December 2011 Archives

szólj hozzá: ARS-QPR www.megafutboltv.com

An Arsenal side on a swoon of sorts was able to pick itself up against QPR as Robin Van Persie once again showed how to finish an opportunity. The goal was RVP's 35th, an Arsenal record for a calender year, and falling short of Alan Shearer's prodigious output by a mere goal.

It took place in front of the latest example of Arsene Wenger's abandonment of his principle to never sign a player who moved away from the club. Yes, Thierry Henry, signed on a two month short term loan, and the previous record holder, graced the Emirates with his presence. A bitter sweet reminder of those heady years when Arsenal had no equal. The lone goal continued the theme of where would Arsenal be, if not for RVP?

This to be ponderously considered when Theo Walcott, a prime example of arrested development, horrified the faithful by missing two absolute sitters. He was closely followed by Gervinho, a second half substitute, energizing instantly, but leading to a familiar pattern of head shaking errors in front of goal. Arsenal would have been five up easy but with just a goal to show for their efforts had to see out the last angst ridden minutes.

The win came on a day when Arsenal's rivals fell short with Chelsea challenging for the final CL spot falling to a strongly counterattacking Aston Villa. Spurs riding high had their wings clipped by a wonderfully assured Swansea. Man Utd sweeping all opposition aside with a vehemence in the last few games was shocked by beleaguered Blackburn.

The old year ends with Arsenal in fourth. An amazing climb for a club adrift and untethered at the beginning in 17th position. But we now move to the crucial second half in the new year with a back four that is essentially all center backs with no pressing strength down the wings. A prayer that RVP keep healthy and productive to keep us competitive. A bench that has no game changers. What is Wenger's solution? If Henry is the answer, it is pusillanimous short termism. At this stage, we really need to be going for a physical presence in the mould of a Demba Ba or Lukas Podolski.

Juventus pushed themselves into pole position to acquire Carlos Tevez. On offer: £21m for the much troubled striker. Juve's Serie rivals, Milan are also interested but their loan offer for the next six months with a possible permanent deal at the end of the season was not attractive to City, who are looking to get rid of Tevez permanently.

PSG is still in the running but have yet to come up with a figure that matches City's £25m fee demand.

With Tevez who knows where he will end up? He's now evincing interest in playing for Boca Juniors for at least six months and is open to taking a massive wage cut.

Barcelona eases past Saudi Arabian club Al Sadd as Adriano scores a brace in the first half taking advantage of some shoddy defending. Seydou Keita and Maxwell rounded off the tally in the second half.

Barca's entry into the finals was not without a price as David Villa broke his leg and could face up to six months off the field making him a serious doubt for the Euro campaign.

What makes it plausible Villa was on the transfer block? Pep Guardiola's words after.

"We are all very sad for him. He's a charming personality and it's a massive blow for the team."

An invaluable player would not be termed as a "charming personality".

They now face Santos in a battle of South America vs Europe. An upset maybe on the cards.

Harry Redknapp unloads stoking up a clear sense of injustice and foy play.

szólj hozzá: sto-tot

Fie, Foy, Fo, Fum, I smell the stink of many a bad decision.

Chris Foy's decisions took front and center in a match that came alive in the second half with Spurs scintillating play. Before that Matthew Etherington, part of Spurs old boy network at Stoke put them up with his brace after Ryan Shotton's throw-ins created all sorts of havoc in defense. The first goal should have been recalled as Peter Crouch, another Spurs transferee clearly handballed in front of goal and in sight of the linesman. But it stood dealing an early blow to Spurs.

Two goals down at half time and Harry Redknapp subbed off Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou Ekotto for Sebastian Bassong and Jermain Defoe. Spurs poured it on as pint sized Luka Modric showing the cleverest piece of skills second only to David Silva controlled the midfield. It was Modric's trickery that led to Adebayor's penalty as he was brought down dubiously by Wilson in the box. There was a lag between action and reaction that was questionable.

The refereeing outrage continued as Ryan Shawcross (this man is the filthiest, vilest defender) draped himself all over Younus Kaboul, in front of Foy, and there was no penalty. For his protest, Kaboul was rewarded the yellow card.

Spurs should have had the equalizer in a stunning series of events that saw Shawcross effecting a goal line save with his arm that should have been a penalty and a red card followed seconds later by Adebayor's recalled goal for offside when he clearly was not. At this point one wondered if Stoke had to do something unspeakable to a goat in front of a live audience to finally get a call against them.

