Re: Could we be potentially seeing the most competitive PL title race since 2003?

by vivabarca38 Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:06 pm

No chance in HELL one of City or Chelsea don't win the Prem.

by cyberman Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:10 pm

Blue Barrett wrote:Yes, because City performed just as good as the previous season but only just fell short.....oh wait......

Like I said, other teams were POOR.

oh so the quality of the league depends on man city? when did city become the be all and end all of league quality?
the season before we had the lge wrapped up, got complacent [ 3-3 v everton ffs] and city snuck in, even trying to bottle it v QPR. city were no great shakes..hence last year when they were found out.
you also realise that we only play city twice right? its not as if we play a poor city team 38 games in a row.. theres a whole lge of teams that united play.
what also kills the notion of poor teams is that we were on course to break the record points total but just gave up with 4 games to go.. if we won by a modest points haul then fair enaugh..you could say if city performed theyd have caught us..but theyd have realistically had to have smashed the points total to finish above us.. are they poor because they didnt smash records?
anyway they had a points total that would have won the league every other season on its own. just more revisionist bullshit coming into play here.

by Vlad the Impaler Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:14 pm

Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.

Yes, when we reached the UCL final. Laughing

by cyberman Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:18 pm

city.. toure turns it on and off..fernandinho looks like an expensive gareth barry. silva has dropped off the map. if aguero loses form they lose a lot of their trust and guile around the box. no width.

chelsea.. stikeforce isnt enaugh to shoot their way out of trouble. defense lacks pace and is aging. torres.

arsenal.. 1 striker

i give you my word, united will walk this league this year. stick that into goal legacy quotes thread. we wont fall behind as often this year with fellani anchoring with carrick so well have to score less goals. stick rooney in behind rvp again and get kagawa match fit and itll be a cakewalk.

by cyberman Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:20 pm

Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.
Yes, when we reached the UCL final.

even if what he says is true.. ancelottis chelsea was the weakest squad ive ever seen win the league lol.
united..winning leagues with 1 man teams / weak squads since 1992

by Blue Barrett Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:16 am

Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.
Yes, when we reached the UCL final.

Who's talking about the CL? I thought Chelsea proved in 2012 that league performance does not always = CL performance? Stop deviating from the point please.

by Blue Barrett Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:28 am

cyberman wrote:
Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.
Yes, when we reached the UCL final.
even if what he says is true.. ancelottis chelsea was the weakest squad ive ever seen win the league lol.
united..winning leagues with 1 man teams / weak squads since 1992

With most of our players still at the top of their games? Stingy defense? Scoring the most goals in PL history in a season(103)? Lampard having the best year of his career scoring close to 30 goals(22 in the league, with 17 league assists)? Drogba(golden boot, 29 goals iirc) and Anelka scoring from all angles? Hell even Malouda & Kalou were on top form that season.

Beating Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates(and 2-0 at the Bridge), beating United 2-1 at Old Trafford(0-0 @ Stamford Bridge), beating Liverpool 2-0 home & away. Scored 7 goals 3 times and 8 goals once.

If that's the weakest PL title team ever to you then there's no point continuing this. You haven't got a clue what you're saying.

Cheers.

by urbaNRoots Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:11 pm

Chelsea and United will fight for the title how it seems... City and Arsenal up there but will always be atleast 4-5 points behind. That's my prediction now that the transfer window is closed.

by Vlad the Impaler Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:12 pm

Blue Barrett wrote:
Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.
Yes, when we reached the UCL final.
Who's talking about the CL? I thought Chelsea proved in 2012 that league performance does not always = CL performance? Stop deviating from the point please.

This doesn't mean it is generally valid.

A team which wins the title in EPL and has also good performances in UCL, can't have a weak squad.

Anyway, it seems that you don't know much about United if you say that we had a weak team in 10/11.

No offense mate, but please don't reply to me again with the same attitude.

by Grooverider Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:33 pm

Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:
Vlad the Impaler wrote:Yes, when we reached the UCL final.
Who's talking about the CL? I thought Chelsea proved in 2012 that league performance does not always = CL performance? Stop deviating from the point please.

This doesn't mean it is generally valid.

A team which wins the title in EPL and has also good performances in UCL, can't have a weak squad.

Anyway, it seems that you don't know much about United if you say that we had a weak team in 10/11.

No offense mate, but please don't reply to me again with the same attitude.

homo domestic lol

by Vlad the Impaler Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:47 pm

Grooverider wrote:
Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Blue Barrett wrote:Who's talking about the CL? I thought Chelsea proved in 2012 that league performance does not always = CL performance? Stop deviating from the point please.

This doesn't mean it is generally valid.

A team which wins the title in EPL and has also good performances in UCL, can't have a weak squad.

Anyway, it seems that you don't know much about United if you say that we had a weak team in 10/11.

No offense mate, but please don't reply to me again with the same attitude.
homo domestic lol

Pls go and drink your milk.

by Ion Creanga Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:50 pm

Vlad the Impaler wrote:
Grooverider wrote:
Vlad the Impaler wrote:

This doesn't mean it is generally valid.

A team which wins the title in EPL and has also good performances in UCL, can't have a weak squad.

Anyway, it seems that you don't know much about United if you say that we had a weak team in 10/11.

