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Sad to see Wednesday out of the playoffs in League One. The Championship should be interesting though, since I wouldn't mind seeing 3/4 of those teams in the prem. Forest are a classic club of course, and Luton pulling a reverse-Oldham and going from non-league to premier league in a few short years would be amazing. Fuck Sheff U though.
 
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Some huge midweek games for the premier league.

Arsenal need to win tomorrow or Champions League is out of site. No way Tottenham lose to Norwich on the final day (I mean it is Tottenham but come on, not even they are that bad)
Liverpool need to win vs Southampton on Tuesday. City opened the door to possibly make the title available again so Liverpool need to take advantage and hope Villa can pull off a draw on the final day
Chelsea probably need to beat Leicester on Thursday. If they lose, they would be 2 points away from Tottenham on the final day (and possibly 1 point off Arsenal). So even though its Watford at home for their final match, you literally never know what bullshit could happen. Better safe than sorry
Burnley need to tie or beat Villa on Thursday. They do play Newcastle on the final day but they are 1 point off safety and leaving it up to chance to survive is not a good strategy. Even being tied with Leeds on points isn't where you want to be considering Leeds play Brentford, who have virtually nothing to play for.
Everton need to beat Palace at home. They are going to Arsenal on the final day, who have a pretty big European place to play for, so that isn't points at all. If they win at home, they are guaranteed safety


Bundesliga news
Hamburger SV won on the final day so they will play Hertha Berlin for a spot in the Bundesliga. Not sure about the quality of the game but that is 2 huge German clubs going at it for the scraps of the Bundesliga right now. First leg is on Thursday the 19th in Berlin, second leg is on Monday the 23rd in Hamburg


La Liga news
The league is basically rapped up. Real Madrid are champs, Barca second, Atletico are in champions league, and Sevilla need a point, I think, to get into champions league as well. Betis and Sociedad are in Europe but which minor competition isn't fully decided yet. Alavez and Levante are relegated for sure but thanks to Elche and Granada losing along with Cadiz tying Real Madrid and Mallorca beating Rayo Vallecano, the last relegation spot is looking a little juicy. Cadiz currently occupies it with 36 points, -17 GD, and some tie breaker loss to Mallorca. Mallorca are just out of the spot with 36 points, -29 GD, and the better tie breaker. Granada are on 37 points and a -17 GD so they are very much in that race. Elche are at 39 points with a -14 GD so in a good position to avoid the drop but still in danger
Final games for these relegation teams
Elche host Getafe
Cadiz at Alavez
Granada host Espanyol
Mallorca at Osasuna
Games kick off at 12:30 eastern which is right around when the EPL is finishing up

French news
PSG won the league but thats not the interesting part. Monaco and Marseille are tied on 68 points with Monaco GD of 29 being better than Marseille GD of 25. 2nd place gets champions league group stage and 3rd place goes into champions league qualifiers so that spot really makes a difference. Rennes are in the Europa league spot with 65 points but they have a GD of 42 so if they tie either team on points, they probably jump them if there isn't a tie breaker I am missing. Stasbourg are tied with Nice on 63 points with GD of 21 and 15 keeping the difference there. Lens are on 61 points with a GD of 14 so also within European striking distance. On the bottom of the table, all 3 teams are confirmed but the playoff spot hasn't been decided. Metz with 31 points and -29 GD are in the playoff spot with St Etienne on 31 points and -35 GD so that is still to play for. Bordeaux (holy shit what a collapse btw) are on 28 points and -41 GD so technically not out but thats a lot of goals to make up for
Final games for everyone involved
Bordeaux at Brest
Lens host Monaco
Marseille host Strasbourg
Metz at PSG
Rennes at Lille
St Etienne at Nantes
Nice at Reims
All these games are on Saturday instead of Sunday so could be some interesting games to watch as a lot of them mean a shit ton to these French clubs.

