Down to 7th in the Premier League
We’ve fired a blank against the worst defence in the league.
And our great hope Wilshire is injured again.
Is this the lowest we have been as Arsenal fans in the last 7 years?
No, is the answer. The lowest was 6 months ago when we had just lost arguably our 2 best players in their prime, had been stuffed 8-2 at Old Trafford, and we’re struggling to stay in the Champions League. We were a shell of our former selves. Lacking confidence, energy and most importantly, world class players.
But haven’t things changed for the better since then? The fact we are pretty pissed off with the result yesterday goes some way to show that things have improved. Just 6 months ago we would’ve expected a terrible, toothless performance against Bolton. We would’ve gone into the game feeling sorry for ourselves, praying that the home side take it easy on us.
I’m not saying things are rosey, I’m not saying that we will finish top 4, and I’m not saying we should all be happy.
But the fact is we got through those harder times in August, and if we stick together, we can get through these hard times now.
There’s no match report or ratings on yesterday’s game. Just a rallying cry from a fellow blogger asking you to keep your heads, keep together, and most importantly, keep the faith.
At least until the end of the season!
Slimgingergooner
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks for the post fgg/sgg. I’m pleased no-one attempted a match report since the game itself seems almost irrelevant; it’s the bigger picture we now have to look at.
Where to start?
Well I’m happy with the defence; the loss of fullbacks was bad luck and has contributed to us dropping points. The midfield and attack are the areas of concern and where we have little excuse.
The loss of Wilshere has been a problem but probably one that should have been legislated for. Last night, we were reduced to reporting on Eisfeld’s performance for the reserves during the Bolton game in the hope that a player who was probably 6th choice midfielder behind Goetze for Dortmund could suddenly flourish into the creative midfielder we sorely miss and save our season.
Song is playing like Cesc last season – just going through the motions, I’ve been saying for a while that he’s a wantaway and on current form that wouldn’t be a great loss to the club. I cannot criticise Ramsey as he is just trying too hard and cannot relax and play his natural game because he is always trying to force play due to the lack of quality and movement around him.
Theo doesn’t have it within his personality or ability to be a top class player; he is a mediocre footballer who can run fast.
Arteta has been great, I’m actually sorry for him because he left a side in disarray and now finds himself in a similar situation at Arsenal.
We’ve needed someone up front who has the instincts and abilities of a goalscorer for years now and still the style of play dictated by the manager prevents us from accommodating such a player.
The BoD and/or manager are guilty of using the excuse of building for the future as a smokescreen to cover the fact that they are neglecting the present.
We have a magnificent stadium and a team in decline.
Any listing of the super young talent we have that will make us world beaters in a few years is spurious and pure optimistic speculation. What matters is now.
We should be asking the question: can we assemble a squad over the summer that will get us back in the top 4 next season or does something have to change?
Well done, sgg.
Upwards and onwards to Saturday. Who’s at the Tavern? 🙂
Rasp your 10:20 last night got me wondering how on earth you’ve managed to get a daily post out every day since AA’s inception. Respect to you and the Peach. Thanks for everything.
Morning chas, thanks. We have made so many great friends through AA and enjoyed some wonderful witty and informative blogging, its just at times like this it becomes hard to sustain.
Morning all.
Pithy and precise, Slim, and so our slide down the table continues.
During these bad times I can only request we don’t start calling each other doomers or AKB’s, that helps no one.
Hi Chas, I’ll be at the Tavern on Saturday with my boys.
We desperately need a win then to warm us up on what will be another freezing day.
a shame – many opportunities created during the game, I had the feeling if we could have got a goal then the flood gates would have opened. One of those days where we couldn’t quite finish things off. I have to say another one of those games where Walcott was frustrating. He seemed to have space in front on a couple of occasions but seemed unwilling to try and stretch the defence with his pace and get round the back of them. He is not a tippy tappy type of player – needs to go at the defence at speed – he is an enigma! Also not showing anyone that he deserves a central striking berth with his poor finishing
I think you hit it on the head re Ramsey sgg – trying very hard but not able to pull it off at the moment.
Clean sheet was a positive though!
See you there, Chary (plus the boys) for whatever the day might bring.
SGG. It is with that uplifting post in mind that I venture out into the freezing weather.
Thank You
Woeful last night and a game which if I did not know it was Arsenal playing, I would have plumped for Rotherham. Walcott is beginning to really get on my moobs and the fact the bloke is haggling for a bigger wage packet makes it ten times worse.
How is it that the Ox can get pulled from the pitch instead of Wal CLOT once again. He (Ox) is a better player IMHO, he is fast, tricky, has more about it him and offers far more to the team. Whereas Theo is a one trick pony with speed his only attribute. Just how many more one on one’s is he going to squander? If he has the same strike rate in one on one’s with his missus, she will be asking for a transfer soon! 🙂
Song is totally off his game, he gets caught in posession far too much now and is lumbering through most games. He either needs a rest (dropping) or some stern words in his shell like!
I am now wondering just how much the club are going to sting us for our season tickets next season? Champions League, you’re having a laugh.
Brigham, I hear this is another ST price increase due for 2012-13, do you have any info on that?
May I suggest… next game at the Emirates, in order to get the crowd going, we sing all the old players names once more!?
Might give Wenger a reminder of what we use to have and be.
-Keown
-Viera
-Bergkamp
-Writghty
-I mean jeez we could even sing about Alex Manninger.
Gives us something to shout about, being all nostalgic and all!
Chary, not heard anything about another increase, but I fear if that is the case then I will NOT be renewing mine.
Well done, Slim, you gave us an article to hang our coats on! 🙂
Rasper, there is very little I can find to disagree with in your comment at 9:37. It is an excellent Post in its own right! 🙂
Raddy’s comment earlier this morning has a similar theme;
As he said; —” Ramsey had a good game and to blame him for the fact that there was little forward movement is crass.
Theo is a luxury player, he can be superb (AV 2nd half) or anonymous (most of the time).
The biggest disappointment is Song. What has happened to the player who ran the midfield single-handedly? Gone are the clever turns and touches, gone are the powerful runs through the heart of the defence, and gone are the perceptive passes. He either needs a rest or a good talking to.
Not much to disagree with there either, really.
Disappointment haunted my dreams last night, too!
Hi CharyB, you old Doomer!!! 🙂
Oi,oi Redders – I’m not that old !
That is true CharyB! 🙂
Give us one of your famous Ferguson put downs — that always gives me a lift and brings a smile!! 🙂
Morning all
There is definitely a planned season ticket increase for 2012/2013, it’s on the agenda for discussion at the AST meeting on the 13th February. Rasp and I are going to try to go to that meeting so that we can report back.
Making any players the scapegoats for last night performance is pointless now IMHO, we are in decline and although there is some talent there it’s not consistent and relying on Ramsey to drive the team forward is only going to end in tears.
I thought it was hard after Fulham but now my expectations have hit rock bottom sadly 😦
For you Redders: The gravest miscarriage of justoice is this man getting 15 months in jail for what we all liked to do to claret conk: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/oct/18/ukcrime.football
Altogether now “Fergie, Fergie shut your mouth!”
Hello Peachy, are you preparing yourself for Thursday night football next season like I am ?
I hope Wenger, if he is still around, sends out the kids and stiffs like Twitchy has so we throw the competition in a simialr way to the Spuds in order to concentrate on the league.
Hi chary
I’m almost hoping we don’t qualify for even Thursday night football, I’m feeling like a spoilt brat. I love the Champions League 😦 😦 😦
True Peachy, the Europa is a poisoned chalice and part of me feels we’re better off being 7th rather than 5th or 6th(assuming we fail to get 4th of course).
Crikey, that comment may not go down too well.
Peaches said…There is definitely a planned season ticket increase for 2012/2013, it’s on the agenda for discussion at the AST meeting on the 13th February. Rasp and I are going to try to go to that meeting so that we can report back…
So, the club who only put up the prices by 6 percent last season, making them the most expensive in the footballing world are looking to increase them once again.
