The recent sacking of a very promising young manager by the name of Lee Clarke got me thinking about how difficult it must be to manage at the top level these days. After all, this is a manager who had got his Huddersfield side up to 4th in the table, and only 6 months previous, had gone on a run of 43 games unbeaten!
I spoke to my best friend, who happens to be a Terrier (Huddersfield supporter, not a dog!), and he told me that he was happy to see the back of Lee Clarke and in his own words said “he can take his 43 game run with him, most of them were draws anyway!”.
This shocked me a bit, and got me thinking about our own esteemed manager and how his previous exploits seemed to hold little weight when it came to our team’s relatively poor efforts this season. In Arsene Wenger we have a manager who has given us 2 domestic Doubles, a UEFA Cup Final, a Champions League Final, a state-of-the art stadium and some of the greatest players ever to play the game. Yet none of this seems to matter to certain sections of our support who would like nothing more than to see the Frenchman cleaning out his locker.
Is Wenger a victim of his own success?
Or do certain sections of our support fail to see the bigger picture?
Well personally, I believe it’s a bit of both. Wenger is a thinker of the game. He doesn’t live in the here and now when it comes to becoming a super club, he thinks about the future, and how he can BUILD a footballing force. Take Fabregas for example, Arsene saw something in him that he knew would make him into a future star. He saw the talent at 16 that we all saw at 23.
Or look at the move to the Emirates, Arsene knew that building a 60,000 seater was needed for the club to compete in future.
So what’s your point, I hear you cry!?
Well my point is this. Wenger’s downfall is due to his inability to satisfy the fans of the present. So many of our fans seem unable, or unwilling to look further ahead than Today. They don’t care if Wilshire is going to be the next best thing, or if Arsenal are going to dominate in 20 years time. They want trophies now, and Wenger’s inability to satisfy this greed could be his undoing. Fans don’t seem to realise or accept that Fabregas’ departure put paid to a plan that Arsene had been building for 5 years. A new team cannot be built overnight, espescially if you don’t have £500m to spend. Wenger has now got to build a new plan, and it takes time.
If you are one of these fans who see’s nothing but trophyless cabinets, and has no interest in what Jack will be like in 5 years time. Think about this:
In 2001 Leeds United were losing in a Champions League semi final. In 2012 they sit in 11th position in the Championship.
In 2011 Rangers won the league and cup double. They are now entering administration, uncertain of what the future holds.
In 2008 Portsmouth were lifting the FA Cup trophy. In 2012 they are trying to lift themselves away from relegation into League 1 after a 10 point deduction for going into administration.
Now I may not know anything about Arsenal’s bank accounts or financial stability, but I know for a fact that if they wanted to they could go into any bank in the world, borrow half a billion pounds, buy some of the world’s best players, and maybe win a few trophies in the next 5 years. If that happened, as fans of the here and now, we would lap it up. But how would we feel in 10 years time when the winding up order is sent out and we find ourselves struggling to survive?
Arsène Wenger isn’t a saint, and his tactics are leaving a lot to be desired at the moment, but next time you think about wanting to have a go at the Frenchman after a poor display, maybe just take a moment to look into the future, rather than just thinking about the present.
If you can’t do that, then ask a Rangers, Pompey or Leeds fan if they would give up their moment at the top for the future of their beloved clubs. I guarantee that, given the chance, they would start all over again.
I would love to see us give Arsène the chance to put together a new look Arsenal, built around the likes of Frimpong, Coquelin, Wilshire, Szcsesny, Ox etc, but if the Huddersfield situation is anything to go by then I can’t see it happening.
Arsène could be in the firing line at Arsenal FC, and it’s the fans who held him aloft as little as 7 years ago who will be the ones pulling the trigger. Fans who care not for the past, or the future, but the right here, right now.
Written by SlimGingerGooner
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Great points Slim,
I often wonder how much of the current spoilt brat instant gratification society we have is down to the internet. Moaning at games is certainly nothing new, but it just strikes me that it spreads like a virus!
Off for a while, back later.
Great post Slim
I think most older fans understand the risks of splashing the cash for short term success. I’m proud of my club and its values, and look at the sugar daddy clubs, enviously and hope for them to reap punishment and disaster and ruin in years to come. A green eyed monster i have become, but then i look to the right and see the league table and see we are still in fourth and we aren’t doing so bad considering. It might not be the easiest times for us fans old or young, but we are doing ok.
Sort out the wage structure, sort out our comercial side, exploit internet TV rights, sort out our stadium atmosphere, make it club code that 100% work rate is a game time requirement.
That should do it.
Ginge, are you reading my mind? Are you seceretly some form of spy who is using weird technology to tap into my brain waves? Needless to say, i agree with everything you have just said. Brilliant article Sir.
SGG. Spot on post. Can’t argue with your points. I for one want to see Wenger take us on a new journey.
The only gripe I have with Wenger is his stubborness.
Most gooners I know are not wanting him to break the bank, but to buy a couple of top quality players.
AH, I hear you say, “Where is the money coming from”?
We have a little in the bank and together with clearing the dross out we would be able to purchase the couple of players needed to help us compete with the big boys.
I seriously think it would only take a couple of players to put us on a par with the Mancs and (wait for it) now the Spuds.
Morning Slim and always an education reading your point of view even if I don’t agree with a fair proportion of what you say today.
