Hello everybody,
Good game last night eh. From the offset we went at them with swift movement and quick passing. They set up to defend and packed their area but we broke them down again and again and by the 25th minute we could have been 4 nil up with Arshavin, Rosicky and Fabregas forcing saves and Fabregas hammering a left foot volley against the bar. Not to mention 3 corners or so.
We started off with our Mannone in goal of course and Eboue coming in for Sagna, otherwise our regular back 4. Diaby filled into midfield again with Fabregas and Song and Rosicky, not Eduardo, came in for Bendtner up front, with Arshavin going wide right and van Persie running down the middle.
I thought that everyone was on their game last night, except for Arshavin who seemed rather sluggish at times, although there were times were he made some important interceptions and good runs forward. It was good to see Cesc working the way he we're used to and Song was really playing well, especially considering he had to do mostly attacking. He really isn't a bad dribbler you know.
The first half kept going and kept going and we still couldn't manage to score. We were getting good width at times to relieve the boys in the middle but we were really attacking down the middle very well. Diaby was doing well off the ball, his runs from one wing to another and straight down the middle really made the difference at times as their defense was just never able to pick up all of our attackers, leaving 1 or 2 always open and available. And with the ball almost constantly in within 35 yards of the Olympiacos area, Gallas was able to come forward and join in the attack. The fullbacks were always pushed up as well with Eboue doing some very useful attacking. His runs forward and his good dribbling really made a difference, I don't think we would have been as effective with Sagna in the side. And Rosicky's craft and quality was outstanding as well, again, had Bendtner been on we wouldn't have been able to complete the penetrating moves that took us inside their box and brought us all those chances.
But for all of our domination and excellent play, and it really was excellent play, we couldn't manage to score. Then, around 33 minutes or so they had an attacker free on the far post and he was found by a searching cross. His header was thankfully straight at Mannone. I wouldn't have been at all surprised had they gone in at half time 1 nil up, as is the case often when we completely hammer a team.
It turned out that it was nil-nil at half time after van Persie had added a couple to our shots on target tally, once after turning Raul Bravo inside out 2/3 times before shooting instead of crossing.
The second half saw more of the same with their keeper racking up the saves, saving shots, tipping away corners and punching free kicks, the old man was really on fire. They were defending well and they owed a lot to their keeper but still we looked like scoring. It was around 60 minutes when I decided to have some of the old faith in the team, the kind of faith that Henry and Bergkamp and Ray Parlour gave you. The kind of faith that you had in knowing we would score eventually, rather than the creeping shadow of doubt we've accrued in recent years, due to unjust results and bad luck.
5 minutes later Eduardo came on for Rosicky, who the manager still doesn't want to stretch out too far. And it was Eduardo who eventually set up the break through. I thought we had scored about a minute before we actually did when Abou Diaby headed from Eduardo's cross. It looked like it was going into the far corner but their old man keeper made an outstanding save to keep it out. And I should mention that some time before that Olympiacos made a rare break and forced a corner, from which Melberg headed to the corner, but Mannone made a fantastic save before the ball would have hit Clichy on the line. Had he not made the save the ball wouldn't have gone in but it was an outstanding save all the same, he really is coming good this kid.
Then, a minute after Diaby's header and subsequent substitution for Carlos Vela, we made the break through. A patented reverse pass from Cesc on the edge of the box saw Eduardo burst past his man to square low for van Persie who tapped into an open goal. It was a very nicely worked goal and it took 78 minutes of battering to come. I celebrated like a mad man because it was hugely relieving and certainly less than what we deserved.
I was happy to see Carlos Vela who looked very eager, standing up when he could have easily gone down having been fouled on several occasions. He attacked with speed and hunger and nearly set up a goal when it looked like he had held the ball too long. he got stuck into challenges and played fairly well for the 12 minutes he had.
Oh, and I forgot to mention their hand ball, which came about midway through the half. After a corner, the ball was bouncing around the box and Diaby had flicked the ball at around waist height and it was going over his shoulder where I'd say his plan was to volley home. As it was on the rise after his flick Dudu came flying in and shoved the ball down to the ground with his hand. The replays show clear intent and had the ref spotted it, it would have been a penalty and he surely would have been off, that dirty little scum bag.
It was inconsequential in the end as Arshavin made it safe on the 86th minute after Cesc played the ball across to him and he put the ball in with a sneaky little Cryuff turn flick and although he was offsides, it was a goal we definitely deserved.
The game ended 2 nil when it could have been 6. Had one of our chances in the first 20 minutes gone in we the game would have opened up very nicely and we could have put something of a thrashing on them, but as it happened we can't really take anything away from the performance. We completely dominated and on another night it would have been 6. We displayed skill, drive, craft and a whole shit load of speed. We kept possession very well and attacked very thoughtfully and with drive and determination. We're now on 6 points and after a draw in the other match we're in great position in the group. Another win and a draw in the other match and we'll have qualified and as I've said, that can relieve the pressure and give us the freedom we'd like to continue our good league run.
Highbury86
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Olympiacos Tonight
We face Olympiacos tonight at the Grove. I really don't know anything about them except that they have Olof Melberg and Matt Derbyshire. I used be a closet fan of Matt Derbyshire but never understood the hype about Melberg. I suppose at the end of the day it's not really important since they're both really just OK.
We'll be without Fabianski, his knee still not having recovered, Almunia, still suffering from the gnarliest chest infection ever, Djourou, who'll of course be out for the bulk of the season, Sami Nasri is still out for at least another week with his leg break, Denilson is out with a slight back fracture, which is a shame because that's the type of injury that can really hamper a career later on, Theo won't play as he's short of match fitness and Bendtner crashed his Aston Martin and will miss the game.
