Football Focus

[maxxi]

It's a sop to the FA from FIFA to keep them sweet and stop them banging on about corruption - makes them feel good - like promoting a trouble maker out of the office.

[Jah Lush]

red devil Wrote:

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> What are people's expectations for the coming new

> season?..

I expect top four (again). A win in one of the cups (FA or League Cup), a good run in the Europa Cup where our youngsters can gain good experience but I don't expect to win it although that would be a massive bonus. Most of all to gain some silverware and finish above Woolwich Wanderers, especially if they win nothing yet again.

[red devil]

I said expectations Jah, not 3 wishes ;-)

Looks like RVP has higher expectations than L'Arse's heirarchy.

His statement questioning their ambition reminded me of Rooney's ill-judged and badly advised statement.

But whereas Rooney was openly castigated by the press and pundits alike for publicly questioning Utd's and Fergie's ambition, the press seem to be showing far more empathy towards RVP wanting to seek pastures new, agreeing he will have a better chance of winning silverware elsewhere...

[Otta]

He's had one really good season in 8 years, ship him out and cash in!

[StraferJack]

exactly Otta. What are the chances of him ever having a season like last ever again in his career?

Doesn't mean that there aren't things to worry about for Arsenal - losing 4 captains in 5 years in no joke. But I still stand by the club's philosophy. To take on Chelsea and Man City at their own game is folly, especially with FFP coming in soon. When that happens, Wenger's long-play could well be vindicated

[Ladygooner]

Hope we can cash in on RVP - I think we have had the best of him - and only cost ?2.7m so can't complain. No point in holding onto him for the next season if he doesn't want to be there.

[red devil]

FFP will take many years to have any real effect, it's not an overnight silver bullet, as long as clubs are seen to be reducing their losses, rather than not having any loss, UEFA will be lenient with them.

By then it could be too late for a club that can't keep it's best players, the gap too big to bridge...

[Jah Lush]

red devil Wrote:

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> I said expectations Jah, not 3 wishes ;-)

Those are my expectations. If you don't like them I have others. ;-)

[StraferJack]

"By then it could be too late for a club that can't keep it's best players, the gap too big to bridge..."

Debateable he will be our best player next season - I expect his form to be far below last season

Secondly the idea that by spending (and how much are we talking about here? a bit more? a lot more? Man City levels?) will give us success is a nonsense.

Far more likely we will end up as Leeds than it is anything else

Put it this way - if Wenger and his like were in charge of the banks/treasury, the world would be more stable place. Listening to the siren voices of "spend spend spend" is a folly

[El Pibe]

The sirens were actually brass?

Hmm, makes more sense now I think about it.

[red devil]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Debateable he will be our best player next season

> - I expect his form to be far below last season

You can say that about any player at any club, who knows how good they wlll be in the future.

Wenger obviously doesn't share your thoughts on RVP, if his statement earlier in the week is anything to go by.

RVP has physically been a late developer, it's only last season that he actually physically looked the part.

IMO he's got a good 3-4 years at the top left him in.

> Secondly the idea that by spending (and how much

> are we talking about here? a bit more? a lot more?

> Man City levels?) will give us success is a

> nonsense.

Agree, it would be foolish to try and keep up with Citeh and Chelsea, they are unique situations and hopefully FFP will eventually level the playing field, but do you honestly think Arsenal have even spent within their means? Look at the last minute bargain basement panic buying that went on last pre-season. Hardly smacks of a long term game plan.

[StraferJack]

Don't get me wrong - I'd rather we were able to keep him. Or more precisely I would like him to stay and repay many of the years he spent on treatment tables and play his part as captain of the club he supported as a boy

The Arsenal teams in Wenger's era whic have been successful and own trophies and went seasons unbeaten were largely earning significantly less than they could have elsewhere - but they stayed and they played.

before the title in 2002, approx 2 years earlier Viera was voicing his concerns about the team, the direction and the results and was told in no uncertain terms that he was the one out on the pitch performing (or not)

Significantly he rolled up his sleeves (albeit with improved terms - again not as much as he could have elsewhere) and improved and pushed those around him to do the same

RVP, the captain, leaving is one thing. To do so in the manner he has (with the wording of that statement yesterday) is the complete opposite

last seasons panic buying was genuinely horrible - and before the 1st July Window this year we had already signed two strikers. So, this year is different on that score

Basically, I want Wilshire back, one of those strikers to do well, a relatively injury free back four and push on as best we can. I can get behind that.

[maxxi]

Surely it's the signal it would send that matters to gooners?

Sell him and maybe you won't attract the best young players who could feel the club lacked ambition - and the players already at the club may feel the same and want to leave now rather than be part of ANOTHER rebuilding season?

[????]

I've not really thought about next season yet, although West Ham already back in training!

To be honest, United, City, Chealsea, Spuds, Liverpool and Arsenal are the only teams I think will definitely be safe and probably Everton, Newcastle and Sunderland.

