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[Ronok]

Just finished watching the Arsenal match. What a relief to end up with the win - it was looking like last season all over again for a while there. Still, conceding the first goal early isn't a habit that they should continue.

Well you won't really expect Lehman to start every game like that. lol

Arsenal's defence seemed strong most of the time but there were still some signs of weekness.

I really think our attack is improved this season though. Hleb and Rosicky are performing really well, Walcott looks a lot better then last year, Eboue creates lots of chances and Van Persie looks as good as ever.... Fabregas is a little short of fitness I think. My only problem is that I feel Diaby should be playing over Flamini. :-/


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6943283.stm

Doesn't sound good Man U fans.

 

[Osorio]

I just finished watching the Arsenal match myself and my question is: who is this Bendtner kid? His enthusiasm seemed greater than everyone else on the pitch combined.

 

[Steroyd]

Yeah, seriously. It's crazy early in the morning and I'm excited to watch the new season, and suddenly Lehmann decides to miskick the ball off his other knee (how is that even possible?) and directly to Healy. Unbelievable.

Oh I need to see that.

 

[hadareud]

time for my match report.

I knew it was gonna be an odd day when our train was delayed and I had to witness a grey pigeon fucking a white pigeon at the train station.

We got to the stadium about an hour before kick off and the stadium didn't fill up until seconds before the game started. At that time it was announced that Niemi was injured and that Warner would play. The crowd greeted the news with a cheer and I thought to myself "oh fuck, usually when that happens the keeper has a stormer."

We started 1:0 down thanks to Lehmann's fuck up and things went exactly like I had feared. Chance after chance, the fucking keeper saving everything. Some shots were not even poorly taken. At no point did I really believe that we would actually score one goal, never mind win the game. The atmosphere in the end was great and we definitely deserved our win. Good stuff, now let's hope this gives the team the much needed confidence and believe that we can challenge for the title. The way we won should actually do that - because it was really nowhere near our best, a very average performance by our standards.

Let's have a look at the players:

Lehmann - well, what can you say. Horrible fuck up, but things like that happen. Every player has a miss kick like that every now and then, as a goalkeeper you just can't recover. The press' reaction will be ridiculous, just as it was with Robinson against Croatia. Again, things like that happen and people should just take it as that. There's no shame in it. He'll do well this year, I have no doubts.

Sagna - I was very impressed with him. He looks good going forward and most importantly very robust at the back. His positioning and movement are excellent. He links up with Eboue extremely well and the 2 of them could be very important for us this year.
Lehmann did well afterwards and made a couple of very decent saves.

Toure - looked very solid and got us a penalty, not much more to say

Gallas - very much like Toure. Solid, not much I could complain about

Clichy - had a pretty quiet game, can definitely do better

Eboue - did very well on the wing and as already mentioned linked up well with Sagna. Can definitely do very well in his new position

Fabregas - I have never seen a worse performance by him. Looked incredibly rusty and his passing was very off. The assist for Hleb was good though.

Flamini - well, he fights and works and fights and works. I'm afraid that's not enough. Showed some poor passing but looked decent next to Fabregas. I cannot believe that Wenger didn't start Diaby. Actually, he didn't even put him on the bench. Song? W T F? I mean, WHAT THE FUCK?

Rosicky - dangerous, but not his best game. Some very good shots but not as influential as you would expect from him.

Hleb - Man of the match. He was excellent from start to finish and he really enjoyed his new role. He scored the goal he deserved and I was really happy with him. The only problem with his position is that Van Persie is isolated a lot and has to fall back into midfield as well - which is resulting in no strikers being forward at times. Basically, I'd prefer 2 real strikers.

Van Persie - not his day, nothing seemed to really work for him. Worked hard but I think the pressure got a bit to him. The penalty goal should help him a lot for the coming weeks. As mentioned he didn't really receive the necessary help and passes, but when he did he couldn't do too much with it.

Theo - quick but wasteful. Needs more games and needs more composure

Bendtner - promising debut. Full of confidence and good in the air. He could be very useful this season, definitely more useful than Aliadiererere.


Our defending is still dodgy, not only from corners but throughout. We are lacking hight and they still don't seem played together. I hope Wenger can sort that out.

Oh, and if I hear anyone shouting "shoot" ever again I think I will stab him. Annoying twats. YOU DON'T SHOOT WITH FOUR PEOPLE IN FRONT OF YOU 40 YARDS FROM GOAL, FOR FUCKS SAKE.

