Written by TotalArsenal
Arsenal does not really do transitional seasons, or does it? Somehow, through the magic of Wenger, we have been able to rebuild squads and first teams without losing sight of silverware and European football in every single season the Frenchman has been at the helm. What’s more, he has been able to achieve this against the background of Arsenal building a new stadium, and the departures of many established players in the last seven years or so. We basically made a through-start again and again, and during the process we, the fans, got a bit spoiled.
More and more, it is becoming clear the 2011-2012 season might well turn into a proper transitional year, in which we might win nothing and not even finish in the top-four.
If you take a closer look at our direct competitors, you will see that all of them, in one way or another, are also in transition. MU and MC are out of all cup competitions with over 100 days of the season to go, and both their managers are trying to build a team that can compete for years to come. Liverpool, despite their enormous investments over the last 12 months, did not feature in Europe at all this season, and are struggling to make it into the top-four: their transition is ongoing too. Chelsea is in a similar situation as Arsenal, in terms of their positions in the various competitions, but they have to come to terms with the decreasing powers of their ageing squad and, as a result, are also struggling badly to make the transition. The Spuds are doing relatively well as they are currently picking the fruits from Rednapp’s team building/ squad building efforts over the last few years: it looks like they are in a post-transitional phase right now. For various reasons, this is unlikely to last and soon they will be back were they belong: well below the mighty, red & white buttocks of The Arsenal.
I wish the BoD/Wenger would come out and say: last season was not good enough for Arsenal and on top of that we lost Fabregas and Nasri this summer. We had to buy a great number of new players and it just takes time to settle them all in. We will work hard this season to build a new team and still try and win something, and to finish in the top-four, but we have to go through a period of transition in order to establish a new team that will be able to compete for many years to come. There is quite a chance Arsenal will win nothing this year, and might not even finish fourth, but in the long term it will be for the best. Please be warned: it might be a tough season for us all.
I could live with that. In fact, I have reluctantly come to terms with it anyway, whether the BoD come out and say it or not.
I am absolutely convinced that all the ingredients are there for sustained success in years to come. The current squad has many players who can make it to the top in the next few years and a number of youngsters are progressing quickly to make the first team. Arsenal has a number of super talents around whom we can build a super team: Szczesny, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Ramsey, Wilshere, the Ox, RvP, Gervinho, Song are all top players. The BFG, Arteta, Theo, Santos are good squad players and the young talents of Miquel, Frimmpong, Coquelin, Gibbs, Ryo, Campbell and Jenkinson are very promising prospects. In the summer, we can add to those, if required. The club is financially healthy and the owners appear to be in for the long haul (and please note that financial success for Kroenke & Co totally depends on sporting successes by Arsenal), we have a great stadium and play (at least until recently) a fantastic brand of football which is revered all over the world.
But, it might take a while before we can pick the fruits of this very exciting and promising new team. And that is the hardest part for us fans to accept, especially after the seven barren years which did not meet our relatively high expectations.
Does it mean though, that this season is a write-off? Difficult to say. There are basically four scenarios:
- Somehow, Arsene manages another ‘through-start’ this season and Arsenal finish in the top-four. We might even win something in the next few months. I would not put my money on it though.
- The season ends in a complete disaster: we win nothing, finish outside the top-four and moral is rock-bottom.
- We win nothing and do not make it into the top-four, but the last few months of the season have seen a massive improvement, and Wenger has build a new team that will be ready – give or take a new signing or two – to go all the way next season.
- As per scenario three but on top of that we win the FA-cup, or even the CL-cup.
Whichever way it goes, the next four months will provide some clarity of where Arsenal is going. I hope we’ll end up with scenario one: who does not? I could live with scenario three if it is based on fundamental truths. Scenario four would be great and I might even prefer it to ‘only’ finishing in the top-four, as I strongly believe the sooner this new team wins something the quicker it will grow into a super-team.
If the season finishes as per the second scenario, I am sure we will see a change in team management. In many ways I would hate that to happen, so big is my respect for Arsene, but on the other hand, it would be good to see Arsenal start a fresh, new era, under new management, however risky this will be.
I am under no illusion this is the hardest sporting challenge Wenger ever had to face. We all seem to know where it is going wrong with the team at the moment, and what he should do to resolve it. But, I trust his knowledge and deep passion he has for our club. A genius is able to see and understand complexity like nobody else. Or, as Edward de Bono observed: ‘Removing the faults in a stage coach may produce a perfect stage coach, but it is unlikely to produce the first motor car.’ If you know what I mean.
For the rest of the season, I am going to relax a bit and lower my expectations. However, I will support the players and manager as much as I can, because their struggle is my struggle.
TotalArsenal.
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Thanks TA, a very honest and impassioned appraisal of our current situation.
My only reservation is with the concept of building a team for 2 or 3 years time. We should only look at this season and next – anything beyond that is pure speculation as the movement of top players in and out of the club is largely out of our hands.
I do think that if we keep RvP, the team/squad for 2012/13 will be very strong. It would be a great shame if the best squad we’ve had for 6 years was not competing in the CL next season.
Interesting write up with a lot to digest there.
I think I started to get my mindset for scenario 2. Especially after the Swansea and Fulham games and then the United defeat.
But them the team puts in a second half like they did against Villa, destroy Blackburn and earn a point away at the Reebok. All of which didn’t or wouldn’t have happened last season, and the small twinkle of belief resurfaces. Then watching the teams around us over the weekend struggle in various ways (Chavs throwing away a lead with poor defending, ManUre showing they are rubbish if the ref isn’t doing his job properly, Spuds toothless with only three players missing, Dippers unable to score) and the belief rises a little more.
Spuds IMO have entered CL qualification preservation mode, Chavs as you say are undergoing a bigger transition of old to young, United too and with the threat of FFP can’t buy the established names they once did.
Our transition this season has been self brought as much as I understand the reasons for losing Cesc, Nasri and Clichy you can’t help feeling that this season would have been a whole lot different if we kept them (but we still needed Arteta and the BFG to arrive as well).
And maybe the problem is we have never truly been in transition over the last 4 years, we had chances to win the league, a bit more conviction and a GK and CB to rely on in reserve could have seen is over the line. But without a trophy many consider us to have been in transition for a lot longer than we actually have been.
Finally I must state once again respect for Arsene. I believe if the BoD were telling him trophies at all cost and “here’s some money, spend it” they would have asked him to resign, or unceremoniously given him the dreaded P45. His opinion poll must be at its lowest amongst Arsrnal fans so there would be no negative fan reaction to worry about, but still they continue to back him, the logical conclusion is that they give him the bare bones financially to work with.
Take a bow TA, that is a very very good article,.
We have been in this position before, in 05/06 season, where we grabbed the fourth spot on the last game of the season, although we managed to go all the way to the the CL final that season. I hope our season will pan out just like that.
Will we managed to finish top four this season? with Arsene Wenger at the helm that’s not impossible at all. He managed to do it countless time where all the odds was against him before, especially this season.
Hi Rasper, fully agree with you re length of build period. This should be the transitional year, the next year should see a massive improvement with us competing properly on all fronts.
Hi GiE, thanks for an excellent response to get the discussion going. Your penultimate paragraph is food for thought. I need to go out for a few hours, but will respond later today.
Thanks Rob L, nice to see you here again 🙂 Fully agreed. If Wenger can do it this season, he can do anything!
What I see in RvP is that he not only delivers the goods, but has a steely inner core which was not so pronounced in Cesc (bless his cotton socks). I believe that RvP has set himself the goal of achieving what Cesc was unable to do and that is to lift the CL cup for all of the Arsenal supporters.
If Arsene was to stand down, which I doubt very much, I am pretty sure he would hand the reigns to Thierry Herny. I believe this would facilitate a smooth transition not only for the club, but also for the supporters
Hi Reddawn and welcome.
The idea of handing the reigns to TH12/14 is appealing in some ways, but I don’t think he has any coaching badges or coaching experience so if you meant TH to take over as manager, I’m afraid the answer is – no chance!
Hi Rasp thanks for the comment.
What I said was that I doubted that Arsene would stand down, which in turn would give Theirry plenty of time to collect all those pretty certificates for the job.
