All posts by h79snht.top

Another awful result to add to the Arsenal ’s terrible start to the season.

After looking to have turned the corner and racking up some very good results, despite an almost unconvincing win against Olympiacos in the Champions League, The Gunners had appeared to look back to their best.

Three points is three no matter how you get them, be it with beautiful football or in an ugly way, and after watching Arsenal lose to Tottenham at White Hart Lane in somewhat controversial style, I realised that the ugly wins never seem to come our way.

This aside, here are 5 things I learnt from yesterday’s game:

1. Man marking? Looked more like zonal to me

The Gunners had apparently decided to go with a different defensive tactics yesterday. We actually used man marking, which still (in my opinion) looked like zonal in open play, but not on set-pieces. We were able to fend off their dead ball threats, but whenever they managed to break on the counter we seemed to have reverted back to zonal marking, as if it was more of a plan B if the new system failed, which unfortunately it did. A good example, or in this case examples, was Rafael van der Vaart ’s first goal which was dealt with in a zonal marking way, as he had acres of space to run into, and Carl Walker ’s late winner – had he been closed down like he would have in a man marking system – wouldn’t have happened. But hey, it’s a work in progress even it is going very slow.

2. Spurs were defensively solid

I fail to understand why we were unable to give their defence as much hell as other teams do to us when they equally use a zonal marking system – is it because they use it better? I don’t know, but we seem to only have taken advantage of that once when we equalised through Aaron Ramsey, otherwise, they were solid.

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3. No consistency

I’d like to pick one player who showed this the most. Ramsey possibly had his worst performance for arsenal EVER, the Welshman gave away the ball far too many times. Forget the fact that he scored the equalizer, the midfielder was quite pathetic on the day and didn’t seem to have his head in the game at all. However, he wasn’t the only player who didn’t seem on, Gervinho , Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta all had poor games in my opinion. Had they been on song, we could have walked away from the game with all three points. It’s unfortunate that one of the players who never lacks consistency ended up injuring himself.

4. Coquelin was class

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Francis Coquelin was Arsenal’s best player by a mile. The young French youth made great interceptions and linked well with the other midfielders, sitting just in front of the back four and had a pass completion of 88%, on a day when Arsenal uncharacteristically had less of the ball. Another who could have made a difference was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – why Arsene Wenger never gave the nod to the youngster to start ahead of Walcott was a mystery to me, as he seemed so eager to feature in the north London derby and make his mark.

5. We need to revert back to a 4-4-2

For most of the game, Robin van Persie was left by himself upfront to fend off their centre halves as well as create goal scoring opportunities, as Gervinho and Walcott both had an off day. A 4-4-2 formation would be a better option for us rather than the 4-3-2-1, 4-1-2-3, 4-3-3 whatever it was we used yesterday, simply because the 4-4-2 brought us so much success both defensively and in attack in the past. I think Chamakh and RVP upfront would be great, even Gervinho and Van Persie, we need to recreate what we had with Henry and Bergkamp in attack. The best thing about a 4-4-2 system is that it can easily change from attack to defence and vice versa.

Article courtesy of Taaza Banda from the excellent Gunnersphere

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In every transfer window there is one transfer that catches the eye, not because of a large sum of money or a high profile player moving between giants of the game but a transfer that seems too bizarre for professional football.

Asamoah Gyan’s shock loan move from Sunderland to United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain was the surprise move of the latest transfer window, with money seemingly the only possible reason for Sunderland to let one of their best strikers leave and for Gyan to want to swap the Premier League for the United Arab Emirates.

But Gyan’s loan is not the first strange move by clubs and players in the transfer market. What are the top ten bizarre transfer moves ever to be seen in the world of football?

Click on Tevez and Mascherano to find out

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List compiled by Jenny Kerwood

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Last Friday morning, when news reports began to circulate that Carlos Tevez was considering legal action against Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, my immediate thought was ‘how has it come to this?’

The incident in question followed the now infamous turn of events that took place when Manchester City travelled to Bayern Munich in September. After the game Roberto Mancini accused Tevez of refusing to come on as a substitute, an accusation the Argentinian striker strongly refutes.

City suspended the player for failing to warm up and failing to follow instructions and fined him four weeks wages over the incident, a fine since reduced to two weeks when the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) stepped in.

After the game, Souness echoed the thoughts of many viewers in his tirade against the former City captain. The clips remain on YouTube, with Graeme Souness stating “I’m in disbelief. How selfish can you get? Tevez is one bad apple. He can undo all the good work that has been done at City. He’s a disgrace to football. He epitomises what the man in the street thinks is wrong with modern football. It is totally unacceptable. He’s a football player and he is paid to play.”