Mannone will again deputize in the sticks. This'll be another chance for him to prove himself and you have to imagine that another great performance will allow him to hold his place for another game. He was fantastic in that entertaining match at Craven Cottage and should he have much to do we'll have to hope he does the same in the CL. Even if he doesn't hold his place, you have to imagine that with his performances and the imminent return of Fabianski, Almunia might get his finger out and get it together. Last season was certainly his best and he still wasn't that good and I really wouldn't mind Fabianski or even Mannone turning good and taking his place.
I expect our regular back 4, although I can see either one of the full backs being given a rest, maybe Clichy, as Sagna was recently given a break. Diaby will probably stand in the middle along side Song and Cesc again, hopefully he can have a good game and get some consistency down. You have to imagine that Eduardo will come in for Bendtner up front and with Theo out too, there may be room on the bench for Carlos Vela. I'd like to see him get going this season and this seems like a good opportunity, as it's a high profile match that doesn't seem too difficult or of great consequence.
A good performance and a win will again keep us moving in a run of very winnable matches that lead up our meeting with Tottenham on Oct. 31st, which should be a good test for us, but again a very winnable game. After that we have another series of games we should be winning and then we meet Chelsea at the end of November. There are 18 points to grab before November, which includes the Spurs match, and then another 6 before Chelsea. If we can take something like 22-24 points in that run we'll be in great position in the league and in good form to take on Drogba and co.. Another 3 points against Chelsea and we'll have pegged them back to 2 losses and have another 3 points in our bellies, which'll basically, you have to imagine, even out the league at the top.
In between those games we have a few others in the Carling Cup and Champions' League, which can go a long way to giving us momentum should we win them.
A win tonight will also put some daylight between us and the rest of the group, which'll relieve some pressure later on in the group stages and allow Wenger to rest some players and get some youngsters some Champions' League time. A draw in the other group game would go a long way to helping that. We'd be on 6 points, Olympiacos 3 and the others would have a point a piece. Another win and a draw in the other fixture would sew up qualification.
Now, onto the actual game, I think we shouldn't have a problem tonight at all, and I know I said that about the Liege game, but we shouldn't have had much of a problem there either. I think we'll have enough for a comfortable home win and hopefully we'll avoid any more injuries and our squad will stitch itself back together in a couple of weeks, with the exceptions of our long termers, who we'll just have to wait on.
Until tomorrow,
Highbury86
We'll be without Fabianski, his knee still not having recovered, Almunia, still suffering from the gnarliest chest infection ever, Djourou, who'll of course be out for the bulk of the season, Sami Nasri is still out for at least another week with his leg break, Denilson is out with a slight back fracture, which is a shame because that's the type of injury that can really hamper a career later on, Theo won't play as he's short of match fitness and Bendtner crashed his Aston Martin and will miss the game.
Mannone will again deputize in the sticks. This'll be another chance for him to prove himself and you have to imagine that another great performance will allow him to hold his place for another game. He was fantastic in that entertaining match at Craven Cottage and should he have much to do we'll have to hope he does the same in the CL. Even if he doesn't hold his place, you have to imagine that with his performances and the imminent return of Fabianski, Almunia might get his finger out and get it together. Last season was certainly his best and he still wasn't that good and I really wouldn't mind Fabianski or even Mannone turning good and taking his place.
I expect our regular back 4, although I can see either one of the full backs being given a rest, maybe Clichy, as Sagna was recently given a break. Diaby will probably stand in the middle along side Song and Cesc again, hopefully he can have a good game and get some consistency down. You have to imagine that Eduardo will come in for Bendtner up front and with Theo out too, there may be room on the bench for Carlos Vela. I'd like to see him get going this season and this seems like a good opportunity, as it's a high profile match that doesn't seem too difficult or of great consequence.
A good performance and a win will again keep us moving in a run of very winnable matches that lead up our meeting with Tottenham on Oct. 31st, which should be a good test for us, but again a very winnable game. After that we have another series of games we should be winning and then we meet Chelsea at the end of November. There are 18 points to grab before November, which includes the Spurs match, and then another 6 before Chelsea. If we can take something like 22-24 points in that run we'll be in great position in the league and in good form to take on Drogba and co.. Another 3 points against Chelsea and we'll have pegged them back to 2 losses and have another 3 points in our bellies, which'll basically, you have to imagine, even out the league at the top.
In between those games we have a few others in the Carling Cup and Champions' League, which can go a long way to giving us momentum should we win them.
A win tonight will also put some daylight between us and the rest of the group, which'll relieve some pressure later on in the group stages and allow Wenger to rest some players and get some youngsters some Champions' League time. A draw in the other group game would go a long way to helping that. We'd be on 6 points, Olympiacos 3 and the others would have a point a piece. Another win and a draw in the other fixture would sew up qualification.
Now, onto the actual game, I think we shouldn't have a problem tonight at all, and I know I said that about the Liege game, but we shouldn't have had much of a problem there either. I think we'll have enough for a comfortable home win and hopefully we'll avoid any more injuries and our squad will stitch itself back together in a couple of weeks, with the exceptions of our long termers, who we'll just have to wait on.
Until tomorrow,
Highbury86
Sunday, September 27, 2009
3 points from Fulham, Mannone the man
We played Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday and we weren't all that great. We weren't all that terrible either, although we were quite frustrating. We were a little slow in the first half with our midfield 3 not really gelling. Cesc wasn't at his best, Song wasn't at his best and Diaby was very much Diaby, excellent at times, but in an instant awful. They really pressured us hard and used posession well and we really didn't put them under the kind of pressure they put on us. They moved the ball quickly in attack and really went at us down the middle and a little down the our left, which again was suspect. Clichy got caught up a few times and Arshavin gives him near no cover.
We never got much width in the first half and that was a major problem. We went down the middle too often and were just stuffed nearly every time we got the ball. I think that's were Diaby hurts us, his range of passing is very limited and while we did have Cesc, Bendtner never really offered anything wide on the right and Arshavin gave the ball up often.
