The Midfield Chieftains

I understand geometry plays an important role in Arsene Wenger's scheme of things. The one touch passing game is built on parallel runs, patterns of equilateral triangles in offence and tangential runs by the full-backs. A new equation seems to have emerged: the size of the preferred midfield set-up is inversely proportional to the size of the home pitch.

The Invincible season at Highbury in 2003-04 saw a midfield primarily of 6 + feet individuals - Robert Pires, Patrick Viera & Gilberto Silva, Edu and ofcourse, Freddie Ljunberg who brought down the average. However, with Van Persie & Bergkamp often playing behind Henry, it helped in maintaining the mean at 6'+. Much as the small pitch at Highbury had to do with the fast-paced counter attacks that was synonymous with the Invincibles, I believe long legs also had a crucial role to play.

But in the interspersing 3 years, as everyone knows, many things have changed; crucially being the exit of Viera and thereon the exodus of the core Invincibles group. Which (along with the shift to The Emirates pitch), from empirical evidence leads one to believe that the strategy changed.

The point is: the bright first months of this season has undoubtedly been driven by the new-midfield quartet in Cesc Fabregas, Mathew Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rocisky. Generating a good mix of offensive and containing midfield play. And this has become more apparent with their absence in the last few games of this season leading in 2 defeats and 1 draw, when at least couple of wins should have been the case.

The average height of the 4 would be around 5' 6.5" - very different in structure from the Invincibles midfield. Whilst it could be just coincidence, am sure hours of rat analysis would have helped the think tank to arrive at the conclusion that shorter centre of gravity leads to more pace over a longer pitch and 90 minutes. Also enabling them get around proponents of direct football. And this would also explain the energy of the team resulting in over 60-70% of goals coming in the final quarter.

Leading in from last season, the big surprise that many had to contend with was the fact the Flamini was the preferred number in the holding position - naturally most took it as a unreasonable considering the experience & proven capability that Gilberto brought along. The question is raised no more as Fabregas' goal scoring this season can be definitely attributed to the effectiveness of Flamini in his role.

Whilst its indulging in a bit of wishful thinking to think that this team could go on to win the League this year - however, a lot would be determined as to the availability of 4 for the rest of the season.

I refer to the 4 as chieftains - for some reason chieftains to me are people of small stature.

Over the last couple of seasons, with the team being largely comprised of youngsters with lack of experience & maturity, I always felt the need for an enforcer. On the pitch as well off it. Someone to believe in the youngsters and bullying them into playing to win matches. It was important in dealing with the pressures of a long season.

Thats where I think the scoop of the Arsenal season rests - making Gallas the captain. Which had most of us think if some screws had fallen in the manager's room. The truth was that Gallas is a whinging fuck, which wasnt a great thing for a team of neophytes. Am sure it was a big call for the manager to make - but seems to have made it with his head. Another day, another frenchman I thought - but this one prefers winning rather than mentally compiling the number of clean sheets. And again on hindsight, it appears to be the right decision for the club. His presence is as important as the midfield quartet's till the end of the season.

Despite the recent hiccups, I believe we are on our way this season - i.e. there wont be a repeat of last season where all hopes of silverware disappear over the course of 3 games in March. The manager has been making more of an effort to set expectations more realistic - which will help a squad with such little experience of dealing with a long season & expanding fans' expectations. The squad has amply shown in the last season as well the current one that they most certainly can deal with the pressure of a game. But a season is a lot different and takes much more from the squad.

As most have been predicting: todays game will not decide the season, but will certainly indicate whether Arsenal has it in them to surprise everyone.

Good Night and Good Luck

So thats that then. Arguably, the greatest footballer of all time in the English Premier League leaves Arsenal for Barcelona after 8 years in front. Whilst it is sad, not devastating though. Its not good for Arsenal at the present moment, because they needed a player of his calibre (in terms of his knowledge of the club and most importantly, the stature that he has constructed through his on-field exploits) given the team's situation in the past season. But was he capable of being 'that' player - No; and therefore it is good for Arsenal. With this move, it is clear that Theirry Henry realises that he cannot be 'that' player.

