For the English clubs at least, this season's Champions League group stage was really nerve-wrecking, and most, (3 of them to be exact), had to go into the final day needing to get some sort of result to ensure qualification into the knockout stages of Europe's premier club competition. Arsenal guaranteed their progress on Matchday 5, while their counterparts in London needed to beat or draw against in form Valencia, former club of Juan Mata and the Blues surprisingly played their best match of the season to roll past the Spaniards into the knockout stages, and topping their group in the process.
United needed to get a draw against Basel while City had it out of their hands in terms of having a chance to qualify, needing assistance from the Navy guys, well they're better known as the Yellow Submarines, (Too-mah-toe, Too-mei-toe). The shock result of the day was obviously Basel beating Sir Alex's team 2-1, getting four out of a possible six points against United in the group stages. Man City meanwhile, played a controlled game, managing to beat the Germans from Munich 2-0, courtesy of goals from David Silva and also a nice passage of play to enable Yaya Toure to toe-poke the ball past Munich no.2 keeper' Hans Jorg Butt.
What this means is that England are now represented by only the two London clubs, while the boys from Manchester are heading into the Europa League, yes the Europa League (Europe's 2nd tier club competition). Sheer embarrassment for both Manchester clubs, considering that the duo are top of the BPL at the moment, and looked like being the strongest clubs in England at the start of the season. That may still be true, but a combination of a few events have now put them in dire straits.
For City, it has to be first season syndrome, not having the relative experience in the Champions League, and perhaps a manager who is not great in Europe, considering his failures with Inter Milan, unable to get them beyond the quarter finals despite being top-dogs in Italy when he was in charge. One would also point to the happenings at the Allianz Arena when Carlos Tevez refused to come on for the game, and the after-effects it had on the team as a whole. That, and also the result in Naples when a draw would have put them in a comfortable position, though it is immaterial discussing about the 'What if's' now.
Sir Alex looks to have made a huge blunder in the last couple of months. Up till late September, the Reds looked like being a team with not only blood in their veins as they were steam-rolling over all comers but they did not get their European campaign of to a good start. It seemed that after the goal fest against Basel at Old Trafford when both teams grabbed 3 goals each was the turning point in Fergie's philosophy this season. They started the season playing the much famed 'free-flowing, attacking, beautiful, majestic football', with Rooney at the spearhead of thing. Recently though, the English talisman has been thrust into a more withdrawn role in midfield, and United have seemed to lack a cutting edge up front. This could perhaps point to the manager's failure to bring an attacking midfielder into the club, and things might've been a whole lot different had the Glazers given him another five million to add to their original bid of 20 mil pounds for Frenchman Samir Nasri.
All said and done, both of them will now ply their trade in the Europa League, far from ideal under any circumstance. From a personal point of view, I think they should just forget about this competition. The only reason is the 'Thursday night-Sunday afternoon' kickoff times if one were to be involved in the competition previously known as the Uefa Cup. If they intent to pursue they Cup, then the chances of them failing to cope up in the Premier League will be much higher. One thing that is certain is both clubs will now put all their eggs into one basket i.e the Premier League. I cannot help think that the FA Cup 3rd round tie will play a huge role in determining the whole outcome. City still have the Carling Cup semifinal to look forward to, but United of course have already been knocked out. So it might also be sensible for Fergie to take the Europa League more seriously if they lose to their bitter rivals in the FA Cup. Realistically, both clubs' seasons depend on THAT tie in England's oldest club competition. The team that loses is going to be in serious trouble.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the Champions League draw, though Manchester fans will definitely prefer watching 'HIMYM' or some half-baked movie just to avoid the embarrassment of witnessing a draw which does not include their team. Today's events though could signal bad times for English clubs as a whole, though next season will be a totally different story.
Till next time,
Jay Jay Denis.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A weekend that could prove decisive
This weekend's results could prove to be a contributing factor to the season-ending positions of most teams. Some may think it is a tad too premature, but you might change your mind in a moment. Both the Uniteds gathered at Old Trafford for an afternoon kickoff, while Roman's team who were in serious trouble invited a 'Wolf Pack' to the Bridge which was indeed falling, slowly but surely. Of the other big teams, and 'Adebayor propelled' Spurs visited Roy Hodgson's men, while Arsenal entertained Hodgson's former side, Fulham, at the Emirates.
Most pundits put United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs as favourites to grab all the points, though the former 2 disappointed to an extent. Chelsea and Spurs on the other hand, made light work of their opponents, though Andre Villas-Boas still has some convincing to do. Spurs had a certain Togolese striker to thank, though whether or not he will become a permanent fixture at White Hart Lane is a totally different question.
One thing which was somewhat surprising was that Newcastle United were actually the one to get the so-called 'lucky break' at Old Trafford, a ground when some referees tend to buckle under the pressure of the atmosphere as well as Scotsman sitting on the home side's bench on the Red Audi sponsored leather seat. It wasn't to be for Fergie's men, as the penalty award was a foolish decision by the Assistant Referee, though the last time I checked, the main man in black did indeed have the power to overrule the decisions made by his counterparts. That certainly wasn't the case here, and it was not like it was an extremely tough decision to make. Ben Arfa strode into the United box, Rio Ferdinand came over, and after the tackle had been committed, yes in all fairness, the Frenchman did go down, but it was more than obvious that the ball had indeed been touched and went in a different direction. In Sir Alex's words, the ref was about 8 yards away, so I guess it was a 'Shocking, Outrageous' decision. A namby-pamby perhaps? That being said though, United were at home, had most of the possession, and would have got all the points if not for some 'Malaysian-like' finishing from the usually 'Ice-cool' Mexican, plus heroics from Dutchman Tim Krul, though the United goal was indeed 'Krul' on Newcastle. They defended resolutely as a team, and the draw was probably a fair result.
