THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2

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Wenger - I'll never say never over Henry coming back





Arsène Wenger would "never say never" to Thierry Henry re-joining Arsenal.
The Frenchman left Emirates Stadium for Barcelona last summer after a record-breaking nine years in which he won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and scored a record-breaking 226 goals.
The 30-year-old has failed to hit top form in Spain and, speaking this week, said if he were to return to England he'd only ever come to back to Arsenal. Not surprisingly, it was a major talking point at Wenger's pre-match press conference on Friday.
"I read the statement," said the manager. "He said he is happy at Barcelona but if he comes back he will only play at Arsenal. I find that a really very good statement.
"But although you can never say never, at the moment I do not think about [re-signing him].
"However I still think he has a lot to offer as a player. The whole team in Barcelona has not worked completely this year, they were never in the race for the championship. Every player has been a bit devalued. But I still think he has a lot there."
Wenger revealed that Arsenal do NOT have any first option on Henry should he wish to leave the Camp Nou but manager and player are still in close contact.
"I don't put buy-out clauses in the contract of the players that I find," he said. "At that level, I don't even ask to put the buy-out clause in because it's unfair.
"But I had a chat with him not a long time ago. He watches every Arsenal game and he can give me advice!
"When I can, I watch Barcelona because I'm always interested in how he looks, how his sharpness is, in what position he plays. I give him my view about his game.
"For me, Thierry is an efficient goalscorer. But Barca have two or three players [like that] there. What was a little bit damaging to his success at Barcelona is that Ronadinho has not turned up this season, so that the one who can play left wing is Thierry. And that's where he plays. But that's not his preferred position and that's not where he is most efficient."
 
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Wenger reveals bad news on Sagna injury




By Richard Clarke

Bacary Sagna's season is over.
The right back is the fourth Arsenal player to suffer that fate in the past three days. Speaking to Arsenal TV Online on Thursday, Arsène Wenger revealed Abou Diaby (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) would definitely miss the final trio of games. While, on Wednesday, Alex Hleb received a ban that will see him sidelined too. Of course, Eduardo (broken leg) has been missing since late January.
It was hoped that Sagna might return last weekend, the Frenchman had been absent since hobbling off with an ankle injury at Chelsea just over a month ago. However, it seems his excellent first season in England has come to a close.
"Diaby’s season is finished, Hleb’s season finished, Rosicky’s season finished, and Eduardo of course," said Wenger on Friday. "Now Sagna’s season is over as well.”
Wenger is doubtful that Mathieu Flamini (ankle) will return for Monday's trip to Derby County but does not discount it completely
 
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Mathieu Flamini

Wenger - Decision on Flamini next week







By Richard Clarke
The ball appears to be in Mathieu Flamini's court over his Arsenal future.
Arsène Wenger says the Club have made him a "decent" offer and will respect their existing wage structure. A deadline has been set for the end of April and it is up to the player to decide now.
It appears the 24-year-old would like to extend his four-year stay but doubts will remain until pen is put to paper. And the clock is ticking. His current contract runs out this summer.
"The deadline is next week, the end of April.” said Wenger on Friday. "I said it would be the end of April and that will be it.
"I believe he wants to stay and we want him to stay. We have made him an offer, if it's not good enough we will know soon.
"I respect our wages structure. We do not play - a little bit more, a little bit more. We have made an offer. We think it is decent and that is it
 
Here's to West Ham and Wigan Beating Man Utd while Newcastle and Bolton beats Chelsea and Arsenal beats Derby, Everton and Sunderland;)
 
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Here's to West Ham and Wigan Beating Man Utd while Newcastle and Bolton beats Chelsea and Arsenal beats Derby, Everton and Sunderland;)

just imagine ...

IF MAN UAND CHELSKI GET ONLY 1 POINT FROM THEIR LAST TWO GAMES AND AFC WINS ALL THREE ... then ..

AFC WILL BE CHAMPIONS!

C'MON GOONERS - LETS ALLHOPE FOR THE BEST STARTING WITH A GREAT THUMPING OF DERBY COUNTY TONITE!!!!!!!!!
 
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Cesc Fabregas wins PFA Young Player of Year award
Cesc Fabregas was named as the PFA Young Player of the Year at a star-studded ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday night.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo was named PFA Player of the Year for the second year in succession.

Meanwhile Cesc along with three other Arsenal players, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor, were selected for the PFA's Team of the Year.

PFA Premier League Team of the Year: David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).


Congats to Cesc Fabregas.he is a major influence to Arsenal:)

And,as far as tonight`s game goes,expect Derby to get a good whacking:)
 
