*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Furball]

England won't qualify for the World Cup if that's the best they've got.

 

[Uppercut]

It is an excellent three, but I'm not convinced it'd be solid enough against teams with a really decent midfield. In possession it'd be fine, I suspect, but against a team that could counter-attack well, I'd be feeling worried. They might not need an out and out defensive midfielder, but at least one who's slightly more physical. Alex Song or Diaby when fit in other words. Sigh.

I definitely see where you're coming from. In the big games you sometimes need someone in there who does his best work when the other team have the ball, that's why Fergie picked Phil Jones in there against Madrid even though technically he's absolute toilet. Gustavo is a real specialist at that, him and Paulinho did a brutal destroyer job on Spain in the Confed Cup final.

But Arteta would still be the better option for 80% of games. His ball-winning is way under-rated, and I think the plan is to let him grow into the DM role because he can't be a dynamic goalscoring midfielder deep into his 30s. Sort of going for what United did with Scholes.

 

[Uppercut]

Nah, our side is ****ing awful.

Get your own anthem you plebs.

I was thinking it doesn't look as bad as it has for a while. Fletcher, Morrisson, Snodgrass, McArthur and Maloney were all stand-out players at Premiership clubs last season. Beyond that it's shocking but it's not looking quite as grim as it was, there's definitely room to put a decent attack together.

 

[sledger]

I was thinking it doesn't look as bad as it has for a while. Fletcher, Morrisson, Snodgrass, McArthur and Maloney were all stand-out players at Premiership clubs last season. Beyond that it's shocking but it's not looking quite as grim as it was, there's definitely room to put a decent attack together.

Yeah I agree, I actually thought their midfield was quite good this evening. They actually got the ball down and tried to get a good pass and move game going, which is more than can be said of England, who just hoofed it forward all night. The Scotland defence was utterly crap though, that's surely the biggest cause for concern.

 

[sledger]

I definitely see where you're coming from. In the big games you sometimes need someone in there who does his best work when the other team have the ball, that's why Fergie picked Phil Jones in there against Madrid even though technically he's absolute toilet. Gustavo is a real specialist at that, him and Paulinho did a brutal destroyer job on Spain in the Confed Cup final.

But Arteta would still be the better option for 80% of games. His ball-winning is way under-rated, and I think the plan is to let him grow into the DM role because he can't be a dynamic goalscoring midfielder deep into his 30s. Sort of going for what United did with Scholes.

Yeah, I don't disagree really. I think you've more or less nailed it regarding why Arsenal could do with someone like Gustavo. I can't really put in to words any better than that why I think they need a new player in there, but I just look at the squad as it is and just think that something is missing. It just doesn't look like enough to me.

You're right about Arteta's ball-winning ability as well. I read the other day that he apparently made more tackles and interceptions than any other Arsenal player last year, which isn't actually half bad, considering Arsenal's defensive record (statistically at least) wasn't half bad. His age means that a deeper lying role is definitely better for him, but as the sole ball winner in front of the defence...I'm not sure. Against most Premiership teams it'd probably be fine, but there have been notable occasions in the Champions League where he's been made to look decidedly average. The first leg tie against Bayern, and the first leg tie against Milan the year before, being two very notable examples of that. I suppose that ties into the point I made a few posts back, come to think of it.

 

[Cabinet96]

On the subject of Arsenal's midfield; I really think they're only one defensive midfielder away from having a really good midfield, which is why losing out on Gustavo is a bit gut wrenching. Arsenal don't really have any glaring weaknesses at the moment though. Even Giroud did OK upfront last season, particularly towards the back end of the season. The issue at the moment is more a general level of mediocrity and a lack of big players to stand up against the top teams. Last season was probably one of the more solid recent ones against the smaller clubs, but we were just always outgunned in the big matches.

 

[sledger]

On the subject of Arsenal's midfield; I really think they're only one defensive midfielder away from having a really good midfield, which is why losing out on Gustavo is a bit gut wrenching. Arsenal don't really have any glaring weaknesses at the moment though. Even Giroud did OK upfront last season, particularly towards the back end of the season. The issue at the moment is more a general level of mediocrity and a lack of big players to stand up against the top teams. Last season was probably one of the more solid recent ones against the smaller clubs, but we were just always outgunned in the big matches.

I think you're right. It's the perennial Arsenal problem though isn't it? I mean, since 2005, people have been saying "they're only one or two players away from being a really good side" more or less every year. That Arsenal are short on players in a few positions has basically become nothing more than a newspaper truism, but yet, nothing ever seems to be done about it!

Grumble grumble. Not bitter.

 

[grecian]

Oh dear, following in his masters footsteps.

 

[sledger]

It begins.

Roseboy to defend him in 3...

 

[The Sean]

Ha ha that can't be real can it? Even if he genuinely thought that he surely wouldn't be stupid enough to say it.

