Bleacher Report - Articles by tumang bokaba

Ireland Clutching At Straws

tumang bokaba — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:52:16 -0500

Listen to enough English radio and TV talk shows and you'd be certain that Thierry Henry was a murderer and that the French Republic was harbouring a wanted fugitive.

Travesty of justice. Miscarriage of Justice. Cheats. Typical French. Frogs. And and and. Ahem.

What happened on Wednesday in the game between France and Ireland is nothing new and will forever happen. What Thierry Henry did was instinctive, almost everyone agrees that it is a human reaction to try to keep the ball playing.

For Robbie Keane and them to suggest that the French planned to cheat is simply clutching at straws. The Irish FA has now requested FIFA to replay the game because a precedent has been set by an FA Cup between Arsenal and Sheffield. This is unlikely.

It sets a very dangerous precedent and creates a rot on the back of FIFA and UEFA. The Irish FA chief when quizzed on why when he didn't request a replay in their Georgia game when apparently a a dubious decision was given in their favor, he stated without irony that the two games were different?

Are they? Ireland win a game in dubious circumstances and it is fine. They lose a game and the whole world must stop. The Irish Chief went on to state that they are requesting the replay because amongst other things "the whole world was watching."

This, when four other games were playing. Hardly the whole world, I'd say. Did Henry cheat? It depends on how you look at it.

Hasn't Ireland benefited from a question call during games and never thought otherwise? Are they only team to have been victims of poor officiating? England lost the World Cup to a handball. Ireland lost a game.

Get over it move on. A match not worth more than three points. Robbie Keane cries out that UEFA and FIFA are celebrating now that a bigger nation has qualified instead of them. And? Give me a sponsor that would like to see minnows competing in a money making tournament. The FA would much rather have a Manchester United - Liverpool game everyday of the week than a Stoke and Hull FA Cup final.

It is business. Football is business, Keane. Deal with it. Yes, FIFA are happy France are through. UEFA are happy that Ireland is out. Move on. As for Ireland calling France cheats?

Didn't they have a fraud Tony Cascarino playing for them for a good 14 years? Will they agree that all those 88 games the fraudster played be invalidated and the opposing teams be compensated? European Championships and World Cups the fraud played in.

While many people sympathise with the manner in which they lost the game, this is not a world crisis. Ultimately, it is just a game.There'll be more coming and I am certain they'll win some controversially.

Arsenal: England's Traditional Bearer at Cross Roads

tumang bokaba — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:11:24 -0400

Arsenal were founded in 1886 and were the first Southern club to join the Football League, in 1893. This is a club that prides itself in its tradition and longevity in the professional ranks of football.

Arsenal have a large fanbase, who hold a string of long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of these is with neighbours Spurs, with whom they regularly contest the North London derby. Arsenal are the third richest club in the world (valued at over $1.200 billion as of 2009).

The team has for several seasons now fighting off the label of the "little big man/team," that is to say they are big yet not big enough for some people to actually put them in the same league as Liverpool, Manchester United.

I have deliberately omitted Chelsea because they weren't exactly known as a "super big" team until very recent with the club's purchase by a Russian oligarch.

At the helm of the club is an astute Frenchman Arsene Wenger. Arsène Wenger (born 22 October 1949 in Strasbourg) has managed English the side since 1996. He is the most successful manager in the history of Arsenal in terms of trophies and is also the club's longest-serving manager in terms of matches played (having passed the 700 mark in December 2008).

Wenger has been described as a coach who "has spent his career building teams that combine the accumulation of silverware with a desire to entertain and attack," and as "a purist, dedicated to individual and collective technical quality."

The Times notes that since 2003-04 Wenger's approach to the game has been an emphasis on attack. His style of play has been contrasted with the pragmatic approach of his rivals,but has also been criticised for lacking a "killer touch."

Whether or not Arsenal deserves to be ridiculed for its status in world football is another matter. What cannot be denied however is that, the London club is one team that consistently and constantly been able to bring the world to a stand still with its breath taking football.

The Premier League has in recent seasons seen an unprecedented numbers of foreign team ownership.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are three of the so called big four who are currently owned by non-English legal entities. Of these three only Chelsea made little or not effort to show their opposition to being foreign owned.

The result of these various take overs has been that these clubs were now awash with money enabling them to raid the transfer markets at will or at least with no stringent limitation.

Not so however, Arsenal. They remain free for now from the shackles of foreign ownership. But for how long will the gunners be able to resist this? It has been quite a spectacular show by the club to fight off several take overs.

Alisher Usmanov, a rotund Russian Oligarch who was introduced to the Arsenal Board by erstwhile Arsenal employee David Dein has intimated several times of his intentions to own the club without actually going all the way. So far his attempts have either been half hearted or dismissed by the club. It depends on who you ask.

More recently however, an American football owner and billionaire Stan Kroenke has steadily increased his shareholding in the club to just below what the authorities allow before enforcing a takeover. Arsenal remain steadfast in their opposition to being taken over. But as i wondered is it any wonder that the club are flowing against the tides of change? What is it that a proud English club stands to gain by being taken over.

Depending on who you listen to:

Pros

More exposure and being introduced to several and different markets means more money by way of international exposure.
More money into the club means that good players can be tied down to long and financially rewarding deals.
The clubs might be halved in double quick time.
Arsene Wenger will worry less about being prudent and developing players and just concentrate on winning trophies.

Cons

Chelsea will be hard pressed to say that they have more fans in Russia now than they had before. Liverpool are still not a major sporting brand in North America despite being owned by well known Americans business men.
New Owners might pile more debt into the club making a ticking time bomb.
New Owners with little interest in the sport, country of the team, the tradition of the club are more after profit than moving the club forward.

Whilst the likes of even mid tables teams like Manchester City, Aston Villa and West ham have been bought and continues to change owners like underwear, none of these have so far proven that foreign currency equates success. If anything, foreign has brought massive headaches for clubs and fans.

The truth is, Arsenal are not worse financially than any of its rivals. but the temptation of selling the club to a single might prove just too much to resist. So does the club need financial assistance?

In April 2008, business magazine Forbes ranked Arsenal as third most valuable football team in the world, after Manchester UTD and Real Madrid , valuing the club at $1.2bn (£605m), excluding debt. Accountants Deloitte rate Arsenal sixth in the 2009 Football Money League, a ranking of the world's football clubs in terms of revenue, with the club earning £209.3m in the 2007-08 season.

So clearly the club is doing quite alright if you asked me. As of August 25, 2009, a single share in Arsenal has a mid price of £7,150, meaning the club's market capitalisation value is approximately £444.9m. The club made a pre-tax operating profit (excluding player transfers) of £36.7m in the year ending 31 May 2008, from a turnover of £223.0m.

Knowing the above, why the deluded obsession then with encouraging a take over? Or is it that, just because the club's major rivals have gone foreign so the same should apply for Arsenal.

I for one am against foreign and a single entity owning the club. As it stands Arsenal's parent company, Arsenal Holdings plc, operates as a non quoted public limited company, whose ownership is considerably different from that of other football clubs.

Only 62,217 shares in Arsenal have been issued, and they are not traded on a public exchange such as the FTSE; instead, they are traded relatively infrequently on PLUS, a specialist market.

And whats wrong with that?

The Mannequin Called Abou Diaby

tumang bokaba — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:12:39 -0400

They say a picture says a thousand words. I am not certain about that, but in the case of the above picture, the saying does provide a lot of proof.

