Were you ever in a gang at school or shortly after, maybe not a gang but a group of people you always gravitated towards?
Security in numbers: there is often a leader that others look to whose presence empowers and energises the rest; when missing there is a tangible drop in the collective self belief but on his return confidence is restored and a feeling prevails that things can be achieved when at other times they might not.
I am, of course, talking about Robin van Persie, the return of the Boy Wonder has reenergised the whole team, giving them a self belief that was clearly lacking in his absence.
The person who benefits the most from this is Cesc; the difference in his attitude is chalk and cheese, look at his play against Ipswich and West Ham, in the former he looked as though he was just going through the motions where as in the latter he was world class. It’s true that West Ham were very poor but the observation still holds true in my opinion when the Chelsea and Birmingham games are brought into the equation.
This confidence is infectious, when Cesc is on his game Nasri is lifted. Samir is Cesc’s present day Hleb: Fàbregas used to love playing with the Belarusian; he could always find him and our captain knew he would always get the ball back which encouraged him to drive forward just that bit harder. Nasri is obviously head and shoulders better than Hleb his goal tally says it all.
You can probably sense the elephant in the room right now; the one that you possibly think I am ignoring, the “I” question. To many Van Persie is a brittle as a Kit Kat, an injury waiting to happen; the most persuasive argument I have ever read on this point was written by Rocky.
RockyLives says:
December 9, 2010 at 8:13
“Where I disagree with you (I think) is when you suggest that the chances of all players suffering an injury are equal. I believe some players’ bodies are less prone to picking up strains and sprains than others’. All players have an equal chance of being Shawcrossed, or of breaking a leg in an unfortunate fall, but I don’t think they share the same likelihood of picking up smaller, niggly injuries.
I would be prepared to bet quite a few bob that in the next 12 months RvP misses more time through injury than Chamakh. Again, no blame attached to RvP, it’s just a fact that he suffers a lot of injuries. Some people have more robust physiologies than others.”
This had me flummoxed and has taken ages to put into words why I disagree:
The fact is, we only know that a player suffers more injuries than others at the end of his career, it is only then can we average out if he has spent more time in the sick bay than others. While a player is still playing there is no certainty that that player is more likely to be injured than any other. It is like the heads or tails trap that people fall into when flicking a coin; the mistake is to assume that after the coin has landed on heads five times, for example, then by the law of averages it is more than likely to land on tails the next time: this is not true, there is still only a fifty fifty chance that the coin will land on tails the next throw.
Clichy backs up the point I am trying to make; he seemed to be permanantly crocked in his early days at Arsenal but now he has the reputation of being one of the least likely to be injured. This could just as easily turn out to be that case with the present day Mr Arsenal.
Van Persie is the leader of the gang and when he is around the others are cocky as hell, he fills them with a self belief that they can win anything.
Written by London
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
I’m laughing 😆 @ Marty K ->
so much I’ve forgotten what I was going to say
Oh yes now I remember. This upcoming game against Leeds is a danger. If I was mon ami I would pick RVP10. I have a feeling that Leeds United need to be shown the utmost respect 😉
Fine post London and brilliant graphic Rasp.
Very interesting. I hadn’t thought about RvP’s influence on Cesc and the resulting influence upon the rest of the team.
I believe RvP is such an outstanding player because he is so much more than a striker. He is as close to DB10 as any player in the PL.
I also believe RvP has a very good influence on the team and brings out the best in Cesc and in my view, very much how Bergkamp used to do the same for Ljunberg.
I think it was mentioned on Sky Sports a few weeks back, just after the Chelski game, that when Cesc is playing and on top of his game, the rest of the team react better. They mentioned Cesc closes down and harries the opposition, which then gets the likes of Nasri, Wilshire and others doing the same. They showed examples of it both with and without Cesc and they were spot on.
I think RvP on his game inspires the others, he seems to give them a bit of self belief and long may it continue. Is he injury prone, possibly, but that just may be the way he plays and he invites the ‘wrong’ sort of tackles, if you get my drift?
Morning all,
Excellent thought provoking post thank you London. As usual, you’ve put a different slant on our leadership issues.
I definitely think RvP is inspirational and other players want to give him the ball (there are a few in the peripheral squad that you couldn’t say the same about). He is a pivotal part of the TheoVanNasriGas strike force.
I would agree that he is “the new Mr Arsenal” though I’d never had the thought before- cheers London! Great picture too!
