*Official* English Football Season 2006-07

[marc71178]

Oh come off it!!!Arsenal?Are you crazy?I know you don't like Man Utd but please!!!Best they can do is 4th. Use some logic will ya. And yes my view of Man Utd challenging Chelsea is logical if you look at correctly and not just using bias.No one expected second last year and hmm wonder where they finished?And who thought they would?

Look at it objectively.

Last year with a young side Arsenal reached the CL final (in the process winning as many knock out ties as United have won in about 7 seasons)

They are now a season more experienced, and haven't lost any of that team, whilst adding Rosicky, and potentially now Gallas as well as Walcott maturing enough to be another option.

By contrast, Man United have no young players coming through, still have no top class central midfielders and have sold their main goalscorer.

As for the nobody expected second, I'd agree based on the likes of you, who seemed to think you'd win the league

 

[sledger]

ha, good post.

 

[Pratters]

Look at it objectively.

Last year with a young side Arsenal reached the CL final (in the process winning as many knock out ties as United have won in about 7 seasons)

They are now a season more experienced, and haven't lost any of that team, whilst adding Rosicky, and potentially now Gallas as well as Walcott maturing enough to be another option.

By contrast, Man United have no young players coming through, still have no top class central midfielders and have sold their main goalscorer.

As for the nobody expected second, I'd agree based on the likes of you, who seemed to think you'd win the league

 

[aussie]

That's why only aussie's saying it.

that aint loser talk yo, its a fact Liverpool do have a slightly stronger squad than United, but as i said its all about who performs on the day United can still do big things this season.

 

[marc71178]

It's not merely a slightly stronger squad though, it's considerably stronger.

 

[sledger]

yeah, like finish 3rd.

 

[Pothas]

but you could also look at it like this:

That last year Arsenal failed in the premiership because their brilliant way of playing was combated by teams putting a lot of men behind the ball and not letting Arsenal play through them. This caused them massive problems especialy away from home. During the close season Arsenal have lost Pires and have signed Rocisky a perfectly adequate replacment but as the first game showed they have not adressed the thing that caused them so many problems last year

Man Utd have lost Van Nistelrooy but they have the same team that finished last season so well with the return of Scholes and the addition of Carrick who is a reasonable if not in my opinion exceptional player.

Therefore as Premiership teams neither Arsenal have changed massivly between the end of last season and begining of this.

 

[TT Boy]

that aint loser talk yo, its a fact Liverpool do have a slightly stronger squad than United, but as i said its all about who performs on the day United can still do big things this season.

Aussie does not back losers, hence the name and avatar.

 

[BoyBrumby]

but you could also look at it like this:

That last year Arsenal failed in the premiership because their brilliant way of playing was combated by teams putting a lot of men behind the ball and not letting Arsenal play through them. This caused them massive problems especialy away from home. During the close season Arsenal have lost Pires and have signed Rocisky a perfectly adequate replacment but as the first game showed they have not adressed the thing that caused them so many problems last year

Man Utd have lost Van Nistelrooy but they have the same team that finished last season so well with the return of Scholes and the addition of Carrick who is a reasonable if not in my opinion exceptional player.

Therefore as Premiership teams neither Arsenal have changed massivly between the end of last season and begining of this.

There is more than a grain of truth in that. Against some of the more physical teams who attempt to impose themselves on us (Bolton are the obvious example, but Man U did it to us too) we seemed to adopt a rather disappointing "don't tackle us, we might get hurt" approach.

George Graham must be turning in his grave.

 

[Matteh]

Aussie does not back losers, hence the name and avatar.

