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New England Revolution About To Enter A New Era

When Steve Nicol assumed the reins at Gillette Stadium on a full-time basis in 2002, the New England Revolution were coming off a rocky campaign that saw them miss out on the Major League Soccer playoffs, winning just seven games, yet reach the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Revolution, one of MLS’ charter franchises, hadn’t enjoyed very much success before the former Scottish international came into the picture, having never ended a season above .500.

That was all about to change.

Since the former Liverpool defender took over for Fernando Clavijo, the results have been hard to argue with. Nicol guided the Revs to eight straight playoff appearances, including four trips to the MLS Cup final. New England came up empty on all four occasions, with two losses against LA Galaxy and two against Houston Dynamo.

Despite becoming something like the Buffalo Bills of American professional soccer, Nicol’s tenure hasn’t been completely bereft of silverware, as the club won the U.S. Open Cup in 2007 and the North American SuperLiga in 2008.

Two moments in particular were to pave the road to future success for the Revs in 2002.

The first of these was a direct result of profiting from the misfortune of others. The Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion both ceased operations following the 2001 season, and in the ensuing allocation draft, the Revolution made the very astute decision to select midfielder Steve Ralston, formerly of the Mutiny. Ralston would go on to make 202 appearances for New England, scoring 42 goals. The creative midfielder ended his career as MLS’ all-time leader in assists (135), games played (378), games started (372), minutes played (33143) and game-winning assists (41). 

The second pivotal moment, while no less productive from a statistical standpoint, would provide the franchise with its face for nearly the next decade.

 

The Golden-Haired Goal Machine

 

Taylor Twellman had been a four-sport letter winner at Saint Louis University High School in his native St. Louis, MO, and was actually offered a professional contract by the Kansas City Royals. Spurning the offer, Twellman elected to play soccer at the University of Maryland on an athletic scholarship, and was named a second-team All American his first season, in 1998. The following year, Twellman finished as the runner up for the Heisman Trophy and the MAC Player of the Year Award. After just two seasons with the Terrapins, the 20-year-old forward decided to sign a professional contract with German club TSV 1860 Munich, then competing in Germany’s top-flight Bundesliga. After 58 appearances and 29 goals for the Bavarians’ reserve side--having been unable to crack the first team--Twellman returned home when the Revolution made him the second overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.

The rest is history.

All the golden-haired goal machine did at Gillette was become the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer, netting 101 over 174 appearances between 2002-10. Twellman also earned 29 caps for the US National Team, scoring six goals. During this time, the Revolution were perennial contenders, and in Twellman, the Kraft family had a perfect face for a franchise desperately trying to carve an identity in the already over-saturated Boston sports market. Twellman is sixth all-time in MLS goals (101) and shots on goal (318), fifth all-time in game-winning goals (28) and third in goals per game (0.58).

Following the Open Cup-winning 2007 campaign, in which Twellman notched 16 in 26 games, injuries began to become ever more frequent for the Revs’ leading scorer. Twellman would miss the lion’s share of the 2008 and 2009 seasons after suffering a neck injury and serious concussion against LA Galaxy on Aug. 30, 2008. He was supposed to make his triumphant return sometime in 2010, but on June 24 of that year, it was announced that Twellman would not be playing that year after all, and was placed on the season-long injury list.

For those prone to reading the writing on the wall, it seemed the end was drawing near for 30-year-old Twellman.

At the end of the 2010 season, it became official. Taylor Twellman announced his retirement from the game.

While certainly accustomed to playing without their star goal scorer, Nicol and company were expecting his return at some point in the future right up until the quashed comeback in June.

Now, with an entire offseason to prepare for the future without number 20 in the attacking corps, Nicol finds himself more or less back where he started with New England: manager of a team that was on the outside looking in at the previous postseason party.

 

Where do we go from here?

 

With a slew of offseason signings, the new-look Revs will be a much different side in 2011. That’s a good thing, considering New England went 9-5-16 last year, and failed to make the postseason for the first time during Nicol’s tenure at the helm.

The Revolution filled several more of its eight allocated international roster spots, adding Argentinean defenseman Franco Coria, frenchmen Didier Domi and Ousmane Dabo and 18-year-old Nigerian outside midfielder Michael Augustine. The signings on the defensive end, Coria and Domi, are especially welcome, as the Revs defense was the most porous in MLS last season, conceding an average of 1.67 goals per game. While myriad injuries at the back, coupled with a series of similar issues afflicting stalwart starting keeper Matt Reis and backup Preston Burpo certainly contributed to the dismal returns from the Revs defense, the real issue was depth, as the team carried only five natural defenders on its roster for much of the campaign.

