Arsenal's 4-3-3 won't work without Gilberto and Flamini

Arsenal's 4-4-2 formation cannot get most from Arshavin and Fabregas. Wenger knows it after the recovery of Fabreags last season and want to shift his team formation for the first time in his 13 years coaching. He is a 4-4-2 loyalist and only tried to play 4-5-1 in the 05/06 Champions league. He now plays his team with 4-3-3 in all pre-season games.

Arshavin is not a side midfielder but Fabregas has occupied the central role. No matter Arshavin plays the second striker or offensive midfielder, his role is duplicated with Fabregas's.

In the 4-3-3 formation, Arshavin can play a winger role like Messi in Barcelona. Fabregas can play Inesita role.

Wenger can also play his favourite Denilson in his first eleven. Wenger knows Fabregas-Denilson partnership did't have enough protection to his big four. Playing one more midfielder can help.

Can Van Persie or Eduardo plays the only stirker? Can Bendtner or Eboue become a regular winger? Can Wilshere, Merida and Ramsey make use of this chance to show they fit this formation better than the regulars?

My only concern is on the back four. Sagna and Clichy used to overlapping. In 4-3-3, it is okay for the defender to overlap but you need one or even two defensive midfielder to hold on opponent's counter attack. Arsenal lacks Gilberto-like invisible wall, and lacks Flamini's energy to chase the opponents.

Usually, Wenger's tactic change doesn't work. Let's see how it goes this time.

懷念阿叔

　　到我懂得欣賞一場球賽的時候，無記的直播已江河日下，本地波還好，但西班牙打比漸漸變成荷甲的對決，再到家裡連上有線電視，我看阿叔評述的球賽著實不多。

　　對阿叔的印象，不是精闢或翔實的球評，而是他的「敢言」，他會不留情面「糾正」旁述時錯了的人，不論那是名人或好友。這可能因為地位與資格，或者大家都明白阿叔「口不擇言」的性格，拍擋都會為他打圓場，才沒弄出太多的尷尬。

　　總之，在「河蟹」當道、要求「俾面」的世道，例如看到「現在電視」的球評員每每會讓自己或拍擋的錯誤蒙混過關，「阿叔」這種實事求事，追求真理的風格，實在令人懷念。

　　對了，我還記得當年阿叔讚夏格維斯「有前途」。

荷蘭附加賽

荷蘭附加賽的制度，是非常複雜。

首先甲組包尾，乙組第一，是篤定升降，而甲組16及17，將要和乙組八隊波爭兩個甲組席位。

當中賽制分三圈，首圈只有4隊荷乙球隊作淘汰，
這四隊是來自荷乙每隔六周計一次的小型聯賽榜，得出六隊小型冠軍，
這六隊小型冠軍將以勝和負分數再比較，分數高的前四，亦可參加首圈比賽。

故此連聯賽排17的泰斯達、排14的奧斯以及第8的多德勒支亦有份參賽，
但當中六個冠軍亦包括了直接升班的芬洛以及兩隊2-5名的隊伍，
故首圈席位，順推至第6的馬斯特里赫特亦有份。

首圈賽事，馬斯特里赫特及多德勒支勝出，

馬斯特里赫特將和甲組迪加史卓普踢八強戰，勝方將和乙2的華域克及精英隊爭1個甲組席位；
另一線，
多德勒支將和甲16的洛達爭，勝方將和乙3的甘堡爾及乙4的施禾利，爭另一個甲組席位。

賽制不設作客入球，
兩回合賽事以勝和負310分數作計算，如兩回合分數相同，將經過第三回合，再同分便計算得失球差。

這賽制可謂歐洲球壇最令人摸不著頭腦的。

http://special.hkjc.com/promo/ch/2009_seasonend/2009_seasonend_matches.asp#dutch

Too big to go down

Newcastle won 3-1 aginst Middlesbrough. It's an important win. They have to stay in the Premier League. They are too big to go down.

好多牌