Up the Arse! Goons thread Part 2

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Darealrath

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How good were Vela's finishes? Ice in his veins.

Cesc is on another level. Anyone who doesn't think he is the best player in the EPL has rocks in their head.
 

RickSanchez

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Different kind of players, both exceptionally good. Thing is Cesc is surrounded by some good yet inexperienced youngsters, a few good experienced players and some average players. Drogba is surrounded by brilliance through and through, not saying that if he was at a lesser club he'd not do well, but as a striker with that midfield setting you up, they certainly don't make it overly challenging. Based on their respective careers Drogba is better, but Cesc will be as good if not better. Not discrediting the amount of work Drogba does, he sets up a shit load of goals and scores a shit load as well. Both can control a game though.

Anyway, worried about this weeks fixture if you look at the past 5 games courtesy of fc's write up in the EPL preview thread, it isn't too good and i think he mentioned we have not won there in two seasons. We've been in good form and Cesc has been in brilliant form. I chose 1-1 as I am pessimistic but I love getting proven wrong.
 

GhostofJimJess

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You're reaching.

Drogba is undoubtedly the best finisher (or at least the "most often" finisher!), but he hardly gets out of the opposition's third of the pitch. Cesc tracks back hard, dominates the midfield, and creates more quality goal-scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates than anyone else in the UK, possible all of Europe.

At present, only Messi is superior to him in world football.
 

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GhostofJimJess

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He needs to do it consistently and in big games as well to be ranked up that high.

No doubt he has the ability to do so, though.
He's been doing it for at least as long as Messi. And while Arsenal haven't had quite the number of big games as Barca over the last 3 or 4 years, Cesc's proportional performance rate is only marginally inferior.
 

Benno_900

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Thread starter #6,038
Team news vs Sunderland

No new injuries from the Braga clash.

Vermaelen and Diaby will miss out again but are expected to return next weekend against West Brom.

Predicted lineup ...

Almunia
Sagna - Squillaci - Koscielny - Clichy
Song
Fabregas - Rosicky
Nasri - Chamakh - Arshavin

Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Eboue, Denilson, Wilshere, Vela

Unavailable: Vermaelen (achilles), Frimpong (knee), Diaby (ankle), Ramsey (leg), Walcott (ankle), van Persie (ankle), Bendtner (groin)

Prediction: Sunderland 0 - 2 Arsenal

Broadcast Details: Sunday 19 September - 02:25 AM (AEST) on Fox Sports 3
 

Crimson King

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He's been doing it for at least as long as Messi. And while Arsenal haven't had quite the number of big games as Barca over the last 3 or 4 years, Cesc's proportional performance rate is only marginally inferior.
Well, the big games do include the EPL big '4' games and IIRC, I don't think he has done quite as well in them. Also, his best season to date doesn't come close to Messi's.

Messi:
Season 06/07: 30 appearances, 17 goals, 2 assists.
Season 07/08: 33 appearances, 16 goals, 13 assists.
Season 08/09: 41 appearances, 38 goals, 16 assists.
Season 09/10: 46 appearances, 45 goals, 10 assists.

150 appearances, 116 goals, 41 assists, 157 goal contributions @ 1.05 per game.

Fabregas:
Season 06/07: 49 appearances, 4 goals, 15 assists.
Season 07/08: 43 appearances, 13 goals, 23 assists.
Season 08/09: 32 appearances, 3 goals, 13 assists.
Season 09/10: 34 appearances, 19 goals, 16 assists.

158 appearances, 39 goals, 67 assists, 106 goal contributions @ 0.67 per game.

Ronaldo in comparison over that period of time has had 173 appearances and 167 goal contributions @ 0.97 per game.

Source is soccernet (only stats for their teams have been included as there is no point in including their stats for their countries).

As I said he has the ability (and his best is certainly up there) but overall I don't think he is currently up there with Messi or Ronaldo, yet based on performance rate. Though, his stats over the past four seasons are still bloody good.
 

Darealrath

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Comparing him to Messi and Ronaldo on goal involvement stats is a bit unfair on Fabregas given he does a lot more good work in his own half than they do.

He plays much more like a cross between Xavi and Iniesta than those two.
 

Crimson King

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Comparing him to Messi and Ronaldo on goal involvement stats is a bit unfair on Fabregas given he does a lot more good work in his own half than they do.

He plays much more like a cross between Xavi and Iniesta than those two.
I agree but the discussion is about Fabregas being up there with Messi. It's fair to say that most people rate Messi and Ronaldo as the best players in the world currently and hence I am comparing Fabregas' stats to theirs to derive individual performance rates.
 

Darealrath

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I agree but the discussion is about Fabregas being up there with Messi. It's fair to say that most people rate Messi and Ronaldo as the best players in the world currently and hence I am comparing Fabregas' stats to theirs to derive individual performance rates.
Yeah I'm just saying those stats don't accurately derive their individual performance rates given they play vastly different roles.

But stats aside Messi is No. 1 no doubt. I'd have both Xavi and Fabregas ahead of Ronaldo personally but it's all a matter of opinion given they're all that damn good.
 

Crimson King

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Yeah I'm just saying those stats don't accurately derive their individual performance rates given they play vastly different roles.

But stats aside Messi is No. 1 no doubt. I'd have both Xavi and Fabregas ahead of Ronaldo personally but it's all a matter of opinion given they're all that damn good.
Ah, fair enough.

It would be good to have access to certain indicators such as build-up play stats that lead to goal scoring opportunities and so forth, but I was just making use of the main indicators (goals and assists).
 

cannons

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I'm not entirely sure which way our selection will go, as Rosicky could start either centrally, wide on the right or not at all, and the same could be said of Nasri. Then, of course, you have to consider Denilson and Wilshere as well.

With this in mind, there could be any number of possible combinations on display, but if I was to take a stab, I think our line-up will be something like the following:

- Almunia -
- Sagna - Squillaci - Koscielny - Clichy -
- Song - Wilshere -
- Fabregas -
- Nasri - Chamakh - Arshavin -​

Denilson may also start centrally in place of Wilshere, but Arsene has gone with Jack so far this season, and when one considers that Denilson is still finding his feet after injury, I think that's likely to continue. Having said that, though, I think Denilson is a great option to play alongside Song in midfield, given that he keeps the play ticking over and always provides an option for his teammates, which is vital in a formation such as ours.

As for Rosicky, I see him coming on for Nasri later in the game if we are ahead, as he will drop a bit deeper in midfield and provide a little more cover than Samir, who is much more at home further up the pitch. It would be nice to see another Carlos Vela cameo as well.

In any case, let's hope for a win :thumbsu:
 
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Wilshere won't start as he will play midweek in the Carling Cup against he *****.

My Guess:
---------------Almunia---------------
--Sagna--Squillaci--Koscielny--Clichy--
----------------Song-----------------
---------Fabregas--Denilson----------
--Rosicky-------------------Arshavin--
--------------Chamakh---------------
 

RickSanchez

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not that we were a chance, but title is gone. We are too shit. Rosicky was a poor choice for a penalty taker. Song is an idiot **** off.
 
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