SAF Applies the Verbal SmackDown

Sir Alex gets the EPL Wordsmith of the Week Award for his verbal bitch-smackin' of Rafa Benitez:

"There was never any chance of Liverpool winning that case, so
Rafa clearly did not read the Premier League rules. It is just churlish."

Churlish! Good Man, SAF!
Meanwhile, Error Apparent, Jens Lehmann, is out for two weeks, aggravating his Achilles tendon in the England-Germany friendly. In comes, back-up Manuel Almunia who starts the year with the horrible blonde dye job that seems to afflict keepers from time to time. Wenger says he has full confidence in the Spaniard, and he still has full confidence in Butterfingers, who has great artistic ability.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal-Manchester City match is on TV Saturday, and I am a happy man.

Lehmann...Lemon?

Today, I sit pondering the wonder that is Jens Lehmann. Two games. Two goals given on two horrendous mistakes. Is this a keeper that a top 4 club can afford to have? Arsenal are lucky enough to have only dropped 2 points on Lehmann's bobble-headed play. If it continues, there'll be more points down the drain.

Arsenal played well enough in the first half of yesterday's game. After RVP's first goal, they looked like they were on verge of unleashing a fusillade of scores. Alas, they didn't. And in the 2nd half, they were entirely outplayed and outworked by the Rovers. Disappointing, since this was the type of backstreet brawl match that Arsenal needed to prove themselves in. They sorely needed to put Blackburn away and show the Rovers, other thugball teams, and themselves that Arsenal 2007 is too tough to be pushed around the pitch.

Thanks to Jens Lehmann, they showed that there is still reward in knocking the Gunners around.

Of course, The Professor slammed the parolees from Blackburn for their "over-violence" - he's got to do that for his team. but he's got to know that teams will continue to do this until Arsenal give 'em a headache for the troubles. As long as it works, why stop?

Newbie Da Silva had a few moments, including some work to create the opening for RVP's goal. But for much of the match, he looked terribly at sea, shooting from distances and angles where players can only dream of goals, wasting balls forward to the big American keeper. It's early. We need to give him more time. I'd say another 3-4 games. I expect more.

On top of that, the Gunnerinos lost William Gallass to a groin yoink. This is a tough one. I think it's big having Bill in the center back for us. He adds skilll and steel where we need it. Senderos played well in his fill, but I've still got my doubts about Philly. Particularly, when I see Chelsea on the sked.

Yikes. What's up with Man U? 0-1 to SGE's Man City? 0-2-1 to start the show? even two games in, it's weird to see the Red Devils in the drop zone.

And Finally...Getting All Political
The difference between this Congress and last? The 105th Congress didn't read/understand/care about the impact of its legislation because of corruption and laziness. The 106th Congress doesn't read/understand/care about the impact of its legislation because of fear and laziness.

Gunners Off to Positive Start

Arsenal got the Champions League campaign off to a positive start with an important 2-0 win away at Sparta Prague. For some d$&m reason, ESPN isn't televising Champions League qualifiers, so I haven't got any film to watch. From the reports, however, it was a smashing game with lots of action at both ends and plenty of pressure from the hosts on the Gunner goal sticks. Goals from Cesc in the 72nd and Alexander Hleb (who apparently woke up last week thinking he was Thierry Henry - 2 goals in 2 games!) in injury time.

I'm starting to think the post-Thierry days may be OK, anyways. Yes, I know its early days, yet, but nothing wrong with being an optimist, is there?

Over at the defending champions club, though, things are looking anything but bright, with a two-draw start to the season and a veritable Greek chorus of injured goal scorers. Drawn again at Portsmouth as both sides play tensies.

Keano Blasts The Waggers

This is why I love Roy Keane. It's going to be great having him back in the Premiership.

Gunners Open 2007 With More Drama

Yes, I'd like to see Arsenal putting away the likes of Fulham with ease, but a win is a win. Arsenal took Fulham 2-1 with a shocking last of regulation winner from Alexand Hleb. I saw the game on replay and while they should've never been down to Fulham, they did well to get the win.

They were in the position of coming from behind thanks to the idiotics of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The veteran had earlier made a complete hash of an attempted return pass to the defence, striking the ball against his left leg and gifting possession to Healy, who slotted into an empty net for a first top flight goal.

