A rubbish rumor is out there that Cole is going to Chelsea… but it does make me think a bit.
There is also the rumor of Gerrard departing Liverpool for Chelsea.
And then there is that little story about the record MILLIONS lost by Chelsea this season.
So, how much would Chelsea give us for Ash? And if it was say?? $15Mill… should we go for it? We have Gael Clichy waiting in the wings, and he is pretty damned good at imitating Ashley Cole. It would be an interesting opportunity, PROVIDED… we then…
used that money to HIJACK the Gerrard deal.
If Liverpool doesn’t make the top 4 and Champion’s League football next year… I’d think Gerrard would want to go elsewhere. He is in the prime of his career and needs that big stage every year. The Pool currently sit 7 points back of Everton. It will be a tense time for Liverpool, and what happens to their star if they finish 5th or worse. They have that INJURY bug badly this season.
If Gerrard becomes available in the Summer, I think we have to have a go at him, regardless of the cost. If we need to sell off Ash or some others…. not re-up some big wage earners…. whatever needs doing! Chelsea getting Gerrard would/could be catastrophic. It would give them a massive English core with Terry/Lampard/Gerrard, not to mention a young lion to lead their midfield for many years to come.
Conversely, we could have the same! We could have Steven Gerrard running out with the Arsenal onto the pitch in the new stadium!! What a midfield that would be. So, if its $30 Million… we chase. If its $35….. we chase him.
Now, there is the issue of Chelsea’s huge losses in the finance world. Some say, so what… Roman has the cash. But surely there are many Chelsea fans worried of what might happen if it all goes south or sour. See: LEEDS UNITED. Thats a scary thought. Penthouse to Outhouse to almost extinct.
They’d have to sell to buy! Thats what was said. What comes around, usually goes around… and Chelsea may be on top now… but they bought their way there and could fall just as quickly if Roman got a bit bored or didn’t bring home the title.
All food for thought.
45 Responses to “Cole, Gerrard and Millions in losses!”
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January 29th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
A solid 2-0 win. No, we didn’t blow them off the pitch, but we played well defensively and squandered opportunities on the offensive end. At least we created chances.
I am glad that we played some younger players as well. That bodes well for the future. (short and long term).
On to the United match. MUST WIN.
January 29th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
I actually postponed a business trip in order to watch the Arsenal-Manure game on Tuesday. Gunners are gunner win!
January 30th, 2005 at 7:24 am
Manure are on a roll right now. They way they played against Borough - kicking lumps out of them, the Neville sisters being the worst offenders as usual - doesn’t bode well. I think we should play the way people play against us - pack the midfield, don’t let them play. How about this: five in midfield, five at the back, and Thierry as lone striker up front. (I’m sure no one would notice. They’ll be too busy watching Arsene and Demento throwing pies on the touchline.)
January 30th, 2005 at 8:21 am
The team really performed well. WIth a decent referee and unbiased referee we’d win by a confortable margin.
I don’t know what Mike Riley’s got against us but it’s becoming really ridiculous. With a better team he were going to rob us again.
With a win and a good performance from every player I am happy and confident about Manure. With decent peformance from the referee we should and will beat them.
For a Manure game, I don’t know who are playing with Viera in central midfield: Flamini or Frabregas ?
The manager has a difficult choice. From the last 2 match Flamini was playing. I won’t be surprised at all to see Cesc playing against Manure. It’ll mean a different game for Viera, but we are going with our your maestro, we are going to set up a high tempo througout the game. I think he’s been rest for the Manure game.
If we can score more goals in the first half, then Flamini will come to form a three central midlfield with Cesc playing on the right side.
Quincy need more minutes. If we want to shock them early in the game, we should play Quincy on the right side against Heize. That’s should the red something to think about. They cannot have two players for Henry, two for Quicy and two for Reyes. Neville alone cannot handle Reyes. Kicking won’t be enough because Reyes has been waiting so long for this game to rebuilt his confidence. Spain vs England has been a fiasco.
Quincy is not a crazy idea because he also missed his game against Manure. In his case, he had constantly 2 or 3 players around him. If Ferguson see him I bet he’ll try to use the same plan.
Quincy should be a big part in our season if he’s got his chance. But he’s young as Wenger always says “you have to be patient with a young player when the talent is there”.
My team will be:
Almunia; Cole, Cygan, Sol, Lauren; Viera, Cesc, Reyes, Quincy; Berkamp, Henry.
