On March 11 2010 06:39 Liquid`Drone wrote: united playing very impressive
also not like arsenalgunners is that off really.. i'll assume he included VDS in defense, and fletcher has even subbed there this season. the rest of united isn't all that incredible. overrated is the wrong word though, football fans are normally quite aware of who is hot and who is not and rooney has rightfully been the one getting all the headlines this season.
so basically if he swapped overrated with mediocre-by-top-5-teams-in-the-world standards and included VDS and fletcher, i'd co-sign his post.
I have a problem with this post as well. Maybe if you wrote this at the beginning of the season when Man U was actually playing terrible you could make this argument. However, their current form is acually pretty impressive. Milan is not a bad team. Beating them both at home and away is impressive whether it is a top Italian team or any country for that matter. I think Man U deserve some respect the same way I respect Arsenal and their current run in the EPL as well (even though I hate them and their strongly biased French roots).
first of all, I think united is incredibly impressive. but apart from rooney, their defense is significantly better than their offense. rooney is the best player in the world at the moment (well thats my opinion, there are 3 strong other candidates in messi ronaldo and drogba), but apart from him, united's offense isn't particularly great - and worse player for player than the offense of barcelona arsenal and chelsea, the three teams it's natural to compare united with. fletcher is the only midfielder I think would be a starting on either of those other three teams, and rooney is the only striker who would be a starter.
Champions League Last 8 = 3-4 English teams + 1 Spanish team + 1 German team + 1-2 teams that qualify because they don't draw big names + the team that knocks out Real
Champions League Last 8 = 3-4 English teams + 1 Spanish team + 1 German team + 1-2 teams that qualify because they don't draw big names + the team that knocks out Real
lol how can there be 4 english teams when liverpool is already out. Or are you speaking in general for the last 8 of CL ?
Chelsea also lost the away leg just like Real. The two other Spanish teams drew their away legs.
This time the only possibility is 3 English teams + 1 Spanish +1 German + 2 teams not drawing big names + 1 team knocking out Real
So that means Chelsea is the 3rd English team - Bayern is the standout German Team - Stuttgart loses to Barca because Stuttgart actually drew a big name. Barca would then be the standout Spanish Team + Lyon already beat Real. So the two that didn't draw big names will be the winner of Sevilla vs CSKA and Olympiacos and Bordeaux... and Chelsea and Barca have to win.
Not a terrible prediction if someone made it before Champions League or the round of 16 started, but Real losing is not something that you'd bet money on, especially this year.
On March 11 2010 10:04 firedodo wrote: Champions League Last 8 = 3-4 English teams + 1 Spanish team + 1 German team + 1-2 teams that qualify because they don't draw big names + the team that knocks out Real
Flair players might be good at killing off weaker teams and winning leagues but in a cup competition you've gotta defend well. Man United went through a spell of failing in the CL despite EPL success and Arsenal are the same. Real need a complete team to make it.
Drone you really think Fletcher would make it into the Barcelona line-up? The only United midfielder I rate at the moment is Valencia. He's shown some real class attacking recently and he gets back and defends too.
On March 11 2010 10:04 firedodo wrote: Champions League Last 8 = 3-4 English teams + 1 Spanish team + 1 German team + 1-2 teams that qualify because they don't draw big names + the team that knocks out Real
Flair players might be good at killing off weaker teams and winning leagues but in a cup competition you've gotta defend well. Man United went through a spell of failing in the CL despite EPL success and Arsenal are the same. Real need a complete team to make it.
Drone you really think Fletcher would make it into the Barcelona line-up? The only United midfielder I rate at the moment is Valencia. He's shown some real class attacking recently and he gets back and defends too.
I agree. Valencia is really strong right now. He may not be flashy like C. Ronaldo but he basically has been the major factor in that Rooney is the leading goalscorer of the EPL with his crosses (especially since now like half of rooneys goals are from headers).
Also Aresenal is kind of turning into a Man U C. Ronaldo team from two years ago in that Arshavin is their go to player who sets up every goal or just scores himself. Looking at the game where Bendtner had a hat trick, Arshavin did pretty much all the work in every goal he had. Aresenal fans should hope that Arshavin also doesn't follow in C. Ronaldo's footsteps and try to go to Real or Barcelona.
On March 12 2010 06:12 kidd wrote: Not taking anything away from that goal but that was literally some horrid defending. Anyways it was a great run from Nasri.
Same. The defence was horrible during whole game. Bendners second goal was worse defending I have ever seen at this level.
