I thought that was a terrible week of results for the neutrals. The title race is over. Chelsea could play their youth team and pick up whatever it is they need in their last 8 games.
The CL spots are all decided. The order of the three sides may change, but those three will be in the pot when the draw is made (assuming whoever comes 4th gets through the qualifiers).
All that's left is to watch Liverpool, Spuds and Saints battle it out for the Europa League spot. Loser gets it!
I thought Pool were poor against Arsenal. Battered for 15 mins, then they started to play and just before half time they switched off and Arsenal ripped them a new one. What Moreno was doing for the first goal I'll never know. To start with when Sakho went out wide, Moreno was 10 yards to deep, then he sheppards yer man in towards the danger area. If he had lain down on the pitch he would have been more effective. The second was a quality free kick. Maybe Mingolet was a tad far to his right but I think that's knit picking. The third all comes from Lucas giving the ball away in midfield. Watch the build up, he gets closed down and fires it off to his left as if to say "here, you have it." Arsenal pick it up and 5 seconds later it's in the net.
Fair do's arsenal were much the better side and deserved it. Maybe if Markovic had passed to within 10 yards of Sterling it would have been different, but I doubt it.
Brendan has a busy summer ahead. Johnson seems to be away, his contract is up and I think he's on big money so they are happy to get shot. Lucas and Alen still don't fill me with confidence, maybe I'm being harsh on Lucas as he has been injured. Lambert hasn't worked out, £4 million, no big deal (in football terms). Ballotelli has been a complete disaster. Who will be daft enough to buy him? Lovern hasn't worked out. Toure is 33 and horribly unpredictable. Manquilo's loan hasn't worked. Again, no big deal. I think the jury is still out on Lallana, he's been good in flashes. Moreno seems to be good in the middle 50% of the pitch but has been caught out defensively too many times (City away, Utd at home, Arsenal away) and seems to get nose bleeds in the other team's box.
The Belgian kid Origi hadn't scored for a few months last I heard, so that cold be another flop, though I'll let him play a few games before I judge him.
Either way Brendan and the transfer committee need to do a better job this summer than they have done for a few years (Carroll, Adam, Downing etc). I'm struggling to name more than 3 or 4 signings Liverpool have made in the last 5 years that could be classed as "good". Suarez, Sturridge, Coutinho and Sterling. The latter seems to think he's worth super star wages when he has fewer goals and assists than Charlie Adam this season, but of course, it's all about trophies isn't it! :roll:
As for Spuds, I watched their game. Well, I watched Burnley play 11 blokes dressed as Tottenham. They didn't seem interested in ehhh doing anything. I think the phrase is "didn't turn up". I suspect Spuds need a bit of an overhaul and a clear out as badly as Pool. Too many **** "defenders", too many midfielders who are much of a muchness and ehh one striker. Rumours that Lloris to Real is 80% done. Vorm is a good keeper but he's a big step down.
Then there's City. If I was Shek Mansour, I'd be on the phone to Pelligrini asking him just WTF he is doing. How a club can spend that amount of money and still not look like a team is beyond me. What is it with them and defending titles? Also, they have a very old squad. Their habit of buying players just approaching their peak means they pay top price, top wages and have bog all resale value. Maybe that doesn't bother the billionaire owner, but it does mean they have to keep pumping money in and with FFP that isn't as easy as it was.
At this rate Utd will finish second and that is a bloody travesty, they are turd. They have played well twice this season (beating spuds and Pool in the last 3 weeks, and both of those sides are poor) and the rest of the time have looked like a bunch of strangers meeting for the first time and playing 1980's style hoofball. The PL really isn't what it was 6-8 years ago.
Now we have the excitement of watching six sides who aren't good enough to be in the league, battling it out to stay up by default for another season of less than a point a game footy. :roll:
Ps, can you tell my insomnia is back and I'm full of the joys of spring?
