Capital One Cup Thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd pop one of these up...

Norwich currently beating Bury 3-0, Ravel Morrison gives Dolphin a boner with a goal on full debut

MK Dons currently leading Sunderland 2-0 meaning Sunderland players shall be starved tomorrow

Peterborough absolutely spanking a strong Reading side as well

[Fernando]

Tranmere 0-1 Stoke - Ireland

[Fernando]

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has collided with the post  

#WorldClassForwardPlay

[Fernando]

Newcastle 1-0 Leeds - Cisse

[Guest]

First goals since april & he's our no.1 striker.  

Liverpool not really impressing me that much, neither United. Giggs/Jones centrally is just difficult to watch. Kagawa has been dire, not surprising seeing as he's played no games. Non-existent service to Hernandez.

[hampo17]

We've gone there to keep it tight and we've done that while creating our fair share of chances. Suarez looks rusty but is getting better the longer the game goes on.

[hampo17]

Typical, defended well all first half and then as usual we have our switch off moment. Awful defending from Enrique as well.

[Fernando]

Newcastle 2-0 Leeds - Gouffran
Birmingham 2-0 Swansea Matt Green

[Fernando]

West Brom 0-1 Arsenal - Eisfeld

[Fernando]

WBA 1-1 Arsenal - Berahino?

[Fernando]

FT Newcastle 2-0 Leeds
FT Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool
FT Tranmere 0-2 Stoke
FT Birmingham 3-1 Swansea
FT West Brom 1-1 Arsenal - Going to Extra Time

[kingraf]

its remarkable that Suarez has been suspended for 25 games since 2010, and not one of the suspensions were caused by a red card
#Temper

[Fernando]

Capital One Cup Draw

Sunderland Vs Southampton
Leicester Vs Fulham
Birmingham Vs Stoke
Man Utd Vs Norwich
Burnley Vs West Ham
Arsenal Vs Chelsea
Spurs Vs Hull City
Newcastle vs Man Citeh

[Guest]

City @ home....oh dear. The end. Can see united going all the way now with that easy home draw.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

WOAH WOAH WOAH JOHN! EASY HOME DRAW?! WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY BABAY

[Fernando]

WBA/Arsenal heading to Pens.

Yeah we're Frak  

[NickisBHAFC]

Yeah United and Tottenham getting simple home draws.

Games for Sky ill imagine will be Arsenal v Chelsea and Newcastle v City.

[Fernando]

Penalties at home end on safety advice?
WBA 1-0 Reid
Arsenal 1-1 Bendtner
WBA 2-1 Rosenberg
Gnabry misses WBA 2-1 up
WBA 3-1 Morrison
Arsenal 2-3 - Olsson
WBA 3-2 Dawson misses
Arsenal level it to 3-3 with Akpom
WBA 3-3 Amalfitano misses
Arsenal with chance to win
Monreal takes and scores Arsenal through 4-3 on Penalties!

[NickisBHAFC]

Arsenal win on penalty s in there cup final.

[Fernando]

It's better then usual Nick, We suck at penalties  

[NickisBHAFC]

I can actually see Arsenal beating Chelsea. Then it's just the luck of the draw in 6th round but obviously as seen against Bradford last season that may not be the case!

[LastDamnation]

Can't see a strong team against them given the next three games after that are liverpool, dortmund away and man u away.
Although hopefully will have players back by then.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Arsenal should be going all out for this cup imo.

[LastDamnation]

Disagree, cups are lottery and much better chance of winning the league

[Champagne_Socialist]

This Arsenal team looks so good. Can't wait to see Ozil and Cazorla playing together.

[Duty281]

I wouldn't say Arsenal will win the league as they're lacking depth in certain areas. Top 4 should remain the aim, and they shouldn't get carried by a decent start in the marathon. Should concentrate on winning either the League Cup or FA Cup just to appease the fans, albeit for a very short time.