This is a picture of Arsenal Gallic midfielder Abou Diaby, a name so exotic, you would expect the player to be just the same. When he first came to London, the young french man from Auxere was touted to be something akin to a Viera clone.

However, if anything, he has turned to be anything but. In fact, I would venture and call him a Viera Lite. The picture above illustrates all that is good about Diaby, tall, well built, long legs, beautiful ball control, magnificent dribbler.

This means that he ought to be both an aerial threat for set pieces and an imposing defender for set pieces. It means that for the EPL, body wise, he came in as a ready made material, his long legs afforded him easier and better than average ball control and the ability to beat his man to the ball first and of course being french he was typical excellent dribbler.

All this and you had the makings of a world beater. The recent announcement by Arsenal that Samir Nasri is back and ready for contention for the first team has ignited the debate of whom should Arsene Wenger bench.

Nasri is yet another french player destined for a great fuure in the game and with Arsene Wenger as his mentor has a better than average chance to be a superstar like his french mates. While Nasri's return is great news, whose place is should he take? I, for one, have stated that Abou Diaby should be benched. In all the articles I have read and commented on, I have resisted calling him rubbish and useless.

I believe that for all his hype and talents, Diaby simply refuses to improve and move a gear up in his development. Now, I also understand that he has been a victim of some seriously unlucky injuries, but that is not enough for him to be performing he has been.

For many Arsenal fans, Diaby is simply too inconsistent, which means that you cannot really rely on him. The scary thing is that you just don't know which Diaby will be on the pitch in an important game.

While he is capable of dishing out magnificent performances a la Roma game in the Champions' League, he is more than capable of following that with a howler like the Fulham game. So are fans justified in crucifying him?

Yes, consider this: Arsenal has an anomaly of a squad, with the team blessed with little magicians like Ashavin, Van Persie, Cesc, Nasri, and Roscky. The team also has Bendtner and Eboue. Arsenal fans aren't that naive to expect everyone to be a dazzling player, but what they do want is that IN SPITE of your limitations, a player should demonstrate desire to improve.

Eboue and Bendtner are two perfect examples. Both vilified throughout their Emirates careers and yet, in spite of their limitations, in spite of their unexciting games, fans have grown to appreciate them. Why? Dedication and desire and improvement year on year. I would be hard pressed to say that Diaby has improved significantly since he first arrived.

If anything, I might even go on to state that, with his rich talent and all the qualities that he has, Abou V. Diaby has regressed considerably. The question now is what to do with him. Undoubtedly a marvellously talented lad but a lethargic, aloof player at the best of times.

Would a loan move help? I doubt. I would rather have him on the bench and deployed him a destroyer in tight games where midfield is under pressure and never start a game unless it's a dead rubber.

Food for thought: You are one nil-one down in championship decider and you need a point to win the title. Ten minutes to go and with one substitute to make, on the bench you have Diaby, Eboue, and Bendtner, which do you put in?

Adebayor Needs To Move on

tumang bokaba — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:13:04 -0400

Every relationship comes to an end, by force or design. And when that happens, whatever party remains needs to move on.

It is also true that you can measure the extent of another's regret and love by the many times he/she continues talking about you. It might be annoying and borderline creepy, but it is the truest indication of regret and pain being suffered.

Most break ups are nasty; understandably so. Time invested, money, and emotions are all sacrificed evetually for nought. However good and noble the intentions, what you put in any relationship most of the time is never enough.

It has been close to four months since one time Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor left. His departure was nothing if not acrimonious and poisinous.

Rightly or wrongly, Arsenal fans have called him all sorts names and apparently sang nasty songs about him—though in truth, stadium chants about him couldn't be credited to the Gooners.

A lot has been said since he left, and in the interim, a match has been played; what a spectacle it was for the neutrals.

His stamp on Robin van Persie, though thuggish, could to an extent be understandable. Since then, the controversy has died down a bit, and for good reason, too.

The topic was getting boring until Adebayor claimed that Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger, chased him away. Chased him away?

If you find it hard to laugh, I don't blame you. Said Adebayor, "I talked with the coach and he told me I was one of Arsenal's best-paid players, that the club was in the red, so maybe they wouldn't be able to pay me any more—it would be better for me to go."

Now, not only is he implying that one of the most loyal coaches in the EPL had turned against him, he is attempting to do a Kaka and claim that he was sold because Arsenal are so in debt that his sale will give the club a breather. Mind you, Arsenal had just recorded the highest turnover in EPL's History.

If the man wasn't a footballer, he would have made a brilliant illusionist: So economical with the truth, it makes politicians look like angels.

He continued, "I asked him, 'Is it your choice or the club's?' He answered, 'It's everybody's choice, from the whole club.' I was pushed out!"

I wouldn't call him a pathological liar, the type that would do anything to gain favour with a new lover, but Arsene Wenger said, "Adebayor will soon realise just how good Arsenal was for him..."

Now we know that he wasn't pushed and we also know that, in fact, Arsenal wanted him to stay.

So, the question then becomes why speak of a club which has been nothing but good to you? Why rubbish a club which made you? The answer is, ironically, what he said about the team.

"My relationship with Arsenal has broken in two. I wanted to stay. It's true that I didn't score a lot of goals last season, but I was often injured."

Adebayor knows that he owes Arsenal—and, in particular, Arsene Wenger—a lot for his development. However, beacuse of his pride and greed, he cannot bring himself to apologise.

He knows whatever he does from now on with City, he always will be regarded as an Arsenal product. If he stays, he probably won't be much of success for a sustained period, and yet should he leave, the calls of "we told you so" will reveberate around the world.

What he needs to do, however, is to move on with his career. The Arsenal chapter has come and gone. Arsenal has been without him and will remain so after him.

Denilson and Song: The Rebirth of the Invisible Wall

tumang bokaba — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:38:15 -0400

The Everton game has come and gone.

Expectations shattered. Few managers worried. A couple players doubted their decisions.

Truck loads of humble pie served to the fourth estate. Most are still choking from it. A few remain in the hospital.

But skepticism persists.

So Stefan Vasilev had to write a letter. But still, listen to the doubters long enough and you'd think that Arsenal were playing against Championship side.

In truth, Arsenal trashed a side that is generally agreed to be a very good side, albeit one lacking in depth, but a good one nonetheless.

So don't let that fool you.

Most critics have been suggesting that Arsenal's attractive side were too thin across the midfield and some "muscle" were needed if they were to mount any serious challenge.

The irony of it all, Barcelona would say.

As always, Arsene Wenger, at the beginning of the season, pleaded for patience. We also saw Wenger experimenting with the various versions of the 4-3-3 system.

Depending on how you looked at it, it could be in the midfield Denilson (rightside), Cesc (centre), and Song (left), or you could say Bendtner (right), Denilson (centre), Song (left), which would then mean that Cesc was playing as the second striker behind Van Persie.

Whether or not Cesc is suitable for that position, considering his lack of pace, is an entirely different issue.

The point of this article is the pivotal role that Denilson and Song played in the whole set up. Denilson was, last season, the most consistent player for the team and one who played more than any. It is a statistic not to be sniffed at for a player misunderstood.

Arsene Wenger would not play you unless he absolutely believes you can do the job, and the EPL is not kind to weaklings. He was the main midfield man for most of the season until late, when his form dipped, which coincided with the return of Cesc and the emergence of a certain Alex Song.