The new faces will certainly help with that.

Coria, 22, erases a recent record of futility concerning Nicol’s scouting forays into South America, and will become the first Argentine to appear for the Revolution since Dario Fabbro during the 2003 playoffs when he makes his debut. The pure defender was acquired from Primera Division side Chacarita Juniors BA, where he made 18 appearances in the first team over the last four seasons. Coria was acquired on a loan, but it the language of the deal allegedly contains a clause that would allow the outright purchase of his contract in the future. Coria is projected to compete with first-round draft pick AJ Soares for a spot backing up in central defense.

Domi brings vast amounts of invaluable experience to the table, as the 32-year-old has seen time with such clubs as Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United and the club he was last with before being signed by the Revs, Greek giants Olympiacos. Domi will likely be thrust directly into the starting lineup, presumably at left back.

While these signings--especially that of Dabo, who won three caps with France’s senior side--are certainly positive and intriguing, the question remains: can the team improve upon last season’s woefully barren offense?

The Revolution’s 32 goals scored in 2010 was the third-lowest total in the league, trailing only Chivas USA and DC United.

With the acquisition of the former Lazio man and the young Nigerian Augustine, the club  bolsters an already somewhat deep midfield.

Dabo, despite his advanced age (34), brings a ton of European experience to the team. That’s something that there wasn’t much of, save for last year’s leading goal scorer, Marko Perovic, who spent time with several continental clubs, including Red Star Belgrade (SRB) and Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR). Dabo spent time with Inter Milan, AS Monaco and Manchester City before moving to Lazio. Dabo had been out of contract since 2010.

Augustine is a bit more of a wild card. 

According to the scouting report, the young winger has a lot of pace, and since joining Nigerian club FCT Abuja’s first team in 2008, has scored 18 goals. Augustine helped the team win promotion to the top flight in his rookie season.

Whether or not that will translate to success in MLS remains to be seen, but Augustine certainly adds an intriguing late-game option for Nicol, as his pace and ability to score will surely cause headaches for opposing managers.

Also joining the midfield is 2011 MLS SuperDraft 24th overall pick Stephen McCarthy, from the University of North Carolina. While it is yet to be seen if the youngster can crack the Revs’ roster, he was getting a look during the preseason--as a center back, in addition to in the midfield.

So the midfield, already a strength, will be one even more so. That’s good, but the question remains: whose boots are all those lovely chances created by New England’s engine going to fall in front of?

Let’s first take a look at what was there last season.

New England’s most productive forwards were 2010 rookie Zack Schilawski, who netted 5 goals in 25 games, and Kheli Dube (2 goals, 5 assists in 20 games). After that, it was Ilija Stolica, who returned 3 goals in 14 appearances.

Also appearing four times at striker was 35-year-old Lithuanian legend Edgaras Jankauskas, arguably the most famous player in the nation’s history.

While Schilawski shows signs that he could become a top goal scorer in the future, Nicol and Vice President of player personnel and former US International Michael Burns weren’t about to stand pat with the uninspiring front line of 2010.

Drafting a pair of attackers in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Ryan Kinne and Alan Kolger, the club announced that it had inked the pair, along with midfielder Andrew Sousa--chosen in the MLS supplemental draft--to contracts.

The signings leave the club with 27 players on the roster (8 international, 19 domestic), with a maximum roster size of 30, leaving room for more new acquisitions.

It would seem a prudent move for the team to be thinking about adding a proven goalscorer to pair with the promising Schilawski, and that’s exactly what the old rumor mill indicates is the case.

The Revolution are rumored to be looking outside the US for a forward, and have been linked with out-of-favor West Ham United attacker Benni McCarthy, although there has been no further word on that in a few weeks.

Here’s my take.

 

Time to get our capitalism on

 

I think I speak for many Revolution supporters when I say: isn’t it about time we make a DP (read: Beckham) rule signing?

I think it’s clear that the reality of MLS has shifted towards a more “have” and “have-not” orientated animal. In other words, the teams that have designated players can compete, while the ones that don’t will have trouble. At least over the course of the grueling regular season.

