**OFFICIAL Association Football 2011/2012 Season thread**

[SebastianLeeDanzig]

Does English media at all recognize the rumors about Lukas Podolski coming to Arsenal? He's one of my favorite players who never got a break outside the German national squad. Would they use him as a striker, or do they need back-up for left midfield? Arsenal was so successful internationally lately that I have no clue.

[Hellsinkey]

It has been mentioned that he might be a replacement for Van Persie, whose contract is up in 2013.

[MickeyG]

I read Arsenal were close to a deal with Podolski, but nothing has been announced yet. They've just offloaded Arshavin so I'd expect Podolski to fit right in. Arsenals squad isn't good enough for Podolski to be left on the bench. Unless they sign a bunch of other players, of course.

[pieceofme]

AVB sacked. No big surprise there.

[Hellsinkey]

Nice goals by Young.

[MickeyG]

Big win, especially as United now have an 8 game run against teams outside of the top 8. If they're still behind City by 2 points going into the game at Wastelands then it's game on.

[Hellsinkey]

Yeah, it's THE game of the season.

[Rageman]

[pieceofme]

Thats pretty lame.

[Hellsinkey]

Bilbao played well, it will be very hard for the 2nd leg. It could have been worse, but De Gea played well. Horrible defending and another shite European home performance.

[pieceofme]

Bilbao played well, it will be very hard for the 2nd leg. It could have been worse, but De Gea played well. Horrible defending and another shite European home performance.

We deserved to be knocked out of the Champions League, and on this evidence we don't deserve to get further in the UEFA cup.

City lost as well, but I think they will get through actually.

[Hellsinkey]

Citeh loses, it's back to top.

[MickeyG]

Nice one, Swansea! Dippers are now 28 points behind us. Keep it up King Kenny!

[Hellsinkey]

Nice one, Swansea! Dippers are now 28 points behind us. Keep it up King Kenny!

If it wasn't him, someone else would have already been fired.

[pieceofme]

Nice one, Swansea! Dippers are now 28 points behind us. Keep it up King Kenny!

If it wasn't him, someone else would have already been fired.

Absolutely.

Some of his signings have been atrocious.

A lot of the fans are having a go at the players, but none seem to be having a go at the man who signed them!

[jellyheadrobertson]

A lot of the fans are having a go at the players, but none seem to be having a go at the man who signed them!

And Cornholi. As much as Kenny was a legend, his match tactics and team selection are disastrous sometimes.

[pieceofme]

A lot of the fans are having a go at the players, but none seem to be having a go at the man who signed them!

And Cornholi. As much as Kenny was a legend, his match tactics and team selection are disastrous sometimes.

If this was anyone else who wasn't a 'kop legend' you know there would be calls for resignation.

Still as a Man Utd fan it makes me incredibly happy to see Liverpool still so far behind.

Keep up the good work Kenny!

[pieceofme]

Oh and top of the table.

A lot of games still to go though. United's run in looks the easier of the two.

Big game away against City.

[MickeyG]

Yeah, I'd like United to be at least 4 ahead of city before the game at Eastlands. It would be nice to go there not needing a result. I expect United to fuck up at some point though. They usually drop stupid points during the run in but get away with it.

As for Liverpool, Kenny has been getting some shit off the fans on some forums. Commoli is equally culpable though, if his job description is to be believed. I thought he was a failure at Spurs and was surprised when Liverpool brought him in. Anyway, if Everton beat them this midweek then they will go above them too. Everton are in good form currently, and I wouldn't be surprised if they got a result.

[Hellsinkey]

When Kenny was in charge last time, Giggs was starting out! 20 years is a lifetime in football, especially when not doing anything inbetween.

[Rageman]

"The margin of victory does not impress me. I have absolutely no fear that Bayern will score seven goals in one game [against us]."

-- Heiko Vogel, coach of Swiss club Basel, on Bayern Munich's 7-1 win over Hoffenheim in German league play four days before the Bayern-Basel Champions League game -- which Bayern won, 7-0. (Guardian)

Chelsea pull off quite the comeback . . . just before half time of extra time. Napoli have some stars and I thought that they would be too much for the Londoners . . . fate proves otherwise.

What a variety in the quarters
2 Spanish
German
Italian
English
French
Portuguese
Cyprus?

Gonna be an interesting draw.

[MickeyG]

What I've seen of Napoli this season, their defence is dodgy. Not surprised they got well beat tonight. Good result for Chelsea, and a nice confidence boost ahead of their game next Wednesday against City.

[Hellsinkey]

nice confidence boost ahead of their game next Wednesday against City.

That would be the best thing.

Today at Bilbao, two goals are needed. If they get any, it gets harder. Tough place to play anyway.

[MickeyG]

United will be out tonight, I'll be very surprised if they win in Bilbao. They've been very casual in Europe this season. It seems like beating City in the league was more important.

[Rageman]

My beloved Hammers are falling like a stone. Waaaaaaay too many late goals being leaked.

If they lose in the playoff round . . . does Sam keep his job? I think he was hired to be their Premier League manager next year, not have them contend for the Championship playoffs

Everton v Arsenal just kicked off on Fox Soccer QPR v Liverpool on Fox Soccer Plus and Man City v Chelsea on ESPN2 . . . love the mid week matches when there aren't any Champions League matches on display

Friday - Bundesliga and sometimes La Liga
Saturday - Every league plays and since MLS overlaps with Europe in Spring and Fall, live football from Midnight to 9 pm for me in Alaska. Awesome.
Sunday - Most leagues have a couple of matches on display
Monday - Sometimes EPL, Championship and Italian leagues and almost always Bundesliga2.
Tuesday - Champions League or random mid week matches . . . often used for re-scheduled matches
Wednesday - Champions League or sometimes a league wide match day
Thursday - Europa League

Arsenal leads 0-1, Cisse just missed a long range shot for QPR and Nasri just missed on a tight pass in the box just before half as both of those matches are scoreless.

[MickeyG]

Fuckin' Chelsea were awful against City. Boswingwa is pinching money and Drogba is a disgrace. They are a shadow of their former selves. AVB was right.

[Hellsinkey]

Looks like the Citeh game will settle it then.

[MickeyG]

Ha, ha, just saw the dippers result. Lost 3-2 after leading 2-0 with less than 20 mins left. Cheered me up after the Chelsea surrender.

[Hellsinkey]

Yes that was funny.

[Rageman]

I know you guys tire of my seemingly endless links but this is a great article about the "Barcelona way". Yeah, I know . . . tiring subject of late but this is one of the best articles I've ever read about football.<-----Period.

http://www.miostadium.com/opinions/simo ... er-success
One of the seven points he makes

4. The “3-1 rule”
If an opposing player gets the ball anywhere near Barcelona’s penalty area, then Barça go Italian. They apply what they call the “3-1 rule”: one of Barcelona’s four defenders will advance to tackle the man with the ball, and the other three defenders will assemble in a ring about two or three metres behind the tackler. That provides a double layer of protection. Guardiola picked this rule up in Italy. It’s such a simple yet effective idea that you wonder why all top teams don’t use it.