₦airaland Forum

Sometimes in these kind of situations you can really tell so much about individuals, a popular saying goes "No matter how hard your run in the wrong direction, its still the wrong direction" Some people should take note.

This child is the future and i hope he achieves his potentials, all the players haters should eat S@#T and die!! (you know who you are )

Gooners be proud of what you have in your war chest Do not be decieved by PROPAGANDIST

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1892614,00.html

and

http://leftback.info/?p=5

GOONER 89

Why start this thread.

Drogba is head and shoulder above Ade(akinbiyi)bayor, in every ramification of the game. Comparing them is like comparing Zidane and Ribery.

Drogba is the star elect behind Eto, the only thing they have in common is their poor first touch

GOONER 89

Oga Mocha

Let me ouote Martin Tyler of Sky Sports once more to end this Goal ratio stuff;

"THIERRY'S THE MAN, NOT VAN
I'm a big fan of your outstanding range of knowledge of the football world and hopefully you can help me out. My mate and I were arguing about who has the best goals-to-games ratio in the Premiership. As an Arsenal fan I believe it is Henry, but as a United fan my mate says it's Van Nistelrooy. Can you solve this dilemma and put my mate straight. Philip Power, Dublin, Ireland.

MARTIN SAYS: Again, I have to thank the people of Opta for the statistical breakdown that proves you are right Phillip - but only just! Thierry Henry's goalscoring exploits are marginally better than Ruud van Nistelrooy's, and I do mean marginally. Thierry scores 0.68 goals per game, compared to Ruud's 0.66, while the Frenchman finds the target on average every 1.47 games, just ahead of the Manchester United striker who scores a goal every 1.52 games.

The link is in my earlier post if you want to check it out yourself. Anyway they are both Good players, i just feel T Henry is better than Ruud (has noting to do with him Playing for Arsenal. I also believe Ronaldo is better than Henry, so "Game recognise Game" )

I would also like to correct myself, i said earlier that Henry has won the Footballer's Writers Award 5 times actually it was 3 times (still holds the record) I apologise for the mistake, as i don't want to misinform anyone

GOONER 89

Yeah i think he will, However i do believe Chelski got him to deliver immediately, especially in the CL, Although he has an upper hand as he is Roman's friend, so his place in the team is assured.

But somehow i get the feeling that he and Drogs are competing and not cooperating, once they click, WOW!! But i also believe he would have enjoyed playing with Crespo or even Eijder G (can never get the spelling of his name right )

I wish Shevy well as he is a class act . (Just too bad he has to be playing for a scummy club like Chelski )

GOONER 89

Jackal

Like Mr Kit said "What is your point!?" Do not be decieved into thinking Sir Alex will not drop Rooney if this bad form continues and Man United get to that part of the season where they need to rake in the points, BELIEVE ME ROONEY WILL BE DROPPED TO THE BENCH AND USED AS A SUBSTITUTE. "NO PLAYER IS INDESPENSIBLE, and Sir Alex is in charge of Man United and answers to the Board and the fans, he is not there to be a baby sitter for Shrek.

Jackal i still insist that Wazza's problem is more of him adjusting to a new form of play, which he has to, Football does not respect names, you have to conform to the rules. And wazza has to find a better way to use his anger and passion for the game. Jackal i like the lad, even as a gooner (i have said it so many times) But i know the boy is suffering and needs help. you feel he should play, i feel he should be made to sit on the bench and fight for his place, that way he has something that will challenge him. the basic point being, he gets back the love of the game.

Secondly, if you think Myles Palmer is biased, then i wonder if you actually live in England Everyone knows that Myles is a gooner, but anyone that knows their football journalism, will know that Myles is one of the most objective gooners there is (even many gooners get mad with him for some of his analysis).

Every journalist has a club they support. Amy Lawrence of the Guardian is a Gooner, but she tries to be objective when she writes about football in the Guardian.

Jackal please do check, Myles Palmer is a well known football and Music journalist that is well known in England. You don't have to agree or like his analysis, the same way i hate Alan Hansen but Jackal do not accuse me of being biased, put up other links that counter any statement put by me. (We are not talking of wenger and Henry i don't know why you have to always make everything a Man U vs Arsenal thing, if you bring up a topic on an Arsenal player i will give my honest opinions. I was one of the few that praised Reyes and Tweedy, on NL and other Footie forums, so please lets try and stick to the subject, i get points from you, i know you don't believe you can get any thing from any other person.)

MYLES PALMER BIO:

Myles Palmer has written about football for The Scotsman, 90 Minutes, FourFourTwo, and The Scottish Sunday Herald. He has appeared on radio programmes and BBC television's Newsnight. He is the creator of ANR, a popular website. Myles Palmer is also a feature writer and rock critic, Writing regularly for mags like Rolling Stone and Esquire.

He has written several Biographies, most notably "The Professor" on Arsene Wenger and Mark Knopfler: An Unauthorised Biography by Myles Palmer also Small Talk, Big Names: 40 Years of Rock Quotes, 1953-93 by Myles Palmer.

So you see Jackal i am very selective on the views i put up, i didn't put up views by "Arseblogger" or "Arsenal Mania" or "Gunnerblog" which i know are very biased and unobjective concerning Non Arsenal issues.

GOONER 89

Ok my this should hopefully be my final thoughts and views on the whole Henry/ruud arguement.

Could some one please tell me under what reasonable criteria anyone would want to compare Henry with Ruud , is it down to World wide recognition, Awards garnered, or accolades recieved , i have shown its not even goals scored which people always are quick to mention. Even in Fifa's criteria of best players, Ruud doesn't even come close to T Henry, (when was Ruud ever even nominated ahead of T Henry in FIFA's world player of the year )

How many times has Ruud been given PFA player and Footballer writer's (TH14 has won it a record 5 times) player of the year in the PREM.

National wise, what accolades does Ruud have with his national team compared to Henry, How many goals has Ruud scored for Holland , where has he gone to with the Orange boys.

Listen people a footballers career is considered based on the whole packake (players like Maradona, Pele, and Zidane are considered world best due to their contribution and general place in the Football World not on Goal scored or assist ir anything of that nature, but as a whole package!!)

With this in mind, even King Goal scorer Sheva does not come close to TH14, the only person on your list that stands head and shoulders above Henry is the King himself RONALDO, Ruud and Sheve have a long way to go to accumilate the accolades gotten by HENRY.

Ruud was highest goal scorer in Holland, pls is Ruud not from holland and so it would be natural for him to start his carerer and excel there, but really that arguement doesn't make sense, Henry scored goals at Monaco and even won the LIgue 1 there so i don't get that point

Secondly for you to even suggest that T Henry chickened out of moving to Barca , when all the Barca players were sucking his dick and trying to show how much they knew him. Even Rikard was furious with his head of Football transactions over messing up that deal so i don't get the point of that statement either Personally, once again believe me if Real had a choice of either Ruud or Henry, 9 times out of 10 they would pick Henry!!

