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Subject: Premiership 2004/5 - who do you like?
Posted by: Swish City
- Dude [0931275] Mon, Aug 09, 2004, 19:21
The Premiership season is less than 1 week away. I really cannot see past Arsenal, Chelsea or possibly Man Utd for the Premiership. Can anyone see a challenge from outside these 3? Maybe Liverpool and Newcastle can hang around for a while, but they are not strong enough to challenge for the title.
My own feeling is that it will be a tight run thing between Chelsea and Arsenal, with Man U a little way behind. Chelsea and Arsenal both have incredible strength and depth, which Man U cannot really match. They have brought in Smith, Saha and Heinz, but cannot compete with Abramovich's millions.
Would be interested to hear your views, if anyone is still reading at this time of year!! |
| 1 | Superclydes
ID: 63402814
Sun, Aug 22, 2004, 04:34
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I agree. Aresenal are firiing on all cylinder like last year and are going to be tough. Chelsea will buy their way to the top, but this maybe their year. After playing together last year, all of their signings are now familiar with one another. Man U has a lot of new players, but have injury problems. Liverpool and Newcastle just don't have it for this year. Liverpool is going to fade fast. Shearers last year will be a disappointing one.
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| 2 | Swish City
Dude
ID: 0931275
Mon, Aug 23, 2004, 21:33
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Liverpool are Owen-less now, so they're pretty much screwed. Newcastle have also been raided by Real for Woodgate which hurts them a lot, IMO. Depends what they do with the money, but selling the only decent defender you have doesn't seem like a winning strategy to me.
It already looks like Arsenal and Chelsea to me, even after only 2 weeks. Arsenal have slipped right back into the groove and they will be incredibly hard to stop. Did you see the amount of goals and who scored them against Middlesborough - Henry, Reyes, Bergkamp, Pires...that's all you need to know right there.
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| 3 | Outsidergua
ID: 11049111
Wed, Nov 17, 2004, 17:09
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Hmm... Well yall know it'll be the same all three teams at the top, just varying the order from 1 to 3, it doesn't really excite me
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| 4 | Superclydes
ID: 63402814
Thu, Dec 02, 2004, 12:38
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Aresenal aren't looking good right now. Two defeats after such a long run. Man U looks pretty tough and by no means are out of it. Chelsea is looking even tougher than I thought. I don't get much of a chance to see matches here, but when it is on, I watch what I can. I am basically stuck with reading about it on the internet. I would love to see Man U take it all this year. Another treble would really be nice.
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| 5 | Swish City
Dude
ID: 0931275
Wed, Dec 08, 2004, 20:20
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Supercycles, it's very ironic to see someone complaining about not seeing Premiership - for the majority on these boards, it's a case of lack of exposure to any sport that isn't basketball, hockey, baseball or football (in the American sense, of course). I just think it's weird, since we get to see it every week over here in the UK.
Anyway, back on topic, it does seem that Man U are finally on a roll. They hit a Champions League bump tonight with a very young side, but aside from that, they've won 8 straight. To be honest, Chelsea look best at the moment, but Arsenal are capable of going unbeaten until the end of the season if they want it enough. I'm still not sure that Man U's squad depth is up to the level of Chelsea and Arsenal. Rooney is fantastic, but if if he and/or Ruud go down, they tend to struggle a bit.
I still think Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U as the top 3, in that order.
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| 6 | Superclydes
ID: 63402814
Thu, Dec 09, 2004, 11:53
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I agree Swish. I guess I am a little biased because I spent the last 7 years there and will be back there next year, so I will get my fill then. Actually they do show it occasionally in the states.
Yes, Chelsea are looking good. Man U can do it, they need to have a good Christmas run and then it will be who can stay the healthiest.
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| 7 | Swish City
Dude
ID: 0931275
Fri, Dec 10, 2004, 21:59
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Sorry about getting your name wrong, Superclydes. Not paying enough attention!
Chelsea look great right now. In Duff and Robben, they have 2 of the best young left wing talents in world football. Mourinho seems to have instilled something in that side that was not there before when Ranieri was in charge. They really look like winners now. Credit to Mourinho - i thought he was all talk, but he really is the man.
Man U ALWAYS make a run at about this time. They always seem to have a period where they take maximum points from 10 or 12 games at Christmas time. I don't think they're out of it, but they're only a Scholes/Ruud/Rooney injury away from losing that cohesion, IMHO.
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| 8 | Superclydes
ID: 63402814
Sun, Dec 12, 2004, 11:51
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You say that they always make a run at this time, but I can remember when I was first "subjected to" watching English football, was 1997 when going into the Christmas season, Man U was up 15 points on Arsenal. They ended up losing that season to give Arsenal their first win in the Premiership. Not bagging on them, they deserved it, but I get so much garbage from people saying I jumped on a bandawagon.