Cana, Matuidi, Viera, Melo, Veloso have been touted by fans and critics alike as saviours of Arsenal's midfield and key to the titles. But no one bargained on Song and Denilson blossoming.

What happened on Saturday against Everton was the culmination of years of meticulous planning and development of players who will dominate the EPL for a while.

Consider that each time Cesc moved forward, Denilson and Song would remain behind diligently and with utter discipline, which meant that in the event of a counter, the two covered the space left by their captain.

The system worked beautifully in that Song almost never crossed the midway line, acting exactly how a dedicated DM would.

This meant if Song broke an attack ,Denilson was almost always near him to collect the ball and move it on, first to Cesc, who would have advanced forward or make a first pass to the last third.

Denilson's passing to the last third caused considerable panic, because Everton had not only to contend with Cesc's vision, but also Denilson's first time ball.

Song's energy, movement, and simplicity were brilliant, and he can only improve.

The system worked like a charm.

Granted, it was only one game and the Celtic will have to prove if those two can carry on as they did.

I have no doubt. The two unheralded players might yet prove to be the invisible enforcers they have always wanted.

Masterful Arsenal Blast Pretenders

tumang bokaba — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:30:34 -0400

Arsenal defied critics and haters alike in manner that will surely put due fear in their EPL counterparts. The gunners were as ruthless as they were efficient in destroying a team that has deluded itself into thinking they were on the same level as the football purists called Arsenal.

Class is permanent. And just like last season when Aston Villa mistakenly confused form with class, Everton has been rudely reminded of what makes a team glorious and what separates the masters from pretenders.

In truth, Everton gave a encouraging performance particularly in the first half where they had Arsenal in all sorts of troubles, especially with diagonal ball that had the usually reliable Sagna flapping and clutching at straws that Pienaar was dishing him.

The naysayers might be now reconsidering their views on whether Arsenal are genuine title contenders. But we don't care.

The much maligned Arsenal midfield came to the fore in such style, vigour, and efficiency that for awhile, the talked-to-death issue of needing a defensive midfield seem quite absurd.

The scary thing for opponents is the age of the midfield that controlled the game with maturity belying their tender years. Cesc Fabregas is 22, Song is 21, and so is Denilson, a player who divides opinion on what exactly he brings to the table.

And what have we learned from this destruction of a team that thought itself a contender for the fourth spot? Everton will to need to strengthen their midfield, which incidentally is just as tiny as Arsenal. Their defense was perilous and their strike force as lame as one can get.

And what of Arsenal? Throughout the preseason, Arsene Wenger has toyed with the 4-3-3 formation with Bendter inexplicably playing as a winger. Now the young Dane international might be an orthodox winger, but what he does best in this unfamiliar position is not to hog the line like, say Antonio Valencia, but rather to hold the ball from the wing and dictate play from there.

This allows Van Persie, a far more technical player than his teammate, to then collect the ball and distribute it to an in-space teammate. It is strategy that worked wonders for the first goal.

So we hear naysayers say that it is only the first game, but in the rough and tumble of EPL, you need all the momentum you can get, and Arsenal, until the next game is ruling the EPL.

Eat your heart out, haters.

A Manager Who Could Speak Up Sits Aimlessly as Arsenal Falls Apart

tumang bokaba — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:53:02 -0400

I am one of the most ardent defenders of Arsene Wenger, but judging by his recent (in)actions even I have to ask what the f is wrong with Arsenal?

Callum D'Souza wondered "Is selling Kolo Toure to Manchester City Selling 4th to Manchester City?"

The morning reports are rather unsettling as they state that Arsenal and Manchester City have agreed a £15 million sale for Kolo Toure. What the hell is wrong with Arsenal and Arsene?

I mean really now!

The "In Wenger We Trust" brigade must seething in anger at this bit of news. The Arsenal board have apparently been feuding over the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor and although in truth many fans were happy to see him leave including yours truly, the sale of Toure is unmitigated.

If last week Manchester City weren't a threat to Arsenal, this week they are.

The problem is not that Arsene Wenger/Arsenal are selling players. It is instead the opposite of that. They are not buying anyone. As I watch the careless deconstruction of my favorite club by my favorite manager in my favorite league, I have to wonder if Arsenal have given up hope of challenging for anything. Arsenal only bought Thomas Vermaelen, and even that was not a signing to bring relief to fans.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in his infamous "small club" interview stated that Arsenal of the "big four" face a bigger challenge this season, while Robin van Persie was agitated with the team's lack of signings.

How True. How sad.

Arsenal and particularly Arsene Wenger have been too quiet in their transfer dealings. No word on bidding or negotiations, no hint of movement inside to the club. Arsenal lost Melo, then decided not to bid for Cana who went to Sunderland instead.

All the while the only talk we hear is one of players moving OUT of the club. Apparently some Italians teams are sniffing around Ashburton Grove looking to entice Eboue and Gallas away.

I hope I am wrong and Wenger surprises us, but I'm not holding my breath.

Though this might not happen since Toure is leaving. But can we certain of that. I believe I speak for most fans when I say, "Wenger say something, anything damn it".

Ashley Cole and Adebayor Bitch At Arsenal

tumang bokaba — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:09:49 -0400

It is true then, hell hath no fury like a bitch scorned! And Ashley Cole is one mighty bitch.

The man who carries the reputation of slut has taken a dig at his former employers by stating he hopes Manchester City claim fourth place and knock Arsenal out the top four. Every one is entitled to an opinion and his counts for zero, except maybe the Judas Currency of which he will be the flag bearer.

The English International clearly has precious little love for the club that made him who he was. Who he was, because Arsenal cannot lay claim to developing him to a money grabber and match official insulting rubber doll he has turned out to be.

"I have friends at City and I hope they do really well—and that they finish above Arsenal," Cashely Cole said. Clearly loving the sound of his voice which he thinks might have been improved by his association with a half decent pop star continued.

"I think it's going to be hard for City but they could do it. They may click straight away and it's magic. I hope they do." Aah. Dimwit reasoning.

What Arsenal really did to upset Mr. Loyalty this much must be terrible. But he is not alone in dissing his former club. And whereas he has an above average chance of being regarded an Arsenal legend upon his conclusion of Cashley days, fan favorite and one-and-one-half season wonder Adebayor could not bare keep his money hole shut.

"I scored 30 goals for Arsenal two seasons ago and it was not my fault that AC Milan, Barcelona or Real Madrid wanted to buy me," he said. Wow. Talk about prostituting yourself.

"The way the fans turned against me was not nice. They didn't turn on Cesc Fabregas when Barcelona showed interest in him. When a player plays well clubs come in for him. The fans never understood that and I cannot understand why they went after me.

"I played my heart out for that club and gave it my best and the way the fans behaved towards me was not nice at all.

"I was in the same position as Cesc. Every summer Barcelona tried to sign him, but the fans never turned on him. I'd done everything, made a speech, played for three years, done my best.

"I came back from holiday and in my first training session they told me that they had accepted an offer for me.

"I asked Wenger why he wanted to sell me. I found out that Arsenal needed the money and that I was the target. I never wanted to leave.

"He can never ever stand up on TV or anywhere and say that last summer I told him I would be leaving. All I ever told him was I loved the club and wanted to stay. I'm happy they get their money and I hope they spend it well."

