Morning all.
Bitter and twisted old Arry has laid the boot into the national team set up by declaring that he’s worked with footballers who really didn’t want to play for England, so much so they would feign injury to keep them away.
He’s got to be implying that these players were at Spurs surely? (Did they ever have any good enough? lol)
Needless to say, his comments have upset the current England captain:
I tell you what, I’d be interested to find out who those players are. If Harry is making a comment like that, he should name them and embarrass them. No one in this group wants to go home. No one wants to go home.
If he’s not naming them, I can’t answer that. If it’s the case, it’s disgusting. For me, if a player doesn’t want to be, he doesn’t deserve to be here at a World Cup. The comment is a comment, like ‘them’.
They’ didn’t want to play for England. Who? Name them? Is it Aaron Lennon, Kyle Walker, Andros Townsend?
I don’t know who he means. Five years ago? 10 years ago? I’ve spoken to Jermain Defoe and he’s devastated.
I can understand why you’ve asked the question, with Harry Redknapp a big coach in the game, but we need names. We need names. But it’s not here. I can guarantee it’s not here.
He should be embarrassed if there’s one player. When you go down into the younger age groups, they’re younger lads.
They might not want to be away from their families. But when you’re picked at this level and find any excuse not to be here, you don’t deserve to be here.
Steevie G, Arry is not a big coach in the game, other than carrying a few extra pounds of course but he’s hardly won anything during his long career has he?
But on a serious note, if this is true, surely it would be better for Redknapp to name and shame the players who didn’t want to play for England and then find out why they preferred to stay at home than to wear the three lions shirt.
Could it be players haven’t like working for whichever manager was in post at the time, the training methods, or was it simply that they didn’t want to leave their family or didn’t want to represent England?
I don’t know the answer but if Arry isn’t just a bitter and twisted old man who didn’t get the England job and there is truth in what he has said, any problems need addressing and sorting out soon because it’s quite clear that something isn’t quite right with England.
Our own Jack Wilshere has always spoken about how proud he is to be wearing an England shirt and I’m quite surprised that he’s featured so little at this competition. Stan Collymore believes he really is the future and has suggested that should Steven Gerrard retire as expected, our midfielder should take over as captain….
What to make of that then?
World Cup:
Portugal came close to an early exit last night but a last gasp equaliser made sure they are staying in Brazil. The USA now need at least a point against Germany to progress.
Algeria stunned South Korea 4-2 in an entertaining match, keeping their hopes of progressing alive. For Korea though, I think it’s all over.
Belgium beat Russia 1-0, a result which sees them progress through to the knock-out stage.
Four fixtures tonight:
5pm Australia v Spain and Netherlands v Chile.
9pm Cameroon v Brazil and Croatia v Mexico.
I’ll be routing for Chile that’s for sure and good news is that the old badger is banned for the Dutch. A win would see Chile top their group….
Finally, happy 38th birthday to our old boy…
Those were the days eh…….
That’s it for today, have a good one…
Morning all.
If ‘arry was any kind of man, he’d have sacked the bastards from even playing club football!
That is a disgrace.
I’m not sure what’s worse though.
Players asking how to get out of okayong for their country.
‘Arry saying nothing at the time.
‘Arry dredging it up now.
What a terrible situation.
I will bet you anything that the name the Twitchy will come up with will be none other than David Bentley. And it is so obvious that even a blind man will see it. Because DB came out in the open to say it. He will use him as an excuse……..
imo Twitchy was throwing mud in the hope some of it will stick.
Then again………..he is a shining example of what is wrong with English football.
BDW…..Good article Rico
Good morning all!
Weekend went quick didn’t it? How is everyone?
Great post Rico, I believe Harry is a bit bitter that he didn’t become England manager. At the same time I can imagine the pressure of playing for England putting a strain on players making it a chore rather than a privelage. When I play football I get nervous to go to training and i’m not even bad haha, If I was ever good enough to play for England I would certainly struggle to enjoy it.
Morning again all..
Thanks Devil..
Scott, good questions there, I find it disgraceful that players wouldn’t want to play for their country, you can certainly see what it means to ours though…
Saying that, I wish they’d all give up and concentrate on playing for Arsenal… 😉
Knocked the USA out??
Harry knows that by casting this net his mates in the press will now do their best to unsettle everything and dig into the subject. They will want a witch hunt and Harry has fired the opening shot.
As for Gerrard he should not have to “” retire “”from international football , if he’s not going to be around for the next world cup then he should be dropped. That’s what Roy is paid to do , make decisions and stick to them.
Thanks Nickie, I too think Arry is a bitter and twisted old man about England and I guess he thinks he’d have got them more organised. Mind you, he probably would….
Statistically ‘Arry is a cnut!
I think Roy can and has shown he can organise England well defensively and get results (Euro 2012) but obviously you’d rather watch paint dry than watch that team. I think Roy needs to find the right balance of this years WC attacking and Euro 2012 defensively
I think the FA did not choose Twitchy because they were aware of various skeletons in the cupboard. And since he would not say anything about them then he feels secure and safe in the knowledge that he can say what he likes.
Then again……some of the top brass like Twitchy have skeletons in their cupboards.
So the beat goes on.
Incidentally the real reason why English players have not progressed in football is because they are still asking the question of who came first………..the egg or the chicken.
