Yesterday afternoon, news in France leaked that Arsenal had agreed a deal with French champions Montpellier for their 6ft 3in French international, Olivier Giroud. Not wholeheartedly believing this story as it is too similar to the one that broke a while back about Yann M’Vila, I had a little read around in the ‘blog world’.
Needless to say, there was nothing confirmed on our official website so I take the story with a pinch of salt but what amazed me more though was that already this French International is labelled to be ‘just another Chamakh’ and I’m not really sure why.
Last season, according to Wikipedia, Giroud featured in 43 matches, scored 25 goals and assisted with 9 others.
When we signed Chamakh, his previous season saw him feature in 52 matches, score just 16 goals and assisted with 2 others.
Their stats don’t even compare to they?
Throughout last season, nearly all Arsenal fans were crying out for another goal scorer, especially in January. It became very clear that when Robin was suffering a bit with tiredness and not finding his shooting boots, we really struggled to find a goal from somewhere else.
Now, if this story is to be true and Giroud joins us in a few weeks time, hasn’t Arsene Wenger gone and done exactly what we all wanted him to? And let’s not forget we have already signed Podolski!
My answer to that has to be yes and it would be dreadfully unfair to start labelling him a flop before he’s even kicked a ball for us.
Of course, £50 Million could probably get us Fernando Torres, you know the guy, the one that can’t score for his club or country these days so spending big money on a so-called big player doesn’t guarantee goals.
Attitude, passion, desire and committment will though and maybe Olivier Giroud has that in abundance. So what if he has come from France, so what if he ‘only played for Montpellier’, maybe it’s just his right time to move.
The last French player we signed ‘only played for FC Lorient’, but he’s turned out ok hasn’t he….
Now Arsene, tell us you have secured this deal, and then follow that with the confirmation that Yann M’Vila is joining us too.
You might then see even the most grumpy of Arsenal fans smiling…..
Good Luck to England for tonight, somehow, I think they are going to need it….
That’s it for another day, have a good one wherever you are in the world……
Good Morning Fine Folk……….
The best line of the above Rico………You might then see even the most grumpy of Arsenal fans smiling…..the word might should have been in capitals Rico.
Some fans are so grumpy that they will complain at anything on everything at any time
Some have already labelled him another Chamack. He might turn out to be another Ibrahimovic imo. At leas his first touch is better than Bendy’s and Adebarndoor
What did you think about Slaven Bilic mates. He was spot on in this tournament. An excellent tactical coach.
Do you think we need someone like him after AW????
Morning all 🙂
devil – i don’t get why some are writing him off already, he hasn’t signed yet and yes, he could just be another Ibra….
the problem with signing yann is that we have frimpong and coq, wenger is too kind for that
I agree Rico……….but some people show what they are worth simply by chucking down an idea before it even comes out of the head.
Back soon.
reece, sadly because of injury, Frimpong is a long way off being a first team regular…
ditto devil, laters…
Morning all,
poldi,Rvp,Giroud,Ox,Walcot,Gervinho……we need an AM and a DM(coz we don’t have one) and vertpghen
devil,
slaven Bilic really performed miracle….personally i rather have our legends back
kc, i think we have to forget vertonghen, he is heading to ‘that lot’…
Afellay is still a possibilty…
His name is Wenger…he signs players when he want……maybe we will confirm M’villa later in d day
Wigan have rejected an offer for Moses from Chelsea….
TW starting to move then….
Rico,
i don’t just buy the Affelay love in…did nt impress me in the Euro..jut a flashy moment of brillance and nufin more,,,nasriesque….how funny will it be for vert ghen to score d winner against those lot…..u never can tell
These same fools writing off Giroud have also said Podolski isn’t good enough.
They ignore the facts when it suits,so I wouldn’t worry one bit.
I admit I’ve seen only a few minutes of Giroud,but from what I’ve seen,he scores goals Chamakh could only dream about,and I’ve probably been one of Chamakhs staunchest defenders.
The guy has everything he needs to succeed,so it’s just a matter of him doing the business.
As for the narks…..who cares what they say?
If you gave them a million bucks,they’d whinge it wasn’t two!!!
Rico,
TW….who cares???????
