EPL [R implied]
Alkamista
everyone is dropping points. O'Neill and Redknapp wouldn't be
completely insane if somewhere at the back of their heads they are
daring to dream Premiership title.
Ancelotti is in the ultimate win-win. He inherits the best squad, the
weakest competition pool in well over a decade, and if he walks to the
title as expected then everyone will swoon over him, when in actuality
it will be no more impressive a feat than Mourinho's first title at
Inter, which was easy.
Benny
> From : alka...@hotmail.com
It's early days of course but that the top half of the table is
compressed doesn't suggest the competition is weak, it suggests the
exact opposite. The fact that lesser teams are actually willing to put
up a fight, refs don't blow in favour of the big clubs as much, money is
tight which means the lesser teams can hold onto their best players has
made a massive difference.
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Abubakr
You keep harking on about this supposedly 'weakened' premiership, but
what is the true extent of this weakening?
Man Utd have lost C. Ronaldo, a big loss for sure.
And Liverpool have lost Alonso, hardly a player that will give most
managers sleepless nights.
Arsenal have gained some good recruits and Arshavin for the whole
season.
Man City are stronger than they were last season as are Spurs
The rest are about on par with their strength last season
Google Beta User
> Man Utd have lost C. Ronaldo, a big loss for sure.
> And Liverpool have lost Alonso, hardly a player that will give most
> managers sleepless nights.
Key to Liverpools playing style so it hurts, though if Aquilani
actually played or Gerrard moved in to midfield that situation'd
improve.
> The rest are about on par with their strength last season
As Benny said few teams lost their best players.
Alkamista
> On 21 Dec, 10:53, Alkamista <alkami...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Is it the title no one wants to win this season? No one is invincible,
> > everyone is dropping points. O'Neill and Redknapp wouldn't be
> > completely insane if somewhere at the back of their heads they are
> > daring to dream Premiership title.
>
> > Ancelotti is in the ultimate win-win. He inherits the best squad, the
> > weakest competition pool in well over a decade, and if he walks to the
> > title as expected then everyone will swoon over him, when in actuality
> > it will be no more impressive a feat than Mourinho's first title at
> > Inter, which was easy.
>
> You keep harking on about this supposedly 'weakened' premiership, but
> what is the true extent of this weakening?
>
> Man Utd have lost C. Ronaldo, a big loss for sure.
And Ferdinand's head, and a major injury crisis.
> And Liverpool have lost Alonso, hardly a player that will give most
> managers sleepless nights.
There could be a multitude of reasons, but Liverpool are a shell of
last season's team, are we even arguing this?
> Arsenal have gained some good recruits and Arshavin for the whole
> season.
Arsenal lost its leaders in attack and in defense. To their credit
they have played well so far, as they always do at this time, but
Adebayor's absence will really hurt now that RVP is out for the
season.
> Man City are stronger than they were last season as are Spurs
Agreed on Man City. Spurs and Villa have done well too, but let's see
if their thin squads hold up to a whole season. That's always been a
key differentiator between the big 4 and the rest.
Mark V.
>
> You keep harking on about this supposedly 'weakened' premiership, but
> what is the true extent of this weakening?
I will play the devil's advocate here. :-)
The usual quality infusion from continental leagues dropped markedly.
Besides the unproven Zhirkov, the hobbled Aquilani, and the hardly-
megastar Vermaelen, who, exactly, came in?
The league lost its (and arguably the sport's) marquee player, as you
mentioned, but beyond that if you look at outflow vs. influx vis-a-vis
other leagues you'll see that the EPL was a net loser, and perhaps not
in a small way.
> Man Utd have lost C. Ronaldo, a big loss for sure.
Right.
> And Liverpool have lost Alonso, hardly a player that will give most
> managers sleepless nights.
> Arsenal have gained some good recruits and Arshavin for the whole
> season.
Nobody new came in besides Vermaelen, and they lost Adebayor and
Toure.
> Man City are stronger than they were last season as are Spurs
Bent and Zokora and couple of other part-time first teamers out,
Crouch and Bassong in. Spurs don't look much different otherwise, no?
> The rest are about on par with their strength last season
That's about right.
Abubakr
> > You keep harking on about this supposedly 'weakened' premiership, but
> > what is the true extent of this weakening?
>
> I will play the devil's advocate here. :-)
I thought that's what I was doing?
> The usual quality infusion from continental leagues dropped markedly.
> Besides the unproven Zhirkov, the hobbled Aquilani, and the hardly-
> megastar Vermaelen, who, exactly, came in?
This is largely true but apart from Ronaldo, any net loss is
debatable.
> The league lost its (and arguably the sport's) marquee player, as you
> mentioned, but beyond that if you look at outflow vs. influx vis-a-vis
> other leagues you'll see that the EPL was a net loser, and perhaps not
> in a small way.
Read above.
> > Man Utd have lost C. Ronaldo, a big loss for sure.
>
> Right.
>
> > And Liverpool have lost Alonso, hardly a player that will give most
> > managers sleepless nights.
> > Arsenal have gained some good recruits and Arshavin for the whole
> > season.
>
> Nobody new came in besides Vermaelen, and they lost Adebayor and
> Toure.
Arsenal's loss is somebody else's gain.
> > Man City are stronger than they were last season as are Spurs
>
> Bent and Zokora and couple of other part-time first teamers out,
> Crouch and Bassong in. Spurs don't look much different otherwise, no?
They don't look much different but they've carried on more in the vein
that they ended the last campaign rather than the manner in which they
began it, therefore, they are better this season.
