Why does Mancini persist in playing Ballotelli? The guy's nothing special; he snaps at chances in the hope of getting glory/headlines/being able to stick it to the manager, rather than compose himself, wait and control the ball, and maybe score. How many times have we seen this happen? "OH and Ballotelli is IN oh no wait he's skyed it!"

And TEVEZ is left on the bench? Come on: had he been playing from the start I think Man City would have won that, or at least made it a lot harder for United. And when Mario is taken off/substituted he ALWAYS ****s off down the tunnel, throwing his toys out of the pram. How team-spirited is that? Thinks he's Maradona in his prime, or something!

He has no god-given right to be picked. He should be happy when he is, not moan when he isn't. And when on the pitch, Mario, JUSTIFY your ****ing selection! WORK for your place! Everyone else has to!

The perfect antithesis of Mario Ballotelli: Edin Djeko (sp?)--- hardly ever starts, but when he's subbed in he more often than not gets a goal, often the winning one. Does he complain that he's not picked for the starting eleven? No, he supports his team-mates and when he gets a chance to shine, he bloody well does! Course he'd like to be starting every week, but not everyone can. Djeko realises that, Mario does not, and so the Chelsea man gets more goals when subbed in than Mario does when either subbed in or out...

Dzeko mate, and agree with everything you said. Balotelli is overrated just because he's seen as a wacky character. He's a cock. Can't stand all the Balotelli cocksuckers either.

That backheel was hilarious too, 2nd time he's done that.

No. Not to the fan.

I don't get why mancini doesn't always start tevez. He is the driving force in that team, without him they're relatively easy to contain. Balotelli is a childish numpty with occasional flashes of the player he could be, but probably won't become.

I just wish tevez had come to liverpool all those years ago...I wanted it then and he's still pure quality.

I suppose if you look into it more deeply he's probably still pissed that Tevez left him in the lurch last season, and that had he been there, they could probably have won the title easier and earlier (though not as dramatically: how cool was that?) --- I think he should maybe draw a line under it.

Mancini: "Okay here's the lineup for Saturday. Carlos, you're in. Mario, get me a sandwich. And try not to mess the order up this time!" :D

Nah, he should realise he's handicapping one of his biggest talents and let Tevez have his first team place every week. They can't afford to be dancing around this issue, specially after yesterday.

http://cadfael.tv/image/src/1355257750059.gif

lol

Who's playing? Don't recognise either strip...

Bradford vs Arsenal, Arsenal went out on penalties, funny as ****. Listening to Talksport now and the gooners sound absolutely distraught.

So was that an own goal for Arsene's men? And Bradford still only drew? And BEAT Arsenal on penalties? Christ! Who took them?

This would be League Cup then, I presume?

Own goal? Gervinho missed an open goal in that gif mate. League Cup yeah mate, looking like it'll be 8 years for Arsenal now.

The League Cup means nothing.

You can't seriously think that? It's a trophy, and you haven't won one for 7 going on 8 years now. I'm sure it means something.

It would be nice but It's less important than three points on Monday in the grand scheme of things.

Unf I have to agree with the Bell, and say that the phrase "[insert trophy here] means nothing" is almost always quoted by those who have never won it. In fairness, Goofle, if Arsenal won it it would seem a big deal to you. I think every cup/league should mean something.

On another subject (though linked) , what do you guys think of Chelsea going to take part in this world club championship thing? Waste of time or necessary? Should they be concentrating on the Prem? Is this like the time Man U went to Japan, and everyone put them down over it, saying they were putting money above league performance/title ambitions? (They probably won the title that year, in the end...) :rolleyes: :)

Edit: Bell, just realised you changed your username. Like the irony! Cool! :thumb:

I didn't when bother watching the match live as it mattered so little to me.

I personally think to say the League Cup means nothing is a bit arrogant, tell Birmingham City it meant nothing when they won it. Na it's not the Champions League, course it's not, but it's a major honour in English football.

Are the next rounds structured or will there be another draw for the semis?

The World Club Championship is good, surprised it's not taken more seriously by European teams. I know why it isn't (our teams are generally much stronger than theirs, in recent years you have teams like Gamba Osaka, Liga De Quito, Al Alhy etc) but it should be. When the South American teams play in it their seasons have already finished, think they start in January so this is basically their pre-season, with the bonus of being crowned World Champions. For Europeans they might see it as a nuisance getting in the way of their league campaigns.

I know the year United withdrew from the FA Cup they got slammed, then they played in some continental tournament and were out first round. They beat Palmeiras and became World Champions in 99 but that was a different competition to the one they got criticised for playing in, I don't recall any uproar when they played in Japan in 2008. Either way, I know both times they've played in these competitions they've gone on to win the league.

:afro:

Fair enough.

