I’m just a football fan and not really into the political side of the game but having read statements in the media about corruption in FIFA has made me start taking an interest.
After our World Cup bid failed I was quite surprised by our Ambassadors comments after the FIFA Committee had voted for Russia and Qatar to stage the next couple of World Cup competitions.
The way I understood the selection process was that each country would put together their bids for the right to stage the next two major footballing events.
Their bids would of course be a detailed account of venues where facilities would easily be available for the countries taking part, i.e. hotels, training facilities and of course transportation to the stadiums.
The supporter must not be forgotten either, without the stadiums being full and in good voice, the event would not be quite what it is today.
When all this has been worked out, recorded and submitted to FIFA for consideration, the FIFA committee would then hold meetings to sort through the bids and pick the winning one that would suit all those countries involved.
Now that sounds to me like a sensible way of picking out the best bid and I’d have thought that all countries involved would be happy to accept FIFA’s ruling and get on with staging the event..
It needs to be stressed at this point that making a bid costs a lot of money, it takes a lot of people, a lot time and commitment to work the details out get the results into legible form to submit.
An estimated guess of the English bid was over £30 million!
When our bid was rejected, they started to kick up a fuss as to why it had been rejected and the corruption allegation’s started to surface.
One of the people involved, Lord Triesman, has submitted his account to our Government claiming that FIFA committee members had taken bribes to secure their votes and now an investigation has now been launched to find out if these allegations are true.
I must admit that Russia and Qatar were a bit unexpected owing to these countries not having the infrastructure in place to stage a big event as the World Cup, but a vote is a vote and that’s what the Committee came up with.
It seems that a few feathers have been ruffled and a few noses been put out of joint.
FIFA have come to the stage where elections are also being held for the Chairmanship and still allegations are still being made of bungs to members of the committee to vote for the same man Mr Sepp Blatter.
Seventy Five year old Mr Blatter, the man who won’t approve technology in the game, has been likened to Don Corleoni of the godfather films, as he holds all the power in FIFA decisions so a very powerful man in world football but with immense power and control often comes allegations of corruption because people get hurt along the way and they hold a grudge.
I read that Lord Triesman was complaining that some of the committee had given our ambassadors the nod before the result in the bidding for the world cup, apparently some of the committee had said they would vote in England’s favour. In the end only one did and I believe he was an Englishman.
Lord Triesman also alleged that members of the committee had asked for monetary rewards for their votes and one allegedly wanted a Knighthood, whether there is any truth in these claims will probably come out in the wash later on so we will have to wait and see.
It appears though that people would like a change in FIFA circles and would like to see fresh faces.
Reading between the lines is that the English view is that FIFA is corrupt and that they would like to see Mr Blatter and his Committee replaced but one thing that bothers me is that to get the nod of their intentions to vote for us in the world cup bid and to know what each committee member allegedly wants must mean that they had been asked prior to the vote.
That stinks to me as this was supposed to be a fair election. Has anybody else thought the same, is this a case of Kettle calling the pot black?
This morning the German Football Federation president has joined in, he has asked for the 2022 World Cup bid to be investigated. This one isn’t going to go away is it?
Today as I mentioned, it’s the voting for the FIFA presidency and England’s soccer bosses have called for Blatter to be stripped of FIFA’s presidency until a “reforming” rival is found to contest an election. This view is also supported by the SFA, surely any ‘voting’ that takes place today is just a farce.
We have all called for Sepp Blatter to be replaced, todays game need a new fresh face with younger views, surely now admidst all the stories, it’s a good time for him to walk away quietly…
Written by Steve Palmer
Morning all
Good topical post again Steve, thank you..
Blatter is an old fart and won’t move with the times and pace of football – how this voting today can go ahead is a joke…
I don’t know much about all that is going on but no matter what we read, there is naughtiness going on at the top of the game.
No way should we have ‘have the nod’ about winning with our bid and now way should Blatter be re-elected without challenge to his position…
It’s very quiet…
rico are u coming to malaysia for pre season?
Hi kc, sadly no, will you be able to see them play live?
Can’t see it changing as Blatter can dis-credit anyone who stands against him. There is no way this vote should be going on but it is and that tells you the corruption is deep and rife.
