On Lucio

Uli Stielike, Franco Baresi, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly are just a few names that come to mind when I think of the top central defenders of recent times. There was a period in football history when dynamic, skillful, attack-minded yet defensively sound central defenders were in abundance. Today, there remains one - Lucimar Ferreira da Silva or Lucio.

Witness his playmaking abilities in Brazil's opening match against North Korea, when late in the game he ventured forward to set up an attack from wide left (a hint of the real meaning of Total Football, where any player on the pitch can slot in seamlessly for any other). Though the move was cancelled by an offside call, it reminded me of the aforementioned players who themselves stood out for their strength, defensive qualities, and their ability to venture forward to good effect. Witness again versus Chile circa the 81st and 84th minutes. Lucio had the stamina, the skill, and the intelligence to go forward with strength, technique, and application that neither put his team at risk or forced you to question his motives.

The other common trait among the likes of Lucio is their presence. There's something majestic about a confident central defender going forward on a long run from the back. I miss that. Football misses that.

Ronald Koeman was good for a few of those runs too but he was never the model defender. Lucio and the guys mentioned in the opening paragraph were sound defenders who could also play football. With the exception of Baresi (which doesn't diminish his prowess any at all) and I've not seen Lucio deployed in midfield by design, they've all played the holding role as well.

Lucio could quite possibly have been an even more advanced midfielder, such is his quality.

A man who knows the game as much as anyone I can call on once said that Rio Ferdinand is a great player. I objected then and I object now. It turns out that something was lost in translation - his and my interpretations of the word great differ somewhat.

I got the point he was trying to make but I maintain that Rio Ferdinand was never a "great" player. That absent-minded goofball couldn't lace Hierro's boots much less Baresi's. I say that to emphasize that we've seen the decline of the central defender to the point that a Fabio Cannavaro, a John Terry, a Nemanja Vidic, and even Carles Puyol stand out as so-called great players.

I haven't seen enough of Carlos Marchena (Valencia and Spain) to have an opinion of him. I also would like to include Ricardo Carvalho in this discussion but he's been injured too often. I want to say however that he has been an impressive defender when fit, even if nowhere near the caliber of player I'd consider as an outstanding, all-round center-half.

It's important to recognize Lucio for the type of player he is. Football needs more Lucios. Somewhere between 1998 and now, the versatile central defender with the ability to rise above the rest, to make as well as break up play, to dare to be great has become virtually non-existent.

Fucking shame, really! Instead we have the English equivalent of Bill Romanowski in John Terry, the hoover himself in Rio Ferdinand, and the most over-rated defender since Alessandro Nesta in Nemanja Vidic being called great players. Great my left butt cheek! I wonder what The Informer's cooking up. Surely there must be some news on the next Arsenal signing, be it a defender or not.

Chat later.

Correction

- Yesterday, one of our colleagues claimed that Jozy Altidore was "born and raised in Haiti" and labeled him a "disgrace". That information is completely incorrect. Altidore was born and raised in New Jersey, and he considered playing for Haiti but ultimately did not because he did not want to give up his American passport. Altidore has publicly helped raise charity money for Haitians who have been devastated by the earthquake.

- He may be rapidly becoming an American Emile Heskey, but that merely makes him an average footballer. Jozy Altidore is not a disgrace.

Goodbye Fatty

Frank Lampard is an overrated Paul Merson. The difference between the two is that Merson was a boozer and a druggie who gambled his wages away. He came across as a man you could have a laugh with.

I don't get that feeling with Frank Lampard.

Here's a man who is an arrogant, narcissist who is completely immersed in believing that he is on the same playing field as Xavi or Zidane. No doubt Lampard is a good player but world class he is not.

Wayne Rooney proved he is a good player in the Premiership but on the World's biggest stage he did nothing except shout profanity into a TV camera. His chances of winning the Ballon D'ore are fucking zero.

Robinho cost Manchester City 30 million pounds. The man has moves and skill like no other. To be able to get past a professional defender you have to be cunning have wit and intelligence. You need to innovate not imitate. James Milner is valued at 30 million by Aston Villa. They bought him for 12 million after Newcastle had paid 5 million to Leeds in July 2004. Milner it must be remembered has never played in the Champions League and only has a handful of England caps to his name. He has one move to beat a defender, it's the fucking oldest in the book - you beat the full back by half a yard and then whip in a cross. This new invention by the most overrated player since Stuart Downing - who also plays on the wing for Aston Villa - is so fucking good that it was copied by Shaun Wank Phillips. Son of Ian Wright you are not. Some other bloke stuck his cock into your mum's vage and exploded his load and then got the fuck out of town - now that's a move that I admire when it comes to England's version of Lionnel Messi.

Wank-Phillips cost Chelsea 24 million pounds. They then sold him back to Manchester City for 9 million pounds. That's a lot of money for a man whose main skill is using his speed to beat a man and then cross the ball straight to the fucking goalkeeper. When Wank Phillips really wants to show the world that he's worth 33 million in transfer fees he saves his best trick of all - using his speed to latch on to a pass and shoot straight at Tim Howard.

The heart of England's defence was a man of 40 that played sporadically for a team that finished bottom of the Premiership. In front of him was a man that played for nearly relegated West Ham. A lot of Arsenal fans a few months ago were screaming at Arsene Wenger to re-sign this slow, clonker, footed cart horse known as Matthew Upson. If these Gooners were in charge of my life I would be living on Skid Row begging to suck your cock so that I could suck on my crack pipe. You would look at my scabby lips, clotted hair and blotchy nuclear infested skin and ask how did I fuck up my life so badly - it's called the Upson effect - leave clueless cunts in charge of something like Arsenal and they will turn it into fucking AIG. If I see these cunts - one of whom text my friend yesterday, going on about Rule Britannia - I will torch them with a flame thrower.

If James Milner is worth 30 million, Shaun Wank Phillips 24 million then what would Ray Parlour be worth today? Parlour never made the 98 World Cup squad even though he destroyed teams during that 98 Double season because of Eileen Drewery. This old tart was a faith healer that Glen Hoddle used as part of his medical team. She cured hamstring strains by putting her hands on your head and chanting some Christian shit that the born again nut Hoddle swore by.

Parlour had a groin problem. Hoddle sent him to Eileen. As she stood behind the seated Parlour, closed her eyes and put her hands on top of his head, Parlour said "A short back and sides please love," and then burst out laughing. Hoddle never picked Parlour for England again.

England are out because they are shit. They have average players that earn excessive amounts of money and who are transferred for egregious sums. England are not out because of a goal that never was. They're out because they will always produce players like Emille Heskey, Stuart Downing, Kieron Dyer, Carlton Palmer, Gary Neville or Gareth Barry.

Gareth Barry - the man who caused so much transfer gossip about his proposed move to Liverpool in August 2008 and then again in the summer of 2009. The man who earns 100,000 pounds a week. Then we have Gilberto Silva - the rock of the Brazilian team who would never commit such a basic error as losing the ball on the edge of his opponents penalty area - for Germany's third goal - knowing that he was the last midfielder. Gilberto earns two-thirds less than Barry, yet is playing in yet another World Cup quarter-final - his third.