Mind you, I'd imagine Moyes and Pellegrini would be taking at least one of the cups seriously as it's their first season in charge of United and City respectively, and they'll want something to show for it.

[Champagne_Socialist]

I wouldn't say Arsenal will win the league as they're lacking depth in certain areas. Top 4 should remain the aim, and they shouldn't get carried by a decent start in the marathon. Should concentrate on winning either the League Cup or FA Cup just to appease the fans, albeit for a very short time.

Mind you, I'd imagine Moyes and Pellegrini would be taking at least one of the cups seriously as it's their first season in charge of United and City respectively, and they'll want something to show for it.

Are we short in any area? We have 3 world class CBs in mertesacker, Koscielny and vermalen. We have 2 right backs in sagna and jenkinson. 2 left backs in gibbs and monreal. Also sagna can play right back and vermalen can play left back.

We have ramsey, arteta, wilshere, ozil, carzorla, walcott, flamini, diaby in midfield.

Up front we have Giroud and podolski and also walcott can play as a striker.

Name a team that has more depth than that?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I wouldn't say Arsenal will win the league as they're lacking depth in certain areas. Top 4 should remain the aim, and they shouldn't get carried by a decent start in the marathon. Should concentrate on winning either the League Cup or FA Cup just to appease the fans, albeit for a very short time.

Mind you, I'd imagine Moyes and Pellegrini would be taking at least one of the cups seriously as it's their first season in charge of United and City respectively, and they'll want something to show for it.

Are we short in any area? We have 3 world class CBs in mertesacker, Koscielny and vermalen.

If Thomas Vermaelen is a world class CB then so is Michael Turner

[Marky]

Vincent Kompany is a world class centre back. Thiago Silva is a world class centre back. Sergio Ramos is a world class centre back. Mats Hummels is a world class centre back.

Thomas Vermaelen scoring a few goals from corners does not put him anywhere near those four, and considering he's not even in the best two centre backs at his own club, seeing as Mertesacker and Koscielny aren't what I would call world class either, I deduct that you Champagne Socialist, are talking gibberish.

Hi.

[Champagne_Socialist]

mertesacker plays for one of the best teams in the world. He also has nearly 100 caps for the best international team in the world in Germany. You might not think he is world class but wenger does and so does the countless german managers.

Also if all you can do to dispute my comment is argue whether Arsenal's CBs are world class than I am confident that my point that Arsenal are not short in any department is valid.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sorry I stopped reading at the point where Vermaelen was described as World Class. I couldn't stop laughing

[Hero]

It's a often documented point that the weak point of the German team in the past few years is the centre back role and who to partner Hummels. Mertesacker has been the preferred choice as they compliment one another well, Hummels the faster of the two whilst Mertesacker the aeriel and physical giant, for me they have never have the WC tag when he has the turning circle of a double decker bus.
Your point about Arsenal's full backs seems to be that you have 2 of them and other defenders can play there too, I don't quite get if that's a point at all as that's what any other squad in the country does but thanks for sharing that clubs have more one person for a role.

Up front Giroud, Podolski and occasionally Walcott? (you forgot Wenger's annual French wonder kid signing of Sanogo)
Utd: RVP, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck.
City: Aguero, Jovetic, Negredo, Dzeko
Chelsea: Eto'o, Torres, Ba, Schurrle
Tottenham: Soldado, Defoe, Lamela, Adebayor
Liverpool, Suarez, Sturridge, Aspas

Your forward options are on a par with and quite possibly weaker than Liverpool's.

You fail to mention keepers, I wonder why. Every other rival's keeper is vastly superior that's why.

Midfield, unquestionably the strong point of the team, but still head to head with either City or Chelsea it's not matching up.

Mata, Lampard, Oscar, Wilian, Hazard, Ramires, Ginkel, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne,  Marin.
Silva, Nasri, Toure, Navas, Fernadinho, Garcia, Rodwell, Milner.

