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[Mama Smurf]

I couldn't get through the demo, it made me angry that it wasn't exactly like real life. That's why I was hoping the online game would just have made up players, so I wouldn't get mad at a game for saying a certain player is better than another, when everyone in reality would say the opposite.

 

[Lakitu]

Fixture release this Thursday, wahey. Can't wait to see the team we will draw to on the first game of the season.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Why do we have to wait till Thursday? Why do we have to wait at all? As soon as the Championship play off is done the entire league season is over, hit randomise on the computer or draw it out of a bag or whatever and we'll all have our fixture list a few hours later.

 

[Steroyd]

Fixture release this Thursday, wahey. Can't wait to see the team we will draw to on the first game of the season.

It sounds crazy but I want Liverpool to draw Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the opening match.

They must not beat our Home record. >_<

 

[Mama Smurf]

I already know who Blackburn will get first, I've seen the list. Sunderland at home.

 

[Lakitu]

I already know who Blackburn will get first, I've seen the list. Sunderland at home.

Picking teams from a hat doesn't count I'm afraid.

 

[h0pper]

I really suck at it. Watford smashed me 4-0 at home

Ouch that sounds rough!

 

[Mama Smurf]

That's what he gets for picking Arsenal to manage.

 

[hadareud]

Ouch that sounds rough!

you could say he got nutmegged by Watford.

 

[Mama Smurf]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6743165.stm

There you go Arsenal fans, good news at last. And by good I mean

Spoiler

gud

.

 

[Cornballer]

 

[hadareud]

"There's never been any question of him not being at Arsenal next season."

 

[h0pper]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6743165.stm

There you go Arsenal fans, good news at last. And by good I mean

Spoiler

gud

.

Mama Smurf, for once, your post has lifted my spirits, not drove them down into the depths of hell, and for that I thank you.

 

[Mama Smurf]

You're welcome.

 

[hadareud]

Arsenal's new 'keeper Lukasz Fabianski has his sights set on Jens Lehmann's starting place in the first team.

Arsenal signed the 22-year-old international from POlish club Legia Warsaw for a reported £2Million.

Although Arsene Wenger's history with goal keepers isn't great, Fabianski is held in high regard in Eastern Europe. Infact, he's viewed as a brighter prospect than Igor Akinfeev, a player regarded as one of the best goal keeping prospects in Europe.

Lukasz was signed back in May and although he wont join up with his new team mates until the team return to pre-season training next month, he has already stated his intention to make the space between the sticks his own next season.

The Polish number 2 said: 'Lehmann and Almunia are very good but I'm not afraid of anyone. I'm confident of my skills.

'I want to be first choice at Arsenal as much as they do. My message is clear — I'm ready to fight from day one.'

'Of course I can wait a little bit for my chance.

'But I'm not going to Arsenal just to be there. I want to become a regular first-team player.

'Hopefully I'll do it from the very beginning because I'm ready.

'Being at a club and playing are two different things — I want to play.

'I will focus on working hard every day and competing for the No1 jersey.'

good man, certainly talks the talk. Let's hope he's the new Cech.

edit: more players talking the talk:

“If certain players want to go, we should not prevent them,” he said. “I am hungry to win matches and titles. Once you reach the age of 30 the best moments come when you lift a trophy. I’ve begun playing the big brother role with the numerous young players. Last season, I was out injured for three months, but still did not give up. I am a warrior, and I battle all the time.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/arsenal/article1918575.ece

it should certainly not be a lack of self confidence holding us back next season

 

[h0pper]

Fabianski's attitude is good. I'd love to see him impress everyone and replace Lehmann. Mad Jens just makes some stupid moves as of lately. Fabianski seems determined to take the spot and I heard nothing but good things about him. Looking forward to watching him with Arsenal.

