FA Cup Final Thread - 2014/15 season

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

FA Cup Final  

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Benteke turning out to be one of Leicester's best defenders by breaking up promising counter attacks and breaks.

Might have had to change this post but he allowed Upson to put him off at the vital moment.

[westisbest]

I can't wait until villa go down

Is that cos we sacked your boyfriend

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I can't wait until villa go down

Is that cos we sacked your boyfriend

No it's because you're mind numbingly boring and pointless to watch

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Time to put schwarzer down

[1GrumpyGolfer]

A true Andy Gray "if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the raffle" moment.

Game over.

Oh, maybe not.

[Hammersmith harrier]

That was a pretty sick header, looks a decent player Kramaric.

[westisbest]

I can't wait until villa go down

Is that cos we sacked your boyfriend

No it's because you're mind numbingly boring and pointless to watch

Err then don't watch. Simple.

That was with your lover Lambert in charge

Much better second half.

[hampo17]

What a dreadful game, BBC already talking about the difference Sherwood has made by beating a very average Leicester side. If you need a new manager to tell you to run at a defender you're in the wrong job.

[Fernando]

Random Stat of the day:

Everytime Arsenal have knocked Brighton out the cup, We've gone out next round to a championship side.

Worth a £1 on Boro

[Mat]

Them grapes are particularly sour this evening eh Dolph? I'll address a few points.

1) It wasn't total football, never going to be under Pulis, but it was quick, counter-attacking football which to me is just as exciting as watching a team string 40 passes together before scoring. Don't think you can't say we weren't attacking when we scored four, and should have had more. Off the top of my head-Gardner's shot off the bar, he also should have scored the volley earlier, then two good saves from Adrian in the second half from Dawson and Ideye.

2) We sit back at home to everyone, that's why our home record has generally been quite poor. Pulis is clearly trying to change that, we're pressing higher up the pitch and it was effective against both Swansea and West Ham. It's not negative to play to your strengths, it's something Allardyce generally does well.

3) The done nothing in the league comment could be applied to pretty much any side outside of the top 7 and Southampton this season. West Ham are doing well this season but realistically where are you going to finish? 7th at best, it's not really that great is it? Being one step away from a trip to Wembley is very exciting, furthest we've got in years and it's nice to see a manager of ours actually taking it seriously.

4) Yeah the West Ham fans were good while it was 0-0 and up to half time, and did out-sing us. But they were in the stand where our hardcore of support usually sit. Like taking the kop end away from Liverpool fans. And their support wasn't exactly unwavering, in fact there was some "Frak off Sam Allardyce" chants when he made the second half subs. Considering what he's done this season, pretty strange. There was also booing of West Ham passing it between themselves at the back at 2-0 down. Isn't that the West Ham way?

Anyway happy we won, perfectly entitled to your view on the game, even if I disagree! Have a good valentines day!

I'd say you werent attacking because the team wasnt set out to go and get goals. You conceded possession and territory very readily and on that basis you are asking the opposition to play badly rather than trying to outplay them. Which I think is negative. It can be right, but its not positive football. I don't think you should have had more either, pot shots and a very difficult volley arent really goals you "should" have had.

Not sure its playing to your strengths if thats why your home record is poor

Its not just this season with West Brom, its every season. I like the club for its way of running itself and its reasonably inoffensive image, but the ambition is minimal and the excitement level low. I don't apologise for thinking there should be more to West Brom than balanced books and 15th place finishes.

We'll get somewhere between 8th-10th, but we've done fantastically well to be up in the top four and top six at different times on merit. We've outplayed the bigger teams a good few times and played some cracking stuff along the way. The season was always going to catch up with us, we don't have the money to build the squads of any of the teams above us, including Southampton (who people consistently forget have spent big money for years in a row) but we've gone into every game thinking we can do something to the opposition, except Liverpool away cos thats never happening, so its been fun every week.

Don't get me wrong, we can't have the unwavering support you have for Steve Clarke, Pepe Mel or Alan Irvine, but there is a fractious relationship between Sam and our fans. Old habits in his management have crept back in and a lot of last years stuff will take a long time to heal too, especially when he takes off our top scorer and arguably our best player in what amounted to "we're done, get the good ones off". I can understand booing passing at the back too, no progression is what gets annoying.

