The Association Football Thread

#1,776
#1,776
volball625 said:
Once Wilshere come backs, Arsenal will get a big boost. He was the best player on the field in the first leg against Barcelona last year.
Click to expand...

Definitely.. He makes it a completely different team. Needless to say I can't wait to have Mertesacker and Vermaelen together and Arteta, Ramsey, AND Wilshere rotating in the middle. Things will turn around.
 
#1,777
#1,777
The Chelsea/United match should be a good one. United certainly have started fast. Hopefully, they can keep it up against a good Chelsea side.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#1,778
#1,778
TylerD said:
You don't think getting 4 first-team players back and the new guys settling in will help a little?

That's funny.
Click to expand...

I didn't phrase that right. Obviously it will help. They are good players. The problem, in my eyes, is that Wenger hasn't changed his philosphy at all, he's just replaced his two best players with a bunch of average ones.

So why would I expect Arsenal to finish any better than they have in the last few years doing the same thing with lesser players?
 
#1,779
#1,779
VolOnthePlains said:
I didn't phrase that right. Obviously it will help. They are good players. The problem, in my eyes, is that Wenger hasn't changed his philosphy at all, he's just replaced his two best players with a bunch of average ones.

So why would I expect Arsenal to finish any better than they have in the last few years doing the same thing with lesser players?
Click to expand...

If the stars show up and remain healthy after this little spell at the end of the season they will easily be in the top 4. Look at the contribution that Cesc and Nasri had last year. Both had about a month maximum that they were heavy contributors. The rest of the time they were injured or in poor form. Arteta healthy is better than Cesc was for us last year... upgrade. Gervinho is a more traditional winger than Nasri and is more of a goal threat... upgrade. Vermaelen and Mertesacker healthy and us not having to piece together a backline with Squillaci is definitely an upgrade.

My point is that last season was devastated by injury and poor form and Arsenal still managed to be in the race until the end. I would rule a team out because of a bad start... That is all I am saying.
 
#1,780
#1,780
TylerD said:
If the stars show up and remain healthy after this little spell at the end of the season they will easily be in the top 4. Look at the contribution that Cesc and Nasri had last year. Both had about a month maximum that they were heavy contributors. The rest of the time they were injured or in poor form. Arteta healthy is better than Cesc was for us last year... upgrade. Gervinho is a more traditional winger than Nasri and is more of a goal threat... upgrade. Vermaelen and Mertesacker healthy and us not having to piece together a backline with Squillaci is definitely an upgrade.

My point is that last season was devastated by injury and poor form and Arsenal still managed to be in the race until the end. I would rule a team out because of a bad start... That is all I am saying.
Click to expand...

:eek:hmy:
 
Last edited:
#1,781
#1,781
im gonna hold off on my judgement of Gervinho. Joe Cole got to play for lille this weekend and looked like Messi out there.

Saint-Etienne 1-3 Lille: French Ligue 1 Highlights (Video) | CaughtOffside

at about :59

French league is on the rise but its still garbage. Also Gervinho fell for the oldest trick in the epl in week 1 getting into it with Joey Barton. wouldn't call him an upgrade from Nasri by any means yet
 
#1,782
#1,782
I see what you're saying TylerD, Cesc and Nasri weren't their best last year. But saying Arteta and Gervinho are upgrades for either of them is a huge stretch.

When you say Arsenal will finish in the top four, who do you think gets left out, Liverpool?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#1,784
#1,784
banman360 said:
Cesc is 5 years younger than Arteta.. upgrade??
Click to expand...

You are hilarious... You can't read my post and take it how it is can you?

At least the other dude gets that it was a straight comparison to their production last season. I do not think that Arteta overall is an upgrade, but I do think that he will have more production than Cesc did for ARSENAL last year. I watched the games, I followed the team, and I saw what contributions he had... Replacing what he did for us in that year wasn't very hard.

His mind was always with Barcelona ever since they even brought it up, and anybody knows that... If you don't, why don't you compare all of last season to the first two games he played for Barca and see if there is any difference in his personal output as a player. The dude was "hurt" 90% of the season. Would you not say Arteta is better than a hurt Fab? Seriously?
 
#1,785
#1,785
VolOnthePlains said:
I see what you're saying TylerD, Cesc and Nasri weren't their best last year. But saying Arteta and Gervinho are upgrades for either of them is a huge stretch.

When you say Arsenal will finish in the top four, who do you think gets left out, Liverpool?
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

It is a huge stretch, but I am talking about strictly within our system. Nasri is an amazing playing, but he doesn't play the wing well... Everything he did well last season came from him drifting to the middle.

IMO, you can take all of the best players in the world and it doesn't necessarily make the best team. Yes, Cesc at his best, with his mind on the club, and injury free would be exactly what Arsenal needs in the middle..

However, none of that was realistic for us anymore. I do think saying Arteta is an upgrade for this season is realistic because he will be 100% involved and 100% focused on Arsenal. Also, I say this about Gervinho as well. You can tell that Nasri just quit.. I do not think that keeping him would have been of any value for us this year. That's all I am saying.

