Football Focus

[????]

2400

[Ladymuck]

???? Wrote:

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> 2400

Ah that was clever...kept me occupied on the other thread so you could nip in!!!!;-)

*prepares for WAR*

[Mick Mac]

Sandperson Wrote:

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> I think Wenger's opinions on the second Porto goal

> is going to be interesting.

Yes - referee takes ball from goalkeeper - hands it to Porto forward - moves into Campbell's way allowing porto to take free kick while Campbell tries to get past the referee to put in a tackle. Too late, goal. Laughable.

But - Good to see Sol Campbell filling in at the back.

[jimmy two times]

I thought it was a clever, quick thinking free kick whilst the Arsenal defence were sleeping. Bit like the one Henry took a few years ago against Chelsea. I don't remember Vinegar face complaining about that one at the time. His face tonight was priceless. He looked like he was sucking a lemon all night.

[Mick Mac]

jimmy two times Wrote:

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> I thought it was a clever, quick thinking free

> kick whilst the Arsenal defence were sleeping. Bit

> like the one Henry took a few years ago against

> Chelsea. I don't remember Vinegar face complaining

> about that one at the time. His face tonight was

> priceless. He looked like he was sucking a lemon

> all night.

hands it to Porto forward - moves into Campbell's way

[jimmy two times]

Well Mick, Campbell was too busy with his head in hands to notice anyway. And the keeper was walking towards his own goal with his back to play. Very naive defending.

[Mick Mac]

Actually if you watch it again Jimmy, he was standing right behind the referee trying to get to the ball when the referee backed into him as it was being kicked.

Not that I care about Arsenal CL but I think the referee can be a little too helpful to one team at times.

['bout now]

In the post match analysis I heard the term "accidental back pass". Do you think that was foot to ball or ball to foot?

Also did anyone else think the ITV lot, in particular Robbie Earle completely missed the Gobbi(?)-Robben incident, I thought it looked pretty damning to me (bodycheck disguising elbow in throat). I know Robben is a bit challenged in the standing up stakes but I thought a Red was entirely appropriate.

[SimonM]

I expect Arsene will say he didn't see it....

[Jah Lush]

He won't blame his players. He'll blame the referee.

[????]

He WILL blame them behind closed doors though, in contrast say to old rent a quote Harry's slagging off of Bent via the media...I know which I think is probably more effective and professional

[jimmy two times]

I think Wenger is looking incrasingly stressed and strained on the touchline at recent games. I think he can see his season slipping away as well as the likelihood of Fabregas bailing out in the summer. You have to now question the wisdom of fielding weakened teams in the Carling and FA cup. What he needs now more then anything is a bit of silverware...any silverware....to keep the fickle Arsenal fans happy. He has also made a rick not trying to get David James in during the transfer window. The keeper last night was awful and Almunia is also poor. A season can be lost on the sort of mistakes those guys have made lately. Still...Arsene knows eh ?

[Annasfield]

I think Wenger is looking incrasingly stressed and strained on the touchline at recent games.

Childish I know, but your comment made me think of this:

http://images.teamtalk.com/08/07/800x600/Arsene-Wenger_1007509.jpg

[jimmy two times]

That's his Chimpanzee impression.

[Jah Lush]

Well, he's certainly straining for something.

[SimonM]

What is the French for "Akela we Do Our Best!"???

[ratty]

Can sense the end game for Pompey.....

[matthew123]

Wolves found guilty of throwing United game - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/8521603.stm

[ruffers]

No effective punishment though, why's it suspended? Essentially they got away with it.

[kpc]

Ratty - is that something in your water or something through the grapevine? Or just the increasing desperation of their pleas?

[ratty]

There is a bit of substance behind it KPC. We are back in court for winding up on 1st March. (We are being represented by an East Dulwich barrister by the way!!)

Guardian are running a story on our new potential owners and saying they need 30 days to do due dilligence. Smells like BS to me. We had to produce a statement of affairs in Court on Wednesday, this would have given a complete indication of financial liability and assetts (and would probably have indicated that we were trading whilst insolvent. If this is the case then the court should wind the club up on 1st March. That will be it.

Have also been party to some investigations into the people that have been running the club in the past 3 / 4 years since Mandaric sold it. To say these people are murky is a total understatement.

Most, not all, but most Popey fans want the club wound up now. I am in two minds myself, but fear it will happen soon.

I would not bank on coming to Fratton for the FA Cup match!

[kpc]

Thanks for the reply. Think it?s been inevitable for a while that the demise is imminent ? just a question of timing ? and that it doesn?t particularly serve anyone?s purpose to draw things out (with maybe two exceptions: diehard fans and lawyers and accountants). In the interim, is the club being asset stripped by the ?owners? desperate to get what they can out of the situation?

I only hope that some good comes out of this in the form of justice against those responsible (not that it will repair any of the damage done), but success rates in such cases are low and take years to come to Court. That, and the FA/PL review their requirements for ownership and financial accounting.

Can understand why Pompey fans would have mixed feelings about seeing the season out ? on the one hand it would be a fruitless exercise, but would give the opportunity to go out like Butch and Sundance.

(and your advise is to definitely not buy a ticket off my mate for the PL fixture three days after the QF)

[matthew123]

If Pompey really do go bust mid-season and their results are stripped from the table - and it makes the difference between who finishes in 4th spot await the legal challenges!

[Jah Lush]

You make a good point there Matthew. I think it could all go tits up if that were to happen and the only people to make any money out of it would be the lawyers. I'm quite sure they are already rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of a wind up order.

[kpc]

Matt - some chairmen would take action for the ?500k difference a couple of league places would make.

FA/PL will be dreading this happening. Thought David Gold's alleged offer of a ?10m loan to prevent this sums it up.