Best Of British
I thought the TalkSport commentator was going to have apoplexy on Wednesday night. "ALL OF BRITAIN'S HOPES REST ON ARSENAL NOW" he screamed. All over a 0-0 :-). All of Britain's hopes though ? That Arsenal team again :
Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Hleb (Bergkamp 86), Silva, Fabregas, Reyes (Pires 68), Henry, Ljungberg.
Gordon Taylor, who usually talks a load of bollocks, has been criticised for weighing in as well, but here's what he actually said :
"It's an English club but not an English success. It's probably a greater reflection of youngsters from France and elsewhere in Europe. It's hard to say it speaks volumes for English football. When none of the players are home-grown it's hardly a reflection on England."
Now I don't like Gordon Taylor either, but tell me which bit of that is wrong. I don't blame Arsenal for their transfer policy, what are they supposed to do instead, outbid Tottenham for Dean Richards, but you can't play the Billy Britain card when you're talking it up. Frankly I'd prefer it if commentators didn't show any bias at all, even in England internationals, but I know that's never going to happen. If you must though, at least confine it to those occasions when there is some actual British involvement, or you just look a bit silly.
Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Hleb (Bergkamp 86), Silva, Fabregas, Reyes (Pires 68), Henry, Ljungberg.
Gordon Taylor, who usually talks a load of bollocks, has been criticised for weighing in as well, but here's what he actually said :
"It's an English club but not an English success. It's probably a greater reflection of youngsters from France and elsewhere in Europe. It's hard to say it speaks volumes for English football. When none of the players are home-grown it's hardly a reflection on England."
Now I don't like Gordon Taylor either, but tell me which bit of that is wrong. I don't blame Arsenal for their transfer policy, what are they supposed to do instead, outbid Tottenham for Dean Richards, but you can't play the Billy Britain card when you're talking it up. Frankly I'd prefer it if commentators didn't show any bias at all, even in England internationals, but I know that's never going to happen. If you must though, at least confine it to those occasions when there is some actual British involvement, or you just look a bit silly.
posted by Andy_Ward @ 10:16 AM
3 Comments:
At 2:55 PM,
Anonymous said…
Do you have any idea what this post could invoke?
8-)
At 4:53 PM,
Anonymous said…
It's not meant to be critical of Arsenal, but yes, I am bracing myself [1] ...
Andy.
[1] Insert your own "not for the first time" joke below.
At 4:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
If Cole and Campbell were fit they'd have played, ditto Kerrea Gilbert.
If Chelsea hadn't blown us out of the water with a £21 million pound bid for Sean Wright Phillips he'd have played. But £21 million for Wright-Phillips!?!
If Michael Owen had cost considerably less than £16 million he might have played. But why pay £16 mill for Owen when you can get Robin van Persie for £3.5mill?
English players are too expensive. Give me Kolo Toure for nowt any day of the week.
As for those English youth teamers released from the club, which of them has gone on to prove Wenger wrong? Sidwell is the only one with a case I think.
Dom
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