Henry14 - I wanted to ask a couple of questions because we had a heated exchange with my friends

q1 Do Arsenal need a striker?
My argument was that as much as l like Ade you do not get the feeling that he will do it again and l think Wenger is with me when he said he over achieved. Walcott and Bendtner are not consistent and l agree with you he is more of a winger than striker and rvp is always crocked
q2 Wenger is said to buy a defender assuming that he is a shoe in who would get rid of Gallas or Toure? l would take Toure any day.

Bobby – Q1 – Arsenal do not need another striker, certainly not when you consider that Achilles heel this season was the defence and their overall depth. I know there has been a heated discussion going about Adebayor and frankly I would be shocked (and stunned) if he turned out to be a one-season wonder. As long as he keeps up the work rate he will score goals. Q 2 – You don’t get rid of either of them. How many times in a season does a manager get a chance to pick a first choice eleven? Very rarely. Arsenal needs to depth and talking of getting rid of Toure or Gallas does not make sense to me.

Quest5227 - Manchester United need a day-to-day right-back for the future. Whom do you think they should try to get, and whom do you think they will get? (They may not get their first choice.)
Thanks.

Bobby – I am not a fan of Owen Hargreaves playing in midfield for United and he may be the answer at right back post-Gary Neville.

Ringo - Read a piece in the Guardian over the weekend comparing Avram Grant to Tony Barton, what do you think?

Bobby – I was thinking the same thing myself a few weeks ago. The only trouble was I could remember Ron Saunders but not who replaced him. Sort of sums it up doesn’t it.

Verbal97 - I'm NOT looking forward to Bobby posting the predictions.

Bobby – I looked up your predictions and no wonder you are not looking forward to it!!!

“There is a lot of underestimating Liverpool going on and thus a lot of impossible predictions. There is NO way that Liverpool finish any worse than 3rd (i.e., worse than they've finished the past 2 seasons). To predict them 5th (or even 4th) is about the same as predicting Wigan to win the league IMO.”

“I don't understand how anyone (yes, including Bobby) can have Liverpool any lower than 3rd. What about their signings, etc, make any of you believe they'll actually regress this season? And while other teams MAY have improved, I don't see any other team, including Arsenal, that can jump up the table past them.”

And there is more where these came from once the Whoops stops whoopsing.  

DVXPrime - 1) Does Rafa Benitez keep his job? Shut out of the (domestic and European) cups and Year #18 without a League title...hmmm...

2) In your opinion, which clubs have done the best with a 4-5-1 (or similar) formation, and which clubs should try something else?

3) Why doesn't Canada rate a spot in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup? Not too badmouth Toronto FC, but MLS has plenty of representatives, Canada has a pro soccer league (if I'm wrong I stand corrected in advance), and MLS has had enough heartbreak in the CCC without being (poorly) represented by a second-year club.

Bobby – 1. Does Rafa get fired? – No way. Does he leave? I still think there is more of a chance of him leaving than staying.

2. I don’t think that is a question that can be answered. All the Premiership teams that I have seen this season have opted to play that way at some point.

3. Canada will have a representative in the “new” Champions League starting in 2008/09. Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and Montreal Impact are playing a round-robin over the next few months to decide a Canadian representative. (Canada does not have a national soccer league. It has a league named the Canadian Soccer League but the teams are all located in the east. It is not a true national league by any means.)

Gongatore - Wow outstanding piece but you are a bit remiss. Where's the post mortem on La Liga and Serie A?

Bobby – Wind up or not I will post the original predictions at the end of the respective seasons…soon.


Aldoray - Clubs in Spain are run and owned much differently than in England. U don’t often here of takeover bids in Spain, just about the president being changed, retiring or losing an election. What are the main differences between club ownership in Spain and England and what can the English structure learn from the Spanish structure of ownership so as to avoid quagmires like that which is going on at Liverpool.

Also Barcelona do not get money for a shirt sponsor (for many years there has been no advertising on their kit, I think they are the only major club like this (UNICEF is free). Why is it that they are able to be financially as strong as other clubs without a shirt sponsor- does this have to do with the previous statement in regards to the structure of the club being different to that of other countries?

Bobby – There is such a fundamental difference between the ownership structures that are commonly found in England versus Spain that goes back to the genesis of the game in each country.

England quickly moved to an entrepreneurial model although there was also a strong philanthropic emphasis as well. Local business men would invest in the club and receive the prestige of ownership.

