Football 2011-2012

[The Nal]

And it works because those players know that they work best thru the team rather than as individuals.

[kaosmark2]

I think the English spine for man city is a big problem for city. Hart is absolutely fine, however Milner, Lescott, Barry and Adam Johnson are europa league standard players in my opinion.

[jammy2211]

so the wheels are coming off at Spurs. An Arsenal win tonight (if it happens, of course) puts them one point behind. I'm starting to have trouble seeing Spurs in the top four now, particularly with the weird team choices and positioning 'Arry is doing.

There's an interesting piece on the Guardian's website today which reckons it's not the England job that's effected Spurs but a sense of relief and a deflation because of that from 'Arry not going down for his tax fiddling. It's a different take on things, but perhaps more accurate than the England job.

[eFestivals]

I think people are reading too much into it - Spurs just had 3 hard fixtures where the luck didn't swing their way. They dominated Utd for long periods without getting the goal... but all 3 fixtures were nasty ones back to back.

They'll still cruise third imo, as after the next few games (Chelsea and Sunderland away is coming up) they have a very very easy run in until the end of the season. Arsenal and Chelsea are still gonna drop a lot of points away in games Spurs win the majority of...

Yep, they've been hard fixtures, and yep they dominated Utd.

But as some people have been saying all season, Spurs will struggle to get goals at times - and so it's proven.

And as some Spurs fans thought they'd get more out of those recent hard games than they have, no different to the dreams of picking up every remaining point after the Chelsea game.

Spurs might get 3rd, I don't rule out that possibility - for as much as it's dependent on other teams as it is dependent on Spurs. But they ain't going to cruise it.

As for 'arry's bollocks about the 2nd half at the weekend, don't get me started. It means nothing without creating a chance.

[kaosmark2]

I think people are reading too much into it - Spurs just had 3 hard fixtures where the luck didn't swing their way. They dominated Utd for long periods without getting the goal... but all 3 fixtures were nasty ones back to back.

They'll still cruise third imo, as after the next few games (Chelsea and Sunderland away is coming up) they have a very very easy run in until the end of the season. Arsenal and Chelsea are still gonna drop a lot of points away in games Spurs win the majority of...

[jammy2211]

Yep, they've been hard fixtures, and yep they dominated Utd.

But as some people have been saying all season, Spurs will struggle to get goals at times - and so it's proven.

And as some Spurs fans thought they'd get more out of those recent hard games than they have, no different to the dreams of picking up every remaining point after the Chelsea game.

Spurs might get 3rd, I don't rule out that possibility - for as much as it's dependent on other teams as it is dependent on Spurs. But they ain't going to cruise it.

As for 'arry's bollocks about the 2nd half at the weekend, don't get me started. It means nothing without creating a chance.

[strummer77]

I think people are reading too much into it

Edited March 12, 2012 by strummer77

[The Nal]

Delighted for Arsenal. Actually more delighted that Newcastle lost. A huge 6 pointer and Toon are running it into the corner with a 3 vs 3 on the counter attack?! FFS. Do they want to overtake Arsenal or not? If they won that they were only two points behind.

Well done Arsenal though. Came from behind to win in the last 4 games. Didn't think they had it in them to do that. And as usual, I was wrong!

[Steve P]

Get in

[pink_triangle]

These annoying tablod journalists seem to be very quiet about wenger now, after spending the begining of the season constantly getting on his back. Its funny how he has taken more abuse from the press than arry and kenny combined this year but the table doesnt reflect this. I think he is a genius and the disrespect shown to him was a disgrace,Im glad to see him proving people wrong.

Edited March 12, 2012 by pink_triangle

[kaosmark2]

Delighted for Arsenal. Actually more delighted that Newcastle lost. A huge 6 pointer and Toon are running it into the corner with a 3 vs 3 on the counter attack?! FFS. Do they want to overtake Arsenal or not? If they won that they were only two points behind.

Well done Arsenal though. Came from behind to win in the last 4 games. Didn't think they had it in them to do that. And as usual, I was wrong!

[kaosmark2]

These annoying tablod journalists seem to be very quiet about wenger now, after spending the begining of the season constantly getting on his back. Its funny how he has taken more abuse from the press than arry and kenny combined this year but the table doesnt reflect this. I think its a genius and the disrespect shown to him was a disgrace,Im glad to see him proving people wrong.

[strummer77]

These annoying tablod journalists seem to be very quiet about wenger now, after spending the begining of the season constantly getting on his back. Its funny how he has taken more abuse from the press than arry and kenny combined this year but the table doesnt reflect this. I think he is a genius and the disrespect shown to him was a disgrace,Im glad to see him proving people wrong.

Edited March 13, 2012 by strummer77

[kaosmark2]

There's a few reasons he gets stick. Some fair, some not so.

a) Rafa left so journalists needed a new foreigner with ideas they don't understand to knock.

b ) Arsenal when they go on a bad run tend to do it quite spectacularly.

c) For all they're improvement they've still not won anything. For 7 years...

