If Its Not Fixed, Then Dont Fix It

      First thing first, hats off to Bradford city they earned this victory.  They fought hard, kept their nerve during the penalty shoot out, and got what they deserved.  It was a typical first half Arsenal performance.  Arsenal worked hard, but didn't have that extra little bit of creativity to unlock a Bradford City side that really represented itself well for the home crowd.  Arsenal found themselves down 1-0, when Bradford City were awarded a soft free kick. Bradford City proceeded to execute the set piece brilliantly, and get their goal.  Arsenal give up a goal from a set a piece, what a shocker, I bet nobody saw that coming......hey if it's not fixed then don't fix it. 

       From that point on the game was frustrating to watch from an Arsenal point of view.  Arsenal's timing appeared to be little off, to say the least.  A loose pass here, some poor decisions there, and a whole slew of missed chances.  The game itself was a poor spectacle to watch until Vermaelen scored late in the 88th minute.  In extra time, I thought Arsenal really took control of the game and looked like the team to score.  But Arsenal have no chemistry, and no finishers.  Arsenal look like a squad full strangers running around the pitch getting in each others way.  In the end Arsenal's lack of finishing, awareness, and resolve cost them their only real chance at silverware.

      I will give Arsenal credit, the team kept fighting until the end, coming back twice, once in the 88th minute, and again during penalties.  I must admit I had lost all hope after Arsenal missed their first two penalties, but Szcz made 2 saves on Bradford's 3rd and 4th penalty attempts to give Arsenal another chance at extending penalties, but in the end Vermaelen missed the 5th penalty, and Arsenal were finally put out of their misery. FT-Penalties Bradford City   (3)1 - 1(2)    Arsenal

The Good 

Santi - Where would Arsenal be without him? Assisted on the goal and hit the post in extra time.  He really tried to make something happen, but he had no one to work with.

Szcz - I thought he was great during the penalty shootout.  He made two clutch saves, and really gave his team a shot at extending the penalties.

The Bad

Ramsey - Loose passes, losing the ball cheaply, poor decisions, poor shots, just all-around dreadful play.  The only other Arsenal player to frustrate me like Ramsey, was a young Song.  To solve this problem Wenger intelligently sent Song out on loan, and he came back a much better player.  It's just a suggestion, or maybe stop playing him out wide......who knows.

Gervinho - If there was anybody who needed a medical marijuana prescription, it's this guy.  What a spaz!  Someone on the coaching staff should have Diaby smoke this guy out before games.  He spends all game running around like a crack head, missing chances, making poor decisions, and poor runs.  I know Theo was unfit, but he must say to himself, "I cant play down the middle but this guy can?  I'm outa here."  Every time Wenger plays Gervinho down the middle it's a slap in the face to Theo, and all Arsenal supporters.  Especially since Gervinho is clearly Arsenal's best wide player at getting into the box and to the byline.  Especially since he hustles and provides defensive cover.  The guy can't consistently hit the target, he doesn't have the proper temperament to score goals, he's a spaz, and he's making Wenger look like he doesn't know what he's doing.

The Inconsistent

Vermaelen - He scored a clutch goal, but boy did he have his hands full with Bradford's Wells.  A player currently applying his trade in League 2 continually put Arsenal's captain under pressure throughout the first half, and eventually won the free kick that set up Bradford's only goal.

Podolski -  I'm not sure, but did he play last night?  No really, did he play?

The Ugly

Chamakh's hair and all the crosses from wide areas.

Peace Out

Blanco

Get Ready For Backlash

      It wasn't pretty, but I'll take it.   Arsenal cruise to a 2 nil victory over a WBA side that offered no threat at all.  If Arsenal supporters thought the sky was falling based on the clubs recent run of form, then WBA supporters should start prepping for doomsday.  WBA really looked dreadful, they would slowly pass the ball around midfield, and then politely give it to one of Arsenal's midfielders.  Arsenal's midfield had a solid game offensively and defensively, especially Jack, who has my optimism at an all time high. You could see him getting back into the swing of things, shaking off the rust, getting his groove back, or however you want to describe it.  He appeared quicker in his movement and thought.  His clever decision making was on full display, and he was a bit unlucky not score.  The best part is he's still not 100%, and he's still learning as a young player, and you can see he truly cares and has passion, which is great for the other players in the locker room.

       Now for all the stupid stuff bunnies will focus on.  In my Dave Chappelle Chuck Taylor voice "This is diabolical!!" "I'm outraged!!" "He should be banned for 2 seasons!!" "That cheating little Spanish bastard!!"  you get the point.  It's always perplexing to hear ex players outraged about diving.  All players(def,mid,st,keepers, coaches) dive.......why?  Because it works, players and coaches know 9 out of 10 times ref's get it wrong..... EVERYWHERE ON THE PITCH.  Does this make it right? Is Santi a cheater?  No to both questions.  Diving is part of the game we know and love, just like ref's getting it wrong, just like players mugging each other on corners, and just like yearly Chelski manager firings....it happens.  Get off your high horses and get over it.  No chance these bunnies will get over it though, I can hear those knives sharpening.  I expect backlash and examples to be made.  My ManU friends will tease my paranoia, but all Arsenal supporters remember what they did to poor Eduardo, and lets be honest, this was a far worst dive.  This dive was more Bale like in its execution.  Anyway, I hope I'm wrong.  COYG!!

