growler

some players just can't cut it in certain leagues. How many english players have come back from italy unsuccessful despite their huge success herE? Conversely, look at crespo in Italy compared to here? Veron, who was boss in italy. Forlan now is spain, the list goes on. Sometimes, a player just does not suit a league, and I personally think that Rafa knows this. However, with cisse also on the way out, pongo out, mellor out, who else is there? has any other team had such a large volume of strikers through the revolving door? what a blemish on our record of strikers going back rush, keegan, dalglish, toshack, owen, fowler etc etc etc. Its like the end of a royal lineage.

20 home games, 17 clean sheets, 6 conceded of which 4 were against chelsea in a freak game, and 1 was an own goal. the other, was in the early qualifying rounds of the cup, when the tie was won. I think opposing players will now again fear the 'this is anfield' sign.

I would like to play real madrid next, if only because to do that means they have knocked out arsenal. although, would be good if Real play Barca next, and then we play Real Madrid.... European champions v the Geriatrico's, no contest... Come on Barca! Prediction: Heart says barca, head says the russians. :-(

he also has other successful businesses, so not that unusual. sure he has a different appeal, but from the business point of view, will be good for arsenal.

its scary that someone so involved with football can make comments like that, yet still changes do not happen. Makes you realise how much power lies with so few. Its makes it clearer why european clubs are fined 2.50 Euros for all sorts of trouble. roma playing one game behind closed doors, well done, that does nothing. Its about time UEFA got tough, and told the clubs IN ADVANCE that from 2006/7, any club with racism issues will be fined 100,000 euros. another offence, the game declared null, and the away team awarded 3-0. Another offence, and you are knocked out of europe for the remainder of teh current season and the next.

probably because he is playing there consistantly now, and not in midfield.

all this crap about him needing time, a goal, support etc is bull. Garcia was getting grief, but at least he came up with the goods, and has improved an adapted heaps since he has been here. Moro has, if anything gone backwards. he is a favourite, and will continue to play despite not doing anything. I absolutely hate it when managers have favourites who underperform. Ged has Murphy and Smicer and Heskey at various times, and now Rafa is heading down the same road with this man. Sell him whilst he still has a reputation I say.

just so you know, the basic channel package on foxtel gives you fox sports 1 and 2, so you get all the premier league games, but ESPN, where the CL and FA cup games are, is extra. Also, SBS will cover CL too and show a game. the coverage here is much better than in England, because you get the 3 oclock game, and then 2 others on delayed coverage, and all the games that are not at 3. The commentary however is crap. For example, against Arsenal, one of the commentators insinuated that we won because we never came up against Real Madrid. I usually turn the sound off.

the problem for them is heart. our 'heart' is carra and gerrard. chelsea have terry and lampard, newcastle have shearer, man u have had keane, neville, and now rooney to provide that. Arsenal do not have that. There is no affinity with the players and fans. Once Henry leaves, then what is left? the mark of a true manager is what he leaves behind. Once wenger leaves, what will he leave behind? nothing.

he's the kornikova of US football, without the looks. A poster boy to get everyone going. He is pure hype and a Football Manager player. In the last few years, he's mentioned arsenal, manyoo, chelsea, barcelona and milan as his favourite team. at least we are staying well away!!

funny how the story comes out just before the big game huh? its time barca did the whole 'terry to barca' lampshade to barca stories in return. perhaps even throw in a few quotes too. Personally, I think they are behind the recent Gerrard stories too.

frmo the sidelines its perfect. neither united or the russians coming out smelling of roses from this one. Makes us a more attractive option in the english game for emerging players. I think the russians will end up 'paying off' man u, which is probably what they are waiting for to be honest. Its the player you have to feel for. He will never be remembered for his football now.

the russians will prefer scum to finish 2nd to us, as boringho knows we are a bigger challenge next season, so that will play a part in their game. Isn't nice to know that we are talking about finishing 2 or 3, rather than will we qualify for CL at all? I hope that Arsenal miss out on CL. Will bring them down to earth. Its one thing to win things with young players a la funguson, but another to win things with a team of youngsters with no english players. When Cole leaves, they will not have ANY english players in their first choice 16!!! What was walcott thinking???

of sion?

anyone got a link to it? Have to appreciate good goals, whichever toad scores them

possession may be 9/10th of the law, but it doesn't give you points, shots on target or anything else. unless we make more changes, we can't get close to scoring, and until we hit the target, we aren't going to score.

depends. would you count Beckham as a manc? what about Owen as a liverpool lad? I think that if a player comes through the youth system at a club, then they are considered worthy of the 'heart' analogy.

if Henry hasn't signed by Walcotts 17th birthdfay, perhaps we should give him a little chat. without Henry, cole probably jumping ship, and campbell all but finished, they won't even have an english player in their first 16 let alone first 11!!! On the other hand, we won the CL last season from a similarly poor position, and real madrid are hardly the world beaters they were.

sooner or later Borinho will learn that no matter what he does at chelsea he will not get the respect of his peers. he needs to do it in a top league with a 'normal' club. That is why Benitez will always have more respect because of how he did it at Valencia. its why Fungus gets respect for bringing through Beckham, scholes etc and building that team. wenger ditto. borinho did it at Porto, but until he does it in a top league it won't mean anything. Its the equivelant of the scottish championship.

the basic problem was, that when one of their players passed the ball, it went to another chelsea player. simple. If we cannot do the basic pass and move CONSISTANTLY then we are screwed. How many shots on goal, on target did we have against them?

just one thing it was a FOUR minute hat trick

I've always said that the easiest and fastest way to stop divers, is to book them 'post match'. by that, I mean the referee goes over the video, and any unsportsman like conduct, shirt pulling, bad mouthing and diving can be given match bans, fines etc. What Robben did was in line with what Rivaldo did at the world cup, where he held his face after the ball hit him in his leg. Anyone else notice the diving that chelsea defenders do too? stops the attacking team and the flow of the game. Ironic after boringho used 'faking' as a reason for not usinf fair play when an opposing player was injured

what are you on? Heggem, bjornebye, babbel, riise to name four. As for Finnan, he's always gotten forward, and sometimes used to play RM for us too.

depends what you class as local really. spurs got loads of english players, but how many are 'local'? also, I think the scum could count fletcher, giggs, o'shea and brown as local too.

on the topic of past potential players, anyone see that d'allesandro joins portsmouth? think we should keep an eye on him. If he does well, it may be worth it. also, what is teh situation with Van der vaart? what about Viana, quaresma and Chivu? all other players that we wanted to sign, but didn't go as planned. are they actually qualityplayers caught in a bad club, or just not realised their potential?