Alex Mcliesh has made his intentions fairly clear. In yesterday's post I mentioned his comments
about the game and the role of the referee. I'll just quote one line that sums up what he wanted to
say,
We are the small team going to play the mighty Arsenal and you hope that the referee's fair.
Barca's squad is certainly suffering right now, as almost all the players are off to join their
national teams:
- Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, David Villa, Pedro:
Spain (vs Mexico)
- Dani Alves: Brazil (vs USA)
- Lionel Messi: Argentina (vs Ireland)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Sweden (vs Scotland)
Returning loan-outs:- Alex Hleb: Belarus (vs Lithuania)
- Martin Caceres: Uruguay (vs Angola)
UEFA U-21 Championship:- Bojan Krkic, Jeffren Suarez: Spain (fixtures here)
This can't be good for the Barca's Spaniards since they join their national team straight from
vacation, but word is that they will only play fifteen minutes of the game.
There really is little else around so I thought I'd reflect on the start to the season, and one
player in particular who looks re-born -Tomas Rosicky
This summer he was close to leaving, not of his own will I hastily add, but there has always
been big interest from Germany in him but Werder Bremen and Everton both inquired over his
availability as Arsenal were pursuing defenders from both the clubs, Phil Jagielka and Per
Mertesacker were the targets on the Arsenal side.
When the English Premier League resumes after the International break Arsenal will face Birmingham
City at the Emirates and of course former midfielder Alex Hleb. Speaking to Birmingham's official
website, the Belarusian said how it will ...
There's only one place to start this morning and that's the return of Andy Linighan. It's been
rumoured for quite a while now and yesterday things went into overdrive. He played for the reserves
last night and ... oh ... it was a dream. Just a dream! Phew.
The focus is still very much on Sol Campbell this morning and while he talks about 'ongoing'
discussions regarding a contract you have to think everything is probably done and dusted at this
stage.
Letzte Saison konnte Horst Heldt die Neuzugänge erst sehr spät präsentieren; was dazu
führte, dass die Spieler nicht richtig ins Mannschaftsgefüge integriert oder gar nicht richtig
fit – siehe Alex Hleb, der die ganze Hinrunde mit einem Trainings-Rückstand zu kämpfen hatte
– waren. Dazu kam, dass Markus Babbel nebenher noch seine Trainerausbildung absolvierte.
Not for one minute am I suggesting that Arsene Wenger is thinking about this, but.......
Yesterday there were a few rumblings about Alex Hleb, the man who flirted with the big clubs to
get a move, told the world he hated living in the big fast city of London where the noise was all
too much.
By Eric Beard
From Ryan Babel tweeting to his followers via helicopter that he's staying at Liverpool to
Robinho passing a medical in Milan to Roberto Martinez's Wigan pulling a major coup of youth in
Franco Di Santo and Tom Cleverley, there was a lot of chaos, a ton of lies, and, of course, quite a
few transfers.
By Ollie Irish
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My Favourite Footballer.
Arsenal 6 Braga 0
When Arsenal last played in the Champions League - in April against Barcelona at the Nou Camp - few
in the media rushed to point out how Arsenal were missing many of their top players. Instead (and
rightly so, in my opinion) they praised a quite extraordinary performance by Lionel Messi.
Last night I typed "Arsenal+Embarrassed" into Google, limiting the search to the previous 24
hours. The number of hits was 31,500, which just about says it all.
I don't want to join the stampede of condemnation that followed Saturday's result and I do not
subscribe to the theory that our season is over before it's begun, but I'll admit to being
spooked.
Last night I typed "Arsenal+Embarrassed" into Google, limiting the search to the previous 24
hours. The number of hits was 31,500, which just about says it all.
I don't want to join the stampede of condemnation that followed Saturday's result and I do not
subscribe to the theory that our season is over before it's begun, but I'll admit to being
spooked.
My history teacher at school often went on about a reciprocal relationship - you give something and
you get something back in return.
Birmingham have never bought into the idea of a reciprocal relationship. They're all take and no
give. We gave them Seb Larsson, Fabrice Muamba, and Nicklas Bendtner on loan - they gave us Eduardo
with a broken leg and conned the referee into a penalty decision which arguably cost us the League
in 2008.
Together with Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is one who left a storm
of controversy the day he opted to leave Arsenal but according to Ray Parlour, manager Arsene
Wenger loved ...
Jumping Jehovahsphat, it's back, the familiar Saturday morning frisson, that tingling in the
lower extremeties that signify game day. And for you lucky chaps going to the game, the resumption
of years old pre-match traditions.
A two week break at this time of the season is ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as our injury
problems.
Jumping Jehovahsphat, it's back, the familiar Saturday morning frisson, that tingling in the
lower extremeties that signify game day. And for you lucky chaps going to the game, the resumption
of years old pre-match traditions.
A two week break at this time of the season is ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as our injury
problems.
>> Click Here To Watch Arsenal Vs Birmingham City Live Now <<
Arsenal Vs Birmingham City Live Streaming & Match Preview
English Premier League – Arsenal Vs Birmingham City Live Online Click Here
Saturday, 16th October 2010
Kick Off : 15:00 BST
Venue : Emirates Stadium, London
The English Premier League match between Arsenal and Birmingham City will take place at the
Emirates Stadium on Saturday 16th October 2010, kick-off is set for 3:00 PM.
Remember Erik Nevland at Reading? Slipped through, drilled finish into the far corner like it
was the easiest thing on earth to do, game over. Birmingham at home a week later: through again,
bang, game over. Nevland was presented with chances and had the skill, fortune and balls to take
both. Classic sport: cometh the hour, cometh the Scandinavian.
The Game Good evening and happy new year to all our readers. A tormented 2010 is drawing to a close
as we enter 2011 by travelling to Birmingham to play Alex Hleb's Brum. Are you superstitious? Well
...