So in summary, both Chelsea and City have far more in depth in all areas, I'd give Arsenal the nod in midfield over Utd but certainly not in any other, equal going forward with Spurs though ahead at the back.

[Champagne_Socialist]

It's a often documented point that the weak point of the German team in the past few years is the centre back role and who to partner Hummels. Mertesacker has been the preferred choice as they compliment one another well, Hummels the faster of the two whilst Mertesacker the aeriel and physical giant, for me they have never have the WC tag when he has the turning circle of a double decker bus.
Your point about Arsenal's full backs seems to be that you have 2 of them and other defenders can play there too, I don't quite get if that's a point at all as that's what any other squad in the country does but thanks for sharing that clubs have more one person for a role.

Up front Giroud, Podolski and occasionally Walcott? (you forgot Wenger's annual French wonder kid signing of Sanogo)
Utd: RVP, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck.
City: Aguero, Jovetic, Negredo, Dzeko
Chelsea: Eto'o, Torres, Ba, Schurrle
Tottenham: Soldado, Defoe, Lamela, Adebayor
Liverpool, Suarez, Sturridge, Aspas

Your forward options are on a par with and quite possibly weaker than Liverpool's.

You fail to mention keepers, I wonder why. Every other rival's keeper is vastly superior that's why.

Midfield, unquestionably the strong point of the team, but still head to head with either City or Chelsea it's not matching up.

Mata, Lampard, Oscar, Wilian, Hazard, Ramires, Ginkel, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne,  Marin.
Silva, Nasri, Toure, Navas, Fernadinho, Garcia, Rodwell, Milner.

So in summary, both Chelsea and City have far more in depth in all areas, I'd give Arsenal the nod in midfield over Utd but certainly not in any other, equal going forward with Spurs though ahead at the back.

Arsenal's attack is stronger than Chelsea's. Torres, ba and schurrle have done nothing this season and Eto's has done nothing yet but he is a new signing and will need time.

If you compare our defence to man united or man city's or liverpool than the Arsenal defence is much stronger.

But the debate was that Arsenal do not have the depth to challenge which is clearly incorrect.

[Hero]

Your question was name any team that has more depth than Arsenals, I named two that do on all fronts, one slightly edging it and one about equal.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Your question was name any team that has more depth than Arsenals, I named two that do on all fronts, one slightly edging it and one about equal.

I hink you named some teams but they don't have more depth. Chelsea are woeful up front nd their defence has been leaky all season. Man u are terribly short in attacking central midfielders and their defence is the worst out of the top 4. Man city and tottenham are on the same par as Arsenal. Problem with Tottenham is they have a lot of new players so will need time to bed in.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

It's a often documented point that the weak point of the German team in the past few years is the centre back role and who to partner Hummels. Mertesacker has been the preferred choice as they compliment one another well, Hummels the faster of the two whilst Mertesacker the aeriel and physical giant, for me they have never have the WC tag when he has the turning circle of a double decker bus.
Your point about Arsenal's full backs seems to be that you have 2 of them and other defenders can play there too, I don't quite get if that's a point at all as that's what any other squad in the country does but thanks for sharing that clubs have more one person for a role.

Up front Giroud, Podolski and occasionally Walcott? (you forgot Wenger's annual French wonder kid signing of Sanogo)
Utd: RVP, Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck.
City: Aguero, Jovetic, Negredo, Dzeko
Chelsea: Eto'o, Torres, Ba, Schurrle
Tottenham: Soldado, Defoe, Lamela, Adebayor
Liverpool, Suarez, Sturridge, Aspas

Your forward options are on a par with and quite possibly weaker than Liverpool's.

You fail to mention keepers, I wonder why. Every other rival's keeper is vastly superior that's why.

Midfield, unquestionably the strong point of the team, but still head to head with either City or Chelsea it's not matching up.