You deserved to win, but that mouthy little gobsh!te wanted to have a pop so he got something back. Least he'll pretend he is gonna go next time, cos that would have been hard yesterday with tickets still on sale for a home game. Look out for him trying to get tickets to any trip to Wembley even over people who do make the trip to games. Like I said, I'm happy for you Mat, some people deserve to revel in things like cup runs.

My thoughts also to the families of the three West Ham fans killed in a crash on the way to the game.

I meant playing to our strengths now under Pulis, using our pace on the counter attack which is that we now have more in the team than we did before when Big Vic was leading the line and Brunt was playing on the left-wing. Also get more bodies forward now, albeit still get plenty behind the ball when we're defending.

It's only been the past two seasons where we've regressed to being this side content with finishing with our head above the waters. Hodgson took us to 11th and 10th, then we did what you've done this year, finished 8th under Clarke and were third at the end of November. Our final finish that year was based on a good first half of the season and then Lukaku winning a few games on his own. Since then we've slipped because of poor signings, such as losing Long, Odemwingie and Lukaku and replacing them with Anelka, Anichebe and Sinclair!

Ambition is all relative really. You're punching above your weight with where you are in the league compared to the spends of other teams, but you still did spend a lot. Valencia was what 15 million? Kouyate wasn't cheap, you out-bid us for Cresswell and I dread to think what wages Song is on. Compared to that, our business might not look too ambitious, but by our standards it was.

Lescott is the highest-paid player we've ever had, though I imagine Fletcher's on similar money now and we also spent 10 million on Ideye, double our previous club record. It's just a shame that until a week ago Ideye looked a million pound player at best. Anyone who says they knew he'd come good is talking rubbish, I've watched him pretty much every week this season and he's had no redeeming qualities to his game whatsoever. Whatever's got him going then long may it continue but no point getting carried away, even though he looks a totally different player.

I know there's a bit of history between Sam and your fans, but just thought it was pretty poor to turn against him like that. Seen you a fair bit this season and like you say, he's had you playing some great football for the majority of the games. You were crap yesterday but that's one of the few occasions this season where you've been poor. All football fans are fickle, ours included, so perhaps it's to be expected, was yours and ours best chance of "real" success-ie a trophy.

Of the managers you mentioned of ours, Clarke won 4 games in a calendar year, Mel did have the fans support, it was the board who didn't want him. Irvine never got a chance with our fans, will readily admit that but that's with good reason, he was totally out of his depth and that became blindingly obvious very quickly. Compared to big Sam, I just don't think some fans realise that you could have a lot worse--see the three managers above!

Well yeah that's to be expected, you and Liam aren't bosom buddies really, you're going to want to defend your team but at the same time, I'll do the same for mine.

And don't get me started on tickets mate, that is a sore subject after the debacle for the Birmingham game where a load of home season ticket holders got tickets despite doing no away games, where as I've done 6(Plus having a season ticket myself) and couldn't get one! Same situation with our upcoming game with Villa.

Thoughts with them, no fans should go to a game and not come back. RIP.

[Fernando]

Bradford 1-0 Sunderland - John O'Shea OG

[Fernando]

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

Middlesbrough XI: Mejias, Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Tomlin, Kike, Bamford

[Fernando]

Bradford 2-0 Sunderland

[FootballLight]

I would have imagined Sherwood would have said a thing or 2 to them Villa lads at the break. Boy did that give them a crack up the backside, much improved 2nd half from Villa. Exactly what they needed at exactly the right time. That's the new manager effect there for you. Really good finishes for all 3 goals. Fabulous strike from Bacuna, poor goalkeeping from an experienced Schwarzer and then a fantastic header from Krameric.

Bradford doing really well - AGAIN. Hardly call this an upset though, I expected Bradford to win this to be honest. Really poor stuff from Sunderland today. They need to drastically improve. Their names haven't been all over the relegation battle this season but I keep watching them quickly edge close to that dreaded drop zone. Poyet has his work cut out again now and for this whole season.

[Fernando]

FT Bradford 2-0 Sunderland

£1 on Boro is still a wise bet

[Fernando]

Arsenal 1-0 Middlesbrough - Olivier Giroud

Probably not so wise...

[Fernando]

Arsenal 2-0 Middlesborough - Olivier Giroud

[NickisBHAFC]

Go on the Bradford!!!!!

