THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
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fgl
Well-known member
Wenger - Diaby back but I won't be rushing Van Persie
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Emirates Stadium
Sat, Mar 1, 2008, 3pm
By Richard Clarke
Despite the loss of Eduardo, Arsène Wenger intends to remain patient over the return of Robin van Persie.
The Croatian is out for the season after breaking his leg at Birmingham on Saturday. The Dutchman would be the perfect replacement but he has only figured in three games since last October and is currently sidelined with a thigh injury. Therefore, the Arsenal manager was being understandably cautious when he spoke to Arsenal TV Online on Thursday.
"We will not rush Robin van Persie back but the news is quite good," said Wenger. "It is very difficult to say [when he will be back in the side]. We go step by step. But he should come back into normal training, very, very quickly now.
"Maybe I am being a little over-cautious in my statements but I do not want to put any special pressure on him.
"But the fact that Eduardo is out is one more reason to [get him back]. Also he deserves that championship as well and that is another reason - to do it for him."
For the game at St Andrews, Arsenal's absentees list read: Alex Song (knee), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Abou Diaby (calf), Kolo Toure (knee) Johan Djourou (groin), Van Persie (thigh) and Emmanuel Eboue (suspended).
"It looks like you can take Diaby out of that list," replied Wenger when the roll-call was read out. "All of the other players are not back."
However both Ivorians may be back for Tuesday's trip to Milan.
"Eboue will be back from suspension then," said the Frenchman. "We don't know about Kolo. It looks a little bit early but you never know."
Arsenal TV Online subscribers can see the full video interview on Friday, in it Arsène discusses: the injury to Eduardo, estimates on his return, why he retracted his statements on Martin Taylor, Villa's strength this season, John Carew - Arsenal's nemesis, Gabriel Agbonlahor's improvement
Yea true.But at least all these teams have a minimum of two english players in their first 11.Manure have Rooney,Ferdinand.Chelski have Terry, Lam"pah"ard.Pool have Gerrard,Crotch etc.I still say go with the Yobs..heh
Milan seems to have the odds stacked against them for this tie though.According to TNP,Kaka is out and that should be a massive boost for the arses.
fgl
Well-known member
GrimRiffer
New member
United have Ferdinand, Carrick, Brown, Rooney and Hargreaves usually in their starting 11. Don't forget Scholes too. And the injury prone G Neville-.- Chelsea have a handful of English players too. Cashley Cole, Joe Cole, Fat Frank and JT.
fgl
Well-known member
FOCUS ON ASTON VILLA
<H4>'They are capable of really scaring Arsenal'</H4>
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Emirates Stadium
Sat, Mar 1, 2008, 3pm
By Chris Harris
Nervous about Saturday? Well, this won't help. Aston Villa have scored more goals from set-pieces than any other Premier League team this season. And in their ranks is the man who has probably caused Arsenal more problems in the air than any other striker in the past decade - John Carew.
The big Norwegian was responsible for two heart-breaking Champions League headers when he wore the colours of Valencia in 2001 and 2003. Now, with the pinpoint delivery of Ashley Young to feed off, Carew is hoping to leave an ugly dent in Arsenal's title ambitions.
Villa's improvement from dead-ball situations is symbolic of a general rise in standards since Martin O'Neill took charge in the summer of 2006. The Irishman has shaken up an under-achieving squad to the extent that a place in the Uefa Cup - or perhaps even the Champions League - is within Villa's range this season. We asked Bill Howell of the Birmingham Mail for a Villa perspective ahead of Saturday's game at Emirates Stadium. Read on for his views on Villa’s improvement, their key men, the chase for a European place, why Villa will not sit back on Saturday and Arsenal’s ‘chalk and cheese’ performance at Villa Park.
STORY SO FAR
"It has been a remarkably good season. It started poorly with a home defeat against Liverpool, then they played out a goalless draw at Newcastle, the first between the sides in 70-odd years, and you thought there might be a problem. But things clicked, results came together, confidence grew and, by and large, barring two or three poor performances, the season has been very good.
