Hopefully you’re still feeling a warm glow from Saturday’s impressive win over Blackburn Rovers.
It has certainly calmed some of the pitchfork-and-torch brigade who were on the march after the 0-0 at Bolton.
They may not have had the imagination or panache to use pitchforks and torches, but they had their bin bags and were still determined to march on Castle Emirates and demand the head of Baron von Wengerstein.
Nevertheless, it is this reaction (to the Bolton draw) that is more interesting than the relief/rejoicing felt over the 7-1 victory.
A nil-nil away at Bolton, who themselves had recently thrashed Liverpool 3-0, may have been a bit disappointing but was hardly a terrible result in the great scheme of things.
It’s the fact that it came on the back of three straight defeats in the EPL that got everyone so stirred up, me included.
I thought we were unlucky not to have beaten Bolton, but I still felt moved to write a Post about the way in which certain players had so little end product at the moment that every time they received the ball I felt my heart sink in the sure knowledge that the move would come to nothing.
The three defeats that preceded Bolton (Fulham, Man Utd and Swansea) themselves followed a wobbly run which included narrow wins over Everton and QPR and a home draw with Wolves.
The slump was all the more painful coming on the back of a re-flowering of hope and optimism as we put aside our disastrous start to the season to climb back up to fourth in the table.
And it gave ample ammunition to all those who have been saying for some time that Arsene is a busted flush and that Arsenal will never be great again under his stewardship.
So was our spectacular fall from grace the fault of Baron von Wengerstein? Is his castle crumbling around him while he works feverishly in the dungeons attempting to create the ultimate uber-footballer from primordial gloop and cast off bits of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry and an injection of Fabregas DNA? (Don’t mock. Why do you think TH is really back with us for these few weeks?)
The worrying thought is that the “blip” was not the collapse in form in December and January, but rather was the brief period of resurgence that preceded it.
Well, I beg to differ.
The slump was entirely due to one thing: the loss of all four of our senior fullbacks at the same time with long term injuries.
It was a staggering piece of misfortune, akin to winning the lottery and then getting run over by a truck on the way to claim your millions. All teams suffer injuries to good players, but I can think of hardly any examples where an entire specialism has been wiped out for such a long period (although I believe Manchester United lost all their decent centre backs a couple of seasons ago).
And fullback play really is a specialism. The loss of recognised fullbacks imbalances a team in a way that no other position does (for proof, consider that it is generally easier for fullbacks and defensive midfielders to slot into centre back positions than for anyone to slot into a fullback role).
The fullbacks are crucial in linking defence and attack, in providing width for the team and giving extra space and options for the wide attackers.
I know it’s not especially insightful to point this out and that many commentators and many posters on AA have drawn attention to the way in which the fullback problem has affected our season, but I thought I would do some work to actually quantify it.
Starting after the close of the summer transfer window (and the acquisition of our new players) I have looked at our record in EPL games where we have started with two recognised fullbacks, with one and with none.
Firstly, it’s striking to note that in the 20 games since we lost at Old Trafford, we have started two proper fullbacks on only SIX occasions.
In a further six we had one FB and in the remaining eight we had no FBs at all and had to use other squad players to fill in on both defensive flanks.
In the eight games with no fullbacks, we took 10 points from a possible 24. That’s an average of 1.25 points per game.
In games where we started with at least one real FB we took 26 points from 36, which is 2.2 points per game. This is a very significant difference. It suggests that if we had not had to endure six games with no orthodox FBs we might now have six more points and we would be sitting fourth on 47 points, three ahead of Chelsea.
Interestingly, our record is slightly better in games where we started with one fullback than in those where we started with two. But this is skewed by the two defeats we took at Blackburn and the Spuds when the new players who arrived on the last day of the window were just bedding in (both those defeats were in the first four fixtures with the new squad).
The important point about fullbacks is that their absence affects our attack as much as our defence. Many have commented on the fact Theo Walcott seems much more dangerous when he has a more progressive defender behind him than the likes of Djourou or Koscielny.
In the games with zero FBs we scored at a rate of just over one goal per game (1.1). With one or two FBs our scoring goes up to 2.3 goals per game. Again, a very significant difference.
So what does all this mean?
It means that with Sagna back from injury and Gibbs supposedly available in the next week or so we can start to be optimistic that the run we were putting together before the FB crisis can now be resumed. I know that Gibbs has a poor injury record so we can’t necessarily expect him to stay fit and that both Santos and Jenkinson are still weeks away, but as the figures above demonstrate, even ONE proper fullback can make a big difference to our results.
It also means that all those other players whose own game was affected by the unbalanced nature of our fullbackless team can also be expected to improve. This includes two of the three I dubbed as “hopeless” the other day (Arshavin and Walcott).
And with Gervinho returning and the Ox having forced his way into the team, there is every reason to be positive about a strong finish to the season.
Many people (include many AA-ers who are keen supporters of Arsene Wenger) have largely written off the possibility of us taking a Champions League spot this year.
Not me. For me it is very much on and I expect us to really get a run going now.
Arsene is far from flawless (his substitution of Oxo against Man Utd being one of his bigger mistakes recently) but he is still a magician who can get a team playing unplayable football.
When we had our slump in form, he was not in denial, or off his trolley, or senile, or greedily watching the club’s bank balance grow. He was just monumentally unlucky to lose four good fullbacks at the same time.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xodadb_yossi-benayoun-vs-blackburn-rovers_sport
Well said
In 2 matches against Fulham and Man U the opposition manager receognised that Djourou is not a full back and that was a weak spot. They both exploited this weakness with the result that Djourou is sent off and Man U get free crosses into the penalty area.
We dropped 6 points when we could reasonably have expected to collect 4
Good points. Imagine if any of our rivals had all 4 full-backs out injured for such a long period – would they drop lots of points? You bet they would. Think of a Man Utd side without Rafael, Evra, Fabio and Smalling, or a Chelsea side without Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Ferreira and Cole. Or even a Spurs side without Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Walker or Bale. You could go on. The fact is, this is not a bad Arsenal side. It is far from perfect, even with full-backs, but we are not the also-rans many would have you believe. I still feel we are putting all our eggs in one basket when it comes to Van Persie, and despite his high number of assists, Theo Walcott can be infuriating. However, we now have another star in Oxlade-Chamberlain, and with Wilshere to come back you can make that at least 3 star players. There is still much work to do. It is vital that we finish in the top four; don’t buy into the nonsensical argument that finishing outside the top four would be good for the club. The Champions League is where we need to be, and if we’re not there we are no longer one of Europe’s elite clubs. Period.
By the way, you are right about Man Utd losing all their full-backs from a couple of years ago, but it was only for a few games. Oh, and during that time they lost 3-0 to Fulham when Carrick and Evra played as emergency centre-backs. I rest my case.
*Sorry, Man Utd lost all their centre-backs, not full-backs.
Good analysis. But I’m afraid the blame still lies with our manager who risked Santos in a dead rubber match and did nothing to remedy the situation in January.
Good post and great analysis mate. i can’t agree more.
We tend to forget easily, though facts are right in front of us. I also think that if we had Arteta, we could have done better in the games that we lost.
I don’t think Henry was brought in to score us the goals that will see us into top 4 but i suspect he was brought in to teach our strikers movement and scoring. Yesterday Theo’s, Oxo’s and RVP’s movements were smashing and Arsenalike.
Didn’t we miss Arteta for two of the losses as well? I think he is immensely important to balance and cohesion of the team. Combined with the loss of our fullbacks, well, we all know what happened.
Morning all,
Top post Rocky.
As you say, balance is essential to the team and losing the fullbacks who are effectively the cornerstones of your defence and attack is bound to have a huge impact on performances and results.
No outfield player can play on his own, he is reliant on the quality, workrate and movement around him. Fullbacks have to multi task more than any other player so it is a very specialist position, the best attempts of TV and Djourou to deputise were always going to leave us vulnerable down the flanks.
As others have pointed out, the knock on effect is that the wide midfielders lack support and therefore their efficacy drops accordingly.
