Ian Wrights pre game article

:smiley:

IAN WRIGHT - Columnist

Published: 26 May 2009

I EXPECT my mate Rio Ferdinand to lift the Champions League trophy aloft
in Rome tomorrow.

And it will not only be a victory for Manchester United and English
football.

It will also be one in the eye for Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and all
the rest who refuse to acknowledge the vast array of talent at United
and in the Premier League, and are so desperate for Barcelona to win.

Make no mistake, Alex Ferguson and his team are not just up against the
Catalan giants as they bid to become the first team to retain Europeā€™s
elite club competition in its current format.

Barca will have the backing of most of the continent including, sadly,
most of Britain.

FIFA chief Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Platini will be secretly
hoping Pep Guardiola and his players can triumph in the Stadio Olimpico
to halt the rise and rise English football.

The neutrals and so-called purists will cheer on the Spanish giants so
they can justify their opinions that when it comes to the beautiful game
we are still lagging behind our European rivals. Itā€™s got nothing to do
with football, itā€™s just snobbery.

Purists? Puerile more like.

You know the types. They drink their cups of tea with their little
fingers in the air and prattle on about how La Liga is so much more
sophisticated than the Premier League. They have not got a clue.

I am sick of hearing how Barcelona deserve to be crowned champions of
Europe because have more technically-gifted players than United.

What rubbish. What about the technically-gifted players at United?

Yes, Barcelona have the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
But United have Rio, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and more besides.

Yet some people do not like recognising them as world class simply
because they play for United.

Yes, La Liga is probably more technically advanced than the Premier
League but that does not mean all teams in Spainā€™s top division are good
on the ball.

Iā€™d rather watch a goalless draw here than over there.

Our football has much more pace, power and passion than the Spanish
league game and I expect Barcelona to discover that in Rome.

I can only see United winning. I just cannot see them losing.

Without the suspended Dani Alves and Eric Abidal and the injured Rafael
Marquez,they will not have a recognised back four. They also have doubts
over Iniestaand Thierry Henry. So the burden of expectation will fall on
Messiā€™s shoulders again.

Against any other opponents Iā€™d say the 21-year-old Argentine would be
able to win the game on his own.

He is a special talent, but not good enough to single-handedly take on a
United side who will not be worried by him, and with good reason. Messi
has nearly always failed to reproduce his La Liga form when he has come
up against English sides.

It will be a big test for him. United should have enough to cope with
him and his team-mates.

Unlike Guardiola, Ferguson will have virtually a fully-strength squad to
select from. Even without the suspended Darren Fletcher, the talent at
his disposal is frightening.

The only way I can see United losing is if they lose their bottle and I
canā€™t see that happening.

Ferguson wonā€™t allow it to happen and nor will his players. Theyā€™re
all winners who have been in this type of situation countless times
before.

I can see them beating Barcelona and the snobs wonā€™t be able to look
down their noses at them then.

ā€œThey drink their cups of tea with their little
fingers in the air and prattle on about how La Liga is so much more
sophisticated than the Premier League.ā€

Itā€™s like heā€™s describing me right there.

Fuck you Ian Wright, fuck you!

Ian Wrong, Wrong, Wrong.

He knows what puerile means and then he publishes thatā€¦

Ha ha what a cock. What a complete cock.

I particularly like the contradictions here:

ā€œAgainst any other opponents Iā€™d say the 21-year-old Argentine would be
able to win the game on his ownā€¦ ā€¦Messi has nearly always failed to reproduce his La Liga form when he has come up against English sides.ā€

Start off with the praise for Messi because heā€™s supposed to be top class but then say heā€™s been a bit shit against English teams. Which is it Wrighty? Is he good enough to beat Chelsea on his own or was he shit against Chelsea?

It is a cracking article though. Rio and Rooney named as being as technically gifted as the Barca players!!! Priceless stuff.

I didnā€™t think it would be possible but that article has made last nights result even sweeter. Well done Ian Wright.

[quote=ā€œSHANNONSIDER**ā€]ā€œThey drink their cups of tea with their little
fingers in the air and prattle on about how La Liga is so much more
sophisticated than the Premier League.ā€

Itā€™s like heā€™s describing me right there.[/QUOTE]

Its a terrible personal attack on you SS, about as subtle as Wayne Rooney. Naturally you are too big a man to respond in kind.:guns:

Ian Wright is but the mane of a wave on the horizon to me Fitzy.

Ian Wright is a fcukin nobā€¦has a serious chip on his shoulder about a lot of things ā€¦

IAN WRIGHT - Columnist

Published: 26 May 2009

I EXPECT my mate Rio Ferdinand [/QUOTE]

I stopped reading after this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPdemwaNzQ

You bastard ā€¦ Iā€™m in bits here.

Wrighty is a lovely man. I had a good long cry over that in traffic this morning, I feel wonderful now.

1 Like

A great player too. Doesnā€™t get the credit he deserves.

4 Likes

The old Highbury was a proper football ground. Not like the soulless entertainment arenas being built today.

Loved Wrighty when I was a kid. He was a joy to watch. I remember getting the number 8 put on the back of my JVC sponsored jersey :clap:

This was a smashing kit, the hoop sockets made it.

It is this one I had. Still my favourite Arsenal jersey.

8939-32Fr

2 Likes

Ian Wright talks a bit of shite but seems like a lovely guy

What was the name of the striker who proceeded Wright and inspired the casual racist chant - ā€˜You like like Wright but you play like shiteā€™