My take is that we shouldn’t expect one man to be perfect ALL the time; to point out present failings does not negate past achievements.
I’n not a revisionist as Wenger’s acheivements are undeniable yet I feel for the sake of the club and Wenger’s own health perhaps the hierarchy of the club should make some tough decisions this summer.
“Now I may not know anything about Arsenal’s bank accounts or financial stability, but I know for a fact that if they wanted to they could go into any bank in the world, borrow half a billion pounds”.
Does anyone in Europe still have a AAA credit rating 😆
gnarley,
One word…Ashes 🙂
Fab article SGG,
Love it to bits and echoes the way I feel about it. I think we’ve been spoilt into feeling entitled to silverware and we forget that at times we are still playing that breathtaking football we have grown to expect whilst in the most difficult football landscape since the Premier league’s inception.
Come on you Gooner’s!!
WG
@VCC
Arsene won’t buy a top quality player because he cannot forge them into something better. He’s an awesome manager, but he’s an egotist and a megalomaniac and he loves being able to take a rough stone and turn it into a diamond.
I still love the guy, but to ignore his faults is folly, so I best not do it 🙂
WG
@Micky
I honestly believe our 24/7 media world now just means media carnage. Sites are making up all sorts of rumours, we are more aware of the latest rumour coming out of Spain or France or south America or any other country than ever before.
Hyperbole is the general fare on the internet as it drives hits so people can get revenue.
The blogging generation have a lot of responsibility to be mature and analyse things correctly as you have to be honest, your content can be read by millions.
One word can change the world if it’s used correctly.
WG
(if you ask me nicely I might tell you what that word is 🙂 )
I’m suprised you haven’t been overwhelmed with people calling you deluded after that post. I’m ok with Wenger. He will go after this contract so we’ll see then. He’s done miricles with the budget he’s had. No one has convinced me either way who’s decided the transfer policy (as far as spending money goes)
I love the way people still talk about Dein being some sort of messiah. He is directly responsible for bringing in Kronke and selling his shares to jabba.
There are people on twitter asking why it matters that Rangers have sold their Arsenal shares to jabba. These are the people who have the strongest voices at the moment.
“Every single share is one share closer to 30 per cent, when we might see some pressure brought to bear [on Kroenke],” said Nigel Phillips, of the Arsenal Supporters Trust. Usmanov is reported to be in favour of ending Wenger’s 16 year reign as manager
Does Kronke have to give jabba a seat on the board if he get’s 30%?
I’m talking to myself here. I’ll see you all later.
GM – Jabba would need a bench, a seat wouldn’t be enough. 🙂
@GM
I think once Usmanov hits 30% it is expected that he is invited onto the board.
Also it gives him full access to the financial records of the club from top to bottom, so it makes sense to have him “in-house” as it were to ensure he doesn’t release anything that might be potentially damaging.
I’m certain there must be non-disclosure agreements about the finances of the club as noone ever mentions the truth of the whole situtation.
WG
Peaches,
I’ve sent you two emails.
Shit England squad. Absolutely no chance in the Euros
@GM
Unless certain players really hit form i.e. Rooney, Walcott, Gerrard I really cant see us doing well at all at the Euro’s…
WG
SGG. Fine post and one I agree with on the whole. However, this malaise within the fan base is a reflection of society as a whole – it is the blame game.
I support AW and think he is the best manager in my time as a fan, Whether he is taking the correct path remains to be seen.
WG. Surprisingly I do. England are at their best as underdogs.
@BR
If we fight like I know we can we will do OK, but too often I’ve seen simpering England sides that crumble.
I must be getting old to be so cynical! 🙂
Nevertheless, I will be there watching every game in front of the TV in the games room with my England shirt on, flag on the floor in front of the TV and beer in hand 🙂
WG
WG 10:50. I’m also Pro Wenger.
But trying to answer the calls from plenty of Gooners I know. They are saying please go and spend some money on a couple of known gems.
Also the annoyance of hanging onto players that are clearly not good enough for Arsenal, and most of us know who they are.
Raddy when they are at thier best it’s still nowhere near good enough.
@VCC
I think if you asked Arsene if he wanted to keep Almungo, Squid, Vela, Botelho I think he would honestly say no, but he can’t just get rid, they all have contracts.
When Vela signed his I was excited because we tied down a potentially great player, but he has never fulfilled his potential.
Almungo was a stop-gap signing and a decent backup player who was happy to be so.
I think Arsene is stuck with them because noone else wants them and noone will match their wages so they wont just go without substantial subsidising from Arsenal.
WG
Why cleverly but no Ox?
I always though Peter Taylor was better than Pierce
So quiet on here today.
Arsenal.com @Arsenal
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GM,
A 30% shareholding does not give anyone an automatic right, within the provisions of the Companies Act, to a seat on the Board of Directors, though with such a limited number of shareholders that does make sense frankly.
But what it does do, is to trigger the Premier League rule that once a holding of 30% is reacheds, it requires an investigation under the “fit and proper person” rules.
The benefits of that are that, in theory, Usmanov will be proved to be a baddy, (boo) or set GM’s mind at rest that he is in fact a ‘goodie’! 🙂
The benefit for Usmanov is that he will be entitled to disclosure of more of the companies (Arsenal) management information and direction.
