Written by Sebastian
So, we went to the San Siro, and we got taken apart. Taken apart the way an Arsenal side of the past would dismantle another side. It was upsetting to watch. However I think the most upsetting thing is, I am not all that shocked. Shocked that we got beaten all over the pitch that badly, yes, but not shocked we were easily beaten. 4 or 5 years ago this would be a massive shock, but not now. It highlights how far we have fallen. Now that I have had an evening and a morning to think about last night’s events, I will try to be rational and honest. Some honesty is needed.
Looking back at the game, the first issue for me was the team selection; I feel Wenger got it all wrong. We needed experience at that level, and starting Ramsey and Arteta, who have little to no experience at that level, for me, was a mistake. They also dragged Rosicky down with them, who I feel put a lot of effort in on the night, but had little around him to help. Personally, I would have gone with:
Controversial I know, but it would have made them worry about us a little more I feel, making them want to go forward perhaps a little less. I know I also stated that we needed experience, and you will have seen that I’ve included the Ox, but the boy has no fear, and runs forward. Regardless of age, he is needed.
So, what have we learnt? Well the first thing that stood out to me was the fact that Ramsey is not good enough to be a starter for Arsenal. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to needlessly abuse the guy like some so-called supporters, but in brutal honesty, he is not good enough at this moment in time to be starting for Arsenal if we have any ambition to win anything. He may turn out to be a star in the future, but truthfully I have no idea why he plays more regularly than Rosicky, who for me, is a much better player. On Wednesday night he was our worst player, and this wasn’t a one off performance. I hear people say that he’s going to be the next Fabregas, but I see nothing that warrants this comparison. All I see Michael Carrick/Gareth Barry/David Batty. Sideways, backwards, nothing exceptional. Wenger needs to be a little more ruthless with players that are not performing. I hope Ramsey proves me wrong, he has plenty of time to. (Personally, I’d do everything in my power to get Mario Gotze but don’t hold your breath!)
Secondly, Theodor Walcott. Theo has caused many a debate, not just among Arsenal fans, but football fans in general. He’s going to be 23 next month and in truth, is he any better than when we signed him? I don’t mean to needlessly bash any given player, or make a knee-jerk reaction, but this isn’t about any 1 performance. Theo has 1 attribute, and if he can’t use it, like he couldn’t on Wednesday night, he is completely ineffective. Apparently he is asking for £90,000 a week for his next contract (a pay rise from £60,000 a week). I’m sorry Theo, but if you think you are worth that then you want to go and have a quiet word with yourself mate. For me, I don’t think you can justify the wage you currently earn, let alone a pay rise. He’s English, young, has an international hat-trick, many appearances for Arsenal both in the league and champions league, so we should get good money for him, I’d say £25m. If that’s the case, bite their hands off, I’d have Eden Hazard any day of the week. You can say what you want about his age, Ox is already a more important player.
Thirdly, Thierry Henry. Tel coming back has highlighted just how far we have slid. He was past it when we sold him, yet 4 years later, he walks into our team and improves it. He is now gone for the rest of the season, but what he brought to the teams shows just what we are lacking. We need an experienced, talented leader in attack to help RvP.
Lastly, Attitude. When Arsenal were sweeping all before them to go the season unbeaten, each player had something that this team lacks. I am not talking about talent, as this team has shown, talent will only get you so far. Every player of the 2002-2005 Arsenal side had a “Win-at-all-costs, refuse to lose, over my dead body” mentality. Even if we were playing poor, we would still refuse to be beaten, drag ourselves to a point or 3. Any sort of result. I just don’t see that attitude in this team. I see it in RvP, and I see it, believe it or not in Arshavin to an extent. Arshavin is a winner, it is his application that lets him down. But I don’t see it anywhere else on the pitch. Last night it looked like every Arsenal player couldn’t wait for the final whistle, and that shouldn’t be the case. Beat your chest and show the world what you are made of, do not hide. That’s the difference between a winner and a loser. It’s not all about ability. Ray Parlour wasn’t the most gifted player, but if he was still around, he would be straight in this team.
I can imagine most of you will disagree with this, but I’d actually rather be knocked out of the Champions League than F.A Cup this year, so it’s not all bad. The reason for this is simple. We were never going to win the Champions League, however we are in with a decent shout of winning the F.A Cup. This weekend against Sunderland is now massive. Let’s hope they can get over this disappointment, as sulking and letting our heads drop will end our season completely.
Let’s get behind the boys and see what happens. Keeping some perspective, we all knew that we were not going to challenge for the title or champions league this season, so our current position is not a shock, it’s just shame that we got badly beaten on the international stage. However, we are currently in 4th spot and we are well placed in the F.A Cup, which I feel most of us would probably have taken at the start of the season if we were being realistic. Let’s hope we can finish 4th (or possibly still catch that lot up the road!) and bring the cup back to the Emirates.
But if you do get down about the current state of the Arsenal side, just try to remember, it’s out of your control and there is nothing you can do about it. So smile and try to enjoy each victory!
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Very enjoyable and thoughtful Post, Sebastian. 🙂
I agree with almost everything you wrote, so it seems a little curmudgeonly to mention one small area where I am unconvinced, but I am sure you will welcome debate.
Without doubt Rosicky has improved this season, when he has been in the team. But I once described him as a flimflam merchant because altho’ he clearly has silky skills he is too easily brushed off the ball, and too often having dribbled mazily thru’ the opposition he finishes by making a poor pass, or shooting ineffectually.
For me, he is not the answer to our problems, either.
Interestingly, despite Arsene being very loyal to his players and notorious for stubbornly defending them, I think the pressure from the fans, the media and ex-Arsenal players means that many of the current players are under the microscope.
Included among those frequently mentioned for the chop are Theo, Arshavin, Rosicky, and Rambo, as well as the usual suspects such as Squillaci, Almunia, Djourou etc.
I don’t agree that all those named should go and it is not Arsene’s way to make wholesale changes, but the writing is on the wall for the players, the manager and the purse string holders over the next few months.
What will not change is us, the fans, despite our different views, opinions and sometimes outrageous complaints, we will still be here thru thick and thin. Always!!
Again, well done Sebastian an excellent debut Post — let’s have more! 🙂
Nice debut, Sebastien.
I think Arteta had to play on Wednesday regardless of CL experience. He’s consistently dragged the midfield along this season. Why it didn’t happen the other night, I’m not sure. More of a collective team failure.
When I saw Rosicky was playing, I thought Wenger had decided to play a tighter midfield away from home. What actually happened was a team with no shape at all; players tripping over each other, other areas of the pitch completely empty.
I honestly believe that the same would have happened regardless of personnel, which is a sad indictment of the evening. Something was badly wrong with the way the team was sent out on to the pitch. I keep seeing the word ‘scared’ and it summed up the team.
Seb – well done on a heartfelt headline post and one that confirms something I have felt for a while – we are simply no longer that good anymore.
That doesn’t effect my feelings to the club but a harsh dose of reality is needed here and for various reasons we have become merely a mediocre side.
PS – a request ot Peachy/Rapers – can we remove the Champions League banner from the blog today?
It’s like a cruel reminder of the nightmare Wednesday evening which I am trying to forget.
I still have plenty of faith in Ramsey, He’s being played in the wrong role by Wenger at the moment though. At the moment he is trying to thread cute balls through defence, and spread the ball out wide (which i think he can do) but is absolutely jaded (why the long balls aren’t coming off), and thus we can’t play him to what i think is his strength, the lampard role of bursting into the box, getting goals, and putting in some bits of magic (which he is fully capable of, he just has no confidence to several misses). The fact that he can get into these positions though still means i have a lot of hope for him, its just wilshere would be much better suited to the more advanced role he plays, with ramsey dropping off, almost in a box to box sort of role.
Totally agree about henry, Rosicky has been much better recently, despite the fact that supporters seem to love to chastise him for ‘doing nothing but move the ball around’, although thats pretty much his role in his team, (on another note i think rosicky should play the furthest forward).
Sorry about lack of structure, just writing what comes to mind
@ Red Arse and Chas
Thank you. I agree with the fact that Rosicky “isn’t the answer”, I assume this means a long term answer(?) but I feel that with the players we currently have, he is probably as close to Fabregas as we have got, so personally, he’d be my choice behind RvP. I also don’t want people to think that I want Ramsey sold, I certainly don’t! We need a squad of players, and he will certainly improve, I just feel that right now he shouldn’t be starting as regularly as he is.
Interestingly, we do have Wilshire coming back, and the forgotten man Abou Diaby. I think Diaby would have been fantastic for us against Milan. He gets quite a battering from some Arsenal fans, but in the last world cup, the French were terrible, but watching their games, he was their best player. When everyone is fit we do have alot of options in midfield, and in my eyes Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Wilshire and Diaby would all be ahead of Rambo in the pecking order. Im sure many will disagree with me though!
it wouldnt have made any difference the set up and the tactics were completely screwed from minute one.
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Morning, excellent debut post Sebastian, you have managed to say the difficult things whilst avoiding acrimony.
I’m afraid its all down to finance. The current side does not have the quality of our trophy winning years and it is likely to stay that way unless there is a major change around at the top.
Reports of us having £60m + available to spend may be true (who knows) but the real problem is that a player who costs £25m is going to demand £150K a week in wages and that won’t be offered by Arsenal but there are many now who will think nothing of such a figure.
We do need to show more ambition in the transfer market, but that will not happen unless things change drastically.
As far as Ramsey is concerned, I think we are definitely asking too much of him. We seem to have a Gerrard/Lampard type situation where Ramsey cannot play alongside Rosicky (or maybe Arteta).
Ramsey took the ball off both of them a couple of times on Wednesday – he should have been sprinting 30 yards into space and calling for the pass. It was a complete shambles in midfield – too many players trying to do the same job.
We desparately need a midfield enforcer. A commanding presence who can be the main man – instead we have several contenders and Song looking like a free agent with no particular role or position.
Hi Sebastian, good solid debut, and an honest melancholic reflection on how far we’ve fallen.
Morning RA. Yesterday at 1.28pm I made a point that we had been dumbed-down to acknowledge and support mediocrity, which you took exception to. At 6.43, just before you left, you said you agreed that when selling our best players, we hadn’t replaced them with like for like quality. What’s that if it isn’t being ‘dumbed-down’?
How to bounce back:
1- Get Keown & Adams to defensive coaching
2- Replace medical staff
3- Dig well to get a decent assistant manager to succeed Pat Rice when he leaves this summer.
