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2009-10 Football Thread The Second Half
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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I thought the ref kept the game flowing quite well last night. Thats what those two teams need. If the game keeps getting stopped for every little niggle then it would of been a pile of poo.
That being said the penalty and red card were totally the wrong decision. Fabregas stuck his leg between Puyols and Puyol was trying to get out of the way and then to give a red card was horrendous.
Barça beat Man U in the final with only one regular in the back four so its not too much of a big deal as Milito is back and Marquez will probably replace Pique (who is suspended for next match).
And Iniesta should be back too.
Shame about Fabregas... not!
We discussed a little earlier the possibility that West Ham might complain about the line up Fulham fielded against the mighty Tigers – their co-owner David Sullivan has apparently confirmed that a complaint will indeed be lodged...
Good point Jaffa about Hull City's own injury problems - nobody brought that side of the story up in the press. West Ham are just doing everything they can to avoid potential relegation, no matter how far-fetched. I hope they get relegated so I don't have to see any more photos of David Sullivan and his Willy Wonka jacket.
Fabregas' season is over.
A huge loss for Arsenal, I won't say you can write Arsenal off now, but Fabregas has finally grown into the captain Arsenal needed and losing him is much bigger than just losing an influential playmaker.
At Liverpool, the Riera saga continues. He's put in some good performances, but he's clearly been dissatisfied with his playing time. What we have now is the worst possible situation - being stuck with a player that doesn't want to be here. Yet another example of my biggest criticism of Rafa - his penchanct for buying players who don't play for one reason or another. In related news, Aqailani has a tummyache or a hangnail or some such and won't be in the side for today's Europa League match.
Skrtel has been hurt too much this season, our back line has almost never been full-strength. Still, I think we should be able to beat Benfica. A Europa League trophy will get us into the CL anyway.
Fabregas' season is over.
A huge loss for Arsenal, I won't say you can write Arsenal off now, but Fabregas has finally grown into the captain Arsenal needed and losing him is much bigger than just losing an influential playmaker.
At Liverpool, the Riera saga continues. He's put in some good performances, but he's clearly been dissatisfied with his playing time. What we have now is the worst possible situation - being stuck with a player that doesn't want to be here. Yet another example of my biggest criticism of Rafa - his penchanct for buying players who don't play for one reason or another. In related news, Aqailani has a tummyache or a hangnail or some such and won't be in the side for today's Europa League match.
Skrtel has been hurt too much this season, our back line has almost never been full-strength. Still, I think we should be able to beat Benfica. A Europa League trophy will get us into the CL anyway.
That said though, didn't Arsenal play well recently the when he got injured the last time? I seem to recall Nasri playing very well in what is Fabregas' position. Obviously no question he'll be a huge loss, and I hope to watch him in WC2010. How about the other players though? Arshavin is out, as is maybe Gallas. Will Arsenal have enough first team players to complete the season?
Yes, of course. But it is not the position we want to be in. Nasri slots in for Fabregas fairly naturally.. with Rosicky on the bench to play where Nasri was, or where Arshavin was. Eboue can also seemingly do anything. Denilson was exceptional last night after he came on, we will need big games from him. At the back, Gallas has been out for a long time already, and we've been okay.. not great though. Song fills in there, or Sol. I would say the first choice starting line up with injuries is probably:
Almunia
Clichy Vermaelen Sol Sagna
Denilson Song Nasri Diaby Rosicky
Bendtner
leaving options with Walcott, Eboue, Eduardo.. not great, but passable. Not good enough to beat Barcelona I don't think
or to win the league. Ramsey would be very useful right now to fill in for Fab.
Yes, Arsenal have gotten the job done without him, but how many big players can Arsene afford to lose? The answer is none, and Wenger has lost two or three now. I think Arsenal can still push for the domestic title (since the other Big Three teams are missing players as well, someone mentioned Essien who I'd forgotten about!!), but Barca will probably prove too much for them.
Still a good lineup. But Arsenal's depth is really being tested, especially when you imagine what the side would look like with everybody healthy. I wouldn't rule the league out just yet - mainly because Chelsea or United or both may stumble if they pick up a few injuries, and that might be enough to catch them.
As an addendum to this injury talk, it's worth mentioning that Gerrard and especially Torres have regained fitness and improved form at just the right time for Liverpool to try to salvage something from this season. Benayoun and Mascherano are healthy now as well. There's still time to take 4th in the league and the Europa League is by no means out of the question.
XIII said:
Still a good lineup. But Arsenal's depth is really being tested, especially when you imagine what the side would look like with everybody healthy. I wouldn't rule the league out just yet - mainly because Chelsea or United or both may stumble if they pick up a few injuries, and that might be enough to catch them.
As an addendum to this injury talk, it's worth mentioning that Gerrard and especially Torres have regained fitness and improved form at just the right time for Liverpool to try to salvage something from this season. Benayoun and Mascherano are healthy now as well. There's still time to take 4th in the league and the Europa League is by no means out of the question.
To be fair, if you take two or three key players out of any team in any league it's going to affect them for the worse, and probably upset West Ham in the process.
I think Arsenal will really miss Fabregas' leadership as much as his abilities as a footballer – I know a few of us here have commented on how well he's grown into the role of captain this season.
I think Arsenal will really miss Fabregas' leadership as much as his abilities as a footballer – I know a few of us here have commented on how well he's grown into the role of captain this season.
I hope Lucas has one of his good days today.
EDIT: Well that's a good start! Let's keep it up...Benfica are fashioning a lot of chances, this could see quite a bit of goalmouth action.
