If it had not been for such a difficult start to the season, Arsenal would now be fighting for the title.
And, that includes the loss of points against Wolves at home (unfortunate) and Fulham away (well deserved). The last few games have been disappointing, but Arsenal have gathered 29 points in their last 13 games and during the process it was able to pre-qualify for the CL against a very good Udinese, and win their CL-group against strong opposition with style and dominance.
Yet, it appears to be hard for so many fans to see the bigger picture, to let the past go and lower expectations a bit, to see the progress made, to accept that this is a forced-upon transitional year for us, and to be a bit more philosophical and grateful for what has been achieved since the start of October. Now there is a bit of time for the team to take stock and to re-focus again on the rest of the season. Soon, Arsenal will get back to winning ways, because all the ingredients are there, and Wenger is building another team that can go all the way.
So, how can Arsenal make the next step up in the New Year?
Twelve wishes for 2012 (in no particular order):
Full return to fitness of Wilshere: I love our midfield of Arteta, Ramsey and Song (ARS), but Wilshere offers additional skills that we are missing at times.
He is a born leader and fighter and, most importantly, he can pick a pass anytime, anywhere. The others are not bad at this either, in fact they are pretty good, but Jack is the young master. After Fabregas’ and Nasri’s departures, it was very cruel to lose him as well to a long-term injury. His imminent return will add a much needed other dimension to our football.
The return to fitness of our first choice FB’s: These are sorely missed at the moment, and it is just such bad luck that all four of our FB’s obtained long lasting injuries at the same time. As soon as Sagna and Santos are back in our team, Arsenal will become significantly stronger. Arsenal really struggle without proper FB’s and it is one of the main reasons we got so few points out of the festive season games.
The assimilation of the ‘mini-teams’: I have written before about the ‘New Arsenal’ consisting of three mini-teams at the moment: GK + defence, Midfield (ARS) and Attack: The Gerv, RvP and Theo. All three teams have stuck to their tasks well, but it is now time for some fluidity between the lines. I like the midfield to get more involved in supporting the attack by claiming ‘the hole’ area back and scoring more goals in the process. The return of our first choice FB’s will also help us to get more fluidity and diversity in our attacking play, which can only lead to more assists and goals.
More goals per game: our overreliance on RvP scoring the majority of our goals has to be reviewed and mitigated. We have been here before with Thierry Henry during his last few seasons. Arsenal has been a tad unlucky with strikers since the departure of Henry. Eduardo looked so promising for us, but THAT injury meant we never saw the best of him. Adebayor got carried away at a young age and it appeared he did not fit into our team as he clashed with too many fellow players. We got good money for him, and I believe he had to go, but we lost a very decent number two to RvP in the process. Bendtner got almost everybody fooled with his promise that at 24-25 years of age he will be the best in the world, and Chamakh, after such a promising start in 2010, has totally lost his confidence, and it seems almost impossible for him to find a way back now. A real shame.
But goals do not just come from strikers, they need to come for our wingers and midfielders, and defenders, as well. One of my biggest wishes is to see the whole team make a step-up this year, by taking more of the chances that we create. Theo, The Gerv, Ramsey, Arteta, Song, Wilshire, The Ox, and many others as well, all have the potential to become more lethal in front of goal. The Ox has only just joined us, but I hope all the others will improve significantly this year.
Buy a very decent no.2 striker, ideally in January: Campbell and Park are future prospects, but are not available or ready to be the first replacement for RvP in case of injury, suspension or fatigue. Chamakh does not seem to be able to claim this role anymore. TH2012 is a very good short-term option, but it would be great if Arsène can find us another gem of a nr.2 striker as soon as possible.
Keep our phenomenal spine together: our spine of Szczesny – Koz/TV/BFG – Song/Arteta – Wilshere/Ramsey – RvP can compete with any team in the PL and Europe. It is really important that Arsenal get all of these players on long-term contracts. As far as I know, the contracts of Szczesny, Song and RvP need to be renegotiated as soon as possible, so we can have some stability in our team for years to come.
THOF to become a fortress: I still can get so disappointed when I think that the Mancs won the PL last season whilst only winning four games away all season. Our away record was fantastic but our home record was not. It takes a long time for a new stadium to become a proper home, to become a fortress where visiting teams fear to play and three points are almost a given. The club needs to develop a strategy to increase the noise levels: it’s not easy but very necessary.
Finish in the top-four in 2012 and go all the way in the 2012-2013 season: I have every confidence that Arsene will guide this new team into a top-four spot again by the end of the season. We had a bad start, but since then Arsenal has done very well and we are now only one point away from the top-four. With Arsène’s experience and a lot of players returning from injury, and all the big teams having to come to us, I am confident we can do it again. And it would be quite an achievement after our horrible start. I expect us to start the 2012-2013 PL campaign as title contenders from the start.
A good cup run, and maybe win something this season: as we are going through a transitional year, I am not too confident we can win the FA-Cup or the CL-Cup. But, on the day, when most of our key players are fit, we can beat any team, and with a bit of luck we could get far this season.
More youngsters to make the grade now (words copied from GiE’s post on 3 Jan): We have a great Youth-Academy and it’s bearing fruit now with the likes of Wilshere, Frimpong, Bartley, Lansbury, Miquel, Coquelin. I don’t really think we should be investing too much in squad players from now on (these roles can be filled by youngsters) and instead focus on players to improve the first team.
Arsène to sign a new long-term contract: I would like Wenger to be given another three years to develop this new team into something special. Wenger has his mistakes, but he is the best match for the role of manager at Arsenal and we are so luck to have him. My biggest worry is that Real Madrid won’t win anything important again this year under Mourinho and they will try to lure Wenger away from Arsenal.
The return of Dennis Bergkamp, as an Assistant Manager: all is not well at Ajax, and Dennis is witnessing ugly political infighting between many of the greats of this fantastic club. There is quite a chance that the Iceman will end up on the losing side, or will simply decide to quit his role altogether at Ajax. If this were to be the case, Arsene should act and get the now fully qualified Bergkamp back to where he really belongs: the mighty Arse!
Most of the above wishes are realistic and achievable, and I am sure you’ll allow me the indulgent dream of DB’s return to our club!
Keep believing fellow Gooners and a very happy New Year to you all!
Total Arsenal
Arsenal News 24/7
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Like this very good blog !!!!!!!!!
Brilliantly summed up wishes, TA! 🙂
Could not agree more, especially with the wish for the “three” mini-teams as you refer to them to become one cohesive team unit.
That will come in time.
Another very good blog TA, as has come to be expected and I agree with all of the points raised. I particularly like your reference to our midfield scoring more goals in support of our strikers.
Arsenal midfield players have always weighed in with goals aplenty in the past and I have no idea why it all seems to have stopped of late. Think of Pires, Ljunberg, Parlour, Limpar, Vieira, Overmars, Talbot, Williams. In fact, the list is endless until we come to the last three or four years, where we seem to have dried up on that front.
Bergkamp back at Arsenal in an assistant managers role? Now that IS a lovely thought.
