We all know that those away games up north used to cause us problems, the reason I’m not worried is, we have such a good team, don’t get me wrong, I still believe had we signed two heavyweights in the summer, we would be 4 points clear of Chelsea and looking at a season going unbeaten.
The team we currently have though is still good enough to take care of the Sunderland’s of this world, when you think we have Rosicky, Nasri, Vela, Wilshere and Theo to come back, I think we have plenty in there to win all our remaining games this year.
Watching City does show you that money doesn’t guarantee success, but then they have a shit manager who bought Kolo (our weak link) and made him his captain! How funny was it to see Kolo stranded in the middle of nowhere as the ball hits the back of the net again, that brought back memory’s.
So although money doesn’t buy success, it sure as hell would do if the right manager was spending it, I still think that we need cover when the ACN comes along, and also we need that cover to act as competition and cover in the event of injury.
I know we have the kids coming through, and I agree we can’t ruin their chances, so that’s why I still see Vieira as the perfect answer.
After watching the chav/manc game yesterday, I really saw nothing there that I feared, I don’t think the chavs will have the legs to go through the season at that pace and the mancs are just not as good without their Portuguese pikey.
It’s good to see that although Arsene isn’t spending any money that at least Ivan Gazidas is, he’s added another expensive member to his team, this time a lawyer, who happens to be an expert in the field of takeovers.
Arsenal football club now has the biggest management team in the EPL, it’s a shame we have done the worst deals though isn’t it? Ivan, don’t worry, I know it wasn’t you, but having such a large team of pencil pushers, makes we wonder what the point is, the naming rights and shirt sponsors are set in stone for a long time to come.
Anyway Grovers, we are second, we also have a game in hand, and we we be playing the chavs soon, win our next two games and we could go top! Imagine that!!!
David why will the match against Bolton be postponed?
David mate,,,
as i stated i think Senderos is a great team player…but not at this level im sorry to say …
and you are correct David i never critisice Our players mate..wold be like *killing the family*as Wenger often says
and to be hones t i would like to see Senderos play and have success….thats my point nothin else..
tom
Johan Djourou is World Class.
It is postponed because we play Shitty in the Carling Cup.
Ah ok David, cheers
Actually i stand corrected. Bolton is our game back that we had in the beginning of the season i think.
Im not sure why you dont rate Johan Djourou Tom
But give the boy half the Chances Nikki Bullshite has got and he’ll be 5 times the player.
David I don’t rate JD either, he’s as thick as two short planks, don’t see him ever making it with us. Same as Ade but without the attitude, someone who made a career through his physical attributes, as his footballing intelligence is totally lacking
A
Im aware of your dislike of JD citing “lack of intelligence” and inexplicably frivolous hand balls in the penalty area but I believe more than a few were saying Song was “lacking of intelligence”….
He’s not doing so bad now is he?
And i believe Gallas himself had one handball the other day.
True David, though I never saw Song as lacking intelligence to anything like the same degree as JD, but you never know, JD could develop in a similar way, though I’d dubious about that. Song’s lack of intelligence is still evident to an extent, ridiculous fouls that he gives away like the one against West Ham for the penalty are just crazy, but playing in midfield he only does silly fans up field really. Having someone like him in defence, we’d concede more penalties, and the stupid fouls would be more costly, like the ridiculous penalty JD gave away against City last year.
Have to see though, I havn’t totally written off JD, but I’m very pessimistic as to the level he’ll reach
“…the Swiss have had 500 years of peace and what have they given us – the cuckoo clock, Johan Djourou and Pihillipe Senderos.” Harry Lime, The Third Man (slotting in behind two strikers)
Rooney and SAF escape punishment. Fuck them. They never get punished?
When the fuck is SAF going to get the ban for the Wiley remarks? Fucking sneaky cunts aren’t mentioning it at all
David…how the fuck do you get Nik’s name into a disussion about how Djourou might or might not do..??
This whole ‘Marmite’ ban is pretty much down to you and Jaguar being so irrational (and pointless??).
Geoff prob dislikes(/d) Song as much you two dislike your scapegoats, but he at least has the good grace to just leave the topic alone occasionally.
