Arsenal's defeat: Icelandic Volcano Eruptions = Cancellation of flights = Train Travels = Longer hours = Bad performance???

Image above from monstersandcritics.com

As much as I love travelling, I hate long overland journeys (3 1/2 hours to Manchester). I would prefer the plane, but being a student, I can't afford it :(

My longest on land journey to date is the Beijing-Haerbin-Beijng trip, 12 hours each way!

A case of travel lag?

Professional footballers nowadays are quite spoiled I must say, flying to their games and then flying back. It is not only in the BPL that this happen, but certain clubs in the Championship does too (couldn't name the club since I couldn't verify this info).

It make sense, shorter travel hours, more comfy and of course, being part of the BPL gravy train, they could afford it.

However, with the now well publicized flying ban, these little pampered pooches must now travel via coach (bus in our language) or train and it seems one of two players/team were quite affected by this.

Arsenal's destruction

Mr. Wenger puts it down to 'lack of discipline and focus', you can read the article here. But my opinion is the players were rattled by the sudden change of travel arrangements. It's kinda like being used to driving an imported car but suddenly being given a Proton, or worse still a Perodua.

Make no mistake, the coaches they travel in are quite comfy I am sure, but the journey would of course be much more bumpier (coach) and less peaceful (coach and train). Someone might have missed that all important nap maybe?

Proof is in the next game

Nope, not Arsenal's next game against City (if this attempt fails, then Eastland/Blackburn game will be my other chances, also the Chelsea Stoke/Pool game if the flying ban is still imposed then) but a less publicized game in the Championship between Plymouth Argyle and Newcastle.

Here's some interesting facts: Newcastle is way way way up north, they border Scotland while Plymouth is way down south, even further than Portsmouth! That's 740 miles apart, 10 hours by coach or 6 hours by train! Oh yes...

The game would be played tonight, thus let's see the manner the results were achieved.

What I am looking for are:

1. Sloppy goals.

2. Destruction in the closing minutes

3. Beautiful goals, but Newcastle lose

To add a little bit of spice, Plymouth are 23rd, 2nd from bottom, while Newcastle are top of the Championship. This game still hold plenty of significance, if Newcastle wins or draw, they will be confirmed Champions, while at the other end, if Plymouth lose or draw, they will be relegated.

Pretty much the scenario with Arsenal and Wigan, title chaser v. relegation fodder, let's see if my hypothesis would be proven true: Footballers are too pampered to take any change in their travel arrangements, in short, they are pooches :)

Regards,
Ben Lai

Will it be the case of Spurs the King Maker or would Chelsea gallop away with the title?

Wenger was not the only Frenchmen to think Spurs

needs to prove themselves, Patrice thinks so too :)

Those who read my previous post would know what I mean. If you have not, here's the link.

Another weekend of football, a promise of excitement in the BPL (BPL is the proper name, not the EPL ;) ) with the title very much in the hand of Chelsea, but it is far from done and dusted. Any slip ups, and it will again open up. Judging from the already roller coaster ride of this season, I would not rule that out.

Spurs to earn their spurs?

Forgive me for the pun and cliche. But I am not the only one who thinks so. One very irritated winging Wenger agreed as reported here in his post match comment subsequent to his side's lethargic performance at White Hart Lane.

From a neutral perspective, the defeat of Arsenal was quite a performance from a club which invested so much but with very little to show, save for having a decent run in Cup competitions and their customary annual participation in Europe (albeit the 2nd-tier and less coveted UEFA Cup/Europa League). For a mid table club, that's quite an accomplishment.

Wind of change - new (ex)players, new manager

They were the largest spender outside the top-4 (and City) in the previous 3 seasons (signing plenty of ex-players) and the closest they got to breaking the dominance of the big-4 was in the 05/06 season where some dodgy lasagna denied them their 4th place finish and more crucially, handed the said spot to their hated neighbours. Would the defeat of Arsenal be the cornerstone of better things to come?

The goal scorers themselves were novice cowboys with a lot to prove. A first start, a stunning goal, Danny Rose's strike was indeed top-draw, so much so, he was as suprised as the shell-shocked-static Arsenal defence when it flew in. As for Gareth Bale, an unlikely goalscorer but more astonishing was the fact that throughout the earlier part of this season his name on the starting lineup was a bad omen to some quarters - Spurs did not win a single match in which he started. A goal for the critics perhaps?

Q&A time!!!

1. Was the performance just a one-off North London derby performance? Or;
2. Was it to gate crash Sol Campbell's return? Or;
3. Was it the most obvious question - bouncing back from the FA Cup defeat to Pompey?

I would answer NO to all the above. They are currently 5th in the League, just a point behind 4th spot City, with plenty to play for. Champions League is what they want and if anything, their gritty defending in the 2nd half against Arsenal showed how determined they are to take the final berth.