Transfer Window, not Theo kc 😉
pls…what is d heck that we bidded for Van Der Wiel
Scott – to be honest, we don’t know that Podolski will make an instant impact but i’m sure willing to wait and see and hope…
Same with Giroud, IF he signs…
I hope not kc, VDW has been awful in the euros… 😉
it seem that i alway have double feeling about Theo…..part of me want him to be flogged out…the other tell me that he is gonna be a super player for us…hope he tear Ukraine apart today
Rico….true about VDW….but our own captain had been awful too
you know my thoughts on theo kc 😉
Good point about vdw, holland in general were shocking so best not to judge any dutch player on the last ten days…
If you haven’t already seen Giroud in action then look him up on YouTube.
If you want to see him in action now, then watch Giroud play for France at the Euros.
If you’re more statistically minded then look him up on wiki or soccerbase and compare Chamakh to OG9.
Laurent Blanc chose Giroud over Remy, Saha, Gomis, or Gamiero.
Sure, he’s not RVP or Benzema or Ronaldo. But he is a decent proven acquisition. To be truthful, I’m more cautious about Podolski than Giroud.
What Arsenal needed all last season was someone to support RVP in the box. Chamakh wasn’t that someone. Neither was Park Chu Young. Now we have Podolski and Giroud. Both are good enough for Laurent Blanc and Joachim Low. And they didn’t cost Arsenal the earth.
All things considered we have better options up front than we had last season. Add Gervinho, Walcott, and Ox. Subtract Arshavin, Bendtner, and Vela (at least from the rolls) and it’s a move in the right direction.
What’s not to approve?
Theo is set to start tonight, intersting really as Rooney never passes to him….
Re Affelay:
If I am not wrong, we wanted him before he went to Barca. It was said that DB10 had prepared him for us. But then Barca turned up and he went there.
And if we know one thing about Wenger, he never goes after players that have turned us down once or ditched us for others no matter how good they’re. So I don’t see us going for Affelay.
The most exciting news is Suker urging Real to sign Modric. I hope he goes there and that would mean one thing either Nuri Sahin or Kaka will have to move on.
I would be so damn excited if one of those became available. So so excited. Personally I don’t think Jose will sell Sahin but Kaka I am sure. I don’t think the pair like each other.
And won’t that be mighty exciting to see Kaka playing for us. Just the last bit of ambition we need to show.
I know Rico,but the narks want us to sign big names for big money,and as we’ve all seen with Torres and Carroll…..hype,reputation and money mean bugger all,and they were already in the PL.
Morning all nice one Ricolicious,
I’m Going to be quiet until the end of the window, then we’ll know where we stand, the happy smiles i see when ever i see the managements faces is either good acting or they know already that the supporters will be happy. They don’t have to anounce new signings to get supporters to write their cheques out as they know those fans would kill themselves if they missed out, so no rush. Plus if the deals have been done early as we believe they are, and if its kept just between the ones involved it keeps the other clubs on their toes. Getting ourselves all wound up before we know is not that clever and how can we moan before we know if he has brought or not.
Welcome HR, i’m not knocking him, i hope he signs…
Satan – that could be more about Barca offering more money and his club accepted it, rather tahn anything we offered, if we did make an offer of course…
But yes, good point about the way Wenger thinks…
This “just another chamak” thing has been bothering me a bit you know, im glad it wasnt just me..
I aint that keen on Affalay we got that covered. im still hoping for Yan M V and Ben arfa. Job done……with a Vertongen if poss.
Satan, isn’t Kaka soon at retirement age 😉
Scott, isn’t that what i said in the post 😉
Morning Steve – thanks…
I’m not getting over excited either, yes Pod could turn out to be a cracking signing but as for anyone else, I’m waiting until they are confirmed on afc.com…
Wenger and his smiles, who knows what they mean, he is such a good actor, unless we lose and he kicks bottles around, then i think we all see how he really feels…. 😉
After trawling through the you tube clips of him I see a very big difference in the two of them and its mostly down to pure confidence and that as we know is almost everything in the prem.
Thorny, on paper he is much better than Chamakh, but the PL is a funny old league, any overseas signing is a risk…
Kaká
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, commonly known as Kaká, is a Brazilian football attacking midfielder who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team.