Peace Out
Blanco

Its Not His Fault.....Really?

       Does he get the tactics right on a consistent basis?  If he doesn't get the tactics right, does he make swift appropriate adjustments during the course of a match?  Is he stubborn in his ways?   Does he have any HELP in making football decisions?  Who is negotiating contracts?  Is his ego too big to ask for help?   Does he consistently buy or acquire top talent?  I don't mean spend 50 million on one player.  Does he use all the resources available to him to strengthen the squad?  How much money does he have in the fabled transfer kitty?  If the board makes a statement "He's got funds available to spend" and he doesn't spend.....why not? 

      Can he still scout talent?  Why did he buy Squillaci, Chamaak, and Santos?  Can he still motivate players?(Arshavin)  If Arshavin is lazy, why can't he motivate him?  If he can't motivate him, then sell him.  If he can't sell him, then banish him to the reserves, or make him practice by himself, or better yet make him practice with Bentder and Denilson.  Then let EVERYBODY know these players will never play for Arsenal and the reason why...they don't care about the club.  Can you imagine what pre-season must of been like with players like, (RVP, Bentder, Vela, Almunia, Theo, Song, Don Vito, Chamaak, Park Ju, Squillaci, Denilson) around knowing some were happily leaving, or some the club didn't want?  Extremely weird to say the least.  

       I still love the guy and would never advocate him getting sacked.  I just keep asking myself these questions and many more.  When I see him interviewed, I feel sorry for my old friend.  I see fear.  I see embarrassment.  I see the old man with the bird in Shawshank Redemption.  I used to listen to every word like it was the gospel.  Now I take all words with a grain of salt.  When I watch Arsenal play, it's with grain of salt, I don't get too high,( no pun intended) or too low.  I'm not writing this post in anger or frustration, just curiosity.  The last few years as an Arsenal supporter have taught me a thing or two.  I've learned to relax, calm down, and stop complaining.  I've learned to respect different opinions, and not take things so personal.  I've learned to listen, and stop arguing.  And the most important lesson learned in recent years, is that no matter what happens, trophies or relegation, I'm going to support Arsenal FC.  Like Andy Dufresne said in Shawshank Redemption, "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.  And no good thing ever dies".  I hope the game hasn't passed him by.  I hope Arsenal FC win trophies again.  I hope.  COYG!!

Peace out
Blanco

A Hard Fought Draw....I'll Take It!

  The match itself , was enthralling especially the first half. Arsenal were definitely the more threatening team. If Gervinho and Gibbs showed the type class and composer they've showed this season the gunners would've taken a commanding lead in the match, because up until Man City scored on a poorly defended corner, they offered nothing in the final third.

  The back 4 in general were great, Mert's reading of the game and Kos's grit set a nice foundation at the back. I must also give a shout to Jenkinson who was solid at right back keeping Aguero at bay. A player with such little experience at this level, barring a few misplaced passes, was solid. Gibbs, I don't want to talk about, i guess he did aright, he did make quite a few poor decisions throughout the match and he has to do better or its Santos time baby. I'm not mad at Don Vito, and the sky is not falling, us fans must remember he's Arsenal 3rd choice keeper, and how about those saves late in the game, way to bounce back big fellow.

  This was the type of game the team lost in years past, but we fought back and earned a draw. The team really looks mentally strong, focused, and together. I'm mean that sincerely. I'm not just placating the fans like Wenger has done in the past after a lost.  A point, and the team to fight, should of been all us fans had hoped for, and us fans got both, in the immortal words of Ice Cube "Today was a good day". The matches are coming quick fast and in a hurry, next we have the Carling Cup and Chelski on Saturday and CL on Wed. A lot of fans were concerned about the Man City match, and it being a measure of where the team will finish in the title race. Not me, because Mancini always plays conservative against us and last year we played them well. My concern is squad depth and rotation of players. So far this year we've seen neither and with the fixtures the team has coming up, I worry about tired legs and most importantly tired minds, both of which were on display in the last two second half's of matches. We shall see.   If you needs great stats to impress your friends then check out zonalmarking.net.

Positives: Kos's first start and he looked great and got the winning goal. Mert's has slow feet but a fast mind. His reading of the game was excellent.

Negatives: Gibbs and Gervinho walking in on Darby's pre-game bong hit and all of them looked a little too high today. Or maybe they were just tired, not Diaby......He was higher than a giraffe's ass.

Peace out Blanco