Just picking up for a second on peaches posts earlier today- Sunderland would make considerably more than £5mil by keeping their current position in the league and qualifying for Europe- I can’t believe they just want him out for a £5 mil profit…
Great pic Rasp
Just got back from a quick 5 times round Regents Park on my bike, time for tea, toast and talking about Arsenal.
David Bergkamp came to us when he was 26 years old, the same age as Van Persie right now. Well guys, prepare yourself for another Invincible!!!
David Bergkamp ?
But yes, amen to him staying with us, injuries permitting, for as long as DB10.
My posts have all the controversy of a slice of white bread, I am going to win the wooden spoon again for the least amount of comments in one day lol…….I am half joking, I am sure no one else had a clue what to write today.
You’re being hard on yourself London, I think the post highlights how important RvP is to the attacking energy of the side and more importantly how that affects the players around him.
I don’t agree 100% with your conclusions about whether or not he is injury prone. I thnk his problem is physiological. His frame/skeleton is lightweight in terms of the demands his musculature place upon it. He stops, turns, twists very quickly (unlike Nick B) and that puts huge pressure on his joints and tendons. It is no coincidence that all the greatest strikers have been short (almost stocky) – Maradonna, Pele, Best, Ronaldo (the fat one) and Messi. They have a low centre of gravity and strong frames making turning less stressful on the joints, coupled with superb balance and technique.
Yep Londres
I think your posts timing is just right after an RVP10 master class on the weekend. Wouldn’t it be nice if he played the season out & improved 5% each game 😛
Can I say this
Rocky u were right, Tottenham Hotpoop did virtually roll over. They will not finish top 4 let alone win the PL, no matter who they sign 😆
I’m really glad when I was 11 some spud didn’t grab my imagination. Onya Charlie 😛 Life would have been so horrid being a Hotshit supporter 😆
Just being watching the footy show here. The manager of Brisbane Roar Ange Postecoglou (good aussie name that) said that he has modelled his team’s style of play on The Arsenal. Brisy are runaway leaders of the A league.
London,
I would preface the following comments by stating my admiration for anyone devoting the time and effort to write a Post.
In the spirit of debate; I must declare that I don’t understand the premises you put forward in this Post, tho’ I recognise your right to propose them.
The inference that RVP is the real leader of the gang, (Captain?) and is the reason, per se, why Cesc only plays well in his presence and badly in his absence is totally without foundation.
Cesc is our de facto Captain and is worthy of that honour. His form, like any other player’s, can wax and wane over a season, but it is a nonsense to claim, by implication, that his form, and consequently that of others, is adversely affected simply by the absence of RVP.
The fact is that RVP is a brilliant player, and any team without his talents would suffer, and conversely when he plays the team is incontrovertibly better for his presence. Either way this would affect the team as a whole, and not just Cesc.
Indeed, it is inarguably the case that this would hold true where there is the inclusion/exclusion of any world class player in any team.
The second premise you put forward is to disagree with an earlier comment made by Rocky, where he expressed his opinion that RVP appears to have the type of physiology which has a greater proclivity to suffer frequent serious injuries, and certainly more so than many other players’.
Actually, what you appear to have a problem with is not Rocky’s informed opinion, based on RVP’s track record to date, but that he should have expressed such an opinion now, rather than at the end of RVP’s career.
My definition of an opinion is that it is a subjective statement or belief about an issue or topic, which is the result of emotion or the subjective interpretation of currently known facts. By their nature opinions are flexible and can be subject to change.
To wait until the end of RVP’s career, when the facts are no longer “subjective”, not only flies in the face of the fans’ human nature to speculate on all matters football, but would no longer an expression of opinion but would be a record of historical certainty.
For the sake of clarity, if I have given you the impression I disagree with both of your rather specious premises, you would in this instance be correct, I am afraid.
Morning RA
Thanks for that, I suppose I have brought this on myself.
Just to clarify: I am not suggesting that Cesc plays badly when RVP is not around, just better. I can imagine RVP saying to Fàbregas: come on Cesc we can win this league; I don’t see this happening the other way around hence leader of the gang rather than Captain which Van Persie obviously is not. I think you see my point.
As per the injuries, this is much more of a personal view and not one that I expected change others minds. I suspect we could talk about this for two days and still be in the same position; that said, I stand by my view that there is no more reason for Van Persie to be injured than a person with the reputation of being the least likely to be injured, someone like Vermaelen for example.
London,
As I said previously, I simply responded in the spirit of debate and because I think it is important sometimes to get the chat flowing.
