2023-24 Season - Discussion Thread

[YayNJ]

Oh my, Hibernian

[tupacgr13]

Yeh Hibernian unexpected loss. But I think Basel did even worse. Greek teams sucked both. Especially Aris was disgusting. Paok against Bejtar had some action in the stands with Israelis throwing some flares towards Paok fans. Both matches will be defined at second leg. Really hope at least one hometown team will advance at the next round.

[YayNJ]

Juventus are kicked out of Europa Conference League by Uefa for breaching FFP rules.

[mikee1186]

Now do City.

[tcdyess]

Dembélé set to seal PSG transfer from Barcelona - sourcesl per ESPN.. this is huge....

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by mikee1186

Now do City.

Why stop there. Lets get Chelsea and Barcelona done for good too.

[tupacgr13]

David Silva retired. Really nice player he will be missed.

[YayNJ]

Chelsea fined £8.6m for FFP breach

Nice, but not enough.

[tupacgr13]

Klaksvik managed to qualify. Must be the first Faroese team to enter group stages.

[CiaranGQ]

Originally Posted by tupacgr13

Klaksvik managed to qualify. Must be the first Faroese team to enter group stages.

Yes, first to do so.

In the Champions League, I was glad to see Servette win through against Genk (Servette play Rangers in the next round and I think they will cause difficulties for Rangers). Zalgiris put up a good performance away to Galatasaray, losing 1-0. Although Galatasaray were clearly the better side, Zalgiris had chances.


So far it’s been a poor European campaign for teams across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Only one side across the island of Ireland has a realistic chance of progressing through to the next round - that’s Derry City who take a 2-1 first leg home win going into the match versus KuPS of Finland this evening.

[tupacgr13]

All greek teams to the next round so it is going to be a nice week. Derry city made it also so I am happy for you CiaranGQ. And since Basel is out who knows maybe you will have a shot to enter group stages.

[YayNJ]

English Championship and the FA Cup tonight.

We're back!

[mikee1186]

I’m ready! May tune in for Owls vs Saints. Then community shield Sunday should be interesting.

Just before the season starts is when my expectations are the highest. we all get the unreasonable optimism bug and I don’t even care It’s not whether my team will win a trophy but how many. should be a great season all around!

[CiaranGQ]

Originally Posted by tupacgr13

All greek teams to the next round so it is going to be a nice week. Derry city made it also so I am happy for you CiaranGQ. And since Basel is out who knows maybe you will have a shot to enter group stages.

Very sad re the AEK vs Dinamo situation.


Derry City is interesting. Derry, or sometimes referred to as Londonderry, is Northern Ireland’s second largest city. However, Derry City play in the League of Ireland (i.e. the Republic of Ireland League) rather than in the Irish League (the Northern Ireland league). They did play in the Northern Irish system through to the early 1970s, then were absent from competitive football for over a decade before entering the Republic of Ireland system in 1985.

Their home leg in the next round cannot be played at their home ground of Brandywell due to higher UEFA requirements from this next round onwards. Originally, they had nominated the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (where Republic of Ireland international matches are played). This is the opposite side of the island of Ireland to Derry … so have now sought UEFA permission to play the match at Windsor Park (“National Stadium”) in Belfast.

[Jadaki]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Chelsea fined £8.6m for FFP breach

Nice, but not enough.

What a wrist slap, and City still out here just violating the rules like a horny teenager on a first date.

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by Jadaki

What a wrist slap, and City still out here just violating the rules like a horny teenager on a first date.

Manchester City were fined £25m, reduced to £10m on appeal in 2020.

Manchester United also got a £260,000 fine this year.

[tupacgr13]

Originally Posted by CiaranGQ

Very sad re the AEK vs Dinamo situation.

Situation with hooliganism is escalating really fast. So many games this month had huge issues. Tonight is going to be a rough night in Athens since they expect Aek-Marseille-Livorno to retaliate against Panathinaikos. The situation seems out of control to be honest. Aek, Panathinaikos and Paok got a movement ban this round against Dinamo Zagreb, MArseille and Hajduk Split. Olympiakos vs Genk and Aris vs Dinamo Kyiv are the only games away fan movement was allowed. I mean it has been two weeks now I had a really nice time visiting paok and aris stadiums and yesterday after the incident everything was gone. I felt so empty .

Anyways apart from this I will follow your Derry city on Thursday hope you get a good result. By the way Klaskvik won again somehow! Sky is the limit for them ?

[kingb22]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Juventus are kicked out of Europa Conference League by Uefa for breaching FFP rules.

The irony is one of the rules breaches on inflated transfers had Barca on teh other end ... Arthur to Juventus and Miralem Pjanic to Barca. I'm pretty sure that if Juve had been in the UCL there wouldn't have been a ban, but Europa Conference was an OK compromise

[Eckstein197]

What’s everyone’s relegation pick for EPL?

I really hope Luton stays up I just don’t see how they do. They would need massive collapses by numerous teams

As a wolves fan I’m very worried, think we are in for a very rocky season

I know Everyone is saying Everton should be safe I just can’t shake the feeling the luck will run out soon

Here’s my official EPL table prediction

Man City wins by 10+ points
Arsenal
Newcastle
Liverpool
Man U
Brighton
Chelsea
Aston Villa
Tottenham
Brentford
West Ham
Nottingham Forest
Burnley
Bournemouth
Fulham
Everton
Wolves
Crystal Palace
Luton town
Sheffield

I think Palace in a pretty big surprise (+600 on most sportsbooks) go down. I don’t think they’ll generate enough offense and they’ll take too many draws when they need a win.

One match I’m circling is wolves home versus Crystal in the penultimate week of the season. That screams “winner stays up loser goes down” to me

[Eckstein197]

Likewise, my picks for promotion in championship will be Leicester winning the league, with Blackburn coming in second

The playoff will feature

3rd seeded Middlesborough versus 6th seeded Coventry

4th seeded Watford versus 5th seeded Southampton

Watford then beats Coventry to be promoted

For relegation I think QPR gets relegated, along with Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield

[YayNJ]

Premier League

Arsenal
Manchester City
Liverpool
------
Bournemouth
Everton
Luton

[cardbuster]

There is no way that Liverpool and Newcastle will finish ahead of Man U. It seems like no one is giving them a chance, that is why they look like they could pull a fast one, against all odds.

[YayNJ]

Manchester United haven't really strengthened. Hojlund will need time. He's no Haaland. Mount is the epitome of Premier League average. Is Onana really any better than De Gea? The answer is no.

Giving Fernandes the captaincy is madness IMO. Perhaps the most petulant player in the Premier League. Should never be forgotten how he literally surrendered on the pitch last season when they got a thrashing.

[mikee1186]

United would have to be extremely lucky to hit top 4. Far too many weak spots and thin at several positions, plus a fair amount if their focus will be on champions league.

Everton to go down. I just don’t think even Sean Dyche is a miracle worker. The club is horribly situated and their transfer window has been dire.

[Gin&Juice]

Arsenal
Man City
Liverpool
Aston Villa
Man U
Newcastle
—————-
Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United
Luton Town

Flip Man City and Liverpool if De Bruyne is out for extended period and Liverpool gets Caicedo. Think City is going to miss Gundogan and Mahrez more than they realize. They just don’t have the same depth in midfield or attack as they have in the past.