@RA
You just had to be more knowledgeable than me didn’t you 🙂
Watch out for tomorrow on my site about Usmanov 😛
WG
According to Wiki Vela wants out of AFC and has asked his agent to secure a deal with Sociedad. Fine.
Same with NB. If a player does not want to wear the shirt and the club no longer think he is worthy of one then that player should go.
Same applies to Denilson, who appears to be earning a fortune to sit on a beach in Brasil
But, and here is the rub, How do AFC get shot of these players when they are on such good contracts? They do not benefit either party in theses cases.
Pleased it isn’t my job.
Rasp. Can you add the Paul Kaye vid to the excellent Night at the Emirates on the sidebar?
I hadn’t seen it before. I used to drink with Paul outside the Auld Triangle
Nice, if introspective, Post reflecting on the club, its manager and the fans, Slim! Well done! 🙂
I don’t blame the fans, whatever the cut of their cloth, for the views they hold, either ‘fer or agin’ the manager.
You see, the ‘sensible’ ones are……………well — sensible, because that is what they are, it’s how they were born or brought up. It’s like having blue eyes or brown eyes — they may be nice, but the colour has very little to do with the owner of those bright, celestial orbs!! 🙂
The other types of fan who love their team just as much, show it in a different way by haranguing the manager for not spending big money on top players.
These fans are frustrated and influenced by the gloating of those fans of other clubs who don’t give a stuff where their funds are coming from, or the display of obscene wealth by the sugar daddies of our competitors and their ability to hoover up all the best players, even on a careless whim, while they watch like kids with their noses pressed up against the window unable to afford the cookies on display on the shelves.
I do not agree with them taking out their ire on the manager, but I understand it is human nature to be green with envy, as Tommy said earlier, and having to vent their anger.
No; the real source of their anger is the lily-livered authorities who have allowed this unsavoury situation, of haves and have nots, to occur, and are only now, belatedly, starting to try and rectify the situation with the FFP rules, which are themselves a somewhat flawed concept which will allow accountants and lawyers to play silly buggers with its interpretation and implementation.
That is where the anger should be directed — not at Arsene!!
@RA
That is practically what I said in my post today on WG 🙂
WG
RA. Hallelujah. Telli it like it is.
Hi WG, 🙂 I visited your super-dooper site yesterday and there you were — gone!! 🙂
I am certainly not more knowledgeable than you. Fact! 🙂
I am not quite so concerned as most of you guys regarding the disposal of unwanted players.
My rationale is this. (Firstly we do not know what our players are being paid – if we proved anything, yesterday, it was that individual players salaries are just rumours – accurate or otherwise).
But let’s accept that they are very well paid, so how will it work.
If they were shit hot players, other clubs would have to pay Arsenal a multi million pound transfer fee, which as we know can be very sizeable indeed.
If Arsenal let them go on a ‘free’, however, the ‘purchasing’ club would forego this payment making even well paid players very marketable.
Let’s say Bendy is on £50K per week, with 2 years left on his contract, that would equate to £5m approx. Any interested club would think that was good value — and Arsenal would save £5m from their wage bill. Multiply that by the number of players involved and it makes sense for all concerned.
Obviously arsenal would rather receive £10m for each of them, and in theory would therefore suffer a paper loss, but I expect the club to bite the bullet to clear the decks.
Job done!! Fear not — it’s called economics!! 🙂
@RA
I’m trying to make a conscious decision not to post every single day to ensure that the quality of the posts don’t suffer with the speed of having to turn them out.
Today’s post took me an hour to write, edit and prepare and then schedule for posting at 11:30 (so it goes up without intervention from me if I am unavailable).
There are too many blogs out there that churn out regurgitated content from other sites, I would like to try and keep mine clean, original and dare I say it, a bit entertaining.
I am a perpetual tryer after all 🙂
WG
WG,
I have not got around to reading WiganGooner yet, but I will do shortly, as I have bored the arses off everyone with my musings on here.
I might – possibly – maybe – perhaps – be prepared to come out of retirement and write a Post for you, if you like? 🙄
If you need a hand, occasionally, there might be others who would be willing to lend you their quills,unless you want it to be a Wiggy only site? 🙂 🙂
OK, I am off to leave AA in peace! 🙂
Hi Raddy, 🙂
@ 12:49 — Hallelujah? Do you think I am a snake oil salesman? 🙂
Damn – you have rumbled me!!
@RA
I certainly would welcome a guest post or two from you, you’ve been so vital in making wigangooner.co.uk move forwards.
WG
Anyone seen the joint statment released by AFC and the Spuds ? Looks like they’re anticipating trouble from the N17 scummers.
If you’re going on sunday, as Shaw Taylor would say, “Keep ’em peeled” as nothing is more likely to incite trouble in a NLD than a triumphalist Spuddy giving it the large one.
@Chary
The scum always give it when they’re feeling confident. I hope we send ’em scurrying back to their little hovels.
Scumbags!
WG
The (fit and proper) test is bollocks. Shinawatra? Yeung? My window cleaner (a Celtic fan) Tells me that the Rangers owner was banned from running a company for 7 years (must be a bankrupt I suppose). Usmanov is dodgy doesn’t matter which way you dress it up. The more money you have the easier it is to hide behind PR and lawyers.