Couldn’t agree more Potter..
And with you Lee… 😉
England have been awful defensively during this WC though…
Devil, the ongoing court case killed his chances…
So the stage is set for Brenda Rodgers to take over England…
Good read Rico…
It is deeper than the court case Rico imo.
I just feel there is something they know that we do not know that they know we do know. 😉
Yeah they have which is why Roy needs to find the correct balance. It sort of felt he was going to just focus on attacking in training and no thought was put into the shape of the team, or how we was going to defend certain situations. Maybe John Terry could have made a difference in that defence
Thanks Ts, I’d love Brenda to take over England…
I’m sure it runs a lot deeper Devil, but I’m convinced he’d have got the job had he not been due in court for fraud….
Everyone wanted Harry to be the England manager from what was said and written at the time….
I think he would Nickie, as would Ashley Cole. As Wath said here the other day, when you have a 36 year old Lampard in the squad, why leave one of the best left backs at home…
Just my opinion, but the squad needs broom put right through it.
Start from scratch.
The Aussies knew we were no chance on the WC, so rather than rely on the old boys just to put on a show, they cleaned the squad out looking towards the next few years, and funnily enough, it’s worked already, IMO.
The U.S. are still in it…..more’s the pity !
Morning Rico and all, nice post and Harry is right players do it all over the world
Personally I would have taken Gibbs and Cole…..and play them in front of each other. Gibbs I would have put him on the left wing. He would have pulled Italy all over the place.
players in the English set up when he was spurs coach in 2008-2012 then ask them the questions, an example years ago in Nigeria some players choose matches to play in, the new manager came in disciplined and told them you either play when I say so or you forget coming in and he named them and always disgraced them, peter odemwingie was banned for this reason and he later apologized to the country, the Nigerian FA and then the manager and now he’s back putting all his effort
The best thing would be to start afresh imo.
Build a team of players whose age is less than 26. And with only one or two exceptions it is they who will play.
Hell raising devil, the only reason shaw went ahead of Gibbs was simple, the English media raved about Luke shaw and no one even mentioned Gibbs, but I watch both of them and analyzed them during the season but I will always conclude Gibbs is better, Hodgson followed public opinion on that and not the effectiveness of his players, I can mention 1000 things wrong with the English team and against the believe that you are well set up for the future that’s just a lie, get rid of Hodgson first and our Darling English FA should go for G.Neville or ‘Brendan’ young coaches with new ideas and shun the stupid media they are not helping matters
Scott, I think that will happen now..
Morning luznik, thanks…
Talking of Lampard, he’s starting tomorrow instead of Gerrard…
we have all said how we think grass root football in england must change etc but until the guys in charge realise there is a problem and are willing to do something about it england will always struggle to impress IMO…….hi Rico and all
Lew, I got led by a Mail headline – and goofed! It’s corrected now thanks…
Nothing will change in my view unless the coffin dodgers and elite pulling the strings at the FA are pushed down the river…
In my view, I don’t think the actual set-up of the team is any differently to any other European powerhouse foootballing nation. In fact our average age is amongst the lowest in this tournament. Argentina, Spain, Greece, Portugal have older teams…
imho, firstly England has to identify and be honest with the team identity or how they would like to play going forward…
We are a route one team; we should be proud of it and work hard at refining it to our advantage …
Trying to emulate one of the teams that gets into the top 3 of major tournaments is just naive and sucidal and not forward thinking… imo
I remember even Spain with far better players like Raul, Campo, Helguera, Mendietta falling at 2nd round and quartet finals of tournaments because they wanted to play like the Dutch and the Germans… It was only when they became proud of their style did they achieve success in recent times…
luznic agree with your 10;46…..kids don’t get to learn again as once the have one good season the media hype them up as the next henry Pele or Adams and the next thing they are asking for a salary increase and all….
Morning all.
RvP, TR07, Jack Wilshire etc etc all injured whilst on duty for their respective countries, all severely injured in the friendliest they were playing in. The cost to the national teams the substitution of the player during the game and then the subsequent loss of the same in the next few competitive games. Lose, lose.
It’s perhaps not so surprising that some players are reluctant to turn out for what they see as fairly insignificant games, especially if they think their tenure in the squad is secure. A little white lie, they probably think will do little harm, and it may give some other player a ‘chance’!
I’m sure ‘arry is telling the truth, although he may have omitted the fact that it was the manager who approached the player and not the other way round!
Club v country is a modern issue, if there is a dispute here about the commitment of players to represent their country it may have more to do with the number of games they are expected to play, where their loyalties lie and the ‘press’. The media have much to answer to. Far from bogging the players up they are only too keen on vilifying any player or member of staff upon whom they have a downer!
Grist to the mill? The whole thing is riven with holes and divided loyalties imo.
Good Morning to the Lady of The House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
‘arry is just a bitter and twisted old man who was looking to finally make his mark in the world by being England Coach, a role that has been denied him for reasons already well known. He has accomplished very little as a coach/manager other upsetting players and fellow coaches/managers with his ill advised and ill thought ramblings.
The only reason we still hear from him is that he was, and maybe still is, popular with the press because he was always more than willing to give them a quote. It’s time we left him to ramble away on his little soap box on some quiet street corner like the village idiot as he has nothing worthwhile to say. May he swiftly pass into obscurity.
