Official World Cup Thread

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:35 pm

Ironically the fewer players France have with Zs in their name the more they induce zzzzzzzzzzz

Gooner_Sam · Post by **Gooner_Sam** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 8:41 pm

Thought Diaby and Sagna played well!

Why cant Sagna cross the ball like that in an Arsenal Shirt?

Domenech left it too late to bring on subs that would make an influence, Anelka stayed on for far too long and looked to win all by himself, Gourcuff was as disapointing as a hairy Cheryl Cole fanny and Nasri would had dominated in the game with France often taking the narrow approach when the full backs were in acres of space..

cusamano · Post by **cusamano** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:03 pm

Vince wrote:Diaby is by far the best player on the pitch at the moment.

So there might be a good chance to sell him after the WC

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:04 pm

Having seen the France game anyone that thinks Gourcuff would be an adequate replacement for Cesc needs to make an appointment with their optician!!

I've seen the guy play I'd guess around a dozen times or so and I've yet to be impressed with him. The new Zidane my arse!!

franksav63 · Post by **franksav63** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:08 pm

I Hate Hleb wrote:Having seen the France game anyone that thinks Gourcuff would be an adequate replacement for Cesc needs to make an appointment with their optician!!

I've seen the guy play I'd guess around a dozen times or so and I've yet to be impressed with him. The new Zidane my arse!!

Wasn't Nasri supposed to be the new Zindane also...

Post by **g88ner** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:09 pm

I Hate Hleb wrote:Having seen the France game anyone that thinks Gourcuff would be an adequate replacement for Cesc needs to make an appointment with their optician!!

I've seen the guy play I'd guess around a dozen times or so and I've yet to be impressed with him. The new Zidane my arse!!

Same. I've heard so much about Gourcouff but I've been left underwhelmed every time I've seen him play... and tonight was no different

Post by **g88ner** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:12 pm

franksav63 wrote:
I Hate Hleb wrote:Having seen the France game anyone that thinks Gourcuff would be an adequate replacement for Cesc needs to make an appointment with their optician!!

I've seen the guy play I'd guess around a dozen times or so and I've yet to be impressed with him. The new Zidane my arse!!
Wasn't Nasri supposed to be the new Zindane also...

Just you wait Frank, just you wait!

Once the 'new Vieira' (Diaby), the 'new Henry' (Theo) and the 'new Zidane' (Nasri) start clicking, we'll be unstoppable

franksav63 · Post by **franksav63** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:24 pm

g88ner wrote:
franksav63 wrote:
I Hate Hleb wrote:Having seen the France game anyone that thinks Gourcuff would be an adequate replacement for Cesc needs to make an appointment with their optician!!

I've seen the guy play I'd guess around a dozen times or so and I've yet to be impressed with him. The new Zidane my arse!!
Wasn't Nasri supposed to be the new Zindane also...
Just you wait Frank, just you wait!

Once the 'new Vieira' (Diaby), the 'new Henry' (Theo) and the 'new Zidane' (Nasri) start clicking, we'll be unstoppable

So, on that pretext, does that make Almunia the new Gordon Banks

GunnerDude · Post by **GunnerDude** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:26 pm

franksav63 wrote:
So, on that pretext, does that make Almunia the new Gordon Banks

Wash Now!

bigreddave · Post by **bigreddave** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:28 pm

France were again disappointing, it reminded me when they met uruguay at the 2002 world cup where they again drew 0-0 and failed to get out of what was on paper an easy group. I for some reason put money on them to win the world cup a few months ago, god knows why!!! With performances like this they'll be lucky to get out of the group!

Vince · Post by **Vince** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:14 pm

Yeah, we played like we use to play for a few years now.
Anelka is rubbish up front, Govou is useless, Gourcuff is shit, Ribery is so selfish, etc ... Diaby was man of the match, and I think he'll impress a lot of sceptic.
I still think we'll win it .....