A very good article and very much food for thought. I am not sure which one of those scenarios I fall into right now as I have no idea how our particular mop is going to flop.
What I will say though, is that for the past three to four years (seasons) I truly think we have been only one or two players away from glory. Just imagine if we had gotten hold of the right cog or two to finish off the classy timepiece owned, it would have probably ticked away seamlessly to a league win or maybe even two? Instead though, we have been lumbered with a dodgy Breitling chrono-matic from Camden market, which is only right two times a day!
I see the next four months being much the same as they currently are, although with the return of our full backs we should improve and maybe, just maybe snatch fourth place. A lot will depend on the next two or three games, win those and the seeds will be sown for another ECL adventure next season.
Absoloutly fantastic TA. I believe you have summed up the current situation brilliantly. You are spot on about our rivals. There are many strategic hurdles in front of them, and though we must concentrate on ourselves, i am convinced going forward we will not be faced with a super team as a competitor.
I can not envisage scenerio 2 at all. This squad has a lot more backbone than last year and will keep plugging away. I have a feeling we will win the Champions League this season, but i admit its a gut feeling rather than anything based on logic.
Ok, now its time for a rant, and as far ime concerned this is based on logic and not some kind of misguided sentiment. Arsenal football club has been building up to this era for the last 10 years. The incredible thing is, that even during that period we may have won things if not for the arrival of Chelsea, City, and the TV deal that has taken Barca and Madrid financialy beyond reach. We are however heading for a new era. We are the one club that has capacity to grow at incredible rates commercialy, this is a fact not illusion. Our competitors will be affected by the climate, FFP, borrowing money for new stadia, lack of youth in there squads etc etc. All this means that our chances of holding on to our players increases by the day. Some may not like this, but just imagine if we had kept hold of Cesc, Adebarndoor, Flamini, Clichy and Na$ri, we would be top of the league thats what. The frightening thing is that this current crop is even better, and chances are will stay. Conclusion, football domination beckons. “The Ghosts of the 30’s are stirring”
Exellent post Total,
My expectations were low after the Cesc/Nasri/TW saga anyway, so I expect zilch this season. I expect Arsene to be here next season no matter what. I think we have the foundations for a great future, which most others can only dream about and thats including our rivals. Even with the squad we have now and a slight bit of luck injury wise, next season CL will be got , no problem, and with a couple of top quality additions we will be pushing strongly for the Title.
If no CL spot this year, I think Arsene will be pushed into making them Quality signing`s from all side`s.
The most stupid thing is, is that so called fans from another site want us to win nothing so that Arsene might get the sack !.
VCC,
I did see that , but it couldn`t be further from the truth ! 🙂
Nice one Terry ! , but this ghost obsession, have you been grabbed by the Ghoullies ! 🙂
“I am absolutely convinced that all the ingredients are there for sustained success in years to come.”
“If the season finishes as per the second scenario, I am sure we will see a change in team management.”
TA
Don’t you think these contradict each other? The board of directors are smarter than the average Arsenal blogger gives them credit for and are obviously well aware of the young talent that Wenger has amassed. They are probably far more aware than all of us of the financial climate that has forced Wenger to take the approach he has. Let’s not forget that this is the very same board of directors that had to deal with the headache of Fabregas and Nasri leaving in the summer.
The point I am trying to make is they are certainly well aware of the difficulties that Wenger has been forced to deal with and as such I reckon we could finish ninth — the result of which could even be that Wenger goes as far as offering his resignation but to a man they would kowtow in front of him, begging him to stay.
In short Wenger aint going nowhere, no matter where we finish in the league.
Good read by the way TA.
Cornwall, yeah, but only when ime grabbing them myself. hahaha
LB, if Arsene offers his resignation (i know were he lives) i will park up tent outside his house in a one man protest demanding he retracts the offer, others are welcome to join me, but they have to bring there own tents, ime not sharing.
TMHT
You can share my tent — I will already be there.
On a serious note such an offer would be made in secret, we would never hear about it, well not until Wenger’s book.
I am very pro wenger but i feel that he has, in his own words, been playing with the handbrake on.
He publically states transfer targets and then fails to deliver – i.e. he said it would be stupid to lose ground on the title race because we didn’t have a full back.. no full backs later, 10 points dropped from 12 and four weeks later, we are out of the title race and struggling for fifth.
Last summer he made statements like all business had to be done by x and fab and nasri where not leaving.
Be pro-active Arsene – I have faith in your judgement but am weary of the rhetoric – its not plausible.
Make it plausible – enforce deadlines come hell or high water and fill the gaps that you say you need to fill.
I would not like to imagine a post wenger arsenal in the short term. I think he has a title or two in him and i think we need a 5 year succession planning to start this summer… Bring in Bergkamp or a number 2 that would impress the young players..
98
Take a wild guess as to what stopped Wenger securing his prefered transfer targets during the summer?
Start with Mata.
LB, I cant see scenerio 2 happening so from a football perspective ime sure Arsene will stay, he is more aware than anyone the fantastic potential the club has. The only worry for me is the possibility that there is a conflict of interest between the Board and Arsene about future direction, mainly centered on finances. If this proves to be the case, it would be an absoloute tragedy because we are on the verge of a great team.
I dont think the above will happen, but if the new owner and Board screw this up i will be inconsolable and crying for weeks.
TM
It is of course possible that the BOD and Wenger might not see eye to eye over the finances but I am very doubtful, mostly because the question must have come up years ago.
Arsenal and Arsene have been restricted in the transfer market ever since Abramovich arrived; the idea that the effects of this have not been discussed is simply not believable.
Wenger has had offers that we know about to go to Real Madrid and use the far larger transfer chest that would be available to him there, I am also convinced that he would have been offered the job at PSG with an opportunity to call upon a transfer chest to rival Man city’s.
And yet, he is still with us, so common sense dictates that he is here because he accepts the restrictions and is happy to continue working with things as they are.
What other reason could he have for staying?
Thanks LB, your better than Prozac. I agree with what you say, its just that because we have a new owner, now and again i get a bit worried, but as i say, ime pretty sure your right.
Rednapp not guilty. Does this mean the Dog done it?
LB,
Fair points.
AW acknowledged some years ago that when we were in the “market” we would have to wait until after Chelsea and Manure had done their transfer business because we could not compete with them.
All that has happened in recent times is that Man Citeh have joined the big spenders and to a lesser extent Liverpool and Spurs.
As TerryBoy has said, we can only hope the FFP rules will bite and allow us to compete on a level playing field, again.
My only reflection on your second point is that altho I agree with your comment, I have often asked myself WHY does he stay?
Given the abysmal stick he receives from a growing number of fans, I admire him even more for sticking it out and endeavouring to get us to the top again. And he will. But he has to have an iron will to ignore the hate mongers.
You are quite right, there is evidence that Real, Barca and PSG as well as the French FA have all asked him to manage/coach them, but he has resolutely refused. Another man would have said “sayonara” and ridden off into the sunset!
Sorry TA, for not complimenting you earlier (I had read you were out for a few hours – as have I).
A clever, patient and professional trawl thru the various options open to us and to Arsene/Arsenal, all neatly presented in easily digestible prose.
Well done again, sir! 🙂
Redders, i told your story about the 2 chavs and the car park to some friends the other day and they were very amused and asked me to congratulate you. hahaha
Hi Terry, 🙂
Is it true that ‘Arry got off?
Yes Redders, he seems very happy, but the Dog is definatly panicking.
RA. Have you had the blood test results? Hope all went well.
Who pays for Harry’s court case? I bet it will be the tax payer. Whoever decided to bring the case to Court should be made to pay the legal fees out of their own pocket.
Having been on the end of an in-depth tax inspection I can assure you that these blokes think they are infallible. Shame on them,
Excuse me for butting in but i found these the other day one of my most treasured Arenal memrobilia.
chas kindly put them into this format for me.it was the night we won the FA Cup against Liverpool and secured the double.
http://twitpic.com/8h7jpx/full
http://twitpic.com/8h7k5v/full
kelsey. Great stuff.
Whose is the autograph next to Ray Kennedy?
Raddy,
I am not sure but everyone on there played that day. Did you notice charlie george. i would imagine to a collector it would be worth something as only 60 menus were printed as it was a Private Party.