"I would be really shocked now if they didn't make it into Europe although no one knows if sixth place will be good enough because the Carling Cup place has been taken by Tottenham. Villa have done exceptionally well but I don't think fourth place is realistic because, as Martin O'Neill keeps saying, Liverpool's squad is far stronger. Villa have got some tough away games - they have to go to Goodison Park, the Emirates this weekend and Old Trafford. They've got to go to Portsmouth as well. Villa have got a lot of winnable games at home though. Middlesbrough is coming up, Birmingham in the big derby is one they will certainly be looking at for three points. Sixth place would be a remarkable achievement."
MEN OF THE MOMENT
"Gareth Barry has been consistently good yet again. Villa have relied on him for a number of seasons and he is now playing in a good side for the first time since his early years at the club in the late-90s. He would get my nod for Villa's player of the season because he has been so consistent. There have been other good performers. Gabby Agbonlahor has been tremendous and is definitely the most improved player. It wasn't long ago that he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Watford and couldn't get in their teams, now we're looking at him to be called up for England's game in France next month.
"There's also John Carew who has had a tremendous run of games and is top scorer with nine. Martin Laursen has been consistently good and deserved his new contract. He has been excellent. Olof Mellbery has played really well out of position at right back. And Ashley Young deserves a mention because he would get the award for the most assists in the Premier League. His set-piece delivery is something I've never seen at Villa Park and it's refreshing."
TALKING TACTICS
"Touch wood, I think Mellberg should make it. He missed the game at Reading but I think he'll return on the right side of defence which will allow O'Neill to tinker with one or two things. The Emirates is a really difficult place to go and, in the past, Villa have tried to pack the midfield. I think they will do that again to some extent, perhaps with Craig Gardner, Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker as a central midfield three, and then he'll have a lot of pace down the flanks with Agbonlahor and Young. I could be completely wrong - Marlon Harewood is doing all he can to get a first League start - but away from home that might be a risk.
"Villa will be chuffed to bits with a point but they won't attack this game negatively. If they produce the form they are capable of, Villa can really scare Arsenal. They've got pace and no team has scored more set-piece goals or away goals in the Premier League. I've watched Villa for eight years and for seven years they have been atrocious at attacking or defending set-pieces. All of a sudden they have a new armoury to their game."
IMPRESSIONS OF ARSENAL
"Arsenal's first 45 minutes at Villa Park was the best performance I have seen this season and probably last season as well. It was beautiful - quick movement, 10-yard passes, Villa were out of the game, they were chasing shadows. In the second half I don't know what happened. Villa went for broke, Arsenal dropped deeper and deeper, their defence looked ragged and Lassana Diarra, who had controlled the game in the first half, started to struggle. They were without Fabregas and that influenced things, but it was a chalk-and-cheese affair. What I'm expecting on Saturday is much more of the first half.
"Arsenal do produce the best football in the country and Adebayor has done incredibly well to fill Henry's boots, but my fear is that Arsenal's great football might not win them the Premier League this time around. Manchester United were supreme in defence against Villa, they gave nothing away and I think that might be decisive."
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Emirates Stadium
Sat, Mar 1, 2008, 3pm
By Chris Harris
Nervous about Saturday? Well, this won't help. Aston Villa have scored more goals from set-pieces than any other Premier League team this season. And in their ranks is the man who has probably caused Arsenal more problems in the air than any other striker in the past decade - John Carew.
The big Norwegian was responsible for two heart-breaking Champions League headers when he wore the colours of Valencia in 2001 and 2003. Now, with the pinpoint delivery of Ashley Young to feed off, Carew is hoping to leave an ugly dent in Arsenal's title ambitions.
Villa's improvement from dead-ball situations is symbolic of a general rise in standards since Martin O'Neill took charge in the summer of 2006. The Irishman has shaken up an under-achieving squad to the extent that a place in the Uefa Cup - or perhaps even the Champions League - is within Villa's range this season. We asked Bill Howell of the Birmingham Mail for a Villa perspective ahead of Saturday's game at Emirates Stadium. Read on for his views on Villa’s improvement, their key men, the chase for a European place, why Villa will not sit back on Saturday and Arsenal’s ‘chalk and cheese’ performance at Villa Park.
STORY SO FAR
"It has been a remarkably good season. It started poorly with a home defeat against Liverpool, then they played out a goalless draw at Newcastle, the first between the sides in 70-odd years, and you thought there might be a problem. But things clicked, results came together, confidence grew and, by and large, barring two or three poor performances, the season has been very good.
