April 20, 201411 yr Norwich will have been given some hope by the way they played as well. No one's out of it yet, although I can't see Cardiff surviving. I won't bother to rant about some of the decisions in the Chelsea game.
April 20, 201411 yr Norwich will have been given some hope by the way they played as well. No one's out of it yet, although I can't see Cardiff surviving. I won't bother to rant about some of the decisions in the Chelsea game. Norwich played really well, I think they can get points out of their remaining games. Going to be close, but think Cardiff, Sunderland and Norwich will ultimately go down. The big decision didn't go their way, but they've had so many decisions go their way this season, that Mourinho's post match comments were embarrassing. The Ramires dive will always spring to mind, and he should have been sent off yesterday!
April 20, 201411 yr Norwich played really well, I think they can get points out of their remaining games. Going to be close, but think Cardiff, Sunderland and Norwich will ultimately go down. The big decision didn't go their way, but they've had so many decisions go their way this season, that Mourinho's post match comments were embarrassing. The Ramires dive will always spring to mind, and he should have been sent off yesterday! I was just baffled that no one thought they should have had a penalty for when he was barged out of the way with an open goal header minutes before he should have been sent off. Assuming they'd scored the penalty that would have meant it was 2-1 with Sunderland down to ten men, and although he should have been sent off for the elbow you'd still back them.
April 20, 201411 yr I was just baffled that no one thought they should have had a penalty for when he was barged out of the way with an open goal header minutes before he should have been sent off. Assuming they'd scored the penalty that would have meant it was 2-1 with Sunderland down to ten men, and although he should have been sent off for the elbow you'd still back them. Was a hard one to judge - sometimes they go for you, sometimes against. For what it's worth I didn't think it was a penalty, it was a risky tackle. Chelsea just look lost without Hazard. Mourinho can blame the referees all he likes but it's the games against Villa, Palace and Sunderland where he's lost the title. He looks a broken man these days, I really think his time at Real Madrid has really taken it's toll on him mentally.
April 20, 201411 yr Was a hard one to judge - sometimes they go for you, sometimes against. For what it's worth I didn't think it was a penalty, it was a risky tackle. Chelsea just look lost without Hazard. Mourinho can blame the referees all he likes but it's the games against Villa, Palace and Sunderland where he's lost the title. He looks a broken man these days, I really think his time at Real Madrid has really taken it's toll on him mentally. They've been sloppy in "easier" games when their minds are on Europe, although he's usually managed to produce a response from them when it actually gets to the European game so I don't think they'll necessarily suffer against Atletico. He may have whined to the media but I've got no doubt he told his players how he felt about losing in no uncertain terms. Hazard is by far the best of their wingers at taking on packed defences. Schurrle and Willian have both had great seasons and are lethal when given space (and the latter works incredibly hard to win the ball back as well) but you're right, they need Hazard in games like yesterday's.
April 20, 201411 yr They've been sloppy in "easier" games when their minds are on Europe, although he's usually managed to produce a response from them when it actually gets to the European game so I don't think they'll necessarily suffer against Atletico. He may have whined to the media but I've got no doubt he told his players how he felt about losing in no uncertain terms. Hazard is by far the best of their wingers at taking on packed defences. Schurrle and Willian have both had great seasons and are lethal when given space (and the latter works incredibly hard to win the ball back as well) but you're right, they need Hazard in games like yesterday's. Chelsea lack a goalscorer and it really proved yesterday. When you're so content at closing space and being hard to beat like a machine, when you're having an off day attacking it really shows. The game against Athletico will be tough, they play a similar style to Chelsea so it will be interesting. It's unfortunate the Liverpool game is sandwiched between. When Hazard doesn't play it shows, because of the lack of a goalscorer. There's not that many goals in the team otherwise from the front four players. He's integral to the way you play, it was just like Gerrard and Torres under a similar system with Benitez - take away the important cogs and the system is not as effective.
April 20, 201411 yr What did I say earlier about Bristol Rovers...! They're going down with Torquay. Massive victory for Liverpool today. Really missed Henderson and Sturridge, but thankfully Sunderland did us a few favours :D I still think Rovers will fluke their way out of it on goal difference. :( Liverpool have it in the bag now I reckon.