Finally, an optimistic post! Sick of that fans that call for AW’s head every time we misplace a pass! Got a great feeling about 2012. COYG!!!!
Bring back Dennis, we need him to teach Gervinho the curler in off the far post
Hi TA,
Spot on. Really enjoyed this post as it echoes many of my own thoughts. The only bugbear I have is the promoting youth into squad roles, I love the idea, but there are too many fans out there who will get on their backs if we become too reliant on them. We all heard the fans that slagged young Corporal Jenks who had an astonishingly great start to his first premiership season.
I totally agree with you, but I think there are too many fans that need established names and won’t support our own – for some daft reason that I cannot fathom. Personally, I’d rather have players who have grown with the club and love it as I do rather than having players who have been bought in who cannot possibly have the same relationship with the club as the likes of Wilshire, Sczcesny, Frimpong and Lansbury.
So after procrastinating so much and saying so little (as is my usual style)..I totally agree with your 12 wishes. Great Job 🙂
WG
Great post Total – thanks.
Tony Adams recent appearance at the Emirates after a lengthy period of anonymity may mean that he is being lined up as the next assistant manager. I’d love to see both Bergkamp and Adams back at the club.
Little to argue with there TotalA – most of those points would be in my wish list for the Arse.
As I can’t argue with what you say I’m going to moan about something that wrankled with me yeterday:
If Landon Donovan can be drafted in from the MLS and play last night for the Toffees, why are we still waiting for TH12 ?
If he is not in the squad for dirty Leeds on Monday I will not be a happy bunny. 😦
Great post.
Can we have 2 assistant managers? TA6 for defensive coaching & DB for attacking coaching.
Morning all, top post TA (as ever).
I heard recently that Bergkamp effectively has responsibility for Youth setup, transfers and coaching of the first team at Ajax, some would say the perfect place to serve an apprenticeship.
Whilst I would like to see him return one day as manager (and at the end of this season as Assistant Manager) I am not so sure on Tone. Steve Bould has been working hard at the club and knows the youngsters now approaching maturity, wouldn’t it be better for a future managerial team of Bergkamp and Bould rather than bring in Tone who by his own admission has struggled to coach players who cannot do what he could. (I seem to remember at Wycombe he complained that players could not make a ten yard pass to feet).
As for all your other wishes I will certainly raise a glass to them.
Hi GiE,
I agree with you about Bould, but cannot help making a connection between the recently raised profile of TA and the soon to be vacant Assistant Manager’s position.
Great post TA;
For a second striker, this might be a surprise but offer Liverpool about £18m for Andy Carroll. A good player like him who destroyed us at our place last season and also had a good run last season under the command of AW will come good again. Liverpool aren’t playing him right. He could be a good outlet with RVP and Theo running off him.
For an assistant to AW I don’t think we need look any further than Paul Merson, he talks so much sense on GSS.
Rasp. I will bet you a bottle of Valpolicella that TA doesn’t get the assistant job.
Thinking of which……
Chary & Rasp . Thank you for the peroni’s on our last meeting
TA. Another great read. Nothing to add to your wish list except to find buyers for our excess players: Vela, Denilson, NB, etc
Fantastic stuff TA, fauiltless. I hope DB10 comes back just to keep you happy, you deserve it.
A new era is dawning. I can feel the wind of change and its very exciting. some people underestimate what is happening at the moment. Here is my take
FFP is already having an impact, look at Chelsea. For clubs like City and Chelsea to remain above Arsenal they will have to spend a glutton of cash which firstly they no longer want to and secondly cant do because of the rules. It is not enough just to go and buy the odd superstar for big bucks. In due course we will eat these clubs alive.
Man Utd will remain our bigest competitor. They are a massive club with hugh revenue streams. There problem at the the moment is a transitional one in terms of playing staff, bad and greedy owners, and Sir Alex is 70 years old and can not go for ever, more transition me thinks.
Liverpool and Spurs will decline in the short and medium term because of there need to procure new stadiums. In some ways they will suffer the same as we did when we made the move to the Grove.
Now us. We have the stadium in place, a great team spirit which extends from the tea lady to RVP, greatly increased revenue streams from future sponserships coming up which will enable us to keep hold of our players, a fantastic pool of young talent which will lead us to glory, one of the best if not the best managers in the world and owners that will leave Arsene alone to do his job.
I feel we are at the beginning of a period very simialr to our domination in the 1930,s.The ghosts of the 30’s are stiring my friends.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnggvz_robin-van-persie-goal-of-2011_sport
TMHT sometimes I think you’re as mad as your user name, other times I think your madder….but I live your positivity.
Haha Raddy, I’m not advocating TA for AM, just adding 2 and 2.
There had been a problem beteween TA and the club, but the erection of his statue and subsequent appearance on the pitch means he is ‘back in the fold’ for which I am grateful.
His managerial history so far doesn’t exactly recommend him for AM, but then AW doesn’t seem to want the sort of AM who is going to be in his face with ideas of their own 😕
Super post TA, but then yours always are:
My wish to add to yours would be that just for once the fans get behind everyone in an Arsenal shirt: Theo appears to have become the fall guy in recent weeks and we could drive him away. If that happen I suspect RVP would go with him, he wants players in, not out and continuity is important, pacey players also get injured so to have Theo and the OX in the squad will be a major benefit for us.
DD, Good point
Well said DanDan
You are very welcome Radders – hopefully it won’t be long before your next visit to the Grove.
My next game is not till Blackburn, at least that’s less than a month away.
I will be over for the 28th which is a Cup round. Should we get a home tie after beating Leeds, BR will be there
TA – I don’t think I can live without you anymore. You and other AAers carry me throught some tough times, I could never repay you for those precious moments in the morning when I read your posts, thank you.
I like your wishlist, but mine has FA Cup at the top for this season.
George – all posts on this blog are intelligent, good, positive and fully supportive of the Club.
Have to laugh at Big Time Bendtner – he’s got arrested again; what’s with him nowadays ?
First trousers down leaving a nightclub, then a fracas in a pizzeria over a rejected credit card, then nicked for vandalising cars in Sunderland town centre and now nicked for being a brawl in a hotel ?
Oh and how many goals has he scored for the Mackems this season ? 2 or 3 ? 😳
Bendtner is a chump and that is why he never made it with us, pure and simple. He thinks he is Charlie Big Bollox.
Thanks for the feedback guys.
Brigham: good point re scoring a lot more from midfield positions in the past. Do you think our midfielders would score more in a conventional 4-4-2 with a shadow-striker/CM n the hole?
Wigan! Good to see you back. It is about time as well! When will write one of your great posts for us again? How is the new job working out? Fans would always preferred established names, but now we have a mixture with Arteta, the BFG, Santos etc on the one hand and Coquelin, Frimpong, Miguel, Jenkinson, etc on the other hand. If the latter four make it into our first 18 this year, it would be real progress!
Rasp, good point re TA. You have a very analytical mind and are very often right re future developments. TA and DB with Wenger: how could we ever lose again?