Mata, Lampard, Oscar, Wilian, Hazard, Ramires, Ginkel, Essien, Mikel, De Bruyne,  Marin.
Silva, Nasri, Toure, Navas, Fernadinho, Garcia, Rodwell, Milner.

So in summary, both Chelsea and City have far more in depth in all areas, I'd give Arsenal the nod in midfield over Utd but certainly not in any other, equal going forward with Spurs though ahead at the back.

I agree with most of your points Hero, nice to see a United fan with balanced opinions on here!

Think your slightly harsh on the keepers. i'd put Szezchny at least on a par with Mingolet. I think he's a great shot stopper but his decision making still needs to be improved before he can be classed in the top echelon of keepers. Fabianski's and Viviano are decent back-ups as well.

I think you're slightly generous on the forwards. Giroud's the only player who can play as the lone striker at the moment. Walcott's too weak, and his hold up play is generally poor and Podolski didn't impress me when he had the chance to play up top last season.

As for priorities, I think we have a sniff of winning the league. If we're within six points of the leaders come January, I'd love to see another attacker come in. Someone to complement Giroud as well as play alongside him. Someone like Rooney would be ideal, but is a none starter.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Your question was name any team that has more depth than Arsenals, I named two that do on all fronts, one slightly edging it and one about equal.

I hink you named some teams but they don't have more depth. Chelsea are woeful up front nd their defence has been leaky all season. Man u are terribly short in attacking central midfielders and their defence is the worst out of the top 4. Man city and tottenham are on the same par as Arsenal. Problem with Tottenham is they have a lot of new players so will need time to bed in.

Do you watch football in some weird parallel universe or something? I think pretty much every neutral football fan would take Chelsea's strikers over Arsenal's. You see to think Utd's problem is CAM when they have Rooney and Kagawa who can play there. Man City's squad is not on a par with Arsenal's. Not a chance. The only relevant point is the one on Spurs but they seem to not be suffering that at the minute.

Hero's original post was absolutely spot on

[Hero]

Your question was name any team that has more depth than Arsenals, I named two that do on all fronts, one slightly edging it and one about equal.

I hink you named some teams but they don't have more depth. Chelsea are woeful up front nd their defence has been leaky all season. Man u are terribly short in attacking central midfielders and their defence is the worst out of the top 4. Man city and tottenham are on the same par as Arsenal. Problem with Tottenham is they have a lot of new players so will need time to bed in.

Okay so let's look at it from another angle.

Last season the top four in order was; Utd, City, Chelsea, Arsenal.
Since then Utd had a poor summer of transfers, most would agree with that, Zaha has come in but is being used sparingly as a sub in a Capital Cups it seems whilst the only big purchase was Sideshow Bob. An improvement to the first team in the central/defensive midfield role. Overall Utd have marginally strengthened their squad on paper but the big loss was at managerial level with SAF calling it a day and they've lost the fear factor as a result.

City have clearly improved, the only loss of note being Tevez whilst they gained Negredo, Jovetic, Fernandinho and Navas, a net gain of four quality and established players.

Chelsea too have brought in some big names in order to play catch up, peripheral squad players like Benayoun, Malouda and Ferreira left but they brought in Schurrle, Ginkel, Willian and Eto'o. The main criticism to level is the lack of investment defensively, seems like Maureen wishes to purchase every AM available despite already having one of the best going in Mata.

Arsenal though who already were behind the above squads brought in an unknown French striker who's been injured for large parts of the past two seasons, a back up keeper and Ozil. Yes Ozil is class, there's no denying that fact and he's already showing to be raising the game of those around him as Giroud looks a different player and Ramsey is playing like he's possessed, but the addition of one player in a position Arsenal already were strong in (Cazorla) does not suddenly have their squad leapfrogging the above.