Rico,
We moan about players deserving to be in the team on merit performing week in week out. Cole didn’t deserve the place imo, but you’re right, he along with Terry definitely would have provided more defensive stability. Lampard was playing regularly and probably was one of the better midfielders to call up, I think Cleverly or Carrick were next.
spot on wavy, snaparse. the media is killing the English game and hyping up a player is ok for them but must a coach fall for that, A.Cole deserve to be at the world cup but instead you take shaw and dump him on the bench and now England has failed and they say we were looking to the future, we do know Gibbs is the future of that left back position in England, they can full themselves for all I care but that boy keeps improving and when he plays I am too confident I forget its just 3seasons for him as a regular arsenal player, am I biased?
Wavy/Snap, I agree with your views btw… but do we fans ever admit we get brainwashed by the media on how very good certain players are?
A few posters were on here in january and last summer calling for AW to buy Shaw but since teh WC a few are now calling for Gibbs instead…
I remember being called an idiot on here by merely implying Baines was over rated and not better than Gibbs… but hey…
Hi Cg, I heard you are a staunch Us of A supporter… 😛
Morning Ts,
Public are always brainwashed by the media. Unless you actually watch the players day in day out you can appreciate their quality. I watched a Youtube video of a reporter going around Manchester asking fans what they thought of a player who wasn’t real that was coming to Manchester United. It was shocking at how many were bigging him up without even realising he didn’t exist lol.
My opinion has always been that Gibbs is still ahead of Baines and Shaw.
I myself have been getting excited by the Balotelli rumours and have been brainwashed that he’s world class. I can’t really remember him having any amazing games for Mancity and he’s been very average this world cup. Always thought he was just above average, the second he’s linked with Arsenal we begin to think he’s the best striker in the world.
Spot on Nickie…
For those in the UK I blame match of the day… they created Fellaini as AFC’s DM saviour when Fellaini is not a DM…
Also it was funny how many fans are led to believe Khedira is a DM… even Graeme Souness had to be corrected by Alonso on TV that Khedira has never been a DM but hey… lol
I know loads of folks diss stats but I review stats for an official body and to me loads of the players who appear vto do well 6 or 7 times a season when they are playing live on TV are over rated
Ginge – The Excited States of America are our major rivals in many sports, including the national sport of ice hockey and soccer, sorry football. So, i do NOT support the U.S. of A., but I did want to see them make CR7 cry, just like Germany did. Also, as my younger son said, if the U.S. does well in the WC it will bode well for the development of the game in North America.
I wont shed a tear if Germany stuff them in their final group game. The Americans will be more and more insufferable the further they advance in the tournament. The next thing you know they will be claiming they invented and developed the game.
Ginge, on the average age stat you brought up, it’s a fair point, but other countries have had success with those older players, where England has kept failing, so that’s why I thought getting rid of them and bringing In young guys would help for the future.
Spain….older side, massively successful but also guilty of failing to bring new players in.
I guess they could at least argue these guys had done the job, but England don’t have that to fall back on.
Baines….nothing but a decent left peg.
Shaw…young and inexperienced.
Gibbs was perfect.
He is better than plenty give him credit for, IMO.
I reckon he’s a star.
the less players chosen from AFC the better mates
There you go, prime example, I thought Khedira was a DM lol. Spot on with MOTD, we really dodged a bullet with Felliani.
I like stats, they do paint a picture. Usually good for a defensive mid actually, ie tackles won distance ran passes complete.
Look on the bright side, at least Gibbs wont be injured at the WC, unlike some of our former, current and maybe future players.
Morning Cg..
Nickie,but I blame Jose for not picking him. I reckon that had a fall out… 😉
that’s funny cg re 11:35, ts I have always respected your views even before my comments on HH, but can we blame the fans…..no we can’t as the media created the counting of our barren years 9years trophy less it ended they say, Mario Balotelli……I will like a big name for the sake of signing a big name but you need to ask is he better than Giroud? for so long we have under appreciated some Arsenal players because the press says Gorcuff (spelling) is better, you remember the rave about Yann Mvilla and Lucas Biglia years ago, do we even remberber the names the press has given us saying they are better than our players, those players faded and that’s why I have left the TW to Arsene to sort out I will be happy with anyone he brings in
It’s most likely a player not wanting to play because of the way the press build up a ridiculous expectation, and then the shlt they will throw at the team afterwards. Look at what they did to Rooney a few days before the start of this World Cup…a story about him shagging some bird. Why release the story just before the World Cup? It’s either made up or they knew about it sometime ago and waited until it would cause most damage. Newspapers don’t like good news…it doesn’t sell papers!
CG
He’ll just get injured pre season! lol
Is Ox’s injury more serious than first thought?
I really dislike Jose, but he has to be commended on dropping players if they aren’t up to it or aren’t “obeying” him. No player is bigger than club or manager.
so expect Cesc to be dropped Nickie
Nickie, Jose’s problem is he thinks he’s bigger than the club though 🙂
Luznic, I agree we tend to judge a lot of our players very harshly.
The grass is always greener on the other side though, right lol
hehe yes Hell n Scott! 🙂
So true Cg re. US of A and Gibbs being fit for us… at least on first day of pre-season training. You know I was teasing btw…?
You have a point Scott re the older players. But in my view its the system that defines the team not the other way round.
