Re: The Football Thread - 10/11

by embee Tue 14 Dec 2010, 08:19

A bad WC for Trev's people ...

by G.Wood Mon 20 Dec 2010, 21:39

Timmmmyyyy

by beamer Mon 20 Dec 2010, 21:48

City would have more chance of being top at Christmas if they entered The X Factor...

by G.Wood Mon 20 Dec 2010, 22:01

a tale of two tims then

by Jontyh Tue 21 Dec 2010, 15:53

Bizarre game. Terrible defending in the first 10 minutes, which was uncharacteristic of City under Henry, and battered Everton for the remainder of the game but mustered only one goal despite having numerous chances.
Toure at fault for both Everton goals - Arsenal is well shut of that clown.

by Paul Keating Mon 27 Dec 2010, 10:07

Anyway onto the real stuff with the surrender of the Ashes now complete.

Super Chels play the Arse tomorrow. I am not sure who I want more to lose. Let's hope they can kick the sh!t out of each other and it is a nil all draw.

Here is an article about defensive woes of Arsenal. I have no doubt it was ghost written by Dello.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/the-defence-rests-how-wenger-still-doesnt-get-it-20101225-197el.html

The defence rests: how Wenger still doesn't get it
Brian Brownstein
December 26, 2010

Trouble at the back ... the arrival of defender Laurent Koscielny at Arsenal hasn’t solved the club’s defensive woes.

Trouble at the back ... the arrival of defender Laurent Koscielny at Arsenal hasn’t solved the club’s defensive woes. Photo: Getty Images

A few weeks ago Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said matches against Manchester United and Chelsea this month would mark a "defining moment" in the Gunners' season.

And since then one thing has been defined all right – that is, Arsenal just aren't good enough to win the league. They were outfought and out-thought in a miserable defeat at Old Trafford.

It was the manner of the loss that should set alarm bells ringing for Wenger. Arsenal froze. They didn't impose themselves. They didn't go for it. It was the same old story. They travelled to Manchester believing they'd closed the gap in class, but left with their tails between their legs – their fifth loss in six games against United. It was a chance to prove they were genuine title contenders. And they blew it – again.
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Arsenal showed they lack the big-game mentality. In these matches you need to execute your own plan. But Arsenal did the opposite. They were too worried about what United were doing and didn't play their natural game. It was a disaster.

Defeat was a big psychological blow, one which you sense can only really be overcome with victory over Chelsea. But that's going to be hard for an Arsenal side that still doesn't know how to defend properly. The Gunners have let in 23 goals and scored only five in 11 matches without a win against the Blues and United – a sorry record.

Wenger must take the blame for Arsenal's defensive woes. His centre-backs and goalkeepers are not up to scratch. You'd think he would have learnt – a lack of quality in those positions has cost him titles before. And now it could cost him again. Arsenal have kept only four clean sheets in the league this season – three less than United, four less than Chelsea.

It's no coincidence Wenger inherited his best-ever back line. David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn were all at Arsenal when he joined. And the Frenchman's defensive signings since have rarely been top-notch. Look at Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci this season – they've lacked assurance. And this has had a detrimental affect on the team. It's hard to attack boldly when there's no confidence in the defence.

And as for the goalkeeping situation, it's bordering on laughable. Season after season Wenger fails to sign a world class No.1, an aberration which baffles. He's only now realised Manuel Almunia is not up to scratch – way too late – while his other keepers, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny, are novices.

Take the United game. The Red Devils pretty much shot on sight at first, such little admiration did they have for Szczesny. It's unbelievable that a team of Arsenal's stature could be in such a situation; it's unbelievable Wenger thinks he can win the league without a top keeper.

But the Frenchman says he doesn't need to sign anyone in January. Can he not see his team is vulnerable? It's a big red mark against his name.

Perhaps it's because his side is only two points off the top? But Wenger surely knows that is as much down to United and Chelsea's stuttering form as it is to Arsenal getting better. If the Gunners really had made huge strides they would be well ahead. After all, this is by no means a great United team, while this misfiring Chelsea side is pretty much the same team of the past four seasons – one which only won the title once.

