Barclays Premier League Season 2009/2010

[dazhu]

I seriously hope it doesn't affect Shawcross psychologically. :(

[Kralik]

On Sunday, Arsenal Football Club released the following statement:

?During yesterday?s match against Stoke City,Aaron Ramsey sustained fractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg. Yesterday evening he underwent surgery.

"The operation successfully reduced the fractures and whilst it is too soon to state an exact timescale for recovery, Aaron will certainly miss the remainder of this season. Our thoughts are with Aaron at this time and everyone at the Club wishes him all the best in making as speedy a return to action as possible.?

[Farstrider]

I am not sure that everyone here would agree with me but as horrible as the accident was, it was a pure accident!

There appeared to be no malicious intent on the part of Shawcross. Do you guys think that the ref overreacted to the incident with the red card or not? If both players got up OK from a similar incident, would there have been anything other than perhaps a yellow card or nothing at all? Football is after all a contact sport and as far as I know more people break legs in this sport than just about any other contact sport!

To the poor lad with the broken leg, I really hope that he gets back 100% and can get on with his football career!

[Shibby]

Well I think when the ref sees broken leg, the odds are against the player. ?Despite it being an accident, I think the red card was sensible. ?It gets the player out of the match and it keeps the controversy down. ?The red card can be appealed.

But emotions were running high, I disagree with Wenger and Fabregas, they don't need protecting. ?The likes of Brum and Stoke always play a physical game against all teams. ?Arsenal were no exception, it just looks like they're being targeted because they've not got that many players of big build or those that which work really hard like Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard, who can be great but can play a physical game. ?These are accidents or just bad tackles, in the league at the moment I can't really think of any thugs who would do anything like that. ?

[Farstrider]

Oh well, we (Villa) just ****ed up and allowed Rooney his seventh headed goal of the season!

Looks like that's it for us! I cannot see us coming back tbh. Rooney had scored only three headed goals in over 300 appearances and this season it is seven already!

[Kostaz]

This weekend couldn't get any worse.

[Rappy Veteran]

Congrats to United for winning the Carling Cup!

[Farstrider]

This weekend couldn't get any worse.

Yup, you pretty much summed it up!

[nothuman]

Another trophy in the pocket! \o/

[Shibby]

Another trophy in the pocket! \o/

Small trophy or large pocket?

[Kralik]

Small trophy or large pocket?

[nothuman]

Any trophy is good, that's how you build a winning team.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Any trophy is good, that's how you build a winning team.

This is true.

[gregb0b]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/page/worldcup101-03012010/ce/us/best-players-2010-world-cup?cc=5901&ver=us

World cup related but it's a good read/breakdown on the best players in the world.

[HilariousNinja]

Decent list, although I feel Evra and De Rossi should be much higher placed.

[Kralik]

Decent list, although I feel Evra and De Rossi should be much higher placed.

Rooney and Drogba should be higher based on form.. Torres has not done anything this year so its strange to see him at 8.. however on skill and talent alone he should be aove both Shrek and Drogba..Cesc at 16!!? Thats an outrage.. he's been the best midfielder this year for me.. he is so young and has a great head on his shoulders and he has controlled and changed many games for us..

[idioot]

Also, how is Ballack so high ? Higher than his Chelsea teammates A Cole and Terry :laugh:

[Kostaz]

Also, how is Ballack so high ? Higher than his Chelsea teammates A Cole and Terry :laugh:

Ballack is phenomenal when he plays for Germany,he's a completely different player.I'm not surpised to see him higher on a *World Cup* list.

Pretty good list although I disagree with some players being our of the top 20.I'm surprised to see our boy Essien in the top 10.

[HilariousNinja]

Rooney and Drogba should be higher based on form.. Torres has not done anything this year so its strange to see him at 8.. however on skill and talent alone he should be aove both Shrek and Drogba..Cesc at 16!!? Thats an outrage.. he's been the best midfielder this year for me.. he is so young and has a great head on his shoulders and he has controlled and changed many games for us..

Yes, based on current form, but Rooney's potential hasn't been 'fully' realised until now. Ronaldo and Messi are consistently brilliant and have been for the last few seasons. Rooney 3rd is a very fair result. If he has a decent world cup or even a good next season then who knows?

And remember these are the top players at the WORLD CUP, Cesc has to compete alongside the likes of Xavi, Alonso, Senna and Iniesta for central midfield roles for Spain.

And the comment about Torres being above Rooney and Drogba.... Well it is based on form and all 3 are terrifying on their day and to say Torres is more talented is pushing it a bit, everyone one of them are terrifyingly talented.

[Dance.]

Rooney and Drogba should be higher based on form.. Torres has not done anything this year so its strange to see him at 8.. however on skill and talent alone he should be aove both Shrek and Drogba..Cesc at 16!!? Thats an outrage.. he's been the best midfielder this year for me.. he is so young and has a great head on his shoulders and he has controlled and changed many games for us..

You haven't been watching too many Barcelona games I presume?

[Surrealist]

It can hardly be based on current form, as Van Persie has been out for a while now, Klose has hardly played at all and Donnovan hasn't had many games in a reputable league. The exclusion of Diego Milito I feel is a little criminal, he's looked very dangerous with Eto'o, banging in the goals all season and will probably continue doing so at the World Cup if paired with similar speedy players like Tevez and Higuain. But that is an American web site, so I guess they just had to throw in Donnovan.

I tend to agree with any criticisms regarding Ballack. I've never actually figured out his role in the Chelsea midfield. To me, any of the little praise he does receive seems to come from people just viewing highlights, where in fact it seems all he does in games is walk about, sometimes moving at a slightly faster walk into the box or committing a foul - whether physically or by just stamping his foot, creating mini earthquakes beneath the feet of smaller players :s

Regarding Fabregas, I highly doubt he will start at all for Spain. Not sure of any upcoming fixtures, but I think Del Bosque has landed on the 3 attack minded + 1 defensive hardman midfield. So probably the same quartet from Euro 2008 - Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Silva.

[wolfman1380]

Bolton Wanderers Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. 3:00PM.

May the best team win Mr. Wolfman1380.

Sorry would have replied to this sooner but been ill the past week. Anyway good win for Bolton however you're not out of it yet as Rappy said earlier in the thread it's so tight at the bottom that a loss will drag you back in to the relegation dogfight. Wolves definitely need to start taking their chances unfortunately it's difficult playing with one up front.

[Digital Tonic]

Sorry would have replied to this sooner but been ill the past week. Anyway good win for Bolton however you're not out of it yet as Rappy said earlier in the thread it's so tight at the bottom that a loss will drag you back in to the relegation dogfight. Wolves definitely need to start taking their chances unfortunately it's difficult playing with one up front.

Aye.

Just hope we can hit the ground running now.

[Kralik]

I was just looking at the remaining games for us and 'Pool:

Liverpool:

Wigan (A)

Pompey (H)

Man U (A)

Suderland (H)

Birm (A)

Fulham (H)

West Ham (H)

Burnley (A)

Chelsea (H)

Hull (A)

Arsenal:

Burnley (H)

Hull (A)

West Ham (H)

Birm (A)

Wolves (H)

Spuds (A)

Wigan (A)

Man city (H)

Rovers (A)

Fulham (H)

Seems to me if Liverpool can take out Man U and Chelsea for us and we take out Spuds and City.. we could both pretty much get good results from the rest of the games and end up in the top 4 .. with us possibly lifting the trophy? So what you say to an Arsenal-Liverpool tag team till the end of season?

[Valerus]

That's like 8 pretty much solid wins unless we screw up again. Then Tottenham & Man City should be good matches.