Minutes later Kaboul was gone, picking up a second yellow for a tippy tappy foul on Jon Walters. Foy's wrecking ball led to Spurs playing a man down for the last 10 minutes as Stoke came back. Spurs had two close calls as Shawcross's headers from two successive corners saw Friedel managing to keep the first out and the crossbar taking care of the second.

Thomas Sorensen was a Stoke hero bringing off some might fine saves.

Etherington walked off to a standing ovation as Wilson Palacios, another familiar face at White Hart came on to see off the dying minutes. There was a final embarrassment for Spurs as a Giovani Dos Santos sighting led to a foul throw called on him.

As an Arsenal fan and a purveyor of fine, flowing football, one doffs the hat to a Spurs team that is playing the finest football in the Premiership. They were superb in the second half. The refereeing was a travesty which makes this all the more anguishing for their fans.

szólj hozzá: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

There are fewer joys in the world than the spectacle of seeing Barca coming to the Santiago Bernabeu and beat the crap out of Jose Mourinho's brownshirts. Which they proceeded to do summarily in the first edition of this year's El Clasico.

Real is considered favorites to win La Liga and the Champions League this season but they need to solve the riddle that Barca poses them. A Victor Valdes error in the 1st minute led to a Karim Benzema strike. You could hear the collective thinking amongst the Merengues. This year it would be different. But Barca beyond that initial shocker went on to tighten their hold on the game and in the 30th minute, Leo Messi released El Maravilla with a beautifully timed pass and the Chilean striker finished superbly past Iker Casillas. The first half was a cagey but controlled affair. Both teams kept a tight lid on the playacting and gaming of the referee.

Barca came out in the second half as the midfield comprising Iniesta, Xavi, and Fabregas dictated the flow and tempo of the game. Pep Guardiola has found a way of injecting all three on the pitch without each one of them introducing redundancy. Barca went ahead after Sergio Ramos's clearance went straight to Xavi whose volley was deflected into goal off Marcelo. For a whiff, you felt for Casillas. A dozen minutes later Fabregas throws himself in front of Pepe to head the ball from a Dani Alves cross. A header by Fabregas? Did we ever see that while he was at Arsenal?

At the other end, Cristiano Ronaldo was all pretty stepovers but his Barca neuroses continues as he contrived to miss the simplest off chances when Xabi Alonso from the left lofted a cross onto his head and with goal plumb in front his header went wide by a couple of feet. Not the best of evenings for the former Utd striker.

A magnificent victory for the Blaugrana. A word on Carles Puyol. How does he do it? He has the speed of a tortoise yet his head and arms grow into a thicket of ferociously tackling tentacles. Benzema, Higuain, Di Maria, and Ronaldo would run laps around this man before he takes a turn but the mane of hair has their number.

szólj hozzá: Man Utd v Wolves 4:1 HIGHLIGHT

Wayne Rooney scores his first goal since Occupy Wall Street which happened last century. For Utd, Wolves were the perfect antidote to the stench enveloping Old Trafford in the wake of their ignominious exit from the CL this week. They're keeping it close with City who face Chelsea this Monday in a huge match.

szólj hozzá: Arsenal Everton 1:0 HIGHLIGHTS

A ridiculously sublime finish by Robin Van Persie of a perfectly weighted ball by Alexander Song and Arsenal get past Everton in the 70th minute. The nicest touch thereafter was provided by Thierry Henry in the stands applauding that stunning goal.

A legend with his own statue looking forward to a future legend. It was a great cap on the afternoon's proceedings celebrating the club's 125th anniversary.

As an Arsenal fan, Van Persie's magnificent form this season has made all the difference between a club contending for a top four finish and a club that would be in relegation doldrums. It's been enjoyable seeing RVP flower into such an inventive goalscorer. As an Arsenal fan, I would also be remiss in not being consumed by a nagging fear the spigot might turn off any moment or RVP get injured. That is how frail we are.

We all have to look to the endeavours of Gervinho and Theo Walcott in the wings free wheeling their way through the Everton defense at will but when it came time to scoring, tie themselves in Gordian knots. This should have never been a one goal win. Try a half dozen. The first should have come through when Walcott bursting through with only Tim Howard to beat elected instead to pass to Gervinho, an equal opportunity offender when it comes to wasting simple chances. That set the tone for an afternoon of prodigal misses against a team that looked positively giddy at the prospect of a scoreless half.

Mikel Arteta's evolution as holding midfielder alongside Song with Ramsey patrolling further upfield in the creative role has given the Arsenal midfield less finesse than the Cesc Fabregas led one but it seems to be more adept at breaking up dangerous counterattacks. The Spaniard has an ornery side to him rough housing opposition trying to turn the corner.

