Arsenal’s junior Gunners (though Arsenal amazingly plays juniors in their senior side) edged out Tottenham in the Carling Cup to set up a tantalizing final against reigning EPL Champions, Chelsea.

Aided by Baptista’s two away goals at White Hart Lane, Arsenal always looked the likelier to claim the 2nd leg tense cup elimination tie if even by just a goal.

With Baptista injured and most of the other senior players given the night off, Arsenal lined up the youth with only the center-back Kolo Toure and midfielder Gilberto Silva, providing the backbone of the side—of course the Gunners held a few of their aces on the substitute’s bench in the form of Rosicky, Clichy, and Fabregas.  

In a game that was going down to the wire, Arsenal’s patience and (senior subbing) finally turned the game as it was the earlier disjointed Adebayor (pushed in by the brilliance of Rosicky), who found the back of the net in the 77 min. against a Spurs side that was being dominated by the immense amount of Arsenal possession.

Perhaps lacking the technical ability, Spurs showed their nerve though as Egyptian striker, Mido (also a substitute) reminded the young guns that there was still a game to play as he headed the equalizer past Toure and Almunia in the 85 min. and forced extra-time.

But the Gunners were not to be denied and avoided the dreadful penalty shoot out when young traveling striker, Aliadiere became the hero with his 105 min. strike as he punished Rocha’s defense blunder. In the end, Spurs completely capitulated as left-back Chimbonda forced a third into his own goal.

The Reds marked the 2nd half of the German league season with a (3-2) defeat at the hands of seasoned rivals, Borussia Dortmund. In a cracking game that witnessed 5 goals, it was the black-and-neon that edged out the reigning champions—though Bayern more then held the advantage in terms of possession.

Bayern have definitely felt the losses of both Ballack (now at Chelsea) and Hargreaves (through injury) and have had a difficult time this season keeping pace with Werder Bremen and Schalke (who both won their matches this past weekend). The squad reads more like a 2nd rate Dutch and Belgian side this time around with no clear leadership taking hold amongst the veteran, champion players.

While still in 3rd spot, Bayern now lags behind the top two by 6 points and look destined to miss out on a 3-peat German Bundesliga Championship. Coach, Felix Magath has issued the ultimatum that their upcoming match against lowly-side Bochum must be a victory, or the chance at glory will slip away.

To read Jan. 27, 2007 Edition, Click here

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Imagine a striker that hits goals like a tiger shredding carrion across the Serengeti, let loose to ravish the field, then you have seen Baptista at his best as he ripped 6 past The Reds in two games, knocking Liverpool out of both cups. The Brazilian then kept the dream alive in the Carling Cup Semi-final 1^st Leg at White Heart Lane by adding two more to take scores level back to the Emirates.

Not as prolific at Madrid and rarely a chance at the Gunner’s, still Baptista has finally satiated his hunger for goals in Arsenal’s double cup runs. Will it be enough to keep the beast at the Emirates? Only Wenger can say…but it is almost certain that the beast will keep his place in Arsenal’s cup sides as Wenger likes to awarded players in this fashion.  

Hopefully, the beast will continue his cup runs and soon be let loose on the Gunner’s 1^st team to make them real contenders in the league.

The EPL gives way to the FA Cup 4^th Round action this weekend with the field so open that the minnows of the lower divisions still have the belief of lifting the Holy Grail.

Arsenal faces the toughest test of the round as they match a Bolton side that loves to bully the Gunners and steal their striking power. The last time they faced off, it was ex-Arsenal striker, Anelka that provided two top class strikes for the workman like Wanderers.

Man. United also has a tricky fixture against Portsmouth, but should handle Harry’s ex-Arsenal side since Lauren hasn’t made the transition as yet. Besides Pompey just lost to Charlton at home (1-0) and their confidence will be shattered against the league leaders.

West Ham vs. Watford (Premier league dwellers) and Birmingham vs. Reading round off a mass of weekend FA Cup fixtures.

Was it just two years ago that the U.S. under 20 National Team went out of the Youth World Cup with a bit of egg on their face. It was either egg on their face, or a bad taste left in their mouths as they crashed out to the Italians in the round of 16 (3-1).

The reason for the bad taste is that the Americans started out great. In their first game of that tournament they downed the eventual victors Argentina. Yes the winners of the tournament lost to the Americans 1-0 in the first game. The Up-Starts from the United States led the group with another win and tie against Germany.

Wow, what a high those young Americans would have been on, leading Group D. Then, to add to the U.S.’s delight, they found themselves up 1-0 at half time to Italy. What a dream start, could this be the one that puts U.S. soccer on the map. World Champions! Yea, just at the U-20 level, but hey, Luis Figo never won anything bigger.

All those sugar plumbs dancing in the U.S. youngsters heads until Italy hit them for three in the 2^nd half, losing 3-1. Dream over. Dream over for the Americans that did so well, but got beaten in a half to the Italians.

That would normally be the end of all the players’ dreams to make an impact at this level. Lucky for Freddy Adu, he has a second chance. Lucky him! Unfortunately, when I saw him warming up for these most recent qualifiers, he looked like he was taking it for granted.