Finally to show you that this arguement holds no water, Ruud has been in England and was a brilliant player, ok how many times have opposition fans ever given Ruud a standing ovation at Man United away game (only a few special players get that, like Ronaldinho did at Madrid after a game btw Barca and Real) I really cannot fathom why anyone would even mention Ruud's name near Henry, they are both light years apart. The only thing Ruud has above Henry is his Euro CL goal ratio, while the same can be said about Sheva, who also has won European Footballer of the year.

Finally

http://www.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/12/15/henry.profile.reut/index.html

Honours
* World Cup - 1998
* European Championship - 2000
* FA Cup winner - 2002, 2003
* FA Premier league winner - 2002, 2004
* Captain of France under-18 team
* Appearances for France under-21 - 1
* Appearances for France - 69, goals 28
* English Premier League Golden Boot Winner (23 goals) 2001-2002, 30 goals 2003-2004
* PFA Players' Player of of the year
* Selected to FIFA 100 in 2004

FIFA World Cup (1998)
Euro Cup (2000)
Confederations Cup (2003)

French Ligue 1 (1997)
English FA Cup (2002, 2003, 2005)
English Premier League (2002, 2004)

French Young Footballer of the Year (1997)
French Footballer of the Year (2000)
English Premier League Top Scorer (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
EPL Footballer of the Year (2003, 2004, 2006)
Confederations Cup Top Scorer (2003)
Confederations Cup MVP (2003)

Thats all i will say on this.

GOONER 89

Now fellow NL member let me put this arguement to an end, as it seems to be a re occuring decimal on this forum of the "RUUD VS HENRY" issue.

Let me start again by quoting Martin tyler from Sky Sports, as Oga Seun used Derek Rae of ESPN as his source.

"THIERRY'S THE MAN, NOT VAN
I'm a big fan of your outstanding range of knowledge of the football world and hopefully you can help me out. My mate and I were arguing about who has the best goals-to-games ratio in the Premiership. As an Arsenal fan I believe it is Henry, but as a United fan my mate says it's Van Nistelrooy. Can you solve this dilemma and put my mate straight. Philip Power, Dublin, Ireland.

MARTIN SAYS: Again, I have to thank the people of Opta for the statistical breakdown that proves you are right Phillip - but only just! Thierry Henry's goalscoring exploits are marginally better than Ruud van Nistelrooy's, and I do mean marginally. Thierry scores 0.68 goals per game, compared to Ruud's 0.66, while the Frenchman finds the target on average every 1.47 games, just ahead of the Manchester United striker who scores a goal every 1.52 games.

HENRY'S HAT-TRICKS
I would be very happy if you can tell me whether Thierry Henry has ever scored a hat-trick against teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Newcastle, or any of the big teams in the Premiership. Kwadwo, Ghana

MARTIN SAYS: Well Kwadwo, Thierry Henry has racked up extraordinary goalscoring feats in his time at Arsenal, but he has only scored one hat-trick against the 'big teams' you mention. That came on Good Friday, April 9 2004 when Henry netted three times in the 4-2 win over Liverpool. For the record, that took his tally against the Reds to six goals in 11 starts. He has not scored hat-tricks against the other sides you list, but has scored seven times against Manchester United in 11 starts, eight times against Chelsea in 10 starts and just five against Newcastle in his 11 starting appearances for Arsenal. He has also scored four goals in nine north London derbies against Tottenham."

From

http://home.skysports.com/column.aspx?hlid=344520&lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Martin_Tyler&title=It's+Henry+by+a+head+-+Tyler&channel=football_home

Now oga Seun, back to your assertions on him not starting his debut season

T henry Joined Arsenal August 03, 1999 and made his Arsenal Debut Leicester City (h)
Premiership August 7, 1999,
Won 2-1

Scored his !st Goal at the dell against Southampton Nov !999 and went on to score a total of 26 goals that season which was his first .

that deals with that , now on to the analysis (i am expending energy on this so as to hopefully put a stop to this thread once and for all) People please bear with me.


GOONER 89

Oga Seun

How can you say T Henry did not start in his first season at Arsenal

Let me start this with a quote from Martin Tyler of Sky sports

TYLER'S STARTING STAT - KING HENRY OF HIGHBURY

"When Thierry Henry scored the second goal against Blackburn on Saturday he became the first - and I think we can safely say last - player to score 100 league goals at Highbury. He didn't know that he was setting a record when he scored and he was surprised to see it come up on the big screen. After the match I had to explain that he is the first player to score 100 Premier league goals in one stadium. Alan Shearer is currently on 91 at St James' Park and 83 from his days at Ewood Park and that puts him second and third. Cliff Bastin and Doug Lishman both scored 88 in the league at Highbury. "

and

THE FAB FIVE

"Please help: Who are the top five goalscorers since the Premiership started? It's my understanding that the Premiership started in 1992. Jeremy

MARTIN SAYS: Always happy to answer a cry for 'help' Jeremy! You were right in thinking the Premiership began in 1992, and I can supply you with the top five scorers since that date. I will even go as far as to supply you with the top scorers and can also tell you that the most prolific, in terms of goals per game, is Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, who even fares better than the king of Premiership goalscorers, Alan Shearer.

PREMIERSHIP ALL-TIME TOP SCORERS
POS PLAYER GOALS GAMES GLS PER GME
1 Alan Shearer 260 441 0.59
2 Andy Cole 185 389 0.48
3 Thierry Henry 165 240 0.69
4 Robbie Fowler 160 361 0.44
5 Les Ferdinand 149 351 0.42 "

From

http://home.skysports.com/column.aspx?hlid=416968&lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Martin_Tyler&title=Three+strikes+and+in+-+Tyler&channel=football_home

and

http://home.skysports.com/column.aspx?hlid=329571&lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Martin_Tyler&title=Disregarding+Henry+-+Tyler&channel=football_home

Next thread will give my final analysis on this topic

GOONER 89

[b]Rooney isn't off-form, he's stuck
By Myles Palmer

The sports pages don't say it.
The TV pundits don't say it.
The radio reporters that I rarely hear probably don't say it.
The websites and blogs don't say it.

So it's down to me to say : Rooney has to be coached. He has to improve his movement.He has to improve his play off the ball.

It is that simple : Wayne Rooney has to improve his play off the ball.

His whole game so far has been on the ball. That is wrong because half of the game is played off the ball. Even Maradona, who could beat five opponents, had to be cute about where he positioned himself.

