Last week, from the 29th through the 31st, we celebrated the 400th birthday of John Milton at my Faculty. Dr. Mario Murgia was the organizer. There were 5 discussion tables and two Master conferences, one lead by Dr. Alfredo Michel and the other by Dr. Gordon Teskey from Harvard University. George was among the participants, rather unlucky by the way. Besides the conference of Dr. Teskey, he gave a brief four-hour course on Paradise Lost.
The first table was good but with no particularly interesting topics. The second was the one I was expecting the most. First was Alan Page who did an outstanding, but messy, elaboration of the concept of the personification of Milton in William Blake to develop an Epic writing. Dr. Murgia made a resume of his doctoral thesis, with no offense to him ofcourse, on the subject of influence of Milton in the "second" English Romantic poets particularly on Keats.
The third table promised a good insight. Dr. Linares made a good exegesis on the relation of Borges and Milton but it was Mtra. Charlotte Broad who impressed me the most. She gave a Modernist lecture on Milton's food description mentioning several times my two favorite authors, W. B. Yeats and Virginia Woolf. I was amused, impressed and excited by her work, and I even approached her later to ask her about the Modernist contribution to the Epic genre, particularly with the Epic conventions which are a one of my main topics of interest. I did not attend the fourth table.
Next day, the 30th, I arrived very late, just in time to hear the wrecked exposition of George. He made several statements regarding this, ones which I will limit to quote directly via links. Next there was another exposition regarding the "Sublime" in Disney's Fantasia. I think it was a biassed reading of Milton's work, the movie and the concepts which were treated. Last it was the a guy who exposed the Italian sonnets in Milton's career. It was one of the best concerning my litte knowledge on Italian sonnets from the period.
Dr. Teskey's conference was improvised, and even though he talked us down at the beginning he then changed his discourse at the latter stages of the brief course. I liked above all the second part of the course in which we discussed the ninth book of Paradise Lost.
I recorded some of the lectures. Available are the two master conferences, tables one, two and three and the four-hour course of Teskey, in two parts. The quality of the recordings is not as I liked to but they are unserstandable and in some ways clear enough. I apologize since I hav no mp3 tool for editing them.
First Master Conference
Second Master Conference
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
First Part of Teskey's Course
Second Part of Teskey's Course
My favorite expos were Charlotte's, Alan's and Mario's respectively.
It is a good thing that this type of events are being offered, but I think they should be given more often than yearly. Finally I have to say that some of the expos were really awful. The quality developed in some cases were even below standard of university students. In some cases were interpreations, misreadings and over-interpretatiosn. I hope that with this kind of readings this particular cases should be avoided and corrected.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What a laugh!
Today Mexico lost against Honduras. Ten months ago we saw a similar occasion with Mr. Sanchez. Here some footage to remember and, why not, LAUGH!
I will be posting the remaining Arsenal review, forgive me dear reader, final exams.
By the way "sensitive video," if you do not want to hear any stupid stuff or lose your time do not play this one.
I will be posting the remaining Arsenal review, forgive me dear reader, final exams.
By the way "sensitive video," if you do not want to hear any stupid stuff or lose your time do not play this one.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"For those few, those the brave"
Last week we were celebrating "Deviations" first birthday and there was no place for morn in our celebration. I say this because of the 90th anniversary of the death of Wilfred Owen. And today is the 90th anniversary of what Americans know as the "Veterans Day" or the end of WWI with the armistice that took place at the eleventh hour of the elevnth day of the eleventh month.
WWI has been forgotten. Even when this event triggered in all ways the twentieth century history. The warfare is remembered occassionally by few English historians. Just in these occasions Prime Ministers and Persidents show themselves at Verdun to pledge the dead.
Wilfred Owen is not read in Mexico. And I dare to say in Spanish speaking countries. Even though several proffesional attempts have bene made, which are three in all Mexico over ninety years, Wilfred Owen's poetry is still ignored and in some cases outnumbered in English poetry antologies by Robert Graves or Sigfried Sassoon, to name some contemporary War poets. Antologizing Wilferd Owen is in some cases strange; either you ignore him (as in Yeats' case, receiving many criticism) or put it among Rupert Brooke, which will be the common thing.