Morning John,
I agree re Arteta. Comparisons are always spurious, but I would say that Arteta has done as good a job as a deep lying midfielder as Cesc used to when he was called upon to play that role. He reads the game well but also (like Rosicky yesterday) is full of running and has a fantastic work rate.
Very interesting, Rocky.
Thanks for taking the time to go back and have a look.
Those Blackburn and spuds defeats were both games in which Sagna was subbed off. We (Ant and me) were disgusted at Djourou’s performance at Blackburn as replacement full back and hoped we’d never see him at full back again. I just had a look and Coquelin was on the bench that day, too.
I wonder how the following games might have panned out if AW had chosen Le Coq as sub for Sagna in that Blackburn game. I know Coquelin isn’t a full back as such, but compared to JD20 he looks as though he was born there!
Pace, confidence on the ball, mobility, the ability to close down and tackle are all requirements to be a decent full back. (before anyone says anything, senhor Santos is the exception that proves the rule! His superb ability in some of these departments makes up for deficiencies in others).
I completely agree with ogban, playing Santos in Greece was a mystifying decision.
Hi John / Rasp – i did a piece a few weeks ago that identified Arteta as our MVP. His stats are increasing now that he is back.
We may curse the RVP injuries over the last few years but Tomas Rosicky has been one of our best players this season – he is used sparingly but he definitely improved the team every time he starts or comes on as a sub.
I wonder how we could have been if he had of stayed fit long.. I doubt we ever would have bought Arshavin.
Missing several factors on Saturday. As I watched the game in the freezing cold I noticed Rosicky was almost back to Rosicky of old much better than Ramsey.
Without Arteta we are far less successful and Song is just awesome so it is not all about loss of full backs it is having three good midfielders that makes the difference.
chas, I agree re Coquelin, he oozes quality – a real Arsenal player. I said yesterday that I hope AW can find a way of fitting him into the team because he adds to the defence and attack and is improving every game.
D98, despite what most would consider an iffy season so far, we have had many heroes to applaud beyond RvP obviously – Rosicky, Arteta, Kozzer, The BFG, Coquelin and Jenkinson have all played for the team unselfishly.
God I can’t stand ferguson. What a complete tosser. I wish that bloke assulting him on Euston station was on youtube.
We are 9 points behind where we were this time last season. From this point last season we only won 4 more games so I’m expecting to have more points this season despite all the injuries and the turmoil caused by the two traitors.
well said gm..
I blogfarted again
Hi gm, I wouldn’t blame yourself. I’d have thought that after a great performance on Saturday, today’s post would have attracted plenty of comment – shows what I know 😕
The movement and passing was superb on Saturday. I started geting annoyed we didn’t score 10. 🙂
Its true and fans should learn up. To Be. Realistic
http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=1748831.html?rss=1748831+Messi+and+Van+Persie+in+Golden+Shoe+hunt
Robin looks pregnant!
Goonermichael 10.25
What is the comment about SAF in reference to, I can’t see it.
Morning all, it’s true – as the Rock rightly says – the loss of actual full backs was so ,,,uch more damaging ot a team that play like us than they would be to a cloggers type of side(Stoke, birmingham City etc..)
It was a great performance on Sautrday and ot see the looks on the northern monkeys faces (I was two blocks away from them) as the goals rained in was fun.
The only down side on the day is that I’ve probably got a speeding ticket from one of those police vans with the blacked out side windoow on a bridge above the M40.
Bollocks, that’s 3 points and sixty squid 😦
I gave up driving in November. I feel liberated chary.
Chary 66, at least that’s 2 more points than Chavs and ManUre got yesterday.
Rocky, 🙂 🙂 🙂 — they are for your Post!
🙂 🙂 🙂 — they are for Eli Manning!!!!
Fantastic post, 100% agree. When you think we lost Cesc, Na$ri, Clichy , Then Jack for a season and Verm for a while, to lose all our FB`s ( with their pace and skill I`d rather call them Wingbacks , what next, right half and inside left ! ) was just unbelievable bad luck ( apart from Santos, that was a Wenger booby ) and to be even in with a shout for 4th makes me feel very proud of this club. As others have said, where would the other teams be, If inflicted with our problems. 4th will be Wengers greatest achievement imo.
GM – if it wasn’t for the school runs that I have to do and the fact the buses are so shite where I live I’d like to give up driving too. Once you leave Londn, everything is so spaced out and every day places are 5-10 miles apart.
Arsedave: except for the bar codes result all the over results went well for us,this is what GM referred @ 10.25 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562856/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-attacked-in-London-station.html
Although I don’t condone violence I thought it was f***ing hilarious at the time. 🙂
RL,
reading the post we have a new phase this season “the red zone” as described by our manager and of course the loss of all recognised full backs was a massive blow but you have to add that we had a new keeper as well, as I alluded to earlier this morning.
Rasp,
if you are about I didn’t really understand your comments last night about “taking a phrase or sentence out of context”.
this isn’t a review of the season, it’s a daily blog and I know how difficult it is for you,peaches and all the other contributers to keep it fresh and interesting,let alone find something new to talk about every day.
There are no rules as to how much or little one posts on here as we all have other duities and for many it is actually to work 🙂
If a player has a stinker of a game or a blinder one will always get different views, that makes for a good blog IMO
I also agree with rasp, I really am a fan of Le Coq ( `pong will really have to up his game to dislodge him, competition will only benefit us though !), some great youngsters coming through. Anyone know where Bunjaku went to ?
Congratulations to you Redders, I bet you`ve had a great night/morning ! 🙂
GliC,
Still the same old small hamlet on the Afghan/Pakistan border, I believe.
Rocky,
Very well constructed post. As always.
I agree with everything you say, as our style of “complete” football relies so much more on the “whole” rather than the “parts” that make up less sophisticated teams.
I am now going away to have a little think about whether I what I have written makes any sense at all.
Morning kelsey,
I didn’t really want to trawl all this up again – but I’ll explain.
Any comment from a debate in the past is relevant to that post and the discussion it generates. To replicate a comment from another time in a current post in a different set of circumstances presents it out of context and therefore misleads the reader and (not always intentionally) makes the writer look like a fool.
We as Arsenal supporters should know more than anyone how damaging and misleading the reporting of comments taken out of context can be since our manager and players are frequently the victim of such practices.
Above all, we are friends on here and we should be tolerant and accepting of the opinions of others.
Rocky,
Coffee is now waking me up!
I suspect you already know that I delight in reading your Posts, and, yet again, today’s is a cracker. 🙂
What intrigues me, because it is a special talent very few bloggers have, is that you can change your writing style so easily, from amusing whimsy – albeit informative -; to hard hitting outrage at unjustified criticism of the manager or the players, or to an opinion forming discussion or appraisal of events germane to Arsenal, the club or Arsenal, the team.
In today’s Post you have written an introspective and consummately analytical article which is straight to the point and which has attracted a new audience of bloggers.
You won’t want to hear or read any of the above, that is not what you write for, but I cannot restrain my own wish to express my admiration of your writing qualities! 🙂
You, and the meritorious talents of many other Authors on AA is what keeps me from straying to other sites. 🙂 [Did I hear you say ‘don’t let us stop you?] Bugger!!
Go Rocky —- Go Giants (and we did) 🙂
Yip, it works for me 🙂
Not sure TA is going to be too happy with my evolving the “total” football tag into “complete” football.
Now off to explain myself to myself. This could take a while.
Rasp,
100% right what you say in your 11:58.
Understood Rasp.
Out of interest when TH12 banged in our seventh, that was the 60th. goal conceded by Robinson from us.
Kelsey,
Your second point suggests to me that you feel it may have been directed at you – it wasn’t.
The simple fact is that bloggers in the main can pick and choose when they wish to contribute to a debate. Some come on regularly whatever the circumstances to keep in touch, others cannot do that due to personal restrictions. Some pick and choose when to appear according to their agenda/bias/hang ups – call it what you will.