WAYNE ROONEY wants to be Superman and we think he can be Superman.
His thing is : Just give me the ball.

In his book Steven Gerrard talks about Rooney in the dressing-room before the Euro 2004 encounter with France: "He was just messing about with the ball, as if he were going out for a Sunday League match, 'Just give me the ball,' he told everyone. 'Give me the ball. I will do it. I want it'." That was OK for 2002 because he was 18 and fit and relaxed and he was playing in a team with a bit of rhythm, and he was able to surprise the opposition, and expectations were a lot less. He played very well, scored goals, and announced himself on a world stage.

The reason he doesn't score more for United and England is blindingly obvious : he doesn't get the ball in the right areas because he is not smart enough. He's not cute like Bergkamp, he's not patient enough to wait for it like Sheringham. He is a raging bull. His positions on the field are dictated by his temper, by his impatience, by a powerful desire to do everything : win the ball, dribble, pass, score, win it again, cross it and head in his own cross. He drops back too far and tries to do other people's jobs. He does a bit of everything and achieves a lot of nothing. He does that because the Man United midfield is inadequate and so is the England midfield.

But the basic problem would be there anyway : Rooney wants to do more than is possible and he wants to do it all on the ball. He has to learn that less is more. He has to learn to play off the ball as well as on it. He has not scored for England for two years because he hasn't improved. And he hasn't improved because he's still playing naturally, still playing with the instinct and natural ability that got him a contract with Everton, and then with Man United, and won him a senior cap at seventeen.

He's been playing Under-21 football in the senior team and its been so brilliant at times that we have all just let him do his thing and assumed that he will develop. No goals in two years suggest he's not improving. He's had injuries and suspensions but even without those he would not have improved because he thinks he is Roy of the Rovers and he is still playing cartoon hero football.

And his managers don't help him. They say : You can't coach genius. They also say : You can't drop Rooney, he's our best player.

The media don't help him because there is no sensible debate about his role.
I mean : What is he?
What is Wayne Rooney?
He's not the new Alan Shearer, so what is he?
Is he the new Bobby Charlton?
Is he the new Jimmy Greaves?
Is he the new Paul Scholes?

I don't know. But it's a team game and he should have a specific role in a team that keeps him doing the things that matter most to the team, things that other players cannot do. He has to stop ball-chasing like a schoolboy, stop playing like a one-man whirlwind for 28 minutes and then screaming at the ref about a foul that didnt happen.

Yes, Rooney is kicked a lot, held and blocked. Yes, he was fouled in the World Cup quarter-final before he trampled so gently on Carvalho's bollocks. The ref should have given him a free-kick and when he didn't get it Rooney trampled on the defender's balls, reaching back with his left foot, knowing exactly what he was doing because great footballers always know exactly where their feet are.

I don't think he is off-form. I think he's in a rut. He's trying too hard to repeat his Goals of the Month. He's stuck.

Latest news from the England camp is that Scott Parker will replace Gerrard in a 3-5-2. He is a ball-chaser, like Rooney.

Parker is a busy short-ball man who helps you maintain a high tempo. Let's hope he doesn't get booked in the first ten minutes.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic says he hopes England do play 3-5-2.

I'm sure his assistants, Asanovic and Prosinecki, feel the same way.They know that system inside out and finished third in France 98 using it.[/b]

http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/373/42.html

One view on this topic, will look for more and paste

GOONER 89

Jackal

Why do you always see the need to insult folks, if you do not agree with what anyone says, just argue counter to the arguement. The arguement is not whether you like Rooney or not, no one says Rooney is not a good player, but everyone is entitled to feel that Rooney is crap, the same way you feel Cesc is not high in your footballers stardom book.

Now what did i say that was wrong.

Did Keano not say as much,

Do you actually think Sir alex will not drop Rooney to the bench if he feels Saha, Ole and C ronaldo gives him better options, or if Giggsy comes back from injury. So i really do not know what was said for you to react like that. If you don't agree, just give your arguements why you think we are wrong, we don't have to agree with you, but at least we can get to see your point.

Every one has been looking at this and coming to some conclusions, even seasoned journalists, but i guess if you don't agree with them, then they also are smucks. Jackal, we have arguements in bars and with pals and other folks over footie issues, and they don't result in arguements, even when people are shouting.

You turn to insults because its over an internet forum, which is quite sad. but convinent for you as you are not in front of the person who you want to insult.

Well its your stlye, and what makes you you, so since everyone on the board is use to you that way. I guess its fine. Doesn't bother me either way. Like i said, you are just a pussy cat, and if you get your kicks or jerk off through insults, more grease to your palms.

Just be you

WAZZA (SHREK) GET BACK IN FORM MATE AND PROVE US ALL WRONG (BEWARE THE IDLES OF GAZZA )

GOONER 89

Hey D don't be mad at him, its just his stlye, in all honesty, he is a pussy cat

Back to the thread, i have said it for sometime that there is a problem with Shrek. but you know how it is, he has been hyped up so much that now he has to live up to it day in day out, and for a lad his age, its not easy.

As for the Cesc comparism, well seeing that they both play different positions, i think the comparism is unfair. Cesc with carrick or Zakora or there about is a far better comparism, unless you are looking at the age thing, But i will say categorically that Cesc Fabregas will last longer in the game and get more accolades than Wazza, that boy will be a genius, Same thing with C Ronaldo, those two are special.

Rooney will burn out with time, yes he will have the odd spectacular game, but on a consistent basis he won't last .

well on the other statement. Football is an evolving sport and Rooney is not god, so if he can not change his stlye of play, too bad, and what a pity, Football does not wait for no one. Zidane and Maradona found that out harshly towards the tail end of their era's, and it would be a shame if Shrek doesn't adjust.

All and all, he is going througfh a bad patch, and to be fair he is actually handling it with some maturity, but a time will come when Fergie will have to decide whether to bench the lad until he picks up form, and this will either motivate him or kill his desire and make him resentful.

And once more i will quote Roy Keane. "Rooney hasn't won shit", as he said, you look at a footballers career over a period of time, not on the short term, and right now players like Cesc, twinkle toes Ronaldo and Robinho are heading in the right direction (i mean Cesc and C Ronaldo are wanted by the best teams in the world. i doubt Rooney will have many takers outside England, as foreign coaches can see beyond the English Hype, FFS where is Mikey Owen )

Like i said somewhere else, i like the lad and wish him well as he plays footie the way i like it. Wazza live up to your expectations

GOONER 89

Oga Seun

Haba how you go compare TiTi with Ruud, Na tropies or awards you want use compare them. Because if na goals well so be it, But realise that Its only in Euro CL goals that Ruud is higher than TiTi, in the Prem goal scorers list Ruud comes no where near TH14, and now that he has even gone to spain

By the way i will even go as far as saying, if Eto didn't have an injury, Ruud wouldn't out score him. National team wise Henry has scored more goals for Les Bleus than Ruud has for The Orange boys. so no comparism there either.

