Arsenal vs. Red Bulls- (R) Emirates Cup final

Looked like hornets

 

Really off topic here. But Hope Solo is being interviewed during the NASCAR race since she drove the pace car. Strange to hear soccer talked about during a race (though it was talked about a couple months ago during the Kansas race as well).

 

Backe being interviewed now. Key points being asked about are cross-country travel and 9 players playing 90 minutes in back-to-back games.

 

Yeah that's pretty unexpected. Great ambassador for the sport though

 

The big story is that Backe out-coached Wenger ... keep it compact ... keep the score close ... if we're still in it, open things up for the final 20 minutes try and steal the draw ... and thus win the tournament.

Mission accomplished.

 

As if Savage has any room to talk. The dude made a career out of whoring himself for scraps to anyone who would sniff him.

 

after NYRB scored the silence from the color guy made me think someone shot his puppy. lol.

 

To really do this up right, RBNY needs to drop the trophy off the bus.

 

Wenger now being interviewed. I'm not sure I can believe Backe out-coached anyone.

"I've never seen [Henry] defending so much."

"He was the only dangerous player on that team."

Slightly critical of RB for "only defending."

 

Arsen Wenger : "(Thiery Henry is) the only dangerous player (on New York Red Bulls)"

 

Really makes me wonder if he watched the game. Henry wasn't all that dangerous for the most part.

 

Guess that makes Rost chopped liver..... But, semi-seriously, Arsene should ask himself if complaining about the "poor quality" of the opposition does him any favors when that opposition has just taken your Cup out of your hands in front of 60,000 of your diehard fans.

 

Coverage has ended. It's strange seeing a T-Mobile iPhone commercial. How come they say Nissan differently?

 

Classic Wenger defense. It's never Arsenal's fault for not winning tight matches, it's those darn opponents that refuse to play right into our hands. As an Arsenal supporter and a DC fan, I can't believe how much I found myself pulling for RBNY. The announcers and now the quotes from Wenger drip with condescension and poor sportsmanship.

 

Juan was very dangerous and was making things happen also Luke and Lindepere didn't play, makes it even more impressive for RBNY

Also, what can you expect they guy to say? this was the only trophy they've been able to win in past 5 years and now they don't have that fall back on

 

It's the French thing I guess.

 

Haha, yeah, it might be a stretch ... but when you go into someone else's house in what amounts to a championship final against superior quality opponents and come out with the necessary result ... I've give the man a small amount of due.

 

So Arsenal tied Boca Juniors and RBNY. RBNY beat PSG who beat Boca. Arsenal was the #3 team in their own tournament with opponents of debatable quality.

 

I didn't watch the game and maybe the quote was taken out of context a bit but I find this pretty weak. A good sport gives credit to his opponent and doesn't try to make excuses. Does he have a reputation for this type of behavior?

 

He's French.

 

Short answer (from an Arsenal fan), yes.

 

Backhanded compliments are nothing new for Wenger. Aside from the the free kick put on frame, Henry was more or less a ghost out there. Sure RB defended a lot. They also fielded a team half filled with MLS quality reserves. If Arsenal were half as good as they think of themselves, they should have won this little shindig in a laugher, instead they drew twice and ended up without their own trophy.

Honestly RB and Arsenal are a perfect matchup. Lots of purportedly pretty football, and not a lot of winning.