the league

[Stevie H]

just looked at the bottom half of the table for the first time in a while, it's bloody ridiculous isn't it? everyone from man city in 8th on down could realistically still go down. can't remember a season where so many teams are in with a shout of going down at the start of march.

[sutty]

just looked at the bottom half of the table for the first time in a while, it's bloody ridiculous isn't it? everyone from man city in 8th on down could realistically still go down. can't remember a season where so many teams are in with a shout of going down at the start of march.

 

Yeah saw that this morning

 

6 points between second bottom and 10th or something. Crazy days

[Gilps]

Everyone who isn't in a realistic hunt for a UEFA cup place is still in danger. Keeps it interesting. There aren't going to be many games for anyone in the run in that don't have something riding on them. Would be nice to think Newcastle and/or Spurs could go down, shake things up a bit, but I supect it'll end up being 3 out of West Brom, Boro, Stoke, Blackburn and Pompey. None of which would be a exactlt a shock.

[Stevie H]

i think that's probably right gilps, and it'll be down to the others just being far more sh*te than spurs and newcastle are. newcastle have a ruck of championship level players but the other five you list are simply so much worse. baggies and stoke don't have a single top class player between them.

[Bigal]

i think stoke will be ok.

 

Their home form will save them.

 

If I never have to go to boro again I will be happy

Edited March 5, 2009 by Bigal

[sutty]

i think that's probably right gilps, and it'll be down to the others just being far more sh*te than spurs and newcastle are. newcastle have a ruck of championship level players but the other five you list are simply so much worse. baggies and stoke don't have a single top class player between them.

 

 

I think Stoke have organisation and discipline and an understanding of how to play effectively within their limitations. See them staying up.

[Leo No.8]

Although it would be great comedy value, I don't want to see Newcastle down as we murder them twice every year.

 

From a Liverpool results standpoint I'd like to see Boro, Fulham and Stoke go. We struggle away to the first two every year and the two scoreless games against Stoke this year have really killed us.

[sutty]

Although it would be great comedy value, I don't want to see Newcastle down as we murder them twice every year.

 

From a Liverpool results standpoint I'd like to see Boro, Fulham and Stoke go. We struggle away to the first two every year and the two scoreless games against Stoke this year have really killed us.

Fulham hasn't been that unkind to us in general.

 

Plus its a good away.

[Stevie H]

Fulham hasn't been that unkind to us in general.

 

Plus its a good away.

massages, trays of random drinks and gak.

[Bigal]

massages, trays of random drinks and gak.

 

I will be livid if this is moved to a monday!

[sutty]

I will be livid if this is moved to a monday!

 

 

I won't

[Bigal]

I won't

 

f***ing f*** you

[John am Rhein]

Subjectively at least, the League seems stronger this year than for quite some time.

 

But is there any objective or quantitative way to measure that?

[Stevie H]

Subjectively at least, the League seems stronger this year than for quite some time.

 

But is there any objective or quantitative way to measure that?

the skysports patented bestleagueintheworldometer.

 

it's not a strong league at all, if anything it's the worst for years. more teams than ever are attempting to go ten men behind the ball in away games in the hope of nicking a point but are still committing appalling, basic defensive errors.

[John am Rhein]

the skysports patented bestleagueintheworldometer.

 

it's not a strong league at all, if anything it's the worst for years. more teams than ever are attempting to go ten men behind the ball in away games in the hope of nicking a point but are still committing appalling, basic defensive errors.

 

More defensive and therefore stronger.

 

Certainly teams are stronger when they are defensive.

 

The strength of the Premier League seems to be confirmed by the relative strength of English clubs in Europe recently.

 

But the strength of the mid- and even lower-table clubs relative to the top clubs seems to have increased this season in particular. That might be because the top clubs have got weaker but the results in Europe seem to imply otherwise.

[Kahnee]

i think stoke will be ok.

 

Their home form will save them.

 

Spot who was watching Match of The Day

[Stevie H]

More defensive and therefore stronger.

 

Certainly teams are stronger when they are defensive.

 

The strength of the Premier League seems to be confirmed by the relative strength of English clubs in Europe recently.

 

But the strength of the mid- and even lower-table clubs relative to the top clubs seems to have increased this season in particular. That might be because the top clubs have got weaker but the results in Europe seem to imply otherwise.

the recent record of english clubs in the champions league is also linked to the decline of quality in the other big leagues too.

 

i don't agree though about the mid and lower teams in the league, they're not necessarily 'better' this season, just more scared and more conservative as a result. it's like serie a ten or fifteen years ago.

[Gilps]

Despite the increase in the frequency of English clubs getting to the latter stages, they've still only won 2 further European Cups in the decade since the Mancs did the treble. Milan and Real Madid have both equalled that feat on their own and Barca's win stil puts Spanish football ahead over the same period.

