Football The 2015/2016 Season Thread

[Gwadien]

So this temple in Leicester

Has been footballed.

(copied from FB so I apologise for the poor quality)

Although I am a Derby fan living in Leicester, and it does annoy me that Leicester are going to win the league (because I'll never stop hearing about it) I do like it how Leicester seems more vibrant and upbeat because of it.

Everyone's a football fan now, plastic or not, it makes people happy.

 

[Embattle]

So what predictions are people going to make over the summer for next year so what other managers are going to change, who'll finish where next year, what big money transfers might be completed, etc.

 

[soze]

Every team is what £60m better off this year and as such the prices will be crazy this summer. Aubameyang has gone from what £28 to over £80 million and the season is not even over yet?

 

[soze]

Statement from the 3 biggest supporters clubs at Arsenal. It will be an interesting game.

Spoiler

Black Scarf Movement statement

TIME FOR CHANGE
Have your say when we play Norwich

The current season has been one of massive disappointment for Arsenal fans, with the campaign fizzling out in a depressingly limp fashion.

Over the past few years - massively so in recent months - increasing number of supporters have become fed up with the club. There are a number of reasons for this, including...

• Our majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, showing he's purely motivated by cash when he went on record to say he doesn't care if Arsenal are not challenging for honours.
• A complacent Board with absolutely no football experience, focusing purely on Arsenal as a profit-generating entity, not a football club.
• A Board happy with Kroenke milking millions of pounds out of the club every year, and refusing to give valid details of what the payments relate to.
• Being sold the vision of moving stadium to compete with Europe's elite. We're now close financially but in a football sense we're probably as far from the top European sides as we have been for many years.
• A huge amount of cash sitting in the bank and comments from Ivan Gazidis that we can buy pretty much anybody, yet the money remains banked and our squad remains lacking in key areas, year after year.
• A manager who seems to be past his best, refusing to adapt to the modern game and dragging us down through lack of signings, poor tactics, predictable poor performances, and not being able to get the best from his team.
• Consistent failure to challenge for football's big prizes and using 4th place finishes as a cause for celebration, when all Champions League football means is more income for the Board to celebrate.

Basically speaking, Arsenal Football Club has gone stale.
We are seeing the same failures year after year, and amid rumours that Arsene Wenger may be given a new three-year contract there really seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Kroenke and the Board are seemingly content with Champions League cash, so outside of finishing 4th best in the league there is no pressure at all on the manager. This isn't good enough.

It's time for change.
Whether it's the manager, whether Stan Kroenke has to go and whether the Board needs shaking up and reminding that we're a FOOTBALL club, change is needed at Arsenal, A fresh approach to bring some excitement back to this great club of ours.

Have your say
We host Norwich this coming Saturday in what's become a pretty meaningless end of season kickabout. At this game we would like as many fans as possible to show their desire for change at Arsenal by holding up signs demanding that action is taken. We've seen Coventry City do this successfully at Emirates already, and abroad there has been massive success with this approach.

On this page you can see an image of a sign declaring TIME FOR CHANGE at Arsenal. Click here to download a copy; then print it off and if you can, print as many copies as possible and hand out to people you know are going to the game. We'll also try to get copies in pubs around the ground and handed out near the stadium on the day.

When to hold up your TIME FOR CHANGE sign
We ask that all fans hold these signs aloft on 12 minutes, and 78 minutes (12 minutes from the end of the match). Then at the final whistle hold them up again. We'd love to see a consistent effort in highlighting this message and hope people join in. There have been huge numbers of people saying it's time to protest, so now is your chance.

Up The Gunners.

REDaction statement

TIME FOR CHANGE - Have your say at the Norwich game

It's pretty clear that things aren't right at Arsenal.

We have an absentee owner who takes money from the club whilst not engaging with fans. We have a manager who won't use the resources available to him, to strengthen a squad which everybody can see needs investment. Throw in some of the highest ticket prices in world football. And, all of the Groundhog seasons, where it's clear that the fans' ambitions are not matched by those in charge.

