thedon5
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Obviously... Not?
English Football Thread 2012/2013
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I only made a news out of it because it was ESPN, they usually don't broadcast league football, only the 2 major international tournaments and the odd WC qualifier involving USA.
There's obviously a soccer package you can get, think it's called Fox Soccer, they telecast most games (Premier league, Champions league, Europa league and FA Cup). I sadly don't have it, yet, so right now, I watch my matches ya know. #bootleg
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Now to our performance, very good, played like champions the American commentator said and I have to agree with him. Kolarov was immense, Richards at the back looked 'right', Milner in the middle too and Tevez was his usual high work rate self, bit unlucky to not get a goal but hey, what can ya do.
thedon5
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We had a great game, I was expecting a draw but good to get the three points.
thedon5
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Arteta averages six more passes per game this season than Xavi. Most in Europe of course. Also one of the top twenty in Europe for tackles.
The guy's an animal. Still no Spain cap!!!
The guy's an animal. Still no Spain cap!!!
shravi
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I understand the calls for a striker but that's not what was wrong with our performance today. We didn't even create any chances. I can recall about 3. First half when Sterling got in the way of Sahin's shot, Suarez's mesmerizing run with a poor finish, and Sterling in the penalty box who shot instead of squaring the ball for another player. Not good enough.
Pretty poor and I think Stoke deserved a draw. Stevie G also not at his best today. Even Joe Allen was average in his decision making; didn't always pick the best passes.
On the bright side, clean sheet. I believe its the first.
Pretty poor and I think Stoke deserved a draw. Stevie G also not at his best today. Even Joe Allen was average in his decision making; didn't always pick the best passes.
On the bright side, clean sheet. I believe its the first.
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ste_mc_efc
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you say that, but having a striker makes it easier to create chances.
It's no coincidence that when we shipped the aging saha out and brought in jelavic that we started doing well. Yes our midfield improved too with gibson and pienaar, but having a genuine striker for that level up front gave the team more of a focal point. We were having plenty of possession and territory in matches before Christmas and losing or scraping draws. because we couldn't create chances. as we had nobody to create for. teams could sit back when we had possession because we couldn't hurt them if they defended.
War
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Real talk. When i look at the Spain squad currently, behind the tried and tested mid-field trio of Xavi/Xabi/Busquets i'd say Arteta is their best like-for-like back-up.
In their current squad for upcoming world cup qualifiers, i see Del Bosque has some guy from Rea Betis called Benant in their. I won't say he is not good enough, since i've never seen the lad play - but surely staring in the premiership/champions league for Arsenal has more weight than whatever impressive stuff Del Bosque may have seen in Benant for Betis.
Mata is also very unlucky to miss out. I know Solado has been doing well for Valencia of late - but i reckon Mata would still be a better option in the squad.
But damn overall its shows how much fantastic depth Spain has, as most of us already knew...
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thedon5
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Yeah Benat has been puzzling. I have seen him play, he is a dead ball specialist for sure, but he can't be much better than Arteta with the dead ball really. Elsewhere, Arteta is miles ahead.
We were linked to him in the transfer window a bit, I would've been a bit disappointed if we picked him up.
Arteta is easily the best replacement for Xabi/Busquets Spain have. Only reason I can think of him not playing is he's a bit old, but he's still younger than Xavi and probably Xabi too.
England should snatch him if possible
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Mata has been fantastic since the last international break for Chelsea. Not sure why Soldado would keep him out of the team, they play different positions, but Mata should definitely get in ahead of David Silva. Mata and Cazorla have easily outshone Silva this season.
We were linked to him in the transfer window a bit, I would've been a bit disappointed if we picked him up.
Arteta is easily the best replacement for Xabi/Busquets Spain have. Only reason I can think of him not playing is he's a bit old, but he's still younger than Xavi and probably Xabi too.
England should snatch him if possible
.Mata has been fantastic since the last international break for Chelsea. Not sure why Soldado would keep him out of the team, they play different positions, but Mata should definitely get in ahead of David Silva. Mata and Cazorla have easily outshone Silva this season.
Silva is more of a regular in the side though and it would take some mighty poor performances from him to lose that. But I agree with you on the fact that both Mata and Santi have outshone him this season, showed some improvement in the last 2 league games though, was immense against Sunderland last weekend and Fulham the one before that.
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Rodney Marsh: Manchester City should replace Mario Balotelli - ESPNFC
What do you guys think? Like I want him to stay at the club, but at the same time I understand that he's mighty hard to manage and right when you think he's improving he shows a side of him that you really don't want to see, ugh, why always me.
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ste_mc_efc
Chairman of Selectors
I think that rodney marsh is clown and a hack and is just saying something to try and get some attention.
War
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Yeah Benat has been puzzling. I have seen him play, he is a dead ball specialist for sure, but he can't be much better than Arteta with the dead ball really. Elsewhere, Arteta is miles ahead.
We were linked to him in the transfer window a bit, I would've been a bit disappointed if we picked him up.
Arteta is easily the best replacement for Xabi/Busquets Spain have. Only reason I can think of him not playing is he's a bit old, but he's still younger than Xavi and probably Xabi too.
England should snatch him if possible
Mata has been fantastic since the last international break for Chelsea. Not sure why Soldado would keep him out of the team, they play different positions, but Mata should definitely get in ahead of David Silva. Mata and Cazorla have easily outshone Silva this season.
Ha England did try to get Arteta about 2 years ago, but stringent home nation rules prevented him from qualifying for England.
On Soldada i sorta mean Spain to me don't need a pure striker like him other than Villa and Torres. As we saw in the Euro's they were close to perfecting the "false 9" role and i reckon Mata like players could play it.
puddleduck
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They're all at La Masia learning how to be midfielders
thedon5
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That's true for Mata, but Silva has never been THAT much better than Cazorla. Only difference was Silva won the title last season, Cazorla didn't. Silva only has 20 odd caps more and a lot of that must have to do with how Cazorla missed the World Cup through injury.
Early days yet, but Cazorla has been infinitely better than Silva has been in 2012. Silva from 2011 is perhaps a better match.
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