A late comeback

[Photo: Futbol Constant at Blogia]



While the football world speeds to the rocky times of December, I still haven't updated a single thing of the current season. I hope that Zidane promoting a pair of new shoes and Sonic Youth could calm the angst in which I lve. Anyway promptly I will post each and every game by the Gunners before the mark of 14th of November, the day Ireland will face France at home. That should be an interesting match.

I will as well post some things regarding our dear old friend W. B. Yeats. In the year of his 70th anniversary of death I have paid little attention to his drama. In any case things form the Irish will follow as soon as my school life slows down a bit. Remeber that the World Cup is coming so better be tuned in for some news.

Meanwhile I recomend to all of you to watch the U-17 Tournament sponsored by the FIFA. Some great matches have been player, specially with Mexico's one-nil win against Brazil as well as the magnificent display from Muniain and company in the Spanish victory over the Unites States, of 2-1.

I have bought Generation Kill in its second edition. I will shortly be reviewieng and discussing some of it with you!

Cheers and enjoy the vids.

"As Poor Richard says"

[Photo: Toonpool]



In these harsh times when economic meltdowns, low budgets and restrains one can only search advice in the deeper lays of human knowledge. And who else but Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard Almanack. Even when for some is just a witty guide or a one must never ognore the wisdom of Mr Franklin. So popular the writings have become that even a Facebook group has been created.
Just a few quotes should suffice to give us all the strength and patience to face this wretched world.

...buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shallt sell thy necessaries.

´tis foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance.

´tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel.

Those have a short Lent, saith Poor Richard who owe money to be paid at Easter.

...creditors Poor Richard tells us have better memories than debtors.

The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor.

Woman and wine, game and deceit,
Make the wealth small and teh wants great.



Franklin, Benjamin. "The Way to Wealth." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Seventh Edition. Vol 1. Nina Baym ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008

Preseason Roundup

I will try to be succinct and direct instead of the usual ramblings and deviations from this site in order to give a short account of the 'minor' matches that Arsenal faced in preseason, from Barnet to Hannover 96. I divided in a very arbitrary and subjective way, Arsenal's preseason; from 'minor' games here reviewed to 'major' ones such as the Emirates Cup and the Orange Cup against Valencia. The new feature for blog posts in the new season are the extended photo research as well as credits given every time, triple grammar and spelling revision, triple space between items in posts and the division of paragraphs into more narrow and less tiring columns. Enjoy!



Barnet v. Arsenal 2-2 18/Jul/09


[Photo: The Sun]



With a frugal demonstration of unfitness- prolonged by holidays and summer tournaments- Arsenal drew two goals against Barnet, in the now traditional first preseason match at Underhill. The main objective of this match was pretty much to reunite the team, get everyone a kick in the arse and start the preseason.

Immediately the lack of fitness due to interminable parties and holidays in sunny beaches was shown, but the principal milestone was to watch the new boy Tomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere and the return to the pitches, as captain of the team, of Tomas Rosicky.

Also among the highlights of the match was the inclusion of the new formation; the popular 4-3-3. It seems to work rather well with certain strikers that can open as winger but the problem is the industrious work that the full-backs have to male in order to cover the sides. The key for the proper function of this tactical display is the midfield.

The lead came through Arshavin- two minutes from break, who fired at pint blank after a combination with Wilshere and Sánchez Watt. Right after Arshavin's goal Yakubu equalised. IN the second half the remaining goals arrived; for Arsenal, Barazite and for Barnet, Charles.



SC Columbia v. Arsenal 1-7 21/Jul/09


[Photo: Arsenal Highlights]



Arsenal trashed in their second start of the preseason, as it was expected from the previous game at Underhill, as the Gunnners visited SC Columbia in their second game of the preseason. Braces from van Persie, Bendtner and Ramsey raised the tally to eight goals this preseason, while Gallas headed past Taschwer to raise the tally to seven. The lone goal from the home side was by a purely defensive error by Almunia and Gallas.

This kind of mistakes are the ones that should be avoided, since many of those goals gave minor teams- Fulham, Stoke, Hull- the kind of upperhand for robbing precious little points from the Gunners last season.
The opposition showed no clear signs of persistence and the class and style showed by even the youngest of the Londoners were sufficient enough to give Arsenal a six-goal advantage.



Szombathelyi v. Arsenal 5-0 27/Jul/09


[Photo: Daily Mail]



The game against "Zombie Citeh" proved to be Arsenal's first clean sheet in preseason, with a display of five goals, and bagging a discreet amount of goals- considering that the preseason standard requires large numbers of goals against weaker teams. Tomas Vermaelen looked solid again, still it is too early to make a judgement of the sort.

