Admins - any chance of a multiboard?
Thought I'd try a neutral analysis of how the season may pan out for the top 7 teams. Do you agree, and what are your own thoughts on how it'll pan out based on early season opinions?
Try and be neutral.....
Arsenal. Could be the surprise package in terms of challenging for the title. They need to keep their key players fit though, as IMO they don't have the depth to cover them. Their defence could also be an issue as the season goes on, I don't think it's as good as some of their fans think.
Spurs. It's a case of how quickly their new players bed in. Early signs are looking pretty good for them. They're relying on keeping it tight at the back and winning by the single goal, doesn't leave much margin for error though, so if their attacking players don't start scoring more they may start drawing matches....
Chelsea. Strange one!! On paper, they should be right up there, but they seem to be making life difficult for themselves. I think the players are struggling to find a particular style of play consistently, so their play is fragmented. Also, I don't think it's the happy camp it was during Jose's previous spell. He's not exuding the same 'aura'. You know what they say, 'never go back'. Could end in tears.....
City. I think it's a simple case of the new signings and manager bedding in, which is only a matter of time IMO. Fully expect them to win the league with relative comfort.....
United. IMO they're in big trouble. I mean big trouble by their own standards. Their squad isn't as good as it may of looked under Fergie. I think we can all now see just what a genius this man was. Virtually any manager would struggle to get the same results with this lot that Fergie did, and I think they may have a battle to finish top 4.....
Liverpool. Could go one of two ways. We seem to have developed the ability to get results with pretty average performances. If we can strike the balance between last seasons flair and this new found doggedness, we will be serious challengers for top four. If not, these average performances will catch up with us and it'll be 5/6/7th place. It's also obvious we need our 4/5 key players fit to do this. We will not win the league.
Everton. Everton are Everton. There abouts for all the season without winning enough matches to really threaten. Big credit to Martinez though for proving many wrong at this early stage.
Early season thoughts.....
posted on 2/10/13
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 5 minutes ago
Villa 1-3
Fulham 3-1
Spurs 1-0
Sunderland 3-1
Stoke 3-1
Swansea 2-1
Not exceptional results,just winning games that you'd be expected to
Playing better than City but only one clean sheet should be a worry
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In the last 22 games we played, we won 19 of them and only lost 1! Surely there was at least one big team in there?!
It is not like we have a new squad or new manager. It is almost the same players with the addition of a WC number 10 and someone who used to play for us, so know the club and manager inside out.
But yeah, keep believing what the media says.
BTW as the media suggested, have we passed the test yesterday?
posted on 2/10/13
comment by A Concerned Red Devil (U1429)
posted 10 hours, 24 minutes ago
You don't win the title and go poor over night
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Tell they to City last season.
Chelsea in 10/11
Arsenal in 05/06
Both won the previous season and were miles from the title the next.
It happens.
Moyes is no Fergie. The players are the same, but the old boy was the Master. Having Moyes instead of Fergie is like replacing Schmeichel or Keane to the Nth degree
posted on 2/10/13
comment by A Concerned Red Devil (U1429)
posted 11 hours ago
United have played more long balls than any other teamno that's villa, stoke and Norwich thus far according to the stats! Typical hopeful deluded scouser hoping united fail when in reality they all know united over the season will become stronger and stronger
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Nothing deluded about it. Stats say that Utd are the long ball merchants of the league.
http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/232895
#TheMoyesEffect
posted on 2/10/13
But the others? Fine on one of their good days, but very anonymous otherwise.
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http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Combined_2012-13.html
Look at the facts instead of pundit opinions. The problem with 'media commentators' is that they are very lazy and don't do their homework. This leads to form inaccurate conclusions from poor reasoning.
Theo Walcott was the 4th best attacker in the premier league last year. Ahead of over hyped Hazard etc. He is still 24 and getting better. Very consistent and very effective. Don't let some haters who pretend to be gooners fool you.
Santi Cazorla was the 5th best attacker.
Lucas Podolski was the 10th best!
Oxlade is improving very quickly and was expected to have similar progression as Ramsey is having.
Vermealen was our captain a season ago and can start anywhere else in the premier league. He is an above average 3rd center back.
Fabianski was the starter when we started our present run of great results from last season. He was the goalkeeper against Bayern when we won in a very hostile atmosphere and is probably the best backup goalkeeper in the league.
posted on 2/10/13
"Look at the facts instead of pundit opinions. The problem with 'media commentators' is that they are very lazy and don't do their homework. This leads to form inaccurate conclusions from poor reasoning.
Theo Walcott was the 4th best attacker in the premier league last year."
it does my head in
posted on 2/10/13
comment by TheKaisersTrainers Love FSG (U5676)
posted 48 seconds ago
"Look at the facts instead of pundit opinions. The problem with 'media commentators' is that they are very lazy and don't do their homework. This leads to form inaccurate conclusions from poor reasoning.
Theo Walcott was the 4th best attacker in the premier league last year."
it does my head in
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It wouldn't wind me up so much if they didn't get paid well for it.
posted on 2/10/13
In the last 22 games we played, we won 19 of them and only lost 1! Surely there was at least one big team in there?!
It is not like we have a new squad or new manager. It is almost the same players with the addition of a WC number 10 and someone who used to play for us, so know the club and manager inside out.
But yeah, keep believing what the media says.
BTW as the media suggested, have we passed the test yesterday?
A bit early to say that anybody has passed any test, you won 19 out of 22 games you say? What did that win you? Zip!!
posted on 2/10/13
I wish he did a few long balls instead of fooking around with it on the halfway line! And city and arsenal and Chelsea hardly went poor ffs the just didn't win the title, which most united fans didn't expect anyway. United will finish top 4 in the end and the team will develop into moyes style over the next 18 months it so as the older and deadwood needs to be shipped out and replaced
posted on 2/10/13
comment by terminator1 (U1863)
posted 9 hours, 15 minutes ago
Jenius. Sure, Cazorla and Podolski are excellent player. But the others? Fine on one of their good days, but very anonymous otherwise. Most of them you've had for several seasons without really doing much beyond the top four trophy, so why you think they're suddenly good enough to mount a title challenge is, in your own words, laughable
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Poor response. You make a subs 7 out of those and it is a very strong bench.
. Also, there's no one there that addresses your defensive frailties (IMO)
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The defensive frailties of the second best defence last season have been addressed by playing Flamini in front of them.
posted on 2/10/13
Nobody was saying midtable to begin with.
However, the teams mentioned were WELL off the pace the following season, and were nearer 4th place than 1st.
The teams such as ourselves and Arsenal, and Liverpool and possibly Everton too, all look to have improved on last season. There is fierce competition up there.
I'd say United will probably finish 3rd due to the squad still being Fergie's in personnel and style, but I see Moyes losing you a fair bit of ground from last season.
Never a United manager in a million years, a huge error. He'll United's Souness in my opinion