Hi Will
Agree, I am sure it’s not all squeaky clean at the FA either…
Morning Friends, Fifa is full of corruption, blatter must go home and as Steve states we want a new face
I was right re Nasri its £110k vs 90k, sad when I thought he was a gooner
Morning Erick,
Sad state of affairs isn’t it, what would we all give to earn 90k a week…
I know Nasri’s demands look bad but how much is fabregas on?
The only one I respect is Robin, never hear about his demands.
I know Rico thats alot of Cash, think Aw did great to go public we now know who to blame.
Morning all,
You took me by surprise rico you little minx,thank you for making it readable, Re Nas, at the end of the day he is entitled to the going rate, I had a little pop at him yesterday, then somebody mentioned the fact that he was just asking for what others without his talent is getting, and it made me think, when i was younger i used to change jobs for two bob an hour more so, as i said in the post pot and the kettle mmmmmmm
take that m out rico ta
Morning Steve,
I didn’t do a thing to it…. 😉
Morning Will, Cesc on 110k a week but think he is a better player than Nasri. Robin is a legend
Steve fact thats why I choose to blame them agents they always complicate it. How much is Robin on guys?
Nasri hasn’t proved himself for a whole season yet has he?
RvP can’t shout about his wages really can he, he’s never fit for a whole season… 😉
But Nasri is a top player in our squad and he is asking for what he thinks he is worth considering what others at his level are on.
Would you not do that in your job now?
NICKLAS BENDTNER is confident about securing a move away from Arsenal.
The Denmark striker is keen on ending his seven years with the Gunners and has attracted interest from Fulham and Bayern Munich.
Arsenal want around £10million for the 23-year-old and his father and agent Thomas said: “Nicklas has the qualities to live up to this sum.
“We can certainly find a club that is willing to pay. He has been valued higher before.
“But, of course, if you are on the bench the price goes down.”
Morning Eric, Robin is not far behind Cesc i am sure i read it somwhere
I read that Nikki story, that tells me they can’t find a club for him 😉
Get rid of all the dead-wood and fringe players, that are surplus to requirements….then we can pay Nasri what he’s worth!
I have never believed our Nic would ever be a top man at The Arsenal, but he has hung in there and done his best and also nicked a few goals too, he is never going to replace Robin and will always be waiting in the wings he deserves a move, perhaps to a team that will feed him more and somewhere he feels important, he’ll score goals make no mistake of that and i wish him well, i just hope they don’t want a winger
Good read steve.Blatter is a dinasour like our very own PHW.both must go.
Think more will be leaving Lee, Steve me thinks Chamaka is not better than Nikky but Chamaka works hard, he is a gooner and doesn’t complain
Nasri can be an absolutely brilliant player and i want that to happen in our colours.
We need to play Nasri where he works the best, in and around the 18 yard box.
Morning KT, yeh your right he has made enough now time for his exit.
I still think Chamakh can do a job for us Eric, its a bit tricky with Robin because Chamakh will never be used as he was at the start of the season while Robin is there and Robin is quality.
Arsene Wenger is heading to South America on a scouting mission with a new central defender top of his wanted list.
Wenger is well aware that poor defending cost his side the Premier League title last season and he is keen to draft in a new Tony Adams or Martin Keown if at all possible.
Finding such a player is easier said than done. The Frenchman has already been linked with Blackburn’s Chris Samba and Bolton’s Gary Cahill but he is also looking to the continent.
“I’m going to supervise players in South America then I am coming back,” he said.
When quizzed over whether he intends to sign a new central defender he added: “Yes, because we beat Man United, Chelsea – but we dropped points when the game became typically English.
“You put a high ball up and get stuck in. It’s at that point where we lost points.”
He seems to be talking a lot about targets, very un-Wengerlike
Hi Kt
AW is already in SA on his hols 😉
I’d rather Chamakh than Nikki, when we needed Chamakh he provided goals, ok he faded a bit but i think a lot of that was too much too soon…
That’s why the next striker we buy should be already playing in the Pl and won’t need settling in time…
Good point Will, he does do his best work there i must admit
For me, Nasri is the only one who has the speed of foot and finishing ability. AA had it but it seems to have left him.
Perhaps a few bobs come his way Will, definitely be surprised if he buys a striker
Hi Lee,
the club seem to have started with the reserves/youth, hopefully the next step is the deadwood in the first team squad.
roll on july 1st….
KT he will be a great player at Arsenal but if he goes to the Mancs he will be rubbish
Wenger has been very weird in all his i/vs since the season ended.he is actually talking sense.