I guess you all use Eurpoean CL standard to compare and contrast. For me the only player in your list that stands high and above Henry is[b] Ronaldo[/b]. Anyway its your list. and you are entitled to your opinions.

I just feel Henry is better, but we all don't have to agree (personally i feel Eto is better, but only in terms of goal scoring, and not overall play, which i feel Hernry has a slight edge over him!!)

GOONER 89

Hey NL Russian Brigade

Issue for you

[b]Why is Shevchenko struggling to adapt to the Premiership?

Is Chelsea's new boy simply past his best, or are there other reasons for his early-season troubles?
Rob SmythOctober 4, 2006 11:55 AM

At first, it sounds like one of those ubiquitous and annoying riddles that actually has no answer. Marlon King can do it but Andriy Shevchenko can't. Mark Atkins could do it but Juan Veron couldn't. Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp couldn't do it for a couple of months but then did it brilliantly. Robert Pires took a season before he could do it. Shaun Goater did it from the off. Scandinavians generally do it much better than South Americans. What is it?

Hack life in the Premiership, that's what. Seeing a player as good as Shevchenko struggle so badly is startling and excruciating; while English football is clearly a genre unto itself, no genuinely world-class player should be unable to adapt. Yet the reality is that the purchase of foreign players is such an inexact science - even the master, Arsène Wenger, paid good money for the likes of Pascal Cygan, Kaba Diawara and Oleg Luzhny - that, to borrow from William Goldman's treatise on Hollywood, nobody knows anything: why Shevchenko is struggling, when his struggles will end, whether they will end, or why any world-class players would struggle in England. But here are six possible theories.

1. He just needs time

Arguably, it would be more of a surprise if Shevchenko didn't struggle initially. Most of the greatest foreign players have: Dennis Bergkamp did not score until his eighth game for Arsenal, Thierry Henry until his ninth, during which time both were ridiculed by the tabloids, while Eric Cantona was a bit-part player at Leeds for almost a year before moving across the Pennines to find his natural stage. Indeed, the irony of Shevchenko's woes being exacerbated by the blistering form of Didier Drogba, who for two seasons was apparently not cut out for the Premiership, will not be lost on Jose Mourinho. If the good will out, the great - and Shevchenko is certainly that - should have nothing to worry about.

He just needs time. Generally the chief strugglers have been the attackers. More universal footballers such as Claude Makelele, Gabriel Heinze, Sami Hyypia and Peter Schmeichel have found that their job descriptions have changed very little upon arrival in England. Attackers are different, and yet the perception remains that it is defences which need time to gel; that the back four is the great unrotatable of football. In reality it's the opposite: destruction is intrinsically easier than creation, and attacking players need just as much time as defenders to establish rhythms, connection, understanding.

2. He can't handle the muck and bullets

As Roy Keane said, in reference to Veron, the idea that world-class players cannot handle the "muck and bullets" of the Premiership is nonsense. The notion that English football is too fast, that foreigners don't like it up 'em, is a grotesque oversimplification borne of an almost colonial contempt. If it was as simple as that, England could pick the Watford team and rule the waves. The Premiership is certainly more robust than most leagues, and British beef is not to everyone's taste, but the success of pint-sized technicians like Juninho and Gianfranco Zola suggests it is a long way from being a determining factor. Besides, the likes of Paolo Montero were hardly treading on eggshells while trying to stop Shevchenko in his Serie A days.

3. It's all in his head

Many of the Premiership's greatest flops - Veron, Diego Forlan, Serhiy Rebrov, Albert Luque - have been meek, diffident characters; fairweather friends who squeeze tight to the smooth and recoil at the rough. The same can be said of José Antonio Reyes: he was not so much kicked out of football by the Neville brothers as kicked out of playing his normal game. As his ankles were bitten, so his toes stopped twinkling. Contrast that with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has the mental courage and self-belief to keep knocking at the door no matter how many times he is told where to go.

Reyes and Veron, like Ian Rush when he went to Italy, also exhibited classic symptoms of homesickness. Sometimes, playing football abroad really is like being in a foreign country. Or a player might suffer from personal problems - things which do not relate directly to the job but which impinge significantly upon it. Sometimes, it really can be something as ostensibly straightforward as that: sometimes, for no apparent reason, you get bad vibes which never quite go away. But the fact that Shevchenko, and his wife Kristen Pazik, has occupied as many column inches in the gossip sections of the tabloids as the sports pages suggests that life in London suits him just fine.

4. He is being misused tactically

There is significant precedent here: Veron was signed on a whim in 2001 by an excitable manager who suddenly had money to burn (Ferguson's principal target that summer was Patrick Vieira, an entirely different type of central midfielder) and many feel his failure was down to mismanagement. Hindsight shows he was a poor signing in the first place - United's orchestral midfield had room for only one conductor, the peerless Keane - and then, upon realizing that problem, Ferguson tried to get round it by shunting Veron onto the right of midfield.

In many senses, Veron was a Championship Manager purchase, bought for who he was and what he represented rather than after a conclusive analysis of how he might fit into the team. The same applies to Luque, Rebrov and Kleberson, who were all bought without a specific role in mind. Contrast that with Wenger, who watches players dozens and dozens of times to appraise exactly how they will fit into his team.

There are concerns that Shevchenko, like Veron, is in the wrong place at the right time; that he was bought on status, this time by an excitable owner with money to burn. At Milan he was drip-fed chances by a phalanx of seductively brilliant midfield craftsmen: Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, Clarence Seedorf, Rui Costa. At Chelsea he is more likely to be feeding off long passes from Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack or scavenging for knockdowns from Didier Drogba. Worse still, he is sometimes being used as the nominal wide-right in a 4-3-3 formation, as grotesque a misuse of a natural predator since Johan Cruyff tried to convert Gary Lineker into a total footballer by dumping him on the right wing at Barcelona in 1988.

5. He's out of form

Simple as that. Like Wayne Rooney, Shevchenko hasn't quite recovered from a pre-World Cup injury and his rust is compounding the inevitable teething problems of moving to a new culture, a new club and a new style of play. This is a man who scored 127 goals in 207 games in Serie A, the most sophisticated defensive institution in world football. Once he finds his form and rhythm, the Premiership should be easy pickings.

6. He's past it

Don't be silly.[/b]

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/10/04/shevaending_story.html

Give objective views please, and keep the good work up on, unsettling the Mancs, hopefully in 2 weeks time we shall be joining you all at the top (hopefully we will be on top and leave you guys to fight for 2nd ).

