[Thelomen Toblerone]

Bischoff, oui. I thought we'd already signed him a couple of weeks back, I was surprised when it just popped up on the BBC website.

He looks like a typical Arsenal signing - young, French background, midfielder, cheap, and has only managed to play one game in three years due to horrific injury-prone-ness. What a replacement for Flamini, eh?

Arsenal beat Stuttgart 3-1 in the end. Im not convinced though. Wilshere looks good, that said.

[caladanbrood]

Thelomen Toblerone;362277 said:

You've got dos Santos, Modric, Lennon and Bentley competing for 2 spots now (unless Modric goes in the middle, which would leave the defensive work to Jenas - good luck with that ), seems a bit of a waste.

Well, looks like we'll be playing 4-5-1 I reckon... (or 4-3-3, depending how you look at it)
Berbatov up top if we keep him, with Dos Santos/Lennon/Bentley on the wings, and Modric/Jenas in attacking mid, Huddlestone defending.

Easy;)

[Sir Bob]

holland spain russia portugal all played with one up front(central) at the eruos and they all looked pretty handy at times so spurs could be one to something

[caladanbrood]

Well it didn't hurt Chelsea under Mourinho either;) Though I'd rather we played more entertaining football than they did.

[Khellendros]

Might not be one up front if they do get Pavlyuchenko and/or Arshavin though. I expect Berbatov will be sold - leaving a front two of Bent and likely Pavlyuchenko. Bent scored another hattrick yesterday...against Leyton Orient I think, to go with his four goals against Norwich. Not that pre-season friendlies can really tell you anything at all.

Spurs do seem to have one cramped midfield at the moment - Bentley, Lennon, Jenas, Huddlestone, Zokora, Modric, dos Santos, all looking for places. I expect, though, that Lennon and dos Santos will spend most of the season on the bench.

[drinksinbars]

bloody bentley abandoned us

[caladanbrood]

We gave you Robinson in return;)


I don't think Zokora will end up playing much (well, I hope not anyway) - I think Dos Santos will be the least used, unless we sell another, but that's hopefully not gonna happen. If they end up spending another £40million for Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko it will be another matter, especially if we get one of the spanish strikers we're after too...


Pennant looks to be on his way to replace Bentley at Rovers - whether that will give Liverpool enough money to buy Barry, who still wants to move there despite Villa saying they missed the deadline to sign him, we shall see...


Roy Keane seems about to continue buying to make Sunderland a solid mid-table team, with Bobo Balde rumoured to be joining to add to his signings of Diouf, Tainio, Chimbonda and Mollybonk.


Villa apparently fighting Pompey for the signing of Carlos Kameni, despite between them owning two of the best goalies in the Premiership, in Friedel and David James. While 'Arry Redknapp is being tapped up by CSKA Moscow to become their manager just months after saying he might retire before next season, paving the way for him to take over as England boss after Capello, seeing as they want to only employ foreigners now.

[Khellendros]

Villa and Pompey in for Kameni? Not sure why they would be, especially if Villa get Guzan's work permit thingy sorted out, then they'd already have cover for Friedel (who tends to be ever-present anyway). And, as you say, Pompey have James.

But the same clubs are apparently now fighting for Kaboul's signature, after he decided not to join the Spurs player exodus to Sunderland.

[caladanbrood]

Hopefully they'll have a bidding war and we'll end up the only winners in that deal. Bwahaha!

[Cougar]

Kameni looks like a genius 50% of the time and like a clueless fool the rest. I feel he's too risky for the prem, even with his stupidly long arms.

[caladanbrood]

Just watched Bentley's debut against Celtic - good game actually, and he looked good, and scored too. Bent is on top form at the moment too!

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Went to see Arsenal Juve yesterday.

Pure shite. Apart from the most sensationally outrageous dive, then fish-like leap back on to his feet after 2 minutes of rolling around like he'd been shot from Chiellini, it was dull as fuck.

Juve scored thanks to some very lacsadaisical marking, and the blindest referee/linesman combo in history, then shut up shop. Arsenal played a team of youngsters and never looked bothered. Bendtner proved he cant head for shit, as well as being a tosser. Eboue further demonstrated he goes down easier than Paris Hilton and cant cross or pass for love nor money. And the referee repeatedly proved he was a twat.

Yet we won today against Madrid, so go figure.

Got in a couple of nice calls at Adebayor - "go on, work for your pay", "show me the money", "run you lazy greedy piece of shit", etc. And was interesting the way the News of The World described 60k people jeering his name when the teams were announced as "a few catcalls."

Overall, Im not optimistic about the new season. Senderos and Djourou dont look anything like good defensive cover, and we lacked any urgency or passion.

That said, there were a fair few good points - Wilshere looks like he's gonna be a star, and Diaby came on and impressed in the Flamini role, he dictated the game from the 70th min onwards, got stuck in and looks like he's gonna be the man to partner Cesc. Nasri did ok too, looks like he'll be a key player once he's settled - my gf picked him out as the player she thought played the best, and while she was wrong bless her, it's nice to hear.

[caladanbrood]

You need... well, better players, but what I saw of the Madrid game, you played some decent stuff, especially attacking.

[Cougar]

Well my season is over: Ronaldo out till October, Rooney has the AIDS or something, We haven't bought anyone and I think we will be starting with Fraser Cambell upfront by September!

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Last minute Berbatov swoop, mark my words.

So, in typical spurs mould, Modric has managed to begin the injuries already, and looks set to miss the first game. Classic.

Villa are swooping for Young and Shorey, two good full-backs to go alongside Laursen and the rubbish Davies. So nearly a strong back line, especially with Friedel in. Looks like they could offer a bit more (if they steer clear of injuries) this season, with Barry set to stay and Sidwell added.

[Fist Gamet]

Mawuhahahahaha!!! I heard that Rangers new sponsor is Easyjet....in and out of Europe in 90 minutes....

*apols for blatant gloat but it has been delivered as a pre-emptive strike in anticipation of ths coming season*

[Sir Bob]

previously mentioned Quincy Owusu Abeyie scored on his debut for biringham, we know our stuff, oh yea!!!!

[caladanbrood]

Risky Gamet, risky!!

[Fist Gamet]

I know, I know, but hey, great start from tot-in-ham!

Sorry Brood, it all begins now...

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Hahahaha, come on you mighty Boro!!!

Another mid-table year for the spuds down in Rottenham, it seems.