Up until twenty odd years ago the directors/owners of clubs in the English League were banned from receiving anything put a small dividend and other payments from the club. However, someone realized that by instituting a creative governance and ownership structure you could suck money out of club by way of a holding company.

This was one of the elements that set of numerous clubs being floated on the stock exchange – few with any long term success. Nonetheless with the advent of Sky TV money top teams became a target for hot money leading to the present situation. There is a book or two on how the English game has reached the point it has. David Conn’s book “The Beautiful Game” is a great read while also being very disturbing.

Spanish clubs generally run on a model whereby memberships are sold and renewed every year – hence the elections and Presidential changes. There is a tendency I think, to exaggerate the benefits of the Spanish model.

It hasn’t stopped numerous Presidents of numerous Spanish clubs piling up enormous debt levels and short changing players. You also have to consider that Barcelona and Real Madrid sell their own TV rights, not as a collective organization such as you get with the Premiership.

Gregz- What do U think of Diaby potentially replacing Flamini as Arsenal's holding midfielder? U think he would be up to the task?

Bobby – I think that there is a very good chance that he will be given the chance. I’m not convinced that he is up to it. However, think back to this time last season and I don’t think you would find anyone who thought Flamini could do the job either.


Wiegs9 - With another EPL season complete, I'm wondering if you have seen anything which gives you any indication the top four finishers in the EPL will consist of something different than the Big Four in the foreseeable future. It seems regardless of the challenges the Big Four face (e.g., additional matches, lengthy injury lists, financing a new stadium, substantial debt, etc.), they are able retain all the Champions League spots, and will continue to do so.

Since Spurs' food poisoning incident, I don't get much indication any other EPL side is able to challenge for a CL spot since the difference from 4th to 5th has been 8 and 11 points the last two seasons.

Bobby – It always difficult to see change coming and to be perfectly honest I don’t see anything changing. However, it will because it always has and always will. Success is relatively fleeting even though it doesn’t seem that way sometimes.

Bevo2284 - 1. What has happened to Jose Antonio Reyes? I know he didn’t fit in at Arsenal or Real Madrid but what exactly are his shortcomings and what are your thoughts on him as a player?

2. I know last week there was a lot of Arsenal talk about the Flamini move. If you were Wenger who would be your top three targets in players and positions?

3. What are your thoughts on Sulley Muntari being a replacement for Flamini?

4. There have been rumours (as always) of Hatem Ben Arfa already having agreed to a deal with Arsenal. I think it’s a great move and could potentially be a great replacement for Hleb who looks set to join Inter. What is your opinion of this?

Bobby – 1. Atleti might be a better source on how Reyes is doing although by all accounts it does not seem like he has done very much.  During his time in the Premiership I thought he was far too ponderous on the ball. His inclination when he got the ball was to stop, put his foot on it and allow the opposition to get players behind the ball.

2. Centre half, midfield player, goalkeeper. Who would that be – depends on too many different things.

3. Don’t think so.

4. I haven’t seen enough of him to comment although a young wide player (who can sometimes play up front) doesn’t seem to be the answer to Arsenal’s main problem which is keeping goals out.

Nothing in the way of articles caught my eye this weekend.

Liverpool's performance against Arsenal has just poured more fuel on the fire that is "Should Steven Gerrard be playing in central midfield?"
With Sissoko out for up to three months it was surprising to see Zenden lining up in midfield along side Xabi Alonso at Emirates Stadium.
It seems to me that there are a lot of parallels with the ongoing debate surrounding Gerrard and Lampard in the England set up. Alonso generally plays deeper than Lampard but both play better with a defensive midfield player beside them – as does Gerrard. Cast your mind back to the Champions League Final in 2005 when Milan cut through a Alonso/Gerrard central midfield in the first half. It was the introduction of Hamann at half time that helped turn the tide. 

Perhaps the debate is better framed around Gerrard or Lampard (England) and Gerrard or Alonso (Liverpool). If you look at it from that prospective then I think you can see how Gerrard is often played on the right side of midfield.

The Liverpool situation is magnified because I don’t think Gerrard or Alonso has played particularly well this season. I think the assumption is being made in many quarters that Gerrard is playing badly because he is supposedly being played out of position. Maybe he is just playing poorly period. In past seasons he has been very productive from the right side and he has been given latitude to roam as well.

