Interesting movements around the EPL. Obviously, as a Liverpool fan, I'm disappointed on missing out on Salah but not surprised cause Chelsea seems to be swooping LPFC moves often as of late. Konoplyank would be a nice consolation prize but I'm slightly worried as it seems negociations are tense and really up in the air, as well as the fact that Ukranian players haven't historically adapted well to British football. Supposedly they are looking to make Victor Moses' loan permanent, and that random rumor about a loan inquiry for Micah Richards was amusing as well. Honestly, I like the moves made at the bottom of the table. Fulham essentially swapped out Berbatov for Mitroglu, which is a great move cause Berbatov has been uninspiring and Mitroglu has a nose for goals. They moving in the right direction post-Jol, I don't think they will be in relegation talks in the spring. I also think Zaha to Cardiff could be nice. He's a quality player that just needs a change in scenery. Kenwyne Jones will probably end up being a headache for them though. As much as I hate to say it, Man U has made a few right moves. Mata is sublime, he's gonna be great, and if they can trick AC Milan into taking Nani, even better. However, they still need defensive help and that doesn't look like its going to come. Pending anymore changes, my updated prediction for the top 7 in the final EPL table is: 1) Man City (too much offensive firepower and class) 2) Chelsea 3) Arsenal 4) Liverpool 5) Tottenham 6) Man United 7) Everton
I'd say Sp*rs to finish 7th because they are utter shit and have been fucked with no lube by Liverpool and Man City at home this season as well as being beaten by fucking West Ham (!!!) and Newcastle United and drawing with Manchester United. Sp*rs home form against other top 10 teams has been pretty poor so I can't see them getting better than 7th, in addition to not really putting away bottom-half teams away from home (see the narrow wins against Sunderland, Cardiff and Fulham) and having a rubbish goal difference (City slammed 11 goals past them over their 2 meetings in the League). I reckon United for 5th place, Everton 6th and Sp*rs 7th; you're right on the money with the finishing positions for the top 4. Arsenal, with the lack of movement in the transfer market, have been predictably decimated by injuries and, with no reinforcements, will surely drop to 3rd and probably stay there. Thanks, Wenger.
So watching the NBCSports broadcast of Man City-Chelsea here in the US, they had Tim Howard doing commentary with Arlo White. Its happened before, but this is the first time I sat and processed how weird it is. He's very good and has a future doing it after he hangs up his boots, but to have a key player on a EPL team broadcasting another team's games during the season? Its not like he's in studio for the playoffs like happens with coaches or players in other sports once they have been eliminated.
No explosion forthcoming because I had been expecting bad results as long as Ramsey is out. I knew we were done as soon as Arteta was named in the starting line-up. Any pace he had has gone. I was fortunate in being out at the time and missing the 4 goals in the opening 20 minutes. Pretty sure Arsenal will get 3rd now behind Chelsea and Manchester City, which is still better than 4th and, basically, the best of the non-financially-doped teams. I'm also sure if Arteta gets started in the F.A. Cup that it'll be a similar scoreline I'm still laughing too hard at Manchester United drawing at home to FULHAM. HAHAHAHAHAHA
Offense wasn't the issue, defensively Arsenal just got shelled. Mertesacker and Koscielny were getting torched inside and Sagna wasn't any better out wide. I particularly enjoyed Wilshere getting super pissy as the first half wore on. Liverpool will be interesting moving forward, every fixture is winnable from here on out, though I'm not sure about at Southampton and its never easy going into Old Trafford, unless you're Fulham. Home fixtures in March against City and Chelsea will be very interesting if they take care of business the next few weeks. I think Rodgers realizes it too, which is why he is playing the mind games with incessantly telling the press that Liverpool has no shot and the team isn't good enough. This team is monstrous at home, they just need to avoid stupid results like drawing to WBA or losing to Hull. Twitter was great during that game. Cause it was misery for 75 min of action, then relief/jubilation upon going ahead, and then a complete meltdown after Bent equalized in stoppage time. Just glorious.
