Firstly what a fantastic performance last night, it seems unfair to highlight individuals in what was a magnificent team display. Even the youngsters on the bench are great talents, it really does demonstrate what magic Wenger has done over the years in developing our youth. Those who like to blame Wenger for England's woes would do well to notice the fact that Wilshere, Gibbs, Hoyte, Randall, Lansbury and Simpson are all English.
Moving on to other controversial matters, the lovely selfless Platini has been spouting yet more manure without engaging his brain. Platini is either very jealous or has a remarkably small wanger:
"I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that," Platini then said he hoped video assistance would never come into football, adding: "It would make me happy that Arsene Wenger never sees it."
Later in the interview, Platini again targeted Wenger when asked about his thoughts on Romanian side CFR Cluj's unexpected victory over Roma in the Champions League last week.
"That is what makes football so great," Platini said.
"It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs, because they want their business."
The LMA have quickly stepped to Arsene's defence, quite rightly, it is quite appalling that someone in Platini's position should stoop to such a level in launching such a bitter personal attack, not only are his words irresponsible, they are also completely inaccurate and lacking coherence. The LMA rightly point out that a majority of people are for the use of video technology and the likes of Platini in their ivory towers are the ones losing touch with reality. Arseblogger nails Platini as only he could.
Amazingly the Sun has hit the nail on the head in pointing out the completely pointless pretence at action that is the FA's 'respect' campaign. Not only have their been numerous shocking examples of violence and ill discipline to far this season, but the FA have yet again failed to act and punish these incidents retrospectively, all they have done is let John Terry off a red card for a rugby tackle. Kevin Nolan's words are a disgrace and make Megson's denial of intimidatory tactics appear nothing but a blatant lie:
“At the end of the day, it is a physical sport. We don’t want to be like basketballers. We are in the gym four or five days a week to build ourselves up to try to stand up to challenges like that.
“We are in danger of losing that side — the roughing up of people.”
If we are in danger of losing that Kevin then I am not upset at all, because it is precisely this kind of medieval approach to football that enables donkey-like thugs like yourself to prosper. I really wonder why England struggles to produce skillful technical ball players, it couldn't be anything to do with this routine thuggery that we have yet to stamp out.
Pogatetz was guilty of committing a very bad tackle last night against Manu, it's interesting to note the media response to this and compare it to their reaction to Davies' very similar tackle on Clichy from the weekend. Contrast the reaction of Gareth Southgate to that of Gary Megson, Southgate must be commended for not attempting to defend his player, while Megson is a disgrace. I'm sure we won't see Alan Shearer and Mark Lawrenson laughing at Pogatetz's challange in the same way that they guffawed at Clichy's injury. Double standards me thinks.
