Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Too many players underperformed in my humble opinion thenry.:td:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Nice to see Wigan beat two of the bigger teams in the Premiership.
It was also nice to see them beat Liverpool also :D

:jk: Den

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Not sure I'd go that far Denphone. A blow yes but hardly a devastating blow.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I thought that taking Benayoun off was an odd move tbh as the guy who replaced him Gervinho doesn't seem to cut it at the moment.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Not really sure it's a 'devastating' blow. We're still third even if the other teams win their games in hand but it gives us little room for mistakes now. It makes third less secure.


Is there nothing that is not only Wenger's fault but is so obvious that everyone but him notices it? The players messed up today. Every time Arsenal lose you blame him and tell us what he should have done.

---------- Post added at 22:35 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------

Anyway well done Wigan. I was worried about this game and this is why. There were excellent defensively and we never looked like scoring in the 2nd half. Need to beat Chelsea now IMO

---------- Post added at 23:03 ---------- Previous post was at 22:35 ----------

Wilshere out of Euro 2012

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Good point by the Nevllier, after Wengers comments today will he be banning Rosicky for 3 games. ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yossi was one of the better performers tonight.. i dont understanding the call.

yes it was the players but hes the manager he call the shots. he can see Ramseys burnt out. the sub like for like made sense so early on but i knew he wouldnt last and would of needed to be taken off second half. it was too compact even with us all over Wigan. it required sparks to open the game up. Ox should have come on for Ramsey but he takes off Yossi. Djourou is then taken off which again didnt sort the issue. Ox can play in midfield. hes played the role before and done extremely well.

Theo was poor! the kid which he is requires our game to up through the middle of the park before hes able to do something. he just ran into players, Ox was required to allow him to have a little freedom.

Gervinho then could have come on to do something for Djourou.

we totally screwed up today collectively but the manager not making the right calls was pathetic.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Theo was or is poor? He has massive potential and in some games he is simply untouchable but then he shows why he never went to the World cup with many of his performances.

He reminds me of Ben Arfa at the start, Massive potential and had a few games where he looked brilliant then more than just a few that were shockers. Luckily Ben Arfa has really shown his true colours lately but who knows, may be nothing but a fluke.

As Damien said it's not done that much to damage Arsenal's champions league hopes at all. Yes it's a game in which they should win week in week out but they are 5 points clear of us (Newcastle) and will be still 2 points ahead if we get a win at stoke and 2 points ahead of spurs assuming they win.

If Newcastle are to qualify for the Champions League, I don't think it will be at the expense of Arsenal.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Agree with the comments about it not being a "devastating" blow...just a blow. They can bounce back.

It will be interesting to see which of Tottenham and Arsenal recover first from recent defeats. With so few games left, I think first to bounce back will have upper hand...and the other will be fighting Chelsea for 4th

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Three if you include Man Utd.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I thought Wengers inability to give Wigan any credit for the win in the post match interview was shamefull.Even Alex Ferguson gave us that on Wednesday.
Well done Latics,four more points and we're there.:cleader:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes perhaps that is slightly over the top but if they lose against Chelsea then that original comment perhaps might not seem OTT after all.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Ramsey came on because of the injury.

He plays well but he is too young and inexperienced to control a game. I think the level of hype and expectation that was built around him is what is making Wenger hold him back, he is trying to protect him from the pressure and the hit on confidence when the fans get on his back when it turns out he isn't the messiah. The Ramsay situation is evidence of this.

It isn't 'pathetic' :rolleyes:. He made changes, they didn't work out. It's easier to suddenly declare who shouldn't have played after the game than before. He doesn't have the luxury of hindsight when picking his team before the game. This isn't too dissimilar from the team that beat City.

Football is a contest. Sometimes you lose. It can't always be avoided. The performance was lacklustre, too many players lacking spark, and poor defending.

This, along with QPR, may well cost us in the end. Let's hope we beat Chelsea.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

yes I know and if you read my post you'll see I had no argument with the like for like so early on. what I don't understand is why he's left on until the end. the guys burnt out, he'll be his old self again next season. he doesn't provide nothing worthwhile defensively, he slows down play. this isn't me taking a shot at Ramsey, I feel sorry for him. However I do blame Wenger, he calls the shots.


Ox is a bright spark, we were all over Wigan. We needed the spark to open it up instead of banging head against wall.

