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2009-10 Football Thread – The Second Half

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Vermaelen no broken leg - possibility for Sunday. Song and Eboue both back and in good form and can play Sunday. GOOD news - Song and Fabregas in the middle makes a big difference, Denilson was rather **** at playing Song's holding row.

To the person who said Arsenal fans are going to start saying they would've won the league if it wasn't for injuries: no, that isn't the case. I do however believe most teams would be severely handicapped if you took away their most prolific striker and goalscorer, with a huge number of assists too: and you may remember, in the form of his life. Liverpool without Torres? We are seeing the effects. United without Rooney? Chelsea without Drogba? I'm not saying van Persie is as good as Rooney and Drogba but - he is as important to us in terms of goal scoring ability, especially this season where he started amazingly. It may not have won us the league, but it would've helped a lot if he was around.
 
Fizzoid said:
Well, I guess it comes as no surprise that Rio Ferdinand's appeal against his ban has been rejected...
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Personally, I was very surprised that he got punished – I fully expected him to worm his way out of it somehow.

Mind, last night Rio decided to engage in a bit of further elbowing, this time with Mr Tevez. You would have thought he'd have learnt.
 
Jaffa - thanks re Hunt and Wolves. See one of the games is Chelsea, a Hunt favourite.

The Ferdinand ban was expected, the tape is clear, and the extra game looks worthwhile at the moment. The Tevez incident was an arm-off rather than an elbow, contrast with Ronaldo last weekend.

Will Manchester United play the long ball game on Sunday:D

Cheers,
OW
 
XIII said:
Vermaelen no broken leg - possibility for Sunday.
To the person who said Arsenal fans are going to start saying they would've won the league if it wasn't for injuries: no, that isn't the case. I do however believe most teams would be severely handicapped if you took away their most prolific striker and goalscorer, with a huge number of assists too: and you may remember, in the form of his life. Liverpool without Torres? We are seeing the effects. United without Rooney? Chelsea without Drogba? I'm not saying van Persie is as good as Rooney and Drogba but - he is as important to us in terms of goal scoring ability, especially this season where he started amazingly. It may not have won us the league, but it would've helped a lot if he was around.
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Point taken, and I honestly didn't mean to be bashful. In essence I was referring to what you just said, each team competing in the EPL be it for the title or to avoid the drop will pass through a period of relative "crisis", it's how that team deals with it that proves their worth. Chelsea without Drogba did fantastic ( which has me now believing that they will win the league), Man Utd were without a regular defense last year and won (all the while going on a record breaking run). In a way you can't win the league cause you're lucky nor can you blame not winning it on bad luck.

You also bring up Liverpool and that's a fair point. Rafa gets crucified each game for over relying of G&T and not bringing in the proper reinforcements. Well the same argument applies to Arsene, it's not like Van Persie being injured comes as a shock to anyone, so one could ask why didn't he buy another reliable striker instead of flirting :p around europe. I'm sure he has his reasons but I'm sure you agree basing a substantial portion of your title push on one injury prone person always would have repercussions.
 
I followed the Algeria-Egypt match a bit, Algeria absolutely lost their heads after a somewhat unlucky second yellow sent them a man down - but they just got wilder and ended the game trounced 4-0 and three sent off. I hope they play like that in the World Cup, it will almost guarantee USA a spot in the next round...

Manchester United are playing pretty well right now, it should be an interesting match this weekend.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
Personally, I was very surprised that he got punished – I fully expected him to worm his way out of it somehow.

Mind, last night Rio decided to engage in a bit of further elbowing, this time with Mr Tevez. You would have thought he'd have learnt.
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He appealed so he could play in the derby match. Why don't the FA double his punishment for taking the piss? Or punish him for elbowing Tevez?

Scummy bugger.
 
He did get the additional match ban for appealing the decision. Hopefully it was worth it just to beat Citeh. He played pretty well, so hopefully his back issues are behind him, but at least he gets four more matches worth of rest to be sure of it. :p

At least Vidic should be back for Sunday. And Jonny Evans is playing pretty well at the other CB spot.

