After one of the most meaningless international breaks in the history of international breaks (aka pretty fucking meaningless), the action moves back to its rightful place for this time of year with a very decent opening game, as City travel down to London to play Arsenal in another early test to the Gunners' ambition. It's looking likely that Wenger will put the Sanogo experiment on hold for now and go with Welbeck at the front, which could be fruitful if his form against Switzerland is to be believed. LVG had some fairly harsh words for the young striker but he could very well be the short-term answer in Giroud's absence. Straight after that game the only two unbeaten teams will meet at Stamford Bridge as Swansea will try to keep their fantastic start going. Could be a tall order considering how efficient the Blues have been. One of the big themes this matchday will be the introduction of various players for their new squads, and none can expect more scrutiny than alleged 20-something Radamel Falcao. United have yet another "easy" game to try to get their season back on track, might Redknapp's QPR be the team that finally lets them open their win counter? Speaking of new boys Liverpool will be able to count on all their recruits for the first time, which means Adam Lallana could be making his debut for the Reds against the surprising Aston Villa. On the murkier side of things Newcastle will play their first game post-Ben Arfa, a move which seemed to make the coach as happy as it made the fans mad. However Southampton have looked a lot more solid than the Magpies thus far, which means things could get yet more tense for Pardew.

Spain: The Madrid derby has always been a highlight of the Liga calendar, but things are on a whole different level now, and clearly Real have a strong imperative to come out victorious at the Bernabeu, after the bizzare performance they had at Sociedad. Barcelona will be hoping for an easier time as they go to Bilbao to face Athletic, with Messi and Neymar both fit and game-ready.

Italy: Fernando Torres will be making his eagerly awaited debut for Milan this weekend when they go to Parma, an interesting matchup considering they signed Jonathan Biabiany from that club on the very last day of the transfer window. There are exactly 0 big-time matchups this weekend in the league so this one might have to do for the headlines

Germany: None of the big clubs will be facing otherwordly opposition this weekend, which might suit them very well since the Champions League is coming up next week. Dortmund-Arsenal, Bayern-City, Shalke-Chelsea; should be sehr gut, ja?

France: we now have our first full-blown Bielsa crisis, with the Chilean coach calling a press conference during the break to announce he had 0 control over transfers. Odd timing considering the club had won two on the bounce, but tumult tends to be a way of life at Marseille. They face winless Evian so at least they should be able to keep the chaos off the field. Fresh off their shellacking of St Etienne, PSG go to Rennes where they have won their last two confrontations. Look for Zlatan to keep zlatanizing, ie score goals while questioning defenders who dare touch him (https://vine.co/v/Oze6nwi5pDe)


EPL
Saturday 13 September 2014
7:45 Arsenal v Man City
10:00 Chelsea v Swansea
10:00 Crystal Palace v Burnley
10:00 Southampton v Newcastle
10:00 Stoke v Leicester
10:00 Sunderland v Spurs
10:00 West Brom v Everton
12:30 Liverpool v Aston Villa
Sunday 14 September 2014
11:00 Man Utd v QPR
Monday 15 September 2014
3:00 Hull v West Ham

glad we're back to our regularly scheduled program.

Our biggest issue with Giroud as the 9 against top teams is that they simply press high and over-run our midfield which results in constant turnovers and our biggest weakness is in that transition play (the Liverpool game is the key lowlight)....if Welbs pace can pull that press, it would be a huge boon for us, particularly since Arteta is still our first choice holding mid (*gulp*).

di maria is a game-changer though.

The former was brilliant, breaking up so many attacks, his ability to anchor the back 4 is what allows Man City to push-up so far forward. The latter falls asleep and gives up a wide open run to Aguero for Man City's goal. It's the same ole story isn't it...great football, controlling the game, missed chances...get caught in transition, silly mistake by Flamini, goal and we're down.

Ozil has been anything but sharp, and we are getting so stuck into our indirect, listless passing game...need an infusion of directness and work rate asap.

To his credit, he has been so much better this season in his midfield role in front of the holding mid...much more decisive, not holding the ball as much...he has played pretty well today and that take + finish was brilliant.

