...fuh? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Heath
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...fuh? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Heath
Having Rooney put Everton 'on the map', as it were. IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeathI'm an Evertonian and was just commenting that selling Rooney has allowed us to bring in fantastic players like James Beattie. Though seriously, I am much happier with Everton now than I was when we had Rooney so y'know.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
'Mon the Chelsea blues :D
Everton were on the map 20 years ago as one of the best teams in Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by The King of the Swing
What a great day. John Terry sent off as Chelsea lose, and Wenger goes crazy and attacks Pardew. I love it.
Arsenal v Liverpool next week. If it were at fortress Anfield, I'd be predicting the gunners to get a right spanking, but looking at our away form this season, looks like me and The Captain could be in for some stick from all the Arsenal fans, ie 90% of EoFF, give or take a few. ;) Mind you, it's been a pretty nasty opening fixture list, with Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and local rivals, Everton, away, so things should pick up. I think the Gunners' poor streak can't last forever, and we're building up momentum, so it could be quite the clash. If we win, I'd say we can still consider ourselves dark horses for the title if rotation pays off after Christmas and we make an enormous push, like Benitez's Valencia did, if not, well, I think 3rd is a good aim.
The way to beat Arsenal is rather easy, 4-5-1, long ball, and kick lumps out of them. I think the 5 should be Riise, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko and Pennant. Arsenal are quite narrow, and they lack real wide men (Ljungberg, Hleb and Rosicky's best positions would have to be in the hole) other than Van Persie, who they like to play up front anyway, and I'd like to see their silky passing skills get past the central roadblock of Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko. Pennant will hopefully be fired up as he feels he has something to prove, and Riise is more defensive than Garcia. Kuyt would be the lone front man, and at corners and set pieces, we should pack the box with the likes of Kuyt, Hyypia and Carragher, and I imagine we could nick a goal or two. It's ugly football, yes, but Arsenal really do have no idea how to deal with it.
Knowing Rafa, he'll probably play something bizarre like a 3-5-2 featuring the likes of Aurelio, Zenden and Bellamy and we'll be thumped. :laugh:
No Crouch, Paul? I think Kuyt and Crouch could be paired up front like the last few matches, but a 5 strong midfield is a good defense against Arsenal's passing game. Hopefully, the Gunners have another game where it's all pretty and flashy, but no goals come of it...
Take care all.
Crouch often drops deep to pick up the ball, so he's not suited to the lone striker role. Although I would like to see him and/or Robbie come off the bench later on in a possible 4-4-2 switch. If the ball ever gets knocked down or deflected in the area, which I imagine it would be in this situation, Fowler would be lethal. I hope he can repeat this :D I still have my tiny child's version of that shirt somewhere.
One would imagine that if you want to win playing long ball, Crouch would be the first man you'd put down in your teamsheet!
Oh, good point. Silly me forgetting that football started with the Premiership and Sky Sports in 1992.Quote:
Originally Posted by The King of the SwingHaving Rooney put Everton 'on the map', as it were. IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeathI'm an Evertonian and was just commenting that selling Rooney has allowed us to bring in fantastic players like James Beattie. Though seriously, I am much happier with Everton now than I was when we had Rooney so y'know.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
'Mon the Chelsea blues :D
Also, my dislike for Fulham continues!
Mohammed Sissoko would be, actually. Speaking of, GOOD GOD WHY DID HE HAVE TO GET INJURED? :weep: I was really looking forward to watching him making Fabregas his bitch. Now we'll probably have Carra as a holding midfielder. Or Bolo Zenden. Or Stephen Warnock. Or Jerzy Dudek.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Well now we know who threw the coin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Heath
This was not a great instance, it totally shagged my Fantasy Football team. :mad2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Are you kidding? If I'd thrown the coin I'd have gone down to get it back. I haven't got money to waste throwing at Fulham players.Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticWell now we know who threw the coin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Heath
...
By which, I wholeheartedly echo David Moyes' comment that we're not entirely sure it was an Evertonian who threw the coin nor are we sure who it was aimed it.
