That's been a walking clusterf**k; from having only eight players to questions about where did all that PL money disappear to the Oyston's acting above it all.
According to the Beeb, Malky Mackay has been sacked as Wigan manager after just under five months in charge of the Championship strugglers. Not shedding any tears on this bigot.
Love it. Even if they draw we still stay 2nd. Then next week we benefit whatever the result of the Manchester derby (personally I'm hoping for a draw so we can gain on BOTH of them).
Relieved I can finally let 2nd place sink in, and revel about how far we've come since that mediocre start to the season.
I kept saying it. When we're healthy we're as good as anyone. All the pessimists on this board laughed.
I feel like we have slipped into some bizzaro universe where things go our way. You get the feeling we are going to return to our old reality eventually, but for now, lets enjoy it.
There's more to it than that. The slow start wasn't not healthy, it was starting a season with 2 first team center halves, 5 proven top flight defenders and shit dmids for the second/third year running. It took not just health, but the emergence of Bellerin, the miracle (and lucky only bc of Arteta injury) rebirth of Coq, plus FINALLY signing a backup center half who should have come in the summer ... In other words it took quite a confluence of luck as well as getting healthy.
Arsene never has any luck unlike his competitors, Mourinho and Fergie. He's had rotten luck for the most part be it injuries, stupid decisions going against him, etc.
Me I was incensed at the results the first half of the season because always thought this team was good enough, tallent wise, to win the title not next year or the future but right now this year. You don't soend 75 mil on players such as Alexis and Ozil and be satisfied with the usual 4th Place Trophy crap. Ozil is world class and for the life of me can't understand the critism he gets. I admit I'm hard on Santi snd Girlud but their form has been excellent. Santi was indifferent and bad last year but has turned it around. Giroud is in the form of his life with his chances --he always gets chdnces but this year in the league hes been clinical. I know that kind of form can't last but fun to see. The key had been grater movement and quicker crisper passing such thst we don't dither in the ball as much and turn it over. Happy to see them improve. I still expect Ox to step it up to next level--At least Alexis level. Dude is the personification of skill, pace and power that I love. And seems to have the work ethic to match, Who expected Coq to become such a cog in the machine? Nice to see a DM with recovery speed when neeeed. Happy for the improvement but first place is what we should expect with this team. Who knows ? Diego Costa is out--basically Hazard will have to carry them . We go 7-0 Chavs drop 11 points ( go 4-3-1 ) and we can still win this.
Whaaa? Arsenal fans are pessimistic? If they also have 'sky is falling' and 'this player never going to make it' knee jerk reactions, I am getting the fvck outta here
van gaal has really done a nice job. they have no one and play pretty cluelessly and yet they are getting the results to be in third. basically, they're an expensive mid table side.