Arsenal Transfer Rumour Review – Jan 6

Does the Arsenal need an arse-shaving – Andrei Arshavin, that is?  What a headline, “Arsene assigns Arshavin to Arsenal”.  If the oh-so-reliable British tabloids are to be believed, the Russian playmaker could be headed to London for as little as 10 million pounds, half the sticker price slapped on him by his current club Zenit.

In truth we haven’t seen a lot of Arshavin.  If we listen to the pompous Myles Palmer, Arshavin is “a two-footed Robert Pires”, which is in no way a bad thing.  A creative player who can score goals and play out wide or behind a main striker would be an enormous boost to a side missing the creative spark of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.

Arshavin could be a good addition, so long as a) he doesn’t eat up the whole transfer budget and b) Arsene Wenger doesn’t stop there.  The club desperately needs a holding midfielder and a big centre back much more than it needs Arshavin.  Now if this signing allows Bendtner to be swapped for Upson and there’s a holding player hiding somewhere too, well, then happy days are here again.

Panthers Playoff Preview

This week’s playoff match-up in Carolina between the Panthers and Cardinals is one of 4 rematches.  The Panthers escaped with a 4-point home win over Arizona back in October; they should win again this weekend.  Carolina is unbeaten at home this season and have had a week to rest.  I don’t think the Cards have the run game or the defensive front to slow down the 2-headed beast of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

My predictions for the other playoff games:

1. Giants over the Eagles in a close one.

2. Titans over the Ravens.  Nashville is a tough place for a rookie QB and Joe Flacco will struggle.  The Ravens offence played poorly against the Dolphins and Tennessee is a much tougher opponent.

3. Chargers over the Steelers.  After years of underachieving, this Charger team will avenge its earlier loss to the Steelers.

If you don’t like the World Junior Hockey tournament…

… you should try watching some other sport.  I’ve said for years that this is the best hockey of the year and this year’s tournament has proven me right.  The NHL playoffs are great, but if your team lays an egg today they always have tomorrow.  In the single-elimination medal round of the WJHC, there’s no such luxury.

While Canada has looked sloppy in its come-from-behind wins over the Americans and Russians, fans could hardly ask for more exciting games.  The Canucks will have their hands full with Sweden tonight.  The Swedes have eased through the tourney and would love to exact revenge for last year’s overtime loss in the Gold Medal game.  Canada’s defence corps, in particular Captain Thomas Hickey, are going to have to show a lot more composure and smarts than they have so far.  I think the home side will edge a close one for their 5th gold in a row, but it won’t be easy.

Arsenal Transfer Rumour Review – Jan 5

1. Kolo Toure to Man City in a swap for Steven Ireland.  Ireland – are you fucking kidding me?  He’s not a bad player and Kolo is certainly on the outs at the Emirates, but Ireland’s hardly what the Arsenal need.  I’d much rather have Dunne (though Wenger will think he’s too slow) or Micah Richards (who City would likely never sell).

2. Nicklas Bendtner and cash to West Ham for Matthew Upson.  As much as I’d like to see Upson return to the Gunners, moving Bendtner now makes no sense.  While he’s had a poor season, Eduardo still isn’t fully fit so this move would leave the club with only 2 natural strikers – 3 if you count Carlos Vela.   I just think the timing on this one is all wrong.  This wouldn’t be necessary if Arsene had just grabbed Jonathan Woodgate last season when he left Boro.

Fearless Predictions for 2009

1. Canada will defeat Sweden for the World Jr Hockey Gold Medal.

2. Florida will beat Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

3. Arsenal will use a weak Jan – Mar fixture list to nip Villa for 4th place in the Premiership.  Robin van Persie will break the 20-goal barrier for the first time in his career.

4. The Leafs will miss the playoffs for the 4th straight year but Tampa will win the John Tavares sweepstakes.

5. The Dick Jauron Bills will go 7-9 for the 4th straight year before Jauron is fired by Ralph Wilson.

6. USC and a returning Mark Sanchez will play Tim Tebow and Florida for the 2009 BCS Championship at the Rose Bowl.

7. The new-look Yankees will miss the post-season for the 2nd consecutive year.

8. The New York Giants will beat the Colts in the Manning Super Bowl.

9. The Blue Jays will again finish 4th in the AL East as they again struggle to score runs.

10. Barcelona will will the UEFA Champions League in May.

UNBELIEVABLE.

