Feeling mad rough this morning, and for the first time in an age, it’s not booze related. My morning hasn’t been helped by the full bag of maltesers I dropped on the floor this morning. Or the person on the bus who smells like sour milk. But hey, I’ll soldier on.
Don’t worry about me.
It’ll be fine.
Newcastle. What to say about that. They’re sitting on 45 points. They have been for a while. They’re safe. They played like they were on the beach. Times up for Pardew. What a disgraceful performance. 6 losses on the bounce. Incredible. Shows how much those players respect him.
The Arsenal players looked embarrassed for them at times. Ozil and Ramsey sat in second gear and destroyed Newcastle. It was like the senior team beating the under 8s.
The first came from a set play. Koscielny got in front of Krul by about a yard and scuffed the ball home.
Our second came from Ozil. Newcastle allowed Giroud to break the offside trap by an absolute mile. The Frenchman had his first save, his second fell to Ozil who tapped home with ease.
In the second half, more good play from Ramsey and Ozil saw the German fizz a delightful ball onto the head of Giroud who nodded in for his first of the night.
So that was that. If City beat Everton, which I suspect they will. We retain 4th spot again. Hooray!
I can’t stress the importance of top four, even if we can’t the Champions League.
Key points from the game are standard.
Giroud really does need to be our second choice striker. He’s not fast enough not is he anywhere near the quality of finisher we need at the highest level. A top class striker would have had a hattrick last night. He’s not top quality. We need top quality.
The team is better when Ozil and Ramsey are in it. That much is clear. Not sure why people are peddling that like it’s a surprise. Every team is better with their best players. What Arsene is doing is performing a terrific job of indicating bad luck prevented the league win this year. Trouble is, he’ll have half the fanbase fooled. They don’t understand the basics of how injuries occur, they don’t dig into the detail and to them, that’s right, poor old Wenger was mugged by Lady Luck.
It’s cynical and it’s nonsense. Wenger’s management style injures players. His lack of a squad means we can’t cover this injuries. So whatever way you look at it, he’s the man at fault. Not Lady Luck.
Amazing how good he is at spinning things to suit his vision. Much like the ‘we had to sell to survive’ which we now know wasn’t true.
In other news, Spurs can no longer finish above us. Hooray again. An earlier celebration this year. Last year it was the final day. Always a good feeling. I guess the reason it feels a bit flatter this year is because we’d have preferred to be celebrating the day no other team in the league could finish above us.
Anyway. A lovely three points. One more game to go at home. Then we’re done for another season at The Grove. Amazing how quickly the year has passed.
See you in the comments.
Is this why Rodgers offloaded Carroll?
http://soccerreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/post/view-from-the-couch-this-seasons-funniest-football-photos/8ae21-615×341.jpg
Kwik –
I think those girls left their shirts in the dryer too long……. hmmmm that’s actually a good idea. 😀
The german league is being weakened because Bayern mop up all the best players leaving other teams weakened. To win the league 6 weeks ago says it all.
This lack of competition weakens resolve so they will get found out like tonight.
Pep is like maureen managing already established wealthy clubs.
i feel if chelsea were to go through i feel it would be a very cagey close game as chelsea are not possesion team they will defend very deep and both wingers and and the wing backs will play very deep
Mid
They didn’t leave them in the dryer long enough 😉
kwik fitApril 29, 2014 19:59:28
KeyserHe’s more than fit… he’s fuckin lovely
Classic Kwik.
Now while I haven’t watched the game tonight the problem Bayern have this season for me is that they’ve too many b2b possesion midfielders and depend on their wingers for creativity. It just seems to me they’d be better off if they played with one of Kroos or Schweinstiger and played Gotze more cause he’s an outstanding talent. Also big shout out to Ancellotti who’s been brilliant this season and has banished the memory of Mourinho in one season. Pepe and Ramos aside (have been brilliant but still my most hated players) Madrid have a lot of likeable players who are playing out their skin at the moment. Modric, Benzema, Ronaldo, Alonso, Carvajal, Diego Lopez, Di Maria and recently Isco have been brilliant. Bales done quite well when fit too
Shame on you Mr Guardiola, you have transformed Bayern into a ridiculous copy of Barça, without players like Messi or Inesta this is totally USELESS!!
You have destroys the German identity of your club, the fans must be disgusted.
Glad to see you humiliated tonight.
Goonerbone… Calm down dear.
Let’s see where he’s at with them in another year and if not improved then iI’d agree with you.. Until then it’s a bit early to say iIMHO and yes, it’s reactionary imho again to say pep is shit and ppossession football is dead.
“Subbing Xabi Alonso on 3-0? Game was not over, and I have experience of games not over on 3-0…”
No doubt about that Carlo.
Pep changed what didn’t need changing. Bayern need just consistency
well although are a not at same level have come across the problem as buyern without pace and the ability get behind defenders you will come into problems
You guys are fully ridiculous. It was one game.
Next month on Le-Grove:
“Ancelotti was found out tonight.”
“Ronaldo and Bale are too soft, they were never top players.”
“Countering football is dead. You have to be tough in today’s game.”
