Is there any blame?
I don't think I'm in any position to point fingers.
Looking at the starting line-up, it was what the fans wanted, with Diaby absent and Djourou instead of Silvestre. There was no doubt about Gibbs in left back.
Except that the formation was a 4-2-3-1. Sometimes I wonder why Arsene Wenger is hell bent on putting Adebayor up against arguably, one of the best centre back partnership in the world. They're good, but when Gallas was around with Toure, it could rival that too. The point is that Adebayor vs either 1 of them is a handful already. Adebayor handling 2 of them at the same time is probably creates the least chances. And then he forced Robin out left with Fab in the centre, who interchanged with Nasri.
Arsenal started out well, but that lasted all of everything before the 7th minute.
The mentality was that they had to score 2 more to win so they went on a full scale attack from the beginning and if the lack of experience failed to remind them that they have to defend. All United needed was an away goal to seal their passage through. They already had the lead they brought from Old Trafford so counter attacking was what they should employ. And they did it to perfection.
The first goal was key. And Gibbs has been doing well till perhaps a while ago but there is no blame here.
Playing an odd 4-2-3-1 formation means it's not so straight forward who has to cover the full backs. In a 4-4-2 it is understood that the left and right flankers cover the full backs on their side. In a 4-2-3-1 the 3 up there tend to concentrate more on attack, leaving the full backs utterly exposed. Obviously SAF knew that to send on Park instead of Tevez to cause trouble and it worked. Took all of only 8 minutes.
The only thing I enjoyed was Robin going over to Gibbs to tell him it's ok. So you'll expect the more senior players to rise to the occasion.
And then Almunia fails to keep out Ronaldo's free kick.
There is yet again, no blame here. The quality of the shot was impeccable. And no one did their homework. After that goal Almunia improved to keep out the rest of the freekicks but it was a knack too late.
And this is precisely why Arse fans do not want any 'Almunia for England' talk. That kind of added pressure to try and entice Fabio Capello instead of concentrating on the game is not welcomed. Almunia may not have set out to do it, but mistakes like these drags him into the spotlight, and and rather bad one at that.
Still nothing compared to David James' error at the weekend but no Almunia for England please.
And there is also no blame for the third goal because this is a cup game and Arsenal threw so many bodies forward, all United needed to do was nick possession and send it towards our goal instead.
Then just before the last 15 minutes of the game, Darren Fletcher brought down Fabregas from behind, which the entire world proclaims to be a bad decision. I don't really care. Like it matters. I have no sympathy for a team who's worrying which player they won't have for the final.
I have only anger for the team who allowed it to happen yet can anyone pin point who to blame? It was a collective team effort and a comprehensive defeat, like SAF planned every minute of that game. Not to perfection though, because he wouldn't have wanted that red card.
Biggest game of their Arsenal careers? Makes me want to cry thinking about it. The fans did their part until some couldn't bear to watch when it was 3-0. The players want the fans' support and watch till the last minute but srsly, do they deserve it?
60,000 in the stadium with their flags and voices, placing their happiness and trust in the hands of the 11 people on the pitch and they get screwed over in the 8th minute.
I tried to be positive and it lasted all of 3 minutes before Ronaldo's freekick went in.
sidenote: David Beckham couldn't be a bigger cunt. He made use of Arsenal to maintain his fitness and now comes back to jeer. He should have flown back to Manchester instead. Does SAF take in strays? Or will he take the opportunity to throw a boot again?
And I now know why everyone misses Highbury. The Emirates is magnificent, but the games she has hosted so far haven't lived up to it's billing.
And I don't want to read in the news about revenge or whatever shit because the team will be playing Man Utd again on 16 May at Old Trafford. It doesn't work that way. It's a load of crap so if anyone even mentions that I'll get really pissed.Labels: Almunia, Champion's League, Man Utd, one of my many theories
A Little Drunken Madness @ 4:37 AM
Harry Redknapp is not a very smart man.