The dutch almost play the same way no matter if it is Van BAsten or Hasselbank leading the line…
Italians have a style of play set in stone but is adjusted to suit their star/best player…
England need an identity… at least when it use to be Big lump no.9 next to someone like Owen upfront we knew where we stood. It was boring but at least we got to quarter finals and semi’s…
If I had my way i would get Glenda Hoodle back with Neville as his asistant…
To me the time under Glenda was the best albeit Venables at home in Euro’s 96 was not bad either…
Luznic spot on re Yann Mvilla and Lucas Biglia.. 😀
Last week I asked on here were M’Vila was as a joke?
I have a friend who loves football and goes to almost every game especially away games..
He claims to know his football but he only watches Arsenal.. in his view if a player isnot heard of then he is not good..
i remember arguing with him over M’Vila because Aw did not sign him…
Luznic that is why I always ask what the media and fans would have done if Aw had spent £20m on a DM and then played CJ25 or Sagna as teh DM instead?
Pep did that and then claimed Lahm was the most intelligent player he had ever worked with…Considering he worked with Ronaldinho, Iniesta etc..
I know Aw is not a winner like Jose but to me no one has a better one at spotting talent (attacking) talent bar AW… lol
Jose’s buys at Chelsea and Intee almost all flopped…
So does Arsene Scott.. 😉
Ts, are you saying AW is the best manager for spotting young attacking talent?
Ts,
Don’t you think Wenger likes low risk though, and if they punch above their weight then he looks like a genius? He’s scared to spend too much money. Wenger has found some gems, but he also found some real stinkers when a bit more money would have secured better players
Ts, Jose is the problem of football that win at all cost is what makes me dislike him plus he talks dirty, people say who is that player we have never heard of him and then we got Koscielny, before then we got Sagna, we got Fabregas at 16, Henry even was unknown, Wenger don’t like the known he loves the unknown and that makes him different, that’s why when sagna left I laughed and said Wenger has someone in mind already, we never have problems at RB, Dixon-Lauren-Eboue-sagna, that spot has never been weak in Wenger era, Scott I heard the Manaus grass in Brazil was painted green….lol, there are no green pastures in Catalunya…..Hleb,Fabregas, Song even Henry can be a witness to that
I personally believe its been a long time since AW found a young gem…
Welcome Bertie, sorry for the delay in letting you out of moderation…
I didn’t see that Rooney story, can’t believe there are 3 women who have ‘been there’ with him… lol
Rico, Ramsey goes ok 🙂
On that night, I’m off.
Enjoy the Aussies whipping Spain…well, I can dream.
Night all.
Come on rico, it’s not Arry’s fault he can’t read, write, text or remember things, leave him alone.
I bet adam is just bursting to let us now his thoughts on Twitchy.
tsgh, shut up you eejit hehehe.
Welcome Bertie 🙂
Coleen, Fiona and the hooker 😉 lol
Hello all,
Couldn’t stay away from Gibbs debate. I think the Chelsea horror show cost him his place. The first goal that Schrrle scored. First ball over the top on the right wing and your LB is no where in the picture and if I am not wrong even second was scored from his side. I think that game really costed him his place just as all those years ago Carra was sidelined because he was destroyed by King Henry in one league game.
Just my opinion.
Scott, was he that raw when we signed him? 😉
Micko, you have a point… lol
And you were right about the Algeria game last night, it was entertaining to say the least…
I was about to add the granny Nickie, but she was the hooker wasn’t she?
And I don’t mean she played rugby… lol
Although she might…..
rico says:
June 23, 2014 at 12:51 pm
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqZaFLXCcAAvmC6.jpg:large
She’d probably have to have some experience in rugby to handle Rooney slobbering over her haha
Rico, have you never played bed ruby? It’s a great sport, if you can find one, to play seriously you have to go for the ‘try’ if successful you can then go for the complete ‘conversion’……satisfaction guaranteed. If you still have the energy left having had continuous mauls and rucks you may like to ‘try’ again this can lead to another ‘conversion’ usually accompanied by a lot of whooping and hollering! Sometimes the neighbours complain or even………..?
It is after all a team game!
Does Shrek have a tackle in him???
to shag a grannie you dont really need to have one!!!!
Nickie, spot on 12:42
hiya Syg
Night Scott..
Hiya Micko.. there we go… lol
How are you? have you recovered from England’s elimination yet
interesting s2s… i remember that goal well.. bad team effort imo
Not to sure about Mvilla..wenger being right not to sign him,
but if anybody wants a list of the world class players wenger could have signed but didn’t..I can remind you all,but it’s very painful.
He’s not young Syg… 😉
Jose has his get out of jail card as England national team manager job… lol
when Jose sacks him and Brenda refuses to take England role just before he is also sacked by the bin-dippers… 😉
Good read rico.this worldcup is quite exciting isn’t it?…
On Gibbs I personally think he has stalled.I thought he was so promising in his younger days from the 1st time he really shone in that Emirates cup a few years back.Last season for me he disappointed a lot.I expect so much better from him next season.I don’t blame Hodgson for taking Shaw who was better than Gibbs last season no doubt.all Gibbs has over Shaw is CL experience.I think Shaw has more potential to be honest.
