Shrek as a Paddy - possible I suppose.
What do you do with Doherty (aka Beeker from the muppets)? Do you try and use him as a target man or do you prefer to use him for his slapstick defending?
You mean DOCK-herty as the hun (aka the English) would call him?
He’s awful. Really, really awful. How did Spurs get a million for him? He rarely gets his game but this is Ireland so you never know…down 1-0 and we might just throw him on in the last 20 or so :rolleyes:
Kerr sort of has the loyalty issue as well insofar as he plumps for his “own” players. Graham Kavanagh of first division Cardiff gets called into the squad whereas Rory Delap of permiership Southhampton doesn’t even get a call-up. Witness also Dean Kiely’s retirement from the squad.
The game in Israel is HUGE. If we beat them in Tel-Aviv then that will put pressure on the French 4 days later and require the Swiss and the French to take points off one another. Could mean everything for us.
Here is my ideal starting XI for March 26
Shay Given (great shot stopper but slightly weak on crosses)
Stepehn Carr Kenny Cunningham Richard Dunne John O’Shea (gulp)
Andy Reid Roy “The Greatest” Keane Kevin Kilbane Damien Duff
Robbie Keane Clinton Morrisson
A bold team indeed (Kerr will play Finnan on the right instead of Reid) but one that will keep the Israeli’s on the back foot. I think their defense is suspect and Keane is up for these games. As I said, a win and we are in great shape.
That last post reminded me that the Irish supporters during the World Cup were by and large a fun (if incredibly hard drinking) bunch. So I’ve decided to cheer for the teams whose fans will make it the most fun if they get to Germany in '06. This will give me some guidelines, if I see an international game on, as to which side to root for (although I’ll still probably go for whichever style of play I like more).
Go Ireland!!
I’m a bit undecided about England; they should get through, and most English I’ve met have been just fine, although in a large group they can get dangerous. Ditto the Dutch, who are more wacky (bizarre orange wigs, anyone) than the English.
And god forbid the Israelis and Americans were to play each other. That stadium would get bombed for sure.
Huh? I’m not talking about the FIFA rankings. And if making it as a “barstooler” was some sort of goal of mine, I would drop it quick if discussion of who the best teams are wasn’t allowed.
And if being a “barstooler” meant putting up with this sort of bullshit, why would anyone wanna be one? No one has claimed any sort of superpowerness for the U.S.
Has anyone here claimed any different?
Ya think? Is this what it takes to be a “barstooler”? Can I make the observation that water is wet and impress fellow “barstoolers”?
He’s doing quite well, actually.
He’s been there all of what…a few months? I do know he started the other day and played quite well.
Thanks for clearing that up. :rolleyes:
You’re clearly not going to listen to anyone elses opinion so I’m not sure why I bother. A number of posters here appear to have been watching football for a lot longer than you and know a hell of lot more about the game than you do. I wonder if you have ever even played the game?
To clarify, Donovan still has to prove himself. This isn’t the first time he has gone to Europe and failed to make an impression. Beasly is doing ok in the 6th best league in Europe. He is not a leading light. The kid is in his early 20’s no (23 I believe) so the odds are against him becoming a leading light.
The MLS is taking players who couldn’t cut it at Aberdeen. Ronnie O’Brien was up for MLS player of the year and he couldn’t make it at Aberdeen. Aberdeen are a mediocre Scottish team. You would have us believe that the MLS is equal to or better than the SPL. Well, taking players like Dominic Foley or Ronnie O’Brien who could not make it at that level suggests that you are wrong.
America may do well in the World Cup but it will depend on the draw. They certainly aren’t a contender and won’t be for some time to come.
Got to love Roy Keane. From his latest Arsenal wind-up in the Telegraph online:
“Before the game there was all this stuff about anti-racism and anti-bullying. It would be a good idea to start wearing wristbands for anti-diving.”
He was taking about Ashley Cole.
“Wristbands”! Priceless. Having a go at blacks and pooftahs in the same breath.
Re the Irish starting XI above - isn’t Carr injured? I was genuinely pleased to see him “feck off” (see I can speak spud muncher) to Newcastle as good player though he is he was a dreadful influenve on team morale.
How do you feel about Reid - we have great hopes for him, but it’s a hell of a step up from forest to Spurs.
