Bob Bradley

"Movement as a team to attack and defend. The ability as a team to move the ball quickly, play the ball forward and create advantages," he said are what he emphasizes. "In international soccer, the reaction when the ball turns over is really very, very important, so we need to make sure everybody understands as a team how we do those things."

-- Bob Bradley

Now I'm not necessarily a BB fan, we'll see how he does in the upcoming World Cup, but this quote breaks things down pretty well I think.

Wire To Wire

I wanted to get my prediction down for Arsenal's upcoming season, and the EPL season in general. I know this comes after the first game week, but I wanted to get my eyes on the squad so that I could lay down a relatively sane and hopefully accurate prediction. I'm not trying to play Nostradamus here, just trying to test my evaluation skills. For the sake of brevity, I'll confine my musings to the 'big 4'.

First up, Man U. The seem weaker to me, even though they're the team to beat as defending champs. The lost two really important players, which brings them back to the pack in my eyes. They still have quality in the side (I refuse to go into further detail), but they feel beatable now. That and most of their regulars are getting up in age, and the deal they all made with the devil to stay fit this whole time is coming to call. Summary: they look older and weaker, predicted finish 2nd.

Next, Chelsea. I just violently vomited. Even writing their name was harder than I thought. Speaking of deals with the devil, I think he already gutted this club of ever being able to own a soul ever again. This is a team with all the pieces, they just can't seem to be able to put it together. Hiddink at least provided the appearance of a normal club, but I don't think Ancelotti has the same magic. He'll just be the next in the parade of managers rather than the savior they're looking for. The reality is they have too much talent to NOT finish in the top 4, and I see them making a deep run at the CL as well. Lets just hope God keeps up this running joke of tearing their hearts out at just the most tantalizingly right moments. Serves them right for dealing with the devil. Predicted finish 3rd.

Now over to Anfield. My least hated of the other big 4. I might actually like them if it weren't for the insufferable Steve and his unabashed man-crush on Fernando Torres. Yack, I'd rather walk alone. But really, this team like Man U has lost a few major pieces, and did little in the market to improve the team. That may not remain the case for the whole season, because we all know Rafa is schizophrenic, and will by instant water just for the sake of the transfer. Until then, this team relies way too heavily on Gerrard and Torres. They'll save all their might for their coveted run in the CL, and may even have enough to find glory there, but for the league, I see this as the year they recede, predicted finish 4th.

OK, if you've held on this long and done the math, you'll know that I'm picking the Arsenal to with the league this season. I know, I know, shocker. But I dare you to argue with any of my previous analysis (except predicted finishes), and hear me out as to the reasons I think this is the year the young Gunners go from Boyz II Men:

• You could try and argue that the departure of Kolo and Adabayor has weakened the squad. But I counter by saying that Adebayor was coasting as a player and his scoring will be easily replaced by RVP, Arshavin, and Bendtner. Kolo leaving does weaken the defensive corps, but he's on the downward slop of his career and the transfer made good business sense. If Wenger uses the funds to buy another defender, they'll be unstoppable.
• Having Arshavin for a whole season will do wonders. I'm getting wet just thinking of the prospect.
• Most of these young Gunners are a year more experienced, compared to just a year older.
• Cesc as captain from the beginning. I'm still convinced that Gallas' handling of the Birmingham game 2 seasons ago when Eduardo shattered his ankle cost us the title.
• Speaking of 2 seasons ago, most of these same players were in the squad that lead the league for most of the season. A monumental effort from Man U coupled with our own spectacular implosion sealed that demise. Last year saw numerous injuries, the captaincy circus, no Eduardo or Rosiky, and Arshavin for only 1/2 of the year. No such thing happening this year.
• A new formation. Wenger finally coming to his senses and deploying a 4-3-3, much in the style of my other favorite team, RSL. Hahahahaha jk. Barcelona used it to perfection last year, and its the right formation for the players Arsenal has on hand.

These were all my reasons BEFORE yesterday. My unofficial last bullet is the resounding 6-1 scoreline over Everton. I don't want to flatter the team too much, because I do think its not representative of the quality of the Everton side. But make no mistake, they made it look easy, and will continue to do so.

I love the fact that they're officially top of the table after week 1. You can't go wire-to-wire unless you put that first peg in the ground. I'll see you at the other end (counting the 20$ at 15/2 odds I layed down on the Arsenal to take it all!).

The Present

The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is a gift. That is why this moment is called 'the present'.

I'm not quite sure who to attribute this quote to. I first read it in Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, but even in there he states it was told to him. Then I read it in this weeks Sports Illustrated of all places, and realized it must be one of those old time sayings that gets passed down through the ages, attributable to no one.

This quote, and the one I posted from Thoreau, speaks to the importance of being grounded in the present. As I've ventured further down the path of eastern philosophy and religion (Buddhism specifically) I've come to realize that this present moment awareness is one of the pillars of their thinking (meditation being one of the others that I'd love to discuss at some point).

But you don't have to be Buddhist to see the wisdom in the idea: that the past is behind you, and while you can draw knowledge from your experiences, there is no way to change any of it; the future lay out in front of you like a great mystery, but knowing exactly what or how anything is going to happen is impossible; the only thing you have control over is this moment right now.

When put forth that way, it really makes me feel the importance and power of present moment awareness. That's why I love the quote from Thoreau, because it conjures an image of myself standing at the precipice of two eternities (past and future). I too want to toe that line.