English Premier League

[white lightning]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1292344670' post='574917']
Agreed.

The team really misses Vermaelen.
[/quote]

Yes, and an achilles injury is very difficult to return from, who knows how long before he returns.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='white lightning' timestamp='1292369444' post='575706']
Yes, and an achilles injury is very difficult to return from, who knows how long before he returns.
[/quote]

Yep. Just another the team has to find away to bolster the troops.

[benravens1]

[quote name='white lightning' timestamp='1292369444' post='575706']
Yes, and an achilles injury is very difficult to return from, who knows how long before he returns.
[/quote]

it's reported that he could be back for the start of 2011 but i'd imagine he'll take a while to get back to full fitness

[NinjaTurtle]

Since this is pretty much an Arsenal thread, I will give my thoughts on Arsenal:

- Chamakh should shave his head, he is not fooling anyone, he is going bald and everyone can see it.

- Wojciech Szczęsny should be given the goalkeeping duties for the rest of the season, I believe he has the most potential of the GK's on your roster and should be given the opportunity to show it.

- Nasri should never be taken off the field.

- I like Song's hair.

- Van Persie should only get better with game time.

- Arsene Wenger should stop being so stingy with transfers, should at least attempt to bring in a high profile player.

- Arshavin is too hot-cold, he either plays really well or really bad.

- Never play Almunia again.

- Fabregas will make a huge difference to your side.

- I really think that Arsenal should go with a 4-3-3 formation with Van Persie as the sole striker with Arshavin and Walcott on the flanks.

- The self proclaimed, 'Best striker in the world' should be given more game time.

- Nasri should grow a beard, it will make him even more imposing than he is at the moment, plus he will look funny.

Good luck for the rest of the season.

[white lightning]

[quote name='NinjaTurtle' timestamp='1292383043' post='575961']
Since this is pretty much an Arsenal thread, I will give my thoughts on Arsenal:



[b]- Wojciech Szczęsny should be given the goalkeeping duties for the rest of the season, I believe he has the most potential of the GK's on your roster and should be given the opportunity to show it.[/b]

Totally agree with that statement, hopefully Wenger continues giving him top flight game time, but he gave him a go just as Fabianski had hit form, but it may spur him on the push for the top spot again.

What ever happened to Vito mannone (i am aware he is at Hull on loan)
[/quote]

[Ed_Reed20]

Huge victory for Arsenal over Chelsea. After Chelsea scored, I was truly worried if Wenger's boys could hold on but they did.

[ravens__]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1293489097' post='586657']
Huge victory for Arsenal over Chelsea. After Chelsea scored, I was truly worried if Wenger's boys could hold on but they did.
[/quote]

It should have been 4-5 goals for Arsenal tonight. The team finally showed character against a top team.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ravens__' timestamp='1293492569' post='586709']
It should have been 4-5 goals for Arsenal tonight. The team finally showed character against a top team.
[/quote]

Yep. I wish they had showed against Man U but this result was sweet.

[BmoreRav]

Chelsea are a complete mess at the moment. 3 draws and 3 losses in their last 6 league games. This type of form could lose Ancelloti his job. I don't think its a coincidence that the poor run of form seemed to start after Ray Wilkins was sacked.

[Jabara]

[quote name='ravens__' timestamp='1293492569' post='586709']
It should have been 4-5 goals for Arsenal tonight. The team finally showed character against a top team.
[/quote]
Arsenal, my favorite team, tends to remind me of the Ravens at times when it comes to showing character against other top teams, and the inability to constantly close out a game.
I also agree Arsenal should have had at least two extra goals, but don't we also say that about the Ravens?
Both teams have the talent to destroy other teams, we just want to see it happen as fans.
They are both getting the job done, and yes, I feel the same way about the Steelers and Pats as I do about Man U and Chelsea.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Jabara' timestamp='1293525663' post='586975']
Arsenal, my favorite team, tends to remind me of the Ravens at times when it comes to showing character against other top teams, and the inability to constantly close out a game.
I also agree Arsenal should have had at least two extra goals, but don't we also say that about the Ravens?
Both teams have the talent to destroy other teams, we just want to see it happen as fans.
They are both getting the job done, and yes, I feel the same way about the Steelers and Pats as I do about Man U and Chelsea.
[/quote]

The reason I don't agree with you on this is that the Ravens are known for being a physical team, something which Arsenal haven't been since Patrick Vieira left the club in '05. They are a team which is all about skill and flair, and often their losses are attributed to teams 'getting in their faces and kicking them off the park'.

