Football (Soccer) Thread

[FunkMonk]

Arsenal's drop in form is astonishing, but after Ramsey, Walcott, and Ozil died, can't say it wasn't expected.

It would be interesting to see Arsenal win the FA Cup but end up with 5th place in the league. 

[Warspite]

WENGER OUT
SACK THE BOARD

[celedhring]

Isn't Arsenal's schtick to fade away in the last third of the season?

Winning the FA would break the trophy duck, at least.

[Warspite]

We faded in the last third of 2007/08, our recent schtick has been to scrape CL qualification.

To throw away our position at the top of the league with 2 points from 12 has me utterly baffled.

I've never been a member of the WOB (Wenger Out Brigade) but I'm seriously questioning what in the name of God he is doing right now with the team. We have our best attacking outlets injured, yet he persists with the same intricate offensive orientation that yields only sterile possession. As a result, teams don't fear our attack and can focus on easy counter-attacking strategies that we find it very difficult to defend against with our slow defensive midfielders.

[Josquius]

Wenger is one of the best managers going. With a fraction of the funds and fan base of the other big teams he has kept Arsenal consistantly one of the top teams in the country.
I really respect Arsenal for sticking with him where most teams have a revolving door of managers.

[Warspite]

Wenger is one of the best managers going. With a fraction of the funds and fan base of the other big teams he has kept Arsenal consistantly one of the top teams in the country.
I really respect Arsenal for sticking with him where most teams have a revolving door of managers.

And now with the transfer and wage budget to take on the big players, remind me who he brought in during our January injury crisis?

A crocked attacking midfielder

[celedhring]

Getting Özil was a coup.

[Valmy]

Everton uber alles

[Sheilbh]

Isn't Arsenal's schtick to fade away in the last third of the season?

I think that's more Spurs' role. And this season they are doing it spectacularly

Everton uber alles

[Syt]

It appears that I will be in Barcelona on the last weekend of October. In case that Barcelona has a home match that evening, how far in advance would it be advisable to buy a ticket?

[PDH]

Six years.

[Ed Anger]

Everton uber alles

Booooooooooooooooo

[mongers]

No wonder they didn't do well, fielding a team of madmen, including two too many on the pitch and who's ever had success with a 3-2-7 formation. 

I'm ashamed to say that I had to read this twice to get the joke, but still...

Thanks for that.

[FunkMonk]

Wenger is one of the best managers going. With a fraction of the funds and fan base of the other big teams he has kept Arsenal consistantly one of the top teams in the country.
I really respect Arsenal for sticking with him where most teams have a revolving door of managers.

And now with the transfer and wage budget to take on the big players, remind me who he brought in during our January injury crisis?

A crocked attacking midfielder

One of Wenger's great managerial traits is his almost absurd level of confidence in his trusted players. Possibly his greatest fault is his almost absurd level of confidence in his trusted players.

That said, following this collapse, I expect he'll buy big this summer. Striker, midfielder, and defender. Striker because holy hell they need another option other than Giroud and ?????, a midfielder because of the inevitable injury crisis and Wenger loves collecting midfielders anyway, and a defender or two for when Vermaelen and/or Sagna leave in the summer. Striker and defender are most important though.

Anything less will be a failed summer IMO.

Hopefully an FA Cup can tide the fans over after a 5th place finish. 

[Sheilbh]

Hopefully an FA Cup can tide the fans over after a 5th place finish. 

I think Arsenal are still more likely to get 4th.

But will Wenger carry on?