fgl
Well-known member
sorry bro - cant do that .... NOT EVEN IF U BUY ME A NEW STRAT :mrgreen:
jeepers - eh dun kay poh lah .. go sparring TKD with vicko can already :mrgreen:
THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
sorry bro - cant do that .... NOT EVEN IF U BUY ME A NEW STRAT :mrgreen:
jeepers - eh dun kay poh lah .. go sparring TKD with vicko can already :mrgreen:
fgl
Well-known member
Stadium of Light
Sunday, May 11, 2008, 3pm
Sunderland
0
Arsenal
1
Walcott 24
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal finished their season with a flourish at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Theo Walcott's first-half strike ensured Arsène Wenger's side ended up with 83 points. In years gone by that would have been enough to lift the Premier League title. Alas not this term. Arsenal knew before kick-off they would finish third while the top two places would be decided, without their involvement, elsewhere this afternoon.
Still, there have tangible signs of significant progression among Wenger's men during this campaign and performance of the Frenchman's youngsters today gave the impression there is plenty more to come.
Sunderland were always competitive but the moments of class came from Arsenal. Walcott was a fitting match-winner. His goal was nothing special but his recent performances certainly have been.
The England international was the brightest spark in an entertaining but ultimately
meaningless game.
Next season, you sense Arsenal will feel the full benefit.
There was a familiar unfamiliarity about the visitors' line-up this afternoon. Wenger had sent out a much-changed side over the past few weeks in order to give the younger elements a little more top-flight experience. The likes of Lukas Fabianski, Denilson, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner all retained their places this afternoon. A slight hamstring injury meant Kolo Toure was absent so Johann Djourou came in.
If it was a young side then the bench were babies - Armand Traore (18), Havard Nordviet (17), Mark Randall (18), Vito Mannone (20) and Nacer Barazite (17)
This was a rare pressure-free game for Arsenal. Chelsea and Manchester United were vying for the Premier League title, Wenger's men were safe but slightly disappointed in third.
Sunderland had achieved their season's aim - staying up - some weeks ago. Therefore they felt at liberty to attack the visitors in the opening stages.
Carlos Edwards' drive tested Fabianski with the first 20 seconds then, after Eboue had received lengthy treatment, the Arsenal keeper had to hurriedly collect a knockdown from Kenwyne Jones before Chris Leadbitter slid in.
Eboue nearly put in Adebayor but, in the 15th minute, Dwight Yorke fizzed an effort just over the bar. Overall the home side had started much the better.
However Arsenal gradually regained their composure with their best player over recent weeks, Walcott, to the fore once more.
In the 24th minute the youngster put Arsenal ahead somewhat against the run of play. The goal was simplicity itself. Gilberto clipped a ball forward between the Sunderland centre half and full back, Walcott raced through and slotted home.
Sunderland responded with even more energy. But the closest they came to a reply was when Danny Collins nodded over from a corner eight minutes before the break. Before that Senderos had sent a rasping drive over the bar from fully 40 yards.
Jones, the Sunderland spearhead, had hurt his hand a few minutes before the break blocking a shot from Gilberto. He failed to re-appear after the restart so Roy O'Donovan came on.
The substitute steered over an early header but once again the home pressure did not last.
In the 58th minute, Arsenal should have secured the three points when Leadbitter passed straight back to keeper Marton Fulop from Walcott's dangerous cross.
The referee gave an indirect free-kick eight yards and the home side pulled back everybody on the line. Adebayor took the kick and tapped the ball sideways to Gilberto who inexplicably sliced wide.
O'Donovan might have made Arsenal pay but, after Song slipped, the striker missed his kick at the far post.
Bendtner, Adebayor and Walcott combined wonderfully in the 68th minute but the England striker's cut back just failed to find a team-mate.
However Sunderland were still going for the equaliser and when Eboue gave the ball away O'Donovan dragged his shot wide from a dangerous position.
Wenger brought on Mark Randall in the closing stages and the young Englishman had the ball in the net with four minutes left only for the effort to be flagged offside. In the final minute he forced a super save from Fulop. Arsenal were ending the season strongly.
But in injury time Sunderland nearly salvaged a draw when O'Donovan met Leadbitter's low cross. However Fabianski held on to the ball as Arsenal held on to their victory.
