Premier League 2025/26 Thread

[OntarioFox]

7 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

 

.......? 

Oh, i thought you meant putting a competitive squad together to stay in the Championship. Because that's our realistic ceiling even in a good scenario.

 

In which case, who'd give a shit what a relegated Spurs did? We wouldn't be in their bracket.

[Jaspa]

A foul because "he put a hand on his head". Why do we have to put up with so much of Gary Neville and why is he so popular? 

 

The man talks absolute shite

[when_you're_smiling]

3 minutes ago, Jaspa said:

A foul because "he put a hand on his head". Why do we have to put up with so much of Gary Neville and why is he so popular? 

 

The man talks absolute shite

Because big six club fans love him or hate him. Gets clicks/reactions etc. That’s about the sum of it really for him and a lot of others. 

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, when_you're_smiling said:

Because big six club fans love him or hate him. Gets clicks/reactions etc. That’s about the sum of it really for him and a lot of others. 

Yeah its definitely more rewarding to be controversial (even falsely) than talented in the media nowadays 

[StanSP]

Two average teams playing here. 

 

For the amount of money to assemble these squads it's criminally bad. 

[foxfanazer]

Just now, StanSP said:

Two average teams playing here. 

 

For the amount of money to assemble these squads it's criminally bad. 

I'm never impressed with Everton. Even when they win it just feels temporary 

 

United do play some exciting football but again I just can't see them being consistent enough to really challenge anytime soon

[moore_94]

Gueye wearing white leggings is putting me off, keep thinking he is wearing tracksuit bottoms

[purpleronnie]

The fierce derby....LOL.

 

 

[CrispinLA in Texas]

KDH only Everton player whose doing anything.....they are really missing Grealish upfront 

[CrispinLA in Texas]

KDH is a one man team 

[Fear Of The Fox]

What an embarrassment for the sport and the whole of humanity are all these players. Kinder Mbuemo pretending he was hit by a German Panzer and rolls like an idiot holding his face. 

Change the rules and punish them with straight red cards. 

[Super_horns]

They'll score now no doubt but Everton do struggle in their own new stadium.

 

Wouldn't be the first team to do that.

[StanSP]

He did not just describe Sesko as a modern-day Solskjaer  

 

Just cos he's scored off the bench a couple of times  

[RowlattsFox]

This set piece stuff is ****ing awful, don't care how effective it is, it's a horrible look for football.

 

[Corky]

Utterly tedious set-piece fare.

[Fear Of The Fox]

It's disgusting guys. There's no joy watching this dross. This is a rock bottom era for the sport. There's no quality, there are barely any likeable players out there. 

[RowlattsFox]

It's amazing how many times you hear 'since they played Leicester' when talking about a team doing something 

[Super_horns]

48 minutes ago, Corky said:

Utterly tedious set-piece fare.

Usually it’s said keepers get too protected but typically they aren’t now when probably need to .

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/crrxjyk54zpo

 

How have Chelsea made biggest loss in English football history?
A close-up shot of a Chelsea shirt featuring club badge, Nike logo and Fifa Club World Cup winners' emblem

Chelsea won the first edition of the revamped Fifa Club World Cup last July, but have also beaten their rivals to the title of biggest financial losers

ByDaniel Austin
BBC Sport senior journalist

Chelsea recorded a pre-tax loss of £355m for 2024-25, according to financial figures released by Uefa.

It is the highest annual loss ever made by an English football club, and the second highest in European history, following the £484m Barcelona's lost in 2021.

So what is the detail behind the numbers?

Chelsea bring in less money than other wealthy PL clubs
The report doesn't break down the loss into its component parts, but there are clues.

Uefa's figures show Chelsea's overall revenue was significantly lower than some of their Premier League rivals.

The Blues brought in £511m, compared to £746m for Manchester City and £744m for Liverpool.

That difference comes from a few key areas.

Chelsea's income from ticket sales was the ninth-highest in Europe but still £28m less than Liverpool, one place ahead of them.

