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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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We’ve missed a hat full of chances in the first half. Still 1-0 up, but can’t help feeling we might come to regret some of those missed chance.
Well, West Ham are now three goals to the good, and lead Wolves by 3-0.
Perhaps they are "struggling" but let us not forget that they are up against a very good Leicester team (who play very well as a unit), and an exceptionally lethal finisher in Vardy.
Cloud 9! A clean sheet would be almost as welcome as the 3 points.
Forget the fantasy team; a 4-0 victory is one to savour, and Wolves are a very solid team. This is an excellent victory.
Agreed. Our next league game is against Leicester so will be tough. But despite the press talking about a crisis at West Ham, we really only played poorly against Newcastle. We deserved something out of the Arsenal game. We’ve had two very good victories in the cup.
So hopefully we can push on from here.
Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve.
The Hammers would’ve could’ve and should’ve won that game by a FAR higher margin...some good goal keeping but some lack of luck on a number of shots.
could’ve ended up the highest scoring game this weekend if they’d all gone in!!!!
Indeed. I was pleased after all those missed chances in the first half, we still got the win!
Some odd score lines today...to see Man City and Wolves both get shellacked...neither team should be leaking so many. On the flip side, huge results for Leicester and West Ham. Especially the latter, they needed a result badly given who they face in the next few games.
Also, Bayern got spanked 4-1 by Hoffenheim, that ends a 32-match unbeaten run for Germany's "death star" football club.
Also, Bayern got spanked 4-1 by Hoffenheim, that ends a 32-match unbeaten run for Germany's "death star" football club.
Considering transfers should be hush hush, amazing how there is always a 'leak' of sorts.
I cannot stand transfer season.
It will be interesting if we, Arsenal, can get rid of anymore players, and possibly bring in Houssem Aouar, or anyone else for that matter.
I cannot stand transfer season.
It will be interesting if we, Arsenal, can get rid of anymore players, and possibly bring in Houssem Aouar, or anyone else for that matter.
I think the players you are trying to get rid of are quite happy sitting in the reserves for £350,000 a week. Meanwhile they’ve let some staff go who would take 19 years to earn that due to finances. I’m not sure how they sleep at night!
Yes, certainly a lot of dynamic around this topic.
Honestly, not sure how Ozil will pan out this season. And, it does him no good sitting on the shelf, then he is not in the shop window, per se'. So, there's that, too...
Honestly, not sure how Ozil will pan out this season. And, it does him no good sitting on the shelf, then he is not in the shop window, per se'. So, there's that, too...
Seems clear that the teams that had a shorter break / preseason are really struggling. This includes United, City, Chelsea, Wolves, even mighty Bayern Munich look pretty bad so far this season.
Regardless of City's form, Leicester are back with a vengeance. With Maddison on form and the improvements they made in the off season, they're a dangerous side.
This is going to be an amusing / stressful week with United facing off against Brighton again in the League Cup and Spurs at the weekend. Looking forward to more banter between Ole and Jose, at least.
Regardless of City's form, Leicester are back with a vengeance. With Maddison on form and the improvements they made in the off season, they're a dangerous side.
This is going to be an amusing / stressful week with United facing off against Brighton again in the League Cup and Spurs at the weekend. Looking forward to more banter between Ole and Jose, at least.
It would be nice if we could off-load some of the underperforming, overpaid, and entitled individuals we have on our books.
I'm completely in agreement with @Apple fanboy - quoted below - on this.
I agree with this sentiment entirely, though I think blaming the player is something the clubs and agents are quite happy to see fans and the media do; the reality is that apart from the fans, the players have the least say out of all stakeholders in how much they get paid. Ozil's insane wages are the result of a "market" that is being massively inflated by owners, FIFA, TV companies, sponsors, and those vile parasites we call "agents."
If I were Ozil I would feel guilty earning so much - but the fault lies more with the agents and faceless suits working for TV companies, clubs, and FIFA, than with him. Maybe club staff should get contracts the way players do, so they can't be fired willy-nilly as soon as finances get shaky.
One thing to remember about Leicester is that while Brendan Rogers has occasionally been a figure of fun (and brings it on himself at times), he is a good manager, and came within an ace of winning the league with a quite flawed Liverpool side. Leicester look pretty solid and could be a force in the league again this season. The biggest question is how to prepare for the post-Vardy era. There is no other striker in the UK quite like him.
I do love the Ole / Jose banter. I Think OGS is on a hiding to nothing tangling with the Formerly Special One...watch out for that eye-poke, Ole!
Exactly what I was saying to my Dad earlier. Vardy makes such a difference to Leicester. He will score goals. But at 33 he can’t go on for ever! Personally I’d much prefer to see Leicester win the league again than any of the other ‘big clubs’. But mostly I’d just like West Ham to keep hold of Rice and play like we did on Sunday for the rest of the season!
The bigger concern now is, can we beat Liverpool at home today...
Man Utd struggle mightily when they are forced to break down an opponent while defending against counterattacks. And Mourinho is no stranger to that approach. But Son is out with a hamstring injury, while Bale is both injured and not fit. So it could be a pretty dour affair, with Mourinho content to watch Man Utd labor against a packed defense with Kane sniffing for opportunities at the other end.
And there will surely be at least one penalty in that match. Narrative demands it.
Hendo and the Ox are out, but Thiago is in. With both Matip and Gomez (possibly) out, the center of defense is a little thin, but with van Dijk present I expect things to be OK at the back. Arsenal are generally moving in the right direction under Arteta and beat Liverpool in Charity Shield, so this will be a tough match.
While I would be more than happy with three points, I would be content with a draw.
However, the bigger picture is that the team - in terms of attitude, ambition, anticipation, work-rate, spirit, response to set-backs, resilience, - have all improved enormously under Arteta.
Personally, I would love to see Leicester do well this season.
From a totally pragmatic perspective, Liverpool are probably not a team Arsenal need to worry about this season because Arteta is realistically not gunning for the title (though, of course, we'll see how the season goes). They do need to beat out the other top four contenders head-to-head and of course get a good haul of points / strong goal difference against the bottom half clubs to ensure a CL spot.
For Arteta, a top four finish would be a successful season IMO, and I imagine they will go deep in the cups. Europa League? Meh, as long as they get knocked out by a good opponent in the knockout rounds grumbling will probably be kept to a minimum. Or they could go deep there if they exit the cups early.
Liverpool are in good form and I am hoping for, but by no means expecting, a win for the Reds.
EDIT: Speaking of the Europa League, Leicester could have an interesting campaign in Europe if they make it a priority...but the league will surely take precedence.
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