04/27/24
December 09, 2007
Arsenal unbeaten no more.: EPL leaders Arsenal saw their unbeaten record fall and their four-point lead cut down to one after a 2-1 upset by lowly Middlesborough. Coincidentally, the only other unbeaten team this season, Liverpool, also had their record swept aside by a resurgent Reading yesterday.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 06:33 PM - 7 comments
I agree with you on all points, chico, except changing the name of the fantasy pool. (btw, I sat Green out and played Almunia.) But seriously, folks, I think Rafa was planning on a quick hit-and-run, stacking up the team with three strikers, resting Hyppia and Finnan and starting young Jack Hobbs in defence. This way, he probably figured, you get an early goal, then take off Torres and Gerrard and just close up shop. I was seriously surprised at the three-striker start in an away game against a team that really doesn't allow for easy wins. Plus the narrow 3-4-1-2 allowed a fast and wide Reading team to stretch our defence too easily. You release the wingers to make crosses but, more important, to spread out the defence and open up a channel for the strikers to break in the middle. The three-man D had way too much to handle in that regard. Sissoko had some crucial stops but, man, that guy can't pass! So, he'll make some nice stops but he can't release to the right person to get a move going, or his pass is so sloppy it gives the ball back to the opposition. There was hardly any rhythm to the Liverpool game yesterday. Hahnemann had some good saves, and so did the goalposts. The ref's calls were crap, but we still had 15 attempts to Reading's 8, so we weren't converting either.
posted by worldcup2002 at 07:47 PM on December 09, 2007
Both unbeaten runs ended on the same weekend. Liverpool played high risk football, but should have had a couple of penalties. Win some, lose some*. Arsenal were ambushed, missing both Hleb and Fabregas, their in-form midfielders. I suspect a lack of depth might do them in the long run home, compared with United and even Chelsea. A pity, as the team plays magnificently when on song. And chico - I think my bath was deeper than yours. *Or in the case of Derby: "lose some, lose some".
posted by owlhouse at 09:26 PM on December 09, 2007
I blame Marriner, he blew the game worse than that Chelsea fiasco.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:38 PM on December 09, 2007
They should have an inquiry and suspend him like they did the ref in the Chelsea game. Mariner had way more and crucial mistakes in this game.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:44 PM on December 10, 2007
Arsenal were dire--their most useless performance in quite some time. Middlesboro fully deserved all 3 points. I hope Wenger now sees the folly of playing Diarra and Gilberto together in Midfield. They provided no creativity and I remember a number of occassions when the camara caught them standing at the same point on the pitch, 5 yards apart. Neither had any interest in moving forward. When, too late, Denilson was brought on, things at least improved a bit. In any case, I've been on record since before the season that the top 4 would be a dogfight battle this year, the actual performances are bearing me out so far.
posted by trox at 09:57 PM on December 10, 2007
Should be interesting Sunday with ManUtd at Liverpool and Chelsea at Arsenal.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:41 PM on December 11, 2007
I watched the Liverpool game, and they just didn't have it. Reading seem to be slightly better than their record, and when they get some momentum, they seem to know what to do with it. They were full value for the win, especially against a flat Red side. That said, I'm glad Arsenal didn't take another big step forward. I know the season isn't half over, but there are 19 teams worth of fans that don't want the Gunners pulling away from the pack just yet. (And I'd like to maintain the internal illusion that Liverpool is still the second-best side in the EPL for a while yet.) One more thing. I move we change the name of the EPL Fantasy Pool to the Tub, as I just took a serious bath.