I accept what you say and do not really have a problem with any of it.
I like your slightly off centre viewpoints and think they enhance the site and the debates.
In truth, I occasionally feel the need to let my analytical self “loose”, but need to be careful not to offend.
There are many intellectuals on AA and you are definitely someone I feel can give as good as you get. I am also sure you will not take too much notice or offence with me if I sometimes let my talons show, and I mean that as a compliment. 🙂
Nasri isn’t on the pitch to feed Cesc and only very recently (Birmingham 2nd half) did they actually start to click. Hleb and Cesc played well because Hleb couldn’t shoot, and this season Nasri has been by far our best player carrying us thru a few games
RVP being the leader I doubt that, I think playing the formation we do and giving Cesc the armband kinda of proves that.
I also noticed Cesc playing with more enthusiasm at the weekend- he didn’t seem to spend any time staring at his boots which has been by enduring image of him this season. RvP returning to form may be the catalyst here in that I believe psychologically the players know he gives us a more than reasonable chance of winning something. To that end- I agree he has to play at Leeds but I am worried that he’ll pick up a knock in that wrestling arena known as Elland Road
Cesc looked better on the weekend because we played our first team also we all witnessed the shittiest performance of his life against Ipswich where he had to play with a complete doughnut Denilson, RVP on form will improve the team but when you have you’re top striker back in the side this tends to happen
GoonerDNA- I suggest you watch a few interviews of RvP- he clearly lives and breathes Arsenal and is a senior figure. We all know that we only beat Chelsea with him on the pitch! I don’t think the authour is stating that he’s the captain but he’s definitely a leader and a genuine touch of class
Thanks for that RA
I certainly read your comment in the healthy spirit that I am sure it was intended.
Morning Carlito
You are absolutely correct.
Carlito11, 1st of all we didn’t beat Chelsea because Robin was playing we won because we finally learnt how to push high the pitch plus we played a Chelsea side that looks at it’s weakest in years.
2. Robin has to love Arsenal since the club stood by him thru all his injuries.
3. He’s class and senior figure, so is AA23 but I wouldn’t regard him as a leader. Wenger wants all his players to be leaders hence giving the armband to Henry and Cesc both who imo lack leadership qualities
Hi goonerDNA,
The author has been careful not to describe RvP as captain, but rightly highlights the positive effect he has on those around him – which I would describe as a form of leadership. By virtue of his age, his exceptional ability and his unwavering loyalty to Arsenal, RvP deserves recognition as the 2nd most important player in the squad IMO.
I agree with you about Nasri’s ability and performances this season, but he is young and I’m sure doesn’t consider himself as a ‘leader’.
Slightly off topic, but following on from London’s humourous aside yesterday regarding CBs.
I am astounded by the number and variety of the “Arsenal CB Targets” we are purportedly chasing.
We all know much of it is smoke and mirrors but it is going to be fascinating to see whether or not AW buys someone and, if so, who!
Other slightly disappointing but not unexpected news is that Citeh are now sniffing around young Chamberlain the gifted Southampton midfielder/winger.
It seemed we were going to get this very promising kid, but AW has delayed finalising the move, as usual some will say, and now he appears to be off to Citeh.
Pity.
Interesting read London and pause for thought I think.
RA you say “In truth, I occasionally feel the need to let my analytical self “loose”, but need to be careful not to offend” … I don’t think we have anyone else who blogs with us who is as certain of his viewpoint as you, would you have classed yourself a the leader of the gang, certainly there do not seem to be many shades of grey in your world, although Red and white do of course figure prominently.
As far as London’s viewpoint is concerned, re the injury prone players, most players play with knocks most weeks, but it is a scientifically proved phenomena that some people have a lower pain barrier than others, this reaction to pain is controlled by the teams through the use of drugs, but again there is a limit to how many of these can be taken without harming oneself.
Some players are prepared to play now pay later some are not, these are often the ones known as sick note to the fans. Who coincidentally in many cases do not need much more than a cold to take to their bed and miss work, let alone live and play with injuries that make just the rising from their bed a pain each morning.
I also agree RVP is a talisman a tonic if you like and his presence in my view does in fact lift the whole team and I might add the fans as well.