The attempts to study Owen's poetry in my country are biassed in dull and vain comparissons with Brooke's vision of the world.
I take this quote from CNN.com to validate the presence of Owen's speech today:"In his 2007 autobiography, "The Last Fighting Tommy," written with Richard van Emden, he said 'war is organized murder' before adding at a memorial event last month: 'It was not worth it. It was not worth one, let alone all the millions.'" I urge people to read Owen because of his vision of poetry; that it is still valid unlike the case of Brooke's.
Anyway this post honour each and every man and woman, dead and alive, who served for his/her country in the most brutal war in the twentieth century. A pledge to them. And a remembrance for Owen, who we, or at least I, owe so much.
WWI has been forgotten. Even when this event triggered in all ways the twentieth century history. The warfare is remembered occassionally by few English historians. Just in these occasions Prime Ministers and Persidents show themselves at Verdun to pledge the dead.
Wilfred Owen is not read in Mexico. And I dare to say in Spanish speaking countries. Even though several proffesional attempts have bene made, which are three in all Mexico over ninety years, Wilfred Owen's poetry is still ignored and in some cases outnumbered in English poetry antologies by Robert Graves or Sigfried Sassoon, to name some contemporary War poets. Antologizing Wilferd Owen is in some cases strange; either you ignore him (as in Yeats' case, receiving many criticism) or put it among Rupert Brooke, which will be the common thing.
The attempts to study Owen's poetry in my country are biassed in dull and vain comparissons with Brooke's vision of the world.
I take this quote from CNN.com to validate the presence of Owen's speech today:"In his 2007 autobiography, "The Last Fighting Tommy," written with Richard van Emden, he said 'war is organized murder' before adding at a memorial event last month: 'It was not worth it. It was not worth one, let alone all the millions.'" I urge people to read Owen because of his vision of poetry; that it is still valid unlike the case of Brooke's.
Anyway this post honour each and every man and woman, dead and alive, who served for his/her country in the most brutal war in the twentieth century. A pledge to them. And a remembrance for Owen, who we, or at least I, owe so much.
A Yeatsian Moment
I had another of my famous "Modernist Moments." This time it was a Yeatsian Moment." Today as I was going out of my Augustan literature class, I saw a girl, whom I have been thinking all day long. It was really funny and after she passed I sardonically smiled. When I was heading towards the entrance of the faculty I remembered this poem, one of my favorites and strangely not an early Yeats' poem. I took a vow a few weeks ago, I broke it and this happened:
"A Deep-sworn Vow"
Others because you did not keep
That deep-sworn vow have been friends of mine;
Yet always when I look death in the face,
When I clamber to the heights of sleep,
Or when I grow excited with wine,
Suddenly I meet your face.
Finneran, Richard J. ed. The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats. New York: Scribner, 1996.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Arsenal v. Everton 3-1 18/Oct/08
After the international break that brough us the perfect record Spain and England, while some other dreadful performances, Brazil and Mexico, the actions returns to the Grove with the Toffees travelling south again. The match was tough in the first stances but the home side managed to come from behind as in many late shows in the Ashburton Grove era. Everton gave a solid performance that was diminished by tha main players of the Arsenal squal, especially youngster Nasri.
Big news were Touré as skipper, Michael Silvestre's debut and Eboué return. Trying to apply the offside trap the Arsenal was taken by surprise and an instinctful Osman gave the early lead to Everton. Following the lead the Arsenal side became passive, dull and uncommited to the game while Toure's injury became a concern for the home side. Wide attempts by Cesc, van Persie and Adebayor made clear the home status for the Arsenal, but the capitalization of these opportunities was unimportant for the players. Clichy saved Arsenal from a header on a corner at 41'. The pull by the home side increased with the ending of the first forty five minutes.
