"It’s not difficult if you have time and patience. It’s normal when you work with the same young players and after four years they develop and become stronger."

Arteta just passed the 3 year mark at Arsenal, Conte himself has never managed anywhere for 4 years (one 3 year stint, several 2, couple 1s) so I don't really know what he's going on about there.

Winner
arsenal        53.5
city           39

united          5.5
newcastle       1.5
field           0.5

Top 4
arsenal        97.5
city           97

united         78

newcastle      54

liverpool      33
tottenham      23

brighton        8.5
chelsea         7.5

brentford       1
field           0.5
  
Relegation
bournemouth    74

everton        57
southampton    51

forest         26
wolves         25.5
leeds          22
leicester      19.5
west ham       16.5

palace          6

villa           1.2
brentford       0.8
fulham          0.5

united 5.5
newcastle 1.5
field 0.5

I get that United has a game in hand, but Newcastle is far better than MU.

Most importantly, a half season of games is just a sample--it should not be thought of as true talent.

I get that United has a game in hand, but Newcastle is far better than MU.

Relegation
everton 57

In fact, nobody thinks so.

I need a drink or five.

and more importantly, no way in hell should it be a goal under any reasonable set of rules.

Recalling that Newcastle penalty not given a couple weeks ago. Just had a similar one not given to United. These plays are pretty common where sometimes they are called and sometimes not. I was a little more surprised that this one today was not given on VAR.

What happened?

(Honestly, which rich team is more poorly run than Barcelona?)

I think it makes a ton of sense for City actually, assuming it happens. They got all of his best years, have guys who need more playing time who are also world class, and this gives them a chance to refresh and get their squad younger in the center of the pitch, which they need to do (KDB getting older and Silva could maybe leave).

And I don't think we can dismiss Juventus in this discussion.

Chelsea also gaining steam, for the record.

I think you have to give Chelsea a pass until the new ownership group has been in place a little longer, no?

Whoooooaaaaaa, 15 point deduction for Juventus for financial shenanigans.

Anyway, you guys play football manager?

I think maybe we have a winner in the "worst-run wealthy team" sweepstakes. Yowza.

arsenal    55
city       43
united      1.25
newcastle   0.75

bournemouth    74

everton        57
southampton    56

wolves         26
forest         25.5
leicester      21.5
leeds          19
west ham       13.5

palace          5.5

villa           0.75
brentford       0.75
fulham          0.5

arsenal      98.5
city         98

united       75

newcastle    55

liverpool    30
tottenham    21.5

brighton     10.5
chelsea      10

field         1.5

united 75

newcastle 55

edit: and I'm just remembering now that the announcers on whatever channel I was watching with 15 minutes left had the silliest exchange on this point. The play-by-play guy asked the other whether the teams might be settling in for a draw. At that point in the game United might have been quite happy to do so, with a draw on the road considered a median event for them coming in and their performance in no way justifying it.

The scoreline really biases fans and pundits from seeing overall quality of a team's performance, whether in game or after it is over. I'm continually surprised by how strong the effect is.

edit: Reading actually managed 8th in 2006-2007, and 6th in GD. Pretty impressive if it was not a fluke. They were relegated their other two years in the prem (2007-2008 and 2012-2013). United also won one of the four games by 2 goals, the other three by a single goal.