Looks to be an amazing run in- I think Arsenal have played most of the 'big' games away now, so what with United's trickier looking ties away it might come down to injury and goal difference. May (kicking off from the 1st) should be a gripper!
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2010-2011 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Looks to be an amazing run in- I think Arsenal have played most of the 'big' games away now, so what with United's trickier looking ties away it might come down to injury and goal difference. May (kicking off from the 1st) should be a gripper!
You know, when I saw the slow-mo replay I was sure that Clattenberg was looking at the ball at the time and would've saw Rooney peripherally at best. Had it in the back of my mind that there was a rule on an incident not seen by the ref at the time then retrospective action could be taken- but then again, Clattenberg says he did see (and surely wouldn't have awarded a free kick if he hadn't) .....
Actually I was responding to Silencio's post about today's match. Rooney was fouled quite a few time from David Luiz.
I haven't reviewed the numbers lately, but I thought Arsenal was four points behind, with an inferior goal difference and a game in hand. So assuming Arsenal win the rest of their matches (a big if), United still need to drop two points in the next ten matches, or one point if Arsenal score a boatload of goals and top United's goal difference.
Traditionally United are strong for the run-in, so unless they have an uncharacteristic end-of-season slump Arsenal are really going to have their work cut out for them, especially now that they have all these big injuries.
I gave the video a miss myself. I have no problem watching Cantona kick fans, but kicking an owl just ain't a fair fight.
I think he meant that if we win our match in hand we would be one point behind and we still have to play them at the Emirates. Assuming each party wins all the remaining matches except for out clash at the Emirates where we win and they lose. We would nick it by two points.
However, it's one of those seasons, so things are all but unlikely to go that smoothly for any party involved.
Luiz was the best player on the pitch tonight, but he should have picked up a second yellow somewhere along the way. He absolutely levelled Hernandez at one point, no call. If the ref isn't going to call it, might as well keep doing it.
Terry handled the ball in the box? No call. Zhirkov trips over Smalling who's just standing there doing nothing? Point to the spot. That was an even worse call than the Ballack penalty in 2008.
Vidic deserved to be sent off, though. Lost his head at the end, and now he misses the Liverpool match. No complaints there, though I'm sure Liverpool is thrilled about the prospect of facing off against Smalling and Wes Brown in the middle.
Whoever wins the BPL this season won't be the best team; they will merely be the least bad team.
Ironically the second toughest game to win I think will actually be the game in hand, which is away to Tottenham so it's not a forgone conclusion that they'll pick up the 3 points.
If Arsenal do beat Tottenham that'll leave Spurs squarely out of the top four and likely end their Champions League hopes for next season. And Arsenal of course need to win it to win the title. So both sets of players will have a lot to play for and a lot to lose personally, not just the derby glory, so it should be a cracker of a match. So it's come to pass that the turning point crucial match of the season for both clubs is now against each other, it couldn't have been scripted better. A draw won't do either club any good, so there can only be one winner or two losers.
Yep. The title decider will/can/should/might be the match against United at Ashburton Grove, winner take all.
Good point. This loss means Arsenal do potentially have the capability of taking the lead when they face off against United.
All the Gunners have to do now then is avoid choking in any of the remaining matches and ensure they don't go dropping any silly points.
Ah.
By the way, we've got another Liverpool kid in on loan – pacey winger David Amoo. From this – and the fact that we apparently received an official letter of apology from Anfield after Hodgson's hamstring-related histrionics– we can deduce that it was Woy who had a problem with us and not Liverpool as a club.
I love winding up a Gunner-supporting friend of mine, so I'll be sure to make choking noises the next time I see him.
Well that's settled then. I'm glad Liverpool made up for it by sending you Amoo loan to bolster the Tigers' squad.
All the Gunners have to do now then is avoid choking in any of the remaining matches and ensure they don't go dropping any silly points.
Ah.
By the way, we've got another Liverpool kid in on loan pacey winger David Amoo. From this and the fact that we apparently received an official letter of apology from Anfield after Hodgson's hamstring-related histrionics we can deduce that it was Woy who had a problem with us and not Liverpool as a club.
I wonder why Hodgson would have a problem with Hull City? You bought Bullard for £5 million from Fulham. I can't imagine a better gift given.
One of his youngsters picked up a hamstring injury while on loan with us, and he didn't recover from said niggle as quickly as Hodgson would have liked. He went off on one criticising us and our medical staff, in a rant that many suspected was part of a scheme designed to try and divert attention away from Liverpool's poor form at that point in time.
