Julio Baptista - Why Arsene Wenger Believe In HIM

I chance upon this video on Julio Baptista, showing his best while he is with Seville and Real Madrid. After seeing it, i agree with Wenger that This Man has huge potential.. another Henry in the making. The question is, why is he not showing the type of form that he show in Spain?

Toure Consolation Goal Against Bolton Wonderer

Yes.. i am Arsenal fan. I will not want to show you the goal from Nolan against us. Instead, i will show you the goal from our very own hardworking Toure (if you do not understand the commentary, pls bear with me.. it is in Thai!) Enjoy!

Arsenal Performance Sadden All Gunner Fans.....

I am a Arsenal Supporters but i hate to tell you that this present Arsenal team is not good enough. Arsenal "drop the ball" again yesterday in the 1-1 draw with Bolton.

Arsene Wenger, if you read this post, can you please rethink again? Do you still believe in this team or you have some hidden difficulties like lack of Finances to buy players?

And ... WHY ARE YOU IGNORING Ljungberg? Bring HIM BACK!!!! We need him.

This is the email dialog between me and my friend after the weekend FA draw with Bolton....

CYH:

How can Arsene Wenger keep claiming that he believe in his team when they are so many flaws within the teams?

Flamini is industrious but run around like a mad dog, without purpose. What is his talent?

Walcott is fast and talented, but inmature. On one of the occasion, he should have score from the right hand side. If former Gunner Robert Pires is in his position, it will be a goal already.

Henry is not as fast and pacy as before.

Sendoros is slow and cannot cope with fast striker, this leave Toure to work extra hard. How long will Toure able to take all this strain?

Rosicky is not playing to his reputation. He is just a normal midfielder. On top of that, he is not challenging for the ball.

Adebayor is not a striker. On a number of occasion, he failed to control the ball and put the balls into the net.

Yesterday, the only players in the Arsenal team that perform are Alumunia, Clichy, Hoyte, Toure, Fabregas

LWK:

I think Henry pace is gone. He is not as fast as he used to be. He still has the skills but the lightning speed is gone. He is 30 this year I think. But then, surprisingly, Anelka has regained some of his old time lightning speed and agility. Sendoros is no match of him. The Bolton goal is because of the twist and turn of Anelka which started the flow of attack resulting in goal.

Actually I thought Adebayor play well, it is his run they cause some troubles for Bolton. Only thing is he has not enough support. Only one Henry in the box and most of the time the ball cannot reach him.

Yes. Donno why Arsene started Walcott. He is inmature. He has speed, but not skillful and experience enough. A few times he tried to pass the defender but not sucessful.

Like I say again. Arsenal need to practise in this area. If they have done so, they will win more games:

1. Set piece, both defending and attacking. Do you notice Bolton win most of the headers. They defend their set piece well and they do score very often from their set piece. And they do 'create' lots of set piece.

2. Shooting from a far. Or should I say shooting under pressure. Again, many off targets shot last night.

Hopefully, all these are 'learning experiences' for the young team and few years down the road they will be great.

Give credit to Bolton. Yes. they play 'dirty', disrupt your rymthm. But they are able to do that but reading your mind where you are going to pass and intercept you. Campo etc intercepted so many 'thru' balls to Henry. Or should I say Henry just wait behind for the balls that's why the ball never get to him. Also, the Bolton players, notice their attitude is get to the ball first. So, while Arsenal players wait for the high ball to drop down, the Bolton players already put a leg high near the head to kick it away. I notice this quite a few times, once nearly resulted in a goal. They also have great speed and stamina. You see they defend with 5, 6 defenders? And when Anelka gets the ball, they surge forward with 5 attackers? Our counter attack has become too slow.

I think in a way, the EPL Ref is responsible for Bolton's style of play. They do not punish, when they should:

1) When players tackle the opponent instead of the ball. This is professional foul. But they just give free kicks at most instead of Yellow card. Sometimes don't even have free kicks.

2) They allow high kungfu kick near the chest or even head. This is called dangerous play when the 2 players are very near. But last night game Ref didn't give a foul on any of this.

