Don Vito Mannone, Arsenal's 19-year old reserve goalkeeper was brilliant Saturday evening and Arsenal got a 1-nil result. Mannone put in a number of world class saves keeping his clean sheet and earned his place in the side, when many were calling for him to get whacked in favor of some young Polish keeper who's name is too difficult to type.
Mannone, who had been noticeably shaky, and that's an understatement, in his previous appearances in the Arsenal goal was fantastic, and will without a doubt be thrilled with his performance.
The team's performance, however, was not quite as stellar. Arshavin came back from his injury, but missed the best chance of the first half and never really got going (although he clearly adds much needed width and discipline to an Arsenal attack that had been carrying a tall gangly passenger in Abou Diaby on the left wing in his absence. Cesc was disappointing. Diaby lost the ball far too much in the middle of the pitch. Clichy still doesn't know how to defend. Song got his pants pulled down and Danny Murphy had his way with him. And Van Persie actually left the pitch for about fifteen minutes to take a piss, and we won 1-nil.
The goal was special however. Cesc made his best pass of the night chipping the ball over Hangeland and into Van Persie's run, who took the ball down perfectly with his left and finished equally well with his right. A great goal for Van Persie, who never really has any impact on the game as the lone striker but really is dangerous in quick flashes. Two great goals with his right foot already this season, which also is encouraging.
I also think Denilson would have been useful yesterday, more useful than Diaby anyway. Where the Brazilian's tendency to take the easy pass has been well documented (and lamented) he would have been a tidy player and would not have lost the ball as much as Diaby, who also defended really poorly and would have been at fault had Mannone not pulled out an amazing save on a late Bobby Zamora header. He really is clueless, Diaby.
Bottom line: we got the three points. We played poorly, Fulham will argue they deserved at least a draw, which they did, but a great game by Mannone got us the three points on the road. More than Chelsea can say this weekend. With Olympiakos coming to London on Tuesday, look for Wenger to maybe rotate a bit and bring in the likes of Gibbs (please God), Eboue, Eduardo, Denilson, Ramsey or Walcott (he's baaaack).
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Two reasons I love what Craig Bellamy did
Sunday's Manchester Derby was thrilling.
United capitalized on the unorganized, poor defending Arsenal fans are used to seeing thanks to Kolo Toure to score three goals. The first came on a quick throw-in while the City back line tried to organzie their marks in the second minute of the game. The next two came on set pieces and two connections from Ryan Giggs to Darren Fletcher. Fletcher did well to score, but the marking on both his goals was atrocious, it has to be said.
City capitalized on lazy defending by Rio Ferdinand and another bone-headed mistake by Ben Foster, who inexplicably lost the ball to Carlos Tevez outside the box and Tevez passed to Gareth Barry, who provided a good calm finish. The next two goals were two delightful equalizers by Craig Bellamy, who started the game on the left wing. For me was was the best player on the pitch during City's 4-2 win against Arsenal last weekend, and we was the best player again at Old Trafford on Sunday. Bellamy's first came because John O'Shea and Rio Ferdinand gave him far too much time and space, Bellamy took it, and fired a screamer into the far corner of the net. The second came after yet another error by Ferdinand, who passed the ball to a City player and Bellamy beat the England defender for pace before sliding the ball past Foster, who was in no man's land and probably should not have left his line as Ferdinand had done well to narrow Bellamy's angle.
But inevitable referee controversy at Old Trafford gave United another questionable home victory at the death. The referee had signaled 4 minutes of added time moments before Bellamy's equalizer. Michael Carrick subbed on as well during added time, which somehow is an automatic 30-second addition to stoppage time, even if the substitution itself only takes 15 seconds. When United got a free kick 5 minutes into stoppage time, Mark Hughes, who is a massive cunt, complained to the side official that the game had already lasted a whole minute too lond, and that it should be over. The referees ignored him, and the free kick was taken, and cleared back to the half line by City's defense. The referee still did not blow his whistle, and Giggs played a wonderful ball in to Michael Owen, who nicked the winner 5 and a half minutes into stoppage time, a whole minute and a half after the game was supposed to be over. There certainly is case both for and against extending the game this long, as there was a goal and a substitution to account for, but as they always do at Old Trafford, Man United got the benefit of a twelfth man with the whistle, and they took another three points as a result.
