Written by SharkeySure
I started to write this on Sunday evening, and have also read through yesterday’s debate without getting the chance to comment much. So now my rambles have been requested by Peaches for a post in Song’s defence. I make no apology for the biased reporting and rewriting of recent history that follows. I’ll even steal a line of MickeyDidIt’s to make matters even clearer: “I must stress, every one of my theories and brilliant ideas have absolutely no basis on factual research or rational thought!”
I guess football is about opinions, but whilst I agree that Song wasn’t at his best on Saturday, I can’t see that he did much wrong bar horribly misplace two or three passes, and take a wild shot from a very difficult angle.
I watched it on a stream at 3pm then again on footie first at 8pm, and I was surprised to see how much closing down he did and how many balls he won in the air and on the deck, that hadn’t registered that forcefully with me earlier in the day.
Before horribly miscuing a pass to Arshavin, he won an aerial battle against two Fulham players, one of whom was the man mountain Hangeland. Credit first for coming out with the ball from a position in which he almost had no right to. Song also had a good penetrating run into Fulham’s bus garage (?) which opened them up a bit and led to Rosicky’s volley that went narrowly wide. Again, good pace shown to get in there.
Prior to his wild shot it was a long sprint after Pantsil, whom he caught and robbed (you all saw that right – Song’s slow ..Lol !) . I’m very happy to see him doing that, as it shows us pressing higher up the pitch. We started last season that way, and then it tailed off a bit, for some reason.
This season Song seems to be tasked with being presser in chief, and I for one think that he does it very well. When required, he sits deeper and is much more disciplined as a pure DM (M City, Everton and Villa away?).
Maybe part of the reason is that Song is very adept at using his strength and physicality to break up play, and perhaps Arsène feels that it’s better that he does this further away from our goal, in an area of the pitch where the opposition are less likely to roll over for a foul and set piece opportunity. Additionally he’s less likely to get a yellow for fouls high up the pitch.
Beyond his strength, Alex Song really is one of the best CMs in the Prem in my humble yet unbiased opinion. It’s rare to combine his physical strength and sublime technique. His quick feet and speed of thought get him out of many sticky situations that would have many others hoofing the ball into touch. He is also a very good passer of a football – slide rules inside the full back, chips, dinks, deft touches, he’s got the lot.
Yesterday Gunner N5 posted some wonderful stats that showed Song as being the 2nd most successful passer of a football in the Prem this season (up until Nov 27th). To see Song’s passing stats at 87% and to know the sort of cute and sometimes audacious passes that he attempts is fantastic for me, as I am just about one of his biggest fans. He’s second only to the Black Ray Wilkins at Chelsea (on 88%) who may as well be called CrabMan, and work at the CrabShack. (My Name is Earl is just about my fave comedy!)
To see Song do that receive and turn, look up to pass, then glide away in the opposite direction is a thing of much beauty and grace to me. To watch Crab Obi Mikel knocking the ball 2 and 3 yds to Ivanovic, Terry and back to Cech is horrible to watch. So taking into account points for artistic merit, Song’s a very clear winner. Simple really. So whilst I accept that his standards may have dropped a little I still believe that he remains one of our most effective and consistent players, who gets through the donkey work and adds the steel and never say die spirit (W ham at home!!) that we’ve all been crying out for since Flamini left. Anyone got Flamini’s passing stats for his final season..??
As this post lacked the humour I’d ordinarily aim for, here’s a gag to finish. A blonde (no, not our beloved Alex !!!) took her car to a garage as it wasn’t running too well. She left it with the mechanic to look at for an estimate of the problem and likely cost. One hour later she returns to hear the car running smoothly. “Wow you’ve fixed it already,” she says, “yeah just shit in the oil filter” says the mechanic. “Really” replies the blonde, “how often do I need to do that..?”
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all
Thanks Sharkey for the post.
Although yesterday definitely wasn’t a Song bashing on here – I think most accept that Song is under instruction to push up at every opportunity – it will be good to hear from real Song supporters about their man.
Micky put this very funny comment on yesterdays post early this morning …….
MickyDidIt89 says:
December 7, 2010 at 7:02 am (Edit)
Rocky,
You say you are happy with the mobile Song role as we play 4-2-3-1, only at times we should show more caution. Not unsuprisingly this has given me another brilliant idea, and it goes back to the Plan A/B debate. What we ought to have is simply two orders barked from the bench:
1. “Plan A, Plan A” and
2. “Less A, Less A”.