I assume the proposed price increase is to recoup all the money we have spent on several well known players of late?! Disgusting! In this current climate of recession, redundancy and the like, they have the darn front to consider another increase to make us pay for fillet steak, when we are being served donkey burgers!
To lighten the mood, it seems Twitchy is losing his cool in the dock:
“Redknapp says not important if he tells truth to News of World, only needs to tell truth to police. Redknapp tells jury that what he said to News of World was “all a story” and “I wanted to get him off the phone”. Prosecution then said News of World reporter “caught you out Mr Redknapp. You decided to speak to him and let the cat out of the bag”.”
“Redknapp shows frustration with prosecution: “Do you think that me + Mr Mandaric are going to have 2 different stories? Are we that stupid?”
Er, yes you are Twitchy, you admitted you were a thicko the other day.
i agree Chary,
better off with no European football than Thursday nights.
the whole club needs a season to refocus and start pulling in the same direction. if we dont have European games then we should end up with far fewer injuries and may be able to push for a trophy or 2 if we can get a couple of decent players in.
The only problem is that getting decent players in and having no European football dont exactly go hand in hand!
Every one is understandably down and have gone quiet, so I am going to give my own ratings for last night – even tho I think ratings are too subjective, really, and you can tell me to take a hike. 🙂
Now then, let me see — umm who was playing last night? – not many is the answer some might say.
Szczesny……………………………………6 (His dribbling/footwork and clearing up field — what’s that all about? – But saved a certain goal and did not give away a pen)
Sagna…………………………………………8 A battler and gave it everything .
Mert……………………………………………7 Looks clumsy, slow and disjointed, but clever positional play saved us on a number of occasions.
Kozzer………………………………………..8 Terrific performance – he should be our talisman – never gives up.
TV………………………………………………6 Gutsy and committed but is not a left back. AW should have left Miquel there.
Song…………………………………………..5 Raddy and Rasp have said it all. Dribbles with the ball as if he was Messi – unlike Messi he kept losing it. He is better than that. Wassup?
Arteta………………………………………….6 OK I admit it – I have yet to be convinced he is a star. Good? yes; Competent? yes, but……but…..
Theo…………………………………………..5 Theo—oh, Theo. Where has your cool skillful goal scoring touch gone? Why do you jump out of tackles? Have you ever made a tackle? You can do both — now show us…………….please!
Ramsey………………………………………8 I know, I know, I have heard the criticism of this young guy, but for me he has the heart of a lion. he is up there to miss goal scoring chances — he is back in defence to muck up sometimes — he occasionally gets caught in midfield or on the wing ……………BUT……………….he is always there!!! He must cover every blade of grass trying to help his indifferent team mates! How is that not seen by some????
The Ox……………………………………….7 He is everything I wish Theo was. Fast, dribbles brilliant, tackles back. What’s not to admire in this embryonic World Class player?
The Van Man……………………………….8 We would be in really serious trouble without his goals, as last night proved. Could have scored two more last night – just a whisker’s difference on both occasions.
Looking at the above, subjectively admittedly, apart from a couple of duff individual performances the boys played OK ………… didn’t they?
Well yes and no. Yes individually, but not as a team, is my answer. This might sound like high treason, but my mind is being pushed inexorably to our great manager and what he is now bringing to the party.
We were all over Bolton for 20 minutes and could and should have scored, but they changes their tactics and crowded us, got tight to The Ox and chased down our midfield.
So we changed our tactics too, to counter this ………..right? No we bloody did not. We kept playing the same way, and if Ngog had scored what was an easy chance, or the ref had given a penalty, we would have been humiliated…………………..still playing the same tactics that we started with.
Therefore, Arsene……………………………..5 Not at his best – and let the boys down. Sorry but that’s how I saw it, even after a night’s sleep!!
Go for it guys………………..bollix…………………or what? 🙄
Yes Slim, but I think only a prolonged absence from the Champions League will have any serious detrimental effect on attracting high quality players as long as we revise our pay structure and ship out a lot of under performing over paid players.
CharyB, thanks for that — you always cheer me up!!! 🙂
Happy to help Redders, and your comment could be an appendage to FGG’s post as it does flesh out some of last nights events nicely.
I only followed the game on BBC text and can’t comment too much on the detail.
Looks like everyone else has gone into hiding.
Still we must keep the home fires burning and all that.
More from the trial proving Twitchy was happy to sink Pompey: Redknapp says if money was bonus “I’ve gained nothing. Portsmouth would have saved some tax. I’m not interested in saving Portsmouth money.”
Chary 1966 Agree with you about being 7th better than 5th or 6th, although they haven’t got going (the signs are there) Liverpool have benefitted this season by not being in Europe at all. In fact they have lost the least amount of games in all competitions I think.
Red Arse, thanks for the player report, was working late in Glasgow last so had no contact with the game.
Brigham, glad to see you back, have you been away on our Royal Navy ship?
wenger is crap and sh****t
I am not now a season ticket holder (my dad and I used to have seats in the West Stand, Highbury, when we were in the UK) so I am only indirectly affected by price hikes now.
However, if Arsenal (Kroenke) do increase the ticket prices it will show either a lamentable lack of commercial judgement, or confirm, in many fans’ minds, that he is taking his financial model to extremes, and is simply treating us as cash cows to supplement his other sporting interests in the US. (Kroenke is heavily involved in franchise negotiations as we speak).
Please , please do not be so crass Arsenal (yes, I mean you Kroenke) as to go ahead with any such price increase, both for the human reasons Brigham has mentioned, but also because you will sully Arsenal’s reputation for high moral standards and having the interests of fans at heart …………………..and you Mr kroenke are not worth that to us!!
One day, Kroenke, you will be gone, but we will still be here………proud Arsenal fans, and you treat us with disdain at your own peril!!
Do the decent thing ……………….. just forget price increase!!
Arsedave, no mate, working up here in sunny, but very cold Helensburgh. Just not had much time of late to join you all on here, been very busy. I am very ‘Astute’ 🙂
Akowe – I think you have 3 “*”‘s too many if I catch the drift of your comment, unless you meant to say Wenger is a “shallot”.
Akowe Sam Lucky
Before wenger arrived only Preston North End, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United had completed “the double” in England, only Liverpool, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Leeds United had platyed in a European Cup Final; now the proud and mighty Arsenal under wenger have two “doubles” and have played in a European Cup Final. He also gets us to the Champions league season after season (Spuds couldn’t maintain their one season in it) and we also reached 4 FA Cup Finals in 5 years which hasn’t been done since men played in breaches and ties, we have the best stadium in the country and are only 3 players away from being the best team in England if not Europe. What more do we want?
CharyB, 🙂
ArseDave, you tell him!! 🙂
He must have thought we were a certain other site who like shallots, as CharyB suggested! 🙂
Arsedave – 1971? 😉
FOOCKING FANTASTIC PIECE THERE SLIM *shady* GING.Gooner 😉
Loved it, reminded me why i love visiting this site and the first piece that i read, i believe it was ‘my 12 wishes for Arsenal’ written by Total.. that got me hook line and sinker..once again ginga i really enjoyed it!!
> THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS <
WE must Unite and be as One!!
i must admit this mornings result (oz time), knowing how crucial the 3 points were to our campaign and combined with my disappointment post match and helpless feelings of resentment towards certain comments and views,both in the media and on plenty sites that i have curiously visited most of the day..
Wenger doesnt consider this period to be his worst slump or toughest time at the ARSENAL, although we've never lost 4 games without a win in the league (forget the cups)
“We had more difficult periods even when we won championships. We did not win for six games. It’s part of football. When you have lost three games like we did, when you don’t lose the fourth game, it’s always not too bad.” and then went on to say
“Coming into the game we have been in good form,” he said. “I told the boys before the game we should be the ones with the confidence and so it proved.
“We looked fit and strong and if truth be told we could have won the game late on. There was a lot to be pleased about.
“We must continue that momentum because we are in a dangerous part of the league but points like the one we got today are going to help that.”
