Am I un H A P P Y? Does a new born baby cry?

So – just what the fuck happened on Saturday? And how can we go from a 6-0 demolishing of Sheffield with our reserves to a 1-2 loss against Hull with our first team?

I'd like to say it was all down to Wiley – and to a greater extent it was, but all credit goes to Hull for picking up on the refereeing bias as quickly as they did and exploiting it to their maximum advantage... all shame goes to the Arsenal squad for putting their heads down when it was obvious that the whistle was only blowing one way for this game. We have won games like this before – why give up, why panic?

The first goal was disallowed... I do not know why? There was no repaly on the screens and MOTD brushed over it as quickly as was possible with no replay/slow motion/camera angles or analysis. The talking head who was commentating said:

"I think it was disallowed for offside... or the initial shove? Besides it hit his arm anyway."

Did it? Was it? Huh? 3D virtual replay please... Nice to see Ronaldo won his 'nailed on penalty' to ensure a Manu win though; so it wasn't all bad ref decisions this w/e... wait – yes it was?!

Why is there absolutely no consistency in media reaction, referee decisions and punishment for on-pitch (and off-pitch) infringements?

For instance – Riley sends off Cahill for that 'shocker of a challenge' and 'disrespect' (?!?!) where as Clichy takes a leg-breaker last week and the fucker gets a yellow... also compare that with Pogatetz identical challenge on Possebon? Straight red - Hard but fair? Is Possebon a 'Jessey' – oh please, do tell as I'm confused?!

If this carries on then pretty soon the general football fan will reach such a state of bewilderment that he/she will be forced to start making up their own mind about this league, the people that run it, the people that officiate it and all their apologists.

I'm going to let you into a little secret, we were in a bad position playing Hull before the whistle even blew for kick off... I knew this and so did a lot of other disillusioned football fans. If fact we were in a bad position as soon as Liverpool beat Everton.

I laid Arsenal heavily (put money down on Arsenal not to win) as soon as Cahill got sent off against Liverpool. This is not because I thought Hull were the better team – this was because Everton beating Liverpool was our only chance of a fair game against Hull. It breaks down a little something like this:

The 'Big 4' multiple must not come home - the bookies' 'bottom line' must be protected.

If Arsenal had beaten Hull then that would mean that Liverpool, Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal would have won their respective matches. Where as Chelsea and Man-u were obviously going to win their games; so it became exceedingly good value to oppose Arsenal in the last match of the day. We have been stung by this before.

Remember last season, March 15th against Middlesbrough when we were the last to play after the 3 of the 'big 4' won? If you attended the match you will not forget how badly treated we were that day... Mark Halsey and his henchmen were booed off the pitch – although he's not the craftsman that Wiley is and lacks the subtlety to not make it so 'bleeding obvious' what he's up to... which leads us nicely to the game Saturday – how do you swing a match like this – and why were the only 'football-savvy' section of the crowed (Red Section) chanting:

"You don't know what you're doing"

by way of comment on Wiley's performance? For the record I thought that Wliey knew exactly what he was doing.

There are many areas in which an advantage can be given – in this game in particular; it was in the challenge, advantage play and the free kick.

1. If the ref allows you to lead with the elbow in the air (I lost count how many times this happened without Hull being penalised for it) then as a 'route 1' team you are going to be doing an awful lot of it. The failure to penalise for strength, or recklessness, in the tackle is a randomiser in favour of the lesser team as it takes an element of skill out of the match.
2. If one team can not win a free kick for love or money anywhere in a goal scoring position then it will give the opposing team's players and manager the tip off to get his defence to go in hard and with added confidence on the challenge.
3. If one team is breaking forward and the other team throw in a foul only for the ref to pull play back, give a free kick and not give the advantage; then that tactic will be used repeatedly to the advantage of the defending team over the attacking team. Selective use of 'advantage' play is a very effective way to stop attacking teams who like to pass the ball by allowing an advantage when there is none and, conversely, stopping play where there is.

Look out for it next time why don't you... and here's another tip; if you are watching it on the telly - the bias is easier to see with the sound turned down.