Greedybayor at his scintillating best and not even ashamed of taking Arsene Wenger on publicly, the very man who plucked him out of obscurity and gave him a chance to shine.

The Togolese striker should concentrate on his new team and staking a claim in the starting eleven and leave Arsenal be. He is not Cesc Fabregas and if he were he would have half the intelligence not to whore himself to the highest bidder.

Bendtner to Milan: Joke Or Respect?

tumang bokaba — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:42:27 -0400

The pink-loving Arsenal Striker Niklas Bendtner is apparently on the wanted list of Italian giants AC Milan.

The young Danish international has never really set the Emirates on fire with his performances, but he's one of the players that Arsene Wenger holds in high regard and expect great things from and does chip in with crucial goals at times.

Niklas Bendtner, as young as he is, has tended to polarise his club fans with alleged over-confidence and straight talking. He has also been involved in brawls with the now departed gunner Emmanuel Adebayor. One thing you cant fault the player is that he is hard-working.

With AC Milan's pursuit of Brazil's Luis Fabiano apparently hitting the skids quicker than Didier Drogba, the Rossoneri has earmarked the young gunner as an option. The alleged interest from Milan should not really be surprising to fans since another Italian Club, AS Roma had once inquired about him.

But what does this say about a player that is not really a fan favorite? Is he really as good as Wenger would have us believe, evidence of that being Milan now considering him? Or was Milan just yanking everyone's chain?

Consider this though, if Niklas Bendner were to sign for AC Milan, and this won't happen because Arsene Wenger has just a lost a striker, what will Adabayor be thinking?

Arsenal: A Polarising Insititution

tumang bokaba — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:12:48 -0400

Can anyone name me a football club more polarising than this North London Club?

With Arsenal it seems, fans or neutrals alike, either love the team completely or hate the club whole-heartedly. If you don't believe me, take a quick look at the club blogs or various fan websites, you'll see what I mean.

Even here on Bleacher Report, never a day passes where an Arsenal based article doesn't ignite heated debate. Some debates on B/R, unfortunately, have escalated to name calling and personal attacks. Although that is regrettable it perfectly illustrates my point.

Fans, the media, and "neutrals" always have an opinion about Arsenal; and I suppose with Arsenal being a prominent European club, that is to be expected. The media, who are supposed to be an objective conveyor of information always seem to give Arsenal a hard time. Even North American programmes like; ESPN, Soccernet, and Press Pass, find it almost impossible to be objective when it comes to Arsenal.

But why is that the case?

Why is it that Arsenal, a team so heavily underachieving for several seasons, remains such an intriguing topic for football fans? Why is it other European super teams are never dissected to such a degree?

The club seems to be always on the defensive, having to constantly explain their business practices and recruitment of new players; hell some people have also called into question some of the halftime servings!

Still. I ask, why?

Could it be because, the playing staff is not predominately English? But that would not be fair, seeing that neither Chelsea, Liverpool, or indeed Man Utd are predominately English. Could it be because the manager is foreign? Not likely. Again the above logic applies.

Could it be then that the club has failed to win anything recently? Perhaps. However, prior to Jose Mourinho arriving at Chelsea, they weren't exactly setting the world on fire. And even then, they were not being discussed so extensively.

No other member of the so-called big four manages to ignite so much excitement, derision, criticising, debate, and applauding all in equal measure quite like the Gunners.

But why?

Aliaksandr Hleb: A Lesson For Emmanuel Adebayor In Overestimating One's Talent

tumang bokaba — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:17:58 -0400

A plethora of articles have been written about Wenger's ingenious move to rid his stable of a five-legged Togolese stallion. I'm sure these will continue.

I initially thought of naming the article: "Manchester City FC: Premier Rubbish Collectors." I thought better of it, since the club is not premier in any way, unless you mean the "premier" classlessness of their recruitment of players.

But that's another story for another day.

Instead, I'm sounding a warning to Adebayor about the path he's taking, and the pitfalls that await him.

Unlike Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," the route Adebayor has chosen has been travelled before, and it's a painful one.

By anyone's standards, the above picture is not a pretty sight. No player likes to sit on the bench, especially when they have a rather misguided view of themselves.

Alexandr Hleb, one-time Arsenal fan favorite, play-maker, and perhaps on the way to becoming an Arsenal legend, left Arsenal for the greener pastures of Catalonia. At the time of his transfer, Hleb had completed an excellent season for himself and major clubs were inquiring about him.

Once informed of Barcelona's interest, Hleb whored himself to Nou Camp. Hleb has since moved to Inter after finding game time rather hard to come by.

In spite of Wenger's efforts to keep him, pleas from fans, and Arsenal advising him against the move, the man clearly thought himself a superstar. The same applied to Flamini.

In fact, Arsenal have a long list of players that decided to moved onto greener pastures, only later realizing that the grass isn't always as green over there. Now, in no way am I suggesting that the Great Adebayor will fail, but the signs aren't very encouraging.

A great number of players have left Arsenal looking for trophies and super-stardom. Most have failed.

Miserably.

However, the difference between those who left and Adebayor is that he is leaving purely for greed. At the beginning of last season when Milan courted him, he whored himself, only to make a u-turn when Arsenal offered him a bumper deal.

He promptly kissed and clutched the badge every time he scored, but the gooners saw through him.

So, he leaves Ashburton Grove, a team regularly in the champions league and challenging for honours year after year for a cash-rich team enjoying mid-table mediocrity.

Has Emmanuel Adebayor overestimated his talent? Of course! He is not the first one to do so. Will he succeed? Only time will tell...

Many players bought by Wenger were nobodies, and they succeeded only because he protected, allowing them to develop at their own pace, with little or no expectations.

Flammini, Overmas, Hleb, Reyes are only a phone call away from advising him.

So here's to Adebayor fading away to obscurity in a season or two and kissing the badge of the next cash-laden sensation.

The Trouble with Bleacher Report

tumang bokaba — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:01:52 -0400

This piece is not necessarily about sports, but rather about my struggling with the one thing I love the most.

I am one of the many fans and dedicated readers of this amazing social network for sports fans. I had never heard of Bleacher Report until I crashed into the site by mistake surfing the net for some quality sports news.

Once logged in, I could never go out. The site is addictive, and it is quite easy to lose yourself in it.

The problem with Bleacher Report is I know for a certain it is going to cost me my job. It is the first thing I do when I get to my office, and I keep the site on until I knock off, and that is nine hours later. My occupation requires that I am always on the net and consulting. I am unable to do that because of B/R.

I am not certain of the numbers, but I have always wondered if there's anyone out there who has lost their jobs or at least been warned at work for abusing the Internet?

If there is anyone out there reading this and had experienced either job loss or citation of poor performance and abuse of company, please let me know. I feel I am about to go through that.

Each morning, when I wake, I can't wait to log in and check the comments so I can speak to fellow brethren, and although some of my brothers on B/R tend to personal and insulting most are intelligent, intuitive, and logical in reasoning, debating.

My missus has warned me several times of my addiction to B/R and warned me rather severely against her neglect, but my brothers are calling.

This is a letter to all my fellow Bleachians, thanks for the keeping the world of sports debate alive, and thanks to Zander for a brilliant innovation.

Now if only I can remember what I am suppose to be doing here at work...

Arsene Wenger: The Joker in Disguise

tumang bokaba — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:38:12 -0400

While the man has provided fans with lots of trophies and entertaining football during his 13 years at the club, he has also proven himself to be quite a comic. From not seeing tackles, to insisting that Arsenal 15 points behind in december still had a chance, the man knows a good joke. Here are five of his classics!

