FA Cup Final Thread - 2014/15 season

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

FA Cup Final  

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

[Hammersmith harrier]

It's 265k to be pedantic Mysti.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Rumours that we'll be in for Hernandez.

FL - Twas sarcasm, but your point is a bit nonsense. Giroud is a good striker, but Aguero style strikers can win you leagues, so aiming for that quality is always worthwhile.

And on those listed strikers, I still think you'd be surprised how hard they might find it to reach those heights of goalscoring prowess in the Premier League. Similar point on Benzema cos its definitely easier to score for Real in Spain than Arsenal in England

[mystiroakey]

It's 265k to be pedantic Mysti.

Well if he clearing the same as he was from monaco(reported 200k). I want his accountant.

[Mat]

Bit harsh to be comparing Giroud's stats from this season to the others you've listed. Giroud must have missed half of Arsenal's games this year through injury?

[Crimey]

Also when listing those players, you have to remember that Giroud did score 21 league goals the season before Arsenal signed him.

[socal1976]

Interesting debate on Giroud. When considering his stats really lets remember that he hasn't played very much in his third season as he suffered a broken leg and has come back strong. The thing that is different this season is that he is scoring against big teams and is not wasting as many chances, which is a great improvement. So he has actually been a guy who is averaging pretty much 20 goals a season in all comps. And he gives us a lot more than just goals in terms of holding and winning possession and bringing others into the attack.

I personally don't think Arsenal's problems are in the attack. I would go for strengthening our defensive midfield and defense over the striker position. I mean look at the money Barcelona plunked down for Suarez and United for Falcao and neither has really produced. Arsenal can play Giroud, Welbeck, Sanchez, or Walcott at striker and I think combined these guys give you more than enough goals. Our problem is in preventing goals. I really think Mertesacker is well passed his best form and we need to be in the market for a steely midfielder as well. Goals haven't been our problem.

[FootballLight]

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

Do you mean from Liverpool to Barcelona or Ajax to Liverpool? Because if you put it into the correct context, Suarez was bought and was a 30 goal per season type of striker. He only cost £23m roughly, proves it is possible. Any of those strikers will be worth the same amount/roughly around the same amount.

[Hero]

Suarez is a hard one to judge it by though as he came from the Eredivisie in which strikers often have gluts of goals.
As example Soriano of Red Bull Salzburg, in the past 3 seasons he's played 112 games, scored 109 goals and provided 45 assists, that's Messi/Ronaldo levels but because of the league he's in those stats are taken on lesser value.

[FootballLight]

Someone needs to sign him up then. Good striker who clearly knows where the back of the net is. Although, it would take time to adjust elsewhere. Also, the strikers I listed are playing in the top divisions and are banging in the goals. I'm sure if they got a move over to England, they would produce very similar form.

[Hero]

Id disagree somewhat on the Italian based strikers, often they find it hard to produce their form in other leagues, last year's top scorer Immobile was one of the hottest properties in Europe akin to the Dybala's etc, went to Dortmund as Lewandowski's replacement and has scored 3 goals in the league so far this season.

[LivinginItaly]

Remember though that was the Immobile that struggled to be selected for Italy ahead of Balotelli.

[FootballLight]

Immobile is a very good striker and maybe he needs time to settle with Dortmund in a huge rut at the moment. Maybe he isn't getting the service to him? Sometimes it doesn't work, other times it does. Italian strikers are a big hit and miss though, I'll give you that.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

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

Do you mean from Liverpool to Barcelona or Ajax to Liverpool? Because if you put it into the correct context, Suarez was bought and was a 30 goal per season type of striker. He only cost £23m roughly, proves it is possible. Any of those strikers will be worth the same amount/roughly around the same amount.

No he wasn't. He had one exceptional year two years after he signed for Ajax. Took him almost as long to get there for Liverpool.

[FootballLight]

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

Do you mean from Liverpool to Barcelona or Ajax to Liverpool? Because if you put it into the correct context, Suarez was bought and was a 30 goal per season type of striker. He only cost £23m roughly, proves it is possible. Any of those strikers will be worth the same amount/roughly around the same amount.