Moving on to Chelsea, it certainly is beginning to look like it is time to draw the curtains on Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea. The once feared Ivorian dynamite is now becoming an 'also ran' at the Blue Army. Daniel Sturridge looks like a better bet than Torres to bag the goals, and Nicholas Anelka looks like he's going to go back to his 'Le Sulk' ways. One thing Villas-Boas maybe needs to look at is the spine of the Chelsea team. Of the 4 stalwarts, namely Petr 'Broken Bones' Cech', 'Dear' John, Frankie Lampard and the Ivorian dude, the latter three might need to be moved on, and rather soon I guess. Raul Meireles looks more than capable of filling Lampards boots, but John Terry needs addressing. David Luiz is a good defender, but the boy needs a calm head beside him, and Terry looks like he needs a baby-sitter himself. Maybe a new addition is needed, and Gary Cahill might come quite cheap as his contract runs out in the summer. Another interesting player is Dortmund's Serbian centre back, Neven Subotic. Whatever the case, Roman has to realise that his team needs rebuilding, not a major one, but still an important one at that.
Arsenal disappointed thoroughly on the night, though they can be forgiven for being hard done by as the 'Ozzie' between the posts was in a rather blistering form. The team as a whole did look jaded as well, down to the fact that the same team has played many games without much change, though it looks likely that at least half the team will be out when the Gunners welcome Arab Moneybags, City, to the Emirates in midweek for their Carling Cup quarter final date.
Spurs look like they are depending on Adebayor to bag a few goals for them, and his partnership with Jermain Defoe is beginning to look lethal. I just wish Harry would give Defoe the chance to play up top, alongside the lanky fella, or Jermain might be out the door if not January, certainly in the summer.
Tonight's game will be a gut-wrenching one, with Liverpool needing to win to if they harbour any desire to finish in the top four. The Mancunians will want to extend their lead at the top to 7 points, though they're confidence would have been rattled after the midweek defeat, as their Champions League hopes look to have vanished into thin air. I may sound rather biased, but I'm actually hoping for a draw, just to stop the Blue half of Manchester from pulling ahead too far.
Till next time,
Sayonara.
Most pundits put United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs as favourites to grab all the points, though the former 2 disappointed to an extent. Chelsea and Spurs on the other hand, made light work of their opponents, though Andre Villas-Boas still has some convincing to do. Spurs had a certain Togolese striker to thank, though whether or not he will become a permanent fixture at White Hart Lane is a totally different question.
One thing which was somewhat surprising was that Newcastle United were actually the one to get the so-called 'lucky break' at Old Trafford, a ground when some referees tend to buckle under the pressure of the atmosphere as well as Scotsman sitting on the home side's bench on the Red Audi sponsored leather seat. It wasn't to be for Fergie's men, as the penalty award was a foolish decision by the Assistant Referee, though the last time I checked, the main man in black did indeed have the power to overrule the decisions made by his counterparts. That certainly wasn't the case here, and it was not like it was an extremely tough decision to make. Ben Arfa strode into the United box, Rio Ferdinand came over, and after the tackle had been committed, yes in all fairness, the Frenchman did go down, but it was more than obvious that the ball had indeed been touched and went in a different direction. In Sir Alex's words, the ref was about 8 yards away, so I guess it was a 'Shocking, Outrageous' decision. A namby-pamby perhaps? That being said though, United were at home, had most of the possession, and would have got all the points if not for some 'Malaysian-like' finishing from the usually 'Ice-cool' Mexican, plus heroics from Dutchman Tim Krul, though the United goal was indeed 'Krul' on Newcastle. They defended resolutely as a team, and the draw was probably a fair result.
Moving on to Chelsea, it certainly is beginning to look like it is time to draw the curtains on Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea. The once feared Ivorian dynamite is now becoming an 'also ran' at the Blue Army. Daniel Sturridge looks like a better bet than Torres to bag the goals, and Nicholas Anelka looks like he's going to go back to his 'Le Sulk' ways. One thing Villas-Boas maybe needs to look at is the spine of the Chelsea team. Of the 4 stalwarts, namely Petr 'Broken Bones' Cech', 'Dear' John, Frankie Lampard and the Ivorian dude, the latter three might need to be moved on, and rather soon I guess. Raul Meireles looks more than capable of filling Lampards boots, but John Terry needs addressing. David Luiz is a good defender, but the boy needs a calm head beside him, and Terry looks like he needs a baby-sitter himself. Maybe a new addition is needed, and Gary Cahill might come quite cheap as his contract runs out in the summer. Another interesting player is Dortmund's Serbian centre back, Neven Subotic. Whatever the case, Roman has to realise that his team needs rebuilding, not a major one, but still an important one at that.
Arsenal disappointed thoroughly on the night, though they can be forgiven for being hard done by as the 'Ozzie' between the posts was in a rather blistering form. The team as a whole did look jaded as well, down to the fact that the same team has played many games without much change, though it looks likely that at least half the team will be out when the Gunners welcome Arab Moneybags, City, to the Emirates in midweek for their Carling Cup quarter final date.
Spurs look like they are depending on Adebayor to bag a few goals for them, and his partnership with Jermain Defoe is beginning to look lethal. I just wish Harry would give Defoe the chance to play up top, alongside the lanky fella, or Jermain might be out the door if not January, certainly in the summer.
Tonight's game will be a gut-wrenching one, with Liverpool needing to win to if they harbour any desire to finish in the top four. The Mancunians will want to extend their lead at the top to 7 points, though they're confidence would have been rattled after the midweek defeat, as their Champions League hopes look to have vanished into thin air. I may sound rather biased, but I'm actually hoping for a draw, just to stop the Blue half of Manchester from pulling ahead too far.