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Age Cheating: The Scourge of Africa

tumang bokaba — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:12:44 -0400

"He's only 25, albeit a Nigerian 25, and so if that is his age he's still got a good few years ahead of him."

Believe it or not this is manager praising his own player! The words were said by one David Moyes, manager of Everton, after his striker Yakubu Ayegbeni scored a hat-trick in a UEFA Cup game.

On face value, the statement is the purest form of blatant racism and typical European talk trashing African players. But doesn't Africa have itself to blame for this perception?

Age cheating is a common practice in African football to an extent that players in amateur leagues are known to have two ages, the football age and the real age. In my own country South Africa, we have had several players protesting their innocence once they burst into the professional league only for some of them to buckle under the stress and confess.

In no way trying to motivate their reasons for cheating, but one could always claim that the real cause of the problem lies in the dire social and economic quagmire most Africans find themselves in.

They "fix" their age, mostly to the level of teenagers because scouts, as an indirect consequence, are always on the look out for the young hot thing. In Africa it is almost unheard that a player gets signed to a major European league in their mid-twenties.

And with those chances slipping away daily because there is no infrastructure to identify, develop and nurture their talents. Where there are facilities, they are crumbling.

But what of the agents, surely they must know? Truth is, some agents have been known to encourage doctoring of ages. The consequence of this phenomenon is that deserving talents miss the opportunity to be scouted as they are invariably outshone by cheats.

Some players, and one doesn't need to be expert on the subject to observe that some players look decidedly dodgy. Take a look at Kanu at age 20. Obafemi Martins, seems to have been playing forever, Nii Lamptey of Ghana seems to have suffered from age related injuries and fatigue and Freddy Adu. However, one could also say the same thing about Wayne Rooney.

It is no wonder then Africa totally dominates FIFA age-specific championships but never translate and maintain those high standards and expectations to the very top.

Ghana is a dominant force when it comes to FIFA age group tournaments. Two times under 17 Champions, three times African U 20 Champions and also world U20 finalist. Nigeria another African Super power dominating age specific tournaments, three times FIFA U17 champions and Olympic Gold winners.

With such success, is it boggles the mind then that of these two giants none have gone on to dominate the world stage particularly at the FIFA World Cups or even provide a player to rival the likes of George Weah and Kalusha Byalwa.

Almost every age-specific championships is littered with complaints and suspicions of age cheating from African teams—the recent U17 African Championship was an orgy of accusations, some of which sadly were proven correct.

You would think then that the custodian of African football, CAF, would take the matter seriously and urgently, that it would then put time and money to eradicate what is clearly a black eye on the continent's image.

But not them, the Francophone dominated institution is only too happy to bash European media and enjoy FIFA perks than do anything to clean up their houses.

So where to from here?

I hate to be a pessimists, but untill CAF as the mother body take the issue seriously and FIFA actively makes the matter a priority, Africa will suffer forever and we can kiss 2010 and every World Cup after that goodbye.

Ade Bye Bye: Adebayor on His Bike to Manchester

tumang bokaba — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:59:14 -0400

Now here's a piece of news that Arsenal fans will receive with mixed emotions! Sky Sports is reporting that the petulant Togo international is in transfer negotiations with Money bags Manchester City.

Manchester City is reported to have tabled an initial offer of 20 million pounds for the moody-want-striker. I am certain that Arsenal will reject the offer with a view to at least match their valuation, which is 10 million pounds more. Whether they get that much remains uncertain.

If Arsenal do indeed sell their Ade to Manchester City, one can certainly be sure that Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has already identified a ready-made player willing to move to the Emirates. Exactly how the fans will react to this bit of news is unknown.

What is known however, is that Wenger must have been gatvol (fed up, in Afrikaans) with one of his proteges to consider selling so soon after tying him on a new deal.

It also means that Arsenal, as a club, view Manchester City as not a sufficient threat in the coming season to sell them a player we all know has immense potential.

With RVP having signed an extended contract and Cesc committing himself at least for one more season and host of young starts tied up in solid contracts, if the transfer goes through, will it represent a shrewd piece of move by Wenger or will it prove an unmitigated disaster?

Time will tell. In Wenger We Trust.

O, Fenomenon: Redemption Of A Die Harder.

tumang bokaba — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:01:41 -0400

The article is meant to be a what if, please let me know what you think before I can continue with it. It is meant to be fantastical. I hope you enjoy!

Hollywood could not have written a better dramatic thriller cum fantasy like this one. No player it seems, in the history of football has seemingly conqured the impossible quite like the happy go lucky brazilian legend. The story that would forever drill Ronaldo da Lima's name in the limestones of history starts thus...

It is March 6, 2010 and current Coach of National Team of Brazil has named his team that is to compete at the world cup and Ronaldo was not included. Ronaldo who during his two year spell has scored 56 goals in 66 goals for Corinthians could not believe his bad luck in being ommitted from the squad.

Philosphical as ever he said" Dunga is the coach and i respect his decision, and as much as I would have loved to be part of the team and end my career on a high, I will be watching from the TV like the rest of you guys."

You see, Ronaldo has just helped Corinthians win Libertadoras, ending as the player of the tournament, as well league top scorer and South America's player of the season. That however was evidently not enough to conviced Dunga.

"When I select players for the team i look into a lot of things, yes form does count, but so does physical fitness, team chemistry and ability to change the game in an instant." As if to press home the point he said "no one can dispute that Ronaldo is a legend but the boyhas had his turn."

The clouds were gathering on Dunga. Brazil had just qualified for 2010 barely. Finishing fourth and winning the last game via an own goal. His tenure as the coach is an uncomfortable one, his position in the team unsecured and his control of the team barely exists.

March 8, 2010, it is the last training session for the Selecao before heading to South Africa. Brazillian President states "what has happened to Ronaldo is scandalous, how the coach with his granny knitted sweaters continues to ignore him can live with himself, no one knows" President Lua in a show of frustration stated "Should the team, god forbid fail to win the trophy becasue a proud idiot failed to call up a living, performing legend, Dunga's citizenship wil be revoked!"

Dunga remains unmoved. And then an hour before the end of the training session, a thousand Corinthians fans barricade the maracana stadium demanding Dunga explain himself. The number swells to two, then five, eventually 16 000 fans are baying for Dunga's blood, demanding that he drop his "son" Ramirez and put Ronaldo in.

The situation is critical. The army is summoned to evacuate the team. The fans stand their ground. So does Dunga. President Lua states in a joint statement with CBF President Texeira "they cannot guarantee the coach's safety." The signs are ominous.

Six hours later the fans disperse and order is restored, but not before Robinho says to the media "Ronaldo is like my brother and having him in the team can only help us." And unlike the many times before, the tems leaves the country without much fanfare. And Ronaldo is still at home.

Dunga knows that nothing short of cup victory will vindicate his decision. He is also acutely aware he was never a fan favorite both as a plyer and a coach and his legacy will forever be defined by the six weeks of the competion. His nights are restless and his mind wonders.

And then like heavenly crpytonite, the gods kiss him. Ramirez so reviled by the fans, so misunderstood, so plainly loathed breaks down in training, and so the moment that might very well make or break Dunga presents itself...