He’s 22. A,
He’ll has to gain experience somehow?
We started keeping clean sheets and winning games once he started getting a run of games under his belt. Its not secret we suffered with Kolo took over.
Tom,
like I said – can’t see him as the last line of defence, but in the DM he could flourish: he looked quite tidy there in the pre season…
you will say we played a bunch of shitkickers, but the quality was telling anyway, besides, I see him as a backup to Song – it is sad to see him trying to earn points with Wenger and I reckon he’d play out of his skin given the chance…
Sharkey Sure
How old is Nikk and how old is Johan
Alright.
You can shut the fuk up now.
Or not.
well David ..
when it comes to Johan…i could agree with A,,,on giving him some more time…and hope that he will find his confidence…maybe,,
tom
Playing alongside Kolo is the sort of nightmare that would keep me awake at nights.
You just never know what he’s going to do next…he was great for us in his day, but from the get go I used to look at him and think ‘he’s no natural when it comes to defending’
To my mind Big Phil led the back line to the CL final. He’s a good organiser…
I pray he’s over his rotten luck/errors/mental issues*
*Take your pick…hold down control to pick all three !!
Suga3 mate..
we disagree…i dont think he has the legs or the mind to play in midfield…just my opinon however..
id sell him in a flash…
tom
basically we are looking for a centre back who can subdue dogshite and torres for 90 mins. i hate to admit it but i haven’t seen one anywwhere in the world who can do that. even a world class player like TV got caught out against Wolves ffs. f*ck centre backs, we should sign another centre forward and attacking midfielder
dunno Tom, he seems to be some player for Switzerland and at 24 he would prime nicely given some games…
tomstoned what do you mean by mind though? the legs are a bit dodgy he doesn’t have nippiness at all in midfield, but in terms of his mind he’d be a superb organiser in there and read the game very well.
Oooh David….you fancy yourself as a blog hard man do ya….??
Grow up….
and before i go – Bendtner is a potential world class player. he is already a fantastic frontman, versatile, pacey, powerful and he has a superb touch. he will be our 30 goal a season man before long
straight outta Wiki’s gob
‘In the Arsene Wenger biography by Xavier Rivoire he reveals that Arsene Wenger consulted Tony Adams about making Senderos captain of the club before he made Thierry Henry club captain’
Lol
Timao
Id rather we sign a CB and a forward like Dzeko ASAP.
I think we need a CB for many reasons.
As much as i like Gibbs i dont think he should be playing too many games.
As it stands Vermaelen can play left back.
If we get a CB to slot in that spot we’d be looking the business and the rest of Song/Senderos and the rest can figure out what they want to do.
As far as the drogba and Torres…id take Chillieni in a heart beat.
I’m a Big Phil fan, but I’m with A on this one. Away to Stoke maybe…or on for the last 15-20.
Our DM sees so much of the ball you really need to be very very good technically.
Phil’s a great passer of the ball, but it’s so different when everything is in front of you.
The difference in type of awareness w/could also be a problem. Song spends a lot of time using the eyes in the back of his head…most good DMs do.
Sharkey Sure
That was a classic AKB response. Try and stick to logical retorts if you know what logical means.
there’s an interesting story building here in Norway and thats a study to how the color of team shirts could have an affect….easier to spot…its not conluded yet..but i will blog the results here when its official…
i for one have often wondered if some color could make it easier for teammates to *find*eachother on the pitch…especially since football and passing only gets faster and faster…
tom
How good was Flamini technically?
Oh really?
I think Kolo would be an excellent CDM. Has he ever gotten the chance?
SS,
that is exactly the use I had in mind – I reckon he could do it OK there: good anticipation, great aerial ability with useful ability to kick the fuck out of Cana if needed
Just saying you don’t want to be introducing too many new ideas when the team’s so close but the game in hand means that every game is basically vital until/if we can beat Chelsea, then maybe muck around a bit in home games against poorer opposition (games where Eboue is 1st choice RB),
But what’s the point in those games anyway – basically if you’re going to have all the ball and be pressing then Nasri as DM makes sense but you (I) wouldn’t want him at DB for big matches even if he looked alright against Burnley.
