Fellow members of Arsenal America,
When the season comes to a close, it’s time to turn our attention to the more business-end aspects of being a supporters club. The first step in that process is our annual membership drive, which will start today. As a board, we have come to the decision that the $3.65 a year which has been the annual dues for the past several seasons can no longer sustain an organization as ambitious as Arsenal America. We have grown quickly, and are looking to grow further. Therefore, we are announcing that the new annual dues will be $20.00 a season.
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Wow, that’s quite a jump.”, and you’re right, it is. However, there are several reasons for the increase:
1.) Membership cards - Arsenal Football Club now require all supporters clubs to issue membership cards to their members, identifying them by name, member number, and date.
2) Tickets - As we all know, tickets are one of the major things that Arsenal America can offer its members. We have been working very hard during the first few weeks of the off season (well Rick B has, the rest of us have just been having meetings ? just kidding!!).
We are proud to announce that through the help of some of our very generous members we have secured 7 season tickets for next season and onwards, together with 5 Executive Club Level seats for most games and a good number of Silver memberships for use on a match by match basis. We are going to be applying for a certain number of away games using the season tickets, which will give us priority in games that need a certain amount of away credits.
As you all know, we have to have a float in order to purchase these tickets ahead of getting back money from the attendees. This needs to be kept at a level that enables all of us to get tickets to the games we want. Basically in simple terms it means we have to have about $3500 in the account at any one time. We will also be paying for the membership renewals for the Silver Memberships that we will have use of.
3) Member gatherings - The success of events such as the match against the ManU supporters in Chicago proved that collectively we’re a great bunch of people, who should spend as much time together as possible! Our founder, Rick Liebling, is pursuing a possible “Bergkamp Cup” match against AjaxUSA to take place later this summer in New York. We would love to have this type of thing happen all over the country. However, pitch rentals cost money, and to have a general fund from which to draw would help out immensely. The same is true when it comes to t-shirts, banners, etc, etc.
Something we?d like to do in the immediate future is to enter Arsenal America teams into the various ?Futbolito? tournaments taking place across the country. Look for more info on those soon.
Thank you very much for your support this past season, and we look forward to a great 2006-07.
Yours in Arsenal,
Mike Kavanagh
President, Arsenal America
To sign up for Premier Membership for the 2006-07 season, see the link to the right, or click here:
58 Responses to “Onward and Upward”
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June 12th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
$20 bucks!
Holy Toledo!!!
Ummmm… in my opinion,
ITS A BARGAIN!
No problem. The fact that we actually have season tickets and can ususally get tickets any time we are over there, is easily worth $20 US… (which is about 10 GBP.)
Great job ArseAm.
I do hope we have some meet-ups in NYC or elsewhere. Everyone I have met thru the Arsenal have been fantastic.
Carry on.
Can we get a goal now USA?!
I think we played well at times in the first half. That Rosicky dude… woah!
June 12th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Done, by a Canadian ArseAm institution (or maybe should be in an institution)
Worth every penny Guys
June 12th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Just watched Rosicky for Czech Republic - destroyed USA in 3-0 win, could have been more.
How did USA qualify? They’re by far the worst team in the competition so far.
June 12th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
This membership is as much a steal as Rosicky is for 8 million pounds.
June 12th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Mike,
Is there another way to pay besides Paypal for membership. I would happily send a check or cash by mail. Great news on the season tickets. You guys are incredible.
On another note:
How bad is the announcing on the American coverage from Germany? Its like the guys calling the games dont understand it. On top of that they just straight up lie. For example I learned today that Casey Keller was a top five to top ten goal keeper in the world. I dont know anyone who would claim that. On top of that they made it sound like the Czech’s winning was an upset. They make it sound like Landon Donovan is a legendary player and Nedved is just some guy who helps get the ball to some really tall guy. Its not that I dont want the US to do well, but lying and way way over-hyping a mediocre team is not going to pull support behind the team. I feel stupider after listening to them. So So bad…
Rosicky looked great today. On top of that it was amazing that player like him, who is so bad compared to the amazing Landon Donovan, was able to score 2 goals against the legendary Casey Keller ( who is so awesome he plays in Europe).
On a serious note, Im excited to see what he will do once thrown into the mix at the Grove.
June 12th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
As you go through the registration process you will see instructions for paying by check.
June 12th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
The fact that Wenger signed Rocisky BEFORE the World Cup instead of AFTER could have saved us at least 10 million GBP.
June 12th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
How about a rousing f&** off…
from all of America.