Tactically they were sound, although you have to imagine with a little more craft and quality down the middle, which would have been offered by either Nasri or Rosicky we could have easily broken them down more often. Denilson would have been useful as well because we were giving away possession like it was the object of the game and he's better at keeping possession than anyone in the league. We were never too patient either, really trying to force our way through, which is what a 4 3 3 can do to you.
We had 2 good chances in the first half, Fabregas hitting over at the near post when he was going for the roof of the net and Arshavin was in on goal after some really nice play on the edge of the area but the ball bobbled at the worst moment. They had 2 excellent chances in the first half and I really think that if Almunia was in we may have conceded, but Mannone did the business with an awesome double save from the scummy Andy Johnson's header and then Dempsey's follow up. The cross for Johnson's header came from the left of course, as did most of their dangerous crosses, and there were quite a few through the night.
We started out the 2nd half really well and moved the ball around really well, with more urgency and flow, but again, we offered little width or patience. The game opened up and they came at us and we went at them and then after 7 minutes a crisp triangle on the half way line worked the ball well around the Fulham defense and then Cesc played the pass of the season so far and put the ball into the path of van Persie's good run. RVP's 1st touch was outstanding and then his finish was nice.
They came at us right afterwards and for the rest of the game and worked Mannone a few times more who came up with the goods with 3 more excellent saves. Late on we subbed Arshavin for Rosicky, which I think was correct despite the fact that I'm dying to see them play together, and Eboue came on for van Persie, which allowed Bendtner to take up his preferred position in the center.
The game opened up after that and Rosicky and Eboue brought some individual attacking quality we didn't have the entire game and we could have had a couple of goals with Bendtner forcing a save and Eboue screwing a shot wide when he should have certainly put a shot on target after being released by a wonderfully weighted and curled Fabregas pass.
Overall a draw probably would have been a fair result or maybe an Arsenal loss but we came through the game without having played particularly well and take away 3 much needed points. 3 good wins in a row now after our weird, but galvanizing come back win in the Champions' League and an easy win against Wigan (who beat Chelsea 3-1 yesterday). We're rolling now, we just need to get our performances together and win our next few games.
I think after injuries are recovered from in the next few weeks and our squad comes back together, with the exception of Djourou of course, we'll see the side shuffled around. I think Bendtner may lose his place with Theo on the comeback. His early season performances have dwindled off and he's just not performing. We could have used Walcott's pace in the last few games and he'll be a very welcomed addition. Eduardo should be used more often if he can stay fit for the next few weeks and same goes for Rosicky. We'll have more craft and quality and will be more dangerous. Come November we'll be something to be reckoned with and I'm excited.
Champions' League next week, our toughest game in the group will see us play Olympiacos. A win against them will have us in good position in the group. More on that later on.
Highbury86
We never got much width in the first half and that was a major problem. We went down the middle too often and were just stuffed nearly every time we got the ball. I think that's were Diaby hurts us, his range of passing is very limited and while we did have Cesc, Bendtner never really offered anything wide on the right and Arshavin gave the ball up often.
Tactically they were sound, although you have to imagine with a little more craft and quality down the middle, which would have been offered by either Nasri or Rosicky we could have easily broken them down more often. Denilson would have been useful as well because we were giving away possession like it was the object of the game and he's better at keeping possession than anyone in the league. We were never too patient either, really trying to force our way through, which is what a 4 3 3 can do to you.
We had 2 good chances in the first half, Fabregas hitting over at the near post when he was going for the roof of the net and Arshavin was in on goal after some really nice play on the edge of the area but the ball bobbled at the worst moment. They had 2 excellent chances in the first half and I really think that if Almunia was in we may have conceded, but Mannone did the business with an awesome double save from the scummy Andy Johnson's header and then Dempsey's follow up. The cross for Johnson's header came from the left of course, as did most of their dangerous crosses, and there were quite a few through the night.
We started out the 2nd half really well and moved the ball around really well, with more urgency and flow, but again, we offered little width or patience. The game opened up and they came at us and we went at them and then after 7 minutes a crisp triangle on the half way line worked the ball well around the Fulham defense and then Cesc played the pass of the season so far and put the ball into the path of van Persie's good run. RVP's 1st touch was outstanding and then his finish was nice.
They came at us right afterwards and for the rest of the game and worked Mannone a few times more who came up with the goods with 3 more excellent saves. Late on we subbed Arshavin for Rosicky, which I think was correct despite the fact that I'm dying to see them play together, and Eboue came on for van Persie, which allowed Bendtner to take up his preferred position in the center.
The game opened up after that and Rosicky and Eboue brought some individual attacking quality we didn't have the entire game and we could have had a couple of goals with Bendtner forcing a save and Eboue screwing a shot wide when he should have certainly put a shot on target after being released by a wonderfully weighted and curled Fabregas pass.
Overall a draw probably would have been a fair result or maybe an Arsenal loss but we came through the game without having played particularly well and take away 3 much needed points. 3 good wins in a row now after our weird, but galvanizing come back win in the Champions' League and an easy win against Wigan (who beat Chelsea 3-1 yesterday). We're rolling now, we just need to get our performances together and win our next few games.
I think after injuries are recovered from in the next few weeks and our squad comes back together, with the exception of Djourou of course, we'll see the side shuffled around. I think Bendtner may lose his place with Theo on the comeback. His early season performances have dwindled off and he's just not performing. We could have used Walcott's pace in the last few games and he'll be a very welcomed addition. Eduardo should be used more often if he can stay fit for the next few weeks and same goes for Rosicky. We'll have more craft and quality and will be more dangerous. Come November we'll be something to be reckoned with and I'm excited.
Champions' League next week, our toughest game in the group will see us play Olympiacos. A win against them will have us in good position in the group. More on that later on.
