I'm with Robo. The looking at points malarkey is flawed, but Shaggy is right. The league is of a higher standard than it was last season. Certainly at the top if not overall.
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Like blood on iron -
The quality of the league has no bearing on this match. All I'm interested in is how much we've improved compared to last season.
Yes we could say the turnaround is more dramatic if all the title chasers have also improved but at the end of the season, no one will give a **** about that, just that we got the most points and beat our rivals.
So onwards to Sunday, to Anfield, to glory!Was muß, das muß.Comment
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Personally I think the quality of the league has stayed exactly the same.
Not for any reason other than no-ones taken this option yet and I wish to be contrary.Comment
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Dead end indeed. As I said about 5 pages ago.Originally posted by Shaggy View PostDead end then. City, Liverpool, Everton, and Chelsea have all clearly improved, Arsenal debatable, Spurs stayed the same, United clearly regressed.
Still, I enjoy a completely pointless debate every now and again.Oh I don't know.Comment
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As a couple of people have said looking at the points total/distribution doesn't really tell us anything about quality. If you have accept that we have improved in terms of quality this year from last and therefore picked up points in games which we dropped points last year that doesn't necessarily mean that the other team have got worse, they too could have improved but we have just improved by more enabling us to get the points. However it isn't just about quality there are also factors such as a natural variance in terms of the points teams get, the effects of refereeing decisions and individual errors by players etc.
Ultimately I don't think it matters whether the league has got stronger, weaker or stayed the same overall, there being more teams on similar numbers of points makes it more competitive and therefore more interesting.The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.Comment
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This thread
James Philip Milner Fanclub #1
Curtis Julian Jones Fanclub #1Comment
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My last word on thisOriginally posted by Exiled_red View Post
It wasn't really about the quality or standard of football - there is no way to measure than that other than watching and forming a view. From the off I talked about how the league is more competitive this year, that our rivals are stronger thus making it more competitive, and that view was opposed. Although the only means of backing up that opposing view was that City "have already lost 5 games" (even though there's only 5 games left)...i.e. results, which is exactly the same thing I used as a key indicator only to then be told results/points totals are 'irrelevant'.
It's not an exact science obviously, but the improved points totals of the top teams alongside the significant improvement in performance in Champions League football both support the view that the teams around us are stronger this year than last - therefore the league is more competitive, and as such it is more difficult for a team in the top 6 to attain its goals due to the increased competition.
Not sure what other barometers people want to use (no-one's offered one yet) - points totals over successive seasons have always been used as a gauge of a team's improvement (or lack of it). It's not an exact science but it's a decent indicator.
Last edited by Shaggy; 09-04-14, 09:38 AM.Thanks very much for being ‘This Mornings’ Farmer’Comment
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Originally posted by Shaggy View PostMy last word on this
It wasn't really about the quality or standard of football - there is no way to measure than that other than watching and forming a view. From the off I talked about how the league is more competitive this year, that our rivals are stronger thus making it more competitive, and that view was opposed. Although the only means of backing up that opposing view was that City "have already lost 5 games" (even though there's only 5 games left)...i.e. results, which is exactly the same thing I used as a key indicator only to then to told results/points totals are 'irrelevant'. It's not an exact science obviously, but the improved points totals of the top teams alongside the significant improvement in performance in Champions League football both support the view that the teams around us are stronger this year than last - therefore the league is more competitive, and as such it is more difficult for a team in the top 6 to attain its goals due to the increased competition.
Not sure what other barometers people want to use (no-one's offered one yet) - points totals over successive seasons have always been used as a gauge of a team's improvement (or lack of it). It's not an exact science but it's a decent indicator.
3rd place. Worst champions ever.
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i am in the league is stronger - in terms of being more competitive this year than last year.
my reasons are
there currently three teams - us/chelsea/city - fighting for a title, all with high points totals so far.
Arsenal despite being a laughing stock had been top for most of the season until they collapsed through injuries and bad planning/not signing players they should have
everton have been a completley different side - much much improved, again as have southampton
plus we have seen more upsets this season than i can remember - maybe it's because we are in the title race so i notice it more, but any team in this league is capable of beating/losing to anyone.
whether the 'quality' is as good is debatable - but the competition is tighter so therefore stronger
end of debate.Last edited by PTP; 09-04-14, 10:02 AM.i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i doComment
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I agree that points totals over successive seasons should be used to gauge individual teams' progress, but you can't apply that to a whole league for the reasons outlined.Originally posted by Shaggy View PostMy last word on this...
Not sure what other barometers people want to use (no-one's offered one yet) - points totals over successive seasons have always been used as a gauge of a team's improvement (or lack of it). It's not an exact science but it's a decent indicator.
For my money, City should still be walking it, and they may yet do so. But they have lost 5 games with about 18.5% of their games left. If they don't win the league, then questions should be asked of Pellegrini, who is certainly no Rodgers. We have the best manager in the league this season.Oh I don't know.Comment
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If more upsets are the norm, then you could say that the top teams are not as strong as you might think.Originally posted by PTP View Post
Oh I don't know.Comment
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Football without Origi is nothingComment
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I wonder if Jovetic will come on at some point?Was muß, das muß.Comment
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haha **** how did that happen - sheeiiiitttttOriginally posted by ChesterDave View Post
this thread has ****ed me up - that and the fact work has been mental - oh and dom being a slaaaggggi own everton fans on the internet....that's what i doComment
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