Despair
I started to write about the game but I said to myself... Nothing can help the pain I bear. Nothing.
Gooners....Do you feel lucky
The only thing that has not changed from the last 5 seasons is everything. Like clockwork, the usual arsenal players are dropping like flies. For the 3rd season in a row, the manager has let go a striker knowing very well that his pride RVP is as good as RIP. In goal, we bravely proclaim the names Almunia and Fabianski. Ohhhh, I can see the rest of the epl wonder where the goals against arsenal will come from. Got a clue for you, the scorer doesnt have to be in your uniform.
In defense, its voulez vous from the edges coming inside with a refreshing belgian in the middle to defrenchize the wine, or is it the whine. Some may ask, am I really a gooner draging our business in the streets like a 25 cent hooker.
Do I have a choice? Oh yes I do. I could talk about how we named a 20 man team, 5 short of the required, with 8 homegrown players, none of whom are english. They were namely Cesc, bendtner, djorou, vela, song, traore, clichy, and mannone. Many others did not have to be named because they are under 21 years old. I could go on about how we are on track to pay off the Emirates loan in 5 years without even depending on the real estate sales from highbury. I could extend the bragging to the junior team that now consists of the likes of JET, Nordveit, Frimpong, Sunu, talent knocking on the first team door and bound to make a statement in the carling cup.
I simply wish the game of football was played to decide who has the most homegrown talent, or who is paying off their debt in record time. I am pressed to see after a game of football, the game being decided by how many youngsters are knocking on the door. I do know that regardless of a winner, there is sometimes a discussion on who played better, fairer and who deserved to win. Arsenal is known for good play and I value that. We however simply need to realize that the ultimate decider is goals for and against. As we head to 'Stoke-lite' this weekend, I would like to know if as a gooner you feel lucky? I do know that we will be bridesmaids by January.
In defense, its voulez vous from the edges coming inside with a refreshing belgian in the middle to defrenchize the wine, or is it the whine. Some may ask, am I really a gooner draging our business in the streets like a 25 cent hooker.
Do I have a choice? Oh yes I do. I could talk about how we named a 20 man team, 5 short of the required, with 8 homegrown players, none of whom are english. They were namely Cesc, bendtner, djorou, vela, song, traore, clichy, and mannone. Many others did not have to be named because they are under 21 years old. I could go on about how we are on track to pay off the Emirates loan in 5 years without even depending on the real estate sales from highbury. I could extend the bragging to the junior team that now consists of the likes of JET, Nordveit, Frimpong, Sunu, talent knocking on the first team door and bound to make a statement in the carling cup.
I simply wish the game of football was played to decide who has the most homegrown talent, or who is paying off their debt in record time. I am pressed to see after a game of football, the game being decided by how many youngsters are knocking on the door. I do know that regardless of a winner, there is sometimes a discussion on who played better, fairer and who deserved to win. Arsenal is known for good play and I value that. We however simply need to realize that the ultimate decider is goals for and against. As we head to 'Stoke-lite' this weekend, I would like to know if as a gooner you feel lucky? I do know that we will be bridesmaids by January.
Wenger days are numbered...They better be
72 hours to anfield, the Arsenal injury list reads like its January 5th. We cannot even depend on Rafa to screw it up at anfield, he has a new Car named Inter to screw up. Instead its Hodgson, the man that can make wine out of sea water at the helm with bigger guns than he cares admit. Defensively, arsenal are in the worst shape probably since the 60s. We have lost without replacement Gallas, Slyvestre (just kidding), Campbell, Senderos (was he still at emirates), No song, no djorou and a work in progress in Koscielny.
As unbelivable as snow in Mali, Alumnia and Fabianski are still on the payroll. Denilson is still discussed and Diaby is favored to feature this campaign. I have one message for all dear gooners, you can kiss this season goodbye. We will be out of the running in all competitions by January. Cesc will show wenger the daily mail paper from August with Xavi's words on arsenal and pray the professor does not talk him out of seeking to end his misery at the emirates
Gazidis will have one obvious choice. Fire himself because the board will not allow him to fire Wenger. The wengerites will point to the new stadium, youth policy and champions league qualification all years of Wenger's reign.