OXO is said to be finalising his deal to Arsenal, his dad has comfired
Spooky Erick, just been trying to see what is going on with him, if he signs i think we can safely say that we won’t get Young or Hazard….
We will have to wait and see then
once his sown his wild oats in S America he might find his balls again then
KT agreed totally he has been blunt and thats what we need. Rico, Young would be a great buy but we have to balance
Steve 😆
i really am feeling good about this window.
Will at least there’s movement, i just hope rico’s right about the deadwood
One of those days again guys, got to go out….. 🙁
Steve, I think we will see Denilson, Almunia, Nikki and Rosicky go – Eboue i hope, will join them….
Back later ……
Yeh me too catch you later
Your feeling good about this window Will, are they wooden, sash, pvc, aluminium, leaded or what…?
Nope Wath, I just feel we will be getting the players we want and need.
Well it ain’t looking so good so far…………
two 16yr olds, a 19yr old Charlton fullback out of contract and now ten million for 17yr old Chamberlain….!?!?!?!? wenger in South America to buy PL experienced players, well Arsene I don’t think you’ll find them lurking there….!
You’ve been saying this a few weeks now Will I so so so hope your right mate but I can see it being same old crap and same old excuses….!
Howdy Wath, hope you good. Will am hoping so too
Wath, when does the transfer window open?
I was under the impression it opened today…..?? However seems i was wrong and I read that it officially opens on 9th June 2011…..!
Just my opinion but Nasri flatters to deceive. He looks good on the ball and is a little more direct than many but reminds me of Wiltord , keeps the ball, goes round in circles and often then passes it off when players close him down . He was good for 3 months and then faded.
Greetings Erick, hope your well my friend and work is good….! I am fine although drinking far to much GG due to having to put up with our team being such wasters…!
Potter, I make you right on Nasri, was great first half of the season adn yet just like last year when we needed him to step up to the plate he was sadly lacking, he doesnt dominate a game like he should and when Cesc has been injured both yrs Nasri hasn’t taken command he’s actually faded and wilted…!
Oh and good post Steve, bladder is president and dictator of the biggest corrupt corporation/boys club on the planet….! FACT…! It will never change.
Wath, am great mate go easy on the GG we dn’t want your liver messd up…Potter spot on if Nasri can dominate a game like Cesc then we can do it still untested
Good afternoon people. Any person that is willing to let an ‘election’ go ahead when they are the only candidate is absolutely not fit for office.
Also, he has been in charge for so long, and he hasn’t exactly done a fantastic job. He seems to love the power too much, time to go.
I do agree with the part about them getting a ‘nod’ from committee members before the vote, they shouldn’t be questioning them as to who they’ll vote for.
Will, I’m with you re; “the window”….I think we’ll be surprised with additions to the squad!
good morning!
Pre-season match: 6th august : Benfica – Arsenal in Lisbon – Eusebio Cup
This good article remember also, The Arsenal 🙂
Barcelona is a team that became legend
by SANTIAGO Segurola (Marca- spanish newspapaer)
Barcelona’s win at Wembley [on Saturday against Manchester United, 3-1] has a transcendent character, because it puts the club in the ranks of legendary teams. The best ever? No one knows, not even worth discussing. Football is not measured by the standard metric. It moves and progresses in all respects, and sometimes falls victim to the regression of the triumph of the pessimists, the tactics that prevent them from enjoying the beauty of the game, the militarists who treat the players as if they were soldiers and a field scenario battle.
It’s not fair to compare Barca with this formidable teams that made the show relevant soccer society of today with the no 70, 60, 50 or 40 years. In former times, more naive, with a technology far more precarious in fitness, food and technical work. History will not forget Arsenal WM, the fabulous Hungary of Puskas, Hidegkuti and Boszik the Madrid great Di Stefano and Puskas, the great Eusebio and Benfica Column, the unforgettable Brazil Mexico 70, the revolutionary Ajax of Cruyff, the Milan Sacchi who designed for Baresi, Maldini, Rijkaard, Gullit, Van Basten, the delicious Barca early 90s.
All these teams reign in football for much they earned, but rather why they did it with style and ambition. Many others have won titles – from the Inter Helenio Herrera to the Inter of Mourinho, passing by Estudiantes de la Plata or Bayern Munich, a team of exceptional players who preferred pragmatism to poetry of the 70s – but their trophies worth less in the memory of fans. Football has a selective memory. Although remind everyone, selects the best.
