On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[matthew123]

Well Inter have just got stronger as the half has progressed and (to use one of Fergie's words) should have been rewarded with an equalizer. I'm sure United will come out 2nd half and look to get a killer goal within first few minutes otherwise it could start to get rather anxious at Old Trafford.

So that's my prediction, United to make it 2-0 within 5 minutes of re-start, otherwise Inter to win the tie..

[ruffers]

Keef Wrote:

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> Well so far so good for United, guess they'll want

> to score more though, would be a nightmare to be

> 1-0 up and then the away team equalise in the 90th

> minute...

Dream outcome for me that one, maybe a Ronaldo own goal....

Not going to happen now though is it?!

[Sandperson]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> So that's my prediction, United to make it 2-0

> within 5 minutes of re-start, otherwise Inter to

> win the tie..

I hope you had some money on that.

[matthew123]

I actually predicted same thing last night at Anfield

I reckon penalty shoot out in Rome... with Arsenal coming up trumps

[red devil]

Matthew, who's going to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup...

[Ladygooner]

Wow! My nerves are shot to pieces! I felt so sorry for Eduardo - thank goodness we won through in the end.

[SimonM]

It was a dreadful game though, and as the Sky commentator observed, on the strength of tonight's performance, none of the other quarter finalists need fear the winner...

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Superb forecasting Matthew!

This weeks Lottery Numbers please?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Dreadful game and performance by Arsenal indeed

However... I wouldn't read too much into that. In previous competitions those games where we have been oustatnding (5-1 in Milan for example) we often crash back to earth. And where we scrape through, we lift our game. I'm just glad we are through for now. I belive we will play Barcelona in this competition.. whether it is in next weeks draw or in the final I don't know but I have a feeling

On another note - it was quite sad to see Viera as a shadow of himself at Old Trafford last night

[Sandperson]

Viera was poor. Big heart from Eduardo though. I was just thinking as he walked up to take the pen how much he must be so happy that, even if he didn't score, he was in a position to take one at all. It didn't really matter that he missed, just good that he came back from such a horrible injury and could play again. :)-D

[Atila Reincarnate]

I have to say that on last nights performance, whoever we get in the next round will not be quaking in their boots. I hop e I'm wrong but we weren't convincing at all. But it was good to see that Eduardo had the balls to take the first pen, unlike a certian Mr. Gallas who seemed to be conspicuous by his absence, and fair play to young Theo who also didn't shirk the responsibility in a BIG away game. Bodes well for England and the Arsenal.

[matthew123]

Have to say the Roma goalkeeper was pretty hopeless in the penalty shoot out. I think likes of Pepe Reina would have saved majority of those Arsenal penalties.

So 4 English clubs in the QF. I hope Liverpool get United in the QF draw.

[Sandperson]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

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> I have to say that on last nights performance,

> whoever we get in the next round will not be

> quaking in their boots. I hop e I'm wrong but we

> weren't convincing at all. But it was good to see

> that Eduardo had the balls to take the first pen,

> unlike a certian Mr. Gallas who seemed to be

> conspicuous by his absence, and fair play to young

> Theo who also didn't shirk the responsibility in a

> BIG away game. Bodes well for England and the

> Arsenal.

I tuned in for the extra time and pens and wasn't sure if Gallas was playing! I thought I saw a close up of him sitting on the ground and his team mates trying to drag him onto his feet. Isn't it time he got a boot up the arse?

[matthew123]

The more we know about Gallas the more Wenger's judgement has to be called into question over making him Captain in first place. It's that simple judgement call by Wenger that magnifies his other judgements on how to rebuild Arsenal.

[Atila Reincarnate]

I never thought Gallas should have been made captain in the first place, for me it should have been either Kolo because of his work ethic, or Fab, or Robin. I don't think any of the others play for the shirt in the way that Henry, Adams, Vieira, Wright, Parlour, Dixon, Winterburn, Keown, even Pires, Lungberg, Gilberto, Cashley Hole knew what pride in the shirt meant. I'm not convinced that many of the present players do and that really, really, pisses me off.

[red devil]

I think the problem Wenger had with choosing a captain is a lack of experienced candidates. IMO Toure is the only one up to the task. Gallas's threat to Chelski, that he would go on strike if he wasn't allowed to leave, should've rang alarm bells with Wenger as to the type of personality he has. You also want a player that is committed to the club long term. Too many Arsenal players have talked about leaving if the club doesn't look like winning trophies. Fabregas only recently said if Wenger left he would too. Aren't players supposed to be playing for the club, period? It's no surprise that in your list Atila there are a lot of home grown players who understand what it means to pay for the club, and not just pick up a pay cheque at the end of the month. This applies to all clubs, not just Arsenal, but the problem is magnified at Arsenal due the lack of home grown players, or foreigners who have been there a long time. At Utd I hope Ronaldo will never be made captain because of what happened last summer, he basically can't be trusted to stay long term. Whereas Rooney is the opposite and should be a shoe-in for the job, once Neville/Giggs and later on Rio, retire.

[Atila Reincarnate]

To some extent I'd agree with you but not all foreigners are mercenaries, Bergkamp knew what it was to wear the shirt, but Cashley, who is an Englishman showed just how mercenary some of our home grown players can be.

[mockney piers]

very little true loyalty in the modern game.

Potts was the last true hammer, and we can't seem to hold onto our academy products sadly, else we'd be far and away the best team in the premiership.

In a moment of WATN: "In August 2007 Steve completed The Knowledge and qualified to drive a Hackney carriage." ?

[Atila Reincarnate]

If players demonstrated the same passion and loyalty as their supporters, can you imagine how good the game would be???

[mockney piers]

With you on that one Atila, maybe when sanity returns to the game it can be that way again.

[DaveR]

"very little true loyalty in the modern game"

True, although maybe that's always been the case. From soccerhistory.org:

"In 1891 the Football League had 448 registered players, most of whom were part-time or full-time professionals. The Scots, on the other hand, remained steadfastly opposed to the introduction of professionalism until 1893. The most vocal opponents to its introduction were Queen's Park and the Scottish press, who regularly described footballers who were tempted south as "base mercenaries " or "traitorous wretches"

[matthew123]

mockney piers Wrote:

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> Potts was the last true hammer, and we can't seem

> to hold onto our academy products sadly, else we'd

> be far and away the best team in the premiership.

So who exactly would be in this West Ham "best team in the premiership" XI !?

[Ted Max]

Cole (J), Carrick, Johnson(G), Lampard, Ferdinands R and A.

I'm sure there's lots more.

[matthew123]

Yes they were the players I was thinking of as well... ;-)

[Ted Max]

Nicely tucked away, Matthew. Harder to miss, though, wasn't it?