The Football Thread - Season 2017/2018

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redhed17 said:
Which Arsenal have been, there or there abouts as you say, but the consistency of getting in the Champion's League and winning Cups has not been good enough for a lot of Arsenal fans. :thinking: They have a level of success 95% of clubs would bite arms off for but they are still not happy. :rolleyes:

Talking of consistency, during the epic loss to Swansea by Liverpool on Monday,:banghead: I think the commentator said Liverpool had not finished outside the top 8 for 50 years! :eek: Thankfully they have won the League, and few other things in that time. ;) :)
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And that is entirely my point about Spurs.

Yes, they are doing well currently, and it may well be the start of something special. But they have won nothing of significance for quite some time. An FA cup in 91 (I don't call the League Cup significant) is about it in recent years.

Arsenal, the team which they seem to want to emulate, have also done a whole EPL season undefeated, and have won the EPL at White Hart Lane & Old Trafford in that time (and a certain League win at Anfield in '89 too :D).
 
Jelster said:
And that is entirely my point about Spurs.

Yes, they are doing well currently, and it may well be the start of something special. But they have won nothing of significance for quite some time. An FA cup in 91 (I don't call the League Cup significant) is about it in recent years.
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The League Cup not significant! Let's see, there are 3 domestic cups that can be won, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. To dismiss one seems a bit churlish imho. The Community Shield is insignificant. Finishing in the top 4 for and qualifying for the Champions League for many years may show consistency, but it doesn't show up in the clubs Honours sections. Especially if you don't win the Champions League in those 20 attempts. Had to stick that if for the 89 flashback below. ;)

The point you have been making is Spurs haven't with this squad, and haven't for many years, so are trophies important or not, or just the ones Arsenal have won more often than Spur recently. :rolleyes:

Jelster said:
Arsenal, the team which they seem to want to emulate, have also done a whole EPL season undefeated, and have won the EPL at White Hart Lane & Old Trafford in that time (and a certain League win at Anfield in '89 too :D).
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I doubt Spurs fans want to emulate Arsenal, I would think they want to surpass them. ;) Granted that may take many years, and may never happen, but you always want to better your closest opponents.

1989 is not a memory I like to revisit. :( For obvious reasons. :LOL:
 
Most clubs play their bit part & academy players in the early rounds of the League Cup, hence the lack of significance. If we lose to Chelsea tonight in the Semi-final, I won't shed a tear, i'd rather we focus on league form and winning the Europa Cup. If we win however..... :D
 
Jelster said:
Most clubs play their bit part & academy players in the early rounds of the League Cup, hence the lack of significance. If we lose to Chelsea tonight in the Semi-final, I won't shed a tear, i'd rather we focus on league form and winning the Europa Cup. If we win however..... :D
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I suppose now that you're are in the Final your attitude to the League Cup may have changed. I hope not. ;)

Some clubs mess about with weakened teams in the FA Cup too sadly. :( Sometimes it bites them on the botty, like it did with Mr Hughes before he got the elbow. Would he have been sacked if they were still in the Cup? We'll never know. :confused:

There's still only 3 domestic Cups to win. I don't understand clubs passing on a chance to actually win something, god knows for some teams it has been a very long time, and some have never won any trophy. :thinking:

Same thing with the Europa League, teams see it as a burden. If you don't want to try and win something pull out and let others that do. :rolleyes:
 
redhed17 said:
I suppose now that you're are in the Final your attitude to the League Cup may have changed. I hope not. ;)

Some clubs mess about with weakened teams in the FA Cup too sadly. :( Sometimes it bites them on the botty, like it did with Mr Hughes before he got the elbow. Would he have been sacked if they were still in the Cup? We'll never know. :confused:

There's still only 3 domestic Cups to win. I don't understand clubs passing on a chance to actually win something, god knows for some teams it has been a very long time, and some have never won any trophy. :thinking:

Same thing with the Europa League, teams see it as a burden. If you don't want to try and win something pull out and let others that do. :rolleyes:
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Attitude hasn't changed, but it's always good to get one over on the Chavs :p

Your point about 3 domestic trophies is very valid, and you would think that some of the mid-table teams would consider it a way to get into Europe (Europa cup place I think) and get something in the trophy cabinet. It would be good to win it now though, as Wenger has never managed it in his 20 plus years in England.

