The last European game at Highbury

Wooo its going to be such an exciting night for all gooner fans!
Arsenal in the semis for the first time, but ironically the last european game at Higbury. I hope the players are up for it! The passion and the determination should be there for us to enjoy. Thats wenger's job.

I would expect nothing less than full blooded English pace and passion. Not some tactical football that sometimes is so bloody boring! Passing between the 4 defenders, pass to midfield, pass it back... boring even just typing it out!

Up for all gooners, lets hope that those overpaid players play their hearts out and WIN. No point playing hearts out and lose right!

Oh my goosh, someone in China could be reading this!

I know I know... the format doesn't look to great does it! Still learning. Will get it right the next time. A scout in England cld be reading this and the layout and formatting wouldn't do justice to how great a team we are!

Right!

Looking Good on a Sunday!

Half time team talk!

Its a save! Tipping it over the bar.

Proof! We don't need Henry's stories

Warming up! We looked like we overwhelmed the opposition right! But we only had 9 players



Some dazzling footwork!
Great volley! Intensed concentration by Bernard!

The pitch is as usual horrible!

Sunday 15 April 2006 Marina South 9am

9 players turned up for this sunday game only!: Terence, Ivan, Ian, Kelvin, Bernard, Henry, Colin, Kenneth, Alex.

Even thought we were short of a couple of players, we were quite alright! Maintaining some composure and passing well. However as we were not able to hold the ball long enough, we were losing out on possession and penetration. However by half time we were only 1 goal down.

We switched goal-keeper between Terence and Kenneth as Kenneth was clearly losing steam playing as a lone man upfront and only chasing defenders shadows. Terence was a bundle of energy!

The opposition was rampant after the second half started, sensing that probaby we were very drained playing with only 9 players as they threw caution out of the window, threading balls down both channels. It wasn't long before they started peppering our goal and kenneth with a few shots. After a while of 'warming up' to playing keeper, kenneth caught a few crosses and some saves before conceding the 2nd, 3rd and 4th goals.

Bernard capped another high tempo energy game by scoring our consolation. It was an impressive lob from probably outside the box! Beauty from where I was standing.

So as we await for another game, with more players hopefully, and register a much needed win!

Do we even care? We have to figure it out!

There were two stories that are on the papers today that confounded me. Both involved our neighbours Malaysia. 13th April 2006

First, the one of them halting the building of a 'scenic' bridge to replace the causeway. I don't want to get involved in politics here but one couldn't help thinking.... especially when they have already spent so much on setting up the foundations over in JB. You go figure whats up with them.

Second, Singapore Young Lions beat Sarawak 7-2.
Did it really mattered to Singaporeans? Before the game? After the game? I cant answer for you.
Did you know we were involved in some FA cup of sorts against Malaysian rivals?
I hear some bigwigs in FAS who would probably say, i don't know better. I am apathetic to their work in trying to get singaporeans involved in singapore soccer again. But i have got this to say, if no one knew of such participation thingie, or even if they did but didn't bothered, then sorry, all their work is just that, pathetic, down the drain.

Even the news report of the thrashing was so much smaller than the one of St Andrew's beating ACS(I) in the National Schools Rugby. I didn't even notice that Lions won cos the report of St. Andrews with the picture and headlines so much bigger!

WEll that really represent what we have for Singapore soccer!!!

So are the ARSEs out of it?

So Arsenal lost to Man Utd. Its seems like its the end of the road for the Arses...
But to me what does Arsenal have to worry about? They are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. They have players coming back from injury. Their players are mostly focused on the job on hand and they have Edu!

Who?!?

At times like these in the past, I always hope to have Edu playing in the team. Not becos he is bound to win the game by scoring that impt goal or make that vital pass, rather he is one player who is so damn eager beaver to play!
Edu has left and consequently never heard again in world football. That shows once again probably the tactical acument of the coach.

But more importantly Arsenal has a squad of players waiting to come in and play.
Every player in England can pass, shooting, trap, run etc etc except for probably Duncan Fergurson... but not all have that desire or hungry or passion to want to play for the win.

So before the game against Portsmouth later, I wonder who could be that player for Arsenal.
Who is going to be the eager beaver with that extra 'freshness', that 'lemonade' spring, that desire to 'just do it'?