“Real Madrid are bottlers at the top level.”
Dan – haha… It’s so true!
Dan
Tomorrow
Simeone is shit, tactically inept, Costa is shit. Mourinho has replaced the plastic jesus bouncing on the dash of bmw 320I.
Let’s just hope atletico doesn’t do a Leverkusen now
Starting tomorrow night, well tonight technically, well depends on where you live actually
Fuck, I’m lost !
Can ‘t anyone tell me what time it actually is ?
Loool. I sincerely hope not, I can’t bear to watch another Chelsea CL final.
Plus the Madrid-Madrid matchup would be pretty epic. That’s exciting, furious football right there.
That is in no way a prediction, i’m praying for an all Madrid finale.
It’s ridiculous to call Pep shit. Silly really.
But so is the opposite, calling him a genius or the second coming of Labonovsky.
Whilst his achievements at Barca are pretty special many people are reluctant to acknowledge how much of an impact having the collection of players he had at his disposal.
The simple fact is van Gaal started a job at Bayern with clear results in the Bundesliga and in the CL.
Heynckes moved this up a level doing well in the league and CL.
Pep has improved in the league but taken them backwards in the CL.
These are facts.
No doubt he is a good manager. How good we’ll have to wait and see. He only seems to dine on caviar though.
Pep might not be the best coach but his presence motivates players and deliver results. Similar with Wenger
Lobanovskyi even
Radio
Oh yeah Lebanovski, the one with long hair and green eyes lol
What a game Barcelona / Kiev
Shevshenko !!!!
Only dines on caviar?
RR, have you looked at his CV? He’s won everything. Literally, everything.
What were you expecting his next move to be? “Hm, maybe I’ll go see what those cold Stoke nights are all about.”
karim
Lol it’s late my spellings are everywhere. I was referring to the manager often credited with ‘inventing’ the pressing game.
RR
Made a very good point.
Pep dominated football while he had the greatest team in the world is a great manager yes but is he a genius not necessarily you have to remember he didn’t even originate the playing style
IMO if Pep had stayed at Barca last year he wouldn’t of won the CL and he would of won the league but their general performances overall would of still declined just less so.
Pep had zero answers tonight to Real Madrid and watching Bayern in the CL this season they have generally looked confused and devoid of ideas. The tippy tappy doesn’t work any more because teams even with superstar premadonna players defend as a unit.
In previous years teams would face Barca’s Pep but you would never see players like robben ribbery bale even ronaldo track back and help wall up the box.
The tikka takka has been rumbled you could see that tonight and you could see that with Barcelona in the league.
“But so is the opposite, calling him a genius or the second coming of Labonovsky.”
Fair point.. genius or not the man got the best out of that Barca side. One of the all time greats. Its going to be interesting to see where he goes from here, whose in and out.
Oh ok then
Don’t know whose spelling’s the right one anyway…
Dan Ahern
I have been reading through the comments and some of yours have been very rude and condensing.
Some people just don’t think Pep is as great as you do!
No one is expecting him to go to stoke your exaggerating because your trying to belittle RR’s argument.
Pep had the best team in the world because of this and his very good management they won trophies galore but IMO what Simeone is doing shows greater skill he has a squad with so much less talent, budget and general resources and they may win the league and may get to the final.
I have never seen Pep play a team that had overall better players than his except for tonight and well he lost tonight. :S
Dan
Yes he has won everything with perhaps the best team ever with Iniesta, Xavi and Messi. He may never manager a side players as good as these three together at a time. One could argue Vilanova could have achieved something similar, Guardiola just happened to be the club legend who was most likely to get the job.
As for his next move he has got a choice. Losing with this Bayern side to badly will have a big adverse impact on how he is perceived. I guess that’s the risk he took.
I think he could have got the ManU job or the Chelsea one. For all of Jose’s faults he did win the CL without having the best side in Europe. Fergus did the same, so did Hitzfeld, van Gaal, Capello etc. Pep’s just suffered a heavy defeat with a side that’s supposed to be the best side in Europe.
Too many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors iyst times i gotooobedz
“I have been reading through the comments and some of yours have been very rude and condensing.”
Thanks, I like to think I keep them short and to the point. 😉
Tell you what, I fancy Chelsea for the UCL…just Mourinho, he knows how to set up to negate a great teams best assets…most of the time.
Cheers london guuner
Shame about Xavi Alonso, should be an amnesty on yellows after the semi.
Your best side plays, no excuses.
“Thanks, I like to think I keep them short and to the point. ;)”
LOOOOOOOOL
What you guys don’t understand is that nobody is claiming he is invincible or unbeatable. Nobody is.
It’s also absurd how you’re giving all the credit to his players. As if anybody has ever been successful with bad players.
Listen, you don’t have to think he’s a genius, nobody’s demanding you praise the man. Just stop pretending he’s been found out as some sort of fraud with an outmoded system.
Lest we forget Ancelotti taking a 3 nil lead in at the half of the finale in Istanbul.
Only to have Liverpool take it to PKs and come out victorious. With neither Sheva or Pirlo converting for Milan.
