City Preview, Loan Moves, And TV Restrictions
Jan 31st, 2008 by 'holic
A trip to Manchester City has so often been something to be eagerly anticipated, but you have to say the unexpected loss at Eastlands last season, and City’s impressive home form this term, may temper expectations for some this weekend.
A Barton penalty was enough to see the Gunners return empty-handed from the City of Manchester Stadium at the start of last season. Almost a year to the day later Cesc Fabregas settled the first meeting of the sides this season at the Grove.
It is probably not unfair to say that City were in better shape in August than they are going into this game. They have won only one of their last seven Premiership fixtures but remain unbeaten at home where they have conceded just eight goals in twelve games. No wonder they currently occupy a top six berth ahead of Liverpool.
Arsene Wenger takes a squad unchanged from the 3-0 defeat of Newcastle up the M6. That fact fuels my confidence in our ability to claim the spoils. Emmanuel Adebayor is on fire and will certainly occupy Dunne and Richards so I fancy a couple of bob on Eduardo to escape their clutches for the first goal. The ‘holic pound is to be placed on a 2-1 away win.
Good Luck Lads
Teenage midfielders Mark Randall and Kieran Gibbs have moved on loan until the end of the season to Burnley and Norwich City respectively. Both are highly regarded and we will certainly expect both players to feature in the Championship between now and the season’s end.
It will be a good opportunity for both to gain experience at a very competitive level. Let’s hope that these moves enable both players to return in the summer ready to take that next step up. Good luck to you both.
TV Restrictions Apply
The FA Premier League have been back to me and if I understand their response correctly it is bad news for most of you outside these shores.
Referring to the restriction of two club channels per broadcaster in Australia I asked, ‘Could you also confirm or deny if similar restrictions are in place in
other regions. I have been receiving complaints from fans as far apart
as the USA and Singapore although they have not all been given this
restriction as a reason.’
The FA Premier League Communications Team have responded.
‘Thank you for your latest email and apologies that you are not satisfied
with my earlier response. Without going into extensive detail I can
confirm that the restrictions around club rights are the same in all
territories whereby any third party channel is only allowed to carry a
maximum of two club channels/blocks.’
So there you have it. In the UK half of us are being denied the service by an unexplained inertia caused possibly by the complex relationship between Setanta and Virgin Media. The rest of you can thank the Premier League for some very strange clauses that deny you access to your favourite Premier League club. I could understand if the club channel was broadcasting live games, and compromising deals done with other broadcasters, but it isn’t. Am I missing something?
8 Responses to “City Preview, Loan Moves, And TV Restrictions”
Just a little comment about the late Jeremy Beadle, who unknown to most was an Arsenal fan and very passionate one too.
I can remember watching the build-up to the FA Cup in 1998 and he was talking about the Arse until at one point, he choked back tears about our beloved team, that day onwards, the guy went up in my estimations, so please someone mention him….
and he raised 100 million quid for charity…thats right ,one hundred million..geezer….see you lot at ours his weekend
my predictions.. arsenal will win in passionly scoring..without anelka gave us comfortable in making game..
Man. City, I think, has a better midfield than Newcastle so Arsenal midfield has to be on good form to win their battles. In contrast, they are pretty toothless up front lately so on current form, they should not be able to offer too severe a test to our defence.
what on earth is Arsenal Malaysia talking about ???
I second kg lol
Sux regarding Arsenal TV 🙁 I don’t get it either.
Good luck on your pound ‘holic. Much rather have a cleansheet as we creep up to damn Yanited though.
I suppose the question to the Premier League is why this two channel restriction appplies, and is this not in breach of competition rules by unfairly favouring the incumbent clubs.
thanks for doin the leg work on ATV holic. its only when someone actually asks the questions when you find out what a bunch of cunts the people who run things in broadcasting can be.
arsenal to win rather comfortably as we continue using our fullbacks to stretch the pitch (of which the eastlands has plenty of) and ades fine form… passionly