Bloody Hell Carlos!

Isn't life funny.  My 9-year old cousin rang me after his match on Sunday.  He'd started on the bench, and he wasn't happy, but he eventually came on and scored a goal. I explained to him, that football is a squad game.  The manager makes decisions for a reason and that no-one like a sulker.

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Looks like I decided to watch the right Manchester team in the Champions League tonight.

Admittedly, United's 3-3 draw with Basel sounded tasty, but that won't beat the sight of actual sadness in Roberto Mancini's eyes as he told the world:

He [Tevez] refused to go on [the pitch].

Or the sheer anger on Graeme Souness' face on Sky Sports as he described the player as a 'bad egg'.

I think his behaviour or lack off, is frigging ridiculous. To sit on the substitutes bench while your team are losing 2-0 away to Bayern Munich, and to refuse to go out there and try and help your teammates shows me a lot about the man. And a lot more about his lack of character.

I know there are many who hate how much footballers earn and the lifestyle they lead. But that is beyond the point right. This is about a employee who has refused to work for his employer, for no justifiable reason. Simple as.

Okay, we all know he wants to go. He wants to be nearer his family and blah, blah, blah.

No-one is disputing that but as it stands, he belongs to City and until someone else pays his wages he just has to put up, or shut up.

If you feel really that strongly Tevez; then buy yourself out of your contract or go on strike. For all I care go and sit somewhere sunny and wait until the club have to sell you for 25% of their preferred fee. But what you don't do is embarrass the club and disrespect the fans. And please don't do it with all the class of a toddler with toothache.

He has shown a disregard for the club but a complete lack of respect for all those involved. I would love to know the thoughts of David Platt or Brian Kidd on the bench. Two old school football men, and I can't imagine they were too impressed with the Argentinian. They must wish for the days of Clough and Robson when players did what they were told and managers were feared more than the wife. After all their years in the game, it must leave a nasty taste in their mouths.

Mancini has said he will never play for him again and the owners have to back him. For me, he has to leave the club. A precedent needs to be set, both at the club and in the world of football that the clubs are calling the shots. Because for so long, it has felt like the players have too much power. For City to continue to pay him and allow him to stay involved, they would only be confirming the latter. To keep him at the club would be a big two fingers up to the fans who must be completely out of patience with the forward by now.

We always talk about the loyalty in the game, and how quickly it is disappearing. Judging by tonight's events, respect is on the way out too.

Two Hamstrings and a Fourth Minute Goal!

In the words of the Beautiful South, Arsenal fans may: 'Need a little time to think it over...'

In the words of Natasha Henry, you need: 'To get a bloody grip!'

Alright, I'm gonna be honest. The 90 minutes of football that we've all just watched was far from the best 90 minutes Arsenal have played. Yes, it was a little uncomfortable and nervous at times. But this is football people, what do you expect? If you want calm and serene, go and watch Bowls!

I just feel some of you out there need to get a little perspective about the real state of our team and realise that news of our death is being greatly exaggerated.

Yes, Cesc has left. But come on, we've all been planning for life without him since last summer.

For me last season, Cesc ended up being more of a hindrance than a help. Let me explain. He wasn't at his best for the majority of the season - when he did play - and when he was on the pitch, all other midfielders were looking to him to pull the strings. So when he was having a poor showing, it couldn't help but make those around him more fragile. Imagine what happens to the orchestra if the conductor is out of time.

But he's gone now. Lets regroup and move on quickly because this vitriol coming from the fans AND the press will only start to infect the players.

Whether or not you are happy with players' comments or Mr Wenger's - lack off - transfer dealings you have to support the team. Do any of you think it's actually helpful to boo the team off the pitch or abuse a player as he arrives at a stadium? All it does is make them more complacent and eager to leave. This is the time all who love Arsenal Football club should be pulling together, not tearing ourselves apart.

Of course when it comes down to it, the game is won by the 11 on the pitch. But you only have to visit clubs like Stoke and Blackpool to see the difference a truly supportive fan base can make.