Not sure why you're mentioning the offence? Giroud needs service, he didn't get any. Arteta is supposed to be playing as a DM due to many other AM options (TR7, Ozil, Gnabry, Cazorla, etc. etc.) but cannot get back fast enough to cover the defense anymore, so BFG (admittedly not quick at all) and Kos are left exposed much more than if, say, Ramsey or Flamini were playing. Watch Arteta when someone with the ball goes past him - he just gives up because he knows he cannot catch them. He's a liability as long as he is in the side. BFG, Kos and Sagna have largely been excellent this season so I can forgive them for one bad performance, but Arteta has had 4 or 5 sub-par performances (especially when played next to Flamini) and, in a team challenging for the title with many matches still to play, it is simply not good enough. I can't see Arteta staying beyond the end of this season at this rate. I could see AW putting in a cheeky bid for Jack Rodwell to replace him - he's a decent defensive mid and is 6th or 7th choice at City behind Yaya, Fernandinho, Javi Garcia, etc. and has little chance of getting any matches there, aside from loan spells. Jack is super-committed to Arsenal in the same way Gerrard bleeds Liverpool - it's great to have a player like that in the side, even if they get more cards doing more silly things than others.
After that dreadful performance against Manchester United that was all possession and no end product (partly due to Giroud fucking up almost every chance he was given), it's safe to say 3rd place is as high as Arsenal can get. The midfield seems utterly devoid of creativity at the moment due to a lack of a willing runner in and around the box either from Giroud or one of the midfielders running forward. Rosicky was, defensively, alright tonight but his attacking play was poor, the same can be said for Wilshere but that is likely due to MUFC players kicking the crap out of Wilshere at every opportunity. Cazorla was awful tonight and gave away possession at least 8 times due to crap, misplaced passes. I think AW should sub in a bag of fertilizer for Giroud for all the good he was upfront tonight, since it's readily apparent that Poldi is not going to get a look in even though ANYTHING would be better than Giroud right now and I'm certain fatigue is at least partly the cause for Giroud's performances. Gibbs and Sagna looked good on their overlapping runs again, though, and that seems a more likely source of goals. Honestly, I see Arsenal taking exactly 0 points in the games against Chelsea (at the Bridge) and Manchester City (home at the Emirates). I think Poldi will be handing in a transfer request before the end of the season, too, just as a bonus*. On another bad note, Sp*rs hit the Geordies for 4 at St. James'. *NOT a fucking bonus. Crap.
And Liverpool picked up 3 points by scoring 2 in the last 20 at Craven Cottage, really stupid penalty in the box taking down Sturridge in the 90th minute, and Gerrard is just absolute class from the spot. What a win. Fulham has looked like a completely new team the last few weeks. Liverpool sits just 4 back from Chelsea and 3 back from Arsenal. Tottenham is just 3 back from them. Crazy close at the top right now.
Surprised nothing was said about the lack of Walcott. As long as he's out then Arsenal lack that option to stretch the defense and open things up in the final third.
Yeah, he has been a big loss. Ozil has no-one to pass to. Gnabry is rumoured to be starting tomorrow - not as experienced as Walcott obviously, but he's a willing runner, so hopefully that'll open some chances. Also, Flamini will be out kneecapping everyone...
So I didn't even see Toure? Was he on the bench? Liverpool's defence wasn't bad at all (Skrtel looked quite composed most of the match), but Sturridge didn't take any of his chances, Suarez's shots weren't accurate and Coutinho looked uncomfortable. Biggest surprise? Arteta being used in his correct fucking position higher up the pitch pressing opponents (mostly Coutinho in this case), where he used to be so effective for Everton - Ramsey is also quite good at this and JW would be too if he had a little more pace. This yet AGAIN highlights the need for Arsenal to find an effective DM to play with and sometimes in place of Flamini (with the inevitable cards and suspensions that he does and will pick up due to his style of play) and that shoe-horning a player, no matter how willing he may be, is more often than not, ineffective when that player doesn't have the right skillset. One guy who I think would be effective as an alternative to Flamini is Jack Rodwell - he's had injuries at City and would be a risk, but I'm certain that, if City sign Fernando, they would be willing to part with Rodwell because he's not getting anywhere near their first team. Also, how good was Sanogo?! If that kid can stay fit, he'll be a great signing I think. He held the ball up well and showed willingness to take on defenders and, more importantly, played FACING the goal, not like Giroud. His knock-down and deflected shot sat perfectly for Oxlade-Chamberlain for the first goal. Sanogo needs to work on his first touch though, which, sadly, like Giroud's, looks a little poor, but he has been out for a long time and he may well be a bit rusty. Podolski was pretty quiet aside from the goal, and that tackle on Suarez in the area was completely daft - he should know Suarez will flop over like a salmon for that. Clumsy and unnecessary. Also, Gerrard should have been sent off. 3 definite yellow card offences. With Liverpool going out of the Cup this may well prove decisive in the league - I'd now like to say Liverpool will get 3rd in the league (they're not in any other competitions) and will get nice rest periods between matches, while Arsenal are still in 3 cups with a thin squad - 4th place yet again beckons, with the inevitable suspensions and injuries. Fuck.
