From Moppet to Man - Our Love Affair with Cesc

So in the midst of a summer fraught with "will he or won't he", Cesc Fabregas finds himself voted the EA Sports Player of the Season by the fans. His fans. Our player. Even though he missed 11 games last season, no one can deny the magnitude of his role on the team. He ended up with 19 goals and 16 assists while flirting with the idea of leaving us for Barfa after yet another trophyless season. And we still love him.

I think we loved Cesc as soon as he came to Highbury all skinny, fearless, and fiery - threading the needle and making tight passes to Henry at a mere 16 years old. I loved that silly mullet and how the older players patted his head when he got his first goal in the Carling Cup only four months after joining up.



I've loved watching him grow up from that skinny youth to a man who can grow a full beard as best as the rest of them. He's matured as far as temper on the pitch (remember his red card against Everton?) He's grown so much that when that car salesman-of-a-coach Phil Brown accused Cesc of spitting on his crazy assistant Horton, I knew it was a lie even before Cesc came out with his official statement of denial. He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't embarrass the club that way. He would not embarrass surrogate father Arsene that way.


He loves us fans, too. Don't think because of this summer saga that he doesn't. Remember what he said to the press about his relationship with the fans:

"I will only say one thing, I have great respect for Arsene Wenger, for Arsenal Football Club and for the Arsenal fans. Sometimes not even in my house have I felt more loved than I have at Arsenal.



And regarding his relationship with Wenger he stated:

“He means everything to me. He is the person who put his trust in me. Without him, I don’t know if I would be a professional footballer today. I owe him a lot and I have a special affection for him.”

And of course, don't we love him for his performances on the pitch? This year was the pinnacle for him so far. His cameo at Aston Villa, his making the penalty against Barcelona with a broken leg, and his first full season as the Arsenal captain have been just a few of the high points. Make-me-want-to-Barfalona have pursued "the one that got away" for over two years now. And until this summer, Cesc has staved off the rumors and the scandal-loving pundits. Until now. Not winning silverware this last season, I think, pushed Cesc into pushing Arsenal. And now he's stuck until August in a possible club tug-of-war that's played out in the world media. This battle is probably not as intense as the one in his heart, though. I hope, after putting his trust in Wenger, Cesc remains at least one more season at the Emirates where we can continue to applaud, be amazed, and appreciate him for the great player that he is. He will leave at some point, and that will be a sad day indeed. I just want one more season of lovin' Cesc.

Ouch...That One Hurt -Which is a Good Thing

It usually takes me a few days after a tough loss to write a post. That's a bad habit, I know - but there you are. The US losing to Ghana left me almost as disappointed as the Arsenal loss to Birmingham (although not as disgusted) - and that, I think, is a good sign.

I could break down the match and talk about the areas where we were poor - how Ghana took advantage of the lanes between our full backs and center backs, how Altidore couldn't finish anything to save his life - or even run to save it (anybody else notice his lack of speed?). I could talk about how tired we looked after having only two days off or how Bradley needs to choose his squad better so he doesn't have to sub at the 31st minute limiting his options for late in the game. But I'm not. Well, not into great detail, I mean. Instead, I want to write about the upside of disappointment.

At the World Cup in 2006, the USA crashed out in the group stage and in last place to boot. And I didn't watch, nor did I care. I didn't want to admit that the US soccer squad just were not up to par with the rest of the world. And to be frank, I didn't want to be laughed at by my football fan colleagues for rooting for a team that most Americans, and most people on the planet, didn't care about. No one I knew was shocked at the poor results.

This time around was a different story. I had teams/nations I followed in the Cup due to them having Arsenal players on them. But my favorite team was the one that belonged to my nation. I went out of my way to look up our US players and learned about them, and I tried to teach you (my five readers) about them as well. And the more I knew, the more personal the team felt to me. And all of a sudden, I wanted them to do well. I wanted them to do well because the USA gaining legitimacy in the world arena would help soccer overall. I wanted them to do well because I discovered that many play for European clubs I am familiar with...and because I saw how hard they worked as a squad with only a few well known faces. I saw how cohesive they were and how they had each other's backs. In short, I wanted them to do well because I became invested and thought they deserved it.

And then came the tie with England. We won thanks to a gaffe by a goalie, but I was excited to see the creativity and determination. Then there was the tie against Slovenia and the injury time winner against Algeria. What a cracker of a game that was. And everyone became excited. We could get to the quarter finals, I was sure of it. I wasn't sure that we could go farther, so I knew I was being realistic. But I had hope. I tried to spread the excitement and that hope to friends, family, and even strangers who I overheard talking about the World Cup. Yes. I was a bit obsessed about it.

