Written by peachesgooner
Arsène has already lit the touch paper – ‘I won’t be looking to buy in the January window’. So, let’s discuss this and think about if we were Arsène Wenger whether we would be thinking of buying in the January transfer window.
We have talked about the lack of depth of our squad for nigh on five years now. We now have a squad where we know that for most positions, we have a really good deputy – excepting injuries – in most positions. If we start shipping out the deputies then surely we’ll be back to square one.
This team has grown up together and we and Arsène have been patiently – too patient with a few players – waiting for this moment when the fine tuning will reap rewards.
Yesterday two bloggers offered different opinions of what should happen with regard to certain players. In order to buy new players we’d need to ship some out and therein lies the problem. Do we move on players that we’ve invested so much time in developing to bring in a new crop of footballers untested in our system?
There is a clutch of players that divide opinion – Almunia, Diaby, Vela, Clichy, Eboue, Bendtner, Theo; these were all offered as the fall guys.
Rocky offered the following comment in support of some of our much maligned players
Apart from Almunia, who is clearly out of sorts with the club, I wouldn’t flog any of them unless we bought a top notch player and one or more of our lot became surplus to requirements.
Diaby still hints at the possibility of being a top player.
Denilson (not my favourite because of the way he switches off when the opposition have the ball) can still put in a tidy shift.
Clichy and Eboue – keep ’em for the squad as back-up FBs.
Theo – come on – he was tearing sides apart at the start of the season and just hasn’t had a proper run of games since he got injured.
Eastmond – Redders, he’s only 19 and AW clearly sees something in him. Who knows how good he’ll be when he’s 21? I remember people writing off Song when he started getting some first team games but now I keep reading comments about how we’ll be screwed if he gets injured.
Bendy – would keep him also, but only if he’s happy to be a back-up striker.
I don’t see Bendy, Diaby, Eboue, Clichy, Vela, Eastmond, Almunia as being in our ideal first team, but they’re all part of what makes our squad the strongest in the EPL. Just look at what happened to ManUre’s second string last night (and they had Giggs, Fletcher and a couple of other first teamers playing too).
I think we’re back to where we always are as the Transfer Window opproaches, what position needs the back-up, is there a priority that should be addressed? If Song is injured do we have a player that steps into his role effectively? Can Almunia ever again go in goal for us? We have creative mid-fielders to spare but who would you sacrifice in order to bring in someone new?
We have decent choices for most positions:
Fabianski or Szcsesny?
Djourou or Koscielny?
Clichy or Gibbs?
Diaby or Denilson?
Cesc or Nasri?
Arshavin or RvP
Chamakh or Bendtner?
In addition Aaron Ramsey will be returning in the new year and we’ll be able to use Wellington Silva.
The other question we could pose is…. “Is our No.1 choice for that position good enough?”
I don’t think Arsène has any intention of buying in January, and all things taken into consideration, we shouldn’t need to add to the squad.
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Hi Peaches- great topical blog and the headline is something that needed saying IMO. I think I would still like us to sign a monster DM as support for Song. There will be games (if we meet Barca later in the CL for instance) when we’ll need two decent DMs and if we have good runs in all the cups Song will find it hard to play 60+ games unscathed. But I completely see where Le Boss is coming from on not wanting to make more signings as with so many of the “weak links” discussed yesterday you never know how quickly they’ll develop. We’ve all seen the difference a year has made to Nasri and I hope the same shift up a gear is imminent for Theo, Denilson and Bendtner and a more consistent level of performance can be achieved with Diaby and Vela. That being the case- we’ve got the personnel already.
Thanks for post Peaches and Morning AA’ers.
I think you have a rather simplistic view of the type of players that constitute a winning team. For you, its all about footbally skills, tactics and togethery team spirit bollocks. It has been very obvious to me for a while now, that great teams have one thing in common. A butt ugly boiler of a beast with bad breath, a vile temper and the bodily hygiene of a warthog. On a less serious note, I would buy a big German as quality cover for Song.
‘A butt ugly boiler of a beast with bad breath, a vile temper and the bodily hygiene of a warthog. On a less serious note, I would buy a big German as quality cover for Song.’ 😆
Agree entirely with you Micky but we ain’t got one and we ain’t gonna sign one. I’m not such a purist that I think that football skills are enough alone to win stuff. I think that AW has consistently bought ‘nice’ boys into the team or well behaved types that may have a small nasty streak in them.
Am liking the post and Micky’s characteristically purple prose!
The key thing now is quality, we clearly have as deep a squad as we could want, the real challenge being to keep everyone happy when they’re all fit. In any transfer window, we should go for it if somehow it became possible to sign a megastar talent (by which I mean Messi, Ronaldo, Kaka, Essien etc – i.e. snowball’s chance in hell stuff) or clearly trading up (e.g., the idea of swapping Bendtner for Suarez). But what’s the point of signing anyone else?