GiE, Steve Bould has worked miracles and I fully agree he should be rewarded for it.
Chary: you are making a very valid point re the TH process. A bloody shambles!
BR: good additional wish. I am sure every top PL club has players it cannot get to move on, but we do seem to have a few too many at the moment.
Terry 🙂 Your are the embodiment of the power of positive thinking! Between all the positivity there are thought-processes to back it all up and that is what I love about you!
DD: how could I not agree with you on that one! Fans do this to their own players all the time. I am sure if you go to a Manc website now Nani is getting the Theo treatment, Berbatov is getting the Arshavin treatment, and Fergie is attacked for not signing good enough players and to spend some f*cking money etc etc. For me, unless a player does not give their all for the team, criticising a player beyond the performance of a particular game, is like cutting into your own flesh or poking yourself into the eye. But it will never change, as it allows people to let off steam and they are easy targets! Unfortunately, Theo, Arshavin, and many others in the past, are not thick-skinned and are becoming a victim of the dreaded ‘fans-fulfilling prophecy’.
TA. “Fans fulfilling prophecy”. Excellent
TA,
Great read as always, thanks.
My teeny weeny difference is I think we need two signings to be confident, but hey!
TA, yes I do and if you look at the years gone by when we played that sort of formation with Bergkamp sitting in that hole, our midfield players were prolific, especially Bobby and Freddie. Although I must admit, Bergkamp was very instrumental in that formation, laying fantastic balls off to either our midfielders or TH14.
Also, we do play at that pace anymore and I wonder if reverting to a 4-4-2 would reignite that type of play? Not sure if it would with the current crop of incumbents.
Raddy,
I’ll see you a Lambrusco in your little bet with Rasp.
I know where Rasp is coming from about TA. Clearly he has been welcomed back into the fold following his alleged indicretions, what with statue, appearance and all, but in management, no chance IMO.
Evonne, good to see you back here and what would AA be without you?! 🙂
I was talking to ’26’ on Saturday about how football impacts our lifes and personal well-being. We all know there are more important things in live, but the highs, and unfortunately also the lows, are part of football and have a big impact on us. Only by sharing them between us can we re-obtain a level of sanity again. AA is the perfect place for it.
I think you hit the nail on the head for most of us TA, first and foremost if players play their hearts out and continue to try and help the team even if it’s not working for them I find little to quibble with.
However that nail has been moved five thumbs along and fans expect perfection every touch.
An example of this is not clearer than NikB (police indescretoons aside). In the Nou Camp last season and on the pitch for 5-10 minutes without touching the ball he was presented a gilt edged opportunity which he failed to control. Oh how he was derided and lambasted for not being good enough.
Yet this season we have seen RvP make similar mistakes but gets away without the same viciousness.
I am not advocating that he should be I am just highlighting the fact that for some reason people like to hit themselves on the thumb (metaphorically).
After the United game last night I caught some of Your On Sky Sports and the amount of people calling for Fergie out when two games ago they were on a par with City was beyond comprehension. Strange values some people have, and further proof if it was needed of some fans need to point the finger of blame instead of standing by your heroes in hours of need.
TotalArsenal, A totally superb post as is expected, maintain those standards and you’ll be writing for the telegraph………
Agree with all your wishes and also like Dandans about getting behind players……..
My dream scenairo in regards to Managers and assistants etc:
Manager : Wenger
Assistant Manager: Adams
Defensive Coach: Bould
Attacking Coach: Henry
Technical Coach / Youth Development; Bergkamp
Tea Boy at Half time: Keown to growl at them and ensure they are up for it………..
ArseDave……..Paul Merson? Great Player not convinced about his opinions…………
Micky and Raddy, since the odds are heavily stacked against me and you two are just offering cheap plonk, I think you should give me a bottle of vintage port each if I am proved correct 🙂 ….. but I don’t expect to be – I can see Adams being employed in some capacity but probably not AM.
Brigham, could you clarify please,
“Also, we do play at that pace anymore and I wonder if reverting to a 4-4-2 would reignite that type of play? Not sure if it would with the current crop of incumbents.”
Was that supposed to say. “Do we play at that pace”
Harry:
That would be a dream team.
My new pals up here who for the majority support Rangers and Celtic with also a Partick fan love reading these posts but think we are spoilt supporting Arsenal, they say we’ve got everything and should stop moaning.
Harry, Keown the Tea Boy 🙂 I like your line-up!
Think ArseDave might have been sarcastic with that one, and now i’m thinking he was being sarcastic about Bale too….
Harry as much as i’d love all these boys back I have to wonder whether we would end up having a bench that looked like a bus stop, i hate seeing the Tottenham bench with all the hangers on.
Something tells me Thiery isn’t cut out for coaching, but maybe i’ll be proved wrong.
Arsedave, those Scottish fans are given us a key lessons about obtaining happiness! Comparing ourselves with the vast majority who have so much less than Arsenal would be a very good thing 🙂
This may be controversial given his current job, but I would like to see PV4 as our AM. I have a sneaky feeling he will be AFC’s manager within the next 5 years.
Brigham, I believe that if Wenger can find another Bergkamp-type he might switch to a form of 4-4-2 again. It seems to be so hard to find somebody who can play in that position, with both the vision of Fabregas/Wilshere and the scoring ability of say Rooney or Aguero from outside and inside the box. Bergkamp, as we all know, was extraordinary brilliant at combining these two roles into one. It looked like Wenger was moulding Fabregas into that role, but he got homesick… Ramsey is still young and might grow into it over time…
And yes, as a team, we would become a lot faster. Having said that, I think we are a lot more direct now, and with Wilshere back in the side soon, we should be able to pick the quick passes from midfield for our wingers a bit better.
GIE
I think that comment is a bit on the harsh side about the bench, all teams have a big backroom staff it’s just that Tottnumbs staff have a very successful ex Scotland striker with managerial experience with Hearts and Bristol City, Kevin Bond’s dad was an experienced manager which no doubt has passed a lot onto his son and Clive Allen a record breaking striker for them.
TA
I think Aaron’s game is built on intelligence not pace, a young talent who play’s with his head up and a true pass and move footballer.
Great post TA,
much more positive than i could ever be.
I think dandan got his words mixed up. RVP said he wants great players around him and when the hell are we getting rid of walcott 😉
ArseD, Aaron is a great player and especially love the way he plays for Wales, in the more traditional creative midfielder role. However, I do not believe that speed is an absolute necessity for the ‘Bergkamp-Hole’ positiion.
BR, PV4 would be brilliant too, but I reckon out of all of them Bergkamp will make it to the top. He just seems to have the personality, vision and intelligence for it.
