There are times, Stavros - and I recognise that it may be deliberate on your part - that you sound like a high court judge who fell asleep in the 50s and has only just woken up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
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There are times, Stavros - and I recognise that it may be deliberate on your part - that you sound like a high court judge who fell asleep in the 50s and has only just woken up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
He'll go to Madrid and become Ronaldo's gimp.
The Premiership is actually interesting this year.....
If money talks, Man C shout loudest. But they don't have Suarez.
Hmmmm 'working class lads from Buenos Aires like all sorts of pies' -taken straight from the diary of Lord Goddard? Not a double entendre? But judged by the claim in 'secret agenda' in the link below I might be more conservative even than a notorious 'hanging judge'....Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
http://www.evi.com/images/thumbs/180/250/Goddard.jpg
A Secret Agenda? There is also the question of whether Lord Goddard had a secret agenda. Oliver Cyriax notes that his clerk, Arthur Harris, had "to take a spare pair of the standard striped trousers to court on sentencing days. When condemning a youth to be flogged or hanged, Goddard always ejaculated". This leads to frightening speculation as to whether the Lord Chief Justice may have become a sort of judicial serial killer.
http://netk.net.au/Whitton/Cartel30.asp
Well, you might have been able to forecast three of the top five at Christmas, but probably not the other two. Interesting reading and could be an intriguing second half to the season, especially when you look at the points already dropped by the top teams. And while it may only be on goal difference, it does my heart good to see Liverpool at the top.
1 Liverpool 17 23 36
2 Arsenal 17 16 36
3 Man City 17 31 35
4 Chelsea 17 14 34
5 Everton 17 13 34
Interesting results from Boxing Day, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Man C the primary beneficiaries. And some terrific games too. Amazing result at Everton, Crystal Palace and Fulham won as well, so squeaky bum time already in the relegation zone. And while they're still stuttering, Man U are on a useful run.
If Liverpool lose at Chelski as well, are their title aspirations realistically over?
No I don't think so, Liverpool created as many chance's if not more than City & for some better finishing or luck would have at least had a draw from the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
First real marker is start of January & is pretty much bang on half way through the Prem season but with how tight it as at the top this year we probably won't know who the real title contenders are till the end of February......might go right to the wire this year at both the top & bottom end.
In terms of the game at the Etihad, I agree, but one thing that's been exposed by the two games in quick succession is the lack of depth in Liverpool's squad compared to the luxury that the two teams they've just played enjoy. That could make all the difference in the second half of the season, regardless of how well Rodgers does in the transfer window.Quote:
Originally Posted by beaufont
Was Suarez entitled to a penalty yesterday? I think so. Et'o should also have been sent off for two fouls, one horrendous the other just stupid. Quality teams with good defenders ought to be able to prevent Suarez from scoring and with such a rickety defence and a thug like Skrtl on the pitch I think Liverpool are the most likely to lose ground for the reasons Robert has given. I also think Everton will begin to pall as the season drags on even though they are a good side and I think Barklay will be a fixture in the England squad. Ultimately I feel the last four will be Arsenal, Manchesters City and United, and Chelsea, and while I don't expect United to regain the title, it is not impossible. Having said that, Arsenal seem to be plagued with injury problems but as it stands, I don't see any change to the top four. I have a higher opinion of Brendan Rodgers than I did last year, but Liverpool is still a lopsided team and he needs another two seasons to build a title winning team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
I suspect that the current top four will be the same at the end of the season other than that Man City will end as champions with Arsenal second, Chelsea third and Liverpool fourth. Everton, despite Martinez's excellence, Tottenham and Newcastle lack both the resources and the necessary steel to sustain a real challenge. As for Man Utd and after a miserable defeat to Spurs, Moyes won't be able to fix their deficiencies in the January window, but expect them to spend big and spectacularly in the summer.
But it remains the most interesting and exciting premiership race in years, with all the top teams fallible.
Relegation? Perm any three from ten!
I think you are wrong about United, mainly because they will get van Persie back from fitness and he makes a major difference, while Januzaj is improving all the time. A lot might depend on who comes and goes this month, but Liverpool are still a year away from the top four. If Arsenal can maintain their fitness, I expect them to win the title, but there are flaws in all the top six teams, no?
Old Trafford is no longer the fearsome stronghold that it was - four teams have now won there this season and one or two others could as well. As for returns from injury, Arsenal have almost a full team of crocks in the wings, Liverpool, with the exception of the defeat at Hull, have done extremely well without Gerrard and Sturridge - but would struggle without Suarez's prodigious talent - and both Man City and Chelsea have stronger and deeper squads than United.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
I still take Liverpool to finish fourth. I also hope that they do, which is a different thing, I know. Family loyalties - an uncle played for them in the 60s.
United were written off when City won the title a few years ago; there is depth in the squad and while I agree that it will be harder this year than it has been for some time, I think they will edge past Liverpool and Everton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
i sid united wouldnt make top 4 the day moyes took over :) i win 250£ if am right. lets be having david it, keep up the good work :)
Great! So the black pudding butties are on you, Sammi? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
I still take Liverpool to finish fourth, although a lot depends on Suarez's fitness and his conversion to vegetarianism......
£250? Not a serious bet then. I am going to stick with my prediction, and not take any bets on it.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
The only time I won anything on a football match was the year West Ham beat Arsenal in the FA Cup, I had £1 on the score (1-0). Most of the cleaners in my place of work were fanatical Arsenal fans and were deffo gutted, nowotimean? It was joyous. £11 in those days was not so bad. I chickened out of backing Wimbledon to beat Liverpool 1-0, I think it was offered at 100-1. Damn. Still hurts.
