You need to check your math in the first couple paragraphs, Bobby. 182 + 100 + 64 does not equal 380. Your percentages don't add up to 100%, either. It looks like the scoreless draws should have been added into the draws, for a total of 98 draws.
AeneasHunter - You are correct. The draws should read 98 with 34 of them scoreless. The correction will be posted asap. The percentages when corrected will be a little short of 100% due to rounding.
It seemed to me that every time I watched an Arsenal match Gilberto was taking a PK. I think every match they won had him taking at least one PK. Now I know it wasn't my mind playing tricks on me. I never understood why people would get so worked up about a supposed Old Trafford bias when the statistics show we all needed to worry about a Gunner bias? Maybe if Arsenal were in contention of the title we would hear more about the Gunner PK conspiracy among EPL officials.
Help me with geography - you mentioned the North-West of England re: Gunner losses, which I take to mean United, City, Boro, Newcastle, perhaps Sheffield. But isn't the North-West more like Carlisle United and (if it were in England) Gretna?
TimbersJD - The four losses to North-West clubs were to Bolton, Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool. The Liverpool/Manchester area of England is part of the North West. The North West also takes in areas up to the Scottish border such as Carlisle. Newcastle and Boro are on the east coast. Sheffield is in Yorkshire which is both a county and a region.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on May 15th at 8:23 AM.
From afar (as in, I don't what the $$ are), it looks like an amazing missed opportunity to go coach outside of the UK in preparation for much bigger things later. Newcastle doesn't look like a place that anyone could ever win anything. It shouts to me that Allardyce doesn't have any real ambition.
LAFC, first off where could have Allardyce coached outside of England. Second I kinda agree and kinda disagree about not being able to win at Newcastle. While Freddy Shepard doesn't make it easy, I feel they have lacked in the coaching department. Not only that, but the last two years Newcastle has been incredibly unfortunate as far as injuries go.
But you put Allardyce's ability to rejuvinate careers, and the Cash of Newcastle, the potential is possibly to compete for a top 4 finish, depending on if Owen is healthy, and what Big Sam does in the transfer market.
Sky Sports viewer`s have voted Robin van Persie`s jump/volley goal at Charlton as EPL goal of the season.
I would have gone for Essien`s game tying long shot against Arsenal at the Bridge...but then I`m biased!
Concerning Newcastle: Is Freddy Shepard shell shocked or is he a nut? All the dirty laundry being aired about Owen--very nasty stuff. Maybe I missed some of Owen's comments but the ones I did read he seemed legitametly disappointed about his last couple of years and didn't leave any impressions of his departure.
therealrico: Don't get me wrong ... this is good for Newcastle... and probably the best that they could hope for. I'm disappointed that Allardyce missed a huge opportunity to up his ability and value with some experience in La Liga even Holland, Germany and then bring that back to qualify him for ManU, etc and even England. Now what?
I have little doubt that all Allardyce needed to do was watch the enevitable summer management musical chairs happen in Europe and sit by the poolside phone for two months with his Berlitz language CDs and the offers would arrive based on his record.
As it is, Newcastle seem to be about no 8 or 9 in the club money stakes and from a skill base, even lower. Even given his undoubted abilities I doubt he can expect to do much better than Bolton.
I can only assume that he got a great financial deal and after years of grind he's gone for the soft option. Otherwise, what's the point?
neophyte, knock it off with the contentious anti-Arsenal bilge. Gunner bias, give me a break. There's a very good reason Arsenal get so many penalties and this is a stat Bobby didn't mention: Arsenal are the Prem's most fouled team, and they commit the least fouls. That's a proven stat. There's a very good reason: Arsenal's quick passing game forces teams to resort to constant fouls. Yes yes I don't need to be reminded of Veira and all the fouling done by Arsenal over the years, I'm talking about THIS season. And in Wenger's post-season analysis press conference (covered in the UK press last week), he mentioned exactly that Arsenal's weakness was their inability to kill off teams in the 2nd half of the table.
LAFC, actually that brings up a good point, what do you think the order is of the richest clubs in the league, based on ability to spend?
Here is what I think it might be, but this is by no means researched, just from the top of my head, here is what I think they are. . .
Chelsea, Man U, Aston Villa, Liverpool, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton,Bolton, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Reading, Wigan, Middlesbourogh, Man City, Fulham.
