Official Gooners Thread - A New Hope

Started by Dinny Breen, November 10, 2006, 09:10:06 AM

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Dinny Breen

#newbridgeornowhere

Mentalman

Quote from: Dinny Breen on July 02, 2007, 01:57:53 PM
Looks like Eduardo da Silva could be a decent buy..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nREh1bD0HsY


Think Arsene had turned up another gem here, guy has made a real impact over the last 24months, but at £8million, while not silly money, he'll be under a bit of pressue to show form pretty fast, it's not like he's another of the professors unknown kids.
"Mr Treehorn treats objects like women man."

ONeill

Croatia's big-game poacher strikes again

Goalscorers may be a dying breed but Eduardo da Silva's killer instinct has driven Slaven Bilic's side within striking distance of Euro 2008.
Jonathan Wilson
June 4, 2007

It was just over two years ago that I first began taking notice of Eduardo da Silva. I was drinking coffee in a restaurant in the mountains above Split, looking down over the Adriatic, interviewing Slaven Bilic. The former West Ham and Everton defender is somebody who, if you get him in the right mood, you don't really have to interview. Just set him going and the opinions and the anecdotes roll out.

He'd been on great form that morning, talking about Ciro Blazevic and the '98 World Cup, about the war, about his love of London, about his job as Croatia Under-21 coach. And then he leaned forward across the table with an air of seriousness. "There is a boy," he said, "who is very special. He came from Rio when he was 15, and you could put him now in the team at Manchester United and you wouldn't know he wasn't from there. Believe me, he will do things."

He was right. He has.

To say that Da Silva is the only reason that Croatia lead their Euro 2008 qualifying group would be unfair. Luka Modric, with his Jesper Olsen hair and his Arnold Muhren touch, is a sumptuous player, always finding angles; Robert Kovac remains implacably solid; and Vedran Corluka has emerged as one of the most promising right-backs in Europe. But Da Silva is the main reason.

We live, we are constantly told, is an age without goalscorers; there is a need for forwards to be able to do more than simply stick the ball in the net. A Gerd Müller, a Paolo Rossi or a Gary Lineker would, supposedly, have no place in the modern game. Zoran Filipovic, the former Red Star coach who is now manager of Montenegro, suggested that the levels of fitness and defensive organisation these days mean that the opportunities, the gaps and the mistakes, on which poachers used to rely, no longer exist.

To an extent, he is probably right. And yet, at 24, Da Silva has a goals-to-game record that stands comparison with the great goalscorers of any age. Admittedly he has yet to do it at the very highest level, but it is surely only a matter of time before he is given that opportunity. Even bearing in mind that the Croatian league is only part of Europe's middle rank, his record is extraordinary. Last season Da Silva banged in a record 34 goals in 32 games for Dinamo Zagreb, including the first ever hat-trick in a classico against their great rivals Hajduk Split. In 100 games for Dinamo, he has scored 71 times.

What he brings to the national side is obvious. England were outplayed in Zagreb, but Bilic has since admitted that he feared the game was drifting towards a draw as Paul Robinson made three or four excellent saves and a Niko Kranjcar shot deflected wide off Rio Ferdinand.

But then, just after the hour, Niko Kovac's looping cross from the left found its way to Da Silva eight yards out. He probably could have scored by taking the easy option and heading down to his right, but Robinson was moving that way and might have reached it. So he put the header in the one place he could be sure Robinson wouldn't get to it, shaping his finish back over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner. Robinson was left looking rather foolish, something that was inevitably highlighted as he subsequently missed Gary Neville's backpass to concede a second, but perhaps rather than blaming him we should have been praising the quality of the header.

Da Silva turned a draw into a win, and he was at it again in Tallinn on Saturday, scoring his sixth of the qualifying campaign. Estonia's industry and organisation limited Croatia's chances, but when Kranjcar miscontrolled Corluca's pass, Eduardo swivelled on to the loose ball and hooked a 20-yard finish into the bottom corner. "A misplaced pass, a half-chance, and again we lose," as Estonia's coach Jelle Goes reflected. And that really was how it was.

