An excerpt from a massive – and massively expensive – Arsenal book soon to be published.
How long will Steve Staunton remain in charge of the Republic of Ireland?
Last week just before an old-timers game one of my team mates posed the question - when is a volley actually a volley? His point was that commentators have taken to calling just about every shot a volley when clearly it is not. (Another mate jumped in on the subject of penalty kicks and how he is fed up hearing about the dot, going to the spot etc. when commentators only have to save the words penalty kick!) As chance would have it the Times ran an article about the volley subject two days later.
That got me thinking about my pet-peeves – it didn’t take much. I have a top four:
1. References to “footy” – it’s football, soccer or if you are, Italian, Calcio. The only two groups that are entitled to call it footy are kids under the age of 5 or Rugby playing public school boys who don’t know any better.
2. References to “mid” as in I play mid– what the hell is mid – midshipman, midriff! Apparently it’s a reference to midfield. Try saying midfield it doesn’t take that much longer.
3. Man Yoo – cringe!!! It is Manchester United or United – there is no such team as Man Yoo unless you are talking about the University of Manchester.
4. Right or left defense – no such position. An obvious indication that the person you are talking to or reading hasn't a clue.
Now that I have that off my chest are there any that drive you up the wall?
A new feature - Down Video Lane. Seeing that the Champions League proper gets going this week a European theme seems apprpriate. Here are the four goals scored by Ferenc Puskas in Real Madrid's 7-3 1960 European Cup Final win against Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park, Glasgow in front of 130,000 odd fans.
I hate when people say 'Athletico'. The word doesn't exist in Spanish or English.
'BPL'-- the PL, the Prem, the Premier League, even the EPL are acceptable names for England's top division. But the BPL? Eh? Hate it. Who started that trend?
I hate when Americans new to the sport use the word 'draft' to describe the transfer window in European leagues.
-The way the handball rule is interpreted (or the lack of continuity in how it's interpreted). If you played in my league, you'd understand
-Commentators using lazy descriptions of teams (i.e., Arsenal being an entertaining team that plays pretty). Without getting back into that argument, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and even the most ardent Arsenal fans would have to admit that the 07-08 Arsenal team isn't as entertaining as the 03-04 version.
-Calling fouls on freekicks and corners. A foul can be called on every freekick or corner and it's usually not obvious what distinguishes when a foul is called or not called. The only reason I can see is referee boredom.
-Last (I have more, but I'd be here all day), but certainly not least, the people who think a 4-3 game is always great and a 0-0 or 1-0 game is always dull. These usually are the same people who think playoff baseball is great because the low scoring games bring a lot of tension and excitement.
I'm surprised RINGO's list didn't include everyone's favorite (I also don't like when Americans use British slang/spelling for the hell of it) hobbit.
And Bobby, I will continue to refer to Manchester United as Man U. because I'm lazy and as an American I can't help but to be lazy...and arrogant :-)
I hate it when commentators pronounce the names wrong. Yesterday during the Juventus-Udinese game the commentator kept calling "iaquinta", LAquinta!!! I don't know where FSC gets these people from. The guy is a relatively known player... He played for Italy in the world cup!
ROFL prior to Jose it you werent even on the radar. Plus, spurs as you know goes way back(thx for selling lassagna to us btw, i wished hed a played saturday) and Man Utd with SAF and all that has gone on for the past decade well.....
Last edited by ohphuque on September 17th at 8:49 AM.
Unfortunately 'message' English is creeping into all forms of written text. Sad really but what can one do. Having been a teacher, it bugs me a little but I will lose no sleep over it.
Things that bug me?
Shane O'Rourke on the Setanta pricing strategy. Setanta have a monoply in Canada right now (not sure about the US) and are creaming the fans with their new premium priced Sports channel.
Impartiallity among commentators both sides of the Atlantic, when commenting on teams, players and managers.