Subs: Freedy,Pires, Flamini, Clichy, Lehman
It’s crazy but he can work.
I am not the manager and I am not the one who’s going to loose his job.
Anyway I trust Wenger to play always our best team of the moment. And I am sure Quincy won’t be on the bench. But he can be our big winter signing that’s why Wenger is not going on the market for a striker.
No matter who play we should beat Manure.
I’ll go fo 3-0
January 30th, 2005 at 9:20 am
No real comments as I only heard the second half through the official site’s generous FREE broadcast. But from what I heard, we tried to walk it into the net too much yet still had the game well in hand, Freddie is still the Gunnerist of them all, and Lehmann is still crap.
But it does appear that Henry does well when angry, unlike Ashley (talks with Chelsea? Lies.). Theirry is so much like a race horse its scary…he needs to know that things are on the boil to perform to his highest ability. Luckily, 50% from him and one red hot minute is usually all we need.
Side Note: BBC reports Chelsea suffered some major cash losses, but that they will have no problem covering it when Roman sells his stamp collection to make up the difference. Funniest passage:
“Chelsea’s Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho, has told Mr. Kenyon that he is happy with his 24-man squad and accepts that, from now on, if the club wants to make a big-money purchase, a player will have to be sold to help fund the deal.”
Hard times, hard times.
If anyhone is interested, the link is:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4219397.stm
January 30th, 2005 at 9:30 am
Paul
I like the idea of playing Quincy as his ’surprise’ inclusion and speed will be a problem for Manure - but not for the full game. I know this is the game Reyes needs to regain his confidence but I am not convinced he is ready based on current form to start. Maybe come on in the 2nd half after we are leading by 2 goals. It appears that Fabregas is rested for the last 2 games to start in this game - but I think Flamini’s running and tackling maybe a better option to accompany Viera in midfield.
I have another suggestion: play Eboue in place of Cygan. Cygan will be exposed by the speed and trickery (treachery as well in Rooney’s case) of Rooney and Giggs. Eboue have the speed and strength to handle them though he likes to go up often.
The FA ought to look closely at Mike (’I luv Manure’) Riley’s performance this season. For him to be considered as one of the top referees in England is a disgrace to the game. We certainly will need a strong referee to stamp out any nonsense that one would expect from Manure - and do it early in the game. A couple of yellow cards early in the game against Manure will ‘help’ them to settle down so that we will have a game of football instead of a kicking match
I don’t care about the score as long as we win this one.
January 30th, 2005 at 11:13 am
Paul, for your line up, the back is a no brainer, the front is a no brainer as well. But I would like to see Flamini [in place of Cesc], and Ljungberg [instead of Quincy].
Simply, we need someone who would track back, to help out Lauren to nuiffy Man U’s arguably most on form player - Ryan Giggs. It’s crazy man u is refusing to offer him a two year deal. His loyaity alone would worth the deal. having said that, i wouldn’t mind seeing him leaving Old Trafford and let Fregie to sign yet another fancy-foot-work-yet-don’t-bother-to-work-for-the-team’s-clause winger like C.Ronaldo though!
i perfer Cesc to Flamini is because of Flamini’s presence would help our defensive clause. The way i see it is - without Cesc, we would still have enough fire power. Yet with Cesc, we would probably be exposed at the back. Flamini offers a better balance in my opinion.
I would prefer Pires to Reyes down the left. But i agree with you - this is probably a game would really fire up Reyes. He has a personal mission to complete.
January 30th, 2005 at 11:26 am
This match vs. ManUntd is the BIGGEST of the year for us, a must win…. and you suggesting that we keep both Ljungberg and Pires on the bench… and start Quincy.
Ummm, yes it is crazy.
And, Wenger would never do that in a million years.
January 30th, 2005 at 12:39 pm
No to rain on anyone’s parade, but Henry’s “goal” was correctly disallowed. The action you describe is in fact illegal and has been specifically addressed by FIFA for a number of years now. If you’ll refer to FIFA’s official interpretations of the Laws of the Game, typically called the “Q&A,” 2004 edition, it’s found at Law 12, Question 23 (you can find a copy on their website, I think). When the goalkeeper releases tha ball from his hand to kick it into play, attacking players may not touch the ball before it hits the ground. While I’ve not attained FIFA license, at the USSF clinics for grades 5 and higher, the instruction from FIFA makes clear that this is the case whether the keeper is going to punt the ball or play it from the turf, i.e. it’s got to hit the ground first, either way.
