By Walter Broeckx
Of course we cannot really blame the countries that have to play for a place in the Fick Fufa world cup for having to play the games they have to play.
This will mean that the 3 French Arsenal players will have two big games to play in the next days. France will have to win from Ukraine in order to qualify for the world cup. Bacary Sagna, Koscielny and Giroud are in the French team but I don’t know if they will start. I really wouldn’t mind at all that they are given a place on the bench to be honest. That is the best that could happen I feel.
That will be games in which any player will give anything they have and so ideal for more injuries and of course more stress and as a result a bigger chance of getting more tired. Of course it would be best for Arsenal if France would qualify for the world cup. It would be a big boost for the players and players that are happy usually play better. If they would not qualify it could leave their marks on the players mind and could lead to a loss of confidence. The last thing we want of course.
For the other countries this is a moment where they can have a friendly match. Of course in order to mess up with the clubs a bit more almost all federations opted to play two games. Is this down to some short term thinking? More games means more income of course. For the national federations. So money, money, money is the main thing for them. May I congratulate Wales in all this. They have only one game planned on Saturday for this weekend.
And also the Czech Republic and Denmark for only playing one game. So Rosicky and Bendtner will not come back too knackered. Unless they get some injury of course.
Unlike most other countries who want to make sure that their players will get more tired than ever. I really cannot understand the reasoning behind this. Apart from the money what is their to win from playing two international games that have no meaning at all. Apart from bragging rights for people who care about their national team. To be honest I know Belgium play two games this period but I even don’t know who they are playing. So trust me I will not be bothered at all by the result. I will only check to see how Vermaelen came out of this game and the next one.
So this leads us to the question: how are our international players doing with their teams for the moment? As usual when I look around the other teams have a lot of ‘injured’ players. Players that suddenly have a niggle that prevents them from playing for their country. One team in particular seems to have a lot of players with bumps and bruises that suddenly needs a rest. Where are the days that a certain Dutchman went out for his country and we never saw him back for the rest of the season. We could put our clock to that returning event. Now he suddenly hasn’t that urge to do it like that. Maybe we are a bit too honest?
But never mind them, lets mind our players.
Wilshere and Gibbs seem to be fine as far as I know for the moment. So seeing all the other players saying they can’t play I think we will have 2 games for Wilshere. Just what he needs after the little inflammation of his ankle. (This is meant in a sarcastic way of course)
Mertesacker is still sick for the moment. The big F******* German couldn’t play at Manchester United (Scheisse) and will only join the German team at the weekend. Özil has joined them despite also being sick but he wasn’t as sick as Per. But it is not sure if he will be able to play against Italy on Friday. I hope he will not play. Or against England next Tuesday. Come on Mesut you still look pale. Are you sure you are okay for the moment? Don’t you feel a bit feverish? Just stay in bed for the next week will you.
Vermaelen. He has some trouble with his ankle. And to good Belgian tradition it will be no problem to play him and get him injured. And then he loses his place in the Arsenal team (Vermaelen was injured at the end of last season playing for Belgium and so missing the start of the season). And then people in Belgium get worried about him not playing. For F**** sake you idiots in Belgium it is because of you playing him with ain injury he loses his place most of the time! (As being from Belgium I am perfectly placed to call people from Belgium idiots – before you get offended of course)
Szczesny has also a problem it seems. He had to stop training with the Polish national team. According to the sources an ankle problem or a hip problem. Or both. Things are only getting better, aren’t they…
And as usual the Spanish team likes to travel to all parts of the world to find teams to play against. So Monreal and Cazorla are going to play in Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. I wouldn’t be surprised that next time around they will try to play a game at the moon against the national team of the moon. I probably bring them on an idea by writing this. So if not tired from playing they will be tired from sitting in airplanes for days.
Finally Carl Jenkinson has been called up to play for the U21 for their qualifying matches for the next European championship. Finland might be tough but San Marino should not impose too many problems.
Let us just keep our fingers crossed and hope that we will not pay the price for the greed of most countries that want to use our players for their own benefit. Boy, I hate international football. Why can’t they leave us alone and let our players have a well earned rest?
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Earlier posts
- Knock, knock who is there?
- Comparing the league table
- A tactical analysis: Arsenal – Tottenham
- He’s got no hair, but we don’t care: Steve Bould
- Lost a battle, but the war goes on
- Away to United: the preview
- Is there a level playing ground and who cares?
- The officials for the match at Old Trafford
- What makes a team title contenders
Sounds perfect Walter. That has to be one of your most depressing articles ever on Untold. I feel really down after reading it. Not blaming you.. but I got an awful feeling as I read through. We cannot afford any injuries .. not even one..please please let them all come back healthy.