Ramsey had an ordinary match showing a heavy touch with the ball. The most penetrating passes came from Arteta and Song, the former putting through Gervinho with the Cote D'Ivoirian bringing off a smart save by Tim Howard keeping a lid on the scoring in the first half. Howard was once again pressed into service in the second half after Walcott with some trickery smashed the ball towards goal but the American held firm. It was status quo till the the 70th minute when Song sprang that assist and a hitherto quiet Van Persie unleashed the goal of the season. Hyperbole, no. Understatement, yes.

The re-jiggered defense featuring four centre backs was quite impeccable. Laurent Koscielny continues to grow in strength. Thomas Vermaelen was prescient in heading a floated cross by Baines with Cahill riding on his back. Per Mertesacker was not bullied into losing the ball. Moyes must have wished he had Yakubu. Djourou survived an injury scare and saw of the threats posed by Bilyatedinov and Baines.

This was a must win because the next two matches will be a deep colonic cleansing of Arsenal's soul. City followed by Villa, both away matches. Mancini's men will be looking to erase their CL disappointment by putting the lumber on Chelsea and Arsenal.

" But I was watching the television at that moment, and I was gobsmacked."

Andre Villas Boas showing flashes of Jose Mourinho channeling that man's legendary persecution complex. It was getting entirely too sedate at the top. Where are the legendary spats witnessed between Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex? Wenger and Mourinho? The Premiership is tamer than a neutered cat on Prozac.

Using "gobsmacked" also means the 34 year old AVB separates himself from the present lot of greybeards patrolling the sidelines using words like "indignant" or "out of place". It should earn him some accolades from the younger brigade at Stamford Bridge.

Besides "gobsmacked" is a perfect putdown of Gary Neville, an irritating gnat who needs a lot of putting down in his role as a Sky Sports pundit.

The last time anyone was gobsmacked was when Susan Boyle won Britain's Got Talent.

The Arsenal legend, the top scorer in club history gets teary eyed at the unveiling of his statue, part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations. Arsene Wenger looks on like a strict father expecting his favorite child to say the right thing.

Thomas Vermaelen will play in the left back position

All four centre backs have been deployed against Everton. Thomas Vermaelen at left back, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny form the central pairing, and Johan Djourou at right.

For Arsenal the danger men are Tim Cahill who loves to lose himself in the thicket of tall defenders rising from nowhere for his headers, Leighton Baines who will fancy himself against a relatively static Djourou to bomb forward, and Louis Saha who still packs in an explosive finish.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Song, Walcott, Ramsey, Gervinho, Van Persie.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines, Coleman, Neville, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha.

The munitions workers in the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team in late 1886. They named it Dial Square FC. Fast forward 125 years. Arsenal is now a household name and one of the world's storied franchises.

At the match against Everton tomorrow, the club will commemorate this special occasion with many tributes. Amongst the most moving will be the two great grandchildren of David Danskin, Arsenal's founding father, handing the match ball to Howard Webb, who officiates the match. Webb will use a sixpence to decide kick off in remembrance of those workers who each contributed sixpence to buy a football.

For more on Arsenal's history >>

Channel 5 is not engulfed in self congratulatory happiness at the prospect of showing Man Utd matches at the Europa Cup.

The Premiership club might lose out to the RN Caribbean Patrol which documents the travels and travails of HMS Manchester waging war against the drug smugglers in the Caribbean. Pass the dutchie on the lef' han' side, will ya?

How is it that the global game, the people's game followed by billions is ruled by a fraction of a fraction of an elite that plays by its own rules? The plutocracy have no need to be beholden. They enjoy no term limits, need no financial disclosures, and bilk billions of tax free dollars without qualm.

Given the context and the phenomenon that is Occupy which has grown far beyond its epicenter and is a now a construct for anything opposed to hegemony and untrammeled power, FIFA's edifice is as close as it comes to being on top of that list that needs immediate redress. Books and articles by activists such as Andrew Jennings have long highlighted the corruption and the money trail but here in this day and age, we have the momentum of a long simmering sense of outrage that is only now being given expression by the collective.

Occupy FIFA can be reality. Swamp the steps of FIFA in Zurich. Demand Blatter resign. Ask for term limits. Transparent financial records. An open World Cup voting process. New technology that limits errors.

This is our sport not theirs. We pay their salaries. We go to the World Cup, their flagship enterprise. We can and should remind them. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Here is what we don't need. In the summer the CONCACAF region was right in the midst of the Mohammed Bin Hammam scandal after Chuck Blazer revealed a money for votes rigging scheme that involved officials of the Caribbean Football Union receiving wads of cash from Bin Hammam for their support to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. The fallout was immense. Bin Hammam was banned from the sport, Jack Warner, the CONCACAF president voluntarily retired in exchange of immunity, and Blazer, the organization's vice president and whistleblower played a cat and mouse game with an incensed CFU which involved a messy court case.