Till next time,
Sayonara.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
A Fergie Tribute
It's his Silver Jubilee, and Sir Alex Ferguson of Scotland will probably go down as one of the, if not the greatest manager to ever grace the game. On the 6th of November, it will be exactly 25 years since Sir Alex was appointed manager of what has now become the leading club in the UK. It will take a momentous effort to come anywhere near what the Scotsman has achieved, and I can safely say that the chance of it being repeated is second to none.
Upon his appointment, United were at that time, second from bottom in the league, then consisting of 22 clubs, and the he managed to lead them to an 11th place finish. United's first league title under Fergie came in the first season of the Premier League, the 92/93 season. Ironically, the previous season is the last time their main rivals, Liverpool, won a League title. Manchester United have won 12 since then, and have overtaken the Merseysiders as England's top dogs. Ironically, Liverpool were then managed by Kenny Dalglish, who went on to sit in the stands for 10 years or so, while his counterpart was still at it in Manchester. Added to the 12 League Titles, and you get a handful of FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, a couple of Champions League titles, (though a few runners-up medals), a Super Cup and a Cup Winners Cup each, and one Intercontinental Cup, alongside the sole FIFA Club World Cup United won in 08. A host of personal accolades followed and many out there know what he has achieved, so I will not waste more time on it.
The last quarter of a century, the world has witnessed the fall of the famous Soviet Union, the US being attacked in 01', the capture of Saddam Hussein, throw in the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and now Muammar Gaddafi and not forgetting the tragedy at New Orleans, the 2004 tsunami and a couple of other things which were significant enough to live a long lasting memory in most human beings. In the footballing world, the game witnessed the passing of one of the great managers of all time in Sir Bobby Robson, which was indeed a sad year for football as a whole. 6 World Cups has been played, and in that period, 'Fergie', as he is fondly known, has built 6 to 7 great teams in one club. Numerous United fans have tried naming 'Fergie's best 11', but there was hardly an identical choice among the supporters. That is a testament to his man-management skills, and his ability to spot players and rope them into the Theater of Dreams.
His teams have always had a trademark about them, going back to the days of the 'Cole & Yorke' partnership in the late 90's, before that the mercurial Frenchman in Eric Cantona, followed by the Golden Generation of Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Keane and not forgetting the Nevilles. One of the things that have to be admired about Ferguson's teams is that they always play football the right way, though some may argue that there is no wrong way to play football, but there is no denying that fans would rather pay more to watch United in action than to pay chicken feet to get a ticket into the Britannia Stadium, no offense.
Another traits the great man has is his ability to pressurise his opposing managers and making them melt under the heat. Kevin Keegan comes to mind, and so do Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez. More often than not, he comes out on top, though I really miss the moments when he and the man in North London used to get it going, on and off the pitch.
That being said, whatever is written here or elsewhere will not be enough to sum up what Sir Alex has achieved over the years, and even he might not be able to put it into words. From an Arsenal fan's perspective, it will certainly be interesting to see what will happen when Fergie retires, and who takes over at the helm, because shoes will not be the only thing that will require filling. One thing is for certain, he will certainly have a hand in picking his successor, and I can only thing of one man who is capable of doing it, and his name needs no mentioning. But let Fergie enjoy his moment, and the whole of football just stand back and take into account what he has done for the game.
There will never be another Alex Ferguson, Sir, I would add.
Upon his appointment, United were at that time, second from bottom in the league, then consisting of 22 clubs, and the he managed to lead them to an 11th place finish. United's first league title under Fergie came in the first season of the Premier League, the 92/93 season. Ironically, the previous season is the last time their main rivals, Liverpool, won a League title. Manchester United have won 12 since then, and have overtaken the Merseysiders as England's top dogs. Ironically, Liverpool were then managed by Kenny Dalglish, who went on to sit in the stands for 10 years or so, while his counterpart was still at it in Manchester. Added to the 12 League Titles, and you get a handful of FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, a couple of Champions League titles, (though a few runners-up medals), a Super Cup and a Cup Winners Cup each, and one Intercontinental Cup, alongside the sole FIFA Club World Cup United won in 08. A host of personal accolades followed and many out there know what he has achieved, so I will not waste more time on it.
The last quarter of a century, the world has witnessed the fall of the famous Soviet Union, the US being attacked in 01', the capture of Saddam Hussein, throw in the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and now Muammar Gaddafi and not forgetting the tragedy at New Orleans, the 2004 tsunami and a couple of other things which were significant enough to live a long lasting memory in most human beings. In the footballing world, the game witnessed the passing of one of the great managers of all time in Sir Bobby Robson, which was indeed a sad year for football as a whole. 6 World Cups has been played, and in that period, 'Fergie', as he is fondly known, has built 6 to 7 great teams in one club. Numerous United fans have tried naming 'Fergie's best 11', but there was hardly an identical choice among the supporters. That is a testament to his man-management skills, and his ability to spot players and rope them into the Theater of Dreams.
His teams have always had a trademark about them, going back to the days of the 'Cole & Yorke' partnership in the late 90's, before that the mercurial Frenchman in Eric Cantona, followed by the Golden Generation of Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Keane and not forgetting the Nevilles. One of the things that have to be admired about Ferguson's teams is that they always play football the right way, though some may argue that there is no wrong way to play football, but there is no denying that fans would rather pay more to watch United in action than to pay chicken feet to get a ticket into the Britannia Stadium, no offense.
Another traits the great man has is his ability to pressurise his opposing managers and making them melt under the heat. Kevin Keegan comes to mind, and so do Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez. More often than not, he comes out on top, though I really miss the moments when he and the man in North London used to get it going, on and off the pitch.