WOW, Now thats what i call 'Putting your balls on the line' or 'putting your money where your mouth is' so to speak, especially after recently stating that NOT qualifying for Champ'league would be a disaster for us…
Well i say "GO GET 'EM Arsene" im behind you all the way, even though parts of me wanna wringe you neck and tell you my suggestions for players and a trial of formations and tactictics..mind you i also want to scream at all the people who doubt and have doubted (myself included)…but either way, just as you asked me to keep the faith and unite with my fellow supporters i'll come and judge you at the end of the season!
WAIT! WHO I AM I TO JUDGE?
Im just like you.. an ARSeNaL FAN..
I think Shes Beautiful and I Tell Her Every Day!
Whether you take your kid(s) to the game every week, or meet up with mates to watch her play, or your in a borderline 3rd world country and cant spell when you type your comments on blogs it doesnt matter..we must become ONE in this fight!! Keep the faith and watch the GUNS START BLAZING AGAIN!!
ARSENAL will Always BE THERE!!!
Ps.. @ chas,
any chance of an inspirational clip to the tune of "keep the Faith" by none other than Bon Jovi..i thought it might set the scene..
I meant besides us of course.
Only fickle Arsenal fans can blame Arsenal,s most consistent player
for the past four seasons Alex Song, for all Arsenal,s woes this and last season,but woeful Walcott ,rubbish Ramsey and wimpish Wilshe
re are excused for their inept performances week in and out on grou
ds that they,re still young and will improve ,no wonder ;in Arsene we
trust; has become a cliche for mediocrity and second best and still
the charade continues with the coaching staff picking the same overr
ated players match after match ,making game changing substitutions
way to late and not fixing the shortcomings at the Emirates right away?
On the plus side I’ve just heard from another guy in the office that AC Milan looked well under par last night against Lazio, might be hope for us in the Champions League which is just round the corner now.
The game last night hinged on two chances that could have gone in and not hit the woodwork. We should be able to beat a team like Bolton comfortably if we have any pretensions to being in the top four let alone winning anything. I think Song is going and the way he’s playing he can go whenever he wants. I love Wenger but I don’t think we’ll win anything again with him in control. When we get someone new in we’ll probably get worse too. The most annoying thing for me is the fact that walcott is a definite starter every game and hardly ever gets subbed no matter how inneffective he is. I’d be suprised if Capello takes him to the Euros.
On a different subject if I was a black player there is no way I would take john terry seriously as a captain. The FA are totally spineless.
I’m also really worried about losing Robin in the summer.
Good post lads under the circumstances…..
‘We’ve fired a blank against the worst defence in the league.’
Putting the ball in the back of the net has been our problem all season. I’ve said before on here that our title winning teams of the past had midfielders regularly getting 10 + goals each season and normally two of them . Over the weeks/months I have read many suggestions as to what our shortcomings are/were, but watching how we create chance after chance and dont batter teams convinced me that finishing was the culprit.
As a result with the aide of the BBC website I did some research. Up to and including the Man U game ( 22 games in total) the stats are as follows
Shots created 344
shots on target 205
shots off target 139
Goals 39
That is on average a 1 in 5 hit rate (goals to shots on target), which for those of you not into numbers means we need on average 5 shots on target to score 1 goal. More worryingly we only met or exceeded that hit rate in 6 games thus far.
We have won 166 corners !!!!!! need I say more, it will be no surprise that the Chelsea game saw us at our most clinical 5 goals from 8 on target, but we have struggled to repeat that, with Wolves at home providing our worst finshing display of 1 goal from 17 shots on target.
Many have maligned our defence and midfield but we have created an average of 9 chances per game , from my perspective proven fnishers need to be added to the mix
Are we a team in transition within a transition?
Watching Arsenal play is the same as a poor fireworks display.
You have all the right set up, it’s a dark evening, you’ve got the biggest rockets you could buy, everybody is anticipating the great shown ahead, you light the fuses — and the rockets don’t make it out of the garden!
Sound familiar?
GM:
We are a team that need a transformation.
samuel. . Song has performed way below his normal excellence for at least a couple of months. We know how good he can be and now we know that he is totally off form, not only that but his whole body language suggests he doesn’t give a flying one.
And it is this which upsets us. If he worked half as hard as Ramsey, I would say, well at least he is putting in a shift but he isn’t, so he deserves all the criticism he is getting.
And who are these over-rated players who keep getting picked? I guess you refer to Walcott because everyone else deserves their place.
As to your comment about Wilshere. Words fail me.
Please understand this is not a pop at you, just at your comment as I know you want a successful AFC, as we all do.
Wonderman. Fine research. Our profligacy in front of goal must be a source of huge frustration to AW. But how to solve it??
Mike Leigh came into my shop yesterday.
Thanks for the post Ginge.
In answer to your question, ime not down at all. I feel very upbeat about the direction the club is heading in, and to be honest am delighted every day to be a gooner and in broader terms to be alive. hahaha.
Ok, i admit on the pitch we have fallen from our generaly high standards, and the 2004 team seems like a distant memory. The pool of players at Arsenes disposal are either to young, to old, or simply not good enough. Has the club been to cautious and rested on its laurals the last few years?, the answer is probably yes.
How do we go forward? Well in my opinion Arsenal is like a runaway train and we will not be stopped. Ime not going to cite the reasons why i believe we are destined for the top coz ive done it many times before but i would just like to add that everything is in place for future success. In fact forget about Kronke, Gazidis and dare i say even Arsene Wenger, in a few years time we could have Harry Rednapps dog managing and running the club and we would win the league.
Wonderman
What has changed since the Chelsea match?, lets go back there, what was the line up for that game, let’s strip it back and analyse where it has gone wrong, we don’t go to a team that has only lost 5 games at home in 7 years and score 5 then become hopeless. There somewhere lies the answer.
@ gunnern5 says: February 2, 2012 at 12:25 pm
True and I also have my analogy to describe it…
It is like watching a Lesbian pornographic movie, it can be beautiful to watch and exciting, but there is very little penetration and no end product.
i will get my coat! 🙂
hahahaha, know what you mean Brigham.
Brigham,
Sounds like they could use a rocket.
Brigham. Superb 😀
G5, i would kindly volounteer my telescope, but i wouldnt want to feel inadequate if Brigham gets out the Periscope. hahaha
Brigham, we’ve missed you, what sort of coat are you wearing, does it have elephant’s ears?
Arsedave. We’ve had a lot of injuries since then.
Goonermichael
I would say overall
Fans 10%
Arsene 15%
Players on the pitch 60%
Injuries 15%
since the Chelsea match are the reasons.
Not called a periscope anymore, now known as Optronics! 😉
-Hey, on the bright side, I’m pretty sure our much criticized defense has 1 more clean sheet than the chavs!!! Woo-hoo!!!!!!!! I’m sure that will change with their “top-top supercalifragilisticexpialidocious quality” signing of (insert sarcasm) Gary Cahill.
-Been saying it for at least 3 seasons, but the things I would do for a true, out & out goal poacher in the mold of either a Darren Bent or a ‘Pippo Inzaghi.
Brigham, 🙂
Altho’ the dildos I saw attached to ladies on the Reeper Bahn looked very penetrative worthy!
They would put TerryM’s telescope in the shade!!
@Arsedave no matter how I look at it I cant get past finishing and thats even without recognised full backs. It would help if we actually started looking dangerous from corners also
Up Optronics! Down Optronics doesn’t have the same ring to it anymore.
Imagine the war films about our era in 60 years time, just won’t be the same.
Hey Mr Brigham I thought you was off our ship?
Hi Wonderman, 🙂
Calling on your coaching skills again — and talking about corners, what do you think is the rationale behind our tallest forward, and bestest goalscorer taking nearly every corner, and not very well at that, to a bunch of relatively short (Mert excluded) team mates?
Contrary, or what?
@AS – I am buddy, I have been working with the Astute in the training area for the past 19 months or so. You can take the man out of the Navy, but you cannot take the Navy out of the man! 🙂
@RedArse – no comment! 😉
Hi RA, our prolifigacy at corners are a particular source of agnst for me. Obviously I dont know for sure, but Robin probably takes the corners because he has the most reliable delivery. Also he is not known for being exceptional in the air is he? What concerns me is that we dont look as though we have practised any kind of offensive routine in respect to corners. A few years ago I watched one of the arsenal first team training sessions, and witnessed Pires put the ball in the back of the net after a 2/3 pass break from defending a corner. It was immediately apparent to me how we managed to score so many goals in that fashion….practice.