Wavy, the only Ruby I know is a curry… 😉
Thanks Kt…
just seen this on lg
Arsenal have sold Carlos Vela for the second time. The party man from Mexico is going to stay on in Sociedad, we’ve sold his buyout clause for £8.8m, which means we pulled about £11m for him in total. I’m a bit gutted, I would have liked him back at Arsenal. Maybe we’ll now buy Griezsman instead?
mog, that news broke over the weekend, seems Afc are more successful at making money rather than spending it right now what with the Vela deal and Cesc…
Vermaelen is injury again
Hope Balotteli doesn’t came
When it comes to left backs I am in the Gibbs corner in my view he is now the best English left back.
Cole is not as good as he was but was still better then the left backs that went to Brazil.
The only argument for not bring Gibbs is he’s injury record which was better last season.
I can’t help but feel that the media had large say on Roy’s picks and who can blame him because when it all goes wrong as it has the media are in the same boat as the manager.
http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2014/06/arsenal-target-serge-aurier-becomes-fastest-player-at-the-world-cup/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29
Arsenal could have one of the fastest flanks in world football next season if they land Ivory Coast right-back Serge Aurier.
The 21-year-old, who is reportedly being lined up as an £8m replacement for Bacary Sagna, has been clocked as the fastest player at the World Cup so far.
Data from FIFA’s official team tracking stats shows that the Toulouse defender recorded a top speed of 33.52km/h during his side’s defeat to Colombia.
That puts him ahead of Croatia’s Darijo Srna (32.98km/h) and Netherlands’ Arjen Robben (31km/h).
It also makes him the prime candidate to make overlapping runs for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, who is the fastest footballer since records began.
The Gunners winger was clocked at 35.7 km/h in September 2013.
So, Arsene Wenger could have some serious pace down his right flank next season is the Aurier deal goes ahead.
your iponion about Fabian Johson (Hoffenheim) USA right back
Don’t worry about that Joe , the media will turn on Roy before you can say knife. They have their targets lined up like ducks at the fair. They are just getting their pop guns sorted.
opinion…
TV injury again
If you did not know this already then you have been burying your head in the sand.
Since Steve and Sven England have been a comedy for the rest of the world with our misfit managers whist the loyal fans build ourselves up to get shot down from a great height.
Harry knows he would have done better and despite him being ex spurs winning the FA cup with Pompy, never shying away from teams in decline earning the name Harry Houdini, getting players fired up, embarrassing when required, (he said about Bent his wife could have scored that) having a commanding and enigmatic personality, a true passion for the game and a real understanding of how to make teams tactically work, we surely all know he was the man for the job and is still.
Roy should go no doubt at all and Neville should to.The people that do the hiring and firing have to go. Flop after flop is a clear sign they are not up for it.
As for the players who did not want to play, I personally do not blame them, I cannot imagine any one of our many talented plays wanting to play for a manager like Roy let alone his recent predecessors just to go down as a national flop. Roy is a little spineless wimp who hides behind a media pleasing vocabulary, he does not have the balls for the job the personality, the tactical ability, the man management skills or most importantly the heart and courage.
Remember this the players are not to blame they are looking out for their bests interests as do each of us on a day to day basis, none of us will go to work for a poorly managed failing company to be forever marked as a flop and they have to take the flack from an entire nation.
Once again it’s time to man up as the laughing stock of the world and say making a mistake is ok repeating that mistake is madness, bring in a manager that can fuel the fire of pride in our hearts. Someone like Venables or Robson were and you have to admit Harry is the man.
It’s the way I tell ’em!
Lost in a typo, should have been ‘rugby’ not ruby, though I believe she did a turn too! Or should that have been she was a good turn?
He will not buy unless he can find a special, special player! And we all know he won’t find any!
An unknown from Ligue 2 is far more likely! AKB!
Potter
It would already have happened if the media weren’t complicit in picking the players that went to brazil.
As far as I can see Roy is getting a free ride from the press no turnip head photos in the papers.
Listen2me; I think you have a point but you are being quite harsh on Roy…
Remember that even Capello looked as competent as Gerry Francis or Ardiles at Spurs …
The media blamed Capello’s relative failure on language barrier/ lack of passion as a foriegner but if you consider that we went from a major force in 2002 WC under Sven Hufner to Steve Mclaren’s failures then the issue is not with 99% of the coaches but the players we have… purely over rated and lacking pride imho…
There is no silver bullet to international football imho..
if you mention dutch football, a 10 year old will mention total football;
if you mention brazil you get Samba;
If you mention Germany there is the German football efficiency…
Spain have their identity; even the italian have one..
what is ours/Englands identity in football?
Talking about how †̥ђƺ media brainwashes us about some players.Last summer they said Gustavo would win us †̥ђƺ league,turn out to be a shit,Luke Shaw is †̥ђƺ best full back,j-Martinez is †̥ђƺ best striker,Morata is better than giroud,bains is a worldclass,David luiz is †̥ђƺ best defender,handason is a worldclass when wishere or lampard will have be better option,Cahil is rated above koscienly etc,pls you can add yours
Jm- half of the US of A team are Germans and were born in Germany as there fathers were mostly afro-americans who married Germans whilst on posting to the fatherland;not forgetting the predator Klinsman himself…
I like most of the TSG 1899 team..Fabian Johson is very athletic but he is doing better in the WC than he does in teh bundesliga imho…
there=their*
Lol Sukky exactly… re Gustavo.. don’t get me wrong Gustavo would have been a decent squad player but the £14M+ or so that BM wanted for him was daylight robbery imo..
