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Bob On
Can I just say, I'm loving all the Arsenal fans response to Hleb wanting to leave.
It's equivalent to the "if she doesn't like me, she must be a lesbian" excuse.
Matt
...It's funny how changing colours changes opinions, aint it? Therefore I ask: is it safe to assume, that all the Arsenal fans writing in to bid good riddance to Alex Hleb, who's apparently now, conveniently, a useless show-pony who couldn't score goals, were not among the hoards of Gunners fans who have, throughout the season, written in to defend Hleb as a brilliant creator who, despite having less assists than goals, created space for others to create for others to score...?
I'm just curious.
Iain "Let's all laugh at the Arsenal: first team stars jumping ship faster than those on the doomed Titanic" Grant
This One's Optimistic
Hleb gone, Flamini gone. Some might say this is a problem .... I don't think so. As many have pointed out, Hleb has great technical ability but he has many faults that out weigh his talents. In my opinion, he's no big loss. In Flaminis case, he is a talent but one that can be replaced. Now, that's those two sorted ... gone! It's time now for Arsenal to make this a summer that will change the club and turn it into a serious challenger on all fronts, while also adding a bit of English into the side.
Firstly, Almunia is a good sub keeper, but not a number one. Get some cash and bring in Robert Green, maybe not as good as Ben Foster, but not far off. Defence? Senderos? Good bye! Also turf out Eboue (I've never seen a player hated by so many of his own fans). The first four are fine and hoyte, Djourou, Song and Gibbs are ok cover, possibly sign Curtis Davies or Micah Richards and that's the defence fairly sorted.
Midfield and up front is where the main changes are going to be. Lets start with the outs, Hleb, Flamini (obviously); Gilberto and I would cash in on Adebayour. There are various options available now, Ashley Young would be a fantastic replacement for hleb, Gareth Barry for Flamini .... Walcott blooded on the right, possibly Fabregas given a more defensive role in the team and therefore allowing Rosicky (when fit) push on, with someone like Young on the left, that would be a formidable midfield, another option would be David Silva from Valencia.
As for up front there are three players available to partner V.
Persie, Wenger could try and lure Owen away from Newcastle (probably wouldn't take too much), or he could spend big and get either David Villa from Valencia or Benzehma from Lyon, all three players are of a standard that Adebayour can only dream of. I don't take away from the fact that Ade has scored over 20 goals this season, but I feel he has ideas of himself being the next Henry. The criticism I would make is that he does not have the technical quality of a top player, his first touch is shocking, and his finishing can leave a lot to be desired.
All in all, losing some of the current team could be a blessing in disguise. People have to remember that the key to Arsenal success is the core of three players, Cesc, Robin and Kolo; So lets hope Arsene can see what everyone else is seeing and lets hope for a summer of serious potential.
David, Ireland
For England And St. George
Yes, Lee Bullen, spot on, it's this spine of British players we're lacking and United and Chelsea have, that's what we need. After all, we're all looking forward to seeing the Home Nations putting Europe's finest to the sword in Euro 2008, aren't we?
Four seasons off the pace (let's ignore the fact we finished in second in the first of those seasons, albeit 12 points behind a Chelsea side which, to use journalese, 'romped' to the title, as it doesn't fit the argument), three without a sniff of honours (again, let's ignore the CL final in the first of those seasons... oh, and a Fizzy Cup final in the second of those seasons... oh, and the fact that in the final of those seasons we got to semi-final where we lost to that mob down the road and also that we were well clear in the league when everyone expected us to be out of the top four this season), what are you on?
Did you not take into account the fact that our spending over the last few years was hampered by the move to the new stadium, and the fact that presumably none of these fanatstic lion-hearted British players at United or Chelsea would have any incentive to leave a club where they're first choices and being paid massive amounts of money, and the fact that the one home-grown British-born real talent we had was the detestable Ashley Cole? If any of these thoughts had crossed your mind surely you could see why Wenger steered clear of getting more in.
Fella, if what you want to do is have a Daily Mail-style rant then go right ahead (having no facts to back up your argument obviously isn't important) but just don't expect anyone with half a right mind to agree.
And passionless? Am I the only one who sees passion (as well as idiocy, granted) in Adebayor and Bendtner having an on-pitch scuffle, who sees passion in Gallas' badly-timed strop?
