Todays fitba

[manc_don]

1-1 Now. Hamilton up against st mirren.

[tom_widdows]

From the Fox Soccer Channel  twitter feed....

 

FOXSoccerTrax FOX Soccer Trax

In Scotland, mighty Dundee United are down now 1-0 to Rangers.

 

                     

 

Sounds about right conisdering what they did.

 

Notice that Cheltenham got humped 8-1. Still havent found another bunch of cunts who lose 9 goals in a single game

[BobbyBiscuit]

Real Madrid lose 1-0 to Sporting Gijon at home.  Barca got a potentially tricky away match at Villarreal later on tonight.

 

Mourinho's first defeat in a home league game since 2002 (150 games).

[Stewart]

Could have been worse BB.

 

Novo could have got the goal.

[s1dnk]

This Arsenal team are a bunch of gutless wannabes. Most of them have done nothing in football yet they think they can just swagger onto a football pitch and expect to win games. Their work ethic is a disgrace and it all stems from the manager. Wenger will not slate his team and sometimes players need a good kick up the arse even if it is done in public. They need to know what is expected of them and if they do not reach those standards then there will be repercussions. Things aren't helped by Cesc Fabregas making it obvious to everyone his mind is elsewhere and we all know where elsewhere is!! So called senior players like Van Persie should be leading from example but as usual he's nowhere to be seen when it matters, probably why he has done nothing of note in his career up to now (he was poor during the WC even though his team did reached the final).

 

Many Arsenal fans must of been dreaming of winning at least 1 and probably more trophies this season after somehow beating Barca at the Emirates, now I think they will be lucky to finish runners up in the PL.

[manc_don]

Personally I can't help but laugh at arsenals demise. I genuinely thought they were a shoe in for getting at least 1 trophy this season, but wengers stubborness and inability to accept that his philosophy doesn't work means they will win fuck all for the foreseeable future as you say, too many of their players don't have the winning mentality when they play for Arsenal.

[s1dnk]

I think Wenger has a winning philosophy but is just does not work at Arsenal at the moment mainly because they don't have the funds to bring in the players he would need to make it work. I get so frustrated with Wenger at times because he team are infuriating to follow but then he is effectively working with 1 arm tied behind his back. Until the Emirates is paid off Arsenal are going to struggle. Saying all that Wenger refuses to change the set up of the team depending on the opponents, I can't see the logic in playing the same way against a team like Chelsea as they would against say Wigan.

 

It's a poor Man U team who are looking like winning the league easily, it might be a poor team but they have the best manager in the PL.

[manc_don]

I think Wenger has a winning philosophy but is just does not work at Arsenal at the moment mainly because they don't have the funds to bring in the players he would need to make it work. I get so frustrated with Wenger at times because he team are infuriating to follow but then he is effectively working with 1 arm tied behind his back. Until the Emirates is paid off Arsenal are going to struggle. Saying all that Wenger refuses to change the set up of the team depending on the opponents, I can't see the logic in playing the same way against a team like Chelsea as they would against say Wigan.

 

It's a poor Man U team who are looking like winning the league easily, it might be a poor team but they have the best manager in the PL.

 

I'd disagree with that. I think united are now starting to play better, todays game was that of champions. Coming from 2 goals behind away from home is never easy. But as you say, have the best manager

 

I was always under the impression that Wenger has the money to spend, but chooses not to. Money has been available but he believes in his philosophy and team so much he can't see it. Certainly what my gooner colleague says.

[BobbyBiscuit]

I think Wenger has a winning philosophy

 

You're as well saying "Billy Reid has a winning philosophy" because he'd like his team to win.  Brilliant, you have some of the best players in the world and certainly in the country you play in but have basically come nowhere near winning anything for 6 years.

 

Arsenal, for the talent they have and the club they are, are shite. They're soft and Fergie has Wenger in his back pocket. Ferguson knew his team would win today, Wenger would have hoped, but after 65 minutes given up. He has no goalkeeper and his best centre half is injured. Bad luck on the centre half, not so much on the keeper. He should have signed one years ago.

 

And a striker. He can't trust van Persie to stay fit. But he persists with it. What is he trying to prove?  Play to win, don't play to look nice. No one will remember you for that. Arsenal fans will end up hating him for it.

[BobbyBiscuit]

It's a poor Man U team who are looking like winning the league easily, it might be a poor team but they have the best manager in the PL.

 

A common mantra this season in certain circles. 

