Soccer • Football • Voetbal • Futbol • Calcio 2011/2012

Vermaelen was outstanding, Frimpong pretty much had a good game with his contribution in attack, although terrible on the other end. Can't help but feeling depressed with the games we are facing now, it's time to spend some ******* money Arsène. If not, I feel like this definetely might be his last season as manager.

Vermaelen was outstanding, Frimpong pretty much had a good game with his contribution in attack, although terrible on the other end. Can't help but feeling depressed with the games we are facing now, it's time to spend some ******* money Arsène. If not, I feel like this definetely might be his last season as manager.

double post, please delete.



DLester said:

Chelsea are a dreary mess. Who enjoys watching this lot play? I have been a Chelsea fan for years and can tell you that I don't.

Kalou subbed off after 34 minutes. It will take more than that.

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I can't remember a time that Kalou has really played that well. I really think AVB should get rid of him. I will say Anelka had a great game, he at least gives almost 100% each game even if he is having a bad one.

Looks like half the forum follows Arsenal lol. I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the Gunners. I like Wenger -- he seems like a good guy -- and they play an attractive game and do not try to impale other players with their studs.

I hope Arsenal beat the Italians and get in the CL. If that doesn't happen, it is going to be grim around here.

It was odd hearing YOOOL NEEEVAAAR WAAALK ALOOOONE!!! belted out at high volume at the Emirates today after the 2nd goal.

Question for the Gunners contingent: when will Wilshere be back? I've like what I've seen of him, and look for him to be quite the asset for them especially after what we saw today. I picked him up for my fantasy team as I thought he could really outplay his fee on there, and I'd like to see him get back to action soon for selfish, fantasy league reasons.



xudisco07 said:

I can't remember a time that Kalou has really played that well. I really think AVB should get rid of him. I will say Anelka had a great game, he at least gives almost 100% each game even if he is having a bad one.

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Kalou seems to produce a useful goal now and then. Sometimes he can change the shape of the game a bit off the bench. He is probably a better striking partner for Torres than Drogba is. Torres and Drogba should not be on the pitch together until the game is over.

But Chelsea are loaded with underproducing strikers, so if someone needs to go to facilitate a transfer for creative midfielders then it can be Kalou.

It was good to see Chelsea wake up after the equalizer and realize that yes the season had started and it was time to play. They had more energy and looked like they had the winning goal in them.

But getting to that point was awful. They were insipid, predictable, narrow and disorganized. Passes went astray. Torres was easily pushed off the ball. We need midfield help.

I like AVB. He had the guts to move Drogba to the bench for the 2nd game (not necessarily the best decision, but he had the guts to do it). He had the guts to pull Kalou 1/3 of the way into the game, thereby conceding that he had made a mistake in his lineup. He puts in Malouda and Drogba, and Malouda produces the winner.

Having AVB on board currently looks like a step in the right direction.

and yeah, I like Anelka too. I am not sure he will finish the season with us though.

unrelated, a good Spurs/Arsenal article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...y-Tottenham-wont-forward-Arsenal-rejects.html

also, I am going to be responsible for 1/2 the posts in this thread. Just warning all of you.

afc345 said:

Vermaelen was outstanding, Frimpong pretty much had a good game with his contribution in attack, although terrible on the other end. Can't help but feeling depressed with the games we are facing now, it's time to spend some ******* money Arsène. If not, I feel like this definetely might be his last season as manager.

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He had a great game, and that 70th minute or so jumping challenge/"tackle" thing was awesome (albeit ineffective)

And I feel bad for Ramsey, there really was nothing at all he could have done about that own goal

That was a heavily depleted Arsenal side. I hope they pick it up this season and show what they're made of. I'd much rather a top 4 with Arsenal in it than City or Chelsea. But if it comes to Arsenal or Liverpool in the CL spots, I'll take Liverpool any day of the week!

Vermaelen would have done wonders for Arsenal if he hadn't been injured all last season. His positioning and awareness is fantastic. He was the real captain today.

They seem to be playing a team set up around Drogba's style of play with Torres rather than Drogba.

As a West Brom fan I don't know whether to be relieved at the result or disappointed...

Dare I say it, I think Nasri showed a lot of leadership potential trying to get Frimpong to keep his cool



ManofKent said:

They seem to be playing a team set up around Drogba's style of play with Torres rather than Drogba.

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This is exactly the problem. This is still Mourinho's team (Jose has pointed this out recently, and he is right). Chelsea for years have been set up to feed the ball to Drogba, who is strong enough to play with his back to the goal, receive long balls, wheel around and overpower the defender. Drogba used to do this to Senderos from Arsenal, for example. Tore him to bits. In contrast, Torres needs a creative midfielder to play the ball to his feet, while he moves into a slot. Xavi or Iniesta can do that, but I hear that they have day jobs You would think that this would give Chelsea two appealing options by playing both Torres and Drogba together and just delivering the ball based on how the opportunities present themselves, but in practice it is a train wreck. Chelsea has to move to the Torres/creative midfielder model because Drogba is aging and there is no logical next Drogba except brand new 18 y/o Romelu Lukaku who probably hasn't even met his teammates yet. And well, Chelsea paid a **** ton of money for Torres. But Torres is slumping hard as everyone with an internet connection knows. So Chelsea have a problem. The plan is to bring in Juan Mata from Valencia, who apparently is set to join Chelsea after Torres "bombarded him with text messages." Also to bring in Modric. If that happens, Chelsea will be seriously loaded with midfield talent and maybe the season will not be a complete waste.

KitAkira said:

Dare I say it, I think Nasri showed a lot of leadership potential trying to get Frimpong to keep his cool

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If Nasri is at Arsenal in a week I will be surprised.



KitAkira said:

Dare I say it, I think Nasri showed a lot of leadership potential trying to get Frimpong to keep his cool

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Yeah, although it was clear pretty early that he was too much into the game, not really able to control himself with late tackles everywhere. Also, Koscielny's injury couldn't have come at a worse time, now we really have to intensify getting a decent premier league level central defender and even a new left back IMO. It was a shame about both goals as I feel they both were offside, but that's what happens sometimes. I don't think Liverpool was playing well at all anyway, and we would have beaten them easily with our top players.

Indeed, Liverpool's performance was very disjointed and broke down in the final third. That said, the boys defended pretty damn well and didn't look like conceding except for a shaky moment when the ref didn't call an obvious free kick. Adam lets too many passes go astray, and Henderson just isn't pulling his weight yet.

Fulham taking a beating right now!



afc345 said:

Yeah, although it was clear pretty early that he was too much into the game, not really able to control himself with late tackles everywhere. Also, Koscielny's injury couldn't have come at a worse time, now we really have to intensify getting a decent premier league level central defender and even a new left back IMO. It was a shame about both goals as I feel they both were offside, but that's what happens sometimes.

I don't think Liverpool was playing well at all anyway, and we would have beaten them easily with our top players.

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I also view the first goal as offside, but who was off on the second one? Suarez would've been offside if the initial play had been to him, but it went to Miereles; and he was well on. Did you find Suarez to be off on the pass from Miereles?