Howard Webb booed off. The FA will probably write to Everton fans asking for them to explain their actions.
Thought you might have been drinking, clearly something your namesake did often before taking to the field
In the grand scheme of the season that's probably a good result for us. From reading the Beeb's live text it sounded like Everton hit the woodwork a lot and at least deserved a point with Fellaini coming back soon I can see them sticking around in the battle for 4th.
It must have had some effect. But this is something the "punters" will not consider when they praise Wenger (the latest time) for "turning round" Arsenal's fortunes. Later in the season, when fixtures pile up (because of the 'fortuitous' postponement) and Wenger is complaining about too many games in a few days and Arsenal are on another poor run of form, the same punters will say "how has it all gone wrong for Arsenal?" I used to love having games in hand because I would always imagine that they were potentially games won, and tended to add three to our points tally. Fact is that these rearranged games are rarely added at convenient times and tend not to be the blessing they appear. For me you need points on the board any day.
Chelsea fans will be insufferable now. After 7 games they were the only rivals to City for the title, if you recall. Then they went quiet for a couple of months. They'll be on an unstoppable surge for the title now- and they're signing Demba Ba too!
Everton should have been out of site after the first 20-25 minutes, to say they dominated wouldn't even do the word justice. After the half hour mark Chelsea began to get a foothold in the game, Everton just needed to see it the game 1-0 until HT and they'd have probably won causing us problems on the counter but at 1-1 Chelsea were the better side and didn't test Turnbull as much as they should have. Could have gone either way but Everton deserved something out of that game IMO.
Shortly after the season got under way I said I fancied us 2nd half of the season. Nothing too daunting fixture wise apart from Manchester clubs away, throw in Liverpool for good measure. Spurs, West Ham and Arsenal all at home then tough London aways out the way with poor travellers to play at home. Wouldn't go as far as saying we'll compete for the title but I think we'll do enough to make sure we're in the top 3/4 come May. We always do better 2nd half of the season whereas the sides around us (Spurs and Arsenal) tend to do worse.
Our results away have been as good as at home, I wouldn't see that much advantage to you playing at home. Will be interesting to see if your fans put away the banners and stop booing.
Your results at the Bridge though? We're still very strong at home. We'd be unbeaten but for that farcical game v Man U. You've not beat anyone half decent away from home bar Man U but in a derby you never know. I think the games between Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Spurs will dictate who finishes where. All have been pretty much evenly matched but Chelsea beating Arsenal, Spurs and Everton has put us at a slight advantage.
Our results at Old Trafford weren't too good either and you hadn't beat us at WHL for awhile either. Records start and finish all the time. You might fancy your chances but the best team on the day will likely win the match and we're no mugs, neither are Arsenal or Everton.
Nobody is. All the games between us this season are going to be tight. All of them so far could have gone either way. I'm quite sure if Dembele had played against Arsenal and Chelsea and Fellaini had featured today the outcomes of those games would have been different. Fine Lines.
Well then why are you talking about fixtures being easier? Our only away trip to a big side is to you, we have everyone else at home. I think how successful your season will be is down to less direct issues than the fixtures. January activity will probably help you out again but it's never guarunteed to work and if the side wobbles the fans will be straight on Benitez's back. But you're favourites to finish top 4 for a reason though and that's because you have the best squad and a strong first 11.
I didn't mean easier but any fan would want to have their bogey/tough away fixtures out the way by January and have the midtable teams (with little to play for) at home in the 2nd half of the season
I didn't mean easier but any fan would want to have their bogey/tough away fixtures out the way by January and have the midtable teams (with little to play for) at home in the 2nd half of the season. When the time comes to okay teams around you, you want home advantage that's all I'm saying.
Does anyone know if Arsenal postponed their boxing day game on their own initiative or was it police advice?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20772223 Last year they postponed their game against Wolves to the 27th and drew.
Arsenal have a game in hand, they'll go above you if they win it. There is still a game to be played between you and Everton as well. I don't believe in the term "6 pointers" but it's got to the stage where the margins are so fine the games between teams around you have a huge bearing, Spurs are playing in the CL if they even draw 2-2 against Arsenal at the Emirates, conversely had United managed to take even a point off City they win the league