Interestingly, if the keeper is just standing there or moving around deciding what to do and holds the ball in one hand, it may be headed from his hand, provided it is done in a way not deemed dangerous. (Law 12, Q&A 23)
January 30th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
We know how they are going to play, they are going to mix it up and try and turn it into a ruck to put us off our game. Bound to be some problems and I don’t fancy Graham Poll’s job one bit. The only place I am worried about is in the air. We’ve got Sol, Cygan and PV who will compete for crosses while they have about 6 players who we have to worry about at set pieces.
With Keane, the Nevilles,rooney,Smith,PV, Dennis,TH,Sol and Ash involved my money is on someone seeing a red card. It is no place for Quincy or probably Cesc and we cannot afford Pires and Reyes to ponce about on the wing. This is the game that makes you realize what we lost when razor,Keown,Edu and Gilberto for different reasons .
January 30th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Just saw the news on BBC that Chel$ki lost 88M (pounds??). Not sure over what period of time but this is apparently the largest loss ever by a football club in UK. I think this is loose change to Romanovich so it will not curtail their spending ambitions.
Should Arsenal sell Cole for 20m pounds? I would say yes since we have a ready-made replacement in Clichy and provided the money is used to bring in a top notch keeper (Green?) and a midfield ball-winner (van Bommel?). If Gerrard goes, Pool will want at least 30m pounds for him - we should not break the bank to bring him in.
January 30th, 2005 at 6:48 pm
I disagree on Gerrard. He is the ONLY player out there that I would break the bank on. Can’t have Chelsea scoop him up. He could anchor our midfield into the next decade.
January 30th, 2005 at 6:50 pm
Personally, I would like to keep Ashley Cole at all cost. He is to me, the BEST left back in the world, unless Chelsea’s sugar daddy decides to throw us 50 million pounds + Cudicini, John Terry and Wayne Bridge in return then we may consider.
As for Steven Gerrard, if some of us here were frustrated of Vieira’s annual transfer saga, then I don’t know how we are going to handle it when Gerrard arrives. Think of the Liverpool fans, I bet they themselves would start to get p*ss off. Vieira at least did it once a year, Gerrard couldn’t make up his mind in a monthly term.
Sure, he wants to win trophy, but he ONLY wants to win trophy with a winning team. IF he’s really going to leave his BELOVED Liverpool just for more easy medals, quite frankly i wouldn’t want to see him in our red and white colour neither. IF Gerrard is really a winner like he think he is, try to win it with his own club, then he would earn everyone’s respect. Afterall, it isn’t like he’s playing with clubs like Southampton which has no hope whatsoever winning anything. He’s with Liverpool. If he can’t stay loyal with a club like Liverpool’s status, i really can’t see how he would remain loyal with us.
January 30th, 2005 at 7:01 pm
Well, that’s just it, isn’t it? Liverpool isn’t what it used to be, and perhaps it’s telling that someone of Gerrard’s ambitions wants out.
Having said that, I sure as hell don’t want Ashley Cole to go to Chelski!!!!
January 30th, 2005 at 7:02 pm
Of Clichy, he’s a promising talent, but he’s no way near to the talent A.Cole has. He can do well filling in Cole in the odd games, but doing it week in week out consistently is an entirely different matter.
January 30th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Ashly is going nowhere.
If this story is true, Chelski should fire people who organised this stupid meeting.
We won’t sell our plyaer to chelski, that’s sure.
January 30th, 2005 at 8:27 pm
Andez, Clichy can be like Cole, or even Maldini who started very young at the highest level.
If we need him for the wole season he can do a job for sure. We all see a youger player like Cesc performing well.
Clichy’s stronger and more experienced than Cesc. Ronney’s playing week in out, so does Ronaldo. SO why can’t Clichy ?
January 30th, 2005 at 10:05 pm
paul, i feel that though Clichy may turn out to be a solid left back over the years, he probably will never be as good as Cole. The reason being - Clichy may be able to improve his skills, but Cole is blessed with something very unique as a defender - his pace. Especially his acceleration. That allows him to recover the lost groud even a winger skips past him initally. In today’s game it could really make a difference. I been watching Lauren down the right, at times he would get exposed by lack of that acceleration. So from time to time I noticed it was Kolo shifting to the right flank to cover up for Lauren. Yet as a result our central defend being exposed.