The issue is getting the team straight for when Song is away in games where it’s going to be important, it’s going to be Denilson anyway I would think.
No Torres tonight and Gerrard is on the Bench
No Carragher either.
The whole spine is missing!!!!!
lol David talking about logic?! One of the known crazy people who when it comes to a certain player loses ALL sense of logic!
Pat Wenger always said that Kolo didn’t have the fitness to play in midfield
David – and yours was a childish response, hence I told you to grow up.
Oh… were you expecting me to reply in kind, and spend the next 20mins trading childish insults….sorry to disappoint ya
Someone who tells me to shut the fuck up on the web who prob wouldn’t tell me the same thing to my face is ‘a blog hardman’ as far as I’m concerned.
Verm isn’t that good at LB David. Have you watched him for belgium? No thanks, Gibbs over him any day
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Benayoun, Riera, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Gerrard, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spearing, Darby.
Can you remember a shitter line up for Liverpool…..
Let alone the bench. Robbie Kunt might have had a point if he had compared the Spuds Bench to the Scousers one.
A mate..
if Senderos is given time to think..he does ok..but he dont have it in him..under pressure he often tends to chose the wrong solution…so in my opinion..he doesnt think quick enough to be playing in midfield.. he is to slow overall..
tom
Gerrard and Aquilani on the bench? Didn’t Aqulani get back to fitness awhile ago already?
Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Tainio, McFadden, Benitez, Jerome. Subs: Maik Taylor, Phillips, Espinoza, McSheffrey, Queudrue, Carsley, Vignal.
I think Birmingham have a good chance here.
AKB and proud over here !!!
david -
Unlike a lot of people I don’t think the team misses Flamini that much or Hleb or Kolo or even Ade, but that team nearly won the league.
Not saying that Dzeko isn’t potentially exceptional but even assuming there was any chance we’d be able to get him and we were prepared to spend the money (both of which we wouldn’t), why do you think we need a forward?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEn-etBIEK4&feature=player_embedded
Check out 1:45. What a volley from Flamini!!! Great save
I think we have to absolutely beat chelsea. Especially at home.
A. Arsene’s a wily old fox though…he told us Song couldn’t do it as well.
Not sure if it was mind games or if he got it completely wrong, maybe it was motivational…its got me stumped that one has
pat – robbie keane has given us all sorts of problems playing both with livpool and the scum – this time around he was virtually anonymous, which i think just proves that we have got a lot better defensively, i think…
and the news about Bendtner having surgery to mend his groin problem proves that at least we take care of Our players…look at l’pool..both gerrard and torres should have had surgery…is it going to happen ..not likely…what a shitty club l’pool are…
tom
SS
ROFl.
What makes you think i wouldnt tell you to shut the fuk up to your face?
And what is childish about that?
Are you sensitive or something?
I dont know why they don’t give Babel a run of a few games.
He is a confidence player and has been so poorly managed. He gets one game, does not put in a Lionel Messi Performance so gets dropped!!!!!
Give him a few games, and he might turn in a few good performances. Surely better than Riera or Insua.
The Fat Spanish Waiter is doing a blinding job in my eyes
he is like a comedy manager who secretly supports Everton.
The Funniest thing though is that the Liverpool Fans won’t hear a bad word against him and prefer to blame the Yanks.
Senderos has quite a lot of pace, but it is like a freight train – he does not do turns, but with two nippy players (Fabregas, Nasri, Ramsey, Rosicky – take your pick) he would do well, winning 7 headers out of 10 after oppo keeper’s hoof
A Says:
November 9, 2009 at 19:19
lol David talking about logic?! One of the known crazy people who when it comes to a certain player loses ALL sense of logic!
==========================
What player would that be A? Im logical about everyone
Aquilani = fat Berbatov
Tom, I think when the club could be bankrupted if they miss out on Champions league, putting surgery off for a few months is probably a good idea.
£100k+ a week probably entitles Liverpool to ask them to play through the pain. It’s not like Arsenal haven’t played players on injections…
David, respect the blog rules.