Born: April 22, 1982 (age 30), Brasília
Height: 6′ 1″ (1.86 m)
Spouse: Caroline Celico (m. 2005)
Positions: Midfielder, Forward
Awards: Ballon d’Or
Few things to do in the garden, so back in a bit…
Very true Rico, supporters often say he doesn’t care but when you see his antics on the bench you understand why Pat retired 🙂
year or two left in him yet then vernat 😉
ttfn
If he could stay fit what a player to sign but he can’t stay fit and we have enough crocks around the squad … shame
Vern, whats he’s Mrs look like. 🙂
As I said Rico,even a PL signing is a risk 🙂
Morning Scott, bigger risk keeping some we’ve got
Why are we not adding defensively, we shipped 49 goals last season, we need to improve on that, there is no point even if we score than allow teams to equalise or go ahead due to our defensive weakness
Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner has been linked with a possible move to Benfica after an impressive showing against Portugal at Euro 2012.
The 24-year-old scored both goals in the 3-2 loss to Portugal last Wednesday as he continued his fantastic scoring record for Denmark where he has now taken his tally to 20 goals.
A report in Danish newspaper Sporten has revealed that Benfica were suitably impressed with the display and have now made contact with Arsenal about trying to complete a permanent deal for the forward.
@ Rico,
I think Kaka is 29. Not retirement age. He’s AM. He’s got 4 years in him I think. And if we could get those 4 years and Jack and Rambo can learn from him then that would be cracking.
C’mon look at this way right now Jack 20 and Rambo 21, would learn from two of the best i.e. Kaka and Rosicky. Rosicky is great in vision. And the other qualities such as making decisive run and shooting etc. Kaka is the brilliant.
And by the time, they both retire that would pretty much the same time, Arsenal have two young lads carry it on from where they would have left off. There would be less of transition period.
That’s what I think.
I am with you regarding Kaka mate. good comment.
According to Calciomercato.com Kaka might be released from his contract…………due to astronomical wages.
@ Rico,
One of the other reasons we won’t go for Affelay is, he’s more of a winger. And the only way we’d go for wide forward is if Theo doesn’t sign. And even then I think it will be some one like Matias Suarez not Affelay. Getting some player who comes to us because he didn’t cut in at Barca, is not acceptable.
And if that deal was to happen I think we would have happened with Cesc deal.
Three players i would have loved to have seen in an Arsenal shirt and probably wont Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Bastian Schweinsteiger
@Vernat
Won’t we love any of them?
In a way if you see such great players make great ambassadors of the club in the long run.
Real have got Zizou
City have PV4
One of the major reason of Bould getting promotion is that. If we’re chasing English talent then there are more chances of Bould persuading him. That’s why I think a signing like Kaka is perfect.
But then it all depends up on how much salary he expects. If its around 100-120k then I think.
OHHHhhhh Grioud Giroud… he is that big french dude…. he scores when his in the mood…. ohhh Giroud Giroud 😛
I don’t think anyone would be upset if Kaka came in.
No might see a few shirts sold with his name on it, pay him whatever he wants if you can get him on a nominal or free , Arsenes types of player as well bit of a risk with injuries but if he comes off
I wouldn’t be upset if Kaka joined,
satan, was kidding re his age, you are spoton about having players like him for the younger players to learn from…
re Afellay, he was injured most of his first season with barca and it seems their patience has run out – he only got himself fit right at the end of the season, his first with Barca.
Not sure he ‘didn’t cut it’ just wasnt fit to prove himself, but once fit, he soon became first choice for his country.
I think that even if we have players like Pirlo and Schweinsteiger there will be narks who grumble.
In the perfect world the perfect team would be……..
Casillas
Sagna, Piquet, Thiago, Cole
Schweinsteiger, Pirlo, De Rossi
Cesc
Aguero, Drogba,
That lot, once it gels together as a team will demolish all opposition. But I can assure you that there will always be someone who grumbles.
But some would still moan devil 😉
I’d prefer Hart in goal 😉
Even in perfect world I’d love our Arsenal team with few players added. I love people who love the place they work. And most of these lot is such.
Look at them Sagna, Koz, Verm, Per, Scez, Jenks, Djorou, Gibbo, Santos, Jack, Rambo, RvP, Theo, etc. Won’t trade them for any one else. But would want to add some quality professionals. I really want us to win with this lot. I wish they win something. Not grumpy mate.