I won't even say anything about the match cause Howard Webb is the worst, we all know this, and like you said, this is better for Liverpool over all, considering I wouldn't have expected them to win the FA Cup anyways. Now they are fresh for a final push. Unrelated, not that I necessarily love the stretching of citizenship and national team allegiences, but every country does it, and as such, this could be huge for the US. <a class="postlink" href="http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1716289/julian-green-bayern-munich-train-usmnt-march?cc=5901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17162 ... ch?cc=5901</a> Julian Green is a top prospect at Bayern Munich who, much like Jermaine Jones, Timothy Chandler, etc..., is the son of an American father but grew up most of his life in Germany. But unlike Jones and company who play for the US cause they wouldn't feature in a stacked Germany midfield, Green is very much on the German radar and is already getting first team looks at Bayern at age 18. If Klinsmann can pull this off, it would be a major coup. Especially since nobody thought the US stood a real chance. Gedion Zelalem, the Arsenal prodigy, lived in the US from 8 till he joined Arsenal at 16 and seemed like a more likely potential candidate, despite also having German citizenship. If JK snags the pair, lot of USMNT supporters will be delirious at future potential.
So, are Sunderland really pathetic or what? They really were the proverbial dog showing its belly waiting for a rub for the first 30 minutes. That touch by Rosicky for Giroud for the first goal was sublime - Giroud's 2nd goal was a total brainfart from the Sunderland defender (was it Bardsley?) and made it hopeless for Mannone. Rosicky's goal was also excellent (a real team goal like Jack's vs. Norwich) and it's always nice when one of the big CBs (Kos the Boss this time) strides up to a corner and thumps in a header like that. Giaccherini's goal for the Mackems was also good - took a horrid bounce right in front of Szcz leaving him no chance. Rosicky looks to be Arsenal's most creative outlet at the moment and surely must start instead of Özil against Stoke and possibly also Bayern. Also, he is rumoured to have been offered a new contract - he must be the oldest outfield player AW has given a contract to in his time at Arsenal? Also, Norwich 1 Sp*rs 0. I couldn't stop laughing. Fuck off you Sp*rs!
#FOYS Arsenal looking favorites for the FA Cup, and outside chance at the league (City and Chelsea have to be considered more likely, simply down to depth).
Fairly impressive defensive performance from Arsenal given that Tottenham had control and seemed the more dangerous team in attack, especially in the second half. The last 2 months of the season are shaping up in really interesting fashion. All 4 of the top teams have legit chances at the title. City is obviously favorites due to having 3 fucking games in hand. I think Arsenal's depth may hurt them. Liverpool, even as a fan, have surprised me and I don't see them letting up. They haven't lost at Anfield since September, so even against Chelsea and City in the next couple of fixtures, I would expect 4 points, given both away defeats were nip and tuck 2-1 matches. Really wish Gerrard had converted that last PK, cause a hat trick from the spot would have been hilarious at Old Trafford. They just overwhelmed Man United and De Gea playing well is the only reason it wasn't worse.
Rosicky's technique and shot for that goal were superb - has to be a candidate for one of the top ten goals this season. For me, Arsenal have to beat Manchester City at home and at least draw away to Chelsea and Everton to have a chance. Both Everton and Chelsea have been tough at their home grounds this season but no Mourinho in the dugout for the match vs. Chelsea, I think Arsenal might be able to sneak all three, hopefully causing Mourinho's head to explode on live tv a la Schwarzenegger in the original Total Recall. By the end of march, the picture for where the league title is going should be clearer. Arsenal, though, are definitely favourites for the F.A. Cup, having knocked out three decent sides in Sp*rs (puke), Liverpool and Everton, I just hope Wigan aren't a banana peel for them...
"Specialist in failure", hilarious. FA Cup is once again the goal for Arsenal. Meanwhile Chelsea's path to the title is pretty open now, although the Liverpool game looms large,