A Beautiful Thread for the Beautiful Game

Hearts 1 - 0 Raith Rovers

We remain four points clear - but damn, that's three weeks of average or poor performances. Come on Hearts.

Read today that one of our former players has waived the pre-administration wages due to him in order to help the club.

Hero.

Swans 2 - 1 Arsenal.

To be fair Arsenal were better but some rusty finishing from Welbeck and Walcott, along with sub-standard defending from Chambers and Monreal, meant that a good 3-minute spell from Swansea was enough to decide the game.

I don't think there's much of a difference at the moment between Arsenal and their reserves, and mentally Arsenal look very unprofessional and demotivated. I don't think anyone else is to blame than Wenger.

I maintain that he has been exceptionally brilliant with Arsenal when you consider the resources at his disposal over the past 10 years but with the increased wealth of the club over the last couple of transfer windows he really should've been able to fix the issues of the squad. I think he's lost some of his skill as a tactician and motivator, as evidenced by a persistent inability to hold on to a lead this season. Finally, the injury crisis is surely at least partially down to him. The "Wenger out" mentality is sneaking back into my mind...

Here's the thing; it is possible for Arsenal to not reclaim their Champions' League spot, and Manchester United's rather inconsistent recovery means they will probably not be in either. Looking at current conditions (4-2-5) Liverpool could be out too. So, who do you think could qualify for the CL this year? If the current table stands we're looking at Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton and West Ham, with Swansea and Arsenal getting the Europa League fifth place.

Thing is, with a Big Five now after the big money invested in Manchester City, it was inevitable that the four Champions' League places would have at least one notable absentee from the Premier League. Manchester United's shocking fall from grace meant the remaining four made it to the CL, with Everton and Spurs taking the Europa League spots and Hull entering the Europa as FA Cup runners-up. Now... who knows?

If Arsene needs Arsenal, then Arsenal need Arsene at least as much. I doubt you'd find another manager who can work with not a lot of money in a five-horse leg and reach the CL every season - a feat that hasn't been managed by Liverpool for two seasons before the last one; United have spent a lot and they don't look like they're in a CL spot after buying Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria; Chelsea and Manchester City have the backing of Abramovich and QSI. I think he'll stay.

In the ISL, (format is W-D-L)

Goa FC 0-0 Mumbai City FC

Our first away non-loss, giving us 10 points (3-1-3) and pushing us to fourth. Kolkata (3-3-1) finally losing their unbeaten streak to (of all people) Pune means that the last unbeaten team in the ISL is also beaten, though they maintain their top spot with 12 points in 7 games (this, however, could change if Chennai(3-2-1) win their next match, having 11 in 6). Pune (3-1-2), however, leapfrogs to 3rd, with 10 in 6 and ahead of us on GD (-1 to our -2). Delhi, which looked like it had playoff qualification in the bag, now sits at seventh with one point for each of their seven games (1-4-2) and a +1 GD. North East United (2-3-2) is fifth with a good chance for the playoff spots with 9 in 8, Kerala Blasters(2-2-3) in sixth with 8 in 7, and Goa sits sadly in last place with 5 points (1-2-4). Pune and Chennai play their next game tomorrow, getting everyone to seven games and giving a much better picture to show; I'll probably put up the updated table tomorrow.

I'm rooting for NorthEast United, because they represent Assam, from where my favourite tea comes

But seriously, best of luck to Mumbai.

I've said before and I maintain that there are very few managers who could have stayed in the top-4 when Arsenal had to make a profit while Chelcea and City were spending hunreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market (and on wages) while even Ferguson spent 4 or 5 times as much as Wenger and Arsenal. Basically Arsenal were always the best out of those without "financial doping".

Last season could also be explained away as building a team and all that. Arsenal finally had money (and it was money earned by the club, rather than given by the owner) and FFP was coming in. That was a moment when Arsenal could finally be equal to everyone else, and for most of the season Arsenal were able to survive an injury crisis while staying top of the league (or at least around the top).

There were some problems - most notably squad depth and rotation, but also organising against counter-attacks and defending set pieces - but Arsenal fans like me tended to think that the transfer window and pre-season would be used to fix those problems. Everyone knew about the issues so it shouldn't have been too hard.

Wenger didn't do anything except sell Vermaelen and react to Sagna's departure. The squad has become less efficient at defending set pieces and holding on to a lead. The attack has improved but that's just not enough when everyone knows how to score against you. Squad depth was not improved in key positions that actually needed it, and when you consider that all English papers have been writing Arsenal transfer stories about just those positions for at least 2 years there's no excuse for failing so spectacularly in the transfer market.

