The Decline of the EPL |
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pre Madonna
Robbie Keane I am MALDING Joined: 30 Nov 2014 Location: Trumpton Status: Offline Points: 44659 |
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It is very difficult to compare but the gap between the richest and most successful in the league back then was not as extreme, hence the points totals. The CL was also more competitive, albeit the beginnings of the snooze fest we have now were there. My own preference would be for that Arsenal team, but I just remember them being lovely to watch in full flow and the game hadn’t become overanalysed to the point it has now, meaning they had individual talent that was a pleasure to watch, especially Bergkamp. I would imagine the current Liverpool side would expect to beat them in an imaginary match though, due to the improvements in fitness, for whatever reasons, and the resources available. By that I don’t just mean money, but there is a much smaller pool of elite clubs now and most elite players are at those clubs.
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Devrozex
Jack Charlton Joined: 23 Oct 2010 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 7676 |
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I'd certainly agree they were great to watch alright. I'm just not sure how someone could feel they are 'underrated' though? By who exactly? They're known fairly ubiquitously as 'the Invincibles' ffs. I always felt the opposite was true. It was obviously an incredible achievement to go unbeaten in the league but they had a lot of things go their way that season.
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pre Madonna
Robbie Keane I am MALDING Joined: 30 Nov 2014 Location: Trumpton Status: Offline Points: 44659 |
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Yeah, they certainly aren’t underrated. I just think it was much harder for a side to go unbeaten then and you certainly needed a bit of luck.
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Hans Moleman
Roy Keane Muff: That is a lie and you are a liar Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Status: Offline Points: 10199 |
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I know. If Liverpool were in any of the other major European leagues this season, they would end it as champions. If they were in Serie A, they would have a very similar points total to now as Serie A is a weaker league than the PL currently by quite a bit. This whole discussion is based around knocking Liverpools achievements so far. As if Liverpool had lost 4/5 league games and were top by a couple of points this would somehow make the PL stronger this season and Liverpool better. Liverpool are just miles ahead of everyone this season. If they are miles ahead of everyone in England, they would undoubtedly have a similar record in Italy (a league way behind the PL currently in UEFA rankings). The only thing bizarre is people implying that what Liverpool are doing isn't incredible stuff. It is, by every metric. The big thing for Liverpool now is back to back CL titles which I think they are well capable of. That is what will put them into a discussion as one of the all time great club sides and this team still has a few years at it's peak left to achieve even more then.
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"I called him an embarrassment to FIFA and to himself," .... He said 'No-one speaks to me like that'.... and I said, "well I do' and that was that."
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Roberto Baggio
Robbie Keane UNBELIEVABLE JEFF Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Status: Online Points: 37336 |
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In a nutshell |
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BrendanD88
Roy Keane 99% of my posts are emojis Joined: 29 Mar 2013 Location: Co Down Status: Online Points: 10009 |
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Are you factoring in the travelling Liverpool will have to do every other week playing in Serie A, acclimatising to the conditions etc? It's an absolutely ridiculous argument but I expect nothing else from your good self.
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Hans Moleman
Roy Keane Muff: That is a lie and you are a liar Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Status: Offline Points: 10199 |
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It's bizarre to say that Liverpool would be top of Serie A this season. Okkkkkk
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"I called him an embarrassment to FIFA and to himself," .... He said 'No-one speaks to me like that'.... and I said, "well I do' and that was that."
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BrendanD88
Roy Keane 99% of my posts are emojis Joined: 29 Mar 2013 Location: Co Down Status: Online Points: 10009 |
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No it's a bizarre argument to pretty much dismiss any other team competing with Liverpool as they are dominating in England.
The fact remains they have won 21/22 Premier League games but have won 0/2 against an Italian opposition this season who are struggling in their respective league.
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bundy
Davey Langan Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 935 |
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First off I’m a Newcastle fan so there’s no bias at all. I just thought that Arsenal team were phenomenal to watch. I don’t care how many games they failed to win, I’m more interested in the number of games they lost which was zero. Two teams should have beaten them that season, United at Old Trafford when big Ruud missed the penalty and away at Newcastle around April of 2004. Lehman pulled off an unbelievable save from Bellamy with a couple of minutes left. I was sat about 10 rows back in the Gallowgate and it looked a goal for all money but Lehman got a big paw on it and clawed it off the line. The football that Arsenal team played I don’t think we’ll ever see it again in England.