Arsenal have lost three league games at home already this season. The Gunners will try to do what they do best – attack – and Chelsea should hit them on the break. The Blues should exploit the space in behind both Arsenal's full-backs and defensive midfielders, who like to play high up the pitch. By doing so Chelsea will be able to drag the Gunners' centre-backs out of position.

And they should stifle Arsenal. Give Wenger's team time on the ball, they will draw you out and destroy you. But harass them and deny them space and they are there for the taking, there to be beaten. And if Chelsea do that, it really will be a defining moment in Arsenal's season

by DJ_Smerk Mon 27 Dec 2010, 18:00

Apparently Arsenal have signed a Japanese kid to play for them? Ryo?

by DJ_Smerk Mon 27 Dec 2010, 22:07

From BBC Premier League feed:

Simon, Lincoln, via text: "Lets not sensationalise please; Chelsea have been woeful recently and have been beaten by smaller sides than Arsenal recently, what other result did people expect?"
Wise and sensible words Simon. Very mature. With your sage shrewdness you obviously had quite a lot on Arsenal to win?

An FB lurker?

by taipan Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:30

I reckon that's the end of the Chelsea challenge.

by LeFromage Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:32

Nah, they'll spend in January. Roman's been saving up his pocket money.

by taipan Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:34

Yeah, but I think they are too far behind now.

by LeFromage Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:35

Still a long way to go. No obvious outstanding side.

Got a weird feeling Man City might pull it off. Which would be terrible for the game, IMHO.

by taipan Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:37

I think it's down to MU, MC and Arsenal now.

by LeFromage Tue 28 Dec 2010, 06:44

What Arsenal have in their favour is they've got no particularly tough away games left , aside from Spurs.

Win their home games, maintain the away form they've shown in the first half of the season, and I reckon they'll go close.

by doremi Tue 28 Dec 2010, 08:54

Saw the Chelsea-Arsenal game yesterday, my first EPL match in a month or so. HTF did Chelsea get so sh!t?

by Jontyh Tue 28 Dec 2010, 09:50

Dello wrote:Still a long way to go. No obvious outstanding side.

Got a weird feeling Man City might pull it off. Which would be terrible for the game, IMHO.

Bollocks to the game. I'd have a party..

by Guest Wed 29 Dec 2010, 20:50

Forest 3-1 up at half time, surely it's too much to ask to retain the Ashes and beat Derby in the space of 24 hours?

4-3 Derby coming up...

by Guest Wed 29 Dec 2010, 21:46

vilkrang wrote:Forest 3-1 up at half time, surely it's too much to ask to retain the Ashes and beat Derby in the space of 24 hours?

4-3 Derby coming up...

Or maybe 5-2 Forest. Yeah, f**k off Derby.

by beamer Wed 05 Jan 2011, 21:19

Indian Chicken Pluckers 3-0 Liverpool... who needs Ronaldinho? It might be a question of who needs Hodgson after this Laughing

by LeFromage Wed 05 Jan 2011, 21:58

Man City - parking the world's most expensive bus in front of goal.

Don't get much for £300 million...

by PeterCS Wed 05 Jan 2011, 21:59

Who is Crapello?

by PeterCS Wed 05 Jan 2011, 22:03

Caption Competition #23

The Football Thread - 10/11 - Page 19 _50679574_010949166-1

Offer:

"You call me Baboon again, I am smashing your face in you bloody foreigner"

by beamer Wed 05 Jan 2011, 22:04

PeterCS wrote:Who is Crapello?

The successor to Turnip Taylor and the Wally with the Brolly...

by Zat Mon 10 Jan 2011, 00:57

Onion SportsDome

by taipan Wed 12 Jan 2011, 06:10

During an interview, it was suggested that Kenny Dalglish may not be quite up to speed and slightly out of touch with modern day football... Dalglish replied '' I cannae wait to get back into football and challenge the big teams like Nottingham Forest for the 1st division title again !!

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