The question is what your central back situation going to be now that Vidic is out?
**Official Football (Soccer) Thread"
- Thread starter ArsenalCannon357
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The question is what your central back situation going to be now that Vidic is out?
Isn't Rio still injured? Thought he'd still be out for that one.
He's touch and go right now, but he was left out of the Chelsea match to be saved for the clash at Anfield. But if he doesn't go, Brown is as competent as the lot.
Are you sure mate? Smalling and brown are no Ferdinand and Vidic.
Liverpool however bad they're playing this season always raises their game against united. Looks like Brown and Smalling are going to have a busy sunday afternoon.
That goal by Reyes against Villareal.
Even though he's a diving bitch.
Even though he's a diving bitch.
Is it really that serious? 
Players to be banned from wearing neck-warming snoods
Snoods - the beloved neck warmers of precious and pampered footballers - have been banned by the International FA Board.
Initially made famous by a contingent of Manchester City players, including forward Carlos Tevez, snoods have become popular across the country and in all forms of the game.
But from 1 July, Tevez and company will have do without the popular fashion accessory.
"The IFAB agreed that in relation to Law 4 - Players' Equipment, the wearing of snoods should not be permitted," said football's law makers.
In February, former England captain and current Notts County manager Paul Ince condemned Premier League footballers who wear snoods.
"I'm sick and tired of seeing players, even when it's mild weather, wearing tights and these things [snoods] around their necks. It's not right," Ince told BBC Sport.
"Back in my time, and I sound old now, it was black and white boots and that was it.
"Now you've got snoods, people wearing headphones when they are doing interviews, which I find disrespectful, pink boots, green boots, you name it they've got it, tights - they'll be wearing skirts next."
In December, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson added: "Real men don't wear snoods."
And writing on Twitter, United defender Rio Ferdinand said: "U won't see a Man Utd player wearing a snood."
Former Old Trafford midfielder Roy Keane is also not a fan.
He said of players wearing the snood: "They've all gone soft. I don't know how they do it and focus on the game, it's weird. That's the way the game's gone."
But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has a number of players in his squad that wear the neck warmer - including midfielder Samir Nasri - defended his players.
"I get advice from the medical team - that's why we let them wear them," the Arsenal boss told the club's website.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9415721.stm
Players to be banned from wearing neck-warming snoods
Snoods - the beloved neck warmers of precious and pampered footballers - have been banned by the International FA Board.
Initially made famous by a contingent of Manchester City players, including forward Carlos Tevez, snoods have become popular across the country and in all forms of the game.
But from 1 July, Tevez and company will have do without the popular fashion accessory.
"The IFAB agreed that in relation to Law 4 - Players' Equipment, the wearing of snoods should not be permitted," said football's law makers.
In February, former England captain and current Notts County manager Paul Ince condemned Premier League footballers who wear snoods.
"I'm sick and tired of seeing players, even when it's mild weather, wearing tights and these things [snoods] around their necks. It's not right," Ince told BBC Sport.
"Back in my time, and I sound old now, it was black and white boots and that was it.
"Now you've got snoods, people wearing headphones when they are doing interviews, which I find disrespectful, pink boots, green boots, you name it they've got it, tights - they'll be wearing skirts next."
In December, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson added: "Real men don't wear snoods."
And writing on Twitter, United defender Rio Ferdinand said: "U won't see a Man Utd player wearing a snood."
Former Old Trafford midfielder Roy Keane is also not a fan.
He said of players wearing the snood: "They've all gone soft. I don't know how they do it and focus on the game, it's weird. That's the way the game's gone."
But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has a number of players in his squad that wear the neck warmer - including midfielder Samir Nasri - defended his players.
"I get advice from the medical team - that's why we let them wear them," the Arsenal boss told the club's website.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9415721.stm
He sure is. But we need our own Refs in such crucial games.The referee's a wanker.
That is all.
Who there "our Refs" should be you ask.....Our Finishings-Goals! by these, the refs can do all they want to to pull us down but by then, we're5-0 up already.
Today's draw hurts but we'll move on. Gunner for Life!
Some of these Refs are ruining this game and ruining people's lives and emotions. That should have been a 3-3...oh well, Wolves have it at 3-3 now.... no denial of this one.
When coaches talk about Refs they get fined. What happens when a Ref make such awful decisions? Someone tell me-like yesterday obvious penalty and the goal the Ref denied against Arsenal
When coaches talk about Refs they get fined. What happens when a Ref make such awful decisions? Someone tell me-like yesterday obvious penalty and the goal the Ref denied against Arsenal
Ref's usually get demoted down a league or two if they have a terrible game. I don't know about getting fined.
