Rival Watch™ 2013/2014

I just laughed. It was pathetic. He was lost in the box tbh.

 

Why so narrow a definition of the word "rival"?
You're entitled, of course, to your opinion of how the league will pan out, but nothing is set in stone and any one of the current top nine could conceivably be in competition for the CL positions.
Your faith in Utd's abilities may yet prove to be well founded, but I think it's based more on their past achievements than the evidence of their current form.
Everyone is a rival until they fall away.
My own feeling is that Saints and Nukes will fade, but I wouldn't be putting money on it, and others could just as easily say the same about us.

 

If Everton can keep Lukaku fit they have as good a chance as any finishing top four. It's a big if, but every other area of the field they have adequate cover, and a very solid spine on top of that. Howard, Jagielka, Distin, Barry, Mccarthy, Barkley and Lukaku. Add the decent creative sparks they have in to that from wide.. Mirallas, Deleofeu (sp), Baines, Pienaar, Coleman.. Not too shabby.

 

It's annoying Everton are doing well because of a striker that isn't even theirs , they'll struggle when Chelsea recall him

 

Everton are a farce though. That the FA allows a club pushing for CL football (and the umteen millions it brings... as well as the umpteen millions it costs the team(s) that miss out) to be powered by players that don't belong to them is absurd.

Would Everton be anywhere near the top 4 without Barry, Deulofeu and Lukaku?? It's not as if these loan players are just bulking their squad out... you could argue, especially with Lukaku and Barry, that they're probably two of the first names of the teamsheet.

Added to that the farce that Lukaku (who is one of the best strikers in Europe right now) can take points of every team apart from Chelsea.

Loan system needs to be adjusted slightly to bring back fairness.

Maybe if you loan to a club in your own nation it has to be a higher or lower league?

 

In terms of the league and no localism (ie, ignoring the direct rivalry with Everton and Man Utd etc) then I think a rival is someone that is challenge for the same target or could effect our ambitions. At the start of the year I didn't see us challenging for the title whereas I think Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd would. I thought fourth would be between Arsenal, Tottenham and ourselves.

Maybe it is a bit arrogant and disrespectful of my to ignore Southampton and Newcastle but I genuinely can't see them still being there in the new year. If they are then I will have to take their challenge more seriously.

Fourteen games is obviously a fair way into the season but nothing has changed my mind apart from how well Arsenal have started but I do think they will have a blip at some point. Everton have done better than I expected under Martinez (mainly thanks to Lukaku) so I'd probably put them in the 'challenging' group now too. However, I rarely think about changing my mind on seasonal predictions until the new year at least so I'll stick with what I said at the start of August:

1) Chelsea
2) Man City
3) Man Utd
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Tottenham
7) Everton

 

Man U and Newcastle about to kick off. I think the Geordies will smell blood and take the game 1 - 2.

 

The worlds deadliest midfield partnership is about to continue their legacy; Cleverley & Jones.

 

They'll be leading us to World Cup glory in 7 months

 

Since when did red v black and white stripes clash?

 

Ironically, I thought the same for Norwich midweek who were unable to play in yellow because we were in red. Instead in their white and black kit

 

Two words. Kit sales.

 

Do Norwich even need an away kit? Who else plays in yellow every week?

 

There are three kinds of people in this world; those that can count and those that can't

 

We wore purple at Carrow Road last season.


Newcastle v United.

Where is Wayne?

 

Suspended for 5 yellow cards.

 

Sounds about right.

 

This has been a thrilling first half.....

 

Great dive from Hernandez... no yellow card though?

 

Horrible dive from Hernandez there