The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014

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The 1st game my dad took me to was at Brisbane Rd (72/73 I think).

I was also there, Boxing day too I believe in the old div 2, our keeper saved a Marsh penalty and the crowd was approx 20,000.

Same year we reached the cup qtr finals after knocking Chelsea out who were quite good then. Came back from 0-2 down and over 30,000 at that match, definitely our best period since I have supported them
 
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I was also there, Boxing day too I believe in the old div 2, our keeper saved a Marsh penalty and the crowd was approx 20,000.

Same year we reached the cup qtr finals after knocking Chelsea out who were quite good then. Came back from 0-2 down and over 30,000 at that match, definitely our best period since I have supported them

I miss the 70s! :)
 
The 1st game my dad took me to was at Brisbane Rd (72/73 I think). We lost 2-0 but I remember being taken to the return fixture at Loftus Rd where we won 3-1. Going to football as a kid, great days.

And no, never boring with our Arry! :D

Ah, first game memories. Mine was Highbury in '87. Beardsley, Barnes and Aldridge's debuts. 54k in the ground, we won 2-1 and my uncle literally saved my life after the away fans were shoved in through turnstiles by the police and I was crushed against a crash barrier.
 
NSFW as there's some norty language

He's not happy is he!

As an outsider Wenger just seems unwilling to spend any money. :shrug: Whether he has money to spend only Arsenal fans could say. They keep on threatening to buy Suarez for £40m+ (£1). ;) :lol:

To let so many player go, and to not replace players seems very poor planning imho, especially when you're sending players out on loan. As the chap in the vid says, he's had 90 days to get players in. If he says there is no quality to bring in, then don't let bodies go. :shrug: All the other clubs seem to be finding players to buy, Utd and Newcastle aside.

Good deals are generally not done towards the end of the transfer window. :shake: And the more deals you have to do, the worse it could get. You could end up with something like Andy Carroll for £35m! :eek: :lol:
 
This isn't Cambsno is it? :D

NSFW as there's some norty language

Quote: "Could that have went any worse" :lol:

I thought the guy was going to clutch his chest at the end and collapse :eek: It's only the first game of the season!
 
Well it's nearly 4pm and Jose is taking charge of his first prem game since his come back, I know others may have their own views on this but as a long standing Chelsea fan...this is happy times :)
 
Barca looking terrible at 6-0 up at the break.
 
Well Mourinho's back. Sensational first half and a second half where they shut up shop. All interspersed with the typical diving and cynical fouls.

I do like him for his egotistical remarks and his achievements but the style of football he has every club play doesn't gel with me.
 
Looking forward to seeing the highlights of Hull V Chelsea... saw the Lampard goal - the wall just gave way when Lamps launched it. MacGregor was unlucky not to get a full palm on it.

Next week against Norwich will be a better barometer for how Bruce has shaped the team, although I'm hoping they don't get all down in the dumps.Would be nice for them to come out all guns blazing
 
This isn't Cambsno is it? :D

NSFW as there's some norty language

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gSFEaI4HdA">YouTube Link</a>

This guys spot on!
Why can't Wenger and the board see the problems with the club? We've needed strengthening for many years not just this season, so now the stadium is paid for and money in the bank why haven't we signed anyone?

Wenger out and sack the board!
 
Well Mourinho's back. Sensational first half and a second half where they shut up shop. All interspersed with the typical diving and cynical fouls.

I do like him for his egotistical remarks and his achievements but the style of football he has every club play doesn't gel with me.

Unlike a side lacking motivation like Wenger can do...
 
This guys spot on!
Why can't Wenger and the board see the problems with the club? We've needed strengthening for many years not just this season, so now the stadium is paid for and money in the bank why haven't we signed anyone?

Wenger out and sack the board!

I can only imagine it's one of two things.

Either:

They feel that with little or no investment, 4th place is always an achievable target and from a financial point of view it makes more sense than throwing a fortune away to perhaps finish 2nd or 3rd.

They're clinging to the hope that FFP will come along and make everything OK

I suspect it's probably a combination of the two.

PS

Just saw something about Ox being out for 6 months ?
 
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I can only imagine it's one of two things.

Either:

They feel that with little or no investment, 4th place is always an achievable target and from a financial point of view it makes more sense than throwing a fortune away to perhaps finish 2nd or 3rd.

They're clinging to the hope that FFP will come along and make everything OK

I suspect it's probably a combination of the two.

If thats the case, come out and say so, most fans would be fine with that as long as ticket prices reflect their ambition. Whats not acceptable is being charged £93 to watch that shower of s... on Saturday.
You can't promise us fillet steak and serve us Iceland burgers.

Black Scarf Moment!!
 
Unlike a side lacking motivation like Wenger can do...