The only position where I can see an argument for addition is at DM, Song isn’t doing quite as well this year, Denilson’s a bit erratic and there are options on the market (e.g., Inler). But the likes of Vermaelen, Djourou and Koscielny represent real options. And for the future there’s Frimpong. So it’s not a must-have.
If there were a ready-made option for GK or CB, I might be interested despite the decent performances from the obvious. But I don’t think there is anyone who is realistically getable and would be a definite improvement, so I’m happy to stick on that.
So no purchases in January is fine by me.
And the only sales I would say we should consider next summer are, for different reasons, Almunia, Diaby and Clichy. The only replacement that would require would be an understudy to Gibbs, the rest is more than adequately covered from the current squad. But I don’t think they have to be sold, so long as they don’t stop the progression of Szczesny, Fabianski, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere etc.
While we’re on the topic, is anyone else becoming bored with this bollocks about Spurs having the best bench in the league? Without even looking at City, Chelsea or United, it’s crap: I reckon the best Spurs bench is something like:
Cudicini, Corluka, Bassong, Palacios, Kranjcar, Crouch and Pavlyuchenko
Whereas ours (IMO) is something like:
Szczesny, Djourou, Clichy, Ramsey, Denilson, Walcott and Arshavin
The Spurs subs are decent, no doubt about it, but for me, ours is clearly the better set of options.
Morning,
Accurate and pragmatic post peaches. AW will not buy in January – fact. Micky’s descriptive skills have identified exactly what we need, but it will be a cold day in hell before our cultured leader targets such a player – but very amusing Micky I must say 😆
i think u are very harsh on gael C.he used 2 b a fan favourite bt now he now behind young Gibbs.don’t 4get he has had to do with a serious back problem.
Did he say he won’t buy or did he say he won’t add to the squad? What I have read seems to be the latter. So, therefore, I can dream he is going to shift 3 or 4 and replace them with something better. I think we desperately need a DM with Pace, positioning and the ability to tackle. Not much to ask but we don’t have anyone here with two out of three of these abilities.
We have the quantity but not quality. We need quality in the goakeeping position, we need a quality CB to play with TV,quality DM to complement Song and we need an out and out striker (injury free 20+ goals a season striker).
We cant hide from the fact that we have a very poor defence. We only need to go back to the points we have lost this season at Sunderland, @home to Newcastle and Totenham and in the UCL to Braga & Shaktar to realise we need reinforcements. Yes we have won the last 2 games but that should not mask the need for us to strengthen the squad. If it means selling some of the average to below average players, so be it.
Cheers Augustus, fair points. I think Clichy is still a real favourite of the fans, in that he’s not once whinged or thrown his toys out of the pram and always tries his hardest. Despite a dip in his performances over the past couple of years (which you’re right may be due to a chronic injury), and a tendency to be error-prone, I still think he’s a very talented player. Unlike Diaby (who I think will just never quite become a consistently good player), the idea of Clichy being sold is not to say he isn’t good enough, at least not on my part.
I just think a move next summer would make sense for him, the club and Gibbs. His contract is up in June 2012, making next summer make-or-break, and I honestly think we won’t be able to hold onto both Clichy and Gibbs, they both deserve first team football.
Out of interest, since we are mostly in agreement that we could do with a big, powerful, bloodcurdling, pacey, superhuman, heart-of-a-lion, box-to-box, captain material defensive midfielder …. who are the candidates that are available, affordable (sub 12m) and would want to play for us?
lets not forget frimpong shall we? he was supposed to have a few starts this season, since he plays rather well with wilshere. He may be back for the later part of the season, but we surely have him for 2011!
Hi trooop,
Yes, Frimpong is a great prospect, he looks like a cross between Eboue and Chris Eubank – without the starfish tendencies and lisp.
He is quicker than Song, but very powerful and has – to use the popular phrase – an unbelievable engine.
Morning all,my take on the January transfer window and the C.C. are as follows.
When Wenger says he wont be entering the transfer market in January,unless we get further injuries,I would take that with a pinch of salt.Wouldn’t be surprised to see a swap deal with Bedntner involved,and Vela obviously isn’t in his long term plans so he may go out on loan.Ramsey should be back and will get a number of games,but what if Chamakh gets injured or needs a rest.Can one rely on a fit RVP as he is being nursed back oh so gently.Rotation is the key but with Vermaelen likely to be out long term maybe a swap for Nic for a central defender may be on the cards.Almunia’s days seem to be numbered so I expect him to go in the Summer and as far as I am concerned he can take Eboue,Denilson and Vela with him.
Re us possibly winning the C.C.and nothing else this year( that has been muted on other blogs) and removing the “fan” heat off Wenger’s shoulders.The expectation to most fans is higher,and in recent years the F.A.Cup has been removed from Wenger’s priorities(which is a grave mistake) as he believed we didn’t have enough squad strength to compete on all 4 fronts.He has a vision,be it right or wrong,the total backing of the BoD and that in itself is unique,so the only pressure on him is from himself.This is a strange season for results,and though mathematically we have a good a chance as the other main contenders,the “mental strength” which is often said by the man himself,is not always apparent, and putting injuries aside, this is the main reason that we will have a reasonably good season,but I doubt we will win any silverware,except the C.C..My take is that in the next couple of years,he will leave the club with a good foundation for someone else to build on.The Wenger out brigade,have nothing to gain from at this moment of time.