And some other thoughts on yesterday’s game from a Liverpool perspective. When Benitez took off Sami Hyypia it was an act of mercy. Poor Sami just could not handle the pace and movement from Arsenal.

Mark Gonzalez – has Jose Antonio Reyes just changed his name and place of business? Gonzalez seems to have pace to burn but he seems to be content to slow the game down when he gets the ball.

 

henry14 - I personally feel that all the other 19 teams in the Prem lack creative midfielders in the mould of the Deco, Pirlo type that Arsenal have in abundance, l think everyone saw the how Arsenal were full of ideas and United lacked them at all, and by the way l feel Gerrard is not at all creative he is an impact midfielder. Bobby what do you make of my creativity theory. Is it true that everytime Arsenal won at Old Trafford during Wenger's time they went on to win the title?

Bobby – Do you not think that having too many creative midfield problems can be a problem? A team is about balance and having all the creative talent in the world doesn’t make a difference if you can’t win the ball and score goals.  I don’t think that just because Gerrard covers a lot of ground and tackles well that you can’t describe him as creative. He scores goals, he inspires and he sets up goals – that sounds like a pretty creative package to me. 

Yes – Arsenal’s three title wins under Wenger have happened in the same season as winning in the Premiership at Old Trafford. On second thoughts (!!! I have been corrected) the 03/04 season was a 0-0 draw.

bmax14 - A fantastic and necessary result for the Gunners. This was a great game to watch with a bit of everything. I was convinced that Man U was beatable as their perfect start didn't appear to be so "perfect" with the results coming against the likes of Fulham and Watford. Arsenal really threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the league with this victory. When you look at their schedule for the next 4-5 weeks there are some very winnable games and they could be in the top 2-3 by late October. Well done Gunners!

Bobby – Arsenal should take advantage of a fairly straight forward schedule in the next few weeks but how many fans expected then to take two points from a start that included Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Manchester City? Arsenal has a young side and with a young team you will find inconsistency now and again.

neophyte – (1). Arsenal’s 4-5-1 is not a new formation but seems to have taken the place of the beloved 4-4-2. I like it since you see more attacks from various angles and not just balls crossed from the wings in a traditional 4-4-2. (2). Baptista for Reyes. Who is going to get the better deal Real or Arsenal? Is Baptista really that big o####uy or is the TV camera playing tricks? He looks HUGE! When Rosicky and Baptista start clicking...look out.

Bobby – Wenger has been a resolute 4-4-2 manager until last season’s run in the Champions League. I think you will find that he will mix the two formations using 4-5-1 when up against strong opposition. The extra man in the midfield gives Fabregas a bit of help with the extra load. When Vieira was in his prime that wasn’t an issue but Cesc is a  very different player. However, week in and week out as long as injuries do not interfere Wenger will go back to 4-4-2.
In terms of Reyes and Baptista it may turn out that it is a good move for both clubs and the players. I am still not sure where Wenger will play Baptista – he is known as “the Beast” for a reason.

only1cab - As an Arsenal fan I'm obviously very happy and agree with your opinion about Rosicky, in my opinion he’s like Hleb with a brain. I watched the Chelsea game and was amazed to see how much space they gave up on the flanks. Kuyt could have phoned his mum back in Holland and ask her where he should shoot on one of Liverpool’s attacks. When J Cole and Robben are fully fit do you think they will revert to their old system and if so who would you drop? I think Essien (even though he’s been their best player so far) as I could never see them dropping Lampard and they've recently signed Ballack.

Bobby – That has been the question since Ballack was signed. Given the injury situation it has still to be answered. I suspect that Essien would be the player that is most likely to find himself on the bench if everyone was available and fit.

travel_coach - I was only able to watch the first half of the United loss -- my daughter's U12 team had a game -- but it was a very good first half, very enjoyable. Ronaldo had several chances and the way things looked, I expected Lehman to get a second yellow for being an angry person. I'm not an Arsenal fan at all, but before the game it was clear that United was overdue for a loss and Arsenal was due for a win. Why was Thierry Henry absent?

Bobby – Henry was hurt.

simba9 - Do you think that Didier Drogba has finally come into his own, despite all the criticism he endured in his first two seasons at Chelsea? There's an interesting story on the Chelsea website about his numbers. By and large not too shabby!