In other news…The "money league of the richest clubs was published and again Spurs are the richest club that don’t play in European contests 
Britain (including the sweatties)
Revenue Sources (£million)
Matchday Broadcasting Commercial Av Att
ManUtd 61.2 62.5 47.8 67,500
Chelsea 53.6 56.4 33.7 39,700
Arsenal 33.8 59.8 21.4 36,600
Liverpool 26.4 33.5 32.4 41,800
Newcastle 33.9 33.7 22.9 50,000
Celtic 34.7 16.1 18.2 56,000
Tottenham 19.8 23.9 22.6 34,100
Man City 17.1 25.5 19.3 43,800
Rangers 24.2 7.5 25.4 47,200
Aston Villa 12.4 27.2 16.3 35,600
EUROPE’S TOP 20 RICHEST CLUBS
(Position last year) 2003-4 Total revenues (£million)
Man Utd (1) 171
Real Madrid (4) 156.3
AC Milan (3) 147.2
Chelsea (10) 143.7
Juventus (2) 142.4
Arsenal (7) 115
Barcelona (13) 112
Inter (6) 110.3
Bayern Munich (5) 110.1
Liverpool (8) 92.3
Newcastle (9) 90.5
Roma (11) 72
Celtic (18) 69
Tottenham (16) 66.3
Lazio (15) 65.8
Manchester City (-) 61.9
Schalke (14) 60.5
Marseille (-) 58.3
Rangers (-) 57.1
Aston Villa (-) 55.9
As you mentioned, i think it would have been more of an issue if that was our first choice team, but it isn’t. Normally we’d have Sol and Cole in there as well, Hoyte pops into the premiership side every now and again too when injuries allow and Pennant would probably have made an appearance if he wasn’t on loan. My only criticism is still that he doesn’t
I don’t know enough about Dein’s stance on the indiginous/home-grown issue to really comment (any good links?). The indiginous element doesn’t surprise me, but he’s smart enough to know that that will never pass. Opposition to any home grown iniative would surprise me (depending on the definition of “home grown”) as we’re pretty well set up in that regard if you look at the players either currently on our books or coming through.
Have a look on the telegraph’s site (it’s a registraion one I’m afraid) and you will see Peter Hill-Wood in full flow.
Pennant won’t be a Plumstead player in the summer - they want rid as he’s a bad-lad, and Wenger doesn’t want them (there’s also every possibility he might go to jail - got to love those Gunners!)
Doesn’t it bother you that you’ve basically got a team full of mercenaries? I know that Arsenal have a very loosely defined idea of “local area” as their stadium is on wheels and they move every couple of years, but don’t you want some connection to Islington? It would bother me.
The issue isn’t about Dein’s opinion - he can think what he likes. It’s that he has a role in the FA which puts him in conflict with his role at AFC, and when that happens he takes the AFC line every time. It’s a clear conflict of interest and he should leave the FA (or AFC - which is hardly likely).
BTW not only will it pass - it already has. It comes in in two seasons and fully in 2008
Just how good is Robbie Keane? He always struck me as a class player who doesn’t score enough goals. Saying that, I just looked up his stats and he scored 14 prem goals in each of the last two seasons, plus 7 so far in the current one; which is pretty good. A strikeforce of Defoe plus Keane sounds awesome on paper, but you reckon Robbie is on his bike?
BTW Spurs have the quintissential class - but useless striker IMO - Freddie Kanoute. Superb touch, vision, control and movement; but needs a map and compass to work out were the goal is. 
And you define mercenaries how?
Last time i checked, you could probably call this a reasonably first choice Arsenal team:
Lehman
Lauren - Toure - Campbell - Cole
Ljungberg - Vieira - Giberto - Pires
Bergkamp - Henry
Now granted Lehman, Toure and Giberto ain’t been there that long but lets look at how long the the rest have been at the club?
Bergkamp - 10 years
Vieira - 9 years
Ljungberg - 7 years
Henry - 6 years
Lauren - 5 years
Cole - 5 years
Pires - 5 years
Campbell - 4 years (still hurts doesn’t it? :D)
Yeah, those lads have really been moving around for the money haven’t they. :dubious:
For the benefit of those who don’t know what owl is referring to here, it’s Arsenal’s move to North London in 1913.
Yep, you read that right.
What?
