Arsenal Thread 2013/14

[stony]

A little harsh there, I think. I don't think he was suggesting you had the title won. He is basically stating the bleeding' obvious which is that City are hot favourites to win the title.

I'd say the relative probabilities are around:

City 60%
Chelsea 25%
Arsenal 10%
Others 5%

If the betting markets are a good barometer of probability the position is not as clear. Converting odds to probability:

City 44%
Chelsea 19%
Arsenal 18%
Liverpool 10%
United 7%
Everton/Others 2%

Chelsea are being seriously overlooked.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

A little harsh there, I think. I don't think he was suggesting you had the title won. He is basically stating the bleeding' obvious which is that City are hot favourites to win the title.

I'd say the relative probabilities are around:

City 60%
Chelsea 25%
Arsenal 10%
Others 5%

If the betting markets are a good barometer of probability the position is not as clear. Converting odds to probability:

City 44%
Chelsea 19%
Arsenal 18%
Liverpool 10%
United 7%
Everton/Others 2%

Chelsea are being seriously overlooked.

People pay a lot of money for them flats.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Absolute bollocks ! The sort of thing fans say about someone else to aggrandise their own club's potential achievements, minimise the achievements of their rivals and deflect from their possible failures. Playground stuff.

Backing you on this one mate. Your post is spot on. IMO

And as if to ilustrate the point, professional arse and ex United player Danny Higginbottom just repeated the exact phrase on Talkshite.

 

[AwayDay]

I would say we have more than a 10% chance of winning it. Man city are favourites, it would still be a great achievement for them to win it, as it is for any team, to be the best over 38 games and overcome all the problems. There is no such thing as "their title ", they have to go out and do the business every week. What city have is the best squad, by some distance. They should be the most disappointed if they do not win it.

 

[supercrystal7]

Absolute bollocks ! The sort of thing fans say about someone else to aggrandise their own club's potential achievements, minimise the achievements of their rivals and deflect from their possible failures. Playground stuff.

You got me. You have seen through my clever ruse. I am trying to aggrandise Palace's achievement of staying up by bringing down City's achievement of winning the league.

Are the media and Mourinho in particular using the statement to heap pressure on City and take pressure of their own teams? Yes. Does that mean it's not true? No. You don't have to lie to heap presssure.

Ironically last year I said United had the best team and would win the league. After your last minute shopping I changed my mind on the premise that Garcai (who I had not seen) was a player like Fernandinho and Balotelli played like he should.

Football goes in cycles. This City team have just entered their peaks and are the best team in England. Yes disaster can strike. Say you get to the final of the league cup, get brutal draws in the FA cup and then get brutal draws in the CL, then the circumstances will change. Or if Chelsea buy Falcao things will change.

As it stands City, Bayern and PSG are big favourites to win their league for a reason.

I have a couple of questions for you.
1. Do City have the best first team man for man in the league?
2. Do City have the best squad in the league?
3. Have City played at the highest level out of any team?

If the answer to those three are yes then explain to me why you should not win the league?

 

[Gillespie]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsene-wenger-rejects-claim-manchester-6458570" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... er-6458570</a>?

Well, here is something to cheer the heart of Wreckless Eric

Wenger is taking the pressure off City by downplaying their chances

Happy now? :^)

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsene-wenger-rejects-claim-manchester-6458570?

Well, here is something to cheer the heart of Wreckless Eric

Wenger is taking the pressure off City by downplaying their chances

Happy now? :^)

It's not about being happy or not happy. We're just saying that the term It's our to lose is rubbish.
And SuperCrystal, yes I do think we are good enough, but that doesn't mean we will. But that
wasn't what was being argued. We were arguing the statement that 'The Title is ours to Lose",
is shite.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Not harsh at all. Simply stating the obvious that it is not now, nor has it ever been "city's title to lose". This is a phrase that is becoming common currency through repetition. It suits our closest rivals to propagate the myth so it makes it appear all the more amazing and against the odds should they win it. In fact, City have by far the hardest run in, league cup semi finals, two games against Barca and who knows what else. We do have a very fine squad when they are all fit. Sadly we haven't yet had that privilege.

Well as it stands at the moment it literally is City's, Arsenal's and Chelsea's to lose. All three teams have the title in their hands. They win the remainder of their games and they are crowned champions.

However, it's a statement not usually taken literally. You may not like the pressure, but City have the strongest squad with players currently in their primes. Zabaleta, Kompany, Toure, Fernandino, Navas, Silva and Aguero can all make a claim for currently being the best or at worst second best in his position in the league. You bought your players early and gave them a good preseason. Nastacic, Nasri, Hart, Negredo, Dzeko may not be the very best player for their position, but are still of the highest quality. Footballers on average tend to peak from 27-32. The majority of the City squad are 27-30 at this present time and at their peak. You have the greatest depth and the most talented players. If you play to your potential you should win the league.