Now then, let's look at Spurs's remaining games: Chelsea (H) - Manchester United (A) - Bolton (H) - City (A) - Burnley (A).

As compared to City's: Manchester United (H) - Arsenal (A) - Villa (H) - Spurs (H) - West Ham (A)

Both team would be playing against title contenders tomorrow afternoon which could very well influence not only their own destiny, but also the BPL crown. Tasty encounters indeed, fireworks and seeing red, the card and maybe even blood is quite a possibility. The same goes for the following match for both teams, with Arsenal and Manchester United as opponents, notwithstanding this weekend's results, playing a Big-4 team would always be tricky.

City seems to have the upper hand thereon, with both team playing home matches in the 3rd game, it would be the penultimate game when they meet at the Eastlands which would ultimately decide the 4th place if they match each other's (or +/- 2) points in the first 3 games. I am quite sure it would not go to the wire and be decided in the final game or at least City would aim to put some space between them and Spurs by then.

My prediction for the week

Spurs to beat Chelsea at White Hart Lane with City at most taking a point (a very unlikely scenario) against their Red city rivals. Biased? No. Spurs are well known weak travellers, and if they do not take full points this weekend, it would take quite an effort to take full points when they visit Old Trafford next week. As for United's game against City, it would be tough no doubt, but with the recent lacklustre displays, I think they player themselves know that the finish line is near and it's all or nothing for the final push and I expect a slim win for United.

Manchester United has blown it...

Dear all,

First and foremost, the last week has been one of the toughest week being a Mancunian. Europe, then domestic, then the European exit was quite a week.

I am however, not disheartened, there are plenty of positives to be taken from this season, the most important of all is that we are still pretty much coping with the loss of one CF7 (CR9 is his new moniker).

Title race all over???

Oh, forgive the negative title. It's a marketing ploy to attract viewers to read this post :)

Let me make it clear, the defeat against Chelsea and the less than commendable draw at Blackburn has of course put Chelsea in pole position, but I am still hopeful as my analysis would reveal below. Never give up till the fat lady sings as they say, come on you DEVILLLLSSS!!! :)

Remaining Games

Manchester United - M. City (A) - Spurs (H) - Sunderland (A) - Stoke (H)

Arsenal - Spurs (A) - Wigan (A) - M. City (H) - Blackburn (A) - Fulham (H)

Chelsea - Spurs (A) - Stoke (H) - Liverpool (A) - Wigan (H)

So, with a 4 point lead, with just 4 games to go, it seems like Chelsea would win it with a game to spare. Pretty simple, just 3 wins and a draw from the remaining 4 would win the the league. Stoke and Wigan should be walkovers, while 4 points from Spurs and Pool should be a little tricky given they are both vying for the 4th Champions League spot.

Arsenal meanwhile, easy wins against Wigan and Blackburn, but they will face stiffer competition from firstly Spurs, then City, who are currently looking the more likely duo to battle it out for the coveted 4th UCL spot. Fulham too should be a test, if the places for the Europa League is still up for grabs come the final game.

As for Manchester United, City away is always daunting as shown by our first leg defeat in the Eastlands. We scored first through Good Ol' Giggsy, but Twat-vez came back with replies and almost twat-ed our Carling Cup push. But I still see us nicking a slim win from it, hopefully with Rooney leading the line. Spurs at home should be less daunting (I hope), with the Chelsea defeat and European exit of the past week, I am pretty sure the players need not any reminder from the Stretford End that they owe them a performance! Sunderland and Stoke should be 6 points in the bag, no disrespect, but let's just assume that for now since I do not have a magic ball in hand.

Pretty boring analysis, very balanced view, stating the obvious, bla bla bla... Continue reading and you be bored no longer :)

King Maker - Spurs

Yes. Spurs to decide the title. Bold prediction indeed. But having spent most of the weekends of my life watching the English game, I must admit for once, Spurs look right to break the Big 4 and stake their claim at being taken seriously. Having invested heavily every season and having changed more managers than Britney Spears changes costumes in a show, two critical factors missing in the previous seasons are now in place: a manager who's a wheeler dealer and some decent players showing their worth week in week out (the FA Cup exit was a surprise).

No other team in the run up could have more impact on the outcome of this year's title race - Spurs will play all 3 teams!!!

So yeah, whoever they beat or nick a 2 points from in the upcoming games is yet to be seen, but with M. City breathing down their necks, themselves with 2 top 3 clashes, the incentive is there to be party poppers whichever top 3 team they play. Parking the bus tactics? Or would the infamous poisoned lasagna come back to haunt Spurs? Only time will tell, so let's see :)

Remember, you read it here first :)

Regards,

Ben Lai