After the game, a United supporter ran on to the pitch and was restrained by security guards. Bellamy, undoubtedly pissed off because they had lost the game so late after the effort he had put in individually, confronted the supporter. Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl2-0KNS94s
The supporter clearly spits at Bellamy and in return pushes him in the face. He clearly does not intend to hurt the fan, and doesn't have a swing at him, as the real time video shows. United supporters are outraged, and because they are Man United supporters, they claim Bellamy punched the idiot fan. Here's the picture Republik of Mancunia posted under the title "Bellamy Punches United Fan"
I love that Bellamy "punched" the fan for two reasons.
1. He will surely be suspended by the FA and join Ade-ban-or on the sidelines. Bellamy is a bigger loss as well in my mind, as he has clearly been the Citizens' best attacking player in the last two matches. Without their little Welsh cunt and their Massive Togolese cunt in the lineup, City will undoubtedly struggle to score goals.
2. He hit a Man United fan. Let's face it, Man United supporters are cunts. They are scum without any class whatsoever they could always use a slap in the face...from Craig Bellamy, their mothers, anyone. We're talking about fans who booed Tevez with every touch of the ball on Sunday. Tevez! The same player who last year was their cult hero, the same player who begged Ferguson to let him stay because he loved the club so much. The same player who turned down moves to Chelsea and to Liverpool so he would not hurt United's chances at another title. He was repaid with a chorus of boos everytime he touched the ball. Going in for half time, walking into the tunnel, a United supporter threw a coin at Tevez and missed because he is a cunt, and instead hit Javier Garrido. When we visited Old Trafford at the beginning of the month the Old Trafford echoed in their favorite Arsenal song calling Wenger a pedophile. Whenever they play Liverpool, they have no problem singing about the tragic deaths of the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985 (Although they aren't alone in their cuntiness there, as Liverpool fans sing songs about the Munich plane crashes in return). Bottom Line: they are cunts. The worst fans in the league. And they deserve everything and anything they get. Thank you Craig Bellamy for giving it to them, next time you should break out the trusty golf clubs like you did to Riise...
United capitalized on the unorganized, poor defending Arsenal fans are used to seeing thanks to Kolo Toure to score three goals. The first came on a quick throw-in while the City back line tried to organzie their marks in the second minute of the game. The next two came on set pieces and two connections from Ryan Giggs to Darren Fletcher. Fletcher did well to score, but the marking on both his goals was atrocious, it has to be said.
City capitalized on lazy defending by Rio Ferdinand and another bone-headed mistake by Ben Foster, who inexplicably lost the ball to Carlos Tevez outside the box and Tevez passed to Gareth Barry, who provided a good calm finish. The next two goals were two delightful equalizers by Craig Bellamy, who started the game on the left wing. For me was was the best player on the pitch during City's 4-2 win against Arsenal last weekend, and we was the best player again at Old Trafford on Sunday. Bellamy's first came because John O'Shea and Rio Ferdinand gave him far too much time and space, Bellamy took it, and fired a screamer into the far corner of the net. The second came after yet another error by Ferdinand, who passed the ball to a City player and Bellamy beat the England defender for pace before sliding the ball past Foster, who was in no man's land and probably should not have left his line as Ferdinand had done well to narrow Bellamy's angle.
But inevitable referee controversy at Old Trafford gave United another questionable home victory at the death. The referee had signaled 4 minutes of added time moments before Bellamy's equalizer. Michael Carrick subbed on as well during added time, which somehow is an automatic 30-second addition to stoppage time, even if the substitution itself only takes 15 seconds. When United got a free kick 5 minutes into stoppage time, Mark Hughes, who is a massive cunt, complained to the side official that the game had already lasted a whole minute too lond, and that it should be over. The referees ignored him, and the free kick was taken, and cleared back to the half line by City's defense. The referee still did not blow his whistle, and Giggs played a wonderful ball in to Michael Owen, who nicked the winner 5 and a half minutes into stoppage time, a whole minute and a half after the game was supposed to be over. There certainly is case both for and against extending the game this long, as there was a goal and a substitution to account for, but as they always do at Old Trafford, Man United got the benefit of a twelfth man with the whistle, and they took another three points as a result.
