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[psycho_snake]

No Keane? Schmeichel? Vieira? Zola? I'd have Keane over Giggs at the very least.

Keane and Zola are the only oher players that I considered for the top 5 players, but Giggs had to take the place. he's been playing at the top level for one of the best clubs in the world for since he was 17 and he's been playing so consistantly over the last 14 years or so. he used to be so incredibly talented. he ws quick, he had good feet, he has good awareness and he can shoot. He's only one of very few players for United who has played over 650 games. Along with Shearer he is the most experienced premiership player. Just look at what has won in his career. he's won 8 premierhsip titles, 1 CL and 4 FA cups i think. There hasnt been a plkayer in the premiership who has been that successful and I dont think we will ever see anyone that successful again.

 

[psycho_snake]

Speaking about the England squad and rooney, i heard that they were going to put him in an oxygen chamber to try and speed up the bone recovery!

 

[Mama Smurf]

I've never been convinced by Downing myself. Not that I've been particularly convinced by Richardson either, but at least he can cover left back too if it comes to it. And while it's a bit unfair as Downing has barely had a chance to prove himself, Richardson has definitely done the better for England.

I think maybe I like the balance of you squad more, but dropping Jenas outright bothers me.

Giggs might be the most successful Premiership player, but I don't think that means he was the best. He was crucial, because left wingers are hard to come by let alone good ones, but I think Keane was more influential. They were both great anyway.

 

[seanoff]

I've read that Chelsea are ready to offer 16m for Cole and Sevilla have offered 4m for Lauren. Combine that with the +/- 10 or so we'll get for Henry (and he is leaving), we could have around 30m to play with this summer.

So, Arsenal fans, who do we buy?

Well Barca are going to have to stump up more than 10M for Henry, maybe 10M + Samuel Eto'o and another. If not Arsenal will want 25 - 30Million at least, possibly more. Viera was 13M

So starting with 25M is going to allow a fair bit of room if Henry leaves. Cole might go to Chelsea but Arsenal won't sell him to them with extracting a decent pound of flesh, so 20M at least.

That would be 45 million for those two + 4m for lauren.

You could do a lot of damage for 50m. Wegner would probably buy the entire Brazilian youth squad + a couple of good proven players given his normal pattern.:lol

 

[psycho_snake]

I've never been convinced by Downing myself. Not that I've been particularly convinced by Richardson either, but at least he can cover left back too if it comes to it. And while it's a bit unfair as Downing has barely had a chance to prove himself, Richardson has definitely done the better for England.

I think maybe I like the balance of you squad more, but dropping Jenas outright bothers me.

I dont think Dowing is th young talent he was made to sound like and although i like richardson, he has hrdly played any games this season so he's not going to be good enough for the world cup. Downing is probably the better option. If only Lennon could play on the left wing we woudlnt have anything to worry about. That would let us push joe cole just behind Owen because Cole is the best player after rooney to play in that role.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Barca aren't going to pay that much for Henry, he can leave in a year on a free or I believe he can buy out his own contract. Cole won't cost 20m. I like your optimism but we're not playing with monopoly money.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I'm afraid Arsenal might have to settle for a lot less than that for Henry. They may not even have a choice in the matter.

If Henry wants to go, and Barcelona offer an amount that Arsenal reject and it looks like maybe the deal will fall through and it pisses Henry off as they know he wants to go and he thinks the amount is reasonable, then the following could happen. Henry (well, Barcelona would pay him back I'm sure) can buy out the final year of his contract, which is £3.64 million. He is then free to move to whichever club he likes. Whoever buys him, inevitably Barcelona, can be held accountable for compensation for this, but the maximum compensation is £10 million. Given that Henry is one of the top players in the world, I would think Arsenal would get at least towards that, probably even the maximum, but that's still only £13.64 million.

I'm sure Henry doesn't want to do that to his club, which is why I suggested a scenario where he gets pissed off enough to have to do it, but if Barcelona come in with a £15 million bid, I think Arsenal will have to accept it or run the risk of not even making that much.

Oh yeah, he can do this because he has a year of his contract left, he's been at the club over 3 years and he's over 28.

