Monday Hangover

Well, what an interesting weekend we just had. Lets start with woeful Arsenal, a team that very nearly won the league last season looks like it's on the verge of a total meltdown. I will say that up until City scored the first goal that neither team looked very good, it was probably the worst half of football I have seen all season. Arsenal without Cesc, Ade and Walcott (at least Walcott can beat people and cause some problems) looked like a team if given 270mins would struggle to score a goal. The total lack of inventive play from the gunners was amazing. Very rarely have Arsenal under Arsene Wenger gone back to back games without scoring and this might be the first time I remember them really never looking like doing it. But how has it come to this? 

I think we can safely say that Arsene's "Invest in youth" policy has failed. But not because he has invested in youth but because he has failed to back it up with experience. I'm all for teams building their squad up with players from their academies but that does not mean you can't add to that with some quality players who are older than 25 and not Mikel Silvestre.

Lets take a look at United famous younglings that came through in the early 90's. Giggs Beckham, Scoles ect came through and were complimented with older experienced players like Bruce, Pallister and Irwin in defense, Ince in the middle and Cantona up front. This is how you build a team with youth Arsene. You don't have pretty much the whole team come up, you bring them through with the older players there who have quality and leadership. What leader is there in the Arsenal team at the moment? Fabregas? How long will he be wiling to stay there without winning trophies? Wenger's next move will undoubtebly be to make Fabregas captain because he feel's he will lose him otherwise, just like he did with Viera and Henry before.

It's a massive monster Arsene has created which could be his undoing. The worrying thing is though that I'm not sure he see's it. If his post match interview was anything to go by he seemed to claim Arsenal were the better team against City! Now I know Arsene is famous for the "I did not see it" line but know he seems to be seeing things that are not even there like Arsenal deserving anything more than the beating they received or that Alex Song is a good player. My only hope for Arsenal fan's out there would be that Arsene has realized the error of his ways and buys in January and forgets about "Hindering the progress" of players who although talented, are just not good enough for the very highest level were Arsenal should be playing. In 20 years of being and Arsenal fan this is the first time I truly am worried with the direction we are going.

Anyway, back to the rest of the league. Now regular readers will know that I always say more often than not, one of the Big 4 will slip up each week. Well this week all four slipped up and even more amazingly all failed to score! When was the last time that happened? Has it ever happened it the Premiership era? If someone knows the answer to this please email me. (You will get your name in the blog :-)

The fact that none of them scored is more remarkable due to the fact Liverpool and Chelsea both had very easy home games against teams not know for their defensive prowess. I really don't know what's up with Chelsea at home this year? P7 W3 D3 L1 is hardly the home form of champions, but their away record of P7 W7 D0 L0 F19 A1 is the record of immortals! Anyway I'm sure Chelsea will get that home form back on track with a easy win next weekend.............. They play Arsenal.

Weekend in Pictures

• All those who think Arsene is doing a good job, raise you hands 
• Torn hamstring on the horizon
• You want a piece of me?
• Torn hamstring part 2
• Can I play against these guy every week?
• Maybe I could be the guy to add experience to this side?
• Was seen parked at Stamford Bridge

Gareth Bale Watch

The man with the most unenvious record in the Premier League did not play this weekend and surprise surprise Spurs won. Spurs have Everton at home next week, watch out for a Bale start and a Everton win!

Quote of the Week

"We had a good focus and I believe it is a flattering victory for Manchester City. We were quite in control but after the goal the game turned and they played on the counter-attack. We played into their hands. We lacked the maturity to deal with being in a dominant situation and not getting caught." - Arsene Wenger

If by "played into their hands" you mean "played crap" then yes I agree. Two other questions Arsene. When were you the dominant team in that match? And why don't you have the maturity?

Website of the Week

This week it's a little site called Footballsite.co.uk. Do check out the Colemanballs section in the Facts and Figures area for some truly great quotes.

Fantasy Football

Players you wish you had not made Captain

1. Wayne Rooney     - 2pts
2. Fernando Torres   - 2pts
3. Cristiano Ronaldo - 3pts

Players who you porbably had on the bench and are gutted you did not start them

1. Mark Schwarzer  - 11pts
2. Gretar Steinsson - 11pts 
3. Michael Turner     - 9pts  *Yes Pete, that's for you!

The Cristiano Ronaldo award for Fantasy Football Excelence

     1. Tie - Mark Schwarzer, Stephen Ireland and Gretar Steinsson - 11pts

Well done to you guys, I'm sure that two of you will never receive this award again. I will let you guys guess who they are.

Things we found out over the Weekend

1. Maybe Stevie G was injured and so I should apologise for saying he would definitely play against Fulham, but I believe that due to the massive palava over Capello forcing him to report to the training ground and Rafa defending him I think Rafa just thought F*** IT, we can beat Fulham with or without Gerrard. Guess not. I was right about Lampard playing though........So there.

2. Like we needed anymore proof to Middlesbrough being the King of the Craps Shoot, they go and lose and very winnable game at home to Bolton after being unbeaten in their last five. Those who read my weekend preview column will know that I predicted that, which brings me onto....

3. I found out that it's silly of me to give you bets each week as I clearly lose you money, so instead I thought long and hard about it over the weekend and decided to take on a challenge I was sure I could handle (beating Mark Lawrenson at Challenge Lawro). To my disgust it seems Lawro got wind of my up coming battle to destroy his (very poor)reputation at predicting the weekends football and has buggered off. I guess he is smarter than he looks!

Youtube

• What would you do if you lady did this in bed? 
• This baby does it best Carols Tevez voice
• Speaking of which

Final Thoughts

Look out for the "Michael Jackson Syndrome" column on Wednesday, until then.

Take care

Football Guy