I only hope that we field a decent side, and that we do the same for the rest of the Europa cup games, as that could be our path back to the ECL.

You have to laugh at Arsenals first goal last night, you couldn't have made that up! :D
 
Perfect quote I heard today - "If Wenger was to coach a fish, it would drown"

Totally true... how inept does one have to be to be sacked. No defensive ability, no passion, no commitment, not motivated at all and it all comes from the manager!
 
How can you say that, he has today masterminded signing a quality young striker AND got Ozil to commit to another long term contract (on £350K a week) , no stopping them now.

(that's all a bit tongue in cheek by the way)

Matt
 
They have the greatest keeper in history his name is Wenger- He's kept his job far longer than he should have.
 
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Byker28i said:
They should have bought a keeper :D
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And another 5 or 6 defenders plus a couple of mids...

Cech has been poor all year and is one of the weakest keepers in the top 10, not good at all, would rather see us get Joe Hart!

Of our so called defenders, Koscielny is probably worth a place in the team although he does make a few basic errors (could be covering for his team mates) and is injury prone. Mustafi is probably ok for the bench, while Kolasanic has been good but is left on the bench for some reason, the rest shouldn't even be playing reserve team football!!
 
Arsenal have some great players, but many who are now past their best. They need a clear out
I think Koscielny is past his best, then fouls to make up for it. How he doesn't get more bookings is a mystery. Bellarin was great at the start of 2016-2017 then tailed off
Cech is another, been a great keeper but Ospina is much better
Ozil started playing for the transfer period only, has been rewarded by doubling his pay packet. Lets hope that inspires him because when he plays well he's brilliant, but often goes missing, making it look like the Arse have 10 men on the field.
Meanwhile Wiltshire has been the best player many times and is getting a 25% wage drop.
Walcott needed to go, probably Welbeck too.
Lacazette looked a great buy, really like his movement, but he seems to have become disinterested.

Seems to be an ongoing trend. Players turning up and going through the motions, manager going through the motions, only wanted to beat Fergies record, dressing room lost? All that talk of Sanchez isolated isn't good.
 
Byker28i said:
Arsenal have some great players, but many who are now past their best. They need a clear out
I think Koscielny is past his best, then fouls to make up for it. How he doesn't get more bookings is a mystery. Bellarin was great at the start of 2016-2017 then tailed off
Cech is another, been a great keeper but Ospina is much better
Ozil started playing for the transfer period only, has been rewarded by doubling his pay packet. Lets hope that inspires him because when he plays well he's brilliant, but often goes missing, making it look like the Arse have 10 men on the field.
Meanwhile Wiltshire has been the best player many times and is getting a 25% wage drop.
Walcott needed to go, probably Welbeck too.
Lacazette looked a great buy, really like his movement, but he seems to have become disinterested.

Seems to be an ongoing trend. Players turning up and going through the motions, manager going through the motions, only wanted to beat Fergies record, dressing room lost? All that talk of Sanchez isolated isn't good.
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Ospina is average at best, he may get into teams like Watford or Swansea but nothing else.
 
Oh my lord, how good was spurs tonight. Fantastic to see them back playing at pace. Brilliant commitment.
Sad to see Sanchez suffering in midfield, even sadder to see he's continuing his arsenal form by throwing himself down and rolling around at any touch.
 
I always said that Walcott would score goals, other teams play to his strengths... I don't care if Sanchez broke his leg, he caused so much disharmony at Arsenal I am so glad he's gone. Ozil played his game well, he was never going anywhere, but waited to see who came in and what their wages were, so he could make sure his were higher. He is a brilliant footballer, and most of what he does is so far in advance of the rest of the team.

