Think Arsenal have had players performing out of their skins for the latter half of the season, hence the shift in fortunes. Ljunberg has excelled himself and the likes of Campbell and Edu have come on leaps and bounds. Man for Man I'd still say United are a stronger side, but have simply under-performed here, and in Europe. Increasingly they're starting to look like a one man team (Keane) and Fergie's tactics have to be called into question - especially trying to (mis)fit Veron into what was previously the country's strongest midfield. Sack Fergie anyone?
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OT: Two-niiiiiil to the Arsenaaaal
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This season has been one monumental Fergie fuck-up from start to finish. Effectively sacking Stam, and replacing him with an ex-good sweeper in Blanc rather than a bona-fide central defender was a mistake in itself, as was the purchase of Veron. While Veron may be one of the best central midfielders in the world, he isn't one of the best available to ManUre in the systems they play, and wouldn't get in ahead of Giggs, Beckham, Keane or Scholes. Fergie's lost it, seeming to want to perpetuate petty feuds rather than put a team out to maintain the dominance they had. Some of their performances this season have been awesome, some of them pretty sloppy. Barthez doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence, particularly in Wes Brown who seems to hate playing in front of him.
Where does he go from here ? Get half a new side, or go himself ? Having taken a new three-year contract, it would seem that new players would be the chosen route. Cash in on Barthez after the World Cup, likewise Veron, and pick up two central defenders and a proper keeper. Then again, wouldn't it be nice to see them screw up again ?!
Think it's showed how important Beckham is to the team as well. I think a lot of it is Fergie's fault - It's been obvious especially in the last couple of weeks that Wenger seems to have far more respect of his own players and the press than Fergie. You couldn't imagine Wenger letting Keane have any number of outbursts against his own team mates. Fergie's tried to play his crappy mind games, and lost emphatically.
Didn't Wenger let Vieira get away with a similar outburst at the start of the season? Which perpetuated rumours of him being off to ManYoo or Real Madrid? These things come in swings and roundabouts anyways. Next year will probably be Fergie's year, and Wenger will be chasing second, with the press on his back instead. Such is life. At the end of the day, there's little to choose between them. Least we've had a decent Premiership this year. And let's not forget, it's likely to the be the Scousers that come second too. . .
Vieira or Keane? Bergkamp or Veron? Pires or Giggs? Seaman or Barthez? Henry or Van Nistelroy? Campbell or Blanc?
Etc.
It's debatable who has the best team on paper, but the Arse were the superior onfield combination. A key difference saw the gritty workhorses like Keown, Parlour, Grimandi, etc able to grind out results while the unbalanced Utd line-up faltered.
It'll be interesting to see who Arsenal will target in the off-season, they were robbed of their optimum line-up for most of this season, IMHO. They must do everything to retain Vieira however.
:\pimp2:
"I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd." Johnny Giles
Originally posted by El Jarvo Didn't Wenger let Vieira get away with a similar outburst at the start of the season? Which perpetuated rumours of him being off to ManYoo or Real Madrid? These things come in swings and roundabouts anyways. Next year will probably be Fergie's year, and Wenger will be chasing second, with the press on his back instead. Such is life. At the end of the day, there's little to choose between them. Least we've had a decent Premiership this year. And let's not forget, it's likely to the be the Scousers that come second too. . .
It wasnt an outburst questioning players commitment if I rememeber rightly though. More one of frustration about not signing top players. And I'm sure Wenger didn't then say 'Patrick can say whatever he likes as captain' like Sir Ferg did last night.
In a roundabout way, surely Vieira basically said the rest of the current team weren't up to it, no? And, does anybody really believe he'll still be lining up in an Arsenal shirt come next season? There's commitment for you.
Fair play to Keane for saying what football fans think aloud all the time: that certain player's have bottled it at crucial times etc. What amazes me about Fergie is that he's actually stood by players (ie. Veron) who've obviously been majorly over-performing..
Depthcharge, I think United's problem is that their bread & butter players (Butt, Neville, Silvestre, etc) have genuinely been doing their jobs week in, week out, but it's their flair players who've let them down at the last. Sublime on occasion but haven't been turning it on every week the way the likes of Ljunberg's been doing of late, or Pires before him.
Originally posted by depthcharge Henry or Van Hoojidonk?
Not signing that mercenary are they ? Far better off sticking with Van Nistelrooy !!!! 
Originally posted by To Nkroachment : Yarbles > Originally posted by depthcharge> > Henry or Van Hoojidonk?>
Not signing that mercenary are they ? Far better off sticking with Van Nistelrooy !!!!
Depthcharge lives a little distance from our shores - Man United, Arsenal, Feyenoord, they're all the same to him!
Originally posted by El Jarvo In a roundabout way, surely Vieira basically said the rest of the current team weren't up to it, no? And, does anybody really believe he'll still be lining up in an Arsenal shirt come next season? There's commitment for you.
Hmmmm sort of..but it's different to suggesting players aren't putting it in on the pitch - which surely should be left to the manager behind closed doors. Can't be great for team spirit to have him mouthing off like that. Fair play to him for saying it - but not the combined press of the world. Regarding Vieira...did anyone expect him to line up for Arsenal this year? Yet he still did, and I don't think his performances, particuarly recently have lacked any commitment to the Arse cause at all
Originally posted by Seb Briggs > Originally posted by El Jarvo> In a roundabout way, surely Vieira basically said the rest of the current team weren't up to it, no? And, does anybody really believe he'll still be lining up in an Arsenal shirt come next season? There's commitment for you.>
Regarding Vieira...did anyone expect him to line up for Arsenal this year? Yet he still did, and I don't think his performances, particuarly recently have lacked any commitment to the Arse cause at all
Nothing at all to do with adding value to his signing-on fee for a post-World Cup transfer at all !!!!!
Originally posted by Seb Briggs you're a cynical man sloppy ;)
You haven't seen some of the signing on fees these ex-pros are after who have just been released following the TV farce......average Div 2 players who see non-league as a meal ticket and expect us to pay through the nose. One recent Div 3 24 year old we were talking to wanted £600 a week and ten grand in his pocket, a 50% payrise for dropping two divisions !! That sort of thing makes you cynical. Mark my words though, by the end of June it'll be an employers market again, as hundreds of ex-pros are faced with taking either the going rate or the dole.
Originally posted by El Jarvo > > > > > Not signing that mercenary are they ? Far better off sticking with Van Nistelrooy !!!!
Depthcharge lives a little distance from our shores - Man United, Arsenal, Feyenoord, they're all the same to him!
Ooops! Slip of the tongue in all this championship madness...
Any more wise cracks and I'll be testing you chaps' knowledge of Australian sporting leagues! I don't do too badly from out here in the colonies..
:\pimp2:
and I was just shocked to see ESPN (that's the big Cable sports network here in the states) showing a highlight from the match...they never, ever, mention football unless it refers to the NFL or NCAA....