Kelsey 😆 we can always count on you for a bit of cheekiness 🙂
Chary – I feel sorry for Nik, he is also an absent father. The boy is clearly strugling, money went to his head. Shame, he was such a sweetie
Last night i found myself on youtube checking out Arsenal-Croatias’ channel (love your work champ!)- clips- to get back in touch with all the great things that turn me on about Arsenal.. hmm, i mean through all the fog and doubt that has surrounded our beloved club in recent times via shallow non believers and greedy quick -fix supporters i stumble across a post that is so close to what i believe is the truth and the only way forward..thank you TA for a great read..you are a pilot light, a small flame that will never burn out..and to find supporters and believers who come from the same branch as arsene wenger is overwhelming, considering all the doubt and negativity coming from many or maybe not so many people who wouldnt know how to spell, let alone define ‘transition’ even when it stares them in the brown eye…Arsene asked for faith and unity, and that would be my only wish that i would like to add to your-our list. Unfortunately though, many forget that our beloved red and white was built on “VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT” and that is the Bible!!!! and even though im stuck down under in australia i stand by YOUR side in spirit at every game (usually 2:00am on a weekend morning. lol) with blinkers on, so as not to get tempted into arguements with shallow anti wenger trolls who continue to burden our pursuit of glory and many more honours!! RED n WHITE in my veins, in Full support of WENGERS’ brains….ARSENAL ON MY LIPS TIL MY LAST BREATH!!! good work m8, and a happy new year to all you fantastic people on this site.. CHEERS
Thanks tony and welcome, great comment and beautifully expressed sentiment.
Tony. Top comment
ArseDave, it should have read “we do NOT play at that pace anymore” 🙂 Fingers working too fast sometimes! 🙂
tony in Australia – good, we are all Gunners till we die here, all different shapes and nationalities, but united by our love for that is Arsenal
Fantastic post Tony Oz.
It’s weird what’s happened to Bendy Evonne, I thought he could become a great target man to replace The Whore but things don’t look like they will turn out that way.
I doubt we’ll see him in the red and white again(unless it’s for Middlesoboro or some similar standard team).
Chary – I think you are right. AW gets rid off troublemakers before they can tarnish the Club’s reputation.
Thanks for the very kind words Tony, and you should bookmark ArsenalArsenal if you have not already, as you will find many like-minded Gooners on here, everyday of the year, come rain or shine!! 🙂
The link below shows my favourite video out there: it always gets me postive again! You might already know, but if not it will make you feel great in three minutes!
NB is at the forefront of all the Danish advertising for the upcoming Euro’s and is plastered over train stations, bus stops and billboards. and yet his misdemeanors seem to be taking over his life – split from the Countess, not seeing his boy, not paying alimony, getting arrested in Denmark for a hotel fight, then a month later the same at Sunderland. Add in the car jumping and I think we can see a man in trouble.
It must be hoped that someone has the strength of character to stop him, his family perhaps.
Fantastic read TA, and a great rallying call to Arsenal fans ahead of what is undoubtably going to be a competitive, but hopefully, successful year.
Finishing as top 4 is going to be massive for this club and should be our number 1 priority. We all know that a couple of big signings are needed in the summer to take us to world domination, and the CL will allow us to attract those type of players. As much as I would love us to go far in the CL this season, I think we all know deep down that we are somewhat short of the squad needed to beat the likes of Barca and Real, though anything can happen over 2 legs.
With Liverpool losing Suarez for 8 games, and Gerrard taking time to come back, the race for top 4 could come down to us and Chelsea. Man United are struggling of late but If they go out of the FA Cup this weekend they will be fired up for every league game. Spurs are looking solid and most importantly are not conceding many goals. With the likes of Bale and VDV they will always carry a threat going forward and should really finish top 3 from here, though they are due a blip at some stage and confidence can disappear quickly.
With a lot home games against big teams, our top 4 finish is in our own hands.
Hey Micky, two players? Fair enough, but in which position?
FGG, there is a lot of common sense in your comment and probably a fair assessment regarding the Spuds and their ability to finish third, and ahead of us, this season. I still think it will be MU, MC, Chelsea and Arsenal in the top-4 at the end of the season, but you could be right.
I thought you’d have the inside track on Bendy Radders, but as Evonne pointed out Wenger won’t tolerate trouble makers so perhaps Bendy knows he’s on the way out.
Perhaps I’m going to make myself unpopular here but I don’t want PV anywhere near our club anymore after he rejected us for the lure of the petro-dollar and enticed Na$ri to do the same.
He could have been a legend for us but he’s ended up being nothing more than another two-bit, mercenary whore.
BR, NB needs a one-to-one with you and DanDan to sort him out. He has an ego the size of Scandinavia and now that reality is no longer matching his fantasy world of perfection, he is becoming a proper idiot, as if he is back in his puberty again. You and DanDan would sort him out in no time!
Good point FGG in recent years we have defied odds to take ourselves out of the title race and into a scrap for 4th. Maybe Spuds will suffer a similar nose less if a few results go against them.
And hopefully we can use the chase as our incentive to push forward rather than looking over our shoulders and becoming scared of what’s peering over it.
Damnation: I agreed a price for the contract I am putting out on Kelsey, Then the Hitman demanded double when he found out he lived in Spain.
The boss wont let me pay that much, mind you she says she will ave a word with er mate Arry, they go back a long way. Evidently he knows a fing or two about fixing fings. 🙂
great read TA, these style posts are always my favourite, because as an optimist i’m forever thinking about this sort of stuff. Us AA’ers are spoilt for choice with all you great writers.
Bendy must have no positive influences, look at his dad for instance, he always fed his ego instead of keeping it in check. I think he needed a few more trips to the woodshed as a youngster. When he was at birmingham i thought he was going to be the next big thing, but i suppose this is what happens when you rest on your laurels.
@ Chary
i agree i wouldn’t take viera on either, no loyalty. It’s not like arsenal would be paying him peanuts.
@ Harry
great coaching lineup that lot, what a dream come true that would be
thanks for the kind words people, and its already bookmarked TA.. great clip champ,thnx!!…one question in regards to potential assistant managers and backroom staff for wenger..in relation to pat rice eventually passing on the reigns of loyalty to the next potential candidate, im sure we’d all love someone close to our hearts who has a close affiliation with our club to fill the void ie. dennis, bould or adams but i have heard through the grapevine the name of an ex player under wengers wing who thinks in the same mindset as he..Dragan Stojkovic (Pixie)?? any truth to that?? not sure if my heart would agree over a name like Dennis Bergkamp, but wenger does keep in very close contact with this guy and they share the same ideals..reason why i ask is because we’v all at times tried to 2nd guess wengers judgements and decisions and we all should know by now that its wengers way to throw us a curve ball every once in a while..any thoughts??
A couple of days ago my friend asked me to watch a TV vid from Dr Oz.
Anyway, I had such a lovely evening watching the Newcs smash manure, I thought I would watch it agin this mornin, and then pass his advice onto you, because it certainly worked for me.
He said that to reach inner peace we should always finish things we start, and we all could use more calm in our lives during the hectic footie season and we would be well rewarded.
So, I looked around my house to find things I’d started and hadn’t finished.
I soon finished off a lovely bottle of Merlot; a cheeky little bottle of Chardonnay; a boddle of Baileys; a butle of wum -thankss salor; teh mainder of mi Valiuminun scriptsin; an a box a chocletz; an——- kant smember wass else.
