How wierd is this season?

I was sitting watching the traditional Match of the Day last night and it struck me again how wierd this football season is.

I watched the fortunate Blackpool beat Stoke 1:0, Newcastle beat Liverpool 3:1, Everton drawing 0:0 with Wigan and Villa beating West Brom 2:1

Today there are more games which on the league's current unpredictable form will no doubt throw up some more surprises.

I don't recall a league being so unpredictable even with a World Cup hangover, it just doesnt make sense..Form means nothing this season. Everyone fancies getting a result wherever they travel.

Which is why I'd suggest you guys putting your money on Arsenal on monday. I expect Chamakh to show the ManYoo defence what a real striker is all about. Ferdinand once said Adebayor was the best striker he'd played against, a lesson is to be had I think. Chamakh is twice the player Adebayor is.

I'm really confident guys, I hope you are too

Full lineup and pre-match analysis tomorrow

WG

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The importance of being Samir - Part 1

Few have had cause to criticise him this season, Samir has set the Premier league alight with his performances for Arsenal.

He's 23 years old and is growing game by game, but what is driving his improvement this season? Is it the indignance of being dropped for the France squad for the World Cup? Only Samir can tell us that - and indeed he has confirmed that the rest has done him good.

Much has been reported about the personality of Samir, his widely reported clashes with Gallas (now taking up squad space at Shite hart lane) have alluded much to his personality but I've seen a different side of him via interviews. It has been reported that he was cocky and arrogant, but in interviews I have seen and read recently he seems quite humble. I know these things are easily manipulated so I'm not putting much faith in either side, but to say that its probably a bit of all of it.

If I was rising to the upper echelons of football, with one of the worlds biggest clubs then it wouldn't surprise me one bit if I got a bit cocky about it. Though I would expect to be shot down and learn a lesson in humility and then move on.

So what is Samir? Whats his best position? I think his best position is one similar to Messi's. A free role to roam and create havoc. He's a good enough team player to work out where he is needed and what is expected from him and he will make it work. I see so many similarities in the running style of Samir and Messi. They both ride tackles very well and can control the ball extremely well at full pace - bamboozling opposition players as they dance around them.

Samir isn't Messi, but he has what it takes to be come the actual real successor to Zidane's crown - a tag that has dogged his career but like any good prophecy, this one might actually come to pass.

I've got a lot more to say about Samir, but this is part 1, so I'll see you in part 2 and I'll edit and link where appropriate when its written.

WG.

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English woe, Russian pride and a leaving a legacy

Leaving a legacy is a desire for all of us. We all want to make our mark in the world, just to have something to show we were here and we made a difference.

Sepp Blatter is no different in this regard. Though ostensibly the one real difference he should make is video replays and leave football to those that love it. It should be no surprise that the self-serving git would cajole and press the Fifa Exec committee into choosing Russia. I would suggest Panorama check out his own Federation, those of his committee members and look into all the mystery donations their football associations might get to fund new pitches and academies.

Lets not be naive, we all know football has evolved from a sport and into a business. If you look at the World Cup without our rose-tinted glasses its a massive multi-billion dollar event, where subsidies, kick-backs and sponsorships are ten-a-penny and where wheels are often greased to facilitate these things.

I'm not happy with the timing of the Panorama program, but I don't really think it made a difference. On paper England ticked all the boxes for the World Cup but Fifa ignored it because they wanted to make a difference, create a legacy. The Russians had it right, there might be Russian Billionaires all over the place tickling each others armpits and owning football teams, but they've sensibly not invested in their football grounds because they knew Fifa would plump for them and give them money to do it. After all, the Russian game needs development - though perhaps they should stop buying Brazilians and start nurturing home talent first?

This all sounds awfully bitter, but in truth I never expected us to get the World Cup, so disappointment isn't so tangible as much as its a welcome cushion that I can sink into and ignore the press furore about it all.

WG

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I went dutch....so that didn't work out so well...

Sooo.....Holland 0 : 1 Spain..

Well kinda nailed my prediction....I was right that Van Bommel would bully Spain, between him and De Jong they kept Xavi and Iniesta out of the game for most of it and Van Bommel didn't get himself sent off...lucky git. De Jong owes Webb a present of some description for his karate kick on Alonso..bit of a shocker that.

All in all I'm pleased with the result, my bets didn't come off due to extra time, the scoreline etc but I'm pleased for Spain, they defended well and created good chances. Sneider and Robben linked well last night again, Robben being the target for a fair few clever balls over and through the back line and Iker Casillas was masterful in goal to keep him out. In truth it was a fitting end to a good world cup. Two teams at the top of the worlds game, both with equal potential to win (for differing reasons) and it was an interesting spectacle.

Now for us Gooners its time to start scouring for transfer news, rumours and scuttlebutt hoping for some little smidgeon of information that gives us hope.

As yet its not really been forthcoming, rumours about Almunia being shipped out, Big Sol looking for his last paycheck and the apparent arrival of Mark Schwarzer and Joe Cole, all of which I will apply my IWBIWISI (I believe it when I see it) system to and see what happens. I am excited however for the new season and I can't wait to see what new bodies run out at Barnet on Saturday.

Til the next post Gooners!

WG

World cup antics and predo's

Mark Lawrenson sometimes makes a good point. Mainly "The Netherlands". I much prefer to call them Holland, so for the purposes of this article and later ones I will keep this as my nickname for them, a pet name for someone that frustrates me.

There's nothing interesting happening in the world of tabloid media as it again begins to focus on the World Cup for a few days, whilst busying itself with Hodgson and his appointment at Liverpool. Notably he has stated that he'd like his key players to stay, saying that they gave their time to previous managers so its only fair they give him a shot...sounds a bit schoolboy to me..

The usual characters have voiced their approval, perennial warrior Carragher has popped up with his zimmerframe

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of working with Roy Hodgson," said Carragher.

"He's got a great reputation and is one of the most experienced managers in the world.

"After this period of uncertainty, his appointment has given us all a lift."

His "experience" is hardly in question, his performances in Fulhams cup run last year were extremely good. However, I wonder whether he should have waited until new ownership of liverpool was in place....*shrugs*..I dont really care but at least he should bring a level of competition out of Liverpool that Benitez didn't. Though hopefully not until after we give them a damn good thrashing..

On the WC, there are some great games today and I have the following Predo's....I generally have tried not to do this before as I wholly expect to be wrong but;

Holland v Brazil : Predict Holland win, but I'd bet on Brazil...the odds are in Hollands favour and personally I predict Holland to get the result, but smart money is on Brazil..

Uruguay v Ghana : Predict Ghana win, I think they're really powerful, fast team. If they stuck it in the net more I'd put money on them.

Muchos Luck to Andy Murray today, I feel that Nadal might give him a kicking.

WG

It begins in earnest now folks

Hi guys,

Sorry for the slow posting, work has been MENTAL these last few weeks.

So excuses out of the way, England are out of the World Cup, I'm pleased in some respects that our insipid performances in no way are excused by the FA and the fans.

There can be nothing good from this World Cup for England. We need to look at how we prepare, how we play and how our leagues are designed to give us an equal shot at the next one as with every other team.

Too many players didn't turn up. I've no time or inclination to name them as we were all watching. We all have our opinions. There were only three players who I felt gave the appropriate performances and each one of them had something to prove. The rest did not and confirmed it.

Still, now it begins, the rumour mill now has something to focus on. Transfers. So expect us to be linked with anyone and everyone that looks the slightest bit twitchy (not including Redknapp) about their contract, their club and their general situation.

In other news it appears the SolMan is as yet undecided about Celtic. Personally, whatever his decision I respect it. He's 37. He deserves to go out with one hell of a bang.

More to follow guys n gals.

WG

I'd like to talk a load of balls...nothing new there then...

Balls. A favourite word of mine. Generally used to define when I think something has gone horribly wrong.

Ironically, the Jabulani ball is fairly close to my definition.

World-class goalkeepers (and some rubbish ones as well) have said that the ball is awful. Players have said its unpredictable. Now I like to see goals as much as the next guy but lets give the keepers a fair crack of the whip eh? It seems every major football championship a lot gets made of the new ball and its charateristics..at the last Euro's I recall Mad Jens and a few others saying that was a bad ball too.

There is a well known phrase about "re-inventing the wheel"..a twist on the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" phrase.

I struggle to understand why a ball that has been panned so significantly can be the ball for a major football championship. Its like Lewis Hamilton stating that the brakes on his car are crap and he doesn't think it will stop him from crashing, but he'll go out in it anyway...because he has to.

I know hours of time and millions of pounds go into the development of these balls and improving them, but in this case (forgive me) I think they've really dropped the ball. There have been several similar mistakes and errors by keepers as a result of this ball and I refuse to believe that its just a coincidence that keepers can make such basic errors.

Maybe I'm just too nice.