Football (Soccer)

[lfcrule1972]

Hiya fellas !

Mmm its been a while since I posted in that time Utd have crashed out of the CL - how did that happen ? Arsenal and LFC have both qualified as top of the group and LFC seem to have finally turned their poor start to the season around.

We left the Premiership second on goal difference to play the World Club Championship, we are now in the final with two fine goals from Crouch (I may have to eat my harsh words on his goal scoring abilities) and 1 from Stevie G ! I am just keeping it all crossed that when we come back to the Premiership we can win our games in hand (I think one is against Arsenal) and close the gap to Chelsea.

Here's hoping for a successfull Christmas period for our teams eh ?

Regards

[admin]

Oh well, that's our season well and truly over. I thought we played well against Chelsea, but with our makeshift defence and refs not allowing us to score, it was always going to be difficult. Looking forward to the matches against Real Madrid now - whatever the result, it will be 2 very interesting matches.

[Oriphus]

Arsenal arent really on form at the minute. I say that and its not entirely true. The midfield and the forwards are doing fine, working hard and making chances. Henry is carrying that burdon quite a bit on his own though. Its the Arsenal defence that is letting the side down. Arsenal have no pace at all in their. Robben and Cole just blazed past Campbell and Senderos all the time. They just seemed to be able to power away from them too easily.

Its definitely Arsenal Premiership season over. They have absolutely no chance of getting back 20 points against Chelsea. Impossible. No they have to concentrate on getting to the top 4 to qualify for CL next year. As for real Madrid, it will be a good match no doubt, but i feel will favour the Spanish side.

United are playing well and scoring well. I wouldnt exactly call it crisis over as the media are. Our defence is too fragile. Its by pure luck sometimes that we dont conceed a goal or two in a match. They never seem to be comfortable like Chelsea are in defence.

Liverpool have found some form after their bad start. However, it surprised me that they were defeated by Sau Paulo. Don't get me wrong, SP are a good side, but i think it was very one sided to Liverpool and they should have atleast drawn in the 90 minutes. Not a wasted trip though. They will have no doubt sold some shirts

Charlton let me down big time on Saturday. I had an epiphany that Danny Murphy and Darren Bent were going score and create 3 goals between them to get me a hell of a lot of points in my Fantasy League. Didnt happen, they conceded 3 and failed to score. It may have scuppered my chances of winning Manager of the Month and some £'s. I was sitting 5 points clear at the top for Manager of the month, with only that weekend to go. Got some great points from United, but everyone will have got those. Got some points from Chelsea, same again with everyone getting those. Fingers crossed.

I think that Chelsea will probably falter again somewhere along the season before they meet us. Realistictly defeat for Chelsea is not a guarantee, but they might draw some and if we hit form and go on our record 16 game winning streak like before, we could hit top spot. Chelsea i feel will be out of the CL against probably the most on form team in Europe.

Chris

[lfcrule1972]

Hi fellas !

Mmmm Arsenal seem to have form similar to Liverpool over recent seasons now - great in Europe and poor domestically. I keep hearing it on Sky Tv but I have to agree, teams seem to know how to play and beat Arsenal now. Bolton are a prime example, they played tough and the artistes at Arsenal don't like it.... Hope LFC employ the same tactics when we meet, although to be fair we aren't really that kind of team and don't possess the tough guys !

Wenger must be feeling pressure now and its not something he is used to is it ? I can't help agree with Oriphus in that Real will have to focus on the CL now with their poor home form and may be too good over two legs for the Arsenal, that leaves the FA and Carling Cups for the Gunners - well they scraped through with the kids last night into the semi's for the Carling Cup - I bet the kids are left at home for the games against Wigan now.

As for LFC, mmm the final of the Club Championship was very frustrating, yes we were done by the officials but really with that much possesion the ball should have been permanently in the back of the net. Hopefully it will give us a spur to attack the premiership again - I still don't think we or anyone can catch Chelsea but to finish 2nd or 3rd would be a good improvement this year if the points gap is much smaller !

Anyway - just wanted to wish you both a very happy Christmas and New Year !