Italy news
Ac Milan lead Inter by 2 points going into the last week. Napoli are 3rd and Juve are 4th, both of those are easily confirmed. Lazio are currently in 5th on 62 points but they play tomorrow so that might change. Roma are in 6th, which is the last European spot, on 60 points but they have only 1 game remaining. Fiorentina are on 59 points but they also play tomorrow so that might change and Atalanta are on 59 points but have only 1 game remaining. So Europa League and the Europa Conference league aren't fully set yet in Italy along with the title but the Champions League places are confirmed. Bottom of the table Venezia are confirmed relegated. Sampadoria are safe at 16th with a game in hand and 4 points off the drop zone. Salernitana sit just above the drop zone with 31 points and a -41 GD, Cagliari are in 18th with 29 points and -34 GD, and Genoa are 19th with 28 points and -32 GD so tie breakers are in the favor of the 2 teams currently sitting in relegation.
Mondays games are
Fiorentina at Sampadoria
Lazio at Juve
Final round important games (potentially)
Juve at Fiorentina
Atalanta host Empoli
Inter host Sampadoria
Cagliari at Venezia
Lazio host Verona
Roma at Torino
Milan at Sassuolo
Genoa host Bologna
Salernitana host Udinese
Games are on Sunday but time hasn't been determined yet
 
I disagree with the Brentford statement. They and Leeds became rivals in the Championship and it would be utter bliss to send them down on the final day. Especially considering this video from a few seasons back.

 
Bundesliga news
Hamburger SV won on the final day so they will play Hertha Berlin for a spot in the Bundesliga. Not sure about the quality of the game but that is 2 huge German clubs going at it for the scraps of the Bundesliga right now. First leg is on Thursday the 19th in Berlin, second leg is on Monday the 23rd in Hamburg
Click to expand...

I would like to add some backstory to this one for you non-German football kiwis because there is a lot to tell and the whole set-up is very dramatic.
(Spoilers added bc walls of text)

Let's start with HAMBURGER SV (HSV).

HSV got relegated to 2. Bundesliga (2.BL) in the 2017/18 season which was very dramatic in it's own way.
HSV is one of the founding clubs of 1. Bundesliga (1.BL) which got founded 1963. From 1963 until 2018 HSV always played in Bundesliga. HSV was the last founding club who got relegated so HSV got the longest Bundesliga run of all German clubs.
HSV was founded 1919 and from 1919 until the foundation of Bundesliga the club always played in the highest divisions. So the clubs top tier run is even more impressing.

The 2018/19 season was HSV's first 2BL season and they missed relegation back to 1BL as they only placed 4th. This meant that they also lost the record for most anticipations in 1.BL to SV Bremen. Both clubs share a rivalry because of how close the cities of Bremen and Hamburg are and both clubs are the most succesfull clubs from Northern Germany.

The 2019/20 season HSV placed 4th - again.
Both season they missed the relegation only bc of 1 point and because of the worse goal difference.

Season 2020/21 - you may guessed it but yes, HSV placed 4th.

After 3 years where HSV always placed 4th they finally placed 3rd and get their chance to get back to 1.BL now.
HSV is one of the biggest clubs in Germany and had a lot of success during the 70s and 80s (3x Bundesliga Champion, 1x UEFA Cup Winner's Cup winner and 1x European Cup winner (= Champions League today).

And then there is HERTHA BSC Berlin.

You may know that Hertha is one of the few clubs in Germany that has the back of a huge investor and you may have read the name "Lars Windhorst" (who is basically the face of the investment group). Since 2019 this investment group spent 375.000.000€ on Hertha which is -again- very huge for a German football club. How did Hertha do since 2019?

Season 2019/20: 10th
Season 2020/21: 14th
Season 2021/22: 16th

When Windhorst started his investment in Hertha both the club and investor presented the plan to form Hertha into "the big city club" who wanted to target at least some participation in one of the European cups. So one may say all the money got burned for nothing so far.