June 13th, 2006 at 6:49 am
Thought Ghana were complete rubbish. All brawn and no brain. Today’s game illustrated the danger of having too many african players in your team and for that reason I do not want Ya Ya Toure. As a group they a powerful but they haven’t got a clue what to do when it comes to the final ball. Appiah is overrated and the commentator kept falling over himself saying how great Appiah was playing in six different positions when in fact he called every Ghana player Appiah or Essien. Needed to do some research.
For every Eboue or Adebayor you need someone with a modicum of composure like Fabregas to rein them in and harness their impetiousity.
June 13th, 2006 at 7:54 am
They certainly looked the worst. I know they can be a lot better but Arena f*cked that up so bad he may have set football back in this country 10 years. Players out of position, no plan to get Donovan the ball where he can put it in the net, and that slag Eddie Pope…it was disgraceful.
As Stag said, we bossed possession in the opening half-hour, but Convey and Beasely, being out of form and out of position respectively, did nothing to get it to McBride or Landon. Arena’s tactics to switch them around only compounded the problem.
Add the inane commentary by ESPN and ABC, and I feel like the U.S. has made no strides whatsoever in the beautiful game. All accusations of small-minded apathy were reinforced, I hate to say. Sure, the Czech Republic looked the best of any top team thus far, but we had a lot to do with it. I’m gutted, really.
And while some solace was offered by the promise of Rosicky, it was only one game and he seems to excel in international play and wither a bit on the club level.
Roll on 2010.
June 13th, 2006 at 8:44 am
I thought YaYa Toure looked invisible in his game but that’s the only time I’ve ever seen him play so I can’t comment further. Based on that performance though I want to part of him. I wouldn’t say we shouldn’t sign any more African players there’s a ton of good ones out there and if we found the right one they could be a good fit in the team.
June 13th, 2006 at 9:31 am
They qualified because they are in the easiest qualification group in the world. They are probably the most boring team in the world, individually and collectively. You know you’ve got problems when Reyna is your playmaker.
June 13th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Maybe one more but that’s it. Samuel Etoo is the only african who has composure.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:07 am
one issue with African players is that every other year you will lose them for 6 - 8 weeks for the ACN.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Being a Brit and having access to seats I dont need to sign up, however to compare if you want to be a Red member to become a Silver Member you have to pay ?20 a year and your deal is $20, plus you would be able to get more seats than if you were just a Red member.
Enjoy the football.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:12 am
One last comment, does anyone think there is a Yank player (current) who would make it into the AFC first XI?
I am not running your team or country down but would like to know who the real stars are and perhaps point out that CL football is better than World Cup football ( in my opinion)
June 13th, 2006 at 11:30 am
First of all…
The US aren’t the worst or most boring team in the competition. so feck off.
They lost one game… against a very solid Czech team. The Czechs could make many teams look bad.
England SUCKED quite frankly, and if they played the Czechs, they’d have lost too.
Second… the commentary on African players and teams is bordering on racism… (in my opinion).
All brawn and no brain?
Having too many African players is a bad thing?
This sounds like the US Football arguement that Black players aren’t good quarterbacks, because they don’t have the “thinking skills”, just the physical skills.
UTTER CRAP.
Can’t possibly have too many GOOD PLAYERS, regardless of what their country of origin is. Period.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:32 am
Of course a single US international would not start for Arsenal…What type of question is that? Although i do rate beasley (despite yesterday)…
June 13th, 2006 at 11:49 am
The summer before Seaman’s last season Kasey Keller left Spain on a free to go to Tottenham. At that time, I was hoping we would sign him as Seaman’s replacement. He is very much a Wenger type player. He is very athletic (not big for a keeper though), very cerebral, and always calm, cool and collected. The goals he got beat with yesterday were just great goals. Of course, we didn?t sign him and instead went for Lehman a year later. However, I can?t really complain too much as Jens has worked out pretty well.
Outside of Keller I don?t think there are any current U.S. players that could play for the elite European clubs. Beasley has done well as a role player at Eindhoven, and Convey seems to be doing well for Reading, but I don?t think Barca will be going in for either of them anytime soon. The good news for U.S. fans is that we won?t have to wait too much longer for some breakthrough stars. Mine was the first generation that played soccer en mass. Now, the guys that I played with have become the first wave of coaches with real playing experience. As a result, the kids that are coming through the youth ranks today are far better than I ever was. Give it another five years and I think you will see a number of very good players.