I'm glad England have gone out. It's a team of over-paid cunts that is supported by the likes of Stoke and Cuntburn Rovers fans. It has some of the most detestable human beings playing for them. Cunts who kiss the Three Lions badge as if they are Knights of the Templar: John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole - men who would stick their cock in their grandmothers mouth just to get a laugh with their mates after they filmed it on their mobile phones.

US fans have set up a website to get rid of Bob Bradley. They have reason to be upset but at least they don't have overpaid cunts representing their country. England and the US have average players but at least the American's recognize this and make the best of it. This is summed up by Steve Cherundolo - a hard working but effective attacking full-back who put James Milner to shame.

Jozy Altidore, however, is a disgrace. Here is a man born and raised in Haiti - who turned his back on his homeland - who had one assist and zero goals in 4 games, playing against over-the-hill defenders such as Jamie Carragher and Boughera. Then we have the tennis looking, politician sounding, fore-headed Landon Donovan who is every Sarah Palin loving Midwest soccer mom's dream. US Soccer is too sanitized and Disneyfied. It needs to break down more class and social barriers before it can go to that next level. No-one wants to play a sport played by goofy looking cunts called Jozy or Landon.

The arrogance of the English - who claim to have the best league in the world so therefore they have the best players - is replicated by contemptuous so-called football experts like Alexis Lalas.

Before the Ghana match this Ginger haired fool starting talking about the US meeting Brazil in the semi-finals. Fuck me, this is a man who claims he turned down Arsenal for fucking Padova.

Fuck You!

Keep it Arsenal

Don't Forget To Adjust Your Clocks

This has been an eventful weekend. We saw South Korea, Uruguay, the US, and Ghana play tense matches. We saw England and Germany produce the tournament's most controversial moment. And then we saw Argentina roll on in defeating Mexico.

Themes abound - 'never say die', 'coming of age', 'what goes around comes around', 'too much of a good thing'. You're probably wondering how they all fit. I'll explain but first I must say that El Cunto has had a very moving few days. He texted me to express deep sorrow for the US and England...yeah, and I'm the third Boateng brother.

Never say die - South Korea dug deep to get one by a stern Uruguayn defence. They fell short in the end but credit to them. I salute them for their contribution to the tournament.

Coming of age - Ghana looked poised and in control when it mattered most. They did not lose their nerve, become frustrated, or resort to unsavory tactics when it looked like the US were in the ascendency. Credit to the Black Stars and to Mr. Rajevac, their coach. I believe we could be witnessing another chapter in the evolution of African football. Time will tell. Think about it, they've reached the last eight without Michael "The Bison" Essien.

What goes around comes around - 1966 is best remembered by football fans for the goal that wasn't. England's victory over West Germany on home soil was no less controversial than Germany's in South Africa. Poetic justice? I'm not sure but one thing is certain; it's no longer five past Kahn, it's four past James, and Terry, and Upson, and Johnson.

How bad is Glenn Johnson? He looked lost at times. At others he looked like an extra on a movie set who's been asked to take on a larger role. That guy is England's best right fullback? Pathetic!

And John Terry, you can go home now. It seems that you (and Wayne Rooney) bully your way through teams in the EPL but can't get it done against stiffer competition. The English went to South Africa with very high hopes. They went with a world class manager - a man who's won things for fun. Is it Capello's fault that the goods were counterfeit? Is it Capello's fault that Gerrard and Rooney were shit?

I think not. English football must look at itself and ask some serious questions. The core is rotten. The problems are deep-rooted.

Think about this for a moment; ten minutes into the 2nd half, I received a text from a friend who was watching with a group of hard core England fans. He said that they were pleading with the big screen for Capello to sub Rooney. I understand the frustration but on all evidence prior to this tournament, any half-wit could have told you that Wayne Rooney is good enough to change a game on his own.

He is England's best player since Paul Scholes.

He is ever a threat to any defender.

He is better than Crouch and Heskey put together.

Reading that text, it dawned on me that the England fans wanted to bring on Crouch (or Heskey? Really???) so that they could play route one football. They wanted to "have a real go". What else could it have been?

I might be jumping to conclusions but regardless of how poor his tournament was, Rooney was England's best chance to do the unexpected and change the game. He just didn't show up. Don't blame Capello.

Too much of a good thing - FIFA selects referees as representative of its many confederations. If they don't, there'll be accusations of imbalance and bias. The downside is that many of the refs are not up to it. Moreover, even refs from the bigger footballing nations get it wrong too. After all, Graham Poll gave out three yellows to the same player in the same game in 2006.

The argument that football should embrace the available technology and eliminate the blatant mistakes that keep occurring continues. It is a fair argument. I will address it on a different day. I'm not entirely against it. What do you think?

A few notes:

• Miroslav Klose wanted that ball more than anybody in South Africa on Germany's first goal.
• When Heskey came on, it was as if Capello had thrown in the towel.
• Michael Ballack has never impressed me. That has not changed. He is not missed.
• Germany got a break with THAT goal but they also have some very good players.
• Barry and Terry went into tackles pretty hard and with intent late on.

As I suspected, the last eight will be interesting. What will also be interesting is El Cunto's next post. I understand he has a few choice words for a certain "American" striker.

Chat later.

A New Champion

- With Italy and France being knocked out, there will be a new World Champion.

- Observing how Italy and France advanced to the finals the last time around, a scintillating group performance is not necessary to achieve the ultimate goal. Instead, momentum needs to be built and carried through the tournament.

- Today, Uruguay heads into their match against South Korea as a force to be reckoned with. Loaded with gifted strikers, Lugano and the defense has not conceded a goal. South Korea are exciting to watch, but their defense is liable to be split open at any second.

- The United States, fresh off their exciting victory that propelled them to be group winners, face Ghana, the only African team left in the tournament. This is a bit of a revenge match for the United States, as Ghana beat them four years ago. However, that's of no real relevance. These two teams can both win, this one is a coin flip.

- Ah, the World Cup knockout games, don't you just love them?

Special Guest Post

Because of Rooney’s miss and England’s inability to muster a second goal today, they will play Germany followed by (if they beat Germany) either Argentina or Mexico. On the other hand, the US will play Ghana followed by (if they win) Uruguay or South Korea.

Given the history of success of Argentina and Germany in this competition, versus Uruguay (so they were good in the 30’s, so what?) South Korea and Ghana, it goes to show how important it is to win your group. England failed miserably to capitalize on this goldenopportunity to have a very doable route to the semis. Plus they’re playing in a cool climate etc. so have been gifted every possible advantage there is to have a successful tournament.

You don’t get much more of an “easier” path to the semis than what could have been for England this summer. But as usual, this so-called “golden generation” (which I think refers to the thieved gold in their pockets rather than being a comment on ability) waltzed into South Africa thinking they’re so special and were shown to be an over-hyped bunch of losers. Typical.

Having said that, if they can beat ze Germans and then exorcise the ghost of ’86 and drive that fat little druggie into a late grave, then and only then they would deserve to win it all.

That’s my two cents.

