The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[hopstupid]

We'll do something..... like get Flamini on a free and make insulting bids for Di Maria and Benzema. When they go to P$G Arsene will say we tried.

All I can say is if we end this transfer window with nothing but two free players then Wenger can leave along with Silent Stan and Gazidis. This transfer window will have been a massive failure.

I think wenger is going to come out of this looking better then Moyes. Arsenal looked pretty good today



"Manchester United manager David Moyes has claimed he would not have stood in the way of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini leaving the club if he was still in charge at Everton."


Man U should not allow him to speak to the press. Desperation

 

[aygov]

I think wenger is going to come out of this looking better then Moyes. Arsenal looked pretty good today

"Manchester United manager David Moyes has claimed he would not have stood in the way of Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini leaving the club if he was still in charge at Everton."

Man U should not allow him to speak to the press. Desperation

We'll see. Moyes has the benefit of inheriting a championship winning team. Whereas Wenger is under increasing pressure to deliver some silverware. I don't think Moyes is sink or swim this season, but if they're trophyless this season the weight of the world will be on him.

 

[aygov]

And Citeh are upset by Cardiff City....

 

[hopstupid]

And Citeh are upset by Cardiff City....

& I couldn't even watch it

not really digging NBC having having PL tv rights

sucks

 

[aygov]

& I couldn't even watch it

not really digging NBC having having PL tv rights

sucks

You could have streamed it, no?

http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/

I love NBC's coverage. Fox soccer was crap for me. Comcast in my area never picked up FS in HD so all the PL on there were in SD and they NEVER offered free online streaming for alternate games. There is also Extra Time as a channel, but the way Comcast offers it (On Demand and in certain markets) it is clunky as hell if you even get it. I'm happy just to have a legal outlet when they're not showing a game I want to watch on TV. If FS skipped an Arsenal game I'd end up on the internet watching some dodgy Chinese stream.

 

[danielofthedale]

Just under two weeks till the US-Mexico game. Any of you guys going to Columbus?

 

[Grannyknot]

Just under two weeks till the US-Mexico game. Any of you guys going to Columbus?

Couldn't get tickets.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Woo! LandyCakes has signed a new multi-year contract with LA. Between LD and Keane making excellent connections up top, a fast and intelligent midfield featuring the Brazilian duo of Sarvas and Juninho, a backline that has been playing together for years, and an array of youngsters with tons of talent and potential, the LAG should be strong contenders for at least a few years.

I just hope Donovan stays mentally fit. I would be thrilled if he didn't go on loan in the off-season.

 

[danielofthedale]

Well in the Champions League, F stand for FUBAR'ed! My Gunners got just about the worst possible draw with Dortmund, Napoli, and OM. To make it even worse Dortmund have been my second favorite team in Europe so this is just all kinds of awful for me.

 

[hopstupid]

Well in the Champions League, F stand for FUBAR'ed! My Gunners got just about the worst possible draw with Dortmund, Napoli, and OM. To make it even worse Dortmund have been my second favorite team in Europe so this is just all kinds of awful for me.

Don't worry Wenger dropped some big bucks and signed Mathieu Flamini

 

[aygov]

United lose to the scouse, Arsenal triumph in the NLD, and Bale joins RM for £83.5 million...

 

[toast26]

Hey Daniel,
I well be in Columbus with a couple kegs. Heading down with 8 guys, 4 of us homebrewers. We went to the Jamaica game last Sept, and it was rad. This one looks to be set to blow it out of the water.

 

[aygov]

GET THE **** IN!

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I love Ozil, but I don't think he's the biggest need at Arsenal, I think Ozil is a bigger need for Man U or someone like that. Arsenal's problem is similar to Tottenham, they have great midfielders but their striking situation blows. I think they would have been better trying to gun for a striker.

But at least they'll give Giroud plenty of chances to see what he's made of. But adding a guy like Ozil would have been a better move 2 years ago with RvP up top than it is now.

 

[Grannyknot]

I'm happy with the Ozil purchase.
Something we lacked last year, & still lack, is the ability to break down a defense when we are dominating possession. I think Ozil will help with that.

Since Ozil typically plays on the right, I'd really like to see Walcott moved to the left, so he can cut in and shoot with his right. I've seen him forced into far too many shots on his weaker left foot. If he can settle in on the left, we can use Cazorla in the middle, where he excels, and move Podolski to the back-up striker position. I don't see him being at the club beyond this season anyway.

Yes, we didn't fill the perceived "needs", but really none of the top clubs did.
Some can argue that Spurs filled their needs, but in my opinion, all they've done is taken a massive risk by signing nearly an entire new squad of players who have no history with AVB, and aren't proven in the Premier League. I think their lack of cohesion really showed in the NLD.

