Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

FA Cup 3rd Round TV Games

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Monday 5th December, 7:10pm. That is when the draw for the 3rd round of the FA Cup took place. It was included around 10 minutes later.

Roll forward 3 days and every fan who supports a team in the cup are still none the wiser as to when they are playing. And it is all due to the TV companies.

Games are scheduled to be played between Friday 6th January to Monday 9th January – 6 games will be shown live on BBC or BT Sport.

It is an utter disgrace that they have not yet been announced. Fans are waiting to book trains, book hotels, and even book days off work if you are unlucky enough to be on the Friday or Monday. The delay in announcing the games shows once more that match going fans are not seen as important.

The long the TV companies take, the more expensive trains will be, the more expensive hotels will be, and the less likely a boss will authorise the holiday.

It is baffling why the TV companies have not yet announced the games. It is fairly obvious who they will pick:

Manchester United v Reading will be on TV. Man U always are when it comes to the FA Cup as the TV companies take advantage of being able to show the most popular club in England. It has been over 10 years since Man U were not shown on TV. You actually feel sorry for their fans.

It is also likely that the BBC will pick Everton v Leicester for the sole reason that Gary Lineker played for both. Imagine the banter the MOTD boys will be having for that one. Leave me out.

The biggest all Premier League clash is West Ham United v Manchester City. The first FA Cup game to be held at the Olympic Stadium. It will be televised.

The TV companies are always trying to pick the story, guess the giant killing. For that reason, Preston North End v Arsenal and Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle OR Newport County will be shown. Watch the TV companies not care about fans and send Plymouth up to Liverpool on Monday night.

Lastly, the TV companies often like showing an all lower league game to show that they are supporting the lower leagues. Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon will be that game. The Surrey Derby. Just 5 miles split the two teams.

The TV companies need to get their fingers out of their arses and let us know when we can book our trains for.

Keenos

Arsenal Surprisingly Top, Walcott’s Pace, Spurs & Celtic

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Arsenal Surprisingly Top

Well, well, well, who would have thought after conceding the late equaliser to PSG that they would end up failing to beat the Bulgarian goat farmers at home and Arsenal would finish top.

It was so unlikely that many, including me, questioned why the likes of Alexis Sanchez was in Switzerland.

I woke up yesterday morning not really caring about the game, because it did not mater if we won or lost, PSG were going to win by a cricket score. And I guess this is why I work in recruitment and am not a Premier League manager.

Arsene Wenger stuck out a strong team (although still making 6 changes) just in case the unlikely happened in Paris. And the unlikely did happen in Paris. And Arsenal end up top.

For those who were angry yesterday about Sanchez, Ozil, et al starting, how much more angry would you be this morning had Wenger put out the kids and we lost?

With games still to play tonight, here is who we could play.

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It is odd the media are not reporting we could get Lyon, they are 3 points behind Sevilla, and they play each other tonight. Clearly Sky Sports produced their list of opponents and everyone else has just copied them, without checking themselves. Lazy journalism at its best.

The draw is next week (Monday 12th I think).

Walcott’s Pace

There was a moment yesterday when Arsenal were on the counter attack. Theo Walcott had beaten his man, and I expected the turbo chargers to go on and him to run away. But he didn’t. He got to the half way line. Stopped, cut inside and passed. At the moment I wondered what had happened to Theo’s pace. My only possible conclusions:

  1. At 4-1, Walcott was looking after himself. He did not want to go full throttle on an ice cold evening having came on as a sub and torn a hamstring. The game was won, he did not have to go full throttle
  2. He has actually lost his pace over a long distance. Still electric over 10m, he can not sustain it for 100m. Bit like Freddie Ljungberg (who was faster than Henry over 10m, but slower over 100m)
  3. He has zero confidence in himself and is so used to stopping his runs to pass inside that it was just habitual. He did not understand the space and position he was in, so did not utilise it

Whatever reason it was that he did not sprint through, it will be interesting to watch in coming games if he is starting to lose that electric pace.

Spurs

After setting records for most hot dogs sold by a home team in England (or something like that), our friends up the road have struggled to sell out for tonight’s game at Wembley. Which begs the question, why are they building a new stadium?

They often failed to sell out game’s in the Europa League in previous years, so why they have felt the need to build a bigger stadium has always been beyond my reasoning. They just do not have the demand.

And they could end up finishing bottom whilst Arsenal topped the group.

What’s that saying again? Forever in our shadow.

Celtic

So Celtic drew away to Man City. Well done. It was a Man City B team. Good work.

And with that draw, you ended up with loads of Celtic fans on the radio last night saying how that result, and the home draw, proved that Celtic would be good enough to challenge in the Premier League.

Let’s get the facts right, Celtic finished bottom of their group, and failed to win a single game. If they joined the Premier League, they would be relegated.

The only thing they have in common with Premier League sides is their history of harbouring child sex offenders, and ignoring their offences.

Stick to playing semi-professional and getting excited about winning the league in a 1 team league.

Keenos

Silly Sanchez in Switzerland

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iWhy the hell has Alexis Sanchez gone to Switzerland?

The game is pretty much a dead rubber, with Arsenal relying on PSG to lose at home to a bunch of Bulgarian goat farmers to be within a chance of topping the group. And with the way other groups are, it pretty much makes no difference this year if we finish 1st or 2nd in the group, with regards as to who we play in the next round.

Yes, I understand those flying out today have spent good money, so deserve to see a good team. And I imagine their is pressure from sponsors for Arsene Wenger to play the big players on the big stage, but in the grand scheme of a season, tonight’s game is pretty much meaningless.

So why is Alexis Sanchez on the plane?

Between the game against Manchester United and the FA Cup tie against Preston in January, Arsenal have 13 games in 50 days. That is 1 game every 3.8 days. A hectic schedule. To ensure we have the best chance in the Premier League, we need to rest and rotate when we can, and today is an ideal opportunity.

It is not just the 90 minutes, but what go’s on around that 90 minutes. The mental and physical preparation required. The travelling. The flights. The hotels.

Arsene Wenger could, and should, have given all first team players the week off.

On Sunday they should have all been in for a rehabilitation session. Stretching. Yoga. Ice baths. Get the muscles repairing after the West Ham tie. Then give them Monday off. Unless they want to see the physio, they should not be seen at the training ground. A day playing golf, a bit of Christmas shopping. A day to rest their body and minds.

Then today, they should all be at the training ground participating in a light training session. Nothing to strenuous. Just some more stretching, yoga, some light gym work. Let the bodies fully recover.

Tomorrow, back to full training, preparing for Stoke City on Saturday.

In the past we have seen players pick up minor injuries – which at Arsenal always seem to turn into major injuries – due to being over played. Due to being in their red zone. Due to not getting a little break.

Taking into account that Alexis Sanchez has been flying around the globe for the last 2 years representing Chile, as well as his non-stop performances for Arsenal, he needs to be given a rest.

Sanchez might not be happy about being told to rest. He comes across as the type of character who wants to play all the time. He will probably sulk. But that is where Wenger needs to manage him. Explain why he isn’t playing him. Tell him to go and chill with his dogs for a few days.

It just seems silly that Sanchez is in Switzerland.

Keenos