Hleb should have gone back

Everton centre-forward Louis Saha has hailed his compatriot Arsene Wenger, lauding in particular the Arsenal manager's ability to bring the best out of young players.

Saha is looking to face the Gunners in the Blues' opening day fixture at Goodison Park, and the forward feels that those who view the coach's coming season at Arsenal pessimistically may well be wrong as he anticipates more success ahead for the Londoners.

"Arsene has been at the top for many years and he’s up there with the best," the Frenchman told the Toffees' official website.

"He brings the best out of so many players. He has a young team now and I think looking forward there are even better things to come from them."

Saha is relishing the prospect of an opening day tussle with Wenger's team, and is expecting it to be a tough but enjoyable challenge.

"I’m looking forward to Arsenal. They have some really good players and I’m confident it will be a great game – albeit a hard game," he added.
"It’s always really hard to play against Arsenal. Their quality all over the pitch is amazing and it’s difficult to get a few passes together!"

Star Man: Tim Cahill
The Australian is the heartbeat of the Everton side and for what he lacks in size he makes up for in talent and desire.

One to Watch: Jack Rodwell
Jack Rodwell has been tipped to be one of the best young players to emerge in England for the last few years, and if he can fulfil his potential he is sure to become a top performer for club and country is years to come.

Manager: David Moyes
The Scot has worked wonders at Everton with very little funding and he will again have to use all his nous and expertise to match his previous achievements.

Fantasy Football pick: Steven Pienaar (£3.9m).
The South African enjoyed a productive season last term and he should chip in with some goals and a number of assists making him a cheap buy for your fantasy team.

INS: Anton Peterlin (Ventura County Fusion, undisc), Shkodran Mustafi (Hamburg, free), Jo (Man City, loan), Luke Garbutt (Leeds) tribunal

OUTS: Lars Jacobsen, (Blackburn Rovers, free); John Ruddy (Motherwell, loan), Tom McCready (Hibs, free); Segundo Castillo, Nuno Valente, Andy van der Meyde (all released).

Best Signing: Jo
Sky Bet Odds: 125/1
Likely Top Scorer: Jo
Possible Best XI: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Jagielka, Baines, Arteta, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo.
Predicted Finish: 6th

Manchester City want to see England centre half Joleon Lescott's medical records - before making a new and even bigger bid for him.

City officials want to clear up concerns about Lescott's historic knee problems and will make the unusual move of asking to check on him ahead of any further offer.

Mark Hughes's club are already willing to pay £18 million and will go to £22 million if they are satisfied that Lescott has no long-standing problems.

The idea of looking at the confidential documents is to avoid the embarassment of making a huge bid and then possibly seeing the player sent back as damaged goods if he 'failed' the actual medical.

However Everton will be reluctant to part with the information, especially as boss David Moyes is determined to hold on to Lescott at any price.

There you have it.


Fulham and Everton player so has got to be a nice man.
And he now says this, he has 100% respect from me now.

As for the " the forward feels that those who view the coach's coming season at Arsenal pessimistically may well be wrong as he anticipates more success ahead for the Londoners."

This is very true, people are counting us out to early.



http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/20...-arsene-wenger

Toffees 9/4 for sweet opening day victory

It's something of a surprise to see David Moyes' men available at such a big price (9/4 Sky Bet) to beat Arsenal on Saturday evening. After all, only nine points seperated the two teams in last season's Premier League standings and Everton came within a whisker of beating the Gunners at Goodison Park last January. Robin Van Persie's late strike ensured the visitors came away with a point that they barely deserved and many will think the home side are worth a punt at a similar price, especially as the North London team continue to look vulnerable away from home.

Sure enough, Arsenal will have their backers at 13/10 (totesport), although Arsene Wenger's team drew and lost more away games in total last season than they won. In addition, they begin the campaign without Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor (now plying their trade at Manchester City), while Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri are currently injured. Much rests on the shoulders of Cesc Fabregas (10/1 Ladbrokes) and Andrei Arshavin (8/1 William Hill) and it was the latter that showed a keen eye for goal after joining the club during the January transfer window.

This will also be a season where plenty is expected of Van Persie (6/1 totesport) and Eduardo (15/2 bet365), although the pair are injury prone and might have a restricted number of chances against Everton. After all, we're talking about a team who were very strong in front of their own fans last season, with David Moyes seemingly winning the race to keep Joleon Lescott at the club. Injury-wise, they are still missing the impressive Phil Jagielka, while the game will also come too early for Mikel Arteta and Yakubu. However, the on-loan Jo (8/1 Paddy Power) should be available, while Tim Cahill (9/1 bet365) will pose an obvious threat from set pieces.