No he wasn't. He had one exceptional year two years after he signed for Ajax. Took him almost as long to get there for Liverpool.

Lets not be bitter here to prove a point mate. He did hit the ground running in his 2/3 seasons at Liverpool and deserved his move to Barcelona because of his goalscoring qualities. He missed 10 games of last season and still scored 32 league goals was it? 31 or something like that?

[hampo17]

Not sure he hit the ground running at Liverpool, he missed plenty of good chances in the first twelve months at the club leading to some fans questioning his signing. Think he came close to the record for hitting the woodwork in a season.

His last two years at Liverpool undoubtedly very good, but the two before that were patchy.

[Crimey]

Not sure he hit the ground running at Liverpool, he missed plenty of good chances in the first twelve months at the club leading to some fans questioning his signing. Think he came close to the record for hitting the woodwork in a season.

His last two years at Liverpool undoubtedly very good, but the two before that were patchy.

I don't think there were people questioning the signing, he was pretty much a crowd favourite from his first appearance. Then he basically created everything for Kuyt's "short" hat-trick at Manchester United in the first six months. Granted people had decided he wasn't going to replicate the scoring from the Dutch leagues, but what striker does? I think he had shown his different qualities that weren't goal-scoring, the fact that he later added remarkable goal scoring is what brought him up to that world class bracket.

[hampo17]

Plenty of fans on different forums were questioning whether he was worth the fee mate, a lot questioned whether he justified the fee based on that second season. Obviously he turned it round superbly, but he wasn't a 30 goal a season striker when he arrived, certainly not at premier league standard anyway.

[1GrumpyGolfer]

Not trying to be bitter FL.  I just think your unicorns don't exist unless you spend very huge sums of money

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Draw:

Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers
Bradford City v Reading
Preston/Man Utd v Arsenal
Aston Villa v West Brom

[Dolphin Ziggler]

My guess?

Liverpool, Bradford, Man United, West Brom

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Liverpool must be big favourites now

[westisbest]

Home again.

Bring it on Baggies.

[westisbest]

My guess?

Liverpool, Bradford, Man United, West Brom

Liverpool Reading Arsenal Villa.

[compelling and rich]

good draw for us that presuming we can get past preston, rather have the tougher games at home while we can than at a neutral ground. our home form has been decent this season

[Guest]

Zzzzzzzz game. United ponderous, no creativity & no variation, just so predictable under LVG. Preston are awful too.

[Duty281]

If Preston cannot take this dire United side, surely Arsenal will?

[Fernando]

Doesn't matter as ive said for the last few rounds it has the scousers name on it...

[Hammersmith harrier]

Zzzzzzzz game. United ponderous, no creativity & no variation, just so predictable under LVG. Preston are awful too.

The West Brom fan more concerned with Man United yet again.

[Fernando]

Preston 1-0 Man Utd

[Hero]

Has anyone got Moyes's phone number?

[NickisBHAFC]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Preston!!!!!!!!

Last season the fa cup was handed on a plate to Arsenal. Think the same could happen again.

[FootballLight]

Massive shock is PNE get through. But why can I see United nicking a draw and the LVG saying, "but a draw away from home is good result" in his wánk Dutch accent. Long headed twát.

Come on Reading!! Although we are away, this is the best chance we could have to reach the Semi's and a trip to Wembley. I'd love for us to get into the final, I'd just love it. Its not like we don't have a chance, I' certainly chance our arm against one of Villa/West Brom or even Liverpool. Anyone really. Come on URZ!!!

[compelling and rich]

anybody who's watched us this season should have known we would struggle, mk dons, cambridge, yeovil all struggled very badly were just awful. rooney upfront or in midfield has been awful sadly he's been surrounded by 10 equally awful players

[FootballLight]

anybody who's watched us this season should have known we would struggle, mk dons, cambridge, yeovil all struggled very badly were just awful. rooney upfront or in midfield has been awful sadly he's been surrounded by 10 equally awful players

At least we have a United fan that is capable of admitting that LVG has actually made United struggle with his 3-5-2 long ball tactics. Although then again, the unfortunate and degrading thing for fans that want to LAMU is that they are doing quite well in the league. That's LVG's excuse, "we are focusing on the league". I'd tell him to shove it up his @rsé. United's best chance to taste even more silverware and they are blowing it, at a League One club.