Wenger: 'It's fishing time for the agents'
By Richard Clarke
Many call the early part of the summer the "silly season" given the wild speculation in the newspapers during this time of the year. Arsène Wenger, however, has a different name - fishing time.
It is a cast-iron certainty that Arsenal will be linked with any number of players between now and the big kick-off in August. Only a couple are likely to join and even then they may not be the names trumpeted by the major headlines.
"The agents always get nervous in May and they calm down on August 31," explained Wenger at his pre-match press conference. "For them it's like going fishing. You're allowed to fish now, you know?
"And after August 31 they don't feel that way any more until January 1. It's like they take tranquilisers on September 1."
Of course, the major factor in many moves is money. The manager is on record as saying Arsenal's contract offer to Mathieu Flamini could not match Milan's. That was the one factor in the French midfielder's decision to move to Italy. But in the worrying global financial climate, Wenger is unsure that players' wages can continue to rise or even be sustained at the current level.
"I don't know about that really," he said. "It looks that wages that were good last year are not good any more this year and that cycle was much lower a few years ago. Now, from one year to the next, the wages go up, up, up, up.
"But the money available for the clubs is changing very quickly and we are in a world where it is a little bit strange. The whole world is suffering from deflation and we [in football] are in a world of inflation. How long can that last? I don't know."
wylde
New member
Wenger - I hope to make a signing in two or three weeks
Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal
Barclays Premier League
Stadium of Light
Sun, May 11, 2008, 3pm
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger intends to start moulding his squad for next season straight away and is looking to bring in a new signing "in the next two or three weeks".
Arsenal ended their season on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Sunderland. It left them on 83 points, some 15 more than last season but still four adrift of champions Manchester United.
Wenger is adamant there is little wrong with his side and talks of making only "one or two" signings this summer. His intention is to seal the first deal sooner rather than later.
“I know what I want and I am very confident," he said. "I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. But the fans should be re-assured by what they see."
Wenger's two major acquisitions last summer, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo, were new to English football. This time around, it seems he'd like someone who has already acclimatised.
“It would be better to buy someone who has played in England because they are less risky," said the manager. "But it costs more money if they are from the Premier League, so maybe I will try to do both."
Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal
Barclays Premier League
Stadium of Light
Sun, May 11, 2008, 3pm
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger intends to start moulding his squad for next season straight away and is looking to bring in a new signing "in the next two or three weeks".
Arsenal ended their season on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Sunderland. It left them on 83 points, some 15 more than last season but still four adrift of champions Manchester United.
Wenger is adamant there is little wrong with his side and talks of making only "one or two" signings this summer. His intention is to seal the first deal sooner rather than later.
“I know what I want and I am very confident," he said. "I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. But the fans should be re-assured by what they see."
Wenger's two major acquisitions last summer, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo, were new to English football. This time around, it seems he'd like someone who has already acclimatised.
“It would be better to buy someone who has played in England because they are less risky," said the manager. "But it costs more money if they are from the Premier League, so maybe I will try to do both."
fuzztremecho
New member
damn..now that the season is over and only the CL final to look forward to..
its gonna be 2.5 mths without football...
gonna switch over to cricket..
its gonna be 2.5 mths without football...
gonna switch over to cricket..
fgl
Well-known member
fuzztremecho
New member
seriously bro..except for us the "Rocking Generation"..the younger softies might not know the fundamentals of the game..
fgl
Well-known member
U never know ...
jeepers
New member
Right on FGL. I know cricket pretty well, played a bit of it last time 'cos my old man's a huge fan. He's a huge fan of softball, golf, rugby and racing as well (other than football, that is). I was just a tad disappointed he didn't bring me into softball when I was younger, it's great fun!
Ps: My old man's team used to be one of the best around. But, that was when softball was still popular and being played at kallang.
wylde
New member
Wenger - Eduardo can clear mental hurdles on road back
By Chris Harris
Arsène Wenger believes the biggest hurdle to Eduardo's recovery could be mental, not physical.
The Arsenal striker suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle at Birmingham on February 23 but is expected to return to action before the end of the year. Eduardo is currently in Brazil continuing his rehabilitation.
