Latest Articles
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...
It's Time For Liverpool Fans To Trust FSG
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...
All Articles
If you have anything to say on any subject, mail us at theeditor@football365.com
Keeping It Brief
Conclusions from Man United v Ajax. Only one, the kid Eriksen looks classy and United should buy him.
Orts (MUFC)
Give The Kids A Chance
If Utd really want to keep this Pogba kid then why bring on Scholes for Cleverly tonight? Wouldn't it be beneficial to give Pogba a run to see what he can do?
This tie is over so let's hope Pogba, Amos and others get a run in the return leg.
Deiseboy
When Do We Get to Play On 5?
Very professional performance by City last night. Mancini went for tactical discipline rather than overwhelming possession against one of the best teams left in the Europa and whose home form is impressive. Yaya's return gives us the thrust we need in midfield but Lescott was outstanding as well. Is Hulk the new CR7 playing out of Portugal? Plays as a false striker, good pace, likes to hammer every shot and goes to ground quicker than a mole.
As for the other lot, again they were also professional when they got going in the second half but my interest lies in Ajax and the standards in the Eredivisie. We have a young striker, John Guidetti, out on loan to Feyernoord where he is currently tearing up the scoring charts, 17 in 15, with a number of hat-tricks including one against Ajax. Naturally there's a lot of speculation about bringing him back (we really don't want you Carlos) and various other big clubs such as Inter, Bayern (ah the hypocrisy) all expressing an interest. I think we have to give him a run next season but I can also see from last night's game that things ain't what they used to be in Amsterdam. Like many I'm sure there's always been a soft spot for Ajax and their principles but they look so out of step it's a real shame. The passing game can only work if you have the quality of players, Eriksen and Vertonghen may be able to make it at another level but the rest sadly unlikely. Watching them trying to walk it out of defence stubbornly with only one man up front was like watching another team closer to home, refusing to accept reality. Are Arsenal the new Ajax?
Nick, M'cr
PS. The racist abuse was depressing. This is the land of Eusebio, yes?!
P.P.S. Do ITV cover football or merely broadcast it?
There Was No Rain!
Having seen Valencia win at Stoke I couldn't wait to be able to ram that result at all the blood and guts merchants who harp on about 'but can they do it on a cold rainy night in the Britannia?' (in fairness the mighty Stoke have been the litmus test for great sides for decades).
But imagine my horror when I discovered that there had been no rain! How Valencia must be downcast this morning that they didn't get to prove their worth as a footballing side. Either that or thanking their lucky stars that the lack of rain gave them a much softer away leg.
Here's waiting to see if Stoke can do it on a dry balmy night in the Mestalla!
Mick (Stoke in the rain is like Bruce Bana when he's angry) Dublin
Hoping Arsenal Drop Out Of Top Four
Yes it is about Arsenal again, and I have always had the time of day for them but enough is enough. How many years have Arsenal been in the Champions League? Fourteen consecutive years? And what do they have to show for it? One final and one runners-up position!! Please let them fall out side the top four and give someone else a try. I would even prefer Newcastle to get in there before Arsenal! For crying out loud even Liverpool who had been in it (in its present format), for what, five seasons still manage to win it and reach another final before imploding. Manchester United have reached four finals and won two in that same period. For heavens sake place them out of their misery and send their present philosophy to the glue factory and start again.
Boodrew
Why Arsene Will Go In 2014
There are those that think this could well be Arsenal's last season with Wenger at the helm but there are very good reasons to think that our manager will see out his contract.
Regardless of what the fans may or may not think about the quality of the playing staff that now wear the famous red and white, Wenger has signed up until 2014 and the man always sees out his contracts. I can't see the club sacking him and I can't see him resigning the post, no matter the flak.
The reason as to why I think he will go in 2014 is this is also the season that Arsenal's sponsorship deal expires. The Arsenal shirt has borne the Fly Emirates logo since 2006 and when this contract is up for renewal will other suitors waiting in the wings - Arsenal will finally cash in and clear the debt on the stadium. This will mean Arsenal can finally spend what they earn and Wenger will tell everyone that this was the plan all along. He will say that he has left the club in a great financial condition.
And you know what? Despite everything and I have been one of the fans that has knocked him, in some respects he'll be right because he will leave the club in a bigger stadium, debt free and a bundle of cash for the new manager to spend on transfers. Such a model will mean that Arsenal will once again be top dogs in London and long term will challenge United again. It's just two years to wait.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London
Never Had It So Bad? Really
In response to Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London, who thinks that he is soon to witness 'the worst Arsenal team in Premiership history', I give you the Arsenal line-up from Nottingham Forest 2-2 Arsenal, Premier League, City Ground, 3 December 1994*.
Vince Bartram
Lee Dixon
Martin Keown
Steve Bould
Nigel Winterburn
Ray Parlour
Stefan Schwarz
Paul Davis
David Hillier
Mark Flatts (Paul Shaw, 87 mins)
Kevin Campbell
I think the line-up pretty much speaks for itself. Packing the midfield against a rampant Forest side was evidently a shrewd move by George Graham and a draw was achieved courtesy of goals from the always attractive Martin Keown and an ageing but timeless (decrepit) Paul Davis.
A strong Arsenal bench comprised the commanding defender Scott Marshall, classy midfielder Paul Shaw and dominant third-choice 'keeper Lee Marshall, alluding to the depth of the Arsenal squad. George Graham's best option in pushing for a late winner was to 'bung' on Paul Shaw for Mark Flatts.
In summary, you've never had it so good, Graham (Simons).
* courtesy of the ever-excellent www.statbunker.com.