Timao, I think the we’ve PB’d our record for conceding this early in a season tells you all you need to know about how good we’re defending.
David.
Someone else is gonna have to answer those 3 questions for ya…
Pedro
I reckon unless they can find some funds from somewhere in Jan, they won’t finish top four anyway.
Although Man Shitty seem to be fucking the chance up quite nicely. Would not surprise me if the Spuds or Villa took advantage though.
I don’t think they will go Bankrupt though. The Arabs are holding all the cards. They will wait until Liverpool are on the verge, and lets face it, their value decreases by the day.
Song’s class was evident for all those who watched the ACN in the 07/08 season. SOng was in the Best XI of the tournament with players like Makoun, Essien, Zokora(he’s doing really well for Sevilla). Thats impressive no matter which way you look at it
Hi Oliver
Chris
Good Question
We need a forward who can challenge VP from direct free kicks.
We need a forward who can play alone in a 4-3-3, 4-5-1, or 4-1-4-1 as Arsene calls it.
We need a forward who can harass top class defenders not just with technical ability but with share body strength
We need a forward who two footed and doesnt need to keep reverting back to his left foot for a shot
WE need a forward who will win Aerial challenges and defend properly instead of relying heavily on Gallas and Vermaelen and woudl be able to defend as we instead of relyin on the likes of diaby and bendy
We need a forward who can and will run and attack players and not be afraid to shoot from outside the box
We need a forward who excells with his back against world class defenders
WE need a forward.
Pat great shout re Song at ACN….it was prety damn clear.
2006 it was Eboue at RB for the Elephants
pat did you just say babel put in a messi like performance?! he was attrocious in that game, but scored a very good goal. It’s a miracle that Babel is still in the premier league, talking about intelligence, he just doesn’t have it, gotta be the most stupid player in the league. I can’t believe we were ever interested in him!
Riera is twice the player imo, and insua is a left back!
Babel is a worse version of nani, neither are premiership class, and both will be shipped off to lesser leagues in the summer at the latest
second that, Pat, he was a monster there and it’s not like all the teams play shit in the ACN, plenty of good players there…
Pat, I think the fact the ACN is won by Egypt quite regularly tells you all you need to know about that competition.
Song is doing well this season, I’m yet to be convinced though.
We’ve never conceded so many goals this early in the season… so something ain’t right. I still don’t think he has the pace and I still think he drops clangers.
A 19.19. That made me chuckle as well….
Throwing in the AKB bit considering our current situation was another cracker.
Some of these guys kill me…
A,
I just don’t know how you don’t rate Babel – he is not stupid: if Babel is stupid then so is – dare I say it – TW14…
he is just so poorly managed by FSW it’s criminal…
David there isn’t a forward in the world imo who would be as good as VP in his current role. Having to assist and score goals as he does, Torres or Drogba would score more, but the team as a whole would score much less, because they don’t have VP’s link up and vision. This season it’s close between Cesc, VP, and Vermaelen as our player of the year imo, forward is the one position we simply don’t need anyone.
7 goals and 7 assists in 11 league games, no other forward in the league would have achieved that imo
pedro – apart from the west ham and manchester games most of those goals conceded have been irrelevant consolation type goals for the opposition – i don’t care that much if we concede one when four ahead. it shows the players are using their intelligence and taking it easy when they can. it’s a marathon not a sprint.
Egypt only started doing well in the ACN recently
Before then it was always Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, maybe South AFrica.
Pedro..
well if the situation is that serious…maybe..still it proves to me that they dont handle their players well…
and they admit that l’pool are nothin more than a two players team…it must be hard at the kop these days..
and well my bet on Rafa being fired before christmas…is not off yet
still Pedro i hope you have one or two l’pool players on your fantasy team this evenin…they will crush b’ham im sorry to say ..
tom
David, 8 goals and 8 assists in 14 appearances would say you’re not using logic again…
You being dossing down at Geoffs for afew days Ped…
He’s ben playimng you ‘that tape’ while you sleep.
Surely Song’s gotta have you convinced by now…you’re not waiting for hat tricks are ya…??