This is a frank expectation from myself, which hopefully will be proved wrong.
The future is very bright with the likes of Frimpong and Ramsey, but assuming we are not going to buy in quality cover for Song, then I think its fair to say that AW has not looked carefully enough at the options. One of the all time tactical masterstrokes was puleed by GG at Anfield in ’89, when in front of his legendary back four, he amazingly selected O’Leary to DM in front of them. I have harped on about TV for this role on my previous blog site. I now believe we have even more options for this kind of cunning manoeuvre.
Also, this option would not compromize the development of the Frimpongs and Ramseys, and may additionally bring other qualities to the game of said promoted CB’er.
Morning kelsey,
I hope you are correct and Almunia leaves in January. Like 26m, I would not be upset to lose Diaby because with Ramsey returning we really do not need a might-come-good, inconsistent player.
I have mixed feelings about Vela. Although he has been a bit of a disappointment, I still think he’s a better footballer than Theo – and we won’t be selling Theo. Maybe its a commercial decision?
I hope Almunia doesn’t leave in January, as that would mean calling Mannone back from Hull (which I think would be bad for him) or signing someone else. But he should be moved on next summer, so that (if the three are happy with it) we will have a goalkeeping unit of Fabianski, Szczesny and Mannone (and I think many of us hope the potential of Szczesny is realised and he ultimately becomes our No 1).
Kelsey, I interpret Wenger’s declaration that he’s not looking to sign anyone as an indication that Vermaelen is expected to return to the fold sooner rather than later.
And Micky, totally agree that using one of the CBs as a DM from time to time would work well.
Re Vela, someone suggested yesterday that he could be seen as understudy to Arshavin. I quite like that suggestion. But he, like several of our squad, might feel he needs more than that. We shall see.
There is a rumour going around that Vela has a drink problem.
Vermaelen surely is the key more than anyone in the squad.If completely fit no deal, but ….
I think almunia will go in the Summer not before.
All i read is about defensive midfielder, or central defender why do we have to buy, when we have Djourou,Diaby Frimpong,Vermaelen,Song,Gibbs Eboue Eastmond, plus the guys in reserves who are all doing pretty good, any one of those guys could fit into those positions if needed, how many defenders do we need, and please not a German,its about time we thought about English Players after all it is the EPL. have we still got Diarra?
Steve, by Diarra do you mean “Lass” now at Real Madrid but who left us to join Pompey some time ago?? Or is there another Diarra I missed?
Agreed re the capacity we’ve got in the squad for DM. If there were an Essien, Alonso or Makalele available, that would be great, but anything less and we should ignore it.
Personally, I don’t care where Arsenal players are from, so long as they bust a gut for the badge. The problem is so few English players have the same guts that players from Africa, France, Brazil, Holland, Russia etc have and just don’t want to travel to develop themselves.
Re Kelsey
so did George Best but he still scored
Thanks for the lesson had’nt heared his name for a while so guessed he must have moved on, not somthing we do to often
SP,
now now 😉
comparing Carlos to George, I wish.
kelsey – I agree with you on many of your points. To say that winning the Carling Cup will take the heat off of AW and the club is ridiculous – it will be lovely to win it but we’re much better than that and the Carling Cup should not be the bench mark of our aspirations – I don’t believe it is anyway.
We absolutely can’t rely on RvP but in the same way that winning the CC will make us feel better for a while so a fit RvP for a few games will also put a big smile on our faces. He’s a classy player and I can’t wait to cheer his name again on Saturday – hope thats not the kiss of death 😉
…..and I will not hear anything bad said about Carlos Vela 😉
Hi peaches.
posting between taking various concotion(sp) of pills 😉
Hi kelsey – keep taking the pills. I like that comparison between Carlos and George.
Maybe Arsenal isn’t the right club for Vela, maybe he’s just too much of a playboy and doesn’t knuckle down in training. He’s great for Mexico so he definitely has the talent and we’ve seen it so we know its true. Not enough of a goody-goody for AW thats the problem.
Diaby must be boring as hell 🙄
Kelsey and Peaches, agree 100%, winning the League Cup will only mean something if it pushes us on to winning something real, especially given that all the other quality sides have self-destructed along the way.
Just reading back your comment, we have Englishmen going to the gates of hell in Irak and afghan fighting to keep this country free of terror and dieing for their country dont ever doubt an Englishman courage
Steve, am not sure where this is going, but I don’t doubt the courage of British soldiers, or soldiers from any other country come to that, I was just commenting on your point re English football players.
Not trying to go anywhere, but with all of the football played in minor leagues in this country and Wenger having one of the best scouting teams around he dosnt seem to find too many here.
G’day.
Interesting post Peaches.
