Jun 26
Arshavin Likes Fergie…
… and Scolari and Wenger. He thinks the Premiership is the best league; he watches the English league in the weekends; and, more importantly, he wants to change clubs. He said all this in an interview to the BBC [audio link -- thanks to a comment from yesterday's post.]
So where’s the catch?
Well, for one, he said a couple of days ago to the Spanish press that he likes Barcelona and that the Spanish league suits his style. His agent and the president of the Russian football federation made his interest in La Liga known; is he that public a figure in Russia that his deepest secrets are known to everyone? [On second thoughts I wouldn't dispute the fact that, at the moment, he's bigger than Putin in Russia.]
Anyway, the interview to the BBC, if you’ve already heard it by now, would tell you one thing: that the questions were framed in such a way as to put words in his mouth; obviously, anyone with half a brain would tell you that he would like playing in the Premiership or La Liga; obviously, anyone with half a brain would tell you that the pitches are better in England and Spain; and any half-wit if asked would tell you that he likes Ferguson, Scolari and Wenger (sorry Rafa).
[As an aside, I would like to know why he's already started pimping himself to all and sundry -- what tomorrow, the Italian media? -- when his country has a semi-final against Spain, in Russia's biggest game yet. Oh, well, that's football for you these days.]
But besides all the obvious, one thing in the interview that appealed to me — although, perhaps, much of the actual meaning may have been lost in translation — was the statement he made, the essence of which was, “The club I will go to must show real desire to want me.”
For United fans an easier example would be Aaron Ramsey. Clearly Arsenal showed more desire to sign the teenager. So whilst the player would eventually make up his mind United must show a real desire to want him if they are to stand any chance of signing him.
At the end of the day, signing Arshavin would be one hell of a challenge and any club that snaps him would pull off a major coup. To be brutally honest — and risking brickbats for said honesty — I thought Arshavin was the perfect Arsene Wenger kind of a player as he plays in a short quick passing Russian system apart from his age and cost.
But I wouldn’t make his signing a priority. If we sign him, good and if we don’t, I am not going to cut myself over it. Excellent player, but our priorities this summer involve a striker a defender and I’ll continue to stand by that. Anyone else would be welcome and I certainly wouldn’t mind.
* * *
Round up from the rest of today (and a bit of yesterday’s) news
- Rummenigge slam’s Madrid’s tactics: Finally someone, other than us, seems to think that Madrid may be doing things a tad on the wrong side.
- The Sun’s exclusive reveals that Ronaldo will return to Manchester after his holiday. Erm… David Gill told us that before (and during) the Euros, that all players under contract will return to the club following their holidays. Anything else and, I think, it would be in violation of club rules, wouldn’t it? You return from your scheduled holidays and get back to work, wouldn’t you? Any plans of quitting would be done by having a word with your boss, and in the world of football (and contracts) it can’t be truer. So the Sun can shove their exclusive up their whatever — we know it already, numpties!
- In hysterical headlines of the day, the award goes to the Daily Mail, who’ve come up with their late breaking news: “New United kit for a new season… but hang on, where’s Ronaldo?” Okay, it came on Sunday, but the fact that the headline was a bit too long was the least of its faults.
- In blogwatch, James Ryddel draws up an elaborate theory on how Arshavin could be a pawn in Ronaldo’s move to Real. I don’t think that to be plausible, but good for a read although he is, essentially, thinking out loud.
- And Scott is, as usual, at his Liverpool bashing best (in this case Arbeloa) — it’s always great to see a United fan having a good go at Shitepool; one can never tire of it. [Can't wait for title number 18 to rub it in, although they'll still come up with the 5 Champions' League shite.]
And that should end this for the day, but for this link Ahmed suggested sharing with you all: Euro 2008 babes; and as with any picture gallery showcasing the best of the fairer sex, it may come with an NSFW warning. Speaking of Euro 2008, a rather tasty encounter today between Russia and Spain. I’d like either of them to go on to win the thing, but based on footballing excitement alone, I’d back the Russians to go the full distance; albeit with a shaky defence.
Anyway, take it away from here, people…
Related items from Red Rants:- Ronaldo Returns + Fergie’s Optimism Dips + Squad ‘Swells’
- Fletch For Everton? Pako for a ‘Thrilled’ Queiroz?