In the 2019/20 season Hertha got Jürgen Klinsmann as head coach. Yes, this Jürgen Klinsmann who won FIFA World Cup in Italy in 1990 and had and who placed 3rd in FIFA World Cup in 2006 as Germany's national team coach. How successfull was Klinsmann with Hertha? He dropped Hertha after 76 days. In this season Hertha had 3 head coaches. There is so much more to tell about the Klinsmann "era" with Hertha but I will skip this now.

Current coach of Hertha is Felix Magath. You may have heard of him as he won suprisingly 1.BL with VFL Wolfsburg in 2008/09, won 2 consecutive doubles with FC Bayern Munich and was once coach of FC Fulham. You may remember some weird and hilarious stories from back then as Magath's training seasons are some kind infamy.
And as a coach none of the German teams Magath managed so far ever dropped to 2. Bundesliga.
But there is more because Magath is also linked to Hamburger SV. Magath had quite a good run with HSV as player and as coach. When he became head coach of HSV the club was ranked 17th in 1. Bundesliga but finished 5th place and the year after HSV reached the round of 16 in UEFA (which was kind of a success back then).

And there is still more:
- Magath is Hertha's 3rd coach this season. They dropped Pál Dárdai early in the season. Dárdai is kind of a Hertha legend himself and saved them last season. His replacement was Tayfun Korkut - who hasn't really a good track record as a coach at all.
- Lars Windhorst started to fight Hertha's club president over controll of the club. So there is a lot of heat on higher management levels and lot of bitch fights in the media.
- Before Hertha's 2nd game against FC Bayern Munich some of Hertha's ultra fans showed up at the training ground and threatend the players.
After Hertha lost it's 2nd game against city rival UNION BERLIN Hertha fans forced the Hertha players to put done their shirts.

So basically Hertha BSC turned into a lolcow football club.
Imagine the shitshow if Hertha loses to HSV and gets relegated to 2. Bundesliga.
 
Atomkrieg said:
I would like to add some backstory to this one for you non-German football kiwis because there is a lot to tell and the whole set-up is very dramatic.
(Spoilers added bc walls of text)

Let's start with HAMBURGER SV (HSV).

HSV got relegated to 2. Bundesliga (2.BL) in the 2017/18 season which was very dramatic in it's own way.
HSV is one of the founding clubs of 1. Bundesliga (1.BL) which got founded 1963. From 1963 until 2018 HSV always played in Bundesliga. HSV was the last founding club who got relegated so HSV got the longest Bundesliga run of all German clubs.
HSV was founded 1919 and from 1919 until the foundation of Bundesliga the club always played in the highest divisions. So the clubs top tier run is even more impressing.

The 2018/19 season was HSV's first 2BL season and they missed relegation back to 1BL as they only placed 4th. This meant that they also lost the record for most anticipations in 1.BL to SV Bremen. Both clubs share a rivalry because of how close the cities of Bremen and Hamburg are and both clubs are the most succesfull clubs from Northern Germany.

The 2019/20 season HSV placed 4th - again.
Both season they missed the relegation only bc of 1 point and because of the worse goal difference.

Season 2020/21 - you may guessed it but yes, HSV placed 4th.

After 3 years where HSV always placed 4th they finally placed 3rd and get their chance to get back to 1.BL now.
HSV is one of the biggest clubs in Germany and had a lot of success during the 70s and 80s (3x Bundesliga Champion, 1x UEFA Cup Winner's Cup winner and 1x European Cup winner (= Champions League today).

And then there is HERTHA BSC Berlin.

You may know that Hertha is one of the few clubs in Germany that has the back of a huge investor and you may have read the name "Lars Windhorst" (who is basically the face of the investment group). Since 2019 this investment group spent 375.000.000€ on Hertha which is -again- very huge for a German football club. How did Hertha do since 2019?