I would keep the entire squad. We have no need to sell anyone unless they are causing unrest in the dressing room.
Steve Palmer. No-one could deny the bravery of the men in Irak/Afghan etc wherever they come from.
Steve. If they were out there, they would be signed. The sad fact is that there is no big strong English DM who has the talent to play for us. Small strong DM’s …. perhaps (Parker?)
He’s bought from many leagues but Wenger definitely has a preference for buying French/French-speaking players and/or players from the French league, and we do still field entirely non-Brit teams regularly. But he has also got the following Brits on the books: Gibbs, Walcott, Wilshere, Ramsey, Emmanuel-Thomas and Eastmond, plus Cruise, Bartley, Watt, Lansbury, Frimpong, Randall, Aneke, Freeman, Afobe and Murphy. Plus there are all the British players who’ve passed through the academy or the squad and are now playing elsewhere.
But there are some serious issues in this country around kids’ participation in sport, not helped by the government recently pulling the plug on one very important funding stream for school sport. No wonder too many of our kids are becoming little bloaters. And beyond issues of health, there are consequences for recruiting youngsters to become professional footballers, so perhaps it is harder than it once was to find local talent. That said, I’m confident that Wenger, Brady and Bould recruit the best young players for Arsenal, from Britain and elsewhere.
Raddy, Parker’s my player of the saeson so far – I doubt he’ll get an award though, since he isn’t playing for one of the top five or six clubs.
26/5 Point well made about the funding of school sport.. My school sports field is now a block of flats and I guess that is true for thousands of other schools.
As you so rightly say the massive increase in obesity has its roots in the decline of school sport (and those fools in health and safety).
My wife taught in a school in America a couple of years ago. The children were not allowed to run in the playground lest they fell over and the school was sued by the parents!! And now snow ball fights are banned …..
Makes me wonder where John Terry and Rio Ferdinand Fletcher and Ledly King and countless more came from dos’nt it
Hi Kelsey,
Sounds like you’ve been laid up?
I just got out of hospital yesterday after being in for 5 days with pneumonia.
Here’s the cycle;
1. Baby sit sick grandchildren
2. Pick up a cough
3. Irritate the lungs
4. Get a fever
5. Cough up rotten junk
6. Go to hospital
7. Miss a few games of football
8. Come home weak as a kitten
Not at all good at 73, but I had great care and am back to about 90%
Now we have to set ground rules on looking after our grandchildren.
Now on to football.
Almunia – will not go in January as that would leave no 3rd option if Mannone cannot be recalled from loan.
Vela – lets not concern ourselves with a drinking problem after all Mr. Arsenal played some of his best football while drunk – he had to have done as he was rarely sober.
Eboue – much maligned and has had some woeful games (who hasn’t) but remains a useful utility player. If you’ve ever coached you know just how important that type of player is.
Walcott – Has to figure out how to stop running into trees and learn how to cross the ball – however he’s a keeper.
Bendtner – Oh my God! If only his ability matched his ego. I would like to see him leave – very soon.
Diaby – has exceptional skills but is yet to get his complete game together on a consistent basis. To sell him would be criminal.
Clichy – So many instances of his poor concentration or marking has cost us both points and games. Gibbs will become 1st choice with Clichy, unfortunately, his back up.
My thought on a very snowy day here in London. Ontario.
Steve. None of them are DM’s …. surely that is your original point?
Name ONE top quality BIG English DM who could get in our side….
On second thoughts perhaps i jumped the gun a bit apologies
G5. Welcome back and sorry to hear of your illness.
Cannot agree about NB. Why do we need to sell him (or anyone)?
BR:
Well here are my thoughts on Bendtner.
First of all stats.
Games – Goals – Goals per Game
On Loan 42 11 3.8
FA Cup 9 3 3.0
Lge/Cup 17 8 2.1
Total 68 22 3.1
League 83 21 4.0
Europe 9 2 4.5
Total 92 23 4.0
Overall 160 45 3.7
Various sources show slightly different stats but would not make a material difference.
These stats show that he is more effective (though barely) against the weaker competition but his scoring rate for a “striker” is miserable.
He shows little or no sign of improvement.
His first touch is pathetic and when he attempts to emulate our skill players with deft passes his lead feet get in the way.
His version of holding up the ball ends up with the opposition back in position.
I see little value in keeping a player who, in five seasons, has not set on fire.
It took Chamakh just a few games.
Hi GN5,
Sorry to hear you’ve not been well, I hope you’re fully recovered.
Thanks for the illunimating stats – which for once prove what I had expected. I see Nik winning headers as a target man, but seldom finding another Arsenal player, whereas Chamakh seems a lot more effective.
GN5,
Glad you are better. 🙂
Am grinning reading your comments. Your player analysis is very similar to my own, except for your Eboue blindspot. 🙂
Although you are wasting your time trying to convince Raddy that Bendy, his blindspot, is anything but a stalwart to be kept. 🙂
Bin him, is my cry!
