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The Premier League Thread!
- Thread starter MOFS
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Now that the Premier League has lost the world's best player will it still try marketing itself as the best league in the world?
('Tis a sad day for Arsenal/football fans.)
I think you'll find Gerrard is still at Liverpool
I think you'll find Gerrard is still at Liverpool
Ahahaha, thats the funniest thing ive heard since I heard this...
But Titus Bramble's still in the Premier League following his transfer to Portsmouth?
I suppose it depends on your point of view is £16milion a poor price for an injury-prone player on the verge of turning 30, who (correct me if I'm wrong) hasn't played since early March due to a series of injuries?
Yep, he may have commanded a higher fee a few seasons ago, but there's a huge difference between a fit striker in his middish-twenties and a crocked one on his way into his thirties. I suppose it's how well the money is invested that'll determine whether it's a good move if they can unearth another young player who'll come good for the Gunners then this deal may come to be seen as a masterstroke.
It's just that his price wont cover his replacement. I'd pull in Robbie Fowler to cover for Henry for yet another transitional year at Arsenal. This club has gone to the dogs I think.
No, the rumour is we're going to be signing him
(that won't happen, by the way). As for the Gunners, I reckon it's time to give the boy Walcott his chance.
No one bigger? ..... It seems Dein was the club with all the boohooing now he's gone. Henry was the only world class player at Arsenal and he's gone. A definite step backwards. Arsenal still haven't recovered from the demise of Porno & Vieira and now it's been further weakened. With no new signings I predict no Champions League next time around and Tottenham finishing higher.
I think the indicator to me as to how seriously I should take this post is the bit where you tell me that we haven't recovered from losing Viera and Petit.. Strange how we went 49 games in a row without losing, a record for the English League, without Petit though, isn't it. Still - must just have been a rather large blip in our demise.
Dein's leaving is purely an excuse Henry is using to leave, Barca has clearly been on his mind for some time. He is a footballing genius, and certainly one of the best players ever, but he is also a sulky **** sometimes. A lot of fans were pissed off with his showing this last season, he looked uninterested. Henry is 30. He has definitely spent his best years at Arsenal.
Take a look back (maybe even in this thread) to this time last year, where we only just pipped Spurs to 4th place on the final day. See how many people predicted they would finish above us this past season. Now with a questionably fit Henry for the start of the season and no Henry or van Persie for the end of the season, we finished well ahead of them this season, even with no focus at the end of the season, dropping points everywhere. We also beat Spurs with a side which didn't feature Henry, van Persie and many others of the senior side in the Carling Cup.
I don't think the Gunners are as screwed as some think. They may have been erratic when playing their younger players last season, but they scored goals against some of the best teams in the Premier League. I don't think Henry's departure is a death blow to their chances next season.
Bring on Theo.
Bring on Theo.
Just to add to what XIII said, it's still a bit early to hit the panic button. If there aren't any significant signings by the end of August, then your prediction may come true. The transfer window doesn't officially open until the first, so let's see what happens.
Thank you.
Don't get me wrong, we are worse off for losing Henry, and I am heartbroken, but we aren't going to immediately drop to mid-table mediocrity.
Oh it's a serious post but you're right .. the demise is probably my own interest in Arsenal. I was an Arsenal fan from the early 70's. A cousin went to university in London and ended up marrying an Arsenal fan. The enamel cannon badge he gave me when I was a kid left a big impression on me.
I was bored and looking in the forums and .... just dropped in. I'll bugger off.
Now I'm older, I'm much more offended by millionaire children with no souls.
I sometimes pop down to my local side, Guingamp ligue 2 (Drogba used to be there) but it lacks fizz. At least it's very very cheap to get in and less corporate. I turned my back on Arsenal when they started playing with 11 Frenchies. The exoticness, the mystery had gone. It became very familiar. When I lived in London and watched Arsenal there was nothing like it in France. People like Adams, Keown and Bould were a revelation. Totally unlike French football. It was so different and that made it great for me. Now there are no English players, it is very continental the only thing left is the speed. But UEFA will get rid of that somehow. Sorry for such a jaded post.
