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Does SOS Stand For 'Shame Of Shankly'?
There's embarrassment from Liverpool fans after Spirit Of Shankly's talk of 'chaos' at Anfield. Plus; big-ups for Roberto Martinez, perfect penalties and lots more...
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FSG seem to have adopted a scattergun approach to appointing a new manager, but one chap says it's time to trust them. Plus, Spurs fans looking up and saving money...
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Wenger Should Have Gone Two Years Ago
Be careful what we wish for? Really? Let me start by saying what we DIDN'T wish for: most expensive tickets in world football, seven years without a trophy (earliest possible win is 2012 FA Cup Final, seven years since the 2005 FA Cup Final), regression of team year after year, manager that puts 'his' players before the club (Cesc said he'd never have been able to leave without Arsene Wenger cause the board weren't willing to let him go until Wenger intervened).
Arsene Wenger took over an incredibly successful club that in the previous ten years had won two titles, two League Cups, an FA Cup (including the cup double in 93, a feat never accomplished before) and a European trophy (something Wenger has failed to do). He performed magnificently at first, benefiting from the rise of French football and players like Petit, Vieira and Henry. French football declined, The Arsenal declined. It should also be noted that before coming to The Arsenal Wenger had been sacked by Monaco and was managing in Japan. Realistically, who was better for who?
I love Le Boss and will always remember him fondly, but he's been allowed to linger for at least two years too long.
Chris
Back Wenger, You Daft Buggers
I have an issue with Gooners' fans and their obsession about Wenger spending some 'f*ckin' money'.
My issue is around the belief that just by waving a chequebook around, the world will be an OK place, and the Arsenal world will get better.
If I asked a simple question of who Stewie Griffin et al would realistically want to buy, I'm sure we'd get the same response - current flavours of the month Hazerd, M'Via etc - even though the majority haven't seen them play.
Cast your mind back a few years, and the Gossip Column come window time was full of stories of the £20m Chamakh being touted around the usual suspects. A year later, Arsene signs him on a free. He turns out to be bobbins.
The Euro's finish with Arshavin being a star player. Arsene signs him. He turns out to be bobbins.
I guess my point is that Wenger can appease the idiots by asking his board to spunk a load of cash on the flavour of the month. By doing so, would Gooners be happier than when he signed Vieira, Henry or Pires?
Wenger's record in the market is pretty good, but by and large in terms of value for money or youth. They are in a lean spell now, but do Gooners genuinely believe that shelling out £100m is the answer? It wasn't and isn't for Liverpool...
Incidentally, I remember mails calling for Wenger's head a year or two ago, and crying out for Owen Coyle to be given a shot. Still of the same view, whoever you are, or maybe you've moved onto the latest Emperor's New Clothes?
Back your manager, for God's sake...
Matt, Cheshire
...'Arsene Wenger is sh*t"??!!'
I'm a Liverpool fan but there's not a manager in the world better than Arsene. When every other team in the Prem is filing for bankruptcy due to unsustainble debt caused by ridiculous spending (Liverpool right up there) no Arsenal fan will be shouting for Wenger to spend. What hes done for Arsenal is a miracle. They were nothing before he got there and the fans seem to forget that.
Mourinho's nothing compared to him. What Jose did at Porto was great but he had a very good team there. He won things with Inter after AC and Juve lost their top status due to match fixing and Inter became the only good place to go in Italy. He's spent almost as much as Man City while at Real and has one only a single trophy...barely. Wenger took Arsenal to the Champions League 14 years in a row with a sometimes average team and had them playing the best football in the Prem for years. If not for injuries the trophy would be bulging. Just look at what RVP can do when fully fit!! All the achievements are down to the manager. Pires, Henry, vieira, Fabregas, RVP etc etc etc never go to Arsenal if not for Wenger. Wise up.
Part of me wants Wenger to go so the brainless Arsenal fans can see what happens to their team. Top ten at best everyone knows it and as a Pool fan I should enjoy it but I like good football and managers that stick to principles when other people are paying 30million plus for players.
In conclusion, anyone who says Wenger is sh*t hasn't a clue about football (Graham Simmons) and probably thinks £35m for Carroll was a bargain...donk.
Patrick O'Neill
If Tevez Could Bring You The Title...
A question for City fans. You're being reeled in by Man Utd. Your squad is looking tired and your attack suddenly looks blunt. Then in walks Carlos Tevez. Dervish, creator, goal-scorer. Would you rather play him and win the title (thereby doubling his wages if rumours are to be believed), or let him rot but face narrowly missing out on the league?