That's why I'm beginning to think again that Wenger should go. He was great at staying in the top-4 in dire circumstances that probably no-one else could have managed. Now that circumstances are better Arsenal have set their targets higher and it just doesn't seem that Wenger can transition back to the strategic and tactical mindset required to meet those goals. Top-4 remains an absolute minimum target but failing to win any trophies while barely reaching the Champions League group stage next season would just not be enough anymore.

He did win the FA Cup last season. That's better than no silverware, I suppose.

Decent article, though I don't get how City are in trouble.

edited 10th Nov '14 9:24:30 AM by arcanephoenix

I'm an Arsenal fan. Obviously I'd know what he won last season. In fact I've got a picture of myself standing next to the trophy at the Emirates Statium.

When I said reaching top-4 and not winning trophies wouldn't be good enough anymore I was comparing it to Arsenal's record over the past 9 or 10 years or so - the long spell when top-4 was the only remotely realistic goal. Starting last season Arsenal should be expecting better than just top-4, and last season they at least won the FA Cup to make up for losing a commanding position in the league. This season is looking much worse at the moment, and it'd take a huge change in the players' attitude towards defending a lead as a team to change things. Well, that and at least one defending midfielder and a centre-back (or two) in January.

Here are Adebayor's thoughts on fans booing off Spurs after their loss to Stoke on Sunday.

Having watched last night's Match of the Day, our 2-1 loss to Stoke wasn't exactly a shining moment. And I must ask, what is going on with our team? Waiting until going down 2-0 is not exactly the best way to play against our opponents and I'm starting to think that the players are not fitting with our manager's system. Maintaining a high-line defense is a risky prospect and some of our defenders are struggling to keep up the pressure on the offense. I was also really disappointed by the effort Capoue, Eriksen, and Townsend made in the midfield during the match. I am sure this is just an off-day for them, but as those three play in key spots for our squad they have to do better than what I saw on BBC's highlights. We definitely have players to make the challenge for a Champions League spot, but at the moment we are between a rock and a hard place as far as form is concerned.

All that said and done, I really, really hope fans can give our manager more time to make the adjustments he sees fit. We've went through 3 managers in the last year alone and I hope Mauricio will have the support he needs from fans and Levy to help bring Spurs to their maximum potential (personally, I think Sherwood should've never been fired but I digress). Booing off the players will do nothing but cause Spurs to have further trouble in the league and cups...

edited 10th Nov '14 11:56:40 AM by sanfranman91

To be honest I think firing Villas-Boas was the wrong call. Sherwood deserved more time, to be sure, but maybe he shouldn't have had to fill in it manager in the first place.

Perhaps... AVB is a good manager and he made us competitive in 2011-2012. Still, I think he's a bit too defensive in his approach against opposing teams, which is the last thing you want to be when facing teams like Manchester City, Southampton, and Liverpool. Sherwood might have been inexperienced, but he had the tactics that best fit the players' strengths (and the fans' preference). I really hope Tim gets another manager gig soon, whether its in the Premier League, the Championship, or abroad. I can only imagine where we would be right now if he had been given more time...

The FA Cup win gave Wenger a second wind, but I think he's pretty much been figured out tactically. I can't see Arsenal giving their old-time favorite coach the sack, but we'll see if they finish in the Top 4 in May (which, mind you, is still quite a while). If anything, Wenger would probably resign or retire should he fail to finish in a Champions League spot than be given the heave-ho by the executives.

(sigh) I guess we're all in this quagmire together, aren't we Best Of? Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool and United are all struggling this November and I'm not sure how the season's outcome will turn out for those clubs anymore.

Here's something unexpected: David Moyes is the new manager of Real Sociedad.

edited 10th Nov '14 5:07:12 PM by sanfranman91

What Spurs really need is one of their players to shine; whether bought or grown. Sherwood honestly didn't need to be fired, and while I understand the appeal of Mauricio Pocchettino to lead Spurs after a good season with the Saints, he seems to be struggling with ways to exploit the substantial talents of Messrs Adebayor, Lamela, Chadli, Kane, Lennon, Eriksen, Vertonghen, Lloris, et al. Hell, even Soldado is talented, really, just not really in his element in England.

I thought the Tripoli match would prophecy a resurgence for Spurs this season, but apparently not.

Yeah, all the regular top-4 candidates except City and Chelsea are massive underperformers this season. The league last season was very competitive but this season it seems it's only Chelsea feeling like playing every game. Maybe it's the World Cup or maybe there's been an extraordinary number of injuries. Well, except for Arsenal - they have had about 7 or 8 first-team players out for more than 5 games each, which after about 15 games (all competitions) is pretty much what you'd expect from Arsenal.

In the ISL,

Pune City FC 1-1 Chennaiyin FC

Now that everyone has played 7 games and everyone else once, the updated table at the half-way mark.