No offense mate, but please don't reply to me again with the same attitude.
homo domestic lol
Pls go and drink your milk.

by DeletedUser#1 Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:54 pm

I think City will drop a lot of points away from home.

Chelsea will bore their way to the title with many 1-0 wins.

United will slaughter the smaller sides, but will struggle in big games.

Arsenal, Spurs and Us are unknown quantities. I can't comment at the moment. Too many variables to consider.

by donttreadonred Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:55 pm

Glad this has stayed civil... :facepalm:

In any case, it's far too early to crown or rule out any of the usual suspects. The kneejerk to the first three matches is quite remarkable.
- United not to make CL
- City won't challenge
- Chelsea look dour
- Arsenal may win the league because they've strengthened at one of their deepest positions...
- Liverpool to win the league and Sturridge to score 40 this season

Come on... I think at least a few of us are intelligent enough to know that a sample size of three matches is far from enough to make a real judgment, especially when some of the club's signings have yet to pull on their new shirts.

That said, there are certainly concerns for every contender this season:
- United... well, Moyes still thinks he's at Everton. His tactics have been shambolic so far. If he wants to stay United's manager, he needs to untuck his manhood and sets up with a little more desire and attacking verve.

- City don't seem to have fully gelled under Pellegrini, but I do believe the rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. Fernandinho a Brazilian Gareth Barry...? rofl

It's like you haven't even watched him play. The squad isn't used to the new tactics, and Pellegrini's still finding his best lineup. Moreover, they've been playing a patchwork defense.

- Chelsea... Their striking situation could yet ruin their challenge. Keeping Torres and Ba, while loaning Lukaku, was the wrong decision (albeit one that was forced upon them). Eto'o was a great, line-leading striker. I'm not sure he is a great, line-leading striker. He's dropped into a play-making role more often for Anzhi and hasn't brought the goals they'd hoped. Moreover, I'm not sure if he has the physicality to endure a full Premier League Campaign, and UCL, and Cups, etc., meaning that they will have to rely upon Torres and Ba at some stage.

- Arsenal have bought a world class player and still managed not to address a single issue that nearly ever pundit, supporter, or barely self-aware infant could have identified at the beginning of the window. Ozil ensures that they will be good going forward, but they were already good going forward. I understand Gunners' enthusiasm about his signing, but I think it papers over the failures of the the club to secure what was necessary. It's like eating dessert before dinner... and then not eating dinner.

- Tottenham look to miss the spark of Gareth Bale something awful. They've looked great in two thrids of the pitch, but as soon as they enter the final third, they forget how to play footy. Moreover, it's possible to count the number of truly dangerous chances for Soldado on one hand. They are in serious need of a creative influence in attack and a dynamic spark that can make something happen. They have two players that can provide that in Eriksen and Lamela, but it has yet to be seen how they will fit in, or even IF they will live up to their potential.

- Liverpool... Let's not kid ourselves. We've had a great start, but it's not likely to last. We may eve continue this great run for the next month or two, but the holiday period will likely derail any true title challenge (utterly unrealistic to actually suggest it, if I'm honest). We've made a great start to a top-four challenge, but that's the extent of any realistic hope. The progress made is very encouraging, though.

As the title of the thread suggests, the parity in the league could make this one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. There is no run-away favorite. CHelsea have the managerial fortitude but not the squad; city have the squad but not the stability/consistency; United have the stability/consistency, but not the managerial experience/ruthless mentality.

by vivabarca38 Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:23 pm

Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.

That's an extremely idiotic way to put down a Team's achievement.Putting a team down because other teams were poor....REALLY?HMM.Lets look at Chelsea's most important trophy in history and their only 1 CL.Barcelona,Real Madrid,Juventus,United,City,Napoli,Arsenal,Bayern,and Dortmund are ALL better this season than when Chelsea won the CL.Does that make Chelsea's CL win any less significant?NO.

by LeBéninois Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:28 pm

[quote="vivabarca38"]

Blue Barrett wrote:Being the best team in England last year wasn't the hardest thing in the world. That's not saying much, considering how horrible City, Chelsea & Arsenal were. You were champions by default.

Think of it this way, what title team in the last 20 years was the 12/13 United team better than? Only shout is MAYBE 10/11 United but that's about it. That was a weak title squad, and you know it.[/quote
That's an extremely idiotic way to put down a Team's achievement.Putting a team down because other teams were poor....REALLY?HMM.Lets look at Chelsea's most important trophy in history and their only 1 CL.Barcelona,Real Madrid,Juventus,United,City,Napoli,Arsenal,Bayern,and Dortmund are ALL better this season than when Chelsea won the CL.Does that make Chelsea's CL win any less significant?NO.

I got to agree 100% with Viva .

by DeletedUser#1 Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:02 pm

The table in unreal so far Laughing

by RealGunner Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:34 pm

It's like the 80s lol

by Lex Sat Oct 26, 2013 11:56 pm

Southampton in 3rd ffs. And people scoffed when Adkins got the boot and Don Tino came in Laughing

by Great Leader Sprucenuce Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:02 am

Not really much to do with title race tbh but if we win tomorrow there will be 6 points between 2nd and 9th Laughing

by Adit Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:45 am

This is not the most competitive PL...this is the PL where most Big teams apart from Arsenal have changed managers and are shet...the less shettier team wins the competition.