Pete (if it meant a top four finish, I'd have Torres and Owen back at Anfield), Altrincham
The Trouble With Chelsea
I enjoy reading the maibox but don't ususally write in but I just need to get this off my chest and see if anyone else has any ideas. I'm a Chelsea fan and been trying to think what is wrong with the team at the moment, can't remember the last time we played well and I enjoyed a game (Tottenham away before Xmas maybe but should've finished it off and beat them). We're not letting goals in like we were at the beginning of the season so that's a plus and contrary to the mail received earlier this week I think Luiz has been the best player for the last month/six weeks (honourable mentions to Mata and Ramires) obviously there's been a few close calls but his decision making seems better and I've even seem him hoof it out a few times when he's in trouble.
Was glad to see the point about Torres running away from the box though, noticed it during the Norwich game but wanted to reserve judgement until I saw him live on Sunday (don't go to many away games and couldn't justify the £40 for QPR cup game) and could see the overall picture and watch his runs more closely but if he is becoming frightened to put himself in the position to miss chances then that's a different problem and won't just be solved by a run of games as we thought before, also the guy that wrote in about his secret liking of Carroll any chance of directing your hopeful wishes and crossed fingers towards our own struggling striker.
We just look out of ideas from midfield and up front, Mata looks like he's trying, Torres I've mentioned and Sturridge has gone back to his greedy old self (no runs off the ball, forgotten how to look up, shooting on sight) the midfield have no invention, Meireles' passes have stopped coming off, Romeu is a plus but playing too deep to affect the play nice to see Essien back but he's not going to be slotting balls through for the forwards is he. I'd like to see Mata in the midfield three so there's a bit more in front of him when he gets the ball, Essien/Ramires/Lampard/Romeu as the other two should provide enough cover for the back four (anyone other than Malouda basically). Either that or you push him centrally in the front three and tell the two strikers to play through the middle, problem being with the full-backs pushing on to provide the width could expose the previous problems pulling the centre backs apart and leaving us too open.
Talking of full-backs what's wrong with Cole at the moment, he's looked cr*p all season seems like he's just going through the motions and doesn't really want to be there (hence getting caught out by wingers or having to dive in to try and make up for it and getting carded) not sure if he's trying not to get injured before the Euros, doesn't get on with AVB so not really trying or just needs a kick up the arse (probably the latter) but please sort it out.
Sorry for the rambling mail as I said just needed to get it off my chest, here's a couple of lookalikes to finish off (not sure if they've been done before) Nasri = Fat Sam from Bugsy Malone and Valencia = 80's Michael Jackson (Billy Jean era)
Thanks for reading.
Scott (already used too many brackets me thinks) CFC, London
Misplaced Fury
I was incandescent with rage when I saw a poll on your wonderful website's homepage not so long back. The poll was to determine who was the best player outside of the top six and since there were no Ba, Tioté, Cabaye or Krul mentioned my automatic reaction was that of disgust. I thought that the website which I visit more than any other was insulting my beloved club. In my head, 'the media' always seem to dismiss our accomplishments and draw attention to our (abundant) short-comings. I began to wonder what it would take for us to get a break from the slating and just abandoning following football altogether to try and reduce my stress and self-loathing levels.
It was only after a few tumultuous moments that I realised that Newcastle were currently in the Top Six and my paranoia was not only unjustified but embarrassing. The way things are at the moment, supporting Newcastle doesn't make me sad, which hasn't been the case for ten years. I apologise for my negative reflex, living with such a melodramatic mistress has taken its toll.
Sean (Football and Pardiola are curing my pessimism) Bellamy
The High Numbers XI
Seeing as it's Friday and all, how about another pick-a-team. This time, high squad numbers. All caused by noticing Bobby Zamora has now got 52 at QPR... Is he in direct competition with the self-proclaimed 'world's best striker' now? I set myself some restrictions - have to be playing fairly* regularly, and no-one signed in January as they inevitably end up at the higher end. How about...
34 Lindegaard
28 Walker
37 Skrtel
26 Terry
32 Assou-Ekotto
27 Gervinho
34 De Jong
42 Yaya Toure
28 Sessegnon
45 Balotelli
39 Bellamy
Subs:
26 Krul
28 Gibbs
52 Bendtner
30 Dembele
31 Figueroa
30 Sandro
33 Scharner
* Gibbs might not make this restriction. Ever.
Noticeable absentee is Mr. Tevez. I wonder how this lot would get on against a low number XI. Anyone?
Adrian Kelly
Are We Thick?
So the 'Tubbster' is annoyed by 'Second Half' being inserted into the highlights packages, and asks the question 'Are football fans really that thick?' You're lucky, here in the U.S. we get a graphic reminding us who is wearing what colour shirt and which end they are attacking every ten bloody minutes! If someone switches on at 80 minutes are they really that bothered anyway?
Rob Carey
Is This Normal?
Just that after spending an evening with a girl all I could think of whilst looking at her face was Sergio Ramos.
Does anybody else suffer from this?
Of course, when I say suffer, I mean gain enjoyment. Sergio after all is one hunk of a man.
Joshua (Rascal from the forum)
One More Guilty Pleasure
I quite like El Hadji Diouf.
I know.
Niall (it's my cross to bear) O'Gorman