 

Vidic is the best defender in the world, van der Sar is an unbelievable keeper and you have Hernandez and Rooney and Berbatov ahead of Giggs and Scholes... seven players there who suggest it is not a poor team.

 

Not the best United team, but they are far from poor.  I've seen poor United teams... Ashley Grimes and Peter Davenport and Garry Birtles.  They couldn't lace Darron Gibson's boots...

 

scarily enough...

[Madbadteacher]

I wish AFC were so "poor"

[s1dnk]

Well I did think I could have a reasoned debate about the top end of the English PL but the completely blinkered views of some have ruined it.

 

I'll come back when all sides can be viewed without tinted glasses being worn.

 

PS, maybe Man U isn't a 'poor' side but they are far from good especially on the eye.

[tom_widdows]

Well I did think I could have a reasoned debate about the top end of the English PL but the completely blinkered views of some have ruined it.

 

I'll come back when all sides can be viewed without tinted glasses being worn.

 

PS, maybe Man U isn't a 'poor' side but they are far from good especially on the eye.

 

[manc_don]

Its not blinkered when its true and their own fans say the same thing? He has had money to spend but consistently choses not to invest. As the goalkeeping situation by bobby. The emirates is one of the best things to happen to the club, and there is a I admire about Arsenal, but Wenger needs to change if he is even going to challenge for anything. I don't think they're far from it, but its the same areas he has neglected for the past  6 years.

[One Bobby Clark]

I've always liked watching Arsenal since the George "1 -0 to the arsenal" Graham days. My sister lives in London and her bf is a serious gooner, so I've been paying even more attention to them over the last few years.

 

There's a lot to like about them, but since they lost Viera, Petit and to a lesser extent even Flamini, they are a team that can and does get bullied about.

They lack consistency, they've not had a top keeper since Seaman left, their defence needs a strong, sensible centre half, although Vermaelen should fit the bill, if he can recover and stay healthy.

 

I think their midfield is a too lightweight, no-one other than Song seems to be a real grafter, for all Denilson floats about, he never seems to actually achieve that much. Although young Wilshere seems an excellent prospect.  They do move the ball beautifully a lot of the time, but unfortunately all too often, there is no end product.

 

Bendtner should take his pink boots and shove them up his arse, because they couldn't be any less effective up there than they are on his feet.  Van Persie is all too often injured and prone to moments of complete thuggery that rather diminish his standing.

 

It does seem common knowledge round North London that Wenger has had the money and the opportunity to spend it. He has just chosen not to, because he believes in his system and process.

There are some grumblings that Wenger has had some incredible talent in his teams, but somehow he seems unable to pull it all together at crucial moments.

 

I love watching them but if I was an Arsenal fan, as opposed to someone who sort of follows them,  I think  I'd be as frustrated and annoyed with them, as I am with the Dons.

 

PS  Emmanuel Eboue - why ? 

[BobbyBiscuit]

Well I did think I could have a reasoned debate about the top end of the English PL but the completely blinkered views of some have ruined it.

 

I'll come back when all sides can be viewed without tinted glasses being worn.

 

PS, maybe Man U isn't a 'poor' side but they are far from good especially on the eye.

 

Deary me. So United aren't a poor side but they are far from good? So they're what..? Average?  I'd say that is a blinkered view. Lost 4 matches all season, but they're not a good side? You should maybe stop taking your views from Paul Merson.

 

Name one thing said about Arsenal by either myself or Manc which isn't accurate. No trophy in 6 years, likely to be 7...but United are the "poor" side? I don't think so.

 

[tlg1903]

The proof will be in the champions league pudding as to just how good utd are this season.  I think people have been saying they are a poor side this season because they havnt been playing the most attractive football compared with other fergie teams.  This is of course ridiculous as pretty football is all well and good but give me 3 points or the next round of whatever cup every single time.  As it has been since chelseas collapse the league is man u's to throw away, chelsea have yet to go to o t and utd have lost their last 3 against the london huns

[BobbyBiscuit]

The proof will be in the champions league pudding as to just how good utd are this season. 

 

That's only a trifling matter, mate.

[Harcus]

Think Ferguson will get his just desserts when they come up against Chelsea.

[tlg1903]

He'll take a cream puff if they get atkinson as the ref again

[One Bobby Clark]

I think Chelsea's title dreams will crumble after that game.

[manc_don]

I think Chelsea's title dreams will crumble after that game.

 

That would be the icing on the cake for this season

[s1dnk]

Vidic is the best defender in the world, van der Sar is an unbelievable keeper and you have Hernandez and Rooney and Berbatov ahead of Giggs and Scholes... seven players there who suggest it is not a poor team.

