all things soccer 2009/10
- Thread starter scouser1
- Start date
Definitely one of the most interesting (closest) seasons in the EPL. Arsenal has the best run-in in terms of weakest schedule, but as a big Arsenal fan I have seen to many false dawns over the last 5 years to get carried away. With a few sensible signings last summer Arsenal could have had the league sewn up already. Unfortunately the only reason Arsenal has a chance is due to ManU losing CRon and Tevez, Chelsea having Essien injured and Cech losing form, and Pool having Torres injured and Benitez as their manager. I am keeping the faith, but expectations are not high.
I need to hang my hat on something here. They are destined to finished 3rd here, but I'd love to see them run the table obviously. In my opinion, they just need a world class keeper. I hope they replace Almunia this summer because quite frankly he's shite. Vermaelen has to be a candidate for signing of the season...yes Arsenal have shipped a lot of goals but he's been great. I believe he and Gallas are the only 2 CB's to start every game in the league which is pretty impressive. Get rid of Walcott & Eduardo too. The season could have been very different if that twunt Chiellini didn't destroy RVP in the friendly. He is the biggest miss.
I also wouldn't mind seeing the last of Denilson. I don't necessarily blame Chiellini, he would have been injured anyways, it happens every year. For Arsenal to mount a serious challenge next year we will need a new keeper, a new CB (Gallas' contract runs out), a better DM than Song, and a world class striker.
I hear you though, would love to see them run the table.
I would disagree with you on Song, I think he has been tremendous this year. If he takes out the silly fouls which leads to too many yellows, I think he's a stud at that position and will only get better. They are more than like going to get Chamakh who has been on fire for Bordeaux. Attacking is not their problem...its the D.
I am not saying we should get rid of Song, we just need someone better, like De Rossi. Song has improved significantly and has not reached his peak. I think he is only 22 years old.
However if you look at the DMs in the EPL, I don't think he holds up well. Here is my loose ranking of the top DMs in the EPL selecting one per team I have him as 9th.
Essien
deJong
Fellaini
Masherano
Fletcher
Parker
Danny Murphy (don't laugh at this one he has been great this year)
Palacios
Song
If we were to pick more than one per team you can add another five or six that are better.
Arsenal should have a world class or potential world class DM. I can't see Song ever getting there.
Too slow, no sense of urgency, poor tackler, poor reading of the game...
Ac Milan 2 Man U 3
Milan lack bench depth - you know you're in trouble when the only replacement for the injured Antonini is Beppe Favalli. Man U can bring a player of Valencia's quality in and change the entire outlook of the match. Dida and Beckham were liabilities with the former gifting a goal to Scholes and the later's dispirited effort against his former club; both should be sitting on the bench at Old Trafford. This is Man U's last chance for silverware; within five years they will be just like Ac Milan.
Luciano Moggi said that all three Italian clubs will be eliminated from the Round of 16, it will be a big surprise if he's wrong.
Milan lack bench depth - you know you're in trouble when the only replacement for the injured Antonini is Beppe Favalli. Man U can bring a player of Valencia's quality in and change the entire outlook of the match. Dida and Beckham were liabilities with the former gifting a goal to Scholes and the later's dispirited effort against his former club; both should be sitting on the bench at Old Trafford. This is Man U's last chance for silverware; within five years they will be just like Ac Milan.
Luciano Moggi said that all three Italian clubs will be eliminated from the Round of 16, it will be a big surprise if he's wrong.
I only caught the last 20 mins. Thanks for the summary. There is a lot of talent on Milan,
unfortunately there best days were 10 years ago.
unfortunately there best days were 10 years ago.
Fabianski put on a clown shoes clinic today...UGGH. They need a real keeper...but the tie isn't over.
That was embarassing. I think that was the final straw for Cesc....have fun in Barcelona, you deserve better than playing with these clowns.
Bayern 2 Fiorentina 1
The Tom Henning Ovrebo comedy of errors continues.
After the Italy-Romania and the second leg of the 2009 semi-final Barcelona vs Chelsea he would not be allowed to set foot on a pitch again. BUT NO, he gets another opportunity to fuck up yet again. First, he red-cards Massimo Gobbi when the shamelessly diving Arjen Robben wasn't even touched. Then he allows the winning goal to stand when Klose was at least 5 feet off-side. He could have over-ruled his linesman, who wasn't paying attention, but he couldn't be bothered. Even Klose was surprised that the goal was allowed to stand.
It's deja vu al over again as Riccardo Montolivo (The Viola best player) will probably receive a disciplinary suspension like drogba got - that wasn't a Shakespearean sonnet he was reciting at Ovrebo after the match.
And now for your listening pleasure: The Theme of Arjen Robben.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7qZvJcA56o
The Tom Henning Ovrebo comedy of errors continues.