I refuse to be drawn into an argument about Arsenal. The divisions that have formed between AKB, AST, BSM & WOB groups (that might be double Dutch for some) is frankly embarrassing and it's ruining the support for the club, particularly on match day.

Now is the time to pull together, not to be negative, disruptive and dissenting.
 
I refuse to be drawn into an argument about Arsenal. The divisions that have formed between AKB, AST, BSM & WOB groups (that might be double Dutch for some) is frankly embarrassing and it's ruining the support for the club, particularly on match day.

Now is the time to pull together, not to be negative, disruptive and dissenting.

The division of support has come about ....why? Arsenal fans coming to blows in the studium ..... why?

8 years of broken promises!
 
The Ox could be out for most of the season, if reports are to be believed.
 
I refuse to be drawn into an argument about Arsenal. The divisions that have formed between AKB, AST, BSM & WOB groups (that might be double Dutch for some) is frankly embarrassing and it's ruining the support for the club, particularly on match day.

Now is the time to pull together, not to be negative, disruptive and dissenting.

So just bury head in the sand and think everything is fine...
 
I refuse to be drawn into an argument about Arsenal. The divisions that have formed between AKB, AST, BSM & WOB groups (that might be double Dutch for some) is frankly embarrassing and it's ruining the support for the club, particularly on match day.

Now is the time to pull together, not to be negative, disruptive and dissenting.

How can any Arsenal fan can not be concerned about facing a new season with a threadbare squad, which now has an ever increasing injury list, that was promised investment at the beginning of the summer?

Yes, you'll say that when you last started a season with a loss you went on to come 2nd - but I'm sure your squad was a lot healthier than the one currently.

Going out to spend now looks like panic buying, and all clubs involved in doing with business with Arsenal will be privy to it.

I like Arsenal, but the inaction in the transfer market in the summer so far, getting rid of the fringe players/terrible purchases, is as only good if you re-invest.
 
At least Arsenal put in a reasonable bid for Suarez.

Some of United's bids - (1st and 2nd bid for Fabregas & today's bid for Baines and Fellani) have been very lowball.
 
Well, reasonable to an extent, but silly doing the extra quid.

Yes, unbelievable - especially the joint bid of Perm and Baines.

It wasn't silly at all. We were of the belief at the time that a release clause existed for offers in excess of £30m. What would have been silly is offering £35m when we thought £30m+£1 would have done it. As it happened our understanding of what the contract included (and these things are usually kept a closely guarded secret) turned out to be wrong.
 
It wasn't silly at all. We were of the belief at the time that a release clause existed for offers in excess of £30m. What would have been silly is offering £35m when we thought £30m+£1 would have done it. As it happened our understanding of what the contract included (and these things are usually kept a closely guarded secret) turned out to be wrong.

Ha! OK..
 
Of course the problem now is circumstances are squarely in the favour of clubs selling to Arsenal. It's common knowledge we have massive cash reserves so they automatically feel able to demand a high priced paid up front rather than payments over several years as is usual. They also know we're under huge pressure to buy which again plays into the hands of sellers trying to tease out more money for us. This is illustrated in Newcastle reportedly wanting a ridiculous £30m for Cabaye.

A lot of the pressure and dissenting voices from fan groups is shooting the club in the foot rather than actually providing anything remotely constructive in addressing the undeniable problems at the club. That's what I find most frustrating.
 
Of course the problem now is circumstances are squarely in the favour of clubs selling to Arsenal. It's common knowledge we have massive cash reserves so they automatically feel able to demand a high priced paid up front rather than payments over several years as is usual. They also know we're under huge pressure to buy which again plays into the hands of sellers trying to tease out more money for us. This is illustrated in Newcastle reportedly wanting a ridiculous £30m for Cabaye.

A lot of the pressure and dissenting voices from fan groups is shooting the club in the foot rather than actually providing anything remotely constructive in addressing the undeniable problems at the club. That's what I find most frustrating.

How do you expect season ticket holding fans to react? By being vocal on match day is a way, by writing letters to the board is another.

There's obviously something wrong and they want to show how they feel.

Yeah, just heard that as well - ridiculous, but utterly avoidable if they had gotten themselves involved in the market.
 
Of course the problem now is circumstances are squarely in the favour of clubs selling to Arsenal. It's common knowledge we have massive cash reserves so they automatically feel able to demand a high priced paid up front rather than payments over several years as is usual. They also know we're under huge pressure to buy which again plays into the hands of sellers trying to tease out more money for us. This is illustrated in Newcastle reportedly wanting a ridiculous £30m for Cabaye.

We've had 3 months to bring players in so why have we waited until now?
 
Some of United's bids - (1st and 2nd bid for Fabregas & today's bid for Baines and Fellani) have been very lowball.

