6 minutes ago, Slojo said:

It gets frustrating when you can't offer constructive arguments and make bogus claims, an opinion is an opinion but at least tell me how Arsenal are the same as Chelsea.

I'll even admit Chelsea are poor right now, the Barcelona game doesn't fool me at all, we haven't been good this year and I doubt we'll get top 4 but Arsenal are quite a few levels behind us. Any of their fans would swap the Chelsea team for theirs in a heartbeat, but now I've just made an argument about their fans you'll probably just invalidate that with another ArsenalFanTV comment. 

I'm really not trying to butt in on your discussion or pick an argument because it's quite a complex thing to compare football teams, but your argument that Arsenal would take our entire team due to being 8 points behind, would only Hazard get in United's team as they are 6 points ahead of us? You're probably going to say we're better than United.

Despite the results and performances against, we are better than Arsenal, league tables don't often lie, but I don't think we're streets ahead for a number of reasons.

Wenger needs to leave. I'd take Conte at Arsenal if you guys want rid? 

3 hours ago, Snedger said:

I'm really not trying to butt in on your discussion or pick an argument because it's quite a complex thing to compare football teams, but your argument that Arsenal would take our entire team due to being 8 points behind, would only Hazard get in United's team as they are 6 points ahead of us? You're probably going to say we're better than United.

Despite the results and performances against, we are better than Arsenal, league tables don't often lie, but I don't think we're streets ahead for a number of reasons.

Depends how you put it, to say we are near Arsenals level is worse than saying we are streets ahead. I don't think we are streets ahead but we are definitely a few levels above them like I said earlier. It starts from the bottom to the top, I don't highly rate Courtois but I would take him over current Cech any day of the week, and their back defensive line is atrocious compared to ours, I think even our worst defender Gary Cahill would be a starter there. We have better wingbacks and midfielders although I would take Wilshere over DD & Baka and just about any Arsenal player over Baka right now. And yes Bellerin is incredibly overhyped, he's a one-dimensional player who's only trait is being very quick, he's useless 90% of the time, so I would definitely take our wingback options over theirs. 

Then you go to attack, not one of their players replaces Hazard, I actually prefer Willian to Mikhi, I would take Ozil, that's about it really. As for strikeforce, right now people would probably rate Aubamayeng over Morata, but I'll have to give Aub some time to show what he's capable of in the Premier League first, so far he's struggling. 

Just going off that alone I think it's fair to say Arsenal are some levels behind us. I also think we are massively underperforming this season but a lot of us saw that coming given how fragile the 3-4-3 is when you haven't got the right players. Also, this isn't me being insecure, I was highly impressed with Arsenals January business, I think they upgraded on the sale of Sanchez & Giroud. But you would have to be a complete pessimist to even say we are on the same level as Arsenal. 

Edited March 2, 20188 yr by Slojo

12 hours ago, Brutos said:

How is Wenger still in a job

I think he's destroyed his legacy. His success in his early days at Arsenal is now a distant memory.

I'd be shocked if he was still coaching them beyond this season.

Can't lie i am envious of the way man city have gone about their business. The club seems well run from the outside looking in. I hope for a time soon that CFC get run in a similar manner.

Yes it helps if the coach receives sufficient financial backing, but player fees are what they are i guess.

57 minutes ago, Jezz said:

I think he's destroyed his legacy. His success in his early days at Arsenal is now a distant memory.

I'd be shocked if he was still coaching them beyond this season.

Agree, the longer he leaves it the bigger the chance  of ending like another past great, Clough.

Different story with the latter though they both stayed too long.

2 hours ago, enigma said:

Can't lie i am envious of the way man city have gone about their business. The club seems well run from the outside looking in. I hope for a time soon that CFC get run in a similar manner.

Yes it helps if the coach receives sufficient financial backing, but player fees are what they are i guess.

Yes but at the same time City can spend 200 million without making a sale, they're in a much easier position compared to everyone else. 

4 hours ago, enigma said:

Can't lie i am envious of the way man city have gone about their business. The club seems well run from the outside looking in. I hope for a time soon that CFC get run in a similar manner.

Yes it helps if the coach receives sufficient financial backing, but player fees are what they are i guess.

 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

Yes but at the same time City can spend 200 million without making a sale, they're in a much easier position compared to everyone else. 

and have had a stadium and the ability to name it with a trumped up sponsorship deal for the grand total of 4 million a year 

Not entirely sure this thread is where this belongs, but a brilliant article about the philosophy and career of Jorge Valdano, and the idea that football is about the spectacle more than it is about the result:

http://timeontheball.net/2018/01/15/the-philosopher/

On 3/1/2018 at 07:34, Boyne said:

Arsenal now looking for volunteers to shovel sh!t.

