Tonight is going to be inconclusive in any way for Arsenal. However a quick point between snuffles.
If you have a duck to break, a record to achieve, a new manager in tow, a new striker with no goals, an appalling run of defeats etc etc, you can resolve it against Arsenal. Kevin Phillips was the latest and tonight it will be Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Barca. He will break his English hoodoo and so be it.
I predict a 2-2 draw tonight. Fun but useless for us. I also think our most effective player tonight will be Eboue. Bring the pain.
Ahhhtchoooo!
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Ruminations
With Arsenal's draw coming on the same day as Man Utd and Chelsea making their mark, it would be obvious to write off our chances and suggest it is all a bridge too far. I am not yet sure about this. It seems obvious to point out that Man U and Chelsea have tough games to play and an easy run in etc. However, the more I think about it, the more I wonder whether I want Arsenal to win the league.
Odd as this might read, I feel it would be a falsehood to believe the quality Arsenal have, runs through the whole team. In Almunia, we have a keeper who is quite poor and lacks confidence as I have said before. He does not seem to have the consistency of a top keeper. His save against West Ham prompted Wenger to suggest that the Arsenal number 1 has silenced his critics. Is it possible to silence his critics with one save?
Does that mean that Franco's goal for West Ham against Wolves silenced his critics? Nope? Ok enough said.
Wenger is not the kind of manager to reinforce the side from a position of strength. If we were to win the league, I fear he would want to stick with that side and hope it grows. This is not what we want to see. We cannot afford to win the league just yet.
In terms of yesterday's game against Brum, how comes nobody is highlighting the lack of offside for their goal. Benitez was 2 yards offside and interfering with play. The Assistant Ref had a clear view and did nothing. This is a surprise as that is what he is paid to do.
Wenger lost his cool and swore in the press conference. I have to say that this is not a big deal. He is upset because Gardener reduced Fabergas' influence. But that is what the opposition have to do. I don't have a problem with how Brum played. They deserved something from the game that we couldn't close out. So be it.
Chelsea looked great yesterday. Their fluidity and composure was awesome. Man U picked Bolton off in a great fight. I have to give credit to Bolton too as they put up a fight but couldn't covert.
I have to add another point about West Ham. The quality that they have in the side has been overshadowed by the shot to their confidence. My question is, everyone has a poke at Zola, but when things were going well, people suggested it was down to the influence and experience of Steve Clarke. What is he doing now? How is he helping Zola who looks totally bereft of ideas and support? IS he going for the job himself? I feel the work being done by West Ham is not consistent. They don't play as a team and the likes of Diamanti, Mido, Cole and Franco just seem like an impossible mix of styles. They will go down. Hull will stay up.
I have a stinking cold so that's all for now.
Odd as this might read, I feel it would be a falsehood to believe the quality Arsenal have, runs through the whole team. In Almunia, we have a keeper who is quite poor and lacks confidence as I have said before. He does not seem to have the consistency of a top keeper. His save against West Ham prompted Wenger to suggest that the Arsenal number 1 has silenced his critics. Is it possible to silence his critics with one save?
Does that mean that Franco's goal for West Ham against Wolves silenced his critics? Nope? Ok enough said.
Wenger is not the kind of manager to reinforce the side from a position of strength. If we were to win the league, I fear he would want to stick with that side and hope it grows. This is not what we want to see. We cannot afford to win the league just yet.
In terms of yesterday's game against Brum, how comes nobody is highlighting the lack of offside for their goal. Benitez was 2 yards offside and interfering with play. The Assistant Ref had a clear view and did nothing. This is a surprise as that is what he is paid to do.
Wenger lost his cool and swore in the press conference. I have to say that this is not a big deal. He is upset because Gardener reduced Fabergas' influence. But that is what the opposition have to do. I don't have a problem with how Brum played. They deserved something from the game that we couldn't close out. So be it.
Chelsea looked great yesterday. Their fluidity and composure was awesome. Man U picked Bolton off in a great fight. I have to give credit to Bolton too as they put up a fight but couldn't covert.
I have to add another point about West Ham. The quality that they have in the side has been overshadowed by the shot to their confidence. My question is, everyone has a poke at Zola, but when things were going well, people suggested it was down to the influence and experience of Steve Clarke. What is he doing now? How is he helping Zola who looks totally bereft of ideas and support? IS he going for the job himself? I feel the work being done by West Ham is not consistent. They don't play as a team and the likes of Diamanti, Mido, Cole and Franco just seem like an impossible mix of styles. They will go down. Hull will stay up.
