Re: The Football Thread - 2011/12

[Brass Monkey]

2,500.

What's that then, Manchester 2 v 0 North London?

Or 13 - 3.

Incredible really. Arsenal's midfield and defence were shite, but Szczesny was triple-shite IMO. Could've saved three I reckon.

[WideWally]

Four goals to Dzeko - Wow.


I might get on the Man City bandwagon.

You do that Wally.

I might. At the moment I support every team that isn't Manchester United.

Although in the mid seventies I supported Leeds United Superstars.

[taipan]

Man U................... supported by how many people from Manchester?????????????

And your point is?

Of course only people from Leeds can support Leeds

[Brass Monkey]

My mate supports Leeds. Not from there, either. He goes Elland quite a bit. Even though they're gash.

[taipan]

Four goals to Dzeko - Wow.


I might get on the Man City bandwagon.

You do that Wally.

I might. At the moment I support every team that isn't Manchester United.

Although in the mid seventies I supported Leeds United Superstars.

PMSL. BTW our last 2 posts crossed over.

[LeFromage]

They've done nothing to address the "Barcelona problem", i.e. the centre of midfield...

Arsenal could and should have scored five today. The two they scored, a missed penalty, a comically inept finish from a one-on-one (Arshavin) and Van Persie going for a showy volley when he was actually in acres of space and could've brought the ball down and picked his spot. But that would have been efficient and professional - not the Arsenal way.

Mad game. Both sides have apparently given up on the outdated notion that you can actually tackle and win the ball in midfield.

[eowyn]

Death of the small clubs. Someone tell me why it's good only likes of Man U will carry on.

I willlingly bitch slap Alex Freguson over and over and over and over and over again, if any kind of difference could be made to the football league, which is dying a slow and painful death.

[Brass Monkey]

Not sure what you're going on about really Ange, narcotics? Is the football league dying? What's brought on this tirade?

[LeFromage]

I'm starting to wonder if Wenger is trying to get sacked. As mentioned, he's never broken a contract, but I'm sure he'd have no trouble lining up a new project were he to suddenly become unemployed.

I mean, he can't be serious, can he, when he says he has no plans to bring anyone else in as the squad is already quite big. An estimated £60-80 million in the transfer kitty after the sale of two of their best players, a squad with appalling defenders that even he had to acknowledge at the end of the last season, and he's bought a 17 year old winger and the wrong Lille attacker (Eden Hazard is the real hot talent in French football).

Apparently they're looking at Championship defender Scott Dann. Seriously. Because nothing turns a risible defence into a title-winning back line like bargain basement dross.

I think he wants out. It's a cry for help.

You heard it here first: Arsenal's season will be a quarter over before September's through - knocked out of the CL qualifiers, and miles off the pace in the league.

Almost tipped it perfectly. I over-estimated how toothless Udinese would be. Italian football really is the pits these days.

Monaco had to sack Wenger to get rid of him, after his project there had run out of steam and he refused to acknowledge it. We're in that territory again. Everyone - literally everyone - can see the flaws and weaknesses in Arsenal's squad and approach. But he maintains they're in good shape and everyone else knows nothing.

At this risk of sounding xenophobic, how French.

[Brass Monkey]

Well, a little bit OTT Dello and some Kartiesque 'so I was basically right' as well. Putting into a less hysterical context, it's three matches. Yeah, I think that they're pretty gash, but it's too soon to be reeling out that post IMO.

[taipan]

Death of the small clubs. Someone tell me why it's good only likes of Man U will carry on.

I willlingly bitch slap Alex Freguson over and over and over and over and over again, if any kind of difference could be made to the football league, which is dying a slow and painful death.

So SAF has singlehandedly farked up the football league? I might point out that he has been at MU for 25 years and that Leeds have won the league title in his tenure there. But what is the point, some prejudices are too hard to break.

[eowyn]

Not sure what you're going on about really Ange, narcotics? Is the football league dying? What's brought on this tirade?

Sorry, I just hate The Reds. And think more and more small clubs might not survive in the current economic climate.

Just ignore me, it's safest to be honest.

[beamer]

Clubs always survive, they've been saying for 30 years lots of clubs will go out of business, and there's always someone steps in to save them. They're part of local communities so there tends to be someone rich enough who wants to see them continue, or a professional bankrupter and rescuer of clubs like Mandaric, Ridsdale, Bates etc. OK, not many will challenge the big sides but even the very few that do go under are restarted and eventually return to the Football League.

[LeFromage]

Well, a little bit OTT Dello and some Kartiesque 'so I was basically right' as well. Putting into a less hysterical context, it's three matches. Yeah, I think that they're pretty gash, but it's too soon to be reeling out that post IMO.