Despite the DP-less final, with Colorado Rapids defeating FC Dallas for the 2010 MLS Cup title, six of the eight playoff teams--including the top four seeds--had designated players on their roster.

The rule, a slippery slope if ever there was one, gives the nod to owners who wish to invest in foreign players, allowing teams willing to spend a distinct advantage over those who can’t or won’t.

Couple this with another current league issue, the dearth of soccer specific stadiums being erected around MLS, while other franchises--some in big markets, like Boston--are forced to watch their fans rattle around inside the cavernous expanses of NFL Stadia, such as is the case in New England. The 15,000-odd fans that attend Revolution home games seem like an intimate gathering when cast against the 65,000 seat backdrop of Gillette Stadium.

It’s also a money issue. Soccer specific stadia generate considerable revenue for the teams that own them, while this is not s much the case in a shared tenancy situation.

All this adds up to create a scenario that seems rife with potential to take a turn down the path to ruin followed by MLS’ predecessor, the old North American Soccer League. That comparison however, is a whole other can of worms, and must wait for another time to assume my full attentions.

The Revolution do not have an issue with poor ownership. Any Boston sports fan will tell you that. 

The Kraft family have turned the New England Patriots into perhaps the most successful NFL team of the past 20 years, and have always been willing to spend--albeit prudently.

That being said, let’s go out and buy a striker.

Why not spend a little money and bring in a proven scorer, with a name if possible, bolstering the attack and creating a little buzz around the team. For those who follow the Revs, names like Sainey Nyassi and Shalrie Joseph don’t carry a whole lot of cache, but there are a lot of soccer fans in the Boston area, and look what the signing of Thierry Henry did for Red Bull New York, if perhaps not on the pitch, certainly from a marketing standpoint. There are bound to be other aging big-name strikers who could be persuaded to cross the pond and compete in MLS, and a team in a market like Boston needs a marquee name. Besides, for this league to reach the level of its aspirations, the big-market teams will have to lead the way. 

No disrespect to Columbus, Ohio or Denver, Colorado, but at the national level, nobody cares. We want New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids sound like minor league baseball teams.

So, who could potentially be lured to New England from abroad with enough crisp and glistening greenbacks?

 

Give us your tired, poor and (still?) hungry

 

The club is certainly not against the idea of adding a DP to the roster, and according to Nicol, have had at least two apparent deals in place that later fell through. The first, for an unnamed “center forward,” was stymied when the player’s club changed its mind regarding the impending transfer, and the second was for attacking midfielder Alex last year, from Turkey’s Fenerbahce, who was apparently enticed to stay in Anatolia by the Super Lig giants.

So we know they’re willing. Who can they get, though?

As discussed above, West Ham’s McCarthy was linked with a move to New England back in February. A proven goal scorer in England’s top league, posting 47 goals in 106 appearances with Blackburn Rovers between 2006-10, the 33-year-old South African international doesn’t have an ounce of name recognition outside soccer circles in North America, but could be a very valuable addition should a deal ever come down the pike.

Another, albeit far less plausible, move concerns Robbie Keane.

Keane, the property of Tottenham Hotspur, is currently on loan at West Ham. Should the struggles of Avram Grant’s side continue, and the Hammers find themselves relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship, Keane would almost certainly not be going with them. Clearly, he doesn’t figure in the plans of Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp, and at age 30, is rapidly approaching the point where his options for Premiership pitch time will be getting quite scarce

Keane is a well-known name in England, and to a much lesser degree, stateside as well. His 122 EPL goals rank him eleventh all-time, so his resume is pretty strong in that regard, and his signing would be a front-page story in soccer journals world wide.

The question is, would he come?

The short answer: it’s hard to say.

Keane was linked with a trans-atlantic move back in November, right before the start of England’s December transfer window, before finally agreeing to move on loan to Upton Park.

This is something that is beginning to become more and more commonplace.

We saw it with Robinho and Ronaldinho as well. The agent for a European star dangles an MLS move out there, right before his client ends up somewhere else. It would appear  that this is done to give the appearance of heightened interest, as what MLS team wouldn’t salivate at the prospects of adding either one of the Brazilian superstars to its roster, but also as a kind of covert signal. An indicator that, while perhaps not ready to say so publicly, their clients are aware of their diminished skills/value and are prepared to accept offers that would have been scoffed at just a few years prior. Ronaldinho and Robinho (loan) both ended up returning to Brazilian clubs, for far less money than they could have earned in the United States.

