Football 2013-2014

[thetime]

Well after tonight's result.

#moyesfault

[kaosmark2]

Everyone seems to have forgotten that WBA have been a handy team that has taken points off the big boys. Draw against Arsenal, draw at Chelsea despite that ridiculous penalty, draw at Spurs, win at Man U, 2 draws against Everton.

Their problem has been their results against the Norwichs and Cardiffs, they've not been a crap team despite Lukaku being loaned elsewhere this year.

[pink_triangle]

They really haven't.

[kaosmark2]

They have been more consistent than man utd, then again couldn't be less. They have taken 7 points against man u, everton and spurs, compared to man utds 0 in the same 3 fixtures. That's where the gap between the 2 clubs come from.

[thetime]

They have been more consistent than man utd, then again couldn't be less. They have taken 7 points against man u, everton and spurs, compared to man utds 0 in the same 3 fixtures. That's where the gap between the 2 clubs come from.

[pink_triangle]

Out of the top 9 clubs man utd have got 6 points from a possible 30, that is horrific.

[thetime]

Although that must mean 31 points out of 36 against the bottom half which is pretty decent!

Edited January 21, 2014 by thetime

[Osama Jim Laden]

Albion done alright tonight, looked a wee bit static at times but the new gaffers ideas should iron that out.. Need to win home games & all that jazz but Everton are a bloody good side so pleased with a point..

So long as we stay up, couldn't give a monkeys what position we finish.. Need a striker though , oh, just gone and sold one!!!!!!!!!!!

*edit

And a left back, Liam Ridgwell walking straight into ANY team is a shocker, let alone our one.. Needs competition, or some talent..

Edited January 21, 2014 by Osama Jim Laden

[Bobs]

I think Everton's final position will be determined away from home this season, with five tough games I think they will probably lose left (I don't count Newcastle or Man U as tough ) :

Home: Aston Villa, West Ham, Cardiff, Swansea, Arsenal, Soton, Man City

Away: Liverpool, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Newcastle, Fulham, Sunderland, Man Utd, Hull

[eFestivals]

Will be quite enjoyable if Everton/spurs get top 4 as well, especially those Liverpool fans who do a point by point prediction for the rest of the season.

It's not about fandom, it's about looking at what's realistic for a team's success, or not.

It's precisely because I look at stuff in this different way that I often have a different view of things .... and it's precisely because I look at stuff in this different way that I've been laughing so much at Utd and what many Utd fans have been saying - it makes clear the enormity of their dire situation.

And talking of comedy gold, Moyes defo has his second career lined-up. Can still win the league? PMSL.

[zahidf]

Mata going to UTD would be massive for them though. He is a great player, could help push them to 4th

[5co77ie]

We face Southampton away, and Palace, and United at home! Nothing quite like an inaccuracy to correct

I can't predict Everton at present. We played hopelessly, but we're still 1pt off top 4, and we have Deulofeu, Barkley and Pienaar to return. We don't seem to be getting any favourable breaks with penalties or injuries at the minute, if they maintain, our season will just fade away. If it turns in our favour top 4 is still a possibility with nearly 60% of season gone, who would have thought that?

Edited January 21, 2014 by 5co77ie

[thetime]

Mata going to UTD would be massive for them though. He is a great player, could help push them to 4th

[eFestivals]

Therefore to me the idea that it is impossible for Man Utd to finish above Liverpool, doesn't really hold up.

Impossible? Of course it's not. Likely? Nope.

Here's why...

If Liverpool keep up their current form (which has been slightly lower than that needed to get top 4 in recent years) - and there's not really any reason why they shouldn't (and, there's good reason to think it might improve. They're not likely to leak more goals per game on avg, while efforts should be being made to tighten up that obvious weakness) - then Utd would pretty much* have to win all games but two (with no draws) to overtake them.

(* I've not worked it out exactly. It's in that ball-park).

Now, however blinkered anyone might be about Man Utd, the likelihood of them winning anything like that much of their remaining fixtures is tiny.

So for Utd to get 4th, it's going to take a sizeable drop-off of form by Liverpool (because Utd will lose more than just two games) ... and by Everton, and by Spurs.

