KB1862

Not a fan of parachute payments, it should absolutely be abolished. As it has been mentioned, it gives teams an unfair advantage when getting relegated which is why we see so many teams become Yo-Yo clubs. They're too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. Parachute payments also mean that clubs spend outside of their means which then results in them going into administration. Now more than ever clubs are being more cautious about what they spend due to implications of over spending due to their being a crack down on losses, ffp etc. Parachute payments don't last forever so if clubs spend outside their means but don't get promoted and stay where they are or even get relegated, finances become a real issue.

The game was a free hit. Qualification was already secured so I don't get why Southgate didn't try out some of the players who haven't had any game time yet. It's going to be hard to bring them in for a pure knockout game now. Wharton has been outstanding for Palace this season, could have had him next to Rice or even Mainoo who was impressive when coming on. Watkins could have been given a chance to show what he can do. Gordon should have got a start on the left with Palmer on the right, he showed how good he is when he came on. Konsa was good in the friendlies could have been given game time. It was a chance to rest the likes of Kane and Bellingham who both look knackered and a bit off their game. Trippier could have been rested to recover his calf. Walker could have been given a rest.

England have both a performance and tactical issue. Both of which stem from Gareth Southgate. It's frightening to hear comments from Kane like "we don't know how to press". We have one of the, if not the, best attacking players in the Euros but how can we have all that ability in attacking options and capabilities yet we're the most defensive minded team in the tournament. Go 1-0 up against both Serbia and Denmark then we sit back and soak up all the pressure with very little going forward. We should be a team, especially with the attacking threat we've got, continually going at teams and not dropping back defending a 1-0 lead. We should be a high pressing team and not a counter attacking team. The criticism aimed at Gareth Southgate is justified. Things aren't working but Southgate isn't capable of making tactical changes to change the course of the game in England's favour, never has been. It's hard to criticise the players too much because they're being instructed to play a certain way and unfortunately this is why the performances aren't up to scratch. Phil Foden isn't a left winger, he's a 10. He's shown little glimpses when he's moved more centrally of what he can do. Jude Bellingham needs to be put alongside Declan Rice. The past 2 games he's not looked comfortable in the 10 role, England would get the best out of him if he was played in the 8 role. Before the tournament started, I had very little expectations for England. I predict a Quarter Final exit even despite the tag of being one of the favourites. The performances in the 3 group games haven't filled me with confidence and we'd be lucky to get to the Quarter Finals. Harry Kane also needs to stop dropping so deep but game after game we see it. If Southgate is happy for him to drop that deep then he should really have him playing off someone like Watkins who likes to run in behind. Another tweak needs to be make the substitutes earlier. Anthony Gordon deserved more than 4 minutes on that pitch and even then he created more chances than anyone else. Yesterday was a free hit and even despite qualification secured, there was only one change to the side that started the previous 2 and even that was a defensive change. The game yesterday changed when the likes of Palmer and Mainoo came on, 2 players that pushed forward. Pickford Walker Stones Guehi Trippier Bellingham Rice Palmer Foden(if he's back) Gordon Kane That's the team for next game on Sunday.

Man City are gonna get away with it. Politics shouldn't be a factor in football. Would it have been possible to achieve without the things they're being charged with? Maybe not but even with the charges they still have to go out there week in week out and perform. What Pep and this group of players have done is a great achievement.

@DonnyNotts everyone has an opinion. No opinion can be wrong but in my opinion, I find it strange to see fans wanting their team to lose to stop a rival even when they have chance at gaining something from a win. Look how the results played out afterwards, had they won they'd be looking forward to champions league football next season.

All season long League Two had no VAR but the play off final between Crewe and Crawley, it was in place. But had it not been for VAR Crawley might not have won with the penalty incident that the VAR overturned. VAR have come out and said that they won't intervene next season only for clear errors, I'm sure we've heard that before. Surely time to scrap it.

Finally a team with a backbone. I doubt it will go through though according to reports pretty much all of the "big 6" clubs all are in favour of keeping it so no doubt they'll bow to that. Also factor in the owners of the clubs, they see the PL as a project rather than a football league so if they have their way, it will remain next season onwards. I really hope though that clubs listen to their fans and realise that VAR needs to be scrapped. The only downside to scrapping VAR that I can see is that with the situation with Mike Dean not calling a decision to protect his mate could happen more often and be deemed as missed by the naked eye in real time thus meaning human error and it'll be accepted.

@Robbie Imagine the scenes though if Villa lose at the weekend and Spurs win. They would have had CL football with a win against City so for their fans, as you've quite rightly mentioned, to want their team to throw that away is plain bizarre. The thing is Ange is saying all the same things Mourinho and Conte both said about the club, just in a different way. I like Ange, he's a manager who speaks his mind talks well and has a desire to win. He really wants to be the best and has a plan but I don't think Spurs deserve him, especially with how their fans have been over the past 48 hours.

@Robbie Apparently Spurs fans were doing the Poznan, which is City's fans thing, when City scored their first and second. There's also a clip doing the rounds from TalkSport last night where Jamie O'Hara (a man that defends Spurs all the time, always backs them and wants them to go forward) was wearing a Man City top and celebrating both goals. Strange behaviour.

@Robbie Spot on with every point made here. This scenario also brought a clip from 2019 to light when Arsenal fans were asked whether they'd lose their Europa League tie with Chelsea if it meant Spurs losing the Champions League Final to which most of them said they'd rather lose the Europa League than see Spurs win the Champions League. No matter what the implications are, you should always back your club to win. Ange is baffled and annoyed by the situation and quite honestly I can't blame him. There's a clip of him doing the rounds arguing with a fan from the technical area. Not sure what was said but I'm guessing it relates to this thing about wanting to lose.

