₦airaland Forum

RuuDie:
More interesting & yes. . . . . Stronger!

Do you think people are not fed up of watching dour Liverpool - Chelsea games yr in and out in the UCL the fact that two "big" names are squaring up against each other doesn't make a tourney strong or interesting. . . . in fact, fascinating spectacles in footie tourneys have been served up by less known / fancied teams.

My point is this. . . . . when we have some of this "small" clubs to "disturb" here and there, it makes the tournament less monotonous.
For instance, look at the Barca/Inter/Rubin group - tell me some1 is not getting excited out there about something unbelievable happening there. . . . . . invariably, these kind of situations heightens tensions and makes teams up their game to scale or fall by the wayside just like UTD seasons ago when they were drawn with Lille, Benfica and Villareal.
Frankly, am tired of seeing teams stroll thru the qualifying stages like they was playing the Carling Cup.
Look at the Europa ligue, do you see any particular pattern of dominance No. . . . . because at every turn, you don't know what to expect and thats just the beauty of the game there.

I agree totally!

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1766_5672406,00.html

Fabregas collects October gong
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has been crowned October's PFA Fans' Player of the Month in the Premier League.

Not least his team-mates and manager who hold the midfield genius in such high esteem. He's getting better with age and, considering he's still only 22, that's quite frightening.

The Spaniard is the heartbeat of an Arsenal team that many believe play the best, most attractive football of any side in the country. Again, no arguments there.

The architect of the majority of Arsenal moves, Fabregas also has the ability and vision to get himself on the end of some of them.

Such a knack has prompted manager Arsene Wenger to liken him to Chelsea's Frank Lampard, whom Fabregas edged out in the October voting.

Wenger said of his skipper: "He's a bit like Lampard in that he wants to structure the game.

"Cesc likes to be at the start of things and then get on the end of things, and he can push forward more this season because he has two players around him who can defend."

Fabregas has many fans, hence his latest award, but few are bigger than his Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott who fully appreciates what the captain brings to the team.

Walcott said: "He is fantastic to play with because he spots everything on the pitch and times his passes to perfection, so that you don't even need to break stride.

"He is still so young and, as captain, has a lot of pressure on his shoulders yet he continues to deliver. He is a fantastic person to learn from. It's hard to believe he is still only 22."

After Fabregas and Lampard, Chelsea hot-shot Didier Drogba third in this month's voting, with Manchester City's Craig Bellamy fourth and fellow striker Darren Bent of Sunderland fifth.


Congrats Fab4

dayokanu:
My wishlist

Juve does not win in france.
ribery comes back strong with Robben
we win in turin and get to the next round.

January comes
Rensing and Butt die( i would pay to get them killed)
Lell, gorlitz, baumjohann, go for free
Rafinha and Neuer or any decent keeper come
whatever else happens happens

Summer,
MvBommel, and one of Kloni go.
Dzeko, great CB, and a couple of descent Mids come in

dreaming of course. none of this shit will happen

Alleluia
We have been spared the ridiculous 'IF' lecture!
We have been saying it for years, the team 'Bayern Munich' should be part of history lectures in football courses
Just like the Nottingham Forests,Wolves,Hamburg etc.
Wish you will qualify for the 2nd round though
So that an EPL team will whip you silly home and away.
Pray it's Manure, becos they may show some respect and win 3-0 aggregate.
A 'Pool, Arsenal or Chelsea?
You may commit suicide after the match

sometimes I hate CL nights
Which match do I watch??

Ibime:
Death of mother inlaw na im make Almunia miss 6 weeks?. . . . hehehehehehe. . . . . most nuccas I know would be glad if their mother-in-law kpeme

What nonsense. . . . . Lamps was playing the next week after his momsie passed. . . .

