Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

I'm guessing the referee and linesman didn't see the original slap.

[Keef]

That would be my guess. Macherano, whilst I'm not excusing it, raised his hand in more of a p!ss taking way to wind the player up. It worked, and Alliadiere raised his hand at speen in a clear slap. I would have told them both to sort it out and get on with it, but at the end of the day, the letter of the law says he had to go for slapping another player.

Not sure I'd describe what Mascherano did as "putting his hand to Alliadieres throat", looked more like his nose to me, but there you go.

[Annasfield]

Agreed - Mascherano shouldn't have raised his hands and at that exact moment it was a case of 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. They both should have been booked. However, Alliadiere did quite a good job of catching Mascher's heel, which I believe caused the inicident in the first place.

Was a bit gutted though to be honest. Alliadiere is in my work ffl and Satuday's debacle cost me 10 points (6). Was hoping it was going to be revoked as at the present time, I'm on course for the pot of ?400 :)-D

[david_carnell]

Keef Wrote:

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> I would have told them both to sort it out

> and get on with it, but at the end of the day, the

> letter of the law says he had to go for slapping

> another player.

That's more like it. A man's game, what? I'm backing the Argy in a straight fight though. Honestly, to get sent off for that is a joke.

[atila the gooner]

What the feck was Paddy Kenny playing at last night? I think he must have had a bet on Boro to win 1-0.

[Keef]

So, what do Gooners think of this story that Inter are lining up a bid for Hleb?

[Ladygooner]

Its just a story

[Keef]

You seem very confident of that LG. Can't see Wenger letting him go even if it is true.

[atila the gooner]

If you believe evey story that's currently circulating, then Flamini is off to Juve, Hleb to Inter, Cesc to Real Madrid, Eboue to AC Milan, Lehman to Bayern, and so on and so forth. I take a very philosophical view of such matters, if the player wnats to go, and it's not just the agent trying to talk up their value, then bye bye. No one player is bigger than the club and we've managed to struggle on without the likes of Viera, Henry, Pires, Lungberg, Anleka, Overmars, Wright, Adams, Bergkamp, etc. The Arsenal will be around long after these guys are long gone and probably forgotten, as good as they were/are.

[atila the gooner]

here we go again

Arsenal 2 v Aston Villa 1

Birmingham 1 v Tottenham 2

Derby 0 v Sunderland 2

Fulham v Man Utd - this could end up being a cricket score

Man City 1 v Wigan 0

Middlesbrough 2 v Reading 0

Newcastle 0 v Blackburn 2

West Ham 1 v Chelsea 3

Bolton 1 v Liverpool 3

Everton 2 v Portsmouth 1

[Keef]

Good to hear Stevie G telling it like it is. Particularly telling was the bit that said winning the champs league wouldn't make up for the disappointment he feels about the league...

He's shown he's loyal and the club means more to him than a fat Chelski pay cheque. However, how long til he says fu*k you, I'm going to a club that plays to it's potential week in week out where I don't have to carry the team each week.

I couldn't agree more with everything Stevie says there. I am getting frustrated. I'd happily finish 2nd or 3rd, or even 4th if we gave it a real go, and it all came down to the wire, but we just roll over time and time again. At least some little team like Everton or Villa ( >:D< ) would be very happy with 4th, for us it's just same old same old consolation prize. :'(

[atila the gooner]

Well if Stevie G ever fancies a trip north (London that is) we'll have him. I can just see him now supplying the ammo for RVP and big Ade. Personally, I think he'll piss off abroad if he tires of Pool.

[Keef]

Yeah that would be my guess... Think he'll give it another couple of seasons, but he'll want to be properly in the race right to the end!

[Jah Lush]

Spurs haven't won the title since I was a three-year-old, so it's been a long wait. And, I've got the feeling I'll be waiting a whole longer before we do. Still, I can dream can't I.

[Keef]

Posted by: Keef 07 August, 2007 14:19

I'm a lot more excited about this season than I have been for a few years, what with the arrival of Torres at Liverpool!

However, I suspect after a couple of matches I'll be writing off another title charge! We just seem to be incapable of consistency!

Always feel quite confident about getting somewhere in the cups though, I do think we're one of the better cup sides.

Okay, it was more than a couple of matches, but you get the picture.

[Ladygooner]

Arsenal 3 v Aston Villa 2

Birmingham 2 v Tottenham 1

Derby 0 v Sunderland 1

Fulham 0 v 3 Man Utd

Man City 2 v Wigan 2

Middlesbrough 2 v Reading 1

Newcastle 1 v Blackburn 2

West Ham 2 v Chelsea 1

Bolton 1 v Liverpool 2

Everton 2 v Portsmouth 2

[david_carnell]

Arsenal 3 v Aston Villa 1

Birmingham 1 v Tottenham 2

Derby 0 v Sunderland 2

Fulham 0 v 1 Man Utd

Man City 2 v Wigan 1

Middlesbrough 1 v Reading 1

Newcastle 2 v Blackburn 2

West Ham 1 v Chelsea 3

Bolton 0 v Liverpool 1

Everton 2 v Portsmouth 1

[Jah Lush]

Arsenal 2 v Aston Villa 1

Birmingham 0 v Tottenham 2

Derby 0 v Sunderland 2

Fulham 0 v 3 Man Utd

Man City 2 v Wigan 1

Middlesbrough 2 v Reading 1

Newcastle 1 v Blackburn 2

West Ham 1 v Chelsea 2

Bolton 0 v Liverpool 2

Everton 2 v Portsmouth 1

[Keef]

Arsenal 2 v Aston Villa 1

Birmingham 1 v Tottenham 2

Derby 1 v Sunderland (They have to get a win one day)

Fulham 0 v 3 Man Utd

Man City 2 v Wigan 1

Middlesbrough 1 v Reading 2

Newcastle 2 v Blackburn 1 (Hard one this, but I feel N'Castle must be due a win)

West Ham 2 v Chelsea 2

Bolton 1 v Liverpool 2

Everton 1 v Portsmouth 1

[Keef]

Well, good result for The Pool yesterday, but a shame Pompey got battered by the blue scum. Not a good result for Arsenal though, and what the hell happened to Spurs Jah?! I guess there could have been fatigue after the final last week, but still a bad result.

[atila the gooner]

Could have been worse, we could have lost. Hopefully RVP will be back shortly. Good to see Fergusmoan & 'Arry still refuse to speak to the BBC. Nice to see that they don't hold a grudge. I expect it from Fergusmoan, but come on 'Arry, you're better than that.

[mockney piers]

I thought most of the predictions were being somewhat optimistic about west ham's chances against Chelsea, but even I didn't predict it would be as bad as 4-0 against 10 men.

I fear Curbishley syndrome, strong first half of season followed by apathetic rubbish once Premiership safety assured, seems to be taking hold at upton park.

[Annasfield]

Something tells me it wasn't fatigue from the match Keef. Maybe more to do with the after party? ;-)

[atila the gooner]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Something tells me it wasn't fatigue from the

> match Keef. Maybe more to do with the after party?

> ;-)

Or maybe they had lasagne the night before?

[SeanMacGabhann]

result wasn't good for Arsenal but more worrying is the general air of "losing it" which permeates the club at the mo

The team looked poor on Sat, and Wenger's paranoid interview the day before didn't help. Tour? and RVP nearly back (fingers crossed) but the much heralded "spirit" Wenger talks about needs to return sharpish

(surprised at the "blue scum" language tho - haven't we just managed to dissuade Atila from that sort of thing? ;-) )