The headline suggests (in the way that journalists do) that there is a connection – although of course there is not, unless I really start believing that the Curse of Arsenal can be put on banks as well as on players and teams.
I wrote a slightly amusing piece (well I thought it rather droll) in the form of an open letter to RBS bank stating that as a shareholder in the bank (ie as a British citizen, and thus a part owner since the bank’s nationalisation) I was horrified that they had gone and given a loan of some £60m to Liverpool Insolvency for the next 6 months. If ever there was a toxic debt in the making it was that.
Next day bank shares collapse and RBS in particular seems to be in even deeper trouble. I’ve not seen too many pieces in the press describing where they think the toxic debt is, but there is no doubt that the money loaned to clubs which is not secured by the grounds and which is being spent on transfers is very dodgy indeed.
Interestingly at Liverpool I, the jolly nice manager Mr Ben E Tez (who recently wrote a column for Untold Arsenal) has said he ain’t gonna sign a new deal because they won’t give him total control over the buying of players. What the papers seem not to have realised (although the Guardian did print the story about the RBS deal involving a clause that the money is not to be spent on players) is that without significant funding from elsewhere Liverpool I can’t buy any players. If they buy anyone they will have to show that they have got the money from another source – such as selling a player.
So the club cannot give Ben E Tez the money to buy players for the simple reason is that his free-form spending would be a breach of the bank’s requirements. The bank would then call in the loan, and that would be the end.
Of course no bank wants to cripple a club – until they are sure that the resultant administration will give them back their secured funds. In the days of Leicester City going into administration this happened – there were always buyers. Now, not so many.
Multiple ownership rules (brought in after the directors of Fulham bought Woolwich Arsenal in 1910) mean that Sheikh Yermoney can’t buy, or have any form of influence over another club now that he has got Manchester Money. Who else is going cough up the money to buy a loss-making operation like Liverpool? America, having seen the mess at Liverpool I and Manchester Bankrupt (where they still can’t find the dosh to pay the interest on their loans) really don’t fancy this at all.
Returning to the Curse of Arsenal – this season that has fallen on AC Milan (for their summer antics), and the Tiny Totts. AC Milan are currently in a spot of bother over Kaka, and their handling of Flamini (who has only started half the games this season, having started virtually every game last year with Arsenal). That fact is helping to put the dampners on players thinking of going there. As for the Tinies, what can I say? Perhaps best to save it for another piece.
Anyway Hull 4 Arsenal 14 was rather nice (that’s the number of shots total), and we’re all set fair for Cardiff in the cup although I am not sure about this standing on terraces lark. Not at my age anyway. It will be the last time at their old ground, which I first visited sometime around 1962 or so, when both clubs were in the first division. New stadium next season, so a fun farewell is in order.
(c) Tony Attwood 2009. Thanks for reading.
When Benitez goes, then the truth is out isn’t it?
The league table could have looked a bit different if not for Chelsea and Man U’s late winners. We have not been able to make up even a little bit of ground so hopefully Liverpool will drop a couple of points tomorrow. In fact I think Liverpool will fall away in the second half of the season. They have not managed to pull away at all even though the other Big 4 have not had a pretty good season so far whilst they have; playing their best fotball for a number of years. I simply do not think it is a straight fight between Arsenal and Villa for fourth spot like a number of people are saying. Frankly I doubt Villa can last the pace notwithstanding that if Chelsea had not won yesterday Villa would in third position now above Chelsea. I would suggest rather that it is Liverpool that may have the problem. Whilst they are extremely well organized, even Gerrard is not allowed to wander about too much, they don’t have the creativity / flair to pick their way through teams. In the past, come the latter stages of the season, the real meaningful (competitive) games were those that involved teams at the top or those in the relegation fight. Games involving the middle teams were not as competitive. This season, however, it seems that there a lot more teams (happily Spurs too) that could be involved in the dogfight below meaning that a lot more games will be competitive. Teams will be set up so as not to lose rather than to win and this one of the reasons why I believe Liverpool will find it difficult and start to lose ground against Arsenal, Chelsea and ManU as they lack the ability to break such teams down. For sure we are a lot more creative than Liverpool and with, hopefully, Arshavin even more so. Besides we are beginning to play better than we did in 2008.
Where would this team be if (knock on wood) Robin van Persie had gotten another of his injuries this year? In his pre-match press conference, Wenger was asked about van Persie’s injury history and he said that Robin’s tendons and ligaments have all stretched into place and that injury period is behind him. Maybe van Persie is 1/2 man, 1/2 silly putty? It would explain why the papers leave such an impression.
Thankfully Robin’s legs are elastic because I hate to think what would have happened yesterday without him. Maybe Adebayor would step up like he did last year, we’ll never know. What we do know is that Robin van Persie shows week in and week out that he is true class and yesterday’s match was yet another example of that as he garnered man-of -match praise for having a part in all three Arsenal goals. Robin now has 12 goals and 9 assists in all competitions for Arsenal and is running away with player of the year plaudits.
Nasri too had a great match, most of which came after Wenger moved him away from the wing and more centrally. Well, I say “moved him” but it’s more like “unleashed him” because basically Samir was all over the pitch. Now, I’m not saying that Nasri is the new Ronaldo because, well, because Nasri’s not a diving, cheating, whining, little cunt but that free role is the same role that Christiano Ronaldo occupies for Man U: technically a wing player, he’s given freedom to roam and create havoc up front.
Wenger tried this with Hleb last year and it worked pretty well for Hleb too, with the main difference being that Nasri can dribble, create chances and score crucial goals. I know I’ll get stick for this and don’t really care, but there were several times last year when Hleb had the ball in the exact same position that Nasri was in yesterday for the third goal and Hleb elected to pass. If Nasri goes the rest of the season without another goal or without another assist he still will have had a better season than any Hleb ever had; just by dint of the fact that Nasri wins matches.
And that’s the last you’ll hear me compare Hleb and Nasri because there’s no comparison, Nasri is twice the player Hleb is.
We aim for attacking quick passing football usually on the counter. However, this is broken down at home where teams are reluctant to come forward so therefore are natural game plan is changed.
When we play against teams which ‘park the bus’ we have to look for the opening by quickly moving the ball about, movement off the ball and switching the ball from either flank. which can be annoying at times.
You’ll notice that players like Ade move out to the wings to bring there marker out of position in the hope it’ll make space in the centre. (Frankly he does this too often and is still out wide when a cross is made )
All this constent movement, tracking and marking is physically draining which soon combines with lack of concentration.
I’ve noticed in the past how the chances start to open by the end of the first half! Luckily, for our opposition half time is near.
Does any know the stats of how many goals (if any) we have scored before half time?
The game will open up quicker, despite the rest, after the break at around the 70th minute.
This is the same with England which new fans don’t appreciate from outside the top clubs. Patients is needed to tire out the opposition.
Away from home we are able to play our natural game as teams are more likely to ‘have a go’ at us which opens the game up for us.
That said we are lacking some creativity at the moment and relient on RVP and Nasri.