Game day against Ghana brought enthusiasm and anticipation as I watched with one of my brothers in Indiana, texted my newly converted fan- of- a- brother in Las Vegas, and made sure my parents were watching. I was, in short, a bundle of nerves. The match started, and my stomach dropped at that early goal. Not again! But then calmness came as I remembered how good we were at equalizing. How we didn't give up. Hope rose once more as I saw Dempsey again and again fight to create something...and then he got fouled in the box. Donovan made the penalty shot. And we were back in it.

You know the rest. Overtime came and we played with tired legs. I watched as Ghana once again exploited the lanes between our back four and scored. And we were done. Ghana played keep-a-way and ran down the clock. Sigh.

The question is...what happens now? The fervor that swept US soccer and non-soccer fans alike will prove to be permanent or temporary (my little brother texted me after the game blaming me for getting him excited about a sport he never really paid any attention to before now). Coach Bradley may stay on or get fired. And the players? Donovan is supposedly getting courted by the EPL team Manchester City and Dempsey will probably go back to England for pre-season with Fulham. I'm not sure about the rest.

Me? I get to go back to writing about my beloved Arsenal. Pre-season starts for us soon. Back to the familiar excitement rooting for familiar players. But you know...the USA plays Brazil on August 10th for some sort of international friendly. Hmmm...I might just have to watch that.

Miracle on Ice? How About a Miracle on South African Soil

My eyes welled up with tears and my chest swelled with pride as Landon Donovan slid to the corner flag head first and waited for his team to dog pile him in celebration of his 91st minute goal...and their entrance into the "Sweet 16". Watching Donovan fighting back tears in his post-game interview made me cry all over again. Who cares that I was standing in the middle of a local McDonald's (the only business with ESPN at 10:30 AM)? This was a moment in history for the US squad. Getting jubilant texts from my little brother in Las Vegas - whom no one would ever describe as a soccer fan - led me to the realization of just how big a moment this was. Not just for the US Squad, but for soccer. It was a moment when US citizens exploded in cheers mixed with relief. A moment when perhaps non-Americans scratched their heads in mild astonishment. After all, Americans haven't won their group since 1930. Last Cup we ended up in last place in our group and went home with our tail between our legs. Not this time. Not in that way. This moment has made it possible - no, almost mandatory, that US citizens become invested. Well, I'm invested and proud - not only because of the grit, determination, hard work, and perseverance of the squad - but because we did it without the stars of France, or England, or Spain, or Brazil. We did it without having public mutinous moments recorded by the press. We did it because we wanted to fight and prove ourselves,and because, I think, our players love the game. So to those of you who have not given soccer a chance or for those of you who think the USA is a joke in the forum of football - South Africa is the place and the 2010 the time to get hooked. Below are game highlights.


Speaking of players - let's highlight a few of those who played today and whom have not as yet been introduced.



Hercules Gomez started in place of the suspended Robbie Findley. Hercules is 28 years old and started off with the L.A. Galaxy before bouncing around two other MLS teams and landing in the Mexican league and playing for Pachuca (along with teammate Jose Torres). Bradley likes Hercules because he has confidence which he showed yesterday shooting right away and making the Algerian goalie work.


Hercules was joined by midfielder Maurice Edu - or Mo as his teammates call him. Mo plays in the SPL (Scottish Premier League) for the Rangers who won the division this year. Mo spent much of the time out recovering from knee surgery and is still trying to shake the rust off. Despite his lack of playing time this year, coach Bradley started the defensive midfielder this game, and subbed him into the last one as well. When healthy, Edu is speedy, and can push forward as well as help out the back four.


Speaking of the back four - Jonathan Bornstein got his start against Algeria in place of Gooch who struggled against Slovenia. Jonathan played left back and Carlos moved into the center back position. Jonathan is of Mexican-Jewish ancestry and plays for Chivas where he was converted from a striker to a full back. The back four were strong against the Algerians even though they had not played together in that combination before, and Jonathan helped keep that side of the filed relatively quiet. The rumor is that if Jonathan has a strong Cup performance, Europe could be a possibility for him.


Last player for today is a sub that came on for Jonathan in the 80th minute to provide more attacking. DaMarcus Beasley (a Fort Wayne Hoosier by the way) is a striker who plays in the SPL for...the Rangers. He came to the Rangers via PSV Eindhoven which is in the Dutch League (the Eredivisie). The report on DaMarcus is that he has speed, defensive capabilites as well as offensive, and Champions League experience but can be inconsistent. DeMarcus did not score yesterday, but his fresh legs helped stretch out the Algerian defence.

That's it for today other than an Arsenal mention in that it's Robin vs Song today. Cameroon will be playing for pride only as mathematically they are out, but Denmark (Bendy) needs to beat Japan today to advance.