After the game, a United supporter ran on to the pitch and was restrained by security guards. Bellamy, undoubtedly pissed off because they had lost the game so late after the effort he had put in individually, confronted the supporter. Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl2-0KNS94s
The supporter clearly spits at Bellamy and in return pushes him in the face. He clearly does not intend to hurt the fan, and doesn't have a swing at him, as the real time video shows. United supporters are outraged, and because they are Man United supporters, they claim Bellamy punched the idiot fan. Here's the picture Republik of Mancunia posted under the title "Bellamy Punches United Fan"
1. He will surely be suspended by the FA and join Ade-ban-or on the sidelines. Bellamy is a bigger loss as well in my mind, as he has clearly been the Citizens' best attacking player in the last two matches. Without their little Welsh cunt and their Massive Togolese cunt in the lineup, City will undoubtedly struggle to score goals.
2. He hit a Man United fan. Let's face it, Man United supporters are cunts. They are scum without any class whatsoever they could always use a slap in the face...from Craig Bellamy, their mothers, anyone. We're talking about fans who booed Tevez with every touch of the ball on Sunday. Tevez! The same player who last year was their cult hero, the same player who begged Ferguson to let him stay because he loved the club so much. The same player who turned down moves to Chelsea and to Liverpool so he would not hurt United's chances at another title. He was repaid with a chorus of boos everytime he touched the ball. Going in for half time, walking into the tunnel, a United supporter threw a coin at Tevez and missed because he is a cunt, and instead hit Javier Garrido. When we visited Old Trafford at the beginning of the month the Old Trafford echoed in their favorite Arsenal song calling Wenger a pedophile. Whenever they play Liverpool, they have no problem singing about the tragic deaths of the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985 (Although they aren't alone in their cuntiness there, as Liverpool fans sing songs about the Munich plane crashes in return). Bottom Line: they are cunts. The worst fans in the league. And they deserve everything and anything they get. Thank you Craig Bellamy for giving it to them, next time you should break out the trusty golf clubs like you did to Riise...
Young Gunners beat West Brom
The Arsenal youngsters started this year's Carling Cup campaign on the right foot with a victory against a spirited West Brom side that is currently in first place of the Championship. Former Gunner Jerome Thomas was sent off in the first half for a violent push on Jack Wilshere, but it took the substitution of Carlos Vela in the second half to give the youngsters a win.
Ramsey and Vela played a big part in both goals. In the 68th minute Ramsey played Vela in with a good pass and Vela fired a fierce left-footed shot. West Brom goalkeeper Dean Kiely could only parry, however, and Sanchez Watt converted the rebound.
In the 76th minute, Ramsey played a great ball in to Mark Randall, who audaciously lobbed Kiely and was unfortunate to hit the crossbar. West Brom's Leon Barnett inexplicably tried to chest the ball back to Kiely and Vela nipped in to steal the ball, round the keeper, and put Arsenal 2-nil up.
Wenger will undoubtedly be pleased with Vela's performance in particular, who is quite the talent and would certainly be a welcome addition to the first team. Since the Arshavin injury, Wenger has had a tough time filling the left wing position. Diaby has looked miserable out there, and Eduardo doesn't seem to have the instincts to track back and defend. A fit Carlos Vela surely could slot in to the left wing, which is a more natural position for him.
From what I've seen of the young Polish goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, I think he's a better player and should be playing ahead of Vito Mannone. He was impressive in preseason and made some good saves to get his clean sheet.
Phillipe Senderos also played his first game for Arsenal in two seasons tonight, and he undoubtedly will also be pleased with the clean sheet tonight. With the injury to Djourou and the new formation, I firmly believed that the more experienced 24-year old Senderos could take his last chance at Arsenal now and earn a spot back in the team. In flashes he is a brilliant defender, and I would feel much more comfortable with him in the side than Silvestre.
