Football 2012-2013

[kaosmark2]

Better player though, so par for the course .

Great win today though, won a game against one of the top sides and showed a good mentality that has been missing. Some winnable games coming up so hopefully will secure a top 6 finish if we can keep everyone fit.

[Wooderson]

Ha. Spurs beating LFC at the weekend being one thing mate.

[strummer77]

Although with the cup going as it has that 6th place finish won't do you much good

[jammy2211]

Great win

Tiote's having a poor season though. Only had the odd game at top form and been prone to far too many idiotic moments.

Cracking cup tie. Chelsea's fixture list is something horrible though, can see the replay + Europa travelling affecting league form and leading them to slipping further. With the cup draw as it is, it's possible that they'll have to win to the Europa in order to qualify for it.... Anyone know how that'd work?

At least one of those top 6 will miss out on Europe altogether. I suspect Liverpool's surge is too little too late for a Champs Lge place, but not qualifying for the Europa would be a big hit. Won't help the national coefficient either if Millwall are carrying it. Can see England losing the 4th Champs Lge place in the next couple of years.

[kaosmark2]

It won't happen for 2 years as if you look at the coefficients table theres a year where we have about 18 points to Italy's 11, and that gaps too big for them to overcome given the other years. They were slightly ahead of us last year though - but it was effectively a tie. Might have a few teams go further in the CL but England could easily have a big presence EL later stages too balancing it somewhat.

I doubt Italy will over take us - Germany probably will though - but just can't see the Italians doing enough over the next 2 years. It is very hard to judge but you have to assume United will go on another CL run sooner or later and City will stop crashing out at the group stages. If you look at the table though it really is hard to see it happening soon though, especially given the extra coefficients we got over them last year.

If Juve and Milan both go very far though then next season will be very important...

[strummer77]

Doesn't UEFA Cup runs yield the same amount of points as CL? As in an English team in QF of Europa is same as Italian in QF of Champs League?

[kaosmark2]

Doesn't UEFA Cup runs yield the same amount of points as CL? As in an English team in QF of Europa is same as Italian in QF of Champs League?

[eFestivals]

Some winnable games coming up so hopefully will secure a top 6 finish

I'd say that 6th at worst has looked almost certain for a while (bearing in mind the remaining fixtures for everyone, and Liverpool's recent buys).

The interesting part is whether better-than-6th is going to happen. It's less likely than likely I'd say, but 4th isn't impossible.

Now, just how much does Rafa love LFC....?

[The Nal]

Mhmm.

[pink_triangle]

Serious improvement from LFC. Slow, steady, sustainable. Hes on the right road is BR. Hats off.

[eFestivals]

Im less critical than many on here about liverpool, but still am in the camp that more evidence is needed to make any significant judgements one way or another.

I'd say that the suggestion of improvement is now there, but that it'll need their other remaining big games - which is only Chelsea and Everton (I think, from memory) - this season to be played before there's more than just that suggestion.

But also, I reckon it would take a pretty hardnosed view of things to think that their squad isn't much improved since deadline day back in August. While both Sturridge and Coutinho have yet to prove themselves over a number of games, I reckon it would still be pretty harsh to say that the addition of those two hasn't improved the squad overall (even if they don't keep up their early form).

Edited March 11, 2013 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

LFC have defo improved. Mentally they seem much stronger. Winning 3-2 is always a good thing. Shows strength of character to come back and keep playing after conceding two goals. Spurs are on a good run at the moment too.

On another note - Utd looked knackered yesterday. And I read a great piece about Rooney. Sad but true I fear.

http://bet.unibet.com/football/premier-league/2013/03/10/wayne-rooney-no-longer-love-football/286?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=neth1003

Also, take a boo son etc

Edited March 11, 2013 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

LFC have defo improved. Mentally they seem much stronger. Winning 3-2 is always a good thing. Shows strength of character to come back and keep playing after conceding two goals. Spurs are on a good run at the moment too.

[eFestivals]

Im not sure yesterday was a sign of mental strength, it was a case of spurs giving away a goal and a penalty.

yep .... but if you want to take that angle, then Spurs were also gifted two easy goals, and for most of the match weren't getting anywhere near to L'pool's box. They had almost no penetration.

While you have to take advantage when other sides mess up like this, I would proabably see it as much a bad day in the office for spurs, as the mistakes are atypical of recent form.

and that's where they differ. Giving away easy goals has been Liverpool's story all season, and often like yesterday it's happened when they've bossed most or much of the game.

As Neil said changes should in theory make a team stronger than weaker but will this be the case of just increasing the gap from 6th to 7th or making a real attempt at champions league football.

On points gained this calendar year, Liverpool are 3rd (according to a table I saw on TV yesterday, I've not checked it). First were Utd of course, and 2nd were Spurs.

(I can't remember if that table was before yesterday's match or after, so it's possible Liverpool are now 2nd [i can't remember what the gap was]).

And while it's pretty certain that Spurs are on a hot run of form - and so their season form is likely to be lower on average, and going forwards - it's harder to have that certainty in Liverpool (tho of course it could just be a run). Those 2 new players for Liverpool are looking much of what they've been needing, to turn their dominance of games into goals. So it's quite possible that Liverpool have pushed on a lot for into the future; more time is needed to see.

A lot will depend on keeping suarez and also how arsenal and spurs strenghten in the summer. Arsenal should have more stability this season as I cant see them losing a key player again, while spurs (particularly if they finish 4th) should strengthen further providing bale stays,

Spurs need another striker at least as much as Liverpool did. They're been a bit lucky, getting ... erm ... Baled out.

Much like Liverpool, with that extra goal power they should be a much better team.

[pink_triangle]

. So it's quite possible that Liverpool have pushed on a lot for into the future; more time is needed to see.Spurs need another striker at least as much as Liverpool did. They're been a bit lucky, getting ... erm ... Baled out.

Much like Liverpool, with that extra goal power they should be a much better team.

[TheGayTent]

Tony Gubba has died. Only 69

[strummer77]

Tony Gubba has died. Only 69

[pink_triangle]

Mcdermott sacked. I don't see any point in changing now. Reading will go down, but because they spend less money than their rivals, not because their manager isn't good enough.

[kaosmark2]

Mcdermott sacked. I don't see any point in changing now. Reading will go down, but because they spend less money than their rivals, not because their manager isn't good enough.

[TheGayTent]

Where's TSB when you need him?

Adkins next? Wally Downes?? PDC...?!

[pink_triangle]

For all those expecting financial play to change football. Psg have reported in their accounts a 5 million loss for the last year!

[The Nal]

For all those expecting financial play to change football. Psg have reported in their accounts a 5 million loss for the last year!

[eFestivals]

Insane. 124 million of "miscellaneous revenue". Now we're into "fair market value" territory. Will be interesting to see how that pans out.

French team, Platini, and dodgy accounts. It's a given.

But don't go thinking that UK teams won't do similar and get away with similar. They'll all take the same approach to this as big companies do towards paying taxes.

[thetime]

Bloody hell that was some goal by barca.

[thegremlin_1999]

Bloody hell that was some goal by barca.