Afternoon dandan,
Your last paragraph says it all – I don’t know why London had to use so many words 😆
Hi GoonerDNA- my suggestion that we only beat Chelsea with RvP was intended to be humorous but it was also a comment seen/heard often the last few times they beat us- in each instance RvP WAS injured. He comes back and we trounce them! But tactics may have more to do with it 😉
Dandan- some players controlled the pain through use of alcohol- the good old days eh? 😉
Rasp, Is he a leader because the team plays better with him around or is he a leader because he has leadership qualities like being vocal and being approachable in the locker room? Yes we play better with out star striker playing, but like I said this tends to happen. IMO he’s a senior player and our star striker nothing more nothing less
Dandan
Thank you for another of your sage comments about me, tiresome tho’ they are becoming.
Excuse me if I do not respond in kind, but I am sure you will understand and be the first to agree, it is extremely difficult to find fault with someone as perfect as you.
Incidentally, London and I understand each other very well, I believe, and for myself I enjoy our exchanges.
That is a clear and certain viewpoint too, I suppose. I regret I cannot apologise for it tho’.
Fair enough gDNA,
Maybe I’m just reflecting my own feeling when I see him on the pitch. I think the younger players particularly will be proud to boast that they play in the same team as RvP and Cesc, so maybe the leadership thing is more about other player’s perception than the player himself.
Hi Dandan
Talisman, talisman, that was the word I was looking for.
It’s true what Rasp says, my post can be summed up in your last sentence.
It’s all about perception and my perception of the Boy Wonder and the effects he has on the team are exactly what I said above; his presence lifts the team like no other player and I include Cesc in that.
I like the Robin Brando image- it has just replaced Cesc holding up the world cup as my desktop background. Top work!
I’ve gotta say, i noticed the RVP effect immediately. But after last season when he had that amazing start, i vowed never to forget how amazing and influencial he is.
Cesc is definately more confident with Van Persie there. But have you also noticed that they are trying new things since VanPersie came back. Like the penalty kicks and corner kicks.
Gotta say Van Persie is my favourite.
Goonerwife,
Good comment. 🙂
He is a terrific player and everytime he gets injured the effect on the team is very noticeable. Let’s hope he remains fit for the remainder of the season.
Coming back to the topic of a CB signing- I have a strange tale to report. I never remember my dreams so it was weird waking up this morning having the name Emir Spahic on my lips and running through my mind. I don’t know the first thing about this player and am not inclined to superstitious thought, but it does seem uncanny. Can anyone tell me if he’s any good and more to the point, is he capable of playing Wengerball?
Rasp you are definately right and observant. Its very obvious that he is a leader and its even looking like he helps on the field.
Red Arse I have many faults but fortunately Verbosity is not one of them,
I’ve just seen on wikipedia that Wenger almost signed him last summer which I’d either forgotten or ignored so that makes it a bit easier to understand I suppose. The subconscious is a very odd thing!
Hi Carlito,
Spahic was heavily linked with us last Summer, before we bought Squidgy instead.
He is a 30 year old Bosnian CB who also plays leftback. He is currently at Montpelier but slated to go to Aston Villa, altho’ he is stalling apparently hoping the Gunners will come in for him.
The trf fee seems to vary between £8m and £12m depending on who reports the story.
Dandan
OK.
Please don’t confuse me with someone who cares one way or the other.
,
.
‘
;
London,
Don’t you worry about the “amount of comments”. I am here to help, and have all day. What’s the target matey?
Micky 🙂
Hi goonerwife,
We all have our favourites, I love the flair players who can do something that requires a slo-mo replay to understand and for that reason , AA and RvP come high on my list although AA is nowhere near his best whilst RvP is looking really good.
The debate has been raging about ‘should the players lift the fans, or should the fans lift the players at the Emirates?’. With players like RvP firing on all cylinders, the fans are inspired and they respond and return that energy to the players on the pitch.
London,
Thanks for the post.
The return of RvP epitomises what the real meaning is of “he’ll be like a new signing”!!!
goonerwife says:
January 18, 2011 at 1:30 pm (Edit)
Rasp you are definately right and observant. Its very obvious that he is a leader and its even looking like he helps on the field.
Meeouw 😉
Thanks Micky
I think that wooden spoon might have to go back in the drawer for a while.
Would I play RvP at Dirty Leeds? A definite NO. One game a week until the CL starts up again at which point he will score a hatrick at the Grove.
If we cannot beat DL with a forward line of NB, MC, AA, TW or CV, then we have problems but I will leave that for tomorrow’s post.