Okay, more news later I'm sure. Oh, I almost forgot...are you hooked yet?


USA 1-0 Algeria (Highlights)

Simão | MySpace Video

Kould Koz Be on His Way?/Mad for Madjid/Cesc Saga Continues/ and US Player Breakdown III

For those of you who were trying to give central defender Laurent Koscielny from the French League team Lorient a proper nickname- as his given is hard to memorize - I have it. He's Koz - not as in Bill- mind you. Not terribly original but catchy I think. I thought of Laurie but already figured that it would be too girlie - even for a French player (I didn't mean that). Anyway, it sounds like a done deal as Wenger and the Lorient coach and only the final price needs to be agreed on. I'm thinking Koz is the player Wenger stated was going to be signed before the Cup was over...



If not,


perhaps it could be the Algerian/Rangers Defender Madjid Bougherra who received accolades from Wenger for his performance against England. "Madman" (another great nickname people) was one of the reasons Rooney and Terry both had difficulties. Look at the pic...Rooney looks like a scared Muppet. Madman stands his ground. Pretty reasonable to expect as he's 6'3" and near 200 pounds. Hard to push him off the ball. I don't think Arsenal are actually going to pursue him, I'm just saying...nice idea. Let's give Koz a chance - he's 6'1" and a wiry 167. He may read the game well just like Vermie. Dimensions aren't everything remember?

Elsewhere - sigh - Barcelona continue to pour gas on the Cesc fire this time by stating that Arsenal will "give in" on the selling of our Captain. FIFA and UEFA are ignoring the Spanish giants as usual. I'm hoping that the cosmos allows justice to ensue even without the ruling authorities' involvement. Spain failing spectacularly at the Cup would help. It would be just the start. Having Barcelona have all their loans called in leading them to financial ruin would help too. What about Xavi, Joan and Sandi all coming down with huge herpie warts all over their mouths...the representation of their insidious oral malfeasance. Okay, okay...I'll stop. Just saying. To make matters worse, arseblogger reported today of ITV commentator Peter Drury introduced Cesc as he came on as a sub against Honduras as a Barfelona player. How many non-idiots are out there? Raise your hands please. Harumph. Just as I thought. Three.

To end things today is Part III of the US Player Breakdown. Just two players today in preparation for our HUGE game tomorrow. What remains are two forwards. Before we start, just a word that Landon Donovan was listed by me as a midfielder. He can be an attacking midfielder or a forward depending on the formation. Okay clarification over...let's get going.



Jozy Altidore - Jozy, I was surprised to learn, is only 20 years old. He seems older when he plays which is encouraging. He played well in the second half last week against Slovenia. He's currently on loan to Hull City of the English Premier..oops no, they just got relegated (hee-hee - sorry but I have no love for that team) to the Championship level. He as on loan there from Villareal and came to them from the New York Red Bulls. I think if Jozy has a good Cup, he could stay in Europe, get some playing time and develop into quite a player. Youth is on his side.


The other forward to keep an eye on is Robbie Findley. Robbie plays for the MLS in Utah for Real Salt Lake. He was, I gather, a bit of s surprise pick but coach Bradley stands by his decision based on Robbie's superior performances in the training camp and qualification rounds. He's new to international play and is 24, so if he does not do well this Cup, youth will not be a fall back excuse for him.

Okay, that's it for today. The French are on their way to losing to South Africa...no one is shocked at that I don't think. But it has given me an idea about how money doesn't inspire...loyalty does. More on that tomorrow but of course, the main even is at 9:00 AM CST as the USA look to WIN BIG against Algeria. Until then...

Hurricane Type Winds Knock My Power Out/ Denmark Knocks Out Cameroon/ and Mon Dieu, Those Frenchies!

It's short and sweet today as we Hoosiers are recovering from one heck of a summer thunderstorm. Who has heard of 90 mile an hour winds in Northwest Indiana? This was the closest to hurricane type winds experienced in the Midwest. No tornadoes, thankfully, but the damage seems the same. I still have no electricity after two days but luckily, the parental units do, and I am taking advantage of their hospitality. Thankfully, I am back to watching World Cup games (muted at times in order to allow the rest of the household to have decent conversations) and, of course, back to blogging.

Arsenal news is that Song is the first to go home after Denmark sent Camaroon packing with a 2-1 defeat. Song got to play the whole game, looks to me uninjured, and now gets to rest up for the start of our season. Hope he's not too disappointed. On the bright side, Bendy scored for Denmark and seems to be recovering from a pesky niggly injury.