Presuming you're a season ticket-holder, mate, if you don't want yours I'll have it.
Andy, Gooner (ashamed to be one if Lee Bullen really is too) in Colchester
...Lee Bullen, I completely agree - British players would never put loyalty to their club above wages, I mean look at Ashley Cole...
Dean (Tired of lazy cliche's about foreign mercenaries) Powell
Crouchie: Bang On
In response to Tom Drew and Alan Rutherford of this morning's mailbox, might I suggest that Benitez could be responding to Aston Villa's valuation of Gareth Barry of 'well over £10 million,' due to him being an 'England International!' Add to that the recent transfers of Darren Bent, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick for well over £15 million pounds each and I think Benitez is either right on the money or, more likely, making a point about the ridiculously over inflated cost of buying 'England Internationals' who, let's remember, have left us with a gaping hole in our Summer football calendar.
Dave, LFC, Bristol
Mythbusting
I was just wondering if some helpful gooner could explain why some of their fans keep banging on about "Paddy V" and "TH14" and their careers going down hill after they left Arsenal. they all seem to spout this myth as evidence of "Arsene Knows".
However since leaving London Vieira has picked up an Italian Super Cup and a Scudetto.
While Henry may not be having the best of times he is new to his league and still has scored 5 more goals and picked up 2 more assists than last season.He is in a team likely to finish 3rd in their league (like Arsenal) and got knocked out in the semi-finals of the CL (unlike Arsenal).
Now while i accept that there are many players who have gotten too big for their boots and been sold by Arsene who have gone on to achieve very little, I don't see the logic in Arsenal fans pointing at these two, i'd imagine it's because they were big names and the fans want to believe in their manager, when clearly their club has gone on to achieve very little without them either.
It would be akin to a Man United fan pointing at the sale of Beckham as a master stroke by Ferguson when in reality we went 3 years without a league title following his sale.
Alan (i'll use the brackets to apologise for any grammar mistakes) Grace, Dublin
Things Can Only Get Better
As a Labour and Arsenal supporter I can't help but notice the similarities in the fortunes between the two. The manager who could do no wrong recording a huge victory in 1997(1997/98) only to experience problems in 1999 with disloyalty (Anelka in Arsenal's case, Ken in Labour's case). Another victory in 2001 convinced the skeptics that he was the great leader he had been lauded as. Plain sailing through the next few years with history made in 2004 (2005 for Labour admittedly). More recently the leader is under great pressure to deliver victories; after a honeymoon period at the start of the season problems and discontent have set in amongst activists and supporters. Statistics have our great leader behind his old enemy and destined for more heavy defeats in the future. Can this man, who has led us to such success over the past 10 years, survive the onslaught? Can he provide a response to those who are already writing his professional obituary?
Next season is incredibly important and will decide the legacies of both men. It would take a brave men to bet against either.
Andy Pinnington, Cambridge
Champions League Playoffs?
I've been reading a lot of mails lately about, boring, big 4 only, richer get richer etc etc. Well I thought I'd add my thoughts and an idea to see what people thought.
Platini has already said he'd like to reduce the number of clubs coming from each of the big leagues into the Champions League. Clubs from smaller countries can have a least a look in at the group stages. I think that's a great idea, I used to like seeing English teams coming up against the unknown's. But only in the odd qualifying do we seem to get these nowadays. (when was the last time you saw a team from Poland or Bulgaria in the Champs League group stages? these are decent footballing countries)
Platini also had the random idea of the cup winners from each country having a Champions League spot. Well that's a crap idea. I won't go into it anymore. But we do need to try and mix it up a bit.
So lets say Platini gets the go ahead and we're reduced to 3 clubs from the league. I'd like to see a playoff system introduced. (They do this in Holland I think). Our top 2 would qualify for the Champions League. then the 3rd to 6th place teams play a one off (maybe 2 leg) semi final, before a final at Wembley to decide our 3rd Champions League Qualifier.
It would even out the money, as in a one off game of course anyone could win. It would make the league more exciting. Imagine the teams scrapping for that final play off place in the final month or so. And imagine the league's cash cow for the league with the playoff final. That'd get rid of this idea 39th Step game too hopefully.
Look at the table this season you'd have Arsenal, Liverpool already assured of playoff qualification. Everton, Villa, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Manchester City all looking to grab those last two slots as they came into the last month or so of the season. (and teams wanting to take part in the playoffs shouldn't be allowed to put their entry in for the Inter toto either. It should be an all or nothing going for this!)