Besides, I'd rather throw one at Graham Poll/James McFadden
Yeah. No Sissoko + 4-4-2 = always going to end badly. Rafa should have listened to me! Before any of you hunt me down taunting me, 'grats Cz, Resha and mobiletype, although none of you have posted in this thread for almost three weeks, round about the time Arsenal hit a poor patch of form, and no doubt you'll all start posting again now. Hmm, must just be a coincidence ;) Oh, I jest. My bitterness is exclusively reserved for anyone in a Henry shirt who crawls out of the woodwork tomorrow, despite never before expressing an interest in the beautiful game.
Well then, that's our hardest five games out of the way (Chelsea away, Man United away, Everton away, Arsenal away and Bolton away) third, above Arsenal, is what we're going to have to do. I suppose some people might look at me incredulously after this result but they're just going to earn a roll of the eyes. Arsenal have only played one of their hardest fixtures (Man Utd away, which they won) and from now on, is there any team that will dare come to the emirates without a 4-5-1? Zenden and Alonso are classy players. Look what happened. Other than Arsenal, obviously, I honestly can't think of a team with a classier central pairing than that in the Premiership, with the possible exception of Man Utd's Scholes-Carrick, and they lost too. (Chelsea's central midfield is all about power - Makelele, Essien, Ballack, etc. and most other Premiership teams are the same. It's a physical league) Any team who comes to the Emirates now is going to do what Everton did, unless their manager is a moron. There's simply no other option, and as the likes of Villa, 'boro and Everton have shown, Arsene doesn't know how to handle teams that play in this way. Chelsea and Man Utd are as good as out of sight. Chasing Arsenal is the next best thing, and I still think we'll finish ahead of them for the two reasons I gave, although the next few Sissoko-less months will be hard. Our home form is almost perfect, with only Chelsea's being better (and on goal difference), we went through to the next round of the CL with ease, and the benefits of rotation will kick in after Christmas, so I think only a fool would write Liverpool off from finishing 3rd at least.
that was the first time Terry got sent off and for what? nobody knows so everyone sing the Graham Poll song because we know he is one! haha
You were right Paul, we needed more bodies in the middle, though for a while, I thought, we kept a tight lid on Arsenal's passing. It just ended up falling apart so suddenly, I was shocked. In the end, they just outplayed Liverpool. I'll have to live with that. Still, the season goes on!
I think a top 4 finish is definitely still possible, but sadly have to agree that unless something truly amazing happens, Chelsea and Man Utd are too far ahead.
Take care all.
It's been a while...I don't think it was a case of needing more bodies in the middle as much as it was a case of needing Gerrard in the middle, not that useless whelp, Zenden. He's a left winger for crying out loud. He may have cut the mustard at 'Boro in central midfield, but not at Liverpool, despite what people might think about his performance against Birmingham. Let's not forget, they're a Championship side.
I've been chanting the same mantra as Psychotic, about the 5 away games we have lost, but I think the manner in which we lost them all is a major cause for concern. We have scored one goal on the road against one of the weakest sides in the league, and regardless of difficulty of the trips to the Emirates, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, we should not be losing so comprehensively on each occasion.
Liverpool are carrying a lot of dead weight. Gonzalez in particular showed himself to lack intelligence on Sunday. All pace and no brains, which was highlighted by his numerous and fruitless attempts to try and beat Eboue for pace.
I'd echo the sentiments about Sissoko's injury being a big loss because it makes you realise how lightweight we are in the centre when Gerrard is constantly deployed on the right. A position he is clearly unhappy with (the problems in his personal life don't help this situation...).
I sincerely hope January's transfer window sees us significantly strengthen certain areas of our squad. I still don't see a striker who will score us 20 goals. I worry about what happens if Finnan gets injured.
The only thing I'm going to disagree with Psychotic on, is the league prediction. I honestly don't think, given the standard of our away performances, we will challenge for the top four. Something has to improve, and it has to improve fast.