So, there you have it. I am pleased but there is plenty of room for improvement.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Of course Rooney has injury problems. Didn't you hear? We have England games coming up, and traditionally before every England game half our squad go out of their way to get injured. So now it's Rooney, Owen, Lennon, Beckham, Terry, King, Woodgate, Bridge, Neville, Foster. Oh and Crouch is suspended. And there's still a couple more matches for everyone else to get injured!

Go England!

 

[Cornballer]

I knew it was gonna be an odd day when our train was delayed and I had to witness a grey pigeon fucking a white pigeon at the train station.

What? :lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

I knew it was gonna be an odd day when our train was delayed and I had to witness a grey pigeon fucking a white pigeon at the train station.

It's an omen. The white pigeon represents Spurs, and the grey pigeon represents normality, as in Arsenal finishing in the top 4.

I thought Sagna did well, but I'd be a bit concerned at the rest of the defending if I was an Arsenal fan. Fulham didn't have that many attacks, but when they did more often than not they ended up in a good shooting position. I mean, they really cut through you at times, and while I think Fulham are better than last season, they're not great.

What do you think of my new Arsenal formation?

------------------Lehmann-----------------

Sagna------Toure------Gallas------Clichy

----Fabregas----Gilberto-----Rosicky----

--------------------Hleb--------------------

----------Van Persie---Eduardo----------

 

[Mama Smurf]

Penguin King is...

Spoiler

Olimario

Didn't see that coming.

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/table.mc?id=61134

I hate you, had.

 

[hadareud]

Penguin King is...

Spoiler

Olimario

Didn't see that coming.http://www.neogaf.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=7386876
NeoGAF - Reply to Topic

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/table.mc?id=61134

I hate you, had.

:lol nobody saw that one coming. well, welcome oa to fantasy football.

I knew I had a good day with 3 players scoring, but I didn't expect first. First in front of you is all the more satisfying of course

What? :lol

wait for the pictures. I shall get them off my phone after dinner

 

[Cornballer]

What do you think of my new Arsenal formation?

------------------Lehmann-----------------

Sagna------Toure------Gallas------Clichy

----Fabregas----Gilberto-----Rosicky----

--------------------Hleb--------------------

----------Van Persie---Eduardo----------

I'd be concerned about width. Seems like a team could just pack the center midfield to shut it down.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Notes:

Our league is 24,612 out of 76,771, so that's not bad.

I'm 53,398 out of 1,059,659 so I've beaten a million people, which is good.

 

[hadareud]

It's an omen. The white pigeon represents Spurs, and the grey pigeon represents normality, as in Arsenal finishing in the top 4.

I thought Sagna did well, but I'd be a bit concerned at the rest of the defending if I was an Arsenal fan. Fulham didn't have that many attacks, but when they did more often than not they ended up in a good shooting position. I mean, they really cut through you at times, and while I think Fulham are better than last season, they're not great.

What do you think of my new Arsenal formation?

------------------Lehmann-----------------

Sagna------Toure------Gallas------Clichy

----Fabregas----Gilberto-----Rosicky----

--------------------Hleb--------------------

----------Van Persie---Eduardo----------

looks excellent. We'll see if Wenger goes for it.

Our defending was very dodgy, fuck knows why. All 4 are very sound defensively so there is no reason that it should be. Apart from lacking height, but that's not our biggest problem. As soon as the ball comes near our box everyone panicks, there is no confidence.

 

[Cornballer]

My insistence on picking every available American for my fantasy team will undoubtedly be my undoing, but it's a fun experiment in the meantime.

Bendtner look ok today - it wasn't a bad debut for him.

 

[Falch]

So, Rooney's out with a broken foot for 1-2 months. Damn, what a way to start for Man United. Lol at the other 3 of the tradional top 4 just barely winning. :lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

When's Saha back?

 

[psycho_snake]

When's Saha back?

I think he's recovered from his injury, but he doesnt have the match fitness. He'd be very useful for the portsmouth game, but I dont think he'll start the game.

 

[psycho_snake]

Just looked at the fantasy league table.

screw you had and mama. How could I be behind a team with a pink kit.

 

[Falch]

Oh well, Man United still have Tevez, who's a worthy (if not better) replacement for Rooney.

