Soccer

[R. Richard]

There was some discussion in an earlier post about the effect of Glaser buying Manchester United. Here is the top 10 in the English Premier League, with Manchester United top by four points. Comments?

P W L D *
Manchester United 20 16 2 2 50 44 11 33
Chelsea 20 14 4 2 46 35 15 20
Arsenal 20 10 6 4 36 37 18 19
Bolton 20 11 3 6 36 24 16 8
Portsmouth 20 10 5 5 35 30 18 12
Liverpool 20 10 4 6 34 28 16 12
Tottenham 20 9 4 7 31 25 26 -1
Everton 20 7 7 6 28 24 20 4
Reading 20 8 3 9 27 22 27 -5
Aston Villa 20 510 5 25 22 23 -1

 

[English Lady]

Okay, comments


Number one: Alex Ferguson is a very good manager and he's worked to forge a really good team out of what he's got to play with, he's not been able to buy in many players and you can see in some areas we do still need shoring up a bit (defence for example)

Number two: We've not suffered any major injury bouts -yet. We've had a few minor ones and that's caused some problems.

Number 3: we're out of the coca cola cup, only just through in the European cup (skin of our teeth type stuff -again) and we've played nothing in the FA cup yet. So our fixture list has been a little lighter than of recent seasons -this always helps BUT if we go far in both FA cup and European cup the build up of games MAY cause us to flag.

Number 4: (and this one hurts) I am not sure we'd be top of he league if Chelsea were playing as well as they did last season *ouch* It's difficult to contemplate but it's certainly a factor.

Also, this is only half way (ish) through the season -there's a way to go yet

 

[R. Richard]

Number one: Alex Ferguson is a very good manager and he's worked to forge a really good team out of what he's got to play with.

One of the most difficult things in sports is to get the best of what is available. Alex Ferguson has done incredibly well and much better than Chelsea.

Number two: We've not suffered any major injury bouts -yet. We've had a few minor ones and that's caused some problems.

Injuries are always a problem, but over the course of a season they tend to even out.

Number 3: we're out of the coca cola cup, only just through in the European cup (skin of our teeth type stuff -again) and we've played nothing in the FA cup yet. So our fixture list has been a little lighter than of recent seasons -this always helps BUT if we go far in both FA cup and European cup the build up of games MAY cause us to flag.

I get the sense that Alex Ferguson is not all that concerned about the cup contests, except the English Premier League championship. He is concentrating his effort to win the one big prize. Glaser is letting him do it. Damn good teamwork!

Number 4: (and this one hurts) I am not sure we'd be top of he league if Chelsea were playing as well as they did last season *ouch* It's difficult to contemplate but it's certainly a factor. [/QUOTE]
Man U drew with Chelsea in their last match. Chelsea came in needing a win and they maybe got overly high for the match. Getting overly high for one match means getting overly low for at least one following match. Chelsea may be concentrating on too many targets.

There is a lot of season left. However, it is my sense that Glaser and Ferguson are on track and that Man U will do well over the last half [more or less] of the season.

 

[English Lady]

RR - can only hope you're right. I have a goodfeeling for the seaon, too. I don't think Sir Fergie is exclusively concentrating on the league -it's very, very important to manchester united to do well in Europe-but as to the other cups, you may well be right, there.

 

[oggbashan]

Arsenal

Despite trailing the other two and plagued by injury, Arsenal managed by Arsene Wenger are managing with less money than Manchester United and have a brand new stadium in which to build their future.

They are unlikely to catch up this season but next?

Arsenal are always a team to watch and when on form are a delight to watch in action (as long as they aren't running rings round YOUR team).

Og

PS. This reply is dedicated to Tatelou and my youngest daughter, both Arsenal fans.

 

[R. Richard]

Despite trailing the other two and plagued by injury, Arsenal managed by Arsene Wenger are managing with less money than Manchester United and have a brand new stadium in which to build their future.

Not to mention less money than Chelsea!

 

[English Lady]

Not to mention less money than Chelsea!

We all have less money than chelea


And I will not mention Arsenal, nope never.

 

[oggbashan]

We all have less money than chelsea


And I will not mention Arsenal, nope never.

You just did.

Og

 

[English Lady]

You just did.

Og

Bugger

 

[edie]

Scum.

 

[oggbashan]

Scum.

To whom or what are you referring?

The football teams mentioned above, or the contributors to this thread?

We, as members of the AH, are expected to rise to the top.

Those football teams also seem to float to the top of the Premiership.

So your description might be faintly appropriate.

Og