P.S. Freddy Adu will NOT be one of them.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:56 am
About to watch France vs Switzerland. Fascinating clash between Henry/Wiltord/Vieira against Senderos/Djourou.
I expect Henry to skin them, so we’ll see how Senderos lack of pace will or will not cost the the Swiss, and how good Djourou can be.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:57 am
What does England have to do with it? I don’t even care about England.
I am just saying, I have watched all the games and USA are by far the worst team I have seen so far - they look a bit gutless, like they are just making up the numbers and know it.
Maybe they will improve.
June 13th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
The U.S. were outclassed yesterday by a very good Czech team. Furthermore, I can’t explain why, but we have always struggled against European opponents, particularly when playing on European soil. It’s as though there is some sort of stigma there ? this despite the fact that many of the U.S. starting XI now play in Europe. However, I don’t think that yesterday’s scoreline is indicative of the U.S. team’s strength.
Along with Mexico, we dominated our qualifying group, and have for many years now (admittedly, it is not the strongest group). In fact, Mexico, which has a very tough team, and the U.S. constantly battle back and forth to see who can finish first. If you look at our results against Mexico I think you will see that the two teams are fairly even. Add to that the fact that we had a very successful 2002 WC campaign and I think you can argue that we?ve done okay in recent years. We are not a world power by any means, but we are getting better.
As I mentioned in another post, you have to realize that this team is a product of the first generation of Americans to play soccer en mass. Now, that generation is becoming the first wave of coaches with real playing experience. As a result, the kids that are coming through the youth ranks in the U.S. are far better than those from just a few years ago. Give it five years and you will see our decent squad become a very good squad.
June 13th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Yea I agree with the too many African players comment. Doesn’t matter where they come from, if they are a player then they will be accepted with open arms. There’s no quota on how many people you can have from a certain continent.
Also, about the USA, if we were in Mexico’s place, which we should be, everyone now would be talking about what a great win over Iran we had and how we will beat Angola easily and qualify for the next round. Instead we are stuck in a group where we are unfortunately the 3rd best team which sucks because many casual sports fans don’t recognize that and it will set the sport back in this country quite a bit. The fact that Mexico got such an easy group is sickening considering we beat them last World Cup and finished ahead of them in qualifying. Pathetic. It’s all luck of the draw-we are clearly not a top 10 team but we are not as bad as some of the people on here are making them out to be. England looked almost as bad as us-they essentially tied a Paraguay team who looked awful.
June 13th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
My god, Wiltord is absolute shite.
And Vieria has gone - he’s just melted into a nothing player.
June 13th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
I knew the PC mob would take my comments in a racist light. How predictable.
Look at Ghana and Ivory coast. They tear through the field then the nosebleed kicks in when they get to the box. There is no racism involved- it’s just a simple characteristic of the vast majority of their footballers. Look how how many times Eboue ran to the box last season and just swung his boot for a cross hoping for the best. Toure the same.
In today’s football climate it’s about fusing all the cultural traits to improve your team. Wenger is a master of it.
White players are not as athletic as black players so it’s useful to have players of african origin to give your team physical prowess. Look no further than a young Patrick Vieira.
Oh wait a minute, am I not being racist towards white people with these comments?
June 13th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
What a sad performance by France. No shape. No plan. Just pedestrian. Why Barthez over Coupet? He did make a good save though. Why Wiltord over Saha? Ribery and Zidane clashed too much. No width. A Pires or Giuly would have helped.
Senderos had a good game except once when he lost to Ribery. Henry was below par. I think he suffers with France because he is not the star. People don’t pass to him as much. Everything goes through to Zidane. Without the ball, he drifts in and out of the game too much.
June 13th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
I thought Ya Ya Toure had a good game actually, if anything he impressed me more techincally than physically.
I don’t think it’s right to say that African players don’t have the brains in the final third - even if it appears that way. Obviously they have better physical attributes, but attacking weaknesses are much more likely down to poor coaching, you’ll notice that African teams don’t defend especially well either.
June 13th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
It does seem this World Cup that many of the African teams lack discipline but it is unfair to group all of them together like that. Not all African players are undisciplined so instead of stereotyping a whole race, pick out certain players instead.
June 13th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
The coach is a bumbling oaf. How can you not even take Giuly?
The team is too defensive, it has a strong, experienced back 4, and he plays Makele & Vieira in front of that - so there is no creativity in the midfield.
Henry is completely isolated and they are building the team around the wrong man, Zidane - who is 50% the player he was.
