Football 17/18

[Gucci Piggy]

1 hour ago, eFestivals said:

i believe it's right from something I read last night - it's 5 teams max from the Prem.

I didn't word it very well tho. I think that only happens if Liverpool also fall outside the top 4 - which isn't impossible as things stand.

Yeah it's only if Liverpool don't make top 4.

[Gnomicide]

35 minutes ago, eastynh said:

Viva Ronaldo

Welcome back Easty. A lsesser man than me would take this opportunity to delve back to your pre quarter final predictions but I won't mention them. 

[Wooderson]

Viva Easty! Whaddaguy.

[mjsell]

Pretty gutted. And solely for Wenger's sake.

I actually thought we didnt play too badly, but then we still had the same old mistakes though, switching off at crucial times, lack of cutting edge and squandering the few chances that do come.

[kaosmark2]

10 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Pretty gutted. And solely for Wenger's sake.

I actually thought we didnt play too badly, but then we still had the same old mistakes though, switching off at crucial times, lack of cutting edge and squandering the few chances that do come.

From the little I saw, Arsenal seemed OK, but the first leg could've been 2-0 if Arsenal had the ruthless streak that the teams that win trophies have.

[CRW5252]

8 hours ago, mjsell said:

Pretty gutted. And solely for Wenger's sake.

I actually thought we didnt play too badly, but then we still had the same old mistakes though, switching off at crucial times, lack of cutting edge and squandering the few chances that do come.

You not bothered that we won't be in the CL next year? 

We never looked like scoring. We always seem to get void of ideas against great defensive teams like AM. Mourinho has done it to us for years. Biggest counter to Wenger's tactics.

What we desperately needed was some more options on the bench. We have made 1 sub over the two legs and that's because we have no one to bring on to change the game.

[The Nal]

Final ball was shocking from Arsenal last night. Wenger leaving Arsenal in their worst position for 22 seasons. Last season being the next worst. No fight in that team. Huge overhaul needed before they become a mid table team. Gutted for Koscielny though. Nasty.

[mjsell]

4 hours ago, CRW5252 said:

You not bothered that we won't be in the CL next year? 

Not massively. I ended up wanting to win Europa more for Wenger reasons than anything else. 

2 hours ago, The Nal said:

Final ball was shocking from Arsenal last night. Wenger leaving Arsenal in their worst position for 22 seasons. Last season being the next worst. No fight in that team. Huge overhaul needed before they become a mid table team. Gutted for Koscielny though. Nasty.

I actually think arsenal could be a dream job for the right man because of the last 2 seasons results. This is not the worst squad Arsenal have had under Wenger but like you said are missing fight and drive. Fresh face and ideas and I think there's enough there to work with. 

Obviously tough on Koscielny but can't imagine he was set to start at the world cup - has been in dreadful form (partly I assume because he has been carrying this Achilles injury for a while) 

[DareToDibble]

I've read a lot that Zelljko Buvac has become favourite for the Arsenal job. Obviously a big risk for Arsenal as he's never been the main man at a club but from what I've seen on twitter a lot of our attacking play is down to him drilling it into the players day in, day out, in training. I actually think it would be a brave appointment and one that will either be a complete revelation or an absolute disaster.

I'll be gutted if he leaves Liverpool, personally.

Outside of him - who else do people think is likely to end up the new manager? Simeone would be fantastic but I can't see that happening.

[kaosmark2]

Arsenal's squad need the same thing they've needed for 8 seasons. A top-class powerful CM. Considering the Invincibles were built off combining silky football with the powerhouses that were Viera, Lauren, Campbell, Gilberto Silva. With the minor exception of Flamini, Wenger hasn't brought in a midfielder that compares since.

 

[ThomThomDrum]

Gerrard has taken the Rangers job. I smell a disaster! 

[eFestivals]

2 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Gerrard has taken the Rangers job. I smell a disaster! 

yeah, but it's only Rangers.

 

[CRW5252]

2 hours ago, mjsell said:

Not massively. I ended up wanting to win Europa more for Wenger reasons than anything else. 

