the 370Z.com OFFICIAL football (soccer) thread

[Red370]

Suarez made Man U's defense look like a bunch of bitches today, looks to be an excellent signing for lpool.

[Jon@AAMComp]

A defense without the likes of Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic. Suarez had a good game yes, but it just showed the inexperience of that back line. Carragher extremely lucky not to be sent off for that brutal challenge on Nani; which one could argue is the second game in a row United's opponents have dodged a bullet in the form of a red card(See Luiz challenge on Rooney from the Bridge last week). But on the day, Liverpool played better, and ultimately deserved the 3 points.

No, I don't secretly love Man U and not taking sides here, just commentating.


PS - I watched the Arsenal/Sunderland game and you guys were robbed of a penalty. I really, REALLY like Arshavin (we wanted him to come to us from St.Petersburg given the Abramovich Russian connection, but that fell through), and I felt bad for the guy having his, and Arsenal's, moment robbed from him. That push in the back should have been straight red and should have had a penalty awarded. Had the defender not pushed him on his way down, I think the shot Arshavin was lining up was going to the back of the net. Life and death in the top flight I guess.

We're at Blackpool today, so hopefully we can take some points just to make you guys nervous and give us some breathing room away from Spurs.

-J

[phelan]

Yesterday was AWFUL! Shawcross on Parker, Carragher on Nani, Rafael being a total c*nt. Ugh...and the FA goes and BANS SNOODS. LOL.

I think we were actually robbed twice...Arsh penalty should have been awarded, a red card issued, and then the floodgates would have opened up. ALSO - Arsh was CLEARLY ONSIDE and in on goal 1v1 against their GK (Mignolet...who the hell is that, but had the 'game of his life', as opposing GKs do at the Emirates). Should have been 2-0 to the Arsenal, if not more, and the gap closed to basically nothing with ManUre.

However, Arsenal started very poorly, Denilson looks like he's been shot and is walking wounded around the pitch, Diaby doesn't function without Cesc next to him, Wilshere had a Sulley Muntari blanket on, Bendtner looked lost, etc. etc. It took 45+ minutes to really get the game going, Chamakh played well when he was introduced, and we had a few shots on goal (Chamakh header which he really has to put in) that at least tested Mignolet. Wocjech looks confident as always with that save in the 83rd, but the kid's off Twitter right now...miss his humor But the damage of just NOT DOING SH*T FOR 45 MINUTES came back to haunt us as Sunderland just sat on their asses and defended all day long.

But at the end of the day, we're 1 pt closer to those red c*nt devils. Again - thanks Scousers!


Red, cow - RvP named in the Barca squad....not sure if happy or not. I want him fit and healthy for the league...the thing is, if Chelsea and ManUre bow out of the Champions League, we're left fighting on the European front while they have the FA and EPL left to go for. Dunno, want to win everything possible, but sometimes I think it's unreasonable to go for it all.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-squad?cc=5901

It's also nice that Javier Mascherano is adapting to Barca life well, and mouthing off against Arsenal already.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...s-time?cc=5901

[Red370]

Going in to tomorrows match, here are some thoughts:

Pique/Puyol are out, we have to make the most of set pieces, Bendy and Chamakh will benefit from those two out, especially through the air.

Koscielny will have to glove Messi from the get go, he cant be allowed space, plain and simple.

Djourou will have to have the aerial game of his life. I have a feeling a set piece or two will decide this match either way.

Jacky is going to have to stay back and play that bulldoggish scrappy defensive midfield position and stay there. With Song out, someone who is stout defensively is going to have to marshall that space between the back line and the center half to prevent Xavi and Iniesta from playing the short pass.

Fab and Nasri are going to have to have the match of their lives tomorrow. Passes must be precise and cutting. With Barca's two tallest CB's out, over the top balls to RvP and Bendy/Chamakh are going to have to be coming through all match long.