Afternoon all, two bits of bad news today – Twitchy gets off Scot free(expected) and Djourou signs a new contract to keep him at Arsenal till 2015.
We just can’t catch a break can we ? 😦
chary 🙂
kelsey. It was interesting to see Marinello on there. He only played 3 games in the Double season – the face of Milk!
Hi Raddy, 🙂
Thanks for asking.
A year on and I am still having blood tests and still not feeling too well. The results today were not as good as they might have been.
With ‘Arry not guilty, he will become the new England manager and Moaniho will get the Spuds job. Darn!
Arry being found not guilty is perfect he will be coaching England come 2012/13.
Great post Total, of all the “neggies” in Arsenal world at the moment, a quick visit back to this site can put them and their views to bed.
I remain a positive gooner and resign myself to the fact that i am no coach and don’t have the full insight as to whats going on at my club – so best leave it in the hands of the experts and give it my full support.
This seasons games i have had little expectation, i just try to enjoy the game, little surprises me now, so when things go wrong i don’t get upset like i used to – they are in charge – they know what to do for the best. Who am i but a minute piece of the mechanism.
Hi RA, sorry to hear your results are not as good as hoped.
Maureen won’t get the spud job for 2 reasons I think: 1. arry won’t become England manager and 2: he is hanging on for the city job.
Since Porto, were he done an amazing job, he has managed Madrid, who have the highest turnover in the world, Chelski and Inter, who both have suger daddies. Totnumb will be in big transition now it looks as though they will build there new stadium, he wont go there.
This is another consequence of FFP, big clubs will want the likes of Arsene, not big spenders like Mourinio…..oh crap, ive gone and worried myself again, LB come back.
here’s another taken at a trade show, he was playing for middlesborough at the time .
http://twitpic.com/8h8oev/full
Hi Rasp
The only way the “special one” would take the Spud job would be if they had a sugar daddy…… Of which there was plenty of rumours this morning…. some oil man from kazakhstan. Spuds doing a city would be a disaster.
what’s the difference between GG bung and Arrys (alleged) tax evasion – I can’t see the difference – was it because GG defrauded the club and Arry (allegedly) defrauded the taxman.
Dentist with a good sense of humour..
The other day, a gentleman went to the Dentist’s office to have a tooth pulled. The Dentist pulls out a freezing needle to give him a shot.
“No way”! No needles! “I hate needles”, the man said.
The Dentist starts to hook up the laughing gas and the man immediately objected.
“I can’t do the gas thing either; the thought of having the gas mask on is suffocating me”!
The Dentist then asks the gentleman if he has any objection to taking a pill.
“No objection”, the man said. “I’m fine with pills”.
The Dentist then returns and says, “Here’s a Viagra tablet”.
The gentleman, totally at a loss for words, said in amazement, “WOW”! “I didn’t know Viagra worked as a pain killer”!
“It doesn’t”, said the Dentist, “but it will give you something to hold on to when I pull your tooth”
PO’N,
They found 75k in GG’s office filing cabinet – and it wasn’t for tea money.
Raddy,
we had 8 Englishmen and 4 Scots in that team, Eddie Kelly being the sub. How times have changed.
Patrick,
Georgie Boy in his naivete owned up and said ‘it’s a fair cop, guv’.
He should have waved his hand in front of his face and blamed the dog. 🙂
Rasp,
You could be right. Moaniho is like a blue bottle scenting a nice pile of ****, he homes in on big bucks and spends his way to glory.
I still cannot stand the little ****, and altho’ there are people who rate him, to me he is like some guy in a Ferrari who beats another, driving a fiesta, away from the lights and smiles smugly as if it was him and not the expensive car that mattered.
I could just about stomach him at Citeh or even Chelsea, but at the Spuds? Double yeuk!!
RA,
Lke him or not (which I don’t) it cannot be disputed that he is a winner.
twitchy got off? I was hoping for a public execution
I grudgingly concede that he has won his fair share of prestigious titles, GN5, which is why it would grieve me if he took over at Spurs.
But it rankles with me that a lot of his fame and fortune has come by managing wealthy clubs, while Arsene has had to work on a comparative shoe string, and has still achieved huge success for us.
[I confess this is an emotional rant and not a reasoned or scientific one – but I did say I cannot stand the man!] 👿
So if you don’t declare money to the taxman it’s ok as long as you declare it when they start thier investigation and say you forgot about it because you have the brain of a 6 year old retard? What a joke. If you make a mistake on your VAT return it’s a fine. Money buys everything
Muareen needs a club where he can spend money. Anyone would have won the Italian league after the scandal they had. He was very lucky with Porto as the ref robbed the mancs (funny though) I haven’t got an argument for him winning the CL with Inter so I’ll pretend that didn’t happen. 🙂
Great read TA
You’re right – this is a transitional season.
But that said, if we can avoid any more serious injuries to our important players we can expect a strong finish to the season.
I guarantee this, if there is one team Barcelona do NOT want to face in the CL it is Arsenal, even now.
Mourinho has won the League with every club he has managed and will almost certainly do so this year.
Of course, Kroenke would not pay JM’s astronomical wages. so it is pure hypothesis. but would you exchange the PL for 3 seasons of JM?
At the very least it would raise the AFC profile 🙂
Chas
That anti-Spuds spoof piece you posted earlier was brilliant – but not have as funny as the comments from the legions of brain-dead Spudders who fell for it hook, line and sinker.
The “Chris Hoy Brigade” out in full force.
They are a sorry lot.
*not HALF as funny
Raddy
Redknapp looks guilty, His brief has managed to sway a jury into giving him a not guilty. That’s what can happen when you have the best legal experts that money can buy. I don’t blame the tax people for bringing the case. stevie me was gulity but he got off. I know people who have got off of things that I know they did. I also know quite a few people who’ve sat on juries who are as thick as pigshit.
Did you know that the wanker who sent Robin off last year is the head of refs for Europe now? Crime does pay
GN5,
Did you read my comment to you at 7:52 a.m UK time?
If you haven’t, I would not bother, if I were you. 🙂
Just curious.
Terry will get a not guilty
Afternoon to all AAers!
GiE, Brigham, you seem to be saying the same: with one or two additions in the last few seasons we would have won something big. This could well be true, and it is equally as feasable as TMHT’s suggestion that if we had kept the likes of Adebayor, Toure, Fabregas etc we would have won something by now.
On the other hand, Chelsea and Liverpool invested a year ago in ‘two quality players’ and have made no progress, despite adding even more ‘quality’ players in the Summer. They also seldom or never let one of their good players leave (except for Torres).
The question we have been asking ourselves time and again is why did we let so many good players go and did not replace them (enough) with quality – as in established names – replacements? Is it really all down to a lack of money/ inability to compete with the oil-guns? Or is it all part of a bigger, long-term development plan i.e. did Wenger always realise that it would take a long time before he could establish a real super-team again (against the stif competition he has had to face)?
I believe Wenger was left in the lurge by Nasri, and Cesc left as a result of a gentleman’s agreement. The injury to Wilshere was a further big blow, and additional injury problems in key areas – as Rocky so beautifully illustrated two days ago – have put Wenger in a really difficult position. He basically had to make a couple of steps backwards – in terms of success as well as style of play – this season. However, as a big bonus for him this season, he has been able to buy a number of really good additions and a few youth players are starting to deliver. A big transition is taking place as we speak, and if we keep hold of our players and can add one or two good players in the summer, we really should be able to compete properly during next season and beyond.
The crucial factor in ‘Arry’s great escape is how the perception of the News of the World has changed since the prosecution was first launched.
A NotW journo had ‘Arry on tape admitting that the money in the secret bank account was a transfer-related bung. It couldn’t be clearer.
Up until the last year or so, the NotW was perceived as a sensationalist tabloid which, nevertheless, had a very good tradition of investigative journalism and which had broken some very important stories over the years.
However, since the phone tapping scandal and the subsequent decision by New International to close down the paper in disgrace, anything that involves the words “News of the World” is toxic. And that includes the tape recording of ‘Arry, apparently bang to rights, admitting the fraud.
Two years ago I suspect there would have been a different outcome to this trial, all because of the changing fortunes of the NotW. The NotW journalist’s evidence would have been treated with respect by the jury.
‘Arry is a lucky man.
