[Archived] Premier League Happenings

[Salgado Is A Hero]

When was the last time more than two teams challenged for the Premier League in one season?

Isn't it just Utd and one from us, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and City? I genuinely can't recall a PL season like this one where more than two teams have realistically challenged.

Since 1999, Deportivo have won it once and Valencia have won it twice. Since 1992, apart from Arsenal and Utd, Chelsea won it three times and us and City once, after all spending a lot of money to become one of the top clubs.

Plus I'd rather see a Scotland or Spanish scenario with two fairly equal teams than Man Utd winning it 13 times compared to the next highest on 3.

[Guest Norbert]

Ferguson was brilliant, which skewed it slightly. I just think when over the history of the league, two teams have won it about 80% of the time it can be boring for fans of other teams. Real and Barca just buy off any player that looks brilliant in another Spanish team, just to make them a squad player. I've had a quick scan at how many different teams have won the top divisions since 1929, when La Liga started and many more teams have won England's division 1/Premier League, whilst Real Madrid have won 10 more than Barcelona, and three times as many as Athletico Madrid who are in 3rd place. That is not really an exciting and competitive league when you generally say that one of two teams will win.

Athletico Madrid will probably have to sell Costa and a couple of other top players for big bucks and will find it really difficult to be in the position they're in now. They'll most likely be a distant 3rd next season, and once more it will be either team A or team B. Individual games are probably better to watch, and the attacking skill and the diving is a cut above, but La Liga is so predictable over the course of a season 19 seasons out of 20.

[Audax]

If Liverpool were in the Champions League, I'd think they could be very competitive this year.

[Jimmy612]

Assume the West Ham fans won't be booing the team off this week

What I'd do to swap places with those spoilt southern prats now. PL team, PL manager, new stadium on the way.... yet because they don't play like they did when Trevor Brooking was 25 they're moaning.

Saw a tweet the other day- like a 'wanted' poster with a picture of Big Sam and 'for the murder of WHUFC' underneath. Couldn't believe my eyes.

[M-K]

What I'd do to swap places with those spoilt southern prats now. PL team, PL manager, new stadium on the way.... yet because they don't play like they did when Trevor Brooking was 25 they're moaning.

Saw a tweet the other day- like a 'wanted' poster with a picture of Big Sam and 'for the murder of WHUFC' underneath. Couldn't believe my eyes.

Fair play to them, at least they're consistent. Tough on crap football and tough on the causes of crap football.

[thenodrog]

Fair play to them, at least they're consistent. Tough on crap football and tough on the causes of crap football.

WHU fans cant tell the difference between crap football and excellent football cos they've never ever had a team that has played the latter. Just another set of deluded supporters who believe myth passed down through generations before the evidence of their own eyes and experience. As Stan Ternent eloquently put it regarding Burnley fans "that lot have Champagne tastes on beer money." I wonder if it's something to do with a beleagured support base and claret and blue colours?

[M-K]

But they won the World Cup! They can't be expected to support a manager who looks like Les Dawson chewing a hornet. It's not the West Ham way.

[jim mk2]

Good to see Sam still working his magic - such a tragedy from our point of view that he is doing it for a horrible club like West Ham. Like the Everton School of Science, the "West Ham way" is of course a myth and should be consigned to history.

[speeeeeeedie]

Good to see Sam still working his magic - such a tragedy from our point of view that he is doing it for a horrible club like West Ham. Like the Everton School of Science, the "West Ham way" is of course a myth and should be consigned to history.

Exactly.

Paul Walsh was co-commentating on US TV yesterday. Martin Tyler asked him what he thought of the fans booing Allardyce over his approach to the game. Walsh's reply was something along the lines of why are they moaning? They were a yo-yo club playing "the right way" long before he turned up. You think they'd be happy to stay in the top division.

Fans have short memories. Avram Grant didn't play hoofball, neither did Roeder but they both got West Ham relegated.

Does Rathbone Market still lurk? Maybe he/she can give us their view.

[donnermeat]

It's alright playing football the 'right way' but if you can't do it where it really counts in the final third of the pitch then what is the point?