In fact, he is insanely stupid.
With all the hype surrounding Almunia for England, we the fans of Arsenal do not want it to happen for purely selfish reasons because his commitment to the club is all we need, not that being in the English squad complicates that. It just exposes him to more pressure and who needs to mix with the likes of Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard, Terry and other cunts? His life is complely cunt-free right now so we would all love to keep it that way.
And it sure as hell doesn't mean that we do not that he has the required quality to excel at the international level. He is well capable, and has done a fantastic job since replacing Jens Lehmann as number 1 at Arsenal. Old Harry thinks Lehmann is much better, and goes on to proclaim that he'd rather lose the world cup than win it with a Spaniard in goal.
Give the English fans the world cup and they won't give a flying fuck about who's in the team. Old Harry also thinks David James is waaaaaay better than Almunia. I'm sure he missed the Portsmouth game at the weekend since Sp*rs was playing at the same time. Didn't bother with replays I guess. Lost his TV remote.
And he thinks that had Lehmann stayed another year he could be in the running for England's no. 1 as well. Ha ha? Lehmann has played for Germany and was number 1 at that point in time. And Lehmann is also waaaaaaaay better than James. Dumb old Harry did not do his research for the column. Lehmann spent 5 seasons at Arsenal. That translates into residing in England for 5 years. He will never be considered for the England custodian post because he has played for Germany before. Obviously, with a Sp*rs-like brain, he must have forgotten anything to do with foreigners representing England.
To make fun of Almunia not making it to the Spanish team is really low of him. If he had bothered to notice, the Spanish team is rather Spain-based throughout. Almunia did not make his mark in Spain but in England and already in front of him is Spanish favourite Iker and then Reina. I think Almunia has spoken more English than Spanish in his entire football career. Harry failed to mention that Almunia married an Englishwoman.
Harry Redknapp is really a huge dumbass but who can blame him? He manages Sp*rs.
Alrighty then, as reported, RVP will make it for the United game. That is the best piece of news we've had in a long long time. And that should mean that Arsenal's going to play a 4-4-2 which I think, makes us all very extremely happy. Like yay! So it's going to be a fantastic game to watch and I think Man Utd should be very afraid.
Them and their one chicken think the world of themselves. We often pay when we miss opportunites to put results beyond doubt. Now we should turn the tables and inflict the pain instead, for a damn change please.
The greatest game the Emirates has ever hosted, kicks off in 26 hours or so. Sp*rs down the road will be so quiet you'll hear the mice squeak.Labels: Almunia, Sp*rs
A Little Drunken Madness @ 12:45 AM
Have you ever woken up and felt like dying?
I think most of us just want to go back to sleep perhaps, to completely have nothing better to do than to r & r.
Except that this morning I woke up wanting to die.
I completed season 2 of Private Practice and the season finale, as is turns out, is a massive cliffhanger, which basically leaves people guessing and speculating for 5 months till season 3 starts. Am I dead of dead?
Then Grey's anatomy is 2 episodes away from their season finale. The tricky part is, I can't wait for the next episode which airs 7th May. However, I have 2 papers, 7, 8, and then 12, 15 with the season finale on the 14th. Final paper which is the heaviest in terms of content, on the 21st.
Dead it is.
Besides the doom and gloom of exams and my favourite TV shows abandoning me at the same time, we get news that dudu's season is over.
Thanks to Rio Ferdinand. We all would love to point freakin fingers at that cunt who'll make it back for the Arsenal game (as expected) but dudu won't. It could be said as an accident waiting to happen etc etc. but Ferdinand is an asshole so no logic shall be applied.
Dudu wasn't injury prone when he first arrived. He was slowly being introduced to the English game by the boss. Just when he hits his groove, Martin Taylor decides to go 2 footed, studs out, into his left ankle. And now Eduardo's going to be in and out of injury. It's as though he had just completed his rite of passage into the Arsenal team. Congratulations on being injury prone?