As you can see I left out the teams relegated, or about to be promoted. Any place to go to find this out for real, I figure there is I just have no clue where to look.
danielgregg,
Take it easy. Read my comments with sarcasm instead of contention. Like you, many of the posters here are Arsenal fans. In fact one could argue that this blog was taken over by Arsenal supporters with a few Chelski (again sarcasm not contention)supporters sprinkled in. I don't get all worked up with comments about ManUre...Old Toilet...Theater of ####...so just relax and enjoy the return of the trophy to its rightful owners and you and your team can pretend to be contenders next year. (that last part was contentious, sorry)
The real unknown is willingness not ability to spend. If you believe Mourinho propoganda (which I'd like not to) Chelsea intend very little action. Villa, Arsenal, West Ham... who knows.
LACF- What do you think Chelsea need? I don't think they need much, a striker and a Gallas type utility man. I think they are in a better position than ManU who need a Keeper, 1 right back, 1 central defender, 2 midfielders, and a striker, or some Geritol. They were lucky this year that their injuries did not come till late.
Interesting how poorly written sarcasm sounds similar to ignorance, maybe it is identical.
-Beware the ManU mouth breathers are back to insult and belittle all unfortunate enough to be within earshot. I wish they would go back to smashing pint glasses on each others' heads.
MasMaz funny thing about that is they the ManUres came back after they were sure they had really won the title. At least Arsenal fans speak for the team even when we losing. ManUre fans in this blog are ametures of the ManUre fans I know.
Anyway I also think Taylor from Portsmouth should have won goal of the season his goal was just ridiculous. RVP is a close second though. But as always when it comes time to give awardrs the top four teams are favored.
Can you name some of the best players who are going to be on the market this summer?
Also are you guys going to be airing the South American tournament the Copa De something I think thats the name?
And of the Three most anticipitaded finals which one do you fancy to be the most entertaining Seville-Espanyol, AC Milan-Liver, Chelski-ManUre and Getafe-Seville, maybe we can add the Inter-Roma one to although Roma are already 6-2 up?
And does anyone see Seville doing a treble? Lets go seville shock those Barca and Madridstars #### the title from them.
Who has insulted you on this blog? I see far more Chelsea and Arsenal fans insulting other clubs and their fans on this blog than any other club.
Gunner44 what's your point?
Last week you were certain that all the Man Utd fans would be jerks after clinching the title, and now we're not loyal because we we're not gloating every day?
As I said before, I read this blog daily, but I don't always comment. Mostly because of people like you two. If we had more respectful posters on this blog, like Ringo and LACF, then I would post more often.
Another big game comes down to the lottery of a penalty shootout -Derby/Southampton ,although in this case it was avoidable ,why no away goals rule in play-off games?!
"Can you name some of the best players who are going to be on the market this summer?"
There will be thousands of rumours of this player to that team over the next few months. Which is always fun.
Anyway, players that I think will be available include...
Darren Bent, Phil Jagielka, Djibril Cisse, Bolo Zenden, Craig Bellamy, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves, Samuel Eto'o, Louis Saha, Jose Antonio Reyes, Benni McCarthy, Carlos Tevez, Daniel Alves, Ricardo Quaresma, David Nugent, Emre, DaMarcus Beasley, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Alex, Jermaine Defoe, Keith Gillespie, Gareth Bale and many more than I'm forgetting.
I think Henry stays with Arsenal, Ronaldinho stays with Barcelona, Torres stays with Atletico and Berbatov stays with Spurs.
Ooohhh Reddivel did I dis respect you by calling you an ameture. Good coz that's one of the goals of my summer holiday "Pissing off ManUre fans". And by the way you'll get beat by Chelsea on Sat.
Did anyone read the BBC article about Hilario? Apparently, due to the number of injured players, Mourinho might use the 3rd choice goalkeeper as a striker sub!
Emphasis on the 'Hilari'...
Last edited by atleti_female on May 15th at 2:49 PM.
I did not mean to offend I was being 'sarcastic'. I thought it was funny, apparently not. I have nothing but respect for the great English club Manchester United. Really. When I first started following the league after I read "Among the Thugs" by Bill Buford I followed ManU. The folly of youth.
-I would hope that I do not discourage anyone from posting, but you are not the first to think me a jerk I am sure.
Liga is, in my opinion, the strongest league from top to bottom. I believe this is part of the reason why Espanyol are currently mid-table. They also had players injured for periods of time during the season.
That said, they have quite a few quality players in the squad: Tamudo, Pandiani, Luis Garcia, Kameni (one of the most underrated Liga goalkeepers in my opinion), and de la Pena come to mind.
EDIT: I don't know much about Espanyol's history, except that they are overshadowed by city neighbors FC Barcelona.
Last edited by atleti_female on May 15th at 3:07 PM.