Highbury86
Friday, September 25, 2009
Fulham Tomorrow
Well, Fulham away tomorrow, and we've got no real bad news ahead of the match, except for Almunia being out for a 10th day running with the longest chest infection ever contracted. So Wenger will decide between Mannone and Sz7yhfgnqxy to play in the sticks with Fabianski out with a knee injury until some time next month.
Arshavin is back and Theo is available, while van Persie is likely to play in recovery from a small injury. I think Arshavin will start with van Persie and Bendtner while Walcott will only be used if necessary.
There really isn't much else. This fixture has proved difficult for us in the past couple of seasons and so we'll have to be sharp and if we are we'll keep moving in our run of winnable games.
Fulham will play physically and try to play through the middle and on the break. Vermaelen should be more than a match for any big boys they throw up front and our midfield trio should be far too much for Danny Murphy and so I think we'll get the 3 points tomorrow. Hopefully our forwards will get some goals, van Persie will have to put away his chances to get his season really started and Eduardo'll have to be a bit more clinical than he has. Arshavin will likely be his assassin like self, hiding wide left to cut in and hammer in goals.
See you tomorrow,
Highbury86
Arshavin is back and Theo is available, while van Persie is likely to play in recovery from a small injury. I think Arshavin will start with van Persie and Bendtner while Walcott will only be used if necessary.
There really isn't much else. This fixture has proved difficult for us in the past couple of seasons and so we'll have to be sharp and if we are we'll keep moving in our run of winnable games.
Fulham will play physically and try to play through the middle and on the break. Vermaelen should be more than a match for any big boys they throw up front and our midfield trio should be far too much for Danny Murphy and so I think we'll get the 3 points tomorrow. Hopefully our forwards will get some goals, van Persie will have to put away his chances to get his season really started and Eduardo'll have to be a bit more clinical than he has. Arshavin will likely be his assassin like self, hiding wide left to cut in and hammer in goals.
See you tomorrow,
Highbury86
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Carling Cup Under Way, What's Sol Campbell doing?
Our latest League Cup campaign is under way and we've beaten West Brom 2 nil. We started with our typical mix of youngsters and out of favor seniors. Szjenxxy7p started in goal and made a few good saves. Gibbs played at left back, Karrea Gilbert played at right back and the Silvestre-Senderos super team held it down in the middle. I'm not sure what Karrea Gilbert has been up to but the last thing I remember seeing him do was set up a goal for Henry at Highbury. I think he went out on loan somewhere since then and evidently he's back. I'm not sure how he played as I only saw the highlights but I'm sure we'll see him in future rounds.
The middle 3 was made up of Coquelin, Ramsey and Wilshere and the front dudes were Sunu, Traore flanking Watt. From the highlights it seems like West Brom were doing quite well, creating chances and forcing a couple of saves out of young keeper. We were getting forward too and Watt hit the post when he maybe should have scored. Then Jerome Thomas shoved Wilshere in the face and was sent off. The ref really had no choice and it seems to me that it was all fairly innocuous and then Thomas really put his team in it when he pushed little Jack's face.
In the second half Wenger put on Vela and Randall and it seems that they turned the game. Vela did the exact same thing for Mexico as they won the Gold Cup in the summer. I'm glad to see him back as he'll be very useful in our new look formation.
On 68 minutes Vela spun his maker, sidestepped a couple of defenders and fired a shot from the edge of the box. Keily could only parry it to Watt who scored an easy goal. 8 minutes later Vela scored himself after an awesome chip by Randall, which seemed to come out of nowhere. A West Brom defender tried chest it down to Keily and completely fucked it up, letting Vela sneak in and hit home for our second.
We're on to our next round and will hopefully be embarking on a nice long run. In other slightly Arsenal related news Sol Campbell is leaving Knotts County after 1 game. Who knows what he was doing there in the first place, maybe he had an eye on management, but he's now wondering in the cold without a club. Who knows what's going on with him but he's had his personal problems in the past and I hope he sorts it all out. It's hard to feel bad for someone who's just walked away from 10 million pounds but he was a legend for us and is only now being somewhat replaced by Vermaelen.
Right then, catch you later
Highbury86
The middle 3 was made up of Coquelin, Ramsey and Wilshere and the front dudes were Sunu, Traore flanking Watt. From the highlights it seems like West Brom were doing quite well, creating chances and forcing a couple of saves out of young keeper. We were getting forward too and Watt hit the post when he maybe should have scored. Then Jerome Thomas shoved Wilshere in the face and was sent off. The ref really had no choice and it seems to me that it was all fairly innocuous and then Thomas really put his team in it when he pushed little Jack's face.
In the second half Wenger put on Vela and Randall and it seems that they turned the game. Vela did the exact same thing for Mexico as they won the Gold Cup in the summer. I'm glad to see him back as he'll be very useful in our new look formation.
On 68 minutes Vela spun his maker, sidestepped a couple of defenders and fired a shot from the edge of the box. Keily could only parry it to Watt who scored an easy goal. 8 minutes later Vela scored himself after an awesome chip by Randall, which seemed to come out of nowhere. A West Brom defender tried chest it down to Keily and completely fucked it up, letting Vela sneak in and hit home for our second.
We're on to our next round and will hopefully be embarking on a nice long run. In other slightly Arsenal related news Sol Campbell is leaving Knotts County after 1 game. Who knows what he was doing there in the first place, maybe he had an eye on management, but he's now wondering in the cold without a club. Who knows what's going on with him but he's had his personal problems in the past and I hope he sorts it all out. It's hard to feel bad for someone who's just walked away from 10 million pounds but he was a legend for us and is only now being somewhat replaced by Vermaelen.