Now, Souness could find himself subject to libel action with Tevez recently having consulted two media specialist QCs who believe Tevez has a strong case for defamation.

Sky and Souness have thus far refused to comment.

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The real issue to many onlookers will be how has this situation come about? Carlos Tevez is a world class footballer. A player who at differing points in his career has been idolised in Argentina, East London and most recently in both the red and blue halves of Manchester. Carlos Tevez is a player appreciated for his never say die attitude and commitment to the cause each and every game. Last season Carlos Tevez was the captain of Manchester City, Roberto Mancini’s leader on the pitch. You get the point; Carlos Tevez was not a player one would have expected to become embroiled in such a debacle.

Tevez being fined £400,000 by the club, a mere two weeks wages, and hiring lawyers for an impending legal battle is so far from the reality that most football supporters live in, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Gathering opinions from friends and fellow football fans, most hope that no such legal battle against Graeme Souness is launched, if it is it will mark a worrying precedent for when footballers are criticised.

After all, if fans lose that slight sense of empathy that still remains with their heroes, it will be a sad day for football.

Tevez was expected to return to Manchester City training on Wednesday, he did not, instead he went AWOL and flew back to Argentina. The striker now faces another potential suspension and fine, surely signalling the end of his Manchester City career. The club’s lawyers will undoubtedly now be considering their next step, in what is a disappointing tale for all fans of football.

Follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries for discussion regarding all things football. 

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Whether you consider him one of England’s all time best players or just one of England’s all time best marketed players there is no denying that David Beckham has left his mark on English football. Supporting England is about moments rather than trophies; it has to be, if it wasn’t there would be even less enjoyment in it than there currently is. His goal against Greece was as close to a feeling of winning anything I’ve ever had supporting England and his work ethic for our national side was not only admirable but it exposed the attitudes of some of the less passionate players. He has always given everything for his country and has never retired his services should any national coach ever want them. However at the age of thirty-six has England simply out-grown their has-been-hero?

Anything left to offer?

England’s most capped outfield player has had an England career that has spanned fifteen years and for the vast majority of people Beckham has nothing left to offer to on the international squad. However the feeling is definitely not shared by all; with Beckham’s contract due to run out soon at LA Galaxy there is certainly no shortage of interest in his signature. In fact I can’t think of any other player who, at such an age, had so much interest from top teams. PSG and Tottenham are just two of the clubs that have been vying for his signature and I know that many will say that they just want him for the publicity but I’m not so sure.

The same thing was said when he went to Milan on loan but Beckham proved them wrong. He was well used and was extremely useful to the Italian club, he even bagged himself a few goals. Yes, that was a few years ago and he has worsened since then but Beckham has adapted his game, in the way that Ryan Giggs has, to depend less on physicality and more on technique.

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said:

“I’d welcome him with open arms. He’s definitely still good enough to play in the Premier League. His game was never about pace so whether he’s quick or not isn’t an issue…he’d be an asset for any club, that’s for sure.”

Arsene Wenger has echoed similar sentiments ever since the former England captain trained with the Gunners to keep fit in 2008. Wenger has always said that regardless of his physical state his natural talent and professional attitude makes him worthwhile wherever he may be. And I agree, especially in an England dressing room that lacks harmony I think he would be a valuable asset. However I do not think he should or will be taken to the European Championships. The Olympics however is a different matter.

What next for Beckham?

Well the Olympics is the obvious option and almost certainly his last realistic chance on the international stage, even if it is the international version of the Carling Cup. Whether or not Stuart Pearce believes Beckham has enough quality and experience to make up for his dwindling years is another matter.

At club level I think it would be fitting for one of England’s most famous sons to have one last hurrah in his home country. The iconic midfielder has been a bit of a nomad for the past eight years and if a club could guarantee him playing time it would be fitting for him to test himself in our league once more.

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Whilst our international team has almost certainly outgrown him I don’t think our culture of football ever will. Beckham in his peak was the archetypal English player: hard working, good technique and suited to a 4-4-2. He has done more for the English game on the global stage than any other English player for a long time and has shown a commitment and desire that we will be lucky to see in future players.

Follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay

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Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has stated that the side’s problems stem from an ineptitude in attack, with the team’s strikers failing to convert chances.

A 2-1 defeat to Wigan at home at the weekend saw angry Stadium of Light fans turn on the team and manager Steve Bruce, and leaves the Wearsiders only two points above the dropzone.