[Fernando]

Falcao off Ashley Young on

Falcao not happy pretending he can't read the board It's that or calling the manager a dumbass for taking him off.

Fellaini going up top

#LongBallHoofing

[Fernando]

Preston 1-1 Man Utd - Ander Herrera

Rooney was interfering with play surely?

[FootballLight]

Well I've just been reading all season is that LVG hasn't actually produced much for United. His signings are OK I'll give him that, but they have looked second best in a lot of games this season. Sometimes LVG has got something right, but I think the only think that makes United grind out their results is that they have some really good players at their helm which makes them grind out victories. Southampton is the perfect example of this.

I have believed this for a while now but surely Giggs deservedly needs a 2nd crack at the whip for a slightly longer time now? He did pretty well to stop a sinking ship at United and a fans favourite and United legend with plenty of passion still left for the game at a young age could be exactly what United need in the dressing room in games. A lot of players know him and will look up to him as well. Also, I don't think ALL the players listen to LVG sometimes. With Giggs, they certainly would. He will make a very good manager one day. A bit like Sherwood at Villa.

[Duty281]

Horrific decision to allow that goal to stand.

[FootballLight]

Shame, but again, regarding my post above, United have been matched by Preston tonight and maybe even been outplayed by Preston so far. The only thing that has got United their goal tonight is through their quality that they have compared to Preston.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Preston 1-1 Man Utd - Ander Herrera

Rooney was interfering with play surely?

He is yes but under the current offside rules he's not active until he touches the ball, load of old garbage.

[Stella]

The commentator said he has to touch it, to be off. Is that the rule?

[Derbymanc]

Don't think that would have stood if it would have been at the other end. Commentator trying to stay it's fine to stand.

Didn't realise the rule had changed to actively having to touch the ball, clever play by Rooney then and a shocking shocking rule

[Dolphin Ziggler]

He's in the dressing room at games. Hes assistant manager. LVG out is ridiculous.

Young has been brilliant this year, good on the lad for sticking to task and going for it.

Personally think the keeper should be doing better there regardless of Rooney

[Duty281]

From the laws of the game:

“interfering with an opponent” means preventing an opponent from
playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s
line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball

[FootballLight]

Preston 1-1 Man Utd - Ander Herrera

Rooney was interfering with play surely?

He is yes but under the current offside rules he's not active until he touches the ball, load of old garbage.

Happened more than once now. Same with Cheick Tiote last season with Newcastle when someone hit a shot into the top scorer. When he ducked out of the way of the ball. But because he didn't touch the ball he wasn't active but that got ruled out.

Interfering with play should be when a player is involved in the phase of play in any position (offside/onside) and is effecting the defending the team like what Rooney did there.

[Lowlandbrit]

I have believed this for a while now but surely Giggs deservedly needs a 2nd crack at the whip for a slightly longer time now? He did pretty well to stop a sinking ship at United

Not so sure, I think Giggs got a ridiculous amount of praise for beating a terrible side in his first game.

And Rooney wasn't even close to being between the keeper and the ball there, would have been outrage if it had been disallowed (and hadn't been against the massive underdog).

[Fernando]

Preston 1-2 United - Fellaini

[FootballLight]

Yes but he won't be able to speak for the 15 minutes in there will he. People will listen to LVG over Giggs because LVG is the person he has to speak to. Giggs will be able to put the odd comment in there, 2 comments at best I feel. If Giggs had a good 15 minutes to sort that team out at the break, they could be doing much better.

[Fernando]

Fifa Rules 2014/15

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
A player is in an offside position if:
• he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the
second-last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
• he is in his own half of the fi eld of play or
• he is level with the second-last opponent or
• he is level with the last two opponents
Offence
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball
touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee,
involved in active play by:
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Based on what?! LVG's long career of teams showing no motivation?

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