Fulham @ Arsenal

My brother is a die-hard Arsenal fan. He's also a die-hard Michigan fan, but that's beside the point. Good thing I won't be near him during this game!

I'm going to hope for the best out of this one, especially with how Arsenal has been playing as of late...but I won't hold my breath either.

 

I've got a feeling too, Hatter, and it's WAY past time we beat these bastards away. Law of averages, right? If not this year, then when, given their recent form?
2-3 Whites, Berba, Sidwell and Ruiz are hot, Hot, HOT!

COYW!

 

Michigan and OSU fans and brothers?? Classic.

I'm glad Arse had to play in Germany on Tues. and in typical Gooner fashion of late, blew a 2 goal lead in route to a 2-2 draw with Schalke. As noted by many the Thames Barrier has sprung a few leaks, and would expect the same this weekend. Would gladly take a point and press on, but think it will be a day to forget 3-1 to Arse.

 

Well actually I'm his sister But it still makes things interesting!

I can actually credit him with helping me to love soccer again after being pretty much driven away from the game by some real crappy college coaches. Only took 7 years, but I finally love it again :banana-linedance:

 

Jack W. got a red card last game v The Damn United didn't he? I have to say that I will be hoping for a point.

 

looking forward to Wenger's complaints and excuses as to what went wrong. COYW!

Whats up with Simon, will we ever see him again? Have I missed something ?

 

Sorry for the mistake Buckeyes, I have an older sister and when Oregon State beat Arizona this season I had to make the 'phone call' (whoever loses has to call and eat crow). Point of information on you enjoying soccer again, did you play in college? If so, sorry to hear that the people responsible for making it a great experience had the opposite effect.


Mo, from what I've read Simon has had a myriad of injuries (neck/hip), but who really knows.

From the Offal, fan favorite Bairdinho't thoughts; http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2012/novem ... or-gunners

 

No harm done We have a very friendly rivalry, which includes smack talk on Twitter and via text, but we keep it civil. We're both very good at owning up to when our team's are just not doing well.

I did play in college. I played my first 2 years at Xavier University in Cincinnati, and my last 2 years at University of Louisville (transfered because XU didn't have my major). I'm over what happened in college (only took 7 years lol), and happy that I am able to thoroughly enjoy the game again.

 

Do you still play? I'm in a league in Gahanna and we need girls all the time. Our last game for outdoor is tomorrow, but i can keep you in mind for spring.

As for today's game.... Fulham on the road. Sums it up for me. I'm hoping for a point. But the gunners haven't been playing well so who knows.

 

Halftime, sadly no time for the chat as we're hosting a gathering today, but had to post after that comeback to tie and nearly take a 3-2 lead.

The Good: Is there anything better than a GREAT player with a chip on his shoulder??? Berba is working his @ss off, combine that with his sheer class and we're never out of a match.

The Bad: Hughes is having a nightmare. The second goal when he was caught flatfooted when the ball almost came to a stop just past his frozen feet was brutal.

The Ugly; The Arse players having to use the Puffy Michelin Man coats as blankets :lol:

COYW!!!!!!!

 

We all of a sudden started playing really ugly. We really need to work on our defensive half.

I like how vocal Berba is though demanding the ball, yelling at the younger guys when they don't play the right ball.

This game should easily be 5-3 Arsenal.

 

Crazy entertaining match and a good result, all things considered. On the one hand, I wish our defense was more solid, but on the other I'm glad we have the firepower to hang in a 3-3 match with Arsenal on the road.

MotM? Berbatov. We'd likely have half our point total w/o him this year.

 

Yeah Berba is going to end up being a FFC God.

AggieMatt you in San Antonio?

 

Just one word for this match: "Wow". The first 25 minutes were so bad, that it's hard to believe that the last 70 were so entertaining. Berbatov's first goal really woke up the team, and his attitude did as well (he looked to be doing more Captaining than Brede today). The funny thing is that as poor as our defense was at the start, it really saved us in the last 10 minutes- Schwarzer's penalty save and the back four actually looking alive (as well as our midfielders coming back to defend well). Giroud's goals were both well-taken (although he was pretty poorly marked by Hughes on the first one).

Berba was the MoTm, (well-taken first goal and the most clever penalty I've seen since Pirlo's chip against England in Euro 2012) no question- but I think Ruiz deserved the accolades he was getting- he seemed tougher and better at winning balls and not losing the ball or going to ground too easily. Obviously, that errant pass in the end almost lost us the game, but since it didn't- I still come away saying he played well. The defense looked way better in the second half than the first.

We were the better side for a good chunk of the match, but Arsenal put the ball in the back of the net three times- so I can't say they didn't deserve a share of the points. This Fulham team has been really fun to watch this year, it's just a shame that our central defenders no longer have the pace for Jol's tactics AND have unfortunate mental lapses (something I didn't think I'd ever say about the Thames Barrier).

Ultimately, it's nice to feel good about a draw for a change, doesn't it?

~ Steve

 

Great game. We were the better team. I really thought this was the year we win at Arsenal. Hopefully we can get a win against Sunderland. Our defense was still pretty poor and that worries me. We gave up another goal on a set piece and Hughes and Reither were completely asleep for the second goal. Hangeland had his moments too, like the time he put Hughes under tremendous pressure because he tried to be cute and connect a looping pass from about 5 yards away. Hopefully giving up 2+ goals a game isn't normal for us as dropping points or having to fight our way back to get a point is getting old.

 

WOW!! What an emotional roller coaster to end the game. Bad pass by Ruiz at the end, but i personally put that on Schwarzer. He should have held the ball but tried pushing and put them in a bad position. Ruiz shouldn't have even had the opportunity to try that pass.

Good point after being down 2-0.