Fans are fighting each other over what exactly is wrong and who is to blame - but it's clear that we are in a rut, and that something needs to change.

Lots of people have opinions on how fans can make our voices heard. At Saturday's game against Norwich, we (along with other fans' groups – the BSM for starters) are calling on fans to send a co-ordinated message - together we are stronger.

What we are asking fans to do:
Before the game - print as many copies of this image as you can (colour or B&W, whatever size you can). Give them to friends who are going to the game.
• At the game - we are asking fans to hold these signs up on 12 minutes (the number of years since we last won the title), and again on 78 minutes (12 minutes from the end). Then, at the end, we are asking fans to stay behind, hold the signs up again, and make your voices heard.

Why this, and why now?
We believe that the only way to ensure our voices are heard, is by getting lots of people involved. A huge banner held up by four people is one thing - signs held by thousands of people are quite another.
• Lots of people have advocated a walkout, or a boycott of the Aston Villa game. Thousands of Arsenal fans walk out 10 minutes before the end of games anyway, and there were thousands of empty seats at the West Brom game. So, would anybody notice the difference?
• The Aston Villa game is unlikely to be on TV now, so this is our last chance to make a big impression at a home game.
• We are encouraging the most vocal protest to be after the final whistle, so no suggestion that this should affect the team. And it goes without saying, during the game please give your maximum (and loud) support to the players on the pitch.
Finally, if you don't agree with the sentiment that things need to change at Arsenal, get involved in your own way. If you don't like what the sign says, make and print your own, and hold that up instead. Apathy achieves nothing - and talk is cheap in the pub and on the internet - we need fans to get involved. Something is wrong at our club - and only change will unite the fanbase again. See you on Saturday.

 

[Scouse]

Thing about Arsenal is that they'll still finish about Man U and Chelski despite those two clubs spending fucktons.

At least they're consistently in consideration. I reckon a top-level striker buy will happen this summer.

 

[DaGaffer]

So what predictions are people going to make over the summer for next year so what other managers are going to change, who'll finish where next year, what big money transfers might be completed, etc.

• Way too soon to tell. If LVG pulls off a miracle and gets 4th and an FA cup, he'll stay another year. Half the board still don't want Maureen and would seize the opportunity to put him out of reach for good (probably in the hopes of getting Pochettino in 2017). If he gets just the FA Cup I think he'll quit of his own accord (because he can say he's won a trophy in every country he's worked in) and retire.
• City will be all about Guardiola either off a CL win, or more likely, a big rebuild that will take a couple of seasons.
• Liverpool are looking good but will definitely upgrade their goalkeeper and look for a new striker who isn't made of wood or glass.
• If Spurs can keep the band together they'll be in really good shape next season.
• Leicester will have to negotiate their first season in Europe; bigger squad, less settled team, challenging.
• Chelsea, fuck knows, Conte is a good manager but will he hit the ground running in his first season? Especially with a big clearout on the way.
• Arsenal...personally I think Wenger needs to bow out. Time for new ideas.

 

[Scouse]

• Liverpool are looking good but will definitely upgrade their goalkeeper

I fucking hope so.

 

[CorNokZ]

I too think Liverpool are moving in the right direction. Klopp seems to have the right mentality for a club, which for years have been just outside of top 4. I saw an interview with him where he said something along the lines of "If I am talking on the phone with a player and he is uncertain that he want's to play for us because I cannot promise him Champions League I hang up right then and there. No one jumps on the moving train without helping setting it in motion." He is seeking players who wants to build a new foundation rather than instant glory, and I think that is what is needed in Liverpool. If he continues in the same direction, with a few good signings over the summer, Liverpool should do well over the next few seasons imo.

 

[Scouse]

New goalie, centre half, left back, Cm and another top class striker.