Brazil 2014: Try and Tell Me That You're Not Going

Some mug with a snide German top - the cunt wasn't German - said to me that he won't be going to the World Cup in Brazil four years from now, because the crime rate is too high and he heard a rumor that Brazilian bathrooms don't have any toilets.

I laughed and thought about the women and parties that I will be eating out and snorting my way through - not caring if I got mugged or had to crap in a bush.

You have two choices for Brazil 2014 - watch games with drunk, fat, bores, in a fake, darkened, Irish bar or go and 'slut it' as if you have 10 days left on this planet.

By 2014, Brazil may well have a new head coach. Their 2-1 win over North Korea didn't go down too well with the Brazilian press and Dunga isn't out of the fire yet, even though Brazil beat Ivory Coast 3-1 in their last game.

Today's game is about results. Dunga's Brazil are better tactically but less pleasing on the eye. Dunga is not seeking to win aesthetic approval for intricate midfield interplay; he's more concerned with launching the counter-attack than playing a style that resembles a Barcelona/Arsenal tickle-fest.

Dunga's Brazil sit deep, with defense and midfield close together, drawing opponents forward. For this to work, Dunga plays two defensive midfield players: Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo.

Melo is the younger more aggressive of the two and was on the verge of signing for Arsenal last summer but instead joined Juventus, where he had - by all accounts - a mediocre season.

Gliberto, now 33 years old, was part of The Invincibles and is held in high regard by many Arsenal fans. Some Gooners think that he left a season too soon when he transferred to Panathinaikos in 2008, for just over 1 million pounds.

Arsenal fans affection for Gilberto were so high that eyebrows were raised when William Gallas was handed the Arsenal captaincy over the loyal and quiet Brazilian - a decision that some point to as the catalyst for Arsenal not winning the Premier League in 2008.

Wenger felt that Gilberto was past his best when he sold him to the Greek champions. He felt that Gilberto was unable to accompany the pass and move game of Cesc Fabregas and was also vulnerable when drawn into open spaces.

Gilberto's response was that he wasn't given enough games to play himself into form. Dunga supports his midfielder, saying that Arsenal have become a "timeco" (poor insignificant team) since their former player left for Panathinaikos.

Gilberto, however, has become the symbol of the Dunga regime much to the chagrin of some Brazilian supporters. Over half of his Brazilian caps have come after his 30th birthday - the majority of those with Dunga.

What Brazilian fans dislike about Gilberto is that he is a centre-back playing in midfield. Gilberto started his career as a defender but was converted into a defensive midfielder shortly before the 2002 World Cup, where he replaced the injured Emerson. Brazilian purists are upset that both of the central midfield positions are held by defensive minded players with both Gilberto and Felipe Melo not creative enough with their passes - instead usually playing the ball out wide or to the side.

Both Gilberto and Felipe Melo are powerful, strong midfielders with height and strength to form a tight midfield barrier. And with Gilberto's defensive awareness, he is expected to organize those around him - at times slot into the back line to free right-back Maicon to bomb forward.

In this current World Cup, this tactic by Dunga is effective, especially when faced with teams that are grinding out results through determination and team spirit rather than class and skill. Brazil still have the creativity and flair to turn on the style when required, especially with players such as Robinho and Elano.

The more interesting aspect of Dunga's Brazil team is that it will be replicated by Arsene Wenger's Arsenal in the upcoming 2010/11 season.

Wenger realizes that teams like Stoke have lots of determination and team spirit. To beat them, especially at The Brittainia Stadium, you have to match them for effort and determination in order to combat and break them down.

This Dunga style of play - flair backed by experience and defensive solidity - will win Arsenal the Premiership next season and Wenger knows that. Harry Redknapp understands this as well. That's why he signed the Brazilian defensive midfielder Sandro, who will be joining Spurs this summer to form a midfield partnership with the work-horse Wilson Palacios.

It's why Alex Song is so vital to Arsenal

Keep it Arsenal

Really?

A guy in my office just remarked, “Serbia and Algeria are out. England and the US are in. That’s the way it should be.” There’s so much in that statement that I’ll skip any in depth analysis of it. Besides, he’s probably right, from a marketing point of view.

What I will say is that I don’t like the attitude that a smaller, lesser known country must necessarily make way for mighty Engerland or the big bad US of A. I am largely a neutral if the view of the FIFA World Cup Final tournament is taken from a political angle. Thankfully, I leave politics out of sports.

The only flag I hoist is that of Arsenal Football Club.

Otherwise I’d curse all the colonizing, imperialist bullies who’ve plundered the world and compete for sport’s most prestigious prize. For the record, said guy in my office has Greek roots. Why he feels that England and the US making it to the knockout phase (at the expense of two smaller nations) is "the way it should be" is a little strange. Whatever, man!

With England making through, the Rooney factor is always something to fear if you’re an opponent. He’s been very quiet so far - sorry, he's been dead on his feet - but we all know that he can still end up player of the tournament. The fucker is that good.

If the US get any where near the final, there’ll be so many so-called fans coming out from under couches, out of man-holes, from cracks in walls of abandoned buildings, from just about anywhere you can think of, proclaiming their love for soccer and of the American stars. Oh, and the stripes too. Speaking of stripes, wouldn’t it be special if England and Argentina were to meet?

England will face Germany, and then quite possibly face Argentina if Diego’s boys beat Mexico. Oh how I’d like that! I remember when the US and Iran faced off in 1998. That was a tense battle. Of course nothing I can remember matches the Dutch/German encounter at Italia ’90.

England and Argentina have met before (as you all know) but if they meet in South Africa, it has the makings of a truly special event – Diego is now the manager of course. I get goose bumps thinking about it. We could see every man selected to play raise their game in the name of flag and country. For many, that's what the FIFA World Cup Finals are all about.

Lastly, The Informer insists that Joe Cole has signed for Arsenal. And if he has, great! Wenger apparently doesn’t want to say anything to the press out of respect for the player’s and the team’s peace of mind while in South Africa. Meanwhile, other sauces are saying that Cole is holding out for more cash. Yes, cash. It seems that Taggart has offered to give the ex-West Ham and Chelsea man 50 Euros and a round trip ticket to Amsterdam. Little Joe wants more so he doesn't have to restrict his Dutch excursion to an alleyway.

Chat later.

A Disgrace

- Fuck off forever, Monsieur Domenech. You're a disgrace.

- Thank God Nasri wasn't exposed to this.

Another Signing

Arsenal have signed Laurent Koscielny . He's just agreed terms and will sign shortly.

I agreed terms about 7 years ago when I was in Amsterdam. No, I wasn't signing for Ajax. I was getting a blow job from some Ho in an alleyway. 50 Euros for three minutes of action.

So what does this Koscielny bring to Arsenal? I have no fucking clue but he looks like a prisoner from some shit hole in California and a twin of that ugly bastard James Milner. So, yes, he's just what Arsenal need at the back.

I got the Chamakh signing right but back in 2005, I said that Arsenal would sign Sean Wank Phillips. Yeah, I got that one wrong - Thank God. But ever since then, some French loving cunt in New York has dismissed my statements as gossip. I think he needs to go down some dark alleyway in Amsterdam with 50 Euros in his pocket.