Yes, unbelievable - especially the joint bid of Perm and Baines.

The Fellaini one mae me chuckle.

Seems we waited for the £23m Fellaini buy-out clause to pass (31st July) so we could try and get him for less.:thinking:

The combined bid = less for Baines than we've already had turned down.:shrug:

Ed Woodward seems to have a strange method - put in an offer and if it's refused - offer less :lol: - at least David Gill went in got on with things.
 
We've had 3 months to bring players in so why have we waited until now?

We haven't waited until now. We had a deal agreed for Higuain before RM completely changed their price. We had a price agreed for Gustavo but he chose to remain in Germany. Who knows what more has gone on behind closed doors. I certainly wouldn't rely on what you read in the sports pages to give you truthful transfer gossip. I read an article the other day about a "secret" bid that this paper had been given an "inside exclusive" to. Eh...how does that work then? Bunch of liars and crooks determined to cause a stir to push their own agenda and line their own pocket.

Last season we had deals done early and people ignored them, complained we were inactive in the transfer window, and moaned about all the 'deadwood' at the club.

This year that deadwood has been all but removed and now everyone is complaining the squad's too thin even though they've got what they wanted.

Don't mistake me for a happy fan at the whole situation, but I'm not in enough of a blind rage to boo our own players, manager and board before the transfer window is even over. Even after it you won't find me dissenting in a way that harms my club.

You also won't find my making moronically naive statements about how the buck stops with Wenger and that he's the root cause of all our problems.

Honestly, I hate our own fans sometimes.
 
We haven't waited until now. We had a deal agreed for Higuain before RM completely changed their price. We had a price agreed for Gustavo but he chose to remain in Germany. Who knows what more has gone on behind closed doors. I certainly wouldn't rely on what you read in the sports pages to give you truthful transfer gossip. I read an article the other day about a "secret" bid that this paper had been given an "inside exclusive" to. Eh...how does that work then? Bunch of liars and crooks determined to cause a stir to push their own agenda and line their own pocket.

Last season we had deals done early and people ignored them, complained we were inactive in the transfer window, and moaned about all the 'deadwood' at the club.

This year that deadwood has been all but removed and now everyone is complaining the squad's too thin even though they've got what they wanted.

Don't mistake me for a happy fan at the whole situation, but I'm not in enough of a blind rage to boo our own players, manager and board before the transfer window is even over. Even after it you won't find me dissenting in a way that harms my club.

You also won't find my making moronically naive statements about how the buck stops with Wenger and that he's the root cause of all our problems.

Honestly, I hate our own fans sometimes.

Don't agree with all the above, but respect your opinion.
 
Of course the problem now is circumstances are squarely in the favour of clubs selling to Arsenal. It's common knowledge we have massive cash reserves so they automatically feel able to demand a high priced paid up front rather than payments over several years as is usual. They also know we're under huge pressure to buy which again plays into the hands of sellers trying to tease out more money for us.

Exactly, this is why you try and get some business done as early as possible in the window. They've had an open transfer window for months, and it's not as if they have only had that time, they should scouting and making plans throughout the season. If they couldn't get Higuain, then Suarez was the alternative. If they can't get Suarez, which looks likely, what is option 3? :shrug: Yes, try and get the players you want, but have many alternatives. If they felt they needed a forward, not getting a player doesn't make the need for a player for that position disappear. :shrug:

And if the Arsenal board think that at least 4th position is locked regardless of investment, then they may have a shock coming their way. And once you're out of the CL places, or even the Europa League as well, it could be very hard to get back into. Other teams are not standing still. ;)

The Fellaini one mae me chuckle.

Seems we waited for the £23m Fellaini buy-out clause to pass (31st July) so we could try and get him for less.:thinking:

The combined bid = less for Baines than we've already had turned down.:shrug:

It seems quite an odd way to work. :thinking: :lol:

Every time they offer something so low, they just have to say to David Moyes, 'you wouldn't have taken that amount when you were here, why would we take that now?' :shrug: :bonk:

Seems to me Moyes doesn't really know what he wants, he just wants to spend some money to make it look like he's improving the team. Fabregas or Fellaini? What kind of team do you want, because they are totally different players? :shrug:
 
QPR miss out on Scott Parker then as he signs for Fulham.
 
This year that deadwood has been all but removed and now everyone is complaining the squad's too thin even though they've got what they wanted.

This is the strangest part of people complaining - most of the players that everyone has been moaning about.

I would be nervous for you now about the potential for some bad signings but let's see.

As an outsider looking in the lack of signings is strange, in past seasons but especially this one. In this day and age, it does not tend to be the manager who can't make the signings, it's whoever the main 'negotiator is'.

We've discussed this before, but it would be interesting to see what would be happening now if David Dein was still there.
 
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