- Chelsea vs Manchester United: Preview
- Roma vs Man Utd: Preview
- Boro v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Daily Roundup · Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours
June 26th, 2008 at 10:10
Good player but 5′7 too small, we already have that type of player up front. If Ronnie goes then maybe.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:26
Good article and i think spot on. I think United have other priorities! Amazing to think Everton had an offer accepted in January(And then would not release the funds) for this player for only £3 million. Just look at what the exposure has done for this player since the UEFA cup final. Its being mooted hes worth £16-£20 million. His current club’s finance men must be smiling from ear to ear!
June 26th, 2008 at 10:28
if russia didnt make it to the semis would there be all this hype over him?
June 26th, 2008 at 10:36
hey read this storyhttp://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s6i37248
June 26th, 2008 at 10:49
RR slow news day today I take it!!!!! Very nice link to the Euro ladies I must say
June 26th, 2008 at 10:54
@jstar7: Yes he was immense in Zenit’s Uefa Cup success and that is where he caught most peoples eye…. lets see what he does tonight, the spot light is on him now, lets see if he can handle it.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:06
Hitler’s reaction to Ronaldo leaving Man U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCmUKZJYTY&feature=email hilarious
June 26th, 2008 at 11:11
RR - about the article from The Sin on Ronaldo’s return for training: You forget - they have a picture of him on the phone
. Maybe they caught him in the exact moment, when he got through to Ferguson. What great journalistic skills they are showing.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:20
Just one thing about the Ramsey transfer which everyone seems to be glossing over. Arsenal were the only club that offered to take him straightaway - our offer was based on loaning him back to Cardiff for next season. Cardiff wanted that (hence why our bid was accepted first), but the player didn’t.
Not saying it was the only factor, but it’s an underappreciated one.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:27
Good point Pengy, but Arsenal did show probably more desire to get the player than we did. Wenger met the boy, Fergie was still holidaying, and if Ramsey did not want to go back on loan he could have explained that to Fergie in detail had they met. Still think we dropped the ball there.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:36
I really don’t see how this Ramsey deal can still be an issue. We didn’t get him, and we frankly don’t know why. Only thing we do know is that we lost out on a 17yo to Arsenal. There’re plenty other 17yos to sign in the future, and our future surely won’t depend on us getting him or not. And one thing’s for certain: SAF hasn’t lost it or anything else remotely in that category just because he didn’t sign one 17yo.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:33
It’s been confirmed that Barca have gone in for him, and that’s his fav team. So no Arshavin for us I’m afraid.
Still not worried about lack of transfer activity. It’s early days yet.
So is CR getting his ankle worked on in Manchester then? Come over, use our medical facilities then head off to Madrid…?
June 26th, 2008 at 13:26
well played to arshavin’s agent!! clearly recognising that his man has played a blinder in 2 games, he gets him to do 2 interviews…one for the spanish press saying he loves la liga and wants to play there…and the other to the english press saying he loves the prem and would love to play for any of the big 3!! and lo and behold he gets himself a move to barca….before he has a chance to play a bad game possibly tonight. None of this “I will talk about it after the euros”, or waiting till they are over before trying to get a new deal! genius.
June 26th, 2008 at 13:27
Wow! if Arshavin is heading to Man Utd, then it will be hell of a good news! Damm Ronaldo for not showing loyalty to the club that supported him through high and lows!
But we can’t blame Ronaldo as well as he has won everything he could with Manchester United!
June 26th, 2008 at 13:34
i’m frankly tired of all this hysteria surrounding united’s transfer activities (or lack there of…..) this summer…
yes we went after ramsey and didnt get him….. end of discussion. he’s not the first player to snub us and probably not the last…… and frankly i have had enough of you guys holding sir alex personally responsible for that….. so what if he wasnt there to babysit the kid when he came to old trafford? i remember reading about how he called up the manager of cardiff city to talk about the boy…. that shows that he cares…. at any rate, i remember us rolling out the red carpet for robben, where did that get us??? and saha’s signing was announced a couple of days after he signed because sir alex was away in dubai at the time of the actual signing…… the player makes his decision based on a lot of things, i really hope for his sake that ramsey didnt make his based on the fact that fergie talked to him on the phone, while wenger had dinner with him…..
the same thing applies for the ronaldo situation….. i think united are playing it really well….. sir alex (and indeed david gill) sticking to their vacation plans sends the message that they’re unconcerned with all this media frenzy…. that they arent threatened by real madrid…. they’re also putting ronaldo in his place… if sir alex comes running back to office every time ronaldo throws a tantrum, then he will truly believe that he’s bigger than the club (if he doesnt already!!)
