The FOOTBALL thread

[Alsatian]

We got now 2 strikes, now Its time for good midfielders, but Wenger should make some space for new blood, as Arshavin and Denilson problaly dont want to be in Arsenal anymore.

       Podolski          Giroud          van Persie

     Arteta
     
Wilshere                    Song

     Gibbs     Vermaelen     Koscielny     Sagna

    Szczesny

DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE NOT FEELING THAT MAN

Of course, that lineup raises questions about both Walcott and Chamberlain. The way I see it is that Wilshere could be out for even longer which means we might not have him avaliable for the start of the season. The Ox has proven that he can play central, so if need be, stick him in for Wilshere whilst he recovers. What happens when Wilshere's fully fit? I don't know. Perhaps Wenger will bring him on later in the game to give Podolski a rest, but I doubt a player of his quality will want to stay a substitute for too long - we may end up losing him.

Walcott on the other hand I've always found is most effective as a late impact player; bring him on towards the end of the game and let him run circles around the faituged defence. I don't think he's proven himself enough to earn a spot in that potential starting XI.

However, there is the possibility that van Persie will leave. If he did, that would leave the right wing open for either Walcott or Chamberlain. I'm really excited to see what Wenger chooses as our main starting team.

There's also other transfer rumours surrounding the club, such as M'Vila (although that's taken a hit due to disciplinary issues in the Euro). If we can get hold of a few more players (perhaps a new left-back and a well-established center-back) then I think we'll be all set for the new season.

I still see it as a pity that Arshavin was bought (not considering that he's overpowered on fifa = good for my team), he's a bad girled up fool who keeps idling as a striker, what a waste ...

Yeah. And it's a shame too because when he started out at the club he was brilliant. But now, with Podolski joining the club, I think we should just sell him and move on.

[Emre]

My current Fifa (ULTIMATE) Team looks as follows (4-3-2-1, I resembled Arsenal)

Szczesny

Sagna   Mertesacker   Vermaelen   Gibbs

Song   Arteta  Wilshere

Walcott   Arshavin

Chamakh*

*I don't have the money to buy RvP yet.

[Thomas_A]

Well, Walcott SHOULD be in starting XI, you just cant leave him out, and I belive Wenger will start with 2 strikers, so 4-4-2 at least when Podolski and RvP are there.

[Alessandro]

[Squeak]

^ I love that shit so much it's not healthy.

[Rick.]

City winning again, don't count on it Arsenal.



ok

[Sawyer]

In Gerrard's first match back after his ankle infection, he got a hatrick and played absolutely fantastic. Please do not try to pin Liverpool's dismal season on Gerrard when it's due to the fact that their squad is shit. Not to mention the fact that they had to rely on Andy Carroll for a bulk of their games whilst Suarez was banned. Gerrard is still brilliant, and unfortunately he's a gem within a less than spectacular team.

We did not succeed in the attacking side of the game because, as I said previously, we played it too cautiously. We played with a very standard and safe 4-4-2 formation and sat extremely deep. Whenever we did manage to steal the ball to launch a counterattack, we gave it away almost instantly because players like Young (who had an absolutely terrible tournament and was by far our worst player) couldn't keep hold of it or do anything useful with it. I'll give it to Gerrard and Parker though - they both did really well trying to maintain the center of the park. But, they were never going to hold it forever, and Italy towards the end of the game were so dominant. On another day, they could have easily scored 5 or 6 goals.

The blame can't be placed on a single player - especially not Steven Gerrard. England need to change their game and do it fast. No more of this bulk up the defence style and hope to get lucky with a quick counterattack. We need be more daring and start taking the game to the other team. If we play like we did in this tournament when it comes to the WC in 2014, we'll be annihilated.

Do you think that England has any attractive players to play an attacking style? It is only Rooney. Welbeck, Carroll, Milner, Young are disappointing, at least as proven in that Euro. Theo Walcott is not in the starting lineup for unknown reasons, and Aaron Lennon was not even picked. Two of the most faster people in the whole word do not play. It's a shame for England not to succeed. I mean how can that f**king be? English team won the CL, and english football is the best in the entire world. It is really a shame.

- I did not put the blame on Gerrard. All I said was that 'if' Gerrard was like he used to in the past - England could achieve more.

[Thomas_A]

City winning again, don't count on it Arsenal.



ok

man city is soo 2011/12 season, last season the money won, but this new season, Its all about teamwork and experience, cant say that about man city as most likely that team is about stars and money.

[Mariio]

i hope spain win today....

[Sawyer]

No need to doubt about that Mariio - Spain will win.

[Rick.]

man city is soo 2011/12 season, last season the money won, but this new season, Its all about teamwork and experience, cant say that about man city as most likely that team is about stars and money.

City's teamwork and experience is great. What you on.

[Alarba]

Say goodbye to Euro 2012 Spain 

[Dolfagr]

Forza Portugal, Cristiano will kick some asses in the Portugal - Spain match, or more likely Real Madrid training lol

[Alsatian]

Do you think that England has any attractive players to play an attacking style? It is only Rooney. Welbeck, Carroll, Milner, Young are disappointing, at least as proven in that Euro. Theo Walcott is not in the starting lineup for unknown reasons, and Aaron Lennon was not even picked. Two of the most faster people in the whole word do not play. It's a shame for England not to succeed. I mean how can that f**king be? English team won the CL, and english football is the best in the entire world. It is really a shame.

- I did not put the blame on Gerrard. All I said was that 'if' Gerrard was like he used to in the past - England could achieve more.

Speed - that's the main element of Walcott's and Lennon's game, and often what they solely rely on. Lennon has by no means done enough to earn a spot in lineup. The squad perhaps, but he's one of those players that can either win or lose you a game... much like Walcott. Don't get me wrong, Walcott is a great player and I'm extremely happy he's an Arsenal player, but he needs to add more to his game and improve in areas. If he's got an open space to run into, nine times out of ten he's the first there to net it in. If he's got defenders in front of him, he panicks and looks to get rid of the ball almost instantly. I wish he would take defenders on more often, because he used to do it. I remember the Barcelona game where he skipped through about five players and dinked it to van Persie. That's the Walcott we need!

And Chelsea may have won the CL, and the BPL is by far the greatest league in the world, but don't forget that both the club and league are full of foreign players - often key players: van Persie, Modric, Bale, Mata, Kompany, Papa Cisse and so on.

And yes, it is a shame as I feel we have the potential to do so much better. I was really disappointed that Hodgson left out Richards, as I feel he's been solid for City. We also were without the likes of Walker, who is such a confident, fast full-back; Lampard, who I feel provides so much fluidity to our gameplay and links up the passing masterfully; and Wilshere, who I think is going to be a vital player for us come 2014. He's been called the "English Pirlo"... hopefully he can live up to that.

And I know Gerrard is not as good as he used to be, but he's still pure class in my opinion. The problem I think is that he was expected to play as an attacking midfielder and also a holding midfielder alongside Parker.

City winning again, don't count on it Arsenal.

We'll see. Giroud, Podolski, van Persie... it's going to be a much more offensive Arsenal side. I can't wait for the new season to begin.

No need to doubt about that Mariio - Spain will win.

All depends. If Ronaldo steps up his game, then Portugal have a real chance. It's also down to what Spain side turns up; the one that has been less that impressive than we thought they'd be, or the one that we all know can be unstoppable. It will be a great game, that's for sure.

[Rick.]

We'll see. Giroud, Podolski, van Persie... it's going to be a much more offensive Arsenal side. I can't wait for the new season to begin.

Aguero, Tevez, Balotelli, Higuain(Maybe).