With everything as it is right now, 4th just ain't going to happen. And finishing above Liverpool looks very unlikely.

-----

Rumour today is that some think Mata is the answer, and that he'll be arriving at OT for about £40M.

Mata's a great player, but he's not getting a kick for Chelsea because Moaniho thinks he's too lightweight.

Do Utd need another lightweight player to put alongside Kagawa (who is rated by some major names as the best creative midfielder in Europe)?

I'm not sure that Mata would be any answer.

Edited January 21, 2014 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

Mata going to UTD would be massive for them though. He is a great player, could help push them to 4th

nah. Much much too lightweight for the sort of player Utd need right now.

He's a great player, but he needs strong players around him too. Utd would need much more than just him for him to have a big impact.

[thetime]

Rumour today is that some think Mata is the answer, and that he'll be arriving at OT for about £40M.Mata's a great player, but he's not getting a kick for Chelsea because Moaniho thinks he's too lightweight.Do Utd need another lightweight player to put alongside Kagawa (who is rated by some major names as the best creative midfielder in Europe)?I'm not sure that Mata would be any answer.

[LondonTom]

West Ham are in need of 7 goals tonight....I keep occasionally thinking it might be possible that it could happen!

[thetime]

West Ham are in need of 7 goals tonight....I keep occasionally thinking it might be possible that it could happen!

[eFestivals]

Mata is a creative player and would be a good start in the rebuilding process.

absolutely - they should sign him like a shot if they can.

But by himself i don't see him as making much difference to Utd right now - for any goals he helps create he'll help create a goal against - because there wouldn't be the right sorts of players around him.

I read some stuff this morning that suggested Utd wouldn't spend big on any players, and that Moyes has up-to £80M to spend. It says (something like) "they'll continue to buy promising youngsters", which seems to be saying to me that Utd are heading for years in the doldrums - because they're in need of too many new players, and too many of any 'promising youngsters' won't make the grade.

[kaosmark2]

But by himself i don't see him as making much difference to Utd right now - for any goals he helps create he'll help create a goal against

[eFestivals]

Because Nani and Young, the players whose place in the team he'd take, are really good at tracking back.

That's the point: nothing changes with the part that's missing the most, which is a bit of Scholes-ey style steel in the middle.

There's too much missing all-round in the team for a we'll-score-one-more-than-you tactic to bring the necessary improvement across all remaining games - the times it would work would be in the games they'd win anyway.

Edited January 21, 2014 by eFestivals

[pink_triangle]

Impossible? Of course it's not. Likely? Nope.

Here's why...

If Liverpool keep up their current form (which has been slightly lower than that needed to get top 4 in recent years) - and there's not really any reason why they shouldn't (and, there's good reason to think it might improve. They're not likely to leak more goals per game on avg, while efforts should be being made to tighten up that obvious weakness) - then Utd would pretty much* have to win all games but two (with no draws) to overtake them.

(* I've not worked it out exactly. It's in that ball-park).

Now, however blinkered anyone might be about Man Utd, the likelihood of them winning anything like that much of their remaining fixtures is tiny.

So for Utd to get 4th, it's going to take a sizeable drop-off of form by Liverpool (because Utd will lose more than just two games) ... and by Everton, and by Spurs.

With everything as it is right now, 4th just ain't going to happen. And finishing above Liverpool looks very unlikely.

-----

Rumour today is that some think Mata is the answer, and that he'll be arriving at OT for about £40M.

Mata's a great player, but he's not getting a kick for Chelsea because Moaniho thinks he's too lightweight.

Do Utd need another lightweight player to put alongside Kagawa (who is rated by some major names as the best creative midfielder in Europe)?

I'm not sure that Mata would be any answer.

[kaosmark2]

That's the point: nothing changes with the part that's missing the most, which is a bit of Scholes-ey style steel in the middle.

There's too much missing all-round in the team for a we'll-score-one-more-than-you tactic to bring the necessary improvement across all remaining games - the times it would work would be in the games they'd win anyway.

[kaosmark2]

Mata to man utd makes sense to me. Man utd are no threat to chelsea in terms of league position, but strengthening them could make them more likely to take points off city and arsenal.

[TheGayTent]

Can't see many folk there tonight.