June 26th, 2008 at 13:57
any of you boys live in washington, d.c.?
June 26th, 2008 at 14:02
I agree to a degree Samg, but if Ramsey turns out to be the next Pele, then we will all say Fergie should have tried harder to sign the player, that is all I think people are saying.
I do 100% agree with your point with regard to Ronaldo, we shouldn’t run around Europe trying to track him down he is under contract, and if he wants to leave he should run round after us.
June 26th, 2008 at 14:19
“samg “: Well Said mate Fergie has done the right thing by stayin in France,As for Ronaldo if he waants
a move let him run around KISSING Fergie’s ASS for a Transfer…And I dont give A fuck About Ramsey
he’s just a kid anyways he will no where be as good as gigsy…so stop blamin fergie alright…let
him have a few days offf….
June 26th, 2008 at 14:57
@devil_fan: thats so funny, i’m nearly crying
June 26th, 2008 at 15:24
@samg: couldn’t agree with you more, nice one.
Simple as this we’re gonna win the league again next year with or without the madeira sweet cake ladyboy. There seems to be alot of fans fretting over this storm in a tea cup, any player who doesn’t realise how lucky they are to put on a red shirt every day can fuck right off. I personally think that it could be the best thing for United to get rid, we’ll get a stupid amount of money for him, enough to buy 3 or 4 players, not including a poss player swop. Surely this makes better sense, esp with rebuilding our Third Team. This is key to the continuing dominance of our club at home and abroad. If that cunt came out and said “i was only trying to better my contract or some other lame excuse”, i still think selling him now is in the best interests of the club.
June 26th, 2008 at 16:05
The best swap we could get, and people don’t jump down my throat just yet, but Robben.
He has prem experience, quick, had a good Euro’s I will add,and yes a little injury prone, but a top player.
He is now 24 so hopefully the injury woes are behind him, he also can score goals ideal?!
June 26th, 2008 at 16:19
Agree fully on Robben. I think he”l be perfectfor United.
June 26th, 2008 at 16:21
@Stephen: A little injury prone? He’s the Dutch Saha
June 26th, 2008 at 16:22
Yeah once Saha is sold we will need a new player on a permanent sick note.
June 26th, 2008 at 16:23
hahaha I wont let john get you.tell fergie if he wants to keep his job he should dress up like mell gibson in braveheart
June 26th, 2008 at 16:29
Maybe I was generous on a “little injury prone!” But a good player. I am just putting it out there really, I am a big fan of his as a player, he would be ideal for us if he could stay fit!
June 26th, 2008 at 16:57
Not only is Robben a Dutch Saha, he is also a classically trained diva and thespian. A terrible play actor and baby of the worst order. So many times I wanted to personally ring his neck for his whining, crying and diving while at Chelsea. What a frequent and lousy diver. He would have given Greg Louganis a fight for the diving gold medal and he’s just as much a fag as Louganis too. Robben is in my top five list of players I least want to come to OT with Terry, Drogba, Gallas and Henry. Absolutely hate each and everyone of them with intense passion. Especially the Drogba.
June 26th, 2008 at 17:10
mmmmm, thats alot of hate Grogs!
completely understandable though!
The more i think about it, the more i feel that Samuel Eto could be our man. He suffered an intense amount of racial abuse while in Spain, this def affected his football.I know that the new president of Barca said Eto was in his plans, but the truth is that it wouldn’t take too much to convince the player to move.
June 26th, 2008 at 17:12
damn..one thing’s for sure, I’m gonna miss Avram Grant’s toadal football led by Didier Frogba next season
June 26th, 2008 at 17:48
Phoenix; Hate is a strong word. Call it a huge dislike instead
antsBoy; Nice one.
June 26th, 2008 at 18:27
on the Euro front, i’ve totally enjoyed this tourno
, and i’m hoping that Russia will beat Spain tonight.
