...probably just have a few beers and listen to records with friends.
But it's going to be life-changing!
Whatever.
Friday, December 31, 2010
NYE 2010
Get ready Chicago, I'm going to...
...probably just have a few beers and listen to records with friends.
But it's going to be life-changing!
Whatever.
...probably just have a few beers and listen to records with friends.
But it's going to be life-changing!
Whatever.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Great Things About Today:
1. Listening to Spiritualized.
2. The #becauseofhardcore trend on Twitter.
3. Coffee
2. The #becauseofhardcore trend on Twitter.
3. Coffee
"Think I can rock 'n roll
But probably just twisting
Think I want to tell the world
But probably ain't listening..."
Tops of Ten
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
No Age - Everything In Between
Crocodiles - Sleep Forever
Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
No Age - Everything In Between
Crocodiles - Sleep Forever
Monday, December 27, 2010
Aston Villa v Man City tomorrow
Aston Villa play Manchester City tomorrow and I think we'll lose.
No optimism here. Realistically, I don't think Villa will go down; they have a little bit too much talent to be considering Championship football next year. However, it ain't lookin' good.
Here's hoping for a draw at least. Been eying teams like QPR and Millwall feeling that the squad would stand a better chance. Urgh.
Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Fabian Delph, Eric Lichaj, even Nathan Delfouneso...save us!
No optimism here. Realistically, I don't think Villa will go down; they have a little bit too much talent to be considering Championship football next year. However, it ain't lookin' good.
Here's hoping for a draw at least. Been eying teams like QPR and Millwall feeling that the squad would stand a better chance. Urgh.
Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Fabian Delph, Eric Lichaj, even Nathan Delfouneso...save us!
Pat Kelly...
Man, he's such a scorcher.
Bid on a 7" of his on eBay, really hoping I win it. I lost the Ken Boothe auction. Drats.
Bid on a 7" of his on eBay, really hoping I win it. I lost the Ken Boothe auction. Drats.
All is Quiet on the Eastern Front..
Back in Chicago.
First time I've left this city since living here where I didn't want to come back. The snow is massive, piled up around the city and parked until the winter ends. Sixteen degrees as I left my apartment this morning.
Yesterday AVFC fell to Tottenham. I really was suspicious of Gerard Houllier when he arrived, but January's transfers should indicate how savvy he remains as a club manager. The game against Tottenham wasn't enough, though there were moments of quality and some great new blood getting to show their strength. Lichaj is a great midfielder, and as a Chicagoan (sorta) and an American, I'm excited to see him excel. Albrighton's goal was an accident. Villa really need more firepower.
Lastly, tons to do at work today and even bigger decisions to make in the coming days. Trying to be up for it and take on life with zeal instead of just kicking back.
First time I've left this city since living here where I didn't want to come back. The snow is massive, piled up around the city and parked until the winter ends. Sixteen degrees as I left my apartment this morning.
Yesterday AVFC fell to Tottenham. I really was suspicious of Gerard Houllier when he arrived, but January's transfers should indicate how savvy he remains as a club manager. The game against Tottenham wasn't enough, though there were moments of quality and some great new blood getting to show their strength. Lichaj is a great midfielder, and as a Chicagoan (sorta) and an American, I'm excited to see him excel. Albrighton's goal was an accident. Villa really need more firepower.
Lastly, tons to do at work today and even bigger decisions to make in the coming days. Trying to be up for it and take on life with zeal instead of just kicking back.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
I'm Coming Home...
Home for the holidays on Thursday. San Diego, I miss you. I've been listening to this tune everyday for the past week, and it's perfect. Pat Kelly-"I'm Coming Home," a Trojan Records single from 1970.
Probably my single favorite song right now:
Enjoy.
Probably my single favorite song right now:
Enjoy.
Football Factory
Rebuilding the football club is a term that gets thrown around all too regularly as the revolving door of managers seems to spit up teams and shit out new ones at every given opportunity.