I have a stinking cold so that's all for now.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
A poem on Urban Yout.
A malignant cell
Stands awkwardly over an installation of
Fast food refuse, (nah man) – broken glass, drug wraps
And a not-so-soft dog shit
Which has been spray-painted gold. Bear jokes.
The cell screws his round face up
Into square windows, trying to lay claim
To more of the same.
He loiters in the disused garages
And by the retired lifts
Fingering his sword and wishing
It might be a pen so he can ‘spit’
“Fool I’m out for glory, so don’t ignore me
Da Swagga Don is known, to bruck manz bone.
I’ll take ya ring and I’ll take ya ‘fing’
Reppin’ to da end coz my endz is everyfing”
The ‘Don’ fights at nothing.
Tilting at windmills in the N15 spa.
Honouring his code, he knows his boundaries.
He represents paedophilia and domestic abuse,
National Front and benefit fraud.
Arching his neck and
Staring out the top deck, screw face at the back seats
He can’t ride the bus to the land of the unknown
‘Coz mans tell him he’s a soulja
A brand of clone, dressed in layers of words
He stashes his treasure at Gash Endz
She loves to hate, the same things as him.
Day in, night out he smokes and stares
With obsessive compulsion he recites his rhyme
Underpinning his values and self-affirming his name.
Short-term pleasure leads to a life of blame.
“Fuck you. Fuck them”
No one in history has ever mustered the vitriol
To claim,
I DON’T CARE...
Stands awkwardly over an installation of
Fast food refuse, (nah man) – broken glass, drug wraps
And a not-so-soft dog shit
Which has been spray-painted gold. Bear jokes.
The cell screws his round face up
Into square windows, trying to lay claim
To more of the same.
He loiters in the disused garages
And by the retired lifts
Fingering his sword and wishing
It might be a pen so he can ‘spit’
“Fool I’m out for glory, so don’t ignore me
Da Swagga Don is known, to bruck manz bone.
I’ll take ya ring and I’ll take ya ‘fing’
Reppin’ to da end coz my endz is everyfing”
The ‘Don’ fights at nothing.
Tilting at windmills in the N15 spa.
Honouring his code, he knows his boundaries.
He represents paedophilia and domestic abuse,
National Front and benefit fraud.
Arching his neck and
Staring out the top deck, screw face at the back seats
He can’t ride the bus to the land of the unknown
‘Coz mans tell him he’s a soulja
A brand of clone, dressed in layers of words
He stashes his treasure at Gash Endz
She loves to hate, the same things as him.
Day in, night out he smokes and stares
With obsessive compulsion he recites his rhyme
Underpinning his values and self-affirming his name.
Short-term pleasure leads to a life of blame.
“Fuck you. Fuck them”
No one in history has ever mustered the vitriol
To claim,
I DON’T CARE...
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Style prejudice
It appears that Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce are drawing attention to themselves again. They seem to be suggesting through various channels of the media, that the deficiencies experienced by the like of Arsenal and Chelsea are blind-sided by Wenger, Ancelotti et al. Instead the managers of these so-called bigger clubs, use the chance to moan about how Blackburn, Stoke, Villa, Burnley etc play football.
The implication of these statements from the Stoke/Blackburn/Villa managers is that they want some kind of humility shown by Wenger and Ancelotti. They want praise for the way that Blackburn or Stoke played the game.
This is like McDonalds demanding that Gordon Ramsey compliments them on their ability to sell and serve food - the preparation, ingredients and balance of flavours is neither here nor there. It is the fact that they provide this and give it to humans to ingest, and remain almost alive on that they want praise for. In fact, why stop there? Maybe I should suggest that the food aid agencies also have a pop at Ramsey for the lack of appreciation in their culinary achievements?
Except this isn't about Ramsey, food aid and so on. The style of football played by these teams is one based on damage limitation followed by snatching a draw or even a win. They have strong defences but their attack is pedestrian and ugly. They have long throws and high kicks but their passing is dull, into space rather than to feet and like rugby, they will kick into touch to achieve, gain and pressurise a territorial advantage.
So my point is this: A person who was once slim and is now overweight, like myself, can look in the mirror and see glimpses of what used to be. An ugly person can get used to looking at themselves and draw comfort from recognition and knowing where bit of their face and body should be. Nothing takes away from the fact that judging yourself is a ridiculous and narcissistic activity - unless your intention is to be objective as opposed to embrace yourself.
