Once again, Arsenal fans have proved to be the most profitable base of supporters in the English Premier League. By preying on their 'want-away' players rather than their Manager, Wenger gets a vote of confidence to continue his non-spending, profit-banking style of management.
When you consider Wenger's background, his Fortune-500 style of management should not come as a surprise to anyone. He holds a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Economics; qualifications befitting for a College Professor.
In his own rights, he is indeed a master of his field; a Professor of Football, who enjoys teaching the game to teenagers and watching them blossom into well oiled football players. In so many ways, he is friend, guardian, mentor and parent to these young men in his care.
Unfortunately, just like teenagers who come of age, Wenger's wards show a tendency to want to move on once they complete their 'rights of passage'. Like a dotting parent, Wenger is reluctant to let go and loses all sense of reality in the false hope the disgruntled players would have a change of heart.
...not happening. Since Thierry Henry, most ex-Arsenal players have left the club in an unfriendly cloud, largely created by Wenger's painful philosophy of not spending big in the transfer market. According to his Wikipedia facts -
"Wenger has spent his career building teams that combine the accumulation of silverware with a desire to entertain and attack, and as "a purist, dedicated to individual and collective technical quality".
Between 2004 and 2009, Wenger has averaged a $4.4M profit per year on transfers! While this may sound good for a Professor of Economics, his team has entertained and attacked without a Silverware since 2005.
Sadly, the kids no longer want to entertain and attack, they want to leave. They are grown, and seek the more ecstatic pleasure of winning trophies.
Arsene Wenger needs to change his philosophy.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Team Of The Week
- Asmir Begovic (Stoke) - Keeper
- Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
- Micah Richards (Man City)
- Gary Cahil (Bolton)
- Robert Huth (Stoke)
MIDFIELD
- John Obi Mikel (Chelsea)
- Yaya Toure (Man City)
- Ashley Young (Man U)
- Seb Larsson (Sunderland)
FORWARDS
- Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
- Sergio Kun Aguero (Man City)
SUBSTITUTES
- Torres (Chelsea)
- Terry (Chelsea)
- Nani (Man U)
- Silva (Man City)
- Downing (Liverpool)
- Van Persie (Arsenal)
- Vermaelen (Arsenal)
- Petrov (Bolton)
Do you agree? Let your voice be heard!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Early season signs of a Manchester affair
Same story different day. Manchester United picks up 3 points while rivals fail to capitalize on day one of the season. Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all opened the season with draws, while lady luck continues to compliment Man U's hard work with a deflected shot that resulted in maximum points for the defending champs
While it is too early to tell, the Community Shield game may just be an indication of which two teams will be coming out tops at the end of the season. No disrespect to new boys Swansea, but tomorrow's game against Manchester City is very predictable.
For now, it is really looking like a red and blue shirt contest. And no, the colors are not Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea's.
While it is too early to tell, the Community Shield game may just be an indication of which two teams will be coming out tops at the end of the season. No disrespect to new boys Swansea, but tomorrow's game against Manchester City is very predictable.
For now, it is really looking like a red and blue shirt contest. And no, the colors are not Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea's.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1: Dalglish got it wrong
Since taking over as Liverpool's Manager mid-season of the last campaign, Kenny Dalglish has done little wrong.
Today, he got it all wrong. With expectations at the highest after a $70 Million+ transfer splash in the off-season, Kenny's lineup for the season opener at Anfield failed to match the electric atmosphere of Liverpool's die hard supporters.
Firstly, Kop favorite Dirk Kuyt started on the bench. Quite unusual, considering Kuyt in his 6th year at the club had only started on the bench a handful of times. Not only would he have matched Suarez's intensity, but would have also brought the house down with his energetic display. Also, as the designated penalty-kick taker after Captain Steven Gerard, Kuyt would have converted Suarez's poorly taken kick in the 7th minute of play.
Secondly, Flanagan had no business playing Right Back ahead of Martin Kelly. With England International Glenn Johnson nursing an injury, Kelly would have been the right choice to seal that position. As such, all the errors that resulted in good chances, and the goal for Sunderland came from Flanagan's inexperience at Right Back. To be fair, he's only 18 years old.
Lastly, Jordan Henderson was a very poor choice to start ahead of the likes of Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Raul Merieles, Alberto Aquilani and mostly, Jay Spearing. I watched him keenly during the per-season friendlies and he did exactly the same thing he did in those games today - nothing!
Perhaps, King Kenny felt there was some sentimental value in playing Henderson against his old club. He must have hoped that Henderson would be motivated to beat his old club. He was really a waste of 61 minutes of action.