4- They should work on players mentality ( fighters and never accept defeat)
5- Get Dennis Bergkamp in coaching
6- Our full back cant cross well
7- We need to work on defensive and offensive set-pieces cz we suck
8- We should shoot from outside the box.
9- Get back to 4-4-1-1 formation
10- Get a clinical finisher
11- Sell dead wood players.
12- Arsenal cannot hold on to leads.
13- Board should invest and stop blaming Wenger is he happy not to spend? or to loose ? as far as I remember he didn’t want to sell nasri but the board refuse to increase wage and this will happen to v.persie . so compare gazidis to Dein and chek out .
NIce article Sebastian, good job.
I do feel that there is a lack of heroes in this side, the body-on-the-line type of player that will do anything and everything to get a result, such as Tony Adams or Patrick Vieira.
I thought Rosicky made the best of a bad situation to be honest. Our movement was poor, our application even worse. Arteta, Walcott and Song were woeful and that is where it began to fall apart.
You can’t lose 3 midfielders out of 5 and expect to win a game. Our defence was hopelessly open for 90 minutes due to a lack of defensive cover from the midfield. We were so poor I didn’t think Djourou had a bad game when he came on.
Vermaelen needs to wind his neck in somewhat. Don’t crow about being played out of position when you perform so badly when in your preferred position. It might take him a game or two to get back in the saddle, yet for someone so outspoken his performance spoke louder than any printed words attributed to him.
I am massively disappointed by the result, not because we lost, not because we conceded 4 goals but because I felt there was a lack of care from too many players. The only players I felt came out with any real credit were RvP, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Gibbs (who did ok on his first game back and did well to block a shot from Robinho) and Henry who did what he could to inspire and link up with RvP.
A woeful overall performance though, we have to do better tomorrow.
WG
I agree sell Walcott, if he thinks he deserves higher wages he can piss off and get them from Liverpool they like over hyped English players. But no offense in my opinion i think your praise of Rosicky and Discontent for Ramsey is bizarre.
Rosicky was completely useless on wed night he didn’t do one thing right like Ramsey tends to pass the ball side to side, but whats Rosicky’s excuse can he say hes 21 years old with 1 years worth of games at Premiership and Champions league level that hes not been there and done it before.
Fabregas had 4 seasons under his belt before he was Ramseys age and with players like Viera, Gilberto, Henry and Bergkamp to learn from and play alongside he had the environment to flourish, Ramsey has a tough task especially with his injury set back. But you are right at this moment in time hes a cameo player ala Sunderland come on with 30 to go and build from there.
And another thing………….
Alex Song another waste of space he’s a def mid who seems more concerned with marauding forward and making a killer passes rather than supporting his defense and offloading possession quickly to the more advanced MORE creative players like Flamini, Gilberto and Petit did.
The amount of times Milan and other sides have had space to run at the defense through the middle of the park is incredible. For e.g K.P. Boatang’s goal the defenders were blamed and rightly so but where was Song when this central midfield player strolled through the middle of the park to latch on to a pass and finish with aplomb NOWHERE! he was standing in the middle of the field scratching his arse not marking anyone, obviously waiting to get the ball to maraud forward again.
Then the sheer amount of times he picks the ball up then takes one touch pirouettes then another touch and another then makes a sideways pass is incredible he slows our game to a halt. He thinks and most arsenal fans think he’s the bee’s knees, in reality hes slow across the ground, positionally undisciplined and and holds on to the ball for far too long. He needs to be moved on, hes the epiphany of a defender playing in a center midfield role HE CANT DO IT.
I hope Wenger listens to Petit and move players on this would be my list:
Almunia, Djourou, Squilaci, Song, Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Park (shame he hasn’t had game time), Chamakh, Walcott, Vela, Bendtner and send Benyoun back to Chelsea
we should get 40million for the lot added to the 60 million we already have and promote Lansbury, Afobe and Aneke from the youth along with Miyaichi then i would target:
Vertonghen (Ajax), Kristian Eriksson (Ajax), Xhediren Shaquiri (Spelling)(Basel), M’Vila (Stade Rennais), Merko Marin (Werder) Noble (West Ham) Hazard (Lille), Gotze (DvB), Higuien or Benzema (id prefer the first) (Real), Podolski (Koln)
If we could get 5-6 of these definates being Vertonghen, M’Vila and podolski then 2 of the wingers and a central playmaker wed be very strong and all but 3 of these players would come in under 20 million
ITS JUST AN OPINION DONT GET RATTY!
Good honest post, good stuff Seb.
I feel Wenger didn’t workout how to counter the long ball play. There was no Milan midfield but we packed it. We had the midfield but no direction. Too easy to make a wall and have 5-6 men in front of their goal. RVP marked by 3 guys, no one will shoot from distance and allow the wide space because no one will be able to cut inside.
Defensively our positioning was very poor and no enthusiasm to mark up or put in firm tackles. There was no pressure and we still couldn’t make a pass from defence to the midfield. Then we dwelled on the ball and were caught in possession.
We have no clue in playing any other formation than 4-3-3 so why not play it, at least people would know their roles.
Last point is we looked so tired. Mentally and physically drained. Here I blame Wenger for not motivating them and rotating his squad.
Spot on. The gentlemen whom no longer seem fit to wear the shirt in my opinion are as follows…
Fabianski and Almunia, Djourou, Bendtner, Vela, Denilson and Squilacci who all need to be cleared off the books forthwith.
The players who are either squad players or sellers as well are Arshavin, Ramsey and Walcott- we should expect to see at least 30 goals a season from those three and yet so far this season- a measly 2 from Arshavin, 6 from Walcott and 3 from Ramsey. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Add that to Gervinho only adding 4 thus far and we have an inneffective attacking unit – apart from RVP.
This clearout is long overdue and the £60 odd million they have in the coffers could easily become £100m+ with the top lot and Arshavin gone. Personally I would either play Arshavin in his favoured central role or get rid – I would also do the same with Theo- lets face it we could get £20+million for sprint boy and that as a deposit for Eden Hazard would be good business. £90k a week my arse Theo.
It seems obvious now that Kroenke is an asset stripper- he is happy to sell the crown jewels, store the cash like a demented squirrel with a nut and push up the share price, presumably to sell on at some point.
The board, lead by the the inept clown that is PHW are constantly claiming they are custodians of our club- horseshit I say. If that were true they would be first concerned with success on the pitch and secondly careful to run the business effectively. I would claim that running the team into the floor through lack of investment simply to bolster the bank balance has got ‘dereliction of duty’ all over it.
I want to know if Wenger is really a stubborn and slightly OCD man who refuses to spend funds available (seems unlikley to me) or have the owners left him hanging out to dry with their asset stripping agenda??
Either way its a bollocks way to run a football club- if I hear one more time that their ‘sustainable’ plan is the pride of football I will scream- sustainable means that the system is self supporting and thus has no need to incur debt- what it doesnt mean that every year you post massive profits that disapear into the ether whilst the fans chalk up a fucking fortune to watch an ever worsening football team.
The dissent in fans started three or four years back. Henry had gone, Fabregas wanted world class players around him but they didnt appear, Project youth lead to the same disappointments yera after year. Now the murmurings have become a cacophony- Gooners left right and centre are turning on each other with vitriol best saved for the spuds- and still the club seem happy to take the – ‘fuck em, they are only fans. If they stop coming we have a waiting list of mugs who will step in’ attitude.
I have news for the board- that ISNT SUSTAINABLE!!
@ James
Some interesting things there….Rosicky was voted as Arsenal’s man of the match…and I do feel you are just one of many people that needlessly and blindly stick the knife into Rosicky, but you are of course entitled to your opinion.
You do also make some good points, however, I do feel there is alot of contradiction in many Arsenal fans that you have highlighted.
“Almunia, Djourou, Squilaci, Song, Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Park (shame he hasn’t had game time), Chamakh, Walcott, Vela, Bendtner and send Benyoun back to Chelsea”
Some of those players should leave, yes, definately. However, we need to have a squad of players that dont start every week. How you can say sell Djourou when he is 4th choice cb, get rid of Song who is largely important, Rosicky who plays back-up and doesn’t crow about leaving because he doesnt always get a game, hes experianced and C.R captain, Arshavin – everyone wants him to leave, but also wants us to have experienced players? hes 30 and Russian captain, how experianced can you get?. The others I could take or leave.
Rosicky is not good enough for arsenal. He runs around like a headless chicken, rarely produces a final product, regularly loses the ball and is weak. The problem is we have no direct players bar the ox. We have little pace and lack any creativity through the middle. Van persie looks far to isolated on his own up front. The full backs got caught in behind far too regularly on Wednesday. Song looks tired and walcott only plays well when there is space in behind. Our counter attack is non existant as there is never any support. What happened to the days of players flooding forward from an opposition corner. The players look like they do not know their individual roles and lack the character to take responsibility for their area of the pitch, instead looking to others to close down/ make a tackle. The team seems to lack communication with each other that is key for organisation.
Just a few thoughts on what’s wrong. I might be wrong but its just what I believe judging what I’ve seen
Well said Iain.
Why does everyone think that throwing money at the problem will make it go away?
WG
Wow, some really interesting stuff there! 🙂
James, no one should get ratty with you for expressing an opinion, and anyway part of the purpose of blogs is to let off steam. I liked the way you put your point of view, it was a bit like being down the pub with buddies. I may not agree with everything you say, but so what – who says i am right either? 🙂
Herb, I did not take exception to anything you said, because I understand you did not mean to be rude to me.
But you sometimes use terminology that can cause offence, even if you do not mean it, and others on here have taken offence with you in the past because of it.
Talking as if the rest of us are dumb or happy to support mediocrity is plain wrong, but if you cannot understand that then let’s just move on.
Mike, Iain, Bradster, there are a lot of very disappointed and frankly angry fans at the moment, and there are also many ex-Arsenal players are in that group.
You have all put forward impassioned views, which I have enjoyed reading. Some of the points I agree with, some that I don’t — what we are all agreed about is that the current situation — whatever the underlying problems — is not going to go away and has to be resolved. Let’s keep talking! 🙂
Sebastian,
Excellent post, and I agree with everything you say, well, apart from one massive blunder. Absolutely nobody called Theodor is 23 years old. All Theodor’s are at least 87.
Fact : Arsene is an egomaniac who hated to lose like that in Milan. He will let the players know in no uncertain terms what he expects tomorrow and moving forwards.
God help Sunderland, those Mackems are going to get a hiding.
WG
@RA
Excellent comment. Totally agree with you.