In Keane’s case, if West Ham go down at the end of the year, an MLS move could become a reality, provided none of the teams that win promotion make a run at him. MLS loses any head-to-head battle with a Premier League side, I don’t care who they are. Wigan, Bolton, whatever. Keane stays in England as long as he plays and is in the top flight.

If no offers materialized, I believe he could be lured to the land of staggering debt and golden-brown french fries.

Other possibilities, albeit staggering improbabilities all, include Ronaldo (read: Ronal-Dough), David Trezeguet and Robinho remain candidates for an MLS move.

Ronaldo and Trezeguet’s careers are almost over, but they would certainly be able to beat a few MLS keepers, while Robinho is still right square in his prime.

Signing Robinho into MLS, a long shot on a par with the Republican Party suddenly embracing socialism, would be a coup of epic magnitude for the league. A player of his class and quality in MLS during his peak years, would certainly equal massive ticket sales for whichever team was able to land him.

How nice would Robinho look up front in a Revolution jersey?

The problem, other than the fact that it may be impossible to pry the forward away from his desired permanent reunion with Brazilian side Santos FC (how they would pay the player’s salary is anyone’s guess), is that Blackburn Rover’s new owners, the Venky’s Group, reportedly have their eye on the star, and they have the money to back up their interest. Robi goes to Ewood Park over MLS with little to no deliberation. Come to think of it, Ronaldo would probably fancy a Blackburn switch as well, and would probably sign for a lifetime supply of free chicken.

Trezeguet, while an intriguing possibility, seems to be content with Spanish second-tier side Hercules, netting 10 goals in 20 games this season. The long and short of it: the French World Cup hero ain’t coming.

Two other names to consider are those of Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore.

Both began their careers in MLS. Adu, famously at age 14 with DC United--where he was anointed everything from “the Lebron James of soccer,” to “the American Pele.” Altidore meanwhile, began with RBNY, scoring 15 goals between 2006-08.

Adu, currently on loan with Turkish club Rizespor from Benefica, a side he joined in 2007 and has been on perpetual loan from ever since, is generally regarded to be on his last legs in Europe. The one-time phenom never really lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon his young shoulders by the world soccer press, and a move back to MLS looks more and more certain with each passing week.

Why not New England?

Despite his disappointing continental form, Adu is still very, very young at 21, and has enjoyed success stateside in the past. Adu scored 11 goals for DC United in 87 appearances--all before he turned 17-years-old.

While not a textbook striker, being perhaps more comfortable in a wide midfield role, the young Ghanian-American can play the position, possesses excellent skills on the ball and certainly knows how to score.

I say, why not?

As far Altidore is concerned, he is in a similar position. The 21-year-old striker joined La Liga side Villarreal in 2008, and after making just 9 appearances, was sent out on the first of three loan spells, with his current home being at Turkey’s Bursaspor.

Altidore is the player upon whose shoulders rest the hopes of the US National Team, more, perhaps than almost any other. A dazzling speed-merchant, the 6’1” forward has scored 10 goals in 32 USMNT matches. However, he has struggled to replicate that form in Europe, leading to limited playing time. The time may be drawing near when the youthful attacker needs to make a decision to go somewhere that he can get on he field. Might I direct the young man’s attention to state-of-the-art Gillette Stadium. 

Work got you down?

Boss giving you the blues?

The cure is closer than you think, Jozy.

Come on back to the USA. Bob and Moira will roll out the red carpet for you, and will give you the keys to the city (Foxborough, not Boston).

Altidore would surely thrive in MLS, and as is the case with Adu, a move back to Europe after another spell in the US is certainly far from out of the question given the young age of both players.

Come on guys, let an MLS Cup triumph with the Revolution be the catalyst for a move back to the top European clubs.

With Adu, maybe; but as far as Altidore is concerned, I would cast that as much more of unlikely scenario, although far from impossible or even improbable.

For my money, any of these options would be well met. Just for the love of god, do something soon, the season’s just a few weeks away.

 

Arsenal In Need of French Correction

 

One For The Ages

Arsenal have a chance to erase some bad memories.

 

There are some moments so utterly momentous, so thoroughly unbelievable, that they

almost defy the power of words to recall them. Happenings so unlikely, that in their

wake, only the impossibly far-fetched seems possible.

