Football Focus

[Alan Medic]

Me too with the 2-2.

[Alan Medic]

Some fantastic goals by the Arse yesterday. What makes football worth watching.

[Otta]

Yep, although he'll kill me for saying it, Mr Lush was saying they were looking pretty good when I saw him today!

[red devil]

Grass!..

[Otta]

He did mention that they've not been tested yet ;-)

[????]

Yup, they've not had the Hammers at home yet

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal.....the surprise package. Don't really know what to expect though. Lots of attacking midfielders but do they really have a tough enough midfield. But then Barca show that a skilful midfield can do it, you don't necessarily need a Vierra. Have times changed.

[Otta]

We shall see, but they are looking great. Meanwhile Liverpool and Man U showing what confidence and lack thereof can do.

Still early days though, Let's wait and see where we are on Jan 2nd...

[Jah Lush]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Arsenal.....the surprise package. Don't really

> know what to expect though. Lots of attacking

> midfielders but do they really have a tough enough

> midfield. But then Barca show that a skilful

> midfield can do it, you don't necessarily need a

> Vierra. Have times changed.

Not that he is in the same league as Viera, they've got Flamini to do the dirty work. Reminds me of Peter Storey. A right dirty bastard. Pains me to say it but they were superb on Saturday and the first goal was sublime. They are certainly the form team at the moment but it's a long season and we're still only eight games in.

[Mick Mac]

Yes Ray Parlour says Flamini is the unsung hero too. Will look out for him. Don't see a lot of that sort of player if you only see the highlights though.

[Jah Lush]

Don't worry. You'll spot him when he gets booked.

[StraferJack]

as Jah says, long season ahead but very happy so far. I was so hacked off at the Arsenal boo boys, especially after that Villa game at start of season. Of course Ozil has helped massively but we are seeing quality in players that were dismissed by some fans mere months ago

Anyway - massive game tonight but the real test will be when we hit a bad run, how will the team (of largely trophyless players) respond

[Jah Lush]

And Aaron Ramsey's been your best player. If anyone has stepped up to the plate he has and good luck to the boy after that bloody awful Shawcross challenge on him that broke his leg many Arsenal fans wrote him off. Useless was the word bandied about.

Spurs, Liverpool, Man Utd and City are all very much a work in progress. I think it is going to be one of the most interesting seasons we've seen in a very long time. Sadly though, for a "local" club. Crystal Palace already looked doomed.

[Otta]

Never thought I'd say this, but I won't lie, I am quite tempted to read SAF's new book. Should be some tasty stories in there!

[red devil]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Ozil has helped massively but we

> are seeing quality in players that were dismissed

> by some fans mere months ago

Maybe the other players have upped their game because of Ozil.

When Cantona arrived at Utd, players like Giggs said he had an effect on the training ground as well as on the pitch...

[Otta]

Good point from Gary Lineker

"Pity it's Portugal v Sweden in WC

play-offs. One of football's biggest

stars will miss Brazil2014 . Ronaldo

or Ibrahimovic for BBC pundit?"

That is a shame one of those two won't be there.

[Jah Lush]

A little bit of fun at the expense of David Moyes and Man Utd. Red Devil, look away now.

http://talksport.com/football/best-man-united-and-moyes-jokes-twitter-13102164896

[red devil]

Too late!...I was listening to Talksport earlier for the Fergie book revelations, and they had a SAF soundalike on afterwards. He came out with a good line about anyone going down the road named after him should allow an extra 8 minutes on their journey time...

[StraferJack]

Handbrakey

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal have been tested now. Reality check will be good for them though.

Looks like it was a decent performance but stung late and a bit unlucky.

ps. Actually I stand corrected. Glenn Hoddle says Dortmund were the better team.

[Mick Mac]

People starting to sing Neil Lennon's praises as a manager finally. Well done again NL, no money, no captain, key injuries, 10 men, no worries.

[Otta]

I didn't think Dortmund looked all that to be honest, but Arsenal were not firing on all cylinders.

[red devil]

It was a poor match considering the quality on the pitch, maybe they just cancelled each other out.

At least Wenger was forthright and honest in his appraisal. Arsenal did show naivety and immaturity. In the context of the group, a 1-1 draw would've been a very good result for them, there was no need to chase a winner liked they did...

[SCSB79]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> People starting to sing Neil Lennon's praises as a

> manager finally. Well done again NL, no money, no

> captain, key injuries, 10 men, no worries.

As no one else really cares, I need to bring you back down to earth Michael.

You beat a very average Ajax team at home and, if you saw the game, would agree you were lucky. They hit the post at 0-0, you get a soft(ish) penalty and a hugely deflected goal then they missed a few chances that should have been put away.

They had nearly 70% posession - are you really happy with that at home?

And you say a win with 10 men, pfft, he got sent off in the 88th minute - it's not as if you had to play with ten men for half the game??!!

Anyhoo, I still predict you'll finish bottom of the group unless you get a result in Amsterdam.

And yes, before you say it, I am enjoying life in Division one.

[Mick Mac]

Ah, there you are. I have missed you.