The 2015-2016 Football Thread

[MonkeySee....]

I think the title will be won on goal difference.

Of course I want Spurs to win and having the below stats it would be a more deserved win to be honest than Leicester's anti-football.

[doublepost=1461080371][/doublepost]

Yes, agreed.

I, for one,would be more than happy to let Lady Luck aid and assist Leicester as much as possible because I want to see them win the Premiership, too.

Having said that, their stats over the course of the season are far better than anyone else's. .

No there not? The only stats they are winning are points total.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think the title will be won on goal difference.

Of course I want Spurs to win and having the below stats it would be a more deserved win to be honest than Leicester's anti-football.

View attachment 627571
[doublepost=1461080371][/doublepost]

No there not? The only stats they are winning are points total.

They have won more games and lost fewer than anyone else in the table.

 

[silentownage001]

I can't find it but apparently Leicester have had less possession than Aston Villa. Also Vardy missed a few matches but they weren't league matches.

 

[617aircav]

If LCFC wins this title, what does that say about Wenger? Season where United, city and Chelsea have been sub par and arsenal could not take advantage. It's been 12 years since the gunners last won a title.

 

[mojolicious]

Interesting stats on Spurs.

You have to go back to Arsenal in 2001/02 to find the last team to win the league without being being either top scorers or, erm, top non-concederers, and even then Arsenal were second in each regard and had the best goal difference.

If Spurs don't win the league, but (as looks likely) still end up with most scored and least conceded, it will be hilarious a strange (possibly unique?) anomaly. Particularly when they're backing it up by creating the most chances, having the most shots on target, and giving up the fewest shots on target.

I certainly wouldn't classify Leicester's game as 'anti-football' but Spurs are playing the most attractive football in the league at present, and if the title race involved two other clubs I'd be rooting for the team in second place.

 

[Ironduke]

If they are like everyone else, then why are they less popular than, say, Italy, Spain, England?

The annual ranking (points) show a very different thing than what you're suggesting. They clearly show that the Bundesliga, as a whole has become a lot more competitive. Teams get further in tournaments in recent years and it's nothing like over a decade ago. In fact, we come in second place, just after Spain. It's never been that way, as far as I know. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/

where are the german teams in the europa QFs, wolfsburg had a nice draw, like i said it will rise and it will fall dortmund were european champs in the late 90s
[doublepost=1461087105][/doublepost]

I certainly wouldn't classify Leicester's game as 'anti-football' but Spurs are playing the most attractive football in the league at present, and if the title race involved two other clubs I'd be rooting for the team in second place.

they should be their wage bill is 120 million pounds, leicesters is 45.
[doublepost=1461087505][/doublepost]

I think the title will be won on goal difference.

Of course I want Spurs to win and having the below stats it would be a more deserved win to be honest than Leicester's anti-football.

View attachment 627571
[doublepost=1461080371][/doublepost]

No there not? The only stats they are winning are points total.

lol like to see where spurs would be on a 45 million pound budget lol at you no one in england wants spurs to win but their own fans

 

[sartrekid]

where are the german teams in the europa QFs, wolfsburg had a nice draw, like i said it will rise and it will fall dortmund were european champs in the late 90s
[doublepost=1461087105][/doublepost]

I said there is a trend. Where, other than the past few years, have two German teams made it to the quarter finals? German teams are getting better and it reflects in the results by the UEFA. Just by wins in the CL and EL, German teams have scored more than English teams or Italian teams. The latter two leagues are still a lot more popular though, and I don't see that changing anytime in the next few years to come. German teams have not made a splash (but are growing gradually) and Bayern has always been at the very top anyway. I am not disputing what anyone here wrote, I am merely saying that the Bundesliga has grown up quite a bit and this fact is not (yet) visible in the public perception. That's the only point I'm making. I think it'd be great if the CL was more diverse, had more teams from different leagues, more really good underdogs.

 

[Ironduke]

I said there is a trend. Where, other than the past few years, have two German teams made it to the quarter finals? German teams are getting better and it reflects in the results by the UEFA. Just by wins in the CL and EL, German teams have scored more than English teams or Italian teams. The latter two leagues are still a lot more popular though, and I don't see that changing anytime in the next few years to come. German teams have not made a splash (but are growing gradually) and Bayern has always been at the very top anyway. I am not disputing what anyone here wrote, I am merely saying that the Bundesliga has grown up quite a bit and this fact is not (yet) visible in the public reception. That's the only point I'm making. I think it'd be great if the CL was more diverse, had more teams from different leagues, more really good underdogs.

thats the problem once you become a threat the big clubs plunder your talent

 

[Fizzoid]

thats the problem once you become a threat the big clubs plunder your talent

Wonder just how much of this Leicester team will be left next season...