Particular examples of this are: Peter Crouch phobia (Webster and McMahon at Fox); Rafa on rotation (the whole skysports and Setanta commentary teams); Jourtnalists who write historical or statistical articals without establishing or including the statistical criteria, facts or terms of reference (eg: the `top' 50 managers artical) ; All things Everton and Man Utd (personal decision) and, the FA for not at least testing a video replay system in lower leagues.
I have forgiven ref Styles but this may be reversed if we lose the Premiership title by two points or less.
Last edited by redfan2000 on September 17th at 9:36 AM.
q1. l would want to know l believe l read somewhere that you coached and now , the question is how much does a pre season play in an early season or bearing on a season , bearing that man u , Chelsea, and barca had sort of like hollywood preseason tours had have not had the best of starts, the barca players were complaing do you think it has an effect on the season?
q2 What would be your prediction for the chelsea and man u game given that they are more solid at defending than scoring?
q3. l read a passage were henry was talking about learning to a winger again and he does not look anywhere near his best for the past 18 months, can he be a sheva and flop?
q4.l have read question that qustion arsenal's depth l remeber chelsea used 18 player to win their first tittle and l would want know how many players did jose use in his 2nd championship and how many were used by united last season and at least if you think the stats reflect what really happens?
Last edited by henry14 on September 17th at 9:41 AM.
1. Bandwagon supporters and journalists, who jump on and off depending on a single result. Today's most notable example is Nick Webster, who's oohing and aahing about Arsenal is slightly at odds with his second straight fifth place prediction from, oh, about one month ago. Don't break an ankle hopping back on the bandwagon, Nicky, especially after "getting the beers in." What's even funnier is but for woeful finishing by Berbatov, Keane and Bent, Arsenal could have been embarassed. As somebody who put $100 at 12/1 on the Gunners winning the Premiership (not the EPL or BPL or any silly acronyms please) title, I'm LESS convinced about their chances based on Saturday's display. Wenger still hasn't addressed the problems in between the sticks -- Almunia and Mad Jens have both shipped easy goals this year and it cost us two points against Blackburn. Sending Djourou out on loan until will come back to haunt us before January. Losing Kolo Toure to the African Cup of Nations for a month will expose our lack of depth in central defence. So please, fellow gooners, don't join Webster in hopping on and off all season.
2. Referring to Real Madrid as "los Galacticos." It's Los Merengues and the worst offenders are the Fox Soccer report presenters. It's parading both their ignorance and Johnny-come-lately knowledge of the sport.
3. Presenters that don't pretend to mask their club affiliations. Jeremy St. Louis' cheerleading of Manchester United is cringeworthy but mildly funny when they lose and it's written all over his face.
Last edited by albertagooner on September 17th at 10:16 AM.
we someones favorite team wins and they say "Good win for 'us'". No it was a good win for the team, you had nothing to do with it. You don't own the team, don't have a stake in the team and don't play in the team. It was a good win for 'them', not 'us'.
Eh? I always use the collective 'we' because I am part of the club. I'm a supporter. I may not be paid player, but I experience the frustrations, joys, et al.
alberta, the reason Wenger sent out Djourou on loan was -- according to Djourou himself in the Swiss press -- he insisted on getting regular first team experience this season. When Wenger told him he couldn't guarantee it, Djourou insisted on being sent out on loan. Wenger did it to placate him, as he does rate him highly. I know it was a risky decision but Djourou's comments were pretty strong in his interview and I think Wenger felt like he couldn't stand in his way.
I too was not entirely convinced by Arsenal's performance on Saturday but after what we went thru last season, I'll take seeing us on top of the league, however briefly. We still have a lot of problems -- a thin squad, unresolved keeper problems, and a manager who bizarrely puts Alex Song on the bench--and even puts him on the pitch sometimes!! What is THAT all about???
