So the Confederations Cup has ended and, you know what, I didn’t watch a single minute of it.
I’m sure it’s a splendid money-maker, and it’s certainly a good rehearsal for the German authorities for next year. It’s even a good chance for lesser lights to make names for themselves. But in a world where more and more players burn out come the end of a season, why put them through yet another month of football? I don’t see the logic of it.
Gilberto and Lehmann now have ten days off until, in theory at least, it all begins once again with pre-season training at London Colney. Luckily for Gilberto, he only had a two-month season anyway, so he should be fine. Lehmann has played for eleven months straight, so he’d better get his ass onto the beach pronto.
I’m sure they’ll get a note from their parents excusing them from games for a few weeks anyway.
I dont think its so bad for goalkeepers, they dont suffer anywhere near as much with burnout as outfield players. Gilberto though will suffer as no doubt he will have several trips back to brazil for world cup qualifiers aswell as the premiership & then next years world cup, that will take its toll.
I wonder who wenger will go for now if anyone since robinho does not want to come & baptista does not qualify for a work permit that sort of stuffs up his intial ideas!!!
When Arsene dropped Jens he did less training to stay sharper, and continued to do less (as in physical stuff, not keeping) in to the run in, where he excelled himself. I think Lehmann will get an extended break anyway because hes banned for the first 2 champion’s league games. In theory Arsene has to give Manuel or a new keeper a couple of Prem games before the Champions league starts
I’ve got a feeling it’ll be Wright Phillips. Ten million plus Bentley and Hoyte!
we dont need SWP anymore, in order to accomodate him we would have to get rid of freddie…. hmmmmmmm now theres a thought!!!
SHAME ABOUT baptiste and work permit bollox.
it could be podolski the german kid who plays for the national team yet hasnt played a game for his bundasliga side.
A shame you did not watch it! (confederations cup) as it was a great game! In fact, the cup as a whole was very good and definetly worth watching! And lets remember that this cup is only beeing played every 4. year. I dont think it is a problem regarding burn out!
Didn’t you see the cunning declaration that Colonel Kleb is a ‘traditional number 10’? This clears the way to buy an out and out right winger – SWP.
the final last night was amazing – you missed out
Robinho moonwalking past defenders with the ball in a michael jackson stlyee & Adriano was murdering it
This Hleb signing has certainly made things more confusing. First he was going to play on the right of midfield, then he was going to replace Pires on the left, then i read he prefers to play in the middle, and now it seems he’s a traditional number 10.
Personally, i think chances are he’ll play mostly coming in from the right (with Reyes on the left), and that leaves room to sign another striker. But who?
I think on-form Reyes is better than Robinho. I hope he can partner Henry on the front. Wenger should instead sign World Class Winger!
I agree with Oliver I dont think AW signed Hleb for his goalscoring talents so they will be looking for another striker dunno who but i hope he comes soon
“A shame you did not watch it! (confederations cup) as it was a great game! In fact, the cup as a whole was very good and definetly worth watching! And lets remember that this cup is only beeing played every 4. year. I dont think it is a problem regarding burn out! ”
Moron. Two years out of four there is either a World Cup or a European Cup. Then there is the Copa America. That means that top players only get a proper summer break one year out of four. That, along with long seasons in Europe, is why the top international teams regularly do badly at international comps against much lesser opposition.
how come i havent heard that baptista does not qualify for a work permit? didn’t he say that he wants to come and play in England?
Good Afternoon,
More salient points eloquently made in the editorial-as usual-Palpably the best around.)
What with the ever expanding schedules- the choice of players WE buy and sell become even more important.
Is a high profile past his best at 28-30? Especially those athletes/players that rely on their explosive pace.!
Do we sign unknown players that are going to have less demands on them ?
i do not know if belarus
would be invited into The Confederations Cup.
Are Brazillians worth the hassle Or Argies? Look at the no. of games Gab. Heinze has played this year.
My theory. Buy young, sell high and strive for excellence.
thoughts comrades?
Bongo et al
Don’t think Gilberto played much if at all, and Lehmann switched off with Kahn. Not worried about either of them fitness-wise.
Also like that Podolski kid. His opener against Mexico was left-footed class of the kind we expect from Reyes. A nice layoff for him and he didn’t waste it with more than a touch. Confidence and skill.
