Re: The EPL thread (I)

by Gary 111 Wed 17 Oct 2007, 20:33

beamer wrote:Like those Greeks who won it with all that flair, skill and hatfuls of goals last time you mean...

We were closeish to the right formula in Euro 2004, its just whenever we took the lead cautious Sven tended to bottle it and defend for dear life. We started all of those games brilliantly and played some of the best football in the group stages.

If we'd have been up against that mediocre Greek side I reckon we'd have put 3 or 4 past them, instead the likes of Portugal and France completely bottled it against them.

by Gary 111 Wed 17 Oct 2007, 20:34

JKLever wrote:Sorry but the ball was not being rolled to the full backs who pinged it up field for bloody Jeff Astle to scrap for it!

I know - was just being flippant.

Still what was Alf Ramsey thinking for that game? They had Rivelino, Jairzinho, Pele and Tostao, so we'll fight fire with fire and bring on ... Astle.

by holcs Wed 17 Oct 2007, 20:37

I bet if you asked the pro gayball players in England what a slide rule pass was, half wouldn't know, and the other half only know it because of Fifi, or Pro Evo soccer on some console.

by Gary 111 Wed 17 Oct 2007, 20:40

JKLever wrote:
Gary 111 wrote:

But being serious, we should be trying to play to our strengths - but I think this is by being more adventurous and attacking. English players tend to have great fitness, strength and pace - and we do manage to find some players like Rooney, Gerrard, Joe Cole, etc who are skillful and creative as well.

I think the way Man Utd played around the time they won the treble combined the best of the English game, pace, a dynamic midfield, resolve and determination with an attacking flair. And they won the European Cup with a nucleus of English / British players - the Nevilles, Scholes, Butt, Cole, Beckham, so it can be done.

Man United were about the only team in England who played this way at the time though.

I think the best English teams can play like this, combining strength and pace with skill and flair - the Newcastle and Liverpool sides from a couple of years earlier certainly did as well as Arsene Wenger's first Arsenal side that still had Englishmen in about half of the side. More recently Mourinho's early Chelsea sides could be pretty devastating with players like Terry, Lampard, Cole and Bridge often in there. And Liverpool won a European couple a couple of years back with by far and away their best two players being Gerrard and Carragher.

by Lara Lara Laughs Wed 17 Oct 2007, 21:29

Must be Lampard's fault. Boooooo. Gerrard's amazing. I come on a poster of Gareth Barry nightly. Fat Frank. Booooooo!

by Makaveli Wed 17 Oct 2007, 22:15

Very dissapointing but you could see it comming, i agree Eng are over rated and over hyped and it's all the medias fault.

Technically Eng are very poor they can't keep the ball, can't rememember the last time they have passed the ball around atleast 10 times without giving it away.

If you watch teams like POR/HOL/ITA/FRA etc they all have players who can pass the ball around in midfield and even defence.

Apart for Rooney Eng don't have players who can run down the wings quickly and skillfully, there is SWP but his ball control and final balls are tripe.

by Basil Thu 18 Oct 2007, 01:01

Lara Lara Laughs wrote: I come on a poster of Gareth Barry nightly.

I suppose that's what passes for entertainment in Derby.

by PearlJ Thu 18 Oct 2007, 01:22

England have Rooney and Gerrard. Not much else though. (In attack anyway)

by Brass Monkey Thu 18 Oct 2007, 09:36

Lara Lara Laughs wrote: I come on a poster of Gareth Barry nightly.

You're one of those squirters I've heard so much about.

by Guest Thu 18 Oct 2007, 20:25

What's the betting that England now lose the Rugby 50-0 and Lewis Hamilton crashes out on the last lap?

You have to love being English Laughing

.

by taipan Thu 18 Oct 2007, 20:32

vilkrang wrote:
You have to love being English .

Do you?

by Guest Thu 18 Oct 2007, 20:41

taipan wrote:
vilkrang wrote:
You have to love being English .

Do you?

Of course!

But seriously, no.

by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 20:16

Looks like comfortable wins for both Manure & The Arse in the champions league tonight.

kiev 0 utd 2

Arsenal 2 Prague 0

30 mins gone zzzzzzzzzzz....

by LeFromage Tue 23 Oct 2007, 20:40

Arsenal haven't even engaged first gear yet. It's embarrassing.

When did the Champions League become so stale?

by Geoffrey Trueman Tue 23 Oct 2007, 20:45

JKLever wrote:30 mins gone zzzzzzzzzzz....