It's times like there you know you have to forgive whatever shit caused the shit to happen but it's difficult to just let it go. Not my place either, Martin Taylor didn't break my ankle. I would have set his house of fire if he did so obviously dudu's the gentleman who doesn't have fiery thoughts. Let's hope dudu has a good shrink too, because psychological battles are just as hard.
Ahem. Like Tomas. From his episodes, I have concluded that he isn't very strong mentally. It's hard to blame him with all the setbacks he faced when he thought he was coming back. These things aren't good on the brains. It's stress and with the thought of your career being over at the back of your head if it doesn't work out doesn't help.
At least he's back in light training and we hope to see him next season. Dudu too.
After Almunia's performance against Man Utd, the Almunia for England shit is starting again.
Seriously.
It's getting very old and I don't see why the boss would want that. He's our dude, and should play for Spain simply because he's Spanish. If he can't, it's bloody freakin okay. Do not need to add pressure plus expose himself to more chances of getting injured.
And because English fans (fans of England) are assholes.
We have Singapore and Chinese Nationals(China people) representing us in table tennis but half the population don't really care if they win or lose. We don't want to stick anything up their whatever. There is no blame.
Ok Portsmouth tonight. I don't know what line-up to expect but I'm craving Vela. Please Arsene.Labels: Almunia, Eduardo, one of my many theories
A Little Drunken Madness @ 1:22 PM
I have attacked the tub of nutella in the fridge. It may well be a tub of butter but just something greasy and unhealthy in large amounts.
I'm pretty emotionless right now because I don't know what to feel.
Before the game there was so much hype and whatever and all the hopes and dreams that the people who can make a difference on the pitch will do so.
Sometimes, I hate it when the whole team talks too much about a lot of shit.
Diaby spoke.
Adebayor spoke.
And those two were the idiots who should be shot. Adebayor in particular, for even saying that he will score at Old Trafford. What a performance to prove it without the damn goal.
Diaby was just being Diaby. Gives me a headache thinking about it.
Bendtner came on and did well but not enough. I would have preferred him coming on for Diaby with Theo shifting to the left.
Overall, the first goal was a result of diabolical defending once again and United fans would have loved it because it was an assist from Silvestre. He did okay though, for the rest of the game.
Almunia kept our bid to reach the final alive and I can't express how grateful I am to him.
Alright, back to my nutella. Too stoned to really do anything besides knowing we need to win 2-0 at the Emirates to go through without the horror of penalties.
And that is without United scoring. That means we'll all die of cardiac arrest watching the game, especially if the team holds out till the final minutes. Just one goal could just take away everything.
Yes nutella is calling me.Labels: Almunia, Champion's League, Man Utd
A Little Drunken Madness @ 4:48 AM
After that freak penalty win, there are two conclusions from one players:
Almunia claims that night was worth 2 years of experience
Almunia is very very proud
Hah. If you read carefully you'll notice how his nerves were wrecked until one Max Tonetto blew it wide.
Now for UEFA being such a bitch. Like a really horrible disgusting whore. I don't know how many stabbings are needed to disqualify dangerous venues such as Rome from football finals. When Man Utd fans were caught in scuffles before it didn't hit home that much. But a gooner? Doesn't sit well with me at all. While Cristiano Ronaldo will play in Italy for the women, it is evident that the men can't control their stabbing tendencies.
Eduardo's out of tomorrow's game. His injury might just have hampered his penalty taking. The team still carried him on their shoulders and did their jobs excellently well. I hope all the euphoria (as illustrated in the picture) will not hamper them in the league like they've won something already. If anything, it should serve to remind them of the potential happiness which is possible next season again if they managed a 4th place finish. Although they don't need to think about Villa and Dubai. Sounds more like a publicity stunt. Or they want to attract a Man City Sheikh. Man City who wants David Villa. I'm sure Cesc will advice him otherwise.