May the best man(team) win

GOONER 89

NL "ONE UNITED CHAPS", Here is an article by Myles Palmer concerning what i have asked before.

[b]"FOR WEEKS Rooney's form has been a matter of daily debate.

Banned from England, correctly, suspended by the FA, harshly, Rooney came back from his metatarasal and his bans and has struggled to find his match fitness, his touch, his game.

England play Macedonia in Manchester on Saturday and Steve McClaren has said he will start Rooney, even though he is not scoring and nowhere near his best form.

Why is the lad struggling?Is it just time? Does he need another four weeks? Does he still lack games?

Myself, I'm a bit worried. It looks as if the pressure is getting to him. And that is because the pressure is incessant. Since amazing the world with his high-powered artistry at Euro 2004, a lot has been expected from Rooney in every game. He is in the spotlight. He is in the crucible.The laser beams of expectation are shining on him and there is no escape. His fame is amplified by the communications technology that goes with twenty-first century celebrity, so Wayne Rooney's form is the sporting issue of the moment. Forget bungs and dim young Craig Allardyce, or Lord Stevens telling us to wait another eight weeks for his definitive bung report, Rooney's form is the big issue.

At Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo is flying, and maybe CR gets one-on-one advice from Sir Alex's assistant Carlos Queiroz.

But who is there for Wayne ? Sir Alex said when he signed him that Rooney doesn't need him to tell him how to play football.

And Sir Alex, nicknamed "Razor Elbows" when he played centre forward for Rangers, loves aggressive players. Scholes cannot tackle but he is still kicking people ten years later. Sir Alex loved Keane, he loved van Nistlerooy. He values the belligerence of Rooney, who intimidates opponents, as Keane did.

Rooney, a macho teenager, always seemed very self-contained, always denied needing help He has always said : leave me alone to do my thing.

But, at the same time, he is a shy lad and maybe he fears opening up. Maybe he thinks that advice will clutter his mind and cause him to lose his edge.

Having said all that, Wayne Rooney is cooler than Gazza, less vulnerable, less self-destructive.As we saw recently when Wayne and Colleen and three other couples were having dinner in the Panacea restaurant.

Blackburn's Michael Gray, who was drunk, approached their table and suggested they share the girls around, taking two each. Rooney asked him to go away three times, as did the staff. But when Gray still insisted on being obnoxious Rooney, without getting out of his chair, clipped Gray on the chin and flattened him.

It was not a brawl caused by a rough scouser from Croxteth.And it did not involve a civilian. It was just a small incident in a restaurant. It was a shame that Michael Gray got pissed and behaved stupidly. But many British footballers do that.

Two weeks ago Sunderland manager Roy Keane was a Sky pundit at Old Trafford and said that Rooney still has "a hell of a lot to do. Wayne has achieved nothing. I would judge players over a few years rather than one or two."

Roy is right. At the moment Rooney's achievements are less impressive than his talents, and that's partly because he does not consistently use his talents to maximum effect.

Why is that ? Is Sir Alex the right manager for him ? Would Rooney benefit from a move ?

So Saturday could be interesting. If Venables is half as talented as Tony Adams says he is, the assistant coach must be able to help Wayne Rooney regain his form against Macedonia.

Clearly, if Rooney scores against Macedonia, and again in Croatia next week, the form issue goes away and the footballer comes back.The real Rooney could be back in business. And if Rooney plays better for England at Old Trafford than he does for Manchester United, it doesn't reflect well on Ferguson, does it ?"[/b]

http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/366/42.html

Now Mr. Palmer might be a Gooner, but he his quite objective in his analysis, he tries not to be biased, (but unfortunately as human beings we all have our biases). Read this article and respond with your thoughts. Like i said, despite my alliegence to Arsenal and my hatred of United and all they stand for , i do admire the talent of Shrek, as he plays footie the way i feel it must be played, WITH REAL PASSION , (And i think Mr. Palmer being english, will want to see Rooney do well cause if Wazza does well, England does bloody well!! and you ONE UNITED chaps will do well in the league as well )

Expect your views!!

GOONER 89

Oga Jaguda (Why did you pick that name )

I feel you guy , but the thread was about Wenger , there are other threads about other topics like the Nigerian league and about nigerian players, we all have contributed in the Mikel thread, so don't accuse us of being biased.

Secondly, You insult me, by putting my name together with Jackal!? (how could you a fellow gooner do that, its sacrilage and i intend to go on dry fasting till you correct this blunder )

Thirdly, you really want Jackal to respond to you, or you are just making a point, be specific as he will need to take time to know how he is to respond (insult you) back.

Finally i am a true naija guy to the core (i just prefer watching Arsenal than my National team, shoot me for a while i prefered Eyimba to the national team, anyway when they were good sha) i just enjoy club football better than national footie.

GOONER 89

Oga fadaland, i feel you mate

That arguement can be made, and in a way i agree with you, as an African i am proud that Wenger has helped our Football grow immensely with the discovery of pure Talents like Eboue, Toure, and co. Kanu was a star before he came to Arsenal, But Arsenal gave him a platform to rediscover his Stardom after his heart scare and subsequent disappointment at Inter.

However the arguement still remains, that Arsenal are an english team, and although i get the point of the gaffer, that its the FA's job to get players for their national team. I do feel that the lack of quite a few Players of english background will always be an issue. Right now i guess we have 3 well known english players, (however there are a few more at academy level, despite what anyone says. The problem is will they break through to the senior team )

When you are a succeess, people will look at your failures, Wenger has tried with players like Jeffers, J stacks, David Bentley and so on. but they were failures. Besides English players are really over priced, look at what Man U payed for Micheal Carrick , (when what they really needed was Marco Senna) and consider how much Theo Walcot cost, it is ridiculous, but really there are a few Arsenal supproters that want more English players at the club, and that is a fact .

However should that take away from all the contributions that AW has made to the English game, Hell No!!, he will always be remembered and admired for that. Like i said every manager brings something to the game, Even managers like Sam Alladyce (walrus) or Harry Redknap are successful in their own right.

So the idea that one single criteria can be used to judge the status of any coach, is not only stupid, but also an insult.

Nice contribution Guy. And hopefully everyone should feel free to give their own opinions whether for or against, they are your opinions and you have a right to them

GOONER 89

No Oga Jackal, on the contrary, i was only acting like that so that i will not be accused of re igniting the earlier stuff. You are still a clown to me, always have and always will be (Damn i hope Oga Kola, doesn't see this post. God let him miracleously skip to the next one.)

Ok let me see here, Sir Alex has won 8 Prem titles, since 1992, and Le Prof came to England 1996, ok lets do the maths, apart from Daglish's triumph with B Rovers, lets take away 3 titles from 8, we now have 5.