Eric Mangini and Mike Shanahan are unemployed while Dick Jauron will be keeping his job in 2009? That is one swift kick in the nuts Ralph Wilson just delivered. As if watching this sad sack of mediocrity go 7-9 three years in a row isn’t enough.

Ralph wants “continuity”. Why the hell would anyone want to continue 10 years of playoff-less football? Of the worst game management the league has ever seen? Of a coach that has had one winning season in eight as the head guy? What exactly does Ralph want to continue – the team’s winless streak against the AFC East and 0-fer-11 run against the Patriots? What does Jauron have to do to lose his job? If continuity is the order of the day then I guess that’s good news for the abysmal front office team of Brandon, Guy, and Modrak too. It’s like Communist Russia at 1 Bills Drive – put in a half day or mediocre work and watch your not-too-fat paycheques roll in forever.

Chris Kelsay chimes in that “It’s like starting from square one again, so we wouldn’t have the growth that we’ve had the last couple of years”. What the fuck is he talking about? How is 7-9, 7-9, and 7-9 growth? Maybe Chris didn’t study math (or logic for that matter) at Nebraska.

It’s pretty sad that the nail in the Bills 2009 season could be hammered in while the clock is still ticking on 2008, but congratulations Ralph, you’ve managed to do it.

OK, here is Mr. Sober Second Thought now, a few hours later. This decision is about one thing only – money. Ralph is simply too cheap to pay 2 coaches – one to run the team in 2009 and another to sit on his ass. Firing Jauron now would be an admission that the team was way too premature in granting him a 3-year extension which he so richly does not deserve. The line about continuity is nothing but a load of bullshit. It’s as clear as it’s ever been that Ralph Wilson is far more concerned about his bottom line than about winning football games. I’m sure he’d like to win a Super Bowl, but that obviously takes a distant second to making money. Come on Ralph, you’re 90 years old and you’re worth a bundle. Don’t screw over the team just to save a few million bucks. I can’t root for a team led by these men any longer.

Off-season plans – what the Bills should do but won’t

1. Replace the entire front office and coaching staff (except the amazing Bobby April).  Give Scott Pioli whatever he wants to become GM.  Find new scouting and player personnel directors – John Guy and Tom Modrak have had 7 years to build a good talent base and they haven’t done it.

2. Cut ties with overpaid mediocrities like Fowler, Dockery, Walker, Kelsay, and Denney.

3. Use the draft and free-agency to stock the offensive and defensive lines with great athletes.  Focus on a new center and defensive end and don’t be afraid to throw big money at Albert Haynesworth.  Areas of need (oh boy):

• Center.  Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler stink.  Period.  Passing over Nick Mangold for John McCargo will haunt me for a long time.
• Defensive End.  Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney were complete non-factors in the absence of Aaron Schobel.  Even if Schobel is healthy Kelsay and Denney simply are good enough to be starters.  I think this is where the Bills will spend their first pick, though Center is arguably an even more pressing need.
• Outside Linebacker.  Keith Ellison is undersized and simply doesn’t make plays.  There’s no guarantee Angelo Crowell will return and be healthy.  A fast, play-making linebacker in the mould of a Brian Cushing of USC would be ideal.
• Tight End.  Robert Royal is an awful receiver; Marv’s 4-year contract gift to him was a terrible decision.  The Dereks make decent reserve pass-catchers, but Trent Edwards desperately needs an upgrade at TE.  I’d love to see the Bills take a run at Tony Gonzalez, but they’re far too cheap.
• Wide Receiver.  Josh Reed had a nice season, but he’s too small opposite Lee Evans to be an every-down guy.  Evans struggled to get open and Roscoe Parrish and James Hardy were complete non-factors in the passing game.  A receiver with size who can actually play would be a big help.  The Bills tried to sign Bryant Johnson from the Cards last winter and while they didn’t get him, that was the right idea.
• Backup QB.  Edwards is injury-prone and JP Losman will mercifully be gone.  The Bills need a veteran in the Kelly Holcomb mode who can step in and play competently for a few weeks.  Gus Frerotte would be ideal in my view.
• Free Safety.  Brian Scott can hit but can’t cover.  George Wilson can cover but can’t tackle and may go elsewhere.  Donte Whitner needs a better player beside him in the secondary.  Taylor Mays of USC would be fantastic but the Bills’ needs up front are much greater.