We are all different.
Didnt Drogba lose his mojo when his granny passed on.?
With all we hear about Essien, if his mother should die he may quit football altogether.
We don't know if Manuel's mother in law paid for his first football boots or gloves
Or seriously, maybe the mother in law meant the whole world to him.
We are all different

dayokanu:
Are you kidding me ? He does that everytime. This was the line up last weekend Name the English player there

Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas, Vassiriki Abou Diaby, Andrey Arshavin (Emmanuel Eboue, 78), Alexandre Song, Robin van Persie (Aaron Ramsey, 86), Nicklas Bendtner (Da Silva Eduardo, 37)

Maybe an englishman would have played if not that he was taken out by a fellow english man by a tackle,which was described by the same english press as a 'strong, old fashioned one'.
Anyway, save your breadth dude,
An English man would be left back for the next one month
Hope that pacifies u

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=324131.msg4855083#msg4855083 date=1257270474]Arsenal don't pay shit.
As at 2005/6, Senderos' weekly pay was less than £2000.[/quote]Haba Sauron

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=345614.msg4854600#msg4854600 date=1257266279]06/07
07/08
08/09.

What planet are you from?[/quote]The Question should have been
'Why is your Maths so woeful?'

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=319383.msg4852984#msg4852984 date=1257253881]Sir Alex Ferguson urges fans to end foul chant aimed at Arsène Wenger
Manchester United are to write an open letter to their fans in which Sir Alex Ferguson will appeal for an end to the chants aimed at Arsène Wenger whenever Arsenal visit Old Trafford. Wenger is routinely subjected to a chorus of "sit down you paedophile" and the Premier League champions are so embarrassed by the nature of the songs that Ferguson has agreed to back his old adversary.

"We have gone on the record several times about this disgusting chant. We don't condone it and have appealed to fans several times in the past but to no avail," a United spokesman said. "There are many chants that opposing fans find objectionable, and this is certainly one to which all decent supporters should object."

The Arsenal manager has suffered the same abuse at other grounds but there is a sense that it is worse at Old Trafford than when Arsenal play at White Hart Lane, the home of their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. It was particularly noticeable when he was banished from the dug-out late in the 2-1 defeat for his team on 29 August, leading to a complaint from an Arsenal supporters' website and a promise from United's chief executive, David Gill, to bring it up as a lead item at the next meeting of the club's official fans' forum.

That took place before United's 2-0 defeat of Blackburn when it was mooted that the club's hierarchy, led by Ferguson, should support a forum-led campaign by conveying their feelings in a letter that will be sent to all of the club's fanzines, supporter groups and unofficial websites.

Though Ferguson is on reasonably good terms with Wenger these days, he has condemned these songs even when their relationship seemed broken to the point of being irreparable, describing them as "ridiculous" and arguing that "the police should be doing more".
In previous years United have published messages in their match-day programme, as well as addressing the problem on the club's own television channel, and when Ferguson was last asked about it publicly he said: "Manchester United and its supporters should also know very well the chants that have been levelled at us over the years – ie songs about Munich [air disaster] – and understand the sensitivity that is felt. I don't agree with it at all. There's enough to think about and admire in the game without resorting to denigrating people."

United will also instruct their stewards to take stronger action with supporters who ignore Ferguson's appeal. The club hope that ejecting some fans and confiscating season tickets will spread the message that it will no longer be tolerated.[/quote]See Fergie suggesting Police action.
Those imbeciles will never stop.
They have been begging them to stop for over a decade, they won't listen
I think Castrating them one by one at the City Centre will do the trick.

Some interesting statistics from the EPL this season
Culled from football365.com

Arsenal
* Robin Van Persie has scored seven goals in Arsenal's last seven Premier League games, scoring the opener five times.

* The Gunners have reaped 16 points from a possible 18 over the last six games, making them the Premier League's in-form side.

* In five home games they have averaged a phenomenal four goals per game.

* Of Arsenal's 1000 points gained under the management of Arsene Wenger, games against Tottenham have reaped 52 points (second only to Everton).



Aston Villa
* No Villa midfielder has scored a league goal not from the penalty spot since May.

* Villa have scored five fewer goals than at the same juncture last season.

* Aston Villa have fielded the same back four for their last seven Premier League games.



