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Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:01 pm
by Inchpräctice
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... ne-on-loan


Mannone - I could easily have gone on loan

Vito Mannone could quite easily be keeping goal in the Championship this season instead of performing heroics for Arsenal.

The Italian goalkeeper weighed up his options in the summer and was on the verge of a loan move before a knee injury sidelined Lukasz Fabianski. Suddenly Mannone was the understudy to Manuel Almunia and, before long, he was thrust into the first-team spotlight when the Spaniard picked up a chest infection.

The rest is history. Mannone produced a stunning display as Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage and impressed once more when Olympiacos visited Emirates Stadium in the Champions League. The Italian kept his place for Saturday's win against Blackburn but he admits that it could have all been so different.

“In the summer, yes, we had a talk about a loan move,” Vito told the Official Matchday Programme. "The boss was quite happy for me to go somewhere and play, because as you can see now, I was ready to play games.

"Now things have changed, it’s a different situation, but in the summer I was looking forward to a loan move, to get some experience. But if you play five games in the Arsenal first team, that’s equivalent to the experience of about three months in the Championship.

"A couple of teams were lined up, but then Lukasz got injured and they told me to stay. It’s funny how things happen in football."

Mannone's performance at Craven Cottage underlined the depth in Arsenal's goalkeeping ranks. So how did the Italian celebrate after his heroics in west London?

“I just went with my family and shared the happiness with them," he said. "I watched the game again on TV that night, with my family, and we were all very happy. Really it’s difficult to explain what’s happening around me at the moment – it’s been crazy for the last few days so I’m just keeping my feet on the floor and work hard in training.

“When I got back into the dressing room [after the Fulham game], all the players chanted my name. I was very happy. The best thing is when your team-mates are pleased and proud of you. One of the most important things for a goalkeeper is for the team to have confidence in you. If you do the right thing it’s important for them as well because they are nice and relaxed, they know I am there. I can sort out some problems for them and they can do the same for me.

"They are calling me Gigi [Buffon, the Italian No 1],” he added. “It’s a very big compliment for me. Even in training now, when I make a save - I’m not Vito anymore!”

This interview first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme. You can subscribe to the Matchday Programme by calling 08700 20 20 20.

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009]


Re: Mannone = Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:03 pm
by Arsenal Tone
Why are you calling Mannone a buffoon?

Re: Mannone = Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:04 pm
by Inchpräctice
Plymouth Gooner wrote:Why are you calling Mannone a buffoon?



:tumbleweed:

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:06 pm
by StLGooner
Am happy for the kid, don't think we should get too excited as he's young and got a long way to go, but those last few games will do wonders for his experience and confidence.

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:08 pm
by CynicalGooner
Uh...huh

My favourite thing about Vito is in the post match interview after saving with his face he said something like "good thing I can't get any uglier"

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:08 pm
by Popey
would be great to have the new buffon

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:09 pm
by StLGooner
CynicalGooner wrote:Uh...huh

My favourite thing about Vito is in the post match interview after saving with his face he said something like "good thing I can't get any uglier"



So he's honest then! :P

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:10 pm
by Arsenal Tone
I just hope that if he keeps up this form he keeps his place in the team - even if Almunia and Fabianski are fit!

Re: Mannone = Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:43 pm
by Goose
Plymouth Gooner wrote:Why are you calling Mannone a buffoon?


Are you being serious?

:rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll:

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:48 pm
by IMF
That was in the program or something... I'm sure I read it before I read it on arse dot com. I think it was the program.

Re: Mannone = Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:49 pm
by Arsenal Tone
Goose wrote:
Plymouth Gooner wrote:Why are you calling Mannone a buffoon?


Are you being serious?

:rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll: :rofll:


No, I was trying to be funny. Maybe I should have put a smiley in.

Re: Mannone = new Buffon

PostPosted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:07 pm
by Rockin' Robin
IMF wrote:That was in the program or something... I'm sure I read it before I read it on arse dot com. I think it was the program.

Program yeah, I read it in there, plus the article on here says it was in the program.