We’re not quite there yet, but the die has been cast. Forces are now in motion in the

world of European soccer that cannot be stopped; the table has been set for a feast of

fixtures fit for a king, and there is one that positively towers over all the rest.

Arsenal at the Nou Camp against La Liga’s adjective-defying world beaters from

Barcelona. The Gunners head into the second leg of this Champions League tie with a

one-goal lead on aggregate, but will travel into perhaps the most hostile atmosphere on

the continent when they face the pride of Catalonia on March 8 with a coveted trip to the

quarterfinals on the line.

Before we go any further, let me state the following in the interests of full disclosure:

I am now, and have always been an ardent Arsenal supporter. It has been this way

since I was a small child, regaled by my father--a bit of an Anglophile, and a passionate

soccer fan--with tales of Liam Brady, David Rocastle and the springtime years of the

great Tony Adams. As I grew older and (I hope) wiser, I found my own legends in

Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and my all-time favorite footballer, Thierry Henry. The

way number 14 put opponents to the sword in a Gunners jersey is something burned

into the very fiber of my sporting consciousness, that is why it is very hard for me to

watch a Red Bull New York match. Think Montana with the Chiefs or Jordan with the

Wizards; it’s wrong, just plain wrong and it boils the blood just to write about it.

No matter, the legends of yesteryear have gone the way of old Highbury and there are a

new cast of heroes ready to carve a place for themselves in the lore of this storied club.

Replaced now by the august likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and

Theo Walcott, the faces have changed but my passion for the pride of North London

remains unabated.

It has always been this way, and always will. Until the earth is broken and remade.

But enough of that sentimental hogwash, let’s get back to the business at hand.

When I was watching the first round match, I will admit, I was quite daunted by the

sinister history between the Gunners and the Blaugrana. Since 2006, that black year

when Barca saw off a brave 10-man Gunners’ side 2-1 in the final in Paris, the two

sides have met twice in continental competition, not counting this year, with Barcelona

winning both ties. Add to the that, the persistent knowledge that this year’s edition of the

Blaugrana, what with David Villa and all, truly are the most talented team in the world.

Needless to say, I was not a model of confidence going in.

The first half certainly did little to assuage my fears.

 

Arsene Wenger’s men looked every bit out of step in the opener, and after a Villa

strike put Barca ahead 1-0 heading into the half, I must confess, I feared the worst for

Arsenal. I mean, come on. Barcelona was coming off a record-setting 16 match win

streak in La Liga, which had only ended the weekend prior to their first-leg match in

London, and there was no doubting that they were very much an in form side.

Things remained status quo early in the second half, and at one point, I was so

discouraged that I even left the glow of the television to walk for a pack of smokes,

figuring that I wouldn’t miss much, and if I did, odds were that it would only be another

Catalan highlight.

Luckily, I returned at the 74th minute. Nothing had changed score wise, but the Gunners

seemed to have a bit more about themselves. I was intrigued. Did I dare to dream?

When van Persie loosed a laser on goal from an impossible angle four minutes later,

I was through the ceiling with joy as I watched it ripple the netting behind Blaugrana

keeper Victor Valdes. Still, my mind, being a mostly logical organ, was only thinking

draw. To have hoped for a winner in this scenario would, to me, have been like getting a

new car for Christmas and complaining because it wasn’t a Porsche.

But lo and behold; wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, it was barely five minutes

after the equalizer that it happened.

By it, I of course mean the now-legendary goal that sent the entire north side of London

into a frenzied rapture, and ensured what promises to be one of the best Champions

League matches in recent memory. Nasri set up Andrey Arshavin--a rather unlikely

name, as the talented Russian international has only netted nine in 38 appearances

over all competitions this year--in the 83d minute and the midfielder slotted home past

Valdez to give the Gunners a famous victory.

I immediately burst into tears of joy. I hugged strangers on the streets of Boston. I

whistled a jaunty tune as I floated along on cloud nine. I was beaten and robbed by

possible gang members. Probably Chelsea fans.

I learned two valuable lessons that day. One: a job half done, is just a job half done, and

two: drug-peddling gangsters are utterly unmoved by soccer.

The first realization hit me at about the same time as a size-10 Timberland boot. In

retrospect, I suppose the second realization dawned on me around that time also.

I knew the Gunners would have much work to do if they hoped to progress past

Barcelona to the quarterfinal. I resolved to give the matter a good thinking over when I

came to.

