Jamie Carragher Testimonial

Oh well, I have no idea why it took place just around an international fixture, but a good day for Carra who nearly was not offered this year's Liverpool contract by the end of last year.

Some familar faces in the testimonial. Owen in Red again, Luis Garcia, Heskey, Murphy, David Thompson, McAllister, Warnock, it is wonderful for the liverpool fans.

They won 4-1 against Everton XI who is mainly non-internationals and reserve players.

If I was a liverpool fan, I would miss the players in this match. Emile Heskey is still a strong forward who may help Torres in front. Danny Murphy should be given enough chance in Liverpool as he did now in Fulham. Luis Garcia is a magic player whose final touch could always help the team wins matches (I would rate Garcia and Alonso be the only good signings from Benetiz thorughout his Liverpool years.)

The Offside: Updated—Jamie Carragher Testimonial

Garcia's great goal

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott is having his best start of the premiership with 4 goals in 3 games. But people in England keep criticising him without a football brain.


Theo Walcott has no football brain, says Chris Waddle - Mar, 2010

Alan Hansen: Theo Walcott must learn to think as fast as he can run - Mar, 2010

Alan Hansen spoke about Theo after his hat trick against Blackpool

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Uploaded by arsenalist. - News videos hot off the press.

Whether Theo has a football brain or not cannot be told by a short period. But there is a piece of article saying Theo prefers the pressure of proving critics wrong than the pressure of performing for admirers who expect miracles.

Theo Walcott's brain

It seems intersting and let's see how it goes.

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Update on Sep 2
Theo Walcott blames himself for missing world cup

Theo: "I didn’t deserve to go to the 2006 World Cup. I hadn’t played in the Premier League and hadn't justified being there at all. This time, well, the form wasn’t there. I was trying to be there and I had a feeling I could be there, but I had to look at myself and go and prove people wrong on the pitch.

This is the 1st time he expresses regret about the 2006 WC.

Chamakh is a good addition to Arsenal's squad

Less time to write. Just Forward other's piece of work:

Chamakh Drop-Back: Arsenal's New Attack?

If you don't understand what is the role or position of "false 9". Just have a look on another article

未来十年足球技战术演变趋势畅想 search for 虚九

BTW, the quoted website of Zonal Marking is as good as this good. I like their match analysis.

Let's classify Arsenal's players

Reason: If you understand their ability, you will not over-expect them

Class 1 - Fabregas, Van Persie, Vermaelen, Rosicky(if no more injury)
Class 2 - Arshavin, Nasri, Song, Eboue
Class 3 - Diaby, Clichy, Sagna, Vela, Almunia, Gibbs, Djourou, Ramsey, Walcott
Class 4 - Fabianski, Bendtner, Denilson
Unclassfied yet - Chamakh, Koscielny, Wilshere, Szczesny

Note:
Class 1 - Players with ability to change to game
Class 2 - When they are good, they play good football
Class 3 - They are in the team but you do not expect them to shine
Class 4 - What you want is they can do things right.

=========================================================================
Legend:
Class 1 - Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Vieira, Cole, Campbell
Class 2 - Wiltord, Gilberto, Lehmann, Toure, Adebayor
Class 3 - Edu, Lauren, Parlour
Class 4 - Senderos, Baptista, Cygan, Stepanovs

[轉載] 梁文道：迷信足球

【am730-觀念】1937年，巴西名門球隊達伽馬的主場被一個敵隊球迷下咒，他埋下一隻縫住了咀巴的癩蝦蟆，並且咀咒未來十二年之內達伽馬都不會得到 巴西冠軍。果然，達伽馬就這樣倒霉了十二年。我有一群朋友是英超利物浦的死忠粉絲，他們曾經一起租下某間酒店的房間，避開家小，共同觀看一場重要比賽。在 利物浦打贏那一場之後，每逢關鍵時刻，他們就一定要湊足人數去租回同一間房。其中一個告訴我：「呢間房老嚟」；看來，他們真心相信一支英格蘭球隊的表現， 全繫於幾個香港球迷有沒有租對酒店。

我們之所以迷信，和我們熱愛足球的理由完全是同一回事，那就是足球的不確定。

不是球 迷的人往往很難理解足球到底好看在甚麼地方。比起籃球、排球、網球和乒乓球，足球的比分實在太小，入球也實在太過困難，九十分鐘下來，勝負常常決定於一兩 球之間。但是球迷們都曉得這正正是足球的魅力。我知道有些人只愛看體育新聞裡的精華剪輯，看看那些球怎樣被人攻進龍門。對真正的球迷來說，這無異於放著一 套好端端的武打片不瞧，也不管正邪盤腸大戰的整個過程，卻只盯住壞人被打倒在地上的那最後一聲慘叫。甚麼叫做足球比賽的「精華」？且想像把幾十部武俠片的 結局剪接成一部電影，由頭到尾就是一幫面容扭曲的惡棍不斷地吐血呻吟，「啊」來「啊」去；你說，這能好看嗎？不管怎樣，你就是不能拿籃球和足球比較，至少 NBA的進球精華是可觀的，因為那些進球片段幾乎就是籃球的一切；足球則不。

我們可以說NBA就像徐克拍的《黃飛鴻》，沒有人會一擊致 死，雙方總得你中我一腿，我還你一拳，指掌翻飛，血花四濺，最後以累積點數的傷勢來決斷大局。世界盃則像是黑澤明的《用心棒》，二人默默對峙，周圍的空氣 繃緊得連飛鳥都穿不過去，然後，刷一道白光，其中一人的胸口忽地爆出一大篷鮮血；一劍，生死就只在這一劍。只不過你必須想像一場球賽是那放大了拖慢了的對 峙，一分鐘成了九十分鐘，你能感受到那九十分鐘裡的劍拔弩張嗎？這九十分鐘可以發生的意外確實太多，或許是陽光出現得太過突然，眼睛還來不及適應，又或許 是氣溫微升，手心的汗水潤濕了指掌，使你拔劍一刻不慎滑了半分。所以球場上從來沒有強者必勝的道理，中國隊能夠意外地擊潰法國，荷蘭也能在下風處因為一記 烏龍逆轉勝巴西。每一個致命的進球都來得如此困難，每一個小小的疏忽與意外都來得如此致命。足球是種容不得絲毫錯誤的競賽，最強大的高手也會喪命在最低級 的閃光。迷信和種種荒誕的陰謀怪論，因此都是自然的，甚且必須。足球太複雜也太講機遇，它的形勢變化足以推翻一切常理。如果不是命運，我們又該如何解釋荷 蘭永遠只能拿第二？如果沒有陰謀，巴西又怎能臨場失準輸給了法國呢？

球員半跪場邊，在胸前迅速劃了一個十字，然後用指尖親吻草地。接著他 起身奔向不可測的終局，只能相信自己已被球場祝福。