Home Again. Thank the Maker!!!
2,401.0 is what the trip odometer read this morning before heading to work. 10 days of travel and many miles sees your good buddy a bit weary and travel worn. Good thing I don’t have travel again, until…. when?…. tomorrow? Dammit!!! 2 days in Galveston, but at least I pre-planned and got a ticket to go see new supergroup (at least in my opinion) Wolfmother in Houston! Hurrah.
A lot has happened football-wise (both American and good old regular) and many thanks to both Mikey and Red for texts/messages/calls to keep me up to date on the Arsenal goings-on of the week. All long-hauls on the trip just happened to be during the matches. Good planning there Cam. Well, I do what I can. Actually I do what I’m told by the wife. Sooooo, anyway, the Arsenal had 3 matches (2 league, 1 CL) this past week and here is the short of it all.
Last Saturday the Arsenal hosted Newcastle. Roeder’s men had been
lingering around the bottom of the table in the relegation area. Should be any easy win right. Well not according to Mikey’s report. Henry didn’t start and Keiron Dyer stole a goal in the 30th minute to put the Geordies one up. Sound familiar? Anyway, the Gunners once again had plenty of chances, lots of just wide and woodwork shots but couldn’t put one in. Henry came on for an injured van Persie in the 2nd half and through one of the best free kick’s Mikey’s ever seen, drew the match level at 1-1. The Gunners are still unbeaten at home, but 5 wins and 5 draws is not the result you would like to see, especially if you are trying to win the league.
On Tuesday, the Gunners hosted Hamburg in the Champions League group play. The Arsenal really needed a win to help secure a place in the next round after their so-so performances against Moscow. Once again the Gunners went down a goal early to van der Vaart in the 4th minute. What in the hell is going on here? Well, this didn’t seem to phase the boys in red and we got 3 goals afterwards (Van Persie 52, Eboue 83, Baptista 88) to get a much needed win. Now, there is one match left against Porto in Portugal. A win there will surely see us through and hopefully in the top spot. It seems the CL will be one of our important tourneys this season, but more on that later.
So the boys in red got a few days of rest then it was up country to Bolton where we have had loads of trouble over the years. For some strange reason, Big Sam’s boys have given us fits recently and it isn’t just because the Gunners are scared of Allerdyce’s giant sausage fingers. Bolton play a physical game and this coupled with their successes against the club puts the jimmy-legs into the Gunners. Also, Big Sam brought old Gunner Anelka back to Engerland and his buy paid off as the brooding one scored a brace to help gain a 3-1 win against us. Mikey told me as I drove through the wastelands of central Kansas that the Gunners really put in a bunch of shots (at least 8 off the woodwork) but to no avail. It seems to be a trend this season that we go a goal down early and then control the match but don’t execute on the finishing. It is getting a bit maddening, but sometimes, that is just football. At least there are chances. I’d be more upset if the Gunners didn’t get any shots off and were completely dominated.
It now seems that we are pretty much out of the title race for the Prem this season, though stranger things have happened. I always want the Gunners to strive for the league wins, but hopefully Wenger puts a bit more emphasis on the remaining cup chances (FA Cup, CL, and even Carling to some extent). The next league match is this Wednesday at Fulham. Of course I’ll be in the field working so I’ll miss yet another match.
This past week of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States was sure to be a boost for the Plymouth Argyle based on their name alone (you know, Plymouth Rock was named after Plymouth England, where the pilgrims started out from, etc etc.), but alas, dirty Leeds United had other plans and won 2-1. This loss caused Argyle to slip to 12th place in the Colaship. Hopefully the Argyle can turn this around tomorrow evening against Luton who are currently in 20th spot.
In the realm of American football, loads of games were played all week, but Thursday and Friday held special meaning for yours truly. On T-day, the Dallas Cowboys hosted John Gruden (Chuckie) and the Tampa Bay Bucs. It looked to be another dismal day for America’s Team as the Bucs marched down the field on their opening drive to score a touchdown, which has been a rarity for the Bay of Tampa team. The ‘boys then had to punt on their first possession after only 1 first down. But, alas, the football goods were smiling on new wunder-kid Romo who had a stellar day and 5 TD’s as the Cowboys gave the Bucs nothing to be thankful for and a 38-10 whoopin. The non-alcoholic T-day dinner (wife’s grandfather was a Baptist minister so no hooch at meals) a bit brighter with the win, especially since the entire in-law clan hate the Cowboys. Ahhh schadenfreude!! Their gloom at a Cowboy win was soon gone though as their glorious Chiefs upset Denver in the first prime-time Thanksgiving day match. Hoorah to them. It was a good match, a good win, and made the family happy. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about!
Friday, though, was the best of all for me and all of the Aggie-nation. The Texas A&M – Texas match is annually the biggest game of the year, and since 1999 the Aggies have been on the losing side. This year though, with no Vince Young and an Aggie side that gave fits to Oklahoma and Nebraska (they lost both, but only by 1 point each time) it seemed we might be able to take the game. It is always hard to win in Austin (only 8 times in the 100+ years) but the Aggies never gave up and had a bit of luck on their side to win 12-7. A&M QB Steven McGee, who made is first start in this fixture last year, played his heart out and did loads to secure the win. The Wrecking Crew also had a good match and gave Texas fits. There is too much to recall and I was an emotional wreck that day with all the ups and downs, so I’d rather not relive all that. Let’s all just bask in the glory of seeing the T-sips go down!!
