mickyg

How much do you think what we call "luck" comes into it? For example, let's pretend that we played the remaining games 1000 times, then I think we could assume that the winner after that many tests would be the truly best team. But we are only going to play the remaining games once, and tonight the Cahill header hit the post rather than scored or went wide. Or we could have bad decisions fom the refs. Or a freak wind blast. My estimate is that there is an 80% chance that the "best" team will win. But maybe by definition the best team is the team that wins. All this is a bit conceptual, but it's things like Cahill's header that makes me think of it.

Yes, I remember 5 or 6 times where Willian in particular kept running To get the ball and either forced a bad pass or loss of the ball. so even though he made a few bad passes, his net impact was positive.

For me, pressure in the midfield was the best part. City aren't used to that extra 10% of pushing every time they had the ball. And a lot of that is due to Jose.

This may or may not(!) be of interest... Below is the number of points that the second-placed team finished with in the last 15 seasons: 1998 - 1999 78 1999 - 2000 73 2000 - 2001 70 2001 - 2002 80 2002 - 2003 78 2003 - 2004 79 2004 - 2005 83 2005 - 2006 83 2006 - 2007 83 2007 - 2008 85 2008 - 2009 86 2009 - 2010 85 2010 - 2011 71 2011 - 2012 89 2012 - 2013 78 The average is 80 (and there has been an upward trend.) To win the league, a team needs to have one more point than the second-placed team or tie and have a better goal difference. This season, as of now, all teams have played 22 matches. Below are the current points for the top 9 teams, as well as the maximum possible that they would achieve if they win all their remaining matches: Cur Max Arsenal 51 99 Man City 50 98 Chelsea 49 97 Liverpool 43 91 Spurs 43 91 Everton 42 90 Man Utd 37 85 Newcastle 36 84 South'n 31 79 Probably too early to say much about us and the other top three. But if Man Utd lose three more games, then the maximum possible points for them is 76, which would only have been enough to win the title in 20% of the last 15 years.

60% chance Ramires gets booked. 30% chance he gets sent off.

Depends how many beers I've drunk!

Is David Luiz injured?

Essien looks shsrp

Does it goto extra time if needed?

Oscar to get a red?

I've noticed this in other Premier matches, but why don't players burst balloons Ehen they are on the pitch? Often they jst walk over them. I remember a City game when they impacted the result.

Imagine that today you could have back any current player who is till playing (whether in in a top league or not) then who would it be? Based on Robben's play over the last few months, he would at the top for me. Maybe Drog's.

BestBetting, which is one of those sites that pulls in odds from several bookmakers, currently shows that are about 1/4 on to get into the top four. Not sure I'm that confident - but I guess that's where the smart money is.

We're being outplayed all over the pitch.

Top 4 for me.

Ha!

So during every match, Benitez is seen writing notes in his book. What do you think he is actually writing? Is it simply the facts of what is happening - e.g.: corner at 12 minutes, save by keeper? Is it things like, "We're not attacking strongly enough on the left, we need Ramires to change over"? Is it, "During training next week we need to focus on high corners when they have two tall mid-fielders" Is it a mix of these? Or is it something else?

They need 4 now

The pitch spoils the game. Too much bobbling.

Ha! I think beating them was harder than winning the final. Alves annoys me.

I've been watching the Champions League quarter finals and although I'm enjoying them, I am jealous of the various sets of supporters who still have their team in the mix. We've become so used to participating, at least to the semis, that's it's tough to take not being there. It reminds me of being a kid and having something I really wanted denied! Oh well - let's hope we get a top four place and a good run next year.

I'm down to once a week now, but I still I go on YouTube to watch Drogba's wining penalty as recorded from people in the crowd. And tonight I noticed that after he scored, it looked like three stretchers were brought out onto the pitch - maybe by some medics? Does any one know why? Was it a precaution for something? The videos I have seen do not go on long enough for me to see what happens.

Final versus Man Utd when we lost - 46 year old man crying. Wife trying to console me, saying "It's only football" So this time can't watch. Recording on. Made calculation of the maximium time the match could take. Knotted tummy and very aware of the clock. Time to find out. And then yes and yes and yes. Since then I have watched the recorded game over 20 times.

Actually, I wouldn't mind Moyes as our manager.

Jinx!