Therefore, do Pulis and Allardyce want a date, flowers, violins and possibly a bunk up with Wenger etc? If not, stop demanding compliments because you cannot expect anyone outside your inner circle to call you sexy when you continue to do the equivalent of farting, scratching your balls and breathing savage morning breath in public. Gimps.
The implication of these statements from the Stoke/Blackburn/Villa managers is that they want some kind of humility shown by Wenger and Ancelotti. They want praise for the way that Blackburn or Stoke played the game.
This is like McDonalds demanding that Gordon Ramsey compliments them on their ability to sell and serve food - the preparation, ingredients and balance of flavours is neither here nor there. It is the fact that they provide this and give it to humans to ingest, and remain almost alive on that they want praise for. In fact, why stop there? Maybe I should suggest that the food aid agencies also have a pop at Ramsey for the lack of appreciation in their culinary achievements?
Except this isn't about Ramsey, food aid and so on. The style of football played by these teams is one based on damage limitation followed by snatching a draw or even a win. They have strong defences but their attack is pedestrian and ugly. They have long throws and high kicks but their passing is dull, into space rather than to feet and like rugby, they will kick into touch to achieve, gain and pressurise a territorial advantage.
So my point is this: A person who was once slim and is now overweight, like myself, can look in the mirror and see glimpses of what used to be. An ugly person can get used to looking at themselves and draw comfort from recognition and knowing where bit of their face and body should be. Nothing takes away from the fact that judging yourself is a ridiculous and narcissistic activity - unless your intention is to be objective as opposed to embrace yourself.
Therefore, do Pulis and Allardyce want a date, flowers, violins and possibly a bunk up with Wenger etc? If not, stop demanding compliments because you cannot expect anyone outside your inner circle to call you sexy when you continue to do the equivalent of farting, scratching your balls and breathing savage morning breath in public. Gimps.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
West Ham - top o' the league
And so it is. Arsenal are top of the league with a hard fought victory against a poor West Ham team.
What are West Ham? They have some decent players (some very decent players!), but they carry injuries and under perform so often. They are better than Birmingham and Fulham on paper, yet they cannot achieve a string of results to suggest this. So it must be bullshit.
Yet, they have quality but are dysfunctional. They have loyal fans but they sing defeatist songs. They didn't take their chances which lead Zola and Diamanti to have a 100 yard row in front of 60,000 people. It was like watching two midgets starting a break dancing challenge, through the wrong end of a telescope - and I sit near the pitch side/dugout. So much gesticulating, lurching, chin raising and head shaking. From what I could see, Zola was angry with Diamanti for not chasing down defenders and tracking back. The reply was the insistence that the ball should be played into the channels and not so close to the defenders. Either way, it is all part of the same process and they are both angry about West Ham not retaining the ball very well. The point of me writing this is to question how a player can shout back at the manager, in front of so many and not get substituted?
Vermaelen's sending off was weak. Refs can and should be more accountable. A website where they publish their own report and findings/reasoning for the game they have just covered could shed more light on how decisions are made and why. Who knows? It might even win over a few fans who don't really understand the multiple choices, variables and considerations taken into account in a short space of time.
Oh while I think of it, there are is a certain type of dullard fan at the Arse who cannot help themselves during a opposing substitution. "Replacing x,y,z" says the PA, "WHO?" shout the dullards, "Mark Noble" says the PA, "WHO???" bellow the dullards.
Piss off. It is the weakest, most dim intimidation tactic. Is the player meant to feel somewhat less of a footballer because some fools, question his name? Fuckwits.
Bendtner's substitution surprised many of us. Arshavin looked bored as usual and Fabregas didn't want to push too hard due to a recovering hamstring, so the choice of Diaby as Nik's replacement was odd. But it worked. Abou is turning into a player. He can dribble and penetrate. His passing could improve but some of us are starting to believe that Abou, Theo, Cesc, Samir, Alex, Nik, Denilson, are all 20-23 years old and getting better together. If they all stick together and improve at a similar rate, other teams will get run over.
Where am I going with this? Ah, Manuel Almuina. A good save on the pen. It motivates and inspires which is great. But 5 minutes before Campbell sliced a clearance out for a corner because he had no call. Campbell doesn't always follow the Wenger rules and berated Almunia for his lack of call. Now you are plainly not allowed to do this at Arsenal. It ruins the unity, psychology and spirit in the mind of Wenger. It leads to people getting booed and Almunia had an even more exaggerated look of a junkie having a shit in a doorway round the back of Oxford Street and being caught by the police.