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The Huntacha
Roy Keane Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Dubai Status: Offline Points: 12783 |
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Van Nistelrooy hitting the bar with that peno and the Pires dive were the main things I can think of that went their way that season.
12 games is a lot to draw, especially when comparing it to more recent league winners. But that's what makes the achievement so remarkable (I'm an Arsenal fan but wouldn't agree with saying the achievement is underrated by the media or anyone else) when you compare to the records of the league winners around that time; 97/98 - Arsenal W23/D9/L6 (78 points) ; United W23/D8/L7 (77 Points) 98/99 - United W22/D13/L3 (79 Points); Arsenal W 22/D12/L4 (78 Points) 99/00 - United W28/D7/L3 (91 Points) ; Arsenal finished 18 points behind 00/01 - United W24/D8/L6 (80 Points); Arsenal finished 10 points behind 01/02 - Arsenal W26/D9/L3 (87 Points); Liverpoool finished 7 points behind 02/03 - United W25/D8/L5 (83 Points); Arsenal W23/D9/L6 (78 Points) 03/04 - Arsenal W26/D12/L0 (90 Points); Chelsea finished 11 points behind It was a lot more common back then to draw and lose games. Whether it's the squad depth of the teams at the top, increased professionalism or the increased resources these teams have access to is up for debate. The failure in Europe is definitely a valid criticism (that Wayne Bridge goal will haunt me forever). Considering the quality of the teams left in the competition, it should definitely be considered a failure. What a lot of people forget about that team is that they were a counter-attacking team, rather than the possession based game they switched to as Wenger's philosophy changed and Fabregas became the main player in the team.
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Jimmy Bullard - "Favorite band? Elastic."
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thebronze14
Jack Charlton Derry City Til I Die Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Location: Dublin/Donegal Status: Offline Points: 7178 |
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Ehhh you just have
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Mulvanystrasse
Liam Brady Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Location: Boston USA Status: Offline Points: 2015 |
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A team that were defeated at the quarter final stage of the champions league are called the invincibles?
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The Huntacha
Roy Keane Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Dubai Status: Offline Points: 12783 |
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I know. It's as ludicrous as that Preston team in the late 1880's who had the same nickname. Sure they didn't even play in the Champions League!
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Jimmy Bullard - "Favorite band? Elastic."
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Zinedine Kilbane 110
Jack Charlton Man City records obsession Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Location: Dundalk Status: Offline Points: 9647 |
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Best individual season in the EPL is Man U 99 - no arguments there.
Where would you put Arsenals invincible’s in 04 on the list? Above or below ... Man City domestic treble 19 Man U league and Champions league double 08 Man City 100 pts plus league cup Chelsea 95 pts plus league cup Liverpool’s treble 01 For me it’s No.3 1. Man U 99 2. Man U 08 3. Arsenal 04 4. Man City’s domestic treble |
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Mulvanystrasse
Liam Brady Joined: 15 Jan 2012 Location: Boston USA Status: Offline Points: 2015 |
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Fog in the Chanel, Europe cut off from the mainland.
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OnTheOneRoad
Ray Houghton Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 4190 |
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Southampton, in the relegation zone five weeks ago and having lost 9 (nine) nil earlier this season are now three points off fifth.
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No thank you Turkish......I'm sweet enough
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Hans Moleman
Roy Keane Muff: That is a lie and you are a liar Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Status: Offline Points: 10199 |
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It will be an almighty scrap between 5th to 10th later in the season but it wouldn't surprise me to see them finishing 5th yet and not being far off 4th as Chelsea are so inconsistent. They did the right thing sticking by Hassenhuttl when things were bad earlier in the season and they are getting the rewards for that now.
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"I called him an embarrassment to FIFA and to himself," .... He said 'No-one speaks to me like that'.... and I said, "well I do' and that was that."
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OnTheOneRoad
Ray Houghton Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Location: Dublin Status: Offline Points: 4190 |
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In fairness , i do rate Hasenhuttl quite a bit and am glad he is beginning to succeed. The Premier League has always had a bit of a fetish about a foreign manager getting found out, particularly one vocal about ideas. I was looking at the team they sent out last night and there are a lot of good players in it. In fact the only place i thought it fell short was with the two lads up front
Edited by OnTheOneRoad - 22 Jan 2020 at 5:44pm |
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No thank you Turkish......I'm sweet enough
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