Football 2013-2014

[zahidf]

nah, it's a nothing in overall terms, because that sort of thing evens out for all clubs.

Out of interest, I took a look the other night at the points both Utd and Liverpool got for their last 16 games last season.

Utd got 34 points - you know, with their famous strong finish.

Liverpool got 30.

Which, as it happens, puts Liverpool on 73 points for the last 38 games. Anyone still think they're not a strong enough team to be seriously in the running for a top 4 spot?

Edited January 27, 2014 by zahidf

[eFestivals]

Has anyone said liverpool aren't in the running?

Perhaps not recently, but yep - just about everyone except me earlier in the season.

I remember having to tell (specifically) you in around Sept that Sturridge was on a hot streak of form ever since he'd joined Liverpool when you were doubting whether they'd keep it up.

[eFestivals]

Ah no, but they will be 3 points from the top 4 spots. ( I'm assuming they'll manage to beat Cardiff!).

The gap will close, and the gap will open again just as it has all season.

PS: I see that Utd have got lucky and found another ex-Utd player as fool manager to sell & loan their shite too.

[pink_triangle]

Perhaps not recently, but yep - just about everyone except me earlier in the season.

I remember having to tell (specifically) you in around Sept that Sturridge was on a hot streak of form ever since he'd joined Liverpool when you were doubting whether they'd keep it up.

[eFestivals]

Im not going to deny that Man Utd have accumulated less points than expected which has pushed everton and liverpool into the equation.

that's bullshit.

Even if Utd had beaten Everton or Liverpool earlier in the season, they'd both still be ahead of Utd - so those team's position has fuck all to do with "Man Utd have accumulated less points than expected".

Those two teams are where they are by their own volition.

At the start of the season I wasnt sure how to assess spurs and Im probably just as unclear now!

Assesss them as Spurs same as ever and you won't go wrong.

Regarding Sturridge I still think the challenge is how he will react when he has a difficult patch, but no sign of that coming anytime soon!

25 in 33 for Liverpool I think - and that's included at least 3 separate stints where he's been out injured for week or three (which tends to see a dip in form on come-back).

By itself that's top-striker stats, but when he's (as good as) the 2nd striker because Suarez is banging them in even quicker that's even more impressive.

Which is a good time to mention's TGT's statement about how Liverpool wouldn't challenge for top 4 because they wouldn't score enough goals.

Although I do think there are pros and cons to Sturridge because with Suarez being undropable it makes it difficult to pack the midfield which leaves them exposed at times.

while they're of course weaker in the middle with two up-front, that's not really been an issue for them when Lucas has been there to shore things up ... apart from against the very top sides, where those opposition's strengths are likely to see them get past the middle anyway.

To be a "top top" side they of course need to be doing better against Arsenal, City, and Chelsea, but only a fool would have thought they'd better those over the season anyway.

That weakness in the middle is an issue, but it's relevance so far is over-stated (it might not stay that way with Lucas out tho).

[zahidf]

From football 365

'ROONEY GETS, WELL, EVERYTHING

If this is true, it's astonishing. And desperate. Just months after his Manchester United career looked to be over, Wayne Rooney (30 next year) will be offered - according to enough reports to suggest that it's accurate - a new four-and-a-half-year deal worth £300,000 a week, the captaincy and inside information about transfers.

According to the Daily Mirror: 'The champions' top brass have already shown their commitment to the England star by ensuring he knew all about their record-breaking move for Juan Mata in advance. The 28-year-old was also informed of manager David Moyes' other plans for this transfer window and the summer.''

[pink_triangle]

that's bullshit.

Even if Utd had beaten Everton or Liverpool earlier in the season, they'd both still be ahead of Utd - so those team's position has fuck all to do with "Man Utd have accumulated less points than expected".

Those two teams are where they are by their own volition.

[kaosmark2]

I wouldnt argue that Everton have improved

[pink_triangle]

From football 365

'ROONEY GETS, WELL, EVERYTHING

If this is true, it's astonishing. And desperate. Just months after his Manchester United career looked to be over, Wayne Rooney (30 next year) will be offered - according to enough reports to suggest that it's accurate - a new four-and-a-half-year deal worth £300,000 a week, the captaincy and inside information about transfers.

According to the Daily Mirror: 'The champions' top brass have already shown their commitment to the England star by ensuring he knew all about their record-breaking move for Juan Mata in advance. The 28-year-old was also informed of manager David Moyes' other plans for this transfer window and the summer.''