I must admit it is a bit odd Van P taking all corners because from one side it will be an inswinger and from the other an outswinger, my guess is there is no plan and he’s decided he’s taking corners
You can take the boys out of Le Grove but it seems you can never take Le Grove out of the boys.
When the chips are down who do they turn to as scapegoat — yep, you’ve got it, the good old, tried and tested Alex Song.
I am amazed that Song is catching it this morning: if he goes forward he gets it, if he doesn’t he get’s it — his job is to shield the defence and help in attack when he can — and did Bolton score? No, oh, so he must want to leave the club. I despair
“Last night’s game was like watching lesbian porn”. Thank you Brigham, I didn’t think anyone could write something that would make me smile this morning.
Brigham – You’re not in charge of Navigation are you?
LB “You can take the boys out of Le Grove but it seems you can never take Le Grove out of the boys.” 🙂 …… and where did we cyber-meet?
Not scapegoating, it is a realistic assessment of the form of an excellent player.
rURp,
Can’t do bon jovi, soz, here’s a different ‘keep the faith’.
Arsedave says:
February 2, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Brigham – You’re not in charge of Navigation are you?
LOL – no mate, but I do know someone who is!
LB @ 1:40,
Not a very nice comment and totally unwarranted.
I would remind you that it was you who repeatedly told me I was wrong last season when I said Cesc’s heart was not in it – well he confirmed that was the case when interviewed after leaving.
My belief that Song is behaving in the same way is everything to do with my wish for him to return to the player he was 2 years ago and absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I, like you, Raddy, kelsey and peaches cut my blogging teeth on LG
chas. Thanks
Rasp. I cut my teeth on TommyGuns blog back in the days of steam computing …
Funny enough LB I’m from LG and I used to debate Song with Geoff. I like Song and think he’s a fantastic player. He desn’t look like his hearts in it (for whatever reason) so that’s why people are questioning him. I don’t really see how he’s the only one copping it. For me walcott is a complete waste of a squad number. Why he stayed on the pitch ius beyond me.
😆 Raddy, sorry, I didn’t want to tar your reputation
GM. I am so frustrated with Walcott that there is little point in highlighting his form. 20 mins v AV is not enough to warrant his place.
But Theo is a luxury player and we can win without his input which IMO is not the case with Song,
It will be interesting in a few weeks to see whether AW has the nuts to drop him an play O-C & Gerv as our wide men.
I would go as far as to say that the club is already looking at replacements for Song with Fabio Yacob (Argentinian) being a likely candidate and surprisingly available on a free at the end of the season.
Hmm, all this debate about Song, I’ll keep an eye out for him on Saturday especially and see if there are any “homesick spaniard” tendencies.
That’s if I haven’t frozen into a disgruntled popsicle by then.
I think Frimpong will take over from Song. I don’t know how we’ll replace Robin though.
Afternoon all on a gloomy day.
One whilst we’re not playing great I am struggling to see what is so bad about an away draw against Bolton, Liverpool got smashed 3-0 there a couple of weeks ago. Last season we went there and lost.
Last season we didn’t have the August we had this year, last season we suffered from injuries but not losing four full backs.
So if we had beaten Wolves, Fulham and drawn with Swansea would we have this hand wringing now over this result? My guess is no, but then we have had those poor results and we’re all wondering why.
So far we have had:
Corners
Finishing
Lack of fullbacks
Poor midfield
Song
Ramsey
Theo
Which suggests there is a lot wrong.
Whereas I believe the only missing ingredient is in fact confidence. And unfortunately you can’t find it, coach it, instill it. It’s a feeling….and while it’s not there we miss it.
Final point name me two or more players from another PL squad that are better or as good as in each position than our first choice (excl long term injuries):
Szczesny
Sagna
Vermaelen
Koscielny
Santos
Song
Arteta
Ramsey
Walcott
Gervinho
RvP
GK : Hart
RB : none
CB : Kompany Vidic?
LB : Evra Baines?
DM : I seriously can’t think of any as good on his day
CM : Toure Barry?
AM : Silva?
Wings : Silva Bale (sorry)
CF : None
So what’s the point of that comparison? Well only two play for traditionally lesser clubs. Maybe I’m wearing red and white tinted glasses or maybe we need to understand this team has the right ingredients but maybe not the right balance.
Twitchy definitely loosing his composure on the stand, lol: “Prosecution: I suggest you’re telling a pack of lies MrRedknapp…You’ve come to this Court and twisted your account to get you off the hook.” Redknapp: “You think that I put my hand on the bible and told lies? That’s an insult. I’ve told you no lies…. I don’t do that.”
GiE
I’d have lennon or Valencia over Walcott.
Really showing my ignorance but what’s a CM? Is it creative?
GM, CM = Central Midfielder
GiE
The right notes but not in the right order
Something like that GM, Valencia, not overly sure about Lennon.
Again proves point it’s not like we can swan in to United and say give us Valencia.
GIE,
nice comment.
If we had beaten Wolves, Fulham and drawn with Swansea, Bolton wouldn’t have been a must win game and so, no, we wouldn’t have had the hand-wringing over last night’s result.
I think you’re right about it being confidence that’s missing and I think it’s missing because we’re not scoring goals. We should have been out of sight even before Ngog had that chance.
It seems as though all but Robin get brain freeze in the penalty area. There was one chance in the first half when the BFG found a great position on the far post in the clear and he tried to chest the ball down instead of attacking it with his head. He lost control and the chance was gone.
We obviously couldn’t take a player from the mancs unless it was for a pisstake like tweety pie. Valencia was a mid price buy from wigan or blackburn (can’t remember) I don’t rate Lennon that much but I think he offers as much if not more than Walcott. I also think Agbonlahor would do well in our team. I like Gervinho though.
Thanks Wonderman, for your 1:34.
We have much the same take on the corners it seems.
Interesting that you were able to watch the Gunners training years ago. It seems to be true that the best at anything (including accountancy) 🙂 are those with some talent but a giant aptitude for practice. Bobby Pires was certainly one of the best.
An old golfing adage goes that the more someone practises the ‘luckier’ they get. Football obviously is same, same.
chary – re Song’s demeanour:
When I was compiling the widget of RvP’s hugs on the rhs of the page, I couldn’t find a single pic with Song in. The I realised that he has also been missing from all the great goal celebrations this season – RvP, Arteta, Ramsey, Theo, kozzer andTV usually rush to celebrate a goal – but not Song, not even when TH12 scored against Leeds.
It may just be that he is a shy individual, but I seem to remember him being more involved in earlier years.
For a long time he would have been my first name on the team sheet, but I’d take Arteta any day on current form.
I’d have Frimpong Rasp. Shame we can’t
Chas,
I was ‘stunned’ last night by the way the game turned out.
Robin hit the post and the bar; Theo was in on a one on one; Rambo could not put any power into another one on one; Mert had a goal bound header saved on the line; the Ox was set up beautifully by RVP in front of goal only to lose his footing and slice his shot.
On another day (night) we would have had 6. That’s just the way things can go!!
The lament “If only” is clearly a waste of time, but ‘if only’ we had scored one of them we would not all be feeling so cheesed off today!
Hi gm, I’m sure Frimpong will be first in line to take over if Song were to leave and maybe sending him out on loan is preparation for just that next season. However I do think we would bring in another midfielder and Yacob seems to fit the bill.
I don’t know Yacob Rasp. It will do Frimpong good playing every game.
Rasp,
I don’t think Song played well last night, but I have not really doubted his loyalty. I pinched the following extract, and he certainly is being very supportive of his team mate and saying the right things — just what you would expect. we all go thru little slumps so let’s hope that is all it is. On his day, he is the fulcrum of the midfield.
—– “Alex Song has backed his teammate Abou Diaby to return to the Arsenal squad a stronger player.
The French international midfielder has been a long-term absentee for Arsene Wenger’s side after a succession of injuries.