Second half brought Theo from the bench. Eboué was relocated as a rgiht back and Song as center back. The early equalizer was brough by a Nasri shot, which entered in tha far post slot to level things. Certainly Mr. Wenger motivated his younstersin the midtime due to the recurrence on van Persie's arrivals. The attitude was different, and it the Frenchman should have considered cesc in the captaincy rather than Almunia. The seventh pass of the season by Cesc was made while Clichy's attempts towards goal were solid. The fancy touches began to appear and the second goal was a brilliant consecution of passes by Adebayor, a Cesc shot and the header-deflection by van Persie., at 70'. The match went with the Gunner control until the the third goal came, courtesy of a Diaby-Theo combination, at 90'.
The match showed the capabilities of the young squad to overcome such dangers, the ones that threaten the top-flight teams.
Big news were Touré as skipper, Michael Silvestre's debut and Eboué return. Trying to apply the offside trap the Arsenal was taken by surprise and an instinctful Osman gave the early lead to Everton. Following the lead the Arsenal side became passive, dull and uncommited to the game while Toure's injury became a concern for the home side. Wide attempts by Cesc, van Persie and Adebayor made clear the home status for the Arsenal, but the capitalization of these opportunities was unimportant for the players. Clichy saved Arsenal from a header on a corner at 41'. The pull by the home side increased with the ending of the first forty five minutes.
Second half brought Theo from the bench. Eboué was relocated as a rgiht back and Song as center back. The early equalizer was brough by a Nasri shot, which entered in tha far post slot to level things. Certainly Mr. Wenger motivated his younstersin the midtime due to the recurrence on van Persie's arrivals. The attitude was different, and it the Frenchman should have considered cesc in the captaincy rather than Almunia. The seventh pass of the season by Cesc was made while Clichy's attempts towards goal were solid. The fancy touches began to appear and the second goal was a brilliant consecution of passes by Adebayor, a Cesc shot and the header-deflection by van Persie., at 70'. The match went with the Gunner control until the the third goal came, courtesy of a Diaby-Theo combination, at 90'.
The match showed the capabilities of the young squad to overcome such dangers, the ones that threaten the top-flight teams.
Sunderland v. Arsenal 1-1 4/Oct/08
Again the London side struggled, in its tradition, to give a very late tie against an extremely dangerous home side. The Black Cats showed resilence against a permissive young Arsenal side. Roy Keane's boys managed to strain the visiting squad and for five minutes nearly win. Cesc again showed his power to bring the team from the "deep tract of hell." The previously mentioned dichotomy between "Fake Arsenal" against the "True Arsenal" become more and more apparent throughout the matches. It is evident that any away match is a tough callenge but there are ways of loosing and ways of leveling.
Cesc position was strangely forwarded and as some have noticed it, the difference between 4-5-1 and the current 4-4-2 to 3-3 is of a huge importance. Wenger had tried several times to forward Cesc in order to bring his old attacking abilities from the grave. The point that Mr. Wenger has not noticed is that he converted the young attacking midfielder into a creative CENTRAL midfielder. Trying to reconvert a cemented personality will dissapear him from the pitch. Thus Denilson and Song occupied central midfield with Cesc behind the striker and van Persie and Walcott wide on the sides. After some mistakes by the defense Cissé managed to scare the visiting side with two shots, especially one saved by Almunia at 17'. The Arsenal had a few shots, one with Cesc and another with Walcott, but the action for the Gunners in the first forty five minutes was null. The lack of possession by the visiting squad was a remembrance of the games against Hull and Fulham. The first half finished with a lack of depth and attack by the Gunners.
At 56' in the second half, a goal was disallowed by the line referee. Apparently Theo's cross was on the pitch but the narrowness of the play gave the benefit of the doubt to the ref. The deperation began to arise for the visiting side with the first fifteen minutes of game on. With the desperation arising, at 73' Nasri was brought in and "Robosaur" Bendtner was playing as a right winger, provoding balls that Cesc cannot give. In 81' a Bendtner flicked pass found van Persie inside the box, but Gordon's deviation evitated the equalizer. The stunner came at 84' with a tremendous goal by Sunderland. Song was the artifice of that mistake and the Gunners suffered for ten minutes to get a glorious equalizer through Cesc Fabregas. The terrible exit by the Scottish keeper permited Cesc's header to get in. Apparently Cesc is the only one that can save the wretched guns far from Gallas objective. Thus in this way the painful leveler came with Nasri revolutionizing the midfield.
