Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:30 pm  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw4IlKR ... r_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw4IlKR ... r_embedded

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:50 pm  

Cornokz wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw4IlKRPmc&feature=player_embedded

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:08 pm  

Arsenal fook up, then the hypocrite strikes again.

According to Wenger, Arsenal are only competing with Man United over 37 games, because of Wolves' team selection on Tuesday. Even with their full strength side out, I still expect we would have won comfortably. I mean, it's only a week ago after all when he played all kids in the Champions League, but there was no moaning from the French fool then.

He then complains that he lost ground in the title race because of Wolves' team, well last time I checked, even if Wolves had beaten United, Arsenal would still be the same amount of points behind Chelsea as they are this morning.

And then he has a pop at the fixture list, because he's got to have three games in a week, when Hull only have 2. I'm sorry, but if you can't beat Hull you don't deserve to be battling for the top 2.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:19 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

Arsenal fook up, then the hypocrite strikes again.

According to Wenger, Arsenal are only competing with Man United over 37 games, because of Wolves' team selection on Tuesday. Even with their full strength side out, I still expect we would have won comfortably. I mean, it's only a week ago after all when he played all kids in the Champions League, but there was no moaning from the French fool then.

He then complains that he lost ground in the title race because of Wolves' team, well last time I checked, even if Wolves had beaten United, Arsenal would still be the same amount of points behind Chelsea as they are this morning.

And then he has a pop at the fixture list, because he's got to have three games in a week, when Hull only have 2. I'm sorry, but if you can't beat Hull you don't deserve to be battling for the top 2.

i laughed when i saw it on sky text this morning

didnt hull play everton two weeks ago cause they was in the euorpa league

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:38 pm  

Danny 2 wrote:

i laughed when i saw it on sky text this morning

didnt hull play everton two weeks ago cause they was in the euorpa league

Indeed

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:55 pm  

Quote of the decade

"The guy who organised the fixtures this season must have come from a special school, because he's more intelligent than I am" - Arsene Wenger

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:20 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

Arsenal fook up, then the hypocrite strikes again.

According to Wenger, Arsenal are only competing with Man United over 37 games, because of Wolves' team selection on Tuesday. Even with their full strength side out, I still expect we would have won comfortably. I mean, it's only a week ago after all when he played all kids in the Champions League, but there was no moaning from the French fool then.

He then complains that he lost ground in the title race because of Wolves' team, well last time I checked, even if Wolves had beaten United, Arsenal would still be the same amount of points behind Chelsea as they are this morning.

And then he has a pop at the fixture list, because he's got to have three games in a week, when Hull only have 2. I'm sorry, but if you can't beat Hull you don't deserve to be battling for the top 2.

Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton 1-4 Arsenal

I didn't watch the Arsenal-Wolves game, but I watched the Chelsea game and if Chelsea had wanted they could've got 10 against Wolves. Wolves were pitifully bad. It's not like Wolves put up much of a fight against any of the top sides. It doesn't really matter what side they put out, they aren't good enough to put up a fight.

TBH I do have an issue with sides just raising the white flag though. Every victory should really be earned in the league, but the simple fact is that different needs mean it's not the case. It wouldn't help Wolves at all to have played their strongest 11, got whacked anyway, and then have to suffer the loss of confidence that brings. Far better for them to have not played their best side and have them fresh for the weekend.

If Wenger hasn't realised that playing in the CL and not getting knocked out of cups means you play more games in the time he's been in England, how long is it going to take him to work it out???

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 3:51 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

Our problem is that we have too many "second centrebacks", previously known as sweepers, and not enough of the dominant types. That's why Lescott & Toure cant form a solid partnership and why Toure & Onuoha were so bad, as summed up by Spurs' second goal. Adding Upson to the mix probably wouldnt solve that problem.

Unlike DD I dont blame Hughes' recruitment policy for our weaknesses (although I havent always been convinced by by his team selection, tactics and substitutions). Even with City's wealth you can only buy the players that are available. Hughes' pursuit of John Terry in the summer showed that he recognised the need for that type of player, we just werent able to sign him. As I said in my previous post, I dont see any available defenders of the type we need that we have ignored. All of the top managers have made signings that they wouldnt wish to be reminded of. And when you are having to sign as many players in such a short space of time as Hughes has, its inevitable that some of them wont work out.

Yesterday's result in itself shouldnt cost Hughes his job, but the home draws against Burnley, Fulham & Hull are still hanging over his head. City's next fixtures are Sunderland & Stoke at home, folowed by Wolves away. I suspect City need maximum points if MH is to keep his job.

You are right there. We buy secondary centre halves, forwards and midfielders but never a dominant player in either category. They are no use to use without those leaders so, unless he finds them, we are going to struggle.

He breaks up a solid centre defence for two similar players who haven't practised any marking since they swapped answer sheets in a school quiz. He signs two left backs who think defence is what surrounds the pitch.

We have a plethora of holding midfielders, none of which can move forward, none of whom have heard the phrases of leadership and beating the man and we have two tall centre forwards who amble along like it's a Sunday stroll who couldn't find a blue shirt if it was standing next to them.

There are too many fairies and not enough fight. No-one wants to lead the team and the manager has not a clue how to lead them himself.

The sad thing is, most City fans are too dim to realise that every team needs a couple of jobsworth, leaders to make things all knit together. Crap as some players are, in their own right, fans will tell you that just the presence of a Vinnie Jones or a Robbie Savage can fire up the rest of the team by leading by example. Gerry Gow was a classic example of a journeyman pro who was largely responsible for turning a team without a win its first twelve games to having the fourth best record in the league, League Cup Semi-Finalists and FA Cup Finalists.

It's the same people that fail to understand this that would rather have Robinho in the side instead of Craig Bellamy. Last night was a great example of what we miss when Bellamy isn't playing because he leads by example. His willingness to fight for everything inspires his team-mates to do the same.

Richard Dunne might not have been an all-time great but he was an excellent man-marker, a good leader and he put his body on the line. He displayed everything about soul and commitment that this defence does not and, with him, we'd have been eight or nine points better off now and the other deficiencies could have, at least for now, have been papered over till the end of January.

Patience is wearing very thin and only victory over two legs against United will appease the masses now. Luckily, our first choice defence plus Adebayor will all be missing so we may stand a chance.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:01 pm  

While I don't think Hughes is the man citeh need, IMO he's got the best players he can get at this time. In fact with Robinho and Tevez he's managed to get better players than citeh really should be getting. Not having the right balance through the side is just a consequence of bringing in so many players so quickly.

Re: Festive Football Chat : Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:09 pm  

Mark wrote:

Man in suit approaches...

"How would you like to manage the greatest team in the world, the men in red"

Bill Shankly

"I didnt know Matt Busby had resigned"


Easily his best quote.

Agreed.