David James' Hairdo2

Now Now, this from Tuesday's Rumour Mill: ".. spoilsport David James has decided to lop off his hilarious Bollywood-tastic haircut: 'I went to a lady in Exeter who did a great job but after seeing it over the weekend I might shave it off.'"


"Hilarious Bollywood-tastic haircut!"

And I thought he looked wet. You know like a wet cat/dog....

David James' Hair

I just watched the highlights from Sunday's game between Portsmouth and the Toons. I couldn't quite pick out what happened to James' hair. To be fair, these Skysports "Through the Night" highlights are indecipherable at the best of times. So I was left with the impression James' hair was, just really wet.

But no, he's had a new hairdo. I think I prefer him au naturale. He looks more masculine with his natural hair.
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Photo Acknowledgement: from the bbc.co.uk Sunday football pictures. Trust the BBC to spot the banal.

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ManUre vs.Chelsea
I have nothing to say except, "Saha's goal!" WOW. Oh, that skank Cashley Cole had a good game.

Week12: Bolton 3 - 1 Arsenal

I can't say I am surprised we didn't win. In fact, I downright expected a right mauling after the first 20 minutes. But when Gilberto scored to make it 2-1 before the break, I thought I saw some fighting spirit, fire, an eagerness to get back. So I was right there, back in it believing we could recover. We came back from the break and played better; we seemed to cease moaning about the harsh challenges, or perhaps they didn't challenge us as harshly. Then Nik Anelka scored his second forthe game to make it 3-1, Bolton. I was okay with the loss, even though the boys kept fighting, which was nice to see.

I am surprisingly quite relaxed about this loss. Not my usual irritated self. I don't really know why. I've been more annoyed by our recent draws. I think, it's because we did't have 25 shots at goal which weren't converted, and of course that I didn't expect us to win anyway. I reckon we had about 10/12 shots before the final 5-10 minutes.

I can't really hate Bolton, not even Diouf. I hate the way Everton played us for example. But, this Bolton team, I can't hate them for this display; they scored 3 goals and played really well esp Diouf, Campo, and Anelka. Diouf is an interesting, wily player: his antics make him fascinating to me because, he is genuinely talented and clearly very strong mentally (except the box his wife part - that's disgusting. she should leave him!).

I didn't see the draw to the Toons, like I said. I still can't figure out if they (Toons) scored from a counter-attack. I sure hope so, because I keep thinking where the hell were our Centerbacks? Dyer struck from the middle. I know Eboue was tracking him but still, at that point somebody should have been there lending support.

Which brings me to this: Toure/Adebayor just lost concentration for the first goal by Faye. Either that, or the team was zone-defending, which of course is even worse to contemplate. Or, the team needs somebody or two to communicate and bark orders in the box to remind players to stick with men before teh ball is flighted. It might keep them awake. They need to definitely bark at each other to stay awake in these situations. i still don't know what led to Bowyer scoring, and it irritates me. I didn't see what led to Van Der Vaart scoring in the CL game on Tuesday for that matter.

Be that as it may, I have been reluctant to lump the blame with the defense for our bad results. But today, we conceded 3 goals. Okay, one was offside, but still. We are still kyte as setpieces. The second Anelka goal was a result of our players (Eboue) preferring to backup rather than get stuck in and put some pressure on the attacking player. Ironically, this is how Bolton play us, they don't let us breathe. I know Gallas is missing at the back which is destabilizing, but it may well be time to pay fresh attention to our defensive organization.

Final word: Thierry Henry. It kinda irritates me that he suffered some mysterious, minor injury. Obviously, I don't know if he's really injured or not. But, it makes me suspicious because it was delat with secretively. When Gallas was injusred, we knew straight away, he was injured in training and it was a thing injury. I still don't fucking know what's plaguing Thierry Henry. It makes me suspicious. It makes me think the captain is not committed to a cause that pays him 120K a week. Which reminds me: the next time he complains about missing Highbury, somebody better tell him he gets paid obscene amounts of money that should ease the pain. I never understood why friends of minehated him (TH14). He's been getting on my nerves slowly since he declined that slated move to Barca. (It's no secret, a part of me wanted him to leave. I was curious to see how he fares outside of Arsenal. A totally unsentimental reason. I can be unsentimental, you know :=))

I guess, I have to be realistic. The goal is a top 4 spot for this season. I should get behind ManU tomorrow and enjoy the game, which is sad really; I don't like any of their players except Saha. But, I'll tell you something; they can play with unbelievable amounts of pace.