The Sweden international feels that The Black Cats need to start scoring, or face a tough season.

“We’re just not good enough in the final third, let’s be honest,” the 26-year-old told the Sunderland Echo.

“No disrespect to Wigan, but we should be winning those types of games. We got off to the start we needed and the one we wanted to.

“We could have been two or three up after the opening 30 minutes, but that’s been our problem all season. We don’t take our chances.

“We don’t put the game beyond doubt and we did the same thing again. They got a penalty and in the second half, it gets nervy and edgy. When we got down the sides of them, we weren’t good enough,” he stated.

Steve Bruce faces a disgruntled fanbase after the result, with many calling for the coach’s head. Despite this, Larsson feels Bruce is the man to lead a Sunderland revival.

“I still believe he’s the right man for the job. But I’m not surprised by how the fans reacted. We lost a game at home that we should have won if we want to get to where we want to be.

“We have to take a long look at ourselves and see why things are going the way they are.

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“That’s the Achilles heel, because we haven’t conceded that many goals,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Arsenal rose into the Premier League top four after Robin Van Persie scored the only goal at the Emirates Stadium to see off a spirited QPR side.

The Dutchman was chasing Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a calendar year but had to settle for one less ending 2011 as the Gunners match winner once again. It was fitting that Van Persie was the man to score Arsenal’s final goal of the year striking the ball low past Radek Cerny on the hour mark to send Arsene Wenger’s side into the top four at the expense of London rivals Chelsea. It was a deserved victory for the home side who missed a host of chances during the 90 minutes although QPR did have their moments with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jay Bothroyd wasting chances early on. Neil Warnock will now be nervously looking over his shoulder after his side slipped to 17th and now sit just two points above the drop zone.

He will be unhappy that his side failed to take advantage of Arsenal’s slow start to the game with Wright-Phillips and Bothroyd going close in the early stages before the home side woke from their slumber. It took the Gunners just over 15 minutes to create their first clear cut opportunity but Van Persie could only shoot straight at Cerny from a tight angle after twisting and turning into space. He then glanced a header wide of the post before poking the ball just over after escaping the clutches of Luke Young. The Dutchman was having a similar afternoon to the one he had on Boxing Day against Wolves and missed another volleying over after being found by Theo Walcott’s cross. Aaron Ramsey then had his volley cleared off the line by Joey Barton before Cerny thwarted Mikel Arteta punching away the midfielders strike.

It looked like it was going to be one of those games for Arsenal as Walcott dragged the ball wide early in the second half despite being one-on-one after being sent clear by Ramsey. However the winger’s blushes were spared as the clock approached the hour mark as Van Persie struck for his 35th goal of 2011 latching onto Andriy Arshavin’s through ball and cooly finishing first past Cerny to ease the tension around the Emirates and put the Gunners into the top four heading into 2012.

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David Goodwillie’s equaliser 18 minutes from time kept Blackburn from dropping back into the relegation zone as they held Everton at Goodison Park.

Steve Kean’s side looked set to fall back into the bottom three after Tim Cahill’s first goal in over a year put Everton into a controversial first half lead before Goodwillie equalised in fortuitous circumstances late on. There is no doubt that Rovers will have been happy to leave Merseyside with a share of the spoils before kick off but their encouraging performance should have seen them go home with all three points. It was another drab home showing from David Moyes’ men who have now picked up only three wins from 11 at Goodison Park as their top half ambitions continue to slip away.

An entertaining first period saw both sides go close in the early stages with Victor Anichebe squandering a volleyed chance before Tim Howard saved smartly with his feet from David Dunn’s strike at the other end. It was Blackburn who looked more likely to open the scoring as Scott Dann saw his looping header hit the post before Phil Neville went close to celebrating his 35th birthday in style. The home side were celebrating soon after though as Cahill put the Toffees into the lead in controversial circumstances tapping the ball in from close to score his first goal in 34 games after being found by Marouane Fellaini. However Rovers felt the goal shouldn’t have been ruled out after the Belgian midfielder appeared to control the ball with his hand in the build up only for their appeals to referee Mark Halsey falling on deaf ears. But instead of complaining the visitors went in search of an equaliser and Dunn was left ruining his luck after seeing his strike bounce back off the post.