Ahhhhhhhhh, I am like a cat purring here; Sharkey you watch the same Arsenal team play as I do.
Morning,
Entertaining post Sharkey. I wouldn’t argue with any of the praise you heap on Song, but the role he is being asked to perform would work much better if he had more pace. He is very strong and a great tackler and he reads the game very well, but I don’t think he’s got the engine for the box-to-box role and so it is wiser for him to stay back when the situation demands IMO.
Frimpong however, does have the pace aggression and stamina, its such a shame we didn’t get to see him develop this season as I’m sure he’s a star of the future.
Cheers Rasp,
I could almost write another post dispelling the myth that Song has no pace, is slow etc etc.
When he gets into a sprint he’s quick enough. He’s not got Walcotts pace obviously, but I’d fancy him to comfortably beat Wilshere and Fabregas over 50yds.
Thanks for post Sharkey.
I am just tickling an idea here, but are we better defensively against top teams when we partner Song with Denilson? The answer will require either a stats man or someone with a memory, which rules me out on both counts.
This should open the debate up as to why Wenger is doing what he is and there is a reason because the man is not doing this accidentally. My guess is that the answer lies in the fact that he is going to have to accommodate both Ramsey and Wilshere in the team next season if not before: neither of those two will settle for being on the bench ever again. Wenger has to find a way of rotating that triangular midfield and he is starting now: they must all be able to attack and they must all be able to defend. To me this is Wenger’s idea of the big picture.
Hi Sharkey,
I wouldn’t say he is slow, and his reading of the game makes up for any lack of pace except when he is high up the pitch and we lose possession.
Our problem is that we are often poor when not in possession of the ball. I get really furious when one of our players loses possession and just expects a teammate to mop up after him. Theo and Diaby are two of the worst culprits. We need a ‘Flamini’ or two and a captain who bollocks the players if they lack effort. Did you see Jack have a go at Song on Saturday, I’m pretty sure he was saying something along the lines of ‘I need help here’
Rasp,
Well it certainly wasn’t “can I have the number of your hairdresser”.
Hi London,
What you say makes some sense, but when are we going to stop planning for the future and concentrate on the ‘now’? Surely the answer has to be a bit of both, but you can never accurately plan ahead because players get injured and players leave.
Although we’ve won nothing for 6 years, we could just as easily have won the league twice and the FA cup in that time, had we had more luck and concentrated on maximising our chances on what was achievable.
He can have the number of my hairdresser Micky 😛
I like London’s thoughts on AW’s bigger picture. It is easy to become very short termist, and I think it is right that he (AW) is considering how to intergrate the likes of Ramsey, Jack and even Frimpong.
🙂 Rasp.
Rasp,
I hear you on the less of the planning thing, however, I am not worried if he allows Song to develop the attacking side of his game as well (the longer term planning), so long as he is reigned in against the Utd’s, or when needs must. We can plan AND compete for trophies.
Back later.
OK Micky, I can accept what you say if we have a choice of players who can perform Song’s role of 2009/2010 – but we don’t. Diaby certainly isn’t the man. It looks like we are expecting an 18 year old to shoulder the burden and as we saw on Saturday, he’s struggling.
We could have won the CC any time we wanted in the last 6 years – we chose not to. Why are we obviously trying to win it this year?
Our priorities have been the CL and Prem, but we play weakened sides in the CL and lose top spot in the group and we’ve been inconsistent in the Prem. The answer will probably be that we have the strongest squad for many years, but as we can see now, we are down to our last 2 CB’s, until the New Year – you can’t legislate for injuries.
Rasp, yeah I saw Jack calling Alex back into position, and good on him for that. We need more good communication like that all over the pitch.
Last one I saw was Fab2 pulling Fab1 by his shirt back into position to defend a corner. Corner comes in, Fab1 clears. Simple.
I really wish we had someone at the club who concentrated and obsessed about the small details. Things like having your tallest men on the end of the wall, not leaving your slowest on the halfway line when you have a corner.
Its very frustratinbg to watch when some of these tiny little things are the cause of our undoing!
I didn’t add it into the post, but I also think that Fabregas is Song’s soul mate on the pitch. Some of the balls that Song puts into Fab’s stride suggest to me that they have some sort of telepathy going on.