That being said, whatever is written here or elsewhere will not be enough to sum up what Sir Alex has achieved over the years, and even he might not be able to put it into words. From an Arsenal fan's perspective, it will certainly be interesting to see what will happen when Fergie retires, and who takes over at the helm, because shoes will not be the only thing that will require filling. One thing is for certain, he will certainly have a hand in picking his successor, and I can only thing of one man who is capable of doing it, and his name needs no mentioning. But let Fergie enjoy his moment, and the whole of football just stand back and take into account what he has done for the game.
There will never be another Alex Ferguson, Sir, I would add.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
London Bridge is Falling Down?
It was supposed to be the 'Battle at the Bridge', which could have given a clear picture that Chelsea were back on course after a slight but very clear nudge against QPR the previous weekend, and also a vindication that Arsenal are just Arsenal, a team not yet ready to challenge for honours and the usual rap sheet. Well, the first 15 minutes of what proved to be an enthralling match was that. Chelsea steam-rolling their visitors, and it looked like they were going to run away with the points and make the Gunners look 'Blue' in the process. But, that was only for 15 minutes. Everyone knows what happened after that so I will refrain from divulging into the details of what proved to be one of the most entertaining matches of the season, alongside the 8-2 blockbuster and the now well-known Manchester derby.
To the Post-Mortem, because that was somewhat of a murder from a Chelsea point of view.
The main reason it was such an open game was not necessarily due to the open-attacking philosophies of both managers, but the sheer diabolical defending by both sets of players. The Blues were bullying both Djourou and Santos on both flanks, as Daniel Sturridge burned the Brazillian on more than one occasion. On the other wing, Ashley Cole made Johan Djourou look like Swiss Cheese. Frank Lampard was influential in the first half where he played passes at will and released the wingers. Fernando Torres however, looked like he had just returned from a wonderful week at the Bahamas, a total whitewash. Arsenal on the other hand, were extremely shaky at the start, but slowly grew into the game and created numerous chances. Ramsey was 'the' man in the midfield after half an hour or so, controlling the pace of the game, though Mikel Arteta looked out of his depth. The Spaniard may have been Everton's most skillful player, but he looks average in an Arsenal jersey. Gervinho managed to trouble Jose Bosingwa on many occasions, and it was surprising that he was played at right-back rather than the more muscular Ivanovic, and slot David Luiz alongside the England captain.
The amount of chances created by both teams left me dumbfounded, and I could not help but think that if one of this teams were playing against the team from the Blue side of Manchester, then it could have been a cricket score against them. Ramsey was able to slice open the Chelsea defense whenever he wanted to, and the composure he displayed with the ball at his feet suggests that the absence of the previous 'Number 4' will not be felt at all. The experience and calmness he has is at times mesmerising. Alex Song was good on the day, but he was lucky not to be carded much earlier in the game. It will definitely be interesting come January when Gervinho and Song fly off to Africa to represent their countries in the Nations Cup, though Frimpong looks like an able deputy for the Cameroonian. I just hope Tomas Rosicky is given a chance alongside Ramsey in the game against Marseille because he brings more pace to the offense as compared to Arteta, but the duo are now on the wrong side of thirty. Moving on, the Arsenal defense looked suspect on every Chelsea attack in the first half, and they could use a couple of fullbacks who defend well, though Andre Santos is impressive going forward, having already notched up two goals in a handful of games when Gael Clichy only managed to grab 2 goals in his whole career in North London.
However, Chelsea's defenders were playing like schoolboys. It looked like John Terry slipped, but he was literally hugging the turf when Van Persie was behind him, as though shot by a sawed of shotgun. The torrid week he endured looks like it is going to get a whole lot worse. Ivanovic was no better, as the was no visible communication between the two. On the opposite side, the partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny were not great, though the Frenchman was impressive throughout the game, and Mertesacker looks like he could be a liability due to his glaring lack of pace. Whether or not Arsene Wenger decides to drop the German in favour of the Belgian stalwart Thomas Vermaelen is a topic for another day, but the Marseille game will certainly shed some light into that.
Previous Chelsea teams never played with such an open way, but what is more surprising is the state of their defense. The back four were the same players last season, but it looks like they are not getting the needed protection from the midfield. Fingers will be pointed at the manager, and only time will tell if Abramovich decides to do anything or not, because he is notorious for jumping the gun. Chelsea will no doubt beat the lesser teams, but it is now 2 defeats this season against their main rivals in United and Arsenal. The Russian dynamo will not like it if events were to continue like this, but from a Gunners point of view, it was a good day at the office for Wenger and his boys, but I wouldn't be overjoyed as the defense looks like in could come crashing down like a pack of cards anytime.
Till next time,
Goodbye.
To the Post-Mortem, because that was somewhat of a murder from a Chelsea point of view.
The main reason it was such an open game was not necessarily due to the open-attacking philosophies of both managers, but the sheer diabolical defending by both sets of players. The Blues were bullying both Djourou and Santos on both flanks, as Daniel Sturridge burned the Brazillian on more than one occasion. On the other wing, Ashley Cole made Johan Djourou look like Swiss Cheese. Frank Lampard was influential in the first half where he played passes at will and released the wingers. Fernando Torres however, looked like he had just returned from a wonderful week at the Bahamas, a total whitewash. Arsenal on the other hand, were extremely shaky at the start, but slowly grew into the game and created numerous chances. Ramsey was 'the' man in the midfield after half an hour or so, controlling the pace of the game, though Mikel Arteta looked out of his depth. The Spaniard may have been Everton's most skillful player, but he looks average in an Arsenal jersey. Gervinho managed to trouble Jose Bosingwa on many occasions, and it was surprising that he was played at right-back rather than the more muscular Ivanovic, and slot David Luiz alongside the England captain.