Gus Hiddink, what a manager! Would he be a good replacement for Fergie?
June 26th, 2008 at 18:30
@Grognard: indeed it is, especially when coupled with “intense passion”
June 26th, 2008 at 18:32
what do you guys think about the russian Jugen Klinsman clone they have up front, kavilichenko or whatever his name is? I admit that i’ve only seen him in the euros, but i read he was the leading scorer in the russian league for the last two years and ive been impressed by his performances. He is quick, good in the air and is a good fox in the box type player. Thoughts??
June 26th, 2008 at 18:55
Grognard , I tried to get in touch with SAF earlier to tell him to sign a few players but his wife said he had no time to talk about transfers coz he was going banana boating at lunch time then bungee jumping in the afternoon
June 26th, 2008 at 19:30
Hmm, if arshavin puts spain out the euros tonight, will barca fans, or even barca, accept him? i mean us english where bad towards ronaldo, but imagine the spanish towards arshavin…C’MON YOU RUSSIANS.
June 26th, 2008 at 19:35
@Dan(u-ol): Yes they will. Spanish — especially Catalonians and people from the Basque country — are not as nationalistic as the English.
June 26th, 2008 at 19:52
the real reason behind why Ronaldo ducked out on going back to United and seeing the medical staff over his injury can be found on my web site. It’s the unadulterated truth, gleaned from contacts within United itself!
June 26th, 2008 at 20:47
Ah, the weather has ensured that the match has not kicked into gear yet…thought Ramos looks very alive…Arshavin very quiet on the other hand.
June 26th, 2008 at 20:49
Fred the Red; What gets me about Fergie being a party animal is that he doesn’t invite some of the hardcore RedRants members to party with him. I wonder what’s on his agenda for dinner time and the weekend?
Dan; Trust me Barca fans would forgive and forget very quickly. The media makes more out of crap like that than really exists.
PhoenixRed; I brought up the Hiddink possibility last week but nobody commented. Things to keep in mind besides the fact he is an excellent coach is the fact that he believes in an offensive system that is almost identical to that used by Fergie and Man Utd. Secondly, He is under contract with Russia until the end of the World Cup. That’s two years from now. His availability and Fergie’s retirement could match up perfectly. He gets respect and the most out of his players and opposition coaches rarely out think him. The negative problem though, and it is a big problem is that he is a good friend of Roman Abramovich and a little bit in his back pocket. I doubt Roman would stand for Guus going to United. So would Hiddink be willing to tell Roman to stuff it or would the Chelsea job be open by that time due to two terrible years for Chelsea under the overrated Scolari?
Drew Vader; Love Pavlyuchenko. He’s an old school striker with confidence and ability as well as courage. He misses quite a bit but what I love the most about him is that he will take shot s and is not afraid to do so. He is certainly not gun shy. Reminds a bit of Gerd Mueller in the fact that he will take almost a dozen shots a game and score one or two goals. What is important to realize here is that I for one don’t mind a striker taking shots even if he misses. All good strikes need to be brave and daring but for every miss they have, they learn something and before you know it, a goal happens. He’s 27 but I would love to have him. I think he could be gold with a team that offers quality service.
June 26th, 2008 at 20:50
Its all a bit dissapointing, this game! Hopefully Gus can give the russians a hairdryer
at halftime.
Arshavin looked a bit tired in the first half, come on you reds!
June 26th, 2008 at 21:47
WOW! Did Russia ever lay an egg. They were terrible. No passion, desire or effort. Arshavin who I love was disappointing and completely invisible in the second half. In fact, his name was called once by the anouncer doing the game. Amazing how he was phased out of the game completely. Russia looked very tired but they should not have been any more tired than Spain. Spain for all their passing skill and charm had little to do or worry about because Russia had been completely unmotivated. What I am trying to figure out is how in God’s name can that old miserable looking grognard Aragones not start Fabregas every game over players like Xavi or Iniesta? Iniesta especially has been very ordinary for me while Fabregas has been outstanding tonight and has been good whenever he has played.
