The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014 & World Cup

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Amazing what a lift a world class signing can give the players never mind the fans.

Maybe that's the reason United were so successful under fergi, he always brought in at least one marquee player every season.
 
The Greek said:
Amazing what a lift a world class signing can give the players never mind the fans.

Maybe that's the reason United were so successful under fergi, he always brought in at least one marquee player every season.
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Did they do that though? Certainly made some big ones, don't know if each season though.

Can't argue that everything Arsenal related seems positive at present - still early days though.
 
The Greek said:
Maybe that's the reason United were so successful under fergi, he always brought in at least one marquee player every season.
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He didn't buy a marquee signing (I dislike that suddenly popular phrase :bang:) every year, but he bought well most of the time. ;)

He was also an excellent manager too, though it pains me to say it. :lol:
 
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akr said:
Did they do that though? Certainly made some big ones, don't know if each season though.
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Maybe not every year but most years he would bring in one big signing. Would be interesting to see if he signed anyone after winning the treble.
 
Much happier with United tonight.

Congratulations to Giggs on his 145th Champions Leage appearance LOL
 
I went to the Emirates last night, and have to say that first half was reminiscent of the Invincibles. I haven't seen football like that at Arsenal for a few years.

I think my season ticket may have gone up in value :lol:

Seriously, Ozil has had an amazing influence on the team, and Flamini holds it all together. Napoli looked very ordinary...
 
So what would you do if England manager.

Play Hart who is massively out of form or choose a player with no international experience?

Now this is something Roy got massively wrong. He should have played Ruddy in every friendly as well as in the easy games like Moldova, as reserve keepers need experience. Now he can't really stop hart as neither ruddy or Forster have any experience.

I would be tempted to play ruddy, just because hart looks awful at moment.
 
I doubt that he will though, he keeps talking about experience.
 
Slightly disappointing game for Arsenal today but by no means the end of the world. Away against West Brom in their current form and buoyed by the victory over united in their previous game was never going to be easy. We didn't turn up initially and the ref must have been inspired by Jon Moss yesterday with some of the decisions he made but there's no making excuses, we didn't deserve a win. Glad Wilshere could answer some of his half time critics with a goal. There are huge similarities between his season playing out of position this year and the story for Ramsey last year. I can't believe fans insist on giving him a hard time having seen Ramsey turn it around. I just hope he proves the sceptics wrong quickly!

Had Spurs won I'd have been very annoyed at a draw but with their frankly hilarious loss to West Ham we're still top going into the international break and can be very pleased with our season so far!
 
Spurs were a home banker yesterday!!! Very amusing. Lucky that we didnt give away a pen in the last minute from our CB Stan Laurel!!!
 
Daily Mirror - "Januzaj can play for England"

The Sun - "Januzaj can play for England"

Daily Express - "Januzaj can play for England"

Daily Mail - "Mass influx of foreign Muslim youths threatens England National Team"
 
Jelster said:
And by the fact that Arsenal are better :D
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I obviously don't agree with that. ;)

I saw some of the West Brom v Arsenal game yesterday and West Brom played very well. Clarke has got them playing a nice attacking game.

The Spurs result was amusing. :lol:

Surprised by the Southampton v Swansea result. It didn't seem to be Swansea's day. Well done Saints.


It really is an up and down season, and I'm glad I'm not a betting man because any result seems possible at the moment. :cuckoo: :bonk:
 
I was at St Mary's - we played a very shabby game, Swansea deserved a goal - but as we've only let 2 in all season it didn't happen.

I reckon that's the mark of a solid team, to still win despite an under par performance.

Champions League for Southampton ;)
 
Very good performance tonight. Impressed with Townsend from the first minute, and hate to say it as a Gooner but he has to start ahead of Walcott if both fit.Lots of shots and a good win.
 
cambsno said:
Very good performance tonight. Impressed with Townsend from the first minute, and hate to say it as a Gooner but he has to start ahead of Walcott if both fit.Lots of shots and a good win.
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We were sloppy and lacked any real sharpness. We were the better team and deserved the win but no way in my opinion was that a good performance, let alone very good. So very sub par performances from many of the England senior players. But a win is a win, if wee defend like that on Tuesday it will be the play offs!
 
Mbuti said:
We were sloppy and lacked any real sharpness. We were the better team and deserved the win but no way in my opinion was that a good performance, let alone very good. So very sub par performances from many of the England senior players. But a win is a win, if wee defend like that on Tuesday it will be the play offs!
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Got to agree with this. It was a very underwhelming performance and against more serious opposition we don't have a hope in hell of breaking down their defence and finding the goal or keeping them out of ours if we play like we did today.

I like Townsend, despite being a Spud, but he's in danger of becoming all too predictable cutting inside and his tendency to shoot from range is incredibly frustrating when you understand the statistics behind such a decision. It might look good when it goes in but even the best players score so infrequently from the places he likes to shoot that really it's just gifting the ball to the opposition. When he stays wider and dribbles beyond players that's when he's dangerous, and that's what we need to see more of!