Would he?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Wouldn't you rather the tough games early when there's no other fixtures clogging up the schedule? If you got them a few months later they'd be wedged with League Cup and Champions League as well.

 

[MW1304]

Man Utd usually start slowly and make up for it after Christmas anyway. The man should be thanking the Lord he's got tough fixtures early on, what a knob.

 

[grecian]

Ha ha that can't be real can it? Even if he genuinely thought that he surely wouldn't be stupid enough to say it.

Would he?

Heard it on the radio too, pretty much word-for-word.

Mind you, you were annoyed you'd lost the "most hated team" mantle when Moyes took over, maybe he's trying to wrest it back.

I have to say, not working for me, it just seems more pathetic than anything.

 

[sledger]

Wouldn't you rather the tough games early when there's no other fixtures clogging up the schedule? If you got them a few months later they'd be wedged with League Cup and Champions League as well.

Yeah, this would be my attitude as well. You can get a lot of particularly grim looking fixtures out of the way before the oppo really hits form. Mind you, you could argue that the other way as well I suppose (i.e. being fortunate to play them in the middle of the season when they have hit a truly dire patch of form).

I'd still rather play some big games early on, especially the away ones. Kind of like I'd always like batting last in an ODI, you know what you've got to do etc...

 

[marc71178]

Oh dear, following in his masters footsteps.

Sure is:

"They say the league's not handicapped but it is handicapped" – Taggart, 2008.

"They tell me it's not planned. I've got my doubts. I'm not saying what they do down there, but next year we will be sending somebody to see how it happens, I can assure you. I just don't understand how you can get the fixtures like that" – Taggart, 2009.

"I think Chelsea chose the fixture list themselves" – Taggart, 2010.

"It is not fair but once you shake hands with the devil there is nothing you can do about it" – Taggart, 2011.

"How many times have I complained about it? You've heard my complaints. Do they listen?" – Taggart, 2012.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Wouldn't you rather the tough games early when there's no other fixtures clogging up the schedule? If you got them a few months later they'd be wedged with League Cup and Champions League as well.

Yeah, this would be my attitude as well. You can get a lot of particularly grim looking fixtures out of the way before the oppo really hits form. Mind you, you could argue that the other way as well I suppose (i.e. being fortunate to play them in the middle of the season when they have hit a truly dire patch of form).

I'd still rather play some big games early on, especially the away ones. Kind of like I'd always like batting last in an ODI, you know what you've got to do etc...

Think I'd agree with this in most cases but in this particular case with Moyes being a new manager and replacing a legend, he will inevitably come under fire as soon as he loses a game. Therefore a poor start will be more damaging this year than it normally would be, I suspect.

 

[sledger]

Another thing you might argue, is that it's also better to play some of the weaker/newly promoted sides earlier too, so that you can get at them whilst they're still figuring out the step up in quality from the Championship/not being spurred on by the danger of imminent relegation.

Last season for instance, Arsenal spanked Southampton 6-1 very early on, and Gervinho was made to look great. Had that fixture taken place later on once Southampton actually got it together, I very much doubt the outcome would have been the same.

 

[grecian]

Another thing you might argue, is that it's also better to play some of the weaker/newly promoted sides earlier too, so that you can get at them whilst they're still figuring out the step up in quality from the Championship/not being spurred on by the danger of imminent relegation.

Last season for instance, Arsenal spanked Southampton 6-1 very early on, and Gervinho was made to look great. Had that fixture taken place later on once Southampton actually got it together, I very much doubt the outcome would have been the same.

Nah, don't buy that at all, Teams getting promoted often get a run of decent results at the start of the season when they're 100%.

Arsenal are always going to have matches like that.

 

[Uppercut]

Another thing you might argue, is that it's also better to play some of the weaker/newly promoted sides earlier too, so that you can get at them whilst they're still figuring out the step up in quality from the Championship/not being spurred on by the danger of imminent relegation.

Last season for instance, Arsenal spanked Southampton 6-1 very early on, and Gervinho was made to look great. Had that fixture taken place later on once Southampton actually got it together, I very much doubt the outcome would have been the same.

Dunno, they seem to fall apart as the season goes on just as often. Blackpool, Burnley and Hull all collapsed altogether around Christmas.

Maybe you wouldn't really want all the tough games at once like this, but honestly I don't think it makes much difference at all. Assuming he stays, playing Liverpool while Suarez is still banned is great. Might be a problem for Moyes, though. Fans and the media never take what games have been played into account enough, they'll just be like "eight points behind, out of the title race already, Moyes out" or something.

 

[sledger]

Hmmm, yeah, maybe that's it. Might just be an Arsenal problem. Wigan would be a good example of what I was getting at mind you. But I accept there are far more teams that do it in reverse.

Either way, you definitely wouldn't want all of your hard games at once though. If you were a legit title contender and lost all of them then your season would be up in smoke.