How Not to Start a Weekend

On our early morning ventures to the pub one thing has become painstakingly clear, the result will influence the entire weekend.

A 7 AM kick off Saturday morning usually requires a subdued Friday night in order to be functional.

This week a few of us made it to the Galaxy Red Bulls match in Carson so it would be a feast of football, or so we thought. It would be a quick turn around to be at the pub in Hollywood Saturday morning.

The match being over at 9 leaves you with the entire day to bask in glory or wallow in one's own misery.

Heaven forbid you support other teams in any sport, I tend to find that the results will follow suit in the same fashion and the football will set the tone for the entire weekend's proceedings.

I am coming off a weekend to forget in a sporting sense and couldn't get it behind me fast enough.

I left the pub Saturday morning trying to figure out how in the hell I was going to block the result out of my mind as to not ruin the rest of the day(week). I spoke on the phone with my fellow Pinter, and his first question was Uh oh, did you drink more or less?

I was in such a state of shock and disbelief I couldn't even muster the courage to go that route and dip into an early morning buzz. I will say that if one is quite toasty by nine the day will be quite interesting or absolutely worthless. And I wasn't ready to commit to that.

I could feel the disdain for other fans and my own anger at the result and performance of the players and knew I had to step away for the day. Immerse myself in something, anything else for the day. I tried to watch some baseball and college football to get my mind off things without self medicating and had some success.

Starting with the Galaxy's disappointing performance Friday night at the HDC to a home loss to a newly promoted team at home, the tone of the weekend was set and all my teams followed suit.

Crazy how the weekend hinges on those two hours, luckily I support a decent team who doesn't leave me feeling that way too often.

To a better week ahead...

The year he becomes a MexiCAN

I believe that I was one of many who hoped that Carlos Vela would make his breakthrough last season.

Blighted by injury and lack of form, Carlos rarely looked the player that had shown so much promise the year before. Off the pace, looking to slight and going down too easily he had his critics, and for good reason.

Following the disappointing season I was hoping he could have an impact at the World Cup that would restore some much needed confidence in the player. Another injury, and his impact was minimal.

I was worried he might see his career stall somewhat like his compatriot Gio Dos Santos who's club football has been limited and unimpressive of late, but what would one expect leaving Barcelona for Tottenham of all places. If he is lucky he may get a run out in the Carling Cup against the might Arsenal... #TOTTENHAMISCAREERSUICIDE.

Oh wait this isn't Twitter, but that shit should be trending all over the world for any poor soul who considers joining the Tiny Tots.

I digress.

With the sale of Eduardo and the new squad number I was cautiously optimistic for the Mexican after watching some impressive pre-season action. Granted, being half Mexican and a die hard Arsenal supporter I would love to see my brethren thrive in the Premier league. But I can say that free of bias, his current form bodes well for his future.

In just three substitute appearances Carlos has three goals to his name, with his total minutes on the pitch easily under 90 played to date.

Watching a match the other week with my fellow Gooners in Hollywood I mentioned how important I thought that he get his first goal of the season to give him the confidence he needs. Job done at Bolton and now a brace against Braga. Detractors may say that none of his goals have been vital and have come in routs but that's when he has been in and if he keeps banging them in the minutes will come.

It is great to see so many Mexicans getting opportunities in Europe and it is great for our region to have players like Chicharito and Carlos playing with the best in the world. We can only hope that someone like Bradley can do the same and more Americans can follow suit.

Although I am happy with the progress the American players are making I don't see any at the moment that have the potential to be world beaters like the aforementioned MexiCANS.

Carlos will take all the minutes Eduardo would have had and at our current injury rate he may get a few starts, even in the Premier League if all goes well. His finishing is clinical, although he is quite one-sided as many left footers are, and there is a reason why we Gooners have had such high hopes having seen his potential.

He should embrace that super-sub role formerly held by Theo and make the most of it, the time has come for him to shine and he needs to grab the opportunity because it wont last long.

We will be witness to a true MexiCAN this season and a new Arsenal legend.


A taste of what to look forward to.

Interlull Drags On

I agree wrinkly baby this blows. Why now?

I am so bored I steal babies and dress them up in Arsenal colors. That's not enough to keep them(or me) entertained.


Our second inter-lull in a month. What am I going to do to kill time?



What the fuck.

Who wants to see international matches a week after the start of Serie A and La Liga?

Could you imagine them playing these FIBA basketball games mid-season? Pulling all your favorite superstars away from their teams to play some qualifying for a tournament two years away?

Not a chance.

These ass-clowns at UEFA and FIFA, this means you Platini and Blatter, have lost the plot.

Here we are two months removed from the biggest sporting spectacle in the world and players just getting back to fitness and form and a week is wasted prior to the beginning of the Premier League season for friendlies and now with European seasons finally kicking off, running off all these footballers to play for their country when some have not even recovered from their summer exploits.

We have just under two years til the Euros, shouldn't there be at least a six month break from international football after a World Cup. Should be a fucking law.

Now I have to sit here and worry about the squad not getting injured like always on international duty. It seems as though all players have made it through unscathed today. *fingers crossed* But to my chagrin I learn that there are more qualifiers to come Tuesday, what utter bollocks.

On the bright side I suppose I will get to sleep in, because I wont need to wake up at 430 AM this weekend to catch the Arsenal match. But really, I'd trade that for some proper football in a heartbeat.

Only one more week...