Regards

[admin]

I think we are just have going through a period where some key players are all having bad form at the same time, which unfortunately also coincided with injuries (all in the same position) and some tough matches, and also some bad luck (we've hit the post 9 times this season, more than any other team, and even when we get it in, the ref rules it out).

Real Madrid lost again, and their problem is that to accomondate their stars, the formation they use is just not working. I think we have a good chance to beat them over two legs, because we have a better defence (just - if Cole is back by then), and our attack should hopefully sort itself out by then. Put it this way, I'd rather them than Munich or another Spanish club.

[lfcrule1972]

Hi,

Well it's been a while but things are still looking ok for our teams aren't they ? Arsenal are much improved, Liverpool are still in with a shout of getting second and progressing in both the FA Cup and Champions League, Man Utd are looking a little inconsistent at the moment - still I am sure they will get themselves up for the match against Liverpool at the weekend.

Regards

[admin]

Well the Arsenal news recently has been all about signings, which is something new for us. The most hyped up transfer saga of this transfer window has been the Theo Walcott to Arsenal one, which as I am typing is either being concluded or is being hijacked by Chelsea/Tottenham/Liverpool/Manchester United (circle one only).

5m upfront (rising to 12m if he is a success) is quite a lot for a 16 year old, but if he is half as good as the media suggests he is, then it could be a bargain. He's a Liverpool fan, as is his whole family, and rumours are Liverpool could have got him for 3.5m last season, but the move was blocked by Rick Parry who did not want to spend over 3m. Probably made up as I don't think Walcott wants to move that far away from where he lives now, so any offer from Liverpool wouldn't have mattered anyway.

[lfcrule1972]

I had not heard he was a LFC fan !! Funny how those stories always come to light when the deal is being screwed down maybe to ease a few more £ out of the Highbury coffers !!

[admin]

Walcott finally signs. Glad that's over now. He wanted to come to Arsenal, Southampton wanted/had to sell him, and we wanted to buy him. Despite Chelsea offering more money, and even cars/houses for his family, it was always going to be us, and we could have got him for a lot cheaper (via a tribunal set fee) if Walcott hadn't insisted on rewarding Southampton for their troubles. Theo is the most talented player in his age group, so I am very glad he chose us.

[admin]

Another defeat. Starting to get used to it now. We now have 7 defenders out of contention, with an 8th being absolutely crap:

Out:
Lauren (injury)
Toure (African Cup of Nations)
Ashley Cole (injury)
Gael Clichy (injury)
Cygan (injury)
Eboue (ACN)
Gilbert (injury)

Crap:
Sol Campbell

I'm just surprised we managed to find 12 defenders at the club to finish off today's game. Might have to recall Hoyte who is on loan at Sunderland.

[lfcrule1972]

Sigh, well we aren't doing too well either....

Lost to the Mancs, then to Chelski, we need a good result at Charlton tonight to get us back on track as its one of our two games in hand. Unfortunately Gerrard is out injured tho, but we should be able to get a result if we play as well as we have been before the last two Premiership games.

The Campbell situation at Arsenal is unbelievable, he is never going to get a lot of press sympathy, he earns a fortune, does a job he loves (or used to) and will never have the kind of worries and cares the rest of us face day to day. I can't help wondering if his "stress" is related to his ambitions to be an actor or the allegations about his sexuality that have been around for a while now.....

Oh well I am hoping for a return to form tonight - we have to play Arsenal soon as well

[lfcrule1972]

Bugger ! Looks like the Liverpool front line couldn't score in a brothel at the moment !!

[admin]

Looks like I was right about Madrid

A very good performance (we can still do better) against a Real Madrid team not being able to handle our tactics and who probably thought it was going to be an easy match. No doubt they will step it up for the second leg, but I think being at home with (hopefully) players back from injury (particular van Persie), we can be a bit more attacking and finish them off with some early goals.

Can't wait.

[lfcrule1972]

Yeah that was a good result for your boys - LFC made hard work of it but luckily we only have to try and turn around a 1 goal deficit !

[Furiousg]

I just have to upload this image...I thought it was humerous