So have a drink, chill out and remember why we love this club in the first place.

And if you decide you only want to be in a relationship with a club that pimps their way to the title, I believe there's a club with less history and soul than us over on the Kings Road. From what I hear, they're not very picky.

Champions Leage: Match Day 3 Review

UEFA Champions League Review: Match Day Three

At the halfway point of the group stages the top teams continue to show their mettle. Free-scoring Arsenal and Raul broke records and some new faces made their mark in the Champions League.


Group A – FC Twente; Inter Milan; Tottenham Hotspur; Werder Bremen
Never has a game been so aptly described as 'a game of two halves'. The first belonged to Inter as they were 4-0 up at half-time. But ten-man Spurs owe their comeback to Gareth Bale who put in another performance to attract the plaudits, while becoming only the sixth British player* to score a hat-trick in Europe.

Twente drew at home to Bremen to leave both teams on two points and fighting for the chance to take the consolation prize of playing in Europe's second string competition.

Group B – Benfica; Hapoel Tel-Aviv; Lyon; Schalke 04
Raul showed that form is temporary, but class is permanent as he scored two goals to help Schalke to a 3-1 home win against Hapoel. Now, Europe's top scorer, he shows no signs of slowly down and it could well be his genius that inspires his new team to qualify from the group.

To read on go here

Champions Leage: Match Day 3 Preview

Champions League Preview: Match Day Three; 19-20 October 2010

Following an eventful domestic weekend, players minds will now be back on the Champions League. Didier Drogba makes his return to the competition, two footballing giants meet in Group G and a friendly face return to the Emirates.

Group A – FC Twente; Inter Milan; Tottenham Hotspur & Werder Bremen
Tottenham face their first real test when they travel to the San Siro and to play the might of Inter Milan. Harry Redknapp is familiar with their boss, Rafa Benitez and will enjoy pitting his wits against the former Liverpool man.

FC Twente will be looking for revenge against the side that knocked them out of last years competition. Like Werder Bremen they only have one point and will be aiming to secure the third spot and possible Europa League participation.

Group B – Benfica; Hapoel Tel-Aviv; Lyon & Schalke 04
If Michel Bastos can continue scoring in the CL, Benfica will cement their first-placed position at the top of the group. Although they won't expect an easy trip to seasoned French team, Lyon.


To read the rest of this article go here

6-4-0

So, it's been a good week for English football in the Champions League, for once for all the right reasons.
No prostitutes, no affairs, no violence; unless you count Arsenal's assault on SG Braga.

As an Arsenal fan, you can imagine I was glad to see our captain, Cesc Fabragas getting back to his top form. Scoring two and making two goals. Of course he was voted Man of the Match. For me though, more impressive were Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere. A lot of the hard work Nasri did on Wednesday seems to have been ignored by the pundits and the press. But for me, he deserves a big round of applause. As a natural winger, he was going against his natural instincts to do some sterling defending for the team. Ad like other forwards I won't mention - ginger guy, plays for ManU - he can actually tackle.

But my happiness moment was how easily lil Jack sees to be fitting into the team. He doesn't appear to have the confidence issues that at times blight Theo Walcott and he can stand up quite admirably to a challenge. Mr Wenger's decision to send him to Bolton on loan looks to have paid dividends.

As for the others...

The less said about the bore-draw in Manchester the better. For all Sir Alex's bravado he can't be happy to see Wayne Rooney looking far from his combative best. Maybe it would have been better to play him at Goodison, I mean it's not as if he's not going to get abuse anywhere else this season. And compared to the abuse Sol Campbell and Frank Lampard get at Tottenham and West Ham respectively, it's not exactly the end of the world is it.

Chelsea have continued their scoring run and it was nice to see young star Daniel Sturridge getting his first start in Europe and first goal. And looking at how Michael Essien has started the season, you have to wonder how many points they could have won the Premier League by if he had been fit last season.

Oh yeah, and Tottenham drew!