September 3rd
Ok, let’s start with Cashley Cole this morning who has taken his appeal for doing something completely wrong and against the rules to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Cole’s limelight loving lawyer, Graham Shear, said yesterday “I can confirm that an appeal to the decision of the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) has been lodged, on Ashley Cole’s behalf, with the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. We hope that CAS will hear the appeal in the next few months.”
I’ve said all I’m going to say about this previously. It might just be worth repeating that Ashley is being a fucking cunt and should, as a millionaire footballer, just accept the fine, pay it and move on. And stop being a cunt, natch (although I’m beginning to think that might be a step too far). Another young English player is making headlines as well with David Bentley ensuring he’s got little or no future at Arsenal by blasting the club after his move to Blackburn. He says “I’ve lived my time at Arsenal. I like honesty and loyalty. And if that isn’t shown in me, then I don’t want to play for the club. People haven’t been honest with me on both the business and football side of the club. The only way I see myself progressing as a footballer is by moving away from Arsenal permanently. But I’ve got three years left on my contract at Highbury and they are making it difficult for me to leave because of that.”
It seems that no club was prepared to meet Arsenal’s £4.5m valuation of the player to make a permanent move but Bentley’s words stink of sour grapes. While some people might suggest that young English players don’t get a fair crack of the whip at Arsenal one thing the manager has never done is make it difficult for them to leave. Look at Upson. Look at Sidwell. Bothroyd. I know he’s not English but look at Moritz Volz who came through the ranks at around the same time. If Arsenal have a valuation of a player then they have every right to hold out for a bid which more or less reflects that. Not two weeks ago Bentley’s agent was telling anyone who’d listen that Sven told him that Bentley was one of the top 3 players for his age in England – bracketing him with Wayne Rooney. Yes, I chuckled like the rest of you but you can’t use that to get clubs interested then complain that you’ve only played one game and are overpriced. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger thought enough of him and his talent to give him a 5 year deal two years ago. What has changed since then that they’re now willing to sell him? Maybe Blackburn is more his level.
Robin van Persie could get his first start for Holland tonight with Marco van Basten saying “Van Persie is doing well and he has played well as a substitute three times now. We notice that he keeps on getting better. We are very happy with that because we can use him.”
Laurence Olivier Khan, German goalkeeper and renowned thespian, thinks Jens Lehmann should shut up. Is it just me or does anyone else have the strangest feeling of deja-vu? Laurence Olivier Khan, German goalkeeper and renowned thespian, thinks Jens Lehmann should shut up. Is it just me or does anyone else have the strangest feeling of deja-vu? Laurence Olivier Khan, German goalkeeper and renowned thespian, thinks Jens Lehmann should shut up. Is it just me or does anyone else have the strangest feeling of deja-vu? And that’s it. Internationals a-plenty today.
Can big Johnny Hartson send Sven back to Sveden? 8-3 Wales. Laters.