[FootballLight]

The game is really going away from Middlesbrough now. Typical Arsenal, possession to kill the game off, counter in the last 10 and potentially get a 3rd goal. Giroud is doing really well this season, although Welbeck has really gone off the boil now after his decent start. Thought he could have been good, still could be but needs to be doing better than this.

[kingraf]

Giroud one away from 50 goals in Arsenal strip. Given the fact that he's only cost £10 million, think he's proven a very good piece of business by Wenger

[FootballLight]

That's the problem Arsenal fans will have though. This is his 3rd season and he has only just close to 50 goals. For £12m, maybe not a bad buy for back-up, but Arsenal fans have always expected £30m+ strikers that will get 20-30 goals a season. Giroud hasn't done that, but he has paid the price that Wenger bought him for and has turned out to be a good player. Some very fickle Arsenal fans nowadays if they feel they still need to splash the cash on a potential flop.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That last sentence is so confusing

[Mat]

I think Giroud's under-rated, good player.

[FootballLight]

Not exactly if you can read correctly then it shouldn't be a problem.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

If this is his third season isn't he on course for the target you mention. Don't forget he missed a big chunk of this season through injury too.

[Hammersmith harrier]

That last sentence is so confusing

I can't work it out either, do often wonder if somebody like FL deliberately acts dumb in an attempt to WUM.

[hampo17]

Maybe if he could write correctly it wouldn't be an issue. Nothing fickle about wanting your club to sign a world class goal scorer.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

50 goals in two and a bit seasons is pretty decent tbf

[Dolphin Ziggler]

You'd be fickle to want to buy someone who scored 90 goals though

[Fernando]

50 goals in two and a bit seasons is pretty decent tbf

The irony is that he's now close to being a 20 goal a season forward despite a fair few injuries. He may not be the best forward but we always look better with the play building up off him.

[mystiroakey]

well they bought Sanchez who has scored 18 already this season and welbeck who has scored 7 then got injured. so its not like they lack options.

trying to buy an aguero, costa, ronaldo, messi is kind of an impossible task for even arsernal- Getting Sanchez was huge.

[FootballLight]

1GG - No he isn't because I said there will be plenty of strikers out there for Arsenal to sign that they could get that could get 50 goals in half of what Giroud has done, regardless of his injuries. Not saying Giroud has done bad, he has met expectations for me. 50 goals in 2 and 2/3 seasons is expected for a striker that would cost half of the price of someone who would get 50 goals in 1 and 1/2 seasons.

Hammersmith - I'm sure your deliberately trying to wind me up by criticising EVERYTHING that I post on the football board, without any argument to back up what you are saying. Not once seen you disagree with my view and actually give me some evidence to suggest that you are correct. Not once off the top of my head.

DZ - That kind of contradicts what hampo171 has said. There's nothing fickle about signing a world class striker, but it is fickle to want to sign someone who will get 90 goals in presumably 3 seasons as that is what we were originally discussing about. Obviously 2 different views, just saying you contradict one another.

mystiroakey - Its not just that, why can't Arsenal bring in similar quality players as well? Why has it taken Wenger this long to realise they need to buy a World Class forward in the last couple of seasons. Him and Ozil are class, but he's never splashed the cash like he has in these last couple of seasons on them 2 players. They are different class to what they usually buy and it is paying dividends. Now all they need to do is put £20m+ on Lars Bender and they've got a very productive and structured midfield then. Coquelin isn't bad, but Bender (as Ozil and Sanchez are to the rest of Arsenal's forwards) is on a different level that Arsenal currently don't have in DM.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I have genuine issues understanding the points you're trying to make, you can contradict yourself for instance but you can't really contradict someone elses opinion.

Your use of the English language is so poor and you often use a word that doesn't mean what you think it does and thus makes your point redundant.

I don't give an alternative view to yours because I don't know what your apparent view is FL.

[mystiroakey]

they have an expetional midfield- Central defenders are rare as hens teeth. As are the strikers that bang in 25 plus(LEAGUE) goals a season. but he scored about 16 league goals last year- that is ok- not many beat him- suraez, sturridge,toure, rooney maybe- not totally sure there were many more!

yes 48 goals or whatever in 2 and a half years is average for a top club signing(just think kane has scored half that in just over half a season and didn't start the first 10 PL games)

[1GrumpyGolfer]

You should change your post then to specify a 30 goal a year striker not a 20-30 goal striker. Just out of interest who should Arsenal have signed for £20m then?

