Wenger admits he will dip into January market

[zaphod]

- Yeah, probably both designed to draw attention from the fact that he´s assembled a team of midgets, nowhere near challenging for the title

But does shaking hands after a clash origin from English football?  Seriously?

[Nerik]

Phil Thompson hates Souness' guts yet when we played Blackburn in 2001 and he was stand-in manager he shook his hand and wrote about it in his bio, saying that he did the thing that should be done out of courtesy etc. Personally I doubt I'd be able to shake Souness' hand if what Thommo claims Souness did to him was true.

[Nosferatu]

I don't know zap but I assume it probably does come into it somewhere as if you think about it, most of the fouls are fouls because they are deemed ungentlemanly conduct. Sounds very old empire English to me.

[zaphod]

- Don´t think it´s a football rule per se though

But **** it anyway, Wenger has more class in his little finger than Mark Hughes will ever have in his whole body so if he chooses not to shake hands with him, so be it.

[zaphod]

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5745313,00.html

Arsene Wenger today admitted he is a "bad loser" but does not regret his refusal to shake Mark Hughes' hand.

Wenger was condemned by Hughes for failing to accept his offer of a handshake after Arsenal's 3-0 Carling Cup defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night.

But the Gunners boss insisted he would behave exactly the same way again, though he refused to confirm a report stating he had been verbally abused by Hughes during the match.

"Tomorrow, by coincidence, I am managing my 500th game at Arsenal and I believe I have shaken hands 497 times," he said.

"I believe that it is a ceremonial courtesy. But the most important is not the ceremonial but the courtesy of behaviour.

"I don't deny that I am a bad loser but on this occasion I would have done exactly the same if we had won or lost the game.

"I act in accordance with the principles I think are important on the football pitch and I maintain exactly what I said and did."

When asked if he had been insulted by Hughes, Wenger responded: "I'm used to treating this kind of thing with the needed distance. I do not want to make a fuss.

"There are incidents on the touchline but you never heard me ever say anything about another manager after the game, in a press conference or after during the week.

"I maintain exactly the way I behave and do not regret one second of what I did."

[Nosferatu]

If he didn't want to create a fuss he should have just shaken hands and be done with it. I heard what Hughes said about it afterwards and he was always going to be asked about it and it isn't bad. The whole point about any sport is that you are there to compete. You give your best and at the end everyone usually congratulates each other.

This is the equivalent of taking your ball and going home. There's a reason why those people are usually referred to as not being a sport.

[Alonso_went_away]

Phil Thompson hates Souness' guts yet when we played Blackburn in 2001 and he was stand-in manager he shook his hand and wrote about it in his bio, saying that he did the thing that should be done out of courtesy etc. Personally I doubt I'd be able to shake Souness' hand if what Thommo claims Souness did to him was true.

What stuff are you talking about?
I've not had the chance to read it

[Nerik]

Thommo was fired from the club by Souness in the 90s when he was reserve team manager.

[Nerik]

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5745313,00.html

Arsene Wenger today admitted he is a "bad loser" but does not regret his refusal to shake Mark Hughes' hand.

Wenger was condemned by Hughes for failing to accept his offer of a handshake after Arsenal's 3-0 Carling Cup defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night.

But the Gunners boss insisted he would behave exactly the same way again, though he refused to confirm a report stating he had been verbally abused by Hughes during the match.

"Tomorrow, by coincidence, I am managing my 500th game at Arsenal and I believe I have shaken hands 497 times," he said.

"I believe that it is a ceremonial courtesy. But the most important is not the ceremonial but the courtesy of behaviour.

"I don't deny that I am a bad loser but on this occasion I would have done exactly the same if we had won or lost the game.

"I act in accordance with the principles I think are important on the football pitch and I maintain exactly what I said and did."

When asked if he had been insulted by Hughes, Wenger responded: "I'm used to treating this kind of thing with the needed distance. I do not want to make a fuss.

"There are incidents on the touchline but you never heard me ever say anything about another manager after the game, in a press conference or after during the week.

"I maintain exactly the way I behave and do not regret one second of what I did."

Find it strange that Gerrard.....who debutted near 2yrs after Wenger took up reins at Arsenal is on 500 games too. Always thought Arsenal had good cup runs....bar Europe at times.

[Robser]

When asked if he had been insulted by Hughes, Wenger responded: "I'm used to treating this kind of thing with the needed distance. I do not want to make a fuss.

Eh........thats exactly what he did make by not shaking hands!! ANd clearly he knew thats what would happen!

[Nerik]

Like when he pushed Pardew to ensure there was that distance..........

[zaphod]

- If he hadn´t, no-one would have mentioned Hughes´ antics.  So yeah, clearly

[kopdude]

He finally at least admitted he is a ******* sore loser.