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[MrPing1000]

He will be missed. My 2nd favourite French footballer behind a certain mr Cantona.

 

[Mama Smurf]

While I'd love Wenger as England manager, I doubt there'd be a massive transformation. We'd be better, of course, but that's obvious, Wenger's in a different league to McClaren.

Wenger would still have to deal with the same issues though. A limited choice of players that can't be changed (not in the short term anyway, youth systems is the only way to guarantee improvement and even then it's like 15 years later that the results kick in), an even more limited amount of time with them...I just think he loses most of his strengths at international level.

He can't bring in players that suit the system he wants to play, his scouting network is pretty much useless, he can bring through young players but not like at Arsenal, there are so many fewer internationals than domestic games that it's really hard to just drop them in every so often to get them the experience they need, he can't instill that passing and moving game because the week or two leading up to internationals that he'd have with the players just isn't long enough, and most of them won't be playing that game at domestic level.

So like I say, he's just a better manager full stop so we'd be better, but he's not going to be able to turn us into Arsenal.

 

[Cornballer]

Hmmmm, just woke up and read through the news. It's hard to wrap my head around everything that's going on at the moment. Hopefully there will be some statements from Wenger and a few of the pivotal Arsenal players soon - just to settle things down a bit. Good of Henry to write the open letter to everyone and try to explain what's going on - at least he's being honest and I wish him all the best. The broader implications of his statements about Wenger, Dein, and the board are pretty troubling, and I hope there's more information about what's going on sometime soon.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I'll probably have to watch more Barca games next season. There are very few players who I'd watch games just to see, as you can see from the fact that I haven't bothered watching Barca games (except when they play Madrid or an English side) despite Eto'o, Messi and Ronaldinho.

Henry's one of them though.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

Very unsettling time to be an Arsenal fan...can't say if it's worse than when Viera left. But we'll carry on, and who knows what'll happen, but i now fully expect some good transfer news to smoothen the transition.

Henry, Baptista and Aliadiere left with only Bendtner coming in...we gotta add some fire power.

 

[Cornballer]

I can't figure out if I'll tune into Barca games next season. Have to wait and see. The spectacle of their offense should be something to behold, but seeing Henry in another uniform doesn't exactly fill me with glee. Hmmmm....

Is anyone going to watch the U21 Championship? Is that on today?

 

[Hooker]

**** yeah man, Holland - Serbia at 20:45 (19:45 for you English people).




I hope we can defend our title, Serbia is one touch cookie.

 

[Cornballer]

Hup Holland Hup!

I'd be disappointed if Serbia managed to pull it out.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Thanks for the reminder.

Go Holland, **** Serbia and their racist fans (and reportedly players). Apparently the ref is under orders to abandon the game if there is any racist chanting (and presumbaly award the trophy to Holland). I don't really want it to come to that, but part of me likes the idea as it'll be the Serbian fans fault if they lose that way, they can't even blame their team.

Might actually stop it if they know the match will immediately be abandoned and awarded to the other side whenever it happens.

 

[hadareud]

looking forward to the game, something to take my mind of the recent happenings. I can't believe how hard to take this is

Thanks for the reminder.

Go Holland, **** Serbia and their racist fans (and reportedly players). Apparently the ref is under orders to abandon the game if there is any racist chanting (and presumbaly award the trophy to Holland). I don't really want it to come to that, but part of me likes the idea as it'll be the Serbian fans fault if they lose that way, they can't even blame their team.

Might actually stop it if they know the match will immediately be abandoned and awarded to the other side whenever it happens.

I saw an interview with the dutch manager last night.

He said that they were considering leaving the pitch if something was to happen. Regardless of official guidelines

 

[woodchuck]

speaking of racist fans, Henry better be prepared for that in Spain

 

[Shinobi]

I'm sure he'll be ready for it...I reckon stuff like that would only motivate him.

Go Holland, **** Serbia and their racist fans (and reportedly players).

:lol Yeah, go Dutch...with Babel supposedly being an Arsenal target, I guess I have someone to root for.

The game is on regular cable in North America BTW...ESPN in the US, TSN in Canada. I think both semi-final games were on both channels a few days ago as well, but I was completely unaware of it till afterwards.

And the Under 20 World Cup starts in a week, which should be fun to watch. I plan to go to a couple of games, though I haven't yet determined which ones.

 

[Karakand]

Nope. He made a very silly tackle near the end of the semi final game against real madrid and got himself booked. If he played in that final, Juve would have won the CL.

 

[hadareud]

And the Under 20 World Cup starts in a week, which should be fun to watch. I plan to go to a couple of games, though I haven't yet determined which ones.

watch Canada v Austria!

 

[Mama Smurf]

I'll support Canada, I'm practically Canadian.

 

[Shinobi]

watch Canada v Austria!

:lol I'd love to, but that game was sold out almost immediately and I don't think I'll have enough money to scrape together for a scalper. Unfortunately (for me) Canada plays the rest of their group games in Edmonton, so unless they make it into the semi-finals, I'll probably miss out on seeing them live.

That said I did watch them play the US in an exhibition game at Skydome last year. Think that was a day or two before the World Cup final. So hell, at least I have seen them in the flesh.

I'm just reminded that Toronto will probably play host to most if not all of Canada's World Cup qualifying games, and for the first time in forever they're going to have a madhouse crowd cheering them on. Canada vs USA should be epic...I'll have to try and land tickets for that clash.