Utd also seems to have remembered how to link up in the final third and put the ball in the net.

But at Arsenal, anything can happen. I'm having nightmares of Arshavin and/or Fabregas just destroying the midfield and scoring spectacular goals for fun.
 
Silencio said:
He did get the additional match ban for appealing the decision.
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Indeed, his three match ban stands plus an extra one for the 'frivolous' appeal. His name is Rio and he watches from the stand, as the old Duran Duranesque chant goes.

Thing is, fat lot of good it does us. Had it been punished during the match United would have been down to ten men and, as the offence happened in the area, we by rights should have had a penalty. Had that happened and had we have equalised from the spot then we may have got something from the game. Instead, Fagan got booked for having the cheek to complain about Ferdinand. Bah.
 
Taken from the BBC's Football Rumors section:
Hull City are desperate to address their £10m debt and rising wage bill and chairman Adam Pearson has said the club will listen to offers for all of his players.
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Apparently it's a story in the Daily Star, so take it with a couple of kilos of salt
 
Gary McSheffrey has signed for Leeds by all accounts on loan until the end of the season, along with Shane Lowry (young defender from Villa).

Two good loan signings to strengthen our squad and get us back on track. I expect Norwich to win the league but with a good run in we'll push them close.
 
Fizzoid said:
Taken from the BBC's Football Rumors section... Apparently it's a story in the Daily Star, so take it with a couple of kilos of salt.
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Indeed, interesting that there's no quote from Pearson in The Star's article actually saying that.

Both Pearson and Brown have said in recent weeks that we're keeping hold of our key players, a point the manager reiterated in his press conference this week. However, he conceded that every player ultimately has his price, using Ronaldo's £80m transfer as an example.

I suppose in tabloid land that equates to our entire squad being on the transfer list – the same mentality that when Bullard said a couple of weeks back that we were working hard to climb up the table that this was reported as silly Hull [sic] thinking that they can challenge for Europe, despite the E word not being uttered once...

Anyway, once Wolves tomorrow is out of the way we have Chelsea to look forward to on Tuesday night. We'll probably get our arses handed to us on a plate of course, but there's always the chance for the Tiger Nation to have a bit of fun at the expense of one of Chelsea's big name stars. We just need to select a target...
 
Betting for tomorrow...

Leeds have signed McSheffrey who should (in theory) rip League One defences apart. We're in the middle of a slump at the moment and desperately need to dig ourselves out of it to get back on the promotion train - at home to Colchester is a perfect oppurtunity. Also, Colchester have a thing for crumbling under the pressure of big crowds, and there'll be 20k+ at Elland Road.

Nott Forest might be away, but in my opinion they're the best team in the Championship and I can't see a pretty substandard Derby side stopping them. It might be the odd goal but it will be a Forest win IMO. Earnshaw first goal is probably a good bet too, but not worth it.

Aldershot are pushing for promotion from League Two and Grimsby are struggling to stay up. At this price, they're a steal.

Sheffield Wednesday slipped up against Scunthorpe but they look good under a new manager, and Soares is an excellent signing from Stoke. Tudgay has found his scoring boots again and Plymouth don't have any scoring boots - 22 goals in 25 games. Comfortable for Wednesday.

West Brom need to get points on the board as the automatic promotion race hots up with Forest, Newcastle and West Brom all looking to go up without having to worry about the playoffs. Sheff Utd are fairly hit and miss this season and they've got a pretty decent record so it won't be easy for West Brom, but they'll be really motivated and just too good for the blades.

Cardiff slaughtered Bristol City in the week and I can't see Doncaster stopping them scoring at least a few tomorrow. Doncaster are on a losing streak and travelling to a team that's scoring goals for fun is never good for confidence. Cardiff might be financially screwed but they'll win this.


Backing all of them gives you about 24/1. I've gone for the accumulator, and also trebles, fourfolds & fivefolds just in case.


