I was just reading the demise of arsenal.
20 years running in the champions league and the fans wanted Wenger out.
Not even in Europe this time unless they win the FA Cup.
Worst league finish for 25 year and no positives on the horizon.
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I was just reading the demise of arsenal.
20 years running in the champions league and the fans wanted Wenger out.
Not even in Europe this time unless they win the FA Cup.
Worst league finish for 25 year and no positives on the horizon.
I can see some signs of improvement under Artete though and he is stuck with working with what he has.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Ozil on a crazy contract who has underperformed ever since he signed it under Wenger just before Wenger went.
He hasn't a top quality central defender at the club - he might go for Stones in the window.
Centre midfield is a bit of a problem as well with Gendhuozi out of the French 2nd division.
So he needs 4-5 new players in.
Up front, lots of options if he can keep them.
Disagree. Arsenal in champions league glossed over many cracks plus showed lack of depth in Premier league. Being out of Europe won't be a bad thing (although I hope it's not going to happen), has done Chelsea good in the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Worst league finish, that's always going to happen, last year was the worst for 24, so all fans must accept that lots of clubs are chasing and 2nd level of clubs (behind Man City and Liverpool) is highly competitive.
Positives, loads. Good crop of young players, 3 of the top 10 youngsters in world are there (Saliba, Martinelli and Saka), new signings such as Tierney are class. Front line, looking good but need service.
Probable loss of Aubameyang will be hard, but I'd sell, Sokratis, Bellerin, Mustafi, Torreira, Ozil, Lacazette (unless Auba goes), Kolasinac, Guendozi (unless he sorts attitude), Elneny and Mkhitaryan for a start. Should raise a bit of capital and allow Arteta to grow the squad. It took Man City a while to get up to speed as a successful club. Arsenal have no divine right to be there but it did hurt losing to Spurs!!!
But how Arsenal can you get, beat the 2 best teams in Europe and then lose to Villa....
Not forgetting the other English youngsters (Saka already included in above post). Maitland Niles (flatters at times but marked Mahrez out of game v City), Willock, Reiss Nelson, Nketiah, Holding and Smith Rowe. None may be first choice next season but easily good enough to slot in and out as squad is rotated.
I'd say the future is v bright indeed.
I disagree on Torreira - think he's a decent holding midfielder. I'd forgotten Elneny and Mkhitaryan were there :DQuote:
Originally Posted by biaraV2
I'd also work like hell yo keep Aubamayang and haven't an issue with Lacazette.
But your list does highlight the dearth of mediocrity at the club.
Nice to see a so called top 6 club not in the top 6.
Might be a long time before they get back.
Most expensive club for spectators too.
Torreira agree is class but works better in 3 man midfield which Arteta doesn't seem to play much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
Front players of Reiss Nelson, Martinelli, Auba, Nketiah, Saka, Pepe along with attacking midfield such as Smith Rowe (when he returns from Huddersfield) is enough players. If Auba is there to spearhead attack, sell Lacazette, agree he's class but would prefer to bring through the youth players.
In a couple of years time, the idea of Martinelli, Nketiah and Saka, rotating with Pepe and Reiss Nelson behind them Smith Rowe as attacking midfielder behind could be pretty good!!
As predicted at the time, Villa were kept up by that VAR "no goal" on the first game back against Sheff Utd.
Pretty much the crowning turd in a pile of... er... even more turds, for VAR.
The prem league is not losing owt special with Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford going down.
Although your right about villa.
If you think back to last year they only got up due to leeds letting them walk a goal in. Should have played to the refs whistle.
I like Norwich... one of the better away days to go to, despite it being an absolute trek to get to! And in three visits i've never seen us lose at Carrow Road...
Won't be long before you can go back there Travs
Brentford and fulham play off final.
Would rather have had Swansea than these two.
Arsenal win the FA Cup. So what??
Thanks for the spoiler. I’ve been doing a Likely Lads
Brentford are a decent proper club. Although it's a massive shame that they're moving to a new ground. Used to be a proper away day.... down to Central London, tube out to Ealing, pub on each corner of the ground...Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Ha ha ha your supposed to tell people :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I hope brentford win because they have played good football all season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Had to smile last night.
Sterling scored for City and joined and elite club of English players who have scored 20 or more European goals.
Ronaldo scored his 130th last night.
Barcelona got a right thumping from Bayern.
8 - 2
Heads will roll.
I smiled even more this morning after watching Raheem Sterling's open goal miss against Lyon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Perhaps he has been exercising one knee more than the other recently and that caused him to be off balance.
He'll have some excuse, its never his fault.
WHAT???
I keep hearing world class!@!
Ha ha ha
I don’t really follow football. What is it about the lad Sterling that certain forumites seem to really dislike?
If you followed football you would know, and at the opposite end of the scale you would also know that Marcus Rashford is an inspiration.
And no, I'm not a Man Utd supporter.
Was enjoyable to hear Steve McManaman's sour grapes at Manchester City going out last night. Particularly the amount of time he spent moaning about that Lyon player diving.
When Jack Grealish does it though, its "intelligent play" and "he's the most fouled player in the Premier League, don't you know".
Diving and cheating has always been around, but it used to be that some players could be relied upon to be honest. Nowadays it seems everyone is at it and it's accepted "part of the modern game".