We only see the negative bloggers on here when we’ve had a bad game and they’re telling us how right they were and that we’re all deluded. The opposite is also true but is far easier to stomach.
Football is a game that stimulates great passion. The mood of supporters is created by the success/failure of the team as they see it and the comments reflect that.
Morning Micky, thanks 🙂
kelsey – fantastic, where do you get these gems from?
I have to say that although he was once a spud, I rather like Robinson. In the same way as Drogba destroyed Senderos’ Arsenal career, I feel sorry for Robinson, a single bobble of the ball cost him his England career. He distributes the ball as well as any keeper I’ve seen – Sz could do worse than following his example in that department.
I never thought it was directed at me Rasp.
You and others know my style of blogging and I write as I feel.
Ok, Unitd’s last 4 goals have all been penalties
rasp – i agree that we have had some big responses and some coming of age performances by a number of players .
Kos and Vermaelan are the best pairing in the league but play together to infrequently but yhe BFG has not yet earned his corn.
Arteta is a class act
Ramsay has stepped up
The OX will be the silver lining on the season.
I really feel that Wenger needs to set a transfer out deadline that is two weeks before preseason starts. then he needs to do his own business once he assesses the gaps..
a full preseason with a settled side and we will have a title
Here are the summer by summer sagas that have plagued our club in Wengers reign.
and the asterixes show our titles. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that a drama does not suit us –
2011 – Fabregas, Nasri
2010 – Fabregas (DNA, POOPY REINA SHIRT)
2009 – Adebayor, Toure
2008 – Hleb (ICE-CREAM), Flamini
2007 – Henry
2006 – Henry (Shirt), Reyes, Cole
2005 – Vieira (JUV)
2004 – Vieira (RM) **
2003 – *
2002 – **
2001 – *,**
2000 – Overmars, Petit
1999 – Anelka
1998 –
1997 – *,**
* League Champions
** FA Cup Champions
And long may it last kesley 😛
Wow, Rocky 🙂 Another masterpiece. You have added some strong facts to your point of view that make it very hard to argue against you.
No doubt we have missed our proper FB’s in the last couple of months, and your stats show how much this has cost us. The only good thing to come from this is the breaking through into the first team of both Coquelin and Miquel. Both grasped their opportunity and especially Coquelin has proven to be a decent alternative in a FB position (although his future is definitely in midfield).
I`ve been outside cutting some tree branches back, all done, come back In to warm up, I need something warm ,soft, fluffy and thick, but Mrs glic has just gone out so a duvet will have to do !. 🙂
Very interesting stuff D98 – we really have been tortured as a club and supporters in recent years.
Although I get fed up with the idea that ‘we’ll be world beaters in 2 years time’, I have to say that the future for next season looks bright.
If we keep RvP, Joel Campbell emerges as a potent striker, and Jack and everyone else remains fit, I’d be quite happy if we didn’t buy a single player over the summer and let several go! (Almunia, Vela, Bendtner, Denilson etc)
Rasper,
Your 11:58. I understand what you are saying.
Opinions are the lifeblood of this blog, and all other successful ones. I have opinions on everything, some of which take a lot of shifting, but I pride myself on having a flexible enough outlook that allows those opinions to be constantly in flux.
Why? Well any opinion I have is only my current view formed about something, and is often based on gut instinct, limited information or occasionally scanty facts, and therefore, by definition, is frequently subject to change as the ‘facts’, the ‘knowledge’ or my ‘gut instincts’ themselves change.
To hold me, or anyone else, to account for holding an opinion formed or expressed an hour ago, or a week ago, that has since been reconsidered, would be facile and unproductive.
If, of course, that is not at all what you meant — then it’s just my opinion, and I will change it for another, immediately! 🙂
Rasp – i would agree except i feel Wenger needs to buy at least 1 player to get the rust brigade to give him some breathing space – the negativity around the club hurts us…
but RVP should be met with and given a deadline to commit or not. If he doesn’t then make it clear that we will buy a new striker and leave robin on the bench unless he finds a new club outside the PL.
Great post Rocky. What a lovley day to think about fullbacks. Now plaese indulge my over excitement and consider the following. A mature Gibbs and Jenkinson at full back, the return of the wonderful jack wilshere in midfield, the emergence of Chamberlin in the attacking midfield role, and all the other fantastic talents we have at our disposal and tell me that we wont go on to have our best team since the 1930’s and dominate football for the next ten years.
Ive said it once, ive said it twice, ive said it a hundred times, but i dont care i will say it again, if we keep this squad together, and i think we will, we will have the best squad the Club has ever had and win absoloutly everything.
Good day all and thanks for the comments.
I was quite surprised to find that we have only started six EPL games this season with two real FBs.
There have been some excellent points made about the importance of Arteta, TR7, Kozzer etc, but a powerful engine is no good if you don’t have any wheels.
Redders
You’re making me blush (can’t do blushy emoticon)
I’m not a huge fan of American Football but I thought last night’s game was a real cracker. Eli was fantastic in the 4th quarter, but if it hadn’t been for three Patriots fumbles from excellent Brady passes I think the result would have gone the other way.
For the Giants’ last touchdown, was the guy mucking around by sitting down into the end zone, or was he trying to stay in play to kill time? (As an American I expect you to clarify this for me 🙂 )
RA@12.28 I think that is exactly what Rasp is trying to say and I fully agree. Once again you have been the master of sense and sensibility 🙂
Hi GLIC,
It was a great night’s viewing and so tense I have not really been able to sleep properly. [Don’t say I told you this — it’s in private …….obviously], but one of my highlights was Madonna’s performance, especially where she seemed to explode in a great gushing cloud of steam!! TerryNutkins would have loved it. 🙂
There is a story going around which you may be able to throw some light on for me.
It appears that a lady in Cornish Cornwall selected her husband by choosing a man who was a Gooner; was handsome; and was great in bed.
She loyally went on to say she was quite content even tho Mr Glic, the Gooner, only had one of these virtues.
Any truth in this. 🙂
D98,
It would appear that you think we should get tough with RvP. I have no knowledge of the standpoints in his contract negotiations, but I do believe he loves the club.
If he (his agent) is holding out for more money, I’d just give it to him (within reason) Letting 4 fringe players go and diverting their wages into his paypacket would not bother me in the slightest.
If he is stalling because he wants to see more ambition from the club in terms of recruiting better quality then that is more difficult as like you, I believe we do have a potentially fantastic emerging side. If he’s waiting to see if the likes of Barca/Real come in for him then there’s nothing we can do about it.
Hi TA, 🙂
My support of the Rasper was probably a little incoherent, and I certainly don’t deserve such a nice compliment, but I am not surprised you understand what I was trying to say! 🙂
Yes Redders, As you skillfully put , I am a gooner. 🙂
So Rocky, The wheels are the FB`s ( and the wingers ? ). Please now fill In the rest of the car.
Engine =
Gear Box =
Steering =
Fuel/Oil =
Sat Nav =
MoT/ Tax =
Any other components =
Is Wenger the driver and Ricey the back seat one ? 🙂
Incidentally, it was our 2nd anniversary on Saturday.
Our first post was written by London (now LB) on the 4th February 2010 and demonstrates an impressive consistency in his views and support of Arsenal.
https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/arshavin-cost-80p/#comments
Hi Rocky,
You are quite right. I think it was a bit of a steal by Big Blue, but who cares? 🙂
Brady is simply a brilliant quarterback and in different circumstances would have been MVP rather than Eli. Some of his play was sensational. But Eli was, … well ….. just Eli. Sometimes infuriating but always capable of brilliance. 🙂
I think it was Ahmed Bradshaw who could not decide what to do. Go for a touchdown or stay in the field of play to run the clock down.
I think he made a mistake, but in any event it was a rather moot point because rather than bang on the brakes he resignedly cuddled the ball and rolled over the line. Missing the conversion left the Patriots just under a minute to hit back, and Brady’s hail mary pass could have snuck it for them.