What happened to wining? What happened to respect? Jagielka just snubbed a move to arsenal. Are we wigan without rugby for a jagielka to say thanks but no thanks. When did we get that low in respect. What happened to the days when teams lost to arsenal in the tunnel before the game? Remember Viera putting the fear of God into Roy Keane. Now a team like legia warsaw can put 3 goals past us in one half only. Its preseason they say... Bullcrap. You play to win the game....helloooooo. You compete even if it is a backyard scrimmage.
Wenger has distinguished himself as an offensive wizard and a hopeless defensive coach. He does not even know what a good keeper looks like. Blondie and flappianski are his picks and both are shakier than cafeteria jelly. This is his last year in the contract and surely the trophy drought will extend to 6 years. There would be no point extending his contract but we all know the board has enjoyed the profits he has made them at the expense of legitimate challenging for honors. He should do us a favor and save us from him by resigning after this campaign. He has taken us as far as he can. It is going to be an agonizing season that will hopefully wake up the blind wengerites. He has to go for real.
As unbelivable as snow in Mali, Alumnia and Fabianski are still on the payroll. Denilson is still discussed and Diaby is favored to feature this campaign. I have one message for all dear gooners, you can kiss this season goodbye. We will be out of the running in all competitions by January. Cesc will show wenger the daily mail paper from August with Xavi's words on arsenal and pray the professor does not talk him out of seeking to end his misery at the emirates
Gazidis will have one obvious choice. Fire himself because the board will not allow him to fire Wenger. The wengerites will point to the new stadium, youth policy and champions league qualification all years of Wenger's reign.
What happened to wining? What happened to respect? Jagielka just snubbed a move to arsenal. Are we wigan without rugby for a jagielka to say thanks but no thanks. When did we get that low in respect. What happened to the days when teams lost to arsenal in the tunnel before the game? Remember Viera putting the fear of God into Roy Keane. Now a team like legia warsaw can put 3 goals past us in one half only. Its preseason they say... Bullcrap. You play to win the game....helloooooo. You compete even if it is a backyard scrimmage.
Wenger has distinguished himself as an offensive wizard and a hopeless defensive coach. He does not even know what a good keeper looks like. Blondie and flappianski are his picks and both are shakier than cafeteria jelly. This is his last year in the contract and surely the trophy drought will extend to 6 years. There would be no point extending his contract but we all know the board has enjoyed the profits he has made them at the expense of legitimate challenging for honors. He should do us a favor and save us from him by resigning after this campaign. He has taken us as far as he can. It is going to be an agonizing season that will hopefully wake up the blind wengerites. He has to go for real.
Do unto TW14 as you did TH14.
I was in the process of writing an article on Wenger's use of Theo Walcott when the news revealed that Capello had left Theo out of the world cup. Some say its good for him, he needs to reset and regain his game. I for one say, bull*****, his game has never left him, his deployment has been awful.When Theo was shining at Southampton, he was known for speed and most importantly his impeccable timing of his runs. He was played as a striker and he blossomed.
Since his move to Arsenal, he has been used mostly as a winger, and in a super sub role. That is a mistake, just as it was for Thierry Henry's Juventus days as a winger. Worse still for Walcott, he has been deployed as a winger on a team that is awful in the air. Even further worse, as a winger, Theo plays on a team that even if he cut back the ball, his teammates are reluctant to take a shot. They prefer to walk the ball into the net against real men with mortgages to pay. The result is 18 goals and 20 assists for a Theo who scored in every other game for Southampton and 100 goals in a season for his secondary school.
Despite being played outside his element in the guise that he is learning defensive duties and buffing up physically, Theo has managed to show us on several occasions why he is so special. For one, he is not only an arsenal forward but when he is playing, he is an extra defender just by his presence. Teams have to respect him and usually hold a defender back to accommodate his threat. Ask Jermaine Jenas if you don't know what am talking about.
