Football Focus

[Otta]

Hmm, one of those where luck runs out. Torres arguably lucky to stay on the pitch earlier on, but then desperately unlucky to go the way he did.

And before he went, Chelsea were looking like the side who might win it.

[maxxi]

Gnnnf... no..Fnnnrgh!... striker... gmmmmmph... cow's arse...snnnnkkl.. banjo... gaaaah

[malumbu]

Sorry that I haven't posted for a long time.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahehehehehehehohohoteeheeteeheeguffawhahaha

Well done special agent Moyes. Going down with the Mackams, going down with the Mackams...

[????]

I am getting quite worried now. We had an easy start (on paper) that's gone now. What I am heraing is that Nolan's ineffectual without Caroll and being carried and Sam's one striker tactic with a useless striker is, er, useless. CHANGE IT YOU FAT ****

[Parkdrive]

Top of the league we're having a laugh, paper thin squad, we're having a laugh.

[maxxi]

???? Wrote:

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> I am getting quite worried now. We had an easy

> start (on paper) that's gone now. What I am

> heraing is that Nolan's ineffectual without Caroll

> and being carried and Sam's one striker tactic

> with a useless striker is, er, useless. CHANGE IT

> YOU FAT ****

yep - When I first saw the fixture list I thought if we had points in double figures by now we'd weather the on-coming storm of playing the bigger boys - yet this was inevitable and clear to abso-fucking-lutely EVERYbody since before the transfer window closed - in fact since ?5m was spent on Downing in mid August.

[StraferJack]

Parkdrive

It'd be a brave fan who got cocky at this point of the season

[Parkdrive]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Parkdrive

>

> It'd be a brave fan who got cocky at this point of

> the season

You mean like Yanited and CSKA Fulhan fans, maybe. But we ARE top of the league currently, and do have a paper thin squad with loads of injuries and "unproven" players in the Prem. What a shit start to the season, a real crisis at the Arsenal.

[Mick Mac]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Parkdrive

>

> It'd be a brave fan who got cocky at this point of

> the season

SJ. You need to sing when you're winning or you may never sing at all. Enjoy it and don't be so cautious.

[Otta]

Good result for the pool yesterday. The form book said it should have ended that way, but I was worried Sunderland might respond to DiCanio's sacking with a win. For their part, they looked reasonably decent, and I don't think they're necessarily doomed.

Plus they've got Man U next week, so can start getting some points on the table ;-)

[red devil]

Ha bloody ha.

I was miffed that 'pool got a late 3rd goal, cost me a 3 pointer in the Predictor game...

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> Ha bloody ha.

> I was miffed that 'pool got a late 3rd goal, cost

> me a 3 pointer in the Predictor game...

On a serious note RD, don't you think Ferdinand is well past his sell by date, he's been woeful recently.

[red devil]

I don't think Rio or Vidic can play week in, week out, which is what they have been doing under Moyes. After they pickied up serious injuries, Fergie would alternate one of them with Evans/Smalling/Jones. They only tended to play together in the really big games.

I'm more concerned with the lack of zip the team has as a whole. We're usually sluggish starters, and kick-on from the new year. But the performances against Liverpool (away), City and West Brom were worse than sluggish. I read in the summer how some of the players were saying that the training sessions were more 'intense' than under Fergie. So I'm wondering whether that is having a detrimental effect, esp on the older players like Rio...

[Alan Medic]

I don't understand at all why Rio is being played so much. Evans is a much improved player than a couple of seasons ago and Rio has looked like he's feeling it (playing so many games). Also Jones by most accounts should be a centre half but rarely gets played there. Nani is a waste of space to me and I'd like to see Zaha given a go. I thought Ashley Young was a good buy initially but he hasn't come up with the goods. The one positive is that Rooney is playing well and perhaps he is being helped by the more intense training sessions.

In a perverse way it's sort of good to be talking about United having problems as all the ABU's are delighted. I'm looking forward to seeing how Moyes gets it right.

[red devil]

Another great performance from Ross Barkley last night. Was Moyes not aware how good he is? Maybe he's waiting until his price doubles...

[red devil]

I had a mare on the EDF Fantasy this week, 4th place down to 11th!..

[Otta]

Yeah Barkley is looking the biz, but there was never any link over the summer that I read.

[red devil]

Otta Wrote:

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> Yeah Barkley is looking the biz, but there was

> never any link over the summer that I read.

No there wasn't. There's been a lot of talk about Barkley for a few years now, and from his performances this season it's totally justified. I'm just wondering why Moyes spent so much time trying to sign Baines, who IMO wasn't essential as Evra is still one of the best LB's in the PL, and Fellani, whilst right under his nose at Everton was Barkley, the type of creative midfielder we're crying out for. Anyway, I hope he continues to have a good season esp with WC looming, assuming we quailify first...

[Otta]

Feel genuinely sorry for Celtic, put up a great and organised defence then get sucker punched.

[red devil]

Celtic had two great chances to take the lead just before Barca scored. Had they I'm sure they'd have gone on to win.

Looks like they need to get a result at Ajax to stand a chance of getting through...

[Parkdrive]

Outstanding, immense, classy. I was privileged to watch a stunning performance by the Arsenal last night. Ozils finish was sublime, his performance was class, Giroud immense, Ramsey outstanding. Not bad for a lad who had his leg snapped by the Orcs. Back four were solid, Flamini had his "they shall not pass" head on. If Gibbs had a right foot he could have had 2 goals, best atmosphere for a long long time.

On a seperate note it's interesting that according to many so called experts and pundits, prior to yesterdays game, Arsenal had not yet been tested. So Tottnum weren't a test, says a lot about them then.

[Jah Lush]

Napoli aren't exactly testing though are they? Surely not. Having said that I have to admit it was a quality performance from the Wanderers. They are looking very impressive at the moment. Most Arsenal fans I know always thought Ramsey was crap and I said he'd come good. Look at him now. He's turned into some player hasn't he.

[StraferJack]

Always though Arsenal fans were too harsh on Ramsey

As well as That Leg Break, when he came back he was deployed in various makeshift roles in an underperforming team

So as well as mental toughness to overcome the fear of tackles again, he has shrugged off a LOT of negative barracking from own fans to truly shine

And THAT is how british players make it in the Premiership (as opposed to being David Bentley billy-big-boots ideas-above station merchants, complaining about # foreigners in game. Be good enough dammit!)

As for Napoli being a test, media was full of it before game

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=napoli+test+for+arsenal

Once again tho, none of this translates to anything unless it's sustained for a whole season

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Napoli aren't exactly testing though are they?

> Surely not. Having said that I have to admit it

> was a quality performance from the Wanderers. They

> are looking very impressive at the moment. Most

> Arsenal fans I know always thought Ramsey was crap

> and I said he'd come good. Look at him now. He's

> turned into some player hasn't he.

Top of Serie A, supposedley one of the best leagues in the world, swept aside,and according to Souness, "a really stiff test". Tottnum aspirations of league title, Champions League, signed shed loads of supposedly quality players also beaten. Yet we are in crisis, paper thin squad, yada yada yada, and yet Yanited are having a blip. The media love in with Yanited knows no bounds does it?

[red devil]

Media love in with Utd? That's the funniest thing you've ever said, we're getting torn to shreds at the moment.

Had to laugh at a Daily Mail 'headline' though, More misery for Moyes as Pogba and Tevez shine for Juve

Tevez? WTF, how many years is that going back? :)

Didn't see the Arsenal game but saw the goals, both very classy...