This boat came to Wembley to something more than winning the Champions League. Its aim was to move the story, he stands among the greatest. Was entitled to think it. During the past three years has won three Leagues, broke records for points, one Champions League and World Club Championship. Another success in the Champions League would ensure the necessary statistical thinking to the team as a Guardiola phenomenally competitive machine. But the numbers did not serve the young Catalan coach. During these years, Barca won the admiration of the world for a singular form of the game, countercultural, strange to the trends that dominated the world of football. This peculiarity has also helped to look at it as a wonderful rarity.
In conversation with the players, Guardiola said he hoped one of them acting sublime. He asked them if they were to the occasion and show your best talent.
Your message was just to win. Seeking excellence. Barca had a grueling time, pursued by a Madrid with the best team in its history and led by a coach who turned the Spanish football on a nasty battle. Neither helped lesions key players like captain Puyol or cancer in the liver of Abidal. Stress, fatigue and a squad made short Barca a vulnerable team, only benefited the early conquest of the Spanish League.
What happened at Wembley will be remembered as one of the best performances of a team in the Champions League final. Fought in the champions of England and Spain, winners of 23 leagues in the last 23 years, the most consistent teams from last season. But there was only one team on the field. The magic of Barça move was up to the requirement of Guardiola. In a game where there was tension and caution, the magical mean Barca dominated the English team’s players off guard with a carousel passes, a dazzling creativity, absolute precision and a boundless ambition.
All he did was Barca style and substance. It was a memorable performance that left gaping British analysts. I welcome Iniesta and Xavi as two of the best midfielders I have ever seen in football, and journalists were unanimous in the view Messi as the current king of soccer, a wizard who has every right to be situated next to Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano and Cruyff. Reminded the world that Messi is Maradona every day. Wembley did not earn enough
Finally , AW open his eyes… like I just said, we dropped points when the game became typically English and we must be united, stronger and intelligent.
News:
Bruno Alves (Zenith) – Chelsea? (Alex (Chelsea) – Zenith)?
morning all…whole lotta nothing going on, i see…
cesc and robin took some time out to visit queens and see my baseball team this week – mets, of course, lost that particular game…
Just watching SSN and Blatter has left the room while they have a secret vote to find the leadership of Fifa.
Here is my Facebook message.
Ha ha. Blatter has left the room while Fifa make a secret vote to find the chairman of Fifa. You are the only candidate as you have managed to discredit anyone else that stands against you, you slimy bastard.
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal’s philosophy needs only minor tweaking for them to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title.
The Gunners finished 12 points behind champions Manchester United following an end of season collapse that highlighted the psychological frailties that continue to haunt them.
Wenger understands the “disappointed love” of Arsenal fans, some of whom have turned on the Frenchman, but insists the team is only five per cent away from becoming winners.
“The criticism has been sharper this year because of the impatience of people,” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
“People are used to us being in the Champions League so we have to give them more, but we’re not capable of doing that.
“People love what we do but they want us to be rewarded so that they can be convinced we do things the right way. They want proof that we do things the right way.
“For our fans the frustration was that we were so close to convincing everybody of how football can be great, but in the end not being able to deliver.
“I would call it disappointed love. It was cruel and sometimes you get excessive responses to that. I share that and understand it.
“But that doesn’t mean we have to change our philosophy or the way the club is run.
“We get it 95 per cent right, but we must gain that five per cent because it’s so frustrating to flirt with success like we have done.
“The fans are unhappy that we didn’t win the Premier League, but we are close.
“In 2003 we were also the best away team, but didn’t win. We kept going and in 2004 we were very strong.”
Wenger pinpoints Arsenal’s run of two points from three games in late April as the end of their title challenge.
“I was happy with the attitude of the players and our away form,” he said.
“But what was disappointing was that when we needed to push on, we could not show the nerves to deal well with some games.
“I’m thinking about Liverpool, Tottenham and Bolton. We had good opportunities to win those games and had we done, that would have been seven points more.”
Arsenal conceded 41 goals in the Premier League with the set piece their Achilles heel, prompting Wenger to target some taller players in the transfer market this summer.
“We conceded very few goals from open play, most of them were from set pieces in a way you don’t want to concede goals,” he said.
“It’s something that’s easy to correct. We need to improve the size of our squad. We need a bigger variety in the height of our players.
