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The Soccer/Football Thread

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Did you guys see this article? https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/...-Will-it-Take-to-Win-the-Premier-League-Title

With 60% of the season played and 15 games remaining, Leicester City lead the league with 47 points. Both elements of that are surprising: since the Premier League switched to its present 20-team format in 1995, there have only been two occasions when the leaders at this stage of the season had fewer than 47 points. Not since 2002/03 has the leader at this stage had fewer than 50 points. What, then, does that mean in terms of the title race?

If Leicester keep going at their present rate, they would finish the season on 78 points. In 2013/14 that wouldn't even have been enough to take fourth. It would be the joint second–lowest points tally ever to win the league, joint with Arsenal in 1998 and ahead only of Manchester United's success with 75 points in 1997.

Arsenal lay fifth at this stage in 1997/98 with 41 points but then embarked on a run of eight successive clean sheets. They won 13 of 14 games and had the title wrapped up before losing their last two matches. The year before that, United had 44 points at this stage and as everybody else fell away, had as good as won the title by the beginning of May, when they drew three successive games.

As mentioned, you have to look back to 2002/03 to find the last leader to have fewer than 50 points at this stage. Arsenal then had 49 points and were five points clear of Manchester United, but United won 15 of their final 18 games to take the title, finishing with 83.

Only three times in the past 20 years has the leader at this stage had fewer than Leicester's 47 points. In 2001/02 United were top of a bunched table with 45 points, but Arsenal, having been a point back, won their last 13 games to streak through to the league title. United had only 44 points in 1998/99 but went unbeaten in their final 20 games to take the title on the final day of the season, while in 1996/97, United again had 44 points after 23 games and, despite winning only half of their last ten games, took the title by seven clear points.



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1996/97 is the only season, in other words, when, after a start like this season's, a team hasn't put a run together to surge through to the title. For all their flaws, it's just about possible that Arsenal or Manchester City could do something similar this season. But then, given how they're playing, given the weird defensive laxity that every club seems to be suffering, it really doesn't feel at this stage as though that's likely.

But let's imagine that the side that ends up as champions, even if it doesn't suddenly reel off a string of consecutive victories, at least produces average title-winning form across the rest of the season. Over the past 20 years, the champions have averaged 2.26 points per game. If Arsenal or City manage that from now, they would end up with 34 more points. That means they'd finish with 78 points, which is what Leicester will get if they just keep going as they are.

Claudio Ranieiri has set a target of 79 points for his side and that may well be enough to win them the league. It certainly makes sense for other teams to have that figure in mind. Could Tottenham get the 37 points they'd need from the last 15 games? It's not impossible. It's doubtful that Manchester United could get 42, though.

This has not been in any sense a predictable season, but it looks now as though there are only four teams in the race for the title. There could be a surge from Arsenal or City, but the indications are that 80 points would win it – the same as United in 2010/11. To put that in context, though, that's the only time in the past 11 years that the champions have ended up with fewer than 86 points.
What I found most interesting is how few points the winner may need this season. I've thought it was a great year, very competitive, but maybe that's just because the league is lacking dominant teams? Or does it mean the parity in the EPL is decreasing and teams are closer in talent than ever before?
 
Great thread, seems there is a surprising amount of fans. Just keep of the "soccer" bullshit, you just don't play "football" with your hands :D

I'm portuguese, and I support Maritimo, probably you've never heard of it, but it was the first european team of Real Madrid's defender Pepe (actually saw live the amazing development of that mother******). Only won a Cup in 1926 and we're pretty much a mediocre team. Love them still...

I'm a Chelsea supporter on the BPL, since that amazing team with Desailly and Zola, though I kinda respect Man Utd. Not really a Spanish League fan, but I love Athletic Bilbao more for the club philosophy and identity than anything else. Absolutly despise both Barça and Real, can't really support any of them though C. Ronaldo was born in my hometown.

And yes, I usually get a lot of heat for saying openly that Messi is the better player and frankly, the best I've ever seen. You could argue there were few players with slightly better peaks, but Messi's consistency year after year is something I've never seen. Quite a beast...
To be fair, and not C. Ronaldo biggest fan, his consistency is also something to respect, but I think he became a player who does not make his teammates better. Really loved Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, but I believe they ultimatly lacked the work ethics from the former (and the great Ronaldo a bit of bad luck with injuries, but part of that was not working properly on reahab). They played when they wanted to, and I agree, when they wanted to play football was a beautiful thing to watch...

Keep it up :)
 
Great thread, seems there is a surprising amount of fans. Just keep of the "soccer" bullshit, you just don't play "football" with your hands :D

I'm portuguese, and I support Maritimo, probably you've never heard of it, but it was the first european team of Real Madrid's defender Pepe (actually saw live the amazing development of that mother******). Only won a Cup in 1926 and we're pretty much a mediocre team. Love them still...

I'm a Chelsea supporter on the BPL, since that amazing team with Desailly and Zola, though I kinda respect Man Utd. Not really a Spanish League fan, but I love Athletic Bilbao more for the club philosophy and identity than anything else. Absolutly despise both Barça and Real, can't really support any of them though C. Ronaldo was born in my hometown.

