The Carabao Cup is a funny one. Part of us wants not to have the competition, but that wrangles with the part of us that would be glad for Arsenal to raise it as yet another trophy in the early Arteta years. The boss’s opinion was revealed by the strength of the team he put out on the field of play, starting 7 who hadn’t started against the Hammers in midweek. In his preview Osaka Matt was pretty darn close in a tough ask, missing only Saka for Soares on the wing and Kolasinac for Gabriel at the back. Surprisingly (to me) Leno started in goal; given that leaves us one injury away from having either Macey or new boy Rúnarsson in goal at least for our League visit to the Land of Scouse next week. A risk that paid off, fortunately, in Wednesday’s 2-0 win for the Gunners at a rainy King Power Stadium in Leicester.
Arsenal kicked off in their new bloody white kit, while the Foxes wore their home blues. With only one win from their last seven visits to Leicester the last thing Arsenal needed was an early goal by the home squad…which could have come had Iheanacho’s volley after a missed Holding header a minute into the game beaten Leno, rather than flying high and wide. Soon after Arsenal also came close through Nelson, who won the ball back neatly from Albrighton on the left, drove infield and unleashed a curler Ward tipped just over. Leno made his first save from Iheanacho after some lovely work by Albrighton.
Both sides were playing somewhat expansive football, in particular Nelson and Saka down Arsenal’s left, and Arsenal’s defensive shape was largely solid, we looked very calm playing out of the back. After nearly a quarter hour Elneny produced a silly foul on Gray in midfield, yielding the game’s only yellow card from referee Peter Bankes (who refereed the game well, except for one glaring error).
Arsenal hit their stride before the game reached its quarter point, with Saka, Nelson, and Pepe exchanging passes but not quite making the final ball count. On 20 minutes Saka beat Albrighton on the left and whipped in a low cross to which Nketiah just couldn’t redirect into goal. Most of the ball was in Leicester’s half, with Arsenal pressure giving Leicester no way out. Holding was just about reining in Iheanacho down his right, and put a beautiful, if slightly overhit, throughball to Nketiah that Ward gratefully collected.
Referee Bankes had nothing to say but “play on” in the 26th minute when Saka went down in the box tangled in Amartey’s legs as he ran onto another throughball, this from Nketiah after Elneny started the move with a fine interception near the center circle. It was as clear a penalty as one could want to ask for; Saka had no reason to go down, rather than take a shot, which he tried, but the defender’s legs were in the way…and, in the absence of VAR Mr. Bankes wasn’t having it.
After a free kick from Leicester led to Iheanacho offside, Leno started a wonderful move through Holding, Saka, Nketiah, and Pepe feeding Nelson, who forced another save from Ward, this time curling a shot low to the keeper’s left. Arsenal were still on top until about the 38th minute, during which time Luiz needed treatment from a spare Leno elbow as the keeper collected a high ball through his defender’s head. We were sitting pretty when suddenly Maddison looked up, saw Leno off his line after a number of sweet passes, and put a long chip over Arsenal’s keeper. That it came back off Leno’s post directly to Leno was the least part of our good fortune, it would have been a wonderful goal. Throughout the game, Maddison (in his first game back from a long injury layoff) was the most threatening of the Foxes, causing us myriad, if not insurmountable, problems all over the pitch.
We went into halftime on 0-0, and Arsenal could feel pretty good about that, though we deserved to be ahead. We were on top for most of the half, under Leicester’s cosh for only five or ten minutes throughout. Nelson and Saka played very well together, were consistently dangerous on the ball, and defended well. Nketieh showed his mettle, running all over the pitch and constantly menacing Ward’s goal.
The teams came out from having their orange slices and lucozade making no changes in personnel, and for the first 10-15 minutes Arsenal had the better of the ball, with great pressure on Leicester’s back line coming to naught. Until the 57th minute, when suddenly we were up 1-0. Arsenal’s throw-in from midfield broke to Fuchs, who lost the ball to Nketiah in Leicester’s half. He fed Pepe down the right, and Pepe took it to the endline before having his cross blocked by Ward. The ball fell kindly to Pepe again, who put in another cross that banged off Fuchs and into the net beyond the straining efforts of Amartey.
Arsenal 1-0 Leicester (Fuchs, o.g., 57)
Of course, shortly after the goal Leicester started to apply the pressure on Arsenal, to get back into the game. They held possession for more than half a dozen passes for the first time all half, though it didn’t lead to much but takeaways by our well-drilled defense. I do think their pressure forced a change in structure on about 65 minutes, when Maitland-Niles dropped into right back, Arsenal forming a back four rather than playing three at the back. Leicester’s Praet came on for the dangerous Maddison, whose race was run, and Willian came on for the excellent Nelson on 72 minutes. Shortly after that Holding hit a first time clearance to Nketiah, who forced Morgan to clear off his line with an excellent volley over Ward.
You will note I’ve said nothing about Kolasinac all game. He was largely quiet, doing his job, but as is his wont gave away the ball a time or two. One sequence of play that illustrated his game came after Perez came in for Dewsbury-Hall and Ceballos came in for the efficient Willock in the 78th minute. A pair of Arsenal corners led to the ball breaking to Kolasinac at the edge of the box, only for him to give away the ball with an ineffective shot/cross off Perez. Kola then chased down the play and intercepted Albrighton’s return ball to Perez past the halfway line. The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away, it has been said. Kolasinac seems to be much better playing at speed with Saka and Nelson in front of him, and some speed of thought inside with Xhaka out…
Neither team could gather themselves for the last few minutes of the game, again exchanging half-chances, though Perez should have done better from an 81st minute freekick, with his free header going wide of Leno’s half-open goal. Arsenal kept Leicester penned in their own half after a snapshot from Praet, and then the Maestro rolled his last die, swapping Bellerin for Saka in the 87th. Saka had a great game, again a candidate for MOTM, and we should all be well pleased that he is an Arsenal player.