TA
Wenger should have sold Nasri much earlier. I think they may have been messed around by shitty or they may have been haggling over the fee. If there was a gentlemans agreemant with cesc he should have kicked him out earlier too. God I can’t stand fabregas I have more respect for terry
GM
It was a reward for his sending off of RvP that got the job for the Swiss* twunt in the first place. I’m sure that would have been the deal, rather than a tawdry handover of cash.
*(I think he was Swiss)
Hi LB, thanks for your quality response. Scenario 2 should be seen as quite an extreme. What I meant with ‘moral hitting rock bottom’ – as opposed to scenarios 3 & 4 – is a large number of rubbish performances/lost games, key players handing in transfer requests, Wenger himself demotivated and exhausted, etc. It does not have to be the BoD to sack Wenger: he himself could then decide that an oeuf is an oeuf.
Sorry TA,
I didn’t acknowledge your well thought out post. Many different scenarios but like you I see this as a tradional period but not season. A lot will depend on pending contract negotiations and if it means every 16 years or so spurs finish above us, I can live with that .
The real crux of the matter is not how much is in the war chest but how much will be allowed to be spent.
GM. Sadly, you are right.
The mere names of the MC account made him guilty in my eyes, but I am no lawyer and do not understand how he got off.
What really annoys me is that the legal team for HM C & E clearly thought they would win – they were wrong and it is the public purse which will foot the bill.
I hate HMC&E with a passion. As a small businessman you will know how they investigate anyone who has access to cash. The psychological stress caused by an investigation is enormous, even when innocent. I once had an investigation when the Inspectors came to my house to evaluate my possessions to make sure I could afford them on my stated income. It cost me thousands in accountancy fees to prove my innocence – none of which I got back.
The VAT bastards are even worse…
Harry may or may not be innocent but the ink own faces of the Tax dept should be exposed and pilloried.
Rant over.
Very enjoyable read, TA.
Loving the “mighty, red & white buttocks of The Arsenal”. 🙂
Like you I’ve lowered my expectations a little.
In a sense, it’s the only way to survive the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
I’m not sure how you can begin to define a transitional season. The short-termist nature of football these days with sugar daddy clubs having the resources to try and buy success, means that every club faces major change each and every season. How can we keep hold of players who have become integral parts of the team if they are offered double the wages elsewhere.
Thank heavens the oil slickers weren’t around when Thierry, Dennis, Bobby, Paddy were in their pomp. In the twilight of his career even Vieira succumbed to the lure of ridiculously inflated wages. I love the optimism of the idea that everything is in place to achieve massive success in the near future, but how will we hold on to star players if FFP isn’t rigidly enforced?
TA. Shiver me Timbers, I have realised in my angst about the Redknapp affair, I have not yet congratulated you upon another fine post.
Whatever happens this season it will have been a wake up call to the club. The assumption that “Once an AFC fan, always an AFC fan” has been poisoned. The booing at THOF will live long in the memory as a clear reminder that success on the pitch is all that keeps the Emirates full.
If we don’t get Scenario 1 or 4, we will see huge gaps in the crowd next season as the “prawn sandwiches” change allegiance to the N15 Miscreants.
Has anyone else done jury service?
I’ve only had it once.
I was disgusted with the whole procedure. It seemed to me that the only people in the courtroom who weren’t lying to me was the judge and a couple of witnesses who had no vested interest in the cases. Both barristers, the defendant, the defence witnesses, the police and some prosecution witnesses were either blatantly lying or bending the truth to such an extent that it was impossible to get a true picture of what had happened. These were piffling little cases, too. God knows what it must be like for high-profile jobs.
I do not care about ‘Arry’s case, one way or the other, and in any event he has been found not guilty, but listening to the news at lunchtime they played a recorded conversation between him and Rob Beasley (a journalist).
Now I was not present in Court, and may have the wrong end of the stick, but as I understood it being reported, it went something like this.
‘Arry said in so many words, –It were a bonus Rob, for the Crouchie business, a bonus I tell you, if you say it were for anyfing else I’ll sue the bollocks off you. It were a bonus, alright? A bonus!–.
So in essence, it seems, he admitted saying the monies were a bonus, which would have proved the HMRC case, but claimed he was lying to Beasley.
The jury believed that when he was recorded angrily telling Beasley that the money WAS a bonus, and proving the Crown’s case, they accepted he was actually lying — but in Court when he said it was NOT a bonus, he was now telling the truth. Confused?
Hypothetically, what would have happened if the jury had believed he was telling the truth to Beasley in the recording, and therefore proving HMRC’s case, and that subsequently he had lied in Court to save his skin?
The famous Lord Denning, the Master of the Rolls, said in the Court of Appeal many years ago, that Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.
I wonder what he would think of this case.
Where’s 26?
Hi TA, 🙂
You mentioned in your Post a phrase that has become common place and yet I have never seen it clearly defined.
When managers and fans refer to a ‘transitional’ team/year/period what do they mean? Do they all mean the same thing when they use the term?
I know the literal meaning of the key word means – a passing or passage from one thing to another – [Fill in team/year/period] but isn’t that simply a convenient hyperbole to explain away failure?
All life is perpetually ‘in transition’.
From young to old – from healthy to sick – from Spring to Summer – from male to female – oops sorry MerryT — can’t keep a secret me!! 🙂
Rocky, 🙂
My 3:34 was written before I read your piece and it seems once again — snap!! 🙂
RA wrote: ‘‘Arry said in so many words, –It were a bonus Rob, for the Crouchie business, a bonus I tell you, if you say it were for anyfing else I’ll sue the bollocks off you. It were a bonus, alright? A bonus!–’
Is ‘Crouchie business’ not code-word for naughty action. Is Rosie perhaps in reality not a dog, but the dogs bollocks of prostitutes in Monaco: £300k worth of Crouchie business with Rosie?!
Give me the far better, typical Arsenal fan description of Raddy the other day, anytime: chasing the beaver in Montmarte! Now that is class Arry can only dream of!
RA. Good point. The team is always in transition as players are replaced.
But can you find an alternative description which we all understand? 😉
Snaparoo Redders 🙂
And for your Merry T quip @3.47 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi RA, good point re transition. Arsene/Arsenal have never used the word transition, as far as I know. But why not? If you let go a large number of players and buy a fair few to replace them it will always take time to settle in. Why not explicitly allow a bit of time in which we lower expectations for the short term, in order to build for the mid-longterm?!
Redders
I have felt moved by some of the recent badinage on here lately to take a peek at the (online) Urban Dictionary.
If you and some friends are at a loose end some time and have a football handy, might I suggest a game of Red Arse?
Back in the evening again.
Chas, we only need to worry about RvP this season. The rest will stay / or we got cover for (except Wilshire, but he’ll definitely stay).
To pout it Frankly..thats a masterpiece.
Personally I might have swapped Arteta and Gerv between the two lists….oh and stick the BFG in the first list as well.
Red and white buttocks…. lol. Can you imagine the ‘Arsenal fans only’ pubs around the ground using that as entry criteria ..?? Oh dear
As ive said before on here, been in private practice i have to deal with several Tax investigations every year. in all the years dealing with HMRC, on only 2 occasions have i had clients facing criminal prosecution. Raddy is correct however that the experience of an investigation is a very harrowing one for the Tax Payer, with HMRC adopting a straight down the line approach which at times can seem harsh and down right unpleasent.
Just a point on ending up in court. Normaly, if you are clearly a tax evader, even for large sums, but you co-operate and put your hands up, HMRC wiil fine you (up to 200% of tax originaly due) and impose interest. They can also do you for “cival fraud” known as Section 9 in the trade and put you on a defaulters list.
The above is the good news, the Government has now proposed to extend HMRC powers to make it easier to criminaly prosecute the offending tax payer. The Accounting profession is now waiting to see what these new powers are going to be.
The good news however is that you can employ me to handle the investigation and pay me lots of dosh in the process. hahahaha
TA,
It’s only ever one or two players we have to worry about but often they are the ones most crucial to the team, hence the ones other teams covet.
If Robin goes (Bergkamp forbid), is next season one of transition while we find out the strengths of our new striker?
If Jack or The Ox went the season after, would the one after that be a season of transition?
