On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Atila Reincarnate]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > This my final word on this sorry pile of shite.

>

> Is that a promise?

Have a word with yourself;-)

[Atila Reincarnate]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> 2 Match Ban for Atila's friend

Well fcuk me gently there's a shock, will it act as a deterent? Watch Rooney next time he plays, that should give you an idea. :)-D

[Sandperson]

Atila discovers emoticons! >:D

[Jah Lush]

Word.

[Atila Reincarnate]

As a footnote to the Eduardo fiasco, will UEFA be taking any action against the Celtic fan(s) that shone a green laser in his face as he stepped up to take the pen?

[????]

Well, transfer day was a bit of a damp squid - I think it tells us more about the wobbly finances and levels of debt of the big boys than anything else - those combined with a depreciation in the ? and Gordon's hike in the tax rate sees the end of The Premiership as the main choice for the world's best for a while at least....

[matthew123]

The very best few players have always tended for Real Madrid or Barcelona or previously Italy - if you think of players that have moved to a new club (when in their prime) it's always been to foriegn clubs.

Although world class players have come to the Premiership the very elite won't even get off the boat.

[SimonM]

The Eduardo thing is a total fiasco. Even if he did deliberately cheat - and really there can be no certainty this is the case - UEFA have confirmed that it would only have been a booking if the referee had spotted it. How then can a two match ban be justified? I hope Arsenal appeal.

[matthew123]

As I've said before, harsh on Eduardo considering it's common place but for the good of the game it sends out a clear message for this season's Champions League that diving will retrospectively be dealt with if not spotted by Referee.

[Atila Reincarnate]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> The very best few players have always tended for

> Real Madrid or Barcelona or previously Italy - if

> you think of players that have moved to a new club

> (when in their prime) it's always been to foriegn

> clubs.

>

> Although world class players have come to the

> Premiership the very elite won't even get off the

> boat.

So what happened with Henry, Ronaldo, etc, are they not elite???

[????]

Well, yes but they became those in The Premiership they merely had potential when signed - I see Mathew's point, maybe Torres is an exception, but the real non-english stars of the last 10 years eg Fat Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, Chevenko at peak etc haven't been in the Premiership..even someone like Viera moved out once established as World Class

[Mick Mac]

Messi, Kaka etc all wanted here - but not interested.

[DaveR]

"if you think of players that have moved to a new club (when in their prime) it's always been to foriegn clubs."

It's an interesting one - most players don't really establish themselves until they have played in one of the top european leagues, and very few move from Spanish or Italian clubs to English clubs once they are at the top. The top Brazilians always go to Spain or Italy, I guess for cultural reasons (and because of the weather).

[Atila Reincarnate]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Messi, Kaka etc all wanted here - but not

> interested.

This may sound controversial but I also think some players don't have the balls to come to the prem as they see it as overly physical. And in Messi and Kaka's case, it was probably that and the cultural thing, which I can't blame them for. After all, using Madrid as example against say London or Manchester is non starter, Madrid wins hands down.

[????]

I agree Atila, I think that's a factor too

[Mick Mac]

Yes - there are lots of factors Atila, the weather being one. The WAGS being less classy being another. etc etc.

Bergkamp might be the last great player to come here at the top of his game??

[Atila Reincarnate]

???? Wrote:

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> Well, yes but they became those in The Premiership

> they merely had potential when signed - I see

> Mathew's point, maybe Torres is an exception, but

> the real non-english stars of the last 10 years eg

> Fat Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, Chevenko at peak etc

> haven't been in the Premiership..even someone like

> Viera moved out once established as World Class

In Viera's case I think after we had seen the best of him, so he was not a great loss when he finally wnet after 3 years of will he won't he. Although we've never had a central midfielder of his physical presence since.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Yes - there are lots of factors Atila, the weather

> being one. The WAGS being less classy being

> another. etc etc.

>

> Bergkamp might be the last great player to come

> here at the top of his game??

Yes Bergkamp was seen a huge coup for Rioch especially as he was at the height of his powers when he signed for us. Who knows, maybe when the wheel of fortune turns full circle or we start to implement better coaching techniques for youngsters at grass roots levels, things may change. Please god.

[DaveR]

Even Bergkamp, although he was clearly a world class player, was basically unwanted by Inter when Arsenal signed him.

[Annasfield]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

> This may sound controversial but I also think some

> players don't have the balls to come to the prem

> as they see it as overly physical. And in Messi

> and Kaka's case, it was probably that and the

> cultural thing, which I can't blame them for.

> After all, using Madrid as example against say

> London or Manchester is non starter, Madrid wins

> hands down.

Keane said a similar thing about where players lived/worked when he was at Sunderland. Mentioned that players and their wives as a rule didn't want to live in the North East, so they were less likely to attract those sorts.

[JetSetWilly]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Yes - there are lots of factors Atila, the weather

> being one. The WAGS being less classy being

> another. etc etc.

>

> Bergkamp might be the last great player to come

> here at the top of his game??

and thats only because once he landed he was stuck

[Atila Reincarnate]

JetSetWilly Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Yes - there are lots of factors Atila, the

> weather

> > being one. The WAGS being less classy being

> > another. etc etc.

> >

> > Bergkamp might be the last great player to come

> > here at the top of his game??

>

> and thats only because once he landed he was stuck

Don't give up the day job.

[Mick Mac]

New sign at the Emirates:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/02/article-1210668-063F649F000005DC-579_233x315.jpg

[Annasfield]

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1560/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1560R-2019812.jpg

[Atila Reincarnate]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> New sign at the Emirates:

>

> http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/02/article-

> 1210668-063F649F000005DC-579_233x315.jpg

Sorry the home of this sign is old stratford and has been for many many years, ask Van Nistleroy, Forlan, amd more latterly Ladyboy, and Shrek.