The Ernest Happel Awaits

On Sunday I will be in attendance at the Euro 2008 final due to take place in the Ernest Happel stadium. Germany, having beaten Turkey 3-2 and Spain, having beaten Russia 3-0, will both meet in the final and I’ll be rooting for the Spaniards.

It’s not just that I don’t like Germany (damn Nazi’s!) They would have to do an awful lot Sunday to convince me they deserve to win, having looked rather weak throughout the tournament so far and certainly second best in their loss to Croatia who I actually fancied to make it to the final before they lost out to the Turks cruely on penalties. Spain on the other hand have been the more entertaining of the two and they do of course have Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas in their ranks.

To Arsenal now and the Adebayor stories continue to pick up steam. Wenger reckons it was the Milan game where the world’s top clubs (I say top, but I consider Arsenal to be better than both Barcelona and Milan, certainly the latter whom failed to even qualify for the Champion’s League this season) started to take notice of the wealth of talent Arsenal possessed. He’s probably right. Some bloke says that Ade has a 70-80% chance of joining Milan. He also says Arsenal are looking at signing Peter Crouch though so maybe he’s just bonkers.

Somewhere it was mentioned that Adebayor is demanding 120K a week. I think that’s nonsense myself but if it wasn’t and I was Le Boss I would probably laugh and tell him not to be such a greedy fucking cunt. 120K after one very good season? Barca and Milan will not offer him that, surely not. There are rumors abound that Arsenal don’t pay top dollar wages but we do, a player has to earn it first though. While Adebayor may have deserved a rise, anything above the 60K bracket for me is pushing it. But, like I say, probably nonsense.

Papers today linking us with a move for Miguel Veloso of Sporting CP, basically Manchester United’s feeder club. We do I would say need a defensive midfielder to replace the departed Flamini and Velosos is very highly rated.

Oh and Marseille signed Hatem Ben Arfa I think the other day which would seem to pave the way for Samir Nasri’s arrival at Arsenal. Happy days!

Off tomorrow to Vienna so don’t expect any updates until my return Monday. I hear the weather’s fantastic out there.

Nasri done deal?

Yes, I would think so. The major hold up was the small matter of the Euro 2008 but now that France are out, eevrything should be cleared up rather sharpish. The player himself yesterday confirmed that he had signed a four year contract with the club on his website though Marseille and his agent later went on to rebuff such claims. Arseblogger understands that everything is pretty much near to completition but for whatever reason, there’s hold up on Marseille’s end, who perhaps want to get a replacement in before the deal is announced good and proper. If further confirmation was needed pictures of Nasri appeared last night on the Arsenal website if you did a little digging. These though were later removed.

My take is it is as good as done, like 99% done if not more and that it was done a long time ago otherwise Wenger would not have opened my mouth. All we are waiting on is official confirmation from Arsenal or Marseille.

Russia pulled off the shock of the tournament to date when they beat Holland 3-1, albeit taking until extra time to do so. This wasn’t a lucky victory either, Holland were not at their best but Russia certainly were. They should have had the game done and dusted long before Van Nistelrooy managed a late equalizer for Holland. Some are tipping them to go all the way but I don’t think so. Their defense is shaky and they aren’t ruthless enough in the finishing department. Well played to Guus Hiddink who got one over on fellow countryman Marco Van Basten (who will be taking the reigns at Ajax next season) and has continued an excellent managerial record at international level.

They face Spain next, the same Spain who beat Russia in the group stages by a 4-1 margin. This time round Russia have Arshavin though, the revelation of the tournament that everyone has been talking about. He was banned for the opening two group games. What a year for Russian football. First Zenit St Petersburg win the UEFA Cup, giving favorites Bayern Munich a hammering en route and then Russia reach the semi final of Euro 2008. Arshavin was integral to both achievements.

International tournaments are not the best judge of a player. People can get carried away when in fact the quality levels often vary. Arshavin though isn’t an unknown quality and was raved about for the duration of Zenit’s UEFA Cup run. Wenger knew about him and if he wanted him he would have signed him before Euro 2008, like Nasri. If Hleb leaves though he may be an option. The Euro wont neccessarily have raised his price tag because he apparently has a minimum release clause in the region of ten million. Arsenal target? Possibly, but only in the event of Hleb’s departure.

The other semi final is Germany V Turkey. Turkey are missing several first team players, including star Nihat to injury. I will be very surprised if they beat Germany, shocked even, certainly a lot more than when Russia beat Holland.