On March 12 2010 06:12 kidd wrote: Not taking anything away from that goal but that was literally some horrid defending. Anyways it was a great run from Nasri.
Same. The defence was horrible during whole game. Bendners second goal was worse defending I have ever seen at this level.
Agreed, I didn't watch the whole game but I also remember seeing Porto failing lots of corner kicks. None of their corners even made it past the first man.
I mean, guys who were completely average or decent EPL defensive midfielders go on to become key players on teams like Barcelona or Real Madrid (diara, yaya toure anyone?), who's to say Fletcher wouldn't run all over those pansy spaniards =o
Yaya never played in the EPL. You can also look at it the other way around, players who come from 'non super physical macho leagues' (non epl), like mascherano(from brazil to epl), essien(france to epl), makelele(spain to epl) and became key players in their teams.
On March 12 2010 05:20 kidd wrote: Also Aresenal is kind of turning into a Man U C. Ronaldo team from two years ago in that Arshavin is their go to player who sets up every goal or just scores himself. Looking at the game where Bendtner had a hat trick, Arshavin did pretty much all the work in every goal he had. Aresenal fans should hope that Arshavin also doesn't follow in C. Ronaldo's footsteps and try to go to Real or Barcelona.
Hmm Im not so sure.
Little Arshie is an absolutely quality player but to say we rely on him for every goal is a huge overestimation. Sure he was IMMENSE against Porto but he's been hit and miss on more than a few occasions this season, against Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool he was invisible. (Also incidentally when we actually did depend on him to bag the goals as the lone striker when we had no other options, he scored the fewest goals.)
Cesc and Van Persie have often been our "go-to players" but this season it's been a real team effort with extensive injuries throughout the team. Every player especially in midfield have stepped it up a notch (Diaby, Song, Rosicky) and we've missed one of if not all of the big three star players (RVP, Theo, Cesc) for so many games, Wenger's got plenty of rotation to do next season if everyones fit.
Also I think Vermaelen is one of the players of the season, this guy is absolute world class.
On March 11 2010 09:04 Liquid`Drone wrote: first of all, I think united is incredibly impressive. but apart from rooney, their defense is significantly better than their offense. rooney is the best player in the world at the moment (well thats my opinion, there are 3 strong other candidates in messi ronaldo and drogba), but apart from him, united's offense isn't particularly great - and worse player for player than the offense of barcelona arsenal and chelsea, the three teams it's natural to compare united with. fletcher is the only midfielder I think would be a starting on either of those other three teams, and rooney is the only striker who would be a starter.
What about Carrick? (although hes not been as solid this season as he has been..)
On March 11 2010 10:04 firedodo wrote: Champions League Last 8 = 3-4 English teams + 1 Spanish team + 1 German team + 1-2 teams that qualify because they don't draw big names + the team that knocks out Real
Flair players might be good at killing off weaker teams and winning leagues but in a cup competition you've gotta defend well. Man United went through a spell of failing in the CL despite EPL success and Arsenal are the same. Real need a complete team to make it.
Drone you really think Fletcher would make it into the Barcelona line-up? The only United midfielder I rate at the moment is Valencia. He's shown some real class attacking recently and he gets back and defends too.
I agree. Valencia is really strong right now. He may not be flashy like C. Ronaldo but he basically has been the major factor in that Rooney is the leading goalscorer of the EPL with his crosses (especially since now like half of rooneys goals are from headers).
Also Aresenal is kind of turning into a Man U C. Ronaldo team from two years ago in that Arshavin is their go to player who sets up every goal or just scores himself. Looking at the game where Bendtner had a hat trick, Arshavin did pretty much all the work in every goal he had. Aresenal fans should hope that Arshavin also doesn't follow in C. Ronaldo's footsteps and try to go to Real or Barcelona.
Valencia is good, but from what I see this season, he is not consistence. His play is highly predictable, and against a strong and fast full back, he will have a very hard time to get the ball in. His sense to cut inside and finish when it is needed is bad.
As for Arshavin at Arsenal...well, he is magnificent but he somehow lacks some explosive that of C.Ronaldo. And Bendtner...I dont even want to talk about him. He needs to improve his finishing or I think Wenger should kick his ass out off the team at the end of this season...
As for Fletcher as starting XI at Barcelona, I'd say no, but it could happen, Barcelona is a very technique depentdant team, and they need some ''worker'' at the defensive midfield who can runs miles after miles and have somewhat attacking ability when it is needed. And now Yaya Torey is that person at Barcelona, but I dont think Fletcher can not fit in.
EPT
Fuuuuuuck!
