February 16, 201411 yr Another disappointing performance and result for Bristol City, drawing 2-2 with Tranmere. Although it was important not to lose, we really need to be winning against teams around us at home. It's really tight at the bottom of League 1 though. It's also crazy to think that Crawley have 7 games in hand on us. :o
February 18, 201411 yr I think Tony Pulis is a rather incredible manager - I'm almost certain that he will be offered a better job next year. I was almost positive that Fulham would get relegated but their new manager will be able to get a response from them - he's a rather incredible choice. I'm guessing Cardiff, Norwich and West Brom will get relegated this season.
February 18, 201411 yr I think Tony Pulis is a rather incredible manager - I'm almost certain that he will be offered a better job next year. Tony Pulis (or 'Tony Clueless' as us Bristol City fans like to call him) was absolutely awful with us back in 1999. He completely ruined my club in 6 months with overpaid, unfit and injury prone wasters. The football was dreadful to watch as well, long ball shite. The only positive thing I can say about him is that we kept a lot of clean sheets. I can remember drawing many boring games 0-0 and 1-1. It's frustrating to think we appointed him over David Moyes or Peter Taylor. He really is hated by many City fans. He also used to play for Bristol Rovers, which didn't exactly help. It's odd how well he's done at other clubs (Gillingham and Stoke in particular) yet was a complete failure here.
February 18, 201411 yr Another disappointing performance and result for Bristol City, drawing 2-2 with Tranmere. Although it was important not to lose, we really need to be winning against teams around us at home. It's really tight at the bottom of League 1 though. It's also crazy to think that Crawley have 7 games in hand on us. :o Crawley have only played two league games so far this year. If they run into injury problems they could struggle as they will be playing two games per week for long periods.
February 18, 201411 yr Pulis is part of the old guard managers. Value well built, bruiser style players over technical footballers. He's a good manager in the fact that he knows how to create a hoofball team who defend with 10 men behind the ball. His level is that of Stoke/Crystal Palace. No-one wants to see his brand of football consistently, it's boring and awful to watch. The Stoke fans wanted him out, and I dare say the Palace fans will feel the same eventually. He doesn't have a plan B, C or D is A doesn't work. He's a sub-par version of David Moyes.
February 18, 201411 yr Crawley have only played two league games so far this year. If they run into injury problems they could struggle as they will be playing two games per week for long periods. That's true. They will struggle big time if they pick up a few injuries. Having so many games in hand could actually be their downfall in the end.
February 18, 201411 yr You have 2 advantages over the others 1) No European football, the others will get more and more tired due to European competition whereas your players will stay fresh 2) You have the strongest attacking partnership in world football with the exception of Ronaldo/Benzema, you are assured of 2 or 3 goals a game so long as those 2 are on the pitch Oh dear, you really love your hyperbole don't you? As Roo alluded to, the only one of the top 3 strong favourites to be in Europe this time next month are Chelsea. As for the second point, a strike partnership is wonderful but it's no use when it's backed up by a leaky defence. Liverpool never looked in it against Chelsea, a team which actually actually knows how to defend, and don't have a hope of overhauling all of the top 3. One possibly, two max. And why the fixation with a partnership, especially when the team looks most potent when one of them plays wide? I'd take playing against SAS every day of the week over City, Barcelona, Bayern, Real, even Atletico.
February 18, 201411 yr Oh dear, you really love your hyperbole don't you? As Roo alluded to, the only one of the top 3 strong favourites to be in Europe this time next month are Chelsea. As for the second point, a strike partnership is wonderful but it's no use when it's backed up by a leaky defence. Liverpool never looked in it against Chelsea, a team which actually actually knows how to defend, and don't have a hope of overhauling all of the top 3. One possibly, two max. And why the fixation with a partnership, especially when the team looks most potent when one of them plays wide? I'd take playing against SAS every day of the week over City, Barcelona, Bayern, Real, even Atletico. To be fair I think the Chelsea game was an anomaly. It was tough look the way the fixtures worked out that we had an away game at Stamford Bridge, just after the Etihad. We looked tired and our usual pressing game was not there. The game at Manchester City really did us over. Such a shame we got nothing out of the Etihad. Our defence is an issue, but think it will look tighter now that Sakho, Agger and Johnson will be back. It's been individual errors rather than team errors which is pleasing I guess. I don't think we're too far away from the top, but we would have to win about 10 games, beat Man City & Chelsea, and hope they both slip up. Truth is I don't think that will happen. Fully expecting Chelsea, City and Arsenal to all have fixture blips mind.
