Topic: The Alternative Premier League Table 2015-16

[TheShanklyGates]

Good result tonight for the APLT, a par score for us whilst Arsenal drop 2 points. Need to beat the Hammers now to keep things ticking over.

[Hash91]

I like how this looks

[sminp]

Yes finally we get a graph! 

[Ycuzz]

Graphs!

[Blinis]

Yeah graphs!

I love that straight line. Please keep it straight.

[ShayGuevara]

It'll all be for nothing if we don't win home to West Ham.

[Geppvindh's]

We could even overlay this year's graph over last year's and report a % lift.

[TheShanklyGates]

We could even overlay this year's graph over last year's and report a % lift.

I'd be perfectly happy to never see last season's graph again

[Geppvindh's]

I'd be perfectly happy to never see last season's graph again

The % lift from last year should make you feel better

[xosder]

First off, yay for graphs!

It'll all be for nothing if we don't win home to West Ham.

This is such an important point.  We've done really well to pick up points at stoke and stay even at Arsenal.  If this table shows me anything, it is that games against the top teams aren't the MOST important.  Title winning form is all about winning games that are supposed to be won.  I think Everton and Tottenham are there for the taking to pick up some points if we slip a bit.  Having a tough start also means that once we get past all of these par 1 games, there aren't many chances to move up the APLT.  There is a long run of games where we can only drop APLT points.  Although each game can yield only 3 points, the APLT makes me fell like the par 3 games are the most heartbreaking when we lose.

[Nessy76]

Ah there's the good stuff...

[rickardinho1]

Ignoring United this looks eerily similar to how the 2013/14 season ended 

[Hij]

Hello hello [emoji33][emoji102] come on you mighty reds

Let's beat West Ham and have 10 from 12

Please lads [emoji4][emoji4][emoji4]

[Brian Blessed]

This is why I like the APLT. Chelsea only have four points out of nine, which would seem to be terrible. But only one down from par, which is much more positve for them. It really helps keep some perspective. For me anyway!

[SwordInYourGut]

Southampton are going to stretch the graph vertically this year.

[DutchRed]

First off, yay for graphs!

This is such an important point.  We've done really well to pick up points at stoke and stay even at Arsenal.  If this table shows me anything, it is that games against the top teams aren't the MOST important.  Title winning form is all about winning games that are supposed to be won.  I think Everton and Tottenham are there for the taking to pick up some points if we slip a bit.  Having a tough start also means that once we get past all of these par 1 games, there aren't many chances to move up the APLT.  There is a long run of games where we can only drop APLT points.  Although each game can yield only 3 points, the APLT makes me fell like the par 3 games are the most heartbreaking when we lose.

From late November to early March we have 15 games, 14 of which are par 3's, the par 1 game being West Ham away.

[Gus 1855]

From late November to early March we have 15 games, 14 of which are par 3's, the par 1 game being West Ham away.

Ouch, that's tough. Need to been well ahead by then!

[Grobbelrevell]

Ouch, that's tough. Need to been well ahead by then!

Depends how you look at it. From an APLT perspective then sure, it doesn't provide any scope for improvement. From a real world perspective though, the fixtures are par 3's for a reason. They're the so called lesser clubs, with the top sides at Anfield. One thing we've seen from Rodgers consistently is an ability to generate momentum as the season progresses and that fixture list provides a real opportunity to do just that. If we can negotiate these opening run of aways relatively unscathed I think we're in a great position. Big 'if' still though.

[ShayGuevara]

First off, yay for graphs!

This is such an important point.  We've done really well to pick up points at stoke and stay even at Arsenal.  If this table shows me anything, it is that games against the top teams aren't the MOST important.  Title winning form is all about winning games that are supposed to be won.  I think Everton and Tottenham are there for the taking to pick up some points if we slip a bit.  Having a tough start also means that once we get past all of these par 1 games, there aren't many chances to move up the APLT.  There is a long run of games where we can only drop APLT points.  Although each game can yield only 3 points, the APLT makes me fell like the par 3 games are the most heartbreaking when we lose.