I was bored and looking in the forums and .... just dropped in. I'll bugger off.
Now I'm older, I'm much more offended by millionaire children with no souls.
I sometimes pop down to my local side, Guingamp ligue 2 (Drogba used to be there) but it lacks fizz. At least it's very very cheap to get in and less corporate. I turned my back on Arsenal when they started playing with 11 Frenchies. The exoticness, the mystery had gone. It became very familiar. When I lived in London and watched Arsenal there was nothing like it in France. People like Adams, Keown and Bould were a revelation. Totally unlike French football. It was so different and that made it great for me. Now there are no English players, it is very continental the only thing left is the speed. But UEFA will get rid of that somehow. Sorry for such a jaded post.
I think that top level sport is more business than game these days - no matter where you are in the world or what kind of sport you're talking about. If you want to see "pure" sport played by teams whose players are all local you need to follow lower-level organizations...but the quality of play will be proportionately lower, even if the atmosphere is good.
I'm in an even worse scenario - being American, our top league (MLS) would be easily dominated by a team of Watford's caliber, or any decent Championship side. So we get the commerciality but not the quality.
I'm in an even worse scenario - being American, our top league (MLS) would be easily dominated by a team of Watford's caliber, or any decent Championship side. So we get the commerciality but not the quality.
I think Henry leaving is just one step of Arsenal's recent fall from the top.
People need perspective on just how far Arsenal have dropped since their unbeaten run when they were probably the best side, in terms of football and results, in European football, which basically means they were one of the best teams in the world. I see Henry leaving as another nail in the coffin following such nails as Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires, Campbell and other top players.
It's easy to come out with the "Nobody is bigger than Arsenal" line, in one way it's true, nobody is going to end the clubs existence anytime soon but in another way, many people are bigger than Arsenal. Wenger certainly is and Dein was too. Half the players have no dedication to the football club but to the manager and to David Dein. Henry was obviously unsettled by it and many players have said that they will leave if Wenger leaves. "Wenger is Arsenal", sad but true.
The rot needs to be stopped and the lid burst off of the coffin some time soon. Wether it's "selling your soul" to foreign investors (something until very recently Arsenal fans, board, manager and players all came out and publicly ridiculed and scorned) or not is yet to be seen but something needs to be done soon though, because make no mistake, the club and the team is sliding dangerously downwards.
The slide either has to halt and reverse or next season Wenger will be gone (looking more likely from both his and Henry's recent comments) and players will follow him out of the door. One glimmer of hope is that Hill-Wood seems to have done a dramatic about turn and seems to be willing to work with the American interested in buying the club, surprising but it would please me if I was a gooner.
Next season might be a struggle but that's not what would concern me, the next 5 years are what is important for the club. However, with Henry missing, they must spend wisely in preperation because with the amount of debt from the stadium they need to get the 4th spot, if they don't they could be in serious trouble.
People need perspective on just how far Arsenal have dropped since their unbeaten run when they were probably the best side, in terms of football and results, in European football, which basically means they were one of the best teams in the world. I see Henry leaving as another nail in the coffin following such nails as Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires, Campbell and other top players.
It's easy to come out with the "Nobody is bigger than Arsenal" line, in one way it's true, nobody is going to end the clubs existence anytime soon but in another way, many people are bigger than Arsenal. Wenger certainly is and Dein was too. Half the players have no dedication to the football club but to the manager and to David Dein. Henry was obviously unsettled by it and many players have said that they will leave if Wenger leaves. "Wenger is Arsenal", sad but true.
