Football 2011-2012

[pink_triangle]

I think the key thing is expectations, I said at the time that after 2 games it was ridiculous to hail liverpool as contenders and spurs and arsenal as also rans, on this I have been proven right.

When you look at it liverpool dont have the huge resources of man utd, chelsea, and man city. They also dont have the champions league football that those 3 have.

Im not sure how their wage bill compares with arsenal and spurs, however these 2 have the advantage of a london location when attracting players and the former are champions league regulars.

6th is about where liverpool should come, however if your a bit cleverer than the teams around you, theres no reason you cant finish higher than when you should. To me liverpool played too safe in the transfer market over the summer. Im not sure whether thats due to dalgleish having an old fashioned love of british players or comolis failing. Its true that liverpool cant compete against man u, man city and chelsea for transfers, they therefore have to find the best players that arent on their radar. If newcastle are doing better in the transfer market than liverpool it possibly means a failing in recruitment.

However no doubt liverpool are better than last season, the league cup was previoulsy treated as a joke but would be a real step forward.

[strummer77]

I think the key thing is expectations, I said at the time that after 2 games it was ridiculous to hail liverpool as contenders and spurs and arsenal as also rans, on this I have been proven right.

When you look at it liverpool dont have the huge resources of man utd, chelsea, and man city. They also dont have the champions league football that those 3 have.

Im not sure how their wage bill compares with arsenal and spurs, however these 2 have the advantage of a london location when attracting players and the former are champions league regulars.

6th is about where liverpool should come, however if your a bit cleverer than the teams around you, theres no reason you cant finish higher than when you should. To me liverpool played too safe in the transfer market over the summer. Im not sure whether thats due to dalgleish having an old fashioned love of british players or comolis failing. Its true that liverpool cant compete against man u, man city and chelsea for transfers, they therefore have to find the best players that arent on their radar. If newcastle are doing better in the transfer market than liverpool it possibly means a failing in recruitment.

However no doubt liverpool are better than last season, the league cup was previoulsy treated as a joke but would be a real step forward.

[kaosmark2]

No team between 3rd and 9th won this weekend. Chelsea closer on both points and GD to Norwich than Man U. The two manchester teams are back to looking a step above the rest after a couple of bad weeks each. Lots of the teams around the relegation zone suddenly picking up surprising points - WBA win away at Stoke, Blackburn get a point away at Everton, Bolton beat Liverpool comfortably.

League's looking a bit 4-tiered atm. Manchester, Euro-chasers, just about comfortable, relegation candidates. Still potential for a team to move between those, but there's a few gaps forming in the table.

[Jaybles]

Intentional?

At first I didn't think so, but after looking over it a few times, It looks pretty bad.

[Kowalski]

Intentional?

At first I didn't think so, but after looking over it a few times, It looks pretty bad.

[strummer77]

If the ref says he didn't see it then he can expect a retrospective red for that...

[The Nal]

Intentional?

[eFestivals]

I didn't think it was yesterday, seemed more lkike him trying to regain his balance .... but today I'm seeing it as nasty.

Still, it gave 'Arry a way to divert himself from today's goings on. Bye 'Arry.

Edited January 23, 2012 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

Bizarre sub from Wenger yesterday. RVPs reaction said it all. And the booing!!

not so bizarre really, even tho Chamberlain was the best player on the pitch. It was his first Prem start, and it's pretty rare for any youngster to play the full game on their first start.

Having said that, I was screaming at the TV that Wenger had got it wrong too.

[The Nal]

not so bizarre really, even tho Chamberlain was the best player on the pitch. It was his first Prem start, and it's pretty rare for any youngster to play the full game on their first start.

Having said that, I was screaming at the TV that Wenger had got it wrong too.

[eFestivals]

For Arshavin though? He hasn't given a fuck about playing for Arsenal for two years!

Arshavin has been awful for ages, but I don't think it's because he doesn't care. From stuff Wenger and others have said over the years he's a player who is incrediably hard on himself about his performances (more so than any other players, at least at Arsenal), so it's more likely to be confidence than not caring - and confidence can only come back by playing.

It was an awful substitution, but Chamberlain was just about always going to come off before the end of the match, and I'm not sure which other experienced players Arsenal had to come on in his place for such a big match than Arshavin.

[Jaybles]

Arshavin has been awful for ages, but I don't think it's because he doesn't care. From stuff Wenger and others have said over the years he's a player who is incrediably hard on himself about his performances (more so than any other players, at least at Arsenal), so it's more likely to be confidence than not caring - and confidence can only come back by playing.

It was an awful substitution, but Chamberlain was just about always going to come off before the end of the match, and I'm not sure which other experienced players Arsenal had to come on in his place for such a big match than Arshavin.

[The Nal]

Some people are laying in to him for the second goal but Arshavin has never been a defender so it is not a surprise Valencia, with the form he is in, just glided past him.

Edited January 23, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Benayoun was the only other experienced option, and for whatever reason it's pretty clear that Wenger doesn't think too much of him ... so Arshavin was all there was really.

Along with Chamberlain I was also very impressed by Yennaris ...to the point that I'm wondering if Nani faked being injured because Yennaris had him so much in his pocket. It's certainly the case that Nani got kicked at a different place to where he was 'pretending' he was injured (which isn't an uncommon Nani phenomenen).

