Rotherham if they were in it this year and there are six clubs in League One and Bradford and Notts County in League Two who average more than them this year.

I know they have done well in the transfer market compared to some but how they have avoided the financial rules on their income is beyond me. There doesn't look to be much corporate there, they can't be doing loads of merchandise anywhere outside Bournemouth either.

[Cereal Killer]

This is a spot on analysis of the problem and then I just don't understand Bournemouth. Assuming they stay up this year which looks very likely now, next year will be their eighth out of the last ten in the PL.

Their ground capacity means that they would have the lowest gates in the Championship bar Rotherham if they were in it this year and there are six clubs in League One and Bradford and Notts County in League Two who average more than them this year.

I know they have done well in the transfer market compared to some but how they have avoided the financial rules on their income is beyond me. There doesn't look to be much corporate there, they can't be doing loads of merchandise anywhere outside Bournemouth either.

Assume most of their P&L is based on transfers:

20/21 - +£92m
21/22 - +£14m
22/23 - -£83m
- - - - - - - - - - -
23/24 - -£127m

23/24 period hasn’t been assessed yet, so they’d be ok currently. Clearly taken the gamble that the rules will change or else they’ll be screwed. Even selling Solanke for £50m won’t help

[Toffee1]

[Blueomar]

Actually a couple of days ago, but this is bananas....

[Shogun]

Lazio not just defending their own box tonight. Guendouzi's ability to get them up the pitch has been impressive so far.