Wiltord is a clown that can never beat his man one on one, he works hard so playing him in midfield is another defensive decision by Domenech.
Only Ribery adds flair from the wings, but he’s still young and not 100% ready for this. Other creative wingers/midfielders, Malbranque, Pires, Giuly aren’t even in Germany.
This is appalling management - a team which should have a real chance now has none.
June 13th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Bottom line is that USA can dominate CONCACAF but when playing teams from UEFA, especially in Europe, the USA gets eaten alive.
My goodness, Dave O”Brien is awful. Come on ESPN, give us JP Dellacamera!
June 13th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
You are already QUITTING on this team after ONE match?
Pathetic showing Scotty… on your part!
Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor???
Simply need a good match v. Italy…
The tournament isn’t won or lost in one day or one match. Get with the program.
USA USA USA
and you allow these pot-shots at our team with no recourse… like how did we get into the tournament? and we are the worst and most boring team????
where’d the “other” Scotty go?
June 13th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
A “sad performance”?
They drew 0-0 with the other team in their group that is supposed to advance!?!
Folks are taking ONE match and making it the whole tournament. So they drew?!!!
Thats not a bad result… sorry… there are a lot of good teams in the tournament, and nobody is going to run roughshod over all their opponents.
France could win this tournament.
In watching Brazil, I wouldn’t bet against them being there at the end, thats for sure.
1 game does not make a tournament either way, win or lose.
Lets wait and see what happens in match 2 for everyone… and then maybe we can ascertain a few more factual details. Its early folks… the tourney isn’t a freaking week old.
June 13th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Did you watch the match? Knowing you, probably not.
Nobody who watched that match could possibly say anything positive about France, they were really quite appalling.
The team is spent. Vieira was a disgrace and Wiltord was pathetic. They have no-one who can come on and really change things, squad isn’t good enough and some of their best players are sitting on their arses at home.
I thought France was a dark horse, although a lot of people were telling me they are now crap. I have to say that I was shocked at how pathetic and feeble they were today, if they can hardly create a chance against a nothing team like Switzerland then they’re in trouble.
I think they could easily lose to a flair team like South Korea and find themselves out of it, because Togo are the whipping boys of that group.
June 13th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Henry didnt have a gr8 game but was probably one of the better players for france. he shud have had a penalty, and set up ribery nicely once or twice.
But the press and the critics r gonna bring out the knives again, he isnt a big match player blah blah blah
June 13th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Its obvious that the Czech team is superior to many teams in Germany, but I dont think thats the issue. I think that this years US team is way over-hyped. All this talk about how great we are and how many amazing players we have playing in Europe now is a little silly. It seems that the players dont have the drive and the fight that knowing we are underdogs gives us. This year we are contenders supposedly.
The ESPN announcers talked about how the Czech’s had scouted our team and knew how to shut down Beasley and Donovan. What a load of crap. I think Nedved and Rosicky woke up that morning and said “Landon who? Oh well lets just play really good today like we do every day”
It seems that despite how far US soccer has come that the current team doesnt have something to prove to the world like we have in the past. Instead we have replaced it with talking about how great we are. A false sense of security is a huge weakness.
I hope we have better a showing against Italy and go on and win the world cup, but I dont think that is going to happen.
June 13th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Dude what are you talking about? There are plenty of strong black players, but there are also strong white players. It simply has nothing at all to do with race…. period. Perhaps its because the african teams dont have the money and the coaching system of european countries. Perhaps this results in lack of discipline. Maybe it has more to do with the individual players, some are fast some or strong, and how they are coached. It has nothing to do with the color of their skin or their home country.
June 13th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Black people have a better athletic capability on the whole. I am generalising here. There always exceptions. How many great white sprinters have there been?
Maybe it is coaching, or discipline, my point still stands. I didn’t identify a reason for their lack of composure, it was an observation. Nothing more nothing less.
June 13th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
France were poor, as usual. They haven’t played well for six years.
Their midfield is shocking. Vieira is playing like he needs to take a piss and Wiltord is frankly a joke. How the hell Giuly not get in ahead of him I’ll never know.
I wouldn’t call Switzerland a bad team however. Extremely competitive and much improved. They have France’s number.
June 13th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Once again, the supposingly lowly contest between Korea and Togo produced more goals and action, while the matches involving the big guns (France, Brazil) were a let down.
the African sides so far have been a major disappointment. I have a feeling some of their players are more keen putting themselves into the shopping window rather than playing like a team to try winning the game. There are so many long range shots, everyone just seems to shoot the ball whenever the goal was in sight. How about making a PASS?