Everyone has their turn in the barrel. The level of Pep’s greatness or genius will be seen with how he moves forward from this evening with that Munich side. Does he stay true to his style or evolve to find success. Either way I would not bet against him.
Dan
“Listen, you don’t have to think he’s a genius, nobody’s demanding you praise the man. Just stop pretending he’s been found out as some sort of fraud with an outmoded system.”
———
Where did you get that from? My point is a really simple one.
Pep is not a genius, he is a good manager that did great things with a great side. You are welcome to your fawning admiration for him but don’t take offence to others who exercise a more measured view.
It’s childish to just say, ‘Look at his CV’ If you want to analyse then you have take a more nuanced approach. Otherwise, you’re just parroting.
Dan Ahern
Honestly relax not one person aside form johnty (who doesn’t count) is saying his a fraud.
By you even saying that shows how aggressive and extreme you are in defending Pep when no 1 was making those claims.
Your jumping to extremes because your trying to discredit over peoples arguments who aren’t in agreement with you over Pep.
Personally I have him in the top 5 managers in the world but the best as man people claim? Not a chance
Anyway off to bed now
other*
Oh yes, I’m very aggressive extreme. …
London, it’s just a blog man. I’ve got no problem with you or RR, just giving you my opinion.
Wise words Sal.
Sal
Pep is great but you have to remember his basically had the greatest player of all time on his team and arguably the greatest team of all time (at least top 3)
Its never a given even with the best players! But personally I rate the managers who can beat teams with better players because it truly shows how good the manager is doing his job over the managers who every team they meet has an inferior team to them.
You have to factor in a few things.
Best player ever
Best team in the world (one of the best teams ever)
Most of these players weren’t signed by Pep
The philosophy and style was not originated by Pep
Pep became manager as these players hit their peak
It was a near perfect storm.
Dan Ahern
Well mate I suggest you pipe down with the rude comments if its just a blog!
I don’t appreciate coming on here and having someone mock other contributors its not right!
KOSCIELNY should win Player of the season for his performance this season. I would say Ramsey would get a nod but he was out for too much of the season while Kosc and Per were colid for most of the season till Kosc got that injury. But based on most consistent performance over 40+ games this season Kosc and Per ahve been solid. Koscielny just edges it a little.
London and Dan
Haha.
Nobody is saying that Pep is shit overnight. The main thing is that he changed Bayern way too much. These guys are built to play fast attacking football not endless Tiki Taka football devoid of threat and imagination. The players looked confused over the two legs and Real Madrid were unlucky not to win 7-0.
Although, I want to see Pep building a team from the scratch. I am curious as to how it will look. Just curious
I’m off to Morocco for Holiday tomorrow, so I’m posting my Friday Joke.
I will also do some scouting for Arsenal, help them with the penny pinching
A teacher is teaching a class and she sees that Johnny isn’t paying attention, so she asks him, “If there are three ducks sitting on a fence, and you shoot one, how many are left?” Johnny says, “None.” The teacher asks, “Why?” Johnny says, “Because the shot scared them all off.” The teacher says, “No, two, but I like how you’re thinking.”
Johnny asks the teacher, “If you see three women walking out of an ice cream parlor, one is licking her ice cream, one is sucking her ice cream, and one is biting her ice cream, which one is married?” The teacher says, “The one sucking her ice cream.” Johnny says, “No, the one with the wedding ring, but I like how you’re thinking!”
Have a good one Evan.
PS Great joke 😆
@Evan
Ha ha ha ha. Enjoy your holiday mate.
“Pep is great”
== >> Pep is a cunt.
He came to bayern for imposed the same phylosophy than when he was at barcelona.
Even if he knows he didn’t have the right players to do it.
The bayern is now as boring to watch than barcelona.
The so called “german spirit” is gone.
Bayern was so much more impressive under Heycknes.
Can’t wait to see Dortmund trashing them in the Cup final.
ps : curious to know what the real fans of Bayern think about his work…
Their club is no longer like the “real” Bayern == >> passing, passing again and again, with no efficiency or no power whatsoever, pathetic.
@Bergkamp legend
I know a few ex bayern players have been moaning about the style of football under pep.
The reason I’m not keen on pep is when he took a sabbatical in America for a year, Vilanova had to go to America for treatment and apparently pep didn’t go to see him once. Vilanova was upset by it and commented on it. To me that shows the type of man pep is, self centred. I like to think the majority of us on this blog, if faced with a mate with serious health issues would make time and effort to support him.
Evan- enjoy your holiday in (half) of my homeland!
LOL.
BM chasing Remy.
Guns
Is that to make him more attractive to us fans ?
So the club can say see who wanted him ?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140429/per-we-ll-learn-lessons-from-season
WTF ???? LOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Since when the players OR/AND wenger are capable to learn lessons ????
It’s fucking hilarious, and Per obviously takes the fans for some deluded fools!! lol
bergkamp ,
lol probably yeah, ‘French International chooses Arsenal over BM’.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140429/podolski-is-arsenal-player-of-the-month
Well deserved. 🙂
1,100
Those cunts are so fucking lucky. Gerrard slip then deflected goal.