the 370Z.com OFFICIAL football (soccer) thread

[phelan]

Cesc won't start against Shakhtar, we need him 100% fit for ManCity. That's going to be a tough game...and I'm biting my nails already with the thought of Fabianski in goal. Who, I gotta say, has turned a little corner in my mind right now, but not enough for me to be comfortable. Bendtner is an idiot, he's nowhere near fully match fit. Theo? That's the X-factor for me. If Theo is pre-injury Theo, rocking the right wing and wreaking havoc with good crosses and ridiculous runs, then we're good as gold there.

I hope we spell Arshavin. He's playing too much right now. It'd be nice to give Vela some burn too and spell Chamakh for ManCity. We can start Chamakh, then bring Bendtner on at 60 minutes, I think.

...................Fabianski

Eboue.....Djourou.....Squillaci.....Gibbs

.....................Song

.........Diaby.....Nasri.....Rosicky

...........Chamakh.......Vela

Now then, for last week...because I got REALLY pissed off during that game.

Birmingham is just pissy, but I agree with Arseblog, Birmingham is the one that's always howling about Martin Taylor's tackle on Eduardo now. We've been pretty quiet about it.

Yes, Chamakh does go down easily, but if there's contact, there's a penalty. Yes he embellished it a bit, though, so hopefully he puts a bit more subtlety in his approach, especially now that the refs are going to be watching him a bit more closely. You know, maybe a tad more than Roger Johnson (whoever the **** that is) coming out with a "perfectly good center-back tackle" and planting an elbow in Chamakh's head. And Johnson still comes out to the press with a "woe is me" story? You've got to be kidding me!

(Speaking of which, did anybody else get pissed off with the commentary? "perfectly good tackle" my ***, Trevor Francis, go **** yourself)

"The tackle by Nasri is a sending-off for me. He's kneed the guy in the back. Is that not violent conduct? I don't mean to be a whiner but we've had a lot of decisions go against us over the last wee while. One of our players is going to have to get hit with a baseball bat to get a penalty, that's for sure."

Nasri should have been recarded? What the ****? He knee'd Ridgewellin the arse because when Birmingham tried to do the free kick the first thing Ridgewell did was try to snap his ankle off. Go look at the video again, his leg just comes out of nowhere and kicks Nasri. I'd be pissed too, what kind of silly conduct is that? **** you Birmingham, you sorry sack of cunts. I'll be the first one in line with the baseball bat, thank you very much.


Sad side note. I think the Emirates is so much worse than the old Highbury days. It's so quiet now, there's only one corner that really screams support. The "greatest team" chant is so lazy, because the supports have nothing more imaginative. It's so...blasé now. Anybody else think so?

EDIT: I guess we won't see Don Vito this season?
Arsenal goalkeeper Mannone joins Hull on loan
So...Fabianski -> Sczesny -> Almunia. Right? RIGHT????

[phelan]

Originally Posted by cow

Rooney's contract runs through the end of 2011. I wonder if they'd sell him or let his contract run out.

More than anything, I'd bet money they'd do their best to keep him. Rooney's too valuable a player to write off, even despite his recent form.

The sane person would do that, but this is SAF we're talking about. As soon as a player crosses him they're as good as dead to the manager. So if Rooney has already burned that bridge, isn't it as good as over?

ManU is pretty good right now with Hernandez and Berbatov up front IMO. Chicharito can be pretty special.

Poor, poor Liverpool though. What is going to happen to them? I predict Torres gone by January after demanding his way out of a bad situation. NESV will let him go for a princely transfer sum, and will begin the rebuilding project from ground zero.

In Serie A news:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...europe&cc=5901

Bahahahahaha, how did he NOT realize that at Barcelona, I'll never know.

[Jon@AAMComp]

Originally Posted by phelan

ManU is pretty good right now with Hernandez and Berbatov up front IMO. Chicharito can be pretty special.

Lol, wut? Hernandez will end up in La Liga within 3 years, I'm sure of it. Berbatov might be their best chance really.

Since it's been confirmed by Fergie himself,

Wayne Rooney to quit Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson admits wants striker wants to go and says 'I'm shocked and disappointed' - News - MirrorFootball.co.uk

it will be interesting to see where Wayne ends up. If he stays in the league, you can guarantee that City will be willing to write a check for him that no other club can match, and there's no bigger F U to your manager and current club than to sign for your local rivals. (See WILLIAM GALLAS) Can't really see him at Chelsea, Spurs or even Liverpool. I could definitely see him in an Inter shirt though, if he wants to leave England. Or he could do a Becks and sign with Milan. Either way, it's time to start Rooney-watch 2010.


