2012-13 EPL Thread

[Eastdog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

EPL Results - Round 8 - Saturday Games

Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea
Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa
Man. Utd 4-2 Stoke City
Swansea City 2-1 Wigan
West Ham United 4-1 Southampton
West Bromwich 1-2 Man. City
Liverpool 1-0 Reading
Norwich City 1-0 Arsenal

Good win for Man United. That keeps us in 2nd place ahead of Man City in 3rd on goal difference with both teams on 18 points. Chelsea are still undefeated on top of the table with 22 points.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

It's not really a level playing field is it? It's all about money, the haves & have nots. You can categorise the EPL into the following groups:

A) Can win the title
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City

B) Can qualify for the Champions League
Arsenal, Tottenham

C) Can qualify for Europa Cup
Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle

D) Will be looking to avoid relegation
QPR, Southampton, Wigan, Reading, Swansea

E) The remainder who don't fit into the other categories
Aston Villa, Fulham, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke, West Ham, West Brom

[Eastdog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

It's not really a level playing field is it? It's all about money, the haves & have nots. You can categorise the EPL into the following groups:

A) Can win the title
Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City

B) Can qualify for the Champions League
Arsenal, Tottenham

C) Can qualify for Europa Cup
Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle

D) Will be looking to avoid relegation
QPR, Southampton, Wigan, Reading, Swansea

E) The remainder who don't fit into the other categories
Aston Villa, Fulham, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke, West Ham, West Brom

Very true TCD. As I go for Man Utd I'm fortunate in that we are usually always up there challenging for the EPL title. If your a supporter of the mid range teams it's nowadays impossible to win the title unless you get an owner with a lot of money to spend.

[chef]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

It's not really a level playing field is it? It's all about money, the haves & have nots. You can categorise the EPL into the following groups:

Nope, which is a bit sad. I guess the same can be said for all the top leagues in Europe.

I still pinch myself sometimes watching Chelsea and remembering just how bad(and close to going under) we were in the 80's.

I can't believe how far Liverpool has fallen off the pace recently.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

It's not really a level playing field is it? It's all about money, the haves & have nots. You can categorise the EPL into the following groups:

Thats why I prefer the Bundesliga a bit more.
This century there has been 6 winners and a host of other sides coming 2nd and 3rd in the Bundesliga.
Sure Bayern Munich is the team to beat most years but it's certainly spread around more and with different teams often finishing 2nd and 3rd.

The EPL has had 4 winners in the same period but it's dominated by one side in particular.

As successful as the EPL is from a fans and TV perspective, I don't think it's anywhere near a good competition primarily because of the domination of one side.

The problem is that I cant see it getting better. It needs 5 or 6 sides with some legitimate to win the competition before I can enjoy it. The 3 stronger teams have a significant gap on the others and I can't see it closing.

It's a shame that Liverpool and Arsenal have dropped off the pace and that Newcastle has never lived up to it's promise.

[comrade]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

You could look at it another way. If you support a team that has no chance of winning the title, you can be content in watching them each week purely for the joy of it. Sure, some weeks will be better than others but when there is no real expectation of attaining the ultimate success, I'm sure it would release the shackles somewhat. It also explains why these clubs have rabid fan bases year in year out despite no long term success. No fickle support based on where they're sitting on the ladder.

Contrast that to us Bulldogs supporters. Theoretically, we have a chance of winning the premiership in a given year or at least within a cycle. I think that expectation and yearning has turned a lot of supporters bitter and twisted after so many years of non-success and near misses.

The least enjoyable year for me in recent times was 2010 because the hype machine was in full swing. We were so close in 2009, Barry Hall, NAB Cup etc etc and we were never really a chance all year. Every week you'd turn up hoping that this would be the game where it all clicks but it never did. Even when we won, you'd still go home knowing we weren't on the same level as the very top teams.

I'm going to enjoy next year because my expectations are so low.

[Topdog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Villa are firmly in the relegation area. Liverpool in the middle category where they can't really do anything

Liverpool did spend 100m last year so it really is crazy to say that

[The Pie Man]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

The EPL at least has a fair fixture - 19 home games at each team's own ground. If they can sort out the FIFA financial fair play rules it will make the PL even better.

Chatting to an English mate about the 80's 1st division - he still loves English football, but looks back on that era of competitiveness (and cracking season finales) as its best - before $ did its thing

[Eastdog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

EPL Results - Round 8 - Sunday Games

Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle
QPR 1-1 Everton

[Sedat]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

The least enjoyable year for me in recent times was 2010 because the hype machine was in full swing. We were so close in 2009, Barry Hall, NAB Cup etc etc and we were never really a chance all year. Every week you'd turn up hoping that this would be the game where it all clicks but it never did. Even when we won, you'd still go home knowing we weren't on the same level as the very top teams.

I thought after our gutsy win in Adelaide on a dirty cold Sunday twilight (when half the team had the flu) that we were back in the frame for season 2010. Alas, Geelong put us firmly back in our place the following week, we then lost Coons and Morris the week after in Sydney and we were shot thereafter.

I agree with your analogy about following EPL clubs. I've been lucky enough to go to various EPL and Championship games at the home venues away from the big 3 - places like Craven Cottage, The Valley, Selhurst Park, Loftus Rd, Upton Park, and the atmosphere is incredible. It is a weekly ritual and rite of passage for these hearty supporters, and on the odd occasion that they sneak a draw or (heaven forbid) a win against the big 3, it is a celebration for the ages. When your expectation is to win the title, how can you enjoy the mundanity of just another ho-hum victory against an also-ran?

[comrade]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Alas, Geelong put us firmly back in our place the following week

Watching that from the stats box was 'interesting', to say the least.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Villa are firmly in the relegation area. Liverpool in the middle category where they can't really do anything

Liverpool did spend 100m last year so it really is crazy to say that

No Excuses for Liverpool, they've purchased poorly.
Great game for the neutrals, but if you followed or Coached Spurs you 'd be mortified after leading 2 1 and keeping the game so open!

[chef]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Looking forward to the top of the table clash tonight. Should be a cracker, but I'm not to confident after what happened mid week.

Play ManU twice at home in 4 days.

Merseyside derby should be a good one too.

[Eastdog]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Should be a great game Chelsea and Man Utd. Hoping we can get all 3 points against Chelsea which would be a great result for us. That would put us right with Chelsea.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2012-13 EPL Thread

Wigan got the much needed 3 points against West Ham.