WG
Two points. I only sort of agree about Ramsey. I have long argued that he is already a very good player, but never an AM. He is good enough, although not my first choice, for the midfield two, but I completely agree about us playing better with Rosicky in that role.
Also, for me everything about Theo’s body language says to me “I’m actually good enough for Barca” so again I’d agree with your sentiments.
I don’t recall referring to anyone as ‘dumb’, RA, neither did I suggest that anyone is happy to support mediocrity. Clearly you didn’t correlate the ‘dumbing-down’ statement with the point I made about replacing quality with inferior players, which to me made your 6.43 reply contradictory. There was never any malice or finger-pointing from me, is was just an assessment of what’s happening at the club. We are the 5th richest club in the world, and behave like we’re the 5th poorest.
Wigan,
Why do some of us thinking throwing money at a problem will make it “go away”?
Probably because some of us having been married for bloody ever, and know damn well that cash thrown at massive bundles of flowers does make problems go away. Old habits die hard 🙂
Hi WG, 🙂
You ask “why does everyone think throwing money at the problem will make it go away?” and I think that is a crucial question.
In the past I have always believed that financial prudence is the correct way forward. As an accountant I have seen too many high hopes and aspirations go down the pan, when great ideas and entrepreneurship have not been married up to the financial realities.
That is in the real world!
I think the football environment is only partly in the real world (see Glasgow Rangers/Portsmouth) but also becoming increasingly like a grotesquely rich man’s fantasy world.
With more and more clubs, not just in the UK, but in France, Spain and Russia (and watch this space) becoming rich men’s toys or in Citeh’s case a nation’s toy, I think that even with the FFP rules that the playing field is becoming inexorably tilted away from clubs like ours.
It hurts me to say this, but I think Arsenal are becoming more and more handicapped by being financially prudent (and many other clubs are technically insolvent) because it is not just our inability to compete for the best players because of the transfer prices being skewed by these rich clubs, we have also time and again become prey to the blandishments of other clubs offering our players preposterous salaries which we cannot match, forcing us to sell them before their contracts run down.
Unless the FFP works, bringing equality to all, (and I have my doubts because of the vested interests involved), many of the siren voices calling for an Usmanov or other wealthy playboy to take over the club, may feel that will be the only way to achieving trophies in the foreseeable future.
It’s not fair — but then when has life ever been fair?
RA,
That’s the grown up way of looking at the cash for problems debate!
It’s great to read a fresh view even if sadly the topics remain the same. I hope I get to read more of your headline posts Sebastian.
As to my view, I could not improve upon neither would I want to change a single word of Chas’ comment at 10.06am…….spot on.
I wrote a headline post during the summer in which I predicted that Walcott would be a Liverpool player next season, I intend to get that out as still think that is what will happen.
I do like the way you articulate your respnose to other bloggers Redders, and I agree a blog is a good place to let off steam at times.
I knew what Herb meant about the dumbing down off the playing staff – I feel this process began when Paddy(the current pimp for Arab Camel Shaggers FC)was not adequately replaced.
There are alwways good things about Arsenal that will continue, fellow bloggers like yourself, Peachy, Raspers, Mdi89,Radders, The Rock, Tomstoned, GiE and so many others who entertain, amuse and educate me.
I also think our away supporters are a constant source of pride to us.
And while I am commenting, I would like to complement Slim on his superb comment at 1.36pm yesterday…………respect to you sir.
Any player that could have held a candle to Vieira would have been snapped up by Chelsea.
It’s not laziness, it’s not neglect, it is the sea change in the footballing economic landscape that has stopped us signing players of Vieira’s ilk.
slightly off topic, but something has just come to mind.
In 2008 our team was:
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Toure Clichy
Nasri Fabregas Song Arshavin
RvP Adebayor
How on earth, looking at that team, did we not win anything?!?!
I know its sad to look back at what could have been..but you do think..just a decent goalkeeper in that team..leading to a league title…and it all could have been so different since.
Hi CharyB, 🙂
I was about to say that it has been quite a while since, you, WG and Herb have graced AA with your skilful Posts.
What about it? All of you? 🙂
You are spot on about the away supporters, they have every right to feel proud of themselves, but there are many long suffering season ticket holders who deserve credit for supporting the team come what may, especially financially – even with some justifiable gripes. 🙂
Herb, I value your input to all matters Arsenal, and altho’ I was genuinely trying to be helpful by pointing out the ambiguity of what you said, it is certainly not worth falling out over, as that is the complete opposite of what was intended. 🙂
And this one is for GM
Recently you said that if Chelsea were so strong why have manu kept winning the league or words to that effect.
My answer is: just because Chelsea are incapable of getting the best out of their players, look no further that Torres, it does not alter the fact that they are capable of wasting 50 million when ever they seem to want and that kind of financial fire power greatly restricts our ability it function in the transfer market.
Good point, Sebastian, and now 6 out of that 11 were pinched by other clubs!! 😦
Sebastian
The answer to your question is that we were just very, very unlucky.
@RA
A very sensible breakdown of my rather frivolous comment 🙂 I am just very cautious of the dangers of trying to buy our way out of our predicament. You can buy eleven of the best players in the world, but they won’t necessarily play as a team.
Feel sorry for Pompey and Rangers – they tried to buy their way up their respective leagues and look whats happened to them! Both in administration which doesn’t happen without poor financial management.
I think we do need to be more ambitious in our wage policy and transfer policy, but wholesale changes to the way we operate are not needed and once the burden of the stadium debt is removed I can see the shackles coming off in that respect.
@ MickyDidIt
Tell me about it, ‘er indoors costs me a bleedin’ fortune!
WG
What a fantastic post and it’s attracted a few new bloggers witrh interesting and valid opinions. Totally agree about Walcott, he’ll get a new contract though. I’d really like to see who’d buy him. I’d put my money on Villa. I know I bang on about it but what is it with Park? He’s being called “deadwood” now. He’s had no cahnce at all. He looks good playing for his country (better than the manc one and he gets games for the mancs).
You are right LB. That is the other side of the coin.
Having huge dosh available does not mean you are the best judges of footballing talent.
But and it is a big but (not mine I hope) 🙂 clubs like Citeh and Chelsea make big mistakes but just keep on buying/hoovering up more players and eventually by the law of averages will eventually get it right. Bollix!
Wasteful spending such as that for Torres/Adebayor etc which would bankrupt Arsenal is simply shrugged off, as will be the non-productive players.
Great debut post Sebastian.
i would just like to pick up on your @11.58, if i may. You name that 2008 team and ask why we didn’t win anything. the main reason for me is that RVP, Adebayor, Nasri, Cesc etc were not at there peaks. They are all better players now.
Ive never felt so angry as i am at this moment since first visiting this site. The castigation of young players like Ramsey and Walcott is a load of Bolloxs. The derision heaped on the management and Directors of the Club is also total and utter crap. if we had kept that 2008 team together we would be top now. The club is not in crises, we are simply tring to build a new team, and hopefuly we can keep the young talents away from the Vultures, and with the new climate i think we will. Thats the key to our success, not the lambasting and execution of players who don the great Red and White jersey.
Maybe football clubs were never there to make money like the railways.
If Wilshere had been fit all season would we be better off?
Personally I think he would excel in the cesc position and give us the creativity we crave. The thought of ox and Wilshere together is exciting but I like most am sick of looking to.the future
Arsenal as a club don’t make money equally they don’t have an owner who doesn’t give a toss if he losses 200 mil here or 200 mil there.
Redders, simple answer to that – I’m just lazy !
Plus I’ve rediscivered my liking of electric guitar and although I have no talent, I have fun trying to play the odd little tune.
Terry
Walcott isn’t good enough. I don’t slate him or lambast him he is just overrated. Not worth 85K a week. That’s just my opinion so keep your hair on 🙂
Mike
Just to be clear: what is your definition of the “The Cesc Position”?
CharyB, you and Raddy should get together and form a band! 🙂
No excuses, let’s have a Post, you have the talent, we want the read!!
MerryT, hello, 🙂
Who has been lambasting our young tyros? Altho’ you are fun when you are cross!! (Don’t tell the Cornish love machine, or he will be jealous!!!) 🙂
LB
Bent over with christiano ronaldo behind you
@TMHT
Hear Hear, totally and unequivocally agree with you. We have to support whoever wears the shirt (and we have seen some right dross in the past!! Chris Kiwomya anyone?).
WG
Lunchtime Cold chicken and raw carrots 🙂
GM, 🙂 my very own thought, too! 🙂
GM,
I wasnt having a go at any individual, every one is entitled to there opinion. i recall people in the past having digs at Cesc, adeybayor, Nasri, Flamini etc, all players reaching there peak years at other clubs. If we keep the likes of Jack, Ox, Ramsey, Coq together then we will have a formidable team, and yes, Theo could be a part of it.
A change in philosophy at the club will not work, and the Directors and Wenger know it. More important than defence on the pitch at the moment is defence off it.
GM,
Gerard Pique, surely?
yeah but some of the dross were secretly heros!
Oleg Luzhny, Nelson Vivas, Gilles Grimandi, Pascal Cygan, Igor Stepanovs, Glen Helder, Diawarra, Christopher Wreh, Rami Shaban, Justin Hoyte, Stephen Hughes, Francis Jeffers, you will never be forgotten!
(feel free to add any I have missed)
Excellent debut post Sebastian , though I don’t agree with all of it
1. Can we please stop making comparisons to Cesc. Cesc was/ is a one off similar to Messi/Rooney.it is impossible to replace those types of players you find someone who is effective for the team and or another way to play
2.Someone said above that Cesc started in a team with Vieira, Henry etc Ramsey/Walcott have not had that luxury and are both the same age that Henry was when he arrived.I think patience is required with these players
I watched the game again yesterday for coaching points and the two things that were blatantly apparent were a) our team shape when out of possession was awful in comparison to Milan’s and b) we seemed bereft of roles and responsibilities a point demonstrated by Ramsey taking the ball off his own players on more than one occasion
In order for us to eradicate our failure at the last hurdle in my opinion we need to fix the repetitive bad habits
1. Walcott stopping the ball dead, standing off players when defending, taking poor initial positions
2. Song holding on to the ball for too long
3.Djourou’s extra touches
4. Forgetting how to counter attack
5. Being useless at offensive corners
6. Not enough shots from outside the box
7 learning how to either form a compact defensive shape out of possession or adopt an aggressive pressing strategy
Players in or out at the mo is a futile exercise as we can’t do ANYTHING until June!
