Capital One Cup Thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd pop one of these up...

Norwich currently beating Bury 3-0, Ravel Morrison gives Dolphin a boner with a goal on full debut

MK Dons currently leading Sunderland 2-0 meaning Sunderland players shall be starved tomorrow

Peterborough absolutely spanking a strong Reading side as well

[Champagne_Socialist]

Could you possibly shift the goalposts a bit more when I pull apart every point you attempt to make?

You state they are 'International' players yet they're clearly 3rd or 4th choice for that role for their respective nation and only get a game when it's either meaningless or those ahead of them in the queue get injuries.


Years of CL experience?
Anderson of Man Utd has been involved in 39 games over the past 7 years in the Champions League. He's also been capped 8 times by Brazil.

I said they have international experience which they do.

I would also say that Anderson is an experienced player due to the number of games he has played, the number of european games and the number of international games. He might not be any good but that doesn't make him inexperienced.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Using Champagne_Socialists criteria I shall stand here and proclaim that Sebastien Bassong is a top quality cb having played countless international games and has Champions League experience with Spurs.

BASSONG

[Champagne_Socialist]

Using Champagne_Socialists criteria I shall stand here and proclaim that Sebastien Bassong is a top quality cb having played countless international games and has Champions League experience with Spurs.

BASSONG

Someone said that Arsenal's full backs are INEXPERIENCED.

Experince and quality are two different things.

Bassong is a very experienced premier league defender but he lacks top quality.

[Hero]

What you're doing is pitifully attempting to use spin certain words such as 'International' to make out a player is better than they actually are and under closely scrutiny the 'International' experience amounts to 17 minutes as a sub in a friendly where his team conceded 3 goals.

[Champagne_Socialist]

What you're doing is pitifully attempting to use spin certain words such as 'International' to make out a player is better than they actually are and under closely scrutiny the 'International' experience amounts to 17 minutes as a sub in a friendly where his team conceded 3 goals.

I used the fact they played in international games to highlight they are not inexperienced. I also used the number of club games and european games to further establish that the said players were not inexperienced.

If you want to debate quality that is a different debate but it is of course a subjective debate.

[Duty281]

Carl Jenkinson is not experienced.
Monreal is not experienced in the Premier League.
Gibbs is not that experienced, he's only 24 and his appearances for Arsenal have been spread over 6 years.

[Hero]

On the note then of experience, my son is an experienced player with 3 Premier League clubs, having played over 32 games worth of time in the past year.

The fact that he's 7 and he attended soccer schools and academies so those hours were based in 7 hour sittings doesn't matter when I can cherry pick the facts to glamourize the point I wish to put across.

[nasisillmatic]

Experiencing an International game and being experienced in International games are 2 different things.

[LastDamnation]

I think the argument about squad depth is pointless, since a lot of it is subjective and people bring up irrelevant points. For example Gibbs playing for England 3 years ago is irrelevant, but not being picked ahead of Cole and Baines does not mean he is not decent. He's quietly been one of our best three players this season imo.
I would agree that City and Chelsea have stronger squads, however to say Arsenal are behind in every area is ludicrous. City's squad isn't for me as good as when they won the title - yes they've brought good players but navas has questions marks due to homesicness etc, jovetic is still developing and isn't ready to replace tevez, and I don't rate negredo higher than balotelli. Chelsea have lots of depth but haven't got a settled team yet and don't have an in-form striker.
It's ridiculous to dismiss Arsenal as not contenders because they finished last season strongest, did not lose any key players, brought in ozil and some needed backup which will improve depth, and have started strongly. Giroud poldi and santi now have a full year's experience, and the british core have another year's experience (shown by the impressive performances from ramsey, gibbs). The only concerns I would have are the current injury situation (which should hopefully be much better after int. break), need of another striker (which will hopefully be rectified in January), and potential loss of confidence in tough run of fixtures (e.g. beginning of November). I've seen very little from the other teams to suggest Arsenal can't compete with them.

[Mat]

We're all missing the point here. Arsenal were incredibly lucky to get through yesterday. Fabianski made two excellent saves in normal time(shock horror!) and we had two golden opportunities in extra time, as well as hitting the bar.

Still, not bitter or anything. Still not seen a team I support win a penalty shoot out, but not bitter!

[Champagne_Socialist]

Carl Jenkinson is not experienced.
Monreal is not experienced in the Premier League.
Gibbs is not that experienced, he's only 24 and his appearances for Arsenal have been spread over 6 years.

I said Jenkinson was the least experienced but he still has over 40 games of top flight games including champions league and internationals.

