april 15th
Jermaine Pennant just can’t stop talking these days. Here he is talking about how he didn’t get too many chances at Arsenal. “I don’t know whether it’s because I’m English but Wenger brought in a lot of foreign players and they’re playing and I got brought in and never played. I was patient but it just didn’t work out for me, which is frustrating.” He goes on to talk about how dreamy Steve Bruce is and how his new boss understands him better “He knows what it’s like. There’s always a chance for a second chance.”
Now, maybe I’m being forgetful but Pennant was on at least his second chance at Arsenal when he decided to drive somebody else’s car at 4am while he was over the limit. As for him not being picked because he was English that’s just a handy soundbite from a bitter player to give an ever-eager press. If he really thinks that’s the case then how does he explain Ashley Cole? Cole, until recently, stayed out of trouble, didn’t get involved in rape cases, didn’t drive while drunk and get his licence taken away, didn’t break curfews when on international duty, didn’t turn up late for training, didn’t go out to nightclubs when he shouldn’t have and as a consequence forged himself a very nice career. Pennant, on the other hand, did all the things Cole didn’t, still can’t accept any responsibility for them and chooses to blame somebody else and now he’s playing for Birmingham. Let that be a lesson to all young footballers.
Ahead of tomorrow’s cup semi the boss hasn’t yet decided about Sol Campbell, saying “I must think carefully because he is not completely fit yet and we have defended very well recently.”
Freddie Ljungberg, who is looking for a new deal, is fit, along with Edu and José Antonio Reyes. Mathieu Flamini and Manuel Aluminium are both out though. Stuart Taylor will be on the bench tomorrow and he gives an interesting and realistic interview here about his future at the club. “At the end of the day, Jens is the No 1 goalkeeper. Manu is his No 2, so he obviously feels they are better goalkeepers than me. He’s the manager, and his opinion is the main one – that’s how it should be.”
The lads from REDaction asked me to point you in the direction of this article which aims to ensure the Grove is not the quiet place Highbury can be at times.
Finally for today there are a couple of new wallpapers for you to download featuring two of our young players. Firstly there’s Cesc Fabregas (1024×768 – 1280 x 800) and Philippe Senderos (1024×768 – 1280×800). Till tomorrow.