The average amount Chelsea made per matchday was £1.2m less than Liverpool, who again were one spot ahead.

Chelsea's matchday revenue is restricted by the capacity of Stamford Bridge, which at 41,798 is only the 11th-biggest ground in the Premier League, 34,000 smaller than Manchester United's Old Trafford.

The Blues also made far less in commercial revenue than some of their rivals.

They were ranked 11th for commercial revenue in Europe last year, making £207m - £5m down on the previous year.

That puts their commercial revenue £66m lower than Tottenham - the next-highest English club - and £165m lower than Manchester City, who brought in more than anyone else in the Premier League.

Chelsea also made far less from merchandising and kit sales than the five other wealthiest Premier League clubs.

They generated £83m from that revenue stream - no improvement on the previous year. That is £46m less than Spurs and £82m less than top-ranked Manchester United.

The only area in which Chelsea performed impressively in comparison to their rivals was broadcast revenue, with participation and victory in the Fifa Club World Cup boosting income to £192m, putting them second-highest on the list in Europe, behind Manchester City.

Chelsea's outgoings were also part of the problem.

They were the sixth-highest spenders on wages in Europe, paying their players £388m - £43m more than they did the previous year.

Only Liverpool, whose spend was increased by bonuses paid to players for winning the Premier League, and Manchester City were higher in England.

Chelsea also employ the highest number of full-time non-footballer employees at any club in England, with a staff of 1,169.

The club's operating costs - including utilities, transport, insurance, marketing, and administration - increased from £159m to £240m, putting them fifth across Europe.

The Uefa report makes clear Chelsea's playing squad is the most expensively assembled in football history, costing £1.52bn - a value up 5% from the previous year.

Chelsea have signed many of their players to long-term contracts in order to ensure their value is 'amortised' - spread out over a longer period of time to reduce the yearly cost in the club accounts.

The report states "English clubs' amortisation costs are impacting profitability", meaning the amount ending up on the cost sheet at the end of each year - from what are effectively deferred transfer payments - is adding to their losses.

'Chelsea believe they will comply with Uefa rules'
By
Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter
Sources at Chelsea say a number of factors have caused an unfavourable outlook in Uefa's latest report.

Those factors include asset impairments (an accounting term for when an asset has a lower market value than that listed on a company's balance sheet), settlements tied to historical regulatory matters, and the exiting of legacy contracts.

Those disclosures are required under the governing body regulations.

Chelsea say they remain profitable on an operating basis, believe they will comply with Uefa's rules, and deny they will have to sell star players to fulfil any regulatory requirements.

After a substantial fine in the summer for breaching spending rules, they remain under Uefa scrutiny. And they could face further fines as part of the settlement should they continue to not be compliant.

But they point to a profitable season in the transfer market to highlight how they expect to avoid further punishments under the existing agreement.

[The Bear]

Clubs shouldn't be allowed to make such huge losses. There needs to be an addition to the rolling 3 year total so there's a limit on any single season loss too. Say £150m.

[LCFCJohn]

Brentford given Andrews a contract extension until 2032! Hell of a long time. I guess his wages are not high and they have covered themselves if they need to let him go, unlike us with Rodgers. 

[suffolk fox]

Chelsea's losses make our losses look small.  All that is wrong with PSR and they will still spend big come the Summer.  Look at United too a global brand but a billion in debt.  

[davieG]

Their fear is losing their status and influence in Europe. If they try to level the playing field by curtailing the spending and status of those 6 the rabble below will take their place in Europe (we don't want another Leicester) and England would lose the number of teams guaranteed entry into the CL where there's big and getting bigger money.

 

You might think that letting them have guaranteed presence in a SL would allow them to have a more level PL but I doubt all they see is more ££££

 

[Nalis]

If the Gordon Arsenal rumours are true I would cash in if I was the geordies, one of the most overrated players in the league

[Arkie Bennett]

Wolves v Villa is dull, dull, dull.