DROP ALMUNIA

[hadareud]

I know how we lost the game, but quite how we fucking lost the game is beyond me.

I thought we were excellent, we outplayed Utd with ease and we were superior in every way. Well apart from the two goals obviously.

Almunia had a shocker, he did not have to come for that ball and whether Rooney went down before he was touched doesn't matter. It also doesn't matter that the ball was in the stands at the time, it was always going to be a penalty at Old Trafford with Mike Dean refereeing. To give him such a golden opportunity to whistle was plain stupid, there was no danger - nothing. Rooney couldn't have controlled the ball and Gallas was there.

The second goal was his as well, no matter how amateurish Diaby's header was. He has to collect that ball, it was there for the taking. If Diaby heads it behind the goal it's another corner - unecessary pressure. If Diaby heads it back out there's unnecessary pressure too. It was his. He's been guilty of giving away 3 goals in one week and the Celtic goal wasn't unsavable either. And he's looked shakey in pre-season.

He has to step it up, massively. He's had a really good season last season, but so far he's simply been not good enough. I've always defended him, but today he cost us a win that we deserved.

Yes, Mike Dean has been as atrocious as always, but what do you expect when going to Old Trafford? It's a given that every decision will go against you and we've dealt with it beautifully had Almunia not fucked up.

I'm really disappointed, I hope we can recover from this ridiculous defeat for City away. It will be a more difficult game than Utd gave us today, they were toothless going forward and we dominated midfield all day long. City will be better going forward.

[Number 5]

van der sar NO, cech NO, reina MAYBE but arshavin put 4 past him, wouldn't u be calling him crap if you were a bindipper? friedel has his days and same with given.

[Ted B]

I fucking hate all this Almunia bashing

He's not the best goalie in the world. But he is far from the worst. His performances have improved, compared to a couple of seasons ago. He's a competent keeper.

Who, in the Prem, is a lot better than him?

Give me some names. Go on.

how long have you got? cos i have to go back to uni in 5 weeks

[Kevinho]

Ive had enough of him now.

I sort of agree but replace him with who exactly?

Fabianski?

Mannone?

[projoe]

I fucking hate all this Almunia bashing

He's not the best goalie in the world. But he is far from the worst. His performances have improved, compared to a couple of seasons ago. He's a competent keeper.

Who, in the Prem, is a lot better than him?

Give me some names. Go on.

Cech
Reina
Van Der Sar
Friedel
Given

That's only five, and we are supposed to be top four.

agree with those 5 + schwarzer as well in my opinion

[augie]

Jussi (can never spell his surname correctly ) at bolton is streets ahead of almunia

I would suggest that joe hart is better than almunia

[Gunnerz4life]

The thing about Almunia is that he classifies among those goalkeepers in the world who sometimes will make an exceptional save and other times come up with howlers like today. If not a world class keeper, we could do with one less flamboyant and more solid, maybe someone like a Friedel. If i were a centreback i wouldnt be too comfortable having Almunia as the last line of defence.

[Magic Hat]

Hart's a bit flappy in the air and not been utterly convinced yet by him on 1v1's but at least with him, he can learn, same with Neuer or some other young keeper.

Almunia is a competent keeper who has given his best, as angry as I am, I don't hate him and we have nobody within squad to replace him despite a bad start to the season. The problem is, put him in a big game and he is poor, he makes error after error and will cost us this season unless we buy a new number 1. Improved a lot over the years but can not take this final step required

Edit: The thing that distrubed me was in first half, Gallas and co threw themselves at balls Almunia was going for, it was clear they didn't trust him. A 3rd choice keeper, a injured one or a young one but shouldn't be happening to a keeper of Almunia's age

[olgitgooner]

I'm not impressed with any of the Almunia replacement suggestions.

Why is it that goalies get crucified for their mistakes, but strikers simply "miss an opportunity"?

The end result is the same.

Let's have a go at Van Percy for missing an easy one. Or praise the Utd goalie for sticking out a lucky leg.

[Magic Hat]

Van Persie wasn't very good but hasn't a history of bottling big games

[littlefire]

Rooney. Cheat. Ban him.

[donaldo]

I fucking hate all this Almunia bashing

He's not the best goalie in the world. But he is far from the worst. His performances have improved, compared to a couple of seasons ago. He's a competent keeper.

Who, in the Prem, is a lot better than him?

Give me some names. Go on.

Cech
Reina
Van Der Sar
Friedel
Given

That's only five, and we are supposed to be top four.

van der sar NO, cech NO, reina MAYBE but arshavin put 4 past him, wouldn't u be calling him crap if you were a bindipper? friedel has his days and same with given.

Cech or VDS are not better than Almunia.You are joking arent you?I must have been dreaming when VDS kept a record number of clean sheets last season.
Given has had his day?.He is 32 and has another 5 years left at the top

The only reason Almunia hasnt been dropped before is his understudy Flapianski is even worse than him

[augie]

I'm not impressed with any of the Almunia replacement suggestions.

Why is it that goalies get crucified for their mistakes, but strikers simply "miss an opportunity"?

The end result is the same.

Let's have a go at Van Percy for missing an easy one. Or praise the Utd goalie for sticking out a lucky leg.

To be fair oldgit the guy aint being crucified on the back of one poor game is he ? He has bottled in on so many big occasions and the ladyboy free kick at the grove last season will haunt me forever In my opinion almunia typifies the new Arsenal......where we used to set the standards now we are, as a club and a team, ok but no better and it is shameful to witness a once great club represent itself like this

[g88ner]

To be fair oldgit the guy aint being crucified on the back of one poor game is he ? He has bottled in on so many big occasions and the ladyboy free kick at the grove last season will haunt me forever In my opinion almunia typifies the new Arsenal......where we used to set the standards now we are, as a club and a team, ok but no better and it is shameful to witness a once great club represent itself like this

Yeah, but the players you've suggested (Jussi and Hart) and ****'s suggestion (James) are NOT that great themselves!

In fact, I'm almost certain if we had any of those suggestions in goal, we'd be having the same argument as none of them are that wonderful either!

The standard of goalkeepers in world foorball is, from what I've seen, shite compared to a few years back. ManUre have never replaced Schmeichel and we've never replaced Seaman.

I know Almunia isn't great, but even Cech and Reina look shite to me, so reluctantly I've accepted Almunia is probably the best we can afford at the moment. Yes, he's a handicap and it'll probably cost us matches (and possibly trophies) but what can you do??? - we tried Lehmann and he was shite, and now it's Almunia's turn.

Eventually, we'll get lucky and find a new Seaman, but until then we'll have to make do.

[Rob]

I'd rather have Almunia than Fabianski - if fit - any day !