He even setup his Celtic teams well against City and he always seemed to truly hate City. Maybe he won’t want Klopp to win so he can convince himself he’s Liverpool’s best modern manager. He seems like the typeI reckon City will win against Leicester. But Dyche can grind out a result...but, having said that his players might have their flip flops on already, now they're safe...so...I've just talked myself out of it.
The last time City needed to win on the final day to clinch the title while playing a relegation-threatened side needing a result to stay up, the result was certainly bonkers.Brighton could be fighting for their lives in that game- they’re only 3 points clear of safety and Cardiff are in better form. A game with City needing a win for the title and Brighton needing a win to stay up would be bonkers.
Any chance they can sign Joey Barton before the match?The last time City needed to win on the final day to clinch the title while playing a relegation-threatened side needing a result to stay up, the result was certainly bonkers.
Also amazing: Even if they win out, it still won't be as good (points wise at least) as their first half last season.If City win out to win the title, which they have a reasonable shot at doing now, they'll have finished the season winning their final 14 matches and 18 of their last 19. That would be an astonishing closing run, since it looks like they'll need every one of those points.
Barring a pretty dramatic change, Brighton have effectively a 4 point lead over Cardiff, as they are 13 better in GD.Brighton could be fighting for their lives in that game- they’re only 3 points clear of safety and Cardiff are in better form. A game with City needing a win for the title and Brighton needing a win to stay up would be bonkers.
One bizarre footnote to that is that the PL shifted the City v Leicester to Monday at the last minute much to the annoyance of both sets of fans. One thing that is absolutely nuts to me about this league is the willingness to burn their ticket holders. Match dates and times need to shift at times due to cup matches but a fan of these teams who tries to legitimately attend home and away has to deal with a lot of bullshit regarding travel. Add in the mess with VAR and how they aren’t really showing what the refs see on screen and how goals aren’t capable of being celebrated until the VAR check is complete and they’re practically begging people to stay home and watch on TV
This is what happens when TV rights are more valuable than seats in the house. We've seen it in the US for years--the best seats are in your living room. There's certainly an interesting experiment to be done where a match is played in a setting totally optimized for filming. Think gliding cameras along each touchline and endline, multiple overheads, etc. You can add some seating to make some extra dollars and bring some atmosphere, but really try to reimagine the filming process.Spurs were originally supposed to play that Monday, but the game had to be moved back to Saturday due to Spurs' CL semi. The TV contract requires there be a game in that Monday evening time slot, so somebody else had to switch on short notice to Monday.
And naturally Spurs fans as wellIt’s still a long shot because they have to win today but amazingly Champions League is still in United’s hands.
Arsenal’s destruction today is great news for Liverpool fans.
Chelsea's remaining schedule is brutal, Arse almost certainly still control their own destiny. If they can get 6-7 points from their remaining matches, I think they pass Chelsea. They hold a slim 2 goal lead on GD, so we could see some fun scorelines to finish the season.Disasterous day for Arsenal. Live Table standings with every team in the top 6 having 3 games remaining:
3. Spurs - 70
4. Chelsea- 67
5. Arsenal - 66
6. ManU - 64
Spurs schedule: West Ham(11), @Bournemouth(14) and Everton(7). Playing Ajax in the CL Semi Finals
Arsenal schedule: @Leicester City(9), Brighton(17) and @Burnley(15). Facing Valencia in the Europa Semi Finals
ManU Schedule: Chelsea(4), Huddersfield(20), Cardiff City(18).
Chelsea schedule: @ManU(6), Watford(8) and @Leicester City(9). Playing Frankfurt in the Europa Semi Finals.
1. City - 89
2. Liverpool - 88
Liverpool remaining schedule: @Newcastle(13), Wolves(10). Playing Barca in the CL Semi Finals.
Man City remaining schedule: @Burnley(15), Leicester City(9) and Brighton(17). Playing Watford in the FA Cup Final on 5/18.
I don't know what that last sentence is meant to imply. Barcelona sit top of the table with 80 points currently, Atleti are second with 71. MANC and Pool are at 89 and 88 respectively.Nope. This is what happens when you have to hope for a soulless squad to steal points for you.
1 loss on the whole season and it’s not enough to win the league.
La Liga-esque
City is easily the best side in the EPL at breaking down hunkered defenses though. After Pep established his ball control style at Barca, he then evolved the system to break down hunkered defenses by having width players hug the touchline and his most dangerous dribblers setup as inverted wingers, all the while having world class passers and finishers in the middle. So yes, while the danger of getting hit on the counter is always there for a major club trying to take points off a minnow, City are better situated to score a goal early and make the minnow open up. It's basically the opposite of the Spurs-BHA match where Spurs sputtered all match to break BHA down, but BHA didn't create many chances.I disagree. Anyone can pip a draw with a parked bus and a little luck. Even United had four or five really good chances yesterday. In terms of my fear, Vardy is definitely 1 as City have been struggling recently with balls over the top and lord knows that’s his thing. But the upcoming Burnley trip is a classic play well and draw scenario as well. Then if they make it to final weekend with lead you never know what that pressure does. Admittedly a lot of my thinking is grounded in that run in against United where seemingly crazy results kept happening under the duress of the race. These two teams have been remarkably consistent but if I had to place a bet I’d probably bet on both teams dropping points in the remaining three just because it seems like there are always twists and turns in the race.
