Manchester City H Build up Sun 13th 13.37 Sky Sports 1

[dom9]

It's like saying that the quality of refereeing has increased or decreased from one period to the next because the number of free kicks, corners, bookings or red cards has increased.

It's actually irrelevant.

Flawless logic I'm sure you'll agree.

[Roboklopp]

Well no dude, cos it's all relative vs the rest of the league, so the bottom lot could be worse, as could the middle. I don't think number of draws has any bearing on the quality of the league- it could just be a stylistic difference sick as teams are playing more defensively and are happier with a draw.

FWIW, I agree with you about Citeh, Chavs & Bitters. Not sure about Arse but I think Spuds & Scum defo gone backwards.

[Rigadon]

It started when Dom said City under Pellegrini are no stronger than they were last season and it branched out from there.

Ah - ok I think City and Chelsea are more consistent, Liverpool and Everton are stronger (and more consistent), Spurs and Arsenal are inconsistent and Utd are ****. The Prem is certainly more competitive this year.

[Rigadon]

Anyone else looking forward to our game against City? I know am. Wish someone would start a thread where we can discuss it.

The premier league this year could be like the SPL for all i care as long as we win the league.

[dom9]

Well no dude, cos it's all relative vs the rest of the league, so the bottom lot could be worse, as could the middle. I don't think number of draws has any bearing on the quality of the league- it could just be a stylistic difference sick as teams are playing more defensively and are happier with a draw.

FWIW, I agree with you about Citeh, Chavs & Bitters. Not sure about Arse but I think Spuds & Scum defo gone backwards.

That is my point.

A draw results in 2 league points. One for each team.

A win results in 3 league points for one team.

A win therefore results in a greater number of league points in the table.

Therefore, the only thing that a league table with more points in a period from one period to the next proves is that there were a fewer number of draws.

It is no indicator of quality.

[Roboklopp]

Mods, can we rename this thread "Shaggy's Straw Man Argument Thread"?

[captainfog]

Competitive is different to better. I agree, however, that the standard is probably better than last season, but I think the overall trend in the last few years has been a negative one.

We are definitely better though and ManU are deffo worse

[Roboklopp]

That is my point.

A draw results in 2 league points. One for each team.

A win results in 3 league points for one team.

A win therefore results in a greater number of league points in the table.

Therefore, the only thing that a league table with more points in a period from one period to the next proves is that there were a fewer number of draws.

It is no indicator of quality.

I know it is mate, I agree- my "dude" point was directed at Shaggy, who seems to have fled the scene of his logical spoonerisms.

[dom9]

I know it is mate, I agree- my "dude" point was directed at Shaggy, who seems to have fled the scene of his logical spoonerisms.

Ah.

[Slinky Skills]

Massive game this is, season defining - it is that important.

We have to have all 11 on form and on flames Sunday as it's going to be a difficult match, our toughest test of this wonderful season so far.

They are still a cracking team to watch but we if we show no fear and are relentless we will win.

Win this, and we win the league.

[Fredo]

The quality of the league can be judged by how teams fare against teams of other leagues. Being more competitive does not reflect quality.

[Shaggy]

Some terrible points. The ref stuff - wtf?!

Yep it's become blurred - competitive/better. The top of the league is clearly more competitive as I have demonstrated - more teams competing for 1st, more teams competing for a place in the top 4, all teams concerned bar Man Utd and arguably Spurs are performing better and picking up more points than last season - City included, as per the original point.

If the league is more competitive than it was then in my view that makes it better than it was.

I also think claiming it's a weaker and more uncompetitive league does a bit of a disservice to us and our progress.

As for City, they're a better side under Pellegrini than last season but regardless I still think we'll beat them.

[dom9]

Some terrible points. The ref stuff - wtf?!

Yep it's become blurred - competitive/better. The top of the league is clearly more competitive as I have demonstrated - more teams competing for 1st, more teams competing for a place in the top 4, all teams concerned bar Man Utd and arguably Spurs are performing better and picking up more points than last season - City included, as per the original point.

If the league is more competitive than it was then in my view that makes it better than it was.

I also think claiming it's a weaker and more uncompetitive league does a bit of a disservice to us and our progress.

As for City, they're a better side under Pellegrini than last season but regardless I still think we'll beat them.

If there were more draws last season, which there clearly were, then you could argue that the league was more competitive as fewer teams were beating each other.

[Shaggy]

I know it is mate, I agree- my "dude" point was directed at Shaggy, who seems to have fled the scene of his logical spoonerisms.

As if. How are you measuring it then? Cos I've already shown how the English teams - i.e. our competitors domestically - are performing better in this year's CL than they did last year. I don't see anything that points towards our rivals being weaker this year than last, nor any justification for the claim.

[Shaggy]

If there were more draws last season, which there clearly were, then you could argue that the league was more competitive as fewer teams were beating each other.

You could argue that, but that's not what makes a league competitive in my view. We have more teams going for the title (compared to last year's one), more teams legitimately contesting 4th, etc. That's what makes the league competitive.