Draw now.
Schmeichel and this lady are a bit awkward.
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Draw now.
Schmeichel and this lady are a bit awkward.
Odds to come.
Thanks kirby.
United getting the easiest teams and Arsenal draw Olympiakos. Repeat?
Travel to Moscow can fuck up the adjacent matches for United though.
Bayern and Olympiakos again. Boring. Probably get that team that's basically in China next too.
Tough for City again. United have it pretty much as easy as it could have been as always.
Wolfsburg should be a little easier if City wrap up the De Bruyne deal.
Overall I'm really happy with the draw. It could've been a even easier but its just tough enough for us to not get complacent, which probably makes it the best kind of draw we could get. :yes:
Something different would've been nice.
i get you but fucking hell its hardly boring playing one of the best teams in the world.
Oh I'm sure the game will be entertaining it was just a dull draw. Would've liked PSG, Sevilla and Bruges.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNbodY_WUAAouvD.jpg
Apparently this is the team we used when we beat Wolfsburg the last time we played. Mental.
How are Oduwa and Ball doing for you Mike? I heard Oduwa's been acting the cunt taking the piss out of opposition defenders?
oh wait...
Yeah I was surprised they went to Rangers given how highly-rated they were - lesser-rated youngsters from Spurs have gone to the Championship and League One. I suppose it gets them used to playing in front of big crowds :dunno: I think the club trusts Warburton to look after our kids, we loaned them plenty when he was at Brentford
i already adore Warburton. i hope hes at rangers forever
you are kidding no one.
Bayern will be tough but rest of the group not. Should get 2nd and out in first knock out round as per usual.
What do you expect its the same fucking teams qualifying every fucking year.
The whole champions league itself is boring repetitive shit until the quarter-finals as due to the seeding system we get pretty much the same groups season after season then with the way the draw for the first knockout stage is done with the team that topped a group having to face a team that finished 2nd that's not part of their domestic league means we are more then likely to get repetitive knockout round games. At least once we get to the quarters it's a free for all draw and we might get fresh match ups.
Well, you guys are in Pot 2. The only way to get into Pot 1 is to win your domestic title or win the Champions League itself.
There's not much more you can do to change things.
Hmm maybe it was when he was at Watford then. Either that or just talking shit. We seem to loan players to managers rather than teams - when Redknapp was in charge we loaned a lot of players to whoever Sean O'Driscoll was managing, if Redknapp comes back into the game I'd imagine that relationship will be turned on it's head with his side loaning players from Liverpool, where O'Driscoll is now assistant.
Luke Shaw's broken his leg. :(
I reckon he can walk that off.
And the guy who broke it goes and scores later as well. Even though it wasn't an intentional type of thing still an insult to a horrific injury situation.
Horrible. Hopefully he makes it back before too long.
Loved seeing United lose, hated seeing Shaw's injury. I hope he's back in time for the Euros.
When are Euros?
June, can't see him being back by then.
Yet again showing why it's besides the point if you "get the ball" with a dangerous tackle. Just don't make tackles like that. It should have been a penalty and a red card with a suspension. The message needs to get through to everyone that coming off both feet for tackles is banned.
Exactly. I saw someone get sent off for an elbow in, I think, the Oxford match on TV a couple of weeks ago and you had Ian Holloway at half time banging on about how he hadn't got any intent to hurt the guy.
Regardless of intent, regardless of what happens to the ball, there are certain types of challenges which need to be harshly penalised so as to condition players not to do them so that the one time in 100 when someone snaps their leg in two or has their cheekbone caved in doesn't happen.
What did the lad who knocked Timlin's face off get?
Nothing. Although that was Timlin's fault as much as anything. Neither player had their eyes on anything other than the ball there.
Leg breaks can be anything up to a year or 18 months depending on severity, I think clean breaks (which it looked like Shaw's was?) tend to be easier to deal with. England are pretty well stocked for left backs with Baines, Gibbs, Cresswell and Rose all probably good enough for that level and Gomez and Galloway developing quickly as well, so I don't think Hodgson would want Shaw unless he was absolutely sure he was not only fit but back to his best.
Arsenal's opponents had last won a group stage match in 1999, sixteen matches ago for them.
We're never going to win it, might as well go out early to concentrate on getting back in next year.
So Wenger couldn't find a better striker on the market that Giroud over the summer.
Shaw could be back playing in February if he recovers with no complications. He may not be any good, however.
