Football 2011-2012

[eFestivals]

Im not sure the thing about chelsea is if they are struggling for top 4 come january I can see Roman throwing money at them. Not sure liverpool or spurs have the money and cant see arsenal going overboard.

There seems to be a huge number of rumours for Arsenal buying in January - many more than normal - so I really wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal spend a fair bit in January. I doubt they'll be hugely expensive purchases tho cos Wenger doesn't seem to dso that, but I reckon they'll fatten out the squad with a few £10M-£15M purchases. I reckon Stan K will tell Wenger that he has to spend.

As for Chelsea spending, yep, I can see that happening (providing the current court case doesn't see Roman fleeced, anyhow), but whether their spending will bring them much better results I'm not sure - it didn't work out for them last January.

Spurs will only spend any money they might get from selling I reckon. And of course 'Arry won't buy the *scoring* striker they desperately need, so when VDV's current run of form drops (which it will) their league position will too. They won't manage to keep the luck running with them all season.

[pink_triangle]

Spurs will only spend any money they might get from selling I reckon. And of course 'Arry won't buy the *scoring* striker they desperately need, so when VDV's current run of form drops (which it will) their league position will too. They won't manage to keep the luck running with them all season.

[eFestivals]

Spurs have really surprised me, since they lost to both manchester clubs they have won nearly every game. Modric hasnt moped as some thought and Bale are VDV have both started well. I agree with the problem about the striker, however can see Arry courting Beckham instead, a player who in my opinion would offer nothing to spurs.

yeah, they've been winning, but many of their goals have been on the lucky side or gifted to them, or they've been scored by VDV.

None of those things are going to keep running for them. If their strikers don't kick into gear they're currently at about the best position they'll do this season.

As for Beckham, just about every rumour now says he'll go to PSG (or one of the other French clubs, I forget) or he won't move this side of the pond. I think even 'Arry realises he wouldn't bring anything much to Spurs nowadays.

[jump]

Apparently PSG have ordered 20k Beckham shirts already as they are that confident.

It may be it's already agreed and he doesn't want to make the mistake he made at Real where he announces he's leaving and he gets dropped from the team.

[TheGayTent]

Tottenham beat QPR.

[The Nal]

Tottenham beat QPR.

[kaosmark2]

The sunday supplement team continue to annoy me more and more. Yesterday they were calling villas boas an imposter and unproven, yet they constantly lick redknapps ass who has won less than the chelsea manager in a fraction of the time. I think he has taken a tough job on, theres a lot of players past their best who need moving on in the next couple of years so it wont happen overnight. If I hear another person call cole the best left back in the world I will throw something at the tv. Its very debatable if he ever was, despite often repeated as if fact, I have never heard anyone who doesnt watch predominatly premiership football make the statement.

Impressed by spurs and liverpool. Spurs midfield excites me and they seem to contrubute goals which is important as the strikers dont. Apart from suarez liverpool players dont excite me but they are very hard ot beat which could be the telling factor over 38 games..

Never really noticed him apart from the last few weeks but sessignon (probably spelt wrong) is impressing me from what I see on MOTD. Swansea and Norwich continue to impress not just in results but the spirit they play the game. I remember when gardener got his 2nd yellow on saturday the swansea player stayed on his feet, in the same situation suzrez or nani would have been rolling on the ground, clutching their head.

At the bottom I wonder if Martinez underestimated the teams coming up and regrets not going to villa. As for blackburn I actually think they have quite a few decent players and the sooner keen is sacked the better.

[TheGayTent]

They certainly did. Couple of great goals too. Parker playing well.

[TheGayTent]

The sunday supplement team continue to annoy me more and more.

[kaosmark2]

There seems to be a huge number of rumours for Arsenal buying in January - many more than normal - so I really wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal spend a fair bit in January. I doubt they'll be hugely expensive purchases tho cos Wenger doesn't seem to dso that, but I reckon they'll fatten out the squad with a few £10M-£15M purchases. I reckon Stan K will tell Wenger that he has to spend.

As for Chelsea spending, yep, I can see that happening (providing the current court case doesn't see Roman fleeced, anyhow), but whether their spending will bring them much better results I'm not sure - it didn't work out for them last January.

