If Howe has any sense he'll turn down anything West Ham offer him. Really pleased for the whole club, they're a thoroughly likeable bunch. The chairman deserves a lot of respect too, although I guess he'll have to settle for having his arse slapped on TV
I did enjoy it. No parking the bus tonight. Hold the beers for 5 days would be my advice to the Bournemouth players. They are the best team in the division. They ought to go up as Champions. Or they could play for a 0-0
I'm not sure how that sort of stadium could hope to maintain them there. Staying in the prem requires transfer fees and wages unfortunately. I'm sure it will be a difficult place to go and get points though regardless of its size.
Will be interesting to see how Bournemouth do, they remind a little of Swansea in that they were one of the Championships's most entertaining sides, so if they can adapt like Swansea did they could do well. As others have said though, the stadium size will restrict them in terms of bringing in the ideal personnel. Wilson and Ritchie will be key for them.
I don't think that Bournemouth's stadium actually meets Premier League requirements, IIRC. Not sure what happens if it doesn't. Groundshare with Southampton?
If they're the best team in the division why are they not top? And why should they go up as champions rather than the team that is currently top?
There's not much in it at all as Watford are a good attacking side too. Bournemouth surprisingly slipped up v Sheff Wed the other week or they would be top. I think any neutral watching them play would say they play the best football, although the Championship is a marathon and as Derby have found out, you've got to be consistently good over 46 games to get to the top.
Fair enough and my comment was a bit narky so apologies. Personally I think we can play as well as them and since Christmas have been the most consistent team by a mile - but then i'm biased! Reagrdless, I honestly think whoever lifts the trophy on Saturday will have deserved it as it's so hard to finish top. Oh and as it's a Spurs forum - thanks for Gomes who has been one of our stand out performers all season!
No need to apologise Dan. I think automatic promotion must be a massive relief for both clubs. The play-offs are a trauma and the club that wins promotion this way gets a much shorter break and often finds their transfer targets have gone because they were unable to commit without the guarantee of PL income. Your semi final game v Leicester when Deeney scored from a breakaway after they had missed an injury time penalty still gives me heart palpitations when I watch it - and I don't support either club!
It was a real shock to be honest - I thought we'd go up on the final day but not last weekend. After our game the commentators were saying "all they need is Boro to lose at Fulham and Norwich not to win and they're up" and I was thinking yeah rightoh . Still, Saturday is going to be a brilliant day regardless of whether we win the league or not. - though obviously it would be all the sweeter.
Right let's analyse the four penalty incidents. 1st one on Oscar: a slight clip on the heels with very little contact. Would have been soft to give that. Oscar could have done more to stay on his feet, in my opinion. Cazorla on Fabregas: anyone who thinks that is a penalty is a pussy. Was there contact? Yes, very minimal. Just because there is contact does not mean it is a penalty though. There certainly was not enough to bring him down and he was looking for it. Rightfully booked for simulation. 2nd one on Oscar: clear penalty, in my opinion. Ospina wiped him out. Amazed the referee didn't give it, however it can be argued that he played advantage but Bellerin cleared it off the line. As has been mentioned before, the referee are privy to certain rules that we aren't, so it could come down to the interpretation of their rules. Cahill handball: again, I think this could have gone either way. On one hand, Cahill was on the floor and was like a yard or two away from the shot. On the other hand, his hands were raised and it depends what the referee interprets as an "unnatrual position". Equally just because there may not be intent, does that mean it isn't a penalty? Not sure myself. So out of all the 4 penalties, there was 1 which was clear cut and the rest consist of a dive and 50/50s. How is this any different from most matches in the PL? Even if the penalty was given, there's no guarantee they would have scored it. And looking aside from the penalty incidents, on the balance of play, I don't think you can really argue with the result.
For me,the difference is obvious. It was as blatant a penalty as you're ever likely to see. Has Chelsea scored from it ( quite likely) would you have been able to get an equaliser? (Highly unlikely) Mourinho would have shut the shop up even quicker once he was in front.
Advantage??? No advantage accrued, so he couldn't have given that. I agree he got them all right except 1, except the one he didn't was the clearest pen all season. As NSIS says above, you just know they would have held on to the 1-0 as well.
