Race for the Top 4 - 2018/19

[piedpiper]

Why have you included Everton with us, the last time they finished 4th was 2005 and the last time they finished above us (5th) was 2014? We have constantly (recently) been finishing top 4 quite comfortably.

The point is that we shouldn't have to compete with wise investment of players, if it was a level playing field we'd be able to compete for the same players that Utd and City are buying.

Yes Liverpool are punching above their weight, that's how it works.

I've included them (Everton) based on their yrs in the league. I'm not referring here to league position etc. more on yrs of experience in the PL.. I would include west ham and Newcastle in that group (although they have both been in and out of it in the last 10 yrs).

I look at our squad and I can name 5-6 players who could play for any of the current top 5 teams. On that basis alone I would say equal to these teams.

Look it's just a big bear of mine. I understand that you and others may have a different view.

 

[piedpiper]

Seriously?

Its Real not Barca and we obviously don't want to lose him.
Not money related and has turned down all our contract offers.
Its dynamic is code for we are wanting him to sign but not willing for him to take this into his last year and go on a free!
That's if Real even want him which we cant say as his agent will be talking to them.
Hugely disappointing but not much we can do other than make sure we dont lose one of our prize assets for nothing.

We are punching above our weight, and it's been great.

Eventually, we'll be closer when we reap the benefits of a new stadium - which is ultimately why we're building it.

That's exactly why I dont think we should still use the term... we have finished above them consistently and have competed well.

Anyhow dont mean to clog the thread with my incessant view on this point. It's a bug bear of mine and have seen it mentioned several times over the last few pages.

 

[Mr Pink]

That's exactly why I dont think we should still use the term... we have finished above them consistently and have competed well.

Anyhow dont mean to clog the thread with my incessant view on this point. It's a bug bear of mine and have seen it mentioned several times over the last few pages.

That's OK mate, but I think the rest of us are entitled to use it, especially as its an accurate description of how we've done.

 

[slartibartfast]

What happened lol

 

[Shadydan]

I've included them (Everton) based on their yrs in the league. I'm not referring here to league position etc. more on yrs of experience in the PL.. I would include west ham and Newcastle in that group (although they have both been in and out of it in the last 10 yrs).

I look at our squad and I can name 5-6 players who could play for any of the current top 5 teams. On that basis alone I would say equal to these teams.

Look it's just a big bear of mine. I understand that you and others may have a different view.

Those 5/6 players were nurtured and coached by Poch, those players being up there with the best is completely our doing, compare them to other teams - we didn't go out and break records to acquire them nor are they getting paid high wages, that's the difference right there, our coaching setup and our internal infrastructure has allowed us to compete with these teams. If we had the money these teams had there's no doubt we'd be winning a few trophies by now and consistently challenging for the title year in year out.

League position correlates to spending so it should be judged by that, maybe you're looking for a different term?

 

[Lighty64]

Turnover wise we are a lot closer to Liverpool than we were a few years ago. Projected to be £400m + for the next financial year.

Unfortunately we have a stadium to pay for so we don’t spend any of the profits ?

we won't be anywhere near that figure this season. those figures where for a full season in the new stadium

 

[Kingstheman]

What happened lol

Trolling.

 

[Colonel Dax]

we won't be anywhere near that figure this season. those figures where for a full season in the new stadium

I did say next financial year - beginning 1st July.

 

[spursfan77]

Mourinho also wants the finished article and they come at a premium.

Who on the right mind thinks Levy and Mourinho would make a good working relationship!

Well, he has tried to make him our manager on at least two previous occasions. But that was then and not now. We are a completely different club and I’d also say the owners approach has changed too.

I don’t think we would go for him, but I also think Levy would see it as such a coup. Anyway, I’m pretty sure it’s a mute discussion because Poch isn’t going anyway for now.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Well, he has tried to make him our manager on at least two previous occasions. But that was then and not now. We are a completely different club and I’d also say the owners approach has changed too.

I don’t think we would go for him, but I also think Levy would see it as such a coup. Anyway, I’m pretty sure it’s a mute discussion because Poch isn’t going anyway for now.

Moot* a mute discussion is something very different.

 

[Lilbaz]

Moot* a mute discussion is something very different.

"Moo point", like the cow. Nobody cares what a cows opinion is.

 

[Legacy]

I dont agree ... its tantamount to conceding that we making up the numbers.

In my books Everton and Us cannot use that excuse. We may not have the same resources but we are able to compete with wise investment in players.

Liverpool do not have the same means as United,Chelsea and City are they punching above their weight.

I just never understand or can bring myself to accept that term.

Yeah Liverpool, who smashed the transfer world record for both a goalkeeper and defender in the last 12 months and have spent £500m+ on transfers in the last 4 years, large wage bill, a 54,000 seater stadium and one of the largest worldwide fanbases in football, are punching above their weight due to lack of resources

 

[walworthyid]

Why do some posters keep mentioning that we "punching above our weight"

We are not punching above our weight. We have been in the top 4 spots for 4 yrs now. That isn't punching above our weight.

Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Fulham, Brighton etc etc are teams who we could consider as punching above their weight.

We have been in the PL for close to 30 yrs... if after all those yrs and you consider us as punching above our weight, then I give up. Please dont tell me about wages as a reason. We the 11th richest club in the world , I believe, we compete in an unequal league with City and Chelsea but we are not punching above our weight.

We then complain that pundits dont recognize us but want to concede that we punch above our weight.

I couldn't disagree more! We punch above our weight because we regularly finish above clubs that spend a lot more money, eg in the last 5 years we have finished above every single club in the league. Everton have also been in the prem for the same amount of time, where are they?

We played a weakened Barca team in which 2 of the players cost more than our entire squad! Pogba cost more than nearly our entire squad! Lacazette, Ozil and Aubameyang cost more than nearly our entire squad. Pulisic and Morata cost more than nearly our entire squad.

We bring in a fraction in gate receipts compared to the other 5 except Chelsea.

Whilst doing all of that we have built the best stadium and facilities in world football.

What on earth are you talking about?

 

[walworthyid]

Was that so hard... then would we say Liveroool/Arsenal are punching above their weight ? They too dont have the resources of City/Chelsea and United.

On Everton I'm referring to them and us being in this league for 28 yrs. I dont consider that as punching above our weight. Sure financially we not as doped but we have shown in the last few yrs that with proper player recruitment and a good manager we can compete.

Sorry not trying to be argumentative.... I just cant accept that term.

Obviously, other teams aren't trying to bring in players using "proper" player recruitment!

 

[piedpiper]

I couldn't disagree more! We punch above our weight because we regularly finish above clubs that spend a lot more money, eg in the last 5 years we have finished above every single club in the league. Everton have also been in the prem for the same amount of time, where are they?

We played a weakened Barca team in which 2 of the players cost more than our entire squad! Pogba cost more than nearly our entire squad! Lacazette, Ozil and Aubameyang cost more than nearly our entire squad. Pulisic and Morata cost more than nearly our entire squad.

We bring in a fraction in gate receipts compared to the other 5 except Chelsea.

Whilst doing all of that we have built the best stadium and facilities in world football.

What on earth are you talking about?

I agree with everything you saying. It points to a soundly professional run club. I just don't like the term... I feel we a match for any of the teams ( other top 5).

Anyhow done to death now. Lets leave it there.

 

[piedpiper]

Yeah Liverpool, who smashed the transfer world record for both a goalkeeper and defender in the last 12 months and have spent £500m+ on transfers in the last 4 years, large wage bill, a 54,000 seater stadium and one of the largest worldwide fanbases in football, are punching above their weight due to lack of resources

They've also sold some players too.

 

[Lighty64]

I agree with everything you saying. It points to a soundly professional run club. I just don't like the term... I feel we a match for any of the teams ( other top 5).

Anyhow done to death now. Lets leave it there.

so if you don't like the term

"punching above our weight"

what term would you use

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Moot* a mute discussion is something very different.

Yeah, just a lot of hand waving, to be honest...

 

[Lighty64]

if every team in the normal top 6 was to match last seasons results the final table would look like this at the end of the season

Pos …Top 6 Final Table …Tot
1 ….Man C ….97
2 ….Liverpool ….90
3 ….Tottenham ….87
4 ….Man U ….74
5 ….Chelsea ….73
6 ….Arsenal ….73

Man City can only improve on 2 matches away to C Palace and Burnley

Liverpool can improve on 7 matches Man U, Everton, Fulham & Newcastle away, with Burnley, us, & Chelsea at home. only 1 of those was a loss last season which was away to Man u

we have the chance to improve on 5 more matches Fulham (WBA), Southampton, Liverpool & Man C away 2 of which where defeats WBA and Man City. only 1 home match needs to be improved Wet Spam

Man U have the chance to improve on 5 more matches us, Leicester, & Huddersfield away, with Southampton and Man City at home.3 of those were loses us, Huddersfield and Man C.

Chelsea have the chance to improve on 9, Arsenal, Man C, Everton, Liverpool & Man U away. they have Huddersfield, us, Spam and Burnley at home. 4 of those were loses Man C, us, Burnley and Man U

Arsenal have the chance to improve on 8, Spam, Man C, us, Wolves, Watford & Leicester away. Chelsea and Man U at home. 6 of those where loses Man C, us, Man U, Wolves, Watford & Leicester

For those that didn’t visit the link I posted to G4G thread the info above could make the final 17 matches even more interesting.

With so many home games left last season we won all bar one which was a draw v spam. We have 10 home games left and important to match the 9 wins and a draw.

The seven away games include Liverpool, Chelsea and Man C. If you offered me 1pt per game now with winning the other 4 I’d bite your hand off now.

13 wins and 4 draws would be another 43pts meaning a total of 91pts, it would just be so annoying to not win with that total

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Get fucked, Liverpool wankrags- the double is over for you