Tuesday, October 6, 2009

有前冇後

  10月5日 ESPN 的報導:「西維爾將皇馬帶回地球」,因為「新銀河艦隊」在聯賽首次失分,被西維爾以 2 - 1 擊敗。雖然該報導稱形容為「震驚」,但我卻認為屬意料之內。

   今 年,皇馬招攬了卡卡、屍朗等不少頂級球星,重組「銀河艦隊」,以期與死敵巴塞爭一日長短,甚至稱霸歐洲。但回想零三至零六年的皇馬,星光熠熠卻未能取得一 個錦 標。在我看來,這就是「華而不實」、妄顧現代足球強調「整體」而非「個人」的結果。皇馬顯然未從馬基利尼離隊後,連續三年四大皆空中得到教訓,東山再起的 會長佩雷斯又一次不惜工本投資「球星」。雖然是年的陣容比「施丹拍包禾」的年代來得平衡,但球隊仍然充斥「爭當大佬」、奉行個人主義、不屑防務的大牌球 星,要追趕巴塞,唯有期望他們整季「冇傷冇病」保持狀態,而且不被其他領隊「睇通」進攻招數。

  說回當日比賽,若非卡斯拿斯屢救必入 球,皇馬早已潰 不成軍,賽果不但反映當日雙方的發揮,更重要是「暴露」皇馬後防的漏洞。賽後領隊柏歷堅尼說防線仍處建設階段,這當然是事實,但一條穩固的防線不但包括後 衛,亦要有中場甚至前鋒的協助。如果球隊繼續由前場球星「把持」,各自單打獨斗,忽視整體配合,要改善防守只是痴人說夢。

  事後聲明,我只看了該場的精華,近年亦少看西甲 (嗜睡,起不了床),故此篇只是對皇馬的「印象」,沒有參考價值。

Monday, October 5, 2009

Yes, Life is about moving on. So does your team

Thierry Henry came back to Arsenal to see their crushing win over Blackburn at home. He looked like he was never away from the North London club. Henry said he watched all matches of reserves team last year. What a incredible Arsenal fan!

Every Arsenal likes Henry. Even he left Arsenal to Barcelona for the ever-wanting Champions league trophy, nobody thought it is a disgrace. Henry offer a offical handwritten letter to every Arsenal fan and interviewed offically to share his unwilling to leave.

His goal celebration, his way to play always stay in Arsenal fans' heart. He is our legend. Even he is still a Barcelona player, he cannot hide his desire to come back to Arsenal one day, even as a waterboy.

Everything is so sweet for the gooners. Until Wenger told us one thing.

"It is good to see him back here although I believe he belongs more to Highbury than to Emirates because certainly, coming back to Highbury, would have more memories than here but we are happy to have him with us"

Henry DOES NOT belong to THIS Arsenal. He is our memory, the king of highbury. He spent only one season at the Emirates and most of the time on the sideline due to injuries.

His best partners were Pires, Vieira, Cole, Bergkamp, Ljungberg. None of them remained at Arsenal after he left. He role modeled Cesc, RVP, MADebayor but not played with then. He even could not single connection with Rosicky during his last year at Arsenal.

Time goes. If we still remain at Henry's memory, it is never fair to the currect players. This is the new era. Cesc is now our captain. All mostly played players of the invincibles were left, including the euthasiatic Toure. Arsene is changing his stubborn 4-4-2 to 4-3-3. We are now a buy-and-sell club. Life is so different from the Highbury times.

Once again, listen to Roger Daltrey's "Highbury's high" which perform on the closing day of Highbury. I would say, Henry, please leave us moving on. Go back to Nou Camp and come back only after you retire.

Lyrics of "Highbury Highs" - Extract

I've seen children grow
On this field of green
On this field of dreams
The years have passed away
I've stood side by side With London's Pride
We laughed and we cried
We lived another day

All those Highbury Highs under North London skies
Yes we will remember those Highbury Highs
Those Highbury Days and those Highbury ways
Yes we will remember those Highbury Days