Football The 2011/2012 Season Thread

[soze]

Personally seeing it last night the ref was only looking at the start of the clash, he appeared to follow the ball and thus didn't see the end.

I liked Wenger's answer about standing by his sub descision...yes perhaps you do but why did you sub Ox.

The Arsenal board like Wenger because he doesn't cost them much in transfers and doesn't make waves, if they were to replace him they would need to create an actual transfer pot.

He subbed Chambo because he was fatigued but i did not see that.

And cash for Transfers is not the issue its wages and with players on £40k a week because they have been here 8 years its easy to think our budget is tight.

I also do not believe if Wenger was sacked we will win the league instantly we need to rebuild the squad and when doing that we will drop wither further from the pace. I would love it to be under Wenger he has bought in players to win the league before and I think he can do it again but first he needs to wash his hands of a lot of this squad.

 

[caLLous]

I thought that was his long-term plan though? To achieve a league-winning team with as little investment as possible, investing in youth etc etc. How long does he get before it becomes too long-term?

 

[soze]

I thought that was his long-term plan though? To achieve a league-winning team with as little investment as possible, investing in youth etc etc. How long does he get before it becomes too long-term?

I think the problem with that is you buy in a kid at 17 pay him 5k a week, 2 years later he is not first team but you want to keep him so its 10k, 2 years later he has made a few sub appearances and its 20k, 2 years later he is a regular so its 30-40k, then you realise he is a bit naff but you are stuck with him

 

[Ch3tan]

I don't even rate Bale that high tbh, he was good for a few games in a row last season but he hasn't really shone since then for me...

Then you haven't watched any football he has played. Bale has 8 goals and 7 assists, when he plays Spuds fly high, when he's not playing or does not have a good game Spurs suffer. He's getting better with each season, and he turns up in the big games. And do not forget he's still very young. You've said some silly things about players, but you really have excelled yourself with this one.

I'd rate PSG higher than Milan right now to be honest, far better future as well... with a top top manager, they will more than likely challenge for the Champions League top 4 if they keep singing these amazing players.

But OFC Milan is a better place to live

So PSG are rated higher because they have money, that seems to be the basis of your argument. The Italian league is better than it's been for years, it's recovered from scandal and money problems and is very competitive again, the French league is puny by comparison. Champions league top 4... what does that even mean?

I think the problem with that is you buy in a kid at 17 pay him 5k a week, 2 years later he is not first team but you want to keep him so its 10k, 2 years later he has made a few sub appearances and its 20k, 2 years later he is a regular so its 30-40k, then you realise he is a bit naff but you are stuck with him

Maybe Soze, I'd forgotten you had all these players on your books still. It does seem that Arsene needs to accept he cannot simply buy cheap and sell high every-time. Not all players work out and you need to cut your losses sometimes.

 

[Raven]

Also, Bale commits defenders and creates openings. Scoring and assists are not the entire package.

 

[soze]

Bale also does it for Wales, players that shine in whatever team they play are rare.

 

[Ch3tan]

Let's go with some questions to decide this, it's a shame we can't do mini poll's within threads.

Is there anyone here who would not have Bale in their team?

Is there anyone who thinks he is overrated?

Is there anyone who thinks he's having a poor season since last year?

 

[Sydrik]

Bale suffered slightly last year when he had a back injury. Unsurprisingly he lost a bit of pace for a month or so after he came back, anyone who has a back problem will know why.... HOWEVER....

Keitanz, this is why no one has any respect for your comments in this thread and you get slated all the time. Bale has been immense this year, even though I am biased being a Spurs I am also realistic, I can admit RVP would walk into most teams even though he is a gooner etc etc. When he plays we are a different team, he runs AT players, can drift inside or play wide right. He scores, he sets up loads of chances per game and links in with the play consistently. Even when the lad has a poor game he still runs his heart out instead of being a passenger, a la Van Der Vaart.

You cant make generalised bullshit comments with no proof to back it up and expect everyone to lap it up and not come back at you.

 

[Calaen]

Have him in my team yes please!

Personally though I do believe he is over rated. However I think he is an excellent player and someone who can only get better.

It pissed me off that he won player of the year last season on the back of 3 champions league performances. But so far this season he has already surpassed his statistics from last year (so he is having a fantastic year), and I also feel he has improved alot. So surely he should have the player of the season award already wrapped up!!

 

[soze]

I also think he is over rated. But he is a great talent. Worth £80mil? only because he will not force a transfer. But yes i would see him in an Arsenal shirt.