Stamkos had a similar injury just before the Olympics. He was back in about 5 months.
If Wenger thought that the Olympiakos game was a must-win, why did he not have Cech in the team?
The Bayern game should have an interesting score.
I thought Czech was injured obviously not then.
There's a decent chance now that Arsenal will be out before they've even got a point :eek:
Same old shit. Summed up nicely by that 3rd which was basically a carbon copy of the Monaco 3rd from last season. No point in even getting worked up by it any more, Wenger is only going to leave on his own terms regardless of how mediocre Arsenal have become.
Such an odd situation. The players are good enough but there is just zero inning mentality in that team.
Wenger has spending power now but has chosen not to use if. I don't think there's any excuses left for making zero progress in so many years.
It just isn't acceptable. The 3rd goal in particular was a farce. I do think we need a mangerial change at the end of the season as we will never challenge for the title or the CL under Wenger again.
Cue PG, Mik and Rosk saying you don't know how good you have it etc
Isn't it okay to lose Category C games using your logic?
Last night was a B game.
So what was Wenger's reason for leaving Cech out? I'm guessing he had faith in his sub keeper, as to be fair Ospina is fairly decent?
He hinted at an injury problem, but if that is the case why was he on the bench?
Laughable bullshit.
Maybe he's just making the most of the squad he has at his disposal?
Still you would surely play your best keeper in the Champs League though.
In case he was needed desperately for 20 minutes? You've got a pretty big game at the weekend...
I think Wenger is great. Sometimes you need the fans to get behind a club too - hence why clubs don't play in empty stadiums - and Arsenal fans have been on his case for five years. I'm really impressed that in spite all of that silence, the silence, the silence and occasional booing, he has led the club to a brand new stadium, loads of trophies and financial glory in his time there.
Well...two (relatively minor) trophies in the past decade, the stadium wasn't his achievement and the financial glory has probably come at the expense of success. I can see where Arsenal fans are coming from, that sort of stasis must be infuriating even if it is at a high level.
I would argue that this game was bigger and it has probably meant we wont get out of the group stage this season with Bayern Munich (x2) tocome.
Loads of trophies? Two fa cups in a decade is loads of trophies?
I would say Chelsea or United could say that but not us. People understood that he was hamstrung when we moved to the new stadium and credit to him for keeping us competitive in that time but 2-3 years ago the shackles came off financially but he has not addressed two key areas that could enable the club to challenge for top honours (top striker and holding midfielder).
£200m in the bank is great if you are a shareholder like Silent Stan but the vast majority of fans are not and are wondering what he is waiting for when we are the only top 5 side in Europe not to have bought an outfield player this summer.
Lets not even get into his laughable lack of tactics or organising a defence.
Remember when FA Cup wins used to be magical and the fans remembered the glorious moments of big winners like Ricky Villa's run, Brooking's only ever header, Cantona's half-volley... all those fans went crazy for those moments. Fans often love the beauty and majesty of the FA Cup. I wonder what the big, bold difference is here then. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
As a Derby fan I can only dream of being pissed off at losing a champions league game.
I don't know how many more players you need in an attacking lineup when you've got Sanchez (£35m, 1 in 2 record), Giroud (£10m and a 1 in 2 record), Walcott (13 in 14), Ozil (£42m), Cazorla (£16m), Welbeck (£16m), Wilshere/Ramsey/Oxlade-Chamberlain/Arteta.... hmmm.
Yup, everyone my age remembers journeyman striker Keith Houchen for his boss diving header in the 1987 final. Without that goal he would probably be unknown. Nowadays I couldnt even tell you who scored in last years final. In fact im not even 100% sure who won it. Arsenal was it?
Yeah the FA Cup is great and all that, and I enjoyed the wins immensely but the shame of it is we are so close to being at the next level but with Wenger in charge it simply wont happen.
He reminds me of Clough in his final Forest years - great at the start but it tailed off.
Only Benzema is a No.9 of those that you mention?
Also - which "world class No.9" would you feasibly have been able to get? It's not like they're all in a shop window waiting for someone to come along on a Saturday afternoon to buy them.
They were relegated WHILST he was there.
I disagree both Suarez and Aguero can play there, there arent many that level about but we can do better than what we have.
Arsenal could probably get better than Giroud and Walcott but they're being unrealistic always going on about fucking Benzema. There are plenty of highly-rated strikers around that they could sign to improve the side - for example Aubameyang has been highly-rated for years, seems to be hitting the form of his career at the moment and would be within their target range.