 

[Mama Smurf]

If only Lennon could play on the left wing we woudlnt have anything to worry about. That would let us push joe cole just behind Owen because Cole is the best player after rooney to play in that role.

I dunno about that, then we're back to the whole scenario of having to drop Lampard or Gerrard or play without a defensive midfielder. I prefer the idea of Lampard behind Owen rather than Cole, he's been extremely effective for England playing that high up when he's had the chance to.

You're right that Cole is the most similar player to Rooney we have though, but he's not exactly the same and I don't think we should try and play the same way we do with Rooney anyway.

 

[Ghost]

Chances of us getting utterly destroyed in the cup-final rise every day, Matty Etherington is the latest casualty, he was rested against West Brom but has now picked up an ankle injury in training and looks like he'll miss the final :'(

So now Pardew has the choice of playing a Defender wide-left (Konchesky) or drafting in 18 year old Kyle Reid who has one senior game under his belt (West Brom on monday).

No matter what he does, with Ferdinand, Collins and Ashton fit but not match ready, and Mullins suspended, its gonna be a pretty weak team we field in Cardiff.

I guess it doesnt really matter, we were never gonna win it and we got the prize already with the UEFA cup spot, still i would prefer to be happy we gave a good account of ourselves at the final whistle.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Ghost: I am counting on you. Kick the shit out of Spurs.

 

[marmaraS]

guess whos got a ticket for the last game at Highbury? !!!

 

[MrPing1000]

guess whos got a ticket for the last game at Highbury? !!!

Wenger?

 

[marmaraS]

meee! sooo happpy!

 

[Ghost]

Apparently Chelsea are gearing up to pay £30 mill for Sheva...thats 1 million for each year of his life so far.

Such a chronic waste of money on someone so old, Chelsea make enough chances to make any young striker with an eye for goal a star, i dont know why they insist on chasing big names they'll pay way too much for and get very little service out of.

 

[ElyrionX]

I have a question for the Premiership supporters in this thread: who's the Prem's greatest-ever striker: Shearer or Henry?

Henry. Without. A. Doubt.

 

[milanbaros]

Apparently Chelsea are gearing up to pay £30 mill for Sheva...thats 1 million for each year of his life so far.

Such a chronic waste of money on someone so old, Chelsea make enough chances to make any young striker with an eye for goal a star, i dont know why they insist on chasing big names they'll pay way too much for and get very little service out of.

That amount of money for a player that age is definately moving into Real Madrid territory. Its Abrahmovic that wants him as well not neccessarily Mourinho. That could be our best hope for Chelsea messing up, just like Real. When Abrahmovic starts wanting control there will be trouble.

 

[brooklyngooner]

I actually do believe Maureenyo will be out by the end of next year after Chavski fail to win the CL again. There's no room at the club for egos the size of his, Kenyon's and Roman's. Whether he leaves or is forced out I'm not sure, but it seems to have become an uneasy relationship.

 

[hadareud]

Maureenyo.

:lol

I think he'll actually leave at the end of this season, having seen the latest interviews with him. He didn't seem to be happy in particular. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Check your PM's btw

 

[Shinobi]

guess whos got a ticket for the last game at Highbury? !!!

Lucky motherfucker. :lol Man it's gonna be a bittersweet day. The Who's Roger Daltrey (he's a big time Gooner) is gonna perform at Highbury after the game as part of the stadium's closing cermonies, and this'll include a song he's written just for the occasion.

Highbury Highs - written by Roger Daltrey

I've seen children grow
On this field of green
On this field of dreams
The years have passed away
I've stood side by side With London's Pride
We laughed and we cried
We lived another day

To those Highbury Highs under North London skies
Yes we will remember those Highbury Highs
Those Highbury Days and those Highbury ways
Yes we will remember those Highbury Days

From Rocky,Ray and Raddy
To Dennis,Chippy,Paddy
The Rock of Tony Adams
The Joy of Charlie George
Chapman, Graham, Wenger
Yes we will remember
Henry,Bastin,Wright
And those record breaking scores

All those Highbury Highs under North London skies
Yes we will remember those Highbury Highs
Those Highbury Days and those Highbury ways
Yes we will remember those Highbury Days

May those Highbury Highs be with you all your days
May your Highbury Highs last forever

There’s one thing that's certain when they drop the final curtain
Something you can bet your shirt on The Arsenal's here to stay

All those Highbury Highs under North London skies
Yes we will remember those Highbury Highs
Those Highbury Days and those Highbury ways
We will always remember those Highbury..HIGHBURY..Highbury
Highbury..HIGHBURY

Highbury Highs say your final goodbyes
We will always remember those Highbury Highs
Say your final goodbyes to those Highbury Days
WE will always remember those Highbury Days
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE HIGHBURY DAYS

RPT CHORUS

I'm starting to well up already...