Injuries are my biggest fear here. I have a feeling Barca will come out physical, particularly with our players carrying knocks (Fab, RvP, Wilshere), one of them goes down and the face of the game changes.

DO NOT start Denilson Prof, i swear to god if he makes an appearance, i'm mailing you a first class box of pure, lab grown anthrax.

My lineup for success:

xxxxxxxxWojxxxxxxxxxx

Sagna-Djou-Kos-Clichy

xxxxxxWilsherexxxxxxxx

xxxxEboue-Fab-Nasrixxxx

xxxxxRvp-Bendyxxxxxxxx

why this lineup you ask?

Rosicky isnt physical enough. Some would say "why Eboue"? Eboue adds steel/speed down the flank, adds confidence on the ball and we need it. Fab is going to have to be the attacking force down the center and also in the center to neutralize the Xavi/Iniesta show. Nasri is a force anywhere. We need Bendy in the match for his ability in the air, and being that Barca's two most physical CB's are out, he can take full advantage.

[phelan]

Eboue?!?!?!?????? Oh hell no Red. Diaby over cheerleader anyday. Diaby has always played well next to Cesc

------------Szczesny-------

--Sagna-Koscielny-Djourou-Clichy

-------Wilshere---Diaby---------

--Nasri----Fabregas--Arshavin--

-----------Bendtner------------


Drop a wounded RvP to the bench and bring on in case of dire emergencies (I want him fit for the EPL dammit!). I'd rather put in Chamakh if we need goals honestly, I don't want to risk RvP any more than we have to, and we can shift the formation to play two up front.. I also would not hesitate to bring on Denilson in latter stages of the game if we need to hold onto possession...he does that decently.

Arshavin on from the get go, he deserves it. People always asked me at the pub why I continue to support AA23 - well, that game proved it very quickly, didn't it? and Arsh should've had 2 over the weekend. He's back, trust me, and he can abuse the Barca rear guard not with pace, but with his trickery.

[Red370]

I left Diaby on the bench for one reason and one reason alone, he doesnt have the pace to stay with Xavi and Iniesta in the center, and we also cant play too defensive minded, if we just sit and bunker down, eventually they'll break us down. To win this game, we must attack attack attack. Plain and simple.

[cow]

Nerves starting to kick in for me. May consume copious amounts of adult beverages.

Yellow kits make me nervous.

Yay RVP starting.

Holy crap I'm starting to shake.

[batman_4]

go home Gunners

[cow]

**** you

[cow]

You have 14 posts in this old *** thread & come in to start **** tonight?

Kidding or not, go away.

[cow]

I wouldn't have the slightest problem with your post if you were a regular contributor poking fun. But you're not.

[phelan]

ref was a c*nt. how do you throw out rvp in a big game like this, in a 90,000+ nou camp, because van persie was lining up our only shot of the game?

******* ridiculous, unbelievable decision. we coped well until we lost rvp, i was actually impressed with our defense. after that red card, though no way in hell we can stand up to barca with 10 men. credit to barca, they played VERY well today and dictated in almost all aspects of the game. except for dani alves, you sly little asshat, i hope you burn in hell for your stupid theatrics.

cesc was not 100% today.

again, though, credit where credit is due. lionel messi is from another planet, absolutely ripped the defense to shreds in the latter stages of the game. we were leggy and tired compared to them. the nail in our coffin is in the stats - NO SHOTS ON GOAL. NOT EVEN A SHOT. ugh

hopefully we'll have another go at them next year too. this is a great match to watch! provided this swiss c*nt doesn't ref again.

[igotcabada]

worst red card i've ever seen, what a complete joke. barcelona was definitely the better team, but arsenal earned the right to play them straight up. Despite the lopsided possession & shots, with 30 mins left and 11 players on the pitch, arsenal were through 3-2

[cow]

Barcelona had only managed one chance (the opening goal) when there was 11 AFC players on the pitch.

That tells me everything I need to know.

[cow]

Xavi gave an interview saying he thought the red was justified. stfu Xavi.