The amount of chances created by both teams left me dumbfounded, and I could not help but think that if one of this teams were playing against the team from the Blue side of Manchester, then it could have been a cricket score against them. Ramsey was able to slice open the Chelsea defense whenever he wanted to, and the composure he displayed with the ball at his feet suggests that the absence of the previous 'Number 4' will not be felt at all. The experience and calmness he has is at times mesmerising. Alex Song was good on the day, but he was lucky not to be carded much earlier in the game. It will definitely be interesting come January when Gervinho and Song fly off to Africa to represent their countries in the Nations Cup, though Frimpong looks like an able deputy for the Cameroonian. I just hope Tomas Rosicky is given a chance alongside Ramsey in the game against Marseille because he brings more pace to the offense as compared to Arteta, but the duo are now on the wrong side of thirty. Moving on, the Arsenal defense looked suspect on every Chelsea attack in the first half, and they could use a couple of fullbacks who defend well, though Andre Santos is impressive going forward, having already notched up two goals in a handful of games when Gael Clichy only managed to grab 2 goals in his whole career in North London.
However, Chelsea's defenders were playing like schoolboys. It looked like John Terry slipped, but he was literally hugging the turf when Van Persie was behind him, as though shot by a sawed of shotgun. The torrid week he endured looks like it is going to get a whole lot worse. Ivanovic was no better, as the was no visible communication between the two. On the opposite side, the partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny were not great, though the Frenchman was impressive throughout the game, and Mertesacker looks like he could be a liability due to his glaring lack of pace. Whether or not Arsene Wenger decides to drop the German in favour of the Belgian stalwart Thomas Vermaelen is a topic for another day, but the Marseille game will certainly shed some light into that.
Previous Chelsea teams never played with such an open way, but what is more surprising is the state of their defense. The back four were the same players last season, but it looks like they are not getting the needed protection from the midfield. Fingers will be pointed at the manager, and only time will tell if Abramovich decides to do anything or not, because he is notorious for jumping the gun. Chelsea will no doubt beat the lesser teams, but it is now 2 defeats this season against their main rivals in United and Arsenal. The Russian dynamo will not like it if events were to continue like this, but from a Gunners point of view, it was a good day at the office for Wenger and his boys, but I wouldn't be overjoyed as the defense looks like in could come crashing down like a pack of cards anytime.
Till next time,
Goodbye.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Rise From the Dead. Or is it?
After the now infamous mauling, the 8-2 at the weekend, Arsene Wenger admitted that he got it wrong, and will make up for the errors. First, he brought in Park Chu-Young from Monaco, the Korean, who is captain of his national side and for his relavite size, is quite good in the air. Then, on transfer deadline day, Andre Santos, a Brazillian left-back in the mould of the legendary Roberto Carlos, arrived from Turkish giants Fenerbache, for around 6.2 million pounds. Wenger decided to withdraw from chasing Bolton's Gary Cahill and instead snapped up the Giant German, Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen for 8 million pounds. It was apparent that Arsene realised that the defense needed fixing, and fast. He went on to, by many pundits opinion, secure the deal of the day by persuading Mikel Arteta to arrive from Goodison Park, and handing cash-strapped Everton a meager sum of 10 million pounds for one of their live wires. To finish off the day, Israeli international Yossi Benayoun was brought in on a season-long loan from Chelsea, the player having been out of favour and his squad number given to new signing Juan Mata. Now, have these players helped Arsenal or have the moves been done in desperation more than anything else?
Firstly, let's take an in-depth look at the Spaniard. Arteta has been around for awhile, now aged 29. The Barcelona youth product has played for the Spanish U-21 but never managed to push himself into the senior team. So, those thinking that he is an ideal replacement for Fabregas should grab a cup of coffee and awake from your sleep. He has no doubt been extremely influential to Everton over the last 5 seasons, and has been the link from the midfield to the attack, supplying the likes of Yakubu, Saha and Cahill over the years. The former Evertonian has an exceptional passing range, be it long or short, and good vision to go along with it. One thing that he lacks is pace, which is essential in big games in the Premier League and more so in Europe. He would be a good stop-gap replacement for Fabregas, but one can't help think that sooner or later, January at the earliest that Belgian whizkid, Eden Hazard will arrive at the Emirates. Until now though, as the saying goes, you have to settle for what you have. For the money, he is worth the buy, though whether he can make a big impact is a matter of time. He will not require much time to settle in the team, though from an Arsenal fan point of view, he should perform better compared to when he was at Everton as players at the Emirates play a similar style to him. His arrival would mean that Aaron Ramsey will have to settle for a role on the bench, as Jack Wilshere will slot back into the centre alongside Alex Song when he's fit. For now though, Mikel Arteta is a stop-gap replacement at the very most.
Enter the Giant, from Germany. Per Mertesacker is well-known in Europe, though at only 26, has made a relatively huge number of appearances for club and country. An ever present in the German back-line, the big man has exceptional silky feet for his height. Good in the air, boasting a 6foot 6 frame, he loses minimal aerial battles, but can be muscled out of a challenge when going against the likes of Drogba, Kenwyne Jones and the usual stout guys in the Premier League. A very clean tackler, Mertesacker is always in the good books of the referees. Again, for the money he is a good buy, but if Arsene Wenger had decided to double the amount, he could've snatched Gary Cahill and settled the problem once and for all. That being said, at least Mertesacker looks like he and Vermaelen will be extremely reliable at the back. I can't help figure if one of the duo get injured, and we're back to square one. One thing Mr Wenger has got to look at is if Mertesacker is facing pacy forwards, as the German doesn't have pace as one of his weapons, though his reading of the game makes up for it, to an extent. However, its better to be safe than sorry. All in all, the German looks like an astute signing by a manager under pressure.