Finally a renowned voice has risen against the monopoly of opinions for the Gunners. Martin Keown has told the problem in the Arsenal defense; Gallas. Although this remark is more than obvious (and the clear attacks made here in more than one post) the point is that a well known figure has stand against the common utterances madde by ex-Arsenal players. This stances can be as Ian Wright's: "The young side will achieve something this year." Or Henry's "Major Silverware will be at Emirates next year." Keown softened his opinions later in order to not being caught later with the board. The point is that he made his voice and that is more than a step forward.
Cesc position was strangely forwarded and as some have noticed it, the difference between 4-5-1 and the current 4-4-2 to 3-3 is of a huge importance. Wenger had tried several times to forward Cesc in order to bring his old attacking abilities from the grave. The point that Mr. Wenger has not noticed is that he converted the young attacking midfielder into a creative CENTRAL midfielder. Trying to reconvert a cemented personality will dissapear him from the pitch. Thus Denilson and Song occupied central midfield with Cesc behind the striker and van Persie and Walcott wide on the sides. After some mistakes by the defense Cissé managed to scare the visiting side with two shots, especially one saved by Almunia at 17'. The Arsenal had a few shots, one with Cesc and another with Walcott, but the action for the Gunners in the first forty five minutes was null. The lack of possession by the visiting squad was a remembrance of the games against Hull and Fulham. The first half finished with a lack of depth and attack by the Gunners.
At 56' in the second half, a goal was disallowed by the line referee. Apparently Theo's cross was on the pitch but the narrowness of the play gave the benefit of the doubt to the ref. The deperation began to arise for the visiting side with the first fifteen minutes of game on. With the desperation arising, at 73' Nasri was brought in and "Robosaur" Bendtner was playing as a right winger, provoding balls that Cesc cannot give. In 81' a Bendtner flicked pass found van Persie inside the box, but Gordon's deviation evitated the equalizer. The stunner came at 84' with a tremendous goal by Sunderland. Song was the artifice of that mistake and the Gunners suffered for ten minutes to get a glorious equalizer through Cesc Fabregas. The terrible exit by the Scottish keeper permited Cesc's header to get in. Apparently Cesc is the only one that can save the wretched guns far from Gallas objective. Thus in this way the painful leveler came with Nasri revolutionizing the midfield.
Finally a renowned voice has risen against the monopoly of opinions for the Gunners. Martin Keown has told the problem in the Arsenal defense; Gallas. Although this remark is more than obvious (and the clear attacks made here in more than one post) the point is that a well known figure has stand against the common utterances madde by ex-Arsenal players. This stances can be as Ian Wright's: "The young side will achieve something this year." Or Henry's "Major Silverware will be at Emirates next year." Keown softened his opinions later in order to not being caught later with the board. The point is that he made his voice and that is more than a step forward.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Choosing oneway or the other
"Cuando el barco de hunda, las ratas saltan"
[When the boat's sinking, the rats jump]
I am enraged at Cesc Fabrgas. His recent declarations have always take place in transfer windows since his inclussion to the first tema but this time he has crossed the line. While being a favorite amongst many posts of this blog he is the best player the Arsenal has produced in the ten years. Even though the critical approach in this space is fomented the fact that this statement was made has irritated me. Cesc has proved to be amongst the best performers of the team, really forming himself in the raanks of the London side. Winning the hearts and minds of the fans, Cesc has become the most cherised and loved player from the squad. His geniality has derived directly form the Wengerian philosophy, showing himself to be the best and the excellent practical examle of this style.
In Spain Cesc is ignored. The game he has been developing for the Arsenal side was ignored until players like Xavi and company understood that slow football is not the way out. Even with Euto victory Cesc was rested in favour of slower and less talented players such as Xavi, Iniesta or Senna. Dynamic players such as De la Red, Silva and Cesc were ignored, due to the latter being in the spotlight of the "otherness," The long and dull argument of Catalunya. Let my words be clear; I am not undermining any circumstsance of rebellion nor the blood shed of the heroes of Catalunya but I am tired of the role of victims that the Barcelona players and board members express, even in on the pitch.
