Match of the day pundits are biased...Any team other than Manchester United, Chelsea or Manchester City cannot mount a genuine challenge for the title.
No it's typical closed mind media thinking. In exactly the same way that some people - even on this board - equate success with spend. You'd think they learn by now. At least FSG appear to have learnt the lesson!
Lucas had a very poor second half. He held onto the ball too long when he had it and got caught in possession too much. First half was very good, but he seemed to typify the 2nd half performance. Johnson wasn't great, but I thought he did ok defending against Agbonlahor's pace. Think he only got past him a few times, and when playing the whole 2nd half on a yellow (again because Lucas got caught and put us under pressure) he had to make sure he didn't do anything silly against Agbonlahor in the whole 2nd half or risked being sent off.
That's because generally, success and expenditure go hand in hand. City wouldn't have won the league if they didn't spend £00mil over 4 seasons. Same goes for Chelsea. Occasionaly you get a team that doesn't spend as much creep up and put in a challlegen (most recently Dortmund) but the days of the underdog winning the league at the moment are very much over unless FFP somehow changes that (which I don't think it will). Did find it funny on MOTD that instead of praising our first half performance they skipped over it. Just talked quickly about the goal and then how poor in the 2nd half we were. Not that it matters much 2 from 2 is all that matters
Let's just explore what you wrote a little further. City spent a fortune for 2 seasons BEFORE they won the title. Even during their successful campaign they had long periods were they still looked like a bunch of individuals. It could also be argued that City won it because United 'bottled it'!! Now they have a new manager and yet another load of new players to integrate. Chelsea had a topsy turvey season last time out. So the have Maureen back but you know what they say about retreading old ground. They still have to get rid of the 'old guard' and find a way of achieving consistency. It can be argued that United didn't so much win the title last year but were handed it by the poor and inconsistent play of their rivals. They too have a new manager and have made no significant improvements. IF the other have improved it may well be the start of the crying time for United.
I don't agree. Sides will continue to be built with smaller spends and then appear suddenly to flourish when in fact they have been developing. This transfer window has truly bucked the economic trend. The consequences of some of the idiotic payments that are being made will not be seen for a couple of seasons. In Europe, particularly Southern Europe more than a few 'big' clubs are now hoping desperately for a large chunk of success and/or a major upturn in EU economic growth. One without the other will lead them ever closer to disaster.
Really? United, Chelsea, City - all spent big, the only teams to have won the league in last 10 years? Madrid, Barca - 2 horse race in Spain between the 2 biggest spenders Bayern - spending lots of money In the biggest leagues, the biggest spenders tend to win, because they can buy the best players. Like I say, there will be exceptions sometimes, but ask 99% of fans and they'll say the title will be either won by City/Chelsea/United this season.
Let's take a longer term view on this spending issue: The Spanish situation has been very different for Real and Barca for time immemorial. It has destroyed the Spanish league as a truly competitive environment. It is also questionable that the total spend has been more than recouped by the 'successes'. Look at what you wrote regarding "all spent big" the English clubs. When was the last time that United truly 'spent big'? Chelsea bought their way to the top and City are trying to pursue the same model. Both with reduce that level of spending over time. Bayern are and have for a very long time been in a bind where spending is concerned. Their level of domestic success has been regulated by the rules in Germany I don't give a toss what 99% of fans say - the majority merely spout what they've read in the rags. This season is far wider open than the City, Chelsea or United. Unlike Spain where the only is a choice of 2!
Last year United spent £50mil (and £22mil on RVP) Before that they spent £38mil United have earned their money through different ways to City & Chelsea in the last few years but they still spend big. They can do it in different ways with 1 or 2 big players each year, unlike the other two which had to buy 6 or 7. I'm not saying the title is open to more clubs, but unfortunately I believe that those 3 will be fighting it out for the title, and Us, spurs Arsenal will be fighting for 4th. That is the opinion of most people, and obviously the people on MOTD which is why they talk about those 3 as title challengers.
Neither of us can predict who is going to win the league. Your belief matches the common (no insult intended) opinion. I disagree, on the basis that there are a lot of changes in personnel and managers and a 'pack' of clubs that you are relegating to 4th spot are more than capable of removing any one of the 3 from your predicted finishing position. As for MOTD, as you yourself noted, they couldn't even bring themselves to acknowledge that no other side (home or away) totally dominated a game and controlled the way it was played for such a long period. It was indeed a true masterclass. How's that for an example of media myopia?
Even at this stage: Cardiff 3 - City 2, Spuds 1 - Swans 0 The title will be a lot more open than many people think.
Hope we get a DM in asap. Someone who is better than Lucas to make Lucas work hard for the anchor man spot
Opta stats for the game: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/143457-another-three-points-opta-chalkboards