Yu haf no idr how fablus I feel rite now. Sned this to all who need inner piss. An telum u luvum all;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Oz, you are a great AA-writer yourself with two posts in the bag! :)You should do another one, utilising your forensic skills on player prospects. Micky thinks we need two more players, and as there is not big money to spend, you need to unearth a couple of hidden gems for a reasonable price for us…. You could use the BBC list GiE posted yesterday or the day before, and pick out five players that would really make a difference at Arsenal…. Just a thought…
RA 🙂 🙂
Tony, I have heard his name being linked to the club but don’t know much about him. You could well be right though – it would be typical Arsene Wenger!
haha good one RA.
If we all did that half of AA would be culled by way of alcohol poisoning. Chary gone via peroni poisoning, GLIC gone via award winning hooch, TA gone via heinekin, Rocky gone via Rye and coke, and the list goes on!
TA you read my mind, i am giving the list a once over right now based from your idea the other day (people choosing who they’d have from the list of 50)
If there is a need for posts i can find a list of candidates who we need,linked with,options, ect (especially strikers like podolski, sow and so forth).
there is a player out there worth about 25mil..hes a hybrid!! hes got the running pace and enthusiasm of gervinho, and the brains and shot of arshavin..goes by the name of “GERVARSHIN”..we could probably get him on the cheap too..half the forhead and half the size of that lazy fat arse.. IF ONLY! Im starting to get sick of screaming “SHOOT” ..the gerv jus wont listen..
Nice one TA! Amazing what a tonic listening to Man Utd getting a good beating is. Proper good medicine.
I would like to see three new faces in, a decent back-up for Szczesney, a real winger, and the one we all universely agree on, a good goalscoring back-up for RvP. If we acquired those I’d fancy our chances in CL.
Early shout for goal of the season – Tim Howard, anyone?
Pat Jennings did something similar, scoring in a 1st Division fixture in 1967 (against Man Utd?).
tony. Trouble starts when he Does listen 🙂
John Lukic had a monster kick. Almost hit the Clock when kicking out of hands from the North Bank (slight exaggeration)
Junior Hoilett (Blackburn)- Promising winger who we could grab easily from a struggling Blackburn.
Florent Malouda (Chelsea)- French international, experienced, knows the EPL well, if he came cheap could be worth while.
Mario Gotze (B Dortmund)- I’d grab him in a heartbeat, already a top notch player and only 19, unfortunately he will cost an arm and a leg. Wish Arsene pinched him a couple of years ago.
Marco Reus (B Monch)- Great start with 10 goals in the Bundesliga, we need another striker!
Eden Harard (Lille)- Should have pounced earlier with a big money move lille couldn’t refuse. Could of cost what the ox did, but not like goetze will cost a fortune.
Olivier Giroud (Montpellier)- The striker I want to see at Arsenal to replace MC, he is a killer in the air and the leading goalscorer in the French league. Unfortunately they are trying to win the title coupled with the fact he’s their star player means we would struggle to snatch him away.
Hulk (Porto)- Dreaming
Demba Ba (Toon)- he is a great striker who is on fire this season, perhaps the transfer of the season. Would be great to see him at the emirates
one thing i noticed about AA the last few games is he definently can’t be called out of shape/fat anymore. The bloke is now the skinniest player in the team…after Yossi that is. You’re either born with an engine or your not!
One who almost slips under the radar Raddy, but a very good ‘keeper for us before David Seaman. A vital cog in our triumphant title-winning side of 1988-89.
big Raddy, yeah i know.ha. but then im screaming ” i said shoot ..NOT cross”
Hi Herb, any idea on wingers?
Oz, a very nice post-Christmas shopping list. Reus has just signed for BD, so is no longer option. If Malouda was cheap and he would really like to come to Arsenal, I would sign him instantly. I like the sound of Giroud: Giroud, Giroud, Giroud is on fire (as in ‘The roof, the root, the roof is on fire). Would you mind to post that video of him again?
Demba Ba is looking great. My dad watched him a lot when he played in Germany and said from the start he was really good.
Good work Oz!
Oz we have stormy weather here and Benayoun is only allowed to go out whilst attached to another player 🙂
no worries TA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR_kI9eA5lQ
I’ll have to get cracking on a more detailed list then, unless the blog machine GiE has beaten me to the punch haha.
Nite all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ_DtIlCTfM&feature=related
TA,
Oz has flagged-up Hoillet at Blackburn, another one who has bags of potential is the boy at Villa, Albright.
Or even Albrighton!
talk is that podolski is stalling on a move to anywhere so as to keep a first team spot for the euros..if we could pinch him, i dont see why he wouldnt be a first team starter EVEN when gervinho does come back from africa with both on the pitch at the same time…thats wen id revert back to a 4-4-2..RVP started his career coming in from the right exposing that beautiful left foot wenever a shot was on..podolski almost always plays on the left side as a winger or striker.. play gerv n theo on the wings jus for the width n pace that we all saw was lacking against wolves, and your 2 midfield engines can rotate being either attack minded (rambo, jack)or defensive (song,arteta) or a mixture depending on the game, the opponent n the score situation..everyone gets a breather n we can always revert back to the 4-2-3-1 depending on player availability..jus a thought.. n i believe podolski wants to come to us and prove bayern wrong, wenger jus needs to assure him of playing time..and show the boy a little cash…the kid can shoot, he really would be a weapon as partner to RVP
Talking of wingers, I like that Matt Jarvis at Wolves. He can dribble, not scared to take on the full back and is a tricky little so and so, as he proved against us recently.
I don’t think he is a prolific goalscorer though, but he works hard and I reckon he would get a few assists.
Brigham, good shout with Jarvis, also I believe we could get Pennant back as well, I don’t know why Stoke are looking to off load him when he’s been one of the reasons why they have done so well.
the FA has reverted TV5 suspect yellow card back to koscielny
Cheers Oz, Herb, am away for a while and will get back to you later!
Dave: Penant is trouble on legs, why else has a man with his talent had so many clubs:
I do not beleive that Arsene would even contemplate letting him through the door.
Not that this would apply to anyone on here, but my aunt who loves her computer but does not really understand it ‘phoned me about a young ‘whizz kid’ as she calls him, who helped out sometimes when she had a computer problem.
— “Yesterday, I called the mom of Eric, the 11 year old who lives next door and whose bedroom looks like Mission Control loaded with every gizmo going, and asked her if he could come over.
Eric came over, clicked a couple of buttons and soon solved the problem. As he was walking away, I called after him, ‘So, what was wrong?”
He replied, ‘It was an ID ten T error.’
I didn’t want to appear too stupid, but nonetheless enquired, “An, ID ten T error ? What’s that? Just in case I need to fix it again.”
Eric grinned …. “Haven’t you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?”
“No,” I replied.
“well write it down,” he said, “and I think you’ll figure it out.”
So I wrote down:
ID10T
I used to like Eric, the little shit head. — !!
