Apparently the Premiership has had more 0-0 draws already this season than the whole of last season, that can not be a coincidence. In a thread a few months I discussed/argued the point that the EPL has been dull this season and was asked to provide proof, well Matt Clark I believe u now have it. What are peoples thoughts on the reasons for this, my belief is that there is lack of confidence with all the mid-bottom teams caused by their sheer desperation to stay in the top league. I don't believe for one minute it's a lack of quality, I just see many of those 'top' players underperforming.
This is proof? The only thing the number of scoreless draws proves is the existence of Middlesbrough Football Club. It has no connection with unsubstantiable claims about top players 'not performing'. FWIW, the EPL is by default better this year than last because a two-horse race has become a three-horse race. Add a stronger clutch of mid-ranking teams and you're still as wrong now as you were a couple of months ago. And in any case, as I said at the time - qualitative judgement is subjective and impossible to measure imperically.
As I remember this time last season the top two clubs were still in touching distance with Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool so by default there are even less teams involved in the race for the title this season.
SMK, quit making yourself look like an ass. All Matt is saying is that it's impossible to measure or to use real facts to justify your opinion. By the way, there's nothing wrong with a good, hard fought nil-nil draw... Yeah, I'm an Arsenal fan.
Depends if you are generous enough to characterise the early season form shown by Liverpool and Newcastle (Chelsea were nowhere this time last year) as 'the race for the title'. Even as a Liverpool supporter and fresh on the back of a second-placed finish that previous May, I still considered last season's Championship a two-horse race. United and Arsenal have both improved since last year. So again, your comparison is weak. Above and beyond which, the main basic point is there for all to see - you cannot objectively measure what you allege to be the case in this instance.
If you remember my posts a few months back I stated that I didn't have proof that the EPL this year had been dull all I had was my opinion that was formed by watching many crap matches. Serie A has a reputation for dull football mainly because many games are 0-0 or 1-0, La Liga and the EPL are known for goals, thats why we all watch them and I see the fact that there have already been more 0-0 results than last season as proof that there has been more dull football than average, (please don't tell me it's down to great defending,the EPL doesn't have great defensive teams), after the two 3-2 games yesterday I hope the tide has turned.
You remind me of the kinda *#*#*#*#*#*# who would stand on the edge of a moshpit and push everyone into the middle without getting involved then when you turn round and shove him back he goes running off to the bouncers.
Oh, so that wasn't me that got hiot in the face with that chair at that one Anti-Flag concert. So what you're saying is that you're irritated because I'm not getting involved and am just "stirring the pot," and then when you attack me, I'll go crying to a mod, right? Well, attack away... Eat shit, fuckhead. You've got a great username, but that's about all you've got going for you. It was once said that, given infinite time, 1000 monkeys with typewriters would eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Your "factual" posts? Five monkeys, ten minutes. Douche bag.
Crap in your opinion. Serie A regularly has a higher goals-per-game ratio than La Liga or the EPL. So by your logic, that means that the EPL and La Liga are duller than Serie A and that the 'dullness' ascribed to Serie A is unjustifiable. Or, of course, the ratio of low-scoring games to the 'dullness' of a league is not one you can empirically establish.
I'm laying off SMK unless he starts saying "0-0 draws should be banned, we should have extra time/penalty shoot outs/sub the keeper for another outfield player" or whatever. That sort of nonsense should stay with the MLS.
That all sounded so insulting until you called me a douche bag, yankee sounding piss-flap, call yourself an Arsenal fan, your probably the kind of Arsenal fan who saw the Old Trafford fracas as a disgrace, piss off back to baseball. Doctor Stamen theres no reason to lay off if you have something to see, I just wonder why stating that a 0-0 draw is normally far less exciting than a game with goals in it is so controversial. It is of course my opinion that they are invariably dull and for that opinion how can I be wrong, sh it I can't change the football I enjoy watching. I'll just leave it at that for now, I'm sure Mr Clark and his close friend have enough to disect.
I think this deserves the "bit-by-bit" treatment. I like how you played the "Brit bigot" card here.This might mean just a little bit more to me if you knew what the hell you were talking about. Maybe you might want to find out how I really felt about the "Battle of Old Trafford." I think my words went something like this, "What's the big deal, no blod was shed and all that happened was some pushing and shoving, so why is everyone calling for our guy's heads?" And I sound like a Yank, do I? Wonder why? Could it be because I am a Yank? Way to go, bitch. Could it be because the reputation of the English game is not one of flashy goals/goalscorers, with the notable exceptions of Chelsea and West Ham? Or maybe it's because you support the team that has the reputation of being the team that everyone loves to hate, one that in and of itself has the reputation of loving to be hated, the tag of being the most boring and heart-breaking side in the league ("If you want entertainment, go and watch clowns...") Ever hear that "Boring, boring Arsenal" song? Or how about "One-nil to the Arsenal?" Does the phrase "Bang! goes the nil-nil draw" ring any bells? Or do you know Arsenal as "that Gallic club from Islington?" And what we've been trying to tell you is that your opinion cannot be factually proven to be true. It is just that, an opinion, and therefore you cannot factually say that the EPL is a dull league. By the way, Matt, did you know that I was your close friend? Hmm.
Please accept my humble apologies, your not a complete pusssy. I have no idea where your going with this, first and foremost I think you'll find Man U are still the most hated club in the Premiership. And all those songs aren't exactly relevant any more, there sung sarcastically, though sarcasm is probably lost on you. Excuse me but you haven't been telling me shite that I don't know, most of what I have stated has been my opinion so stop acting high and mighty on the one thing we agree on. Read through my posts and I have never factually said the EPL is a dull league, I love the EPL but I have seen an unusual amount of poor games this season (of course this is my opinion). Perhaps I need to go over all my posts and add the prefix - this is my opinion. Maybe then dipshits like you won't nitpick everything as though I'm speaking for all.
Yes, and those songs about Hillsborough, and those songs about Munich were sung sarcastically, as well. You failed history didn't you? Ain't it sad when folks forget their roots?
By the way, forgot to say this, but yes, I am an obsessive. I know, it's not possible for me to be American and an Arsenal obsessive, but somehow I manage...
1. I saw it as a disgrace. A 37 year old man acting like a completely immature d_ck, shouting in the face of an opponent after the game. Yeah, all ganging up on 1 person and pushing him around is really smart and cool. Lauren was really heroic when he grabbed Phil Neville by the throat wasn't he ?. And I don't like baseball. 2. You haven't over stepped the mark on 0-0 draws yet in my books. My view is that there are some games that are hideous, some that are exciting. The same goes for games that are 1-0 or 1-1. The game could either be end-to-end, but have both goalkeeprs playing the games off their lives. Or it could be a Boro game. Goals do not always mean an entertaining game. There are plenty of 1-0 or more games that have made Alan Green and co. want to hang themselves out of sheer boredom. You haven't crossed the line on this subject, as you haven't declared that 0-0 draws should be banned, and any manner of insane rules should be introduced to stop them.
No 1 wasn't even directed at you, check the context. 2. Thanks for clearing up the completely obvious.