Yes, I think Liverpool do not have what it takes at all.. I may be judging them, but we fielded a reserve squad and stayed with them for 70 minutes. Their defense just seems very weak and I think they will get exposed big time by many teams. We had our chances with a poor squad and I just wonder what would have happened had we not been down 9 first teamers. Again, I may be a homer, but I really don't expect a finish outside of the top 4.
 
#1,786
#1,786
I could see that. I really don't think much of Chelsea either. It will be interesting to see how 3-6 works out.

I totally agree that Cesc and Nasri had to go, they had both quit on the club. I just don't really agree with the replacements. I think Yann M'villa and Eden Hazard (along with Mertesacker) would have put Arsenal right back in the discussion as contenders.

Who knows, they might get one or both of them in January but at the rate the Manchester clubs are going right now that will probably be too late.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#1,787
#1,787
TylerD said:
Yes, I think Liverpool do not have what it takes at all.. I may be judging them, but we fielded a reserve squad and stayed with them for 70 minutes. Their defense just seems very weak and I think they will get exposed big time by many teams. We had our chances with a poor squad and I just wonder what would have happened had we not been down 9 first teamers. Again, I may be a homer, but I really don't expect a finish outside of the top 4.
Click to expand...

For claiming the acquisition of 2 players will get you back in the top 4 you fail to mention Liverpool still is missing 2 of its most important players as well.
 
#1,788
#1,788
VolOnthePlains said:
I could see that. I really don't think much of Chelsea either. It will be interesting to see how 3-6 works out.

I totally agree that Cesc and Nasri had to go, they had both quit on the club. I just don't really agree with the replacements. I think Yann M'villa and Eden Hazard (along with Mertesacker) would have put Arsenal right back in the discussion as contenders.

Who knows, they might get one or both of them in January but at the rate the Manchester clubs are going right now that will probably be too late.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

banman360 said:
For claiming the acquisition of 2 players will get you back in the top 4 you fail to mention Liverpool still is missing 2 of its most important players as well.
Click to expand...

I definitely do not think that the replacements we have right now are the end all and I would highly doubt Wenger does either. Arteta and Benayoun will give the same contribution as someone like Rosicky. We just needed a little more experience infused with the youth and I hope it turns out well. I would say Eden and Yann are both likely targets to come to the Emirates as long term fixes, but have also heard Marvin Martin a lot. I think they believe he will solve our central problems long term. Who knows though.

I agree with you on Chelsea as well.. They can either be great or completely flop. Drogba is aging and Torres is Torres. They don't have extremely reliable players that will hold them above the rest and I doubt they really make a race out of it. Mata will prove to be their savior this season, IMO.


To Banman,

Look at the money shelled out by Liverpool in comparison to Arsenal in the last year. Take that and add what we have also lost in the last year as far as players are concerned. There is no way on this earth that anyone should spend that kind of money and still not best our squad by a mile. The problem is they don't know what to do with it. Similar to Man City, until they finally got it right, they were just buying who they wanted regardless of how they plug in.

Andy Carroll was the worst bit of spending I have seen in a long time, minus Torres. Add to that, they went and bought Suarez at the same time. Now, knowing that you have glaring holes why would you buy 2 20+ million strikers. It just isn't smart...

Stewart Downing 20m
Jordan Henderson 20m
Andy Carroll 35m
Luis Suarez 26m
Jose Enrique 5m

Minus Jose Enrique and Suarez that is just not good business. None of these players are sure to make that big of a contribution...

In all of this my point is.. They have spent enough money to afford missing 2 key players. Arsenal have been paid more than they have spent and definitely can't afford to miss 9 players.
 
#1,789
#1,789
Marvin Martin is a great player. He would fit in well at Arsenal. If I was making the decisions, I would go with M'villa because he could help their defense too. But either would be great.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#1,790
#1,790
TylerD said:
To Banman,

Look at the money shelled out by Liverpool in comparison to Arsenal in the last year. Take that and add what we have also lost in the last year as far as players are concerned. There is no way on this earth that anyone should spend that kind of money and still not best our squad by a mile. The problem is they don't know what to do with it. Similar to Man City, until they finally got it right, they were just buying who they wanted regardless of how they plug in.

Andy Carroll was the worst bit of spending I have seen in a long time, minus Torres. Add to that, they went and bought Suarez at the same time. Now, knowing that you have glaring holes why would you buy 2 20+ million strikers. It just isn't smart...

Stewart Downing 20m
Jordan Henderson 20m
Andy Carroll 35m
Luis Suarez 26m
Jose Enrique 5m

Minus Jose Enrique and Suarez that is just not good business. None of these players are sure to make that big of a contribution...

In all of this my point is.. They have spent enough money to afford missing 2 key players. Arsenal have been paid more than they have spent and definitely can't afford to miss 9 players.
Click to expand...