Yes all our upcoming home are very winnable so we really should be racking up the 3 pts and getting what we can away from home. I think the first half of the season should make us look better on the APLT than the second so it's important we take advantage.

I see the United and Arsenal games in particular as the good old fashion 6 pointers and away from home I'd rather see us play for the draw rather than risk losing which could costly. Obviously last night there for was a great result, losing might have hurt us come May.

Agree regarding Spurs and Everton, to me they won't be rivals this season and we need to go for the jugular home and away. City and Chelsea away are too strong for us and keeping things tight should be the game plan.

[Nessy76]

Ouch, that's tough. Need to been well ahead by then!

It's not tough, those are the easiest games to win.

I know there are some people who like to see a par 1 game as a chance to "make up" points, but realistically, you're just not going to be able to do that very often. The key here, and it's very clear if you look back over the last few seasons, is not to drop points in the easier games, rather than leaving yourself needing to pick up points in the harder ones.

Stick to the model, possibly pick up extras in a couple of the softer Par 1 games, and you're home and dry.

Just by drawing with Arsenal, even though we didn't move up the APLT, we opened a gap, because that was a Par 3 for them, and they blew it. If we were able to do that to a few of the other top 4 contenders we'd be in a brilliant position. We don't need to be ahead, particularly, we need to be consistent against the smaller teams, and make Anfield a real fortress.

Also, don't forget, the APLT is a model for winning the title. Now while I'd be absolutely thrilled if we did win the title, realistically, we're targetting a 4th placed finish this season. That would represent serious progress and be a major sign that this is a club to be reckoned with again.

(I'm not saying anything is impossible from here, all we need to do is stick to the script for the next 35 games after all.)

[rickardinho1]

This is why I like the APLT. Chelsea only have four points out of nine, which would seem to be terrible. But only one down from par, which is much more positve for them. It really helps keep some perspective. For me anyway!

They've played the easiest of all the Par 1's though (West Brom away). For a team like Chelsea a game against a rival can also be valuable to gain an advantage or make up ground, so for Mourinho losing at City will be more a case of "missed opportunity" than "at least we've got that out of the way" (as it would be for us for example) given how good his record is against top teams.

We're in good shape already. Now we need to beat West Ham to keep the pressure off ourselves going into Old Trafford. Would be delightful to rock up at United with 10/12 points without having conceded a goal yet!

[Mr_Shane]

Early days still, but Southampton are likely going to drop off the chart soon. They are at -7 and not yet played any of the tougher par 1s. Spurs are also in a tough position, not so much the loss to Man Utd which was a par 1, but the other two games which they needed to win, but dropped 4 here despite being ahead in both with less than 15 minute to play. Now they cannot afford to lose to Everton this weekend. I expect all the other teams on the ALPT to win, so we need to win as well, although Man Utd have a par 1 away to Swansea

[the_red_pill]

From late November to early March we have 15 games, 14 of which are par 3's, the par 1 game being West Ham away.

Think that's good though, since we're normally on fire during that period. That's not really my worry. I'm concerened with picking up points between now and December, as well as the tail-off to the season where we lost quite lot of points last season.

It's a shame yes- to lose games that we won last season during that time, but they are not the measure of improvement and we bounce back the next match while keeping a run going.

[Nessy76]

Another weekend of action in the Premier League and the APLT is starting to take shape.

So what can happen this weekend?

First up, it's London's TheArsenal with a tricky away tie at big spending Newcastle United. The revamped Magpies have had an indifferent looking start to the season, and sit in 17th in the Trad table, but credible draws against Southampton and Manchester United, as well as a 4-1 thrashing of Northampton in the League Cup earlier in the week. Newcastle are unbeaten at home this season, albeit after just the one league game at St James' Park. Last year, the Geordies managed to win just seven times at home, and this will be a Par 3 for the Gunners, who are currently 9th in the Trad table with a negative goal difference. Where would they be without Petr Cech, you wonder?

