2010/2011 Premier League Thread

[Pagal4321]

Watched the 2nd half and thought Arsenal looked terrible. After reading some tweets after the game they actually played better in the second half compared to the first half.

There is no way this team goes anywhere unless they can ever get over the Man U/Chelsea hump!

[d_phaneuf]

Arsene blaming the pitch is funny, I guess the United players played on a different one?

It was a poorly played game on both sides really, Rooney isn't good anymore and United played very defensive with basically 4 DM's

[NBC]

Arsenal have turned into Spurs; they have an inability to beat the big teams when they need to. Didn't they lose both fixtures against Man U, City and Chelsea last year, yet were still in with a shout of the title late on? If you can't beat the best teams you don't deserve much, IMO.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by NBC

... they have an inability to beat the big teams when they need to.

In addition to failing to beat Chelsea and United, I think how we are winning against some of the weaker teams is also worrisome. We won't find the success we are looking for until this lot begins to understand what it means to wear a shirt, becomes more committed, and learns how to defend as a unit. Maybe then they will be able to grind out a convincing victory away at Stoke and dictate the terms of a match at Old Trafford.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by NBC

Arsenal have turned into Spurs; they have an inability to beat the big teams when they need to. Didn't they lose both fixtures against Man U, City and Chelsea last year, yet were still in with a shout of the title late on? If you can't beat the best teams you don't deserve much, IMO.

except Spurs do beat the big teams when they need too (late last year beating City, Arsenal, and Chelsea in about a 5 week span)

Spurs struggle against the minnows (Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final) who Arsenal crush by 3 and 4 goals most of the time

I think Arsenal struggle against the big teams because of their midfield, every player is basically the same and they have no physical presence like Viera used to give them

It will never happen because Wenger is set in his ways but even someone like Darren Fletcher would make a massive difference in the side, or just any type of holding midfielder

[SeoulFire]

Groaner headline of the day - Rescued Chilean miners inspire Man United to dig deep

[Addick]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

I think Arsenal struggle against the big teams because of their midfield, every player is basically the same and they have no physical presence like Viera used to give them

It will never happen because Wenger is set in his ways but even someone like Darren Fletcher would make a massive difference in the side, or just any type of holding midfielder

I actually believe that Song is a good enough holding midfielder but the problem is he's not being properly utilized; Wegner has given him an overly offensive mandate. For instance, last night Chamakh attempted 13 tackles to Song's 3. Part of Arsenal's problem is the team is not doing enough defensively. I thought Arshavin was extremely lazy last night yet he was 4 for 4 with his tackles. He didn't do enough but even he did more than Song, completely unacceptable.

[Finny61]

I had high hopes at the start of the game until I saw Webb.

Both sides were sub par, it was really frustrating seeing the lack of an attack from Arsenal, the Gunners looked too nervous with the ball. One of the commentators pointed out that no one took any runs it was all about getting in behind the player with the ball.

And Arshavin!!... my 2 year old could have hit the ball harder then him what the hell was he doing out there!

Oh well, move on I guess.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

except Spurs do beat the big teams when they need too (late last year beating City, Arsenal, and Chelsea in about a 5 week span)

Outside of last season maybe. The preceding 10 years, this was definitely not the case. They had a pretty poor record against teams that were above them in the standings. Now this may have changed but it wasn't the case for the better part of a decade.

[d_phaneuf]

ya true

[NBC]

Regardless of Spurs' record, Arsenal is now in the same boat as they (Spurs) used to be. Wenger's French African XI just isn't good enough, IMO.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by NBC

Outside of last season maybe. The preceding 10 years, this was definitely not the case. They had a pretty poor record against teams that were above them in the standings. Now this may have changed but it wasn't the case for the better part of a decade.

That's true of most teams - in any league, in any sport.

[Locke]

Theres no real appropriate thread for this so I'll place it here.

8th Annual Charity Match against Poverty, Friends of Ronaldo and Zidane

Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo joined a star-studded squad for a United Nations charity match in Greece on Tuesday aimed at fighting world poverty.

The Friends of Ronaldo and Zidane were: Antonis Nikopolidis (Greece), Ronald de Boer (Netherlands), Darko Kovacevic (Serbia), Mahamadou Diarra (Mali), Nuno Gomes (Portugal), Sabri Lamouchi (France), Ricardo Sá Pinto (Portugal), Cornel Rapa (Romania), Raúl Albiol (Spain), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands), Pierre van Hooijdonk (Netherlands), William (Brazil), Anthar Yahia (Algeria), Silviu Ilie (Romania), Marius Gaman (Romania).

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...853501?cc=5901

You know you're getting old when you remember most of those guys as legends....

[Dagger]

Just wondering why Roy hasn't received his knighthood. He himself has stated his record is as good as his.

[d_phaneuf]

thank you Everton for taking care of Manchester City, who must be sponsored by whomever invented those Snoods

[d_phaneuf]

Rafa fired

return to glory at anfield?

[d_phaneuf]

oh god no, most heavily rumored name to take over by journo's in Europe is Capello

that could lead to

Capello to Inter
Harry to England
? to Spurs

[NBC]

England concede enough goals already without 'arry in charge. Plus I shudder to think of how many of his old boys he'd select in the starting 11. Dis-aster!

[SeoulFire]

End of the Glazers?

The Glazer family is set to sell Manchester United to the Qatari royal family in a £1.5 billion deal, according to Wednesday's newspapers.

"Now they have landed the 2022 World Cup, the country wants to expand its influence in the game across the globe."

Mixed feelings about this if true - it would be nice to get rid of the debt but I do not like the model of endless money for any club or the league.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by NBC

England concede enough goals already without 'arry in charge. Plus I shudder to think of how many of his old boys he'd select in the starting 11. Dis-aster!

I actually think he would do well for England

team would play an offensive style which with the current best players the team is suited for

he wouldn't hesitate to drop players who are there on name only, Terry, Rooney, Lampard, Barry. Pretty much half of the lineup Capello likes to use

although I wish they would just go with a coach who brings in a complete youth movement, outside of a few guys

Hart
Richards Jagielka Shawcross Gibbs
Rodwell Huddlestone
Johnson Gerrard Wilshere
Rooney


this current team is not winning at Euro 2012, might as well get some of the young kids some experience for 2014