Premier League 2/3 November 2013

WTF is wrong with Atkinson!!!

That was a Liverpool goal, FFS! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW! 

Absolutely shite refereeing.

Cissokho isn't very good.

Need to get to half time without Arsenal scoring again.

There is something horribly synthetic about the atmosphere at the Emirates. Not sure what it is exactly, but that big red flag they wave when they score doesn't help

He needs to change this silly formation if we want something out of this.

Coutinho and Allen on for Flanagan and one of the CBs please

As expected our midfield isn't in the game at all

Yep - as expected we just cannot hold onto the ball.

Arsenal are the better team; can't see us getting anything unless Coutinho comes on for Cissokho.

We need at least 1 more goal. Can't see Pool not scoring in the next 45 mins.

Arsenal 5 points clear as it stands

Ramseygoals! 2 -0   

Arsenal are going to win the title, what is going on in the world?!

I tell you what, Brenton has been knocked off his fucking perch eh?

Arsenal are gonna win something

Funny, best Spurs ever and Arsenal are gonna win the league..

Anyway, speaking of shite clubs from London, we had a fairly easy game for a change, good to see HSWHW scoring again, not a great game but #3points #M6backhome

Chelsea, Liverpool and Southampton stuttering today mean that just 3 points separate 2nd and 8th.

Not been too bad in the second half. Just beaten by a better team.

Ah well, Fulham at home next whilst have United. Could be back to where we started after that.

Yeah Stuppidge! Suárez doesn't pass it to you 'cause you're a selfish c**t who doesn't share the football.

I hope Suárez never passes to you, c**t!

Luis wrote:Just realised we've gone second again without kicking a ball  

Thanks for giving it back

Arsenal are building up a lead

What is quite pleasing, apart from the result, was the discipline we showed after weathering the Liverpool onslaught in the early part of the match. Once we were 2 goals up, we concentrated on maintaining that and Giroud stayed put. That sort of maturity and composure is new to us. Only grouch is another fairly anonymous performance from Ozil. If he is tired, rest him for chirssakes. Arteta MotM - I feared Flamini will be missed again, but he was masterful in controlling the midfield.

Puro wrote:Yeah Stuppidge! Suárez doesn't pass it to you 'cause you're a selfish c**t who doesn't share the football.

I hope Suárez never passes to you, c**t!

Would this be the same Stuppidge who has more assists than Suarez?

Impressive for Arsenal that they've maintained this lead despite having so many of their squad out injured. For all the complaints SOME Arsenal fans (the really cunty ones) have towards Wenger, you couldn't see many sides compete so convincingly with so many senior players out.

Still think City are going to win the title. Arsenal will challenge for sure but City have a far better squad of players, especially strikers wise.

Chelsea I expect to be up there.

Spurs, Liverpool, United and Everton could finish in any order for me.

Luis wrote:Still think City are going to win the title. Arsenal will challenge for sure but City have a far better squad of players, especially strikers wise.

Chelsea I expect to be up there.

Spurs, Liverpool, United and Everton could finish in any order for me.

Far better? Do they have a far better squad of defenders, and midfielders?

They may have a far better squad but its more important you know how to use the squad than have all the talent. Whatever Arsenal do, I think Chelsea will finish higher than MCity. Once Mourinho comes to the conclusion that Essien/Mikel(/Mata) are better than Lampard in the pivot then they'll play their "progressive" counter attacking game which they do so ruthlessly.

TheCrazy58 wrote:What is quite pleasing, apart from the result, was the discipline we showed after weathering the Liverpool onslaught in the early part of the match. Once we were 2 goals up, we concentrated on maintaining that and Giroud stayed put. That sort of maturity and composure is new to us. Only grouch is another fairly anonymous performance from Ozil. If he is tired, rest him for chirssakes. Arteta MotM - I feared Flamini will be missed again, but he was masterful in controlling the midfield.

As a general comment (not just based on this game), I feel u have always been harsh on Ozil mate. He's played every 3 days for us and Germany since he signed - that's a hell lot of football + travelling. And when u consider other  factors like  new league, different style of play, new team mates (he's yet to form any relationship with) etc then u shouldn't really be expecting him to hit 8s and 9s in every single game. He  looks jaded to me, but we can't afford to rest him at the moment with all the injuries. He's definitely raised our level going forward, and the good thing about having players of his class is they can be decisive in games even if they aren't in top form; he played a very intelligent pass for Ramsey's goal and was dragging the Pool midfield all over  the pace with his smart off the ball movements.

He has shown he can play tiki taka, but he really excels at playing accurate through-balls into space for players to run to. But right now we've got no one that make those runs, injuries have forced us to play 5 midfielders who prefer the ball played into feet, and our main striker, Giroud, rarely scores from through passes, most of his goals are from cut backs or headers. That will change when the likes of Theo and Poldi return. It's no coincidence he's not created nowhere near as many chances for any other player in a single game as he created for Theo against Sunderland. He thrives on playing with strong off the ball runners.

Ramsey is getting ridiculous! 10 goals already

I thought as a team we defended very well - Chesney, Sagna, both CBs were all very good, but I'm a bit concerned by our tendency to switch off and gift clear cut chances to the opposition in every single match. Chesney and Merte presented Pool with easy chances towards the end of the game. Those sort of mistakes are criminal at the top level, and we were luck to get away with it in the end.

We generally defend well as a unit these days, but careless individual errors have been a problem this season. Even against Dortmund, although they pressed us well and prevented us from playing at times, their attacking players hardly got a kick for most of the match (I have to say Reus was just coming back from injury though). We were solid and they struggled to carve us open. In seasons gone by the'd have done just that, we have come a long way but we have to cut out those brain farts moments.

Arteta is boss

I didn't intend my comment on Ozil to be a criticism, but just to observe that, as you say, he's looked jaded in the last few matches. He was certainly more visible in his first matches. You are right, though, that return of Walcott and Poldi will mean greater participation for him.

As you also say we defended well as a unit, bar that heart-stopping momment when Chesney gave the ball away to either Suarez or Sturridge 5 yards from goal. Luckily it bounced straight back to him and he didn't bat an eyelid but he'd better not do that again  

Read somewhere that Flamini could be available next weekend.  

Just saw Begovic's goal on MOTD. He is now one of the joint top scorers for Stoke  

It should be a decent game. There are things I like for today - I think Lukaku will be a huge problem for Dawson & Chichires (and Spurs high line), also hope Mirallas can get beat Vertonghen a few times.

But (for the 1st time ever I guess) I am seriously worried about our lack of size, Spurs are a big team these days and we are getting smaller (which I don't like too much, as I preferred our mix of physical presence and passing ability). But except him lacking of physical presence I like Osman replacing Barkley today, Ross wasn't playing as good as he was in the first few games of the season. Spurs pace on the wings will be issue too I guess, but hopefully Baines and Coleman can overlap a few times and caught Townsend & Lennon off guard.

rosenthal wrote: Lamela

Oh yeah, that's the stuff

#netspend

Gel

Don't know who to root for  

Luis wrote:Don't know who to root for  

 

Come on Everton  

Not the start I was expecting