Re: The Football Thread - 09/10 (II)

by DJ_Smerk Wed 20 Jan 2010, 21:50

Arsenal are now top.

by JKLever Wed 20 Jan 2010, 21:52

Phurt, those mentalist weakboys...

by beamer Wed 20 Jan 2010, 22:23

I can't believe how all the other "challengers" seem determined to make sure Liverpool finish in the top four again. Perhaps they think keeping Benitez in charge for another season will benefit them in the long run!

by LeFromage Wed 20 Jan 2010, 22:24

Man City will take it - they've got their act together now they've got a semi-competent manager.

by G.Wood Wed 20 Jan 2010, 22:28

Spurs were woefull, they had nothing - made Ponting look like he was full of ideas

by beamer Wed 20 Jan 2010, 22:51

Dello wrote:Man City will take it - they've got their act together now they've got a semi-competent manager.

They were awful against Everton at the weekend, if they put in too many performances like that they won't manage it. Liverpool can often play that badly and still win, which is a habit they need to develop. Spurs are the same, on the days they don't perform they can't grind out a result. They don't have City's strength in depth either, they will finish sixth at best.

The Redknapp situation must be affecting Spurs to some extent and they haven't really been the same since the Christmas party incident either - and if Defoe's not scoring none of the other strikers look able to step up at the moment.

by Merlin Wed 20 Jan 2010, 23:18

Dello wrote:The mighty Arse choking once again under the slight pressure that they might actually be in with a chance of going top.

Has there ever been a more mentally weak team in Premier League history?

PMSL @ Dellboy !
59 EPL goals scored ... 34 GD.

by Shoeshine Wed 20 Jan 2010, 23:56

beamer wrote:
Dello wrote:Man City will take it - they've got their act together now they've got a semi-competent manager.
They were awful against Everton at the weekend, if they put in too many performances like that they won't manage it. Liverpool can often play that badly and still win, which is a habit they need to develop. Spurs are the same, on the days they don't perform they can't grind out a result. They don't have City's strength in depth either, they will finish sixth at best.

The Redknapp situation must be affecting Spurs to some extent and they haven't really been the same since the Christmas party incident either - and if Defoe's not scoring none of the other strikers look able to step up at the moment.

City have only lost three times this season. I wouldn't have thought one admittedly horrible display at Everton is reason enough to say that it's typical of them. Besides, in recent weeks City have been going up the table, not down. It's only a couple of weeks back they overtook Liverpool. Doesn't mean they'll stay ahead of them for a moment, but does mean that a little context is needed when looking at one poor display.

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:07

Merlin wrote:
Dello wrote:The mighty Arse choking once again under the slight pressure that they might actually be in with a chance of going top.

Has there ever been a more mentally weak team in Premier League history?

PMSL @ Dellboy !
59 EPL goals scored ... 34 GD.

No, you're right - they'll win something this year. Provided they don't have to play anyone who can head. Or tackle. Or just generally put themselves about it.

The way Kevin Davies bullied Gallas and Vermaelen was embarrassing. Bolton looked like scoring every time the ball went into Arsenal's box. Talk about panic stations.

But for Jaaskelongname chucking two into the back of his own net, it would've been another mediocre day at the office for, officially, the jammiest team in the league.

by Shoeshine Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:09

Did you watch the game Jay? I read that Gallas ought to have been sent off just before one of the goals.

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:21

Yeah. Might have got away with a yellow card, but the fact is it was a blatant foul, right in front of the referee, trod on the bloke's ankle.

Yet the referee waves play on and Fabregas scores against ten men, while Davies is lying on the deck clutching his leg.

Shoe on the other foot, Arsenal would've been doing their nut at A) the recklessness of the tackle, B) the referee not giving it and C) the opposition playing on instead of putting the ball out of play as the bloke looked seriously injured.

And D) Jaaskelainen (that's as good an effort as I'm going to make at spelling it without looking it up) should've stopped the goal anyway.

Lucky Arse.

by JKLever Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:27

Did you get dumped once by an ex-Arse fan?

