EPL and British Football

[Wolf Packer]

I think there's a tendency to get too bogged down in points. If you look at the picture, United are 4th (3rd last weekend); this time last season they were... I don't know but it was a lot lower than 4th.

The side is unbalanced but anyone who watched Liverpool last season (or the Packers!) will know how well you can do with just an attack and, besides, they have an exceptional goalkeeper who's won them more than a few games this season. Given the money they spent, I don't understand them not bringing in a new CB but van Gaal's vastly improved the squad from where it was under Moyes and CB is (one would assume) the position of highest priority for this transfer window or the summer.

On your first point, i think that says as much about the other teams in the Premier League as it does about Utd.

And on your second point, i'd agree with you 100% ... but its not even as though they're involved in high scoring games, apart from the Leicester 5-3 earlier on in the season. They're not creating more chances per game than last year, yet Moyes was getting pelters every week.

Something just isn't quite right at Old Trafford.

 

[Dr. Kenneth Noisewater]

On your first point, i think that says as much about the other teams in the Premier League as it does about Utd.

And on your second point, i'd agree with you 100% ... but its not even as though they're involved in high scoring games, apart from the Leicester 5-3 earlier on in the season. They're not creating more chances per game than last year, yet Moyes was getting pelters every week.

Something just isn't quite right at Old Trafford.

I think most teams in the Premier League have got stronger (particularly teams like Southampton and West Ham) which is why a bunch of the teams around United are worse off than last year in terms of points and, in some cases, league position. The fact United have got the same amount of points as last year when most other teams have fewer says to me that they've improved in absolute terms, although not as much as you'd expect given the amount of money they spent.

 

[Bundesbiers]

Didn't Van Gaal have a lot more money than Moyes to spend?

 

[Wolf Packer]

Didn't Van Gaal have a lot more money than Moyes to spend?

almost £100mil more, so yeah.. slightly more.

 

[Wolf Packer]

I think most teams in the Premier League have got stronger (particularly teams like Southampton and West Ham) which is why a bunch of the teams around United are worse off than last year in terms of points and, in some cases, league position. The fact United have got the same amount of points as last year when most other teams have fewer says to me that they've improved in absolute terms, although not as much as you'd expect given the amount of money they spent.

I'd argue that the Premier League is at its worst for many years standard-wise. Which is why we've had the likes of Southampton and West Hams rise. Look at Southampton, sold their 4 'best' players last summer and are better off without them, name me another club, or even another sport where that could be the case. West Ham havent spent big money either.

Man Utd and Liverpool have both been very average, but yet one of them will still finish in a Champions League spot. If Arsenal didnt have Alexis Sanchez they'd be halfway down the league themselves too. Then we have the bottom half of the table, where pretty much any 3 from 10 could get relegated. Don't get me wrong, its great excitement for the neutral, but i think the quality this season has been shocking, especially defensive-wise.

 

[Dr. Kenneth Noisewater]

I'd argue that the Premier League is at its worst for many years standard-wise. Which is why we've had the likes of Southampton and West Hams rise. Look at Southampton, sold their 4 'best' players last summer and are better off without them, name me another club, or even another sport where that could be the case. West Ham havent spent big money either.

Man Utd and Liverpool have both been very average, but yet one of them will still finish in a Champions League spot. If Arsenal didnt have Alexis Sanchez they'd be halfway down the league themselves too. Then we have the bottom half of the table, where pretty much any 3 from 10 could get relegated. Don't get me wrong, its great excitement for the neutral, but i think the quality this season has been shocking, especially defensive-wise.

Nah, Southampton sold one of their best players but kept guys like Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez. I wouldn't class Shaw, Lovren, Lambert or Chambers as their best players by a long way but they've replaced them exceptionally anyway. West Ham may not have spent a lot of money but they've strengthened massively. I don't think you can argue that they're not significantly better than last year.

Maybe the quality at the top hasn't been as high this year (I think the World Cup has something to do with that) but the league as a whole is obviously a lot more even so points are harder to come by.

I agree that United aren't as good as they should be given the hype around van Gaal and the money they've spent but they're definitely in a better place than this time last year

 

[mhnessie]

Apparently things are not getting better at Rangers.
They deserve a better management, still a long and rough way back to the top of Scottish or even British Football for Rangers.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotla...after-rangers-fans-protest-at-ibrox-1-3664527
And to make it worse, Staggies lost again. Not a good football weekend so far. At least Chelsea won

 

[PackerFan71]

Apparently things are not getting better at Rangers.
They deserve a better management, still a long and rough way back to the top of Scottish or even British Football for Rangers.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotla...after-rangers-fans-protest-at-ibrox-1-3664527
And to make it worse, Staggies lost again. Not a good football weekend so far. At least Chelsea won

One of the major shareholders has ordered a EGM to happen soon so that a vote can be taken to remove the individuals responsible for the mess of the Club. Count yourself lucky Nessie, HSV are in good shape in comparison to them. County i think have had a good couple of seasons if they went down at the end of the season they will regroup.