Poor aunt May — fancy not knowing what an ID ten T error was!! 🙄
Yes Brigham, Jarvis is another good winger. I would love to have seen Adam Johnson at Arsenal too.
Hi Dandan,
a modern-day Geordie Armstrong would be a good fit for our team right now.
RA I wonder was it the same Eric knocked on my door and said.
Dandan do you want to buy two £5 pound tickets… What for says I?
£10 you daft sod, says he…….. I just wish I could still run 🙂
good 1 RedArse, n thats how im startin to feel.. like an id ten T.. 3 in the morning here n all the talk bout pennant is makin me feel that way..sorry Dave, dont rate him at all.. NITE ALL, thanks again for the welcome..
Loved the manc game last night. I’m absolutely loving dianne abbott being out as a racist cow too.
Herb we can dream mate. To borrow from Max Boyce. they broke the mold of solid gold that once held Geordie George. They dont make em like him any more.
Total
Am loving that post, excellent stuff. One point that is especially insightful was “I don’t really think we should be investing too much in squad players from now on (these roles can be filled by youngsters) and instead focus on players to improve the first team.” On the button my Nederlands friend. Clear out some of the players we’re carrying one way or another and spend big on just one or two players, starting with that tip-top striker we all know we need. And invest in RvP’s new huge contract and get Walcott tied down too.
Also I agree with Exile re Tony Adams, and would love to wager a bottle of vintage port with Rasp on that issue – on for it Rasp?! But Exile, while you’re no doubt right to think of Ajax as a place where DB10 can serve his apprenticeship and work out if coaching is his bag, it also strikes me as a bit sad that what was one of the world’s greatest clubs, and pioneers of all that is good in the game, is reduced to that lowly status.
Arsedave: Merson? As a coach??? You sure??! I’d rather have Tommy Caton as a coach. Oops, bit bad taste that one, sorry….
I agree re Carroll though, an excellent player is in there.
Wasn’t it good, seeing United taken apart last night? The Geordies were very good (Ba, Cabaye and Tiote, what fantastic signings they are) but United’s weaknesses were there for all to see. We can definitely catch them. Not City though, and I don’t think we’ll be topping Spurs this year either.
26
Agree with your comment reference United, they look like they are missing a leader and also some bite in midfield. I think they will target Tiote. Whether we finish above Spurs will depend if we can beat them at our place. Don’t let Gooner In Exile catch you saying things like Spurs finishing above us though.
The Merson thing was a bit of a joke, he seems to think he knows everything about everything on that show, should’ve heard his predictions last week – not one right.
The football world seems to be riding thru the economic crunch however badly it hurts everyone else.
But is it such a problem as all the economists and accountants like TMHT and GIE make out?
Here is how a small debt ridden group of people managed!
— It was a slow day in a little Greek Village. The rain was beating down and the streets were deserted. Times were tough, everybody was in debt, and everybody lived on credit.
On this particular day a rich German tourist drove through the village, and stopped at the local hotel, laid a €100 note on the reception desk, telling the hotel owner he wanted to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night in.
The hotelier gave him some keys and, as soon as the visitor walked upstairs, he grabbed the €100 note and ran next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher took the €100 note and ran down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer took the €100 note and headed off to pay his bill at the Co-op for feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers’ Co-op took the €100 note and ran to pay his bar bill at the local hostelry.
The publican slipped the money along to the local prostitute, drinking at the bar, who had also been facing hard times and had to offer him “services” on credit.
The hooker then rushed to the hotel and paid off her room bill to the hotelier with the €100 note.
The hotel proprietor then placed the €100 note back on the reception desk so the rich traveller would not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller came down the stairs, picked up
the €100 note, and stated that the rooms were not satisfactory, pocketed the money, and left town.
So let’s look at what transpired:-
No one had any money – apart from the German tourist.
No one produced anything.
No one earned anything.
However, the whole village is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, dear AAers is how the bailout package will work.
Seemples!! 🙂
Of course, all the other accountants, like TMHT and GIE, who were hoping to earn big dosh out of resolving the debt crisis are giving me the cold shoulder!! 😦 😦
I am now working on a similar project for the Arsenal!! 😉
Dandan, 🙂
That Eric, eh?? 🙄
Hi Tony,
Great first comment btw!
In response to your earlier question which I don’t think anyone picked up on, I had also heard the rumour about Stojkovic. Didn’t Arsene have him in Japan or something and he said he wasn’t doing a great job as a young manager and had similar ideals as himself? Pretty sure it was a Wenger interview rather than some made up paper story. One to keep an eye on I think
#was doing a great job!
RA
Loving that story.
Hi RA,
don’t know if you’ve ever watched it, but there was a similar comedic theme played out on ‘Dad’s Army’, where everybody owed everyone else, and the money went around the houses working its way back to its origin.
As a yank, I am often in awe of the stolid, upright decency of you Brits.
Last Summer, I hiked along a remote coastal path when I came across an agitated old man.
I asked him what was wrong and he told me that at 9 o’clock that morning, he had seen a boat crawling towards land, and a man had jumped ashore, taken a crafty look around and then started to climb the cliff face while the boat quickly disappeared.
Unfortunately, the guy only got half way up when he slipped and fell back into the sea.
I asked the old guy what had happened then?
He then told me he had been worried that this suspicious looking guy was struggling to stay afloat, because of what the old boy thought looked like a pack of explosives the man was carrying on his back.
He knew straight away that if he didn’t get help the guy would surely drown.
His duty as a responsible Brit was clear, and wishing to abide by the law of the land that requires you to help those in distress, he had informed the Kent Police and the Home Office.
He went on to tell me that It was now 4 p.m. and the guy had probably drowned, but woefully neither authority has yet responded.
“I am starting to think I wasted two stamps” he told me as he walked off for his tea.
What is your ‘Dad’s Army’, Herb? Sounds a bit sinister to me. Does your mum know? 🙂
Interesting stuff Redders. Of course a service has been provided in terms of sexual offerings, not that i would know anything about that of course, hahaha. This service therefore accounts for the £100 proving the point that increased growth will eradicate debt and that prostitution is a money spinning activity.
RA. Didn’t see that coming – very good
Oz – check Lewandowski, nighty night x
RA – good story. Let’s hope Europe can implement a successful project to get us rid off debt
So, if Ms Merkel was to examine the Emirates and left 1bn euros with AW….or better still with me…
HEARD ON THE LONDON UNDERGOUND (TUBE)
This a short list of actual announcements that London Tube train drivers have made to their passengers…
1) ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I do apologize for the delay to your service. I know you’re all dying to get home, unless, of course, you happen to be married to my ex-wife, in which case you’ll want to cross over to the Westbound and go in the opposite direction.’
2) ‘Your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering from E & A syndrome: not knowing his elbow from his backside.
I’ll let you know any further information as soon as I’m given any.’
3) ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay, but there is a security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for the foreseeable future, so let’s take our minds off it and pass some time together. All together now…. ‘Ten green bottles, hanging on a wall…..’.’
