I'm an Arsenal fan and watched the entire match. Howard didn't do much wrong, his defense simply had holes throughout.Originally Posted by WMR
I'm an Arsenal fan and watched the entire match. Howard didn't do much wrong, his defense simply had holes throughout.
Agreed. Arsenal's new 4-3-3 formation worked like a dream yesterday, Everton looked slow, disinterested, and disorganized. The pundits have been awful quick to dismiss Arsenal this season--not only as a title contender but also as a Top Four finisher. I still think the Gooners need an addition or two for squad depth before the window closes, but I'm more sanguine about our chances this season than anytime since Henry left.
[QUOTE=dsmith421;1952113]Agreed. Arsenal's new 4-3-3 formation worked like a dream yesterday, Everton looked slow, disinterested, and disorganized. The pundits have been awful quick to dismiss Arsenal this season--not only as a title contender but also as a Top Four finisher. I still think the Gooners need an addition or two for squad depth before the window closes, but I'm more sanguine about our chances this season than anytime since Henry left.[/QUOTE
When they're on their game, Arsenal plays the prettiest football in the EPL. This was a convincing win, obviously. But who is their main striker, and what will they do to replace Cesc, when he leaves (maybe soon - Milan wants him)? I'm unconvinced about their title chances until they grind out some results in Spring 2010 when they need must have points.
I don't think Cesc is going anywhere. Barca is hot on his trail but Wenger has made it clear he's not going. If you listen to Cesc himself he seems very happy to be a Gunner...Arsenal players tend to develop incredible loyalty. Henry still speaks glowingly of how Arsenal was his favorite stop.
1. Cesc is not leaving anytime soon, and when he does it will be for Barcelona. Wenger has been very clear about his refusal to accept any offer and Fabregas just signed a new contract. My guess is that he's at Arsenal for two more seasons minimum.
2. Arsenal don't really have a 'main' striker, but between Arshavin, van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner and some of the youngsters (Vela, Walcott) they will score enough goals to compete. The problem is going to be keeping them out, particularly if either Gallas or Vermaelen get hurt.
Wigan looked dynamite against Villa. Tottenham played some exciting football against Liverpool too.
Yet the first week, really the first month, of the season tends to be a bit disconnected from what happens in the rest of the season. We'll surely see some odd, unreprsentative stuff in the next few weeks.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
I doubt it. ESPN is only showing a certain number of games whereas FSC has EPL every weekend, Saturdays and Sundays.
On the other hand, I was impressed with FSC/Fox Sports coverage of the Champions League yesterday. They showed not one but two Champions League matches and none of them involved Man U, Chelsea, AC Milan, or Barca. On FSN, they showed Arsenal v. Celtic and on FSC they were showing FC Sheriff v. Olympiakos.
Wear gaudy colors, or avoid display. Lay a million eggs or give birth to one. The fittest shall survive, yet the unfit may live. Be like your ancestors or be different. We must repeat!
They also showed the two MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions League matches last night: Columbus Crew at 8 p.m. and DC at 10 p.m. tape delayed.
Their roundup show - basically Sportscenter for world soccer - is excellent, too.
"The players make the manager, it's never the other way." - Sparky Anderson
I was very impressed with FSC/FSN's coverage of the CL. ESPN has added excellent coverage to the mix, too. This is a golden era for American soccer fans.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. FSC is going to show over 100 games (not just Madrid, ManU, and Milan).
Variatio delectat - Cicero
I'm just starting to get into pro and international soccer, but isn't Burnley's upset over Man U pretty big?
Domo Arigato, Here Comes Joey Votto
---TRF
"I do what I want to do and say what I want to say."
--Bronson Arroyo
Huge with a capital silent H.
This type of upset occurs annually in the Prem. The league is just so competitive and that is what makes it the most exiting soccer in the world. Sure, the top four has been somewhat consistent but on a week to week basis you just never know.
No kidding. I just watched FC Salzburg, my favorite European team, on TV for the first time since I left Austria in 1995. They lost their home leg to Maccabi Haifa, which isn't good for their group stage chances, but it was still nice to see them. Hello old friend.
Wear gaudy colors, or avoid display. Lay a million eggs or give birth to one. The fittest shall survive, yet the unfit may live. Be like your ancestors or be different. We must repeat!
I was listening to the World Soccer Daily Podcast (done by the FFF guys) and it was great to hear the ManU fans just flipping out and calling their season over.Huge with a capital silent H.
This type of upset occurs annually in the Prem. The league is just so competitive and that is what makes it the most exiting soccer in the world. Sure, the top four has been somewhat consistent but on a week to week basis you just never know.
Variatio delectat - Cicero
This is a huge tangent in a way and quoting myself is not exactly the most literary thing to do, but this seemed appropriate. In my last post, I mentioned the World Soccer Daily Podcast which starred Steven Cohen and Graham Harrell, two Brits (Harrell is a Scot) who live in LA and talk all things soccer. I ran across the podcast a few days ago and really enjoyed it. However, this Friday was the last podcast and it couldn't have ended in any more ignominious way. Cohen is a huge Chelsea fan and he expected a certain amount of harassment from other fans, but they went way too far. Cohen began to receive a large amount of Anti-Semitic emails and calls from Liverpool fans (exclusively) and it got so bad that official Liverpool supporters groups were sending all kinds of letters and petitions to the Podcast's sponsors denouncing the show and its hosts. Steven finally decided to stop the show when, sitting at home, he heard the doorbell ring at a strange hour and was scared for his family. It turned out to be a kid putting his kid through college by selling something, but he decided that he couldn't live this way. So, this Friday he decided to end the show.
Now, the show was on Sirius as well as released in podcast form, so I'm not entirely sure if the audience is exclusively American or if the Brits tune in as well. But, one of the reasons I love soccer is the passion for the game and the partisanship between teams. However, stories like this are showing up more and more in Europe, and to hear that it is (probably) happening here is extremely disturbing. This really makes me sick. I know that this group of fans is a very vocal minority and that I shouldn't let it color my view of Liverpool and its typically terrific fans, however I cannot simply let this slip by without it registering on my radar. I'm never going to see Anfield in quite the same light.
I know that Steven is never going to read this post, but these stories need to be told. The worst part of all of this is that the Anti-Semitic fans are getting exactly what they wanted, namely that Steven and the show are going away. Here is hoping that Steven makes some kind of come back and is allowed to do so with the same freedom and comfort that the rest of us are able to enjoy.
Variatio delectat - Cicero
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