And yes, I usually get a lot of heat for saying openly that Messi is the better player and frankly, the best I've ever seen. You could argue there were few players with slightly better peaks, but Messi's consistency year after year is something I've never seen. Quite a beast...
To be fair, and not C. Ronaldo biggest fan, his consistency is also something to respect, but I think he became a player who does not make his teammates better. Really loved Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, but I believe they ultimatly lacked the work ethics from the former (and the great Ronaldo a bit of bad luck with injuries, but part of that was not working properly on reahab). They played when they wanted to, and I agree, when they wanted to play football was a beautiful thing to watch...

Keep it up :)
I was young when Ronaldinho was dominating the World Cup. I barely could understand what a good association football player was at that point, but, when you watched Ronaldinho it was just magic. I wish I could've been older and understand just how great he was. I agree with you, though, Messi is the better player than Ronaldo. But they are both beautiful to watch play. And I'd take either on Man Utd, no problems, haha :bigthumbup::bigthumbup:
 
I agree with you, though, Messi is the better player than Ronaldo. But they are both beautiful to watch play. And I'd take either on Man Utd, no problems,

Two of the greatest ever, and I really enjoyed ManU's Ronaldo when he was less a goalscorer and more of a creative force. In Madrid he is a goal machine, but to me lost that quick feet he had once. Fenomenal player though, can't argue that.

I grew with the "Fenomeno" doing that impossible things. In is physical prime, he was simply unstoppable; one of my first memories as a football fan is this one, simply amazing...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE774yQX6uQ
 
Long shot, but is anyone watching the second leg of Liverpool-West Ham right now? It's been a really good match.
 
Good old days when I had the time to watch some early rounds of the FA Cup... :)
Seems like it was a really good game, the Guardian called it "simply wonderful", but I'm glad West Ham finally took it. The greatest thing about the FA Cup is smaller teams always make surprises and sometimes even lower division teams make the finals.

On other news, my team made the portuguese League Cup Finals today, we won 3-1 in the semis. It's a really inferior competition that I don't even bother try to watch the games, nonetheless we're so crappy these days that it is a huge achievement. I really don't care about what I call the Beer Cup, but it will be a feature on the team history and it's always nice to play some Finals. Can't argue about that...

And if we win the damn thing it'll be our first official title since 1926. A Beer Cup is better than nothing I guess :)
 
If there are not many people following the EPL this season then you are missing what I think might be one of the craziest seasons ever. The defending Champions (And the team that I support) are sinking like a stone and are struggling to even make the top 10. 2 non Champions League team are in a hotly contested title race and they both have spent way less money than the traditional big 4 and perhaps the most prestigious club in EPL is also sinking out of the champions league spot. As much as it sucks for me personally I am still loving how insane this season is.
 
If there are not many people following the EPL this season then you are missing what I think might be one of the craziest seasons ever. The defending Champions (And the team that I support) are sinking like a stone and are struggling to even make the top 10. 2 non Champions League team are in a hotly contested title race and they both have spent way less money than the traditional big 4 and perhaps the most prestigious club in EPL is also sinking out of the champions league spot. As much as it sucks for me personally I am still loving how insane this season is.

I really hope Leicester hangs on as it would be such a remarkable story. You're right that Chelsea going in the tank has been equally as crazy.

This kind of stuff is why the Prem is the best league in the world. Do you want to watch a league where anyone can win any given week or the rest of the leagues in the world where 1-3 teams are guaranteed to win every year? Has anyone looked at the ligue 1 table lately? It's a goddamn joke.
 
Liverpool supporter here. My favorite player ever is Steven Gerrard - current is Roberto Firmino.

I've also started watching Bundesliga matches, I love the pace and physicality they have.

Leicester City is currently on a historical run atop the Premiere League which kinda solidifies the case as to why the EPL is currently the best league right now. The talent is a lot more spread out.
 
Leicester winning the Premier League will possibly the most unreal Sporting event I have ever watched. Greece winning 2004 Euros was great but cup competition has more scope for upsets but league is almost impossible.
 
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I also hope that Leicester win the title. If there is any manager who deserves it, It is Ranieri. What he did with that team is immense (Also a special shout out to Pochetino).

I am hoping that both United and City also crash out of the Champions League spot. It will be funny to watch Pep take over a non-champions League team. Also it will be interesting to see what he can achieve in the EPL.
 
Liverpool supporter here. My favorite player ever is Steven Gerrard - current is Roberto Firmino.

I've also started watching Bundesliga matches, I love the pace and physicality they have.

Leicester City is currently on a historical run atop the Premiere League which kinda solidifies the case as to why the EPL is currently the best league right now. The talent is a lot more spread out.

You do have the crazy Gegenpress coach and his cool aura too .... Damn you, I wish we could have got Klopp.
 
Can't believe Arsenal tied Hull... The schedule is already gruelling enough. At least 2 games every week for the next month...
 
Leicester winning the Premier League will possibly the most unreal Sporting event I have ever watched. Greece winning 2004 Euros was great but cup competition has more scope for upsets but league is almost impossible.

I believe you're wrong, there wasn't even an Euro at 2004 (portuguese here, and I'm still trying to forget it)!!! We lost to Greece, twice, with probably our best team ever, unbelievable...

The BPL this season is amazing. Really supporting Leicester and I can't stand Ranieri.
It'd be amazing to see them lifting the Cup...
 
Can't believe Arsenal tied Hull... The schedule is already gruelling enough. At least 2 games every week for the next month...

I expect Arsenal to get trashed in Barca in the first leg and then make a spirited comeback in the second leg but lose out by away goals or just one goal. I am basing this on past history.
 
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