The Barclays Premier League thread 2015/2016

[Lineker]

Quote

Tottenham Hotspur are close to a deal with the Football Association to play their home games at Wembley in 2017-18, according to the FA chairman Greg Dyke, while the north London club are also pushing to stage their Champions League ties there next season.

Tottenham will need a temporary home in 2017-18 while the final phase of building work on their new 61,000-capacity ground on the existing White Hart Lane site is completed and they have been in talks for months with the FA over using the national stadium.

Tottenham have long known that they might be able to relocate for the season to stadium:mk in Milton Keynes but they have more recently pursued what would be an upgrade to Wembley.

Dyke said: “We’re in discussions with Tottenham that they should come in for a full season when they’re building their new stadium, and we are a long way down the path on reaching agreement.

“I think there are some discussions about whether they will play Champions League games at Wembley next year but I don’t know much about that. But on the full season [2017-18] – think we’re quite close to a deal.”

Tottenham will play their final season at the 36,000-capacity White Hart Lane next time out and they intend to be in their new £400m home for 2018-19. The FA could raise around £15m from staging a Premier League club’s home fixtures.

“We thought we had a responsibility to English football if we can fit [the clubs] in, and that money we can use to support grassroots football,” Dyke said. “In particular, we want to use it to build all-weather pitches, which is something I’ve been going about for two or three years.”

Chelsea have also expressed an interest in using Wembley while they redevelop Stamford Bridge – there would be no overlap with Tottenham in 2017-18, as things stand.

“Chelsea have really exciting plans for that stadium – to demolish the whole thing and build a new one on the existing site,” Dyke said. “If they came [to Wembley], that would mean coming for three years.”

[Mad Jack]

Nah fuck off. Can't wait for the inevitable 'spurs ruined the pitch and  now we're shit rubbish." Go ground share with Palace or something like a good little London team.

[Baddar]

Wembley is gonna look shit with 40-50,000 fans in. It's bad enough on Cup final days when the suits opt out of showing up.

Spurs should ground share with Arsenal instead. I'm sure they'd happily help out. 

[MDK]

Much better when Orient spent some time at Wembley. Classic Wembley, not this rubbish one.

[Lineker]

Um. Bocelli is to perform at the King Power this Saturday.

[Lineker]

@Benji

[Lineker]

Six-match ban for Dembele.

[stokeriño]

It's Leicester's trophy day!

Meanwhile, looking at the fixtures left in the relegation fight...I feel that if Newcastle get anything less than a win today - and either Norwich or Sunderland win - then they're as good as down. Unless of course Spurs give up and hand them 3 points next week, while Watford/Everton suddenly become invincible...

Here's hoping that Chelsea do the business against Sunderland (probably my least favourite of the three teams) at 3pm.

[Baddar]

The CL qualification equation is easy for United. Win our 3 games, and hope Arsenal get SOMETHING against City. That'd ensure we finish above City and pip them to 4th place. 

Not very confident about our away trips to Norwich and West Ham, mind you, so hopes will likely disappear in the coming days.

[Baddar]

No Blind or Rashford today but starts for Memphis and Mata! Oh, and of course Lingard is starting again. 

[Lineker]

 

[DavidMarrio]

Come on the 6 fingered!!!!!

[Lineker]

Anthony Martial has pulled up in the warm-up and won't play. A tight hamstring apparently. He will be replaced by Ander Herrera.

[Baddar]

Excellent. :/

Memphis needs the game of his life today. He played up top against Watford and played well. Expect him and Rooney to share the role up top.

[Lineker]

 

[Nerf]

So, as things stand, can you get me a ticket for Boro away? @Part-Time Davidmarrio

[Baddar]

We've been terrible. A tad fortunate to not be behind. If we haven't scored by the 65th minute he needs to chuck Januzaj on. He's the only attack minded player left sat on the bench.

[TCO]

This would be a great time for Man Utd to stop being the completely boring and shit for once. 

[FLiam]

I just saw on Twitter that none of United's XI at the moment have scored in their last 12 games. 

[Baddar]

I'm one of Memphis' biggest supporters but he's been anonymous today. Lingard has also offered absolutely nothing, as per usual.