Sol Campbell? Maybe. Kolo Toure, Henry, Gilberto????

Yes No Don't know

Well my humble blogging opinion tells me that there may just be 3 players who will push Arsenal to that forth spot (via beating Spurs)
To neutral supporters, maybe you would agree maybe you will not, but these are the 3 anyway

Reyes, van Persie and Eboue
Who? Where?

Just watch and read. They could be the names that Wenger will sprout come the end of the season.

Not far soon. There are only 5 games left anyway.

State of Singapore Soccer

There are thousands of people who play soccer in Singapore. Some can dribble.
There are hundreds of people who can play soccer. Their feet, deck out in the latest nikes, may have 'kicked' the nike ball more than 9 times throughout the roughly 80 minutes or so.

All well and good, for the love of the sport they say.
However that is not my topic of this entry. It would be the most beloved issue the thousands of people have about the sport, or maybe just my issue.

There are only 2 grass patches in Singapore where you can play a decent game of soccer.
St Wilfred Sports Complex and... St Wilfred Sports Complex.
The others, well lets just keep it pleasant and cordial and call the others, grass patches.

Any other recommendations?

Arse's Arse

So Arses have lost to Man U! Again! Actually i wasn't expecting anything otherwise. Its a feeling repeated all too often anyway. And like all losers who will always have someone to blame, as usual all the years he has been there, i blame the very same guy that has tactically brought success to Arsenal. The ARSEne Wenger.

Whats up with playing the players that he played? Whats up with leaving the players that he left on the bench?

Oh the conspircists will have it that Man U was given the win to keep pace with Chelsea. And to finally push them all the way to the end. Whereas Man U will support the Arses all the way to the Champions league final glory. So both win in the end!!! Yeah right! Those ppl with bookie connections will be telling me that it isn't surprising to throw one-half ball to arses!?!? How on earth can you otherwise explain Arsenal's complete reluctant to play soccer... Damn

Anyway like i always say to console myself, them arse's are so bloody far away for me to actually 'feel' happy or sad for their results. I should be concentrating on who's winning at Queenstown stadium instead.

History lesson

History has been made! The first time in Arsenal's history!
WIthout Vieira, Edu, Campbell, Cole, Bergkamp, Anelka, Overmars, Petit... Arsenal goes into the semi-finals with a young team. A team that dares to play football. Does not get overawe. Led by the managers tactical acument! We can talk about his tactics all day but tactics are always subjective!

Anyway I am a happy gooner fan. Finally!

In my heart, I know its not done and dusted, wheres the trophy anyway?!? Not in the showcase yet. So Spain next, with Frebregas and Reyes going back to their country. I think they should pip the semi-finals and make it to the finals, facing, well i think AC Milan. And it will be a bloody heart thumping repeat of last year finals, England v Italy. If Arsenal wins, if if if, it will be another miracle.

However as some idealist or conspiracist will put it, Barcelona will go through to the final, beat Arsenal and Henry will join them!

HAha
The plot thickens

Juventus v Arsenal

Will Arsenal make it to the semi finals for the first time in their history?

I definately hope so! I have been supporting Arsenal since 1989. There has been too much lows for Arsenal FC and I do think that they might have the edge to go into the Finals.
Although they might not win it if we go by their histroy, cos Arsenal does have the ability to choke when the going gets tough.

What say you?

Sunday's Game

Last Sunday was a wet n hot n sorry game.
We played against a team that will not look uncomfortable in the S-league. Their passing was almost 100% and they knew where who was at and wat they were suppose to do. Infact when playing against just 7 of them for the first 10 minutes, we were already overrun.

I conceded 3 goals in the first half. The first one a one-on-one, the second a solid downward header from a corner and by the third i have already forgotten.

BUT, we played to our best! We were composed and we actually also played well!
Joos, our flying left winger commented that we are actually getting our counter attack pretty good!

Just hoping tat when season restarts, we shall finally beat an opponent with this counter attack. Lets just start with that SGX team with the new blue jersey.

Oh Ian has a comment to add:-
I finally know who my first eleven is....haha...finally....i think this is it?...i will try to buiild this team....