THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
Barclays Premier League : Table
21 Sep 17:08
| Home | Away TeamPWDLFAWDLFAGDPTS1Arsenal520040201729122Chelsea512062200417113Liverpool521042110103114Aston Villa511042201653105Man City520110310154896West Ham53009300226297Hull51114811032-388Sunderland51022411032-179Everton50022621075-2710Blackburn51112510146-5711Fulham420031002130612Middlesbrough52004200326-2613Portsmouth510122102310-7614Wigan501112111623515Man Utd401011111330516Bolton51114400213-2417West Brom51025601101-2418Stoke51015501225-3419Newcastle51012201227-5420Tottenham50122401123-32
21 Sep 17:08
wylde
New member
well,now we are the top of the table aren`t we....so my suggestion is for Man U to win some games 1st then start to talk
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Carling Cup
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 19:45
Wenger - Vela is so cool it makes me smile
A broad grin breaks out across Arsène Wenger’s face whenever he is asked about Carlos Vela.
The 19-year-old Mexican striker will get his first competitive start for Arsenal in the Carling Cup Third Round tie with Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium this evening. With two seasons in the Spanish League and seven international caps (four goals) under his belt, Vela is hardly a raw rookie.
In fact, although Arsenal have ample attacking options, the Cancun-born prodigy may be pushing for a first-team place before the end of the season. No wonder Wenger is so happy.
“I feel that this guy can not only play but he can score as well,” said the Frenchman. “And you know that we love strikers who can do both.
“He can give a final ball and he can finish very well. He’s so calm in front of goal and that always gives you a smile. He’s never in any stress.
“Carlos can play central and wide as well. He’s an Eduardo basically. He is left-footed with intelligent moves and a good finisher.
“I worked very hard to get him and when he [comes] on he always does very well. He will have certainly a full game tonight.”
Carling Cup
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 19:45
Wenger - Vela is so cool it makes me smile
A broad grin breaks out across Arsène Wenger’s face whenever he is asked about Carlos Vela.
The 19-year-old Mexican striker will get his first competitive start for Arsenal in the Carling Cup Third Round tie with Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium this evening. With two seasons in the Spanish League and seven international caps (four goals) under his belt, Vela is hardly a raw rookie.
In fact, although Arsenal have ample attacking options, the Cancun-born prodigy may be pushing for a first-team place before the end of the season. No wonder Wenger is so happy.
“I feel that this guy can not only play but he can score as well,” said the Frenchman. “And you know that we love strikers who can do both.
“He can give a final ball and he can finish very well. He’s so calm in front of goal and that always gives you a smile. He’s never in any stress.
“Carlos can play central and wide as well. He’s an Eduardo basically. He is left-footed with intelligent moves and a good finisher.
“I worked very hard to get him and when he [comes] on he always does very well. He will have certainly a full game tonight.”
fgl
Well-known member
ARSENAL 6
SHEFFIELD UTD 0
Those who thought Arsenal's squad lacked depth might want to think again.
Arsène Wenger's assortment of fringe players and teenage prospects swept aside Sheffield United to kick off their latest Carling Cup adventure in style on Tuesday night. Nicklas Bendtner broke the deadlock on the half-hour with a curling shot and added a second three minutes before the break. Carlos Vela produced two brilliant finishes either side of the interval to put the tie beyond the Blades' reach and the Mexican completed a stunning hat-trick after Jack Wilshere had got in on the act.
The scoreline was emphatic and it by no means flattered Arsenal. Those who make it into Wenger's Carling Cup side are sometimes mistaken for understudies or deputies but, make no mistake, some have the potential to be leading lights at Emirates Stadium for a long time to come.
Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Eduardo, Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott have all cut their teeth in the Carling Cup. The competition could easily be a launchpad for Vela, Wilshere and company as well. On this evidence, few would bet against Arsenal making it five Semi-Final appearances in six years.
Wenger's trademark approach to the Carling Cup is to blood youngsters and the Frenchman set a new benchmark tonight. He named 13 teenagers in his 18-man squad and seven of those made it into his starting line-up.
