Football

In seriousness, I'm sure it might also be interesting to compare those 12 matches and determine the relative strengths of the teams played.

If I had the data[1] (and I am looking for them for a separate project) that's what I'd look at. I'd add an extra column to the table for the total points obtained by the opposition in their first 12 games. That would go some way to working out the relative ease or difficulty of a team's first 12 games. I could then do similar tables for Liverpoo, Manyoo, Citeh and Arsenal.

1. Date, kickoff time, teams, FT result is a minimum. Ideally scorers and goal times too, cards even better. Prem minimum, more leagues the better (including Scotchland). I'd prefer to buy it (£10 or so, I used to have access to something similar from a betting site years ago) but I am prepared to write HTML scrapers to get it from somewhere else (e.g. what was soccerbase).
   

Well that was a decent result. We've playe dBayern 6 times in the last 4 years, and have won 3 and lost 3.

That Aguero lad looks promising, though he finished a distant second to the mighty Kyle Walker in Young Player of the Year voting a few years back.

Not that the British are parochial or anything.....

#stillhighaftertheanfieldgame

So, kopites. Imagine you're going to tough it out with David Brent until the end of the season who would you prefer as a replacement?

They can have Lambert. I've had enough.

In approximate order I'd suggest they want: -

1. Stevie Me
   
2. TFSW
   
3. Pep Guardiola
   
   

They'll be lucky to get: -

1. Pardew
   
2. Fat Sam
   
3. Koeman
   

I'm not rubbishing the achievement here, I'm interested in the bigger picture. If you can have a predictor of "winning the league after x games" that would be on a par with "if you're bottom at christmas you're going down" type thing. And also "wet tuesday in stoke".
A shorthand we could all throw about.

As you say, the point that you've not been playing as well as you should and yet your point total is still your highest at this point than ever before indicates the dryness of numbers.

Perhaps you could start rating matches out of 10? Much like commutes on the thread that Andy loves so much.

How many points did Newcastle have after 12 games the year they royally fucked it up?

No Kenny the messiah?

Club ambassador or something now. Though I'm sure he'd be happy to step in on a caretaker role if Brent goes before the end of the season.

@Chalfie @cliveo
Good debate, would read again
7/10

Yeah there's been a little highlight reel of quotes he's fucking himself with.

As bad as Palace was, we had started to exerpt some pressure, until the subs that stopped us dead and fucking mignolet... my patience has expired with him.

Also why don't citeh fans get involved with the CL, it was a massive must win game why not support the club??

I'm not rubbishing the achievement here, I'm interested in the bigger
picture. If you can have a predictor of "winning the league after x
games" that would be on a par with "if you're bottom at christmas
you're going down" type thing. And also "wet tuesday in stoke". A
shorthand we could all throw about.

As you say, the point that you've not been playing as well as you
should and yet your point total is still your highest at this point
than ever before indicates the dryness of numbers.

Perhaps you could start rating matches out of 10? Much like commutes
on the thread that Andy loves so much.

How many points did Newcastle have after 12 games the year they
royally fucked it up?

My point was not to use that table as a predictor of who was going to win the league save to point out the comparison between Chelsea' s current form, their form at a similar stage in previous seasons and the current form of the self-anointed Big Clubs.

While Chelsea have, until the last week, not been playing up to what I consider their capabilities, they have still been playing better and, importantly, more consistently, than in previous seasons. This is because, in my view the Chelsea squad is better than ever before.

At the same time, we have seen in recent years that other teams are not at their highest level. Even the league winning ManU side of two seasons ago under SAF was generally acknowledged to be one of the weakest ManU sides of recent times. They have slipped back since then.

Other teams are not doing so well. Tottenham's win over Hull was nothing to celebrate. Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool and even City have been throwing away points that one would usually have expected them to pocket easily.

There is no point in a subjective marking of performances. Last night's 5-0 away in Germany to a side undefeated at home, might have scored near to 10/10 but then how would one rate an away win at Arsenal later in the season by a greater margin or beating Real Madrid in the CL Final when reduced to 9 men by outrageous refereeing?

Scores out of ten are best left to Andy's commute.

The positions in 1995/6 were:

1 (1) Newcastle United 12 10 1 1 29 9 20 31
2 (2) Manchester United 12 8 2 2 23 12 11 26

One key point is that Man U beat Newcastle home and away after that date.

@cliveo
How much of an upgrade do you think is Courtais on Cech and do you think we would be a better attacking side with Azpilicueta as RB and Luis as LB?
Will Jose give some of the fringe players more playing time now that the team had qualified for the next round of the CL.

What about Iva?

or beating Real Madrid in the CL Final when reduced to 9 men by outrageous refereeing?
You forgot to mention "UEFA Conspiracy".

How much of an upgrade so you think is Courtais on Cech and do you
think we would be a better attacking side with Azpilicueta as RB and
Luis as LB? Will Jose give some of the fringe players more playing
time now that the team had qualified for the next round of the CL.

Courtois has let in more goals in 12 league games than Cech did in the entire 2004/5 season. That said, I think that Courtois commands his box better and is less prone to the occasional error. Courtois is also a great future prospect. Ideally we will keep both. Losing a first goal keeper to injury can destroy a run of form although, from some games recently, one wonders how many shots on target we will be facing in coming months.

The Lisbon game will be interesting and may be an indicator for the end of the season. I suspect that Salah, Filip Luis and Ake among others will get a run out. This could point to a focus on the Champions League (if we are still in it) as soon as the PL is won (if we do) and key players being rested for some tough but by then meaningless end of season matches.

Branna has been a considerable attacking force this season. His crossing is much improved and he had two good shots yesterday as well. I see him at least as attacking as the other two. Clearly, TSO likes him as well.

disagree - too much fact, not enough vitriol. Would not bang.

Isn't the point with Courtois that he not quite as reliable as Chech yet, but they had to guarantee him first team football to keep him? Makes sense to invest playing time in an asset who could give you another 10 years instead of one who will be hanging up his padded hat fairly soon?

Courtois has not really been truly tested yet. In the last few seasons (some would assert, since he took that knock to the head) Cech has been more prone to errors. Cech did win us the CL through his goal keeping in the penalty shoot out and his performance that evening was so much better and more professional than Neuer's. That said, you are correct that Courtois is a longer term asset and must be preserved.

Don't get me wrong, I rate Ivanovic very highly. But somehow I still have this idea of having two real wingbacks and any two of Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill would solidify our defence even more.

Obviously I'm wrong about this but I think it's time to start giving the pair of CB a bit of a breather as well.

Ake looks like a tailor made Mourinho player and it appears that Mourinho rates Zouma as well. I'd love to see us integrate two youngsters this year of top of winning some trophies..

I agree, both Ake and Zouma have looked very promising...

BBC are reporting Cech to Liverpool.

I thought Liverpool had that goalie who looks like John H in full kit?

I appreciate Cech may want regular first team football, but he could have that at Brentford, Bournemouth or Derby. Ambitious clubs who are on the up.

He can only be signing for Liverpool for the history.