This weekend hasn't been too bad. Man Utd lost, Spurs should've lost but dropped two points.
I'm still pissed off that Arsenal drew but I dare someone to tell me we didn't get screwed by the ref.
Now next week will shape Arsenal's season. If we can somehow go through (although highly unlikely) against Barca and defeat Man Utd, I can see a treble being likely.
This weekend hasn't been too bad. Man Utd lost, Spurs should've lost but dropped two points.
I'm still pissed off that Arsenal drew but I dare someone to tell me we didn't get screwed by the ref.
Now next week will shape Arsenal's season. If we can somehow go through (although highly unlikely) against Barca and defeat Man Utd, I can see a treble being likely.
Guess that Vidic suspension was more costly than thought
And speaking of central backs out....no Puyol Tuesday (in addition to Pique's suspension)
You didn't have either of those players when you beat us at the Camp Nou last season. Plus, we don't have Walcott or Van Persie for this match, so defensively, you're not in too much bother.
If we can somehow go through (although highly unlikely) against Barca and defeat Man Utd, I can see a treble being likely.
Sampson before you come in here and start complaining about that red.....yes it was a bad call, I'd admit that BUT van Persie was stupid for knocking Alvez down and getting the first yellow to begin with.
But the Gunners played well, just wonder how different it would have been if van Persie was still in and Walcott healthy.
But the Gunners played well, just wonder how different it would have been if van Persie was still in and Walcott healthy.
I'm too disgusted to say anything.
Maybe I didn't. 
Much respect to catalan side.
I did however feel that the 2nd Van Persie yellow was disgusting. I can safely say that i've never seen a weaker sending off in recent memory.
Now I am a fan of Massimo Busacca, and I do believe he's one of the better referees in the world, arguably tied for the world's best ref alongside one Howard Webb, but that sending off was ridiculous.
Granted, as Game Plan touched on, RVP got himself in a jam with a stupid yellow against Dani Alves early on, but realistically, how does he expect 1 man to hear a whistle amongst 98,000 people, who are already whistling when the Gunners have the ball? And on their lone attack at goal in some 10 minute interval?? Harsh doesn't begin to describe that one.
Given the magnitude of the occasion, he could've given him a final warning, and called it a day AFTER said incident, but to me, that was appalling to watch.
Had RVP not been on yellow, would he have gotten a card? Not a chance.
Was it poetic justice for Messi's earlier non-penalty? Perhaps. I still think in the end the Gunners would've taken an L even with RVP in there, but that changed the entirety of the match no question, and I hate leaving matches to a "could of, would of..." kinda thing.
I hate saying it, because again, I am a fan of Busacca, but the officiating today... questionable to say the least.
And in a room full of elated Blaugrana supporters, I couldn't find one to disagree.
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Van Persie hits out at 'joke' ref
Robin van Persie has labelled referee Massimo Busacca "a joke" after his red card in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Van Persie was shown a second yellow card in the 56th minute of the game for kicking the ball away. The Gunners had held an advantage at the Camp Nou at the time of the dismissal after Sergio Busquets' own goal made it 1-1 on the night.
Barca took full advantage of the extra man as Xavi levelled the scores on aggregate before Lionel Messi converted a penalty when Pedro was brought down by Laurent Koscielny.
Asked if the sending off had a significant impact on the result, Van Persie told Sky Sports: "I believe so. I think it had a big influence. It was a total joke, the sending off, because how can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up?"
When it was pointed out that there was just one second between the whistle and Van Persie's shot, the striker replied: "Makes it even worse. This way - one second from his whistle to my shot - makes it even worse.
"If there were four, five, six seconds in between, you can make a check [for offside]. One second, it's a joke.
"It's just a joke. He's been bad all evening. He's been a joke all evening, whistling against us. I don't know why he's here tonight. I think it's a joke."
He added: "We feel betrayed a bit. When it was 1-1, it was all to play for, and in my opinion the ref killed the game."
With Arsenal failing to register a shot on target during the game, Arsene Wenger accepted that Barcelona had been impressive but stressed that the decision may have had a significant influence on the outcome.
"We lost against a good team," he said. "In the first half we resisted pressure - I think the second would have been very interesting if we had stayed 11 against 11. Unfortunately it was not the case.
"There are regrets when you see how we went out - the way we did, it is very difficult to accept."
