Fully aware we could lose today but it is stunning how much the PL has declined in recent years. Shaktar are by a long shot better than any team in the PL in my view. This is a team in a league deemed to be vastly inferior to the PL. I also think Juventus are not that far off City, Chelsea or even United in terms of overall quality, again in a league deemed to be inferior to ours. Credit has to be given to United yesterday, they legitimately came back from behind with 30 mins to spare. The only side that has beaten them away from home is a very good Everton side. But when you look at this division it is quite incredible how poor the league is in comparison to previous seasons. Even when you look at Arsenal and Spurs, teams that in recent seasons have always been up there seem to have declined, on early showings they've proven to be no better than West Brom, Newcastle, Fulham or West Ham. Much like Chelsea at WHL, even when United went behind at Villa Park I never thought they would lose the game. The same for City at Anfield and in many games they've gone behind (Southampton, Fulham, WBA). Even with 10 men and a goal down away from home City managed to beat a side currently 5th away from home. The PL may be the most exciting, but nobody is telling me it was the most quality and it never has done IMO, something I've said on deaf ears. It's got to the point now where we seemingly have a top 3 then Everton, Arsenal and probably Spurs with the former having far more quality. If Fellaini, Mirralis and Jelavic all stay fit I'm quite confident Everton will finish in the 4th slot. Moyes must surely fancy his chances, even having drawn 4 on the spin Everton still find themselves 4th having a bit of leeway next week with Arsenal and Spurs playing each other next week. Everton haven't really faced many tests yet so how they will do depends own how they perform against the bigger teams. I'd be amazed if they finished lower than 6th though. Given how weak the PL is, I'd be disappointed to lose to any side outside of City, United or Everton (away from home). People have said the league is competitive but with all due respect there is no way we should be losing to Norwich, Southampton, Reading, QPR, Villa, Sunderland, Stoke etc. Teams that would have troubled us in previous seasons.
It's the best league in the world. Sky Sports said so. The top three will finish 15-20 points ahead of fourth imo.
Love the sarcasm there Watford Sky have brainwashed viewers into thinking its the best league and that the world shines out of United's backsides but I follow other leagues and I must say the quality in Spain and Germany is so much higher. The PL is only slightly better than Serie A in my view. I still think you guys will be fine even with your bad start. With all due respect in a stronger league if you'd only got 4 points from 11 games you'd be cut adrift but that goes to show how poor the PL is IMO. Sunderland with only 2 different goalscorers in 10 games find themselves well clear of the bottom 3. Depends, we have to win today to keep ourselves in the hunt. We can't afford to go to WBA away needing to win as we won't, not after Internationals anyway. I still think we are much better than Arsenal and Spurs, we didn't even have to get out of 2nd gear to beat them.
Chelsea, United and City are on a different planet to Arsenal and Spurs who are starting to resemble two bald men fighting over a comb. I agree that we'll get out of it eventually but more because of the quality of the competition. At the top end, United seem to be stepping it up and I expect them to win it by a couple of points followed by you a few points ahead of City who seem a shadow of last year but still comfortably in the best three teams in the league.
Swap City with United and I agree. I just think/hope United's defensive ineptitude will get found out eventually. If City drop out of Europe altogether they will be clear favourites. If we can get out of November and December and not be too far off the pace I think we could have a great chance. Our fixtures in 2013 on paper are not as difficult as they have been this side of 2012 in my view if you take out the Manchester clubs. The window will help us get a proper striker in as well and we may be able to recall Lukaku from loan once Sturridge is inevitably sold.
And this is based on one match against Chelsea? I agree that Shaktar played well this week and that in fact they were superior to Chelsea and should have won. To then extrapolate that they would have been better than City or United and that their league may not be inferior to the PL? No team in the premiership (including the top three) can take victory for granted. Shaktar may well have destroyed City and United at their respective grounds but that is purely speculation. Would City or United have allowed them to outplay them like Chelsea did? Like Chelsea did, wouldn't United or City have come back from Shaktar defensive frailties too?
Look how many time English teams have been in the CL final over the last 10 years. The PL weak my arse.
Shakhtar were class, and I dont doubt Russian billionaire's will be buying up talent worldwide to make the Russian league's more attractive ! However they have a long winter lay off which makes it difficult for broadcasters to get interest going on the telly! Generally speaking most PL clubs play to a full live audience and I think our football will remain popular outside the UK for many years to come!
Not one game but two as well as their European record. I've not seen us play a team as good as Shaktar in some while. And look how many English teams have been in the Europa League over the last 10 years? The PL is a weak league now. No English team will be near Wembley this year. A result of a weak league is a downfall in performance in Europe. That will happen this season and arguably already is happening.
Shaktar are not better than any team in the PL. The teams that I genuinely think are above any team in the PL are Real, Barca and Bayern. Then there are teams like Borrussia, PSG and Juventus who I would say are on par-ish terms with the top 3 in England. Then there are Arsenal, Everton, Shaktar, Athletico, Inter etc. I still firmly believe when it comes to spectacle there is no better league that the Premier League. Maybe not better in overall quality but definitely the most entertaining.
Nobody would suggest the PL isn't the most entertaining, in terms of drama and style it is. But to suggest it is a better league in terms of quality than La Liga or Bundesliga IMO is laughable. I'm quite confident if you put Shaktar in the PL they'd easily make top 4. If City, United and Chelsea all went to Donestk tomorrow I'd back Shaktar to beat all of them
We see how good Shaktar in the latter stages of the CL if they get there. You and Juventus will get out the group.
Good point. We are all very impressed with Donetz. Seems a bit OTT to draw so many conclusions from these two 1-1 matches.
There's no way Shaktar aren't getting out that group. Juve have Chelsea and Shaktar. Shaktar have virtually a bye and then Juve at home
I wouldnt say the PL is weak, but it is nowhere near the best. This year especially. The top teams (United, Chelsea, City) have all made a few stupid errors already this season that we wouldnt have seen up to 10 years ago. The competitiveness is as about the same as the Spanish La Liga. It'll be United and Chelsea for the title, City lagging behind and a big scrap for the rest of the teams above the bottom 4. The Championship is much closer than the PL. You could be at the top, but lose 2 game in a row and start to be worried about the relegation zone. Its not just the quality of the football either. Racism in football has been a common occurrence over the past year or so in the PL, and I have to agree with players such as Ferdinand who say anti-racism campaigns aren't doing enough. The diving is getting just as bad as the other countries as well. I like that the referees are finally getting tougher, but I don't think it'll stop players doing it
None of the best English teams take the Europa seriously, i'm not sure how you can come to the conclusion that the PL is weak when we consistently get teams to the final of the most difficult competition in club football.
Agree with the OP. Other leagues are getting stronger in particular the Bundesliga. My tip for the CL is Dortmund. Ukraine have only got 2 decent teams in Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar.
So Shaktar beating Chelsea puts the PL in decline. Would that mean Celtic beating Barcelona puts La Liga on its deathbed?
