UK & International Football – Step Back in Time 24/25

Hello and welcome to the Touchline Takeover. This is our blog page, which will also feature a podcast from myself, Jayden, Chelsea and tom

We will be discussing the 24/25 season in episode 1 of the podcast, which will be around 1 hour long

The contents of the episode 1 of the podcast will be as followed

1. Introduction
2. 24/25 Premier League
3. 24/25 Championship
4. 24/25 UEFA leagues
5. Other leagues
6. Ending

 

 

 

 

The Championship. One of the best leagues outside of the major leagues. Every week creating exciting, entertaining games for fans to watch. From the battle of the automatics, battle of the playoffs and the relegation scrap passionate fans come together to watch their beloved clubs.

This season we were gifted with one of the most entertaining Championships in a long time. Game week one started off with a bang. Newly promoted Portsmouth took on Leeds United who lost in the 23/24 playoff final to Southampton. These two played out a thrilling 3-3 draw. Callum Lang netted a penalty in the 92^nd minute which everyone would’ve thought was a winner. But Leeds pegged back just 3 minutes later in the 95^th minute through Brendon Aaronson. Another encounter seen the two relegated sides Luton and Burnley take each other on both being desperate to wipe away the disappointment of last season.  There was a fast start to this game as Josh Brownhill scored his first goal of the season after just 6 minutes. The Clarets doubled their lead half an hour later through Odobert. It took until the second half to see Luton strike a goal back through Tahith Chong. But Burnley didn’t hold back and found two more goals through Dara O’ Shea and Vitinho, which seen Scott Parkers side win 4-1. Two more notable games were Blackburn Rovers beating Newley promoted side Derby County 4-2 and Sheffield Wednesday beating Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth 4-0.

By Game Week 10 we saw the likes of Burnley, Leeds and Sheffield United all in the playoffs, which everyone would have expected. However, there were a few that no one would’ve thought would be in the position they were, like Sunderland being top of the league and Blackburn sitting in the playoffs. The bottom three seen QPR in 24^th, Portsmouth in 23^rd and Cardiff in 22^{nd .} 

Game week 23, The game most people look for when the fixture list comes out. Boxing Day Football.  After Mark Robins depurator and Frank Lampard’s appointment for Coventry City, for the first and only time this season we saw the two Premier League legends go head-to-head, the media take, ‘Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues vs Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth‘.       Frank Lampard who Brought a turn of fortunes to the Sky Blues, seen them be the dominant side beating 10 men Plymouth 4-0.  Bristol City beat struggling Luton 1-0 through a trademark Scott Twine Goal. The last pick of the bunch will be Leeds 2-0 win over Stoke thanks to a Joel Piroe brace that took them top of the league.

By the end of January (Game week 30) The table was shaping up nicely. Leeds and Sheffield United took up the top two, and Burnley, Sunderland, Blackburn, and West Brom were in the playoffs. Leeds made themselves look comfortable at the top with a 7-0 win over relegation threatened Cardiff. Hard Fighting Robins managed to steal a point off Liam Mannings ex team Oxford united despite being down to nine men due to two controversial red cards. Despite being bottom of the league, Plymouth Argyle came out 2-1 winners vs Playoff Contenders West Brom.

With 10 games left, teams from 5^th to 13^th were fighting for a playoff spot. The top 3 were battling among themselves for automatic promotion back to the Premier League. Teams from the bottom to 16^th were fighting for survival to stay in the championship but it was looking like mission impossible for Plymouth who sat bottom. A 3-2 win for Coventry made their fans start believing as they climbed into the playoffs. Burnley were once again victorious against a 10 men Luton as they thrashed them 4-0. It wasn’t looking good for Cardiff as they fell to a late 2-1 defeat to a strong Sunderland side, sitting just 4 points off the drop after Derby’s victory vs Blackburn.

Gameweek 46. The final day. Bristol city, Coventry, Blackburn, Millwall and Middlesborough were all trying to take up the 5^th and 6^th places in the playoffs. Coventry hosted Middlesborough, which was a must win match for both teams. However a draw or win for Coventry with results going their way elsewhere would mean they do it . Bristol City fans could not believe their eyes when they saw themselves sat in 5^th going into the final day hosting a surprised relegation fighting Preston North End. Both them and Coventry however could have secured their playoff spots 2 weeks ago but they both hit a bad run of form. Once again, a win would see Bristol city secure playoffs and stay in 5^th. They could also draw or afford to lose if results went their way elsewhere. Their fortune was with them as Burnley, who were looking to win the league and finish with 100 points, hosted Millwall, and Blackburn had an away trip to Sheffield United who were just trying to keep their form after securing playoffs.  A poor start from The Robins found them 2-0 down in the 60^th minute with Blackburn winning meaning they leapfrogged. However just a few minutes later Sheffield United found an equalizer so despite Bristol City losing, they were back in the playoffs. Burnley proved they were going for the league as they came from behind to win 3-1 pushing Millwall away from their late playoff dreams to bed. Bristol City came from behind to draw 2-2 thanks to the Scotsman Ross Mccorie. Coventry beat Middlesborough 2-0 to put them in 5^th place. So, it was all eyes on Brambell Lane, 8 minutes added on, 2 left, Bristol city fans with hearts in their mouths. A draw would be enough if Sheffield united held Blackburn to a draw. It happened! Bristol City Football Club finished in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 when they reached the final.