If you noticed, when Kolo first broke into the first team playing the central back, he was at the left half of the central defending position, with Sol on the right. Both are right-footed, yet as Sol was our senior member so initally he was playing at the right central half. They have since shifted position with Kolo at the right half, Sol on the left, I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact we need a more speedy central back [Kolo] to cover Lauren at the right flank.
Both Lauren and Clichy are quick, but none of them are as quick as Cole. It is a kind of physical gift that makes Ashley Cole a very unique defender which is very difficult to be replaced.
January 30th, 2005 at 10:16 pm
Perhaps I’m being paranoid, but my initial reaction on reading this story was that the timing was awfully convenient for SAF. Given the tabloid nature of the story, I suspected a fabrication for the benefit of our $#^!#% rivals in the north.
Anyone else have the same thought?
January 30th, 2005 at 10:17 pm
actually, i would consider a swap for terry alone.. not sure i’d go through with it though.
think about it.. he is a leader. good at set peices at both ends (how many goals has he scored this season?)
just a thought
January 30th, 2005 at 11:46 pm
I think Gerrard wants to go to Chelsea as he and many others are looking at them as the next possible superpower of world football. Unless something radical happens then Liverpool will not win the premier or champions league in the next 10 years. If form continues then Chelsea will win the league by about 15 points in the first Abramovich/Mourinho season as well as the league cup. The other two trophies they are in with a shout for but there is still alot of work to do.
What worries me is that they will probably look to strenghten again next season which means probably 2 world class signings and 2 more high quality squad players. Can we compete with them with the squad we have now? In the knockout competitions I think we can but in the league I am doubtful. It is entirely possible that they pick up Gerrard and maybe a Shevchenko. If Roman is in this for the long haul then the face of English football might have changed more than we yet realize.
One thing you can’t buy is what we will see on Tues, the biggest rivalry with the two most passionate and aggressive teams. Chelsea might be the best team in the league but the two biggest go at it in about44 hours and as long as we turn them over Chelsea can have their bought and paid for title and enjoy it with their fans of whom many will be priced out of their season tickets if their bosses master plan continues.
January 30th, 2005 at 11:52 pm
That is precisely WHY we should do whatever we can to bring the likes of Steven Gerrard to Arsenal if at all possible.
January 31st, 2005 at 12:19 am
Would love to but I am getting the feeling that he has made up his mind about going to Chelsea. He must be regretting his decision in the summer and he looks absolutely miserable playing for Liverpool.I think the feeling from alot of the top players is that Chelsea might dominate as long as they continue to buy whoever they want and that is where to go if you want to make money and win medals.
January 31st, 2005 at 6:14 am
Andez,
I think too soon and unfairto compare Cole and Clichy. But one thing is sure, Clichy’s proved to a reliable replacement of Cole. Cole is better because he has more experience. That’s all. Clichy also has pace, great technical ability and stronger in the air, a more versatile player.
He’s too young, but on the left side, we have what we need with or without Cole and the facts back what I am saying. We all know every time Clichy has come for Cole, we just don’t notice it.
But anyway, you can trust Cole, the bord, and God himeself, Ashley’s going nowhere. He’s like Arsenal.
He can sleep with Moruhino but believe me we are not going to sell Cole to the russians. No way. Arsenal will make sure it doesn’t happen. Chelski is not a big club yet. Thye have big account, sure but there’s a difference between us and the russians.
January 31st, 2005 at 7:56 am
yes, and especially consider Cole is actually MADE in Arsenal, losing him would be a big blow. i would love to see him doing an Adams, by staying with us for the whole of his career. i just love his attitude, no fear and gives it all.
January 31st, 2005 at 8:13 am
Yes, I am sure he will stay at Arsenal. Cole knows what respect means. The board is planning to increase his wage and he’ll get a lot of money to bring him in the same level wage as our main players. People forget he’s only 23 years old and he’s our boy. If Cole can walk out for 90 .OOO pounds a week why Henry is staying at Arsenal ? The same as Cole but it’s Cole’s born home.
I am not scared at all because I am sure Cole’s going nowhere no matter how high he’ll get paid he’s going nowhere.
For the game if think you’re right.Kolo’s suspended. Flamini will be OK.
