Gooner Spy

Classless like offering to replay a cup tie when one of his players ignored the unwritten rule about responding to the ball being kicked out for an injury?

No argument about the class thing, but all the top managers have it in them to go a bit wierd when things are going badly. See Ferguson's countless charge sheet, ditto Mourinho, see Rafa's ridiculous carry on in his press conferences in the head of the battle with the Americans. He's not the first, and he wont be the last.

I think thats taking it a bit far - for right or for wrong, he has an unshakeable belief in his squad, and believes that they can beat anyone at any time. It sounds mental, but with the Chavs and the Mancs still involved in Europe, if we could get a win there on Sunday, we're 3 points behind them, with 4 to play. I dont believe it possible, but he does, and until its not possible he will believe in them, and continue to use this belief in the media as a means of pumping them up.

You obviously managed to avoid me then!

He's a spectacularly sore loser, but I can kind see where he's coming from. When Uncle Bobby was Toon Manager, they beat us at Highbury, it was one of the times when Henry went Apes*** at the end. Bobby said to Sky 'I think they need to learn how to lose here at Arsenal'. When Arsene was interviewed afterwards, this point was put to him. His face tensed up, and he just said 'Here at Arsenal, we never want to learn how to lose'.

No doubt about it, but I wouldn't let all of the blame fall with him. He's playing out of position, tired, against a fresh Babel, I genuinely do believe that the contact was minimal, and whats most gutting of all is that Gallas was right there, heady to t*** the ball out of play. This is depressing me just thinking about it now!

I hate the knee-jerk 'must blame someone' culture that I assume happens with fans of all clubs, though I fear we have it worse than most. Guy in the pub I was in reckoned Almunia didnt do enough to psych Gerrard out before the penalty. I mean, seriously?????

Doesnt matter who was to blame, all that matters is that it happened. It looked like Theo was still daydreaming about his run, and didnt track back, Toure looked clumsy in the challenge, but it was the whole mindest of the team. They thought they had it in the bag, and completely shut off. Thats Naivety, more than our goal was. Theo's run was incredible, sometimes when something like that happnes, theres not much you can do. Its like I can't understand that, of all sets of fans, Arsenal ones are blaming Senderos for Torres goal. After 10 years of watching Henry do that, and smugly boasting that he's unplayable, how can it be that when you come up agains something as good as that, suddenly its the Defence's fault? Sometime players do special things, like Torres and Walcott, sometimes they do ridiculously stupid things, like we did with the pen.

Does Naivety necessarily need to be inextricably linked with age? Could have been a team of 30 plus journeymen, but what they did immediately after the goal was undeniably naive in the extreme.

I dont have a huge amount to say really, I am just too gutted for words. I think both teams should take enormous credit for producing such a great match, I think the domination of the match swung a few times to the point that neither could say that the were the better side. Thought we made a cracking start, but once again let shoddy defending undermine us - to leave Hyypia that free form the corner was simply criminal. What hurts more than anything though was the amount of time we managed to cling on to our advantage. Ability-wise I have few concerns, but that 'kop on' that prevents other teams doing what we did last night aftyer our goal is missing, and its hurting us. Was it a penalty? I can see why it was given, though I do think it harsh. It was certainly every bit as much a penalty as the one in the first leg. Its hard to say it, but good luck to you - I'm rooting for you to take care of the Chavs and the Mancs......(unless Barca go all the way......!!)

Right, signing off now. Enjoy the match, and may the best team win. (and by the best, I mean in terms of the Premier League table!!)

Looks fairly full on TV

No, if youre going to anyone, do Eboue. he's really good, honest.

Just like in 1989, massive traffic problems prevent the majority of fans making the kick off. Nice little omen!

Fair enough!

So predictions then....... I say 2-1 a***

Its quite a negative team we've put out, strange. And f***ing Ebooue again, can only be bad.

I think its a good move by Benitez - I would much rather not have played against Crouch

Is that likely though? If you were chasing the game, maybe, but I can't see it. I'm fully expecting Liverpool to hold pretty tight on what they have?

:rant:

Its the height of hypocrisy - the only difference is that we do it quite legally, and yet they have no issues tapping up whoever they fancy signing in a given season.

Both flanks are an issue, and up front as well. Bendtner is clearly being sold this summer, so there really is no excuse for not going hard for a big name forward, especially as RVP is made from Balsa Wood and fibreglass.

lol, but for every RVP there's a Reyes, and for every Adebayor theres a Jeffers!

The money doesnt buy the individuals time, but it certainly buys the Manager time. Like I said before, he had to rebuild on a shoestring, and has committed to doing this with a young team growing together. He firmly believes that they will get to where they need to, and we have never had reason to doubt him before. After investing so much in this philosophy, why should he change it because he suddnly has s***loads of money to spend. Like I said at the start, I think he has one season after this of full support. After that, we need to question, as it is not a cheap hobby any more.

Yeah, but if you must boo your team off, and I never would, it's when you're 3-0 down to some s*** house team when your players dont care, and you have nothing to play for. Not when your mix and match, exhausted team is 1-0 down to a far superior Liverpool team. It was ridiculous.