Fab may be running right to left…and the split second that he checks back, Song will pop a ball round the corner to him. A ball which slows down six inches in front of Fab. It puts Fab on the front foot, as well as killing Fabs marker !!!
Good response Sharkey. As you know, I rate Song highly – I just have a problem with the instructions he’s acting under this season. You mention Man City, Everton and Villa away, where he played a bit more defensively and we won all three. Well, I’ll mention West Brom, Newcastle and Sp*rs at home where he didn’t sit back and we lost all nine points.
I really don’t buy the idea (sorry London) that AW is trying to create a group of uber-MFs who can defend as well as Gilberto, link the play as well as Fabregas and attack as well as Freddie, and that he is therefore deliberately playing players in positions that are not ideal for them just to improve their game. (Surely that sort of instruction would be done on the training ground). But it does beg the question: what exactly IS AW up to?
The one thing the Song debate (and all the excellent comments) has shown me is that it’s a much bigger question than just Song’s position. We are in the early stages of a new tactical approach by Wenger, which makes me think that, despite our (or at least my) reservations, we should go with it and see where it takes us.
That’s what I love about this site. When I wrote yesterday’s piece I had a firmly held opinion about Song’s position. Now I have had my mind expanded! Thanks everyone.
Micky – you’re on fine form today! 🙂
Fair do’s re the nine points lost, but I wasn’t trying to claim that Song won those games singlehanded, nor do I think we can say thahe was the main cause of any of our three defeats.
We lost to Newcastle because Fab2 misjudged one cross and they scored. Fir me we ost to Tottenham as ateam, and whilst Sing prob shoud have sat deeper, I don’t think that outweighs so many other factors that could have changed that result.
Chamakhs refusal to shoot, Kozzers refusal to get a header on target, Fabregas’s refusal to head a ball when stood in a defensive wall.
Song could have been playing deep enough to be a second keeper and it wouldn’t have changed any of those events I mention. 😉
In all seriousness I am slightly torn between not sitting back and inviting the opposition to play in our half, and trying to shut up shop with so many attack minded players.
If playing a certain way gets you a 2-0lead that shoud have been 3 or 4-0, then surely there’s an argument for continuing ‘as you were’..??
I wouldn’t say Song lost us those games single-handedly either, but what did lose us the games was a sort of collective immaturity. At 2-0 against the Spuds we carried on behaving as if we were chasing the game. Their first goal came, if I remember rightly, from our corner. A corner at which we had both our CBs and our DM (Song) all committed to attack, with Alvin and the Chipmunks guarding the defence.
It’s no good saying that because we could have been 3 or 4 nil up so we should keep playing that way. We weren’t 3 or 4 nil up and we seldom are. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “we should have been four nil up at half time” about games we have gone on to draw or lose. We were 2 nil up and lost 3-2 because we didn’t adopt a more common sense approach. I admit that this is not all about Song – his role just seems to symbolise our devil-may-care approach.
Ok, here is the next attempt to expand the debate. Who was the guiltiest of not doing their job properly in the midfield on Saturday? As much as I am an obvious admirer of Song I think it is fair that he come in for some criticism after the weekend. The thing he is most guilty of was giving the ball away cheaply in vital areas when the all too familiar fragility started to creep in: just after we had conceded, compounding the magnitude of Song’s school boy errors. That said, he was not the worst offender in my view – Rosicky was. Our Captain for the day went AWOL at the most critical time. The most experienced player in our team failed at every turn to put his foot on the ball and calm the game down. I could write pages and pages on this and bore people to tears but I feel certain that Rosicky has been made Captain to increase his value for the January window. It makes sense doesn’t it? He seems to be unhappy now with the amount of games he is getting and he must surely know that with the return of Ramsey he will get even less.
London, good point about TR7 – he did have a bit of a stinker on Saturday.
So Tomas played badly, Song played badly, Jack struggled… something of a pattern, don’t you think? Perhaps our midfield all struggled because they were trying to play a system which did not instil confidence in them or the team. If Song had sat back I suspect TR7 and JW would have had better games.
Also, TR7 has had some excellent games for us this season and I don’t believe he’s being lined up to be sold. One bad game doesn’t make him dead weight.
Rcky – “not all about Song – his role just seems to symbolise our devil-may-care approach.”
I completely agree with that. I have found myselves screaming at him to stay put when the pattern of the game requires.