All joking aside, whats he short of/need to improve on, in your eyes…??
SUGA3 he’s the most stupid player I’ve ever seen play at this level. Even more so than Nani and Agbonlahor, which is saying something. He’s capable of the spectacular now and then, but his passing is just laughable, he just has no all round game. He can run quickly and powerfully, and kick the ball hard, but the rest of his game, his decision making, his running off the ball, would be poor in the Championship, he’ll go back to Holland, he isn’t cut out even for a mid table premiership team.
Theo is a different player, he has exceptional off the ball movement, but really lacks composure with his final ball. It’s been constantly improving though and will come, but he’ll never be thierry henry
Overall goals wise we don;t appear to have a problem. I thought RVP played Craddock vey well on Sat.
Time was our CF would get ‘rag dolled’ up against a CB like that…
David, Egypt have won it the most times with 6 victories.
They won the first two.
A
I agree with that to an Extent.
VP link up play is quite remarkable it would be the reason why he plays on the wings for his country.
However a player like Dzeko with his strength and Aerial abilities will make us virtually unstoppable imo.
He’s young enough to learn to link up the Arsenal way as well.
Pedro, and did you watch Egypt in the Confederations Cup? They play good football and have the ability to knock out England in a competition!
Can you confidently say England would get past Ivory Coast? I honestly rank the Elephants higher than I do England
timao,
I recall us having a record of scoring in the dying minutes rather than conceding a few seasons ago – we will not score 3 goals or more against all teams and being 2:0 up and conceding one in 85th minute makes us implode and the oppo senses blood…
I would rather have the opinion of being able to shut them out so that shitkickers like Blackburn would not get any funny ideas
David it isn’t about being taught to link up the arsenal way. We don’t need a forward who has adequate link up play, and a good finisher, we need a forward who has special link up play, that’s more important than his goalscoring, so Dzeko wouldn’t work for us at all imo. Dzeko is certainly not special when it comes to his link up play, and therefore couldn’t start for us in that role.
Yea Pedro
But that was in the 50′s???
Did America beat England in the 50′s (…ouch)
Tells you all you need to know about Football back then.
Sharkey, the team we have now is immense. We have surrounded him with super players who keep the ball a dream. I don’t think he’s doing an awful lot different to what he was last year… he is just playing with people who have clicked.
We’re scoring loads of goals this year and playing more directly.
I don’t think he has the pace and I don’t think he stands out.
He’s done well this year, and I’m not knocking that… but I think I think our defensive record will show that not a lot has changed bar the fact we’re playing more direct this year.
David, you just said they’ve only just started winning it… which was wrong, so I corrected you.
1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008
A,
I hate to tell you this but Drogba according soccernet has 9 goals and 5 assists….
That is comparable to 7 goals and 7 assists from RVP….Its not that much different…
However I saw Myles Palmer saying Drogba had 8 assists….then I checked the premiere leagues website and to my horror it actually listed Drogba with 8 assists…..so if that stat is correct it means Drogba has 9 goals and 8 assists…
The 8 assists still sounds odd…but thats what the official premire league site says…
Fabregas leads with 10…this means they counted the own goal by Zubar as an assist…Didnt know they did that…so maybe Drogba has some dodgy assists in his stats?
Apoogies ped…I re read your last post…so its pace and clangers.
I’m not convinced on the pace one…and you’ve highighted that a lot…but I just don’t see that he’s very slow. I think befoire his (lack of!)awareness made himlook slower.
He rarely gets caught out now….
Clangers..relative to others…we’ll just to have to agree to disagree on that one. I’ll give you the West Ham one for free though..
Pedro Says:
November 9, 2009 at 19:39
David, 8 goals and 8 assists in 14 appearances would say you’re not using logic again…
======================
Is Denilson still the best DM in the league then? Logic is a very interesting word.
Pat 19.42…I agree with every word.
Pat, I think Egypt would have about zero chance of knocking England out of the world cup and I highly doubt the Ivory coast could either.