 

[ourumov]

Well Barca are going to have to stump up more than 10M for Henry, maybe 10M + Samuel Eto'o and another. If not Arsenal will want 25 - 30Million at least, possibly more. Viera was 13M

Eto'o was 25M...and Chelsea offered 70M for it.

Barca aren't going to pay that much for Henry, he can leave in a year on a free or I believe he can buy out his own contract. Cole won't cost 20m. I like your optimism but we're not playing with monopoly money.

We paid 6M for Maxi Lopez...don't understimate Laporta and Berigistain (specially the later). Rumors says the final price is about 15M for Henry.
Anyways, knowing Larsson leaves (noooooooooooooooo), Giuly leaves, Van Bommel leaves...I am kinda scared on just Henry comming.
Who knows who will they get aside Henry...What I would surelly do is to sell Eto'o to Chelsea for the 70M they said they would pay and with this money get Henry and others. Cristiano Ronaldo ? Perhaps ! Adriano ? Perhaps ! Lampard ? I doubt but it's great to dream !

What it's true is that Barça is in great need of a striker like Henry. A guy with some "quality" in his feet. Etoo is fast like the thunder, but sometimes his selfishness brings up the fact he just shoots without thinking...just as he passes. So different from Larsson. This brings me back to the Kluivert times. While Figo and Rivaldo where at FC Barcelona, Kluivert numbers were astonishing: 25 goals in one season. Not bad. As soon as they left Kluivert began falling and falling...I believe that's the same with FC, even though Etoo is pretty different from Kluivert when it comes to the way of playing. But just imagine no Deco, no Ronaldinho, no Iniesta, no Larsson were on this team...His numbers would be much lighter. The percentage of effectivity in Barça brings the fact both Larsson and Ronnie are much more effective against the goalkeeper than Eto'o and that's sad considering the position of Ronaldinho and the age of the almighty Larsson.

Well, judging from this post one could say I am a bit anti-Eto'o ...It's true. I kinda hate the selfishness I am refering to.

About the Arsenal march...I really hope both teams do a great match. Of course I want Barça to win our second Champions (we are doomed when it comes to this competition) but I also want to see a great match.

 

[brooklyngooner]

^ The great thing about Henry is that he's a complete forward; he can take his marker outside, will lay it off, always has his head up for a teammate but knows exactly when to go at his man and do it himself. People forget he was a winger before Wenger converted him to a pure striker and as such can deliver crosses (he takes all our corners and free-kicks), beat his man for pace, and generally hang around outside the box if he wishes and cause mischief. The only missing link in his game is in the air; he couldn't head a relief effort. But I doubt that matters at Barca since most play seems to be at the feet.

As for the final, believe me, we'll be at you; don't let the second Villarreal game fool you, it was nerves at the novelty of it all. In fact, we want you to come at us, because we can hit you on the counter. I know Barca are favored but if you pour forward in arrogance you will rue it.

I just thought about Henry, Ronaldinho and Messi standing over a free kick, with Casillas making a mess in his shorts.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Lampshade would come. His girlfriend/wife is Catalan (does one say Catalan or Catalunyan? Forgive my ignorance) and he is learning Spanish and Catalan. I think he wants the move now that Matt Damon, I mean Ballack, will arrive.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I think you're overestimating Lampard's desire to move anytime soon personally. I'd be amazed if he went this summer. I suppose Chelsea might let him go, but only for a player in return...Eto'o, Ronaldinho or Messi, I can't see them wanting anyone else. They're certainly not going to sell him for the money and his contract doesn't run out until 2009. I can't see them selling one of their best players to a club that's already the biggest threat to them winning the Champions League in the near future unless they get something out of it...and £30 million to Chelsea is like offering water to the sea.

