*Official* English Football Season 2005-06

[BoyBrumby]

When Maradona was 17, Sheffield Wednesday turned him down because he was too small. The amount of talent Fabregas has means his size won't be an issue. Anyway, he showed last season he can scrap with the best of them - he ran the midfield in plenty of games against bigger players.

He was squaring up to Edward Sheringham on Saturday, which means he's ok in my book.

 

[twctopcat]

When Maradona was 17, Sheffield Wednesday turned him down because he was too small. The amount of talent Fabregas has means his size won't be an issue. Anyway, he showed last season he can scrap with the best of them - he ran the midfield in plenty of games against bigger players.

I didn't mean height, i meant bulk, which we all know Maradona had, legs like tree trunks. Although Cesc is 18 i don't see him growing to the same size however. Of course he has talent but i wouldn't say on the scale you refer to!!!

 

[Scaly piscine]

Good win for The Arsenal tonight. My heart sunk a bit when I saw we were playing the Spanish goalkeeping equivalent of a panic attack (surely Mart Poom must be better?!?!), but he didn't do too badly. Hope Pires doesn't take too many more pens, mind. Best you could say about his is that it went in!

I bet SP is putting the bunting up already....

Good win? The CDMs officially have the easiest group ever in Champions League history, it's truly amazing how they've managed to get even easier groups than their previous years in the competition.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I didn't mean height, i meant bulk, which we all know Maradona had, legs like tree trunks. Although Cesc is 18 i don't see him growing to the same size however. Of course he has talent but i wouldn't say on the scale you refer to!!!

Those who've been watching him play since he was 12 (and people like Johan Cruyff are in that group) say he could become the greatest player in the history of Spanish football. I'm not saying he will be, just that he might surprise a few people.

 

[steds]

Good win? The CDMs officially have the easiest group ever in Champions League history, it's truly amazing how they've managed to get even easier groups than their previous years in the competition.

I have to agree, actually, although not go to your biased extremes. Certainly the weakest group on paper in the competition this year...I doubt in Champions League history. However, you can only beat the opposition put infront of you.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Good win? The CDMs officially have the easiest group ever in Champions League history, it's truly amazing how they've managed to get even easier groups than their previous years in the competition.

Well I think a win away in Amsterdam is pretty ok. Not the strongest Ajax team ever, but it's a much better result than losing to Boro or failing to beat The Irons.

 

[twctopcat]

Those who've been watching him play since he was 12 (and people like Johan Cruyff are in that group) say he could become the greatest player in the history of Spanish football. I'm not saying he will be, just that he might surprise a few people.

Well he is very good already, but to become the best ever is a most extreme statement.

 

[twctopcat]

Well I think a win away in Amsterdam is pretty ok. Not the strongest Ajax team ever, but it's a much better result than losing to Boro or failing to beat The Irons.

Its ok, but its not the same as 10 years ago say. This Ajax team out there was very young and inexperienced and anything less than a win for arsenal would have been seen as a failure.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Well he will is very good already, but to become the best ever is a most extreme statement.

I didn't say it, they did - all I'm saying is it wouldn't surprise me as much as it would surprise some if in twenty years time we were looking back saying they were right.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I have to agree, actually, although not go to your biased extremes. Certainly the weakest group on paper in the competition this year...I doubt in Champions League history. However, you can only beat the opposition put infront of you.

I don't see how there could be an easier group for the CDMs. The most difficult opponents are Ajax... who managed 1 win, 1 draw and 4 losses last year. Sparta Prague managed 1 draw and 5 losses last year and a Swiss side didn't even qualify for the group stage last year. Unless by some freak incident that you get drawn against 3 Scottish sides that's as easy as it gets.

 

[marc71178]

A very good signing, actually - one of the better ones Fergie has made. No-one talks about the fact that Fergie actually has a distinctly mediocre record in the transfer market

*cough* some people do.

 

[marc71178]

Don't rate the little thug at all, sorry. A forward who can't score in a brothel (unlike certain other ManUre strikers ) is slowly being transformed into a midfielder who can't tackle.

I thought Scholes took that role?

 

[roseboy64]

Sorry. I just don't rate Gilberto at all.

Don't see why.

 

[twctopcat]

I didn't say it, they did - all I'm saying is it wouldn't surprise me as much as it would surprise some if in twenty years time we were looking back saying they were right.

Yeah i know you didn't, but that just wont be happening so don't worry.

 

[aussie]

gotta love Ruud how many goals does he have in european soccer, geez i cant remember a match where he hasn't scored in the CL.

 

[Craig]

I'll give you Cygan, but Gilberto's quality. Not his fault he broke his back last year!

Or should I mention Bellion, Saha, Forlan, Smith.....

Forlan lacked confidence fro mthe fact he wasn't playing all the time, and when he did he didn't get a lot of game time. Look what happened in his final season at the club when he had a period of playing every match he started to play well.

And look at what he has done in Spain, out scoring the likes of Eto'o, Torres, Ronaldo etc. suggests he isn't the no-hoper South American he was made out to be in England.

 

[steds]

Unless by some freak incident that you get drawn against 3 Scottish sides that's as easy as it gets.

Oh, **** off

 

[Neil Pickup]

gotta love Ruud how many goals does he have in european soccer, geez i cant remember a match where he hasn't scored in the CL.

I wonder how many have been from outside the six yard box?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Oh, **** off

Didn't know you were Scottish, commiserations...

 

[Barney Rubble]

I wonder how many have been from outside the six yard box?

Well, he still hasn't scored a single goal for them from outside the penatly area, so I'd wager he hasn't scored too many from outside the six-yard box either.