All those combined and you get some criticism heading your way.

[strummer77]

I we're all forgetting that for the most part football coverage is w*nk. You look at how F1 and cricket are presented then look at football- different leagues.

[kaosmark2]

I we're all forgetting that for the most part football coverage is w*nk. You look at how F1 and cricket are presented then look at football- different leagues.

[pink_triangle]

There's a few reasons he gets stick. Some fair, some not so.

a) Rafa left so journalists needed a new foreigner with ideas they don't understand to knock.

b ) Arsenal when they go on a bad run tend to do it quite spectacularly.

c) For all they're improvement they've still not won anything. For 7 years...

All those combined and you get some criticism heading your way.

[eFestivals]

b- Liverpools run at present is as bad as any arsenal run and I dont see them going after Kenny. Its not just the criticism its the manner it was done which at times made him seem like an incompetent clown. Arry also is on a bad run but again no criticism for the man who in his long managerial career has won the same amount of silverware and achieved the same premier league high position as ex wrexham managerial flop brian little.

if Kenny's not getting a similar amount of stick you'd have to wonder why the man who used to say that winning is everything and second is nothing is now saying "judge me on the smiling faces, judge me on the academy, judge me on the kit deal - it's not just points that count".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/12/kenny-dalglish-kit-deals-liverpool

[strummer77]

a - I agree, for some reason the media seemed to struggle with the fact that early season when arsenal were struggling the last thing they needed was a combative english midfielder like joey barton. Wenger has taken a club without a consistent record of top 4 finishes throughout their history to top 4 finishes 100% of the time, that deserves respect without putting the boot in.

b- Liverpools run at present is as bad as any arsenal run and I dont see them going after Kenny. Its not just the criticism its the manner it was done which at times made him seem like an incompetent clown. Arry also is on a bad run but again no criticism for the man who in his long managerial career has won the same amount of silverware and achieved the same premier league high position as ex wrexham managerial flop brian little.

c - The not won anything claim is a bit deceptive as football has (unfortunately to me) changed in that 4th position is effectively a prize, just without a trophy at the end. The unfortunate truth is that if you asked both fans and clubs in the top 7 next season 5th and an fa cup win or 4th and out of the fa cup in the 3rd round, probably only newcastle fans would take the former.

Edited March 13, 2012 by strummer77

[The Nal]

if Kenny's not getting a similar amount of stick you'd have to wonder why the man who used to say that winning is everything and second is nothing is now saying "judge me on the smiling faces, judge me on the academy, judge me on the kit deal - it's not just points that count".

http://www.guardian....deals-liverpool

[strummer77]

A loss tonight and another draw or two and Liverpool could be well into the bottom half. They're only 3 points ahead of Stoke in 13th. Everton and Stoke are next. Two huge games.

Edited March 13, 2012 by strummer77

[eFestivals]

A loss tonight and another draw or two and Liverpool could be well into the bottom half. They're only 3 points ahead of Stoke in 13th. Everton and Stoke are next. Two huge games.

if Everton win tonight, then Moyes can take it as his ten year gift from the other half of Liverpool - he's yet to win at Anfield.

I think Kenny's downfall this year is that he's felt the need to justify the spend on players he made last summer by giving them games even when they're not deserving of them - stuff like Maxi barely getting a kick while Downing keeps shooting into row Z or delivers dreadful crosses, and Henderson being played on the right when he's well short of the skills needed for that (I think he's been mostly decent when played more centrally tho). And of course Carroll.

The other thing which has hit them badly has been Lucas's injury, tho of course it's nothing out of the ordinary for a team to lose important players for a chunk of the season ...... but it might have saved Liverpool from some of the dodgy performances by Adam.

[The Nal]

Stoke is in the cup, that's the biggest game of the bunch though. In the league our run of games really opens up though after this Everton game. QPR etc. We shouldn't drop too far when the points are added up in May. I'd certainly hope we don't...

Not that I really should care too much about the league. I'd like to finish above Everton please but between 5th and 10th really doesn't give us much benefit bar some pride until August. We've got the european qualification and we're in a cup. We should be going for the latter a lot.

We could come 14th but if we won two cups everyone will remember it as that great season we won two cups. Though of course despite this post, we shouldn't be throwing all our eggs in one basket...

[eFestivals]

True but you have to have the squad there to cope with that. And its not like Lucas was playing like Zidane. He was good for 10 games. A bit like Cleverly. Good to see him back but its not like hes a season decider if he plays or not.

I'd say that Lucas is (now) much more proven that Cleverley and so more of a certain big loss, tho I agree with your general point.

[The Nal]

I'd say that Lucas is (now) much more proven that Cleverley and so more of a certain big loss, tho I agree with your general point.