Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...310907,00.html


I'm never happy when a player gets injured, but this is good news for us.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well it can do, Back then people were still paying stupid sums of money for players while others existed who were good but cheap. Same now, I think he may be able to find cheap but decent players. He has a very good eye for that sort of thing. Arshvian (who was already 'big') was cheap for what we got, way under £20 million.

I would say he only needs two 'big players' as well. People are forgetting that Arsenal did go though this season without conceding much when our proper defence was there so all he needs is an extra DC to cover Gallas when he is out and to further strengthening the defence when he is playing. Also maybe another Defender or Forward.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I think initially Wenger was helped by having worked with Henry at Monaco and he also used to work in the French youth setup too so he knew who was and wasn't good and that helped. He hasn't got that same network now so not sure if he can still get the players he used to.

One thing it does show that no matter how good a manager you are without the money to buy players he still can't compete

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Arsenal have always competed without money though, it just makes it harder when you can't throw £30mill+ on a problem area at the end of the season. It also means the players you buy may take longer to provide a return.

Wenger has managed to pay may players who were young and turned out good. Look at the Arsenal team now, how many of them are French or were well known when we brought them?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Arsenal do have the money, they just don't want to spend it. Usmanov is an Uzbek billionaire (and all-round nasty person) but he's been availing his money to the club for some time now and they've avoided spending it. Dunno why. Maybe winning a propaganda battle if they can replicate ManYoo's success without the £30m+ players. Arshavin was a real shock in that respect, but I think they would be in 5th place now without him.

Looks like Usmanov is going to get his way and Wenger is going to splash the cash.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Arsenal want to insure financial stability, prudence with purchasing decisions is part of that. I don't think spending stupid amounts of money is a good path to take although of course they should spend to improve areas that are weak. Our largest shareholder (I think) is now Kroenke who favours Wenger/Arsenal's current approach of careful spending, which is good because I don't want an owner treating the club as a toy.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the Bradford City fire disaster. I remember watching events unfold, always remember the policeman who's hair was on fire. The disaster goes largely unmentioned, worth remembering though, 56 people in total lost their lives. :(

I've just listened to the audio footage from the commentator who was at the game, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Overmars, Viera, Pires and Henry etc weren't cheap, it's a bit of a fallacy that Wenger won't spend cash, he just won't pay over the odds and I dont really blame him, to many players are being sold for ridicules sums, footballs in need of a big time reality check, foreign banks carrying debts of our top clubs is a hell of a lot different to Barclays, what's it gonna take, a big club to go to the wall before anyone acts?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...313949,00.html

no surprise there then .

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Nah, It was to be expected. The problem for them was it would open a flurry of appeals for every decision, much easier to say the ref's word is the final word. I have to say it's not as if the ref got it completely wrong! He just gave a punishment which was completely over the top.

---------- Post added at 19:26 ---------- Previous post was at 18:50 ----------

I wish the stupid papers would stop calling it a massacre. Arsenal's loss to United was a massacre, Arsenal's loss to Chelsea was not Arsenal being out played but because Chelsea were better finishers. (Arsenal's crap defence didn't help)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Chelsea fans have hatched a plot to get their own back on bungling referee Tom Henning Ovrebo - by stopping Norway winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/110520...ul-points.html

How sad.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Typical Chelsea fans, I'm unsurprised! :dozey:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

This is one of the most pathetic things i've heard in a long while.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Tevez to join Liverpool?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle2423893.ece

It wouldn't surprise me if that happened.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I almost clicked the link then Russ!! :p:

I don't particularly want him, although we are needing a few players. There has also been talk of Tommy Mascherano and Xabi Alonso going, but i'm hoping neither do.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Funny how there's no direct quotes from anyone in that article, even though the title says 'Tevez: I'll play for Kop'...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

lol, even if there were quotes i wouldn't believe it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Seen this, does any of our Scottish breathren know if this kid is any good or not?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...317897,00.html

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

RESULT.

Lancashire side Burnley beat Reading 3 - 0 on aggregate to go through to the play off finals.

