The English Football Thread

[The_Flash 1,144]

No chance, if Sunderland had won they would not have congratulated them, they would have had every excuse under why they had lost.

[cosmicway 1,246]

City had an attacking crescento early in the second half that paid off.

The 1-1 was a Seaman's dance though, then a Nasri goal out of the anthology of football.

Imho City is past it now.

[Jase 43,479]

Was just watching through the weekend's league action highlights again and looking at Arsenal's game at Stoke involving that penalty incident, it's quite incredible that none of the Arsenal players protested to Mike Jones (if I'm not mistaken)! In my opinion, I didn't think it was a penalty as Koscienly's hand didn't hit the ball but rather the other way round as it bounced off the ground and hit his hand. Heck, the linesman didn't even raise his flag when that happened and it was the referee who gave it but yet not one Arsenal player seem to argue their case with him, not Koscielny, Mertesacker or anyone closeby that saw the incident. Even when a penalty is 100% rightly given, you usually see some players arguing their point with the referee but this one (when it was a dodgy call), there isn't even one. It just look as if they accepted their fate as it is without showing any fight, desire and that passion to win.

There is no doubt Wenger is a good manager (not great IMO) but at times I can't help to wonder if he's just really a good manager (or coach) that coaches players on just the footballing side such as technical abilities, skills on the ball etc as opposed to doing that and toughen his players up mentally and physically as well to make them a truly world class, taking them to the next level. It looks as if he's just interested in collecting players who are 'pretty' with the ball to play their tiki-taka football and can't be bothered with combining that with the strong, tough, know-how winning mentality to win trophies - a characteristic typically obvious and found in Fergie and Mourinho's team for instance. I don't think it would be crazy to suggest that any player going to Arsenal won't win many trophies or develop into a better player overall, not just their ability on the ball but also that mental strength and toughness. They've gone 8 years without winning a trophy and might well eventually break that duck sooner or later anyway (will probably win it through quality football as opposed to other factors mentioned) but give them an 8-year period within the near future, don't think they'll be able to win trophies consistently like us or United tended to do under Fergie. Might win 1 here, 1 there along the way but doubt it will be consistent, though that is of course Wenger continues to manage them for the years to come.

[guddy69 171]

I would hate it if they god rid of the technical area just because of 1 person.

It all adds to the excitement.

[zolayes 14,489]

Adam gets charged by FA for a stamp ,, Toure didnt ,,,

[Tomo 21,681]

Just watched the football league show for the first time in a while and deary me the standard off football in league two is so bad, i almost forgot how much, don't know whether to laugh or cry.

95% off goals i have seen in that division ever have come from defensive cock up's, you would expect the 4th tier off English football to have some quality players that look capable off potentially going up the pyramid.

The bottom half off league one isn't much better either.

[Ze Mario 638]

hope loserpool doesnt make it into the top 4. and suarez go bye bye to madrid and they'll back to mediocre team. if suarez stay and they buy word class pivot + 1 defender then they'll be like city, tough team. assuming they dont have injury problem, they will be strong contender next season. even far stronger than this season. EPL is crazy

[kellzfresh 7,226]

hope loserpool doesnt make it into the top 4. and suarez go bye bye to madrid and they'll back to mediocre team. if suarez stay and they buy word class pivot + 1 defender then they'll be like city, tough team. assuming they dont have injury problem, they will be strong contender next season. even far stronger than this season. EPL is crazy

When we have our striker, creative cm and leftback next season, we won't have need to fear any developments from liverpool.

And we have mourinhooooo!!

[LeonDavis23 371]

liverpool = overrated

I honestly see us strolling into anfield and winning 3-0

[Ze Mario 638]

When we have our striker, creative cm and leftback next season, we won't have need to fear any developments from liverpool.

