Angry Fans
SIR Liamo, I may be wrong, lad, but I
reckon that Jacqui Oatley quite simply doesn't have the balls to be a successful
analyst/commentator/pundit.
Why not just say 'a man' - it's quicker and more to the point.
FOR
once the hype is justified, Messi's goal really is as good as Maradona's and I
don't think there is another player in the world who could have scored it. No
doubt Fergie thinks Ronaldo could but with all those tackles flying in, it's highly
unlikely the "best player in the world" would have passed up on so many
opportunities to dive.
I RECKON
the Messi goal was far superior to Maradona's. Diego was being marked by Peter
Reid and Terry Fenwick. Just how hard can that be?
I THINK we saw just what a different team Barcelona might
have been in the Champions League if Messi hadn't got crocked against Chelsea.
Interesting how both the so-called "strongest leagues in Europe" are
going right down to the wire.
Maradona's goal v Messi's goal? A very close call, agreed, but I'd
still have to go for the 'Hand of God'. Speaking of controversy . . .
JOSÉ
said what needed to be said. That non-penalty decision at ManUre v Boro was scandalous.
I thought the one against Sheff Utd was the worst of the season, but the Boro
one was even worse - even more so considering that ManUre were awarded three dodgy
pens in their games v Boro this season! There is no excuse that the ref didn't
see it or had a bad angle - that was a 100 per cent stonewall pen from any angle
and any view.
SHORT memory Mourinho's
got. It wasn't that long ago that a perfectly good Paul Scholes goal was disallowed
in the Champions League, allowing Porto (and Mourinho) to go through to win the
competition. What goes round comes round I always say.
THREE penalties have been awarded against United at Old
Trafford this season, compared to none against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and
none against Liverpool at Anfield. The Special One may have a lot of qualities,
but being a statistician isn't one of them.
FACT is Chelsea didn't deserve to win at St James's, and United
didn't deserve to win at Old Trafford. So it's only right that there should be
status quo at the top of the Premiership after the weekend. Well done Boro and
the Toon for not rolling over in the face of the big clubs as so many teams do.
Spot
on Donal - though I'm a bit concerned at the news that Status Quo are apparently
back at Number 1.
LOUIS Saha has "got to be right in his own mind"
to play apparently. The same is also said of Arjen Robben. Could they be, in some
way, related?
Only in the sense that, at the end of the day, we are all one with the Universal
Mind - as Harry Redknapp likes to say.
CHELSEA have conceded 20 goals in
the Premiership this season. Liverpool have conceded 22. Yet the whole of Manchester
United's back five are selected in the PFA team of the season. Yet more evidence
that Premiership footballers are star-struck?
I DID not realise that they had changed the rules on the
Premiership team of the year and that only Man U players could vote. How did they
get 8 players on that team ? What about Carragher and Finnan who have been outstanding
this season. What about Essien? Chelsea are only 3 points behind United yet they
get one players vs 8 from United.
ONLY
three players from outside Manchester United in the PFA team of the season. They're
having a joke? United haven't run away with the league, Van Der Sar isn't the
best goalkeeper and Rio Ferdinand sure as hell isn't one of the best centre-halves
in the Premiership.
GOT
no argument with Ronaldo winning PFA player of the year. He's had a great season
given the stick he had coming back from the World Cup and is a much stronger Premiership
and European player than he was last year. Let's hope that's the last piece of
silverware he picks up in 2007.
Hey Cork Blue! We polled all our regular correspondents and - guess
what? - they unanimously voted you a great big red card. What a surprise, eh?
ANYONE
else have a bit of a smile when the chairman of Arsenal said: "We can do
without their type" in reference to the multi-billionaire American who is
trying to buy into the club? Let's hope Arsenal don't get too caught up in their
old school ties.
THERE'S
no argument that Arsenal need additional finance if they are to compete with the
likes of United, the Americanised version of Liverpool, and Chelski. While they've
got a great ground, with magnificent facilities, a promising young squad, and
the most intelligent manager in the Premiership they have lost the spine of their
team.
Have Bergkamp and Pires really been replaced? Are they stronger at centre-half
without the likes of Sol Campbell? Was it really a good idea to let their last
top-class English player, Ashley Cole, leave? Arsenal have not been competitive
in the transfer market because they have had their ground redevelopment on their
mind.
Hleb? Baptista? Rosicky? Are these really players to win you the Premiership?
In the past two seasons Arsenal have been over-reliant on Thierry Henry, and his
fatigue has been evident this season. David Dein knows they need additional investment,
and that's why he had to go. Big mistake.
NOT much good having the Queen as a supporter unless you can win
things as well.
DOESN'T the
board of directors at Arsenal read as though it's been put together by P.G. Wodehouse?
Step forward Gussie Fink-Nottle, Tubby Glossop, and Pongo Twistleton.
For smuggling the great
man - indeed, the great men - into Angry Fans, have our Letter Of The Week prize,
Pat.
NOT quite as cut and dried for Keano as it looked then? Still, if they
can't beat Burnley and already-relegated Luton they don't deserve to get back
into the Premiership. Keep the faith.
Er, and the sixth-placed team does?
YOUR
tips for the Champions League final now Liam?
Regular readers will know that your infallible correspondent tipped
Chelsea for the Champions' League right at the start of the season. Regular readers
will also know that every other one of my tips has already gone completely pear-shaped
- so all down the bookies to plunge everything on a Chelsea-Milan final, then.
MARKUS Merk to referee the Chelsea-Liverpool game tomorrow then? Isn't
he known as the fussiest referee in Europe?
I make a point of never being rude about German dentists. Spent too
long watching Dustin Hoffman being asked "Is it safe" in Marathon Man.