Barca Blow Cesc Fabregas Deal

tumang bokaba — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:23:03 -0400

It seems Barcelona has pissed away any slight chances they had of signing Arsenal Spanish starlet Cesc Fabregas, by essentially rating him as an equivalent of a left-over meal.

It's not a secret that Barcelona had been a long time admirers of their former youth product, but the exact value they place on him say little about there desperation to have him. It's one thing to be courted all summer and quite another thing when your former club values you as a standby in case someone they really want fails to come through.

Laporta said about Fabregas, "Ribery was a player we were interested in at a logical price but Bayern don't want to sell, If they are interested in selling, we are interested in buying, but if not, then we will look to Fabregas."

Mmm...Are you listening Cesc?

Now its quite clear that Cesc is not exactly the hottest property in demand in Nou Camp, despite what the likes of Messi and Henry might say. Which begs the question, would Fabregas, then be prepared to bought as a poor imitation of player they never really wanted?

Whatever chances they had of luring their former youth product, Laporta has ruined it. Which is just as well, seeing Arsenal are desperate to hang on to their talisman.

Poaching Talent: Moral Issue or Calculated Risk?

tumang bokaba — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:47:26 -0400

Once again, UEFA President Michel Platini has, in absence of any real work to do, decided to attack the English Premier League for supposedly poaching young continental talents for their own benefit.

"I left for another country at 25," Platini said. "You don't need to leave at 15. It's to do with protecting social values, family values. There is no justification for buying them at 15, getting them over with parents, that is just not on."

So?

Perhaps he wasn't good enough before then. Maybe nobody wanted him. Maybe he was not ready to leave home. Maybe his family circumstances were not as dire as the rest of these youngsters seeking fame and fortune, maybe...maybe!

What particularly irked our dearest candle-holder of social reform and equity is the signing by Manchester United of erstwhile protegee Alberto Massacci.

In truth, this is not the first anyone has complained about the signing of young continental players by Premier League clubs at a young age. Fran Merida of Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas, Federico Macheda of United, Chelsea too has experienced discontent from mother clubs for poaching.

But whose fault is it?

Listening from the Equal Opportunity Gremlin Platini, one would be certain that the English clubs are solely at fault. Some have even gone as far as labeling them "pirates." What the likes of Platini and his supporters fail to appreciate is that football, like any other career, is controlled to a large by simple economics and taking advantages of loop holes in the systems.

Take Italy for example, who, because of their legal frameworks, won't tie up reserve players on professional contracts until they reach the age of 18. When the Italian lawmakers promulgated this law, surely they knew they consequences of their actions?

Whether or not the signing of these players will bear fruit in the long run is a moot point, just as signing players after the age of 18 or whatever age the lawmakers deem OK, does not necessarily mean they will succeed.

Critics of signing these young players will have you believe that it's detrimental to their development, it's morally incomprehensible, and all that. The truth is, the benefits for either player's family far out-weighs any trophies that the player may or may not win. Immediate families are taken care of, lifestyle improves for the better, and a new culture and the team gets a dedicated, motivated employee for the signed period.

Perhaps, instead of lashing out emotionally and jealously about the success of the English Premier League, Platini and company should bring the rest of the UEFA at the same level of competence as the EPL. Make them competitive with money. Invest in the less glamorous leagues so that native players have no reason to sign with the likes of Man United at a "pirated age."

Arsenal Going Retro Forward

tumang bokaba — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:43:53 -0400

Arsenal manager the esteemed french tactician has decided to be nostalgic for the coming season in order to boost his team championship chances. Said he "sometimes in life one has to step backwards to move forward". With that in mind, he has decided to sign "real quality players" who has experinece in the english league. "Although i'll be the first to admit that youngsters are my priority, we dont stand a chance without expereince". This bit of thinking will surely excite gunners fans who have longed for some experinced legs. Wenger explained that he looked at previous players from Arsenal and basically "any player that will definately add value". The list of the players Wenger has signed is a one that will rattle the fans' excitement. Enjoy!

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Is Cesc Fabregas Exit Imminent for Arsenal?

tumang bokaba — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:10:01 -0400

Gunners all over the world are about to see their worst nightmare turn into reality.

According to The Sun, Arsenal has valued their captain at £40M in anticipation of the Spanish Armada that is Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona, however, remains the strong favorite to sign their former youth striker.

Cesc Fabregras has, to his credit, been insistent that his immediate future remains with the gunners, but when your boyhood club comes calling, even loyal subjects are bound to be shaken.

As for Arsenal, the money yet again might prove too temping to turn down.

Whether Fab Four stays or not depends on whether Arsenal believes that £40M is worth more now than a blossoming superstar.

World Cup 2010: Never Mind the Stereotypes, Who is South Africa?

tumang bokaba — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:20:18 -0400

Now that the Confederations Cup is nearing its end, skeptics will once again rise, not to congratulate South Africa for a wonderful tournament, but rather to seek to point out minor hiccups that while evident nevertheless did not disrupt the hosting of a successful project.

I must admit that the reason for the article is to demystify and correct the myths, misinformation, lies and misdirection that seems to refuse to go away and remains the standard which my country is judged on.

Let me also state a disclaimer that before you rubbish the article for not being a sport article—it actually is. the "brouhaha" surrounding the steadfast antagonising of South Africa's chances to hosting the piece is not politics but sport related.

Ever since FIFA awarded the world cup to South Africa, a lot has been said and written on the subject. Undoubtedly while some of those have been true, most of the information have been information deliberately sent out to the world to mislead the world about South Africa's readiness to host the World Cup.

Now had the objections been totally confined to the issues of infrastructural capabilities and competencies to provide a flawless spectacle for the enjoyment of the millions, the naysayers arguments would have had merit.

Truth be told, the objections to FIFA awarding the rights to a "third world country" is the source of much discomfort for many Europeans and those afflicted with imperialists make-ups and only motivated by racist tendencies.

As a country, South Africa is no different from any that was subjected to minority rule in terms of its race relations. The difference here, is whereas the west expected the country to implode when Democracy was finally attained, the majority not only extended and still do the hand of reconciliation.

South Africa remains the most peaceful, politically progressive, liberal and economically stable country in Africa—No doubt a scenario that irks the imperialist.

The issue of crime that seems to be bone of contention for the western media is a thorny but a misguided attempt to fool the world and fuel the cups of gossip mongers and propaganda enthusiasts.

But I'll say this to actually deny the existence of the problem would be foolish and disingenuous. However no country can claim, moreso those that are aboard their high horses, to be safe havens from the scourge.

Race relations in South Africa is not exactly the pride of the nation, but we do pride ourselves in taking an active initiative to forge a future that recognise our past and acknowledge our present.

So when the Confederations Cup is done, I ask the fan to judge for themselves objectively on the readiness of South Africa to host the event. Knowing that when you do, you have invested bit of time in investigating our beautiful country.

Because one you do, you will know that South Africa has some of the most vibrant, unpretentious fans the world has ever seen.

Desmond Tutu - Nobel Prize winner for Peace.
Charlize Theron - Academy Award Winner.
Table Mountain - Possibly the most breathtaking piece of rock evolution.
Shaka Zulu - The Zulu Warrior King who defeated the British in 1879.
Nelson Mandela - Peace Icon and Nobel Prize Winner.
Benni Mcarthry - Possibly the most overrated player we have.