Will the Tavern show the game? If it does I may come down for a drink and stay in the pub and watch it. I asked my wife and she said no but feel free to go on your own 🙂
The chav match ghas moved to the early kick off. I was hoping it would move to the Sunday. I’ll give my ticket to my son that should get me some “cool dad” brownie points.
@GM
Totally agree with you, the test isn’t very transparent and the panel who oversee it are nameless and faceless.
Susceptible to bribes? Who knows.
WG
WG, some titbits I got from a colleague who worked for Alan Sugar while at Amstrad, just to show how scummy Spuds are.
Amstrad had some shipments come in from the Far East so Sugar said to change trhe labelling on the products from “Made in Taiwan” to “Made in Great Britain” to avoid import duty. The only thing made in Great Britain on that Amstrad shipment was the label that said “Made in Great Britain”
They also owed half a mill in VAT and when this guy brought it to Sugars attention, his words were to the effect of telling the VAT man to “fuck off”
Typical spud behaviour when you look at how their plans for their new hovel now absolve them of the need for any social housing(which we privuided plenty of) and more annoyingly receiving public funding for infrastrucuture changes required in their planning application.
And have you seen all the shopping, retail, hotel type things attached to their new hovel ? Typical spud behaviour, f**king classless no mark scroungers.
Nice post, SGG.
Playing devil’s advocate, I’d say that certain sections of our support don’t want Wenger to bankrupt the club by spending a king’s ransom as we’ve seen happen elsewhere, but, instead, want him to buy some super quality players who can influence the success of the team now, rather than in five years time when they mature.
However, I don’t doubt that some other sections of our support don’t give a rat’s arse about the long-term stability of the club and would trade the club’s future for some instant gratification.
I’d imagine the Tavern would show the game, GM.
It shows the other games on Sky.
Is there something that says that Usmanov has to make a bid for the whole club once he reaches 30%?
Or doesn’t that count if Kroenke owns the rest?
An old Marine Pilot sat down in Starbucks, still wearing his old USMC flight suit and leather jacket and ordered a cup of coffee.
As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him. She turned to the pilot and asked, ‘Are you a real pilot?’
He replied, “Well, I’ve spent my whole life flying planes, first Stearmans, then the early Grummans…. Flew a Wildcat and Corsair
in WWII, and later in the Korean conflict, Banshees and Cougars. I’ve taught more than 260 people to fly and given rides to hundreds,
so I guess I am a pilot, and you, what are you?”
She said, “I’m a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about naked women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about naked
women. When I shower, I think about naked women. When I watch TV, I think about naked women. It seems everything makes me
think of naked women.”
The two sat sipping in silence.
A little while later, a young man sat down on the other side of the old pilot and asked: “Are you a real pilot?”
He replied, “I always thought I was, but I just found out I’m a lesbian.”
For the record I’m more concerned with these thnigs I want Wenger to do:
1. Get the players to fight for the ball when not in possesssion.
2. Drill the defence, make it as important in training as passing triangles is for the mid field.
3. Look to neutralise opposition by analysing their strong points and seek to address their strengtsh and not just think by just playing our own game we will prevail.
4. Pick/drop players on performance not reputation/favouritism.
None of the above cost any money and are things I don’t understand why we don’t do enough of.
Sugar was on the league panel that negotiated the sky deal and also supplied the dishes. No conflict of interest there then.
Random video time……
When you first start looking at this one it takes some time to work out what’s going on……
Slim
I am not sure how we managed to rub each others feathers up the wrong way when you first came on here because you are clearly one of the good guys.
Great post.
chas.1.50 This assumes we have an either/or situation.
Why can’t we do both? Continue to be financially prudent and yet take on a small debt and buy some serious quality in the areas which need said quality.
That bloke would earn a fortune here.
I think that’s what I was trying to say, BR. 🙂
I can do that trick with the bricks and the chapati thing is piss easy.
chary,
Do you really believe we,
don’t attempt to instil in the players the need to fight for the ball?
don’t do any defensive work drills in training?
don’t seek to counter the opposition’s strengths?
pick players because they are favourites?
Agreed some of the recent performances may have suggested some of these failings. 🙂
Piss easy. 🙂
Chas,
I’m not saying we NEVER try and fight for the ball, just it doesn’t seem a consistent approach.
The homesick spaniard said that we never bothered trying to look at the oppositions stregths – we just played our own game and that seems to be borne out by how we don’t change our tactics for differing types of opposition.
To my eyes Wenger has that very human fialing of concentrating on what interests him, namely offensive minded midfields, rather than boring old defense.
It’s just my perception borne out of watching the games I have over the years and watching how many more goals we concede than we used to.
Some players seem, IMVHO, to get picked whether they play well or not whereas others do well and get dropped.
chary,
Teams that are playing poorly always look as though they can’t give a damn. Players have to target their efforts for maximum effect. When the team is playing well, they’re all pulling in the same direction.
We certainly changed our tactics playing the Catalan formation diving squad away last season. But that may have been because we couldn’t get near the ball. 🙂 We seemed to be playing for that time in the last 20 mins when the opportunity would come to strike, just as we did in the home leg.
I honestly don’t believe Wenger would pick someone other than because he thought they were the right person to play on a particular day. Whether he gets those judgements correct all the time is another issue.
Interestingly, our wing-play is awful and that is a big part of our problem. With one up front we need to play to the wings more rather than trying to punch through the middle. Both Theo and Gervinho have been awful this season, very inconsistent.
