Author Archives: Michael Roberts

Are Leicester Where They Should Be In The League Table?

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As of now, Leicester sits in 15th place below Watford, Bournemouth, and Burnley in the league table. Moreover, if the team doesn’t start winning, it may soon find itself below the likes of Swansea, Hull and Middlesbrough. A question that many soccer fans and pundits are asking is whether Leicester is where it should be. A number of people, the majority of them Leicester fans, argue that the reigning EPL champions are in a false position. According to them, Swansea, Hull and Boro shouldn’t be above Leicester in the league. The counter argument to this is that Leicester has been horrendous this season and deserves to be in the relegation zone. So, this beckons the question: is Leicester where it should be in the EPL table?

The current premier league season is Leicester’s third consecutive season in the top flight of English football. Of the teams mentioned above, only Swansea has had a longer sustained stay in the EPL. Talking about the EPL, you can easily get the latest odds on the best sports to watch on TV. Coming back to the topic, if Leicester was above the likes of Watford, Bournemouth, and Burnley in the table, it would sit in 12th place: a position most Leicester fans believe the team should hold. Even though it upset the odds and won the league last season, Leicester is a team most people expect to finish mid table.

Most people, including Leicester fans, expected the team to not do as well as they did last season. In fact, during pre season, many had predicted that the reigning PL champions would struggle to finish top 6 in the 2016/2017 premier league season. What they did not expect was Leicester being in a relegation dog fight. Whenever a team wins a title, its motivation automatically drops the next season. Now while this may not happen to bigger clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona, teams such as Leicester are bound to suffer from a lack of motivation after winning big. If you’re interested in watching Real Madrid or Barcelona play, you can get fast speed internet to watch a live stream of a game involving either of these teams.

Leicester fans may not like where their team is currently in the table but the reality is that Leicester is exactly where it should be. Contrary to what most people say, Leicester won the league last through sheer hard work and there was little luck involved in its triumph. Similarly, Leicester is 100% where it should be this season as the team has performed abysmally in most games this season.

In short, Leicester massively overachieved last season to become the English Premier League champions. This season, Leicester has performed just a little below expectations but is exactly where it ‘should be’ in the table.

 

It’s Time To Support Arsene Wenger And Turn Against The Board

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Things are a mess at Arsenal right now.

A section of the Arsenal fan base is against Arsene Wenger, and I can see why. We’ve had 14 years of finishing in the Top Four without really looking like winning the Premier League, except in the 2007/2008 season when Eduardo had his leg tragically broken, pretty much ending our challenge that year.

And you would have to say that was the start of a downward spiral for Arsene at Arsenal. We have been in an abyss in the following years, and any solution Arsene seems to find just isn’t good enough for Arsenal getting to the next level.

But it’s not all his fault.

Arsenal fans now want change. But Arsenal have consistently reached the Top Four and for me that is an amazing achievement, considering what Arsene Wenger has had to endure and work with.

The biggest problem at the club isn’t Arsene Wenger, but the Arsenal board.

Arsene Wenger is the only man at the club who loves Arsenal. Arsenal to Silent Stan and the board is a cash cow and as long as they make a profit and he can line his pockets that’s all he cares about. And look, I’m not naïve, I know how business works – but in terms of on the field success, we’re suffering.

It’s not fair for Arsene Wenger to get all the flak. The board, and the players, also need to be made accountable. Arsene Wenger is a man who puts his faith and belief in his players, and of late they have not been repaying him. Arsene Wenger gets all the shit off the fans and the media, yet the board and players get away scot free – and it’s not right.

The fans who protested last night – and they are perfectly within their rights to do so – don’t necessarily hate Wenger, but they just want change. The consistency is boring and when you’re paying the highest ticket prices in Europe you expect some success in the major competition, but that just hasn’t happened.

The issue is that getting rid of Arsene Wenger won’t change anything, and that’s the bottom line.

With our weak board, can you see them hiring someone who actually has a mind of their own? Someone who could ruffle some feathers?

A new manager coming into Arsenal would want around £200 million to revamp the squad and get rid of the dead wood. Do you think Silent Stan would want that? Not in a million years. With Arsene Wenger, he’s guaranteed a big payday every season.

So what’s the solution? To turn against the board.

Without David Dein we have no forward thinking person in the Arsenal hierarchy. There’s actually no one on the board that knows anything about football. They’re all businessmen and women, who love to see the club making money.

You look at other clubs in the Premier League and it’s clear the owners make a big difference. Look at Roman Abramovich at Chelsea. He’s a lot of things but what he does love is football and always invests in the team to keep them competitive. Of course, his rapid hiring and firing of managers is not the Arsenal way but his underlying ethos is for Chelsea to win trophies – which is what the fans want.

