Arseblog: Friday 28th June 2002

june 28th

11.25 – Ex-Arsenal player David O’Leary has been sacked by Leeds.

You have to give him credit for the way he gave young players like Kewell, McPhail, Smith etc a chance, but his Leeds side bordered on thuggish, and some of his own behaviour was fairly poor at times (the Pires incident in particular).

Much has been said about how much money he spent, and I have to say spending £9m on Seth Johnson is a sackable offence in any circumstances. Still, Leeds Chairman, Peter Ridsdale, has always struck me as an intensely dishonest character, and O’Leary’s threat today to break his silence if the Leeds ‘spin doctors’ go over the top shows there has been a serious falling out between the two men. Oh well, let’s all laugh at Leeds…….

Arsenal round up – Well done Sol Campbell who edged out the media favourite Rio Ferdinand for a place in the World Cup All Star team, Tony Adams denies he applied for Brentford job, and AW says there will be no major overhaul of the playing staff this summer.

Why do I keep hearing rumours about Freddie Ljungberg leaving Arsenal? I think I’m right in saying he signed a new 5 year deal last year, and with Bob still injured, we need him to do his thing on the left. So, all other clubs, leave Freddie alone. He’s ours, and you can’t have him (but I’m quite prepared to let him sign for West Ham when he’s 34!).

 

Arseblog: Thursday 27th June 2002

june 27th

12.55 – Is it just me……

…or does Ronaldinho look like something out of The Mummy Returns? At least when a commentator says something like,”Oh Ronaldinho terrifies defences…..”, it’s true on many levels. I wonder if you look at him long enough would you turn into stone?

It seems that Tony Adams is looking away from the playing field when it comes to his future in football. His application for the manager’s job at Brentford was unsuccessful, and it seems more likely we’ve seen the last of our captain on the Highbury turf. Time to retire the number 6 shirt?

I think he’d make a good manager, his recent battles have obviously made him more thoughtful and focussed, and his recent articles on the World Cup for guardian football have been well written pieces that display good insight and tactical knowledge of the game.

Obviously he’d be a fan’s favourite for the job once AW’s reign is over, and maybe it might benefit Arsenal more for him to get 2 or 3 years management experience in the lower leagues than to play for another potentially injury blighted season.

 

Arseblog: Wednesday 26th June 2002

june 26th

17.52 – It’s Brazil v Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday.

A few weeks ago I went to see Brazil play Catalunya and I watched Ronaldo carefully.

To me he looked slow, lifeless, limping and missing that explosive burst of speed he used to terrorise defences with. I speculated as to whether or not we’d ever see the ‘old Ronaldo’ again. Well, I’m quite happy to eat my words, pour scorn on myself for doubting him and now state that he is without doubt the best striker in the world today. Some turn around….let me explain.

Ronaldo scored today with what is known as a ‘Toe bog’. There were kids in school who could hit a football really hard with the more traditional method of the inside or outside of the foot. Then there were kids who wore George Webb shoes who used to run up and toe the ball with their steel capped footwear. These kids were known as ‘Toe boggers’.

Ronaldo today showed incredible skill today to collect the ball, turn and run at and away from 4 or 5 defenders and then he shot on goal. The minute it went in I was jumping around shouting, “I can’t believe he scored with a toe bog!!”.

Only the greatest striker in the world would show such sublime skill then score with a toe bog. It’s just a good job Arsenal agreed the deal to sign him before the World Cup began ;o)

Turkey’s goalkeeper Rustu had another excellent game today – you’ve gotta love his warpaint – and he becomes the latest in a long line of keepers to be linked with Arsenal. Sooner or later David Seaman has to be step aside. Maybe it’s just me, but I think the Indian Summer he’s having in terms of his career at the moment is going to fade into an uncomfortable autumn soon, and with neither Richard Wright or Stuart Taylor looking 100% suitable IMO, it would be wise to keep and eye on the keeper market.

 

Arseblog: Tuesday 25th June 2002

june 25th

16.15 – Does anyone remember the football game that used to be in amusement arcades, and every so often you’d get the ball around the centre circle, whack a few random buttons and all of a sudden you’d get ‘SUPER SHOOOOOOT’, and your player would do an overhead kick that would take the goalie out of the back of the net if he happened to get in the way of it?

If you do remember it, can you remember how you made it do a ‘SUPER SHOOOOOOT’?