Commoli had the Suarez deal done way before any of the Carroll/Torres business had began. That was all on deadline day and the night before. Also you fail to mention with all those costly players Liverpool got 50 mil for Torres, 12 mill for Raul Miereles, and cleared out their wages significantly. basically equaling out the cost of Suarez, Carroll, Jose Enrique and Charlie Adam. If thats not good business then I don't know what is.
 
#1,791
#1,791
Hate to beat a dead horse but that was a very fortunate result for Arsenal today.

Dortmund is a good team though.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#1,792
#1,792
TylerD said:
I definitely do not think that the replacements we have right now are the end all and I would highly doubt Wenger does either. Arteta and Benayoun will give the same contribution as someone like Rosicky. We just needed a little more experience infused with the youth and I hope it turns out well. I would say Eden and Yann are both likely targets to come to the Emirates as long term fixes, but have also heard Marvin Martin a lot. I think they believe he will solve our central problems long term. Who knows though.

I agree with you on Chelsea as well.. They can either be great or completely flop. Drogba is aging and Torres is Torres. They don't have extremely reliable players that will hold them above the rest and I doubt they really make a race out of it. Mata will prove to be their savior this season, IMO.


To Banman,

Look at the money shelled out by Liverpool in comparison to Arsenal in the last year. Take that and add what we have also lost in the last year as far as players are concerned. There is no way on this earth that anyone should spend that kind of money and still not best our squad by a mile. The problem is they don't know what to do with it. Similar to Man City, until they finally got it right, they were just buying who they wanted regardless of how they plug in.

Andy Carroll was the worst bit of spending I have seen in a long time, minus Torres. Add to that, they went and bought Suarez at the same time. Now, knowing that you have glaring holes why would you buy 2 20+ million strikers. It just isn't smart...

Stewart Downing 20m
Jordan Henderson 20m
Andy Carroll 35m
Luis Suarez 26m
Jose Enrique 5m

Minus Jose Enrique and Suarez that is just not good business. None of these players are sure to make that big of a contribution...

In all of this my point is.. They have spent enough money to afford missing 2 key players. Arsenal have been paid more than they have spent and definitely can't afford to miss 9 players.
Click to expand...

Will the other Andy Carroll haters please stand up... lmao
 
#1,793
#1,793
Not sure what to make of the FIFA 12 demo. Defending is the most glaring difference. Right now it just feels weird and I don't like it. But then again I didn't like the 11 demo when it came out. But I'm sure I'll be saying how genius it is in another month or so.
 
#1,795
#1,795
VolOnthePlains said:
Hate to beat a dead horse but that was a very fortunate result for Arsenal today.

Dortmund is a good team though.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree with you 100%. You can tell we were trying to limp out of there with a win, and to give the team credit we almost did. However, you could just tell the whole time we were lacking leadership. Everyone looked so confused the whole time and Koscielny was terrible in the first half (although I have to say he redeemed himself in the second).

I am hoping that this is still part of the next signing/start of the season slump, but I am a bit worried as to what will happen if Wilshere and Ramsey miss a lot of time. Benayoun was pretty much not even on the field for most of the match.
 
#1,796
#1,796
Ok I'm freaking done with that demo. I like the idea of making defending more realistic, but changing all the buttons, pressing RB to have another defender shadow the guy on the ball, but not attacking him, is just dumb. Also having to jump button from X to B seems quite annoying at the moment. The only thing that seems fine is the Arena, but there's only so much time I can spend ripping shots with Rooney in Arena mode. The full game better have a much better feel to the defending or I will be that guy and stick with 11.
 
#1,797
#1,797
ellunitiko said:
Ok I'm freaking done with that demo. I like the idea of making defending more realistic, but changing all the buttons, pressing RB to have another defender shadow the guy on the ball, but not attacking him, is just dumb. Also having to jump button from X to B seems quite annoying at the moment. The only thing that seems fine is the Arena, but there's only so much time I can spend ripping shots with Rooney in Arena mode. The full game better have a much better feel to the defending or I will be that guy and stick with 11.
Click to expand...

All you have to do it customize controls. It pissed me off for a minute, but after changing them back to where I want them all is good. haha

My first thing was the pressure button. Putting it at RB was retarded... I just swapped the two.

BTW, add me on live and play 11 with me before it is outdated. tag: TylerALYRIA
 
#1,798
#1,798
ellunitiko said:
Ok I'm freaking done with that demo. I like the idea of making defending more realistic, but changing all the buttons, pressing RB to have another defender shadow the guy on the ball, but not attacking him, is just dumb. Also having to jump button from X to B seems quite annoying at the moment. The only thing that seems fine is the Arena, but there's only so much time I can spend ripping shots with Rooney in Arena mode. The full game better have a much better feel to the defending or I will be that guy and stick with 11.
Click to expand...

The defending on set pieces is bad too. Nobody does anything, they all just stand there and watch.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top