Cesc wants to return to its roots, to play where he was refused to and also where is not admired by people. In Spain even Catalunyans who live in the outskirts of the city are called Spaniards and not Catalunyans. Cesc is regarded by Spaniards as a foreginer, a denizen who did not play nor did something for the country of Catalunya.
In this space I have shown my worst affections to all what Barcelona represents. The only thing that I respect from this club is my main inspiration, Johann Cruyff. Even when this sounds paradoxicall and contradictory whoever has read many posts or at least a considerable amount of them knows my support to his figure, which does not strive in the Barcelonism. I hate above all the teams in the world the FCB and what it represents. I hate all its player (even the pair of traitors in their starting XI), their institution and their history and whatever and whoever supports that team without any fundamented reason gains my despise. Far from being objective, these players from FCB are mediocre and untalented. This has ever happened since my youthful days of player as far as 1993.
Whether he wants to win titles or money is less important. He knows that he eventually will gain something at Arsenal and become captain of the aquad but it is true that the FCB is far more popular world wide in Arsenal. That does not matter at this moment, but what matters is how the team plays. Barcelona is "famous" for its style of play. But lets face it slow players like Xavi or Iniesta are so overwhelmelingly enlarged that, when everyone can make a deconstruction of a football match of them the values, individual, of this type of players diminishes to the minimum percentaje.
My theory concerning the victory of the Spanish side on the last EURO is not the game of Spain itself but the feedback brought to it. The resurgence of the EPL as the most importatn league in the world and the level-drop in Spain brought the ways of the world to look for some of this talent to the Isle. Cesc, at the early teenage, was brought at the ranks of the London side and players like Xabi Alonso, Reyes, Luis Garcia paved the way for Torres and Arbeloa. Spanish football since the last European Liverpool victory was taken seriously, but not by the Spanish. When this experience was capitalized and the feedback across the cannel was completed the Spanish game evolved.
I have been ignoring and evading the subject but it is time to face it. He is a talented player but today, today he has gained at least dome depise by yout humble writer, that will erventually disappear if he stays at Arsenal. Of course he is the heart of the team and the fact that his presence on the pitch changes the team is different from my despise to FCB, or is it the same?
[When the boat's sinking, the rats jump]
I am enraged at Cesc Fabrgas. His recent declarations have always take place in transfer windows since his inclussion to the first tema but this time he has crossed the line. While being a favorite amongst many posts of this blog he is the best player the Arsenal has produced in the ten years. Even though the critical approach in this space is fomented the fact that this statement was made has irritated me. Cesc has proved to be amongst the best performers of the team, really forming himself in the raanks of the London side. Winning the hearts and minds of the fans, Cesc has become the most cherised and loved player from the squad. His geniality has derived directly form the Wengerian philosophy, showing himself to be the best and the excellent practical examle of this style.
In Spain Cesc is ignored. The game he has been developing for the Arsenal side was ignored until players like Xavi and company understood that slow football is not the way out. Even with Euto victory Cesc was rested in favour of slower and less talented players such as Xavi, Iniesta or Senna. Dynamic players such as De la Red, Silva and Cesc were ignored, due to the latter being in the spotlight of the "otherness," The long and dull argument of Catalunya. Let my words be clear; I am not undermining any circumstsance of rebellion nor the blood shed of the heroes of Catalunya but I am tired of the role of victims that the Barcelona players and board members express, even in on the pitch.
Cesc wants to return to its roots, to play where he was refused to and also where is not admired by people. In Spain even Catalunyans who live in the outskirts of the city are called Spaniards and not Catalunyans. Cesc is regarded by Spaniards as a foreginer, a denizen who did not play nor did something for the country of Catalunya.