Secondly, the run against Liverpool twice, the run against Milan, against barcelona are only possible through special talent. Theo best moment was not recorded on video and happened while training with the England squad 1 year ago. The English players who witnessed it testify that Theo blazed through the entire defense in a fashion they had never seen before. David Beckham was present and the boyish grin on his face as he recounted Theo's move told me he saw something very very special.
With that said here is my plea to Wenger. Your plans for Theo should be as follows. Play 442 and have Theo play behind the main striker. The main striker should be able to hold the ball, that is, he cannot be Bendtner. Let Walcott roam around the line freely. Do not assign Walcott defensive duties because his very presence forces the opposing team to be defensive. Remember what you did for henry when you rescued him from the wing, remember? Do unto TW14 as you did TH14.
Flappy Fabianski
A picture is worth a thousand words. Ewood park, May 3rd 2010, Arsenal keeper Fabianski sits inside his goal with his legs criss crossed apple sauce, after being muscled into letting in Blackburn’s winning goal. Next to him is the most precious piece of leather occupying what has now become it’s familiar location for Arsenal fans. Imagine that. He sits there, a grown man, playing in a competitive sport. A physically competitive sport I say, am not talking golf, yet he sits there criss crossed like a little … you can finish the sentence.On his face, Fabianski wears bemusement like Ochio Cinco in a ‘hot pink’mink coat. Picture a child that has been told Santa Claus aka Father Christmas is not real. That was Fabianski's look of disbelief. On the sidelines, Big Sam shows controlled elation at his tactics, his counterpart Mr. Wenger customarily thrusts forward both hands at the referee in complaint. On the pitch there is visibly no eye contact from Fabianski’s teammates to him, the look of despair is a euphemistic observation of the Arsenal players.
A great deal was at stake here as victory would have clinched the 3rd champions league spot for Arsenal, frog leaping the qualification stage straight to group stages. The plot thickened further given that Arsenal faced the unthinkable prospect of losing third Champions league spot to
their arch rivals tottenham, after having already lost the head to head game at white hart lane 3 weeks earlier. On that occasion, his senior Alumnia managed a 2 inch vertical in an attempt to keep out what has turned out to be the EPL goal of the season. A handicapped keeper would have done better, but I digress.
You have to watch the video closely to truly understand the nature of the man Wenger employed to be our last line of defense. Before I get too hard on Fabianski, let me get hard on him. Part of being a professional competitor is to study your opponent. Big Sam was singing “Ring de alarm” all prior week as to how he was going to rough up the squeaky clean boys from
North London. Perhaps Wenger advised his players to beware of strong arm tactics, maybe he didn’t. As a professional, you earn your money by being prepared for every situation no matter what. (For definition of professional, see Ryan Giggs)
Fabianski would have had my respect if in the process of being bullied to conceding the goal, he had broken several teeth, broken as many ribs, punched into a coma, buried his cleets into any or several or even all of those fouling Blackburn players. As an Arsenal fan, I would have wore the loss with pride, and bragged to other teams to “send dem come” if you want to see some “bloodclot” bleeding up in this place. But he sat, inside the territory he was supposed to protect, legs criss crossed apple sauce, and nowhere in the battle zone in front of him was a sign of a struggle. None, not even one bleeding gunner.
Where Van Gundy dangled precariously on Alonzo Mouning's ankle, no Arsenal player dared to get dirty when they had to. Where Henry saw the necessity to palm the ball twice and cross for Gallas to score their way to the world cup, 7 arsenal defenders not counting Fabianski were outmuscled by two, Samba & Dunn (Roberts does not count). I have the proof, see below.
And you ask why I am a frustrated Arsenal fan? Just look at this mess. A picture is worth a thousand words.
RANDOM break from Arse/ne/nal talk
Now that the European football seasons are over,it has come as a blessing in disguise for the Kenyan league. They started a floodlight-midweek game that is catching on as the new weekday chill out spot at Nyayo stadium. Numbers have risen considerably and I bet by the end of the year local football will be able to get extra streams of income from increased gate collections,sale of jerseys...all that and a bag of chips.
