MNVillan

I’d be bored by the competition (or lack thereof). I’d follow scorelines, but I’m not paying to stream Villa in a stadium with no atmosphere.

So our remaining PL may have just been cut from 7 to 3 matches, PSG may have just won the CL, Leicester may have just won the FA Cup. Oh and if this all falls through, the Big 6 start back in the 5th division.

The same 12 clubs every year playing in exhibition matches? No thanks, especially considering it’ll be a PPV model

I’m a massive hockey fan, and I have some friends who have played in the KHL (Russian league). It’s massively corrupt, and if you go on a losing streak you may not get paid until you win again. So it’s a little more complicated. The ME would probably turn into a new MLS, where the superstars can capitalize on a lucrative contract while riding off into the sunset.

What’s there even to play for in such a league? Money? A trophy? In the Champions League you can claim supremacy in Europe. In the Premier League you can claim supremacy in England. In a closed league you can claim supremacy over 11 other clubs. Closed leagues like the NFL and NBA work because they are far and away the best league and teams in the world in their respective sports. If this goes through and the PL, UEFA, and FIFA impose the sanctions they’re threatening, I truly believe there is a chance that some of these clubs will no longer even be the best in their home country. In 5 years if Arsenal finish 10th or worse every season, how many players would sacrifice a chance to play for their international side to get beat up on a weekly basis? Money talks, but that money might dry up quick for clubs that don’t have success in this league.

The PL should disqualify these clubs from playing in Europe next year after this idea is shut down. Make it very apparent that those clubs are not bigger than the league. Current table would have Leiscester, West Ham, Everton, and Leeds in CL, with us one point behind and in Europa. Won’t ever happen, but a fan can dream.

I’m American. I don’t watch a second of CL football currently, couldn’t even tell you who is left this year. I would do the same for this new stupid league. No interest in watching Real Madrid pound down Arsenal on a Thursday night. I really enjoyed our time in the Championship, because the passion of each club’s fans was so apparent. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with Villa. The soul of AVFC is so apparent every match, whether it’s at VP or away. It’s pretty sad watching Villa play at Chelsea or Spurs and our away fans are the noise shining through my TV. I can’t speak for everyone over here, but one relatively prominent American football blogger I follow is a massive Spurs fan and has already said this idea sucks.

Just play like it means something. Looks like they’re already on summer holiday

Well yes, that’s true. What I’m trying to say is that Ross has never looked good without help from others around him. Which means that you can’t rely on him.

Ross might cry and not leave the dressing room.

I’m about to rant, but don’t take it personally. What you said I think is a very fair point. Barkley has shown he has quality going forward when he is among other quality (Jack). He’s also shown that he is not a talisman. Being around talented players makes you look better, no shock to anyone with half a brain. What bugs the f****** s*** out of me is that he doesn’t care if we concede. It shows when he “defends.” He’s the benefactor of quality play elsewhere. When things are going well for Aston Villa, they’re going well for Ross Barkley. When things are going bad for Aston Villa, they’re going bad for Ross Barkley. When we’re in a difficult position, hoping for Ross to bail us out is a fool’s errand.

Everton, Man U, Palace, Spurs, and Chelsea in May. i don’t fear anyone at the moment, but that isn’t the friendliest run in you’ll ever see.

Does Trez start on the right with Cash out?

I agree. If you’re a Euro contender, you don’t let a club like Brighton pull the double over you.

What a wife. Mrs MNVillan used to not understand football (soccer to her) at all, and now she texts me live updates, complete with the full pre-match starting XI if I’m stuck at work for a match. I think the 7-2 Liverpool thumping this season is really what got her hooked. She loves Ollie, Mings, and Jack. Luckily we live across the pond from them

That’s a dip in form from 1.67 ppg currently to 1.47 ppg the rest of the way. Let’s go on a European Tour.

Um, f*** yes. (I unfortunately can’t be there regardless)

That’s soft. It’s supposed to be -40 wind chill where I live tonight

I’d throw us firmly in the mix with West Ham and Everton. We’re also only 1 point below Chelsea with a game in hand. Their recent form has improved with Tuchel but as we all know that can change in an instant. I could see us anywhere 5th through 9th. Anything above that would be a masterclass, and anything below would mean a dip in form at some point has cost us.

What’s with the Coventry hate? I don’t particularly hate any club in the Prem because I don’t interact with other fans too often. Leeds and Man U win the award for most annoying twitter warriors. I do get annoyed with the Sky 6 in the Prem, and the likes of Bayern/Real Madrid/Barcelona/Juve only because American sports media seem to think no clubs outside of the behemoths matter. The one club I really don’t care for is PSG. The new money, the gaudy apparel, the Jordan brand, it all seems very plastic to me. SHA is a given, but they’re irrelevant.

Might be the American in me, but I appreciated the VAR reviews yesterday. Neither of them contained a “clear and obvious error” so the on-pitch decision was upheld.

Without reading a single post in this thread: they’re horrible.

It’s interesting. The refs are so interested in keeping the “big clubs” at the top, that they are ruining their own product.

The Rotterdam day in 1982... wow.

That’s the attitude