My gut feeling is that it will be a Spain V Germany final. Russia and Turkey have done well to get so far but I think their tournament is over.

Speaking of the Euro 2008 final, guess who will be in attendance at the Ernest Happel when it all kicks off? That’s right, me. I wont be in any normal seat either, no, I’m in a box. I’m jetting out to Vienna Friday and will be spending my stay in a luxury five star hotel before returning Monday.

There was some interest in Gael Clichy from Italy. He responded though by signing a new contract. Well played Clichy, who is fast becoming a fan’s favorite.

Fabregas says he’s going nowhere, again. Surprisingly actually transfer speculation concerning him has been a little unexpectedly light. He commits his future to the club anyway, which is great.

Fixtures/Euro 2008 Update

The fixtures are out and what a start they’ve given us, again. Last season the easier start allowed us to gain momentum and that was momentum we maintained until the combined absences of Fabregas and Hleb hit us hard culminating in defeat to Middlesbrough. You need a bit of luck to win the title and that’s the first bit of luck. Hopefully we will take advantage and be in stoming form come November when we face Manchester United and Chelsea (the former at home, the latter away.)

To compensate for the forgiving start we have been handed a tough run in. Visits to Anfield and Old Trafford in April and May will be tough. On the other hand we could win the title at Old Trafford or maybe, if we want to wrap it up earlier, at the Emirates against Chelsea.

The season’s a long way away yet but I’m excited, excited and confident. Invincibles? Pah! Let’s do one better and win every game.

Euro 2008’s been interesting. Holland have a very capable squad and are always going to be in it with players of the quality of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben but a suspect defense meant few had them pegged as favorites. 3-0 over World Cup holders Italy, 4-1 over World Cup finalist France and 2-0 against Romania when resting the majority of their big names has changed everyone’s mind however. They have become the favorite of the neutral, which here in England is many of us given England’s absence and I want them to win because it will be a victory for exciting and attacking football. Their victory would show that you can play with style and be effective. Just being the best team isn’t enough to guarantee victory however and the teams still in the competition are all capable of putting a spanner in the works.

France are on their way home, having picked up one point from the tournament, in the ‘group of death.’ France are an old team that’s had it. Domenech, who has been subject of intense criticism (partly because of his admittance that astrology influences who he picks in his squad) will surely be sacked and deservedly so. Last night Abidal gave away a penalty and recieved his marching orders. Their best player, Ribery, came off injured early on and was replaced by Nasri, who then had to go off after the red card. France were never going to pull back two goals with 10 men and lacking the creativity of Ribery or Nasri. After a long wait Italy stuck the nail in the coffin and made it 2-0.

What France now need is to concentrate on the young talent they have coming through. The current squad is far too experienced. Come World Cup 2010 Henry, Vieira (would’ve played if not for injury,) and co will be well over the hill if they are not already. Senior squad members Claude Makelele and Lilian Thuram have retired, which is a start but at their age they never had a chance of being in the France squad in two year’s time anyway. I would be surprised if they are still playing at club level. Others should follow suit.

There’s a wealth of talent coming through the French ranks and France should use it and build a new squad with the likes of Clichy, Sagna, Diarra, Ribery, Nasri, Ben Arfa and Benzema. Didier Deschamps and Laurent Blanc are two well known young player turned managers that could boss a France side who save from a 2006 World Cup final appearance have underachieved since the successes of 98 and 2000.

The quarter finals are:

Portugal v Germany on Thursday on ITV1.
Croatia v Turkey on Friday on BBC1.
Holland v Russia or Sweden on Saturday.
Spain v Italy on Sunday.

I’m looking forward to Portugal V Germany. Germany were pre tournament favorites but were bettered and beaten by Croatia. Portugal have a good manager in the Chelsea bound Scolari and a number of quality players (Carvalho, Ronaldo, Quaresma) but maybe not enough to win the tournament. Croatia should beat Turkey. Croatia looked very good against Germany but the absence of Eduardo is a huge blow for them. I would be surprised if they failed to beat England in the World Cup qualifiers. Holland should have no trouble beating Russia or Sweden but Russia have been lacking some of their best players, Arshavin for one and could be a better Russia when they face Holland. I expect Spain to triumph over Italy but not easily. You would hope so because that could mean a Holland V Spain semi final, which would be great to watch.