 

[Calaen]

I also think he is over rated. But he is a great talent. Worth £80mil? only because he will not force a transfer. But yes i would see him in an Arsenal shirt.

Exaclty I read £150 million for man city to buy him and I just laughed. When he's hitting the heights of Ronaldo season in season out then we'll talk about 80 million

 

[caLLous]

Let's see what Webb's report says. I thought Lescott's leading elbow was cuntish at the time but didn't think it was red card-worthy but that's up for discussion as well apparently. If Webb's report says he saw the offences and decided not to take action then no action will be taken but if he didn't see the offences he will be asked how he would have dealt with them and:

- if he would have done nothing then no further action,
- if he would have issued a yellow then no further action,
- if he would have issued a red then possible further action.

Lescott's is questionable (but cuntish ) but I don't see how Balotelli would have stayed on the pitch had Webb properly seen it. At best he caught it out of the corner of his eye because he was following the ball.

Oh yeah and Bale is mad good.

 

[eksdee]

I'd say Bale is definitely a shade overrated, but still an excellent player. Nothing new that young British players get hyped beyond the truth of their actual ability, though.

 

[Ch3tan]

I'd say Lescott's was worse than Ballotelli's by far, there was intent to hit in Lescott's.

 

[caLLous]

I missed motd2 last night so I haven't seen Lescott's since the in-game replays. I'd say stamping on someone's head is worse though?

 

[Ch3tan]

No, because there is massive doubt and debate over that, he clipped his head, but you can argue just as easily for an accident as you can for an offence. Ballotelli himself went to see that Parker was ok once he realised he had hit him, not the actions of someone who set out to hurt another player.

Lescott's looked like a clear swing of his arm to strike another player.

 

[soze]

I missed motd2 last night so I haven't seen Lescott's since the in-game replays. I'd say stamping on someone's head is worse though?

Lescott was looking at the man and aimed to elbow him in the face. With the stamp he does not look behind him so you can not same he meant to hit him in the face. Maybe he did try to stamp out but where he hit was not intentional.

 

[soze]

If the FA do say he intentionally stamped on Parkers head I wonder if the police will then get involved as a head stamp is instant jail time now?

 

[caLLous]

It's nice that Hansen now thinks we are out of the title race - I don't know a single Spurs fan that ever thought we were in the title race. :\

 

[Scouse]

Or any other fan tbfh.

Title race is about money. City have wodges, united can spend big to patch an already winning squad, chelski are massive underperformers. Spurs, Arse and the pool are fighting for scraps at the moment - with Spurs doing very well, Arsenal underperforming slightly and liverpool gash.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

You're forgetting Harry 'imself.

Although the amount of times he's changed opinion on whether you can win the league or not is hilarious.

 

[Scouse]

He'll be too busy trying to stay out of jail for the next couple of weeks to care much about football

 

[Embattle]

Let's go with some questions to decide this, it's a shame we can't do mini poll's within threads.

Is there anyone here who would not have Bale in their team?

Is there anyone who thinks he is overrated?

Is there anyone who thinks he's having a poor season since last year?

I would.

It is building slightly and as with many English players this is a risk worth avoiding.

Seems to be a good one so far.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

He doesn't do anything anyway.

He doesn't buy the players or sort out their wages.

He doesn't do tactics: he simply says "go out an play and enjoy yourself!"

He's like a limited Kevin Keegan. He will be found out at some time in the near future.

He has no care for Spurs either - as soon as things start to go awry or the good players leave he'll be off.

 

[caLLous]

Is there an auto-dislike function with this new forum software?

 

[Everz]

I'm sure Dave Jones is still free.

He's still held with higher regard then Mick lol.

 

[Everz]

Ah the reactionary opinions are in again. A narrow defeat to a Man Utd team and Wenger must go! I like the way you include two players we've loaned out (so are OFF the wage bill) as an example of why he should go. It's really turned me round!

Frimpong not playing much I dont get. He was absolutely donning Villa (as he did Spurs) till he went off injured. If he had stayed on I have no doubt we'd have smashed 1-2 more past them. Seems to be the bit of grit and determination that Arsenal have been lacking.

 

[Everz]

http://www.expressandstar.com/sport.../23/wolves-stand-by-under-fire-mick-mccarthy/

No balls, fuck are you getting any of my money this season.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

You obviously hadn't watched him in the first team matches he did play for Arsenal.

He wasn't great. Not shit by any means, but didn't offer a great deal and made a few errors. He's not ready for 1st team action for a team under as much pressure as we are right now.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Is there an auto-dislike function with this new forum software?

Dislike but not disagree.

Truth hurts?