Season 2019/20: 10th
Season 2020/21: 14th
Season 2021/22: 16th

When Windhorst started his investment in Hertha both the club and investor presented the plan to form Hertha into "the big city club" who wanted to target at least some participation in one of the European cups. So one may say all the money got burned for nothing so far.

In the 2019/20 season Hertha got Jürgen Klinsmann as head coach. Yes, this Jürgen Klinsmann who won FIFA World Cup in Italy in 1990 and had and who placed 3rd in FIFA World Cup in 2006 as Germany's national team coach. How successfull was Klinsmann with Hertha? He dropped Hertha after 76 days. In this season Hertha had 3 head coaches. There is so much more to tell about the Klinsmann "era" with Hertha but I will skip this now.

Current coach of Hertha is Felix Magath. You may have heard of him as he won suprisingly 1.BL with VFL Wolfsburg in 2008/09, won 2 consecutive doubles with FC Bayern Munich and was once coach of FC Fulham. You may remember some weird and hilarious stories from back then as Magath's training seasons are some kind infamy.
And as a coach none of the German teams Magath managed so far ever dropped to 2. Bundesliga.
But there is more because Magath is also linked to Hamburger SV. Magath had quite a good run with HSV as player and as coach. When he became head coach of HSV the club was ranked 17th in 1. Bundesliga but finished 5th place and the year after HSV reached the round of 16 in UEFA (which was kind of a success back then).

And there is still more:
- Magath is Hertha's 3rd coach this season. They dropped Pál Dárdai early in the season. Dárdai is kind of a Hertha legend himself and saved them last season. His replacement was Tayfun Korkut - who hasn't really a good track record as a coach at all.
- Lars Windhorst started to fight Hertha's club president over controll of the club. So there is a lot of heat on higher management levels and lot of bitch fights in the media.
- Before Hertha's 2nd game against FC Bayern Munich some of Hertha's ultra fans showed up at the training ground and threatend the players.
After Hertha lost it's 2nd game against city rival UNION BERLIN Hertha fans forced the Hertha players to put done their shirts.

So basically Hertha BSC turned into a lolcow football club.
Imagine the shitshow if Hertha loses to HSV and gets relegated to 2. Bundesliga.
Click to expand...
If I recall correctly, I think it was Hamburger SV who had a problem where every coach in their club from the top on down to like the little kids, was trying to backstab each other to get more power in the organization

Anchors-Away said:
I disagree with the Brentford statement. They and Leeds became rivals in the Championship and it would be utter bliss to send them down on the final day. Especially considering this video from a few seasons back.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-TWe4LyReRw
Click to expand...
The rivalry aside, Brentford players will probably have one foot on the beach. They not only survived but did well in their first season up. Its hard to motivate a team that doesn't have much to play for on the last day
 
DSP's Tax Lawyer said:
The rivalry aside, Brentford players will probably have one foot on the beach. They not only survived but did well in their first season up. Its hard to motivate a team that doesn't have much to play for on the last day
Click to expand...
A win would net them 49 points and possible top ten finish, assuming West Ham beat Brighton. Not bad for Relegation favourites. I do agree they might be a little relaxed, but you gotta send the fans home happy on the last game of the season.
 
Anchors-Away said:
A win would net them 49 points and possible top ten finish, assuming West Ham beat Brighton. Not bad for Relegation favourites. I do agree they might be a little relaxed, but you gotta send the fans home happy on the last game of the season.
Click to expand...
Do you think fans would be really sad on the last day of the season knowing they will be playing in the premier league again? Assuming they lose?
 
Are we all ready for the #narrative if Liverpool beat So'ton tomorrow? Coutinho's redemption at the Etihad and Gerrard to secure Liverpool the title.
 
DSP's Tax Lawyer said:
As if we need a narrative to make the final day more exciting
Click to expand...
It's the relegation battle that interests me the most, tbh, especially Everton. It feels like they're fucked either way: (1) Go down now or (2) Stay up, keep lampard and go down next season.
 