There is one thing that disturbed my about Saturday... this is Hull and we only 'turned it on' when they got in the lead in a desperate effort to get a point back. We are good enough to win matches like these despite the 'tilted' playing surface. In my opinion we encouraged Hull further by giving up the fight far too easily - and it worries me as to our aspirations of actually winning anything this season... it really got to the players and that susception to 'mental frailty' needs to be learned from and now.

[29/09/2008 09:20:38] DogFace says: So.... did you win as much cash as me getting on Hull?
[29/09/2008 09:20:56] DogFace says: I quote: "[25/09/2008 14:23:30] DogFace says: Saturday
...
Arsenal v Hull - 17:30 - Arsenal (although depending on the Liverpool/Manu/Chelsea games - one of the big 4 will not win and liverpool seems the obvious target)"
[29/09/2008 09:21:26] DogFace says: Over £100... I'm still pissed off about it though.
[29/09/2008 09:21:43] dhjackal says: " liverpool seems the obvious target"?
[29/09/2008 09:21:54] DogFace says: yeah - that was earlier in the day
[29/09/2008 09:22:08] dhjackal says: you didn't win cos your rubbish
[29/09/2008 09:22:16] DogFace says: as soon as Liverpool beat Everton I was laying Arsenal heavily
[29/09/2008 09:22:28] dhjackal says: why?
[29/09/2008 09:22:31] dhjackal says: you weren't robbed
[29/09/2008 09:22:36] dhjackal says: you were beaten
[29/09/2008 09:22:40] DogFace says: Because Man-u and Chavski were obviously going to win their matches...
[29/09/2008 09:22:47] dhjackal says: so
[29/09/2008 09:22:48] DogFace says: ...which left Arsenal Vs Hull.
[29/09/2008 09:23:14] dhjackal says: yeah and Hull showed just why your not going to win the league
[29/09/2008 09:23:39] DogFace says: Look, I'm trying to give you a bit of advice on your betting here...
[29/09/2008 09:23:58] DogFace says: ...if you want to live in cloud fairy land then fine.
[29/09/2008 09:23:58] dhjackal says: that's rubbish advice
[29/09/2008 09:24:16] DogFace says: How so when it was entirely accurate?
[29/09/2008 09:24:26] dhjackal says: it was entirely lucky
[29/09/2008 09:24:30] DogFace says: HA!
[29/09/2008 09:24:49] dhjackal says: still i'm glad somethign good came out of it for you
[29/09/2008 09:24:57] DogFace says: So - like when I said that you wouldn't beat Newcastle on the opening round of matches as you were last to play and the other 3 of the big 4 won? I was wrong then too?
[29/09/2008 09:25:00] dhjackal says: if i were you i'd lay Arsenal for the season
[29/09/2008 09:25:04] DogFace says: Remember that, ring any bells mate?
[29/09/2008 09:25:24] dhjackal says: (clap)
[29/09/2008 09:25:51] DogFace says: Now are you starting to learn..?
[29/09/2008 09:26:01] dhjackal says: we didn't beat them because we played shite
[29/09/2008 09:26:08] DogFace says: You boys will work with the bookmakers and that's one of the reasons why you are so successfull.
[29/09/2008 09:26:14] DogFace says: Although Webb helped too.
[29/09/2008 09:26:17] dhjackal says: and Arsenal?
[29/09/2008 09:26:25] dhjackal says: they wanted to lose yesterday?
[29/09/2008 09:26:28] DogFace says: Well - that's the thing.
[29/09/2008 09:26:32] dhjackal says: what?
