Football 2013-2014

[DomDom1984]

To be fair, you really can't trust the papers with takeover news.

Like when Vince McMahon was wanting Newcastle. Or Snoop Dogg with Celtic. Generally if any sort of rumour is found on a takeover, the papers run with it. Even Morton were supposed to be on the radar of Gordon Ramsay.

[luckysalt]

I dunno, there just seems to be TOO much going around for this not to be happening, its very clear Lerner doesn't want to invest anymore and just wants out. All that is left is how much money the new owners will have.

[TheGayTent]

Also has anyone come across bubble games? Wrexham are playing chester this weekend and away fans are only allowed in if they go via club transport from the ground. To me this is OTT, let fans chose how they want to get to a football match and if they break the law, then arrest them.

[TheGayTent]

I dunno, there just seems to be TOO much going around for this not to be happening, its very clear Lerner doesn't want to invest anymore and just wants out. All that is left is how much money the new owners will have.

[eFestivals]

It's a difficult one because some of the better premier league teams like that man u could have had huge streaks, the fact is they didn't need to and could prioritise elsewhere. If your talking purely entertainment over one season you have a point about the Liverpool 13 14 team, however if your judging quality than some of the chelsea and man u teams rank above, as they had quality from keeper to forward.

It's about quality AND entertainment, I'd say.

You can be quality by being the Italy team of the 80s and 90s, but who the feck wants to watch that week after week after week? It's as exciting as watching grass grow. You can only marvel at a chess move once.

[DomDom1984]

I'd say quality is the most important thing when talking about the best. The best teams get the results. Thankfully, Liverpool are doing that as well though, so you can easily argue them as one of the best over the course of this season at least.

[Celery]

Yep. Huge advantage. Remember all those teams that have challenged for the league whilst not being in Europe like... oh

[DomDom1984]

Having about fifteen games less than the opposition, and also full weeks to prepare for league games at the weekend is obviously a massive bonus, with the former point being crucial towards the end of the season.

Other teams haven't taken advantage of that before though. And if you're the third best team in the league, you finish third. If you have played 38 games and finish top, you're the best team in the league in that season. You finish exactly where you deserve to finish.

[pink_triangle]

If you have played 38 games and finish top, you're the best team in the league in that season. You finish exactly where you deserve to finish.

[DomDom1984]

I'd say a league played out over 38 games is a pretty good way of deciding who was the best team in that league. Any one of the top three could make a claim to being the best, so any one of the three, if they win it, must surely be considered as such.

[Wooderson]

Hold on, are you actually saying that it's not a massive advantage for Liverpool to only have to worry about the league? Look at Chelsea and City's results around European games - on average they are significantly worse than when they had only domestic football to worry about. Had Liverpool been competing in the Champions League they would be around 10 points worse off I reckon. On the flip side, had either Chelsea or City not been in Europe they woud probably have had the title wrapped up by now. Liverpool are, at best, the third best team but that doesn't mean they won't win the league.

[pink_triangle]

I'd say a league played out over 38 games is a pretty good way of deciding who was the best team in that league. Any one of the top three could make a claim to being the best, so any one of the three, if they win it, must surely be considered as such.

[Wooderson]

LFC potentially winning the league weakens the dogmas of many - namely this notion of "transition"/"squad depth"/"Crucial nature of CL to a club's fortunes".

But as ever - maybe this is red tinted glasses and I'm not being fair.

Utd fans (Nal for example - not that he has) could start saying that not being in Europe next year is a good thing for a club given LFC's example??? Is this a new paradigm? Given the value placed on it in profile/sponsorship/attracting and motivating playing staff/experience etc etc

Is this really what people are saying?

[pink_triangle]

The pfa award shortlist, I wouldnt pick gerrard (dont think he has been Liverpools best midfielder) or lalana but its not a bad list.

I say it every year but how can a 24 year old like sturridge be considered young in modern football.

[Wooderson]

The pfa award shortlist, I wouldnt pick gerrard (dont think he has been Liverpools best midfielder) or lalana but its not a bad list.

[pink_triangle]

Who would you have ahead of Gerrard. He has been immense - and may win it.

[thetime]

Who would you have ahead of Gerrard. He has been immense - and may win it.

[Wooderson]

Has he ever won it? My thinking is when giggs won it a few years ago, it was more for the career he had than the actual season. Gerrard could win it for this reason, wrongly in my view but hey.

Like pink says if anyone but Suarez wins it makes it a mockery, an award for popularity rather than player of the year.

[Wooderson]

Think when players were voting Suarez was pretty much unstoppable.

[thetime]

Think when players were voting Suarez was pretty much unstoppable.

[Wooderson]

The only way stopping Suarez winning is his popularity with other players, no idea how he comes across to other professionals.

Didn't stop Cantona winning after KungFuGate though.

[thetime]

Suarez has none of Eric's charm.

Can't think of a single footie fan I know that dislike(d) Cantona. Yes, even despite '96 final and his central role in your return to dominance. Suarez has spoiled opportunity to reach this level of fondness amongst fans in general.

[Wooderson]

Rest of us will be shouting for Everton, chief. Moyes' style of footie is repugnant.

[Celery]

What utter balix.

Next you'll be saying a team getting relegated is making progress.

LFC winning the league from 7th place last year would be a singular incredible achievement in the modern era. To potentially begrudge this is just c**tish.

[thetime]

Rest of us will be shouting for Everton, chief. Moyes' style of footie is repugnant.