 

[Karakand]

:lol :lol :lol @ Man City

blue moon~

 

[Cornballer]

Watched bits and pieces of a few Gold Cup tilts tonight. Costa Rica beat Gaudaloupe 1-0 in a pretty rough match. I'm surprised no one got sent off. Canada also beat Haiti 2-0 on two goals from "Hurricane" Dwayne DeRosario. Terrible work by the Haitian goalie in this one. He got beaten nearside from a really bad angle and also probably should have stopped the subpar penalty.

...and the Henry drama rolls on:

Henry invites Arsenal to persuade him to stay
Captain leaves door open for move from Emirates
Agent denies setting up £20m move to Barcelona

Matt Scott
Tuesday June 12, 2007
The Guardian

Thierry Henry last night issued a challenge to Arsenal to convince him to stay at the club. Although confirming he will be at training at the Gunners' London Colney complex next Monday, the Arsenal captain acknowledged he has other offers and insisted he has "taken no decisions" about his future.

His comments came ahead of reports in this morning's edition of France Football that he is set to quit Arsenal for Barcelona. Milan are also said to be mounting a challenge for Henry's signature but the France striker told L'Equipe at a testimonial match at Lyon's Stade Gerland la

"I have taken no decisions," he said. "Lots of people are speaking on my behalf. It's impossible to stop the rumours - it's not the first or the last time that people are speaking for me. In my head I'm still an Arsenal player and my departure is not a current issue."
Although Henry will be at Arsenal's pre-season training next week, his participation in the first match of the club's new campaign cannot be guaranteed. For him to remain it appears that the manager, Arsène Wenger, and the board need to make good on their promises of "super-class" signings for the Emirates Stadium this summer.

In the same interview, Henry again lamented the departure of David Dein, the vice-chairman who was responsible for Arsenal's transfer activity.

"David Dein's exit should not have happened; if there was one person who shouldn't have left Arsenal it's David Dein," Henry said.

"I'm saying it now and I'll say the same thing in 20 years."

Henry was speaking ahead of reports in France Football that his agent, Jerome Anderson, had been involved in a meeting with Barcelona's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain - a suggestion Anderson furiously denies. The article reports that the alleged meeting in the south of France last week was set up with a view to taking Henry to Barcelona in a potential €30m (£20.4m) deal.

However, when informed of the reports yesterday, Anderson said he would be taking legal advice on the issue. "It's an absolutely scandalous article," he said. "I have never had a meeting with the gentleman concerned at Barcelona. Nor have I ever discussed the possibility of a transfer."

Wenger would not comment other than to say he did not believe reports of the meeting could be true. Nevertheless, the emergence of the report this morning suggests Barcelona are keen to maintain pressure on Henry.

The Arsenal captain was heavily courted by the Catalans a year ago but - two days after the Gunners' narrow defeat to the Spanish champions in the Champions League final in Paris - extended his contract to 2010.

Since then the departure of Dein has upset Henry, who is close enough to Dein's lawyer son Darren for the latter to have been best man at his wedding. France Football claims Dein's daughter, Sasha, who has lived and worked in Barcelona, has worked as an intermediary between Henry and the Catalan club.

The article says that Henry would receive an annual salary of €10m (£6.8m), "about 40% above his pay in London", over a three-year contract that would have an additional year's option attached.

It says friends and team-mates of Henry - namely Emmanuel Adebayor, Villarreal's Robert Pires and Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly - have been talking increasingly openly about the likelihood of him moving to the Camp Nou.

Adebayor was not available for comment yesterday.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

Pimp Adebayor would know...they do the dance together.

 

[Wes]

I'm bored of all this Henry stuff now.

 

[hadareud]

I think he misunderstands something here. He has a valid contract for another 3 years and we do not have to persuade him to stay. I know he's a footballer and all - but he just signed it a year ago, he should be able to remember. Don't piss me off Thierry.

rumours:

TRANSFER RUMOURS

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has hinted he may quit the club to experience football in Spain or Italy (Various)

Atletico Madrid will spark a transfer scramble among Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham next week when they say striker Fernando Torres can leave (Mirror).

