This was heavily debated on TalkSport, today, and it was interesting listening the idiocy being spoken by the so-called professional pundits. I don't think they are anti-Spurs or pro-Chelsea, more that they suffer from Hansen-istis, in that they cannot get their heads around the fact that Chelsea, like Liverpool, just might be a club in decline, and that we, by contrast, might be a club very much on the up. There is an annoying tendency on the part of these pundits to see any lack of form on the part of the old "top 4" as being nothing more than a dip, and the improved form of teams like us as nothing more than a temporary flash in the pan, with normal service to be resumed just as soon as we've been put back in our place. They been saying that about Liverpool for three seasons, and they still can't seem to get into their heads that Liverpool is simply no longer a force in world football. Of course, the thing is, that there are no other teams like us in the EPL. We've been steadily improving for quite a few seasons, and it's been clear to anyone objective enough to see that it was only a matter of time before we lined up all our ducks, and mounted a serious challenge to the old-guard. This is not something that has happened over night, although, of course, there has to be the "first time" that we finish above the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, before we can turn it into a regular occurrence. What really annoyed me about some of the comments among those professional tools is the glib assumption that Modric would still go to Chelsea, even if we finish above them, inside the top 4, and they finish outside of it. And not one of them mentioned the overriding fact that Levy made it clear at the very start of this season that Moddy would not be leaving this club for any price. It's also the cynicism of these teams, that the only way they can better us is to take our players off us. It's an admission of failure on their parts, and one that I would love to see compounded by our refusal to give into their little game. And we are not like the Charltons or Southamptons of this world, who have little hope of keeping hold of their gifted players, because, as we are amply demonstrating, we have the capability to mount regular assaults on the top 4, and even to dream of challenging for the title.
Spot on HIAG - these so-called pundits have very short memories - history says that there is no really dominant club in English football. All the current top seven except Arsenal (and see my signature) have been in the second division in my lifetime and they will probably all be there again at some time. This dominance of the 'big four' has been extended by the riches of the CL but it was only a matter of time for things to change. Look at the PL table in 2030 and I bet there is a team in the top four who are in the Championship or lower today. Things change: the pundits are slow to see it and the fans are in denial. Ensil is right too - great to do it the right way as well.
"Spurs boss Harry Redknapp would see Lampard as a direct replacement for Modric" Modric... please log in to view this image Lampard... please log in to view this image ...looks like Frank's been at that float...there's hardly fuk all left on it! How do these clowns get jobs!
Just found this about the journo... Paul Smith is a leading British football journalist, currently chief football writer of tabloid newspaper The Sunday Mirror. He is a former British Sports Reporter Of The Year. Before joining The Sunday Mirror he was Deputy Editor of schoolboy magazine Match.
There's a great bit of "journalism" being regurgitated by the BBC today: Arsenal will offer cash + Arshavin + Bendtner for Mario Gotze. Among the many, many things CaughtOffside don't know (and the BBC didn't bother to verify) was the fact Bendtner is on season-long loan, so can't be used as part of the deal.
Just a point about your signature. Arsenal finished on 51 points +3 GD Palace finished on 45 points -15 GD Arsenal beat Palace 3-0. That makes the relative goal difference of 12 in favour of Arsenal, if you remove that result. Palace would have had to have won 12-0 for Arsenal to be relegated. 13-0 in fact as Arsenal would have scored more goals. Pretty unlikely..... Anyway, Modric (allegedly) wanted to leave Spurs for Chelsea as they were London based and to pursue CL football. If Spurs finish in the CL positions and assuming Modric has some sort of decency, he has zero reason to leave Spurs. Of course, we are all cynical about footballers and claim they are only interested in ££££. We all know what a player Modric is, if he does sign for Chelsea even if Spurs qualify for the CL. Fact of the matter is, its the brilliance of Parker (and even Sandro when he plays) that allows Modric the ability to push forward into the areas that he is most deadly at. Chelsea have Ramires.......
Ramires has probably been Chelsea's best player this season, Lotak. He's definitely not a traditional holding player though and he wouldn't complement Modric as well as Parker. Steadily improving as he adjusts to the Premier League, all the same.
Your data is correct but your arithmetic is wrong. A 7-0 win for Palace would suffice. I agree it's pretty unlikely, but it illustrates the narrow margins between success and failure and why the real delusional fans are those who think their club is 'big' and will remain successful forever.
Yeh I just looked at that and realised that I made a bit of an error! Palace only needed to win 7-0. Whoops.... My bad!! I see your point. Very narrow margins
Arsenal getting relegated with 48 points would have been the best day of my life! (not actually, but you know what I mean)