A,
if we bought Babel when he was snatched by the Dippers he would be twice the player he is under Rafa…
‘he’s capable of the spectacular now and then, but his passing is just laughable, he just has no all round game.’
reminds me of certain ‘you know who’ (one of the Marmites)
Personally, I like being second and making a run to the top in april and may. The team is still young, and being on the top for months and winning games maybe too much pressure for them.
Pedro.
Big diference is that Song refuses to give th ball away lughtly…when no one its or that Dozy Twat weas offside….his options are limited.
Now Song takes the extra milloisecond thahe needs and the receiver uses the same millisecond to create the (new?) angle.
We see that a lot now…
Song’s on his way to being world class. You know i’m his biggest fan and was banging on about him all summer….yet he’s even surprised me with his (near?) total dominance in the middle of the park
Pedro Says:
November 9, 2009 at 19:35
Pat, I think the fact the ACN is won by Egypt quite regularly tells you all you need to know about that competition
================================
Considering the competition is held every 2 years winning it 4 times in the last 4 decades is hardly “regular”.
Sharkey, you see I wasn’t sure the West Ham one was a clanger… it was a bit dim, but Cole flopped…
I’m talking about when he loses the ball in important areas, or misses it completely. He has improved vastly, but at the same time… we know have a team that defends as a unit. You look at tackles per game by individuals, the midfield are mostly around the same mark.
Song won 4, Eduardo 3, Fab 3, Arshavin 3… the defensive work is shared now, which I don’t believe it was last year.
Egypt certainly play better football than England, and thats a fact. But then again, who doesn’t play better football than England?
David, you are hard work aren’t you…
Egypt have won the competition the most times, so your statement about them only winning it lately is factually incorrect.
You can get into semantics about the word regular, but it doesn’t change the fact they win it with the most regularity… with wins in 4 of the 6 decades.
Silly tackle to make though Ped…classic dive by a non diving Englishman though eh.
Re Clangers …look how much of the ball he sees in this system…maybe even more than Fab.
I’m not seeing too many clangers, or those you list are absolute howlers..you’ve almsot got him down for air kicks..!?
A
disagree completely
Most of RVP assists have beeen from set plays or simple passes.
And to say that a World Class Striker like Dzeko wouldnt fit into Arsenal only because of link up play is quite laughable.
@Pedro
I am not saying that Song is the best….but you seem to suggest that the fact that we are conceding goals implies that Song isnt that good..
I beg to differ because when you analyse the goals we have conceeded, Song has no blame for most of them..
I just think we concede because
1. We are so attack minded
2. We just dont hold clean sheets sacred like Manure etc
3. Wenger does not instill defensive disclipline as much as other teams
Look at the manure game….that was down to 2 individual errors by Almunia and Diaby…
In the manCity game I beleive 3 of the goals came from clichy’s side…
The only goal I can attribute to Song so far has the penalty against West Ham..
So its the team as a whole….not the DM to blame for all these conceded goals
Pat, against crap teams… I don’t think that matters.
We’ve had a pretty good record since Capello took charge and I’m pretty much certain we’d smash Egypt… they are a poor side with players who play a very poor standard of football.
That’s interesting you say that Pedro, many have been shunned for using the same ‘surrounded by greatness’ logic to undermine Flamini. And many still say that if we buy him we’ll walk the PL. While that may be true it’s a bit biased to beat Song with that stick despite good performances. Can we do better than Song in the DM department, yes. Do we need to,no.
Birmingham could beat liveprool tonight
Sharkey, if he becomes world class, I will be pleased.
He keeps the ball well and he passes well, I just think he is clanger prone and I don’t think he has enough pace.
Ja, I’m not solely blaming him at all… I’m simply pointing out that we’re conceding at record levels, and he is part of that machine.
Egypt won it the first two times and that count for rubbish because there were only 4 teams playing and i believe they hosted both competitions.
So really they only just started winning the competition fair and square.
Mayank, Man City scored 4 past us and United beat us 2-1… We’ve not proved anything against top quality yet and we haven’t had a bad run.
When you’re on fire, nothing can touch you… the test will come when you have a blip and keeping clean sheets is what saves you.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving what’s going on this season, but I think people are getting ahead of themselves when they say it weakness in a position doesn’t matter… because it does.