So it’s Germany vs Spain. The Germans will have to deal with speed and crisp and sharp passing that dissects a defense. Germans are usually well organized but their central defenders have been slow and with the kind of speed and passing skill the Spaniards have, one would think it will be a cake walk for Spain. Spain is however weak on high balls into the box and their own back four sometimes can be suspect. On paper Spain should win. They pass the ball better, their strikers are better collectively and their midfield has more finesse and ball controlling skill. Spain also has Casillas in goal while Germany have to be content with the far from spectacular Lehamnn. All signs speak of a Spanish victory of 2-0 or 3-1. But Spain will come out nervous. You cannot forget 50 years of history where they have won nothing. That will play on their minds and doubts will creep up in their minds. Yes they are the better team and yes they should win but Germany has been down this road before. How many times has Germany met a team that was better only to shut them down and find a way to beat them? Ask the French, the English, the Dutch and the Argentines about how their superior teams on paper have lost to Germany in the past? My brain says Spain but my gut instinct says Germany wins 2-1. And certainly a little favoritism is mixed into that decision but it’s just that I expect them to do their business because frankly, I’m used to it. DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES BABY!!!
And Ballack will have a massive game.
I guess I’ve set myself up for a lot of ridicule on Sunday evening now haven’t I?
June 26th, 2008 at 21:51
Remember all you Germany haters out there. That Spain is loaded with Real Madrid players, Semi=Scousers x4 and Arsenal’s best player. If that isn’t reason enough for United fans to finally cheer the German’s on , than I don’t know what is? Come on guys CHEER Germany on!
June 26th, 2008 at 21:51
Yes yes! The Germany - Spain final I predicted from the beginning has now indeed materialised! After the way the Spanish dismantled the well-oiled (geddit?) Russian machine with such panache, all I can say is that I’m really looking forward to seeing them stuff the Germans on Sunday!
June 26th, 2008 at 22:27
@Grognard: I always have a soft spot for Spain. All their talent and they never managed to pull it off. As I mentioned in the blog today, I’d like either Russia or Spain to win it — both of them have played better football and Spain have traditionally been a purer footballing nation. I had a soft spot for Spain before Benitez turned Pool into a mini-Spain and before anyone heard of Fabregas. I felt really bad when Korea robbed them — but surely, for me, a side loaded with so much talent deserves to go all the way.
Note: Whilst Brazil have been my favourite international team, I’ve always been a neutral otherwise as far as international footy goes. So I will continue siding with the purer football playing nation — and obviously, for me it’s Spain.
June 26th, 2008 at 23:00
I’m a fickle neutral
in this comp. now the russians have departed i’m going for Spain, this of course could be an awful curse for them 
but i reckon their attack is better than the German defence, i think it’ll be close, 2-1 to the Spaniards. Castillas could be the key 
June 26th, 2008 at 23:02
and Fabregas!
June 26th, 2008 at 23:34
So you mean Arshavin doesn’t like Benitez too??? shock horror
. I’m just wondering if today showed what happens to Arshavin when he’s up against a REAL defense or was he just having a bad day. I guess i’ll have to root for Germany now, i was rooting for Holland, then Russia, i really hope i’m not a jinx.
June 27th, 2008 at 0:27
Even if Germany were not in the final I could never root for Spain. Four Liverpool players on that team as well as the aura of Rafa tells me NO WAY. It’s like no true Liverpool fan should ever root for Portugal with Ronaldo and Nani playing for United. One always forgives the players from both sides that play for England of course. It’s just the way hypocrisy and double standards in football work well together.
June 27th, 2008 at 0:47
Another reason to root for Germany is to prevent Spain from having such a national party and love fest with itself and it’s brand of football because it will only enhance the reputation of La Liga and coax more players around the world that the Spanish league rules and that it’s the best. This can only be bad news for United and the Prem. The same will not be thought of the Bundesliga and so I feel it’s actually a very valid reason to want Spain to lose here. The power to convince players to sign for English teams over Spanish teams is paramount and anything good that happens for Spanish football is bad for English football. They are the enemy. Italy is a distant third right now because of their scandals, indifferent play in Europe and their poor showing in European competitions. So, Spain be damned!
June 27th, 2008 at 1:02
@Grognard: United>England
I’m not going to add Madrid into the mix cos i dont care about them.
personally being Irish, we never shout for england, historical/political reasons. But then again i havn’t been shouting much for Ireland recently either!