4) ‘We are now travelling through Baker Street … As you can see, Baker Street is closed. It would have been nice if they had actually told me, so I could tell you earlier, but no, they don’t think about things like that’.
5) ‘Beggars are operating on this train. Please do NOT encourage these professional beggars. If you have any spare change, please give it to a registered charity. Failing that, give it to me.’
6) ‘Let the passengers off the train FIRST!’ (Pause ) ‘Oh go on then, stuff yourselves in like sardines, see if I care – I’m going home….’
7) ‘Please allow the doors to close. Try not to confuse this with ‘Please hold the doors open.’ The two are distinct and separate instructions.’
8) ‘Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your bags into the doors.’
9) ‘We can’t move off because some idiot has their hand stuck in the door.’
10) ‘Please move all baggage away from the doors.’ (Pause..)
‘Please move ALL belongings away from the doors.’ (Pause…)
‘This is a personal message to the man in the brown suit wearing glasses at the rear of the train: — Put the pie down, Four-eyes, and move your bloody golf clubs away from the door before I come down there and shove them up your arse sideways!’
11) ‘May I remind all passengers that there is strictly no smoking allowed on any part of the Underground.
However, if you are smoking a joint, it’s only fair that you pass it around the rest of the carriage.’
Do you write comedy professionally, RA?
And Finally:
Reported in the Boston Globe:
………………WHY WE LIKE THE BRITISH
…………….True Reports from British life ………!!!
………………….BRITISH NEWSPAPERS
Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, ‘We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It’s possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house.’
(The Daily Telegraph)
Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her underwear. When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend.
(The Manchester Evening News)
Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description.
It’s a Special Branch vehicle and they don’t want the public to know what it looks like.
(The Guardian)
A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster.
A coast guard spokesman commented, ‘This sort of thing is all too common’.
(The Times)
At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coast guard and asked him to estimate the wind speed.
He replied he was sorry, but he didn’t have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff.
( Aberdeen Evening Express)
Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue , Boscombe, delighted the audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled –
‘He’d always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out ‘Heil Hitler.”
( Bournemouth Evening Echo)
Famous thru out the world! 🙂
I have never written an original thought in my life, Herb. 🙂
I do, however, have a relative (who shall remain nameless) who is a very famous comedian, and even graces British TV shows on a frequent basis.
I have tried to write stuff for him, but he thinks I am too way out for his audience. (A polite way of telling me to Foxtrot Oscar) 🙂
Evening all,
Just read through some comments from yesterday and today, and maybe cos I’m only a child 😆 or haven’t seen enough of football, but Oliver Kahn was always be favourite keeper growing up (aside from Safe Hands) – maybe its just cos he was such a mad bastard.
Super post, TA.
Thoughtful and optimistic in equal measure.
I’m not sure Mr Adams is intelligent enough to be on the Arsenal managerial staff.
I used to like ‘The Far Side’ by Gary Larsson.
Maybe it’s a German thing Irish, with Kahn and ‘mad’ Jens Lehmann.
They hated each other, and were always winding each other up.
Herb – Yup, both as mad as each other. There always seemed to be that respect there though. Can’t remember what game it was for Germany but Jens was on the bench and he psyching Kahn up for the penalty shoot-out, not that he needed psyching up.
There are as many stories about Mad Oliver Kahn as there are about Mad Jens.
The ghosts of the 1930’s are stirring…
Herb,
I am not really familiar with The Far Side but I went to an art exhibition/collection, in New York, some years ago, (with my relative who had some work being shown too) and saw an original cartoon by Larsson.
I liked it, but I never bought one of his books, so I did not like it sufficiently! 🙂
Chas,
Do you often have problems with your stirrings? 🙂
Cheers Chas “Video King”
Congratulations Red Arse, that’s just broken the two million words on here. Stacey Solomon was on celebrity mastermind the other night.You are not related to her by any chance 😉
Top quality Chas, cheers mate.
Dear Kelsey, 🙂
I am beginning to doubt the veracity of your word recording.
Before Christmas you claimed I had spewed forth almost 2,900,000 words and now you say I have ‘broken’ just two million words.
The only way I can reconcile your record utterings is to assume that, like broken biscuits, some of my 2.9 million words were not intactus! 🙂 🙄
You are a rascal. If Dandan does not get you, I will!! 😉
OZ, yep, I like the look of Giroud. Lethal left foot shot and excellent in the air, but can he make the next step up to Arsenal?!?!
Herb, Albrighton: I like him as well but I am not sure whether he would turn out to be better than what we have at Arsenal currently. Same goes for Hoilett. Both good players though.
RA, you have been in some fine form today 🙂
A fine post, we are really lucky with our Dutch boy`s, Dennis, Robin and Total, there must be something in the mountain air over there !.
I`m glad to see you have a realistic view ,as in lowering your expectations, to just concentrate on 4th for the time being . Some of the “cloud cuckooland” boy`s think we can overhaul Manu ( stat : they are one point better than last year for the same amount of games). cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo. 😯
I meant this week RA 😉
Hey Glicster, if you have not been to the Dutch Moutains yet, it is about time! It is a funny season this one in which anyone of the top-6 can still win it: all the teams have weaknesses and any team that can build a good run of 10-12 games unbeaten, can win it, including Arsenal. But I am not expecting it, which is the different.
Looks like the whole site has been on good form, wish I had some of your jobs!!!
The Winger that is made for Arsenal is Adam Johnson……..
or would love Shakira from Basel, he is quality technique is excellent and is very quick…….
Demba Ba is brilliant, knew he’d do well at Newcastle, put him in all my dream teams!! so surprised one of the bigger teams fsiled to grab him.
@GIE – Henry will be great as a coach with us, he loves us, teaching our boys how to shoot!! and right now they need it……..
Just curious, when a newcomer goes to the “Tavern”, how do they find/recognize the “usual suspect`s” ?. Obviously, if TMHT was there, it would be easy, He would be the one wearing a red and white syrup with a 60s Rattle and Rosette hanging off the coat rack singing “Roll out the barrel” !.
I had an idea, I could turn up and sing the first 5 notes of ” The Good, The Bad and The Ugly , Wah, ah, ah ,ah ah “, then the AAers could reply , Wah, wah, wah. I could carry on until I found you, or until I ended up on the coat rack, giving Haircules some company !. ooh 2, ooh2b, ooh2b a, Looner !
Harry,
I thought Shakira Shakira was going out with the Barca defender Pique ! Lucky Barcestud !
Total …Qualiteeeeeeee. Total Quality
Chas 5:58 @ 13:56. I love that clip watching Lee Dixon running away behind the goal when Freddie scores.
We love you Freddie, cos you’ve got red hair. We love you Freddie cos your everywhere. We love you Freddie cos your Arsenal through and through.
Kelsey 6:46. He was her phone a friend.
GLIC, we all stand in the corner with our Arsenal tops on………..!!
VCC,
Does RA get special privileges in the ” scrubs ” ?