It should be remembered as well that following the Bullard transfer Hodgson was gloating in the media about offloading an injured player. I've gone right off him, so I have.
I remember the incident from earlier this year. As far as the past with Bullard, that's Hull City's problem. If their medical staff said that he would recover, then they are to blame. It's not like Bullard's lack of fitness was something new. Also, Hodgson was glad to be rid of him since he liked to roam around a bit too much and didn't keep the team shape in tact.
It was more the case that Hodgson was claiming the knee problem that sidelined Bullard after he joined us was a pre-existing injury – which he was aware of when he approved the sale – and he congratulated himself publicly on offloading an injured player onto us for a sizeable fee.
However, the knee surgeon (the chap who's treated Bullard throughout his career) confirmed that the damage was a fresh injury sustained during a match after the transfer, and wasn't a pre-existing condition.
Not very nice of Uncle Woy, to be sure.
Maybe he's more like that cranky uncle that talks about "building character" than the jovial, fun one that gives you neat birthday gifts. Mind you, that's still better than Sepp Blatter, the creepy uncle your parents won't leave you alone with...
Maybe he's more like that cranky uncle that talks about "building character" than the jovial, fun one that gives you neat birthday gifts. Mind you, that's still better than Sepp Blatter, the creepy uncle your parents won't leave you alone with...
All the Gunners have to do now then is avoid choking in any of the remaining matches and ensure they don't go dropping any silly points.
Ah.
All too likely. My nerves will be more on edge about their nerves being on edge than about their ability to actually win. And experience now tells us that we can't even relax with a 2, 3 or even 4-0 lead!
I'm more confident about the league than I am about the two cups. Carrying serious loss of confidence into Orient, and serious injuries into Barcelona. But after that the return of Vermaelen and with Walcott and van Persie recovered again the Gunners will be back to full strength again so will look promising for the run in to the end of the season.
Just have to get past Orient and Barcelona. Yes, I'm saying Leyton Orient and Barcelona both in the same sentence! Then there'll only be Man Utd standing in Arsenal's way of a League/Cup Double. Just like in 1999, ugh! So I hope history doesn't repeat itself. Have to beat Man Utd in both league and cup to do the Double or they'll be doing the Double (Treble!) instead. But, Orient first or nothing...
My prediction, 5-0 to the Arsenal. Leyton Orient players were celebrating their draw like they won the Champions League. I've seen that too often before and the return leg turns out to be a hiding. Edit - Arsenal's own draw against Barcelona last season for example.
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It's hugely premature to say it's in Arsenal's hands, there is absolutely no way we won't drop more point before the end of the season..! We probably need to beat United, hope Liverpool beat United, and even another result to go our way to account for the predictable dropped points at Spurs, Bolton, maybe home to Sunderland...
I agree, because my gut feeling is that you are not going to win that game against Spurs.
I think that, in order for Arsenal to win the title, they will have to beat United and United will have to lose twice more, or lose once and draw once.
I think that, in order for Arsenal to win the title, they will have to beat United and United will have to lose twice more, or lose once and draw once.
But that's exactly what I mean about it being in Arsenal's hands now. Not premature at all. From now on if Arsenal drop points and lose the title it's entirely their own doing. As opposed to having their destiny in Man Utd's hands and relying on them to drop points instead.
And all other things being equal anyway. Assume they're both at the top of the table so far because they're similar enough that they otherwise both drop points the same in other games anyway. Which would just be continuing what has already been happening - the only real difference between them right now is the United win over Arsenal at Old Trafford where an Arsenal win would see them currently leading with 59 ahead of United's 57. Or a draw would be United 58 Arsenal 57. Both with Arsenal still having a game in hand. So that 1-0 result was huge for Man Utd and the only difference between the two clubs so far. One goal. By that accursed Korean nemesis of Arsenal, Park. And if Arsenal reverse that result at Ashburton (by containing Park!), they will take the lead instead.
The last time Spuds did the double over Arsenal in the league was 1993, so it's not a common occurence. They won at the Lane last season so it's not out of the question they can repeat that again and actually do the double this time around. Harry's done wonders with that team of ne'er-do-wells.
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Real Salt Lake clobbered Columbus 4-1 to knock us out in the Champions League. All we needed was a scored draw to go through on away goals, but our depleted and inexperienced squad simply can't compete yet. I'm not surprised, the Crew are going to spend this season just building some understanding between the new players and getting used to being without key men like Schelotto, Carroll and Hejduk.
I've always loved to hate RSL, with their silly name, and they've beaten the Crew in several key matches over the last couple seasons. Now I officially despise them.