Don’t forget Wolfsburg only paid £14m because we did not go into a bidding war with them; it could have been more…
I like Ox and Jw like most because they are AFC players but the fact is both had relatively mediocre/injury plagued seasons… the fact that fans expected those players to send us to the WC finals surprises me tbh…
Rico, I missed your 12:41…
I strongly believe AW gets more signings right than most managers…
Yes there has been B-23 and Denilson but I can understand the logic behind their signings…
Denilson was Brazils u-17/18 captain and tipped to be a Brazil captain… he got married, injured his back, he realised he did not want to be a star because his parents died when he was very young and wanted to just have the simple things in life… the rest is history…
B-52- well he was meant to be the next laudrup and for 3 or 4 years he was on teh right truck but hhis gynormous ego and mismanagement derailed his development…
Eboue was UCL RB of 2006 when we got to the final; again Aw playing him as a RW, right sided forward in a 4-3-3 formation and even as a no.6 in games as the utility man did not help…
Gervais is just misunderstood 😛
Stepanovs- I am still trying to make an excuse for that one… 😀
Am kind of scared that JW10 will probably fail as †̥ђƺ media have destroyed him and he isn’t ready to simplify his game and learn like Aaron did.
Javi Martinez or Khedira?
track*
Jw10 still has time… I think the issue is that he wants to be a star man… and in England the notion that if you are not scoring or running 50 yards with the ball as a midfielder then you are not doing well has been his achilles heel…
To answer you question I will say it depends on what AW want or would like the team to be set-up?
Javi is obviously better defensively and can play CB too at least against UCL teams but in my view a fit Khedita is what we want based on the assumption that AW wants JW as a no.6.
Javi Martinez is a pure DM but in my view he has had a very poor season considering his standard and his transfer fee… albeit he was injured but when he came back, Lahm and Kroos had cemented their places in teh team and so he was lucky Dante was having a poor season so he ended up as a CB…
In my view, Khedira will work better with JW/Arteta type DM/play maker, if AW wants a deep-lying playmaker like Pirlo/Arteta…
I do not think JW has the engine nor the tactical nous just yet to do what Ramsey does for the team.
Looking at the way we play I strongly believe the issue is not with our DM but the box to box player… that was why when Flamini who averages less than 2 tackles a game was playing with Ramsey he looked very good but when Ramsey was injured we struggled.
Its like City without Yaya Toure…
I have always believed that AW should find a player who can compliment Ramsey in terms of energy and tactical awareness.( my view Kroos or Morgan Scherderlein…)
That was why when Song was playing as a box to box player next to JW who was the deep lying midfielder JW was considered world class even though he was not imho but fans blamed Song for wandering off…
Its the same as when Ox played with Song against AC Milan.. with Song doing the donkey work that was never appreciated that made Ox and co look better than they were…
A typical example of what I am saying is the Pirlo-De Rossi pivot for the Azuri in Brazil; without Montolivo doing for Italy what Ramsey does for us, Pirlo and De Rossi as good as they are become toothless…
Another example is why Seedorf/pirlo did not work and Pirlo was allowwed to move to newly promoted Juve… bUt with Vidal and Pogba/Marschissio next to Pirlo its a midfield as good as it comes…
Boo!! rico, well, that’s just ‘Arry trying to keep himself “relevant”; I very much doubt he has not at one point encouraged his own players to exaggerate their injuries to preserve them for club matches. Maybe, AW should do that more often with our players. 😉
CG, “Excited States of America”, made me laugh. I had the great misfortune of scrolling through the comments section of YahooSports’ USA-Portugal match summary. Oh. My. Lord. Apparently, the ref is bent, because the match should have been stopped on the 90th minute. 😀 Apparently, according to many posters, FIFA made sure that Portugal were given time to score. And that it is because the world is scared that US will become a powerhouse in football. Who would have thought, eh?
Scott, don’t worry about the Socceroos; I think they will deal Spain the coup de grâce. How the mighty (and mightily annoying) are fallen and all that. 😀
Hello, Sukky and Ginge. 🙂 🙂 Hello, all!
haha ha Agag.. I thought the US did not believe in conspiracies? hi to you too lady.
No place in the team for Cescy footy………
Spain XI vs. Australia: Reina; Juanfran, Ramos, Albiol, Alba; Cazorla, Alonso, Koke, Iniesta; Torres, Villa.
So it seems that Caz the Gazzzzzzzzzzz will be the maestro this time.
I am pleased for Santi…
I take it Santi will sit next to Alonso with Iniesta and Koke attacking?
Hello, Ginge. One of the funniest comments was one poster complaining about how that the game clock was going up, instead of decreasing in time. Oh my!!!
Oh, and apparently, Howard is in the top 5 keepers in the world; he is absolutely world class. Now, I don’t have anything against him, but… 😉
Hiya, Dev. Nothing is going right for Cesc it seems. Oh well, he made his bed,;he is now dying in it. He relly does get on coaches’ nerves doesn’t he? AW, Pep, Del Bosque, Phil Tangoman, et al.??
