PL 2016-2017 Thread

[Richard_H]

If Arsenal won that game 2 or 3-0 then it would have taken the edge of the need to remove him. The sending off was ridiculous. We played very well first half, which shows how frustrating Arsenal are in general as we can't play like that in the games that matter. The spanking lends itself to the 'we need a change' momentum.

 

[weasel]

I missed most of the game, I turned it on just in time to see the 5th goal, but surely once the Pen was scored you (as an Arsenal player/manager) must realise the game is up. You need four goals without reply in 35 minutes against one of the best sides in Europe. It's not going to happen. Set up shop, if only for 10 mins to take the momentum out of them, and settle for salving some pride. DON'T continue to attack and play a high line at the back.
It's school boy stuff. But all so typical of Arsenal under Wenger.

That MUST b him done now. If he is still in charge next season I'll be amazed.


AS for the CL spots, what happens if Utd win the Europa League and finish in the top four? Does the Europa League CL spot disappear, or do Utd take it and the 5th placed English side get a CL spot?
I'd put decent money on Utd winning it, there aren't many decent sides left in it, and sneaking in that way.

 

[theforceuk]

AS for the CL spots, what happens if Utd win the Europa League and finish in the top four? Does the Europa League CL spot disappear, or do Utd take it and the 5th placed English side get a CL spot?
I'd put decent money on Utd winning it, there aren't many decent sides left in it, and sneaking in that way.

If Man Utd finish outside top 4 and win the Europa league then 5 English teams will be in the Champions League next season, the winners of the Europa league go straight into the group stages of champions league.

 

[edd_jedi]

Absolute madness in the Barca/PSG game last night. I see Suarez is still the most dishonest player in the game, I'm amazed the ref gave him a yellow for diving in the box and then awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when he did exactly the same thing. Suarez needs a lifetime ban from the game, he is just a habitual cheat.

Barca were the better side in the game for sure but are so lucky to progress.

 

[Richard_H]

Reading Sky Sports this morning and Charlie Nicholas has it spot on. Arsenal need rid of these players:

"Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny - I don't think he's been top drawer, he's getting on - Olivier Giroud, David Ospina, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin, Carl Jenkinson.


I would also add Sanchez. Madness you say! Now is the time to get big money for him. If he's as disruptive as people are saying then it can't help.

 

[weasel]

AS for the CL spots, what happens if Utd win the Europa League and finish in the top four? Does the Europa League CL spot disappear, or do Utd take it and the 5th placed English side get a CL spot?
I'd put decent money on Utd winning it, there aren't many decent sides left in it, and sneaking in that way.

If Man Utd finish outside top 4 and win the Europa league then 5 English teams will be in the Champions League next season, the winners of the Europa league go straight into the group stages of champions league.

Aye, sorry I meant what happens if Utd win Europa League AND finish in top 4. Does the Europa league spot default to 5th placed PL side, or do you only get into the CL via the Europa league if you haven't already qualified?

Absolute madness in the Barca/PSG game last night. I see Suarez is still the most dishonest player in the game, I'm amazed the ref gave him a yellow for diving in the box and then awarded a penalty in the 90th minute when he did exactly the same thing. Suarez needs a lifetime ban from the game, he is just a habitual cheat.<br abp="653"><br abp="654">Barca were the better side in the game for sure but are so lucky to progress.

Amazing game. We'll never see a comeback like that again in our life times.
I agree the Suarez pen was soft, though in real time I thought it was a pen.
PSG got their tactics all wrong, or choked massively. No one should lose from the position they were in, but pre match and with 10 mins to go.

Reading Sky Sports this morning and Charlie Nicholas has it spot on. Arsenal need rid of these players:<br abp="620"><br abp="621">"Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny - I don't think he's been top drawer, he's getting on - Olivier Giroud, David Ospina, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin, Carl Jenkinson.<br abp="622"><br abp="623"><br abp="624">I would also add Sanchez. Madness you say! Now is the time to get big money for him. If he's as disruptive as people are saying then it can't help.

I'd argue about Koscielny. I think he's a solid player. Not "world class" but definitely good enough for latter stages of CL. Sanchez is gone. He had enough a few months ago, the events of the last week will only have confirmed to him that he won't win anything, meaningful, at Arsenal. Fair play, he wants trophies not money.
I'd also add Petr Cech, Nacho monreal, Arron Ramsey, and Grant xhana (or however you spell it) to your list. Cech was a great keeper but his best days are behind him and if Arsenal really want to compete it needs replaced. Monreal is solid PL, no more. Ramsey has done very little bar that 1 fantastic 6 months spell, before he got injured for the 237th time. Your man with the surname that starts with X has NEVER looked at 35 million pound player. Podgba has looked more likely to justify his price tag and that's saying something.
There are probably more, but realistically whoever comes in will probably only be able to bring in and flog half a dozen tops. It may be a case of sell whoever you can find a buyer for rather than those you are most keen to get shot of.

 

[spoons]

I missed most of the game, I turned it on just in time to see the 5th goal, but surely once the Pen was scored you (as an Arsenal player/manager) must realise the game is up. You need four goals without reply in 35 minutes against one of the best sides in Europe. It's not going to happen. Set up shop, if only for 10 mins to take the momentum out of them, and settle for salving some pride. DON'T continue to attack and play a high line at the back.
It's school boy stuff. But all so typical of Arsenal under Wenger.