When Gerard Houllier took over at Aston Villa, a bit of research told me that though he may have been a qualified candidate, he was going to need a different toolbox than the one that Martin O'Neill had put together, relying on a fairly one-dimensional style of play--though one that was often exciting and effective. Plus, you got to watch MON lose it on the touchline every single match, which was worth the time invested on its own.
Kevin MacDonald, who worked closely with O'Neill and managed the first team near the beginning of this season, seemed to know where to tweak the squad and where to go with what Martin O'Neill had left behind. Villa's 3-0 thrashing of West Ham on opening day was composed, collected, and the best football I'd seen them play in some time...I'll remember it well. Watching the team play confidently on the ball from the back up to the front was totally inspiring. I was shouting at my television with every pass and controlled possession.
I wasn't surprised that Kevin MacDonald stepped down, though the way it went down--waiting to announce that he wanted the job, announcing that he wanted the job, and then being turned down for it--caused me to feel a little surprised and skeptical of the new regime.
Houllier deserves his chance, but I can't say I fully back the methods. A new article from the Guardian, posted today, seems to suggest that Houllier wants to completely redevelop the transfer and scouting strategy to focus on younger, underdeveloped players. It seems a little silly to say that when Villa have one of the best reserve academies in the league, and the underlying message is undeniably clear: WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH MONEY. In that case: Thank God for young players that are showing how talented they are like Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, and even American Eric Lichaj.
That becomes harder when looking at the amount of talent that Martin O'Neill was always able to bring in near the death of the transfer window. I think there was some serious soreness about letting an asset like Milner out of the team. Without him, we're starting to see how vital he was in the role that he began to occupy in the center. Everyone hated waiting to see if O'Neill was going to do the business, but without fail, season after season, some rare bargains would show up right before the window closed and Villa would have a handful of new names to stitch on the back of their shirts. Not totally dissimilar from Brian Clough's portrayal of signing new players in The Damned United: "Of course I bought him! He's an English International!" But I digress...
One player who excelled at his former club and a player who single-handedly rescued the Villa defense last season was Richard Dunne. He hasn't looked half the player he was under O'Neill since he left. It's disenchanting. Martin Laursen's absence was a huge hole to fill, and Dunne did it effortlessly last season after he was pushed out of City. He showed his class by scoring a goal against his former club and refusing to celebrate. O'Neill always seemed to get the best out of him for each match, and this season he's been as inconsistent as Chicago weather.
Warnock was someone who I was admittedly surprised to see come to Villa, but I always thought he was a breath of fresh air. He has made some mistakes at the back, but he has made overlapping runs, he puts in a good ball--even the occasional long ball across to the opposite flank with near pinpoint accuracy--and always looks like he's putting his all into every shift. He could stand to be a little faster sometimes, but I think on his day, he's a match for any wing in the league.
The Guardian reports that it is speculated Warnock will be moved on come January. I'm sad to see him go, if it's true. The biggest worry about this, is that the speculation came from The Guardian--while if it were printed in the Daily Mail, I would know it was exactly that--speculation, and nothing more. Frustrating times in the life of a Villa fan.
Houllier, the football factory is yours now. Here's to hoping you can get the cogs moving in the right direction.
When Gerard Houllier took over at Aston Villa, a bit of research told me that though he may have been a qualified candidate, he was going to need a different toolbox than the one that Martin O'Neill had put together, relying on a fairly one-dimensional style of play--though one that was often exciting and effective. Plus, you got to watch MON lose it on the touchline every single match, which was worth the time invested on its own.
Kevin MacDonald, who worked closely with O'Neill and managed the first team near the beginning of this season, seemed to know where to tweak the squad and where to go with what Martin O'Neill had left behind. Villa's 3-0 thrashing of West Ham on opening day was composed, collected, and the best football I'd seen them play in some time...I'll remember it well. Watching the team play confidently on the ball from the back up to the front was totally inspiring. I was shouting at my television with every pass and controlled possession.
