red_ed

Normally Campbell and Cole are in the squad, but they just aren't fit. I can understand what Wenger is saying and I agree that a team should be about quality and not about the players' passports. If anything it'd be up to the immigr6ation department or the FA or UEFA to set the standards. The immigration department can't do much because their policy is that a player can be brought in for a working visa only if there are no other similar or better English players in the same price bracket, and if you look at how inflated prices are in the English market you begin to understand why Arsene chooses cheaper and better foreign imports. The FA haven't done anything about it, probably because it is more a legal issue than anything. UEFA however have stepped in and tried to introduce the home-grown policy where there should be a set number of home-grown players in a side. There is of course the legal implication with bringing in such a rule, and I anticipate the G14 to be the ones legally contesting such a decision once the rule is implemented. Also, according to the policy, a player is technically English after being trained by the club's academy for 3 years or longer. By the time the policy is implemented, many of Arsenal's foreignly-recruited youths will have been at the club for sometime, making them English. Arsenal do suffer on the field of course, as they have no physical influence, in a league that prides itself on it's fast pace and bone-crunching tackles. They are a team of technique, and due to that philosophy, they risk being dominated by the more aggressive and physical teams such as Bolton, Chelsea and Everton. Also, you can make the case that a team based purely on technique does not hold any British influence. Seriously, the Premier League is hardly renowned for technical or tactical skill (only recently has that image started to waver, but it only applies to the 'bigger' clubs as the 'smaller' ones are still rough as hell) Personally, I think Arsenal are overdoing it by bringing in too many foreign imports. They are even selling players such as Bentley! If you want English representation you have Walcott, Campbell and Cole. Nevertheless, if Arsene wants to stick to his philosophy, then he's doing it the right way At least give him credit for carrying through with his vision (Y)

really? *hands list to Barry and waves top in his face*

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool we better start winning if we want to finish 3rd ahead of Spurs and Bolton, or even make it to 2nd in front of the Mancs <_<

Altough I'm all for Barca, Lyon winning CL sounds good to me. They play a very attactive football that I like. As long as an entertaining attacking team win, then I'll have no problems. Too bad Werder got knocked out. They're always entertaining!

Damn, aren't those Adidas x Good Year's old? I saw them in magazines like 2 years ago. Or did they release a newer version? I'm not into sneakers, but a few of my friends are so they feel obligated to tell me all about the latest shoe trends <_< Anyway, I suspect my friends might be gay

:| Holy crap! What are you doing in here Ben? Are you really THAT bored?!

shirts with collars that aren't meant to be up. :persuazn:

I got a question too. Why do they suck?

I am a girl. My name is Edweiner, I mean Edwina

Milan vs Juve Liverpool vs Arsenal Valencia vs Real Madrid

Juve - Inter Lyon - Barca Juve - Barca Barca

You're up a level in my books (Y)

you mean sweat bands? yeh that's pretty stupid too! It's not like they weigh a brazillion ( ) pounds and sweat a pajillion litres when they walk. Those people are scary :|

Real did play badly, but Arsenal played really well.

did you see him earlier in the season prior to his injury? <_< He was playing really well and scoring some spectacular goals in the process.

Henry nearly bettered the goal he scored in the first leg. He's absolute genius and if he ends up going to Barca...

but why to me?

Ya I know I really expected Madrid to beat them but Madrid is just horrible Maybe it's the manager. Maybe he's not suited to the European game? or maybe it's Arsenal playing a clever football? Wenger's tactics are more often naive than they are smart, but you never know, he did seem to play some good tactics this time around Then again, it's easier to play their style of football against a Madrid side that has a poor defense and gives them space, instead of the pressing and fast-paced game of the Premiership, where their midfield gets closed down rather quickly. For example, everyone is head over heels about how good Fabregas is. He doesn't stand out in England because he doesn't get enough time to do anything with the ball. Madrid never closed him down. They let him run the show for Arsenal in the midfield. But credit to Arsenal. The first leg was the best defensive display I've ever seen them play.

I never liked trucker caps either. And I hate how people wear caps slightly tilted now :shock: AND people that wear their polos collar up. If you're going to wear something, wear it properly! :anger:

The race for Europe is heating up and it's a lot tighter than I expected. Wigan woiuld be in it too if they didn't encounter such bad fixture in Xmas. Those 5 losses just crushed them, poor buggers

Seems both your teams lost Oh wait! Mine did too :| Of all English teams, whoever would've expected Arsenal to be the only team in the Champions' League at the moment Ironic yes, Arsenal the second French only "English" team through Will a youthful Spurs team get 4th place? An Arsenal comeback maybe? Or will it be Big Sam's Bolton? Actually it'll probably be Liverpool as they manage to draw every remaining match 0-0 <_<

Ya I know I really expected Madrid to beat them but Madrid is just horrible Maybe it's the manager. Maybe he's not suited to the European game?

Seems both your teams lost Oh wait! Mine did too :| Of all English teams, whoever would've expected Arsenal to be the only team in the Champions' League at the moment Ironic

Debatable Bayern are a good team. Very strong in all departments. I don't know how they got thrashed by Milan though