Gervinho I forgive because it is his first season, Theo can do much better.
WG
Exactly Chas, instances of where we do adapt to the oppositions anticipated plan of attack are so rare that we remember when we actually do it.
It’s hard to know whether, as ill-informed media comment would have it, we lack leaders or the leaders we do have in our team have lost their motivation.
I don’t know if you saw what I put up the other night that our win percentage for this calendar year so far is only 40% – clearly a sign of a team in a poor/abysmal run of form.
We need a complete change of tactical approach, i recommend the Harry Enfield Arsenal v Liverpool video as the way forward. Chas “The Video King”, can you link it please, i dont know how to do it. hahaha
Neil Ashton @neilashton_
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details At last, an England manager we can understand.
2h Michael Barnes @goonermichael
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@neilashton_ wanker
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2h Neil Ashton @neilashton_
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@goonermichael thank you for your continued interest in my work
LB,
I didn’t realise I had rubbed you up the wrong way!!!!? Lol apologies if I did!
The majority on here are good guys I think LB. it’s nice to be able to discuss football as an adult, unlike other sites that get dragged down with insults and abuse.
Not seen the England squad, but the future does look very bright (where have I heard that before!?). A team of:
Hart
Walker Jones Smalling Gibbs
Henderson Wilshire Cleverley Ox
Sturridge Welbeck
Has a lot of potential if the right man is in charge.
Jones is next to useless at centre back. Apparently he’s going to be a midfielder.
What happened to Theo then wasn’t he the future?
Hope it works Terry
I use the embed option which used to work for me.
I did try
I need a lesson from chas 😦
I just cut and paste the link, GM, but make sure it looks of a similar format to this
http://www.you tube.com/watch?v=lLCZZAheNSU
without spaces between the you and tube, of course.
The bit after the = sign is the bit that changes.
hahahahaha, great stuff Chas & GM.
See what i mean about those second half tactics. Thats what we should do to totnumb on sunday.
What about all the html stuff chas?
I’m in an argument with a sports journalist. what fun!
Nope, don’t use any html code, GM.
Do you mean like that smartarse, GIE, proposed the other day?
Nah, too difficult for me. 🙂
I’ll have a look at twatter.
Michael Barnes @goonermichael
Reply Delete FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details @neilashton_ Such a cheap comment. If capello had been Jamaican you couldn’t have said that.
9m Neil Ashton @neilashton_
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@goonermichael are you aware of Jamaicans’ first language? #doyourhomework
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@goonermichael are you aware of Jamaicans’ first language? #doyourhomework
5m Michael Barnes @goonermichael
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· Close Open Details @neilashton_ Don’t start I come from Brixton. Listen to a real Jamaican and tell me you can understand everything.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src
That stuff at the beginning and end chas
Ahh, I don’t get that in my address line using a desktop.
It looks like it’s ‘sizing’ the viewing area. Something to do with using an ipad maybe?
Don’t copy that part of the address, only copy the bit that looks like my 3:29.
I don’t touch anything apple chas I’ve got a HP tower :). Neil ashton has an ipad. he would though. He’s really annoyed me know. I’m going to find out where he lives
Slim, you are one of Wenger’s first soldiers. It is good to hear a relatively young person say that seven years is not a long period.
Like you I have a huge amount of respect for Arsene and what he has done for the club, and in an ideal world he would be given the time to build a new super-Arsenal team. As I said a few days ago, I am still shocked about the way in which we lost our games against Milan and Sunderland, and I hope we will see a different Arsenal for the remainder of the season. It’s needed more than ever for Arsene and Arsenal.
Chas, you have been making some great, well-balanced comments today! 🙂
got it
I was trying to use the embed feature which is how I put the videos on my website. Cut and paste the address 🙂 A bit too obvious for me.
TA,
As opposed to normal. 🙂
RA,
I’m still struggling with your 12:50 fire sale idea.
For example, why would Bendy end his lucrative contract with Arsenal for it to be replaced by one of half the size elsewhere? Am I being thick?
Michael Barnes @goonermichael
Reply Delete FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details @neilashton_ Don’t start I come from Brixton. Listen to a real Jamaican and tell me you can understand everything.
7m Neil Ashton @neilashton_
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@goonermichael why do you feel you need to make the point you come from Brixton?
Neil Ashton @neilashton_
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details @goonermichael let’s revert to the initial point, Capello’s first language is Italian, he struggled to communicate in England.
1m Michael Barnes @goonermichael
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@neilashton_ OK. Pleasure talking to you. I take back the first comment.
Chas 🙂 Good of you to get that RA to explain himself a bit better for once 😀
Santos is back in 3 weeks apparently
https://twitter.com/#!/Andre_Santos27
Arsenal Report @arsenalreport
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Since joining #Arsenal, Wenger has bought 18 different goalkeepers for a total of £15.45m. Richard Wright being the most expensive at £6m.
De Gea cost about a trillion quadrillion gazillion dollars
I didnt know Wenger will be given £100m to spend in the summer???
This is a poll being run by the tools of the the Telegraph:
Where should Arsenal prioritise spending their £100m war chest?
-A new striker to support Robin van Persie
-Wide players to replace Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott
-Central midfield
-Full backs to offer back up to Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos
-Central defence
-A more experienced goalkeeper than Wojciech Szczesny
VoteView Results
Share This
Select up to three areas that need attention
source:The Telegraph
Great Post Slim
The Huddersfield story is really shocking, but I suspect it’s only going to get worse.