United's average age today: 23.

Arsenal's average age today: 23.

The "we're a young side with great quality and you will see the results of that in the future" defence: 0.

The myth of "Project Arsenal Youth" has been exposed for what it has always been - a convenient excuse for failure.

[Brass Monkey]

Sorry, I just hate The Reds. And think more and more small clubs might not survive in the current economic climate.

Just ignore me, it's safest to be honest.

No, I just wondered, that's all. It's a strange thing really, clubs seem to be slightly more solvent than, say, 10 years ago. There seems to be more financial wiseness in the lower divisions. But maybe not, I haven't thought about it loads! Yeah, I hate United as much as the next football watcher, but they sort of blend into the entire quntishness of the Prem. Filthy load of sh!ts.

[taipan]

Not sure what you're going on about really Ange, narcotics? Is the football league dying? What's brought on this tirade?

Sorry, I just hate The Reds. And think more and more small clubs might not survive in the current economic climate.

Just ignore me, it's safest to be honest.

AFC Wimbledon anybody?

[Brass Monkey]

United's average age today: 23.

Arsenal's average age today: 23.

The "we're a young side with great quality and you will see the results of that in the future" defence: 0.

The myth of "Project Arsenal Youth" has been exposed for what it has always been - a convenient excuse for failure.

Yeah, I agree that they aren't the best, I just reckon they'll probably do OK against the mediocre. Should be enough to be sniffing around.

[beamer]

On the subject of Arsenal, we've heard very little from the owners as far as I can tell? Hard to know how much of their situation is down to Wenger and how much down to them. Wenger's apparent refusal to believe Fabregas and Nasri were leaving was in the Gaddafi/Comical Ali league, we're in control, everything will be OK... either he was completely deluded or didn't feel the need to target replacements, or was being prevented from doing so from above.

Their problems go right back to his breaking up of the "Invincible" side prematurely and not bringing in any experienced replacements. They were left with a squad of talented but temperamental young players, without the leadership or experience to close out trophies, and lacking in physical presence as well. He still believed, as did most Arsenal fans - I wonder if they still do?

[LeFromage]

The bizarre thing is, they're owned by two billionaires, reputedly run a great financial model and make big profits every year.

And yet either the manager or the board or both are appalling penny pinchers who won't (maybe can't) invest properly in the (you would assume) most important aspect of the entire club, the first team.

Unless the club has been lying about their financial health (as a PLC it'd be a surprise if they were) it's either arrogance or negligence that has led them to the weakest Arsenal squad in maybe two decades.

[LeFromage]

United's average age today: 23.

Arsenal's average age today: 23.

The "we're a young side with great quality and you will see the results of that in the future" defence: 0.

The myth of "Project Arsenal Youth" has been exposed for what it has always been - a convenient excuse for failure.

Yeah, I agree that they aren't the best, I just reckon they'll probably do OK against the mediocre. Should be enough to be sniffing around.

Sniffing around what, though? Not the top four. United, City and Chelsea are over the horizon and gone.

Which leaves all Arsenal's hopes pinned on fourth. Can't see it happening. Liverpool have bought a load of overrated, overpriced talent, but at least the squad looks strong in depth of proven half-decent Premier League players. Should piss fourth.

Arsenal (and Spurs) will be making the numbers up in the minor placings. For a side that used to challenge for titles, they've regressed horribly.

[Brass Monkey]

Yeah, you're right, they are a rabble. It must be all about Wenger not wanting to spend the money, heard there's 80 Million plus in the kitty. Dello, you must know, remember on champ it was always more of a pleasure to get cheap signings and they 'blow up' into one of the world's big stars - I think he's just got addicted to that.

[JKLever]

Agree with Ange's rant, Don't think it's Uniteds fault however.

The big clubs changed football in this country forever in 1992 when they grabbed control of it from the FA. The FA may think they run football but its the cartel of the 5 big clubs who really do.

Part of me would love it if Sky went tits up and lots of these big clubs were left with £250,000 a week wages they couldn't fulfill.

[beamer]

They'd be allowed to write the debts off, pay local businesses and charities 1p in the pound and carry on where they left off...

[skully]

Dear God in Heaven. 8-2 belting for the Arse!!!! WTF??? I had hoped that the send-off was some sort of excuse, but they were down 6-2 when it occurred. FMD.

[beamer]

I'd 8-2 be an Arsenal fan right now...

Apparently they're disappointed to have missed out on signing a Cameroonian striker. Samuel Eight-two...

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