Raddy, 🙂
I am a picky, pedantic over analytical reader and critic of my fellow man! There I have said it! 🙂 What a Bar Steward!!
It come of too many hours proof reading heavy weight financial documents!
Earlier I inferred that the use of ‘transitional’ was a cop out to disguise apparent failure, and perhaps a lazy rack upon which to hang an unpopular hat.
In the context of Arsene/Arsenal I do not believe there is any need for it, tho’ Arsene himself uses the phrase, possibly to try and pacify the zealots.
What he is actually referring to is a ‘fallow period’ a time when the ‘fertility ‘of the team is being renewed, a time when young and untried players are beginning to show their worth, like Spring corn beginning to show their first green shoots, after a severe Winter.
It is a very necessary part of life, an invigorating part of the team building cycle, and not to be derided as some sort of woeful ‘failure’, indeed it is an essential and vigorous statement of intent for the new crop of youngsters and a testament to the probability of their future success.
A ‘Fallow Period’? Yes, I like the down to earth feel of that!!
Bet you wish you had not asked me now, Raddy. 🙄
TMHT. If I ever have to go through such a demoralizing process again you will be the man I phone.
Actually, as horrible the tax inspection was, the in-depth VAT inspections were worse.
Relevant to AW’s comments about the club making a profit before he can buy players: There is no doubt in my mind that the majority of the young players AW signs for under £1m are ‘investments’ that will either turn into valuable first team players or bring the club a profit when he moves them on – stating the blindingly obvious I know. The 2 young player he brought in from Barca certainly fit that description.
The trick is to try to keep them under under contract whilst not paying them silly money. The danger time in terms of contract and salary is always when a player is on the fringe of the first team but has not yet cemented their place. The optimist in the manager always wants to believe they will achieve the potential he sees in them. Obviously that cannot always be the case.
The ones that aren’t investments are described as ‘risks’ 😕
RA. Fine work. However …. with the recent development of farming processes, fallow periods are no longer de rigeur. With the “I want it and I want it NOW” supporter, fallow is no longer possible.
Furthermore, it also assumes a period of stagnancy, something no AW team exhibits
Raddy, VAT inspections are horrible. Sounds as though you came through it relativly unscathed, they always keep the outcome of there investigations on record, so hopefully the buggers leave you alone in future.
Rocky,
I have stayed aloof from all that dreadful badinage.
Not for me all this Jelly Legs Micky, Taxin’ Teaser Terry or Gleeful Goblin Glic. No! Aloof I stay!
You ask, are you serious? I ask, do frogs have watertight arses?
Get thee behind me, Rock Y Elvis!! (not too close mind – you know what VCC will say). 🙂
Well said chas @3:27pm.
So how much did `arry owe the Taxman in the end ?. Did it justify an £8m trial ?. Now the Taxman will rob us poor (not you accountants ) bastards to pay for it !. 👿
You wont want to be called an Arsenal fan if you look at the Urban Dictionary, We are gooners !
RA
I just read your 7:52am./
Frankly I feel the same but I would far sooner have a dialogue based on something substantive rather than the continuous regurgation of “Wenger this” “and the BoD that” “and if only we had this or done that”
Selective hindsight and armchair management – drives me crazy.
Redders 🙂
Cornwall, the funny thing is the government are giving HMRC new powers coz they say HMRC are reluctant to prosecute for fear of losing and costing the Tax Payer money through those failed prosecutions. The way its going we will all be branded with a number and have a microchip inserted ino our anus soon.
Raddy,
Winter is not really a season of stagnation, more of resting before the big Spring surge. 🙂 You are right tho’, the term’Fallow’ would not do for most fans, but, of course, they misunderstand its real meaning and innate force.
I won’t bore you with the obvious, but ‘fans’ also have another ‘life’ and what concerns me – genuinely – is that benign supporters often become strident fans, (evidence available on many blogsites) who then slide into obsessive zealotry and that always ends in tears when it also becomes the way of their other ‘lives’.
Nazi Germany was a dreadful example of the descent into zealotry, and all over the world different factions, religious and political, seem to be convulsing to that same old tune. Perhaps some of the more rabid fans are unknowingly symptomatic of that.
OK, OK I will refrain from all this philosophical nonsense – back to footie!! 🙂
Terry,
I think Arsene Is one step ahead. How do you think he finds out If a player Is In the Red zone !
Agreed, GN5! 🙂
TMHT. I always ran a clean business, though there was always the fear one of my staff was “iffy” (I once had a staff member dealing drugs from my shop, had he been caught before I sacked him, it would have been awful) .Now I am a student I do not have the problem.
RA. Like you I have a fear of zealotry in all it’s forms. The current trend towards fundamentalism is a major concern for all free thinking people.
Right – back to football. Midds or Sunderland? Boro away was always a cricket score, so it is Boro for me.
TerryM,
Sadly, I have given seminars on VAT to many corporate clients.
Tho’ I have never worked for the then HMIT or C&E, (now HMRC), I have taught some of their new recruits the rudiments of the Value Added Tax Act before they were unleashed onto the unsuspecting public – like poor old Raddy! 😦
It is what is called hunting with the hounds and running with the hares. 🙂
It seems now, that my instructions to the good officers, would have resulted in abject failure in dealing with you and your clients, as they, like me, would never have understood half of your explanations! 🙂 🙂 —- A very cunning ploy, if I may say so — and I am immediately going to rewrite the training manual to include a chapter on Terryitis!! 👿
My clients rarely saw the VATman when they inadvertently ran into problems, as I became their ‘interface’.
HMRC already have sweeping powers, but much of the stress to small company bosses is not knowing what they are supposed to have done wrong, what the Law requires, what the hell is meant by input tax or output tax and especially whay do they mean by fully attributable, recoverable vat, especially when the officers concerned are poring over the the books while looking really mean and moody.
I feel for Raddy!!
Just had a look at a vote being conducted by our favorite Radio show, TalkRubbish.
It is asking who is the better player; Theo or the Ox?
The current score is Theo – 14%; the Ox – 86%.
It’s all perception, of course, and pointless really.
Of course, like many fans, I love what I have seen of the Ox, but then, at 18, I loved what I saw of Theo too.
It’s too early for the Ox and still not too late for Theo.
Let’s wait and see!!
Have I told you this one?
Quick before GN5 gets there first!
A primary teacher explained to her class that she was a Liverpool fan.
She asked her students to raise their hands if they too were Liverpool
fans.
Everyone in the class raised their hand except one little girl. The
teacher looked at the girl with surprise and said, ‘Mary, why didn’t you
raise your hand?’
‘Because I’m not a Liverpool fan,’ she replied. The teacher, still shocked asked, ‘Well, if you are not a Liverpool fan, then who are you a fan of?’
‘I am an Arsenal fan, and proud of it,’ Mary replied.
The teacher could not believe her ears. ‘Mary, why are you an Arsenal fan?’
‘Because my mum is an Arsenal fan, and my dad is an Arsenal fan, so I’m an Arsenal fan too!’
‘Well,’ said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, ‘that is no reason for you to be an Arsenal fan. You don’t have to be just like your parents all of the time… What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict, what would you be then?’
‘Ah’ said Mary, and smiled, ‘Then I’d be a Liverpool fan’.
hahahaha, thanks Redders. I have noticed that the VAT man has a more personable approach these days so you must be teaching them well.
As I have bored you all to sleep — one more for you when you wake!! 🙂 Until tomorrow, mes amis! 🙂
A Liverpool fan walked into the local job centre and marched straight up to the Counter and said, ‘Hi, I’m looking for a job’.
The man behind the counter replied ‘Well, your timing is amazing. We’ve just got one in from a very wealthy man who wants a chauffeur/bodyguard for his nymphomaniac twin daughters. You’ll have to drive around in a big black Mercedes and wear the uniform provided. The hours are a bit long but the meals are provided.
You also have to escort the young ladies on their Overseas holidays.
The Salary package is £200,000 a year all in’.
The Scouser gasped and said ‘You’re bullshitting me!’
The man behind the counter said ‘Well you started it!’
Bonne nuit! 🙂
RA. Most of the Inspectors were thick as horse manure and suffered from “little dick” syndrome.
To develop a medium size business requires both brains and application, yet their attitude was one of condescension and distrust.