The ‘want it now’ trend in society seems to be on the rise.
Danboy. As you say – tools.
We have discussed previously how few journo’s are worth reading. It saddens me that such ill informed, agenda driven people get given a forum to influence their readers.
TA/Chas,
Last Summer Arsenal told Bendy he was no longer part of the first team squad. The club, allegedly, were holding out for a £10 million transfer fee, but such an offer, presumably, did not transpire.
A club willing to spend £10m on Bendy might well be put off by his, rumoured, £2.6m salary, which if extended over a 4 year contract would cost them — Tfr Fee £10m + (£2.6m * 4) £10.4m = £20.4m
By getting Bendy for the cost of his salary only they have a cash outflow of £2.6m per annum, rather than £5.1 m per annum * 4 = £20.4m.
Sounds like a good deal to me — and let’s face it Sunderland might well be interested at that price.
Arsenal will lose a notional £10m which is the desired tfr fee, but to cut actual costs of (£2.6m * 2) = £5.2m might well be prepared to do it.
Go to any street market selling fruit. In the morning a kilo of tomatoes might cost you £1.10p — come back at 5 p.m. and you could get the tomatoes for 30p, because the market stall holder is happy to get 30p rather than throw them away – you are happy to save 80p — and everyone is happy.
Supply and demand. 🙂
RA. Send that to Gazidis (though I expect he has work d it out himself!)
evonne – look what Jack’s got ………………..
http://yfrog.com/kh71ncsj
Raddy,
I am sure you are right. I was responding for clarification of my earlier explanation from my learned friends Chas and TA! 🙂
gm – if you want to go to the game there are loads of tickets on the exchange and you can use my red membership
Peaches
I think VCC was looking for a ticket as well (but maybe has managed to get one by now)
Hi Rocky – I’ll email him thanks, I’m a bit out of the loop atm, got my ‘bob the builder’ hat on 🙂
RA,
Thanks, I understand now. I didn’t realise you were suggesting his new club give him the same preposterous wages.
Still not sure we’d get any takers. 🙂
Just remembered, I think he got tickets from Harry.
Just my opinion, but I think our ‘preposterous’ wages are a stumbling block when trying to offload players 😉
Does that mean you’re not there on Sunday, peaches?
Anyway, on another subject, my daughters band had a track of theirs on Waterloo Road last night and another programme called Ringer. Just reverting groupie mummy 😛
chas – I’m there with my Silver but I have a Red membership too 😆 Wouldn’t miss that one for the world
What’s that on the floor behind Jack’s babies?
chas – trust you!!!! I think it’s a toy, but I did a double take too
What time does Spursday night footie ko? Just being lazy ……
Good stuff, peaches. 🙂
If they’d announced a season ticket price increase, I think it would have been suicide at this juncture. Club level up by 2%. I wonder if they’ll sell them all?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-announce-season-ticket-prices
Stoke are playing already and losing. Mancs at 8:05.
Shall I edit your comment for you, have you missed out ‘increase’
peaches,
I was thinking, how could something that big come out of a dog so small!!
I did mean that, of course. I’m spending far too much time on here recently and am not even re-reading comments before I post.
Please feel free to edit all of them, they might make a bit more sense if you did. 🙂
Ha ha ha they are divine little dogs, you know I share one with evonne and one of their accolades is definitely small parcels to pick up 🙂
Done 🙂
You realise it’s all the work of the AST that ensured your season ticket didn’t go up – tongue firmly planted in cheek there 🙂
Haha….I thought they would get me out of possibly being forced to attend Spursday night games too. 🙂
Last from me today.
Spud supporters appear at about 2:00 exactly.
Hi Peaches & Rocky. Thanks for thinking of me, but Harry has acquired two tickets for my Son and I for this Sundays game.
Rasp normally puts a list of guys meeting at the Tavern but its not appeared yet?????
Anyone having a drop of liquid before the game at the Tavern this Sunday?
We definitely will be at the Tavern b4 the game VCC – although Rasp won’t but I will and the widget will go up possibly tonight.
Hope chas can make the game, I missed him last time.
Perhaps he can teach me how to download Youtube clips.
RA, thanks for explaining the cost side of things, but what if the tomatoe has a say in it himself and says: ‘I am a very special tomatoe you know – I should only live in the fridges of kings and queens, and I will not allow you to sell me to anybody else’?
This seems to be the biggest problem for Arsenal re moving on the players who are surplus to requirement, atm: players who are on watertight contracts, decent to good wages and with no desire to go and play for a club of lower status than Arsenal…
Evening all,
Any news?
Peaches @6:42 – Jack has 2 pugs! Like me! Good lad, if you can love something as ugly as a pug, you cannot be bad yourself 🙂
Chas – pugs eat more than my german sheppard,they are scoffers!
Irish – yeah, I have a bit news for you luv. Ox’s father, Mark Chamberlain who was a decent footballer himself, claims that our little Ox loves playing in the middle, that he is not a natural wide player. Ha, so why is he being played wide?
Cats >>>>> Dogs
FACT!
Hiya Evonne – Wenger seems to shove everyone out wide, apparently he thinks it helps them to learn how to take on players and beat them, while also developing their weaker foot. He even stuck Bendtner out wide.