I pray our players on international duty return unscathed without any injuries as that might greatly affect our performance both in the EPL and the UCL.
After each “international week” I calculate INS and OUTS. I really hope this time will be more INS than OUTS. At least most of games will be friendlies, so not such intensity. Only maybe France will have to play with full throttle, but I hope they will prefer Benzema over Giroud.
PS
Does anyone know where to heck TheO is? Wasn’t he supposed to be back vs Manure? No updates, no news, nothing.
Arteta is also called up for the Moon game.
Szczesny is my only concern. Not so much because of the internationals but rather because these problems he has are likely to worsen during league matches before January. I appreciate the heads up about this.
Besides Rosicky and Vermaelen, none of the squad are sicknotes, they are strong and resilient and get through most seasons unscathed barring the odd game or here.
Walcott is apparently going to be available for the Southampton game.
I am caught with the France Friday game as it will be shown live here. A chance to watch three great Arsenal players. A touch of class in these empty days.
However I would prefer they didn’t play so to be ready for our game against Southampton.
Over the years we have suffered a lot because of injuries caused a internationals, not least someone like van Persie.
How interesting he has pulled out of the next international like Manure players have done for years.
Boo.
Something I’ve noted with rvp. When with us he played for Holland when he clearly should not have played as he was either not fit or injured. He played. He ignored Arsene’s advice.
Now with manure he has knack and is not playing!
“That will be games in which any player will give anything they have and so ideal for more injuries and of course more stress and as a result a bigger chance of getting more tired.”
Yes, Walter,
Injury is inevitable, especially with an ambitious multi-competition top club. That is, something that is meant to be avoided or diluted via January window activities for quality insurance in depth. Nothing that Untold would advocate for, however; just to worry out loud, prayer beads in hand, fretting, no, insisting that another purchase or two might cause friction over playing time in the changing room.
“Besides Rosicky and Vermaelen, none of the squad are sicknotes, they are strong and resilient and get through most seasons unscathed barring the odd game or here.”
Arsenal1Again,
Respectflly, it’s not just getting through unscathed. It’s about flourishing, playing at a high ebb in top form. As Koz recently acknowledged about his fears for Giroud, there is such a thing as overuse – yes, even this early – and, all “strong and resilients” aside, bravado is a problem, not a solution. Brave sentiments and exhortations are no substitute for purchasing quality insurance come January. (Ah, but who am I or anyone who says the obvious. That would be invading the prerogatives of the front office, rather than sitting back and lustily cheering a depleted, knackered squad and its walking wounded. (All to be avoided by spending, yes spending in the January window to compete at the highest level, which we are fully capable of doing – ensuring against injury with a higher quality bench.
colario,
yes, on RVP – the man is pure manure. I can’t wait for his return to the Emirates. There’s no love lost in this.
Glad you noticed too that vpansie did a giggs that’s why he has such a long carreer
Just goes to show how evident bias against arsenal is compared with manure unless someone accidentally on purpose slides in and takes a chocolate leg!
@bob, think it is imperative we add to the squad in the January window. An upgrade in the striking department is essential for a start.
Sorry Arvind, didn’t mean to depress you…
Never mind Brickfields will bring joy with one of his jokes I think
@bob
I don’t know if you noticed, but Arsene Wenger tried to buy a top striker in the last transfer window. And afterwards he said it is hard to get a top striker, because they are few and far between, and clubs do not want to let them go.
Therefore if we do not get a top striker in the next transfer window, it will not be because Arsene Wenger did not want one or did not try to get one.
Of course, it might have helped if the fans had encouraged Gervinho instead of giving him a hard time. He’s now a top striker somewhere else.
Brickfields away? Make do with this one in the mean time:
In the greatest days of the British Empire, a new commanding officer was sent to a jungle outpost to relieve the retiring colonel.
After welcoming his replacement and showing the courtesies (gin and tonic, cucumber sandwiches) that protocol decrees, the retiring colonel said “You must meet Captain Smithers, my right-hand man. God, he’s really the strength of this office. His talent is simply boundless.”
Smithers was summoned and introduced to the new CO, who was surprised to meet a toothless, hairless, scabbed and pockmarked specimen of humanity, a particularly unattractive man less than three foot tall.
“Smithers, old man, tell your new CO about yourself.”
“Well, sir, I graduated with honours from Sandhurst, joined the regiment and won the Military Cross and Bar after three expeditions behind enemy lines.