Diaby, 25, has travelled the world, seeking help from a number of rehab centres in order to find a solution to his ankle and hamstring problems.
And if all goes according to plan the former Auxerre star could be back for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against North London rivals Tottenham at the end of February.
Song told L’Equipe: “Abou is a hard working player. He always gives his very best to be back.
“When he returned in November and starting jogging again, we could all see how happy he was.
“But it’s difficult for him and it’s difficult for us too, because we know that with him, we are even stronger.”
And Diaby stated himself that he hopes to be back in action in about one month, saying: “Everything is going smoothly for me at the moment and I believe I will be back in action around late February time.”
Fingers crossed it will all work out well for him and us! 🙂
Oh right Raspers, I wouldn’t be worried if it was never his(Song’s) style to join in goal celebrations, like AA for example, but to change from doing it to not doing it could indicate something.
In my continuing efforts to cheer up the troops I found a morsel of good news, Samba has not been included in the Rovers squad for Saturday.
He normally has a good game against us so that will hopefully allow us more freedom in the oppo penalty area.
Please let us score a couple of early goals so I can relax behind the Clock End goal !
RA, at no point have I questioned Song’s loyalty, I have speculated whether his heart is still at Arsenal but that (in my book) is a different thing.
I had read the quote you cite and see it as just a typical piece of spin.
Yea chary, we need at least a couple of goals to start to feel comfortable. I think we should always try to keep scoring whilst playing sensibly in defence. It’s when we sit back that we are the most vulnerable. We’ve scored a couple of early goals this season and then switched off for some reason, 90 minuites of concentration and effort is essential.
I’ve just checked the story and find it is an interview with L’Equipe. I wonder what else was discussed in that interview, surely there must have been some questions about Song himself?
Trouble is Raspers, on Saturday I’ll have my boys with me and I can’t dull my tension by necking lots of peroni.
What time are you getting to the Tavern ?
I reckon we’ll be there about 11:30 chary. I shan’t be hitting the Peronis hard either – its too early in the day 🙄
Rasp,
I don’t recall mentioning you in connection with Song’s loyalty, one way or the other. It was my own assessment that he seems pretty loyal from the comments that he was making, so relax. 🙂
If you look at the excerpt I posted it clearly states that it was an interview with L’Equipe, and was not a ‘club spin’, you old cynic. 🙂
Rasp maybe for once we have a player who doesn’t air his dirty laundry in public……or L’Equipe are saving it for April/May 😀
Think our player PR dept got beaten up last year tho so I would imagine all interviews are going to be closely vetted now (and even in the attendance of club officials).
The problems will come when they go off on International duty.
Good stuff Raspers, we should be there around 11.45 trains/M40 permitting.
I might go for shorts(vodkas not summer wear – I’m no GliC) to quicken up the “relaxation” process.
OK RA, sorry for any confusion.
I think Song is a fine individual and very highly regarded across Africa as well as Europe. The reason I took umbrage earlier is that it is not a personal attack on Song the man, I find that highly distasteful and it was one of the reasons I stopped visiting LG.
Haha chary, you should smuggle a hip flask into the ground – vintage port fortified with extra brandy is my personal favourite 😳
With stilton cheese and a cigar as well to get that “Gentleman’s club” feeling, Raspers. 🙂
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=maid+outfit&hl=en&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GEUA_en&biw=1280&bih=799&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=ZAnuffgI5ACXfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.malltop1.com/Products/2010/12/Retro-French-Maid-Costume-M3103.htm&docid=7MaeRkpCzLf1dM&imgurl=http://www.malltop1.com/UpLoad/Pro_Images_02/Mini/pic_Naughty-French-Maid-Outfit-M2489_14_17.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=NbMqT4kqjvCyBsTehIMN&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=236&vpy=239&dur=164&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=141&ty=112&sig=105718319814867694181&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=129&start=0&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:30,s:0
Served by her and bob’s your uncle Chary
are links banned?
Hi GiE, shame they can’t put a muzzle on PHW then 😕
The PR departments of all clubs have lost a lot of control since tweeting became endemic.
I wouldn’t accuse Song of airing his dirty washing in public, I get the impression he is a private individual. However, I also think it unlikely that Equipe would haver asked him to do an interview simply to discuss another player (although not impossible).
With the French connection, it is possible that Equipe are happy to publish anything about Arsenal particularly if the club were to contact them and ask them if they’d like to do an interview with any of the players – in which case, I think we’d set the agenda to an extent.
Hi gm, links are not banned per se, but wordpress seems to object if a comment contains too many links – not our doing.
You got it chary, I usually wear my green corduroy jacket with the leather reinforcement patches on the elbows.
I’ve released it GM – looks like it could be a bit racy, I’ll check it out later…
I gues Diamond Club level is the nearest equivalent to a gentlemans club at Ashburton Grove, you can just imagine PHW and his cronies in there.
Walcott seems to be coming in for quite a bit of criticism along with Wenger for for picking him and not subbing him. I think much of that criticism is off the mark. Walcott has in fact been playing quite well, as a winger. He has been consistently beating his full-back both for pace and with the ball, he has been putting some super crosses into the box and has shown good skill in running with the ball into the penalty area.
I don’t think he can be blamed too much if no-one gets onto the end of his crosses or if he gets crowded out by defenders. The mid-field have, of late, been playing the type of passes that he likes ie behind the full-back, where he can use his pace rather than to his feet, where it is easier for the defenders to bunch up on him.
I’m reasonably sure that Wenger is trying to allow him time to build his confidence, the only way to do that is by playing games and not being hauled off after sixty minutes when the “fans” start getting on his back.
A couple of things I saw from him last night looked as though he had been learning from Thierry Henry.
Give the lad a chance. You know it makes sense!
I have just been on another blog who are rubbishing Rambo, ably assisted by guess who? that depressive Danish Gooner.
He must be a Spurs supporter because I have never seen him make a positive comment about Arsenal or any Arsenal player on any blog, and I have seen him on a few, even here!! 😦 👿
Sorry about my 4:13 — in mitigation, the guy just makes me mad.
Rasp says:
February 2, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Haha chary, you should smuggle a hip flask into the ground – vintage port fortified with extra brandy is my personal favourite
Lol, I have done that a few times and in good Naval tradition, it contained some fine Jamaican rum – Appletons. 🙂
Sounds like a good idea for a winter warmer Brigham, we’re going to need it saturday – it’s going to be brassic!
I thought brassic (boracic lint) meant skint
Cold = taters (taters in the mould)
or brass monkeys as in ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’
GM,
The site below shortens links and that usually gets round things. People use it on twitter because of the 140 character limit.
Just paste your link into the box, click shorten, then click copy. It’ll copy it into your clipboard, which you can then paste anywhere.
If this doesn’t help, then just ignore me. 🙂
https://bitly.com/
RA strange isn’t it, some of us take the rough with the smooth, some come on when we win (not many), but I bet we get more hits when we lose and more comments!
Take Villa on Sunday, comments were not massive altho three of the chattiest here were at the game, but Monday was a bit like a morgue apart from the regulars.
Then gadzooks a draw and the anti anything Arsenal mob come out in force again (thankfully not here today) but Twitter was a sight to behold (not in a good way) with people calling for all kind of changes like a broken record that never changes.
Or you could get cleverer than that and do this
Raspers – you’re right. Should have said ‘taters, blimey demetia is a terrible thing.
Thanx for that Rasper, a little more slang for my memory banks!! 🙂
So brassic brass monkeys = skint bollox
taters in the mould = cold? seriously? what the hell are “taters in the mold?” Some sort of bug? 🙂
I stand out-clevered.
😛 RA,
I like the way rhyming slang is constantly evolving. My son goes out on the ‘Matt Le Tiss’ every Friday night.
It’s all gone Pete Tong in January.
With the newer stuff, it never seems to be shortened.
Going out on the Matt wouldn’t sound right, would it?
Some are more obvious than others. The originals left out the rhyming part as it was supposed to be a covert means of communication.