Saha's confidence crisis? oor Gary Neville, Wanker.

Apparently Gary Nevile said, "His head is gone", questioning Saha's nerve and ability to succeed in taking the penalty, Daniel according to the Guardian Unlimited.

Wow! from a team-mate to the enemy! Un-fucking-believeable! It seems my remarks about Rooney not being to pally with Saha should extend to well, Neville, and quite possibly a large portion of the squad. Nevillle is the captain, isn't he?

Mother of Jesus, what kind of captain/leader is that? Making negative remarks about your players to the opposing captain! I'd like to know when he said this? What else is he telling opposing teams: "Tell your keeper to dive to the right, that's how Saha takes them when he is nervous!" Is that the kind of info Nevile shares with opposing teams? If I were managing Utd, he would never play another game in the shirt. Wanker.

CL: Arsenal v Hamburg (3-1)

Champions League: Arsenal v Hamburg - Guardian Unlimited's MBM

I know, we played on Tuesday alredy. I was working so I couldn't watch the game. I followed the MBM. Let's be honest, I fully expected this to end in a draw. And then Lo' on behold, Signor Wenger made three substitutions that turned the game on its head in short shift. Wenger has not been an effective "game day" manager for a while. His substitutions have lacked strategic impact. But this was good. Theo provided a direct approach, Baptista and Ade brough height and strength to exploit crosses. Well done! I am ecstatic at the result. Can't fucking believe it quite frankly.

Henry missing the next game is an interesting challenge. We played ManU without Henry and won. So, personally I am too worried. I'd like to see Gilberto back though. If not, play Baptista.

We need to nurture a young Gilberto. Real Arse fans know/learnt that the team looks very different without Gilberto. It looks right unhinged. After the "invincibles" season, Gilberto was out for a prolonged period, we looked diabolical defensively.

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On a different note, I am salivating at the prospect of Chelsea vs ManU. I hope they draw though. Otherwise, I have to hope Chelski win it. I know, ManU are closer to loveable since the advent of this new Chelski era --and I have no love for ManU otherwise, this would narrow the points gap for us.

CL: Celtic v Man Utd (1 - 0)

the MBM from the Guardian Unlimited Football before it dissappears into th ether.

How do they conspire to lose against Celtic? This team is interesting. They can look so sharp and lively, and have been able to grind out league results even when they don't. The one thing that intrigues me about them is the relationship between Saha and Rooney. Look I don't watch them nearly enough to know for sure, but I have noticed on a few ocassions that the Rooney, especially, doesn't get particularly over the moon when Saha has scored. It's almost as if, he's thinking, "I am the one who is supposed to score the most goals around here."

I have been meaning to paay attention to whether they are selfish towards each other, I can't say that they are, but there's something wrong there.

Anyway, I didn't see the game, but I thought they would have won this, not handily but still, they should have ground out a result here. Saha is my favourite ManU player, so yeah....

Premier League in support of video help for refs | News | Guardian Unlimited Football

Premier League in support of video help for refs | News | Guardian Unlimited Football

The Premier League will move to bolster the position of its under-fire referees by submitting a paper to Fifa in January proposing the use of video technology. Keith Hackett, who as head of the Professional Game Match Officials Board is in charge of the country's top referees, has been charged with putting together the paper, which will support the use of television replays to aid referees on goalline incidents, and it also suggests that off-the-ball incidents and penalties should also be considered.

About time!

Dowie leaves the Valley

Guardian Unlimited Football: "Charlton tonight announced they have parted company with manager Iain Dowie."

Pheww. The season must be truly underway now. First P45. While I enjoy the race/gag to become the first managerial scalp/casualty, this one is a stupid move. For the simple reason stats:

Charlton have played 12, won 2, drawn 2 and lost 8. Sounds awful, but.

