All set for Stuttgart...

Monday, 28 July 08, 10:20 AM · Comments(0)

Not entirely sure why I'm going to a pre-season friendly this week other than it's not that far away from Basel and I've never been to Stuttgart. You see you rarely discover anything particularly interesting or useful at pre-season games. It may even be that it it is even less likely with Arsenal due to the way Arsene views these games. There are entirely for the preparation of the forthcoming season, they are not to be used for selling shirts or commercial ideals (see Chelsea & Man Utd for long gruelling trips around the world) and so are essentially glorified training sessions. Not that this seems to mean anything to some Arsenal fans who bemoan the result first and foremost with not a clue of the bigger picture - shame on you.

Anyway I've a return ticket to Stuttgart booked (on Saturday, not 11 months in advance, for just 50€ - the equivalent distance in the UK is London to Stoke at about £100) and a small hotel to stay so that I can have a few beers and enjoy what there is of the town.

Of course, it will get me out of Summer mode (Le Tour, Open Golf & Cricket) and into football mode though I'm lying really as I never feel the season has started until it starts to get cold and dark.

L'Equipe reports that William Gallas has said "It's all my fault" (well nearly) on Arsenal TV and that he has learnt a lot from last season. This, of course, seems to have nothing to do with the fact that Arsene Wenger hasn't officially announced the captain for the forthcoming season. The paper is also reporting the news that is all over the UK press that Robbie Keane will be joining Liverpool for some silly fee of £20M - I'm not sure what has persuaded Liverpool the need to spend suc a huge amount on a decent, but not great, player. Meanwhile, a Swiss player at Liverpool, Phillipp Degen, has apparently suffered another injury blow.

All set for Stuttgart...

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