Why All The Surprise At Wenger's "Hair-Dryer" Outburst? by FD
There's been a lot of media talk since Arsenal's victory over Wigan at the Emirates on Tuesday about the apparent rocket Arsene Wenger delivered to his under-performing players during the half-time interval. Theo Walcott was quoted in the Guardian as saying: "We got a rocket,"
It's seen in every game that Arsenal lacks that aggressive factor which scares teams and puts them in their place. I don't mean tackles flying in all over the place and aggressive behaviour. I just mean we lack the edge to commit to tackles and persever in challenges, often leading to our defence opening up and a lot of the time we see the ball run past Wojiech Szczesny into the back of the Arsenal net.
Some thoughts on what has happened and why it has happened at Arsenal......
I first really began to support Arsenal in 1988-89. What a season. What a team. The passion and determination showed in that final game was amazing.
I watched as George Graham turned us into an effective cup side which lacked a touch of consistency and then watched as we found a man who initially appeared to be the Messiah.
What are the key areas that need improving with Arsenal? by GN
Many of you people have recently being going crazy with the current situation of which Arsenal find themselves in; it is depressing us all! But what are the issues with this Arsenal squad that started the season in a good run of form?
Morning Gooners. I won't say ‘good morning' because, if you watched the game last night, you will know that this is anything but. I know I haven't posted much on this site recently, but I thought that I would get a say on the shambolic performances that have plagued the last 180 minutes of Arsenal football.
This is brilliant and should become a full-fledged series, if it isn't already. On Verizon 4G
this time, perhaps. But even better is the disclaimer from the YouTube description:
"*DISCLAIMER: This video is about as genuine as the Glazers passion for Man
United"
naturally I'll be refraining from commenting on the John Terry trial until he's found guilty,
but those of you who are bored in work could do worse than follow some of the reportage via Twitter
or elsewhere. The best comedy writers in the world couldn't come up with some of the stuff we got
yesterday, this piece in the Guardian gives you a flavour of what went on.
Men's monogamous relationship with football - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Lying and cheating are two of the most prominent reasons why any relationship usually ends up in a separation or divorce. For one reason or the other a whole lot of men and women can't live up to the lofty promises made when they exchanged vows at the altar, or the town hall.
Some of you may remember that my favorite rock band, The Cult, are also massive football
supporters. Billy Duffy, lead guitarist, appeared on talkSPORT Radio this afternoon to describe his
passion for Manchester City. Meanwhile, lead singer Ian...
Andy Carroll has been asked to consider his future with Liverpool after boss Brendan Rodgers told
the big money signing that he will be third choice striker at Anfield.
Rodgers is desperate to offload Carroll to fund a deadline day transfer swoop and he has left
Carroll out of the Europa League squad to face Hearts tonight to give him time to consider a move.
Brendan Rodgers declared himself satisfied with Liverpool's performance after the 3-0 win over
Gomel in the Europa League on Thursday and had special praise for Luis Suarez.
The Reds were made to work hard in the first leg in Belarus last week but were much more impressive
at Anfield as goals from Fabio Borini, Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson secured a 4-0 aggregate
victory.
Liverpool Football Club is delighted to announce that midfielder Joe Allen has completed his
transfer from Swansea City.
The Wales international signed a long-term contract after passing a medical at Melwood.
After finalizing the deal, Allen told Liverpoolfc.com: "I feel incredible. Everyone knows the
history of this club, it's a massive club, and I'm delighted to have joined.
Mike Marsh has been promoted to the Liverpool first-team coaching staff, manager Brendan Rodgers
has confirmed.
The 42-year-old will leave his old role as coach on the Under-18 setup to join up with Rodgers'
staff at the club's Melwood training base after helping in first-team matters over the summer.
Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Liverpool's prospects of reaching a new long-term deal with
Luis Suarez are strong due to the forward's belief in the former Swansea manager's football
philosophy.
Rodgers became synonymous with a fearless attacking style at Swansea last season and after
speaking to Suarez in recent days, the gaffer is thrilled to discover how excited the Uruguayan
star is to bring that brand of football to Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Luis Suarez will sign a new contract at Liverpool as he revealed that
talks had taken place.
The boss has also had dialogue with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel and has stressed their
importance to Liverpool over the coming seasons.
On Suarez, Rodgers said: "I have had a good conversation with Luis over the phone.
No Donovan, No Bradley, No excuses. The United States National Team falls to a resilient and elated
Jamaican side after going ahead in less than a minute of play. Two brilliant free kicks and the
passion of a nation allowed Jamaica to pull off a victory and take hold of this qualifying round.
Their Words "It just proves the incredible strength of football, and most notably of the UEFA
Champions League, whose thrilling games deliver the perfect show to stadium crowds and TV
spectators. This is thanks in no small part to the great collaboration between UEFA and the clubs."
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino.
This 'ere is the work of artist James Hible, a couple of A1 posters entitled 'Football
Anecdotes: The Beautiful Game?' which documents everything about the modern game that fills our
James with venomous rage. As the man himself explains:
"Football is a big passion of mine and what these posters highlight is the problems affecting
the beautiful game.