As the clock ticked down to the last minute Leno bowled a ball out the right, which Nketieh ended up having to play across to the left to be recycled. Holding played a medium punt to Pepe behind Thomas again on the right; Pepe found Bellerin at speed, who beat Fuchs and Choudhury all ends up, and squared for Nketiah. He put his first touch through the falling Amartey, then beat Ward to the ball and poked it into the corner of the net. Game, set, match. A true poacher’s goal after some excellent team work passing the ball around the entirety of the pitch (albeit with a couple of Leicester touches, blocks or tips).
Arsenal 2-0 Leicester (Nketiah, 90)
And so, on the 28th anniversary of Arsenal’s signing of the inimitable Ian Wright Wright Wright his heir apparent (and MOTM) Eddie Nketiah secured Arsenal’s victory with a goal the elder striker would have been proud to show in his highlight reel.
Arsenal’s overall game was effective, organized, and composed. Young guns Nelson, Saka, Willock, Nketiah, and Maitland-Niles all had very good games (or better), our defense made few mistakes and none that cost us even a goal let alone the win. I was impressed with Elneny in midfield, he played a quiet, very effective game, always running seeking the right place to be to cycle the ball so the team could move through their paces. Leicester never got going excepting a couple of spells of pressure on our backline, and the one Maddison ball that should have been a goal. My sigh of relief at that hitting the post was probably audible from California. Congratulations to OM, as well, for nailing the ‘Holics pound. I hear we get Liverpool next…bloody useless, this cup…
Thanks scruz for a great report
and a kindly mention or two.
I’ve now seen some extended
highlights but your report gives
me a much better sense of the
game. Good to see the youngsters
doing well and none of the seniors
coasting. I guess a similar side will
be up for it at Anfield next time.
But before that at least some of
the squad have given MA a nudge
as he chooses the side for the
league trip.
Top report, scruz. Nice reprise of a good Arsenal performance & efficient victory. Eddie really deserved his goal for his energetic performance & while his hold-up play doesn’t match Laca’s his link ups and mobility more than compensate. His lob over the keeper deserved a goal & his determination & agility to stab the ball into the goal while falling was, as you observe, reminiscent of Wrighty. Pepe had a quiet first half but was a persistent threat in the SH & he deserved his pre-assist via the post & Fuchs. I fully agree that Elneny deserved to be MoTM. He was everywhere, constantly providing an option for a teammate, made several key interceptions and recycled the ball efficiently. Another miraculous MA8 transformation?
I forgot to add that we are blessed to have Nelson, Saka & Willock Coming through the ranks. What great prospects they are! The first two were a constant threat from the first minutes of the game. The last grew into the game but was contributory to our midfield dominance throughout. AMN had one of his least effective games and his passing was seriously awry. Whether this was a result of being in the right or just a bad day at the office (though not SO bad that he contributed to a chance for the opposition!) is a question to be answered. The CBs coped effectively with Lesta’s threat and Luiz was truly imperious. Interesting that our midfield processes the ball rather more swiftly than we are used to. No names, TTG.
An excellent report Scruz, all the way from California. We clearly deserved to win the game, though again got the rub of the green with that Morrison shot hitting the post and bouncing back into Leno’s arms. Played three, won three, goals for seven, goals against one. All against Premier League opposition.
That’s a great summary, Scruz. Hesgoal did a wonderful job for me last night as usual, but I watched without sound because Her Nellieness was viewing ‘Us’ at the same time. Your report therefore provided some additional insights for which I am grateful.
One aspect of the early Carabao and Europa Cup competitions is the great pleasure of seeing a strong cadre of our young players competing on the field at the same time. All five of our academy graduates performed really well last night and each contributed significantly to the successful outcome. They all have potential to make it at the Arsenal.
It was also important and great to see the team perform to the Arteta Blueprint for Success (ABS) despite a change of seven players, testament to clarity of purpose and excellent coaching. The change since the dark days of 2019 is remarkable. (But of course, it was only Lesta last night……)
Arteta’s arrival? Aubamayang signing ‘da ting’? Saka signing up for the future? Which of these is likely to have the biggest impact for the Arsenal? All three of course are critically significant events and it’s nearly impossible to choose between them. However, there can be little doubt in anyone’s mind that Bukayo Saka has the potential to become one of Europe’s outstanding players (I suspect in a creative midfield role). His progress will continue to be a pleasure to watch. Build the team around him, Mikel.
Good time for Leno to go on a long run of clean sheet games methinks, C100.
It would be an excellent time BtM. Also a tough ask with Liverpool, Liverpool (probably), Man City, and Man United, interspersed with the Blades and the Foxes again, our upcoming matches.
Thanks for the review Scruz. Was reduced to listening on the dot.com last night unfortunately so good to hear a (relatively!) impartial review.
Hear?
It’s early. Meant read……
Sometimes I wonder if English is really my own first language.
@7 The early part of the fixture list has looked very challenging from the day it was issued (and it doesn’t get much easier beyond the early part!).
If we can return 11 points from the five League games you’ve listed we’ll be set up for a top four finish. With Arteta at the helm, that does not look like an unrealistic target although, very clearly, it is an extremely challenging one. Addition of two new midfielders would enhance our prospects.
Keep winning Arsenal. Play better.
Excellent review scruz! This was a controlled and effective effort with some noticeable performance by a few youngsters, and Elneny and Luiz among the seniors.