I remember seeing Jordan Sancho on his first ever game for England... within two minutes of coming off the bench he threw himself on the ground... this is the "future of England" and a "fantastic role model" apparently...
It's cheating, pure and simple. Which is why i can't identify with the game any more.
I've gone off it too. Cancelled my Sky Sports package and don't miss it.
However I did watch the last stage of the Dauphine on Eurosport today and in was fantastic. Won't do a Stagger and say what happened just in case anyone is recording it!
Must get back on my bike.
What did happen??? I didn't record it??Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I'm glad no one has given away the Dauphine result as I've recorded to watch first thing.
On the football, I was amazed at the side City started with. They were strong favourites but had a very cautious lineup with 2 holding midfielders.
I don't get Rodri.
I don't think they play as well with Gundogan. I don't think he's a bad player, but he just doesn't seem to fit in my opinion.
and Cancelo? They do seem to struggle at left back, but they had 2 better ones on the bench.
It seemed like a 7-0-3 formation, and I'd even question whether one of those 3 would qualify as a Striker.
They struggle without Aguerro as well. They have only him as a genuine class striker. Not enough.
However, they had enough chances, more shots, 2/3 of the possession, and only have themselves to blame.
Guardiolla clearly a genius, but I'd have had the following:
Back 4: Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko
Midfield: Fernandinho, D Silva, B Silva, De Bruyne
Up Front: Mahrez, Sterling
What I have against Sterling personally is his diving and his surly attitude which has been evident from his Liverpool days. I think that's perhaps wide spread.
Now to tonight. Up to half-time, Utd can muller this lot if they just cut out the errors. Pogba is very slow in possession. I'd get rid personally. I think he's a square peg in a round hole.
I used to have Sky just for Eurosport just for the cycling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
When Eurosport allowed direct subscriptions I cancelled Sky - Eurosport is an astonishing bargain.
Thing with the champions league is you can dress it up, hype it up, as much as you like.... But its still a cup competition. Hence Lyon could pull off a rresult.
Is the side that wins it necessarily the best side in Europe every year... Not necessarily.
Just off the top of my head I can think of a number of teams in various years who have won it without being the highest quality side...
Red Star Belgrade
Steaua Bucharest
Porto
Liverpool (vs Milan)
AC Milan (vs Liverpool)
Chelsea
Manchester United (vs Chelsea & Bayern Munich)
Last year two English clubs in the final and the media were telling us that we are dominating Europe again...
This year there's two French and two German sides in the semi-final... Does this now mean France has the strongest league in Europe?
It's not the be-all-and-end-all.
Im not necessarily in agreement that Guardiola is a genius... Propelled into Barcelona job... Then unlimited funds at Bayern Munich and Man City. He threw hundreds of millions a year at the Man City playing squad until they won the league... I'm not saying he's crap, but I think again its a case of over-hyping by the media (a bit of a recurring theme when it comes to football... But they've got to sell their newspapers and tv subscriptions!)
That's interesting Graham. TV wise I've only really kept Sky for Eurosport but I do have broadband and mobile with them as part of a package and to be honest the thought of trying to sort out individual deals puts me off. I do like SkyQ also for recording things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I didn't know that a direct Eurosport subscription was available. Probably a silly question but does that enable you to watch it on a TV or just a computer screen.
That's interesting.
Both Manchester clubs who were favs have now won bus fare home.
Ha ha ha
I think it's around £40 pa - which is absolutely nothing when you think of the dozens of different sports, multiple cycling events (Dauphine + Tour of Wallonia today) and never ending catch-ups.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
As far as I know - just on a PC but I normally sit by my PC (writing my poetry and all) anyway. I'm not very techy so I don't know if you can link a PC to a "smart" TV nowadays. I have Freesat which uses the Sky dish. For the Grand Tours (and things like the Dauphine) ITV4 coverage has been steadily improving over the years and is doing more live afternoon coverage than ever.
I think you should be able to cast to your TV.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I have a couple of channels that have been breaking up on my TV via Broadband that come through crystal clear on my phone, so O cast them. Unbelievable quality picture.
Re Guardiola - I perhaps use the term genius a little loosely, but I think in football management terms he's up there with the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
There's barely any successful club manager in the last 20 years that hasn't bought success to a degree.
When Guardiola came in, he got City playing in a way that was fresh in the Prem. They are so slick in their passing and I know us at Burnley have found that hard to get to grips with, and that has encouraged others to try to play a similar way, sometimes to their cost.
I think he's showing signs of losing it though. Maybe time to move.
The selections were puzzling. He's missing up front. I'm also left scratching my head at the signing of Ake from Bournemouth. I expected a Prem Club to go in for Ake, but not a title contender.
What is an O cast and how do you do it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
Sorry, was supposed to be "so I cast them"! Visions of quoits at the TV screen, which I do often feel like if I inadvertently end up on Sky News :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
and don't ask what an I cast is :D
Don't think I would have picked maguire for the England squad with his on going trial.
Cricket did better with the stokes brawl.
U TURN, by Southgate.
Common sense has prevailed.
Messi to Harrogate Town???
Player / manager at Macclesfield for Messi, with Maguire as his first signing