GodZola

If this is true & you have 100% proof why don't you name & shame them & dock the points accordingly? Also can you not lock the prediction thread 15 minutes before a game is due to start? This would atleast stop the cheating.

At the club I frequent they operate the same principles in selecting a mixture of scholars & schoolboys & you also get some of the under 15's playing for the under 16's. They also get them to play in unfamiliar positions to give them an understanding & insight on what's required from that role. Personally I think its a double edged sword as these strategies are beneficial to the young players development but I think it needs a little more thought & control but that's selfishly speaking of course.

Just scored for Bolton, strange he has been given permission to play being his loan ends there in January so could be cup tied if we progress, that said this will do his confidence the world of good & let's hope its the start of things to come.

Sundays game was a mixture of poor decisions going against us, poor finishing & Utd being clinical with the few shots on target they had, add to the luck they got for the third goal then not much went our way. How many sides will go to the theatre of silence & have more chances & shots on goal this season? Utd got the luck - as ever, unfortunately fine margins that decide games. Arsenal have never recovered from losing that spine of Adams, Viera, Bergkamp & Henry as well as losing that British steel. Wenger's refusal to spend has hit them hard, they could of got Phil Jones or Cahill to shore up their defensive problems, in contrast we still have that will to win, got the experience of winning trophies & are still equipped defensively despite leaking a few this season. The changing of personnel & formation is partly behind that but is I'd sooner go & pay £50+ to watch what I have seen this season as opposed to the rubbish I had to endure last year were we also won nothing!

Don't agree, part of the reason ole Bacon face is so successful is because of his constant barracking of referees were psychologically it always works in their favour with decisions going their way - hence Sunday?! Besides AVB has complained using the proper channels so has done so respectfully which to me is the correct way of making a complaint rather than just slam the officials after a match.

USED to play as an attacking midfielder, was very skilful & was constantly kicked off the park! Played with & against some top players some of which made it but played with better players that did not! Retired over 10 years ago & now help out in an advisory role to some promising young players, may go into coaching sometime in the near future.

I would vote AVB if it were possible but despite the fact Torres should of got something out of this game for us, he is getting there - I hope he continues to improve & to finally shove it down the detractors throats.

Some of us remained positive throughout the 'close season of discontent' but I hope now the knockers will take a back seat & give the team & TORRES a break after todays performance, another game with Utd's luck we would of won today with goals to spare. AVB I salute you, brave tactics that I havn't seen for sometime, my man of the match by an absolute country mile - to have so many chances & to lose the game by some poor officiating is testament to his outstanding management who is clearly not afraid to 'go for it' Time will tell but I remain confident that we WILL be there at the business end - loving it!

If it were not for those assists we would of drawn the game....... For that reason Torres, one small step towards a return of confidence. Mata, one word - QUALITY!

Cheers, perhaps an area we need to work on? We already have Bertrand in the first team that will hopefully get amongst the starts this season & have Kakuta & PVA who also are not too far away from first team action (successful loan spell permitting) yet as you state we sold young players that are of the same ilk & age leaving us short of quality coming through, especially from predominately right footed players.

Thanks, how old are they & are they likely to go out on loan? I will be watching a Chelsea under 16 match in a few week time but ironically I won't be there for Chelsea reasons, so I was going to run my eye over our next generation & see how good our future is, but i was a little bemused before yours & manpe's post as to why we are so much stronger on the left side.

Ok fella thanks, that's a start!

I have no problem with criticism mate as long as its got foundation & is indeed the truth & not complete bollocks that is posted with pure negativity. I do agree with you & wouldn't settle for mediocrity either but patience is the key. I'm too old to learn something new everyday but I have the pleasure of being enlightened by the young & the old from time to time that makes me chuckle & that one moment that made me laugh really is the 'beauty of life'

My first paragraph wasn't aimed at you but fans have been trigger happy regarding Torres without given him the benefit of the doubt. I concur that Torres should be benched after a poor spell this term but more importantly AVB has made a point of this & for me this can only be a positive step for our club because AVB will drop the under performers (which was distinctly lacking last season) this will mean players like Torres will have to work their nuts off to get back in the team - no player safe which will keep them on their toes, has to be the right way.

Another young player that will benefit from going out on loan at a club were he will get vital game time & experience. He like Kakuta has a good manager behind him that will improve his game immensely. Martinez has been given a massive vote of confidence by Cleverly which bodes well for PVA, I hope Martinez works on his defensive deficiencies whilst maintaining his talent going forward. Question for EW & the youth followers, why have we got decent prospects on the left side coming through as opposed to the right? Are there any right wingers/backs/wingbacks coming through the ranks?