Wenger was upbeat about the Croatian's future when the topic cropped up at a Q&A with shareholders at Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal manager knows that Eduardo will face psychologicial challenges, like all victims of serious injuries, but Wenger is backing the 25-year-old to overcome them.
"The medical profession say he [will] make a full physical recovery," said the Frenchman. "We don't believe physically there will be a problem afterwards but how much impact it will have in his head when he sees the tackles flying in again, only the future will tell us.
"We believe medically there is no problem, he will play again, but after that how well can he deal with it? He is a tough boy so I am confident he will deal with it.
"At the moment we sent him to Sao Paolo, where he was born, where he can wait before he starts rehabilitation. There is a good physio there in Sao Paolo who he knows, and he is taking care of him. When he is ready to start training at the beginning of the season he will come back of course.
"We expect him to be out completely for six months but to play really at the top, top level, it will be nine months [from when he was injured]."
GET WELL SOON EDU!
By Chris Harris
Arsène Wenger believes the biggest hurdle to Eduardo's recovery could be mental, not physical.
The Arsenal striker suffered a broken leg and a dislocated ankle at Birmingham on February 23 but is expected to return to action before the end of the year. Eduardo is currently in Brazil continuing his rehabilitation.
Wenger was upbeat about the Croatian's future when the topic cropped up at a Q&A with shareholders at Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal manager knows that Eduardo will face psychologicial challenges, like all victims of serious injuries, but Wenger is backing the 25-year-old to overcome them.
"The medical profession say he [will] make a full physical recovery," said the Frenchman. "We don't believe physically there will be a problem afterwards but how much impact it will have in his head when he sees the tackles flying in again, only the future will tell us.
"We believe medically there is no problem, he will play again, but after that how well can he deal with it? He is a tough boy so I am confident he will deal with it.
"At the moment we sent him to Sao Paolo, where he was born, where he can wait before he starts rehabilitation. There is a good physio there in Sao Paolo who he knows, and he is taking care of him. When he is ready to start training at the beginning of the season he will come back of course.
"We expect him to be out completely for six months but to play really at the top, top level, it will be nine months [from when he was injured]."
GET WELL SOON EDU!
fgl
Well-known member
On this day...
Arsenal history: On this day... May 13
1904
Scotland international right back ‘Baldie’ Gray was signed from Hibernian. He made 184 League appearances for the Gunners
1908
Centre forward Sam Raybould was recruited from Sunderland. He netted six goals in 25 League outings for the Gunners, all in his first season
1933
Arsenal left back Eddie Hapgood made his England international debut as Cliff Bastin’s goal clinched a 1-1 draw against Italy in Rome
1967
Arsenal finished seventh in the First Division after George Graham scored in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough
2002
Tony Adams, 19 years a Gunner and fresh from captaining Arsène Wenger’s side to the Double, enjoyed a second testimonial, against Scottish champions Celtic at Highbury
1904
Scotland international right back ‘Baldie’ Gray was signed from Hibernian. He made 184 League appearances for the Gunners
1908
Centre forward Sam Raybould was recruited from Sunderland. He netted six goals in 25 League outings for the Gunners, all in his first season
1933
Arsenal left back Eddie Hapgood made his England international debut as Cliff Bastin’s goal clinched a 1-1 draw against Italy in Rome
1967
Arsenal finished seventh in the First Division after George Graham scored in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough
2002
Tony Adams, 19 years a Gunner and fresh from captaining Arsène Wenger’s side to the Double, enjoyed a second testimonial, against Scottish champions Celtic at Highbury
wylde
New member
On this day...
Arsenal history: On this day... May 13
1904
Scotland international right back ‘Baldie’ Gray was signed from Hibernian. He made 184 League appearances for the Gunners
1908
Centre forward Sam Raybould was recruited from Sunderland. He netted six goals in 25 League outings for the Gunners, all in his first season
1933
Arsenal left back Eddie Hapgood made his England international debut as Cliff Bastin’s goal clinched a 1-1 draw against Italy in Rome
1967
Arsenal finished seventh in the First Division after George Graham scored in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough
2002
Tony Adams, 19 years a Gunner and fresh from captaining Arsène Wenger’s side to the Double, enjoyed a second testimonial, against Scottish champions Celtic at Highbury
And it`s my birthday as well
..haha
Last edited:
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