At Arsenal, we were often accused for over-playing, but quite frankly, I’d rather remain it this way, ‘cos it’s TEAM football. Shooting from long range is a low % football, and pretty brainless.
June 13th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
interesting point about the african teams and long shots. though i tht it was coz they had no idea how to play thru balls and tht final pass was missing so they were just having a go, but interesting angle u have on it.
Dont think shooting from range is all tht brainless though. It forces defences to come out and try to block, hence allowing forwards to make clever runs and space to open up for through balls. many times against arsenal teams know they can just sit back and defend deep and there is no need come out, allowing more bodies to make interceptions in the final third.
Am not saying tht shoot at sight but a mix of both is needed…too much either way makes life easier for defences.
June 13th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
I haven’t heard anyone say “how great we are”… not a player, not the manager……… not any supporters I know either.
Over-hyped by who?
June 13th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
Danny, get real mate.
I watched the entire match.
The Swiss aren’t a bad team at all.
No Vieira was not a disgrace. In your mind, he always will be. So get over it.
They can and will advance to the next round, and in this tournament, that is ALL THAT MATTERS.
No, they aren’t in trouble… no they aren’t a bad team because they drew with the Swiss. No, Vieira is not a disgrace, nor was his play today.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
Well basically Asian and African teams lack defensive discipline and of course you’d get tons of goals.
France and Switz defender better than the above two while Croatia defended well generally.
Brazil defended really bad. Croats should have got an equalizer if not for shooting straight at the keeper when they had like 4 glorious chances.
Great goal by Kaka though. Ronaldinho and Kaka were the best Brazilians yesterday. Carlos was a joke of a left back in terms of defending.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:33 am
I don’t think the Asian/African team lack defensive discipline though. Most of them employ experienced European coaches.
I think the reason being they don’t have as much a psychological burden like the bigger sides. Afterall, they got nothing to lose. If they are beaten, it’s expected. Winning, on the other hand, is a bonus.
The bigger sides like England, Brazil, France the likes, a defeat would be a disaster for them.
I expect, and hopefully, the second round of the group stage match will be more wide opened, as now if they need points they would have to go for it. And those who won their first matches would be less cagey as well. Hopefully.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:40 am
Danny, nipuna, agree with u guys. Personally i think should France fails to qualify for next round, their coach is the first one to blame.
He’s not picking his STRONGEST squad. He picked his FAVOURITE squad. When u left out talents like Giuly, Pires, Anelka just because they don’t like to kiss your a$$, u’ll have to shoulder the blame if things don’t go your way. Afterall, this should be a squad represent FRANCE, not the manager.
I’m not saying those players would definitely make a difference, but at least it offers France more OPTIONS. Pires can link up the play so well. Giuly could be one major creative force. While when times you need a fast offense, there is no other striking pair faster than Henry + Anelka.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:55 am
“In my mind Vieira will always be a disgrace?” Where did that come from? He’s an Arsenal legend.
No, you didn’t watch the match I can tell. And now you’re talking out your ignorant arse because of it.
I think you’re one of those nationalistic idiots, first you are showing an undying support of USA that goes beyond any rational thought, and then the next team for you to support is France because of the Arsenal connection. You never have been able to look at anything objectively.
June 14th, 2006 at 4:58 am
He is also a very defensive minded coach, they keep drawing all the time - even when they play sh*tty teams like Switzerland that anyone could beat.
He hasn’t a clue on how to get the best out of the team. The players play as if they don’t like him or want to play for him. The team should obviously be based around Henry, not Zidane who is way past it.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:27 am
Not to be pc, but I think some people may be on shaky ground with some of these ‘african’ generalisations. The reason Ghana, Angola, etc don’t defend well is because they don’t have good defenders, somehow the Ivory Coast manage to defend well. It’s not a cultural thing that their forwards aren’t good, it’s just that they have no good forwards. Scotland don’t defend well, but they have no african defenders, Scotland don’t score a lot goals, but they have no african forwards, it’s a simple equation of having good players.
June 14th, 2006 at 8:00 am
I can’t support a side that plays like that, Stag. I’ve got to much pride in how far we’ve come not to express how awful we looked and I’ve got very little confidence we can even scrape together a point if we’re talking bullsh*t like “it was nerves”. We have performed not just below my modest expectations, but worse than our region cousins T&T. And you can bet THEY were nervous.