Bolton boss Sammy Lee has made a £1.5m move for Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt (Daily Express).

Everton manager David Moyes is challenging Barcelona, Inter Milan and Roma for the signature of Kolo Toure's £8m-rated brother Yaya, who plays in midfield for Monaco (Mirror).

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has been told he will have to spend £6m if he wants to sign West Brom striker Diomansky Kamara (Various).

However, he could face competition from Fulham for Kamara's signature, with the Cottagers also targeting Baggies midfielder Jason Koumas (Daily Mail).

Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is wanted by Spanish club Real Zaragoza (Mirror)

Chelsea have raided Leeds to sign rising teenage star Ben Gordon in a £1.5m deal (Daily Express).

Turkey's top striker Sanli Tuncay could be heading for Middlesbrough on a free transfer (Mirror)

Portsmouth and Fulham have expressed an interest in signing forward Hameur Bouazza from relegated Watford (The Guardian).

Rangers have been told they must treble their £1m offer for Osasuna centre-half Carlos Cuellar (Daily Record).

Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage will reject a pay rise offer from Sheffield United to stay at Ewood Park (The Sun)

Tottenham will rival Newcastle for the signature of Barcelona's 30-year-old French winger Ludovic Giuly, who could be available for a cut-price £1.5m (Mirror)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane wants to follow up the signing of Greg Halford from Reading with a move for Manchester United forward Alan Smith (Daily Star).

Turkish side Besiktas have made an offer to sign Sheffield United forward Colin Kazim-Richards (The Guardian).

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce wants to completely rebuild his defence with the signings of Bolton's Tal Ben Haim, Liverpool centre-half Sami Hyypia, Paris St Germain's David Rozehnal and Marseille skipper Habib Beye (The Sun).

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood is ready to hijack Falkirk's bid to sign keeper Kasper Schmeichel on a permanent basis (Daily Record).

Wigan boss Chris Hutchings is planning a £2.5m swoop for Sheffield United striker Rob Hulse (The Sun).

And he could follow that up with a move for unsettled Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy and Portsmouth defender Andy O'Brien (The Guardian)

Relegated Leeds United want to sign free agent Marc Bircham, who was released by QPR last month (The Sun).

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City want assurances from former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that he still has the money to buy the club, after £750m worth of his assets were frozen in his home country (Various).

Derby manager Billy Davies will end speculation about his future at the club after the Rams agreed to appoint his former number two at Preston David Kelly as his assistant manager (Various).

Arsenal executives are to meet would-be new owner Stan Kroenke next week to talk about his plans for the club (Daily Star).

Former Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon will join Nottingham Forest this week as part of manager Colin Calderwood's coaching staff (Daily Mail).

Clyde have appointed former Scotland skipper Colin Hendry as their new manager (Daily Record).

AND FINALLY

Liverpool co-owner George Gillet has vowed to back manager Rafael Benitez in the transfer market this summer, but warned the Spaniard he will not be "spending like a drunken sailor" (Various).

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6743487.stm

Published: 2007/06/12 06:14:09 GMT

© BBC MMVII

Pimp Adebayor would know...they do the dance together.

:lol

 

[Karakand]

Manchester City want assurances from former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that he still has the money to buy the club, after £750m worth of his assets were frozen in his home country (Various).

Go **** some roosters, Thailand! This is more important than your country being looted and / or ripped off.

 

[hadareud]

not looking good for Man City then. Is anybody else interested in buying them?

 

[hadareud]

the Liverpool owners speak:

"The plan involves us spending money, but it will be part of a plan, not just spending like a drunken sailor.

"It's about partnership, teamwork and communication. It's not all about money."

:lol

 

[Karakand]

not looking good for Man City then. Is anybody else interested in buying them?

Where's a Russian oligarch when you need one?

 

[hadareud]

I'll have a look tonight, there must be enough coins somewhere behind the couch cushions.