May their testicles wither, each and every one of them.
“each and every one of them”?
BR, they only two…
See Redders
You’re not the only pedant 🙂
Raddy, hahahahahaha, great stuff.
I`ve had Yoda, the Jedi farmer over today, standing there chin on stick looking thoughtful . “The hay In stable good that Is thinks one”, ” may the horse be with you”, makes It even harder with their accent, It`s lucky most of the people In Cornwall nowaday`s are from out of the area , otherwise I would need a translater !.
Evening all,
Can’t believe that ‘Arry got off, the bastard.
On Spud related news, David Ginola is in a coma in hospital, skiing accident in France.
Irish
It said in a report I read that he was released from hospital.
(whispering now… I always quite liked Ginola)
I think the main issue with The Customs and Excise through my own experience is that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.They are spread all over the country on the same case, and a few years back I had correspondence with them about them over paying a refund that they said I was entitled to, and it took them on average 9 months to reply to me, whilst in the meantime I was getting threatening letters from their collection department in Scotland giving me 30 days to pay something I didn’t owe, or they would take me to court..Anyway I won.
I hate the Police,Taxman,Judges,Screws etc.
I like Robin Hood, Oceans 11&12, The Italian Job etc.
I`m an East End boy, what did you expect ?. 🙂
RL – Maybe you are right. I just saw it pop up on Twitter.
Capello gone?
Red Arse you sound like the Vat inspector who came to our premises and had us in stitchies the whole day!Did you ever come to an OB company in Nw10 last summer?
I don’t know what everyones problem with the Revenue is. In my experience a detailed response which answers the initial enquiry normally sees the back of them for any Corporation/Personal Tax disputes.
VAT Inspections cannot be avoided unfortunately, but again I have not had too much bother with them. My record yet is the VAT Inspector being off premises and satisfied in half hour.
I admit she was female and I was a good stone or two lighter and full of charm. But the real reason she left was because the Accounting System used was an absolute head twister (Forecourt Retail business software which was admittedly not fit for purpose). I did her reconciliation from Turnover in Accounts to Outputs on VAT Return and then showed how the till system recorded VAT etc (and checked a few items….of course a chocolate biscuit and a jaffa cake, and a debate about whether a fudge brownie was a cake or a biscuit). Then showed her how purchases were entered, we checked a few, and she was gone. I then went and retrieved my quivering wreck of a client from her store room where she had smoked half a pack of fags.
Biggest problem I had recently was explaining to HMRC the difference between paid date (used for CIS) and invoiced date (used for accounts) and why they could not compare Year End Accounts Subcontractors Expense to submitted CIS Returns for same period and expect them to agree. Took weeks for them to go away and realise they were wrong!
Chas@4.12, I think we both totally agree that we need to stop selling our best players for at least a few years.
No doubt we would have to adjust to a new striker, and a new captain, if RvP is to be sold in the summer, but I would not call this a ‘period of transition’ similar to what we are going through in 2011-2012. However, it would be a big loss, so let’s hope he puts pen to paper soon.
In all walks/professions of life, there are people who are brilliant,average or shit at their jobs even though they are all qualified. Using our current beloved team as an example.
RVP = Brilliant
Fabianski = Average
Squillaci = Shit
Sorry, I should have added, thats just my opinion. Some of you might not agree with my RVP rating ! 🙂
Capellos gone?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16941457
Jacks response:
Shocked about news on Fabio Capello…gutted to be honest, gave me my 1st cap and believed in me! Thank you Mr Capello! #GreatManager
People have there own judgement on Capello but for a young player who was given the chance to play for my country at such a young age…
He has shown great belief and trust in me so I can only thank him….massive influence on my career so far! Sad to see him go!
“An Italian abandoning a sinking ship, who would have thought it?”
😆
Trappatoni hasn’t resigned as well as he, Irish? 🙂
is the ‘virtue of honesty’ Arry going to take the English job?
Chas – very good 🙂 Eire is not a sinking ship though
irish
@8.07 – that’s brilliant 🙂
Irish & Chas very 😀 😀
So Stuart Pearce to caretaker or someone to get job before Euros? Whatever way you look at it its a cock up of almighty proportions.
Reckon there’s every chance we’ll have two centre backs who won’t be talking to each other anyway so I’m not expecting anything from Euros
Evonne – the England ship (much as I loathe it) is sitting higher in the water after dumping some John Terry-shaped captain ballast overboard. I didn’t rate Capello either.
Three old guys are out walking.
First one says, ‘Windy, isn’t it?’
Second one says, ‘No, it’s Thursday!’
Third one says, ‘So am I. Let’s go get a beer..’
With the Euros this summer, surely the FA won’t want to go into the tournament with a caretaker.
They’ll have to go all out to get ‘Arry.
Spurs will fight… but if ‘Arry wants to go (which he will) I suspect he’ll go.
Which would be hilarious. Spuds having their best season for 20 years and they could lose their manager with three months to go.
Gn5 🙂
When were you out walking with BR and Dandan then?
Chas – 😆 Trapattoni got us to the Euros, if we lose every game it doesn’t matter. We’re just happy to be there and hope not to muck up too bad.
Hiddink is being linked with the English post, now he would be a good short term manager for ye lot.
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple’s house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.
The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, ‘Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly.’
The other man said, ‘What is the name of the restaurant?’
The first man thought and thought and finally said, ‘What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?You know…. The one that’s red and has thorns.’
‘Do you mean a rose?’
‘Yes, that’s the one,’ replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, ‘Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to last night?’
‘Arry has submitted his application for the job
I know, Irish, just pleased to be there.
The only reason I’m pleased England qualified is because of the piss-ups and barbecues that get arranged as a consequence. Half the time I don’t even end up watching the games.
Just found out Capello’s gone.
Haha, does anyone in the country believe Redknapp is innocent of those charges? Money buys you justice….pfffft.
A Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they’re physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember .
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. ‘Want anything while I’m in the kitchen?’ he asks.
‘Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?’
‘Sure.’
‘Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?’ she asks.
‘No, I can remember it..’
‘Well, I’d like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so you will not to forget it?’
He says, ‘I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.’
‘I’d also like whipped cream. I’m certain you’ll forget that, write it down?’ she asks.
Irritated, he says, ‘I don’t need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream – I got it, for goodness sake!’
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes,The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.
She stares at the plate for a moment.
‘Where’s my toast ?’
Chas – yup. Anything else is a bonus. I do think we’ll cause a shock by getting something of Spain and we’ll beat the Italians. It’ll be us or Croatia for that second spot.
Iris, love it. Hoping not to muck up too bad to 2nd in the group in the space of 15 mins.
whoops, who’s Iris.
The problem with England is that the players are overrated. Most of them are toilet. How many would get in the spanish side? The english press talk about rooney like he’s world class. he’s not fit to wipe Robins arse.
Cmon extra time
I think capello was ok for England. You can’t polish a turd as they say.
😆 Chas, well I kind of hope we stick around a bit longer than the group, for the craic and all. Iris hopes so too 😆
selling RVP anytime within the next 2-3 seasons would be nothing short of disaster. Need to adopt / encourage players (the best top class performers) to stay at the club for most if not all their careers… maybe the better financial posn of the club will encourage this.
If Robin wants trophies or money he’ll go. If he feels he wants to stay because he likes it here he’ll stay.
Extra time and loads of injuries.
GM – England could put together a decent side, just they are all a shower of cocks who won’t give everything for the England shirt. Meanwhile, you’ve a bunch of average-ness (by and large) playing for Ireland who would run themselves into the ground rather than lose or give in.
England’s problem isn’t the quality, its the bullshit fed into their heads that they believe.
Just my opinion 🙂
It’s a very good opinion too Irish. twitchy being England manager would be great as after 2 years the press and public will hate him and his rep will be in tatters.
Maybe you’re right, GM.
I can’t stand looking at most of them, so I’m not the best judge.
Capello not being able to speak English can’t have helped, though, can it?
😆 Poor old ‘Arry he’s a spud, that damages anyone’s reputation
Anyway chaps the solution is here:
“Robbie Keane has revealed he wants the England job. ‘It would be an honour to manage the team I supported as a boy'”
😆
Mind you, Capello’s tackling was always first class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd805X3pCjo
Chas – Capello couldn’t speak it, ‘Arry can’t read or write it. I don’t think proficiency in English is high on the FA criteria list/
I can hear Ray Wilkins now….”Stay on your feet”
Haha, Irish. Perhaps you’re right.
