2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half

[Lord Blackadder]

Anyway... a short while ago someone (it may have been Lord Blackadder but apologies if I'm wrong) posted a link to the BBC's Premier League Predictor

Yeah, that was me...it took a while to fill out. Now I have to go back and see what I finished with.

EDIT: I found mine from a few pages back:

1. Man Utd 91pts
2. Chelsea 83
3. Liverpool 83
4. Aston Villa 77
5. Arsenal 72

13. Hull City 42
14. Stoke 41

18. Middlebrough 35
19. Newcastle 31
20. West Brom 25

So we were pretty close. West Brom are all but gone already, and unless Middlesbrough and Newcastle string a few victories together they are down.

Manchester Utd and Chelsea lose today. Hopefully unlike earlier in the season Liverpool will captialise. That 4 point margin is still a big one and just makes those silly draws earlier in the season even more annoying.

I still think United will win it, the gap is just too big - but this has to be seen as a real wobble. The "first team" is not playing well at the moment, and three of them are suspended anyway. Still, like you pointed out, United have a huge squad of quality players, so the holes can be plugged fairly easily.

At least this essentially eliminated the notion that United's game in hand was an automatic three point advantage - now they've dropped six in two matches.

Now Liverpool needs to do what they've failed to do so far and take advantage of a wobble.

 

[pivo6]

Newcastle really going down???

They're too big to go down.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I think you might just be right about the bottom of the table though. ALthough a few too many points for Stoke.

I had Stoke down to pick up points steadily if unspectacularly - I think they're more than capable of drawing several of their remaining fixtures, and having my pessimistic predicting head I put them down to pick up three points at the KC...

 

[R.Youden]

Just saw the old BBC vs Sir Alex thing. I thought the reason he didn't give interviews goes back to the mid 90's when he had an argument with Alan Green at a press conference over team selection:

Famously, he has an ongoing "feud" with Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, and the pair have not spoken for years. A number of Manchester United fans base their resentment of Green on Ferguson's feud with him. Green said in an interview[6] that the feud dates back to an incident in which he said on air that he was "learning not to believe the propaganda that comes out of the Manchester United manager's office" after he had been given inaccurate team news by Ferguson before a game. In the same interview Green defends his professional impartiality: "I'm supposed to hate Man United, but listen to my commentary on the 1999 European Cup final in Barcelona and try telling me I hate Man United. It's garbage."

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Newcastle really going down???

Sadly no, I got them hanging on by goal difference only:



Also fairly close at the top of the table...

 

[pivo6]

I laugh when I read/hear Alan Green defend his "professional impartiality". It's not that he hates other clubs, it's how he loves Liverpool. Whenever I have heard him broadcast a Liverpool match, you'd swear that he was being paid by Liverpool.

 

[és:]

I laugh when I read/hear Alan Green defend his "professional impartiality". It's not that he hates other clubs, it's how he loves Liverpool. Whenever I have heard him broadcast a Liverpool match, you'd swear that he was being paid by Liverpool.

There have been many times that I've listened to him rip Liveprool to shreds. Really go at them.

 

[BoyBach]

Are there any teams you irrationally hate?

I laugh when I read/hear Alan Green defend his "professional impartiality".

I'd like to combine the above posts: I cannot stand Alan Green! When I listen to commentary on Radio 5 it's to hear about the football, not to listen to you, Mr. Green, you annoying sanctimonious tw@!




I'm also going with Man Utd to win the league and for Newcastle to be relegated. So, you shouldn't be surprised if Chelsea win the league and Newcastle go on a late surge up the table!

 

[és:]

It is strange that people think Arsenal are going to catch Liverpool, despite them having United, Chelsea and Liverpool still to play with Liverpool just having Arsenal.

 

[pachyderm]

Go Villa!!

 

[és:]

Boo Villa!!

I agree.

Boooo.

 

[BoyBach]

It is strange that people think Arsenal are going to catch Liverpool, despite them having United, Chelsea and Liverpool still to play with Liverpool just having Arsenal.

Arsenal do well against the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea, it's Fulham, Stoke and Hull that cause them the problems. Therefore, with only Wigan to worry about, the Arsenal run-in is relatively straight forward!

 

[és:]

Arsenal do well against the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea

They are OK, but the fact that they have to play the three top teams in England and Liverpool (who have the best record out of the top 4 and can't be matched this year) only have Arsenal out of the 'top 4' means that they might well drop quite a few points. I'd be shocked if Arsenal caught Liverpool in the remaining games. Even more so now that Torres and Gerrard are both fit and firing.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I'd be shocked if Arsenal caught Liverpool in the remaining games. Even more so now that Torres and Gerrard are both fit and firing.