 

[MonkeySee....]

where are the german teams in the europa QFs, wolfsburg had a nice draw, like i said it will rise and it will fall dortmund were european champs in the late 90s
[doublepost=1461087105][/doublepost]

they should be their wage bill is 120 million pounds, leicesters is 45.
[doublepost=1461087505][/doublepost]

lol like to see where spurs would be on a 45 million pound budget lol at you no one in england wants spurs to win but their own fans

45 Million pound budget? Most of our outstanding players this season have been bought through the youth set up and the likes of Alli have cost less than 5m.
[doublepost=1461140388][/doublepost]

They have won more games and lost fewer than anyone else in the table.

yes, well done.

 

[twietee]

I can understand your point. If it weren't for the underdog status, I doubt anybody would root for Leicester except their own fans too, it wouldn't be because of the beautiful or inventive football they're playing - which arguably Tottenham does, by a wide margin even compared to Englsih teams only. But you can't deny that they do incredible for an underdog and that, no surprise, people are rooting for them and that a title would be just as deserved.

 

[MonkeySee....]

I can understand your point. If it weren't for the underdog status, I doubt anybody would root for Leicester except their own fans too, it wouldn't be because of the beautiful or inventive football they're playing - which arguably Tottenham does, by a wide margin even compared to Englsih teams only. But you can't deny that they do incredible for an underdog and that, no surprise, people are rooting for them and that a title would be just as deserved.

This is from a west ham fan...

"After being at Leicester yesterday, I despise them. Their fans, their style, their players! At least Spurs play good football! I'd rather none of you win the league"

 

[twietee]

This is from a west ham fan...

"After being at Leicester yesterday, I despise them. Their fans, their style, their players! At least Spurs play good football! I'd rather none of you win the league"

Well, it is my understanding that you English fellas are quite particular regarding other regions/cities/clubs..but I'd say a West Ham fan isn't the most unbiased source after they got an extremely unlucky draw when they're in a position where they want every single point they can get.

And in my opinon most of the (vocal) football fans are idiots () - regardless the club.

That being said, I don't see many English matches. I guess Leicester is mostly playing the wait and see / reactionary / counter attacking game wish I don't particularily like myself - on the contrary.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wonder just how much of this Leicester team will be left next season...

Hm. Indeed.

But - there are other currencies - or measures of worth, too.

Even if the team are plundered next year, - if they win the title this year - in half a century that is what most of those players will be remembered for. Not any subsequent career, unless it is spectacular.

I can understand your point. If it weren't for the underdog status, I doubt anybody would root for Leicester except their own fans too, it wouldn't be because of the beautiful or inventive football they're playing - which arguably Tottenham does, by a wide margin even compared to Englsih teams only. But you can't deny that they do incredible for an underdog and that, no surprise, people are rooting for them and that a title would be just as deserved.

Well, it is my understanding that you English fellas are quite particular regarding other regions/cities/clubs..but I'd say a West Ham fan isn't the most unbiased source after they got an extremely unlucky draw when they're in a position where they want every single point they can get.

And in my opinon most of the (vocal) football fans are idiots () - regardless the club.

That being said, I don't see many English matches. I guess Leicester is mostly playing the wait and see / reactionary / counter attacking game wish I don't particularily like myself - on the contrary.

Agreed, but again, there are differing forms of measuring worth, or value. Style is but one of them. Underdog status another.

Again, agreed, Leicester don't play beautiful football. But most of the wealthy, bloated teams don't play beautiful football either. Indeed, in recent times, many of them are so sated that they don't care.

Fans will forgive winning with less than grace (and Holland, for all of their grace never won the World Cup, though, of course, the idealists and purists would have loved for them to have done so) but they will not lightly forgive a team that plays as though it couldn't care less about the outcome.

Leicester care, and they are passionately playing together as a team, mastering and executing the basic skills of what football is about very well. That, plus their underdog status, plus the fact that the team has never won the League - even before the Premiership came into being - plus the fact that it is nice to be able to teach the lesson that money cannot buy everything, not least the intangibles, pride, passion, team spirit.

 

[twietee]

Again, agreed, Leicester don't play beautiful football. But most of the wealthy, bloated teams don't play beautiful football either. I

Oh, that's true of course. But Tottenham in particular does and that was the point Monkeysee.. was making, I guess. Also Tottenham doesn't go under wealthy, bloated teams in my book.

If other dedicated (English) fans are rooting for Tottenham or not is rather irrelevant I'd say. It is my understanding that rooting for other clubs but one isn't one of the prime attributes of Englsih fans - but that may be a cliché of course.

 

[MonkeySee....]

Well, it is my understanding that you English fellas are quite particular regarding other regions/cities/clubs..but I'd say a West Ham fan isn't the most unbiased source after they got an extremely unlucky draw when they're in a position where they want every single point they can get.

