*Official* English Football Season 2009-2010

[Jarquis]

All well and good looking like Vieira against the likes of Wigan and West Ham but every time we need him in a big game he bottles it. His biggest contribution was his own goal at Old Trafford.

As for Wenger, how about someone who can coach the defence, someone who can spot a goalkeeper, someone who will try and replace the deadwood in his squad and replace players if he has to sell them. More or less, someone who actually tries to win trophies. All well and good saying at least he isn't Benitez but that isn't saying much.

Will given teams like Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham have been the ones where we've dropped points in the past. Ideally you'd have it both ways. We also used to win the "Minor Premiership" based only on games against the top four but we didn't win the league. Now we were in a real position to win the league but are losing to United and Chelsea.

As for the second half, then the coaching team needs to be adressed. It was raised a while back that Arsenal's goal keeping coaching needs to be looked into. How can all three of your first team keepers (Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone) have such ridiculously large weaknesses? Don't think you can just point the finger at Wenger and Wenger alone.

 

[sledger]

I'm not in any way advocating getting rid of Wenger, but I would point out that the quality of the coaching staff is something he would be responsible for, as he is the one who hires them.

 

[GIMH]

Can't see Torres moving to Italy tbh, Mascherano would be well suited there though. If I was a Liverpool fan/board member I would be thrilled with this development, as it's a potential way to get rid of Rafa without having to sack him and incur all the costs for compensation. I would jump at the chance to go if I was Rafa as well, can't see things at Liverpool getting drastically different, for better or worse. Would have to query where Juve have suddenly found this huge amount of cash though.

As I keep saying, you probably wouldn't as the bulk of the supporters want to keep him

 

[Scaly piscine]

So another tropheyless season... what a surprise eh. That's what you get for playing a weakened side in the FA Cup - the only realistic chance of silverware.

 

[sledger]

As I keep saying, you probably wouldn't as the bulk of the supporters want to keep him

Haha, tbf I want him to stay, if this season is an indication of things to come anyway.

 

[sledger]

So another tropheyless season... what a surprise eh. That's what you get for playing a weakened side in the FA Cup - the only realistic chance of silverware.

My only chance of silverware this year was entering myself in an under 10s league, I'm not particularly regretting passing up my chance at a hollow victory.

 

[GIMH]

Do you actually support anyone Scaly or do you just like hating on all other clubs?

 

[duffer]

Scaly's probably trolling but tbf I made the exact same point regarding throwing away the FA Cup straight after the Stoke game.

 

[sledger]

Do you actually support anyone Scaly or do you just like hating on all other clubs?

Hating is underated. Somebody told me the other day that my personality was 50% apathy and 50% loathing. I'm a class act, evidently.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Well the CDMs and Rafa the clown's Liverpool are perfect villain sides. It's like a Hollywood film in that you know the baddies are going to lose, but there's just that glimmer then bang it all unravels in a convenient and satisfying way.

Anyway no I don't support club sides.

 

[duffer]

Hating is underated. Somebody told me the other day that my personality was 50% apathy and 50% loathing. I'm a class act, evidently.

It's a fun combination tbh.

 

[sledger]

It's a fun combination tbh.

Can't disagree with that. Seems to serve me alright.

 

[Jarquis]

Can't disagree with that. Seems to serve me alright.

Yeah, can't see why it'd bother you half the time.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, can't see why it'd bother you half the time.

Haha whuh? Not sure what you mean.

Edit: Haha, played.

 

[duffer]

Haha now that the season's over, ins and outs for next season. Pipe dream but ideally:

-A real goalkeeper. Not one signed from the spastic centres we've been getting our recent ones.

-Silvestre is gone, Djourou is alive again and it's doubtful we'll offer Gallas the 2 year deal he wants. Two central defenders, one young and one experienced. Ones that like to defend though.

