the FOOTBALL channel

[techtronic]

I want Tottenham to thrash Chelsea atleast for once and win the FA Cup

Premiership should go to Man U

I still don't have a nomination for UEFA Champions League after
Roma unexpectedly ousted Lyon (Keeping my fingers crossed)

[Arsenal_Gunners]

Arsenal's future is really bright.

WALKING past the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening you could have been forgiven for doubting whether Arsenal really were playing 120 miles up the road at Aston Villa.

The roars from the ground suggested Cesc Fabregas and Co were at home but a peek inside put an end to that theory.

In fact, the 38,187 crowd were there to witness the latest batch of Arsenal youngsters as they took on Manchester United in the first leg of an FA Youth Cup semi-final.

The attendance, a record for the competition, is mind-boggling.

It would have packed out Highbury and — turn away now Tottenham fans — been a couple of thousand too many for White Hart Lane to accommodate.

Those who forked out the cut-price entrance fees were in for a treat.

Two of the country's top teams, both famed for nurturing their own youngsters, battled it out in a way the seniors would have been proud of.

Arsenal and United have both experienced mixed fortunes when producing their own players in the last decade or so.

The Gunners have only recently benefited from their investment in youth with emerging stars such as Fabregas, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy all part of their first team.

But cynics continue to point to Arsenal's reliance on snatching young foreigners from the arms of European sides without doing the painstaking work themselves.

United, meanwhile, never had it so good as 10 years ago when David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, all broke through.

But since those youngsters stormed to the Premiership title, the production line has slowed considerably.

In fact, United have come nowhere near repeating that trick. Kieran Richardson, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher may still be at Old Trafford but are not considered to be in the same class as their predecessors.

That trend looks set to continue given last night's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

As a unit, United were impressive. They were quick, strong, aggressive and organised.

But it was difficult to envisage many, if any, of the individuals making the grade.

Skipper Craig Cathcart — the only British player to be selected for the recent Europe Under-18 clash with their African counterparts — was solid but a long, long way off what is required from a Champions League centre-back.

A youngster touted at Old Trafford for seemingly an eternity is Febian Brandy, now in his eighth year at the club.

The quick striker is a bag of tricks but the lingering feeling is his attitude may triumph over his aptitude.

Watching him was like witnessing Leon Knight — the incredibly talented Chelsea product whose poor attitude blew his big chance at Stamford Bridge — all over again.

On this evidence, Sir Alex Ferguson will be lucky to have another academy success to cherish before his retirement.

As for Arsenal, the future is brighter — although, unsurprisingly, their star pupils herald from the continent.

Fran Merida, who recently signed a four-year deal after arriving last summer, could not be more of a clone of Fabregas if he tried.

The Spanish midfielder has followed the same route — leaving Barcelona at an early age — as his elder countryman.

He dominated the centre of the park last night in the manner the Arsenal hierarchy expect him to do in the Premiership towards the end of the decade.

Boss Arsene Wenger has a ready-made replacement for when Fabregas finally falls for the lure of his homeland.

Elsewhere, Armand Traore again demonstrated why many believe he will be installed as Arsenal's first-choice left-back next season.

The Frenchman, who set up Kieran Gibbs' goal, was faultless in defence — admittedly helped by several first-team appearances this season — and has raised serious questions about the long-term future of Gael Clichy.

But what about the Englishman? Well, for once Arsenal must take some credit on this front.

In attack was skipper Jay Simpson, scorer of a hat-trick against Cardiff in the previous round that set up this double-header against United.

On this evidence, Simpson has the lot. The No 9 was powerful, quick, skilful and dangerous both in the air and on the floor. Arsenal may have finally unearthed an English gem.

Ex-Gunners defender Steve Bould, coach of the side, said after the game: "We've got some good players coming through.

"It doesn't matter where they come from because we all work together.

"The old adage of British players getting up-and-at-them has gone.

"Whoever comes in we get them to play in an Arsenal way. It doesn't matter where they come from but it is nice that some of them are local."

When Wenger sits down to watch the tape, he may well utter those words himself.

Source-The sun.

[vivektheone]

Ya guys I don't find West Ham having any chance of staying in the Premier League as they are a good 10 point short from 16th plsce holders Sheffield Utd if I am right.

What an unfortunate situation for a team which played FA Cup final last year and also beat ManUtd in the league 1-0!!!

And as of FA Cup also I think ManUtd shoould win....But lot of injuries this week can result in their exit also...

[ssk_the_gr8]

Now your wall rio ferdinand has broken a rib,mikel silvestre is out for rhe season
and van der saar is out for 15 days.

rio is fit
he'll play against bolton

source:http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pa...&newsid=411689

[prateek_san]

MAN UTD thrashed Bolton 4-1 win.........

[Arsenal_Gunners]

^^If you have forgotten,your skipper crocked up bad.

