Football Focus

[Otta]

"The club invested ?35m in him. People talk about whether he can fit into my style or not, but if you're a club and you spend ?35m on a player you'd like to think he can fit into whatever style the team plays.

"He's a good player. He'll join the rest of the group next week and we'll take it from there."

Brendan Rogers

Looks like Carroll will be hanging around, unless someone offers ?20m for him (which I can't imagine will happen).

[red devil]

Hardly a ringing endorsement, but maybe it's the ultimate in kidology in order to get Carroll off his lardy Geordie arse...

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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>

> Liverpool paying ?35m for Carroll has basically

> buggered the poor lad right up.

Yeah - I feel for him. Life's been difficult for him so far.

[red devil]

Ledley hangs up his boots :( ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18902734

Great player...

[El Pibe]

That sort of club player is a rare commodity too these days.

Good lad and best of luck to him.

[titch juicy]

sad, but inevitable day

shame we never got see quite how good he could've been

[Jah Lush]

Ledley was told by his doctor to quit playing four years ago. It's incredible how he managed to keep playing. He has no cartilage in his left knee. The pain he must have gone through to play football is incredible. On his day and when fully fit he was without question one of the best centre-backs I've seen.

Majestic, Supreme, of the highest Order, Imposing, Regal, Magnificent, Grand. He really did live up to his name. Long Live the King!

[Rolo Tomasi]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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On his day and when fully fit he was > without question one of the best centre-backs I've > seen.

Speaking as a devout Gooner I have to agree.

[Jah Lush]

I appreciate that Rolo. Even Thierry Henry has said in the past that Ledley King is the best defender he's faced. He was not just a brilliant centre half, but an inspirational one, a fantastic footballer, captain and role model. A dedicated, loyal one club man. I'm hoping that the club choose to retire the number 26 shirt in his honour.

[Alan Medic]

A bit of the Paul McGrath about him in terms of injury and the ability to keep playing without being able to train. Probably didn't drink as much though.

[Bluerevolution]

Links for Arsenal v City this afternoon.

International Friendly Matches

Friday, July 27th

13:00 - 15:00

Arsenal vs. Manchester City

Quick Media Links: -

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=164773&part=sports

http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/59872/1/arsenal-vs-man-city--live-stream-online.html

http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/59872/2/arsenal-vs-man-city--live-stream-online.html

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/132334/1/watch-arsenal-vs-manchester-city.html

http://www.atdhe24.net/watch2/2/88/428926/watch-arsenal-vs-manchester-city.html

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream4.php

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream5.php

http://www.tykestv.eu/index.php

http://www.softsportstv.eu/

http://www.popstreams.eu/

http://www.ninjastreams.org

http://www.mypremium.tv/stream/?id=1655&1315145357

http://www.ilhansports.info/Channel1new.html

http://www.222a.info/fsi1.html

http://www.eplsite.com/stream3.html

http://www.eplsite.com/stream4.html

http://www.eplsite.com/stream11.html

http://www.stopstream.tv/42/89/428926.html

http://lsh.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lsh1.html

http://lsh.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lshtv1.html

http://lsh.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lshtv2.html

http://lsh.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lshtv3.html

http://drhtv.tv/channel-1.html

http://www.livefootballol.tv/streaming/friendly/27-07-2012-arsenal-manchester-city.html

http://livetv.ru/en/eventinfo/128044_arsenal_manchester_city/

[Mick Mac]

Celtic 100/1 (on) for the SPL.

Whoever thought we would ever be that good.

[Parkdrive]

Watched the Arsenal v City game, defensive errors and profligate finishing were our undoing, the Ox, however, along with Gibbs looked good.

[Alan Medic]

As you probably know the FA have charged Terry. Don't like him, so good.

However, how can they punish him for something the law of land found him not guilty of? It seems their laws allow for more elbo room in matters like this.

Strange situation given you would think the FA would want to be finally rid of this story. I can only guess that maybe the PFA or another lobby looking after the interests of black players have exerted some influence on the FA.

I think it should have been dealt with by the FA in the first place but because some off duty police officer (I think) made a complaint it came into the realms of being a police matter. What a waste of taxpayers money.

[maxxi]

???? Wrote:

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> I'd be delighted if we got Carroll,...

Latest has it that Carroll is coming to Upton Park on an initial ?2m loan with a view to a ?17m buy if the Irons stay up.

[red devil]

I thought he said he would only go to a club that had qualified for Europe?

If it happens, it's a steal...

[El Pibe]

I'm pretty sure we don't have ?17M kicking about the place, still a loan is a marvellous move, now all we have to do is go down to prevent bankruptcy :-/

[Otta]

I just don't get what Rogers is thinking over this whole Carroll thing. Liverpool faithful don't seem to want him to go either.

['bout now]

I think the West Ham deal has more than a little to do with Carroll's relationship with Nolan, who he lived with after his "Fracas" with his other half.

[maxxi]

Nolan has to be a factor and if Rogers doesn't want him Carroll might feel that a loan season knocking in the goals at a club with a lower profile will help him regain his market value.

Newcastle would feel like a backward step and if Liverpool suffer without him he could return next season under yet another new Liverpool manager (hail the conquering hero returns etc. etc.)

[DJKillaQueen]

For anyone that's interested Team GB ladies beat Brazil tonight in the women's olympic footy.....that means we top our group with three wins.......UK ladies footy team looking better than ever..............

[Otta]

Fair play to the ladies, they are clearly a good team. I still find women's football boring to watch though, I honestly can't say why, it just doesn't seem as exciting.

In other news, the Carroll saga goes on, and he's in Liverpool's squad for Europa qualifier. This would not cup tie him for the group stages though.

[Otta]

Actually, they are now saying he's stayed home with "a slight groin strain". Hmmm...

[DJKillaQueen]

I think maybe Otta your view that women's football is not exciting enough is akin to men not watching the womens 100m final, or women's tennis etc. Of course top female athletes are not going to be as fast as male equivalents but I would argue that speed and power aren't in themselves the only factors that define something as exciting vs boring. Heaven knows I've watched more than enough boring male football.

Speed aside, there is now as much skill in women's footie as the mens. The other key difference is that female footballers don't writhe around in agony every time they are tackled, and make the men look like wimps in that respect.

GB ladies have some really good players and all of them play intelligent football. Given how poor England's male team have been for so long now I am very enthused by the performances of the current ladies team.

I think the women's game is still a long way from being accepted in it's own right, but that is only because of inherent sexism within the footballing industry and a culture of dismissal of women in sport generally. Things though are slowly moving in the right direction and the more professional the women's game becomes the higher the standard accross all the leagues (not just the super league) will become.

[Otta]

Interesting you mention tennis, as I think the womens game is far more entertaining for the most part.

You probably have a point about the speed of the football though. I don't doubt the skill of these women at all.