Arsenal v. Fulham [R]

One of the announcers yesterday said that at this point last year we had 14 fewer points so that seem's about right.

 

The Aussie made ESPN's Team of the Week:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... nd&cc=5901

 

I didnt watch that... Guess my fandom has dropped way off

1. I know my appreciation of FSC analysis shows has.. but that happened pretty much last year. Of course their people are about on a par with FSOH Bluejacket analysts and sig less polished than either Reds or Indians talking heads.

2. Of COURSE, they'll try to console the Arse-grubbers. Prolly #3 in NA fan base behind Celtic and MU

Back to the game... cant say ENOUGH about the way the D sets up. The recent record is obviously NOT a fluke; it's fluid and smothering without over-committing. Really impressive.

 

Yea 'fog, Costigan makes me want to puke every time he's on. More importantly, the MIGHTY MIGHTY FULHAM were strong in all areas of the pitch. Stoor and a lack of finishing aside, the performance the boys put on against a perennial power was brave and inspiring. The tactics of Mr. Hodgson(I'll never call him woy again), and the chemistry, guts, karma of this group of futballers are awesome. I raise my glass to the Fulham!!!!!!!!

 

Something that is, perhaps, lost in the shuffle, though GJ touched on it on Saturday: Fulham's first XI included seven UK natives (Englishmen AJ, Zamora, Konchesky, Murphy; Northern Irish Hughes and Baird; Welshman Davies), not to mention Commonwealth citizen Schwarzer. Arsenal didn't start (or even use as a sub) a single player whose native language is English. So... good for us, I guess?

 

There are only two words I can think of with this kind of display???.....



Fcuking Brilliant

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...add in a Yank with English heritage and an American-born Viking.....

 

That too but I didn't want to embarrass Arsenal TOO badly.

 

Yes - Once again - Roy has shown me that I should have had more faith in him.

He has not replaced Bullard, but he has just modified the attack. Davis and Demps drift in and fill that attacking mid role, and it is working perfectly because of the 2 defensive center-mids come out to stop the counter if they lose possession.

Ethuhu has figured out how to pretty much stay out of the way on the attack, and organize himself as part of the defensive unit.

I said I wanted to be wrong on my feelings that the Bullard move would be a serious problem... There was a period of adjustment - but Roy quickly had them sorted. Perhaps he had them training for the switch before we knew anything was up...

Whatever the case - I am getting more and more impressed with Roy as a manager, and as a person. His interviews and post match comments are impressive, and it appears that he is not only a fine manager, but also a fine individual.

 

I expected the result, down to the score. What I didn't expect was the way we attacked Arsenal. Hard to view the 3 pts as too much of a lost opportunity b/c Schwarzer was out of his mind on a couple of saves the other way.

But good result, and if we'd attack like that more often on the road, we'd have probably already won one. Of course, most road opponents don't play as passive a defense as the Gooners either (as evidenced by our version of keep away towards the end). Good on us for executing that display, but shame on them for the lack of effort.

Nice point, now to take 3 from plummeting Hull. Damn shame Bullard won't be on the pitch.

 

finally, after some of my stupidity, the february podcast is up. thanks to Bradical for joining!!

 

I loved the composure when the boys played the ball in the defense and moved it into the midfield (in the latter part of the second half). It looked like something Arsenal would do to some other teams.

 

Oh yes! The 3 pass maneuver to get it out of our own box was palpitating for a minute and great when we finished.