Earlier I talked about our need to pay more attention to detail, and if those ‘small details’ such as us leading 2-0 dictate that we no longer pour forward then we really should take heed.
SS – your comment about small details was really perceptive. There’s probably a whole post in it – “10 simple steps to title glory”!!
LOndon, good poinit re TR7. Its a funny one though, cos he is generally very very good in possession of a football, and is usually prepared to hold on to it and probe for an opening.
Ramsey coming back..? Great news that.
Yeah great idea RL, have you got the other 8 steps for me..??
Not to hand..?? S’ok, I can wait. 😉
It’s a good argument Rocky and one that you may have noticed that I have not tried to disagree with. The reason being is that you could well be right but it doesn’t alter the fact that Wenger is using another system and it is that which I am trying to explore to find out if there is a bigger picture.
SS 🙂
Couple more suggestions:
Arms down when you’re in a wall.
Don’t let the opposition take quick free kicks (Fabianski please note)
Killing time instead of going for goal when one nil up with five minutes to go.
I’m with you on that London. There’s definitely something interesting going on and if AW gets it right it could blow us all away.
That’s the most exciting thing about this debate of the last couple of days – a real sense that there’s a Wenger master plan at the heart of it all (even if we haven’t quite managed to fully grasp it yet).
When we play Chelsea would you play:
———Fabianski
Sagna,Squillaci,Another,Another
————Song
—–Fabregas—–Wishere
Or
———Fabianski
Sagna,Squillaci,Another,Another
——Song——Denilson
———-Fabregas
This is about the position of Song rather than the choice of back line; although, I hear the “Another” twins are very good Lol
I’d play Song, Wilshere and Fabregas as the midfield 3 with Denilson to come on after 70 minutes to exert his calming influence if we’re ahead in the game.
London,
Although you say you are not discussing the back line, I would say they are directly related. If we had a stable CB pairing of say TV and JD (with five consequetive games under their belts), then I would go with the Song/Wilshere pairing. On the other hand, without a strong CB pairing, I would opt for the Song/Denilson axis.
London, I would go with your first line up, with Song sitting as defensive shield.
However, I expect Arsene will go with your second one, with either Song/Denilson or Song/Wilshere as the ‘2’ in a 4-2-3-1.
I think we should play a christmas tree formation, 4:3:2:1
Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy
Song, Fab, JW
Nasri, AA
Chamakh
The width can be provided b the overlapping fullbacks and we’d have a very solid yet inventive core to the midfield allowing Nasri and AA to weave their magic.
Seasonal Formations..nice touch!
Hi Guys,
It’s one of the beauties of a blog site, to be able to chew the fat and try and arrive at a consensus as to the why’s and wherefore’s of tactics? strategies? players’ positions? etc.
The truth is, of course, if we tried to second guess the boss in a work environment we would all probably be sacked.
In all our Posts/comments, there is a lot of “mind reading”? guessing? speculating? as to why Arsene does this or that, or why he will, or won’t, buy this player or that! We can even make up stories to suit our own point and sod the facts, or lack of them!
And naturally, all of us speak with such conviction and authority on those matters/players in which we have a particular interest. (although, anyone disagreeing with me is potty ….. obviously) 🙂
But what fun, and none of us will get arrested or have anyone else look askance at us.
Right, now as to the Post on Singa, can I say nicely written Sharkey, you always give us a different analytical perspective to set the cerebral cogs turning. 🙂
For my penny worth, SingaSong is either excellent defensively and has me applauding him unreservedly, or he is a complete pillock, out of position or doggedly and futilely pursuing a fleet footed opponent, to my intense chagrin! He is synonymous to the parson’s nose, like so many others in the team! 🙂
I think what I was getting at is that although the first formation with Song as the anchor is logical it wouldn’t really work because Wilshere would be lost: would he be offensive or defensive midfield? Where as the triangular, fluid midfield with its ethos of attack when possible and defend when necessary a formular that is gathering pace in my mind.
BTW, I would go for the second selection against Chelsea; I believe the belt and braces effect of having Song and Denilson sitting in front of the defence would be the strongest option available.
Funny old life, Koscielny in for Wednesday an Djourou (thigh) is out.
Nice post Sharkey’ I’ve been busy today and have had no time to respond, but I will say that I would be absolutely delighted if we had 2 Alex Song’s.
Off to the Hospital to have a check up on this darn pneumonia.
Peaches/Rasp,
I’ve sent a further modification.