I’ve represented Great Britain in equestrian events and won a Silver Medal in the middleweight division of the Olympics. I have researched the history of ….”
Here the colonel interrupted, “Yes, yes, never mind that Smithers, the CO can find all that in your file. Tell him about the day you told the witch doctor to get fucked.”
The Czech’s play Canada (Men’s Team) (I am Canadian). The Czech’s will probably win 10-0 and not have to run at all. If the Czech’s had to play the Canadian Women’s Team, that might have to work harder.
I’m fairly sure Tomas is let off these games. We can only hope.
Now I am a bit disgusted to see the Welsh FA have given Colman 2 more years, he abuses Ramsey’s willingness to play for his country while he kisses real madrid’s ass to let the monkey play when he pleases.
I see not only the skunk, but manure have kept carrick and wellbeck out of the England squad too. Even Stevie G is out, so that basically mens England will play Jack.
I have to better Brickfield’s offering:
A young man enters a pharmacy to purchase condoms for the first time. The young pharmacist (particularly cute) recognizes that she is serving a newbie to the sport so she offers to show him how a condom is used. She takes a packet and put one on her index finger and warns him to make sure it fits snugly.
Feeling particularly sympathetic, she takes him into the backroom and undressing, offers him her charms so he can do some practice. Once the deed is done she asks him how well it went with the condom. He says it went very well and that it didn’t come loose at all, showing her his index finger with the condom firmly covering it…..she fainted!
It is imperative that Vermaelen comes back fit from this interlull. Koscielny, Sagna and Giroud will have been through two very intense play- off games, with the possibility of extra- time and penalties next Tuesday. Seemingly there is an agreement with Hodgson that Jack will only play one game, hopefully the one against Chile, giving him a week off. Santi and Nacho traveling all over Africa is just ridiculous. You would hope Loew will see sense and give Ozil a rest after his illness, and the BFG. Jack mis in action for the U-21’s against Finland now but probably not breaking a sweat. there’s a guy called Paddy O Shaughnessey playing for Finland, I kid you not!
Guys , I still here – just waiting for the appropriate
joke to come in .So here goes….
Police work can be entertaining as well as dangerous.
Recently, a female sheriff’s deputy arrested Patrick Lawrence, a 22 year old white male, who was fornicating with a pumpkin in the middle of a field at night. The next day, at the Gwinnett County (GA) courthouse, Lawrence was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour, public indecency and public intoxication.
The suspect explained that he was passing a pumpkin patch on his way home from a drinking session when he decided to stop. ‘You know how a pumpkin is soft and squishy inside, and there was no one around for miles, or at least I thought there was no one around’ he stated.
Lawrence went on to say that he pulled over to the side of the road, picked out a pumpkin that he felt was appropriate to his purpose, cut a hole in it, and proceeded to satisfy his pressing need. ‘Guess I was really into it, y’know?’ he commented with evident embarrassment.
In the process of doing the deed, Lawrence failed to notice an approaching sheriff’s car and was unaware of his audience until Deputy Brenda Taylor approached him.
‘It was an unusual situation, that’s for sure,’ said Deputy Taylor. ‘I walked up to Lawrence and he’s just humping away at this pumpkin.’
Deputy Taylor went on to describe what happened when she approached Lawrence…
‘I said: ‘Excuse me sir, but do you realize that you’re having sex with a pumpkin?’
He froze and was clearly very surprised that I was there, and then he looked me straight in the face and said:
‘A pumpkin? Shit … is it midnight already?’
The court (and the judge) could not contain their laughter. Lawrence was found guilty only of public intoxication, fined $10. and sent on his way.
The Washington Post wrote an article describing this as “The best come-back line ever.”
Dom , in response to your condom joke , I offer this..
Looking for the Right Size…
Two old ladies were outside their nursing home having a smoke, when it started to rain. One of the ladies pulled out a condom, cut off the end, put it over her cigarette, and continued smoking.
Lady 1: “What’s that?”
Lady 2: “A condom.”
Lady 1: “Where’d you get it?”
Lady 2: “You can get them at any drugstore.”
The next day, the first lady hobbled into the local drugstore and announced to the pharmacist that she wanted to buy a package of condoms.
The guy looked at her kind of strangely (she was, after all, in her 80s), but politely asked what size and brand she preferred.
“Doesn’t matter,” she replied, “as long as it fits a Camel.”
And ….
The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an eagle to a condom because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance.
A condom stands up to inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re actually being screwed.
Damn, it just doesn’t get more accurate than that.
