The Premier League 2024/25

[Sausage Roll]

After initial PGMOL miscommunication it is now confirmed that individual referees’ club allegiances will NOT be published.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Nuno fined £40k
Neco fined £24k

They are both rich and can easily afford it but I sincerely hope as a matter of principle EM pays it for them.
What happens with these fines anyway? Does it go to good causes or does Masters pocket it?

[ozzyten10]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

[The reds]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

It’s because everyone goes off Nuno’s time at Tottenham, he suits a club like us a lot more.
We were 14th since Nuno came in
10th most goals in the league
Around 12th in goals conceded.

[wassy04]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

Why does that annoy you? We finished 17th last year, of course we're relegation candidates.

[Sausage Roll]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

Why does that annoy you? We finished 17th last year, of course we're relegation candidates.

If there's actually some reason and logic behind it then fair enough, but usually there isn't. 

We finished effectively 8 points clear (I think) of the relegation places last season if you take away the points deduction. Yes the teams coming up this season are better however Ipswich are back after 20+ years and Leicester seem in a bit of a mess and have a possible points deduction to come.

We've had a pretty stable pre-season and Nuno has had longer to get his methods across. We've made some signings and doubtless have others to come. We've not lost any key players really while some of those around us have.

All the above makes it annoying for me too when people just blithely say we'll get relegated without giving it any thought.

[The reds]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

Why does that annoy you? We finished 17th last year, of course we're relegation candidates.

If there's actually some reason and logic behind it then fair enough, but usually there isn't. 

We finished effectively 8 points clear (I think) of the relegation places last season if you take away the points deduction. Yes the teams coming up this season are better however Ipswich are back after 20+ years and Leicester seem in a bit of a mess and have a possible points deduction to come.

We've had a pretty stable pre-season and Nuno has had longer to get his methods across. We've made some signings and doubtless have others to come. We've not lost any key players really while some of those around us have.

All the above makes it annoying for me too when people just blithely say we'll get relegated without giving it any thought.

One of the funniest analysis I’ve read is we have signed enough this summer. Can’t win really, we likely hit 10 at least by the end of it.

[wassy04]

Getting a bit pissed with everyone saying we are relegation certs. Hope we stick it up them. We have some acclimatised players now…

Why does that annoy you? We finished 17th last year, of course we're relegation candidates.

If there's actually some reason and logic behind it then fair enough, but usually there isn't. 

We finished effectively 8 points clear (I think) of the relegation places last season if you take away the points deduction. Yes the teams coming up this season are better however Ipswich are back after 20+ years and Leicester seem in a bit of a mess and have a possible points deduction to come.

We've had a pretty stable pre-season and Nuno has had longer to get his methods across. We've made some signings and doubtless have others to come. We've not lost any key players really while some of those around us have.

All the above makes it annoying for me too when people just blithely say we'll get relegated without giving it any thought.

We were also quite far back from the rest of the pack. 10 behind Wolves, Fulham, Bournemouth etc (and that's without the points deduction). So on that logic would only take one of the newly promoted teams not being terrible and we're in real trouble. 

I think we can all quite easily see a scenario where we're 19th after 10 or so games and Nuno gets sacked and then who knows what happens.

I'm not saying I think that'll happen, hopefully we sneak under the radar a bit. However, I also think we don't have tons of reasons to think we'll suddenly be miles away from the drop zone either.

[The reds]

Feels like for the first time this window has sprung to life.
If we can get our 3/4 starters in by the end of the window we will be in a good position.

[wassy04]

Feels like for the first time this window has sprung to life.
If we can get our 3/4 starters in by the end of the window we will be in a good position.

Seems like a pretty big IF to me based on what's happened so far. 

I'm sure we'll sign 3/4 players, let's see whether they're better than what we've got though. 

Ipswich have done great business so far, feels not too dissimilar to ours after promotion. Got to be impressed by what they've done so far.

[The reds]

Feels like for the first time this window has sprung to life.
If we can get our 3/4 starters in by the end of the window we will be in a good position.

Seems like a pretty big IF to me based on what's happened so far. 

I'm sure we'll sign 3/4 players, let's see whether they're better than what we've got though. 

Ipswich have done great business so far, feels not too dissimilar to ours after promotion. Got to be impressed by what they've done so far.

Time will tell how good Kieran McKenna is, As we know when Cooper came up we played expansive football and gave away so many big chances. They may have to move to a very pragmatic style very quickly to win football matches.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Good summary by the BBC of all the various rule changes, theres quite a lot there.


The video assistant referee system will have a higher bar for intervening than before.
The "referee’s call" means that the VAR should only intervene if they can "see without any doubt the on-pitch official has made a clear mistake".
Otherwise the initial decision will stand. That means fewer stoppages for marginal decisions to be repeatedly rewatched.
"Let’s have the confidence to not be too forensic on our analysis," is what refereeing boss Howard Webb has said.
The Premier League Match Centre account, external on social media platform X will post "near-live" explanations of VAR decisions.
It plans to show more replays and explain decisions on the big screens in stadiums, too.
We will see a significant drop in stoppage time this season - because of a change in timing goal celebrations.
Until now time was added on for every second between the ball hitting the net and the kick-off being taken.
Now the clock will only be started after 30 seconds. So a game with six goals would have three minutes less of stoppage time.
Away from VAR, attacking players blocking or obstructing opposition players at a set-piece will be penalised more strictly.
Ben White was trending on social media with the suggestion the Arsenal defender's actions from corners will result in more opposition free-kicks.
The handball law will be relaxed a tad. Players have been told by the Premier League they do not have to move with their arms rigidly by their sides or behind their backs.
The position of their arm or hand will be judged in relation to the movement of their body.
"We get a sense that we give too many handballs for actions that are quite normal and justifiable," said Webb.
"The guidance to officials this season is less is more. You will see fewer harsh handball penalties."
Meanwhile, a non-deliberate handball that leads to a penalty will no longer be an automatic booking offence.
During penalties the ball must be on or hanging over the centre of the penalty spot, rather than at any point on the spot.
Encroachment by players into the box when the penalty is taken will only be penalised if it has an impact.
That means if an opposition player has an impact on the kicker or prevents a goal or chance from a rebound.
If it is a penalty taker's team-mate, the encroachment is relevant if they impact or distract the goalkeeper, scores or creates a chance.
Ball boys and girls will be allowed to give a ball to a goalkeeper to take a restart, instead of the keeper having to pick it up off a cone. The multiball system - picking the ball off a cone - will remain for outfield players.
One more tiny change - five substitutes can warm up at the same time on the touchline, up from three.
There will be a new ball this season, the Nike Flight, which is "built with Aerowsculpt technology with grooves debased into the casing, to allow air to travel seamlessly around the ball, delivering truer flight".