Lol Agag… well I am surprised they didn’t ask why there was no super bowl style break every 20 or so minutes… lol
Respect to OG12…
‘Giroud in L’Equipe: I have to do better in the big games and I’m working on it. I still think about those misses against Chelsea’
Lol Agag; Howard has vastly improved in the last 3 or 4 years… as they say goalies are like fine wine… they get better with age…
Then again playing for a team with less pressure is vastly different to playing for Yanited or even Arsenal… 😉
AW passed on him as he was concerned how Howard’s condition will affect his game. Aw allegedly sought/opinion advice from doctor… obviously it hasn’t Howard one bit
Giroud: ‘One day Wenger told me I’m too honest in my running, too predictable. I need to be more sly, tricky.
Perhaps if Giroud hadn’t been thinking about a different kind of ‘misses’ he wouldn’t have missed so many…. lol
Afternoon all…
Much better now tsgh, even plan my meals around the games, pasta when Italy are up, sushi when watching japan, england tomorrow nite…….going out.
Boo, Rico. Giroud is lucky dear old AW knows a thing or two about extra curricular activities, and was somewhat forgiving. Lol.
Ginge, many posters were indeed advocating for a change in ‘soccer’ rules. Right. As usual, the whole world is wrong, and the NFL, hockey, baseball, basketball have better the better ideas. 😉
Sukky, I’d say both and sell Flamini and Arteta!
Micko, any predictions? 😛
Boo to you agag.. 😉
If they don’t like it , they know what they can do.
Kebab tomorrow then Micko 😉
Who Potter?
3.34 Ts, I’m surprised you have never tried to get a coaching job, or did you? 😉
Yes agag, I predict if we try to match Costa rica for skill we’ll get battered, much better off kicking lumps out of them, Joel Campbell will be rested tomorrow so I ain’t got a problem with that !
Robben flopping again. Lol.
rico, Villa’s scored. 🙂
Micko, hahaha, Sounds like a plan! Maybe you should apply for Woy’s job. 😛
Cuadrado latest link , his agent in London tomorrow apparently. £ 32 million being quoted for a player that cost Fiorentina £ 10 million last year. Would be nice but can’t see it.
The spaniards 1-nil up against the aussies.
We missed out with him agag… 🙁
Chelsea, Tottenham or Qpr then Potter…..
Does anyone else think this ref has a long lost member of family who was born in Holland?
rico, maybe there’s been a promise of naturalization as Dutch citizen for members of the ref’s family. Haha.
Depay again. 😕
Bollox!
🙂 agag.
Oh, it’s Fer. Not Depay.
Imagine having Alexis in our team…
Come on Chile!
Oh I can Kt, I really can……
lol Rico… I am merely a keyboard football statistician.
Micko are you eating curry or fish and chips tomorrow? 🙂
Potter-re Cuadrado has his double ownership been sorted? or maybe Fiorentina bought him out..
He and Ozil would rip the PL apart, together with a top notch striker of course….
lol… what convinced you about Alexis Rico? His 20/21 goals was not good enough a few weeks ago 😉
It’s Depay now. Cruel. 🙁
🙂 Ts, but you spend each day telling us otherwise… lol
?? Ts, not sure I have ever said that about Sanchez….
TS according to Wiki :- On June 16, Fiorentina purchase full ownership of Cuadrado from Udinese
Shame for Chile but at least they are through, no need for them to fear Brazil in the next round….
It would be ridiculous having both in the same team.we can only dream….
oh thanks Potter… the Cuadrado rumours may have legs then because what has held the deal back was the double ownership…
£32m with £15M now place £15m over 3 years with other clauses won’t be bad…
He plays RB too…
Plot thickens re Campbell , According to his agent :- Batcia thinks Serie A is a beautiful championship and that Campbell has also liked it. He said that to date only Fiorentina has shown some sort of interest in him but anything can happen and that you should never say never.
Tie that to the Cuadrado rumour and things are going overtime again.
True Chile were really frustrated… Van Gaal shows his adaptability/pragmatism which may be a worry against a team like us…
Interesting Potter, so that may mean the Balo’ swap with JC was just a ‘rumour’ then?
Kt, but it would show ambition…. Big time..
As you say Potter, ‘and the beat goes on’ lol
I hope so rico…i really do.we have $€£¥ now afterall…
Bar being tripped by invincible ghosts Robben is quite a terrific player.at this rate he must be favorite to win the Golden ball.
Exactly Kt, but sadly, we know something like that will never happen.
Robben is a top top player, but a horrid cheat.
Rico i have this gut feeling that we are after Alexis but if we do get him i cannot see us getting a CF.I think deep down Wenger rates Giroud as a starter and he thinks he’ll deliver eventually.With Alexis in the team he can play with Giroud or without.I believe Wenger would try Alexis up front in some games similar to the Gervinho experiment a few years back.
Also unless we get a monster of a midfielder Giroud will always play or else we lack the physicality balance especially in the league.
If that happens Kt, I guess we’ll be looking at Campbell and Sanogo as back up.
On this WC showing alone, Campbell looks decent but the PL is a very different game imo.
I’m not sure AW can afford to put his trust entirely on Giroud’s shoulders as one injury and we are really in trouble.