And some more at ….
http://www.jokes4us.com/dirtyjokes/condomslogansjokes.html
@ Gf 60 – For that really good joke , here’s a variant …
You Can’t Stop The Voodoo
A businessman was about to go on a long business trip, and was worried that his wife would cheat on him while he was gone. So to prevent this, he visited the local sex shop in order to buy his wife a vibrator to keep her occupied in his absence.
After examining the products, he hadn’t found an appropriately amazing vibrator and asked the store clerk for help. The store clerk recommended the “Voodoo Dick.”
“How does it work?” asked the businessman.
The clerk unwrapped the Voodoo Dick from its ceremonial tiki box and said to it, “Voodoo Dick that door.” The vibrator flew out of the box and attacked the door with such vigor that the door split in half.
“Fantastic,” said the man. “I’ll take it!”
He instructed his wife on how to use the Voodoo Dick and left on his business trip. Soon, his wife decided to try it out and said the magic words: “Voodoo Dick my pussy.”
The Voodoo Dick flew out of the box and gave her orgasm after orgasm. But soon it became too much, and she couldn’t figure out how to make it stop. So she got into her car and began driving to the hospital, swerving so much that she got pulled over by the police. The policeman asked her why she was driving so recklessly and she explained to him that she had a Voodoo Dick inside her that wouldn’t leave her alone.
The policeman looked at her skeptically and said, “Voodoo Dick, my ass.”
Brickfields, I cant believe the “pickled penis/voodoo dick” jokes come around! I havent heard it in years and it still cracks me up!LOL!!
xx
@ Kenneth & guys , think you’d like this case of the frivolous litigation of a famous character against ‘the big boys ‘.
http://terhune.net/jokes/Coyote.txt.html
Some say he did reach his lifelong goal ,but he then became a broken soul ,but in the end he did find the ‘true’ path .
http://www.therock.net.nz/The-REAL-Wile-E-Coyote-story/tabid/656/articleID/5077/Default.aspx
Brickfields, if Wile E Coyote would have realised that actually the Roadrunner was in fact the emblem for a lowly Middlesex football club that was running around all excited about the latest Europa league qualification,and that having dumped the BOULDer on the chicken he had indeed done us all a big favour no need for soul searching!- and in fact to find another kind of redemption all he needed to do was to walk over to Ashburton Grove…
As we know, a cannon is always better than a chicken!
COYG!
Amen
Thanks to yahoo http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/canadian-mens-soccer-team-extends-winless-skid-13-182034906–sow.html
> OLOMOUC, Czech Republic – The Canadian men’s soccer team extended its winless streak to 13 games on Friday, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Czech Republic.
One Canadian injury was mentioned, nothing about any Czech’s being injured. Who started and substitutions were not mentioned.
ESPN (worldwide leader in being ESPN) had the lineups. I don’t see that Rosicky was even named to the game.
Ozil is on the bench (halftime, 1-1), and is Mertesacker still ill? Bendtner was subbed off at 60 minutes. It looks like Bendtner had 1 shot, 1 assist on a shot (not scored) and 1 foul.
Koscielny and Giroud started for France. Giroud has 2 shots. Yellow card to Giroud at the half. Giroud subbed off at 69 minutes. Koscielny beaten for Ukraine’s first goal. Koscielny gives away a penalty, which is converted. And at 90 minutes is sent off.
Pleased to see Carl Jenkinson helped keep a clean sheet in the under-21s.
Thanks Pat! I missed that one.
@ Kenneth – that’s so profound and so ‘full’ of it ! But it works for me ! In a future life he would be reborn to ‘stone’
the AAAAs and the Spuds !
WRT Philippines Disaster
Arsenal is helping.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-donate-to-philippines-appeal
Typical of Arsenal, they don’t say how much. Major League Baseball in the USA is contributing $200k. The government of China is contributing a bit more than $1M. Arsenal says their contribution will help 30,000 children. It would not surprise me to find Arsenal is out-contributing all of Major League Baseball in the USA, or even China.
Chelsea? ManCity? ManU? Liverpool? What are you doing?
It is entirely possible than any or all of those clubs have made statements, but Google thinks I am only interested in Canada and won’t show me.
At the end of the day, the important point is not how much, but the fact people or organizations are trying to help.
So after last night games, Koscielny will have week to rest, and maybe even Giroud, as next game they Les Blues may start with Benzema in front.
As far as I sow Löw didn’t use Mesut or Per, so, no fears from that side.
I was really happy to see good game from Jack, as seams to me he was the only one last night who played in England squad (apart from Roo, but as usual Roo always plays his own games). Commentator here mentioned there is some agreement between Roy and Arsene for Jack to be used only in one game.