The Association Football Thread

#1,727
#1,727
TylerD said:
134 (74) in 4 years in the La Liga.. I'd take that if I was getting someone on the cheap but it is whatever.

We will see.. Having a strong back 4 was the start that we wanted and needed. Now, hopefully they will get something prepared for January.
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Honestly I think Per Mertesacker was one of the best moves by any team in the last few days and Santos and Arteta are solid players that will contribute. I just think Wenger has to get out of his philosophy of never spending big money on a player.
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#1,728
#1,728
VolOnthePlains said:
Honestly I think Per Mertesacker was one of the best moves by any team in the last few days and Santos and Arteta are solid players that will contribute. I just think Wenger has to get out of his philosophy of never spending big money on a player.
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I hope that as well.. Like I said before I don't know that arsenal will ever be an elite team with him as manager, but I hope things change. Apparently an agreement was made with Lille for hazard at 27m but they pulled out at the last minute because of insufficient time to replace him.

Word is we are resubmitting it in January and if they are out of the CL it is pretty much a done deal.
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#1,729
#1,729
TylerD said:
I hope that as well.. Like I said before I don't know that arsenal will ever be an elite team with him as manager, but I hope things change. Apparently an agreement was made with Lille for hazard at 27m but they pulled out at the last minute because of insufficient time to replace him.

Word is we are resubmitting it in January and if they are out of the CL it is pretty much a done deal.
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I think there is a lot of truth to what Na$ri said about the Arsenal board holding the team back from spending big money on players.

Liverpool has first refusal rights on Hazard.
 
#1,733
#1,733
Roughneck said:
That doesn't mean they are irrelevant.

Irrelevance is Swansea.
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Depends on your definition of relevance, I suppose. By Swansea's standards they are as relevant as they've ever been.

If Arsenal fans think struggling to qualify for the Champions League every year qualifies them as relevant then Wenger is doing a fine job. But I doubt thats how most fans feel.
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#1,734
#1,734
VolOnthePlains said:
Depends on your definition of relevance, I suppose. By Swansea's standards they are as relevant as they've ever been.

If Arsenal fans think struggling to qualify for the Champions League every year qualifies them as relevant then Wenger is doing a fine job. But I doubt thats how most fans feel.
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To be fair, we did have a shot at winning the PL while trying to piece together a back four and missing our main defender the whole seasons. I'm not saying I am proud of what they did, but after the adversity they faced they did okay. I honestly think things will turn around with this new team. Our youth has so much talent it is mind-blowing, but all we needed was some experience. If van persie stays fit you will get the relevance you are looking for. :)
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#1,735
#1,735
VolOnthePlains said:
Depends on your definition of relevance, I suppose. By Swansea's standards they are as relevant as they've ever been.

If Arsenal fans think struggling to qualify for the Champions League every year qualifies them as relevant then Wenger is doing a fine job. But I doubt thats how most fans feel.
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In the grand scheme of English and World soccer, Arsenal are relevant, to say otherwise is absurd.
 
#1,737
#1,737
Roughneck said:
In the grand scheme of English and World soccer, Arsenal are relevant, to say otherwise is absurd.
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That's all well and good. But I think finishing 4th this year would be a real accomplishment for them and I don't see any way that happens.

David Hirshey (a huge Arsenal fan) wrote a really good piece about their supposed "successes" this transfer window.

But I digress. Wenger actually signed five players in 24 hours, which surely breaks all previous Gunners records for deadline day. But I'm keeping that fourth-place Champagne on ice for a while. As much as I was elated to see two creative, stylish midfielders in Mikel Arteta and Benayoun swanning through the door last night, let's not book those 2012 Champions League finals tickets just yet. They, along with the decisive swoops for German international Per Mertesacker, South Korean captain Park Chu-Young and marauding Brazilian left back Andre Santos, are the moves of a desperate man staring many frigid Icelandic nights of Europa League soccer square in the face. If it really took the worst Arsenal defeat since before the car was invented to jolt Wenger to his senses, he should dispatch a case of '82 Mouton to Sir Alex as a token of appreciation for the 8-2 bludgeoning.