“We need to be more capable of fighting against some characteristics than we have been this season.”
Evening all…. 🙂
What’s this about not needing an overhaul???
I don’t think we do. Just three or four players and we are in.
That is an overhaul Will 😉
There are people who are saying we need 6 or 7 in, I think we have a great team, just too much dead wood and missing some steel.
4 for me Will, that would make us winners…
That is of course if we keep Cesc and Nasri
Good article, Steve. Sepp has done absolutely everything to bring the game into disrepute. He has such anachronistic views on introducing technology to the game, it is laughable.
boo, hi agag 🙂
We need three quality players….. A backbone…. CB,DM & CF all with grit!! That added to the newly pruned squad and we’ll kick arse!!!
That’s why i want four Lee, 2 CH’s, one midfielder and a beat in front of goal… 🙂
Thanks Agag, sorry i missed your comment, The man’s a slimy B but I don’t believe our FA are all pucker either.Tthey need the leagues to be together and not as they are at the moment Premier running itself. Refereeing decisions have been every bodys bugbear for a few years now, where refs seem biased perhaps its me, I don’t think the standard is good enough and not tough enough, fair tough referees is not to much to ask for I know.
bollox to blatter and fifa..
hes a mad man and hes doing what he wants..
i hope the authorities bring up a whole can of worms when they investigate and the whole thing crumbles.
manuel neuer’s transfer from schalke 04 to bayern has just been announced…
good keeper, although i personally rate bayer 04 leverkusen’s rene adler a bit higher among germany’s post kahn/jens keepers…
i cant beleive the rest of the FA’s took it laying down..
wtf??
members from inside the organisation have already said its corrupt so whats everyone fucking about for..
how many of them are paid off???
I agree fuck em all off
jj, they are on the gravy train…blatter keeps his power base strong by letting these other organizations feed at the trough…
if he needs support to tarnish bin hamman, he invests in some projects in certain delegates’ countries. that is the culture at fifa…
as long as he keeps key personnel sweet, there will not be an organized moves against him…
when blatter is eventually brought down – within fifa – it will be by someone that built a parallel power structure, and was able to either enlist support for a move against blatter, or at least elicit pledges of non-opposition…i think blatter himself ousted havelange using means similar to this.
make no mistake – blatter will eventually be toppled…today’s farce of an “election” may just be the beginning of the end for him.
Might as well get that upstanding citizen sir robert mugabe to run….. what a crock of shite!!!!
except that mugabe was forced to share power, at least in name. blatter has no tsvangirai to serve as a thorn in his side…
Four years of him!!
And then we have Platini…….
Hi jj and oliver…
hi rico…i don’t think blatter will last four personally – i think he will be supplanted within the next 3 or years…but, i don’t think the culture will change at fifa…
the “guy” who eventually takes blatter down may well turn out worse…
I hope you are right oliver, i really do for the sake of football but yes, sometimes the replacement can be equally as bad if not worse….
bit like us with our manager really….
There are reports Roma are ready to offer Jeremy Menez to Arsenal in exchange for Gael Clichy.
The winger has been looking for a move away after failing to impress this term, particularly since Vincenzo Montella replaced Claudio Ranieri on the bench.
bah…more media two-plus-two-equals-five speculation. clichy apparently wants out here and mendez may want out of roma? let’s concoct a swap story – fits, doesn’t it?
For sure it does oliver and we cannot get away from the spin, every summer we have it and nothing will change during this one…
But, off season, we have only the media news to report, along with the impending injuries to RvP while playing for Holland 😉
Evening all, ahh Gael Clichy, funny how nobody gives a fig whether he stays or goes, kinda sums him up…
Bergkamp was quite good wasn’t he?i’ve just seem a clip of him and the good old times.
If only Gibbs could stay fit and have a run of games he might sharpen up his defensive game. Great going forward, reminds me a bit of a raw Ashley Cole when he first got into the team. If i recall many pundits and ‘experts’ criticised Cole’s defending. But with experience he improved into the player he is today, and with a bit of patience maybe Gibbs could do likewise?
has anyone seen the interview
blatters rambling on talking about a ‘majority vote’
lol…of course it was he was the only dude in the thing..
hes mad..
hey rico… hey guys good post steve..
Hi KT, ah now your talking about a footballer mate. Bergkamp was a Rolls Royce of a player.
KT, got any view on Menez???