Who said anything about needing to play in the EPL to be experienced? Ozil has played 3 games of epl games would you say he is inexperienced? Eto has played 2 epl games is he inexperienced?

Being 24 has no bearing over experience. And you just highlighted that gibbs has 6 years worth of top flight experience.

[Champagne_Socialist]

I think the argument about squad depth is pointless, since a lot of it is subjective and people bring up irrelevant points. For example Gibbs playing for England 3 years ago is irrelevant, but not being picked ahead of Cole and Baines does not mean he is not decent. He's quietly been one of our best three players this season imo.
I would agree that City and Chelsea have stronger squads, however to say Arsenal are behind in every area is ludicrous. City's squad isn't for me as good as when they won the title - yes they've brought good players but navas has questions marks due to homesicness etc, jovetic is still developing and isn't ready to replace tevez, and I don't rate negredo higher than balotelli. Chelsea have lots of depth but haven't got a settled team yet and don't have an in-form striker.
It's ridiculous to dismiss Arsenal as not contenders because they finished last season strongest, did not lose any key players, brought in ozil and some needed backup which will improve depth, and have started strongly. Giroud poldi and santi now have a full year's experience, and the british core have another year's experience (shown by the impressive performances from ramsey, gibbs). The only concerns I would have are the current injury situation (which should hopefully be much better after int. break), need of another striker (which will hopefully be rectified in January), and potential loss of confidence in tough run of fixtures (e.g. beginning of November). I've seen very little from the other teams to suggest Arsenal can't compete with them.

I agree with this. City have not replaced tevez and balotelli with players who i believe will have as big an impact and this chelsea side look woeful up front and are in transition.

[Guest]

rectified in January. Who's that striker then? Not sure your going to do the best business in january, instead of next summer. Surely you want someone of sheer world class level ability & proven in the champions league. Going to be difficult to get one on board in january, a. if there cup-tied & b. playing outside the top 4, not really proven at a top club.

Rooney is going nowhere & Suarez looks like staying until the summer at Liverpool.
benteke? Huntelaar? Demba ba? Yilmaz? Kiessling?.....Lewandowski is gone.

As for the general discussion, Arsenal will be there or thereabouts but the squad depth is still an issue. It's always been a long term turnaround for Arsene, it's not an overnight, Ozil signing means we immediately challenge. Some fans just carried away with a good start, come xmas, I expect arsenal to be top 4 but just drifting away. nothing wrong with that, with this squad. it's next summer that should be the defining moment for wenger, with the ozil effect to go and bring in two or three geniune quality players, then you can realistically start talking about titles. Be patient & dont embarrass yourselves trying to big up 'your depth' by saying all this nonsense about the experience of gibbs, monreal or jenkinson. thats my view.

[Champagne_Socialist]

rectified in January. Who's that striker then? Not sure your going to do the best business in january, instead of next summer. Surely you want someone of sheer world class level ability & proven in the champions league. Going to be difficult to get one on board in january, a. if there cup-tied & b. playing outside the top 4, not really proven at a top club.

Rooney is going nowhere & Suarez looks like staying until the summer at Liverpool.
benteke? Huntelaar? Demba ba? Yilmaz? Kiessling?.....Lewandowski is gone.

As for the general discussion, Arsenal will be there or thereabouts but the squad depth is still an issue. It's always been a long term turnaround for Arsene, it's not an overnight, Ozil signing means we immediately challenge. Some fans just carried away with a good start, come xmas, I expect arsenal to be top 4 but just drifting away. nothing wrong with that, with this squad. it's next summer that should be the defining moment for wenger, with the ozil effect to go and bring in two or three geniune quality players, then you can realistically start talking about titles. Be patient & dont embarrass yourselves trying to big up 'your depth' by saying all this nonsense about the experience of gibbs, monreal or jenkinson. thats my view.

What I satated was a fact that Sagna, monreal and gibbs are all experienced full backs with gibbs having played over 120 games for arsenal and monreal and sagna having played over 250 games. Nothing to be embarrassed about stating a fact. The people who should be embarrassed are the people who do not know the difference between experience and quality.

[Guest]

I just think the whole discussion is pretty pointless really & I knew you'd pick up on that sentence. I'd still like to know your view on the incoming striker though? I can't see it happening.

[Champagne_Socialist]

I just think the whole discussion is pretty pointless really & I knew you'd pick up on that sentence. I'd still like to know your view on the incoming striker though? I can't see it happening.