Other managers might repeat this to play mind games, but it does not make the statement any less true.

If Chelsea or Arsenal manage to win the title then they would have won it against the odds.

Good post. I agree with you entirely.

Utter codswallop is what it is. A media constructed myth to make it look as if City have "failed" despite their money, if they don't win the league. This whole "poor guy" routine has been 4 years in the making at Old Nafford, and it ill becomes Chelsea and Arsenal to now jump on the same bandwagon, particularly given that their own squads are stuffed to the gills with top internationals!

 

[Newman Noggs]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsene-wenger-rejects-claim-manchester-6458570?

Well, here is something to cheer the heart of Wreckless Eric

Wenger is taking the pressure off City by downplaying their chances

Happy now? :^)

It's not about being happy or not happy. We're just saying that the term It's our to lose is rubbish.
And SuperCrystal, yes I do think we are good enough, but that doesn't mean we will. But that
wasn't what was being argued. We were arguing the statement that 'The Title is ours to Lose",
is shite.

Exactly. We have as good a chance as anyone of winning the league. On paper we arguably have the best squad. However, to coin a Clichy (I know) the league is not won on paper. United are the current holders and strengthened in the summer. It is theirs to lose. Other than that, it is no more ours to lose than Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool etc etc. The fact that people keep using the phrase in connection with CIty shows that it is more than a throwaway phrase and has the undercurrent I mention. That's why I feel it necessary to point out that it is complete bollocks which I have now done. All the best for the new year. Hope Palace sack Pulis and stay up. Hope the Arse finish 4th edging united into the Europa League in the process.

 

[afc16]

the funny thing here is that on this very forum i've lost count of the amount of citys fans that have said we should walk the league becuase of our squad and team.

or that we should walk the league the way we are playing.

or that we should walk the league if we sort our away form out.

city fans have said it enough times, that with the squad and players you have you should walk the league.

so you can't know other fans for saying the same thing.

 

[adrianr]

A little harsh there, I think. I don't think he was suggesting you had the title won. He is basically stating the bleeding' obvious which is that City are hot favourites to win the title.

I'd say the relative probabilities are around:

City 60%
Chelsea 25%
Arsenal 10%
Others 5%

If the betting markets are a good barometer of probability the position is not as clear. Converting odds to probability:

City 44%
Chelsea 19%
Arsenal 18%
Liverpool 10%
United 7%
Everton/Others 2%

Chelsea are being seriously overlooked.

And then some.. They've only got us to play away from home out of the top 6 haven't they?

However, I wouldn't put the rags chances at 7% either, so what do I know!

 

[supercrystal7]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/arsene-wenger-rejects-claim-manchester-6458570?

Well, here is something to cheer the heart of Wreckless Eric

Wenger is taking the pressure off City by downplaying their chances

Happy now? :^)

It's not about being happy or not happy. We're just saying that the term It's our to lose is rubbish.
And SuperCrystal, yes I do think we are good enough, but that doesn't mean we will. But that
wasn't what was being argued. We were arguing the statement that 'The Title is ours to Lose",
is shite.

We will agree to disagree. I fully agree that certain people in the media and some managers are using that line to put added pressure on the team, but I still agree with it. I think some City fans on the other hand are down playing their chances so that they won't be criticised if they fail to win the league. Last year nobody was making comments like the title was City's to lose and nobody will be making such comments next year. Let's agree to disagree.

Big win for Arsenal with so many players injured. Good to see Bendtner get the goal. He gets a lot of stick, but as a big man to hit, he is a great and can play a bit. He is not a bad option to have, though he is not as good as he thinks he is.

 

[baildon blue]

Really disappointed Cardiff didn't get a draw today . Still think they will fade away come the end of the season .

 

[AwayDay]

Left early, missed the goals !! I could hear the roar outside as the library came to life.

We just have to hang in there as long as possible because city and chelsea seem to have hit top form.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Theo out for 6 months.

 

[Manc in London]

A real shame. Nasty injury. Bad news for England.

 

[Gillespie]

Theo out for 6 months.

I feel sorry for him. He'll miss the World Cup too.

Tragic for the lad.

 

[razman]

A real shame. Nasty injury. Bad news for England.

yup...he played well against spuds

 

[Gillespie]

Arsenal will be forced to buy someone now

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Theo out for 6 months.

I feel sorry for him. He'll miss the World Cup too.

Tragic for the lad.

That's a hard blow, especially given the location. A Brazil World Cup must be every player's dream. I too feel sorry for him. It will also make England even more predictable, not that I'm too bothered about that tbh.