At that time I needed matchsticks to keep my eyes open! 🙂
Anyway, I promised myself not to talk about the ‘wrong’ football today. and my befogged brain is not working so well and any ‘wise’ comment from me is bound to be bollix!! 🙂
Actually I think that post was transferred from the interim site we set up and this post from Raddy on the 6th was the first we posted live on AA
https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/stamford-bridge-over-troubled-water/#comments
Lacked Stamina , really ! 🙂
I wonder If LB still thinks It was good business, I wish City would have offered the Extra 10p ! 🙂
It was highly relevant at the time glic. I would be a massive hypocrite if I related anything said 2 years ago to today’s situation. I posted the links merely to show where we had come from.
I seem to remember writing a post where I predicted Chamakh would be our top goalscorer 😳
rasp,
Hindsight , fantastic stuff, Personally, I was estactic when we got Arshavin !.
Chamakh, I did not want , we had/have Bendy and thought It was a extra waste on wages !
Another Monday masterpiece RockyElvis (auto paste). The usually excellent prose, supported by quality research and analysis. Blogging heaven.
I would honestly rather play Le Coq at LB in place of Gibbs. I know Gibbs is not a natural LB and has been groomed to play there, but he simply lacks the enthusiasm and energy (and Santos has?? lol) to play there effectively.
I think I also prefer Miquel at LB ahead of Vermaelen, especially for home games. I have noticed Tommy getting forward, but you can still see how tentative he is about it.
Yes glic, I loved the little russian hence my gravatar. I think the lesson has to be – there is no such thing as a free player!
With the likes of the Ox, RvP and Santos, we have players now than for some time that can create the ‘what the hell did he just do?’ reaction
rasp – whatever the RVP reasons, hesitations, etc etc it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if we can’t resolve that by June 1st – If its about signing world class players then Wenger won’t suddenly start, if its about money then Wenger won’t suddenly pay more than city.
I know he loves the club, but so did paddy, thierry and even ashley cole.
at the end of the day – we can’t have the drama hanging around the club and infecting all the other players – if RVP leaves in August then it will panic everyon in the club whereas if he leaves in june for 30 million then we have 4 weeks to find a new world class striker before song etc all want to leave..
anyway wenger is facing a few difficult decisions this month
Where will gervinho fit when he returns?
ox / gerv /walcott
rosicky / ramsay / wilshire
Redders,
I dont get this American Football stuff. First , It`s not really a ball, second, theres not much footy stuff In it, innit !. Why Isn`t It called American Throwball or American Chuckball ? 🙂
Hi D98, I understand what you’re saying but the club has never handled it in the way you suggest.
They didn’t do it with Na$ri.
The best example was playing Flamini when he wouldn’t sign a new contract and keeping a very able replacement in the form of Diarra on the bench. Flamini left anyway and Diarra was pissed off so he left too and Portsmouth made a pile out of selling him on to Real. There are reports of Diarra not fitting in behind the scenes which may well have contributed to him leaving.
Yes rasp, More “what the hell did he just do moments” ( as in good one`s ).
I have got a feeling, Sharkey, that you love Gibbs as much as Rasp loves Chamakh! 😛
Young Glic, the earthman in Cornwall, you ask many questions.
1. Is it OK to look up skirts?
Answer: Yes if it worn by a Scotsman.
2. Is TerryM really a submariner?
Answer: No one can say, but he has a telescope in his strides.
3. Why is American Football so called?
Answer: Hmmm — technically, it is really called “Gridiron” because of the pitch markings.
There is no definitive answer to your question, earthling, but English football originally included the use of the hands – only to carry the ball Terry — and consequently, when this was banned, the sport split into football, where only the feet are used and rugby which is primarily tho not exclusively where the hands are used.
Gridiron or American football followed the rules of Rugby (the use of the hands) altho the rules between the two sports have drastically changed since inception.
Both Sports have retained the word ‘Football’ as a descriptor “Rugby Football Union”, Rugby League Football, American Football.
4. The unasked question: Why do Yanks refer to ‘Football’ as ‘Soccer’?
Answer: Back in the mists of time, the original rules of association football were split as said above into footie football and rugby football.
Rugby was and still is often referred to as ‘Rugger’ by some (you know what Public Schoolboys are like – I am a rugger bugger) – not me, but that is how they speak!
In England, Association Football (footie football) was often shortened to ‘assoc’ (football) in the 19th Century. This was further shortened over time to ‘socc’ (football) and then like Rugby had an ‘er’ added, making it socc(er).
The Yanks are innocent!
Wish you had not asked me now, earthling? 👿
Rasp… thats the last step in being a big club… we can’t run a huge corporation like a family run corner shop… we get held to ransom too often…
like you said – we lost diarra because we mishandled flamini.
Bench the bastards thats what i say.
Dear Red (M)Arse,
The short answer to your last question, yes!. 🙂
And may I add, there is no difference between you Aliens and Yanks, you both like shagging our English Earthwomen . And In the case of you Aliens , with your 3 todgers, you Dick Dastardly you ! 🙂
A question I`ve been meaning to ask, Is Arsenal your favourite sporting team ahead of the Giants and some other sports( Rounders , Faceball, what was it ? ) team ?
http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2601886,00.html
Devastating news for Frimpong.
What a shame.
TA. Ssssshhh!! I don’t thnk no one else hs noticed
Redders
Don’t know about matchsticks at midnight, you seem in fine form to me.
Qs 1 and 2 just made me have a coffee accident 🙂
So Wolves are sending us Frimmers back with a bust anterior crucite. Nice !
He just can’t catch a break.
Poor old Frimpers. That’s going to be 6 months… I’m sure we all wish him well.
Being practical for a second, thank goodness Le Coq has emerged as a quality player this season.
Rasp, Peaches (and all the other AA-ers who were involved in setting up this site)
Happy Birthday!!!
You have created something that his given more pleasure to this one Gooner over the last couple of years than most other things in life. I’m sure I’m not alone in that view.
Plus I feel I have made more new friends through AA than I’ve made since I was a young slip of a lad (hard to believe, but true, I was once slim).
The loss of all four full backs has obviously made a huge difference to our season although unlike some I don’t believe that a specialist full back would have improved Walcott’s close control skills which, most of his critics agree, is his principal failing.
On Saturday we saw just how good Walcott was for Southampton; he is very good against Championship opposition and as I am sure most would also agree, Blackburn are a Championship team waiting to happen.
The real question is can Walcott consistently play as he did on Saturday against top drawer opposition. If and when he shows that he can do that I will start believing in him but until then I remain deeply sceptical.
Good post Rocky.
Redders,
Hope my question doesn`t sound like I`m having a dig my friend,but I`ve a feeling “Gridiron” means a lot more to you than your “Cousins” over here would understand ! 🙂
Terrible terrible news for young Mr Frimpong.
By all accounts, he made a big impression very quickly, and they absolutely love him up there
I don’t understand most of what you are saying Arse of Red and GLIC has apparently caught your bug :). So, onto more mundane matters.
Will the 24 hours of snow that once again brought the country to a halt give Arshavin a homesick feeling He must be off surely if not now but in the Summer.
Now Gibbs, to me an understudy and another who has not been blessed with an injury free career.
As for RVP, I have said before tha I really think he will stay and though he could be most probably the most wanted attacker in European football will money rule all at the club.Hindsight was mentioned earlier, but who would have thought a year ago he would turn out to be one of the world’s current best footballer. Whatever happens will show the boards intention ..
GLIC
After the last Euros Wenger really did say that Arshavin lacked stamina, and there was I thinking that he only said it to try and scare potential suitors away……..doh.
RA
Can you clear something up for me, what is an MVP?
Emmanuel Frimpong @Frimpong26AFC
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Bad News is that I’m out for 6-9months with my Knee Gd News is that I will therefore have all the time in my hands to be doin #frimmyfacts
Miss the beginning of next season too
Being a Submariner would only be worth It, If I was the Captain of an all Lesbian Crew. Dive, Dive, Dive,…. Up Periscope ! 😉
most valuebal player
GLIC
To answer your earlier question:
“The wheels are the FB`s ( and the wingers ? ). Please now fill In the rest of the car.”
