Rest of the Premiership has improved

[Marvin]

We've spent most of the season comparing this season to last and trying to work out the underperformance but I was looking at last season's table and it's obvious that nearly all the top clubs have ended up with a lower point total than last.

Chelsea have 84 now. They had 82 last season.
Arsenal finished last season in 4th spot with 79 points. This season most observers are telling us that Arsenal have improved and are not far off being title contenders yet they have 72 points now. Quite a dip. Liverpool are down 22 points! City down 10 points. Obviously 1 game to go so differences will change.

So part, and only part of the story of this season's relative underperformance is the strength of the rest of the Premiership.........

So much for the impact of FFP. I though that would increase the power of the top clubs compared to the rest but it hasn't turned out that way. The Premiership is te most competitive it has ever been, but the top clubs are relatively poor - certainly compared to counterparts in overseas leagues.

 

[whp.blue]

We've spent most of the season comparing this season to last and trying to work out the underperformance but I was looking at last season's table and it's obvious that nearly all the top clubs have ended up with a lower point total than last.

Chelsea have 84 now. They had 82 last season.
Arsenal finished last season in 4th spot with 79 points. This season most observers are telling us that Arsenal have improved and are not far off being title contenders yet they have 72 points now. Quite a dip. Liverpool are down 22 points! City down 10 points. Obviously 1 game to go so differences will change.

So part, and only part of the story of this season's relative underperformance is the strength of the rest of the Premiership.........

So much for the impact of FFP. I though that would increase the power of the top clubs compared to the rest but it hasn't turned out that way. The Premiership is te most competitive it has ever been, but the top clubs are relatively poor - certainly compared to counterparts in overseas leagues.

I think as far as City are concerned I am sure it is more down to the fact that several of last years top players have woefully under performed this season
some players like Kompany and Zabbaletta their form fell off a cliff tbh

Dzeko and Yaya both got over 20 goals each last season and we sold negrado who also hit 20
Nasri has had a poor year also so if three of them had performed any where near last season we would have won the league already

 

[cheddar404]

I think the standard has been worse this season. Chelsea are nothing like as good as either we or even Liverpool were last year. Considering we are only 8 points behind them, how many silly points have we literally thrown away this year?

 

[ell]

I think the standard has been worse this season. Chelsea are nothing like as good as either we or even Liverpool were last year. Considering we are only 8 points behind them, how many silly points have we literally thrown away this year?

Totally agree. Chelsea have been nowhere near as good as made out, we are lucky to be 2nd. Same goes for United making the top 4, Liverpool have been shit like expected, Spurs haven't kicked on again.

I think we have profited from a weak league this season

 

[Dave S]

I think the standard has been worse this season. Chelsea are nothing like as good as either we or even Liverpool were last year. Considering we are only 8 points behind them, how many silly points have we literally thrown away this year?

Totally agree. Chelsea have been nowhere near as good as made out, we are lucky to be 2nd. Same goes for United making the top 4, Liverpool have been shit like expected, Spurs haven't kicked on again.

I think we have profited from a weak league this season

If any club has profited from a poor league this season it's Chelsea.

 

[Aguero_Element]

Stupid post. our defence is non existant. That is why....


idiots

 

[cleavers]

Totally agree. Chelsea have been nowhere near as good as made out, we are lucky to be 2nd. Same goes for United making the top 4, Liverpool have been shit like expected, Spurs haven't kicked on again.

How is it we're always "lucky" ?

Lucky to win it in 2012, united "lost it"
Lucky to finish 2nd in 2013, in a bad season.
Lucky to win it again in 2014, "weak league".
Lucky to finish 2nd this year, eveyone's been "shit".

In a 38 game league, nobody is "lucky", you finish where you deserve to finish.

I'd say that "mid table" has improved, and it seems to have taken more points from the top clubs, whether that is a decline of the top clubs I don't know but its been a lot more competitive this season for me.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Totally agree. Chelsea have been nowhere near as good as made out, we are lucky to be 2nd. Same goes for United making the top 4, Liverpool have been shit like expected, Spurs haven't kicked on again.

How is it we're always "lucky" ?

Lucky to win it in 2012, united "lost it"
Lucky to finish 2nd in 2013, in a bad season.
Lucky to win it again in 2014, "weak league".
Lucky to finish 2nd this year, eveyone's been "shit".

In a 38 game league, nobody is "lucky", you finish where you deserve to finish.

I'd say that "mid table" has improved, and it seems to have taken more points from the top clubs, whether that is a decline of the top clubs I don't know but its been a lot more competitive this season for me.

wish more folk would take note of the above.
well said.

 

[ftg]

Stupid post. Are defence is non existant. That is why....


idiots

Good one.

 

[BigOscar]

I think the top teams have all just been really poor this year, so as a result have dropped more points to lesser teams. The standard of the lesser teams is probably worse as well, some absolutely appalling teams are set to stay up. If no one is dominant, then everyone else gets more points