I agree. Arsenal's form has picked up recently, but I still think they are the weakest of the big four this season. I just hope they don't take any points from Liverpool, because we can't afford a single dropped point.

Arshavin seems to be earning his keep though, he likes to drive at opponents. I still think they need a Vidic or Skrtel-type player to anchor the back four.

I've supported Villa's drive to break into the top four, but today I hope they are rubbish.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hmm. That didn't go well.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Hmm. That didn't go well.

I've noticed that, apart from the matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa, the rest of your schedule pits you against teams near you in the table, so every game becomes a six-pointer. It looks like the bottom half of the table will stay tight.

 

[pivo6]

Hmm. That didn't go well.

I only saw the first half and Wigan were the better team. If it weren't for Mido's poor finishing, the game would have been over at the half. I didn't get to see much of the second half. My three year old required my attention.

You now have a few more injuries to deal with. Hopefully the international break will help.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Wigan had by far the better of the first half and - although things were a bit more even in the second - the better team got the three points today so we can have no complaints. Bizarre to think though that this afternoon Wigan became the first team to do a league double on us.

So far as injuries go, hopefully Turner is over his little scare but we really missed Ashbee today, as we did in the second half against Arsenal. Fingers crossed our captain will be back sooner rather than later...

 

[BoyBach]

Liverpool (who have the best record out of the top 4 and can't be matched this year)

The reason Liverpool are top of the mini league is because Arsenal have played two less of the Big Four™ matches this season.

1. Liverpool - Plyd 5, Pts 13
2. Arsenal - Plyd 3, Pts 7
3. Man Utd - Plyd 5, Pts 4
4. Chelsea - Plyd 5 Pts 1


You'll see, Arsenal will give Man Utd a football lesson at Old Trafford and then lose at home to Stoke on the final day!

 

[és:]

The reason Liverpool are top of the mini league is because Arsenal have played two less of the Big Four™ matches this season.

Nope, the reason we are top of the league is because we've scored more points and done it scoring a shed loads of goals

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Some quality floor moppage being carried out on Villa by Liverpool. 5-0 and Freidal off for the Midlanderers, with about another 25 minutes left.

Rafa will have had worse weeks, I'd venture.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The only dark patch on this otherwise great day is seeing my countrymen having such a tough day between the sticks.

This is exactly what we need to do though - We need to try and not just win games, but put teams to the sword. Keep morale up, and demoralize the opposition.

EDIT: the news media speak of the title race "exploding back to life". Hyperbole, unfortunately. Even with last-minute heroics, United must still be the favorites for the title. In order to lose the title, they still need to drop five points. Of the teams they have left to face, I can envision them dropping points at Man City, Villa, Arsenal, Tottenham, and possibly Wigan. But out of those four matches, it would be shocking to see them drop five or six points. Possible, yes, but it would be a legendary finish.

In addition, Liverpool need to win every game and probably increase their goal difference as much as possible to make sure that they will take the trophy in case of a tie with United or Chelsea. Our match against Arsenal will probably be crucial, if the title race is still this close.

 

[xUKHCx]

Friedal didn't deserve to get sent off. It was harsh, he tried to avoid contact and even then I think it should've been a yellow.

Watching the game I don't think it was a 5-0 game. We took our chances very well and with two penalties it is not hard to make a big difference.

The problem with the result is that Villa have Man Utd next week and we need them firing. A loss with Fridel out will make a difference. Hopefully they will come back like a wounded animal.

It also makes a massive difference in terms of their goal difference so will make breaking the top four that more difficult. Arsenal have hit form and I think will ease away from Villa from this point on.

It is odd seeing Liverpool with a greater goal difference than Man Utd or Chelsea. That 1-4 drubbing certainly helped.

What a difference two weekends make. Man Utd still have it to lose as 4 points is a 2 drawn game / 1 lost 1 drawn game cushion in terms of bad results.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The problem with the result is that Villa have Man Utd next week and we need them firing. A loss with Fridel out will make a difference. Hopefully they will come back like a wounded animal.

I'm hoping they overturn the ban; Villa will surely challenge the card if they think they have a case.

What a difference two weekends make. Man Utd still have it to lose as 4 points is a 2 drawn game / 1 lost 1 drawn game cushion in terms of bad results.

That's what I was trying to say above, albeit less efficiently.

 

[xUKHCx]

I'm hoping they overturn the ban; Villa will surely challenge the card if they think they have a case.

I don't think have a case at all. To have a red card rescinded you have to prove that it wasn't even a yellow card (unless of course you are Chelsea and that person is John Terry). The decision was harsh but according to the letter of the law a red card is an appropriate ref decision.

That's what I was trying to say above, albeit less efficiently.

Yeah in an edit that game as I was typing my post but I agree still a massive hill to climb.