So ‘you’re avin a turkish’ is more subtle than ‘you’re avin a giraffe’
Very clever
Rhyming slang certainly is changing. You never hear german bands any more
My german bands are freezing
The cold’s not good for your raspberry ripples either
Very true, GIE @4:27.
I simply do not pretend to understand some of the ascerbic comments that some other fans make about AW or certain players.
Have an opinion, yes but to excoriate your own in vile terms is just foreign to my understanding of supporting a team.
Perhaps it is a perception thing, and they have not made clear what they meant.
You know the — “I hope you realise that what you understood from what I wrote was not what I actually meant to say!”
(I am ashamed to admit that I have horribly re-phrased a famous saying because my memory has let me down 😳 but I am sure you have the gist). 🙂
I wrote a post some time ago about “The Human Perception Syndrome”.
Basically, the thesis is that we are each conditioned to see things the way we EXPECT to see them, so that one man’s ‘good’ is another man’s ‘bad’. That is why 10 witnesses to an accident will come up with several different reasons for the causes of the accident, which is what makes eye witness statements so unreliable.
Altho’ I know all this, it does sometimes bug me when someone says something which is diametrically contrary to my own view and is made all the worse by the use of pernicious comments.
I should know better, but I cannot help it! 😳
And now I think you lot are taking the mickey! 🙂
I don’t know what or who to “Adam and Eve”!!
That’s one isn’t it? 🙂
RA.
I expect the miscreants from N15 to be Eartha (Kitt)!
Raddy — what??? 🙂
I used to like it when the spuds had pony on their training kit (pony and trap for RA’s edification)
A blend of rhyming slang and your perception theory …
Great minds Rasp or could be fools never differ
Re my 4:52, I apologize for inadvertently reverting to my didactic vocabulary!! 😳
(slopes off thinking – I have been trying so hard not to be a verbal geek and then this) 😦
I think I had better chill on the slang. I know I will use a phrase out of context and look a blunt tool!
Geddit? 🙂
Some of the more amusing ones have several versions for the same word..
… Chalfonts, Nobbys and Emmas being my favourites
That’d be a ‘garden’ RA as in garden tool 😕
I am not even going to ask Rasper! 🙂
Rasp,
You think I have not noticed your abject disloyalty to the little Russian meerkat.
Gone is the sshh-ing AA to be replaced by an RA type dotted avatar.
You have blackened your name, sir, not to mention your escutcheon!! 🙂
How did GIE write in blue?
Its in blue Raddy because he turned the word into a link – but I don’t know how he did that. I’m sure chas is beavering away to discover how he was out-clevered!
Meerkat back for you RA
Chalfont St Giles
Nobby Stiles
Emma Freuds
…. get it?
Just read through some of the comments and the reference to Song and also LG.
I would go as far as to say there has been a vendetta on Song on LG for these past three seasons by the authors. They are entitled to there opinion but to single him out is extremely unfair. From memory he has provided quite a few equisite passes,lobs or chips this season resulting in goals.
I could run through the whole squad and pick faults in each player or say bullshit “that they are playing for a move”.
Sczeny will become a great keeper,nothing fazes him, but fabianski distributes the ball better, but all in all Sczeny is the real deal.
I am not so disappointed as my expectations were not so high this season and although we had a disastrous start,we recovered well yet at the same time nowhere as some expected. We have used 32 players this season and undoubtedly the injuries to Sagna,Vernaelen and Wilshere haven’t helped.
To me it is just for some reason a lack of confidence and nerves which is spoiling things for us and though luck has been minimal nearly every player apart from RVP who is expected to score is firing blanks. Shit happens and we can only post our frustaion.As i have said before maybe the gamble of last minute buys wasn’t thought out that well,but there may have been other reasons.
Still 15 games to go and who knows over two legs in the CL anything is possible.If it is not to be so be it.
Because it is a ‘link’ Raddy? Altho’ if that is the reason, the next question is ‘how’? I do not know.
Damn clever these big accountants!! 🙂
RA. Thinking of the Escutcheon. Did you know that the word Bastard comes from heraldry?
A person born to an aristocrat out of wedlock was given a Bar Sinister – a black stripe going from left to right – on his coat of arms, which over time became shortened to a bar steward!
Or is it just Jacksons? (Jackson Pollocks)
Rasp, @5:21
Snap!
And, thank you, Andrei and I are most gratefuls! 🙂
And @ 5:23
No!
Giles/Stiles rhymes with? — smiles, miles, guiles, aisles, isles? No idea!
Freuds (or should that Freud – relation of Sigmund?) — Nope, no idea.
Did you make them up? 🙂
kelsey. IMO the signings have worked well.
Santos looks a fine player,His injury was very unfortunate
Gervinho needs a goal but is very exciting.
O-C is a future star. Very very exciting.
BFG. I like him very much, has great composure and is a leader.
Arteta. Already essential to the team. No Cesc replacement but who could be?
Jenks. Oe for the future at 19 and cheap as chips.
Bennie. Just a loan. Scored an important late goal.
Park. Signing him is a mystery which will hopefully be solved later in the season.
So all in all the signings would appear to have added to the squad.
What is lacking is the spark of unpredictability and genius that Cesc, Wilshere and to a lesser extent Nasri brought to the team.
I agree with you about expectations but we have been spoilt 😉
Rasberry ripples is my favourite.
Raddy the easiest way is for us with mod capabilities to use the edit comment link then there is an icon to link to a website.
BB Code allows you to type something like [url=www.google.com]this[\url] which would turn it blue and place a link.
But this site requires HTML and i can’t type it without it doing it but I will try and do it below but I guess a link to a instruction would work just as well
Or read the instructions here
Raddy,
I am not that conversant with etymological constructs, but from my Latin lessons from long ago, I remember my teacher, who spoke Latin fluently, referring to me as a bastardus, when he thought I was being disruptive – Me, no? – or bastardi when giving the class the finger.
A great deal of English is based on a Latin/Saxon/Norman mix so you could be right about the heraldic influence. I do not know.
What I do know, which might support your claim, is that traditionally English ties which carry a diagonal stripe, always slope from left down to the right! That’s true!
For some reason, American diagonally striped ties always slope from the right to the left. I do not know why, but that is true too!
Don’t know anyone called Jackson Pollock?
Never understood why Derby is your belly, but my favourite has always been Turtles
RA… piles/haemorroids …. as I’m sure you guessed 😉
Emmanuel Frimpong @Frimpong26AFC
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details If I ever get Racially Abused I wouldn’t think f telling the FA…..I would rather tell my mum
And as for newer incarnations they still work in the shortened sense, giraffe is a bit pony.
But ‘avin’ a turkish was replaced with ‘avin’ a bubble where i grew up.
And in football parlance if you were a sub you were on the Dame Judi.
And if you had a new pair of trainers people would compliment you on your new Claire’s (think agony aunt)
Raddy,
I was talking about the last minute buys and loans and Park ?. Santos will come good, jenkinson is one for the future.Benyahoun not really featured as a loan deal, why not ?
I still think Benny was signed when Arteta looked like falling through at the last knockings
RA. Jackson Pollock is an American artist and if you had one of his paintings you would know all about him!!
He holds the record for the most expensive painting ever sold – 160 million dollars!!!
Rasp, @5:54 — No. 😳 Does not trip off the tongue.
GIE, @ 5:44 and 5:47, is now definitely speaking a weird foreign lingo!! 🙂
Raddy, my bad. Ignorance is no excuse, but …… I am very ignorant!!
Jackson Pollack is a famous American artist
I had a Monty Python book when I was young and they had a brilliant Sloane ranger rhyming slang ditionary in it.
Chalet in Gstad = Dad
My Dad used the most slang of any person I’ve ever met.
He was speaking to a japanese friend of mine who didn’t speak much Englis.
He called the Arch bishop of canterbury “The geezer wiv the big hat” She looked confused so to clear things up he said “the arch bishop of Canterbury, He’s the top noise in the Anglican church dear”
😀 GM
Raddy, don’t tell me if I am being too inquisitive, but I am dying to know — do you have a check shirt and guitar? 🙂
“A giraffe is a pony” — I think it has all become a bit too much for poor old GIE ………………my belly is my Derby??????????????????