All in all, a good win for the youngsters tonight against a quality West Brom side, but not an impressive debut for the likes of Sunu and Coquelin. I'm not sure Wenger will be able to gamble and leave out the likes of Vela and Randall for the two youngsters in the next round if he wants to advance. No wondergoals by Wilshere, Ramsey, or Vela, but a win is a win. On to Round 4.
Ramsey and Vela played a big part in both goals. In the 68th minute Ramsey played Vela in with a good pass and Vela fired a fierce left-footed shot. West Brom goalkeeper Dean Kiely could only parry, however, and Sanchez Watt converted the rebound.
In the 76th minute, Ramsey played a great ball in to Mark Randall, who audaciously lobbed Kiely and was unfortunate to hit the crossbar. West Brom's Leon Barnett inexplicably tried to chest the ball back to Kiely and Vela nipped in to steal the ball, round the keeper, and put Arsenal 2-nil up.
Wenger will undoubtedly be pleased with Vela's performance in particular, who is quite the talent and would certainly be a welcome addition to the first team. Since the Arshavin injury, Wenger has had a tough time filling the left wing position. Diaby has looked miserable out there, and Eduardo doesn't seem to have the instincts to track back and defend. A fit Carlos Vela surely could slot in to the left wing, which is a more natural position for him.
From what I've seen of the young Polish goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, I think he's a better player and should be playing ahead of Vito Mannone. He was impressive in preseason and made some good saves to get his clean sheet.
Phillipe Senderos also played his first game for Arsenal in two seasons tonight, and he undoubtedly will also be pleased with the clean sheet tonight. With the injury to Djourou and the new formation, I firmly believed that the more experienced 24-year old Senderos could take his last chance at Arsenal now and earn a spot back in the team. In flashes he is a brilliant defender, and I would feel much more comfortable with him in the side than Silvestre.
All in all, a good win for the youngsters tonight against a quality West Brom side, but not an impressive debut for the likes of Sunu and Coquelin. I'm not sure Wenger will be able to gamble and leave out the likes of Vela and Randall for the two youngsters in the next round if he wants to advance. No wondergoals by Wilshere, Ramsey, or Vela, but a win is a win. On to Round 4.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Diving in England
On Wednesday, Eduardo dives to earn a penalty and he is branded a cheater and a disgrace.
On Saturday, Rooney dives to earn a penalty and he is deemed a clever footballer.
Eduardo's dive against Celtic, as well as Eboue's many dives for Arsenal over the years, are not defendable and the appropriate punishment, a yellow card is deserved for anyone who tries to trick the referee is deserved of that yellow card.
If the FA or UEFA or FIFA was inclined to make a new rule, where diving to earn a penalty in particular was made a red-card offense, then Eduardo's proposed 2-game suspension from Champions League competition would be appropriate if he was sent off. But there is no such rule in effect. It would be ludacris to suspend a player for two games on a yellow-card offense.
The fact that the "pundits" in the English media are such staunch supporters of this suspension makes no sense.
But the fact that the media calls for Eduardo's head while labeling Rooney's dive as "clever," and the media's non-questioning of Mike Dean's decision to give the penalty when clearly the replay showed Rooney to have begun falling before contact was made is despicable. Rooney and Gerrard get away with diving all the time, Ashley Young dove to win a penalty at Anfield two days before Eduardo's dive but nothing was said about it, but Drogba, Ronaldo, Eboue, and now Eduardo, are branded as divers.
It is hypocrisy for the British media to ignore their English divers. Gerrard, arguably England's best player, is a diver and a cheat at the highest stage. Rooney, the bright young hope up front as the World Cup approaches, not only tries to deceive the referees, but he abuses them as well. The English's media's choice to turn a blind eye to these players is obvious.
As an example, the Guardian had this to say about the claim for a penalty:
"Wenger was waspish in his verdict of the penalty decision that gave United their equaliser. 'Oldtraffordish,' was the neologism he coined for it. True, when Manuel Almunia, the Arsenal goalkeeper, came flying out to challenge Wayne Rooney, the England striker started to go down before contact was made. But there was substantial contact, unlike with the Eduardo incident, so it was a penalty. Rooney converted from the spot."