 

The day the world stood still

 

Wenger is adamant that Arsenal will not show up at the Nou Camp and park the bus

in front of the visiting goal, that his side will attack from the jump. At first, it seemed

a brash statement made in the heat of passion. How could he possibly not plan to

defend a one-goal lead against Barca? Does he not fear their counter attack? Then,

it began to dawn on me. Of course he does, but what else can he do? After Arsenal’s

epic victory at The Emirates, one thing was clear: Barca has the quality to pick the

Gunners defenses apart with relative ease. Adopting a defensive strategy would indeed

be tantamount to suicide, as Lionel Messi and the Blaugrana would surely carve up

Arsenal like a holiday roast.

 

What I believe Wenger is banking on, is the hope that with an attacking mindset, the

Gunners--who could be called England’s Barca based solely on the fluid style of play

they favor--can grab a quick one at the Nou Camp, put the Catalans back on their heels

and hold on for dear life. Hoping to deny Barcelona long enough to progress through to

the next round. A two goals aggregate hole could force the play of Barca’s star men and

lead to a nervous performance, allowing Arsenal a slight window. However, for this to

occur, Arsene’s men will have to turn in a near-flawless performance on March 8.

Hey, it could happen.

I know, I know, Arsenal have never beaten Barcelona in a European competition. No,

I haven’t forgotten last year’s humiliation in Catalonia either (thanks for bringing it up,

jerk). And you’d better believe I haven’t forgotten Messi’s magical quartet of goals

in that one--nor am I likely to for some time. Arsenal earned a 2-2 draw against the

Blaugrana at The Emirates last season before being thoroughly run off the pitch, 4-1, in

the second leg in Barcelona.

However, these are different circumstances.

Arsenal are, by and large, healthy this time around. Although Fabregas, who was forced

to sit out last year’s Champions League tilt against the Blaugrana, put the fear in my

heart when he injured his pesky hamstring again on Feb. 23 during the Gunners 1-0 win

over Stoke City at Emirates Stadium.

Now, a quick bit of history: The Gunners haven’t hauled in any hardware for six

seasons. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. The big goose egg. Not since the days of Henry,

Bergkamp (whose last game was the 2006 CL final against Barca), Pires and Freddie

Ljungberg, when the side hoisted the 2005 FA Cup have Arsenal fans known the thrill of

a trophy win.

As things stand as of Feb. 24, The Gunners are in the mix for four trophies, with

Wenger on record saying he thinks his team can produce a legendary quadruple and

take all four.

First on the docket, the Carling Cup.

Arsenal faces Birmingham City in the final on Sunday, Feb. 27. This is where Fabregas

again enters the picture.

Taking to Twitter following the Stoke City match, “the creative king of Europe” vowed he

would do his darndest to start against Birmingham City, even if it put the all-important

second-leg fixture at the Nou Camp in jeopardy.

Arsenal’s captain was dubbed “the creative king of Europe” recently by British sports

data firm Opta, after a new statistic revealed that the midfielder creates a chance from

open play every 29 minutes--the best rate of any player from the continent’s top five

leagues.

“I don’t know if I’ll make Sunday or not, but all I know is that from this moment until

Sunday I won’t sleep if it’s necessary,” he wrote on his Twitter page. “I’ve waited too

long to captain a final for Arsenal and I won’t give up till the last second.”

The only other new development concerns Arsenal’s young speed merchant Theo

Walcott. The Winger suffered an ankle sprain against the Potters and was carried off

the pitch. Wenger has ruled Walcott out of the Carling Cup final, but his status regarding

the Barca match was not discussed in specifics, with the french manager saying that

it was unclear how long the England international will be sidelined. Walcott played

 

extremely well against Barcelona in London, before yielding to Nicklas Bendtner in

the 77th minute. His pace was a disruptive influence on the Catalan ranks, but that

shouldn’t really come as any surprise. It is a familiar tune for Arsenal fans.

Another factor that could help the Gunners: the emergence of Jack Wilshire as a bona

fide star in the middle of the pitch. Wilshire, 19, recently made his debut for the senior

England side, getting the nod for a Feb. 9 friendly against Denmark.

The young midfielder has been a revelation this year at the Emirates after spending

much of last season on loan at Bolton.

