Football Focus

[SeanMacGabhann]

Do pundits do that much? Only time I've heard it is when it's innapropriate (Sol Campbell allegations, Wenger allegations, Beckham's preferences with Victoria etc)

I agree with crowds having the right to making their feelings known - Blackburn got back into the game on Saturday partly because the crowd got stuck in - but it does depend what those feelings are

When I go to Arsenal games I love the pro-Arsenal singing, the moans directed at Sendero (because he just isn't good enough - but when it comes to the "stand up if you hate Tottenham" I re-question why I bother going. As Alan Partridge might say it's doesn't take too much with 60000 people for it to degenerate into "ugly, mindless violence"

[atila the gooner]

We gooners really need to find some different and original chants, the "stand up if hate Tottenham" is SO boring!!!

[mockney piers]

Oh totally with you atila, just thought the theatre comparison was a bit odd.

And we all know it's "STAND UP, IF YOU HATE WOKING"

[citizenED]

Still, I'm not convinced about this right for the paying fan to shout obscenities at a player, especially if it is personal. How exactly does this work? I can imagine Academy footballers training regime going something like this: learn to trap the ball over there, learn to shoot over there, practice dribbling over there and passing over there. Good lads, now go over to that corner, and learn how to take a sh!t load of abuse, vitriol and hatred. Why on earth do we associate "being good at football" (and lets face it all the players on the park are better than us), with "being able to brush of a torrent of personal abuse".

[atila the gooner]

The game on Setanta tonight was better than recent fare on this channel. I can just hear the Everton fan at my office saying "Rafas' Beneath us" tomorrow morning. Apparently this is what passes for Evertonian wit.

[Keef]

I didn't see it last night, but was keeping an eye on the score til near the end when I gave up, thinking that once again we'd snatched defeat from the jaws of victory... Pleased we salvaged the point, but don't know what the hell is going on at the moment. Gerrard has come out saying that all the speculation around the club's future is affecting the players.

[SeanMacGabhann]

You had several chances in first half but just didn't convert (a feeling Arsenal fans know too)

I prefer Carraghrs line which is "there were no boardroom problems for several of the last few years so what excuse did we have then. What's going wrong on the pitch is down to the players"

Gerrad himself looks well out of sorts - he was like Mark Lawrenson in the 80s - shooting from 40 yards for fun and never coming close

[Ladygooner]

How funny - I predicted both the Arsenal and Liverpool scores correctly. Have to say watching the match last night Gerrard definitely didn't look at his best - I guess the take over talks must be affecting him and the team.

[atila the gooner]

It must be tough for players on obscene amounts of money being put under pressure because of board room unrest!! Oh please. Just how many more badly performing footballers going to dig up excuses for turning in rubbish performances. It's enough to make you want to turn to watching rugby!!!!!!!!

[Keef]

Sean I hadn't heard Carra saying that, but fair play to him!

Gerrard isn't our only player who is guilty of stupid long range shots. May times lately I have been watchig matches and wanted to throw things at the telly because they worked the ball beautifully in to a good position, but rather than hold play up, or thread it in to the box with a clever pass, they go for the wonder strike, and miss! Grrr!!!!

Where are you Anna?

[atila the gooner]

Isn't it funny how the much maligned Crouch saves the day yet again. If I was in his shoes I'd hand in a transfer request and get myself to a club where I would be in the starting line up every week. He deserves it.

[Jah Lush]

Tonight's the night. I do not want a repeat of last year's semi-final against the Arsenal when we were two-nil up and blew it. Come on you Spurs!

[atila the gooner]

I've just seen the Arsenal squad for tonight. It includes Hleb, Adebayor, Fabregas, Gilberto, Flamini, Sagna, & Eduardo. Could it be Le Boss has decided to take the Worthless cup (semi)seriously? Whether or not they play is something else, but he has included them in a 16 man squad.

[Jah Lush]

I thought he'd make some changes from the first leg. Three or four more experienced players in. I'm pretty sure Gallas will be skippering Arsenal tonight. Did you manage to get any tickets Atila? I'll be in the West Stand with my mate who has two season tickets. We've been going to White Hart Lane together since we were kids back in the 60s.

[Ladygooner]

Just seen our team and I really think we can do it again tonight! Will be watching at home from behind the sofa

[atila the gooner]

Jah, no mate, all my so called friends who could have supplied a ticket decided they wanted to go themselves. Selfish swine!!!! I'll have to put up with watching us play Keegans Toons with my eldest son on saturday. I would galdly have swapped those tickets for tonight, but what ya gonna do?

[Keef]

atila the gooner Wrote:

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> Isn't it funny how the much maligned Crouch saves the day yet again. If I was in his shoes I'd hand in a transfer request and get myself to a club where I would be in the starting line up every week. He deserves it.

I know what you're saying, but he's tasted the champs league, and where is he going to go where he gets to play in that competition? I think Torres is Number 1 for obvious reasons. Kuyt hasn't been his best recently, but I like him, and apparently he was one of our better players last night, and did very very well to make the first goal. I think Croutch should be fighting him for the place... What really annoys me is Veronin seemingly being up in the pecking order, don't think he's up to it at all!

As far as tonight goes, good luck to both, shoulkd be a good match. Guess I'm leaning towards Spurs, as it's their mest chance of a cup, but may the better team win!

[atila the gooner]

Keef, Kuyt had a bit of stinker last night. He took a touch when he didn't need to and shot when he should have taken a touch. Why Babel didn't start remains a mystery. Such are the ways of Rafa.

[Jah Lush]

Benitez it would seem is being put under the same sort of pressure that Martin Jol was at the beginning of the season and we all know what happened there.

[Keef]

Hmm, fair play Atila, like I say I didn't see it, but was basing my comments on this from the BBC.

"Liverpool and Benitez badly needed a win and after a scrappy opening they went ahead, the goal brilliantly created by Kuyt, who has come in for some criticism for his displays this season.

The Dutchman received a Steven Gerrard pass with his back to goal 18 yards out, turned and played the ball through to Benayoun in one movement and, after the Israeli's initial shot was blocked, he reacted quickest to turn in the rebound.

Villa's attacking threat was being curbed by their own failure to stay onside and they were nearly punished at the other end again when Kuyt neatly laid the ball off for Aurelio to rifle just wide from 15 yards."

It's a really strange one, I hate these knobs who claim to be Liverpool fans, but call for Rafa's head. They have short memories. However, some of his stuborn tactics frustrate and confuse me! He is generally popular with the fans, but so was Jol, and I doubt that many Spurs fans are still missing him...

[Jah Lush]

Well Keef, if we beat the Arsenal tonight and go on to lift the Cup I for one won't be missing Martin Jol. I still think he was treated very unfairly by the Spurs board. He is a very good coach and he'll certainly be back.

[Ladygooner]

Jah - if you beat us tonight I'll buy you a drink on Friday!

[citizenED]

OK, so we got to the final last year with le kids, but we're not going through a good patch at the moment, so I'm glad Wenger has seen fit to name a more 'senior' squad. C'mon you Arsenal.

[Jah Lush]

Good. So they'll be no excuses if you lose.

[Ladygooner]

What do you mean "not going through a good patch"? Did you not see our performance against Fulham on Saturday? As for the toddlers - Ok they weren't great at the Emirates but still on level pegging with Tottenham and I feel we can definitely do it tonight.