Football 2013-2014

[adam1234]

The people encouraging players to dive in this instance are the referees. The large majority of the time, even if a player has lost possession, he'd need to go down in the box to get a penalty. Advantage lost? Pfft. Who cares? Certainly not the referee.

FIFA, UEFA and respective associations need to stamp this sort of horrendous refereeing out. But they haven't cared before, so why would they now?

I have no problem with the player taking it into his own hands in these instances.

[pink_triangle]

That's the league title gone for City, didn't see this result coming.

[pink_triangle]

To me cities only route to the title is winning every game, Liverpool v Chelsea draw and hoping Liverpool draw/lose another game. Its possible, but time is running out.

[ThomThomDrum]

Well I got that totally wrong. (Most probably did TBF)

Thought City would destroy Sunderland and rack up a much improved goal difference.

It will be interesting to see if Sunderland can put in a performance on the back of that against Chelsea

Tis very much squeaky bum time now and no result is a foregone conclusion. Tonight very much proved that. Liverpool and Chelsea could easily drop points. If Liverpool loose one and Chelsea draw one City can still win it if they win out.

[pink_triangle]

Great goal for Bale to win the Spanish cup. I don't think he has reached his potential this season but 20 goals isn't a bad seasons work. He really looks like he belongs in the Madrid team where as the other British players seemed to have a novelty element about them.

[The Nal]

Quality turn out at the Emptyhad last night.

[eFestivals]

Quality turn out at the Emptyhad last night.

at least you Manc fans still have one angle left to have a pop at them with. You'd go insane otherwise.

[eFestivals]

Well I got that totally wrong. (Most probably did TBF)

Thought City would destroy Sunderland and rack up a much improved goal difference.

It will be interesting to see if Sunderland can put in a performance on the back of that against Chelsea

Tis very much squeaky bum time now and no result is a foregone conclusion. Tonight very much proved that. Liverpool and Chelsea could easily drop points. If Liverpool loose one and Chelsea draw one City can still win it if they win out.

I didn't even realise there were games last night until I saw the results this morning. Blimey, they were a surprise too.

I still don't think Liverpool will win the league - tho I don't see it as impossible that they'll lose to Chelsea and still win the league. The averages say that Chelsea will drop points somewhere in their remaining games and if it's not Liverpool it should be somewhere else.

[zahidf]

Looks like relegation, Fourth place and winning the league will all go down to the last day.

[eFestivals]

I read an inteeresting article last night about whether it would be "romantic" if liverpool won the league, and whether there's anything sane in the idea that they'll have won by "cheating" because they didn't have to play in Europe.

It's certainly easier to not have those extra games, but 'cheating'? Nah. They tried to be in Europe, and they failed. You don't cheat by failing.

I'm not sure I buy the 'romance' thing; a game is a game. And yet while the Europe thing makes winning easier, if Liverpool won, how impressive that would be can be summed up in the following...

1. winning from 7th. Accepted wisdom is that it's impossible to win without first being in the top 4 to get yourself the players good enough to win.

2. having the highest ever goal-scorer in the Prem from open play (Suarez).

3. having the player with the most assists (Suarez).

4. Suarez having done that when being banned for 5 matches.

5. having (if it happens) the longest winning run of any Prem team.

6. that not a soul thought they'd win it when they were top on xmas day.

7. scoring the most Prem goals ever.

8. and this one I just love ... conceding the most goals of any team this season.

They've been fabulous to watch too. I read a comment last night which said "the best team since the "invincibles", and i find it hard to disagree, at least from the angle of a spectacle to be watching.

And all done without having a complete arse as a manger - something that's not happened much at all in the last 20 years.

[eFestivals]

Looks like relegation, Fourth place and winning the league will all go down to the last day.

I think relegation and 4th are both settled now.

[The Nal]

Pool have been great to watch yeah. Also helps that they've basically had their first 11 fit for the entire season.

Sometimes it just happens in football. Things align. 25 year after Hillsborough. Utd won the Champ League 50 years after Munich.

[Wooderson]

Pool have been great to watch yeah. Also helps that they've basically had their first 11 fit for the entire season.

[Wooderson]

I had to laugh at the interview with Yaya Toure on Sky prior to the game at the weekend talking about "the huge advantage" LFC had in not being in the Champions League.

Sure if it was that easy Yaya!!!!!!

As Neil has stated above, the notion that it is now easier to win the league by not being in Europe is hiliarious.

[mrtourette]

I read an inteeresting article last night about whether it would be "romantic" if liverpool won the league, and whether there's anything sane in the idea that they'll have won by "cheating" because they didn't have to play in Europe.

It's certainly easier to not have those extra games, but 'cheating'? Nah. They tried to be in Europe, and they failed. You don't cheat by failing.

I'm not sure I buy the 'romance' thing; a game is a game. And yet while the Europe thing makes winning easier, if Liverpool won, how impressive that would be can be summed up in the following...

1. winning from 7th. Accepted wisdom is that it's impossible to win without first being in the top 4 to get yourself the players good enough to win.

2. having the highest ever goal-scorer in the Prem from open play (Suarez).

3. having the player with the most assists (Suarez).

4. Suarez having done that when being banned for 5 matches.

5. having (if it happens) the longest winning run of any Prem team.

6. that not a soul thought they'd win it when they were top on xmas day.

7. scoring the most Prem goals ever.

8. and this one I just love ... conceding the most goals of any team this season.

They've been fabulous to watch too. I read a comment last night which said "the best team since the "invincibles", and i find it hard to disagree, at least from the angle of a spectacle to be watching.

And all done without having a complete arse as a manger - something that's not happened much at all in the last 20 years.

[zahidf]

I think relegation and 4th are both settled now.

[mrtourette]

You think? Arsenal would need to win more games than Everton to stay fourth.

[eFestivals]

You think? Arsenal would need to win more games than Everton to stay fourth.

Nope. They've played the same number of games, and Arsenal are 4th.

Including the last ones... Relegation is very tight: Fulham could pull off a great escape! I think Sunderland and Cardiff are gone, and between Norwich and Fulham for the third drop.

there's more chance of a change here than for 4th, but I don't think it's changing.

Norwich ... either they'll get something from Liverpool, or it's party-time for Suarez again with another hat-trick or more, and more added to the recent-games 18-3 aggregate.

Edited April 17, 2014 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

I see someone has been handing round the fruitcake at Cardiff again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27062091

[The Nal]

Totally incorrect.

[Wooderson]

So "weak as piss" Wenger with his rudderless/leaderless side is in a cup final against Hull and more or less confirmed 4th.

What would Moyes swap for that next year never mind this.

[Wooderson]

Not really.

[eFestivals]

PS: Palace on 40 points now.

Just WOW!!

Huge kudos for Pulis.

[eFestivals]

Not really.

Yes it is.

It's around the average, I'd say.

They've had plenty of injuries to important players, but nothing for too long (and most importantly for their success, nothing that's turned out to be devastating for them).

Compared to Arsenal (yet again this season), that's easy life.

Compared to Man Utd, it's probably around the same.

(I can't say I've noticed enough of other teams to comment).

[jammy2211]

I think relegation has a long way to go, can see Cardiff and Fulham picking up points in the next few games to drag WBA, Villa and Swansea properly into it. A few sides in there who really don't look like they can get a win at the moment.

Really not sure how many points Fulham need to be safe... could be as low as 3 but probably somewhere around 7-9.