And just as a general Premiership news bulletin, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has today agreed to leave the club by mutual consent. He's been replaced for the time being by Kenny Dalglish, a club legend. I don't know whether they plan to keep him as manager for the rest of the season or continue to search for a new one.

[ravens__]

Newcastle 4 - 4 Arsenal

What an absolute joke of a team we are... Leading 0-4 at half time with four goals in 26 minutes only to have a major collapse in the second half allowing Newcastle to hit back with four of its own to tie the game.

Where do I start from? Diaby's silly dismissal? Konscielny's shocking performance? (For yet another time.. Why did Arsenal give up 12 grands for him again?) Wenger's inability to wake up his squad? I don't know.... This team commits the same mistakes, year in year out. I'm sick of it really.

This on Wenger and nobody else. He chose to ignore the transfer window and bring in a defenseman seeing as we are HORRIBLE in this department again this year. Konscielny is an average at best Dman at the moment and Squillaci has shown me absolutely nothing that makes me believe he was worth acquiring. There have been games when Djourou was holding back on his own.

Really looking forward to what Mr. Wenger has to say..[/rant]

All in all, I give all the credit to Alan Pardew's squad for believing in their chances and turning the game around in spectacular fashion. Truth is, they deserved all three points in the end.

What a crazy afternoon in the Premier League!

[Ed_Reed20]

It's absolutely shameful how poor Arsenal's mental toughness is. Just one of the many reasons I don't see the current squad winning anything in the coming years.

[ravens__]

And now United falls to Wolves for its first loss of the season.

[Ed_Reed20]

It really doesn't make me feel too much better about what happened to Arsenal today.

[ravens__]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1296934541' post='632913']
It really doesn't make me feel too much better about what happened to Arsenal today.
[/quote]

Me neither. The only thing that makes me somewhat happy about United's loss is that it was their first this season and it ended their dreams of matching Arsenal's undefeated season back in 2004. Hopefully, this will mark the first of many for them...

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1296934541' post='632913']
It really doesn't make me feel too much better about what happened to Arsenal today.
[/quote]

It shouldn't, as that was a shocking second half from Arsenal, but it does actually mean that you gained ground in the table on Man United.

Not that I think Arsenal will win the title, as they go through this stage every season. They implode and throw away a couple of results and with them their title hopes.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

Although, what I will add is that, having watched Match of the Day (a television highlights program), some of the Newcastle goals were a joke. Their second penalty was one of the most pathetic decisions I have ever seen from an assistant referee.

Cheik Tioté's equalising goal was amazing. Definitely a candidate for goal of the season. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW_ivhWCajE"]Link[/url]

[ravens__]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1296947992' post='633089']
Although, what I will add is that, having watched Match of the Day (a television highlights program), [b]some of the Newcastle goals were a joke. Their second penalty was one of the most pathetic decisions I have ever seen from an assistant referee.[/b]

Cheik Tioté's equalising goal was amazing. Definitely a candidate for goal of the season. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW_ivhWCajE"]Link[/url]
[/quote]

You are right about the awarded penalty kick but hence that Newcastle also had a fair goal ruled out for offside.

[Ed_Reed20]

It's just sickening to watch your team crumble year after year when the going gets tough. Maybe I'm jaded having seen Arsenal at their best in the early 2000s but I don't even get excited when they crush weaker teams anymore.

[white lightning]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1296955269' post='633173']
It's just sickening to watch your team crumble year after year when the going gets tough. Maybe I'm jaded having seen Arsenal at their best in the early 2000s but I don't even get excited when they crush weaker teams anymore.
[/quote]

Arsenals choice of tactics after losing Diaby were simply shocking. Rather than substituting Djourou off the should have taken Koscienly off and played a traditional full back. Further more, a 4-3-2 set up may have prevented Newcastle dominating the midfield throughout the second half (granted they always had the ascendancy with more men). Arsene needed to fill the hole Diaby left with another defensive midfielder.

End rant

[BmoreRav]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhNfKZj6O4Q&[/media]

[ravens__]

[quote name='BmoreRav' timestamp='1297524284' post='638599']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhNfKZj6O4Q&[/media]
[/quote]

I will admit that was a beauty - perfect timed and powerful.
Also liked Van Persie's volley goal with his weak foot.

[XxSizzleXx]

Saw Rooneys goal on sportcentre, what a beaut.

[Hjulmann]

Chelsea have been falling back lately. Manchester United are the real dominators in the english Premier League. I'm a Liverpool fan.

[NinjaTurtle]

That was an amazing goal, still, he hasn't been playing very well lately.