Perhaps poachers are a dying breed, and perhaps at the very highest level the modern club game has evolved beyond them, but their worth in international football should not be discounted. Perhaps there, where the limited time players have to train together means organisation is not so stifling (Hugo Meisl, the great Austrian coach, reflected on the disparity as early as 1932), those half-chances do still occur. How often, under Sven-Goran Eriksson, did Michael Owen suddenly turn a qualifier, just as Lineker used to save England in the eighties?

Bilic has been bold in promoting young players he knew from the Under-21s, and has finally ended the endless debate about the merits of the classic Balkan style 3-4-1-2 by simply binning it. His 4-1-3-2 has provided technicians like Kranjcar and Modric, even the ageing Milan Rapajic, to prosper, but the real secret of his success, as he knew it would be two years ago, is that he has a player who scores goals.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/06/04/croatias_biggame_poacher_strik.html
I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.

ONeill

Barnet 0 Arsenal 2
Adebayor 17, Barazite 66

Manuel Almunia (Lukasz Fabianski 46)
Kolo Toure (Paul Rodgers 67)
Kerrea Gilbert (Havard Nordtveit 46)
Gael Clichy (Armand Traore 46)
Mathieu Flamini
Alexandre Song (Gavin Hoyte 46)
Mark Randall (Kieran Gibbs 46)
Denilson (Henri Lansbury 56)
Theo Walcott (Francisco Merida Perez 67)
Emmanuel Adebayor (Rui Fonte 67)
Robin Van Persie (Nacer Barazite 46)
I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.

ONeill

I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.

ONeill

Genclerbirligi 0
Arsenal 3
Van Persie 45, 65, Walcott 51

Arsenal

    * Manuel Almunia     * Lukasz Fabianski 46
    * Kolo Toure     * Philippe Senderos 69
    * Gael Clichy     * Armand Traore 46
    * Bacary Sagna     * Emmanuel Eboue 46
    * Denilson     * Francesc Fabregas 69
    * Mark Randall     * Tomas Rosicky 46    * Fredrik Ljungberg 69     
    * Mathieu Flamini     * Abou Diaby 69
    * Alexandre Song    * Johan Djourou 69
    * Theo Walcott    * Alexander Hleb 69
    * Robin Van Persie    * Eduardo Da Silva 69
    * Emmanuel Adebayor    * Nicklas Bendtner 69

Bacary Sagna and Eduardo made their debuts as Arsenal began their Austria tour by beating Genclerbirligi 3-0 at Bad Waltersdorf Stadion on Wednesday night.

The French full back played the first half and the Croatian striker came on for the final 21 minutes in this comprehensive victory over the side that had finished sixth in the Turkish League last season.

Robin van Persie scored two of the goals but the other player on the scoresheet, Theo Walcott, really took the eye. The 18-year-old supplied an exquisite pass for Van Persie to slide home Arsenal's first with the final kick of the first half. Six minutes after the break Emmanuel Adebayor and Denilson set up the former Southampton winger to fire low into the far corner.

The two accomplices in that move also deserve a mention for their performances. Adebayor was eager and industrious, Denilson assured and efficient. The Togolese striker set up Van Persie for his second in the 63rd minute.

Overall, it was an excellent workout for Arsène Wenger's side.

The only change from the side that had kicked-off Arsenal's pre-season campaign on Saturday at Barnet was the introduction of Sagna for Kerrea Gilbert at right back. Ten of the 12 first-team players named on the bench were making their seasonal debut, including Eduardo. The exceptions were Lukasz Fabianski and Armand Traore.

It had been roasting in this part of Austria ever since Arsenal's arrival on Tuesday. The players knew all al about it, they had been training in it for two hard days. Fortunately the heat had started to dissipate by the time the game kick-off at 7pm (CET) but it was still painfully warm.

Despite that the start was not lethargic. Within 50 seconds, Manuel Almunia was forced to tip over as Okan Ozturk let fly from the right-channel.

In the fifth minute, Robin van Persie's raking cross-field ball was controlled deftly by the sprinting Theo Walcott on the right flank but he just failed to find Adabayor in the centre.

Genclerbirligi responded when Sandro's mazy dribble and shot was smuggled around the post.