A minor correction about the first goal: first effort from Pepe was a cross for Eddie to stab in but when that was blocked and came back to Pepe he had an attempt on goal — and not another cross — on the keeper’s near side which beat the keeper but reflected off the post back on to Fuchs into the goal.
AMN was a little iffy as the RWB, and not for the first time in that position. I think he does much better playing on the left and cutting inside and covering the left side midfield than playing on the right wing. He has played a few blinders in Arteta’s system but he still needs to improve his passing abilities.
Nelson was excellent in the first half and I think Arteta gave him the license to float around as much as he wants to. It was a sort of a planned chaos but interesting to note as Auba doesn’t really play like that in our system. I think Reiss should not be sent out on loan but start all the Europa matches at least in the group stages and then early stages of the FA cup, and a solid option from the bench.
We really need someone in the midfield who can spot the runs of the attackers and send a through pass in front of them with the right weight. Eddie and Pepe made many sharp runs that only David Luiz now and then tried to feed to.
Comprehensive report, Scruz. We very much saw the same game.
I thought Kola passed more forward and less back. Perhaps it was a function of Xhaka’s absence…
OM @previous drinks: A January loan for Nelson might work. Let’s see what our injury list looks like at that point.
BtM@5: It is definitely Arteta’s arrival. For Auba’s contract extension — and most likely that of Saka too as there were some other European clubs (with better success in recent times than ours) were already circling around him — wouldn’t have happened if we were still mired in that chaos on the field.
Saka is an once in a generation talent. And I think Martinelli too. If we can keep Tierney-Saka-Martinelli all fit and help their evolution (especially for Saka and Gabigoal) that would be a left side no team in Europe will want to face.
Thanks Scruz for an excellent report. I have to wonder how much more effective Pepe might be if he would just dare to use his right foot, as he finally did on the first of his two crosses leading to Arsenal’s first goal. It was at close range, admittedly, but he was able to hit it hard enough to force the rebound.
And yes, Dr. Faustus is right about the second “cross” being a shot albeit a left footed one I believe, caromed billiards style off the post and off Fuchs into the intended target.
Not suggesting purposeful intentionality @15 for that carom shot but it must qualify as an assist I would think.
bt8 @ 16.
For Fuch’s sake I hope so.
A fine, flowing review of the game I watched. We dominated the match with our youngsters doing a great job. Luiz and Elneny were other notable performers. Pepe is still getting into his stride but he has a way of impacting games as we saw yesterday. I was a little nervous about the match given our away record at Leicester but the way we played gave me a very positive feel. The match against the senior side will be a lot more challenging.
On to Pool. Till last year I used to be apprehensive about the match but now I feel that the team will be a lot better prepared to face them. It will still be a difficult one to watch but, somehow, I look forward to it.
Scruz,
The seductive presence of Mrs TTG prevented me from bothering to tap into the stream last night. I suspected it wouldn’t be a very interesting game but it appears ( I’m pleased to say) I was wrong . She required some assistance with some paperwork and I’ve never been good at multi-tasking .
This report fills in a lot of the gaps for me and is most encouraging. A 2-0 win at Leicester is no mean feat despite extensive rotation on their part. I did see the goals and being old school would have given the first one to Pepe.
Delighted to read a number of positive accounts about the contributions of Saka and Elneny and faster midfield distribution . What could be different 🙃? Also heartened that Arteta is not backing down with the two on the naughty step .Hope we can rid ourselves of them .
Less heartened to hear we are interested in Jorginho. If he and Xhaka play together the game will be played in slow motion or even pause . Attacks will progress at a snails pace. He must be a Joorabchian client . If we are interested at £50 million why not just buy out Partey’s clause .
Mikel of course knows best….but not over this.
Interesting table- points total
Here’s the Premier League since Arteta took over
1.Liverpool 56
2 Man City 46
3 Man Utd 41
4 Arsenal 39
5 Chelsea 37
6 Spurs 36
7 Everton 36
8 Wolves 35
We’ve also won the FA Cup and Community Shield
Top four form.
It is depressing if we are in for Jorginho. He has made no impact at Chelsea and they would b happy to get rid of him. Waste of good money.
Are we betting that Mikel can improve him? He is so slow …….
Ksn
In Feb 2018 we played Chelsea at home . It was about the last time I saw an Emery- coached side outplay PL opposition. Sarri produced a very slow-moving side focused around Jorginho and Emery got Ramsey to effectively man mark him and take him out of the game. He did this very well denying him time and space and we won comfortably 2-0 .
That convinced me we would win in Baku but we had no Ramsey and no obvious plan. Speaking to a Chav friend today about Jorginho he said that he is not very popular at the Bus Stop because he slows down the pace of attacks , is a weak ball-winner and isn’t good under pressure particularly with a high press.
If I had to define what we don’t need in midfield it is that sort of player . We need a strong, mobile midfielder who can beat the press and link the team much more quickly than is currently the case . I fervently hope this is a silly press story
Just what I meant except that I don’t have your eloquence, TTG. Just my feeling that he is a slow coach who passes mostly sideways and considerably slows down the play going forward. A slow Denilson and I still remember the flak he used to get. Sarri likes Jorginho and he can take him. He is probably suited to the slow but technically more demanding Italian league. We can use the money saved to get at least one of Aouar/Partey, either of whom will considerably improve our team.
So two visits to Anfield in two or three days next week. Be very interesting to see the squads picked. I think both Klopp and Arteta will go as strong as they dare.
Sp**s scrape through in North Macedonia, with Macabbi Haifa next, but they don’t have to travel, confirming that the draw was fixed. 🙂
My Cup runneth over this week.