If you don't really know what I'm talking about here's a great explanation about the waste of shooting from range and here's why Townsend is the worst offender.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Got to agree with this. It was a very underwhelming performance and against more serious opposition we don't have a hope in hell of breaking down their defence and finding the goal or keeping them out of ours if we play like we did today.

I like Townsend, despite being a Spud, but he's in danger of becoming all too predictable cutting inside and his tendency to shoot from range is incredibly frustrating when you understand the statistics behind such a decision. It might look good when it goes in but even the best players score so infrequently from the places he likes to shoot that really it's just gifting the ball to the opposition. When he stays wider and dribbles beyond players that's when he's dangerous, and that's what we need to see more of!

If you don't really know what I'm talking about here's a great explanation about the waste of shooting from range and here's why Townsend is the worst offender.
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Have to agree with this. We weren't that good, and although Townsend did a good job, the likes of Theo Walcot have found that it's far more productive to get behind the defence and lay the ball back/across, or to look for a ball played behind and use your speed to beat the defenders.

That "dive" for the penalty was hilarious, yes it was a foul, but I was expecting to see a row of scorecards coming up for technical merit and artistic impression !
 
Good win for the O's today and very fitting on the day we paid our respects to the late Laurie Cunningham.

Unveiled a plaque to probably our most famous and skillful player who had to endure terrible rascist abuse that is happily not tolerated today. First goal today from Moses Odubajo who is folowing in a proud tradition of superb wingers along with Laurie and John Chiedozie
 
Well Iam gonna be stuck in a warehouse with a lot of Polish guys tonight :|
Could be a good night or a nightmare:eek:
 
Alot sharper tonight from the England lads. I did worry with how nervous Smalling starting, he was scared of the ball and positioning was awful first 20mins but settled down and played well after that. Feel for Sturridge as this England do not play to his strength as he made some good thru runs (but also made some dodgy ones too) Townsend was even better than last game with him cutting in less. Lots more positives even thou the midfield was missing in large chunks of the game.
 
So will it be:

'Roy's plucky underdogs cruelly knocked out in the quarter finals'.

or:

'Roy's hopeless hoofers crash out in the quarter finals'?

:D

More importantly, looks like the Super Greeks (the best international football team in the world) could get Iceland in the playoffs!

COME ON YOU SUPER GREEKS!

#moyesin
 
Smalling was ok - better than Walker, although I would play our best 2 full backs, Baines at LB and Cole at RB!

Wellbeck was doing great - at acting like a headless chicken, but aside from that a very good performance especially by Rooney.

All I ask is that Roy gives reserve keepers game time in the next few games.
 
fabs said:
Seriously, why do San Marino bother? 10 qualifying games, 0 points, scored 1 goal, conceded 54!!!

They should forget international football and just enter the Italian leagues as a club.
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My idea is that you get all the carp nations like San Marino, Luxembourg, Faroes, Lichtenstein etc... and they play a pre qualifying, with the top 1 (maybe 2) goingthrough to proper qualifiers. This way they get to play competitive games and can actually win for a change.

Oh, guess you could add Scotland to that list too :p
 
cambsno said:
Smalling was ok - better than Walker, although I would play our best 2 full backs, Baines at LB and Cole at RB!

Wellbeck was doing great - at acting like a headless chicken, but aside from that a very good performance especially by Rooney.

All I ask is that Roy gives reserve keepers game time in the next few games.
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bit harsh on Wellbeck! ok, his finishing was poor, but at least he understands the meaning of teamwork, unlike Mr Sturridge! now he WAS p*ss poor!
 
cambsno said:
Smalling was ok - better than Walker, although I would play our best 2 full backs, Baines at LB and Cole at RB!

Wellbeck was doing great - at acting like a headless chicken, but aside from that a very good performance especially by Rooney.

All I ask is that Roy gives reserve keepers game time in the next few games.
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You'd have Walker over Smalling any day.

It was good to see some fluidity in their attacking 1/3 finally. Obviously, we should have scored more...
 
Carlo said:
bit harsh on Wellbeck! ok, his finishing was poor, but at least he understands the meaning of teamwork, unlike Mr Sturridge! now he WAS p*ss poor!
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Wellbeck was missing for most of the match, and didn't put a shift in defending. How he gets picked over better and more reliable players is beyond me!
 
Mbuti said:
Wellbeck was missing for most of the match, and didn't put a shift in defending. How he gets picked over better and more reliable players is beyond me!
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I thought both Wellbeck & Sturridge were both a bit anxious to be honest. Just a bit too keen to get the job done, with little real composure shown by either of them. I thought Carrick's had an excellent game for the time he was on the pitch, he keeps possession well and always keeps the ball moving.

Disappointing not to see Jack Wilshire playing, he's one England player who should be on the pitch.

But at the end of the day, we made it... Well done to Roy Hodgson for getting us there :)
 
Mbuti said:
Wellbeck was missing for most of the match, and didn't put a shift in defending. How he gets picked over better and more reliable players is beyond me!
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How Welbeck got picked for England as a forward when he couldn't score for Utd baffled me. :shrug: :thinking:


It helps to be playing for Utd of course. ;) :lol:
 
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