January 31st, 2005 at 9:01 am
I did, MarylandGooner. Then again, I tend to think they’re behind Jimmy Hoffa’s dissappearance, the JFK assassination, and the Chernobyl catastrophe.
And speaking of the Mancs, I read a quote from Alan Smith that just boggles the mind in stupidity. He said something along the lines of “Chelsea and Arsenal are 1 and 2 on the table, but ManU is the team everyone wants to beat.” If ever there was a confession of thuggery and general dickiness, I think that’s it. Looks like he’s learning well over at theTheater of Illusions.
Let’s hope that Wenger and Co. just ignore these snores and get to the business of out-classing them. My only concern is that, if things do get ugly, they are more mentally adept at keeping their cool. Thuggery is their element, and they can perform exceedingly well in it.
January 31st, 2005 at 9:12 am
So do we play Edu tomorrow??? If not, when? Ever?
If Gerrard were to come on board, you have a captain of a contending and popular team settling in at a crowded midfield as 2nd dog. Will PV get along with him and take a more passive role, like Zidane does Graveson? Or would Gerrard force Vieira to think yet again about greener pastures elsewhere?
And if you partner him with Vieira, a dream matchup some woudl say, you immediately put your young CM talent on the market for sure. Gilberto will return, Cesc is going to expect to start, and Flamini has proved strong and the best matchup for PV. Someone’s gotta go for the kind of money we would need to pony up for big ol’ Steve.
So who would we be willing to lose? And what about Edu who has said he would play his best while he’s still (ahem) here?
As for Ashley…hmmmm, he’s been really ANGRY and of spotty form lately. Could be his game face, could be nothing, or could be something else. But I think NO WAY.
January 31st, 2005 at 9:41 am
I would play Edu only when we need to rest players or due to injuries. As far as I am concerned, he is persona-non-grata at Highbury. For what Wenger has done for him and all the noises he has made in public for a transfer, I would not trust him in any 50-50 tackle for the rest of the season.
January 31st, 2005 at 9:53 am
If Gerrard were playing 2nd fiddle at Arsenal… what would he be at Chelsea… 3rd ?? He’d likely see more playing time here than at Chelsea.
If I could have a Vieira / Gerrard midfield … I really wouldn’t care about whether or not Cesc Flamini Gilberto or Edu had issues. Everybody clamored for rotatation. Well… you could ALWAYS have either Vieira or Gerrard in there if you wished.
I would MAKE a big play for Gerrard. If he were to go to Chelsea… or even United… he would make their teams ALOT better, not just a bit better. Gerrard could/would replace Keane for United. THEY should make a massive push for him as well.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:29 am
I don’t think a lot of people on this board realize just how high Terry’s stock has risen. We’d have to give a Cole and a half and we still might come up short.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:33 am
There is sound logic in grabbing Gerrard in order to take him off the market, but that’s an expensive gamble in our situation. I’ve come to terms with the fact that Wenger is set in his legacy as someone who will NEVER buy a high-priced, world classed talent. He’ll build The Grove with youth, and be forever remembered for that rather than being the guy who chased the richest players and clubs in the world and came up short on the table and in the books.
The guy is class, probably even better than Lampard at getting forward without sacrificing his defensive assets, but we may just have to drool over him and players like him as they come through the EPL and settle elsewhere. We build them, generally, rather than buy them.
But I’m also fairly sure, Stag, that Gerrard will not end up at ManU. Too much class, frankly. He’d rather try his hand at Chelsea and break in to a top spot. One has to think that Lampard and Gerrard, the English center of the park dream, would surely come to pass…for 60 minutes, at least.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:39 am
I agree that Edu will probably be the hindmost of resorts, which is more the pity. He could be an asset had things gone differently. I don’t know the details of the failed negotiations, but I have to think that things weren’t as bitter as they appear in the media.
Guess we’ll see.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:46 am
Anyone hear anything more about Wenger’s move for young midfielder Raphaele De Martino? Apparently Wenger is one of his suitors, prepared to yank him right off their youth squad.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:49 am
Well… I never thought Harry Kewell would go to Liverpool from Leeds… he said he wouldn’t… and then thing changed. Life without the big stage for some of these stars is not the same. You never know where some of these guys will end up.
Gerrard is a class act. He has the goods. He has the passion and desire NEEDED for the EPL. He is a leader. If we can pay 20 Million for a Reyes… an unknown commodity… I am unsure why he wouldn’t pay 30 Million for Gerrard. Seems LOGICAL to me… but I understand what you are saying. Wenger believes in buying on the cheap and uncovering the gems.