April 20, 201411 yr I still think Rovers will fluke their way out of it on goal difference. :( Liverpool have it in the bag now I reckon. Not sure, they're in awful form. It will be one of Wycombe/Northampton/Morecambe/Rovers. Big game is Morecambe vs Wycombe tomorrow, reckon if a team loses that, they'll go down. Not in the bag just yet, but 3 points today whilst the Man City and Chelsea slipping up certainly helped matters. It means theirs room for error, think 85 points will win the league because I don't think Man City of Chelsea will pick up full points, but Liverpool still need to be aiming for three wins. Helps next weekend that Chelsea HAVE to get a result at Anfield, which means playing against the Mourinho way.
April 20, 201411 yr Not sure, they're in awful form. It will be one of Wycombe/Northampton/Morecambe/Rovers. Big game is Morecambe vs Wycombe tomorrow, reckon if a team loses that, they'll go down. Not in the bag just yet, but 3 points today whilst the Man City and Chelsea slipping up certainly helped matters. It means theirs room for error, think 85 points will win the league because I don't think Man City of Chelsea will pick up full points, but Liverpool still need to be aiming for three wins. Helps next weekend that Chelsea HAVE to get a result at Anfield, which means playing against the Mourinho way. Hartlepool's current form is also terrible so they are also in real danger of going out.
April 20, 201411 yr Hartlepool's current form is also terrible so they are also in real danger of going out. Honestly the whole league is so strange. There's really not much difference between any of the teams, even the top ones. All it takes is a string of 4/5 good results and you can be near the top, and equally 4/5 losses and you're flirting with relegation. Four months ago I thought York would get relegated - now we're looking like securing a play-off spot.
April 20, 201411 yr Not sure, they're in awful form. It will be one of Wycombe/Northampton/Morecambe/Rovers. Big game is Morecambe vs Wycombe tomorrow, reckon if a team loses that, they'll go down. Not in the bag just yet, but 3 points today whilst the Man City and Chelsea slipping up certainly helped matters. It means theirs room for error, think 85 points will win the league because I don't think Man City of Chelsea will pick up full points, but Liverpool still need to be aiming for three wins. Helps next weekend that Chelsea HAVE to get a result at Anfield, which means playing against the Mourinho way. Maybe it's just me being a pessimist, but I just can't imagine Rovers in the Conference. They have two home games and one away game left. Their away fixture is against Wycombe, which could be the KEY game. I think they'll probably lose or draw at best against Rochdale, grind out a draw against Wycombe and win their last game against Mansfield. Hopefully I'm wrong and they'll lose all their games. :P I'm pretty certain you'll beat Chelsea and Newcastle. The Palace game could be tricky but I'd back you to get a draw at least.
April 20, 201411 yr Maybe it's just me being a pessimist, but I just can't imagine Rovers in the Conference. They have two home games and one away game left. Their away fixture is against Wycombe, which could be the KEY game. I think they'll probably lose or draw at best against Rochdale, grind out a draw against Wycombe and win their last game against Mansfield. Hopefully I'm wrong and they'll lose all their games. :P I'm pretty certain you'll beat Chelsea and Newcastle. The Palace game could be tricky but I'd back you to get a draw at least. Rochdale will beat them, especially with them going for the title. Mansfield can go either way really, they're in no mans land currently unless collect maximum points. I definitely think Northampton will stay up. 51 points should be enough to stay up. The Palace game will be tricky, but by then they will have nothing to play for, which kind of helps, whilst we will. Al depends on our character. We badly missed Henderson and Sturridge today though, hopefully the latter will be back next week. They're in good form, but we're in better form. It will be a tough game, like all three will be.