[eFestivals]

Rooney got a good going over yesterday didn't he? Right few hacks in on him. He did well not to react.

Rooney also did a dive that Tom Daley would have been proud of. He would have done much more well to have not pretended.

[Jaybles]

Rooney got a good going over yesterday didn't he? Right few hacks in on him. He did well not to react. Pity about Jones. Looked very nasty on the reply.

[The Nal]

Along with Chamberlain I was also very impressed by Yennaris ...to the point that I'm wondering if Nani faked being injured because Yennaris had him so much in his pocket. It's certainly the case that Nani got kicked at a different place to where he was 'pretending' he was injured (which isn't an uncommon Nani phenomenen).

Edited January 23, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Think you may be over egging that one Neil. He was a big improvement over Djourou, but thats not difficult. He got raped in the first half. Dont think he had Nani in his pocket at all. Its just that there was such a leap in quality at right back from half to half.

perhaps I am - but it was still a very impressive performance from a very inexperienced kid against a player who can be rightly considered one of the better ones in the world.

Not for a minute do I think Nani pretended to be injured by the way. And I dont think anyone else did either. Thats a "Kermit the Frog planned 9/11" sort theory.

He might not have yesterday but it's not something that's unknown from Nani. He certainly thought the 'injury' was somewhere different to any place of contact, a re-occuring thing for him.

[The Nal]

perhaps I am - but it was still a very impressive performance from a very inexperienced kid against a player who can be rightly considered one of the better ones in the world.

[eFestivals]

In fairness to Nani, and for a Utd fan I've been very critical of him up until recently, hes cut a lot of that shit out.

he has, definitely - it's a long while since I've seen him dive now I think.

But he still plays it up a lot when he gets fouled - as happened with that incident yesterday. He was genuinely fouled, and while yesterday might have been 100% genuine with how he reacted, I simply can't believe that's the case every time. For example, there was an incident recently-ish (I forget which match) where the side of the foot got just slightly stood on as he and the other player were running for the ball but which didn't cause him to break his stride (cos of the way both players were running in stride with each other) and he went down holding his shin ... there's always a chance of a muscle strain happening away from the point of contact, but which muscle is down the front of anyone's shin bone?

As I say, yesterday might have been 100% genuine with how he reacted, but I simply can't believe that's the case every time, and that makes me doubt him yesterday.

Edited January 23, 2012 by eFestivals

[Jaybles]

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/great-matches/swift_action_needed_to_save_pompey_1_3445861

Again, worrying times for my local side. It is just one thing after another, the minute everything looks stable, everything comes crashing down again.

Appleton has done well at the club and I just hope he is not forced to sell off our best players as he has assembled a good squad considering the situation.

[The Nal]

What do people think of Nikica Jelavic from Rangers? Liverpool are favourites to sign him. According to his Dad anyway. Good goalscoring record at Rangers (30 goals in 45 games). Haven't seen much of him though. I think Liverpool should take any half decent striker they can get their hands on at this stage.

[Steve P]

Well we were mostly complete gash yesterday. We were so weak in midfield it was sad to see. There's just so little strength in depth to our squad, and it looks increasingly like we won't bring in any more bodies which to me is writing off any chance we have of catching Chelsea. Wilshere coming back will be a massive boost, but we have nobody we can bring on to change a game any more. Looking at our bench this season has really showed how far we've fallen.

Again it all comes back to why we haven't spent cash. If it is down to Wenger not wanting to spend the cash then it's time for him to go. If it's the board lying - either by hoarding the cash themselves or there actually being no money - then it's time for Wenger to stop protecting them and speak out as it's damaging the club.

On the plus side though The Ox looks a fantastic prospect as does Frimpong. Was reading a blog this morning about the injury Frimpong picked up at the weekend after taking a boot to the face from Petrov. Initial reports were that he might be out for 3 months but apparently he was tweeting that people should be more worried about Petrov's foot after it connected with his metal face. Love that guy.

[kaosmark2]

What do people think of Nikica Jelavic from Rangers? Liverpool are favourites to sign him. According to his Dad anyway. Good goalscoring record at Rangers (30 goals in 45 games). Haven't seen much of him though. I think Liverpool should take any half decent striker they can get their hands on at this stage.

[kaosmark2]

Well we were mostly complete gash yesterday. We were so weak in midfield it was sad to see. There's just so little strength in depth to our squad, and it looks increasingly like we won't bring in any more bodies which to me is writing off any chance we have of catching Chelsea. Wilshere coming back will be a massive boost, but we have nobody we can bring on to change a game any more. Looking at our bench this season has really showed how far we've fallen.

Again it all comes back to why we haven't spent cash. If it is down to Wenger not wanting to spend the cash then it's time for him to go. If it's the board lying - either by hoarding the cash themselves or there actually being no money - then it's time for Wenger to stop protecting them and speak out as it's damaging the club.

On the plus side though The Ox looks a fantastic prospect as does Frimpong. Was reading a blog this morning about the injury Frimpong picked up at the weekend after taking a boot to the face from Petrov. Initial reports were that he might be out for 3 months but apparently he was tweeting that people should be more worried about Petrov's foot after it connected with his metal face. Love that guy.