That's exactly how I felt watching the Rangers/Barca game. I honestly thought it was going to be a belter but I've totally underestimated the respect being showed by Barca to Rangers recent form both domestically and in europe. Luckily I turned over after 35 mins to watch Arsenal playing like only Arsenal can. They are a joy to watch and it would be great for football if they could win the Premier League playing the way they do.

by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 20:51

Agreed re Arsenal

Tomorrow should be better with Liverpool trying their damned hardest not to qualify.

by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 21:48

Just the 7-0 to the Arsenal then!

Utd wrap it up 4-2 in Kiev.

These eastern bloc club sides just aren't the same these days, when I were a lad all I wanted for Xmas was a Dukla Prague away kit.

by Ash Tue 23 Oct 2007, 23:15

what a game ! - pure champagne football from arsenal. cesc's 1st, walcott's 2nd and bendtner's in particular were quality build up play. hleb was awesome. you realise why theres a 40,000 waiting list for an arsenal season ticket.

hopefully it doesnt make us overconfident with 2 big games against liverpool and manure comin up.

by JKLever Tue 23 Oct 2007, 23:49

Ash wrote:what a game ! - pure champagne football from arsenal. cesc's 1st, walcott's 2nd and bendtner's in particular were quality build up play. hleb was awesome. you realise why theres a 40,000 waiting list for an arsenal season ticket.

hopefully it doesnt make us overconfident with 2 big games against liverpool and manure comin up.

Whats the mood amongst gooners toward the loss of Henry now?

Was always of the opinion myself that Wenger is the most important factor in Arsenal rather than Henry.

by Ash Wed 24 Oct 2007, 00:30

JKLever wrote:
Ash wrote:what a game ! - pure champagne football from arsenal. cesc's 1st, walcott's 2nd and bendtner's in particular were quality build up play. hleb was awesome. you realise why theres a 40,000 waiting list for an arsenal season ticket.

hopefully it doesnt make us overconfident with 2 big games against liverpool and manure comin up.

Whats the mood amongst gooners toward the loss of Henry now?

Was always of the opinion myself that Wenger is the most important factor in Arsenal rather than Henry.

tbh we actually did better in the games he missed last season so this hoo haa over his exit being the final nail was more media induced. fabregas, toure, lehmann and maybe even van persie were more important to us to last season.

this season, henry's departure has enabled the younger players to step up and take greater collective responsibility - they are no longer playing in his shadows and realise that they must create their own legacy. the will he wont he saga was hugely distracting.

from a strictly business pov i still think we shouldve sold him a season before, as with vieira, when his stock was highest. though it must be said he is still a great player - doing well at barca and for france.

and of course wengers the most important piece of the arsenal jig saw - he has revolutionised the club.

by Merlin Wed 24 Oct 2007, 08:28

JKLever wrote:

Whats the mood amongst gooners toward the loss of Henry now?

Was always of the opinion myself that Wenger is the most important factor in Arsenal rather than Henry.

Quite honestly, once the initial shock passed, you'll find that not many Gooners were despondent after Henry's departure.
It was becomming clear that even Wenger was bordering on the frustrated and as Ash pointed out above, the team at times played excellent one touch football when TH was'nt in the team (most of last season).

Yes, the fear was Wenger leaving (the Dein fiasco) along with the likes of Fabregas, Gallas and Toure ... which at one time seemed a possibility.
Last year was spent re-building the team around Fabregas in Henry's absence ... this year they're turning it on.

Stark fact - Arsenals front line's average age is 23 years!

by Brass Monkey Wed 24 Oct 2007, 12:15

Man, the goons were f-awesome last night.... what cultured football.

by Merlin Wed 24 Oct 2007, 12:55

In all honesty,ManUre too were impressive as they took Kiev apart.

Just hope these two avoid each other through the knock out stage.... till the final anyway!

by Brass Monkey Wed 24 Oct 2007, 12:57

Merlin wrote:In all honesty,ManUre too were impressive as they took Kiev apart.

Just hope these two avoid each other through the knock out stage.... till the final anyway!

Well done Merlin, well done.

I know MoanU are a bunch of counts, but at least you've been able to 'recognise'.

by Merlin Wed 24 Oct 2007, 13:08

Batfink Begins wrote:
Merlin wrote:In all honesty,ManUre too were impressive as they took Kiev apart.

Just hope these two avoid each other through the knock out stage.... till the final anyway!

Well done Merlin, well done.

I know MoanU are a bunch of counts, but at least you've been able to 'recognise'.

Stop being so bloody patronising you old Cobbler.

I always recognise and make reference to talent - which must explain why I keep overlooking your efforts with consumate ease!
Wink

by Sponsored content