From Russia with Love?

The International Break comes to make us realize how much futile our weekends are without the usual stuff, the matches, the happiness of our team's victory and the sadistic pleasure of our rival's stutter. You even long for the pre game shows even if you know they feature Shebby Singh and Carlton Palmer.
 So nothing much to tell  about football, except the international games, which i hardly got a hang of. The only big news for the week came from the eastern Europe, where transfer windows were still active till 6th. Zenit Saint Petersburg showed a imaginary fist going to and fro to the whole Europe by getting Hulk and Axel Witsel for a combined fee of 100 million Euros.Hulk, at 26, being in his prime had to take a step up, if it is, i am not sure, Moreover i feel pity for Benefica, time and again nurturing great talent and then losing them, From Angel di maria, Ramires and David Luis to Javi Garcia and Witsel this season.On the other hand it was no doubt a sign of intent and with Russia hosting the 2018 world cup the league needs to be showcased. Both the players having been courted by most of the big league clubs finally settled for the Russian champions at the very end of the window. And no doubt they can light up the Russian league but what i really fear is about the players fitting into a league which has long been deemed as one of the most racist league in Europe.

Time and time again efforts to clean up the image of Russian league have failed, and with accusation like these  you don't feel optimistic about it. More so i feel for the players who are lured by the oil rich club and don't know what they can be subjected to. This summer, it felt that Zenit were looking for some big names and players like Nani, Berbatov, Arshavin and Yann M'Vila were linked but all of them refrained from a move to the Russian giant. Particularly the case of M'vila who was intimidated by the zenit's ultras, who sent him death threats and thus had to turn away from a move that would have seen him cash strapped. Dick advocaat, the current manager seems to be indifferent to this stating that fans don't like African players and he has no control. Those people who had their doubts about Ukraine and Poland hosting a Euro without any hooliganism must be shuddering thinking about 2018.

A-BOO HOO

Abou Diaby is not really a topic to kick start a new blog. Is it? After years and years of being sidelined from the game and being the butt of so many jokes you don't wish that kind of a future to anyone, not even a blog.
I have to be honest , with the stop start career Diaby has had i had given up hopes of seeing him as a vital cog in the Arsenal team and all those injury jokes that went around did not feel that bad after sometime. But credit where credit is due, for he kept on persevering, and the Liverpool game really brought out all the myriad options  that he has to offer.

What was seen at Anfield might have been missed by many due to the goals, tenacious Podolski and the string pulling craftsman Cazorla. The current midfield structure which is essentially without any defensive midfielder rather a resolute Arteta doing both the cleaning and ticking on job in front of the defense.Diaby has the job of going box to box, linking the play with the creative in charge remaining Cazorla, Diaby seem to click in the position, the position Arteta occupied last season and the same position which Denilson failed to deliver in. There were times when Diaby was played in the Cesc role, behind the striker where for me he lacked. For though he has a lanky structure and a great reach and touch but there were times that he slowed the pace of the game while playing behind the striker and i remember people calling for his head for the very same reason.  Neither the defensive enforcer nor the no. 10 but a midfielder willing to put those lanky legs to use.He can win balls, challenge aerially, wriggle past markers, turn smoothly and what not, but i guess i am jumping the guns, it is these few sparks that are all we have had from a player that by now should have been the focal point of Arsenal.Being consistent  is the biggest doubt that everyone has had with him throughout his career. But  you really wish something good happen to players like Diaby  who have maintained their balance, shown courage and came back from the time when most players call it quit, and help galvanize the team to something big.