However the bottom half of the table, Relegated Plymouth fell to a 92^nd minute defeat to Leeds united seeing them win the title. Hull, Preston, Derby, Stoke all could now breath as results went their way and they survived the drop. For Luton it was back to back relegation since coming down from the Premier League last season as they played out an eight goal thriller losing 5-3 to West Brom. And for Cardiff they were relegated, bottom of the league confirmed after their 0-0 draw the week before.

And that is a wrap. What an entertaining season of Championship football.  By Jayden.

 

^{Moving onto the Great Premier League, One of the best leagues in Club Football and I’ll start this one with a big bang as Man City have lost in the Title Race and About time as the club season had taken a hit as their star man Rodri has been out with ACL injury a huge loss for the Cityzens But another Loss is the departure of their captain Kevin De Byune who heads off to Italy after Many amazing years at the club. Moving onto the Standout Club of the seasons which has be the scouse side of Liverpool nope not Everton what a shame, The Reds have secured their 20th title overturning City’s title chances as they had finished third in the season.}

^{Heading to London where we must talk about the team in White who have a terrible season as Spurs drop to seventeenth Place a disappointing Season for them with only good thing being a Europa league trophy their first trophy in seventeen years. For the red Side of London, Arsenal have bottled title once again as they crashed out of the UCL in the semis against the eventual Champions PSG who knows if they will finally sign a striker.}

^{And finally, to the Pride of London, Chelsea who have secured Champion league spot after finishing fourth, a team has their ups and downs, yet the Blues were able to secure Sliver wear with their Europa conference trophy. Back to Manchester where United sacked Ten Hag and finished 15th which is beyond unacceptable for the reds}

^{On the bottom half, Leicester Ipswich and Southampton faced a bitterly disappointing season, going straight back down without a fight}

^{The 24/25 season provided some incredible moments, goals and saves. With a solid season, with many shocks in the season and i look forward to what 25/26 has to offer}

 

^{Dylans blog – focusing on Arsenal}

^{The 24/25 season for Arsenal, my team, was disappointing compared to the high expectations of the 22/23 and 23/24 season. The gunners failed to win a trophy once again, dragging their drought to now 5 years, despite billions spent}

^{The arsenal recruited david raya, calafiori and merino this summer as they looked to get over the final hurdle but it wasn’t meant to be.}

^{The gunners fell short once again, by 10 points, as annoyingly Liverpool beat both them and city to the crown this season, arsenal drew 13 times this season which is merely disappointing for there expectations, registering the 70 point mark for the first time in 2 seasons}

^{In the cup competitions it was a mixed season}

^{In the Caraboa cup arsenal reached the semi final stage but lost in a humiliating 4-0 loss to Newcastle over 2 legs then lost in the 3rd round of the fa cup which was very bad}

^{On the UCL  stage, Arsenal reached the semi final for the first time since 2009 but lost to PSG, a strong season but a disappointment in the end}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^{Heading over into Europe where we land in the Hot weather and pretty Beaches of Spain where FCB have dominated the League, snatching all three trophies completing a domestic Treble with German Manager Hansi Flick despite a heartbreaking defeat in the Champion League to an Ageing Inter Milan who went to be Humiliated in the final by PSG, Barca have a wonderful Seasons as I like to say the Kids of La Masia have done it again.}

^{Thier Starboy Lamine Yamal became the top assist provider in the league despite Robert Lewandowski finishing second in the golden boot and top scorer list, he has a Good Season But a standout Player for me as Barca fan myself has been Indigo Martinez, our amazing centre  back who has made Last Ditch tackles to keep us in the league along with Don Pedri, the Man just keeps spreading his magical touch everywhere along the pitch but the Return of Gavi has given Barca high hopes for the season. Who knowns what will happen Next Season.}

^{But we can’t talk about La Liga without talking about Real Madrid, a Season they would want to forget after facing a humiliating loss to their Rivals in the Supercopa final. (5-2) A night Los Blancos would want to forget but it wasn’t just that, they had lost in the Copa Del Rey final to Barca 3-2 as they watched their rivals win a domestic Trophy.}

^{As things went down for the team in the champion league after crashing out of the Quarter final of the UCL but with a new addition of Xabi Alonso and the arrival of some key names such as TAA and Dean Huijsen, the team are ready for a complete turn over as they enter the Xabi Era.}

^{Meanwhile Atletico Madrid finished 3rd and Athletic Club have a champion league spot. Despite a good season, Real Betis have gotten into conference league final where they had sadly lost 4-1 to Chelsea but the signs look good for the Betis whether if they managed to sign their star signing Antony on a permanent Deal. Meanwhile, Leganes, Las Palmas, and Valldolid are relegated from the first division.}

^{Now let’s switches side, heading over to Women’s football where Arsenal women’s have beaten Barcelona to win their second UWCL, beating the Spanish Giants 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Stina Blackstenuis but heading to their Pride of London where Chelsea have a won a domestic double with FA cup and WSL title in their hands but it seemed that their Rivals gathered all the Attention with their Champion League Win.}

^{But on the International Side of things, The lionesses have their nation league campaign with thrilling 6-0 win over Portugal as the celebrations were cut short with the announcement of England Number Mary Earps Retirement and Millie bright one of English best Defenders pulling out of the squad before the big tournament of the Euros could begin as the lionesses faces one of my favourite sides to give them a run for their Money and that is France.}

^{But there is hope for the Lionesses to go off and defend their euro title in upcoming women’s euros taking place in Switzerland}

^{—– Chelsea S.}