The rot needs to be stopped and the lid burst off of the coffin some time soon. Wether it's "selling your soul" to foreign investors (something until very recently Arsenal fans, board, manager and players all came out and publicly ridiculed and scorned) or not is yet to be seen but something needs to be done soon though, because make no mistake, the club and the team is sliding dangerously downwards.
The slide either has to halt and reverse or next season Wenger will be gone (looking more likely from both his and Henry's recent comments) and players will follow him out of the door. One glimmer of hope is that Hill-Wood seems to have done a dramatic about turn and seems to be willing to work with the American interested in buying the club, surprising but it would please me if I was a gooner.
Next season might be a struggle but that's not what would concern me, the next 5 years are what is important for the club. However, with Henry missing, they must spend wisely in preperation because with the amount of debt from the stadium they need to get the 4th spot, if they don't they could be in serious trouble.
I don't see Hill-Wood's apparent u-turn as a good thing for football or for fans. What is the logical conclusion of yet another super rich owner? A big cash injection has to be recouped somehow! And it will come from higher ticket prices and a greater emphasis on the corporate. Or by breaking China. Arsenal will get a Chinese sponsor, Rover perhaps and they will demand that Arsenal have a Chinese player to aid the Chinese market launch. Arsenal can drop this poor chump after 6 months when he's no longer needed!
The monied future of football. Fewer and fewer clubs able to compete, the class divide greater than ever, an unsatisfactory Premiership, the start of a European Super League, only the middle classes can afford to travel internationally twice a week, football dies and becomes the opera of the 21st century.
The monied future of football. Fewer and fewer clubs able to compete, the class divide greater than ever, an unsatisfactory Premiership, the start of a European Super League, only the middle classes can afford to travel internationally twice a week, football dies and becomes the opera of the 21st century.
All the more reason to support your local teams, I feel.The monied future of football. Fewer and fewer clubs able to compete, the class divide greater than ever, an unsatisfactory Premiership, the start of a European Super League, only the middle classes can afford to travel internationally twice a week, football dies and becomes the opera of the 21st century.
Absolutely right. There was a documentary on here a while ago about United of Manchester. You know, turning away from the hollywood stuff and getting local again. I was surprised at how many people felt the same way. It's good.
As soon as I hear "local" I'm straight back to the League of Gentleman!
I think it's preposterous that people would question your teams chances like that. I reckon you ought to name and shame those involved. I'll start you off with this from last July...
Heh.Jaffa Cake said:
How about this one for a stunning example of loyalty then? Paul Ince, who was given his first managerial job at Macclesfield Town last October, has already jumped ship and gone off to The Franchise. Laughably, he described the move as similar to Henry leaving for Barcelona.
Silkmen Online
Silkmen Online
You can what he's getting at, though Barcelona are a hugely successful club with a long and successful history, and MKDonalds are... ah yes, I see your point.
Can't agree more. Nothing to add either. lol
As for McLaren, I kind of feel for the bloke (Or really, any England manager for that) in that he bowed to media pressure and dropped David Beckham, then when England were still ****, and Beckham was playing well for Real they were all calling for his head again because he didn't recall him, then he bowed again and did.
Isnt that the way International football works tho? If your **** for your country, they drop you. Then if you play well for your club you earn a recall. Best thing that ever happened to David Beckham, getting dropped by England. Maybe they should try it with a few more. Fat Frank being first in line.
Also, how I missed it in this thread I don't know. But I'm not bothered in the slightest about Scarborough. Infact, we could be partly to blame, but that was their own fault for celebrating on the pitch before they knew our result.
Being a Boro fan (and thus maybe a lick'l biased), I think McLaren's been hard done by. I mean, Joe Cole, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Owen have been injured for the season (and Ashley Cole has missed a lot too), Lampard hasn't performed for Chelsea this season, and there hasn't been a phenomenal English striker this season (unlike Darren Bent the year before). Coupling that with the fact that he used to manage us (a team the press seem to think should just cowtow to Spurs and sell Downing) and he was doomed from the start.
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