Engine = SONG/RAMSEY
Gear Box = ARTETA
Steering = ARTETA
Fuel/Oil = GERV/THEO
Sat Nav = WENGER
MoT/ Tax = SILENT STAN?
Any other components =
Bumpers (fenders to you, Redders): BFG/VERM/KOZZ
Big End: ARSHAVIN
Spare Tyre: SANTOS (Well, he carries it for us, at least)
Accelerator: THEO
Handbrake: SHARED AMONG THE TEAM ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS, IF LE BOSS IS TO BE BELIEVED.
Air Bag: SZCZESNY
My spelling looks all wrong valubal, valuble whatever 🙂
Does anyone know if Frimpong has hurt the same knee as he did last season?
Thanks Rocky, I knew you wouln`t disappoint me ! 🙂
Kelsey
“Whatever happens will show the boards intention …”
After the coq up they made of last summer, you’ve got to hope lessons have been learned and they will be more decisive/proactive this year.
I suspect they believed Arsene when he told them he could persuade Cesc and Na$ri to stay. If he tells them he can talk RvP, Theo and Song into extending their contracts this summer they may be more sceptical and may got more involved in the process. (All speculation on my part, as it’s impossible to judge how much involvement they did or didn’t have last summer).
LB, It`s the other knee .
Glic,
Big Blue (the Giants) have always had a special place in my heart — and don’t get me started on the NY Yankees (baseball)!
My father had no real interest in either of those sports, and I don’t know why, but he did have a deep and abiding love of Arsenal and took me to see them whenever he had the chance. His team – and my team!
There is no real contest — it’s Arsenal first and foremost for me – always has been and always will be.
You are my friend Glic, as are others on here, and you need never worry about offending me — I’ll just get you back! 👿
Rocky
I think the car may have dodgy indicators, They indicated Cesc and Fatboy wanted to stay ! 🙂
Curious comment from Arsene in his email to members today: “We… were guided by the way we want to play football and not by any extravagant individualism.”
“Extravagant individualism” – what or who is he referring to?
GLIC 🙂
Redders,
To avoid the enormous pull of your home country sports in favour of being a gooner makes you special.
LB,
It’s the American sporting equivalent of Man of Steel (Rugby League), UEFA Footballer of the Year, etc
MVP = most valuable player. (for the season/year)
Rocky,
I have put you in my diary for special notes.
“Don’t drive with Rocky – thinks steering and gearbox are the same — seems a regular guy, but…………………” 🙂
How about a poll on here for tonight`s game, Do we want a Spuds win,loss or draw ?
Rocky,
“extravagant individualism” — he is as bad as TA — speaks English better than the English/Americans!
He was pretty peeved in his aftermatch interview recently when AA lost the ball and made a pitiable attempt to tackle back, which led to an ‘unforced’ goal.
Could it be a generalisation that we should play as a team, for the team, and not indulge in fancy flicks and tricks?
Never could decipher AW’s code to be truthful. 🙂
MVP, I thought that was Merry`s Veracious Periscope !
Redders
If Ramsey’s backheels count as “extravagant individualism” then I hope he takes note. He’s always giving the ball away with silly back heels (and Cesc showed away against Barca last season how damaging that can be).
Right, I’d better do some work now.
Laterz!
Does MerryTerry have a truthful periscope, Glic baby?
I suspect MerryT’s periscope may be an alternate, wistful term used for his precious appendage? 🙂
So perhaps Merry’s Vicarious Periscope? Or is that what you meant?
You calling me a bad as, RA? 😉
GLiC, I want the Dippers to thoroughly thump, with anything it takes – including individualistic extravagance, or groupie-like domination – the Spuds tonight. And I wanna see some red hot cards tonight too!
The Dippers will fade away again but it will bring the Spuds in our reach again, as the gap could be 6 points after we beat them in 20 days time 🙂
RL. Super stuff as always.
I know we bleat about injuries but the fact remains we are consistently blighted worse than any other team.
Long term injuries over the past few seasons:-
Vermaelen
Fabregas
Van Persie
Wilshire
Diaby
Eduardo
Walcott
Sagna
Ramsey
Gibbs
Santos
Almunia
I am sure there are others I have forgotten, but what it shows is how desperately unlucky we have been with injuries to key players.
RA. Recorded the Superbowl and just finished watching it without knowing the result… thus avoiding an hour of adverts. …. what a brilliant game.
Not a fan of Madonna but that was a fantastic half time show, particularly Like a Prayer
I want the bindippers to totally spank the scum tonight. We can have a go at chasing them both down.
LB, the Theo-Championship-teams theory does not work. In fact, the opposite is the case: his best games are mostly against the toughest teams.
Redders,
You can have vicarious, but I did mean veracious, as In my dictionary aswell as truthful and honest, It also means accurate and precise and thats accurately and precisely what I mean ! Up Periscope ! 🙂
great post Rocky,
though saturdays result without any fullbacks could be an argument against, however i remain concrete in my point of view that we would be comfortably above chelsea at this stage of the season had we not been double whammied on both sides of the pitch.
Our first team is a match for any, the emergence of the ox is a bonus, which i think will see walcott dropped for the returning gervinho.
Couldn’t believe ManUtd yesterday, did you know Howard Webb has given 1in 5 of his career penalties to ManUtd (talkshite earlier.)
Liverpool Spuds tonight, even though it would be good for us, i still cannot bring myself to wish for a spuds victory.
Tough next 5 games, but at least we are getting our players back now. With wingbacks we can once again be prolific… good times ahead…. i hope.
I tried to say I want a Spud win but a feeling of nausea came over me, so I`ll settle for a draw, even thats hard for me to want, but I need to be wearing my logical hat !
I watched american footbal for about 7 seasons in the 90s (when Walter Payton was playing. Every superbowl I stayed up to watch was total one sided shite. In the end I stopped watching.
TA
How about the lack of close control theory: does that work?
Glic, King of the Cornish pixies,
I bow the knee to your award winning, astute observation regarding MerryT’s accurate and precise periscope, despite my misgivings over both adjectives, seeing as how he has already admitted poking someone’s eye out with it. 🙂
TA,
Your 3:53. I would never call you a bad ass!
Except behind your back………………obviously, and then I would blame Glic if I was found out!!! 🙂
gm ,
I have tried watching other sports but basically they dont mean anything to me ( apart from a bit of boxing ), I dont feel the joy or pain, for example, cricket , I couldn`t give a monkey`s whats happening against Pakistan, Rugby, nope, Arsenal is all that matters to me, just like my family , It`s part of It !
Hi Raddy, 🙂
I really enjoyed it too, and Madonna as well, altho she is not usually of interest to me, but I found her performance very riveting!
Late at night the ads can become wearisome, but that is part of the deal I suppose.
Actually TA
It depends what you class as tough opposition, I regard Bolton as tough opposition and Theo was pants against someone who marked him properly. Blackburn on the other hand defended like a Championship side allowing Walcott vast amount of space to run into, exactly the same as he used to get for Southampton, so thinking about it my theory does stand up; in fact, I would say it stands up even more than I realised.
Redders,
I think that was a one off, Terry was sitting on the Bouncers knee and like a splashing of Dulux, was overcome with emulsion with the excitement of Saturday`y game . 🙂
Michael Gooner ⚽ @MickTheGooner
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Phil Dowd has awarded more penalties (7) than any other referee this season. Rooney to score ANYTIME is now odds-on! #FergiesBitch
Glic, 🙂 You little devil!
Where is our MerryT? No point in us teasing him if he isn’t around. 😦
Poor old Ping Pong had a really bad knee injury when he played for the U18’s that kept him out for nearly a year, too.
Damn, I hope he does not have a predilection for such injuries! 😦
LB,
you know where I stand on Theo, but this Blackburn side beat Fulham and United (away) in the last month or so .
This season is so unpredictable nothing is a given.
kelsey. You are so right. The trip to Sunderland which a month ago would most probably been an easy 3 points is now going to be a tough game.
