To listen to some people you would think our promising young reserve ‘keeper is David Seaman, Peter Schmeichel, Gordon Banks and Lev Yashin all rolled into one.
He’s not.
Right now Wojciech Szczesny is a raw, inexperienced player with bags of promise and the chance of becoming great in the future. A bit like Alex Manninger, Stuart Taylor and Richard Wright before him.
In his performances for the first team this season he has been good but far from exceptional, which is entirely as you would expect for a 20-year-old taking his inaugural steps in the top flight.
All of which makes the fashionable hysteria about his talents premature, not to say ridiculous. It is also potentially detrimental to his progress: I have seen him described as a cert to be the world’s best goalkeeper within two years, which is an awful lot of pressure to pile on a young man’s shoulders, however broad.
So where did all the hype come from?
Quite simply, it emerged towards the end of last season and early this one when Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski were dropping more bollocks than a vet at steer-castrating time. It was like their own private game of dueling banjos…
“Diddle-ing-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding… I can palm the ball into my own net…”
“Diddle-ing-ding-ding-ding-ding-dang-dong… I can hand it to the opposition for a quick free kick…”
And while we watched and groaned and cried bitter tears, a certain young reserve goalie’s stature was growing with every game he didn’t play.
If either Almunia or Fabianski had been making us feel secure would we really have gone so overboard about an up-and-coming youngster? Of course not. But they didn’t make us feel secure, so Szczesny gradually assumed the stature of a saviour in waiting, a prince across the water (even if the water was only Colney Reservoir).
What worries me is what will happen when Chesney (to use his affectionate nickname) has a couple of bad games as he undoubtedly will. He came close to some serious howlers against Ipswich in a performance which included poor kicking, bad decision making about when to come off his line and, once, handling the ball outside of the area. He got away with the latter offence, but if it had been Fabianski people would be screaming about how he’s a disaster waiting to happen.
When Wojciech screws up a few times, will he be next in line for the ironic cheers when he catches a ball cleanly? Will the home support start dumping on him the way they dumped on Fabianksi? And if so, will he have Fabianski’s strength of character to come out the other side?
There’s lots to be hopeful about with the younger of our two Poles. His stature is reassuring, as is his confidence and his willingness to shout at the defence. The way he makes himself big in one-on-ones really is reminiscent of Schmeichel, but there’s a long way to go yet before he can bracketed in that class.
Szczesny may well be a once-in-a-generation goalkeeper who will star for The Arsenal for 15 years or more. I certainly hope so. But at the moment he is, quite rightly, second in line behind Fabianski and it’s time that we, the supporters, stopped putting so much pressure on him.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Wow you are doom and gllom aren’t you. Pass the razor blades!!!!!
Morning all
Absolutely spot on Rocky, if our first choice hadn’t been so poor – and given so many chances – we wouldn’t have been looking for salvation elsewhere.
I hope Chesney Hawkwes does indeed turn into the world class goalkeeper he wants to be but for now lets hope he has some consistent form so we all have faith in him because we are a fickle bunch 😉
Fair comments mate. Like the look of the lad and his style but can’t expect too much too soon, especially consistency.
Thanks Rocky – once again a post that will stimulate response – even if some may misunderstand the point (JSP?)
I think Szczzscvzsnezcny is going to be one of the best keepers ever to wear the shirt.
I asked the other day if anyone thought we would replace Almunia with another ‘finished keeper’ – my hope is that we won’t. I am happy with Fab2 as the No.1 with Chesney getting plenty of opportunities and the worthy Mannone as No.3. We have several promising young keepers in the pipeline, so let Al go and let’s build up the confidence and experience of those we have I’d say.
Morning all in AA
An interesting read Rocky, I am sure you are right the only problem is that I am left feeling like I have just had a cold bucket of water poured over my nice warm hope.
We have suffered for so long in the goalkeeping stakes but finally we seem to have someone that can handle an aerial threat, so he can’t kick, mah, kicking, shmicking.
top post. going over the top is what we do at Arsenal so no surprises there.
The truth is, since Lukazs has come in, bar Carroll’s goal where he could have done better, he has been exceptional. I am more than happy to call him our number 1, and his distribution (a key part of a fast moving team like Arsenal) is second to none. keep the faith in the Poles!
Agree with the sentiment of your article, the only thing I would highlight is that he definitely seems to have a much stronger level of confidence, belief and mentality than any of the past names you have compared him against i.e. Wright, Taylor, Manninger. Like you say hopefully this manifests itself in him being the long term answer. You are right about the Ipswich game there was a few times he was bordering on potentially serious errors, but he still didn’t hide and he was still barking orders at those in front of him and its that increased communication which I think is a key bonus of when he is involved in the first team.
Agreed,
We hype people up, they have one or two bad games and suddenly they are useless. This effects their confidence. We have to just stick with players through thick and thin.
We buy a young player for 10M, and he is the next TH14, god give the lad a break. More pressure on the lad.
Morning London,
I feel a bit sorry for Sz, some of the backpasses he’s received have been pretty poor, no wonder his kicking has been a bit dodgy.
The things that will improve with experience are his decision making, positioning and kicking.
The things that won’t change are the assets that nature has given him – he’s a big strong bugger, packed with the necessary confidence/arrogance and combative personality to give him what it takes to be a top class keeper (in time!).
Welcome KJS and surrey gunner,
Goood comments. I think the simple statement that Szczesny ‘commands his area’ sums up his value, and in doing so he gives confidence and stability to the defenders and the whole team.
Morning Rasp
Yep, I agree with all that. It seems that one way or another we will have a decent keeper at last.
Actually I think your article is a bit harsh of Wojciech, yes he has pressure on him to produce the goods, yes he is only 20 , so possibly has 18 years more of his career to go. Shilton, Banks, Jennings, Seaman all had bad days at the office and in their prime as well as in their downturns. So far his only mistake has been to pick a ball up on the border of being outside the area , probably stress.
However he shouts at defenders, comes from crosses and defends his area well, his saves v Ipswich and Utd were very good.
Sat here writing from Warsaw, Wojciech’s dad was a legendary Polish keeper, Wojciech himself was coached by Krszstof Dowhan , the legia warsaw coach who produced, Boruc, Dudek and more. He rates Szczesny as the best he has ever seen, bearing in mind Arsenal wanted to sign Dowhan at the same time we signed Fabianski, I would rather take his valuation than yours. Szczesny has been at Arsenal since he was 16, he will just get better. If he had two decent centre backs without eboue being caught out of position every 2 mins in front of him he would be even better.
Give the boy a chance , at present whether you like it or not thats our only alternative
Morning lordhillwood and welcome,
Excellent comment. I suspect the author agrees with much of what you say. Rocky’s style is to stimulate debate by posing a question to invite responses such as yours and I’m glad you’ve taken the time because your points are very well made.
We all want Szczesny to realise the potential we see in him, so the idea of not burdening him with unrealistic expectation too early makes sense.
I get the feeling that the attention he is getting will serve to fuel his ego and that may not be a bad thing as he is obviously hungry and impatient to show just how good he is – we just don’t want him to get carried away and start posturing at nightclubs a la David Bentley
idiot, szczesny isn’t any of the goalies you mentioned – he is the new Pat Jennings!
We need to clear one thing up. He DIDN’T handle the ball outside his area – the laws allow a keeper to do that with the ball in the air and his feet in the area. The lack of knowledge of the laws of the game by the football pundits is what needs to be sorted out here.
I like Rocky’s piece, in fact the point he makes, that Gooners are too often hysterically positive or hysterically negative, is one that applies to our treatment of many players plus our manager. I think shrinks call it bipolar disorder.
Of course Sz (love that abbreviation) needs time to learn, experience means a lot in the game, especially in defence. But a lot of us have been so excited (perhaps over excited) about this one because his natural abilities and qualities seem to be perfect. Unlike Fabianski, he’s big. And unlike Almunia (who, for all the slagging he has had over the years, through hard work extracted every ounce of performance he had within him) he has excellent reactions. Plus he’s got enough attitude to boss his defence – the last thing we need is another gentle soul at the back. I’m not the first to make the observation but Szczesny’s size and style do suggest a young Peter Schmeichel. And yes, that is high praise.
This is Szczesny’s first season in the top flight, and his decision making, kicking and distribution can all improve with time. Rocky’s right, we shouldn’t pretend Sz has arrived yet, and we shouldn’t assume he will become a superstar keeper. But in my 35 years of following the Arse I have never seen a young keeper emerge through our ranks who appears better equipped to become the best.
Timao
That is a really good point but why do you feel the need to start your comment with an insult? I read your comments on LG and yet again you make very good points. Over here an enviroment has been created in which people communicate with each other as adults, there is no bully mentality, come back and join in.
Utter dribble. Can’t believe how many think this is a good post. Lets sing his praises it will build his confidence. All you are saying is lets keep the Emirates even quieter in case we build the players up too much. Rasp think JSP has a point!!
Hi Rob,
You may interpret the piece as ‘doom and goom’ as JSP says. Personally, I read it as a perceptive warning to us fans (and the media) not to risk damaging his development by going OTT. I know Wenger and SAF have both tried to protect emerging young talent from being over-hyped and they’ve got a bit of experience in these matters.
Oh, and I think you meant ‘drivel’ not dribble – that’s what babies do…..
Rob
One of the reasons you may have missed as to why many of us think it is a good post is because people from both sides of the fence can join in the debate, it also encourages people like yourself to leave a comment which is the point of a blog. People behind the scenes here put a lot of work into finding a new topic everyday and the only reward they get is to see a healthy debate taking place.
Only two observations to make. Firstly, the fact that his father was an International suggests the lad knows all about pressure. In his last two appearances, his confidence is evident. For the first time in years, we got a keeper who shouts and commands the defence, Secondly the apparent “handball”? It is my understanding that as long as the keeper has both feet within his penalty area, it is not an offence to gather the ball from outside the area. Carnt be arsed going through the FA rulebook to prove it, but it seems Chesney has a better understanding of the rules of football than the so called experts who blabbered on about it at the time.
WOW, disagree with you guys and I’m the baddie!! All I’m saying is building him up, get his confidence up and make him a world class player. Sorry this goes against what you guys think. I dare say I’ll get slagged off for this post as well.
Oh and I did mean dribble!!!
Who the f!!k is “lev Yashin” ? Write about football not Israeli propaganda please
In contrast to the 2 Clowns, Szczesny actually looks like a Keeper & inspires confidence even if he is still raw. Despite the good reflex saves he makes, Fabianski always gives you the feeling he’s an accident waiting to happen & lacks physical presence. If Wenger wont bring in a top class experienced Keeper then Szczesny should be No.1 & age shouldn’t be a factor. Casillas was 18 winning his 1st Champions League with Real Madrid.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
No Rob, that comment is fine – because you chose not to include an insult. You’re not a baddie. We are happy to listen to contrary opinion as long as you address us as kindred supporters and not the enemy – we like a friendly environment to discuss our shared passion for the Arsenal. I made the same point as you earlier so we have a level of agreement.
“get his confidence up and make him a world class player.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Not dribble at all.
Duncan, sorry, but Sz certainly did handle the ball outside the area. Law 12 of the Laws of the Game makes it an offence to handle the ball deliberately except for the GK within the penalty area. Sz reached outside the penalty area, which you could see that from the position of his feet, which were on the line while his arms extended further out. It wasn’t spotted but it was a nailed on foul.
I agree with your general point, that the knowledge of the rules of the game (including not only pundits but also players and coaches) is shockingly poor.
Read and educate yourself Realgoon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Yashin
Realgoon, Lev Yashin (a Russian who played from the 1940s to the 1960s) is considered to be one of the best keepers ever to have played, and many (including I think our own Bob Wilson) say he was the best bar none.
For your enlightenment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Yashin.
Well done 26m – you were more polite than me!
Apologies for my curt reply Realgooner, come back on and discuss the article and we’ll start again.
Morning all,
KJS,
“he definitely seems to have a much stronger level of confidence, belief and mentality”. Are you Arsene in disguise? 🙂
No problem Rasp. have a good day mate
Cheers Rob – you too
Well i think szczesny has all the ingredients required for making a top top Gk and this is clear for all to see.
At the age of 20 he is technically better than almunia, and the mistakes he is making are the ones that are rectified with experience.
His kicking is not good, and he has admitted it himself so he will definately improve on it.
so probably there are more chances of him being a top goal keeper than not.
RealGooner you should apply to go on Big Brother. You are the type of educated British public they love to inflict on us year after year. Now if you were only a bi, gay or lesbian as well then you could become a multi millionaire!! 🙂
Rocky,
Great post. Raises interesting points. Here’s my first thought. Had Arsene bought a 28 year old unheard of goalkeeper called Szczesny in August, what would be saying about his first half term? I think we would be delighted. IMO he plays with a maturity way beyond his years. Perhaps we simply have a goalkeeping genius on our hands!!
I’m interested to know where this idea that GKs can handle the ball outside the area as long as they keep their feet has come from – I’ve never heard anyone say that before, yet not one but two people have said it on this thread. In a game like handball and I think NFL football, the position of players’ feet can determine certain points but that’s never been the case in football; what matters is the position of the ball. If the ball is in the penalty area (including on the line), the GK can handle it, if it’s outside he can’t.
Fabiansky can not deal with crosses live with it! He is useless for a premier league team!
Sczesny must be no1 and while playing he will be getting better and better!
26m,
If the GK’s feet are on the goal line but his hands are on the ball behind the line, it is a goal. Similarly if the ball swings out of play from a corner, but comes back on the pitch, it is a goal kick. Surely it is the position of the ball in the air relative to the white line that counts and therefore Sz handled the ball ….. but he is a fantastic young keeper 😛
Interesting Post Rocky, as per. 🙂
I think 26May sums up my views nicely, though I think it was not only his “absence” while our other goalies were making mistakes that increased Chezzers popularity, it was also his performances at Brentford.
Their fans really rated him during his time there and the one Brentford game I went to, out of curiosity, gave me a thrill when I thought “hey, this guy is ours!”.
Timao, Kip and Rob are understandably defensive about Chezzer, altho’ we all have the same desire for him to be world class, because we have had such a long lean time with GKs since Mad Jens left.
Nothing wrong in boosting him and his reputation, in my opinion. 🙂 Leave out the name calling tho’ Timao.
RealGooner, Lev Yashin, if someone hasn’t already told you, was one of the best GK ever. He was known as the Black Spider and played for the CCPR in the Soviet era. (Now Russia).
Rasp/May26,
Thanks for the wiki link. Lev Yashin is my new hero. Jeepers, some goalkeeper. Incredible stats, and this: When asked what his secret was, he would reply that the trick was “to have a smoke to calm your nerves, then toss back a strong drink to tone your muscles.”
No wonder our Tone was so Toned!
Rasp @ 11.14, completely agree, on all points!
26May,
It may have been that well known fount of all idiocy Andy Grey who has misled our more impressionable blogger friends. 🙂
Whatever the “Grey” eminence says becomes gospel, however ridiculous his comments.
I have seen GKs throwing/kicking the ball out from the edge of their penalty area, when their feet have been on the line but their arms have clearly been extended outside the area still holding the ball.
Linos and Refs always ignore this when it happens and when questioned by a punter on this, Grey said it was acceptable. QED.
In truth, the Laws/Rules of the game are often bent by the officials. How often have you seen a defender “shielding” the ball from a forward to allow it to run out for a goalkick?
Anywhere else on the pitch and it would be an “obstruction”. (I know that is not the term used now .. but b*ll*cks to Blatter)
Refs and linesmen (I know that is .. blah, blah .. Blatter) simply turn a blind eye, so it is no wonder this laissez faire coupled with ignorance confuses many fans. 🙂
RA,
How are you?
Looks like the morning surge is over, or does eveyone out there in the real world clear off for coffee and biscuits mid morning?
RA, much as I like the Gray Emminence, you’re right about commentators and pundits routinely ignoring the rules. On MOTD2 last night, Jonathan Pearce more than once said things like “How can the referee do that in a game of this importance?” As if that matters.
But shielding the ball is perfectly ok, you can play the ball without touching it.
I haven’t found a reason to say it, but that shouldn’t stop me: bollocks to Blatter.
Anyone bothered that Wenger has consented to Sanchez Watt playing against us in the FA Cup Reply? Wouldn’t be allowed in a PL game.
Well its been a right old morning here hasn’t it?
Can’t believe anyone believes you can handle the ball outside the area if your feet are in it…..b******s. This isn’t basketball. Tell it to any number of keepers who have been penalised for carrying the ball out of the area when dropkicking, and why linesman stand in line with the 18 yard box to make sure this offence isn’t committed. also can’t believe that some people don’t know who Lev Yashin is, but as a GK I would have more interest in the greats through the years I suppose.
I take on board Rocky’s points but I also agree with most of the positive comments on this board today.
It wasn’t just Almunia and Fab’s mistakes helping his stock rise it was the talk coming out of Brentford about just how good he was.
From wiki:
Brentford manager Andy Scott said: “His performances suggest that he would not be out of place in the Championship or even the Premier League. It has reached the stage where when he lets in a goal we wonder why he hasn’t saved it.”
His stats at Brentford:
P28 Clean Sheets 10 Conceded 30
At age 19 thats not at all bad.
His kicking will improve too, probably the one noticeable difference between me at 17 and me at 24 as a GK was that I could barely reach the Half Way line with a goal kick at 17, by 24 it was sailing 20 yards into the oppositions half. GKs spend most of their young life building strength in a different way to an outfield player, it is all about jumping, and agility a very different muscle group to kicking.
I agree we shouldn’t over hype him but I am probably the worst offender, but I haven’t seen a goalkeeper this good in the Arsenal sticks since Seaman.
He may make the odd mistake but unlike our other keepers it hasn’t fazed him yet in the match.
Hi Mickey, :-), and the same to you 26. 🙂
26, it is sometimes difficult to paint a word picture of the “shielding” I am referring to.
I watched the Barca and Madrid games last night and, in one particular case, the defender allowed the ball to run out while holding off the forward some 2 metres away from the ball, with his elbow shoved in the forwards ear while leaning almost horizontally into him.
Shielding the ball at your feet by keeping your body between the ball and the oppo, (as happens towards the end of games by the corner flag, for instance), is skilful and acceptable.
It comes down to interpretation, I suppose, but I sees what I sees! 🙂
Gray is OK overall, but his comments/pontifications sometimes offend me, especially when he is brown nosing old Red Nose, like in yesterday’s broadcast.
I can’t believe how many people see this as a negative article and the author as not fully supportive of Szczensy.
The whole point of the article was that as a group, Arsenal fans seem to either over-hype a player or denigrate them into the ground. I get the feeling that if Almunia played a game now, kept a clean sheet and created 10 goals, each of which were scored by Bendtner then there would be a segment of the fans who are unable to see anything good in certain players and who would complain that Almunia didn’t score himself and that Bendtner needed to stop all that scoring and learn to track back more.
All players, especially young ones, have good and bad patches regardless of how talented they are. All I saw in the article was a request that the people building up Szczensy now don’t get on his back the moment he fails to live up to the hype loaded onto him by others.
And I see nothing wrong with that at all.
GIE,
I think a smaller GK than Chezzer would not have reached that mishit cross from Noble and, despite the spin on it, manage to turn it around the posts.
Physical attributes coupled with excellent anticipation. He’ll do for me, hype or no hype! 🙂
RobM,
Sensible comments and I think your criticism of some fans reactions are valid.
(Don’t try and get me to change my mind about Eboue tho’!) 🙂
Micky,
Sorry about the MickEy typo earlier. Not been well lately, brain slightly frazzled.
What do you mean – “it’s always frazzled?” 🙂
Morning RobM,
Welcome and thanks for taking the time to read and understand the artice. We all want to provide the best environment for Szczesny to develop his talent. I guess you’d have to be his mum or AW to know whether excesive praise will help or hinder his progress.
Changing tack as there is a pause, I am suprised there is so little concern over the Verm issue. Back up CB and DM is a massive concern. When is Mr Frimpong due back into active service?
Morning GiE,
As usual you’ve added another perspective to the debate – you are now officially our goalkeeping correspondent as well as the away fan representative 😛
I feel that Sz is already good enough to be our No.1 but Fab2 has paid his dues and he is playing well IMO so by age and experience alone should be first choice for the timebeing. If Sz continues to improve (or worse, Fab2 starts making costly mistakes) AW may have no choice but to elevate Sz to No.1
we finally found a keeper whos still raw and inexperienced but already a gazillion times better then flappyhandski and almunia!!!!
i dont care what u say.. hes the real deal!!!
And Good Afternoon to you to Rasp.
I bet you did not see my earlier comments because of the new vanishing typeset I am using.
I am not offended … really.
I’m in agreement with your sentiment regarding Szczesny joni, but personally I don’t like derogatory terms used to describe our players. Fabianski tries his hardest for the team and is a fine keeper in his own right. He deserves our respect.
Afternoon Red Arse,
Sorry, have I done it again? 😳 I usually hang on your every word 😛
I have read your comments now and I agree with everything…..particularly Andy Gray, witness the sending off yesterday …. the manu player definitely deserved the 2nd yellow as he deliberately clipped the totnum player’s heels. Actually he was lucky not to get a straight red for the first challenge
I’ll tell you who is overrated as a keeper – Ben Foster, I’d rather have Fab2 than him any day
Can’t believe how many people have taken this as a criticism of Chesney (thanks Rasp and the regulars for putting them straight). I think he’s a brilliant prospect but we shouldn’t keep talking as if he’s the finished article because we’re setting ourselves up to be disappointed and we’re putting a lot of pressure on him.
Redders – very fair point about his Brentford experience and the rave reviews he was getting there.
Lordhillwood – good points, but I’m pretty sure I read that the Legia Warsaw coach actually described Fabianski as the best young GK he had ever seen. He also rated Chesney highly, but it was the older Pole he really tipped to be a world great. I know that’s hard to understand from an Arsenal perspective, but there you go.
RobM – thanks for getting it!
London “mah, kicking, shmicking.” 🙂
Micky: @11.09 – If Szczesny had come in as a 28-year-old and put in those performances I think we would be feeling encouraged and hopeful but would still be reserving judgement.
GiE: you are, of course, right to point out that we should take into account how good he is for his age. And I’m sure his kicking and decision-making will get better as he gets older.
Morning Rocky,
The hype surrounding Sz is there and we can’t expunge it from people’s memories. Your attempt to temper that ‘entusiasm’ into some sort of perspective is valiant – but seems to have created the opposite effect 😆
“were dropping more bollocks than a vet at steer-castrating time. It was like their own private game of dueling banjos…”
Another classic from Rocky
What I find strange is the sudden relegation of Almunia. There was n’t a particular disastrous performance that led to his becoming persona non grata. For all his faults as a GK I liked him as a man and he continues to act with dignity.
I definitely think Fab has improved this season, but that shouldn’t guarantee him the No1 spot.
To me there is still something about him I am not comfortable with.
I don’t think the goal against Chelsea was his fault I defy anyone to find a keeper who could have dealt with that delivery and where the defence held their line. I have long said we defend to deep from free kicks in the final 3rd. But that’s maybe for another post.
The goal against Newcastle if he had been tied to his posts would have dropped into his arms.
However it’s not this part of the game that worries me. I have watched him in warm ups and he has a tendency to snatch at the ball rather than let the ball come him. This forward action will lead to him spilling the ball more often.
GiE,
Would that explain why he punches so much? I have seen him elect to punch away crosses that Seaman would have just clasped lovingly.
I don’t like punching as a philosophy – only as a last resort. The obvious downsides are that you are likely to give possession straight back to the opposition and you are denied the time to get players back into position and control play.
Some tips for Red Arse:
1 Sex is like air. It’s not that important unless you aren’t getting any.
2 No one is listening until you fart.
3 Always remember you’re unique. Just like everyone else.
4 Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
5 If you think nobody cares whether you’re alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments
6 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.
7 If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.
8 Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
9 If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
10 If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
11 Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree. Don’t worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
12 Good judgment comes from bad experience … And most of that comes from bad judgment.
13 A closed mouth gathers no foot.
14 There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.
15 Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your lips are moving.
16 Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it..
17 We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our butt – then things just keep getting worse.
18 Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
19 Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. do not walk beside me for the path is narrow.. In fact, just p*ss off and leave me alone.
Rasp 🙂 🙂
Micky – fair cop on your comment about Wenger in disguise – I must have been brain washed !! Though in my defence I was making comparisons against the other keepers mentioned as opposed to dropping in a sound bite for the media 🙂
Good Article and I think all my views have been covered.
Like your last post Rasp
Now one for all the Arsene detractors
The young engineer (who graduated with distinction) was leaving the office at 3:45 p.m. one day when he found the acting CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.
“Listen,” said the CEO, “this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary is not here. Can you make this thing work?”
“Certainly,” said the engineer. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper and pressed the start button.
“Excellent, excellent,” said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine. “I just need one copy.”
The Lesson: Never assume that your boss knows what he’s doing!
Now Rasp, you know how sensitive RA is 😦
Someone mentioned TV earlier and I do think we’re taking this surgery news much too lightly – what if TV’s achilles turns into TR’s ‘whatever’ that kept him out for 18 months?
dandan 😆
Rasp I think punching is just a result of modern keeping philosophy.
How many keepers attempt to catch a shot these days if they are diving? They prefer to push the ball away from goal than risk spilling it at a forwards feet, the same is true of dealing with crosses and hence the punch.
One starts to wonder why they wear gloves with adhesive surfaces, Bob Wilson told me that you should love your gloves he never had them, he also made us go in goal bare handed so we could learn to catch a ball without gloves so as to learn proper technique. (long time ago at BWs coaching school for GKs)
Bob Wilson was an above average goal keeper who was too brave for his own good and made his own luck by being so committed, he wore the shirt with much pride and would go in hard where lesser keepers would have hidden or hesitated
Met him in a lift in a Manchester hotel, he laughed when I said I thought I recognised that backside spent so many hours at the clock end watching it.
dandan – he was a good keeper though – perhaps being a good player is sometimes as much to do with character, e.g. the bravery to leap into crazy situations, as it is to do with technique. In fact you hear all the time of players who have bags of technique and who just don’t “break through” because they can’t do it on the pitch.
RobM… Bob knew the technique all right, in fact his thesis at university was on the art and technique of goalkeeping and became the standard reference work for keepers for many years, don’t know if it still is.
As far as character is concerned much of it off field revolves around being comfortable with and not necessarily believing all the hype and being able to live a more or less normal life.
Which is why coaches encourage the wife and kids syndrome to keep players feet on the ground, so to speak.
Micky @ 12.08, totally agree, the biggest problem we face is obviously the fact that TV won’t be back any time soon, and effectively we have to assume not much before the end of the season. A real shame, not only is he our best defender, he is also the only one likely to marshall the defence during a game, something that was especially lacking in the Ipswich game.
And while Wenger’s right to say Song can be considered our 5th choice CB, he is so important to us in the DM position that we can’t really afford to have him fill in at CB. With Nordtveit now gone, we definitely need someone in, and AW has said he’s working on it. It’s vital that he succeeds.
Re Frimpong, here’s what the arse.com injry page says: “Last Updated: 14 January: Emmanuel is still recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered at the start of the season. Nonetheless the teenage midfielder is making steady progress. ’He is coming along well for a guy who has a cruciate,’ said Arsene Wenger on December 30. ’You count nine months and it is now nearly six. He is close to running and in one month he should start to play in training.'”
Dandan/RobM – perhaps thats why one of his coaching books was called “You’ve Got to be Crazy”
Have seen many videos of the 71 double winning games, and some of the saves where he would steam in at an opponents feet were very scary. You rarely see keepers commit themselves like that today, Seaman and Schmeichel were both good at spreading their body in front of the striker, but that wasn’t the same as Bob diving in head and hands first to smother the ball before the shot with the player primed to take a swipe at the ball.
Personally, I think it’s the height of bravery for Dandan to talk to middle aged men in lifts about their backsides.
Great stuff Rasp and dandan 🙂
Its the curse of a real arse supporter 26, you have to say something when you see a leg-end. LOL
dandan,
How’s life in the “Club”?. All good I hope.
On a couple of occasions I have run into hero types totally by accident, and have definately not said/asked the right thing in hindsight.
Rasp, sorry had to go for a while; your 12:22
That was one of the Andy Gray comments I was alluding to.
I was quite surprised how “average” Ben Foster looked too. No wonder ManU got rid.
I suppose it all depends how you are reared,
Micky
Peaches,
Twas I with the Verm comment. I have ruled Verm out for the season and believe we could sign someone who can cover for Song and our CB’s should something nasty happen. I hate the noises about Song can step back as a CB. He is way too valuable where he is.
dandan,
?
50% off replica kits on Arsenal.com, are the current home and away kits for this season only?
Rasp,
Have now read from 12:22.
I loved your 1:12 and will recycle it immediately as an original. I am not above plagiarism, though I will have to check with 26May what it means! 🙂
That Peaches is cheeky (1:42) even if she is right! 🙂
Actually, it’s really more that I am, occasionally, a sarcastic son of a gun!! For which I apologise, in advance, to any who innocently wander into range. 🙂
GIE….They are changed most years it is all part of the Marketing merry go round that is the clubs cash cow
Micky don’t worry mate I go off on one occasionally LOL
And finally to get me off this cheeky subject.
Three men, two younger and one a senior citizen, were sitting naked in a sauna when suddenly there was a beeping sound. One of the young men pressed his forearm and the beep stopped. The other two looked at him questioningly. “That was my pager”, he said. “I have a microchip under the skin of my arm. “
A few moments later, a phone rang and the second young man lifted his palm to his ear. When he finished, he explained, “That was my mobile phone. I have a microchip implanted under the skin of my hand”.
The older man felt embarrassingly low-tech when he compared himself to these young guns. But, not to be out-done, he decided to do something just as impressive. He stepped out of the sauna and went to the bathroom. He returned moments later with a piece of toilet paper hanging from his butt.
The other two raised their eyebrows and stared at him.
The older man finally said, “Well, well, will you look at that . . . I seem to be receiving a fax”.
Dandan, i know we change them regularly but was pretty sure the home kit was once every two years. Away and Third kit are forever changing naturally.
Afternoon all, as far as I recall GiE the current home kit will be replaced by the “Anniversary Kit” for the 2011-12 season.
The exact anniversary I’m not sure of but it isn’t 50 years since the Spuds were Champions, however tempting it might be to bite back with their tendency to release DVD’s for every non-defeat against us.
Just remembered – it’s our 125th anniversary in 2011-12.
Well remembered Chary. Does that mean another ‘special’ kit like the one we had for the final season at Highbury?
I quite like the kit we wore at West Ham. Sort of rhubarb and custard.
Following on from Dandan’s reminiscences about bumping into ex-Arsenal players.
I was in a Spanish hotel last year when the Dynamo Kiev team turned up for a training break of a few days.
I immediately saw Oleg Lushny, our old defender, but resisted the urge to bend his ears. During their stay, I got to chatting with their Boss man over a beer or two in the evenings and told him I was a Gunner. He asked if I knew Oleg and I said only on the pitch. You must come and talk to him he said, he still loves Arsenal.
I demurred, saying he seemed to be having too good a time with the team and I did not want to disturb him.
For the next two days he kept telling me Oleg really wanted to meet me and wanted to speak to someone who had seen him play.
Finally I relented and Oleg was ushered to our table and the Boss made the polite introductions and said Oleg had been looking forward to speaking to me.
With that Oleg grasped my hand, gave a slight bow and said “Goodbye”. We all fell about laughing and I did not buy a drink for any of the remaining 3 days.
Really nice guy! 🙂
Yeah Rocky, I think it will have some sort of nod to our formative years in it – maybe a Dial Square FC crest perhaps ?
Probably be an all red top as our first kits were (and as all gooners should know) borrowed from/lent by Nottingham Forest.
Excellent story RA, despite his limitations, I always had a soft spot for the Horse!
Sorry, but I just can’t agree with this. As a fan of Arsenal and the Polish national team, I’ve seen this kids dad play and I’ve heard all about Wojciech before most of you saw him.
He has the mentality and attitude that top keepers need to have. Taylor, Wright, Maninger never had that about themselves. He goes home after practice and he practices even more with his dad(when he’s around).
Most people in Poland think he’ll go on and be one of the best keepers we’ve ever had, better than Boruc in his prime(top 3 keeper in the world, voted by italian magazine).
This kid is a bit special. You can feel they’ll be good, just like all of us felt with Wilshere.
Luzhny was a top professional who gave it all to the club when he did play and didn’t go running to the press to complain when he didn’t play. The sort of unsung hero that you need in the squad to backup all the superstars and shooting stars.
Glad to here he’s doing well and great to hear he still remembers the club fondly.
I remember seeing one-leg Luzhny play for Dynamo Kiev in the CL at Wembley (what a disaster that was as a venue). It was a 1:1 draw but they were by far the better team. Their side also featured Rebrov and Shevchenko. Rebrov did well at totnum didn’t he 😕
Thanx 26, 🙂
On another occasion I met the Norwich City 1st team in the same hotel, (clearly a preferred training break destination, but work/golf for me).
I really liked them, especially Dion Dublin, and usually chatted over breakfast before they set off for their warm ups.
The one guy who sat slightly removed from the crowd, perhaps because of shyness, was young Gibbs. The others tried to draw him into the conversation but his replies were mainly monosyllabic.
Anyway, I could not open one of those small jars of marmalade because my hands were too big and I could not get a grip, so I asked Dion if he could do the honours. He grinned and said I was a wuzz, but after much huffing and puffing and laughter from the rest of the guys he admitted defeat too.
Undeterred, I walked over to Kieran to ask him to have a go. Unfortunately, in a typical Cloud Cuckoo Land moment, what I meant to jocularly say is not what I actually said.
“Excuse me, I am a long standing Gooner and I think you will become a legend at Arsenal. I can see the headlines now, – Kieran BIGGS, legendary Arsenal left back!” To gales of raucous laughter from the other team members, I realised I had had a Mrs Malaprop moment.
I mumbled my apologies, and explained about the marmalade problem, all the time thinking to myself .. oh no, this will only get worse when he can’t open the bloody thing.
With a huge grin he popped the lid off and all the laughing and catcalling centred on the hapless giant Dion instead, who took it in good part.
The next two mornings, Gibbs/Biggs, made a point of sitting with the rest of us and dutifully presented me with a couple of freshly opened jars of marmalade.
A good lad! 🙂
Thanks for that Pat. We’ve had a lot of juicy ‘inside knowledge’ from bloggers today.
I’m sure you realise that the article is not saying that he isn’t a great prospect. I’m glad to hear of his dedication and it comes as no surprise that he has the mental capabiliity to go with it. We’ve already seen first hand evidence of his ability to handle pressure.
So Chesney in goal on Wednesday, as confirmed by Wenger, also he reckons TV05 is having “a procedure” and not “an operation”; sounds like semantics to me.
He also expects the Squid to be back in 2 weeks, so it all points to us not buying a CB.
Hmmm….
I am lining all my toys up on the edge of the pram.
That’s how I read it too chary. You’d better duck or London’s Action Man could hit you in the eye.
I’m 50-50 at the moment London; although it does seem to be setting the scene for “I don’t need to buy” he has previously said he was looking.
My toys are being lined up. 🙂
Getting ready to duck Raspers !
I don’t have any toys. I was a bad boy so Santa didn’t call! 😦
No, no, no, no, I have had time to think about this, if the club were to send out a serious message that due to Vermaelen’s impending “procedure” that a CB is a necessity the potential target’s agent would double the first figure and add a zero to the end of the wage negotiation. This is just the club being clever. It’s back to code orange from code red for the toys.
Darren Bent is being pushed out of Sunderland due to Aston Villas offer of £18m for his services, he’s been told to hand in a transfer request by Steve Bruce – so its not just the players who are mercenaries. Sunderland get their money back plus £5m.
I’m not surprised Villa want him, he’ll be a younger Heskey for them but its pretty poor treatment of the third highest goal scorer last season. Not a done deal yet though.
Do you blame AW when Villa are bidding 24 million for Darren Bent, I know he is a striker but anyone knowing we need a player will try to hold us to Ransom. Personally I would rather not buy than be shafted
Sunderland have not accepted it yet, even though Bent has put in a transfer request, so dont blame the club peaches
dandan – I have inside knowledge and can assure you that Steve Bruce has told Darren to put in a transfer request.
Yes they did if he wanted to leave, he had already asked to leave at the brginning of season, that way they dont have to pay him a percentage peaches.
I can understand that you would want to believe what you read but I can assure you my source is 100% reliable, you can believe me.
London,
It could be back to Code Red (Toy Alert).
Arsene is a master of the machievellian thought processes.
This CB stuff is a very carefully choreographed pas de deux.
A) First 2 weeks of Jan; keep fans/blogs happy by mentioning possibility of buying a CB.
B) Second 2 weeks of Jan; Say he might not buy to throw selling clubs a flanker. Fans are unhappy, but then think it’s OK just a ruse to keep cost down.
C) AW says he has run out of time, oh dear, never mind but there is always next Summer.
RED ALERT .. Incoming Toys!!
Fair enough, Peaches
Wow. There’s so much inside knowledge around this place. Dandan sharing lift rides with Bob Wilson, Redders having hotel stays with Oleg Luzhny AND Kieran Gibbs, Rasp doing tea and crumpets with Pat Rice and now Peaches with an inside track to the Black Cats.
Is this the right time to announce that Lady Nina is my mum?
Great post rocky- I’ve missed out on a lot of fun on here today! Seems many of our number just love the hype aspect and I agree that it is great to get excited, especially about filling a position that’s been such a longstanding problem for us. However for wert action there is an equal and opposite and as rocky correctly points out Sz will make mistakes and I also fear for overblown reactions. Cautiously optimistic is an impossible emotion to convey as a supporter at the ground but should be default setting on blogs until we can prove the potential has some end product. IMHO!
Maybe once a day I read something that puts a smile on my face. Once every couple of days I read something that makes me chuckle; but, only once in a blue moon do I read something that makes be burst out in a throaty laugh and reading Rocky’s comment asking whether it is the right time or not to anounce that he is Lady Nina’s son did just that……hilarious.
RA
Interesting thought process you have there; although, I am afraid to say that I do not share it. I agree that the club certainly do carry out their business with a certain amount of the Machiavellian artistry but where I fundamentally disagree is that the club make announcements in the transfer department for the ears of the fans; they are, in my opinion, far wiser than that.
Just before the window opens: Arsène announces that he will not be buying anyone unless there is a necessity due to an injury, I read this to mean that all agents are alerted that Arsène is looking for a new CB due to Vermaelen’s injury; in other words, Wenger is inviting agents to get in touch with the club.
The club identify the potential candidates but keep everyone guessing about Vermaelen in order to get the best deal and the best wage packet.
My view, in a nut shell, is that the club’s announcements regarding their transfer dealings are never aimed towards us the fans.
Hi Peaches
I am not questioning the validity of your contact but I just don’t understand why Steve Bruce would ask Bent to put in a transfer request and why he would agree to so if he wasn’t completely happy with the idea of moving to Villa.
London
I don’t find your tone the slightest bit amusing.
Being Lady Nina’s son is not easy, particularly in these days when every Tom, Dick and Alisher is hanging around the place sniffing round Mummy’s holding.
Please show more sympathy for the position I find myself in.
Lol
🙂
Rocky I knew your father Baron Frederick well his singing with your mother of little donkey was standard christmas fare in our house. One problem I thought they had a daughter, have you had any operations lately.
Dandan
They were perfect fiends, dressing me up in girls’ clothing like that. As soon as I was old enough to know better I refused to have any truck with skirts and dresses and the like.
I haven’t worn one since I was 23.
I am loath to get too involved but since your Dad got shot on that yacht whilst selling his funny fags, I suppose a different kind of childhood was guaranteed and anything was possible.
I do hope you are allowed to keep your season ticket when mum sells up.
Me too dandan. Got to keep the old dear on side.
Rocky: I bet there will be a few on here wondering what the hell we are talking about LOL
Thank God it’s late in the day. Any newcomers would take one look and go running for the hills.
Very enjoyable though! 🙂
What part of Lincs are you in dandan?
nr Peterborough
I used to live up the other end, in Lincoln. Got about a fair bit, but mostly north and east (seldom south of Grantham).
Always liked the county once I got used to the flatness. Great big skies all around.
And the Wolds are a hidden gem.
I moved here from the peak district, so from the highest to the lowest, but most of all I miss the trees
One night in the 1980s I was driving back to Lincoln after a weekend in London. I was driving on the A and B roads through Lincolnshire rather than take the A1 and A46. All of a sudden I noticed weird lights in the sky. It was so unusual I stopped the car and got out by the side of the road. The whole sky to the north was lit up with shimmering colours. It went on for ages and was still going when I got back in my car.
Next day I read that there had been a spectacular display of the Northern Lights, visible as far south as the Midlands. The fact that I was in flat, empty, tree-less Lincolnshire meant that I got a full 180 degree panorama of the event. Fantastic.
If I could chip in, I was staying in a cottage in a village around Cromer and I wandered out to the garden in the evening.
now having lived in urban areas most of my life light pollution meant I missed out on seeing something I saw for the first time – the Milky Way.
That was awe inspiring.
When I was 9 I saw Saturn and it’s rings through my telescope(no sniggering there) and was blown away then, but it didn’t compare with that night in Norfolk.
Chary
I had a similar experience in the West Country. Having grown up in London and not really ever left it, I went on a camping holiday with a bunch of mates when we were all 17. We drove down to Devon in a Morris Minor Traveller (four of us plus tents, bags, camping gear and all – quite a squeeze).
Pitched tents in a farmer’s field and walked a mile or so to the nearest village pub. Several pints later – by which time night had fallen – we staggered out and I practically fell over backwards when I looked up at the sky. I had no idea that so many stars could ever be visible and I distinctly remember that the Milky Way was also clearly visible. For a young townie it was mind-blowing.
PS – I had a telescope too when I was 12 or 13 but never managed to see Saturn’s rings (I’ll blame that on London light pollution as well). However, did get a good look at the 16-year-old girl who lived across the street 🙂
Yeah Rocky, the thing is as your eyes become accustomed to the dark more and more stars become visible.
I’m surprised I didn’t notice things in the sky when I went to a school trip in the Lake District back in 1983; then the big fascination for me was alcohol and two girls from Diss who tagged onto my group of friends as I could get served in the Lake district pubs.
In more recent times I’ve seen the Perseid meteor shower from the desert at Joshua Tree National Park in California. That was pretty good – three of four shooting stars every minute.
I was staying at the motel where Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose back in 1973. His ghost was said to still haunt the place, but 10 bottles of Dos Equis rendered me well and truly spook-proof.
Pah, where’s London? Villa made an approach for Bent on Friday offering Sunderland £18m without even asking if he wanted to move. Sunderland saw the £ signs and told Bent to hand in a transfer request today as they want to accept the offer. Bent doesn’t want to leave Sunderland and didn’t have any idea that Sunderland wanted to sell him!!!!! He is not a happy bunny nor is my source who could write a book on the dodgy dealings involved in his move from spuds too.
You are lucky Rocky – I’ve only ever briefly seen one shooting star.
Oh, and a Moggy minor – what a vintage; the Vuaxhall Viva was what we aspired to at the time and had a dark blue Ford Anglia Estate instead.
Chary
Vauxhall Viva was my first car. I crashed it into the back of a taxi on the way back home from the car dealers.
Shooting stars – the Perseids happen around about the first week of August every year. Get yourself somewhere in the countryside, get outdoors on a nice recliner with a few beers… if it’s not cloudy you’re guaranteed to see dozens! You can Google the exact dates for each year… in fact I’ve just done it and the optimum dates for this year are August 12 and 13. Go to it!
Peaches
You are an international woman of mystery. 🙂
Morning Peaches
That still doesn’t explain why Bent would agree to hand in a transfer request if he didn’t want to leave in the first place.
It’s akin to someone being sacked and then being asked to sign a document to say what a nice company the people doing the sacking are? I know what I would say to that and it would not be pretty.
Strange goings on.
Just heard that Bent put in a transfer request and it has been turned down. The story so far:
1. Sunderland ask Bent to put in a transfer request.
2. Bent puts in said request.
3. Sunderland turn it down.
Something Pythonesque in the air!
Raspy
Was your band anything like this?
Morning gnarley,
Yes, exactly like that but less tuneful 😛
RAsp. What a waste of a cream Fender Strat.
And there was I making proper music on a lowly Yamaha Carlos Santana.
Re: Stars. They are great aren’t they? And seeing a falling star is one of life’s most uplifting experiences.
Rasp
How is Charlie Harper these daze I wonder?
HI GG.
I just watched a programme about an Aussie who tried to paddle in a kayak from Tasmania to Milford Sound NZ and died on the journey. Very moving
BR
This ones for you. The very reverend Roy Harper
Yep I’ve seen that doc. He almost made it & no one knows to the day what happened to him
Morning Gnarley( and others) – he’s half way through Season 8, only Jon Cryer is keeping the show afloat from what I hear.
Raddy,
I was also in a prog rock band that modelled itself on Yes, and I played in a blues band too as one of my heroes was Rory Gallagher so the strat got plenty of variety 😉
Nice work Rasp.
Maybe one day we’ll get together for a jam, though I sold all my electric gear years ago.
Thanks GG. Proper hippy music 🙂
Chary
No not that Charlie Harper, Charlie Harper from the UK Subs 😆
Radders/Raspers – if you need a ropey bass player let me know.
Influences include Steve Harris, Geezer Butler and Ian Hill.
…..& if you need vocals. I can do Robert Plant to Ozzy Osbourne to you just name it.
Maybe not Lady Ga Ga 😉
Morning all
I don’t want to reduce Darren Bent’s reputation to that of a mummy’s boy but I can tell you that he’s a very nice lad from a good family and he trusted Steve Bruce. He’s very happy at Sunderland and is pretty shocked and gutted that they would sell him at this time.
London – probably you’re right and he should have refused to hand in a transfer request 😦
Can you do Rob Halford Gnarley ?
Rasp. One of my alltime fave tracks is Bullfrog Blues by Rory Gallagher and this is great too.
There’s a New Post ……….
Not a big Judas Priest fan chary.
BR my old school teacher who looked the spitting image of George Best when he lived in Blighty introduced me to the wonders of Rory & Roy 🙂
How could anyone consider paying the money for Darren Bent? I was stunned when Spurs signed him, amazed that Sunderland paid money for him and am astonished that another Prem club is prepared to waste their transfer budget on him.
I am sure he is a lovely lad from a wonderful family but would you be happy if Arsenal broke their transfer record for Darren Bent? Madness
Sorry guys to interrupt your fun
You don’t rate him them Raddy 😛
Actually the point is not whether he’s worth the money its about how we accuse the players of being mercenaries but then when you see a situation like this one you realise that the clubs are just as bad. Who feeds it?
Yes, spurs were mad to pay the money in the first place, but he’s done really well for Sunderland and they’re about to make £5m on a deal for him to move.
..Ding ding all change as the FA Cup rolls into town a chance for Wenger to rest many of his tired Christmas playing legs. With Arsenal in a good vein of form it could be easy to expect victory against opponents in a league below at home but as we have found out it is never that straight forward when you expect victory.The players coming into the team do not worry me in the slightest all should be of as Arsene would call it top top quality but my only reservation would be the lack of understanding between the players which always takes a few games to sort out.The other position that will need an eye kept on will be which central defender partners Squillaci.
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