Edited March 2, 20188 yr by Osgood is Good

2 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Not entirely sure this thread is where this belongs, but a brilliant article about the philosophy and career of Jorge Valdano, and the idea that football is about the spectacle more than it is about the result:

http://timeontheball.net/2018/01/15/the-philosopher/

Fascinating article, liked it he realised his talents were nowhere near the greats yet still appreciated them.

I looked afterwards to see what he might have said about Conte or Hazard yet couldn't find anything.

BTW- I think you have an interesting user-name, does it represent something important to you?

Don't pay much attention to the Championship but look at the clubs at the bottom of that table. All but Burton Albion recently in the PL, wow. 

Notice Chelsea 'old-boy' Bamford got a hatrick against Leeds for Boro. Pulis just might get them into the play-offs.

Salah can’t stop scoring. I still insist he can’t replicate this form for any other team. 

The 2nd goal was slick. Can't see Pool dropping out of top 4

PFA Player of the Year should be fun. I think I'd take Salah. Kane, Salah and De Brueyne I'm presuming will be the top 3. I think De Brueyne will get it due to Manchester City been so dominant. 

No we are dropping out the top4.....who do you think the powers that be would rather have? A flying pool with all the backing of the media and pundits.....and the famous allegedly always loud Anfield crowd that makes britain proud.......or Chels? What about spurs? Again the backing of the Whole stinking media.....a couple of Eng ohh shining stars that can do no wrong ( including diving and faking all over the place, with the Blessing of the fa and media of course ).......or the hated Chels? Even if we scoop pts and play well, those 2 will get ahead of us.....they will make sure of it.

1 hour ago, ducavis said:

Salah can’t stop scoring. I still insist he can’t replicate this form for any other team. 

I don't know, he was pretty good for Roma, the signs have been there for a while now. He's been improving year after year.

Sarri's Napoli are such a joy to watch passing and moving the ball in quick tempo.

Edited March 3, 20188 yr by BiafranBlue

Seria A is sh*te. Same joyful team that City slapped all over, and who are losing at home to Roma 2-1. 

Come next season: Europa league...we're having a laugh! We f**ked this against Bournemouth and Watford...those two games should have given us a buffer ahead of two tough away Manchester games...need a point at the very least at City tomorrow now.

FIORENTINA CAPTAIN ASTORI DEAD

Football Italia

25 Minutes Ago

Fiorentina and Italy defender Davide Astori has died in his sleep.

The centre-back turned 31 in January and was the captain of the Viola squad, with 14 senior Italy caps and one goal to his name.

He had become a father only two weeks ago.

 

According to Udine Today, the player failed to wake up this morning when he was at the La di Moret hotel in Udine on a training camp with the squad, awaiting today’s match with Udinese.

The reports were spreading rapidly and Fiorentina released a statement this morning to confirm the news.

“Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died,” read the statement.

“For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.”

Udinese-Fiorentina has obviously been called off. There are reports the rest of the Serie A games this weekend could also be cancelled.

 

Shocking news RIP

16 hours ago, Famous CFC said:

Seria A is sh*te. Same joyful team that City slapped all over, and who are losing at home to Roma 2-1. 

What they have achieved this season is still impressive considering their lack of depth. Injury to their best lb too and players like milik out since end of last season. They have been defensively very good too, last night was a anomaly from them. I actually prefer the way Napoli play compared to City, it's more high tempo and less possession based. 

3 minutes ago, enigma said:

What they have achieved this season is still impressive considering their lack of depth. Injury to their best lb too and players like milik out since end of last season. They have been defensively very good too, last night was a anomaly from them. I actually prefer the way Napoli play compared to City, it's more high tempo and less possession based. 

They've done pretty good for sure. Exposed in the CL though. City are clinical as well as possession based. It's highly unlikely they will make any big plays in Europe anytime soon. Seria A is average at the moment. 

7 minutes ago, enigma said:

What they have achieved this season is still impressive considering their lack of depth. Injury to their best lb too and players like milik out since end of last season. They have been defensively very good too, last night was a anomaly from them. I actually prefer the way Napoli play compared to City, it's more high tempo and less possession based. 

You took the words out of my mind, Napoli losing last night was an anomaly, they play good football and has been able to sustain the pressure on them by Juve yet still playing some sensational stuff.

I love their pattern of play too to Man City's boring slow pass and tiki-taka wannabes. Napoli's high tempo and quickness in moving the play around is a joy to watch.