Poliphi - what - I?

10-4 good buddies!!! I’ve been waiting all year for this day so I can say that to people! Yes, I’m a dork, but whatever. Of course, the non-US population won’t get the joke because they aren’t in on trucker CB talk, and they put the day before the month, which would be 4-10, and …………. I have now lost any hope (be it extremely slim) of pulling off the joke.

So anyway, the international break means that the excitement of club football has come to a screeching halt. Well, almost as there was some action yesterday for the Arsenal Reserves side as they beat West Ham Reserves at Upton Park 2-1 (goals from Aliadiere and Joe O'Cearuill). The match also saw the return to action of Phillipe Senderos, the Swiss international center back (CB), and left back Gael Clichy. It is good to see big Phil back in the mix after the crazy shoulder injury he picked up in the World Cup this summer. He was really doing well in the Cup and scored that great header after which he cracked his nose and ran down the pitch all bloody! One of the great moments of the Cup, at least so I thought. Clichy will provide some good cover at left back if he can get back on form and stay healthy. This kid gives Aliadiere a run for his money as far as time in the treatment room is concerned. I doubt either Phil or Gael will be available for the CL match in Moscow or the league match against Watford, but they should be back in the squad soon after.

This last week was Arsene Wenger’s 10th year as manager of Arsenal and there have been tons of tributes and heaps of praise for his achievements (there are loads of articles about this and I don’t need to go into the details). The club has secured 3 Premiership titles, 4 FA Cup wins, a streak of 49 matches unbeaten (including a whole season!) and was never out of the top 2, except for last season when they went to the Champions League Final. Most importantly, he changed the way football was played not only at Arsenal, but across the board in the Premiership. He introduced new player diets, training methods and a way of football not seen at Highbury before. He also did a lot of this on small transfer budgets. Look at the players like Henry and Fabregas and you can see he knows how to spot talent early. Over the years he has been likened to an artist, and called the Professor, but I think he is more like the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. He speaks many different languages, has hidden plots and schemes, is not well understood by his peers, but is renowned for his artistry and considered a masterpiece. I hope to see another 10 years with Arsene at the helm.

In other news, the anniversary dinner was a complete success and we went to a nice little place that has great seafood, a good wine list, and looks out over Corpus Christi Bay. Afterwards, being the big spender I am, we headed out for a few after-dinner drinks to the Executive Surf Club, where on Tuesday nights its $2 for any pint!!! Yahooooo! Stella pints all around! It was nice though to sit and have a few beers, hang out, and be without the kiddo for a few hours. They (whoever they may be) should profile me for husband of the year. I know I’d win hands down!

With that…..

Adios.