The report says, Rooney "started to go down before contact was made," and still said it was a penalty!
If you start to fall before contact was made, you are diving. No contact was made on Eduardo because Boruc is an excellent keeper. Almunia clumsily made contact with Rooney, but after he was already going down and already had booted the ball into the stands. Rooney played for the penalty and was given a free pass, plain and simple.
Its a shame that the best football league in the world has the most biased media to cover it.
On Saturday, Rooney dives to earn a penalty and he is deemed a clever footballer.
Eduardo's dive against Celtic, as well as Eboue's many dives for Arsenal over the years, are not defendable and the appropriate punishment, a yellow card is deserved for anyone who tries to trick the referee is deserved of that yellow card.
If the FA or UEFA or FIFA was inclined to make a new rule, where diving to earn a penalty in particular was made a red-card offense, then Eduardo's proposed 2-game suspension from Champions League competition would be appropriate if he was sent off. But there is no such rule in effect. It would be ludacris to suspend a player for two games on a yellow-card offense.
The fact that the "pundits" in the English media are such staunch supporters of this suspension makes no sense.
But the fact that the media calls for Eduardo's head while labeling Rooney's dive as "clever," and the media's non-questioning of Mike Dean's decision to give the penalty when clearly the replay showed Rooney to have begun falling before contact was made is despicable. Rooney and Gerrard get away with diving all the time, Ashley Young dove to win a penalty at Anfield two days before Eduardo's dive but nothing was said about it, but Drogba, Ronaldo, Eboue, and now Eduardo, are branded as divers.
It is hypocrisy for the British media to ignore their English divers. Gerrard, arguably England's best player, is a diver and a cheat at the highest stage. Rooney, the bright young hope up front as the World Cup approaches, not only tries to deceive the referees, but he abuses them as well. The English's media's choice to turn a blind eye to these players is obvious.
As an example, the Guardian had this to say about the claim for a penalty:
"Wenger was waspish in his verdict of the penalty decision that gave United their equaliser. 'Oldtraffordish,' was the neologism he coined for it. True, when Manuel Almunia, the Arsenal goalkeeper, came flying out to challenge Wayne Rooney, the England striker started to go down before contact was made. But there was substantial contact, unlike with the Eduardo incident, so it was a penalty. Rooney converted from the spot."
The report says, Rooney "started to go down before contact was made," and still said it was a penalty!
If you start to fall before contact was made, you are diving. No contact was made on Eduardo because Boruc is an excellent keeper. Almunia clumsily made contact with Rooney, but after he was already going down and already had booted the ball into the stands. Rooney played for the penalty and was given a free pass, plain and simple.
Its a shame that the best football league in the world has the most biased media to cover it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
I Hate Patrice Evra
- forgot to include that in the last post. It needed to be said though.
I hope Martin Taylor breaks his leg too
I hope Martin Taylor breaks his leg too
Dean takes the points away from Arsenal at Old Trafford
Manchester United 2 - Arsenal 1.
The better team lost today.
Arsenal dominated the game, even without Cesc Fabregas, and took the game to the champions at Old Trafford only to see their efforts all crumble away in five minutes.
Mike Dean was a joke.
After failing to award a clear penalty where Arshavin nicked the ball past the clumsy and overrated Fletcher, Dean decided to grant a penalty when Rooney had booted the ball into the stands and played for the penalty, just like Eduardo did midweek against Celtic. Although there was contact with the Almunia, Rooney had no more right for a penalty than Eduardo did against Celtic as Rooney's touch had put the ball was far out of play. It was a joke of a call and Dean, who handed out 9 yellow cards in the game, is to blame for United's equalizer. He gave them a way back into the game. There is no other way around it.
Five minutes later, on a United free kick after a soft and arguable foul by Denilson, Giggs played the free kick terribly and overshot every red shirt, but Diaby, perhaps trying to play the ball back to his keeper, put the ball past Almunia into his own net. 2-1 United. Arsenal were shell-shocked.
