tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post1260318831233050111..comments2024-03-17T00:10:44.022+00:00Comments on From Arse To Elbow: This Too Shall PassDavid Timoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-50292750187326533952016-05-22T11:34:02.357+01:002016-05-22T11:34:02.357+01:00Well, the results might improve slightly, but Man ...Well, the results might improve slightly, but Man Utd are not going to get any more exciting next season under Mourinho. We'll see if he's got the courage to get shot of Rooney and Carrick. Apart from one run by Rooney that led to Mata's goal, that pair seemed to be determined to slow the game down. I'm not sure what Carrick does that I couldn't do.Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-70850439360245706572016-05-21T20:59:12.653+01:002016-05-21T20:59:12.653+01:00Well the only bright point of that dire Cup Final ...Well the only bright point of that dire Cup Final was that Van Gaal might stay at Manure another year, which will hopefully consign them to another dismal year. Two pub sides.<br />gastro georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-27205148494928656512016-05-18T18:19:29.316+01:002016-05-18T18:19:29.316+01:00I think there is something in the argument that wi...I think there is something in the argument that with the premier league being a world league this allows average clubs to punch abive their weight. Factor in that the weather is shit and great players do not want to play in a league where it is often cold and where referees are abysmal then, in theory, it does potentially narrow the gap.<br /><br />The problem is that before this season there was not much evidence to support this claim, so in 20 years time this season may be just a magnificent blip in the graph.<br /><br />None of this hides from Wenger's failure and his continued attempt to turn his repeated failures into some clever long term plan. In fact Leicester's victory destroys all the excuses that Wenger has previously come up with.<br /><br />Now we are told this Wenger master-plan is close to fruition.<br /><br />Let's face it the so called genius has been consistent in delivering below expectations. No amount of b=nice football can hide that fact. And no amount of success in the future can deny it.<br /><br />Though I will go out on a limb and predict Arsenal will just make the top four next season.Herbie Kills Childrennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-43812485905309964362016-05-17T20:27:01.437+01:002016-05-17T20:27:01.437+01:00I think Leicester's end of season run last yea...I think Leicester's end of season run last year actually might have had something to do with an absence of pressure. As a newly-promoted club expectation was lower, for one thing. They were considered to be practically relegated, so their run was almost a romantic 'death or glory' mission, with the fans and media lapping up their impressive form rather than reacting with anger and ridicule like Newcastle and Villa.<br /><br />I reckon that the increased money might be part of the problem with the big clubs. They often spread it quite widely by broadening their squads in preparation for Champions League football, and this leaves them the difficulty of keeping established internationals happy but also giving in to the temptation of using the old 'tinkerman' strategy and resorting to constant changes in first XI. I think the former tinkerman's rejection of rotation was a major factor in Leicester's success, and I expect they will treat next year's CL campaign more as an experience and a bit of fun rather than acquiring a bigger squad. I can see them doing well again in the PL next season, unless the sharks manage to prise a few players away.Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-69304368116222198212016-05-17T19:47:21.365+01:002016-05-17T19:47:21.365+01:00Stoke benefit, presumably, from Hughes European co...Stoke benefit, presumably, from Hughes European connections and Premiership wages - which allows them to buy several decent players. The fact is that they ought to do better, but Hughes has always been a second-tier manager.<br /><br />Leicester and Spurs have shown that pace up front and wide, and a decent press, are still feasible alternatives to the tiki-taka-lite teams, of which Manure are the new epitome. Indeed the latter's better second half of the season was only achieved with the accidental discovery of Rashford, and a second chance for Lingard.<br /><br />Arsenal still need some solidity in midfield in front of the defence - the Busquets, and now Dier, role - that is mandatory if you're going to allow your full backs free passage wide. And, as you say, some reliable pace up front. Walcott, as we all know, is a long lost cause.gastro georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-20404574017925392252016-05-17T16:45:05.464+01:002016-05-17T16:45:05.464+01:00My point about Stoke is that they are now able to ...My point about Stoke is that they are now able to sign international-level players from elite clubs like Barcelona (Afellay as well as Bojan) and Inter (Shaqiri), even if they weren't first choice. In their first season in the EPL, in 2008/9, they brought in Dave Kitson from Reading and James Beattie from Sheffield United.<br /><br />I think the claim that there has been a general drop in quality is a little over-done, and is largely a reflection of Champions League angst. While there has been a noticeable decline in CL placings since 2009, it's worth remembering that was a peak that followed a rapid improvement over the preceding decade on the back of EPL money, particularly the TV rights deals of 1997 and 2001.<br /><br />The next big step up in cash was 2013, but that deal significantly increased the number of games and spread the largesse more evenly beyond the "top" teams. The next deal is 70% bigger, which suggests both greater competition in the EPL but also enough firepower for English clubs to improve in the CL as well. I doubt Leicester will emulate Forest, but I do think clubs like Arsenal and Man City can be more hopeful. That surely is what attracted Guardiola.<br /><br />Re Spurs vs Leicester. You're forgetting that the latter were bottom of the division and 7 points adrift in April last year. They then won 7 of their last 9 games, which suggests to me that they'd worked out how to handle pressure. In contrast, Spurs showed naivety in playing "hot" against Chelsea after the cock-up against West Brom. Basically, they cracked, whereas the Foxes had learnt the knack of playing tight and eking out results.<br /><br />I'm already looking forward to next season, though in no small part because of the fun we'll have when we host Spurs.David Timoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-50980146325961754532016-05-17T12:27:18.498+01:002016-05-17T12:27:18.498+01:00"The league is more competitive than a few ye..."The league is more competitive than a few years ago and that's down to the increased money from TV rights improving mid-table squads, such as Stoke and West Ham."<br /><br />It has certainly been more competitive, but I think that has been due to a drop in quality at the top rather than a strengthening of mid-table clubs. West Ham have improved, but your other example, Stoke, looked awful at times and don't really seem to have a better squad all-round (they seem to have gone for a couple of stars, ie. Shaqiri and Bojan). Southampton have struggled at times but still sneaked in to 6th place. I think more has been due to form and managerial acumen, as apart from Villa the clubs from about 7th place down look very similar in quality. Sunderland proved that, with Allardyce's organisation and astute acquisition of just a few players making us very difficult to beat at the end of the season, and Newcastle fans must be decidedly pissed off that Ashley didn't get Benitez in a bit earlier as their form improved as well.<br /><br />The surprise is that the teams at the top have really thrown away their financial advantages with poor buys and imbalanced squads. How any experienced manager, for example, could think that the likes of De Michaelis, Otamendi and Mangala belong in a team with pretensions to win the Premier League and Champions League is beyond me, and I think Guardiola and Conte are going to have their work cut out next season because both teams need some severe pruning. Tottenham bottled it completely at the end of the season, and I don't think that can just be put down to lack of experience as very few of Leicester's players were used to that kind of pressure yet kept their heads superbly. <br /><br />I'd given up hoping for this in the Premier League, but next season could be just as exciting!Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.com