And we have mourinhooooo!!

valid point. mourinho is the only factor why we can say our team better than the others. poor striker, oscar our main no.10 apparently average, ramires who sometimes messing around in couple match, its a miracle we can stand in our current position in league now

liverpool = overrated

I honestly see us strolling into anfield and winning 3-0

sterling coutinho and sturridge indeed overrated. but suarez is highly rated player even he cant do shit when against us. imagine if suarez go to madrid, stu must be madly egoistic and try take all the chances and waste it

[Strike 6,957]

Was just watching through the weekend's league action highlights again and looking at Arsenal's game at Stoke involving that penalty incident, it's quite incredible that none of the Arsenal players protested to Mike Jones (if I'm not mistaken)! In my opinion, I didn't think it was a penalty as Koscienly's hand didn't hit the ball but rather the other way round as it bounced off the ground and hit his hand. Heck, the linesman didn't even raise his flag when that happened and it was the referee who gave it but yet not one Arsenal player seem to argue their case with him, not Koscielny, Mertesacker or anyone closeby that saw the incident. Even when a penalty is 100% rightly given, you usually see some players arguing their point with the referee but this one (when it was a dodgy call), there isn't even one. It just look as if they accepted their fate as it is without showing any fight, desire and that passion to win.

There is no doubt Wenger is a good manager (not great IMO) but at times I can't help to wonder if he's just really a good manager (or coach) that coaches players on just the footballing side such as technical abilities, skills on the ball etc as opposed to doing that and toughen his players up mentally and physically as well to make them a truly world class, taking them to the next level. It looks as if he's just interested in collecting players who are 'pretty' with the ball to play their tiki-taka football and can't be bothered with combining that with the strong, tough, know-how winning mentality to win trophies - a characteristic typically obvious and found in Fergie and Mourinho's team for instance. I don't think it would be crazy to suggest that any player going to Arsenal won't win many trophies or develop into a better player overall, not just their ability on the ball but also that mental strength and toughness. They've gone 8 years without winning a trophy and might well eventually break that duck sooner or later anyway (will probably win it through quality football as opposed to other factors mentioned) but give them an 8-year period within the near future, don't think they'll be able to win trophies consistently like us or United tended to do under Fergie. Might win 1 here, 1 there along the way but doubt it will be consistent, though that is of course Wenger continues to manage them for the years to come.

good point. koscielny was on the floor smiling for some reason. a normal team would be livid

[Jase 43,479]

good point. koscielny was on the floor smiling for some reason. a normal team would be livid

Precisely. It would be quite incredible if every Arsenal player there actually thought that was a 100% penalty especially when it was obvious that the linesman didn't even give anything and them not even protest their innocence. It just seem their mindset and body language were all wrong on Saturday. Alan Hansen (IIRC) on MOTD highlighted that the Arsenal players were constantly seen putting their hands up and moaning whenever Stoke put in a challenge onto them. It's a cliche and stating the obvious at this point but if you're gonna do that at places like Stoke, then it just goes to show how weak you are and reinforce the belief of people that you can't handle the physical and rough play, like in the case with Arsenal and teams will only do it even more against them. Can't expect to go to Stoke and not match them for their physicality, strength, aggressiveness etc if you want to get a result and it's no wonder out of all the teams, Arsenal seem to struggle there the most, never mind just the big teams.

[didierforever 7,349]

Precisely. It would be quite incredible if every Arsenal player there actually thought that was a 100% penalty especially when it was obvious that the linesman didn't even give anything and them not even protest their innocence. It just seem their mindset and body language were all wrong on Saturday. Alan Hansen (IIRC) on MOTD highlighted that the Arsenal players were constantly seen putting their hands up and moaning whenever Stoke put in a challenge onto them. It's a cliche and stating the obvious at this point but if you're gonna do that at places like Stoke, then it just goes to show how weak you are and reinforce the belief of people that you can't handle the physical and rough play, like in the case with Arsenal and teams will only do it even more against them. Can't expect to go to Stoke and not match them for their physicality, strength, aggressiveness etc if you want to get a result and it's no wonder out of all the teams, Arsenal seem to struggle there the most, never mind just the big teams.

Dude its arsenal. What did you expect of them. Just like I said last week, they simply don't have it what it takes mentally to win trophies.

[Laylabelle 9,292]

liverpool = overrated

I honestly see us strolling into anfield and winning 3-0

I bloody hope so!!!They seem to be acting like won that fixture already

[Milan 17,835]

Wilshere got injured yesterday and will miss 6 weeks. Poor Arsene, poor Arsene...

http://www.thefa.com/news/england/2014/mar/jack-wilshere-update-060314

[iceboy 992]

Wilshere will miss Chelsea match.

[Special Juan 27,092]

Shame eh.

[Eligius 121]

Arsenal title hopes keep fading through injury.

Its all the English players on arsenal getting these injuries.

edit.

The way Jack plays, he is bound to get injured (similar to ramires, however, ramires never seems to get injured though).