Portugal V Holland in the final?

Edit: By the way, a well played is in order to Arsenal favorite Ashley Cole who was named the 25th greatest player to have graced the Arsenal shirt over the years. He just beat other Arsenal favorites Nicholas Anelka and that terrificly gifted Sylvain Wiltord. I hear Pascal Cygan is favorite for the crown.

Edit 2: BBC understands that Nasri has agreed a contract with Arsenal and it will all be announced fairly sharpish.

Hello Aaran Ramsey And Chelsea Appoint ‘Big Phil’

Okay so it’s not official official in that Arsenal have yet to announce Aaran Ramsey’s arrival on the website. That however is because they wait until it is 100% done and dusted before unveiling him. Manchester United could take a leaf out of that book. They became the favorites after announcing on their website that they had agreed a fee for the player. But no, Ramsey chose Arsenal. Good man.

Seventeen year old Ramsey made his Cardiff debut on the final day of the 2006-07 season. The following season, that being the one that has just seen Man Utd been crowned European and Domestic Champions, saw more of a role for Ramsey who battled his way into the first team. He went on to make 22 appearences, an impressive figure even at Championship level for a player of his age.

I have not seen much of him myself but he is highly rated and I’m pleased to get one over United as ever. You can never have enough potential so no it doesn’t bother me that we have signed another kid. Five million’s a large sum by Wenger’s standards. That he is prepared to pay such an amount for a seventeen year old just shows the faith he has in what he can become.

Chelsea have replaced Avram Grant or Jose Mourinho rather given that Grant was always seemingly a tempoary manager until someone with more managerial credentials was found. The new man is ‘Big’ Phil Scolari, known for winning the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil, turning down the England job and punching an opposing player. Yes, he is said to have a bit of a temper. Despite an impressive international record, Scolari has yet to dip his toes into the art of European club management, which is interesting. It fits with talk that Roman Ambravavich wanted a disciplanarian in charge, someone who will take no shit from his players.

If you want my take on whether it is a good appointment or not I honestly don’t know. Hard to see him being as good as Mourinho.

The Euro has picked up a bit. Since Holland’s 3-0 victory over Italy Spain have beaten Russia 4-1, David Villa scoring a hattrick and demonstrating just what all the fuss is about. Fabregas scored the other and got an assist too and that was in a cameo role. Portugal, yesterday, beat the Czech’s 3-1 in a game which saw Cristiano Ronaldo open his Euro 2008 account. It was a decent goal actually. Portugal have now qualified for the next round of fixtures.

Today I’ll be watching Croatia V Germany, kick off at five on ITV. The game I’m looking forward to tomorrow is France V Holland. Being a Friday and all I might miss it though.

Barcelona have reportedly launched an eight million pound bid for Hleb. Eight million’s not good enough for me, not after the season he’s had. We need to at least make our money back and really should be looking to make a profit. Twelve million would not be a bad figure, providing he wants to go that is. Talk that we wanted Kolo’s brother Yaya as part of the deal to fill the void in defensive midfield left by Flamini but Barcelona don’t want to let him go. I don’t think we will accept eight million for Hleb.

Wenger has hinted new defenders are not neccessarily needed next season. Whether that means he couldn’t get who he wanted, is keeping his cards close to his chest or believes that our defensive issues can be solved in another area of the pitch (midfield?) I don’t know.

There is also talk that we might be in for Roque Santa Cruz if Adebayor departs for Milan. I personally don’t think it will happen, Adebayor’s move that is and if that’s the case, I doubt very much that a move for another striker will materialize. I rate Roque Santa Cruz though.

And that is all for today.

Euro 2008 Gets Underway

Despite the non inclusion of England, I found myself fairly excited about the summer’s international tournament which I can go into as a neutral. I was left dissapointed after a series of dull fixtures reminded me just how dull international football can be. And then came the Dutch.

Pre tournament Holland were not among the favorites – not up there with the Italians, the Spanish and the French because, despite some attacking firepower, they boast a lackluster defense. Yesterday they put on the best showing of the tournament so far. Holland are great to watch, which was what I was thinking before they even opened the scoring against World Cup winners Italy. Their passing was great, the technique of the players far better than any other European national outfit. Holland won me over immediately, albeit supporting a team with Ruud Van Big Nose in it is a hard task.

Throw in Arjen Robben at a later date and a sharper Robin Van Persie, who made a late cameo appearence and you have a very serious candidate for winners of the tournament.