Firstly my boyhood Club Hendon beat Crawley Down Gatwick 2 -1 away in an early qualifying round of the FA Cup, then we beat Leicester away in the League Cup, and the icing on the cake comes with the appearance of Dorset Mick in the bar.
If you read this Mick, all the very best with your ongoing Chemo treatment, having seen my eldest sister go through it twice with separate breast operations, i know how debilitating it was for her, so can only imagine what it is doing to you.
But us Gooners are made of stern stuff, so i fully expect you to emerge battered but unbowed when the treatment ends.
I do hope the Boys can keep your spirits up on the pitch with their new found self belief that Mikel has instilled in them.
Keep in touch if you can
Cheers
Clive
Thanks for an excellent report scruz. It is the only account I have read of the game, so I can’t speak to its accuracy, but better-informed drinkers above have found nothing more to criticise than a possible mistake over Pepe’s intentions.
I’m beginning to wonder whether, as a club, we might really be in the verge of something special and TTG’s table @20 above seems to confirm that it might actually be true. Perhaps it’s a sign of the lowering of my expectations over the past few years that I’m getting a tingle over the possibility of a top-four finish. (Voice off: It’s far to early to be getting excited, man. Relax.)
I’m not yet looking to forthcoming games with anything approaching confidence, but the fear has been replaced by curiosity and hope. Maybe this dawn isn’t false. Please, Dennis, let it not be.
COYG
In the split second before Eddie scored, there was a loose ball that I assumed the Leicester keeper was going to gobble up, but it seems (I could be wrong, of course) that it came down to a case of which player wanted it more, and it turned out to be Eddie. Good sign?
It was a good sign I thought.
Not sure what the keeper was
doing – but from his body language
after the goal it looked like he
was expecting one of the defenders
to clear it. The drawback of playing
your second keeper?
Though the game was probably lost
by then.
Dr F @ 13, yes, I have to agree. Arteta is both the current foundation stone and key to future success. However, the absence of Auba and Saka would have had a perilous impact on the team’s prospects.
I’ll take your treble of outstanding young prospects in the form of Tierney, Saka, Martinelli and raise it to a quadruple by adding Saliba. If they can achieve the level apparent from their potential, the Arsenal will have four world class players leading the charge for trophies.
@ 30/31 bt8/Matt, I like the thought that Eddie wanted it more. Essential ingredient in the mix that makes a successful predator.
Spurs awarded a bye into next round of league cup after Orient couldn’t fulfil fixture due to Covid. Interesting precedent. Spurs now play Chelsea next week.
BtM. Would you not add Gabriel as well? He’s only 22, a few months younger than Tierney.
I’ve been away from the bar for a week and as the games are already coming at us pretty rapidly as we can expect them to do all season unless we start falling out of the cups earlier than we hope I have not thanked bt8, Countryman, OM and Scruz, all of whom have written excellent posts that i thoroughly enjoyed reading. Cheers to you all.
Have you been on holiday GSD?
I agree that Arteta was the key. Yet all that has followed has been so important. Hopefully Countryman is right about Gabriel (he has looked good so far and I am sure will improve a lot too) and we can add him to the other four absolutely top young talents at the club. Four world class players and a squad of good ones is usually gonna win you trophies. If Gabriel, Gabigol, Saka, KT and Saliba do all develop to their best then perhaps we might have 5? And three of them in defence!
As long as we have Arteta guiding them I expect they will progress nicely (although at a sensible pace as they accrue experience and learn from their coaching). The future is exciting.
Nah. Just busy with some work stuff.
Booooo
I am being cautious about Saliba. He comes with a stellar reputation but I haven’t seen him play one minute of live football yet. Fingers crossed. Think we might see him next week in the league cup.
The concern about midfield is still there. We have a great hole in the middle of the park in terms of quality. The postponement of a fans’ return will not encourage anyone to take a gamble in the market by splashing big on players, least of all our own billionaire owner. We still need to sell. No one is buying anyone we want rid of. We need a serious upgrade, preferably two players, and the market is closing soon. This one is gonna go to the wire. The business we do will have a huge impact on our season.
Which is all as it has been for a while now… I am getting a bit antsy to see what we end up doing!
It is a sensible approach Countryman @39 and seems to be the same as Arteta’s. The kid is only 19, he has plenty of time.
I do hope he plays the league cup, it would be good to get a look at him.
I cannot agree. A potential roasting at Anfield is the last place to give a 19 year old his debut when he hasn’t played a competitive match in over 6 months. MA8 has more sense than that. He could strangle his Arsenal career at birth. Sorry chaps, just can’t see it. You’ll have to be patient. He’ll get his chance to say hello and hopefully prove he’s got something about him to justify the massively overhyped mythology that some have built for him in the EL group games. His distribution in the behind closed doors match he played in was apparently abysmal. Just temper your enthusiasm.
The reason for my caution is the number of Arsenal centre backs who have got off to a promising start but who’s careers have been blighted by a single match in which their confidence was completely shattered and from which they never recovered.
For me it depends on what team Liverpool play. I don’t wanna see Saliba against Mane, Salah and Firminho. But if both teams play second string players then I’d be happy to see Saliba play. And I am not too worried that one bad game would make much odds even if it happened. All players have them, and Arteta has turned Mustafi and to some extent Xhaka around, refilling them with confidence, after much worse.
He might play a blinder and never look back. Who knows?
Anyhoo, Mikel certainly knows, so I am sure he will only play the kid if he thinks he is ready.
Think of Senderos against Drogba.
I try not to think of Senderos
against Drogba!
Which kind of makes the point
really 😄
Liverpoo’s second string attack
would probably be Origi, Jota
and Minamino at a guess.
It’s a bit of a bastard to go there
twice in a few days and I hope
MA will rest everyone who plays
90 minutes in the first game.
