november 2nd
“Out of order, disconnected with reality and disrespectful“.
Arsene Wenger reacting (video of press conference – the last 30 or 40 seconds are particularly interesting and those quotes have not appeared in print as of yet) to Jose Mourinho’s ‘voyeur’ and ‘sicko’ remarks yesterday. He also didn’t rule out taking further action over Mourinho’s comments but I don’t think it will come to that. As I mentioned on Sunday Wenger was just answering a question put to him about Chelsea. He didn’t call a press conference specifically to make remarks about Chelsea. As he said “”I will see whether I take any action about that. I don’t know yet, but I leave that door open.”
And at the moment Chelsea are the main topic of conversation. Can they be caught? Is the title race over? What does the self-styled ‘special one’ expect? That people shouldn’t say anything about his club when asked? I don’t think so. What this does show us is a definite paranoia on Mourinho’s part. It’s easy for him to be cocky and self-assured when his £270m team is winning all the time but they won’t win all the time (starting with last night, har har) and when things start to go a bit wrong it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Remember, Chelsea fans were the ones who booed their team off at half-time when they were losing 1-0 to Bolton. No pressure there then. Imagine what losing a game would be like. Worse than some of the pityful over-reaction of some Arsenal fans, that’s for sure.
People have called Mourinho a breath of fresh air. Personally I think he’s arrogant, rude and without the slightest ounce of humility. Maybe that’s what makes him successful and if it is then good for him. Don’t expect anyone to like it though or expect people not to see through it. I think the wealth at Chelsea gives him a cushion to behave in a way he wouldn’t at another club. We already know he’s a liar after the Ashley Cole incident and his remarks about Wenger were childish and unnecessary.
Arsene Wenger has always been very honest in his press conferences. It’s why the journos love them. He’s always got a quote for them. They ask him about football and he gives them an answer. It might be Chelsea, it might be Man United, it might Real Madrid, it might be racism in the game, it might be anything but they know he’ll give them a good, honest answer. Maybe that’s to his detriment when smug cunts like Mourinho take what he’s said the wrong way and the journos love Jose too because he’s a rent-a-quote of a different kind.
And he just won’t stop, claiming to have a dossier of 120 pages of Arsene Wenger talking about Chelsea within minutes of Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Real Betis last night. Hasn’t he got anything else to do? Or rather couldn’t he have his lackeys do something more productive? At the height of our rivalry with Man United it was almost inconcievable that another club or manager could be more loathsome than them but Chelsea and Mourinho are making a really fuckin good go of it.
If you asked me 100 times to choose between Arsene and Mourinho as Arsenal manager I’d choose AW every time. No question. He’s clever, witty, a great manager and he’s got a sense of right and wrong that I like to think most Arsenal fans share. Mourinho is working for a club funded in a most dubious fashion by a man whose ruthlessness is well documented elsewhere. They lack morals. When the man at the top is the type of man he is it’s no wonder Mourinho feels he can say what he wants, when he wants.
I’m glad Arsene gave him both barrels back. It was no less than he deserved. I hope it doesn’t go as far as legal action. I’m not sure the comments merit it but I’ll give the last word to our manager who says “There wasn’t anything malicious in what I said. I was asked a question about Chelsea and I gave an honest answer, just as I expect any other manager to do when he is asked about Arsenal. I can’t see what is wrong there, or we would all have to close our press conferences.”
Injury news ahead of tonight’s game is mixed. Freddie Ljungberg is out with a hamstring strain while Thierry Henry has a ‘good chance’ to play after missing the North London derby against Sp*rs.
Safety’s new Mac has taken a hammering again as he brings you another fine article. Is it better to have loved and lost? Read it to find out.
I wish I had words to describe this. Absolutely shameful. Nearly as bad as his performances on the pitch this season. Arf.
There you go, a busy morning.
Till tomorrow.