Menez no. Please …
hi kev
is send gibbs on loan for a year to villa and take young ofg their hands..last year of contract lets get him..wont be over 18mil and if we use gibbs as a bargaining tool i think we could do a deal here
No please AK.
Henry-Bergkamp…BANG!
bergkamp was king..
what is said in the international press:
Will the tense relationship between Samir Nasri and the English club. The “gunners” and had intended to renew the player a contract of more than 5 years at a salary of around the 90 000 pounds a week, which, for Nasri, does not reflect its real value.
The French only signs ensures that even if the salary cap that Cesc Fabregas (at a time the talk in the umpteenth proposal by Barcelona’s Spanish), which exceeds 110,000 pounds per week.
The request, the second advances the Gazzetta dello Sport, nothing pleased Wenger, who promptly warned the player that will not let you leave for Manchester United, if that is the goal of intransigence.
Arsenal Ventures, however, if you do not agree to renew and decide not to give Nasri during this close season, losing the player next summer at no cost, since the French are free at that time.
ktr
in 5 years time rvp-theo bang maybe???
KT/JM, i consider myself well and truely told…Thanx lads.
Hiya JJ. I like Young and i reckon he’d love to come to AFC, not least to keep an eye on his younger brother… But i suspect that he’s earmarked for L’pool or ManUre.
Apparantly Traore has improved a lot in Serie A, no doubt due to an improved standard of defensive coaching.
JJ will we ever reach those heights again?some of the goals i’m watching now are just…wow!DB10 was an absolute genius.its such a shame that team never won the CL.
AK Traore rarely played at juve.
hi kev 🙂
You been told then 😉
and there was me think menez could be good… 😉
How the hell didn’t the Brazil 82 team not win the WC?
Hiya Rico, yeah, i’m always being told off, especially by Kt, lol
Kt, part of the problem with Bergkamp was his fear of flying, whose to say if AFC may have won the CL if Dennis had been available for all the games.
I also loved Overmars, a great player, very clinical in front of goal, pace to burn…
😆 kev – i think what is happening with us fans is we are all so keen to see new signings, every player linked seems good…
good job i am not the afc manager 😉
In fact the 1997-98 team remains my favourite Arsenal team, closely followed by 1970-71.
actually, re my last – i think maybe that is just applicable to me…… 😆
Ha ha Rico, yeah, you’re right, desperation, terrible isn’t it?
No Rico, for heaven’s sake i got excited by Jenkinson, whoever he is???? lol
Who needs pace when you can think quicker than everyone?DB10’s brain must have been very good.i read somewhere that he has a 1st class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.
you and me then kev 😉 😉
against the world :P:
Cruyff said that if you time you run well and early you’ll always appear faster than the others when he was quizzed about his pace.now thats intelligence.
Right on Rico….haha.
Rico, did you go to the Reading game?
KT, any view on Axel Witsel???
Blimey Nigeria beat Argentina 4-1…
Japan played a friendly, does anyone know if Miyaichi had a run-out…
Ak where the “F” have u been……………. I been drinking all alone…
Witzel is an Arsenal fan…..
KT u can read all your stats you can watch hours of youtube but nothing my friend makes up for watching DB10 in the flesh on a football pitch…….
Poetry in motion…..!
I can die a happy man taking that to my grave…………….
Kt, another for ya… Diego Benaglio g/k of Wolfsburg. Any views???
Wath me old mucker, kept missing ya yesterday, how ya been? Not too much GG i hope…
Saw a huge advert for GG on the A4 at Earls Court as i was driving back into town from Heathrow. I just thought of you mate, lol
Oh for wenger to buy a player that gives us that kind of buzz when you see it announced on skysportsnews..! plz plz plz wenger earn your 7mil and give us something to get excited abt…. Please…!
kev, i had the chance to go but had committed myself to something else sadly, bloody Dowd again!!
No to Benaglio.Witsel is a maybe but definitely not a starter already.
AK, see that AD mate its got sweet FA on what I have consumed since the CC final and our end of season debacle………. I have to get some form of pleasure from something, get nothing from watching my team perform…!
Hi WATH,
i echo that, just one to give us something to get us believing he means the biz….