The next game will be Sheff Utd
who are already out and will have
had a week off.
I thought this was a well written (apart from the typos – he needs a good editor!) and well-argued piece with a convincing point reminiscent of that made on several previous occasions by our own BtM:
KSE right NOT to inject cash into Arsenal to buy players
If Moyes manages West Ham to victory, will all managers want to dial it in from home?
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54299178
If West Ham win then it proves they
don’t need Moyes and he should be
fired. If they lose he is responsible
for a bad start and should be fired
😉
Good debate on Saliba who I think is still likely to need time before he plays regularly . Much may depend on who in the back five is fit. It looks like Tierney is fit for Monday so we may see Luiz- Gabriel – Tierney on Monday and Holding- Luiz and Kolasinac on Thursday.I think they will rest several , remember the sides drew 5-5 last year in the same competition.
I remember back in about 2007 drawing them twice at Anfield in about the same timeframe. We beat them 3-1 in the Cup and 6-3 in the League Cup. I think Baptista got four and missed a pen . Funny game, football ! That shut up a lot of yapping Scousers for a while
Re: OM @51. That doesn’t leave much room for error then. 🤔🤣
Good piece from She Wore @48 Bath. We wasted a lot of dough.
I’m watching some NFL from the weekend (Dolphins- Jaguars) and there are fans in the stadium. Probably not more than 10% of capacity but still fans. US based Gooners what are the rules? Does it vary State by State or sport by sport?
c100, not a clue. don’t watch or pay attention to us football. a cursory google search found this, though, describing the number of fans at each stadium: https://sports.nbcsports.com/2020/09/25/which-nfl-stadiums-will-allow-fans-in-week-2
all, thanks for the great response to my post. i appreciate the differences of opinion, but baff, in no way did i think mo’neny was MOTM. it was eddie all the way, for me. any idea who actually was granted it?
i’ve rewatched the first goal a number of times, and pepe’s first cross was so bad i assumed his second was also so bad. but i do see now (as faustus says at 11) he was going for the gap between ward and the post…and hit the post, which banged off fuchs and in. i still laugh at eddie’s reaction to the whole thing: “i was wide open!!”
for the second, i kept waiting for the keeper to pounce, and he never did. eddie never stopped, it was beautiful to watch him stab that in.
i do hope we don’t get flayed by the scouse hoardes either visit, even if we lose both. i’d like to see us be competitive and stick with these already-famous “principles”, showing liverpool we’re only time and another midfield player from playing them off the park. it’ll be interesting to see how each side sets out its stall with an eye to meeting twice consecutively.
So it’s really varied. The game I’m watching doesn’t look anything like 25% capacity though, .
Scruz, Judging by the font size of those guidelines issued by the Arizona Cardinals, if their fans are similarly oversized I would fear that social distancing at the game could be a significant problem. 😉
i guess between them and any travelling lions fans, eh bt8?
and c100, colonial-rules football? really?
Scruz my order of interest in American sport is
1. Baseball. Love it, probably because of my cricket background. Been to many games.
2. NFL. Probably because the tv coverage for the last 40 years here has been seriously good. Never been to a game.
3. Hockey. Highly skilful legalised violence. Been to one game at Madison Square Gardens. Prices were shocking. Also I was IDd to buy a beer (actually given that I was 55 I was quite chuffed)
27. Basketball. I’ve even played this game at school and been to multiple games (my son is a huge fan). An athletic game played by physical freaks. You go down one end and you score. You go down the other end and you score. You go down one end and you score. You go down the other end and you miss. The game doesn’t even get interesting until the last two minutes which will be broken up by 17 time outs. The maximum period of play is five minutes before the local over seventies dance group (known as the golden girls) come on to do their thing. It’s not a sport it’s a branch of show biz.
Heh C100 @61. Much like my own preferences tho’ NFL would be number 1 (seen a lot of games live), Hockey 2 (seen a couple live) and baseball 3 (not seen live tho’ tried for the AllStar Game in Boston ca ’98)for me. Basketball for the exact reasons you elaborate, would be number 17,004 for me.
Little known fact. Water polo was invented by a Scot.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_polo
That is all.
y’all must not have watched in the 1980s. i grew up in los angeles, and have been a fan of the lakers since we moved there in 1967 (i was three). they won the championship in ’72, really my first memory of them as a team. i suffered through the 70s, enjoying their games via the “world’s eye view” of chick hearn on the radio under my pillow (illegally, as it were) at night after bedtime.
in 1980 we drafted magic johnson into a decent team with one of the best players in the league (kareem abdul-jabbar); think bringing in saka to the 2000 arsenal team… suddenly the basketball was amazing, up and down the court, passing was brilliant, defense electric. and we won five championships, which warmed my long-suffering heart. it was on this basis i selected arsenal as my team, as i’ve told the story; i didn’t know who we were, other than mrs. bond’s cats: both teams played flowing, wide open games with great players making realtime decisions that very frequently led to amazing results. and once phil jackson brought tex winter’s triangle offense to the city of angels, well, we saw the above plus strategies that could adapt in the moment to what the other team was doing. really, great stuff.
i find it hard to understand how you can talk about basketball players being freaks when you like american football. there’s hardly a freakier human than one who is 6’4, 275 lbs who can squat 500 lbs and run the 40 in 4.45 seconds. i do appreciate the amazing connection of a well-thrown received pass downfield, and the skill of a back picking his way through traffic…but, really, that’s about it.
hockey is a bunch of hoodlums on skates (they should have a retirement revue called just that), banging each other with sticks for 14 seconds before changing lines and sitting down. not my cuppa, though i used to skate recreationally on the los angeles kings’ practice ice as a kid.
baseball was my other main jam as a kid, but now i find it boring unless it’s the world series and something other than personal records are at stake. if it’s similar to cricket (and i understand already it has its similarities), i’d be drinking and chatting with friends through most of a cricket match, rather than paying strict attention to what happens on the field…oh, wait 🙂
Sorry has he finished yet? Bit like the NBA. 😂😂
by a scott, you mean? it must have originally been called “walter polo”, then. 😉
c100@65, i must admit much of the last 20 years i’ve not watched much basketball (since moving from la) because until streaming became a valid thing it would have forced me to watch the warriors, which i find tedious, much like i find baseball and cricket.
now, rugby is a fun game to watch.