[29/09/2008 09:26:37] dhjackal says: you got beat at home
[29/09/2008 09:26:38] DogFace says: It was a little suss actually...
[29/09/2008 09:26:39] dhjackal says: by hull
[29/09/2008 09:26:42] DogFace says: Yeah - Hull.
[29/09/2008 09:26:48] dhjackal says: embarressing
[29/09/2008 09:26:57] DogFace says: That made me think - some of the play was totally out of character.
[29/09/2008 09:26:58] dhjackal says: paint it whatever way you want
[29/09/2008 09:27:02] dhjackal says: you lost on the pitch
[29/09/2008 09:27:06] dhjackal says: no excuses
[29/09/2008 09:27:31] DogFace says: I hate to think we threw it.... as Wiley was being an utter cunt - but we lost spirit a bit too quickly for my liking.
[29/09/2008 09:28:05] dhjackal says: i think you threw it
[29/09/2008 09:28:10] DogFace says: Really?
[29/09/2008 09:28:14] dhjackal says: it's all part of the bigger picture
[29/09/2008 09:28:17] dhjackal says: can't you see?
[29/09/2008 09:28:19] DogFace says: -tut-
[29/09/2008 09:28:40] DogFace says: If there is a bigger picture it'll be for the bigger teams - and if I knew what it was then I'd make enough cash to retire off it!
[29/09/2008 09:37:45] dhjackal says: how did you get on in the fantasy football?
[29/09/2008 09:48:01] DogFace says: Ohh.. dunno - I don't think I did very well this week. [29/09/2008 09:50:33] DogFace says: Yeah - rubbish - 32 points
[29/09/2008 09:51:50] DogFace says: u?
[29/09/2008 09:55:27] dhjackal says: don't know
[29/09/2008 09:56:18] dhjackal says: 59
[29/09/2008 09:56:20] dhjackal says: (dance)
[29/09/2008 09:56:30] DogFace says: meh
[29/09/2008 10:38:16] dhjackal says: what you doing for lunch?
[29/09/2008 10:38:55] DogFace says: Hmmmmm........ [29/09/2008 10:39:02] DogFace says: need to get some food.
[29/09/2008 10:39:37] dhjackal says: me too
[29/09/2008 10:40:14] DogFace says: Korean/Garners/Mexican?
[29/09/2008 10:40:23] dhjackal says: don't mind
[29/09/2008 10:40:27] dhjackal says: Korean?
[29/09/2008 10:41:27] DogFace says: Yeah man.
[29/09/2008 10:41:34] dhjackal says: sound
[29/09/2008 10:41:42] DogFace says: Let's smash up the kim-chi! [29/09/2008 10:42:43] DogFace says: We need to sort out our betting strategies for the CL games... cash to be made! Who's playing who this week?
[29/09/2008 11:00:05] DogFace says: ...Oh good god - hold the phone: "Super-agent Pini Zahavi is in talks with an unnamed Asian billionaire about a takeover of Tottenham. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has previously said he would listen to offers and values the club at about £400m."
[29/09/2008 11:00:35] dhjackal says: the table in 2 years time:
[29/09/2008 11:00:44] dhjackal says: Man City
[29/09/2008 11:00:46] dhjackal says: Tottenham
[29/09/2008 11:00:50] dhjackal says: Newcastle
[29/09/2008 11:00:54] dhjackal says: Chelsea
[29/09/2008 11:01:01] dhjackal says: Man Utd
[29/09/2008 11:01:03] dhjackal says: Liverpool
[29/09/2008 11:01:07] dhjackal says: Everton
[29/09/2008 11:01:09] dhjackal says: Aston Villa
[29/09/2008 11:01:13] dhjackal says: Arsenal
[29/09/2008 11:01:15] dhjackal says: Hull
[29/09/2008 11:01:18] DogFace says: (rofl)
[29/09/2008 11:01:42] DogFace says: You have to laugh... if you didn't laugh you'd cry!
[29/09/2008 11:04:28] dhjackal says: true

