Being Arsene’s number one apologist there is a question that has been floating around out there that has been bothering me for a while: why did Wenger play a weakened side against Shakhtar and Braga away? His critics accuse him of arrogance and obstinacy; the fall out of these decisions being that we came runners up and now, unnecessarily, have to face Barcelona.
The excuse I offer will, I suspect, be easier to run with if you have man managed a group of people at some point in your life, I think this is one of the reasons I always agree with Dandan and more often than not with Big Raddy both of whom have had the responsibility for a number of people to a greater or a lesser extent.
Wenger has twenty five players to keep happy which is more people than I have had to man manage so I accept that a lot of what is about to follow is pure guess work; but hey, what is a blog for?
Twenty five professional footballers to keep happy — all at the same time — no easy task in my opinion; some of the more lowest common denominator Arsenal blogs dismiss this by pointing to his six million annual salary but it does not change the fact that the man still has to do the job of keeping twenty five very large egos under control.
Right, having established that, cast your mind back to just before the Shakhtar away game and you will remember that we had maximum points from the three games in our CL group; we had beaten Birmingham 2-1 at home, City 3-0 away and then West Ham 1-0 at home in the EPL – we were, by anyone’s standards, on a roll. Wenger had got the Red Machine humming but the problem he faced, as I saw it, was how to keep everyone content.
Bendtner had made his return against City; successfully getting on the score sheet and doing exactly the same in his following appearance against Newcastle in the Carling Cup. Walcott, being the best player at the club for the first three games of the season, had returned scoring impressively as well against Newcastle and when Wenger was asked if Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was knocking at the door he replied that he wasn’t just knocking he was banging on it with both hands; all this without mentioning Szczesny who, when it comes to demanding first team football, makes the others, including Bendtner, look shy and retiring.
My point is that it was perfectly reasonable to field the side Wenger did against Shakhtar – even more so when you consider we had trounced them only a couple of weeks before at home. Wenger said that he selected a team he thought capable of winning; all perfectly reasonable, but in my opinion it had just as much to do with trying to keep twenty five players happy.
So, all neatly tied up then, the problem I have is that on the other shoulder sits a little devil who whispers in my ear: do you really believe that? Wenger could not lose by playing a so called weakened team: if we beat Shakhtar we were as good as through to the next round but if we lost Wenger would have a more humble, a less demanding, a more malleable Bendtner and Walcott and so he did and still does. A similar story applies to the Braga away game. The other reason Wenger couldn’t lose by making those decisions was because he knew that if we came second in the group no one would blame him if we go out to someone as powerful as Barcelona.
A little something to think about on this long break without football.
Written by London but hey, you already knew that. lol
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I think, in this case, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If you don’t rotate a bit and get more and more injuries people criticse the boss for not making the most of, as you say, 25 well played players. If you do rotate and play a slightly less efficient team you risk dropping points.
I happen to think the teams selected in both games were good enough to win but lapses of concentration and some poor defending cost us. Has that not also been the case with a so called full strength side out?
I also think too much is being made of winning the group and avoiding Barcelona. Of course that would have been the case if we’d picked up another point but, if we seriously wanted to win the CL, did we think we’d be able to avoid them for good? What’s the point in going beyond the last 16 and just losing to them later on? Personally I think Barca are sensational but it’s not a foregone conclusion. They are only a Football team after all.
Good article. Many fans are unable to see reasons for fielding those teams in the Champions League, and hold Arsene accountable.
The blame being directed towards Arsene is ridiculous & mostly comes from those who know little about football. The sides he put out against those teams are more than capable of getting a result there. When you can only pick 6 players from song, denilson, diaby, wilshere, fabregas, rosicky, theo, nasri, arshavin, bendtner, vela, RVP, chamakh, the squad must be rotated. ANY 6 of those should get a result against teams like Braga & only the players can be held responsible.
I believe we have a stronger squad than United or Chelsea. Avoiding defeat on the 27th is a must to ensure our momentum isn’t decimated before a huge run of games in January
London,
So you are the self appointed No.1 apologist for Arsene. What makes you think he needs anyone to apologise for him?
The teams he selected for the games against Shakhtar and Braga were, in his judgement, capable of beating them.
The results went against us but this is football and sh*t happens.
His brilliant management skills need no explanation or second guessing from any apologist and it’s why he is the best manager in Arsenal’s history, and long may he remain so.
Apparently the squad assembled now by the manager is the best in 13 years, yet it can’t win the big games against “top 4 teams”. So who is to blame?