This is the comment I disagree with, manc you have a head on your shoulders and talk sense but the above is utter balls.

 

Arsenal have a long way to go, in no way am I disputing that. I get as frustrated with Wenger as many others who follow Arsenal do and sometimes do wonder if change is needed but realistically who are Arsenal going to get in who would do a better job and wont be seen as a risk?

 

Every transfer window Arsenal and Wenger come out and claim there is money to spend, they might have the funds to buy a couple of players at a combined cost of £20m but they can't compete with the fees paid by Man U, Man City and Chelsea. They are doing things the right way though, they have a structure in place and they will not break that structure although as I said it is frustrating.

 

The one thing I feel positive about is when I hear Platini insist he will come down on clubs who are operating outwith their means and are carrying massive debts. I hope this sways the balance of power back Arsenals way but fear it will have no effect and Arsenal continue to be left behind.

 

Hears a question, are Arsenal punching above their weight? You look at the money spent in the PL over recent years and Arsenal would be well down the list. They also have a wage policy so I would imagine their total wage bill would also be further down the list. How long can a club be expected to consistently place higher in the league than they may be expected? Does the fact that they do indicate how well Wenger is doing?

 

Coming back to the here and now and I would say that Arsenal need a major re-think. They need a dependable left back, a centre back (assuming Vermaelen comes back eventually), another tough midfielder, a left sided forward and a dependable striker. They have all of the above but they are not consistent. On their day the likes of Clichy, Diaby, Arshavin and van Persie are as good as anyone in the PL but they don't show it every week. It seems to me when they are good they are brilliant, when they are poor they are rank rotten. Man U have been consistently average this season but with that they have ground out results where as the other 2 challengers have blown hot and cold.

 

Still a long way to go in the PL, I wouldn't be conceding anything yet as Man U are a side their for the taking but it's whether anybody has the believe to rip the title from them, I have my doubts.

[BobbyBiscuit]

This is the comment I disagree with, manc you have a head on your shoulders and talk sense but the above is utter balls.

 

 

Well tell us all why then.

 

They need a dependable left back, a centre back (assuming Vermaelen comes back eventually), another tough midfielder, a left sided forward and a dependable striker.

 

Is that not what I more or less said too and you ripped me for it? Make your mind up.

 

Arsenal have the players to win the league, giving it "they're punching above their weight" is absolute nonsense.  In Wilshere and Fabregas they have two of the best midfielders in the country, Diaby is a fine player, van Persie is an explosive striker when he's on form and more importantly fit, Nasri has it in him to be a regular match winner and Vermaelen looks like the defender they've been lacking since Sol Campbell was at his peak.

 

So they're not punching above their weight. If anything they're not doing enough; drawing at home to Blackburn and Sunderland, losing at home to West Brom and Newcastle, losing a 4 goal lead at Newcastle... hardly stellar names in the game are they? 

 

Wenger's problem is that he always has a team which people say has "potential", but the potential never comes to fruition and he is the one who has to take responsibility for that.

 

If it makes you feel better by saying that Man Utd are an average side then go for it, but you're making yourself look stupid.  Perhaps by Man Utd's own standards, their play hasn't been as great to watch as it usually is but they are far from an average side. By the very definition of the word, if they're average what the fuck does that make Arsenal, Chelsea and the rest?

[glasgowdon]

Well tell us all why then.

 

Is that not what I more or less said too and you ripped me for it? Make your mind up.

 

Arsenal have the players to win the league, giving it "they're punching above their weight" is absolute nonsense.  In Wilshere and Fabregas they have two of the best midfielders in the country, Diaby is a fine player, van Persie is an explosive striker when he's on form and more importantly fit, Nasri has it in him to be a regular match winner and Vermaelen looks like the defender they've been lacking since Sol Campbell was at his peak.

 

So they're not punching above their weight. If anything they're not doing enough; drawing at home to Blackburn and Sunderland, losing at home to West Brom and Newcastle, losing a 4 goal lead at Newcastle... hardly stellar names in the game are they? 

 

Wenger's problem is that he always has a team which people say has "potential", but the potential never comes to fruition and he is the one who has to take responsibility for that.

 

If it makes you feel better by saying that Man Utd are an average side then go for it, but you're making yourself look stupid.  Perhaps by Man Utd's own standards, their play hasn't been as great to watch as it usually is but they are far from an average side. By the very definition of the word, if they're average what the fuck does that make Arsenal, Chelsea and the rest?