Table: (W-D-L-GF:GA-Pts(GD))

1. Atlético de Kolkata 3-3-1-11:7-12(+4) WWDWDDL
2. Chennaiyin FC 3-3-1-14:11-12(+3) WWLWDDD
3. Pune City FC 3-2-2-8:9-11(-1) DLWLWWD
4. Mumbai City FC 3-1-3-8:10-10(-2) LWLLWWD
5. NorthEast United FC 2-3-2-6:6-9(0) WLDWDLD
6. Kerala Blasters FC 2-2-3-5:6-8(-1) LLDWLWD
7. Delhi Dynamos FC 1-4-2-6:5-7(+1) DDWDLLD
8. FC Goa 1-2-4-5:9-5(-4) LDLLWLD

Aw, c'mon North East.

Barring major disaster, and assuming a reasonable run if not continued form, positions 1 and 2 should be between Kolkata and Chennai. That leaves four teams in the running for two playoff spots, assuming Goa or Delhi do not suddenly have miracle runs in the next seven games (they're the only teams with only one win in the tournament; Goa, in particular, with 1-2-4, will definitely need a miracle). If you consider teams with most wins, Pune and Mumbai will make up 3 and 4 (all top-four members have 3 wins each), though a good run from NEU and/or Kerala could drop one of those down, both having two victories.

NEU (this one's for you, Ach! :P) have fluctuated more than we have; 1-0 against Kerala at home, 0-2 against Kolkata at home, 1-1 against Goa at home, 2-0 against Mumbai away, 0-0 against Delhi away, 0-1 against Pune away, and 2-2 against Chennai away. Joan Capdevila being their marquee player has done reasonably well. However, their best players have been Sergio Contreras Pardo, better known as Koke, with 3 goals in his 6 games, showing up in the list of top scorers, and Rehenesh TP, one of the few Indians in contention for winning an individual award (he's second in line for the Golden Glove, with a goal conceded every 112 minutes; the current first is Delhi's Kristof van Hout, with a goal conceded every 126).

Mumbai, after a shaky start, have been fairly decent; 0-3 against Kolkata away, 5-0 against Pune at home, 0-2 against NEU at home, 1-5 against Chennai away, 1-0 against Kerala at home, 1-0 against Delhi at home, and 0-0 against Goa away. DY seems to be a reasonably strong fortress, but we seem to have a hoodoo against away performances; all of our victories have been at home, both our biggest drubbings away, and it took us going to Goa to record our first away non-defeat. Our leading goalscorer is technically André Moritz, but all three of his goals came in one match(said 5-0 drubbing of Pune), and since his return, Anelka has scored in two of our last three games (one goal each, but 1-0 wins give three points too). I'd actually say Subrata Paul is actually one of our better players too; barring a shocking day against Chennai, none of the goals were his fault, and he was primarily responsible for maintaining our 1-0 victories against Kerala and Delhi, and he actually leads the tournament in most clean sheets with four (that's more than half of our games). Nadong Bhutia and Subhash Singh are hard workers too, and they have tried done pretty well in setups, if not always finishes, and Jan Stohanzl has been a towering figure in defensive midfield, the kind of player that Best Of would love to have in Arsenal (if of a better quality, admittedly). It's looking up, hopefully.

edited 11th Nov '14 11:20:30 AM by arcanephoenix

Fifa report into alleged corruption clears Qatar to host 2022 World Cup.

I want to see the reaction worldwide to fans and players dying there or at least collapsing due to the heat when the time comes. And, if it's in the winter, expect most Europeans to feel pissed off.

BBC: World Cup inquiry clears Qatar but criticises English FA

I don't believe they actually did a proper investigation. There were so many reports of various kinds of evidence of bribery that frankly it seems more likely that the investigators themselves were corrupt than that they really tried to look and didn't find anything.

Michael Garcia (who did the 18-month inquiry) was probably threatened or stopped by higher powers.

When I was watching the BBC coverage of that abysmal so-called independent FIFA report, my response was this. "One word - bullshit".The i newspaper (The Independent's smaller tabloid cousin) covered the story this morning as well.

That Garcia guy, from all the coverage about him, looks like he could not find his own arse without a map, a compass, a trekking guide and a GPS unit.

The Sunday Times will be pleased that he ignored the millions of documents they managed to dig up on Bin Hammam's slush fund, and since he's an American citizen, he's hiding behind that status to avoid investigating what shenanigans the USA bid team for the 2018 cup got up to.

Why don't they just get rid of the vote and make it all the President-for-life's decision?

Well, they have in practice already done that. Whatever Blatter wants, Blatter gets. The votes are really just window dressing, when you strip away all the extraneous bullshit. Whoever throws that person the most amount of money gets the bid accepted. And they have the cheek to go after match fixers?

Because "bringing in the game into disrepute" is different from this sort of backroom bullshit.

From the Guardian live report on the reactions: