*Official* English Football Season 2009-2010

[Ikki]

Sounds logical, but going from being an attacking full-back to a right-winger is so, so difficult. The positional sense is so completely different and difficult to adjust to. I speak from personal experience and from the fact that so few players have done it successfully. I can't actually think of any, can someone help me out here?

I agree that it's difficult, but the choice was between a marauding international full-back on the right, and a reserve player who has more fingers than he has minutes played in the EPL. Neither options are ideal but I am not going to lambast Benitez for the former choice because it makes a lot of sense. Pacheco looks a talent, but it would have been a big gamble and had more potential to go wrong. As it was, Degen wasn't particularly bad, he just wasn't that good. It wasn't his fault for the result. The point was it was a forced make-shift choice. It wasn't Benitez being defensive for the sake of being defensive.

 

[sledger]

Surprised he's ahead of JET, Frimpong and Francis Coquelin in the pecking order as they've all been more impressive in the 2nds than Craig has. Much like Wilshere and Fran at Upton park he's never played in a game of that intesity before and showed a bit. I'm sure Arsene sees something in him to be given a go, good experience for him and good that he's coming into an in form team.

Lucky bastard regarding tickets, really need to get myself over there next season or so. Haven't been this excited about our prospects since the 2001/2 season.

Also heard that we've had a bid knocked back for Chris Smalling from Fulham. Papaers seemed to have gotten wind of it recently but the knock back was what forced the hand in signing Sol. Hopefully we can get him in the summer, he looked immense against Chelsea recently and got very unlucky with the own goal.

Haha, apparently due to the game being cancelled the other day all the tickets have gone on resale to non-members, mate of mine managed to pick up a few the other night and says that he'll give one to me for free as long as I pay for his train ticket, which effectively means I'll get a night out in London and get in to see the match for around £30, pretty sweet.

 

[sledger]

Sounds logical, but going from being an attacking full-back to a right-winger is so, so difficult. The positional sense is so completely different and difficult to adjust to. I speak from personal experience and from the fact that so few players have done it successfully. I can't actually think of any, can someone help me out here?

Emmanuele Eboue.


On a serious note, I can't think of any who have made the transition from fullback to winger from the top of my head with any great success, but Gianluca Zambrotta is the most obvious example of someone doing it the other way around. That said, I always thought he was a better winger than defender.

 

[GIMH]

Sounds logical, but going from being an attacking full-back to a right-winger is so, so difficult. The positional sense is so completely different and difficult to adjust to. I speak from personal experience and from the fact that so few players have done it successfully. I can't actually think of any, can someone help me out here?

Ryan Taylor. And I'm not joking, he can play both and he's awesome

Can play centre mid as well

 

[Uppercut]

I agree that it's difficult, but the choice was between a marauding international full-back on the right, and a reserve player who has more fingers than he has minutes played in the EPL. Neither options are ideal but I am not going to lambast Benitez for the former choice because it makes a lot of sense. Pacheco looks a talent, but it would have been a big gamble and had more potential to go wrong. As it was, Degen wasn't particularly bad, he just wasn't that good. It wasn't his fault for the result. The point was it was a forced make-shift choice. It wasn't Benitez being defensive for the sake of being defensive.

Surely Maxi Rodriguez and Riera should have started on the wings? They were both on the bench, so presumably they had some kind of fitness. Maybe not a great deal of match practice, but then neither had Degen.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Suppose Owen Hargreaves is the obvious person to point out as 'foreign' but has played for England and done well. Only other person i can really think of offhand is Tony Dorigo who was born in Aus, but that's a less good example.

Yeah, but both have an English parent which is sufficiently "English" enough, apparently. Capello seemed to rule Almunia out (link) because he's Spanish, despite him being eligible.

I've no problems with not picking Almunia, but the idea of not considering a player because he's foreign born and raised with no English blood seems short-sighted.

 

[GIMH]

The thing is, a lot of football fans I know turn their fans up at the cricket team because of "all the South Africans". As you say yourself, they are all as English (or perhaps more) as Hargreaves so it is slightly ignorant but I think Capello and the FA know that the football-watching public won't like it.

 

[BoyBrumby]

The thing is, a lot of football fans I know turn their fans up at the cricket team because of "all the South Africans". As you say yourself, they are all as English (or perhaps more) as Hargreaves so it is slightly ignorant but I think Capello and the FA know that the football-watching public won't like it.