 

[Ghost]

Man City could be in deep trouble next year if this mess doesnt get sorted soon, they have no manager, they've lost a couple of players including one of their best, and their squad is pretty shite.

*runs to betfair*

 

[hadareud]

yeah, at the moment they look sure to go down. They have to change things around very quickly

More Man City related news:

Barton delay annoys Sam
Tuesday 12 Jun 2007

Frustrated Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has criticised Manchester City over the protracted transfer of controversial midfielder Joey Barton.

The England international is on the verge of sealing a £5.5million move between the two clubs but is holding out for a pay-off before the switch can go through.

The contract Barton signed last year included a clause saying that he would receive £300,000 if he did not ask for a transfer and was sold.

However, City's board is adamant that the payment will not be made - and the issue has been referred to the Professional Footballers' Association.

A furious Allardyce told the Manchester Evening News: "They're out of order. This is a private matter, a confidential issue that shouldn't have been made public.

"I'm flabbergasted and want the situation resolved. I'm just trying as Newcastle manager to secure a player of this kind and quality and the deal has been held up.

"I can't understand it because City didn't pay anything for this player as he came through the youth system and are selling him for over £5million.

"It's not really for me to comment. All I know is that this is a matter for Joey to sort out and I hope it's resolved as it's stopped him putting pen to paper.

"I found Joey a very bright person who wants to develop his game. He's very positive, well-spoken and focused and wants to win silverware with Newcastle and develop his international career."

http://www.4thegame.com/club/nufc/news/204815/barton_delay_annoys_sam.html

 

[Fowler]

Man, the hell is the point of being bought out by Americans if they won't spend like drunken sailors?

 

[Wes]

Man City could be in deep trouble next year if this mess doesnt get sorted soon, they have no manager, they've lost a couple of players including one of their best, and their squad is pretty shite.

*runs to betfair*

Betting on Man City relegation or Micah Richards leaving?

 

[Ronok]

...and the Henry drama rolls on:

ARgghhh, just let it rest for a day atleast! Surely everyone is becoming fed up with this Henry news by now. v.v

 

[hadareud]

The longer this goes on the more apparent it becomes that Henry is playing games, for some reason. Maybe he thinks he can force the club into big signings, maybe he wants attention and be told how important he is to the club yet again or maybe he is doing it for the Dein lobby.

Whatever the reason, it got old weeks ago, and now that his agent came out and said he will be an Arsenal player next season it's time to give it up already. It's not the appropriate thing to do for a player and most certainly the wrong thing to do for the captain.

He must be aware that this is horror for the supporters of the club. It's time to stop. Either you stay or you go.

 

[h0pper]

Don't get me wrong, I love Henry, but he is sounding a bit pmpous right now. "Convince me to stay..."? How about the contract you signed? The term "legally bound" isn't convincing enough?

I hope we sign at least one big name player even if he does leave. But to sign one and have him stay would be even better. Hopefully Wenger will pull something out of his sleeve and we will grab someone like Malouda, Trezeguet, etc.

 

[Falch]

EXCLUSIVE: IBROX TRANSFER STUNNER
Gers set to miss out again as Spaniards tell them to TREBLE £1M bid for Cuellar
By Keith Jackson

RANGERS could miss out on another top signing target after a £1million bid for Carlos Cuellar was dismissed as laughable by Osasuna.

The Spaniards have demanded the Ibrox club almost TREBLE their original offer if they are to have any chance of landing one of La Liga's most trusted central defenders.

Now Walter Smith has been left sweating on the deal after already seeing top target Scott Brown sign for Celtic and the Parkhead club attempt to hijack his move for Kilmarnock's Steven Naismith.

But the manager has been boosted by the news Rangers have agreed a fee of around £700,000 for PSV Eindhoven winger DaMarcus Beasley.

Record Sport understands Smith has been granted permission to open contract talks with the 25-year-old USA international and those discussions could take place in the next 48 hours.

