“Project Restart Table” Final Top Ten

[SebastianBlue]

Preliminary thoughts:

Perhaps the Southampton result was not as embarrassing as some initially thought; it was not great, by any means, but Soton were no slouches after the restart. Ralph Hasenhüttl has done a superb job with fairly limited resources, though, it of course helps to have one of the in-form strikers in the league for the run-in.

It’s also interesting to see the juxtaposition of United and Liverpool once the “special” officiating and VAR reviews shifted away from one (after the job was done) and to the other (that now needed assistance). Their fortunes after the restart are not entirely down to that, of course, but I think it had a substantial impact on their results over the last 9 matches. (I am sure VAR will review this statement and award United a penalty for unsporting behaviour.)

Wolves have room to improve but they have an opportunity to strengthen over the next month and start the new season strong, potentially aiding recruitment further.

Lampard and Arteta still have a lot of work to do with their respective clubs, the latter with the bigger job in my opinion given the executive team he has to work with. It will be interesting if they actually measurably strengthen in the transfer window and if either prioritise what seems like glaring weaknesses in defence (in Chelsea’s case, right between the sticks, and Arsenals, right below the clown wig).

Of course, our form after the league suspension has been comparatively very good. It could have been astounding if not for Soton’s impressive resistance of our siege and shooting ourself in the boot against Chelsea. Even given those losses, we were the best team after the restart by far. I was especially impressed with Cancelo’s performances and Foden taking his chances to undoubtedly cement his place in the first team for the coming campaign.

What are your thoughts based on the ‘final’ form of each club after the restart or the ‘mini-league season’ beyond the top ten?

 

[mat]

Not a bad goals per game average.

 

[cleavers]

Do we get a trophy ?

PL Lite ?

 

[I'm With Stupid]

It's interesting that it's the big teams that seem to have done best. I mean I know that sounds obvious, but I thought the extended break would be good for teams with smaller squads. But then I guess the fact that the bigger teams are no longer playing more games per week means they keep the advantage. And obviously the 5 substitutions is great for teams with lots of talented substitutes.

I wonder if the Champions League extending into the summer break will make the start of next season more difficult though. Most teams will have had several weeks more than us if we do well.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Not a bad goals per game average.

If we had this goal scoring / defending form throughout the season we would have had a goal difference higher than the total number of goals we actually ended up scoring this season (+114 GD > 102 GF).

 

[SebastianBlue]

Do we get a trophy ?

PL Lite ?

You can bet there would have been a trophy had we won the league but Liverpool finished top of this table. ;-)

 

[cleavers]

I wonder if the Champions League extending into the summer break will make the start of next season more difficult though. Most teams will have had several weeks more than us if we do well.

You could also look at it, that we'll lose less match fitness than other teams.

 

[RayCTID]

A good finish to season from us. There is room to improve upon, and all of the teams current problems are not going to fully disappear it still gives us chance for next season.

 

[kaz7]

If the rags hadn't got all the obvious help from pigmol they would be several down,shocking how blatant that was

 

[Josh_D]

If the rags hadn't got all the obvious help from pigmol they would be several down,shocking how blatant that was

I’m waiting for a panorama exclusive on the pigmol and fa with regards to their shady dealings. A fantasy but one can only dream.

 

[SebastianBlue]

If the rags hadn't got all the obvious help from pigmol they would be several down,shocking how blatant that was

Shocking but not surprising.

There is some evidence United would have been in dire financial condition if they had missed out on CL and the league was never going to allow a “historic” cash cow club to see trouble.

 

[kaz7]

Shocking but not surprising.

There is some evidence United would have been in dire financial condition if they had missed out on CL and the league was never going to allow a “historic” cash cow club to see trouble.

Yeah and as soon as they thought our ban would stand the help went off the scale,do they think nobody notices

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Always regarded the 'restart' as a plastic pre-season mini-tournament so not going to get too excited.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Shocking but not surprising.

There is some evidence United would have been in dire financial condition if they had missed out on CL and the league was never going to allow a “historic” cash cow club to see trouble.

The PL mandate would have been split between making sure that the dippers got the help as their first priority , and once league was secured making sure that the rags got the help to get them into the CL.

So many masters to appease .

 

[KentBlue]

I’m waiting for a panorama exclusive on the pigmol and fa with regards to their shady dealings. A fantasy but one can only dream.

Maybe not Panorama, but someone should start doing a bit of sniffing around. Personally I’m sick to fucking death of how football is in this country. The Premier league is acting like the Mafia: “Please us, and you’ll do well. Displease us and you will be relegated.”

 

[SebastianBlue]

Always regarded the 'restart' as a plastic pre-season mini-tournament so not going to get too excited.

Interesting way to look at the finish of the season. Especially given they are matches that carry us in to the CL ‘mini-tournament’, which carries us in to the start of the new season, and most of our players will have just really gotten to full match fitness.

Not that I am “excited“ about it, either. But I do think there are interesting insights that can be taken from it.

 

[SebastianBlue]

The PL mandate would have been split between making sure that the dippers got the help as their first priority , and once league was secured making sure that the rags got the help to get them into the CL.

So many masters to appease .

Indeed, that is what I was getting at on my initial post. And what I have been moaning about in the Liverpool, United, and VAR threads. :-)

I think it almost completely shifted to “Project Save United”.

 

[Josh_D]

Maybe not Panorama, but someone should start doing a bit of sniffing around. Personally I’m sick to fucking death of how football is in this country. The Premier league is acting like the Mafia: “Please us, and you’ll do well. Displease us and you will be relegated.”

I get you. No body to act as a check. FA is part of the problem as well. Even if the system was rinsed, they’d still get new officials and such from the same shit pile.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Indeed, that is what I was getting at on my initial post. And what I have been moaning about in the Liverpool, United, and VAR threads. :-)

I think it almost completely shifted to “Project Save United”.

Their penalty count would suggest so.

 

[manimanc]

Shocking but not surprising.

There is some evidence United would have been in dire financial condition if they had missed out on CL and the league was never going to allow a “historic” cash cow club to see trouble.

Thats it in a nutshell mate.

The ****s that play in red up and down the east lancs will always get looked after, we just have to accept it unfortunately.

No other two teams get the luck, the decisions, the penalties, shit keepers on opposing teams, etc... as these get, it's as plain as day yet it gets overlooked and brushed under the carpet yet we get shite thrown at us at every given opportunity, our name dragged through courts for trying to play it the honest way and our achievements are somehow reported as tarnished by the pricks in the press.

Fuck them.