Seville v. Arsenal 1-3 27/Nov/07

Due to Mexican private TV delays I was not able to watch the game of Arsenal v. Wigan, but I did watch the extended highlights and Actim stats. It would not be a good thing to review it although I have a pretty well account on the match. Anyway the match reviewed this time is the dreadful Seville v. Arsenal.
Arsene as planned rotation because the length of the season, first it will be though a tough December and is up to the squad to grasp as many points possible leaving behind Man Utd and City, who seem the greatest contenders along the Ashburton Grovers. Second, the early January departures from the London squad to the African Nations Cup, leaving thus essential players in the scheme of the Frenchman such as Kolo Touré and Manu Eboué out for at least a month and a half, will be a tough challenge. This rotation business is quite unfamiliar to the Frenchman to such a great extent. Leaving Traore in his UCL debut at just 17 and under rated Hoyte in charge of left and right full-backs respectively, was a question of, not just rotation, but courage. Senderos coming back from his back injury showed a match to forget committing a varied array of immense mistakes, while Manuel Almunia showed why he is still Arsenal's number one choice regarding goalkeepers. Even in the three goals he couldn't do that much, the first an impressive outside-boot finishing, the second a very edgy header in the corner of the net and the third a penalty choice. Not much to talk about.
Midfield seemed quite confusing regarding the cat of Eduardo's position. Whether to make the wingman along 'Dinosaur' Bendtner or remaining swaying between the left-center midfield to Fábregas position his leading goal permitted Arsenal to be in a very passive mood while the rest of the game he literally dumped every ball which he got. Another match to forget by the talented Croatian who has failed to make an impressive start comparing his appearance in his national side. The subs used by Wenger were not much of a change, Rosicky's central midfielder role replacing injured Cesc diminished while Sagna entered in my opinion too late for the match. Walcott's Saturday injury showed a bit of insecurity in the England teenager. Gilberto long absence through Flamini's excellence was proven Denilson and Cesc seemed quite confused and were apparently have not played never, Awkward I think. Young Bendtner seemed alone and far took any chance due to the superb Seville defence.
All in all the Arsenal performance was one to forget, and although a few glimpses of geniality showed this game, the Liverpool and Man Utd matches showed that the north Londoners need to polish their endings and in course to get any silverware in march they will have to work even harder than previous seasons to get them.

Charles Dickens' Industrialized England

(...) The smoke-serpents were indifferent who was lost or found, who turned out bad or good; the melancholy elephants, like the Hard Fact men, abated nothing of their set routine, whatever happened. Day and night again, day and night again. The monotony was unbroken. Even Stephen Blackpool's disappearance was falling into the general way, and becoming as monotonous a wonder as any piece of machinery in Coketown. (pp. 275)
Dickens, Charles, Hard Times, Penguin, London, 1969.

Regarding M1A3 on StrategyPage.com

I have never been so reluctant with the military discussion and forum website Strategy Page (http://www.strategypage.com) until yesterday. Usually well informed and free of interpretation(although those conservative shirt advertisements had always annoyed me) this page has proved its objectiveness throughout the 5 years that I have been reading it. A forum is always the object of uninformed people and thus leading to misinterpretations and the previous mentioned 'unobjetciveness'. The article mentioned is M1-A3 Forever in Strategy Page:
(http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20070817.aspx)
First the fact that there are currently no plans to develop, enhance or even upgrade the models of the M1 series(with the exception of the TUSK and 2nd Gen FLIR standardization). Second M1 series will partially be redeployed and reorganized to 'complement' the FCS. Third, there have been a series of theories regarding the vulnerabilities of the armor located in the fan intake and the 'belly', which have been tossed due to the TUSK upgrade.
I find quite difficult that the US Army, with the Marines, made a proposal for an upgrade on the M1 series. This because of the size of the force approaching 9,000, the M1A1 HA and M1A1 upgrades almost complete and the fact that many units do use combined arms tactics in urbanized terrains to decrease the use and thus the vulnerability of these machines to the close fight. Also the extended use of the M2/M3 (in its varied versions but specially the M3A2 with ERA kits) has been lowering the amount of casualties between the 70 tons behemoths.
The US military is moving in the line of decentralization and combined arms way, so is highly unlike that a major upgrade to the M1 series should be taken place due to the current strategies and analysis made, although at least for the next twenty to thirty years will be still seeing among the battlefields occupied by US armed forces.