Now from 1996 - 2006 thats 10 years, now Maureen has won 2, and AW has won 3, which leaves Sir Alex with 5.

Now Sir Aex has 1 or 2 more years at the helm at OT, Maureen has about 3 years then will probably go to Real M or Barca, depending on the coaching situation there, and when he acheives winning the CL which he wants with Chelsea, he really isn't bothered about how many titles he wins, thats not his priority.

AW still has about 10 more years at Arsenal, so he hasn't finished his work, and has a lot more to do.

right now Sir Alex is the bench mark, and will be respected as such, but AW and Maureen, even Benitez still have a lot to do to make their own piece of history. (Benitez gave the Pool, their 5th European Cup ).

So Jackal, every club member has a right to be proud of their clubs and gaffers, whether they be Russians , Scousers , Mancs or Gooners

"And a dead Rooney is better than any Arsenal player" I am still laughing at that. I kindly refer you to Keano's statement about Wazza. not really quoting but i think he said something along the lines of "Rooney hasn't won s@#t"

Back to my Good Boy behaviour . "Yes Jackal no need for all your insults, please respect everyones opinions. And give respect to all"

(IF I AM A DUMB ASS, YOU ARE A DUMBER ONE , YOU KNOW DUMB AND DUMBER ) For Jackal's eyes only please

GOONER 89

Jackal i am really trying to be matured and patient with you, but you are really pushing it.

I never said Theo was discovered by Wenger, EVERYONE KNOWS HE WAS BROUGHT THROUGH BY HARRY REDKNAP AT SOUTHAMPTON >:( I ONLY MENTIONED HIS NAME, IN THAT HE IS AN ENGLISH PLAYER AT ARSENAL, BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE NO ENGLISH PLAYERS. Feel free to read the sentence again slowly and understand what i meant.

Secondly, this thread is about Wenger , NOT ABOUT FERGIE. NO BODY IS COMPARING WENGER TO FERGIE, SO STOP DOING THAT, I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING AGAINST SIR ALEX, SO PLEASE RESPECT YOUR SELF.

Thirdly for the list of Achievements, i put up the link for the list i put forward, you might not see anything good about AW and you are very much entitled to feel however you want. BUT FOR THE LAST TIME PLEASE RESPECT YOUR SELF AND DO NOT DARE INSULT ME AGAIN, I DID NOT MENTION YOUR NAME, OR SIR ALEXS NAME IN MY POST. SO DON'T PUSH IT. AND I REALLY DO MEAN THAT. YOU DO NOT KNOW ME, SO DON'T FEEL BECAUSE WE ARE ON THIS FORUM YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO THROW INSULTS AROUND.

I am being reasonable and patient, and will not respond to your insult, a word is enough!!, Cause sometimes what might seem as a joke has a funny way of snowballing into deeper stuff.

GOONER 89

Oga JK

Let me kindly disagree with you somewhat.

A. The game against Benfica was close, and could have gone either way. Actually it had a draw written all over it, until a sublime piece of skill from Saha won you guys the game and the necessary 3 points you needed (but it wasn't actually a vintage United performance)

B. Glen R bottled the game at OT with his selected formation (guess you guys can't help how teams line up against you!?) Besides you were at home, and had to give a show, cause if you don't play well at home, Pray tell where else will you play well.

United have a hard fixture run than the other Quartet members, (the next 6 to 7 games are tricky for you guys) besides you have already lost 1 game to a major rival, if you also lost either to the Pool or Chelski, then that will bring down your moral, believe me. You are on top going into the Inter break, fair enough, But like i said, the league table means SFA until Dec/Jan, when you can then seperate the real contenders from the fake pretenders.

Right now your main player is C Ronaldo, and Ole is a hidden joker for the team, but you guys miss the dynamism of Giggs, who i am sure when he gets back will give United a stronger edge. Once again i insist that something is wrong with Shrek, and i believe it has nothing really to do with footie. but i do feel football wise he is trying to adjust to a manner which he is not suited to, as he plays with a lot of passion, but generally feels he is unfairly treated and picked upon by Refs and Critics. So channeling his anger is one thing, but being forced to play calmly (as his critics want him to) is affecting him. (see the way the same thing is being done to Van Persie, which is killing his game, when he plays the way he knows how, he produces classics like the second goal against charlton ) But like i said, looking at his body language/appearance, i feel he has personal issues.

I wish him well as i like the gezzer, as he plays footie the way its meant to be played, with Passion. The way Maradona, Zizou, Gazza, Eto and a few others know how to.

This is going to be a very open league season, may the best team win (as long as that team is Arsenal. Hehehe!!)

Gooner 89

Sorry apart from Theo Walcott, are Justin Hoyte and Kerra Gilbert (on loan to cardiff) not English Did Jermaine Pennent not come through the Arsenal's Academy Anyways

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has been similarly impressed having heard from his playing colleagues for much of the past decade just how Wenger was taking English football forward.

"I was involved with a lot of the Arsenal lads in the England squad at the time," he remembers.
"They would talk about the changes going on behind the scenes.
"Physical preparation is very different now. Most players back then used to go out drinking, and the approach to fitness was very different when I started playing.
"There's a different culture now, and foreign players and coaches coming in have played a huge part in that.
"Everybody now realises now that you've got to be well prepared.
"I think Arsene has had a huge influence on diet and nutrition as well as on training methods. He's helped to alter players' outlooks."

Newcastle's Glenn Roeder is especially impressed with Wenger's ability to think outside the box when it comes to recruiting players.

"He has unearthed so much talent that no one had ever heard of before they signed for Arsenal," said the Magpies manager.
"Then within a matter of a season or two, they are household names - and their value has increased 10-fold in the transfer market.
"He has always done it. If my memory serves me correctly, when he was manager of Monaco Arsene was the coach who discovered George Weah.
"His book of contacts is probably better than anyone else's, and apart from that talent and ability he has got, Arsene is obviously a mighty fine coach.
"He plays the sort of football all supporters like to see. Arsenal play very quickly from the defending third to the attacking third of the pitch, and in Thierry Henry, they have arguably got one of the best two or three players in the world."
Roeder also values Wenger as an urbane presence on the touchline.

[flash=200,200]http://"He is a first-class person, very much a football man," he said.
"I have always had a good rapport with him down on the touchline, and when I have spoken to him before or after a game he makes so much sense.
"We have all, I am sure, picked up one or two tips from what Arsene has told us."[/flash]

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/arsenal/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/09/29/SOCCER_Wenger_Reaction.html&TEAMHD=arsenal

and

WENGER'S GREAT ARSENAL MOMENTS
Arsene Wenger has now completed 10 years at Arsenal. Here, PA Sport looks at the high points in his decade of success.

