[Nokia81]

Did anyone watch this game tonight? If so, thoughts?

[reddevil63]

Yes we wiped the floor with Arsenal.

Fletcher was definitely unlucky, he is not a dirty player.

[Dan2008]

Brilliant match! kept me entertained right to the final whistle

Great goals, Just felt sorry for Fletcher as it wasn't worthy of a red card but ROME here we come

[davepuma]

Very one-sided. Man U were in a different class but I don't think Wenger or the gooners should panic. They're a couple of players away from being a great side, if they buy the right ones in the summer.

I felt sorry for Gibbs and Fletcher tonight!

I thought the biggest disappointment was all those Arsenal fans leaving early. Poor show IMO.

I hope Man U go all the way now as I think SAF's teams have deserved more than the 2 CL trophies that he's won, if it hadn't been for the Euro ban, I think he would have won more, a lot more.

[y2k]

Originally Posted by davepuma

I hope Man U go all the way now as I think SAF's teams have deserved more than the 2 CL trophies that he's won, if it hadn't been for the Euro ban, I think he would have won more, a lot more.

And Liverpool probably would have won a few more as well... Fergie didn't do to well until he was in the job over 10 years iirc. When English clubs got banned Liverpool had one of the best British clubs ever, I know it don't sound it but I'm a united supporter but also a realist...

[Woodywizz]

Originally Posted by y2k

And Liverpool probably would have won a few more as well... Fergie didn't do to well until he was in the job over 10 years iirc. When English clubs got banned Liverpool had one of the best British clubs ever, I know it don't sound it but I'm a united supporter but also a realist...

I agree, Liverpool would probably have won a few more in the period 85-90.

[Scholes18]

Arsene wenger , martin keown , lee dixon , charlie george , liam brady

You're boys took a hell of a beating!!


Great performance from the lads. Lets hope we can continute this into sunday and into the rest of the season.

Ref started off quite well but had a 'mare second half ( how that adebayor "tackle" on carrick was only a yellow ) .

Not the biggest fan of fletcher but over the two legs i thought he did really well and was gutted for him when he was sent off. Shows the measure of paul scholes when straight away he went to the dressing room to speak to fletch...top man


Keep it up chaps

[bigcoralboy]

Its funny this thread was about the CL semi final last night, which was a good game but essentially the tie was over in 11 mins, for some reason we get stu about Liverpool. Now no-one can deny the LFC team of te 80s was a great team but now in 2009 its Utds turn to be the dominant team. If only we had the CL in the 1890s Sunderland would deffo have won it.

[BlackCountryBob]

A very interesting game to me. I think what I saw was the gulf in class between 2 squads. On their day, Arsenal can beat ManU with their best 11 players but they don't seem to have the quality throughout the squad to bring in replacements (show me Arsenals Park Ji Sung, Fletcher, Evans or O'Shea; for a point show me these type of player at any other top European side) and it showed.

There is IMO no shame in being beaten by a better side, which ManU were for 180mins of his tie, but to me the biggest disappointment was Arsenal just rolling over. The tie was settled but where were their big players trying to make it respectable for the fans. ManU were 2 down at Spurs and fought back but Arsenal never even threatened in any meaningful way to give the fans something to cheer about. I didn'tsee anyone in the ranks even trying to do the Mr Arsenal role of Adams or Viera and going at it for 90mins; they could not have won but they could have atleast tried to make it appear a contest.

Barca may be the best attacking side on the planet but I think ManU are the most controlling team out there. They were completely in control, it is amazing to see them play so attacking but with 10 behind the ball. They seemed to me to be playing like when your Dad holds you at arms length when you play boxing as a kid, ManU were completely in control and Arsenal stopped trying to punch after 11 mins and unlike Liverppol in the prem a few weeks back, never thought of kicking him in the nuts!)

About 2 years back, ManU were humbled by Milan in the semis I believe (though being beaten by a Milan team at the height of their powers at the San Siro is not something to be massively ashamed of) and the press lined up to say ManU were useless etc but in the summer they bought in Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani and Tevez with em winning it next year. Arsenal fans, don't be to down on it, bad teams don't make the last 4 of the CL but the chequebook needs to be opened because a few players and you could be there again. Torres changed Liverpool massively too, one or 2 big players an revitalise the whole club; Arshavin is a good start.

Best piece of business for the season; Fergie getting £750,000 for Silvestre - Who says you can't polish/sell a turd.