Irish – oh yeah? Name me a famous footballer that has cats??
Irish – but not Cesc, excuse my French
Cats play football
Slim – very good post! Shouldn’t you be spending more time preparing for The Big Day? And how much weight did you lose? Next thing you’d be blond! Oh no, that’s me, SlimBlondeGunner 🙂
Irish – true, they have a few pussies at Tottenham
evonne
just so long as he doesn’t change the third bit…
Please don’t associate such wonderful creatures like felines with those inbred troglodytes at Tottenham.
Many thanks,
A cat lover
Unless you meant …..
Rocky – nay, once a Gunner always a Gunner, not negotiable
Irish – I have both, cats and dogs, and I have never seen a cat barking at ManU players, never! Peaches tought our pug the trick and now he is teaching other dogs here
I have 5 cats, they are amazing in their own way.
A dog would just bark and bitch – like a woman – and do jack shit about a problem, now a cat wouldn’t stand there and meow at you in the hope you’ll get frightened and go away – a cat will take your eyes out.
I can go away for a week and come back and my cats would be just fine (note: my cats are looked after too well by my parents, they even get heated milk in the winter) but a dog would probably die of the hunger.
I just like cats.
I’m actually getting a tattoo, probably of a jaguar or panther will blood dripping from its claws.
*with blood
No one having a drink at the Tavern Sunday then?
I’ll be there VCC. I was going for a drink anyway but peaches emailed me and it got me off my arse (I think my wife likes the idea of getting rid of me as she was telling me to go) So I got a ticket. I’m totally amped as they say across the pond (I think)
I’m a cat person like Irish. the only dogs I like are pugs although I couldn’t eat a whole one.
Just joking 🙂
I need to have a drink with you sometime GM, we seem very likeminded 🙂
I hope so Irish!
GM. Thats three of us then, as Peaches is going to be there.
Glad you can make it cos I’m ticking off my list of AA’ers that I’ve met.
Rasp
Peaches
Total
Harry
26th May.
Read this morning, first chance to post since then, hate days like today.
A fine post Slim, I think Arsene will be given more time by the board if (that little word again) they have given him nothing or very little to spend or if the players we got in the summer were his second, third or fourth choices in each position. Even if we don’t qualify for CL.
If on the other hand Wenger has refused to buy and use monies given to him and we fail to qualify for CL I think the board will get rid.
Only the board know what parameters he is operating under so only the board are placed to make the decision.
Right I’m off again.
I’m excited about Sunday. First nld for mee
me not Bertie Mee
I’m nervous about Sunday.
The NLD has not been a fixture I have had the luck to see very often.
It’s the number one game that my Son wants to see. So I was glad Harry could get us two tickets.
He is already building himself up for it, as they are the team he hates the most.
COYG
It’s lonely here tonight GM.
We’re not alone.
Very quiet VCC. Twitter is quiet too. The calm before the storm maybe
Can’t bear him VCC. I prefer this one
Apparently Christopher Samba is off to Anzhi in Russia, suppose no point in Blackburn holding on to him if he’s not playing. £7.5mil ain’t bad for him. He’s good for Blackburn but never thought he was right for Arsenal.
Don’t do Twitter.
At my age I’m chuffed to just handle a site like AA.
Not Arsene Wenger @WengerQuotes
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Liverpool have asked the FA if flares are permitted at Wembley on Sunday.Apparently the last time they were there, everyone was wearing them
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GM. We differ immensely there with our music tastes. GG is not for me.
I wonder what’s happening with Arshavin. Maybe he played him in the reserves to get him to prove he was worth keeping.
He’s not for most people VCC. he reminds me of my youth. Shame about his personal life.
I think he is ever the optimist.
Thats a fault in Wenger imo. He hangs onto non performing players far too long.
It would not surprise me if Arshavin starts on Sunday.
Agree Gm.
It’s the same with George Michael.
Great singer, but not happy with his personal habits.
Imagine he sold everyone and just left
Ryo. Cambpell/afobe. Ox.
Ramsey. Wilshere. Frimpong
Coquelin. Bartley. Miquel. Jenkinson.
Sczcezney
And we played the rest of the season like this, and stuck by it, and let them lose matches. Its part of growing. Set different goals for them when they play that arent always just winning, skills based goals that they can achieve bit by bit ad build confidence and then when the time is right, voila les nouveaux invincibles.
Get a young assistant manager too, so if wenger wants/needs to go, the younger assistant can slot straight in!
We are all a bit worried about not being able to offload this summer, but here’s a thought, maybe we don’t have to, we know nothing of contract lengths so here’s the details of the “deadwood” signings and when they signed:
Denilson Sept 2009 “Long Term”
Bendtner Sept 2009 “Long Term”
Almunia August 2008 “Long Term”
Rosicky January 2010 “new contract ”
Squillacci July 2010 “3 year (not from club)”
Arshavin January 2009 “Long Term”
So the question is how long is a LT deal?
Well Nasri signed in 2008 on a LT deal that turned out to be 4 years and would have ended in 2012. Van Persie signed in 2009 on a LT deal and we know that is due to end 2013. Song signed a new LT contract in Nov 2009 and that is believed to expire 2013/14 depending on reports. We are not yet fretting so I guess 2014. Theo signed his LT deal in 2009 also and most expect that to come to an end in 2013.
