They wouldn't make it into either Barcelona nor Real Madrids teams. Milan is nowhere near as attractive as it was 10 years ago(as clubs go, not as far as cities go) or even 5 years ago. Inter are in 10th place at the moment. The only real competition is from London, Manchester, and possibly Paris. However, Chelsea have numerous holes they need to fill, none of those is attacking midfield creativity, which they already have in Mata. Arsenal, just no. If United were willing to put up the money for them, they would get them, but again they have other needs. City may buy them just because, as that is what city does. However who does that leave left? I don't think it is likely Liverpool will get those players, but it is not because those players will not come to Liverpool. It is because Liverpool won't pay the money to get them. However, they are hardly the only options. Liverpool can go elsewhere as well, but they need to address that major hole in the team. Because otherwise it will be another year without the Champions League, and sooner or later without Champions League football, Suarez is going to start pushing for a move away. If that happens, Liverpool's chances of getting back into the top 4 get much worse.
Well Frodly, now is the time for Liverpool to start making their way back into the top 4. A couple upcoming fixtures against relegation contenders for your club. Also, when Spurs turn over Chelsea, Liverpool may jump them
What about plucky little Swansea City then? Sitting reasonably comfortably in mid table, generally playing well, and gradually developing into the division. I think all three of the promoted teams have surprised a few people this time, in fact - I suspect most people would have expected them to be in or around the bottom three by Christmas, but none of them are (QPR look to be dropping off a little, though). There's a long way to go, but at the moment I'm certainly cautiously optomistic about Swansea's chances of staying up - as I said at the start of the season, they seem to have gone into it with exactly the right attitude of playing their way into the division with basicaly the samesquad from last year, and without panicking and spending big money (risking bankrupcy in the process). So far it seem to be paying off.
I agree, and a necessary one after losing the excellent services of Dorus de Vries at the end of last season.
If Wigan and Bolton have sustained Premier League status for this long, there is no reason the Jacks can't do the same. I want Swansea to stay up because they have fantastic support, something that is missing from football today. I hope they will not do a Blackpool and fall off after a fast start. However, it seems Wigan, Bolton, and Blackburn are unlikely to move much higher up the table. I also believe Wolves and even Everton are in for a possible relegation battle. Swansea should stay up.
It would be good to see Blackpool go back up, too (they're doing OK in the Championship) - they also did things the right kind of way, and I was pleased that they stuck with the manager after going down (if the Swans so go down, I hope they'd do the same). Blackpool seem to have the kind of old 'club' mentality, which I like - it's what's missing from many of the bigger teams where money has become such a dominant force. Of the biggest teams, I'd say Liverpool is probably closest to keeping some of that - doesn't seem to me much that is 'Manchester' about united, or even City anymore, and the same thing for Arsenal and Chelsea! I guess it's inevitable in the modern global football business, but it's still a bit sad to see.
It is very sad to see how football continues to whither away. Terrace culture is gone unless you go to Non League football. City lost their atmosphere when they closed down Maine Road. Old Trafford has lacked a proper atmosphere for over 20 years now. Arsenal replaced their ground with a stadium named after a foreign state. Chelsea never had an atmosphere in the first place. Anfield still has a better atmosphere than any of the aforementioned grounds, but it still is nothing like it was in the 1970's when I first went there for a match. I do think Spurs and West Ham have maintained some sort of an atmosphere as far as bigger London clubs go. However, the Premier League lacks quality support when you compare it with other leagues in Europe. The Germans still know how to support their clubs. Borussia Dortmund can generate an amazing atmosphere!
Much of that has to do with money, when it becomes a 'buisiness' rather than a 'club', but new stadiums are a problem, too, especially if they price the 'real fans' out of the seats altogether. Some of the former manifestations of 'terrace culture' won't be missed, of course, but the importance of stadium design shouldn't be overlooked (as it has been with the new Wembley, as I understand it). Anyone looking to build a new ground (as Liverpool will inevitably do at some point) could certainly do with looking to the Millennium Stadium as their example (as Swansea City and the Ospreys did very much with the Liberty Stadium, which is a great little ground, and more than worthy replacement for the much loved old Vetch Field). Although I'm familiar with it as a rugby stadium (regarded universally as one of the greatest in the world), I've heard nothing but positive comments about it from the football fans that have visited there, and there's a good reason for that. One of the primary design considerations was the atmosphere, and making sure that every person in the stadium can see everything, and is a close as possible to the pitch, and as connected as possible to what is going on on it. It's a lesson that others should learn, I think - looking at many of the other modern football grounds (including Wembley), that consideration seems to have come a long way down the list of design features (a long way behind things like 'muiltifunctionality' - one design lesson I've learned from seeing how things happen in my working life is that once you design a space to do more than 2 things, it becomes so compromised that it will never really be much good for doing anything at all!).
So what do we make of the racism cases? Liverpool fans have been sending themselves into one almighty tizzy over this (which has been morbidly funny to watch). JT is surely busted now, only can get a 2500 quid fine from the CPS, but he's definitely in line for a ban.
1. The Suarez ban is entirely too long and Liverpool should seek a reduction in the numbers of matches. 2. It is a shame Spurs could not take all three points tonight, but fair play to the small team from Fulham. I really feel confident now that Spurs can finish 3rd, which I did not believe could happen at the start of this season.
I am a Liverpool supporter, and I have no idea what was said. They never say in the press either. However, if Suarez really said something truly racist, then I have no problem with the ban. There is no place for that sort of behavior. However, if it really was just something lost in translation like Suarez says it is, than 8 games is idiotic!!
Football players should be able to play with some sort of device to record any drama taking place in the heat of the game. We could then be able to watch it on Youtube and pass adequate judgement. If Suarez really said something truly racist, like the crazy tram woman, I'd have no problem to see him being sent into a box - a redeeming act on Boxing Day
Balotelli suspended four matches for his stomp. I applaud the punishment. This young man needs a lesson in humility.
I certainly can't disagree with that! I wasn't 100% convinced that it was a deliberate stamp, but they are, so the punishment seems fair enough to me.
Some of the best football in two plus decades being played by Spurs right now! It will be a shame to loose Harry, but hopefully he can work his magic with England!
What is with the whole Suarez-Evra thing. Sure the initial ban was a little harsh , but Suarezs recent actions makes liverpool look bad. On a brighter side Everton actually beat Chelsea...
Suarez is rather thick. I would be in shock if Liverpool do not sell him after the season is finished. Send him off to Serie A and hopefully Balotelli will go with him.