Bobby – His goal against Liverpool was spectacular. However, he does tend to be a bit hit or miss so I think he needs to keep up his form for a full season before he convinces everyone. He might also be benefiting from Shevchenko attracting the attention of defenders.

henry14 - l feel Mourinho should play bridge in place of Cole bcoz l thought he was the best left back in the Prem over the 5 rounds

Bobby – Ashley Cole is a much better left back than Wayne Bridge.

buffytvs - As a United fan, I have to be disappointed in the second half effort. And also in the rather odd substitutions -- I thought Fletcher and O'Shea would go. That said, I thought a draw would have been a fair result, but perhaps I'm biased. Best player on the pitch? Rosicky. And Batista was very impressive in the short time he had.

This is the second match on the trot SAF has played Rooney up front with Saha in support, and the second time Rooney has been mostly ineffective. That's how Eriksson wasted him too, and I'm surprised to see it at Old Trafford.

Bobby –  I would have to disagree. Ericksson played Rooney as a lone striker against Portugal. Rooney’s best performances have always come when playing just behind a main striker – the role that Fergie asked him to play on Sunday.

ancanada - Man U midfield appeared to be overrun by the Gunners midfield in the second half Sunday, and I cannot remember a shot that Lehmann had to save in the second half until Solksjaer which produced a great save. I cannot understand why Carrick was on the bench; Bobby is it possible he is still carrying an injury as this appears to be the only valid reason. Do you think the number of games the international players’ couple with the travels of some to various parts of Europe and the recent world cup is affecting performance.

Bobby – I think SAF was thinking that if he could hold the Arsenal midfield 5 with his 4 that Rooney or Saha to get a goal. However, I still don’t understand why you would spend that kind of money on a player and then not stat them against one of your toughest rivals. Wenger seems to think that some players are suffering from World Cup hangovers and I am sure that other managers would concur. But there again that is one of the reasons that clubs carry large squads.

Reggae_Boy_23 - I don't know if there's anymore for me to add to the whole Arsenal situation. Everyone seems to have pretty muched summed up the game pretty well. But my question is in regards to the 4-5-1 formation. Don't you think Arsenal have too many attacking options up front to just use 1 forward. Yeah there is better possession in the midfield, but Arsenal does not really have a problem with possession so far this season its scoring goals and I think they lack attacking options with just one striker especially with the midfielders not showing any good form in front of goal so far. Also Henry never seems quite comfortable when he's left up front alone. I can remember a number of occasions both with France and Arsenal when he has been pleading with his coaches to give him some support what do you think? One other thing Bobby. Your thoughts on Real Madrid so far this season. I know you like Capello, but I'm not too impressed with the squad he's put together so far. Is it too early to tell or do you see any potential problems with his lineup?

Bobby – I remember the days when 4-2-4 was being systematically dumped in favour of 4-3-3 and the same argument was being made. Now we are at 4-5-1 and on the face of it would seem extremely negative. But it comes down to how it is executed. If the 5 midfield players are just lined up across the park then it is going to make for some dull football. If, on the other hand, two or even three of the 5 midfielders are given license to get forward and support the lone strike when the chance occurs then there is the possibility of plenty of goals.
I think Capello is implementing a band-aid solution for this year in the hope that he can find some younger players next year. It has not been impressive stuff but Juventus was not very entertaining either – but successful. There again that is another story!!

usenglandfan - I'm surprised no one has talked about Riquelme yet. I know it's all about the EPL right now, but one of the most pivotal midfielders in the game just retired internationally, at 28 years old, from a perennial top 5 team and the best team at the World Cup! Oh yeah, and he was captain. Do think he retired for the reasons he cited (I’m pretty sure he said it was due to the criticism he received post WC and post Brazil @ Emirates) or could it have been something else? He's such a "rugged individual" type of person, so I wouldn't be all that surprised if this decision was indeed driven by spite, but who knows? I thought this deserved some attention.

Bobby – It is a shame to lose a player of his quality to international football when you would think that he should have another World Cup in him. It is good news for Villarreal though and they desperately need a tonic given their awful start to the season.

kirbym - Surprising bit of fence mending that Mourinho did with Benitez. That feud had livened things for awhile and I wonder what will replace it. Also, Mourinho actually admitted the Ballack foul was a red card offense. A sign of JM stepping a bit more lightly?