 

[brooklyngooner]

I didn't mean this summer. But I do think Lampard will eventually agitate for the move and that Ballack is, in part, insurance against it.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Oh I thought ourumov meant this summer and you were responding to that, neither of you actually said it though now I look again.

 

[psycho_snake]

If Chelsea dont win the CL next year there might be a couple of changes, if they dont win it the year after there will definately be changes.

Mourinho, despite his arrogance, will understand that if Chelsea dont win the CL next year then it will be a failure. The team has so much talent due to the millions thats been invested in it, so its imperative that he wins the CL. If he doesnt win it next year then I could see him leaving, even if he does win the league. Unlike Fergie, Mourinho has had the luxury of so much money available to him and resulkts are expected not just by the fans but Abramovich too. I dont like his millions being used to buy titles, but the man seems very interested in football and it very nice to see that, but im sure he wants money out of this. Wiining the Cl would guarantee worldwide recognition = plenty of money.

If chelsea dont win the CL by 2008 then big changes at chelsea will happen. Mourinho will definately be gone, wether he wants to or not and as gary neville said, the big players at chelsea will eventually be lured to other big clubs. At the moment Chelsea players probably believe that they can win the CL, but if they dont do it in the next 2 years some of them will move. Again, its the opposite to United because even though it took the United players a while to win it despite domestic dominance, they were a young squad who had many years to look forward to. Players like lampard dont have the luxuryt of time. in a couple of years lampard will eb getting past his prime and he is a player who is capable of winning the CL, so if he doesnt win it with Chelsea there will be more than enough clubs that would buy him. Lampard comes to mind because his gf/wife is spanish, so she will have a say, but there will be many more to join the list.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I don't know if Mourinho has to actually win the CL in the next 2 years, but he has to come close at the least. If he makes it to the final the next two years and they lose in close matches, they'd probably keep him.

If, however, he doesn't get to the final next year I think he'll go. I suppose if it's obvious the team is much better and they win the Carling Cup, FA Cup, Premiership and get to the CL semi-finals, he might get one last chance, but anything less than that and it's time to change things.

Here's the list of strikers I'd like to see Blackburn go after in the summer, now that Fowler is staying at Liverpool and Hartson seems to have commited to a Celtic future:

Eider Gudjohnsen - Perfect, but tough to secure

Andy Johnson - Palace look like crashing out of the play-offs, he doesn't want to spend another season in the Championship surely, hopefully no one like Newcastle will be looking at him

Lomana LuaLua - I love this guy, but I can't see Portsmouth selling now they have that rich backer. I hope we try though

Henri Camara - Another I doubt is for sale, but then I didn't think Wigan would sell Jimmy Bullard either and they have

Giuseppe Rossi - We could probably only hope to get him on loan at the best, but even that would be fantastic

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - Already 34, frustrates the hell out of me, but dammit he scores a lot of goals. His contract runs out this summer and I don't think he's been offered a new one yet, which is why I'd take someone of his age: we might get him on a free

Mikael Forssell - We could revive his form

Alan Smith - Would probably cost too much and maybe isn't for sale, but if Ferguson buys two good central midfielders this summer then you never know

Chris Sutton - ONLY if he'll take a pay cut

They're pretty much in the order I'd want us to go for them. Now to email Sparky...

 

[psycho_snake]

I read the rumour about gudjohnsen this morning and I thought just how much of an incredible signing that would be. he's such an underrated player and he would make such an amazing partership with bellamy. With those 2 upfront who knows, you could possibly get very close to a CL spot next season.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Also Gudjohnssen (whom I've always rated very highly) would be a perfect foil for a Bellamy, a more deep-lying, visionary forward who can pick out the pacey, run-like-hell-at-goal sort of forward. Hell I'd take him in a heartbeat at Arsenal, he's better than Adebayor or v. Perse. Would he go to a UEFA Cup team though (no offense intended Mama as we may well see you there)?

As for Barca and Lamps, yeah I did mean perhaps next summer but if Ourumov meant this summer then I don't think there's any way he'd go.