Arteta was much worse than Ramsay and Rosicky this guy has been a complete waste of 10mill he went awol the san siro was to much for him he slows us down no creativity no legs. Everybody was poor, Walcott was a dreadful absolutely woeful like petit said has he made any progress HE was weak absolutely feeble at times and was boyed all over the pitch and rightly subed. T.V I didnt recognize him never seen him play that badly woeful. Couldnt understand how we were so flat we couldnt have fought our way out of a paper bag. we made the “Prince” look wrold class and we know he,s s**t I was laughing at him before the game thinking how did he get to millan, unbelievable. AC are still a poor poor side in my opinion so it just shows how far we’ve fallen wenger needs to wake these Boys up and fast!!!!!
I still think this goal from Christopher Wreh won us the league in 98. 🙂
There’s an old saying “You can have change without improvement” but “You can’t have improvement without change”
It seems to this observer that we rarely make any significant changes in either our players, staff, transfer policy or players salaries – therefore we remain the same = no improvement.
What us fans see. is the end product on the field, and that has been insufficient to win us any silverware for the past 6/7 seasons.
If the aim is to win trophies then we simply must make changes and that change must start on the field of play, our “Ring around the Roses” style has seen it’s day – we all fell down, I guess.
AW has to do more than just drag a player off at half time he needs to let them know that their place in the team is in jeopardy and then prove that by keeping them on the bench.
Personally trophies are not , to me, the be all and end all, it’s the excitement of the game that I enjoy, and I ask you where was the enjoyment on Wednesday?
We are desperate for positive change.
Love your list Wonderman, it is spot on! 🙂
I would add, — back passes to the GK should not be the default position. He can only kick upfield to the opposition, (look what happened on Wednesday) so what’s the point?
Cesc is a unique one off — but I suspect bloggers may be referring to his place in the team, rather than the impossibility of a like for like replacement. Maybe I am wrong?
TMHT@12:28.
If we keep the likes of Jack, Ox, Ramsey, Coq together then we will have a formidable team, and yes, Theo could be a part of it.
………………………………………………………………………………
The best way to predict future behaviour is to check past behaviour.
That we tell us that these players will be sold to the highest bidder, and not necessarily when the time is right for Arsenal.
by the cesc position I meant an attacking midfielder that has the freedom to express himself. I feel Wilshere is slightly wasted playing a deeper role. Agree that we more a team in transition than in crisis. PROblem is this another transitional period after cesc and Nasri left. Before that it was transition from the invincibles to project youth. The problem with ‘project youth’ Is that it works in a cycle where players need the opportunity to develop and therefore don’t achieve the required success on the pitch as a result. By the time they have matured they are pissed off with not winning trophies and leave the club. This paves the way for the next set of talented youngsters who replace them and the same happens again
Pique is straight though chas. The other two are not IMO (my gaydar is seriously good usually)
You are right that we need to take a hard but rational view of what we saw on Wednesday. There is no point in spitting fury in all directions.
I think if you combine what Dennis Bergkamp, Manu Petit and Martin Keown had to say, you have covered everything that needs to be said.
How have we got ourselves into a position where we depend on the likes of Walcott, Ramsey, Arshavin, Djourou, Squillaci, Fabianski, Chamakh, Park etc. ? Where are the tough characters who would take a game like that by the scruff of the neck?
Even Frimpong tweeted telling the players to go out and kick a few of the Milanese. I wish some of the players on the pitch had felt that need!
Just to finish on a point of perspective, in 2003, we lost 3-0 at home to Inter Milan and then went on to become The Invincibles. If Wenger reads the signals correctly and takes the correct action, there is still the possibility of creating a championship winning side – but not this season.
Sebastian @12:32.
I think most of them get a mention in this. Don’t click on this if you like singing in tune!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygj7uhFaIB8
Hi RA
The back pass to the goalie would only result in a punt up field when the centre backs and defensive mid fail to give him an angle to pass to, which is exactly what happened on Wednesday. Barca do it all the time, but we seemed to have missed that trick.It is basic habits like that which will prohibit us from playing to our obvious potential and more importantly reaping the benefits
Good comment aj. We don’t rely on Park though he’s an enigma. Haven’t seen Squiddley much this season either. JD is signing a new contract so he’s here to stay.
gaydar, GM. 🙂
G5,
The financial envoiremnet is changing in our favour, plus we have a core of British talent which makes it more likely for them to stay.
if we dont stick to our fundemental startegy of building a team, then waht is the alternative?
I just put Fabregas Pique into Google image search and even I’m not going to paste a link to one of the pictures.
TMHT,
The evidence is that our strategy has not been to build a team but to create cash resources in the name of our players.
GM,
I use to work for the YMCA, MY gaydar was on red alert. hahahaha
G5,
Thats simply wrong. No cash has been taken out of the club and our wage bill increases every year. We tried to build a team, but greed from players there agents, and the arrival of City and Chelsea set us back. We are attempting it again, and will be in a much stronger position financialy for it to succeed. Whats your alternitive?
Thanks, WM,
I have kittens when so many back passes are made on poor bobbly pitches. A Chezzer air shot seems almost inevitable at some time in the future.
Punting the ball upfield just seems a waste as the big defenders always win the ball against our little guys (not the Ox tho’ he has great timing in the leap) 🙂 and then the oppo attacks us again. Me no like!! 🙂
terry,
why did we sell cesc with years left on his contract????
and you want us to lay off the board!!!!!
we should have turned around to Farca and said ‘WE ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THE BOY>>>FUCK OFF!!”
even wenger said in the early parts of the transfer window that to sell cesc would show signs of Arsenal not being a big club rather a selling club
a big club dont sell their star players…
and for what 25mil with an option to buy back…are you fucken serious!!! darren bent and milner went for that money!!!
our board are a bunch of fuckwits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well, TerryM is not talking to me – I will lodge a complaint with the award winning Devon Love Machine, and sod off to lunch — fish and chips again, yummy!! 🙂
As a supporter of 44 years I have seen the good and bad. Personally I liked George Graham. Many would not but he bought Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn and Bould to name but a new. OK he was defensive but when we went 1-0 up game over. When we go 1-0 now we just wait for the equaliser and then usually the winner. My point is, start building from the back, the defence is just not good enough.
Robbin
It was the policy of our Board and the Manager that procured these players in the first place. The board did not want to sell these players but our financial positon relative to several clubs has been weaker in the last few years. Every year we pay our players more so we can keep them, does this strike you as a club that wants to sell its players?
TerryM, to cheer you up! 🙂
TAKING A WOMAN TO BED
What is the difference between girls/women
Aged 8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, and 78?
***********************************************************************************
At 8
You take her to bed and tell her a story
***************************************************************************
At 18
You tell her a story and take her to bed
***************************************************************************
At 28
You don’t need to tell her a story to take her to bed
***************************************************************************
At 38
She tells you a story and takes you to bed
***************************************************************************
At 48
She tells you a story to avoid going to bed
**************************************************************************
At 58
You stay in bed to avoid her story
**************************************************************************
At 68
If you take her to bed, that’ll be a story
**************************************************************************
At 78
What story? What bed?
Who the hell are you?
**************************************************************************
According to the
Office for National Statistics
190,374
People are having sex right now.
212,130
Are kissing.
And at least one poor old fart is reading this post
You hang in there sunshine!
One for everyone!! 🙂
Hi Terry,
could you correlate that with us being the world’s 5th richest football club, or is that not relevant?
RA….quality mate
robbin. It would have been funny to make cesc play in the reserves for a year. The whole saga was a joke we were shafted by barca and cesc and the board stood for it.
Hi Herb,
Yes i can. We are 5th in terms of Turnover. City and Chelsea are below but have suger daddys, ask Ashley cole, adeyabor and Nasri who can afford to pay them more.
Barca and Madrid are way above us, have a word with Cesc, anelka, Petit etc.
We dont lose our players to Mugs. we lose them to clubs that are either richer or have suger daddies were turnover ranking is irrelevant. Players and there agents chase money, and despite our best efforts we have been undone.
Thanks Redders. hahahahaha
terry,
had we kept cesc for one more season we would not be here arguing..none of us..the team was built for and around him..
arshavin had a telepathic connection with cesc,
walcott has NO and again NO positional sense what so ever yet cesc always found him and put him through, and today walcott could be deserving of his wanting 90k per wk.
robbin has stayed fit for almost a whole season and in mine and so many eyes that would definately be a trophy winning combo.
Nasri would have signed on if we told cesc to shut up and play
ramsey and even jack needed him around for a bit longer just to ease them through,
we sold him a season too early but what makes it worse is we sold him for peanuts and gave into a player..
since when is any player bigger than our club..we even broke our wage structure for that boy..
do you believe that the spuds would be where they are had their board given in to modric..modric MAKES bale look like 40mil..
it was a huge mistake in our history and even LE GROVE would be obsolete had we kept cesc..this would have been a trophy(s) year
an unhappy half arsed cesc is still miles better and creative than what we have at the moment and maybe robbin would hav signed on thinking the boss has stood his ground andmeant business..
like herb said 5th richest club i think we could have told barca to piss off with their derisory bid and we still would have made 25mil if not more a season later, but for that mistake we are a club AGAIN in transition…their is no defence for our board on this one!!!
@ robbinURpersie
I’ll be honest, I disagree with largely everything you have stated. You make an awful lot of asumptions there, and I truth, alot of what you’ve said is just plain incorrect.
However, this is a blog, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Just you remember that your one is wrong 😉
Onto team news for tomorrow and no Kozzer(and obviously no BFG) so are we looking at Song to fill in at the back, or – as seems more likely and more scarily – Djourou ?
Yikes.
GM, thats what i would have done and then cesc would have apologised publicly to the ARSENAL especially with Euros a year later..now they can laugh…FUCK THAT EPISODE PISSED ME OFF and it pisses me off when people defend that shite..Kroenke wouldnt even know who the Great HERBERT CHAPMAN is!!
robbin I disagree that nasri would have stayed. If we’d paid him 200k a week he would have.
Mark Grant @markshark10
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Koscielny out for a week. Back for North London Derby. Gervinho back at Afc. Mertesacker our “long term”. He has had reconstructive surgery
Can’t see Robing signing unless we double his wages at least.
Sebastian, well done for a well-written and heartfelt post and subsequent comments. Great to see a new author on here. There is a lot I do not agree with, especially your comments on Ramsey and Theo, but you are certainly not alone with those views.
I liked Chas’ comment at 10.06, especially:
‘I honestly believe that the same would have happened regardless of personnel, which is a sad indictment of the evening. Something was badly wrong with the way the team was sent out on to the pitch. I keep seeing the word ‘scared’ and it summed up the team.’