I wasn't surprised that Kevin MacDonald stepped down, though the way it went down--waiting to announce that he wanted the job, announcing that he wanted the job, and then being turned down for it--caused me to feel a little surprised and skeptical of the new regime.
Houllier deserves his chance, but I can't say I fully back the methods. A new article from the Guardian, posted today, seems to suggest that Houllier wants to completely redevelop the transfer and scouting strategy to focus on younger, underdeveloped players. It seems a little silly to say that when Villa have one of the best reserve academies in the league, and the underlying message is undeniably clear: WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH MONEY. In that case: Thank God for young players that are showing how talented they are like Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan, and even American Eric Lichaj.
That becomes harder when looking at the amount of talent that Martin O'Neill was always able to bring in near the death of the transfer window. I think there was some serious soreness about letting an asset like Milner out of the team. Without him, we're starting to see how vital he was in the role that he began to occupy in the center. Everyone hated waiting to see if O'Neill was going to do the business, but without fail, season after season, some rare bargains would show up right before the window closed and Villa would have a handful of new names to stitch on the back of their shirts. Not totally dissimilar from Brian Clough's portrayal of signing new players in The Damned United: "Of course I bought him! He's an English International!" But I digress...
One player who excelled at his former club and a player who single-handedly rescued the Villa defense last season was Richard Dunne. He hasn't looked half the player he was under O'Neill since he left. It's disenchanting. Martin Laursen's absence was a huge hole to fill, and Dunne did it effortlessly last season after he was pushed out of City. He showed his class by scoring a goal against his former club and refusing to celebrate. O'Neill always seemed to get the best out of him for each match, and this season he's been as inconsistent as Chicago weather.
Warnock was someone who I was admittedly surprised to see come to Villa, but I always thought he was a breath of fresh air. He has made some mistakes at the back, but he has made overlapping runs, he puts in a good ball--even the occasional long ball across to the opposite flank with near pinpoint accuracy--and always looks like he's putting his all into every shift. He could stand to be a little faster sometimes, but I think on his day, he's a match for any wing in the league.
The Guardian reports that it is speculated Warnock will be moved on come January. I'm sad to see him go, if it's true. The biggest worry about this, is that the speculation came from The Guardian--while if it were printed in the Daily Mail, I would know it was exactly that--speculation, and nothing more. Frustrating times in the life of a Villa fan.
Houllier, the football factory is yours now. Here's to hoping you can get the cogs moving in the right direction.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mourinho & Tevez?
I thought of a possibility regarding the emerging transfer window that I think is financially feasible, admittedly outlandish, and strangely enticing.
Tevez has been complaining that he no longer wants to stay at Man City, and after reading a bit about Mourinho's press conference and alleged desire for another striker, I figured Tevez may well become his latest mercenary. Mourinho knows how to play the media well, Tevez could link up with Ronaldo and DiMaria again, and garner a move to a Spanish-speaking country which may avert his alleged homesickness.
Am I totally out of line? It might happen.
Tevez has been complaining that he no longer wants to stay at Man City, and after reading a bit about Mourinho's press conference and alleged desire for another striker, I figured Tevez may well become his latest mercenary. Mourinho knows how to play the media well, Tevez could link up with Ronaldo and DiMaria again, and garner a move to a Spanish-speaking country which may avert his alleged homesickness.
Am I totally out of line? It might happen.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
now the news is out now...
This song has been stuck in my head for a bulk of the day.
Today was exceptionally poor. I have a small list of things to do this evening, and then I'm going to put on Hot Snakes records and write all night.
Today was exceptionally poor. I have a small list of things to do this evening, and then I'm going to put on Hot Snakes records and write all night.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Snowy in Chicago
The weather is miserable in Chicago today so I'm not doing band practice.
I wimped out. Bummer. About to go grocery shopping and then finish fixing up the house. Pics to come later.
I wimped out. Bummer. About to go grocery shopping and then finish fixing up the house. Pics to come later.
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