Both teams will be keen to avoid defeat in this opener, with a point apiece not being a bad result all round. Stan James go 9/4 that it's honours-even, with Blue Square offering 6/1 that it finishes 1-1 as it did last season. Providing Joleon Lescott is still with Everton by the time the match takes place, the England international is sure to have his name sung from the rafters and he's a 25/1 chance (Bet Fred) to open the scoring an endear him to a set of supporters who are unsure of the player's future. A slender 1-0 victory in favour of the home side is a 9/1 chance (Blue Square).

They sure have alot of faith in your lot. :whistle:

9/4 is a decent price though

Arsenal don't need a new Viera.

Mathieu Flamini, who after a few seasons as a utility player got his chance in the middle of the park, and took it with both hands. He was a different type of player, able to track back and tackle, but he played higher up the pitch - where he used his great shot and which he scored with on many occasions - but did not have the strong, athletic build of the others. His breakthrough season, 2007/08, saw Arsenal seriously challenge for the title, reaching at least the quarter-finals of all competitions and setting a club record of 28 games unbeaten. Their midfield during this campaign was Flamini and Cesc Fabregas, both 5'10" with medium build - not exactly what you would call a powerhouse midfield. Last season, Manchester United won the title with players such as Michael Carrick, Anderson and Paul Scholes playing in this position, none of which you would ever call a battling midfielder. Tactically-minded, passing midfielders are just as useful as an enforcer.

So, is there a need for Arsenal to recruit a strong defensive midfielder? The answer is no, it is not essential. They already have enough midfielders that can pass their way out of trouble and will - hopefully for Arsenal fans - be getting to the point where they can show the tactical awareness needed to be successful there. But the good news for the Gunners is they already have one midfielder who can both battle and play his way around the park. Alexandre Song was one of the revelations for Arsenal of last season.

Able to play as a central defender (where for his country Cameroon he has won massive plaudits) or a defensive midfielder - where he proved he could hold his own. If injury had not ravaged Arsenal's attack last season it is quite possible his performances in the team would be remembered more fondly. He is strong and quick with a large frame, with the maturity to control Arsenal's games from the middle. He is not your archetypal 22-year old - already married with two children. A troubled childhood forced him to mature quickly, and this could give him the composure to really dominate for Arsenal over the coming seasons. If he is chosen to partner Fabregas this season (although this is in no way certain as Abou Diaby, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere will also be fighting for a place) it could make all the current pining for a new Vieira - or even for the old Vieira - seem like a huge waste of time.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...ale-at-everton

We are pleased to announce that the Official Arsenal Magazine will be sold from 90 minutes before kick off in the away section at Goodison Park. This month features the first in depth interview with our new Gunner Thomas Vermaelen who talks about his football education, his leadership qualities, early days with the Gunners, his physical attributes... and a whole lot more.

Price per magazine is £3.25. For subscription information please contact 0845 880 0445.

Arsene doesn't want to pay 10m for Chamakh so has pulled out apparently..

And i Wonder who we will sign after fabregas leaves if any one. (jack wilshire)
since we will possibly get 40 - 50 m euro for him..

I dont think he will leave until next year though..

Sunderland to sign two more players, one of them may become captain, and one may be signed up before Saturdays game.

Also Cattermole deal is completely done, yay.

ps. George Burley to get sacked.

George burnley?


And Thats good news for Sunderland, but lorik Cana should stay captain!

Breaking News!

*David Bentley charged with drink drinking offence and bailed until August 28.

*Wolves sign Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne on season-long loan.

Breaking News!

Livingstone lose appeal against demotion and will remain in the Scottish third division.

That would be shocking if they sacked Burley already, fickle fans, if he won the next game theyd be all burley is the best manager in the world.

I use to like Scottish fans but they gave big John carew abuse yesterday and thats not on lol, big JC is better than any of their players ever will be

Breaking News!

Portsmouth sign Belgium international Anthony Vanden Borre from Genoa on season-long loan.

Australia V Ireland friendly
3-0
:P

He is a very good right back and can play RM too

Ange7 I can't get over how brilliant your avatar is

RIP, another footballers brother dies, take as long as you want out Luke, thoughts with your family.

That's really sad news. R.I.P :sad:

Cahill scoring two just before our game - not good.

On the flipside, Eduardo scored for Croatia - I can see him banging in 2 on Saturday, just like he did two seasons ago.

I wouldn't have minded seeing Lee Catermole at Arsenal - he's just the sort of tough, gritty, no nonsense midfielder we needed.