I’ve seen baseball in New York, Chicago, Houston, Cleveland, Oakland, Tampa Bay (St Pete), Disneyworld (spring training), Boston, Pennsylvania, San Francisco and San Diego. It’s a wonderful game. If you are used to sitting through every minute of a five day Test Match, a three hour baseball game, even a pitchers duel, passes in the blink of an eye.
If you want to understand America, learn baseball. Jaques Barzun.
Also, like cricket, the culture and literature in baseball is unmatched in other US sports. Try Roger Hahn, the boys of summer; Moneyball by Roger Lewis; Red Smith on baseball. The legends, the curse of the bambino, Jackie Robinson, shoeless Joe Jackson.
I love baseball with a passion.
I admit you have to work at it, like cricket. I know what a baulk is, understand the infield fly rule, love stolen bases (though I’ve only seen home base stolen in the Jackie Robinson film) and prefer manufactured runs with a bunt, a stolen base and a sac fly to one testosterone fueled whack Into the bleachers. Similarly the poetry and skill of a triple play is amazing. I love the seventh inning stretch, have seen and heard Harry Carey singing take me out to the ballgame at Wrigley field. My whole family love a day at the ballpark, even my daughter who, despite being a mascot at Arsenal at the age of 12, regards most sport with condescension now, at 24.
I love baseball more than most Americans.
And breath.
There is a stunned silence in the blog.
Now about these transfer rumours …….
no, just wondering if i go by you on the right or the left when i drive to the hoop. 🙂
seriously, check out “unwritten: bat flips, the fun police, and baseball’s new future”, by danny knobler (https://www.amazon.com/Unwritten-Flips-Police-Baseballs-Future/dp/1629376485). i grew up going to dodger games with danny, his brother, and our families. he became a sportswriter following the tigers (his brother, now an attorney, also became a sportswriter, as did michael’s best friend…small world), now lives in thailand with his wife and her family, runs a sports bar in pattaya. but this is a great book, and he’s a really good writer.
C100 @70, they are just more rumours until Ornstein speaks and it’s on .com.
That looks great. Sadly not available yet in paperback. I’ll keep checking back.
Scruz at 71 first para. To quote Philip Neville I may have to two foot you ….
c100@74, i’ll just put up a floater, and 1…
That just sounds rude!
I’ve ordered your mate Danny’s book, even though it’s only available in hardback. Your last recommendation to me (Thurber on life at the New Yorker) was so good I trust your judgement. 🤓
Scruz: baseball’s not been the same since the Dodgers left Flatbush…
Roger Angell should be added to the pantheon of great baseball writers.
i couldn’t say, ned. my dodgers were always artful in los angeles.
add ring lardner, roo.
Scruz, Chick’s phrase as I recall it was actually “a bird’s eye view” as in the view from high above the court that a bird might have, or a chick. I had a few more years listening to him, starting my Lakers fandom as a young fella in the 1965/6 season when they were in the middle of a heartbreaking string of Finals defeats to the Celtics. Chick called them all but after he passed away, my interest in the club (and basketball too) waned but he somehow made every game fun, even when the Lakers were trailing by 35 points in the fourth quarter.
Another great baseball (inter alia) writer was of course Damon Runyon, later most famous for Guys and Dolls (though it wasn’t picked up until after his death). He got his start as a baseball writer, at a time when New York had three teams. His biography is fascinating and I commend it to the House.
An observation in respect of lots of American spirts is that there are too many fixtures . Go into a bar and hardly anyone is watching baseball and not following basketball with intensity. Lose and there are another one hundred matches to come . I see the over televising of football here leading to a similar phenomenon. We may lose the live experience and start taking the game for granted .
I’ve watched baseball, basketball , US football and ice hockey ( and professional golf) in USA and even football ( I refuse to call it soccer.) My US friends in trying to explain how popular ‘ soccer’ is point out it is the sport that kids love to play best not realising how patronising that sounds . Football is played the world over because it is basically so easy to understand and appreciate .I respect and enjoy American sport especially live but for me the most interesting thing it that is gives cultural insights into a country I’m very fond of. Several of the actual sports , particularly American football , are deeply contrived and designed for TV . But I understand the way in which baseball is ingrained into the American psyche . When I was at Harvard I went to Fenway Park several times and spent some time with one of the professors who used to be a TV baseball commentator. Learning about the game from an expert helps your appreciation enormously .
But it doesn’t begin to compare with watching the Arsenal…not even close
Fenway Park one of the legendary ball parks TTG. I’ve been there once.
The advantage of 162 games in a regular season is that it’s relatively cheap and easy to go to many baseball games. The buzz at the ball park is totally different to watching on TV.
As everyone has gathered I love baseball. But I agree. Nothing compares to The Arsenal.
Viva live sport, especially The Gunners.
I prefer peanuts to Cracker Jack, but beer is good too.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack
I don’t care if I never go back!
👏👏👏
The mystery of how to pronounce Aouar correctly.