I still wish Chelsea would do the 3-5-2. Solves their back problems (if they keep Gallas). Assface Del Horno is a muppet. A midfield of Robben-Lamps-Makelele-Ballack-Duff is rather absurd. Why I do believe you could even play a Drogba up front with that formation.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Yeah, Chris Sutton on 45k a week? Pull the other one mate.

 

[psycho_snake]

Giuseppe Rossi - We could probably only hope to get him on loan at the best, but even that would be fantastic

:lol Loaning him out is a small possiblility, but there is no way in hell man Utd would sell the best young talent we have had come from the academy since the class of '92. Rossi is such an incredible player and in a couple of years time when v nistelrooy ages he'll be the perfect player to partner rooney.

 

[MrPing1000]

theres been talk we are gonna loan Rossi out for at least 6months, Carlos said something about it a month back

 

[psycho_snake]

I heard about that too. i think loaning him out would be the best move for him aslong as he is loaned out to a premierhsip club. Championship fgootball wont do him any good, he needs to be playing regularly in the premiership. Its difficult to fit him into the first team at United because we have Ruud, Saha and Rooney.

 

[Shinobi]

I wonder if Walcott will also be loaned out next season. I guess a lot of that will probably depend on what Henry does. I think the Celtic manager was inquiring about getting Theo on loan, but I'm not sure if that would do him any good.

Amazingly enough Theo's being suggested as an outside possibility to make the initial England World Cup lineup...even more so considering Palace's Andy Johnson isn't being mentioned. As much as I'd love to see Theo become England's newest hero, I reckon saving him for the Euro '08 games is good enough.

 

[Ghost]

All The Theo hype is incredible, he hasnt even scored a premiership goal yet and people are already saying he should be in the England squad...hes got one hell of a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same sentance as the England contenders.


Id be supprised if Arsenal loaned him to Celtic after they loaned Aliadiere to sit him on the bench.

 

[Shinobi]

I guess people are hoping he could be the new Wayne Rooney, and that his ridiculous quickness and pace could help offset any weaknesses he's got. But people just have to use their brains here...if Theo could impact a squad that much, Wenger would've used him already (he might've used him on Sunday, but he got a slight knee injury in a reserves game last week).

Meanwhile Andy Johnson's scored more goals the last couple years than any other English player, but he's not being mentioned. It's kinda messed up really.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I wouldn't take Johnson. I might want him for Blackburn, but I don't think he's England quality. And even if he is, he's been playing in a lower division for the entire season, it's a massive step to go from there to the World Cup.

And as I like to constantly point out, he scored 11 fucking penalties last season! 11! He only scored 10 from open play, which is a great amount for a secondary striker to Bellamy, and you'd hope he'd score more with Blackburn than Palace, but it put him behind players like Defoe, Andy Cole and Crouch, and on a par with Heskey. Darren Bent is on 15 open play goals this season, Harewood 13, Andy Cole was already on 9 before he got injured and that was ages ago...there are definitely better people to take. Hell he's not even the best English striker in the Championship.

I don't even know why people are debating it, like there's some replacement for Rooney. There is no direct replacement, so as far as I'm concerned we either take 5 strikers including him if he might make it, or 4 if he can't. And either way, those 4 others are clear: Owen, Crouch, Defoe, Bent.

I think Theo will stay at Arsenal next season and start playing a few games, like Fabregas did initially. This will be his intro season, hopefully leading to him being a full blown fixture the year after, and I would bet on him playing on the left wing at first even if Henry goes, sharing the duties with Reyes. Though I suppose if Pires stays he could play on the right instead. If they wanted him to get experience elsewhere, they'd have left him at Southampton like they wanted, but Wenger wanted him under his wing.

It is ridiculous that he's being suggested for England at the World Cup. Who's suggesting it anyway? Terry Butcher probably, he's stupid enough. Hopefully he'll take the Sydney FC job so I don't have to listen to him anymore.

theres been talk we are gonna loan Rossi out for at least 6months, Carlos said something about it a month back

Excellent, we're perfect. A good Premiership side without feeling like you're strengthening a rival, and so close to Manchester he won't even have to move house.