Right then, catch you later
Highbury86
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Adebayor Ban followed by easy win
Easy win yesterday, 3 points, a comfortable and goal scoring performance, all much needed and accomplished. Verminator is our top scorer and not a bad defender either. His partnership with Gallas is something we've been missing for a long time. **I just looked at the TV and AC Milan have a ginger guy playing for them. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with ginger hair play in Italy before, it's hilarious.**Right, anyway, Vermaelen got 2 good goals and played very well all around. Gallas had a very good game, as did Eboue and Clichy. Song and Cesc were OK, showing moments of magic and moments of lethargy. Eduardo wasn't at his best but chipped in with a goal, sort of, and van Persie is getting there. He missed a few chances but his form is on it's way.
If we score 5 against Fulham we'll be averaging 4 goals per game in the league after 6 games. I have a feeling the league will be tight at the top and all these goals may make a difference come the end of May. So, so far this week we've made a spirited come back from 2 nil down in the Champions' League and put Wigan to the sword at home, banging in 4 goals and could have had 6/7. I'd say that's defining getting on track. We've got a Carling Cup game mid week, our youngsters will be playing West Brom, it'll be a tough fixture but I think I'll put a quick 5er on our boys to win 3-1. Our big boys have a sterner test against Fulham at the weekend. If we can get a good win there we can really get rolling on our season.
Adebayor was given a 3 match ban for his stamp on van Persie. It's a frustrating situation, I'm glad he's been banned but what does it matter to us. I suppose his absence will hamper Man City and as they're sort of our rivals for league place it could benefit us that way, but he shouldn't have been on the park for that goal that ultimately beat us. He's likely to be banned again for his celebration but I can't imagine that being for more than 1 game.
Speaking of Man City, what a game today. I watched it streaming online and had a little trouble with the feed so I saw it up until 3-3 and figured that it ended that way. I've just seen the result and Michael Owen of all people finished off City after Ferdinand and Foster seemed to have given the game away.
While I watched that game I just fumed and hated Bellamy more and more, his constant crying to the ref while he fouls dirty and freely and then screams in the faces of those he's injured. He's ludicrous. I thought, 'I hope that Bellamy and Adebayor get killed in a car crash together'. I thought this very seriously as they're professional footballers and they have an important influence on kids who play the game. I thought, 'And if they killed Drogba and Ballack at the same time all the better'. Again, a serious thought. I took a breath and realized it was a little dramatic and maybe I'm just an angry guy. I came to a sense and realize that while they don't deserve to die, they certainly don't deserve to play football either. What's really horrifying is that 3 of those guys are the highest paid players in England. It's consistent with the rest of the world of business. It's often business masquerading as something else, something positive when most of what it is is price fixing and lack of quality, often dangerous lack of quality, being peddled and earned for. It's like really shitty movies that make billions, really shitty music that makes billions, really unhealthy and outright dangerous foods that make billions. It's like the government passing the patriot act and saying that it'll benefit the country's citizens, the fact that they've had the gall to call it the Patriot Act when it cuts out 4/5 constitutional rights is in congress with all that horrible shit. Control of the masses, their mindsets, their freedoms and their money, by the very few.
Now it's a slippery slope and I fear for football as it's one of the few things that remains a hope for integrity, endeavor, fight, passion, something for something's sake and having thought about it, it still is. No matter how much business you put into football, no matter how many pros dive and wine and complain and feign injury and fight the refs and stamp on faces and celebrate in front of their old fans and then make up stories in the press about how they've been abused, you can't avoid the fact that there is no football without the football. There is no business or scumbags without the honest boys, without the 11 on 11, man v man, team v team, tactics v tactics, talent v talent. And you'll never have pros without the kids in the streets, without kick ups in the living room, without dad's taking out their boys and girls, without parks, without balls without fun. We may not be able to take the pre madonnas and business out of football but they definitely can't take the football out of football.
If we score 5 against Fulham we'll be averaging 4 goals per game in the league after 6 games. I have a feeling the league will be tight at the top and all these goals may make a difference come the end of May. So, so far this week we've made a spirited come back from 2 nil down in the Champions' League and put Wigan to the sword at home, banging in 4 goals and could have had 6/7. I'd say that's defining getting on track. We've got a Carling Cup game mid week, our youngsters will be playing West Brom, it'll be a tough fixture but I think I'll put a quick 5er on our boys to win 3-1. Our big boys have a sterner test against Fulham at the weekend. If we can get a good win there we can really get rolling on our season.
Adebayor was given a 3 match ban for his stamp on van Persie. It's a frustrating situation, I'm glad he's been banned but what does it matter to us. I suppose his absence will hamper Man City and as they're sort of our rivals for league place it could benefit us that way, but he shouldn't have been on the park for that goal that ultimately beat us. He's likely to be banned again for his celebration but I can't imagine that being for more than 1 game.
Speaking of Man City, what a game today. I watched it streaming online and had a little trouble with the feed so I saw it up until 3-3 and figured that it ended that way. I've just seen the result and Michael Owen of all people finished off City after Ferdinand and Foster seemed to have given the game away.
While I watched that game I just fumed and hated Bellamy more and more, his constant crying to the ref while he fouls dirty and freely and then screams in the faces of those he's injured. He's ludicrous. I thought, 'I hope that Bellamy and Adebayor get killed in a car crash together'. I thought this very seriously as they're professional footballers and they have an important influence on kids who play the game. I thought, 'And if they killed Drogba and Ballack at the same time all the better'. Again, a serious thought. I took a breath and realized it was a little dramatic and maybe I'm just an angry guy. I came to a sense and realize that while they don't deserve to die, they certainly don't deserve to play football either. What's really horrifying is that 3 of those guys are the highest paid players in England. It's consistent with the rest of the world of business. It's often business masquerading as something else, something positive when most of what it is is price fixing and lack of quality, often dangerous lack of quality, being peddled and earned for. It's like really shitty movies that make billions, really shitty music that makes billions, really unhealthy and outright dangerous foods that make billions. It's like the government passing the patriot act and saying that it'll benefit the country's citizens, the fact that they've had the gall to call it the Patriot Act when it cuts out 4/5 constitutional rights is in congress with all that horrible shit. Control of the masses, their mindsets, their freedoms and their money, by the very few.
