I think that they're just trying to drum up interest in the title race. It would have been basically over if you'd have beaten Utd the next day and the season would've had a boring conclusion. It still might, of course, but their viewing figures probably plummet when there's little to play for.
With United playing for a Europa League win and entry into the CL that way, and pretty much giving up on top 4, I can see the top 4 ending like this... Chelsea Spurs City Liverpool Arsenal Man United
What seemed like a foregone conclusion for second place now has some doubts as the annual bottle arrived at West Ham. If Jose conducts a masterclass as I think he will it'll be 'man the lifeboats'.
Chelsea have actually lost more games this season than we have! The difference has been those few tight games that they turned into wins and we didn't. It's something we need to deal with and beef up our striking options.
We've only lost one more than you but have only drawn three but you're right about beefing up your forward line but with Lame looking likely to be the fall guy you need to look for the new Soldado.
It's a big change, mate, not doubt. And we'll need to adapt. But it gives us a chance to get used to playing in that type of stadium before our planned move to the new home.
That big pitch at Wembley will kill you. I think I'm right in saying that the pitch at WHL is the smallest in the PL which has allowed you to develop your pressing game, and it didnt work at Wembley. It's no surprise that your away record this year has been nowhere near as good as your home record. On a side note, it kind of begs the question as to why there isn't a rule for standardisation of pitch size ?
Very few teams away record is better than their home record, so slightly irrelevant in that aspect. We will adapt, as I've said. We gave s good account of ourselves against Chelsea in the SF, and but for two stupid mistakes could have gone on to win.
That really surprises me, the size of the Hull stadium!... Which brings in what Piskie said. There should be a tighter margin on max-min size. The pitch at Hull being a full 14 metres longer than many others is ridiculous.
There is a minimum size reqt which has probably been converged on to ensure all existing stadia for clubs of all leagues and legacies can conform. Wembley has always been the exception to the rule. That was part of the fun of the FA Cup final in the old days (warm-ish weather, players getting tired, bigger pitch than normally played on etc) .
Yep minimum size, but not standardisation. Agree about those old FA cup finals on a hot May day, going into Extra time and seeing leggy players struggling to stay in the game.
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2007/10/22/top-20-biggest-pitches-in-the-premier-league Using those figures, the standard size for PL pitches would effectively have to be that of the Spanners old ground.