Wenger - Almunia for England

885 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Keano4taoiseach, Dec 26, 2007

GeoManc

Discussion Starter · Dec 24, 2007

Arsene Wenger has advised new England boss Fabio Capello to call on goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. The Arsenal shot-stopper has previously outlined his keenness to represent England, and he has now received the backing of Arsenal manager Wenger. The Spaniard will be eligible to play for England through residency rules next year, and his boss' support follows an excellent penalty save in Saturday's north London derby success. Almunia, who joined The Gunners from Celta Vigo in 2004, has made 22 appearances so far this season after some impressive displays which have forced Jens Lehmann to occupy the substitutes' bench.

Experience

And with the England No.1 jersey currently up for grabs, Wenger believes Capello should take advantage of Almunia's emergence as a reliable keeper. "I could only advise you to take advantage of it and call him up for the England squad," he said in The Sun. "Almunia came here without a CV so he had to make a name with his performances. It was not easy because he had to get experience at a big club. "I knew he was good but how could he be Arsenal's keeper? Only by playing. He had never played for a big club before and made some mistakes, but he has gained confidence and calmness. He is a good keeper.

"Everyone makes mistakes. (Manchester United boss) Van der Sar makes mistakes.

"But it was more difficult for Almunia because he was already under pressure from an outstanding goalkeeper (Lehmann) behind him.

"That was a tough test. If you play bad games, you are under pressure immediately."

See less See more

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Jazz 16

· #2 · Dec 24, 2007

Errrrr he's Spanish and it would be silly him playing for England.
This residency rule is a bit stupid also imo.
Wenger should be quiet and let Capello get on with it.
Im not English and if I was Id be horrified to see Almunia as the keeper.
He saves a peno and he should be England No.1

lmao

NateR

· #3 · Dec 24, 2007

I'd prefer he wasn't playing for England. People like Ben Foster..are the future for England....we need to give English talent the chance.

Its unfortunate for Alumina, because he's spanish and competition for goal-keeper is fierce.

red_devils4life

· #4 · Dec 24, 2007

No,Jazz 16. I personally think he's better than any of those current crop of English goalies. Well,he's from Le'Arse-Anal & usually I hate any f**kin' Gooners'! But come 2 think of it,do u think he's any lousier than Paul 'butter fingers' Robinson or David 'Calamity' James? Or Scott Carson who has a horrific debut game for the Three Lions?(i personally doubt he will hve the guts 2 feature for England again)
Almunia may play second-fiddle to Robert Green tho. Green has been simply fantastic tis season IMO!

Jazz 16

· #5 · Dec 24, 2007

red_devils4life said:
No,Jazz 16. I personally think he's better than any of those current crop of English goalies. Well,he's from Le'Arse-Anal & usually I hate any f**kin' Gooners'! But come 2 think of it,do u think he's any lousier than Paul 'butter fingers' Robinson or David 'Calamity' James? Or Scott Carson who has a horrific debut game for the Three Lions?(i personally doubt he will hve the guts 2 feature for England again)
Almunia may play second-fiddle to Robert Green tho. Green has been simply fantastic tis season IMO!

I have to disagree rd4life.
James is better, Green is better. Carson, Foster, Hart and Kirkland will all become better with age and experience. Youth could be the key. Almunia is 30 and only starting to get regular team football. Yes, he looks good enough as a keeper but I could EASILY name a dozen keepers in the Prem that are better than Almunia.

slap u lar

· #6 · Dec 24, 2007

just whinger being his usual pompous self ,bulling his own players up , he aint that good to play for england , knob

Keano4taoiseach

· #7 · Dec 24, 2007

I am beginning to think that Wenger has some master plan to take over football in England using an army of forein players..........

You might aswell call Arsenal the 'Foreign Legions' and now he wants Almunia, a Spanish keeper to be the English goalie.......

Green > Almunia....

Wenger knows that Almunia will not get games for his country so he wants him to play for England where he will have a chance.....

Wenger isn't thinking in the best interests of the English team but in the interests of Arsenal.

Solsk

· #8 · Dec 24, 2007

nah id hate for Almunia to be england keeper

why? because i love watching these 'great' keepers england have cock up

red_devils4life

· #9 · Dec 25, 2007

Compare

:

Spain's Goalkeepers:
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona)
Santiago Canizares (Valencia CF)
Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)
Jose Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

England's Goalkeepers:
David James (Portsmouth)
Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hostspur)
Robert Green (West Ham United)
Scott Carson (Aston Villa)
Ben Foster (Man United)

See less See more

The_Red_Prince

· #10 · Dec 25, 2007

Arsene Wanker is obviously trying to alienate fabio capello into thinking he's his assissant.

andycole9

· #11 · Dec 25, 2007

it's bad enuff that we have a foriegn manager never mind foriegn players

Keano4taoiseach

· #12 · Dec 25, 2007

The_Red_Prince said:
Arsene Wanker is obviously trying to alienate fabio capello into thinking he's his assissant.

or maybe Wenger is trying to get closer to Capello for other, sexier reasons.........

artaxerks

· #13 · Dec 26, 2007

Keano4taoiseach said:
or maybe Wenger is trying to get closer to Capello for other, sexier reasons.........

yeah we all saw him how he looks in speedos,so did Wenger probably

andycole9

· #14 · Dec 26, 2007

artaxerks said:
yeah we all saw him how he looks in speedos,so did Wenger probably

he's well too old for wenger he likes his guys in speedos to be under 16

Keano4taoiseach

· #15 · Dec 26, 2007

andycole9 said:
he's well too old for wenger he likes his guys in speedos to be under 16

I'm 16.........do you think he would accept me......???......

(not that I'd want to.........

)

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.