AVFC-Prideofbrum

Been a while I guess, this is me in a pretty cool kit, number 10.

That's just quite cool so this is a more clear picture of myself (right) and my bestest buddy. (drink was won, not bought I'd like to add, i'm not THAT person .. honest)

Makes you sick we've wasted this precious talent and the chance of success just because of our deluded managers over the years. Can you just imagine a front three of Delfouneso, Ethan Moore and Bent with Barry Bannan's world class 'crossing' and playmaking ability sitting in behind and dictating the play. We'd have won the league.

Incredible, only two of those penalties did a keeper go the right way. Probably puts the theory 'pick a way and don't change' to shame. 

Sorry if this has been answered but why is Benteke's finishing 10? Really? 

I've got an awesome save going on with Derby County. Well to the point of every record in football has been pretty much broken. 

Yeah Joe come along. It'll be like old times (me scoring OG's, playing a whole game up front not not scoring, then moving to LB and scoring ) I think the FB vids are still here.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=68219943383

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=68242063383

 

Listen carefully for my captain credentials. Moaning at the 'ref' and shouting **** CHEAT as loud as I can

Ha, that second video brings back funny memories, 3 woodwork in 10 seconds. 

 

Tempted to come and play for the shits and gigs and more to the point catch up with old people. (Stefan, you know me, 606 ...Joe...) and of course my beloved Stevo.

I've been practising kicking opposing defenders just for this scenario.

 

  Haha, unfortunately I doubt i'll be able to play in a match or if so, very halfheartedly. See where the kick about is though and try to make it as long as train/travel is alright!

Messi seemed to do fine in Pep's first team of Henry, Eto'o and Messi.  I suspect Barcelona will try and return to something like that.  

 

You might not see another 60-70 goal season from Messi because everything won't go through him any more, but in 2008/09 (when Barcelona won every competition the entered) Messi got 38 goals, Eto'o got 36 and Henry got 26.  I think it is better to share the goals around like that than it is to put all your eggs in one basket. 

Even 2010-11 when Messi was used in the middle throughout the full season. Villa and Pedro chipped in handsomely with over 20 goals each and that team was beautifully balanced. There's no way Neymar could fit into the style Barcelona play now. Wide forwards are so limited which is why Sanchez has struggled to have quite the impact he has. It may not work but if Barca can get it right, it'll be so freakin' beautiful watch. Possession numbers may somewhat decrease just slightly but hopefully that'll mean more attacking freedom and quicker tempo going forward and on the counter.

Lambert for the first 4-5 months didn't do a good job at all. He had a lot to turn around but he couldn't find a team that best suited the teams qualities, 3-5-2 overall was dysmal, while earlier on in the season, a narrow diamond type shape in the midfield also didn't work. I think both formations lacked width and pace in those channel areas. Since february, that midfield base of Westwood and Delph has been excellent and Gabby, Weimann and Benteke as a front three have been exceptional. Pace, power, energy, hard work and a touch of class from Benteke which has helped bring the best out of Gabby especially. Sylla/N'Zogbia shared fairly equal game time as the 3rd midfielder, I think generally we've looked better with Sylla in there and almost a fairly negative midfield three, all comfortable on the ball and all good defensively but none of which are going to score or create a significant amount of goals, while N'Zogbia arguably may be too much of a luxury to have in that position. If we can keep onto our best players and Lambert sticks with what's been working at the back end of the season and can add in each area of the pitch, left sided defence and a midfielder who can score and create goals (I know, difficult) then next year is going to be really exciting.

Lovely video, what a weirdly thrilling season it's been.

Tempted to come and play for the shits and gigs and more to the point catch up with old people. (Stefan, you know me, 606 ...Joe...) and of course my beloved Stevo.

Extra-ordinary talent who can do just about anything with a football. Though arrogant in his on field play, he seems to be a fairly mature and humble person off it and as long as he's willing to learn, I'm sure he'll go onto become one of the finest players in the world.

Only question is how Barcelona use him, a change of attacking style may have to be on the cards, reduce the Messi dependency and allow Neymar as well as Sanchez to flourish more and become a better team hopefully.

1. Man United

2. Man City

3. Chelsea

4. Arsenal

5. Tottenham

6. Liverpool

7. Everton

8. Newcastle

9. Fulham

10. QPR

11. Aston Villa

12. Sunderland

13. Stoke City

14. West Ham

15. West Brom

16. Southampton

17. Swansea

18. Wigan

19. Norwich

20. Reading

Top 7 not bad.

The rest is pretty terrible, maybe bar 2 out of the 3 relegated.

