Corner flag (vol 1.5)

As promised, the third ball has been in contact - right after the Villa game. And he had the following to say:

1. Continues to believe that we would win our first piece of silverware in years this season. He did mention that the confidence in the squad would continue to yo-yo until the end of the season, but the steady development of belief within the setup will culminate in a trophy. So "not to give up" was the key message

2. Very difficult to predict which particular trophy amongst the 3 it will be. {May comment next by Feb end to provide a status update. I think its too late as we would have done our 3 major games by end Jan, making it easier to make predictions at that point}

3. Is very confident that Arsene Wenger will add to the squad in this window. Believes it could be a total of 3 players: couple of them who are 'Full HD' and one 'HD Ready' type. It will be a striker, defensive cover and someone else

4. The third ball also had a strange comment to make: Its been a historic season (in a strange and arbid manner) for Arsene Wenger, because he finally won against a Ronald Koeman team, which he has never managed to do. TB now believes that Inter Milan will take out Chelsea in the first knock out round and then will be drawn against the Gunners - who the Gunners will beat convincingly over 2 legs. Could be the QF or SF - not sure yet.

This third ball is a strange, but brave fellow. Lets see, how it all pans out.

Jailed abroad

Came across this series on National Geographic channel. A series of true stories of people who were jailed in a foreign country - most of these individuals are not professional criminals, but idiots like you and me who embraced spontaneity and then lived to regret the foolishness. Its narrated in first person, brilliantly reconstructed by some high quality acting and production, making it one hell of a watch.

Heres the link to the official web page of the series.

And heres a preview to one of the episodes that I watched : a young English fella in Kuwait gets arrested for peddling hashish and just when he reconciles to spend 5 years in the Kuwait Central Jail in the middle of some desert, help comes calling from an unlikely source.

Corner flag (vol 1.4)

A crucial win on Sunday at Anfield and strangely enough there was an incident at half-time that echoed, in a small way, what was said in vol 1.2. The skipper's statements this week also mirrored the view that it is not necessary to have Big players to win the league.

Incident at half-time

Small sides can be successful: Fabregas

Corner Flag (vol 1.3)

Ten reasons why England shouldn't win the World Cup via The Independent

There are probably 10 more very valid reasons, but this is a start. Its not that I support a particular team and therefore I wish England doesn't win - its just the overtly jingoistic English media + a few players in the team - for example, the ones featured at 1 and 8 in the above link.

         

Corner flag (vol 1.2)

1. Disastrous London derby
It was the third humiliation that we have had to suffer in the last 7 odd months. And oddly enough, all 3 took place at the Emirates - 2 against Chelsea and the CL semi-final against Manchester United. Absolutely horrendous experience to see ourselves, yet again, shoved aside so easily.

The statistics were familiar:
- at the outset, we begin with injuries to key personnel which somehow has a major psychological impact on the playing 11;
- majority of pretty possession;
- manage only a couple of attempts at goal;
- lack of alternate attacking strategy against a packed defence;
- and the enemy scores with the handful of chances that comes their way.

The last point underscores what I believe is our key weakness: the inability to organise defensively as a team and its not just about the back 4. Must highlight once again, strength in defence has never been a characteristic of Arsene Wenger's teams since the famous back 4 hung up their boots. To me, this chronic problem is called "inability", and not "inexperience" and the responsibility rests squarely with the manager.

I don't believe that the lack of physical players being the reason for our inability to compete for the league / silverware or against teams like Chelsea and other big clubs. Yes, its always good to have few more world class players in a squad - but there is a deeper issue that needs to be fixed first: the need for a stronger team ethic / attitude when it comes to protecting the ball. In other words, a better balance between attack and defence - which was demonstrated brilliantly by Barcelona last season. Development of this understanding can be built and drilled into the entire team on the training ground. Just going out and buying 6'3" X, Y, Z will not solve the problem.

I totally believe that this team with its existing squad can compete and win silverware this season (the third ball, as promised, will separately communicate late December after the Villa game). Which, however, can only happen if the squad is honest enough to admit that a lot more work needs to be done collectively to protect the ball. And that I believe begins with the Manager, rather than the odd 'back-to-reality' utterances from Arshavin / Fabregas after a weekend like last.

Wenger has for years been very careful of shielding his players during his interaction with the media. That strategy, especially over the last few years, in my opinion has been destructive and regressive with regards to the development of the squad. This is regardless of the fact that he maybe a lot more forthright with the squad behind closed doors. Persistent public deflection of the team's inadequacies infuses a false sense of security that results in the players not taking enough responsibility. He has to say what he sees - which means being publicly critical of his players when the situation demands.

And as a last point, Eduardo can certainly play against the likes of Terry and Carvalho. Am 100% certain we will see him play an important role during rest of the season.


2. Hand of God episode II
The whole Thierry Henry fiasco that erupted a couple of weeks ago appears to be fading away, rather slowly. My initial reaction was that it clearly was a case of cheating and hypocritical of a man who has positioned himself as a philosopher on many an occasion. While this opinion still holds, the rabid response to the incident by the British press (savagely dismissed over here) was way over the top and is yet another exhibition of the heightened levels of hypocrisy by the British media (an issue previously raised over here).

3. Hiddink's failure
Another related development that caught my attention was the failure of Russia to qualify for the World Cup. I don't give a shit about Russia qualifying or not, but it was the English media's lack of criticism of Guus Hiddink that caught my eye - a few months ago he was being heralded by the English media as the greatest footballing mind of modern times by turning around Chelsea's season and replaying his conquests with the Australian/Korean national teams ad nauseum. Now he has spectacularly failed to take the 2008 Euro finalists to the WC finals and there isn't a word of ridicule from the likes of Richard Williams or Kevin McCarra. Well...



           

The house of durians

Will the real "Slim" shady please stand up

Corner flag (vol 1.1)

1. English media and their footballers
It doesn't help anyone shed their rather biased opinion about English footballers when the captain comes out and says shit like this. When the reality is something like this. My biased opinion of English players has just been reinforced: that they are a bunch of deluded pricks.

Prior to these comments from the stalwarts of English football, it was the English media that dived into the Eduardo incident. It all adds up when one realises that their next WC qualifier is against Croatia - and a win away from booking their place in the finals.

The similarity between the Indian media and English counterparts is quite evident - both are substantially loud and often more ruthless than the most extreme capitalist. "The dark side of free speech" - but thats for another time all together.

2. The presence of a third ball
That's me I am talking about: as I believe Arsenal will win something this season. It could well be the league. Imagine how it would be if its the Champions League. Yes, its very early and we have seen things disintegrating in no time before so one shouldn't get carried by the start to the season. And lets not forget the mistakes that cost us 3 points last weekend against the champions - classic immature brain failure. But thats where the third ball comes into the picture - its the third eye, its the gut instinct that has metamorphosed into a physical organ that takes responsibility for such opinions. It sees a different season all together where there will be silverware. The third ball is expected to communicate next in December.

The Intolerance of Tolerance

In an attempt to get things right, we are steadily losing the plot and as a result shedding our individuality. The recent burqa episode is possibly the best example. It always seemed a rather impolite gesture on the part of anyone to consider banning Muslim women from wearing burqas. But its happened now and that too a brainwave from a mainstream political leader of the developed world.

The human race is already on its way to losing any sense of humanity to the tentacling ways of technology. Acts of such intolerance are only going to hasten the process.

Heres, Sarkozy figuring how to be tolerant. Wag the Dog time.

Fearless

This is no official video - but a special song produced by Pink Floyd. It has the famous Liverpool FC chant at the end: "You'll never walk alone". Orginally written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and has since been adopted by Liverpool FC as their own. "Fearless" apparently stands for the commonly used football slang: "awesome". Searched to find if the band members were fans of LFC . And that got me to a rather surprising, yet pleasant revelation.

Roger Waters has been a long standing fan of Arsenal Football Club. Came across this April '08 interview with the man by The Word magazine. The relevant bits:

Q: When I interviewed you just after Live 8, you talked about these "huge holes in your psychology" that needed to be filled by large crowds of people appreciating your music.


A: Yes, but I'm not sure you even have to have huge holes in your psychology, and in recent years I've grasped that. And I love it now. How much longer I'll go on doing it I don't know, but I do work every day - and work and sex even come before sport on the Pleas-o-Meter. Mind you, [Arsenal] beating AC Milan two-nil last night was pretty spectacular. If only Chelsea had lost...


Q: If only. Do you keep an eye on the game partly out of homesickness?


A: Well, as you know, the coverage of English Premier League, and even the Championship, is actually better over here. You actually get to see more matches than in England. And I've been an Arsenal fan all my life. I lived there from 1968 to 1975, and when I wasn't on the road I went to every home game. Stood under the clock, before they built the stands. I can name the whole squad now (he does so). I can still remember everyone going out into the street in Islington at the end of the Cup in '71 [Arsenal beat Liverpool in extra time], wandering about, slightly dazed, just remembering the pleasure of it. Which puts me in mind of listening to the radio inside and then going back out into Rock Road in Cambridge back in 1956 when Jim Laker took ten Australian wickets. Another of those moments that never ceases to be magic. They never evaporate.

Enter Tony Adams

April 11, 09

This was originally written around a month ago when it was 'two months and a few days to go' to the end of the season. Club's fortunes have improved since, but I still think its all quite relevant.
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Two months and a few days to go before the season ends, and we find ourselves in familiar territory: a league where we are nowhere close to winning and clinging desperately onto hopes of some silverware in either Europe or England. Last season we were much further up in the league at this stage, but its around this time in the season that our confidence started to evaporate.