 

[sledger]

There is more than a grain of truth in that. Against some of the more physical teams who attempt to impose themselves on us (Bolton are the obvious example, but Man U did it to us too) we seemed to adopt a rather disappointing "don't tackle us, we might get hurt" approach.

where there is certainly a lot of truth in that, one has to remember that this is the same style arsenal played whilst remaining unbeaten for the entire season and winning the double, its not something that has simply become uneffective overnight, the influence of adebayor up front at least does give them an alternative style of play if they wish to implement it.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I don't see the CDMs having a particularly good season. They did well in the CL 2-legged ties because of their defense, in 2-legged ties teams like the CDMs can be patient and get a goal from somewhere on the counter attack or from a set piece and keep it tight so they get through 1-0 or whatever. Nowadays in the big knockout competitions a good defense is virtually all you need. In the Premiership the onus is on the CDMs (in most games) to attack but when they're up against an organised 2 banks of 4 they struggle to score, this results in them dropping points in a fair few games. Now there is such a gulf between the top 4 or whatever and the rest you can't afford to drop many points. The CDMs' squad hasn't got any better and they're standing still whilst other teams improve. Chief poseur will start going downhill as he loses that first yard pace, which is critical to a player like him because his other skills aren't anywhere near as brilliant as people make out (he can hardly head the ball, he has good control but no great skill to beat players without relying on his pace, his finishing is mediocre). Another thing to consider is Manure and Liverpool were badly hit by injury for the early part of last season, they're not so badly off this season.

 

[Pothas]

The problem they have at the moment isnt magicaly going to disapear though as Aston Villa showed. Having said that I think they will get top 4 pretty easily. But Manchester United as long as they have Rooney and Ronaldo fit play football that is very efective for beating most of the mediocre premiership oppostion. For this reason i think they will come 2nd again.

 

[BoyBrumby]

where there is certainly a lot of truth in that, one has to remember that this is the same style arsenal played whilst remaining unbeaten for the entire season and winning the double, its not something that has simply become uneffective overnight, the influence of adebayor up front at least does give them an alternative style of play if they wish to implement it.

We had Vieira & Campbell in that side tho; two players who could mix it with anyone. Cesc looks to be a genius in the making, but he'll never have Vieira's presence.

We do have some players of some stature, physically speaking (Eboue & Senderos are two that spring to mind), but Diaby's the closest thing we have to a midfielde enforcer now & he's not gonna be back for months.

 

[sledger]

i dont recall liverpools injury situation being all that bad myself...

 

[sledger]

a great shame about diaby, sunderland can be thanked for that, with him in the squad it suddenly has a great deal more depth, shame he got injured when he did as he was looking rather good at the time.

 

[sledger]

We had Vieira & Campbell in that side tho

in fairness though, both of those players missed prolonged periods of the unbeaten season through injury or other problems.

 

[roseboy64]

i would love to hear your reason for thinking that...can see it now......"hes really good on football manager

Ummm when i've seen him play. He looked really good. Obviously a few rough patches but there's potential.

 

[Matteh]

i dont recall liverpools injury situation being all that bad myself...

This season though, haven't Liverpool got 3 players injured so far this season within about 3 games?

 

[BoyBrumby]

I don't see the CDMs having a particularly good season. They did well in the CL 2-legged ties because of their defense, in 2-legged ties teams like the CDMs can be patient and get a goal from somewhere on the counter attack or from a set piece and keep it tight so they get through 1-0 or whatever. Nowadays in the big knockout competitions a good defense is virtually all you need. In the Premiership the onus is on the CDMs (in most games) to attack but when they're up against an organised 2 banks of 4 they struggle to score, this results in them dropping points in a fair few games. Now there is such a gulf between the top 4 or whatever and the rest you can't afford to drop many points. The CDMs' squad hasn't got any better and they're standing still whilst other teams improve. Chief poseur will start going downhill as he loses that first yard pace, which is critical to a player like him because his other skills aren't anywhere near as brilliant as people make out (he can hardly head the ball, he has good control but no great skill to beat players without relying on his pace, his finishing is mediocre). Another thing to consider is Manure and Liverpool were badly hit by injury for the early part of last season, they're not so badly off this season.

In terms of personnel you may be accurate, but we do have a young squad with several players who are in their early twenties & younger. An awful lot of our players have great potential to improve. I reckon we'll at least go better than 4th.