Good luck Cap'n

[Top Londoner]

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Almunia says there are no signs of nerves in the Watford squad as they prepare for Monday's £120million showdown with Crystal Palace in the npower Championship play-off final at Wembley.

Despite money experts Deloitte branding the Bank Holiday Monday Wembley showdown as "the biggest financial prize in world football" and Watford's own tough economic battles, Spaniard Almunia insists the team are just concentrating on playing the game rather than the occasion.

"We looked back on it in the first few days, because friends and family send you videos and pictures, but since we have come back from Malaga, we are all totally focused on Monday," said the former Arsenal keeper, whose dramatic double penalty save against Leicester sparked an amazing finish to their semi-final, with Troy Deeney crashing home a last-gasp winner to send Vicarage Road into bedlam.

"The atmosphere in the team is great, and is a big chance for everybody.

"Most of the players have never been in a game like this in a stadium such as Wembley.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ne ... /8733176/-
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'I have big regrets': Manuel Almunia says he would still be Arsenal's No 1 if he hadn't played on injured
4 Aug 2012 22:58

“It was so, so hard to cope with. One day you are number one and ­everybody wants you, and the next day you disappear" - former Arsenal keeper opens up about Arsenal torment

During his time with the Gunners, Almunia collected an FA Cup ­winners’ medal, played in a ­Champions League final and ­produced man-of-the-match ­performances against Barcelona and Manchester United.

But, as is the case with most ­goalkeepers, Almunia will be remembered by many for the blunders and the moments of ­madness.

A disastrous home defeat to West Brom almost two years ago effectively finished his Arsenal career.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ll-1218506

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He finally found his level. Shame it took Wenger so long to realise the same for the keeper.
Whatever my personal feelings about him not being the standard required at Arsenal, I think it only right to wish him well for the Championship play-off final this weekend.

over to you augie.

[spendsum4uckingmoney]

I wish him no luck. The guy was willing to just get paid for doing nothing, in his final year.

[mcdowell42]

even when he played he was doing fuck all

[Perryashburtongroves]

Stupid twat.

[Top Londoner]

Stupid twat.

meh. I've been called worse.

[northbank123]

Best of luck? I hope the prick dislocates a shoulder dropping a howler into the back of his own net to lose the game.

Not really fair to shout at somebody for being shit (although I still do ) but something about his manner on the pitch really riled me - never seemed to take any responsibility and every time he fumbled or spilled a ball if he got away with it he'd stick his hands up in the air as if to say he had it under control all along. Always seemed an absolute coward to me as a footballer. By the end he was making mistakes that local U14s keepers would have been ashamed of.

He then stayed for a full year just to milk his salary out of the club knowing he was finished as an Arsenal player. He finally pisses off but can't help but to mouth off every couple of weeks with some criticism of Arsenal - as though it's obviously somebody else's fault that he's a shit footballer.

Not good enough, but took our manager far too long to realise and this cost us, and even then we couldn't offload him because he was a greedy bastard and on far too much money. Talentless and unmotivated - basically sums up half our squad for the last half a decade.

Also I regrettably can't deny that he was our number 1 for a period - but when was he "wanted by everyone"?

[1989]

I wish him misery.

[markyp]

give the guy a break,he didnt choose to be our number 1,it was Lord Wenker who deemed him good enough,and as for taking money doing zip sat on the bench i personally dont think any player anywhere is happy sat on the bench,everybody wants first team footy.i certainly will be wishing him well this weekend,thank fuck though he aint still keeping sticks for us

[augie]

One of my biggest regrets in recent years was that almunia never got a chance to establish himself as engerlands number 1 keeper

When I first started slating the guy a few years back, I was told by many that he was an ok keeper just not a great one, well guess what.......he is and always has been shit It really is shameful that this guy was ever allowed be captain for us - over the years we have had some well dodgy keepers but none of the caaaants was ever made captain It is embarassing to recall that the only reason we had this c.unt was because celta vigo owed us money from the silvinho deal and couldnt pay it so instead they threw us their 3rd choice keeper to settle the bill.......and we accepted

[SteveO 35]

One of my biggest regrets in recent years was that almunia never got a chance to establish himself as engerlands number 1 keeper

When I first started slating the guy a few years back, I was told by many that he was an ok keeper just not a great one, well guess what.......he is and always has been shit It really is shameful that this guy was ever allowed be captain for us - over the years we have had some well dodgy keepers but none of the caaaants was ever made captain It is embarassing to recall that the only reason we had this c.unt was because celta vigo owed us money from the silvinho deal and couldnt pay it so instead they threw us their 3rd choice keeper to settle the bill.......and we accepted

But still better than either Flappyhandski or Mannonekokey !

Wenger was actually quoted as saying that he had four top class goalkeepers when he had the magic quartet of those boys plus Chesney !

ONE ARSENE WENGER.....THERE'S ONLY ONE ARSENE WENGER

[Perryashburtongroves]

Stupid twat.

meh. I've been called worse.

[augie]

One of my biggest regrets in recent years was that almunia never got a chance to establish himself as engerlands number 1 keeper

When I first started slating the guy a few years back, I was told by many that he was an ok keeper just not a great one, well guess what.......he is and always has been shit It really is shameful that this guy was ever allowed be captain for us - over the years we have had some well dodgy keepers but none of the caaaants was ever made captain It is embarassing to recall that the only reason we had this c.unt was because celta vigo owed us money from the silvinho deal and couldnt pay it so instead they threw us their 3rd choice keeper to settle the bill.......and we accepted

But still better than either Flappyhandski or Mannonekokey !

Wenger was actually quoted as saying that he had four top class goalkeepers when he had the magic quartet of those boys plus Chesney !

ONE ARSENE WENGER.....THERE'S ONLY ONE ARSENE WENGER

Would still have flappy ahead of him

[Barriecuda]

Decent shot stopper, but terrible decision making. However, you could argue WS1 and LF21 are basically the exact same in terms of pros/cons, so maybe the real issue is with Arsenal's goalkeeping coaches.

Anyway, I wish Alumnia no ill-will and I hope Watford go through. Good on Manuel for making that big double save before Watford clinched the winner in the second leg.

[northbank123]

give the guy a break,he didnt choose to be our number 1,it was Lord Wenker who deemed him good enough,and as for taking money doing zip sat on the bench i personally dont think any player anywhere is happy sat on the bench,everybody wants first team footy.i certainly will be wishing him well this weekend,thank fuck though he aint still keeping sticks for us

As I recall he wasn't even sitting on the bench, he was third choice

He knew he wasn't going to play and milked us in the last year. Makes him a cock but our fault for giving him that contract. But I don't understand why he pops up every few weeks with some odd dig at Arsenal.

[topgoon]

Good luck to him....and I mean that in a no skin off my nose what he does way.