Either some top defensively minded players need to be signed or the coaching needs to change because as Wenger himself said, you cannot win the league if you concede more than 28 goals. We’ve conceded 17 in 15 games. So by Wenger’s own criteria we won’t win the league carrying on as we are. Yet carrying on as we are is just what Wenger proposes. It’s as simple as that.
So it’s Russia for the World Cup 2018.
Politics and Oil?
Jekyll: The PL has been won 12 times out of 18 by teams conceding more than 28 goals.
FIFA committee members are accused of corruption, so where do they head? Russia…….! Hmmm, very appropriate.
I don’t really mind it going to Russia, I might try to be there for it, but you have to be suspicious as to what was going on in the minds of the voting members. Dodgy bastards, one and all!
It would appear that Russia knew in advance that they would win and going by David Dein and Prince Andrew’s faces sitting waiting, they knew as well.
Not such a suprise, money has won over again, Blatter has made a fortune out of this, chances are he will retire now and leave it in the hands of the other rogues, dont expect to much in the Champion League either, once a cheat always a cheat
26,
“Dodgy bastrads, one and all”, is that a legal connotation? 🙂
Noses in the trough for English MP’s; noses in the trough for FIFA delegates? Quelle est la difference?
Gives me an excuse to go to Russia! 🙂
No surprise on the WC front. Who said it wasn’t corrupt? Shame on them….. Qatar and Russia, as you say RA politics and oli (and a huge dose of bribery)
G5. Re Bendtner. And my clearly expected knee jerk reaction
What your figures do not show is time on pitch, appearances represent a 5 mins sub appearance as a full game. If you take the number of mins he has been on the pitch and the number of goals scored this season, would that be an accurate assessment of his play? Because if you did NB would be AFC’s most efficient scorer, which he obviously isn’t.
To compare him to Chamakh is unfair, they are different ages with hugely differing experience.
Why throw out a 22 y.o. striker? Who is to say that he cannot become a fantastic player by the age of 26?
But you have your favourites and I have mine.
gunnern5: Arsenal are on course to concede 40+ goals. Are you saying nothing should change?
Actually the decision to choose Qatar, a country that has never qualified for the WC, has no stadiums and a population of 1.7 million is even more dodgy
Usamov must be happy!
I was having a good day until I got home and found all the windows open and all the contents gone!
What sort of sick batsrad would do that to my advent calendar?
Mighty sad that football’s not coming home but the bid team worked really hard and obviously we were undone by the politics behind the scenes.
I’ll just be soooo old if we ever get it in my lifetime 😦
Rasp. It is completely shameless. Are they going to play indoors and have air conditioned stadia?
gunnern5 – sorry to hear that you’ve been poorly, wishing you a full recovery.
On your Nik stats should the decimal point be in a different place for the goals/game? Shall I move them for you?
Peaches. Kelsey and I went to the WC in ’66. (Not together I should add) He being la-di-da went to the Final whereas I stood for the Quarter Finals. Of course you were just a twinkle in those faraway days 🙂
I don’t expect them to return in my lifetime because the Brits will not pay enough in bribes.
Raddy,
The Isle of Wight has more right to stage the WC than Qatar, I’d love to hear their justification for that decision.
As you say, the players will be expected to play in 90 degree(+) heat. There is a long time between now and these world cups, I expect football will have changed markedly by then. Maybe clubs will be refusing to release players for tournaments and there will be a world league by then.
RA. LOL
Agree about Qatar – whats the point? I thought it was mad that was held in the USA who at the time couldn’t care less about football but Qatar??????????
Good news for the builders of the olympic village, they can race the work now, a new job is starting at home it must be Christmas
Rasp. Possibly – I heard a very interesting discussion about the financial fairplay rules being brought in in 3 years time. There is a distinct possibility that the teams with sugar daddy owners could start a breakaway competition.
More on that later as I must see a man about a dog!
Lets not go to Qatar – lets have our own World Cup in England in 2022. I’m going to mount a campaign. Anyone know a tv company that might want to sponsor it?
Actually peaches, that’s not such a daft idea. By choosing Qatar they have devalued football. Even if they argue that it would bring football to new areas, the population is so small, if that is the case, let’s move it to India.
I can see there being a European backlash about going to Qatar, as you say Rasp that choice has devalued football. They may have the money to build the infrastructure and the stadiums required, but where’s the history? Where’s the local football support?
Makes you wonder if Abramovich’s interest will wavour with Chelsea, now that theres an opening for new positions in the Russian Empire
GN5- Welcome back- and back with some cracking stats too 🙂
According to the Qatar Embassy website- the total population in 2004 was 744029!!! Apparently they are going to have air-conditioned stadia! Eco-friendly or what!
Raddy is closer to the truth (4.03pm) than you mgiht think re temperatures and Qatar: here’s what their bid team are quoted (admittedly on Wiki) as saying on the issue: “the event has to be organized in June or July. We will have to take the help of technology to counter the harsh weather. We have already set in motion the process. A stadium with controlled temperature is the answer to the problem. We have other plans up our sleeves as well.” So it really is air conditioned stadiums, but outdoors, not indoors!!