What a finish

easy 20 goals a season

Man City floods one of the zones with 2 men, no one picks him up...free header from 10 yards. That's just fucking unacceptable.

Ramsey could have put the game away on a delicious ball from Wilshere, but rather we give one back in that manner. C'mon.

Plus if they have to play 4-1-4-1, Flamini is not up to par as a top class defensive midfielder. He kept falling asleep each time Man City countered.

It all starts in the midfield and today pretty much highlighted how stark of a different there is between us and the champions...Fernandinho and to a lesser extent (although his work rate was incredible, as usual) Milner cleaned up so many transition moments when Man City got caught, not even allowing for the back four to be potentially exposed. On the other side, Flamini (or Arteta, and we saw his penchant for being a holding mid when he came on in the 90th, only to instantly miss two tackles and then give away a dangerous free kick) who simply doesn't have the speed or athleticism to be that same type of holding player we need....and it results in so much pressure on the back four, particulalry when you have speed against Mertesacker and on the wings with our fullbacks pushing so high as Wenger likes to do.

The other big contrast today was how just how effectively Man City uses width...they really link well on the edges and that not only leads to great service from wide but it opens up the middle of the field for when you do play more direct...so many times Man City flashed a man to the top of the box and created a chance because our defense had to actually cover width (that last chance for Dzeko was so easy...Silva flashes to the top of the box, no one is marking him tightly, he has time to turn and find Dzeko...all this while halfway in the damn box. Szchezny bailed out the piss poor defending with a brilliant save). On the other end, as has been the case over and over, our narrow play leads to a defense that is far too comfortable in simply packing the box and crowding any pass into the top of the box because they know we aren't going to stretch wide at all.

Monreal made him look 3 years younger

Navas was free because he was consistently playing high and we always push the sidebacks up the field...Pellegrini obviously knows it so he had Navas sit high and wait to catch us on the counter with the flanks exposed.

he has that extra step that Nacho doesn't

that injury didn't look too good

all in all a fair result

Bellerin, get ready

I'm not mad in the slightest

Credit to villa though. They repelled everything. Liverpool did not look sharp at all.

i had no skin in that fight but i wanted to slap the ref around a little bit seeing the shit Senderos was getting away with.

Not only are they extremely talented but (and I've said this multiple times lol) they fit perfectly with Mourinho's system/style. The Matic/Cesc/Costa signings have addressed every hole or weakness he inherited, and he's done it on relatively even business via the sales of Mata and Luiz. You could see the improvement last season but now they are just a monster...brilliant.

That Fabo-Costa connection, plus what Porquinho's done to shore up the defense (Matic primarily). City might have a say but I'd be surprised if Chelsea lost it.

we won too in a boring first half, great second half game.

But I'm kinda upset I missed the Madrid Derby. Anyone watch it and wanna tell me about it?

Mathieu looks like he's gelling, but I must admit I was a bit taken aback with Masch at CB again.

Re: the Madrid derby, I was cooking for most of it and ATM was cooking for the rest of it, so no response.

I did see a sadface CRy around halftime, that was fun.

Very similar to last year in terms of what works and what doesn't for both teams. I really hope this is a sign we'll get another 3 horse race for the title.
And Iker gonna get slammed for allowing 6 goals already this season (worst in the league), but he was pretty decent today. Although nowhere near the level of Moya. That save on the Bale FK? Oooooh weeeee

I like Pochettino, but the Stambouli sub kind of fucked the game up letting Sunderland have the ball. Still early in the season and you can tell he's still trying to figure this squad out.

From an entertainment standpoint the defensive lineup today was incredible. From Rose and Kaboul playing well(?) to Dier recklessly tackling every chance he could get it was pretty amazing. Chiriches going between attempting homerun tackles to playing attacking midfielder it was incredible as well.

Wish HurryKane had a better contribution than an OG today.

every time my dude gets the ball he's going straight up the field. i love to see that.

Di Maria, Herrera on the board.

we look wildly different today. moving the ball, confident. Rojo and Blind have looked great IMO so far.

Di Maria is a fuggin beast.

can't wait until we're fully healthy.