Jens Lehmann aims parting shot at Gunners? Not quite. Being substitute annoyed him, he claims, but of course it did. Let’s just the ignore the part of his comments where he says “Arsenal will remain a beautiful experience in my life. Both on a sporting and personal level, I reached the top there,” which I think is a good note to leave on.

Arsenal have a new home kit and though not revolutionary, I like.

Alex Song, now more of a central defender, has signed a long term contract with the club. The player, who has been the subject of criticism in the past, proved at the end of last season that he had something to offer, when given the chance to play in the team ahead of Philippe Senderos in the last few games of the season. Premiership new boys West Brow are said to be interested in bringing him in on loan, which is something I wouldn’t rule out. Wenger looks likely to sign a new center back this summer and that means someone out of Senderos, Song and Djourou is likely to be on their way, whether that be on a tempoary or permanent basis. A season’s experience of regular football at center back could do Song a world of good.

Bayern are said to have joined the hunt for Alexiander Hleb cue talk that we might enter the race for Ribery in a swap deal of some kind, though we would surely have to offer some money in addition to Hleb. The whole swap thing’s just a theory though and unlikely to happen.

Patrick Vieira could be returning to the Premier League as part of the Arsenal retirement home at Portsmouth, which would be cool but he’s nowhere near as good a player as he used to be, which is probably why new boss Mourinho would let him leave Inter.

Finally, Gary Lewin has decided to become England physio on a full time basis. Best of luck to him though I would imagine this means that we will now finish below Tottenham in the Premier League next season. Shit!

Edit: That Welsh kid, Aaron Ramsey of Cardiff City, is said to have noted Arsenal as his preferred destination. I haven’t seen much of him myself. He is 17 and broke into Cardiff City’s first team last season, resulting in a late cameo appearence in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth. I’m fairly happy about this given that Man Utd had prematurely announced their bid had been accepted and were obviosly confident about getting their man. The stumbling block could be that Arsenal don’t want to loan Ramsey to Cardiff for next season while Man Utd are prepared to do that.

Final Day!

We kick off this blog with a look back at yesterday, the final day of the Premier League campaign of the 2007/08 season.

Manchester United of course were crowned champions. While I would much rather it had been us, a congratulations is in order to our Manchester based rivals, who I have come to despise less in recent years and who have enjoyed a very good season though I cannot fail to mention they were gifted some serious help by way of Steve Bennett. If I was a Chelsea fan I would be fuming right about now but they have round two to take some silverware of their own in the shape of the Champion’s League trophy. Difficult to say who I would rather come away victorious in that particular bout. On one hand Man Utd win the double (and the double you want to win – not one of the domestic variety) and on the other Chelsea will beat us to the post as the first London club to win the Champion’s League.

I didn’t watch the entirety of the Arsenal game. I just wanted to see Theo Walcott’s goal and it was a very fine and composed finish. The kid’s going to be lethal up front in later years, mark my words. Randall later had a disputable goal disallowed having come off the bench to make his debut Premier League appearance. Time will tell which of our reserve players will be able to make the grade at the highest level but we seem to have some decent talent coming up and Randall is a part of that bracket of talent.

Roy Hodgson and Jimmy Bullard have miraculously managed to ensure Fulham’s Premier League status. Four of Fulham’s eight wins of the season have come in their last five fixtures. Well played for a late charge to safety. Truth be told, I didn’t think either Fulham or Bolton would escape but I have been proved wrong. I’m dissapointed Reading couldn’t fight the drop, suffering from an obvious case of ‘second season syndrome’ but I was in two minds as I like Fulham and Hodgson as well. Seeing how they shape up next season will make for interesting viewing but I believe the combined caliber of Hodgson and Bullard will keep them up again though considering the quality of the Premier League nowadays they will have some task on their hands to have done better come this time next year.

Other highlights included Manchester City being mauled 8-1 by Middlesbrough, a shocking result in that if anyone was going to score eight goals I would have not betted on it being ‘Boro and if anyone was going to concede eight goals I would not have betted on it being City. Manchester United/Arsenal V Derby maybe but not Middlesbrough V City. The red card didn’t help and neither did the rumors over Sven’s future, more crucially. Good luck getting someone better in Shinawatra because City aren’t going to be able to attract many, if any better managers than Sven, a very good manager unfairly criticized for doing a good job with the national team.

Roll on next season I say!