Dreadful shouts with Swansea and QPR,

I thought his cameo vs PSG was one of the most impressive things I've seen this season. Even more now looking back at the past couple days, the guy is injured. He didn't participate in any warm up, he was near 2 weeks away from actually being 'back' at the time he played. Any other player in that Barcelona team would have not even been close to being considered. 

Not just psychologically was it A MASSIVE boost but you can't downplay his involvement in the goal and the changing of tempo. Of course it wasn't an appearance filled with genius after genius but that's because it only took him 5 minutes and that effectively was his job. Take nothing away from both David Villa and Pedro who's roles in the goal is also brilliant but that one small burst with the ball and pass was exactly what Barca had missed for about the last 105 minutes of football vs PSG.

The perfect attacking footballer. 

Nice moves. Sadly you are no Ethan Moore.

Just putting his name in a post related to me is an honour enough. Thank you.

Pssshhhhh, he wouldn't last 2 minutes at Star City on a Monday night!

those were the days, it was in those -3 conditions where I really learnt my trade!

Jack Wilshere is a real class above and Dembele is another player I love. Always on the front foot and positive. Wilshere is just above Dembele and will get better as well but I'd have Dembele above Lampard just. Maybe more of a preference to the type of player he is. 

 

 

Wenger knew of him, and was very surprised in his words that he'd moved to us.

 

If Wenger knew of him he would have signed him instead of Giroud or even Gervinho. Wenger is becoming a parody same way he knew of Cabaye and didnt sign him

 

Why would he have? Giroud top scorer in France and people may laugh at Gervinho now but when he signed from Lille he did actually come highly-rated. Benteke would have been a huge risk for him bigger than the two you have mentioned.

 

for 7 million? a team like Arsenal can take that risk, United did it with Chicarito ans compared that Chelsea paid 20million for Lukaku it really isnt a risk.

Was paying double for Giroud really a more sensible price at the time. As for Gervinho anybody that had watched him would know what a headless chicken he actually was, Hazard was outshining him at a younger age

I don't think Arsenal could afford to take that risk if they didn't have the money to get both Giroud and Benteke and even if that point, I'm not sure he'd like two out and out 9's.

It'll be a huge shame when the big man leaves but he's been a class above and has everything to his game maybe apart from killer instinct in terms of scoring goals within the 6 yard box. His return goals and assists though in such a struggling team says it all. 

I know I don't get on here a lot these days but thought I'd share what happened to be one of the proudest moments yet. Representing my country for first time, for England Uni's vs Wales last night. Won 4-0, I come off the bench for last 30 minutes and scored two and thankfully my brother even got the second one on film! 

What I like about him in the position behind the hole is the freedom he's given and positions he takes up like he did for our second goal. He doesn't just play behind two strikers centrally but he drifts into good positions wide in behind midfields where he can cause problems which he did and two assists from either side of the pitch. Promising.

Quick thing, shouldn't be asked to man mark. Pretty sure that's not the first time someone has left Benteke for dead in the box from a corner and scored, maybe Ramis as well? Seen it a few times goals or no goals anyway. All good ariel strikers should be doing near post zonal for me. If Lambert doesn't think we have big enough players to man mark then we have to change to zonal.

Thought he was alright yesterday and a lot better than Bannan. Need to strengthen badly in this area, both I don't think are good enough.

Needs to take his chances, should have scored at least two. Dominating though.

Was pretty pleased with what he showed, more so first half when we got the ball down. Created chances for himself and one for Gabby as well. End product was almost there, forced decent save from Duke, obviously the cross which ended up with Gabby. Let's be honest, we haven't even been close to creating these sort of chances for a long time now, he may waste a few chances or run into poor areas but at least he's direct, beats men and ends with shots on goals, for example look at the Bent chance, N'Zogbia's shot. He tries to do something with the ball that's positive rather than just constantly move the ball from side to side ending with one of the hung diagonal crosses into Benteke that's often ineffective.

I think we need him.

He was absolutely woeful yesterday, the worst player alongside Bennett. He give the ball away far too many times and couldn't complete any key passes which a player like him has to in order to be a successful player at a high level. We seriously need to invest in central midfield.

Dani Alves and Marcelo shouldn't be in there. Alves hasn't been near his best for a long while now. If Pique is in there then so should Alba for a fantastic euro's and brilliant start to season. Pique is fantastic at the top of his game.

Not sure who I'd pick for right back but there are more deserving than Alves.

Nothing wrong with midfield, maybe Pirlo but Alonso and even Busquets had great years so out of those three, could have been anyone. Forward wise, Maybe some prefer Van Persie or Cavani for instance but you certainly can't say one of those deserves it more than Falcao.