That was not the only thing not above board this summer. FIFA is now investigating this year's Gold Cup for match fixing especially matches that involved Grenada and Cuba. The chatter was on the Mexico vs USA final which showed up Tim Howard in extremely poor light and the abyss in quality between the two countries. Meanwhile, the matches involving Cuba and Grenada saw enormous spikes in betting going on while the matches were being played, akin, one supposes to the phenomenon of volumes of short selling in the stock market which trigger suspicion of insider trading.

With what's going on, the CONCACAF, long one of the weakest regional associations in term of footballing quality is now saddled with the dubious distinction of being one of the most corrupt. FIFA delegated one of its top enforcers, Chris Eaton, the head of security to oversee the investigation which could see perpetrators being docked or suspended if these allegations hold true with Sepp Blatter now eager to be looked on as a crusader against corruption.

US Soccer will be well advised to launch its own investigation because the Gold Cup is essentially hosted by them and the integrity of the pre-eminent soccer tournament in the region is at stake here. Whether they do it in conjunction with FIFA or independently with permission is not really important but the perception that they do not support corruption is important for many different reasons, one of them, bringing the World Cup back to the USA.

szólj hozzá: Ajax v Real

This was a cruel match to watch. Cruel because Ajax deserved both goals that were ruled controversially offside. Those goals would have been enough to see them go to the knock out stage along with Real even as Lyon was pounding Dinamo Zagreb in the other group match.

First, Nicolas Lodiero's follow up header after Antonio Adan failed to hold on to Gregory van der Wiel's piledriver was scored from a perfectly legitimate position. Minutes later, Vurnon Anita's swerving shot deflected off Miraljem Suleimani beating Adan for another goal with the Serbian positioned inches away from the offside trap.

The Portugese linesman Bertino Miranda thought otherwise ruling both scores offside. Flabbergasted would be a weak description. Try appalled and disgusted.

This match had no bearing on Real because they were already through. But at this point if Jose Mourinho once again complains of being treated like orphan Annie in the Champions League, he should be hung out to dry.

szólj hozzá: Dinamo Zagreb 1-7 Lyon

This year's Champions League group stage already turning conventional wisdom on its head produced an almost too perfect score for Lyon 7-1 against Dinamo Zagreb. The result propelled Lyon into the knock out stage over Ajax who were favoured to proceed with Real Madrid at the top of the group.

Lyon achieved the three points and made up the necessary seven goal differential after Ajax lost to Real Madrid 3-0 with two goals controversially ruled offside. Too perfect? Apparently so. An investigation has been launched by the French betting regulator looking into irregularities.

Bafetimbi Gomis scored four goals including the fastest hat trick in CL history. Zagreb sacked coach Krunoslav Jurcic after conceding 22 goals and scoring just three.

szólj hozzá: Villarreal 0-2 Napoli

City managed to rain on Bayern's parade by beating them 2-0 but it was not enough as Napoli turned on the screws against Villareal to run out 2-0 victors. Bayern and Napoli go through to the Champions League knock out stage.

It's no idle conjecture imagining Napoli going far into the CL maybe even to the finals. They have a well oiled midfield in Gokhan Inler (once an Arsenal target) and Marek Hamsik. In Edinson Cavani, they have one of the Uruguayan triumvirates (Suarez and Forlan his peers) in finishing chances.

One can rationalize this loss to being newbies to the CL but City better watch out. Roberto Mancini had lots of success at Inter winning domestic titles but was a bitter failure when it came to delivering on the international stage. The Europa Cup awaits them but one has to ask the question: Is this the return you desire on $600m paid for your players?

szólj hozzá: CL: Basel - ManUtd 2-1 071211

Marco Streller and Alexander Frei combine to put the hurt on Man Utd. To add to the gloom, Utd lose Nemanja Vidic with suspected knee ligament damage which could keep him out for a while. Sir Alex did not get his 100th Champions League win and now takes Utd to the Europa Cup. It's akin to Greg Louganis doing a belly flop and coming up purple in embarrassment. Wayne Rooney comported himself like an extra in a C grade pot boiler for those who want to know.

FC Basel become the first Swiss team to progress to the knock out stage. More sweetly for them, it came at the expense of one of the most storied clubs in the world.