Alkamista
>
> > Is it the title no one wants to win this season? No one is invincible,
> > everyone is dropping points. O'Neill and Redknapp wouldn't be
> > completely insane if somewhere at the back of their heads they are
> > daring to dream Premiership title.
> >
> > Ancelotti is in the ultimate win-win. He inherits the best squad, the
> > weakest competition pool in well over a decade, and if he walks to the
> > title as expected then everyone will swoon over him, when in actuality
> > it will be no more impressive a feat than Mourinho's first title at
> > Inter, which was easy.
>
> It's early days of course but that the top half of the table is
> compressed doesn't suggest the competition is weak, it suggests the
> exact opposite. The fact that lesser teams are actually willing to put
> up a fight, refs don't blow in favour of the big clubs as much, money is
> tight which means the lesser teams can hold onto their best players has
> made a massive difference.
The unique thing about the EPL, which has been discussed and agreed
upon here many times, is the big gulf of divide between the big 4 and
the rest since Chelsea's emergence. This season the divide isn't as
prominent, but do you really it's plausible that lower 16 clubs have
suddenly improved, rather than the more obvious slump of the big 4?
And we dont even have to go into referee conspiracy theories and a
suddenly larger heart thumping in the chests of these smaller clubs,
we can just look at some very simple facts right in front of our
faces.
1) Chelsea haven't made any major purchases since Anelka (but they
still have the best squad, and their league position reflects that)
2) Man U lost the best player in the world who was their top
goalscorer, and have seen a shocking decline in one of the world's
best defenders, their former defensive lynchpin.
3) Liverpool are a train wreck, struggling not only in the EPL but
also in Europe
4) Arsenal lost their best attacker and best defender
Occam's razor.
Mark V.
> On Dec 20, 7:20 pm, Benny <Be...@soccer-europe.com> wrote:
> suddenly larger heart thumping in the chests of these smaller clubs,
I have to admit that one made me laugh. "Sam, it's 'arry! Just been on
the phone with Roy. The consensual buggery stops this year!"
>
> 1) Chelsea haven't made any major purchases since Anelka (but they
> still have the best squad, and their league position reflects that)
> 2) Man U lost the best player in the world who was their top
> goalscorer, and have seen a shocking decline in one of the world's
> best defenders, their former defensive lynchpin.
> 3) Liverpool are a train wreck, struggling not only in the EPL but
> also in Europe
> 4) Arsenal lost their best attacker and best defender
>
> Occam's razor.
Well-put. It's that simple. The transfer transcripts simply don't back
up the notion that, with the one obvious exception, the rest of the
league is any stronger than it had been.
Benny
> From : alka...@hotmail.com
> The unique thing about the EPL, which has been discussed and agreed
> upon here many times, is the big gulf of divide between the big 4 and
> the rest since Chelsea's emergence. This season the divide isn't as
> prominent, but do you really it's plausible that lower 16 clubs have
> suddenly improved, rather than the more obvious slump of the big 4?
The big four have slumped because they don't have the money to go and do
what they normally do every season i.e. siphon off the best players from
the rest of the league. Hangeland? In demand in the summer, extends
contract with Fulham. Shawcross? Another defender linked with everyone,
still at Stoke. Pienaar outstanding for Everton last season, still at
Everton.
> And we dont even have to go into referee conspiracy theories and a
> suddenly larger heart thumping in the chests of these smaller clubs,
> we can just look at some very simple facts right in front of our
> faces.
> 1) Chelsea haven't made any major purchases since Anelka (but they
> still have the best squad, and their league position reflects that)
How on Earth do they have the best squad? This is the same squad that
was written off last year as being too old, Ballack and Deco were past
it last season so why are they suddenly a factor? Chelsea are deep in
defence but weak in midfield and have zero depth in attack. They've
needed investment dating back to Mourinho's last season.
> 2) Man U lost the best player in the world who was their top
> goalscorer, and have seen a shocking decline in one of the world's
> best defenders, their former defensive lynchpin.
And didn't/don't have the money to sign a goalkeeper or defender in the
summer which is why they are weaker than in previous seasons.
> 3) Liverpool are a train wreck, struggling not only in the EPL but
> also in Europe
Refs not giving every decision in their favour at Anfield. Broke,
Gerrard inured, that lesbian Torres injured.
> 4) Arsenal lost their best attacker and best defender
Their best attacker is RVP. Toure has been adequately replaced. Among
the big four Arsenal have the most options in midfield and attack it
just so happens half of them are on the shelf.
Alkamista
>
> > The unique thing about the EPL, which has been discussed and agreed
> > upon here many times, is the big gulf of divide between the big 4 and
> > the rest since Chelsea's emergence. This season the divide isn't as
> > prominent, but do you really it's plausible that lower 16 clubs have
> > suddenly improved, rather than the more obvious slump of the big 4?
>
> The big four have slumped because they don't have the money to go and do
> what they normally do every season i.e. siphon off the best players from
> the rest of the league.
OK, so we are in agreement then.
Jussi Uosukainen
> On Dec 21, 12:42ï¿œpm, Alkamista <alkami...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> On Dec 20, 7:20ï¿œpm, Benny <Be...@soccer-europe.com> wrote:
>
>> suddenly larger heart thumping in the chests of these smaller clubs,
>
> I have to admit that one made me laugh. "Sam, it's 'arry! Just been on
> the phone with Roy. The consensual buggery stops this year!"
That really made me laugh. You almost owe me new keyboard... ;)
--
/jussi
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