Wilshere, at 16, was the youngest on show, alongside fellow teens Aaron Ramsey, Vela, Kieran Gibbs, Gavin Hoyte, Fran Merida and Mark Randall. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was the 'old man' of the side at 23 while Johan Djourou, Alex Song and Bendtner offered a semblance of first-team experience. Nonetheless, with an average age of 19, this was still the youngest ever side to represent Arsenal.
Last season Wenger's fledglings gave United a footballing lesson at Bramall Lane and the Blades started this game as if on a revenge mission. They didn't exactly impose themselves on the tie but, at first, the visitors made life uncomfortable for their young hosts. With Gary Speed orchestrating a five-man midfield, the Blades denied Arsenal space to express themselves in the early stages. As a result the home side enjoyed a territorial advantage, and the likes of Ramsey, Merida, Wilshere and Vela enjoyed some neat touches, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Gibbs had the first opportunity to force the Blades on the back foot but his low cross after seven minutes had too much pace and too little direction for Bendtner to convert. Five minutes later Paddy Kenny misjudged a left-wing corner and tipped the ball onto Djourou's head. The ball arrived too fast for the Swiss to direct his effort on goal.
Djourou went much closer to his first Arsenal goal after 25 minutes after kick-starting a forward move and staying up for its denouement. The ball reached the 21-year-old just inside the box he steadied himself before clipping a shot towards the far corner. Kenny dived full length to tip the ball past the post.
The visitors struggled to make inroads of their own but when they did push on Stephen Quinn and Danny Webber were at the heart of their better moments. Webber was a livewire early on and wriggled past three challenges before scuffing his shot when well-placed.
At the other end Vela looked as likely as anyone to break deadlock and one nutmeg from the Mexican had the crowd raving. In the event, Vela was the provider as Bendtner opened the scoring. Merida got Arsenal moving through the centre and Vela turned smartly away from his marker before feeding his Danish strike partner. Bendtner advanced and stroked a low effort past Matthew Kilgallon and beyond the reach of Kenny from just outside the box. It was a confidently-taken goal from a man in form.
It was the excuse Arsenal's youngsters needed to relax and express themselves. Within minutes Wilshere had a shout for a penalty after linking up brilliantly with Ramsey and Bendtner. Chris Morgan was given the benefit of the doubt after his rash sliding tackle appeared to miss both ball and man.
But Arsenal didn't have to wait long to effectively put the tie out of sight. Ramsey was the architect of their second goal, forcing the Blades defence back with a marauding run through the left channel. The young Welshman was eventually ushered away from goal but wrongfooted everybody with an outrageous backheel. Even Bendtner looked surprised but, with Kilgallon keeping him onside, the Dane calmly dispatched his second past Kenny.
After holding their own for half-an-hour, United were shellshocked. Vela took advantage, timing his run to perfection to latch onto Bendtner's clipped pass down the right before accelerating towards goal and curling the ball past Kenny's outstretched hand. It was a classy finish from a class act - and there was more to come.
From wondering whether this Arsenal side was just a tad too inexperienced, the home fans were left to speculate on how many they would score. The supporters would have two more goals to cheer before the hour mark. Gibbs had already tested Kenny early in the second half before the left-back lofted a pass down the left flank. Vela controlled it on the turn with his shoulder, taking Morgan completely out of the game, and raced in on goal before lifting an audacious effort over the Blades keeper.
United were in disarray and they conceded a fifth eight minutes later. A short corner found Wilshere unmarked just outside the right-hand corner of the box and he fizzed a low shot past Kenny at his near post. If Fabregas hadn't been such a prodigious young talent, Wilshere would now be Arsenal's youngest goalscorer.
There was no let-up for Kevin Blackwell's beleaguered side. Gibbs headed Merida's corner just over the crossbar and Bendtner should have completed his hat-trick after 65 minutes, rolling the ball past Kenny but wide of the post after Merida's pass had dissected the Blades defence.
Wenger made a triple change with 20 minutes left to drag the average age of his team down even further and give debuts to Jay Simpson and Francis Coquelin. The third substitute, Henri Lansbury, forced a smart save from Kenny after Coquelin had jinked past two defenders on the edge of the box.
The sixth would eventually arrive though. Ramsey picked out Vela in the left channel and the Mexican produced another stunning finish to complete his hat-trick. No wonder Wenger looked as proud as punch on the touchline. For him, the youngsters and the rest of us, the Fourth Round can't come quick enough
SHEFFIELD UTD 0
Those who thought Arsenal's squad lacked depth might want to think again.
Arsène Wenger's assortment of fringe players and teenage prospects swept aside Sheffield United to kick off their latest Carling Cup adventure in style on Tuesday night. Nicklas Bendtner broke the deadlock on the half-hour with a curling shot and added a second three minutes before the break. Carlos Vela produced two brilliant finishes either side of the interval to put the tie beyond the Blades' reach and the Mexican completed a stunning hat-trick after Jack Wilshere had got in on the act.
The scoreline was emphatic and it by no means flattered Arsenal. Those who make it into Wenger's Carling Cup side are sometimes mistaken for understudies or deputies but, make no mistake, some have the potential to be leading lights at Emirates Stadium for a long time to come.
Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Eduardo, Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott have all cut their teeth in the Carling Cup. The competition could easily be a launchpad for Vela, Wilshere and company as well. On this evidence, few would bet against Arsenal making it five Semi-Final appearances in six years.
Wenger's trademark approach to the Carling Cup is to blood youngsters and the Frenchman set a new benchmark tonight. He named 13 teenagers in his 18-man squad and seven of those made it into his starting line-up.
Wilshere, at 16, was the youngest on show, alongside fellow teens Aaron Ramsey, Vela, Kieran Gibbs, Gavin Hoyte, Fran Merida and Mark Randall. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was the 'old man' of the side at 23 while Johan Djourou, Alex Song and Bendtner offered a semblance of first-team experience. Nonetheless, with an average age of 19, this was still the youngest ever side to represent Arsenal.
Last season Wenger's fledglings gave United a footballing lesson at Bramall Lane and the Blades started this game as if on a revenge mission. They didn't exactly impose themselves on the tie but, at first, the visitors made life uncomfortable for their young hosts. With Gary Speed orchestrating a five-man midfield, the Blades denied Arsenal space to express themselves in the early stages. As a result the home side enjoyed a territorial advantage, and the likes of Ramsey, Merida, Wilshere and Vela enjoyed some neat touches, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Gibbs had the first opportunity to force the Blades on the back foot but his low cross after seven minutes had too much pace and too little direction for Bendtner to convert. Five minutes later Paddy Kenny misjudged a left-wing corner and tipped the ball onto Djourou's head. The ball arrived too fast for the Swiss to direct his effort on goal.
Djourou went much closer to his first Arsenal goal after 25 minutes after kick-starting a forward move and staying up for its denouement. The ball reached the 21-year-old just inside the box he steadied himself before clipping a shot towards the far corner. Kenny dived full length to tip the ball past the post.
The visitors struggled to make inroads of their own but when they did push on Stephen Quinn and Danny Webber were at the heart of their better moments. Webber was a livewire early on and wriggled past three challenges before scuffing his shot when well-placed.
At the other end Vela looked as likely as anyone to break deadlock and one nutmeg from the Mexican had the crowd raving. In the event, Vela was the provider as Bendtner opened the scoring. Merida got Arsenal moving through the centre and Vela turned smartly away from his marker before feeding his Danish strike partner. Bendtner advanced and stroked a low effort past Matthew Kilgallon and beyond the reach of Kenny from just outside the box. It was a confidently-taken goal from a man in form.
It was the excuse Arsenal's youngsters needed to relax and express themselves. Within minutes Wilshere had a shout for a penalty after linking up brilliantly with Ramsey and Bendtner. Chris Morgan was given the benefit of the doubt after his rash sliding tackle appeared to miss both ball and man.
But Arsenal didn't have to wait long to effectively put the tie out of sight. Ramsey was the architect of their second goal, forcing the Blades defence back with a marauding run through the left channel. The young Welshman was eventually ushered away from goal but wrongfooted everybody with an outrageous backheel. Even Bendtner looked surprised but, with Kilgallon keeping him onside, the Dane calmly dispatched his second past Kenny.
After holding their own for half-an-hour, United were shellshocked. Vela took advantage, timing his run to perfection to latch onto Bendtner's clipped pass down the right before accelerating towards goal and curling the ball past Kenny's outstretched hand. It was a classy finish from a class act - and there was more to come.
From wondering whether this Arsenal side was just a tad too inexperienced, the home fans were left to speculate on how many they would score. The supporters would have two more goals to cheer before the hour mark. Gibbs had already tested Kenny early in the second half before the left-back lofted a pass down the left flank. Vela controlled it on the turn with his shoulder, taking Morgan completely out of the game, and raced in on goal before lifting an audacious effort over the Blades keeper.
United were in disarray and they conceded a fifth eight minutes later. A short corner found Wilshere unmarked just outside the right-hand corner of the box and he fizzed a low shot past Kenny at his near post. If Fabregas hadn't been such a prodigious young talent, Wilshere would now be Arsenal's youngest goalscorer.
There was no let-up for Kevin Blackwell's beleaguered side. Gibbs headed Merida's corner just over the crossbar and Bendtner should have completed his hat-trick after 65 minutes, rolling the ball past Kenny but wide of the post after Merida's pass had dissected the Blades defence.
Wenger made a triple change with 20 minutes left to drag the average age of his team down even further and give debuts to Jay Simpson and Francis Coquelin. The third substitute, Henri Lansbury, forced a smart save from Kenny after Coquelin had jinked past two defenders on the edge of the box.
The sixth would eventually arrive though. Ramsey picked out Vela in the left channel and the Mexican produced another stunning finish to complete his hat-trick. No wonder Wenger looked as proud as punch on the touchline. For him, the youngsters and the rest of us, the Fourth Round can't come quick enough
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal 6-0 Sheff Utd
Carling Cup
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 19:45
'We looked like the complete team tonight'
On the performance...
"I believe that the team played football the way we want to play. We showed a good mixture of individual talent, maturity and collective spirirt. The team remained focused on the kind of football we wanted to play and respected that, it was very pleasing.
"I believe every one in his position has done very well. From goalkeeper [Lukasz] Fabianski up to [Nicklas] Bendtner and Carlos Vela of course upfront they were great. You know already Bendtner and you discovered maybe a bit more about Vela. He is a clinical finisher. I am pleased aswell with our midfield and our defence was serious and stayed strong- we looked like the complete team and I’m very happy and proud of that.
"I’m not as surprised as you because I see them every day but you never know how they’ll respond on the big stage. They just went out there are played with the belief we want them to have and with the spirit we want them to have. "
On Jack Wilshere...
"He was 15 [when he first impressed] he’s 16 and last year a few times I integrated him in our [first team] training sessions. He didn’t look atall out of place. Straight away football was natural for him.
"He is a quiet boy, very determined, very focused. The talent is there you have seen that again tonight. It is always difficult when you are the manager of a boy with talent like that you are always a little bit cautious to put too much prssure on him and too high a level of expectation. I believe it is all in there and that I have the responsiibilties to nurture him and to get him at the right moment and the right development in the next two or three years. 16 to 19 is very important age for the development of a football palyer. At the moment he has skipped a few classes.
"People tell me his a little bit like Liam Brady because of he has good balance and change of direction. I dont know well enough Liam.
"I believe later [in his career] he will be a central midfielder or behind the strikers."
On his Carling Cup policy...
"We want to win the trophy with this team. [I won’t change the team] Totenham or not Totenham or anybody else. I believe the only pressure you have is when you go through the rounds and get to the semi-final. Suddenly everybody is starting to say OK, and now you have to change all the players.
"You let them play how they played tonight and suddenly you say 'sorry you don’t play anymore'. For me that is not serious, no matter how far we go we have to stick to our policy."
"We can of course go all the way and we can win it as well. why not? These players do not play like kids, they play like people with intelligence, with talent and with spirirt so I don’t know."
On Carlos Vela...
"I think he’s a player who has everything in his locker of a good striker. He's agile, good first touch, very calm infront of goal, clinical and quick finisher and I just think he’s top class."
On the result reflecting the gul between the Premier League and the Championship...
"I don’t know, it’s a one off. it's very difficult to judge but this team we played tonight can beat many teams.
"I wouldn’t be scared to play any individual of this 11 in the Premier League, altogether I don’t know but all the individual players who played tonight have the talent, for example Kieran Gibbs. He is a very young left-back. He played left midfield [in the past] but also Mark Randalll did well, [Aaron] Ramsey did well, they all did well. It’s difficult to say that any of these players cant play in the PL."
On Having his best ever crop of kids...
"Yes [these is the best crop of kids] Yes. Because there is not one - henri Lansbury didn’t start the game because he’s been injured- but there's not one player who has not the real quality of the Premier League in any position."
On the biggest challenge the club faces with so much talent in the ranks...
"The biggest challenge is for the club to keep them all together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Many of them already play there; the Djourou, the Song, the Bendtner, Fabianski play already, Carlos Vela too.
"I think that’s why when you're under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window when you know you have these players behind already, [it] nearly kills you, the work we have done."
Carling Cup
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 19:45
'We looked like the complete team tonight'
On the performance...
"I believe that the team played football the way we want to play. We showed a good mixture of individual talent, maturity and collective spirirt. The team remained focused on the kind of football we wanted to play and respected that, it was very pleasing.
"I believe every one in his position has done very well. From goalkeeper [Lukasz] Fabianski up to [Nicklas] Bendtner and Carlos Vela of course upfront they were great. You know already Bendtner and you discovered maybe a bit more about Vela. He is a clinical finisher. I am pleased aswell with our midfield and our defence was serious and stayed strong- we looked like the complete team and I’m very happy and proud of that.
"I’m not as surprised as you because I see them every day but you never know how they’ll respond on the big stage. They just went out there are played with the belief we want them to have and with the spirit we want them to have. "
On Jack Wilshere...
"He was 15 [when he first impressed] he’s 16 and last year a few times I integrated him in our [first team] training sessions. He didn’t look atall out of place. Straight away football was natural for him.
"He is a quiet boy, very determined, very focused. The talent is there you have seen that again tonight. It is always difficult when you are the manager of a boy with talent like that you are always a little bit cautious to put too much prssure on him and too high a level of expectation. I believe it is all in there and that I have the responsiibilties to nurture him and to get him at the right moment and the right development in the next two or three years. 16 to 19 is very important age for the development of a football palyer. At the moment he has skipped a few classes.
"People tell me his a little bit like Liam Brady because of he has good balance and change of direction. I dont know well enough Liam.
"I believe later [in his career] he will be a central midfielder or behind the strikers."
On his Carling Cup policy...
"We want to win the trophy with this team. [I won’t change the team] Totenham or not Totenham or anybody else. I believe the only pressure you have is when you go through the rounds and get to the semi-final. Suddenly everybody is starting to say OK, and now you have to change all the players.
"You let them play how they played tonight and suddenly you say 'sorry you don’t play anymore'. For me that is not serious, no matter how far we go we have to stick to our policy."
"We can of course go all the way and we can win it as well. why not? These players do not play like kids, they play like people with intelligence, with talent and with spirirt so I don’t know."
On Carlos Vela...
"I think he’s a player who has everything in his locker of a good striker. He's agile, good first touch, very calm infront of goal, clinical and quick finisher and I just think he’s top class."
On the result reflecting the gul between the Premier League and the Championship...
"I don’t know, it’s a one off. it's very difficult to judge but this team we played tonight can beat many teams.
"I wouldn’t be scared to play any individual of this 11 in the Premier League, altogether I don’t know but all the individual players who played tonight have the talent, for example Kieran Gibbs. He is a very young left-back. He played left midfield [in the past] but also Mark Randalll did well, [Aaron] Ramsey did well, they all did well. It’s difficult to say that any of these players cant play in the PL."
On Having his best ever crop of kids...
"Yes [these is the best crop of kids] Yes. Because there is not one - henri Lansbury didn’t start the game because he’s been injured- but there's not one player who has not the real quality of the Premier League in any position."
On the biggest challenge the club faces with so much talent in the ranks...
"The biggest challenge is for the club to keep them all together and slowly integrate them into the first team. Many of them already play there; the Djourou, the Song, the Bendtner, Fabianski play already, Carlos Vela too.
"I think that’s why when you're under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window when you know you have these players behind already, [it] nearly kills you, the work we have done."
fgl
Well-known member
loldude333
New member
I watched Vela play in the Spanish league last season and my goodness, i knew it'd be a problem for EPL defenders if he came here. And he showed why last night. Along with Albert Riera, whom i also liked from watching games between the mid to lower level teams, he was one of the star performers of last season from the La Liga, besides the top 4 clubs. And cruxgod, that's a very apt description. I think Arsenal really don't need anymore players for the next 10 years, that is if they stay on hehe. But they are still young and look what happened last season. I think that they will be serious contenders in maybe 2 years, but now maybe not.
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
−
Hull City
official
- Referee
Alan Wiley
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger has hailed Hull City as the surprise package of the Premier League season so far.
Phil Brown’s side came up via the play-offs last season and were seen as near certainties to return to the Championship straight away. However they have lost only one of their first five games and have been as high as fourth in the table.
The Tigers arrive at Emirates Stadium to face the leaders on Saturday having slipped to seventh. However Wenger’s fulsome praise will be surely still ringing in their ears.
“You must take your hat off to Hull,” he said at Friday’s press conference. “What they have done up to now is fantastic. They are the surprise package.
“They beat Fulham and were 2-0 up at Everton - those are both good sides. These results will be a good warning for us. We know this Arsenal side will have to be at their best to beat them.”
This is Hull’s first ever season in top-flight football. They finished third in the second tier of the English game last season; a feat that equalled their previous best season back in 1910. In fact Hull’s greatest achievement thus far was reaching the FA Cup Semi-Final in 1930 where they were beaten by Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal.
Still, in the space of a season, Hull have gone from footballing backwater to one of the Premier League’s big fish. Wenger is not surprised to see new names in the top flight.
“It has not been like a classical Premier League competition for the last 10 years,” said the Frenchman. “The Championship is always so close. And with the play-offs even if you finish sixth you still have a chance to come up. That is why you always have different teams promoted.”
Having sent out a teenage team against Sheffield United on Tuesday in the Carling Cup, Wenger will revert to familiar faces on Saturday.
Gael Clichy is fit despite that nasty shin injury at Bolton last weekend. In addition Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott have shaken off niggles.
Mikael Silvestre counts as a ‘familiar face’ but only from his games against Arsenal for Manchester United. The 31-year-old has shaken off a muscular problem and will be named in the squad for the first time.
Silvestre was Wenger’s only signing ahead of transfer deadline day. The manager admitted he wanted another central midfielder but was not able to land his man. Since then Arsenal have gone to the top of the table and won a myriad of plaudits for the way their teenage tyros dismantled Sheffield United in midweek.
Of course Wenger wants to win the title but, ever the purist, he argues that to be champions this way this season would demonstrate that three of his core principles – stability, patience and prudence – were still applicable in modern football.
“[To win it this season] would be a reward for a long-term job,” he said. “And a long-term job in this career becomes more and more unusual and difficult now.
“Nobody has time to work and produce and nobody has patience.
“But I believe deeply that there are different ways to be successful in the job. And it is not only necessarily linked with the investment. Of course it’s better you have money but it’s not the only way. You can have a longer term plan and it can work.”
And, thus far, this season that plan has been working just fine for Arsenal. Meanwhile Tuesday showed the future was looking bright too.
loldude333
New member
Huh, Hull will get thrashed. They don't stand a chance at the Emirates. I tip Adebayor to misfire this time, but Fabregas and Denilson to bloom. And Bendtner to score a few.
KissMyAxe
New member
We shall see gentlemen
Now my words will come to haunt all Gunners fans hehe
Arsenal 1 - Hull 2
Man U 2 - Bolton 0
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