Other news - rather scandalous - are the goings on in the French squad. By now you probably all know that Anelka left the game at half-time after spatting with Domenech saw him dropped for the second half. He has since retired from international football. He left the Cup! To further add fuel to the fire, the whole team walked out of training in protest of Anelka's exclusion, Capatain Evra leading the way by arguing with the training coach. The French squad, instead of leaving the grounds totally, did sign autographs for the fans that showed up for training, not wanting to disappoint. They also put out a statement about not wanting to let the fans down. That's not the end of the story as French team director Jean-Louis Valentin has decided to return to France and resign. Quite the hullabaloo, eh? Farcical even. Although the French squad claims to have the fans' feelings in mind, those who have spent time and money to travel to South Africa and root on their Les Bleus squad may be rueing their vacation plans and embarrassed to boot. Basically I think there are too many egos from the players and signs of insanity from the coach. That's quite a cocktail.

I guess that's it for now. Back to cleaning up the yard and chainsawing ripped off tree limbs...not kidding. Tomorrow I'll have Part III of the US Player Breakdown. Until then...

France bombs, a New Partner for Vermie, and US Squad Breakdown Part II

Mais Non! Les Bleus lose 0-2 to Mexico. Vela looked bright enough at the start but ended up getting subbed off early due to what looks like a pulled hamstring. Shame. And yet not totally unexpected. He seems to be keeping on par for the course in that regard. Anyway, those French Arsenal players showed little enthusiasm. Diaby was back to looking average. In fact, no one on that team look like they want to be there at all. Sad really. I'm thinking the next round of games on that group - especially Mexico vs. Argentina - could be tasty.

Onto transfer news...according to the Daily Mail, Arsene is planning on signing a defender before July. Well, before the end of the World Cup anyway. Here's the link. I could have just included Wenger's quotes but wanted you to get a chance to see Vermie's picture. It reminds me how much I missing watching him play and growl around the pitch. Anyway, Sol's probably out and Gallas as well so we need at least one defender. Which is a surprise to... no one.

Okay. Onto Part II of US Player Breakdown. Let's move up the pitch to the midfield.


Up first...the Coach's son Michael Bradley. He's originally from Princeton, NJ (where Dad got his college education as well) and plays for Bolrussia Monchengladbach. No, that is not a typo. It is a team in the German Premier League (Bundesliga). He went to Europe in 2006 which made him the youngest US player to be signed by a European club as he currently is only 22 years old. Mike doesn't seem to be afraid of much, including being suspended as his temper has gotten him into trouble. He looks to channel that ferocity into his feet as well as his mouth and is known for being versatile at both offense and defense. I have to say, I like the look of Mike in this photo as opposed to his current choice of shaving his head bald. He's too white to be bald. Makes him look like Casper the Ghost....a scowling Casper.


Clint Dempsey is an attacking midfielder who is my favorite on the squad. Not only can he have some tremendous game-changing moments, but he also is a decent defender not scared to slide into tackles to win balls back and has a bit of an attitude. He plays for Fulham in the English Premier League and has been there since 2007 having transferred from the New England Revolution of the MLS. Go Clint!


Landon Donovan is probably the best known player on the squad. He's the star of the L.A. Galaxy and spent a few months recently on loan to Everton to keep his match fitness for the World Cup. Before the Galaxy he did try Europe by playing briefly in the Bundesliga before settling in the States. Donovan is doing well and could seek to play out a couple of years in the EPL as the Everton crowd seemed to appreciate him. He's fast and can shoot with either foot. Plus, he's kinda pretty.

Last up for today is Jose Torres. Torres plays professionally in the Mexican League for Pachuca but being birthed in Texas allows him to play for the US although he could have chosen Mexico due to his father's heritage. Torres is known for being cool and composed with a good first touch allowing the US more time of possession. At 5'5" perhaps he's the smallest player on the squad but a low center of gravity can be useful to a midfielder who has to twist and turn to hold onto the ball.



These four started against Slovenia today in the 2-2 draw against Slovenia. I know the disallowed goal was controversial, but the US putzed around the whole first half and have only themselves to blame for not earning all three points.

That's it for now. More players tomorrow and perhaps some more transfer gossip as the Cesc-Gate has been less active since Spain got kicked in their collective arse by Switzerland. Until then.

Karma Kicks In as Spain Bombs - and US Player Breakdown Part I

Hee, Hee, hee. Okay, so I'm an immature- stick- my- tongue- out- at- you- I- told you- so- little kid. Barca players reaped what they sowed in their 1-0 loss to Switzerland. Spain is not Barcelona, I know. But, it sure does possess a lot of those Barfa players, and I have such a bad taste in my mouth from having to swallow all that "Barcelona DNA" crap that Xavi has been serving up for almost two years now that I don't feel sorry for the heavy favorites. I didn't get to see the match but read the reports and it sounds like Spain played their pretty, passing, attacking football and came up against a very determined Swiss defense and an outstanding goalie. Plus, I have to say I hope this is a wake up call for Cesc as he got not one minute of play. It was all Xavi and Iniesta. Cesc should get used to picking splinters out of his rear if he insists on transferring. All in all, I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. On another note, how ironic is it that we just sold Big Phil before the World Cup and in his first game on the world stage as a Fulham player...he gets injured fouling his own player? Here was a chance for him to show Arsenal that we made a mistake in how we handled him and instead he reinforces the wisdom of the decision. Poor Phillipe.