Look at the losses and you will see that they have been unlucky meeting the top guns and the in-form teams early in the season. List the conquerors:

ManUre (currently No.1)
Chelsea (currently No.2)
Arsenal (currently No.3)
Arston Villa (currently No.4)
Portsmouth (currently No.6)
Wigan (currently No.8 ----they shouldn't have lost to Wigan over the weekend, but Wigan is on a resurgent streak)
Fulham (currently No.10 -- okay they shouldn't have lost this one either)
West Ham (currently No. 16, but also defeated Arsenal)

West Ham is the only club outside the top 10, and West Ham also beat Arsenal!
Fulham have been lucky, lucky, lucky.

Contrast these losses to:

West Ham's 7 losses: Liverpool, Toons, Man City, Reading, Portmouth, Tottenham, Boro. WHFC have lost to just 1 team that is currently in the Top 10, i.e. Liverpool (currently No. 9). The rest have been in the bottom half of the table!

Newcastle's 7 losses: Villa, Fulham, Liverpool, Manure, Bolton, Boro, SheffUtd)-- has had similar misfortune.

But Charlton took the Bolton scalp, and they won against Man City. Both the Addicks and the Toons have had casualty lists the length of the Sears Tower. but Roeder still has his job. And so does Pardew, and Pardew shoulf have won more games against the bottom feeders.

Based on the stats alone, this was a foolish decision by the Charlton board. I can only surmise they fired him for non footballing reasons. I'm with Simon Jordan on this one.

Borat spanked by angry Yank

According to The Sun, Borat was spanked by angry Yank. Not football news, but. Nobody is surprised, surely.

Sacha Baron Cohen makes a living out of being an nanometre from getting his ass kicked. I am surprised he has been slugged more often. It speaks to people's desire to be on TV. I take it he had no cameras in tow this time.

Haven't seen the movie yet, not for any reason other than I don't go to movies as a general rule, but I especially won't go in their opening weeks as a specific rule.

I'm always suspect of things that are hyped up. I liked Cohen's stuff when it was new, edgy and out of the mainstream from the D Ali G Show. This Borat hype I am ambivalent about.

It's Beautiful, It's Arsenal

Arsenal 3:0 Liverpool.
Ouch!

We had to win though to return thing to a semblance of normalcy after the Wenger-Pardew theriatrics at Upton Park last week. After losing to a struggling West Ham in the final minnute, and drawing at home against Everton (My hateful team of the season) the week before, we'd thrown away cheap points. We had to hurt the travelling Kopites for our own sanity.

I was so happy, my favourite player in the team scored: Kolo Toure. He put the ball between Reina's legs --ouch. Anm my fast becoming second favourite player scored at the moment when I was willing him score: Gallas. Both players looked so happy. I love it.

There was something a little different about the Arse today, other than the "unlikeliest scorers" mantra of the media. It was a very distinct team effort. I have never seen TH14 track back so fast to defend. He made a number of important defensive interventions including tracking back after the free kick. If the captain plays like that, you know the team mentality has changed. That Flamini and the centrebacks scored is also good news; one of the diffficulties we've had since Pires left (and Freddy not scoring) is a lack of goals from midfield. If the team keep this up, with the midfield getting into the box, we'll do better this season.

Van Persie is such a cheat; I love him but he IS a cheat. His handball wasn't that subtle either.

BTW: Kolo Toure can strike the ball and he is good with ball on his feet. How many times have you seen him charge forward when the team have fallen behind. One of these days Kolo's long range efforts will find the net. And the commentators will say, "where did that come from?" Idiots.

LIVERPOOL

The Liverpool line-up was a little strange, not sure what Rafa was thinking. I was surprized Pennant didn't start. If you look at Liverpool goals in the last couple of matches, a couple of their goals have come from fantastic deliveries by Pennant from corners. And Arsenal have a reputation for being flimsy on setpieces, and we started with our second choice keeper. Gerrard was impotent all game. But Pennant came on as substitute and at least one ocassion beat Clichy to the byline, returned to Gerrard who lobbed a passed to Bellamy who headed in goal--- from an offside position. But still, hat move was one of three shots on goal for Liverppol. Anyway, Pennant not starting was strange unless Rafa though Pennant couldn't emotionally handle retuning to the club that nurtured, then discarded him at a time when he felt most vulnerable perhaps. There's no doubt Pennant thinks Arsenal threw him away and almost ended his career. Rafa should have used that energy to benefit Liverpool. But,
Rafa has shrugged off the debate over his lineup and Gerrard's role.

