Arsenal Giving Away the Family Jewels

Another sad day for the Arsenal football club.

Jack Wilshere has spent most of his life at the club and is Arsenal through and through. Last season he was relatively injury free and played some good football. He was unlucky not to be selected for the England World Cup squad and now has been told that he will not be selected in the match day squad next season, at the club that he loves, despite accepting a financially reduced contract. For me that really stinks.

Jack Wilshire, moving to West Ham

I wasn't always Jack's biggest fan. Apart from a tendency for injuries, his short temper and petulance was always going to prevent him rising to the captaincy, that many saw him destined for. But on his day he could create openings that would change a match and he was a true Arsenal man. In these days of so many football mercenaries, god knows we need a few of those.

If this is typical of the type of decision we can expect from the new manager, Unai Emery, then maybe we have moved in the wrong direction. It may suit some sections of the fans, who believe that football is about constant change. But it is certainly not my idea of a club, which I believe is about construction and development, otherwise we'll all be Chelsea, or Man City.

In the last season and a half Arsenal have disposed of numerous long term players, as well as the coach, whose head so many were screaming for, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Francis Coquelin, Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Tomás Rosicky and now Jack Wilshere. OK some of them had reached the end of their careers or there were other good reasons for their departures. But the "Wenger Out" crowd were very fond of saying that one man does not make a club, so how many do? At what point does the club's identity start to disappear?

In the meantime, Arsenal have signed Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen. This is another unusual decision. Is Germany's fourth choice goalkeeper, who didn't make it to the World Cup in Russia, going to be better than Colombia's number one keeper, or one of the most successful keepers in the Premier league?

Admittedly Petr Cech is probably nearing the end of his career and Leno may be coming in as his replacement. But it is going to be difficult to keep all three of them happy and give them enough games.

Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder confirms departure

Baa Baas v Australia

The Barbarians and Wallabies Put in a Show for the Connoisseurs

 

The Barbarians played Australia at the weekend and it was one of those Rugby matches that only a Baa Baas fixture can be.

Baa Baas v Australia, a sensational display of Rugby

This was an amazing display of open, attacking, running rugby, that was a true celebration of the game.

The Barbarians started from the off with some innovations rarely seen in the game. An early line out saw Auckland Blues Hooker, James Parsons, throw the ball, not just over the line, but three quarters of the way across the pitch, for opposite winger Nick Cummins to run onto. Unfortunately the Honey Badger could not hold on and knocked the ball forward, otherwise it could have resulted in a spectacular try.

Shortly after this, the Barbarians kicked deep into Wallabies territory. A line out was the result and the Baa Baas opted to put 11 men in the line. Again winger Nick Cummins was involved, both in the line out and ensuing maul. This in turn gave way to a five metre penalty for the Baa Baas, not only did they opt for an old fashioned tap, the ball was launched over head and over the Wallabies line for the backs to run onto. 

Nick Cummins scores for the Baa Baas against Australia

 

The BBC produced this glowing match report

Australia started their European tour with an enthralling 40-36 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham in new coach Michael Cheika's first game in charge.

The invitational Barbarians, coached by All Blacks great John Kirwan, produced a late rally but Australia held on.

"Our defence stood strong at the end," said Wallabies captain Matt Hodgson.

"It is a big step forward for us - we're on a five-week tour and needed to start with good momentum."

Cheika took over from Ewen McKenzie following defeat by New Zealand in the Rugby Championship last month.

They face Tests against Wales, France, Ireland and England in November.

The Wallabies had Will Genia and Quade Cooper back in half-back tandem for the first time in a year, but couldn't control a wide-open game that swung back and forth.

Sam Carter, Benn Robinson, Tevita Kuridrani, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley and Sean McMahon ran in six tries - five converted - to put Australia 40-22 ahead with just six minutes to go.

Tevita Kuridrani, scores a try for the Wallabies against the barbarians

 But late tries from Nick Cummins and replacement Marnitz Boshoff - both converted by Boshoff - ensured a thrilling finish.

Frank Halai, Adam Thomson, and Francis Saili had earlier crossed for the Barbarians, with Colin Slade adding a 45-metre penalty.