In the Newcastle-West Ham match I couldn't see what Roeder did to inflame the WH fans (granted, not everything is on camera). He was an unpopular appointment there and they never seemed to respect him--including the players, despite a rather backhanded vote of confidence from Di Canio. It seemed to poison his tenure right from the beginning. Do they still hate him that much?

Bobby – JM will be controversial when it suits his need. As for Roeder it appears from some comments from West Ham fans that they do hate him that much. I don’t think they held that view when he helped them to seventh in the Premiership however.

CIAO - Given Totti's track record with the Italian national team... do you think the team is better off with out him? Also have you heard any rumors about Mancini getting sacked and/or Buffon being signed in January at Inter? I that at the end of the season they bring Mourinho to Inter. If things don't turn around in the next 3-4 games Mancini will be looking for a new job. Hopefully a new manager can set up a functioning youth program.

Bobby – I never thought that Italy would come even close to the World Cup without Totti turning in some spectacular performances. As it was he made very little impact – Pirlo was far more influential. I still think though that Italy can benefit from an in-form Totti.
I guess that whoever is in charge at Inter they are only ever a couple of results away from being fired. Sven-Goran Eriksson has been linked to Inter and the Mourinho story has been around for awhile. The problem is that no manger is going to build a youth system at Inter because there is no befit to it if a manager is going to be evaluated on results today rather than building for three or four years down the road. As far as Buffon is concerned – haven’t heard anything since the transfer window closed.

MeanSucka - Speaking of Italian football, how is it that a relegated Juventus with a points deficit is able to hang on to so many of their stars. Was United really overrated this season or was it the Ewing Theory at work with Henry out? The Ewing Theory is based on Patrick Ewing with the New York Knicks - when he got hurt in 1999 they went to a different style of play and made it all the way to the NBA Finals. Same phenomenon with Drew Bledsoe and the New England Patriots in 2001 when they won the Super Bowl - reinforcing team over the individual.

I suppose we'll see when Henry returns, but as you said - they need to get results against average sides too. Can't wait to see Rosicky blossom.

Bobby – We don’t really know what deals the team may have cut with some of the players nor to way know how much of this season is being underwritten by shareholders.
In terms of the Ewing theory – interesting. However Arsenal has gone 4-5-1 before with or without Henry in the side. The secret is having someone with a bit of pace and mobility up front. Arsenal tried Dennis Bergkamp as the lone striker in the 2005 FA Cup Final and it did not work.

Not surprisingly the pace of transfer and loan moves has accelerated in the last forty-eight hours. If the story is confirmed by the Hammers then pride of place has to go to West Ham who looked to have pulled off the biggest double move since Ossie Ardilles and Ricardo Villa moved to Spurs after the 1978 World Cup. It is being reported that Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano are to move to Upton Park on a season long loan with an option to make permanent. No one saw this one coming - an absolute stunner.

Some other moves that have been confirmed.

Ricardo Oliveira from Real Betis to Milan with Johann Vogel moving in the opposite direction.

Juan Pablo Sorin to Hamburg from Villarreal.

Andy Cole joins English club number 8 as he leaves Manchester City for Portsmouth. Harry Rednapp seems intent on building football's version of Dad's Army at Fratton Park.

Jonathon Woodgate on loan to Boro from Real Madrid.

Steed Malbranque - Fulham to Spurs with Wayne Routledge on loan to Fulham for a season.

Tommy Smith from Derby County and returns to Watford.

Nacho Novo to Coventry, from Rangers

Rangers have signed Sasa Papac from Austria Vienna

Aberdeen has let Stevie Crawford move back to Dunfermline.  

Dwight Yorke to Sunderland from Sydney FC.

Some deals rumoured to still be in the works at 9:30EST

Chelsea and something big - yes bigger than Robert Huth to Boro from Chelsea.

Jose Antonio Reyes and Julio Baptista swithching clubs (Arsenal / Real Madrid)

Kevin Kilbane - Everton to Wigan

Graham Kavanaugh - Wigan to Roy Keane's Sunderland

Damarcus Beasley from PSV to Manchester City (consider this one as unsubstantiated)

James Milner to Aston Villa from Newcastle

Patrick Kluivert to PSV from Valencia.

Florent Sinama Pongolle on loan to Recreativo de Huelva from Liverpool.

Highly speculative.

Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Inter Milan with Adriano going in the opposite direction.

Ivan Helguera and Roberto Ayala a swap between Real Madrid and Valencia.