April 20, 201411 yr Maybe it's just me being a pessimist, but I just can't imagine Rovers in the Conference. They have two home games and one away game left. Their away fixture is against Wycombe, which could be the KEY game. I think they'll probably lose or draw at best against Rochdale, grind out a draw against Wycombe and win their last game against Mansfield. Hopefully I'm wrong and they'll lose all their games. :P I'm pretty certain you'll beat Chelsea and Newcastle. The Palace game could be tricky but I'd back you to get a draw at least. Some teams have really benefitted from a year in the Conference. It has given them a chance to rebuild and come back a lot stronger. Carlisle had been struggling for years before they went down but have done far better since then. That ceased to be the case for a while because the league had teams like Crawley and Fleetwood with a lot of money behind them. That's one reason why it has taken Luton so long to get back up. It is also a really friendly league. I was a season ticket holder at Woking for a couple years and the matches were always enjoyable with a great atmosphere and good relations between fans of other sides. If you've seen any of the games on BT (or other channels in previous seasons) you will have seen some very good football. The point I'm making is that relegation to the Conference needn't be too disastrous as long as your finances are in order. That's why I really feared for Brighton when they nearly went down. If they had dropped out of the League is is almost certain that they would have gone out of business.
April 20, 201411 yr From a neutral point of view, I'm supporting Liverpool winning the Premier League. I don't think I could deal with Rooney's smugness though! :(
April 20, 201411 yr Some teams have really benefitted from a year in the Conference. It has given them a chance to rebuild and come back a lot stronger. Carlisle had been struggling for years before they went down but have done far better since then. That ceased to be the case for a while because the league had teams like Crawley and Fleetwood with a lot of money behind them. That's one reason why it has taken Luton so long to get back up. It is also a really friendly league. I was a season ticket holder at Woking for a couple years and the matches were always enjoyable with a great atmosphere and good relations between fans of other sides. If you've seen any of the games on BT (or other channels in previous seasons) you will have seen some very good football. The point I'm making is that relegation to the Conference needn't be too disastrous as long as your finances are in order. That's why I really feared for Brighton when they nearly went down. If they had dropped out of the League is is almost certain that they would have gone out of business. It's fun if you're down in the Conference for a couple of years, but the problem is you really need Conference players to make the step up. It's why so many teams struggle to go straight back up, I think Carslie and Torquay are the only two teams to do it straight back at the first attempt. It's a fun league, and it's good to beat teams instead of losing ever week, but once you're down there for a couple of years then you just need to get back up in to the league. Lee I wouldn't be smug.. okay maybe slightly, but that's only because of the barrage of abuse I've always had to put up with!
April 20, 201411 yr Lee I wouldn't be smug.. okay maybe slightly, but that's only because of the barrage of abuse I've always had to put up with! I think Brendan Rodgers has done an absolutely brilliant job at Liverpool. His signings this summer haven't been the best (Alberto, Aspas and llori) but I guess time will tell. My mate is on cloud 9 with the thought of Liverpool winning the league but I can't help but think Liverpool will slip up against Chelsea next week and Crystal Palace away is much harder than it sounds.
April 20, 201411 yr I think Brendan Rodgers has done an absolutely brilliant job at Liverpool. His signings this summer haven't been the best (Alberto, Aspas and llori) but I guess time will tell. My mate is on cloud 9 with the thought of Liverpool winning the league but I can't help but think Liverpool will slip up against Chelsea next week and Crystal Palace away is much harder than it sounds. Illori will be great. He bossed Barcelona the other week. Centre back is a position we're well stocked up on, despite what the media may make you think. Aspas has struggled, and not sure about Alberto.. not really seen enough of him. The good problem is that they've not needed to come in to the side very often because we've very really been off form! Chelsea will need to come at Liverpool. We'll blast them for the first 20 minutes then sit back on the counter which is what they would want to do. Three big games, but we've won 11 games on the bounce. I just hope Sturridge is back, we badly missed his hold up play against Norwich.
April 21, 201411 yr Author Norwich played well, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a team fighting relegation. We weren't at our best and did miss Sturridge and Henderson, but I guess 3 points is all that matters at this stage. I can't see Man City winning all of their remaining games. Should be a draw in there at least against Everton or Palace, so I agree with Rooney that 85 points should be enough for the title. I doubt we'd go into games looking for draws though.. Just isn't in the nature of the team
April 21, 201411 yr Bristol Rovers 1-2 Rochdale :yahoo: Just need Wycombe and Northampton (currently losing) to get some sort of result. *Prays*
April 21, 201411 yr Bristol Rovers 1-2 Rochdale :yahoo: Just need Wycombe and Northampton (currently losing) to get some sort of result. *Prays* Told you! Although it really could be any out of Morecambe/Rovers/Wycombe/Northampton - all depends who can string a win together from somewhere.
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