The Official Premier League 2025/26 Thread

[Handy Run]

Another day of utterly shite ball in the premiershit.

Arsenal might be the worst for it, but the rest of them aren't much better tbh.

Are you willing to bet it's a phase and wait it out or would you be looking for fundamental rule changes?

There's a school of thought that says today's football is an inevitable effect of the money in the PL.

Regarding fundamental rule changes I'm talking along the lines of for example a team must have x players in the opposition half at all times. Adjust the offside rule accordingly.

I know the offside rule was to prevent goal hanging but it seems goal hanging might be something to be encouraged now (within reason).

Or what about some sort of bonus points system that rewards positive football? UFC will award a drawn round to the chaser for example. Very subjective though but Rugby also has benefited massively from bonus points.

Extra point or half point for 3 goals regardless of your results for example.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

@Handy Run I would like them to scrap VAR and go back to 3 subs for a start.

I don't think I'd mess around with the offside rule or any of the fundamentals of the game, but I would be in favour of say 4 points for a win.

Also, football does go in cycles, so it might come around to more stylish play again. But I would bloody incentivise attacking play somehow.

One theory I think might be right is all these extra games in the CL/EL/CWC does have managers and players trying even more to play within themselves.

It's like the goose that laid the golden egg. "Look how much the people love football. Let's have it on television 24/7, they'll love it even more"

No, no they won't.

 

[Handy Run]

@Handy Run I would like them to scrap VAR and go back to 3 subs for a start.

I don't think I'd mess around with the offside rule or any of the fundamentals of the game, but I would be in favour of say 4 points for a win.

Also, football does go in cycles, so it might come around to more stylish play again. But I would bloody incentivise attacking play somehow.

One theory I think might be right is all these extra games in the CL/EL/CWC does have managers and players trying even more to play within themselves.

It's like the goose that laid the golden egg. "Look how much the people love football. Let's have it on television 24/7, they'll love it even more"

No, no they won't.

After today's 4-3 Villa v Sunderland it feels harsh that Sunderland walk away with nothing.

Let's say something like:

4 points for a win.
2 points for 2-2 draw or above*
1 point for a draw
1 losing bonus point for scoring 2-3 goals*

*Could me amalgamated into a bonus point for 2-3 goals in a draw or loss

 

[Philby]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046130496401256711

 

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

I happen to be watching ref watch this morning, for the first time ever.

Dermot Gallagher is an awful eejit. If Jay Bothroyd is making a fool of you, it's time to disappear into the sunset.

 

[MidCorkConnoisseur]

I happen to be watching ref watch this morning, for the first time ever.

Dermot Gallagher is an awful eejit. If Jay Bothroyd is making a fool of you, it's time to disappear into the sunset.

That was as tough a watch as it gets, watching Dermot Gallagher continously defend the refs is getting boring at this stage and completely defeats the purpose of having ref watch as a segment on Sky Sports News as he never ever gives his actual opinion on the incidents. He just wants to make us think the refs are making all the right decisions

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

What was his reason for Gabriel not getting a red?

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Musk must have a bug on my phone. First thing i see when I open X

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046140836497277150

 

[nelly sham]

If Sky are deliberately allowing him or encouraging him to make these shit comments then it's even worse. It wouldn't surprise me as it drives engagement.

What a time to be alive

 

[Handy Run]

Some bunch of fannies on here.

Haaland made head to head contact with Gabi.

Gabi shoved his head away with his own head.

Ref yellowed them both for acting the maggot.