FC Basilisk turns Man Utd to stone

Thorsten Fink, the present Hamburger SV manager must have felt chills going up and down his spine today as his former club, FC Basel dumped Man Utd unceremoniously out of the Champions League. You read that right. Last year's finalist crashed and burned out in the group stage. There was no glory, only an extremely red faced Sir Alex, left to unleash the mother of god tirades at his side who should have qualified from this underwhelming group with one leg tied.

Fink was the unfortunate midfielder who gifted Teddy Sheringham a last minute equalizer 12 years ago as Bayern went onto lose the 1999 Champions League final to Utd leading with just three minutes left on the clock. As Basel's manager, the former Bayern player lived through a similar cycle of ecstasy and agony as his club mounted a brilliant comeback to take the lead 3-2 only to be denied a win with a 90th minute equalizer by Ashley Young in the first leg. An agonized Fink on the sidelines in the midst of a flashback was one of the enduring images of that compelling match.

Less than a month later Hamburger SV came knocking and Fink returned to the Bundesliga leaving Basel in the hands of his long time assistant Heiko Vogel. But the template of the team was maintained as it was two years ago when Fink arrived at St Jakob's Park with Alexander Frei and Marco Streller combining to form one of the most lethal pairings up front with 36 goals.

Valentin Stocker and veteran Scott Chipperfield had a break out year as Basel became a goal scoring machine. Xherdan Shaqiri, another of Basel's outstanding midfield prospects moved up to the senior squad and Jacques Zoua arriving from the Cameroonian league added one more layer of physicality to the firepower. The following year, Fink reposed faith in 19 year old Granit Xhaka promoting him from the junior ranks. Xhaka repaid the favour by unleashing his holding qualities which were principal to Basel's first leg heroics against Utd.

Today, a Basel side sporting many of these names moved onto the next stage as Alexander Frei and Marco Streller made a mistake prone Utd defense pay with their two chances at goal. Utd dominated possession but Yann Sommer and Basel's defense held on surviving a near own goal by Marcus Steinhofer. Phil Jones narrowed the gap but it was too late. This was truly a historical day for FC Basel, Heiko Vogel, and chiefly, the man let bereft 12 years ago, Thorsten Fink.

szólj hozzá: Chelsea 3-0 Valencia

Andre Villas Boas had to heave a huge sigh of relief because his boss's breath was right on his neck. He would have been in mortal danger of losing his job if Chelsea had exited at this stage. As it happened the Blues progressed quite smoothly scoring a 3-0 win over Valencia.

Didier Drogba is coming alive at the right time and the massively talented Daniel Sturridge is proving to be quite the story. Juan Mata's addition to the side to the detriment of the rest of his Premiership suitors was vindicated for the umpteenth time as he helped set up two of the goals.

szólj hozzá: Olympiakos Piraeus 3-1 Arsenal

The compendium of horrors first by Lukasz Fabianski and then Vito Mannone, his replacement helped by a healthy dose of god awful defending allowed Olympiakos to romp home 3-1 in their second leg against Arsenal. Unfortunately it was not enough for Greek club as Marseilles came back against Borussia to defeat them 3-2 to secure second spot.

Arsenal having previously qualified for the knock out stage could afford the luxury of sporting an experimental side. Wenger included Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, and Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain.

You have to hope Wojciech Szczęsny plays healthy because the drop off in goalkeeping quality thereafter is quite unnerving. For the young guns it was an opportunity for getting more experience and feeling a part of the side.

Gone too soon

It has been a difficult period for the sport. This weekend, Socrates, the cerebral and commanding midfield general of the 1982 and 1986 Tele Santana led Brazilian teams passed away, battling the physical ravages of alcoholism. Last week, Gary Speed the effervescent Wales manager and Leeds standout tragically ended his life for reasons as yet unknown. He was just 42.

I remember him as a tireless presence in the Bolton side of 2006 alongside Ivan Campo, the hard charging defensive midfielder. It was partly because of the duo's exploits that Sam Allardyce cemented his reputation as a manager who gave bigger clubs sleepless nights. Speed had become a legend by that time at Leeds and Newcastle with a shorter and equally memorable stint at Everton.

Never as talented as Ryan Giggs, his Wales team mate, Speed was known for his work ethic, fitness, and versatility in the outfield. He also set records for most appearances and as a player scoring in every Premiership season until matched and surpassed by Giggs. He also made 85 appearances for the national team.

Speed became Wales manager last year drawing on the past as an inspirational figure to his team mates and with experience as Sheffield United's manager. One of the first things he did was to appoint 20 year old Aaron Ramsey as captain. A move that will benefit Arsenal in the future.

Here are more tributes to the player and manager who touched so many other lives. Speed's funeral will be held later this week.

RIP, Gary Speed, you will be remembered as one of the good ones who left us too soon.