Football 2010-2011

[Cardboard Box City]

Mario Balotelli apparently finally showed his worth with a couple of goals today, then got sent off. Been looking forward to seeing him find his feet.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Cardboard Box City

[Cardboard Box City]

Balotelli's attitude got him sent off. Anyone who knows of his time in Italy at all shocked?

[eFestivals]

As much as I don't like Liverpool, I must say I pleased for Roy Hodgson after all the stick he's had to put up with.

For some reason I had a feeling that Liverpool might turn Chelsea over yesterday - and so I chose to watch that match and not the Arsenal/Newc (which I'd have watched otherwise).

Chelsea have been out of form for a few weeks, and Woy seems to be starting to understand how to get better out of the players he has. But it still took two Torres specials to sort it, Ancelloti should learn to keep his mouth shut and not say Torres is nothing special.

I reckon Glen Johnson might struggle to get his place back tho. And Joe Cole.

[ampersand]

yeah it's all starting to fall into place by the looks of it. rubbish innit

hopefully the league will stay like this for a long time though. except arsenal. told you they would have plenty more west broms on the cards

[eFestivals]

yeah it's all starting to fall into place by the looks of it. rubbish innit

Liverpool are on the same points as Spurs now (and three points from 5th and five points from 4th)- and no one is saying they're a rubbish team having a rubbish season.

hopefully the league will stay like this for a long time though. except arsenal. told you they would have plenty more west broms on the cards

Yeah, they're looking as fragile as ever, and like the season is going to be like the last few. Their players are starting to come back tho (and Cesc is out of form), so there's improvements to come. And while Fabianski cos them that goal, he's better than Almunia.

They'll be equal on points with Utd within a few weeks, cos Utd are sure to lose a game soon.

[funkymp]

They'll be equal on points with Utd within a few weeks, cos Utd are sure to lose a game soon.

[eFestivals]

Mancester derby Really just want this to happen so we can open up a 5pt lead at the top again if we beat Fulham.

Chelsea are doing what they always do - having a storming start and then dropping off. So I wouldn't be so sure about getting that 5 point lead back again, tho of course it's far from impossible.

All the same, having said that, I can't see anyone else winning the league this year.

[Wooderson]

Much as I enjoyed the win yesterday with some outstanding performances (Torres & Reina natch, Kuyt and the exceptional Lucas) we were flattered by a hapless Chelsea.

They were dreadful.

- - -

The winner from Park however is the most crucial goal of the season thusfar. At the death, out of nothing and absolutely vital for Manyoo's title hopes. If Utd can overcome Citeh midweek having seen Chelsea's abject showing against a dreadful LFC side I would be inclined to think that the momentum will lean towards Old Trafford again.

Arsenal?

[funkymp]

Chelsea are doing what they always do - having a storming start and then dropping off. So I wouldn't be so sure about getting that 5 point lead back again, tho of course it's far from impossible.

All the same, having said that, I can't see anyone else winning the league this year.

[eFestivals]

Much as I enjoyed the win yesterday with some outstanding performances (Torres & Reina natch, Kuyt and the exceptional Lucas) we were flattered by a hapless Chelsea.

They were dreadful.

- - -

The winner from Park however is the most crucial goal of the season thusfar. At the death, out of nothing and absolutely vital for Manyoo's title hopes. If Utd can overcome Citeh midweek having seen Chelsea's abject showing against a dreadful LFC side I would be inclined to think that the momentum will lean towards Old Trafford again.

Arsenal?

Chelsea were defo having a bad day - but i thought they would do.

As for Arsenal, they're going to have a more successful season than last season (as long as their players stay fit). With Chelsea and Utd both weaker than they were last season, it puts them more in the running this year than they were last year. It might not come to much, but it'll defo be a better one than last year.

[The Nal]

As for Arsenal, they're going to have a more successful season than last season (as long as their players stay fit). With Chelsea and Utd both weaker than they were last season, it puts them more in the running this year than they were last year. It might not come to much, but it'll defo be a better one than last year.

[ampersand]

Not with defending like that. Awful. We predicted it here last week too, so obvious they'd struggle against a high ball.

[Wooderson]

Chelsea were defo having a bad day - but i thought they would do.

[eFestivals]

Not with defending like that. Awful. We predicted it here last week too, so obvious they'd struggle against a high ball.

yep, but their defending overall is still better this season. There's no one who doesn't realise they desperately need a better goalie.

They've lost two games to 'unlikely' teams, but that's the way it just about always goes for teams at the top - your own favourite only just escaping from something similar on Saturday.

We'll get to see if I'm right at the end of the season.

When we'll also get to see that the "Spurs Champions league adventure" has been a one-season wonder.

[eFestivals]

Also I'm sick and tired of people slagging off Lucas and Kuyt - neither of them world beaters or the quickest in the team, but christ do they work hard!! Both played brilliantly yesterday.

