You reckon ? I'm looking forward to getting involved in some proper footie thread and some good old banter, without HIAG ruining every thread and then crying off to the Old Bill when he gets short shrift.
There was a 10 point gap between Leicester City and our closest rival last season and a 21 point gap down to Liverpool ...so I see this season as more of an anomaly. tbf On a more serious note, whilst I think the Prem is now more competitive than it's ever been, the biggest threat in terms of 'a split' is that the daft money behind United, City and Chelsea puts everyone else in a cyclical battle for the UCL 4th spot ... let's hope not
I've put no. Whilst there's clearly always a gulf between title winners, top 4 etc and relegated sides, to have so many sides bunched together where anyone from 8th was still looking over their shoulders going into the last few games is rare. Id expect there to be more like a 3 way split usually with teams like Southampton, West Ham and Leicester challenging with Everton and the top 6 being the top 6 with a bottom 3rd of the rest
CK, you picked the perfect time to mention HIAG, **** went down yesterday . In regards to your question, it's a tough one. I'd say it's evened out the playing field a little in terms of first XIs. Lesser sides are able to sign some very good players now and so are more than capable of giving a bigger side a game providing they've got a fully fit XI. Though in terms of squads, the bigger sides will be able to push ahead as they'll be able to afford keeping very good players on the bench. Chelsea has had the likes of Fabregas and Willian on the bench in many games, two players who are better than most of the first choice players in other sides, City have been rotating Aguero with Jesus and deemed Joe Hart not good enough to the point of loaning him out, Utd have been benching Rooney and Mkhitaryan, even us, Son's had an immense season yet not always been a starter, while Davies and Trippier would get into a number of XIs in the league... So that's where the big difference is for me. First XI's, a good game can be made but the big clubs have much deeper strength in depth should a couple injuries occur and it allows them to maintain progress far more easily.
Good call, it seems to be more often that smaller teams pull of results against the bigger sides in one of games (see Palace recently) but there's a reason they aren't winning the league ahead of Chelsea! That makes me think of our side last season. We had a very good first 11 (at least they all clicked) and we didn't have strength in depth but due to the incredible sports science at the club, we didn't have any serious injuries and managed to play the strongest side. Notice Chelsea also made the least changes over the season this season as well
Soon the PL will split in to 2 divisions with top 10 in PL1 and the bottom 10 drop in to PL2. There will then be mid week games in a European League
I post on your board and you call me a ****. Goddam gooner mo fo. Anyway ... you lonely without hiag yet Or have you visited him in your basement
Piskie is telling the Smaritans they are making a wum **** up? That's a bit harsh even for a tart like him.
