Football 2015/16

[ThomThomDrum]

This Neymar stuff is mad. The numbers being thrown about with the rumour are utterly ludicrous!

[zahidf]

general improvement of players*, plus Cech.

(*specifically Sanchez, in his 2nd season ... tho that's not panning out too well just yet )

Again, going back a few weeks, Cech was being lauded as perhaps the signing of the season.

I think Sanchez is just knackered. He was put back in the team earlier than expected. I imagine he will be back up to speed soon

I'd say city,Chelsea, arsenal and then between utd and Liverpool for 4th. Liverpool have to get 6 points from utd this season though. ..

[TheGayTent]

Good point - Sanchez played in the Copa America didn't he?

[eFestivals]

I'd say city,Chelsea, arsenal and then between utd and Liverpool for 4th. Liverpool have to get 6 points from utd this season though. ..

I'd say Arsenal will be in with a shout of top or 2nd, tho might end up third.

It's a bit too early to say who might end up 4th from the games so far, I'd say. It might be one of those two, or it might be someone else (not sure who yet tho).

As for Liverpool's results against Utd, I don't see how one-off matches decide anything at all. It's just a couple of results amongst the many which decide the finishing positions - tho of course it helps to win.

[eFestivals]

This Neymar stuff is mad. The numbers being thrown about with the rumour are utterly ludicrous!

desperate times call for desperate measures?

If Utd are really after Neymar then it says to me that Utd don't have much faith in LvG. He's spent more than enough already to have got Utd purring again, if he can get them purring.

[Gucci Piggy]

I'd say Arsenal will be in with a shout of top or 2nd, tho might end up third.

It's a bit too early to say who might end up 4th from the games so far, I'd say. It might be one of those two, or it might be someone else (not sure who yet tho).

As for Liverpool's results against Utd, I don't see how one-off matches decide anything at all. It's just a couple of results amongst the many which decide the finishing positions - tho of course it helps to win.

But if Liverpool are competing for 4th with United, beating them twice creates a 12 point swing compared to losing both games, so it's a pretty significant chunk. Those are definitely the most important games for them (if we assume they're mainly competing with United for the position).

[zahidf]

desperate times call for desperate measures?

If Utd are really after Neymar then it says to me that Utd don't have much faith in LvG. He's spent more than enough already to have got Utd purring again, if he can get them purring.

It's another ramos situation. Neymar is using utd to get more money from Barcelona. After all the hassle barca had getting him, they will not sell him

[zahidf]

But if Liverpool are competing for 4th with United, beating them twice creates a 12 point swing compared to losing both games, so it's a pretty significant chunk. Those are definitely the most important games for them (if we assume they're mainly competing with United for the position).

Yeah I'm thinking it'll be very tight margins for 4th, so those points and swing will be important

[eFestivals]

But if Liverpool are competing for 4th with United, beating them twice creates a 12 point swing compared to losing both games, so it's a pretty significant chunk. Those are definitely the most important games for them (if we assume they're mainly competing with United for the position).

 

 

Yeah I'm thinking it'll be very tight margins for 4th, so those points and swing will be important

I don't disagree with the idea that they're important, but they're not decisive. It's the points total overall that's decisive.

[The Nal]

This Neymar stuff is mad. The numbers being thrown about with the rumour are utterly ludicrous!

 

The only thing thats mad is that the rumour has any credibility. Clearly a "pretend to court high spending club to get a better contract" pitch. Textbook.

 

He scored 39 goals last season. Also they've already sold Pedro. Breaking up the Messi, Suarez, Neymar trinity after spending so much time and money putting them together would rightly lead to serious intervening psychoanalysis at Barco HQ. Send in the men in white coats and the stretchers with the handcuffs attached, anti-psychotic pills, electric shock treatment etc.

Edited August 25, 2015 by The Nal

[Gucci Piggy]

I don't disagree with the idea that they're important, but they're not decisive. It's the points total overall that's decisive.

Yes but when competing with one specific team for a higher points total, winning games against that team is more important than winning points against other teams because it causes them to drop points as well.

Obviously they're not essential, but you want to be winning those games to maximise your chances.

[Gucci Piggy]

Neymar rumours are legit the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

[The Nal]

Neymar rumours are legit the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

 

But....but..... its coming from such a reputable source!

 

[ThomThomDrum]

But if Liverpool are competing for 4th with United, beating them twice creates a 12 point swing compared to losing both games, so it's a pretty significant chunk. Those are definitely the most important games for them (if we assume they're mainly competing with United for the position).

 

Its still only 6 points. The points swing thing can be over played at times. If Liverpool beat Utd twice or vice versa they will only be 6 points better off

[eFestivals]

Yes but when competing with one specific team for a higher points total, winning games against that team is more important than winning points against other teams because it causes them to drop points as well.

Obviously they're not essential, but you want to be winning those games to maximise your chances.

 

But if (say) Utd lose to WBA and S'land, and LFC don't, the LFC/Utd results cease to matter a jot to the big picture.

 

And putting this into the real world, Utd are now the sort of team who are likely to put big efforts into the Liverpool game and might win them, while cocking up too many other matches for it to be of benefit to them.

 

That might not be how it pans out of course, but with LvG's record to date it's hardly an odd call.

 

I didn't disagree that it's better to win. I merely disagree with the decisiveness towards finishing positions of any win (for either team).

 

Those sorts of results are more important the higher up the table a team is - and none of us seem to be expecting either team to be at the top. They will both lose a number of games, and it's the total points dropped that will matter, not the results against each other.

Edited August 25, 2015 by eFestivals

[pink_triangle]

Barcelona are still under a transfer embargo, I doubt they will be selling many squad players, never mind first team regulars.

[eFestivals]

I see Liverpool seem to have found a way to ship Mario out to AC Milan.

[The Nal]

I see Liverpool seem to have found a way to ship Mario out to AC Milan.

 

Surprised at that. Milan wanted rid of him last year.

[TheGayTent]

Surprised at that. Milan wanted rid of him last year.

Low fee, low wage, low risk?

[eFestivals]

Low fee, low wage, low risk?

 

very probably.

[The Nal]

Low fee, low wage, low risk?

True but hes a cancer. Hence why he hasnt even being training with Liverpool. He disrupts squads and does fuck all on the pitch. Ill do that for low (football) wages!

[TheGayTent]

True but hes a cancer. Hence why he hasnt even being training with Liverpool. He disrupts squads and does fuck all on the pitch. Ill do that for low (football) wages!

Some managers have made careers out of getting the most out of players like that.

I'm not saying he'll be a success back at Milan, but they've obviously taken a calculated gamble.

Edited August 25, 2015 by TheGayTent

[The Nal]

Some managers have made careers out of getting the most out of players like that.

 

Mancini and Mourinho couldn't do anything!

 

I'm not saying he'll be a success back at Milan, but they've obviously taken a calculated gamble.

 

Indeed. They're desperate though. Finished 10th last season with an average attendance of 36,000 in an 81,000 capacity stadium and they got stuffed at the weekend in their first game. Not a shot on target.

[TheGayTent]

Mancini and Mourinho couldn't do anything!

Indeed. They're desperate though. Finished 10th last season with an average attendance of 36,000 in an 81,000 capacity stadium and they got stuffed at the weekend in their first game. Not a shot on target.

Yep, they're skint. Needs must.

[mjsell]

Aren't Milan also coming off the back of a horrendous season, or was that inter?

 

Any other club not in any form of Europe signing Ballotelli would be seen as a coup