My other guess would be that if pushed Wenger would admit to believing that after the group stage winning the CL has got as much to do with luck than judgement and point to Liverpool in a way that we need not look any further.
Now this would normally be a cue for the quick witted question “Hows the cricket going Gnarley?”
……but I come on here to talk footy, coz I love footy, as my avatar says.
I was in the middle of writting your only being bolshy because of the Perth result Gnarley.
Great post London. Thanks.
Morning RA
Good question, what makes me think I need to apologise on behalf of Wenger? Hmmmmm, I dont really know.
Ha!
I will repeat myself. I ome on here to talk footy. If you want to talk cricket with Australians go to Cricket info. There you will find plenty of Australians talking cricket.
Now are you going to answer my question? Who is to blame?
Gnarley, O Gnarley,
I don’t know if you read a comment a while back, but I put the responsibility for our season at your door. You were given a choice. Ashes or League. I’m now seriously questioning your loyalty to the greater cause!!
MDI89
Footy is my chosen topic on here. Why do you all need to talk about cricket on here to me?
Why on earth should he accomodate rubbish players for the well being of the club ?? It makes no sense whatsoever.He tinkers far to much with the team and it isnt exactly the first time that we managed to succumb to inferior opponents but when you just smashed Braga for six at home and Shakhtar for 5 you just dont go there and lose it is inexcusable and a big,big worry that that cant turn over these rubbish teams and every year have to struggle to qualify.Wenger must be complete daft if he thinks that Arsenals second 11 is as good as Arsenals first 11,time and time again he has been proven wrong.But as i said before Wenger is not exactly the one to heed any lessons from anything other then the rubbish he spouts himself.
The reason that Wenger fielded a weakened side against Shaktar and Braga just about sums up Wenger and why Arsenal will never win a major trophy under his stewardship!
He continually makes decisions to protect his under-performing players that are not necessarily in the best intersts of the club.
Wenger believes his philosophy of building a young team that has grown up together, encouragement, telling them how wonderful they are and publicly defending them at at costs will create a team-spirit and togetherness greater than the sum of the parts. The problem with Wenger employing this philosophy is that he has created a group of mentally fragile players in an environment where there is no consequence to failure.
You also need talented players for that philosophy to work and the reality is that probably only 10 of that 25 man squad are good enough to play for Arsenal!
The Club needs reform from top to bottom and Wenger is not the man to do it!
Hi London,
Great talking points, but I have concerns over two points. One is the line “he knew that if we came second in the group no one would blame him if we go out to someone as powerful as Barcelona”. I don’t suppose we will ever know exactly how he thinks, but my gut feeling is that he does not think like that. In the same way that I agree with you in that he really believed a rotated team could beat both Braga and Partizan, I also believe he really does think his 1st XI can beat anyone, and that he never considers the reprocussions of failure. We will never know.
The other point concerns man management. In my experience there are two full proof techniques. Shout and NEVER make eye contact!
Danish Gooner,
Firstly, Shakhtar are not rubbish. Beatable home and away? Yes. Rubbish, No.
Also, having looked at the starting 11’s for both the Braga and Shakhtar games, they were by no means 2nd XI’s. Eboue played instead of Sagna and Bendtner instead of Chamakh. Other than that Gibbs played vs Braga, someone many people think should be our first choice left back. Djourou played both and is another player who should arguably be in our strongest XI. Other than that, Eastmond played against Shakhtar because of injuries and Song was rested against Braga. It’s worth remembering that Song has come in for massive criticism this season so we can’t have it both ways.
It’s a bit of a misnomer to suggest we played an out and out reserve side in either game because we didn’t. We should have won both games and didn’t. I think we should get over it.
Barcelona!!! I actually think that The Arsenal can beat them simply because this time Arsene Wenger won’t try & beat them @ their own game. He will try & pull off a Real Madrid type result from 4 years or so ago. No one will give Arsenal a chance, but it is when The Club is the underdog, that it achieves its best results.
Gnarley,
You started it!!!!
I take what I believe is a more American view on a game that can drone on for five days, and still end in a draw.
I’m secretly happy you guys won the second, as I would like a full blooded decider, going down to the last ball. It happened in ’89 after all. I live in hope.
Yep I’m pretty condifent about beating the Catalans.
I started what mick?
Morning London,
Yes, that post could only have been written by you 😛
You may be surprised to hear that I am stuck in the middle on this one.