Finally, the capture of Brazillian wing-back Andre Santos from Turkish side Fenerbache is indeed a good buy from Arsene Wenger considering he shipped out two left backs (Gael Clichy and Armand Traore to Man City and QPR respectively). Santos is in the mould of Roberto Carlos, though slightly taller, but overall, both have a similar playing style. What he will bring is consistency, and he has the ability to chip in with a couple of goals. He has very good crossing ability, and a ferocious shot comes as a package, something like a 3-1 thing. Brazillians who have played in the Premier League in defensive positions have the tendency to do well, though the same cannot be said about the attack-minded players. The question as to who will be first choice is all down to one man, though I hope it is Santos for the time being, but there is a possibility that Gibbs could be pushed further forward in away matches in Europe. Then there is also the small issue of the loan signing of Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli international needs no introduction, and is a good impact player as he proved to be at Liverpool. For his and Arsenal's sake, I really hope he is given ample playing time, because he can do what Nasri did, though its unfair to compare the two. He can be a good link between the midfield and attack and can help out RVP when the need arises.
The mega signing everyone was hoping for never arrived, though there were stories blooming that Eden Hazard had submitted a transfer request. I for one, cannot verify the facts, but the deal could still happen in January, or most certainly next summer. By then though, a bidding war would have erupted and the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea or Man. City would be in pole position to secure his coveted signature, though Madrid is likely to come out on top.
As for now though, the transfer window has slammed shut and most clubs have pretty much got an idea of how good their squad is, though the most disappointing team, transfer wise, has got to be Tottenham as the North-Londoners failed to bring in needed quality other than Scott Parker for a reported 5 million pounds. For a manager of Harry Redknapp's repertoire, it is quite shocking as he is known to be an expert in wheeling and dealing.
That's is for now, my next posting will be a build-up to Arsenal's next game when the welcome Swansea to the Emirates. I wouldn't say that it's a must-win game, but if Arsenal fail to do so, then the Premier League might as well prepare coffins for all the players and bury them in the ground at the Emirates, and let Arsene Wenger be the presider for the mass funeral.
Jay Jay
Firstly, let's take an in-depth look at the Spaniard. Arteta has been around for awhile, now aged 29. The Barcelona youth product has played for the Spanish U-21 but never managed to push himself into the senior team. So, those thinking that he is an ideal replacement for Fabregas should grab a cup of coffee and awake from your sleep. He has no doubt been extremely influential to Everton over the last 5 seasons, and has been the link from the midfield to the attack, supplying the likes of Yakubu, Saha and Cahill over the years. The former Evertonian has an exceptional passing range, be it long or short, and good vision to go along with it. One thing that he lacks is pace, which is essential in big games in the Premier League and more so in Europe. He would be a good stop-gap replacement for Fabregas, but one can't help think that sooner or later, January at the earliest that Belgian whizkid, Eden Hazard will arrive at the Emirates. Until now though, as the saying goes, you have to settle for what you have. For the money, he is worth the buy, though whether he can make a big impact is a matter of time. He will not require much time to settle in the team, though from an Arsenal fan point of view, he should perform better compared to when he was at Everton as players at the Emirates play a similar style to him. His arrival would mean that Aaron Ramsey will have to settle for a role on the bench, as Jack Wilshere will slot back into the centre alongside Alex Song when he's fit. For now though, Mikel Arteta is a stop-gap replacement at the very most.
Enter the Giant, from Germany. Per Mertesacker is well-known in Europe, though at only 26, has made a relatively huge number of appearances for club and country. An ever present in the German back-line, the big man has exceptional silky feet for his height. Good in the air, boasting a 6foot 6 frame, he loses minimal aerial battles, but can be muscled out of a challenge when going against the likes of Drogba, Kenwyne Jones and the usual stout guys in the Premier League. A very clean tackler, Mertesacker is always in the good books of the referees. Again, for the money he is a good buy, but if Arsene Wenger had decided to double the amount, he could've snatched Gary Cahill and settled the problem once and for all. That being said, at least Mertesacker looks like he and Vermaelen will be extremely reliable at the back. I can't help figure if one of the duo get injured, and we're back to square one. One thing Mr Wenger has got to look at is if Mertesacker is facing pacy forwards, as the German doesn't have pace as one of his weapons, though his reading of the game makes up for it, to an extent. However, its better to be safe than sorry. All in all, the German looks like an astute signing by a manager under pressure.
Finally, the capture of Brazillian wing-back Andre Santos from Turkish side Fenerbache is indeed a good buy from Arsene Wenger considering he shipped out two left backs (Gael Clichy and Armand Traore to Man City and QPR respectively). Santos is in the mould of Roberto Carlos, though slightly taller, but overall, both have a similar playing style. What he will bring is consistency, and he has the ability to chip in with a couple of goals. He has very good crossing ability, and a ferocious shot comes as a package, something like a 3-1 thing. Brazillians who have played in the Premier League in defensive positions have the tendency to do well, though the same cannot be said about the attack-minded players. The question as to who will be first choice is all down to one man, though I hope it is Santos for the time being, but there is a possibility that Gibbs could be pushed further forward in away matches in Europe. Then there is also the small issue of the loan signing of Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli international needs no introduction, and is a good impact player as he proved to be at Liverpool. For his and Arsenal's sake, I really hope he is given ample playing time, because he can do what Nasri did, though its unfair to compare the two. He can be a good link between the midfield and attack and can help out RVP when the need arises.
The mega signing everyone was hoping for never arrived, though there were stories blooming that Eden Hazard had submitted a transfer request. I for one, cannot verify the facts, but the deal could still happen in January, or most certainly next summer. By then though, a bidding war would have erupted and the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea or Man. City would be in pole position to secure his coveted signature, though Madrid is likely to come out on top.
As for now though, the transfer window has slammed shut and most clubs have pretty much got an idea of how good their squad is, though the most disappointing team, transfer wise, has got to be Tottenham as the North-Londoners failed to bring in needed quality other than Scott Parker for a reported 5 million pounds. For a manager of Harry Redknapp's repertoire, it is quite shocking as he is known to be an expert in wheeling and dealing.