So June the 30^th in Canada the U.S. will probably show well at the beginning, but might not have the staying power. That is Thomas Rongen’s job! He has to give them staying power. His job is to make sure these players keep their heads out of a Cinderella Story until the story is over.

On a weekend where both Chelsea and Manchester United dropped points to Liverpool and Arsenal respectively, it was actually Middlesbrough’s left winger, Stewart Downing with the most inspired performance as he galvanized Boro’s most prolific result under Gareth Southgate.

Middlesbrough absolutely dismantled (5-1) the usually tight, strong walled Bolton squad, leaving Sam Allardyce jawing his cud in disbelief as his team failed to deal with the prospective England left winger.

Downing had a game every winger dreams about as he crossed in for an incredible three assists, before cutting in from the left and firing in on his weaker, right boot to cap off his brilliant, solo performance.

Downing initiated the scoring with his corner kick that the re-instated Portuguese defender, Abel Xavier headed off the post and off Gary Speed’s leg for the opening goal.

The duo were not to be denied though as they combined again with Downing finding Xavier again in the area; this time the defender making no mistake as he nodded home the 2nd goal past the helpless Jaaskelainen. Downing continued with his Midas touch as he found Viduka for the 3rd before firing home one for himself at the closing of the 1st half.

Boro will be bolstered by the performance and will be hoping to transfer that confidence and offensive purpose in the upcoming matches against Hull (FA Cup) and Pompey before they face Arsenal.

McClaren will have certainly made note of Downing’s contributions and perhaps may tinker again with the thought that England can combine down the flanks…sorry, Stewart! the England tactics haven’t evolved to that level yet!

To read Jan. 19, 2007 Edition, Click here

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On Sunday the 21st Everton will be exactly what Wigan Athletic doesn’t need in their headlights. Chelsea knocked them off the road last week; now it’s Everton’s turn to take a crack.

The Chelsea 4-0 monster trucking of Wigan last week was due to sloppy defending, as well as to their attempt to become a long term Premiership side.

Like pigs in the mud, Wigan is trying to wallow down for 3 more years in the Premiership. It’s the normal short term goal. Last year it was just to stay alive for another year. So how does the 1 year goal differ from their now 3 year goal?

Well, the Wigan that stayed out of the relegation zone last year plays differently then Wigan does now. Of-course there were some personnel changes (Bullard’s blown knee at Fulham and Chimbonda at right back for Spurs), but it was not a full team remake. They can’t afford it!

The real change is their offensive playing style; their style is closer to a sloppy Blackburn trying to play proper football by getting the ball to the flanks and having Emile Heskey head into the back of the net. But, they will take anything less then that if it leads to a goal. 

That is in sharp contrast to last year, where Wigan won with the long ball. Not necessarily over the top, but high speed Division 1 (English 2nd Division) rock ‘em sock ‘em football. Many believe that that style doesn’t, or couldn’t last in the top flight, even though it rules the school in the 1st Division. This is why Wigan and West Ham have started their transformation.

Like a little butterfly that is trying to spread its wings, Wigan is trying to reach the playing level of the Premiership. The problem with little butterflies is that they are still soft and weak from the cocoon birth and vulnerable to Monster Trucks or hunger Evertonian players.

Let it be known that with this change from what worked last year, this butterfly might not get to spread its wings next year, especially if Heskey’s goals dry up—there might not be any more Winged Wigan Warriors on the TV.
 
Some say good riddance, I say they have lost 3 straight and might not see a win until May.
 
These butterflies though will see through their growing pains and soar back to mid-flight next year.
 
Meditations from the Mongoose

Kudos goes out to the diminutive striker from Argentina (not as if most all strikers from Argentina are small), the one that everybody forgets about—Javier Saviola.

Having lost the World Club Championship against Internacional of Brazil, Barcelona has played themselves back into the funk that they seemed to have pulled out of, right before the holiday season.

If the Argentine striker’s goals don’t warrant a run of games, at least they will provide a morale booster as Barcelona are currently off the pace of Sevilla in La Liga and are now drawn level on points in 2nd Place with a Beckham-less, refocused, and youth enriched Madrid.

Coming back to Barcelona, after a few years out on exile, delivering silverware for both Monaco and Sevilla, on the purse strings of the Catalan giants, Saviola has barely played a role for Frank Rijkaard this season. Yet, that still did not stop him from stealing the show in the Copa del Rey against Alavés as his 5 goals proved instrumental in both games (Barcelona won 5-2 on aggregate).

Coming off a draw to Getafe and a defeat to cross town rivals Espanyol in La Liga, the forgotten man, Saviola scored 2 away goals in the 1st leg and then ensured progression to the quarterfinals with a hat-trick at the Nou Camp to defeat a plucky 2nd Division Alavés that put in 2 themselves against the reigning European Champions.

Rijkaard will definitely be looking to solidify some composure as Barcelona is set to play bottom dwellers, Gimnastic de Terragona this Sunday though both Madrid and Sevilla also have games that should fall their way against Mallorca and Villarreal respectively.

With the apparent return of Eto’o it will be interesting who Rijkaard shows faith in throughout the rest of Barcelona’s campaigns.

Carvings from the dagger