The problem was our formation, and the way the players were sent out. Blaming individual players is useless: ALL11 players would deserve strong criticism, except Koscielny, if we were to do a players-analysis. The likes of Ramsey and Theo are the very reason we were playing in the CL last-16 on Wednesday. Theo got us through the pre-qualifier with his two goals against Udinese and Ramsey scored the vital winner in our away game against Marseille.
This was such an un-Arsenal like performance in Europe. The only team we have had a similar performance against in the last decade or so is MU; they too can make us lose our composure and system to such an extent that we look disorientated and play our worst football. Milan did this against us against all expectations on Wednesday.
Chas’ word ‘scared’ sums it all up and it’s what needs analysing. Why were we so clueless, so scared, so unorganised, why did we leave so much space allover the pitch, why did our system/formation implode? Please do not say it is lack of quality players. These are the same players who played so professionally and organised against Dortmund, Udinese and Marseille and Milan really are not much better than them, if at all better.
Patrick O’Neill,
U say that our defence is not good enough, and I agree, but contradictory to this our defenders individually are all good enough apart from maybe Djourou and Squillaci. As a team defensive unit we are probably the worst in the PL. how often do you see us with a bank of 4 and a bank of 3 in front? Hardly ever. Our midfield is far too easy to bypass due to the fact they never play as a unit.
The individuals in the defence don’t need changing, it’s the whole defensive ethic of the team that needs looking at. Tactically our defending is awful.
From Arsenal.com
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Team News: Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gervinho
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Sunderland.
on Gervinho…
He is back in the squad. From the other night, we have lost Koscielny. Everyone else is available for selection.
on Laurent Koscielny’s knee problem…
He had a scan yesterday and the news is quite good. He will be out for hopefully around a week. He will miss the Sunderland game. But he should be back for next week.
on Per Mertesacker’s ankle problem…
Unfortunately he has had surgery and we have lost him for a while. How long I don’t know. He had reconstruction of his ligaments. So it will be long term.
on Kieran Gibbs’ return…
He played his first game in four months in Milan. So of course it was a shock to go back to that level. But physically, he is alright.
on Carl Jenkinson…
He is back in full training on Monday. That is good news for us.
GM,
maybe, maybe not..
we were so close to winning trophys but the writing was on the wall when cesc started whinging about his home town..and maybe nasri saw that as soon as wed give in to selling cesc we were not going to replace him with any legitimate class
unfortunately RVP is seeing the same thing happen..and im worried that RVP will walk in the same way
i may be wrong and maybe i do assume things but one thing is for sure..WE WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO SELL CESC, he was under contract for a few more years..
should have taken away his captaincy and made him fulfill his obligations till his last year..
now that would have been a statement of intent..and WENGER was definately NOT UP for his sale!
City and Chelsea are not the only clubs with billionaire owners Terry, we have one too, the difference is they are prepared to invest. For a few grand more, we could have kept Ashley Cole.
I remember Wenger saying that because we couldn’t compete with these super-rich club’s financially, we would have to do it with intelligence. There’s nothing intelligent about rewarding players like Djourou with extended contracts, or taking your club into a new season so woefully under-prepared. The only casualty of the 8-2 OT mauling was Traore, as if he was the only one to blame. What about the manager taking responsibility for a resounding lack of intelligence?
He knew finishing 4th last season would mean a CL play-off at the start of this season, yet cited tiredness as part of the reason for the OT game, instead of using the summer to get us prepared properly for a hectic August schedule. If there’s one thing this season has lacked, it is that important ingredient that Wenger said was crucial to our progress. Intelligence, and the ability to learn from past mistakes.
BFG out for the season probably. That’s a bummer.
Which one are you talking about Herb. Usmanov or Kronke?
i wouldnt class people like Abramovivh as an investor Herb, i doubt wether he will ever recoup his money.
I dont want people to think ime an apologist for the Board. Believe me if i ever feel that they are extracting money from the club or doing things which are detrimental to our long term future i will be the first to have a pop, its just at this moment i do not hold them responsible for our short term decline.
I also apologise if i have offended any body today, that is not my nature, so apologies for my ranting.
seing as we seem to have started a debate about who to blame, I’ll add that I do blame the board.
Wenger takes alot of stick about who he has or hasnt bought, but look at things logically. Wenger has won the title before, 3 times, reach a champions league final, won the FA Cup 4 times. The man knows what it takes to win, so for us to suggest that he doesnt realise that his squad is not good enough is complete rubbish. Wenger knows what hes got. People seem to assume that he has bundles of cash and isnt spending it. He knows, better than you, me, Alan Hansen, Paul Merson and whoever else, what Arsenal dont have and what we need to be winners again. So looking at that, he clearly isnt being given the money to spend by the board, and they are happy to let Wenger take the stick for it. Wenger isnt blameless, but I feel his hands are largely tied when it comes to player recruitment and player sales.
We sold Adebayor and Toure for £40m, and didnt spend it. We sold Cesc, Clichy and Nasri for £65m odd and didnt spend all of that, not to mention all the profit me make each year before players are sold. God knows where the money is going, but I very very highly doubt Wenger is being offered it and him turn it down. It isn’t logical.
Hi GM,
they’re both billionaires so does it matter? I know you have reservations about Usmanov owning the club, but the bottom line is if we’re going to be serious contenders on the pitch we need major investment and an over-haul of the wage structure. Either that, or we become a mid-table club with a world-class stadium.
Sebastian,
why would any self-respecting manager work under those conditions when it is detrimental to the clubs core supporters?
Kronke and Usmanov are totally differnt Herb. Kronke has invested in a business and is running it like his others. If Usmanov takes over (likely) He will probably throw money at players and managers. Abramovic, Qatar, Abu Dhabi etc do not run the clubs like businesses. They all run at massive losses and will never recoup the money they invest. I doubt any of them care either. Until usmanov takes over we won’t be like them.
Tha chavs and manc can’t sell their season tickets. Nothing to do with anything I know.
GM @2.53: great comment.
Seb fine first post,even if I dont agree with it all.
Terry you are a Hero, keep fighting the good fight, the truth will out eventualy although the assumptions that some fans make are amazing, you manage to reply with dignity. well done old son
Herb who are the core supporters that you speak of please.
I’ve read on various blogs and twitter that usmanov is “more passionate about football” than Kronke. God knows why they think that. The people who use the phrase “we want our Arsenal back” seem to be in favour of usmanov too. No wonder deluded is one of their favourite words.
Us dandan. Are we not long-standing core supporters of the club who have to invest all our faith in one man’s ‘vision’?
to add to my 2:53 they certainly aren’t doing it for the fans that’s for sure
Herb, that’s the thing, if it was just Wenger’s vision on footballing matters I’d possibly be comfortable with that – but it’s his way on a whole range of non football “off the pitch” matters too.
It’s slightly autocratic, IMHO, and dangerous to invest too much decision making power in one place, as appears to be the case in AFC.
Congratulations on a stimulating debut post Sebastien.
The debate on here today has been a credit to AA and it’s contributors – lots of strongly held opinions, many of them completely at odds with each other, but all done with hardly any name calling or abuse.
Hi Chary,
maybe that’s part of the problem, his work-load is too much. I’ve said before he misses David Dein, his friend and colleague, and whose decision it was to give him the job. I don’t know if Dein would be welcomed back, but he would surely do a better job than Ivan Gazidis.
Corky Elvis,
Who are you calling a contributor?
Herb, I think it comes down to his “micro-management” leadership style.
no one person cna be right about some many different aspects of running a club – they should stick to and specialise in what they are best at.
Whenever I broach the subject of Wengers workload I fear I may get stick for being a typical “grover” – the woes of AFC are a multi facetted conundrum so I’m just thinking out loud, running my ideas/opinions up the flag pole, so to speak.
I am not to good at giving link info, but if you are curious to see yourself or a friend on an old school ‘photo, try going to the address below via Google, put in the name of your school and your own name and year.
Awesome!
http://www.worldschoolphotographs.com/
CharyB, I think we will run you up the flagpole, you old Grover you! 🙂
Redders 🙂
We are all con tributaries of the great River AA…
I thought a typical “grover” was someone whose every second word was an assault on the Queen’s English, Chary. I associate you with having more class than that.
Thanks Herb, it’s part of the reason I don’t comment on the Grove anymore – I’m seen as an AKB there.
Redders, I have the feeling I’ve been run up many a flagpole in my time…ouch !
Ah well, that’s totally different, Rocky. The River Con is very wide spread!
Just had the most beautiful haddock in batter with chips and ‘mushy peas’. That’s a new thing for me – weird, but I quite liked it — ‘mushy’ sums it up very well!! 🙂
Totally stuffed.
CharyB,
The thing is that if LG stopped the sewer language and personal abuse, it would be OK. It only takes one or two maggots to spoil an apple — and similar on a blogsite.
Most of it is puerile non-sense, but who cares?
I would not really run you up the flagpole, you might have the ICAEW after me! 🙂
True Redders, and in all my blogging time I have never insulted another Arsenal fan no matter how diametrically opposed their views to me maybe.
We should save our bile for oppo fans/trolls/bacon face.
There is no debate on LG anymore. There really is only one opinion. If someone has a different opinion the get abused until they leave.
On the subject of Dein. He was sacked or ousted when he brought in Kronke so you would’ve thought Kronke would have him there.
Is ‘7AM Kickoff’ your blog, Chary?
Herb, I occasionally write match reports on there, it’s actually Tim(Bostelle)’s blog.
I think I’ve done about 20 match reports there in the last couple of years, complete with shaky, poor quality pics taken from my seat.
All my non-match report headline posts are here, predominantly in the early days of this blog, i.e. early 2010.
thx for the post Sebastian,
There could no longer be any doubt that we are in trouble,big trouble,something is very very wrong at Our Beloved Arsenal,seems to me that nobody at The Arsenal are capable to sort out this mess,its one thing that we have been build down since 07…but what is far worse is the fact that we’re not capable of stopping the rot,all Gooners know deep inside that we are simply not good enough at the moment ..we dont have the players..its a result of us sellig Our best players and replacing them with players who clearly isnt ready..
me i hope that we will be able to offload bendtner,almunia,squillaci,(park),vela has started to show some promise still he has to go imo,denilson,and let benayoun return to chelski,then bring up one youngster,and maybe buy two players,diaby and wilshere will be back,then we can look at next season with some hope,Wenger wont leave and thats fine with me,if anyone should be kicked out its kroenke and (N)azidis,
to be honest this season have shown us what we all can see,in my opinion we are overperforming,due to the start of the season and injuries we are a top 6 side at best,just look at the games we play against top dises,we are getting spanked(not including chelski,they are in trouble themselves and not a very good team at the moment).
the rest of this season will be about rescuing some honor,and already start to plan for next season,
Nomatter how bad things look we are Gooners,so lets get in behind the team,lets stick together,some Gooners will no doubt protest,there will be empty seats and chants,but thats their right,so for the rest of us who loves The Arsenal.lets show em eh ?