Had a look for Capello interviews and stumbled across this. The way his voice changes at the end…. 🙂
chas
That Argentine fellow that got done by Capello doesn’t seem to be wearing shin pads.
Painful…
Extra time soon
He doesn’t even get booked 🙂
gie
my word that was a good tackle
GIE, stay on your feet If they’re still attached to your body ( if you’re talking about the winger).
Lovely extra time
Flippin heck, you’re right, Rocky. Ouch!
What a total mess at the FA. How can they let Capello go now, four month before a major tournament? He was the wrong choice from the start, but this is just emberassing.
Who would you have had TA?
😆
Do ye have any Manuela Spinelli? Or had! A translator for Capello. She works for Trapattoni, and is always there. She’s a celebrity in Ireland in her own right now, she’s mighty craic :lol;
Ha ha ha ha best joke yet:
http://yfrog.com/g076kuhj
Chas
Are Sunderland playing their first team? Hope they all get good and knackered.
Irish
Brilliant 🙂
http://yfrog.com/g076kuhj
So an Italian has given up just as a major European conflict approaches its climactic stages?
How unusual.
GM and Irish – snap 🙂
I found it interesting to hear Trapattoni speaking German, Irish.
I’ll have a look for Manuela.
Oh you’re 1 step ahead Irish. it’s well funny
That’s nit nice Rocky, Taking the piss out of wops
Looks like their first team, Rocky.
Twitter is a haven of jokes tonight 😆
Chas – any interview Trapattoni has done for Ireland, Manuela is there. She is literally his shadow.
Gervinho put the Ivorians into the final
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/the-arsenal-striker-puts-the-ivorians-ahead-gervinho-v-mali/
Great goal too.
GM, I would have to go back to who were available at the time Capello got the job, but for a start they should have found somebody who speaks the bloody language. I always felt Martin O’Neill would be good for England, or Roy Hodgson, or Guus Hiddink, or Mourinho.
Thanks for the video GM, I kinda mis that forehead!
She looks like she enjoys her job.
Hodgeson and O’neill aren’t good enough for me. I think it’s a poison chalice. i don’t care though I’m a gooner first. I’m very patriotic about being English but most of the England team are pikeys.
I shit you not, hahahahaha.
Great goal from Gerv.
Nice finish from Gerv. That clinical nature in front of goal that we’ve come to know and love…
GM 🙂
Shows he’s got it in him Rocky. It’s probably a confidence thing
Capello should never have been manager. His defence of Rooney and Terry is proof he has little understanding of what it means to represent England
True GM
He scored some crackers in pre-season. I think he’ll come good on the scoring front – I can’t wait to get him back.
I’ve just explained what’s happening in the cup game to my wife she thinks it’s halarious. Funny sense of humour that one.
AC Milan lost their semi-final home game / first leg for the Coppa Italia against Juventus tonight. Let it be the same in 7 days time!
I can’t find any affection for an England team that includes Terry, Rooney, Ferdinand and Cole. I don’t mind Lampard.
Anyway, as was said earlier, not one of them would get in the Spanish team. Or the Dutch team. Rooney might scrape into the German team.
Raddy
The FA should have acted sooner on terry though
sunderland have scored
“An amazing turnaround. I support the FA in what they have done but I feel looking back that if John Terry had resigned the captaincy then Fabio Capello wouldn’t have had to fall on his sword!”. Martin Keown.
So the Chav does it again.
rooney is a name that should be living in a caravan and working on motorways. Is that racist?
terry is pure scum from a scum family and he’ll have scum kids as the saying goes
GM
No, that’s just Rooneyist. Which is fine by me.
BR, is that, fall on John Terry’s sword?
Capello has resigned on a matter of (dubious) principle. Very rare nowadays
Looks like it will be Sunderland, Shame.
his pork sword
itv’s commentary is always dire
🙂
Wayne Rooney @WayneRooney
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Gutted capello has quit. Good guy and top coach. Got to be english to replace him. Harry redknapp for me.
Not a gypsy then?
Morgan @Morgan_AFC
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details ITV showing tweets from Rooney during the game is embarrassing even for them. Shocking sports coverage.
8m Simon Banoub @Banouby
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Putting a scrolling tweet up about an unrelated subject in the middle of a cup tie is the worst bit of football broadcasting I’ve ever seen
Retweeted by Tim Clark
3 to 1 on for Harry Nutsack
Who would like it to be Chas, GM, Rocky and others?
Maybe he’ll do both jobs until the end of the season, then take on the England gig full time.
Night all.
I love the way that ITV are ignoring the fact they’ve just shown a cup tie and started talking about England.
Roy kean is slating rooney. Well done. I used to dislike him but since he’s taken that disgusting manc shirt off he’s ok.
TA
I don’t really care.
Of the available options ‘Arry is probably the best.
If the FA want to win something, I would pay Moaniho a fortune. he has already shown he can turn decent but limited players into a very successful team (Chelsea), and that’s the England job in a nutshell (until the real talent of Jack and Oxo takes over the show).
TA, definitely Redknapp starting tomorrow. 🙂
Night Chas
Thanks for a lot of good laughs today.
I’d like it to be redknapp. firstly it will mess up the scum then he will get a proper character assassination after about 8 months. capello is a better manager. redknapp has won an fa cup and a worthless cup.
Hoddle
I guess the key question is how much do you care about the England national team. I have been away from Holland for over 12 years and don’t care much about the country anymore, but I am passionate about Oranje, as I have always been. The FA need to make a good, longterm choice now, somebody who can make the ‘transition’ (haha) by building a new team.
Arry could be a good choice, but he never wants to stay anywhere more than a few years. Mourinho would be a good choice, agreed Rocky, but I cannot see him do it (yet).
In an ideal world Fergie and Wenger would do the big tournaments together. England would do so much better, I am sure.
I don’t think they can chose a foreigner again for a while.
The FA are currently In negotiations with Redknaps financial advisor, Rosie would not give any terms or figures yet as It was In early stages !
Matt Dickinson @DickinsonTimes
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Looking forward to reading over next 24 hours how Capello was clueless/didn’t care/greedy/Italian. Just lucky the previous 20 yrs…
Dont know the full story but sky were saying something like It cost the Chavs £28m to get rid of Ancelloti. They can waste money like that and we wont invest that sort in someone like Hazard, amazing !
The chavs have got a conceited and very wealthy owner.
Is It a coincidence today ?, I`m sure chas could come up with a picture of the FA board / `arry`s jury !
the sun and the mirror have the same headline. wankers
If the tabloids get their xenophobic way and we end up looking for only an Englishman we are limiting our field of choice somewhat.
From the PL you could have Pardew, Pulis, Hodgson or Redknapp (and technically McCarthy altho he played for Ireland).
Then there are nearly men from years gone by Curbishley, Allardyce…..I’m running out of English coaches. Oh Pearce, Ince, Butcher i guess who all have coaching badges. But it’s slim pickings.
Or we could look at top world coaches.
For me the team has to be rebuilt bottom up with youngsters, so maybe you give it to the manager responsible for the U21s now and let him bring through the youngsters. Which is a shame that’s Pearce.
Arteta Olsson Fans @MikelArteta08
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· Close Open Details Next head of the BNP? RT @101greatgoals: Barry Fry: “Had enough of these foreigners. All they want is money!” http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/barry-fry-weve-had-enough-of-these-foriegners-all-they-want-is-money/ #racist
Please let me say the c word about fry 🙂
Go for it GM
You’ll be auto-blocked but at least you’ll have the satisfaction of having done it 🙂
Morning all.
So another Italian abandoning a sinking ship , who`d have thought it ?
Just a thought. We approached the business end of the season last time around with two senior players who were in the want-away camp, and inevitably this led to the collapse. I think an Everton win at home to Chavs combined with an Arsenal away win this weekend may just see them give up. How much effort will Anelka, Drogba etc put in. I can also see moves away for Lampard and Terry and inevitably Villas-Boas. Am I straw clutching?
