Entries from September 2006 ↓

Miscues rule the day as the Giants end up being their own worst enemies in a Week One loss to the Colts.

EDIT (The next night):

Three dropped near interceptions by the defense. Countless penalties on offense. A late fumble.

All of these combined to keep the Giants on the backfoot the entire game, and despite the best efforts of Brandon Jacobs, Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress and Eli Manning, the Giants ended up on the losing end of an otherwise great game.

That’s not to suggest that the bogus offensive pass interference call on 3rd down with less than ninety seconds to go doesn’t still piss me off - nearly twenty four hours later.

The Gunners are in serious trouble. Thierry Henry is still not 100%, and these stupid international matches aren’t helping things. It seems the formula for opposing sides is to score first, then keep 11 men behind the ball for the rest of the game. Arsene Wenger will need to figure out a way to get past the opposing managers’ negative tactics, or it’s going to be a LONG season at the Grove.

Five months of lunacy kicks off tonight with a special Thursday night edition of “Sunday Night Football on NBC”. Tonight’s matchup features the Miami Dolphins visiting the reigning Super Bowl Champs, and my roommate Sherri’s favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Poor Sherri has to work tonight, so I’ll be texting her score updates throughout the night. Good thing I bumped up the number of text messages on my cell plan.

Welcome to the top of the hill!

So, the summer transfer window slammed shut last night, and Arsene Wenger and David Dein were quite busy. Here’s the rundown:

Jose Antonio Reyes has been sent to Real Madrid in exchange for Brazilian midfielder Julio “The Beast” Baptista. The agreement between the clubs is a season long loan, with a view to making the switch permanent come summer.

In a surprise move, utility defender Pascal Cygan was sold to Villarreal for 2 million pounds. Reports also indicate that the Gunners signed another two youngsters, 18 year old Sho Ito from Japan, and 19 year old Denilson from Brazil.

However, the big news of deadline day was the under the wire completion of the most protracted transfer saga in history. England left back Cashley Cole broke FA rules by meeting with Chelksi at a hotel lounge while still under contract to Arsenal back in January of 2005, and ended up feeling betrayed by Arsenal when they allowed him to be fined by the FA for his actions. Instead of taking his lumps, he burned his bridges, and thus began a saga that lasted right up until last night. Cole and his agent fought for his “rights”, blamed everyone but themselves, and pretty much alienated everyone at Arsenal in the process.

Chelski too were fined for their involvement, but the whole business didn’t put either party off trying again. So, twenty months after the inital meeting, Arsenal sent Cashley to West London in exchange for France international defender, William Gallas and 5 million pounds.

Only time will tell who makes out better.

Well, there’s no club football this weekend, but plenty of action as the Euro2008 qualifiers start. Check your local listings as there’ll be matches on tomorrow and Sunday.