Lots of possibilities suggested here
https://fifaforums.easports.com/en/discussion/486965/how-to-say-aouar-properly
But I’m guessing “Ow-are” comes closest. Does anybody know?
bt8@80, it was “word’s-eye view”, i misremembered. i miss him, and vin, growing up in the la of that era made for some compelling radio listening for basketball and baseball. i remember the ’69 finals when we lost at the forum in game 7 after an incredible series; that is, i remember the game 7 loss, but i have read about it later. “the butter’s getting hard, the eggs are cooling, and the Jell-O’s jigglin’…” would be trotted out at the end of a 35-point win OR loss.
i *don’t* care if i ever go back…to another baseball game 🙂 but to the grove? i care, very much so. you can have all my crackerjack if i can get back there soon.
aouar is most correctly pronounced “the new arsenal midfielder”.
Word’s eye view. 👍🏼
You’re right. Not sure what a word’s eye view would be exactly but that’s what he always said. Good man, who liked to play card games on the road with the great Elgin Baylor. Two talkative souls, RIP.
Just checked and there is no indication that Elgin Baylor is not still with us.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nba.com/amp/league/history/legends/profiles/elgin-baylor
Countryman, you have an impressive list. I attended baseball games in the home parks of the five California teams including 6 stadiums, both Candlestick and their current park in the Giants’ case. Also, both the old and new parks in Baltimore, and the old Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium in New York, and the home park of the Minnesota Twins, so 11 major league parks in all, and a few more minor league ones. Never been to Fenway or Wrigley, unfortunately. As for my allegiances, I follow the Giants in the National League and the Orioles in the American League. If they ever met in the World Series and I were forced to choose between them, my heart would be with the Giants, the team of Willie Mays and Willie McCovey who captivated me as a youngster.
Is there something in the Aouar?
Sure hope the Aouar doesn’t get stale.
I’m almost gasping for Aouar here …
Really, a breath of fresh Aouar could do us all a world of good.
Out with the old Aouar
And in with the new.
Then there’s that old song,
Sometimes…
All I need is the Aouar that I breathe and to love you
But can we get him on Aouar side?
i’ll aouar on the side of caution.
Finely poached scruz and well-
assisted bt8. I’ll take aouar
holic hat off to you both
Just don’t say Aouar, Cantona.
Cba-like run to the line, bt8. Hats off
Excellent stuff bt8!
Well in Scruz to finish it off. Lovely goal.
Cometh the Aouar cometh the man….and its Scruz . Well done mate !
Clive@28,
Cheers, Clive. It puts me off my beer for a day or two each time, but not for long!
Well in at the big ton , Scruz.
Mighta gone for it myself but the Aouar was getting a bit late.
Aouar bid was low
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/26/arsenal-bid-for-houssem-aouar-rejected-by-lyon-transfer
Well in for the ton, Scruz.
My first MLB game was at the old Comiskey Park. Vida Blue pitching for the As on a very hot August day.
Great job, scruz –
sorry to be late, as usual at the moment, due to a combination of professional and domestic travails I would rather do without but these things, as you more than well know, are not always within our control.
Thanks for finding the time to write this after your own recent difficulties in fire ravaged California.
Manure vs Brighton game was
very annoying.
Maupay is an idiot to put it
politely
OM.
I wanna see the highlights. It sounds like Manure’s first could well have been ruled out.
Very annoying indeed that they got three points from a match that sounds like they deserved none.
It looks like that game was the battle between the two clubs that benefited the most from referee decisions that were overturned by VAR last season. No surprise that the rowdies were one of them.
https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/ranking-every-premier-league-club-by-who-has-benefited-most-from-var/
If the Aouar hour seems to be barely crawling by, how about Partey time?
GSD,
It was quite an enjoyable game
until the last 30 seconds!
If Xhaka had made the error that Thiago Silva just made, a gibbet would be being built right now outside the Emirates.
Is Ole VAR the new Fergie time?
enjoyable watching lamphead squirm as his squad is shit all over the field. all they need now is someone to do the “john terry chewing his cud” move to make it 4 nil.
thanks for the expert solo run through the 90s, bt8. aouar ya one…it’s on the bar for you. let’s partey!!
Now be fair Scruz. They only spent £200m this summer. I was astonished to see that Thiago Silva is 36. I guess apart from CL games, you get out of practice defending at PSG.
The only question remaining is can the Baggies match Germany’s seven goals against Thiago Silva in the heart of the defence. I think they can.
It looks like Fat Frank thought they could too. 😂. Oh well, three goals allowed before being substituted before the 70 minute mark on your Premier League debut is on a class of its own at any rate.
A Gibbet for Xhaka you say C100. A bit of a waste of wood .😃
I saw a live football match today in the South- East Counties League – Tunbridge Wells v Welling. They are the top two in the league . It felt surreal to be at a game with a crowd ( about 150) and it was a terrific game which finished 2-2. I was delighted to watch football with my two grandsons and it was fascinating to see at this level ( TW got to the Vase final a few years ago) the emphasis on keeping possession and playing though midfield . The game really has changed .This live football idea could catch on !
Then we knocked out the Totts in the Women’s FA Cup . Only the late Chavs equaliser spoilt things . But that’s two big points dropped anyway
Missed the chavski game but it
seems to have been another
with an unhappy ending. Who’d
have guessed a 36 year old would
struggle coming into the PL?
A lot of penalty decisions in the
first two games (seven maybe
with the ones not given). VAR
did ok I suppose though I
disagreed with a couple.
Connolly the Brighton forward
hits the deck very smoothly, I
wonder if he practices.
Manure’s defence is still shit as is Palace’s
attack. Everton looked lightweight once
the game got scrappy. Brighton played
better football than I expected.