Campbell may be trying to exempt himself from blame, but he's not afraid to put a rocket up some deserving recipients. The problem is that Wenger doesn't like it and will usually have to spend halftime cuddling Almunia and stroking his hair. So the save was vital.
Eboue is getting better and better. Clichy too - which is about time. Though he still has the knack of getting nutmegged by the shot cutting in from the right wing. Song could be the find of the decade soon. He just won't stop doing the ugly stuff but he can play a bit too. Again, I muse over what Flamini, Hleb, Diarra and others must be thinking. Their teams fall short.
Anyway, it seems that Arsenal have a chance. I have a funny feeling that Man U and Chelsea will both be held today. If Blackburn flood the midfield and Samba kicks Drogba, then Chelsea could fold. By all accounts, Torres and Gerrard have started to remember the definition of quality and Man U have been hiding behind Rooney all season. He has scored once in 11 games against Liverpool and might find this game a challenge. By Man U can also be glorious and know victory and success more than all other English teams combined. (Certainly in the modern game).
So who knows? Not I. But I am intrigued by the alignment of the planets when it comes to Arsenal's chase for the title. We have won games well, badly and averagely. That is the sign of a champion. How can this be?
Got in at 1am and I have a hangover. I had to get up at 7.30 to entertain the baby and I am rambling/tired.
Arsene Wenger's plan demands that we keep flying under the radar as everyone waits for the big guns to win the war. Chelsea, Man U and Barca don't worry me. Birmingham, Spurs and Wigan do more.
What are West Ham? They have some decent players (some very decent players!), but they carry injuries and under perform so often. They are better than Birmingham and Fulham on paper, yet they cannot achieve a string of results to suggest this. So it must be bullshit.
Yet, they have quality but are dysfunctional. They have loyal fans but they sing defeatist songs. They didn't take their chances which lead Zola and Diamanti to have a 100 yard row in front of 60,000 people. It was like watching two midgets starting a break dancing challenge, through the wrong end of a telescope - and I sit near the pitch side/dugout. So much gesticulating, lurching, chin raising and head shaking. From what I could see, Zola was angry with Diamanti for not chasing down defenders and tracking back. The reply was the insistence that the ball should be played into the channels and not so close to the defenders. Either way, it is all part of the same process and they are both angry about West Ham not retaining the ball very well. The point of me writing this is to question how a player can shout back at the manager, in front of so many and not get substituted?
Vermaelen's sending off was weak. Refs can and should be more accountable. A website where they publish their own report and findings/reasoning for the game they have just covered could shed more light on how decisions are made and why. Who knows? It might even win over a few fans who don't really understand the multiple choices, variables and considerations taken into account in a short space of time.
Oh while I think of it, there are is a certain type of dullard fan at the Arse who cannot help themselves during a opposing substitution. "Replacing x,y,z" says the PA, "WHO?" shout the dullards, "Mark Noble" says the PA, "WHO???" bellow the dullards.
Piss off. It is the weakest, most dim intimidation tactic. Is the player meant to feel somewhat less of a footballer because some fools, question his name? Fuckwits.
Bendtner's substitution surprised many of us. Arshavin looked bored as usual and Fabregas didn't want to push too hard due to a recovering hamstring, so the choice of Diaby as Nik's replacement was odd. But it worked. Abou is turning into a player. He can dribble and penetrate. His passing could improve but some of us are starting to believe that Abou, Theo, Cesc, Samir, Alex, Nik, Denilson, are all 20-23 years old and getting better together. If they all stick together and improve at a similar rate, other teams will get run over.
Where am I going with this? Ah, Manuel Almuina. A good save on the pen. It motivates and inspires which is great. But 5 minutes before Campbell sliced a clearance out for a corner because he had no call. Campbell doesn't always follow the Wenger rules and berated Almunia for his lack of call. Now you are plainly not allowed to do this at Arsenal. It ruins the unity, psychology and spirit in the mind of Wenger. It leads to people getting booed and Almunia had an even more exaggerated look of a junkie having a shit in a doorway round the back of Oxford Street and being caught by the police.