[eFestivals]

What I meant to say is Man Utd have accumulated less points than I expected them to do. I wouldnt argue that Everton and liverpool have improved which along with man utd getting worse has cause the huge gap from last season to evaporate

yeah, but Liverpool's improvement has been there to see since last January, it shouldn't have surprised anyone going into this season unless they'd not been paying attention.

If you think back, I posted the very uncontroversial idea (baring in mind how the fixtures favoured them) in Sept that Liverpool would be in contention for a top 4 place until mid-Dec at the minimum, and even that was poo-poo'd.

Look at the form, look at the trends. Don't look towards long-held prejudices.

Edited January 27, 2014 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

His agent has played it perfectly, negotiating when Man Utd are in a position of weakness. I still think he is the best English forward and probably worth keeping, even if he is being overpaid.

It might be that Stretford has played it perfectly, but I suspect that Rooney is scared of overseas and has got lucky around it.

[kaosmark2]

I don't think that many people suggested that Liverpool weren't in contention, the question marks over them were about whether they'd have enough to get over the line, and I don't think it's ridiculous to suggest that still hasn't been proven given it's not the end of the season yet.

[pink_triangle]

yeah, but Liverpool's improvement has been there to see since last January, it shouldn't have surprised anyone going into this season unless they'd not been paying attention.

If you think back, I posted the very uncontroversial idea (baring in mind how the fixtures favoured them) in Sept that Liverpool would be in contention for a top 4 place until mid-Dec at the minimum, and even that was poo-poo'd.

Look at the form, look at the trends. Don't look towards long-held prejudices.

[pink_triangle]

It might be that Stretford has played it perfectly, but I suspect that Rooney is scared of overseas and has got lucky around it.

[zahidf]

I suspect Rooney is scared to go overseas which means Stretford has got him a huge wage in Britain which is what his job is.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

This is a really interesting article about the Mata/Rooney thing, explains why United were reluctant to do business face to face.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jan/26/chelsea-manchester-united-juan-mata-transfer

[eFestivals]

I don't think that many people suggested that Liverpool weren't in contention,

They did.

Even the idea of Liverpool being in the top 4 in mid December (before the 'tough' games of Spurs, City & Chelsea) was dismissed by most people here.

the question marks over them were about whether they'd have enough to get over the line, and I don't think it's ridiculous to suggest that still hasn't been proven given it's not the end of the season yet.

That's true, we've yet to see how it pans out.

I can't see them missing out by more than a smidgen tho - when there were (again) plenty saying they wouldn't be hot on the heels of a top 4 spot but a fair points gap below top 4.

[eFestivals]

This is a really interesting article about the Mata/Rooney thing, explains why United were reluctant to do business face to face.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jan/26/chelsea-manchester-united-juan-mata-transfer

it's yet another example of every intimate detail of this transfer being in the public domain, which I find hard to believe has really happened.

I reckon it's more likely to be the case that the papers have been briefed by a minor player within everything (such as, perhaps, someone in an agent's company but not involved in the actual process) who's made up the bits he doesn't know - and that's why so much of what was printed pre-transfer turned out to not be right.

[The Nal]

Not sure if this Rooney stuff is true? 300k a week, to be made captain, to be kept up to date with transfers etc?

[DomDom1984]

Wayne Rooney seems far too thick for that. More than one place reporting it though, so I'm inclined to give it time and see what happens.

[pink_triangle]

Doesn't matter how think rooney is, as long as he employs someone to do the thinking.

[thetime]

Looks like a deal has been agreed between PSG and Newcastle for cabaye.

[DomDom1984]

That'll be a massive loss.

[kaosmark2]

It would be a massive loss, my main hope is that if it happens we get a replacement in this window and spend the money quickly rather than piss about. Supposedly we've got bids in for Clement Grenier at Lyon and Remy Cabella. Don't follow the French league much but they're CAMs with decent records, so hopefully it'd be useful.

And hopefully there's a good £10 discrepancy so we can buy another striker as well.

[pink_triangle]

It would be a massive loss, my main hope is that if it happens we get a replacement in this window and spend the money quickly rather than piss about. Supposedly we've got bids in for Clement Grenier at Lyon and Remy Cabella. Don't follow the French league much but they're CAMs with decent records, so hopefully it'd be useful.

And hopefully there's a good £10 discrepancy so we can buy another striker as well.