Premier League Discussion 26th December (BOXING DAY!)

Still don't rate him anyway...I've seen him play $h!t more often than not.

Gael Clichy. What a recovery.

Luis wrote:Gunnarsson sent off for reading

Harsh.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Luis wrote:Gunnarsson sent off for reading

Harsh.

Wild two footed lunge...nothing harsh about it. Stephen c**t should've followed.

I havent seen any of the Newcastle game yet - I travelled to see some of my relatives in Chester-le-Street, which obviously provided a much more pleasurable experience - but to lose at Wigan is unacceptable, and the manner in which we did lose, judging from the match reports and our starting line up, should lead to Allardyces sacking (he should have been sacked games ago). For me, any time a team with any money and ambition goes anywhere and doesnt try to win, then its a sorrowful state of affairs and the manager who implements such tactics deserve nothing but contempt. We are looking for draws in pretty much every game.

We have now, of the nine teams below us (and the fact that there are nine teams below us is damning as regards the quality of the Premiership, because we are worse than we have ever been since we were promoted in 1993), played seven away - all bar Birmingham and a somewhat resurgant Tottenham. Along with these two, we have to play all of the top four away, then Villa, Portsmouth, West Ham and Everton. I judge that, if Allardyce remains in charge, the most we can expect from these 10 games, from a possible 30 points, is something like 2 or 3 points - essentially a few draws, since we wont attack enough to win any games, and will undoubtedly come undone time and time again as all teams must who are incapable of retaining possession and giving the opposition anything to think about. Essentially, this was one of a last couple of chances to pick up proper points away.

Our home games are more mixed, we have three or four games that should be easy wins (and yet we have drawn to Derby at home this season; we have been thumped twice in our worst home run since something like the 30s; and at best we have scraped fortunate one goal wins), though we also have Chelsea and Man Utd, Man City, Blackburn, all of which could end in home losses. Relegation is no real concern because there are such a poor bunch of teams below us, but as I say, we are the worst I have ever seen us; we look only to be going backwards; I fear our January transfers and imagine that, if Allardyce stays, summer will see the likes of Martins leave the club; as it is we have a group of severely unlikeable players, several of whom Allardyce has brought in; Europe is unthinkable; and perhaps most of all, we are unwatchable as a team.

The only decision we made today that I agree with was in dropping Barton entirely from the squad. Smith should have been with him, and both should be gone in January (apparently Smith spent today at centre back). But then we also dropped Rozehnal, which, along with the fact he was taken off immediately after Derbys second at the weekend, strikes me as Allardyce blaming him for that result - and this is terrible management and a refusal to take responsibility on Allardyces part. Rozehnal early in the season was one of our best players, and a large portion of our defensive problems, in my view, stem from us dropping him early in the season after one average display. As I said in my last post, our lack of defensive stability is more a product of Allardyces tactics and style of play which renders us incapable of holding onto the ball, as well as his meddling too much with the defence.

We played Viduka up front alone today, dropped Martins to the bench, packed the midfield and, like I say, from the sounds of it just shoved everyone into defensive roles. We had three purely defensive players on the bench plus a goalkeeper, brought on Martins once the goal went in, which was too late and only admitting that we set out without any intention of scoring a goal, and our only other change involved bringing on a left back for a left winger.

First time I have to rely on Arsenal scoring they fail me.

Top of the table.

Fookin get in. Top of the league

Thus ends Arsenal's title challenge for another year...

Calm down boys , 20 games to go.

Rubbish performance but we still should have won it at the end. Wenger's lost our lead with a staggeringly negative tactical selection and substitution. Bendtner gets ten minutes and makes a huge difference. He should have started and failing that come on in place of Diaby (a truly nonsensical substitution). Our midfield was poor today, as was Adebayor. A draw in Portsmouth isn't a dreadful result, but they were there for the taking today if we had more ambition. We got what we deserved for taking such a conservative approach.

Spankeltoe wrote:Top of the table.

Another 0-0 draw at Portsmouth? Another week that Portsmouth haven't scored at home?

19 DS.

Did say I'd fancy us to be in front once the home/away balance had been sorted out.

Drawn a game we could have so easily lost.

Very weak performance. Fabregas and Adebayor were particulary disappointing tonight. If only we could have buried one of our late chances, the greatest offender was Rosicky.

The 4-5-1 should only be used in Europe or against the top class domestic team. Sir Alex wouldn't play 4-5-1 at Fratton Park FFS!

Everton is a must win.

One point in it Parky , a difficult awaits us.

Sorry Arsenal fans...don't expect any favours Saturday...

Scott Parker wrote:Sorry Arsenal fans...don't expect any favours Saturday...

After the six point loan last season we are calling in the debt.

Cesc wrote:

Scott Parker wrote:Sorry Arsenal fans...don't expect any favours Saturday...

After the six point loan last season we are calling in the debt.

We'll beat United for Arsenal and Arsenal for United...AGAIN!

Arsenal's season is as dead as the dodo - only the Reserves Cup is within their grasp.

:lol:1 point behind FFS!

Anas Al-Liby wrote:Arsenal's season is as dead as the dodo - only the Reserves Cup is within their grasp.

A bit premature, although the next set of fixtures could make a big dent in our ambitions. I still think we are in a reasonably good position and we have now got a number of tough away games out of the way. Man Utd certainly are looking good currently though and are definitely favourites. I hope Wenger desists with this 4-5-1 formation when there are better options, it's going to cost us points.

Glad Pompey didnt win...a win for us tomorrow would put us 6 ahead of them.

robert wrote::lol:1 point behind FFS!

Psychologically very important - Arsenal run on confidence. Without that, they're just a quick passing side with no edge.

I think Milan will take alot from the Pompey match.

Milan will $h!t on Arsenal, Pompey game or otherwise.

Anas Al-Liby wrote:

robert wrote::lol:1 point behind FFS!

Psychologically very important - Arsenal run on confidence. Without that, they're just a quick passing side with no edge.

Maybe. We will see. We responded to defeat at Boro with four straight wins including against Chelsea and Spurs. We have players out of form though at the moment and they need to rediscover their early season form if we are to have any chance. Plus we desperately need to get out of this 4-5-1 mindset. The performances have been poor and it makes no sense having an in-form and confident on the bench and a sub-standard Eboue starting every game.

I've already said the Red Mancs would win the league at a canter, when Mourinho got the chop.

It's a a season or 2 too early for Le'Arse, and Liverpool simply aren't good enough.

Sheffield gunner wrote:

Anas Al-Liby wrote:

robert wrote::lol:1 point behind FFS!

Psychologically very important - Arsenal run on confidence. Without that, they're just a quick passing side with no edge.

Maybe. We will see. We responded to defeat at Boro with four straight wins including against Chelsea and Spurs. We have players out of form though at the moment and they need to rediscover their early season form if we are to have any chance. Plus we desperately need to get out of this 4-5-1 mindset. The performances have been poor and it makes no sense having an in-form and confident on the bench and a sub-standard Eboue starting every game.

9 results before Sevilla game: WWWDWDDWW
9 results including/after Sevilla game: LWDLWWWWD

I'd say you're slipping, particularly since the Blackburn, Chelsea and Tottenham victories all required big slices of luck. Like I keep saying - a confidence team. Capable of long unbeaten runs but never that strong at dragging themselves out of bad patches quickly.

I also said that Van Persie would get injured and that it'd show in Arsenal's play, that Eduardo was a big money flop and that Fabregas's early season scoring form wouldn't last. No offence, but this is all exactly what I predicted would happen.