Then theyd whinge hat Wenger spent too much and was irresponsible lol.
@ Rico,
Btw it might be a huge news on internet tomorrow that Arsenal in for Kaka. And from where such news started? Highbury House..lol
satan – as we all say, we have the basis of being a great squad, just a few tweaks will bring that 🙂
@ Devil
If he is coming in free then I think we should grab him at least we play football. If he goes to Chelsea, that would be waste of talent. Get him Arsene get him for once fulfill our dreams..
Ha ha Scott…
Satan, i think its on NN now 🙂
@ Rico v
Very true. We got to get there. We are just one trophy away from getting there.
@ Rico,
NN cares more about Bendy’s underpants. After all he is the best striker in the world.
Agree again Satan, get one Cup and the team will get the taste of it, such a shame we goofed the CC….
Haha re Bendtner – how many stories are there, and he wasn’t even playing for us 😉
Its Bendtner after all who could ignore him?
But back to football, I think this season in addition to Giroud and a DM( hopefully M’villa), we’d have one more signing. And I think that would be the biggest signing of all.
My pick is Kaka. As Devil said if he’s on his way out and if he still wants to make it to WC in 2014, then we are his BEST bet. No other team is there that would ensure that.
You know the way I see is Rosicky, Injury prone, he would play half a season, Kaka same. He’ play half a season.
Same for Robin. I expect him to play 20 league games and if he does play 20 then we can count at least 50-54 points from them. And if he gets injured and Giroud and Poldi gets settled in then of that 54 I’d say we’d get 39 odd. That makes staggering 91 points more than what City got this season. But only with Rosicky, Arteta, Song and all backing them up. That I am sure they would.
Afternoon, afternoon, good afternoon.
Naay….Giroud another one of those RIbery “99% sure of joining Arsenal..”..only to…
Vertonghen: ‘There is only one club in North London for me…” forgetting there is another tiny tot there..
Anyway, any new signing is a bonus and not “life and death”.
I only wish for one thing in July:
Just assemble a fit and committed squad ready for pre-season training.
WHo care who is leaving, who is coming in…just get a fit and committed 25-man squad during July pre-season training.
I try to ignore him Satan, hopefully this summer he will finally find a club big enough to match his ego and his own level of self-importance…
Summer signings, I think we all have our own little wish 😉
Ah Merlin, you always come along and brighten the mood 😉
I care who is going, we don’t want to keep on paying vast wages to players who should not be paid.
I also care about who is joining, and staying – that will be what makes the difference between having a fully committed squad at the beginning of the season. Or not…
Paddy Power are reported to be paying Nikky B’s fine 🙂
In the Sun Newspaper today they confirm Giroud as Arsenals second signing after Arsene Wenger agreed terms, if thats the case we should hear today from AFC the Fee just a cool £12 million 🙂
Merlin,care to put our money where your mouth is on Giroud??
You name the terms,but I will take the side of him signing with us….
Feeling lucky lol?
The best info I read was Montpelliers CEO staying we are in negotiations with them,and things are going serenely……gotta love that!!!
If we sign Giroud, that’s VP gone. i don’t see us having 3 top strikers.its just not wingers style
😆 Steve – The old currant bun speak rubbish ….
Scott – not sure he said that, he said that Giroud would like to join us and he would go IF AW comes in with an offer 😉
Time for me to head off out, Fido needs a walk and a friend needs help with their computer, not sure why he called me 😆
Laters all….
Rico you heard it here first 🙂 Going out to celebrate ha ha 🙂
Hi SD, not if Park, Chamakh and Bendy go, Pod, RvP and Giroud…
Isn’t that what RVP means when he says we need to show ambition….
Laters…
😆 Steve
I quite agree with you bro, I tire write about these fake people behavior they are so gross is a shame! then they want to call them self’s GUNNERS, but real gunners don’t bring down their players who are trying hard week in week out for the club.But don’t worry next season is true GUNNERS own, we will be rising again,We will see who can’t win anything! let them watch their televisions.
Rico,I read the quote fifteen minutes ago….it’s fact.