On Van Persie's second booking, he said: "With the people shouting, if he takes his chance I see no reason to give a second yellow card. To do that, [the referee] must absolutely have never played football.
"I told him what I think about his decision face to face and there is not a lot more to say."
Pep Guardiola said he could understand the anger over the dismissal but emphasised that his own team's performance had been decisive.
"Arsenal defended very, very well but they didn't make more than three passes [in succession]," he said. "It was difficult with ten against 11 and after the situation with the second yellow, I can understand the reaction.
"We created a lot of chances, we played a perfect game. We're so, so happy about our performance. Over the two legs, we were better than them."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...-at-'joke'-referee-after-arsenal-exit?cc=5901
Much respect to catalan side. I did however feel that the 2nd Van Persie yellow was disgusting.
I can safely say that i've never seen a weaker sending off in recent memory.
Now I am a fan of Massimo Busacca, and I do believe he's one of the better referees in the world, arguably tied for the world's best ref alongside one Howard Webb, but that sending off was ridiculous.
Granted, as Game Plan touched on, RVP got himself in a jam with a stupid yellow against Dani Alves early on, but realistically, how does he expect 1 man to hear a whistle amongst 98,000 people, who are already whistling when the Gunners have the ball? And on their lone attack at goal in some 10 minute interval?? Harsh doesn't begin to describe that one.
Given the magnitude of the occasion, he could've given him a final warning, and called it a day AFTER said incident, but to me, that was appalling to watch.
Had RVP not been on yellow, would he have gotten a card? Not a chance.
Was it poetic justice for Messi's earlier non-penalty? Perhaps. I still think in the end the Gunners would've taken an L even with RVP in there, but that changed the entirety of the match no question, and I hate leaving matches to a "could of, would of..." kinda thing.
I hate saying it, because again, I am a fan of Busacca, but the officiating today... questionable to say the least.
And in a room full of elated Blaugrana supporters, I couldn't find one to disagree.
---------------------------
Van Persie hits out at 'joke' ref
Robin van Persie has labelled referee Massimo Busacca "a joke" after his red card in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Van Persie was shown a second yellow card in the 56th minute of the game for kicking the ball away. The Gunners had held an advantage at the Camp Nou at the time of the dismissal after Sergio Busquets' own goal made it 1-1 on the night.
Barca took full advantage of the extra man as Xavi levelled the scores on aggregate before Lionel Messi converted a penalty when Pedro was brought down by Laurent Koscielny.
Asked if the sending off had a significant impact on the result, Van Persie told Sky Sports: "I believe so. I think it had a big influence. It was a total joke, the sending off, because how can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up?"
When it was pointed out that there was just one second between the whistle and Van Persie's shot, the striker replied: "Makes it even worse. This way - one second from his whistle to my shot - makes it even worse.
"If there were four, five, six seconds in between, you can make a check [for offside]. One second, it's a joke.
"It's just a joke. He's been bad all evening. He's been a joke all evening, whistling against us. I don't know why he's here tonight. I think it's a joke."
He added: "We feel betrayed a bit. When it was 1-1, it was all to play for, and in my opinion the ref killed the game."
With Arsenal failing to register a shot on target during the game, Arsene Wenger accepted that Barcelona had been impressive but stressed that the decision may have had a significant influence on the outcome.
"We lost against a good team," he said. "In the first half we resisted pressure - I think the second would have been very interesting if we had stayed 11 against 11. Unfortunately it was not the case.
"There are regrets when you see how we went out - the way we did, it is very difficult to accept."
On Van Persie's second booking, he said: "With the people shouting, if he takes his chance I see no reason to give a second yellow card. To do that, [the referee] must absolutely have never played football.
"I told him what I think about his decision face to face and there is not a lot more to say."
Pep Guardiola said he could understand the anger over the dismissal but emphasised that his own team's performance had been decisive.
"Arsenal defended very, very well but they didn't make more than three passes [in succession]," he said. "It was difficult with ten against 11 and after the situation with the second yellow, I can understand the reaction.
"We created a lot of chances, we played a perfect game. We're so, so happy about our performance. Over the two legs, we were better than them."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...-at-'joke'-referee-after-arsenal-exit?cc=5901
33 goals for Messi in Champions.
So were you at the game bigvince?
Let's not forget the Busquets own goal now. The man came in and headed that thing like he forgot which side of the pitch was on. It was a beautiful header............just at the wrong net.
It's like he forgot he was on defense.
Liverfool huh?
You had less to say on that mauling you received than Alex Ferguson. &Smallings & Brown you sure on that one