The other player Arsenal are going to sign is Joe Cole plus a goalkeeper. There's probably another defender or defensive midfielder on his way too. But I'm not going to check NewsNow five times a day to see if Arsenal have signed some cunt who has a name that only my vomit can pronounce after 44 Bulgarian lagers.

Let's face it, the World Cup has been great. I wake up and watch football. Come home from work and watch more football. I'm drinking a six pack a day and going on Stoke websites pretending to be a US fan. Instant abuse and hatred - so much so that I've been banned twice.

Stoke - the club that clings to the Premier League in the same way that excrement soiled toilet paper clings to the bum hairs on your crack. I can't wait for them to be flushed down to the Championship.

If England fail to beat Slovenia, Stoke fans will blame Arsenal. Trust me on this one.

Maybe, it's time for a British team. Wales haven't qualified for a World Cup since 1958. Northern Ireland - who should join Ireland - haven't qualified since 1986, while Scotland last qualified for a World Cup back in 1998. Scotland have never made it past the group stage.

England have made the last four of the World Cup only once in 44 year years.

But a British team needs a British Premier League.

I would rather Arsenal play Celtic and Rangers than Stoke or Blackpool. Or how about just cut Blackpool, Blackburn, Stoke, Wolves or West Brom from the Premiership and have a Winter Break. That way, England will be able to beat the mighty Slovenia 1-0 and advance to the knockout stages where they will lose on penalties.

I mean come on let's get fucking real.

Watching England has been painful and always will be painful. So much so, that if England were a woman, even her tampon would say no.

Keep it Arsenal

Hey Informer, Where's My New Keeper?

I hate losing. Most of the matches we lost last season were not due to injuries. We lost because of mistakes. The entire team had a hand in the list of errors but nobody more than our so-called goalkeepers caused our season to end the way it did.

Those two clowns called our no. 1 and no. 2 make me sick. I regularly have nightmares in which those two play leading roles. I dream in color so that bleached-haired poodle walker haunts me in vivid sleep HD. As if I needed more to upset me during this most important of close seasons, I now have a self-proclaimed "informer" texting me news about any and everything but a new keeper. Some of you might know him as El Cunto, the scourge of Stoke City, the angry man in the trio that is 1886. Let me stress that he is a good man but he's got sauces (yes, s-a-u-c-e-s) of information that rival some of the biggest cunts who claim to be in the know.

Hey, Informer, I WANT A NEW KEEPER! I don't give a shit about whether or not we've signed a wasteful Dutch kid who is lucky that Japan failed to equalize on a very good late chance. Affelay may be a decent enough player but he had Robin clear in the box and went in alone - wasted chance. A few minutes later, he was one on one with the keeper. He wasted that chance too. As fate would have it, Japan found themselves with an excellent chance to equalize but Shinji Okazaki sent his shot high over the Dutch bar. Let's be clear, the Dutch press would have grilled Affelay if Japan had equalized.

Hey Informer, I support Arsenal. I don't give a shit about who the next Liverpool manager is. Kenny Dalglish, Stevie Nicol, Paul McCartney, Ringo Fucking Starr, Manuel Pellegrini - it doesn't matter a lick to me. WHERE'S MY FUCKING KEEPER?

And now he's texting me that we've signed that Kocielny character. Ok, but 1) I can wait until it's made official by the club thank you very much and 2) WHERE'S MY KEEPER? We need a keeper like England need to show the world that they really do know how to play football. It's dire. THAT is what I care about.

If you want to impress me Informer, find out if we've signed, will sign, or even have designs on signing a new keeper. That would help me get through this summer with less angst. THAT would be splendid. Anything less is wasting my time and your texts.

At least I have Brazil (and more "information" from The Informer) to look forward to later. And wouldn't I love to have their keeper! Arsene, help us out here.

I have books to return to the library now. Chat later!

Refuse to Lose

- I'm a very big Laker fan. Yesterday's win was one of the most satisfactory moments I've had as a sports fan. Down 13 in the 3rd, the Lakers simply refused to lose to their bitter rivals. Two years ago, the Lakers got demolished and embarrassed by Boston in Game 6 when they suffered a defeat by 39 points. That loss ultimately gave these Lakers a mission and a target. They weren't satisfied after being Champions last year, they wanted the Celtics again and that wish was granted. Grinding it out in a seven game series, the Lakers have effectively finished this Celtics team. They had a three year run, and the Lakers won two titles in those three years. Their team will not be the same, and they could very well just be pretenders for the next few years. And that thought makes me giddy and also think about Arsenal.

- That pure hatred of the Celtics is something that this Arsenal team needs to learn. They need to hate United and Chelsea as much as the Lakers hated the Celtics. Simply put, despite the pretend friendly behavior, these two teams hated each other. Arsenal have been embarrassed by plenty of teams in the past few years, but the hunger to prove them wrong has been absent to me. They feel devastated because they've lost a big game, not because they lost to United or Chelsea. Some of that was felt this year when the Scum repelled a Robin van Persie purple patch. When we lost to Scum this year, I felt the same way when the Lakers lost in 2008. What is missing from this team is that type of passion on a consistent basis.

- Who has that sort of passion in this Arsenal team? Who has the determination to run through metaphorical brick walls the way Kobe Bryant will (admittedly, I really can't think of any athletes who share that same determination)? I see a few players who may be up to that level: Alex Song, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas, and Robin van Persie. I would include Gallas, but he's clearly not going to be around. Wenger is right to bring this team along in a familial way, but the players need to understand just how far that goes. If you have a team that consistently beats you the way United does, that is the target, to beat them at every single thing possible.

- Make no mistake, I want to finish United. I want to finish Chelsea. I want to finish the Scum. In a less restrictive financial world, that's clearly much harder to do in football than in basketball, but that's what I want from this team.

- To that end, I salute the Lakers for accomplishing their task and reinforcing their refusal to lose.

- I've enjoyed the World Cup so far, but I'll be honest and say that I'm starting to miss the Arsenal. After the World Cup finishes, there is only five weeks before the season starts. Bring. It. On.

The 1st Male Camel Toe

John O'Shea the Manchester United defender refuses to tell anyone the name of his dogs, claiming that they have a right to privacy.

John O'Shea is a cunt.

The 1934 World Cup was held in Italy. Mussolini was Italy's fascist dictator. Hitler was running Germany. America was still going through the Great Depression. I've never known what's so great about depression. When I was 20, this Dutch bird dumped me. She said I was a shit shag. I was depressed for weeks. I wouldn't call it "great."

Anyway, in the 1934 World Cup in Italy, it took the Brazil squad 13 days by boat to get there. On the way they docked at Barcelona and picked up the Spanish squad who duly knocked them out in the second round. Now that's what I call a cunt.

Talking of cunts, Raymond Domenech has a lot to answer for. Here's a coach who has Europe's best players at his disposal, yet somehow manages to make a complete dogs dinner of them. No Nasri, no Benzema, no Vieira in his squad. He never played Cisse or Henry today. In the past he never played Pires because he's a Scorpio. The French FA have a shown themselves up by hiring this weirdo. Tunisian fans must be worried.

So Arsenal face Liverpool away for their first game of the Premiership season. My opinion about playing teams away in the north west - it's better to play them in the Spring or Summer. The weather is conducive to Arsenal's style of play and the pitches are in better condition. One place in particular that has absolute shite weather is Blackburn. I was pleased that we play them at Ewood Puke in August and not November - Arsenal's worst month regarding results.

Well done Lakers

Keep it Arsenal

Win Them All

- There are 9 players at this World Cup who could achieve the ultimate triumph.

- They are Dejan Stankovic, Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder, Sulley Muntari, Diego Milito, Walter Samuel, Lucio, Julio Cesar, and Maicon.

- They have won Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. Additionally, the Brazilians have also won the Confederations Cup to start the year.

- If one of them were to win the World Cup, I don't think you could argue that they've had one hell of a year. They deserve a lot of credit.

Post Match View - Brazil vs North Korea FIFA World Cup Finals 2010

For the purists, the tournament officially started Tuesday. Brazil won their opener 2-1 over North Korea. The five time, five time, five time, five time, five time world champions did just enough to get by the disciplined North Koreans. Arguments that Brazil can be beaten will be fueled by what some are calling a "lucky" escape.

I wouldn't go that far but the North koreans did make the final few minutes interesting after a very good goal by Ji Yun-nam. Just before that goal, Lucio and Juan had taken part in the attack as Brazil kept going forward in seach of a third. The irony is that Dunga's Brazil will probably not be remembered for attacking flair as much as efficiency. Yet with a two-goal lead they never stopped attacking, even with less than ten minutes left on the clock.

I will remind the anti Dunga brigade that the goals and flair they want more of won't come if they don't attack. I don't care if they conceded a late goal. You can't have it both ways.

Even Franz Beckenbauer has criticized Dunga's approach. He feels that the world want colorful, rhythmic, jogo bonito. Yes, I agree. I want that too but it's time to leave Dunga alone and let him coach his team as he sees fit. The North Korean goal was not from the type of indiscipline that Junior displayed in that famous defeat to Italy in 1982. It resulted from the Asian side playing until the final whistle and not taking anything for granted.

The French would love a Dunga instead of a Domenech. The English were panicking after that dismal display against the US. Some are calling for Capello to change his ways or to step down. What ever that means.

And by the way, the England team (Wayne Rooney included) were their usual disappointing selves against the United States Saturday. I fell asleep during the match. Seriously, it was that boring. I feel that for all the hype, anticipation, expectation, and alleged talent on dispaly, that match was such a disappointment that it set soccer back in the US by about 15 years. I should know. I was there in person in 1993 to see the best US team ever assembled beat an England team that was better than this current version.

Chat later

Fabio, Wayne...Whenever You're Ready Guys

Whether you like to admit it or not, there's a part of you that likes Jose Mourinho. The man has won Championships in Portugal, Italy and England and the Champions League twice. But this isn't why you like him.

You like his arrogance and the fact that he is a flamboyant exhibitionist. This aspect of Mourinho is a breath of fresh air in a coaching field dominated by stoic men such England's Fabio Capello and USA's ultra boring Bob Bradley.

There is, however, an ugly side to Jose Mourinho. He's a poor loser, his tactics can be extremely negative and he makes caustic statements designed to offend.

In March, 2005, Chelsea lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Mourinho refused to allow any of his staff to talk to the media after the game and accused the Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard of going into the Swedish referee Anders Frisk room at half-time. Fisk had sent-off Didier Drogba in the match, which led to death threats by Chelsea fans that eventually forced the Swedish official to retire from refereeing early.

In the return leg at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho behaved like a zealot as Chelsea won 4-2.

In October, 2005, Mourinho called Arsene Wenger a "voyeur" after being annoyed by comments from the Frenchman in relation to Chelsea.

In 2007, Mourinho claimed that referees favored Manchester United, which was rejected by Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Mourinho then claimed that a lack of education and a difficult childhood were to blame for Ronaldo rejecting his claims. He also suggested that Liverpool's players were going to hunt down Didier Drogba before Chelsea's semi-final Champions League clash with them.

Mourinho didn't take defeat well, when Liverpool won the second leg at Anfield in 2005. He claimed Luis Garcia's controversial goal hadn't crossed the line, even though TV replays proved otherwise. Regardless, Chelsea would have conceded a penalty and their goalkeeper would have been sent-off.

When Mourinho's Inter Milan team beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last March, they did so by deploying two strikers - Pandev and Eto'o out wide. This tactic limited the overlapping opportunities of the Chelsea full-backs Ivanovic and Zhirkov. Inter's task would have been more difficult had Ashley Cole or Michael Essien been playing but then every successful manager or team gets luck.

Chelsea should have had a penalty when Walter Samuel hauled down Didier Drogba. Inter were also slightly fortunate against Dynamo Kyiev in the quarter final but you cannot argue that their passage to being Champions of Europe wasn't easy. After all they played Barcelona four times, Chelsea twice and Bayern Munich once.

The President of Real Madrid now has his first Galatico coach. There's no doubt that Mouriho is a remarkable manager, who like Arsene Wenger came from nowhere.

Both coaches are on England's hit list in case Capello fails. Wenger has no interest in the job. For Mourinho, however, the England job is on his "to do list". So is the Manchester United job but the thought of winning the World Cup for England for the first time since World War Two suits Mourinho's ego more.

Mourinho understands that he needs new challenges to stop himself from going stale.

He was forced out of Chelsea because Abramovich insisted on the 30 million pound signing of Andriy Shevchenko, against Mourinho's wishes.

That's something that the President of Real Madrid has to understand. Mourinho, like Wenger, is his own man. But unlike Mourinho, Wenger isn't outspoken or a flamboyant exhibitionist - a trait that they English FA like.

Keep it Arsenal

Who Knew?

- Who knew that Lukasz Fabianski was English?

- Plenty of people will remember Fabianski's blunder against Porto. The world will remember Robert Green's mistake against the United States. Let's please cross Green's name off of possible transfer targets for Arsenal.

- What is Capello doing? Starting Milner and King and then having to sub them off for medical issues, he could only rely on Crouch as a game changer. Well, come to think of it, Crouch is the only game changer that Capello possesses on the bench. England has no depth.

Post Match View - Argentina v Nigeria FIFA World Cup 2010

Much like South Africa yesterday, Nigeria could have been blown away in the first half. Defensive blunders, tactical ineptitude, poor concentration, take your pick. The Nigerian defence was guilty of all of the above.

Unlike South Africa though, they did not claim a point from the match. It's not like they didn't have chances. Taiwo went very close and Uche was just a mess in front of goal. His miss on 82 from a fine cross by Yakubu is not what would-be footballers day dream about. We see ourselves placing that shot in the 90.

Diego - who looks as comfortable in a suit as I would have looked in the no. 10 shirt - started Gonzalo Higuain instead of Diego Milito. Higuain did very little to help the world understand that decision.

Carlos Tevez was uncharacteristically quiet. Lionel Messi was typically active. He was too much for Danny Shittu and Joseph Yobo but they were rescued time after time after time by Vincent Enyeama. The Nigerian keeper stopped everything Messi threw at him. He was the difference between an embarrassing score line and a respectable 1-0 reverse.