That MUST b him done now. If he is still in charge next season I'll be amazed.

Totally agreed Weasel but I wont be amazed if he's there next seaosn. Best thing for him would be to win the FA cup and bow out with some good will. As it is, his legacy and reputation is getting trashed and thats really sad to see. Fergusson retired the right way, but he was the better maanger.

 

[theforceuk]

If Man Utd finish in top 4 and win the Europa League 5th place is still a Europa league spot if that's what you mean. Sorry don't think I understood the question first time.

That's the league done IMO now as well, don't think anyone will catch Chelsea now.

 

[weasel]

If Man Utd finish in top 4 and win the Europa League 5th place is still a Europa league spot if that's what you mean. Sorry don't think I understood the question first time.

Bingo. I wasn't sure if Utd (winning the Europa League) got the PL an extra spot or just offered them a route in should they not have qualified via their domestic league.


I saw a replay of the Suarez penalty last night, dive. Never a penalty.

 

[theforceuk]

Yeah I saw that Suarez dive completely did the ref with that one, although PSG should never have let Barcelona get close to going through. Classic example of a load of overpaid superstars who thought the job was done, if they had kept it at 0-0 for the first 20 minutes they go through IMO. :? :lol:

 

[edd_jedi]

I don't understand how a player can go unpunished for a dive that not only won the game but knocked a team out of the world's most important club competition. If the football bodies can give players retrospective bans/fines etc for violence, why not for diving? It's one of the ugliest things about the game.

 

[weasel]

Cos then people would no referees make mistakes and that couldn't be allowed to happen. :roll:

Video referrals or something like it will come in soon. It may slow the game down a little, but better to have a ref pause the game for 10 seconds to check if it was a penalty, than have someone gaining an unfair advantage. It'll also stamp out diving, if the video ref can say "nah, no penalty, he dived, book him."
Pretty much every other major sport has an element of video referrals or technological assistance for the officials (egg-chasing, cricket, hockey, tennis) I just don't get football's refusal to embrace it. Maybe that is slowly changing with the goal line technology coming in.

 

[theforceuk]

I think in some cases the video referrals will slow the game down but in some cases will speed up the game. How many times do you see players crowd around the ref and the ref doesn't even no what's going on. Classic example the Man Utd, Bournemouth game. The only problem I can see is if the video replays get over used, which is what has happened in Rugby Union.

 

[weasel]

I agree, if it's at the referee's request only then it should be fine. You would hope they have the sense enough to only use it for offsides/fouls etc that lead to goals or potential cards, and not for stupid things like throw ins.

Big blow for Spuds if Kane is out for a few weeks. I'd say that could cost them a CL spot, cos Jansen is dung and Son is ok, but not in Harry Kane's league.


Ohh and Herera's red card has ALREADY given Jose his excuse if Utd lose. I turned it on just in time to see him go, did seem a tad soft but if he had just been booked and it's a niggly game he needs to be smarter. Just waiting fir the usual Jose BS if Utd lose, blaming the ref, or anyone other than himself and his team. Though, as it's HT ATM, I probably just jinxed it and they'll win 5-0

 

[theforceuk]

Interesting semi final draw, Arsenal and Spurs have got to improve to progress.

Tonight's game was tight and JM takes his chances in games like this with the 'hard press' style. It was never two yellow cards, if it was most games would finish with 11 or 12 players on the pitch which is nonsense. But I can't see a much different outcome without that sending off. Chelsea are some team at the moment that's for sure.

 

[edd_jedi]

Yep no gimme FA Cup title for Arsenal this year, it's difficult to call. I didn't really fancy Spurs against any of them to be honest but it's good that a Spurs Arsenal final is on the cards.

 

[weasel]

Tonight's game was tight and JM takes his chances in games like this with the 'hard press' style. It was never two yellow cards, if it was most games would finish with 11 or 12 players on the pitch which is nonsense. But I can't see a much different outcome without that sending off. Chelsea are some team at the moment that's for sure.

I didn't see the first yellow card so can't say if it was deserved or not, but the second was soft. Saying that the referee has literally just warned everyone that the next player to foul Hazard is getting booked. Give Herrera had been booked a few minutes before, what the **** does he expect when he cynically fouls hazard right in front of the Chelsea bench!? Come on, FFS use your brain. You're not a 17 year old wet behind the years kid, you're an experienced CM. I have no sympathy for him at all. Stupidity is no excuse/defence. Harsh second yellow, and very harsh tackle to be sent off for, BUT the stupidity he showed in doing it means he deserves to go.

Yep no gimme FA Cup title for Arsenal this year, it's difficult to call. I didn't really fancy Spurs against any of them to be honest but it's good that a Spurs Arsenal final is on the cards.

Funny, I had it down as a Chelsea City final! :lol:

 

[edd_jedi]

Funny, I had it down as a Chelsea City final! :lol:

Oh agreed that is more likely, by on the cards I meant technically possible

 

[weasel]

I would actually rather see that than City v's Chelsea, but Arsenal are Arsenal and will lose. Spurs without Kane are a different team.

 

[Richard_H]

I have a feeling if Arsenal beat City it will be 'lucky' because City are concentrating on CL and PL.

If they play Chelski in final and win, it will be 'lucky' because Chelski had PL celebration hangovers.

If they play Spuds in final and win, it will be lucky because of their injuries.

You can only play who is in front of you.