I don't necessarily think that's true, some members were boasting that Torres was finished during the close season & I think they would rather see that happen to prove their assumption correct than having to eat some humble pie. Torres like Anelka & Drogba have been fed scraps, he wasn't 100% fit last season & confidence is a massive thing to lose to any footballer but especially a striker. He is in the last chance saloon, he looks fit, hopefully will get the service now & with that his confidence will return by scoring goals. If he fails after being given a run then he will be replaced but fans should judge him at the end of September when he has been given that service not after so many games of poor service. I've also stuck up for Anelka many times on here too, he is NOT a winger but fans also wrongly judge him for playing there, played his best football as a lone striker or alongside a big striker - Kevin Davis, I think be has been unlucky in regards starting in his preferred position but I respect him for taking it on the chin & for wanting to stay, he will prove useful as the season goes on & deserves better imho. Funny thing is we have got arguably 4 world class players fighting for that position which is great but up til now our midfield is poor & that's the area that needs addressing or scrutiny!

The slow distribution & backward & sideways movement of the ball is something I've been trying to get across to members since virtually the day I joined this forum & got slated for it because most of my posts were directed at Mikel. I think I was little unfair to Mikel as he is not alone with this repetitive action & you have summed it up perfectly.

Fans finally have a genuine reason to be excited with 2 quality players playing on the flanks instead of seeing the same old every week from Kalouda, the wind of change has arrived at last - a year or so too late but atleast we can look forward to some optimism in our offensive play but I would urge caution as its early doors. I have no doubts that this front 3 can work but as I said yesterday our midfield is a work in progress. The front 3 can only be a success if they get the supply, so I hope that the ball distribution is quicker to start our attacks & there is better movement from the midfield to our attackers. It makes a welcome change to have some pace amongst the squad. As for Torres, I will judge him from now where I expect him to get some service - if he is still not producing then he will get the axe & deservedly so.

I'm fully aware of Bosingwa's weaknesses - mainly he can't defend for toffee & can see your point. I still think Bosingwa has been selected due to lack of personnel & AVB has used him to get width. Ramires will play regardless of Bosingwa & as I said there might be a change in the team selection this week due to Mata & Sturridge. I would like to see Romeu given a run but AVB will go with Mikel if its not Meireles, Luiz does tend to get forward more but our other CB's aren't exactly rigid so you could say the same for them all, generally someone will/should sit if this happens, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be Mikel that's selected.

Why does Bosingwa have to play if Ramires is on the pitch & the same with Mikel & Luiz - don't understand your thought to that? He will chop & change to suit individual games & hopefully keep selecting the players that are performing. What AVB has done is to utilize the fullbacks because he is playing with a DM & has not had a Modric to link up the play from the back though josh is an option. That is why he has been selecting Bosingwa, however now that he has Mata & Sturridge he may well play Ivanovich there & use Meireles as a centre mid thus dropping Mikel but he may go with Mikel & play Meireles in Lampard's position & I did state if selected! As I said its a difficult one to predict but change is inevitable.

Now that we finally have quality on either flank (Mata & Sturridge) & equally as important some much needed pace from there I expect Torres to get the service he has so badly needed since his arrival, however the midfield is still a work in progress & I will be intrigued to see which lineup AVB decides to select. I can't decide where he plays Meireles if selected? If so then Lampard or Mikel are for the chop as I can't see Ramires being benched. Luiz may well start but that will depend on his fitness but boy am I pleased to hear Cech is back! @ justin, at some point I too would like to see Romeu & MacEachran start but can't see it til we play Fulham in the CC but its food for thought & definitely something to look forward to. I think you will prob see him make the necessary changes to personnel now that he has a stronger squad with players returning from injury & a ban, AVB won't be afraid to do it & this Saturday could be the start of a new beginning but all in good time.

Possibly, but if he has a good year at Bolton then he will be brought back to the fold next season especially with the likelihood of Maloulda being sold by then........crosses fingers!

I would of preferred Kakuta to stay & get some experience with the first team but with Maloulda hanging around like a bad smell he won't get a sniff of first team action especially with the impressive Mata in pole position. I'm told Owen Coyle is your 'proper track suit manager' so it has to be the right move for everyone concerned. Kakuta will gain vital experience & this will aid his development. Kakuta is in the right hands, I just hope he gets games to improve his game & with that his confidence will grow.

Let's look at his performances this season, Played well against Stoke but still made a howler. Average game against West Brom (like the rest of the team) Same against Norwich but again made a mistake. The mistakes he made against Stoke & Norwich will be punished against superior teams than them. Alan Shearer highlighted on motd our problems at the back where both West Brom & Norwich got in behind us on several occasions, this admittedly is not Mikel's fault alone, however its his job to provide defensive cover & is supposed to mop up infront of the back four amongst his other defensive duties. We were lucky against 2 supposedly weaker teams, we won't be against the better sides if we continue to defend like we have been so I wouldn't go as far to say he is 'good at what he does' Last comment about Mikel as I'm fed up with the monotony, decent squad player but he will get exposed by quick players, quick thinking attackers & the sides with quality will find him out. I won't get drawn into the slow distribution thing either - done that!

That's a good point about the Arse's invincible's but it could be argued that we also had a better team & a superior squad then. However like you stated nor are Utd or City anywhere near as good as that team so despite being underdogs (which is mighty fine by me) we have more than a decent chance this season - if AVB sorts out the midfield!