Yeah Pique is a lucky sod…………Casillas is even luckier his missus is stunning………
GLiC. 8:36. I done just that on New Years Eve, the game against Queens Park Rangers.
It’s easy, they all wear a red carnation in their lapelle.
GLIC
RA has to apply a bottle of swarfega every night. It helps with the raw ness, and penetration.
harry,
I might lose myself amongst you then and wont be able to find myself ! 😯
GLiC.
I’ve designed a one way valve and patent it. Should be on the market by Easter. Not much good for RA though, he won’t be a virgin any more, but he has asked for a gross to be delivered asap.
RedArse…..is for ever more.
VCC,
He`s not called Red arse for nothing, I bet the screws ( and their not called screws for nothing ) have swarfega for their sorethinga`s !.
harry,
Them bloody spaniards and their masks, works every time !
Snap VCC 🙂
GLiC ..another give away……..they all do the conga and hold each others tailcoats whilst sucking their thumbs.
You can always see them at the end of matches congregating at turnstyle 69 waiting for their padded mini bus to transport them back to the asylum.
I`m off, the “trouble” is moaning again, I`ve done 550 miles today and jumped on here before I even said hello !, she thinks i `m more interested in AA than her ! 👿
Catch you at the “tavern” one day VCC, with TMHT and RA, thats when the Loons take over ! 😯
Looking 4ward 2it GLiC.
Take care
We have a fantastic crew on here.
Light some candles,sing her a lullaby,and tell her you love her and she is the only woman in your life.
Just don’t tell her about RA and Merry Terry at the week ends.
Ahoy,
Sounds like our contract negotiators are working their usual magic with Henry 😦
Oz,
Its Jan 6, so we really need to settle on our targets!
Happy Xmas from Spain to you all be it 3 kings Day over here, the Spanish traditional Xmas celebrations (or in other words just another day to have a fiesta)
Well Kelsey,
Its just another overcast day here. No chucking donkey’s off towers for us!
Give us some great inside news on the transfer window. Something along the lines of six players out, two superstars in. Thank you.
We do Micky, it’s all well and good waiting for summer, but we need a lift because missing out on fourth spot (worst case scenario obviously as top spot is ours until mathematically not possible) would be awful and would result in less players coming to us. Not to mention a severe lack of income.
Am i correct in saying the Henry deal needs to be finalised by 4pm today or we will not be eligable to play against leeds? As chary has stated how on earth has he not come in yet?!
I would of thought the last transfer window would of been an eye-opener. Get them in early, get them settled then we can fire on all cylinders!
Its all looking horribly familiar Oz.
Didn’t AW say something about Jan 1st being an important day!
We need player(s) who are gouing to boost our Goals For tally for the rest of the season, not just a few weeks, so I’d happily swap the TH14 signing for something more permanent.
Morning all
It is Three Kings day today, public holiday in most christian countries.
My footballing 3 Kings are TH14, DB and Cesc. I deliberately wrote TH14, as I do not know what TH12 will be like.
Whose are yours Micky?
whose = who, bloody English
VCC @9:03 – that is shocking!!! What are you saying, that his Red Arse is not just a name???? bloody hell, this is a family site 🙂
Morning Kelsey,
I have missed your comment re 3 Kings, soz. Do they really chuck donkeys off towers in spain? Why?
So what evonne im not good enough to include in conversation? well your off the christmas card list!
I did check out the polish BD striker, he is a good player, looks more like a striker who brings others into the game then himself. Personally i’d like a poacher/selfish striker.
3 kings= Henry, Adams,and Keown (sorry but dennis is a god!)
@ Micky
it definently is, unfortunantly we are due for Wilshere, sagna, diaby are like new signings. Just once i’d like for things to be done swiftly and sorted out early!
@ TA
haha good call in regards to yossi, he obviously didn’t eat with fat frank while he was playing for chelsea!
Oz – sooooooooorry, didn’t mean it like that 🙂 you know i love you, you are like a virtual son to me 🙂 You are right about DB, more than a King!
So my revised 3 Kings are TH14, Cesc and Wrighty
yeah evonne…that virtual FORGOTTEN son. I’ve got 26 writing up the emancipation papers as we speak haha.
Exactly, who needs church evonne when i can just confess my sins during a DB DVD. All is forgiven if your an arsenal fan, if your a spud it’s the depths of hell for you, if your a geordie then he will make a mockery of you.
My three kings are TV5, BFG and LK6 or Bold, Germanicsense and Purr.
Oz – the idea of a virtual son is very appealing 🙂
Morning Chas – I can see you live in present era 🙂 Why is Laurent Purr?
no evonne,
they chuck drug dealers of the lower ranks, off cliffs, bridges or anywhere 🙂
This Henry deal ..bloody insurance companies yet agin.io bet
Micky no news is usually said to be good news, but in this case I think the exact opposite.
No point looking back all the time, Evonne.
Kozzer is a Rolls Royce amongst centre backs whose engine purrs.
Chas – that is very clever 🙂 In poland they are going mad trying to get Koscielny into the national team, fat chance! It would be better for us though, Poland play less games than France, usually get knocked out early in competitions
Kelsey – I like the idea! Should be done in Dover too!
Morning all.
I am afraid there is a big issue regarding transfers, not sure if Peaches/Rasp will use one of my posts today but I realised something yesterday and it’s not good news. I’ll save it for when the post is used tho.
You tease, GIE
Must be to do with squad allocations.
Re the 3rd round F.A.Cup;..
Has the glory gone from this once famous competition? We now have the ties spread over four days, obviously to suit TV but one could argue that although the minnows who always want to draw the big clubs, which in effect is their Cup Final, there is an unfair advantage to the PL teams who in many a case will know who they will play in the next round (providing they win)before they play, and can then pre plan the team they set out amongst an already congested fixture list.
GiE – you cannot do this to us!! It’s 45 mins to go!
I have actually done a post for today full of spelling mistakes, just to lift the mood.
I watched the highlights of the Fulham game again last night and even allowing for a makeshift back four, our defending before and after the sending off in the second half was woeful.Let’s just hope it was a bad day at the office.
kelsey, surely it was the attacking and midfielding that was shite, especially before the sending off when Fulham still had nil?
Evonne it could be longer wait than that depends on what the blog masters do 😀 There are more time sensitive posts on the dashboard.
chas,
don’t disagree but i meant to say that i was concentrating on the second half when something mysteriously happened to the team, as if a spell had been cast on them 😉
So Martin Jol stepped into his ogre’s shoes and cast a spell; it all makes sense now. 🙂
Morning all, you’re right Oz, squads have to be registered by noon today to be eligible for the FA Cup matches so that’s 2 1/2 more hours to go.
Whatever the problems with insurance/return dates announcing Henry coming back as a done deal a week ago and nothing happening since has made us look like a bunch of mugs. As I said yesterday there were no such problems for Landon Dononvan, which is exactly the same scenario as TH12-14.
Even the fawning articles on Arse.com about other Arsenal players saying how good Henry still is have stopped now – is that significant ?
I bloody hope not. 😦
Morning all …..
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