Five signings, all have to work. We could bumble on with Moreno at left back so maybe four.

If United are allegedly going to spend 350 million I'd happily watch Liverpool spend half that on four players - we're desparate for real quality. The players we have right now should be warming the bench as a result, or be sold.

 

[Raven]

You will no doubt offload Benteke, that will free up 10 mil or so.

 

[Moriath]

Leicester wont be in contention next year. With euro football etc they will be mid table at best

 

[CorNokZ]

So Bendtner released Wolfsburg from his contract. Bookies have him going to England. Which relegation club will bother having him in their troop next season?

 

[soze]

Thing about Arsenal is that they'll still finish about Man U and Chelski despite those two clubs spending fucktons.

At least they're consistently in consideration. I reckon a top-level striker buy will happen this summer.

The problem is it has been needed for years but either he can't scout one he likes or he simply won't. But the AGM was a cluster fuck this year. Tell us all how much we have in the bank refuse to tell us why the Yank is being given millions each year.

I really hope in years to come we find out Wenger had no money to spend and he was just being loyal to the club and not correcting them publicly otherwise his reputation is taking a hit.

 

[caLLous]

As expected. Silly sod.

 

[CorNokZ]

What a role model for all the young players

 

[Shagrat]

up until last night I still thought Tottenham were in with a good chance of beating Leicester to the title. to be honest any other year and I'd have loved this Tottenham side to win it, they're young, play exciting football and have a great squad. It's just unfortunate that if they had won it I'd have hated them forever for stopping Leicester doing something that is probably a once in a lifetime achievement.

next season Leicester will just be enjoying the champions league but I'd still have them in with a shout of qualifying for Europe, just with them having the ability to bring in a bit of extra talent due to the champs league qualification.

Man Utd will struggle again I think, and the title will be Man City/Tottenham or Liverpool (I think Klopp was a great appointment for them, but they need to sort out a keeper who isn't a liability) with maybe Chelsea as an outside bet depending on how Conte gets one. Be interesting to see where Hazard/De Bruyne/Mahrez etc end up next season.

Arsenal - another nearly season. Finishing 3rd this season (possibly) but when its Tottenham/Leicester above you you've got to see that as a massive disappointment, but cant see anything changing there at the moment,

Newcastle - well we should have got Benitez in months ago. been another painful season I'd like to think we've shown enough in last couple of games to mean we can hang on, but think we might have left it too late.

 

[Scouse]

Newcastle - well we should have got Benitez in months ago. been another painful season I'd like to think we've shown enough in last couple of games to mean we can hang on, but think we might have left it too late.

If he stays with you (unlikely, I admit), you'll bounce back up next season.

I doubt he'd stay, but frankly he loves football so much that unless there's a PL job on hand I also wouldn't be that surprised if he did.

 

[Embattle]

Chelsea - Conte starts after Euro 2016 but I can't help but feel he and the club will take at least a year to make purposeful reforms to the club thus next year will be another tough one with at most a top 4 target.
Arsenal - If they stick with Wenger then the target will be top 4.
Man City - Pep will also probably have a big clear out, a tougher league so I'm not expecting much in the first year.
Man Utd - The manager next year will largely depend on what Van does and decides, Jose just doesn't suit them imo.
Spurs - If they improve a bit they stand a good chance next year with a couple of the clubs still going through changes.
Leicester - It'll largely depend if they can keep hold of their players, either way I would suspect a tougher year.
West Ham - An outside chance, a little strengthening might see them make a top 4.
Liverpool - A slight improvement on this year likely, although for some reason I get the feeling if they get the right offer someone like Philippe Coutinho they will sell him and thus shoot themselves again in the foot.
Everton - Martinez will probably get the boot, he just isn't good enough and I suspect they might sell a couple of players.

 

[CorNokZ]

Horrible football being played tonight. City will get run over in Spain

 

[Scouse]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej0t2CBD5s

 

[caLLous]

Alaba has to be one of the most incredibly versatile footballers since forever.

