I don't think they would have been allowed to postpone it unless the police supported the decision. Whatever loopholes there maybe within the system, I cannot believe they could be allowed to postpone on their own initiative.
I might be wrong but I think the Premier League just had to accept their reasoning that the underground strike meant that many fans would find it difficult to get to the game. I don't think it would have meant that too many fans wouldn't have been able to make it, personally. If Spurs fans were expected to get to Birmingham then unless they all drove you'd expect they'd have wanted to use the tubes at some point to travel to a coach point or train(if they were running).
Whatever the circumstances, clubs can only request a postponement and cannot make one themselves. Since my 1st post, I have found the Police did support Arsenal's request which meant the PL were pretty much duty bound to give their consent. Whether that was a mandatory factor, I don't know but I bet it was.
It's been rearranged for January 23rd, Lidls. That puts it between their away game against Chelsea and a hypothetical 4th round FA Cup game. That was announced on the day of the postponement, by the way...
Kind of undermined his whole piece by putting David Luiz at centre-back, DL! My London XI for the season so far: Cech; Sagna, Cahill, Vertonghen, Cole; Sandro, Arteta; Ramirez, Mata, Bale; Defoe. 5 Chelsea, 4 Spurs, 2 Arsenal. Biased? I'm sure I'll be accused of it, but I don't think so.
The main reasoning behind it is that arsenal have the most fans that go to a game via public transport in the whole PL, something like 90% + of people going to the ground go via public transport and the vast majority of those go via the tube, and there is basically no parking around the ground. That's the main justification for the postponement, personally I would rather have played it but I can understand the argument.
Comparing players across two half seasons is a bit strange. I certainly wouldn't have Caulker in there since presumably you could only count his form this season at Spurs for a London 11. I remember Arsenal had a thread for a London 11 last season, I think I was the only one that picked players from outside of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. Going for Zaha's a bit of a stretch even for me though. I'd go with Cech; Ivanovic, Mertesacker, Vertonghen, Cole; Sandro, Arteta; Cazorla, Mata, Bale; Defoe based on this season's form. Back to Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs teams it is then, although Berbatov, Hangeland and Diame would all be on my bench
Walcott and Defoe have scored the same number of goals this season, but Walcott has taken 7 games less to do it in. He should be upfront, especially with Bale and either Lennon or the Ox either side of him. Unstoppable pace... Imagine counter attacking with those three
Haha David Luiz. He has played essentially all of his games as a CB, everyone universally agrees he's absolute **** there and he's included in such lists and Guardians top 100 footballers... hype train overloaded. Got to absolutely agree with Gary Neville on him, he is the absolute antithesis of what made Chelsea the best defense in England and possibly in Europe a few years back.
"Just love this guy. Has an outgoing personality on and off the pitch and he’s not afraid to show it. Will develop into one of the best ball playing central defenders in the world under his next manager. " Even in the post he kind of refers he's **** now, why does he make your list in 2012 then?
Best London XI so far: Jaaskelainen; Reid, Cahill, Vertonghen, Riise; Dembele, Arteta ; Bale, Cazorla, Mata; Defoe Best PL XI? Agree with much of Red Nev's (if you saw MNF tonight, you'll understand)
I've taped it, my London XI would be: Jaaskalinen Ivanovic Cahill Vertonghen Cole Dembele Cazorla Mata Bale Berbatov Defoe I wouldn't have any QPR players personally
That's blinkered even by Gooner standards. David Luiz was publicly humiliated by Neville and Hansen to name a few despite his defending being no worse or more erratic than that of Ferdinand, G*llas, Vermaelen or Mertesacker. It's only fair he gets credit where it's due, most people recognise him as a gifted footballer but without the defensive intelligence to play in the back 4.
Therefore, it would seem churlish of those Chelsea fans who boo Benitez & laud Di Matteo when Benitez quickly spotted what Di Mateo did not. I.e. Luiz is a pretty useless central defender!
Entirely different set of circumstances. Ancelotti was the first to realise he couldn't play CB but was soon sacked when he dropped him in favour of Alex and favoured Drogba over Torres. Benitez is clearly a better manager but were not hypocrites, RDM was one of us and treated pretty shabbily by the club, in contrast Benitez has shown us nothing but contempt. There's no way if Wenger slams Spurs fans for the best part of 3 years running and takes over as Spurs manager he's getting welcomed with open arms.
Ahaha that is the most contradictory sentence I have ever read. Isn't he in that list as a centreback? Credit where it is due? How is it due than if he wouldn't make it as one of the 2 best center backs in London in 2012? What the ****?