Have a wonderful Weekend all and oh my its going to be one tough game against o’neills rednecks,me i think Our Players will want to show the Gooners that they do love Our club,and i think that the rednacks will get one hell of a beating,pardon my french;
Svalbard is calling so it will have to be good old radiowaves for me ;
Charybdis,Red Arse,Total Arsenal;Peaches,GiE,Herb’s Army,RockyLives,goonermichael,TMHT,wiganGooner,LB;Big Raddy,Mickydidit89,Rasp,wonderman,Sebastian and DanDan Please have a fantastic Weekend…
Wrap up even warmer there(Svalbard) TomS, all the best.
Cheers Tom, you too.
thx Charybdis1966 will do enjoy your weekend !
And a good one to you too Tomstoned!
Hey Sebastian, thats a very good debut post. Its always good to see someone prepared to put ‘their money where there mouth is’ so to speak.
I agree with a lot of what you say, but it looks like someone else picked ‘your team’ for you. Your post was going so well until I saw that line up, and thought …is this guy serious ?? (respectfully!)
After that, it was again an enjoyable read. Well played.
Ray Parlour. Great shout that as it really epitomises where you’re coming from, and I second that point wholeheartedly
SharkeySure..where are my manners mate, have good un :
Have a good one Tom
Red Arse you bastard
GM, that’s possibly true, but…….. ????
Thanks for a great debut post,Sebastian.
You can see for yourselves so many divided opinions yet all in a civil manner.I have nothing to add except we are all gooners and even though there are bound to be several more disappointments this season and maybe next, the club is on the right footing and will be a force again in the not too distant future.A few tweaks here and there and hopefully no more long term injuries wouldn’t go amiss.
pointless to be drawn over individual players,let’s reaccess at the end of the season.
Sebastian. Great way to open your account. It is always good to read a post which contradicts my opinion.
I disagree entirely about Ramsey. We have ached for an all action box to box player for some seasons, probably since Freddie and Ray. Ramsey will be that man. As you say he isn’t there yet but how does he learn if not in the first team and as you say, had it not been for injuries he would have been rotated.
Hi all
Huge thanks to Sebastian for daring to instigate what has probably been our best ever Friday debate, well done, hope to hear more from you.
Ray Parlour – what a great shout out for a player that oozed Arsenal out of every pore and always left his heart on the pitch. Love a ginger me 🙂
I do believe it’s unfair on Rambo that he has to learn his trade out there on his own – strong boy, back from an horrific injury but often looks like he doesn’t really know what he should be doing.
Song – on the other hand knows exactly what he should be doing but chooses to forget!!!!!!!!
I think Theo was dreadful, Ox should have started and Gibbs did very well – although obviously it’s a bit scary having Gibbs and Ox playing on the same wing but what are the centre-backs for if not to come and help out a missing full-back. There are enough mid-fielders to drop back if needed.
It’s all about defending as a team – my favourite gripe – we just don’t attack or defend as a team. We’re just not organised enough sadly.
But I’m ever hopeful that tomorrow will be much much better. COYRRG
A beautifully concise summation, Peaches, classy! 🙂
What was Song supposed to be doing Peaches?
I have just noticed Chary’s 3.52 What?????? Chary an AKB on Le Grove nooooooooooooo.
People let’s be clear, I am an AKB…..this could turn into that scene with Kirk Douglas, I’m Sparticus, no I’m Sparticus, I’m an AKB, no I’m an AKB lol
“Herb’sArmy says:
February 17, 2012 at 2:42 pm
“They’re both (Usmanov and Kroenke) billionaires so does it matter?”
There are so many financial people on here, can someone please explain why this point of view is so, so misguided.
I have tried using Anglo-Saxon expletives but to no avail; the problem is my council estate upbringing restricts my ability to articulate what clearly needs to be said.
Hi LB, 🙂
Well technically, Herb couched it as a question, not a statement, altho’ clearly it was meant as a rhetorical one implying no answer was required or expected.
He first asked the question, or similar, some months ago, and I answered it as best I could, at that time, but I really could not be bothered to go around again, so it is down to one of my more astute colleagues to take up your challenge! 🙂 Good luck with that! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU3-bIEHhTM&feature=youtu.be
Ime not having that LB. You are one of the most pertinent posters on here. If you ever meet me, you will think your having an audience with Derick Trotter…..an infinatly bettre looking version of course hahaha.
ime not sure what Herb was alluding to there, but from there actions and public statements so far there are diffrences. Kronke, it seems, will follow the same model as previous owners, has a proven track record of longevity withe regards his business interests and tends to leave management to get on with it. Usmanov has a shady past, that i personaly dont like, and has made noises about external investment, but we all know actions speak louder than words.
I like our model. Infact ime proud the club is self sufficent and conducts its business the right way. i wouldnt sell my soul for sucsess, football is not just about winning trophies. for me its about community, friends, family, the joy on kids faces when they go games is greater than any victory. We are a great club, a proud club. lets stick to our virtues and see were it takes us.
Redders, let me know when you can make a game. i have access to a spare silver and will sort you out a ticket.
Wers Cornwall today?, i miss him. In a strictly hetrosexual way of course. hahahaha
Just back from some serious love making to half the bored housewives In Devon and Cornwall , have I missed anything ?
Feel free to talk to me directly LB, Anglo-Saxon expletives or not. I don’t profess to be the most educated of people, especially on the subject of finances, so if you can enlighten me, I can stop annoying you with nonsense posts.
Cornwall, ime just about to leave for Harlow over 30’s, yeeehaaa.
Thats all I`ve heard today, Anglo-Sex-on expletives !
Terry, you are a star! 🙂 As soon as I get thru this current round of bl**dy doctors tests, I will take you up on that! Cheers. 🙂
I agree with your synopsis, and also worry about Usmanov.
What do you make of the latest news that an unknown investor has spent £16,500 each on two tickets. Apparently it was not either Usmanov or kroenke who bought them, altho’ I do not know how anyone can tell as they could have been bought by an intermediary on behalf of one or the other, unlikely tho’ that seems.
Intriguing!
Just before i leave, am i dyslexic? i keep putting letters the wrong way round.
Terry, Dont forget to tell them of the legendary love machine thats In cornwall ! 😆
Hi, you award winning Love Machine stallion, you! 🙂
Been servicing all the best looking mares in the West Country then have you?
You will get put away you know? 🙄
Redders, it will be great to go to a game, will be a right laugh.
Not sure, but ime surprised Usmanov didnt snap them up, hes close to the 30% mark.
Off out now, lovley ladies await, dont tell Mrs Terry.
I dont think It matters terry what way around them french letters are !
I meant to say a while ago RA, hope all goes well for you with the doctors etc., it just escaped my memory.
Redders,
At my last port of call, I was staring at the hunk In the mirror and I said ,” I wonder “. So I asked the naked lady to do a handstand facing the mirror, I then stood behind her and placed my chin on her crotch and looked In the mirror and thought ,” no , a beard doesn`t really suit me ” !
LB,
after your outburst, I was concerned enough to e-mail Peaches and offered to completely withdraw my contribution on AA, if that’s what it took to get you posting again.
I too was brought up on a council-estate, probably in far unhappier circumstances than you. I’m sure Peaches would confirm what I’m saying to be true if you ask. Some of us council-estate kids have manners, and show respect where it’s due.
Thanks, Herb, I appreciate that. 🙂
Out burst?
I am not sure what you are talking about Herb.
I was merely trying to find one of the esteemed financial minds of this blog to explain to you the fact that just because two of the principle directors of the club happen to be billionaires does not mean that they should or would spend their money without any hope of ever recovering it.
Ask yourself these questions:
How much has Abramovich and the City owner spent since they have arrived at their respective clubs? Do they expect to ever recoup that money? In both those cases both clubs have one outright owner do Arsenal? What self respecting businessman would spend money without ever expecting to see it again if he did not own a business/club outright?
If you think I am missing something please explain because I feel like a broken record saying the same things over and over again.
Peaches
I’ve popped a post in drafts to put in the bank for some time next week.
I’ll do another one on Sunday for Monday.
I might not always say the right things to the right people RA, but I don’t wish harm on anybody, and my intentions are good even if I don’t articulate it very well.
Stallion, you are incorrigible. 🙂
Herb, I don’t think any of us want you to give up blogging on here!
Every oyster needs a little grit to produce a pearl, and your down to earth assessments are important because they reflect the views of a growing number of fans, and need to be aired.
I won’t always agree with you, but often I do — but then no one agrees with me all the time either. 🙂
Get writing your next Post!
How about expanding on your comments today regarding the club ownership — ignore us accountants — (we are boring) 🙂 what would you like to see the owner(s) do?
If you had your way, what actions would you want Arsene to prioritize to get us out of our current predicament. What don’t you want him to do?
With your experience of Arsenal over many seasons, that would make interesting reading for many of us. Go for it, herb! 🙂
LB,
then the fault is mine, because it was my understanding that Stan Kroenke was the chief owner. Obviously I’m aware that Alisher Usmanov owns 29.9? per cent, but has been refused a place on the BoD, which I thought meant that Kroenke was controlling the club’s finances.
The out-burst I referred to was the day you swore at me on here LB.
I know that, Herb, and said as much yesterday, and today.
I talk drivel most of the time, just ask Rocky, aka Corky Elvis, 🙂 so I don’t think you need to worry in any case!! 🙂
Well, I have to depart — past my bedtime! See you and the gang tomorrow! 🙂
Yes, I must confess, I have been on ‘the substance` now for over sixty years and fortunately have not been able to break the habit. There have been times when I have been a heavy ‘substance abuser`, but that goes with the territory. Wednesday was particularly bad as I felt I had been severely short changed with my fix. Fortunately, I am not alone, there are others like me who suffer this terrible addiction, but what makes it bearable is, I am able to recover by reading all the interesting and constructive comments by my fellow addicts on the AA site. I would like to thank Sebastian for helping me with my addiction with an excellent first post. For all my other fellow addicts, let us hope we can get a good result on the Sunderland ploughed field. Remember, tomorrow is another day!