"I would be really shocked now if they didn't make it into Europe although no one knows if sixth place will be good enough because the Carling Cup place has been taken by Tottenham. Villa have done exceptionally well but I don't think fourth place is realistic because, as Martin O'Neill keeps saying, Liverpool's squad is far stronger. Villa have got some tough away games - they have to go to Goodison Park, the Emirates this weekend and Old Trafford. They've got to go to Portsmouth as well. Villa have got a lot of winnable games at home though. Middlesbrough is coming up, Birmingham in the big derby is one they will certainly be looking at for three points. Sixth place would be a remarkable achievement."
MEN OF THE MOMENT
"Gareth Barry has been consistently good yet again. Villa have relied on him for a number of seasons and he is now playing in a good side for the first time since his early years at the club in the late-90s. He would get my nod for Villa's player of the season because he has been so consistent. There have been other good performers. Gabby Agbonlahor has been tremendous and is definitely the most improved player. It wasn't long ago that he went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Watford and couldn't get in their teams, now we're looking at him to be called up for England's game in France next month.
"There's also John Carew who has had a tremendous run of games and is top scorer with nine. Martin Laursen has been consistently good and deserved his new contract. He has been excellent. Olof Mellbery has played really well out of position at right back. And Ashley Young deserves a mention because he would get the award for the most assists in the Premier League. His set-piece delivery is something I've never seen at Villa Park and it's refreshing."
TALKING TACTICS
"Touch wood, I think Mellberg should make it. He missed the game at Reading but I think he'll return on the right side of defence which will allow O'Neill to tinker with one or two things. The Emirates is a really difficult place to go and, in the past, Villa have tried to pack the midfield. I think they will do that again to some extent, perhaps with Craig Gardner, Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker as a central midfield three, and then he'll have a lot of pace down the flanks with Agbonlahor and Young. I could be completely wrong - Marlon Harewood is doing all he can to get a first League start - but away from home that might be a risk.
"Villa will be chuffed to bits with a point but they won't attack this game negatively. If they produce the form they are capable of, Villa can really scare Arsenal. They've got pace and no team has scored more set-piece goals or away goals in the Premier League. I've watched Villa for eight years and for seven years they have been atrocious at attacking or defending set-pieces. All of a sudden they have a new armoury to their game."
IMPRESSIONS OF ARSENAL
"Arsenal's first 45 minutes at Villa Park was the best performance I have seen this season and probably last season as well. It was beautiful - quick movement, 10-yard passes, Villa were out of the game, they were chasing shadows. In the second half I don't know what happened. Villa went for broke, Arsenal dropped deeper and deeper, their defence looked ragged and Lassana Diarra, who had controlled the game in the first half, started to struggle. They were without Fabregas and that influenced things, but it was a chalk-and-cheese affair. What I'm expecting on Saturday is much more of the first half.
"Arsenal do produce the best football in the country and Adebayor has done incredibly well to fill Henry's boots, but my fear is that Arsenal's great football might not win them the Premier League this time around. Manchester United were supreme in defence against Villa, they gave nothing away and I think that might be decisive."
fgl
Well-known member
iverson763
New member
the only man u flag i'll be flying is the one fgl has on his signature... wahaha
fgl: damn long never visit this thread, but after i see your signature... i must come here to tell you, i love your style man
fgl: damn long never visit this thread, but after i see your signature... i must come here to tell you, i love your style man
GrimRiffer
New member
Haha. Of course FGL. United till I die! Good luck Villans!
fgl
Well-known member
of course not ... just that I dont mix sex with AFC ... its like .. kinda sacreligious know what I mean?
Haha..this is a funny video..the montage at 0.43,1.16, 2.04 and 2.50 is priceless..had me in stiches
YouTube - Liverpool FC/Who The Fuck Are Man Utd
YouTube - Liverpool FC/Who The Fuck Are Man Utd
Dime
New member
YouTube - Harry Enfield - Mr Cholmondley-Warner (Association Football)
this is hilarious.liverpool '91 vs arsenal '33.
this is hilarious.liverpool '91 vs arsenal '33.
Plastic
New member
Amazing :mrgreen:
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