Newcastle win: ARS -6
Draw: ARS -5
Arsenal win: ARS -3

It's been a tricky start for London's Chelsea, they sit just below London's Arsenal at 10th in the Trad table, and this Saturday they play London based Crystal Palace, at Chelsea's London home, Stamford Bridge. Mourinho's side have been in the news for the wrong reasons too often so far, and they will certainly be looking at this Par 3 fixture as a way of getting back on track. With John "racist sex pest" Terry suspended, Palace might hope to continue on a solid start. They sit 6th in the Trad table and were actually more dangerous away from home last season, racking up seven wins on their travels. Could they cause an upset? Probably not, but it would pose a major blow to Chelsea's title-retaining ambitions if they were held to a draw here.

Chelsea win: CHE -1
Draw: CHE -3
Palace win: CHE -4

Liverpool-based Liverpool Football Club have started strongly, sitting 3rd in the Trad table and 2nd in the APLT. Visitors West Ham, from London, have not won a league fixture at Anfield for over fifty years, when a side full of future World Cup winners were the last to pull off the feat. Such streaks are made to be broken, will Saturday be the time when the Hammers finally crack it?
Last season, West Ham won only 3 away matches, although new manager Slaven Bilic will hope to improve on that record, the reds will be looking to continue an unbeaten start to the season with the full return on this Par 3 match. It's a rare 3pm Saturday kick-off for Liverpool, and the fans will hope for a grand performance.

Liverpool win: LFC +2
Draw: LFC 0
West Ham win: LFC -1

Early season Premier League pace-setters Manchester City are making a strong start to their attempt to win back the title. With an impressive +4 in the APLT and 3 wins out of 3, they will be expected to make short work of Premier League newcomers Watford.
Watford, (which is not, it turns out, in London) have been early season draw specialists, taking their share of points off Everton, West Brom and Southampton so far. Can they make it 4 in 4? Probably not. Par 3 for a reason, this one.

Man City win: MNC +4
Draw: MNC +2
Watford win: MNC +1

Elsewhere, London's football fans have the chance to see London's Tottenham Hotspur take on "Tottenham of the North" Everton in a game that will probably be bloody awful, regardless of the result. Much of the discussion will center on whether John Stones is still at Everton, or if Son Heung-Min has signed for Spurs, meaning the most interesting thing about this match could quite possibly involve two players who won't be taking part in it. The Toffeemen were indifferent tourists last season, notching up just five wins on the road, but the sights and sounds of London might inspire some of them. It might inspire John Stones to move down there permanently, for one thing. The blues look a different proposition based on early form this season, and shouldn't be overawed by a Tottenham side that has struggled to impress so far and characteristically failed to win a game against Manchester United early one. It's like the good old days for Spurs, which is probably a bad sign. As it's a home game, it's a Par 3 for Spurs, but it's a potential banana skin.

Spurs win: TOT -5
Draw: TOT -7
Everton win: TOT -8

Sunday sees two more APLT clashes, and in the first Southampton host Norwich. The Saints are in danger of making the graph unweildy unless they can get the maximum from this Par 3 match against new boys Norwich. The Canaries have a single win under their belts already, having won away at Sunderland, and with Southampton just a single place about the Black Cats in the Trad table, the mustard-sniffers will be aiming to repeat the feat and turn up the volume on the cries for the Saints to go marching off the APLT altogether.

Saints win: SOT -7
Draw: SOT -9
Norwich win: SOT -10

Meanwhile, in Wales, Manchester United will be hoping to get their season going with a win over Swansea. The Red Devils have struggled for goals in the league so far, with talismanic striker Wayne Rooney looking lethargic and uncomfortable and an array of laughably fanciful transfer target alternatives ignoring their advances, United have stared to resemble a middle aged drunk at a wedding, lecherously approaching sexy young things on the dancefloor to a mixture of disgust, pity and hilarity. Their joint top scorer in the league so far is "Own Goal" but he is unlikely to make an appearance against the organised and intelligent Swansea set-up. The Swans lost just five home matches last season, and famously did the double over Van Gaal's side last year. Can they make the trifecta? The sheer luck that tends to accompany United suggests it may be a long shot, but there certainly isn't an obvious gulf in class between these sides. It's a Par 1 for a reason.

