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Tuesday, Apr 23, 2013 - 22:50 SGT
Posted By: Gilbert

Twenty Twenty

Well, that's that. Twentieth league title in the bag, and as an added bonus Robin van Persie struck a simply delectable hat-trick to reinstate himself as favourite for the Golden Boot, especially with former leader Luis Suarez staring at a long ban for an off-the-ball incident. While probably not the most popular player to grace the Premier League, one can't doubt his hunger for success, and the Liverpool attack will surely be missing a lot of bite in his absence. These things just happen.


Evra gamely shows solidarity with a fellow professional
(Source: redcafe.net)


While much appreciated after literally losing it in the last minute of last season (City do still have something to play for, that said), I must say it still feels like an anticlimax after bowing out in the Champions League despite keeping no less than Real Madrid down. While that might be blamed on the referee, the damp squib of the FA Cup semifinals defeat to Chelsea was simply richly deserved.

To be frank, I don't think United have been particularly good this season, and I watch most of their games - they often seem to run out of ideas particularly when the wide men are off the boil (as they are now), and all too often seem to be playing a couple of levels below what they are capable of. Certainly, the teams from 2006-2009 and around 1999-2003 were far more entertaining.

However, a few little statistics run counter to this impression. First off, United are on 84 points with four matches remaining. This is already better than average compared to their past Premier League-winning points totals, and they could yet overtake the all-time record of 95 set by Mourinho's Chelsea in 2005. While I wouldn't bet on it, with Arsenal and Chelsea up next, beating their own record of 92 set way back in 1994 appears far from unlikely, given that simple extrapolation gives 93.88 points as the expected total.

While they won't beat Chelsea's 103 goals in a season set in 2010 barring some truly outlandish happenings, United's current 78 goals has equalled their 2011 haul, is ten more than in 2009, just two less than in 2008, and five less than 2007, all title-winning campaigns. This should raise some eyebrows, coming from a team that's so thin in central midfield that Giggs has been drafted in there.

If this United team does become statistically the best of the past decade, what does it mean? Myself, I would say that it's down to opponents' standards dropping a little, as well as United having perfected the formula of winning without playing particularly well. Nothing wrong with that, but one does hope they rediscover their old pop circa 2006 soon.


Come for the glory, stay for the history


One level down, my second club Brighton and Hove Albion are threatening a return to the top flight after thirty years in the wilderness, being currently fourth in the Championship and well in the mix for a playoff position. Life's gonna get even more interesting if they do make it up.

Major discovery of the day: xkcd's creator does what-ifs too! Selected top five queries, and a few extras:
  • Is it possible to build a jetpack using downward firing machine guns?
  • What would it take to stop an out-of-control freight train using only B.B. guns?
  • If every person on Earth shot a laser pointer at the Moon at the same time, would it change color? (Might interest a certain physics grad student)

    [Ok, that's the shoot-shoot-shoot trifecta done]

  • What would the world be like if the land masses were spread out the same way as now - only rotated by an angle of 90 degrees?
  • How many unique English tweets are possible? How long would it take for the population of the world to read them all out loud?
  • (Hamster's choice) What would happen if you were to gather a mole of moles in one place?
  • (Current affairs inclusions) Am I right to be afraid of pressure cookers? What's the worst thing that can happen if you misuse a pressure cooker in an ordinary kitchen? What would happen if a hair dryer with continuous power was turned on and put in an airtight 1x1x1 meter box?


Final note - Facebook has upped the advertising stakes. It's getting serious:


Get rich quick again!


Meanwhile, seen elsewhere...



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