We haven't gone anyway. No one pays attention when you're bemoaning your club which is all we've had to do so far this season.

Let us cook.

but that's none of my business tho. http://i.imgur.com/VY4FXKY.jpg

There's plenty of proof of both you and promo slobbing over Madrid and Cristiano. Don't get defensive when called out on it. The legimate ManU cats post here so rarely now.

my stripes are unquestioned.

i don't have to prove anything to you.

legitmate? what does that even mean? smh.

Ya'll two can say whatever you want now but your actions belie them...words are wind, no different in this case.

Could have just admitted to that from the jump rather than acting like that dual stannery hasn't been obvious to anyone routinely involved in these footy threads lol.

that's all.

(save your keystrokes)

i don't even "stan" two teams. MU is my team. If they are playing RM i'm supporting MU all the way, 100%. After that, I support RM and I support their efforts in general in La Liga and the CL.

it's funny because the Barca fans like to think they are the Man. City of La Liga - that they are for the people and from the people while RM is this corporate douchebag behemoth - yet in my experience Barca has the douchiest fans I've ever met (and OKS has some of the douchiest of THOSE). Completely unreasonable when it comes to their club and walk around with a "holier-than-thou" air about them.

calm down dude. are the seahawks playing today? you're on 100.

and yes, the Seahawks are playing.

but nice try at a joke.

>i don't even "stan" two teams. MU is my team. If they are
>playing RM i'm supporting MU all the way, 100%. After that, I
>support RM and I support their efforts in general in La Liga
>and the CL.

>it's funny because the Barca fans like to think they are the
>Man. City of La Liga - that they are for the people and from
>the people while RM is this corporate douchebag behemoth - yet
>in my experience Barca has the douchiest fans I've ever met
>(and OKS has some of the douchiest of THOSE). Completely
>unreasonable when it comes to their club and walk around with
>a "holier-than-thou" air about them.

also, the man city of la liga? wtf do you even mean by that? it makes so little sense i have no idea what you're trying to say.

also, name names.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

especially now that we're actually willing to use it.

unbelievable.

Still the leg in London for ManU to implode in.

this will be interesting.

should be mata, januzaj or adm if we're going to play this formation.

i'm curious if he'll start Falcao over RVP next game. RVP has been lacking for me so far this season, so we'll see if he favors Falcao for a switch.

we gotta get rid of this dude. i hate watching him play.

lol.

is if nighty joined

(hope you're well bud)

i have Sevilla v. Getafe in the 66th min right now.

back to NFL Redzone.

http://giant.gfycat.com/AcidicHilariousImago.gif

#FREEMENEZ

Thank god

http://deadspin.com/gus-johnson-is-out-as-fox-sports-soccer-guy-1634809321

CL game or not, you only get one mother.

Dortmund missed two pretty clear-cut chances from 10 yards and in.....and since we are Arsenal, we miss our chance when Welbeck is through on net and on the other end Immobile takes on 2 defenders on a break to score right before the halftime whistle.

I suppose the Dortmund bench is not as deep as the richer clubs' out there, but their starting squad is dangerous. They could make another deep run if they stay healthy.

Good grief, that was a fucking clinic. Good thing we really shored up our defensive issues or decide to play more conservative on the road...o wait.

It's gotten us killed consistently on the road as we get caught on breaks (esp since the midfield always crumbles, and Arteta simply doesn't have the pace or strength to win the ball or cut out angles consistently) and it's especially puzzling that we continue to do it when we have a 19 year old converted rw to rb in Bellerin with Ozil in front of him (still zero idea why he isn't playing as the 10, it's his natural position and he doesn't have to provide much cover)...against arguably the 2nd best counter team in the world. It makes absolutely zero sense, and it's the same ole shit of trying to jam a triangle into a square...BvB went right down the flanks whenever they wanted to without any adjustment.

I know you're being facetious about Welbeck but his movement is really good, good enough to get him chances. The problem is the midfield crumbles and gives the ball away which leads to instant transition but rather than deal with that reality and keep the sb's conservative, Wenger continues to act like the midfield is playing at a ball dominant, high level.

missed the game due to a company golf outing, but this is ridiculous.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/29263340