香港足球未死

亞協盃的神奇之旅，南華終於走到盡頭。八強晉級後已約定捧場，到首回合完場前追回二比一，朋友笑言：「令大球場由 4000 變成 40000 人」。這星期到處都是「擁南」之聲，昨天的 Facebook、MSN、短訊上，門票銷售的消息更是滿天飛。未出銅鑼灣地車站，已是一片紅海，站口的警察在廣播門票現已售罄，我心裡歡呼一聲：「好！ 大球場有多少年未再爆滿過？」

平心而論，南華球員昨晚盡力壓迫搶截，也製造了不少攻勢，縱使尾段體力不足，在爭議性判決下敗陣，表現其實 不錯，至少比客隊更值得取勝，可謂雖敗不辱。當然，我認為那是「黑哨」，而且更嚴重的是亞洲足協多次不公平的對待，例如史高斯的突然停賽、選擇「清一色」 中東球證及旁證執法，甚至酒店要求等問題。但這就是足球，完場了，大家就要接受賽果，唯有要求香港足總反映和投訴。

離場，大伙兒除了高呼 「黑哨」外，也有高舉「本地足球未死」的橫幅。我從不是南華的球迷，這天晚上我支持的其實是「本地球隊」。我們這個昔日的亞洲足球王國，二十年來，不論聯 賽還是港隊，甲組賽事觀眾少至幾百人，球迷「迷」的都是歐洲聯賽，港隊世界排名則已跌出 120 ，政府只支持「有成績」(即有奬攞) 的體育事業，足總則因循苟安，「本地波」只有每況愈下。

多謝南華職球員的努力，也多謝 37459 個入場的、場外的和電視電腦前的球迷，你們讓我再次看到本地足球的希望。

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。

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

Wenger is preparing Cesc's departure

I read a sentence in Arsenal News Review. "If you were Fabregas or Arshavin, would you stay?"

Probably, Fabregas will return to Nou Camp next season after another season without trophy at Arsenal. Every Arsenal fans won't like it but they will accept it. Just like the departure of Henry 3 years ago. They have already repaid too much to the clubs. Other players at Arsenal are not at the same level with them. There were no Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires and Ljungberg here now.

Arsenal was not a team without Fabregas, before Arshavin arrived last January. When Fabregas was injured, Arsenal could not give enough attacking pressure to their opponents and needed the overlapping defenders to cross the ball. Every time Arsenal attacked, the ball must be passed to Fabreags first. Only he can find the space or created the space. They could not attack from the center field without Fabregas as Denilson, Song and Diaby were not ready. When Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini were all injured 2 years ago, even Rosicky could not bare the attacking responsibility.

Wenger's 4-4-2 relied on Fabregas too much and he knows it. He switched to 4-3-3 this season. Now Arsenal can score without any attacking players. They played without Fabregas and nearly won at Old trafford. Rosicky and Nasri can later fill the post of Fabregas when he leaves.

Wenger had no choice to give the captaincy Fabregas but he knows he is not a leader like Adams and Vieira. Henry is not a good captain but still better than Fabregas. I have never see Fabregas cheer the team up when they were down.

Reyes leaves Sevilla and cannot adapt English weather. Xabi Alonso leaves Real Sociedad and gave his very best at Liverpool, then he joins Real Madrid. Spanishs have every reason to play at La Liga. Pique rejoins Barelona and so will Fabregas.

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.