February 19, 201411 yr I'm assuming the top 4 will be: 01. Chelsea (Gotta hope) 02. Man City 03. Liverpool 04. Arsenal It would be rather funny if Liverpool finished fourth and Manchester United won the champions league - imagine the uproar.
February 19, 201411 yr Author It would be rather funny if Liverpool finished fourth and Manchester United won the champions league - imagine the uproar. :mellow: Funny would not be the word We do need to take advantage of only having league games though as Mourinho seems to continuously point out. 3rd is realistic and would avoid a qualifier too
February 19, 201411 yr Well barring something brilliant (and don't forget that Arsenal almost did the same to Bayern last year) City won't have any European games for the last two months of the season either.
February 19, 201411 yr Well barring something brilliant (and don't forget that Arsenal almost did the same to Bayern last year) City won't have any European games for the last two months of the season either. No European games, but still in 2x domestic cups and will have 2x re-scheduled games to play at least! No chance Manchester United will win the CL. I'll feel better once they're knocked out. Over two legs I don't think they have it to get past any of the teams that look like they'll get to the quarter finals.
February 19, 201411 yr :mellow: Funny would not be the word I'm not sure what's more hilarious, the thought of Moyes' Man Utd winning the Champions League or the thought of them knocking Liverpool out by doing it!
February 20, 201411 yr I'm not sure what's more hilarious, the thought of Moyes' Man Utd winning the Champions League or the thought of them knocking Liverpool out by doing it! Not sure I would be able to take the latter. Bad enough Man Utd fans telling me they're going to be signing Kroos, Shaw, Dundogan, Pogba (again) and Reus in the summer. Cloud cuckoo land as it in. The former would make it even worse.
February 20, 201411 yr Not sure I would be able to take the latter. Bad enough Man Utd fans telling me they're going to be signing Kroos, Shaw, Dundogan, Pogba (again) and Reus in the summer. Cloud cuckoo land as it in. The former would make it even worse. It would make it easier for them to sign new players though. The biggest blow to them in not qualifying for next season's Champions League could be the difficulty in attracting new players rather than the loss of revenue.
February 20, 201411 yr It would make it easier for them to sign new players though. The biggest blow to them in not qualifying for next season's Champions League could be the difficulty in attracting new players rather than the loss of revenue. I actually read an article that not being in the Champions League next season wouldn't affect their spending power or pull. Like Liverpool, their brand is still a big pull and they'll be able to pay top wages. While they might not be able to attract the top tier players they'll still have significant pull. Not being a World Cup/Euros will also help matters. I said it when he was appointed, and I still stand by it now, Man Utd will never be a top force again with David Moyes. Granted their average squad doesn't help, but the manager is the bigger problem.
February 20, 201411 yr I actually read an article that not being in the Champions League next season wouldn't affect their spending power or pull. Like Liverpool, their brand is still a big pull and they'll be able to pay top wages. While they might not be able to attract the top tier players they'll still have significant pull. Not being a World Cup/Euros will also help matters. I said it when he was appointed, and I still stand by it now, Man Utd will never be a top force again with David Moyes. Granted their average squad doesn't help, but the manager is the bigger problem. But when Liverpool started their decline there was no Champions League. Only one team could qualify for the European Cup and they couldn't attract all the best players. Therefore, there were still some left to go to other clubs.
February 21, 201411 yr But when Liverpool started their decline there was no Champions League. Only one team could qualify for the European Cup and they couldn't attract all the best players. Therefore, there were still some left to go to other clubs. I would personally only class our decline from 2010 onwards in terms of attracting good level talent. Whilst we were in the Champions League we were able to attract a wide amount of top players. The past couple of seasons we've been rejected by a good amount of players who wanted Champions League or even Europa League football.
February 22, 201411 yr http://i62.tinypic.com/xpycmw.png Things are hotting up at the bottom end of the table with games running out. Who do you think are the three teams facing life in the Championship next season? Personally I think Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich are the three that will be relegated.
February 22, 201411 yr All depends who can string a bit of form together. Just look at West Ham or example I think at this point, you have to say Cardiff are gone. Their internal struggles, and just lack of home form looks like it might confine them to the Championship next season. Magrath is a good appointment for Fulham in the short term. The sooner all of those teams are on 38 points the better things will look. I thought Sunderland would escape it, but their cup form might hamper the league. Awful against Arsenal by all accounts today. It's still wide open, fairly sure I tipped Cardiff, Norwich and Fulham to go down earlier on the page. Still think that's right, although could possibly swap Fulham and West Brom.
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