You just have to love a team sponsored by a meat pie company.:D

Hollands Pies, legendary in the North West.:cool:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Let's hope and pray that at the end of the football season, we don't have clubs going to the wall, We have to have a cap on wages, before it goes crazy, we have clubs in the lower leagues, that cannot pay wages, yet in the top hald, we have clubs paying players over £100.000 per week, which is madness in the present climate.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Nice 1 Burnley - will make for an interesting premiership if they come up (not to mention the fans :D)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It would be nice, then there would be eight Lancashire teams in the Premiership.:cool:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Much as I would like to see that I think it is something that needs to come down from UEFA and FIFA otherwise it would put us at a disadvantage in Europe.

What I would like to see is more English players employed lower down the leagues, there are too many cheap imports that aren't really any better than the english players, and due to all the transfers these days the top clubs just bring someone in from abroad rather than buying from the lower leagues. Going even further you could allow clubs 5 transfers from their own league and only two from abroad each season but don't think the EU would go for that one

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/8047236.stm

I'm suprised he's won this, purely because in my opinion he hasn't been Liverpools best player this season let alone the best in the league. I cannot believe Vidic hasn't won one of the awards so far, it seems defensive performances go un-noticed when it comes to individual awards.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Who do you think has been?

I think they're spot on for what it counts.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Maybe the football writer felt that Vidic's defensive brilliance this season could not be rewarded because of the 3 ( Three ) red cards amassed by him. This includes 2 for elbowing opponents. ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Alonso by a mile in my opinion.


If i'm not mistaken he's only been red carded twice this season in the league, only one was a straight red and i don't remember either of them involve any elbowing. He's had two bad games this season, both against Liverpool, every other match he has been brilliant, the main reason why we went for so long without concedeing. If you watched the City game on Sunday you would have seen he was excellent and he's been putting performances like that in all season (apart from the two games i mentioned).

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Indeed! That sort of thing should be left to players who do it in their spare time, possible in a night club, for example. I wonder how far behind Joey Barton was in the voting. ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Benitez wants to sell Alonso and buy Barry. Sense?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Wigan fans are all over Ronaldo tonight, pretty hilarious.

He's already thrown a couple of hissy fits.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

So, you don't think there's thousands of scousers in the Wigan end then? ;)

Nothing new for Wigan fans to buy up countless tickets when they play Man U, and sell them on the black market. They did it last season, if my memory serves me right.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Blow Berbatov out for £15m, use that money to go towards Tevez.....

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ronaldo is such a baby, i'm glad Rob Styles realises that.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

w00t :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Two superb goals to come back! Brilliant!!! :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If we play like that on saturday then a draw might be tough.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson: "Carlos Tevez knows we want him to stay, I've had a chat with him today - it's never changed. But the fact that we're not negotiating with a football club is a problem."


Intresting....

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If they blew Berbatov out for half what he cost then that could go towards Tevez's fee, although it'll represent a big loss on £30m.

Goo old Spurs, they'll take him back.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Don't you worry! I am sure our defenders will raise their incompetence to match your ability to score. You could put a one legged man on and he'll break though.

I just hope Arsenal can show some positive signs, losing is fine as long as they put up a fight and show they can compete next season.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If Ferguson is stupid enough to do that i'm sure it will work...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It'll never happen though, they'd never pay £30m for a player and only give him one season even if he is as useless as Dimitar "can't hit a cow's butt with a banjo" Berbatov.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Thats my point, Ferguson won't be stupid enough to sell a player who has been average in his first season at a club, who didn't have a pre season to help him settle etc. You know, he's actually scored on average more goals then Tevez per minutes played and more assists also, obviously he doesn't work as hard as Tevez but we knew that before we signed him and that isn't his job when the likes of Rooney and Tevez are playing as the second striker. I personally think he offers a hell of a lot more than many people realise, if you watch him play closely you'll see what i mean.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

At the end of the day it's what they put in the net that counts, and Tevez has done it more when it's needed. I won't ever hide the fact I think Berba is the biggest waste of money ever.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Theres one thing for sure, there will be plenty of room on Gerrards mantlepiece.:p:

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Oh I don't know, I hear Premiership runners-up medals look nice...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Whilst I rate Gerrard highly he doesn't deserve the award this year. Its the David Ginola scenario all over again.