This is just more what I WANT and THINK WE NEED to compete against the rich neighbors for the future!
January 31st, 2005 at 10:50 am
Great post Stag. I love the direction you took with the Cole rumor. Your logic is impeccable really. Of course, I’m a huge Steven Gerrard fan too, but the point is very well taken that preventing him from joining another team - Chelsea - is as important as having him. Let Chelsea have him, and you will begin to have England fans liking the “English” connection at Chelsea a little too much.
Right now I take heart in the idea that the huge losses recorded by Abromovich will eventually grate on him to divest himself of the team - after he has some silverware of course. Quitting before then would be like a complete surrender - and he would never do that. Very rich men like Abromovich don’t get rich by being willing to take losses of this size though - so I am more confident than ever that he will drop the club eventually - and woe to Chelsea fans then. As someone else said - think Leeds United.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:20 am
Why in heaven’s name would he come to Arsenal. First of all there is absolutely no difference in joining Arsenal or Chelsea in the eyes of ‘Pool supporters if infact he even gives a rat’s ass about that. Secondly, he’ll be paid better by all accounts at Chelsea and finally his chances of winning are going to be just as good if not better with Chelsea.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:24 am
PAY HIM MORE MONEY.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:26 am
I’ll agree with this…..and hope that they do.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:34 am
I would like to see Chelsea fail as much as everyone else but they will not fall into a Leeds situation because the only way Abromovich can get out is to sell. Nobody is going to buy them from him if the finances dont work for them so he would have to get that in order before he could get out. Now on the Cole question we could only sell him if the deal for Gerrard is certain and we need the money for that deal. He is the best left back in the world and there would be no other reason to let him go. Players like ashly don’t come along that often I dont want to see him go anywhere.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:50 am
I am not confident that we will… its not the Arsene way… but sometimes you have to do things neccesary to get to the promised land.
January 31st, 2005 at 11:54 am
I don’t want to see Ash go anywhere either.
The hypothesis was IF we could get Gerrard… we could possibly sell Cole to help cover the cost, because Clichy is very good. I am not sure Ash is the BEST in the WORLD… but he is certainly up there.
I feel Gerrard is among the best in the world as well… and sometimes you have to GIVE something big to GET something big in return.
Ideally, I’d like to see us buy Gerrard, if he became available, without selling off a great player like Cole. It was a headline, that ASH spoke with Chelsea… so I used this as a possibility. Conjecture and Hypothesis only. But I do feel Gerrard is a MAJOR JEWEL, the Liverpool will have to part with if they don’t make the Champs League.
January 31st, 2005 at 12:48 pm
I heard that the same guy who saw A. Cole coming out of a conference room with the Chelski Brass in some swank hotel in London later saw Elvis in the lobby.
I mean really, as much as I dislike the Chelski I honestly cannot believe that they are that stupid. Were it true I think it would become the benchmark example ?of having too many dollars and no sense?. It seems to me that we?re all too eager to make Chelski into the boogeyman and frankly put, they don?t deserve that much attention or credit for that matter.
That said, Ashley was raised a Gunner supporter and has won 4 trophies in the Red and White as a Gooner. What does that say about him? I don?t think he merits this type of scrutiny by the ?English Press? and most certainly by us Gooner fans.
I for one have come to understand that football like many other sports has changed into a realm where players have become commodities and thus must always look over their shoulders to look after ?number one? themselves. A sad state because we died in the wool supporters don?t change teams or rarely. What happened to the days of loyalty to the team and to its supporters are they truly done?
Chelski might indeed have changed the face of English football but to me it?s the face of Janus ? two sided. The outcome will be like Steinbrenner and the Yankees trying to buy pennants. Then thank the heavens as every now and then along comes a ?Boston? and brings back dignity and thus something interesting to the game. No, I?m not a Red Sox fan.
The whole thing stinks. I agree it is indeed rubbish.
January 31st, 2005 at 2:13 pm
I agree ashley plus additional cash for Gerrard is one of the few trades that would be a plus for us. He is one of the very few world class players who will be worth it whatever the price may be. You are absolutely correct that we cannot let him go to Chelsea, that would be a disaster.
January 31st, 2005 at 4:25 pm
Yes, it’s very unlike us to go out and outspend someone like Real or Chelsea….but you never know.