British Football Thread (all divisions)

[Obltn Strand]

Both draws made me decent lunch money and Norwich is six points behind Leeds. In this form Norwich will be on the playoffs. Huddersfield, Reading or Leeds will be knocked out...

[Jimbuna]

A long way to go yet and many points up for grabbing.

[Moonlight]

Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal, a humiliating collapse by the Arsenal team once again, these players have a manager whose been past his sell by date by some years and by hell its bleeding showing.

There are 3 definite things going to happen at Arsenal this season.
1. Sanchez will be going some where else.
2. Ozil will be leaving as well.
3. Wenger's time is up as manager.

[Highbury]

Wenger will have to leave, he will never be fired. Kronke doesn't care enough about results just finances. Arsenal are the 4th most profitable team in the world. (Hmm 4th... sounds familiar).

I have long since lowered my bar of success for this season to finishing above Sp*rs. 22 years of that would still give me a smile

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Moonlight

Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal, a humiliating collapse by the Arsenal team once again, these players have a manager whose been past his sell by date by some years and by hell its bleeding showing.

There are 3 definite things going to happen at Arsenal this season.
1. Sanchez will be going some where else.
2. Ozil will be leaving as well.
3. Wenger's time is up as manager.

A possible no 4 could well be the appointment of Rafa Benitez as his replacement if there is any truth in the current rumour mill.

[Threadfin]

Arsenal need a change in direction, I think that's fairly evident. Every year it's a question of mentality. That has to be down to the manager. And throw in some questionable recruitment leading to imbalanced squads and that's your recipe right there for fourth place. They have some fantastic footballers, but not all over the pitch.

If Ozil and Sanchez leave it will be very difficult to recover, and if Wenger is shown the door (or decides to walk through it on his own) I wonder where they will be a year from now.

They need two better strikers, and one of those needs to be world class. Giroud, Welbeck aren't the answer. even if Giroud impresses on occasion, it isn't often enough for a side with Arsenal's aspirations.

Ozil ghosts in and out of matches. On his day he might be the league's most creative force, but at times he is invisible. Sanchez is a full-run motor and losing him will see the side stripped of energy.

In addition, they need a midfield enforcer. Xhaka was to be that player but he is always a mad moment from a red.

I think if they keep Bellerin they're good at fullback. They need another top-class center-back as well.

As I've noted earlier in this thread I'm a Liverpool supporter, and that has it's own challenges, but it must be super frustrating to be an Arsenal supporter as they flatter to deceive each year only to have it all fall apart around the first knockout round.

[Moonlight]

I'm not a supporter of Arsenal either I just like the style of football they play, something's been missing from Arsenal since the invincibles team was broken up and the finger of blame is pointing in your direction Mr Wenger.

There isn't a manager in the UK who is strong minded enough to put things back to how they should be but there is one in Spain, whatever it'll cost to get him they must pay it because if they don't I can see Arsenal becoming just another mid table team in the near future.

if Diego Simeone cannot put a winning mentality into these players minds he'll get rid of them pretty damned quick, he'll sort the good from the bad and bring in the players that's needed to do things his way, that's what Arsenal need, a manager with plenty of backbone.

[Highbury]

One of the big problems in replacing Wenger is that his replacement will have to be a man of stature. No matter what the public thinks, players around the world seem to still respect him. Quite a few (including Ozil & Alexis) have claimed he was a reason they were willing to sign. If he is replaced by someone of middling reputation then many world class players would probably take a "wait and see" approach to the team for a few seasons.

Either way, I followed them before him or any of the current crop of players were around. I will still follow the team when they are all gone.

[Jimbuna]

Arsene Wenger says he will definitely be managing next season, whether at Arsenal "or somewhere else".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39001868

[Jimbuna]

Brighton won yesterday taking them two points clear at the top but TOON play their game in hand tomorrow night and it is to be televised

[Jimbuna]

All set for tonight, beer is chilling in the fridge and Dads photo is positioned facing the tv screen

[Jimbuna]

Not the greatest of performances and worrying to see top scorer Dwight Gayle substituted half way through the first half on his first game back with a suspected recurrence of the hamstring injury but a 2-0 win takes the TOON back to top position.

[Jimbuna]

Anyone remember earlier in the season when a certain Mr Lansbury (who was playing for Nottingham Forest at the time) feigned two fouls and had two TOON players sent off?

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport...cards-12282989

Both cards were later rescinded and surprise surprise, guess who scored an own goal for hs new club Villa against the TOON the other night.



Poetic justice

[Obltn Strand]

Six point game and victory...Woods scored once and that was enough....

[Jimbuna]

Brighton at home to Reading must be the match of the day.