Radosav Petrovic went close just after the break flashing a 30-yard effort just after the break as Kean’s men strived to get the better of Everton’s injury hit back four. Everton threatened nothing in the second half prompting Moyes to throw Royston Drenthe on with the Dutch winger having an immediate impact flashing the ball across Blackburn’s penalty area. Still, the away side continued to press and they finally made the breakthrough in the 72 minute after Howard let Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free kick slip through his hands only for Cahill to see his clearance bounce back off Goodwillie and into the net. The hosts desperately tried to regain the lead and went close through Shane Duffy’s header but had to settle for a point that will serve Rovers well in their fight for survival

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“He is not as good as Messi yet, but he has the talent to become this kind of player. He is the kind of player you have got every 10 or 15 years. He has got a very rare talent. I think he has been blessed by God.”

Lille Youth Coach Stephane Adam.

Eden Hazard is currently strutting around with the title of ‘most prized asset in European football’. This week saw the Lille hotshot light up message boards and social networking sites with news of his supposed imminent arrival at White Hart Lane.

Many would agree that Hazard has earned the right to be held in the same regard as official Ballon d’Or collector Lionel Messi. They share the same minute stature, which contributes to a low centre of gravity enabling them to drift past players with deceptive ease, and both fleet footed attackers have scored memorable solo efforts that mean they’re a constant presence on YouTube.

However, his wavering work rate has previously been brought into question and he was sensationally dropped by both Lille coach Rudi Garcia and Belgium national team coach Georges Leekens, who accused him of being lazy in training. Despite 9 goals in 22 league games this season, his strike rate is often described as ‘erratic’ meaning he’s usually criticised for not scoring more goals. He should fit right in with Luka Modric then.

Although reports of a done deal were a tad premature, Tottenham’s new found ability to seemingly attract a player of Hazard’s calibre is a true testament to their progress in recent years.

Redknapp’s side are now highly regarded as modern connoisseurs of free flowing attacking football, Hazard himself told Belgian talkshow La Tribune “It is a nice club with a lot of good players and absolutely a top coach.” The signings of seasoned internationals Scott Parker and Van Der Vaart, for relatively insignificant fees, have clearly enhanced their reputation on continental shores.

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The transfer of Hazard would certainly signal a new dawn at Spurs. His valuation is touted somewhere north of the £20m mark and his apparent wage demands would surely dwarf the highest earners currently residing at the Lane. No question then, this transfer could propel Spurs towards the same status as London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Rumours of a potential deal struck a sour note with Arsenal fans and they immediately sought to quash its credibility, even going to the extent of creating the hashtag #hazzardtospursjokes on Twitter. It’s no secret that Wenger has tracked the petite playmaker for a number of years but once again he has refused to spend the money required to meet a parent club’s valuation. Having recently missed out on Gary Cahill, isn’t it time Wenger swallowed his pride to ensure the Gunners don’t descend into the laughing stock of the Europa League?

Chelsea are another club said to be sniffing around the twice named Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, a feat that the legendary Zidane nor Henry managed to achieve. However, you would imagine their capture of Mata combined with the emergence of Josh McEachran has helped satisfy their appetite for an attacking midfielder.

Surprisingly, one club who doesn’t appear to be pursuing Hazard are Manchester United, whose much-publicised pursuit of Wesley Sneijder has dominated the back pages for many months. Surely Hazard represents a better long-term investment with his raw pace and ability to take on players. It would also prevent Wayne Rooney from having to drop back to the halfway line every time he wants to create a meaningful United attack.

Hazard has also been linked with a move to Spain where the style and intensity of La Liga would arguably better suit his game, and the pessimists among us would endorse the notion that this story is simply a ploy to encourage interest from these ‘big’ clubs. It’s fair to say he is one of only a few players who could improve a side like Barcelona and it would be foolish to rule out Real Madrid adding him to their expensive collection of Galácticos.

My initial reaction upon seeing this story was that this was a last ditch attempt by chairman Daniel Levy to convince Redknapp to shun a future with the England national side. Spurs look on course for a top 4 finish and with proposals for a new stadium emerging every five minutes, this landmark signing maybe the motivation Redknapp needs to remain at the club.

It remains to be seen where the finance will come from in order to bring these developments to fruition but it may explain the club’s unexpectedly quiet involvement in the January transfer window. The legions of giddy Spurs fans may have a change of heart when they realise they could be playing their home games at the Compare The Market Arena.

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In amongst all the speculation one thing remains clear; Tottenham Hotspur will struggle to make the next step without major investment.

Simples.

For more terrible puns and reaction to all the new developments in the world of football, join me on Twitter @theunusedsub

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Liverpool return to Wembley for the first time in 1996, with the football club determined to re-own the national stadium like they did in the 80s and early 90s. The odds are heavily stacked in their favour against Championship side Cardiff and the Carling Cup will bring a welcome piece of silverware to Kenny Dalglish who is hoping that winning it will inspire the club and prove a catalyst for future glories.