Prediction For Weekend FA CUP (Arsenal Vs Bolton)

Arsenal young side did it again…. Draw with Spurs at white hart lane.
This weekend, they will face Bolton in FA cup. Bolton is surely used the same strategy that have make them successful over Arsenal in the past.
However, I have a strong belief that Arsenal will be different opponent this time round and the same strategy will NOT WORK on them asn more.
Fristly, Arsenal has learnt to change pattern of play as shown in the match again Man U. If you watch the game, you will see how Arsenal just pump the ball up to the penalty area instead of playing their normal passing game. They still do the passing, but combine it with the long ball tactic. This show that Arsenal is different now.
Secondly, Arsenal has learnt to fight back as shown in the Man U and the recently Spurs game. We are a young team, full with energy, and have the right attitude and philosophy to fight back from goals down instead of licking their own wound.
This two changes in Arsenal team will cause Bolton a lot of problems this Sunday. My prediction: Arsenal 3 Bolton 0.

Arsenal will win. With recent form and at Emirates, not Reebok. Arsense Wenger know Bolton intentional foul tactics and we are prepared for any outlash. Just hope there will be no more injuries on Arsenal side.

Arsenal Top The Table In The Mini League....

If you take the matches played among the big 4 against each other, you get the following mini-leaguee, which Arsenal is the best. If only we played better against the lesser teams.


P W D L GS GA GD Pts
Arsenal 4 3 1 0 7 2 5 10
Chelsea 4 1 2 1 3 4 -1 5
Man-U 4 1 1 2 4 4 0 4
Liverpool 4 1 0 3 2 6 -4 3

I really hope, as an Arsenal fan, that Arsenal will play better against the lesser teams. Understand that they will use intimatating methods to stop Arsenal passing game. Please Arsenal, please change your strategy when you face different opponents. Against team who used physical intimatation to stop our brand of flowing football, then we should use direct approach to score goal... running through the flank and cross the ball to the penalty area for the strikers to nod or kick it in.

Let go for the league title next season. I also hope that Arsene Wenger will sign some good and experience players next season to beef up the depth of the team.

Having said that, i wish Arsenal all the best this season. Hope we can clinch the FA cup, carling cup and the champion league cup. Go Arsenal goo.....aaalllll!

Arsenal Vs Man U (21th Jan 2007) Post Preview

This is the email conversation that i have with my Arsenal pal....

CYH:

Yesterday Arsenal Vs Manchester classic clash show that Arsenal still
need to strenghten up in their play. Yes, they may have won the game,
but I still feel the team need to be more stable and mature. Take
Sanderos for example. He is the most shaky defender on the pitch that
day. So is the all reliable Toure. Henry is not performing but find
the head to nod in the winner in extra time. Rosicky and Helb, our
right and left wingers are disappointing. Especially Rosicky, how on
earth can you sky some many chances. The whole Arsenal team is not
playing their normal football.

One point to note is that the two goals from Arsenal are scored from
wing play. Someone cross from the wing to the penalty area and someone
score from there. This is the way Arsenal should adopt... The direct
approach to goal scoring. Do not pass the ball around but go for the
direct kill. Or rather, they should adapt their approach based on the
opponent that they face....

As my 5 cents worth of comment

LWK:

I sometimes wonder if Arsene has no choice or has lost his managerial
skills. Why put in Sendoros when he is still not totally fitted back
into the team when playing against a team like Man-U? Yes, he was best,
but you need time to fit back into the team.

Look at Peter Chech, he is back but conceded two goals. I'm sure when he
was at this top form he could save at least one of the goal.

This game, Arsenal didn't play well. Cannot control the game. But then,
United also not in good form though they control better than Arsenal.
Ronaldo managed to create some havoc though nothing comes out of it, may
be Eboue cancel him out. Well, sometimes games are like that. Not every
day smooth form. And Arsenal got to learn to sometimes have to play this
type of game and STILL WIN. As many teams like Bolton, portsmouth will
like to break the rymthm of Arsenal play.

About Rosicky. I donno what Arsenal do during training. Only practise
passing? Do you know most goals scored by Arsenal are within the box?
Very few from outside the box. I think Rosicky and Van Persie are the
only two players who managed to score from far this season? Rosicky has
he off day. But how many times have you seen Arsenal players shoot from
outside the box that rocked to the sky or off target? Chelsea players
(Lampark, Essien etc), Man-U players (Rooney, Scholes, Ronaldo etc) and
even Liverpool (Gerrald, Alonso etc) has higher hit rate from long shots
outside the box. If we improve on this we could win more games.

Last but not least, it doesn't matter if we play well, as long as we win
Man-U. Hooray!!! I would rather we didn't play well and win then
watching them play well but lost to team like Shef-United who only had
one shot at goal!

CYH:

Yes... as long as we win, we hack care. 1 up to Arsenal and 1 down to Man U. Hurraay....

