unlike you i dont rate mclaren v highly however i think sidwell and bentley will break into the squad not sure about pennant but he's not bad however i understand skizz's point about the conveyor belt
Clearly these world class players aren't quite good enough to get into what is the best national side in the world.
At the end of the day these players are just not good enough to play for Arsenal or any of the top flight teams. You have already said that Sidwell is nothing more than a squad player at Chelsea. If he came to us do you think he will get ahead of Cesc or Gliberto? Diaby? Denilson? Look at Pennant; great for Leeds and Birmingham but is a squad player at Liverpool, while Bentley is decent at Blackburn for one season but that doesn't mean that he is good enough to be a world class winger. He might be, but at the moment I rate him to be no better than Pedersen. You asked about whether we regret getting rid of them, and I can tell you that there hasn't been a youngster whom I wished had stayed at Arsenal. Not Pennant, Bentley, Sidwell, Upson, or the non-English like Quishy. They are just not good enough for us, but good enough for the mid table teams. It would be unfair for us to try and retain them. I do wish there to be more English players in the club at times, but guess what? IMHO most of the English players are overrated and any English player who shows some signs of talents gets hyped by the media and the fans to be the best player ever. At the present moment the only English player in Arsenal whom I have big expectations for is Glibert, although I haven't seen enough of Murphy or Lansbury to make a judgement on them. And I still think that Walcott is yet to show his potential. To be fair IMHO neither are Hleb or Rosicky good enough to play in our wings (they shouldn't be playing as wingers in the first place) and Bentley would be better than those two, but that's another problem. And one more thing: Bentley and Pennant wouldn't be getting ahead of Lennon, and Sidwell wouldn't be able to get a peak at a English central midfield overloaded with talent.
lennon's form has dipped and bentley might be an option in future i agree he's better than hleb and rosicky you might be right about sidwell we'll have to see upson is better than senderos
Bentley better than Rosicky? C'mon. I know you are taking the piss, but you need to try harder than that.
I would probably classify Crouch more as a target man then a fox in the box considering all the long balls that are often directed at him. Nice try though. On a wing, yes, but overall as a player? You're having a larf! Both are respected international players. Not under 21s either .
Sidwell is a great player but unless my team sells Lampard (entirely possible), then he is not needed. If I were him I would have worked out a new contract with Reading so I would actually get to play but ah well money corrupts.
I know that his arguments kindna reeks, but if we throw away our fanboy glasses Bentley has certainly performed much better than Rosicky this season. But that doesn't mean that Bentley is good enough to be playing for us, or that he will perform better than Rosicky next season.
Cool. Im with you guys. Too much money screws stuff up, I think Daddy Warbucks Abramovich is realizing that, which is why he yanked on the spending leash in January. He saved Chelsea though a few years back, so im not complaining too much. Back to Sidwell. I actually like this. It brings new, fresh, and hungry talent that Chelsea didnt really have this year (besides Mikel and Diarra). But this just tells me that either SWP, Robben, Ballack, Makelele or any combo of those are out. I think the motto for the offseason was 3 out 3 in or something? Please though, Rid me of Ballack. Theres no room with Frank. Cant believe why no one would realize that. It reminds us all of the England Lampard/Gerrard situation doesnt it?
I just don't agree with the bold even with Rosicky not firing on all cylinders for us this season. Don't get me wrong, I think Bentley is good player. He just isn't anything close to being what some are making him out to be.
It does....except both Gerrard and Ballack are far better than Lampard. Maybe you should let him go to Spain after all .
Lol. I will accept the Gerrard claim as a legitimate "argument" but nothing more. As for Ballack.....well.....uh......good one!!
Compare their achievements on the domestic and international levels and then see if you can still laugh. Euro 2004 is the only event that pops to my mind when thinking of Lampard on the international front. Or maybe I'm wrong?