Premier League 20/21 - Early Thoughts

[BillyDee]

Skimmed most of this, so sorry if it has been said. I think a Spurs resurgence might be hit by spending power. Much of the expected extra revenue they needed to repay their stadium costs will be curtailed by restrictions on mass gatherings. No NFL, concerts etc.
A shame, because I really like what they are trying to do, particularly with improving the match day experience. Just bad timing for them.

 

[Wombat del combate]

W**t B**m

You are Essex Wolf and I claim my five pounds.

 

[Templeton Peck]

4th - 8th for us I think.
WBA, Play off winners and Villa to drop.
Palace will really struggle too.
Newcastle depend on if their dodgy takeover happens.
Leicester and Sheff U mid table.

 

[Wombat del combate]

I feel like fifth is achievable and a short CL campaign - eliminated in the first knock-out round having won the Europa League next month - to raise our profile further. Will need to start thinking about a backup 'keeper and add a centreback, bolster/improve the WB options and bring in a midfielder.

 

[Premier Quality]

Arsenal are going to be pretty skint. Arteta is already screaming for funds and I don’t think Kroenke is going to oblige.

This - especially if they don’t get into Europe. They spent most of the upcoming seasons transfer money this season, and still have the likes of Özil sitting around earning tonnes. If they don’t get into Europe they are absolutely screwed.

For me, we need to add a centre back, and an attacking midfielder, and ideally a right wing back - and not lose any of our best players. Then we’d really have a chance of pushing on. Being in Europe is key to all those things happening though.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

How much is EL qualification worth? I think i read somewhere it's 24million, but not sure on that and obvious the further you progress the more it is.

 

[Templeton Peck]

This - especially if they don’t get into Europe. They spent most of the upcoming seasons transfer money this season, and still have the likes of Özil sitting around earning tonnes. If they don’t get into Europe they are absolutely screwed.

For me, we need to add a centre back, and an attacking midfielder, and ideally a right wing back - and not lose any of our best players. Then we’d really have a chance of pushing on. Being in Europe is key to all those things happening though.

Arsenal have been in steady decline for years. Kroenke just wants them ticking over making money. They need to get used to being mid-table.

 

[Tony Towner]

How much is EL qualification worth? I think i read somewhere it's 24million, but not sure on that and obvious the further you progress the more it is.

If we lose to Olympiakos we will have earnt around €7m in prize money.
Lose in quarters it's +400k, semis +1.3m, final +3.4m. Win it +7.4m.

Obviously you've got gate revenue on top of that and travelling expenses to take off

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

If we lose to Olympiakos we will have earnt around €7m in prize money.
Lose in quarters it's +400k, semis +1.3m, final +3.4m. Win it +7.4m.

Obviously you've got gate revenue on top of that and travelling expenses to take off

A lot less than i thought then, i guess there is the TV money and sponsorship too, but not anywhere near 24 mill.

So with that in mind Arsenal NOT making the EL won't make a huge difference to them financially.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Not being in the champions league is what is hurting them. Their squad are on champions league wages.

 

[Derby Wolf]

You'd think Arsenal will be further weakened and lose Auba if they don't qualify for even the Europa League.

Recruitment key for Sheffield United. They've got alot of players having once in a career seasons imo. That's not to deminish their achievement this season, rather they won't replicate it.

Albion look objectively poor. Diangana and Prerira look handy but you've still got the likes of Livermore, HRK, Hegazi who weren't good enough two years ago and all made 30-40 appearances apiece this season.

Would be interesting to see how Brentford fair. I'd much rather them than Cardiff Swansea or Fulham.

 

[Deano]

West Ham won't sell Diangana to West Brom.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Diangana is a West Ham player though.

 

[Sniffer]

Season starts on 12th September and finishes on 23rd May.

 

[YoungWolf]

The nations league is from 3rd-8th September. Two games per nation. Absolute insanity.

 

[Del Woppio]

That's fucking ridiculous

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Hmmm. So say City reach the Champions League final and either ourselves or United do the same in the Europa isn’t that less than the 3 week minimum break period demanded by the players unions?

 

[Tony Towner]

Portugal are playing on the 5th and the 8th, so let's say the players have to join up on the 1st and we were to make the EL final. That would give them a 10 day break until they meet their national side and 3 with us before the start of the season.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think we can safely say there will be no pre season.

 

[Tony Towner]

They are still talking about the Euro teams starting later, but that comes with questions.
Will players be exempt from the Nations League? If not then there's no point.

How in a shortened season and sides in 2020/1 European competition will they catch up? There will already be more midweek league games than before. We'd be playing twice every week.

If your first game of the season is against a side that's already played 2/3 then that's a big disadvantage in terms of match fitness