[FootballLight]

Benzema could well be available for something just over £20m. I didn't say exactly £20m, I said £30m actually. Don't say Benzema is gash, he has played for the biggest club in the World for a while now and he has been banging in the goals for them for some time now.

[Hammersmith harrier]

There's very little difference between the strike records of Benzema and Giroud, not that he'd be available as Madrids only recognised striker.

[FootballLight]

I'd be more than sure Real Madrid would have the lure power to bring in a good enough striker to fill his boots.

Benzema has 13 goals in all competitions, Giroud has 8. Benzema also has 12 assists this season, Giroud has 3. Shows what you know. Although he hasn't scored 20 goals already by this stage, Benzema has been involved in 27 goals that Real Madrid have scored this season, compared to Giroud's 11. Benzema has more assists than Giroud has in goals and assists. Tells it's own stories.

Alexandre Lacazette has 21 goals in 22 league appearances this season, he would cost £30m. There's your 30 goal striker. He as 25 goals in 29 apps this season with 7 assists.

Jackson Martinez has 25 goals in 30 appearances this season and has had this fantastic record at Porto for 3 seasons now. There is your (very close to) 90 goals in 3 seasons striker. Would he cost much more than £30m? Probably not. He also has 4 assists.

Mauro Icardi falls behind a little bit but only young. Has 18 goals in 30 apps this season with 3 assists. Inter may not sell though, but he wouldn't be anymore than £25m for me personally.

Paulo Dybala is very similar to Giroud this season but has much more promise should he get played at the bigger clubs should he sign for them. 11 goals in 23 apps this season with 8 assists.

at you mate. I've just named the hottest strikers around at this moment in time. Your telling me that Arsenal couldn't afford to stump up £30m and have the pulling power to lure all of them strikers to join Arsenal (maybe Benzema wouldn't lie you said)? If I was Wenger, I'd save £20m on Bender, the rest on just signing some of these fine strikers. Make sure you look up the facts before thinking that Arsenal could now (easily) get better than Giroud and Welbeck combined.

However, is that list a little bit too short for you 1GG and Hammersmith? Would you like the list to continue? I don't think so.

[mystiroakey]

I am pretty sure Wenger is looking at the French lad lacazette.. But like kane no one predicted that kind of performance in the summer.

[FootballLight]

Nope, but now is the time to sign him. He couldn't be on a high even more with his form right now and surely a move to a bigger club would do him the World of good.

[Hammersmith harrier]

You're assuming that they're available at an affordable price and buying a ome season wonder like Lacazette is a big risk. You can't just give a player a personal price and say they are available.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

No 50 goals in 2 and 2/3 seasons is expected for a striker that would cost half of the price of someone who would get 50 goals in 1 and 1/2 seasons.

Just in case you forgot. You didn't say £30m. You said half the cost. Giroud cost £9.6m as the yanks would say you do the math....

[FootballLight]

That's the problem Arsenal fans will have though. This is his 3rd season and he has only just close to 50 goals. For £12m, maybe not a bad buy for back-up, but [b]Arsenal fans have always expected £30m+ strikers that will get 20-30 goals a season[,b]. Giroud hasn't done that, but he has paid the price that Wenger bought him for and has turned out to be a good player. Some very fickle Arsenal fans nowadays if they feel they still need to splash the cash on a potential flop.

I was referring to this quote, not the other one. I always thought that Giroud cost £12m. But even still, regardless of them points, I'm sure Arsenal fans would much rather love Wenger spend more money on a stronger striker that will score 30 goals a season, rather than £9.6m on someone who will score 20 at max.

[FootballLight]

Arsenal fans have always expected £30m+ strikers that will get 20-30 goals a season

[FootballLight]

Just an error where the bold was meant to be. Sorted out in my previous comment though....

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Again, goes to availability and for proven strikers they're likely to go for well in excess of £30m; how much was Suarez?

[Fernando]

There's very little difference between the strike records of Benzema and Giroud, not that he'd be available as Madrids only recognised striker.

True i suspect Chicharito is heading back to OT

[Hammersmith harrier]

We could have done with Hernandez at times, his pace is something we've been missing.

[Fernando]

Falcao or Hernandez?

[mystiroakey]

Henandez. Falcao wouldn't have left unless he banked the same as he banked at Monaco. Which was tax free 200k

That's 400k a week which United are paying!!

[Sponsored content]