Football - The roundball kind. Soccer.

[lookout123]

Alrighty then. The Cellar, wonderful as it is, doesn't have a large football fan contingent, but we do get some interested parties from time to time. This will be the official Football thread for 08/09. Or if no one is interested in any way, shape, or form, this will be a place that I will put a few posts and everyone else ignores.

I am one of the fortunate ones. I am an Arsenal supporter. The Arsenal kids have reported in for training this week to get their tubby butts in shape for the coming season. The biggest stars for Arsenal, and other teams, were involved in Euro 08 for their national teams so will have another week or two to rest before training. Some of the biggest names in the game are still embroiled in transfer drama so we don't know where they'll be playing next season. They still have some time before that has to be wrapped up.

Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor are the two big Arsenal names that may or may not be at Emirates Stadium when the season begins. I enjoy the way each of them plays the game, but their quotes lead me to believe they've bought their own hype. So they can just fuck right the hell off. Samir Nasri may or may not be coming in. Roque Santa Cruz most likely will not, but the rumors have legs. Mr Veloso would fit quite nicely into our midfield but I think the rumors are just that. He is far too expensive for Arsenal tastes.

So as it stands:

Almunia - G

Sagna - RB Toure - CB Gallas - CB Clichy - LB


Rosicky/Walcott - RM Fabregas - AM ____?_____ - DM Hleb?/___?___ - LM




Adebayor? - FWD Van Persie - FWD



The core of the team is incredible. Sagna and Clichy are amongst the best in Europe in their positions. Toure and Gallas are both excellent although I think they are too similar to be properly complimentary. Fabregas is absolutely amazing, possibly the best at the position and he is only 21. Rosicky is a world beater but he is injury prone. Walcott is really coming on and I expect a great year from him. Only 19 and looking awesome on the big stage. Hleb? I'd rather have Nasri, but we'll see. Left wing worries me. Van Persie is one of the most talented forwards around but he's had a string of unfortunate injuries. If he's healthy this year he'll be top drawer. Adebayor I'm not sure about. He has bought his own hype. He survived on an awesome work ethic and never say die attitude... then when he started getting attention those attributes fell to the side and some petulance showed through. Now he is demanding obscene and unrealistic money. We'll see.

The bench will either make or break this team this year.


Senderos, CM- 23 and a Swiss international. He needs a string of games to find his composure and he quickly loses confidence after a mistake. He is a common scapegoat even though he has been a central part of the best string of games for the last three years. I really hope this really classy guy can put it all together this year.

Gilberto - Once called the invisible wall. He is a DM who may be past his sell by date. He is, however, the epitomy of class. The captain for the Brazil National Team, but I hope he is still on the bench for Arsenal this year.

Denilson AM/DM- Young and Brazillian. Just 20 years old he looks to have all the qualities needed but had a rough year with injuries and form last year. I really hope to see him step up. If not, he needs to be sold.

Eboue - Former RB, now RM. Hate him. Diving cheating shitbag. Doesn't belong in the team. Sell him now.

Diaby - AM/LM. Silky smooth skills but seems lazy off the ball and selfish on it. Hope he can grow.

Song - CB/DM. We'll see. He was loaned out last year and came back injured but looked exciting in his few appearances.

Vela - LM/Striker. Young and Mexican. Has been Arsenal owned for 3 years but just got his work permit. He's been playing very well in Spain and for the Mexican National Team. Amazing talent. Hopefully he slots into the English game quickly. Definitely one to watch.

Merida - AM. Fabregas, part deux. From Spain, great skill great vision. Still only 17. So was Fabregas when he fought his way into the first team.

Barazite - AM/RM/Striker. Young but amazing. I expect to see him get some first team games this season.

Eduardo - Striker. Doesn't belong as a substitute but that's where he'll be for awhile. He suffered a horrendous injury last year, the likes of which most players never recover fully. I nice gentle man named "tiny" Taylor decided to push his foot through his leg rather than get the ball. Eduardo received a double compound fracture and dislocated ankle with all the associated ligament, tendon, and muscle damage. I don't expect him to really play before January at the earliest. I'm not sure if he'll ever really be what he was. An absolute ice in the veins finisher. Put the ball at his feet and he'd score.

There are a few others but I expect these to be the central players to the season.

I don't like making predictions because they can all go to the crapper with one bad injury. BUT I'll say that I expect Arsenal to push for the EPL title this year and to make an extended run in the Champion's League. The club uses the Carling Cup and FA Cup to blood in the younger players and I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal's kids win the Carling Cup this year.

For me, the most important competition is the EPL. 38 games, home and away with every other team in the league. No playoffs, no super bowl, only weekly rankings to determine the winner. Each win gets 3 points, a draw gets 1, and a loss brings 0. The bottom three teams in the table at the end of the season are relegated from the top flight of football. The top two are into the Champions League, third and fourth get to play for qualification into the CL.

I expect a First or Second place finish in the EPL with a run at least into the Quarter Finals for the CL. And if the kids bring home the Carling Cup that will be an amazing season for a team assembled for a small fraction of the cost of their top competitors. Last year Manchester United spent more on three players than Arsenal have spent on their whole team.

Let the games begin.