By the way, did anyone else get tricked when they noticed the only goalscorer of the game was a Fernandes? I did a double take when I noticed the name under the Swiss flag. Weird.

So, Thursday matches bring us no Arsenal players until the last match of the day when it'll be Diaby et al versus Senor Vela. France better step up its game or it could be a Spanish speaking duo headed to the sweet 16 out of Group B.

Alright, now for the first edition of Players of Team USA. I thought I'd start in the back and work my way forward. The reason I decided to blog about the USA team is that 1) If there are any American readers out there, you probably (according to statistics) don't know many of your national players, and 2) this will help me become better acquainted as well.



So, onto the Goalie. The big guy starting between the sticks is Tim Howard. Tim plays in the English Premier League for Everton. He hails from New Joisey and first played for the New York Red Bulls before crossing the pond and signing for Manchester United. Tim tried to become first choice there but couldn't break through Van der Saart so settled into playing first choice for Mr. Moyes. I have seen him play and think he's a good fit for the Toffees.



Carlos Bocanegra can play center back or left back. Carlos started off with the Chicago Fire but now, he too, plays in Europe. He was at Fulham for about six months, (lots of Americans have played for that team with different managers at the helm. I wonder why? Hmmm...) and now plays in the French League for Stade Rennes. Many consider him the veteran defender and rock for the back four.

Steve Cherundolo plays right back for Team USA and for Hannover 96, a team in the German League (Bundesliga) which was a second tier team but is now in their premier tier. Steve has spent his whole career with this club. And considering he's only 5'6", he must be decent to keep his place there. And he must have some mad hops and good header winning %. That was difficult to spit out. He has a high % of winning headers...erm...he's wins a lot of headers? You get the idea.



Jay DeMerit is also a center back option for the US and played in the English League Championship level team Watford with a rumor that he was being released from the club just this season (although he's still listed on Watford's official website squad list, so who knows?). He's originally from Green Bay (ugh...Cheesehead alert!) He does have lots of cup experience with Watford vying in the Carling Cup and FA Cups.



The last defender being highlighted today is The Gooch. Or Oguchi Onyewu born in our nation's capital and playing for A.C. Milan. Gooch hasn't gotten much playing time in Serie A because of a serious knee injury (see here for his out of the ordinary offer to play). Before Milan, Gooch played at Standard Liege in the French League and did a stint at Newcastle on loan. The word on Gooch is that he is very physical but can get outpaced on the dribble.

All four of these defenders started against England. Rumor was that Steve had a bit of a niggle after the English match but looks to be okay for the game against Slovenia.

I guess that's it for now. More tomorrow as the Thursday games could be interesting and I'll look to educate us on on the US midfield. Until then...

Merry Christmas in June as Green's Gaffe Gifts us a Goal and Barcelona: the Club for the Hearing Impaired

Okay, let's try this again

Wow! The USA draw against England and I wasn't bored watching. I only got to watch the first half, mind you, as I was working concessions at my nieces' Little League Field (praying for a rainout). I got home in time to see highlights of the first half and watched as we came out of the tunnel for the second and held England to just that one goal. Can I tell you how relieved I am that I did not see any semblance in the USA play to the MLS style? Thank goodness. What I saw was organization and hard work.

I know many football fans round the world reckon the US lucked out with Green's mistake and that England deserved the win. England's offense was clicking more than ours for sure. There are players on England's squad who have a rock star quality and are way more talented than those of the US squad. And I know that only a few of the US players have made it playing overseas. Gooch is in Italy, Donovan went on loan to Everton, Dempsey plays for Fulham, and Howard for Everton. We also have those who couldn't hack it over there. DeMerit washed out of Watford and Spector struggles at West Ham. So why the draw? Like in so many team sports, hard work and unity can offset talent. I saw Dempsey track back several times and make tackles on defense. Players filled in slots and covered until their teammates recovered. I think the game yesterday was a reminder that unlike individual sports, cohesion, drilling, and a team attitude of "I got your back" can outdistance pure ability. I am looking forward to dabbling on the football forums this week with confidence and optimism.

So onto - sigh- Barfelona who seem to think the World Cup was created only for their chance to pressure Wenger and Cesc..again.