Spurs though have the potential to at least challenge, the big loss of Bale counterbalanced by the additions to their entire squad with Eriksen, Lamala, Soldado, Paulinho, Capoue, Chadli and Chirches, they've drastically overhauled their squad and already seem to have hit the ground running in bedding them in.

[GSC]

Bendtner is about as useless as Torres at this point

Giroud has match sharpness over Eto'o atm

Lukaku is an Everton player this season

[Duty281]

I wouldn't say Arsenal will win the league as they're lacking depth in certain areas. Top 4 should remain the aim, and they shouldn't get carried by a decent start in the marathon. Should concentrate on winning either the League Cup or FA Cup just to appease the fans, albeit for a very short time.

Mind you, I'd imagine Moyes and Pellegrini would be taking at least one of the cups seriously as it's their first season in charge of United and City respectively, and they'll want something to show for it.

Are we short in any area? We have 3 world class CBs in mertesacker, Koscielny and vermalen. We have 2 right backs in sagna and jenkinson. 2 left backs in gibbs and monreal. Also sagna can play right back and vermalen can play left back.

We have ramsey, arteta, wilshere, ozil, carzorla, walcott, flamini, diaby in midfield.

Up front we have Giroud and podolski and also walcott can play as a striker.

Name a team that has more depth than that?

Up front, Arsenal are overly reliant on Giroud. If he gets injured or hits a bad run of form, Arsenal would probably have to shuffle their midfield around to accomodate a change. Right now, Giroud is playing well, but how will Arsenal cope when that changes?

In defence, there's inexperience on the flanks, and the CBs (world class?) always look like they have an error in them each game, particularly Koscielny.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Bendtner is about as useless as Torres at this point

Giroud has match sharpness over Eto'o atm

Lukaku is an Everton player this season

Exactly.

[Champagne_Socialist]

I wouldn't say Arsenal will win the league as they're lacking depth in certain areas. Top 4 should remain the aim, and they shouldn't get carried by a decent start in the marathon. Should concentrate on winning either the League Cup or FA Cup just to appease the fans, albeit for a very short time.

Mind you, I'd imagine Moyes and Pellegrini would be taking at least one of the cups seriously as it's their first season in charge of United and City respectively, and they'll want something to show for it.

Are we short in any area? We have 3 world class CBs in mertesacker, Koscielny and vermalen. We have 2 right backs in sagna and jenkinson. 2 left backs in gibbs and monreal. Also sagna can play right back and vermalen can play left back.

We have ramsey, arteta, wilshere, ozil, carzorla, walcott, flamini, diaby in midfield.

Up front we have Giroud and podolski and also walcott can play as a striker.

Name a team that has more depth than that?

Up front, Arsenal are overly reliant on Giroud. If he gets injured or hits a bad run of form, Arsenal would probably have to shuffle their midfield around to accomodate a change. Right now, Giroud is playing well, but how will Arsenal cope when that changes?

In defence, there's inexperience on the flanks, and the CBs (world class?) always look like they have an error in them each game, particularly Koscielny.

Inexperience on the flanks? We have A spanish international in Monreal who is competing with an English international in Gibbs. We also have sagna a french international on the right competing with an English international in Jenkinson.

[Hero]

We have A spanish international in Monreal

Who's played one international game in the past year, the 10-0 game v Tahiti in which my 7 year old could have played in defence and have been as troubled.

who is competing with an English international in Gibbs.

Who last played for England 3 years ago.

competing with an English international in Jenkinson.

Who's only international cap was 17 minutes in the 4-2 loss to Sweden a year ago of which 3 of Sweden's goals occured when he came on.

Yeah they're all hugely experienced Internationals.

[Champagne_Socialist]

We have A spanish international in Monreal

Who's played one international game in the past year, the 10-0 game v Tahiti in which my 7 year old could have played in defence and have been as troubled.

who is competing with an English international in Gibbs.

Who last played for England 3 years ago.

competing with an English international in Jenkinson.