Liverpool looked like the team we thought they would be in the first half, throwing everything at Sunderland. Arguably, they deserved to be three goals up with a man advantage by half time. Instead, Suarez squandered his own self-created penalty and Stewart Downings well timed run and strike cannoned off the bar. Suarez did make up for the miss to put Liverpool up in the 12th minute, to go into the half time break up a goal.
The second half was a complete tale of two halves, as Liverpool lost it's ways in the midfield and Sunderland capitalized to level with a brilliant strike from Seb Larsson. The introduction of Kuyt in the 61th minute and Merieles much later, failed to spark the Reds back to life. Even more disappointing, Kenny Dalglish did not use his finally sub to try to secure maximum points.
Not the start Liverpool fans expected. Not the start that would give hope to the faithful for a possible top-4 finish this campaign. Based on their second half display, Liverpool will be on the receiving end when the travel to Arsenal next week.
Kenny Dalgish has a week to get it right this time.
Today, he got it all wrong. With expectations at the highest after a $70 Million+ transfer splash in the off-season, Kenny's lineup for the season opener at Anfield failed to match the electric atmosphere of Liverpool's die hard supporters.
Firstly, Kop favorite Dirk Kuyt started on the bench. Quite unusual, considering Kuyt in his 6th year at the club had only started on the bench a handful of times. Not only would he have matched Suarez's intensity, but would have also brought the house down with his energetic display. Also, as the designated penalty-kick taker after Captain Steven Gerard, Kuyt would have converted Suarez's poorly taken kick in the 7th minute of play.
Secondly, Flanagan had no business playing Right Back ahead of Martin Kelly. With England International Glenn Johnson nursing an injury, Kelly would have been the right choice to seal that position. As such, all the errors that resulted in good chances, and the goal for Sunderland came from Flanagan's inexperience at Right Back. To be fair, he's only 18 years old.
Lastly, Jordan Henderson was a very poor choice to start ahead of the likes of Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Raul Merieles, Alberto Aquilani and mostly, Jay Spearing. I watched him keenly during the per-season friendlies and he did exactly the same thing he did in those games today - nothing!
Perhaps, King Kenny felt there was some sentimental value in playing Henderson against his old club. He must have hoped that Henderson would be motivated to beat his old club. He was really a waste of 61 minutes of action.
Liverpool looked like the team we thought they would be in the first half, throwing everything at Sunderland. Arguably, they deserved to be three goals up with a man advantage by half time. Instead, Suarez squandered his own self-created penalty and Stewart Downings well timed run and strike cannoned off the bar. Suarez did make up for the miss to put Liverpool up in the 12th minute, to go into the half time break up a goal.
The second half was a complete tale of two halves, as Liverpool lost it's ways in the midfield and Sunderland capitalized to level with a brilliant strike from Seb Larsson. The introduction of Kuyt in the 61th minute and Merieles much later, failed to spark the Reds back to life. Even more disappointing, Kenny Dalglish did not use his finally sub to try to secure maximum points.
Not the start Liverpool fans expected. Not the start that would give hope to the faithful for a possible top-4 finish this campaign. Based on their second half display, Liverpool will be on the receiving end when the travel to Arsenal next week.
Kenny Dalgish has a week to get it right this time.
Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1: Players Rating
STARTING 11 MATCH RATING -
Liverpool
- Luis Suarez - 7. Started great. Missed a penalty, but still got the goal 5 minutes later. Faded away in the second half
- Stewart Downing - 7. Excellent acquisition by Kenny Dalglish. Had a fantastic first half. Unlucky to be denied a goal by the cross bar. Faded in the second half.
- Luis Enrique - 7. Good acquisition by Dalglish. Very solid at Left Back
- Pepe Reina - 6.5. Had a good game. Was not at fault for Larsson's superb finish.
- Charlie Adam - 6.5. Another good acquisition. Always looked dangerous from set pieces. Delivered the cross that Suarez scored with.
- Lucas Leiva - 6. Average performance by Lucas, going by the high standards he set during the last campaign
- Jamie Carragher - 6. Did a job on Gyan
- Daniel Agger - 6. Good job double teaming on lone Sunderland striker, Gyan
- Andy Carroll - 5.5. Not a good performance. Liverpool's change in style in the second half was primarily to accommodate Carroll, be he failed to deliver.
- Jordan Henderson - 4.5. Liverpool's $20 million signing will need to spend more time on the farm horning his skills before his next outing.
- Flanagan - 4. He needs more time with the reserves. He must have been overwhelmed by the electrifying atmosphere. The game was bigger than him.
Sunderland
- Seb Larrson - 9. Just for scoring a 'goal of the season' type goal, he gets top rating.