I agree with you on the striker issue. will be hard to get a top qulity striker in january who is not cup tied. Benteke would be an option or Hulk who plays in the russian league. I still don't get why if newcastle could get loic remy on loan why we never got him instead.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So tonight the almight Nodge head up to Manchester to take Utd out of the cup...

Well maybe

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Taking 7,000 tonight apparantly. Poor souls

[compelling and rich]

So tonight the almight Nodge head up to Manchester to take Utd out of the cup...

Well maybe

Wouldnt put it past you, at home so far we have been very poor and we will rotate the squad which at the minutes im not sure is a good thing or a bad thing. be nice to see zaha given a start. would also expect wellbeck and hernadez to start up front

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
#NCFC team v @ManUtd: Bunn; Whittaker, R. Bennett, Bassong, Garrido; Snodgrass, Fer, Johnson, Redmond; Hoolahan; Elmander.

Norwich City FC ‏@NorwichCityFC
#NCFC subs: Nash (GK); Martin, Howson, Hooper, Pilkington, Becchio, Murphy

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
#mufc starting XI: Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Büttner; Zaha, Cleverley, Jones, Young; Januzaj, Hernandez.

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
#mufc subs vs @NorwichCityFC: Amos, Anderson, Rooney, Giggs, Smalling, Fabio, Valencia

[Fernando]

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Monreal, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Rosicky, Miyaichi, Bendtner. Subs: Sagna, Ozil, Giroud, Viviano, Park, Hayden, Yennaris.

Chelsea: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne, Mata, Willian, Eto'o. Subs: Ivanovic, Ramires, Torres, Hazard, Ba, Kalas, Blackman.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

[compelling and rich]

lindegaard is usually pretty good for a mistake, pretty experienced defence in front of him though

be good to see zaha given a run out, still looks like a very rough diamond but cant be much worse than nani. looks like januzaj might be playing central?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Burnley have got to be a good bet. Second team out with some youngsters, away trip to a flying team and Sam likely not to be too concerned about the result

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dolph you seen the Allardyce/Chico thing from the weekend?

Love Big Sam

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cracked me up, I swear Allardyce wants Chico to kick off so he can chin him. Moments like that make the Not Big Sam twitter account seem real

[Fernando]

Birmingham 0-1 Stoke

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If Burnley dont win this they want shooting

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A dodgy penalty to Utd at Old Trafford, what a surprise...

[Fernando]

Leicester 0-1 Fulham - Rodallega
Man Utd 1-0 Norwich - Hernandez Pen

[Fernando]

Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea - Azpilicueta

Jenkinson was a muppet  Like Citeh at weekend but worse

[CFCNick]

I love a good mistimed back header. Thing of beauty it is!

[Fernando]

Birmingham 1-1 Stoke - Tom Adeyemi

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is embarassing

We're as threatening as a Tom Cleverley shot, yet as solid as my sh!t after an Indian. Disgraceful

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I bet you at least have the intention of winning. We definitely don't just waiting to lose really so the distraction is gone

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I bet you at least have the intention of winning. We definitely don't just waiting to lose really so the distraction is gone

Eh not really. We've had one shot I think, and a corner. Probably about 10 passes in there half. Just stuck 10 men behind the ball, no pressing, just cutting through us everytime. It's a shambles

[Hammersmith harrier]

Lindegaards kicking has been atrocious.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This ref is so bad

[Hammersmith harrier]

No idea how that was a Norwich free kick.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

2-0 game over

Just pathetic

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Redmond just tore Buttner a new on

Changes have to happen now

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This looks serious for Snoddy, hope he's ok

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Fair play to Lindegaard   

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Please make the attacking change Hughton. Please

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Oh my now Redmond injured as well.

This night has just gone from bad to worse

[CFCNick]

Can't believe Alan Smith, well I can because he's an ex-Gooner, is blaming the squad strength for Arsenal's performance like it's Chelsea's "A" team vs Arsenal U-19's. Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Carzola, Koscielny and Vermaelen all started. As well as Monreal, Jenkinson, Bendtner and Fabianski who aren't exactly scrubs and have a bit of Champions League experience. Giroud and Ozil have both come on. Not exactly your typical Arsenal League Cup line-up.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I hate football

[NickisBHAFC]

Looks like Arsenal are going out of another trophy

Leicester 4-3 Fulham! What a game at the king power stadium, magic of the cup is on there! 

Looking like standard wins as expected for United, West Ham and Stoke. Although they seem to have had to work very hard in order to win.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Not quite sure where Jones found that volley.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Boring. But no injuries, minutes for a few players, youth experience and progression. Job done.

[NickisBHAFC]

Fancy you're chances of winning the competition Chris?!

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