Now it's a slippery slope and I fear for football as it's one of the few things that remains a hope for integrity, endeavor, fight, passion, something for something's sake and having thought about it, it still is. No matter how much business you put into football, no matter how many pros dive and wine and complain and feign injury and fight the refs and stamp on faces and celebrate in front of their old fans and then make up stories in the press about how they've been abused, you can't avoid the fact that there is no football without the football. There is no business or scumbags without the honest boys, without the 11 on 11, man v man, team v team, tactics v tactics, talent v talent. And you'll never have pros without the kids in the streets, without kick ups in the living room, without dad's taking out their boys and girls, without parks, without balls without fun. We may not be able to take the pre madonnas and business out of football but they definitely can't take the football out of football.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Bad Day Turned Good
So, I had work at 3:30 Atlanta time yesterday and Fox Soccer Channel wasn't airing the game until 5 so I had set the DVR box to record it. I sat down with an hour to go until work time to watch some of the Liverpool game and about 8 minutes in the commentator blurts out: "Over in Belgium Arsenal trail Liege by 2 goals inside 5 minutes". My heart sunk, I was furious. I got online to find a stream of the game after being unable to find one I ventured over to UEFA.com to look at the line ups and see what was going on. We were 2 nil down and were playing Diaby on the left wing. "Goddammit!" I went up stairs to change for work, came down and the score was 4 nil, the commentator confirmed it in the Liverpool game, "Arsenal have fallen 4 goals behind inside just 20 minutes in Belgium." I was livid. My girlfriend was scared I was going to transform into a giant green thing and tear through all my clothes.
I got to work and took my requisite exam and started my 4th day of training. I was so angry I could hardly contain it, 4 nil down and I wasn't even supposed to know anything about the game until after work. 4 nil down in 20 minutes, how were we going to come back? No Arshavin, no van Persie, no Nasri, no Walcott, no Vela, all players who could turn the game. Diaby, Rosicky, Cesc and Eduardo are all capable as well but Rosicky has only just come back, Eduardo really needs to feed off of service, Cesc is out of form and Diaby is Diaby.
I left my phone in my pocket during my shift and my nuts were vibrating constantly throughout the night, no doubt the game was eventful. Just to kick me in the pants a little extra the girl who was training me was a turbo control freak who was just about trying to teach me how to breathe.
I got through the night without much event and after tasting some wines and hashing out my problems with my trainer, managed to calm down. My girlfriend picked me up and greeted me with the loving affection a fragile Arsenal fan often needs.
I turned on the game and watched as we conceded a needless corner, Mannone, who looks just like that guy from the eHarmony commercials, didn't give Song a shout and Song put the Liege cross needlessly out for a corner. We cleared the corner and then Eduardo, the mad Brazilian that he is, tried to back heel the ball out of the air to Cesc on the edge of our own box. Their giant center back fended off Fabregas' challenge and sent his shot low and hard to the near post bottom corner. You could argue that a keeper shouldn't really be beaten at his near post but it's hard to argue that any of our keepers would have saved that shot. Under ordinary circumstances I wouldn't be too worried, we made an early mistake and conceded a goal, but knowing that we went on to concede 3 more in the next 18 minutes I wasn't at all happy.
We went at them right away with total immoderation and immaturity and opened ourselves up at the back by leaving huge spaces with poor passing. They countered with Jovanavic dribbling at our defense. Gallas came in with a challenge as the attacker cut the ball back and their toes seemed to graze each other about 3 inches outside the box, which was only evident after the replay. In real time it looked like there wasn't any contact. Such is life that the penalty was given. The penalty wasn't good but Mannone went the wrong way even though the replays showed that Jovanovic made it about as obvious as a ten year old would have that he was going to the keepers right. 2-0 down inside 5 minutes.
The game went on and we kept the ball for the rest of the half, which was uneventful. We did keep the ball, but not well at all. Passes were all over the place, we kept no real possession only tried to fly forward, which allowed them to sit back and soak up our lame pressure. We had a few free kicks that Fabregas hit very poorly. The game wasn't helped at all by the pathetic, conversational, boring commentary. It wasn't near as bad as Max Bretos or that inexplicably, horrendously bad commentator from Fox Soccer Channel whose name I forget, you know the guy I'm talking about. He's always popping in with these obnoxious Spanish sayings and annectdotes and commentating on the game like like he knows better than the managers down on the touchline. Jesus Christ he's awful. Brazil could be playing Spain in the World Cup Finals being played on a floating pitch in space and I wouldn't watch it if that guy was commentating.
40 minutes on the clock and it was still 2 nil. There was a cock up, UEFA.com fucked it up and the Liverpool match commentator fell for it too, as you would. It was relieving I have to say but I was still skeptical. That was until Diaby pulled a good run out of his had, burning past two defenders before sliding in for Bendtner to run onto and finish very neatly under the keeper. The whistle went and we went in 2-1 down after Bendtner scored a crucial goal. A pleasantly stark contrast to 4-0 at 20 minutes.
The half time report was that we were very poor. They were committed, but even so, we were bad. Clichy wasn't particularly good, neither were Cesc, Song, Diaby, or Eduardo. Bendtner was working hard but I think we just have to accept that he just doesn't have the quality we all want him to have. Gallas and Vermaelen could hold their heads high and Mannone, although he missed timed a couple of clearances, did a fine job with everything else that was asked of him. He looked very composed.
We started the second half by conceded a corner, which we broke away from with Rosicky flying past a Liege player and then sending a wonderful 60 yard pass long and high down the middle to Bendtner who controlled it perfectly and would have scored was it now for one of the best tackles I've ever seen by Mangelar, the scorer of the first goal.
