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

Defoe shin 1 : Slovenia 0

Football, at its very essence is a simple game. You take your foot, conveniently attached to the end of your leg and swing it, with a certain amount of controlled venom at a ball. The ensuing kinetic power exchange pushes the ball through the air at a speed directly related to the force applied by your foot.

Using the above method you can kick the ball to a team-mate (a pass) or kick it at the goal (a shot) with the opposition goal (a rectangular net, set vertically to present a target).

I think Defoe's strike was the best of simple, effective football. Milner hit a great cross between the defence and the keeper. Defoe ran across his defender (textbook) to meet the ball first and it hit his shin, the keeper was well beaten by it and fumbled it into the net.

Not an expressive, 30 pass maneuver. No passing it across the 18yrd box. Simple, effective football that would create goals at any level of football.

England today owes its continued run in the world cup to milner, defoe's shin and the confidence it brought out in the rest of them. Perhaps maybe the quiz night and beer helped too?

I think we are fortunate, but even lucky teams win games, so bring on the Germans!!

Wigangooner

Engerland, Koscielny and a dutchman who sounds like a brazilian

So, England. Wow. Gooner fans, how good do we have it?

Crikey England are crap. I mean really crap, as in soaked nay drenched in crapola.

England v USA was a disappointment, but a little expected. England v Algeria, was a shock, whilst I was surrounded my friends I was dumbstruck. Speechless. For me a rarity indeed.

I expect qualification. I really do. All they have achieved so far is to make me believe I could pull on my England shirt and play with more passion, bite and effort than those multi-millionaires in south africa.

Nothing but qualification will save these players from mass hatred.

Sooo onto Arsenal, apparently its all steam ahead for this koscielny chap. Not a believer in youtube videos of players, I haven't looked at him. I'd appreciate an insight into him from someone if poss.

Naturally, if the media says its happening, Wenger is probably after someone else. Time will tell.

Soo onto our new Duzilian...(Does that work)...Kyle Ebecilio has apparently signed for us, another promising talent for us, but not first team and we need first teamers. Badly.

Also worth noting, he's not a defender, so we're still seriously short.

I'm back with my Blackberry, so I'm able to post whilst I'm mobile which really works for me. So on with england, arsenal and my drivel!

Much love, speak to you all soon!!

WiganGooner
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

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.

Having a cracking time!

Hi Gang,

Sorry for the lack of updates over the weekend, without my beloved Blackberry its slowing down my output.

However, excuses over, on with the blog!

Soooo.... England eh... Ouch. I was well set for the game, the Mrs cooked a lovely meal and I was plonked in front of TV (with England flag draped on floor in front (like a shrine)) ready for a good game of attacking football, with some patriotic joy thrown in..

Did anyone else get the feeling Rooney just practically phoned in that game...he was peripheral at best. Heskey played well for me, I think he did what he was put there to do, push defenders about, win the aerial battle and create space and opportunities. Fabio's no fool, he knows he wont get goals out of Heskey in the same way he knows Rob Green won't make that mistake again.

In Green's defence (though he has made no excuses, legend) he's not the only keeper to have struggled to hold onto this ball, the Algerian keeper also spooned one into his net and the Cameroon keeper yesterday saved his at the second time of asking on the line.

Ok, these are hardly stand-out, world-class goalkeepers, but it shows that the ball is troublesome and I think there will be more mistakes to come. Green recovered well to keep out the oft-goal shy Altidore who had a decent game, with a Heskey-like performance.

In summary, it was very disappointing, I felt 4-4-2 just wasnt working for England and I don't know why he didn't try to change it. So often in qualifying and in friendlies he's changed the formation during the match with a great deal of success, so did Big Fab choke?

I guess its not fair for me to comment, needless to say much will be judged on England's performances after the World Cup and then we will have a greater picture of how successful we were or what potential we've got.

Personally, I think we have enough players who can take the game against anyone and win it. Lamps owes us a performance and so does Rooney. Milner had a shocker and will want to prove himself also. I think semi's for England and we'll lose out to someone like Brazil, Spain or Argentina and we'll probably get a right kicking.

Prove me wrong lions, bring it home for me, Dizzy, Cordon, Skinner, Baddiel and those bad-ass Lightning Seeds.

WiganGooner.

Shock update, following Hill-Woods previous statements...Wenger confirms he's interested....

I've seen some smoke screens in my time, as a general rule I am subjected to them by certain parties. 1) Politicians 2) Arsene Wenger.

I've learned over the years, its rare for Arsene Wenger to go public on players unless a) He is interested in diverting attention from his real targets or b) Its in the bag/close to the bag and wants to seal the top with the player in it.

The Joe Cole situation is one that I am slowly thinking falls into the a) category. Everyone seems so certain he is coming to Arsenal that now I'm being put off the idea. I think its a smokescreen and as above, Wenger has more previous than Gary Glitter..(forgive the paedo reference).

So to reiterate what I've been saying on here. I'll believe it when I see it. Joe Cole strutting round the Emirates in an Arsenal shirt....maybe he'll grab number 10 off Gallas if Arshavin doesn't try to swap?

*shrugs*...speculation is delicious, if not entirely without fact until proven.

Til next time Gooners

WG

Peter Hill Wood - The man, the myth, the LEGEND!

Peter Hill Wood

I have to say...I truly love this man, he's hilarious.

There is noone that can insert a size 11 into their gob with such alarming regularity and precision. Something he never gets enough credit for i think!

From the foot of Hill Wood, via his pillow talk partner appears to be the sad news that we're not after Joe Cole.

Firstly, if we were in for him I wouldn't expect Gazidis and Wenger to tell him. His capacity for opening and engaging gob without thought as mentioned above has caused plenty of problems in the past. Kroenke anyone?

Secondly, its Wenger and Gazidis who work on the transfers and contracts. Nuff said.

...needless to say, as its already been mentioned on the transfer linked section, I just don't think this will happen.

Further thoughts to come later as i need to go do some work.

Have a good day Gooners!

Wigangooner