London,
Your proposed formations are both valid, of course, but given Arsene’s cutting response to the question put to him as to why Singa played so high up in an attacking style, “because I want him to”, makes me think he won’t listen to you.
Without wishing to be fatuous, I cannot help thinking that at core Arsene’s whole philosophy is deeply rooted in a “total football” concept.
That is to say, he doesn’t button hole players into an exclusively offensive or defensive role, but as you earlier indicated, he believes in a fluidity of tactical strategies in which his players are all capable of attacking or defending as the need arises.
This would explain why he doesn’t seem too concerned about individual roles. His mantra has always been that the team attacks together and the team defends together.
Arsene Wenger has been unfairly pilloried by some critics who think he is stubborn, egotistical and unwilling to listen.
Following on from Sharkey’s comments on Singa, Andre Arshavin is now reported to have demanded that Arsenal improve their defending, blah, blah.
Eventually the penny will drop, for both fans and players, when having made clear what his philosophy and tactics are, the team apply the praxis of doing what he wants, even if they do not currently comprehend the reasons for doing so, as it will all become crystal clear when they win the trophies he has set out to achieve. 🙂
AW is an intellectual and perhaps the symbiotic relationship of such a manager, the players and us less gifted fans is still a work in progress. 🙂
RA
I think you are confused by my stance….I am not sure where, if ever, I have suggested a differing view from Wenger; so to say that “Wenger will not listen to you” is confusing; that said, I am sure there is a simple explanation.
I shall have to dig out the last post I wrote, I think I describe myself as an ulta loyal, fully paid up, card carrying Wengerite.
It would be amusing to find out what Jaguar over at LG would call me lol.
London,
The answer to the Jag question would involve a drinking vessel of European origin!
Hi RA,
Hope all is well with you.
I don’t doubt you for a second London.
I did not mean to infer otherwise, except in the debate proposing the team formation as to whether, or not, SingaSong should/would cover the CB’s when we play Chelsea, which I think was the original question.
Chelsea or no, AW will require Singa to play “high up”, amd therefore any firm defensive positioning, whether in a Xmas tree or any others permutation becomes mute.
When we debate Arsene, and I mean debate, not vilify a la Le Grove afficionados, praxeology would indicate the law of diminishing returns whenever we try to second guess his intentions. 🙂
Sorry ….. I cannot spell, it seems, I meant to type “moot” and not “mute”.
Perhaps I should heed my own Freudian slip and shut up ….. obviously! 🙂
Don’t you dare try and steal my thunder RA. I am undisputed King Bad Speller!
I am finding it very hard to focus on the Partizan game as all my thoughts are centred on the Utd match. We will learn everything about our chances in all bar the CC.
RA
As I thought, you must have missed a couple of comments, I am a believer in the fluid midfield and in my 2:11 comment I said “would you” not “I would” a subtle difference but an important one.
I am well Micky, thank you. I hope the same is true for you. 🙂
Poor old GN5, I hope he recovers from pneumonia quickly and it does not spoil his Xmas.
Your comment re Jag put me in mind of a “chat” I became involved in with him.
I became rather cross with the gutter language he was using to describe Arsene and certain of our players.
Pedro then told me I was intellectually bullying Jag. Naturally, I asked him how he could tell! And I was summarily moderated together with my question. 🙂
Weeks later I made an ironic joke (heavily bracketed) and was told I was stupid. [Such a reversal of fortune!] 🙂
When I admitted he was obviously far better than me at quantifying stupidity, I was again moderated, together with my comment.
You cannot have any fun if you are being censored! [I could not bring myself to use vile language or explicit insults]. 🙂
London’s comment about possible ‘mid-three formations’ got me thinking whether there is ever a time to start with just one in front of the back four. Surely its prudent to always start with two and see how the game pans out. This way an intelligent Song would be a hero.
We’ve already lost at home to two newly promoted teams so we certainly shouldn’t be taking chances then.
Micky’s suggestion of shouting from the bench More Plan ‘A’ when its working and Less Plan ‘A’ when its not seem emminently sensible 😉
OK, London, you’ve got me. I give up!
Micky, you? King Bad Speller? Surely not! 🙂
I am notorious for my spelling, as you must have noticed! 😉
Micky – would you like to write the Partizan pre-match as Raddy is out of contact?