I don’t mind it going to the Middle East (sorry Rasp, I think you’re off the mark on that one), as the region (not Qatar) has a long tradition of passion for football. The trouble is the obvious places football-wise (Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi, Algeria, Iran etc) are all off limits for one reason or another. And re climate the obvious answer is hold it another time of year, but then the Western European football seasons, which drive these things, make that impossible.
But it still can’t be right to send it to Qatar, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see players and managers campaigning very seriously for the venue to be changed. (And there has been a venue change in the past, Colombia was meant to host in 1986 but cancelled and it went to Mexico.)
Peaches- I think it should read games per goal…
Maybe we shouldn’t care about the World Cup anymore- the quality at the last one was appalling and all real fans care much more about their clubs. The Champions League is a far better tournament in terms of the quality of squads and style of play
Sorry, just one more thing re Russia, promise I’ll leave it alone after this: the distance between the two venues that are furthest apart (Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg) is just over 1500 miles. That’s the same as the distance between London and Moscow.
So in one WC the players and fans will be travelling their knackers off, and in the next they’ll be fried to a crisp.
26m,
I bow to your greater knowledge of Middle Eastern football and can’t argue with what you say. It is ironic that a country that has profitted from the production of a fuel that is a major cause of greenhouse gasses and plans to add further ecological insult by building stadiums that are air conditioned.
Afternoon,
Average temperatures in Qatar in June are 112 degrees, which is just about right for training.
Carlito,
Great point. The Eco Friendly Games 🙂
I’m guessing the thinking behind Qatar 2022 is that by then the oil rich Arabs will have bought up most of the major football teams worldwide with ManShitty being the start and Platter promised them a short journey to see all the players they own in summer 2012.
Peaches – Re Bendtner I meant that to be
games in between scoring goals.
Sorry to hear you have not been well gunnern5.
yes,at least i was there in ’66.
I felt for David Dein and all the other delegates.As Rasp said , you could see on his face before the result how despondant he was, and he is truely shattered.
Moscow the most expensive city in the world.
qatar a minumum of 40 degrees with special cooling systems in the stadium.Give over.
Just announced we only got TWO votes.
Arshavin looked like a schoolboy who had bunked off school 😉
Yes chary,
but how much oil wil be left?.that’s why they are spreading their interests in the western world.
The good news is that Schwarzer has just signed a new contract at fulham.
Jekyll: I was not making a statement just supplying the stats.
In 11 of our 15 games we have conceded i or less goals and had two games where we gave up 3 goals.
Last season Chelsea conceded 32 and the highest in the PL was 45.
True Kelsey, who knows what will be left by then – not that I expect to be around by then. 🙂
To compound the eco issue, they will use billions of gallons of water they don’t have to build stadiums they don’t have, and then won’t need.
If old ‘arry was on the executive committee of FIFA we would have won hands down 😉
When push comes to shove (another wonderful English expression!) I don’t give a monkey’s cuss about where they hold the WC. What upsets me is that this is yet another example of people being bought without any accountability.
Chary makes a good point.
kelsey 😉
Kelsey,
If England got 2 votes, one of which would have been self cast, that means there was only one other country who voted for the “motherland of football”. [Bladder’s description]
Disgraceful.
Do the other countries in the British Isles have a vote?
RA,
it’s a fact only 2 votes.
Going back to the climatet in qatar, it’s alright cooling the outdoor stadiums,but what about the training facilities and everywhere else.
i am no footballer but we get 40 degress here in July/August and it dehydrates you and makes you feel extremely tired and lifeless.
Have they really thought this out.
like an old TV programme “Never mind the quality feel the width”
Oh,nasri is a doubt for saturday,he has a knock.
RA, it’s the FIFA Exec Committee which decides, and the membership of that (I think) is decided by the member confedations, except that the four Brit associations between them have a special right to appoint one of the eight vice presidents. That’s in addition to whatever members UEFA gets.
It’s clear that the vote against England was driven by the corruption allegations – they may not have won without the allegations, but they would surely have got more than one extra vote.
Truth, as many have observed already, is FIFA is shot through with corruption. I wouldn’t say the same of UEFA but for the so-called stewards of the world game to respond in such a self-serving way really is disgusting.
Anyways, back to real football………
We need a post for tomorrow, anyone got any ideas? We could do a Rant Friday if we get two or three small rants ……..
Going back to Peaches’s Post, it is obvious that some Clubs prefer a continuous policy of buying success and do so even after winning major trophies.
E.g. Manure, Chelski, Barcelona and Madrid.
Arsenal, even in the days of Gorgeous George Graham, and well before Arsene’s “youth policy” strategy, have never done so.
So the question of who to buy/sell is only of interest in finding out what we individually think of certain players, because the “Arsenal Way” is never going to change.
Clearly, from the comments on AA, everyone seems to have their favs and their dislikes. Rosicky/Vela because they are deemed, by some, to be cute; Bendy because he is a Danish ham (sorry BR), Eboue because he is a “character” etc. etc.