Mike Cornwell, Exiled Canary, Sydney
Is Scott Parker World Class? We Don't Know
My response to John McGrath's question about Scott Parker is a very fence-sitting one; its too early to tell yet. He has played magnificently for Spurs this season and taken a few people (including me) by surprise. But we won't know if he's world class until he does it against the best. Fortunately that question will be answered by this time next year when (barring injury or massive loss of form) he will have been an integral part of England's Euro campaign and Spurs Champions League campaign. If he's still produced magnificent performances against the best in Europe he will have a claim to the world-class tag, but its too early to tell at the moment, although his performance against Spain (albeit in a friendly) indicates he does have it in him.
Mike, League 2, BRFC
We Do Know And He's Not
A world-class player is someone who would make the squad of a 22-man 'Best in the World'. He could also be considered a player who would have a good chance of getting into any team in the world.
Scott Parker is not world class.
Charlie, Manila
...Regarding John McGrath's mail about what constitutes world class, I would think a world-class player is someone who would make the 23-man squad if Planet Earth were to qualify for the Milky Way Cup (it should be a thing, I'm sure Titan would be lovely in the off season).
I think the phrase 'world class' is bandied about too readily these days and there are at most three world-class players per position in the world.
Therefore, Scott Parker, brilliant player not world class.
Saj, Singapore
...To answer the question posed by John McGrath. No.
Scott Parker is having a stand-out season in a midfield/team that is also allowing him to shine. For Parker to be considered world class, he needs a few more seasons of this high level of performance (and probably a few more goals per season) to be considered up there with the best. Right now I'd say he's 'International Class', because he's surely a shoo-in for the England side...but WORLD class is reserved for players who fans of ALL football clubs will talk about when he's retired.
I still revere Roy Keane, and I'm a Liverpool supporter!
Glen (John, tell your mate I said YOU'RE right!) Stuart, mediator
Is Football Part-Time Employment?
What do football manager's at top clubs do that keep them so busy that it would be impossible to lead a club and international team at the same time?? From the interviews I've seen, specialist coaches tend to lead training sessions from academy up to first-team level, with most managers seemingly taking a hands off approach to just oversee said sessions; clubs employ teams of scouts to watch prospective purchases; I seriously doubt former players are trusted with handling team logistics; teams of dieticians and health professionals are responsible for looking after players' physical well-being and unless you're Arsenal, I'd assume that clubs would have dedicated professional accountants and lawyers to manage the multi-million pound contracts in place at the club.
Forgive me if I am naively oversimplifying things, but as far as I can see the uneducated former players typically in place at the bigger modern clubs is surely little more than a figure-head with a streamlined set of responsibilities, rather than somebody responsible for the day to day upkeep of the entire club right?
Furthermore, what are clubs even doing during their training sessions all week, that players can only develop 'match fitness' during full match fixtures at the weekend?? Especially with the bloated squads (including reserves) employed at most Premier League clubs, is it really that difficult to organise practice matches to simulate match day situation in a controlled environment (where mistakes don't count and can be immediately corrected without repercussion)? Or does pitch time only count if there are thousands of fans in attendance?
Jay Wright, LFC
Anyone Better Than Falcao And Cavani?
Seeing as it's a Friday, I thought a change of topic might be in order. My question for today - Is there currently a better strike duo than Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao and Napoli's Edinson Cavani anywhere in world football? I've been lucky enough to watch La Liga and Serie A on a regular basis, and these two guys just seem absolutely unstoppable every time they step onto a football pitch.
Their statistics alone make for amazing reading: Falcao - 38 goals in 42 appearances last season, including 18 in 16 games in the Europa League for Porto. He's currently on 19 goals in 27 games for Atletico. As for Cavani - 33 goals in 47 games last season, and 20 in 27 games so far this season. Taking into consideration that neither play for a traditional big club, and it makes for an even more remarkable feat. Surely it can't be long before one of the European giants makes a move for them. I'm guessing it'll happen some time this summer. My only wish is that they'll both end up at the same club, and we can then see some real fireworks. Chelsea anybody?
Sanjit (both nicknamed El Matador at one point in their careers too) Randhawa, Kuala Lumpur
Here's a B***ends XI
I'm not a particularly patriotic soul, so when another English side is in Europe my fingers are crosses for humiliation and injuries. Karma's a bitch given my beloved gunners display in Milan I suppose, but anyway, I found myself quite pleased at City beating Porto yesterday evening and got to pondering why. Now I'm no fan of Porto given the way they dove, kicked and feigned injury all the way to the CL under Mourinho and they were the first team I remember taking gamesmanship to such extreme levels.
This reasoning was soon followed by me exclaiming that for me to celebrate a Porto win they'd have to be playing against a 'B***ends XI' (captainted of course by John Terry. The criteria making the team being to think of the most irritating, adulterous, diving...) So here is my Friday morning mailbox submission for a B***ends XI, anyone else fancy submitting theirs?
GK: Valdes
LB: Cashley Cole
CB: John Terry (c)
CB: Pepe
RB: Dani Alves
CM: Stephen Ireland (we've all seen those photos of his house)
CM: Busquets
CM: Frimpong (poor mans Balotelli)
LW: Suarez
ST: Rooney
RW: Ronaldo
Subs:
K-P Boateng
Nani
Gyan
Balotelli
Alexis Sanchez
Evra
Alan Hutton
Matt (Koscielny would walk into any side in the Prem), Northern Gooner
What Happens When you Eat Cheese On A Thursday
Whilst reading your 'Maverick North London Swap' article, particularly the bit about Glenn Hoddle, I remembered a very bizarre dream I had from last night. I dreamt that Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle were a gay couple. Quite where that thought came from is beyond me, I haven't seen/read/thought about Hoddle and Waddle for a very long time. I really must stop drinking wine and eating cheese on school nights.
Concerned Ian 'sleepless in Stavanger'