Anal birth said:
It's the relegation battle that interests me the most, tbh, especially Everton. It feels like they're fucked either way: (1) Go down now or (2) Stay up, keep lampard and go down next season.
Click to expand...
The title race is still kinda exciting if Liverpool win. But the race for 4th (and maybe 3rd if Chelsea fuck up), a potential for West Ham to knock United into the Europa Conference league, and the relegation battle are all fun as well. Everton can avoid that relegation battle this week but otherwise they might be fucked
 
DSP's Tax Lawyer said:
The title race is still kinda exciting if Liverpool win. But the race for 4th (and maybe 3rd if Chelsea fuck up), a potential for West Ham to knock United into the Europa Conference league, and the relegation battle are all fun as well. Everton can avoid that relegation battle this week but otherwise they might be fucked
Click to expand...
I guess if I get my hopes up thinking about the title I'll just end up pissed off when City win on the weekend so I've just adopted an "I don't care" stance.

If you haven't had a glance at the recent Everton balance sheets, its hard to see how they can turn it around without Moshiri selling. They're actually well into the zone where they should be penalised due to FFP breaches, but they've somehow managed to blame it all on COVID (I listened to a breakdown on 'The Price of Football' and it seems that their claims are very unreasonable). They're going to have to sell all their talent (I use that term very loosely) anyway this summer and a full squad rebuild is probably the worst possible thing for them if they manage to avoid the drop. At least if they get relegated they can bank on parachute payments.

Lampard is clearly not a competent coach at this level but it would be hard to get rid of him if he keeps them up, and, if they do get rid of him, I guess their only option would be Rooney.
 
Anal birth said:
I guess if I get my hopes up thinking about the title I'll just end up pissed off when City win on the weekend so I've just adopted an "I don't care" stance.

If you haven't had a glance at the recent Everton balance sheets, its hard to see how they can turn it around without Moshiri selling. They're actually well into the zone where they should be penalised due to FFP breaches, but they've somehow managed to blame it all on COVID (I listened to a breakdown on 'The Price of Football' and it seems that their claims are very unreasonable). They're going to have to sell all their talent (I use that term very loosely) anyway this summer and a full squad rebuild is probably the worst possible thing for them if they manage to avoid the drop. At least if they get relegated they can bank on parachute payments.

Lampard is clearly not a competent coach at this level but it would be hard to get rid of him if he keeps them up, and, if they do get rid of him, I guess their only option would be Rooney.
Click to expand...
The best case scenario for them would be to stay up so they could get more for the "talent" that people would want to buy. Then with the full squad rebuild, you use Lampard to start prepping a Championship team. Make sure the contracts are adjusted as such, get your parachute payments, and try to make it back in a year or two. Then fire Lampard and rebuild the team again
 
DSP's Tax Lawyer said:
The best case scenario for them would be to stay up so they could get more for the "talent" that people would want to buy. Then with the full squad rebuild, you use Lampard to start prepping a Championship team. Make sure the contracts are adjusted as such, get your parachute payments, and try to make it back in a year or two. Then fire Lampard and rebuild the team again
Click to expand...
That would be the logical approach. But they're completely incompetent and will probably just bring in a big name that's over the hill.
 
DSP's Tax Lawyer said:
Do you think fans would be really sad on the last day of the season knowing they will be playing in the premier league again? Assuming they lose?
Click to expand...
You are likely right that a majority are happy yes. I am in the small percentage who wish for Leeds to suffer.

Anal birth said:
Are we all ready for the #narrative if Liverpool beat So'ton tomorrow? Coutinho's redemption at the Etihad and Gerrard to secure Liverpool the title.
Click to expand...
It would be very Hollywood.

Meanwhile Arsenal have yet another injury hit, defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. That's the entire backline gone. This Everton tie Sunday is going to be utterly bizarre.
 
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