READING 3:1 SPURS
This is an interesting result. I didn't see the match so I don't know what happened exactly. The Reading goals were fantastic though. That Shorey scored a good goal. But you feel the defenders and the keeper were sleeping. Spurs beat Chelski last week in an entertaining match. They ouplayed Chelski in that game! But football is often strange and humbling: Manure lost to some lower level team in the midweek.

I real like the Reading manager, he's smart and really sensible. We beat them 4:0 at the Madejski in one of those perfect Arse perfomances, and the first thing he said was, "Compliments to the opposition." Class. I hope they stay up.

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The relegation dogfight is going to be interesting this season. Watford, the draw specialists, deserve a few victories. Did you know they have llost as many games as Liverpool. The difference is, they've only won once this season. I hope they stay up too.

Yeah- WTF is Maureen conversing w/ Referee Knob

I thought I was the only one who thought this was strange: Maureen meeting with Keith Hackett, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, to discuss Graham Poll. But what do I know? But, honestly I don't recall such a thing happening before.

It makes me feel better knowing that the Purple One agrees.

It's funny how a common enemy has turned me into a softy for the old purple bastard.

Another Scot Parker?

What the hell is Steve "Second Choice" McClaren thinking? Scott Parker? England doesn't need another midfield hardman. Parker is unlucky, he happens to be at his peak at the same time as Gerrard and Lampard. It's a bit like Roddick and Federer. Roddick, unlucky.

What the fuck can Scott Parker do that Gerrard/Lampard can't do? And Do better. I don't watch Parker every week, and he irritated me by moving to Chelsea from Charlton, but he can't help here. England are short on flair players, men who can keep the ball on their feet, retain possession, and build attacks from the back. Not another fucking hardman. Parker is a hardman. Chalk him down as unlucky and move on.

Lennon is a much needed addition to the squad, if he starts. Wright-Phillips better learn how to play on the left otherwise he will be known as the other unlucky soon enough.

Micah Richards, at 18 is a good player, I really like the fact that he's good in the air, but that's the Arse fan pining. He quick and aggressive. what's not to like? He is most likely get sent off on his first outing in Europe. He'll pick up two yellows so fast, he'll spend more time in the shower than on the pitch. But, he's only 18.

The only good news is Lennon and Joe Cole.

Here's a thought: If you are going to play Crouch then surely it makes sense to have the player best able to reliably deliver balls onto his head? or Not?

I note that none of the Arse Young Guns have made it to theh squad: to be expected, I suppose.

Here's the squad facing the Netherlands next week.

Full squad: Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Plucky Little Wigan), Foster (MU Rowdies), G Neville (MU Rowdies), P Neville (Everton), Richards (Man City), Ferdinand (MU Rowdies), Terry (Chelsea), King (Tottenham), Carragher (Liverpool), Brown (MU Rowdies), Dawson (Tottenham), Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Carrick (MU Rowdies), Parker (Newcastle), Jenas (Tottenham), Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Rooney (MU Rowdies), Crouchigol (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton), Johnson (Everton).

Perry Groves - He is fucking Hilarious

Small Talks chats up Perry Groves . It's funny.

I love the fact that arseblog fans have vowed to make sure Perry's book outsells treacherous Cashley's book.

Remeber to get Perry Groves' book here

World welcomes shift in U.S. politics - Yahoo! News

World welcomes shift in U.S. politics - Yahoo! News: "'European Parliament hailed the American election results as the beginning of the end of a six-year nightmare for the world.'"

Hehehehehehehe. Hilarious.

It's gotten so bad, I don't feel like blogging on politics. Even I don't care anymore. As for the Democrats, well. Basically my take is the entire system is fucked. The Democrats are .... well, I am no longer convinced they make a whit of a difference. MNobody has balls to take/make bold steps and decisions. and the situation calls for boldness.

But, I thoroughly enjoyed the reactions from the rest of the world. Very funny.

Everton 0 - 1 Arsenal 1

In my previous post, I wanted to add: Welcome back Eboue. We have missed you. The other player we have missed recently is the other Emmanuel, Adebayor (who scored the onl goal tonight). Adebayor gives us something different, Plan B: height, long balls and set pieces.