Should win that away at Reading, although I can see Everton/Spurs taking the 4th spot.

City/United
Chelsea
Spurs/Everton

Top 4.

We will finish comfortably above both. Everton are nowhere near us or Spurs.

Everton have started off well and usually get better. Don't see why they can't get 4th.

Because they are nowhere near good enough. Play long balls to Fellaini and that's about it.

You could use that sort of argument against Arsenal though, tippy tappy around the box, to the side, back again and that's it. Whatever they do, is clearly working. They have beaten United and drawn to City away. No pushovers.

Halfway through the season and in 4th, not entirely stupid to suggest they have a chance of finishing in 4th. They've only been beaten twice as well, once less than the league leaders and half as much as Arsenal.

I am not saying they are pushovers, just nowhere near as good as Arsenal or Spurs.

I don't know what world you're living in, but can liverpool come first there?

No chance.

Oh well, hopefully they'll get better in this one. :)

Liverpool finish 4th? Is that what you were asking?

What I'd like is for these commentators to stop mixing up their words.
Goalkeepers PUNCH the ball away, they don't FIST it. Fisting is, er, something else altogether... :shycouch:
and a team who have crappy defence are not statuesque: that word does not mean they look or move like statues. It means tall, graceful, elegant. Statuelike is the word you're looking for, Motson, Bauer et al!

PLEASE get it right! You're driving me mad!!!

Not a fan of David Pleat then, Trollheart?

Goofle, I have to say Arsenal were sh1t last night (well, I saw it last night on TV). To have a game like that go to penalties and then LOSE to the EIGHTY-SECOND placed team in the league! Christ, yiz hardly scored one penalty! Important to Arsenal's plans or not, that must surely rank as a huge slapdown and a major embarrassment, and I hope you're hanging your head...

I'm going to weigh in with my view, and Goofle's probably sick of hearing it but Wenger needs to go.
Yes, he was highly successful at the club but you can only rely on past glories to do so much.
I appreciate Wenger believes in investing in youth and there are a number of young guys at Arsenal with undoubted potential, but potential doesn't win anything.
Neither does being a feeder club for other teams; Fabregas, Flamini, Adebayor & Van Persie have all left in the last few seasons and haven't been adequately placed, and at times Arsenal relied on players like Cesc and Robin to carry the team. They have nobody to allow them to coast into the top 4 and European competition any more and they're suffering because of it.

Wenger seems oblivious to this and is obviously incapable of getting the best out of the players he currently has at his disposal. It's time for him to leave and allow someone younger and more in touch with how to be successful in 2012/13.

Wenger has to sell players to keep the club in profit every year.

They must be racking up losses in several financial areas then.
If that is the case, a complete overhaul may be necessary.

How would that help? We are signing new shirt/sponsor deals (or have done already) which will massively improve our income.

If you need to sell your top players each year to stay afloat, then there's something wrong with your teams finances.
Arsenal already have the highest ticket prices in the league, and don't come close to the top of the wage brackets.
You would have to figure that somewhere they're leaking revenue.

Exactly, but I just stated that we are dealing with that by signing new sponsor/kit deals.

You could be right, but as an Arsenal fan are you going to be content with battling to reach the Europa League by seasons end?

Bit of a strange thought, but has anyone else noticed that Exeter is an incredibly odd city? It's got a football team that's just been relegated still lower last season, I think from League 1 to League 2, and their proudest moment was a draw with Man United in the carling cup ten years ago. Their stadium was unusable for a few weeks last year because some gypsies had occupied it from the open woodland on one side, refusing to permit games to be played.

However their rugby team is without doubt one of the best in the country, and can be relied upon to batter Newcastle, Sale Sharks and Harlequins when they are in good form.

So what actually makes a particular place do so well in one sport and disproportionately badly in another? There have to b some determining factors, but I can't imagine what. (I mean Birminham is huge, yet can produce neither a good football nor rugby team)

Investment into the sport.

If people put their time and money, fans as well as shareholders, owners, managers etc into a team, the team is going to be bigger and better than one who does not.
If there's a major fanbase for a sport in an area, then it'll take away from other sports.
Not to say one person can't like two sports, but how many people seriously hold a season ticket to a rugby and a football team?

Birmingham City won the League Cup just under 2 years ago and competed in the Europa League 1 year ago. Aston Villa are one of the most successful football clubs in England and Europe with a fantastic stadium. Obviously Man U and Liverpool dick on them but not many teams can boast a history like Villa's. Then there's West Bromwich Albion who have been awesome this season and are also very successful, won the league twice, the FA Cup five times and also winners of the League Cup. Not too shabby.

Yeah, I'd say BHX have it covered, though with one team relegated (and struggling) and the other looking perilously down at the drop, you'd have to wonder is its glory days behind it now?