Football 2010-2011

[ampersand]

cba editing, but Elmanders goal for Bolton the weekend, if Messi / Ronaldo had scored that I don't think you'd ever hear the end of it. Was absolutely fantastic.

[Cardboard Box City]

La Liga is undoubtably the highest quality league in the world at the moment.

[The Nal]

it's more than that - the whole of the Prem has gone to shit, the quality has fallen all round with all teams.

Just look at how the promoted teams are doing this season, as well as how they've improved over the last couple of years - teams in the Champs are no longer a way off being able to compete in the Prem, they're now easily able to come up and compete in the Prem ... and it's not because the Champs has suddenly improved loads in quality either, it's cos the Prem has fallen quite a lot!

[worm]

corrected for you.

[ralph250]

Sunderland were top class yesterday and chuffed for Welbeck. Made a difference in the Spurs game when he came on midweek, and was fan-f**king-tastic yesterday. Motm in a 3-0 win at the bridge. Delighted for him.

[worm]

Sunderland were top class yesterday and chuffed for Welbeck. Made a difference in the Spurs game when he came on midweek, and was fan-f**king-tastic yesterday. Motm in a 3-0 win at the bridge. Delighted for him.

[The Nal]

Zenden was better.

[eFestivals]

Nah. Sunderland have a potentially top six side this season on paper. Most mags agree with that. Evidence is looking good too.......

that's presumably a bit of paper with the good teams excluded, right?

As for the rest of your trash talk, Newcastle were over-rated at the time and still don't impress me with their football.

yeah, a team that's streaming away from all the others in a league when a sizable number of matches into the season is always thought of as over-rated. Especially when their form stays that good all season and they win the league easily.

And despite being that shit, in their promotion season they're still just one point behind that "potentially top six side this season" without having spunked millions on new players or laughingly stating that a shit player is worth £40M. How very weird.

Edited November 15, 2010 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

chuffed for Welbeck.

is he going to do any better than those other "future Utd stars" that are no longer are future Utd stars that are playing at the same club?

Or are they all going to end up like most and just about hang on in as a squad player for a not-great Prem side?

Edited November 15, 2010 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

is he going to do any better than those other "future Utd stars" that no longer are future Utd stars that are playing at the same club?

Or are they all going to end up like most and just about hang on in as a squad player for a not-great Prem side?

[worm]

that's presumably a bit of paper with the good teams excluded, right?

[spwan-of-the-devil]

cba editing, but Elmanders goal for Bolton the weekend, if Messi / Ronaldo had scored that I don't think you'd ever hear the end of it. Was absolutely fantastic.

Edited November 15, 2010 by spwan-of-the-devil

[spwan-of-the-devil]

is he going to do any better than those other "future Utd stars" that are no longer are future Utd stars that are playing at the same club?

Or are they all going to end up like most and just about hang on in as a squad player for a not-great Prem side?

[eFestivals]

It's certainly arguable, but name five teams with better players in the squad than Sunderland?

I've got Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Man Utd and Chelsea (and I'm not entirely convinced about Man Utd?!).

Chelsea, Arsenal, Utd, City, Spurs, Newc, Villa, Liverpool, and Everton - all of these teams will finish above Sunderland, apart from perhaps Newc (due to Prem inexperience rather than worse players, if Sunderland finish above them).

[Steve P]

Neil I know you enjoy baiting mr Worm, but do you really honestly believe that Newcastle have a better squad than Sunderland? Of the 2 i'd certainly pick sunderland to finish higher. In Gyan and Bent, they've got one of the best attacks in the league. A cracking partnership in midfield between Henderson and Cattermole (as long as he's on the pitch) and a good goalie in Gordon. Defensively I think they're suspect, but that goes for almost every premiership side.

[Cardboard Box City]

Chelsea, Arsenal, Utd, City, Spurs, Newc, Villa, Liverpool, and Everton - all of these teams will finish above Sunderland, apart from perhaps Newc (due to Prem inexperience rather than worse players, if Sunderland finish above them).

[ralph250]

Zenden was better. But aye, his best performance for us so far.

[ralph250]

Oh and Man City will never win the league with Mancini in charge.

[worm]

To a man, everyone was pretty damn good yesterday but thought Welbeck did well. Was voted the games MOTM, Sun star man, highest player rating on Sky etc. "devastating welbeck" in the guardian. "and, above all, the superb 19 year-old Danny Welbeck, from United, who seized the day" in the telegraph etc.

[worm]

Chelsea, Arsenal, Utd, City, Spurs, Newc, Villa, Liverpool, and Everton - all of these teams will finish above Sunderland, apart from perhaps Newc (due to Prem inexperience rather than worse players, if Sunderland finish above them).

[eFestivals]

Neil I know you enjoy baiting mr Worm, but do you really honestly believe that Newcastle have a better squad than Sunderland? Of the 2 i'd certainly pick sunderland to finish higher. In Gyan and Bent, they've got one of the best attacks in the league. A cracking partnership in midfield between Henderson and Cattermole (as long as he's on the pitch) and a good goalie in Gordon. Defensively I think they're suspect, but that goes for almost every premiership side.

Until the weekend just gone, Newc were proving they have a better squad. And a particular thrashing of a certain team also strongly suggests that they do.

Whether they really do or not remains to be seen but it's a squad that contains a number of current & ex England players, and given that this is their first season in the Prem they're doing very well.

You say "In Gyan and Bent, they've got one of the best attacks in the league", yet I don't think they've even been on the field at the same time yet, have they? If they have then its for minutes and not a whole match. Whether they gel has yet to be seen, tho on paper they look pretty decent - while still being the sorts of strikers that a team with strong ambitions would sell on (see Bent's transfer record for proof).

Sunderland look like they're improving loads, but the reality is more that the 'stronger' teams are weakening.

[worm]

You say "In Gyan and Bent, they've got one of the best attacks in the league", yet I don't think they've even been on the field at the same time yet, have they?

[eFestivals]

I think Liverpool have a relatively terrible squad this season with only three quality players.

it's not a great squad, no arguments there. But it's a squad that still has three world class players to S'land's .... none!

Villa and Everton are fairly poor compared to former seasons and I'm fairly confident that Sunderland's squad is better and I'm not even going to respond to the Newcastle jibe.

Villa and Everton will end up in around the same positions they've been doing season after season recently. Neither have worsened over last season, and both are improving on not-great starts.

Newcastle? I'll say it again: they thrashed you.

Regarding our defense, I think Bramble has been surprisingly excellent (can't believe I'm saying that) and Turner has been one of the best defenders in the league so far. I've even been impressed with Bardsley! Bardsley, ffs! Our tradition of defensive frailties has been patched up I reckon. Just need to sort out Ferdinand. And did you see Onuoha's goal?

If you'd been paying attention last season you'd have no surprises with Bramble.

But you're right about one thing - Anton will be sorted soon. With his P45. He's lived off his brother for long enough and been found out.

Onuoha's goal was class. He's quite possibly the best player you have.

[eFestivals]

Yes.

for more than a few minutes at the same time?

Regardless, they have a crackin' partnership, eh worm.

[Steve P]

Big game for Mancini with Hughes' Fulham next wanting a scalp. City have only won 1 in their last 6 in all comps.