Arsene Wenger said there would be no new signings on deadline day just for the sake of it,
unless there were some top players available at the right price.
Clearly, that didn't happen, but Gunners fans may have missed the one signing that did take
place on August 30, that of 17-year-old goalkeeper Dejan Iliev.
There are many people out there spitting feathers over Arsene Wenger not bringing in some 'super,
super quality' players yesterday.
Or any players. I even saw some Gooners so desperate for Arsenal to get someone in they wanted
Micheal Owen. Even Emile Heskey's name was bandied about.
While I can understand the frustration brewing there's not a lot we can do about the fact we didn't
make any signings.
On Wednesday night I was writing something for Red News about the pros and cons of signing Robin
van Persie. With the deal having not been done, but the conclusion likely to have been reached by
the time the issue went to print, it was important that a fair summary was given.
I had come up with several reasons why the transfer wouldn't be ideal for United (and I will
address these later) but my reaction last night to learning that we had agreed a fee with Arsenal
gave away my true feelings about the situation.
Nicks' note:Here's Krish, our fast-becoming-resident Chelsea
scribe, penning down some thoughts on what he expects from Chelsea's campaign, and the potential
season-defining matches they'll have to go through. He has Arsenal down as title contenders, bless
him. That's gone and jinxed it nice and proper.
Here's my belated tupporth on Theo, penned long after the issue's been battered around the
interwebs and beaten into digital submission.
Something's likely to give this summer, one way or the other, because the run-the-contract-down
option is unlikely to come to pass. Hence the stories that we are now seeing – whatever the truth
in them.
Here we see Barcelona's U11 side taking on Arsenal a month or two ago, playing them off the park
with some lovely possession football and pretty much kicking your dreams of still being scouted by
a professional club squarely in the crotch as you approach your late, late twenties.
Touted as England's shiny new talisman only a year ago, Arsenal schemer Jack Wilshere has seen
his whole season pass by without kicking a ball in anger. While he was expected to be ready for the
start of the 2012/13 campaign, news that the youngster is to undergo yet another operation is sure
to have both Arsenal and England fans worrying about the midfielder's long-term future.
How to be a happy Gooner, despite not winning any silverware for seven years
and counting!
About twenty years ago, I read for the first time, the well-known ‘Management' bestseller
‘Seven habits of highly effective people' by Stephen Covey. The one bit I still remember clearly
from Covey's book is ‘Habit two': ‘Begin with the end in mind'.
How to be a happy Gooner, despite not winning any silverware for seven years
and counting!
About twenty years ago, I read for the first time, the well-known ‘Management' bestseller
‘Seven habits of highly effective people' by Stephen Covey. The one bit I still remember clearly
from Covey's book is ‘Habit two': ‘Begin with the end in mind'.
Sometimes, it's the little things that make life worth living, isn't it? Image: AFP/Getty Images.
The Bundesliga starts this weekend. Fingers crossed Mario Gotze wins his fitness battle in time.Â
For everyone's sake. Here's our slightly irreverent list of predictions for the weekends action.
What are yours, Kickettes?
Barcelona defender Daniel Alves says it is time for Brazilian star Neymar to move to Europe this
summer,.
The third best player in the world has been linked with moves to either Real Madrid or Barcelona
in recent summers, but he has always indicated a willingness to remain at Santos until after the
2014 World Cup before moving abroad.
In which Luis Figo blows his beans all over the shop after Ronaldo's goal against the Czech
Republic put Portugal in the semis, and almost poleaxes Eusebio into the bargain...
Steady on Luis, the man's a septuagenarian for Christ's sake!
Why it was ever considered a good idea is beyond us, but down Brazil way the linesmen come
equipped with a little can of temporary spray paint to mark the pitch in the event of of a foul.
The paint is most commonly used to mark out 'yards' on the turf so players have a clear indication
as to where the wall should line up if a free-kick is given, as counting out ten strides is
obviously considered a bit 'old hat'.
Why it was ever considered a good idea is beyond us, but down Brazil way the linesmen come
equipped with a little can of temporary spray paint to mark the pitch in the event of of a foul.
The paint is most commonly used to mark out 'yards' on the turf so players have a clear indication
as to where the wall should line up if a free-kick is given, as counting out ten strides is
obviously considered a bit 'old hat'.
In which AIK centre-half Alexander Milosevic takes aim from the edge of the semi-circle and
crashes an absolute exocet into the top corner from 45 metres out...
Willem van Hanegem, Louis van Gaal, Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola... they all said at some stage
in their career: "I don't care who we play, what their tactics are or what they do... We play our
own game. And we won't change it for the sake of our opponents..."
As if [read more]
Willem van Hanegem, Louis van Gaal, Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola... they all said at some stage
in their career: "I don't care who we play, what their tactics are or what they do... We play our
own game. And we won't change it for the sake of our opponents..."