So i dont agree re england, Gerrard is a cunt no matter what jersey he’s wearing.
In Europe we have long memories, and generally we dont particularly like our neighbours, add to general history some football history , “2 world wars and 1 world cup” which engerland fans never tire of, for example.
The question for me is can i shout for Steve Finnan when he dons the green shirt, probably, but i’d never love him even if he scored a hat trick against engerland!
Now i’m not slagging anyone for loving their country or supporting their team. In Ireland we’ve had to deal with ABUs for years(anyone but united) and this kind of negative approach to football pisses me right off. So rather than not support Spain for negative club reasons, i’m going to support them for positive footballing reasons, simply because i think they’ve played the more attractive football and have a better all round team, add to that the fact that i cant remember them winning anything
So back to your point, as a “true” united fan i shouldn’t follow Spain. Bollox
June 27th, 2008 at 1:50
@Grognard: I don’t see much wrong with Spain’s brand of football apart from the play acting. More often than not they play the ball on the floor. And it’s only the last couple of seasons where it’s been widely acknowledged that England have the best league. All these years it has been Spain and Italy — that hasn’t stopped players from coming to the Premier League. So we can live with the tag of being the second best — as it is, England hasn’t even qualified for the Euros which hasn’t stopped most people from declaring that the EPL is the best.
Being a neutral I’ll go with the purer footballing nation right now, which, to be honest is Spain. Although I do have a sneaky feeling that the Germans will pull off a win.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:30
RR; “Purer footballing nation”? Are you kidding me? 3 World Cups, 7 finals, 3 European Championships, 6 Finals, one of the originators of total football with the Dutch and a history of far superior players over the past 50 years yet you call Spain purer football? Sorry but I don’t get that. Major International Tournament wins Germany 6, Spain 0. And don’t go throwing the Champions League into it because we know that Spanish teams that win that competition don’t do it due to a strong supply of Spaniards. You name 5 Spanish strikers in history that match Mueller, Seeler, Rummenigge, Klinsmann, and Klose. Raul and who? Name me 5 Spanish midfielders that have the reputation or acclaim in history that Netzer, Matthaus, Ballack, Sammer and Overath have had? How about defenders as good as Beckenbauer, Brehme, Breitner, Kohler or Vogts? And should I even bother with goalkeepers. Maier, Schumacher, Illgner, Kahn or Kopke. Most of the players you would use to fight this battle would be more recent players which says a lot for the current Spanish team and their current form of pure football. But to go back 30 40 years and tell me that Spain plays purer football when all they have been is classic underachievers and misfit in the game, I don’t think so. To say they played more pure football than the 66, 70, 72, 74, 80, 82, 90 and 2006 German teams would be falsehood of epic proportions. My God, one final appearance in 25 years. You think maybe Spanish players are just a bit overrated? Is it possible the Puskas’, Di Stefano’s, Cruyff’s, Netzer’s, Neeskens’, Maradona’s, Stoichkov’s, Krankl’s, Romario’s, Kempes’, Schuster’s, Stielike’s, Ronaldo’s, Ronaldinho’s, and hundreds of other great foreigners to play in Spain covered up for the true deficiencies in Spanish footballers for five decades? Take aside, about four or five from their present crop, and I can only think of Raul, Juanito Butregueno and Zubezerreta as players that can even compare to the German or foreign legends I have named. Sure I might be missing a few but I could call of 50 world class German stars from the past before I would get to 15 from Spain that are in the same caliber. One would have to go back to before 1960 to find quality Spanish players like Zamora etc.
RR; The Germans get a lot of stick on this site and elsewhere and yet people forget that they are second only to Brazil in wins and stature. Italy may have won one more World Cup but they have not made as many total finals as the Germans. Spain isn’t even in the top ten I believe. And if they are, it’s certainly not even a close race. So forgive me if I defend their brand and quality of football as just as pure if not purer historically than that of Spain. It’s not even close. With that said, Spain play a purer game today than Germany but not by much. Their only real advantage is their pace and quickness. But that is a strong advantage. They should beat Germany on Sunday, but watch Germany do it yet again. Because they are capable of setting their ego’s aside and winning ugly if they need to. Can the Spaniards do that and are they able to eliminate 5 decades of failure in their minds. They may have more talent but they are inferior when it comes to mental toughness and will to win. Nobody but nobody beats Germany on mental toughness. Hopefully for them they will match them with will to win and class on the pitch to overcome Germany’s mental advantage.