Worst decision of the year; Wenger not paying Flamini what he asked for so he left, he would have been the player to neutralise the wondering and influential Ronaldo.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by BlackCountryBob

Best piece of business for the season; Fergie getting £750,000 for Silvestre - Who says you can't polish/sell a turd.

come on, give Silvestre the credit he deserves, he was superb at left back for us for many years, and had one very solid season at centre back. He was really pushed out by the arrival of Evra and Vidic who are possibly the two greatest players in the world in their respective positions, which isn't really anything to be ashamed of. It was still a strange move by Wenger to buy him, I would have expected him to move down the table a bit more, but i'm happy he got a move to a decent club with some of his international team mates.

[BlackCountryBob]

Originally Posted by Marc

come on, give Silvestre the credit he deserves, he was superb at left back for us for many years, and had one very solid season at centre back. He was really pushed out by the arrival of Evra and Vidic who are possibly the two greatest players in the world in their respective positions, which isn't really anything to be ashamed of. It was still a strange move by Wenger to buy him, I would have expected him to move down the table a bit more, but i'm happy he got a move to a decent club with some of his international team mates.

Indeed he was a good player, the OShea of his day if you will. The thing is, he is well past his best and getting £750,000 for a player who is past his best and has had so many injuries he makes Wes Brown look like an advertisement for vitamin supplements was a great piece of transfer dealing.

It was great business because frankly I expected him to do Quinton Fortune and be released because no-one was willing to pay money for him any more. Good luck to the bloke, I have no ill will towards him but the fact remains that I don't think there were clubs lining up to sign a cheque for his services so getting anything for him was great business.

I know people told Wenger he needed to buy experience but I think he got the wrong end of the stick.

[mabo]

Originally Posted by BlackCountryBob

....There is IMO no shame in being beaten by a better side, which ManU were for 180mins of his tie, but to me the biggest disappointment was Arsenal just rolling over. The tie was settled but where were their big players trying to make it respectable for the fans. ManU were 2 down at Spurs and fought back but Arsenal never even threatened in any meaningful way to give the fans something to cheer about. I didn'tsee anyone in the ranks even trying to do the Mr Arsenal role of Adams or Viera and going at it for 90mins; they could not have won but they could have atleast tried to make it appear a contest.....

Fought back? - they were handed a goal and a way back into a game they should have dominated anyway by Howard Webb.

For me the only disappointment was that two mistakes killed the tie off far too early. I was really looking forward to an epic fight but it was all over after 10 mins.

It was a pity but i think we saw why they say you win nothing with kids as the younger players do seem to buckle quickly when things start going wrong in a manner that seasoned professionals imo wouldn't.

[reddevil63]

Originally Posted by mabo

It was a pity but i think we saw why they say you win nothing with kids as the younger players do seem to buckle quickly when things start going wrong in a manner that seasoned professionals imo wouldn't.

Ha ha the famous words spoken by a certain Mr Alan Hansen, he was made to eat those words!

[WillieCocker]

**** poor performance by Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger is deluded by this team.
All the talk leading up to the game made him look like a total fool.

Wasn't a foul by fletcher, and wasn't a red card.
Ronaldo was excellent.
End of..........


Arsenal fan here...................

[mabo]

Originally Posted by reddevil63

Ha ha the famous words spoken by a certain Mr Alan Hansen, he was made to eat those words!

Why? Aresnal's kids haven't won anything have they?

[bearman3784]

was dissapointed with the result but not entirely surprised

at least the united fans didnt have far to go home playing in london

[velveteer]

The thing about Arsenal is they always try to walk it in.




















Sorry.

[Scholes18]

Originally Posted by bearman3784

was dissapointed with the result but not entirely surprised

at least the united fans didnt have far to go home playing in london

Well at least we got to page 2 before the worlds oldest cliche arrived...


yawn

[reddevil63]

Originally Posted by mabo

Why? Aresnal's kids haven't won anything have they?

I was referring to that comment when Hansen said those famous words and the Utd's kids went on to win the league.

Yes you can win cups with kids, the proof is there.

[reddevil63]

Originally Posted by Scholes18

Well at least we got to page 2 before the worlds oldest cliche arrived...


yawn

Yes yawn, I suppose all Liverpool fans live in Liverpool, Chelsea fans in London etc?

Don't think so.

[WillieCocker]

Originally Posted by reddevil63

I was referring to that comment when Hansen said those famous words and the Utd's kids went on to win the league.

Yes you can win cups with kids, the proof is there.

Well of course, when the kids are taught to shoot by Utd's coaching staff.

[Nokia81]

i definately predicted the correct score, just the wrong team as well as the red card (not who, but thought there would be one). gibbs and fletcher was unlucky - especially as he will now miss the final.

as for arsenal, they didnt really seem to hungry to win the game apart from the first 10-15 minutes. after that, it was man utd. they went about their game. ronaldo, although i dont like him as a personality, is a grear player.

ah well... looks like the hairdrier has got one over his old rival - again!

