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English Premier League football

StoneHappyMonday said:
You may have perfectly good reasons for supporting United. EG, maybe you were born in Bournemouth...or New Zealand.

Oh very fucking original. I'm in awe. It took you 5 or 6 hours to come up with that. I spent four years in London getting shit from people for supporting United, in spite of the fact that I didn't know ANYONE who supported a team from their own area. Yet they all had excuses for supporting Arsenal instead of Leyton, Spurs instead of Doncaster, Liverpool instead of West Ham.
 
StoneHappyMonday said:
Interesting that your knowledge of title races spans all of 10 years. There was football before Murdoch you know.

Yeah, no shit. I've been following the league since I was about 8 (1980 or so).

If you would like to read what I actually said, it was that the last time there was a three horse race was 10 years ago. Not that I only know what happened in the last ten years. My argument is that title races with more than two serious competitors have been rare in recent years. That would remain the case, whether or not United had signed those three players.

Looking back over historical data shows that it's very rare that more than two teams could win the title (click on each year to see the full league table). Apart from 1996, there's: 1992, 1986, maybe 1984, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1968, 1967 (I stopped at 1965).

Things were more competitive in the 1970s, possibly because a win was only worth 2 points. But the decline in competitiveness clearly began well before Murdoch.

I'm really not sure why you're posting in this thread. You don't like football (or at least the Premiership) fine. Don't post here. Start a thread about something that you do like.
 
Sim0n said:
I'm really not sure why you're posting in this thread. You don't like football (or at least the Premiership) fine. Don't post here. Start a thread about something that you do like.

Oh yes, that's what you said to Seuss wasn't it? 8(

You have a narrow definition of 'competitiveness'. Of course, in ANY league, in ANY sport, it is highly unusual for more than a couple of teams to end up fighting for the title. The difference, which you are ignoring, is that several teams outside of todays 'top four' ('top two'?) have won the league in the past prior to Murdochs millions. Ipswich, Derby, Aston Villa, Spurs for starters. Others had a chance at the start. Geddit?

Now you are happy with the concentration of millions in the hands of a few, because one of those few are your chosen one. Well done on picking a winner. They are, after all, 'your' Man Utd aren't they. ;)

As for your claim,
I didn't know ANYONE who supported a team from their own area.

you clearly didn't look far. How on Earth do the likes of Exeter, Port Vale etc get thousands to turn up each week? You think they all travel from Newcastle (New Zealand?) to watch lower division football? Didn't you categorize West Ham as the "East London Nazis"? That would really please my (East London born and bred) Jewish socialist friends who follow West Ham.

Tell Seussy to go away with equal vigour ('football is all bollocks') and I'll stop right now.

Edit. FYI Simon, I love football (unlike Seuss). And it is my love of football which has me posting how much I hate the way Murdochs millions have ruined it.
 
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I know this isn't the EPL but AC Milan apparently interested in Eto'o, thought they were going for henry? Ah well, still just as good a striker. They're going to get rid of Giliardino it seems.
 
I see Chelsea have complained about Real tapping up Robben. Given Chelsea's form (A. Cole, Arnesen, Mikel, etc) I find this somewhat amusing. But in truth, many big clubs are guilty of this - Man. United certainly with Hargreaves. Time to change the rules? Or find a better way to enforce them?

Back in the Premiership, Liverpool are doing well to sign some key players to long-term deals.

And I'll be looking forward to the U-21 Euro Champs next week. Anyone got any good info on any of the teams?
 
Looks like lots is going on with my Newcastle team, good to see Sam is actually looking to buy some defenders now and said he wants to, no other manager ever seems to want to do that. And they wonder why they all fucking failed? Hmmm. And it seems we'll have the money for them to, with a billionaire taking over.
 
Sim0n said:
I see Chelsea have complained about Real tapping up Robben. Given Chelsea's form (A. Cole, Arnesen, Mikel, etc) I find this somewhat amusing. But in truth, many big clubs are guilty of this - Man. United certainly with Hargreaves. Time to change the rules? Or find a better way to enforce them?

I also find it funny, but that's big clubs for you.

Sim0n said:
Back in the Premiership, Liverpool are doing well to sign some key players to long-term deals.

I also find this funny to, because they did this last year with Gerrard(and maybe Carragher i think) because Chelsea were after him. Yeah he's really proving his loyalty by signing a new contract worth more money every damn year. **insert eye rolling smiley here** Lengths of contracts really don't mean much in football.
 
Fuucckking hell, spanish football is amazing atm, who else watched? The top 3 all drew, but there were last minute goals in both barca/madrid games, i have never seen anything like this i don't think. This is why football is so great.
 
^Ah, bugger! I was going to watch those games this morning! But I think I missed them, anyway - just as I woke up, ESPN was finishing the Real-Zaragoza (?I think?) match.

I agree, the Spanish league is probably more interesting at the moment. Incredibly close, lots of interesting games with last minute goals and swings of fortune. And some great quality as well. Next season I'm really going to pay more attention to that league - it's probably better than the English one all things considered.

Interesting to read about Gerrard signing a contract last season as well, I'd forgotten/hadn't realised that.

And finally, what about Arsenal? The way some of them are talking, Henry and even Fabregas could be on their way out, especially if Arsene leaves.
 
^ Btw you know Messi is the new Maradona for sure now...Messi practically copied maradonas hand of god goal to get them back into the match...no joke! They keep tlaking about it. Its just so bloody ironic. I hope Madrid win, still buzzing after they equalised in the last minute and Barca conceded in the last minute.

Arsenal are gonna be in the shit next season if things keep going the way they're, unless maybe they replace henry with Eto'o or Gilliardino...
 
Just watching that on Youtube... that Messi... *shakes head*

Soon he'll be addicted to cocaine too. ;-)
 
Sim0n said:
And finally, what about Arsenal? The way some of them are talking, Henry and even Fabregas could be on their way out, especially if Arsene leaves.

The brits woldn't sell a single paper during the off season if they didn't make up shit about henry and other arsenal stars ;)

Anyway, I really wish Henry would just fuck off to Barca or wherever, as a staunch Arsenal fan I get sick of hearing it, year in, year out, thankfully I think this will be the year...

It would be sad to see Fabregas go however.

Big Sam over at the magpies now too... I personally think he's the worst manager going around in the premier league atm, his tactics and style of play are ugly at best
 
^ Well then you're stupid if you think that about Sam, look where he got Bolton to that in itsself deserves some respect. He's the eprfect manager for us atm, defensive minded and actually wants to bring in defenders. Anyway, i will let his actions do the talking and prove you wrong, not my words.
 
well you can't say bolton play and attractive type of game... that speaks for itself and he never really got bolton anywhere, they're just another number in the premier league.

but yeah lets see what he can do with the maggies...
 
Got rid of Bramble, rumoured to be bringing in Brown. Not a bad start :). Swify's right that Bolton play ugly, but I think Sam's achieved a lot with them.
 
Brown who? Wes Brown? He'll probably he the best defender we've ever got if that's who you mean. That's not saying much btw!
 
There were rumours that he's off to Newcastle; his contract is getting close to an end, and Man United have some potentially great young defenders coming through - Evans and Pique - plus guys like Silvestre and O'Shea who don't mind being squad players. If Brown wants first team football, he really needs to move. Shame, I think he's a great player to have as a third choice central defender.
 
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