Villas Boas is total ****e. I'm suprised he's got the job. Even old 'arry would have been better for Chelsea, let alone Ancelotti, who I see as a replacement for Wenger if he goes tits up. Stoke played well, granted, but the only good player for Chelsea at that game was... Torres, unusually. Reverse of last season, perhaps? And I can't see them adjusting well, you can either play Torres in his best formation, or you can play Drogba in HIS favourite formation. They cannot play together, unless in a 4-4-2, which Chelsea cannot do because it's not what Chelsea are used to, etc, etc. They're the new Lampard and Gerrard. Can't play together. Or, even... The new Drogba and Anelka, oddly enough. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- And as for Liverpool, I don't see the hype surrounding them. Out of everyone they have signed in 2011, I say Suarez is the only good one. Carroll cost the same as Aguero, and scored as many as Bendtner from January to May last year. There are many wingers better than Stewart Downing. Jose Enrique will do well, but I think he, and Adam, shone in teams which had players far below their levels. Doni is just a backup keeper. All the pundits picked Liverpool to finish above Arsenal due to the 'Dalglish Resurgence' but everyone seems to forget that slowed down at the end of last season. Their pre-season wasn't the best either. I don't think we'll be up there with Man Utd and Man City (pretty much the top two guaranteed) but we won't be 7th or whatever everyone says. It will be 1. United/City 2. United/City 3. Arsenal 4. Liverpool/Chelsea 5. Liverpool/Chelsea And I would bet my house on arsenal being in the top four (only reason I ain't done it is cause the odds are ****)
I don't know about finishing above them - I certainly wouldn't feel so confident about it bearing in mind that if you list all of Arsenal's negative points it would make more brutal reading that what you have written about Chelsea and the scousers - but I definately agree that they are your rivals AVB even as good as said that Arsenal and Liverpool are Chelsea's rivals this season: "The situation is to win here. It would have been a massive win here, particularly given Arsenal and Liverpool's results" quote by AVB http://thesun.mobi/sol/homepage/spo...-players-draws-are-not-good-enough.html?mob=1
To be fair the top 3 are pretty much nailed on to be United, City and Chelsea. As much as i hate the Chavs they are stronger than you in pretty much every department, They were dreadful last year but still managed to finish 2nd, they will always be competing because there defence is so strong. Also not really sure how you can describe there new manger as s***e he might be young but his record so far cannot really be knocked. Liverpool on paper also have a squad that can easily rival Arsenal's im not one to be jumping on this "King Kenny" bandwagon but in terms of there first eleven i believe its better than Arsenal's. I expect you to make a few moves before the end of the window but Fabregas and Nasri are big players to replace, also any sort of injury to Van Persie then your gonna be up against it. Before you say it im not wumming just giving a honest response to the original posters views. Top 3 - United, City, Chelsea (could be close but probably finish in that order) Fight for 4th - Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs (unfortunately i see Spurs as big outsiders but between you and Liverpool its a close call)
You really must live in your own little world! How on earth can you possibly judge a manager on one game? ESPECIALLY his first one?!?!?! We played some great football second half. Ramires, Bosingwa, Alex, Mikel AND Torres all played brilliantly. If it weren't for Begovic we would've won about 3-0. You came fourth with Nasri and Fiberglass and it doesn't even look like they're going to be replaced. I predict definite Europa league for the goons next season folks...
Drogs, I think he is trying to wind you up. If AVB is good or bad, one or two games will not tell us whether they are crushing wins or defeats.
Let's be serious, your trying to judge chelsea due to one game against stoke, a team that thrashed you 3-1 last may. and yet you drew agaisnt newcastle? a team that most would agree are weaker than stoke? now out of liverpool you might say that you dont rate any of there buys, but its as simple as you've sold your two best players. if arsenal got top 4 i would acctually send you £1000, whats your postcode?