What’s that? 🙂 On second thoughts, I retract the question!!
My dad’s favorites were
Who pays the poxy duke of kent in this gaff?
Shut up and eat your Bob Skinner.
Get it down your Quaker
Up the wooden hill (at bedtime)
That’s your hopping pot
Have alow flyer (famous grose)
RA. Might do …..
GM, 🙂
I’m with the Japanese lady! 🙂
RA
Having a giraffe = Laugh
Pony and trap = Crap
J. Arthur Rank = Wank (just thought I’d throw that one in)
peaches can you check arsenal nuts, please?
Well, Raddy, I think you are an absolutely brilliant performer!!
I cannot tell you how often I have gone back to watch and listen to that vid — the singing is ace — how do you get those top notes? — and I just love the expressive, humourous performance.
I’m not surprised you have had a hundred wives – if you sang that to me with those lovely big eyes, I might change sides myself!! 🙂
That, of course, is if my giant leap to conclusions is correct!
‘hampton’ always makes me laugh
GM,
So GIE’s “a giraffe is a pony” = “a laugh is a crap” — British humor or what?? 🙂
I am off before you lot blow my slang brain.
(don’t tell me – “horses” = “mane” = “brain”.) Oh yeah!! 🙂 🙄
ta ra.
chas – I’ve replied to you 🙂
crookster says… ah.. you have to love the fickle mind of the football fan… had RVP’s shots gone in off the post for 2-0 not a jot would be said here this very day… – anyone calling for arsene’s head seriously needs to take a massive look at themselves… do any of you actually have a clue what you are talking about??? If he is sacked tomorrow you could kiss goodbye to any possibility of playing champs league football for the next decade… you are finacially a mid table club at best – There is no money at the club for Christs sake – how can you not see this?? There never has been either!! Who is your record signing??? How do you expect to compete with the big boys under these restrictions.. FFS Arteta who has been a great signing by the way had to take a pay cut from EVERTON to join you… EVERTON!! I could pay their wage bill. The only reason you are even in the champs league or have had any success is because of your teams footballing style… Sack Wenger and watch that disintegrate.. watch the next manager by ten million pound players whilst trying to balance the books… do you think it is coincedence your season ticket is as high as it is?? – Also watch the giants of the game take note of his availability – barca, real, united, city, chelsea… jose leaving, pep unsure, fergie retiring, mancini still yet to prove himself, AVB having a mare… all posibilities for his signature.. Imagine what he could do with a fortune to spend? – I know none of you (arsenal fans) will even pay the slightest bit of attention to this comment.. You have been so spoilled that you are now greedy little misers unwilling to accept anything other than being back on top… It aint gonna happen – not with wenger – not with fergie – not with jose – not without a heap load of cash.. Only arsenal fans think he should go.. no other fans – footballers – managers – just arsenal fans.. says a lot
Long comment but I thought it was interesting from f365
Can i just say that i had no intention of writing anything on last nights game, but Rasp’s comment about how he and Peaches have to put this page together every single day, even when they probably dont feel like doing it, really made me aware of what a fantastic job they do.
Thanks guys for making such an amazing site, although, to be honest, us bloggers should take all the credit really for writing the posts!!! 😉
Keep up the good work.
RA. Don’t know what you are talking about 😉
Have you read Murakami? I have read all bar the latest and love them.
Never having been to Japan I do not know whether his descriptions of the culture are accurate.
If so, can you recommend the new one1Q84?
SGG. Well said. It cannot be easy having to take on the task 365 a year.
And to have a site where we can disagree without recourse to abuse is a testament to them both (and us)
I think he meant The slang “giraffe” was pony.
Or tom tit even
Off to cook a simple meal – scramble eggs with salmon and wholemeal toast. Throw in a few leaves and Yummy.
Sayonara
Nice comment that GM. And interesting view, I wonder of he is actually an Arsenal fan or an interested observer.
I think Gazidis was right in his interview it is not transfer fees that will be a problem going forward we are building a war chest. What is a problem is wages and that is what FFP in the main aims to sort out. I’m sure they have a section to deal with signing on fees and money paid to agents.
Something tells me we don’t reward agents as handsomely as others hence why when a choice between re signing for us or moving to another club the player gets led astray.
ladyarse @ladyarse
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details “I’d never been to Monaco in my life, and I certainly won’t be going again.” ‘Arry
atode ne Raddy
peaches, you have mail.
Evening all,
Well played Slim. Not an easy task.
We had sun here today. A very rare event, eh GliC? So I’ve been on a very frosty beautiful Dartmoor. Nice to read everyone being so civil and calm, again, not easy.
GM,
Heard that ‘arry asked a policeman in court to stop staring at him 🙂
So I see we’re now 7th. Is that good enough that we won’t have to appear on telly on thursday’s, or do we need to aim a little lower to be sure?
GIE,
In case you haven’t already seen the new squad lists;
Squad (including Home Grown):
Andre Santos, Andrey Arshavin, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Marouane Chamakh, Abou Diaby, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski, Gervinho, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Vito Mannone, Per Mertesacker, Ju Young Park, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Thierry Henry, Alex Song, Sebastien Squillaci, Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott.
Under-21 Age Group:
Benik Afobe, Wellington, Chuks Aneke, Martin Angha, Zak Ansah, Kyle Bartley, Hector Bellerin, Samir Bihmoutine, Daniel Boateng, George Brislen-Hall, Alban Bunjaku, James Campbell, Joel Campbell, Reice Charles-Cook, Francis Coquelin, Craig Eastmond, Kyle Ebecilio, Thomas Eisfeld, Zach Fagan, Emmanuel Frimpong, Samuel Galindo, Ben Glasgow, Serge Gnabry, Sead Hajrovic, Isaac Hayden, Conor Henderson, Gavin Hoyte, Anthony Jeffrey, Carl Jenkinson, Henri Lansbury, Damian Martinez, Sean McDermott, Jernade Meade, Ignasi Miquel, Ryo, Jeffrey Monakana, Elton Monteiro, Rhys Murphy, Nigel Neita, Kris Olsson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Aaron Ramsey, Josh Rees, Philip Roberts, James Shea, Wojciech Szczesny, Jon Toral, Sanchez Watt, Jack Wilshere, Jordan Wynter, Nico Yennaris.
Wow!! 🙂
RA,
I’d sell Ben Glasgow immediately 🙂
In fact, now I’ve thought about it more seriously, I’d flog the lot of them except Oxo, as he’s going to be that good we won’t be needing anyone else.
Hungry. Goodnight.
Well said slim.
Escape from planet of the Orcs, gasp, I only just made It !. Was that you Legsey, body boarding down the slopes of Dartmoor with your snowballs just intact as I passed on the A30 heading for the Sub-Tropical Launceston!. 🙂
Magic Sandals
A married couple were on holiday in Jamaica .
They were touring around the market-place looking at the goods and such, when they passed a small sandal shop.
From inside they heard the shopkeeper with a Jamaican accent say, ‘You foreigners! Come in. Come into my humble shop.’
So the married couple walked in.
The Jamaican said to them, ‘I ‘ave some special sandals I tink you would be interested in. Dey makes you wild at sex.’
Well, the wife was really interested in buying the sandals after what the man claimed, but her husband felt he really didn’t need them, being the Sex God that he was.
The husband asked the man, ‘How could sandals make you a sex freak?’
The Jamaican replied, ‘Just try dem on, Mon.’
Well, the husband, after some badgering from his wife, finally gave in and tried them on.
As soon as he slipped them onto his feet, he got this wild look in his eyes, something his wife hadn’t seen before!!
In the blink of an eye, the husband grabbed the Jamaican, bent him over the table, yanked down his pants, ripped down his own pants, and grabbed a firm hold of the Jamaican’s thighs.
The Jamaican began screaming: ‘You got dem on de wrong feet!’
Evening all,
Any good news of any sort?
What time will ye be at the Tavern on Saturday? My flight gets in at 8am and should be in London about 10am , get some food, then head down. I’ve to get up at 4.30am Saturday morning … I’ll try not to be a cranky bunny 😆
Talking of Sub-Tropical, I see Magnum Pi (aka chary ) wants to go Hawaii. I once went on a very cheap holiday there, I slept on a very loud 60`s scottish singer, It was on a lulu, which was softer than on a surfboard !, I watched a football game there and this referee Danno kept booking everyone !. Who won ?, Hawaii 5-0 ! :opps:
Raddy,
Should you return. I have only read 2 of Murukami’s books; An Elephant Vanishes and South of the Border, west of the Sun.
I do not know enough of Japan to comment on the accuracy of its portrayal in his books, which are deeply introverted/introspective and philosophical, and altho enjoyable were a little bit difficult for me.
(I suppose it was partly because I found the translation from Japanese into English was slightly ‘arch’ and distracted me — but that was probably just me!) 🙂
I have a friend who is reading IQ84, and loves Murukami’s work and has read most of his books. With IQ84 he says that it is a bit quirky, as it is like two books, interleaved in alternate chapters telling the stories of the two main characters in turn, but he soon adjusted and is enjoying it.
I might read it after him!! 🙂
My tastes are very eclectic, and for a light but grippingly enjoyable novel of 17th Century Japan and its prevailing culture, which still speaks to modern Japan, I would recommend James Clavell’s Shogun. It is based on a true story, and gives a very good feel for the country, its culture and its interface with the West.
If you have not already read it, it will certainly give a background to some of the thinking and reactions of the characters in the two Murukami novels I have read, from a western author’s perspective of Japan, of course.
[Snobs will tell you I am talking bollix – but don’t be put off by that 🙂 ]
Driving along the M5, I saw an oxymoron , A van had “eat healthy British chickens” advertised on It !, when since has something dead been healthy ? and why cant my MiL be that healthy !.
VCC, 🙂
Glic, you too, 🙂
Hi Irish, 🙂
Nitey Nite Jailhouse! 🙂
And g’night from me too!
GLiC 7:57. Very funny.
I see you enjoyed your visit to the Tavern. I had the honour before the recent QPR game.
nite Redders !
Hi VCC,
What a day, to meet our AA family and then be up the North Bank where all the goals were going In, makes me want to move back !. 🙂
SGG….quality. Short sharp and spot on.
From yesterday/this morning:
Chas – Oxymoron. Lol…that was word of the week over two years ago. Well played.
RockyElvis: Pride and Prej, Wuthering Hts, Huck Finn, Gullivers Travels, Mme Bovary, Scarlett Letter (N.Hawthorne), Treasure Island, and there’s one missing from the shelf behind me.
Irish: Downfall – Herr and Frau Goebbels warped ‘love’ for their six children !!!
Hi and Bye RA 🙂
GLIC – 7.57. Oh dear….
You and Terry……
🙂
SS – I know, and it was all very real. I’m very interested in WWII, and as much as people call me a Nazi-sympathizer because I show an interest in their ideologies as opposed to support them, I have little interest in the allied sides in the war.
My Polish friend has moved back home and has told me I can come visit anytime and will show me around the deathcamps.
Irish,
Almunia has been de-listed! 🙂
Should be at the Tavern by 11, I’d imagine.
I know Sharkattack, but you must realize, Driving 250 miles upto Stoke gives me plenty of time to come up with such “super quality” ! 🙂
chas,
Almunia will be at the Tavern !, I know your a techno wizard , wow !
Almunia and his dog, glic!
lovely….
I could have done with them puppies and that jacket on Sunday ! 🙂
Looks like their on the run from two furballs , help !
Poor Mooney – he’s better than Flapianski imo
See ye there about 11:30 Chas – I’ll be the one looking like Michelin Man given the current weather
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsenal-legend-dennis-bergkamp-scores-stunning-volley-in-ajax-training/
The Iceman still has it
timpayton tim payton
Next AST meeting rearranged to 6.30pm on Monday 20 February.
I would like to thank you all for making me see the ” whole picture ” that is Arsenal much clearer . Before coming on here, my Arsenal debating was basically talking to the mirror, which was like talking to a politician, being answered with a question !.
Learning much more about the running of the club, especially the Financial side.which gives me a feeling of pride that were doing it right. I still have my ” disbelief ” moments with Arsene, but we`re all human and he needs our support more than ever.
Since Sunday, I think I`ve been “infested” by Terry, I seem to be agreeing with what he say`s, I think he slipped me a Kaliedoscope instead of a telescope, everything looks pretty and colourfull ! 😯 I`m convinced FPP Is going to work and we will be back in business. It might take a couple of years but “the futures bright, the futures Red and White” ! 🙂
Sounds like a real fun trip you have planned there Irish !!!
Oddly enough that sort of day out as part of a holiday would interest me as well.
Whilst in Salou nr Barca I insisted on visiting the ruins at Tarragona which was only a 30min bus ride away. Yep – with wife, and kids aged 10, 7 and 3 in tow. Lots of shops and ice creams along the way… thankfully for them.
250 miles GLIC…rather you than me. I don;t like driving during the day at all, much less to the land of the Orcs !!
Apparently my work is taking me to Edinburgh one day next week. Not looking forward to it. I love Edinburgh, but a day trip that takes me from airport to office and back again is really not my idea of how best to enjoy it.
I blanche at trips to offices half a mile away…..upsetting my bloody routines.
I’m 44.
GLIC,
Funny you should mention that motto. I sign my work emails with ‘the futures bright, the futures ginger’! 🙂
If that U21 squad list isn’t a statement of intent then I don’t know what is! That is basically Arsene Wenger saying ‘fuck all y’all, cos in 3 years time we gunna be da shizzle!’…….but in French!!!! 🙂
There will be plenty drinking of the Polish vodka SS 😆
She’s actually coming back to Ireland next week, she misses the cider here 😆
Lol at Almunia….he’s prob got on £5ks worth of clobber and still looks like he’s off to entertain children at a party. There’s no accounting for taste ‘eh.
You’d need a wide angle lens to get me and my Mrs in the same shot if I’m dressed like that, but there’s Mrs Almunia toddling along beside him happy as Larry…..
Work mails…..!!!
Legend.
“‘You got dem on de wrong feet!’” !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks RA,
Guess we knew that it was the end for Manuel anyway and now with being delisted it confirms it (and also my post earlier in the window).
And proves precisely why I felt we wouldn’t sign anyone. Some will obviously say we could have taken Squid out too if necessary, but it’s why for me the Henry signing was an unnecessary move (or at least a limiting one).
But the under 21 list is some list and there are some good players in there. And some reasons to be cheerful.
I don’t think signing Henry limited anything GiE. He still wouldn’t have signed anyone else.
Whilst I agree Manuel is not top premiership class,or as good as Szczesny, I still had a soft spot for him. Had the pleasure of meeting/talking to him a couple of years back at Earls Court (Spanish exhibition) He is a really nice, down to earth guy.
Maybe GM but if we found the wages and insurance for Henry we could have found the wages for a loan until the end of the season on a younger more PL prepared striker.
VCC Almunia never had the pleasure of playing behind our current back 4 so he was always at a disadvantage, but some of his ill judged dashes from the 18 yd box didn’t help him.
He was probably a better shot stopper than most give him credit for but in the PL it’s about 20% being a shot stopper, 50% controlling your area, and 30% decision making. Both Almunia and Fab suffer in the latter two.
Just been on twitter for a while. There are some seriously embarrasing Arsenal “fans” out there. Is john cross supposed to be a gooner?
The latest great plan from our ‘cyber support’ is to place black bin bags over empty seats at the stadium. It could get tasty on Saturday.
I couldn’t sit next to a black bin bag.
Hang on a minute, I already do!
http://yfrog.com/oe7g2aaj
I am a black bin bag, and I am an Arsenal fanatic, mmmmmmm
morning Chas,
thanks for the clip yesterday..very inspiring champ!
whos bon jovi again?
hahah..whistling wind?
next youll see tumbleweeds rolling by (if i get the jist of what your implying.
My girl says I am full of rubbish!
She knows how to hurt a Bin Bags feelings.
Morning all…..
….. New post …..
gerioflex…
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