The fact that Kenya now has two citizens in the UCL has also helped to take the sport to the next level,if only the bungling officials can get their act right,more players will have a chance at the big leagues.
At an even deeper local level,Mwimuto Wailers FC from Kabete/Kikuyu constituency is making strides in engaging the youth in sports and helping in community projects. Under the sponsorship of local residents,they have been able to attain an unofficial academy status because they have engaged all age-groups and been able to register them in all relevant competitions eg Safaricom Sakata Ball and Copa Coca Cola.
Follow them here and any feedback in any-form is appreciated
http://www.facebook.com/ngugik#!/group.php?gid=316578446957&ref=ts
On the Other Hand. Listen to Wildfire by Tarrus Riley on the Major and Minor Riddim. Might be the riddim of the year in my own humble opinion
The fact that Kenya now has two citizens in the UCL has also helped to take the sport to the next level,if only the bungling officials can get their act right,more players will have a chance at the big leagues.
At an even deeper local level,Mwimuto Wailers FC from Kabete/Kikuyu constituency is making strides in engaging the youth in sports and helping in community projects. Under the sponsorship of local residents,they have been able to attain an unofficial academy status because they have engaged all age-groups and been able to register them in all relevant competitions eg Safaricom Sakata Ball and Copa Coca Cola.
Follow them here and any feedback in any-form is appreciated
http://www.facebook.com/ngugik#!/group.php?gid=316578446957&ref=ts
On the Other Hand. Listen to Wildfire by Tarrus Riley on the Major and Minor Riddim. Might be the riddim of the year in my own humble opinion
Kris Boyd
As another frustrated arsenal fan, I'm beginning to wonder if Wenger is gonna sign another player. The world cup is a few weeks away and so far nothing constructive has happened at Arsenal whilst other big clubs are making their moves. Sadly it looks like our inspirational captain cesc is on his way out and all i know is the money we get from him will most probably be used to renovate highbury square or the VIP lounges! To my point, its time to make a move wenger and Rangers striker Kris Boyd is avail on a free transfer, the all time Spl leading scorer. I think a bentner switch for boyd would make our attacking options more lethal than Lethal weapon 3! Since we have Chamahk now who's aerial prowess is good a camel footed bentner is unnecessary What you all think?
Will Mour Cool the ever Real Hotseat?
The magic number today is 24. That's the number of managers that have occupied the Managerial seat at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium since Sir Alex Ferguson took the respective seat at Old Trafford. 16 since Wenger took over at Arsenal. This is including the two Don Fabio spells.
So why is Mour's accession to the Galacticos throne inevitable?
To have conquered Portuguese, English and Italian football in so short a time indicates a mighty talent, and now Spain beckons. José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is expectedly set to join Real Madrid. His club football track record has been exceptional. The Portuguese tactician has won six league titles and two Champions League crowns in the 10 years he has been a manager. His brilliant planning and organization, as well as an inspirational quality has prompted Real President Florentino Pérez to run straight to his doorstep. Massimo Moratti, the Internazionale president, has all but accepted defeat in his attempts to keep José Mourinho at San Siro. Mourinho is contracted to the Nerazzurri until June 2012 but can exercise a clause in his deal to depart this summer.
"I want to become the only coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs. I'm not leaving Inter, I'm leaving Italy," Mourinho said after Inter's 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich. "The Champions League I won at Porto was my last game there and this time it will almost certainly be my last game for Inter," he added. He has given his clubs what they craved and will now have the chance to manage Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká.
Love him or hate him, Jose has managed to prolong his 15 minutes. He can put his money where his mouth is. Some Inter fans are upset with him for the timing of his comments wishing to leave amidst their stunning treble success and feel he has stolen the limelight from the team. So will he Cool the ever Real Hotseat? Is he going to slowdown the managerial revolving door? Only time will tell. But my money is on 'the special one'......but what do I know, I'm just a frustrated Arsenal fan.
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