RINGO I'm messing with them it's not like I'm insulting them. My own brother is a die hard ManUre fan and I'm always saying worse things to him and he does the same to me it's part of been fans. I'm not going to crack jokes or say some dumb stuff. We all get annoyed by what others say about our teams or our love for our teams as long as it's not a personal attack on me or my family and religion I won't take it very seriously. Like I said I've been insulted all season because of Arsenal struggles this season. I get mad but thats why I'm a fan. Blogging wouldn't be fan if we didn't have this rivaly between fans.
Getting back to football I read the Hilario story but just the headline because I figured they couldn't be talking about the goalie but that should be interesting.
Eboue has extended his contract with Arsenal. That is good news because the boy has talent just needs to stop all his extra curlicular anticts like punching and over doing everything.
I agree that La liga is the strongest from top to bottom. The Prem is the strongest at the top, but is top heavy.
-La liga has been awesome lately, I think they are getting the hint about increasing the action as the tempo has definately increased. This last run by Madrid has been incredible. And they are now in the drivers seat to win the league.
-RINGO- you gotta get GolTV. The best thing is the game times don't clash with the EPL.
-I need to get Setanta for the Rugby WC.
MasMaz I gave my list the other day... I think Chelsea have a lot to sort out.
1. Ambramovich needs to decide if he wants to complete the job he started and then keep doing it. Without a continued influx of money for stars they won’t make the top 3 and the rest doesn’t matter.
2. I find it easy to believe that all this nonsense about there being no money is just the Chelsea clique trying to keep the price down.
3 Assuming they can’t get a megastar, the first thing they need to they probably need to dump the 442 system and go back to 433. The long ball stuff doesn't suit the midfield or wingers they have. Lampard spent the season dumping the ball out to the wings or forwards instead of the short pass game and the quick break. They need to replace, Kalou, Shevenko, with something fast and contintental (I could do with one of those!), get a viable centre back. Maybe JM is having second thoughts about Ferreira, but none of them can defend like a real right back. Diarra's idea of a tackle is a bodycheck/yellow card combo! Mikel John Obi is a fixture in holding midfiled, Essien in another midfield role. Now might be a good time to trade Lampard. Ballack is assumed to be gone, but he could take on the lead with Lampard gone maybe. Even if they keep Robben, Cole and SWP, they need much more from all of them.
What Chelsea really have got going is that they’re hard to beat but the current set up looks like they’re completely out of ideas. For no reason, I’m expecting to be pleasantly surprised by what happens next.
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on May 15th at 6:47 PM.
The Hilario story is a cover up. He can always play Wayne Bridge on the left wing and Kalou (if he has to) in the center. One or two of Robben, A. Cole, Carvalho and Obi, will miraculously recover.
Ringo did you see / understand the link posting stuff?
Oh and btw I'm becoming a La Liga / Gol TV addict too. It hought it was in the same sports pack as Fox Soccer Channel. There's another spannish speaking Fox soccer channel 616 I think
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on May 15th at 6:06 PM.
neophyte - Anatoly Korobochka is the new coach at Tynecastle although I don't think the Hearts coaching position could be descibed as permanent. After all the goings on Hearts could still qualify for a spot in the UEFA Cup. They are a point behind Aberdeen with a game to play and a shade poorer goal difference (2 less than Aberdeen). Aberdeen is at home to Rangers and that game is usually X-rated. Hearts are away at Killie who are a place below the Edinburgh side but 9 points behind. Hearts fans will no doubt remeber that is was Kilmarnock who pipped Hearts for the Scottish League in 1965 by beating them on the final day of the season 2-0. Back then it was goal difference and Kilmarnock won by a miniscule 0.0402 o####oal.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on May 15th at 6:22 PM.
I'm glad to read that there are a lot of EPL followers jumping on the Liga bandwagon! Hopefully we'll have a decent group keeping an eye on the 07/08 Liga season. :)
I'm a lover of both EPL and Liga-- but my heart will always belong to the latter.
Last edited by atleti_female on May 15th at 6:24 PM.
Oh, and agree with Masmaz: the game times for Liga are much more convenient, at least for me. In New York, most of the games start at 1.00pm, 3.00pm-- and 11.00am.
LosAngelesChelseaFan - I think it a very shrewd move by Allardyce. The defense needs some work but it is not nearly as bad as some make it out to be - last two seasons Newcastle have conceded 47 and 42 goals. Goal scoring was a problem this season and it has been for the previous two seasons as well - 38 goals this season, 47 and 47. Another injury crisis hit this season and given that it seems to a regualr occurrence it makes you question how well prepared the players are. I can see Allardyce going after Davies who would be a great foil for Owen and Martins.
However if Freddy Shepherd and the other directors all resigned the club would be better for it.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on May 15th at 6:33 PM.
Thanks Bobby. I'm sure he'll be as successful as it's possble to be there. I was hoping he would have set his sights on a bigger future. Easy for me to say.
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