Beasley is playing for his nation in the Gold Cup but, with the Americans already qualified for the quarter-finals, he hopes to be granted leave this week.

 

[hadareud]

:lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

Lyon's president says a Premiership club should be signing Malouda in the next 48 hours, and the price will be £17m. And I haven't seen that guy back down on price yet.

I don't think it's an unreasonable amount when you take into account Marseille selling Ribery for about that much. Ribery only has 16 caps, Malouda has 28, so despite most of the talk being about the former, he might not actually be any better or worth any more than Malouda.

 

[hadareud]

17 million? He can shove him up his arse. Sounds like Chelsea got him after all.

Malouda was player of the year in France last year btw, so from that perspective it's fair that they are priced similarly, just 7 million too high.

edit: wikipedia about Malouda:

Malouda has made public his wish to leave Lyon at the end of the 2006-07 season, English giants Arsenal and Liverpool, plus rich club Chelsea showing interest in the winger. Liverpool made the move permenant with a £10m deal completed on June 13, 2007. [1]

Liverpool for 10 million?

English giants Arsenal and Liverpool, plus rich club Chelsea?

 

[Mama Smurf]

I don't know where you guys are getting the idea from that all these transfers are too high. For an established international (and at a strong international side too), 26, lots of Champions League experience, winger who can score goals...£17m seems about right in today's market. Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Ribery have all already moved for that amount, and the cost of other players in the current transfer market tends to indicate a players' worth. And there's no reason Malouda can't stand side by side with those guys.

 

[ElyrionX]

I don't really think Henry is playing any games at all or is trying to be an ass. More likely, he's desperate for Arsenal to splash out on a big signing and challenge for the EPL/CL once again.

 

[hadareud]

it's just me and my rage against the machine

 

[Shinobi]

If Arsenal were the ones who landed the Malouda lottery, the whole Henry saga for 2007 will go away very quickly. Though at that price I'm not sure Arsenal buys anyone else. Then again I don't think they need anyone else, so I'd be fine with it. Sometimes you gotta pay a little extra for some quality.

Funny enough, that Guardian story has no real quote from Henry saying "convince me to stay". They have all these other quotes from him, but not that. Stuff like that I find a little annoying...mere insinuation isn't good enough for me.

I guess historically Henry has been disappointed with Arsenal selling established players off the last few years while bringing in few established players in return to replace them. So I suppose that's where the insinuation comes from. But it's still not good enough...it paints the story in a different light. Take that headline out and the overall tone of the story doesn't show Henry to be nearly as bitchey/whiney/divaish.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Can I borrow the wikipedia guy's time machine?

 

[hadareud]

must be Lakitu

edit:
does anyone else find it hard to believe that Malouda played for Barry Town in Wales between 1994 and 1998 and was also born there?

:lol

If Arsenal were the ones who landed the Malouda lottery, the whole Henry saga for 2007 will go away very quickly. Though at that price I'm not sure Arsenal buys anyone else. Then again I don't think they need anyone else, so I'd be fine with it. Sometimes you gotta pay a little extra for some quality.

Funny enough, that Guardian story has no real quote from Henry saying "convince me to stay". They have all these other quotes from him, but not that. Stuff like that I find a little annoying...mere insinuation isn't good enough for me.

I guess historically Henry has been disappointed with Arsenal selling established players off the last few years while bringing in few established players in return to replace them. So I suppose that's where the insinuation comes from. But it's still not good enough...it paints the story in a different light. Take that headline out and the overall tone of the story doesn't show Henry to be nearly as bitchey/whiney/divaish.

yeah, I only noticed afterwards. But his comments still don't fill me with confidence and he is a bit whiney lately.

 

[Shinobi]

Well, I look at it like this.

Arsenal claims they're a big club. Arsenal says they've got money to spend. Arsenal says they're serious about winning trophies.