The game went on and we continued to boss the ball but did nothing with it. We went forward and ran into a red wall again and again. They just sat behind the half way line, as soon as we entered their half they pressed and we had to start again, as our passing continued to be poor. We were playing straight into their adjusted game plan, adjusted because they surely didn't expect to be 2-1 up at this stage.
We eventually began to keep the ball better higher up the park and our possession was rewarded with a few free kicks in good positions. The problem with our free kicks was that without van Persie, Cesc was left with the responsibility and his deliveries were consistently bad.
But it was looking up, slightly. And just as it did, the chocolate eating, lace weaving Belgiums came flying at us and got a few players in behind. Their Brazilian Belgium crossed low across the box and it was missed by Diaby, Vermaelen and Mannone and if it wasn't for Eboue's excellent clearance over the bar from 4 yards out, it would have been 3-1. Eboue has his bad moments, he had several horrendous ones last season, but be that as it may, he seems to get no credit for his good work. It seems that it takes 90 minutes of blistering play and outstanding quality (like at Celtic) for him to get any credit.
Just after that the game seemed to open up for about 5 minutes but we couldn't quite take advantage with 1-2's not quite coming off, or slips on the ball or some kind of mini disaster occurring at the worst possible moment. And on occasion their forwards would get in behind our midfield and try to expose our defenders and Gallas and Vermaelen were always on hand to make timely tackles and interceptions and they were monstrous in the air. They really are forming some kind of good partnership.
The 70th minute saw Rosicky come off for Ramsey. Rosicky's first start in 20 months was good, he played well, worked hard and while he was a little out of context, slightly out of flow with some of his teammates, he showed the kind of quality he can bring at times. He was the only player playing with some real urgency. Almost immediately we got our 2nd shot on target. It was easily saved and wasn't that great of a shot but it was progress. 73 minutes saw another shot on target, another baby step. Then on 76 minutes Eduardo did really well to beat 2 players on the dribble and was fouled in the process. Cesc finally played a good ball in and it was flicked on by Eduardo to the very offsides Alex Song who handballed it and poked it to the also offsides Vermaelen who poked it home. Square at 2 all after 78minutes. Much better than 4 nil down on 20.
Football can be funny, we get unlucky a few times in Manchester and karmic retribution lands on the poor Belgian minnows. The rich get richer and the little Belgians see a wonderful night on their Champions' League debut slipping away.
Then under a minute after our equalizer we could have been 3-2 up. Bendtner came very deep for the ball, played it on into the box and after a couple of 1-2's Cesc played it to Eduardo who hit the ball with his right to the far post, producing a great save from Bolat. From the resulting corner Vermaelen hit an outrageous back heal straight out of the air, which was cleared off the line by the man on the post. We were a slightly new Arsenal. We played with urgency and some quality. Eduardo almost got in on goal from a long ball out of the back but was tackled well. Then from the corner he scored the winner with his knee. The ball swung in and Sagna cleverly ducked under the ball as he looked to head. This seemed to confuse everyone in the box except Eduardo who was Johnny on the spot, getting his knee in front of his marker. The man who was supposed to have been banned, who had a terrible first half, making the mistake that led to their first goal, who was supposed to be subbed just before we scored our second, set up a crazy offsides, handball equalizer with a flick and scored the winner in the middle of a crowded box with his knee.
So we were bad, but we won. We had a young goal keeper who had little to do but pick the ball out of his net twice and pick up a couple of loose balls in the box. We had a few additional injuries to our already lengthy injury list and we managed to come back from 2-0 down after 5 minutes to win 3-2. A potential disaster turned into a greatly spirited, if lacking in quality, performance. We'll put the performance behind us but we'll remember the spirit and the result and will be able to use this to galvanize our team and put together what we all hope to be a good string of good results.
WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL WE DO!...
I got to work and took my requisite exam and started my 4th day of training. I was so angry I could hardly contain it, 4 nil down and I wasn't even supposed to know anything about the game until after work. 4 nil down in 20 minutes, how were we going to come back? No Arshavin, no van Persie, no Nasri, no Walcott, no Vela, all players who could turn the game. Diaby, Rosicky, Cesc and Eduardo are all capable as well but Rosicky has only just come back, Eduardo really needs to feed off of service, Cesc is out of form and Diaby is Diaby.
I left my phone in my pocket during my shift and my nuts were vibrating constantly throughout the night, no doubt the game was eventful. Just to kick me in the pants a little extra the girl who was training me was a turbo control freak who was just about trying to teach me how to breathe.
I got through the night without much event and after tasting some wines and hashing out my problems with my trainer, managed to calm down. My girlfriend picked me up and greeted me with the loving affection a fragile Arsenal fan often needs.
I turned on the game and watched as we conceded a needless corner, Mannone, who looks just like that guy from the eHarmony commercials, didn't give Song a shout and Song put the Liege cross needlessly out for a corner. We cleared the corner and then Eduardo, the mad Brazilian that he is, tried to back heel the ball out of the air to Cesc on the edge of our own box. Their giant center back fended off Fabregas' challenge and sent his shot low and hard to the near post bottom corner. You could argue that a keeper shouldn't really be beaten at his near post but it's hard to argue that any of our keepers would have saved that shot. Under ordinary circumstances I wouldn't be too worried, we made an early mistake and conceded a goal, but knowing that we went on to concede 3 more in the next 18 minutes I wasn't at all happy.
We went at them right away with total immoderation and immaturity and opened ourselves up at the back by leaving huge spaces with poor passing. They countered with Jovanavic dribbling at our defense. Gallas came in with a challenge as the attacker cut the ball back and their toes seemed to graze each other about 3 inches outside the box, which was only evident after the replay. In real time it looked like there wasn't any contact. Such is life that the penalty was given. The penalty wasn't good but Mannone went the wrong way even though the replays showed that Jovanovic made it about as obvious as a ten year old would have that he was going to the keepers right. 2-0 down inside 5 minutes.