Morning Kelsey.
morning all
Phew, phew, this is going to be excited! Will dirty Harry do it again? He ditched Southhampton, Portsmouth twice, don’t see why he would ditch scum now?
Would it really rock their season? I’d say so, he might be an average manager, but a proper man’s man and a great motivator. He is going to be good for England, no more bullshit excuses.
Legs – Anelka is gone to china, Drogs to follow shortly
It is a simple fact of life that continually making the same mistake without change will lead to the same result.
England’s performance in SA was a national embarrassment, yet going into the Euro’s we have the same management team and the same players.
Capello took the decision that the craven stuffed shirts at the FA should have made after the WC. It is best for him and best for England.
Kelsey – fucking right, Capello chose to resign now rather than be spectacularly sacked in July, very cunning move
Micky. Straws – clutching
AVB is under the watching eye of Abromovich, as the Russian is doing what he did before, that is getting involved with tactics and has been at their training ground most of this week, according to several media journalists, and I believe that.
With regards to the English National manager’s job, where in Europe can a man face a prison sentence in the morning and be hailed the new messiah to look after a bunch of under performing prima donnas.
No doubt he has one huge plus, he speaks English 🙂 Good luck to him, though i doubt Bent will get a call up.(appropriate name, considering the circumstances)
Raddy,
That’s that then 🙂
I’m working on another theory to help ease us into 4th!
not sure about that evonne, he may have had his arm twisted to resign.
Evonne,
Arry, average manager? He is doing a great job at Spurs. Glad to see the back of Capello, and thanks to the great one liners from Arry that I’ve seen via ChasTV, I like the bloke. I honestly could’nt care less that he trousered a few grand from the tax man.
I detest Redknapp, always have, though he has done a superb job at Spurs. Harry is in such a strong position regarding the England job that I expect him to negotiate a deal whereby he takes over at season’s end, after all there is only one International until May.
Pearce and Redknapp. Is this the best we have?
Sunderland continue their fantastic run of form. Nik once again nowhere to be seen. Bodes ill for Saturday.
Capello’s contract was up at the end of the Summer anyway and was unlikely to be renewed.
We went to the World Cup under media pressure due to Terry/Bridgegate, we are going in to another major tournament with two centre backs who probably don’t get on but definitely won’t now.
And the FA by their actions and not including Capello have lost the manager with the best record we’ve ever had.
Win percentage
Capello 66.7
Ramsay 61.1
Hoddle 60.7
Greenwood 60
Eriksson 59.7
The World Cup was a major fail but I think with younger players this time around who were a little bit less prima donna ish we may have done something.
GIE. It would be interesting to make a true comparison with teams only in the top echelons and not in friendlies.
We will do something this time. Shame JW will not make it as England play so much better with him in the team but if England can in this short time find a decent CB pairing and some luck, we could get to the semi’s alongside Germany, Holland and Spain
GIE,
re your 12:17 a.m. I thought Pulis is Welsh?
I still think Arry is an average manager, not as good as Cappello. He has done well at Spurs, admitedly, but he has had great resources to toy with. He is a great motivator and knows how to get the best of men.
You are right RA 😳 shows how much i was struggling, so of 20 PL teams we have 3 English coaches (4 includin McCarthy)
Actually its a blessing that he can’t be selected then 😀
Raddy that would be a truer comparison, but I don’t imagine Hoddle, Eriksson or McLaren would fair much better against the top sides.
I hold no hope for the Euros, it’s a tougher competition to progress in than the WC in my opinion. I can actually see us not getting out of the group.
BR @7.47.
How about we flip what you said. Sunderland are on a great run of form. Therefore it must come to an end sometime. The only way is down for them from here. Much better to play a team in form, no complacency from us. Bodes well for Saturday.
More straw-clutching? 🙂
Chas,
At least our straws are taking a battering this morning. We will find hope!
What about Tony Adams for England coach…
Pat,
Why not?
I mean, England have no world class players, no striker, and will get kicked off the park by the Dutch, out manoevred by the Germans, cheated by the Italians and tippy tappied into defeat by the Spaniards. All doom I’m afraid.
Pat,
Tony was a great player, but so far has had no great managerial success.
They say great players don’t necessarily make great managers.
Look at the top 6 clubs in the Premier League, only Dalgleish was a great player — (dubious manager IMO) — so TA for England/Arsenal? Don’t think so, not that I am any judge!! 🙂
Micky, 🙂
You are a Euro football misanthrope — and I love your quotes!! 🙂
RA,
I love national stereotypes in football. Imagine the result against the Greeks if the sun was shining. I mean they’re hardly going to rock up for work when the beach calls are they?
don’t think TA would be any worse than psycho or twitchy – I know he hasnt set the world alight in his managerial career, but hes available apparently left Gabala last November…
cmon Micky – England has Rooney – he will save the day 😉
It would always be good to play the Spanish early afternoon.
TA6 as England manager would suit me. His reputation would be so low after a year, he’d never be allowed to manage us.
Pat,
The fact that he’s been made available by Gabala rather supports RA’s theory, although I love your loyalty to the great man.
Chas,
Great tactical mind you have 🙂
I pinched this off a very good Sunderland Blog, and recommend their full article for a read of their interview with Clemency!
She gave a really interesting interview!!
* Clemency Burton-Hill on Clemency Burton-Hill (follow her on Twitter: @clemencybh)
My two older brothers, Elliot and Perry (who’s a great source on things footie-related by the way; you can follow him on Twitter at @pezlow) initiated me into the football cult when I was about five years old – the first game I ever watched (at least consciously) was the 1986 Liverpool v Everton derby at home on the telly. My family were originally North Londoners – my mum and my brothers were all born in Hackney – although we later moved to West London. But the boys were already Arsenal crazy by that stage and they’re a bit older than me so I obviously had no choice!
My mum’s a single mum, not into football herself although she has of course accompanied us to matches a few times, and I think she was a bit bemused when they first took me along to Highbury. It was love at first sight: I was immediately hooked and became a Junior Gunner shortly after, and then the obsession really began to take hold…
When I first started going regularly, very few girls or women were into it (this was before Euro 96 kicked off the widespread, mainstream football mania) and my friend Alexandra and I probably used to stand out a mile sitting together in the East Stand Family Enclosure, which at that point was all Dads and their sons. (My brothers always sat in the West Stand).
By the time I ‘grew up’ and graduated from being a Junior Gunner to Cannon Club Member and eventually just regular adult season-ticket holder in the West Stand, you saw loads of women and girls in the stands. I’ve always been very vocal and passionate at games: I love the singing, so much, and I have, occasionally, been known to yell the odd expletive at the Ref! I can’t help it – passions run high.
Football doesn’t feel the same to me anymore, ever since we left Highbury, and eventually, after much deliberation due to moving to the States and it being so unfeasibly expensive to keep it up, I reluctantly let my season ticket go. It was like losing a limb, I really struggled with it. For so many years footie was always a really important thing for me and my brothers to do together – it was a ritual for us to meet for a pint before the game at The Gunners or in the West Stand bar, and one of the reasons I was so pleased to go to Cambridge for university was because it was so easy to get to Arsenal – less than an hour direct to Finsbury Park! I barely missed a home game throughout my English literature degree.
Nowadays I’m still a big football fan but nothing like to the same extent. I have a crazily busy life, doing various things I passionately love – presenting TV and radio programmes about music and the arts, making documentaries, writing books and freelance journalism for a range of papers and magazines (although sadly, no football reporting!).
You can catch me in the current series of BBC2′s The Culture Show and the upcoming BBC Young Musician 2012, on BBC4. One of the things I love most about music is it’s ability to bring people together from a range of different backgrounds and I think that, perhaps above all else, is what I have always loved most about football. I hope that spirit always remains. Come on you Gunners!
chas, micky – ouch! 😉
Chas,
“TA6 as England manager would suit me. His reputation would be so low after a year, he’d never be allowed to manage us.”
I love the sting in the tail, you scorpion you!! 🙂
Holloway and Warnock tag team special has been suggested on twitter for the England job. Noice.
Chas,
I’ve warned you about the “sorts” who use twitter.
Micky, do you mean Irish, GM, peaches and GIE?
Chary, me, harry (by the way where is harry?).
Morning all
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