"Cesc has arrived in South Africa to play the World Cup, but there are a lot of football people there. Arsene Wenger will be there and there will also be representatives of Barca (there)." - Joan Oliver - Barfa's corporate director

And then, he goes on to demonstrate his need for hearing aids:

"This is a three-sided affair and the third side (Arsenal) have not expressed themselves in any way," .

Ummm...really? Perhaps instead of hearing aids, Barca need to learn sign language. And I can think of one hand sign they should recognize immediately. The whole thing would be laughable if it wasn't so disturbing. Sheer lunacy.

I guess that's all for now. The highlights from the England vs USA game is below. This post ended up being shorter than the original as I tried to put the lost ideas back onto the page. Trust me, the original was much better.

There are no Arsenal players playing today so I'll take a look at the Germany vs Australia match as one of my best friends is German, and it will give me a chance to take a look at the Aussie goalie Schwarzer with whom we've been linked. Monday is a different story as RVP is playing Denmark. Hopefully we can see both Robin and Bendie.

I hope to have a USA squad breakdown in the coming week. Until then...

Tech Issues

My apologies again. After three hours spent writing my post for today, it was lost while trying to insert video. When am I going to learn to save on a Word document? I pouted and went to bed too upset to piece the post together again. I promise to do so this afternoon before the Germany and Australia match. But first church, and mowing in between the rain. Thanks for your patience.

All Quiet on the Barcelona Front

Shhhh...do you hear something? Mumblings in Spanish? No? Well, that would be because Barcelona have shut up after hearing Wenger's response to the Cesc question.

"We want to keep our best players, that is my huge determination." He also expects Cesc to have a great WC and to come back and have a great EPL season. If you read the whole quote from the article, I think he is telling Cesc that, not only is he staying, but he better have a great captain-like attitude to go with it. So once again, Barcelona have been told to back off. And apparently are considering David Silva in Cesc's stead. Consider away and please shut up your mouthpiece Xavi who insists on using the term "Barcelona DNA" everytime he opens his pie-hole. How incredibly tedious he is.

I watched the video from this interview. It took place in South Africa where Wenger will be a football commentator for France. He looks so much better than when he signed Chamakh. For one, he got his hair cut. He also is all smiles and back to his gentle joking self with the press. It's nice to see. Apparently after having come to a firm decision about Cesc and the official press release stating we are not selling, Arsene has had a chance to relax.

Okay then, the World Cup starts tomorrow and Saturday is the big game England Vs US. Apparetnly Rooney got himself into a spot of bother by arguing with the ref in a friendly the other day and got himself a yellow card. So, of course, the question is not only if Rooney can keep his temper under control but if teams are going to target that temper and try to get him into trouble. The US were asked that and responded, of course, in the negative. As you know from my previous post, I am officially rooting for the US and have to say I'm impressed with the lack of injuires on the squad so far. Now since I said that I'm sure Dempsey will end up with some sort of a severely ruptured thingamabobby.

And lastly, we are still being linked with Joe Cole. But I'm not sure that rumor is valid for two reasons. 1) Joe is listed on that STOOOOPID transfer link on the Arsenal website which means - according to the majority of bloggers out there- that it's not true and 2) Wenger stated he wanted all the transfer business done before the Cup. Ummm...Chamakh is it for now? Apparently Fulham is not letting go of goalkeeper Schwarzer, so back to the transfer drawing board.

I think that's it for now. Here's hoping that we continue sh-shooing Barfa and that Xavi disappears into a giant divot out on the pitch. Shouldn't be that hard considering his vertical impairment.

Have fun cheering for your favorite team and players...go Cup!

Top Five Reasons I'm Rooting for the US in the World Cup

And no, it's not just because I'm American. It's not because, as one forum member challenged, Americans love to get all "Apple-Pie" during global sporting events. To be frank, watching the MLS this season has been agonizing. One can see why some Europeans perhaps sneer at the mention of our soccer league. It's clear American soccer really hasn't developed its own style yet. It's too young and is still a mix of European and South-of-the Border influences. But, as some of our national players play in Europe - and not in the MLS- I don't think we can judge our chances by the play of the MLS. I think it will come down to how well they have gelled as a team and how willing they are to just go for it every single game. Wenger doesn't discount the US team at all stating:

"America, don't forget, beat Spain in the Confederations Cup," he told the Arsenal magazine. "They are a team who prepare well, they have a competitive mentality and seem to be able to raise their game when it matters."

So hey, if Arsene thinks we may have a chance against England, why shouldn't I get behind them? Now, this doesn't mean I won't be watching our Arsenal players represent their countries (I'll have my fingers crossed while chewing on them at the same time, hoping they don't get injured.) I want them all to have good performances to segueway into a good season. I especially want the Netherlands to do well so I can see RVP play in fine form. Nevertheless, the US of A is the team for me this World Cup. So, I have compiled my top five reasons I am rooting for the old Red, White and Blue.