Cape Point- is a promontory at the south-east corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and very scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent.

http://www.southafrica.co.za/reasons_to_believe_33.html

Ronaldo and REal Madrid: What They Really Stand For!

tumang bokaba — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:43:47 -0400

RONALDO

R -Ravenous Little Piglet

O - Oink!

N - Nero's cousin are you?

A - Anally Arrogant

L - London wont miss you

D - Debt trigger

O - Oh you will be fat!

Real Madrid

R - Real
E - Economic
A - Apocalypse
L - Le' Warning

M - Marca
A - A?*#@Holes
D - Damn
R - Right and
I - Informed
D - Drop Dead Barcelona!

Rejoice Arsenal!

Tony Adams: Why Taking Medicines Is Vital

tumang bokaba — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:11:00 -0400

Remember when you were young and sick and your mother could not emphasize enough the importance of taking your medicine? Remember when she said if you did not take your medicine, chances are you might get worse?

I have been sick a lot. I have seen sick people, too. One thing about sick people, even those suffering from the flu, is they tend to talk gobbledy-gook when under the weather.

Which brings me to the Tony Adams affair. Here is a man who has recently gone berserk; and like medieval people he seems to sprout verbal salad on a regular basis these days. In fact, since he has been sacked, he seems to have lost the plot.

If he is not signing for Celtics, he contradicts and undermines the efforts of a club we know he loves: Arsenal. His recent public misgivings for the Belgium defender is a case in point. And by the way, apparently he's the Chief Scout for Wenger.

The issue of medicinal adherence seems to have been lost on poor Adams. I am sure he feels neglected by the world and needs some love. But surely this is not the way to endear yourself to potential paymasters.

I hope for his sake, the great leader we know in Adams will take his medicine, and go from cuckoo land to lead the Arsenal—to the holy grain of the Championship!

Arsenal Charged For Tapping Up, While Chelski Fire Kenyon and Reveal Major Coup

tumang bokaba — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:49:59 -0400

Arsenal have been charged by the FA for tapping up two players.

It has been revealed that the players in question are Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and Everton's Joleon Lescott.

The matter is particularly embarrassing for the self proclaimed European paragons of virtue, who take pride in doing things above board.

Pat Rice, Arsene Wenger's assistant and one of the longest servants of the club, was left trying to explain and defend the club's approach.

Rice said: "Arsenal have never and will never be a club that taps up or illegally approaches a player it wants."

This assertion was quickly countered by Southampton on their website, where it stated: "We found it rather two faced that Arsenal can act so high and mighty about the whole saga.

"Southampton are not in the least bit surprised about this, after all, this is exactly how they managed to convinced Theo Walcott to join their set up."

For Arsenal this is a real blow, especially if one considers their outrage at the manner in which Cashley Cole left them.

Their denials were not helped by the two players in question who, in a moment of outrageous schizophrenia, stated: "To be tapped by a team of Arsenal's stature is flattering. Not too many players have the pleasure of being wanted by such clubs, even if the approach is illegal."

Exactly who said this is not immediately clear, though Lescott was heard saying: "Personally I would not mind being "tapped up" by Arsenal, they are a massive club."

It was rather comical then, that in an effort to defend Arsenal, Chief Executive of Chelsea, Kenyon said: "I don't believe that one can associate such a deed with a traditional club like Arsenal. Even when I was at Man Utd, it was only us and Chelsea experimenting in the dark art of tapping up."

Clearly loving the sound of his voice, he continued: "If indeed they did that, which I doubt, the Arsenal board know my number and I could have gladly helped, as I was legitimately elected the Chairman of TIF (Tapping Industry Forum)."

No sooner had the Chelski Executive said this, he was immediately relieved of his duties, and was replaced by Vladimir Putin.

The board released a statement saying "Roman and Mr Putin have known each other for a long time and Mr Putin is eager to help his friend in any way he can."

Mr Putin stated "I have known "Dolly-Boy" (reference to the days when he was selling rubber ducks) since his youth and my experience in negotiations and getting things my way will prove invaluable to my ambitions of annexing the team from my good friend, no?"

The Arsenal Rejects: Should Wenger Welcome Them?

tumang bokaba — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:17:20 -0400

With a lot people feeling that Arsenal are just not experienced and have not really replaced last season's departures, Should Arsene Wenger and Arsenal contemplate welcoming some of their deserters? Players who have recently Arsenal, with the possible exception of Henry who has seemed to hace regained his form, are struggling to breack into the team or just dont fit into their new team. Perhaps its time Wenger brought them back. I have created a list of players who Arsenal might find helful.

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Emmanuel Eboue To Strike Terror in Defenders

tumang bokaba — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:38:34 -0400

Arsene Wenger has acted quickly to cover the imminent departure of the Togolese striker Adebayor. The Arsenal Manager told the press after training that Manu Eboue will be converted into a striker, a proposition apparently the Ivorian is looking forward to with glee.

Wenger said with Eboue now having tied himself with another contract it was time to move his career to another level. Said the manager, "Manu has great potential to become a world class striker, he has shown already this season what a marvellous he can be."

Wenger went to say, "He has great technique, power, speed, a great first touch and calmness I have never seen before in a striker in front of goal."

Apparently Eboue has already been playing the position in training with some success. A point confirmed by Niklas Bendtner, who claimed, "Things he does with the ball in training will make Ronaldinho jealous." Unbelievable.

The Arsenal manager said the move was borne both out of necessity as the team needs more strikers and to provide versatility in the squad. Although the experiment was kept hush hush Wenger was convinced it was time after Eboue's man-of-the match display against Newcastle.

Time will tell.

The Cesc is Over: Why Letting Fabregas Go Might Be Good for Arsenal

tumang bokaba — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:36:52 -0400

Have I lost my mind?

No.

Cesc Fabregas is as much the son of Arsenal as he is the son of Barcelona. However much as we want to proclaim that his success and his talent was nurtured by us, I feel that he is not truly committed to Arsenal.

I fail to recall how many times he has been linked to a move away from the Emirates to his native country to either Barcelona or Real Madrid, and on each occasion he has failed to answer definitively that he is staying.

I am not saying a player should stay for the sake of of just staying. The two Spanish teams are massive, however Arsenal are in a building mode and the project needs committed and loyal servants.

Sadly I feel that Cesc cannot be counted on beyond this season. It will be sad to lose him but Arsenal will move on. We would hate to have another Adebayor situation.

But this gloomy set of news brings with it some good fortune.

Arsenal is blessed with a very gifted and young talent and in the eventuality of Cesc leaving, which might not be too faraway, the rest of the crop will come to the fold.

Song, Diaby, and Denilson, I believe will probably serve Arsenal better as a unit as opposed to the team being dictated to by a singular midfielder, one which when it cracks or is missing meaning the whole structure suffers.

Is it then any coincidence then than no sooner had Arsenal lost Cesc that we started performing more as a collective creative force whereas previously everything had to flow through the young Spaniard.

The effect which one might term the "Thierry Henry Effect."

I figure that with Cesc this is how Arsenal will have to line up, a line quite similar in structure to the previous Arsenal where Viera, Petit, Parlour used to operate. It will be a midfield which combines brute force and creativity of young minds.

Defense

Clichy keeps the left side provided Milan doesn't prove tempting enough, though a certain Gibbs might not mind too much, with central defenders being by force or necessity Gallas/Senderos and Toure/Djourou and the right occupied by Sagna, a position that Wenger will have to either recruit or revert Eboue back to.