Like I said, there is nothing new about this feeling, but the fatigue of 5 disappointing seasons in a row has been getting a lot of fans on the back of the manager, a once holy grail. Yes the familiar hopeless feeling running through me frustrates, but as described somewhere here earlier, its difficult for me to look ahead without hope - looking at aspects that are not that bad and contemplating the adjustments that need to be made to make us strong contenders on every front.

Since the end of last season, many decisions made by the manager have been said to be rather dubious. So its not surprising that fans are beginning to turn on him as his stubbornness to strengthen the side upfront appears to be weighing on the side. I have had my reservations as well, specifically at 2 major aspects.

1. Exit of Flamini & the lack of replacement

The contribution of Flamini to the midfield last season was immense and was a big part of the reason that we had a robust start to the league last year. Letting him go was to me the biggest mistake made by the manager in the last 4-5 years. Not replacing him was probably a bigger one, considering the huge hole left behind - both physically as well as mentally. But then the call has been made, and we have gone through 8 months with Denilson in the same role - and must admit that the Brazilian has been showing increasing intent of making it his own - albeit, differently.

People talk about letting Hleb & Gilberto go as a mistake as well - I don't agree. Hleb was not indispensable and I considered him a fellow with his mind slightly twisted. In any case, a replacement in Nasri was bought who settled down quickly and has shown far more dynamism in front of the goal.

Gilberto has clearly seen better days. Watched him for Panathaninkos this week, and I doubt he would have added much to the Arsenal squad except for an experienced head. Importantly, he would not have gotten playing time, upsetting him all over again. Whilst I do like him, I don't think he is the experienced personality we needed. But letting Flamini go was a fucking disaster - first for the club and secondly, for himself.

2. Lack of champion mental make-up

One area the team has been found out, repeatedly, over the last few seasons in its endeavours to be genuine challengers for the league: is its lack of 100% concentration, discipline & motivation on the road and at home against all kinds of opposition - regardless it being a top 4 or bottom 10 team. In other words, not having the optimal amount of 'bottle' to manage a successful season long campaign.

I believe touting lack of experience is not an excuse any more for not being consistent. This bunch of players have been playing together for a while and there is no doubting the quality of talent in the team. I see each one of them - especially the derided midfield combination of Denilson, Diaby, Song - playing strong roles in any other set up if they were to.

We've seen this season the team putting together some outstanding performances against the bigger teams in the league but have lost/drew games to/with teams that we should not have. Eerily reminiscent of our 2006-07 season. One would have thought the lesson would have been learnt - but then there has been constant flux in the squad: departure of 'inspirational' Thierry Henry, a captain sulking all alone in the middle of the pitch, a captain losing his captaincy for his publicly scathing attack on his team mates: thereby resulting in no stability at the top of the squad. Therefore, all onus on leadership has continuously been on the manager and his coaching team.

Lot of people have felt that we have been frail defensively as well. According to me, that is a criticism that can be levelled against the best of Arsene Wenger teams - including The Invincibles of 2004. So its not a new issue, but needs to be addressed nevertheless.

I believe that the solution to this problem lies less in infusing fresh blood into the playing squad, but rather into the coaching set up.

Arsene Wenger has known to be a strict disciplinarian, but is the kind who employs the hairdryer treatment rarely. In line with his footballing ethos of playing fluid attacking football, he often talks about letting the players express themselves - therefore criticise less and focus on positive energy. I believe that it is not entirely adequate when managing a young team and there is enough evidence that the zen strategy has not worked consistently.

All the problems mentioned above - concentration, discipline & motivation - can and will be addressed with the presence of a strong personality being around the young squad letting them know that there is no room for complacency.

I suppose it is common management wisdom that there needs to be fresh infusion of thinking in any set-up from time to time and I believe its time that it took place at AFC. However, it is critical that the present day Arsenal footballing philosophy of Wenger & Pat Rice is not disturbed, but needs to be suitably strengthened to bridge the gaps in the mental make-up of the squad.

And this is where I see the addition of Tony Adams proving to be immense for immediate impact & the long-term strength in the squad. He is an all-time champion of Arsenal Football Club and will have enough to contribute with regards to leadership, focus, defensive strategies and the motivation to grind results. His mere presence on the training ground will be enough for all the squad members to reinforce the importance of the Arsenal t-shirt they wear.

Personally, he has had a very ordinary attempt at managing thus far. He needs to reconcile to the fact that he is far away from being one and understand what such a role would offer. Working with Arsene Wenger & Pat Rice will help him move up the skill curve when it comes to his overall managerial ability and at the same time, contributing in a major way in infusing much needed belief & dynamism to the mental make up of the squad. And have a hand in winning trophies that the club deserves.

In terms of the longer-term future, it is tough to rule him out managing the club on a full-time basis in 5 years or so. But that's besides the point for now.

For those interested, here is something interesting regarding the changes at the shareholder level of the club. Another reason to look at the future with hope.