The Ramsey situation isn't anything like that. Ramseys been overplayed which is why hes not as sharp now, hes burnt out.

erm the naked eye last night saw that Ramsey slows down play. its not his fault he's been overplayed but to hang him out to dry is the managers fault. like I say we had Ox who could have come on for him in the second half but he left him on.

agreed but there was a possible game changer option which Wenger didn't make.

Ramsey was hung out to dry in the free role getting the way against QPR as well. Yes lets hope even though Arteta is out and unless we see Yossi playing in midfield, thats if he can and hasn't got the can't play against parenting club clause.. we'll probably see Ramsey play on Saturday unless of course Wenger or someone points out to Wenger Ramseys burnt out and Ox will have to be thrown in.

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:27 ----------

Theos needs our midfield to pull strings, divert attention for him to exploit. its a shame he can't do it alone, he's got the tools but their not sharp enough.

I remember Ben Arfa well while at L'OM. hes abit like Theos situation but the two big differences are ones a little trouble maker at times (Ben Arfa) and the other is too reserved, Theo tries to be the big man but thats not the problem. its balancing his ability thats the issue. furthermore Ben Arfas more content with the ball whereas Theo thinks the speed he posses alone will be enough when it isn't.

he's annoyed Wigan tried to time waste although that wasn't his problem. he's been his own enemy for a while now. to be honest with you mate the time wasting took some of the sting out but wasn't the serious problem from Arsenals view. from me, if it means anything, well done on taking the initiative.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

If Wigan realised the season doesn't start in March they would be a decent mid-table side.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

If theo concentrated on going up wings and crossing, and he did that well...he would be a great player.

I think he tries to do all...but isn't consistent enough for that...yet

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You blame Wenger for almost everything and credit him with nothing. During the bad patch I had not seen someone more disrespectful of a guy who has done so much for the club and little credit has been given since the start of a great run. Even with the Wigan defeat we're in a decent position.

But he didn't do that. The situation was the same when he was on as it was before that. He lost possession as much as the rest of the team whilst trying to get past Wigan's impressive defence.

Ramsey's situation wasn't helped by the burden of expectation he carried for a young guy. Chamberlain is even younger. He cannot dominate or control games yet and the trend for Arsenal fans to see him as the saviour of games is worrying. Especially with the lack of patience many of them show.

Wenger doesn't need to be told about the status of his players. He works with them everyday in training and deals with them on a day to day basis. He has full access to the medical and training reports. He has a lifetime in football and 15 years experience as manager of Arsenal to aid him in that.

Time wasting wasn't the problem with Arsenal last night but Wenger is right to be annoyed. Wigan are trying to stay up and were at Arsenal, you can understand it from their point of view and should expect it.

However it is not something to be congratulated for. Football is meant to be a 90 minute game, people paid a lot of money to watch a game. Not to watch people waste time. It's getting pathetic now. The Newcastle game and Krul has got to be one of the most egrious examples I have experienced.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

thats because he's been arrogant in the past and I'm not as a fan going to get complacent. I've voiced my worries for years now on arsenal forums, the Bendtner issue etc. etc. yet nothing and we have seen mess after mess. we have a crucial summer coming so excuse me if I don't go blowing smoke in praise, I want the club to move forward not backwards. blowing smoke has got us going backwards and sideways rather than forward.

your picking out comments to your like. Ox on for Ramsey, simple. Yossi still on the pitch.

its not about controlling the game, its about having that raw talented spark to open it up, push forward which Ox is. who else have we got?

so why play burnt out Ramsey when he could have taken him off?

Of course he's got a right to be annoyed but it doesn't give him the right to fall into his narrow minded ways.

I'm not congratulating Wigan for time wasting. I am however congratulating them on taking the initiative to score and somewhat defend well against an Arsenal team that wasnt able to find full on inroads.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Exactly, but then you have an agenda. We lose a game and you call Wenger's decisions pathetic, we win 8 in a row and your silent until we lose again and you retrospectively tell us everything he got wrong.

You were slamming Wenger for keeping faith in Rosicky. Maybe he knew better then? Maybe he knows better about Ramsey and Chamberlain. If he listened to the fans all the time then RVP would have been sold for being inconsistent and injury prone, Szczesny wouldn't be in the first team, Koscielny would be sitting in the reserves alongside Squillaci, Song would have been kicked out years ago and the player on which you based your name would have been at Arsenal for one unsuccessful season during a mediocre career as a winger.

All the players I mentioned (apart from Szczesny) were not instant successes and/or went though bad spells in which the fans came out with the same criticisms. We forget how he kept faith with Henry when he kept failing to score, he wasn't a forward, what was Wenger playing him there for? Song was really criticised. Koscielny 'was too weak' and couldn't cut it in the Premier League etc etc.

