Parks lives wrote:TheCrazy58 wrote:Ray Parlour wrote:With a degree of luck. E.g Chelsea and Liverpool away.
On another day we would have been hammered.
With this defence I don't trust us against anyone.
It's not just us who have luck. Chelsea last night not getting a pen against them; United getting a pen last weekend when it was blatantly wrong. etc...
...Arsenal getting an offside goal in their favour and a penalty not given against them.
Manuel Almunia: Arsenal's Spanish 'keeper who would be England’s No 1
The answer to England’s goalkeeping problems may be Spaniard Manuel Almunia, soon to qualify for a British passport, whose stellar performance at Old Trafford against Manchester United in their Champions League semi-final first leg kept Arsenal in the tie.
By Steve Wilson
Last Updated: 11:17AM BST 30 Apr 2009
Under Fifa residency rules Almunia, who features below Iker Casillas and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina in the Spanish reckoning, will qualify for the England national team before the 2010 World Cup rolls round.
How does he qualify?
Almunia joined Arsenal as an unknown quantity from Celta Vigo in 2004, and under residency laws would soon be eligible to apply to become a naturalised British citizen. After living and working for five years in this country the process could be started with the official paperwork likely to be rubber stamped at the beginning of 2010.
Does he want to play for England?
Almunia has always insisted he would be willing to consider playing for England, were the option available, after being over looked back home in Spain, who have the world’s best goalkeeper in Casillas.
“People are asking this question now because I have been in England for five years and am able to apply for a passport,” Almunia said recently. “I am taking in the information, what I need to do for a passport. I think, for January next year, maybe I can have the permission. Maybe I will get a passport, then after, if I get the call-up (from England), I will think about this.”
Would Fabio Capello pick him?
Goalkeeping is a problematic area for Capello, who has selected David James to start every competitive match since he took charge of the national team, despite some reservations about the Portsmouth goalkeeper’s reliability. He rates both Ben Foster and Joe Hart but is also a stickler for only selecting players who are fit and playing regularly for their clubs – as both David Beckham and Michael Owen have discovered in the past.
So a player with extensive Champions League experience who is in the form of his life would undoubtedly tempt the Italian. If he is prepared to pick a 20-year-old Peterborough United goalkeeper, Joe Lewis, for a double header of friendlies against USA and Trinidad & Tobago, we can be pretty sure all options are on the table.
Is he better than what’s currently on offer?
James, who had been enjoying something of an Indian summer with Portsmouth, has not had as good a season this year as last and though he remains supremely fit his advancing years mean he won’t be around forever. Joe Hart’s development has been hampered by Manchester City signing Shay Given and Ben Foster is a Carling Cup specialist at Manchester United.
Robert Green is the only English goalkeeper with any chance of playing in Europe as first choice next season, with West Ham, but both Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland’s stars have waned. Until Foster or Hart mature or Green builds on a solid couple of seasons at Upton Park, Almunia would be first choice on talent and experience.
What would the fans think?
The watershed moment of Sven Goran Eriksson being appointed England manager, the first foreigner to do so, was met initially with some opposition but after the failure of Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello was welcomed warmly – especially as he has got the team winning. But accepting players under a flag of convenience is still seen as the preserve of smaller nations and though it might improve the team it would be a blow to credibility.
Fans groups may see the move as another nail in English football’s coffin – but if the 2010 World Cup could be won, all would be forgiven.
Stranger things have (almost) happened
Back in 2004 as Eriksson picked through the ruins of the failed Euro 2004 campaign, he instructed David Davies to inquire about the possibility of four leading players switching their nationality to play for the England national team.
Davies wrote in his subsequent autobiography that “very serious consideration” was given to Eriksson’s idea, despite the obvious public outcry it would have provoked.
The four players in question were Carlo Cudicini – another goalkeeper, then of Chelsea – Louis Saha, Steed Malbranque and Edu.
Davies wrote: “’I like Carlo Cudicini’, Sven told me. However, our goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence was particularly concerned, insisting to Sven it would destroy our keepers. ‘Can you also find out about Malbranque, Edu and Saha?’ Sven asked me. I wasn’t sure what the public reaction would be to an Italian, a Brazilian and two Frenchmen coming into the squad but I did Sven’s bidding.
