four flashes and a bar browl (Arsenal Vs Barcelona)

This Wednesday Arsenal met Barcelona in the finals of some European championship. Being on the fringes of football for quite a while now, I knew enough not to fall for this.

It is a well known fact that if any two very good teams meet in a final, the game is boring. The individual brilliances cancel each other out and the team with more brawn carrier the day. But here are four flashes which made me wait up till the ungodly hour (Yes. Now a days I am fast asleep before 10.30 PM).

Thierry Henry (either change the pronunciation OR change the spelling) is attacking from the right wing. He is on the edge of the corner of the D. Two players are waiting on the far and near corners of the goal. Henry unlashes a deadly right footer. But nobody sees the ball. The ball is actually passed to the unassuming winger on Henri's left with the left foot before the right leg takes the swing and hitting nothing but thin air.

Rolandinho in charging in the left field. Three defenders converge on him. He increases his speed and runs through them and leaves them behind in three steps; each time hitting the ball with the instep, increasing the speed after each dodge.

Henry overruns the ball in the D somehow. Turns back, and with the back to the goal, kicks the ball with the outside of the right foot. The kick is aimed at the corner of the field, but it hits the ball just in the exact angle such that the ball curves in the goal, over the dumbfounded heads of two defenders and the goalkeeper.

Ronaldinho is practising. Somebody passes him the ball. He catches the ball between his ankle and back of his thigh. On one leg, he rolls once, balances and in a smooth flourish the ball gets towards his head, loops towards his foot and is returned to the sender with love.

I had to see the match. And I did see it. It did not turn out what it promised to be. But I do not have any regrets.

One of the commentators had a view that Arsenal should attack from the word go if they are to have any chances in the game. I did not understand exactly why, but that's what they did. And it came out very well. Before Barcelona could say boo, Henry already had three attacks on the goal. Just missing to score a goal somehow and the match was truly on.

But suddenly the Arsenal goalkeeper brought down one of the attacker. The ball was passed to another attacker and the goal was scored. but the refree disallowed the goal, red-carded the goalkeeper and effectively killed the game.

Arsenal showed lot of spirit to score a goal and gamely fought till the beginning of the second half. Barca patiently waited for them to tire.

It was as disgusting as watching a boxing match going through all the rounds and the boxers trying to out-wait each other. The difference was that Barca was doing all the waiting. This was the first time I saw Ronaldinho so much out of form. None of his shots were on target and his tricks were known coming from a mile away and even then they did not work out.

This made the match an outrage as far as the skills go. But for spirits and emotions, It was really a worth watch.

Basics

A rule of thumb for fellow bloggers(who may stuble upon my entries: very less possibility and even lesser them accepting and thinking about my advice ):

1. Do not get angry.
2. If you do, do not blog about it.
3. If you do, do not read the entry.
4. If you do, feel bad you wrote such thing and get back.

Writing is too a sweet thing to waste on vandetaa, trying to hurt somebody OR trying to teach someone a lesson.

Claire ??

Anger

Anger: At what things could have been

Helplessness: The way things are turning out

Sarcasm: you deserved it buddy. Way to go

Realization: I blew it myself.

Second thoughts: No I did not. This is too easy and comfortable an answer. Face the truth and confront the culprit. If you do not attack the problem how will you solve it.

Second-second thoughts: Direct confrontations have only worsened the situations till now. Hmmm..

Second-second-second thougths: Hmmmmm .. Such is life. It is wasted on the living. now more so. Some more Hmmmmmm ...


Last realization: Even writing has stopped helping. Dark clouds loom and no clear path is seen ....