Hleb is likely being groomed for the Bergkamp roll. Both Cesc and RvP have flirted with replacing the Dutchmaster, but they’ve since been drawn to only portions of Dennis’ game. Hleb will give us utility in midfield, providing some welcome relief to both Freddie and Bobby. And at 24, I don’t see him complaining about sitting a bit in his first year in the Premiership. Not a goal scorer, but he could be. Henry wasn’t either.
And why do players talk to the press about coming to England when they have to know they can’t obtain a permit? Hello…
Baptista has not played in 75% of brazil’s international matches which is why he does not qualify for a work permit (unless of course he can come up with a european relative & get a euro passport) but even that takes a hell of a long time.
Bongo your idea in theory is excellent & for clubs like Lyon & stuttgart it works, but the trouble is if you go down that line you become known as a selling club & cant attract the better players if you want or need to. Players then tend to come to use you as a stepping stone & as soon as they get noticed they want out eg Essien at lyon, Hleb who joined us & there are hundreds more examples. Also it means you are constantly taking on unknowns & youngsters & as we found out last season it can cost you when those are the only replacements you have.
Short post jus to say I agree with Geoff’s point.
what ever happened to signing a GK??
Jeffrey- I have told you before -And I am telling you again.
Every club is a selling club! Name one that is not?
As for your examples Stuggart and lyon- they are fantastic run clubs. That achieve optimum results.
If players do not want to play For The Arsenal- they go- elsewhere.-i do not care!
It is as simple as that!
I would watch the Arsenal in the Rymans League if need be.
as long as their was enthusiasm there. The skill is a BONUS!
Stop being sycphantic, old bean!
Bongo et al
Yep good point Geoff re the selling club status, + I think Arsen has taken it a bit too far as well almost certainly due to financial constraints more then anything else though.
But I personally think we need to make a couple of major signings if we are really going to kick-ass this year, & I’m not sure Mr Helb it’s that bill.
Bongo mate you have never said that to me before, however your right to a degree all clubs (except chelsea) do need to sell, but a club like real madrid for instance only sell players they no longer want/need or that are over the hill. You support a successful club & I would be more than surprised if you didn’t want that success to continue, I agree that if arsenal got relegated I would still be going there (although I would have an issue with the season ticket price if they didnt bring it down). but as we are successful I want that to continue. Mixing youth with experience & a few world class players is the way to do it. You dont want players constantly moaning they want to go elsewhere so they can win things, I dont know one gooner who is not fed up with vieira’s attitude towards the club & now ljungberg with his poor comments.
Lyon & Stuttgart are successful well run clubs in their own right, but I seriously doubt either will ever be known as world beaters & no top stars will ever want to go there.
I personally want to see the best players at arsenal in the prime of their careers playing fantastic football & winning things, not moaning players who are over the hill or a team of youngsters who are not capable of bringing success.
Sigh. Hleb is definitely NOT going to be a goalscorer. You only have to look at his past record to see that. He is an assist man par excellence – with a goals record only slightly more impressive than John Jensen’s. If he was asked to do the Bergkamp role, i’m pretty certain he’d be able to cope (remember, Dennis simply doesn’t score many these days). However, I hope he doesn’t, as I am determined to see Reyes become Henry Mark II at this club. He’ll get 20 goals minimum next season if he plays up front regularly – I’m certain of it.
The wing is a waste of his talents. Just as it was of Thierry’s.
Bongo I agree with you Madrid and Barcelona are selling clubs they sell players that they have effed up
Anelka
Queresma
Riquelme
Saviola
Etoo
More concerning is that the Arsenal youngsters playing in FIFA’s youth cup who only finished last week. At their age over-playing can be a real concern.
Moron. Two years out of four there is either a World Cup or a European Cup. Then there is the Copa America. That means that top players only get a proper summer break one year out of four. That, along with long seasons in Europe, is why the top international teams regularly do badly at international comps against much lesser opposition.
hmm…. name calling on the internet, you must be a very clever fellow Edmondy……
Unlike you, I will take the high road. afterall: fighting on the internet is like the speciel olympics, even if you win, YOU LOOSE m8!
Clubs always complain their players do not get much of a break then why do they go on trips to far flung places around the world before the season kicks off the simple reason MONEY and also the players get an all expensis paid trip to some far eastern paradise to kick a ball about for the sponsors and laze in the sun so the ,when you weigh it up they have a great life dont feel sorry for them or the clubs ,after all its not really work they only do a couple of hours training and maybe two games in a week hardly tough is it especially as the are fit as fiddle’s, the next time i here they are tired i just think if they had to really work for a living they would’nt last a week.
On The money, Uncle Fester.