My first impression of English football was watching a Champions league game where Man U was playing someone I can't remember. I didn't have Sky, so it was on BBC. This was the same season in 1997 where they were running away with the Premiership. Then along comes Christmas and they lost a bunch. Anyway, I saw that game that they won, and thought that they were very impressive. I have never even heard of Man U or any Premiership teams before. I decided that that was the team I would support from then on. After 1999, when they won it all, I was called a bandwagon person. GARBAGE. I just blow it off. I have been a supporter of the Green Bay Packers in American Football since I have been born and I am not a considered a bandwagon person there. It is just because Man U won it all in 99 that I get so much crap.
Anyway, I haven't seen the scores this weekend, so I hope they won. Chelsea is nothing to take for granted. I think they may take it this season. They have bought their way to the top and now are going to reap the benefits. I can actually see Man U as third in the group behind Arsenal. Although if Arsenal keep up their pace,they will be third.
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| 9 | superclydes
ID: 36371321
Mon, May 02, 2005, 01:11
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Well, Chelsea bought their way to the top. I wonder if the New York Yankees should take a look at how it was done. They aren't as dominating as I thought they were going to be. I lose 5 pounds if Aresenal finish higher than Man U, so c'mon United!!
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| 10 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Fri, May 13, 2005, 16:30
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superclydes, get the 5 pounds ready... ;)
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| 11 | superclydes
ID: 36371321
Tue, May 17, 2005, 22:43
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I am hoping that this weekend I can talk him into double or nothing for the FA Cup final this weekend. With Henry out and possibly Peres, I think we have a better than average chance.
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| 12 | Swish City
Dude
ID: 0931275
Sun, May 22, 2005, 13:25
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So much for that theory! Daylight robbery and no mistake, Arsenal were crap.
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| 13 | superclydes
ID: 36371321
Sun, May 22, 2005, 21:02
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I didn't get to see the game or MotD because I was in school all weekend, but from what I heard is Arsenal looked like crap and ManU deserved to win. I even heard the disallowed goal wasn't a for certain thing. I will be reading up more on this later, but right now, I need to give up my 10 quid to my brother in law. ARG!!!
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| 14 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 041831612
Thu, May 26, 2005, 23:31
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I thoroughly enjoyed the game. The crowd was hot which heightened the drama. It is true Arsenal had little to no scoring opportunities. Reyes was marked tightly and without Henry to draw attention, openings weren't there. They played a smart, patient, tactical game in my opinion. Possession will likely be misleading because Arsenal did control at times and pass well. They just didn't advance much.
ManU was certainly the agressor and had tremendous opportunities. Van Nistelroy being denied off a beautiful header----by the defender standing on the line----and then it bounding off the bar---in the 85th minute----that was one I won't soon forget.
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| 15 | Swish City
Dude
ID: 0931275
Fri, May 27, 2005, 10:07
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Arsenal's big problem was that they played Bergkamp on his own up front. He has barely played that position all season, and he does not have the pace or stamina to fill that role. He is still a wonderful footballer, but needs to play behind the front player(s) to be at his best.
As a consequence, Arsenal lacked the pace required to trouble two very quick central defenders in Silvestre and Rio. And as Mike pointed out, Man U did a great job in shackling Reyes. He was probably targetted specifically to be marked tightly in the abscence of Henry.
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| 16 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 041831612
Fri, May 27, 2005, 10:18
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I thought the late (in regulation) substitution of van Persie was significant for Arsenal. He seemed to make a big impact with his fresh legs and showed some good ball handling as well. He took the free kicks and forced Carroll into his only real save of the game. One of the better players in extra time for Arsenal. And if memory serves he took the 3rd PK for Arsenal. Yup, a nice substitution.
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| 17 | superclydes
ID: 36371321
Sun, May 29, 2005, 23:41
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I handed over my 10 pounds today and to add insult to injury, he was going to the pub to have a few on me. I had to go to work this evening. We didn't get the bank holiday off. Oh well, on to next year.
Going to be interesting to see how Glazer is going to throw money around to purchase players or if he is going to do that at all. There is enough talent on this team right now to be a contender, but we now need a keeper. Is it August yet??
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| 18 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 041831612
Mon, May 30, 2005, 08:36
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Lol. I think Glazer is in a spot where he has to do anything he can to win the fans, and that won't be easy. So I see money being spent. Owen is a likely candidate.
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| 19 | superclydes
ID: 36371321
Mon, May 30, 2005, 18:47
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I am not a big fan of Owen. His hamstring injuries worry me. He seems to be doing real well in Spain though. There was also a rumor awhile back about Beckham coming back to England, but I never heard what team. I think the midfield is where we need the most help or else in the backfield. I haven't been too impressed by Neville as of late.
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