I’m happy to plod along and take it one game at a time though, and when he plays well, I’ll support and give credit where it’s due.
Dzeko is world class is he David?! because of playing and scoring goals in Germany?!
He’s no more world class than Huntelaar is, less so in fact imo!
Pedro Song is very close to being world class imo. Also regarding conceding in record numbers – it has a hell of a lot to do with the fact that there are goals being scored in record numbers this season, we’ve conceded less than liverpool, and only 2 goals more than utd this season…. Only chelsea, utd, and villa have conceded less
well much can be said when it comes to Song…i personally believe he will become one of the best midfielders the world have ever seen…only lacking some goals and experience….on the bright side at least we got rid of that fecker diarra…and anyone still think he’s better than Song…ehhm…well i got the cure…forget football…
tom
Pedro, did you watch Egypt-brazil by any chance? Or Egypt-Italy.
Buffon had one of his best games of all time and Brazil were fairly lucky as well.
England would smash Egypt eh?
Mayank …I ain’t convinvced that we can do better.
This Arsenal style of play relies on players havong the confidence to try difficult passes, and the margins are very very fine.
For me Song is perfect in this system…of course Sat was only one game and I don’t mean to be harsh on Ramsey…but I’m kind of convinced that Song has almost created and moulded his own role in the team.
At any other club he’d be required to hit it long with regularity…in our system he holds it and uses it very very well.
I wouldn’t put Essien in that role ahead of Song. HOnestly right I wouldn’t. Essiens; all action style wouldn;t see hiom…nor do I think his passing is good enough. I could be wrong re the passing though…
The idiots on MoTD were saying Fletchers a playmaker. How fucking sad that united’s playmaker is a talentless hack who is not effective once he gets a yellow.
Problem is, why the FUCK does he never get a yellow?!?!?!?!!?
ROFL
Great Job A,
Yes…Because Hunterlaar scores freely against United and SCores in about every game for his country.
evening all
David… I think the history books; despite your protestations, will declare Egypt the most successful ACN team.
Cesc, Song and Essien would be quite a midfield.
Cesc Song Essien
Rosicky RVP Arshavin
I’m not going to get into the beating top quality issue because we both know that’s not where the league is won and even with a weaker squad last season we did the big teams.
As for the blip, i think Fulham was a blip which we recovered from as was WHU. Such performances and results could derail you. I think we’ll drop points here and there and not really have a slump. Esp. if we are to go ahead and win the PL.
A,
Look at my post at 19:45
I am not saying Drogba would suit us…..but you said no other forward could score and provide so many assists at the same time..something of the sort…
but according the premiere league site Drogba has
9 goals and 8 asists
According to soccernet he has 5 assists…
but surely the premiere league site must have the right stat?
The 8 assists surprised me ..but its there
evenin there BBK….all well ?
tom
yes tom all good
If we get essien then there is no stopping us.Terrific player.His passing is top notch too.Really creative when he plays for ghana
A,
You do make a good point though about goals conceded ….every team is conceding more than usual this year…
So something fundamental has changed overall…
Part of the reason could be the new ball…..i have heard keepers complaining about it…apparently it travels faster and dips and swerves all over..
Pedro Says:
November 9, 2009 at 20:11
David… I think the history books; despite your protestations, will declare Egypt the most successful ACN team
===============
Quite right. Im not disputing that.
I am disputing that they win it regularly.
That is only recently the case.
“scores freely against Utd”. He’s scored one goal against them lol.
Dzeko plays in a second rate league, until he’s done it in a top league he’s not world class. International football means very little, Healy has an amazing goalscoring record at international level, and in fact so does Bendtner, or are you saying Bendtner is world class too?!
Dzeko has scored a lot of goals in one season in a second rate league, he’s not proved a single thing at the top level, and it’s therefore simply ridiculous and totally illogical to claim that he’s world class. He’s less proven than Huntelaar was in fact, but similar in that he was hyped because of scoring alot of goals in a second rate league.