What’s my point Denilson and Bendtner will be entering the last year of their contracts, as is most likely Squid, and Almunia is in his last season. So it is likely Denilson and Bendtner will have to seriously think of taking a pay cut if they want to continue playing and the sooner the better for them surely. Squid will follow Almunia in seeing out his last contract I guess.
I’m sure others have more deadwood to chop but I went for the most often named (personally I won’t mind). But to anyone who questions whether we should have given Bendtner and Denilson LT deals ask yourself one question….should we put Miquel on a LT deal today?
Roland I like it but unfortunately most fans won’t
Roland
Interesting idea.
How about expanding on it and submitting as a headline post (see the ‘be our guest’ tab at the top o the page.
Even if it’s an extremely unlikely scenario, it provides food for thought.
That’s a hell of an accusation chary at 1.49. You should be very careful what you write.
Kelsey – Lord Sugar pulling a few strings is not a serious accusation, surely
Irish – you have 5 cats?? Wow, that’s lots of fur to clean! Fat good would they do if you had burglerers 🙂 At least I won’t be robbed till the alsation is alive. Anyway, you are an animal lover, that counts for something in my books. i just feel uncomfortable around people that don’t like animals, cat or dogs, even if they only enjoy watching them shagging
When are Jenks and Santos back?
Morning all,
I agree Kelsey. Kind of what I ‘ve been saying about the Twitterati.
A win this weekend and I think 4th will be very close as I still think Chelsea will implode.
Evonne Jenks played 45 minutes on Wednesday for the reserves. I’d guess couple of weeks at least.
Raddy,
I imagine the “merchandise” will be winging its way over the North Sea today.
Thanks GiE, be good to see him back
Micky – you are the odd one here this morning 🙂 GiE – 1 Alfie, me – almost 3, Kelsey – whoping 5 DOGS !!
Evonne,
I have a mere four cats. Irish has five which I guess almost becomes six once she adds another tattoo!
Four mercats, simples
Morning Micky
Micky – i was thinking about tattoos yesterday, shall we? somewhere inconspicuous and tasteful, of course
LB – 🙂
evonne, it certainly is, if it was true and Good Morning to you and everyone else.
I’ve got a mere two cats.
I’d like a dog, but the council have placed a restraining order. 🙂
If you two are going to get inked why not make it a sponsored thing? Setup a JustGiving thing and it can be in aid of this seasons AFC charity 🙂
Great idea, GIE.
Then we’ll have to see the results.
Morning Kelsey 🙂
I watched a programme not long ago. There is a loophole in the european laws that allows branding goods as made in any european country even if it was made in Pakistan or India. They showed really dodgy little sheds producing surgical instruments and branding them as ‘German steel’ or ‘Made in England’. All legit
And those tools where use in UK hospitals to perform operations, one less than sharp instrument could potentially kill; I am sure it happened on more than one occassion
We could video it Chas, must be a ink shop somewhere near the ground as the youth team don’t seem to be able to help themselves. 😀
Chas – I am sure you would love 2 dogs, so you could watch them 🙂
Two bitches is my favourite scenario.
Get your 12 inch zoom out, GIE.
That is indeed interesting evonne, and I am sure you also read or saw the accusations against Primark.
A number of years ago we were suppliers to C & A (still don’t know why they closed up shop in the UK ) anyway a competitor of mine was producing in volume for them mens suits and they were all made in eastern Europe at a fraction of the cost of being made in the UK.When the shipments arrived the suits were totally intact except for buttons, and by then sewing the buttons on in the UK, C & A could then technically say that they were made in England. The got away with it for a few years but eventually they got caught and they had to abandon that idea..I am going back 30 years and in those days the rules were more elastic but now it is a far stringent offence.
perv
Having successfully lowered the tone once again, I’m off out playing golf today.
It’s a hard life, then you die. 🙂
(p.s. I prefer ‘monster’)
A young woman, just after beginning her round was stung by a bee. After returning to the pro shop and telling the pro she was stung, she asked what she should do.
“Where were you stung,?” he asked.
“Between the first and second hole,” she replies.
“Well,” said the pro, “first of all your feet are too far apart.”
Monster! It’s too windy for gold today. Plus you should be concentrating on Sunday’s game, only 2 days left
Morning All.
Just popped in to say Hi.
Roland . Good idea but what happens when we get our customary 6 injuries?
GIE. The contract comment was very interesting. As you say …. what is long-term? I doubt TR was given more than 2 years given his age and injury record.
Hairdressing scissors made in Taiwan, Korea, China and lately Pakistan quite often have “Japan” stamped on them. I’ve been told it’s legal as the don’t say “made in”. Very misleading though. The Pakistan ones stay sharp for about 10 minutes.
Tomas is being offerd a one year deal according to a lot of reports so I think his may be up. Sqilacci’s is up too I think. Almunia as well. I thought Arshavin’s was, maybe 1 year left. Robin and Song are worrying though.
Hi GM – yep, that’s what the programme I watched has revealed, useless tools, legit ‘Made in Germany’ for Pakistani products, serious implications.
If you cut somebody’s ear off with blant scissors it could be serious, but if a surgeon performs a heart surgery with botched scalpel, it could be disasterous. Unless he operates on a Manc or Spud, of course
New Post ………..
Sorry, morning all
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