The Tactic Ferguson Used Tonight Arsenal Vs Man U Game

This is it... the final countdown to the Arseanl Vs Man U game. Yesterday we witness a shocker when Liverpool hand Chelsea 2 nil at home. What amaze me is not how well Liverpool play during the game (as i think they their normal game.) It is the standard of the game dish out by Chelsea... they have a dip in form of late.

As for tonight clash of the titan, Alex Ferguson will go for the 1-5-4 formation. He will pack the midfield to try to combat and neutralise the highly effective Arsenal Midfield engine. And i think he will use Saha upfront to try to catch Arsenal on fast counter attack. He will instruct his charge to play a defensive game at Emirate tonight and lauch fast counter attack.

For Arsenal to win tonight, they must play as a team. Passing must be slick and accurate. The movement on and off the ball must be fluid and smooth. The finishing must be merciless and deadly. Too often a time, we see Arsenal missing chances after channces in front of goal. A lot will depend on Frebasgus for intelligence and accurate distribution of the ball in midfield. If Van Persie can play, i would prefer him other than Adebayor. Van Persie is more skillful on the ball and can play the one-two with Henry better.

In my opinion, this should be the formation of Arsenal:

Van Persie --- The only lone striker
Henry Flamini Rosicky Frebasgas Hleb --- Five in the midfield
clichy Toure Senderos Eboue - Four at the back
Lehmann - who's else but the German in goal

Henry shoudl join Van Perise as a striker or fall back to left midfield according to the siutation. And Henry must use his pace to help the team to beat Man U resistance at the back. Rosicky is best playing in the central position than on the left. Flamini should fill in the gap left by Giberto as defensive midfielders, helping out the relatively young defensers at the back. Additionally, Flamini should man mark Man U danger man's Rooney, to try his best to keep him out of the game.

Tonight game is a game of "Class vs Consistency" Arsenal has the Class and Man U has the Consistency. But, my gut feel is that Arsenal will lift themself up with Class and beat Man U 3-1.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal Arsenal Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaal. Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal........

Arsenal Vs Man U (21th January 2007)

This is the email conversation between my friend and me....

CYH:

Hi Guys,

This weekend is interesting... ARSENAL Vs MAN U. Though match for Arsenal.... Hope they can rise to the occasion to beat Man u.


LWK:

What happened to your blog on Arsenal? The interest is over?

CYH:

By the way, Man U will want to revenge on Arsenal because we beat them at their home ground last year....

They will deploy all the dirty tricks to beat us.... Make us frustrated and stop playing our football. Hope Arsenal can overcome it.

LWK:

The referee is very important. Who is the referee?

CYH:

Don't know. I think it is will be difficult on Arsenal. If Arsenal do win this weekend, it is a milestone.

LWK:

Who can hold down ronaldo? Man-U defense not as good. Got chance if we control mid-field. Wonder what tactic Arsene will employ. At old trafford it was actually defend, hold and counter-attack. 4-5-1.
Adebayor scored near the end to win.

CYH:

They need to fight very hard. Man U got a lot of fighters. Schole, Gigg, Rooney, Ronaldo, ..... Arsenal will need to fight other than playing pretty football. At the end of the day, luck still play a major part. I hope Arsenal to win and Liverpool to lost to Chelsea.

LWK:

The key thread is Ronaldo and Gigg. Rooney is more up front. As long as he didn't get the ball it's ok. Schole. I think he is over his peak liao. I think Arsene should adopt 4-3-2-1 type of formation. So it's like 4-5-1 but 3 defensive mid-fielders and 2 offensive midfielders/strickers. Henry should be one of the '2'.

GK: Lehman
Def: Eboue, Toure, Sendoros, Cliché
Mid: Hleb, Rosicky, Flamini, Frabagas, Henry
Str: Van Persie

Reserve: Adebayor, Ljunberg, Galas, Walcott, Alumnia

As you can see, it would be perfect if Gilberto could play as he is a good "Defensive midfielder". Now, We only have Flamini, the rest are more attacking or winger. Mid field will be a problem.

CYH:

How about replacing Flamini with the Beast?

LWK:

I will stick with Flamini. He has played more with the team so understanding is there. The Beast still not yet 'clicked' with the team yet. But I won't be surprise if Arsene use him as he has the muscle but he likes to go up front too often.

From the website, Eboue and Ljunberg not recovered yet. So Hoyte need to come in.

CYH:

Man U is very strong on current form and on paper. Arsenal is the underdog in this weekend game. If we beat them this weekend, it will be an achievement.

My Prediction: Arsenal 3 Man U 1. (my heart tell me this...not my brain.)