Wenger says that he tried to get every player that made it big. I think he gets a kick out of saying that.
The price quickly rose to like 25-30 mil as I recall pricing everybody but United and oddly Newcastle at the time out of the market.
If that was the price and that was more than Wenger was willing to spend, then he simply was an admirer like probably 20 or 30 other coaches around the world. He says that he was interested in almost every good player in the modern game, but if he doesn't bid for them, then really what is the purpose of telling us that?
Dunno to be honest, but I still wish he'd come to us. Not that he hasn't bloomed into a star in his own right, but I think he would've fit with our brand of football better than United's, crazy as that sounds.
'Part of having a big career as a player is dealing with a big transfer fee,' Wenger said. 'If he leaves Everton it will only be for a big fee and all big players have to cope with that in their career. 'I rate Wayne Rooney and at 18 his price looks quite normal for a striker.' Random quote I found from 2004. Not the one I remember but kinda gives you an idea.
Rooney would fit in just about anywhere. However, he probably could have gotten more out of his career if he weren't surrounded by shady characters like Ferdinand, Evra and Berbatov off the field. From what I have heard, he's a smoker and is halfway to be an alcoholic. That's probably not the best diet for a 25-year old, professional footballer. He probably can get away with it now, but eventually, it will catch up.
Have to agree with so many here...drogba and Lampard. I know Drogba is a bit of a douche but he backs it up with performances. Lampard seems a pretty good bloke and if he didn't play for Chelsea, I'd like him just fine. Honestly, England don't deserve him on the squad.
They constantly try to play him deeper than he should be played for England. He should be the one behind Rooney, not Gerrard.
I guess I'm supposed to hate the entire Barca squad, but I just can't. There are a few I don't care for like Alves and Abidal, but other than that I admire the majority of them. Other than the obvious players I really like Pedro and Keita. Oh and the big one...I'm supposed to hate Hleb, but you all know how that goes with me.
I don't hate the Barca squad... I hate Xavi. Oh and their heinous ownership and management. Oh and Puyol's face. Oh yeah and Pique.
I feel that justice was served when his career at table-topping clubs ended very abruptly at Barca. And then he encouraged Cesc to stay with us publicly this summer, so that helped.
For me, I can pretty much have at least some level of respect towards players who put in professional work rate and maintain a level head. We live in an era where players hit the big time and immediately make c*nts of themselves off the pitch, so I think we're more inclined to "hate" them as characters. My player, though I don't think I was ever supposed to hate him, is James Milner. Now that he's with the evil empire that will have to change, but he's one of the few England nationals I can stomach rooting for who doesn't play for Arsenal.
I don't get the not hating Rooney in this thread - not hating Drogba I can understand, since he does a lot of good off the field, especially with his charity work. But Rooney appears to be an even bigger douche off the field than on it, and Ricardo Carvalho will tell you how big a douche he is on the field.
Bergkamp was ten times the player Rooney is and will ever be. There's a difference between hating someone and thinking he's crap. Someone can be good but you can still hate them. Drogba and Rooney, hell yes they're good, but they're scum. Same with plenty of others. Also, there can even be a player on a team that you don't like that you don't necessarily hate as much. Essien is an example for me.
Harsh man - you have to respect the man's charity work. From here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...s-3m-build-hospital-Ivory-Coast-homeland.html I hate they guy when he's on the field, especially against us, but I can't bring myself to hate him off the field when he does stuff like that. Rooney, on the other hand, you have to get in line to hate.
I never said I didn't hate Rooney. I just said I wanted him to play for Arsenal. His transgressions are inexcusable.