Elsewhere in the news AVB has warned that it may get worse before things get better at Chelsea; Wenger believes that Arsenal players shouldn’t feel sorry for themselves, while Tom Cleverley has had to pull out of England following an ankle injury.

 Headlines

Kenny Dalglish admits that he has a selection headache ahead of the Carling Cup final, as the likes of Craig Bellamy and Daniel Agger return to full fitness – Guardian

Andre Villas-Boas has warned that it may get worse at Chelsea before things start to get better at Stamford Bridge – Guardian

Arsene Wenger believes that Arsenal players shouldn’t feel sorry for themselves, ahead of the North London derby and feels Sunday’s game gives them a good chance to show their character – Guardian

Harry Redknapp believes that Arsenal fans should lay off Arsene Wenger and says the Frenchman simply is irreplaceable – Daily Telegraph

Fernando Torres has finally paid the price for his failure in front of goal by being dropped by the Spanish national side – Independent

Europe’s top clubs have walked away from talks with FIFA over the International calendar – Independent

Tom Cleverley’s hopes of making a mark in the England has been dealt a blow as the Manchester United midfielder has picked up another injury knock – Daily Mail

Paul Robinson is set to come out of international retirement and offer some much needed cover for England’s caretaker boss Stuart Pearce – Daily Mail

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Bacaray Sagna has warned Eden Hazard against moving to Tottenham and believes it will be in his best interests to join Arsenal instead – Daily Mirror

Liverpool and Newcastle have been put on transfer alert as Seydou Keita has revealed he is looking to quit Barcelona at the end of the season – Metro

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The recent upward turn in fortunes for the red half of North London has been met with a great deal of positivity from the Gunners faithful. However, it’s difficult to escape the feeling that Arsenal have actually underachieved this term, turning in some woeful performances and failing to mount a similar title surge to that of the first half of last season.

Arsenal are far from a poor side, and their place in the much coveted top-four of the Premier League illustrates that fact, but on occasions this term they have looked far from the fluid attacking force witnessed over the course of the past decade. Certain players have failed to pull their weight and Arsene Wenger edged closer than ever before to the exit door, creating a negative feeling throughout the club and it’s loyal following.

If the Gunners had been able to turn in the displays of the past month on a consistent basis, then fourth place would be a formality and a challenge for the title, alongside the Manchester sides, would be the focus of the final 10 matches, rather than nervously looking over their shoulder at the trio of Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. Although that day at Old Trafford is all but a distant memory, it should, and cannot, be forgotten by Wenger, who saw his next generation pummeled by one of his fiercest rivals, a side who they will have to compete with if Arsenal are going to be successful in years to come. Okay it was just one day, but the way in which those young players were led out like lambs to the slaughter, with little regard for tactical competence, may serve to damage their confidence for years to come.

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There is also the shadow of the Robin van Persie saga hanging over the Emirates, with the Dutchman’s future far from certain. We don’t need to talk at length about his importance to the club, with his tally of 26 league goals, more than the entire Wigan team, being displaying his talents, and keeping the side within touching distance of Champions League football next term. If his future was guaranteed then his ‘golden touch’ would be far from an issue, yet as it stands a summer departure looks to be a genuine possibility.

Although measures are being taken to persuade the skipper to stay, in the shape of Lukas Podolski, Wenger’s dealings of last summer hardly display the kind of quality to inspire confidence. Per Mertesacker has looked shaky at best, while Park Chu-Young has more splinters in backside than first-team appearances, due to a sustained period on the bench. Mikel Arteta has been a relative success, but it’s hard to get past the feeling that he is just a poor man’s Cesc Fabregas, and the only thing more confusing than Gervinho’s inability to convert the simplest of chances is the Ivorian’s peculiar hair-line.

I don’t want to sound too negative in regards to the Arsenal cause, but the recent surge cannot be used to paper over the cracks at the club. Champions League football may be secured and van Persie may stay, and if so that will be great for the team and its supporters, yet if the opposite occurs then the future would suddenly look far more bleak. Arsenal’s prudent financial approach deserves credit, but a healthy bank balance will not keep the fans happy in the long term, giving RvP a rise however would, and with the money in place surely keeping him should be the priority.

Although after 38 games, Arsenal’s season could look to be a success if they make the top four, but the failings of the side this term and the over-reliance on their captain create a real cause for concern in North London.

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