I actually think arsenal could be a dream job for the right man because of the last 2 seasons results. This is not the worst squad Arsenal have had under Wenger but like you said are missing fight and drive. Fresh face and ideas and I think there's enough there to work with. 

Obviously tough on Koscielny but can't imagine he was set to start at the world cup - has been in dreadful form (partly I assume because he has been carrying this Achilles injury for a while) 

Fair enough, I personally think it was very important to ensure we get the right manager and players next season.

I'm not sure about this 'missing fight and drive' thing that always gets thrown around anytime a big team drops off (I've heard it said about Chelsea and Utd as well). We just don't have the players we used to and the ones we do have are struggling for confidence. The British focus way too much on what they perceive work rate to be. A great example is the backlash that Ozil is getting even though he was one of our better players on the night.

Definitely agree that a fresh face with new ideas is needed. There is certainly less pressure for instant success now than if Wenger left on a high a few years ago. 

[LJS]

30 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

yeah, but it's only Rangers.

 

Indeed, but still has the potential to scupper a promising career in management before it even starts.

Unless he is totally  crazy, I assume he has been promised money to spend.

I do hope he's checked that this money actually exists.

[eFestivals]

21 minutes ago, LJS said:

Indeed, but still has the potential to scupper a promising career in management before it even starts.

either it's all luck and you have to find out if the luck is with you by trying it, or it's down to skill (or not) and that'll shine whatever - and in either case it makes no difference. He's going to bomb or he's not, whatever the club.

23 minutes ago, LJS said:

Unless he is totally  crazy, I assume he has been promised money to spend.

I do hope he's checked that this money actually exists.

yeah, that side of things had occurred to me too. 

From the other side tho it's an easy job to prove himself, as there's only Celtic to beat. You don't get odds like that in England.

[zahidf]

ha ha ha ha

 

[thetime]

1 hour ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Gerrard has taken the Rangers job. I smell a disaster! 

Fair play to him getting a 4 year contract at Rangers. 

Also fair play to him for taking a job, when others at that stature either won’t take the risk or think jobs are beneath them. 

Going for a shower for a good scrub after complimenting Gerrard. 

Edited May 4, 2018 by thetime

[Wooderson]

Gerrard will need more than a shower if he gets embroiled in sectarianism.

[pink_triangle]

Gerrard never came across to me as having much of a footballing brain, I never looked at him as someone who would one day make a great manager. Then again when it comes to management luck is probably as much a factor as talent.

[LJS]

3 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

Gerrard never came across to me as having much of a footballing brain, I never looked at him as someone who would one day make a great manager. Then again when it comes to management luck is probably as much a factor as talent.

And money...

 

"Rangers chairman Dave King has promised a significant player recruitment budget will be made available to new manager Steven Gerrard and insists it is not dependent on securing fresh external investment.

Oh, well that's all right then...

“The source of it doesn’t matter,” said King.

oh, yes it does.

“The share rights issue is one of the things we are pursuing but it is not critical. The funding will be made available, whether it is through a rights issue or otherwise.”

I hope Steve has asked what "otherwise" is.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/rangers-chairman-dave-king-says-funding-available-for-steven-gerrard-1-4735272

[CRW5252]

3 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

Then again when it comes to management luck is probably as much a factor as talent.

Why?

[mjsell]

https://www.rousingthekop.com/2018/05/04/bizarre-leak-on-uefa-website-says-liverpool-have-won-the-champions-league/

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by mjsell

[thetime]

1 hour ago, mjsell said:

https://www.rousingthekop.com/2018/05/04/bizarre-leak-on-uefa-website-says-liverpool-have-won-the-champions-league/

 

 

 

It’s like the 70s and 80s all over again. 

[zahidf]

One thing I didn't expect in August: Jose Mourinho's second season Manchester United to lose more Premier League away games than Burnley.

[HeyPorter]

Yaya Toure apparently wants to continue his career in England, can’t imagine him mucking it in a relegation battle. Crystal Palace will be all over him I reckon.