The European qualifers for the 2014 World Cup are about to kick off, with qualifying from around
the globe soon to follow. With Ronaldo dominating the limelight for his Portugal, Buffon
commanding the Azzuri from the back and the highly talented Belgian Boys will be
playing under high expectations - they simply must qualify this time.
The Olympics have wrapped, the women's soccer gold handed to Team USA several days ago now. For a
short time (literally, for about two hours yesterday), I was a little nervous about what comes next
for this blog. Then, on Sunday morning, there was the Community Shield match awaiting me and my
tea. Although I do love all those flaming queens in the EPL, and I do love football because it's
football (really, any football is good, minus the MLS—Christ almighty, minus the
MLS!
The USA and Japanese women's teams held a joint-press conference in London yesterday ahead of
tonight's Olympics Women's Football Final showdown. Here are some of their key quotes.
"I think the fact that we lost the World Cup and the way that we did gives us even more
passion and desire to go out and perform tomorrow.
For U.S. Soccer fans, the Olympic Gold Medal Match between the United States and Japan
(Thursday, 2:45 p.m. ET) promises to be a "where were you?" moment in our lifetimes. The drama that
the U.S. Women have produced throughout this tournament have kept fans on the edge of their seats,
and this historic run reaches its climax an the epic rematch of the 2011 FIFA Women's World
Cup.
Radamel Falcao picked up where he left off in the Europa League last season to win and won the
UEFA Super Cup for Atletico Madrid, scoring a first-half hat trick in their 4-1 win over Chelsea.
It was an abysmal performance from the Champions League winners, but Falcao -- who has led the
Europa League in scoring the last two seasons in a row -- once again showed that he can beat any
team all by himself.
If you every hypothesized that the Europa Cup last season was the competition with the talent,
the passion, and the more compelling matches, then you had your proof today. It was Atletico at the
end looking as if it could have played another 90 minutes while Chelsea looked like it wanted back
those 90 minutes, each minute more painful than the one before.
Via Fox Soccer American star Michael Bradley will lead fabled Italian side Roma out on against
Poland's Zaglebie Lubin live on FOX Soccer (Sunday, 2:30 PM CST) from Wrigley
Field. Fortunately for Americans, this will mark the first soccer game at the famed baseball
stadium since the heydays of the Chicago Sting.
The Serie A has always been considered the gold standard for tactics, midfield play, and team
defending. Those were all on display as Italy raced on to advance to the Euro 2012 Final, with the
vision of Pirlo and grit of DeRossi on display.
That only highlights the significance of Michael Bradley joining DeRossi at Roma, and is a
watershed moment for US Soccer.
Michael Bradley started hearing whispers about clubs being interested in acquiring him from
Chievo Verona while with the U.S. men's national team earlier this summer. There were plenty of
options from both inside of Italy and out, but as soon as he learned Italian heavyweights AS Roma
were serious about signing him, he needed to hear nothing more.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino says he could leave the club if executive chairman Nicola Cortese quits. Cortese is in dispute with Saints' owners, the Liebherr Trust, about the running of the club and is seeking assurances from them that he will continue to have the final say in major decisions.
Ok people I will be honest, I never actually got to see the game as I am in Suffolk this weekend
for a wedding. I had admitted defeat and had set my SKY+ to record it, hope to catch some
highlights this morning and write a quick post about the goals etc.
To my delight after we all had been out for a per wedding dinner, it was agreed to get to a pub
down the road to watch the second half.
Passion often equates to violence in football. PAOK has some passionate fans, as the YouTubers
tell us. Rapid Vienna traveled there for a Europa League matchup, where they found, according to
the official statement, "unimaginable hatred." Well then. That's something.
The Europa League should be sponsored by the companies which produce flares and balaklavas.
No other sport other than soccer can bring out such passion like that of football fans. Enjoy
the passion expressed in these images of some of the most eye pleasing fans from around the
world.
"The Eyes of an Angel Fan" These eyes would make any soccer fan melt.
"The Kid Fan Supporter" This happy Polish soccer fan feels like the luckiest guy on
earth.
In a move that could be described as "huh? really? that's happening?" and properly reacted to as
"yeah, it happened", Eric Hassili, formerly of the Vancouver Whitecaps, has been traded for Toronto
for the first round pick of the 2014 SuperDraft.
The Up Side : The man is a game changer who can materialize brilliance out of nothing, as
seen here in Exhibit A and Exhibit B.
Bolton fan Dennis Swift loves his club but the 56-year-old had become disillusioned by the
direction it had taken under manager Owen Coyle. Instead of protesting at the Reebok Stadium,
however, the plasterer wrote down all his frustrations in poem form.
On a final note, I may be retiring on tonight, but in my heart I'll always be part of the
Seattle Sounders family. I'm really looking forward to joining you in the ranks of the Sounders'
supporters. Whether it's jumping up and down in the Brougham End with the ECS, taking in a game and
the bigger picture from the Green Zone, or sipping on Red Hook's ECS No Equal Amber Lager in a
crowded Starfire beer garden, I'll be right there with you supporting the Sounders every step of
the way!
Despite a brace from Kris Boyd and a renewed passion on the pitch, the Timbers couldn't overcome
braces from David Beckham and Robbie Keane in losing 5-3 in front of a sold-out crowd at Jeld-Wen
Field.