That's is for now, my next posting will be a build-up to Arsenal's next game when the welcome Swansea to the Emirates. I wouldn't say that it's a must-win game, but if Arsenal fail to do so, then the Premier League might as well prepare coffins for all the players and bury them in the ground at the Emirates, and let Arsene Wenger be the presider for the mass funeral.
Jay Jay
Sunday, August 28, 2011
NASA is gone, but Arsenal Still Found a Way to the Moon.
Many United fans would remember the mauling they gave to Arsenal, the famous 6-1 in which they were rampant, and Andy Cole was playing like a man possessed. Well, for those who have a certain amount of amnesia, or 'mad-cow disease' as I would like to call it, then, August 28th 2011 will be a day to last in memories, and will definitely go down in the history books. Prior to the match, 99% of the fans gave Arsenal absolutely no whisker of a chance. That's exactly how it turned out to be. Mauling, daylight murder, beating, spanking. I think I'm running out of words to describe the events of August the 28th.
United came into the match brimming with confidence, after back-to-back wins with the second edition of the 'Babes', first by the great Sir Matt Busby, and now followed by Fergie's Fledglings. Jones was alongside Smalling in the centre of defense, with Tom Cleverly pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Rooney supported the surprise package of the season, Danny Welbeck. On the other side of the fence, Arsene Wenger had only two players from the starting 11 from last year's fixture, them being Wojciech Szcezsny and Laurent Koscielny. (Djourou did not play in OT last year). Traore started at left back, in place of the injured Kieran Gibbs, and Carl Jenkinson was on the opposite flank due to Bacary Sagna's illness. Aaron Ramsey sat alongside 19 year old Frenchman, Francis Coquelin, who returned from a season-long loan spell with Lorient. Tomas Rosicky was given the free role in behind RVP, who was flanked by the out of form Russian, Andrey Arshavin and probably Arsenal's best player thus far this season, Theo Walcott. I will not dwell on the happenings of the game, because many witnessed it, and it is not at all fun for me even writing this article, so I will go into the effects of it, and what has to be done by 'Le Professor', to stop the bleeding, or whatever you want to call it.
First, and most importantly, I wouldn't point the finger at Arsene Wenger. Yes, he does have a unique way of handling things, but it is too early to jump the gun. The number of players that were missing were staggering, either to injury or suspension. First three games, and Arsenal have more red cards than goals. Gervinho, Song and now Jenkinson will be absent come the next game, but Frimpong should be back. The difference in the performance could be witnessed, the games between Udinese and now United. Gervinho's directness was missed, as Arshavin was quite blunt. In the middle of the park, it was easy to notice that Arsenal were being overrun without Song, though Coquelin tried his best, but after it was 3-0, every Arsenal player's head dropped. Thomas Vermaelen was indeed missed, and his influence is extremely vital if Arsenal want to have to chance to be in the top four this season. Also, I was surprised to see Arshavin start ahead of Ryo Miyaichi, because the Russian dynamo was really disappointing. If half the players mentioned were on the field, Arsenal would have played much better, but then again, I will not go into the "if's and but's".
Next, the lack of incisiveness in midfield was evident. Aaron Ramsey was given too much of responsibility in trying to help Coquelin and also orchestrate the Arsenal attack. With Fabregas and Nasri gone, they lack a cutting edge and the sense of urgency Wenger's side always had. What Arsenal had to do was have the front three interchanging at all times, similar to what the Catalans do. In that way, the marking by defenders can be neutralised, and it makes it easier for the playmaker/s to find their men. Often a time I could see Ramsey caught in two minds on whether to push forward, or hold back and let Rosicky play the offensive part of it. It is without a doubt, that the Czech loves to play in the centre, but he cannot do it alone, plus with him, age is a huge factor. Yes, Jack Wilshere is still in the building, but the boy is just 19 years old. The question remains as to whether he will want to remain at the Emirates if the club is not in the Champions League next season. If it were up to me, I would sign a good striker, someone in the mould of Jermain Defoe, and play RVP behind him. That way, the need of a playmaker can be quelled for now at least, until January arrives. Defoe would be a great signing, plus he's not a starter for Tottenham. A trade with City for Tevez would've been absolutely great but that is almost impossible. There are rumours of Kaka coming in, but it's like clutching at straws really.
If a striker can be brought in, but not Park Chu-Young, because I doubt his abilities to lead the Arsenal line, then Arsenal could be firing again. Another name I can think of is Karim Benzema, but he would cost at least 30 million, and Wenger is not going to spend that amount for a single player. If Arsene doesn't want to sign a striker, then he has to play Walcott through the middle and let RVP be the link. That however means that either one of Arshavin, Miyaichi, or Alex Chamberlain has to play on the right, and I would play Chamberlain anytime, with Miyaichi on the opposite flank. If that happens, then the Gunners' attack will be full of pace and guile, but then again, nothing is without a backbone. The Defense.
Last night, Arsenal's defense was comparable only to that of the Malaysian National Team. That leaves only one word to describe damn. Mediocrity at its finest hour, or in this case, ninety minutes. Djourou was AWOL was most of the game, and Carl Jenkinson was caught out of position more often than not, getting a shellacking from Walcott in the process. The young defender was finally exposed at Old Trafford, after the rave reviews he got from pundits and fans alike. There might be a need for a left back, though the fish in the sea are decreasing by the hour. It ain't my job to look for players, but I would recommend Marcelo from Real Madrid, but then again, this article would never reach Mr Wenger. Gary Cahill MUST be brought in, along with Chris Samba, because I think Phil Jagielka is overpriced. (What will Wenger think?).