Rosetinter for life

Post by **flash gunner** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:21 pm

kingjayson1 wrote:Domenech = Another poor French tactitian.

to go alongside Arsene Wenger 2010, General de Gaulle 1940 and Napoleon 1815

augie · Post by **augie** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:28 pm

Vince wrote:Yeah, we played like we use to play for a few years now.
Anelka is rubbish up front, Govou is useless, Gourcuff is shit, Ribery is so selfish, etc ... Diaby was man of the match, and I think he'll impress a lot of sceptic.
I still think we'll win it .....
Rosetinter for life

Toulan was man of the match by a mile....we could do with a combatitive DM like that

Bergkamp-Genius · Post by **Bergkamp-Genius** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:52 pm

I Hate Hleb wrote:
Bergkamp-Genius wrote:
goonersid wrote:
I Hate Hleb wrote:Just seen Spain demolish Poland 6-0 and I'm telling you, it's going to take a brilliant performance by an opponent and probably an off day for them, to prevent Spain picking up the trophy.

Imagine Barca at their very best then add a better keeper, stronger defensive back-line, an even more creative midfield and then two of the best finishers in world football!!! And the substitutes bench is to die for!!

Believe it or not, Cesc looks an even better player surrounded by that type of quality - players of equal ability that can anticipate and reciprocate his passes. Trust me, if he does go to Barcelona, Cesc will slot straight into that team and you won't be able to see the join.

Anyone who doubted that is an idiot. Mmmmm let me think? PHW there's one to get us started.
He came on as sub for Spain, which is probably the role he will play for Spain in the WC, behind the same players he will be behind at Barca..how does that mean he will slot straight into the Barca first 11 who have a better midfield than Spain..

No one is doubting that he is good enough to look good at Barca, it's the other half dozen quality players they have that can play central midfield that are the problem..
As Hleb and Henry found out just because Barca pursue a player and pay big money for them that doesn't mean they are going to take over a position unchallenged by the other world class players on their books..
Well in answer to the 'how is he going to get into Barcelona's side' question, as I've mentioned on here before, Barca plan to play Iniesta wide left with Cesc and Xavi either side of a DM (be it Keita of Busquet).

As for the comparison between the Barcelona and Spain midfields, there is little, if anything in it in terms of quality. Also Cesc has sometimes played in the hole behind the front man for Spain (he did in Euro 2008 when one of the strikers was injured).

Cesc came on as sub the other day but that's not surprising because he has been only just got his fitness back after a long spell out. We don't know yet whether if and when he is fit he will command a regular starting place. However, with Iniesta apparently struggling to be fit for the first match, he might well start and go on to cement his place in the Spanish side.

''Barca plan to play'' come off it you have no idea what Barca ''plan'' to do we are both just guessing, the only person who knows for sure their plans is Guardiola and he certainly hasn't said anything about what he intends to do with a player he doesn't even own yet.

So we can only base our judgement on what we know and what we know is up until now he is a squad player for Spain they fit him in where and when they can, but the regulars of that midfield when everyone is fit are Silva,Iniesta, Xavi and a holding player.

As for how he fits into the barca side imo it will be the same and for the same reasons they will fit him in where and when they can as they do with the impressive Busquets and Keita.

Cesc plays almost an identical game to Xavi, although i'm sure they would look very good together it doesn't give them a good balance, 2 ball players playing next to each other both of them lacking pace and neither of them really run at players and take them on. They would get far better balance with a player that offers something different, someone who can run with the ball or a more powerful pacy player with a ball player, rather than two out and out ball players..

Added to that i don't believe for one minute Guardiola is planning on leaving Ibra on the bench for most of the season so that would mean Villa would be playing from the left.

This is no insult to Cesc saying he won't be the first man on the team sheet, his time will come but as long as Xavi is still fit and on his game i don't see Cesc getting anything other than what he gets for Spain and thats fitted in where and when possible that doesn't mean he is not an excellent player it just means he is competing with the very best there is not Diaby, Nasri and Denilson..

MegaGooner · Post by **MegaGooner** » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:55 pm

augie wrote:
Vince wrote:Yeah, we played like we use to play for a few years now.
Anelka is rubbish up front, Govou is useless, Gourcuff is shit, Ribery is so selfish, etc ... Diaby was man of the match, and I think he'll impress a lot of sceptic.
I still think we'll win it .....
Rosetinter for life

Toulan was man of the match by a mile....we could do with a combatitive DM like that

Toulalan was excellent. Weren't we transfer-linked with him recently?