Four Four Two's predicted final PL positions

[The Kraken]

We played the best brand of football - an attractive and successful one. I don't know of any other team that did. I do not care for Reading's style of play and they weren't in the top two all season - we were.

 

The kit is the only negative thing I can think of. I don't want to say anything about signings, as I'm not a total idiot, there is still plenty of time to bring in the numbers we need.

The team that plays the best football aren't necessarily the best team. Swansea were extremely attractive to watch and finished bottom half. Arsenal are famously extremely pretty on the eye yet haven't won anything for years.

 

A lot of our fans seem a bit precious about comments that we aren't the best footballing side. We play some nice pass and move stuff, and we play some good, direct stuff particularly to RL (diagonal balls to him at the far post were rather our speciality). It doesn't make it any less entertaining for the fan, it isn't a criticism, but neither does it make us the best stylists. Which was what was asked.

[JustMike]

Four Four Two have announced their prediction for the final positions in the PL.

 

1) Man City

2) Man Utd

3) Spurs

4) Arsenal

5) Chelsea

6) Liverpool

7) Newcastle

8 )Everton

9) Sunderland

10) Aston Villa

11) Stoke City

12) Fulham

13) QPR

14) Norwich

15) West Ham

16) Wigan

17) Southampton

18 ) Reading

19) West Brom

20) Swansea

 

I can't see Spurs finishing above arsenal, though agree with Chelsea in 5th. No way Stoke as high as 11th, I think they'll struggle. Bottom 5 or 6 about right, West Brom with Steve Clarke could be in trouble IMO.

 

I think Chelsea will finish higher than 5th, Arsenal will finish above Spuds. Also think we will finish above Wigan, whether that is outside of the bottom 3 will depend on the next 20 ish days imo

[Crazy Diamond]

The team that plays the best football aren't necessarily the best team. Swansea were extremely attractive to watch and finished bottom half. Arsenal are famously extremely pretty on the eye yet haven't won anything for years.

 

A lot of our fans seem a bit precious about comments that we aren't the best footballing side. We play some nice pass and move stuff, and we play some good, direct stuff particularly to RL (diagonal balls to him at the far post were rather our speciality). It doesn't make it any less entertaining for the fan, it isn't a criticism, but neither does it make us the best stylists. Which was what was asked.

 

What I'm trying to say is that to my mind, we were the best team last season because our football was both nice to watch and successful. The two don't always go hand in hand. We have managed to combine both which is a fantastic thing to do, especially in a division as tough as the Championship.

 

But I did say that it would cause some debate and here we are...!

[The Kraken]

What I'm trying to say is that to my mind, we were the best team last season because our football was both nice to watch and successful. The two don't always go hand in hand. We have managed to combine both which is a fantastic thing to do, especially in a division as tough as the Championship.

 

But I did say that it would cause some debate and here we are...!

 

Well I'd disagree then; but only very slightly!! I'd say we were up there at the top in terms of being able to play it about. But I thought our main strength as a side was that we could mix it, and that when we didn't/couldn't play through sides we had a superb outlet for going long or more direct, which is why we were more successful than, say, Blackpool.

 

In any case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I genuinely don't think there is a right or wrong answer, just differing opinions (of which my one is the correct one, of course....)

[Crazy Diamond]

But I thought our main strength as a side was that we could mix it

 

It's a good point actually, one I'd not really thought of. Although, I did struggle at time to see where our backup plan was. Blackpool away for example.

[Smirking_Saint]

Why do you say West Ham have no cash for transfers?

 

All of their transfers have been undisclosed so there's no way of knowing for sure; but it looks like so far they've spent around £7M or £8M. They were looking at Carroll for a £2M loan fee (which would have taken them up to our level of spending), and God only knows what they are and will be paying in wages.

 

For all the talk of them being financially f*cked, they're certainly not being run like that. They do play some poor football, but they have some good players and Allardyce is a good manager in this division who proved with Blackburn that he can get a poor side to comfortable mid-table. I think West Ham will finish the highest of the promoted sides.

 

 

I really really doubt they have spent 6-7 million tbh, not from what I have heard from people ITK anyways, Maiga was no more than 2-3 million I believe and Collins although unknown was thought to be quite a snip of a transfer. Diame and Jaaskalainen were released from poor sides to, not to mention Nolans injury, Diame is supposedly injured and Tomkins was shown up to be poor in the olympics but then I wasnt amazed by him in the CCC.

