The Round Ball Game

[Beef Oven]

As an impartial Manchester Utd fan, I can tell you that City will not win the Premiership. It's best if we leave all the discussions until May. Do feel free to enjoy 'squeaky bum time' in the meanwhile though.



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[Auferstehen2]

Pop down to my neck of the woodsto Mario! Have some Real Ale!! (or whatever your tipple is!!

Hi, BBM! Must confess to not knowing many pubs in Brighton & Hove Actually, but London, ah London! Will happily meet you next time I'm there if you wish, in Holborn at the magnificent Princess Louise pub. Is it still there? Shepherd's Neame, Fullers IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Ruddles Green King and the incredible Theakston's Old Peculier.

The pub IIRC had an ornate ceiling.

Oh happy days!

BTW, as a Manchester United Season Ticket holder, I agree with Beef Oven that City won't win the title - speaking as a neutral of course.

Best wishes,

Mario

[Auferstehen2]

Man Utd fixtures

v West Brom
Wolves v
v Fulham
Blackburn v
v QPR
Wigan v
v Aston Villa
v Everton
Man City v
v Swansea
Sunderland v

Current points = 64, points possibly dropped at Everton (draw), Man City (draw) and Sunderland (draw),


Man City fixtures

Swansea v
v Chelsea
Stoke v
v Sunderland
Arsenal v
v West Brom
Norwich v
Wolves v
v Man Utd
Newcastle v
v QPR

Current points = 66, points possibly dropped at Chelsea (draw), Arsenal (loss), Man Utd (draw) and Newcastle (draw).

Final point prediction (not taking Europa league into account, only because it’s an equal distraction to both teams, who, barring surprises, will probably meet each other in Bucharest on 9^th May),

Man City, total points = 90
Man Utd, total points = 90

GOAL DIFFERENCE! City’s too superior, no choice, Utd MUST win at Eastlands, or City are new Barclays Premiership champions, and those millions will have been well-spent.

Or will they have been?

Mario

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the derby at the end of April could be crucial.

and Auferstehen2 makes it clear why ...

even a resurgent bleus are out of it and will be fortunate to nick 4th spot but Harry and his Hotspurs are in a spot of bother ....

City on goal difference mebbe ....

[Auferstehen2]

Oi, mate! Your points’ tally’s wrong, innit?

Don’t know if Maltese riffmetic is different to normal arithmetic, but if your predictions prove accurate, the final points tally would be

Man City = 90
Man Utd = 91

If Man Utd don’t lose the derby, they’re champions – quod erat what have you.

Mario

[Auferstehen2]

Stockport will be unbearable if Citeh win the title

Sorry EdgeleyRob, don't get this. Why?

Mario

[scottycelt]

Sorry EdgeleyRob, don't get this. Why?

Mario

As one who lives not far from Stockport I can confirm that the place is packed with City as well as United fans, Mario, which must be irritating for someone like Rob supporting his local team.

The point is ... can City supporters handle success after so many barren years? ... for United's fans it will be just another championship (though nice to also deny their local rivals, admittedly) and for that reason alone they are likely to be marginally less boring when crowing about any championship victory.

For some of us, It is simply a case of the lesser of two evils ...

[Auferstehen2]

Do you know what Scottycelt? I swear to you that that is exactly what I’m thinking, along with, I assure you, many, many United supporters.

There is of course no other feeling such as finishing as champions at the end of a tough and physical season. But as you say, it is hardly our first time is it? It is not arrogance, so frequently a criticism thrown at us. But can you imagine what it must be like for THEM! Only heaven knows what nerves they are straining at the moment. Each game must seem like a European Cup final to them. Perhaps now people will understand why for every team playing United it is exactly like an FA Cup final to them. And if they do it, after the euphoria has died down, it will dawn on them that they will only have to win another 18 to catch us up!

And not once, not once, did we require the financial support of a billionaire to win those nineteen titles – on the contrary, once we were bought out by a private investor, we were landed with a three quarter of a billion pound debt! We HAVE spent millions, but of our OWN money, which we made ourselves. Thank you very much.

BTW, my offer in message 822 of a Cisk, still stands.

Mario

[scottycelt]

Do you know what Scottycelt? I swear to you that that is exactly what I’m thinking, along with, I assure you, many, many United supporters.

There is of course no other feeling such as finishing as champions at the end of a tough and physical season. But as you say, it is hardly our first time is it? It is not arrogance, so frequently a criticism thrown at us. But can you imagine what it must be like for THEM! Only heaven knows what nerves they are straining at the moment. Each game must seem like a European Cup final to them. Perhaps now people will understand why for every team playing United it is exactly like an FA Cup final to them. And if they do it, after the euphoria has died down, it will dawn on them that they will only have to win another 18 to catch us up!