La Liga: Just Football's Team of the Season 2011-12 (minus Messi and Ronaldo) is a post from:
Just Football
by Ashley Escobar
The subjective nature of football is never more obvious than when a "team of the season" is
composed. There are often a few obvious names who demand inclusion whilst other names are thrown in
due to the way the composer of the team enjoys his or her football.
Roy Keane is refusing to buy in to the doom and gloom talk surrounding Manchester United at the
moment, claiming even if we don't win the title this season, we will bounce back.
"They'll be disappointed, not necessarily just because of the result, but because of the
performance," said Keane.
This week's Philadelphia Player of the Week is ...
Nobody.
We can't.
We tried!
We did. We really did.
The six of us scratched our heads. Ed Farnsworth pawed the air helplessly. Adam Cann looked for
a sign. Greg Orlandini took the thinking man pose and got stuck there.
I will be honest, I don't know what to write or how to react to tonight and that's simply because
one minute I am fuming angry and the next I have sympathy.
I tell you what, I am going to write whatever comes into my head at that particular moment and to
just go with it so excuse me if you are reading this and it seems like just a load of waffle!
TweetLiverpool exacted revenge for their FA Cup final defeat by smashing Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield
leaving the Blues in a do-or-die clash with Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Form is temporary
class is permanent right? For Chelsea's sake they had better hope that that most famous football
axiom is true ahead of the UEFA [.
While the two preceding goals were stunning in their own right, Luis Suarez's honker of a
third against Norwich was just that little bit special-er. Here it is again on infinite loop...
Goal of the season? Crouchie's still pipping it for us.
Kenny Dalglish is prepared to see his side sacrifice their style for the sake of some results as
they search for a winning formula.
Liverpool has struggled to secure victories this season as their expensively assembled attack has
continually malfunctioned.
A familiar pattern was witnessed again last week against West Brom at Anfield, where the Reds
dominated the game, but failed to find the decisive goals.
I was wondering if this boy know who is this S.League footballer "in front" of himI would like to
apologize for the lack of update of late due to my heavy day job workload that has been piling up
in recent months (those who know me personally should know how my workplace has been under scrutiny
of since last December).
Buriram United chairman Newin Chidchob has vowed to continue his bid to find out if there are
financial irregularities in football management.
During a meeting of representatives of Thai Premier League clubs last month, Newin asked TPL
chairman Vichit Yamboonruang about the broadcasting rights of TPL matches and other income but
Vichit could not give an answer.
Shane Smeltz stole the headlines as Perth put a strangely negative Melbourne Heart to the
sword.
Perth aren't pretty for the neutral and with Liam Miller off his game it was dire stuff. A strange
second "goal" that clearly wasn't killed the game all hats off to Smeltz for celebrating early -
did he influence the Perth-based linesman who gave a goal.
Stoke winger/press officer Jermaine Pennant has announced the signing of Tottenham midfielder Tom
Huddlestone on a season-long loan. Pennant's morning greeting contained an observation that
Huddlestone was at Stoke's training ground. And for the sake of ease, he also confirmed the terms
of the deal. He tweeted: "I walked in training and got a shock [.
Since we are here to please, Sounder at Heart has decided to host not one, but two viewing
parties for next Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final. Considering the game is on the
not-exactly-widely-available GolTV, we figured there would be plenty of you looking for a place to
watch. With that in mind, we're hosting one party in Seattle and another in Renton.
Whatever the real meaning behind John Terry's abusive words to Anton Ferdinand last October, we can
all agree that the Chelsea captain's verbal salvos towards opposition players are usually somewhat
antagonistic to say the least. In a refreshing twist on that consistently fulfilled caricature, the
England international was caught on camera (and indeed on mic) [.
One of the more insignificant downsides of Saturday's draw, I was a mere seconds away from being
able to make a Tony Robbins reference in the headline of this post. I actually saw them preparing
the coals for this. They were burning them on a bridge downtown. That's what you get for being
stupid enough to listen to Tony Robbins, San Jose.
Many believe that it had to be done. For the sake of the club's financial struggles and for the
sake of rebuilding the squad, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago simply had to be sold. And, to a
certain point, this is true. Milan's financial struggles are well-known, Adriano Galliani himself
has done his best in making [.
Various schools of thoughts were gathered from last night's Causeway Challenge that saw the Lions
drawn 2-2 against Malaysia at Jalan Besar.
"Where is my support?" Agu (11) as depicted"With no disrespect to the Malaysians who we are playing
them week in and out, shouldn't we go for some stronger opponents?
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea. Date: Fri 6th Apr 2012. Kick-Off: 16:30. Referee: Howard Webb.
Good afternoon Geordies, and welcome to our regular match banter feature for todays Swans / Magpies
clash at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. This is the sixth game in a row taking place at a odd time
for the sake of Rupert [.