Who's only international cap was 17 minutes in the 4-2 loss to Sweden a year ago of which 3 of Sweden's goals occured when he came on.

Yeah they're all hugely experienced Internationals.

But they are international players who have years of champions league experience.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Kieran Gibbs has played over 120 times for Arsenal and also played 2 times for England.

Monreal has played 14 times for spain including being in their confederations cup squad. He has also made over 250 appearances for Osasuna, Malaga and Arsenal.

Sagna is very experienced and is a full french international.

Jenkinson is the least experienced Arsenal player but he is 2nd choice and he has still made over 40 appearances for arsenal, played in the champions league and played for England.

[Duty281]

I was moreover talking about Gibbs and Jenkinson. Monreal hasn't played much football recently either. No matter, Arsenal almost certainly won't win the title - United, Chelsea and City are all better, and Tottenham are pretty much on a par with them.

[Duty281]

Kieran Gibbs has played over 120 times for Arsenal and also played 2 times for England.

Monreal has played 14 times for spain including being in their confederations cup squad. He has also made over 250 appearances for Osasuna, Malaga and Arsenal.

Sagna is very experienced and is a full french international.

Jenkinson is the least experienced Arsenal player but he is 2nd choice and he has still made over 40 appearances for arsenal, played in the champions league and played for England.

Kieran Gibbs has only played 66 times for Arsenal according to wikipedia.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Kieran Gibbs has played over 120 times for Arsenal and also played 2 times for England.

Monreal has played 14 times for spain including being in their confederations cup squad. He has also made over 250 appearances for Osasuna, Malaga and Arsenal.

Sagna is very experienced and is a full french international.

Jenkinson is the least experienced Arsenal player but he is 2nd choice and he has still made over 40 appearances for arsenal, played in the champions league and played for England.

Kieran Gibbs has only played 66 times for Arsenal according to wikipedia.

66 league appearances. He hs played 114 times for arsenal in total including chmpions league games. He played 7 games on loan at norwich city in 2007.

[Duty281]

Kieran Gibbs has played over 120 times for Arsenal and also played 2 times for England.

Monreal has played 14 times for spain including being in their confederations cup squad. He has also made over 250 appearances for Osasuna, Malaga and Arsenal.

Sagna is very experienced and is a full french international.

Jenkinson is the least experienced Arsenal player but he is 2nd choice and he has still made over 40 appearances for arsenal, played in the champions league and played for England.

Kieran Gibbs has only played 66 times for Arsenal according to wikipedia.

66 league appearances. He hs played 114 times for arsenal in total including chmpions league games. He played 7 games on loan at norwich city in 2007.

I stand corrected.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Kieran Gibbs has played over 120 times for Arsenal and also played 2 times for England.

Monreal has played 14 times for spain including being in their confederations cup squad. He has also made over 250 appearances for Osasuna, Malaga and Arsenal.

Sagna is very experienced and is a full french international.

Jenkinson is the least experienced Arsenal player but he is 2nd choice and he has still made over 40 appearances for arsenal, played in the champions league and played for England.

Kieran Gibbs has only played 66 times for Arsenal according to wikipedia.

66 league appearances. He hs played 114 times for arsenal in total including chmpions league games. He played 7 games on loan at norwich city in 2007.

I stand corrected.

I never knew he had played over 100 games for Arsenal until I looked it up. Will be interesting to see who gets the 1st team left back slot between gibbs and monreal.

I also think Gibbs will be England's left back for the Euro 2016 qualification and tournament.

[Hero]

Could you possibly shift the goalposts a bit more when I pull apart every point you attempt to make?

You state they are 'International' players yet they're clearly 3rd or 4th choice for that role for their respective nation and only get a game when it's either meaningless or those ahead of them in the queue get injuries.


Years of CL experience?
Anderson of Man Utd has been involved in 39 games over the past 7 years in the Champions League. He's also been capped 8 times by Brazil.

[Sponsored content]