2011/2012 English Premier League thread

[d_phaneuf]

Arsenal on 66 points (Norwich, @ West Brom)
Tottenham on 65 points (@ Villa, Fulham)
Newcastle on 65 points (Man City, @ Everton)

[Locke]

Man, you have gotta be on edge if you are a rentboys fan.

This could, potentially, be an amazing season. They're in the CL final and the FA cup final. Win those and the whole season is vindicated.

However, lose both of those, combined with the likelihood of no CL next year and they're left with nothing and the whole season was a disaster.

[d_phaneuf]

I should add, while Modric's goal was nice

Cisse's make's it look like a tap in, that's goal of the season

[Bagor]

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Arsenal on 66 points (Norwich, @ West Brom)
Tottenham on 65 points (@ Villa, Fulham)
Newcastle on 65 points (Man City, @ Everton)

Interesting.

Just got my ticket for the Norwich game on ticket exchange. Was initially not gonna go as we are meant to be celebrating my wife's birthday, but what the hell.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Interesting.

Just got my ticket for the Norwich game on ticket exchange. Was initially not gonna go as we are meant to be celebrating my wife's birthday, but what the hell.

Norwich are certainly sliding as of late, and I can't see Arsenal giving up points at home. But on the other hand, the Canaries usually (with a few notable exceptions!) put on a good show and will hopefully make it interesting.

[Barnet Flame]

I like Norwich - Lambert has done an excellent job, but the real challenge will be building on this season. So many promoted Clubs suffer 2nd season blues in the PL.

As for tomorrow - the stakes are very high for us (Arsenal). But I have mixed feelings. Finishing out of the CL may just provide the catalyst we need to change our approach in the transfer market and how we deal with player contracts. Finishing 3rd and maintaining the status quo could result in the same old same old with a team incapable of mounting a serious challenge for the League while not taking the cups seriously.

[KTown]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Interesting.

Just got my ticket for the Norwich game on ticket exchange. Was initially not gonna go as we are meant to be celebrating my wife's birthday, but what the hell.

Don't think I'll get up in time tomorrow morning to catch this game it's on at 6am I believe. Got the PVR ready though!

Big one for us Gunners. It's nice that we control our own destiny to CL

[NBC]

2-1 Canaries at the half. This is bad news for the Gooners.

[Locke]

Gooners go up 3-2 but the Canaries tie it up. Bad news in goontown.

That said, Norwich have been full value this season, one of the best teams to watch so I'm glad they're doing well.

[Jimmy Stang]

That was quite the match. I think that Barnet Flame got full value to see that one live and in person! A draw at the Emirates is never a bad thing, and Norwich proved again that they'll always go for it and won't sit back and hope for the best.

Great entertainment this morning, and as an unabashed Norwich supporter, it was a very fair result.

[Jimmy Stang]

Also, Canadian boy Simeon Jackson had a good match. He has slipped down the pecking order as of late, not even making the subs list. But today he provided some pace and pressure that really kept the Arsenal back line a little unsettled. He won't show up on the score sheet, but he played a big part up until he was subbed.

[devo22]

It seems as if Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund will be Manchester United's first new signing. LOVE IT!

[KTown]

Common villa, hold onto this draw and us Gunners can breathe again.

[moon]

Nice to see the idiot ref decide to insert himself into the race for 3rd.

As usual Arsenal can thank the refs.

[d_phaneuf]

I can understand the red on Rose because the ref doesn't have benefit of replay, but he was pushed and that's why he fell

unlucky for Hutton though, hope he is ok

not worried about 3rd, Arsenal won't take 3 points @West Brom so Spurs just need to beat Fulham at home

[moon]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I can understand the red on Rose because the ref doesn't have benefit of replay, but he was pushed and that's why he fell

unlucky for Hutton though, hope he is ok

not worried about 3rd, Arsenal won't take 3 points @West Brom so Spurs just need to beat Fulham at home

I thought the ref went more on Huttons injury/reaction than what happened. I guess easy for me to say watching on TV but it didn't look close to a red at all.

Oh well should have scored even with 10 men.

[Bagor]

I guess that the season is pretty much a wrap for city now after getting over their last potential banana skin. Deserved champions in a weak year.

Hard not to like Kompany, a true leader and seems like a class act. Toure is the most complete player in the PL this year.

But I have a funny feeling that in the midst of the celbrations Balotelli will be grabbing headlines of his own next saturday. Dunno why.

[Bagor]

Random effed up story that's hardly worth a new thread so in here it goes ....

A player in the Norwegian fifth division has been sent off for protesting against being awarded a penalty.
Talat Abunima was playing for Sandved against Ild when he went down in the box.
"I went past an Ild player and then tripped over my own feet. It was unbelievably clumsy of me and when the referee pointed to the spot I felt I had to speak out," Abunima told local newspaper Sandnesposten.
Referee Nedzad Munjic disagreed, telling news website VG Nett "It was a clear penalty. The player got it all wrong - I don't think the players know the rules properly. And when I've blown the whistle, I can't change my mind."
Munjic first gave Abunima a yellow card for protesting and when the 36-year-old continued to argue against the decision to award him a spot kick, he was sent off.
Rune Pedersen, the head of the Norwegian Referees' Association, said the official could have changed his mind over the penalty but that the cards were warranted.
"A referee can change any decision he has taken until the play resumes," he said.
With Sandved leading 3-1, player-coach Oyvind Svenning took the spot kick, deliberately sending it wide.
"It was the right thing to do," he told reporters.
But the drama did not end there. Ild withdrew a player to make the sides even again and were then awarded two late penalties by Munjic. They converted both to secure a 3-3 draw.
"The guy who missed on purpose complained a lot about the penalty that led to the 3-3 goal," the referee added. "I don't really understand that. First he shoots wide on purpose, then he complains when the other team scores. It's hopeless."
Sandnesposten said the local football authority has now rescinded Abunima's red card.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/10227259

[d_phaneuf]

Fergie:

You have to think there's hope. I just wish Sparky was playing next week. (City) will be into the referee as they were with us