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’?

 

Arseblog: Monday 24th June 2002

june 24th

16.25 – Almost too hot to type today. Owen Hargreaves has been linked with Arsenal quite consistently over the last 6-9 months, and Soccernet add fuel to the fire today.

As the World Cup action slows down, the transfer speculation hots up. Football 365‘s round up links us with moves for Lee Bowyer, Hasan Sas and and Edmilson, who was on the verge of signing before but had work permit problems. They also speculate that Keown and Freddie might leave.

I can’t see Freddie going anywhere, but Keown might go if he’s offered a 2 year deal somewhere else. As it looks like TA’s retirement is imminent, we could do with hanging on to Martin, but I have to say I think 1 year is about all he has left in him at the highest level.

Somebody sent me an email today which said this:-

“arseblogger,

thought you should know that muzzy izzet is signing for west ham.”

Er….great. I suppose if I was a West Ham fan it would be even more great. If I was West Ham fan and I had a West Ham blog, I could be called Hamblogger….