After that I think it's a massive Bunfight. I think Villa may be the shock candidate for relegation but I see potential second season blues for Norwich and Swansea I think all of the promoted clubs will struggle (including us) and perennial battler Wigan. QPR, Fulham...don't look convincing. West Brom probably ok.

West Ham's start is almost exclusively against relegation rivals before a hideous set of games in early winter. If we are not top half by mid-October I think we'll struggle. I think BFS has a couple of signings in mind but we missed out on Holt. Long tense season.

[Mick Mac]

StraferJack Wrote:

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>

> Debateable he will be our best player next season

>

Yes SJ I agree - if he is still there, he will be, but if he is not still there, he won't.

[Alan Medic]

I think WH were lucky to miss out on Holt.He's 31 with one good season under his belt. ?6M, if that's what they offered was too much in my opinion.

[the-e-dealer]

What has football focus got to do with single guys

[red devil]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> What has football focus got to do with single guys

...is there a punchline coming?

[Otta]

Surprised that Man U let Park go, for ?2m, that looks like a great signing for QPR.

In other news, I feel sorry for Andy Carroll following Brendan Rogers' comments today, not going to do much for his confidence. However, there are rumours of a loan move to AC Milan, and from an England point of view it would be great to have more players playing abroad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Joe Cole back in a Liverpool shirt!

[Chippy Minton]

Andy Carroll has to be one, if not the, worst value for money signings in Liverpool's history...but I am surprised at Rogers' stance. Surely he has to give Carroll a chance given how he finished last season and his ok performance at the Euros?

Rogers is a good coach and manager, getting players that have got technical ability to organise, but he has a messiah complex and might not handle the pressure at Liverpool. He's also prone to spending large chunks of change on players that he then doesn't play. He needs a good start and shouldn't tinker too much too soon or he won't see out the season.

[maxxi]

Agree about Park Ji - can't believe the bargain price or that other clubs didn't fight to get him - is he injured?

I don't think Rogers has said anything too critical - just telling the dressing room who's boss and after what happened to Hodgson who can blame him?

I thought the ?My task is to build a group that can challenge. Hopefully when the bus leaves at the end of pre-season, it will have the people on it who I want.? comment was for the whole squad not just Carroll.

[Annette Curtain]

I've loved watching RVP over the years, he's shown a confidence and verve which has epitomised Arsenals style of play

(though he has done a runner before has our RVP http://www.standard.co.uk/news/arsenal-star-flees-crash-7226922.html)

Still, he's 28 and in the last days of being ripe for big wages offer, from a club like city.

And, I still think the damage of that the old T.Henry ( shall I shan't I ) move caused a few years back, lingers at the club

However, get shot of him and move on

We will though have to bite the bullet of change in the not too distant future, that might include Wenger. Arsenals A team have almost become a de facto academy for other top flight clubs

Don't get me wrong, we are good at it. But what the future holds "as is" I don't know. I just hope that what SJ says re: FFP that Wenger will be there to benefit

Really....

Nette

[Bluerevolution]

:D

[Mick Mac]

?I?ll play for Rangers next season,? Gazza told The Sun. ?I will be there next season supporting Coisty and his team.

?And I?ll you this ? if I can get my hip sorted I?ll make myself available for a few games in the Third Division if Coisty needs me. There is no better time to play for Rangers than right now.?

The Geordie added: ?I can honestly say that if I had just played in a tournament like the European Championship finals and I had the chance to sign for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Rangers I would choose Rangers because of Coisty and the fans.

?I had the best time of my life at Rangers. I lived next door to Coisty for four years and I know he is Rangers through and through.

?It wouldn?t matter if the club was in the Sunday league, he would still manage them for nothing. I am convinced he will make the club great again.?

McCoist voiced his frustrations of working with just six experienced players last week during a meeting with a group of supporters

[red devil]

Otta Wrote:

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> Surprised that Man U let Park go, for ?2m, that

> looks like a great signing for QPR.

Me too, figures of ?5m have been quoted, but either way it's a steal.

Midfield is our weakest dept, esp with no guarantee Fletcher will make a full recovery, so can only assume Fergie has someone else lined up. I think Kagawa could be a great signing, really looking forward to seeing him play behind Rooney.

> In other news, I feel sorry for Andy Carroll

> following Brendan Rogers' comments today, not

> going to do much for his confidence. However,

> there are rumours of a loan move to AC Milan, and

> from an England point of view it would be great to

> have more players playing abroad.

>

> I'm looking forward to seeing Joe Cole back in a

> Liverpool shirt!

I can't see Carroll staying, he just doesn't fit in with Rodger's style of play.

There's paper talk he might become a 'appy 'ammer, if so expect a sudden surge of fans complaining of repetitive neck strain injuries down at the local Infirmary :-)