After the Italy-Romania and the second leg of the 2009 semi-final Barcelona vs Chelsea he would not be allowed to set foot on a pitch again. BUT NO, he gets another opportunity to fuck up yet again. First, he red-cards Massimo Gobbi when the shamelessly diving Arjen Robben wasn't even touched. Then he allows the winning goal to stand when Klose was at least 5 feet off-side. He could have over-ruled his linesman, who wasn't paying attention, but he couldn't be bothered. Even Klose was surprised that the goal was allowed to stand.
It's deja vu al over again as Riccardo Montolivo (The Viola best player) will probably receive a disciplinary suspension like drogba got - that wasn't a Shakespearean sonnet he was reciting at Ovrebo after the match.
And now for your listening pleasure: The Theme of Arjen Robben.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7qZvJcA56o
Wow, just saw the replay. Fiorentina got robbed!! And we agree Von, there's something really wrong. How did they not catch that off side. And Ovrebo should not be allowed to ref another European match!
No...really?
Just in case one is tempted to overlook bitter reality here it is.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/engla...ccount-for-56-per-cent-of-debt-among-european
The EPL made a deal with the devil when they opened up the league to oil money; they (Chelsea, City) have driven up the transfer price to astronomical levels and concurrently pushed competing clubs further into the red.
The German Bundesliga is Europe wealthiest league, buy renovating infrastructure and keeping a lid on transfer costs. This summer they will gain an extra CL berth, at the expense of the decrepit Serie A, and by the end of the decade will become Europe's strongest league.
Just in case one is tempted to overlook bitter reality here it is.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/engla...ccount-for-56-per-cent-of-debt-among-european
The EPL made a deal with the devil when they opened up the league to oil money; they (Chelsea, City) have driven up the transfer price to astronomical levels and concurrently pushed competing clubs further into the red.
The German Bundesliga is Europe wealthiest league, buy renovating infrastructure and keeping a lid on transfer costs. This summer they will gain an extra CL berth, at the expense of the decrepit Serie A, and by the end of the decade will become Europe's strongest league.
the Bundesliga might be the most financially sound league but lets face it as sports fans we like stars, its why we watch and why the networks all around the world pay big bucks for the EPL. When a Bayern Munich vs Borrusia Dortmund match gets the television viewer numbers of around a billion that a Man Utd vs Liverpool gets, then I will buy this argument.
John Terry's indiscretions are prime fodder for comedy in other countries. Rosanova (Italian Air Farce) got involved, whatever else you say about John Terry he is a good sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxbtBGbs1k
As to the Inter-Chelsea battle, Mourinho better not forget the Pepto Bismol. It's now clear that he has no chance of knocking out the Blues without Balotelli. Chelsea were dominant and unlucky (Samuel should have been red-carded for his foul on Kalou) until the 55th minute when Balotelli was substituted in. The flow of the game changed as Malouda could no longer foray into the Inter half. He was overwhelmed on several occasions with Super Mario sending exquisite passes to Pandev and Eto'o - whom we're both too surprised to score. Last Sunday, Inter richly deserved to lose to Udinese had it not been for Super Mario.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgG1T2pDrgw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxbtBGbs1k
As to the Inter-Chelsea battle, Mourinho better not forget the Pepto Bismol. It's now clear that he has no chance of knocking out the Blues without Balotelli. Chelsea were dominant and unlucky (Samuel should have been red-carded for his foul on Kalou) until the 55th minute when Balotelli was substituted in. The flow of the game changed as Malouda could no longer foray into the Inter half. He was overwhelmed on several occasions with Super Mario sending exquisite passes to Pandev and Eto'o - whom we're both too surprised to score. Last Sunday, Inter richly deserved to lose to Udinese had it not been for Super Mario.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgG1T2pDrgw
I watched it and it ruined my weekend, at least until Canada beat the U.S. Arsenal responded well after the injury to Ramsey, so hopefully they learned from the Eduardo injury and will use it as a rallying point and not fall apart. The last 10 games should be interesting, Chelsea has the toughest schedule Arsenal is only 3 points behind, should be fun.
Thanks that was funny. I haven't checked the Serie A table for a while but your team, Roma, looks like they will grab a CL spot. Congrats. Give us an update on them when you have a chance.
Gallas is hurt, otherwise he would be in there...I want Gallas in there down the stretch, not Sol! Ramsey injury was gross and it was the reverse effect of Eduardo in 2008. If only RVP wasn't hurt and Almunia didn't suck
If Arsenal were to win the league this year, we would be the first winner that did not have a proper International keeper since the EPL was formed. So Almunia may be more of a liability than missing RvP.If only RVP wasn't hurt and Almunia didn't suck