1. Referees
2. Referees
3. REFEREES
4. Goalies getting blamed for conceding goals... I've been a midfielder my whole life, and I can say as confident as anyone... 99% of all goals scored are on the team defensively. This came up Saturday because my friend (Chelsea fan, Arsenal hater) was picking apart Robinson for giving up that goal to Fabregas... I'm thinking: The defense gave one of the best midfielders in the world that much room from 24 yards out... No #### he scores...
5. Andriy Schevchenko... He just annoys me... He looks retarded, he moves like he is retarded...
6. Managers playing players in the wrong positions, and wondering why they don't get a result...
7. Teams like Reading, that seem to play every game like they're trying not to lose, instead of trying to win... Defending with 11 men and attacking with 2 is NOT football... Unless you're Derby County and you pulled a miracle out of your #### and lead Chelsea on 80 minutes...
8. United's start to the season... Nil-nil with Reading, 1-1 with Pompey... 1-0 loss to City (Uggghhhhh), and a few 1-0 wins in a row... 1 goal by a striker so far... 1 pathetic goal from a striker... Are you kidding me?
9. Players who "move up" to a better club, then complain that they aren't getting "enough" action... (LOL @ Yossi Benayoun)
10. 2 legged knock out rounds... Never been a fan of this... Go somewhere, play one game, let the winner move on... This is a huge advantage to better teams, they can afford to go in not to lose on the road (and if the pull it off a 1-0 win is good enough at home)...
11. Away Goals Rule... Jus
Last edited by leche010 on September 17th at 11:48 AM.
Ringo- It's one thing when they're soccer haters, they don't like the game, but they don't really care if you do or not... But the ones that have to go out of their way to tell you that your game "sucks", because a bunch of guys running around in full pads essentiall playing "Smear the ####" is so much better...
1) When people completely degrade a world class player on the basis of short term form instead of a cumulative career.
2) Failure to acknowledge quality in play, skill, strategy or whatever based on personal bias.
3) Stating that Arsenal are trying to score the perfect goal. Sorry they didn't lead the Premiership in scoring for 1 year.
4) Mean spiritedness when talking about any player, coach or team.
5) Last but not least, stating that too many foreigners in the top flight hurts the National team. As if a kid in London doesn't have a million chances to show he has the talent to warrant a look at one of the academies.
for no#6 you said: "Managers playing players in the wrong positions, and wondering why they don't get results..."
Then for #5 you indicate that Schevchenko moves and looks like a ####. Did you ever consider that he plays in positions that does not suite his stlye and skills... Because when ever I saw him play in a Milan shirt he always looked like the best player on field.
What do you make of Roma's current form? Do you think the new additions to the team might have completed the team? I'm also curious to know how you rate Aquilani?
Trust me, I'd like to be more optimistic, but, geez, Arsene really left us short at the back. Silva had a shocker.
Hi danielgregg,
Amen to the hypocrisy on diving and hard fouls.
I had heard that about Djourou and understand why Wenger did it. I just think it will hurt us at some point. He appears to be the real deal as opposed to Senderos.
Song's inclusion is inexplicable in the squad given that Diarra is a much better player.
Arsenal have now leapfrogged Chelsea and Manchester United into second place behind Real Madrid on total annual turnover thanks to the cash machine that is Ashburton Grove. Given that, don't you think Arsene could blow the dust off the Queen's eyes, open his wallet and sign a decent keeper. Wouldn't Craig Gordon look good right now?
MasMaz,
Amen to the weekly declaration of a champion and the misguided notion that foreigners in the Premiership hurt the Three Lions. Pure rubbish -- competition never hurt anybody. Sport is based on it. Fact.