I don't understand what you mean about Suarez and Aguero not being able to play there. They've both had 30+ goal seasons as out-and-out strikers.
Instead of potty this year lets just have a vote on which clubs fans are the biggest cunts, Liverpool or Arsenal.
Make it a twitter poll.
City game is cracking. Could easily be about 3-3. Hart having a blinder, so far. Amazing how atrocious city are at the back without Kompany.
Also, Sterling really, really needs to improve his final ball.
How many more atrocious performances does Wayne Rooney have to put in before it goes from being bad form to being a bad player? Can't be far off.
The BT Goals Show is class, can't believe it's not been done before.
I hate BT
Hector Bellerin is a phenomenal player. Best right back in the world right now? Had a good game against Costa who is also phenomenal and did a great job on the wing attacking.
Great win. Only negative thing I have to say is it makes us favourites for third now.
Big win for Arsenal tonight. Giroud seems to have a point to prove every time he comes off the bench these days.
Mourinho is so obsessed with Wenger these days. "The referee was weak and naive" was the first line from his interview. Just like the Falcao one, didn't look like a pen at all.
Chill out. He's probably fourth best in the Premier League behind Coleman, Darmian and Clyne. Even that is assuming Ivanovic and Zabaleta are finished. Azpilicueta is a better right back too even though he never plays there any more. Bellerin could be one of the best in the world one day but right now he is mlies off.
He's better than Coleman
I like him but I wouldn't put Darmian up there just yet? He was subbed at half time against Southampton because Tadic was giving him the run around and got absolutely torn apart by Sanchez and subbed again a few weeks ago. Still finding his feet.
Right now I said. Clyne and Darmian have been solid but unspectacular at best. Ivanovic is probably the worst in the world right now and Coleman and Zabaleta have been injured for most of the season.
Bellerin the best RB in the world? Laughable claim. He's not even the best in the Premier League.
I'd say Piszczek was the best at the moment as I've been impressed whenever I've seen him which admittedly isn't that much. Cases could be made for Danilo , Carvajal , JuanFran , Lichsteiner.
Cases could be made sure but I'm asking if there's anyone better right now? Bellerin is in great form. On a related note Carvajal has been bang average whenever I've seen him.
He's played 40 games for Arsenal bit early to be calling him in the best in the world I mean Harry Kane was in great form for 40 games last season shall we say he was the best striker in the world last season. Jamie Vardy is currently in great form is he as good as Lewandowski?
It's a laughable claim he's a good player but to say there's nobody better after a good game against Douglas Costa is stupid.
Well how long-term are you talking? Based on last night alone, yes he's probably the best right back in the world because Costa is one of the most in-form players in Europe and he kept him relatively quiet, aside from the first twenty minutes or so when he had his arsehole ripped out. Any longer-term than that and no, he isn't the best right back around. Obviously.
I thought Bellerin got spun a couple of times last night when he really shouldn't have done and he was caught out a couple of times at Watford on Saturday by both Ake and Abdi. He did quite well in both games but he's by no means the best right back in the world even based on form right now.
Being best right back isn't always a great title anyway. No one plays right back unless they're not good enough to play in any other position.
I would personally say from what I've seen that Bellerin probably isn't even playing as well as he did at points last season. I might be wrong about that as I've not seen every Arsenal game, and he's certainly still playing well, but I've noticed him being skinned more often than last year when he looked a real revelation.
Fuck ooooofffff he's the best ever in the world ok.
But seriously I've not seen anyone playing as well as him in the last couple of months. There's some mad stat about him creating more clear chances than anyone else in Europe.
That's Payet.
Nah right back is definitely the loser position. Even left back is better.
Great performance and result last night. Shame about Ramsey though.
On Bellerin, he has been consistently excellent since he came through last season (you dont keep out France first choice RB unless you are a bit special), but needs to do for a full season before he can be considered world class. Same applies with Coquelin.
I know what Beefy's talking about, they'd all probably rather play right or centre mid. This certainly a thing at Sunday league level anyway.
I don't think it has been true at professional level for a long time. The likes of Cafu, Lahm and Dani Alves have been able to run games from right-back. Full-backs can be the most important players in some systems because it's difficult to stop their runs from deep if they are timed well. David Beckham wouldn't been as good a player without Gary Neville there to make space for his crosses.
Our full backs have been our most important players for years. Depends on how your team sets up.
Ronaldo has scored two of his last 89 free kicks :lol: