Thoughts so far?

Treebeard

Treebeard

Ranger of the North
3-4 games in.

Although on the face of it things seem pretty similar so far for the Arse there are subtle changes. Last season I'm not sure we would have gotten 7 points from 9 from the 3 games we have played (also the away win in Prague). A bit more bite to us but we are still dominating games and not punishing the opposition enough. We are creating a lot of clear cut chances though as opposed to the fannying around we often get accused of (we still do that a bit).

Our biggest enemy will be injuries again (and Mad Jens). A lot of them seem to have glass legs. A real question mark over the fitness (which is not something I would have ever questioned at Arsenal before) or just the sheer bad luck of it. It was more than a bit ironic to read a report on the official site stating how Rosicky wanted to stay fit and produce more for the team this season and the very next day getting pulled from the Blackburn squad with an injury.

I've got a feeling that Lehmans lay off may be a bit longer than 2 weeks.
 
MarkS

MarkS

Full Member
I dont think were going to do much in the league this year tbh, i cant see us being that consistant (can never spell that). I think we're in for a season of us having brilliant wins and dropping points stupidly when we should have taken 3 away. Euro cup place and a decent cup run this year i thinks unless as tree says we find a bit of bite from somewhere (bring big Tony out of retirement!).
 
Anubis

Anubis

The Doggy Chimp
Chelski will win it again, but the top 4 will be closer together I think. Bargain buy Andriy Voronin - what I've seen he looks an intelligent player and can also play a bit :) Torres looks good.
Expect van Persie to excel this season but not sure if the Arse can win it. United's defence is awful but the rest of the team covers this up although Scholes is the main man for me.
Everton with Yakubu alongside Johnson could easily press for a top 5 finish.
Nice to see Man City start well
Not nice to see the number of howlers by refs, eg Fulham goal, Chelski penalty, Tottenham non-penalty (Old Trafford, need I say more?) and countless others
 
Flight

Flight

Full Member
3 Prem games gone and all four of Liverpools forwards have scored. We dominated Chelsea (they had one shot on target - scored with that dodgy penalty) and easily deserved the win against them. Torres is phenomenal - he suits Rafas tactics perfectly and Babel is going to be a special player.

I've never seen anyone give John Terry as hard a game as Torres did and the way Torres handled it was brilliant. Terry just couldn't handle Torres and was whinging like a bitch - Torres just gave him a yap, yap yap hand movement in his face; you would think Torres was 31 rather than 21. Babels best position seems to be playing off the striker, but this doesn't suit our strengths so Rafa is trying to turn him into a left winger - he'll need to track back more and work on the defensive side of his game.


The real story for me at Liverpool is how well some of the lesser lauded players are doing. Arbeloa and Mascherano, both brought in last Winter, are big successes already. Sissoko and Hyypia have both refound their best form, where I thought they were close to being finished with us. In short there are now only one or two positions where we need strengthening.


The Mancs need to improve and quick - they have played poorly, including their win against Spurs, where I thought Spurs were totally robbed by the ref.

Haven't seen enough of the Gooners, but Chelsea seem to be almost in a transitional stage. Just can't doubt them though, due to their massive strength in depth.
 
Janie

Janie

Full Member
I'm quite happy with my prediction Liverpool will win the league, shame on you Flight for not agreeing :p I also predicted Man Utd would get off to a slow start!

Surprises - Sunderland look awful and Wigan and Fulham don't look to bad.

I'm quite happy with Leicesters start won one, drawn one, lost one - they seem to be playing well and the 4-1 hammering of Watford suggests it's coming together. Hope the manager and chairman make up though!
 
Anubis

Anubis

The Doggy Chimp
I hope you're right :)
I feel the squad is more or less at a level where they can come very close. Also bear in mind there are a lot of very good youngsters there - eg Insua, Hobbs, Lucas, Leto, plus the likes of Anderson and Hamill out on loan so the future is looking rosy. I have always liked Arbeloa, he is pretty solid and I think unsung (like Finnan). So far, the only disappointment has been Alonso - he's class but at the moment he's not performing and he could be on his way if the others keep playing like they are.

Relegation - Derby plus 2 from abouit 7 including Fulham, Birmingham, Bolton, Middlesborough, Wigan and Sunderland.

My other team would be propping up League 1 if Leeds had not been docked 15 points. Most of the team walked at the end of last season and the replacements have not gelled yet but I'd expect a top half finish.
 
MarkS

MarkS

Full Member
Id love to see Liverpool win it (if not the Arse ofc), but i fear Chavski will take it this year, Liverpool will run them close till about Feb, Scumchester and the mighty Arse the battle for 3rd place.

Martin Jol to get the sack in October and later to be appointed England manager and go on to make a comedy documentry about England failing to qualify for Euro 2008. Spurs go on to put in yet another solidly mediocre season despite delusions that they are a big club.
 
Chick

Chick

Cartwheel RIGHT
My money's on england to win the series on today's performance. though there is plenty of time for a complete collapse.
 
Anubis

Anubis

The Doggy Chimp
From the last 2 games you've seen why Liverpool will not win the league. The players are good enough, but one word will make sure they are still 15 points adrift... ROTATION. If you want new players to bed in, then don't "rest" them every other game. Rafa is going to lose the fans if he keeps going... world beaters one minute and awful the next.
 
Flight

Flight

Full Member
Only 3 Prem games in October. Arsenal have two bankers - Sunderland and Bolton, both at home, before tricky games against us and the Mancs in the space of 5 days. We're away at Everton, which can be a hard game.


Bloody internationals really mess the season up.
 
Ky

Ky

Stupid is as stupid does
Chelsea don't need internationals to mess their season up - they've managed that all on their own \o/

:grin:
 
Agravaine

Agravaine

Professional Slacker
Unfortunately, I suspect those weasels will avoid relegation.

It would possibly the funniest thing ever if they did go down, though :D
 
Janie

Janie

Full Member
Not as funny as wenger a frenchman who manages a team who play no English players trying to take the moral highground about forgein investment taking the soul out of English football.
 
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