EDIT2: Well done Benfica. Now lets see how well you do at Anfield, against 11 men, and trying to score from open play.
Frustrated, but considering how long we had to play with 10 it's a good result. We have an away goal and are only down a goal on aggregate.
Well done Fulham. They still have a job to do in Wolfsburg but they won the match today.
EDIT: Well that's a good start! Let's keep it up...Benfica are fashioning a lot of chances, this could see quite a bit of goalmouth action.
EDIT2: Well done Benfica. Now lets see how well you do at Anfield, against 11 men, and trying to score from open play.
Frustrated, but considering how long we had to play with 10 it's a good result. We have an away goal and are only down a goal on aggregate.
Well done Fulham. They still have a job to do in Wolfsburg but they won the match today.
Fabregas' card - talk on Radio 5 Live has been that even if you get the ball first, taking the player is a yellow.
Return leg - one goal and a great defensive display, but the nagging feeling is that Arsenal will need two.
Liverpool - should get the job done at Anfield, though there could be problems if Agger's head explodes.
At least the second legs still look interesting.
Strongest team - knackered star player v full of beans squad player?
Cheers,
OW
Return leg - one goal and a great defensive display, but the nagging feeling is that Arsenal will need two.
Liverpool - should get the job done at Anfield, though there could be problems if Agger's head explodes.
At least the second legs still look interesting.
Strongest team - knackered star player v full of beans squad player?
Cheers,
OW
They did win, but looked tired, especially in the second half. Hopefully giving up the goal in the last minutes won't come back to haunt them. England will rue the day that they don't pick Zamora for the World Cup.
That's also my understanding - if you take the man out you get carded, whether or not you get the ball.
Re: Zamora for England.....On paper the Rooney injury doesn't gurantee Zamora any chance at South Africa. However, It may give him a chance to make the 23 man squad for the friendly match against Mexico. Rooney should be back before the end of the season though, so if Capello wasn't looking for another striker before, and everyone's healthy, why would he now?
Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey. Do you bring in Zamora in Beckham's spot? Does England need five forwards on the plane?
Ugh. Exeter 2-0 Colchester. If Huddersfield win tomorrow we'll be out of the top 6 for the first time this season. Gone from championship contenders to scrabbling about for a win. No wins in 7? It's a bad day. Still it looks like I've got a ticket for the Millwall game on Monday. That'll be a treat
I always assume Manchester United will win, but always hope I'm wrong.
Both teams have key injuries. I think Chelsea is arguably less weakened by injury, but I'm still predicting a United win with a trademark Fergie Time goal.
To be honest, I'm more interested in the fourth place scrap. 4th-7th places could change a lot over the weekend.
Gallas' World Cup is in jeaopardy, though he looks like he will probably make it. Raymond is not happy though:
BBC said:
I have a feeling you'll sadly be right but that'd be a bad outcome. At this point i'm happy to see Chelsea win the title instead of United.
As for National vs Club coach...Wenger kinda has a point.
EDIT: Today's Match
Officials had a terribe match...some shocking decisions. A draw would've been a fair result cos it was mostly a game of two halves but just as I thought one team was always gonna nick it. Although United, in truth, have themselves to blame.
Not a great result for an Arsenal/United fan but the positive is Chelsea still have to face a resurging Liverpool and recently consistent Tottenham away.
As for National vs Club coach...Wenger kinda has a point.
EDIT: Today's Match
Officials had a terribe match...some shocking decisions. A draw would've been a fair result cos it was mostly a game of two halves but just as I thought one team was always gonna nick it. Although United, in truth, have themselves to blame.
Not a great result for an Arsenal/United fan but the positive is Chelsea still have to face a resurging Liverpool and recently consistent Tottenham away.
Outrageously offside goal for Chelsea's winner, but I had them down as winner on points so I think it's a fair result. Rooney>Berbatov.
The only mistakes I saw were the offside goal by Chelsea, and the handball goal by United. Chelsea clearly outplayed Utd and were deserved winners.
Park and Anelka both had blatant penalty shouts too in addition to those. Agreed-ish on the latter. Man Utd did enough to earn a draw but they have Berbatov to blame for not being clinical. But yeah...overall Chelsea edged them.
If Park wouldn't have fallen over so dramatically, he might have gotten the call, but I didn't think it was a penalty. Anelka should have been given a penalty.
Devastated, things were looking up until that second offside goal, how you can call yourself a referee and not spot that is beyond me, disgraceful.
At one point the ball was falling in front of the Chelsea goal and I was wondering who would be coming for it, only to see Park wobbling around like a headless chicken and not even come close. I mean, c'mon! Is that the best we had?
One game, at home, a chance to beat your rivals, second place team and go four points clear and they bottle it. If you don't show up to these kind of games when will you?
And Berbatov can bugger off, I'm done defending him, a flop and a waste of money, sell him, learn, and move on.. Macheda, coming off an injury did more than he did...
Rant over and my apologizes you had to read that..
At one point the ball was falling in front of the Chelsea goal and I was wondering who would be coming for it, only to see Park wobbling around like a headless chicken and not even come close. I mean, c'mon! Is that the best we had?
One game, at home, a chance to beat your rivals, second place team and go four points clear and they bottle it. If you don't show up to these kind of games when will you?
And Berbatov can bugger off, I'm done defending him, a flop and a waste of money, sell him, learn, and move on.. Macheda, coming off an injury did more than he did...
Rant over and my apologizes you had to read that..
Maybe a bit premature on that one.
Gunners may also be decisively kissing their title challenge away...
EDIT:...or not. lol...talk about leaving it late. *sigh*
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