BTW, I know this is a Gunners thread, so I wanted to say nice job thrashing Shakhtar today in the CL. London clubs represent! 3 for 3 if Spurs can defeat Inter at the San Siro tomorrow.

[cow]

It's not really an Arsenal thread, it's just the three of us who post the most happen to be Arsenal fans.

[batman_4]

what a HORRIBLE-SLOPPY showing my Milan today

[cow]

I started watching the match, then without thinking cruised to soccernet.com & saw the score. I looked up, saw Real score their goals, & was happy I didn't waste my afternoon watching the match.

PS: Phelan, I agree with your honorary 6.5 for Dudu on TGH.

[phelan]

Originally Posted by cow

I started watching the match, then without thinking cruised to soccernet.com & saw the score. I looked up, saw Real score their goals, & was happy I didn't waste my afternoon watching the match.

PS: Phelan, I agree with your honorary 6.5 for Dudu on TGH.

he's still Arsenal's No. 9 to me.

Eduardo's strike made me get all teary-eyed. I miss seeing him in the Arsenal colors, he was on his way to becoming a tremendous player for us. Then...Birmingham. Fail.

The Emirates gave him a great response on the goal too. Someone else mentioned it, the scoreline might as well have been 6-0 to the Arsenal because of who scored it.

There will never be songs of Eduardo like "we've got arshavin, f*ck adebayor"


batman_4 - Milan has itself to blame for that soft wall it put up. But the second goal? I'm less convinced, it was an ugly goal that went to Ozil. Well played all around though, Ronaldinho looked pretty energized for a while.

Anybody else see Bayern squeak by thanks to 2 own goals gifted to them by FC Cluj? That was pretty ugly, without those OGs, 2-1 to Cluj. Should have been a draw at least.

[Red370]

So I was watching today and couldnt help but think "why the eff cant we play like this against Chelsea and ManUre?". Our midfield was cold as ice tonight, I dont know if the inclusion of Cesc back into the team adds a spark to everyones game, but man they were lights out.

Nasri's touch on that second goal was stupid. So deft, so soft, and then a rocket. He is genius.

JDub got on the score sheet, that made my day and a hell of a one-two it was, he controlled it well and slotted ever so gently, beautiful.

Seeing Dudu back on the pitch was hard to take. Like Phelan said, he was well on his way to being one of the Arsenal greats. After that horrific injury, he just never seemed to have the pace that he once had and was afraid to go all out into challenges. I respect AW's decision but it was great to see him back on the scoresheet and to get the ovation he did.

Two things I took from today: Jacky is going to be one of the England greats. Hes a freakin kid and plays like a midfielder in the prime of their career, so entertaining to watch. And two, Cesc is a game changer, I dont care how you cut it, the mood of the team changes when he plays, they attack more, play more accurate balls, and above all else, score goals. Great game, i'm ready to have Theo back now.

[Red370]

Just wanted to say, fellow Gooner faithful, i'm going to be living on the border of Germany and France in July next year, and I plan on attending no less than 10 Arsenal games a season, be jealous

[phelan]

Originally Posted by Jon@AAMComp

BTW, I know this is a Gunners thread, so I wanted to say nice job thrashing Shakhtar today in the CL. London clubs represent! 3 for 3 if Spurs can defeat Inter at the San Siro tomorrow.

Don't see it happening, not without van der Vaart. Gareth Bale is special, but not THAT special.

[cow]

Originally Posted by Red370

Just wanted to say, fellow Gooner faithful, i'm going to be living on the border of Germany and France in July next year, and I plan on attending no less than 10 Arsenal games a season, be jealous

am jealous

[phelan]

okay who is watching sp*rs implode against inter? gomes got sent off, had to sub modric, now down 3-0 and it's not even 20 minutes

edit: 4-0 to inter at half time. this is almost depressing. yes it's inter, but who would've thought an EPL team would've curled over and died on the pitch?

maybe this is like that 'fake Togo' team. who are these guys, and what did they do with the usual sp*rs?!

[cow]

I'm not watching, but I wish I were.

[phelan]

dear tottenham:



edit: oh sh*t they scored!

[cow]

Rooney signed a new five year deal with MU.

Whut the fack?