Anti at Arsenal WTF is on about fans wanting Henry benched etc. etc. I don't want Henry benched, that's madness! I don't think he should missing sitters, and I don't think he should be asking fans to put up with mediocrity and failure. Actually, I don't want to speak of TH14, right now, he irritates me. Until such time as he pulls the team by its bootstraps in a tough encounter, I don't want to talk about him.

I would like to see Cesc benched though, not because there's anything wrong with him, but because he is 19! No teenager surely should be playing as much as he has over the last two seasons. Also, give Baptista a run, I'd like to see some muscle in midfield, see if that works. The difference between Wenger and Rafa is that Rafa's rotation means he has a squad of match-fit players overall as the season progresses. We don't. Baptista isn't match-fit (yeah, I know he was injured); but give him a run when he returns. Alialadiere (sp?) needs a run. Make sure all our centerbacks are match-fit soon. We have to play all our league games following the CL games well, every time.

So I was glad Cesc and even Kolo, TH14, RvP11, Rosicky, Hleb, Gilberto, Gallas weren't even on the bench for the Carling Cup game; we should be doing the same for the FA cup and games that involve Reading/Watford/Sheffield Utd.

Hleb and Rosicky are building a good understanding between them; they look like they get along really well off the pitch, and genuinely enjoy playing together. That one-two move they pulled off against Reading they'd have been baking for a while; they tried it against Watford (I think) but both skied their shots then. Now, they need to score goals. Each one of them should bag 10 goals this season, at least.

I saw Niklas Bendtner come on for Birmingham in the Carling Cup against Liverpool. Lively player. No wonder has scored so many goals. He was on as a sub, so didn't see too much of him. Still. Actually that whole Bongo side isn't bad at all; I hope they are promoted. Julian Gray had a really good game, and they only lost (0-1) against a semi-strong Liverpool side. Isn't Larsson also one of ours? I seem to recal seeing him on the roster.

Platini Reckons Henry shoulda Left Us

According to the Guardian, Platini said:

Thierry Henry has won too few trophies with Arsenal and should have joined Barcelona last summer rather than signing a new contract to stay at the Emirates Stadium, according to France legend Michel Platini. 'I sincerely believe he made a mistake in not signing for Barcelona. I told him so and said the same to Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Henry would have grown a lot at Barcelona,' said Platini.

'Thierry Henry is a truly great player and is on the verge of overtaking me as a goalscorer for France. However, he hasn't achieved the same category of other great stars', he added. 'Why? Because he lacks playing in a great team and winning titles with his club like he has done with France, where he has been European and world champion.' Platini's description of Arsenal as not a great club will infuriate Arsene Wenger.

So some may say this affected Wenger and Titi on Sunday. We lost to fucking West Ham (1-0). Wenger and Pardew threw handbags at each other. Huh? Wenger throwing handbags?

Anyhow, re Platini: I must confess as an Arsenal fan, a part of me wanted Thierry to leave. I was curious to see if he could displace Eto'o at Barca. I know they diffferent types of players, but they are both employed as strikers. To be frank, I didn't see it happening. But, perhaps Thierry would play a different role @ Barca. I'dbe crucified for saying this, but I can't help but wonder if Thierry would be as good in a different system of play. And I am not jumping on any bandwagon, but Thierry Henry scores a lot of goals because Arsenal create a lot of goal opportunities, but and this IS NOT new they also miss a lot goals. Go back to the "unbeaten" season and you will see. Arsenal lead the goal attemps and shots at goal stats, but their conversion rate is poor comparatively. This is nothing new. Arsenal have always been profligate infron of goal. The match against CSKA Moskva is just an extreme example of a standard practice.

When we beat Reading 0-4 away from home two weeks ago, my feelings were hang on, don't annoint them just yet. And it's been downhill since. A (1-1) draw against Everton at home, and a (0-0) draw at home against CSKA, and the WHFC loss away.

I thought, we were developing a Plan B, and actually I still think we are, except Adebayor is a crucial part of plan and when he is unfit, we are going to take a hammering against the likes of WHFC, Everton, Bolton --- the teams who are determined to kick US about the park as opposed to that round thing called the ball.

The meeting against Liverpool on Sunday is ........mmmmm. My money is on Liverpool, we are too distracted by weekend events. Although, I expect Liverpool to play rather than park a bus behind the ball so it could be interesting. Actually, no. I am predicting a draw (1-1).