His description of things going “serenely” isn’t a word someone would make up.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9341618/Arsenal-close-to-Oliver-Giroud-deal-says-Montpellier-deputy-president-Laurent-Nicollin.html
Where is the kaka news coming from?
Scott 😆
Nay, I am keeping my expectation low, lower than a gnat’s knee.
Any expectation higher than that, I am pleasantly surprised.
Nay, Rico, I am sufferign from battle fagitue; getting my hope high every summer since 2004/05…expecting..expecting..believing..believing…till litany of broken promises…..or crushed perceptions that this summer, I don’t give a fig and accepted what had been assembled on Septemebr 1….
…and as usual, with another season of high expectation that this season..Wenger finally got it right and we are one serious title contender and potentially, CL Cup winner as well.
You see RIco, I am always a sucker, believing, come every August, every season, Arsene Wenger finally got it right and had built his 3rd and greatest Arsenal team.
According to trend..
The signs are good that our 2011/12 season mirrored that of 2006/07 season…and surely 2012/13 season will mirror that of 2007/08 season where we kicked off with 6 wins in succession…leading with 5 points even in Feb…..
Oh well…this is what diehard Arsenal fans like moi lives for every new season…the expectation of a 3rd and greatest Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team…
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4380655/Olivier-Giroud-signs-for-Arsenal.html
if you believe The Sun.. 😆
Podolski, Giroud, Wilshere back, Diaby raring to go…
Next season has all the makings of a rip~roaring success.
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico.
Afternoon Charlie. How is the chocolate factory????? 😉
everyone ok mate???
Hi Coach.
Merlin, the only thing I believe about the sun is it rises in the East sets in the West…! Oh and sometimes not very often mind you but sometimes we even see it here in England..!
good afternoon all !
Not many important news today except all those yiu were talking about.
Kaka leaves this summer RM. Safe.
Diaby still with us?
Any talks about a new a goalkeeper?
Have you seen Nederlands ?
Do not forget: the most important thing in football is able to defend well. And do not defend well is to have the best players. You know being in the field have felt collectively, have a sense of mutual aid, defend as a block.
@ Rico
Sorry had to take off..
But my transfer wish list has one player. That is Diaby. I want him to do best. He has to for Arsene’s sake. He should be LANS.
I think that besides Podolski and the near done deal of Giroud, it will be one of M.Vila or Capoue (I would like both) plus Dzagoev. I am not that overly impressed by the russian and feel he will be another Arshavin. Good only in tournaments. And against Greece he was shit.
Not sure that Arsene Wenger would entertain Kaka?!
Great player, well he used to be, and would be a bums~on~seat kinda player.
The shirt sales would please Stan/Ivan, that’s for sure.
Kaka has a chequered injury history i believe.
And his wages would be towards insanity mode.
So Kaka in an Arsenal shirt is a nice thought. Dream even!
But imho it’s as likely as Messi or Gotze in an Arsenal shirt.
Hey Lee. You busy? I need a job out into the wilds of Essex to save my day… 😀
……………………………………..Szczesny
………………Coquelin…………Koscielny………..Vermaelen (Capt)
…….Ramsey…………Song………………Arteta……………Rosicky
…………….Walcott……………..Giroud…………….Poldolski
Ramsey or OX will rpovide defensive steel down the right flank whereas the left flank is well proected witht eh work-rate fo Poldolski-Rosicky-Vermaelen.
……………………………………..Szczesny
…Coquelin…………Koscielny………..Vermaelen (Capt)……Gibbs
………………………..Song……………………..Arteta
….Walcott………………………Rosicky………………………Poldolski
……………………………………..Giroud.
Either way, I can’t see Van Persie staying if we buy Giroud and Dzagoev, especially Gerivnho is a striker and with Benik Afobe and Joel Campbell, plus Wellington SIlva for the future…..
I think next season, Wenegr may have ear-marked Walcott to be the “main man” in a more central role.
Perhaps the coming of age for Walcott then?
Or is it Van Persie had been overshadowing Walcott with RvP monopolising the cnetral role that Walcott so coverted?
And you can see, like Ozakhup, I think many more youngsters will be frustrated in their attempt to breka into 1st team.
If we buy M’vila, most likely Frimpong will leave as COquelin is way ahead of him.