After all, without that humiliation, Gunners are sitting here on Sept. 1 with the same old squad, nothing but fresh-faced promise and boundless potential, and the same old rationalizations that all is well at the Emirates. So give Le Stubborn One credit for good, if insanely belated, business. But don't look too closely at the tarnished goods. What happened to all those sexy brand names linked to North London? Let's face it, these lads weren't the Arsenal faithful's first, second or even third choices -- Eden Hazard, Marvin Martin and Yann M'Vila all proved too rich for Wenger's Gallic blood. That said, when you turn up at the mall on Christmas Eve five minutes before closing, these are the kind of dog-eared merchandise you're likely to find.
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#1,738
#1,738
VolOnthePlains said:
That's all well and good. But I think finishing 4th this year would be a real accomplishment for them and I don't see any way that happens.

David Hirshey (a huge Arsenal fan) wrote a really good piece about their supposed "successes" this transfer window.
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I agree with that, it's going to take some luck and a big signing in January to make it into the top 4 but they finished 4th last year with Cesc/Nasri and everyone above them got better.

One thing that they definitely added which they have lacked the past few years is grit and leadership. I like Cesc but isn't a leader. Bennayoun and Park are both captains of their national team and Mertesacker has loads of experience and presence .

They sorely miss someone like Viera in the middle to show some aggression. Frimpong may eventually be that guy but not yet.
 
#1,739
#1,739
Yeah Fabregas being capitain was a little crazy. Seemed like Wenger was just giving him anything to stay. Van Persie is a much more deserving capitain.
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#1,740
#1,740
VolOnthePlains said:
Yeah Fabregas being capitain was a little crazy. Seemed like Wenger was just giving him anything to stay. Van Persie is a much more deserving capitain.
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At this point maybe so, but on a side note your post instantly brought to mind the Van Persie "I swear I didn't hear the whistle!!" second yellow card against Barca last season. That still makes me smile :)

I guess captains get red cards too. :ermm:
 
#1,741
#1,741
ellunitiko said:
At this point maybe so, but on a side note your post instantly brought to mind the Van Persie "I swear I didn't hear the whistle!!" second yellow card against Barca last season. That still makes me smile :)

I guess captains get red cards too. :ermm:
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I remember Vidic getting sent off against Chelsea in April. I guess he shouldn't be captain.
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#1,742
#1,742
ellunitiko said:
At this point maybe so, but on a side note your post instantly brought to mind the Van Persie "I swear I didn't hear the whistle!!" second yellow card against Barca last season. That still makes me smile :)

I guess captains get red cards too. :ermm:
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That is still one of the most unnecessary red cards I have ever seen.
 
#1,743
#1,743
volball625 said:
I remember Vidic getting sent off against Chelsea in April. I guess he shouldn't be captain.
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Vidic is one of the most underrated players in the world. I had a nice laugh when that bs about Anzhati trying to buy him came out.
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#1,744
#1,744
TylerD said:
That is still one of the most unnecessary red cards I have ever seen.
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It was, but "rules are rules".... and no I hate those bs calls, for jersey stripping during celebrations and all that, the only ones I find well deserved are for simulation.

Don't think it would have made a difference as you made the little maestro mad, and we all know what happens when that goes down. nothing good for the opponent. Never anger the little smeagol (I actually love Messi, just not the team).

But nonetheless, GL in the oncoming matches, y'all have/got some players, and if i may say so my self, a much better looking defense than a week ago.

F'it all, GO VOLS!!
 
#1,745
#1,745
Anyone watch Germany-Austria? I know it's Austria, but damn, Gotze, Muller, and Ozil are all 19-22 and they're not even reaching their potential yet.
 
#1,746
#1,746
Godfatha said:
Anyone watch Germany-Austria? I know it's Austria, but damn, Gotze, Muller, and Ozil are all 19-22 and they're not even reaching their potential yet.
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Goetze is going to be really special. I'm hoping United makes another push for him in January.
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#1,748
#1,748
Tyler, I'm not sure if you are getting FIFA 12 or not, but some of the guys on the gaming forum are putting together a club team for the game. Let me know if you are interested.
 
#1,749
#1,749
volball625 said:
Tyler, I'm not sure if you are getting FIFA 12 or not, but some of the guys on the gaming forum are putting together a club team for the game. Let me know if you are interested.
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haha yeah.. definitely getting it. I'd be down for the club. My friend would probably be interested as well.

EDIT:

Tell those guys to add me on live too. I'd like to have more people to play 1v1. Thanks man.
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