Wenger gets some wrong, more right. But if you don't give him credit when he does well then the criticism when he does bad grate. Given the resources at his disposal, the injury crisis, and the general calamity of the season being in third place at the moment isn't bad .

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

sorry but the implosion has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

yes admittedly Rosicky shut me up. I had no idea he still had fight left in him. I honestly thought his legs were gone which isn't the case at all seeing his little bursts of 'beep beep' runs. well done Wenger

yes thats the Wenger I want back, full on Wenger being the Boss not some halfwit which he has been. We all need someone to put faith in us in life, its what makes us stronger but when someones taking the pee Wenger should put his foot down rather than letting it go which he's obviously done with alot of players just taking it easy. he now has got it together with no even wanting to put Chamakh and co on, i hope thats the sign of him having enough of the crap. the quoted possible transfers upcoming supports that he's had it.

this Ramsey case, hes been overplayed, hes burnt out.. unless he works wonders in the last 4 thats fact.

I never actually went against Song or Kosh or Henry. fans wanted Song to be loaned out when he was peaking form, I was against the idea. I've always supported Kosh even after the Carling Cup defeat I didn't slate him and instead slated those who slated him. I did want a keeper though although we all knew he had great potential I for one didn't think he'd slot in so well. we're all human but from this genius of a man I expect more.

me as a fan has got some wrong so ok you've got a point but the obvious has been missed by Wenger, thats what annoys me and provokes these sort of comments.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Bloody Reading! Second game when they've been outplayed & still won... :mad:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You must have the patience of a Saint :)

---------- Post added at 23:17 ---------- Previous post was at 23:07 ----------

Good luck, I sincerely hope you do it :cool:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Deserved win for Bayern (2-1). Madrid as cynical as you expect from a Mourinho side... 7 yellow cards, with a shade of red on one of them. The return should be interesting.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I do, but I always fall back on these games... :D

Linky 1

Linky 2

Linky 3

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I think it will be an all Spanish final, but I hope I am wrong

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes, though I'd like to see Bayern progress over Madrid (omg, I want the Germans to win :erm:). On today's game, they're the more positive side. Then it should be a Barca-Bayern final with Affelay coming off the bench to win it for Barca by scoring five goals in three minutes :o:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

All I can say is with those links is " I wasn't surprised" at what they were. ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

i reckon that itll be just that. all Spainish final in the Europa league too.

Bayern will want to lift the cup at home thats for sure. i think either Bayern or Madrid will win it unless Barca break the record.. no team has won the newly created CL two years in a row. Messis breaking all sorts of records so who knows.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Isn't that basically saying I think 1 of 2 out of 4 will win it unless #3 wins it?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Forest are a good side, they just have a clueless manager choosing the team and tactics. Get cotternil out in the summer and with a few good deals they will be top six next season.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

:rolleyes:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I'll take that as a yes? :angel:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

4th could shock us :shocked:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes l suspect there will be a few dives here or there and those imaginary cards being waved again one suspects.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Bayern can do it imo

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Is RVP off to Barcelona?;)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...=feeds-newsxml

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Santos was there as well. They have friends within the Barcelona squad, if they were going to do a deal they wouldn't do it in their hotel whilst the first team is in London. Weird is he is still in his Arsenal tracksuit.

Also:

I hate the press...

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2...fq7do1_500.gif

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes, when I watched it live, and then read the report, i noted that it was BS (oops..not swear word, means baloney sandwich :D)

I thought Gary made it an issue, for some strange reason he wanted more..though not sure why..it wasn't a snub, but maybe Gary wanted a french kiss instead (on the cheeks, not tongue exchange)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

From the image it looks like RVP was just gonna do the 'lads' handslap sort of thing and Caldwell wanted the usual handshake. Big deal made out of nothing as usual.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Bet for tonight > Barca Half Time Draw full time.