I guess this makes it a better league for the neutral but I preferred it when we would go there and score at least 5!
Nice post Rocky. And you are right about fullbacks, for me though the tea should still have been able to despatch some of the games we played without them, but unfortunately we also lost some form in the middle of the park.
On the Theo debate he is not my favourite player by any means, but one thing I won’t question is his first touch. Rarely do I see him miscontrol the first touch. It is what he does when he has the ball that has me annoyed, and where he runs/stands when he doesn’t have the ball.
On Saturday he had more space, was that because Olsson played narrower, or because Theo didn’t mark himself by standing on the full back. It actually looked to me like he positioned himself better.
He has embarrassed Ashley Cole on more than one occasion, and not many players do that, what he needs to find is consistency, as do a number of players.
Gibbs as Sharkey and I have debated before is not the answer at left back as in my watching of him he always seem to close of his forward options by his first touch, because he is predominantly left footed.
Finally I’m gutted for the news about Frimpong, lets hope its closer to 6 than 9 months and he will be back at the end of preseason. 😦
I have always hated Sunderland away, we never play that well there do we?
Isn’t that where diaby got a leg break in the final minutes of a game.
Let’s hope Middlesborough knock them out of the FA cup tomorrow so we only have to play them once.
If Dippers mash the Spuds tonight we’re only 9 points behind…..catchable?
Spot on, GIE.
Theo’s cushioned first touch is always exquisite — and he was v. good against Blackburn, perhaps because they were down to 10 and he had more space.
He was better tho’ than of late – let’s hope the competition between him and the Ox keeps him improving, fingers crossed.
I am really struggling to make up my mind about tonight’s game. Pool have historically been my most hated outfit, but Spuds, well yuk.
Spuds lose tonight, we beat them, and the gap is six (assuming we beat Sunderland).
Just watched the U18`s on player, They played on the First teams training pitch because of the cold snap, It`s got undersoil heating ! class !
Just looked at Beeb website, Defoe, VanDerFart and Adebarndoor are injury doubts, Lennon struggling with hamstring and Gallas is out.
Lets see how strong their squad looks tonight.
Poor PingPong, when i broke my leg the bloke next bed to me had done his cruciate and was screaming like a baby day and night, very painful. Lets hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Redders, i do indeed have a telescope. Bought it for my eldest daughter after she expressed an interest in becoming the next Patrick Moore. She soon got bored of it so i decided to have it for myself. It was then that i discovered the various delights of its uses. hehehehe.
Decided. Pool win, who then go to OT on saturday. As GiE points out, Spurs are due some injury problems. Get the confidence knocked out of them tonight and they may just wobble at home to Newcastle this weekend.
Lets hope the Middles/Sunderland game goes to a energy sapping extra time penalty shoot out that lasts to about 2:45pm on Saturday ! 🙂
Come on here, we have to want them mugs to lose, even if its not to our benefit. As far as ime concerned, i wouldnt piss on them if they were on fire.
And they would enjoy my piss
I’d like to see the spuds mashed by 4 goals so that the dippers still have an inferior goal difference. Us worrying about who’s doing well around us hasn’t worked so far this season, so why bother now.
The opposite to what I want to happen usually transpires, so you’ll probably get your spud win anyway, Rasp. 🙂
TMHT,
If they were miles behind us in the league and playing our only title rivals, I might want them to draw.
Nah, defeat every time.
Ping pong sounds like one of them Thai girls names. My Brother lives in Thailand and Is shacked up with a young Thai girl called MeePooh.
Terry,
They would enjoy it ! 😆
The question who if any will implode .Chelsea or Spurs.Regardless of tonight I don’t think liverpool or newcastle are a threat.
Chas, exactly, ive never forgiven them for there exsistence.
🙂 chas,
My personal obsession with maths and percentages leads me to only one conclusion …. choke 😦 we need totnum to win!
Consider this scenario which is made more probable if pool win ……… totnum still finish above us and pool pip us by 1 point to get 4th – how significant would a spud victory tonight have been then … ay? …. ay?
Technically, Spuds could be six points ahead of us by the end of this weekend with their next game away to The Arsenal.
Rasp,
Dooming again 🙂
Here am I trying desperately to work the maths in our favour, and frankly, doing a bloody good job.
Redders,
I must say your Spock like logic of the percentage outcome is fascinating ! 🙂
haha.
If my Brother`s Thai girl sister is called MeeBlow, I might pay him a visit !
Rasp,
Where we finish at the end of the season isn’t decided on the 6th February. 🙂
I agree Micky, we can still catch that “Golden Shower” and i still expect us to do it. Even though, logicaly speaking Rasp is right again hahahaha.
Cornwall, sounds like your brother is on a winner there, though ive heard you need to check the merchendise on them Thai birds first. hahahaha
Chas
That’s brilliant.
I love it that you only get to ManUre if you answer “no” to the “are you Northern?” question.
Made me laugh too, Rocky.
By the way, I went straight to Arsenal without cheating!
Very true chas, but as kelsey says, we need others to have a drop in form and to maintain ours from here on to have a good chance of finishing where we want.
I’d like to think that our destiny will be decided by our games against the totts, pool and chavs, but anyone can beat anyone this year so its still wide open.
Glic, Meetooh! 🙂
Rocky, I’m not sure that’s a good thing – it means you are conforming to the stereotypical Arsenal supporter cliche 😆
Sorry, my 5:46pm should be addressed to rasp, no accountant was hurt in the making of that comment ! 🙂
TMHT. I have done both my anterior and lateral cruciates (skiing). The bloke in the bed next to you was a complete wuss. The rehab was much more painful than the injury!
Draw for me tonight
Bloody hell, ime a scouser. I knew i should have answered no to that tach and curly hair question.
TerryM, 🙂
So glad you have made it back on here. Glic told me of your recent problem.
He told me you were delighted when your Mrs ‘phoned you at work and said come home immediately, she had something special for you.
It’s just tragic that in your eager anticipation you charged into the bedroom, tripped and pole vaulted out the window. 😦
You must be careful with that darned telescope!!
chas. You find some great stuff.
You are such an integral part of the fun on AA.
I’d take a draw as long as it is accompanied by numerous long term injuries and red cards to both sides ….. oh and arry going to rest at her majesty’s pleasure after tomorrow.
Terry,
Thats exactly what I said to my brother, I think the first thing he checked for was the Adam`s Apple`s before the Meat and two veg ! 🙂
Redders,
I think a top bit of Thai P***y would be called Meeow ! 🙂
If you say so Raddy, he never got any sympathy from me anyway, i was to worried about myself. hahahaha
Terry,
Have you got a Tri-Pod for that Telescope ! 😉
Redders,with my heightend levels of excitement it usualy leads to disapointment hahahaha
Cheers, BR.
Perhaps I should be a little more circumspect about what I post sometimes, though 🙂
Redders,
Thats probably how terry ended up in Hospital !
I’m still curious to hear what anyone thinks of this picture I posted this morning.
Is this ball in a correct place for a corner to be taken?
http://twitpic.com/8gexf6/full
The balls out chas, but the lino looks like he`s more interested in watching Pederson have a wank !
Cornwall,forget about Patrick Moore, the art of handling a telescope is as follows:
1) Loose fitting trousers
2) Loose living neighbours
3) And most importantly..Dont get caught.
Chas, i thought the rule was that if the ball touches the line its ok, might be wrong though.
Terry,
I suppose you`ve got those 3 off to a “T” then ! 😆
Chas…I think the law states that any part of the ball touching the line. So for me its in the quadrant
Super post rocky well done. Theo is not my favourite player either, but in my opinion he is a fine young player, Good wingers, Match winning wingers, wide players. Call them what you will, but in my time I have been lucky enough to watch a number of these Artisans. From Stanley Mathews, through George Best, Geordie Armstrong even Cliff Jones at the spuds and in more recent times, Giggs, Ronaldo and Overmars. These guys have always been paid the compliment by the opposition of being double marked in order to stop them getting behind the defence. This of is what has happened to Theo. The way out of course is skill and a trick or two.
