Forget the passport and count the brain cells (29/1)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=517

usual thread starter… Boro told Radio 5Live yesterday morning that Arsenal were not the ‘third club’ interested in Jonathan Woodgate. I wonder if that might have been because of his chequered past and his willingness to go out drinking with his mates (certainly in the past, now I don’t know). Good player when he’s fit and all that, but would he have fitted in at the club? There’s no doubt Arsene’s largely given up on English lads due to a mixture of lack of technique and their likely social habits in their free time.

[Cus Geezer]

I'd like the author to define intelligence, as according to many a social commentator even IQ tests don't sufficiently measure up.

[Chunky The Gooner]

I think you hit the nail on the head there Gooner Ed

Good player WHEN fit. He has had injury troubles at all of his clubs and Id rather had Micah Richards but I cant ever see Arsene spending that kind of money !

[Graham Wilkinson]

I think you have to distinguish between footballing intelligence and general intelligence.

There is no doubt that Gazza has a phenomenal football brain. It's just that the rest of his brain is not up to much.

I think Wenger doesn't so much look for brains as background and attitude. That is why he bought Theo (solid and sensible family) and shipped out Pennant. Foreign players, who aren't brought up in this country's booze culture, are more likely to fit the bill.

[GoonerJim]

I think you have to distinguish between footballing intelligence and general intelligence.

There is no doubt that Gazza has a phenomenal football brain. It's just that the rest of his brain is not up to much.

I think Wenger doesn't so much look for brains as background and attitude. That is why he bought Theo (solid and sensible family) and shipped out Pennant. Foreign players, who aren't brought up in this country's booze culture, are more likely to fit the bill.

well obviously there is a difference in intelligence if Adebayor can speak better English then Rio Ferdinand or Beckham!!

I think the author of the article struck the nail on the head - Walcott - is bright and articulate and that WILL help him on the pitch. Pennant and Cole - thick as pig shit and have wasted their talent (and in coles case wasted his marriage too) even previous generations of players seemed more intelligent then the current crop: Keown a monster on the pitch and smart and sensibly spoken off the pitch - unlike Jamie Redknapp whos another thick turd.

[DB10GOONER]

I think you have to distinguish between footballing intelligence and general intelligence.

There is no doubt that Gazza has a phenomenal football brain. It's just that the rest of his brain is not up to much.

I think Wenger doesn't so much look for brains as background and attitude. That is why he bought Theo (solid and sensible family) and shipped out Pennant. Foreign players, who aren't brought up in this country's booze culture, are more likely to fit the bill.

Couldn't agree more, GW. The original article was a tad controversial but realistic too. A real shame that so many talented players seem to p*ss that talent away...

[QuartzGooner]

The one thing that has struck me when chatting to a player is that they are all sharp as a tack and "switched on".

I am not mates of any players, and have only met a few briefly at the ground but all were proper gents who were down to earth and seemed to really appreciate what a great club Arsenal was.

Those I have met are: David O'Leary, Charlie George, Bob Wilson, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon.

All top blokes.