For what it is worth, I do not peersonalise my likes/dislikes but simply think about whether or not we could replace “A” with “B” and have a better team.
This maybe a switch into or out of the squad/team by someone already within the club, or an outside buy.
For example, I would prefer a one legged PingPong to Eastmond any day of the week. (He is simply a better player, not because I know either of them).
So; Gibbs for Clichy. Easy choice? Well maybe not. Clichy might well make a better midfielder (a la Bale) than a full back, so who would he replace?
Schweinsteiger for Denilson. Definitely! The rules of this discussion are bounded by the fact Arsene would never countenance any of the suggestions we may make.
Schecklenberg for Almunia. (Chezzer as No.2)
Subotic for Squilli. (A no brainer for me).
TV for Diaby in midfield. TV played as a midfield dynamo for Ajax before his transfer to us. His then coach said they would never have played him at centre back, except in emergency.
Replace Bendy with almost anyone, until Afobe comes of age.
I have given some snippets for you to mull over, but I could have been much more radical and far reaching.
That’s enough to start a barney, anyway! 🙂
Much to ponder.
RA.
However we already know that AW is totally committed to his squad. I would have chosen Silva or David Villa ahead of Chamakh which shows how little I know.
As to the Gibbs /Clichy discussion, the problem is that both are fine players. Had Gibbs played the number of games Clichy has then he would have made errors as well, and we would be calling for Clichy’s return (perhaps). And what with Traore who may yet become a decent left midfielder?
No question about Denilson/Schweinstiger but it is just not going to happen.
BTW. It is minus 11 here and the temps are expected to plummet over the weekend!!
Oh to be with Neanman!
BR,
Traore has gone. He has reached the point of no return! 🙂 Anyway, he could not hold down a position in the Pompey team. Not for us, I am afraid.
-11? Oh my gawd! 🙂
Sad. Traore looked as though he had the pace and power to make a good player. The lad is only just 21 and is a member of the 25 man squad. If he had no hope at THOF AW would have sent him out on loan or tried to give him away – he must be on a tidy contract of at least €10k a week.
BR,
I may have misunderstood you. But you know he has gone to Inter Milan.
Sorry BR, I should have said Juventus not Inter. 26 has berated for the same mistake some weeks ago.
His loan is with a view to a permanent tfr.
Aha. My problem with the loaned players again. Apparently he started yesterday in the Europa League and played 83 mins.
With so little playing time I cannot see Juve buying him.
Strange that apart from Vela we have no left sided attacking players coming through.
Berate? Moi? Surely not. (Cue Leslie Nielsen reference….)
In the style of a typical Arsenal player, didn’t Traore get injured within 5 minutes of going to Juve? I guess that could be one reason he’s not played much there.
BR,
I suspect I will now sound picky, but I hope you won’t notice. Because Traore was under 21 in July, he is actually not part of the 25 man squad.
With 26 around I am now a hostage to fortune, so I better be right!
Anyway, nite guys! 🙂
Hi all
Apologies if I’m repeating much of what’s been said but here’s my two pennies worth anyway….
Arsene states the Wigan victory is evidence that we have a strong enough squad. Well given that Wigan are a very average team, what I learnt from the game is that if our first choice strikers get injured and we have to rely on Vela and Bendtner then we’re in trouble. Against better sides we’d get punished for the amount of chances they missed between them.
I feel we have alot of strength in our squad and are 2/3 additions away from being very strong. But by the same token we are not a million miles away from going down the same route as Liverpool; Filling the squad with too many average or good players. We are Arsenal. Simply being ‘good’ is not enough. We have numbers galore, but how many of the fringe players are really good enough?
Vela & Bendtner have stood still and shown no sign over the past 3 seasons of becoming top class. Quite frankly Clichy has gone so far backwards its ridiculous. Two seasons ago I was championing him as the best LB in Europe and a much better player than Ashley Cole. How laughable that looks now that he has developed into a defender who can’t defend (and he can’t cross a ball either so I fail to see what he offers?). I’m not judging Vela, Bendtner or Clichy on a couple of games or a temporary dip in form, I’m basing my comments on what I have seen over a two year period.
On the keeping front both Almunia and Flappy have also been given several chances and both shown they are not good enough at the highest level. They should both be sold IMO, Chesney made No.2 and a genuine top class keeper finally brought in.
When will Arsene learn that being an excellent centre half in a European League counts for nothing in the PL? We have been crying out for a strong dominant CH for 4 years now yet he continues to gamble on players unproven in the physical tests that await them in England. Whereas Scillaci and Koscielny haven’t been given the time to prove themselves or develop as the players I name above have, given how seriously our current defensive frailties are undermining our title chances I have to question whether we can afford that time? How many big games and therefore trophies did we pass up by perservering with Senderos for so many seasons? You simply can’t mess about at the back. You need quality, you need strength. I know he won’t having only just bought two of them, but for me Arsene has to decide who is the weakest of Scillaci, Koscielny and Djourou and move on one or two of them with the likes of Cahill or Jagielka brought in.
