Real Madrid - Arsenal

[Maltin]

With Tottenham 4th in the league and Arsenal playing well in Europe what are the chances of another Liverpool/Everton scenario happening !

Zilch, as UEFA changed the rules so that the winners automatically qualify.

To answer someone else, Casillas, the Madrid goalkeeper, was the player who ran up the pitch to try to roll Reyes back off the pitch again.

On another point, I too find it strange that people are saying that it was the first time an English team or side had beaten Real Madrid at the Bernabeu when no English players played for Arsenal on Tuesday.

It's not the first time that a team without English players went to the Bernabeu and beat Real Madrid!

I suppose that strictly they should say that they are the first English club to achieve the feat.

For people to claim that it is parochialism for people to point out that there weren't any English players playing for Arsenal is nonsense. It's not a question of wanting Arsenal to necessarily field English players, it's just stating a fact.

As always, the media seem to go over the top with the result. Arsenal won one nil and should have scored more but there were several times when I felt that Madrid opened Arsenal up and with Arsenal's recent defensive failings, it could all have gone wrong.

Arsenal still have a big task on their hands and need to perform as well in the second leg.

I was at Highbury for the Carling Cup semi-final and saw jubilation turn very quickly to despair. I would hate for the same to happen again.

Finally, can anyone confirm whether David Pleat is a linguist or just a twat? Is Hleb pronounced Cleb? Is Senderos pronounced Sen-doooor-os?

Come on Arsenal!

 

[Jazzz]

Why did Reyes roll back onto the pitch in the first place??

Sorry it was Reyes

Chasing the goal deficit late in the game, Real Madrid were in no mood for a gentlemanly stopping of play, and the ref didn't have to blow his whistle for an injured player not on the field. Realising why he was being left on his arse, Reyes attempted to writhe over the touchline! At least one Real player (think it was Cicinho) tried to wrestle him back over. As it looked like it was all going to kick off, play was finally stopped - Reyes got a card for his maneouver, so did Casillas who had sprinted all the way over to weigh in.

 

[fela fan]

English team? I wanted the team which started the match with two Englishmen to defeat the team which had none.

Football is about the fans. In today's world expect multi-national line-ups, but players and coaches come and go, but the fans are the constant.

And there's something pretty english about arsenal when it comes to the fans...

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Football is about the fans. In today's world expect multi-national line-ups, but players and coaches come and go, but the fans are the constant.

And there's something pretty english about arsenal when it comes to the fans...

I can see your point, and of course there's no essential reason why Arsenal should have to field English players.

However, as a supporter of the England national team as well as West Ham, I find it sad when I see teams which are 100% foreign in make-up. Of course, we all value the flair and excitement that players like Henry bring to the Premiership, but if pretty much no English players are given a chance, where will the England team be in 10-15 years time?

Some teams - such as us, and, as much as it pains me to say it, Spuds, do seem to like giving English players a good chance.

Imagine if every team went down Arsenal's route. The England team would be as poor as Scotland.

 

[Jayshat]

Some teams - such as us, and, as much as it pains me to say it, Spuds, do seem to like giving English players a good chance.

Imagine if every team went down Arsenal's route. The England team would be as poor as Scotland.

Bit of both isn't it...to field no English players is crap, let's be honest, but on the other hand, you're right about Scotland, saying what I have thought for a long time - Scotland are so insular and narrow minded about their team make up, they are shit at football, rugby, etc etc, and they will continue to do so...

 

[siarc]

Imagine if every team went down Arsenal's route. The England team would be as poor as Scotland

the unfortunate thing being that the influx of foreign players has coincided with a significant improvement in the quality of english players, as is often said. there are probably a dozen current midfielders who would have started in the 1998 side fr'instance. the only time it's problematic is when young english players get crowded out, but even the risks of this are exagerrated. theo walcott is still only 16 afaik and he was a sub on tuesday and probably a regular within a year or so. even a mediocre young english player like fletcher can get into a top 4 side fairly regularly. inter fielded a team in one of their group cl games with only one european player (figo)!

 

[Jazzz]

Well as far as I can see, people have been saying the influx of players from other nations was going to wreck the England team for years now, and all I can see is it getting stronger.

Having a really prestigious league on our doorstep can only be a good thing. Was the England team stronger in the past because our players could travel to better clubs abroad, rather than have the great clubs here? Of course not. So other nations are likewise not gaining anything from being able to play for our club teams. Ergo, we are no worse off, because if we were another nation would benefit.

<one of my finest arguments I reckon>

 

[Fong]

Well as far as I can see, people have been saying the influx of players from other nations was going to wreck the England team for years now, and all I can see is it getting stronger.

Having a really prestigious league on our doorstep can only be a good thing. Was the England team stronger in the past because our players could travel to better clubs abroad, rather than have the great clubs here? Of course not. So other nations are likewise not gaining anything from being able to play for our club teams. Ergo, we are no worse off, because if we were another nation would benefit.

<one of my finest arguments I reckon>

Bit silly to make that claim tho isn't it.

Hardly getting stronger when one of our major sides fields a team without a single english player in it. If our players are getting stronger, then why aren't they making the Premiership Sides?

The fact is as time goes by and less and less British footballs make it into Premiership sides our National game will suffer.

Sure we can name 5 mediocre players playing in mediocre teams, but medicore don't win cups and it don't win medals. Unless the national side plays regular high quality football they cannot compete.

Which is why Scotland blows so much, it has little to do with their 'insular' nature, it is to do with the fact that of the 11 players they field, only half of them ever see world class football, the rest are playing on muddy fields in the middle of nowhere against people that should be playing in a pub team.

This does not prepare you for meeting a top class side.

I don't think it will ever come to the point where we can't field 11 good players, but I think the choices will dry up, in another 15 years we won't be talking about the top 3 or 4 strikers or the top 5 or 6 midfielders that could play for england, we will be talking about the single striker we have and the 2 midfielders that we have to play cause no one else has the experience to play on that large a stage.

I think we should bring back the rules where you have to field a team native to your own country, with 2 or 3 exceptions.

 

[slaar]

The claim is that our national side is getting better. Keep up.

 

[mk12]

Back to reality for the arse today

 

[siarc]

for some people the champions league is reality
although not for chelsea

 

[Termite Man]

Just had a look at the premier league table , and I reckon unless Arsenal win the champions league they won't be in Europe next year

 

[Flashman]

That was one of the best games I have seen in a long while. It was so refreshing to see some proper, fast attacking football played on the deck, what with the Premiership going down the Bolton route of pack the midfield, lump it forward and see if you can injure someone.

La Liga being amazing of course, what with the joke that is Forlan being the top scorer the cunt didn't get a look-in in England.

La Liga is great for attacking play (from a selected few teams) but they can't defend for toffee; I have the Spanish league behind Italy, Germany and the Prem for overall quality; defensively that league is fucking clueless which is why idiots like Forlan can score bucket loads.