Reports suggest that Wenger has again sold a player at the right time yet again. Am not so sure of that, as the club would have got more money a season or 2 earlier I would think (esp, looking back on the value that he provided us in that time) - but that move would have quickened the chaos that has engulfed the team towards the end of last season. And in which it is firmly ensconced in at the moment.

His record at the club has been fantastic and more importantly, his playing style earned him standing ovations on away trips. Which not many of the greatest players can ever boast of. A great individual player, who provided ample evidence of his class. And it is easy to declare that he is indeed the Michael Holding of strikers - a big big complement.

However, whats become clearer to me with this entire saga of Henry and Arsenal (over the past two seasons) is that only a few have it in them to lead a team. Be it a corporate set up or a sports team. A good leader (successful or not) should put the team before oneself - which is nothing new in thought, but much more difficult (which I know very well now) to put in practice given the money and the distorted sense of self-worth that seem to prevalent these days. A sign of the Pop Culture times that is currently very integral to everyday life.

Henry would probably emerge as Pop Culture icon in the years to come - like the Che Guevara T-shirt he wore to the World Footballer of the Year Awards in December 2004 (picture above). Talking of his admiration of Che, Henry said,"He's a man that I admire for what he did. Simple as that." Which kind of describes of how Henry would like himself to be admired as - an inspiring individual. But how important is one's contribution to the greater good to be admired for? Like his idol, it appears not very much.

Who the fuck honestly cares about that? For some fucking reason, to me it does.

Much as everything else, football is all about money, alternate prospects and short-term ambitions. A contract with a club tests the same level of loyalty that you and I are expected to show the organisation we work with. Very little that is. Its an open market, and one moves on based on one's personal compulsions. But the romanticism of sport, makes it hard for fans to accept. Such is life.

And I suppose, big players moving on from Arsenal is something that will continue to happen - given the present philosophy of the Club - bringing in players regardless of their passports and consistent abhorrence to consciously blood English players at ridiculous prices.

Where does this leave Arsenal for the upcoming season? Nobody knows. Will it be the same, or worse than the previous season? Fuck knows. Will Wenger stay for more than a season? He doesnt know himself apparently. Will Wenger fashion a miraculous season with silverware acquisitions through some astute signings? A bit too much to expect, no? Will the present set-up show more maturity? I think the exit of Thierry Henry should ensure that.

Am sure there will be signings before the season kicks off. Will it be the Sagna or Kioski variety? I hope not. Three names that I would like are:

1. David Villa (Striker - Valencia)

2. Morten Gamst Pedersen (Left Midfield - Blackburn)

3. Carlos Tevez (Midfield - West Ham)

Lets see how it goes.

As a farewell gift, Henry provided this photo-op in what turned out to be his last one for Arsenal. Thank you; Good Night and Good Luck, Thierry.

Beware the Beast

An hour and a half from kick-off. Many people arent convinced, but its going to be the Beast's day.

Some insights

A friend of mine recently attended a Shaz and Waz show exclusively set up for high-networth clients in Jersey. Apparently they kept the audience going for couple of hours recounting their experiences with their respective national teams.

Waz was talking about how he did try to bring in modern training methods to the Pakistani team. He realised that the gap between the Aussies, South Africans in this regard was immense. So they got this US-based Pakistani trainer to teach them the art of sliding. At the end of the first briefing session, the US-based Pakistani trainer opened the floor for questions.

After much sheepish grins all around, Inzy lifted his hand and said: But I dont want to slide. That was that. Spare a thought for the guru of modern cricket Bob Woolmer today.

Before the 2003 worldcup, Waz got this 'nother US-based Pakistani motivational speaker to lift the team. After a brief morning training session, the entire team was hauled into a conference room. The motivational speaker was introduced and he promptly dimmed the lights and put put on a video of true champions exhibiting grit and determination. As the video came to a close, Waz got up and switched on the lights. The entire team, in the meantime, had gone to sleep. With Inzy clutching onto 3 cushions.

To a query on why the Indian and Pakistan teams dont have a plan - like the Aussies or SA, Waz said they always had a plan. But the problem was it was forgotten by the next morning. Inzy especially, who had no recollection.

More later.

Why Jose Mourniho is indeed The Special Cunt

Orginally written on 28Jan07, but had no energy to go on about:

I have been enjoying the recent developments in Chelsea. In many ways, I suppose everyones been waiting for this to happen - considering, a Russian oligarch spending millions on tap, a successful coach who doesnt think much beyond himself and team of superstars.