Giroud's biggest problem is that he couldn't gel with Ozil. Ozil would play a ball into the channel but Giroud would drop short, or go left when Ozil went right. Lacazette and Wilshire have been the only people able to keep up with Ozil's football brain. The closest thing to Bergkamp we have seen since the Ice Man retired...

Ramsay, Xhaka, Mustaffi, Bellerin & Iwobi are all first 11 starters who are not good enough. Rather have Elneney in midfield with JW than either of the other two. We need some defenders, and a keeper; why we didn't go for Pickford in the summer amazes me.
 
I'd wait a bit longer to see about Walcott, as he has flattered to deceive on many occasions. As have Everton. ;)

There seems to have been a lot of money spent over the transfer window, and some surprising moves. Giroud, only £18m, and going to Chel$ki. :eek: Lucas Moura only £23m. I'm sure the price was higher when Liverpool were linked. ;) :LOL:

I'd have concerns about Aubameyang. That Klopp wasn't interested, and none of the big clubs around Europe didn't seem interested either, leads me to think there is something not quite right with him. :thinking: Time will tell.

The Ayew brothers linking up at Swansea. It will be interesting to see if they play together, or one before the other.

Mangala to Everton could be a good deal for a player who was bought for £32m 4 years ago. And that was when £32m was a lot of money. ;) :LOL:

I heard a good stat yesterday, in the past year Cit€h have spent more on their defence over that last year that 52 countries. :eek: :LOL:
 
Walcott is a decent player, just think he needs a big arm round him and being the main man, think he will do well at Everton

Giroud is a steal, very good player, gives 100% and dangerous. Not in the Aguero or Kane bracket but better than most strikers outside the top 4 and better than Morata

Aubameyang is a very good player. High scoring, great finisher, should have a field day with Ozil, if those two gel it will be devastating.

Typical Arsenal though, defence is non existent so we offer a paltry £12m for Evans... loopy!!
 
cambsno said:
Walcott is a decent player, just think he needs a big arm round him and being the main man, think he will do well at Everton
Giroud is a steal, very good player, gives 100% and dangerous. Not in the Aguero or Kane bracket but better than most strikers outside the top 4 and better than Morata
Aubameyang is a very good player. High scoring, great finisher, should have a field day with Ozil, if those two gel it will be devastating.
Typical Arsenal though, defence is non existent so we offer a paltry £12m for Evans... loopy!!
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Still not sure about Giroud. Looks good at 20 mins to go coming on fresh against tired opposition, but does have a good touch around the box. Never seems to look good for arsenal when he starts though.
Evans I've no idea what you were doing!

Thought you had some good youngsters coming through. Maitland Niles, Iwobi, LaCravatte looks good if he gets service, seems to have become a little disillusioned lately?

You've had a right clear out though,
Francis Coquelin Valencia £12m 11 Jan, 2018
Theo Walcott Everton £20m 17 Jan, 2018
Alexis Sanchez Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Mathieu Debuchy St-Etienne Free 31 Jan, 2018
Olivier Giroud Chelsea £18m 31 Jan, 2018

and then In
Konstantinos Mavropanos Ioannina £2,5m? . 04 Jan, 2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang B Dortmund £56m 31 Jan, 2018

So £50m in - £58.5m out

trouble is - who's going to be manager at the end of the year. That needed to be resolved so that people are certain to make it attractive to go there.
 
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Right up them!!! (They don't like it, Mr. Mainwaring!)
 
Byker28i said:
Still not sure about Giroud. Looks good at 20 mins to go coming on fresh against tired opposition, but does have a good touch around the box. Never seems to look good for arsenal when he starts though.
Evans I've no idea what you were doing!

Thought you had some good youngsters coming through. Maitland Niles, Iwobi, LaCravatte looks good if he gets service, seems to have become a little disillusioned lately?

