[Archived] Other Premier League Happenings

[LeftWinger]

Just for fun I ran the BBC predictor thing next to the Lawrenson predictions last night putting in reasonably likely results and not checking until the season end to see what happened to the table and was astonished by the Prem winners. Chelsea one point ahead of Arsenal one point ahead of ManU!

I wouldn't say that's astonishing. Chelsea have been quietly winning games - and without many of their best players. When the likes of Drogba, Terry, Lampard and Essien (to name but a few) are back in that team - they'll push United all the way. I actually think the title race will be between United and Chelsea - with Arsenal falling away before too long.

[Eddie]

Isn't Drogba out for the season?

[philipl]

Isn't Drogba out for the season?

I'm sure I've seen you pontificating about the ACN somewhere!

Are you sure you know anything about African fooyball?

[LeftWinger]

Isn't Drogba out for the season?

Where have you got that from? He played last night.

[Bazzanotsogreat]

I'm sure I've seen you pontificating about the ACN somewhere!

Are you sure you know anything about African fooyball?

Why do you?

[philipl]

Why do you?

Yes, I know Drogba is playing for Ivory Coast.

[USRoverME]

Bazza if you are trying to stir up trouble (and lets face it, its your default mode), tossing philip a softball like that is poor effort.

[RevidgeBlue]

Tonight:

West 'aaammmm 1 Liverpool 0 (94th minute penalty)

It would be funny as **** if Liverpool didn't even qualify for the UEFA Cup!

Everton 0 Spurs 0

Derby 1 Citeh 1 After defeat at Sheff Utd in the Cup, Sven's men seemingly on the slide despite the 50m spent.

[John]

Not bad set of results for us tonight.

Slightly worried about West Ham's position, as they are due to have a few quality players returning from injury.

Looking at the table, we are not badly placed, considering our recent 'crisis'.

[Hasta]

People will rave about Man U's performance tonight and say they should have had 5 or 6, but how bad were Pompey. Even at Old Trafford, if that was Rovers we'd be appalled. Couldn't defend, couldn't even pass to their own men and were awful upfront.

Milan Baros

Thank god we never signed him!

[Presty On Tour]

Tonight:

West 'aaammmm 1 Liverpool 0 (94th minute penalty)

It would be funny as **** if Liverpool didn't even qualify for the UEFA Cup!

Everton 0 Spurs 0

Derby 1 Citeh 1 After defeat at Sheff Utd in the Cup, Sven's men seemingly on the slide despite the 50m spent.

also manchester united did us a favor beating portsmouth, ronaldo's free kick was as i like to say "postage stamp"

apparently liverpool had a corner deep into injury time and sent everyone up going for the win and got done on the counter attack, phil thompson on sky sports does not look amused

[herbergeehh]

Brilliant results for Rovers, couldn't be better as far as I can see. If we could just beat Everton......

[tchocky]

How poo werent Liverpool today. 4 points in 5 games. Rafa surely can't last much longer. I think he'll be off when they go out of one of the cups, if not before.

[American]

Before the match F365 said it was good news for United that Baros would be starting for Pompey.

Sounds like Woodgate earned Spurs a point.

Everton can be calling the rival manager Beneathus for a bit longer, it looks like.

[RevidgeBlue]

Everton can be calling the rival manager Beneathus for a bit longer, it looks like.

[herbergeehh]

25 Man. City - Arsenal B

25 Blackburn - Everton H

25 Portsmouth - Chelsea B

25 Tottenham - Man. United B

25 Wigan - West Ham H/U

25 Liverpool - Sunderland U/B

25 Fulham - Aston Villa H/U

The last three probably won't happen, but the next round can change a lot up there. If we just do our own job, things will fall into our hands nicely methinks.

[tchocky]

I don't think people know what you mean by B or U... Unless they are from Norway or thereabouts

[robbojohnno]

B = Away

U = Draw

For those who are interested, thats if freetranslation is correct

[brian_gallagher85]

And to think we are worried about our current team and lack of transfers. Of the teams around us going for 4-7th, Everton are the only ones that I believe are any better equipt than us...yes even better than Liverpool.

We all know we have a very good run in and I expect this to happen again. Also I agree that Pompey where awful tonight, Utd where very average and where made to look like world beaters.

[92er]

Isn't Drogba out for the season?

He played yesterday for his country.

[RevidgeBlue]

Just looked at the Premiership table on Sky Sports site - there's a really useful "last 6 games" form guide in pretty colours which makes it easy to follow.

The bare statistics suggest us and Villa are in the best form outside the top four (Everton being in the top four).

However West Ham have almost the same form figures to us and Villa and lie two points behind us with a game in hand.

In the bottom half, the two teams really bombing (apart from the obvious Derby and Fulham) are Reading and Newcastle.

[philipl]

Hopefully rev, we are getting the results and the performances will follow. I had noticed we had climbed up the last 6 games mini-table which was a big reason why I was sounding relatively relaxed.

I know you slagged off what happened at Villa Park but that was a quantum leap better than the Derby and Sunderland performances.

Having the Everton and Arsenal games follow might actually be a massive help to the club as it builds on improving results.

Anyway, in terms of elsewhere, the news this morning is:

1) Liverpool are paying 8% interest or most of their operating profit on the loan taken out by Kop. Non-qualification for CL Group stages for 2008/9, exit to Inter in the CL in Feb, and not making the FA Cup Final this year (all of which have to be said look very probable) add up to Liverpool not being able to pay their interest bill next season. At that point they get sold by the bank or the two Americans finally put their hands in their own pockets for the first time. I cannot see the fans consortium finding 100,000 people to contribute £5,000 each or even some combination which could turn Liverpool into a members' club. But good luck to them.

2) West Ham have been told by their owner that cash has to be conserved and the £10m training ground investment is canned. Will Lucas get his pay rise?

3) Gaydamak is reported to have put Portsmouth up for sale.

If Rovers are not an attractive investment proposition then it seems one or two others aren't either.

[benlloninho]

I doubt many PL teams are good investment choices for people trying to earn money... it costs loads and loads of money to make a team successful these days and probably only teams with a massive fan base and worldwide marketing potential (Real Madrid, Man Yoo) are really going to get a significant return on their investment. It's certainly not a good business decision to invest in a football club.

[LeftWinger]

Interesting to read Arsenal were "close" to signing Cristiano Ronaldo before United did....

Ronaldo to Arsenal

My favourite part of the article is this though...

Ronaldo has been in sensational form all season, scoring 27 goals as well as setting up countless others for the Premier League leaders.

Yes he's scored a lot - but in the Premier League and FA Cup - the "countless others" he has set up amounts to a massive one. Only one assist all season - more lazy journalism

[Silencio]

Watching Manchester United now and they have been terrible. Really frustrated by Tottenham whose defence has been excellent. Woodgate is a real player and Alan Hutton looks exceptional.