Adeabyor was looking full of energy. In the 12th minute he charged down a clearance on the halfway line, sprinted down the right, skipped past Lamin's lunge and pulled the ball back for Van Persie eight yards out. Unfortunately the Dutchman lent back as he struck the ball and skied his effort horribly over the bar.

However he did make amends on the quarter-hour by forcing Genclerbirligi keeper Gokhan into a flying save.

By now the game has seemed to settle into a pattern of Arsenal having the majority of the play, but their opponents having the best chances.

That continued in the 28th minute when Sandro's right-wing corner was nodded on to the unmarked Tolga Dogantez at the far post. Almunia was out typically quickly to smother hits shot.

Ten minutes before the break, Adebayor broke clear and fed the ball back to Randall, who in turn set up Van Persie just outside the area. His shot was low and firm but Gokhan gathered at the second attempt.

It had been a relatively mundane 45 minutes albeit with some moments of quality. The best move brought the opening goal on the whistle. Walcott picked up the ball on the right and turned on the turbo to breezed past his marker before sliding a wonderfully weighted ball to the far post. Robin van Persie did the rest with a low finish.

Walcott was involved at the start of the second half, forcing Gokhan to save with his feet at the near post. Almost immediately, Adebayor sent a cross-shot whistling past the far post.

Arsenal looked like they wanted to kill off the game. They virtually did in the 51st minute. Denilson strode through midfield and fed the ball to Adebayor on the left. He passed back to the Brazilian who elected to let the ball run. His dummy fooled the Genclerbirligi defence and Walcott found the far corner of the net with aplomb.

Suddenly the rust was starting to fall off Arsenal. They began to move through the gears with ease; a fact amply illustrated by their third goal in the 65th minute. Adebayor held up the ball with intelligence before laying the ball to Van Persie to rifle home.

Eduardo made his appearance soon afterwards. He first touch sent a questioning ball to the far post which a defender had to turn behind. Eleven minutes from time, he tricked his way past his marker on the right and sent over a teasing cross that Ljungberg nodded wide.

On the strength of his 21 minutes, they'll much more to come.



http://www.arsenal.com/matchreport.asp?thisNav=fixtures&fxid=319627
I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.

Dinny Breen

And Freddie is gone, one of my favourites, good business sense as he has lost his pace and is very injury prone but another experienced pro gone, the Goons average age must be 16 now....
#newbridgeornowhere

hitzelsperger

saw highlights of it on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qeu5ZeQvn7U&mode=related&search=), theo seemed sharp as hell, completely skinned defender for crossing to RVP, Sagna looks to fit in straight away with his runs down the flank, wonder will wenger use eboue as right winger this year?

ONeill

I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames.

hitzelsperger

freddie will be missed bigtime, he lost his pace due to numerous injuries over the past few seasons but he still was able to arrive into the box late and claim the odd goal...plays his heart out everytime he put on the jersey, some great memories! he'll be missed!

ildanach

#310
Quote from: hitzelsperger on July 23, 2007, 09:18:44 PM
freddie will be missed bigtime, he lost his pace due to numerous injuries over the past few seasons but he still was able to arrive into the box late and claim the odd goal...plays his heart out everytime he put on the jersey, some great memories! he'll be missed!

maybe a few seasons ago, but not over the last few years. I think wenger has done well again , to get 3 million(ish) for him at this stage of his career. Took these stats from sky

                                      1998-99 1999-00* 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Appearances                       16           26            30      25         20        30           26        25         18
Goals                                  1             6               6       12         6          4            10        1            0
Goal Assists                          0             2              6         4          1         5              8        3            0

saying that he will probably score against us next season!!!
Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.

T Fearon

Ljunberg is a  tube, even dyed his hair red for the FA Cup semi final against the authentic N.London club in 2001 >:(

Still he has made a wise choice, he is more likely to enjoy success at Upton Park next season than the Haemorrhoids Stadium ;D

Dinny Breen

Watched a bit of the Emirates Cup over the weekend, poor fair on Saturday but the goons looked much sharper against Inter, peach of a goal by Van Persie to win it, will definitely be the youngest side in the premiership next season...
#newbridgeornowhere

hitzelsperger

absolutely brilliant goal by RVP today...hes gona be massive for us this coming season

Dinny Breen

Ajax tournament tonight, should be a good warm-up..
#newbridgeornowhere