Spurs have pretty much given up trying to fill up their trophy cabinet with trophies these days - its far easier to fill it with grudges.
Bet you still refer to it as Gillespie Road Tube station too dontcha owl 
And you define mercenaries how?
Last time i checked, you could probably call this a reasonably first choice Arsenal team:
Lehman
Lauren - Toure - Campbell - Cole
Ljungberg - Vieira - Giberto - Pires
Bergkamp - Henry
Now granted Lehman, Toure and Giberto ain’t been there that long but lets look at how long the the rest have been at the club?
Bergkamp - 10 years
Vieira - 9 years
Ljungberg - 7 years
Henry - 6 years
Lauren - 5 years
Cole - 5 years
Pires - 5 years
Campbell - 4 years (still hurts doesn’t it? :D)
Yeah, those lads have really been moving around for the money haven’t they. :dubious:
For the benefit of those who don’t know what owl is referring to here, it’s Arsenal’s move to North London in 1913.
Yep, you read that right.
What? You mean like the fact that its within Islington and Islington Residents can apply for preferential tickets?.
Spurs have pretty much given up trying to fill up their trophy cabinet with trophies these days - its far easier to fill it with grudges.
Bet you still refer to it as Gillespie Road Tube station too dontcha owl
Ignore the first post there - it double submitted on me before i was finished :smack:
He’s pretty good but he’s not a 20 goal a season player - but he provides for others. He doesn’t play well with Defoe, too similar. He’s very good with Kanoute - who has improved enormoulsy this season.
I think he’s off as we now have Mido, and we could use the money from Keane to buy better for the team. He nearly went to Everton at Christmas.
Yes. Really I do. (And I am sure you are aware that it only got renamed as a Hill-Wood was the director of the Picadilly line.). You shouldn’t even be in the league anyway - it was only back-handers that got you in. I think the FA should act!
And you’re being moved on by the council for anti-social behaviour again! This time to a rubbish tip. It’ll make your stig-of-the-dump fans (have you seen how the average gooner dresses - no pride in themselves at all) feel at home.
As to the “mercenaries” it’s not so much the first choice players as all the foreign lads in the youth team.
Now I am not a gunner, nor even a rear gunner (which you also have no shortage of!), but I would feel more affection for people like Donkey Adams and Pikey Parlour that Reyes or Almunia (sp?). It’s a personal thing, you don’t have to agree. there’s no right answer.
Away from the north London - South london rivalry I was just sent this. As you can see it is written in the stars that Spurs will win the FA cup.
1981
Prince Charles to Marry
Chinese Year of the Cockerel
First seven league games net 2 wins, 4 draws, one defeat
Pope JP2 comes back from nearly being on the way out
Spurs knocked out of League cup in the 5th round
Ken and Deirdre get married (two days before Charles & Diana)
Spurs draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool, Beat Birmingham 1-0 and get a 0-0 at Old
Trafford in the league
Diana complained there were three in the marriage
Spurs beat crappy midlands club 3-1 in the FA Cup on valentines weekend
Spurs win the greatest FA Cup final ever
2005
Prince Charles to Marry
Chinese Year of the Cockerel
First seven league games net 2 wins, 4 draws, one defeat
Pope JP2 comes back from nearly being on the way out
Spurs knocked out of League cup in the 5th round
Ken and Deirdre get married (same day as Charles and Camilla)
Spurs draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool, Beat Birmingham 1-0 and get a 0-0 at Old
Trafford in the league
Santini complained there were three in the marriage
Spurs beat crappy midlands club 3-1 in the FA Cup on valentines weekend
To be continued…
Ask me again in 5 years and i’ll tell you how i feel about Reyes and Almunia. Maybe it will be the same way i feel about Vieira and Henry, maybe not. It’ll depend on their actions on the pitch (and off it), and their loyalty to the club more than if they went to school on the Seven Sisters road.
Fair enough - Like I said it is only a reflection of how I feel about things. There’s no reason you should feel the same. Looks like reyes is off in any case.
Yeah, think he’ll be back in Spain by the end of the summer.
I understand where you’re coming from with the affection thing, but I think for myself that affection for “local” players manifests itself in a different way because my attachment to Arsenal comes via my uncle rather than from growing up in the area (as the family moved out of London before i was born).
For me a local kid done good is any player from Stevenage, not North London.