I'd have Man United play like this if everyone was fit:

---------------Van Der Sar--------------

Brown---Ferdinand---Vidic---Silvestre

Ronaldo--Carrick---Anderson-----Evra

------------Tevez-----Rooney-----------

 

[psycho_snake]

I knew it was gonna be an odd day when our train was delayed and I had to witness a grey pigeon fucking a white pigeon at the train station.

I'm used to seeing bids fucking each other. Parrots always do it on a palm tree outside me house.

 

[psycho_snake]

Oh well, Man United still have Tevez, who's a worthy (if not better) replacement for Rooney.

I'd have Man United play like this if everyone was fit:

---------------Van Der Sar--------------

Brown---Ferdinand---Vidic---Silvestre

Ronaldo--Carrick---Anderson-----Evra

------------Tevez-----Rooney-----------

Thats far from the best team United could put out. This should be the team:

---------------Van Der Sar--------------

Neville---Ferdinand---Vidic-------Evra

Ronaldo--Carrick---Scholes-----Giggs

------------Tevez-----Rooney-----------

There's no need to put brown at right back if nevile is fit. Neville is a much better right back than brown is. Evra should be at left back because we've got enough wingers already and evra's our strongest left back. I wouldnt put anderson in the middle just yet. He's still too inexperienced. I can see him starting games in the cup competitions, but in the league, he'll mostly be used as a sub. Its better to introduce him into the team slowly. Hargreaves or scholes would be the better options

 

[Great King Bowser]

Can someone PM me the code for the GAF Premier League dreamteam?

 

[MrPing1000]

Can someone PM me the code for the GAF Premier League dreamteam?

Check the first post of the thread, at the bottom.

Spoiler

Code to join the league - 300989-61134

 

[Falch]

Thats far from the best team United could put out. This should be the team:

---------------Van Der Sar--------------

Neville---Ferdinand---Vidic-------Evra

Ronaldo--Carrick---Scholes-----Giggs

------------Tevez-----Rooney-----------

There's no need to put brown at right back if nevile is fit. Neville is a much better right back than brown is. Evra should be at left back because we've got enough wingers already and evra's our strongest left back. I wouldnt put anderson in the middle just yet. He's still too inexperienced. I can see him starting games in the cup competitions, but in the league, he'll mostly be used as a sub. Its better to introduce him into the team slowly. Hargreaves or scholes would be the better options

Guess you're right about Neville and Evra. I'd like to see Anderson in the middle though, he's not much of a winger. No need to introduce him slowly, imo.

 

[psycho_snake]

At the moment we dont have the luxury of having our whole squad fit. It'll be interesting to see what our team will be againt portsmouth. Rooney is injured so he wont be playing. ole and saha have just returned from injuries, so we could start with them, but they've not got the match fitness, so I cant see them starting. It looks like tevez is the only striker that can start, which makes me think that we might end up playing a 4-2-3-1 like this:

------------------Van Der Sar------------------

Brown------Vidic----------Ferdinand------Evra

--------------Carrick--------Hargrevaes-------

Ronaldo-----------Scholes----------------Giggs

----------------------Tevez-----------------------

 

[psycho_snake]

Guess you're right about Neville and Evra. I'd like to see Anderson in the middle though, he's not much of a winger. No need to introduce him slowly, imo.

Well Ive not seen him play often, but I imagine that its going to take a while before we start seeing the best from him. We're not really in a position where we need to rush him in because we've got enough options in central midfield.

 

[hadareud]

time for the pictures, which disappointingly turned out to be shit. I should really buy a decent camera.

Twyford train station, 9 am. 2 white pigeons are being checked out by one normal one (on the right)

half a minute later (look at the top)

outside the stadium

teams warming up

just before kick off

the fancy pitch watering system at half time. the watering system emerges out of the ground automatically. they really weren't cheap at building this place.

after the game

and on the way back to the tube

 

[psycho_snake]

God I miss going to football mtahces

 

[velvet_nitemare]

Decent pics, Had

 

[hadareud]

by the way, Sanchez is a twat. He's accusing Hleb of diving - I haven't seen it on TV yet, but both times it were clear penalties for me when Hleb went down.

Of course, Sanchez is in a great position to complain about player behaviour, considering he usually instructs his teams to deliberately kick people no matter if somebody gets seriously injured. I hate the guy.

edit: omg MrPing is not going to like me for saying that

 

[Frenck]

Damn, so that means no Rooney for the friendly against Germany?

I would have loved for them to clash with full strength sides.

 

[Falch]

Sneijder is officially to Real Madrid for 27 million euro.