“However, all my discreet enquiries to clubs and agents led to nothing. Miraculously, the moment our interest became known Saha and Edu were called up by their own nations, making them ineligible.”
Stimulus Package wrote:Is it time to add Eduardo to the list of Wenger's big money flops?
Arsenal director Stan Kroenke has become the largest shareholder at the club, increasing his stake to 28.3%.
The American tycoon, who joined the board last year, now has a bigger holding than Uzbekistani metals magnate Alisher Usmanov.
It takes Mr Kroenke closer to the 30% threshold that would force him to make an offer for the remaining shares.
The shares were bought from members of the Carr family, including Arsenal director Richard Carr.
Mr Kroneke's company, KSE, paid between £8,500 and £10,500 for each of the 4,839 shares - putting the value of the purchase at more than £41m.
Arsenal directors had a "lockdown" agreement in place, which meant they could not sell their shares to anyone before April 2009, other than a limited number of people, such as family members.
'Stability'
Mr Kroenke's additional investment was supported by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust, who said they had "established a good dialogue" with the American.
"Our position is that stability and plurality in ownership is to the benefit of Arsenal," a Trust spokesman said.
"New chief executive Ivan Gazidis has made a good impression and says he values our role and the importance of custodianship.
"We hope he will build relationships with all shareholders so that the club has stability off the pitch which is a vital ingredient for success on it."
Mr Usmanov, a billionaire, owns more than 25% of the club through investment vehicle Red and White Holdings.
Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith left the Arsenal board in December and could be willing to listen to offers for her 15.9% holding.
TheCrazy58 wrote:Saw the extended highlights of the Pomey match on Sky. Scoreline slightly flattered us with Pompey's inability to take the chances they created but a good, sprightly performance from our shadow side. With the CL spot now secure we may be seeing more or them.
Was surprised to see Arshavin given the armband but as AW said, a fit recognition of the vital role he has played in the short time he has been with us. I think he was indicating it wasn't a pen and credit to him for being honest (especially when we were only 0 - 1 up) but I think there was another pen-worthy foul earlier when Distin took Theo (?) out.
Bentdner had an excellent match. Despite what he says he plays better away from the pressure of the home crowd and in the absence of his peers. He might have made a case for himself for starting on Tuesday.
Ballack wrote:Respect to Asharvin for the penalty wagging finger yesterday, the sky sports commentators thought he was waving his arm originally claiming for a penalty, but he's pointing towards the corner flag trying to claim the corner rather than the penalty.
Bendtner will never be Arsenal standard, he's a midtable player at most. His first touch is so poor he almost ruins any opportunity that he gets. Sagna's been a bit shit recently.
for him doing so, much like the Fowler penalty at Highbury over 10 years ago now.Ray Parlour wrote:A bit of SSS with Sagna. Still better than most though.
Stimulus Package wrote:Rafu? Skrtel?
Apart from Glen Johnson it's been a lean year in that position.
Ballack wrote:Bosingwa's hardly done anything to light our right hand side up either. Liverpool play Arbeloa there and he's nothing more than average, Villa even play Reo-Coker there as Shorey is that shit that their natural right back has to play left back.
Sergio Ramos please.
Ballack wrote:
Bendtner will never be Arsenal standard, he's a midtable player at most.
Ballack wrote:Bosingwa's hardly done anything to light our right hand side up either. Liverpool play Arbeloa there and he's nothing more than average, Villa even play Reo-Coker there as Shorey is that shit that their natural right back has to play left back.
Sergio Ramos please.
TheCrazy58 wrote:Ballack wrote:
Bendtner will never be Arsenal standard, he's a midtable player at most.
Name another 21 year old with a PL club who's scored 14 goals this season.
L-r d wrote:TheCrazy58 wrote:Ballack wrote:
Bendtner will never be Arsenal standard, he's a midtable player at most.
Name another 21 year old with a PL club who's scored 14 goals this season.
He's played 46 games ffs
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