Perhaps Sharkey, but my point was many people just use the ‘we could do better’ line to slate players. Personally i think we can do better than every player on the pitch bar one or two, but where’s the loyalty in that. If you are to proudly call Cole Hleb and the likes cunts I think a little loyalty needs to be shown to the players.
Great saves by hart but couldn’t stop ngog.Good finish
*Essien’s all action style wouldn’t suit the role that Song has defined*
Why do teams that give us a hard time seem to play down for teams like Liverfool, manure, Chelsea?
nisanth that’s the point though – he’s creative, not a dm despite his power. If we had him he’d play in the Diaby role rather than instead of Song
Pat, you can tell me about individual games all you like… I’m pretty much 100% certain Egypt wouldn’t cause us any problems.
Damn it’s late, I’m off!
Ja yeah that’s true, but Drogba gets different types of assists, he gets assists as ade used to, through being big and getting flick ons and such like.
I think he could play at DM as well.Different from song but he will be effective.
Johnson adds a lot to Liverpools attacking
How did Dzeko manage to score playing on a “second rate league team” against the English Champions?
Im guessing its because he’s unproven. Your right.
Nobody is better than VanP.
Despite Dzeko manhandling the likes of Ferdinand, Vidic and his automatic domination in the Aearial battle…Van Piersie’s link up play is more important in our 2-1 loss at Old toilet.
Did Van P score in that game? Or was it an assist he had? hmmm.
David, you do make yourself look stupid when you keep trying to hack away at making an illogical argument.
The history books will also state they win it with most regularity. You can’t make up rules to suit an incorrect statement.
They won the first two and have won the competition 6 times in the last 4 decades.
Sharkey, to say that a player as good as Essien couldn’t play our style is ludicrous.
Van persie is a very different type of CF and he has adapted really well.But i would rather have torres
David, that’s a pretty poor argument… one goal against United? Dear oh dear…
David, thats an awful argument. Kevin Davies is better than RVP then. Better than Drogba as well!
RVP has scored against united before.He scored twice against chelsea last season.
Well said Mayank…
Good shout from whoever re Essien in the Diaby role. I said that about 5pm today, but was too busy making tpos this time round to repeat it.
Its interesting that Chelsea hardly use him as an out and out DM from what I can tell.
He is pretty special in a Ghana shirt though, so maybe I was a little harsh on his passing ability.
Song, Essien and Cesc….the concept of fair play would surely never allow that.
Drogba’s assists vs RVP’s assists…??I’m not having that.
RVP’s assist on Sat. Case closed..?? It is for me.
Has Drogba ever scored against United? He’s always awful against them
Make myself look stupid?
The history books also CLEARLY say that there are only 4 African teams playing when Egypt Won.
Making myself look stupid is saying that Egypt win it regularly while telling half the story.
Sorry Pat
When has Kevin Davies ManHandled Vidic?
So Ashley Cole has a depressed fracture… well if you hang round with Cole for too long it gets you down.
On the forward front, I’m not entirely sure what you want David and I’m a little afraid to ask given that some of you comments are at times a little… erratic.
However, would you like to see RVP dropped? Yes Drogba may have better stats at this point in the season but imo Chelsea play a lot more through him as a focal point while Arsenal are able to shift the point of attack a lot more due to the formation and class of players – this is going to mean that Drogba gets good stats but doesn’t mean that RVP should be replaced. To be honest RVP has been leading the line for a team that has scored 55 in 15 (think that’s correct) and he has pretty good stats as well, those aren’t the signs of a team in need of a replacement forward.
Also, much though I know you won’t agree, I think Nik is a good player!
How was that offside?
Plus Johnson is killing them….
Anyone got Freud’s no…??
How the fuck I do have a typo writing the word typo…?? Franchise always used to say I had Typinsons
55 in 19.Still amazing
Birmingham have scored
1-1
What a great goal
Essien played CDM against United
Dzeko has never manhandled Vidic. He won headers but it is expected when he’s taller than Vidic.
When has Drogba ever manhandled Vidic? Never came close
My stream dies…then I see on soccernet that Benitez has scored…
Liverpool are really crappy this year…