There’s just no possible way to address all these problems in a single off-season, especially not with a notoriously cheap front office.  In 2008 the Bills defence improved somewhat, so I think the team needs to focus primarily on the offensive line, receving corps, and pass rush.

4. Upgrade the tight end and receiving positions.  Let Robert Royal go.

5. Sign a veteran QB to back up Trent Edwards, someone who can actually manage a game if called upon.

6. Go back to the Super Bowl era uniforms.  Get rid of those Donohone-created monstrosities.

7. Most importantly, start striving for excellence.  Bills fans deserve an organization that tries its hardest to put a winner on the field.

Arsenal Transfer Rumour Review – Dec 30

Here’s who the tabloids have linked to a January buy today:

1. Andrei Arshavin – He’s the type of player Wenger loves, but I don’t see it happening fortunately.  He’d cost a fortune, has never played in a top-flight league and isn’t really what the team needs.  Despite their troubles, the team is still 4th in the league in scoring.  The real problem is that the defence is allowing more than a goal a game.

2. Shay Given for 8 million pounds.  Yes, please.  Almunia is decent but he’s not in Given’s class.  This would be a major boost to the backline.

3. Mikel Arteta – I doubt Everton would sell, but his versatility would be a boost to the midfield.

If Wenger buys a centre-half and ball-winning midfielder some good things can still happen.  The title is long gone but the fixture list for January and February is tame and Cesc, Eduardo and Theo should both be back for the run-in.  That’s plenty of firepower to come back in to the side but unless the defensive personnel improves it won’t matter.

Season. F**cked.

So Captain Fab is out for 4 months.    UEFA Cup here we come.  Trying to be philosophical, maybe this is for the best.  It’s clear to just about everyone but Arsene Wenger that the current edition of Arsenal Football Club just doesn’t have the depth or defensive prowess to win anything.  While a healthy starting XI can still beat anyone on any day, the side has too many holes to overtake Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United or perhaps even Aston Villa.

It’s depressing to think we won’t be seeing the best reason to watch Arsenal until some time next spring, but maybe a season that’s too dire to be termed a near-miss will give Wenger the impetus he needs to acknowledge that some rebuilding is in order.  The midfield is woefully unbalanced, lacking size, grit, and defensive graft in the middle and paper-thin on the flanks.  The central defence is small and erratic and Manuel Almunia pales in comparison to an in-form Jens Lehmann or David Seaman between the sticks.

Even with Cesc Arsenal were going to struggle to keep its usual place among the top 4, but now things look especially dim.  Villa are a young, hungry, talented side coached by the excellent Martin O’Neill and I have to think a Champions League place is now theirs to lose.  Gooners can only hope Cesc’s injury will be the step back the team needs to make in order to take a few forwards.

Ralphie Wilson say…

“I don’t know why he hasn’t had a better record,” Wilson said. “He’s a heck of a good guy. And the players, I haven’t seen them not play hard for him. They have played hard in the wins and the losses. I’m optimistic about our future.”

My responses would be:

1. Because you’re not paying attention.

2. True

3. True.

4. True

5. Yeesh.

He doesn’t have a better record for a host of reasons.  The team’s talent base has been mediocre for 10 years now and the front office has made one bad move for every good move.  This is how a team stagnates.  If Ralph Wilson is confused as to how Jauron doesn’t have a better record perhaps he should try staying awake for a full 60 minute game some time.  Jauron is simply an inept in-game manager and any fool can see that.

On the bright side, it does sound like the owner is open to the idea of regime change, which is exactly what the organization needs.  Ralph, one hint, aim higher up than the sidelines.