EPL 2024-25

[Baggies]

The season begins 08/16!!

Pep powered Man City is, again, favored this season to win the league followed by Arsenal. To me, either of these teams could win it all. City definitely has the experience and Arsenal has pushed them pretty well over the last couple of years.

Liverpool has to move forward without Klopp. Man Utd tried to find a new manager, but ends up keeping the same one besides all their other issues. Chelsea has spent more money the last few years than most clubs have in their lifetime but can’t seem to buy a winning formula. Tottenham will likely field their normal competitive team that’s just not good enough to win it all.

That covers the top 6.

Newcastle’s owners have money to burn. West Ham, Brighton, and Leicester City should have adequate sides.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so enjoy the season and let’s see how it goes.

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

1. #COYS

And that's all I'm going to say about it, other than hasn't the transfer window been interesting, especially given FFP? Looking for an entertaining run, not just in the EPL, but in all the top leagues, UEFA and second-tiers in Europe. One of the few things I like about the 21st century is that streaming services provide LOTS of opportunities to watch top football matches. If you wonder where/when to watch any match in the world, see: https://www.livesoccertv.com

[Baggies]

2. Good Link

Also ESPN Plus has a lot of games. I mention the EPL here because most are followers of that league. I prefer the Bundesliga.

[Baggies]

3. Week 1 view

I’m not going to go thru every game, but I will hit on the traditional top 6. It’s hard to make any type of good judgment after one game tho.

ManU got off to a win which was not necessarily a given. Fulham has done nothing in the off-season to improve much so they squeaked one out.

A Kloppless Liverpool got one over on newly promoted Ipswich.

Arsenal looked good over a Wolves team that’s going to struggle this season if they keep this lineup.

In the only matchup of 2 top 6 clubs, Man City rolled over a very expensive Chelsea side. It may take a while for Chelsea to work around all the money they’ve put out for what’s become a bunch of dysfunctional players. Man City may have point deductions hanging over their head towards the end of the year.

Tottenham drew Leicester away.

Over the first 5 or 6 games maybe we’ll start seeing patterns emerge.

[Baggies]

4. Chelsea

Talk recently has been about this clubs over-abundance of players and their need to sell and/or loan some of those very expensive players.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5700409/2024/08/15/chelsea-53-player-squad-premier-league/

Truth is this club is currently run horribly. Chelsea has traditionally been a club that did purchase players they fully intended to loan out, so this isn’t new. The problem now is the owner, Todd Boehly, doesn’t know how to run a football club at all, much less one that’s the size of Chelsea. What he’s created now is a disgrace.

Boehly purchased the club in 2022 from Roman Abramovich. Say what you will about Abramovich, but he very successfully ran one of the most prestigious clubs in the world for 20 years. Chelsea fans were quite fortunate to have someone that competent at the helm for that long. And Chelsea fans will have to live off those memories for a long time, it appears, at this point.

[Baggies]

5. Top 6 and wk 2

Looks like ManU might have an early start at mediocrity. Granted Brighton has a good side, but MU fans view them as a certain pushover.

Tottenham smashes a hapless Everton who might actually get the relegation they tried to get last year.

This Was Man City’s week to beat up Ipswich. They look like they could win the League even if they get deducted points.

Arsenal keeps plowing ahead.

Chelsea explodes in the second half against a really weak Wolves side.

Liverpool keeps pace with a win over Brentford.

By the end of September we should get a better handle on where all the sides are headed. There’s always the transfer window to try and shore things up.

[Baggies]

6. T6 Wk3

Things are starting to come better into focus. Coverage of the Top 6 may go down to the top 4 pretty soon.

Arsenal was at home against a good Brighton side and achieved a Draw. Now while Brighton is good, the fans of Arsenal expect them to win against that level of competition, and especially at home. Not promising, and these are the type of games that cost Arsenal a better run last year.

Haaland is a scoring machine and gets a hat trick as Man City easily beats West Ham.

Newcastle, a club owned by an oil rich country, defeated Tottenham at home. Not completely unexpected as Spurs are good but not League winning good.

Chelsea draws at home against Palace. Chelsea fans have to be pulling out their West London hair. This is not good.

In a matchup of two Top 6 sides, Liverpool annihilated ManU. Liverpool is looking good. ManU is in the same boat as Chelsea, which is sinking fast.

OK, let’s see if wk 4 changes anything.

TMID

[Baggies]

7. I had hoped to keep up with this

Just too much going on in everyday life. It’s been an interesting season so far, and the new format for Champions League is intriguing.

Maybe when things settle down I can get back to the updates.

[Baggies]

8. Post Week 11

Going to try to devote more time to this. So time for an update.

Liverpool and Man City continue to be the top clubs and those with the most promise of winning the Cup.

Chelsea has been a surprise, which normally wouldn’t be the case with both their history and the amount of money they’ve spent on players. But between Palmer and Jackson they’ve been scoring goals. We’ll see if they can keep the pace.

Arsenal, who had hoped to get in the mix with Liverpool and Man City this year, just doesn’t seem to be in form. It’s still early, so we’ll see.

Surprise club is Nott’m Forest who’s trying to reclaim old glory.

Of the remaining traditional top 6 clubs, Spurs are up and down, and Man Utd has become a shadow of its old self. They do have a new Manager, but it still is going to take time to rebuild this club, especially to the level their fickle fans expect.

Almost to the 1/3 point of the season.