*Official* English Football Season 2008-2009

[roseboy64]

We haven't looked decent for most of the season and the other two teams haven't put that to good use. Considering the fact that apart from Torres and Gerrard Liverpool haven't got much and Chelsea seem to have internal problems I stand behind my prediction. Perfect opportunity for both this weekend to pull away and they stuffed it.

 

[GIMH]

And when they both ****ed up recently, you had a couple of good chances to close the gap, V Tottenham & Villa. Swings and roundabouts. Would hate to sound pro-Liverpool, but they do have good players aside from Gerrard and Torres.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Except that in the league you've not looked at all penetrative

Agree that the second half of the season is your strongest part, but Liverpool have managed to stay top without their star man, and Chelsea have been without Essien. Liverpool have been lucky to stay top in many ways, but will also get stronger when Torres returns.

In all honesty, I think it's a three-horse race (sorry Brumby, sledger (RIP)) and it could well be one of the best title races we've had in recent times.

Wouldn't dare to suggest otherwise. If we don't beat the Villa on Boxing Day we in serious danger of missing out on 4th even.

Still Chav's title for mine; Liverpool don't seem to be playing like a team who really thinks they can win it & ManUre still too dependent on Chavnaldo, who's predictably not quite hitting last year's heights.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have played like gash for the most part and are all of a point behind Liverpool. Drogba, Cole, Ballack, Essien to come back = where my money would go.

 

[GIMH]

I thought Chelsea looked **** hot early doors, tbf

But yeah, interesting, they have looked gash of late, and Liverpool have all season. It's what makes me think they can win it; they actually looked good early on in recent years before bottling it in the autumn. They have bottled it to an extent but have come out of it.

For all the talk of United being good in the spring, Liverpool tend to peak from January to March under the fat Spanish waiter.

 

[Johnners]

I thought Chelsea looked **** hot early doors, tbf

But yeah, interesting, they have looked gash of late, and Liverpool have all season. It's what makes me think they can win it; they actually looked good early on in recent years before bottling it in the autumn. They have bottled it to an extent but have come out of it.

For all the talk of United being good in the spring, Liverpool tend to peak from January to March under the fat Spanish waiter.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I know noone really cares. But.......

UNITED WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS.

GUNSHOTS - BULLETT, BULLETT, BULLETT....

I know United deserve credit for winning the Champions League and everything, but I'd be willing to go out on a limb and suggest that any club in the Premiership could beat either Gamba Osaka or Liga de Quito. Not exactly anything to get excited about.

 

[GIMH]

Can't remember who they played, but tbf Liverpool didn't come home as world champs three years ago.

 

[Pothas]

Think Man utd are actually the first team from Europe to win this competition for a couple years. I remember Liverpool losing a couple of years back. Admitedly this might be due to the fact that the teams from outsidie Europe take it far more seriously but I still think that United should be given credit for going to Japan at an incovinent time and getting the result.

 

[GIMH]

Didn't Milan win it?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Interestingly (or perhaps not but anyway) English clubs' record in the old Intercontinental Cup was arse generally. Man Utd were the only team to win it in 1999. Which, considering we used to have a lock on the European Cup (7 wins out of 8 from 78-84) is a horrible record.

 

[Pothas]

Yes they did had completely forgoten that match. Just remembered that Liverpool and Barcelone both lost in recent years.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Didn't Milan win it?

Quite so.

Liga did have a bit of a fluky run though; they didn't even win the Ecuadorian league, won three games by away goals or pens, and play their home games at 3,000 metres in Quito. Liverpool and Barca, at least, came up against decently strong Brazilian teams, and Milan played Boca.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Quito were absolutely bloody useless. I'd have backed City to give them a good going over. Hell, I'd even back Citeh to...

 

[Tom Halsey]

I'm still making us favourites for the league, in fact even more so after this weekend.

 

[roseboy64]

Gamba played well throughout the tournament TBH. Would back them to be around mid-table in the Prem. Quito though only had one good player TBH in Manso who got the bronze ball behind Rooney and Ronaldo.

 

[Pothas]

Would probably agree with that. It has been a strange season so far with none of the top four really playing well (even Liverpool who have done so much better than previous seasons.) Despite being top I still dont think Liverpool quite have what it takes and recent home draws against Fulham. Hull, West Ham indicate this
This leaves it between Man utd and Chelsea, Im sure Chelsea will sort out their home form at somepoint but I think Man utd will edge it again, they have so many atacking options, have the rest of the top 4 to play at home and crucially I think that they will win games against mid table teams that Liverpool and Chelsea will only manage to draw.

 

[Craig]

Back to football & why the heck is Diarra off to Madrid??. He is a good player with big potential yea, but damnn Real have like 3 ball-winners already in De La Red, Gago & M Diarra.

Can't see how he is better than them & why Ramos & Real heirachy would want him (even though they want cover for M Diarra) he isn't Real Madrid pedigree ATM. He could be about to waste his time like he did at Arsenal i fear unless he really stars.

He will have the number 6 on his back with the name 'Lass'

 

[The Sean]

I know United deserve credit for winning the Champions League and everything, but I'd be willing to go out on a limb and suggest that any club in the Premiership could beat either Gamba Osaka or Liga de Quito. Not exactly anything to get excited about.

Quite so.

Liga did have a bit of a fluky run though; they didn't even win the Ecuadorian league, won three games by away goals or pens, and play their home games at 3,000 metres in Quito. Liverpool and Barca, at least, came up against decently strong Brazilian teams, and Milan played Boca.

Quito were absolutely bloody useless. I'd have backed City to give them a good going over. Hell, I'd even back Citeh to...

United were dead set on a hiding to nothing with this tournament - win, and it's a case of "it's a mickey mouse tournament and you only had to beat teams from Japan and Ecuador" while lose, and it's "ha ha you couldn't even beat teams from Japan and Ecuador so you're not the best team in the world."

It's not as prestigious as the Champions League or the Premiership and it would have been great to meet a Boca/River/Flamengo in the final, but United well and truly earned their right to be there and you can only beat who's put in front of you. I personally am happy we won it, particularly with our title rivals failing to take advantage of United's absence in the League.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Yeah I'm happy we won it as well, IMO once FIFA get the format right it has the potential to be a very prestigious competition - and if it does, we'll be quite happy we won it.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Fabregas out for four months, dear me. Probably doesn't affect the title race as they were out of it anyway but it does give Villa slightly more of a sniff.