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Derby County

2

McEveley 31, Earnshaw 77




Arsenal

6

Bendtner 25, Van Persie 39, Adebayor 59, 80, 90, Walcott 78



By Richard Clarke

Arsenal kept alive their faint, faint chances of a title comeback with a crushing 6-2 victory at relegated Derby County on Monday night.
Goals from Nicklas Bendtner, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott plus a second-half hat-trick from Emmanuel Adebayor were enough to see off Paul Jewell's side. The hosts had looked lively early on but strikes in either period from Jay McEveley and Robert Earnshaw were never enough.
Once they had roused themselves from a sluggish start, Arsenal took charge and could have many more goals than the half-dozen they registered.
Adebayor's treble, his second against Derby this season, will hog the headlines but Walcott's strike was the highlight of the night as the England international once again took the eye.
This victory puts Arsenal four points adrift of two leading teams. Only a rose-tinted optimist would fancy Wenger's men to lift the Premier League trophy at Sunderland on May 11. It would require both Chelsea and Manchester United to fail to register a win in either of their last two games.
Both where there is life there is hope. And Arsenal are still just about registering a pulse in this title race.
At his pre-match press conference on Friday, Wenger had suggested Denilson, Bendtner and Lukasz Fabianski as possible starters. The manager said he was aiming to give a little end-of-season experience to the younger end of his squad. He was as good as his word.
In addition, Alex Song, 20, and Walcott, 19, retained their places at centre half and on the left wing respectively. There was experience on the bench in the form of Gilberto, Adebayor and Philippe Senderos.
There was a short, sharp hailstorm about 30 minutes before kick-off but, metaphorically it had been raining on Derby County all season. They had been bottom of the Premier League since October 28 and long since relegated.
Despite all that, the home side started much the brighter this evening.
In the third minute Bendtner fired over a cross from the left and Eboue hoiked a shot over the bar. But Derby might have opened the lead twice in following minute. First Emanuel Villa swept a shot wide from 10 yards then Mile Sterjovski let fly and Song stretched to clear. The ball sliced off the foot of the Arsenal defender and flew a couple of yards wide with Fabianski left flatfooted.
In reality, the first 24 minutes had belonged to Derby's endeavour. But they would be undone by what happened in the 25th when Darren Moore made the simplest error at the back. It allowed Bendtner to exchange passes with Van Persie and slot home past Roy Carroll.
Derby were now rattled. Walcott escaped seconds later, eschewed the possibility of passing to Bendtner and instead set up the unmarked Van Persie. Inexplicably he slotted the ball wide.
It would prove a costly mistake. On the half hour Song fouled Sterjovski on the left. Robbie Savage planted the free-kick in the midst of the area, and after Arsenal failed to clear McEveley stabbed home from close range.
On 30 minutes had been played but both sides had displayed the defensive vulnerability that had undermined their campaigns at either end of the table.
Van Persie blazed over and Fabregas stung Carroll's hands from 30 yards as Arsenal chased the lead. They found it in spectacular fashion six minutes from the break. Toure clipped a lofted pass into the area, Van Persie slipped away from his marker, chested the ball down and half-volleyed a rising drive into the roof of the net.
It was the Dutchman's last significant moment; he was replaced at half time by Emmanuel Adebayor.
Arsenal slipped into cruise control at the start of the second half. Toure had a couple of rocket shots fizz over the bar, Bendtner thumped high and, just before the hour, Carroll saved from Adebayor at the near post.
The inevitable third came seconds later. Denilson, who was having a tidy game in midfield, sent Walcott into the area. He skipped past his marker on the byline and cut the ball back to Eboue whose touch allowed Adebayor to slide home a third.
Walcott went through in acres of space seconds later but steered his shot wide.
It was now a procession for Arsenal. They could create chances at will while Derby were a shadow of the competitive side that had started the game.
Eboue spurned a couple of chances to add a fourth but the game seemed meandering to a close.
Or was it.
Benny Feilhaber kept Fabianski interested with a drive from distance. Then, in the 76th minute, substitute Earnshaw escaped to steer a shot past Fabianski and just inside the far post.
For a minute the Derby crowd believed once more.
It was only a minute, mind. Less than 90 seconds later Walcott danced into the area, cut inside his marker and curled a sumptuous shot into the far corner of the net.
Ten minutes from time, Adebayor slipped home a simple fifth and, in extra time, skipped past Carroll to roll home his hat-trick.
It had been a comprehensive victory
 
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Wenger reacts to Clichy and Sagna praise


By Richard Clarke

It's official - Arsenal have the best full backs in the country.
Last night Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna were named in the PFA's Premier League Team of the Season. It is a highly prestigious award given the voting comes from the professional ranks.
This term, the French duo have been as influential as it is possible to be from their position, offering safety in defence and incisiveness to the attack
"I think our two full backs have been great," said Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger ahead of the announcement. "They have two very good statistics.
"If you ask any Arsenal fan what they think of Clichy and Sagna I think you will have unanimous praise."
Surely a first French cap must be just around the corner for Clichy
 
Evra and Cashley are definitely much much much better than Cliche. Bollocks!

Sagna only partly deserves it because he wasn't around often enough. Cliche? Yeech! He's a below average defender. He must have been voted in by the slimmest of margins.

Anyways, the best player in the PL is none other than Ronaldo.
 
Evra and Cashley are definitely much much much better than Cliche. Bollocks!

Sagna only partly deserves it because he wasn't around often enough. Cliche? Yeech! He's a below average defender. He must have been voted in by the slimmest of margins..

wahhhaaaaaahhhahhaaaaaaa.:mrgreen:..... Rork ... what have u been smoking ....???? :D
 
Clichy is severely underrated. He's an amazing player. So is Evra, gotta give him that. Those 2 are the best. Sagna... nah. :rolleyes:
 
[Anyways, the best player in the PL is none other than Ronaldo.[/QUOTE]


yeah..the best player is a one man show for united..How nice:)
 
Evra and Cashley are definitely much much much better than Cliche. Bollocks!

Sagna only partly deserves it because he wasn't around often enough. Cliche? Yeech! He's a below average defender. He must have been voted in by the slimmest of margins.

Anyways, the best player in the PL is none other than Ronaldo.

As far as I can see, . I'm sure some Man Utd fans would argue that Evra deserves a spot, but I think Clichy's consistency just edges it.
Incidentally, Cristiano Ronaldo voted for Emmanuel Adebayor, showing just how much respect he has for the Togolese striker for your info

Anyway,the best player in the PL is a one man showboat for united;)
 
Incidentally, Cristiano Ronaldo voted for Emmanuel Adebayor, showing just how much respect he has for the Togolese striker for your info

thats why Adebayor pinched ronny's cheeks that day at OT after the match! :mrgreen:
 
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