^Wiltord cost what he did because of his reputation at the time, he had just scored in the Euro 2000 final, after all. I don't want some silly money player, just somebody experienced who can hold down the line until Denilson and Diaby are ready.
Everton are signing Louis Saha. Did the physios revolt when Johnson got sold do you think? UEFA Cup draw: AC Milan v FC Zurich Politehnica Timisoara v Partizan Belgrade Hertha Berlin v St Patricks Banik Ostrava v Spartak Moscow Metalist Kharkiv v Besiktas Portsmouth v Guimaraes (Vitoria) Kayserispor v PSG Sevilla v SV Red Bull Salzburg Wolfsburg v Rapid Bucuresti Sampdoria v FBK Kaunas Maritimo v Valencia Dinamo Zagreb v Sparta Prague Man City v Omonia Nicosia Young Boys v Club Brugge AS Nancy v Motherwell Everton v Standard Liege Napoli v Benfica AC Bellinzona v Galatasaray NEC v Dinamo Bucuresti Racing Santander v FC Honka APOEL Nicosia v Schalke 04 Litex Lovech v Aston Villa FK Austria Magna v Lech Poznan Vitoria Setubal v Heerenveen SK Brann v Deportivo La Coruna Slavia Prague v Vaslui Slaven Koprivnica v CSKA Moscow Brondby v Rosenborg Cherno More v VfB Stuttgart Rennes v FC Twente Ajax v Borac Tottenham v Wisla Krakow FC Copenhagen v FC Moscow MSK Zilina v Levski Sofia Borussia Dortmund v Udinese Braga v Artmedia Petrzalka Feyenoord v Kalmar FF Hamburg v Unirea Urziceni Hapoel Tel-Aviv v Saint Etienne FC Nordsjaelland v Olympiacos No massive concerns for British clubs all round really - except Everton, who've got one of those ties that makes me wonder if it really is a fixed draw I'm sure King Louis will despatch them with ease...
Not a flop in my book. He scored important goals at important times, including one of my all time favorites, the winner at OT to win the title. Doesn't get better than that. He played for a much better Arsenal side, so suffered in comparison, but would easily have started in the current Arsenal team. I believe the Club has 30 million to spend. But Arsene almost has a psychological block against spending that big for players, feels its not good business. But I think sometimes he can't see the forest for the trees. Winning titles, even with expensive players, is good business. But, I haven't counted out him signing more players, or at least one. A quick review of Arsenal's transfers shows that there is often a last minute surprise.
And Reyes too. Maybe it'd be better if he hadn't studied economics. But I think he should gamble because they clearly need another midfielder, if they don't then why is Eboue playing there.
Actually maybe a little harsh on Wiltord and not Reyes... Wiltord around a goal every 3.5 games, which looks ok at best until you take into account he cost £13 million back in 2000 (a lot of money back then especially for Arsenal, infact club record at the time I think). Reyes £10.5 million with addons that could rise as high as £15-17 millon but I dunno how much they did end up paying after the £10.5. Also wasn't he brought as a striker and then moved to the wing when he couldn't score ?
^ Was he? All I remember about Reyes is how awful a diver and actor he was. My most enduring memory was in one match, possibly CL, where he was tackled around the penalty area, flew off the pitch, was absolutely fine but managed to roll all the way back onto the pitch so he could playact injury to get the ref's attention.
Standard must batter them, or we'll never hear the end of it! If the bitters lose, no doubt they'll blame us somehow. They usually do.
Carling Cup 3rd Round Draw: Arsenal v Sheff Utd Brighton or Man City v Derby Burnley v Fulham Portsmouth v Chelsea Blackburn v Everton Rotherham v Southampton Swansea v Cardiff Ipswich v Wigan Stoke v Reading Leeds v Hartlepool Watford v West Ham Man Utd v Middlesbrough Liverpool v Crewe Aston Villa v QPR Sunderland v Northampton Newcastle v Tottenham
I really enjoyed the Super Cup - Scholes' goal was the icing And I wanted United to win hahaha glorified friendly indeed. I like that CC draw too, although ti would be great if a season could go by without United getting Boro and Arsenal getting Sheff U!
Blimey, Joey Barton comes on for five minutes and gets booed off the pitch. Within seconds he'd tried to hack down Samir Nasri. Nasri had a little go back and Barton made the most out of it. Then he got nutmegged by Gael Clichy. Nobody shook his hand at the end either. He got a chorus of "You're supposed to be in jail" from the fans too.
TBH to the little dogshit that is Barton, he won the ball fairly and then Nasri did a clear off the ball challenge, which in a more high profile game might of landed him in deep water just because it was way way of the ball and he mean't it. But it was funny to watch . Arsenal were back to there normal level though on a small bright note for ENG, Owen while he only had 2 chances took them well (so looked sharp at least) and was unlucky that his own striker was a idiot and blocked one of them.
^All bets are off as far as Barton is concerned. He should count himself lucky that two of the players up in the stands (Mikael Silvestre and Patrick Vieira) weren't playing - they're both good friends with Ousmane Dabo.
I would just like to point out who are currantly sitting proudly on top of the SPL tonight, why it's my Kilmarnock! 4 games played, 10 pts, and not a goal conceded! Yes, it will probably only be for 24hrs until the Old Firm game tomorrow, and indeed, we are more likely to be fighting of relegation than challenging for Europe come May. But BRG cares not! Killie are top and all should know it! BRG
I always found Danny Higginbottom and Wanger Love to be quite funny names . Fabio not to bright Capello names his 1st ENG squad for the World Cup Q/F's and with no Gerrard or Hargreaves you would be forgiven to think whats the point but you never know, Croatia might forget how to play football for at least 10 minutes . Here is what I would pick personally but I know that Capello will choose something different. If you were ENG manager who would YOU pick for your 23 man squad.... Known injured players...(Gerrard, Hargreaves) MY 23 man ENG Squad... GK - James, Kirkland, Robinson RB - Richards, Brown CB - Terry, Ferdinand, Woodgate, King LB - A.Cole, Shorey RM - Beckham, Bentley CM - Lampard, Barry, Jenas, Huddlestone LM - J.Cole, Young FW- Owen, Rooney, Crouch, Defoe Personally I would play a weaker team against Andorra in a 4-4-2 system... ------------------James-------------------- Brown---Ferdinand---Woodgate---Shorey Bentley----Jenas-----Lampard---Young --------------Rooney Owen----------------- However against Croatia since we lack quality, I would go for numbers and play 4-5-1, which is the reason I left Heskey out of squad. ------------------James--------------- Richards---Ferdinand----Terry----A.Cole ----------------- Barry---------------- Beckham---Jenas------Lampard---J.Cole -----------------Owen----------------
Any squad containing Beckham would be an abberation. In light of the last trip to Croatia, a Neville/Robinson combo should probably be avoided at all costs.
I edited my squad to include Shorey since he has overcame his injury and played today for 65-70 mins, played good as well. Capello should name his squad within the next hour