Football (Soccer)

[MPS]

:>

mu-millwall 2-0 (safe) 4-0 (optimistic)

[Oriphus]

I dont think ur being too optomistic. I expect a good old FA cup final thrsahing for Milwall. Sure they will be up for it of course, no doubt about that, but they will not be anywhere near the calibre of a good man utd side. As long as we can get ourselves a good performance we should be ok - fingers crossed

[Oriphus]

Well done to Arsenal - Congrats Admin, you've certainly made a record book that may not be broken for a long time if ever. Though it would be funny if United Won every game next season - now that would be a far better record lol

Saw the United match, but dont think that Ronaldo deserved to be sent off, referee was very premature with that decision. The first offense was not even a dive by him, it really does look like he was clipped. The second yellow was a complete farce, the whistle had just gone literallyand Ronaldo just flicked the ball over the keeper and he gets sent of for a second yellow?? Come on......

Really outplayed them thouhg, deserved that. Roll on pre-season and summer signing specualtion. Im feeling wihdrawal symptons already....

[admin]

The unbeaten record will make this season one of the most memorable for a long time. Didn't expect the difference between this season and the last to be so dramatic, considering Lehmann was our only new player. A very good season by a very good team.

Retaining the title and winning the Champions League will make us a great team. A sustained period of success over the next decade will make us one of the best teams ever. It's only the beginning...

I hope Millwall puts up a good fight in the cup final - wouldn't be a cup final if United were to wallop them 4-0 or something. Also, does this mean Millwall will be in Europe next season?

[Oriphus]

I think it does mean that Millwall will be in Europe next season, which is great for them anyway.

Im not sure Arsenal will become one of the great teams. They have a very good squad that clicked perfectly as a team this year. However, if they were to lose Henry, or Vierra at any point, they would be well stuffed. They dont have loads of money to throw around either, which is restrictive on team building. But they do have a good chance next season as long as Chelsea and United dont strengthen their sides too much. If United comes out next season with a whoppingly strong side, and CHelsea likewise, maybe it will be a case of Arsenal bringing up the rear.

Next season will be Uniteds season. Im sure of it.

[admin]

Vieira, as always, was out of the team for quite a bit of the season. He has been average to good this season, but better than the poor performance last season. Sometimes, he goes missing a bit, which is not good if you're the captain. But when he's playing well, there's no other player that can match him, even if he is hindered by the frequently inept Gilberto. The team is less reliant on him, then say Pires or Henry.

And yes, we are a weaker team without Henry. But if you had the second best player in the world, would you not miss him? Unless you're Real Madrid, no team can afford to lose their best player, and even Real weakens considerably if Ronaldo or Zidane is missing from the side, even though they've still got Beckham and Raul. Would United be the same without RvN (or as with this season, a RvN playing poorly than last season)? And look what happened to Liverpool when Owen was playing like crap (and look at them in the last few games when he's started scoring).

I actually hope Chelsea and United buy lots of new players - it would take them at least a season to gel, and could mean another title for Arsenal

I think one of the main reasons we played well this season is because of Pires and his 20 something goals (and a dozen assists, I think). When Pires is not playing, Henry suffers as well, less so the other way around. This is why Reyes and van Persie are all left sided midfield players, that can also play as forwards - Wenger knows that a replacement for Pires is important, as well as players that can take the pressure off Henry a little bit. The Henry and Reyes partnership should be interesting to watch next season...

Other players that were peripheral last season, but have come good this season include Edu, Toure, Clichy - without them (especially Toure), we would not be Champions, let alone unbeaten.

[Oriphus]

But if you had the second best player in the world

Im afraid i disagree with that. As much as i hate to say it, he is on par or better than any other player in the Europe, and probably the world today. On current form, he's one of the greats, and unfortunately i can only see him getting better....

RvN has had an on/off season this year, some great moments and then long spells without scoring, but i think that had more to do with the team rather than the player. I still think, bar the Real Madrid Ronaldo and Raul, that RvN is the best striker at being in good positions. he had some chances, which he didnt convert, but gerenally, he had a fairly good season, third highest goals in Premiership. Actually, it shows you that our problems were a lot of defensive if we had the third and fourth best strikers in terms of goals in the premiership...Although, come to think of it, Louis Saha scored most of his for Fulham, so i guess i can see why it was a poor season. One of the few seasons were we didnt see Ole Gunner Solskjaer in the top 10.....and thats a real pity that he was injured

Have u heard the transfer rumours already...Steven Gerard linked with Unitd???? Frank lampard linked with United????

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,53-1135404,00.html

[admin]

We've been linked with Gerrard as well, and also Terry in a spectacular 30 million deal. I think Gerrard will stay at Liverpool, same with Owen. They're both Liverpool born and bred, and as bad as Liverpool has been, they're still a big club. The CL place will also have given them a false sense of hope.

Lampard is the classic definition of a mercenary - from his badge kissing days at West Ham, to his badge kissing days at Chelsea, and now, possibly his badge kissing days at United because he wants more money. Great player, poor attitude.

With our stadium funding in place, the plan for this stage of the development is that we can start getting back some money through the real estate business part of the area redevelopment, and so, the board has confirmed that there will actually be more money to spend in the 2 years leading to the completion of the stadium. This is why we've been linked with some big names (Beckham included) lately, although knowing Wenger, he will not buy any already established players. I had a think a few days ago about who Arsenal can buy, and apart from a younger goal keeper (say 28-30, old enough for our youth goalkeepers to still have a chance), there is no one we can buy that will not disrupt the team. We've got plenty of youth as backup, and most of our first team players are 26-28, at/near their prime.