1998: Double winners
Wenger became the first non-British manager to win the double as his reinvigorated side snatched the title from Manchester United with 10 successive wins and then overcame Newcastle in the FA Cup final.

2002: Double winners
Arsenal again broke United's dominance of the Premiership title by claiming victory in one of the most open races for years. They clinched the trophy with victory at Old Trafford and the FA Cup came with a win over Chelsea.

2003: FA Cup winners
The Gunners lost their title as United produced a storming finish but they hit back to win the FA Cup with victory over Southampton. Wenger was awarded an honorary OBE in the summer.

2004: Premiership champions
Arsenal, led by the imperious Thierry Henry, were magnificent all season and swept all before them to reclaim the Premiership without losing a match. Their success earned them the nickname 'the Invincibles'.

2005: FA Cup winners
Chelsea took over as champions but the FA Cup came down to a battle between old foes Arsenal and United. United dominated the final but the Gunners took the cup on a penalty shoot-out.

2006: Champions League runners-up
Arsenal were unusually inconsistent in the Premiership but they hit form in Europe to reach the Champions League final. They led Barcelona for most of the match in Paris but, with just 10 men, eventually succumbed to the Catalan giants.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/arsenal/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/09/28/SOCCER_Wenger_Moments.html&TEAMHD=arsenal

and for all NL Gooners a special treat/article by Amy Lawrence of the Guardian UK and Myles Palmer of ANR (i will also post these links on the Gunners only thread.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1884811,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=5

and

http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/364/42.html

and

http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/361/42.html

GOONER 89

Well I really do not see what all this fuss is about , Maureen is a good coach ( Money helps ) and no one can take it away from him, Is he Arrogant Bloody yes But you see thats what makes him tick[b] (like some folks on this NL forum, i won't call names, they/he know who theyhe are/is) [/b] Maureen wouldn't know what to do if he woke up and found himself being nice .

The average Mediteranian person is quite arrogant, the spanish, the portugese, the italian, the greek and so on, its in their nature, and the way they are brought up, they are told to not fear anybody or anything. so Maureen is just being who he is.

Unfortunately he came to Britain, a culture of the "stiff upper lip" which they share with the French, who are also proud, but distant. When he first came, the press were loving him, things sarted to go bad when the Rikkard incident got out of hand, Then what was seen as new and refreshing started to stink, as more people started to see he was a egotistic person. But the problem is thats the only way he knows how to be. Anything else and its not Maureen you get.

Deep down Jose wants people to respect him, but is pissed off that people attribute his success with Chelski on the Russian. The demands to deliver are so high, (you all have no idea what he goes through) He never really wanted players like Sheva, but Drogs was not getting the love of the crowd. and the Gallas situation showed that P Kenyon and RA do have a say on what goes on, and it pissed him off, so they had to compensate him, by releasing statements about Gallas, (believe me even Gallas was shocked!!)

We really do not know the true situation at Chelski, but i am sure if Maureen leaves he will open up and tell us how life was.

Maureen is a good coach, but he is misunderstood and the fact that he speaks broken english doesn't help, cause it can really be misconstrued by the press who are always looking to make a story out of nothing. Will he change , guess not, but thats what makes him the Man that he is, and everyone has to deal with it whether they like to or not

Every Gaffer has his way of doing things, and its easy for opposition supporters to make fun of it, but thats the way they are.

@Miss Prisc

Will everyone just lighten up on this forum, i have recommended a class on sarcasm for every memeber, as you all seem to not understand the stuff.

@Huc

Huctelligent sounds nice to me. calling you a genius , would be insulting to people like A Einstein and I Newton, and thats just not right.

Anyway, Chelski are still SCUM , BUT HEY CHELSKI FANS JUST THINK, THE MANCS ARE SCUMMIER , and ugly like SRAMM ok terror hawks
GOONER 89

Some times the Gaffer makes me laugh

[b]"Old tradition or new success?
Premiership | Arsenal
by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 29 September 2006

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed his fears over a foreign invasion of the Premiership.

This is not gross hypocrisy from a foreign manager who has filled his Arsenal team with foreign players.

Wenger is referring to the increasing foreign ownership of clubs in the top flight.

Roman Abramovich has revolutionised Chelsea and Randy Lerner has waved goodbye to Doug Ellis at Aston Villa.

A consortium led by Iranian businessman Kia Joorabchian is stalking West Ham, while Liverpool have been reportedly investigating foreign investment.

Wenger admits it is a trend that worries him.

This is because he feels the soul of football clubs lies with owners, who are invariably fans.

And Wenger speaks as manager of a club that, while it has a predominantly foreign team, is quintessentially English at boardroom level.

He feels clubs would lose something and no longer control their own destiny if they are owned by foreign investors rather than fans.

But is he correct?

Chelsea fans are surely not unhappy that Abramovich has provided the vast fortune to make them Champions in successive seasons.

Dissenting Aston Villa fans were nowhere to be seen when Lerner displaced Ellis - indeed he received a hero's welcome.

And where would Portsmouth be without the investment of Milan Mandaric?

Certainly not in the Premiership.

Let's take Everton Football Club as an example.

Traditionally English, a huge base of passionate fans and an owner in Bill Kenwright who is as big a supporter as any inside Goodison Park.

This is a man who can speak with raw, almost tearful, emotion about David Weir's hamstring problems.

And yet, if he was to announce tomorrow that he had sold his shares to a billionaire who was to hand manager David Moyes £100m to rebuild the squad, would a howling mob march on Goodison Park?

I suspect not.

They would probably thank Bill for his efforts and tell him to make way.

Make no mistake, football fans love their tradition, but they love success even more.

Tradition doesn't take you very far if you are hovering in the relegation zone.

Tradition doesn't take you very far if you want a player and someone else is offering him more.

It's a very thorny problem and has its obvious downside.

Indeed it is highly unlikely Moyes would have survived Everton's catastrophic start to last season had a ruthless oligarch been his boss as opposed to the sympathetic Kenwright.

Kenwright made the brilliant decision to stick with Moyes and is currently being rewarded.

But it is a mistake to assume the majority of football fans would, given the choice, put tradition before success.

Or maybe you think otherwise.

Would you rather your club kept away from silverware but kept traditional values?

Give me the success every time - and if that makes football's romantics weep then so be it."[/b]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A15716892?s_fromedit=1

It would help if "le Prof" would sometimes chose not to get involved in some issues

GOONER 89

Now pls people be very careful

But what do you "ONE UNITED" Chaps think of this

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/09/28/rooney_out_of_touch_and_feelin.html

I have always felt there was something just not right with the lad, but decided not to mention, as you all are quick to read wrong meanings into my intentions . But as God would have it, many people are thinking on the same wave lenght. So please give your (unbiased) opinions.

