This is a very confusing time to be an Arsenal supporter.
Most of us are torn between fear that the woefulness of recent months reflects where we really are, and the hope that our new team is about to click and start sweeping all before it.
Mostly, we’re all looking for a sign: either a sign to confirm that we really are as shite as an 8-2 defeat at Surrey Towers might indicate, or a sign that the good times are set to roll again.
So in these dark days of the Interlull, I found myself wondering what would be the headline that would really lift the spirits of us Arsenal supporters.
The answer’s not as straightforward as it might seem, because the Arsenal fan base is not exactly of one mind. Or if we are of one mind, it’s the mind of someone suffering from multiple personality disorder who thinks he’s the population of China.
The following theoretical headlines (that might happen during this Interlull) hopefully reflect the full swathe of opinion among us all…
Wenger Out:
Assuming that Le Boss is not about to announce that he bats for the other side, this headline would clearly make a significant minority of Arsenal supporters happy. They have had it in for Arsene ever since the drip-feed of silverware dried up some years back. Perhaps not remembering the many fallow period’s in the club’s history, they demand success every year whatever the context and are 100% convinced that AW has lost the plot. They may be right, but I wish they wouldn’t take so much pleasure from our suffering. It makes me suspect that they like torturing small animals, and if you like torturing small animals there’s a natural progression to becoming a serial killer and if you do that you may fall foul of this Gooner: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/05/damien-fowkes-admits-jail-attacks-on-child-killers-ian-huntley-and-colin-hatch-115875-23467308/
so watch out! (Read down to the end to find out what he was wearing in court).
“Wenger Will Never Be Fired”: Kroenke:
The complete flip side of the headline above, this one will make all the Arsene lovers out there sleep more easily in thjeir beds. Until January, that is, when we’re lying 17th in the table and in turns out that what Silent Stan means is that although Arsene will never be fired, he may be persuaded at gunpoint to resign.
Team Bonding Trip To Lourdes Produces Miraculous Results: That’s right – Arsene takes the team to the French holy place where miracle after miracle occurs: Vermaelen, Wilshere, Sagna and Diaby all become fit and available for the next game; Arshavin’s arse shrinks by 50% and the famous back four of Winterburn-Adams-Bould-Dixon all become 25 years old again.
Fake “Doctor” Uncovered At London Colney:
Police are called to Arsenal’s training ground after it is discovered that one of the leading members of the club’s medical team is a fantasist with no medical qualifications. The man is, in fact, an unemployed plumber from N17 who faked a CV to obtain the job. Mr Wenger said: “ This explains a lot…”
Arab Spring Uprisings Reach Abu Dhabi – Man City Owners Overthrown:
It’s happened in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iran and many other Middle east countries: Come on you downtrodden Arabs of the UAE! You can do it – rise up and kick your feudal overlords out of power. You know it makes sense. Then Citeh can slide back to the familiar position of mediocrity that they so richly deserve.
Fabregas “Unsettled” in Barcelona:
We’d have him back, wouldn’t we?
Messi To Arsenal:
The Argentinian genius told reporters “when my good friend Cesc Fabregas told me how good it was to be a Gooner I realized I would have to see for myself. And besides, most of my ex colleagues at Barca are diving, cheating Kants.”
Tevez To Arsenal:
“They have signed me for when Messi is injured,” said Mr Tevez.
Spurs Docked 15 Points:
After an exhaustive investigation by the Premier League, it has been decided that Spurs are an unholy collective of warthog-faced noodledicks and, accordingly, they have been docked 15 league points, more or less guaranteeing relegation. The North London club is planning an appeal on the grounds that, although they are all clearly noodledicks, only the manager has the face of a warthog. The appeal will fail when the prosecution produces Gareth Bale and Heurelho Gomes as evidence.
Arsenalisation Project Moves to Next Stage:
With a return to, and rebuilding of, Highbury Stadium.
Anyway, that’s my bit of fun. But, on a more serious note, what headline would you like to read in the next week…?
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Rasp
I do not present a view and therefore I do not suggest that it is move believable than Kelsey’s.
Over the past few months Kelsey has presented his view of the Fabregas transfer as a criticism of Arsenal, when this happens I seek clarification, as I did by asking why such a situation would happen in February outside the transfer window.
Even before I got to the credits, I knew the master had written another classic.
To combine humour and the difficult art of deflating humbug in one brilliant piece is truly inspirational!!
Well done, Rock.
Headline I would like to see this week?
LONDON AND KELSEY KISS AND MAKE UP — SENSATIONAL PHOTO OF THEM SINGING A THONG!!
Morning Kelsey,
After wading thru’ what appeared to be War And Peace (Part Deux), in last night’s comments from Spain, my eye caught this snippet.
— “RA,
— What i write in a sentence you make into a book bless.”
So, I have decided to come clean. Kelsey, you are also better than me at maths, much taller than me and by far the more handsome!
Having admitted to my inadequacies, I can say – hand on heart – that you are awful, but I still like you!! 🙂
Morning, thanks for yet another Monday classic Rocky.
I’m hoping for this headline in May: Arsenal achieve the most miraculous feat in modern football history by confounding their critics and completing the Premiership and Champion’s league double 😛
London, I have responded to your comment on the tail end of yesterday’s post.
Bloody hell, that’s a great post. My lowest bow to Rocky. So, so many great lines.