In this space I have shown my worst affections to all what Barcelona represents. The only thing that I respect from this club is my main inspiration, Johann Cruyff. Even when this sounds paradoxicall and contradictory whoever has read many posts or at least a considerable amount of them knows my support to his figure, which does not strive in the Barcelonism. I hate above all the teams in the world the FCB and what it represents. I hate all its player (even the pair of traitors in their starting XI), their institution and their history and whatever and whoever supports that team without any fundamented reason gains my despise. Far from being objective, these players from FCB are mediocre and untalented. This has ever happened since my youthful days of player as far as 1993.
Whether he wants to win titles or money is less important. He knows that he eventually will gain something at Arsenal and become captain of the aquad but it is true that the FCB is far more popular world wide in Arsenal. That does not matter at this moment, but what matters is how the team plays. Barcelona is "famous" for its style of play. But lets face it slow players like Xavi or Iniesta are so overwhelmelingly enlarged that, when everyone can make a deconstruction of a football match of them the values, individual, of this type of players diminishes to the minimum percentaje.
My theory concerning the victory of the Spanish side on the last EURO is not the game of Spain itself but the feedback brought to it. The resurgence of the EPL as the most importatn league in the world and the level-drop in Spain brought the ways of the world to look for some of this talent to the Isle. Cesc, at the early teenage, was brought at the ranks of the London side and players like Xabi Alonso, Reyes, Luis Garcia paved the way for Torres and Arbeloa. Spanish football since the last European Liverpool victory was taken seriously, but not by the Spanish. When this experience was capitalized and the feedback across the cannel was completed the Spanish game evolved.
I have been ignoring and evading the subject but it is time to face it. He is a talented player but today, today he has gained at least dome depise by yout humble writer, that will erventually disappear if he stays at Arsenal. Of course he is the heart of the team and the fact that his presence on the pitch changes the team is different from my despise to FCB, or is it the same?
3rd Contemporary English Literature Colloquium
http://coloquiodeliteratura20.blogspot.com/
For anyone interested in Contemporary literature (from 50's on), we are organizing a Colloquium on the subject. the convocatory is open for English literature students. Any dount you can mail me but I think the link is very clear. The event will take place at Salon A y B from 21st of April to the 23th. Please join and comment.
Here
For anyone interested in Contemporary literature (from 50's on), we are organizing a Colloquium on the subject. the convocatory is open for English literature students. Any dount you can mail me but I think the link is very clear. The event will take place at Salon A y B from 21st of April to the 23th. Please join and comment.
Here
Arsenal v. Porto 4-0 30/Sep/08
A dangerous win at home was the Gunners antidote to the wave of criticism against the previosu EPL loss. This is dangerous I repeat, beacause this tell us that we are not seeing the Gunners, either at full strength or the real Gunners which I think are not the winning behemoths, but the meak fourth-spot contenders. This can be misinterpreted. The Invincible were mentioned this week by Wenger with the sole purpose of halt even more criticism against the London side. Obviously the current squad is far from that title-giant.
Defensive difficulties have been reviwed here at "Deviations" but Hubbard makes the distinction of why is the "Fake" Arsenal loosing when not suppossed to.
The danger of this win remains a question; which Arsenal is the true team? Against Hull or against Porto? We have seen both faces throughout this seaosn; Fulham, Kiev and Twente, Blackburn. This question will be answered next April and hopefully for all of us favorably and with silverware in our hands.
First half was really moving by both teams and a side-netting at 8' by Walcott, on a swaying movement around the box and another curled van Persie shot at 12', were amongst Arsenal occasions. Rodriguez over-bar header was a shy attempt by the visiting side, that was nullified from more than the first part of the first forty five minutes. Pacy Theo on the right side created inumerable chances for the home squad. A doubleshot by Lisandro at 28' troubled Arsenal for a few minutes when the "Permissive Arsenal" rose from dullnes. In a brilliant play by Cesc, followed by an Adebayor cross, van Persie gave Arsenal the lead at 31'. Certainly it was the Porto defense reluctance and later failed to mark the Dutchman on the entry through the box. Porto tried during the remaining ten minutes to compose their form but the fact it was the presence of Arsenal midfield that dissapeared the visiting squad. Adebayor headed the second for Arsenal at 39'. Cruising with no resistance the home side went on a fine definition after the first half.
