august 21st
07.36 – People often accuse Arsene Wenger of not disciplining his players enough. They cite the 197 red cards Arsenal have picked up already this season as a sign that the Gunners are a nasty bunch of thugs. Well, no more. In what has been described as the most shocking disciplinary procedure football has ever seen, the Arsenal manager has punished Jermaine Pennant’s sending off on Tuesday night by sending him to Leeds for 2 months.
If this doesn’t put the shits up the rest of the players, and serve as a reminder that they could be next, then I don’t know what will. It’s believed that if Pennant is sent off again he’ll be sent for 3 months to Bolton and after that it’s the ultimate punishment for any professional – a year long spell at Liverpool. It’s groundbreaking stuff, it really is. Of course, Arsenal have called it a ‘loan‘, but we know better.
Although I couldn’t find anything in either of the Barca friendly sports papers about Cesc Fabregas today, another Spanish based Arsenal fan found something in El Pais and sent it into Arseweb. They mention the Nano business I talk about below and say that Barcelona are going to fight this deal and bitch to FIFA because Arsenal have to prove the family Fabregas are resident in England to make it all happen. As it turns out, Cesc scored a wonder goal for the Spanish U17s, outshining yank superkid Freddy Adu.
More stadium speculation from Mihir Bose. So far as I’m aware, he’s a Spurs fan.
An interesting piece of info I picked up yesterday. The FA’s video advisory panel is made up of 12 members. 4 ex-players, 4 ex-manager and 4 ex-referees. I think at any time, 3 of them view and make a judgement on incidents like Sol Campbell’s. Now, the 4 ex-players are Gary Mabbut, Paul Parker, Brian McClair and Geoff Hurst. 2 Spurs and 1 United, and as far as I’m aware, McClair is employed in some capacity by United, so surely there’s a conflict of interest there somewhere? Food for thought anyway.
The FA are in a hurry to sort out the Sol situation so he’ll be available for England’s upcoming Euro qualifiers. Spokesman A Twat said “We would like to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible. It is not in anyone’s interests for it to drag on.” Right. ‘Everyone’s interests’. Who do they think they’re kidding?
Senderos speaks. “My aims for my first season are to be protected from injury this year and to gradually make an impact at the Club and hopefully play some part in any success the group of players have here.”
Is it only Thursday? Pah….