@Unbiased Opinion Are you sure thats a safe bet? Considering Arsenal have consistently finished in the top 4 year after year since like 1995. And for the last 6 seasons we have every yuear been predicted to drop from the top 4 and then every year still managed it, only on one occasion having to scrape the position. Every other year we have been comfortably top 4. There is no evidence to suggest we would not get top 4 again. We did when Viera left, we did when Henry left etc etc... We still play the best style of football in the league, we still have top quality players (RVP, Arshavin etc) and we have added some real pace to the team for this season to make our style more direct and our counter attacking more effective. Yes we have lost Fabregas and it looks like we may lose Nasri now as well, but i would be very shocked if we don't see atleast one more new face come into the Arsenal team - most likely another 2 players. I'd definately not bet £1000 against Arsenal getting top 4. we will easily be better than the spuds and as with every other season we will be in the title race atleast until feb/march.
Whos predicted arsenal to drop out of the top 4 for 6 years in a row?? no one, thats bull, the "big 4" of england as been united chelsea liverpool and arsenal ever since 2003 and the only time thats changed was when spurs finally got top 4 ahead of liverpool, even when liverpool finshed 5th in the prem they won the champs league so no one really cared about everton then. I havent seen no one say arsenal would drop out of the top 4th bar this season. There is no evidence? in what way is there no evidence? when viera left and when henry left there wasnt 6 very strong teams fighting for 4th, there was...4. realistically. united, chelsea and city will most likely all finish above you. thats leaves you liverpool and spurs to fight for 4th. lets be realistic here spurs aint going to get top 4. So in my opinion its out of you and liverpool. Now you can say what you want, but liverpool have certainlly strengthed, while you havent. if liverpool start ticking and start playing football they can easily overtake you. there owners are also willing to spend money, whilte your ( well your manager ) isnt. You play good football? So does swansea, does it mean anything in terms of titles, nope not really im afraid. So while it might be unwise to bet so much, its definately not horrible odds, 50/50 really out of liverpool and you. all i know is, this thread is unrealistically stupid. let me make a new bet as my first was toungue in cheek and bit bullshit. if arsenal finish above chelsea ill give you those £1000. you have a possibility of top 4, but i just cant see you finishing third, im sorry i know anything can happen in football, but that doesnt mean it will happen.
If this is the first season you have seen people saying Arsenal are gonna drop out of the top 4 then you clearly don't watch much tv in relation to football and don't ever go onto football forums. It has been constant since after the invincibles. Yet we are still top 4. I understand what you are sayign and i think alot of people would take the bet on Arsenal not finishing above Chelsea if they don't improve the squad. Personally i'm still expecting to see a new face or two before the end of the transfer window. Either way though i have complete confidence that we will once again finish in the top 4. Wenger knows what it takes for a team to get into the CL and he will make sure that is the very minimum we achieve as a team. I think the year we fail to remain top 4 will be the year AW leaves the club.
It's not that he said top four, it's that he said we would finish below. Team full of kids, literally.
I dont really pay much attention to pundits and on football forums as i dont support a english team, i like to get the fans of the team im reading about's opinions, not "Wums" opinions on there teams, so i never really paid attention that some pundits said arsenal would drop out of the top 4 because its always been in my mind really unlikely. but this season i just happent to think unless you can bring at least one new Center back, striker, Lb ( im not sure gibbs can do it all on his own for a full season, and traore doesnt really feel anyone with confidence does he ) and a cm because fabregas just left and nasri is also close to leaving. you really need to improve in quite a few areas, and need to have more strenght in depth. dont get me wrong of course you'll challenge for top 4, its out of you lot and liverpool
I think this is a ludicrous assertion. Chelsea are looking much stronger than us and on paper, Liverpool do too. I think we'll do well to finish in the top 4 this season, we may actually make a couple of decent signings in the next week and a bit, which could change all of that, but currently we look thin on the ground and already we've got injuries and suspensions. At the moment we only able to field what would have been considered to be a second string side last season, and I can't see that team challenging Utd, City and Chelsea. To say that Chelsea and Liverpool will finish below us is encouraging people to give us a deluded tag like the spuds. I hope you're right and I'm wrong, but at the moment, I'm not feeling confident about our chances this season.