Australia coach Michael Cheika told BBC Sport:

"In attack and defence we had some good moments and some poor moments, which is exactly what I imagined would happen. All in all it wasn't a bad hit out for us.

"After half-time we kicked on and got away from them. Then I think maybe [there was] a bit of fatigue - we've had big training week, and the travel and everything probably kicked in.

"When we did good things in the new shape that we are playing we looked relatively good. We've just got to keep doing that. We need to be a bit sharper to the ball in the attacking ruck so we can get some quicker ball.

"It has been a bit of the unknown. I've never been here before at this level, so I'll learn along the way as well."

Barbarians captain Alastair Kellock told Sky Sports:

"It was an incredible game to finish like that - we were so close.

"We showed we were willing to give it all and left absolutely everything on that park.

"It was a really enjoyable game to play in - a hard, hard game of international rugby. I'm really proud to pull this jersey on.

"We blended well considering we got thrown together on Monday not knowing each other."

Barbarians: Nanai-Williams, Halai, de Jongh, Saili, Cummins, Slade, Cubelli, Stevens, Parsons, Ta'avao, Bird, Kellock, Thomson, Todd, Luatua,

Replacements: Schwalger (Parson, 50), du Toit (Stevens, 50), Adriaanse (Ta'avao 51), Brussow (Thomson 52), Alemanno, Pretorius (Cubelli 58), Tuculet (de Jongh 59), Boshoff (Slade 69).

Australia: Folau, Speight, Kuridrani, Toomua, Horne, Cooper, Genia, Robinson, Faingaa, Alexander, Carter, Horwill, Higginbotham, Hodgson, McCalman,

Replacements: Hanson (Faingaa 55), Slipper (Robinson 54), Kepu (Alexander 60), Skelton (Carter 58), McMahon (Higginbotham 21), White, Foley (Cooper 55), Lealifano (Toomua 65).

More at Australia hold on to beat the Barbarians 40-36 at Twickenham

This was an incredible game of Rugby and both sides were still trying to score a try in the 84th minute, until Toutai Kefu spoiled the party by kicking the ball into touch and ended a glorious afternoon.

The Baa Baas captain Alastair Kellock spoke very well in his post match interview and obviously enjoyed every minute of the match.

This is the reason that Rugby is the game that they play in heaven.

Australia Lose the Fourth Ashes Test

From a promising position on day four of the fourth Ashes test at Chester le Street, Durham, Australia’s batting disintegrated and succumbed to another defeat to England. This result gives England the series, having already retained the Ashes with the draw at Old Trafford, and Australia with only pride to play for at the Oval next week.

The fourth test swung both ways, with England and Australia taking the advantage at different times, much like most of the series so far. Australia established a first innings lead of 32 in a low scoring match. But it should have been more. Opener Chris Rogers picked up his maiden test century with some dogged determination and batting. Shane Watson scored 68 coming in at number six. But very few others made much contribution to the total, with three of the top five not making double figures.

Shane Watson and Chris Rogers, Australia's highest scorers

Australia’s attack once again performed better than their batsmen and dismissed England for 330 in the second innings giving Australia an achievable target of 299 and the best part of two whole days to get them. England’s total was mainly the result of another superb century from Ian Bell and some handy runs from Tim Bresnan, once again coming in as the night watchmen, and Graham Swann’s unbeaten 30 boosting the tail.

The second innings for Australia started really well with an opening partnership of 109. But things quickly fell away from there. Khawaja and Clarke both made only 21 and Stuart Broad broke the hearts of the Australian batsmen with two sensational balls to dismiss Clarke and the dangerous wicket keeper Haddin. From there the writing was on the wall. Peter Siddle contributed a gutsy 23 but he was never going to make the required 118 remaining runs with Australia’s weakened tail.

English Premier League Round 35

English Premier League Round 35

Summary of games played w/e 01/05/11 and their effect on positions

Goodbye Henry the great

Goodbye Henry the great

tribute and eulogy to a Great British sportsmen

James O’Connor to sign for Melborne Rebels?

James O’Connor to sign for Melborne Rebels?
It seriously looks like they are trying to buy the Super Rugby competition.

Premier League Round 32

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