Beasley was our linchpin, as Reyna was trying to use him like the Dutch used Robben. The problem with that is Robben isn’t clueless when he gets the ball, and actually has the first touch of an international. This team did not look prepared in the least. I rate Convey, but he didn’t show up. It was a mess front to back, outside of some decent periods of keep ball.
Sure, we can chant and rah-rah all we want, and on Saturday I’ll be with them in spirit, but this is not a side that responds to pats on the back. They’re too lazy in mind, show no real bravery and seem more interested in kicking it about and posturing than digging out a decent few minutes of play. We were taken apart by a good team, not a great one.
I’m behind us, but they - and Arena - need a kick up the a** but quick. Where did I go? Where did my TEAM go?
June 14th, 2006 at 8:37 am
Guys like Wynalda and Balboa have been talking about this team and how much we’ve improved and how good we were gonna do. Just a bunch of dumb media crap. When you talk about a team that much that isn’t used to getting any attention for 4 years, it goes straight to their head and they put forward a terrible display like the one we saw.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:06 am
The problem is they based the team around Henry for the 12 months or so Zidane was retired and it still didn’t work. Simply put, France have a good attack and good defence. The problem is their midfield is pure shite. Vieira is existing these days and all their midfielders cannot pass to Henry when he wants it- they take too long. They play a narrow system which means their full backs have to provide real width. Sagnol is pathetic in this area. Their team just ain’t good enough, and despite what football analyst extraordinaire Stag thinks, it isn’t clicking into gear anytime soon.
June 14th, 2006 at 9:10 am
The problem is the african countries are producing lots of quality defensive midfielders who are also being asked to be play-makers as well as defend. That’s why their attacks always break down and you get endless 30 yard shots or attempts bulldoze through the opponents defence. Apart from Jay Jay Okocha, they don’t produce number 10’s. They have alot of defensive midfielders and winger/forwards.
June 15th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
yep, i agree with you danny.
stag, watcht the match! and try to be a bit more objective in general.
June 15th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
mazza, this ‘race’ argument u have started is simply a lose-lose situation. its a bit true but mostly false.
howabout this. ghana does not have a good team. and how about this having nothing to do with race but more to do just with the generation of players.
i can list about 20 european countries without any creative players….starting from scotland all the way to greece…..to many others. they just dont have a good team - dont pin it down on race.
i know a lot of african teams that have been really creative and tricky in the past….from nigeria to senegal to cameroon.
besides if your argument were true then brazil would be shite since brazilians are mostly a mixture of blacks and hispanics.
when it comes to football, i think its best if race and other prejudicial factors are left out of the discourse.
June 15th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
I still disagree with you about athletic ability. I would say that there are some very well known black athletes, but I wouldnt say that there are statistically more black athletes than white.
Regardless, I understand your point. The thing is that I dont think that there is a characteristic ‘black player”. Would you say that Thierry Henry or Vierra or Drogba or Eto’o play a certain way? They all have african Heritage, but are physically built differently and play the game differently. I know the point youre making and I just disagree.
June 15th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Pirate Thank you. I completely agree with you. Generalizations are made because of 1 or 2 notible players from that region and are simply inaccurate. Sure Africa produces defensive midfielders, but they also produce Eto’o and Drogba’s. These generalizations are silly.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:57 am
To be fair, my observation and rant was fuelled by the performance of Sulley Muntari of Ghana. He was in my dream team, had heard great things about him, and his performance was shocking. No composure at all. I made the mistake using the same brush for every african player.
What is true is that Africa are producing plenty of defensive midfielders, or physical midfielders that for my money or not quite there yet. Maybe coaching will improve that. However do I want Didier Zikora, Ya Ya Toure, Stephen Appiah, Salif Diao, Michael Essien to possible replace Cesc Fabregas? No chance. I know there will be clamour for that if we struggle in the first few away games next season. I wouldn’t mind them partnering Fabregas but then that’s a bit risky with their inexperience of EPL football. Gilberto will always get the nod and leave little Cesc out in the cold. Out of all them Zikora would make for good back- up.
June 19th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Best $20 I spent today.
As a guy who first started watching the Arseanl in the schoolboy end at Hightbury, to think that in this day and age, getting tickets for the Gunners is like winning the lotto.
I have been home to Islington 5 times in the past 19 years, and each time the team was playing away from home - or it was the off sesaon.
(this year I said I would go to the game no matter where it was, bought the tickets and on the day found out that it had been cancelled)
Maybe joing this group will bring me better luck..
Great to find an Arsenal America site, surprized I never came across it before.
gooner till I die
Steve