Angry Fans 2/5/2006
HAVEN’T had such a smile for a long time as when I read Robert Pires’s comments that Arsenal are a French club not an English one and that Gael Clichy said they were called France-Nal in his native country. Not that it makes any difference to us, but it should be a wake-up call for all those Brit papers who are waving the Union Jack so strongly before the Champions League final.
THAT young Theo Walcott Arsenal have signed. Does he speak French? Because he’ll be talking to himself otherwise.
: I was going to answer this in my limited French but “voulez vous couchez avec moi, ce soir” doesn’t quite get across the point I wish to make. Good song though. Instead, have a couple of red cards to match your deep-rooted envy. Or rouge, if you prefer.
I would say this weekend’s results make it game, set and match to Tottenham. One more victory to go against West Ham who will have the Cup Final on their mind. The Champions League will be in North London next season, and it won’t be at Ashburton Grove.
AARON Lennon is a good shout to go to the World Cup. Fast, and two-footed, and with the confidence to take players on. He’s playing like Wright-Phillips used to before he put on the cloak of invisibility. Carrick should go too.
: At the rate England’s finest are dropping like flies, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mullery and Peters get a call-up.
IS THERE anything more funny than the fact that “Big Phil” Scolari has turned down the England job because of the intrusive English hacks? First of all they get rid of a manager who has got them to every final since he took up the job. Then they scare off his replacement. Priceless. Good job we’re not like that it Ireland eh Liam?
I THOUGHT the Brit football authorities had important rules about tapping up people under contract? After all, didn’t they expend hundreds of thousands of words, thousands of pounds for lawyers, and weeks and weeks of valuable time to investigate a meeting between Ashley Cole and Chelsea? Can someone explain to me just how their approach to Scolari was any different? It was done behind the backs of his current employers, before the start of the world’s most important tournament. Shouldn’t they be handing over a fine to someone or other?
TELL you what - why don’t they just let the Brit papers run English football? They’ve been responsible for the departure of three out of the last five national managers and have just put the frighteners on another one before he even got under way. They could let the Mail choose one team, then the Sun the next, and the Mirror could be responsible for the game against Sweden. It would probably be more entertaining.
: Interesting idea Anthony but just imagine the headline if England went all the way: - “It’s The Sun Wot Won It” A bit too disturbingly familiar, no?
WITH Wayne Rooney England had a small chance of winning the World Cup. Without him they have none. What a shame.
SO, no Wayne Rooney then. Let’s see ... Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Darren Bent. I’ll just bet Mascherano, Gilberto, Gallas, Nesta and the rest are really trembling in their boots .
NO Rooney equals a get-out-of-jail card for Sven, the man who “might have won the World Cup if it hadn’t been for unlucky injuries.” His luck is astonishing.
WHAT’s the big deal? England haven’t had a great goalscorer since Lineker, and it will make no difference whether they have one this year. Their best hope of goals in the qualifying round comes from Lampard, Gerrard, Cole with maybe a header or two from the back. That will just about give Rooney or Owen a fighting chance of getting back for the next round, if they get through. Which I think they will.
: Can’t see Rooney being fit enough to play any part in the World Cup myself. But cheer up everybody, there’s always Peter Crouch. And maybe Emile Heskey will get a recall.
THANK The Lord for that. The end of a dull and dreary Premiership. Please. No more.
DID YOU hear Garth Crooks give his verdict on Chelsea’s season? Could do better! Yeah, they could have beaten Charlton at home instead of drawing with them. That’s nearly 190 points over the past two seasons. Could do better? He was crap at Stoke and no better at Spurs.
AFTER throwing his medals away on Saturday, Mourinho then spoke of his resentment at only being made manager of the month twice in the past two years. Honestly, why give a flying one? Most people who give awards don’t have a clue what they’re doing anyway.
IF Chelsea played like that every week, then they would soon win lots of friends back.
IF Mourinho ever went on Mastermind his specialist subject would be . . . himself, don’t you think?
: Back-to-back titles and Jose never felt more like singing the blues. Just as well they didn’t win the Champions League - he’d have thrown himself off the top of the Bridge.
MEMO to Fergie . . .
Could we have: someone instead of Rio? A whole new midfield who are interested in doing something with the ball on the rare occasions that they win it? A proper replacement for Giggsy, not a Korean shirt salesman? Can we keep Van Nistelrooy and find someone who can cross to him like Beckham used to, instead of spending his time doing stepovers in the style of Michael Flatley? Can we have someone who actually looks like he wants to tackle, like Joey Barton or John Terry? Oh, can we have our club back as well while you’re at it?
: Ask and ye shall receive. Not any of the above perhaps but at least a salute for impassioned persistence.
ANY idea what’s going on at Villa? One minute they’re being taken over by the Comer Brothers; the next they’re not. They’ve got David O’Leary, and they seem about to change him for Alan Curbishley, another underachiever. They’re the last Midlands club in the Premiership. What odds they won’t be there next season?
: At least, unlike your dearly beloved neighbours Birmingham, you're still there. Be thankful for small mercies.