With most of the focus on stars such as Villa and Messi, it can be easy for the casual

fan to overlook the Blaugrana’s quality at midfield. With names like Xavi and Andres

Iniesta patrolling against the Gunners, Wilshire’s man-of-the-match performance

was positively sublime. As clear an announcement of the young man’s arrival on the

scene as could be imagined, and a feat that must be replicated for Arsenal to bounce

Barcelona from the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Barca are the critics’ choice for best side in football history, and the clear

favorites to wrap up the tie on their home turf.

On paper, it’s always been a mismatch. But as the saying goes: that’s why they play the

games.

 

Around the continent in (roughly) 500 words

 

There is no better competition in the world than the Champions League. Period. And

there is no better league than the Premiership.

Now there’s a controversial statement.

Before anyone goes and rattles of an infantile screed in garbled, clearly foreign english,

please heed the following: c’mon, man. Just do it in your native tongue and let me work

out the translation. That would be much better than dealing with: “Arsenal am finish.

Messi does hat-trick and Barca are yes!”

C’mon now people.

Well, 85 words in and I haven’t even alluded to any other ties yet. Here goes.

Arsenal’s North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, also notched a famous 1-0 win in

their first-leg fixture with Serie A leaders AC Milan. Harry Redknapp’s men did their

deed at the San Siro, however, and can now look ahead to a second-leg at White

Hart Lane, boosting their odds, one would think, considerably. Great year so far for

Spurs. Gareth Bale’s has been a godsend, while Rafael van der Vaart was undoubtedly

the signing of the summer. Rivaled only perhaps by the inking of Javier “Chicharito”

Hernandez with Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.

United failed to snatch the anticipated win against Olympique de Marseille at the Stade

Velodrome, but heads back to the friendly confines of Old Trafford to try and finish the

job. I can’t see OM winning this tie, no matter how hard I try.

Bayern Munich beat slumping Inter Milan side 1-0 in Milan, and based on the sorry state

of Inter at the moment, should have little trouble seeing them off at Allianz Arena in the

second-leg.

Chelsea, those rat-bastards, downed FC Copenhagen 2-0 at Parken Stadion and

should virtually coast into the quarterfinals in the second-leg at Stamford Bridge,

possibly becoming the fourth English side--and third from London--in the Champions

 

League final eight.

Despite a very bald and very menacing Zinedine Zidane offering his scouting services

to former club and current employers Real Madrid concerning Olympique Lyonnais

heading into their first-leg matchup, Los Blancos were unable to solve the riddle

wrapped in an enigma that OL has become to them. It’s all mental. Like when guys like

Chuck Knoblauch all of a sudden can’t complete routine throws that they have been

making for the last ten years, and hilariously toss the ball every which way except where

they intend. I wouldn’t count out Jose Mourinho’s side quite yet though, as a draw at

home versus Madrid is one thing, while an actual win at the Santiago Bernabeu is quite

another. Real wins this one, or Christiano Ronaldo goes all Pedro Martinez during the

post-match press conference and says: “Les Gones are my daddy.”

Not until it’s possible to book a transatlantic flight on the back of an elephant.

Elsewhere Shaktar Donetsk of Ukraine posted a surprise 3-2 win over AS Roma at

the Stadio Olimpico, setting up what will quietly be one of the more intriguing second-

leg fixtures for the neutral, while Valencia and Schalke 04 played to a 1-1 draw at the

Mestalla in the opening salvo in their tie. This one’s hard to call. Do Juan Mata, Roberto

Soldado and Jordi Alba have enough about themselves to deal with the likes of Klaas

Jan-Huntelaar and Raul?

Methinks, this one could go either way. Aw hell, give it to Valencia, 1-0. A late Soldado

strike settles it.

There it is. Wisdom from on high. Sacred knowledge from the tree of learning ... which

someone has cut down to fashion a baseball bat from it and club me senseless. I know

it. I live in terror, like middle America. Mine is just as warranted and well founded.

They’re all closing in, aren’t they?

Well friends, at least buy enough ammo to keep the swine at bay until after the

completion of the Champions League round of 16, after that, it’s every man for himself.

If Arsenal manage to pull this off, you can just go ahead and shoot me if we cross paths.

The high-water mark of my life will be clearly visible, and have clearly passed, as a

great wave of joy that has broken over me will give way and gradually roll back. Ebbing

away until all that remains is yet another road sign telling me how many more miles

away from happy I am.

On second thought, just shoot me now.