- Wes Brown - 8. Man U old boy was firm at the back. Despite a significant height disadvantage vs. Carroll, he held his own
- Keiran Richardson - 7.5. Complimented Brown's efforts well. Was lucky to stay on the pitch after bringing Suarez down in the 7th minute for the missed penalty.
- Sessegnon - 7.5. Very exciting player. Controlled the game in the second half.
- Colback - 7. Very active. Attracted a lot of tackles from Liverpool and won free-kicks for Sunderland in the second half
- Cattermole - 6. For hassling Liverpool in the middle. Terrible tackler. Lucky to finish the game without a red card.
- Bardsley - 5.5. Average
- Al-Muhamadi - 5.5. Ok game.
- Mignolet - 5.5. Looked suspect, but did ok for a backup.
- Gyan - 5. Not his best game. Was only able to make one attempt on goal. Left injured
- Ferdinand - 5. Poor.
Friday, August 12, 2011
OPEN SEASON!!!
At long last, the English Premier League kicks off on Saturday with fixtures!
Our first featured match of the week will be the encounter between Liverpool and Sunderland (what did you expect? I'm a Liverpool fan!). This game will be shown Live on Fox Soccer Channel at 10:00am Eastern Time. Visit http://footybozz.blogspot.com for post-game analysis on Sunday morning.
Our second match of the week will feature defending champs, Manchester United as they begin the quest for 20 away from home at West Brom. Visit http://footybozz.blogspot.com for post-game analysis on Sunday night.
LIVERPOOL vs. SUNDERLAND (Armchair Pundit Game Preview and Predictions):
Kenny Dalglish will most likely stick to a 4-4-2 formation defensively, but would look to quickly switch to a 4-3-3 with Kuyt going wide right and Maxi moving more into a central midfield role with Lucas and Charlie Adam. Expect Suarez to come off the bench around the 60 minutes mark to relieve Maxi and push Kuyt wider right and further back into a midfield role.
Steve Bruce will approach with caution, playing a 4-4-1-1 formation on attack and reverting to a 4-5-1 on defense. He will be content to have Gyan as a sole striker up front to lead a counter charge.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1
Our first featured match of the week will be the encounter between Liverpool and Sunderland (what did you expect? I'm a Liverpool fan!). This game will be shown Live on Fox Soccer Channel at 10:00am Eastern Time. Visit http://footybozz.blogspot.com for post-game analysis on Sunday morning.
Our second match of the week will feature defending champs, Manchester United as they begin the quest for 20 away from home at West Brom. Visit http://footybozz.blogspot.com for post-game analysis on Sunday night.
LIVERPOOL vs. SUNDERLAND (Armchair Pundit Game Preview and Predictions):
Steve Bruce will approach with caution, playing a 4-4-1-1 formation on attack and reverting to a 4-5-1 on defense. He will be content to have Gyan as a sole striker up front to lead a counter charge.
Prediction: Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1
Monday, August 8, 2011
Man U's Young Guns Deliver
Forget Sir Alex's comments. The Community Shield was not just another game, not when it is against your city rivals.
Down 2-0, Sir Alex decided to make it more obvious that it was 'just another game'. He threw in his fringe players - Wellbeck, Cleverly, Macheda, Phil Jones et al. Interestingly, they had other ideas - like winning the game.
The game roared back to life with the influx of young guns and the rest is history. Man City blew a 2-0 half time lead and lost the game 2-3. The lesson here is very simple - (1). don't listen to whatever Sir Alex Ferguson says. (2). There are no such things as fringe players in Manchester United. Those young players believe it is actually their time to shine, and they proved it in Sunday's game.
Michael Carrick and Bebertov should both be sweating right now, with the likes of Tom Cleverly and Danny Wellbeck in the squad.
If anyone has any doubts that Manchester United is still the team, please watch the replays of that game.
Down 2-0, Sir Alex decided to make it more obvious that it was 'just another game'. He threw in his fringe players - Wellbeck, Cleverly, Macheda, Phil Jones et al. Interestingly, they had other ideas - like winning the game.
The game roared back to life with the influx of young guns and the rest is history. Man City blew a 2-0 half time lead and lost the game 2-3. The lesson here is very simple - (1). don't listen to whatever Sir Alex Ferguson says. (2). There are no such things as fringe players in Manchester United. Those young players believe it is actually their time to shine, and they proved it in Sunday's game.
Michael Carrick and Bebertov should both be sweating right now, with the likes of Tom Cleverly and Danny Wellbeck in the squad.
If anyone has any doubts that Manchester United is still the team, please watch the replays of that game.
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