The only thing I really regret from this summer's window is not paying the additional cash that RM were asking for Higuain. That and looking like F-ing morons for the Suarez deal. Might as well have put in a bid for RVP if we wanted to look stupid.

 

[aygov]

Higuain + Ozil would have been a near perfect window... if I was going to be picky, a defender would have been nice as well.

We still have worries up front as we are pretty much one injury away from either Sanogo or, god forbid, TGSTEL (Bendtner). Perhaps we can sort something in January on that front, but Wenger seems to only do January business when our CL spot is in jeopardy.

At any rate Ozil will improve us no doubt and is a massive coup for us. I know quite a few united fans that were raging about it. We also have picked up Viviano on loan so we have a bit more depth and competition at the keeper spot and Flamini seemed to do a good job on Sunday. Overall I'd say I'm slightly disappointed we didn't get more done this window, but significantly less than I was when we had spent no money.

 

[danielofthedale]

Hey Daniel,
I well be in Columbus with a couple kegs. Heading down with 8 guys, 4 of us homebrewers. We went to the Jamaica game last Sept, and it was rad. This one looks to be set to blow it out of the water.

Sweet! You going to the night before party or getting in on Tuesday?

 

[danielofthedale]

I LOVE the Ozil move. We have depth really no where, I mean Rosicy was going to be our starting central attacking mid for a while with the all the injures we have. Now our 3 in the 4-2-3-1 is Santi-Ozil-Theo with Tomas, Ox, and Lukas as backups when healthy. I think if we were going to pick up a starter his was the best position to fill.

I think some people forget just how good Arsenal was after the new year last season. I think we had the most or second most points over the second half. We had 5 clean sheets over the last ten games. We had the second best defensive record at seasons end conceding 6 fewer goals than Man United, Man U just scored 14 more I believe.

Giroud is going to be a 20-25 goal scored and Ozil makes Sanit and Theo that much more dangerous too. Plus I think Viviano could become the #1 GK which would be an upgrade. If we can stay healthy then I think a top 3 finish is not out of the question.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Poor, deluded Gunners fans.

You will still suck doggy balls.

 

[aygov]

Poor, deluded Gunners fans.

You will still suck doggy balls.

You're going down, going down, going down....

 

[hopstupid]

I love Ozil, but I don't think he's the biggest need at Arsenal, I think Ozil is a bigger need for Man U or someone like that. Arsenal's problem is similar to Tottenham, they have great midfielders but their striking situation blows. I think they would have been better trying to gun for a striker.

But at least they'll give Giroud plenty of chances to see what he's made of. But adding a guy like Ozil would have been a better move 2 years ago with RvP up top than it is now.

They tryed for Suarez and failed, World class strikers are hard to find only so many.

Wilshere is a china doll I think it's a great move for the gunners.

 

[aygov]

Well this is a train wreck at the moment...

 

[Grannyknot]

No Bradley is huge.
Midfield general.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Bradley is one of the 3 most important US players. Defense has been a huge problem though.

 

[Catfish78]

How bad was it? I woke up to see a 3-1 score line. I know we have never won down there but 3-1? What happened?

 

[mrgstiffler]

How bad was it? I woke up to see a 3-1 score line. I know we have never won down there but 3-1? What happened?

It's not what happened, it's what didn't happen. Specifically, defense. The flanks let Costa Rica do whatever they wanted all game.

 

[aygov]

It's not what happened, it's what didn't happen. Specifically, defense. The flanks let Costa Rica do whatever they wanted all game.

Exactly. There was way too much space down the wings, especially the right side. In addition to that we had no midfield presence for most of the first half. The attack consisted of long balls over the top for Donovan to chase.

 

[Catfish78]

Just saw the "highlights", two headers, really? Rubbish. Couldn't get a real good picture of how the game was played, but what I saw wasn't inspiring. They do that against Mexico, it's all over but the crying.

 

[aygov]

Part of me thinks that some of this is due to the team starting to believe the hype behind the streak. I think getting punched in the nose by Costa Rica might get our heads out of the clouds.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Exactly. There was way too much space down the wings, especially the right side. In addition to that we had no midfield presence for most of the first half. The attack consisted of long balls over the top for Donovan to chase.

I really hope if we're fully healthy we move Fabian to left back and put Cherundolo at RB.

Midfield will be full with Dempsey, Donovan and Zusi rather have Zusi at RM than Beasley at LB.

Also why is no one mentioning Mexico. Oh Mexico!!! I hope we beat them and keep them down in 4th