Just made this pic with some inspiration from "ever free" Google. Those paws are so cute, isn't it ? ♥

Manchester United to win trophy- I don't think so.....

I followed an argument between two Manchester United fans (rare I know). One was saying they will win at least two trophies while the other was saying he has no hopes of a trophy or that if Manchester United win a trophy Lady Luck will have smiled upon them. I then thought of that argument...who is right?

I have watched United's first three games and while it may be too soon to judge I think the second guy was right. I don't reckon that Manchester United have a chance at a trophy this season.

I will start by pointing out that they have a superb striking force. Robin van Persie is world class (it really pains me to say this), Wayne Rooney is amazing too, he can score all sorts of goals, Danny Welbeck has massive talent and is developing into a lethal target man and finally Javier Hernandez is a great finisher, a world class poacher. This means that goals will be abundant for the Manchester team.

I may say that that is where Manchester's top quality ends this season. Last season United's undoing was the midfield. Everyone was expecting Sir Alex Ferguson to invest in at least three midfielders. He brought in one, Shinji Kagawa. Kagawa is a massive talent and will fit in well into the team. The problem is that he plays the role just behind the main strikers and SAF brought in van Persie as well. This means that Rooney will play the same role as Kagawa or push Kagawa out of position or one of them will be benched. The first match van Persie was benched (lost 1-0), the second match Rooney was benched (Won 3-2 undeservedly) and in the third match saw an injured Rooney miss out. The midfield at Man-United is a weal link. Scholes and Giggs are old, Nani is unhappy, Young is under-performing, Cleverly needs more time to develop his talent, Carrick has become rather over-used. Valencia is apart from the rest in midfield with very fine performances but one man alone cannot link the whole mid-field section. In short Man-United's midfield is short.

The defense is not even weak, it is absent (these are not my words by the way, words of a Manchester United fan). In the first match, the defense was physically absent due to injuries which saw Carrick play at center back and Valencia fill in at right back. They lost the game. In the next two matches, Manchester United conceded 4 goals...2 in each respective game. The goals came from poor defense. The defense is porous and easy to pass. Vidic has still not returned to full form yet following a long spell of injury, Rio doesn't look too great either, Rafael cannot defend to save his life..he constantly moves upfront and forgets to fall back and his tackles are rather wanting while Evra has just grown old-his pace has diminished, his tackles are not so strong and he is quickly caught on the counter attack. Alex Buttner is set to start against Wigan in place of Evra. I will not make judgements about him yet as I haven't watched him, but new boys usually have a hard time adjusting to the pace of the EPL. Phil Jones is out injured and so is Chris Smalling. If any defender is injured Manchester will be stretched thin.

Therefore, goals Manchester United will score and goals they will also receive. Most people (even Manchester fans) will agree that the last two results were sheer luck and totally undeserved. Against better defending teams Manchester will not make it as the case was with Everton. Last season they missed it on goal difference, this year will be worse.

There is however the January transfer window and a bit of luck.

Till next time..........

Le Professeur ou Le Prophete? Or maybe both?

Transfer deadline day was here, refresh was a favorite tab to many football fans around the world and particularly Arsenal fans. I must admit I was one of them though not as fervently as most Gunners. I may have refreshed my twitter timeline about 20 times per hour and other sport pages roughly about the same time. Most fans were expecting the Yann M'vila deal to be completed, along with El Rey Leon (the Lion King) Fernando Llorente and a defender. However, none of that happened. Gunners watched, some read and most just heard of Tottenhum signing Lloris and Dempsey, Manchester City signing Javi Garcia etc but no-one was coming to the Emirates. And thus the curses began. I could hear shouts of  "Wenger out", "Ivan The Terrible", "Usmanov In" among other profanities that I shall dare not repeat.

Then came Anfield... The result Liverpool 0- Arsenal 2. This result did not bring any mixed emotions. It was just joy all over. It felt like the team had won a title winning much. I actually think the team won a title winning much. The title they won was the fans' hearts. A turn around was witnessed. Hardly was there any results, or any buts for that matter. The fans were satisfied with all departments. The two youngsters playing as fullbacks impressed with their intercepts, hard but clean tackles and ball distribution. The captain was just as solid as ever with his partner Per putting the Per in Perfect. The " Steve Bould Effect" it is now called. The center trio were just world class. Diaby could almost put Vieira to shame, Arteta was solid as a rock..he would die for the team and Santi Carzola... just beautiful with those perfect passes and well timed runs. The attack was just glorious, finally banging in the goals that calmed the nerves. Lukas Podolski showed his ability to score, tackle,hold the ball, pass and defend too, Giroud's movement of the ball was amazing and his vision just great and Oxlade showed his strength and agility, his speed we already knew about. The individual performances of each of the players indicated that Arsenal is finally a team.

It seems that Wenger was right again by not looking into the transfer market. The opinions of most fans changed and all over sudden it was content everywhere. The team was labeled as perfect and the shouts changed to "Arsene Knows", "In Arsene we trust" and many other nice things.

After that performance and three clean sheets, most football fans saw what Wenger had seen way before. A solid team without spending millions. The Arsenal options also looks solid with Ramsey (yes him!), Walcott, Gervinho (and yes, him too), Coquelin, Koscielny and the injured players Wilshere, Rosicky, Frimpong and Sagna set to return. Of course there are also the Arsenal youth players Serge Gnabry and Thomas Eisfeld who I am sure will get a chance at first team.

In my opinion Arsenal now has a team that can challenge for trophies, make profit and still create stars without spending billions. With the defense in place, very few attacks will get past that, the midfield is strong and we can expect goals from anyone.. Podolski, Giroud, Gervinho, Carzola, Walcott and Chamberlain especially.. Of course I expect Arteta, Diaby and Vermaelen to contribute too.

"We do not buy superstars. We make them."                               Arsene Wenger

Another quote by the man himself...

 "We try to go a different way that, for me, is respectable. Briefly, these are the basics. I thought: "We are building a stadium, so I will get young players in early so I do not find myself exposed on the transfer market without the money to compete with the others. I build a team, and we compensate by creating a style of play, by creating a culture at the club because the boy comes in at 16 or 17 and when they go out they have a supplement of soul, of love for the club, because they have been educated together. The people you meet at college from 16 to 20, often those are the relationships in life that keep going. That, I think, will give us strength that other clubs will not have.

I think most Arsenal fans will agree with me that Arsene was right. He has brought in three wise men and if the team is consistent, then success will be renamed Arsenal.

As usually..COYG.