Mathews as the old timers will tell you, was actually not that quick but like the turbocharged TH14 who most definitely was, had the knack of appearing to tie the ball to his bootlaces as he jinked and dummied his way down the wing. Ronaldo has his step overs, Best an amazing body swerve, all had their tricks. Theo’s trick is not just his speed but the rate of acceleration he employs, over 5 yards, I doubt there is anyone in the league to touch him , which is why he tries to knock the ball past his man and then outrun him to collect and carry the ball forward before crossing or cutting inside.
It is also the reason that double marking is employed by all teams that play against him, because should he knock the ball past the first man number two is usually in attendance to take the ball before he can reach it. Which is where our full back comes in, faced with two men Theo can lay the ball off to the FB sprint past his two markers where hopefully our supporting FB pass or chip will find him in space and free. Watch the Blackburn game again and you will see how often that happened, it also of course allows the FB to overlap and Theo to find him with a pass.
The absence therefor of FB used to these techniques has hurt Theo and through him the team, as his main weapon has been neutralised. With our FBs back in action Theo will In my opinion become the source of many more assists this year and it is no wonder RVP loves him and wants him in the side.
There was a bit in a film last night, where at a party they had a telescope linked up to a plasma tv, the party guests watched the screen as this chap went from apartment to apartment across the road looking for some action . This was an impressive looking `scope ! 🙂
DD. I have been lucky enough to see all your wingers in the flesh. And Glenn Helder!
Chas by posting that pic I was forced to visit the wonderful FIFA Laws of the Game PDF, and I found something out that I honestly didn’t know and makes you wonder about the people who commentate on the game….
How many times have we heard the commentator say, “he started pulling outside the area” and a free kick be awarded outside the box. Well the laws state:
“If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding him inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick.”
I found this (though can’t remember from where)
“Law 17 states that the ball must be placed “inside the corner arc” for the taking of a corner kick. However, in association football the ball is considered to be inside an area if any part of the ball is overlapping any part of the area, and the lines are considered to be part of the area. So you may place the ball right in the extreme corner where the touch line meets the corner arc, and even slightly outside this corner as long as at least part of the ball is overlapping the outside edge of the line.”
This is what happened next….
http://twitpic.com/8gkskk/full
The away supporters below where I sit are always moaning if the bottom of the ball isn’t touching the line of the corner quadrant even though part of the ball is over hanging the quadrant.
I didn’t know that about holding, GIE. Very interesting. The defenders usually let go as they get into the area as if the shirt has become electrified. 🙂
I had this idea about shirts that tore easily when grabbed by hand but which were fairly durable otherwise. Can you imagine the defender’s face with just a lump of shirt in his hand?
Neither did I – interesting.
chas What happened next was that TH scored 🙂
BR I fear that you, like me are an old timer 🙂
There was a commentary recently where the pundit (may have been Jim Beglin) kept saying, ‘what possible advantage can the corner kick taker gain by placing the ball slightly off the pitch?’
Firstly, the ball wasn’t off the pitch because it was overlapping the line.
Secondly, he was trying to find a flat spot to place the ball.
This made me think of old pitches I’d played on in the past where the corner quadrant was just mud and the ball always seemed to roll into the middle wherever you placed it, making it almost impossible to get your foot under the ball!
Right, enough pedantry from me as I’m sure I’ve bored everyone to death. 🙂
Come back cuckoo club.
BR 🙂
DD. Never. BR = Peter Pan
Thanks Dandan
Theo’s assist stats were very good last season and have undoubtedly been adversely affected this year by the lack of FBs.
Perhaps with Sagna back we’ll see his assist rate start to rise again.
Although Bac didn’t play on Saturday, le Coq seems to have really got his head round the FB role (in the way Flamini did at LB some years ago).
Perhaps both examples demonstrate that highly mobile midfielders with a bit of steel in their game work better as stand-in fullbacks than do CBs, who tend to be much less mobile.
BR
I hate to break this to you, but Peter Pan was born (i.e., first appeared in print) in 1902, making him 109 or 110 years old…
Your youthful good looks are fooling no-one 🙂
One of my First heroes was a winger, Alan Skirton, to a little kid he seemed the quickest thing on two legs !
Rocky,
Your last remark is highly sensible, maybe sticking a note in Wenger`s pocket would have been the order of the day a few games ago !
RL. True, but as a fellow who never ages, both he and I retain our boyhood enthusiasms.
I have always fancied Tinkerbell. A little short but sexy nonetheless.
BR
I tried the Dorian Gray approach. But the picture in the attic looks like sh*t and so do I…
Sorry , not the Peter Pan one ! 🙂
Also BR, you have now declared officially on AA that you fancy fairies…
GLIC
It would be much more fun to stick a note in his pocket about Peter Pan.
He would probably think he’s a young Greek player who has slipped off his radar.
I like Coquelin very much, he is a lad with a shiny future but where and when will he play?
Good as he is , I would pick Song ahead of him, and Arteta, Ramsey and JW. All of whom have the same battling qualities.
A fine dilemma for AW to have over the next few seasons
p.s. online whilst waiting for some baked pots to cook – add in some butter, branstone and cheese and we have a tasty cheap dinner for a freezing night in Dk. (-15)
RL. Any port in a storm 😉
Guess who has 4.6 completed dribbles per match and the highest in the premiership ? ………………………Oxo !
Dont forget peeps, fans forum on Arsenalplayer @7:30pm.
BR have you ever bought sausages in Cliff Jones Shop 🙂
Rasp, Peaches and you other ‘founders’ of AA.
Congratulations on the 2nd Birthday of your baby!!!!!! 🙂 And thank you!
Sorry I did not say so earlier.
Without you guys there would be no Blog, and therefore no Rocky, no Raddy, no Cuckoo Club and ………………….OK, OK, sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth in life! 🙂
From me on Twitter:
Who knew the technical problem with ‘Arrys plane would be that the pilot had plotted a route to Monaco #Suspect #RosieDidIt
GIE,
As you are an athletic young goalie, I noted your comment regarding Szezceny’s positioning when he palmed Pederson’s free kick into the net.
Did you know that the average speed a football reaches when struck well by a professional footballer is 75 mph?
Did you also know that a GK’s hands ‘rebound’ up to 6 inches when blocking such a kick? This puts a mathematical gloss on your very valid comment about Chezzer being too rooted too near his goal line.
In addition to the average speed of the ball, above, there are recognized ‘meaty’ kickers of the ball like Ronaldo, Bale or Roberto Carlos who can hit the ball at around 100mph to 105mph.
Even presupposing a keeper could move quickly enough to intercept a ball struck at such a speed, given the need to calculate the acceleration and deceleration dependent on the distance covered, as well as the swerve on modern footballs, the ‘rebound’ would be exponentially greater than the 6 inches mentioned above.
Who in their right mind would be a GK? — oops, sorry GIE. 🙂
boring game, they need a goal, preferably for pool
Did you see the cat amongst the rats ?
Raddy – i’ve read your comment the other night; i moved out from N6 in 1997, that explains why we didn’t meet. I am sure I would have chatted you up otherwise 🙂
Evonne. And I am sure I would have let you 🙂
🙂
Stop it you two
the game is soooo boring….what else is there to do?
The draw would suit us best, both teams dropping points
oh, oh, something is kicking off! Monkey has lost his cool and got a card, good
Oh do make a bloody effort Liverpool.
You can never trust a scouser, even when you try!
Aha, Legs, hello! long time
Draw is good for us, I don’t want either of them to win.
Evonne,
I don’t want either to win. I do want Spurs to lose though.
Micky
Haha
I couldn’t have put it better.
How’s the southwest? Beautiful in snow?
No snow. No Rocky Mountains. Pretty rubbish really.
RA trust you to apply science 😉
Not sure I understood that but I also failed to mention the biggest problem with that free kick….too many men in the wall.
If that was open play would you stand where he did….think the answer is no, so in short less men in the wall would put you in a better starting position.