Still, they haven't a hope in hell of winning the final, assuming they even make it there.
I've always loved to hate RSL, with their silly name, and they've beaten the Crew in several key matches over the last couple seasons. Now I officially despise them.
Still, they haven't a hope in hell of winning the final, assuming they even make it there.
Poor Owls. There's always someone happy to stick the boot in, eh Fizzoid?
Always! But be warned, we won't take anymore!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt7toFy-9T4
Are you talking to me?
Not fat, just big-boned. And he knew how to put away a penalty.
And that accent!
On Chelsea v Manchester United:
Weak midfield -> away form.
It was known that John Terry's dad was the referee, and Chelsea played him well - including the usual kicking lumps out of the opponents and obligatory Terry handball in the box - Manchester United, like other teams - Arsenal, just had to deal with the tactic* and the referee, but they weren't strong enough. Silencio has mentioned the major points, and I'm surprised the media aren't calling for Luiz to be banned for his elbow on Hernandez.
Ferguson needs to employ some rakes for the match at Old Trafford.* a tactic Manchester United and others have appeared to use against Arsenal.
I would liked to have seen Hernandez come on with 25 minutes to go rather than start, but they didn't use him well anyway - few balls beyond him and Terry to chase.
Arsenal and Manchester United will lose and draw games before season end; United's midfield isn't strong enough and injuries/bans have the defence heading towards Arsenal's - add to the Gunners' defensive problems an attack that, through injury, fluctuates from highs to just about workable. Who knows which players will be available when the teams meet and for the run-in? Valencia has been training hard and could be ready in a couple of weeks. Park should be back, he was missed yesterday.
The defence I'd like to see against Liverpool is; Rafael - Smalling - Brown - Evra. O'Shea is too slow. Whoever plays, Manchester United need to go for it rather than worry about the defence - Suarez and Carroll are likely to bundle a scrappy goal
. Kelly not making it is a big loss to Liverpool, as it will be if there's no morerelish. Johnson has to be attacked.If anything has been learned from yesterday, it's that players should live at the grounds, and David Moyes has gone soft:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/9411210.stm
Cheers,
OW
Brutal. Don't mess with the owls.
It was known that John Terry's dad was the referee, and Chelsea played him well - including the usual kicking lumps out of the opponents and obligatory Terry handball in the box - Manchester United, like other teams - Arsenal, just had to deal with the tactic* and the referee, but they weren't strong enough. Silencio has mentioned the major points, and I'm surprised the media aren't calling for Luiz to be banned for his elbow on Hernandez.
My take on the calls during the match, from an admittedly biased point of view, was that Luiz should have been sent off for two yellows. I would not call either foul (the barge on Hernandez and the clip on Rooney) a red card, but both were yellows. Terry's "handball" was a tough call - I think technically you might say it was a penalty based on the fact that he seems to deliberately dip his shoulder so as to make contact with the ball. But at then same time it was high on the top of his shoulder and I've seen those not given often enough. I'd say that's one of those 50/50 calls where half the refs in the league would call it, the other half would not. The penalty on Smalling was a good call IMO, he definitely impeded Zhirkov. A soft foul? yes, but more a penalty than not. As for Vidic's sending off, I think a yellow card was fair.
The end result was, both teams went for it, United got the better of the first half, Chelsea won the second, and got a little lucky to boot. Fergie looks like an ass for complaining, though since he's a football manager we can hardly expect any different behavior from him.
The defence I'd like to see against Liverpool is; Rafael - Smalling - Brown - Evra. O'Shea is too slow. Whoever plays, Manchester United need to go for it rather than worry about the defence - Suarez and Carroll are likely to bundle a scrappy goal
They all count, my friend.
If we can beat United on scrappy goals I'll take it every time.I think Liverpool's morale is high, but we have a couple injuries now and Carroll is not going to have any match-fitness if he does play. Our defense is still a big worry - Dalglish got a run of clean sheets out of our back four and that is encouraging, but against a top four team I still have no confidence in our ability to keep the ball out of our own net. If we win, it will have to be a 2-1 or 3-2, there's just no way we're going to keep a clean sheet unless United's attack simply fails to show up for some reason.
Kelly will be missed. Johnson's defensive weakness is a badly kept secret, perhaps our best chance for success is to try and outplay United in the midfield and starve Rooney/Berbatov/Hernandez of the ball. We will need big performances from Lucas and Kuyt - and it wouldn't hurt to see Gerrard step up and make a big impact...it's been seemingly ages since he put in a standout performance.
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