Sorry LB, didn’t mean to be a blog sniper, just back from IKEA 😦
I want Song to watch the play in front of him when we’re attacking and watch the play in front of him when we need to defend, to read the game and know when to snuff out an attack. To tackle early and not follow the runner – or ignore the runner completely, so that he doesn’t give away free kicks in dangerous places ie right on top of the penalty area. To release the ball if he’s won it and not dawdle so that it gets nicked off his boot. To skip forward when we’re 2 up and he fancies a goal and have a go.
His most important role is to read the game and act accordingly and we know he knows how to do that because we’ve seen him do it majestically several times. We don’t need him to play like a headless chicken we’ve got enough of those already.
What has happened to him? I want our Song back, one amazing ball for Thierry to score or a fantastic dinky run to put a ball through to RvP to score doesn’t in any way make up for all the times he’s given the ball away in the mid-field and put us under pressure.
Maybe I’m just a hard woman to please but if he can get it right in so many games why change it?
Herb
Imagine you were living in a house that you owned most of — but not all. Would you spend your hard earned money putting new bathrooms and kitchen in there without knowing that you would ultimately own it? I mean, you could end up spending loads of money and having to share a bathroom with a stranger. The point is most people are going to be cautious in this situation. Now, imagine you owned the house outright and you had money to spare, hey lets go mad: new bathroom, new kitchen, landscape garden, you may or may not recoup your investment but hey ho again at least you have spent it on something you own.
For bathroom read midfielder
For kitchen read striker
For landscape gardener phone Peaches
Until we have an outright owner we cannot expect him/her to spend money without any hope of ever recovering it, as for whether that is a good idea or not — personally I go with the latter but I understand if people disagree.
Peaches
Thank you for your explanation, I cannot do the Song thing tonight. Sharkey might if he isn’t doing anything.
🙂 I’ve had too much wine myself to go further into a Song battle but it’s always a pleasure chatting to you LB xx
Also, that’s a very good explanation of why Kroenke won’t be splashing the cash LB
Anyway, while there are only a couple of us around I have a terrible admission to make ……. I put money on Mertesacker to score last week, I fear the injury was all my fault 😦 😦 😦
I’ll never ever again put a bet on us ……. I’m so sorry 😳
LB, I can see and understand your take on Kronke not spending any money or even investing further into OUR club, but to me, that is the whole problem.
We have an ‘owner’ who is purely there to take all he can from the club and whilst I can appreciate that Stan is a businessman first and that is the whole idea, the question I have to ask is; “Why the hell did the Arsenal board let it happen?”
To take your ‘bathroom kitchen and garden’ idea even further. If we all took that attitude of “I am not bothering to brighten the place up, not bothering to make it look better for my current family to reside in’ then we would all rent accommodation and not bother purchasing in the first place?!?
The point I am attempting to make is that if you do not maintain or improve what you have, you end up living in a shithole and those who live with you either to pressurise you into improving it and in some cases, leave you! Ringing any bells yet?
Same idea as purchasing cheap stock to paper over the cracks, it will look okay for a short time, but eventually it will look tatty, become not fit for purpose and you then end up trying the same trick again. Buy cheap, buy twice syndrome.
Just my opinion.
Evening Guv’nors!
Peaches, don’t think your little ginger comment went unnoticed 😉
I fucking love this sight. Some really quality analysis of the Arsenal had by all today. If your a contributor, or just a reader, the output given by the people on here is just brilliant.
Some days, like today, I will just sit back and happily read as fans of all ages, upbringings etc discuss the greatest team on earth.
I just want to pick out one individual in Herb. Sometimes you hit a nerve with a lot of people on here, but I think that maybe it’s because you speak the things that some of us don’t want to hear or accept. Your contribution is as valued as anyone else and I hope that your contribution will remain.
Top blogging peeps!
I think this weekend will see the Phoenix rise from the cannon.
Come on you Gunners!!!!
HERB;
You are correct Kroenke is the majority owner of Arsenal he owns around 68/70% of the shares and Usmanov owns around 27/28 %.
So it only goes to reason that Kroenke calls the shots, my understanding is that Usmanov has to reach the 30% mark to become a director.
I stand to be corrected if I’m wrong in my understanding .
People talk about Kroenke and Usmanov as though they are going to be the saviour of this club.
Arsene Wenger was the one who took a mediocre side into the elite of English football. Were these owners around then?
With or without money, Wenger has shown time and again that he can do impossible things.
Pundits/experts have said all season that if Wenger can get this crop of players into the top 4 then it will be his greatest ever achievement at Arsenal. Right now, we ARE 4th.
If and when we are told that millions of pounds are available to be spent, then I will believe it, and maybe blame Arsene for not using it. But the statistics I read right now suggest to me that Arsene Wenger is still having to sell players in order to buy. Something he has been doing for 15 years.
If Kroenke or Usmanov aren’t willing to change this, then surely they must be the ones to leave?
Kronke is a businessman with his money tied up in various businesses. abramobitch sold all his and plays with Chelsea. The Arabs are using football clubs to sell their brand/countries. They are all extremely cash rich (not Kronke) If branson bought a club would he throw money at it? Even a twat like me can see this. Why is it being debated? Is Kronke actually taking money out of the club/company? The crux of the matter is that (some) people don’t want the club to be a business they want it to be a rich mans/country’s toy. Did Ecc;estone throw money at QPR? I don’t think he could afford to.
Usmanov will own the club soon so we’ll find out. I think it will be a sad day
GM
Well said.
I’m watching a documentary about Ronnie Scott. bet Raddy knows about this.
Thanks Rocky. I thought it was all mixed up 🙂
Stan Getz
I just can’t see what the Board (whoever they are) has to gain by allowing Arsenal to become a second tier club. The value of their shares will diminish accordingly.
Kroenke is not trying to make money by taking profits out of Arsenal. He will make far, far more if he increases the worth of his holding.
He can only do that if the club is successful.
Therefore it’s logical to assume he wants the club to be successful – but within the constraints of normal business practice (i.e., not losing money).
As GM says, on that basis we’ll never be able to compete financially with the “rich man’s toy” clubs, but even so I believe we can compete with them on the basis of AW’s talent plus some strategic investment in the squad.
Spending money for the sake of it is not the answer (Carroll, Torres, Downing, Veron etc etc).
I wish I could play an instument. I’d give my right arm to play the guitar.
Made sense to me GM, but maybe I’m all mixed up too 🙂
I had a few good nights at Ronnie Scotts, plus one where I got thrown out. Happy days 🙂
I played there “upstairs” in the eighties. we were shit but it was a laugh.
“I’d give my right arm to play the guitar” 😀
I asked my cousin in Ireland to bring two saxophones with him when he came over.
He came to my house and emptied two sacks of hands-frees onto the table.
Thanks LB, SGG and GunnerN5.
I just put my feelings about Arsenal on here SGG, and wear my heart on my sleeve. Sometimes I am spectacularly wrong and get chastened for it. As I said earlier, it is never my intention to undermine or offend others.
Whoever operates the finances, all I ask is that sufficient funds are made available so that we can seriously compete in the PL and CL.
Gotta go now GM.
Have a good night – look forward to chatting tomorrow and enjoying our thrashing of Soonderland.
I was in Soho a couple of hours ago. It’s changed so much from this documentary. It’s all in coloir now 🙂
Bye Rocky
He’s chain smoking.
john prescott is such a twunt. he’s ruined the ambience of this documentary
Seb fine deyboo post and a good read. Not all I agree with but one part that rings true is your point about attitude. I have been talking for the last couple of seasons about responsibility and that some of our players avoid taking any. I think BFG and Arteta (altho not in Milan on Wednesday) are two players who have brought that to the side. The Invincibles was full of players who did their first job properly and helped others when needed, take Gilberto Silva, maligned by many until they realised what he did when he was gone.
Some players have it, some don’t, some need it, some don’t. But take a look at the best footballing side in the world (sorry GM but it’s Barca) and they have cojones all over the park. And it doesn’t have to be every player, Villa and Pedro don’t possess it naturally but they are surrounded by players who know what it is to be Barca, know what it means to the fans.
I still hope for a time when our team and squad is full of the home grown talent we have been raising, sprinkled with the quality of Rambo, Ox and others.
I’ve never said barca aren’t the best side in the world GiE. I just don’t like them.
I’m off now see you later.
Right have now read all comments, been a lively day.
As for finances and control LB is right. The owner will not invest money if he is not 100% in control of all the shares especially whilst there are some shares available for Usmanov to take him over the magical 30% mark. However it’s also true that the club could release more funds for transfers and this is within the majority shareholders and Directors hands. Will they or should they is a different question.
Our 5th place in Turnover has been in the main achieved through property sales. The subsequent profit from property sales has been used for its intended purpose of reducing debt on stadium. Unfortunately due to the worldwide recession some of you may be feeling the debt repayment from property sales was not as big as initially planned, thankfully Citeh devided to give us ridivulous mobey for Adebayor and Toure and the profit filled the gap and was used to pay off debt. Our football profits (before player trading) are very small. One reason being the cash upfront commercial deals, second being wage bill, third lack of prize money, fourth keeping Ticket Prices frozen for a number of years after moving in. We cannot analyse wages as all we have is the big numbers, anything the AST?comes out with is gained by “inside contacts” but they like Usmanov are not privy to contract details or any other detailed financial info so like most bloggers attempt to draw conclusions from the numbers presented in financial reports.
We should also not forget that Sky has recently lost a landmark ruling in the EU Courts regarding sale of rights to games outside of the UK. If they canno longer charge the UK premiums they could decide to reduce their investment. If they do this we could end up with another ITV Digital/Championship position where clubs committed to contracts based on TV money that then dried up.
Look at Rangers current predicament to see what’s round the corner for some PL clubs of this happens. Altho apparently they own some Arsenal shares so at least have some sellable assets that are worth something.
Herb,
Our views on the club are so different its scary. But as ive said to you before, its because of people like you we are a great club, Put it simply you care about our past, present and future. God bless Herb.
great debut post seb, thoroughly enjoyed it and the debates sprung from it.
good call in regards to parlour, i love how he went about it. I’m hoping lansbury gets his chance because he reminds me of parlour in many ways.
