Football Focus

[SeanMacGabhann]

yep - it's next Friday lunch time (14th)

[Keef]

Don't go blaming us, you're the ones that were taking up our match venue! ;-)

[atila the gooner]

I've just seen this on the BBC Website regarding a player jailed for 8 years for his part in an armed robbery. When they found out that he had not told his club, Grays Atletic,the truth about his involvement they issued him with a 14 day notice of termination. Is the Director right or wrong? From what I've read, I think the director is spot on. Discuss forumites.

"We are being forced to pay approximately ?14,000 to a player who only had three training sessions and 20 minutes in a pre-season friendly due to his involvement in a heinous crime which saw a young father shot in cold-blood.

"Unfortunately my principles will not allow me to pay this money from either my own pocket, or from the club's, and the directors are of the same opinion"

[Jah Lush]

Easy. Greys Athletic have been exemplary in their attitude to the situation they have found themselves in with this "player." And if the "player" is proved to have been found guilty as charged then he will hopefully get exactly what he deserves.

[atila the gooner]

The has actually been given an 8 stretch Jah, so I guess he's got what he deserves. I admire the directors stand and, not for the first time, am saddened by the FA's decision. Yet again they lead me to wonder what planet they live on.

[Jah Lush]

I haven't read the story Atila. So what have those arses at the FA done then?

[atila the gooner]

FA have insisted that the club pay the guy ?14,000 on the basis that Grays have, in their opinion, breached FA regulations in terminating the players contract. If Grays fail to cough up, the club could be suspended from all football. Nice one FA!!! Let's help grass roots football by kicking it in to touch.

[Keef]

I read about that, couldn't agree with you more!

[Jah Lush]

That is bloody ridiculous.

[Jah Lush]

I'd like to pay a small tribute to the Sheffield legend Derek Dooley. I can remember reading about him when I was a kid and his playing career was already long over.

This was a young man who scored 63 goals in 63 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday before having his leg broken. Whilst recovering from the break gangrene set in and the leg was amputated. Can you imagine this happening today?

Take for instance Eduardo a recent leg break victim and the same age as Dooley when his career was suddenly called to a halt and the same thing happening to him. This being back in the 50s when players earnt peanuts. Absolutely tragic.

He went on to manage the Owls who sacked him on Christmas Eve '73 and he went on to work for the local rivals the Blades in a variety of roles until his retirement in 2006. He was awarded the MBE in 2003. He never complained about his lot but just simply got on with the job at hand. A man who united supporters of both the Blades and the Owls. They don't make 'em like that anymore. May his God bless him.

[Annasfield]

Yippee! :)-D

Hope the trip on Saturday is as satisfying:))

[atila the gooner]

Is it me, or do David Bentleys comments on Theo Walcott having to leave the Arsenal if he wants to get 1st team football smack of sour grapes???? Bentley was shown the door because he became a Billy Big Bollocks who believed his own hype. Unlike Mr. Bentley, Theo has enough courage to stay and fight for his place and turned in a good perforamance against AC. Still at least Bentley has bettered himself. >:D

[Keef]

Sour grapes maybe, but the move away certainly worked for him!

Theo is a different kind of player who will do well there. He is also still 18, and getting a fair few games for a player of that age, so I'm sure he's more than happy with the way things are at the moment.

If he isn't getting more games when he's 22 then he might start moaning.

[Jah Lush]

I think you're right Atila. Bentley's ego was too big for the Arsenal and it does smack of sour grapes. But as Keef has rightly pointed out Theo Walcott is still only 18.

We have a young lad at Spurs (Adel Taarabt) the same age who gets even less time on the pitch than Walcott who has been hailed as the new Zidane in France. He came on for the last 15 minutes last night and showed some flashes of what he can do. He is immensely skillful and a wonderful talent in the making but still has a lot to learn. Definitely one for the future.

Very disasppointing result for the Spurs last night but I can't say I was surprised. This was a big step up in class in Europe for us although it didn't help our cause having a debutant in Gilberto who had an absolutele stinker in the first half and it was his cock-up which led to their goal.

PSV are a very good side and let us not forget they knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League just a little while back. We have a long way to go and last night was a massive learning curve for our players.

[spadetownboy]

very long way to go,hate to say it but spurs were comprehensively outclassed, and did well to keep it at 0-1.

[atila the gooner]

Theos' situation reminds me of another young player who waited a while before he made the first team, and can play a bit. His name...........................Francesc Fabregas. Worth the wait I think you will agree.

[Jah Lush]

Definitely. But I think part of Bentley's beef at the time was that the English players didn't get a look in when it came to the first team. And, I suppose to a certain extent that still has a ring of truth about it.

[Annasfield]

If we're talking youngsters, keep your eyes peeled for Krisztian Nemeth. We signed him last year and I imagine he will be breaking through to our first team in the not so distant future. I often watch the reserve games and he is outstanding.

[atila the gooner]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Definitely. But I think part of Bentley's beef at

> the time was that the English players didn't get a

> look in when it came to the first team. And, I

> suppose to a certain extent that still has a ring

> of truth about it.

I think Theo is the start of things to come at the Arsenal.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

A goal in the first minute! Hurrah - we'll rule the world one day.

(no doubt will be on later to moan about the usual defeat, but I can dream for a moment).

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Two nil up - fingers, toes crossed

[????]

"Chimchimminee, chimchiminee, chimmchimcheroo, we smashed your pub up at quarter to two"....ooohh I do like Spuds away

[Keef]

Go Pompey!

[atila the gooner]

FERGUSMOAN UNHAPPY WITH REF SHOCK - Fergusmoan feels that the decision made by the ref to send off his keeper is unfair and he doesn't want to play anymore and has gone home to mummy sucking his thumb.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Well done Barnsley - don't you just love the FA Cup?