And not once, not once, did we require the financial support of a billionaire to win those nineteen titles – on the contrary, once we were bought out by a private investor, we were landed with a three quarter of a billion pound debt! We HAVE spent millions, but of our OWN money, which we made ourselves. Thank you very much.

BTW, my offer in message 822 of a Cisk, still stands.

Mario

Thank you, Mario ... that's really kind of you ... a Cisk? ... it's more like a Cask that is often consumed in Manchester, as you will no doubt be aware... and, if Partick Thistle manage to win the Scottish First Division, I may just take you up on your very kind offer one day for a double celebration ... in the meantime, good luck to United!

[teamsaint]

Do you know what Scottycelt? I swear to you that that is exactly what I’m thinking, along with, I assure you, many, many United supporters.

There is of course no other feeling such as finishing as champions at the end of a tough and physical season. But as you say, it is hardly our first time is it? It is not arrogance, so frequently a criticism thrown at us. But can you imagine what it must be like for THEM! Only heaven knows what nerves they are straining at the moment. Each game must seem like a European Cup final to them. Perhaps now people will understand why for every team playing United it is exactly like an FA Cup final to them. And if they do it, after the euphoria has died down, it will dawn on them that they will only have to win another 18 to catch us up!

And not once, not once, did we require the financial support of a billionaire to win those nineteen titles – on the contrary, once we were bought out by a private investor, we were landed with a three quarter of a billion pound debt! We HAVE spent millions, but of our OWN money, which we made ourselves. Thank you very much.

BTW, my offer in message 822 of a Cisk, still stands.

Mario

AS a southerner, and supporter of a modest sized provincial club, United don't really need my backing.

But , for all that it is galling to have so many round here supporting teams like United, I have to say that I am fully in accord with your view that united have achieved what they have on their own merits, as indeed have Arsenal and Liverpool, pretty much.
after so many years in united's shadow, you would expect most neutrals to be reasonably happy for city.......but my experience is that nobody really cares much for their success.

[cloughie]

AS a southerner, and supporter of a modest sized provincial club, United don't really need my backing.

But , for all that it is galling to have so many round here supporting teams like United, I have to say that I am fully in accord with your view that united have achieved what they have on their own merits, as indeed have Arsenal and Liverpool, pretty much.
after so many years in united's shadow, you would expect most neutrals to be reasonably happy for city.......but my experience is that nobody really cares much for their success.

I agree with you about achievement on own merits,City and Chelsea are probably envied by most fans of smaller, struggling clubs because of the money available. There must however be a bit of saucepan and kettle with your club have been rescued from administration to fight another day and yours as with ours, if not on the same scale have seen a bit of cash splashed to revive fortunes, although in both cases a work in progress.

[teamsaint]

I agree with you about achievement on own merits,City and Chelsea are probably envied by most fans of smaller, struggling clubs because of the money available. There must however be a bit of saucepan and kettle with your club have been rescued from administration to fight another day and yours as with ours, if not on the same scale have seen a bit of cash splashed to revive fortunes, although in both cases a work in progress.

Its true that we had a bit of luck with our buyer and cash injected, and I can't pretend we didn't. But it IS of a different order, AND we have recouped most of the initial investment though the sale of the Ox (£12m).(about what we invested in the team so far).

To be fair to us though, we would never have got into difficulties if it hadn't been for a corporate stucture that totally tied our hands in raising capital when we needed a paltry £4m to save ourselves.

[cloughie]

Its true that we had a bit of luck with our buyer and cash injected, and I can't pretend we didn't. But it IS of a different order, AND we have recouped most of the initial investment though the sale of the Ox (£12m).(about what we invested in the team so far).

To be fair to us though, we would never have got into difficulties if it hadn't been for a corporate stucture that totally tied our hands in raising capital when we needed a paltry £4m to save ourselves.

I think the root of both our clubs' problems was bad management on and off the field when at the top level, and the slippery slope of paying lazy, overpaid players at lower levels. This is something which the overpampered droupouts will no longer have to suffer because of parachute payments. Seems to be a trend today to reward failure.

[teamsaint]

I think the root of both our clubs' problems was bad management on and off the field when at the top level, and the slippery slope of paying lazy, overpaid players at lower levels. This is something which the overpampered droupouts will no longer have to suffer because of parachute payments. Seems to be a trend today to reward failure.

This an interesting angle........but i have to pass for now, as I am off to see the Super Saints against ipswich.
Wish us luck !!

[Auferstehen2]

Sorry to sound dense, but what exactly is a parachute payment?

Mario