Then there’s Leicester City. Their owners have completely embraced the City and have made a conscious effort to win over the Leicester City fans. They come to the games; they make gestures (such as offering free beer and pies to celebrate the owners birthday) and give a clear message that they want the best for the club. And the fans appreciate it.

Liverpool are another team with American owners in Fenway Sports Group and the Liverpool fans I have spoken to are not fans at all. They realise (or believe) that FSG are only there to take money out of their club. I’m not sure that’s the case when they’re spending big on expanding the stadium but it’s interested to know that when things aren’t going well they don’t turn against the manager, it’s against the board.

Manchester United have the Glazier family and it’s interesting to see how the Manchester United fans reacted when Sir Alex Ferguson was managing there. The fans never turned against the man who brought them success but turned against the board – wearing yellow and green scarves, holding up banners and staging protests. Why aren’t the Arsenal fans doing the same?

Don’t get me wrong, Arsene Wenger as a manager has his faults, and we know he’s stubborn in some areas. But despite that he is a top-level coach. Arsenal need to get new owners and have someone on the board (like David Dein) who can push Arsene Wenger and question him when required. I truly believe that with new owners Arsenal can once against become a genuine title challenger and that Arsene Wenger deserves another season under a new regime.

 

5 Reasons Why Arsenal Can Overcome Bayern Munich Tonight

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You must have been living under a rock if you don’t know about the disastrous first leg in Germany. Arsenal are trailing 5-1 after being bent over and royal screwed at The Allianz Arena, after actually equalising after Robben’s early goal and went into half time all square at 1-1.

Unfortunately, the second half was typical Arsenal and we ended up shipping 4 goals. But there are some reasons to be positive and believe that Arsenal can overturn this massive deficit, and they are outlined below:

1. Mesut Özil isn’t playing

After missing the Liverpool game due to “illness”, the lazy playmaker is also out of tonight’s tie with Bayern – which can only be a good thing. He pretty much strolled around in the first leg and while it was a collective collapse from the team, having a player who walks around the pitch isn’t really the best approach in a massive Champions League game.

No wonder Sanchez was angry at him.

He won’t be missed tonight and if you had to name 20 players you would want to call on to put in a fight or battle on the pitch, he wouldn’t be on there.

Without Özil we can put out 11 players who run around and give every single ounce of energy on the pitch. Except for the goalkeeper of course, I wouldn’t want him running around too much.

2. The scoreline is so ridiculous, Bayern Munich might not know what to do

Bayern would have been basking in the almighty glow of their own brilliance a couple of weeks ago, and lets’s be frank, every man and their dog knows Bayern are through. But that can work to our advantage.

If Arsenal manage to score early, or at least score twice in the first half (I know it’s a big if) then what would Bayern do? It’s not inconceivable that Bayern could start the game in defensive mode and struggle to get back into the game if the tide is turning. We came so so close against AC Milan at The Emirates once (when RVP really should have put us through) and that away goal is a life line. Bayern don’t want the game to be open so if we nick a goal or two then the whole dynamic of the match changes.

I seem to remember Monaco overturning a big deficit against Real Madrid, and Deportivo La Coruna doing the same to AC Milan (I think) in the Champions League before.

While it might be almost impossible, there is always that little chance if things go our way.

3. This could be Alexis Sanchez’s redemption

Alexis Sanchez is by far our best player and things couldn’t be any worse right now. The bust up with the manager and “senior player” (whoever that is) means that moral is rock bottom. But if Arsene Wenger can get his team selection right, and compliment the supreme talents of Alexis Sanchez, then we are a goal threat all day long.

What better way to kick start our season with a miracle win against Bayern Munich and have Alexis Sanchez at the fulcrum of that? You know this guy will sweat buckets for the shirt and if we can give him the best possible supporting cast, anything could happen.

4. Philipp Lahm is suspended

Bayern’s iconic captain is missing tonight and he is a massive part of their team. How will they cope with his absence? If Arsene Wenger can pick the right team that is the part of the pitch we can surely exploit.

5. Because Arsene Wenger’s teams can always score

Arsene Wenger is a lot of things but as consistent as our defensive frailties is our ability to score. It doesn’t matter what Arsenal game I’m watching, I know that on our day that we have the ability to score against anyone if we’re in the mood.

Arsene is a champion of attacking football and while it hasn’t been a trend of late, we are always capable of scoring. If you said to me we would create at least 10 chances tonight I wouldn’t be surprised – of course, taking them is another question.

