The beginning of the African Nations Cup was shockingly overshadowed by a machine gun attack on the Togo team bus on Friday. I believe 3 people have died from the attack so far, and that another player is currently in serious condition in hospital. It's a truly horrifying incident that hammers home what a different world we live in, that this kind of thing can happen with a degree of 'so what' about it. People are getting killed in their hundreds in these sorts of incidents across Africa and it makes football seem very insignificant indeed. Togo have since pulled out of the tournament and their players are in a period of mourning - Roberto Mancini rightfully stated yesterday that his player Adebayor should not return until he is absolutely ready to do so. To go back slightly, this attack wasn't a few bullets by some mad men who get scared away very quickly, it was a relentless barrage that lasted half an hour. Some people have suggested that this summer's World Cup is in jeopardy or maybe that it should be in jeopardy, but it's difficult to agree with that. While I and probably many more certainly have some long standing concerns about South Africa and rightly so, but an incident like this can't be used as an excuse to cancel the whole thing. I think Angola is something like 2000 miles away from SA, they're clearly very different places. The tournament is underway now anyway, Ivory Coast slipped to a surprising 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso, but the standout result has to be the opening game, where hosts Angola were 4-0 on Mali with 10 minutes to go, and somehow managed to draw the game 4-4. Incredible.
With the weather strangling most of the sport over the weekend, it gave Arsenal and Utd the chance to close in on Chelsea's lead in the Premier League. The Arsenal played pretty badly and snuck a 2-2 draw at home to Everton. A disappointing result on paper, but no disaster. The drew 3-3 at Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago, and despite a poor start to the season the Toffees are clearly no mugs. They won't have forgotten the 6-1 hammering they got from the Goons on opening day, and have some very decent players. Landon Donovan has been added to their squad and played pretty well on Saturday. From what I've seen of the bloke I rate him, he's had some disappointing spells in Germany but maybe he will prove he can do it on this side of the pond at last. For Arsenal, we did well to keep that unbeaten run going because it's a real tough period we're about to get into. We have Bolton back to back now, but then Stoke away in the cup, then Villa (A), Utd (H), Chelsea (A), Liverpool (H) and Porto (A). The Villa and Liverpool games are both midweekers aswell, that run of games really will decide our season. As for Utd they struggled to a 1-1 at in form Birmingham, and look a team who are having serious problems at the moment. They've been pretty poor all season really, only that in the first couple of months they managed to get the wins using their famous Utd powers of jammyness and time added on. Now they've been found out a little, Ronaldo is badly missed, Valencia and Obertan are poor replacements, Berbatov isn't fit, Carrick not playing well, defence MIA, and Rooney is doing his level best to hold them together. Ahh, it feels good.
Paddy Viera has returned to England, he's joined City and former boss Mancini. You hear a lot of people saying he's not got the legs anymore, he's past it, blah blah blah, but I can't pass any judgement because I don't see alot of Italian football. He'll bring a big lift to that dressing room, and there's a certain Monsiuer Domenech who he needs to impress so you can bet he'll be up for it. Utd claim they don't want anyone but you hear that a £12million + Nani move for Di Maria is already on the table. Chelsea are making similar claims, but with their transfer embargo due to kick in in the summer, the chances of Aguero or Ribery turning up are increased. Wenger has distanced himself from Chamakh, Gignac and Carlton Cole, of those the big Hammers man seems most appealing. And the smaller clubs will be doing their usual wheeling and dealing to try and keep their heads above water - Van Nistelrooy to Stoke anyone? Take her easy.
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