 

[Wes]

Sneijder is officially to Real Madrid for 27 million euro.

And I had hoped he would go to Villa :lol

 

[hadareud]

Sneijder is officially to Real Madrid for 27 million euro.

wow

I always thought he was overrated, but this price tag takes it to a new level

 

[velvet_nitemare]

I think Sneijder is very good and expected him to move...but that price is just ridiculous.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I read about a week ago that if Madrid got Drenthe and Sneijder, they'd abandon their hunt for Robben.

Of course, I also read they'll take all 3, but he does seem like less of a priority now.

 

[Falch]

Yeah, that price is outrageous. I don't even think he will stand out at Real, let alone justify that pricetag. But Ajax and Sneijder had an agreement that Sneijder would stay for one more year unless some club would offer close to 30 mil euro. Real was foolish enough to do just that.

I would have bought Van Der Vaart. Much more complete player, although more injury prone.

Ajax is drowning in money btw, they sold Perez (2 mil), De Mul (4 mil), Babel 17 mil, of which 13 went to Ajax) and now Sneijder (27 mil). They've only bought Suarez (for the ridiculous price of 8 mil) and some several lowprofile players like Rommedahl lol ), Bakircioglu, Delorge and Colin (who was not wanted at Norwich City anymore :lol ). Next to that, Davids broke his tibia (shinbone) because he wasn't wearing his shinpads, so Ajax's squad is weakened now.

 

[Frenck]

Schuster is insane. Sneijder isn't worth 27 million, what do they expect him to do?

EDIT:

Van der Vaart would've been more reasonable too, they could have him for around EUR 8-10 million in the winter break. Or EUR 1.5 million next season.

Schuster will get axed before midseason.

 

[Cornballer]

Thanks for the picks, hadareud. lol - pidgeon pr0n.

How much were the seats, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[hadareud]

I don't know for sure since my girlfriend bought them, but I think they were 38 pounds each. That's what I usually pay for tickets in the upper tier and they didn't rise the prices as far as I know. Still far too much of course.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

I know if I were a club and Real Madrid were wanting to buy one of my players, I'd raise the price significantly. Real Madrid lack seem to have a lack of any financial responsibility or common sense.

 

[hadareud]

just been thinking about this, but surely it can't be a coincidence anymore with Rooney breaking a bone in his foot for the 3rd time.

I have never heard of anything like that. Unfortunately for England and Man Utd he seems extremely injury prone.

Or am I just overreacting?

 

[Falch]

Small update for Cornballer concerning Lee Nguyen. Just watched the regional news, and they were talking about a possible loan of Lee to VVV Venlo (who were promoted to the Eredivisie this year). PSV would decide about loaning out Lee (and several other players) within a day or two, so we should have some solid news soon. Personally, I hope he go's to VVV, I'd like to see him play on a regular basis there.

 

[h0pper]

That sucks for the Utd. fans. I just heard the news. Now you know how we felt last season.

 

[Cornballer]

Small update for Cornballer concerning Lee Nguyen. Just watched the regional news, and they were talking about a possible loan of Lee to VVV Venlo (who were promoted to the Eredivisie this year). PSV would decide about loaning out Lee (and several other players) within a day or two, so we should have some solid news soon. Personally, I hope he go's to VVV, I'd like to see him play on a regular basis there.

Cool - thanks for the update. Sounds like a good move for him, so I hope it goes through. He will also probably be a member of the Olympic team for qualifying early next year.

 

[navanman]

Joint 6th for me on opening day. Solid but not spectacular. McCarthy going off with head injury hurt me.

 

[Mama Smurf]

That sucks for the Utd. fans. I just heard the news. Now you know how we felt last season.

To be fair, United had some pretty bad injury problems last year.

Just looking at the fantasy thing, and there are lots of stats if you dig around. In the table for the best leagues, it's not everyone. It's the average score of the top 5 managers. So those of us in the top 5...we're basically represnting our league in the Champions League.

Seems slightly unfair to me not to just average every team. There's a league here with 1223 teams, of course their top 5 are going to be better, the numbers are always going to make it that way.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Joint 6th for me on opening day. Solid but not spectacular. McCarthy going off with head injury hurt me.

That'll teach you for picking Blackburn players. Me, I picked 3 City players and they raked it in.

 

[hadareud]

I have a Blackburn player. He got me 8 points

 

[Mama Smurf]

Judas

 

[hadareud]

used to be a gooner, that probably helped