Gerrard got 73 votes out of 202. Giggsy got 63, followed by Rooney, Vidic & Ferdinand. If you add the 3 votes for Ronaldo and 2 for Carrick you have a total of 122 votes for United players. No wonder Gerrard himself said he was 'surprised' to be given the award, even he didn't think he deserved it. :rolleyes:

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:p:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/05/22.gif

Always thought he was a bit effeminate, but blimey...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well that's me pretty much done with football now, I'll never go to another match again or watch any team other than my own on the box. I always knew Sol was a complete and utter ************ *********

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8052332.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Next thing they'll be doing is banning any songs and chants that offend people, fining anyone that sings them :rolleyes:

Campbell didn't show any respect to the fans so why should they show any back. Ridiculous.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

All he did was move team after his contract expired therefore he must accept homophobic abuse? This type of thing has no place in football and the supporters that would bring it there deserve no place in the stadium.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Surely it's only homophobic if he IS gay? Personally I couldn't care either way but I just think there might just be a statement behind this.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I am not sure, it's certainly not as bad as previous thought but surely any abusive statements made with vicious intent has no place in football.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

And there is the response from the prawn sandwich brigade. And it isn't all he did, they loved him because he made out he was a fan and loved the club, he told them he was staying then walked out for their biggest rivals.

Shadows right soon you'll be to scared to start even the tamest of chants for fear of prosecution or being watched by lip readers, all the grounds will end up like the Highbury library, still guess your used to that. Oh and point out where he was racially abused because the courts made no mention of it, infact quite the opposite.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Which is why I removed it from the post, there were racist chants at that much as reported by pretty much everyone but these people were evidently not the ones who did so.

Being racist/homophobic has been a no-no for a long time in football and not once have I gone to a game where chants descended to that level so I don't think the majority of football supports will suffer as a result of this.

Anyway my initial reaction was based on the idea they had shouted racist abuse which they were alleged to have done, So I accept this is overly harsh but I still think excessive personal abuse against individuals should not be permitted.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

So that makes it alright then?

Regardless of what statements he made, he doesn't deserve to have abuse hurled at him where ever possible. Anyone who abuses anyone else deserves their punishment. Be it racist, homophobic, political, religious, etc.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

The majority of times these songs/chants are just banter anyway. I've been to matches where similar songs have been sung by nearly the whole crowd, me included, what are they going to do? Ban everyone from going to matches? It's been the same for years, he must expect it if he's going to totally disrespect his fans, there's been a lot worse sung at football matches then calling someone a bender.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Maybe people who are gay might also take issue with an entire stadium of people using homosexuality as an insult?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If gay people were chanting something about straight people i'm sure there wouldn't be an uproar.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yep imo that makes it perfectly alright, he was man enough to deceive he should be man enough to take the consequences. Will you support the prosecution through the courts for footballers swearing or spiting or for those sent of for violent behaviour because that's the flip side of this.

---------- Post added at 01:49 ---------- Previous post was at 01:43 ----------

Your right most of the songs I have heard about Sol have been pretty tame and quite funny, perhaps they did go to far that day but taking the action he has is only going to encourage more of it because it got to him, at least with our own Judas the hate inspired him and made him a stronger person, so much so that I even sort of, nearly, quite admire him these days. Nah what was I thinking
---------- Post added at 01:50 ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 ----------

Maybe there were quite a few spuds that day who were gay and were throwing the insults around as much as anyone else.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Heads up: in 5 hours this thread might become unbearable for anyone who does not support Man United... :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It normally is anyway.

I usually get fed up and disappear only to get sucked back in eventually.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yup :p:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I always try my best not to irritate people...But, sometimes, I can't help myself. :angel:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

You can redeem yourself by letting me know if you (or anyone else) knows a football commentary station on FM. :p:

Missus wants to listen to the Man Utd game, but we're off to the Lane soon and pubs will be a nightmare.

TalkSport and 5 Live are MW and BBC London is FM but aren't playing it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

So two wrongs make a right? Nice to know you support homophobia and racism. Just because he dedicated himself to one club, then changed his mind doesn't allow for homophobic and racist chants.

If you were in his position, I doubt you'd like it either.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I've done some mooching, and can't find anything other than the ones already mentioned. Your missus could always stay at home instead, and get her priorities right. :PP:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Although a draw would be good I hope SAF gets the hairdrier out at halftime.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Echo, I'll look forward to the banter in this thread when I get back from Loughborough drinking beers! :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I am in his position, you have just accused me of supporting racism on an open forum, ignoring the evidence presented in court.