Germany was pre tournament favorite for a reason. They are good and they play pure football.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:44
[Grognard]
Would have saved your energy had I clarified what I meant by pure footballing nation. I meant Spain play the better football at the moment than Germany in my eyes.
Germany are successful, I don’t begrudge that. I don’t have loyalties as far as international football (European footy) is concerned except perhaps Brazil. The Germans get the job done, that’s all I can give them credit for. Sorry.
And I am talking about the current German team. I preferred the WC team of 2006 over this, tbh. All my decisions on which team to back in these kinds of tournaments are based on how they’ve played over the course of the tournament. So this Spain team have played better football than the Germans, added to the fact that I have a soft corner makes me back them over the Germans.
Hope I’ve made my stand clear now.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:53
And you don’t have to ask me for forgiveness for defending your opinion.
So much defence over nothing really; I never challenged Germany’s pedigree and fully agree about their attributes. Perhaps I could have made it clearer so that I could have avoided a rant that’s arisen over a misunderstanding. I guess, it was your energy I ended up wasting. Sorry about that, mate
June 27th, 2008 at 4:22
perceptive article RR, Arshavin did in fact bottle it after the two great games and interviews (his agent is a magician), so we can scratch him from the transfer saga.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:52
No harm done RR. You are correct though, I thought you meant historically. I too prefer the 2006 version of Germany. Not as much experience but Klinsmann through hios passion and personality had them playing with more fire, urgency and more pace. I for one believe Klinsmann is very underrated as a manager. I understand a little German and I watched the big documentary done in Germany about the German team’s run through the WC and their preparation. He is innovative and not as tactically naive as some thought. Low was there bu make no mistake, it was Klinsmann’s team and his motivational talks and attempts to emphasize a point was just fantastic. Personally I loved him as a player but I think he has potential to be an even better manager. Bayern will be a big test for him but I think he will do fine. It is different though, a club over a national team. Who knows?
June 27th, 2008 at 9:19
@Grognard:
“Not only is Robben a Dutch Saha, he is also a classically trained diva and thespian. A terrible play actor and baby of the worst order”
I understand what you mean and agree.
But, hell he’s nowhere near our beloved CR7. I’ve noticed during the last couple of games that whenever he gets tackled, he EXPECTS a free kick and kinda “give up the chase” and just stand there waving his arms around. Strangely enough the last couple of games were the first time in my life that I got upset at one of our own players for play-acting.
I think we can live with Robben’s antics (because we’re so used to CR7’s ones already). The injusry issue is another case however.
June 27th, 2008 at 14:17
Arsenal didn’t show Ramsey more desire to be fair. They simply could guarantee him a shot at real first team football next season. Which we can’t with the size and quality of our squad.
June 27th, 2008 at 16:51
Keith; Arsenal and Wenger flying the lad and his parents to Switzerland and wining and dining them while sweet talking them into getting his signature certainly shows more desire to me than having Gary Neville give the lad a tour of Old Trafford while both Gill and Fergie were improving their tans and while the boy’s idol Ryan Giggs was nowhere to be seen. Come on mate, be serious! Adding first team football was sure a clincher in the deal but the special treatment of the lad made all the difference. He felt appreciated and wanted by the Arse.
June 27th, 2008 at 16:54
karl; Yes Ronaldo is pretty pathetic from his diving and bitching but he is still different than Robben. Robben dives and then cries like he has just been shot. And sometimes he actually stays down because he is brittle. I remember two years ago he went for a dive where he wasn’t touched and ended up leaving the game from injury. Now that’s useless and a total wussy I feel.
June 27th, 2008 at 20:37
I’m sorry Grognard. I can’t agree. Nothing trumps first team football. Nothing. It wouldn’t have mattered if Giggs and Fergie had met the kid.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:41
I believe that Ashavin is interested in playing at old trafford this summer becasuse he has spoken that he likes fergurson. I think united should be linked with him this summer because i am not happy over this attitude of not this attitude of late signing. united should please make signing so that the fans will be having joy because most teams like chelsea for instance have signed a popular playmaker.