The front line selection is vital in how we do tonight. I wouldn’t put Theo Walcott anywhere near the starting eleven as this is not a game for him. But do we go for the dynamism and pace of Alexis or the aerial threat of Giroud? Or can we start them both.

Arsene needs to really think about what our best attacking combination is and if we can get it right, anything can happen.

 

Let’s Get #KroenkeOut & #SaveWenger Trending!

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It’s got to the point now where everyone has had enough. It’s the same old story and Arsene Wenger is getting all the flak – but what about the board?

We have a board which is old and stagnant, and has been ever since David Dein was ousted back in 2007. The only man on the board who actually had any football knowledge (and passion for success) hasn’t been at the club for the last 10 years and he’s never been replaced.

Arsene Wenger has been taking a lot of shit recently, some of it justified and some of it not. Now don’t get me wrong, Arsene Wenger is a stubborn man who makes mistakes but at the same time there’s no getting away from the fact that he is a talented coach, excellent manager and well respected man across European football.

And while Arsene has been getting criticised left, right and centre, no-one has said anything about the board. Currently the combination of Silent Stan Kroenke, unambitious board and Arsene Wenger is resulting in consistent Top 4 finishes with no real intention of winning either the Premier League or Champions League. We do enough to do well, but nothing to suggest we can go to the next level.

People have been calling for Arsene Wenger to leave but for me, especially after what he has done for the club, that’s the completely wrong solution. The real solution is getting Stan Kroenke out. This man is killing out club.

He sits there in America somewhere making a tidy profit every season, with completely no interest in Arsenal achieving any success. There’s only one man who desperately wants Arsenal to win things and that’s Arsene.

But as long as Stan Kroenke is at the club nothing will change. Arsene Wenger is basically told to get into the Top 4 every year – and he achieves that. Now what we all want is to go to the next level right? Well that comes from the owners and board.

Arsene Wenger deserves his chance under new ownership. Arsene deserves a season or two with Arsenal under an owner who is ambitious, forward-thinking and wants success.

IF after that Arsene doesn’t win the Premier League then that would be the fairest time to let the man go.

But under Stan Kroenke do you think a change in manager would make a blind bit of notice?

You are delusional if you think that getting rid of Arsene Wenger is the answer – the real solution is getting rid of the terminal disease at the club and it’s name is Stan Kroenke.

 

Anyone Else Had Enough? Sadly Arsene Wenger Is Staying!

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Yesterday was yet another predictable performance and result – so much so that I put a bet on Arsenal to lose 3-0 and 3-1, therefore making a tidy profit:

It’s the same old story with Arsenal isn’t it? In terms of guarantees, Arsenal have become so consistent it’s easy to predict what will happen in a typical Arsenal season.

Here are just a few of the following:

  • Arsenal will challenge for the title until about February / March, at which point the wheels will come off and we’ll end up fighting for 4th spot.
  • Arsenal will overcome some late scares and achieve 4th spot.
  • We will reach the last 16 in the Champions League, and then get battered by Barcelona or Bayern Munich..
  • We will lose at Anfield, conceding quite a few goals in the process.
  • We will lose at Stamford Bridge, conceding quite a few goals in the process.
  • We will travel to Old Trafford full of confidence and form, but either lose or draw because the Arsenal team have bottled it and couldn’t go and get the win.

I could go on and on, but won’t.

It’s reached a point where I’ve almost lost the will to live. I’ve not supported, but loved Arsenal since 1988. I’ve seen the George Graham years, the Bruce Rioch years and the Arsene Wenger years. They’ll all had highs and lows (except for the Rioch era where it was mainly lows) but what’s worse is the mind-numbing predicability of Arsenal.

We have no leaders, we need a world class striker, we’re missing a top class goal keeper, we have too many injuries – it’s the same old shit year after year, campaign after campaign, season after season.

Now don’t get me wrong, the consistency Arsene Wenger has brought to the club in terms of Champions League football year after year is impressive and whatever your feelings about the man – no club in Europe has enjoyed that kind of consistency of the last 20 odd years – even powerhouses like Real Madrid and Barcelona have finished outside the Top 4 in that time. If you asked any owners of any club, they would most likely snap up Arsene Wenger in a heart beat.

But for the fans, it’s just boring. We pay the highest ticket prices in the league (and I think in Europe actually) but don’t get the success. I think it’s got to the point where if you asked any Arsenal fan they would tell you that they would get rid of Arsene Wenger and risk finished 7th in the table just so that it’s something different. It’s the predictability and refusal to change and adapt which is the killer.

But why not make some money from the predictability? After all, there’s a lot of offers to get through these days.

But good news, Arsene Wenger is going to stay! Most of you will laugh at that but trust me, come back to this in 5 months and I’ll be saying I told you so!