Personally i’d send song to CB (i still think this is where he will end up playing. Look at the game vs the scum, he pocketed adebayor with ease). I’d like to see him end up there because he seems to eager to get forward in the defensive midfield role. I’d prefer frim/coq to grow into that role because i feel they are more disciplined and offer more tenacity (e.g flamini)
So i did my best not to listen to the news or watch highlights so that i could watch the recording yesterday evening (once i arrived home from the trip), and wow what a mistake that was. 90mins of hell! i was blown away at how badly we played, deary deary me!
@ TMHT
read back through a couple of posts and that piggy back story was gold, i was in tears at the thought of you getting attacked at a bus stop
morning all,
i think the player behind the scums resurgence is clearly parker. He gives them so much passion and fire that it’s clearly rubbing off onto the team. It makes losing wilshere for so long all the more painful because he’s the same sort of motivator (by example). Plus parker is a poor man’s wilshere. So in conclusion, damn i miss wilshere running out on the pitch for the mighty arsenal!
Wow,
That was a very high quality days’ comments. I thanked Sebastian earlier, so here’s a first from me:
Thank you to all who commented. A wonderful read.
Right,
Morning Oz, hope all well with you.
Morning both,
Micky,
Is it still not worth me heading up the A1?
sure is micky. rested, relaxed and 2 weeks worth of AA posts to get through so all is well. Hope everything is for you also, and the weather is sorting itself up there
Chas,
Shstum 😦
Oz,
I forget you had been over to that hell hole called Bali. Bet you’re glad to be home!
Who’s better Hayley or Jules?
Perhaps we could get Peaches and Evonne to do something similar as a pair and blow them both out of the water?
Hayley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfXb6zQzS0
Jules
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SiXb4vLINY
I think it will be fascinating to see Arsene’s team selection for today.
If he sticks with what he thinks is our strongest XI, in other words wed’s team, and is working from the same motivational manual as last season, then I think we’ve had it.
On the other hand, go with some dynamic youthful energy and of course we can win.
Brigham
Good comment but read Rocky’s 11.29 he explains things so much better than I am able. GM’s 11.15 is pretty good as well.
the pool,cheap drinks, and lack of priorities over there will be sorely missed. The annoying people calling me ‘Boss’, and trying to sell me drugs will not. I’ll be back there in 6 months so can’t wait.
Micky,
That’s a shame. I’d thought you would have swung around on a veering nor’westerly and pointed your bow at an Arsenal victory by now. It being matchday. 🙂
Oz,
Were you surfing on Kuta and Legian?
@ Micky
if arsene’s words can’t fire them up after the game against AC then there is something wrong. They should be frothing at the mouth to get out there and show him, the fans, and teammates what they are made of. Interesting to see if gerv slots back in or will he be rested after the ACN. I think the only change will be rosicky benched and OX coming in. I’d rather see Song at CB with coq playing at DM. Surely we can’t make o’shea look any better than he did last time around
Morning all.
Well is this the acid test to show that the players can bounce back from a non performance.?
Can anyone give me a logical explanation why Fab (who I suspect will be in goal)should play, as if true to form he will be picked.I can’t think of a more nervous player at the best of times and today is not the day for him.
Chas,
Hayley is a bloody nightmare. Pseudo intellectual idiot, who is a very long way up her own arse. Jules appears great. Have to admit I gave them both about 10 seconds!
Hayley
“I was screaming in a Frenchman’s face, not for the first time.”
Oh yeah, really, tell us more?
“But not what you were thinking.”
Too late I am already thnking it.
@ chas
as in internet or actual surfing?
if it’s surfing then no way, my fear of sharks is to big to do that. Love the beach but nothing compares to the ones at home. Waters to polluted over there too.
kelsey,
Szcz has hardly been proving he’s a world-class keeper recently and suppose he gets injured, we do need a back up keeper who isn’t going to fall apart at the first sign of an inswinging corner.
Chas,
No no and thrice no. I do think we can win, but I would certainly like to see some Oxo’s, some Coquelin’s and most certainly a manager on his feet when the going gets tough.
We can definately win.
oz,
I did mean actual surfing. Didn’t realise it was so badly polluted.
I was forgetting where home was for you. 🙂
chas,
are you saying we need a new back up keeper or that Fab should be playing today.
Micky,
10 seconds was plenty.
How about an AA version with Redders, Cornwall and Terry? 🙂
kelsey,
neither, I was just trying to give you a reason if he does play……………
as you asked for. 🙂
Apologies for being positive this morning, everyone.
I love going to Arse games.
Hope springs eternal.
Evonne,
I know you’re reading. Why not pop us all a comment?
Right foot, left foot, header. The perfect hat trick. Best go and have a shower.
@ Kelsey
it is a worry. Fab is very much a confidence keeper, he played well when he got a run of games under his belt, but the odd game here and there damages his game. I have no doubt he can be a great keeper, but ones and twos means he is a liability. Szcz needs experience behind him.
@ chas
haha home is def oz. Yeah it really has gotten bad, i’ve been there countless times and never saw it this bad. When the tide goes down the beach is littered with wrappers, cups, and so forth. Something not right about coming out of the surf with a used tissue stuck to your shoulder!
has evonne gone back into hiding? and is harry still hiding under the covers?
Help? Question to pre all seater North Bankers:
I was talking to an old North Bank chum last night about old times and something came up. Does anyone on here know if Rip Roar still goes to games, and if so, which part of the ground is he in?
Don’t know, Micky.
Found a mention with a quick search that you may have seen before.
http://www.thearsenalcollective.com/the-memory-bank/2012/2/15/the-ghosts-of-highbury.html
Chas
Love the pic in the article. Blimey, buying “one nil down, two one up” brings back memories in itself.
I do remember after we all got spread around the ground post seating chants of “Rip Roar, Rip Roar give us a wave, ssshhhhhh….”.
And, he responded from top of West Stand.
Right off for a bit.
Chas,
Have a great day, and know that even I will be convinced of a resounding victory come kick off 🙂
In the great man’s words:
Come on you Rip Roaring Reds!
Morning all you cheeky, cheerful chappies!! 🙂
Glad to see you back, Oz,! 🙂
I have been to Bali a couple of times, and Kuta beach is an Aussie colony, and is totaaaaaly different from the rest of the island.
After a couple of days there visiting every bar, I had to go off elsewhere to get a rest! Those Oz girls!! Wow, what a great laugh! 🙂
Morning all
Come on evonne – it’s Saturday, it’s FA Cup, it’s time to put your Arsenal shirt back on …….. for a few hours at least 😉
RA,
Last week you were in Hawaii with Australian women, now Bali, and there was me thinking accountants were, well, a little grey!
Cheers RA, good to be back.
I hope all your tests come out well, and everything is in order.
haha the pubs/clubs in Bali are great, especially when they do the foam parties. Always a big aussie contingency in Bali, met a few poms a few years back (west ham, and a leeds supporter), great blokes and knew how to knock the drinks back well.
Never will drive a moped over their again though. A few years back drove it home from a pub for a mate and managed to crash into a hotel barricade, quite scary dealing with the police over there
Just in case anyone is interested in reading a Kroenke interview, following part of yesterday’s conversation.
——-Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke insists that he will not be “throwing money against the wall” and has backed the Gunners’ self-sustaining model of business, as well manager Arsene Wenger.
The club’s other main shareholders have voiced their concerns over the lack of spending power and the outfit’s struggle to match the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in the transfer market.
However, American businessman Kroenke believes that frivolous spending does not guarantee silverware and has praised the efforts of manager Arsene Wenger during his 15-year tenure and the way the Frenchman has sustained the club.
Kroenke told reporters: “Would I rather be successful spending less or spending more? What’s the question! Anybody who is a sportsman would rather compete on the basis of intellect and cleverness rather than being able to throw money against the wall.
“Anyone can go and buy a player, but it takes a lot more to identify that player, develop that player and position him.
“You look at Arsene [Wenger] as a good example. He has been here 15 years and you look at what the club had as assets and revenues it’s fantastic the growth that has occurred.
“For the long term stability and an approach to excellence, I think that’s unsurpassed really. That’s my view.”
Gunners fans were left upset during the summer with the departures of star players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, but Kroenke insists the sale of the duo was not reckless business.
“I think you know that one of the players who departed had nothing to do with money,” said Kroenke. “There was a specific personal circumstance that happened. Maybe I am saying too much. That has nothing to do with money.
“The other player departed for money. Well then, you get into an evaluation. That’s where being smart and not being smart comes in.
“You’ve got one year left on a players’ contract. You’ve got a large sum of money being offered. That’s how I would see the evaluation.”
Kroenke also had praise for captain Robin van Persie, following the striker’s contributions during a difficult season for the north London outfit.
He enthused: “I think Robin van Persie is a great player, I think he’s doing a great job, he’s captain of the club. Arsene said the other day: ‘can we succeed if we are not together? Absolutely not.’”
“I think that Robin van Persie gets that and I think he has shown real leadership. I have watched him and had a chance to chat with him. I think he has done a great job of that.
“But I think asking me to talk about Robin van Persie at this stage is not fair to Robin van Persie and is not fair to Arsene and Ivan (Gazidis). They are the guys who know the particulars of that situation.”
The American also spoke of his nickname ‘Silent Stan’, insisting he is a busy man and that he puts his trust in manager Arsene Wenger the club’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
Kroenke added: “I was perhaps bemused. We are busy, we do have a lot of obligations.
“Sometimes I think if we engage too much, it’s a matter of who did you engage with, were you fair to people, how much time do you have to give to them. We have very capable people like Ivan and Arsene.
“We have lots of very capable people – they wouldn’t be involved if I didn’t have lots of confidence in them. I think it’s more about that.”
Haven’t got a clue about the lyrics, so apologies in advance if dodgy. 🙂
Chas,
I didn’t even survive ten seconds of that one 🙂
I did get as far as the carpet curtain combo though. Wowee
Micky,
I would not pretend to be a typical accountant.
It is just a useful background for a different work lifestyle. (And I have always been footloose). Bali was just hols – when I worked in Oz!! 🙂
hahahaha, you weren’t meant to, Micky. 🙂
RA,
Have qualification. Can travel. That’s creative accountanting 🙂
I don’t wear colours on away trips.
I’ve just realised I’ve put on an ‘Italia’ T shirt.
Do you think this might be bad luck or, on the other hand, break the curse of Wednesday?
Chas,
I know you are trying to extract Evonne, and its a very good idea, but I do think you are going about it the wrong way. Getting one of our resident photoshopists to work on Rory Delap might work.
Oz? Got a spare 10 mins?
Chas,
If blending in is your objective, then may I suggest growing a fat bastard northern belly and going topless.
Morning all…..
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