Wenger said: "First of all, I was surprised he had made the mistake.

"He's an experienced keeper and you want to deal with your first ball.

"Jens changed his mind, but wasn't quick enough to respond to his brain. He lost his co-ordination."

Wenger added: "Every goalkeeper can make a mistake. He made one. If you are an outfield player you are not punished, but you are in goal."

The Professor is being careful because Lehman is his guy for the season and he's a tempermental sort, but he's got to know that the standards for keepers are different. If Jens were a Red Devil, he'd be done with this sort of muck-up.

Alexander Hleb. Wow. He looked like someone spiked his oatmeal. He played with real pepper and looked to get some shots. His game-winner was outstanding; a real effort to receive the ball and then turn and fire in space. Cesc was great as usual. He really missed having Gilberto, who I hear we won't see until September!

We didn't get enough of RVP, but Jesus, that PK was hit with a bit of pace. Wouldn't have been surprised to see it go through the back of the net. I believe flames were coming off the ball, it was hit so hard. And yes, the PK was rightly called. Arsenal should've had one other, and maybe a third, but that's the way it goes.

I liked Nicholas Bendtner. Didn't kill me with flash and flair, but the boy looks like he knows where the goal is. All in all, a good start. Theo showed a little, in the few minutes he was in. I love his pace. But he's still clearly maturing. If he'd cut inside the defender on his run, he would've had only the keep to shoot on.

Alright, the season's on. The Gunners got the right start. I'm excited to see more Arsenal matches.

Sounders, Racist Sounds, and Gunners. (Oh My)

Good news for the local USL Sounders who piled 5 goals on the MSL Colorado Rapids en route to a 5-0 quarterfinal victory in the US Open Cup. Well done, Sounders. Well done. They've now beaten two MSL squads and a Championship side in Preston North End.

Over in the SPL, our Bhoys are getting warned to stay away from the racist and sectarian chants. The SPL is instituting a new rule that will result in points being deducted if a squad's fans are engaging in verboten chanting. Good on 'em, I say. There's just no room for racism or Catholics V. Protestants in football. Insult a player's talent, his work rate, his need for a boatload of Viagra. That sort of abuse is more of a loving tribute. But don't be a dork. Stay away from the real hate.

Mr. McMahon chimes in with Part 3 of his prognostications. Manchester United second? Who will he pick for tops?

And, finally, a Gunners moment; With the preseason player predictions and musings streaming forth, Arsenal back William Gallass opines that the Gunners are ready to shed their effete Gentlemen's Passing Club image and brawl for the ball. Well said, Will. I hope that you are right. There's nothing worse than watching your superior talented team get beat up on like a punk by some inferior club full of knuckle-draggers. Sometimes you have to kick a little ass - sort things out that way - before you kick the ball.

Wenger tips RVP

Arsene Wenger is tipping Robin Van Persie to have a breakout season and help replace the goal scoring prowess of departed thierry Henry. This strikes me as one where the boss could've taken the day off and allowed me to make the observation for him. Duh! The last two seasons, the Dutchman has been coming on, showing signs of great skill and growing knowledge, and yes, growing patience. With Henry gone, he is the natural player to fill the void.

With the first match of the season Sunday against Fulham, I can think of no better time to get started on a goal-scoring binge. Too bad, FSN does not have this televised.

While I'm not happy with the schedulers over at FSN, I'm always interested in what Bobby MacMahon has to say or write about football. Today, he's got part 2 of his EPL predictions and prognostications. Bobby likes Liverpool as the bottom clinger of the Big Four, which makes sense to me. I like Fernando Torres and thought Liverpool's buy of him was a brilliant move. However, don't think it's enough to leapfrog the Gunners, Chelsea and the Red Devils.

Bobby also picks newly-promoted Sunderland to stay up, just barely. I like that. I don't know enough about Sunderland under Roy Keane - haven't watched many Championship matches - but they're my sentimental favorite. I always like Keano as a player, even though I detested him for playing for Manchester United and always being a thorn in Arsenal's side. I was waiting for him to move on so that I could out and out cheer for him.

Moving to Celtic was a dream move in that regard, but alas, his days were already over. So, it is as a coach, that I'll root for Keane. You have to like what he's done so far - taking the Black Cats from supposed-to-drops to promotion Surprise. I'm looking forward to catching some of their televised matches this season.