Some people hate Diego Maradona. I think he's funny. And with a guy who breathes football and lives for it with such passion, it's hard for me to see him in so serious a light that I would judge him as anything but a footballer. I enjoy his enthusiasm. Football is about emotion. Diego embodies that.

As for Nigeria, Yakubu and Martins are a handful for any defence. Lagerback must play them together from the opening whistle. And if he really wants to advance, he must keep the awful Peter Odemwingie off the pitch.

South Korea and Argentina look set to advance from this group but if Enyeama can keep the form he showed today, if Yobo and Shittu get their act together, and if Martins can work with Yakubu from the start, Nigeria could still be in it.

One thing is for sure, they can use a Jay Jay Okocha. This team has no playmaker. If they had someone controlling midfield, Argentina would have suffered a bit more than they did.

England v USA next. I'm looking forward to a memorable one here folks. If the US score first, England could be in trouble. Overall though, I sense that Wayne Rooney is going to leave a mark on Bradley's men that they will not forget.

Chat later.

Post Match View - S. Africa v Mexico FIFA World Cup 2010

Kaizer Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala has added his name to the record books in grand style. His - the first goal in the first FIFA World Cup Finals on African soil - was as spectacular as the event itself. Mexico would equalize in the second half through a miskick by one of my least favorite players, Rafael Marquez.

If that guy can score in a goal in the FIFA World Cup, anything is possible.

I haven't been my usual self regarding the tournament. I live for this competition. Next to Arsenal, watching the World Cup is as good as it usually gets.

The plight of the poor people who've suffered from the demands of FIFA and the influence of the corporate sector to make South Africa presentable during the month-long tournament should not be overlooked. Yes, that's the way of the world but it is still unacceptable. My ability to separate sport from politics has never been challenged the way it is today.

I don't mean to ruin the experience but it is important to know what happens behind the scenes when billions of dollars are spent yet people continue to go to sleep hungry.

The match was fairly entertaining, even if Giovani Dos Santos reminded Spurs that he really is a decent player after all. To be fair, South Africa should have been blown away in the first half. If the Mexicans weren't so wasteful, it easily could have been 4-0 at the break.

Tshabalala's goal came from a swift South African counter-attack. The finish was top draw. If there are better goals than that in the next month then reserve your tournament review DVD today. Our very own Carlos Vela did put the ball in the back of the net. It was called offsides however. The referee's assistant got it right. In fact, the game was well officiated. Mr. Irmatov and his colleagues did little to suggest they weren't up to the task.

So, France face Uruguay in a little while. As my colleague has pointed out, we are rather partial to Les Bleus at 1886 - not because of the Arsene Wenger/French players connection, it goes back farther than that. It also must be said that as one, we would rather see Raymond Domenech go home.

On a different note, I've heard many references to Thierry Henry's handball even before coverage of the match has begun. I remind people of what Roy Keane said, 'Why did the Irish defence allow the ball to drop in the penalty area?' That was the most apt response in my opinion.

No, Henry should not have handled the ball. Let's not act like he killed someone though. Besides, these things balance themselves in the long run.

Congratulations to South Africa but I imagine they will regret hitting the post in the 90th minute and missing out on all three points.

Last but certainly not least, R.I.P. Zenani Mandela.

Chat later

Watch the Dutch

- In 2008, Spain broke their duck in international competitions. Cesc Fabregas doesn't get enough credit for their breakthrough. It was Cesc who slotted a penalty past Buffon. It was Cesc's substitution that finally derailed the Russian attack. In 2010, I believe another Arsenal player will have a huge tournament. That player is Robin van Persie.

- Arsenal's loss is Holland's gain. Robin is fresh and ready to prove to the world that he's one of the best players in the world. I believe he has the talent to match Cristiano Ronaldo and others; his problem is that he's frequently injured. That may never change, but the World Cup is only 7 matches.

- With an attacking quartet of van Persie, Sneijder, Robben, and van der Vaart, this team has as much attacking talent as anybody. Their success will also depend on the form of their fullbacks. Gregory van der Wiel is a promising talent, while van Bronckhorst may be past his prime. If you look past the last five World Cup winners, you'll notice they had excellent fullbacks. If the Dutch can stand strong in defense, they can finally claim a World Cup that they deserve.

- Spain and Brazil are strong favorites as well. They cannot be ruled out. I think Spain may be knocked out if they field the wrong personnel, something that may happen because they have so many gifted players. This version of Brazil is what England would like to be. They're remarkably consistent, but I worry about Robinho and Kaka being frustrated during the World Cup.

- As a supporter of Les Bleus, I think you can safely rule out the French as any sort of threat. They could replicate their horrendous 2002 World Cup run.

- Enjoy the tournament. The World Cup is always special.

Suck em' Fabio!

The last ten finals of the World Cup have been contested by only six countries. That may change this year due to Spain but apart from the European Champions, only countries from the list below will make the final:

Germany

Italy

Holland

France

Argentina

Brazil

The World Cup though, isn't as predictable as some might think. Hungary reached the 1954 final. Sweden the 1958 final and Czechoslovakia the 1962 final. Uruguay beat Brazil in Rio de Janeiro 1-0 against the odds to win the 1950 World Cup.

Upsets do happen.

Twenty years ago, Cameroon nearly went all the way. So did Poland in 1982, Bulgaria 1994 and Turkey 2002.

In 1966, North Korea knocked out Italy after scraping a draw against Chile and then led Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-final, before eventually losing 5-3.

Perhaps the 1982 World Cup in Spain was the most interesting. It signaled the emergence of African football.

Cameroon never lost a game in the 1982 Finals but were still knocked out. They tied all of their three group matches, drawing with Poland, Italy and Peru. Against Peru, Roger Milla had a goal disallowed for offside, even though TV replays showed that Milla was clearly onside when he scored. They were cruelly denied a place in the second round on the basis of having scored fewer goals than Italy, despite both countries having the same goal difference.

Algeria won two group matches in 1982 but were still knocked out. They beat reigning European champions West Germany 2-1 and Chile 3-2. However, they lost 2-0 to Austria, who had also beaten Chile 1-0. Austria were guaranteed qualification to the next stage if they only lost to West Germany by one or two goals. With West Germany beating Chile 4-1, they needed victory in their last group game against the Austrian's to advance. The game finished West Germany 1-0 Austria. The German's scored after 10 minutes and the game descended into a farce, with both teams passing the ball around aimlessly for the rest of the match. It seemed that both the German speaking teams had an unspoken gentleman's agreement, leading to chants of "Fuera, Fuera" (Out, Out) by the mainly Spanish crowd.

This game was widely deplored, even by the Austrian and German fans with one German supporter burning his country's flag in disgust. Algeria protested to FIFA, who once again showed their weakness by allowing the result to stand.

West Germany, however, continued to cause controversy in the 1982 Finals. In their semi-final clash with France, their goalkeeper Harold Schumacher deliberately knocked out the French defender Patrick Battiston. With the game level at 1-1 midway through the second half, Battiston raced clear for a one on one with Schumacher. He poked the ball past the German No.1 only for Schumacher to carry out a flying karate kick on his head, thus breaking his jaw and knocking out two of his teeth. It was arguably the most disgusting challenge in the history of the World Cup. However, Schumacher stayed on the pitch and was not sent-off by the Dutch referee, which to this day is shocking.