Micky. I agree with your 1.45 but entirely disagree with your 1.46
BR, 🙂 And you too Micky. 🙂
Really good read London – made me think a lot about what makes our side tick. In the end I’ve come down to thinking that the more world class players we have in the team all at the same time, the better we are! So inevitably our team plays better with Cesc and RvP than with just one or the other (like Chavski with Lamps and Drogba).
Nasri has also placed himself in that class of player for us this season and I feel Theo is getting close to it, as is Jack, although the latter two may not fully emerge as ‘leaders’ until next season.
And London, you know I’m going to stick to my guns about RvP being, sadly, more brittle than some others. But as you say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we won’t really know until he hangs up his boots.
Great pic Rasp.
BR,
I do regret 1:46!!
Something I am not looking forward to. My handicap is bad enough! 🙂
Arthur is getting on.
He’s played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago.
One day he arrives home looking downcast.
“That’s it,” he tells his wife. “I’m giving up golf. My eyesight has got so bad, once I’ve hit the ball, I can’t see where it went.”
His wife sympathizes. Then, as they sit down, she has a suggestion: “Why don’t you take my brother with you, and give it one more try.”
“That’s no good,” sighs Arthur. “Your brother is a hundred and three. He can’t help.”
“He may be a hundred and three,” says the wife, “but his eyesight is perfect.”
So the next day, Arthur heads off to the golf course with his brother-in-law. He tees up, takes an almighty swing, and squints myopically down the fairway. Then he turns to his brother-in-law and asked him “Did you see the ball?”
“Of course I did!” says the brother-in-law. “I have perfect eyesight.”
“Well where did it go then?” asks Arthur.
“Erm, I can’t remember.”
Micky,
I think you are being far too modest.
The 1:46 was an exquisite model of erudite perfection! 🙂
Afternoon everyone,
Enjoyed the post London, and the pic Rasp.
For me I would have to disagree, in favour of the physiology point made about the frame and the twists and turns of a player like RVP (Really Valuable Player).
My point for this would be with someone like Vermaelen, yes it was a shock to see or hear of his injury, but it was most probably sustained due to a challenge or I believe brought on by one.
RVP on the other hand has been missing for reasons such as “Celebrating a goal”
It’s just my opinion, not looking to rattle any cages, lol.
Rocky,
“we won’t really know until he hangs up his boots”, yes but we have a very good idea! Any way you look at it, RvP is a fully signed up treatment room platinum card holder. I have said a few times our season rests on his and Cesc’s fitness. I cannot tell you how tightly my fingers are crossed.
It can’t just be his physiology, wearing an orange shirt also appears to make Robin van Flimsy more vulnerable.
London’s absolutely right though, RvP’s return has (despite the predictions of naysayers like me, who continue to doubt the “world class” tag) been very positive. He did struggle to make an impact vs City’s massed ranks but that was true of the whole team and anyway he still managed to hit the post. Overall, RvP has significantly improved the way we’ve played.
And long may it continue.
What you are saying is very true but it also vindicates the criticism that has been levelled by Arsenal supporters for several years now. That is, the ‘Youth Experiment’ would have been more fruitful and quicker to reach fulfilment, if the team/squad had included several older, experienced players, with the gravitas to pull the others along. We have RvP now; we have Cesc, maybe Vermaelen but just think what a difference it would make with a Vieira-like presence in there too. The Invincibles had Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Campbell, Ljungberg; nobody would dare slack in that company!
RA,
Much Micky thinking goes into questions such as “Mmmm, colon or semicolon?”.
Micky – fitness of key players plays a massive part in who wins the title. If our top boys stay fit, we’re in with a shout. If they don’t, well…
aj
Fair point. I think, with hindsight, that quite a lot of Gooners feel the Invincibles were broken up too quickly.
Micky,
I would go with the semi; the colon needs regular irrigation so I hear! 🙂
Redders
But a semi can often leave you feeling a bit let down 🙂
Rocky,
Agree, however City are far less vulnerable for obvious reasons on top of the fact that they have no CL irritations.
RA,
You are so right! Half as often!!!
Busy now for a while.
Rocky, very true about those semis. 🙂
But better things to do with a hosepipe than irrigate your colon! 🙂
Very profound and very true Redders.
Off to pretend to do some work now.
Afternoon all
So many comments to read through – I’ll be back
aj,
I agree. What we don’t know for sure (may never know) is whether the decisions made in the post Invincible era were financially imposed and delivered under the guise of ‘project youth’ , or whether (or also partially true) AW’s reputation for being stubborn and parsimonious is deserved …. I reckon a bit of both.
Either way, we don’t have the excuse of youth any more and we do have a strong and deep squad so now is the time to make it count.
Rocky, Micky, I am glad you are being good boys and working! 🙂
I am still in my sickbed and being naughty using my laptop when no one is around.
The hospital threw me out for the same reason … well that and yakking about Arsenal too much! 🙂
I understand JET is off to Cardiff on loan. Could be good for him if he gets plenty of games.
Carlito – nice to have you back. Agree totally with your 10am – of course, why would Sunderland prefer the money to being Europe next season – very short-sighted of them.
As London wrote the post he obviously gets all the credit for suggesting that RvP is the leader of the gang, might I suggest that being leader of the gang is not the same as being captain. Captain’s have to be reliable and RvP’s swivvle is more likely to cause injury than Cesc’s deft passing.
Rasp – gets the credit for the graphics
Did anyone come up with any definitive proof about whether goalkeepers can handle the ball outside the area if their feet are still behind the line?
Hi RA – sorry to hear you’ve been sick – wish you a speedy recovery.
There was a lot of stuff on that on the site yesterday Peaches.
26May summed it up pretty well.
Thanx Peaches. 🙂
Today’s my best day, but batteries (mine) 🙂 are beginning to run flat!
You’d better have a little sleep then 😉
Great read that London. I think it snoticeable that when Ronin plays with another player strutting around with an imperious about him.
I had the good fortune to put him in my fantasy league team this weekemd and make him captain !!
Dodgy comparison alert: Is their a likeness to Terry and Fat Frank with Robin and Cesc. Is it clearly a case of jointleadership in both cases..?? I’m leaning that way.
RVP was (one of?) the first to console Gibbs (Biggs to RA!) after his CL semi howler, when he would have been one of the players furthest from him when it happened. Top man.
Are cingratrs i order to you Carlito..?? I think so.
Congrats. There ya go.
Invincibles broken up too early..??
I’ve always bekieved that they achieved what tery did because you had 7 or 8 guys all at the peak of their careers mentally and physically. An amzing occurrrence when you also consider that they’d had the previous 4-5 years together as well.
For me the driving force of that team was Paddy. He was never the same powerhouse after 2004, and missed a hell of a lot of the next season with knee trouble.
Maybe I’ll do a post on it one day, then I’ll take the time to discuss each player in turn.
Ooops…
Afternon All !!
Afternoon SS
Now there is an interesting topic. Were The Invincibles broken up too early?
I have to disagree about PV. I was gutted when he left, his leaving left a gaping hole that has yet to be filled, although should Sheephead continue his improvement he will come to be as great as PV
Did you know that ordinary vinegar is brilliant for de-furring a kettle?
Rasp,
I just went to look at Paddy’s 2004-5 appearances expecting to see big gaps. He played 32 League games. I honestly thought it would have been more like 25.
Cheers Sharkey- I quite like that dodgy comparison- I think the great teams have always had a degree of shared leadership even when the leader has been a legendary warrior figure of the sort we often complain the lack of. It certainly can’t hurt and I think than along with the word talisman, another intangible added by RvP is charisma.
Hi Sharkey,
PV was/is my favourite Arsenal player. I agree wiith everything you and Raddy have said.
Rasp – Me and Raddy disagreed …respectfully of course.
Shall I now ‘agree’ with you by saying Pady was my 2nd favourite..?? Lol.
No seriously, Paddy in his pomp was as good as it gets for me football wise. My acid test used to be could he improve any team by say 50%. I often used Scumtnorpe in my examples, of how Pady would improve thme defensively, offensively and footballistically.
Paddy V .. a true one off. Straight up no frills legend !!!
Scumtnorpe. Oh dear.
Many other greats only served to strengthen one area of the team.
You all know that ‘Pady’ is Paddy right..??
BR,
Only you would have a fur lined kettle!
BR
…and tea that tastes of vinegar.
Sharkey – your typhisons are hilarious 😆
Micky. I live in a very cultured land.
RL. You are a one …..
SS. No question PV would have improved any team in the world at that time. I can see him returning to AFC as a future manager. Highly intelligent, focussed, and a natural leader. A PV4 +DB10 management team is a definite possibility.
24 million of your English pounds for a 26 y.o. player who has one England cap at a time when there is no decent competition!!
The world has gone mad I tell you
I agree with you Raddy – and knowing what I know, the whole deal really stinks 😦
And you knowing what you know, when I don’t know, and which smells like a Billingsgate apron, is intriguing Peaches.
Do tell! 🙂
RA,
Something fishy, I agree, going on between Peaches and Raddy. Given Raddy’s penchant for the slippery stuff, it is an area I am not going into.
Micky,
I reiterate the same request I made to peaches. Do tell! 🙂
But quick because my laptop is hidden under the duvet and about to go up in flames, (and me with it!) 🙂
Peaches @ 3.41pm: Apols for long winded response.
The idea that a GK can handle a ball that is outside the penalty area so long as he keeps his feet inside is clearly wrong, we all know that, and as someone pointed out yesterday, we know position of the ball is the relevant factor when we think about whether or not a goal’s been scored or when the ball is out of play, so the principle must apply in deciding other issues relating to the position of the ball. And both those points are expressly dealt with (by diagrams) in the official Laws of the Game published by FIFA.
But to be fair to the bloggers yesterday, who suggested Sz was within his rights to reach outside the penalty area to grab the ball, the Laws aren’t drafted very well on this point. Law 12 says:
“A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player:
…
• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)”.
That can be read at least two ways and doesn’t make it clear that it is the ball’s position that is crucial in determining when a GK can handle the ball.
But there’s no doubt that is correct. I found this on a US referees’ website, which, despite answering a slightly different point (about whether a ball is outside the area if it is on the line), confirms what we all know to be correct:
“If any part of the ball is on the line, the ball is within the penalty area. The fact that part of the ball might be outside the penalty area is irrelevant. The BALL on the line is still in the penalty area and, accordingly, it can still be handled by the goalkeeper, and that includes ANY PART of the ball. The BALL is a whole thing and either is or is not in the penalty area. If it is, it can be handled by the goalkeeper. If it is not, it cannot be handled by the ‘keeper.”
If anyone’s been watching football for more than a week, they must know the ball’s position is the important bit, but the Laws aren’t as clear as they should be on the point.
Especially when compared to Pienaar at only 3 mill. I know he was coming to the end of his contract but once again Harry has got a good deal (even if Pienaar is almost 29)
Peaches 5.47. Lol. Its amazing that you ask/trust me to write headline posts!!
I rush my daytime posts as I’m at work, but my evening ones are on Google Chrome which highlights my typos for me.
“I think it snoticeable that when Ronin plays with another player strutting around with an imperious about him.”
Should have read:
I think it is noticeable that when Robin plays we have another player strutting around with an imperious air about him.
It was also funny a few weeks ago when a ‘guest’ highlighted one of my typos. I told him he was in for a long night if he was gonna keep that up !
A good read but re the comments comparing Hleb to Nasri. Do I remember it wrong because I never thought bread boy was all that, and I definitely don’t remember him ‘getting me excited’ the way Nasri does (footballistically, not the other way – stop sniggering at the back).
Agreed Raddy. I’ve always liked Pienaar back since when he came to Highbury with Ajax and put up a decent fight against PV4. It was a battle he was never going to win, but he fared better than a fair few that I’d seen, who just came and hid. He would have only been 18 or 19 back then I think.
Also agree re Bent. £24m. Incredible. Its almost enough to bring Big FIL back out !!
Turns out that Ajax game was 2003, and DeJong also played. I was racking my brains trying to remember the other youngster who stood out for them that night.
T’internet is a wonderful machine ‘eh..??
Camb – Hleb generally assisted the assister !! Its harder to spot and count those I guess 😉
Camb
The point up there was that Cesc enjoyed playing with Hleb, bezzy mates and all that, quite different from saying that Hleb was any good.
I liked AH because he had phenomenal skills and rarely lost the ball.
Of course many point to his assist and scoring stats but they cannot show what a talent he was.
Wouldn’t get in the current team though
Raddy pop that link up for the Live footy at £2 a game or month please.
I think I’ll give it a try. I barely watch any other teams games any more so there’s little point me giving Sky & ESPN so much money every month.
I’ll just plug a laptop into my TV instead. Simples.
Phenomenal skills – yep that was Hleb in a nutshell. That run against Liverpool in the CL 1st leg, when Kuyt pulled him down, mesmeric. That run was no flash in the pan either.
SS- I think its http://www.liveonlinefooty.com that you’re after…
Cheers Carlito !!
£6 for 60 days, top deal. Sorted
Thanks 26may for the explanation – I’ll not get fooled again 😉
What Hleb taught me was that talented skillful footballers don’t always want to shoot and try to score. This was a new concept to me, I thought all footballers would want to score if they had the chance.
This is not meant to be a sarcastic comment, Hleb was the start of the ‘i’ll find a great pass and then someone else can score’ that we now know and l….. enjoy watching – wasn’t he?
That was when the nick name Passenal came into being.
A perfectlty respectable 121 comments.
And on that note I shall say good night.
Late to the debate please take my humble apologies but I was driving for around 7 hours today and had to do some work in sunny Staines in between.
If you had written this post 2 years ago I would have laughed you out of town. I just didn’t get RvP then to ms he was always ready to moan if the ball wasn’t placed perfectly at his feet, witnessed him getting upset younger players too often (I know he was still relatively young but he is now and was then one of our senior players).
I was asking any fan that would listen why he was still at the club, dead balls that came to nothing and often injured, and too often unsettling other players confidence.
Fast forward to now and it appears he has undergone a transformation in his approach, maybe because the younger players are now delivering but I also think he has grown up a lot.
Regarding the injury prone tag, some of it is of his own making. This seasons injury against Blackburn looked his fault from the terraces, he tried to tackle with the outside of his boot which was always going to lead to problems.
One other thing that may also have affected his attitude this season is the World Cup, he got to the final playing with a side that is not comparable to the current Arsenal squad, therefore he probably has some personal belief that anything is possible. Cesc on the other hand maybe a little more negative as he got to the final with a side that was far better.
Morning to you all. Its a nice sunny day & I go on hols for a while, down to the coast. The same place BR that solo kayaker left from.
But can I say this with regard to the photo of RVP10. Its all very well having a nice shiny motorcycle like that, but what good is it if it never leaves the garage.
This is the story of Robin van Persie 😉
……& yes that was perfectly respectable post by Londres
GiE,
Confession time. Regarding your 10:22 and the “If you had written this post 2 years ago I would have laughed you out of town.” Firstly I totally agree, and secondly I would have said the same, only far more recently! One thing that has changed is the quality around him. Nasri in particular. Also, the formation, with him now soley playing central.
Anyhow, have a happy morning all, I’m off for the day.
BR, target for today 8/11 I think would be respectable!
GG
Have a great holiday, and stay out of that nasty hot sun of yours. Oh, and the water, what with the shark infested water you have there!
GiE- I hadn’t considered the psychological effect of players comparing their international team-mates with their club counterparts- an interesting perspective on Robins new maturity
London your choice of topic was prescient bordering on clairvoyant given the denilson comments out today! I’m sure there’ll be much discussion on here today and I’d like to get the ball rolling by saying that denilson has contributed virtually f all to the cause this season and looks to be getting a bit “billy big bollocks” saying there are no leaders at the club- not even Cesc! I think it’s more that he sees himself as cescs equal and he needs his attitude adjusting!
Of course Arseblog got the story http://arseblog.com/2011/01/exclusive-arsenal-brasil-interview-denilson/ which was immediately pinched by a thieving journo from the Sun
denilson was misquoted by The Sun, again..
Morning Carlito,
Why are players so stupid that they think they can give an interview abroad and not expect it to be reproduced in the UK? This is the last thing the team needs to hear at this juncture and hopefully will speed AW to the conclusion that Denilson is expendable. I think Rocky wrote a post on the subject some time ago. Let’s welcome back Ramsey and say goodbye to Denilson.
The comments are about 11.25 on the video if you don’t have time to see the whole 26 minute video!
Statics- it’s not exactly a misquote but it’s not reported in the spirit it was meant. Like most footballers Denilson doesn’t express himself well but he’s saying there’s a collective responsibility but no leadership like Gilberto Silva (?) or Sol Campbell would provide. Pretty much what we’ve all been saying on here re: at Tony Adams type being needed.
Morning Rasp- a fine morning with plenty to get our teeth into! Agree that Denilson’s days are numbered- can’t concentrate on the pitch for 10 minutes straight and now can’t keep his guard up in an interview for more than that either. Taxi for Denilson!
@Sharkeysure – You have a point. I don’t think I spotted that once!
@London – Well that makes more sense to me but – forgive my ignorance – I wouldn’t know how to tell if one player enjoyed playing with another. Do you mean like the old Yorke-Cole axis? (sorry to used such foul language and draw attention to pond life)
C’mom Camb you have to accept that Hleb was one of the best at beating a man, weither running with the ball or from a standing
start.
You’ll at least remember that it was Barcelona that we sold him to not Dulwich Hamlet 😉
Morning all, welcome Camberwell Gooner,
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