So long away… so much good news!

I returned from months in the bush and volunteer work to fantastic news. The numbers five and one are pretty numbers indeed surrounded by a certain assortment of the alphabet and with me having a sister and mother supporting the dirty, dirty Arsenal makes the victory all the sweeter. Nine years of hell not so much consigned to the waste-basket but also having said waste-basket battered,  crushed, sliced, diced, set fire to and obliterated in such style against what was NOT the Wenger youth squad (plenty of articles detailing that) filled me with joy.

The real consequence of this is that European Qualification, the primary target of the season, is achieved as I don’t see Chelski falling out of the top 5. That means the rest of the Premier League is Jam for the team and they can take the confidence from the Arsenal game through the rest of the season with the pressure of the finishing position off. I expect Ramos’ focus will be on the 3 cups and banging some silver into the cabinet. If we are lucky we will see more of some of OUR incredible youngsters in the Premiership then.

The papers will keep banging on about Berbatov and nothing short of him physically nailing his crotch to the club crest at WHL won’t stop them. Even then they would probably write “Berbatov defaces club crest looking for transfer.” The man came out and said, on television, four times that he would stay at least till the end of the season if not beyond and that his family is happily settled in London. Nuff said.

Ledders is back and whereas I expected a rusty return swamped with mistakes he has looked as solid as ever and Dawson seems much more confident now that he is back as the junior member of the defensive pairing rather than trying to get Kaboul to stop doing idiotic things and keep the full-backs focused.

Robinson, sick of the made-up rubbish about him handing in a transfer request did a frank interview stating his future is at The Lane if we want him while Raos shop windows the very decent Radek Cerny who deserves to go to a club that will give him a number-1 berth.

Seeing Defoe given the Captaincy against Sunderland to make a point- that he is wanted, although I cannot help feeling that he would be well off going to a club where he will be a first choice, too, was nice. I like him and I think he has been a great servant to the club. Seeing the first player since Ledders successfully coming through the ranks and impressing at Tottenham is also stunning.

To find out that we will finally (probably) sign Woodgate who we should have picked up direct from R. Madrid instead of letting him waste his time at Middlesbrough makes me feel all the better. GBP7mil is probably a little steep but it’s best if Ledders doesn’t play every game now that we are in Europe regularly and rotating Ledders, Woodgate and Dawson (and I still think Rocha will find his way, given a proper chance) while the others are developed is the way to go.

Probably Chimbonda out, YPL to move to his favoured right side and Gilbert Silva (attacking left back, Hertha Berlin and Brazil- not the Arsenal player) coming in. If only we can find someone who is willing to pay for Paul Stalteri life would be great!

Full name: Gilberto da Silva Melo

Date of birth: April 25, 1976
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
EU passport: No
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Club: Hertha Berlin
Position: Defensive Midfielder [C]
Number: 0
Previous clubs: America RJ > Flamengo > Cruzeiro > Inter Milan > Vasco da Gama > Gremio > São Caetano > Hertha Berlin

International debut: June 2003, v Nigeria
Caps: 8
Goals: 0
World cups: Germany 2006
Copa América (2004, 2007)
FIFA Confederations Cup (2005)

Conmebol Cup (1996)
Copa Mercosur (2000)

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (2000)

Full name: Jonathan Simon Woodgate

Date of birth: January 22, 1980
Birthplace: Teeside, England
Nationality: English
EU passport: Yes
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 74 kg

Club: Middlesbrough
Position: Defender [C]
Number: 8
Contract expires: June 2011
Previous clubs: Leeds United > (£9m) Newcastle United > (£13.4m) Real Madrid > Middlesborugh (loan f. Real Madrid) > (€10m) Middlesbrough

International debut: June 1999, v Bulgaria
Caps: 2
Goals: 0
World cups: none

Season	Club	Country	Level	GP	GS
2006-07	Middlesbrough	ENG	A	30	0
2005-06	Real Madrid	ESP	A	9	0
2004-05	Real Madrid	ESP	A	0	0
2003-04	Newcastle United	ENG	A	18	0
2002-03	Leeds United	ENG	A	18	1
2002-03	Newcastle United	ENG	A	10	0
2001-02	Leeds United	ENG	A	13	0
2000-01	Leeds United	ENG	A	14	1
1999-00	Leeds United	ENG	A	34	1
1998-99	Leeds United	ENG	A	25	2
Career Totals:				171	5

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