Written by Double98
Arsène Wenger has so far built 3 distinct teams.
The first team 96-00 was built on the rubble left by George Graham. At the time he got great credit for rehabilitating and actually improving the side but then revisionists like Myles Palmer started to justify their own agendas by questioning his achievement declaring it to be a George Graham Built Side that won the double in ‘98. It wasn’t – Graham and Rioch had left a team of mentally weak, drunks and drug addicts who were running on empty – Wenger transformed them in to confident, arrogant top class modern players. That team was broken up over the raids on our club by the Spanish giants and Wenger set about replacing the older defenders and filling the holes caused by the departures.
The second team 00-05 was built on the same blueprint but had a superstar spine with Campbell, Vieira and Henry. Wenger built a squad of players to suit Henry (on and off the pitch), youngish, french(ish) and easy going- but Henry started doing tv ads and hanging out with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods and again the Spanish Giants came in and destabilized and broke up the team so Wenger went about building his third team.
Both the first two teams were built on attacking Pace and Power – there was no great defensive system just a collection of natural defenders who knew how to beat their man. Wenger doesn’t teach defensive systems. He teaches technique.
The next team was to be built on Possession and Craft, the defensive philosophy is the same, however the caliber of natural defender is not the same. This is a hard skill to spot – you have to somehow remove the defender from the defensive unit and imagine how he’d react with out a script.
The 05-11 iteration is a team built around perhaps our most naturally talented player ever, Cesc Fabregas but has never fully delivered. Oh how the Manager has indulged Fabregas and his friends (Hleb, Flamini, Nasri etc) in an attempt to unleash their potential. He has mostly shunned older, experienced players in the transfer window, so that Fabregas can always be the Alpha Male in his pack. Now Cesc and his crew believe that they are somehow not in the slightest bit responsible for themselves not winning medals. Cesc even said that to go to Barca is to win things… If I was Guardiola I would think twice about bringing that complacency to the club.
Wenger’s mistake was to treat Fabregas the same way as he had treated Henry. Henry was older and had done his time. His on field entourage (Pires, Lauren, Edu, Vieira) was older and had already been in the trenches. Bergkamp even lent himself to creating the “Henry” legend. Henry was also a more precious personality type who needed the “love”. Fabregas started out a much tougher character and the “love” has weakened him – Spoiled him. Look at the Cesc Fabregas Show on Sky a couple of years back – who does that? Who allows them?
Suddenly the Invincibles were gone and Fabregas is surrounded by his contemporaries in a youth team that relies on natural ability and a need to retain possession almost to the point that it borders on being an anal retentive fear of shooting.
Sure Wenger has his share of the blame. But in fairness to him, he was trying to compete in a world where he was building a new stadium in an economic collapse and the economy proof Spanish Giants were suddenly joined by newly rich Chelsea and “willing to take on huge debt” Manchester United who could buy players at any cost and forced Wenger into a different player recruitment strategy, The good news is I don’t think that Real, Barca, Man U, Man City or Chelsea care anymore about who we buy as they know they can let us take the risk and then buy the diamonds from us after we have sorted and polished them.
We need Wenger to analyze the current team in this light and build his last great team, to restore his legacy at least. He owes us this and as supporters, we owe him that. He can do it quickly, as can be seen by his rapid building for teams 1 and 2. Maybe we are better off without Fabregas or perhaps in an ideal world, Fabregas becomes the king maker (ala Bergkamp) rather than the king – If he stays, great but if he goes thats great too.
Arsenal’s crisis is Arsène’s opportunity. He has delivered great teams when faced with crisis before, he reacts better than he proacts. And this summer is a crisis in the full meaning of the word, but what a great opportunity to reinvent the team and restore Arsene’s Legacy.
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Great post, thanks Peaches.
I am going away to think about it, then hopefully back later.
That is a great read and I share your view on AW ability to build a team good enough to compete the issue last year was the players as you rightly point out.
What always gnaws me is that these players allegedly demand the team to be strengthened or they leave without considering that they may be the weak link or the player to move aside for a new signing.
Great read D98,
A good analysis of where the team has come from and the struggle we are facing at the moment.
Good job.
WG
Great maiden post on AA Double98, borne out of your excellent comment yesterday.
I completely agree, it’s Arsène’s chance to silence the doubters – if he doesn’t the calls for his head will become deafening.
Thanks guys.. And GIE – that gnaws me too.. i mean the last few years have been tough and unproductive but Wenger can look any of these guys in the eye and say “Show me your medals”.
Wenger needs to show himself his medals and figure out how he won them.
Through all the doom and gloom surrounding Arsenal right now, this is by a mile the best piece i have read. I’m sick and tired of the non stop abuse wenger gets, and I’m also amazed that people refuse to blame him for anything. Finally there is someone out there who can acknowledge his faults, but also maintain a great level of respect for the job he has done previously. I completely agree with everything written, wenger has gone off course these past few years and perhaps became a bit obsessed with keeping the cheque book shut, but this is a chance to prove everyone wrong and further strengthen his position as arsenal’s greatest
Awsm post.. must read to al d goooners.
A fantastic read, reminding us that AW has the ability to be a genius coach. Hopefully, he has got one more top team left in his locker, but sadly I feel that his hands are tied and he is a little blinkered over ‘project youth’ to see the light for the trees. All around him, teams above and very close are building to nab the title or CL football and I worry that AW has relaxed his grip and is okay to always settle for second. I agree about Cesc, that he is possibly more of a liability than an asset. I would cash in – and hope to God that we actually spend on some quality to stabilise the team.
Well done Double98!
I would just add one thing to your post – get Tevez. Use him for 2 seasons to rebuild without a slamp.
I am dead serious – I’d swap Nasri and a couple of mills for Tevez, why not?
We have 2 billionaires but no new buys to start the pre-season after 6 years of “trophy-ladden” seasons? We didn’t bother strengthening properly since 2004 so why is there any difference this year?
We are the laughing stock in the world of top clubs if we dared to call ourselves one. We didn’t bother showing up in Asia to market oursleves and gain foothold in being a worldwide club when we have the Invincibles and the famous backfour. Now we are knocking at Asia to market a team full of dross apart from Wilshere and V.Persie with a 6 year barren spell? How on earth does this make sense?
Why is the marketing dept in Arsenal still around, listening to Wenger to reject Asia and instead pre-seasoning in Austria all these while? Hell I do think I will do a better marketing job because I would have told Wenger to shove it and get the team to where the money is.
I would have lost my job but hey I’ll probably get employed by Chelski and Manure because I’m a proper marketer.
Excellent read! Very interesting take on where we go from here. Tv for new captain but rvp for the new king. Get in experienced proffesionalls who shoot first ask questions later.
Great post Double 98.
I totally agree about Wenger, he is God in my house, BUT I can’t help but criticise him slightly about his stubborness not to buy a couple of mature/premiership experienced guys. I truely believe we still have enough without Clichy/Nasri/Fabregas, IF we get both Samba AND Cahill. This would give us a line up of
Szczesny
Sagna…..Samba….Cahill….Vermaelen
Song
Wilshere…Ramsay…Arshavin
Van Persie
Walcott
With decent back up of
Gibbs…Kosh…Djourou….Chamakh…Lansbury.
Really sorry D98. Your post. Thanks.
I’ve been out of the AA loop for a while, and have only checked on my chums here fleetingly in the last few days.
But I have to stop and doff my cap to Double98 for this post – an excellent piece: measured, insightful, unhysterical, based on solid information rather than tabloid and blogosphere lies and speculation, and a view looking at things over time rather than just the last few weeks or months. Just the way I like it.
Apologies if I’ve missed your arrival on these shores D98, and welcome. If this is a taste of things to come, a valuable addition to the AA cause.
Hope everyone else is well too.
Gordon – no, I don’t think you would get a job at any top club, sorry mate, but all respectable establishments look for possitive, enthusiastic and visionary individuals not doom and gloom merchants 🙂
26 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! honestly, some people just disappear without a word….
Still no word from Red Arse or Chary 😦 The admin dept is trying to contact them, but no luck yet
Hi 26m, it seems many of the regulars are on holiday or away from the internet. Rather worringly, we haven’t heard from Red Arse for nearly a week now.
Really enjoyable read, D98, thanks.
Will AW turn it around and produce his magnum opus? Who knows, but I’m certainly looking forward to finding out.
great post. In a world of negative arsenal opines, and yes I do mean ANR and le grove, it makes a change to read a lucid and balanced piece
Hey D98, that is a very fine post – a joy to read 😛 Rasp is clearly our AA ‘DD’, knowing when to spot a talent and to entice (snatch) them ‘our’ blog 😉
I really like your analysis about Cesc and what you would suggest should happen: ‘Fabregas becomes the king maker (ala Bergkamp) rather than the king – If he stays, great but if he goes thats great too.’ This is food for thought for me. I remember Fabregas saying last season that the youngsters like Rambo, Song and Jack have nobody to be mentored by and learn from, the way he had when he came to the fore. I thought at the time, well they have you El Capitan and RvP and Arshavin. But it made me realise that he was not a real leader, that he would rather be a ‘specialist’ then a ‘manager/leader’ (I think you are suggesting something similar with your king maker analysis as per quote). For me the new King, whether Cesc stays or goes, is boom boom RvP. The likes of Jack, Rambo, Nasri, Diaby and Arshavin and Theo can all become little king makers until one will come to the fore as master king maker: I think that will be Jack – the biggest English talent I have seen in a long time.
However, I do not agree with the terminology reinventing the team if you mean with that rebuilding/restructuring it. As I have said in many comments and a few post over the last few months, we were and are very close to success (if only the woodwork….). Wenger has an embarrassment of riches in the centre of midfield- enough quality to supply three top teams with a set of two central midfielders – and therefore can make changes very quickly. He seems to be keen to strengthen the defence and to add one or two wingers to our team. That is, hopefully, all we need to make the final step.
Great in depth analysis Double98.
News from here in all papers is that Cesc has told his team mates he is leaving this Summer and that the negotiated price is getting nearer to the club’s valuation.
Hi evonne and Rasp
Yeah, sorry for lying low. Various reasons for that (including distractions of cricket, Wimbledon, Women’s World Cup and the Tour de France (fantastic stage yesterday, by the way, and did anyone see the two great Arsenal players’ goals for England in the WWC the other day?!)). But I think the main thing is just wanting to avoid the masochistic experience that is the Arsenal summer. There is a potent brew of real and imagined problems, and with very little real information available, the “debates” quickly become ridiculous and repetitive. (I thought it was hilarious to see someone quoting goal.com as a source in one of the AA threads this week!)
While I’d have liked more to have been achieved by this stage in terms of the ins and outs at the club, we don’t know what is going on and I remain hopeful that the necessary business will be done. It’s only when players get paraded in new shirts that there can be anything interesting to say about the details, so I’ll wait. The fact that so many people (not here, obviously!) miss or ignore that central fact makes the summer incredibly tedious. Plus if I dwell on these things too long, I end up hating Arsenal footballers almost as much as I love football and Arsenal. Healthier to let it all happen without getting het up.
Hi 26
Yep, great stage yesterday. Go Cav.
Double 98, as an observer of all things Arsenal for the last two decades, this is one of the finest articles I’ve read. It doesn’t gloss over the errors that were made in the last 6 years and yet, it reminds everyone just who Arsene Wenger is.
Please do keep writing, you have the talent and keeping silent would only make the irrational minority stronger. For the sake of the club, keep contributing. Cheers.
26 – I never appreciated how difficult Tour de France was until I read Lance Armstrong’s book, unbelievable, how those guys can do it is beyond me
Not sure about the psychoanalysis re. Henry and Fabregas. Other than that, one of the most balanced pieces about Arsenal I’ve read in a while. Good stuff.
At last, someone with a realist view of the situation. Things do look a little bleak at the moment when you look at things being bandied around by the press but I think you’re right, it’s actually an opportunity.
Perhaps it’s a case of glass half full rather than half empty but what we’ve had for the last few years seems to have run it’s natural course. The potential seemed to be there but we always faltered when it came to the crunch so lets move on. If moving on involves some of the obviously gifted players then great but if it means cashing them in an replacing them with some new blood who will approach things differently then so be it.
Arsene is certainly capable of rebuilding them team around the players who want to stay and play for the shirt so let’s give him the chance.
This really is Arsene Wenger’s last chance to build a new squad and regain that upper hand in terms of success and respect amongst other managers and these disrespectful football players.
The team isn’t far off in my opinion. We could thrash anyone on our day and I firmly believe that. Barcelona, Man UTD, Chelsea, Man City have all been dazzled by Arsenal on form, it’s just a few tweaks need to be made especially with Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and a few others set to leave.
Wenger’s supposedly got a humongous wallet this season, especially if he manages to flog the unneeded players at the club.
Wenger’s priorities should be to make the squad look similar to this and have 3 sets of tactics/formations are drilled into them pre-season which would allow the team to play and react to games in a different way:
GK: Szczesny (he’s a good keeper !), Fabianski (seemed to have improved a lot), Mannone (Decent 3rd choice option)
RB: Bakary Sagna, Emmanuel Eboue (Has his haters, but he’s more than a good back up right back – name a team with a better second choice right back)
LB: Leighton Baines, Kieran Gibbs/Armand Traore (same level if you ask me)
CB: Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Christopher Samba, Mamadou Sakho (Show real intent and competitiveness and buy both these centre backs !)
Holding Mid: Alex Song (Hope he doesn’t go prison 😦 ) , Scott Parker, Emmanuel Frimpong ( I see a midfield terrier in him similar to Gattuso )
Box to Box: Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby, Moussa Sissoko, Lansbury
Playmaker: Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey and EITHER Montolivo, Poli, Diego or Mereiles from Liverpool !
Right Forward: Theo Walcott, Gervinho, Chamberlain
Left Forward: Andrey Arshavin, Juan Manuel Mata, Vela
Striker/Centre Forward: Robin van Persie, Marouane Chamakh and this may seem like a far cry but we HAVE to sign either Benzema, Moussa Sow, Hulk or Falcao and then possibly bring through JET.
Evonne,
Would love Teves for Nasri from a footballing point of view but could we handle the collateral damage? Would London living stop his mental behaviour? Maybe you could write a 4 year deal that has a 25 million release clause kicking in after 2 that allows him an out
TotalArsenal, I just think that the reason we fail to grasp all those chances for silverware lies somewhere between the make up of the team and the structure they play –
4-3-3 is a weak system defensively (as it naturally exposes full backs (lets face it Our 4-3-3 never becomes 4-5-1 in defence) and relies on a well orchestrated defensive coaching strategy. Wenger is not that coach.. It suits him better to have a more naturally defensive 4-4-2 that forces him to find angles of attack. If he brought George Graham in for 3 months to drill the team in defence then we would win every game with any formation. 🙂
Firstly, Im a Utd Supporter. Secondly, I always show respect for AW, and Arsenal, I never doubt they will be there or there abouts, and they always throw thier spanners in the works during the course of the season.
However. I have a slight and worrying feeling about AW at the moment.
To use money and a stadium as an excuse for not signing players is quite frankly a lie. Arsenal have had one of the pretiest bank ballences since the new stadium was built, yet still havent invested properly.
What worries me at the moment though is thier ability to attract the marquee signings. Having never been a big signing club, AW has attracted players more recently on promises of development and playing time. Is that enough??
Take the market today, and the most “Wanted” players. Modric, Snieder, Villa, Hulk, Torres, Tevez. I just cant imagine Arsenal attracting them. Utd maybe, Chelsea possibly, City even, but Arsenal?? I feel AW has made a rod for his own back now, and if he wants to change his transfer policy now, he is going to be asking some TOP TOP BRASS PLAYERS, to take a relitivelly large risk on silverware.
Its a shame TBH. Gone are the days of UTD-ARSENAL rivalies and on pitch war fare. I want them back!!
D98, we probably have to agree to disagree on that one. Imo, we had very little consistency in the back five, and that cost us more than the formation itself. Now we seem to have a decent, very promising GK and TV is back, so we should see more consistency (especially if we can add another CB). You call it 4-3-3, I rather call it 4-2-3-1 and I found this formation very good defensively, especially in away games and against the bigger teams at home. Jack and Song did a great job when they played together in both helping defence and supporting attack. I’d say it is too defensive a structure for the home games against the lesser teams, when we need an extra striker to create more goal chances. It was not so much the structure that let us down, but much more the individual performances of some of our defenders, in my view.
Agree with you on your GG proposal, but I think Wenger would rather go on a trip around the world with Mourinho before he will do that 🙂
As always, it good debating with you.
Hi Kev, a nice ManU supporter, well I never 🙂
Yeah, we all miss Arsenal v ManU classics, good old days, with some scottish whisky and a slice of pizza….
But don’t worry about us, we are fine, top contenders to win the league this season 🙂 I am a big admirer of Sir Alex, I don’t like him, but what he has done for your club is formidable. Do you have a statue for him yet?
Kev
It really is simple: you need to be able to spend more money than your rivals to attract the “Marquee” signings you refer to. We are well aware that we have fallen in that particular financial pecking order but as a result are well under way in our development of an alternative but from what you have just written it seems that you are still haven’t realised just how much the club you support have fallen……….you are no longer able to attract the very same marquee signings and what’s more you cannot keep hold of the ones that you have I really do not need to say any more than Tevez and Ronaldo to make my point…….so wake up Kev, welcome to our world and lets see just how good you are working under these new financial constraints?
Double98 – Wenger would never sign a trouble maker like Tevez. He was on our radar before he went to the Hammers about 6 years ago?
He never stays anywhere for more than 2 years, but that’s fine, 2 years would do us fine. It would be a massive morale boosting injection for the players and the fans.
Kev – Sorry to hear about your UTD Support – i hope that clears up 🙂
Arsenal have always been a conservative club in the transfer market (Well since the 1930s)
We never bought Top Brass – we buy dull metal and polish them up –
When Gary Lineker was Top Brass at leicester we bought Alan Smith – Who had a better club career?
When gazza was top Brass at newcastle we bought brian marwood who won more?
Outside of players currently with Man u, Man City, Real, Barca – who wouldn’t want to join Arsenal – we pay well and if they shine here they inevitable get pursued by richer clubs. Gael Clichy is a case in point – say he’d signed for i dunno, Liverpool instead of Arsenal – he’d more than likely be still there on about 30k or maybe would have gone back to france and be on about 20k.
Wenger and Arsenal Make Careers – Everyone calls us a selling club – maybe we need to use that to our advantage (and while top talent is forming maybe they will accidentally win Titles and Champions Leagues)
Hey Kev, thanks for your well-balanced comment. We want those MU-Arse battles as well, and I have no doubt we will continue having them.
I have a feeling that MU are no longer signing the big-big players anymore, unless they can get them for a decent price. Your recent acquisitions are decent, but not top draw. I have got a horrible feeling though that Fergie will prove me wrong and buy Sneijder and he would fit MU like a glove.
The key thing for us is that we buy and develop decent to good / promising players into great players. We do not have the same budget, but also simple have a different business-model/philosophy. If I were to compare our squad with yours, I feel we are at least equal in all departments, but I expect that you have a different view.
Anyway, how do you think you will cope without the proven, secure hands of the floppy-eared vd Sar?
Alan Ball, Malcolm McDonald, Denis Bergkamp……..top brass, I suspect I have forgotten a few that others can add.
This is a very cogent analysis although I don’t agree with all of it.Wenger inherited a good defence (arguably the best ever in the Premiership) from George and remodelled i very well.The Invincibles defence was built around Campbell but Toure was a great foil for him.We lack the defensive leader of that calibre now-I doubt Vermaelen is a top-quality defender.
Wenger has several huge weaknesses. He is ultra-cautious in the transfer market but not in acquiring younsters on huge wages who often never qualify to play for us.He is inflexible on his tactics hence once one team works us out most do.He has suffered since the demise of Dein.Dein would persuade him to be more expansive in the market (we acquired 5 players pre-season in 2001 and then won the double).Also his methods have become standard practice in term sof conditioning and diet.He has seemingly not continued to evolve.
This is a hugely critical time for him.He must respond positively in the market to restore faith but his parsimony may not allow hom to
True(ish) London but Dennis Bergkamp was failing terribly in Inter Milan and you have to go 30 years back to the nearest marquee signing…
We do build careers rather than buy em…
Charlie Nicholas?
Now if we go an buy Benzema then i’ll take some of that back… Why are we the only ones linked with him? He’s a thoroughbred…
D98
I was going to add Charlie Nicholas. I take your point about Bergkamp but with his quality we hardly needed to polish him…… a light dusting was all that was required.
Great post BTW, really enjoyed it.
We are the only club that is seen likely to be able to develop him further. His wages have got to be the only thing stopping that deal going though but they are not going to change so personally I have written that one off.
you give an aweful lot of faith to a man that has achieved nothing over the last 6 years and to be honest, doesnt look like delivering in the next 6 either.
Play the man not the ball!!!!
rvp15
That is where we differ: many of us believe that he does look like delivering in the next 6 years………hence the continued support.
D98, Inter were failing Bergkamp not the other way around. He waisted two years there and was saved by Arsenal. Thank God.
Nice one TA
rvp15 I show a lot of faith in a man who has been achieved a lot over the last 14 years. IMO his 3rd team has a major flaw and he needs to come up with his 4th and move on.
but even if you have no faith who in the world would you rather run the club…
Seriously..
TA – Bergkamp was purposefully failing at Inter to force a move to his spiritual home.
For it was written and so it came to pass.
🙂
From what I can gather Bergkamp acted a bit aloof at Inter and didn’t put the effort in; he certainly acted aloof when he first arrived at THOF but something changed. I read in a Tony Adams book that he went up to Dennis on the bus after a game and said to him: have you just come to the club to get rich or do you want to win something, Adams said he then got out of the way quickly. Just how true that story is I don’t know but the thing that undoubtedly changed was that Dennis fell in love with Arsenal and the rest is history as they say.
Arsenal’s crisis is Arsène’s opportunity. He has delivered great teams when faced with crisis before, he reacts better than he proacts. And this summer is a crisis in the full meaning of the word, but what a great opportunity to reinvent the team and restore Arsene’s Legacy.
D98; I was enjoying reading your post and was mostly in agreement until I got to the last paragraph (pasted above).
What is Arsenal’s crisis?
All the opportunity’s we have are those that have been created by AW.
What do you mean he’s more reactive than proactive – he is the most proactive manager in the EPL and in our history.
if he were more reactive in his decision making then we might have won something in the past 5/6 years.
What is the major crisis that you forsee this summer?
What does he need to reinvent – it’s his team and it needs some tweaking – not reinventing.
Good comment this should be interesting.
Good take on it D98 🙂 Inter almost killed his spirit, if you have the time, just look at the two videos below: one of his time at Ajax and one at Inter (although his second goal is still one of my all time Bergkamp favourites). The bird was thoroughly caged by the italian pragmatists, and just managed to escape in time. One day, somebody will make a proper movie about this ‘great escape’.
Hi Guys,
Some very good points to my analysis.
Utd do have some dept, agreed, but I really do feel that with the bussiness model and marketing strategy that the Glaziers have brought with them, thats honestly not a problem.
I agree Arsenal are not famously a big spending club, but I tell you what. -2 marquee signings and Arsenal would clean up. Thats my point about AW. Making a rod for his back means he really with strugle to push you on to the next “World beater” level.
Arsenal are in a rut, that you can not deny. I just wonder if the current transfer policy is the best way out of it. Especially when you now have both Spurs and City to contend with for those CL places. Liverpool have done you a favour by falling from thier perch, but they will be back, and 6 doesnt go into 4.
Liverpool were everyones shout to loose out on the CL places to City, and they did. I fear that if one more team can step up, Arsenal are the weakest in possition of muscle to compete in lets be honest, is a whole new ball game since 2005.
He’s already had his opportunity. 6 years of Project Youth which has been his soul, his heart. 6 years to prove to the world he is a genius. He has been using whatever resources available at Arsenal to buy loyalty from his youngsters. To what result? Or his young keeps simply walk away, “That’s it. Arsenal is good enough for us”.
Now you’re talking about his legacy and his next opportunity. Dream on, to the day he retires, it’s all around 2 words and nothing else that matters: Project Youth.
Oh,
And coping without VDS. That will make or break our season.
I think we have the cash to buy a Snieder/Modric player to sort the final MF jigsaw out, with the additions and strength in dept we have if VDG can fit in and perform from the off, we set for the next 15 years.
He was my choice anyway. As good as the rest available and younger, probably better than Neuer in his all round game too, Neuer is a shot stopper extraudinaire, but not the best keeper in the world.
I know these are early days. Wright has written off Arsenal’s challenge for the title. I am inclined to agree with him.Jenkinson/gervinho/Wellingto up to now aint going to fire the gunners challenge.They don’t have the epl experience.
IF nasri and Fab both go,Arsenal will probably lowered to a midtable team.
Wouldnt go that far Jeremy.
AW may have lost the surging power in his team to win titles, but he isn’t a mug and he does know what he’s doing!!
Thanks Kev, it is good to see a MU supporter as ‘glass half full’ as many of us here (me included). If I was you, I would be worried about your away record last season, and with a new goallie to settle in (for which you do not have the best recent record), and Ferdinand looking on his last legs, it is your defence that would make me worried. The centre of midfield needs indeed strengthening and your Mexican bandit will get a lot more close attention next season, and lets see how he deals with that. But with SAF as manager, you will always be a force to reckon with – top 4 should be achievable 😉
gunnern5 – Lets not be afraid of language… the club is in crisis – by which i mean that there is uncertainty and disquiet. There is constant wild speculation, players leaving / joining / looking for more money, fans are calling for the head of wenger and the board and we love / hate our best players, the media is fueling this by hyping the drama and constantly refering to the ticking clock since our last trophy. They howl with derision when players join other clubs even if we never bid for them.
This crisis (or whatever you want to call the set of events that we findourselves in) provides a lot of opportunity. I don’t see it as bad thing at all – Barca, man city and Man u are bringing the flaws in Wengers startegy to a head.
In the cold analysis the project cesc has failed to deliver. I would urge wenger to react to this realisation by defining a new strategy potentially based on his own success.
I think hes better at reacting because as his record suggests he wins things when forced to react to external events but when he is given a clearish road he allows things to go off plan and spends huge energy justifying himself.
This team was not united this year and they were not mentally strong.
D98: Let it be clear that I am not afraid of language! – quite the opposite, as according to the incumbents, mine is both rude and aggressive.
The crisis you have described is only a crisis if you read and believe the media hype. As I’ve stated before the only facts are those on Arsenal.com and everything else is fiction. I neither read nor believe in fiction.
The “opportunity” you describe is therefore based on fictitious media hyperbole.
I totally and completely disagree with your notion that he is better at reacting – nothing in his past behaviour indicates that to be true.
I agree with your last sentence.
@TotalArsenal,
Thanks mate. Im sure being in 3 of the last 4 champions league finals (And deserving the 4th against Bayern) will set us in really good stead.
As for the defense. I think Smalling prooved last year that he is more than capable. Plus he got CL experience and lots of playing time.
The away record was bad, but lets be honest. We lost 3 games all season. Less than anyone else. It doesnt matter where you pick your points up as long a s you do. And although Utd were not vintage, and didn not show the exuberant attacking displays we have become accostomed to, we were the most difficult team to beat in the whole of Europe (E.G. the least amount of teams achieved it).
Crisis is indeed too heavy a word, but like D98 says, let’s not get too precious about language. Let’s say Arsenal are facing some adversity and like D98 says, this provides us with an opportunity.
I made similar comments when I first joined AA, a few months ago, which I illustrated back then with a couplet by Shakespeare:
Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.
I hope the poetry somehow alerts Red Arse to get in touch with us again. Hope you are ok mate – get in touch with us if you can that is 😦 🙂
TA:
Me precious?
You most certainly have the wrong man.
I think I have the Midas touch.
Everything I touch turns into a muffler.
(Is that a North American joke?)
Kev, like London, one of the regulars here at AA would say, you can only defy gravity for so long. I am not trying to wind you up, and I respect your views – based on the dangerous premise that the past is the best base for predicting the future – but I think your fat years might be over. A bad injury to either Vidic and/or Shrek and you will be struggling.
A man fell over drunk at my pub last night, so I offered him a ride home.
On the way to my car he fell over three times
I got him home and he continued to fall over as we walked up the driveway.
I rang the doorbell, his wife came to the door.
I said here’s your husband.
She said where’s his wheelchair?
Gunner5, we are actually aligned here. I have said as well we need tweaking not re-inventing, and I like your point about Wenger being too pro-acive, and not reactive enough at times.
I believe D98 is not far from those views either. It takes a lot of common sense and positive thought to not consider the current period as somewhat as a crisis. Therefore, I can understand why he used it in his excellent post.
D98
Excellent debut – thankyou.
If Cesc leaves (and possibly Nasri) then this really is the moment for AW to fashion his Fourth team. One and Two achieved great things; Three came up short; with Four he has a chance to prove his critics wrong – but it really does depend on some intelligent moves in the transfer market this summer.
Kev
Nice comment. But as others have said, we have never been like ManU in going after players at the peak of their careers (and price tags). We are better at finding great talents whose skills are not being properly used in their current location. Henry, Pires, Vieira, Ljungberg, Petit, Overmars etc were not marquee signings when they joined us, but they were when they left.
Our last marquee signing? I would say Sol.
gunnern5 – i think that the truth lies somewhere between Arsenal.com press releases and the press hype.
There is at the very least an argument that there is a crisis of faith among supporters.
But regardless of an actual crisis being in existance – there is also constant opportunity.
I am pro Arsene and Pro Arsenal and don’t think 6 years is a huge amount of time.
I do however think that if we define success as one thing and then continue to expect that success from a formula that keeps not working then we are going to be disappointed.
D98,
Your post has been read by 2,800 bloggers so far – congratulations, a great start. The impressive part is that it has attracted quite a few new names who have put up excellent comments.
D98,
We are probally closer in our viewpoints then it would appear. But I strongly disagree with your premise’s.
You see, success is diiferent things to different people and the only “success” we have been missing in the last few years is a piece of silverware.
If you watched some tthe dross that I have, over 60 plus years, then maybe your view of success may become somewhat adjusted to the reality of where we are today versus where we have been in the past.
gunnern5 – we probably are… I have a mere 30 odd years of support under my belt. My idea of success and yours is closer than you think…
But i am not the one setting the bar…
That is set by the ambitious Mr Wenger.
To be frank when wenger took over, we were a club roughly the same size as aston villa (in terms of fan base, ticket sales and revenue) and now we are established in the top 8 in europe year on year.
Rasp – i took the liberty of tweeting the post 🙂 Thanks for all your kind comments. Phew…
@ a lot of you saying “We are not a marquee signing club”
My point, in short, is that I know you are not a marquee signing club. But do you not feel that in some circumstances it is a requirement of a title or european winning team to do so??
Would 1 or 2 marquee signings over the last 6 years have brought in a trophy?
Can you imagine Mascherano adding bite to the MF, or a Villa upfront?
Im not arguing arounf the general policy of your club, infact thats why in my first post I said “I respect Aresenal”. im not an ABU Billionaire chasing supporter. I would much rather the youth came through than spend £50m on Torress. However, there is a line there. NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF SUCCESS!!
Would you guys ditch your policy atleast in part to see more success?? Or are you happy with the unfair label of “Pretty but pointless”?
If all the talk on the web and in the papers is true we can expect about £45m for Nasri as there is a bidding war between the blue/red mancscum and the chavs.
Kev
You are missunderstandiing why we have not been able to make marquee signings. Some of us are trying to point out to you that those very same reasons are decending upon your club but you seem oblivious as to what they are.
Read my 11:38 again.
As long as City have the Arabs there will never be a bidding war between the red and blue of Manchester quite simply becasue the Septics, unlike Kev, know they will loose and therefore will not enter into one in the first place.
To me it is looking more and more likely, but not certain that Barcelona will sign Fabregas and when that happens we will re-sign Nasri as some kind of compensation. Personally, I would prefer it if Barcelona signed Nasri but that is not going to happen.
Kev
D98 was wrong when he said we have never been a marquee signing club…..we have been but not for a while. The same reasons that forced us to stop are now forcing you to do the same.
@ London,
I do understand mate, I just dont agree.
As per my earlier post “Using the stadium and lack of funds an an excuse is simply a lie, Arsenal have had one of the healthiest bank ballances over the past few years”.
“With the marketting and bussiness strategy they have brought with themm I honestly dont see it as an issue”.
Honestly, are you saying Arsenal could not have afforded the odd £30m purchase?? When you sold Henry for £15m (Robbed BTW) could that not have been topped up??
Ok, ill accept you are never going to be able to do a Madrid or a City, but im not talking wholesale changes, just the odd exuberant purchase.
Agrees to some extent.Fabergas leaving is a must for changing the team.But we also need to get rid of some party spoilers who are over rated by AW.Trying to show their metal and unnecessarily giving out possession. Unnecessarily yielding penalties,corner kicks,back passes to GK.Trying to show what they are not.Djourou,Denilson,Diabby,Bendtner,Ebou,Almunia,Song clichy,&co..At the same time we have players who tries to give 100%,some may not be great or not at their peak..Arshavin,Theo,Gibbs,Koscielny Chamakh,Ramsey,Sangna &some of our up coming youngsters.We also have have few players whom we can trust to make us champions(Vermealen,Robin,Wilshere,Wojisesc),if we can get rid of the self destructive first lot and replace them with top quality proud to be gunner players and keep the second lot who will show their true metal if given full support ,we wiil make a great team.Agreed Sesc is a very good player but he fails to deliver when it matters most and at some crucial situations make blunders loose possession very cheaply.Narsi is a fantastic player but now it beeter sell such a non committed man.
We need atop quality central defender(equqlling Vermealen),Central mid fielder(of Ronaldinjo mould),and an out right striker(even a young talent)
All other signing DM,CD,LB,GK …. can be typical wenger style.
Vinod
London,
I know DD is not your favourite character, but I wonder if AW’s holiday with DD is also seen by him as an opportunity to take advice on rethinking his strategy.
@ London Again,
Im not a pesimist mate, I have faith in SAF and MUFC.
Berbatov came to UTD rather than City.
Snieder prob will too.
Nasri if he leaves you will only leave for Utd (if you believe the press)
The idea of a bidding war does really only apply when both parties will do everything they can to sign the player. When both are desperate.
I dont think that has happened yet has it?? Name one player that both Utd-Chelsea, or Utd-City have been out for where Utd have not been able to afford the price?
Barca appear to have won the race for Sanchez, but Utd still bid more than Barca in straight up cash, but Barca’s is appearance based.
Im sorry mate but in my eyes your argument doesnt add up.
AW and DD have always been good friends, so I ask myself why would AW have ever stopped seeking advice from DD?
The conclusion must be that he hasn’t and it is because of this logic that I find the idea that if DD returned everything would be better all of a sudden, makes no sense.
There is no doubting DD’s credentials as an Arsenal supporter but there is serious doubt in my mind as to whether he has a magic wand as many people seem to think.
Kev
You have had a good run on our site but now it is time for you to go I will leave you with one name……………………Tevez…………..See ya.
Kev,
Interesting to here a non-Arsenal view.
I personally feel that our teams are not that far apart, other than your extra finances through superior global marketing. Both teams had weaknesses last season, yours in midfield and ours more crucially in defense.
Your manager is now being forced to go for younger players, Smalling, Jones, De Gea and in relation to the first two you must hope that you get at least 2 more years from Ferdinand (33 this year) and Vidic (30) and a 21 year old GK is always something of a gamble.
With regard to marquee signings I appreciate your point but until recently when our property deals were concluded money was not so readily available as you may think. Whether we should have risked a bit more debt is a moot point that is debated on here frequently.
The policy of recruiting younger players has given us the basis of a strong midfield, Wilshire, Ramsey and Song and saleable assets in Cesc, Nasri (maybe less than we would want) to acquire the players we need, one of which may be a marquee signing.
So, beware, we are not going away yet 🙂
Kev – you can’t just buy 1 marquee signing.
Its a philosphical approach to club management – a proportion of signings fail, some are adequate and some rock.
So for every successful marquee signing we must be willing to buy a scrubber and an ok player.
take Man Utd – your 10 highest transfer fees were for the following – i have graded them on a purely subjective way. Nani and Valencia are both down as oks as neither has yet claimed a first team spot which is minimum pre req marqueness
1 Dimitar Berbatov – Fail
2 Rio Ferdinand – Success
3 Juan Sebastián Verón – Fail (nice offload tho)
4 Wayne Rooney – Success
5 Ruud van Nistelrooy – Success
6 Anderson – ok
7 Owen Hargreaves – Fail
8 Antonio Valencia – Ok
9 Nani – Ok
10 Michael Carrick – ok – Fail
So Man U have spent 200 odd million on 3 or 4 success stories and some squad players –
Arsenal can’t / won’t do that
Kev
We moved stadium just as the world went in to the worst economic depression for 80 years.
In the first 5 years at the Ems we showed a net profit on transfers. If we had been in deficit of, say, 20m-30m a year, that would have been between 100m and 150m over that period which would have prevented us from paying off the high interest elements of our stadium debt. They are now all paid off.
We went through a period of self-imposed austerity in order to bring the massive stadium debt under control. The cost was that we didn’t win any silverware (despite coming close a few times). But on the up side AW kept us in the Champs League every season while literally spending no money. No other manager could have done that (not even Fergie, whose talents, great as they are, lie in other directions).
In simple terms we played the long game financially.
I happen to think that the world is going to head into a much deeper financial crisis and recession some time in the next 24 months – one that will even affect the oil-rich Arabs – and I believe that at that time the full nature of what Arsenal and AW have achieved will become clear to all.
However, this summer we can spend money (at long last) and I hope and expect us to do so.
Finally, if you think Nasri will be playing in a ManU shirt next season you’re in for a big disappointment.
And finally finally, thankyou for the reasoned nature of your comments. It’s nice to get an oppo fan on here once in a while who can debate without abuse.
Question for you: what do you make of the Chavs’ chances next year?
Kev
I haven’t read all of your comments but Tevez went to City because you were outbid on wages and fee. If a player seriuosly chooses in football/trophy terms they will choose united, If it’s money they will go to city. After one season in the CL that may also change. If united get bought by the Qataris then that will change again.
Rocky not only lives but he hits the nails on the head
Rocky, brilliant comment. Love it.
However, Nasri is likely to go to Manchester (whether red or blue) as his anagram is rains (you started this), so unlike Tevez he would feel at home there 😆
TA – Vieira thought he was going to Madrid… Wenger might not want Nasri to pick his destination…
Wenger has already publicly stated that Nasri won’t be going to united.
Good news folks…News International have just announced Sunday will be the last News of The World….one less crappy red top to read 🙂
TA 🙂
Another anagram of Sami is “Sir’s Marina” so maybe he’ll be going to a coastal club? Barca? Pompey?
Rocky, you are using an app for this, aren’t you? Pretty impressive though. Pompey? Now that would be class by Sir’s Marina.
D98, agreed. Arsenal are playing multiple chess with Nasri, MU, MC, Chelsea and who knows.
GiE, that is great news. They are without doubt the top sc*m of the red tops.
Rocky – its also an anagram for “Sir’s Man Air” which might suggest that Fergie can blow this out his behind…
GiE – that is good news in absence of any other news – in Poland we say ‘where there is no fish, crab is a fish’ or lobster in Micky’s case
evonne, in England there is a saying if you catch crabs….go to the doctor.
Who wants to bet me that nasri goes. 20 million+ with one year on his contract is right up the Arsenal ethos.
Mini Rar Ass
Sounds like a put down from a Jamaican man.
@ London
Lol mate thanks fo the polite invite to leave. I won’t be taking it mind you as I’m quite enjoying the post. Not because I’m a troll but like some of the other guys have said its nice to post with opposition fans without abuse.
I think regarding risk and finances we will have to agree to disagree. I’m no glory hunter, I’m an objective fan and will openly admit my teams deficiencies when required, and if I was an arsenal fan I think I’d have made my point the same way on this post.
As for Tevez there is an interesting notion. I would be perfectly happy to agree completelly if as said above both managers were desperate for the player. As is It seems obvious that fergie did not want him as much as city did. I’m not saying he didn’t try to get him to stay. But he did make it clear that staying was on his terms, and Tevez didnt sign. At the time I had trust in fergie, although not the choice I would have made, but I now think SAF was right all along.
As for 200m on 4 good signings yes I will agree. All players come at a risk. For reasons of injury alone I don’t want to include hargreaves in that figure though. He would have been the difference otherwise and injury can strike any player. Cheap or not. The real risk (like veron) is that these players don’t fit. I also wouldn’t include Anderson at 14m plus bonuses, he isn’t marquee. In fact he was youth!
Nani is still learning yes, but last season he was the difference, the year before the assist rate and chance creation from Valencia was a majo contributor to rooneys high goal return. Both cost 17m. And again were not marquee!
Berbatov?? Well there is another debate entirely! Let me ask you though. Would utd have won the league minus his 20 goal return if they had chamach (excuse the spelling) upfront? It’s debatable!
Citys chances next year? I don’t know really. Look at the situation in Spain. Real spend a lot more than Barca, and Barca win more than Madrid. I’d like to think that England too can carry on without the monopolisation of foreign oil. I think city over the next two years will cement themselves as a European team, but a European heavyweight might be just out of reach for the time being! Maybe a 2nd/3rd place finish and a good cup run again. However looking at their performances in the uefa cup this year I think they have a lot still to learn. You would expect Chelsea, Utd, or Arsenal to have probably won that?!?!
Our opinions are not at all far apart. The major difference being the support and trust we have in our own teams!
My attempt at the anagram competition …… I’m an ars sir?
Or ars rim sin.
Kev
You can try and tell yourself that you didn’t really want Tevez all you want but the fact is you were out bid and from that moment you had to find a new statergy which you are doing. Until the Glazirs sell to the Quitaries your days of marquee signings are gone. Welcome to our world, let’s see how you survive now?
Evening all. I have waited since 1971 for the News of the world to close they are a awful comic. My father was killed in a car crash in 1970 and My mother was offered an insulting amount of money by the insurance company, which I was forced to accept because my mother (and remember this was a different Age) who had never worked except during the war. Would have been put in the witness box and cross examined on her sex life and if she was attractive enough to get another man. all this stuff was published weekly in the NOTW and read avidly throughout the nation. My poor mum would have died of embarrassment. So that crappy Rag cost a lovely lady who had had her husband killed by a drunken lorry driver, a large part of her pension every year to her dying day . Ever has that comic picked on the weak, defenceless and innocent to shift there tawdry soft porn.
But no doubt it will start up in a different guise with a new name, before too long and carry on in the same old way.
But for a while I will enjoy its demise and hope
where ever mum is she will have heard the news.
I think, based purely on anagrams, that Gervinho will one day manage Arsenal, as his letters can be mixed up to produce:
Hi Gov’ner
Or maybe he’ll end up owning a pub.
I did want Tevez, but the fact fergie had 12 months to offer him a contract and didn’t says to me that he himself wasn’t sure. The full details we will never know.
As for your comment around marquee signings being a thing of the past. Look at our activity this year. Ok we haven’t signed a marquee yet, but we outbid Barca for Sanchez and I’m not sure our activity is over yet.
I do feel opposition fans have been very quick to doom utd. I don’t take it personally. So far we have no evidence to suggest anything has changed. We are still the marker in the epl. Beat us and you win the league. 3/4 cl finals etc etc? And we still tend to get the man we want.
That obviously cant carry on for ever but the “see how you do then” aggression is no going to change my support! Neither would a blue patch!
That’s why I started by saying what I feel arsenal could do to put them at the top. Rather than the normal abusive stance associated with rival banter! I wouldn’t expect you to be any different.
I’m bowing out cuz the nature of the comments is causing me to highjack your thread. I’ll check back for replies though. Good luck for the season ahead. I honestly hope you finish 2nd behind us, but may the best team win.
dandan
sad story.
I’m afraid to say that Murdoch will just turn the Sun into a 7-Day operation once the dust settles.
Kev
I do think that Utd are defying gravity at the moment and that things may head south faster than you’d like to think.
However, I am conscious that my opinion is laced with a big dose of wishful thinking! The more our rivals struggle, the sooner the Mighty Arse can resume their position at the top.
I live in hope Rocky that, that rag will be dragged into the maelstrom
Rocky 4;13 Great post, I thought I was the only one who felt the financial crisis has far to run, when Germany cries foul and stops propping up the Euro and the States pull up the ladder and looks after its own, all hell will break loose.
wenger out im fed up with your rubbish buys players with no loyalty buy english players atleast they wont get poached all the time and how did you not sign alvarez cahill samba johnson{adam} baines mata bezema higuain given and scotty parker you r rubbish these lot will see that when the yids are above us in league and rvp and theo and jack wants to leave as well in january then song in summer
DanDan, what a sad story indeed. Sorry to hear you had to go through all of that 40 years ago. At least you got a bit of revenche today. I must admit, I have never, ever read a NofW: it is one of the very few things I hate about the UK. Just imagine that even the police were scared of those sc*mbags: a total and very scary abuse of power.
Rasp, your anagram wins – it is a peach of a beauty! 😛
Kev, I am so sure that Arsenal will win the league this season, that I backed them with my last £40 today. Will you put all the money you have in your pocket on ManU?
Did someone say the news of the world is finished? I’ve just been booked on a shoot for thier pullout on Monday.
Dandan
I think the German public are going to lose patience soon. Basically they (and we) have all been working to 60/65 and paying taxes so the Greeks can retire on full benefits at 50.
Now that the Greeks are having to get their house in order and bring in some sensible policies to justify receiving multi-billion euro bail-outs they are all up in ams and rioting in the streets.
Couple of facts about Greek benefits:
1) you can retire early on full pension if you work in a dangerous job: ‘dangerous jobs’ include being a hairdresser!
2) working with dangerous equipment gets you an automatic bonus: ‘dangerous equipment’ includes photocopiers!
Greeks: lovely people with a beautiful country and amazing heritage, but collectively they’ve been taking the p*ss.
gm
the first innocent victim of the demise of News of the W.
bad luck mate, but it’s a greater good.
Kev
Back to the Tevez thing. rednose wanted him on the cheap. City paid the money. At that time they had £30 berbatov and £70m a year interest repaymennts to make so I don’t think they could afford the fee or the wages. There is a lot of talk thet the qataris paid off the glazers PIK deals and so own 20% of your club. There is a good chance you’ll be in a very similar position city soon. (with unlimited funds) I only hope the financial fair play rules work.
Rocky
It’s for fabulous magazine. Maybe they’ll stick it in the sun on a Monday. It would be a good shoot for me. Hate the company to the point of wishing death to murdoch the scum though. (does that make me a mercenary?)
My shoot has just been cancelled. It was some bird from X Fcator as well (good for PR) Never mind.
Rocky
Hairdressing can be very dangerous 🙂
Heard this from somebody I know who often gets the scoop. Take it or leave it.
Wenger discussing futures with Nasri and Fabregas tonight. If they stay Arsenal will sign Cahill and Gervinho and that’s it.
If they are still adamant that they want to go, both will be sold.
In which case Arsenal are ready with five targets if they do go. Cahill, Samba, Baines, Parker, Oxlade- Chaimberlain. These will be approached during and after the far east tour.
Gervinho done deal already not announced yet as Wenger doesn’t want to go in to a press conference until he has a decision on Fabregas and Nasri as he knows it will be the first thing he is asked.
As I say, take it or leave it. I wouldn’t post it for a kick around.
Thanks Jamie
It all sounds plausible enough.
What if one of Nasri and Cesc stays and one goes?
GM
I’ve heard all about the dangers you face: a sharp poke in the eye with a topless model’s swinging nipple seems about the size of it 🙂
You are a good sport GM
Night, night.
All that AW is building now is a nice nest egg to retire on. You are all dreaming if you think he is going to deliver you glory……..again.
You glory again? Surely “Us” Gnarley?
By the way I seriously don’t think it’s for the money that AW keeps going, he could have left for more money years ago and been sacked and had compensation after compensation from great chairmen like Abramovich. But instead he stuck with us despite being put under an immense disadvantage of the stadium move.
Anyone heard ‘Arry recently talking of how he needs money to invest in the team despite the club and board having a vision to build a new stadium or relocate. All about him first not the club.
Oh dear Gnarley.
I’m not following the cricket – are the Aussies struggling again? Is that why you’ve come back?
To think that multi-multi-millionaire AW is driven by money is inanity of the highest order.
Or perhaps I missed out an ‘s’ from inanity.
2 billionaires and one Beef “Jerky”-son to date to start the preseason.
A half-filled world class stadium next season with a knack of reporting 60000 attendance judging by number of tickets sold and not actual attendance.
2 1st team players allowed to run to their last year of contract after Flamin’s incident with the “coincidence” that they are all french.
Marketing in Asia only in 2011 after 6 years of “trophy-laden” seasons choosing to showcase a team nearly full of dross which should have been done in 2003 when the Invincibles were so much easier to market.
Only “top” club in the football world to be held ransom and bullied around when shackling hopelessly to get an extra 1mil or 2 when selling players. How did Manure get 80 mil for CR7 when his situation was somewhat similar to Fabregas in wanting to leave only to Real Madrid?
Only “top” club in the football world to sell captains like hotcakes. Will use the arm band as bait to hopelessly keep Jack Wilshere no doubt next time only for him to leave Man city for 5.99 pounds after running into the last 10 days of his contract when Wilshere’s 25. Man city to tip 20 pounds more as that’s what the good Sheik would have done tipping waiters.
Gordon….. Wayne Rooney…just saying
Let’s see how Asia works out before we all jump on the “should’ve been doing it for years” bandwagon.
Regarding Ronaldo I’d say it was slightly different Balloon D’Or winner plus many other accolades already under his belt he is and was a far more prestigious talent than Cesc.
Wilshere….you jest right?
Cock-a-doodle-doo,
Many great comments yesterday.
dandan, awful story. You have my sympathy.
It does sound like things might get moving as soon as we have some resolution over the Cesc/Nasri debacle.
Off on holiday in a few hours, but sadly have to stay in touch with work daily so will be unable to switch off completely, and naturally, that will include all matters Arsenal.
Kind of envious of Big Raddy’s mountain retreat in an internet free zone.
Gordon/GiE,
It is an interesting comparison between the Cesc and CR7 situations. I heard something horrible about Barca’s opening gambit of a pitiful amount up front and installments. Still, we shall see, although I am expecting an “undisclosed sum” if the deal goes through!
My god, if I felt like some do about the club and its current management, I’d just pack it all in now before the resentment started to gnaw away at my health.
Shocking story, dandan. Good riddance to the NotW.
From what I’ve seen from twitter, the fans in Asia are getting really excited at the chance to see the players of the club they follow. Such good grace and lack of cynicism warms the cockles.
How could anyone make up a name for a player that hasn’t yet made his debut for the club?
GG9, Charlie George would be disgusted to be associated with your comments.
The mountain retreat sounds like a wonderful idea.
I’ll tell you what warms my bloody cockles, and that’s having Nigella back in the house.
Haha, morning rinky dink panther, she’d missed your love and adoration.
I’ve never really liked cockles much, to be honest.
How were the lobster prepared and did they live up to the billing?
Boiled, chilled and then stark bollock naked. Simple.
Oh, and before anyone gets cross, I lob them in the freezer first where they quietly go to sleep forever. I am not a boil live man.
Evonne is quiet for the time of day.
Nasty feeling she has made the terrible mistake of playing some Wagner which in the words of Woody Allen “gives Germans the urge to invade”.
Oh great, so they froze to death instead being scorched, how humane of you Micky. Poor bastards, I wouldn’t do it to a Spurs supporter
Micky – never! Cannot stand Wagner or Woody Allen, or lobsters
off to march the German and 2 chinese little fellows today.
I hope a new post will be here by the time I get back, something to look forward to on a raing morning
Evonne,
I think it is fair to say that I have made a bad start to the day with you.
My money says you are a vegan. Your money is on Arsenal to win the League. I like your camp.
I’ve eaten lobster raw and still moving in Taiwan. lovely
GM,
What with being a hairdresser, you don’t half lead a dangerous life.
Morning all,
New post …….