Not as surprised as I was on Saturday when I witnessed first hand the most rare of all footballing events; one which occurs only when the planets align in a very specific way and the bluest of moons are seen in the sky - a Sunderland away win. And a deserved one at that.

Sven has been sacked as manager of Leicester. Anyone surprised?

Not in the slightest. Their owners said they expected promotion this season and so far they look very average and disjointed. A 3-0 home defeat to Millwall? Dear me. I found it funny that Sven said he'd probably have sacked the manager if he was owner after that result.

I hope Terry gets the book thrown at him. Sleeping with your team mates wife, and now this incident, I am mystified as to how Capello and AVB can continue to back him so publicly? The man is scum (and I think he gets away with a bit more than he should on the pitch), and a terrible example to set as both club captain and national captain. Ideally, he'd be hit with a massive ban and stripped of both captaincies. It'll be interesting to see the reaction he gets against Arsenal tomorrow, hopefully a combination of this situation and David Luiz having an ability to self-destruct that would make our defenders jealous will result in a cheeky Arsenal win! Still though, wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea bossed it and won comfortably :(

The problem with the John Terry incident is the whole world seem to have become professional lip readers all of a sudden!

 

 

He could have said numerous things apart from black. I hate John Terry, but there is some sort of witch hunt against him. If it's proved he's said it then he deserves a ban, and it will be a lengthy one no doubt. The media seems to have picked up far more on this one than Suarez-Evra. Probably because there's actually a little bit of evidence in the Terry-Ferdinand case but most likely f*** all in the the other case because it was made up.

Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool

Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal

Man Utd 1-6 Man City

Tottenham 4-0 Liverpool

Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal

Man Utd 3-1 Chelsea

Tottenham 1-5 Man City

 

f*** me, and we're not even in November yet!

It's completely mad isn't it? Seven games involving the likely top six and only two "normal" results.

I am in shock, but delighted! :o

 

RVP has 28 in 27 this year. He *should* be in for a shout for player of the year, that record is comparable with Messi / Ronaldo, and he's playing in a supposedly "struggling" team. Phenomenal.

Carlisle 3-0 down, and come back to draw 3-3. :o The commentary I was listening to made me wonder how the manager and his team survived the second half, let alone the players.

I've always thought that if Van Persie actually managed to stay fit he'd be the player he could promise to be. That record is insane.

I've always thought that if Van Persie actually managed to stay fit he'd be the player he could promise to be. That record is insane.

 

Problem is, I don't know how long he'll stay fit. If Arsenal lose him they really as screwed.

 

It's turning in to a very interesting race for 3rd and 4th place. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs - all struggling with consistency.

That's the problem. I went to watch them last week. Chamakh is dreadful.

 

It does look like it will be tight between those four teams. I don't think you can rule anyone out. I'd laugh if Chelsea don't, I just want Arsenal to make it. I admire their policy too much.

Really was a crazy game, couldn't believe Villas Boas set Chelsea up with such a high defensive line, but then he's been doing that all season. Trying to play like he did at Porto but with a completely different team. Really think Chelsea miss Essien aswell, think they'd be much more solid with him in the team.

That's the problem. I went to watch them last week. Chamakh is dreadful.

 

It does look like it will be tight between those four teams. I don't think you can rule anyone out. I'd laugh if Chelsea don't, I just want Arsenal to make it. I admire their policy too much.

 

Both Chelsea and Arsenal's defence look awful. I'm not sure about Chelsea, I'd put money on them to make it, but it looks like their squads age is really catching up with them. Mata aside, I don't think their summer signings were that brilliant. Liverpool haven't got out of 2nd gear yet, and if they took all their chances they'd be up there with the Manchester sides. And Tottenham are looking really good. It's going to be very close. Hope it's Liverpool and Arsenal personally. Arsenal have got so many weak links at the moment unfortunately, Mertsacker and Santos look dreadful. If they can keep Van Persie fit they won't be far away. If they lose him though, I really don't know..

 

Darren B£nt was shit today :D

Both Chelsea and Arsenal's defence look awful. I'm not sure about Chelsea, I'd put money on them to make it, but it looks like their squads age is really catching up with them. Mata aside, I don't think their summer signings were that brilliant. Liverpool haven't got out of 2nd gear yet, and if they took all their chances they'd be up there with the Manchester sides. And Tottenham are looking really good. It's going to be very close. Hope it's Liverpool and Arsenal personally. Arsenal have got so many weak links at the moment unfortunately, Mertsacker and Santos look dreadful. If they can keep Van Persie fit they won't be far away. If they lose him though, I really don't know..

 

I know everyone goes on about keeping RVP fit (glass-ankles!) and how our season would fall apart without him... but can you imagine a major injury to Suarez or Rooney? I think their respective sides would also find goals a bit harder to come by. Gervinho and Walcott are stepping up to the plate nicely, Ramsey is beginning to look the player he was becoming pre-Shawcross, and Park scores a very Henry-esque finish in the CC, will be interesting to see how he develops. Also, I'd give Mertesacker the benefit of a full season before judging him, he's a vastly experienced German international, it'll just take him some time to bed in, look at Koscielny, he's really stepped up this year. Sure, even look at Vidic's start at United before he bedded in! Santos is a bit stop-gap until Gibbs can recover / mature. Chelsea just need to get used to AVB's style of play and they will be fine (and maybe a new CB wouldn't help - JT past it and Luiz is just a rocket).

