Answer: It can't. Not really.

But in an attempt to lighten the mood against what many on here seem to see as an almost certain loss to the hated Seattle Sounders on Saturday, let's see if Tropical Storm/Hurricane Don can delay matters somewhat. Them Seattles may have rain for 330 (or more) out of every 365 days per year, but they come down here and we'll show them what a Gulf Coast rainstorm can do!

And while we're on the topic of matters somewhat away from Robertson Stadium, Playtherapy forwarded to me the following link about a nice, new development in the FIFA thing that could indeed impact us if that 2022 World Cup decision ever gets a revote.

What could possibly go wrong?!?!?

Anyway, the link is at http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/26/europe-top-clubs-fifa-revolt

I think this is great. These are pretty direct observations from Rumenigge and I hope there's a huge kerfuffle over this. Everything on this whole FIFA deal seems set up to either let things lay or have them continue with the Qatari World Cup an eventual sacrificial lamb. With Mohammed Bin Hamman being banned for life, it could end right there. But with these kind of comments from the head of Bayern Munich, no less, doubling as the head of the ECA, further "discovery" of bribery and corruption could just make those guys wish they could have a Hurricane of their own.  What do you think?

And here's the full story if you'd prefer to read it here.

Raphael Honigstein in Munich
Wednesday July 27 2011
The Guardian

Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), has called for a club-led "revolution" against the "corrupt people" who govern football and called for his members to have a say in Fifa's decision-making process.

The 55-year-old chief executive officer of Bayern Munich said he despaired at what he described as the "daily corruption process at Fifa" and asked the footballing authorities "to recognise that it's time for democracy, transparency and the right balance in the football family".

"I don't accept any longer that we [should be] guided by people who are not serious and clean," he said. "Now is the moment to intervene. Because knowing something is wrong is an obligation to change."

The ECA replaced G14 as the representative body for the leading European clubs and numbers among its members Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Rummenigge said there was a groundswell of public support for his stance in the wake of recent scandals, the life-ban for Mohamed bin Hammam and "questions about the Qatari World Cup".

"It's not just the top clubs, it's all the clubs," he said, adding that the feeling of discontent was felt strongest in Germany, Switzerland and England, where he has recently met the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, and club officials.

Fifa itself was unable to change, he said. "Sepp Blatter is saying [that he's cleaning up shop] but the fact that no one believes him tells you everything you need to know. I'm not optimistic because they believe the system is working perfectly as it is. It's a machine, World Cup after World Cup. And for them, that's more important than serious and clean governance."

There was also, in his opinion, little chance that the national associations would exert pressure for reforms. "I don't believe [that they will get involved]. The current system is tailor-made for the associations and voted for by the associations. They won't go against [Fifa]." Having a representative of the clubs on Fifa's executive committee was not enough, he said. "I would go further. All stakeholders? clubs, associations, players, referees, and women's football ? have a right to be involved in the decision-making process."

Rummenigge also professed himself unhappy with the amount of international games clogging up the fixture calendar. "When I won the European Championship [in 1980], there were eight teams in the finals. That figure will treble by 2016. In the World Cup, it used to be 16 teams, now it's 32. The clubs pay the players but are not part of the decision-making process.We are not treated respectfully."

Rummenigge hinted at a possible breakaway from international associations if the ECA's grievances over fixture congestion are not addressed. "I will give them a chance but I'm ready for a revolution if that's the only way to come to a solution," he said.

There are plenty of Arsenal fans that are still screaming until they're red in the face about referee's Massimo Busacca to send off Robin Van Persie...but you're missing the point.

Arsenal's stubborn determination to sit back and defend their lead, rather than even attempting to attack a Barcelona defense that was weakened by injuries was the difference in the match, plain and simple. There's playing on the counter attack and then there is trying to park the bus ala Jose Mourinho last season when Inter defeated Barcelona on their way to winning the Champions League.

It also doesn't help that Arsene Wenger is clearly incapable of matching Mourinho tactically.

This is an extremely talented and offensively dangerous Barcelona team, but they are vulnerable defensively and thus, beatable. Arsenal refused to even try to exploit that weakness and they paid the price with the result. You can cry about the injustice of the red card or the fact Abidal escaped punishment for pushing Van Persie in the throat all you want, doesn't matter. Arsenal didn't even try to play the game.

Instead of potentially pulling off a tremendous upset, they'll grasp at the scapegoat given to them by Busacca's questionable performance. Fans can bitch and complain about referees to their heart's content (I certainly do) but from a player and coach' perspective, going to the extremes that Van Persie and Wenger apparently did accomplishes nothing, other than making you look like a someone desperately grasping at excuses.

Arsenal didn't even attempt to play Barcelona last night. They had zero shots on goals and only scored because of a Sergio Busquets own goal. Everyone knew Barcelona would dominate possession but instead of picking your spots and exploding mistakes like they did in the first leg, Arsenal sat back and tried to hold on. That's not good enough and no matter what the referee did or didn't do, there is no one to blame but Wenger for making a poor tactical decision.

He should know his team is not the type of group capable of bunkering, he should know that Barcelona could be exploited defensively. It's impossible that he didn't, so that means he chose to attempt to park the bus anyway, despite the fact his team isn't built for that style of play.

Seems pretty clear why Arsenal hasn't won any silverware since 2005 since your manager is sitting below a glass ceiling, lazily hitting it with a feather duster.