Derby weekend.

Getting things cooking with the Derby d'Italia this afternoon. Juve could put some serious breathing space between themselves and any challengers or Napoli could make things interesting for themselves and everyone else.

Saturday is the pointless Classico, Madrid so recently proving how shambolic Barca are currently and having the 2nd leg against United coming up. Even if Barca field a full side and beat the snot out of Madrid's B team, will it really matter?

Sunday is doomsday for Wenger. Jenkinson to play right back against Bale. AVB free of the conundrum a healthy Deuce and Defoe present him. Gareth Bale playing for his transfer fee. Just about everyone in an Arsenal shirt playing shit.


Somewhere in there we get Chelski/WestBrom for some a good old Rafa hatefest. United B team welcome Norwich for a "revenge" match. Atletico/Malaga will likely be a better game than the Classico, and may mean something more for the final league standings. And Milan's mini-revival welcomes nasty old Lazio to town.

Not doing fixture lists or programs. Too busy, google works for everyone.

http://vimeo.com/60693718

2G/1A @Ajax in the Dutch Cup semis.

the assist or the second goal in injury time and taunting the keeper.

who says the USMNT needs a target man?

Like, can a man really do what he just did, with that kind of precision, with clear intentions? When the game is played that beautifully, I almost think it has to be by accident. Sure, he meant to send it forward, but he couldn't have POSSIBLY thought the ball was going to do what he made it do... right? How did the finisher even run onto that ball without tripping over himself in shock, like "How did that ball get where it is right now?" (Does this make sense to anyone else?)

And yet, whenever I watch USMNT, I feel like they're just chucking prayers down the flanks, hoping that someone runs under it, shows a level of skill and touch that they've never previously demonstrated, and somehow turns in on goal. There's no thought to it, and certainly no art.

>Like, can a man really do what he just did, with that kind of
>precision, with clear intentions? When the game is played that
>beautifully, I almost think it has to be by accident. Sure, he
>meant to send it forward, but he couldn't have POSSIBLY
>thought the ball was going to do what he made it do... right?

Not only the ability to put that on a dime while leaning, but the recognition and timing.

His first goal came off a very nice assist as well, and that 2nd was just great technical finishing. Perfect weight on that ball.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21631550

Good ass dude. I would say humble, but imagine for an Mls cat in the Midwest that's not exactly surprising.

wondering why Pogba isn't starting today. Haven't followed him that closely but I was under the impression he was doing pretty well recently. Is this just Conte keeping him away from the big fixtures until he gets his feet wet(ter) ?

When Conte is playing the way he likes, with a staggered 5 back and Pirlo playing as a regista, there isn't really a place where he would fit on the field without sacrificing Vucinic or Giovinco. He plays when they want to pack the midfield more and slow the game down some.

12 starts out of 18 played in the league this season (and 5 goals), gotta say I'm intrigued by this kid. Probably too early for him to feature on next year's WC squad (and Varane who's the same age might be in the same situation), but he's got a bright future if he keeps it up.

definitely makes the afternoon go by much quicker

>Saturday is the pointless Classico, Madrid so recently proving
>how shambolic Barca are currently and having the 2nd leg
>against United coming up. Even if Barca field a full side and
>beat the snot out of Madrid's B team, will it really matter?
>

it would make sense given how nonsensical the coaching's been thus far, i guess. but there's a 2 goal CL deficit vs a Milan side from a country known for their defensive tactics coming up midweek.

dear god, watch barca start a full-strength side or "experiment" with some wingers only to wear them out for the aforementioned game that actually counts.

nor the substitution patterns, nor how disappointing pedro and alexis have been nor that shitty ref who destroyed the second half of the game (missing calls, absurd yellows, MISSING A BLATANT PENALTY and then giving iniesta a card to take the last chance away from barca)

shit second half. shit run. shitty feeling going into the milan game that actually matters.

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

Also, Arabelloa is pretty shitty. WHat does he do well?

That game on Tuesday is going to be epic

especially considering how the ref had been calling the game. inexcusable. almost as inexcusable as the level of play from barca. they just stopped trying around minute 70.

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

barcastuff ‏@barcastuff

Today's referee Perez Lasa, who retires in June, didn't yet give any penalty against Madrid, in 30 Liga games #fcblive
ever

lol

and they hit valdes with a red after the final whistle for talking about it

rfef madrid

http://i.minus.com/imflfllGVkI14.jpg

but this will do.