Tonight, Spurs play Manchester City in a game that has much at stake. Manchester City will go top heading into the final game of the season if they win but if Spurs win not only do they give themselves a chance at Champions League football but they would also put their North London rivals, Arsenal, in the drivers seat for the Premier League title. There's been a lot spoken about whether or not Spurs could help out their rivals and whether their fans would want that to happen. What do you guys think to this situation? Would you still want your team to get the win even if it meant helping your nearest rivals? Personally, I agree with Ange's take on this situation. I wouldn't want my team to lose even if it benefited a rival team. I'm not sure why anyone would happily sit back and want their team to lose. Plus, Villa dropped 2 points last night so Spurs have a little chance. Had Villa won last night it would have been a different situation and they wouldn't have CL football to play for but even still surely you'd still want your team to get a win.

@Robbie I get your point, it's not fair on these clubs and it is a factor with the divide of classes in the PL but they have also spent big to try stay in the PL. That's the big issue, having to spend big to try compete.

@Robbie I find it so bizarre because if that is the case and it is deemed a draw how can they say a club has won the cup. So if Bayer Leverkusen lose on penalties, they're unbeaten all season with one less trophy it just doesn't make sense.

Old Trafford is in serious need of repair. For years I've heard people mention that Old Trafford is run down and in need of serious money being chucked at it but being the big club that they are no one takes notice cause they're a big club and should have a decent backing. These clips say different, just shows how bad it is being run and there is no money being chucked at it. First it was a food hygiene rating of 1 star now they've got floods in stands and leaky roofs. Old Trafford is a landmark in English football, it was always a place for England to travel to and a place for FA Cup Semi Finals. Such a shame to see it in this state.

Mathematically Luton are still in with a chance. Realistically they're relegated. Goal difference is too big of a gap to pull back now. Forest are maintaining Premier League status unless some sort of miracle for Luton happens on the day. It's a shame because Luton have put in so much effort this season and have been a joy to watch in the PL. Sheffield United and Burnley both deserved to go down. Sheffield United have shipped the most goals in PL history reaching over 100. Swindon shipped 100 goals in the PL but that was during a 42 game season, Sheffield United did it in 6 games fewer. Sheffield United have got to be one of the worst teams to be in the PL even worse than Derby. The 3 promoted teams that are going back down have been deemed the worst in PL history but I really think it's harsh on Luton for them to be included in that.

exactly this for it to be a red card.

plus play off games and postponed games due to weather which means they then have to fit it all in in a short space of time

It's incredible what they've done this season and what a job Xabi Alonso has done at this club. Taking them from 2nd bottom when he took over part the way through last season to going on the longest unbeaten run in European football history in his first full season in charge. The amount of last goals they have scored all season is ridiculous they just don't quit. It's remarkable. If Bayer Leverkusen does go unbeaten in their remaining 4 games then surely it has to go down as the most incredible season by a team of all time. There's nothing like it. Do have a question about it though. Their last game of the season is the DFB Pokal Final. If they end up losing on penalties then does it still count as going the whole season unbeaten or does it get counted as their first and only loss of the season? It might sound like a silly question but the only reason I'm asking is because there are stats going round about the fact Rodri has still yet to lose a competitive game for club and country in 70+ games despite losing to Real Madrid on penalties in the CL.

Scrap replays because there's too many games being played but are more than happy to travel on a US tour. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czd8lz182vzo The irony of this article that FIFA are being threatened with legal action over there new club competition coming in as "not everyone was consulted". This includes the same group that didn't consult everyone involved in the FA Cup to go ahead with scrapping replays. But I don't recall many coming out complaining about this new competition when it was first announced. Not to mention the new European format.

Happened in 2013 between Dortmund and Bayern tbf. The decision in the game between Madrid and Bayern was a farce for the offside. Linesman are told to keep the flag down and let it play out but he didn't and flagged immediately. Referees and Linesman have the addition of VAR to help them on the pitch, what should have happened was let it play out like they're supposed to and then allow VAR to do the job it's there for and check whether the goal was legit or needed to be ruled out. Personally I think had it gone to VAR it would have been given as a goal. Ridiculous ending to the game.

I can't see the 777 takeover going ahead. There's something not sitting right with the whole thing. I feel like the inevitable will happen and Everton will enter administration. You'd have thought that a club like Everton would have a queue of buyers lining up to take them out of this mess.

On the 'Two Pints Podcast with Will Mellor and Ralf Little', they mentioned the 115 charges hanging over Manchester City and I feel like they had it bang on the money. Ralf Little said that they won't ever be punished for these charges to which Will Mellor responded that it would be unfair for City to go unpunished while Everton and Forest have both faced punishment for breaching the rules. I'm in agreement with both points made and I think the only time City will finally be found guilty of their charges is when they introduce the luxury tax ruling meaning that all they'll have to do is a pay a fine and it'll be done rather than seeing them face a points deduction which would really affect them. In short, punishing the lower teams and allowing the elite to stay at the top. The thing that annoys me about these situations is the fact that they are so blatantly allowing the elite to run the show and get away with anything and everything and they aren't even hiding the "corruption" anymore.

The one thing about English weather is the unpredictability of it. Last week, it was suitable to wear a coat. This week, it's a t-shirt and shorts weather. Not that I'm complaining this is the type of weather I love tbf. There's no slow change in temperature, it's either cold or hot. It doesn't gradually change between either one.