[mabo]

Originally Posted by reddevil63

I was referring to that comment when Hansen said those famous words and the Utd's kids went on to win the league.

Yes you can win cups with kids, the proof is there.

Well if the Utd side that won the league was suposed to be comprised of kids then this current Arsenal team must still be in nappies.

The Utd team was dubbed as a young side but they had experience in very key areas. I still don't think a uniformly young side can win anything significant in the current footballing climate.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by mabo

Well if the Utd side that won the league was suposed to be comprised of kids then this current Arsenal team must still be in nappies.

The Utd team was dubbed as a young side but they had experience in very key areas. I still don't think a uniformly young side can win anything in the current footballing climate.

to be truthful the players actually broke through in the previous two seasons to that famously quoted one (the 94/95 one not being so successful), but 95/96 was the first one where the nevilles, beckham, butt, scholes and giggs all played nearly every match. We still had Schmeichel, Pallister, Bruce, Parker, Keane, Cole, Sharpe etc who weren't quite as young (although Keane, Sharpe and Cole were all under 25) to form the nucleus, which is arsenal's big problem. They don't have a single decent experienced player in their squad, so the youngsters have no one to rally them. no one to keep them in position, no one to cover if they make a mistake and as such they end up playing schoolboy football. Sometimes it pays off, if the opposition just sit off them, but if they are challenged, more often than not they fold. Wenger gets given a pit of money most summers and doesn't use it, so the blame lies 100% at his feet

[mabo]

Originally Posted by Marc

to be truthful the players actually broke through in the previous two seasons to that famously quoted one (the 94/95 one not being so successful), but 95/96 was the first one where the nevilles, beckham, butt, scholes and giggs all played nearly every match. We still had Schmeichel, Pallister, Bruce, Parker, Keane, Cole, Sharpe etc who weren't quite as young (although Keane, Sharpe and Cole were all under 25) to form the nucleus, which is arsenal's big problem. They don't have a single decent experienced player in their squad, so the youngsters have no one to rally them. no one to keep them in position, no one to cover if they make a mistake and as such they end up playing schoolboy football. Sometimes it pays off, if the opposition just sit off them, but if they are challenged, more often than not they fold. Wenger gets given a pit of money most summers and doesn't use it, so the blame lies 100% at his feet

Completely agree, it also doesn't help when the only experienced players brought in are Gallas and Sylvestre who, though not bad, are hardly at the top of the tree.

I still think Wenger is a top manager, he simply needs to splash the cash on a couple of big money players and the side would be set imo.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by mabo

Completely agree, it also doesn't help when the only experienced players brought in are Gallas and Sylvestre who, though not bad, are hardly at the top of the tree.

I still think Wenger is a top manager, he simply needs to splash the cash on a couple of big money players and the side would be set imo.

I agree Wenger is a very good manager but i think he's been given too much freedom and has turned arsenal into his own little youth academy. Problem is the more he does it, the less attractive a proposition Arsenal will end up being.. will the 15 year old youngsters in london go to mid table arsenal, or champions league chelsea? If Villa or Everton had managed to sustain their challenge, or Spurs had sustained the one they looked like making a couple of seasons ago, i fully believe arsenal would find themselves below all of them.

[kopchoir]

Originally Posted by reddevil63

I was referring to that comment when Hansen said those famous words and the Utd's kids went on to win the league.

Yes you can win cups with kids, the proof is there.

I was talking about this yesterday lets not kid ourselves here even though man utd had some very talented players they also had a core of players that really helped the kids on with lots of experience

Been saying it all week arsenal are finished i knew they would get walked over last night and they did just was not in the game from start to finish it wont be long until players like fabregas will think about playing elsewhere probably end of the season and arsenal will end up a feeder club for europe unless there is
a change in transfer policy or a change in management

[mabo]

Care to prove your skills of prescience by telling us what's going to happen tonight between Barca and Chelsea?

[y2k]

Originally Posted by mabo

Care to prove your skills of prescience by telling us what's going to happen tonight between Barca and Chelsea?

Barca 3 - Chelsea 1

EDIT - Looks like Chelseas got their 1

[kopchoir]

Originally Posted by mabo

Care to prove your skills of prescience by telling us what's going to happen tonight between Barca and Chelsea?

only just seen your post my young padawan honestly dont know such a hard one to fathom out the arsenal manchester united game was an easy one especially after our game against arsenal and the first leg but united where always going to the final with the draw they had, loss of henry and barcas centre backs was a big loss but i will say that whoever does get to the final will beat man u