Assface Del Horno

:lol

A midfield of Robben-Lamps-Makelele-Ballack-Duff is rather absurd

Why Duff? He hasn't had a very good season, it'd be Cole all the way for me. You probably just threw a midfield out there and I wasn't supposed to think about it.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Why Duff? He hasn't had a very good season, it'd be Cole all the way for me.

Oh, duh, I forgot about Cole. Maybe subconsciously I just figured he'd have gotten beat up in a nightclub again and would be unfit for the season.

You probably just threw a midfield out there and I wasn't supposed to think about it.

?

 

[brooklyngooner]

btw whenever I write 'Makelele' I always think of the scene from In the Line of Fire when Clint Eastwood is talking to that guy about how to remember the number of the field office or something by dialing U-K-E-L-E-L-E, and isn't it ukulele, maybe, but makelele is M-A-K-E-L-E-L-E.

Am I nuts? Or just watch too much football. Or maybe drink too much while I watch football. That must be it! No more whiskey with my football.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I mean maybe you just quickly named 5 Chelsea midfielders only with Ballack without much thought to illustrate what he'd do to the midfield, and I wasn't supposed to analyze it. This didn't turn out to be the case.

I wish I could distribute some of Chelsea's extra players round the top Premiership sides. We'd have SUCH a strong and tight league then. Wright-Phillips to Liverpool, Duff to Spurs, Carvalho to Arsenal, Gudjohnsen to Man Utd...it would only take that much to knock Chelsea down slightly and raise the others up slightly and it'd be the best Premiership race ever.

EDIT: I love typing Makelele. It's like "Hey it just keeps going! *giggles*"

 

[brooklyngooner]

^No I did just throw them out there...it was more the Lamps-Mak-Ballack center. I think you could put you and I on the wings with that one.

I don't want Carvalho, despite my being half Portuguese, he's rather a clunker. I'd rather take SWP who's a better fit, or Eidur. Or if we had to have a CB then you know who. But I take your point. the Prem often gets knocked by continentals as more physical than anything, but that's rubbish, it's perfect football: end-to-end skilled stuff.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Pfff, tough, this is *MY* league and *I* get to distribute them where I see fit!....is what I'd be saying in an ideal world.

I just looked at the teams' weaknesses and who Chelsea had to spare...they don't have any decent forwards to spare, which I would have given to Liverpool as that's what they really need, but they don't have a right winger either so W-P for them. Man Utd have no central midfield so Gudjohnsen (ideally they'd want someone defensive a bit more, but I'm not inflicting Diarra on them) and Spurs play fooking Davids on the left so desperately need Duff. Arsenal might need an out and out right winger, but they also need a good centre back to work with Toure and I think Carvalho fits nicely. Sorry about all the free kicks around your box I've just given you though.

Oh and Blackburn get Lampard. It's only fair.

 

[Shinobi]

And as I like to constantly point out, he scored 11 fucking penalties last season! 11!

Oh, that was the guy eh? Scratch that then. Though having said that, it's startlng how many penalties are missed these days. 15 years ago you literally had to try and miss a spot kick in order to do so. These days it's a 60-40% proposition on most weekends.

Oh and Blackburn get Lampard. It's only fair.

:lol

 

[brooklyngooner]

Oh and Blackburn get Lampard. It's only fair.

I guess I'm not the only one drinking whiskey in this thread.

 

[jamesinclair]

 

[marmaraS]

anyone got predictions for todays EPL games?

Arsenal v Wigan, 15:00 - 3-0
Aston Villa v Sunderland, 15:00 - 2-1
Blackburn v Man City, 15:00 - 1-1
Bolton v Birmingham, 15:00 - 1-0
Everton v West Brom, 15:00 - 4-0
Fulham v Middlesbrough, 15:00 - 0-2
Man Utd v Charlton, 15:00 - 3-1
Newcastle v Chelsea, 15:00 - 1-2
Portsmouth v Liverpool, 15:00 - 1-1
West Ham v Tottenham, 15:00 - 0-0

 

[Ghost]

Alright, which one you arsenal fans poisoned the spurs team?

Tottenham's final Premiership match of the season at West Ham is in doubt as several Spurs players are suffering from food poisoning.

Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson has reported that officials are on their way to Tottenham's team hotel to assess the situation.

