Potential Arsenal full-strength team:
-----------------Szczesny--------------------
Sagna----Vermaelen-----Mertersacker----Santos
---------Arteta----Song----Wilshere----------
------Gervinho---Van Persie---Walcott--------
Not bad?
The all-in-one consolidatory football thread Page 278
Just seen that Steed Malbranque has retired from football so that he can take care of his son, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
Top man, and not a bad player.
Quote: TopBanana @ September 3 2011, 2:16 PM BSTPotential Arsenal full-strength team:
-----------------Szczesny--------------------
Sagna----Vermaelen-----Mertersacker----Santos
---------Arteta----Song----Wilshere----------
------Gervinho---Van Persie---Walcott--------Not bad?
That's a decent team (although personally I'd play Benayoun ahead of Song). Gervinho is a great addition and Arteta (although no Fabregas) is an absolute class act. If Van Persie stays fit for the season (a big if), I'll predict a 4th place finish for Arsenal.
Quote: TopBanana @ September 3 2011, 2:16 PM BSTArsenal full-strength team
What is this mystical thing of which you speak? 
Quote: shaggy292 @ September 3 2011, 2:29 PM BSTJust seen that Steed Malbranque has retired from football so that he can take care of his son, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
Top man, and not a bad player.
I loved him at Fulham, and football aside that's absolutely horrible news. Children and cancer should not be allowed to mix. 
Quote: AJGO @ September 3 2011, 6:37 PM BSTWhat is this mystical thing of which you speak?
I'm fairly sure it involves Tony Adams and Steve Bould.
Quote: Rob H @ September 3 2011, 8:34 PM BSTI'm fairly sure it involves Tony Adams and Steve Bould.
Whenever I think of Steve Bould I remember overhearing a couple of fellow crowd members at Derby's Baseball Ground say, "Who's the number 5 for Arsenal?" "Bould" "Yeah, I know he's bald but what's his name?" 
Quote: TopBanana @ September 3 2011, 2:16 PM BSTPotential Arsenal full-strength team:
-----------------Szczesny--------------------
Sagna----Vermaelen-----Mertersacker----Santos
---------Arteta----Song----Wilshere----------
------Gervinho---Van Persie---Walcott--------Not bad?
Quote: TopBanana @ September 3 2011, 2:16 PM BSTPotential Arsenal full-strength team:
-----------------Szczesny--------------------
Sagna----Vermaelen-----Mertersacker----Santos
---------Arteta----Song----Wilshere----------
------Gervinho---Van Persie---Walcott--------Not bad?
I honetsly quite rate Ramsey and I think he could be in with a shot over Arteta.
I know other people gave their predictions and as you know I'm an ABU.
However I now think the premier league has four distinct groups from their recent activity in the transfer market.
1. Those who should qualify for the champions league - Chelsea, manchester united, Manchester City and Liverpool.
2. Those chasing other European places - Bolton, Stoke, Arsenal, Spurs, Villa.
3. Those who should stay up but have no chance of Europe - Wolves, Fulham, QPR, West Brom, Everton and Wigan.
4. Thise who will be relegated or be lucky to stay up - Norwich, Swansea, Blackburn, Sunderland, Newcastle.
I would give Suderland a bit more credit and Wigan/Wolves a bit less personally.
Shame about Newcastle, this time last year they had some great players and a fantastic manager.
Quote: shaggy292 @ September 3 2011, 2:29 PM BSTJust seen that Steed Malbranque has retired from football so that he can take care of his son, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
Top man, and not a bad player.
Actually, forget that. Apparently he doesn't even have a son. Stop the Steed Malbranque Son fundraising now.
Quote: shaggy292 @ September 6 2011, 7:37 AM BSTActually, forget that. Apparently he doesn't even have a son. Stop the Steed Malbranque Son fundraising now.
Was it Telegraph's football correspondent Henry Winter who started that rumour, or was he just retweeting?
I had a dream last night that I heard that England had drawn with Wales 0-0 and it was so real I took me a few minutes to realise that hadn't even played yet. Worth a flutter?
Wishire-Parker-Gerrard are the men who desearve first team places for England.
Barry is the most cumbersome man alive.
Lampard dosent have the legs and isnt creative.
Milner is a one season wonder.
Gerrard and Wilshire are injurged, don't know why Parker was sitting on his arse watching these three pretenders to his crown though.
You know your midfielders are rubbish when you have three of them and your lone striker still has to drop deep and act as playmaker all match.
Is this the greatest goal that never was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4pP9rd_pOA&feature=related
Can anyone think of a better example?