In the last minute of the game, France hit the crossbar but went 3-1 ahead in extra time. West Germany, however, came back and equalized with a Klaus Fischer bicycle kick. The Germans then went on to win the penalty shoot-out a feat they repeated against the French in 1986.

Arsenal fans interest in the World Cup starts with Carlos Vela as hosts South Africa play Mexico in the opening game. I have a feeling that this game will be a lot more entertaining than the USA England game the following day.

England give you two things in every World Cup:

i) Very passionate fans that dress up and get hammered;

ii) Unjustified hype.

If England win the World Cup there will be a media love fest, England fans will detonate, Fabio Capello will be Knighted by the Queen, so will Wayne Rooney and you will be bored as fuck knowing that for the rest of your life you will have to endure songs about the 3 Lions and their World Cup win in 2010.

Enjoy the next month.

Keep it Arsenal

Kick ‘em When They’re Down

I generally don’t care about other clubs’ affairs. As long as their interests don’t interfere with ours, we can live in relative peace. However, if you know me any at all, you know that I detest Manchester United.

I hate Manchester United Football Club more than Ryan Giggs hates Arsenal.

I want to see them fail. I want their arrogant, self-righteous, spoilt fans to suffer. I read with glee, the following bits from a World Soccer article posted yesterday:

· Manchester United's owners are £1.1bn in debt - £400m more than previously known - after borrowing against their shopping mall business.

· Mortgage documents seen by the programme (BBC Panorama) show that the Glazers have borrowed £388m ($570m) against shopping malls and £66m ($95m) against their American National Football League team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

· A portion of the Glazer family's £700m Manchester United debt will soon see them charged interest at a rate of 16.25%.

· Cristiano Ronaldo has not been replaced by a player of similar quality. Yet ticket prices have gone up by more than a third.

Note: It can be argued that there aren’t many players of Ronaldo’s ability but point taken.

· Mr. Green (City analyst Andy Green, 37, is the Manchester United supporter who first uncovered the extent of the Glazers' debts) found mortgages - confirmed by the BBC - on 63 of 64 First Allied shopping centres [owned by the Glazers], totalling £388m ($570m).

· Four shopping centres - one each in Ohio, New Mexico, Texas and Georgia - have already gone bankrupt.

· When they bought Manchester United in 2005, the Glazer family borrowed £500m and paid the remaining £272 million in cash. Mr Green found that the Glazers had remortgaged 25 of their shopping centres in the six months before the takeover.

Am I a spiteful, envious Arsenal fan with too much time on his hands? If you are a United fan, you’ve probably already condemned me as such so there is no use trying to convince you otherwise. For the record however, I am none of the above. I am simply someone who has suffered mightily from defeats and abuse by United and their fans. In general, their fans back and embody the manager’s attitude.

I have witnessed and felt the effects of Ferguson’s disproportionate influence on referees. I’ve seen blind eyes turned by match, league, and FA officials when Horse-face nearly took Ashley Cole’s leg off by the knee, when Gary Neville kicked Jose Reyes out of the EPL, literally, and when Scholes has repeatedly shown that he tackles with as much skill as I (try to) play golf – virtually none. I’ve seen Wayne Rooney dive time after time with impunity. His record for dissent is a joke, even when just a few seasons ago, there was a push to curb if not eradicate the appalling (admittedly sometimes deserved) treatment that refs receive. I’ve seen Ferguson demand extra, extra time when his team are down late in matches. And it has been granted. WTF!?!?

Let’s be clear though, Manchester United have set the standards in many ways and they are managed by a legend in Alex Ferguson, but for every accolade, there are ten negatives attributable to him, the fans, and club. Taggart famously said that he was keen on “knocking Liverpool off their bloody perch”. It’s time he looked in the mirror.

Think back to all the spoilt child-like rants and adolescent petulance we’ve witnessed from that man. At least Wenger admits he is a sore loser. At least Wenger faces the press whether he has won or lost. And what of the kid glove treatment Ferguson gets from the media, regardless of how much enmity he has for them?

I remember being looked at like I had two heads when I announced in a pub that I would rather see Chelsea win the league if Arsenal couldn’t win it. Those who heard me and couldn’t believe that I would say such a thing clearly don’t get the Arsenal/United rivalry. My United wounds are deep. Their fans hate us. Their players hate us. Fuck them!

All is fair in love and war and all that (not that I liken football to war) so I feel no remorse for the unbridled hatred I have for that shit club. I hope that they collapse under the weight of debt the Glazers have craftily put them under.

Goo’on the Yanks!

I am happier than a pig in shit, knowing that our financial position is manageable and theirs gets worse by the day. And again, it isn’t sour grapes and envy for the many trophies they’ve won. We have our issues but finances are not the most dire.

People need to remember that Arsene Wenger may be stubborn to a fault but he is an economist by trade. In the main, he is very level-headed and has the club’s best interest in mind. We’ve not won trophies recently but look at how we manage our money. Unless you’ve been on Uranus for the past five to ten years, you’ll have noticed that the Arsenal’s status as a major force in club football has gained significant momentum. That momentum needs to result in trophies. No doubt about it, but we are not living on the edge like most top clubs are doing. Never take that for granted, especially in the current economic environment.

Would you prefer to be in our position or that of a club with massive, massive debt that they cannot control? Or maybe worse yet, to be like a club with loads of cash but coming from a sugar daddy like Chelsea or Manchester City, instead of having a self-sustainable plan?

We aren’t perfect. We aren’t nearly as successful as we’d like to be. I have lost faith in many players in the current squad, but things could be much worse. United have a massive debt that is growing. I hope it gets even worse.

Keep the Faith.

Someone's Had Their Eyebrows Waxed

I'm now so bored of stories related to Cesc Fabregas impending transfer to Barcelona, that I don't bother reading any. Arsenal have already been down this road with Nicolas Anelka, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. The common denominator in all three players being Real Madrid and Barcelona and their illegal tactics to try and force Arsenal to sell a player they want to keep.

If a star player wants to leave, there's not much a club can do to keep him. You can offer him an new improved contract, promise to sign better players or even change the formation of the team to suit him. If that fails, then you have to let him go and try to get a good transfer fee. That's the difficult part.

Arsenal have obviously done their best to keep Cesc but the young Spaniard wants to join his boyhood club. Now it's over to Ivan Gazidis to show us why Arsenal signed him. Business is his forte, being a tough negotiator must be something that he's very good at. Arsenal fans await the results.

With Cesc leaving for a large transfer fee, Arsenal will have to fill a void. The first thing that fans have to realize is that you can't replace Cesc. There is no like for like. But if Wenger is under immense pressure to sign big name players, then when Cesc departs, that pressure will increase tenfold.

