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I wasnt denying what you say just offering my opinion on how the narrative could change. And for me the only way you become "media darlings" or the only way to get that narrative singing your tune would be on pitch success. Which ultimately is where you have failed to deliver. (see comment in previous post about the CL final)
City have had sustained success. They're not media darlings, though Guardiola may be.
As for refs being influenced by the narrative, sure that happens, it's human nature to be influenced by others, so of course it must. VAR could be used in such a way that ref bias wouldn't be a factor. But then you would probably moan about the var being biased in some way too, son being offside by a whisker springs to mind.
The same refs are running the VAR and are refusing to overrule their colleagues, except for handballs and offsides.
As I've said repeatedly, the ref makes the decision, VAR confirms it and we're back to where we were, but with a long delay to get there.
 
The narrative of Pep the All Conquering Managerial Genius Who Doesn't Need An Open Cheque book to Win Stuff was in full swing last season. That narrative is now well and truly out of the way, and so begins the narrative of This Year is Our Year. The sad thing is that this Pool team is objectively good enough to win the league without subtle leg-ups from officials every other week.

And to echo what DH has said, I wouldn't mind them winning it - as they have done things the 'right way' off the pitch - but their fans are so ****ing annoying. And that's just the ones in London. I cannot imagine what actual Scousers must be like.

You can give me a bell any time <ok>
 
Here are the Premier League all time penalty statistics for the 6 ever present clubs in the PL era:

Penalties for:

Liverpool - 152
Man Utd - 137
Chelsea - 129
Arsenal - 125
Everton - 112
Spurs - 108

Others worthy of a mention Man City 109, Newcastle United 107

Penalties against:

Spurs - 110
Arsenal - 104
Everton = 103
Liverpool - 94
Chelsea - 69
Man Utd - 63

Others worthy of a mention Aston Villa 110, Newcastle 106, WHU 102


Difference between penalties for and against:

Man Utd +74
Chelsea +60
Liverpool +58
Arsenal +21
Everton +9
Spurs -2

Surprising that Everton come in 5th, considering they have been mid table and lower for a large percentage of the PL era.

Unbelievably, Spurs have conceded more penalties than they have been awarded in the Premier League era, and out of all the ever present PL clubs, have conceded the most and been awarded the fewest penalty kicks.
 
Are these the only clubs that have not been relegated in the PL era?
Liverpool - 152
Man Utd - 137
Chelsea - 129
Arsenal - 125
Everton - 112
Spurs - 108
 
Here are the Premier League all time penalty statistics for the 6 ever present clubs in the PL era:

Penalties for:

Liverpool - 152
Man Utd - 137
Chelsea - 129
Arsenal - 125
Everton - 112
Spurs - 108

Others worthy of a mention Man City 109, Newcastle United 107

Penalties against:

Spurs - 110
Arsenal - 104
Everton = 103
Liverpool - 94
Chelsea - 69
Man Utd - 63

Others worthy of a mention Aston Villa 110, Newcastle 106, WHU 102


Difference between penalties for and against:

Man Utd +74
Chelsea +60
Liverpool +58
Arsenal +21
Everton +9
Spurs -2

Surprising that Everton come in 5th, considering they have been mid table and lower for a large percentage of the PL era.

Unbelievably, Spurs have conceded more penalties than they have been awarded in the Premier League era, and out of all the ever present PL clubs, have conceded the most and been awarded the fewest penalty kicks.
You have to take account of how good or bad the teams are/were. Utd have been a dominant force for most of the PL era and the style of play has meant that so much more time has been spent in the opposition penalty area. If you look at wins/losses or goals scored/conceded stats, Utd's record is similar in terms of the ratio. Liverpool's stats however show a disproportionate number of penalties awarded.
 
You have to take account of how good or bad the teams are/were. Utd have been a dominant force for most of the PL era and the style of play has meant that so much more time has been spent in the opposition penalty area. If you look at wins/losses or goals scored/conceded stats, Utd's record is similar in terms of the ratio. Liverpool's stats however show a disproportionate number of penalties awarded.
The drop-off on penalties awarded against looks rather bizarre, to me.
Spurs, Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool are all fairly close, then there's an enormous gap to Chelsea and Man Utd.
There was a good decade without one being scored at Old Trafford, IIRC. Ruel Fox got one in 1993 and then nothing.
The number has grown significantly since Ferguson's departure, too.