You heard it here first ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No I didn't!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Chelsea halftime, Barca fulltime

:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

:nono::nono:No Barce halftime, Barce fulltime.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Barca 1st half, Chelsea forfeit 2nd half.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

hhhhmmmm

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Those typical Germans will do anything to win.;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Either that or the thief has extremely poor taste. At least they're not those pink ones.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It sounds more like a ploy by Mourinho to cast Bayern in a bad light to be honest ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

childish acts if it was Bayern but then Jose isnt exactly a saint. that said its still stupid i hope they get destroyed in Spain.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Personally I'm backing Bayern if for nothing else than annoy UEFA who have rigged it from the start for an all Spanish final.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No comment.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Also I dislike this Madrid.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

that to...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I also want Barcelona to be the first team to win successive Champions League titles, as well as Fabregas to win his first.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

They can still do that if they meet Madrid in the final? They might even be more likely to beat Madrid than Bayern, with sentiments being what they are...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Maybe but if Barcelona lose I don't want Mourinho to be the one that did it, the eye poking, the conspiracy theories, the personal attacks and so on.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yeah. I just want Mourinho out of the tournament as quickly as possible i.e. next week. :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well well well Mr Drogba.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Come on are you English or Spanish?.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I'm Arsenal.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

A score draw would be good for Barcelona. It would also be good for Arsenal because it would mean Chelsea will have a mind on the away leg when then play us, they would rest more players if they are still in with a chance after this game.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

good point

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

"The medical miracle that is Drogba" :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Its called sitting on the fence you know.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

no its whatevers in the best interest of the beloved ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I've a feeling this isn't going to be Barca's night.

Waits for them to score as soon as I post this

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yup, I was just going to say that.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Makes me laugh that a team which contains Busquets can complain about someone rolling on the floor.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

El Pantos this weekend

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Who are you playing.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Therse's nothing wrong with shooting from distance on occasion. There's no need to walk it in all the time...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Chelsea defending really well, had some luck but otherwise very good.

---------- Post added at 21:31 ---------- Previous post was at 21:21 ----------

Good Save.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Barca are doing an Arsenal

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

If Chelsea score at Camp Nou, Barcelona will need three goals :O

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The pitch alone will tear them a new one

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Bloody hell!!!!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

That was close.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

And for the Oscar for tonight for diving is Drogba.
And the Oscar for play acting for feigning injury it goes to Drogba, he spent more times on the ground pretending to be injured than anything.

And there was no excuse for it, it was a good game, but Drogba kept going down at every chance he got.

Chelsea must have been scared, everyone apart from Cech was in a packed defence, to prevent Barca from scoring.

Chelsea have no chance in the 2nd leg, Barca are the best in the world at football, and Chelsea are not even near it. It was spoilt tonight by the cheating of Drogba to get free kicks.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well. That makes things interesting....

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Who do you support again Arthur? ;)

Of course they wanted to prevent them scoring, and I agree Drogba did his usual but he also tracked back & made some important defensive contributions.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Don't you know... in Arthur's world spurs would have attacked from the first whistle and played them off the park.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Are Drogbas boots going to be up for sale after the match?

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2012/04/30.jpg

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He shares them with Ashley Young... ;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

the thing is how can anyone believe someone can be as injured as he was each time and yet still play on ? It isn't believable and everyone with a brain knows it yet the ref and UEFA won't take any action at all

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Simply play on as he goes down. Or properly shoot the ball in his groin area a couple of times :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-17767236

They called the police? Seriously? Surely the club should be done for wasting police time?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It does seem incredibly over the top, but it doesn't say anywhere when the police was called. It is possible they suspected the website had been hacked at the time, and only later found out they'd left it open themselves.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

lets be having you!

:LOL: never gets boring

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l did not know you were getting lessons from Delia.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Chelsea didn't have a chance in the first leg either... Barcelona aren't god's, they maybe the best team in the world but that does not automatically guarantee them the win.

English pride, come on Chelsea! ''Nothing is Impossible''

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Spot on adzii.:tu:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

the odds are against Chelsea. The Nou Camp will be in itself Barcas 12th man then the ref which is a total of 13 vs 11.. oh and UEFA... make that 14 vs 11

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

And which side will you be supporting young thenry?:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Fabregas

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Come on Barca!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Deary me.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Don't know why we wouldn't want Barcelona to win. They play vastly more entertaining football and, last night aside, better football. I don't subscribe to the idea that it's nice to see different teams win a competition or compete in a final, I want the best teams in the final (well, not Madrid, but Munich are a quality side as well). You could see the differences between the sides last night.

Not to mention that if your a Spurs, Newcastle or Arsenal fan then you want that 4th spot to allow entry into the Champions League and not go to Chelsea.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I hope Chelsea win.

Not English, but equally not Spanish.

If Barcelona play great football, and win, all and good. But equally, if Chelsea get an away goal, and get through, happy for them.

It is team with best aggregate over two legs that goes through, not best team or prettiest football.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes but I would rather the best team with the prettiest football goes though.