I wrote a post recently where I asked the question ‘Why do we never learn from our mistakes?’ – and that question can only be directed at the manager.
We didn’t field the strongest team possible against Shakhtar and paid the price. Yes, they were good players and should have been able to win, but Arsène took a risk and it failed – as it had the previous year when we ended up playing Barca – deja vu or what?
So as you have related the decision to man management in the post, I’d say that Arsène’s risk assessment in his team selection backfired.
As I have said previously, I do not think that player development; players ‘feelings’; loyalty; salary or any other parameter should take priority over the team result. This must be qualified by the need to rest players who are exhausted and to protect those who are recovering from injury
I don’t care about the away losses to Braga & Shakhtar. Arsenal went through thats all that matters. Those two poxy performances came just at the right time. They will serve as a stern warning about what happens when you get complacent.
Bring on Barca 😆
Great points Smith14.
The only people that he needs to worry about keeping happy are us the fans.
I guess I’m not going to get an answer to both my questions.
Hi gnarley,
I don’t remember carping when we went one up. It’s all square now and a drawn series means we retain the Ashes, so I’d be a bit careful about too much triumphalism 🙂
BTW, I agree, my gut feeling is that we will beat Barca although I don’t think there is a cat in hell’s chance we will sign any players ready for first team football in January.
I think the fans are quite happy stonroy except for a few rabid nutters. But he needs to get a formula going that consistantly knocks over man utd, chavski &…. ,well its actually just those 2 really.
I guess I just answered one of my own questions 🙂
Raspy
No Bolinger jokes, or Warnie quotes?
I am one Australian & historically when I make a bold analysis about The Arsenal, one of the 50 poms on here usually reply with a cricket question. Gee your tone has changed somewhat you flat track bullies.
Gnarley,
Part of that formula must surely include a fit RvP and Cesc. I wonder how often both of those have been fit during our dismal run against the Chavs and Utd. I am no stats man, but I am experiencing one of my feelings!
MDI89
Very true, very true indeed. Thse two should be chomping @ the bit for Barca. TBH the PL standing of The Club has been a bonus. The CL is the one that mon ami wants IMHO. He got blown outa thewater last time round. I reckon he will have learn’t a big lesson. Lets hope Thierry Henry is his inside man when plotting their downfall 😆
I leave the wit to you aussies gg 😆
Truthfully, I’m probably as nervous as you lot – it could go either way now, it’ll probably come down to who has the most bottle.
“Wengers number one apologist”. I thought Stringfellow Dork was that 😆
The outcome of the Barca games is going to come down to three things IMO…
1. Injuries – we can’t predict those.
2. Spirit – will we have the balls?
3. Tactics – ????
rasp
I’m not nervous @ all. I really think that Barca are there for the taking. Oh you mean……. There you go again, I don’t come on here to talk cricket. It was actually on another site where I got the ribbing, but I told them to go fuck themselves. No one on here has really given me a hard time, that is why i won’t mention cricket out of respect. Now can we move on please 😎
3. Tactics-???? This is where Mr Wenger sometimes doesn’t give enough time/thought to IMO. But we know he can hatch a master plan, & there is no better stage to do it on for him than the one he will be sharing with Pep.
I’m off. I haven’t been well, actually pretty cook really, thats why I haven’t been around. But I’m on the mend
COYRRR
P.S London bolshy would be the very last word to describe me. I’m from up town.
Morning all, I must sound like Chicken Little here compared to Raspers and Gnarley but I feel we are going to get torn a new one by Barca.
The upside is we’ll be free to concentrate on the Carling Cup and FA Cup; tbh if I was in charge I would send out the second string to avoid getting injuries from a Busquets/Puyol late lunge or leg breaker.
I am an australian and the pitch at the MCG is going to be tough for our fast paced bowlers as it’s a very very slow pitch. Hopefully we win the coin toss and then we get to bat first
Hi Gnarley,
I specially wrote you a Hurley, Bollinger, Johnson and Hussey joke 2 or 3 days ago and you did not appear! 🙂
Well it wasn’t my joke and probably originated in Oz, but I did think of you. And now she is all over!! 🙂
Cricket? The Brits call that a grasshopper, but I am sure someone would be happy to talk to you about it. 🙂
Morning all
Great read that London.
Barca wil be a tough task over two legs, but I for one am not forgetting our equaliser at the Bernabeu.
At that point, all things were possible, and that was more than half way through the two legged tie. Therefore, I do believe that talk of them ‘tearing us a new one’* is bordering on ridiculous.
* Thats a horrble horrible phrase imho !!
No offence intended Chary.
Recently I made commnet ssimilar to Smith14’s. ie that we may may as wlel play the tough teams early and give it our best shot whilst we don’thave three games per week and a run in to our first PL title since 2004 !!
Rasp,
“1. Injuries – we can’t predict those.”
I can, and sadly I am always right!!
I may be out of the topic but from the season so far we haven`t seen a goal from a long range. What do u guys think is this the reason behind we r not getting positive results. Do we need to get some1 like Honda???? Just the thought???
RA Morning.
I specially wrote you a Hurley, Bollinger, Johnson and Hussey joke 2 or 3 days ago and you did not appear!
Well it wasn’t my joke and probably originated in Oz, but I did think of you. And now she is all over!!
Cricket? The Brits call that a grasshopper, but I am sure someone would be happy to talk to you about it.
….In the name of all that is holy, what in Satan’s name are you talking about?
No worries S Sure, the phrase I was going to use was “Lube ourselves up so we’re be taken from behind” so consider yourself lucky !
Based on current from surely you feel a little apprehensive ? Barca imperious and us scraping passed the likes of Fulham and Partizan while succumbing at home to West Brom and the Bar codes.
Of course we could pick up our form, add to our squad in January(not likely in my opinion) and Barca drop off but I’m in the doomer camp on our chances of going through.
Gurkhali,
Put Theo down the left. He cuts in and bang. Its in the top corner from 20 yards every single time!
Welcome Gurkha,
It would appear that shooting from outside the box unless a player has no other alternative is not encouraged in training. We have players who have the ability to score from distance (Rosicky, RvP, Cesc, Nasri) but we usualy try to get into the box to create a more potent goalscoring opportunity. Honda is a fantastic player, but our new signing Miyaichi seems to have the potential to be even better.
Sorry Chary, but I’m with Sharkey on the “tearing one” line. While we are on the subject, “raping defences” ain’t too clever either. Not that I’ve ever seen that one used on here.
However, I am big on swearing!
Chary 🙂
Yeah MDi89 – I don’t like the “touch of a rapist” and all that guff either.
That may surprise some but I’m a complex character. 🙂
Good post London, like it, plus the posts from Smith14.
The sides in those two games weren’t particularly weak (Eastmond starting in the Shakhtar game being pretty much the only real concession). The fact we lost the two games has to be explained by something other than the team selection – Shakhtar are a much better side than they appeared to be at our place, but Braga really aren’t all that. And the fact is, we failed to win possibly our easiest CL group in years.
The two defeats saw a surprising lack of focus and energy in big chunks of the games, which wasn’t especially a matter of individual performances. It’s something we need to put right, and soon. And that is somethng Wenger, the coaches and the players all need to take responsibility for.
As for our last 16 draw, winning the group guarantees little. Look at Spurs, they won their group (over Italian 7th place side, Inter) and ended up drawing Milan, the side that is six points clear at the top of Serie A. Barca is obviously as tough as they come. But ultimately, so what? We’re not in it just to hang on, getting easy fixture after easy fixture. If we’re serious we’ll have to play the big boys at some point, so if it’s early on, bring it on.
Truth be told, as you can see from Danish Gooner’s post, those who hate Wenger will use anything available to slag him off. They can’t be convinced, simple as that.
Gnarley, well done for throwing it back in our faces now that the Ashes is 1-1 – absolutely the right thing to do! It’s at an interesting point now – and likely to turn on mental issues more than anything. I reckon the English batsmen will remember what they need to do more quickly than the Australian bowlers but all looking good for the fourth test. Some sleepless nights beckon…..
26May1989 – Definitely, it was our lack of urgency or creative spark, particularly in the Braga game, that did for us.
Great read London – thanks.
I happen to think that our team rises and falls collectively and is capable of going on runs where it is almost unplayable and, the reverse, going on runs where it can lose to anyone and throw away any lead. Those two away games in the CL group coincided with one of our dips. By the time we play Barca we could (hopefully) be in an upswing and then anything could happen.
And, like Gnarley, I always fancy us most when we’re the underdog.
Chary 11.34. Lol.
Apprehensive ? Yes.
Convinced that we’ve lost already ? No.
Hey S Sure, I never said we’d already lost; just on current form/squad constitution it’s looking pretty unlikely that we’ll progress.
I did list my “upside” observation earlier so I’m not all about bad news. 🙂
The final paragraph does some Wenger up really, in his current mindset. Not prepared to raise the bar and heap undue pressure on players who are not good enough. Bit like his transfer policy really, bring some better quality in and he expected to do better, he knows he can, he knows he should, but to cap fans expectations he sits on his hands. Does he want to fight the good fight? I would understand if he was yet to win things, but I am sure he has won 3 titles in the very distant past.
with all the praise the morroccan striker is getting from the media,he should not be starting games for us,only good in the air,which is not good for us.if he doesnot get chances in that area in game,we are doomed.my danish striker has improved.good with the feet,and the head.theo should be pushed into the henry role,coz he has added goalscoring to his game.i dont really know why djourou is not be pushed into first action.clichy is out of sort at the moment,eboue should be thrown into the left side of the defence pending he regains back is confidence.i wish arshavin should drop to the bench,put narsi and fab,with song in the middle of the pack.thats why i like chelsea.they play their first 11.pls i need friends on facebook.adedayo adeyemi akanbi
Fine post London.
My management policy is conciliation and mis-truths, similar in fact to Mr. Wenger. AW appears to be highly aware of the media obsession about his words. and tailors his answers accordingly. If he is asked (and we never hear the questions) is Almunia in your plans? He is hardly likely to say “no, he is too crap”, for two reasons; firstly Almunia could still be of use to the Arsenal and will need confidence and secondly, a “world class” GK sells for more money
Braga – we lost because of a bent referee and 4 linesmen. The goalside Linesman should have held a white stick not a flag when he didn’t notice Vela get chopped down, the Braga broke a scored. Such are the vagaries of CL football.
And it will be Barca concentrating on League football whilst we draw MU.
If we are going out to barca I’d rather it was now than play 2 pointless games against a waeker team. Someone mentioned earlier that a majority of Arsenal fans were happy. I think a amjority are geting fed up. Most Arsenal fans I know have had enough.
I have to disagree GM. Well partly…
Some fans are frustrated with us failing to take the next step.
Some fans accept that Arsenal have ahad adifficyult few years and believe that we have done prety well to stay competitive in that time.
A few fans think Wenger is a complete and utter **** to paraphrase slightly, and those fans can’t believe that fans still sing his name at games.
Personally I think Arsene needs to pay more attaention to detail, and be a lot harderon our players in amanner that beget nmore etermined performances from all players. I also wish he’d get someone like Martimn Keown back to help him.
Having said all that I still think that he’s the greatest manager we’ve ever had, and the only guy in the world who could have gotten us thru the stadium rebuild whilst keeping us competing and believing.
And thats what kills me the most. Fans see us lose to Chelski, Barca, or Man U and don’t ask why we’re even involved in those big games.
We’ve actually dreamt about winning the CL …who is that down to…??
Oh…th ebit of yours athat I agree with was this – “If we are going out to barca I’d rather it was now than play 2 pointless games against a waeker team”
Not that I don’t beleive we have a chance !
“We’ve actually dreamt about winning the CL …who is that down to…??”
This is a great line, so much depth and honesty.
London – the other week someone (Mickey?) talked about the Paris in terms of his disbelief at the time that we were there.
I had the same thing after the ‘yellow submarine’ game. After dancing around hysterically a bit, I sat down and it hit me – ‘The Arsenal are in the CL Final – FUCK !!’ was what I thought.
Throw in the doubles, the almost annual trip toCardiff, and the Invincibles and it really makes my blood boiol to listen to some of the shit stirred about our manager by people who are Arsenal fans and who no doubty baskedin all the glory he gave them.
Wow, some of them even named their blog in a francophonic fashion, presumably in Arsene’s honour…lol
Sharkey,
Here here! Well said.
Arsene is a great manager, (the best we have ever had) and unlike some of the management flotsam and jetsam of the Premier League, he is also a decent human being.
“he is also a decent human being”
So so true Red, yet some would happily sell their soul to the Devil (hire Maureenio) to get their hands on a bit of silverware, with scant regard for the ethos, reputation and standing of our great club.
A few years ago, I went to see Arsenal play at Sevilla in our final group game for the Champions league. Wenger fielded a ridiculously weak team that got weaker when Cesc limped off, and we were lucky to be only beaten 3-1. Although a penalty denied to Eboue might have changed things, we were soundly beaten. While walking back to town, one distraught Arsenal fan, a retiree living in Malaga, practically walked under a bus…. ‘we simply aren’t good enough’, he complained. That is our second string and we won’t make it with that group. I thought the guy was being ridiculous. We had put out 9 subs, so of course they weren’t that good as a group. But slot 2 or 3 into the first team and surround them with top players and they would be fine. It turns out, that he was right and I was wrong. We were top of the league at the end of February, but then fell apart after the injuries to Eduardo and Rosicky, and with Adebayor’s energy flagging.
I’m not sure what I make of this story except that it’s hard to tell what the performance of those weakened squads meant. I really thought nothing of losing to Sevilla that night. We were in first place and had shown that we could beat anybody, and our youth players were dominating the carling cup. Now I wonder.
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California,
I am convinced that we will eventually have a squad that is strong enough that the idea of a 1st and a 2nd team is no longer relevant.
I know we have gone thru quite a long “gestation” period of jam tomorrow. But the day is coming.
We have got some tremendous talent coming thru, Miguel, Bartley, JET, Galindo, Botelho, Ramsey etc. When you add the possible/inevitable addition of new players we will be tremendous. Le Prof’s project will soon come to fruition.
I’m not a Monkee …. but I am a believer! 🙂
CG I can understand your concern, but if one wanted top be optimistic the parallel would be with Barcelona, who won nothing for five years while they allowed a team to grow together. Now they are considered to be the best team in the world.
Spot on Rocky! 🙂
And those years without trophies Redders? Well, they’re they’re they’re they’re just a steppin’ stone…
Rocky,
I would love Arsene (and us fans) to be rewarded with lots of trophies!
But, if I was given a choice of returning to the George Graham era (much tho I loved George) of “pragmatic” football, with trophies, or Arsene’s wonderful football with a lull between trophies;
then give me Wengerball please. 🙂
Redders – your 6.30pm: Agree 100%.
God, I love Red Arse, a man who speaks so much sense!
A lot of good sense talked in Cloud Cuckoo Land 26may, most of it by Redders.
Perhaps we should be careful not to make him think he’s something special.
That Red Arse, what a dickhead he is. Always spouting off, like he knows anything about footy….
(;)
And he’s got a red arse.
Rocky, 26,
I love you guys too. Anyone who can tolerate my eccentricity is very special. I really appreciate it! 🙂
26, to paraphrase Rocky, I totally agree with your final para! 🙂
Redders, in what sense do you mean ‘special’?
Rocky,
I don’t want to embarrass myself, so here is a dictionary definition; 🙂
“Of special importance or significance; exceptional: Relating to or directed towards particular person(s)”.
Aw shucks! 🙂
I’ve got to go, but I thought I would leave you a couple of Xmas funnies, as the chances of anyone reading them is v. low.
1. A friend of mine drowned in a bowl of muesli yesterday. A strong currant pulled him in!
2. Two eskimoes sitting in a kayak were feeling chilly. They lit a fire and it sank. Proving for once and all, you can’t have your kayak and heat it.
3. A guy goes into a doctors.
“Doc I’ve got a cricket ball stuck up my bum”.
“How’s that?”
“Don’t you start!” ….. — and finally;
4. Apparently, 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family, so it must be one of them. It’s either my mum or my Dad, or my older brother Colin, or my younger brother Ho-Chi-Min. But I think it’s Colin.
Nite guys! 🙂
Redders: 🙂 🙂
And I’m glad to read your definition of ‘special’. I was worried you were thinking of this meaning: “…having special educational requirements, being with learning difficulties, emotional or behavioral problems, or physical disabilities.”
Aussie Tim Cahill helps sink camel shaggers.
Morning all
New Post
In April i wrote a post on here
(https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/what-needs-to-change-at-arsenal-football-club/#comments)
that brought about a bit of a debate at the time. Some agreed. Most criticized it. Some argued against it intelligently. Others “London”ish incoherent ramblings claimed i was “bitching”
————-
GhostFace says:
April 20, 2010 at 3:18 pm
This post was meant to discuss the short comings of Arsene as a manager in recent years and his inability to demonstrate that he can or will fix them.
The truth is,
Its even more so annoying now that we’ve sorted out that the financial debate is and has always been a choice of Wenger not to spend.
Same problems, Different season.
1. If you crowd the midfield and counter-attack, your chances of success against Arsenal will sky rocket.
2. Set Pieces AND (muppet) Defending
3. Anti-ShootBall
4. Substitutions or Lack there-off
5. Team Selection