It also seems clear that Woy has finally copped on to what 99.999% of us can see in that Poulsen is the worst player to pull on a Reds shirt in a decade. F*cking shit.

Good to see that you reds have finally moved on from thinking Lucas the worst player ever to pull on that red shirt then.

He's CLEARLY always had something much more than he's mostly been allowed to display under Rafa - there were just a couple of occasions under Rafa when he was given a different role, and pretty much ruled the pitch.

[eFestivals]

Arsenal's aristocratic style is gonna get them nothing again this year. They won't be closer to the top if they can't dig deep when things get "tasty". They'll be further away I'll bet. And now that the Prof's image is gonna get a rattle in the press we'll see how he copes. The sinbags on the hosehound he's been buckijng.

Their results so far this season already show that they're more able to dig deep when they need to.

Just because they failed on Saturday doesn't mean it's not there. Would Utd fans say the same of their team because of the occasions they haven't managed to rescue the game in fergie time?

[ampersand]

Their results so far this season already show that they're more able to dig deep when they need to.

Just because they failed on Saturday doesn't mean it's not there. Would Utd fans say the same of their team because of the occasions they haven't managed to rescue the game in fergie time?

[eFestivals]

but they do manage it. surely that's the football definition of 'digging deep'.

They manage it on occasions, they also fail to manage it on occasions.

Is anyone saying that Chelsea's season is over cos they didn't manage to 'dig deep' yesterday?

[ampersand]

They manage it on occasions, they also fail to manage it on occasions.

Is anyone saying that Chelsea's season is over cos they didn't manage to 'dig deep' yesterday?

[The Nal]

i never saw a hiding on the cards. newcastle are in good form. and arsenal have done poorly against a promoted team already at home.

Edited November 8, 2010 by The Nal

[ralph250]

United fans pretty doubtful we'll get maximum points from the next two, unless this virus clears up a bit; City away followed by Villa away. City are City, and Villa have become a bit of a bogey; we've only won 1 in the last 4 (1w,2D,1L) against them, and that was Macheda's last minute. They are on poor form though.

At least it worked out well in the end not starting Scholes against Wolves. Fergie's said he's had the virus a bit (as did Evra and Vidic), but more so was on last yellow card, and couldn't afford a suspension ahead of the City game. He's about our only experienced creative player still fit at the moment. Fergie's ruled out Nani through injury (unless mindgames) and is hopeful Berba can come back into training on monday (either got a knock or the virus I guess). Owen's still out, Giggs still has his hamstring injury. Unless some do make it back; Nani, Rooney, Valencia, Berba, Giggs all out is a lot of creativity missing. Add in Anderson and Gibson being struck off with the virus (both had it for a while), and Carrick too I think guessing from his omission from the 18 on Saturday, then we're gonna be up against it. Would be more confident if some make it back, need it really for rotation. Big game for the remainder if having to rely on Park, Hernandez, Obertan, Bebe. Good challenge for them though.

Still, on a run of 24 undefeated, top of our CL group, still in the cups, 2 points off the top, and we've scored just 3 goals less than "freescoring" Chelsea. As someone posted on redcafe; most would've put us around midtable if you had asked them at the start of the season where United would be after 3 months, if Rooney had only scored 1 goal, been injured for about 2 months and Valencia injured for the same time too.

The undefeated run was a bit pointless when drawing all those games, but now converted into wins (won all 6 since Rooneygate), hopefully they can use it to retain focus similar to when we went on the cleansheet run. If can get through this week with maximum points, then we're gonna be very dangerous.

[ampersand]

Obvious as anything mind. Fabianski is an idiot.

Utd are unbeaten in all competitions this season and have had some off field distractions too, and injuries. Difference is, when Utd play shit as they have been doing, they rarely lose. Arsenal don't have that resilience.

[Wooderson]

Good to see that you reds have finally moved on from thinking Lucas the worst player ever to pull on that red shirt then.

He's CLEARLY always had something much more than he's mostly been allowed to display under Rafa - there were just a couple of occasions under Rafa when he was given a different role, and pretty much ruled the pitch.

[The Nal]

yeah i knew you said that too, but i could only see a close game. maybe you were just being nice to steve

[eFestivals]

the table and past seasons don't lie. arsenal will not be in with a shout for the league come early springtime.

We weren't talking about whether the tables lie or not.

We were talking about teams 'digging deep' to win a game they're losing. As I've correctly pointed out, Man Utd fail to 'dig deep' on occasions, just as Arsenal have on a couple of occasions so far this season.

You might well be right that Arsenal won't be in with a shout come springtime, but they've already shown that they're better at 'digging deep' this season than they've been in recent seasons - and they've been doing that with quite a few of their better players out with injuries.

So my take from that is that they're becoming a stronger team. Given that their normal competitors at the top are looking weaker so far this season than last, that should see Arsenal more in the mix for the title this season than they've been in recent seasons.