The bottom line is, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must've been awaken from their siesta, because never in my life have I witnessed the team that I love get thrashed and bullied in such away. Sure, most players weren't there and what not, but in the end of the day, it was Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal. My advice to Wenger is not to take this too hard, but learn from it. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of bed, but this cannot, and should not happen again. The international break could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal, and for the first time in a while, United have started very well. In the past, they have stuttered at the beginning, but picked up after January. For the sake of the Premier League, let's just hope that the tables have turned this time around.
United came into the match brimming with confidence, after back-to-back wins with the second edition of the 'Babes', first by the great Sir Matt Busby, and now followed by Fergie's Fledglings. Jones was alongside Smalling in the centre of defense, with Tom Cleverly pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Rooney supported the surprise package of the season, Danny Welbeck. On the other side of the fence, Arsene Wenger had only two players from the starting 11 from last year's fixture, them being Wojciech Szcezsny and Laurent Koscielny. (Djourou did not play in OT last year). Traore started at left back, in place of the injured Kieran Gibbs, and Carl Jenkinson was on the opposite flank due to Bacary Sagna's illness. Aaron Ramsey sat alongside 19 year old Frenchman, Francis Coquelin, who returned from a season-long loan spell with Lorient. Tomas Rosicky was given the free role in behind RVP, who was flanked by the out of form Russian, Andrey Arshavin and probably Arsenal's best player thus far this season, Theo Walcott. I will not dwell on the happenings of the game, because many witnessed it, and it is not at all fun for me even writing this article, so I will go into the effects of it, and what has to be done by 'Le Professor', to stop the bleeding, or whatever you want to call it.
First, and most importantly, I wouldn't point the finger at Arsene Wenger. Yes, he does have a unique way of handling things, but it is too early to jump the gun. The number of players that were missing were staggering, either to injury or suspension. First three games, and Arsenal have more red cards than goals. Gervinho, Song and now Jenkinson will be absent come the next game, but Frimpong should be back. The difference in the performance could be witnessed, the games between Udinese and now United. Gervinho's directness was missed, as Arshavin was quite blunt. In the middle of the park, it was easy to notice that Arsenal were being overrun without Song, though Coquelin tried his best, but after it was 3-0, every Arsenal player's head dropped. Thomas Vermaelen was indeed missed, and his influence is extremely vital if Arsenal want to have to chance to be in the top four this season. Also, I was surprised to see Arshavin start ahead of Ryo Miyaichi, because the Russian dynamo was really disappointing. If half the players mentioned were on the field, Arsenal would have played much better, but then again, I will not go into the "if's and but's".
Next, the lack of incisiveness in midfield was evident. Aaron Ramsey was given too much of responsibility in trying to help Coquelin and also orchestrate the Arsenal attack. With Fabregas and Nasri gone, they lack a cutting edge and the sense of urgency Wenger's side always had. What Arsenal had to do was have the front three interchanging at all times, similar to what the Catalans do. In that way, the marking by defenders can be neutralised, and it makes it easier for the playmaker/s to find their men. Often a time I could see Ramsey caught in two minds on whether to push forward, or hold back and let Rosicky play the offensive part of it. It is without a doubt, that the Czech loves to play in the centre, but he cannot do it alone, plus with him, age is a huge factor. Yes, Jack Wilshere is still in the building, but the boy is just 19 years old. The question remains as to whether he will want to remain at the Emirates if the club is not in the Champions League next season. If it were up to me, I would sign a good striker, someone in the mould of Jermain Defoe, and play RVP behind him. That way, the need of a playmaker can be quelled for now at least, until January arrives. Defoe would be a great signing, plus he's not a starter for Tottenham. A trade with City for Tevez would've been absolutely great but that is almost impossible. There are rumours of Kaka coming in, but it's like clutching at straws really.
If a striker can be brought in, but not Park Chu-Young, because I doubt his abilities to lead the Arsenal line, then Arsenal could be firing again. Another name I can think of is Karim Benzema, but he would cost at least 30 million, and Wenger is not going to spend that amount for a single player. If Arsene doesn't want to sign a striker, then he has to play Walcott through the middle and let RVP be the link. That however means that either one of Arshavin, Miyaichi, or Alex Chamberlain has to play on the right, and I would play Chamberlain anytime, with Miyaichi on the opposite flank. If that happens, then the Gunners' attack will be full of pace and guile, but then again, nothing is without a backbone. The Defense.
Last night, Arsenal's defense was comparable only to that of the Malaysian National Team. That leaves only one word to describe damn. Mediocrity at its finest hour, or in this case, ninety minutes. Djourou was AWOL was most of the game, and Carl Jenkinson was caught out of position more often than not, getting a shellacking from Walcott in the process. The young defender was finally exposed at Old Trafford, after the rave reviews he got from pundits and fans alike. There might be a need for a left back, though the fish in the sea are decreasing by the hour. It ain't my job to look for players, but I would recommend Marcelo from Real Madrid, but then again, this article would never reach Mr Wenger. Gary Cahill MUST be brought in, along with Chris Samba, because I think Phil Jagielka is overpriced. (What will Wenger think?).
The bottom line is, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must've been awaken from their siesta, because never in my life have I witnessed the team that I love get thrashed and bullied in such away. Sure, most players weren't there and what not, but in the end of the day, it was Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal. My advice to Wenger is not to take this too hard, but learn from it. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of bed, but this cannot, and should not happen again. The international break could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal, and for the first time in a while, United have started very well. In the past, they have stuttered at the beginning, but picked up after January. For the sake of the Premier League, let's just hope that the tables have turned this time around.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Long Time Indeed
It's been a long time since I wrote, just checked and it was like upwards of two months of non-activity. Been going through a tough period, now especially with the 'Malaysian Pre-U' haha its only Form 6 at the end of the day. Will try to find time to write, and if I do, it will only be on weekends, so to all 'beyond limits' fans out there, sit tight, coz I'll leave you coming back for another bite.. sounds soo wrong but what the heck..
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