[abhijit_reddevil]

Rooney is enough for you arse and chel$hit guys. scholes and co will not be required.
__________


That's because Chel$hit are direct competitors (if that can be called) to us in the EPL. They are 2nd and arse are behind Chel$hit. If Liverpool were 2nd then Arse fans would say they like Rafael Benitez more than Jose. . Arse fans are like colour changing chameleons.

See what did we tell ya..??? Rooney and Ronnie are enough for you guys. Accept the fact that this season the EPL is ours and you will be a petty third/fourth., barely qualifying for the UCL. ManU 4-1 Bolton...(Rooney 2, Park 2)...http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=411784

[prateek_san]

^^If you have forgotten,your skipper crocked up bad.

no prob we have brown...........

[abhijit_reddevil]

^^If you have forgotten,your skipper crocked up bad.

Still that does not stop us from winning the EPL...

[Arsenal_Gunners]

But that DOES stop you in cup competitions.

[prateek_san]

^^ lets see who gets stopped ... us or ur team...........................


Oops sorry i forgot ur team is out of every cup competition......

[abhijit_reddevil]

^^ lets see who gets stopped ... us or ur team...........................


Oops sorry i forgot ur team is out of every cup competition......

hahahaha...very true...

[prateek_san]

Lol

[iMav]

well it was certainly a splendid show by rooney and ronaldo ... their 1-2 was really fun to watch

[ssk_the_gr8]

let me join in people
"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.................

[prateek_san]

guys ARSENAL Lost to everton 0-1 ...... damn should have seen wenger's face after the match ......

[abhijit_reddevil]

@ssk429: welcome red devil...

[Arsenal_Gunners]

um..Arsenal lost due to bad weather

[prateek_san]

now ur making up bahanas......come man grow up....the weather got worse only at the latter stage of match....

[Arsenal_Gunners]

[wizrulz]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...120760,00.html

no more buying for ARSENAL next season too

[Arsenal_Gunners]

yeah I read that,but I dont believe it.
2 days ago Arsene said he will be buying 1 or 2 "super,super class" players

[Arsenal_Gunners]

Both big teams are in semi finals of FA cup.
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham
(Sheva,SWP and Keane scored)
ManUre 1-0 Boro
(Ronaldo dived for penalty and scored)

So
Chelsea vs. Blackburn
ManUre vs. Watford

[abhijit_reddevil]

^^So you are admitting that Arse is not a big team? And there are only 2 big teams in the EPL?.

Good that you realized the fact, although late...

[vivektheone]

Man Utd might easily advance to finals of FA Cup but Chelsea might have a tough time with Blackburn since they defeated Arsenal previously.

but I still think they will come back like they did against Tottenham...

And btw Vimal u changed ur avatar recently I guess...

[Arsenal_Gunners]

^^Nope,no change
Chelsea will win the FA cup because of Andriy Shevchenko's form
Sheva 3 -0 ManUre
@digitized-Yes I agree that ManUre and Chelsea are BIG teams,(bigger than Boro and Spurs that is)

Btw.Who is the guy between Henry and Giggs in the epl intro?

[techtronic]

^^Nope,no change
Chelsea will win the FA cup because of Andriy Shevchenko's form
Sheva 3 -0 ManUre
@digitized-Yes I agree that ManUre and Chelsea are BIG teams,(bigger than Boro and Spurs that is)

Btw.Who is the guy between Henry and Giggs in the epl intro?

Its Damien Duff (Former Chelsea Midfielder), now Newcastle

[Arsenal_Gunners]

WHAT!,he looks different on field(havent seen much of him lately also)

[abhijit_reddevil]

Advantage Reds:

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pa...&newsid=412990

BTW, [qoute]Jose Mourinho is furious with the fixture rearrangements. "Everything in this league went against us from the beginning, injuries, decisions, everything."[/qoute]

Jose (Hose) is starting to make excuses again.

[Arsenal_Gunners]

BELGIUM have threatened to crock Cristiano Ronaldo in the first two minutes of their clash with Portugal.
Belgian keeper Stijn Stijnen has revealed his side's shocking plans to stop the Portuguese winger on Saturday.

CRICKET WORLD CUP DREAM TEAM - TRANSFER WINDOW NOW OPEN

Stijnen wants his team-mates to take Ronaldo out of the game in the opening exchanges of the Euro 2008 qualifier.

He said: "After two minutes, we should have beaten him up so much he would have been stretchered off the pitch.

"What more do we need to do? Portugal have more quality so we have to handle things our way.

"If we try to play like them, we will lose for sure."

Despite his outrageous claims, the Club Brugge stopper was unrepentant when he had the chance to apologise.

Stijnen added: "I do not find my words shocking. We are the visiting team and we have to make the match go our way.

"I do not mean that Belgium have to break the leg of somebody.

"But we do have to be aggressive and we have the players for this."

source-The sun