Your gooner hatred knows no bounds!

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:38

I like Arsenal. They're great to watch. Can't defend, create (and usually miss) plenty of chances.

But for a team that always claims it's in the mix up for titles and cups, they're so complacent and seemingly incapable of addressing their deficiencies that I can't help but bring it up.

by Shoeshine Thu 21 Jan 2010, 00:54

Their absolute reluctance to spend any money puzzles me. You wouldn't think they'd need more than one or two to make a huge difference, and they have plenty of money. It's almost a perversity about them, their very own hairshirt.

by Ash Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:32

Dello wrote:Yeah. Might have got away with a yellow card, but the fact is it was a blatant foul, right in front of the referee, trod on the bloke's ankle.

Yet the referee waves play on and Fabregas scores against ten men, while Davies is lying on the deck clutching his leg.

Shoe on the other foot, Arsenal would've been doing their nut at A) the recklessness of the tackle, B) the referee not giving it and C) the opposition playing on instead of putting the ball out of play as the bloke looked seriously injured.

And D) Jaaskelainen (that's as good an effort as I'm going to make at spelling it without looking it up) should've stopped the goal anyway.

Lucky Arse.

shots on target:
arsenal 14 - bolton 4

possession:
arsenal 57% - bolton 43%

absolutely dominated the game, nothing to do with luck. you conveniently fail to mention the stonewall penalty that fabregas should have had (carbon copy of the one on sunday).

2-0 down, to come back and win it 4-2 shows mental toughness (shades of the liege game). to be 11 points behind chelsea at the start of december and then top the league in the middle of jan deserves credit. a 'mentally weak' team wouldve wilted under the constant media scrutiny that arsenal seem to be in.

in that period, we lost our star striker and fabregas missed a few games (van persie and fabregas have missed more games for arsenal this season than torres and gerrard have for liverpool). we have more injuries than any other side (RVP, fabregas, djourou, bendtner, nasri, rosicky, walcott, clichy, gibbs, diaby, denilson have all been/are injured in the past few weeks... song/eboue at the ACN, now merida and ramsey out).

tbh, it could be a season defining match for us. the next 4 games are villa (a), utd (h), pool (h) and chelsea (a) - crucial run.

top of the league and in the title race - bring it on.

by Ash Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:35

Shoeshine wrote:Their absolute reluctance to spend any money puzzles me. You wouldn't think they'd need more than one or two to make a huge difference, and they have plenty of money. It's almost a perversity about them, their very own hairshirt.

wengers stubborness. his belief in the young players is absolute. we'll see at the end of this season whether he was right.

dzeko would be a good buy this month, we def need a striker

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:38

Eduardo, sadly, looks finished.

by Ash Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:41

lacks sharpness, hopefully a few more games under the belt will see him right. still as intelligent as ever, involved in all our build ups and has a sublime touch

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:41

Ash wrote:

tbh, it could be a season defining match for us. the next 4 games are villa (a), utd (h), pool (h) and chelsea (a).

L, L, D, L.

by Ash Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:42

glass half full as ever, dello Smile

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:43

Ash wrote:lacks sharpness, hopefully a few more games under the belt will see him right. still as intelligent as ever, involved in all our build ups and has a sublime touch

Really, sharpness? It's been more than a year since he returned to fitness.

I think he's just lost his pace - and it's not coming back.

Looks "half a yard short" as they say.

by LeFromage Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:44

Ash wrote:glass half full as ever, dello

Or realistic?

Get back to me in four games' time...

by Ash Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:48

has lost some pace. hes only really started playing regularly this season, moreso now RVP is out. had a couple of niggles as expected after such a serious injury. looked the dogs at the very start of the season...seemed to have regressed a bit but increasingly influential in the last few games. 4 goals in his last 6 or 7 games, a few assists....not too worried at this stage. needs matches.

by PeterCS Thu 21 Jan 2010, 02:51

Determined attempt to sound confident there, Ash! :ninja:

by G.Wood Fri 22 Jan 2010, 00:03

I like Tevez
Gary Neville is indeed a boot-licker and an idiot

HERE

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