 

[hadareud]

I'll support Austria. I am practically Austrian.

 

[Shinobi]

I'll support Brazil, since Denilson is captain and I'm pratically Arsenalian...er, yeah

 

[hadareud]

:lol

at least there's always something to do. the under 19 Euro is still coming up too I think.

 

[Shinobi]

This is the best pre-match show ever.

 

[hadareud]

it's funny. and this horrible 90's techno music, I love it.

 

[Hooker]

How so? Tell me!!



(can't watch pre-game stuff as I'm using the online stream which only contains the game)

 

[Shinobi]

Oh, they were showing a bunch of hot chicks wearing silver costumes, bearing mid-riffs, twirling some things around.

Also showed DJ Harmon or someone like that, looking like he was having a spaz attack while doing his thing.

Anyway, I'm liking your Dutch girls...one more reason to root for Holland.

 

[Cornballer]

Go Holland, **** Serbia and their racist fans (and reportedly players). Apparently the ref is under orders to abandon the game if there is any racist chanting (and presumbaly award the trophy to Holland). I don't really want it to come to that, but part of me likes the idea as it'll be the Serbian fans fault if they lose that way, they can't even blame their team.

Might actually stop it if they know the match will immediately be abandoned and awarded to the other side whenever it happens.

I was at the Serbia-Ivory Coast game at the World Cup and there was plenty of unsavory behavior by the fans. We ended up in the Serbian section (they didn't sell out apparently, so the tickets went to neutrals) and there was a massive German police presence in our section during the match. "Ein, zwei polizei!" That seemed to calm things down. Whatever, screw Serbia - go Holland.

 

[hadareud]

what sort of yellow card is this?

I want him btw.

edit: even though his finishing is not the best

 

[Hooker]

Jeez, he acted like someone amputated his leg, quite seasoned players for their age

 

[Falch]

Woohoo, 1-0, Otman Bakkal (from PSV, btw).

Drenthe is playing great, btw.

 

[Shinobi]

**** yeah.

I forgot to mention that the dancing girls were doing their thing in the rain. Heavy rain at that. All that was missing was some laser lights and a pole.

 

[Hooker]

There we go ^^





Holland is technically just pwning Serbia

 

[hadareud]

I like this De Ridders, I already noticed him in the last few games.

Let's buy Drenthe, Babel and De Ridders.

 

[Cornballer]

How's Babel playing?

Should I be checking my couch for loose change so Arsenal can pick him up?

 

[Hooker]

De Ridder, without that "s" (heh, the flattering already got to him :S)




And those sideline ref's are ruining the game. Like 3 offside calls already which weren't offside

 

[hadareud]

light drizzle at the moment


Babel has been a bit anonymous so far

 

[Mama Smurf]

I know Feyernoord want to keep Drenthe, but unless they want to keep him long term, NOW'S the time to sell. So many teams must be interested in him, they could get quite a lot for him.

 

[hadareud]

this game is a lot better than the England semi final

 

[Ronok]

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?...It+was+the+most+difficult+decision+of+my+life


Very emotional read. I'm really going to miss Henry and I hope he comes back to English football at some point. Maybe not as a player, but, I really hope we see him back here when he has done what he has to do in Spain.

 

[Falch]

Oh, that was close.:lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

Hey, that looks fun.

 

[hadareud]

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?...It+was+the+most+difficult+decision+of+my+life


Very emotional read. I'm really going to miss Henry and I hope he comes back to English football at some point. Maybe not as a player, but, I really hope we see him back here when he has done what he has to do in Spain.

*cries*

 

[Hooker]

That was supposed to be red, always those ****ing refs

 

[Mama Smurf]

I could see the case for red, but I could see the case for a yellow too. He wouldn't necessarily have taken the ball under control or even if he did another defender might have come across to stop him.

Why does Rigter have such a terrible goalscoring record for NAC?

 

[Falch]

Why does Rigter have such a terrible goalscoring record for NAC?

Because he's usualy crap.

 

[hadareud]

Because he's usualy crap.

:lol

for some reason you are not too positive about any of those players

 

[Falch]

:lol

for some reason you are not too positive about any of those players

Yeah I know, it's just that a lot of people tend to overhype players just because they've seen them play a few times. None of the Dutch U21 players are good enough to play in the Premierleague. Only Drenthe he if could retain his current form (which I doubt).

I don't want to sound cynical, but De Ridder, Babel and Drenthe will not improve a premiership team like Arsenal. They can barely cut it in the Eredivisie (and de Ridder hardly ever plays for Celta de Vigo).

 

[Falch]

Babel with the 2-0.

 

[Falch]

Serbia with 10 players, Kolorov gets his second yellow card.

 

[hadareud]

looks like it's over

 

[Shinobi]

Heh...there's a timely goal for Babel. Bit of a backbreaker for Serbia after they frankly took the play to Holland.

:lol Now they just got someone sent off (vicious tackle on the aforementioned Babel), along with another yellow card...it's all over but the crying now.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Because he's usualy crap.

You said something similar about Drenthe!

Given his performances in this competition, his pace, his crossing accuracy, his pwoerful shots, even his tackling...he'd pretty much be one of the 3 best left wingers in the Premiership.

 

[Falch]

3-0 Rigters.