Tottenham must beat West Ham to be sure of fourth place in the league and the Champions League qualification which would accompany that achievement - providing Arsenal do not then win the Paris final against Barcelona on May 17.

Johnson said:"As things stand, the game is still going ahead.

"But a number of players have been struck down by food poisoning. It appears to have hit them in the early hours of the morning."

TUT TUT.


Dont think the expected 1pm update has hit the news yet, but it could still be called off.

 

[Mama Smurf]

You know, hadareud said "Check your PM's btw" to brooklyngooner and I thought "maybe they're planning to kill Mourinho", but I guess we have our explanation now.

The game is going ahead btw, and rightly so. I remember when Middlesbrough point blank refused to turn up for a game at Ewood Park because they had so many injuries, and they were docked 3 points for it. In the season they were eventually relegated by...2 points :lol

Unless you literally cannot field an 11 man side or you're actually a danger to the other team's players, you damn well play!

EDIT: And I'll give it one last prediction I suppose:

Arsenal v Wigan - 2-1
Aston Villa v Sunderland - 1-1
Blackburn v Man City - 8-0
Bolton v Birmingham - 1-0
Everton v West Brom - 2-0
Fulham v Middlesbrough - 2-0
Man Utd v Charlton - 1-0
Newcastle v Chelsea - 1-3
Portsmouth v Liverpool - 1-1
West Ham v Tottenham - 1-2

I'm not sure about that Spurs result as I don't knbow who's playing, I might change it if I find out before the kick off.

Actually, I do know who's playing now, it just came up. And WTF at the food poisoning thing, I don't know who it got but they're practically at full strength. Are they sending out ill players? Well I'll stick with the 2-1 win anyway.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I'm fed up of editing that post, so a new one.

Van Nistelrooy isn't in the United side that needs to win to guarantee second place, nor is he on the bench. Apparently he drove away from Old Trafford a few hours before kick off. Perhaps he found he was starting on the bench with Rossi up front and left in a fit of anger. Either way, it looks like he might be going in the summer.

Man, we could lose the two best goalscorers in the league this summer! That would be so weird. He could go to Spurs or Chelsea or something of course.

*twirls finger by head* Mourinho, in his wisdom, has decided he's going to play....absolutely no strikers today! To be fair Blackburn aren't playing Bellamy, there's no point risking injuring your best players for the start of next season when your final Premiership place is assured, but no strikers at all? Carlton Cole doesn't even get to start? I'm quite interested to see how it goes.

 

[psycho_snake]

Shit, no this cant be fucking happening. Ruud Van Nistelrooy just drove out of Old Trafford ahead of our final game.

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=385087&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=2&title=Van+Nistelrooy's+United+exit

Ruud van Nistelrooy has driven away from Manchester United's final game of the season against Charlton Athletic.

The Dutchman was suspected to be playing his last game at Old Trafford as things have not seemed to be right with United's top scorer since he was left out of the starting line-up for the Carling Cup final.

United have confirmed the 29-year-old left the ground ahead of the clash with Charlton Athletic, with Giuseppe Rossi earning his first start in The Premiership alongside Louis Saha.

There was also a surprise place for Paul Scholes on the bench, alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Sir Alex Ferguson was critical of van Nistelrooy after his penalty miss in the draw with Middlesbrough left United needing to win on Sunday to guarantee second place.

It has not been confirmed whether the former PSV Eindhoven star was left on the bench for the season finale, hence his disappearance.

"We can confirm Ruud van Nistelrooy has gone home," said a United statement.

"The club will be making no further comment as we are concentrating on today's game."

Van Nistelrooy completed the 90 minutes against Middlesbrough but, perhaps tellingly, moved towards the bench when Rossi was stripped and ready to come on, expecting to be withdrawn, only for Saha to be replaced instead.

I honestly thought that things were ok with Ruud now ansd that the press were stirring around bullshit, but this basically confirms something is very wrong. There's very little chance that its a personal problem especially after everything thats been happening with ruud this season.

depending on todays result either fergie or Ruud could end up being in deep trouble. If we draw, everyone will look at fergie because it seems he's the reason that Ruud has walked out. If we win, then Ruud will be on his way out of the club for sure.