Bendtner accomplished his successful spell in front of goal with yet another two goals as well as Eduardo.
The displays by Armand Traore and Jack Wilshere were the most noticeable, aside from the opposition's dismal exhibition. Van Persie's penalty, superbly taken, sealed the scoresheet on five.



Hannover 96 v. Arsenal 0-1 29/Jul/09


[Photo: Telegraph]



The first 'real' game that actually tested the Gunners' patience was in the visit to central Germany. It was a "one half-time game" and the only goal came from skipper Cesc. The Gunners were not as resolute and resilient as in the previous practices yet the win is more of a reward than an actual achievement. In any case the different roles and the new adaptation of the 4-3-3 were among the interesting topics to highlight in that evening.

From the German point of view it is curious how the crowd reacted: should the home boys reacted and taken their chances, surely a a goal was to be found. Instead the ramblings and defensive facilities gave by Cherundolo saw no idea, less the game, to test for extended periods of the game a team of the stature of Arsenal.

Indeed it is early in preseason as the matches progress and even if we venture to make a foreground it is quite obvious that these practices serve as mere introductions to what the Emirates Cup could bring. Proper preparation matches come thick and fast before the Champions League Qualifiers, and for that date, as well as the first away trip to Liverpool, all things should be in place for the real contention for silverware.

Gold Cup Final 26/Jul/09

USA v. Mexico 0-5



In what appears to be another one of those memorable clashes, Mexico crushed a young American team in the final of the Gold Cup to earn their fifth, making them the most successful team in the history of the tournament. If the perennial and ubiquitous date of the 12th of August- now more used as a commercial motto than a real football date- should sound near enough, Mexico again faces the troubled question of facing the 'A' team of the US.
Although this may be asserted that the reactions among Mexican media, particularly the two rival broadcasters, were over-passionate, exaggerated and . Even though this win is in a rather different context than the one that would be the most appropriate for a revenge from the 2002 World Cup exit the fact that a five goal gap against a senior US team, taking into account the context of the last matches against the northern team, is nothing strange to highlight.
It is imperative that this win should not be taken as a push to the next match but as a step. Next 12th will be a completely different context. Yes, with advantages to the Mexicans but with the most deadly team that Bradley could assemble to counter the defeat of today.

Bradley, in the post-match interview, was visibly angry and above all, frustrated. Particularly one comment showed his annoyance against the defeat: that loosing two titles in one month is by far a 'lesson to learn.' It is obvious the irritation this commentaries bring, and the Mexican people should look after this particular attitudes; Bradley and his senior team will come with everything they have in order to zest another powerful punch on Mexican ego. The result of that will come next 12th and as always, we will have full coverage of the matter.







Both teams, in whichever perspective the reader look, struggled against their current rivals to reach the destined date. And both, more Mexico than the US, soared in level, particularly the Spanish speaking country (regarding the infamous incident against Panama). With the prospect of another revisiting of the rivalry between the two powers of the zone the match started really tough. For extended periods both teams struggled physically for possession to the utmost of stances. The match turned quite even reaching the 20th minute, the Americans having twice arrived through corners and the opposition through rapid, fast two-touch passes. Holden was the most dangerous threat for Magallón's defence, with one wide opportunity at 28th. Beckerman wide shots proved to be a constant despite being wide off the mark in all occasions. While both sides exchanged possession at will it was the Mexican team, that had posed with the last couple chances a real threat.







The outrageous score came after the first ten minutes of the second half: Giovanni again, was thumbled and Torrado executed from the spot to give the visitors the lead. Before that it was Rogers shot over the bar the moment that the Americans were closest. In order to attack more, the American full-backs simply step forward leaving huge gaps between both the midfield and defence. Obviously the man who revolutionised the game was young Gunner Carlos Vela, playing wide in the left. In one of those counterattacks, Vela set Castro who failing to score found Giovanni in the rebound, extending the gap for the Mexican side. American keeper Perkins could not see the end of his misery when five minutes later Giovanni released Vela, who stroke the ball in his Sheffield United-chip style.
Even as if it were not enough the Americans looked overpowered against such quick, agile counter-attacks and the momentum obviously put the Mexican team with the opportunity to score the fourth, in which again Giovanni was involved, just that the scorer was Castro, two minutes from end. Heaps' frustration earned the young American a straight sent off after a violent collision with Vela. To sum things up, Franco scored the fifth.