Greetings to the new brunette...

Well – what can I say about football? This season has been the best of times and the worst of times for me. As a football fan in my second year of holding a season ticket I am learning the game fast.

I used to think I knew it all from watching the game in the pubs, MOTD and dodgy internet streams but I was wrong. You have to watch the games live to appreciate exactly what is going on out there.

Let me state this now and clearly as I possibly can:

The pundits lie.
The papers lie.
The media in general is full of shit.

Next time you watch a match, turn the volume down and make you own decisions – remember them and do not allow them to be swayed by anyone – no matter how much of a self proclaimed ‘expert’ they are. Watch the games, believe your eyes, trust your instincts - that is all.

Last season I had niggling doubts as to some of the decisions that were going on - on the field of play... but now I am in no doubt that Premier League football is crooked. I support Arsenal and right now we are out of every competition. I am NOT a sore loser. We HAVE been robbed.

Let me step back a few months - the game that finally woke me up was the Birmingham Vs Arsenal match in February (2-2). I had just got home from taking the kids out (swimming I think) and I was in the kitchen sorting out a beer so I could settle down for the game when I got a phone call from my brother PieFace. His voice was shaky – he said:

“Are you watching?”

I said no.. was just going to switch on.

“It looks bad – Eduardo been injured.. it looks bad.”

How bad?

“I think he’s out for the season... it’s very bad, broken leg.”

Jesus man – I’m going to watch it now – I’ll get back to you…

...it was bad – I switched on to see Ade looking scared and sick, Fabregas was in clear distress, nobody knew what to do – Gary was fussing about and waving for backup and oxygen and that shit-kicker Taylor was just sitting there.

Taylor got sent off – it was the only correct decision that the Ref (Mike Dean) made that day. The rest of the first half was a disjointed affair, the players clearly had their minds on what state Eduardo was in and not on the match.

Birmingham scored from a free kick which wasn’t a free kick... or was it? I don’t know – it seems that Arsenal can’t get a free kick for love or money (unless we are breaking in a dangerous position and the boy in black blows his whistle to give the other team a chance to get the whole fucking squad behind the ball before play continues) – where as our competitors get free kicks and penalties for tripping over their own shoe laces... I say ‘love or money’ but I suspect that ‘money’ is more important in getting referee decisions these days than the increasingly irrelevant emotion in this league for the ‘love’ of the game.

The experts at half time reckoned that Taylor must be in a terrible state, imagine how poor Taylor must feel – it wasn’t a ‘bad’ tackle apparently. Bullshit – he went in hard and straight legged with the shit-kicker tactic of the shit-kicker teams that play us: “hoof Arsenal off the ball for the first 10 minutes as the ref won’t even card you for it” – well done Fergie for giving the premier league that gem of “footballing genius” – I guess that’s what you call progressive football, all good for the game eh?

Taylor ruined Eduardo – and Arsene has been saying that this would happen for years... Arsene was proved correct. Nobody cared as Eduardo was just a foreigner and played for Arsenal – if that had happed to Rooney then effigies of Martin Taylor would still be swinging from lamp posts. Eduardo is quality and class. Eduardo is a gentleman. Eduardo loves football. Eduardo is a foreigner. Eduardo is all the things Martin Taylor isn’t.

I don’t feel sorry for Taylor – Wenger was correct, he should never play football again… what was he even doing on the field? If you go out on national television and destroy something beautiful then you should not expect any sympathy for it.

The second half was better, Theo scored 2 and we were up – Gallas and Wenger had clearly got focus back in the dressing room as we were flying. They wanted to win this one for their colleague and friend and they got on with it despite the best efforts of Dean and his henchmen – we were going to win. Then – Ade got fouled in the area – it was a clear penalty under the eyes of Dean – 1-3 to us. Good. Fuck you very much Birmingham and fuck you very much Taylor.

What happened next destroyed any faith that I had in this league as a fair competition. The penalty was not awarded... instead in the last minute of extra time Birmingham hoofed it up field and Clichy let it drift before clearing it under a speculative challenge from McFadden. A giddy with joy Dean could not wait to whip his whistle out and award a penalty – McFadden scored and Birmingham equalised.

Well done McFadden you cheated twice and got your rewards as a shit-kicking lackey in a bent league... tell your grandkids about it why don’t you?

Alas – the cameras didn’t focus on your smug face for long... the cameras moved to William Gallas. Our captain.

Gallas knew the score, he knew as captain his team, our team, had been cheated not only out of 3 points but out of a result that might have made some sense of that tragic fucking bloody day – you could see it in his eyes as he cried - it had dawned on him too:

Football has broken.

Since then we have been robbed game after game after game after game.

Tomorrow I’ll go to watch us play Reading at Ashburton Grove – as we have been removed from every major competition and we are no longer a threat to Man United’s title (that was in my opinion bought and paid for last summer) then I have high hopes that we might see a match worth watching... not that it means anything in terms of trophies – but, saying that, trophies these days don’t actually mean anything in terms of football.