These were my exact words/contributions on the blog

"loyika
September 28, 2006 12:06 PM
Lagos/nga Well well well!!

So Wazza is Human after all, the way the Mancs make out, as if he just needs to step on the pitch and "WOW". Pleassssssssssssss.

Every footballer has off periods in his life time, and Ron Boy is no different. He is young and still has a lot to learn, you can't just switch it on and off like a tap. You just have to know how to handle it and still make an impression on the field of play.

But as a GOONER, i am chuffed!! Here's wishing Wazza more months in the Wilderness. (until the end of the season!?)"

Hey why did they say i was in Lagos, don't they recognise PH in Blighty (Odili Whats happening with all the supposed PR you claimed to have done )

GOONER 89

Fellow Nairaland members (esp Gooners )

Today is a mile stone for our illustrous club, The Gaffer is officially 10 yrs as Manager, Pls join me in putting your messages for Le Prof.

Give us stories if you have met him, or your fondest memories of him.

His best and worst moments.

Funny Wenger quotes and anecdotes.

His Contributions (or lack of it) to the team and football.

Links for Pics and stories.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/5380998.stm

Anything to remember this Great Man who have made so many people appreciate this beautiful game called "FOOTBALL" and turned Naija into an army of RED and WHITE (Besides the Green, White, Green) as i am one of those who believe that One in every five naija peeps are GOONERS

So lets pls celebrate a true genius of the game, (which he is, even if you loathe the club which he represents, you can't deny him his place in history)

Happy 10 yrs boss , and heres hoping for more good times with the Red army.

Will give my message later.

GOONER 89

WAIT

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS I AM SO ANGRY

I mean!?

What an insult

How come everyone else is allowed to call Jackal names and i am not. Oga Kola and Oga Lolaboi, you won't talk now oh

This is "Forumism" (far worst than racism or tribalism)

Do i have time now to talk about the SPUDS and their Wrestler Manager M Jol Nah so busy, right now, will look into this later.

GOONER 89

Mikel Oh Mikel!!

First things first, lets put things in perspective, Mikel started yesterday, because of the opponents, I mean L Sofia , Please sentiments aside, does anyone actually think he would have started if Chelski were playing Barca . So everyone should calm down.

Now having said that, What Mikel needs to do is calm down and take his chances cause his time will surely come (No point regreting anything, he is in the belly of the beast, and if he can't prove himself with those stars, his value will drop) Look at Flamini, he played most CL games for AW, in a position that has nothing to do with his natural game, but now he hardly gets a look in (managers are strange folks ).

The good thing for Mikel is that, the Key midfield role is his for the National team, which should give him confidence to look anyone in the eye. He will get Chances in the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, He needs to take them and keep impressing his Gaffer (he should take a leaf out of Drogs book, He doesn't seem bothered by Sheva, even plays better now, Still has a rubbish first touch though )

If he takes his chances, he has a bright future with Chelsea, and might rise up to be one of they Great stars. MIKEL AS A NIGERIAN WE ALL GOT YOUR BACK!!

(Still should have gone to OT though , but all water under the bridge

GOONER 89

@jackal Down Boy!!

Can't you just make a point with out insults, you can tell someone to mind their business without insulting the person. really i have no probs with your views, whatever they might be as they are your views, but sometimes you could just act matured and ignore stuff, even if it is addressed at you.

For all you know Oga Otolorin was just being sarcastic, i mean if you really do not live in Cali as you claim, that would be embarrasing!? dont you think

i was just saying oh! before you say i am insulting you. (I won't dear insult my kaiser )

GOONER 89

Ok sir

What ever makes you tick!!/Moves you, i decide to leave it alone. Believe what ever youchose to, its a free world, or should that be Forum.

GOONER 89

Oga Jackal/Huc

maybe u have some traces of parkingson's disease.

Well since you are really intelligent and do not make mistakes, tell us, what exactlly is "parkingson disease ", i only know of "Parkinson's disease".

You just amuse me . But let this arguement be squashed, as it is getting out of hand. We will agree to disagree .

GOONER 89

Oga Jackal/Huc (kaiser )

"Wenger is a wimp!?" / "Wenger is a Freak!?"

from Huc From Jackal




Oh well, i give up, you all be the judges. But let me say;

From one stupid person to another, i take your statement as a compliment, coming from you, One can only follow the best, and since you are the most ( ) forum member i will take your lead. Like i said, i am hear to learn from everyone, even ( ) people like you.

TO EVERYONE THAT ASKED ME PRIVATELY TO SQUASH THIS AND IGNORE IT, I PROMISE THIS IS MY LAST STATEMENT ON THIS.

I LEAVE IT ALONE TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH.

GOONER 89

Oga Jackal (Kaiser )

You have spoken, "A SOD" i am.

His majesty has spoken and i must obey

Now i wonder what "HUC (you)" will say next, as i heard Jackal is the kinder one, now i am really scared

GOONER 69

Miss Muki dear

I beg to differ, i think all the English teams will do well, and they will all qualify, (Chelsea has the hardest job of it, as their home/away match with Barca, will affect the team, depending on the results of the two matches, but i still expect them to come through, 1st or 2nd) Miss Muki what do you think?

This is what Alan Hansen and Myles Palmer (Myles Palmers full thoughts are given on the "Gunner's Thread" think and i agree with them; Nah i think i will just paste the links here, before i am accused of something by someone, so everyone can check them out and come to their own conclusions (pls focus on the CL part of each Commentaries)

"As for the Champions League this week, I fancy all the English sides to do well - and I fancy them to eventually make it through to the knockout stages.

As for Celtic, they played well against Manchester United, but still lost. It would be great if they could get through but we will have to wait and see.

For English sides Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, there might be a hiccup or two along the way but they will all qualify.

That is great for English football as this competition really gauges the strength of your domestic league.

In the last two years we have had Arsenal and Liverpool in the final - to have an all-English final this year would be the icing on the cake."

ALAN HANSEN on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/5377988.stm

"Benfica play Manchester United in Lisbon tonight and Cristiano Ronaldo is in good form. Will Rooney and Saha score against one of the weakest Benfica teams of all time?

Jose Antonio Reyes will play for Real Madrid against Dynamo Kiev. The fans are expecting a lot and he is enjoying life on the right wing. I like Reyes and hope he has a long career there."

Myles Palmer on Arsenal Review News

http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php/news/358/42.html

Other members can also share their thoughts and links to other views, supporting their opinions.

LETS ALL SUPPORT THE PREM GUYS (MY BIAS OBVIOUSLY FOR THE GOONERS)

COME ON YOU REDS!!!

GOONER 89