 

As for 2nd, 3rd and 4th I think it will be Chelsea and Arsenal fighting it out with Man Utd, with Liverpool 5th and Tottenham 6th. I just feel that the experience of Arsenal and Chelsea of being consistently there will tell over the season, while United's midfield is so average that they could slip back and get caught by the pack. Citeh sadly look just too strong at this stage :(

 

Oh, and I watched the Barcelona match tonight, and Messi hadn't scored in his previous 3 appearances, so his goal tally for the year finally dipped below a 1:1 average. A quick hat-trick later and he made it like 72 in 71. MINDBLOWING.

Edit: Double Post

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by Pablo Honey

I know everyone goes on about keeping RVP fit (glass-ankles!) and how our season would fall apart without him... but can you imagine a major injury to Suarez or Rooney? I think their respective sides would also find goals a bit harder to come by. Gervinho and Walcott are stepping up to the plate nicely, Ramsey is beginning to look the player he was becoming pre-Shawcross, and Park scores a very Henry-esque finish in the CC, will be interesting to see how he develops. Also, I'd give Mertesacker the benefit of a full season before judging him, he's a vastly experienced German international, it'll just take him some time to bed in, look at Koscielny, he's really stepped up this year. Sure, even look at Vidic's start at United before he bedded in! Santos is a bit stop-gap until Gibbs can recover / mature. Chelsea just need to get used to AVB's style of play and they will be fine (and maybe a new CB wouldn't help - JT past it and Luiz is just a rocket).

 

As for 2nd, 3rd and 4th I think it will be Chelsea and Arsenal fighting it out with Man Utd, with Liverpool 5th and Tottenham 6th. I just feel that the experience of Arsenal and Chelsea of being consistently there will tell over the season, while United's midfield is so average that they could slip back and get caught by the pack. Citeh sadly look just too strong at this stage :(

 

Oh, and I watched the Barcelona match tonight, and Messi hadn't scored in his previous 3 appearances, so his goal tally for the year finally dipped below a 1:1 average. A quick hat-trick later and he made it like 72 in 71. MINDBLOWING.

 

The thing is with Arsenal is they LOOK like conceding goals. They don't have the players anymore to be able to play like they used to and dictate play. They have to much more precise now and play on the counter attack. They invite pressure on to their defence and their defence at the moment is not strong enough. I would give Mertesacker the benefit of the doubt if he was younger than he is, but like you say he's a German experienced international defender. I have seen him 3/4 times now and he looks too slow. A mistake waiting to happen. Arsenal are always going to be a threat. They've got an easy run on paper now compared to the rest of the top 6. And it's not even Christmas yet, whichg is generally when they f*** it up! It's all very well to say attack is the best form of defence but Arsenal won't be able to score concede 3 goals every game and get away with it.

 

The Manchester sides will be well ahead of the others imo. They've far too much quality. Man Utd just have lady luck on their side all the time, and Man City are rotating their squad which will come in use much later in the season. I've been impressed with Liverpool, and that's not just because I'm a fan. Liverpool's problem at the moment is they've a lot of new players and competition is so tough for places that players are taking shots on when there are others in much better positions. It's why we've been really wasteful.

One of Liverpool's big problems is a lack of playing time for Gerrard, his experience while bedding in Henderson and Adam I think would have prevented you throwing away some of the points you have. I'm interested to see how Newcastle end up doing, I don't think for a second they'll get top 4, but top 6/7 isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

One of Liverpool's big problems is a lack of playing time for Gerrard, his experience while bedding in Henderson and Adam I think would have prevented you throwing away some of the points you have. I'm interested to see how Newcastle end up doing, I don't think for a second they'll get top 4, but top 6/7 isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

 

Don't know about Gerrard. We've coped really well without him, considering we used to rely on him for inspiration. He's an excellent player still, but he's only played five times I think since March. He's playing a much disciplined role at the moment. I'm please with Liverpool's progress and we've only played one bad game which was against Spurs.

 

I think Newcastle will finish in the top half. I thought they'd really struggle, but they've done anything but that! They've a really solid defence and Cayade (sp?) looks absolutely immense. I think they only paid £4m for him..what a bargin! They've got an unbelieveably tough run coming up now though. It will be interesting to see where they are after the next 4/5 games.

I don't know where I stand on Liverpool. Part of me is quite impressed with them but part of me thinks they're quite lucky and rely too much on Suarez. I don't think Gerrard is all that anymore. Influential as a captain still but on the pitch I don't think he'll get back to his best again. Carragher is well past it now though, should be used sparingly.

 

Newcastle will probably finish top 10, but I do think they've had a reasonably easy start. It'll be interesting to see how they fare at Stoke tomorrow night. I think come the end of the season they'll be fighting with Villa, Everton, Stoke, Sunderland for 7th - 11th. Then I'd say West Brom, Norwich, QPR and Fulham have enough about them to stay up. It's hard to see the three relegation places not being a battle between the current bottom 4 and Swansea. I really thought Wolves would kick on this year, I don't think they'll go down though.