Yennaris?
Lansbury?
Can’t ’em haivng a future with 21 year old M’vila as DCM.
Rosicky?
Perhaps with WIlshere, Tomas Eisfield, Gnarby, …will COnor Henderson and Aneke have a future?
Not forgetting Ebecilio, Bellerin, Toral, ……
If we buy Dzagoev, then most likely bye-bye Lansbury, COnor Henderson and e ven Aneke?
We need an experienced RB uregently as I doubt Sagna can regain hsi form after two leg-breaks.
I believe Wenger will stick to his principles and will give his youngsters one more season in 2012/13 to establish themselves into1st team before he buys the likes of M’vila or Dzagoev.
Ramsey, WIlshere, Rosicky, Conor Henderson, OX, Ryo and Gervinho cna mean that Wenger is not in the market for a playmaker unless he is an exceptional “Juan Mata” or “Gotze”.
Merlin……………..Either way, I can’t see Van Persie staying if we buy Giroud and Dzagoev, especially Gerivnho is a striker and with Benik Afobe and Joel Campbell, plus Wellington SIlva for the future…..
I am there with you mate. I have been feeling for a long time that its the club who want to sell him not the other way round. AW is an astute coach…….he has made Adebayor as the main man…..then he shipped him off for mega bucks. Then he made Fabregas as the main man………and sold him (although he was reluctant). Now he has made RVP as the main man for this reason only….TO SELL HIM. That is why if someone offers over 25 million for him he will go. Shitty and Barca have sponsored us these last 5 years. And I feel that this was all mapped out by AW (except the Cesc sale).
The moment that RVP came out of the meeting with Gazidis and AW said it all. RVP was stony faced and tense. And I feel it is simple really…………he told him that he will be sold to the highest bidder so that he can fund the squad for next year.
And I do have an inkling that Theo will be moved to the central striker role.
RB? and what about the rigth back of Czesc team?
Do you mean Theo Gebre Selassie JM????
If its the same one, I have also noticed him tbh. He is also a long distance runner so that means he will not get tired of going up and down the pitch. He is 6 ft tall and is a solid defender. And I do not think that he will be fazed by the EPL since he is strong physically. My only doubt is whether he is fast enough.
Thought both of the Croatian full backs looked pretty good defensively and also going forward
the croatians have a master tactician vernat.
AFC would look menacing with him at the helm after AW.
yes devil
Afternoon guys and gals, another busy day done and dusted, we signed anyone 😛
Hi Lady.
Do you like Slaven Bilic?? We had a few comments on him here.
I quite like him and his tactical methods.
I would like to imagine the present AFC team with him at the helm.
Would we ship in 49 goals????? nije moj prijatelj
In a comment in the SUN on an article on Modric………….
johnchallener
Dont go Luca ! – We will get AVB then we will win everything , Trust in Daniel Levi,
He will get the club back to where it once was,
…………where it once was………….WHERE IS THAT DUMBASS!!!!
Hi devil, Bilic, why, we have Arsene Wenger 😉
Booooo!! I hope rico’s very own TW has a smashing game tonight! And if Giroud is as good as his youtube vids suggest, we look to be in for a treat!
Hello, rico and Dev! Howdy?
devil, did you see Portugal? did you learn anything?
Hiya, JM! That Cristiano Ronaldo is not a bad player!! 😉 😀
Boo to you agag….
Hola, Lady of the House! Howdy?? You reckon we’d ge M’Villa, too? I was oping we’d snap up Affelay; he isn’t that expensive. 😉
no… tactic … coverage areas … not to go after journalists and owners of reason with the Netherlands … that jogae with VDV and Schneider is a mistake ’cause do not know what is to defend … No place players on offense who can not defend and cover is another …
And with Greece? Learned anything?
agag, yep, i reckon we have a chance of getting m’vila, of not him, capoue – either will do, i’m not fussy 😉
afellay, if rvp gets his way, we’ll sign him 😉
Rosicky probably out for Thursday…
afellay is interesting? doubts…
France: M’villa in the line-up. clcichy and Nasri too. Ben-Afa too
I’m comming later
Come on England 🙂
Hope France lose, then we hear M’Vila has signed 😉
off to watch the game….
That half was rubbish for england….
