Is he back?
Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Is he back?
By Boris Mellor
January 23 2010
No doubt by now you have read the outrage at Ricardo Fuller's threat to rough up Arsenal, or perhaps watched the rolling coverage on Sky demanding that Fuller be punished. You haven't? Neither have I. Of course it could be the imagination of a paranoid Arsenal fan, but here is the quote from the Stoke player on the Guardian website:
Is he back?
January 23 2010
No doubt by now you have read the outrage at Ricardo Fuller's threat to rough up Arsenal, or perhaps watched the rolling coverage on Sky demanding that Fuller be punished. You haven't? Neither have I. Of course it could be the imagination of a paranoid Arsenal fan, but here is the quote from the Stoke player on the Guardian website:
"I don't think Arsenal can deal with the aggressive play," said the Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller. "It's been proved that Chelsea and Bolton have roughed them up and tried to bully them. We can also be rough and aggressive when we need to. It couldn't be a better draw for us."
Wenger will give Stoke a fair chance by playing a weakened team, but that's not enough for them; they need to rough up the Gunners as well. Because Arsenal don't like being roughed up like big brave Bolton, who prepare for games with southern cissies by sleeping on a bed of nails, and are woken up by flaming torches rolled over their chests, they then have a breakfast of cold porridge garnished with rusty nails and freshen up by drinking a ground glass milkshake.
Mind you Fuller is not much of a thinker because Bolton haven't been that successful with the tactic, two defeats in four days is hardly a ringing endorsement is it? Nor the fact that Bolton cried like babies when they lost yet again. Bogey team, my Arsenal.
It's not very original either as Fuller makes the same speech every time he is due to play Arsenal.
Wenger will rotate
The difficulty Arsenal may face is not bullying, but whether the attack can get behind lumbering defenders. Pulis is not likely to water the pitch to help with the tempo, the slower the better for his team.
Wenger has his eyes on the Premiership, for him that's the Gold Standard, and he is not about to blow it for the FA Cup. Of course he wants to do well in the cup, but he has to get the balance right. It won't be just kids; there will also be some geriatrics and the almost permanently lame in the team. A sort of Dad's army to hold the fort whilst the big battalions rest for the big push.
Athletes can play every day
I do love those bloggers that say things like "Wenger shouldn't be resting players, they are athletes". Which shows that not only do they not know much about football, but they don't know much about athletics either.
Athletes do not compete in every fixture, run one marathon too many and you will suffer injury (ask Paula Radcliffe), and modern football is the equivalent of running a mini marathon every game.
If we want more ham string and calf strain injuries just keep on playing the same players game after game. Playing Diaby twice against Bolton didn't help anyone. Arsenal once again have a long injury list. Ramsey, Diaby, Nasri and Sagna to name but the most recent additions to the treatment room.
Using the Squad:
When Wenger says he will use the squad he is hardly talking household names. Arsene confirmed that, "Jack Wilshere, Sol Campbell, and Mikael Silvestre would be in the squad he added: "We have called up Kyle Bartley, Jay Emmanuel Thomas, Francis Coquelin, Gilles Sunu, and Craig Eastmond".
The line-up will include Fabianski in goal, a possible back four of Traore, Silvestre, Campbell and Coquelin. The midfield could be very light with Wilshere, Eastmond and Denilson, and up front Rosicky, Vela and Walcott. It is possible that Wenger feels that Clichy needs more games, but I can't imagine him starting Arshavin, Fabregas or Eduardo. They will be kept on fire duty, for if the team struggles, like it did against the Hammers, there will be no Diaby or Nasri available.
Stoke will probably prove to be a tougher opponent than West Ham, and that's ignoring Fuller's ranting. So the fire engines might be needed.
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Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 13:15
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:24:17:08:22 by Padre Pio.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:24:17:08:22 by Padre Pio.
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Goofle11 (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 13:18
As I said in the forum, Stoke/Bolton/rubbish players are just bridging the gap between the two teams, that's ok. How dare a superior team also use physicality? It doesn't give the opposition a chance. Unfair. Should be illegal.
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Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 13:32
That is why thuggery is ok against Arsenal, the unfair black arts of skill have to be countered by any means possible
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Since 66 (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 14:53
Dont know what you are worried about. Chelsea outplayed you, and you outplayed Bolton twice inside a week and you were 2-0 down the other night.
100% Risk Free Betting
6th May 2009
Chelsea v Barcelona
NEVER FORGOTTEN
100% Risk Free Betting
6th May 2009
Chelsea v Barcelona
NEVER FORGOTTEN
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 19:42
We are not worried about anything just fed up of journalist nonsense about bullying
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Rockstaar (IP Logged)
Date: 23/01/2010 21:08
sigh
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Bergmars (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2010 12:33
Why dignify it by talking about it.
DB10,the best.
DB10,the best.
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2010 15:23
Kids got slapped big-time.
Re: Big Brave Stoke Coming to Slap Kids and Steal Lollipops
Posted by: Bergmars (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2010 15:26
Agreed Merl,but not just the kids.
DB10,the best.
DB10,the best.
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