Had it not been for a great save by Ben Foster early in the second half, Arsenal might have been 2-nil up, which would have been a fair scoreline. The Gunners played with purpose and were by far the better team today, and hopefully the unfair result won't damage their psyche.
With Vermaelen and Gallas in the middle, United rarely got a good chance to score at Old Trafford. This is a clear improvement from last year. Denilson and Diaby, who was solid and strong on the ball and had a good game other than the terrible mistake on the own goal, seem to be maturing into quality players. On the road against the champions, Diaby and Denilson controlled the midfield, dominating against the likes of Carrick and Fletcher.
Fletcher should have been yellow carded in the first half before his clumsy tackle on Arshavin, where he should have been sent off.
And Arshavin, who claims he is not in full fitness, needs to get fit quickly. He is a player who plays in spurts of energy, not controlling play for long periods of time with long runs but taking over moments with short bursts of energy. The more fit he gets, the more bursts of evergy he gets, the more goals Arsenal will score. He proved today with his goal that he is on another level of quality - above Rooney and Vidic and the rest. If fit, Arshavin is fully capable of being the best player in England.
Arsenal fans should look at the game like this: Had anyone told you at the beginning of the season that Arsenal would lose Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, and Vela to injury and still outplay and outclass Manchester United at Old Trafford, you would have taken it, regardless of the result.
The Premier League race is a marathon, not a sprint. If the Arsenal team the battled in defeat today is any indicator, this Arsenal team, a team that can take full control of a game at Old Trafford and lose it on bad luck and bad refereeing, is going to be in the race to the end.
The better team lost today.
Arsenal dominated the game, even without Cesc Fabregas, and took the game to the champions at Old Trafford only to see their efforts all crumble away in five minutes.
Mike Dean was a joke.
After failing to award a clear penalty where Arshavin nicked the ball past the clumsy and overrated Fletcher, Dean decided to grant a penalty when Rooney had booted the ball into the stands and played for the penalty, just like Eduardo did midweek against Celtic. Although there was contact with the Almunia, Rooney had no more right for a penalty than Eduardo did against Celtic as Rooney's touch had put the ball was far out of play. It was a joke of a call and Dean, who handed out 9 yellow cards in the game, is to blame for United's equalizer. He gave them a way back into the game. There is no other way around it.
Five minutes later, on a United free kick after a soft and arguable foul by Denilson, Giggs played the free kick terribly and overshot every red shirt, but Diaby, perhaps trying to play the ball back to his keeper, put the ball past Almunia into his own net. 2-1 United. Arsenal were shell-shocked.
Had it not been for a great save by Ben Foster early in the second half, Arsenal might have been 2-nil up, which would have been a fair scoreline. The Gunners played with purpose and were by far the better team today, and hopefully the unfair result won't damage their psyche.
With Vermaelen and Gallas in the middle, United rarely got a good chance to score at Old Trafford. This is a clear improvement from last year. Denilson and Diaby, who was solid and strong on the ball and had a good game other than the terrible mistake on the own goal, seem to be maturing into quality players. On the road against the champions, Diaby and Denilson controlled the midfield, dominating against the likes of Carrick and Fletcher.
Fletcher should have been yellow carded in the first half before his clumsy tackle on Arshavin, where he should have been sent off.
And Arshavin, who claims he is not in full fitness, needs to get fit quickly. He is a player who plays in spurts of energy, not controlling play for long periods of time with long runs but taking over moments with short bursts of energy. The more fit he gets, the more bursts of evergy he gets, the more goals Arsenal will score. He proved today with his goal that he is on another level of quality - above Rooney and Vidic and the rest. If fit, Arshavin is fully capable of being the best player in England.
Arsenal fans should look at the game like this: Had anyone told you at the beginning of the season that Arsenal would lose Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, and Vela to injury and still outplay and outclass Manchester United at Old Trafford, you would have taken it, regardless of the result.
The Premier League race is a marathon, not a sprint. If the Arsenal team the battled in defeat today is any indicator, this Arsenal team, a team that can take full control of a game at Old Trafford and lose it on bad luck and bad refereeing, is going to be in the race to the end.
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