Second half arrivals came with a very early goal. Robin van Persie managed to pass through Bruno Alves' mistake and with the outer part of the boot scored for the third mark in the score-sheet. A clear chance was missed by Nasri on a delightful run by Theo on 58'. And the game went calmly for the London side and approaching 70' Bendtner controlled the ball on the lingers of the box and fell by a foul. Adebayor capitalizaed for the Gunners and the four goal quota was covered. A shot on the bench of Arsenal after a play by Vela inbox showed no preocupation for the current state of the team by Mr Wenger. Arsenal won due to the terrible defending rather than a solid attacking display. There is no other way round. Bendtner at least had three chances but he was not as precise as in other cases. The mobile "Lanchero" Vela seemed established in the left winger position while undestanding really good with "Robosaur" Bendtner. The inertia of the game saw Porto pull more than in the previous eighty minutes but in the end the result was more than resolved.
Defensive difficulties have been reviwed here at "Deviations" but Hubbard makes the distinction of why is the "Fake" Arsenal loosing when not suppossed to.
The danger of this win remains a question; which Arsenal is the true team? Against Hull or against Porto? We have seen both faces throughout this seaosn; Fulham, Kiev and Twente, Blackburn. This question will be answered next April and hopefully for all of us favorably and with silverware in our hands.
First half was really moving by both teams and a side-netting at 8' by Walcott, on a swaying movement around the box and another curled van Persie shot at 12', were amongst Arsenal occasions. Rodriguez over-bar header was a shy attempt by the visiting side, that was nullified from more than the first part of the first forty five minutes. Pacy Theo on the right side created inumerable chances for the home squad. A doubleshot by Lisandro at 28' troubled Arsenal for a few minutes when the "Permissive Arsenal" rose from dullnes. In a brilliant play by Cesc, followed by an Adebayor cross, van Persie gave Arsenal the lead at 31'. Certainly it was the Porto defense reluctance and later failed to mark the Dutchman on the entry through the box. Porto tried during the remaining ten minutes to compose their form but the fact it was the presence of Arsenal midfield that dissapeared the visiting squad. Adebayor headed the second for Arsenal at 39'. Cruising with no resistance the home side went on a fine definition after the first half.
Second half arrivals came with a very early goal. Robin van Persie managed to pass through Bruno Alves' mistake and with the outer part of the boot scored for the third mark in the score-sheet. A clear chance was missed by Nasri on a delightful run by Theo on 58'. And the game went calmly for the London side and approaching 70' Bendtner controlled the ball on the lingers of the box and fell by a foul. Adebayor capitalizaed for the Gunners and the four goal quota was covered. A shot on the bench of Arsenal after a play by Vela inbox showed no preocupation for the current state of the team by Mr Wenger. Arsenal won due to the terrible defending rather than a solid attacking display. There is no other way round. Bendtner at least had three chances but he was not as precise as in other cases. The mobile "Lanchero" Vela seemed established in the left winger position while undestanding really good with "Robosaur" Bendtner. The inertia of the game saw Porto pull more than in the previous eighty minutes but in the end the result was more than resolved.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
One Year
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
First and foremost, Thank you. Whether you are a casual visitor, a Google arrival, a loyal friend, a dear reader or an enemy I want to thank each person who has contributed to the creation of this space. Today "Deviations" has accomplished one year of birth. Accordign to Shynistat it had been 2,884 page views and 2,252 visits since the creation of this blog exactly one year ago. Among the relevant things presented in this site are the Arsenal drop in the last half season the EURO coronation of Spain and several reviews of my literature readings
I know it can be painful and annoying to the reader sometimes, when the blog is not uptdated but I have tried my best and currently I am posting each and every game of Arsenal's new season. I promise to bring more literature posts and military also. I promise also to post more frequently to keep you updated.
I would like to thank especially to George, Rodrigo, my brother and my dad who are amog many readers.
I also would like to ask the audience to contribute with comments; feed back is necessary and I would gladly receive them even if its positive or negative.
