Oddly, Mourinho started this yet the papers are reporting it as Wenger.

I have question. New football fan here.

I'm an Arsenal supporter, but even I'm getting annoyed at Wenger's constant biatching about teams playing "negative football."

Is it not the goal of a manager to win the farking game not play whatever form of the beautiful game that Arsene happens to like? Or is there a tradition in football of doing justice to the beautiful game by not playing certain ways.

On topic, I hope the Arsenal U-14s beats up Chelsea's team of all-stars.

tdpatriots12: I have question. New football fan here.

I'm an Arsenal supporter, but even I'm getting annoyed at Wenger's constant biatching about teams playing "negative football."

Is it not the goal of a manager to win the farking game not play whatever form of the beautiful game that Arsene happens to like? Or is there a tradition in football of doing justice to the beautiful game by not playing certain ways.

On topic, I hope the Arsenal U-14s beats up Chelsea's team of all-stars.

it's the same story in every sport: technical teams don't play well against rough teams.

I would say the less technical teams go over the top with their physical play against Arsenal, try to ruffle their feathers, maybe get someone sent off, get yellows in response, and generally break up the flow of the game. Lots of stop time makes it difficult for Arsenal to break down teams.

So, Wenger's complaining to the refs (which started only very recently -- last 2-3 years) is an attempt to get the refs to pay attention to the over the top physical antics of teams like Bolton and maybe get them to call some of it. If the ref books a Bolton player for their obviously intentional elbows to the back and forearms to the face the shiat will stop. But the refs won't do it, because it takes away the only talent a player like Davies or Savage has.

For the record. I like physical play. But the physical play should not be to intentionally harm other players or, worse, when a team pulls bullshiat like Dennis Rodman used to pull. If you're elbowing someone in the back of the head, intentionally out of sight of the ref, in order to hurt them or get them angry so that you can dive and get them sent off, then you're a cheating fark.

Finally, Arsene is trying to protect his players. Diaby was tackled last season by a worthless Sunderland midfielder at the end of a huge defeat. It was intentional, it was born of frustration, and the Sunderland player broke and dislocated Diaby's ankle: putting him out for 9 months. If I was Arsene and I saw this shiat all the time, I would be in the press saying the same stuff, if for no other reason than to protect my players.

By the way, the Sunderland hack, got a yellow card. Even the announcers (who love to hate Arsenal) thought it was a bad call.

timmy_the_tooth: So, Wenger's complaining to the refs (which started only very recently -- last 2-3 years) is an attempt to get the refs to pay attention to the over the top physical antics of teams like Bolton and maybe get them to call some of it.

Makes sense, thanks for the clarification. That being said, if I'm managing a crap team I'm going to try to do the same thing.

tdpatriots12: That being said, if I'm managing a crap team I'm going to try to do the same thing.

exactly. me too.

so, generally, I don't care. But every once in a while Wenger says something like what's in this article and it makes me laugh.

Or is there a tradition in football of doing justice to the beautiful game by not playing certain ways.

Some teams have a tradition of playing great looking football regardless of the result, some teams have a reputation for dull football that gets results. I'm thinking Liverpool and Bolton here, but times change: Arsenal probably play the nicest looking football in England at the moment, but they used to have a reputation for really dull football a few years ago (pre Wenger)

Glasgowsfinest: really dull football a few years ago (pre Wenger)

Boring Boring Arsenal!

/which is where the chant "1 nil to the Arsenal" came from.

Can someone translate that headline into American?

Quick1: Can someone translate that headline into American?

here let me try



clear?

Quick1

here you go:

Chelsea manager "Wenger, big poopy head, never win Champions League." Arsenal manager Wenger "You big money poopy head." Hopefully, the League Cup final on Sunday will be half as interesting

/dumbass
///YNWA

Hey Timmy what are the major injuries coming into this game? I know Terry is injured for Chelski, I thought I heard that Henry might not play...any truth to that?

Cbrusky: I heard that Henry might not play

The only people playing for Arsenal in the Cup Final are those who have already played in League Cup already.

I'm not sure if Henry has.

Wenger will keep faith with the side that has taken him to Cardiff. William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg are omitted. Jens Lehmann (suspended) and Robin van Persie (foot) would not have played either as they had not featured in the earlier rounds of the competition.

from the arsenal site game preview

Ahhh the English media. Always trying to take a simple quote and turn it into an explosive situation.

Basically what happened was this: Mourinho in an interview with a Portuguese Newspaper said that winning the Champions League was a difficult task. He went on to say that not winning the Champs League didn't make you a poor manager. He used Wenger as an example of a great manager who hadn't won the CL. The British media somehow turned this into Mourinho said Wenger isn't a great manager because he hasn't won the CL.

Anyhoo, should be a good game on Sunday. Can't wait.

Sirjohnfalstaff: Anyhoo, should be a good game on Sunday. Can't wait.

AYE! good luck to you and yours.

Cheers Timmy! Right back at you.

oh hey, Brits, I'm going to be in town (London) on Thursday. Email in profile if you want to get a beer or get a beer and then smash my head in in a drunken rage.

/beer first please

timmy_the_tooth: here let me try

i129.photobucket.com

clear?

[applause]Hahahaha[/applause]

tdpatriots12: On topic, I hope the Arsenal U-14s beats up Chelsea's team of all-stars.

That's a misnomer. If you look at the lineup Wenger uses in the Carling, that's no "kiddie" group... they're young, but it's by no means a reserve side like the press love to say... in fact, isn't only Traore the only one who hasn't featured in a league/CL match?

Unless you knew that already... then I be digressin'.

OMG it's called soccer not football... Farking Limeys..

SyndromeOfADown: OMG it's called soccer not football... Farking Limeys..

Somebody got to take the cork off the fork today!

HelloHelloHi: in fact, isn't only Traore the only one who hasn't featured in a league/CL match?

yes. but you have to admit, that's not the Arsenal first team.

timmy_the_tooth: yes. but you have to admit, that's not the Arsenal first team.

Of course. There should be a middle ground... the "firsties" or "varsity lite".

Eh, it's all academic anyways... I just hate the stupid lazy journos. Then again, what fan of what team doesn't?

HelloHelloHi: I just hate the stupid lazy journos

there's another kind???

anyone else watching the Car-Pre match? (champions league, i know) Three goals in the first 4 min of the second half, two pks. Very crazy

and now a crossbar...great game for a friday afternoon

SAvoodoo: and now a crossbar...great game for a friday afternoon

Got it on my computer screen right now... awesome stuff.

Woot! 4-1!

gonna make the promotion chase a little more interesting

/probably the only one watching

HelloHelloHi: Got it on my computer screen right now... awesome stuff.

and I spoke too soon. I'm watching it on my comp as well...much better than actually doing work ;)

SAvoodoo: (champions league, i know)

Championship. Don't get cocky... everybody comes from somewhere.

HelloHelloHi: Championship. Don't get cocky... everybody comes from somewhere.

sorry, my mistake. we can't all be arsenal which, from what i'm told, was birthed by the BVM herself ;)

/would razz ya for tottenham but i got nothin against 'em
//the arse on the other hand...

GO BLUE!


this match is for hardware.
does not effect EPL eh?

expobill: this match is for hardware.
does not effect EPL eh?

Yup. Should be an interesting one.

Go go young Gunners! kick chelskis' arse big time!!!

the match is NOT on FSN?
hmmmmmmmm.....

great game so far!
1-1