Name all the big clubs in the big three leagues (plus others like Bayern Munich) who says all these things, yet have spent the last few years letting established players go while bringing in nothing but raw, unproven players.

I think that's all this is...Henry's just a little frustrated with the way things have gone, and with supposedly more cash to spend after a successful move to their new digs, he'd simply like to see the trend reversed. I don't think Henry's looking for Arsenal to do what Chelsea did the last few years...but he'd like to see them bring in someone who's proven. Everybody knows they need more scoring punch and width from midfield, so someone like Malouda, who Henry already plays with for France, who's avaiable and who is already on record in saying he'd love a move to one of the Premiership giants, is a reasonable target. So Arsenal should be going after him.

Frankly I got pretty frustrated that it only seemed to be Chelsea and Liverpool going after him last week, so I can see where Henry's coming from in that sense. But I suspect the reason why nothing went down last week is because Wenger gave Malouda a call, told him to wait a bit as he was still on vacation, and they'd try and work something out for this week.

Doesn't mean we'll get him mind you, but I think we've got a better then even shot. And if we do land him, watch how quickly this "Henry's going to Barca/Milan/Bayern Munich/Chelsea/MLS" shit goes away.

I really do feel that Malouda is the piece that this team really needs to make a charge for the title. I've felt that Arsenal's needed someone like this since January, if not before. They also need to shore up their defensive play, which was pretty good in the first half of the season but made some bad mistakes in the second half.

 

[Mama Smurf]

:lol how random

"Gregory (Coupet) is an indispensable member of the Lyon squad and I hope that he will be spearheading the team for the next three years," Aulas said. "There's a 92% chance that he will stay.

"Greg is away on holiday but I expect him to sign when he gets back as everything he has asked for we are prepared to give."

You're a ****ing liar Aulas, everyone knows there's only an 87% chance Coupet will stay.

 

[hadareud]

I know what you mean Shinobi, and you are right. But I think he is choosing the wrong way to show it, he can't do that as the clubs captain. He has to do that internally, with the way he's behaving he is unsettling the supporters, the whole club and most importantly his team mates.

What he is basically saying is that his current team mates aren't good enough, surely that's not the best thing to say if you are their captain. He has to be more delicate and he also can't go out and talk about what happens at board level - it's none of his business to discuss that in public. Wenger isn't and he is surely more affected than Henry and any of the players, still he knows what to say in public and what to to keep to himself.

You know that I love Henry, but as the clubs skipper you can't just behave like that.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Someone remind me if I'm right about Wenger having £30m to spend or not before I say who should be bought.

 

[hadareud]

Someone remind me if I'm right about Wenger having £30m to spend or not before I say who should be bought.

rumour has it that he has up to 40 million (without the money being made from Reyes etc.)

 

[Mama Smurf]

Really? Well I'll work off £30m to be more conservative then.

Ok, so this is assuming Henry stays. Now I would actually have picked up a tall centre back and moved Gallas to right back as I've said before, but I think that chance went with Distin moving to Portsmouth (and I can't see Campbell coming back), so I'll go with Wenger's rumoured target instead:

Malouda - £17m
Sagna - £6m
Saviola - free
Yaya Toure - £10m

Now that's actually £33m, but sell Song, Flamini, Reyes etc and you're taken well below the £30m mark. And it doesn't really matter if you get Saviola or not, just might as well if he'd be willing to join as he's free, otherwise your stikers would still be Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor, Walcott, Bendtner.

I think those buys would satisfy everyone.

 

[Shinobi]

To be honest I'd rather see someone speak honestly then try to sell us a bill of goods with the usual media speak.

We finished what, 26 points behind Man United? After finishing some 24 points back of Chelsea the year before. The fact is, we're not good enough.

Henry wants to win. He might sound a little mopey, and he might talk a little too much about the Dein situation (though for me it does reveal just how important Dein was at the club), but I can't fault a guy for wearing his heart on his sleeve. To me it shows he gives a shit.