 

[CorNokZ]

Fernandon't Scorres

 

[caLLous]

Imagine Leicester getting drawn in the same group as Atletico next year. It'll be like a perfect storm of anti-football.

 

[Raven]

Someone is still desperately bitter

 

[caLLous]

Ok? Atletico and Leicester are both incredibly hard to break down, I don't see how predicting that a match between the 2 wouldn't exactly be enthralling makes me bitter. Whatever floats your boat though. Do let us know when you decide which team you support.

 

[Raven]

Both are also high scoring, have a high amount of goal chances and don't pass the ball 50 times just to eventually give it back to their keeper.

You already know which team I support (we won our league) Have you ever been to White Hart lane?

 

[caLLous]

Atletico have scored the 5th most goals in La Liga and conceded the 2nd most and yet they sit in third place which to me suggests that they are more defensive than offensive. When a team that is difficult to score against comes up against another team that is difficult to score against, the resulting match is not one for the history books. I'm not having a go at anyone; it's a factual, verifiable statement.

And ah, that old chestnut. Because I live in a different fucking country I'm not allowed to support a football team that I've been to watch (home and away) several times a season from the age of about 20 to when I stopped living in the country and occasionally since (very occasionally, sadly). Even for you that's a stupid question.

 

[Raven]

I am just pointing out that it is pointless having a pop at someone who doesn't support a premiership side. Football is about more than just top leagues. I could pick a premiership side to support but what would be the point? I have no connection to any of them and I don't actually understand how anyone who doesn't have a connection with them can decide they have some sort of affinity with a geographical location. For the most part, one that the person has never even been to, city, let alone stadium. Not a pop at anyone, I just find it baffling, but please don't bleat on that I have to pick a premiership team because I can't. I like Leicester, they entertain me, I quite like Spurs for the same reason, the same can be said for plenty of other premiership teams.

You keep saying Leicester play negatively, its just shows what little you know about football. They play to their strengths and change as per the opposition. They are playing to win, if they have to win ugly then they win ugly. They have reamed teams too, every game this season bar one or two they have set up and played exactly how they should against their opponent on the day. They have the third highest goal quantity in the league behind City and Spurs. They didn't have 100 mil to throw at a team to play tiki taka bollocks, which is the most boring style of football imo.

Football isn't just about glory passes and tricks it is much more a game of strategy.

I am not sure what more you can want from Leicester, they win, they win convincingly, often scoring 2-3 goals. Yes they had a dry spell and ground out a few 1.0 draws but then so did the class of 92...that boring team that changed English football forever.

 

[caLLous]

I get your point about geography etc but I'm more relaxed about whether someone can support a team or not based on... whatever they want, really. As long as they *stick with that team* and don't piss about depending on who's more successful at the time (hi @Aada).

I'm happy for Leicester. I've said (along with pretty much everybody else) that they will drop off at some point of the season but they haven't. Out of all the teams that have been in with a shout in the last few months (which is basically Spurs, Leicester, City and Arsenal) I'd want Leicester to win it if we're not going to.

I would've laughed in your face if you'd said to me at the start of the season that we'd still (mathematically) be in a title race in the 35th week (with fucking Leicester), sitting relatively pretty in 2nd with Arsenal in 4th (well, ok, that last bit was fairly predictable). So far, this has been the best season for Spurs that I can remember and long may it continue (unless we completely fuck it up and lose the last 3 games).

I'm not sure you could've been much more patronising in your post if you'd tried. I think your average U13 player would appreciate that there's strategy involved in a match of football.

 

[caLLous]

Anyway it's been made clear elsewhere that Spurs fans are not allowed to reference Leicester in any way shape or form for fear of being called cunts so that'll be the end of it. Say something nice and you're a sarcastic and/or condescending cunt and say something even vaguely derogatory (or even neutral) and you're a bitter cunt. It's the definition of a no-win situation.