Me and the 'Goos
Cam is back and basking in the south Texas heat. After a week of nice cool weather in the northeast, I have returned to 90 degree plus temperatures and very high (>90%) humidity. Yay Fall.
The trip to New York and New Jersey was a success and although I’m a bit worn out, it was all worth it. The trip started out interesting and when I boarded the flight from Dallas to Newark, the guy I was sitting next to looked a bit familiar, but couldn’t place it and didn’t think anything of it. So we take off and I’m reading my book, my neighbor is too. I’m listening to my iPod, and so is he. I’m taking a nap (a bit hungover, imagine that!) and, well, I don’t know what he’s doing as I’m asleep. Anyway, about halfway through the flight, the guy’s daughters (across the aisle) finish watching their cartoons on the portable DVD player, so the dad next to me takes it and starts pulling out all these DVD’s that have soccer players on the cover and Hispanic names across the top. That’s weird I thought after waking up from little siesta, and looked over his shoulder at the DVD’s. But they weren’t matches, they were full of one touches, plays, goals, etc. Looked to me like scouting videos. I wanted to ask if the guy was a scout for a club, but I hate being bugged on airplanes and therefore don’t like to bug others. Plus, he was busy watching his videos and trying to get the DVD player to quit skipping and I was checking out DC, Baltimore, and the country side as we neared Newark. Awhile later we finally land and the family starts getting all their gear together and the two daughters (who are cute as buttons) start getting excited about their trip. As I wait to get off the plane, I notice the dad is holding a car seat and there is a label on it. I read the name and it was Jeff Agoos. NO! It can’t be. I look at the label, then the guy, then the label and then the guy. The fella is looking at me weird and so I ask if that is his name. He looks down, and says that sure enough it is. I had been sitting next to a US Mens National Team member for over 3 hours and never said a word to him. Arghh! Oh well, we said hello and I said it was great to meet him. He was nice and said nice to meet you back. His wife chuckled at my sudden realization of my stupidity and we all got off the plane. I am always hearing stories of
people sitting next to stars-celebrities-sports players, and it finally happens to me but I never get a chance to really live it up. Oh well, he was with his family and trying to get some work in. The last thing he needed was me peppering him with questions the entire flight. So in the end, Goos, it was good to meet you!
More on the rest of the trip tomorrow. Now on to football.
The Arsenal packed their parkas this week and have headed to the other great white north to play CSKA Moscow tonight. The match starts early (12:25 EDT) because it is bloody cold up there! The Gunners are coming off a great 3-0 win at home against Watford (I was trying to get over for this match, but couldn’t make it). The first goal was a flick on by Adebayor and it seemed like Toure got the nod in, but it appears it came off a Watford defender. Anyway, it was a goal and the Arsenal were up. Cesc was put through on a nice ball by Walcott (who got his first League start), but the wonderkid put it just wide. Henry later made the Watford defense look like Keystone Cops as he pushed the ball through two defenders who then collided and crumbled to the pitch. Henry then stepped around them and put the shot just wide. That would have been one of the great ones had it gone in. Henry wasn’t done making a mockery of the defense though as he held off Demerit and collected a pass from the middle with his right foot, sent the ball forward, then sprung past everyone and put the ball in the net. A great goal 
for sure. Tel set up the final goal as he sprung the offside trap, was one on one with the keeper, but graciously pushed the ball into Ade’s path who slotted it home to go up 3-0. Watford, to be fair, did have some chances, but there was no way they were stopping the Gunners that day. Here are some highlights.
Let’s hope the Arsenal can take this momentum into the match today and secure a win. A win against CSKA would pretty much make the next round of the Champions League a sure thing. That would allow some of the younger players to get some experience in the final 3 matches of the group stage and let the veterans get some rest during the middle of the season.
Plymouth won at home against Derby this past weekend as well and were down to 10 men at one point (Doumbe sent off at 49’). Wotton scored on two PK’s, the first coming just before half in injury time. Arturo Lupoli (on loan from Arsenal) immediately equalized for Derby, but in the second half, the second PK by Wotton (63’) and a header by Seip (79’) made it 3-1. The Argyle are now up to 5th spot! Maybe this is their year, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
Whew, that is enough for today. There is much more to talk about, but I’ll save it for the rest of the week so there will be something of vague interest before the next round of League action.