I think the total is 874 for La Liga.More interestingly, looking at the tables, there have been 100 draws in La Liga and only 62 in the EPL. There have been 960 goals in the EPL, but I can't find the total for La Liga.
La Liga - defense firstI think the total is 874 for La Liga.
City is easily the best side in the EPL at breaking down hunkered defenses though. After Pep established his ball control style at Barca, he then evolved the system to break down hunkered defenses by having width players hug the touchline and his most dangerous dribblers setup as inverted wingers, all the while having world class passers and finishers in the middle. So yes, while the danger of getting hit on the counter is always there for a major club trying to take points off a minnow, City are better situated to score a goal early and make the minnow open up. It's basically the opposite of the Spurs-BHA match where Spurs sputtered all match to break BHA down, but BHA didn't create many chances.
One area in which Pool are far superior to City IMO is defending these counters. While Dinho is an excellent pivot, Wijnaldum, Keita, and others are faster and able to slow down a counter.
I kind of disagree with this.One of my favourite Hansenisms was 'Course and distance' - he'd often say this when talking about sides who've been there and done it. City are like a great runner on the last lap, they get faster as the winning line approaches. They know what it feels like, Pep knows what it feels like. They've been preparing for this all season. It's what great teams do down the stretch...they go up a level, moreso in terms of professionalism than mere performance.
Hats off to Liverpool for living with City and breathing the same air. The season's not over and I'm already looking forward to the close season and seeing who adds what to their respective squads.
I take your point. But they're reigning Champions now, and that was Pep's first league title with City. I think he's a smarter manager, and i thnk the players he has now are better prepared for what's to come than last year. Plus they were farther in front last year. The Man U game last year wasn't a must win, and Utd were a better team last season, having (in league terms) a better season.I kind of disagree with this.
Last year City were beaten pretty convincingly by Liverpool in the CL then missed out winning the title against United, which I’m sure they would’ve loved to do.
This year they were obviously bounced by Spurs. And I suspect they will drop some points in the next three.
Their B team they ran out there against Wolverhampton? Sure. But put Ramsey and the rest of the A-teamers in and it's a much more solid squad that knows what to do with possession.I don't believe in Arsenal. There's a soft nougaty center there.
Ramsey is most likely out for the season.But put Ramsey and the rest of the A-teamers in and it's a much more solid squad that knows what to do with possession.
This Juventus fan can live with that.Ramsey is most likely out for the season.
I don't mean soft center in terms of midfield, although there is that. I just mean that with Arsenal generally, it's... meh. What are they, really?Their B team they ran out there against Wolverhampton? Sure. But put Ramsey and the rest of the A-teamers in and it's a much more solid squad that knows what to do with possession.
Two of the goals they gave up to Wolves were absolutely shambolic midfield disasters which were then compounded by goal"keep"ing disasters.
Anyway, given the remaining schedule, I'd rather be in Arsenal's position, down a point but playing 3 relative patsies, than in Chelsea's position playing the 6th, 8th and 9th-ranked teams and likely needing 9 from them. Just enjoy Everton's chance in week 38 to knock Spurs down a few pegs.
Now that things seem to have clicked under Silva, Everton are a team that like to play a high press and try mostly to advance out wide through their fullback/winger combos - Digne/Bernard and Coleman/Richarlison.I don't know how to answer that question. "What is" any top team? What is Everton, really, for example?
Extended proximity to Spurs?Arsenal... ? Maybe I don't see enough of them but what's their thing?
*ahem *I don't believe in Arsenal. There's a soft nougaty center there.
Until last year 95 points was the highest total in Premier League history.97 and second is brutal.
Good stat, did not know this.We've now guaranteed that the Premier League runner-up will have the highest points total of any non-champion. The previous record was 89 points. City have 92 and Liverpool 91 with 2 games to go.
Or 5 losses in 51, if they go out of the CL to Barca on away goals after 2 draws.Liverpool realistically can play 52 games this season in all competitions, lose only six, and bring home no trophies.
Liverpool have already lost 6 games this season. Once in the league, 3 times in the CL group stage (lost all 3 away games), and once each in the League Cup and FA Cup. As you said, they could go out of the CL without a loss on away goals or penalties.Or 5 losses in 51, if they go out of the CL to Barca on away goals after 2 draws.
My bad, I missed one of the CL losses.Liverpool have already lost 6 games this season. Once in the league, 3 times in the CL group stage (lost all 3 away games), and once each in the League Cup and FA Cup. As you said, they could go out of the CL without a loss on away goals or penalties.
They will play 38 in the league, 12 or 13 in the CL, and 1 each in the domestic cups, for a total of 52 or 53.
RightLiverpool have already lost 6 games this season. Once in the league, 3 times in the CL group stage (lost all 3 away games), and once each in the League Cup and FA Cup. As you said, they could go out of the CL without a loss on away goals or penalties.
They will play 38 in the league, 12 or 13 in the CL, and 1 each in the domestic cups, for a total of 52 or 53.
This was the latest instalment of a race for the top four that seems more like a lobbying campaign to have the number of English clubs in the Champions League reduced.
I've got enough "old Sox fan, new Spurs fan" in me that I'm not going to exhale until a 10 GD swing disaster weekend officially doesn't happen, but it's looking pretty good.Arsenal - the official bottlers of North London
The Guardian, from their story on Arsenal ‘s draw with Brighton today-