 

[mhnessie]

One of the major shareholders has ordered a EGM to happen soon so that a vote can be taken to remove the individuals responsible for the mess of the Club. Count yourself lucky Nessie, HSV are in good shape in comparison to them. County i think have had a good couple of seasons if they went down at the end of the season they will regroup.

Fully agree but still makes me sad to see what happened to Rangers just because of a reckless management.
Yeah I'm afraid County might be relegated after this season, it'a tough for such a small club with their limited possibilities, especially financially, to play in the SPL frequently for a longer period of time.
Btw -nice avatar

 

[Wolf Packer]

What would be the general idea if there was a proposal to turn the 4 small scottish divisions into 2? just playing each other twice per year instead of the 4 (depending on the SPL split). I personally don't see a negative for it.

 

[PackerFan71]

What would be the general idea if there was a proposal to turn the 4 small scottish divisions into 2? just playing each other twice per year instead of the 4 (depending on the SPL split). I personally don't see a negative for it.

It would be a good idea,but unworkable because of self interest and greed. Playing twice a year would allow teams to relax and develop better, there would be leagues within leagues but thats the same evrywhere. More positives than negatives.

 

[Bundesbiers]

Wow, Chelsea and Man City fall at home to teams in lower divisions. Major upsets in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

 

[PackerFan71]

Wow, Chelsea and Man City fall at home to teams in lower divisions. Major upsets in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

Thats the FA Cup for you 2-0 up lose 4-2 thats embarrasing, but fair play to Bradford they deserved it.

 

[Sandolf]

Wow, Chelsea and Man City fall at home to teams in lower divisions. Major upsets in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

I have been a City fan long enough to recall other such losses to Middlesbrough. They were a bogey team like Wigan and Bolton.

 

[I asked LT to delete my acct]

Well it looked like Chelsea didn`t think Bradford were worth the effort. Well done Bradford AND Middlesborough

 

[Wolf Packer]

I absolutely love the FA Cup, it throws up shocks every year, and this year is no different.

 

[Bundesbiers]

Alright you FA Cup buffs.

1. What's with replays on draws? Why did they set this up to play an additional game from a draw?

2. How is it determined who plays at home?

 

[Sandolf]

Alright you FA Cup buffs.

2. How is it determined who plays at home?

The home team is determined through a draw... (not unlike the UEFA CL).

1. What's with replays on draws? Why did they set this up to play an additional game from a draw?

The home team gains a certain advantage through luck of the draw. The replay sees that advantage reverting to the other side. So it tends to even things out a bit. But the away team needs to earn it. The system cuts down on the amount of ties being decided in the penalty shootout. It can be a reprieve for the big clubs who did not take the first leg seriously enough. But as yesterday's results show, that does not always work out for them.

 

[mhnessie]

Regardless of what happened in the past - I hope the Old Firm will be back one day.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/aidan-smith-this-old-firm-needs-to-happen-1-3670333
Apparently it will take some more time until Rangers will be back in the SPL, I expect Hearts to be promoted after this season....

 

[Bundesbiers]

Alright you FA Cup buffs.

2. How is it determined who plays at home?

The home team is determined through a draw... (not unlike the UEFA CL).

1. What's with replays on draws? Why did they set this up to play an additional game from a draw?

The home team gains a certain advantage through luck of the draw. The replay sees that advantage reverting to the other side. So it tends to even things out a bit. But the away team needs to earn it. The system cuts down on the amount of ties being decided in the penalty shootout. It can be a reprieve for the big clubs who did not take the first leg seriously enough. But as yesterday's results show, that does not always work out for them.

I like penalty shootouts. I prefer this type of tie-breaker even more than extra time. And I still prefer the Golden Goal ender in extra time.

 

[PackerFan71]

Regardless of what happened in the past - I hope the Old Firm will be back one day.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/aidan-smith-this-old-firm-needs-to-happen-1-3670333
Apparently it will take some more time until Rangers will be back in the SPL, I expect Hearts to be promoted after this season....

Rangers are a mess right now nessie i would be amazed if they got promoted this year, the bad directors need to be removed and new ones the fans trust need to be put in place. Otherwise the staduim will remain almost empty and the club could be finished.

 

[PackerFan71]

I like penalty shootouts. I prefer this type of tie-breaker even more than extra time. And I still prefer the Golden Goal ender in extra time.

I dislike penalty shotouts, however i totally agree......a goalden goal in extra time for me would be better to settle games.

 

[Bundesbiers]

I dislike penalty shotouts

Interesting. Why so? I could understand if you were English disliking penalty shootouts.

 

[PackerFan71]

Alright you FA Cup buffs.

1. What's with replays on draws? Why did they set this up to play an additional game from a draw?

2. How is it determined who plays at home?

They have always done it that way as far as i know .

First team out of the hat at the draw is always home.

 

[PackerFan71]

Interesting. Why so? I could understand if you were English disliking penalty shootouts.

Ha in one way i do if you know what i mean. Chelsea were on the end of a shoot out loss in Moscow in 2008 not a good feeling. At least with a goalden goal its resulted from open play.