Rico, i was kinda supporting Reading as i’ve never been to their groud, i’ve been to the Vetch, and i think i might take in a few away games next season, i always prefer the ‘aways’, God’s people against the Northern hords etc…
Ditto Wath, that’s why i was praying for Benzema, those tight tossers at The Grove owe us a big signing, but i fear that my hopes are going down the toilet as usual…
The Mad Stad is better than some PL grounds Kev, it’s a PL stadium but they can’t get out of the Championship right now – John Mad wants to sell up, but as a PL club not a Championship club…
Mind you, Elm Park was the mutts 😉
Evening Rico, a signing that pathes the way one that shows intent and ambition one that gets us all excited and heart thumping…………. ok ok let me get real…. suppose I must console with a 16yr old from Rwanda then……………. fuck….!
I’m not sure that Benzema would be the one to give me that buzz…
Cahill and Samba would though and that is only because of our weakness at the back…..
The big rumour is Samuel Eto’o……
While at it Wenger should bring us a pele+maradona player.maybe there is a player that we’ve spotted that even Arsene couldn’t believe the scout reports that he had to go and see in person?…remember how cocky we used to be back then?we were like F*** u we’ve got henry and bergkamp.no tactics could contain them.henry would smash hattricks against midtable teams we’d be 4 nil up at HT…
WATH, that is what worries me too, but, i see that player from Rwanda being older than 16 😉
KT, in all honesty as good as Henry was I always said fuck you……… We got Dennis Betgkamp…! The man was 5 steps in front of everyone else…! without a doubt for me the best player I have ever seen in an Arsenal shirt bar none….! I go back to watching from 73 so thats a few decent players me thinks but Dennis was unbelievable…!
Rico, you know what thinking of all the players I’d like at Arsenal can’t of one that would actually give me a buzz…. Cahill would signal intent for me although wouldn’t give me a buz, he would put a smile on my face and I’d think maybe wenger had at last woken up but a buzz lime Bergkamp hmmm def not…! not Benzema either am with you on that, they just players that woule be good for us and that we need….!
Rico, Benzema is like an uncut diamond, he just needs Wenger to finish off the rough edges. He’d be great in the EPL, but it looks like he wants to stay in Spain.
Dennis Bergkamp, has to b the best in red and white ever, well, other than Rocky……..
Messi then WATH 😉
Seriously, i understand what you are saying – all i hope for is what we need, if we get that it will be a start… Other than Messi, is there a player out there to make any of us go ‘wow’…
The reason i say cahill and samba is because that would make me believe that wenger finally has woken up and smelt the cow pat!!
Rico now your getting all emotional……… Rocky is an emotional shout 😉
DB10 was and is the man………. end of….!
Was an absolute privilege to watch the man grace a football pitch in our shirt…!
You can imagine Bergkamp calculating the trajectory of a lobbed pass to the on rushing ljunberg before he even receives the ball from vieira…
kev – we need a diamond, not one that needs time imho
thats why i’d like kevin doyle, he knows where the net is, ok, he’s no big time name but that doesn’t bother me – 20/25 goals a season mean more….
Rico, as said for me Cahill and Samba would represent wenger saying “yes I am aware of our problems” they would be quality signings in so far as being just what we need BUT they hardly a WOW factor are they 😉
Nope not Messi either……… Sillibilli…!
KT, he calculated 5 options b4 he even got the pass……… 😉
WATH, nah,
Rocky is a shout from my heart, my head and for all he gave – DB gave it in class and ability, Rocky gave it in committment, passion, hard work and ‘never say die’ – that wins games sometimes as much as skill can….
🙂
I second that WATH.
Charlie George will always be my hero… i remember Cruyff saying he was the best English player around in the early 70’s.
Having said that, i do agree that Dennis was the best,since probably the 30’s. I’ve read a bit about Alex James, and he was some kind of player…
I also remember talking to an ‘old-timer’ at Highbury around 1998 and he said that Bergkamp reminded him of David Jack, so Jack must have been some player as well.
In that case WATH, there is no signing out there to wow you….
😉
Including lobbing the GK wath.he did that several times catching goalies offguard.
Rico, I’ll give you a WOW player and for no reason other than half the panet seems to want him… thei Lukaka fella……. seems he will go to the chavs so its money related but IF we got him you’d go hmmmmm proper he’s come to us and everybody wants him yet he’s chosen us………… Yesssssssssss…….
Now the real world kicks in and fuck all chance of us signing him in a million yrs……! 🙂
Ak, yep am with you mate my Dad says wee Alex James was a proper player and also David Jack…! Although he says Duncan Edwards was and would of been the best of them all… he was there the 5-4 game before the aircrash… he said the goal Edwards scored from the halfway line was a thing you had to see… Kelsey was only diving agter the ball had hit the net he hit it that hard….!