We'll have Walcott for tomorrow and a fresh Arshavin! Aren't we all glad to have him even if it's just for the league?
Looking forward to the game.Labels: Almunia, Aston Villa, one of my many theories
A Little Drunken Madness @ 8:48 PM
It's 6.40am and I may well just start preparing for work, as with those who caught the game.
First thing's first, we always knew that those missed chances in the first leg would come back to haunt us. On the 9th minute, it did, thanks to some slack defending. What a way to concede.
Wenger said before the game that Arsenal will attack. Uh-huh I say. I can't recall any clear cut chances. There weren't even missed chances seriously. It was like he fielded the exact team which loved the 4 goalless draws in a row to get a draw in Rome. Well, a draw would have sent us through without all the hassle of extra time + penalties but SRSLY, gosh. If we thought the team would be more purposeful playing in Europe I guess we've all just been proven wrong.
Eboue for all his troubles and attempts at redemption, was silent throughout. Either he was intimidated by the size of Roma or he didn't want to get involved in any incidents which might just send his crowd meter back to -832740738490. Maybe I should be thankful that for a lack of incidents rather than something similar to Sp*rs.
I suppose after some thought I can understand why Wenger played Robin and Nicky. Roma are huge. But the midgets of Arsenal who are full of craft can wrongfoot a giant and cause all sorts of problems. Vela could be one of them after his fantastic performance midweek. But sometimes, all these don't really matter since we're through anyway, right?
It's just those nerve wrecking moments we all had to go through. And how we knew very well that had chances in the first leg not been missed, we wouldn't be put into such a situation. It's like painful.
Then there's Totti. I used to love him, dating back to World Cup days. Now he's an absolute twat. Ass. He owned Denilson through dirty means. 180+30 minutes of dirtiness. I believe him, as the bloody captain, would take on the responsibility of carrying the team on his shoulders etc etc etc. But he's such a cunt. If I never have to watch him play again my world would be merrier.
It's a good thing we're through. And the team can watch Manuel Almunia's time in goal during the shootout and be more motivated to win the damn game in normal time. He is absolutely attrocious. The only consolation is that Doni is too. ManUre have Edwin Van der Sar who owns penaties. He has won trophies on penalties. When was the last fucking time anyone ever had a 7-6 shootout? It's times like these you know you miss Mad Jens. Before the dude even steps up to take the kick he puts them off in every way possible e.g. dispute that ball not on the spot, shouting at the player, shouting at own player etc etc etc. And I guess that works. Except that I think Almunia tried to put of one Julio Baptista and it didn't work. Fancy facing 2 different beasts in consecutive games. (Burnley's keeper is also nicknamed the beast) Also, he totally screwed up that chance which would most certainly put Roma through. Like when Eboue comes on during a nil-nil to try and change the game to a win, I know with my entire being that it's a freakin lost cause. When Baptista came on I knew we would win somehow.
But of course, we didn't in normal time plus extra time. So I guess he his made it remain status quo the same way Eboue does. They're in the same league.
Dudu didn't take his penalty as well and it's not something we expected from him since he totally has the calmness to stay cool. But it's ok, the rest of the lads showed composure and converted it all till one of Roma's lost it. Comments on BBC thinks Max Tonetto could be the name of the next super ice cream. Is conetto Italian? I only know they're all made in Malaysia.
Attention shifts to the league now. Martin O'Neil took this opportunity to bring his Villa team for a R & R plus training in Dubai. So now they're heated up by the sun for the season's run-in. I suppose he didn't learn from Moscow where they threw the game in favour of the league and then managed to throw away a 2-0 lead in the last 4 minutes and then getting owned by Man City. Look at Arsenal when players are rested. Nasri was bollocks. Denilson as usual. Van Persie just wasn't creating. Bendtner was back to normal. Normal being bad.