1) Everyone Loves an Underdog
And trust me, I know we're an underdog. We are ranked 14th (up from 16th in 2006) which isn't bad out of 32, but it's not top five or even top ten. And, I may be paranoid here, but the fandom of football offers us a bit of a sneer which never really bothered me before. But now that I have become a fellow football fanatic, I take those sneers as challenges and hope Team USA rises to meet them.

2) Lack of Theo in England
England has no Arsenal players in it and I just cannot root for a team that consists of John-sleep with my best friend's girlfriend -Terry and Steven-dive-a-holic-Gerrard. Blech.

3) France doesn't really have a chance
Of course, France has the highest % of Arsenal players and our much adored Titi, but the manager Domenech seems to have a somewhat combustible relationship with the players, so I don't see them going as far as they did in 2006.

4) I Want to See Clint Dempsey Play
I know I've written about him a lot lately, but he does seem like a bit of a wild card. And wild cards are fun. Donovon may be the star, but Dempsey could turn the tide.

5) America playing better soccer can only mean good things for football in general?
I ended that last one as a question because even if the Americans play better this time around and we draw more respect and more fans - leading to more money for the MLS and maybe keeping our top players in country- and maybe drawing more Europeans to the States. Is that better? In the global community we live in, the multi-nationality make up of the teams would reflect other European clubs. And if that's what the world wants, then yes, football will reap the benefit. If one wants countries' teams to reflect their own nationality, then perhaps no. Okay, that was a heck of a run-on sentence. Hopefully you get my drift. This point was tougher to explain than I thought it was going to be. Anyway, the point being...?

Okay then, those are my reasons, for good or ill. Leave a comment for good or ill, too. I hope to hear from somebody...here's to a fun and competitive World Cup.

Apple pie anyone?

P.S. - Sorry about the lateness of the post. It was to be published two different times and each time I lost my Internet connection and the entire post. Fingers crossed as I hit "Publish"...

Arsenal Flip the Bird at Barfelona- in the Classiest Way Ever!

Oh the joys of being an Arsenal fan! Not only do we strive for beautiful, entertaining football, but we are, without a doubt, a class act. Witness the hard nosed aplomb with which the club has handled Barfelona's "official" request after months...no years... of them using the media to tap up Cesc. Here is the official statement from the club website. I included the whole thing because it's full of "back off you rule-breaking, classless, bullying hacks" gems.


"Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is under contract with the Club until the summer of 2015. He is a highly-valued member of the team and part of our future plans.

"We have followed recent speculation linking Cesc with a move away from the Club but as there has never been any official approach for him, only two informal exchanges, in which we made it abundantly clear that we have no interest in transferring Cesc, we have refrained from publicly passing comment. However, yesterday evening we received an offer from Barcelona for Cesc and in response, we immediately and resolutely told them once again that we have no intention of selling our captain.
"To be clear, we will not make any kind of counterproposal or enter into any discussion. Barcelona have publicly stated that they will respect our position and we expect that they will keep their word."

The bits in bold font are from me as I would like to offer my own interpretation. I'm reading between the lines, but here is what I think the underlying message is for Barfa in those comments.

"Highly valued member of our team" - obviously, you didn't offer enough in the first place considering Cesc's abilities and his long-term contract which would have to be bought out you brainless twats (I'm not a Brit but I do love that word so I am offically stealing it for all Americans!)

"Part of our future plans"- and since that contract is until 2015, go look for someone else.

"We have refrained from publicly passing comment" - unlike you who should be officially sanctioned for tapping up poor Cesc for the last four years, morons.

"We immediately and resolutely told them once again that we have no intention of selling our captain." - So stop asking, stop talking, go manipulate some other player to help win your insipid Presidential election.

"We expect that they will keep their word" - which you probably won't and then there can be no denying the colorless, soulless, characterless cretins that you are.

I hope Cesc finally realizes who he is trying to join...who his "heart" really belongs to. I hope his father realizes it too. Why would you not want your son to play for a club that shows restraint, character and class - and who has developed your son into a world class player? He's one of the best on the planet, thanks to us. I hope Cesc has as good a PR department as Arsenal does to help repair any damage there is with the fans. There will probably be some trust issues, some doubt as to his committment when he takes the field next season. And lastly, here's hoping, too, that Cesc can be proud of how Arsenal has responded to the Catalans' pressure.

I know I am.

That's it for now. Take care you Gooners...until tomorrow.

South Africa without Theo- and my Club Fitness Results!