 

As per the supposed big deals Im not tge only one that believes its all just to appease the fans, I mean Tevez, Torres etc ? How many of those deals happened ? Especially as Carroll was apparantly agreed, funny how that fell through ?!

 

Sam is a decent manager but he has a lot of work to do overturning a poor playing style last year to one conducive of the prem, IMHO they wont finish above us

[The Kraken]

I really really doubt they have spent 6-7 million tbh, not from what I have heard from people ITK anyways, Maiga was no more than 2-3 million I believe and Collins although unknown was thought to be quite a snip of a transfer. Diame and Jaaskalainen were released from poor sides to, not to mention Nolans injury, Diame is supposedly injured and Tomkins was shown up to be poor in the olympics but then I wasnt amazed by him in the CCC.

 

Google searches show a few outlets putting the Maiga deal at £4.7M. And Collins at £2.5M. Could be wrong, but there's a few independent sources quoting those figures.

 

As per the supposed big deals Im not tge only one that believes its all just to appease the fans, I mean Tevez, Torres etc ? How many of those deals happened ? Especially as Carroll was apparantly agreed, funny how that fell through ?!

 

Jarvis offer rebuffed for £9M being reported by credible news sources, so I don't think I agree with you there.

 

Sam is a decent manager but he has a lot of work to do overturning a poor playing style last year to one conducive of the prem, IMHO they wont finish above us

My personal opinion is that WHU suffered from the weight of expectation last year. Much more than we did in League 1 when we came 2nd. And I think, player for player, they should have achieved much more than they did. They were the better side in both games against us and, but for the sending off when Billy went down like a sack of sh*t, the result could well have been very different. I think Sam will have them doing a Norwich or a Swansea, but again it won't be all that pretty to watch.

[Smirking_Saint]

He is definately a better manager than many give credit, but I honestly think he has work to do.

 

Its one thing making all these very public offers for top players, that from the outside seem out of reach for a newly promoted team (Jarvis excluded) its very much another actually going through with any actual intention to move forward.

 

Added to the fact Gold has stated time and tine again they are looking to service the debt and days of big spending on wages etc are over.

 

I may be wrong, but Im certainly not alone in my theory.

[Frank's cousin]

 

I have just ruined my keyboard - fricken classic LOL moment - good one

[Frank's cousin]

The team that plays the best football aren't necessarily the best team. Swansea were extremely attractive to watch and finished bottom half. Arsenal are famously extremely pretty on the eye yet haven't won anything for years.

 

A lot of our fans seem a bit precious about comments that we aren't the best footballing side. We play some nice pass and move stuff, and we play some good, direct stuff particularly to RL (diagonal balls to him at the far post were rather our speciality). It doesn't make it any less entertaining for the fan, it isn't a criticism, but neither does it make us the best stylists. Which was what was asked.

 

Think you hit the nail on the head - we were entertaining because we tried to paly and 'attacking style -creating many chances that as you say came form a combination of passing moves (some great) and some direct play using teh skill of Lambo who not only scored for fun, but created many. We were 'enetertaining'. Its this I dont want us to lose sight of... there is always a danger that sides try an up and at um disruptive style and or the chelski defensive thing when faced with superior oposition, but although this can be effective if you keep your concentration for 90mins, not sure we have the defensive quality to park the bus in that way - and these styles are just dull and unappealing, even if they grind you out a result. I know many will disagree, but sometimes its (naive?) nice to stick to your principles - its is about being entertained in my book, not survival at any cost.

[Flyer]

Why do people think QPR will do so well? I just dont get it. They struggled last year and now they will be amnaged for a whole season by Mark Hughes!!! This is a man who starts well - well he's a BIG manager - but then everyone realises he is an arrogant tosser and he uspets players and owners alike, everything goes downhill and he gets sacked/'resigns'. I predict a definite repeat and 19th place.

 

Hughes is the exact opposite of what you said (1 win in his 1st 13 games at QPR for example), he starts awful but then gets going and has got every team hes managed into Europe, including Blackburn and Fulham. Hes also produced some great signings like Samba from out of nowhere and the only really bad signings people link to him are the ones bought for him at Man City like Robinho.

 

Saying that 8th is out of reach, more like 11th-13th.