So. resting players can be a bad horrible thing. I hope it's a bad horrible thing for Villa. Blackburn beat Fulham and we face them next. Fulham like owned us in the nil-nil game and then they got creamed by fucking Man Utd in the FA Cup and now Blackburn too. People up their game against Arsenal but Arsenal do not always up their game at all.
Arsenal is supposed to be exciting and the players knew what to do on the counter attacks. The final balls into the final third were supposed to be quality. Now it's all rubbish and I only have one word: lacklustre. I guess Arshavin does bring a different dimension to the team but he's freakin cup-tied. Without him the team went back to normal i.e. cannot score, except that this time the defence went back to being sloppy.
Goodness gracious.
I thought the learning curve could apply. It's upward sloping LAH. When will the fans stop being disappointed? I suppose for now most of us are just thankful to be through. Whatever lies ahead doesn't sound like great fun though. The funny thing is, there isn't any Italian team in the last 8 and 50% of the teams are English. Septic Blatter will have much to say.
P.S. I wish all travelling fans safety from vicious Roma fans.Labels: Almunia, Aston Villa, Eboue, Roma
A Little Drunken Madness @ 6:39 AM
SOOOO.
I am treating this place with neglect. Ho-hum. Nothing much I feel strongly about so I shouldn't waste time and be efficient and post only when I have issues.
Football issues. Which human being on earth doesn't have issues.
Pre-match conference and Wenger is talking up his players once more. First Almunia then Bendtner. Bendtner I understand. But Almunia? Heh. He's been absolutely superb. And those clean sheets should be down to the defence too but the keeper has gotta be in command. Afterall, he has the best view or something coming at you. I've played keeper and then it is horrible when the defender is blocking your view lol. It's funny. And I can't be keeper.
So Bendtner. Nothing more to say really. He's young, blah blah blah. But he's a striker. Strikers don't miss sitters. Or strikers don't have a record of 1 goal from 10 sitters because how often do you get 10 sitters in a row? The manager wants to remind us to appreciate his efforts but sometimes Nicky comes off as really cocky and it's a bout of disturbia. We all know from the Cesc Fabregas show that he works really hard at training so I guess I have to start having faith. Maybe he can make things happen on a consistent basis in seasons to come.
And aren't we all glad no one speaks of one Eboue. I don't know what I would have done.
Now we all hope Stoke will be a bitch to Villa like they were to us. Villa do not boast the best home record so let's hope Rory Delap and co. will make something happen there. By the way, it sucks to hope other teams screw up, especially a team like Villa. I don't have much contempt for them besides them keeping us out of the top 4. It would feel so much better to see United or Pool screw up. Pool screws up quite a lot for our entertainment but I hope no one else noticed that they too managed 1-0 at the Bernabeu. Shhh.
Oh I realised I don't like Gareth Barry. I hate traitors. He must be 80% of the way into his dream now of Villa playing Champion's League football, the reason why he wanted to hit the road to Liverpool.
Fulham up next tonight. You know, after watching football for so long, I just realised after Roma why games midweek are in the evenings. Like SRSLY. It's because people have to work. And the reason for early kickoffs on Saturdays and Sundays are because people don't need to work.
What a realisation. Hence kick off at 1930. After so long.
For Fulham, we have Diaby back. He was fantastic against Roma and if he should keep it up tonight we should finally break the stupid goalless duck. Arshavin should be up to nearly full fitness by now and it's exciting to be able to see more of him. And I wish we had the depth to rest Robin tonight but we don't. The next game is Tuesday and with such a busy run-in, I hope those injuries don't start popping up again. The good thing is that Walcott, Eduardo and Adebayor will be back within the next 2 weeks. Then Rosicky (who hasn't worn either of the new kits this season) and Cesc.
Like new signings?Labels: Almunia, Aston Villa, Bendtner, Diaby
A Little Drunken Madness @ 2:29 PM
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