-Midfielders. We're fine here except I think we need a specialist backup for Song. No more square peg, round hole **** like we're seeing with Diaby, Denilson and Nasri filling in there.

-Strikers. Chamakh is coming and he'll be awesome. Time is looking up for Vela and Eduardo isn't looking half the player he was before. Have a young Brazillian named Wellington coming in January, pretty happy here. So 4 players in with Silvestre, Almunia and possibly Gallas out.

Not ideal to lose Billy but if we end up having that kind of summer I'd be okay with it. The doomer in me says we'll sign Chamakh, a no mark defender and that's that.

 

[sledger]

Was thinking more or less the same in the car this morning. Ideally we will see Chamakh and Lloris in, but we're so clearly not getting the latter. Otherwise yeah, an etxra back up for song and another defender is probably what's needed. Need Walcott to start playing well regularly as well, has been great these last few weeks, but has blown hot and cold far too often for a player earning what he reportedly does.

 

[Craig]

Can't see Torres moving to Italy tbh, Mascherano would be well suited there though. If I was a Liverpool fan/board member I would be thrilled with this development, as it's a potential way to get rid of Rafa without having to sack him and incur all the costs for compensation. I would jump at the chance to go if I was Rafa as well, can't see things at Liverpool getting drastically different, for better or worse. Would have to query where Juve have suddenly found this huge amount of cash though.

Felipe Melo hasn't exactly covered himself in glory this season with Juventus. Perhaps it wasn't the wisest move. Bringing back Fabio Cannavaro wasn't brilliant either.

As for their cash injection, you can't look past the Fiat/New Holland Group for that.

 

[duffer]

Need Walcott to start playing well regularly as well, has been great these last few weeks, but has blown hot and cold far too often for a player earning what he reportedly does.

Tbf to Theo he's shown plenty of moments of incredible talent over the years which for a 21 year old who isn't a regular and is played out of his natural position for the most part is quite encouraging.

Can't help but thinking he needs a Cesc in the team more than most because the early ball behind the defenders is what he thrives on and without Cesc we tend to pass it around side to side shirking responsibility and he still really isn't the greatest at beating a man one on one. His finishing is still a bit ropey but again he's showed some moments where he looks a very natural striker(Carling Cup final first that comes to mind).

Summing it up: I think he'll come good. Just needs to stop getting injured.

 

[Jarquis]

Agree wholeheartedly with duffer about Theo, his development's taking slightly longer than you'd hope due to the fact he's been injured so much and that he didn't start playing football until he was 12/13. Wenger's a big believer, as are other managers, in that most of your technical development happens between ages 8-12 so he's behind in that respect. He'll come good though.

Anybody else heard the rumours that AA23 is on his way out? Only a whisper around on Twitter, don't think anything will come of it.

So come the start of the 10/11 season what would be everybody's ideal squad of 18?
Frey/Lloris, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Cesc, Nasri, Theo, AA, RVP
Almunia, Djourour, Defender X, Diaby, Rosicky, Chamakh, Player Y.

Not sure who I want us to sign as Defender X but Player Y would probably be one of Denilson, Nicklas, Eduardo or Eboue. Leaves a lot of players not mentioned, Gibbs will be back from unjury, Jack back from loan, Vela, Aaron still on the sidelines.

I like it, means we won't have to see a bench like the one we had against Barca at the Nou Camp.

 

[duffer]

If we're signing Chamakh he needs to start with van Persie. The 4-3-3 we play is designed to make the most out of Cesc and Robin bt when they're both out like recently it just doesn't work. Chamakh is the type of striker who would be a good foil next to anyone so we really shouldn't waste him up top by himself. He'd improve the games of whoever he plays with by virtue of his physicality and workrate.

Edit: Bendtner is also going to be a big part of the squad next season. Has 9 in 14 now and a lot of them important goals which extended our season a good month. Eboue is handy to have around and Wilshere will add something to the squad. Sign Chamakh and then do everything to improve the back.