[M-K]

It's alright playing football the 'right way' but if you can't do it where it really counts in the final third of the pitch then what is the point?

They've only managed 36 goals in 32 games playing the 'wrong' way.

[Amo]

Never was a fan of Sherwood. I didn't support Rovers until '97, though, which I'm sure has some bearing on it. Thought he was a spiteful bugger and I remember him trying to end Patrick Vieira's career for Rovers AND then later at Spurs. Not forgetting the disgraceful way he turned the dressing room against Hodgson so he could force a move to Spurs, from the club captain no less! Doesn't look like he's changed much, when he's slagging his players off publicly instead of leading by example. Like hell would I want him here!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Never was a fan of Sherwood. I didn't support Rovers until '97, though, which I'm sure has some bearing on it. Thought he was a spiteful bugger and I remember him trying to end Patrick Vieira's career for Rovers AND then later at Spurs. Not forgetting the disgraceful way he turned the dressing room against Hodgson so he could force a move to Spurs, from the club captain no less! Doesn't look like he's changed much, when he's slagging his players off publicly instead of leading by example. Like hell would I want him here!

I didn't like him as player either. Players are divided into two groups for me 1) The ones who'll really play from the start and get you on top in a game and 2) The ones who'll really play when group 1 have got you in the game. Sherwood was a classic example of a group 2) player. Looking a the players in the team that won the big one he was very lucky to captain them.

[47er]

Don't agree. Sherwood made that midfield tick and was a terrific leader,

.

Not the first or last to be under appreciated by Ewood fans.

[Audax]

Just hypothesising: Sam could leave in the summer and some other club pick him up anxiously but I don't know if he's under contract. It's been a bit too topsy-turvy, a club like West Brom if they survive would probably take him. Maybe with Carrol in 10 more games, seems that is how many he has missed, Wham have more than 36 goals which is still more than 8 clubs.

[thenodrog]

I didn't like him as player either. Players are divided into two groups for me 1) The ones who'll really play from the start and get you on top in a game and 2) The ones who'll really play when group 1 have got you in the game. Sherwood was a classic example of a group 2) player. Looking a the players in the team that won the big one he was very lucky to captain them.

Shown yourself up with that post Tyrone. Sherwood was one hell of a Captain and playmaker constantly finding men in space and bringing the wingers and full backs into play. We came 4th, 2nd and then won the Prem with him and all with the very willing but also very limited Atko alongside for a lot of the time.

[broadsword]

Remember when Shearer came back from injury and Dalglish brought him off the bench against Newcastle? That pass Shirley set him up with was classic Sherwood.

He was also very willing to get into the opposition and scored vital goals.

What more do people want?

[speeeeeeedie]

Remember when Shearer came back from injury and Dalglish brought him off the bench against Newcastle? That pass Shirley set him up with was classic Sherwood.

He was also very willing to get into the opposition and scored vital goals.

What more do people want?

A stretch on the vital goals angle. He usually missed by a country mile.

A testament to him is that at 25 (or younger) Dalglish made him captain.

[Dunnfc]

[yoda]

Scary, have they ever been seen together?

[Stuart]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2596295/Sunderland-rocked-emerges-North-East-club-fielded-Ji-ineligible.html

Getting away with it, Tevez-style.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Shown yourself up with that post Tyrone. Sherwood was one hell of a Captain and playmaker constantly finding men in space and bringing the wingers and full backs into play. We came 4th, 2nd and then won the Prem with him and all with the very willing but also very limited Atko alongside for a lot of the time.

Just my view. What did he do after he left Ewood ?

[perthblue02]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2596295/Sunderland-rocked-emerges-North-East-club-fielded-Ji-ineligible.html

Getting away with it, Tevez-style.

If Sunderland stay up by a point it could get interesting

[47er]

Just my view. What did he do after he left Ewood ?

Err-----played for Spurs and England?

[Dunnfc]

If Sunderland stay up by a point it could get interesting

To be fair they only got one point out of those four games and the Saints game in particular were he came on they conceded straight away.