Peaches,
An easily understood and practical solution, I felt! We could put it into doggy language:
“Song Stay” and “Song Walkies”.
Micky, 🙂
Crikey Peaches.
Better than the 20 mins warning of last time, then! I can’t tonight, so would have to be am. I have no idea of our injuries etc. Help on that one?
Micky,
Kosser is available.
DJ is out.
No other reported injuries, as far as I know. But AW might rest certain players and give people like Bendy a run out.
Don’t worry Micky I’ll do it, I was going to anyway 🙂
I get promotion, followed by relegation all within 13 minutes!!
Join the club, Micky. 🙂
As I said earlier (in case any of you missed it 😛 ), this is our strongest side and best formation defensively from the players currently available to face manure….
In a 4:3:2:1 christmas tree formation …..
Fab2
Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy
Song, Fab, JW
Nasri, AA
Chamakh
The width can be provided by the overlapping fullbacks and we’d have a very solid yet inventive core to the midfield allowing Nasri and AA to weave their magic.
I am being interfered with, and while I am enjoying myself on AA, I see it as an open act of agression. I am going to lose this one, so will bow out ungracefully. Until tomorrow, bye bye.
Who’s interfering with you Micky?
“Pedro then told me I was intellectually bullying Jag. Naturally, I asked him how he could tell!”
That’s brilliant RA, absolutely brilliant
“…and was told I was stupid…. when I admitted he was obviously far better than me at quantifying stupidity, I was again moderated, together with my comment”
That’s Pedro at his most contrary, he’s Ok most of the time but he is quite well known for riding his high horse one minute and then rolling in the gutter the next.
Lol Peaches and Mickey fighting over the pre match !!! She’s done you up like a kipper there mate !!
Mickey, loved your work over at LG, and loving it even more over here. Song stay, Song walkies …Lol lol lol
Thanks to all for your comments and words of support today.
Special thanks to GN5 for his passing stats that allowed me to expand the post beyond the damp squib that it originally was. Stats kindly used and abused without GN5’s permission ;-). So credit where its due for that.
Re the speling debate. I’m the best speler on AA, but the wurst tipist !!
Anyone who dare’s to suggest that most of my posts read like the above can take a running jump !!
Sharkey
We share the same sense of humour: when I read “Pedro accused me of intellectually bullying Jag”, I let out a howl of laughter. That is the funniest thing I have read on a blog in ages.
No, no, no it has been beaten as the funniest thing. I didn’t see Micky’s: “Song stay, Song walkies”, hilarious…….oh, I wish I had thought of that.
I agree re sense of humour London, but disagree re the winner. I called it a draw between those two crackers !!
I too let out a howl at RA’s one. Just slowly shook my head in despair at Mickey’s one.
Jag is the funniest bloke ever tgough. Lets rip and slates all and sundry, but if anyone has even the smalllest pop at him he calls ‘foul’ and runs off crying and playing the victim. What a character that nutter is…
God only knows why the two ringmasters continue to give that clown a platform.
Redders and Micky – thanks for brightening my day. 🙂 🙂
Lets win tomorrow and then we should be OK to do a job on the Mancs.
I liked the look of Djourou ans Squiggy in the second half on Sat and we should go with them for a few games!
Lets put the jitters behind us and push on!!
We can all dream!!
Eaglet for a pre match Guinness, bring it on.
No JD tomorrow Benwell – thigh strain (but not too serious according to the club – they’re just being cautious).
But Kozzer’s fit so he’ll start with Squidge.
I can’t see anything other than a convincing win in this one. Enjoy your Guinness – I’ll be bunking off work and watching in a Toronto football bar in the middle of the afternoon.
Hi Benwell
I won’t be at the Eaglet but I will bring along some mid-game Jamaican fortitude.
That should keep the chill out lol!
Rocky what the name of the bar?
Hiya Gn5. Turns out I can’t bunk off work after all, so am watching it ‘as live’ at a mate’s house later.
I think it would have been The Football Factory or Scallywags.
Hope the lungs are clear – I had pneumonia myself a few years back – it was no fun at all!
Spuds and ManUre have topped their groups. Assuming we finish second, can we draw them in the next round or does the ‘same country’ rule apply? Anyone know?
Same country rule does apply, I believe. We can face Schalke, Bayern, Inter, Madrid and Barca I believe.
I have listed those in order of preference for us.
Hey Rohan…hows tricks..???
Morning all
Theres a New Post ………….