You've had a right clear out though,
Francis Coquelin Valencia £12m 11 Jan, 2018
Theo Walcott Everton £20m 17 Jan, 2018
Alexis Sanchez Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Mathieu Debuchy St-Etienne Free 31 Jan, 2018
Olivier Giroud Chelsea £18m 31 Jan, 2018

and then In
Konstantinos Mavropanos Ioannina £2,5m? . 04 Jan, 2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang B Dortmund £56m 31 Jan, 2018

So £50m in - £58.5m out

trouble is - who's going to be manager at the end of the year. That needed to be resolved so that people are certain to make it attractive to go there.
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Maitland Niles is ok, not sure where he fits as Kolasinac is better. Iwobi is a waste of space. Basically a younger version off Welbeck!
 
Chelsea was a shock result - ruined my accumulator too!!! They really have lost the plot. They are much the same as Arsenal in that they had a great defence a while back that eventually aged and moved on one way or another. If you don't replace them, then it's never going to stay the same.

For Arsenal (my team), I cringe every time I watch them and see teams get at them. It's scary how so inept they really are. Koscielny and Mustafi are going to the Euros for christ sake. How can they be that bad. When you look at Steve Bould sitting next to Wenger every week, you wonder what input he is actually allowed, because the Steve Bould I used to watch week in, week out, would not have stood for crap like that from any defence since he retired. We all thought that him being made assistant, would end the dire defending..... apparently not

Sanchez to Man Utd - over it as soon as he went. The club failed him by not extending his contract a lot earlier and mores, not improving the first eleven. Why would he stay, especially when he was running his gonads off up front only to see the back for and defensive midfield play like schoolboys
 
Interesting stat which I heard on the radio today. (I haven't personally checked it.)

Apparently there are 52 countries in the world whose defence spending in the last 2 years has been less than Manchester City.
 
StewartR said:
Interesting stat which I heard on the radio today. (I haven't personally checked it.)

Apparently there are 52 countries in the world whose defence spending in the last 2 years has been less than Manchester City.
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Mmm, I heard it was one year. :thinking:

redhed17 said:
I heard a good stat yesterday, in the past year Cit€h have spent more on their defence over that last year that 52 countries. :eek: :LOL:
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;) :LOL:
 
Chel$ki started the season OK, but have been off the boil for awhile. Considering the way they won the league, this has a similar feel, from the outside, of Moaninho's last season there. :thinking:
 
StewartR said:
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.

Out of curiosity, why do you always write Chel$ki and Cit€h?
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It started off when Chelsea were bought by Abramovich and lots of money was pumped into their team as a gentle dig. It sounds a bit Russian and the Dollar sign emphasized their sudden wealth. ;)

When Man City were bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group, and similar amounts of money was pumped into their team, I started using Cit€h for similar reasons. It is spelt in a similar way in which some Mancunians say City, and the Euro sign again emphasizes the cash. It is just a bit of fun for me, and the added benefit with regards to City, is that it is normally easy to work out which City is being talked about, as there are a few teams with City as part of their name. ;) The $ and € have the benefit of looking a bit like an S and E and fitting in the names which the Rouble and Emirati dirham wouldn't. :D

Like I said, only a bit of fun, sorry if it bothers anyone. :( I doubt many Chel$ki or Cit€h fans have any problems being reminded about the money when it has brought them so much success in recent years. ;)
 
redhed17 said:
Suddenly Mahrez has gone from about £25m to £49m. :rolleyes: :LOL: I'm not sure he is a good buy at £25m. :rolleyes: Doesn't seem to have done too much since they won the league imho.
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So you don’t think Mahrez is worth £25m ? Pep valued him at £60m and Leicester at £85m ! Someone here has ‘dropped the ball’ I wonder who ?
 
Byker28i said:
Still not sure about Giroud. Looks good at 20 mins to go coming on fresh against tired opposition, but does have a good touch around the box. Never seems to look good for arsenal when he starts though.
Evans I've no idea what you were doing!

Thought you had some good youngsters coming through. Maitland Niles, Iwobi, LaCravatte looks good if he gets service, seems to have become a little disillusioned lately?