Swansea win: MNU -3
Draw: MNU -2
Manchester United win: MNU 0

Oh look, another film about the Kray twins. What a massive pair of c*nts they were.

[Not A Scouser]

A look at the fixtures from the view of the APL, combined with the history of Rodgers Liverpool teams makes me quite encouraged.  Rodgers teams start "slowly" with limited scoring but a greater emphasis on defence, to a large extent because of fitness.  Some time around late November something switches and Liverpool start scoring goals.

With a lot of par 1's what you want is to play Pulis style, be solid and hope to nick a goal.  That's what we are doing right now.  With a lot of par 3's you want to go all out, guns blazing and blow the opposition away.  As helpfully pointed out above there are a tonne of those between late November and March.

Hopefully the pattern repeats itself with Sturridge scoring for fun against the lower placed teams later on in the season.

[Suareznumber7]

A look at the fixtures from the view of the APL, combined with the history of Rodgers Liverpool teams makes me quite encouraged.  Rodgers teams start "slowly" with limited scoring but a greater emphasis on defence, to a large extent because of fitness.  Some time around late November something switches and Liverpool start scoring goals.

With a lot of par 1's what you want is to play Pulis style, be solid and hope to nick a goal.  That's what we are doing right now.  With a lot of par 3's you want to go all out, guns blazing and blow the opposition away.  As helpfully pointed out above there are a tonne of those between late November and March.

Hopefully the pattern repeats itself with Sturridge scoring for fun against the lower placed teams later on in the season.

This is how I see it too.  A lot of optimism can be had right now. 

[Brian Blessed]

Wouldn't Man U be on zero with a win?

[markedasred]

Nessy76 made some great, intriguing and slightly saucy comments there, thanks for the time you put in. We are currently on target for 92 points with the APLT, the graph will go barmy with a win.

This week I shall also be supporting Crystal Palace and Swansea.

[Nessy76]

Wouldn't Man U be on zero with a win?

Yep. Corrected, thanks.

[gazzam1963]

A little bit of a comfort blanket this thread at the moment  still ahead of everyone except city

[drmick]

A little bit of a comfort blanket this thread at the moment  still ahead of everyone except city

It isn't going to be comforting when gameweek 4 gets added in. The whole point of APLT is that you have to win the easy games away, never bloody mind at home.

[Nessy76]

It isn't going to be comforting when gameweek 4 gets added in. The whole point of APLT is that you have to win the easy games away, never bloody mind at home.

True, but so far only Man City and Arsenal have done so this weekend. Chelsea, ourselves and Spurs all dropped points. The worst we can be by the time the graph is updated is third.

[gazzam1963]

True, but so far only Man City and Arsenal have done so this weekend. Chelsea, ourselves and Spurs all dropped points. The worst we can be by the time the graph is updated is third.

That's what I was hinting at ...it's depressing enough as it this morning , hopefully a Swansea win or a draw and then on to old trafford for a par 1

[Pie Eyed]

True, but so far only Man City and Arsenal have done so this weekend. Chelsea, ourselves and Spurs all dropped points. The worst we can be by the time the graph is updated is third.

Exactly.  Even after *that* performance (whose thread I am deliberately avoiding, due to amount of whoppers in there), we are right where we need to be all season - 1 point off the 90 mark and dead-centre of the CL qualification area.

We (and every other team) will have terrible results occasionally (hopefully no more than occasionally), but I have to say that the APLT is the thing that keeps me sane/grounded, depending on whether we are on a good or bad patch of any individual season.

[sminp]

Our next game as well is an opportunity for us to do some damage in the APLT. Draw or win and we damage Man U.

[Prof]

[ShayGuevara]

Guess things aren't all that bad after all.

[Petadroli]

Guess things aren't all that bad after all.

Even in the actual league table things look not that bad. Apart from ManCity, the favourites for the top 6 places all have mixed results.

[Defendant]

I did not expect to be cheered up by that latest graph, but it has made me briefly suppress the nagging fear that LFC might currently be quite rubbish.

[Mr_Shane]

not sure whether the league is tougher or everyone is still finding their feet.