Football 2013-2014

[eFestivals]

Agree Neil that United put up a slight fight

I dunno about 'fight', but they played like a team - which they did at the weekend too.

That's more than they've done for most of the season and is defo an improvement on how they've been - but it also showed their level, which is mid-table.

but to me it didn't look like City needed to play to their best

apart form the first 43 seconds, City simply cruised thru the match. They put barely any effort in.

so it could be argued that it was City who made them look like they were playing well!

I guess that's in there too, but I' still say there something a bit more joined-up - a team - about Utd last night than there's been for most of the season.

[thetime]

I would hate liverpool to put themselves top with one game to go and then blow it.

[eFestivals]

I think liverpool have to just keep winning games and see where it leaves them. Man City are a side capable of taking 8 wins from 9 (even though I suspect less will be needed) and if they do, I think you have to hold up your hands and accept the best team won. I hope if liverpool do end up coming 2nd or 3rd its because of City or Chelsea putting an unstopable run in, I would hate liverpool to put themselves top with one game to go and then blow it.

I'd say both Chelsea and City are capable of getting max points from their remaining games but that doesn't mean they necessarily will. The laws of averages says they'll both drop some points.

It's about the opposite for Liverpool, I'd say. They're likely to drop points, but they might somehow scrape thru picking up the max.

Everything favours C&C but Liverpool aren't out of the running just yet.

However it goes, it's looking very likely that Liverpool will have put in a better 2nd half of the season than they did in the first, from the points they'll have collected. They're currently running at 5 points more from the return fixtures. That's already starting to make next season look interesting.

[thetime]

That's already starting to make next season look interesting.

[eFestivals]

If Liverpool can beat City and Chelsea they will win it.

they can win every game remaining and still lose it. It's crap to say they're favourites.

I'd say they're 3rd favourites of the 3, cos while they can finish above Chelsea that would require them to beat Chelsea, and Chelsea are masters are playing for a draw.

Plus of course it's very unlikely that Liverpool will keep on winning, even if they happen to beat both City and Chelsea. Like Chelsea did a week or so back, Liverpool are likely to slip up against a team they should on-paper beat.

[eFestivals]

All depends how easy Liverpool find champions league/premier league combo, that won't be easy and will need to fill out there squad.

yep, that'll definitely have an impact.

Mind you, I'm not sure it'll effect Suarez. He seems to be the type that would walk past his local park and end up having a kick-about with the kids just because it's another chance to play the game he loves.

[eFestivals]

Moyes asks the board to sack him

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26742897

[TheGayTent]

at a world cup finals 20+ years ago, the ref blew the whistle between a player in the box striking the ball and the ball hitting the back of the net. The goal didn't stand.

The ref should blow when he time is up. What either team might be doing at the time isn't really relevant.

Having said that, a bit of common sense should be worked into things, but it's less common sense to allow time that shouldn't be allowed for someone to score than it would be to blow the whistle.

[eFestivals]

Think it was Clive Thomas?

Possibly. I've got no idea on the ref tbh, but me saying "20+" was probably a big understatement. Thomas is more 30-ish years ago isn't he?

30-ish years was more what I was thinking, I went for 20+ to cover my uncertainty.

[mrtourette]

Get a feeling many people will have missed this...

...with the score at 2-2 with Arsenal and Swansea, Swansea went on the break about 30 seconds over the allotted injury time. They put a guy clean through on goal, and when he was on his way, the referee blew for full time.

What's the feeling on this? I'd have thought let the attack end, as I always feel that wau, but at the same time, he probably should have stopped the game sooner anyways. I still think it's unfair to Swansea not to let the attack end however. There'll be a shitstorm over this over the next 24 hours probably.

Edited March 26, 2014 by mrtourette

[Wooderson]

Scholes angling for a gig on telly last night? First time he's put himself forward for a pundit role...

[eFestivals]

Scholes angling for a gig on telly last night? First time he's put himself forward for a pundit role...

was he as straight as Gary N in saying "Utd are crap"?

Edited March 26, 2014 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

was he as straight as Gary N in saying "Utd are crap"?

Edited March 26, 2014 by The Nal

[t8yman]

More great news at Hull City, our illustrious owners are spending 5-6m on a new academy site. Great news, my lad plays for the academy.

[eFestivals]

Talking about Arsenal here

video deleted.

[TheGayTent]

Possibly. I've got no idea on the ref tbh, but me saying "20+" was probably a big understatement. Thomas is more 30-ish years ago isn't he?

30-ish years was more what I was thinking, I went for 20+ to cover my uncertainty.

[The Nal]

video deleted.

[TheGayTent]

More great news at Hull City, our illustrious owners are spending 5-6m on a new academy site. Great news, my lad plays for the academy.

[eFestivals]

Talking about Arsenal here

he's talking about how crap they are for conceding 6 against both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Which reminds me of a team that's conceded three against city and Liverpool.

[t8yman]

How is your owner financing Hull? Is he doing like most and putting money in via interest bearing loans?

Just can't see how a club like Hull can be self financing (in line with recent spending levels) ?

[thetime]

he's talking about how crap they are for conceding 6 against both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Which reminds me of a team that's conceded three against city and Liverpool.

[eFestivals]

I am sure the most beautiful woman in the world would still make you think of man united.

That applies to the likes of Nal and Scholes far more than me. They're only saying this stuff about Arsenal to try and take focus from Utd being shit.

[The Nal]

That applies to the likes of Nal and Scholes far more than me. They're only saying this stuff about Arsenal to try and take focus from Utd being shit.

Edited March 26, 2014 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Arsenal aren't shit. They were going for the league and yet again bottled it. "Weak", "rudderless", "leaderless" or whatever you want to call it. Its true.

Or, alternatively, long-term injuries to their most important players when their squad is very threadbare outside the first 11 players who are good enough to win them the league.

If Utd had lost Rooney and RVP for the whole season last season, you'd sensibly say that all chance of Utd winning the league that season had gone.

It's really not much difference at Arsenal. They've fallen off the pace ever since Ramsay got injured (while also having Walcott and the Ox out for a big chunk).

It's about the players that are available not being good enough, nowt else.

Scholes basically said what loads of people have been saying and its exactly what I said before and after the Chelsea game. When push comes to shove they aren't strong enough.

When push comes to shove they're not good enough - words that apply to 19 teams in the Prem.

You think you're saying something profound, but you're really really not. It's a statement of the most obvious fact of football that there is.

[The Nal]

You think you're saying something profound,

Edited March 26, 2014 by The Nal