Reading v. Arsenal 1-3 (12/Nov/07)

Maybe not the brightest Arsenal match this season but yet a highly remarkable team effort to consolidate in the top of the premiership this monday against a nerve-breaking Reading. The overall performance of the well organized London side and the great performance by 'Manu' Adebayor and Alex Hleb were sufficient enough to make the ussual display of the visiting team to the revitalized and unbeaten eldest club in England.
The Ashburton Grovers sated nearly pragmatical neither efficient but with the same display of coherence and patience that had not been seen in previous seasons. In the 4' Adebayor's Henry sort of definition hited the woodwork and nearly grasped the old and traditional scoreline for the North London side. Arsenal kept the main line of the game with several opportunities until the advantage came in the last minutes of the first half when an excellent pass from Hleb followed by a deflected definition of Flamini entered the goalposts to ensure Arsenal overwhelming pace in the league. In a close shot to the bench in the second half we could watch a freezing Gilberto Silva. Whether it was obviously from the 4°C at pitch level or from the unactivity through the season, the old captain and emblematic symbol of the Gunners has been quite uncomfortable of swithching positions with the brilliant Mathieu Flamini which has earned his second international cap along with the Arsenal french legion. Regarding the frach legion Clichy's endurance and reliability had proved me wrong from my early reluctance in finding the Ashley Cole substitute and I dare to say that, he might be even better with time. Nevertheless Gallas and Touré had find there way in the team and seem to complement themselves perfectly even allowing Touré to forward his position and attack with full trust. Following the defensive review, the always overlapping Sagna has found his way into the team after a shy start of season. My main concern is the overall development of Eboué in his 'new' position. As David Young mentioned it in his Soccernet.com's review 'Voice of Fans', it is not the same to play fifteen meters ahead of the position which, as a footballer, you have been formed. Although he seem to complement Sagna, that dreamed overlapping of Wenger found in Hleb-Eboué, has not been totally convincing, but there is the element of adaptation and communication yet to improve between these two French speaking team mates.
Regarding to Hleb, I was a bit reluctant in the last couple season as many people but he has proved his value in the club. His tremendous technique, his passing and vision make them an excellent offensive midfielder that has a lot of talent to exploit. Another relevant and talented player is the Czech captain Tomás Rosicky, who in varied opinions, has been quite failed to impress the need of a Pires, who can either attack with a lighting pace or to give the prefect assist. So much has been said of this that Rosicky, as natural as any other player shows the contrary. His practiced technique and his aid to defend in Clichy's advances along with his cutting trhough the middle had been the mark of this player last season. This game he showed a full companionship devotion allowing Cesc Fábregas the pass to an excellent Adebayor finishing. 'Dinosaur' Bendtner and young Theo Walcott did not have the enough time to make use of their famous football faculties. An very Good display of the way Arsenal has come through the season, a lecture on patience, team effort and power that any previous Arsenal (but the Unbeaten)squad has shown in the last decade.

And besides that something has to be alarming major football managers not only around the island but in Europe; and I am referring to the declarations made by Carlo Ancelotti, Milan's manager. Something might be concerning them and is the way Arsenal plays, which is indeed alarming for them.

Charles Dickens' Melancholy

By the place where Rachel lived, though it was not in his way; by the red brick streets; by the great silent factories, not trembling yet; by the railway, where the danger lights were waning in the strengthening day; by the railway's crazy neighbourhood, half pulled down and half built up; by scattered red brick villas, where the besmoked evergreens were sprinkled with a dirty power, like untidy snuff-takers; by coal-dust paths and many varieties of ugliness; Stephen got to the top of the hill, and looked back(...) And trees arched over him, whispering that he left a true and loving heart behind.(pp.194)
Dickens, Charles, Hard Times, Penguin, London, 1969.

Finally!!

Finally and after some failed attempts to make my little knowledge available I have found the right place to do it. I will post something when my next idea pops out (not much time really). Mean while wait for the next match(Slavia Praga v. Arsenal for the UCL).