Phillips laughs off Wenger jibes
Tuesday 30th March 2010, 11:25AM BST.
Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips has laughed off Arsene Wenger’s latest whinge as “par for the course” as Blues plot more St Andrew’s heartbreak for the big guns.
Arsenal manager Wenger, whose title-chasing Gunners host Wolves this Saturday, moaned about the state of the St Andrew’s pitch after the highly-charged 1-1 draw at the weekend.
Veteran former Albion hitman Phillips scored the last gasp equaliser to preserve Blues’ unbeaten home record against the teams above them, apart from Villa.
The 36-year-old also dismissed the Gunners boss’ criticism as no more than expected from the Frenchman.
Phillips said: “I know who you’re talking about, but that’s par for the course, isn’t it? They always feel hard done by but you know when you come to St Andrew’s you come for a tough battle and tackles have to be made.
“I didn’t think it was a dirty game and Howard Webb reffed it well.”
Liverpool are next up for Blues on Sunday and Phillips insisted the stuttering Reds will be subjected to the same uncompromising approach as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, who have all failed to win at St Andrew’s this season.
He said: “I don’t think there’s any sign of us letting up. I’ve said all along let’s not let the season peter out. Let’s turn it into a fantastic season. Our record against the top teams has been excellent. Not one of them has come to St Andrew’s and turned us over.
“We need to continue that in the next game. We want to finish the season as strongly as possible.”
Liverpool have never beaten Blues in 13 games under Rafael Benitez and St Andrew’s boss Alex McLeish wants to use their stubborn streak against the big boys as further motivation for Blues.
The manager said: “It was mentioned in our team talk on Saturday that all the pressure was on Arsenal, they were the team that needed the points to keep their title hopes alive. They are not out of it but the result was a big blow to them.
“It was a massive achievement for us, the fact all the top four teams have come to St Andrew’s and haven’t won.”
UK Sport
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have any of u guys watched the movie “Goal”??
If you have remember how the protagonist Munez is slammed by an unskilled defender who’s bitter about his life.Remember how they slam tackles at him while he tries to dribble in the rain.
That typifies ENGLISH FOOTBALL.
Unfortunately Wenger is an oasis in the desert trying to provide water to all the rest by bringing up players akin to Munez in the movie while the rest talk about it being a man’s game and tackles being beautiful.
This is why English football sucks in World cups and other international tournaments.Thats why u will never win anything.
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a football lover is completley right. was wenger right to say the pitch was bad? yes, because it was! was the tackle on fabregas dangerous? yes because it inured him! i was almost glad vermaelen didn’t get to play because i was certain there would be injuries in that game. birmingham disgust me. no wonder they can’t score goals, they don’t even try. and that liam ridgewell is one of the filthiest players i’ve ever seen. these types of teams escape punishment too often because officials pity/empathize them. they do not have the confidence to play intelligent football and it’s not about having more money than other teams because arsenal don’t! i’m fed up with people criticising wenger. the rest of the world would not care about the premier league if it wasn’t for people like him bringing in exciting talent and football
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Dave what utter garbage! liam ridgewell is one of the filthiest players i’ve ever seen!Birmingham disgust me! Do not have the confidence to play intelligent football! We do enjoy all you big shots coming to st.andrews expecting to just turn up to take the points! Well no we don’t roll over without a fight!
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“was the tackle on fabregas dangerous? yes because it inured him!”
So the Sol Campbell tackle against Hull’s Zayette was dangerous then?
As was the Gallas tackle against Davies of Bolton?
I’m sure there are others as well.
You Arsenal fans make me laugh, you really do.
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Oh dear still going on about Saturday’s game? Be reminded that the Arse have moved on to a bigger game against Barca tomorrow. I doubt they are really still concerned about last saturday!
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The most dangerous tackile on Saturday Brum v Arse was made against Gardner (Mail Online) by Denilson. A first half littered with fouls by a team who couldn’t get the ball and keep it???? Yes you guessed “the mighty arse” A football lover keep going and watching your football at the cinema or place 11 traffic cones on a pitch and play against them. Dave you can go to any continetal country and watch pretty football where the only tackle on display belongs to the footballers, you dont see TV companies fighting each other with open cheque books trying to sign their tv rights. There are 2 skills to football Attacking and DEFENDING (shock and horror which includes tackling)What isn’t included is diving (another silky continental skill, that should be reserved for the swimming pool.
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Your all stupid Arsenal fans all as bias as Wenger I did not see anything .
Lets all do the Wenger Lets all do the Wenger lalalala
KRO
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Arsenal, your manager has no class, and your fans seem to be following suit! You have filthy players in Gallas and Eboue, as they go in to injure players (The assault on Davies at Bolton) and Whinger shrugs those off. Yet he is still petulant enough to be carrying a grudge over an accident that happened 2 years ago. Arsenal, Hypocrites, whingers and Bottlers. You´ll never win anything you bunch of girls blouses! Come on Barca!
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