Kenny Dalglish Won't Be Delivering the Module: English Premiership 2011-12

Oh shit we're talking about youngsters right? Scratch most of them.

Wilshere's basically the only unqualified success, right?

ya was gonna say, and i like bendtndnteter tbh

Failures is such a ghastly word to use. Would Barca fans think of Arteta as a failure now it has been a decade since he left? Also i dunno how you could call Rosicky or Arshavin youngsters. So...

Denilson (Brazil u18 captain when we signed him to big expectations; now not really doing much at Sao Paolo and still not in the Brazil team despite it not being a vintage Brazilian midfield)
Vela (Top scorer at the u17s, wanted by p much every big club in Europe, scored some beautiful goals; now has a 2-in-12 record at Sociedad)
Bendtner (Great case of 'being bigger than everyone during yr teenage years doesn't mean you'll be able to bully them when everyone has grown up')
Freeman (Youngest ever player in the FA Cup, now back in League 2).
Theo (Has there ever been such a high expectation for a player? Denilson at Betis maybe? Even if he goes on to have a fine career, he'll never live up to it.)

Just shit, with no expectation-

The Hoyte brothers
Traore
Mannone
Randall
Many guys I can't even remember

Players who may go on to have a decent career-

JET (he is more like darragh's description of the player with his stats out of cock and he was tried at Arsenal in every position bar goalie. Once he finds a manager who can figure him out, I think there is a talented player to be used.)
Merida (Doing decent as cover at Atleti - has v. good technique, which is a talent that usually shines thru in the end.)
Senderos (looks v. stable in the Fulham back 4 now, come on, admit it)
Lansbury (in a v. good partnership with Collison atm, looks like he will be a good midtable player one day)

failure for arsenal

That was imo obvious

Wilshere's basically the only unqualified success, right?

― Matt DC, Monday, 16 January 2012 16:37 (14 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

If we are going on the idea that Cole doesn't count and we are only looking at new Hale End Academy prospects, we also have to remember that we are only judging players under 22. As successes, I'd look at Gibbs (injuries only problem but talent wise, it is p much a given he'll take over Cole as the best English left back) and maybe Frimpong as well as Wilshere.

What about Ramsey?

He has only been at the club 3 or 4 years, half of which were spent in recovery or on loan.

wilshere not yet, ramsey not likely, gibbs not ever

Oh right, I didn't realise he'd come from Cardiff City (xp) Ramsey's not bad?

Cole isn't a post-Invincibles player, so no he doesn't count. Fabregas does though. Ramsey is pretty good.

Ramsey will one day be a cracking player but he's nowhere near yet. He's currently Gareth Barry, needs to make the step to Steven Gerrard and from there can decide if he wants to do the work to go further.

listen to better music

future carrick

^ cruel

cruel but it is a possibility, i won't lie.

For what it's worth: Part-owner of Swansea, Dutchman John van Zweden, today has said on Dutch radio that Man United, Chelsea, Spurs and Fulham all have been in touch with the club, inquiring after Michel Vorm.

He said Jol had actually dropped by Swansea, the others phoned.

that seems stupid at every single one of those clubs, considering they all have stable keepers. maybe not spurs, as brad is getting up in age.

not that transfers make sense.

Don't shoot the piano player, but don't three of those (except ManU) have relatively old keepers?

and none of the unold keepers are undeserving of competition

Don't shoot the piano player

Fergie plays the piano, doesn't he?

united: two young keepers, neither totally convincing. chelsea: cech imo is p shite nowadays. spurs: friedel is 40. fulham: schwarzer is also old as shit, wiki says 39.

otm. Thought it was remarkable as this guy partly owns the club. He's on Dutch radio regularly now that Swansea are in the Prem. I heard him last night when he was in a restaurant dining with Augustien, Vorm, and English Swansea player and their wives. He certainly isn't diplomatic, he's rather tell all and not too bright from what I can tell, but amusingly honest and down to earth to listen to. Just a simple man living the dream iirc

also vorm's form is currently the best in the league imo.

that otm was for deems tbh, but jim otm too

Was thinking Stockdale, who has been v. good for over a year now.

Was thinking Stockdale, who has been v. good for over a year now.

forgot about him. don't think ive seen him play.

Looks pretty good

But goalies can flatter to deceive

The radio show is broadcast from a restaurant, or you were in a restaurant and actually recognised the part-owner of Swansea?

The Swansea party was in a restaurant, the Dutch radio show phoned him on his cell.

Would happily take Vorm in the summer without thinking twoce about it. Only in the summer though, Brad doesn't deserve to be dropped.

Anyone watch Liverpool-Stoke? How was Coates? Would seem to be a good match of opponent for a 2-meter centre-back.

No one watched that game. It may not even have happened

^^ Yeah it's funny, the Guardian's chalkboards for that match are missing so I can't look at his 'aerial duels won/lost' or anything. Pretty sure a Spurs fan was being critical of the reffing upthread though.

Coates looked pretty Aggeresque going forward, but seems a bit clumsy in the tackle. Stoke barely got into the LFC half so hard to say if he's any good; playing next to the guttering Carra would flatter anyone at the moment.

I was watching but devoted so much of my attention to propping my chin on my folded hands and sighing that I couldn't tell you much about it. Kuyt missed a good chance, I was surprised to see Coates, that's about it.

I don't suppose there's any chance in help City won't win this?

maybe a chance in help but not in hell. Wigan look absolutely dire.

I dunno, they're intermittently spirited

they seemed to sag a bit in the middle when their fans started booing them for being 1-0 down to the team that steamrollers everybody

Wigan fans boo them?! Ffs, where do they get a sense of entitlement from?

I think that was what was happening, then Victor Moses did some industrious running and they camped on the edge of City's area almost creating chances for a couple of minutes and they seemed to be grudgingly satisfied at half time as a result

I dunno, I guess being 1-0 down and bottom and freezing and living in Wigan, y'know, something's gotta give

I can understand you lot pining for something more, but even this shambles is probably close to the all-time best Wigan XI that they're watching.

Steve Bruce is out of work though right, maybe they're pining for a return to a more simple existence

'You were flyin' out there buddy.'
'Yes. A little too close to the sun.'

oh come on, the years when bramble/palacios/valencia/heskey were rocking it was their best.

That was when the resentment at their existence was at its peak, now they've been critically rehabilitated but are dropping like a stone

aguero's balance ffs

Comparing Wigan eras, I like it.