Funny piece, job well done. Obviously you haven’t been to Abu Dhabi though; I have a better chance of marrying Gisele Bundchen than the Arab Spring hitting Abu Dhabi!
I do take exception to: Arshavin’s arse shrinks by 50% 😆 some of our best players have had huge arses – Campbell, Lauren, Toure
frist of all we in the uae our over lords made us the richest salary incom in the world when some of us get payed more then arsenal players o and every thing is free medic srvice electrcity oil is cheper then water every house has more then 4 cars 3 housemadis and a driver , a lisen 4u do your resrch befor saying somthing stuped makes u look bad (arsenal for life) o yeah and iran is not an arab stat
Hamed 🙂
Rasp,
Your headline was more like a novel. 🙂
And, I think you clearly are diss-ing Rocky, because he said “headline — this week”. As his self appointed agent, I will send you an invoice for compensation!!
Monday 17th October “Arsenal beat Sunderland” Simples!
Rocky, so enjoyed yet another masterpiece.
This is a headline I still think achievable ..
Arsenal manage to make top four and maintain champions league qualification together with a fine FA cup win.
Good point RA,
I tinkered with the layout of the post but failed to read it properly 😳
How’s about this headline: Arsene Wenger has been blogging under the secret identity of Red Arse in an attempt to get his true feelings over to Arsenal fans?
City and Chelsea Owners Pact announced:
“We’re sick of you English and your stupid game, and we’re taking all our money and pissing off to F1”.
I love Kelsey, most of the stuff he writes is what i`d like to say, so he saves me loads of time. I`ll just say good morning and go for a run.
Super post Rocky!
That’s more like it, Rasp!!
Now I am going to write my book, in which I reveal all the skullduggery behind Kelsey’s leaks!
By the way, I DID try sign a ‘keeper (Reina) when all the blogs said I was too mean.
Wasn’t my fault the ‘Pool refused £20m. Anyway, Chezzer is better!!
GLIC,
The Kelsey fan club is growing!! 🙂
Rocky, rock & roll! 😀
another fine, light-heated post, full of wit, covering the whole spectrum of our split-personality. You and GiE are doing your very best to lift our spirits with your posts, during this tedious and demon-evoking Interlull. Well done to the Toronto Tyrant!
My dream headline for the end of the Interlull is:
‘Wenger’s new right-hand man, Dennis Bergkamp, receives standing ovation by 60000 over-joyed Gooners at Emirates – The future looks red-white-orange again’
Fine post Rocky. 🙂
I have to however inform you that you have dropped yourself in it and are in real trouble
A few years ago when visiting the Masai Mari region of Kenya, my son pointed out on seeing Warthogs at the drinking hole, how like my wife they looked.
Unfortunately she read your article over my shoulder saw herself being compared to ” Arry” who she knew as a teenager and Bale, went off on one and is now on the phone to our Lawyers claiming Defamation, Libel and Malice aforethought.
At my suggestion that it was a humorous piece, she has branded me a co-conspirator and suggested that I along with RA and Rasp are due for our day in court too.
Please guys think before you publish things, |For instance when I think of London I am reminded of Pearly Queens and as for Red Arse, words fail me.
See you all in court.
Rasp
I fail to see why you think that I have not accepted Kelsey’s 9:07 am clarification. Please show me where I give that impression?
And by the way I never said that I thought Fabregas wouldn’t leave, it was Clichy and Nasri I was wrong about.
As for the the total management performing badly, I have written many comments about the use of hindsight and how we would all be the best managers in the world with the use of it.
London, this was my response to your point above as posted on the end of yesterday’s debate………
You cannot dismiss the analysis of what has happened simply by condemning it as hindsight and therefore unworthy – if you do that then you are saying that nothing can be learned from experience.
Forgive me if I misinterpretted your view, it appeared to me that you were querying kelsey’s version of events on the basis that they were hearsay, whereas I believe they have more substance than that.
Great post, Rocky.
How about,
“Ferguson quits as United manager after revelations of match-fixing and a bizarre love triangle with Howard Webb and Wayne Rooney”
Are you claiming ‘substance’ abuse, Rasper? Remember what DD said at 10:35! 🙂
Hi Chas, 🙂
Your headline might be;
Bizarre Threesome: The Rude, The Bad and the Ugly!
Briilant as usual Rocky.
I can answer for myself if an accusation is thrown at me. I have never written that i want AW out, nor do I ever curse our players. I have my own thoughts and a few titbits passed onto me which I thought would add to any debate.There would be no point to make up stories, as opposed to some saying the players they would like to see at the club and those who they feel don’t warrant a place in the squad.
one other thing i have noticed is that maybe a character test should be part of the procedure apart from the obligatory medical.
There are exceptions but for players to gel well together is half the battle i believe it is called team bonding.
I am almost certain we will lose RVP, that is just my opinion unless some serious purchases are made in January. If I am wrong so be it. I don’t wish for that to happen but there are similarities with him and a mixture of Nasri and Fabregas. I would also add that I don’t think with RVP it is just a question of financial rewards.
haha RA,
The Conk, The Dong and The Ogre
Chamster’s goal…..which the prem goalies were that shite.
which should be wish
Kelsey,
Are you calling for Chamakh to be captain? — “There are exceptions but for players to gel well together is half the battle i believe it is called team bonding.”
He is clearly the gel king! 🙂
Kelsey, as I have said before — keep on keeping on — you certainly are always interesting and your juicy morsels of inside info are grist to the mill. Love it!! 🙂
Rasp
To my knowledge Kelsey’s 9.07 comment was the first time that he has clarified his suggestion in depth, prior to that we have been drip fed what seemed like hints and innuendo which started of with his accusation that Arsenal could have got more money for Fabregas. The beauty of a blog is that these comments can be found; he was clearly being critical of club and how they handled the Fabregas deal. This morning’s comment at 9.07 does not do that, it simply presents the facts as he has been told them…………………I note we still have no idea of how much was supposedly offered in February.
“if you do that then you are saying that nothing can be learned from experience.”
You lost me with this one: why do people think that nothing can be learnt?
On a different subject, can we really be looking at Kalou, surely the last thing we want is another ‘non-prolific’ striker?
My headline for this week, “Kalou interest a smokescreen as Arsenal secure the signature of Benzema”
Why would someone take so much pleasure in telling us that he thinks RvP will leave, do you not see why such bold, chest beating statements may offend certain Arsenal supporters?
London,
In the same way as people dismiss statistics because they can be manipulated to suport any argument, the same is true of those who pass judgement after the event = that’s with the luxury of hindsight etc. But in the case of our summer transfer activity, many were predicting a disappointing outcome and therefore were not employing hindsight.
The point is that those predictions were arrived at with the experience of the previous 4 or 5 summer dealings which have (and continue to) disappointed in the main.
My standpoint has been not that we should try top compete with the rich boys, but simply that we are not getting the best out of the resources at our disposal. It appears that we were prepared to pay £20m for Reina, that money was not spent – why did we not buy a CB or striker if we had that in the budget at the time?
Rasp
Is that a typo or are you telling me to fuck off.
DD,
While the Rasper and London are clarifying each other, I forgot to say that I think your missus is evidently a sensible soul with a very nice sense of humour.
I like! 🙂
She should immediately be enrolled into the halls of AA and become an official blogger! No need for any knowledge of Arsenal required — see various other Arsenal sites — but a word of caution, the tag “Mrs DD” might be a little unadventurous! 🙂
If suggestions are required, please ask! 🙂
Looks like a typo London. The only Loon on here is me!! 🙂
😆 London, you know me, my comments are always littered with typos – no offence intended.
I would however say that my success rate with predictions is pretty good…..
I predicted before the game that Frimpong would become a bit of a folk hero but would most likely get sent off – and he did
I asked for Coquelin to play instead of Frimpong against the spuds because he was more developed as a player – and he was MotM
I wrote a post in the summer – £20m or Na$ri? saying that he would be sold.
Sadly I also wrote a post in which I explained why I didn’t think we would qualify for the CL this season.
Someone, I can’t remember who 🙄 wrote a post saying that Szczesny wasn’t ready to be our No.1 keeper!
London says:
October 10, 2011 at 11:22 am (Edit)
Why would someone take so much pleasure in telling us that he thinks RvP will leave, do you not see why such bold, chest beating statements may offend certain Arsenal supporters?
Where did i say “so much pleasure” you are just twisting my words and you dam well know it.
I wrote:
I am almost certain we will lose RVP, that is just my opinion unless some serious purchases are made in January. If I am wrong so be it. I don’t wish for that to happen
not exactly as you misquoted me, yet again.
Testing
Rasp fair enough
As I have said many time before I have always thought London was a daft name, I first started blogging in Barcelona where it seemed to make sense, however, returning home I have never quite felt comfortable with it. So it is now changed to my initials and to those of one of my all time favourite Arsenal players.
Kelsey
If you want to take away the ambiguity, try using the word “sadly” then we would all know exactly what you mean.
Right, I am off until the temperature is lowered.
Welcome LB, nice to have one of the Brady Bunch on the site 🙂 (so much better than that frump London)
The cupboard is bare – we have no posts for the coming week. If anyone would care to submit just a few lines we’d be grateful, it seems there is plenty to discuss, we just need to keep it friendly.
Laurie Brown.
Risp,
Your 11:41 a.m. : predictions. You pinched all of them from my learned Blogger – Baggy Pants!
You are undone as a plagiarist! 🙂
Great post Rocky,
Headlines ime sure we will see soon.
” Arsene Wenger to be made peer of the realm for his services for football (even though hes French) and shall be known forthwith as ‘Lord Wenger’
“Tony Pullis flees ladyboy brothel, completely naked bar a baseball cap, after exposure by our reporters”.
Peaches, 🙂
Where have your legs gone?
Excellent Terry, 🙂
I liked your,
“Exposed: Naked Pulis Holds Small Cap Over Smaller Appendage!
Rid Arse 😕
I am being peaches by proxy as she’s out doing important work!
TMHT.
I think he should be, Darth Wenger!. He can then get Stan and Ussie in a room and tell them: ” you will be best buddies”………”we are best buddies”……..”you will spend Billions”……..”we will buy super quality”……….” now go fuck yourselfs”…………..”I cant find your light sabre fat bastard”………….”thats because it`s up your ars..e..nal, arsenal, arsenal…………………”
Hi Rasp, you are very good at predicting, but those first three you mentioned were hardly rocket-science 🙂
If your CL prediction comes through, and you are not alone on this one, I would be really surprised. So I am going to offer you a bet on that one: I say – £10 that Arsenal will finish in top-4 this season.
GLIC,
🙂
Total . Nice one. what about FA cup win as well.
Hi TA, I never bet against my own team and nothing would make me happier than for us to win the prize of CL qualification so the only thing I will pledge is to buy you a pint so that we can drown our sorrows together should the prediction come true.
Rasp 1:13 How about a round on you when we win the FA Cup this season?
Hope your rich, cos this could easily happen. 🙂
VCC,
I agree that an FA Cup win is very much oin the cards. I’m a bit confused as to what that would do for our chances in the European competitions – does the winner automatically get into the Europa Cup?
Rasp – there’s nothing wrong with betting against your own team…I have household insurance but it doesn’t mean I want my house to burn down!
VCC – good to see you so positive as well. FA cup would be great and why not? A good run combined with a good draw and a bit of luck….
Rasp, if we were to win the FA but also qualify for CL, we would be playing CL instead of Europa Cup. Not sure who would get the Europa Cup spot, but I reckon it would be the FA cup runner-up.
I accept your principle of not betting against Arsenal – very sensible! 🙂
OK, Illy but what if you would get twice the value of the house…
I can double the value of my house quite easily…just pump the tyres up and put up some curtains
I’ve only ever bet against arsenal once – 1989, I got 12/1 pre-season. We went down to something really low before the wheels wobbled against Derby, Wimbledon and a couple of others. On the night against Liverpool we were back out to 12/1 again! Had a couple of guineas as insurance ona Liverpool win. Still able to enjoy a handsome profit and happy to have a losing bet.
Illy 🙂 the curtains will make all the difference!
The bookies are mental. You can get 10,000 to 1 for Arsenal to win the quad but only 1,000 to 1 for Gordan Brown to be poven to be an alien life form.
Dont think we will win the quad, but we will win something, hopefully the Champions League. Definatly sticking some money on Brown though.
Illy 1.44 LOL
Rocky. Thank you for another vey amusing read.. My headline –
“Arsenal go to Munich next week as Champions”.”
TMHT. ;-D
Oh my headline by by the way “Prison Officer wins £110 million on Euro Lottery – lends £100 million to Arsenal for new players”
A cautionary tale from todays times.
It is probably fair to say that Chelsea are a little hemmed in at the moment — and not just by the railway lines and housing surrounding Stamford Bridge.
The club have lost money faster than a UBS equities trader since the takeover by Roman Abramovich and, despite early protestations that they would break even soon enough, the spending has never really stopped. This year accounts revealed a loss of £70 million, and that was one day before the club jumped head-first into the transfer market to spend £70 million on new players.
Although losses are way down on the second season under Abramovich’s ownership (which totalled £140 million), the average deficit for the past seven seasons is £79.7 million. In the present year, the net spending on transfers for players such as Fernando Torres, David Luiz (in January) and Juan Mata, Raul Meireles and Romelu Lukaku (in the summer) amounts to £112.5 million.
No wonder Bruce Buck, the Chelsea chairman, felt impelled to make a statement of the bleeding obvious last week: “We must find a way to increase revenues and reduce costs,” he said.
His immediate fears centre on Uefa Financial Fair Play rules, but he was also recognising that the club must at some point — regardless of the moralising of Michel Platini — fund itself from within rather than via the largesse of a benefactor.
Chelsea’s problem, of course, is that reducing costs is far from easy. Footballers, despite their touching protestations of loyalty, tend to get itchy feet when their salaries are reduced, or increased at less than 30 times the rate of inflation. Indeed, Chelsea are all too aware of this, highlighted by the fact that a whopping 82 per cent of their revenues are swallowed up by the pay cheques handed to J. T., Lamps and their ilk. This compares with 46 per cent at Manchester United.
With costs so difficult to curtail (without losing top players or failing to bring in new ones), Chelsea face a clear imperative: increase income. Get more money into the club, real money rather than handouts, or face a reckoning when Jean-Luc Dehaene [chairman of Uefa’s Financial Control Panel] and his band of accountants get their hands on the company books.
And this is why stadium expansion has become such a defining issue. In relative terms, Stamford Bridge is tiny. The Nou Camp has a capacity of more than 99,000, Borussia Dortmund have more than 80,000 and Old Trafford has 76,000. Chelsea have a mere 41,837, which is 7,000 less than Sunderland. Buck estimates the club could increase revenues by an average of £35 million a year by increasing capacity, which would eradicate more than half the annual loss on the last set of accounts.
One stumbling block is that the Stamford Bridge site is, according to architects, unsuitable for expansion, not least because Fulham Road and various railway lines act as fixed boundaries. This is why the alternative of relocating to a new, bigger site has become the only game in town in terms of expansion, and explains why Buck wrote to Chelsea Pitch Owners PLC (CPO) last week in an attempt to purchase the freehold of Stamford Bridge.
Needless to say, many supporters are horrified. CPO bought the area beneath the pitch in 1997, financed by a loan from the club, to prevent a takeover by property speculators. Many fans do not want to move under any circumstances, despite a legal commitment offered by Buck that no site would be considered more than three miles from Stamford Bridge until 2020. A crucial meeting of CPO, at which a vote on the proposal will be taken, is scheduled for this month.
Given the wider financial picture, it is difficult to regard the intransigence of fans as anything other than hypocritical, when many are simultaneously agitating for a boycott of the Champions League match against Genk because of high ticket prices. After all, if Abramovich’s charity is no longer within the rules, then ticket revenues must be expanded in order to balance the books. Blocking stadium expansion and price hikes smacks of a lack of economic realism.
Fans want a great team, but they want someone else to pay for it. This is all well and good when losses are being indulged by Abramovich, as they have been for more than eight years, but it can no longer be realistically sustained. Besides, other clubs have moved stadiums and, far from losing their identity, have reaped a significant financial dividend while retaining the goodwill of the fans.
Of course, sensible supporters are willing to accept the logic of relocation but are merely fearful of a move beyond southwest London. A compromise might involve a promise by the board not to move beyond an agreed radius of Stamford Bridge before, say, 2050.
That would appease concerns about a move to Slough or the like in 2020 and would give the board the freedom to move rapidly if an enticing site came up.
Either way, a compromise must be found. Chelsea need cash, and fast.
I didn’t think they could fill Stamford Bridge half the time.
Chas notice their fans are moaning about ticket price today, who says winning things keeps the modern fan Quiet? Some will moan however well they are doing. Which is why the Arsenal should IMHO ignore the current nonsense and continue as is, untill the financial fair play is sorted. Just Imagine if clubs go to the wall the nmber of players that would be available and how their value and wages would drop.
“Besides, other clubs have moved stadiums and, far from losing their identity, have reaped a significant financial dividend while retaining the goodwill of the fans.”
Is this us? Retained the goodwill of the fans?
“Highest ticket prices in the world and no trophies.”
I’d say the goodwill has reduced each season since we moved.
I’d love to see Chelski at Slough though. Hahahahahahahahahaha.
dandan,
I found this yesterday. Take a look at the George Armstrong interview halfway through. There’s a comment from Jimmy Hill about ‘some Arsenal fans still feel there isn’t enough skill in the middle of the field’!
Dan,
That is a great article, thanks for posting it. Your quite right of course, it plainly shows the hypocracy of fans and the dangers of the suger daddy model.
RA summed it up nicely with his anology about buying a car in one of his posts yesterday.
Apparently the banner is going back in the cupboard for a bit.
I suppose it got enough publicity anyway with the publishing of that photo of it.
TA, 🙂
I think you will find this is known as fraud!
— “OK, Illy but what if you would get twice the value of the house…”
or perhaps it is called — ‘double dutch’!! 🙂
Haha…at least Arseblogger was honest enough to say there was nothing to write about!
TMHT,
“The bookies are mental”. Pot, kettle,black! 🙂
Thanks for the tip. I put a quad in a raffle and bet that an Arsenal player would win it at 10,000 to1. You wont see our South Korean player for a while, he`s off to Park his quad. I`m off to look at an Audi A6 with go faster stripes with Gordon Brown , he just materialized in my lounge. 🙂
RA 🙂 I was never any good at that jump rope game!
Steve of CM,
Arseblog is a great site, but do not forget that it earns money through advertising whereas AA is a non-profitmaking co-operative run by Arsenal supporters to offer a platform for friendly debate on a diverse range of subjects – not just football related.
In short, I think your implication that we are ‘dishonest’ is way off the mark, read the top ten stories in the right hand column of News Now if you want to see stuff that is deliberately misleading.
Ooppps Rasp,
we are number 5 at the moment in the column you mention 🙂
Cornwall,
Ha Ha, Gotta say, thats good. Do us a favour, ask Brown to admit hes an alien life form, stand to win 5 grand if he does.
Shame we’re not allowing adverts then kelsey, we’d have made a fortune!
At least we’re not playing Yoonited…..
Arsenal v Sunderland (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Referee: H Webb. Assistants: D Cann, J Collin
Fourth Official: P Walton
The drinks are on you Terry! 🙂
This is better…
Orbinho Orbinho
by RayVerschoyle
Arsenal’s home record with Howard Webb as official W6 D4 L0.
Rasp.
I must admit, Arsenal newsnow is my first port of call( It`s how I found AA ), I like to read the gossip, Sportsvibe are saying Dortmund would consider £20M for Goetze, yet rumours( probably on newsnow!) of recent said we offered £30M+ in the “window”. I take it all with a pinch of salt.
Yes, my second port of call is AA. 🙂
Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.
Dale Carnegie
One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.
Dale Carnegie
Rob,
Men of age etc = Old men enjoy life’s riches?
One of the most tragic etc = The grass is always greener on the other side?
And your point is??
Rain often feels wetter than a duck down duvet.
Red Arse
One of the most tragic things in life is having to share a magnum of Dom Perignon in a life boat.
Red Arse
I think you are making that up Confucius, its just a rumour that you heard on Lg.
Evening all
Number 3 on NewsNow eh!!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had some good Arsenal news to talk about.
Rasp – Rob @ 6.13 sent you a message – smell the roses 🙄
As of this moment we don’t have a post for tomorrow 😦 or for the next 5 days – we have a couple of rants but all we seem to be doing is picking over the bones of negativity. Does anyone have anything up beat they want to share, if so email to
arsenalnuts@live.co.uk
and that includes all you new readers who have only just discovered us.
I would like to see someone write an alternative post to my thoughts,facts and questions so as we we can have a civilised debate to remove the bones of negativity as described by peaches.
Good tweets from Pedro at the AST meeting if anyone wants to follow @LeGrove
kelsey – you were very brave to put your thoughts into a post or a little crazy to let me publish them as a post 🙂
We might just have to settle for a news round up. I should have gone to the AST meeting then I could have written a post about it.
From twitter ………………
LeGrove Le Grove
£45mill transfer fund could be used to bridge Euro failure this season.
So that’s why everything will be ok 😆 As Rasp said the other day, anyone who thinks we’re going to buy in January is going to be disappointed
Thanks All
Thanksgiving here in Canada today and dinner for 14 in about an hour, so can’t stay.
Let’s hope there’s some Arsenal related news to give thanks for soon 🙂
Peaches.
Maybe thats why we haven`t spent big over the years and sold so many, we`ve been saving for ” The Rainy Day “, It was bound to arrive one day!
Rocky, seriously – did you just bump into ArsenalArsenal when trawling the Arsenal sites…??
If so, who could have known how lucky we were that day.
I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.
* Police were called to a daycare, where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
* Did you hear about the guy whose left side was cut off? He is all right now.
* The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference.
* To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
* When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.
* A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
* A thief fell in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.
* Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.
* We’ll never run out of math teachers, because they always multiply.
* When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U C L A.
* The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.
* The geologist discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
* The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
* If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.
* A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.
* A backward poet writes inverse.
* With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
* When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
* A calendar’s days are numbered.
* A boiled egg is hard to beat.
* He had a photographic memory which was never developed.
* A plateau is a high form of flattery.
Well I for one am not surprised as i stated previously that why was the timing of gazidis’s statement about possibly not qualifying for the top four made just a few days ago.
kelsey – you were on the money again 🙂
‘Arsenal bloggers go into hiding after serial killer strikes.’
After a spate of horrific university halls murders involving pathetic losers who constantly write about arsenal, detectives are no closer to finding any clues. Inspector Jock Strap informed the press, ‘under normal circumstances this would be a major concern, but since these w*nkers had it coming, and i’m an arsenal fan, we applaud the initiative shown by the perpetrator.’
There had been an outcry online from spotty annoying prats who say it’s unfair, they are only doing what comes natural considering they are uneducated and have too much time on their hands. But a poll shows real actual arsenal supporters have little sympathy. ‘Now i can finally go on newsnow and not have to shovel through a mound of dog poo to find the latest information,’ claimed one observer.
It gives me absolutely no pleasure peaches i assure you, contrary to what some may think.Top ten and anything else will be a bonus.
I know kelsey, sometimes the glaringly obvious to some is not on even on others’ radar.
Limpars Wand – I’m assuming you’ve posted your comment on as many Arsenal blogs that you can get your hands on. How many blogs will there be at the end of the season I wonder?
Gazidis is just taking the pressure off the players by saying that Kelsey. It is psychological, so the team can play with less tension as in every game is a must-win otherwise we wont get into the CL places. It is this tension that is crippling our players more than anything at the moment.
It does not mean he has no confidence in Wenger getting the team into CL places again. I think it is a smart move, but many fans will see it as a lack of ambition by him/Arsene. So be it.
Headlines we know we will see again.
‘Squillaci and Djourou horror show’ just seeing that they are both fit has given a shiver down my spine. We are only ever a hamstring away from either.
‘Spend some money’ Yawn, as if that were the only problem.
‘Wenger signs 5 year old wonderkid’ yawn
‘No case for the defence’
Idiot with banners saying ‘Wenger out’.
Really good fun post today.
If anyone of those fans planning the protest at the weekend wants to sell their season ticket, I’ll have it. Gave mine up in financial strife and moving five years ago and still climbing my way back through the ranks.
Protesters unveiling bannners with ‘Wenger out’ need chinning. I mean, I’m not an Arsene collaborater, I think my record is clear on that but calling the man a ‘cancer’ is outragoues, he deserves loyalty at the games whatever we might think in private. After everything he has done for this club.
I actually think he is the only one with any vision left at the club. Do we really think he is being given massive transfer budgets and choosing not to spend? He is being loyal and papering the cracks while they pay the final 95m debt. Would the board suddenly find 100m down the back of the directors box if we had someone new? I doubt it.
Repect begins within and we don’t do that to our managers.
I for one will be squarely behind him come the weekend.
Very well said Jamie…..
I said much the same earlier in emails after I’d read the outrageous shite that Barnett fellow was spouting.
I can and do listen to people who tell me why they think Arsene’s time might be up, and whilst I don’t agree with their conclusion, I can accept some of their points.
In this case, this moron has done the Arsene to stay brigade a power of good, as there are many of his detractors (can I include you in that?) who are thinking its gone way too far, and will steadfastly support him against this type of vile and vicious attack.
I think I like Damien Fowkes…
I know I shouldn’t, but part of me admires how forthright he is. He had an idea, came with a plan, then execu…oops on second thoughts, he then carried it out.
In the dock when hearing how lucky it was that Huntley survived, he looked downcast and disappointed. He sounds like a man with nothing to lose who is know taking full advantage of it, and seems to to take full responsibility for his actions. Part of me thinks fair enough.
I contrast his full admission to that of Tom Fox, who initially lied thru his back teeth, but now wants us to accept his apology as being sincere.
My all time favourite is Jonathan Aitken’s trusty sword of truth rhetoric and getting his teenage daughters to lie for him.
Apologies to anyone offended by my ‘praise’ of Mr Fowkes, and I accept that he has no right to take the life of another, scumbag or otherwise.
So far I’ve got Osama Bin Laden, a Somali Pirate and now Damien Fowkes as my top three Arsenal fans who we really don’t want to see pre game at the Tavern.
Evening all, long day without blogging.
Headline I would like to see:
“AST gives it views on Accounts but admits it is just guessing regarding policies”
For me it’s given too much credence although I respect what it is attempting to do, I followed a few tweeters from AST all with different views on same meeting?!?
And Kelsey going way back to your suggestion at 11:13am about character tests, apparently there already is one, and Wenger relies on it heavily when judging players, NikB scored very highly by all accounts, think the test needs to be rewritten 🙂
Is Damien Fowkes a doomer or an AKB?
Bendy is the best character test taker in the world…..or so he says.
If AW could find the equivalent of Brian Clough’s assistant, Peter Taylor, we’d be set fair.
Taylor’s job was to identify the players best suited to implement Clough’s tactics. Before our record 49 game unbeaten run, it was Forest under those two who had set the record of 42 between 1978-79. And after their falling out in the early 1980’s, Cloughie was never as successful again.
If that is put in place I think AW can win back the plaudits and create an all-conquering side, if it isn’t, I don’t think he’s able to do it on his own.
So we all watch different games of football and all attend different meetings; anyone would think the whole of life is a subjective experience.
If AW can find the equivalent of Brian Clough’s assistant Peter Taylor, I think he could create an all-conquering side.
Taylor identified the players who could best implement Clough’s tactics. It was the blue-print for Derby’s title in 1972, and Nottingham Forest’s success between 1977-80. They also had the longest unbeaten run of 42 League games between 1978-79, before our ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04.
I think that is our missing ingredient.
Sorry, double-post! My computer had a dizzy spell.
Good point HA. Any ideas would that should be? Btw, reagarding the ‘reincarnation point’ the other day it was indeed, as GiE explained, just an example of how reincarnation could make certain fans very long-serving fans. It was just a bit of fun and no harm was meant 🙂
would = who
No worries TA, I’m a bit slow at times.
I’d love to see Dennis Bergkamp or Rijkaard in that role. As you know, I’m a big fan of the Dutch ‘Total-Football’ from the 1970’s, I’d love to see Arsenal replicate it.
The Dutch club teams, including Ajax, are struggling themselves to get total football reintroduced. You are right, Dennis and Rijkaard are potentials, and Rijkaard laid the foundations for the current Barca team imo. It is a real shame that Louis van Gaal is not mentally strong enough to deal with the BoD and PR pressures of a top club, as he is the strongest candidate to manage a team on the principles of TF.
Sharkey,
I am not always pro Wenger but i respect what he has acheived and don’t see a better alternative.
I think Arsenal’s financial model could be more expansive. For instance, if you can afford to pay Bendtner, Denilson and Traore a combined 100K a week, why could we not afford another £30 a week to keep Nasri.
Could we not have afforded Mata if, Mvila and Hazards clubs are now telling us that we put in mega money offer for them at the death.
I think they are all signed up to pay back the debt and that i priority number one. Nobody is better at that than Wenger.
We can all band names about, You have to trust the man in the room.
I just think we could afford to speculate to accumulate a bit more often. Be a bit more bold. A net debt of £95-97m according to the accounts is not that big for a club of our size and it is very managable on the terms it has been borrowed.
The accounts also say that money in the clubs account means that they are not tight for working capital.
I feel Wenger has one hand tied and knows that. He won’t say it publically because he is to loyal.
We need to free up a bit, losing Nasri and Fabregas and to let Walcott, RVP and TV5 get this far without renewing is bad. They need to make sure they keep those players. To do that they will need to show the money.
Lost faith with the program a bit but still have a lot of respect for le gaffer. Just think we could go a long way with a little change in our policies.
Some AST updates from Twitter:
AFC Revenue £225m MUFC £300m. Nobody else in Prem close. AFC commercial rev £100m AFC £30-40m. That’s where difference is.
£125m wage bill. 4th highest wage bill. But represents all club staff, not just players. 60% bonus for Gazidis. But not sure of criteria.
For CL broadcast rights, performance is huge. Cost of knockout earlier than United accountsfor huge separation in broadcast money.
City likely to spend much less on transfers. Much more genuine commercial deals that don’t test FFP. Need lower wage bill.
They also desperately need FFP to give Etihad deal o.k. They risk having to drive prices up & risk losing lots of ticket sales.
United spent £29m more on wages. But £10m bonus for winning Prem. £4-5m more on MUTV costs, which brings in revenue. Real difference est £8m
David Gill got £1.8m last year. Gazidis £1.7m.
United & others dependent on league staying competitive otherwise broadcast revenues could go down if league loses interest.
Kroenke definitely going to AGM. Not confirmed how or whether he’ll communicate prior to meeting.
None of Wenger’s wage is based on financial performance. He gets NO bonus based on club profits.
AST will not comment on Wenger’s performance mid season at this point. AST membership not large enough to justify that & any media attention it might garner.
I cannot believe that they allocate valuable webspace to this crap. Why don,t you buck the trend and write something INTERESTING and INFORMATIVE.
squeak
time to get some new mouse traps….
so Kozzer, DJ and the Squil are back from injury. Koz would get the nod to partner BFG, but what about RB – do we still go with Jenks or do something “out of left field” (except on the right)
Animal Experimentation is good.
Pat,
2-3-5. Obviously.
Pat it’s an interesting question. If we play Jenks he’ll have to learn fast, he is no more or less mobile than Djourou but appears to have a bit of hunger about him. Kenny Samson (if it really is him) said on Twitter he would play him.
If we play any other non right back what does that do to Jenks confidence?
If he plays he can’t be expected to help Theo as much as Sagna.
Djourou isn’t a right back. Ordinarily in this situation I’d consider 3-5-2. But we haven’t got anyone to play right wing back.
Pat 7:24. our options are limited at right back now that ebouie has left and sangna injured.
Ideally IMO we should ease Jenks in, but we have little option.
I thought I had a wierd twist on reality – but some people on soccernet actually would sign Barton for arsenal… one went as so far to say he would rather have Barton than Ramsey!!!!!
GIE / VCC options limited = why i asked question!
I think you are right GIE – Jenks is going to have to get into it. I think we need some consistency in our positions and have players playing in their best positions. Will be good to have Song back in his midfield role.
I have been thinking for a while that our fullbacks need to stay back alot more. Maybe this is the chance for us to play a little more cautious out wide at the back with Jenks there.
Morning all,
nice and lively yesterday 🙂
At this moment our squad is decimated from the one we had last year and any team with a financial strategy such as ours (which I do actually believe will eventually pay dividends) would struggle with the back up we have got.
As has been said countless times with further long term injuries to Wilshere and Sagna and possibly vermaelen out for at least another month I question that jenkinson has to come into the side at this moment of time.I would also question that though Clichy had his detractors Gibbs is not the answer, at least for the moment and Santos is still unproven at least in an arsenal shirt.
I think one of the biggest problems on AA is that we all have a different style of writing and I am the first to hold my hand up to say that perhaps unintentionally I yse the wrong words when i try and make a point.
My real question is why haven’t we got experience cover for Sagna having let the much maligned Eboue go.
wenger has a hard choice to play jenkinson in the next match as he has to gamble if he is “mentally strong”enough .Maybe though not a RB Santos will play.
reading the arsenal site about the players on duty for intls – lots of them got on the score-sheet…. when are we going to see Park? He got 2 past Fabianski…
unfortunately Kelsey the financial strategy is coming at the expense of footballing strategy…. Santos at RB is probably a good call….
David dein returns home. There was a saying as long as David and arsen are at arsenal we didnt care what players came or left because we new we were in safe hand ?
Morning all
It seems that the Olymipic Stadium goes to…..the tax payer! Yeepee! Thanks to that Scum the West Ham deal has collapsed and we are going to pick up the bill for running yet another white elephant.
Well done you fecking shitheads! what a way to start a day….grrrrrhhhh
The Government could always give the stadium to Leyton Orient…
I think we may see further trimmings in the squad in January even if we make a loss on some players.This would releas further equity.
my list would include Almunia,Fabianski,Squillacci,Denilson,Vela and Bendtner.that would be a sizeable reduction in players wages but the loan system is not quite clear.Some clubs pay the whole of a players wages whilst others only a proportion.
Obviously I doubt we would be able to sell all these players in January but i think it is reasonable to assume most will be gone in the Summer.
James D, that’s the Dein who presided over the selling of Viera, Pires, Overmars, Petit, Cole….
Allezkev – very good idea, I wish they did
Hi Kelsey – I hope you are wrong. I don’t want Nick and Vela to go! I’d rather Chamakh went on loan or preferably to hell. Nick was a much better force for us than MC
Morning fellow AAerites!
Great post Rocky, love the added humour.
I’d go with:
“Dr Gregory House signed on as the new arsenal doctor”
Scrolling over the diagnosis’ he has found miracle solutions for all of our suffering players, and they are free to play…all except Squidge and almunia who have been ruled out indefinently due to wasteofspace-itis
Hi evonne,
I don’t disagree with you but going by AW’s track record he will persist with chamakh until he regains some form and confidence.
I don’t think the bendtner/Wenger situation can be repaired.
i feel sorry for vela as we have never seen him get a decent run in the first team, but 3 loan spells says to me enough is enough.
RL,
I know you are most probably asleep right now but yet again number 1 on newsnow you are indeed a gifted writer and it is a great that we have you on board. Well done.
RL – yes, well done and a big thank you!!
Morning all
There’s a New Post ………………..
I have always been an Arsenal fan since the start of their carreer. Players come and go but fans will stay forever. Thanks!!
wiki audi…
[…]The Headline Every Arsenal Fan Has Been Waiting For… « Arsenal Arsenal[…]…
hamstring injury…
[…]The Headline Every Arsenal Fan Has Been Waiting For??? « Arsenal Arsenal[…]…
win the lottery…
[…]The Headline Every Arsenal Fan Has Been Waiting For… « Arsenal Arsenal[…]…
Quick Weight Loss Center Atlanta…
[…]The Headline Every Arsenal Fan Has Been Waiting For… « Arsenal Arsenal[…]…