You've had a right clear out though,
Francis Coquelin Valencia £12m 11 Jan, 2018
Theo Walcott Everton £20m 17 Jan, 2018
Alexis Sanchez Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Mathieu Debuchy St-Etienne Free 31 Jan, 2018
Olivier Giroud Chelsea £18m 31 Jan, 2018

and then In
Konstantinos Mavropanos Ioannina £2,5m? . 04 Jan, 2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Man Utd Swap 22 Jan, 2018
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang B Dortmund £56m 31 Jan, 2018

So £50m in - £58.5m out

trouble is - who's going to be manager at the end of the year. That needed to be resolved so that people are certain to make it attractive to go there.
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I think Arsenal got a good deal for Giroud, 18 months left on his contract and he is 31 years old. Chelski get the best target man in the league, but he won't be able to give them the movement that Morata does, and I'm not sure how he will gel with Hazard, as there was definitely a disconnect between him & Ozil.

On the younger players, Iwobi has lost direction, he is exactly like Simon says, a younger version of Welbeck, full of energy but no end product. The players to watch out for are Maitland-Niles (who is actually a central midfield player, not a wing back) Reiss Nelson - lightning quick on the wing and a great finisher, Eddie Nketiah - he will be a great striker, definitely has that "magic". Then we have a couple out on loan, Cohen Bramall, who will be a great right sided wing back, and Krystian Beilek, a centre back.

With the right manager and coaching, there is the nucleus a great young team, but that's the problem, Wenger no longer seems to have that magic like when he turned a centre back into a great ball playing midfielder (Petit) and winger who had lost his way, into one of the greatest strikers to grace the league (Henry). Some more of that magic would be wonderful......
 
Leicester now have an issue with Mahrez. Didn't let him go in the summer, he was sat in the airport waiting on a call. Didn't let him go to Man City in this transfer window on a £60m bid - they tried to hold out for £80m
Now hes alienated his team mates, not turned up for training...
 
Byker28i said:
Leicester now have an issue with Mahrez. Didn't let him go in the summer, he was sat in the airport waiting on a call. Didn't let him go to Man City in this transfer window on a £60m bid - they tried to hold out for £80m
Now hes alienated his team mates, not turned up for training...
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A fair amount of speculation there on your part unless you are very close to the club ?

I have no problem with Mahrez 'moving on' to a bigger club it happens, Leicester are not a 'big club' although winning the premiership has raised expectations.

What rankles with me (and many more LCFC fans) is that a club with MCFC's money make an offer on the final day of the transfer window ! leaving Leicester with no time to source a replacement.

We do not have great players sitting on the bench waiting for game time. Remove Mahrez from our team and we lose a lot of our creativity.

I guess this is similar to the last second bids on ebay :mad: back someone into a corner and get a better deal.

I'm pretty sure if MCFC had entered negotiations earlier in the transfer window a deal would have been agreed.

Do not forget in all this that Mahrez signed a 4 year deal at £100.000 a week that still has 2.5 years to run.

These Thai owners at LCFC can and will play 'hardball' they refused to negotiate with West Ham over Islam Salmani moving to West Ham because of an article Karen Brady wrote criticising them for sacking Claudio Ranieri.
 
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Byker28i said:
Or read the news?
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/...r-news/what-happens-next-riyad-mahrez-1149975

And I agree about Mahrez, you'll lose a lot of creativity, but it's been handled badly all around, especially by Man City, but as I said, Leicester have an issue with one of their important players now that needs to be resolved.
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And the newspapers never speculate do they ?

Trust me Rob Tanner the Leicester Mercury’s football ‘writer’ does not have much credibility with LCFC supporters.

Time will tell with Mahrez, he soon buckled down when his expected transfer did not materialise last year.

I hope he does not keep sulking for long because the owners may leave him stagnating in the reserves ? What he does in the

immediate future will probably have a significant bearing on his future career.
 
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