Oh and as for being in the situation he has brought on himself, I never would be, the man lacks any sort of intestional fortitude and integrity.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

This is about to be the LONGEST 15 mins of my life! I feel sick.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:cleader: :cleader: :cleader: Champions :cleader: :cleader: :cleader:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Would have been nice if we'd taken it win a win (as Arsenal supporters will no doubt remind us....) but still, a win is a BIG win :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:clap::clap::clap::woot::woot::woot:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

This is the best one we have done - never felt so sick listening a game in my life.

Pedantic, I can finally enjoy your Avatar, you didn't jinx us :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2009/05/44.jpg

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...327895,00.html

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

How can you not support it given the circumstances? Because you think he has shown bad judgement and commitment means he deserves abuse does it?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

They can remind us all they like..

We still get the name on the trophy

:D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

couldn't have put it better myself :)


just to add : " it's not over till the fat waiter winges ;) "

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news...ug-dealer.html


Dunno how they think they can get away with such acts when very much in the public eye.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Told you it was my lucky avatar. ;)

:D

---------- Post added at 00:40 ---------- Previous post was at 00:34 ----------

Oh, and well done to Liverpool for making it an interesting climax to the season.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

...and I was waiting for the punchline ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I was tempted. ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Sorry, but you cannot leave it like that. I mean, come on, you were thanking Liverpool :shocked: :Yikes: ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I think even the most ardent Man U fan would admit they pushed us hard towards the end. (Although maybe not publicly ;) )

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

not in public, no... ;) not in private even...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Does this mean I'm a better sportsman than you then? ;) :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Because he hasn't been the victim of any racist abuse to my knowledge perhaps

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Very true. At a pre-season friendly between Norwich and West Ham at Carrow Road, the West Ham fans were chanting at irregular intervals and with much aplomb "if you shagged your mum sit down!", along with "if you love West Ham stand up!" The best chant I heard was "chim chiminey chim chiminey chim chin cha roo, we are those b*****ds in claret and blue; chim chiminey chim chiminey chim chin cha ree, you are those b*****ds in yellow and green!" Fantastic stuff to listen to, and all just banter between the fans.

You will get the odd twit here and there who takes it far too far, and they should be rightly punished, but the majority of chanting of fans is just banter, and the fans enjoy it as much as the players do.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I just prefer to gloat that it is now 19 years since they last won the league ;) :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

On the date of the Champions League Final I will be in the middle of an Eastern Med. cruise. I will possibly be in or near Kusadasi in Turkey. Is the match kick off time 8.00PM UK time?

I have worked out that if so then I think it should be 10.00PM in Turkey which would give me time for dinner ( at 8.30PM ) otherwise its room
service and watching in my stateroom ( cabin) on the TV there.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

7.45pm kick off or 9.45pm Istanbul time.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Bottles crashing all over Glasgow as both Celtic and Rangers try their best to throw the title away.

As it is everything comes down to the final game. A win for Rangers seals the title (and the fate of Gordon Strachan).

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Thanks, might just have time to get my evening meal in first then. :cool:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Come on Cambridge \o/

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...er-united-hull

Finally someone talks some sense on the matter.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If he plays a weakened side from his main squad, then that's alright surely? Doesn't an average starting squad consist of about 25 ish players? If he starts fielding a youth team, then there is cause for concern.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

the thing is you can have as many or as little players in your squad as you like so if we wants he can field 11 players from the youth team.

It's only the champions league that has a squad of 26 but even there teams manage to field weakened sides with kids etc anyway.

It is a tough one and not sure which side is right to be honest as can see both sides of the arguement

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If you were Hull FC, who would you sooner face, a first team that hopes to play in the Champions League finals three days later or the second string who will be out to impress and will not pull out of every 50/50 ball, or even every 60/40 ball come ot that. ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

That ain't sense, sense would have been to say nothing, the rule states you should field a strong team, that's all, Uniteds second string should be good enough to beat Hull, just like they should have been good enough to beat the Hammers a couple of years back. Dick Scudamore speaking out will come back to bite some one big time in the future, for instance if Fulham get to the Europa final this time next year who'll be able to complain when they field their second string? The team that gets relegated because of it, the team that misses out on winning the league because of it?