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The Premier League Thread!

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As I mentioned earlier, McClaren had a problem even before he started with the fact that he's so strongly linked with the Ericsson regime, plus of course there's the fact that he's seen as second choice after the FA couldn't lure Scolari into taking the job.

Although some of the criticism that's come his way is a little unfair, I really don't think he's done himself any favours with some of his big decisions, such as his insistence of selecting players who just aren't putting the performances in (the aforementioned Mr Lampard, for example).

Still, if we manage to qualify for next year's European Championship this will all be forgotten and the press will laud him – right up until we're knocked out in the quarter-finals, of course. ;)
 
Henri Gaudier said:
No one bigger? ..... It seems Dein was the club with all the boohooing now he's gone. Henry was the only world class player at Arsenal and he's gone. A definite step backwards. Arsenal still haven't recovered from the demise of Porno & Vieira and now it's been further weakened. With no new signings I predict no Champions League next time around and Tottenham finishing higher.
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Thanks for jinxing it.

Seriously, as much as I want them to, Spurs aren't going to move up in the standings unless they play some defense. One could argue that they overachieved, considering they had a single-digit goal-differential. In terms of overall talent (plus the Wenger factor) Arsenal seem to still have the advantage over Tottenham.

The only way I can see this really toppling Arsenal is if they start having major morale problems, like players are jumping ship and Wenger can't hold it together. It's happened many times before, where a franchise has the talent, but team chemistry goes to hell and then they underachieve. That doesn't seem likely to me. I don't wish that on another team, but if you ask me in nine months and a Champions' League berth is within reach, then I might say different.
 
This summer has been completely silent on the transfer front for Chelsea, which is fine (the only player I really wanted them to go after is El Nino, but thats not happening). But for gods sake can we at least sign and keep our own players.

Lamps and Terry were offered new deals that paid them more than Shev and Ballack, but they still did not sign. The hold up seems to be image rights. Arjen talks seem like they have disappeared and he might as well start talking to Real for a move. Drogba has changed his mind twice this week on what he wants to do.

The only for sure thing that Chelsea is going to do all summer is sell SWP, and Makelele is going to leave since he wont get too much first team football.

Can someone just knock some sense into Peter Kenyon and just get deals done with our most valuable assets. If they leave the all of our fans (which jump on the bandwagon) will forget who we are and then the revenues wont come in as the board intends to make Chelsea profitable.
 
925AS said:
Pizarro isn't quite a big signing by Chelsea standards. You can also include, Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben Haim.
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Ah, but you said completely silent. I think they've had their names burnt with big-name signings, regardless of whose responsibility the signings of Shevchenko and Ballack were. Don't get me wrong, live in Chelsea, me. ;)

They've also got plans stewing to move from Stamford Bridge, a number of sites have been mentioned, and what with the huge salaries demanded by Terry and Lampard, they might be keeping their powder dry for later in the year.
 
925AS said:
This summer has been completely silent on the transfer front for Chelsea, which is fine (the only player I really wanted them to go after is El Nino, but thats not happening). But for gods sake can we at least sign and keep our own players.

Lamps and Terry were offered new deals that paid them more than Shev and Ballack, but they still did not sign. The hold up seems to be image rights. Arjen talks seem like they have disappeared and he might as well start talking to Real for a move. Drogba has changed his mind twice this week on what he wants to do.

The only for sure thing that Chelsea is going to do all summer is sell SWP, and Makelele is going to leave since he wont get too much first team football.

Can someone just knock some sense into Peter Kenyon and just get deals done with our most valuable assets. If they leave the all of our fans (which jump on the bandwagon) will forget who we are and then the revenues wont come in as the board intends to make Chelsea profitable.
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Malouda is on his way too.
 
Malouda is a good player.

But just to keep the big names rolling in, Arsenal have this morning agreed terms with Eduardo da Silva, whom scored against England. Lot of hate from Arsenal fans on the BBC message boards about this one, actually.
 
On the whole amongst fans I know, the general feeling is that we are quite excited. He has a very good scoring record, 34 goals in 32 games in his league, but it is very low quality football. He has also scored 7 times in 12 internationals though. If the fee is right, and the rumours are sounding like it is, then he is worth a punt. Hopefully we bring in someone experienced as well. Remember, we have lost Aliadiere, Baptista and Henry already - 2 strikers in isn't unlikely. If Arsene thinks this guy is worth a shot, thats good enough for me.
 
Wenger strikes again in his 10 year campaign to ruin England's national team.
So .... Walcott gets someone else to stand in front of him like so many young English before. Pennant, Thomas, Sidwell, Upton, Bentley, Taylor etc etc. After a couple of years ... he'll be defeated and go. Vive la France! Another rubbish 2008 & 2010. Another enquiry into why yet another failure, panic as to where the next golden generation is coming from? Soon the England team will come exclusively from the Championship. Very funny. I liked it when Wenger had half the France team. Amazing. Half the France team playing every Saturday together for years. Brilliant plan and it worked didn't it with the World Cup and the Euro Cup. And you wonder why you lose. Is 50 years of hurt too much?
 
Henri Gaudier said:
Wenger strikes again in his 10 year campaign to ruin England's national team.
So .... Walcott gets someone else to stand in front of him like so many young English before. Pennant, Thomas, Sidwell, Upton, Bentley, Taylor etc etc. After a couple of years ... he'll be defeated and go. Vive la France! Another rubbish 2008 & 2010. Another enquiry into why yet another failure, panic as to where the next golden generation is coming from? Soon the England team will come exclusively from the Championship. Very funny. I liked it when Wenger had half the France team. Amazing. Half the France team playing every Saturday together for years. Brilliant plan and it worked didn't it with the World Cup and the Euro Cup. And you wonder why you lose. Is 50 years of hurt too much?
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Inspired. Spending £12 million on Walcott to never play him and piss off England fans was a masterstroke by Wenger in my opinion. You really are too good at spotting these things.
 
This may sound stupid (I've only been following professional football for a year), but what's with the whining about Da Silva keeping Wolcott down? Can't you play both of them up front?
 
Lord Blackadder said:
This may sound stupid (I've only been following professional football for a year), but what's with the whining about Da Silva keeping Wolcott down? Can't you play both of them up front?
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You could, but you need to different styles of player upfront normally. I thin this new guy is very similar to the mould of Walcott so you may be a conflict between the two. Normally you would play one big centre forward who can hold up the ball well and then a more natural finisher with a bit of flair. Now that is in an ideal world and not many teams get that luxury!
 
I think its likely Theo will play upfront in the Carling Cup next season, and on the wing in the first team, when he plays. Da Silva is a finisher. I am waiting for the headline on the back of the Sun at some point next season "DA SILVA LINING'.
 
Not necessarily, but many prefer to see players who compliment each other in terms of style and skill rather than players who are too similar. Plus, if your strikeforce are too similar it could be argued that it’s easier for the opposition defence to play against, with differing styles you’re making it harder for them.

Odd couple? At times last season it felt like we had Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau playing up front for us...
 
I'm a fan of Crouchy myself, and it seems that Rooney/Crouch work well as a strike package.

Having two quality strikers will give Arsenal depth in that position, but I guess the issue is that both will want to start every game. Maybe Wenger isn't convinced Wolcott is ready for that.
 
XIII said:
Inspired. Spending £12 million on Walcott to never play him and piss off England fans was a masterstroke by Wenger in my opinion. You really are too good at spotting these things.
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So it's the scheming of a Frenchman that's keeping England from winning the World Cup? Nice try. :rolleyes:
 
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