Anyway, that is enough for today and I’m just glad to be back in CCTX, though it is only for one day. Home is nice, and your own bed is even better.
Adios.
A lot has happened football-wise (both American and good old regular) and many thanks to both Mikey and Red for texts/messages/calls to keep me up to date on the Arsenal goings-on of the week. All long-hauls on the trip just happened to be during the matches. Good planning there Cam. Well, I do what I can. Actually I do what I’m told by the wife. Sooooo, anyway, the Arsenal had 3 matches (2 league, 1 CL) this past week and here is the short of it all.Last Saturday the Arsenal hosted Newcastle. Roeder’s men had been
lingering around the bottom of the table in the relegation area. Should be any easy win right. Well not according to Mikey’s report. Henry didn’t start and Keiron Dyer stole a goal in the 30th minute to put the Geordies one up. Sound familiar? Anyway, the Gunners once again had plenty of chances, lots of just wide and woodwork shots but couldn’t put one in. Henry came on for an injured van Persie in the 2nd half and through one of the best free kick’s Mikey’s ever seen, drew the match level at 1-1. The Gunners are still unbeaten at home, but 5 wins and 5 draws is not the result you would like to see, especially if you are trying to win the league.On Tuesday, the Gunners hosted Hamburg in the Champions League group play. The Arsenal really needed a win to help secure a place in the next round after their so-so performances against Moscow. Once again the Gunners went down a goal early to van der Vaart in the 4th minute. What in the hell is going on here? Well, this didn’t seem to phase the boys in red and we got 3 goals afterwards (Van Persie 52, Eboue 83, Baptista 88) to get a much needed win. Now, there is one match left against Porto in Portugal. A win there will surely see us through and hopefully in the top spot. It seems the CL will be one of our important tourneys this season, but more on that later.
So the boys in red got a few days of rest then it was up country to Bolton where we have had loads of trouble over the years. For some strange reason, Big Sam’s boys have given us fits recently and it isn’t just because the Gunners are scared of Allerdyce’s giant sausage fingers. Bolton play a physical game and this coupled with their successes against the club puts the jimmy-legs into the Gunners. Also, Big Sam brought old Gunner Anelka back to Engerland and his buy paid off as the brooding one scored a brace to help gain a 3-1 win against us. Mikey told me as I drove through the wastelands of central Kansas that the Gunners really put in a bunch of shots (at least 8 off the woodwork) but to no avail. It seems to be a trend this season that we go a goal down early and then control the match but don’t execute on the finishing. It is getting a bit maddening, but sometimes, that is just football. At least there are chances. I’d be more upset if the Gunners didn’t get any shots off and were completely dominated.
It now seems that we are pretty much out of the title race for the Prem this season, though stranger things have happened. I always want the Gunners to strive for the league wins, but hopefully Wenger puts a bit more emphasis on the remaining cup chances (FA Cup, CL, and even Carling to some extent). The next league match is this Wednesday at Fulham. Of course I’ll be in the field working so I’ll miss yet another match.
This past week of the Thanksgiving holiday here in the States was sure to be a boost for the Plymouth Argyle based on their name alone (you know, Plymouth Rock was named after Plymouth England, where the pilgrims started out from, etc etc.), but alas, dirty Leeds United had other plans and won 2-1. This loss caused Argyle to slip to 12th place in the Colaship. Hopefully the Argyle can turn this around tomorrow evening against Luton who are currently in 20th spot.
In the realm of American football, loads of games were played all week, but Thursday and Friday held special meaning for yours truly. On T-day, the Dallas Cowboys hosted John Gruden (Chuckie) and the Tampa Bay Bucs. It looked to be another dismal day for America’s Team as the Bucs marched down the field on their opening drive to score a touchdown, which has been a rarity for the Bay of Tampa team. The ‘boys then had to punt on their first possession after only 1 first down. But, alas, the football goods were smiling on new wunder-kid Romo who had a stellar day and 5 TD’s as the Cowboys gave the Bucs nothing to be thankful for and a 38-10 whoopin. The non-alcoholic T-day dinner (wife’s grandfather was a Baptist minister so no hooch at meals) a bit brighter with the win, especially since the entire in-law clan hate the Cowboys. Ahhh schadenfreude!! Their gloom at a Cowboy win was soon gone though as their glorious Chiefs upset Denver in the first prime-time Thanksgiving day match. Hoorah to them. It was a good match, a good win, and made the family happy. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about!
Friday, though, was the best of all for me and all of the Aggie-nation. The Texas A&M – Texas match is annually the biggest game of the year, and since 1999 the Aggies have been on the losing side. This year though, with no Vince Young and an Aggie side that gave fits to Oklahoma and Nebraska (they lost both, but only by 1 point each time) it seemed we might be able to take the game. It is always hard to win in Austin (only 8 times in the 100+ years) but the Aggies never gave up and had a bit of luck on their side to win 12-7. A&M QB Steven McGee, who made is first start in this fixture last year, played his heart out and did loads to secure the win. The Wrecking Crew also had a good match and gave Texas fits. There is too much to recall and I was an emotional wreck that day with all the ups and downs, so I’d rather not relive all that. Let’s all just bask in the glory of seeing the T-sips go down!!
Anyway, that is enough for today and I’m just glad to be back in CCTX, though it is only for one day. Home is nice, and your own bed is even better.
Adios.
posted by Cameron at 8:02 AM
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