The Premier League Thread

All VAR has done is exposed the poorly written laws of football.

It really should have been noted that attempting to achieve perfectly accurate and consistent outcomes would require iron-clad regulations!

 

My mind has been blown by this offside pass direction point. But at the same time it would be very hard to benefit from a backward pass while in an offside position, so largely academic…

 

Not if two players are through on goal with just the keeper in front of them.
If the man on the ball draws the keeper, then rolls the ball backwards towards a teammate for a shot on an empty goal, it would seem that this should now be ruled out for offside.
Edit, yet I am sure they are letting the goals stand in these situations. Aren’t they?

 

You can't be offside if you are behind or level with the ball when it is played. There's a difference between that and the direction the ball goes.

 

It’s taken me all morning, but I’ve finally figured out what the hell you were trying to say about this rule. Thanks Tom, this last post made it all clear to me.
I had no idea about this part of the rule

 

Nicely tucked finish

 

Of Chelsea's hundreds of January signings Felix looks by some way the best.

 

Five other members of the nine-headed hydra of horrid played today, taking five points. Our draw is basically par.

 

It's mathematically possible (though obviously hugely unlikely) that the team in 12th currently will be in the relegation zone after the next matchday:

- Palace gets routed by Arsenal, loses by a couple to Leicester on the 10th of April.
- Leeds draws Arsenal.
- Forest beats Wolves by a goal.
- West Ham beats us.
- Everton draws Spurs.


Net result:

12. Forest: 29, -26.
13. Leicester: 28, -7.
14. West Ham: 27, -8.
15. Leeds: 27, -9.
16. Everton: 27, -18.
17. Wolves: 27, -20.
18. Palace: 27, -20.
19. Bournemouth
20. Saints

That's...generally not possible in April.

 

This is an unbelievable season. Quite unreal relegation battle.

 

If we were to survive this year and in the future people complain about mid-table mediocrity, they can **** right off. I've had enough of the excitement of a relegation battle.

 

Mad to think that Villa are level on points with Chelsea now. Emery has done an insanely good job.

 

He absolutely has, not easy to turn around a teams form. But the tools were there, they were massively underperforming. The amount of money they’ve spent over the last few years is crazy. Like 7th most in Europe kinda numbers. Money isn’t everything, but they do have good players (unlike Everton and their warchest fails).

 

Palace could really do with the FT whistle now. They don't want this 3-0 turning into something really messy. They're being sucked every closer to Everton and Wolves' goal differences, in particular.

 

4-1 now.

 

Arsenal keep on rolling - and a nice dent in the Palace GD for us too.

 

Going into the final international break of the season: Matches left against the bottom 9 vs Matches left against the top 11:

Palace: 8-2
Wolves: 4-6
Leeds: 5-6
Everton: 4-6
Forest: 4-7
Leicester: 6-5
West Ham: 5-7
Bmouth: 6-5
Saints: 4-6

Or to put it another way, there are 23 more six-pointers to play, as hosted by:

Palace: 5
Wolves: 2
Leeds: 3
Everton: 1
Forest: 2
Leicester: 4
West Ham: 2
Bmouth: 2
Saints: 2

 

Going to be tight as a nuns chuff.

If we do it, we will have to do it the hard way

 

I am always hard in a nun’s chuff

 

Form is a big factor and if we can carry it on then there is a chance. Top of the form table for the 'bottom 9' in the last 6 games since Selles took over and half those games have been against Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs. GD of just -1.

Twice as many points as Wolves and Leicester, 4 x more than Palace and Forest.
We have been lacking consistency all season but its now as good as it has been.

every game a big game, every point important

Add in a bit of luck and you never know.

10 Southampton 6 2 2 2 5 6 -1 8
11 Fulham 6 2 2 2 6 7 -1 8
12 Newcastle United 6 2 2 2 6 8 -2 8
13 Everton 6 2 2 2 6 10 -4 8
14 Leeds United 6 2 1 3 7 8 -1 7
15 AFC Bournemouth 6 2 1 3 6 11 -5 7
16 West Ham United 6 1 3 2 7 9 -2 6
17 Leicester City 6 1 1 4 6 10 -4 4
18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 1 1 4 5 10 -5 4
19 Crystal Palace 6 0 2 4 2 8 -6 2
20 Nottingham Forest 6 0 2 4 5 14 -9 2