Before the Manure game Owen Hargreaves
said Manure’s defence was as good as the
Top Two’s. Perhaps he meant Tunbridge Wells
and Welling.
Well played to the Arsenal women
for peeling the spuds 4-0. Semi-
finals on Thursday.
Matt, It sounds like we saw the same games. Excellent observations about Connolly and Brighton, as well as manure and Palace.
Interesting background on Leeds-Sheffield U:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sheffield-united-vs-leeds-yorkshire-derby-bradford-wednesday-epl-fixtures-b595136.html%3famp
@ 113
Well, I watched the highlights of Manure and, although on the real time viewing it looked to me like Maguire was grappling Dunk off balance for their first goal, there was no replay of it, no VAR check, and no mention of it from commentators or pundits.
Although the commentator did agree with United’s cause about everything, so I guess he might have thought it bad form to mention it.
How odd that the BBC gave Manure such positive coverage.
The tv was on as WBA played Chelsea and I settled down to watch some of the finest attacking football I have seen in ages from a truly wonderful side.
No, I do not mean Chelski. Not West Brom either. I had that match on mute and only glanced at it occasionally to check the score.
On my tablet, with the volume on full, I saw the second half as the Arsenal Women team demolished their Spud counterparts in the FA Cup semifinal. They were simply excellent. They play with such quality, in a manner easily recognisable as ‘Arsenal’. They are a great side to watch and the fact that they stuffed the enemy yesterday just made it all the sweeter.
Lisa Evans scored a superb hat trick before the icing on the cake from Jordan Nobbs who scored a lob that, whilst not quite as far out, made me think of Limpar in its technical perfection. Just wonderful stuff from the whole team and everyone involved.
Their semifinal will be on the BBC on thursday evening. I am sure it will be well worth a watch and I expect the quality of football on display to be of the very highest order (from one side at least!)
Oops. The first time should say quarterfinal. They are now through to the semifinal as it correctly says in the last paragraph.
GSD @129,
Maybe VAR and the officials thought there was no point in trying to punish Maguire for grappling as he even managed to escape the Greek police for a similar offence.
Mind you, I would have thought a trip over to the pitch side monitor could have been fruitful for the referee as Maguire offered to bribe his way out of a card.
Of course, I have no idea whether any of these things ever actually happened – all just hearsay from a not very trustworthy mate ….
@130,
Nobs lobs are just wonderful 🤣
Nobbs for goodness sake.
Everyone knows she’s a bb – oops ! 😏
Trev.
Jordan Nobbs is abb?
Her cover is blown!
Looks like Tierney is fit again and available for tomorrow’s Liverpool game.
Ned @136, Thank Dennis for that!
Last minute VAR derived penalty for handball mean Spurs drop two points. Looks like Harry Kane shown red card?
Sadly not Kane for red.
Oh Spurs.
How you make me laugh.
As the co-commentator (Carragher?) worked himself up into a frenzy of righteous indignation on behalf of all football fans he opined that only Newcastle fans would be pleased about the awarding of that penalty.
Gooners too mate. Gooners too.
Spurs and Mourinho both unhappy means something good has happened.
Chavs and Totts drop points unexpectedly. Opportunity writ large.
If inadvertent handballs are to be penalised in the way they are (I am not arguing that they should be; the new interpretation of the rule has just replaced inconsistency with daftness), should there be a different sanction than a penalty? I am fine with penalties for deliberate handball, but we’ve seen two examples this weekend of ball to hand that have changed the result of games disproportionately to the offence. Woy is right that forwards are going to start playing for these handballs.
Leicester doing to City what we did in the FA Cup. Lead by 1-3 and that cheat Vardy has got a hattrick.
$iteh unlikely to come back from 1-3 down, ksn. Their defence is poor, their attack worse.
All this without one of their better player, Maddison, playing. Leicester will be a big threat to all teams holding a high defensive line, like we do and are definitely one of the teams more likely to make top four this season.
one of their better players i.e.,
Agree BtM. City have lost this one.
Top flick finish from Vardy. Not a guy I like but he is lethal.
If City score next it is interesting though.
… but Leicester score it with a belter!
Maddison comes on and scores. He is a special talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Manchester clubs buy him at £100 m or so. Brendan Rogers has built a good team and organized them really well.
Would have enjoyed watching the Arsenal beat this $iteh team. Will be strengthened by the time we play them. There was a time when we were rumoured to be interested in Mahrez. We missed a bullet there.
Lesta are no pushovers, ksn.
He is an excellent player ksn.
It is a rout. Leicester score the fifth after another stupid piece of defending by City.
$iteh’s defenders are putting on a better clown act than you would expect to see at a Fred Carnot Circus event. Three pens gifted. Two to the rodent, one to Maddison.
It is a 2-2 draw if City don’t give them three penalties. All the same, very good from Lesta.
We too beat City but we never dominated them the way Leicester is doing today. We have a long way to go before we can be considered a definite top four team. Of course, the one major difference between Guardiola and Arteta is that Arteta believes in defending well whereas Pep is all about attacking football. Like Wenger. Therefore, under Arteta we have a good chance of doing well this year, his first full year in charge. I am not writing off our team or belittling their achievements, just being a little cautious.
Praet, Vardy and Evans all went off injured. If they are not ready to play when we face them in a couple of matches time that would sure help our cause.
A delightful result at the Emptyhad to comlement the result I hadn’t been aware of until reading the drinks above. Good old Newcastle fighting right to the end. To dare is to do, someone stupid once said.
Hopefully that’s Vardy done his groin for 6 weeks.
Even with all the Chav, Spud and Oiler based fun I do find weekends without Arsenal drag by…
on the heels of this morning’s good results.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>