Spurs will only spend any money they might get from selling I reckon. And of course 'Arry won't buy the *scoring* striker they desperately need, so when VDV's current run of form drops (which it will) their league position will too. They won't manage to keep the luck running with them all season.

[The Nal]

Cech has been pretty poor for a good 18 months now, apart from the occassional game.

[eFestivals]

I thought he was very poor at the weekend.

perhaps, but for all of those goals he really didn't have much of a chance - two were gifted to Arsenal by stumbling Chelsea players, Walcott's and RvP's last were just about unstoppable, and the goal where Gervinho gifted the ball to RvP when most strikers would have gone for goal was fantastic. I'd put all of those down to failings in Chelsea's defence rather than blame Cech.

I think more telling for his form were the two early chances that Arsenal missed, where Walcott provided the pass. Those were two he should have done better much with.

It was a fantastic open game tho, a real joy to watch as a neutral. For once my kid wasn't bored by me dragging him to the pub to watch a game.

[kaosmark2]

I don't think the Arsenal game was the worst Cech's had this season. He certainly didn't impress, but he hasn't for a while. I think there was one game near the end of last season where had a blinder, but it's been a long while since I've seen the form that led him to being seriously considered as one of the best keepers in the world.

[TheGayTent]

BTW if Arsenal get Mario Goetze in January as is widely being discussed they will be getting a hell of a player.

IMHO of course.

[The Nal]

BTW if Arsenal get Mario Goetze in January as is widely being discussed they will be getting a hell of a player.

IMHO of course.

Edited October 31, 2011 by The Nal

[TheGayTent]

You're 100% right. Cracking player from the small amount of coverage I've seen of him. Reminds me of Pato except without the Ronaldinho influenced alcoholic issues.

Edited October 31, 2011 by TheGayTent

[pink_triangle]

You need to get out more!

[pink_triangle]

Heard a great story on the times football podcast that I hadnt heard before. Alexander Hleb was in some kind of function at barcelona and there were people from the motor industry trying to flog sports car. Hleb asked Xavi what he should get, the reply "You can drive what you want in your spare time but dont bring it to the training ground, its not the type of thing we do at barcelona" I cant help but thinking top premiership players could learn a lot from this.

[strummer77]

perhaps, but for all of those goals he really didn't have much of a chance - two were gifted to Arsenal by stumbling Chelsea players, Walcott's and RvP's last were just about unstoppable, and the goal where Gervinho gifted the ball to RvP when most strikers would have gone for goal was fantastic. I'd put all of those down to failings in Chelsea's defence rather than blame Cech.

[Ed209]

RVP's first was very stoppable. It swerved but was straight at him really. Had to parry it out at least. Was a good connection from the shot but Cech made it look unstoppable.

Although the real error in the third goal was letting Walcott get up, I thought Cech should have saved Walcott's too. Was a shot at the near post and I'd have thought he'd be pretty disappointed to let that go in. Santos (who was really rubbish first half) could have seen his shot saved really too.

I think really he should have kept at least two of those three out.

[kaosmark2]

When you do 500 miles driving every week and the choice is sunday supplement or rhianna on radio 1 the former seems the lesser of 2 evils!

Im mixed on cech, he defintely isnt the player he once was but Im not sure he is significantly worse than the other top sides keepers. Im not sure who you bring in as a replacement. If I was AVB I would be looking to get rid of terry, bosingwa, lampard, essien, mikel, drogba, anelka and kalou next year

[eFestivals]

yep - I reckon the time has come to start saying that Newc are clearly a decent side, and it's more than just a good run &/or luck running with them.

But all the same I can't quite believe it, and a part of me expects them to start tumbling down the league. The next four games will say if that's going to happen or not.

[The Nal]

Milan have had to deny that Antonio Cassano has had a stroke!

[Wooderson]

I remember when gardener got his 2nd yellow on saturday the swansea player stayed on his feet, in the same situation suzrez or nani would have been rolling on the ground, clutching their head.

[The Nal]

Suarez is one of the most fouled players in the league - don't get sucked into the same fergie-appointed hype machine that he is a cheater.