And in my opinon most of the (vocal) football fans are idiots () - regardless the club.

That being said, I don't see many English matches. I guess Leicester is mostly playing the wait and see / reactionary / counter attacking game wish I don't particularily like myself - on the contrary.

If a West Ham fan says something complimentary about Tottenham he is either...

a) Drunk
b) Will follow it up with an insult. (like this guy did)

Just to give you an idea, West Ham fans sing Anti Jewish songs to us during matches about gassing at Auschwitz etc.

 

[Apples n' Stone]

If a West Ham fan says something complimentary about Tottenham he is either...

a) Drunk
b) Will follow it up with an insult. (like this guy did)

Just to give you an idea, West Ham fans sing Anti Jewish songs to us during matches about gassing at Auschwitz etc.

What a lovely bunch.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, that's true of course. But Tottenham in particular does and that was the point Monkeysee.. was making, I guess. Also Tottenham doesn't go under wealthy, bloated teams in my book.

If other dedicated (English) fans are rooting for Tottenham or not is rather irrelevant I'd say. It is my understanding that rooting for other clubs but one isn't one of the prime attributes of Englsih fans - but that may be a cliché of course.

Fair point, and I take what @MonkeySee.... has said too.... Tottenham are not one of the 'big, bloated' teams, drunk on power, arrogance and wealth and supping off a sense of bottomless entitlement; in fact, Tottenham are playing stunning football at the moment - their demolition of Stoke was a masterclass - and, in any other season, I'd probably love to see them win the Premiership. Certainly, on their play and attitude they would be worthy champions.

If a West Ham fan says something complimentary about Tottenham he is either...

a) Drunk
b) Will follow it up with an insult. (like this guy did)

Just to give you an idea, West Ham fans sing Anti Jewish songs to us during matches about gassing at Auschwitz etc.

Sigh. Embarrassing. Excruciating. And not especially enlightened, agreed.

What a lovely bunch.

Agreed.

 

[Ironduke]

45 Million pound budget? Most of our outstanding players this season have been bought through the youth set up and the likes of Alli have cost less than 5m.
[doublepost=1461140388][/doublepost]

yes, well done.

spin it whatever way you want your wage Bill is 2.5 x that of leicester
[doublepost=1461166267][/doublepost]Its all balls anyway at the start of the season Leicester were playing some lovely stuff now they are grinding at the start of the season spurs didnt look like much now they are playing some really nice stuff Big deal they have to they are chasing and have nothing to lose

 

[Scepticalscribe]

An article I read recently (in either The Guardian or The Telegraph) argued that Leicester had played some lovely football earlier in the season, (@Ironduke's point) but that this is not sustainable over the entire season, a point grasped by Claudio Ranieri who seems to have stressed the skills needed for a marathon campaign, not a sprint.

For that matter, few teams end as champions without having the skills to grind out regularly a series of 1-0 victories.

In essence, the article argued that Leicester's football was stylish for much of the first half of the season and is more restrained but equally competent for the second half (a sort of husbanding of resources, as such a tempo was not possible to sustain over the duration of the length of a season).

Remember, too, that they have led from the front since November.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Nobody's clean, nobody always plays beautiful football - even the teams with unlimited resources (who are even less likely to be clean).

Leicester's still THE big story, regardless of what the media say. they have already overshadowed Spurs (who would also be worthy champions) even if Spurs pip them to the title.

West Ham were in contention for 4th, but now they are really just spoilers for teams around them (still a good season for them though).

 

[Ironduke]

An article I read recently (in either The Guardian or The Telegraph) argued that Leicester had played some lovely football earlier in the season, (@Ironduke's point) but that this is not sustainable over the entire season, a point grasped by Claudio Ranieri who seems to have stressed the skills needed for a marathon campaign, not a sprint.

For that matter, few teams end as champions without having the skills to grind out regularly a series of 1-0 victories.

In essence, the article argued that Leicester's football was stylish for much of the first half of the season and is more restrained but equally competent (a sort of husbanding of resources, as such a tempo was not possible to sustain over the duration of the length of a season).

Remember, too, that they have led from the front since November.

I remember when Liverpool finished 2nd with 84 points and scoring 101 goals in the season our first 8 games were like leicesters last 8, over the season we were a damn sight more entertaining then this spurs side

 

[JamesMike]

Just getting ready to watch the Liverpool/Everton match.

 

[617aircav]

Just getting ready to watch the Liverpool/Everton match.

Me too. I predict a smashing. 3-1 Liverpool.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Just as Origi really began to shine, he gets his ankle smashed. I hope it isn't too serious...

Martinez is a bit of a conundrum - clearly an intelligent manager but set in his ways. Everton seem a lot less solid now than they did under Moyes.