Sandboy

jam25mack

Hmmmmm, I'll agree that none of the teams have been very good and that it's been a pretty average season with no one team dazzling. The performances in Europe pretty much prove that (although United were robbed) but I would say there is still a group of 4/5 teams at the top - the usual 4 plus Spurs followed by the next 2 - EFC & LFC. The rest other than the ones fighting for relegation are much of a muchness.

scrubbedexpat141

Have you watched the video? What went through the idiot's head? Who punches a horse? Nice bit on the footage is when a copper flattens him with a flying headlock though. Quality tackle that.

Aherm. Southampton are not much of a muchness. We play the best football in the league. Ask SAF.

Sandboy

the rest are still fighting relegation, other than the 6 you mentioned there's a fag paper between them

11 Southampton 33 -7 38
12 West Ham 32 -9 38
13 Newcastle 33 -17 36
14 Norwich 33 -21 35
15 Sunderland 33 -8 34
16 Stoke 33 -13 34
17 Aston Villa 33 -24 34
18 Wigan 31 -20 31
19 QPR 33 -25 24
20 Reading 33 -27 24

mentalist

Stop trying to wind me up. The United squad cost 300 million, roughly the same as City, who have only been together a few years under their current management. Finishing second will be a good achievement. That will be three top three finishes in three years. Plus two FA Cup Finals and the Community Shield. As for Europe, two of our group rivals have reached the semi finals. The only serious disappointment this season was Balotelli, as he was destined for a great future. Now it will be in Italy rather than Manchester.Incidentally, I would love Stoke to go down but I fear that the FA Cup may distract Wigan from their survival business.

jam25mack

OK I am with you on that. I have become quite an admirer of Southampton this season. Very good work!

jam25mack

Agreed to a point BUT you have to take their remaining matches into account also. Some have a bigger hill to climb than others and some have no f**king chance!

For me, I see Reading, QPR and Villa going down!

scrubbedexpat141

Haha, you're very kind - I'm obviously not neutral eh.

Smart on Villa. Goal difference is the best indicator of where teams should be.

jam25mack

Yeah but over how many seasons? And is Mancini not already come out saying he is going to ''buy big'' at the end of this season after the drop in form from last season?

Without going into the same old discussion about the source of the cash can you really believe that City's level of expenditure is sustainable? What are they going to do when the fair play rules come in? City were lucky getting in the massively over market value stadium renaming deal of £400 from Etihad.

City's wage bill has already broken £200M which is ~£30M more than Chelsea and £40M more than United. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8387935

So assuming that United win the EPL this season that's ~£40M for the win, £40M less on wages, so £80M difference before you even kick a ball next season. Also that's not including the fact United bring in approx £110M a year in profit while City have been running at a loss (approx £110M last season). Agreed United do have debt (@£350M at the end of 2013) but repayments are set up and will continue until 2017.

jam25mack

Well I've never been accused of being neutral either! (see my previous post)


Indeed. Wigan I would have thought with 2 games in hand will be fine, especially after the FA Cup final. And Stoke as you say should be OK on goal diff.

flares

Sandboy

true, there are usually only a few teams out of sequence by the end of the season

Fossildog

Sandboy

Sandboy