 

Thee's obviously a strong chance of trend of the last few years continuing and I wouldn't bet against a Premiership club winning it again this year. But the supposed dominance of English clubs is being a little overstated at this stage.

[smithdown]

Subjectively at least, the League seems stronger this year than for quite some time.

 

I'm inclined to disagree with this. On face value it looks more competitive, given the spread of points. But the games I see appear to be more negative, with less productive forward play, loads of huff and puff but little real quality, results being gleaned from pouncing on mistakes or fitful performances by officials. The mancs current run is a good example of this. Our own performances also - I don't think any side we've played has looked particularly strong, our defeats and draws have come across sides who have looked weak. I haven't seen many games where I've thought "I'll take the draw, they played well there on the day" - maybe Arsenal away, Hull at home. I've seen plenty where I've thought 'ffs, two or three decent passes strung together will see these off" - Portsmouth away, City away...the Boro game the other day could still have been won with 10 mins left if there'd have been just a little bit of composure and belief. That's what I'm still clinging to this season, that if they clear their head and reassess this season then there's still 30 points to be had.

 

Tbf, from what I've seen the same trend seem to run right through the European leagues. With the exception of Barcelona, there doesn't seem to be anything really outstanding happening anywhere attacking-wise. It's as if offensively the game is treading water, not many teams are being turned over.

 

Maybe we're reaching a point where the ball has become too much of a fly-away or the defensive midfielder phenomenon has blunted a lot of forward play or something, I dunno. Just not seeing much footy that knocks on the head what Emlyn Hughes said about old footy versus new footy, that "they'd do us for fitness in the end, but they wouldn't see the ball for the first 80 minutes". I'm being a proper arlarse about it at the moment, players could trap a ball and volley it and dribble through mudheaps and snowdrifts when I were a lad, this lot are playing on turf rolled on the thighs of virgin girls yet can't play in their overlapping fullback without it going into the stands half the feckin time. The game's gone quicker but nobody knows what they're doing with it. The league seems a bit stale to me. It's more like 'first goal is the winner' and a great big load of vexation and hype about formations in games where nobody has the slightest intention of backheeling in a midfield runner or curling one into the top corner.

 

Mabye I'm just getting owld and watching too much Big Match Revisited.

[Bigal]

Spot who was watching Match of The Day

 

 

I didnt see it last night,

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Stoke have a halfway decent keeper.

 

I hate boro, so would like to see them gone.

 

Looking at the league, realistically I'd choose

 

Spurs

Boro

 

I don't really hate any of the others that much more than any of the other others.

 

Probably Man C, but they're pretty safe now

[John am Rhein]

the recent record of english clubs in the champions league is also linked to the decline of quality in the other big leagues too.

 

i don't agree though about the mid and lower teams in the league, they're not necessarily 'better' this season, just more scared and more conservative as a result. it's like serie a ten or fifteen years ago.

 

Well unless the standard of football everywhere has fallen simultaneously, it's hard to see how that could be verified.

 

The mid- and lower- teams have certainly had better results this season - hence the closing gap between the teams - but whether that is 'better' depends on what's meant by 'better'. A lot of people seem to think there something called 'good football' which somehow means something different from winning football. In those terms things are probably worse rather than better, but in actual terms of being better at football (i.e. winning at it) these teams do indeed seem to have got better.

 

This is yet another illustration of the unpopular fact that effective football and attractive football are in opposite directions.

 

And, I dare say teams are more scared/conservative - they're right to be. Being cautious/scared/conservative/defensive is a better approach than the opposite. Many clubs, including Liverpool and Man United have shown that in recent seasons.

[Cam]

Stoke fans were a set of ****s walking up to the ground so they can go down. And any team Allardyce is managing can also feck right off.

 

Dream scenario from the possibles? Newcastle or Spurs. I'd laugh my c**k off.

 

The interesting thing is the negative goal difference down the league. It's a phenomenon that's been happening for 2 or 3 seasons now and hints that maybe the league isn't as strong as everyone thinks. Who are they conceding them all to - the big 4(or 5)? A team qualifying for the UEFA Cup with a minus goal diff is ridiculous.

[DJS]

Take a look at Newcastle's run in - they're in serious trouble.

 

I reckon they'll go down with Boro and West Brom.

[Woodsyla]

Take a look at Newcastle's run in - they're in serious trouble.

 

I reckon they'll go down with Boro and West Brom.

I would love it, just love it if that happened. Ever since they f***ed off Kenny for being too negative that club has been a joke. A plastic club with idiot fans, just f*** off and lets see how many of the 'best fans in the world' turn up for Gillingham at home.

 

Owen can then come out and say 'I would have stayed and signed a new contract because Newcastle is a massive club with great fans but I can't play in the Championship because I will lose my England place. Those t***s will believe him as well.

 

f*** off Newcastle and take your fat topless nobhead fans with you.