Birmingham City
* Only Hull City have scored fewer goals than Birmingham this season.

* But only Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester United have a lower average goals-against record.

* The Blues are yet to score a goal before the 37th minute of any Premier League game.



Blackburn Rovers
* Blackburn have lost their last ten league games away from Ewood Park.

* Rovers have conceded a massive 18 goals in five games away from home.

* Blackburn had two more points under Paul Ince at the same stage last season.



Bolton Wanderers
* Bolton have not beaten anyone currently in the top half of the Premier League since January.

* The Trotters have not kept a clean sheet this season.

* They have conceded 14 goals in their last four games against Chelsea.



Burnley
* Only Manchester United have reaped more points at home this season.

* Eight Burnley players have started every Premier League game this season.

* Graham Alexander is now their top Premier League scorer with three goals.



Chelsea
* Chelsea have not conceded a goal at home since the opening day of the season against Hull.

* Didier Drogba has been directly involved in 17 of 28 Chelsea goals this season.

* Chelsea have scored 20 of their 28 Premier League goals after half-time.

* They have not failed to score in any Premier League game since April 22 v Everton.

* Lampard has scored 11 consecutive penalties in the Premier League.



Everton
* Everton have drawn 1-1 in three of their last four games.

* The Toffees have got the same record as at the same stage last season: P10, W3, D3, L4.



Fulham
* Fulham have scored ten of their 13 goals in the second half of games.

* Only Chelsea and Arsenal had better records than Fulham in October.

* Bobby Zamora has either scored or assisted six of Fulham's 13 goals.

* Erik Nevland has scored six of his seven Fulham goals from the bench.



Hull City
* Hull have won three games in the whole of 2009.

* They have managed just four shots on target in their last three games against Fulham, Portsmouth and Burnley.

* Hull have gone 292 Premier League minutes without scoring a goal.



Liverpool
* Only six Premier League teams - Burnley, Wigan, Birmingham, Blackburn, Hull and Portsmouth - have lost more league games than Liverpool this season.

* Liverpool have conceded twice as many goals as at the same stage last season.

* Fernando Torres has scored 45 goals in 68 Premier League games for Liverpool at an average of two goals every three games.

* Liverpool had 64% of the possesion at Fulham but managed only one shot on target - Torres' goal.



Manchester City
* City failed to score at Birmingham for the first time since the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in May.

* Shay Given and Wayne Bridge are the only players to play every Premier League minute for City this season.

* City have recorded four consecutive draws.



Manchester United
* United haven't dropped a single point against a bottom-half team since the opening weekend of last season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle United at Old Trafford.

* Their last loss to a bottom-half team occurred almost two years ago at the Reebok in November 2007.

* Wayne Rooney's goal was his only strike for United in the whole of October.



Portsmouth
*Goals from Frederic Piqionne and Aruna Dindane were the first from Portsmouth strikers in the Premier League since April 18.

* Bottom club Pompey have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool this season.



Stoke City
* Stoke were credited with a pathetic 55% pass completion rate on Saturday v Wolves.

* Stoke have thrown away nine points from winning positions this season.

* They have scored just twice beyond the hour mark in games.



Sunderland
* Sunderland are at the bottom of the Premier League disciplinary table with 22 yellow cards and two red cards.

* Lorik Cana has beome the first Premier League player to be suspended for accumulating five bookings this season.

* Sunderland have only failed to score in one Premier League game this season - v Stoke.



Tottenham Hotspur
* Tottenham have reaped just seven points from a possible 21 since the injury to Luka Modric.

* Spurs have conceded exactly the same number of goals as the same stage last season.

* Robbie Keane has failed to score in nine of his 11 Premier League appearances this season.



West Ham
* The Hammers have thrown away seven points from winning positions this season - those seven points would put them comfortably in mid-table.

* Carlton Cole has been directly involved in eight of West Ham's 13 goals.



Wigan
* Wigan have not won consecutive Premier League games since March.

* The Latics have the worst record in the Premier League against bottom-half opposition.