DB had class Rico but also heart and passion that Rocky had, if only them two had played together hmmmmmmmmmmmm dream team………!
I remember watching jack in the youth teams where he could do outrageous things with the ball including that goal against west ham reserves into the top corner or the outside of the boot curler outside the area against stoke reserves.i want to see him bring that part of his game into the first team.
Ah, the ‘New Drogba’ – I thought he was off to Citeh WATH?
Wath, i’m with you on that, my Dad was at that game also, but his favourite was Eddie Coleman.
But imagine if that team hadn’t been wiped out, maybe England winning the World Cup in 1962? And retaining it in 1966???
DB and Rocky – a dream indeed….. 🙂
Give him time KT, only his first season remember the boy is still going to get better n better imagine if he didn’t have to drag this team along by the scruff of the neck, imagine if he had players around him that allowed him to grow under little pressure…..! It’s a lot of expectation for the young lad to carry and a lot of ppl forget that…!
Rico, who cares where he ends up it won’t be with us thats for sure 😉
Anyway, some of us need beauty sleep, obviously you boys don’t need it 😉
Time for me to head off, it’s getting late for me..
Be good, and catch up tomorrow…
Thanks Guys/Gals…. Another good day during a quiet old time…
You never know WATH, you just never know 😉 😉
Its not a criticism wath.i want him to take it as a challenge.i want to see those skills that he displayed in the youth team.
Good Night Rico. Ruff Ruff Fido….
Rico, pls do a post 2moro based on bullshit and bollox……. 😉 Mention the 50 players we buying already and the ten we buying today alone. it’ll create lots of comments as we get to tell everyone they stupid and delusional just like wenger 😉
Sleep tight ole gal 😛
Is there a player in our 1st team that appears to have sort of similar intellect not necessarily the level of Bergkamp apart from cesc?
Nite rico.
I know KT I didnt answer it like it was a ctiticism from you but I am saying its a huge responsibilty on his shoulders and he has to cope with huge expectations, I think in time it will happen but we cant expect to much to soon, during the course of next season we will see his game expand and grow..!
WATH – Ha ha, you write it 😉 😉
Nighty night all…..
Fido says, woof woof back kev 😉
For me KT even Cesc isn’t on DB10’s level……….
Cesc see the game very well but not as Dennis saw things….! I sometimes wonder what Dennis would of been like as a midfileder but then I realsie that so many passes would of gone astray as players would not of read what he saw…! it happened enough and he was up front…!
Nite Kt…
Rico, if I write it the site gets shut down 😉 lol
Wouldn’t it be great to see jack wow us with spectacular moments of skill week in week out?
JJ i know cesc isn’t at DB10’s level but what am asking is do we have any players who display that intellect not necessarily his level?
Sorry *Wath* not jj
Hmmm difficult question KT, in a sense RVP has awereness similar in fashion to DB but doesnt bring players into the game like DB10 and also isnt nowhere near as one touch as DB10 was…! Jack could be and seems to have the vision and perception….! Only time will tell on that one KT as for the rest not even close…!
Denilson.
Shit you got me KT, forgot about him…………….
Hmmm a footballing mastermind………. best played on a board me thinks best kept away from a pitch 😉
I think rvp will evolve his game as he grows older.rvp is still among the best though.his assist to fabregas against wolves in 08/09 is one of my favourite assists…beautiful stuff.
*09/10*
not sure it shows as well on tv but the 05 game v Juve when we won 3-1 at Highbury, the DB assist for Freddies goal was sublime…..! drag back and flick thru which took out three defenders…. one off mate and he did that all the time…!
I remember that one jj.i have even watched it today again.i also like watching his goal against Newcastle…genius!
Sorry again *wath*
JJ wears luminous green lycra tights KT I am def not JJ 😉
See the latest story we linked with Higuain from Real…. hmmm now that boy knows where the goal is….
Not in a million years wath.higuain is a darling of the madridistas.he isn’t going anywhere.
Never say never KT…………… 😉
I’m off mate catch ya soon…. b good…!
I am attending the malaysia training session and match. Would love to share my thoughts and photos here after.
Morning all
Damnit – that would be good, thanks, just send them into me at the contact address and i’ll share them in a post…
New Post up…