The game went on and we kept the ball for the rest of the half, which was uneventful. We did keep the ball, but not well at all. Passes were all over the place, we kept no real possession only tried to fly forward, which allowed them to sit back and soak up our lame pressure. We had a few free kicks that Fabregas hit very poorly. The game wasn't helped at all by the pathetic, conversational, boring commentary. It wasn't near as bad as Max Bretos or that inexplicably, horrendously bad commentator from Fox Soccer Channel whose name I forget, you know the guy I'm talking about. He's always popping in with these obnoxious Spanish sayings and annectdotes and commentating on the game like like he knows better than the managers down on the touchline. Jesus Christ he's awful. Brazil could be playing Spain in the World Cup Finals being played on a floating pitch in space and I wouldn't watch it if that guy was commentating.
40 minutes on the clock and it was still 2 nil. There was a cock up, UEFA.com fucked it up and the Liverpool match commentator fell for it too, as you would. It was relieving I have to say but I was still skeptical. That was until Diaby pulled a good run out of his had, burning past two defenders before sliding in for Bendtner to run onto and finish very neatly under the keeper. The whistle went and we went in 2-1 down after Bendtner scored a crucial goal. A pleasantly stark contrast to 4-0 at 20 minutes.
The half time report was that we were very poor. They were committed, but even so, we were bad. Clichy wasn't particularly good, neither were Cesc, Song, Diaby, or Eduardo. Bendtner was working hard but I think we just have to accept that he just doesn't have the quality we all want him to have. Gallas and Vermaelen could hold their heads high and Mannone, although he missed timed a couple of clearances, did a fine job with everything else that was asked of him. He looked very composed.
We started the second half by conceded a corner, which we broke away from with Rosicky flying past a Liege player and then sending a wonderful 60 yard pass long and high down the middle to Bendtner who controlled it perfectly and would have scored was it now for one of the best tackles I've ever seen by Mangelar, the scorer of the first goal.
The game went on and we continued to boss the ball but did nothing with it. We went forward and ran into a red wall again and again. They just sat behind the half way line, as soon as we entered their half they pressed and we had to start again, as our passing continued to be poor. We were playing straight into their adjusted game plan, adjusted because they surely didn't expect to be 2-1 up at this stage.
We eventually began to keep the ball better higher up the park and our possession was rewarded with a few free kicks in good positions. The problem with our free kicks was that without van Persie, Cesc was left with the responsibility and his deliveries were consistently bad.
But it was looking up, slightly. And just as it did, the chocolate eating, lace weaving Belgiums came flying at us and got a few players in behind. Their Brazilian Belgium crossed low across the box and it was missed by Diaby, Vermaelen and Mannone and if it wasn't for Eboue's excellent clearance over the bar from 4 yards out, it would have been 3-1. Eboue has his bad moments, he had several horrendous ones last season, but be that as it may, he seems to get no credit for his good work. It seems that it takes 90 minutes of blistering play and outstanding quality (like at Celtic) for him to get any credit.
Just after that the game seemed to open up for about 5 minutes but we couldn't quite take advantage with 1-2's not quite coming off, or slips on the ball or some kind of mini disaster occurring at the worst possible moment. And on occasion their forwards would get in behind our midfield and try to expose our defenders and Gallas and Vermaelen were always on hand to make timely tackles and interceptions and they were monstrous in the air. They really are forming some kind of good partnership.
The 70th minute saw Rosicky come off for Ramsey. Rosicky's first start in 20 months was good, he played well, worked hard and while he was a little out of context, slightly out of flow with some of his teammates, he showed the kind of quality he can bring at times. He was the only player playing with some real urgency. Almost immediately we got our 2nd shot on target. It was easily saved and wasn't that great of a shot but it was progress. 73 minutes saw another shot on target, another baby step. Then on 76 minutes Eduardo did really well to beat 2 players on the dribble and was fouled in the process. Cesc finally played a good ball in and it was flicked on by Eduardo to the very offsides Alex Song who handballed it and poked it to the also offsides Vermaelen who poked it home. Square at 2 all after 78minutes. Much better than 4 nil down on 20.
Football can be funny, we get unlucky a few times in Manchester and karmic retribution lands on the poor Belgian minnows. The rich get richer and the little Belgians see a wonderful night on their Champions' League debut slipping away.
Then under a minute after our equalizer we could have been 3-2 up. Bendtner came very deep for the ball, played it on into the box and after a couple of 1-2's Cesc played it to Eduardo who hit the ball with his right to the far post, producing a great save from Bolat. From the resulting corner Vermaelen hit an outrageous back heal straight out of the air, which was cleared off the line by the man on the post. We were a slightly new Arsenal. We played with urgency and some quality. Eduardo almost got in on goal from a long ball out of the back but was tackled well. Then from the corner he scored the winner with his knee. The ball swung in and Sagna cleverly ducked under the ball as he looked to head. This seemed to confuse everyone in the box except Eduardo who was Johnny on the spot, getting his knee in front of his marker. The man who was supposed to have been banned, who had a terrible first half, making the mistake that led to their first goal, who was supposed to be subbed just before we scored our second, set up a crazy offsides, handball equalizer with a flick and scored the winner in the middle of a crowded box with his knee.
So we were bad, but we won. We had a young goal keeper who had little to do but pick the ball out of his net twice and pick up a couple of loose balls in the box. We had a few additional injuries to our already lengthy injury list and we managed to come back from 2-0 down after 5 minutes to win 3-2. A potential disaster turned into a greatly spirited, if lacking in quality, performance. We'll put the performance behind us but we'll remember the spirit and the result and will be able to use this to galvanize our team and put together what we all hope to be a good string of good results.
WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL WE DO!...
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