Adios.
The trip to New York and New Jersey was a success and although I’m a bit worn out, it was all worth it. The trip started out interesting and when I boarded the flight from Dallas to Newark, the guy I was sitting next to looked a bit familiar, but couldn’t place it and didn’t think anything of it. So we take off and I’m reading my book, my neighbor is too. I’m listening to my iPod, and so is he. I’m taking a nap (a bit hungover, imagine that!) and, well, I don’t know what he’s doing as I’m asleep. Anyway, about halfway through the flight, the guy’s daughters (across the aisle) finish watching their cartoons on the portable DVD player, so the dad next to me takes it and starts pulling out all these DVD’s that have soccer players on the cover and Hispanic names across the top. That’s weird I thought after waking up from little siesta, and looked over his shoulder at the DVD’s. But they weren’t matches, they were full of one touches, plays, goals, etc. Looked to me like scouting videos. I wanted to ask if the guy was a scout for a club, but I hate being bugged on airplanes and therefore don’t like to bug others. Plus, he was busy watching his videos and trying to get the DVD player to quit skipping and I was checking out DC, Baltimore, and the country side as we neared Newark. Awhile later we finally land and the family starts getting all their gear together and the two daughters (who are cute as buttons) start getting excited about their trip. As I wait to get off the plane, I notice the dad is holding a car seat and there is a label on it. I read the name and it was Jeff Agoos. NO! It can’t be. I look at the label, then the guy, then the label and then the guy. The fella is looking at me weird and so I ask if that is his name. He looks down, and says that sure enough it is. I had been sitting next to a US Mens National Team member for over 3 hours and never said a word to him. Arghh! Oh well, we said hello and I said it was great to meet him. He was nice and said nice to meet you back. His wife chuckled at my sudden realization of my stupidity and we all got off the plane. I am always hearing stories of
people sitting next to stars-celebrities-sports players, and it finally happens to me but I never get a chance to really live it up. Oh well, he was with his family and trying to get some work in. The last thing he needed was me peppering him with questions the entire flight. So in the end, Goos, it was good to meet you!More on the rest of the trip tomorrow. Now on to football.
The Arsenal packed their parkas this week and have headed to the other great white north to play CSKA Moscow tonight. The match starts early (12:25 EDT) because it is bloody cold up there! The Gunners are coming off a great 3-0 win at home against Watford (I was trying to get over for this match, but couldn’t make it). The first goal was a flick on by Adebayor and it seemed like Toure got the nod in, but it appears it came off a Watford defender. Anyway, it was a goal and the Arsenal were up. Cesc was put through on a nice ball by Walcott (who got his first League start), but the wonderkid put it just wide. Henry later made the Watford defense look like Keystone Cops as he pushed the ball through two defenders who then collided and crumbled to the pitch. Henry then stepped around them and put the shot just wide. That would have been one of the great ones had it gone in. Henry wasn’t done making a mockery of the defense though as he held off Demerit and collected a pass from the middle with his right foot, sent the ball forward, then sprung past everyone and put the ball in the net. A great goal 
for sure. Tel set up the final goal as he sprung the offside trap, was one on one with the keeper, but graciously pushed the ball into Ade’s path who slotted it home to go up 3-0. Watford, to be fair, did have some chances, but there was no way they were stopping the Gunners that day. Here are some highlights.Let’s hope the Arsenal can take this momentum into the match today and secure a win. A win against CSKA would pretty much make the next round of the Champions League a sure thing. That would allow some of the younger players to get some experience in the final 3 matches of the group stage and let the veterans get some rest during the middle of the season.
Plymouth won at home against Derby this past weekend as well and were down to 10 men at one point (Doumbe sent off at 49’). Wotton scored on two PK’s, the first coming just before half in injury time. Arturo Lupoli (on loan from Arsenal) immediately equalized for Derby, but in the second half, the second PK by Wotton (63’) and a header by Seip (79’) made it 3-1. The Argyle are now up to 5th spot! Maybe this is their year, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
Whew, that is enough for today. There is much more to talk about, but I’ll save it for the rest of the week so there will be something of vague interest before the next round of League action.
Adios.
posted by Cameron at 8:28 AM
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