I think the Arsenal goalie situation and current defensive one is pure hysteria. When Djourou was loaned out Arsene couldn't predict Gallas would get injured and Senderos would get a fairly soft red card off the bat. It was a calculated risk that ALMOST backfired. Dropping 2 points in 5 games with a somewhat makeshift defense and keeper controversy is a good thing. Djourou will be back in the winter with some tough learned experience and it will payoff when Toure goes off and the fixture schedule piles up depending how many cups Arsenal are left in. As for the keeper situation, in Arsene we trust. He has faith in Fabianski for the future and if theres one manager in the world you would trust at rating prospects I think were in safe hands as Arsenal fans. We all knew Lehman was getting on in years but no one could predict he was actually going to lose the last of his marbles. Kneejerk singings has never been the Wenger way so I wouldn't expect it now.
Atleti- Fine, so just keep 4, 6, 7, and 9... Besides, check out ringo's post at the top... And ohphuque's... It's all the same, just let it go
Bobby- I know, but bad referees are definitely right at the top of my all time #### list... Right behind a bad cop...
Ciao- I know, he's a great player. He's one of the best in the world... But he still looks like a ####... The only thing I saw of him this weekend as that pathetic... I don't even know what to call it he had when Friedel came out and took the ball from him... His movement and touch of the ball looked so uncoordinated, you could have swore his feet were being controlled by different brains.
Also as for LGB's post in the previous blog about Cesc and Flamster your off your rocker. Cesc isn't going to be a great player in 5 years time hes going to be a great player this week next week and for over a decade barring injuries. He wasn't being linked with Real all summer because he is Spanish but because he would walk into any first team in the world. As for Flamini hes only 23 and hes showing some real heart so far this season. It's well known he wants more recognition and playing time and hes stepping up to the challenge. His work rate and stamina are world class. Ask any of the Arsenal fans that post hes been a positive so far this season.
Last edited by JayAlves on September 17th at 2:37 PM.
Add the fact that Flamini is one hell of a tough tackler and that he can play anywhere making Arsenal one of the scariest 10 man sides ever.
My peeve #1 was partly directed at people taking shots at Sheva, but I have to admit he looks out of sorts, he never stumbled around like that for Milan. I think Jose detsroyed him, and he can only be fixed by leaving, I am positive he will return to form after he leaves. Age slows you down, it doesn't turn a graceful player into a stumbler. He is thinking too much. Mourinho's reaction after Friedel came out on him said it all.
Hysteria? Get your facts straight. Most gooners rated Djourou ahead of Senderos and Billy's fitness troubled him for much of last year so his injury problems this fall are hardly a surprise given his age. Lehmann's form last year was patchy and given that Arsenal were linked with Craig Gordon for, oh, about 10 months last year and Wenger publicly made his admiration known for the Hearts' keeper(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1 /hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlo thian/6036703.stm), signing him wouldn't have been a "kneejerk" reaction any more than signing Rosicky to replace a fading Pires.
Atleti- I know it wasn't. I was just pointing out that this has turned more into "whatyou don't like" rather than just "pet peeves" by definition, per say...
MasMaz- Friedel made a great play on him, but any real in form striker would have finished that. He just looked too clumsy. Almost like he was boozing it up before hand...
boy gordon would look good in the red and white about now, but i dont think arsene would spend that kind of dosh on a goalie. arsenal were rumored to be in for the russian keeper as well, but i think that died when mad jens re-upped. im hoping lehmans "injury" will give him the chance to get things right and come good again, he still can be a top keeper, a mad man yes but still a very good keeper.
the flamester is a wonderful squad player. he fills in all over the place, works his #### off, rarely makes glaring mistakes, and chips in with the important goal every now and then.
Pet Peeves?
#1- People (other than Bobby McMahon or Martin Tyler) who think their opinion of football on a blog and/or a podcast really mean anything at all. It's merely an opinion.
Let's get over ourselves.
#2- American TV networks that do a disservice to the beautiful game.
#3- Delusional English football writers and as a result, their fans.
#4- People who think the EPL is the most skilled and tactically proficient league.
#5- People who have Pet peeves without owning any pets.