This game is boring as hell, but I am enjoying seeing Spuds getting kicked up in the air.
Do either team look as if they play the game as well as us?
good man Reina
Rocky – course not, what kind of question is that?
Q1.Isn’t Gerrard supposed to be playing RM since Suarez came on ??
Q2. What happens if I make monkey noses at Bale..??
GiE – and i am watching if any player uses both feet. You were right, very seldom
Well, if the ref cannot engineer a Spurs loss, then he has my permission to start sending them off.
Haha
Nice to hear Alan Green rubbishing Spuds’ title pretensions…
Sharkey
He’ll leap the hoardings and try to mate with you…
The fact I’m left feeling that that’s a great result means I should’ve been cheering for a draw!!!!
RockyElvis – so you’re saying that I look like a hot monkey bitch..??
I’m slowly going off this site.
Oh ….and another shit post from you today, not really sure why you bother anymore !!
Rocky,
Not sure I’m entirely happy retiring to bed with the thought of Sharkey and Bale mating so fresh in my mind.
It wasn’t long ago I said that the Invincibles would not be able to do go unbeaten in the PL as it is now. My main thought process behind this comment was that there are far more ‘bigger’ teams than there were back then. I don’t mean in size, I mean in quality of club/football. Back then only United were close to us, but these days you have United, Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Spurs and even Newcastle who can beat us. Not mentioning games against Stoke, Everton etc. the tough games come thick and fast now but a few years ago they were few and far between.
Anyway, what I want to do is take that comment back! I have watched City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Spurs, United and Chelsea this weekend, and based on what I’ve seen, The Invincibles would piss on all of ’em!
Haha, the pussy got man of the match in the viewers’ poll.
Before I go and take strong medication to erase a particularly nasty image, I have to say its really hard to see why either of those teams should be a worry to us. They are, so we shall just have to dish out some medicine of our own for the next 14 games.
Nite all.
Chas
Is it true that the Kop were singing (to the tune of Attack, Attack – Attack Attack Attack):
A-cat, A-cat – A-cat A-cat A-cat ?
If so it may be a genuine example of that much over-rated commodity, “Scouse wit”.
To my mind they’re more associated with whinging than witticisms.
Sharkey
Not a comment on your looks. I just assumed you would make such a professional job of the monkey noise that the Spud primate would mistake you for one of his own and act accordingly.
Micky, I totally agree.
What a rubbish game by two mediocre teams cancelling each other out with nothing but hard graft.
DanDan@6.20 Very fine comment. You only have to look at the wingers on display tonight: Bale, Bellamy, Kuyt, Downing etc, all had an average game (and I am being polite). And that’s how life is for most wingers in top football: one day a good game the other day an average game.
TA
What a beautifully subtle comment about Theo Walcott 🙂
Hi GiE, you made a few very fine, analytical observations in the last few days. I especially like the one about our players using both their feet when receiving/passing the ball against BR. 🙂
Hi Rocky, I am surprised how little abuse your post got today from the ‘Rust Brigade’ (term stolen from D98!)!?
It appears the cat on the pitch was looking for Harry to ask why the money hadn’t been wired to his account yet..
TA
They couldn’t argue with the inescapable logic 🙂
TA
😀
True Rocky, everybody knows you cannot drive a car properly without a pair of tires at the back 🙂
Dalgleish doesn’t help himself does he:
“It’s fantastic to have him back. He should never have been out in the first place.”
As for the game…well it was a bit pants really.
The most shocking stat was Liverpool have only scored with 9% of their shots (and we think we’re bad). Altho that stat is probably aided by Adam, Gerrard, Spearing and Downing firing in shots from 20 yards plus. There’s a reason we try and get closer to the goal.
Sky are right up Spuds backsides but I think their performance tonight shows with a few players out they are as short as everyone else. Before the game they were comparing Bale to Messi and Ronaldo seriously WTF!
Bale 2010-2011: played 42 scored 11
Bale 2011-2012: played 24 scored 10
Messi 2010-2011: played 55 scored 53
Messi 2011-2012: played 36 scored 37
C Ro 2010-2011: played 54 scored 53
C Ro 2011-2012: played 32 scored 31
WTF indeed!
Haha TA there’s a reason you’ll never get a job at Sky letting numbers get in the way of a good headline.
Today’s Mirror, am I reading this too sensitively?
“Arsene Wenger has admitted his admiration for Lille’s £30m-rated Eden Hazard – but the Arsenal boss says he is under pressure each season to make between £15m and £20m in profit on transfers in news that may not go down well with Arsenal fans.”
“Wenger, who sold Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri for nearly £60m last summer, said: “You should know that each season, it is imperative to show a profit of between fifteen and twenty million pounds. I would add that the purpose of a coach is to always buy at a price he sees fit.””
The article is about Hazard see here
Wenger doesn’t say he has to make profit on transfers, I think he is talking about the clubs desire to make profit to repay debt. Could be wrong but it’s how I read it.
GIE,
Looks like the quoted part says £15 to £20 million profit each year and John Cross has added the ‘on transfers’ bit in the first paragraph. He calls himself a gooner and seems ok on twitter but his Mirror stuff is sensationalist garbage designed to sell newspapers.
GIE. A surprising article given that it is written by John Cross who is an Gooner, but there is no source reference to the quote about profit ,
I would say this is typical Mirror spin. It fits them to pillory our club for being profitable whilst lampooning others for being profligate.
Fine player as he is, I see no place for Hazard.
chas. That is what I meant to say 😉
Morning, BR.
Teddy Eastoe @TeddyEastoe Close
Shoutout to @JohnCrossMirror. Every time he writes an article, the opposite happens! Examples: pic.twitter.com/ef2uuSb2 twitpic.com/8ewgf0
Morning all,
Agree with you all, it does not quote AW as saying that profit should come from transfers. Say the club’s turnover is about 100m, then 15-20 profit must be from the clubs overall business.
Whoops links didn’t come out as links…
http://t.co/ef2uuSb2
http://t.co/pnCCdaho
Raddy,
There is such a thing as long life clotted in a jar, which is exportable, but I do have standards!
Chas,
Cunning. You must know that I refuse to read a twitter, so you disguised it!
As soon as I read one of GM’s (well intentioned) redtwwet: delete@arsehole says open twit… I totally seize up.
Luddite!
“I ran out of toilet paper but thankfully I had @johncrossmirror ‘s article to hand.”
Here’s another for you, Micky. Quick, shield your eyes!
Can I look yet?
Chas,
Now an early morning vid of a talking parrot or singing RvP is something I really look forward to.
Well?
Morning all Thanks for confirmation that I wasn’t being touchy
What were you saying yesterday about controlling yourself Chas 😉
I was talking to BR, but you’re right. 🙂
Monster!
Have you no shame chas ……… there are ladies present!!!!!!
It is beyond belief that we are below ManU, Chavs, Pool and Scum in the table! We are so much better than them
Morning Peaches – no, Chas is shameless
Sorry girls, please delete as necessary.
It was Micky’s fault, he encouraged me!
Harry has now seen footage of last nights game and was very impressed an early Liverpool substitution in the first half.
HK: “When they brought on puss in boots I knew we could be in trouble. He showed a quick turn of pace and has four good paws (sorry feet). He is triffic, looks good both in the air and on the floor and played triffic from the minute he entered the arena. Will I try and sign him? For sure, he is triffic and just the sort of player I look for, he is purrrfect for us, he would be a triffic signing.”
It is believed that Harry has convinced Levy to make a bid, a bid of 16 thousand mice a week! There was no comment from Rosie the dog!
😀 Brigham. It was probably the most entertaining part of the match
GIE, not wrong there bud and I thought the cat showed Andy Carroll exactly how to make a decisive run in to the box and look for space.
TA 10-43pm. Brilliant
John cross is a bad as all the others. piers morgan is a gooner he’s still a ……
That cat ran past more players than Stuart Downing has all season.
chas keep all that cultural high brow stuff coming, I found that news report very mentally stimulating 😕
Morning all
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