Midfield

This is where I am expecting to receive a lot of stick.

With Cesc gone I figure that Arsenal will have to play a 4-5-1 system. Song and Diaby will be the primary defence baby sitters though Diaby who has shown to have a some inkling of creativity might be pushed forward to cover the space vacated by the link, Denilson. So Denilson would become the go-to-guy.

Remembering that already the young Brazilian has been doing defensive duties this season, when he is then moved to his preferred attacking he will offer not only creativity but also the ability to cover space and defend.

The right wing will be occupied by Walcott/Arshavin and the left by Arshavin/Nasri.

Alternatively Denilson could remain in his current DM position which then means Nasri takes the CAM spot with Song either dropping to the bench or dislodging one of the central defenders and we know the boy can defend a bit.

Strikers

RVP retains the spot. Though Bendtner might claim to play better with his back against the goal but arsenal are not a target man team, so he remains on the bench until needed. If RVP moves to the wing as he does for Netherlands then Arsenal might just have to buy Villa of Valencia or move the fast improving Mexican Vela upfront.

So as you see, the loss of Cesc might be the tonic the team needs if Arsenal as a team are to realise their potential. Why do you think?

Arsenal Bendtning The Corner As Misfits Gun For Glory

tumang bokaba — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:57:55 -0400

Just four weeks ago, Arsenal could not buy a win if they found one in a clearance sale at a London market. The professor pleaded with the Gunners to believe, stressing that they were only a single win away from reviving their season, and potentially challenging for all the competitions they remained in.

The naysayers thought him a fool, and Tottenham thought he was as delusional as they are. Then came the first Roma game—win, WBA—easy win, Roma again—inspiring win, and Blackburn—an awesome win.

Oh and did I forget Aston Villa proving what real footie fans already knew; class is permanent.

I have maintained that Arsenal are too good to fall outside the top four. For some reason or another, everyone wants Arsenal to fail. I might be paranoid but i swear its true.

Anyway, five wins in a row and we are back where we belong with the rest of the aristocrats in football.

The misfits are coming to form at just the right time. Bendtner, Denilson, Song, and Eboue—everybody's cup of tea. This just goes to prove that, if you support a player they repay immeasurably.

Had it not been for the same players who were so hounded, Arsenal would have been far worse off. Each player develops differently.

Arsenal are back and our season has just begun.

Wayne Rooney: Over-Hyped Flop

tumang bokaba — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:48:03 -0400

I am not sure exactly how to begin this article, so I'll start with end.

The headline is a dead giveaway, though, so here goes: Rooney is overrated.

Now, I am sure millions of Man United fans will quite naturally disagree with me. Taking the emotions and blind loyalty aside, the hard facts speak for themselves.

Wayne Rooney, as a pure footballer, is above average. I tend to measure the talent and potential of a player by asking whether that player, if born in another country, would be deemed good enough to play for the national team.

Would Rooney, if eligible, be called up to the Brazil, Italy, Spain, France, or even Germany squad? Bar Germany, I think Rooney would not only struggle to get into the team, he would find it near impossible to be regularly called up to the national team.

The problem with Rooney, and much of it is not his fault, is that, because he his English, the media portrayed him as a phenomenon.

Remember when he was touted by the British media as the new Ronaldo? Roonaldo, they called him.

I guess the media is doing its patriotic bit.

Here are the reasons why I believe, although Rooney is good, he's ultimately just that; an over-hyped good player.

Scoring Ratio

The common argument I hear in defence of Rooney, why he's not scoring enough and why, even as the no. 1 striker for Man Utd for over four years, he's yet to hit the 20 goal target, is the position/type of football he plays.

Let's break it down.

Whether as a target man, or "the rover" behind and around a target man, he is still scoring far less than expected.

When playing as a what I call a rover, you would expect him to score more often because of the freedom he enjoys, but he never scores.

Saha did that for him, did not score enough, Larson did that for him, Berba is doing that for him and guess what? Same old story.

His record as target man is dismal at best. So i'll leave that be. Rooney overrated? Correct.

Fellow Players

Who is better, Tevez or Rooney?

I say Tevez. The same energy levels, but the gritty Argentinian has a better scoring ratio than Rooney, either playing as a target man or rover.

So why is he not playing? Simple, because he is not English.

Now, before anyone accuses me of being anti-Anglo, let's look at the players currently playing with Rooney and make a comparison.

Cristiano Ronaldo

No comment except to ask how does Rooney answer this question, how is it that a goal provider and a winger no less score more than a striker, every season?

Salomon Kalou

Here's a player again who, spends less games playing, but has a better scoring ratio.

Fernando Torres

The Spaniard saw, came and conquered in a way Rooney could only have dreamed of.

What's more, he plays as a lone striker, which means he takes more knocks and works twice as hard because he does not have the support that Rooney has.

Talent

Is Rooney worth the hype? Let me answer that by saying lets look at fellow professionals, who are either at the same age or were hyped as much as him at the that age.

Alexandre Pato

Worth the hype. As a pure talent, Rooney can't compare. As a goalscorer, Rooney lags. Sad, but not surprising.

Sergio Aguero

Pure and thorough striker scoring like it's second nature to him. As a talent, Kun probably edges him.

Karim Benzema

What a player. What a striker. No comparison.

Fernando Gago

Better technique. Inconsistent like Rooney, just less hyped.

Now I am tempted to compare to the original Ronaldo.

At 20—23 years old Ronaldo would have made Rooney look like a Sunday league player.

Samuel Eto would earn more than Rooney if he was paid per goal and United's no. 10 would then be a Reading FC superstar.

Truth

However one looks at it, whether via talent or strike rate, he's simply not making the cut.

Whereas other young superstars are in great demand, there is hardly a peep of interest from European powerhouses about Rooney.

It's not because Man United are not willing to sell, or that he is not interested in a move, it's just that he is not that good.

He is a valuable team player but hardly one that makes or breaks the side.

So why so much hype?

Well, simply because, like Joe Cole, Theo Walcott, and Owen Hagreaves, Rooney has been over-hyped by an English media desperate for a genuine superstar.

Hence the hate campaign against a genuine football talent; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney is good. Phenomenon? Ask Ronaldo. He's somewhere in Brazil proving critics wrong. Call me when Rooney achieves half of that.

Gooners Dare To Dream: Part II

tumang bokaba — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:32:14 -0400

Yesterday I suggested that Arsenal might just shock a few and actually win not only the FA Cup but the Champions' League. And some thought I was heading for the looney bin...

I said of Arsenal beats Roma their season already picking some late steam might just spectacularly salvage their season. I suggested that getting past Roma might push Arsenal to believe that there's a lot still to play and in all honesty that's true.

A couple of things validates this theory. Diaby was colossal in the midfield and as usual Denilson mopped the play as he usually does. With Diaby playing like he did and Cesc coming back a healthy dose of competition is emerging, meaning players are on their toes and therefore push performances upwards.

It's not that they won last night, but the manner in which they won. It's that against so many odds stacked against them they managed to keep the belief, maintain their cool, utterly convinced that they will go through.

This team is young, this team is developing and not to beat up a subject dead, arsenal are turning into something beautifully scary. They are winning beautifully and when necessary winning ugly like last night. This is the hallmark of good teams.

So yes, arsenal will win the champions' league, capture the FA Cup and making a dashing attempt of the championship and Arsenal will be declared a miracle worker and suddenly no one wants to leave.