I know I didn't like the fa cup qualification idea. But at least this idea would at least give a team that has performed well in the top league to enter the competition and (no offence to Cardiff fans here) stop any random team that would have only earned the right to qualify over what, 5 or 6 games?
We may end up with a big two then and a big-ish 4 or 5 just behind? I don't know.
Either way, I'd rather see sensible ideas talked about on how to create greater competition in the league.
John
Why Should They Care?
So Bolton have secured their Premier League status and earned sixty million quid at least in the process..well that's all very well but to go out partying and risk not being 100% against Chelsea? So f*****g what. Why on earth would they give a flying toss about denting Man U's chances of winning the title.
For managers of multi million global clubs, the likes of Ferguson really come across as pathetic in their stupid childish mindgames.
Howard Whiteley, Bolton fan in New Zealand
Alternative Advice For Moscow
What with all the warnings on how to behave, what to do, where to go, who not to annoy......etc.,etc. it seems pretty clear that a well-behaved football fan in Moscow will benefit, the badly behaved will suffer.
I cannot therefore be the only one that hopes most of Surrey & Dublin and most of West London; 1. get sloshed, 2. annoy a policeman, 3. upset rock hard boyfriend of supermodel-esque Muscovite, 4. get arrested for seemingly 'British fun' and hopefully ...... fingers crossed.....we will never have to see those glory hunting a-holes ever again.
Jules "Okay so I'm jealous, but still; I'd prefer an England without 'em" Bell
Poo
Regarding M Latif's question about SAF chewing gum. I might be wrong, but isn't chewing large amounts of gum meant to have a laxative effect? maybe that explains why he's always in such a hurry to get to the dressing rooms after a match. maybe the bbc are the first to ask for interviews after matches too, so he invented a reason to explain his absence, when really, hes crapping his brains out.
Kieran, Ireland. (bored to the point of tears at work)
Clearly, This Man Had A Liquid Lunch
I was wondering. How many six month old babies would it take to kill Hunter out of Gladiators in a fight. I reckon they would have to win by smothering him with slobbery kisses and pudgy hugs....maybe 300+ babies would do it. And then, my thoughts veered violently off course to the upcoming Wigan - Man U game. Will it be a sell-out? It never usually has been, but if there are spare tickets going, is it such a stretch of the imagination that a mass of city fans should descend on the stadium, buy up all the tickets and turn the ground into a cauldron of hate to try to put of the Man U players. So what is the situation? Is it sold out? Would it be worth City/Liverpool (or even leeds) fans turning up to get in? Just a thought.
Not that I would. Far too lazy for that kind of nonsense. Now, how many siamese twins would it take to kill Jet in a fight in a paddling pool full of jelly?
Guy B, Liverpool
Slacking Advice
Mike Garcia From Toronto's mail this morning was quite an eye opener. I had never thought of copying and pasting the mailbox into an e-mail to appear like I am working. Good show old chap.
However, I have a slacking tip of my own which may prove helpful for 365ers... What I do is slightly different; I minimize the internet window so it matches the size of my preview pane in outlook, which (and I dont know if this is intentional by 365 or not) displays the text from the mailbox only and none of the bright colours from the side!
Gareth (I am a wily fox) Sutcliffe, Oldham
PS Another tip for slackers, whenever your boss is around & you are goofing, just look at your screen slightly confused thus giving the impression of a hard working (albeit mildly confused) employee.
Done
Dear F365.
The Football League Playoffs.
Just wanted to try and get it mentioned somewhere on your site.
Jimmy, Bristol.
Good Memory
I vaguely remember at the beginning of the season F365 entered a fantasy footie team made up of their most derided players, including Lampard, Jenas etc. any chance of an update of how this team fared? I only ask because I reckon they probably beat my mate Clint's team by some margin.
Neil Walsh
We're glad you asked Neil. 'Proving 365 Wrong' was entered into the Premier League Fantasy Football Competition, and with one game of the season to go, has gathered a frankly poor 1,226 points. This puts it firmly bottom of the F365ers league (one that a rather smug Ms Winterburn ran away with some time ago) and 1,376,106th of 1,700,920 overall. We feel thoroughly vindicated.