Think they're understimating them. Underestimating us, actually as we're both part of the same. Most football clubs have foreign players and some are genuinely beloved. If a player gives of his best for the cause I don't think his birthplace or upbringing matter except to the most boneheaded of ****wits.

Scarcely a fortnight goes by without some new racial incident coming from Spainish fans, but their national team still augments their (really pretty decent) midfield with Senna. Just can't believe we'd be less accepting than them.

 

[GIMH]

Think they're understimating them. Underestimating us, actually as we're both part of the same. Most football clubs have foreign players and some are genuinely beloved. If a player gives of his best for the cause I don't think his birthplace or upbringing matter except to the most boneheaded of ****wits.

Scarcely a fortnight goes by without some new racial incident coming from Spainish fans, but their national team still augments their (really pretty decent) midfield with Senna. Just can't believe we'd be less accepting than them.

Well you know where I stand on it, maybe I'm wrong. I guess peoplre are opposed to it in theory but as you say once it happened they wouldn't give a ****, if England were winning.

After all, I'm sure nobody will care Capello isn't English if we win the WC this summer

 

[aussie]

Emmanuele Eboue.


On a serious note, I can't think of any who have made the transition from fullback to winger from the top of my head with any great success, but Gianluca Zambrotta is the most obvious example of someone doing it the other way around. That said, I always thought he was a better winger than defender.

Jankulovski, Danny Alves & i think Zanetti also. Plus of course Hargreaves is very solid playing both RB & RW.

 

[Craig]

So Sunderland deny rumours that Liverpool are set to sign Kenwyne Jones on loan as cover for Fernando Torres. ITSTL.

 

[Ikki]

Surely Maxi Rodriguez and Riera should have started on the wings? They were both on the bench, so presumably they had some kind of fitness. Maybe not a great deal of match practice, but then neither had Degen.

Riera's injured and if he was passed fit to be on the bench that was probably only in desperation. Maxi for Degen is the only real question; and even the decision to not play Maxi is understandable. He was signed only 2 days before the match IIRC; so his match-fitness combined with the fact that he wouldn't be on the same wave-length with his new teammates is enough of a reason not to start him IMO.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He's only said this because of some comments I made about Liverpool.

You know that's not true. I say this because of comments you made about clubs that can't play in the Champions League. Laughing at the joke of it all.

 

[Craig]

Riera's injured and if he was passed fit to be on the bench that was probably only in desperation. Maxi for Degen is the only real question; and even the decision to not play Maxi is understandable. He was signed only 2 days before the match IIRC; so his match-fitness combined with the fact that he wouldn't be on the same wave-length with his new teammates is enough of a reason not to start him IMO.

So?

Wesley Sneijder had just arrived in Italy from Spain, shoke hands with all his new team mates, and the next day he was playing (and had a good game IMO) in the Milan derby.

 

[Furball]

He's a good manager despite the fact he whines about everything though. Was a gun at Wycombe, was a gun at Leicester, Celtic > Rangers whilst he was in charge and has gotten Villa back up the table again after John Gregory/O'Leary put them at the bottom.

Just best to avoid actually having to listen to him, ever.

He's a good manager but he's a hateful, bitter ****.

His post match interview after the Liverpool game summed him up to a T. Was tremendous seeing him in such pain after a defeat.

 

[Ikki]

So?

Wesley Sneijder had just arrived in Italy from Spain, shoke hands with all his new team mates, and the next day he was playing (and had a good game IMO) in the Milan derby.

Spain to Italy is a much easier transition than from Spain to England. Speed of the game is incomparable. Maxi did play, but starting him? Would be risky, and that is the only "if" really in Rafa's selections, otherwise they were basically all forced.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Spain to Italy is a much easier transition than from Spain to England. Speed of the game is incomparable. Maxi did play, but starting him? Would be risky, and that is the only "if" really in Rafa's selections, otherwise they were basically all forced.

Indeed. Anywhere to England is vastly more challenging than anywhere to Italy IMO.

 

[Jarquis]

Is Arsenal’s latest prodigy, Bolivian Samuel Galindo, an age cheat? | Football | Sport | The First Post

 

[roseboy64]

You know that's not true. I say this because of comments you made about clubs that can't play in the Champions League. Laughing at the joke of it all.

Liverpool inclusive.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Liverpool inclusive.

I'm glad you admit to your douchebaggery.