Theo, Theo, Theo. He didn't make the cut and won't be playing in the World Cup. And being the true sportsman that he is, he wished the English team well and was respectful of Capello's decision. I have to say I'm not totally surprised. I actually am a Theo fan. I, unlike many of my fellow Gooner club members, never tire of seeing him outsprint all on the pitch even if there is not the end result we look for. He causes defenses problems which is good for us. However, he does seem to draw much ire from many fans. John Cross, columnist from the Mirror, has a nice article about why Theo's hat-trick against Croatia in 2008 set him up for unrealistic expectations. It's a nice read. The reason I'm not surprised that he did not make the final 23 is that he had a very inconsistent season this year due to his injuries. Actually, since his signing, the poor kid has had surgery, after shoulder surgery, after back problems, after whatever problems a young player can have. And it all probably came (other than the shoulders which were a genetic defect or something) from - I believe- overplaying. Last year, Theo played U-21's and World Cup Squad, obtained some mysterious back injury that no one seemed to be able to diagnose or treat properly, and that pushed back his progress for months. To me, he seemed to just be getting his confidence and form back the last three or four games of the season. Personally, I think the type of man that Theo now is will result in him working harder. I don't think he'll cave into the disappointment. Keep working with Becks, Theo!!


Now I know you've all been anxiously awaiting the results of my Club Fitness Test. What? You don't even know what it is? Well, let me explain. Last week, the UEFA powers that be set up new Financial Fariplay Guidelines. In summary:


Uefa have approved plans to force clubs in European competition to only spend what they earn. The financial fair play rules will require clubs to break even over a rolling three-year period if they want to play in the Champions League or Europa League, with Uefa president Michel Platini insisting he wants to 'protect clubs not punish them'. Clubs will also be assessed on a risk basis, taking into account 'debts and salary levels'

So, needless to say, many clubs are panicking because they are woefully out of shape financially and in debt up to their eyeballs. Crystal Palace, once in the Premier League, is going into liquidation as we speak (whoops, no, it just got "Saved from Extinction"), Portmouth has been relegated and still owes, I believe, some salary monies. So where does Arsenal stand amidst this lowering of the financial boom? How healthy are we monetarily speaking? And how do the other top clubs stand? Let's see.

Manchester United - Middle of takeover battle between Glazer Family and the Red Knights, have tales and rumors abounding of financial woes. Their true financial outlook should be reflected in the type of buying they conduct during this transfer window.
Silverware? Carling Cup. Qualified for Champions League 2010-2011 season.
Final Assessment: Flabby

Liverpool - Looking to sell their top player to have some moolah in the bank as their American owners have shamefully dropped the financial ball.

Silverware? None this year. Did Not Qualify for Champions League for the 2010-2011 season.

Final Assessment: Risk of Immediate Stroke and Cardiac Arrest

Chelsea - well...ermm..they're owned by an alleged criminal. What can I say? Their lates financial report puts them almost debt-free. But let's remember that they did have to be bailed out in the first place.


"With the club facing an apparent financial crisis, Bates unexpectedly sold Chelsea F.C. in June 2003 for £60 million. In so doing, he reportedly recognised a personal profit of £17 million on the club he had bought for £1 in 1982 (his stake had been diluted to just below 30% over the years). The club's new owner was Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who also took on responsibility for the club's £80 million of debt, quickly paying most of it. He then went on a £100 million spending spree before the start of the season and landed players like Claude Makélélé, Geremi, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Damien Duff."

Silverware: FA Cup, EPL Title
Final Assessment: Panting, gasping, hand-clutching-heart posers cause I just don't like 'em.

Arsenal - Moved into new Emirates Stadium capacity 60,000. Has stayed in Champions League contention the last four years while developing youth policy and avoiding buying big name/costly players. And, our debt, due to the stadium, has decreased dramatically. Add to that a state-of-the art training ground and youth development system that rivals Barfalona, we are in good shape. Except for:

Silverware: None but...Qualified for Champions League...again!!
Final Assessment: In fine half-marathon shape but aspiring for the real thing.

There. Hope that puts things in perspective for those who would rather us have bought big the last four years...we would have paid down the road perhaps in the same manner as the Potters and the Palace. As Wenger once explained:


“When we decided to build the stadium, I wanted to anticipate the possibility of financial restrictions, so I concentrated on youth. I felt the best way to get players integrated into our culture, with our beliefs, our values, was to get them as young as possible and to develop them together. I felt it would be an interesting experiment to see players grow together with these qualities and with a love for the club. It was an idealistic vision of the world of football.”

The youth project has not brought us trophies, but it did buy us time. Time to attain all that I have just listed. Now - this upcoming season- is the time to attain that missing piece. Let's go shopping!