Evening Rico
Evening Housers
Have I missed anything today?
Well that was a thrill a minute, can someone tell Ukraine we want our ball back !
I am channel hopping….seeing both games at the same time.
Nasri has been crocked and may not make the 2nd half. GD
England are crap. Without Rooney they were a team. With Rooney they are not imo. its everyone to himself.
Wayne Wooney 🙂
Is Theo any worse than Ashley Young, I would say not, not in a million years….
Evening Micko and Will…
Spot on there devil, good re Nasri 😉
That was well over the line, lucky england….
See we are getting lucky today, can it hold?
Morning all.
Devil,I askied yesterday would Rooney effect team spirit.
The guys a grub and quite easily cold turn a happy team into an angry,selfish one.
rooney is a passionate englishman Scott who wants his country to win….
looks like a great result for england and now they face italy and not spain, good…
Ok, i am offski for the day, nighty all
Catch up tomnorrow….
Anybody here?
England ground out another result.
The Ukraine goal that never was, was offside. Fin…
With some better final passes i think England could have won 3~0.
Ukraine had a lot of shots, but the majority were outside the box.
Very happy with the discipline and organiation of the England team.
Rooney improved as the game wore on and will be a key player for us.
Gerrard was immense. Also thought that Lescott had a great game.
Milner and Young do a lot of unselfish work, i don’t think they are getting the credit they deserve.
Carroll could cause the Italians a lot of problems. Do the Azzurri players ever come up against centre~forwards like him in Serie A..???
Theo and Ox still have a big part to play i’m sure.
Italy will be bloody hard…
But they won’t relish facing England…
COYEngland…
In fact, both Ukraine’s best chances, the close range header over the bar and the ball over the line, were off~side.
So i don’t wanna hear any bollocks about England being lucky…
Justice was done in the end…
I rest my case… 🙂
Good result for England, which i am very pleased with but the performance i thought was very poor, i know they only needed a point but the performance was still very poor. I agree Gerrard was very good but Carrol in my opinion gives us so much uptop that he was a huge loss. the defence to day hung on for dear life but they played singular and not as a unit it seemed to me that they felt rushed for 90 minutes. But were through and the momentum is building, just a win against Italy and i think if we play as we can i feel we can win.
Can’t agree Stevo, the Ukrainians huffed & puffed but i thought we did really well.
Remember mate this team was given no chance by anybody.
Many, myself included, didn’t even think we’d get out of the group…
But we won it…
Considering the fact that Hodgson has only been in charge for about 8 weeks. With a brand new coaching staff.
And remembering how many players we lost, from a small pool to begin with, before the tournament started, i think England have worked miracles….
The limit of anyone’s expectations before the tournament begun, was the quarter~finals.
Well Hodgson has done it…
Now if, by some miracle, that England can squeeze past Italy, then Hodgson will have equalled the best effort achived by England in this competition…
Not bad for a bunch of no~hopers eh?
not disagreeing with you AK, they have done better than i thought to, but i wasn’t impressed tonight thats all. Maybe frustration on my part
Scott, we only have 2 world class players, Gerrard and Rooney, if the latter can control his temper then who knows, he’s the one player who can make the difference.
Can’t remember the last time England won their group, we usually sneak through the back door, we’re only 2 games away from the final, not optimistic but living in hope.
No probs Sir Stevo.
It’s just me mate.
To put it simply, i don’t a toss about the performance.
To me it’s just the result. I couldn’t care less how we get it.
Italy have been one of the most negative, boring, lucky and cynical teams over the years…
Do they care? Do their fans care what ppl think??
Of course not. But look at what they’ve won mate….
I like the Germans. But if they need to be negative and cynical then don’t you worry chum, they’ll pull every trick in the book.
International football = The ends justify’s the means…
COYE 😀
Fair play mate 🙂
Micko,as much as I can’t stand I’m,there’s no questioning Rooneys ability.
Obviously I have no ties when it comes to the Euros,but I’d love to see your guys win it,as 7 years without a trophy is way too long.
What was that….it’s been how long?
And you guys give Arsenal a hard time 🙂
Seriously,I hope you win the whole thing.
Morning all…
Morning all…
Quiet news day in the world of Arsenal, not much gossip around either 🙁
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