Campbell may be trying to exempt himself from blame, but he's not afraid to put a rocket up some deserving recipients. The problem is that Wenger doesn't like it and will usually have to spend halftime cuddling Almunia and stroking his hair. So the save was vital.
Eboue is getting better and better. Clichy too - which is about time. Though he still has the knack of getting nutmegged by the shot cutting in from the right wing. Song could be the find of the decade soon. He just won't stop doing the ugly stuff but he can play a bit too. Again, I muse over what Flamini, Hleb, Diarra and others must be thinking. Their teams fall short.
Anyway, it seems that Arsenal have a chance. I have a funny feeling that Man U and Chelsea will both be held today. If Blackburn flood the midfield and Samba kicks Drogba, then Chelsea could fold. By all accounts, Torres and Gerrard have started to remember the definition of quality and Man U have been hiding behind Rooney all season. He has scored once in 11 games against Liverpool and might find this game a challenge. By Man U can also be glorious and know victory and success more than all other English teams combined. (Certainly in the modern game).
So who knows? Not I. But I am intrigued by the alignment of the planets when it comes to Arsenal's chase for the title. We have won games well, badly and averagely. That is the sign of a champion. How can this be?
Got in at 1am and I have a hangover. I had to get up at 7.30 to entertain the baby and I am rambling/tired.
Arsene Wenger's plan demands that we keep flying under the radar as everyone waits for the big guns to win the war. Chelsea, Man U and Barca don't worry me. Birmingham, Spurs and Wigan do more.
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Plus
I am not totally sure about how blogging works so I will experiment a few times with posting and silly tags and whatnot.
Having read so many of the Arsenal(ish) blogs thrust out into the virtual world, I thought I would try to begin one myself.
Briefly, I'm in my mid 30s and have been attending since a 2-1 win over Birmingham in September 1981.
I don't think I need to add to that as most opinions formed on my method, level of and general support will be garnered by those interested enough to read past my first contentious statement. Nevertheless, this will not be a blog exclusively slagging off Arsenal, or praising them for that matter. Instead, my intention is to discuss some Arsenal related topics and other observations about anything interesting I can think of.
Like many Arsenal blog fans, I feel that my inspiration has to be Myles Palmer who has informed me, yet pissed me off to a level of bewilderment for long enough. I will not rant about him too much. For anyone interested, he write for Arsenal News Review and is adamantly not an Arsenal fan. Yet now, he only writes for this site. He is informed, opinionated, humorless, unforgiving and harbours all the anger and bitterness of a Chester City fan.
Instead, I think I would prefer to post observations but then create a dialogue. Every moron, (including me), who follows football has an opinion worth listening to. Whether it informs, or serves to consolidate that which we already believe. The only test is how long someone can suffer to listen or reading before they want to walk away, tell them or me to fuck off, or share an insight.
Enough of my inexperienced attempt at the blogging equivalent of a Hitchcock establishing shot, I will stop this and get on with it.
WENGER OUT!
Several times this season, I have been campaigning against and bitching about Arsene Wenger. I have, more often than not, had enough of his methods, reasoning, protected and New Labour-esque psychobabble spin. He plays reserve captain Manuel Almunia in goal and claims Lukas Fabianski is going to be ‘a great’. He attempts to win things without a striker. He does not replace players we sell and instead uses tens of millions of pounds to re-sign unproven players to long term, highly lucrative contracts. So much so that the money amassed for the likes of Adebayor and Toure is mostly spent.
The problem with myself and Arsenal is 2003/2004. It is a one-hit wonder that everyone still loves to listen and sing along with. It is James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. It is the Mad Professor Tony Adams in '98, walking away with his arms aloft after making it 4-0 and all of us losing our fucking minds. It is the peak of a wonderful relationship that one never stopped to drink in and savour. Instead, I woke up with a raging hangover and couldn’t quite piece together the events/highs and what they did for me.
It is the unattainable that we (indirectly) earned, connected with, partook in and feel indebted to - yet owed something from. It is like your friends judging your new girlfriend against the old one everyone loved. You want to plainly kill them all – old, new, friends and expunge the memories. Fuck them all.
Yet football ambassador Lionel Messi is coming over in a fortnight, and like some G8 summit, we have strangely earned a place at the big table. But it isn’t enough. To quote Chris Rock, “If Bill Gates woke up with Oprah's money, he'd throw himself out of the window – and slit his own throat on the way down”. How can we be content?
I think this blog will be a trampoline of me growing up and regressing, over and over and over and over….
What the fuck?
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