And Real Madrid loses again. What's going on there I wonder?

[MPS]

Next season will be Uniteds season. Im sure of it.

i 2nd that

Millwall in the Europe, how far will they go?

more importantly - a. villa finally in uefa, right?

well done for henry to score most goals too.

oh yeah, who's buying liverpool finally?

[Oriphus]

Not decided yet on the Liverpool front i believe, either the local business man or the Dubai Prime Minister.

Not only were Real Madrid beaten, they were beaten by bottom of the table and relegated Murcia. Real Betis won though and they are 10th in the table. Not a bad result considering the poor patch they went through. Unfortunately they can only finish 8th now. Really a team like Betis should be pushing into the top 6 most seasons. Last yar we did, we should do it next year too hopefully. (Beckham sent off for Madrid lol)

Yeah, age of team-wise, Arsenal are very well set up for the future. Barring injury crisis, you have a solid team for next season. United have found ourselves a gem i think, Ronaldo is showing a lot of potential and really harnessing his amazing skills in a very productive manner. I can see him becoming another Ronaldinho, maybe not next season, but by the season after that when he is 20/21 he will be a young superstar, and the fans will be happy that we bought him and not Ronaldinho, who wasnt sure if he wanted to play for UNited....

Well, i for one am hoping that Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard (realistictly - though i would of course prefer Gerard) Carlos Puyol, Damien Duff and maybe Juaquim come to United. Roberto Carlos would be nice as well. only problem is, i cant really see United spending more than £60 million, though i think they may spend a lot. Torres and Lampard and Duff would be over that figure already though.....Maybe with Ferdinand coming back, they think there is enough cover in the defense?

Reall looking forward to all the transfer specualtion....When is it that the window actually opens and closes? I've forgotten the dates...

[Oriphus]

Well we beat Milwall 3-0 and Celtic won 3-1 so an all around happy ocasion i would say.....

[admin]

But overall for the whole season, did it feel like something gained, or something lost? If you can answer that question, then you'll know how I and all the other Arsenal fans felt last year this time

[Oriphus]

It was something gained after a lost season in my honest opinon. It wasnt the best season we've had, but it wasnt the worst either. We were ok this season, unfortunately, Arsenal had a run that is unlikely to be beaten for a long time. Even Arsenal themselves wont do it again im sure. I have a feeling that if we beat Arsenal the first time we play them next season, then the league is ours

Looking forward to Pre-season. Some good games for us in the Vodaphone cup, and then off to USA with some other big teams listed below:

Sat, 24 Jul 2004 1:00 PM - Celtic FC vs. Chelsea Blues (Seahawk Stadium - Seattle, Washington)

Sun, 25 Jul 2004 3:00 PM - Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich (Soldier Field - Chicago, Illinois)

Mon, 26 Jul 2004 8:00 PM - Celtic FC vs. Liverpool Reds (Rentschler Field - East Hartford, Connecticut)

Wed, 28 Jul 2004 8:00 PM - Manchester United vs. Celtic FC (Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Thu, 29 Jul 2004 8:00 PM - Chelsea Blues vs. AS Roma (Heinz Field - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Sat, 31 Jul 2004 1:00 PM - Manchester United vs. AC Milan (Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Sat, 31 Jul 2004 8:00 PM - Celtic FC vs. AS Roma (Skydome - Toronto, Ontario)

Mon, 2 Aug 2004 8:00 PM - Chelsea Blues vs. AC Milan (Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Tue, 3 Aug 2004 8:00 PM - AS Roma vs. Liverpool Reds (Giants Stadium - East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Where is Arsenal off to this year?

Oh....and Gerard Houllier got the sack today lol - first time a liverpool manager has been sacked in something like 50 years. Martion O'Neil better not go there though, im hoping that he will be a future replacement for Sir Alex

[admin]

Arsenal will be playing in the Amsterdam Tournamnent, against Ajax, River Plate and Panathinaikos. We will also be doing our usual Austrian pre-season training camp thingy, and most likely some other friendlies with a few other teams just before the season starts.

Wenger is vehemently against doing friendlies for promotional reasons, so no trips to the States of Asia at the moment, and I have to agree. Now is probably not the best time to do any serious promotion - we'll need a new stadium for that

I am sad to see Houllier go - now Liverpool might get someone decent and actually challange for something.

[Oriphus]

lol @ Houllier statement

THat sounds like an excellent pre-season tournament anyway. Im a very big supporter of River Plate, ever since young Saviolla of Barca came through the ranks. Can you tell me what dates that Arsenal will be playing River Plate on and if it will be broadcast in the UK anywhere? Cheers

I think all large football teams have a responsibility to try to promote the game of soccer in all the large countries that dont really have a good grasp or support of the game. United, along with the other teams going to America, Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan, Celtic, Roma etc... are all promoting soccer in the country. Shirt sales in the US doubled for United after their last visit. Everyone was amazed at the amount of support for the games, considering all of the United games sold out quickly and filled the Stadium. Everyone of course knows the name Manchester United, same way we all know the New York Yankees and the Harlam Gloe Trotters. Thats why i guess United benefits the most from these promotions, as well as getting to play a lot of the top European teams before we go back to the Premier League. The game of soccer benefits as a whole though from this extra promotion.

Im really looking forward to seeing what Arsenal can do against River Plate in the summer. Ok, granted they havent been as good as a few seasons gone past, but River Plater are still such an emense Argentinian side, with many of their crop heading out to Spain and Italy. Come on River Plate....we love you D'Alessandro