Good night, guys!! Don’t want to stay up for the next WC matches. 😉
Night agag, sleep well…
I’m heading off guys, we have a big storm and mega rainfall…
Night all…
Nite all, the party’s just starting Brazil vs cameroon, no pressure on the hosts….ahem.
rico, the great thing about summer in ireland…….the rain is warmer !
Scott, any news on those jerseys, the wait is killing me.
Micko, it is here, it’s fantastic to watch…
Just about have a signal to watch TV… 😉
Say what you want about neymar but he’s the main man !!!
Brazil 1-0 up.
rico, anyone would think you were on double bubble, enjoy your evening.
🙂 Micko – you too….
Cameroon open their account at the WC 1 each.
Neymar 2-1, but how many tackles has he made !
Over and out.
Micko lol. Neymar is shite. Lol. If Brazil don’t drop David Luiz and Paulino they are gonna pay the price, I’m so disappointed with the EPL players in this WC.
So Spain touched us up.
Kind of expected it, but still, our boys did a Nation proud.
We will be a better unit in 4 years time.
Morning all.
Micko, I gather you didn’t read my response?
I never suggested Arsenal Australia had any info that the rest of the world didn’t on a release date, I said Puma told us they have not confirmed 100% the design! but if you choose to believe someone who saw them for sale in Macau then that’s fine.
Francois Piraux @F8Piraux
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Arsene Wenger not on TF1 tonight because he have many meetings with agents about new signings. He will be present for France-Ecuador. #AFC
DNA, let’s hope that’s the bloody truth lol.
The only transfer Aw is making is his money from the TSB to Credit Agricole! Players? For Arsenal? Never! He’s securing his pension!
Night all
If the report in the Daily Mail is correct (a big if) then ManUre have apparently offered Arsenal a paltry £6 million for Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal are thought to want £12 million for the 28 year old…
Personally I’d like to see Arsenal grow some balls and tell ManUre to fcuk off…
Let TV play out his last year and then he can go on a free, maybe he’ll go to Italy next summer…???
Are Arsenal really that desperate for £6 million????
If they are, then those in charge of finance, should be sacked…!
Better to take a £6 million hit than help Van Gaal in his first season…
Great post Rico btw…
Night All
Morning Lee
Kev, if we sell to Yanited after Wengers statement, there will be an uproar.
Morning Kev, statistically you were up late!
Morning Scotty.
Bookmakers SkyBet have made Real Madrid and France star Kerim Benzema 7/4 to join Arsenal this summer.
The odds have shortened following speculation that AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao could be on his way to Real Madrid this summer.
Falcao has previously been reported to have turned down Premier League offers from Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur amidst interest from the 2014 UEFA Champions League winners, as quoted by AS only 2 days ago:
“The player knows that Madrid need another striker to complement Karim Benzema and is now waiting for a phone call from the capital side. The 28-year-old Colombian, who is under contract with Monaco until 2018, has rebuffed offers from Chelsea (who have chosen Diego Costa), Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.”
The Colombian striker missed out on this summer’s World Cup through injury whilst his nation have qualified from the group stage after just two games. A point versus Japan this evening would be enough to see them win Group C.
Karim Benzema though has shown no interested in leaving the Bernabéu with Marca reporting that his agent is to sort out a new contract with Real Madrid whilst he is on World Cup duty in Brazil:
“Before the Frenchman headed out with his national squad, the player met with Florentino Perez to thrash out a few issues. The subject of money was not discussed. The French star has told his club he would like to stay on with Real and has now left it to his agent, Karim Djaziri, to finalise all the details of his new contract.”
Gunners boss Arsène Wenger is after a World Class striker this summer and Karim Benzema would be just that. But tempting the starter to leave Real Madrid may be mission impossible.
Unless that is la Galácticos sign both Falcao and Liverpool’s Luis Suárez who they have been strongly linked to.
Karim Benzema joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009 in a €35 million fee. After not living up to expectations in his first season he has gone on to score 15+ league goals in three of his five seasons in the Spanish capital, total 72 in 159 La Liga appearances. He also has 24 goals in 45 Champions League matches for the Spanish giants and was part of the side that beat Atlético Madrid in this year’s final.
Whilst on duty with France at the World Cup, Benzema has scored 3 goals in two matches as Didier Deschamps’ side have won both of their opening matches.
As well as on the lookout for a striker, Wenger is also looking to bring a right-back and goalkeeper to the Emirates Stadium this summer
Hi Lee.
As always, we live in hope 🙂
Well if he doesn’t strengthen the top four trophy will be a pipe dream! He’s got to build on last season….surely?
Morning Kev, Scott, Lee and all…
Benzema?? Pff! 😉
Agree Scott re TV to Man Utd…
Hi Rico,
I have no doubt we will spend.
I’m always confident, but this time I’m positive lol
I too think we’ll spend, only because we really have to and the old Frenchman wouldn’t want three years of abuse….
Barca and RM are arguing between themselves who has agreed a deal with Suarez first… lol
Morning Rico, Scott and all
Morning Ts. Just hope whoever wins doesn’t offer the dippers any players in the deal, not if we are after them….
You can’t offer a player who doesn’t want to go somewhere Rico 😉
Morning you lot……
Morning Wath, good point and without Suarez, those dippers aren’t much kop… 😉
Much kop…………. i see no pun intended of course…!
Plus the extra 20 games those slags will be playing….
Deliberate I promise… 🙂
New post up now…