The overriding factor that should encourage Arsene to buy is the league table. We have been average so far this season yet we’re one game away from going top. Neither Chelsea or Utd have the strength in depth of before and therefore the league is more open than ever. I genuinely believe that had we signed the much needed CH and Keeper in the summer we would easily be 7-10 points better off than we are right now and therefore clear at the top. That may sound fanciful but look where and how we have dropped points this season? That’s what drives us all mad. We would be so much stronger from simply having reliable players in a couple of key positions. We already have the eye catching talent and flair. We just need good old fashioned no nonesense characters in two key positions. Fill those gaps and I really feel we will take some stopping. Fail to address that and we remain also rans.
In addition, seeing as the Board appear more interested in the business side and balance sheets, if the likes of Bayern and Juve come in with healthy offers for Bendtner and Clichy I think we should bite their hands off. Both are probably at their maximum transfer value right now so lets take advantage of that.
This January is a huge opportunity for us but I fear Arsene will pass it up yet again and we’ll continue to ask ourselves ‘ what if?’.
Peaches
Haven’t been able to contribute today as have been travelling to a friend’s funeral in the US.
Have a short post that could work for tomorrow but don’t know how to upload it from my iPad so will post it here and hope you can copy it for tomorrow if so required. It’s basically a cheeky response to your post from today.
Hi Rocky – done it and thanks 🙂
Trev H – I wanted to respond to your well written comment. I think you would have got more responses if it had gone up a bit earlier in the day.
I don’t agree with all your analysis (Vela, for example, has never had any kind of run in the team and I wouldn’t write him off).
And I don’t see us doing a Liverpool because although our squad is far from perfect, they have all grown together playing a set system which generally works. Liverpool were badly managed by Benitez with crap signings thrown into a team that relied on a small core of stars to make it tick but had no real system.
But this is an excellent point: “The overriding factor that should encourage Arsene to buy is the league table. We have been average so far this season yet we’re one game away from going top. Neither Chelsea or Utd have the strength in depth of before and therefore the league is more open than ever.”
I agree completely. Our squad may be pretty good, but does AW really think it could not be improved? And if so, then in this season – of all seasons – he should take the necessary steps. A world class CB and a ‘big brutish’ DM would do the job nicely…
Morning,
RL,
As I said yesterday, I do think we have the DM back up already in our ranks, and as for the CB issue, well on the face of it, I see the argument for buying, however my reservation is that I believe what ultimately makes a sound defence is understanding. Due to injuries, we have not been able to see our first choice pair develop this understanding. To compound this point, I am not sure that many of us could even agree on who that first choice actually is. How good could any of these pairings be given ten straight games together:
TV JD
TV Kos
JD Kos
JD Squil
?????????
I think the issue on DM is not finding a new back up, that’s covered, but whether we could recruit someone better than Song. Not going to happen but it’s a fair question.
Interesting chat today. So many areas covered.
Trev. Fine comment and well thought through. I am with RL re: Liverpool – it just will not happen under AW, the proof is the past 14 years and the variety of teams he has created.
As to the title, as you say, we have been average with flashes of quality, why can we not look forward to a more even and improved level of form? I agree the input of a top quality player will push us forward, but that is highly unlikely!
Micky. You are correct about the CB’s and maybe that is a part of the problem. We need to have an established first choice pairing who develop an understanding, like Bould and Adams etc
My choice would be TV and JD.
BR,
My point exactly. Neither Adams, Bould or Keown were world class, but throw the understanding into the equation, and they formed a world class defensive unit.
I simply don’t know who I would elect as our first choice pairing.
Sorry we won’t meet tomorrow.
Morning
There’s a New Post
Rocky, Raddy – thanks for your comments.
Point taken re the Liverpool comparison. I do believe our quality is considerably higher than what Benitez left them with. I suppose the point I was making is that I’m fearful that we’ll be left with a number of similar/samey players too many of which are not top class. In any successful side you have a spread of world class, very good and simply solid players. Even the top sides don’t have a squad of 25 world beaters. I’m just concerned that our balance could go the wrong way with the genuinely class players complimenting our ‘solid’ players rather than it being the other way round. This stems from Arsene, I believe, persevering for too long with players who fail to make the step up (Bendtner for one) or filling certain positions with too many of the same type of player, clones even, meaning the squad has numbers but lacks variety.
Raddy – Why can we not look forward to a more even and improved level of form? Because, in my opinion, despite what Arsene tells us the required level of improvement is not contained within the squad. We see the same players making the same mistakes as they were 3 seasons ago (Clichy being a prime example). We’ve been in the same position as we are now several times in recent seasons and keep coming up short. I just don’t have the belief that we will improve enough or cut out the constant silly mistakes without adding to the squad.
I believe we are so close to be mounting a serious title bid. Two players, the right type of players. But if we don’t strengthen we be fighting for a top 4 spot again.