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**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 07:29

I don't know about FIFA but Blatter is.

**C0ckney** · October 17, 2005, 07:30

unbelievable, we were all over them as well, i liked chris kirkland a lot better when he was injured! and as for bloody chelsea they'd have been in a lot of trouble if the ref hadn't bottled it over essien

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 07:31

Might have been only 3-1.

**C0ckney** · October 17, 2005, 07:38

and as if that stamping wasn't enough, did you see him trying to get gardiner sent off for that hilarious handball, he's a disgrace

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 09:19

It was a shocking tackle.

It's a sad day when you see Chelsea players doing things like. Maybe they think they play for Arsenal or something?

**Maquiladora** · October 17, 2005, 10:00

Originally posted by C0ckney

and as if that stamping wasn't enough, did you see him trying to get gardiner sent off for that hilarious handball, he's a disgrace

Dont forget he also tried to feign injury himself after stamping on him. C*nt

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 10:33

Yeah... he's the only footballer ever to make a bad tackle then try and not get sent off.

Christ, you'd think he killed someone.

**C0ckney** · October 17, 2005, 10:34

25 million clearly doesn't buy you much sportsmanship these days...

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 10:36

BBC SPORT | Football | Alan Hansen's column

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4349220.stm

BBC, Sport, BBC Sport, bbc.co.uk, world, uk, international, foreign, british, online, service

This, to me, is the key difference between Chelsea and Arsenal.

As a defender, let me tell you that your biggest fear is when you don't know where an attack is coming from.

If you know what's coming, you find it far easier to cope with.

Chelsea can go long and short, they can play it wide, they can come at you from all angles.

Arsenal, at present, are one-dimensional. They will pass and pass.

Even at Liverpool, where we were regarded as a passing team, we could go wide and were never shy about getting a high ball into the box if we felt it was exactly what the opposition didn't want.

So how do people feel about Arsenal's horrible decline this season? The 'invincibles' season seems a long way ago in both time and footballing terms now.

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 10:40

Originally posted by C0ckney
25 million clearly doesn't buy you much sportsmanship these days...

Since when have any of the players in any of the top teams been sportsmanlike? How many red cards have Arsenal had under Wenger? How many times have Manchester United surrounded the referee? What about those scenes at Old Trafford a couple of seasons ago?

I'm not defending the tackle, the reaction, or trying to get Gardener sent off (cast iron IMO) but spare me the hypocricy.

**CerberusIV** · October 17, 2005, 10:45

Originally posted by MikeH
So how do people feel about Arsenal's horrible decline this season? The 'invincibles' season seems a long way ago in both time and footballing terms now.

Apart from Chelsea nobody else has a complete team this season. Benitez is still trying to get rid of the last of Houllier's misfits. Ferguson is paying the price for not lining up proper replacements for Roy Keene and Scholes a couple of seasons ago and Wenger is trying to rebuild after Viera's departure.

All 3 will be better teams next season but the FA might as well have Chelsea's name engraved on the Premiership trophy for this season now.

**CerberusIV** · October 17, 2005, 10:49

Essien isn't going to last long if he keeps making tackles like that. The ref has been quoted as saying he will review the video so the FA may well end up giving Essien a ban for a few games. More to the point every other Premiership ref now knows what Essien did and will be watching him. He could well end up getting cards in future where another player might get the benefit of the doubt.

**MikeH** · October 17, 2005, 11:07

I think ManU have a very decent squad. They made a slightly dodgy start but they are really playing well now. Rooney and Van Nistelrooy are a great partnership, they have a great defence...

No-one has a great squad (other than Chelsea) but it's looking like Chelsea ManU 1st and 2nd. And I wouldn't put it past Spurs to finish top 4. They do have about 10 central midfielders...

**FrustratedPoet** · October 17, 2005, 12:21

Originally posted by MikeH
And I wouldn't put it past Spurs to finish top 4.

I would.

If we're still top four come Xmas I'll be surprised. If we're still there in March I might start to begin dreaming about Champions League football.

**FrustratedPoet** · October 17, 2005, 12:27

Also, I love it when Arsenal fans start sounding off about the appalling behaviour of other teams' players!

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