I've also got a Lucky15 on these four being draws:
Hull v Wolves
Birmingham v Tottenham
Reading v Barnsley
Coventry v Blackpool
 
Well since the mods haven't closed us down, this is what I've got in my works sweep using the predictor. I get £50 if I pull this off...

Hamilton 0 v 3 Celtic
Aberdeen 2 v 1 Motherwell
Hibernian 2 v 0 St Mirren
Kilmarnock 0 v 2 Dundee United First Scorer: D Swanson
Rangers 2 v 0 Falkirk
St Johnstone 1 v 1 Hearts


Pretty glad to see Danny Fox is off to Burnley, he was being a bit too useful. Celtic only signed him in the summer, played 22 games and made a profit on the sale.
 
Indeed, the fine was due to 'interference by government', a bit of smarter PR would have taken care of that.

Today didn't go as planned....
 

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smwatson said:
Betting for tomorrow...

Leeds have signed McSheffrey who should (in theory) rip League One defences apart. We're in the middle of a slump at the moment and desperately need to dig ourselves out of it to get back on the promotion train - at home to Colchester is a perfect oppurtunity. Also, Colchester have a thing for crumbling under the pressure of big crowds, and there'll be 20k+ at Elland Road.

Nott Forest might be away, but in my opinion they're the best team in the Championship and I can't see a pretty substandard Derby side stopping them. It might be the odd goal but it will be a Forest win IMO. Earnshaw first goal is probably a good bet too, but not worth it.

Aldershot are pushing for promotion from League Two and Grimsby are struggling to stay up. At this price, they're a steal.

Sheffield Wednesday slipped up against Scunthorpe but they look good under a new manager, and Soares is an excellent signing from Stoke. Tudgay has found his scoring boots again and Plymouth don't have any scoring boots - 22 goals in 25 games. Comfortable for Wednesday.

West Brom need to get points on the board as the automatic promotion race hots up with Forest, Newcastle and West Brom all looking to go up without having to worry about the playoffs. Sheff Utd are fairly hit and miss this season and they've got a pretty decent record so it won't be easy for West Brom, but they'll be really motivated and just too good for the blades.

Cardiff slaughtered Bristol City in the week and I can't see Doncaster stopping them scoring at least a few tomorrow. Doncaster are on a losing streak and travelling to a team that's scoring goals for fun is never good for confidence. Cardiff might be financially screwed but they'll win this.


Backing all of them gives you about 24/1. I've gone for the accumulator, and also trebles, fourfolds & fivefolds just in case.


I've also got a Lucky15 on these four being draws:
Hull v Wolves
Birmingham v Tottenham
Reading v Barnsley
Coventry v Blackpool
Click to expand...

Forest and Aldershot cost me on the first set, didn't lose too much as the doubles covered it pretty much.

Made a tidy £60 on the draw L15 though :fumup:
 
Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

@smwatson. Sounds like we didn't put up much of a fight againt your boys today. At the moment I'm thinking it's playoffs at best for us. Norwich win again, looks like they've (stolen) a great manager :mad::mad::mad:

I really hope that Celtic sack Mowbray and Lambert jumps ship up there. The money Celtic pay Norwich, they can give to us to pay our compensation. Maybe that'll make them go bust and the 10 point deduction helps the rest of us at the top out.

/rant
 
capoeirista said:
I really hope that Celtic sack Mowbray and Lambert jumps ship up there. The money Celtic pay Norwich, they can give to us to pay our compensation. Maybe that'll make them go bust and the 10 point deduction helps the rest of us at the top out.

/rant
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Took me a while to work that one out - you support Colchester?
Mowbray is doing quite a nice job at Celtic thank you very much!;) I actually don't believe there is that much heat on him, looks like he's been allowed (limited) movement on the January transfer window to try and shape the team his way so he won't go before the summer regardless of what happens (despite having a worse record than John Barnes:eek:)

Also don't hold out hope for the money - Championship teams seem to have bigger spending power than any team in the SPL - even the Old Firm have lost players to the likes of Blackpool.
 
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