Re: More football chat : Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:28 pm  

"If only van Persie hadn't been injured, the table could've looked a lot different." say the gooners and the gooners in the media.

Of course, Man United and Chelsea never suffered at all with injuries, did they? Man United didn't have to play without most of their first choice back 4. Chelsea didn't have to make do without Essien, Ashley Cole, Bosingwa, Ivanovic etc.

The simple fact is that Arsenal are a mile away from Chelsea and Man United. Only the relatively poor performances from Chelsea and MU have allowed them to con themselves into thinking they are close. Next season, when their Scouse-esque ability to get opponents sent off leaves them like it left LFC this year, they'll be miles behind again.

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With the way everything's gone for us since we drew with Blackburn, I expect Citeh to give United a beating on Saturday lunchtime.

Re: More football chat : Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:08 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

"If only van Persie hadn't been injured, the table could've looked a lot different." say the gooners and the gooners in the media.

Of course, Man United and Chelsea never suffered at all with injuries, did they? Man United didn't have to play without most of their first choice back 4. Chelsea didn't have to make do without Essien, Ashley Cole, Bosingwa, Ivanovic etc.

The simple fact is that Arsenal are a mile away from Chelsea and Man United. Only the relatively poor performances from Chelsea and MU have allowed them to con themselves into thinking they are close. Next season, when their Scouse-esque ability to get opponents sent off leaves them like it left LFC this year, they'll be miles behind again.

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With the way everything's gone for us since we drew with Blackburn, I expect Citeh to give United a beating on Saturday lunchtime.

Season is over in terms of the title. The only outcome to be decided is 4th.

But I don't see how you can write Arsenal out of contention when they are so close to the other two? Arsenal have had a crippling injury list, not just Van Persie. United did too but that was more than well publicised. If anything it's United that are behind Arsenal as they are a complete and utter one man team. Without Rooney they would struggle to win most games and would draw more than they won.

The real shame this season though is Everton. Moyes has them playing so well that 4th would have been a formality this season had we not spent the majority of the season without our best players. Jagielka, Arteta and Felaini have probably missed 100 games this season between them.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:05 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Season is over in terms of the title. The only outcome to be decided is 4th.

I don't accept the season is over in terms of the title. Man Utd beat Citeh on Saturday, Chelsea lose to Spurs and the gap is back to 1 point. With Chelsea still having to go to Anfield the title is still there for United to play for.

But I don't see how you can write Arsenal out of contention when they are so close to the other two? Arsenal have had a crippling injury list, not just Van Persie. United did too but that was more than well publicised. If anything it's United that are behind Arsenal as they are a complete and utter one man team. Without Rooney they would struggle to win most games and would draw more than they won.

Man Utd have lost Ronaldo and Tevez, with no one brought in to replace them. Chelsea have been going through a bedding-in period with a new manager, a manager adjusting to a new language and a new country.

Arsenal, on the other hand, are in the 5th season of their mythical rebuilding programme.

Chelsea and MU have clearly gone down a level from where they've been in the last few years. And yet Arsenal were still way behind for a lot of the season. It is an achievement for them to have been so close at this stage, but IMO most of that has been as a result of them being playing against 10 men week after week, and benefiting from ridiculous gifts from the opposition. It is an obvious ability of top teams to take points when the performance doesn't merit it, but I don't think that the genuine top teams make a habit of it in the way the Arsenal have this season, and Liverpool last season.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:46 am  

Still sticking with my prediction that Liverpool will finish 7th this season.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:50 am  

JWP wrote:

Squad that I would take

James, Hart & Green,

G.Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, A.Cole, Baines, Brown, Upson,

Milner, Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon, A.Johnson, Barry, Rodwell, J.Cole, Walcott

Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Zamora

Reserves : Phil Neville, C.Cole, SWP, Carrick, Shawcross, Onouha (If not pledged to Nigeria), Downing.

Squad that I anticipate ...

Green, James, Hart

G.Johnson, Terry, Ferdinand, A.Cole, King, Lescott, Brown,

Milner, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard, Walcott, Lennon, Carrick,

Heskey, Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, C.Cole

Squad I'd take

Green
Hart
James

Johnson
Brown
Ferdinand
Terry
Jagielka
Baines
Cole

Gerrard
Lampard
Barry
Lennon
Walcott
J Cole
A Johnson
Milner
Hargreaves if at all possible, anyone other than Carrick for that last holding midfield berth. Carrick will go though.

Crouch
Rooney
Defoe
Bent

I wouldn't mind seeing Young, Agbonlahor, Wright Phillips, Upson, Rodwell, Dawson or Lescott go if they get the nod.

My starting XI would be

Hart

Johnson
Ferdinand
Terry
Cole

Barry (preferably Hargreaves)

Lennon
Gerrard
Lampard
Cole

Rooney

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:52 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

when their Scouse-esque ability to get opponents sent off leaves them like it left LFC this year,

His name was Alonso. You could have saved all that typing.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:58 am  

JFT 96

Never forgotten.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:21 am  

Wire_85 wrote:

JFT 96

Never forgotten.

Indeed. Memorial service at Anfield this afternoon?

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:22 am  

justice for the 96, 21 years and still no one has been brought to book for the disaster.

Re: More football chat : Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:37 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Indeed. Memorial service at Anfield this afternoon?

Yup.