Stoke was good for the league.

See, that's just wrong.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Messi looks to be on the wane physically

and mentally. i think he's drained from the effort needed to maintain such absurdly high levels for so long. he might be done - or maybe he just needs a change of scenery to revitalise him.

Ronaldo is overrated and is closer to the likes of Ibrahimovic and iniesta than he is to Messi.

innervisionscm wrote:

Ronaldo is overrated and is closer to the likes of Ibrahimovic and iniesta than he is to Messi.

Nah. At times he's been even better than Messi. He was last year for example.

kamikaze wrote:

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Messi looks to be on the wane physically

and mentally. i think he's drained from the effort needed to maintain such absurdly high levels for so long. he might be done - or maybe he just needs a change of scenery to revitalise him.

A move to Arsenal would be good for him.

We can win the league with Giroud as our starting striker.

Gurgen wrote:

kamikaze wrote:

and mentally. i think he's drained from the effort needed to maintain such absurdly high levels for so long. he might be done - or maybe he just needs a change of scenery to revitalise him.

A move to Arsenal would be good for him.

Underwhelming but could do a job.

Cannon wrote:

Klaus wrote:

This seems to happen mostly when he plays for the national team though, and I think part of the issue is that Argentina are so simple. Di Maria will run up and down the flank for 90 minutes and that's pretty much as advanced as their combination play will get. There's no real connection between the midfield and the attack unless Messi takes it upon himself to drop deep and perform that role, but then he won't be up front where he should be of course.

They are a far cry from the side that scored this goal:

What a goal! Seriously, Argentina need to get back to this level! Woof!

Insane. They should rehire Pekerman again. I think Sabella said he was leaving.

I don't hate Messi and I don't think he's a Barcacunt, he's a nice guy a great player and doesn't have to act like an idiot with stupid hair and tattoo's.

How is having a portrait of your mother tattooed on your back not stupid? I think that is the creepiest tattoo I have ever heard of! The hands of his son on his calf look ridiculous as well IMO.

Tony Montana wrote:

innervisionscm wrote:

Ronaldo is overrated and is closer to the likes of Ibrahimovic and iniesta than he is to Messi.

Nah. At times he's been even better than Messi. He was last year for example.

It's useless even comparing them. Messi is one of the best footballers of all time. Ronaldo is just one of the best goalscorers.

Mertesacker has been a major player for us, but needs to be replaced like Arteta.

Mertesacker certainly doesn't need to be replaced. He is our most important defender as things stand IMO.

Just come off his best season too. He should be captain this season.

Yeah, I am opposed to that actually. I can well see a scenario where Mertesacker will be one of the players in the first XI we want to upgrade in a year or two, and for that reason I think giving him the armband now is unwise; we may end up with a situation just like the one we are currently in with Vermaelen, and that is far from ideal IMO.

The perfect solution for me would be to keep Vermaelen another year and continue with the current situation, and then give the armband to Ramsey. We really should aim to get a long term solution to this, and Ramsey looks the best candidate to me. He is not very vocal, but he leads through example. We still will need vocal leaders like Arteta and Mertesacker though.

just give the armband to vidal when we sign him

I remember a couple of years ago here when everyone wanted Jack as captain I said Rambo was more of a leader and a better choice. I was shot down cos Rambo was unfashionable then.

Pretty sure I said Jack for captain on other occasions though. Still it's a joke Vermaelen remains club captain.

It is far from ideal, I agree, but I would prefer if it stayed the way it is for another year. Firstly, I think Vermaelen is a quality third choice and, secondly, I think it is a year too soon for Rambo. Arteta and Per would be great choices, but they are a bit too old for my liking.

Ramsey is only a slightly better choice than Wilshere. And that is mainly because he's actually nailed down a starting spot.

I have hopes for Chamberlain but right he's not mature at all. He's always looking at others for help on the pitch and you can see that not being quite sure of where he stands as a player is unsettling him a bit. I think once he develops a bit more he might be a good choice.

Wilshere is not petulant and they're all arrogant. It's how they cope with the attention and pressure.

I'll elaborate a bit on the captain thing. I want the captain to be on the same page as the manager and for that to happen he needs to understand where the manager is coming from, not just nod like an imbecile at everything the manager says. Of the younger players that could wear the armband for years, I think Chamberlain is the one with the intelligence, personality traits (confident, grounded, outspoken) and footballing ability to make a good captain.

I accept i could be wrong about them. I don't know them personally.

Rex wrote:

How is having a portrait of your mother tattooed on your back not stupid? I think that is the creepiest tattoo I have ever heard of! The hands of his son on his calf look ridiculous as well IMO.

Well they are obviously personal in nature and located in a private place not usually seen.
Hate seeng players arms and necks covered in tatts, they are no longer a statement of rebellion but one of conform to fashion and they look shit.

I agree with you my fellow old fogey.
1989

2011

Rodman is obviously not right in the head though.

Too true.
"not right in the head" is an understatement in regards to him.

I don't think people making up elaborate formations or dissecting commercial deals on forums have much of a clue.

Yep, and tactics. It's fun to feel smart and knowledgeable about football every once in a while though.

ebouefan wrote:

I don't think people making up elaborate formations or dissecting commercial deals on forums have much of a clue.

Who's going to tell Capi and Klaus?

Rex wrote:

Yeah, I am opposed to that actually. I can well see a scenario where Mertesacker will be one of the players in the first XI we want to upgrade in a year or two, and for that reason I think giving him the armband now is unwise; we may end up with a situation just like the one we are currently in with Vermaelen, and that is far from ideal IMO.

The perfect solution for me would be to keep Vermaelen another year and continue with the current situation, and then give the armband to Ramsey. We really should aim to get a long term solution to this, and Ramsey looks the best candidate to me. He is not very vocal, but he leads through example. We still will need vocal leaders like Arteta and Mertesacker though.

If we are to push forward into a more dynamic system, then he needs to be culled. For all his strengths, there's no denying that he forces us to play a deeper line. We are unable to squeeze up the pitch and press effectively with a CB who wants to drop back. His limitations in regards to tactics were unfortunately exposed at the World Cup for Germany. If we are to continue playing on the break, though, then this isn't so much of an issue.

However, if we intend to press teams effectively, then we need defenders who are comfortable in high positions. What we cannot do is have forwards looking to press, and defenders who want to drop off. This creates far too much space in the middle of the park, and you could argue Arteta was left hanging because of this. Meaning he had too much space to cover between the attack and midfield.

ebouefan wrote:

I don't think people making up elaborate formations or dissecting commercial deals on forums have much of a clue.

I don't think that many actual football coaches have much of a clue.

#Anzacknows

Inverted christmas winger tree magic player trequartista 4-6-0 intelligence rectangle 4-2-1-2-1 Lobanovskyi Sacchi Sacchi Sacchi …

You forgot the infamous 'false 9'.

Biggus wrote:

they are no longer a statement of rebellion but one of conform to fashion and they look shit.

Thats the really sad thing about tattoos.

Ramsey's facial hair and his golfing habits make him a bit of a wanker tbh.

Almunia was a very good keeper for like 2-3 years.

Diaby will be like a new signing this season.

ludovic van zis wrote:

Almunia was a very good keeper for like 2-3 years.

I've been an Arsenal fan for over 40 years, and without doubt Almunia has been the worst goalkeeper that has played for us in that time and that includes Richard Wright.
I detected the first onset of dementia in Wenger when he replaced Lehmann with him.