Eusebio- I can still recall watching with amazement the game in the 1966 World Cup when Portugal came from 3-0 down to beat North Korea. Eusebio was after Pele the finest striker of the 60s, one of the finest ever, and also an exemplary player with a distinguished sense of fair play -witness his applauding Alex Stepney saving from him in the European Cup final -quite a contrast and indeed, an object lesson for that worthless turd Muhammad Ali whose undignified, childish and offensive behaviour undermines any claim to greatness he might think he had. But boxing isn't a sport anyway.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25611762
Eusebio was way ahead of his time. He would have been every bit as successful today because of his supreme athleticism, his fitness, his acute football brain and his tremendous skills. In fact, he would have fared even better, without the primitive cloggers like Nobby Stiles kicking lumps out of him all game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
it was a pvt bet not with a bookies ;-) I stopped betting on football seriously after 2006 world cup, £2500 up:)
I used to be quite good(lucky) at accumulator bets based on results.
used to bet peanuts on mad odds as opposed to me mates whacking fat ones down on odds on shit. had more fun my way:D
Do you ever do the dogs? Ha ha...
lolol i dont do that kinda thing, i am a differen kind of pedigree,chum.
people seem to forget the first 5 games and us being at the top without saurez. of course we would miss him but sturridge did the business to and his goal scoring record for us is really good:)Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
lolol i dont do that kinda thing, i am a differen kind of pedigree,chumQuote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Best punning post of the year so far. Well done missy.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
Meanwhile, In other footie news, Man Utd slip to their third defeat in a row.
They don't like teams that begin with S, do they? Spurs (sort of), Swansea, Sunderland. Stoke will be rubbing their hands.
Liverpool are the same as the other top teams this season - consistently impressive at home, a bit all over the place away. Unless it's Norwich, obviously. The championship is going to come down to away form, and so far, with the exception of the Etihad massacre, that points to Arsenal.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
Still think what transfers happen this month could be make or break for teams in the title race. Chelsea have not been that impressive to watch but keep on getting results. City's away form will rule them out for me unless it improve's.
Arsenal & Liverpool are the best teams to watch but neither have an abundance of strikers that might catch up with them.......................one thing for sure Utd will do well to finish 5th this season as I am sure Spurs will have something to say about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
we have arsenal, chelsea, city, spurs and everton all to come to anfield yet.
just saying:)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
True. Fingers crossed kidder! :)
I don't think United will dominate the Premier League as they have done and as Liverpool did in the good old days, so I expect the title to rotate between the big four plus Liverpool over the next few years. I can't see Spurs or Everton maintaining their form over the rest of the season and repeat my prediction that Liverpool will concede to United the 4th spot. Having said that Walcott's injury is a blow to Arsenal and England, but he seems injury prone anyway and was always borderline for Brazil. I wonder if it would have made any difference has Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer replaced Ferguson which was mooted at one point and he was 4/1 to take over. May get the job sooner or later.
I agree with you about Spurs and Everton, although Martinez has already confirmed the excellence he showed at Wigan and turned Everton into a consistently stronger and more attractive team than when Moyes was in charge. Pellegrini is starting to optimise Man City's riches and Mourinho has reinjected the pragmatic steel that brought Chelsea great success in his first reign. I can see United recovering in time, but I don't think it will be this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
So I'll stick with my prediction of Man C, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in that order. Although, as Sammi has rightly pointed out, almost everyone still has to visit Anfield, and it is regaining its fearsome reputation under Rodgers, who is proving to be pretty astute. And the final placings could go down to the wire, unless someone starts to collect away points in a big way.
Fascinating.
I don't think Liverpool are ready yet,much as i love them.
Looks like Arsenal to me.If it happens, it will sicken me to have to listen to Wenger,the sour faced git!
Everton...As a famous man once said...If they were playing in my garden,i'd get up and close the curtains,
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Piper
:-D
x
Oh go on, be brave, open the curtains and admire...Quote:
Originally Posted by The Piper
That Goal By Sharpy! - YouTube
haha sharpy scored a goal !!!! go ed lid!!!!! not a touch on the gary mac goal though.
lets be having it.
Gary Mac against the blu shite - YouTube
Wot about this beauty, Sammi? King Kenny at his imperious best.
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0m4loTBYE4
Mesdames et Messieurs s'il vous plait se lever
Cantona Volley vs Liverpool (FA Cup Final 1996) - YouTube
Now you're really in trouble Stavros. Sammi's coming after you....Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
I've actually seen Everton play at Goodison and it wasn't against Liverpool.
Sadly many years ago my uncle was due a trial for Everton as a potential goalkeeper,but he was killed.
Everton fluctuate, it seems to me -they might have done well in Europe had the ban on English clubs after Heysel not been (unfairly in my opinion) imposed- there have been some great games with Liverpool but I don't think anyone doubts where the power lies in the North-West, with or without your uncle, which is a sad story. One of the more interesting historical aspects of the rivalry between the Reds is the prior economic dominance of Liverpool before the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal which may or may not have contributed to the gradual decline of Liverpool, not least because Manchester also had the cotton trade. Having said that, the journalist Hugh MacIlvanney some years ago made a documentary about the three most influential managers of the English game and all three came from a small area in Scotland -Jock Stein, Bill Shankly and Matt Busby, so the irony of the Red Rivalry is that it was shaped in its most intense years by managers as it were, cut from the same cloth, as indeed is true of Alex Ferguson whose origins are not that from from the Lanarkshire of the great trio. And both clubs used to recruit the best young players from Ireland and Scotland, whereas these days neither Ireland nor Scotland produces young stars like it once did.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Piper
The quality isn't good but part 1 is here:
Busby, Stein & Shankly: The Football Men - Part One 1/4 - YouTube
I am not afraid, and anyway Sammi only knows me as a suave, debonair intellectual, she doesn't know where I live. And anyway, it is just a game.Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis