A recent blog on the AA website called ‘Project Youth-fact or fiction?’ (great write Illybongani) got me thinking about the direction that Arsenal has been heading in the last 6 trophyless years and also the grief that Arsène Wenger has had to endure. Fans seem to be divided into 2 opinions. Some believe that Arsène has failed with his stubborn attitude and lack of trophies, whilst others think that Arsène’s ability to keep the club competitive whilst overseeing our stadium move, has been nothing short of a miracle. I have to say that I fall into the second group.
Personally, I believe that ‘PY’ was used by Wenger to steer us through the stadium move. Arsène knew that buying young, athletic and technically gifted players would save the club money but also allow the team to play a possesion game that could keep the team competitive. However, i dont think that AW intended ‘PY’ to be as drastic as it was. If players like Gallas, Flamini, Hleb, Henry, Adebayor etc had all decided to carry on at Arsenal, then the side would have had much more experience over the last 5 years than had been at AW’s disposal. These players all left for various reasons, but, for the majority, it was down to contract length and size.
Wenger has been critisized massively by some sections of supporters for his inability to keep hold of certain players over the trophyless years, but lets not forget that it was the BoD who were now holding the purse strings (no matter what they may say) and they were looking to save pennies wherever they could. Unfortunately, this cost Wenger a lot of his experienced players.
I think ‘PY’ started shortly after the Invincible season. Now this will sound daft, but for me, the invincible season was as much a hinderence as it was a huge, huge achievement (are you crazy you fat ginger fool, I hear you type!? let me explain). The club decided it had to move in a new direction to make the most of its growing fanbase, but they took their eye off the ball, literally. Too much focus was moved away from the field and into the boardroom. Wenger was expected to sort out not only the team, but with the loss of his right hand man David Dein, he was also expected to deal with transfers. This multi-tasking led to a lack of focus which has been missing for 6 years now, and resulted in a drop of quality on the field.
People outside of the club always praise our style of play, but anyone who watches the team regularly knows we have lacked tempo and the ability to be direct for years now. We no longer hit teams on the break and take far too long building attacks. This is something that I believe AW has seen, and now that the purse strings have been opened and his eye is back on the team, it is something that he has been able to rectify with the new additions to the squad. Players such as Ryo, Walcott, Oxo and Gervinho add the ability to be quick and direct. The addition of quality defenders like Vermaelen, Mertersacker and Santos will give us the ability to soak up pressure so that we can get back to the counter attacking style of old. The squad has depth again, and the future looks bright.
Wenger has been put upon far too much by the BoD in recent years and it’s now time for the board to repay him. He has held this club on his shoulders for the last 6 years, deflecting criticism away from his young, vulnerable players. He has allowed the board to make him look the villain with their claims that funds have been available all this time (will we ever know the truth?). He has continued to keep the side competitive on the field whilst keeping the bank balance healthy, something that only 3 or 4 managers in the world could have done.
For me, he is our Dark Knight. He is willing to take all the heat, all the booing, all the flak, because in the end, he knows he can handle it. He has been, and still is, the best manager this club has ever had, and I for one, hope that this new look team bring him the success he deserves. Something that the much loved Fabregas never could.
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Great article.
How many people have noted what happened to the huge majority of clubs who built new stadiums when they were part of the premiership?
Boro’, Derby County, Southampton, Leicester………..
Neil, did they all qualify every season for the Champions League?
I’m sure they did….
FGG – ‘you fat ginger fool’ – you are anything but! Great, great article, thank you!
I am of the same opinion, I cannot believe that AW self-impossed the financial restrains on his spending in order to prove his point or make the board a lot of money.
However, I would not call him a Dark Knight, to me he is a knight in a shinning armour, l love the guy
totally agree with the article, it just amazes me how the COWARDS on the board have been allowed to get away with the flak for so long … going to such lengths as to say there WAS money to spend, when clearly there WASN’T. if I had the money to take over the club, I would have LITERALLY kicked every single one of those short sighted, myopic and down right devious ********s out on there ‘arsenal’. one day the truth will out!
FGG, great post today, covering a very important topic. I rather do not talk again about the last six years as we have had many discussions about it here on AA.
Regarding the future/style of play: I believe Wenger is somebody who likes to evolve his team (and himself), and I cannot see him go back to a previous style of football. He bought Arteta and got Yossi on loan, plus he has Ramsey and Wilshere, Rosicky and Diaby (before Rocky gets crossed!) and all those players suit the possession – ball circulation – passing the ball into the net footy style. We all know that when it is good, it is really good, but it can be frustrating as well (made a lot worse often by the d*ckhead commentators, who know nothing about football).
I am hoping that Wenger can evolve our football style to the very best there is – quite similar to Barca’s style/level – but would be just as happy if we were to play like we did before the phase of ‘PY’, however, I believe the former is the most likely outcome. It looks to me that Wenger is working hard to achieve the following:
1. Integrate the new players as soon as possible
2. Sort out the midfield positions and style of play (the biggest challenge at the moment!)
3. Build on a solid defence
4. Get the midfield to dominate proceedings again
5. So better service is provided to the front players
6. Sort out wingers/wingplay out
7. Fully implement total football/Wengerball again – conceding very few goals and scoring shed loads again, with mouth-wateringly sexy football.
This might take a while, maybe it will take the whole season, but funnily enough I think we will all enjoy the season more than many of the previous ones.
No way Arsenal will recover in time. Arsenal is now freaking 8 points behind the leaders and it’s still September. Arsenal really lacking a certain player like Henry or Vieira. Those kinda players will strike fear and respects because of their ability and characters on and off the pitch.
And this is what Wenger’s doing right now, blending in Arteta and Mertasacker in the squad to give them the needed quality for the younger players to count on.
But i really think, given time and adequate financial resources, we’ll get Hazard or Goetze in January or in the summer. Those players will strike fear in the hearts of any defense. Just like Goetze did against us.
great stuff FGG I agree with your sentiments – Arsene is the guy (along with other guys like Pat Rice) that has stuck with the gunners through good and bad. Other managers would have bolted years ago… and I think you are right we are now seeing are more balanced side with the ability to soak pressure and be more direct (and quicker) attacking the goal.
@evonne Dark armour can be shiny 😉
Nice article FGG and nice to see early comments are in support.
I for one share your view and find it very hard to believe the boards claims of money to spend. Especially when you look at the wrangling that has allegedly happened over so many potential signings. If Wenger really wanted Schwarzer and had control of the transfer kitty don’t you think he would have just said “£1m more…ok then”.
But as much as I share your view and congratulate you on your bravery I’m getting the hell out of dodge for the day as we will likely be on the receiving end if an assault from all the Wenger critics in the blogosphere that buy into every negative story they hear about him no matter how true they are. Hatch well and truly battened. See you all tonight.
(joking….I just gave a long days work ahead)
GiE – you are right, there will be war on the blog today; I can think of a couple of characters joining in the debate
GiE – do you recon Fabianski has still ‘got it’? I am fond of the boy and was devastated to see him lose his confidence, credibility and first place. Will he recover and be great again?
Very good post indeed FGG. Thank you.
You rightly point out that we simply don’t know what goes on behind closed doors in the corridors of power at AFC, however one thing that is becoming increasinly apparent is that it will come out at some point, and what it will inevitably underline is what what a total Gentleman Arsene has been. Discreet and loyal. How refreshing it is in the age we live in and especially when compared to the majority of his classless managerial peers.
J.amie
“8 points behind and still September”
That’s a good thing surely, 97-98 season we were 13 points behind in December and went on to win the League
With a run of results anything is possible my friend
that’s the thing GIE – all the Wengerouterites never have a credible replacement when they talk of getting rid of Arsene…. I for one want to see Arsene, Ricey and the current bunch of players lift a trophy or 2. Long way to go and alot of work for them ahead but they can do it.
J.amie – if we were 8 points behind with 2 games to go then I would say it is impossible to win the league. But with 34 games and 102 points to gain…I cannot see the problem
He said a worrying thing the other day about mertesacker – it struck at my faith. He said ““Usually, I look at the quality of the player and not at his size,” he said. “Because we play a more technical game, I choose smaller players.”
He is a builder not a buyer and he selects small technical players – which allows us to play intricate fencing patterns but leaves us exposed to anyone with a broadsword or an axe.
its a fascinating problem. Should he stick to the plamn
Our simple problem now is that we are not passing or moving fast enough – we play a similar game to barca but at 70% the speed so that we have people rushing and pressuring us the whole time. We also have less players who want and demand the ball – Song is no busquets – he is physically weak and doesn’t demand the ball or do anything constructive with it – frimpong is much more promising in that he has a hunger to get on the ball and go forward with it.
Benayoon is a far more energetic player than arshavin but RVP is too slow and ponderous to make the forward line work – look at the stats – even if he scores nearly every game since christmas, we do worse with him than with even chamakh.
I love rvp but he is not the right player to be the main man in our attack.
Evonne – I must confess I do not share your confess of Fab, I think he is a good keeper but he has not shown me that he will be able to progress beyond that, yes he is a good shot stopper but top goalkeepers exude a confidence in their area that it’s theirs and they own it. He reminds me more of Manninger. Put him in goal for Brum, Newcastle, Sunderland and the like and he will have a good career.
I switched on the Man.City match last night just in time to see Napoli take the lead. 5 minutes later Man.City won a free kick and as the ref is arranging the wall Aguero moves the ball 2 feet to the left so that the angle would be easier…..and they scored. Bloody cheat!
Can someone explain to me about free kicks – years ago a direct free kick was for a hand ball but nowadays are all free kicks direct?
Double98 – “Song is no busquets – he is physically weak and doesn’t demand the ball or do anything constructive with it –
I can maybe agree with you saying he doesn’t do muuch with the ball, but physically weak? You must’ve missed the dortmund game, 12 tackles won, and I remember him having to be pressured by 3 players before looking like losing the ball. Songs technique is hugely underated, his positioning is at a much higher than Manuu Frimpongs at the moment. Frim has the quality Flamini used to have, he looks lively in the challenge so it always seems like he is hassling harder, whereas Song just waits for the right moment and sticks his leg out, he will be our gilberto.
We’ve missed him against Liverpool, United And swansea, it cannot be a coincidence that our defence was much more coherent upon his return against Dortmund.
However I do agree with your RVP evaluation, RVP is more suited to play the *Bergkamp role*, but in the current formation Le Prof has chosen, he is the only technical striker we have who can hold up the ball and slip in through balls, Theo lacks the touch and Chamakh has lost his touch.
Thanks for the positive comments guys, was worried that this may go badly but I’m a big Arsene fan and I think other Gunners should be too! But that’s for them to decide.
Re: Fabianski, I think hes a great talent, but probably one that will have to leave to make a career. Szczesny looks unbelievable at the moment, but a lot of that is confidence. If Fabianski was the one getting a run in the team then I reckon we would all be raving about him right now. Weird how these things work out.
As for Mertersacker, it was important that we bought a CB who was different from what we already have. Kozzer and Verm are very similar and can deal with the quicker, trickier strikers. We needed a defender for games such as Stoke away, dealing with Drogba etc. He is perfect for that and gives us the variation needed. Obviously this only works if Verm is fit, however, if Djourou’s confidence wasn’t shot at the moment then maybe he would be the one covering in games against slicker forward lines.
Morning FGG thanks for the excellent and well reasoned post.
I had expected there to be more discussion of the news from the AST meeting the other day. Some of the ‘conclusions?’ I have suggest that AW was at loggerheads with the Board but not so much for the reasons you give in the post.
I have absolutely no idea whether there is any truth in this but I would be interestred to hear from anyone at the meeting who could shed light on the matter.
WWRW, fully agreed on Song – well said.
RvP, now there’s a debate in itself. Maybe one for the next International week.
mjc says:
September 15, 2011 at 9:57 am
Neil, did they all qualify every season for the Champions League?
I’m sure they did….
Isn’t that the whole point of the post?
GiE – thanks, I was worried you might say that 😦 I don’t think he will play for Poland either, there is your Chesny, Boruc when sober, Kuszczak and there is one young excellent keeper, Tob~something.
Pat – you are right, point taken
FGG. Well written and interesting post.
I am a huge admirer of AW but….. there can be little doubt AFC have regressed since the move to the Emirates. We fans were promised that the move would in no way effect the financing of the team. It clearly has.
We assume that PY (if it exists) is AW’s baby. If it is then the buck for the decline must stop with him.
I am fully aware of all the positives AW has brought to the Arsenal and in no way want him to leave but to suggest that there is no alternative is naive, there are many. Perhaps a new man would have difficulty bedding in (as most players do) and he would need assurances that AFC will not do an “Abramovich,” but AW is not irreplaceable.
If one took a straw poll amongst AFC fans as to their expectations for the season less than 5% will say Champions. That says it all for me. Of course there are extenuatiing circumstances but these will not go away and if anything MC, Chelsea and MU will move further away rather than closer.
Well thwere’s a turn up for the books, raddy is beginning to agree with me though I am not sure a new manager would come in without knowing how much or how little funds are available.
Wenger has admitted openly what we all new that we just can’t and won’t complete with the other top three financially which makes thinga harder as each season goes by, yet it looks like we maybe going into an ever recession than before, therefore he (Wenger) is right that it can’t be sustained so I look at our squad, take the position that it COULD turn out to ba a bummer of a season and therefore everything else would be a positive.
I mentioned before that was stated above today about Schwarzar was wrong.Don’t read the papers or speculate.it wasn’t the money,hughes flatly refused to let him break his contract.
i reserve my judgement on the squad for a while so as to get a better picture.
Hi Raddy, kelsey,
I doubt AW will sign a new contract as manager, although another role for him may well be found at the club depending on how the next 2 years go.
Yesterday I tried to get people to join in the speculation as to what effect Pat Rice may have had on the 2nd half performance in the CL. The reason was mainly to illustrate the point that there is always another way and that when we have lost some of our top quality, basic managerial and tactical methods need to be employed.
Every game is like a cup final at the moment and Blackburn will be an interesting challenge as that fixture would be the sort of game that the Arsenal of the last 3 years might have been muscled out of. I hope we can maintain the work rate and match them at their own game and beat them with ours (what’s left of it!)
‘We assume that PY (if it exists) is AW’s baby. If it is then the buck for the decline must stop with him.’
The point that I was trying to look at though BR is how and why ‘PY’ (if it does exist, like u say) came about. When the move was evolving, surely the BoD must have given AW a brief of how they wanted the club to try and fund the move? Surely there must have been some communication with AW along the lines of ‘there will be minimal transfer funds for the next few years, please can you find a way to keep us as competitive as possible without spending’. Therefore, AW has taken the decision that the only way to do that was to buy the young, cheaper players and develop them. If that is the case then surely ‘PY’ was actually a huge success and did exactly what it was created to do? And also,surely the board have to take some responsibility for putting AW in the position they did?
That’s my, maybe naive, thoughts on it anyway. I can’t believe that AW would have gone anywhere near a ‘PY’ type of experiment had we not been moving. I put it down to necessity rather than an experiment.
wwrw – i have seen song bullied by too many players to believe that dortmund was a summer making swallow.
Gilberto at any rate would not have worked in a barca / new arsenal team as we don’t need an invisible wall (because we have the ball most of the time)
this tip tap is the simplest form of football in the world – move the ball fast as it is faster than the opposition. If people close you down then you must pass even quicker.
You need players with high energy, a willingness to run aggression and good feet or you simple get overwhelmed.
Watch song when we have possession – he doesn’t move towards the ball – he abdicates responsibility unless someone passes him the ball or the opponents have it. no watch all the barca team – they all move towards the ball or create an angle for the person in possession to pass it.
Against dortmund – song and a lot of the midfield had to pass the ball back to mertesacker quite alot as they had no options laterally or forward.
You give and go – you pass the ball and immediately want it back – Even Abou Diaby and Denilson where more suited to this style of football.
Song is not built for wenger – and neither is van persie – i woudl love to see him drop back and allow walcott and gervinho to be the cutting edges – both are finishers and he is a class act in a support role.
Excellent post FGG, and I also very much agree with Micky’s 10:24.
I will never accept that the last six years have been a failure: keeping us at the level we have been, while we took an a big infrastructure project, while the anti-competitive owners of Chelsea and then City have blown us out of the water with their wallets, and while the global economy has gone into meltdown, really was miraculous. History will judge Wenger much better than the financially illiterate, self-interested, self-aggrandising, sycophantic pundits and journalists who trot out such utter rubbish about the game we love. The trouble is, so many fans suck up this stuff, never pausing to ask whether they are comparing like with like when looking at other clubs.
But our debt burden was sorted last year, and we could and should have done better on the pitch and off since then. The squad we had last year, for all its faults, was in a perfect position to win the title (and the League Cup). Its failure to do so was the result of the failures of the manager, the players, the execs, the Board and us, the fans. We have money, and, whoever’s holding it back, that money should be used for adding to the quality of the squad. I don’t know if we could match the Manc clubs, and as Wenger says price isn’t always an indicator of quality, but leaving that money (at least £50m, probably more) in a bank account is one way to reduce our chances of catching up.
Could Wenger be replaced? Yes.
Should he be? No, but the risk of the core of our squad leaving along with Wenger is probably smaller than it’s ever been. As FGG points out, we don’t know the truth behind the scenes, but the Board’s primary responsibilities include holding the manager to account, knowing the moment to replace him and finding the right candidate.
Re the AST, I wasn’t at the meeting Rasp mentions, but would’ve liked to have been there. I’m a life member of the AST, and have long been impressed by its work. But increasingly I’m becoming concerned about mission creep there: it was meant to campaign for wider ownership of AFC shares and representation at the club; increasingly, its focus is becoming day to day gripes about what is and isn’t going on at the club.
I’d certainly agree that he has done a great job during the transition. Wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a miracle. And while he allowed some to leave (Hleb,Flamini..) others were pushed (Pires, Vierra, Henry, Toure….)
That’s not on the board, that’s on wenger. Those were bad decisions.
While the board undoubtedly play a role this conspiracy theory equivalent that they say one thing and do another with finance doesn’t pass the smell test. If it were as bad as some suggest no one would let themselves have the tail pinned on them repeatedly. Wenger has had chances to go where finance was not an issue, where he could (theoretically) pursue his project unhindered by finance. That he hasn’t suggests that money is not his concern, it’s his ability to control the issues that are important to him.
Performance wise we’ll take a step back this year and next. It’s inevitable. But hopefully some additions in the next two summers and the evolution of others from within will take us back to the top.
I’ve said before that the addition of the speed on the front line is more conducive to playing on the counter. Whether due to unfamiliarity or tactics it seems to be the means du jour at present.
One thing that I find disappointing is that I was hoping that once the financial shackles of building the Ems had been loosened, we would see the ‘real Arsene’ emerge and it would be absolutely clear that the problem was purely finance and not the stubborn obsession that many would claim.
Unfortunately the advent of billionaire owners, a worldwide recession and FFP on the horizon has meant that we still cannot compete and I fear I shall never know the truth. I certainly don’t expect the next 2 or 3 years to be any easier than the last as it appears that the modern way is to buy/build a new team every season and so those with the deepest pockest will inevitably prevail to the detriment of every other club they care to feed from.
Hi 26m, the noises I have heard coming from the AST meeting suggest that there is a groundsell of feeling that AW is more to blame for our perceived failings than some would care to believe, but I have not so far seen anything that tells me what that information is or what they base it on.
Fantastic post FGG, and i agree 100%. Wenger is a man of loyalty and honour, a dying breed in the mad world of football.
If you know your history of Arsenal, you will be aware that Arsene is a cog in a chain that goes back 100 years, i.e. that Arsenal are run with prudent and conservitive vaules, a tradition that carries on to this day. This is why we have remained in the top flight since 1913.
The above is why i laugh when i see people screaming for big money transfers, questioning Arsenals finances and policies. Arsene made a quote to the press last week about the state of the Europeon economy, basicaly saying that dark days lie ahead and that football will not be imune to its consequences. Watch this space.
And for those who think it’s already impossible for us to catch United, have a look at United’s next four fixtures: Chelsea H, Stoke A, Norwich H and Liverpool A. They could easily drop points in three of those games, even lose them. Were we to win our games against Blackburn A, Bolton H, Spurs A and Sunderland H, we could go above them. Not saying it’s going to happen, not least since United could quite conceivably win all four games, and we’re a long way from getting out of the woods, but it’s not out of the question that we’ll be above United by mid-October.
26, that is the spirit (@1.12)!
Hi Rasp,
Totally agree with your 1:03.
I was also hoping that once the financial burden of moving had ended then we would once again see the true AW and the true Arsenal. To some extent I still have hope that that could be the case, and wouldn’t it just be the most amazing thing if AW could pull that off in a time when the high rollers dominate the false economy?
If it is the case though that the climate has changed massively since the start of the move, then surely it’s just circumstances that have brought us to this point, and actually, no-one is really to blame. I mean, could you blame the BoD for not seeing the economic crash coming? Not really. Is it AW fault that other clubs now have sugar daddies and have left us behind? He couldn’t predict that, surely? So what have we actually, as fans, got to complain about!? I think everyone would agree when I say that we shouldn’t spend money if it will risk the future of the club,so maybe we as fans should have realised earlier that we are not the same power in European football we once were.
26 now there’s a lift to the spirits.
Double98 I agree with your assessment of RvP lacking something we need. That is I want him to lead us in defending from the front. The reason we are equivalent to Barca Lite is not in my opinion what we do with the ball it’s what we do without it, we are too ready to let the oppositionhave possession in their third and midfield. What Barca and also Dortmund did on Tuesday was shut down defenders to not even allow the ball to get to the midfielders, this in turn forces the midfield and forwards to drop deeper in search of possession and gives the opposition centre backs the luxury of picking up loose balls under little pressure.
We need to adopt this mentality, Theo, RvP, Gerv, and the attacking midfield must hunt in packs when we lose possession, if we don’t we will continue to see our defence stretched to breaking point by long diagonals and fast breaking runs.
GiE, that’s usually something we do for the first 5 games of the season then it drops off, either down to laziness or tiredness. AW should be a lot more assertive in getting this across to the players, cos as you rightly say it is probably the difference between us being a good side and a great side.
WHistle stop tour, Ginger one, awesome 100% agree he is our dark knight….great article my auburn haired friend……..
I caught a few comments, but this is just about the daftest thing I have seen written on any blog since the web was spun…..
Double 98 “Song is no busquets – he is physically weak”
YOUR HAVING A LAUGH????????????? I will say no more……lol….
Each to their opinion, but your surely fishing?
As for Biscuits, he is a cheat…….. and physically weak, must be he goes down quicker than kerry katona………
Nice post, Fgg.
I’m astonished that there haven’t been more on accusing you of a rose-tinted perspective.
I hope your analysis of the situation is bang on the money.
Really looking forward to going to Ewood Park on Saturday. Let’s hope the ‘green shoots’ can continue their upward journey. 🙂
evonne,
I really liked those photos from the Dortmund game you posted on yesterday’s. I don’t do anything apart from see something I like and want to share it with fellow gooners. Nowt really, but thanks anyway.
Bungee jumping is like getting a bj off kerry katona, It feels great but for christs sake don’t look down.
Chas,
I’m quite shocked too (about the lack of ‘Rose tinted glasses’ comments, not about getting a bj off KK!).
Maybe there have been loads of comments that have been censored off the site!!!
Chas 😛 Now imagine getting a bj by KK during a bungee jump: look down at your own peril!
FGG,
sorry I forgot to congratulate you on a fine post.
We can’t turn the clock back to the end of last season but there are many many questions in my mind.
Anyway 7 games into the season and we have used 27 players and though we need to carry on the momentum from a fine draw in germany this team needs to familiarize itself with each other and that may effect our game.
A common theme is how we get out of the traps invariably slowly and don’t seem to last the entire 90 minutes be it in fitness or mental awareness..
26 1:12. Now there’s a positive guy.
You and I must get together and predict 6 numbers for Saturday night, with that confidence anything is possible. We can then retire, get a season ticket and holiday on white beaches with the sun beating down, between matches.
Bali here we come.
Double 98 = Song is physically weak??? Can’t get my head around that one.
Fat Ginger. Fine post………Move over Rocky ? lol.
Only joking Rocky, your still my hero.
Thanks Kelsey,
I agree that there are hundreds of questions, the only problem is there are no answers! Certainly not yet anyway. It makes it difficult for fans to move forward, but as you rightly say, we are 7 games into a new season and we may aswell try and concentrate on the matches until the club, or Arsene, decide to tell us the truth.
This is a new squad now, there have been a LOT of changes and unfortunately it’s gunna take time. Top 4 would be a massive bonus, but it’s gunna be at least next year before we see how good this side can be.
There are one two questions that have been answered that I know of such as the the fact we sold cesc for less than we could have agreed in February.
I just don’t want the club to go overboard on the long term financial stability of the club completely because I believe there is some leeway there.The january window may endorse that.
Very interesting and well written post Ginger.
What a shame though that our marvelous club has to be to be the butt of constant conspiracy theories and politicking, irrespective of the fact that any evidence is at best sketchy and circumstantial,
Both AW and the club IMHO deserve more respect.
For me the fact that there are three points available this weekend is of far more relevance than dissecting what might or might not have been said in a closed meeting or if we have a million quid available in the next transfer window.
Those issues will be answered in the fullness of time, the next game however is almost upon us.
The October 23rd game against Stoke City will be our one 100th EPL game at the Emirates.
Rasp I like you am intrigued by AST meetings and where the information comes from.
Like 26 however I fear it is becoming used to air grievances with football policy, for me the AST should be there to support the fans, ticketing policies, merchandising (endless kit releases) policy etc. I’m not sure if anyone on the AST board has a UEFA coaching badge or visits the training ground on a regular basis.
And then there is the problem that meetings and revelations from them are treated as gospel, this week it was said that Diaby on £60k per week earns more than Modric, which is strange considering a year ago Modric was in the press speaking of his enbarassment to being paid £70k a week and that info being in the national press at the time. But so many blogs ran this story as evidence of mismanagement and AWs megalomaniac streak.
I have a cient who is on the board of the ast. I’ll see if I can get any info when she comes in.
VCC @ 3:09pm – 🙂
For those amongst us that relate to statistics here is a comparison of our last 97 games at Highbury and our first 97 ar the Emirates.
…………………………………………………………………..
W T L GF GA Pts. %PtsWon
Highbury 72 19 9 241 97 235 80.76
Emirates 64 22 11 193 75 118 73.54
So the stats tell us that our offense has been our issue and not our defense – I would have thought differently.
We have gone from scoring 2.48 goals per game at Highbury to 1.99 at the Emirates.
Ooops the top bar shifted to the left.
GiE,
I agree, I have tried to find any relaible report on what went on at the AST and failed. I don’t want the opinion of anyone who has an axe to grind, just the hard facts – if there are any?
Maybe the day is dawning when we are rid of UEFA & FIFA.
………………………………………..
UEFA risks Champions League uprising
September 15, 2011
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By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
The Champions League could be set for its biggest makeover since being re-branded in 1992, with the European Club Association [ECA] and the European Professional Football Leagues [EPFL] threatening to wrest control of the competition from UEFA unless a power struggle is resolved.
The UEFA Champions League may be changed to the European League Championships
• FIFA prepared to reduce friendly dates
The ECA represents 201 European clubs, and while it has already demanded reforms to the international calendar, it is a desire for greater role for clubs in the game’s decision-making processes that might prove a far more contentious issue.
ESPNsoccernet understands that a schism is forming between the ECA and UEFA as Europe’s clubs and leagues are unhappy with what they perceive to be a lack of fair representation on UEFA’s executive board, which makes the major football decisions on the continent.
Should the issue not be resolved, the ECA and EPFL are considering breaking away from UEFA and forming their own version of the Champions League.
Such a scenario would represent one of the biggest organisational splits in the history of the game, and arguably the most significant since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, which ended the old First Division’s 104-year reign as the top tier of English football.
A source told ESPNsoccernet: “A Swiss court has found that while UEFA own the brand to the Champions League, the clubs and the leagues own the rights.
“If UEFA want to continue with the Champions league in its current form, then that’s fine, but the clubs and the leagues throughout Europe want to be on the executive committee, and the suggestion is that the clubs and the leagues would want 50% of the places.
“The real battleground is sure to be over the call for the leagues and the clubs to have a workable percentage of executive board members on both UEFA and FIFA.
“If the leagues and the clubs own the rights to the Champions League, but not the brand, then there is nothing to stop the leagues and the clubs associations in setting up a new brand, the European League Championships.”
As well as being unhappy with their representation on the UEFA and FIFA executive committees, the ECA and EPFL have regularly clashed with the governing bodies over the number of international friendlies on the football calendar.
ESPNsoccernet’s source added: “If there is ever going to be a split, the time is right for one, the feelings for one has never been stronger. Much depends on how FIFA and UEFA sort themselves out, and meetings in Cyprus on the September 25 might tell us an awful lot more about what reforms are likely to go through, or whether they have to be forced through.”
ECA president and Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has thus far spoken as the sole public voice to represent the clubs and the leagues, but the EPFL may soon have its own say, as its executive committee meet in Poland on Tuesday.
EPFL spokesman Alberto Colombo confirmed to ESPNsoccernet that the members are “concerned about football governance, want a proper working relationship on both UEFA and FIFA and want to be properly represented”, though he refused to comment on the suggestion that the ECA and EPFL are seeking 50% of places on the FIFA and UEFA executive boards.
………………………………………….
Gunnern5,
Interesting stuff. I’m not overly shocked though. As I stated in the article, those that watch the side regularly knows that our attacking play has slowed and lost tempo. This has given us the unwanted ability of being able to lose 1-0, unlike at Highbury when trams knew we could always score 1 or 2 every game.
FGG I apologise but I have not read your article as I’ve had it up to my teeth in reading anything more about him. No insult intended it`s just that I have my own opinion about AW – positively positive and only future events may change that.
There has been so much idle speculation, hate and hyperbole written about him that I simply look at the headline and when it`s about AW I give it a miss.
Maybe my head is buried in the sand, but that`s how I am, and that`s how I feel.
Gn5, have been saying this for ages, many can confirm that I have said the issue was the attack and lack of goals not the defence. The defence gets immense pressure from us not scoring goals when we should…………..You stats back it up……nice one………
I still think the fitness levels have something to do with our decrease in goals,and we are playing on a wider pitch.it takes more energy to have countless tippy tappy passes as oppsed to the direct route,yet when we played barca at home (i think ) they had about 3 or4 more passes to our one throughout the match, which disproves that theory.
The manager also relies on the player saying he is fully fit when clearly not.5/6 years back we had more great players and results proved they had a winning mentallity, and perhaps the more intelligent a football player is the more economical he is aswell.if you add all of those reasons together we may have an answer.
The Euro thing is really interesting. Fifa have proposed even more friendlies.
The difference in goals scored (GN5 4.28) is down to one player – Thierry Henry.
Add him to this team (in his pomp) and we would be challengers.
Our second goal against barca was about 4 passes from defence to the back of thier net Kelsey. I thought we’d gone back to the good old days.
Re: UEFA. I have been surprised that the ECA have not rebelled earlier.
Even more so that the earlier G14/18 allowed themselves to be bossed by bureaucrats.
At National level, the Euro’s and the World Cup have been demeaned by the influx of all these new countries. Estonia, Latvia,, San Marino, Luxembourg, Iceland, , etc etc etc. Who cares?
There should be a competition to reduce the number of countries prior to this ridiculous Euro Qualifiers.
The top nations: England, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Portugal should get automatic entry.
BR:
You are correct TH scored 132 of the 241 goals – 55%.
I guess some players are irreplaceable.
I`m embarrassed to say that I`m watching PAOK vs Spurs in the Europa League – but I`m hoping to see some spuds get mashed.
Gn5. Isn’t it a team of reserves? What am I saying? They are Spurs – hope they get stuffed. (sauteed, chipped etc etc)
It beggars belief that two corrupt organisation`s have been allowed to run football without a rebellion by the clubs and countries involved.
It only makes sense that the top countries get automatic entry and the others play off for the remaining positions. But then the majority of the backhanders would disappear.
BR how about fried, boiled, baked or best of all ROASTED.
55% of goals we scored at Highbury over 97 games!
What a player & I was privileged enough to see almost all of them.
Gn5. To my knowledge only GG has been punished for corruption in this country. The chances of him being the only miscreant are almost non-existent but it is not in the bureaucrats interests to investigate.
Some brilliant refereeing in this Spurs game.
Clear pen to Spurs not given.
Dodgy pen to PAOK given.
Pen scored not allowed for encroachment (don’t see that often).
Pen missed.
Superb and much better than the football
BR:
It seems that we are always the team picked on going all the way back to Sir Henry Norris.
I agree I know an agent here in Canada who, a few years back, was attempting to get H. Redknapp to sign one of his players, but as he tells it, HR wanted an envelope of cash along with the signing – it never did happen.
Gn5. Too many stories like that for them not to be true.
BR:
I’ve just realised that I used all of TH’s EPL goals and not just the goals scored at Highbury – but I’m sure it will still equal the majority.
It’s tough to break away from the Spurs game but I have to pop out for a while. Be back later…………
Only an old timer would know that …..
Raddy @ 6:34 🙂 🙂 very good match report, cheers
I actually want Spurs to win as to get anywhere near the final in the Europa you need to play around 430 games, and like it or not, we are in a battle with them for league position.
Just a quickie. Can players only be loaned during the window?
Micky. Yes, unlesss the player loaned is a free agent (in which case it isn’t really a loan) or in an emergency e.g. if we had 3 GKs injured and only a youth GK left.
Thanks BR,
So yes even if there’s no emergency?
And do you have to match their current wages, or is that negotiable?
Don’t panic, that’s the last question then its nosebag time for me.
Micky. Perhaps we have a misunderstanding. The answer is that loans can really only take place in the window.
According to Philippe Auclair of the Guardian. AFC almost pulled off a loan for Youri Gourcoff in summer and are expected to sign him in January. Now he is “super quality”
Thanks Raddy. Go and enjoy your match and I hope the result goes your way (so long as that is the way I want 🙂 ).
Hopefully catch you tomorrow.
No idea re: wages. I doubt the loaning club pay full whack. As I understand it Arsenal will pay a percentage of Bendtner’s wages.
Nosebag. I knocked up a duck breast salad tonight. Fried duck, mango, avocado, roast pine nuts, spinach leave and a honey, balsamic dressing. Fab.
Now for some Brie and biscuits to go with the Valpolicella
BR 8:01 whose the “Honey” Any one we know?
VCC. Not to my knowledge but with these Scandigirls you never can tell 😎
I don`t know if any of you lot listen to Talksport?, but Keys and Gray have some great guests on their shows (the George Graham interview gave a great insight to his defensive training methods).
Today it was Craig Johnston, ex Liverpool, honestly people ,it is really worth listening to, you can relisten on the website, it was between 11:30 and 12:30, you will miss a treat, if you don`t.
GLiC
I listened to a bit of it today, really enjoyed it. Craig Johnston’s story about the boots he designed was good listening.
Good old Fuilham. 1-0
Andy Johnson scored for Fulham
Oz – in case you don’t know, Andy Johnson is of Polish decent 🙂 ha ha ha
blast, spoke too soon. 1-1
Come on Fulham
Micky,
I agree with your comment @7:35, it`s just a shame Liverpool are not in it, playing 430 games, thats what makes 4th spot so hard, they have no distractions!
It was reported on talksport today, that Ronaldo said he gets abuse from other supporters because they are jealous of him, he said ” it`s because I`m rich, handsome and great” , he should have added “thats why I sit in front of the mirror and masturbate”
TOSSER. 🙂
GLIC. Ronaldo may well be an onanist but his record across his career is nothing short of remarkable.
I agree Big Raddy, he is a remarkable onanist. 🙂
GLIC. IMO he is one of the most complete players of recent time, he has it all. Pace, close control, brilliant in the air, great shot and phenomenal balance.
The fact Ronaldo is arrogant and self obsessed turns people against him and stops them seeing what a genius he is. I would love to see him play for us.
I expect the Ox will be as good.
Raddy,
My first remark was a jovial take on he`s ego, as for all your statement about him, i cant argue, probably fact than oppinion.
As for Ox, I to have great hopes for him, I have said previously that my friend is a Saints mad all weather follower and is gutted he left ,he gave a Wegeresque super quality rating for him!
Anyone else think ECA mumblings might be related to the fact UEFA may follow through on FFP? And that they’re getting their threats in now, let’s be honest UEFA are looking to hinder the business models of the top clubs, makes sense they might breakaway.
Ronaldo is so obviously gay too.
BR, you forgot to mention that he has an incredible competitive spirit as well… I too hate Ronaldo, but begrudgingly acknowledge he is an amazing player.
We all know Ronaldo is an amazing player, but can we focus on the main point? I.e., he is an utter prick.
Interesting question from Exile re UEFA and FFP. Perhaps there’s something in it, though the ECA are actively involved in the FFP.
I wish FIFA would disappear, full of the most corrupt parasites, who seem intent on attacking club football come what may. But UEFA isn’t as bad.
Great great great post.
26 1.17 .Focussed.
GIE. Good point about the ECA.
Morning Vishal and BR.
BR, having just read about your duck salad, the thought is tarnished by this Ronaldo talk. Behave, and keep it clean and savoury.
BR,
On a foodie note, I saw yesterday that someone has produced an Umami Paste! (For those who don’t follow these things, Umami is the 5th taste sensation. Deliciousness).
@ Evonne
Haha have you some sort of polish six sense? or have you researched every player in the leagues nationality? haha
@ GiE
great wrap up the other day. Having stayed up til 445 watching it i was gutted to see that ball fly into the top corner! Damn the footy gods and there hatred for wegner!
BD did what every arsenal fan wants to see…ARSENAL PRESS! i nearly cried during the chelsea game, it was beautiful to see. It makes teams look so dangerous (even if they have a weak defence), BD and Barca before it,squeezed the life out of us. Why do we not employ that tactic? Its frustrating!
@ Micky
so you’re saying if i chucked that stuff on a juicy bit of steak i’d be in heaven?
Oz,
Some things have it naturally, and good beef is one of those 🙂
Oz,
Saw the other day you are a Muse fan. I was talking with Chris (bassist) the other week and he was saying Oz is his favourite country to tour. Got into surfing there and he showed me the very nice surf board that his wife just bought him. It will never see the light of day so I was being particularly nice.
Morning guys
I see our Micky is moving in high circles, hm hm. What did you mean in your last sentence ‘It will never see the light of day so I was being particularly nice’ ?
Micky. They use fish sauce in food here which replicates umami.
Oz. Why don’t all teams press like BD and Barca? It would appear to be succesful.
Raddy – rather you than me, I cannot stand fish…..brrr
Have you started writting an awsome prematch yet?
Evonne,
Because he could donate it to me!
BR,
Because in our case, our wide two are lazy!
@ Micky
that would explain why such an amazing band comes here often. You’re a lucky lucky man Micky. ‘Micro Cuts’ is pure genius in my eyes.
@ BR
i really am unsure why more teams don’t. In Aussie rules football teams now adopt the forward press and those who employ it best get the best results (a team that finished last the previous season, finished 4th this season due to implementing the press). Those in the inner sanctum say it was stolen from netball (alot of sports scientists watch other sports and disect them in order to improve tactics and styles of play), and say it takes along time to get right. Players have to be selfless and know their role in the press, otherwise one players error can cause a flaw in the whole system.
‘Morning’ Oz, you have got some commitment there, watching our team deep in the night! Do watch the games alone, are there any other Gooners in your town/city?
I have been in panic mode for the last day or two as I picture our line up in the absence of an injured Robin. Does Park play centrally?
Total, just the man.
Am I right in saying Holland play Persie behind Huntelaar in a 4-2-3-1?
Micky – oh you crafty young devil
The problem with pressing is that it can pull the formation all over the place unless done really well, which takes years to master and immense discipline. If you are playing a team who can move the ball quickly and with precision then they could negate an average press. It has to be top class ie Barcelona or it’s not worth doing. Not with the way that modern players are happy to have the ball to feet even when surrounded.
Evonne,
Didn’t work 😦 Had little to no chance what with his Mrs and ten thousand children looking on!
Morning all
I’m without builders today and it’s not raining!!!!!!!!!! Time to do some normal things like blogging and shopping. It’s an early KO tomorrow so not too much time to get nervous ………….. not 🙂
Micky, need to drop of daughter – get back to you afterwards
@ Total
yeah alone most times. When its against toon, liverpool, and everton i watch with mates down at the pub (only if they are saturday games though). Used to see a few die hard arsenal fans at the casino (the old timer i mentioned a few weeks ago) but less and less started appearing as the sports bar became too commercial. I also have an agreement with the mrs that she watches 2 games a season with me (last season= barca home, and CC final). I have to watch the 230 morning games or i can’t sleep haha
Micky,
Do u not think this could be an opportunity to get 90 minutes out of Chamakh? We are playing bottom of the league, and all in all, a pretty poor Blackburn side. It’s also a Blackburn side with huge CB’s, so we need someone up there to compete. Also, I posted the other day about how Chamakh has never scored when coming off the bench with 20 minutes or less remaining (a total of 12 games), he is obviously someone who struggles to get into the game from the bench, so we must find a way to get him starting some games in order to get his confidence back. Surely this game is perfect for him
@ Peaches
love the early starts, nearly fell off my chair when i saw arsenal on at 730 at night
Hiya Peaches – enjoy!
Oz gunner,
So it’s your missus fault that our season when tits up last year!? 😉
Well that’s all my questions about last seasons collapse answered now,cheers oz!
FGG,
Good points. Just suppose MC was a good player, do you think that under those circumstances you would play him as first choice, and if so, where The Perse?
@ FFG
good point, but would it not be better playing against a team that don’t have giant CB’s? I think one of the reasons why hes gone into his shell more was the fact he was getting hit non-stop in games (coped a few heads and elbows if i recall correctly). In a perfect world it would be ideal to have RVP playing just off Chamma, and in the gasmes RVP needs a rest slot AA in there!
Haha it appears that way (i’l let you know how it goes next time she watches one, if it turns sour shes getting banned!), shes come along way though from knowing nothing about football to knowing the starting 11 and having jack the lad as her favourite.
Oz,
You want to watch out. I made the fatal mistake of telling my wife in the early days that I liked F1. The reality is that what I like is 20 mins of build up and the first lap. That’s it for me. Now she likes an hour of build up (behave), the whole bloody race and all the post race interviews. Total nightmare.
@ Micky
haha i will behave, and you’re right that would be a nightmare. I am a sports fanatic but F1 like all motor sports bores me. It’d be a dream though if it happened with football. A small price to pay is i am forced to watch things like the miss universe pagent from start to finish. Who knew watching attractive women for 2 hours could nearly send one into a bored induced coma
Good post FGG.
Re your 8:32, did you HAVE to praise Barcelona?? They might be good at passing but they have no class at all!
Micky. You need to adjust your opinion about F1. It is perfect.
Sunday lunch followed by the 20 mins build up. First 3 laps. Fall asleep on the sofa. Wake up for the final 3 laps and a cup of tea with a slice of fruitcake. Which takes you rested into the 4p.m. kick of.
Morning all, I am thinking MC on Saturday might not be a bad idea, now before everyone thinks I have woken in cuckoo land let me explain.
In this fixture last year RvP dangled a leg in a challenge and we lost him until December.
MC came on and led the line superbly.
So good and bad omens align to provide the starting line up 🙂
Mickey,
I think RvP can be effective from the right coming in on his left peg. He has played there before for Holland. Or you could play him on the left and allow him to get to the byeline n whip in crosses for MC. With Gervinho on the other wing, it would mean we could put crosses into the box thus giving us another dimension.
Oz, you must be an animal in bed to get her to agree to that!!!!! Lol I can’t even get the missus to wash my football kit, never mind watch a bloody game!
Oz,
I am going to vote for you as the “Most Committed Gooner 2011”.
(Especially being upside down and all that!) 🙂
FGG,
I have given up on here trying to get people to understand the value of a leftie playing on the right through banging on about how Theo (a rightie) is far more effective on the left.
Perse has the advantage that he can play left because he can corss the ball.
BR,
Spot on about F1. The only difference is that I sometimes forget to wake up for the final laps.
Sorry CG, I don’t know what I was thinking!
Re F1, it’s awful!
FGG,
Exactly what do you prefer to sleep through sunday afternoon on the sofa?
New Post ……………
Now that F1 is on Sky I’m hoping they might do something similar to what they did with snooker and boxing ie prizefighter
Maybe they could just do 1 lap each, blindfolded whilst getting a bj off Kerry Katona! Whoever gets the fastest time wins n u get bonus points for lasting the full lap, if u know wat I mean!!!
Mickey,
For the last 6 months I’ve slept through the Arsenal games!!!!!! Lol
I’m too busy washing my kit to sleep on a Sunday.
Just regarding the right footer coming off the left etc, I remember a certain player called Henry who used to do it quite well back in the day!
@ GiE
good point chamma did play well and cause headaches. Even against a highly rated Kompany.
@ RA
haha i try my hardest to make her become a fully fledged gooner
@ FFG
it is hard, sometimes she goes for the book during the game, but it gets swatted away. Just like my phone did when i was trying to read AA during miss universe.
Oz….your not alone, I took my misses (girlfriend at the time) to Stoke at home some 25 odd years ago, we lost 1-0. NEVER taken her since.
New post ……..
Great post !
Тhank you.
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