+13 so painful.

:o/

https://p.twimg.com/Awg3tNfCIAEKniG.jpg:large

Indeed.

when does Tito come back?

and it's still FUCK BARCA EVERDAY. FUCKING CATALAN BITCHES!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEZLopgz938

idc idc idc

You would think that after Bale almost snuck in at the 20th minute (and we were simply lucky because Siggurdson left his ball a foot long), Arsene and the team might realize that you HAVE TO CLOSE THE FUCKING BALL DOWN in your final 1/3, especially if you want to play a fuckin high-line. That's football fucking 101, you can't give time on the ball and allow for easily timed runs. The next 2 goals were eerily similar....Bale gets in behind Vermalean who has ZERO recognition of what's going on, the pass is so easy because there's no one within 3 yards. The second goal...Monreal assumes Verma is going to latch onto Lennon's run, zero communication, easy diagonal. I mean, that's easy fucking football. Each attack came exactly the same way...ball on the near side, run behind Verma, acres of space on the ball, uncontested diagonal.

It pretty much sums up our season, a laughingstock defensively with a complete inability to adjust or proactively recognize problems and solve them before they bite us in the ass. Two times today.

So miss me with that bs

Terrible cross and then a prime chance to equalize...leaves it 5 yards wide.

We get away with it against lower competition but the better teams will make you pay...and it was no different today. Two relatively easy goals given in a critical critical game, it's just so frustrating to watch as a supporter...not only because of the result but also because of how damn basic the mistakes are.

We're a mid-table team. It's fucking embarrassing and if we don't qualify for the CL, it will be cemented further.

$2.25b offer tendered for 100%

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1550878-arsenal-reportedly-facing-15-billion-buyout-by-middle-eastern-group?hpt=hp_t3

this valuation is ridiculous but apparently Kroenke isn't one to budge.

Praying it goes down because we're all clearly sick of the current ownership style.

from the bottom to the top, clean slate. what would you keep and who would you go after?

That starts with replacing both CB's (today's game was case in point of how terrible both Per and Verma are in space...the recognition is utterly terrible. Yes, the midfield doesnt help because of how much space is allowed on the ball but there are SO many times where runs split the cb's way too easily or they just don't see them until it's too late) and adding a stalwart DMF. Arteta is playing out of position ans he's doing an admirable job...but we need that DMF who can choke space and then link balls for our attack.

In addition to the CB's and DMF, we clearly clearly need a clinical world-class striker. The amount of chances missed this year...it's mind-numbing man.

I like much of our personnel but we are just missing class in key key areas. CB, DMF and striker...three areas which impact every facet of the game and if shored up, would make the game easier for everyone else while providing some consistency on a team defined by inconsistencies.

As much respect as I have for Wenger...there are just SO many questionable tactics employed this year and the continuing problems and lack of pro-activeness are huge red flags to me, particularly on the defensive end. No one understands how and when to close down the ball, the zonal marking on set pieces has been utterly bad, and then times like today when you use a high line against incredible pace...knowing full well that your team doesn't close down the ball. There are some serious systematic issues that I just don't understand. That being said, I would definitely still like to see Wenger with some serious funds available to him.

apparently Arsenal is the front-runner for Villa. Thoughts on that?

For the past two years I've stopped bitching about Wenger because I kept getting shouted down by people who still thought he could do no wrong.

Slowly but surely I'm starting to hear the muttering. Meanwhile I just smile quietly and eat my pop corn.

************************

The share of responsibility I don't know but there are so many tactical blunders, that you can't help some of the onus on Wenger...at the same time, the transfer and wage policy is so restrictive compared to other top flight clubs, that you have to put some of the onus there as well. We need to address our key areas with major acquisitions...until then, I can't put all blame on Wenger.

Tactics are shit and a majority of his buys the last five years have well nderperformed their transfer price and wages. Times passed him by. Not really an indictment, just what it is.


But back to the art of the matter, I will drive to Denver if Cronk doesn't take the profit and run

>a majority of his buys the last five
>years have well nderperformed their transfer price and wages.

swiss cheese.

blew it.

i couldn't believe he was that open (and apparently neither could he).

This Villa squad is horrible. He's definitely moved up in terms of quality this year.