Cesc isn't the only jewel in Arsenal's crown. Robin van Persie is the other. His injuries, however, have prevented Arsenal fans from seeing him consistently sparkle. The World Cup will no doubt bring out the best in the Dutchman and perhaps make Arsenal fans forget about losing Cesc. I wouldn't bet against Van Persie winning the Golden Boot - and what you don't get with the ex-Feynoord striker is a desire to eventually move back to his boyhood club.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are detestable when it comes to pursuing a player under a long-term contract with another club. FIFA and UEFA have shown themselves to be weak when it comes to policing the "tapping up" of players. The use of current Barcelona players to "persuade" Cesc to join is a way around this problem but it shows a lack of respect to Arsenal.

The replacement for Fabregas is now the talk of all Gooners. A friend of mine in London told me that Yoann Gourcuff would be signing for Arsenal today. Yesterday, I sent a text to a friend in New York telling him of the news. Gourcuff is in South Africa with the French squad preparing for the World Cup. All French players have been banned from taking part in any transfer negotiations. It's now Tuesday in Europe. Gourcuff still hasn't signed for Arsenal, and I now look like a clown.

The "Silly Season" is addictive but leaves you feeling empty. The best way to get through it, is to ignore it. The January transfer window is a lot easier to handle because the regular domestic season is still being played, but without any Arsenal matches to digest, the summer transfer season consumes most of my attention.

That's why Friday's opening World Cup matches can't come soon enough. Until then the NBA Finals will help pass the time as I try to stop myself from getting caught up in rumors on whether Joe Cole or Joe Hart have signed for Arsenal.

It's now time for me to stop looking like a clown.

Keep it Arsenal

I Can Wait

Below are two stories that "link" us to Joe Cole of Chelsea. Each one says something entirely different from the other. Take your pick which to believe. If it is going to happen - and yes, I want Joe Cole - I can wait until it is posted officially on the Arsenal website.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=792969&sec=transfers&cc=5901

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1284309/Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-beat-Manchester-City-race-Chelsea-midfielder-Joe-Cole.html

Joe Cole will bring experience, ability, and versatility to our lineup. He will also add more competition for places. Perhaps that will help to improve Theo. Seeing Cole in training everyday cannot hurt. Being rejected by Capello might not be enough to put Theo at the level we need him to be.

If he does come to Arsenal, Cole will be another Englishman in our squad. I don't care about nationality. I care about Arsenal Football Club. Let's be clear however, another Englishman will help the young English players coming through.

All that said, you are a grade A moron if you think Cole is a priority. Our priorities remain CB, holding midfileder to back up the excellent Alex Song, and TWO, not one, TWO fucking goalkeepers who don't have second jobs as clowns or walk fluffy little poodles with their Mrs.

Keep the Faith.

Fair?

- Joan Laporta yesterday claimed that a "fair market value" for Cesc is 35 million euros. Sounds like they really want you Cesc. Meanwhile, Barcelona themselves are asking 36 million euros for Yaya Toure, a 27 year old who was virtually a reserve for them last year. They sure have a real grasp on reality. The ugly side of Barcelona becomes more and more repulsive every day.

- Didier Drogba may miss the World Cup. Michael Essien will miss the World Cup. My distaste for Chelsea excluded, it's a shame that two of the finest African players will miss the first World Cup in Africa.

- Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand is also out for England. Now that Theo is out of the squad, I could care less about what Fabio Capello does with this group with zero depth. Just watch the United States frustrate them.

Protests by Liverpool Fans Go Into Overdrive

Night time protest marches through the streets. The burning of the American flag. Liverpool fans are angry and they blame Liverpool's American owners for their woe.

Liverpool are currently $516 million in debt.

Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool for $293 million making false promises on building a new stadium and providing a big transfer fund.

With Benitez stepping down, after agreeing a severance payment, Liverpool will now have to find a manger that will provide stability to a club that is on the verge of a crisis. The new manager will have to persuade stars like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to stay, otherwise Liverpool's hopes of finishing in the top four will again fade.

Taking on the Liverpool job is not as attractive as it was when Benitez agreed to be their manager back in 2004. Today, the football world is a lot more ruthless. The gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" has widened. You can't stay out of the Champions League for too long, otherwise you will be left behind with the Europa League hyenas - desperate to break into the top four.

A couple of years ago, Jose Mourinho would have taken the Liverpool job. Not now. A manager like Mourinho demands a lot money to buy players, otherwise he won't sign. Liverpool cannot guarantee a big transfer fund.

Instead of being a buying club, this summer Liverpool will probably start being a selling club - a major problem but understandable if you're in the amount of debt that Liverpool are in.

Unless a new mega-rich owner arrives soon - paying off Liverpool's massive debt and also pumping millions into building a new team and stadium - then I can only see decline.

Usmanov and his Red & White Holdings now have a 27% share of Arsenal. Let's hope that they don't borrow money in order to wrestle control of Arsenal. Saddling a club with your own private debt is criminal. You only have to witness the protests by Liverpool and Manchester United fans on that subject to make you realize what a good job Arsenal have done financially. Let's pray that Kroenke and Usmanov don't do a Glazer or Hicks/Gillett and put Arsenal into mega debt.

Last Word:

Chris Waddle has heavily criticized Theo Walcott. True, Walcott hasn't progressed in the way that many thought he would. Injuries haven't helped but Theo hasn't blamed injuries for his poor season. Walcott though can walk with his head held high on one thing though - his England hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb. What did Chris Waddle do in his career at aged 20? He certainly didn't score a hat-trick in Croatia for his country. People forget how old Walcott is. Perhaps his England rejection will do him good. I think it will.

Keep it Arsenal

Theo Axed by Capello - So What?

I don't feel sorry for Theo Walcott. I support him as an Arsenal player but indifference is probably the best description for how I feel about him. His exclusion from the England team makes no difference to me. I only care about him living up to the hype that once made signing him seem like a good move.

A guy once told me that I want Theo to fail. Silly! I wanted Senderos to do well for Arsenal, no matter how much I disapproved of him. I want anyone who wears the Arsenal shirt to do well. Theo is no exception.

William Gallas was vilified when he made true statements about Walcott. Chris Waddle has stated that Theo doesn't have a football brain. Fabio Capello has done what any sensible coach would do.

If Theo ever becomes the player we thought we paid for, splendid! But really, would you bet your house on it? Risky at best at this point.

If he learns the things he was supposed to learn from being deployed wide right, tremendous! Maybe then we'll see more consistency from him. That would be magnificent.
In the meantime, he can work on improving his strength. The decision making part is kinda tricky though. I wish I had an answer.

And if all else fails, he can continue writing children's books. Come to think of it, Theo looks like the type who has never been late returning library books. That said, here's some recommended summer reading for our no. 14:

-Bambi by Siegmund Salzmann
-Fox In Socks by Dr. Seuss and Theodore Geisel
-The Good Lion by Don Brown
-The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man by Lloyd Alexander
-My Inner Child Wrote a Best Seller by Joseph Digangi
-Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
-Coaching for Character by Craig Clifford and Randolph Feezell
-The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller
-The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald and Mercer Mayer
-Tell Me What It's Like to Be Big by Joyce Dunbar and Debi Gliori
-Lift Every Voice: Expecting the Most and Getting the Best From All of God's Children by Walter Turnbull and Howard Manly
-Go for the Goal: Techniques and Strategies for the Complete Soccer Player by Stuart Murray

Keep the Faith.