He has done exceedingly well in a situation like that - winning back-to-back premiership titles, with an outstandingly tight team. He is a winner no doubt and he has shown the way with what he did at Porto. Which in many ways was the antithesis of the Chelsea story. A club like Porto needed a personality like that, whilst Chelsea was bound to frustrate him and vice-versa.

Many people that I know (though not fans of the fucker) and from what I read & see, believe he will be missed, if he were to leave at the end of the season. Because of his outspoken nature, the intensity that he brings on the field and the character that he is.

But to me, Jose Mourinho is a:
1. liar: when the story broke out, he said he was in Milan the day he allegedly met Ashley Cole. Thats subsequently been proven wrong, he has been fined and theres not a word out of his mouth since.

2. Incompetent manager, when it comes to structuring the team: all the cock that he has been spouting recently about not being given funds to buy more players. He has spent more than US$ 200mn indiscriminately and am surprised at the fucker even complain about something like that.

Update - 06May7:

Things have changed. He might stay. He is out of the Champions League and hopefully out of the Premiership tonight.

He is undoubtedly the biggest and most special chuth.

Monkey Business of being a football fan

Note: The following post was actually written on 04Dec06 - before the recent winning run

Its tough being a football fan. Especially at these times, when the team is losing more often than it should, the manager looks as if he could hang himself anytime and the team frequently seems completely lost. Any thoughts of winning silverware would be better off being flushed down the toilet.

But voluntering to become a fan of a club is a one-way ticket; which is not a fact that one recognises at the outset. There are no comebacks; one has to get on with it, live with what happens and attempt to remain optimistic. Pretty much like life.

So what does one do in such a scenario? Can one objectively criticise everything thats wrong and hope that all the wrongs would be corrected overnight - i.e. buy more established players, bringing back Viera, flushing some US$ 100mn on a couple of over-the-hill yesterday's stars? I dont think thats realistic, and therefore a waste of time. Nothing can be done but to watch how things develop.

There is no doubt, the club is in crisis. But the positive is that its something that can be controlled.

The problems as I see are:

a) The captain and manager's recent blow-up
While Thiery Henry wants us to believe it was about his fitness, I think it was more a heated argument about the direction the club is taking. Buy big names in January, was Henry's view on their recent troubles.

But thats essentially questioning the intelligence of the manager - as in, buying young and not-so established names has been the route adopted by the manager the last couple of years and which he ferociously defends each time hes given an opportunity. Its a fact that Arsenal has limited funds; but I dont think even if he did have the money, he would adopt any other route.

Its not only Henry who has difficulty fully supporting (and to understand the rationale) the method adopted by Wenger. Its completely unchartered territory when a manager of a 'big' club puts out a team of raw, talented bunch of youngsters. The manager himself has recently questioned the maturity of the team in recent weeks - how the fuck can he expect them to demonstrate maturity, when they are so inexperienced. Maturity to deal with a situation day-in-day-out only comes with time. So it is a bit surprising, and rather stupid, that the manager doesn't see it clearly enough. Or isnt honest enough, if he does see it.

(Am not getting to whether the captain is indeed the best person to be the captain of this team)

Which brings me to the next point:

b) Lack of balance in the team
With experience, comes the maturity & mentality to hang in every game no matter what the situation of the game is; and obviously a higher salary structure. One needs the balance if you are seriously targeting silverware.

c) Lack of expectation setting
This is where the team is suffering - everyone from the fans to the players to the manager expects the team to have a go at the Premiership title this year - when its obvious that its fucking unrealistic.

The manager has to be realistic and put out an earnings outlook: i.e. we will not challenge for the premiership, we will not win the champions league. We have a realistic chance of getting Champions league position in d league and possibly a good shot at the F A Cup. But obviously, this would be not be forthcoming on account of sponsorships, 30k additional seats to fill and pissing off the handful of established stars in the team.

Therefore, I dont see this season to transpire in a way any different from the last one. If we manage to win the FA Cup and get into the Champions League final, then that would be a coup of sorts. If the side does manage to hold the No. 3 position from today until the end of the season, I would think we would have a fair chance at the premiership next year. But this year, we should think long-term!