Arsenal signed Fabianski very early killing the Gordon rumors dead in the water. Would Gordon be great right now? sure obviously but I think we all know thats not how Wenger operates. He most likely approached hearts didn't like their valuation of the player and decided on Fabianski as better value. Signing a keeper at the end of the window or even at the winter break is not happening. The only debate that can be had is was Wenger wrong signing Fabianski for the future for much less over getting Gordon for now.
As for Djourou its obvious that Wenger still rates Senderos ahead of him and he had to accept the players wish for first team football. If Wenger didn't rate Senderos ahead he would of just assured the player he falls 3rd in the depth chart and would be worked in regularly and would be first choice due to injuries. Wenger was forced with a hard decision keep a player he rates 4th at central defense who wants playing time or ship him until the winter when he knows for certain (african nations cup, busy schedule) he will have playing time. I call it hysteria because Arsenal are sitting top of the table not bottom so to harp on 2 decisions that haven't worked out great is just that. It's not like Arsenal spent 16.5 on a bumbling striker. Thats something to complain about.
1. American commentators that cannot let two seconds go by without talking (MLS, international matches).
2. "ManU"
3. Misapplication of names by the FSC crew before turning it over to the British commentary for a Premier League match (e.g. Christian Miles saying, "Steve Bennett, match referee" when the camera is on Mike Riley).
4. Most of the stuff Derek on FSR says/does. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but his style bugs me.
Bobby, You are in danger of losing a viewer.
You previewed Liverpool, Chelski, at length, and a number of other games for this week's CL games.
However, where was the Celtic Shaktar Donetsk preview?
Surely you have a bigger Scottish football constituency between Canada and USA than German ones?
I have long given up on decent coverage of SPL games, mainly due to the intransigence and short sidedness of the amateur administrators of the SPL. Surely you could at least give us a couple of minutes before a big CL game and cut back on some of the other stuff of no import to the large majority of your audience.
Now if I get extensive coverage of the Rangers Stuttgart game then I think I will be turning you off for a week or two, maybe even for the month of Ramadan.
Ticked off laddie.
Last edited by RonnieDocherty on September 17th at 8:11 PM.
It's a bit harsh to point your finger at Bobby, Ronnie.
I think it boils down to a couple things:
1) FSC doesn't show any SPL games, so their coverage on the Report will always be much shorter (if covered at all) when compared to the Premier League or Serie A. I've noticed they cover major highlights of Scottish football from time to time. The same goes for Portuguese Superliga and Ligue.
2)When compared to the other fixtures, Shakhtar v Celtic takes a backseat, mostly because both sides aren't expected to make it very far.
Last edited by atleti on September 17th at 8:23 PM.
1. Teams that use dirty tricks like kicking teams out of the game, diving, 11 man defense long punts e.t.c.
2. Annoying commentators who praise every player even before they have done something special eg that dude on Gol T.V. who does Spanish Games or all American commentators no offense.
3. Fans who can't give kudos to other teams because they are too big headed.
4. How Beckham is made to look like he is the Greatest player to play the game by the U.S media.
5. Fans that use RACIST chants or start fights and destroy the game.
6. Some of Football governing bodies and the decisions that they make.
7. The lack of patience with coaches and players that we are seeing nowherdays. Success is not achieved overnight.
9. Refs who spoil the game instead of helping make it a better game.
8. And of Course Watching Arsenal loose and watching Livefools, ManUre and Chelski win.
There are others that I forgot.
Ohh Blackburn, Bolton and Tottenham.
Last edited by Gunner44 on September 17th at 10:58 PM.
Bobby do you think CAshley Cole will return to his best? Coz I was talking to a ManUre and Chelski fan and we all came to the conclusion that CAshley has just not been the same player he was for Arsenal.
And if I was an established star in a team I wouldn't go to chelski. Look at the list: Cashley, Sheva, Ballack, Doyle, etc. But then again look at Drogba, J.Cole and Essien there ve' blossomed in Chelski.
Seville-Arsenal Game Of the week people.
Last edited by Gunner44 on September 17th at 11:00 PM.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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