Once again THANK YOU fot the support and for keeping my dream; to write about the things I love.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Arsenal v. Hull City 1-2 27/Sep/08
Tigers made history today at the Grove, inspired and undervaluated, Hull came from behind score-sheet to record the second home defeat for the Gunners and beat nearly one hundred years of no-winning against the North Londoners. The Gunners were permissive to the utmost level of perdition, while the defensive aparatus simply did not work. With this defeat, the Londoners gave the lead to Chelsea at the top of the league. Reports from press conference by Mr. Wenger blames defense, at last. The truth is that William Gallas again in his old costume, made the difference, but for the Tigers!
First half saw the Arsenal had most of its chances through midfield. The Hull wreckage at 20' was evident, with the Arsenal having at least 10 crosses with a goal disallowed. Arsenal's leitmotiv was present again this time when the main question was the minute of the arrival of goal. This game style became predicive at 27' with the overlappings and crosses being the only approach to goal. Robin van Persie did not work as the 'link' as in previous matches but rather as a lost striker. The Tigers regained position by the minute and by 35' it was obvious that the game was leveled in both quality and quantity. Although Nasri couls have made the difference it was the Hull defenders who proved their resilence. The first half ended with the Gunners showing themselves as a joke.
If the first half saw the suffering of the Arsenal the next forty five minutes were a unnecessary suffering. Even though the lead for the Arsenal came at 50', with an own goal by McShane on a deflected Cesc shot, the home side could not made difference even with possession. Robin van Persie's play inbox at 55' showed some glimpses of will but the tatter was just beginning. At 62' Geovani stunned everyone with a tremendous strike that defeated Almunia in a ridiculous way. An incredible volley, a shot outside box gave Hull the push they needed to complete their transition to an attacking visiting side. Four minutes after a mistake by Gallas (no, him? Really?) gave Cousin a perfect chance to head the ball past Almunia's mark. Hull was winning the match at 70'. It is evident that throughout the season we will encounter performances such as this one. The lack of talent and professionalism of Gallas was shown with the control of a long ball in four touches. Yes, four touches. Something that for Cruyff would seem a impossible happened. Wenger desperation reached orbital dimensions with the substitution of Walcott for Vela. A shot but Cesc was saved as well as the enormous ammount of crosses in the remaining minutes of the match. As the time kept its way the missery for the London side came evident with the final whistle.
First half saw the Arsenal had most of its chances through midfield. The Hull wreckage at 20' was evident, with the Arsenal having at least 10 crosses with a goal disallowed. Arsenal's leitmotiv was present again this time when the main question was the minute of the arrival of goal. This game style became predicive at 27' with the overlappings and crosses being the only approach to goal. Robin van Persie did not work as the 'link' as in previous matches but rather as a lost striker. The Tigers regained position by the minute and by 35' it was obvious that the game was leveled in both quality and quantity. Although Nasri couls have made the difference it was the Hull defenders who proved their resilence. The first half ended with the Gunners showing themselves as a joke.
If the first half saw the suffering of the Arsenal the next forty five minutes were a unnecessary suffering. Even though the lead for the Arsenal came at 50', with an own goal by McShane on a deflected Cesc shot, the home side could not made difference even with possession. Robin van Persie's play inbox at 55' showed some glimpses of will but the tatter was just beginning. At 62' Geovani stunned everyone with a tremendous strike that defeated Almunia in a ridiculous way. An incredible volley, a shot outside box gave Hull the push they needed to complete their transition to an attacking visiting side. Four minutes after a mistake by Gallas (no, him? Really?) gave Cousin a perfect chance to head the ball past Almunia's mark. Hull was winning the match at 70'. It is evident that throughout the season we will encounter performances such as this one. The lack of talent and professionalism of Gallas was shown with the control of a long ball in four touches. Yes, four touches. Something that for Cruyff would seem a impossible happened. Wenger desperation reached orbital dimensions with the substitution of Walcott for Vela. A shot but Cesc was saved as well as the enormous ammount of crosses in the remaining minutes of the match. As the time kept its way the missery for the London side came evident with the final whistle.
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