* Wigan were credited with just one shot on target at Portsmouth.



Wolves
* Wolves hero Jody Craddock has never before scored two goals in a senior game.

* Wolves would be bottom of the table if all games ended after 45 minutes.

* Middlesbrough and West Brom both had more points than this Wolves side at the same stage last season.

MrCrackles:
Pick what up
Have you forgotten dude is useless, his middle name is useless. . .
With a BMX bike seat - type head, dude aint picking nothing up but a snicker bar wrap. . . .
Useless buncha Obertans. . .

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=324131.msg4849903#msg4849903 date=1257205557]It will SNOW in Hell before Arsenal will win the EPL. . . . .There i said it.[/quote]Bookmarked once again.
Still Remember:
'Arsenal cannot afford Arshavin'
'I will eat my remote,if Liverpool beats Manure'

Truth was spoken, but timing was wrong!

Any score would do, 2-0,3-0, let's just win.But if the score becomes 'comfortable', we should pull out the big guns
and rest them for the weekend.
We are playing Wolves,
But. . . . , . . .
Like we have seen so far,
no more small teams in the EPL
Any stuttering, they will take advantage!

Truth be told
The English Press thrives in overhyping their players
But. . . . . .
Rooney is not overhyped.
He is a damn good footballer!
Ask the defenders that have ever played against him!

Here is the man

presido1:
Hahahahaha Arsenal don win the EPL.

Obviously, you know nothing about the North london derby,or else u won't post the above.
Many Tottenham fans have called in today all over London to say they have got flu.
They won't be able to stand the ribbing in the office by Gooners

where was the offside?
aah,
I have 4gotten its O.T

shrek scores
2-0 to manure

Obertan

nateevs:
Why are you fellas hating on a young player?

Nope, not hating
Just having fun.

What a debut for Obertan?
Runs and runs with the ball till it goes out of play
Comedian

Obertan.  . . .
How old is he again?
He's lost most of his hair already

berba scores!

akinalabi:
Chimbonda will get a red card today.

seconded

akinalabi:
He's been arguably our best player so far

That time, nani should have squared the ball to roon or berba, he made the wrong choice by trying to beat his man
we've seen him do that time n time again


offside Rooney
that would have been some goal

Valencia plays old skool football

Nani can be so useless

This Dunn player is a baller ooh
Shouldn't Anderson been carded for that challenge?

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=324131.msg4831734#msg4831734 date=1256928605]I am tipping Tottenham to cause an upset at the Emirates.[/quote]Ha ha ha ha

Still on my way home.
Can't wait to see the match all over again.
esp the Fab4 goal
Heard Messi and Maradona would have been clapping for 5 minutes, if they were at the Emirates

Meanwhile, am I a winch
I predicted us drawing Citeh in the CC after our elimination of Liverpool
Well, bring Kuwait City on.
No stopping the Gunners!

Hey guys,
Didn't see the match but I got sms texts about the match all the way
Waiting to watch the match again when I return home.
Keane must be looking like a Tottenham idiot now when he sees the rerun of his interview
It's the Arsenal baby
Another victory over the spuds

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=278163.msg4830573#msg4830573 date=1256917752]Fully deserved:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Xavi.

I can understand:

Iker Casillas, Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Frank Lampard, Luis Fabiano, Franck Ribery Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, David Villa.

What the Bleep?:

Michael Ballack, Gianluigi Buffon, Kaka, Carles Puyol, John Terry, Michael Essien.

Essien missed almost 6 months of football last season and he made the list?
What about Dzeko, Grafite, Gourcuff and Arshavin who had a brilliant Euro 2008 tournament?[/quote]I have been saying it for years that this lists are highly subjective!
and sometimes players are just nominated based on past exploits.
A few years ago, Henry was on the list and he was out injured for half of the season
How about a year when Micheal Owen hardly played any football due to constant visits to the doctor and yet was on the list.
All these awards, just like statistics also obtained from matches, are highly opinionated.
Most times, I base my opinion on footie on what I see on TV, shikena.