I think we need a new “Man”. Someone who knows about tactics, defence, motivation and substitutions. Trouble is this: I like Arsène and want him to stay. So what’s to be done?
Some say that behind every great man there is a great woman. To that I say “whatever”. However, I do think that behind many great men there is “His Man”. Look no further than Bertie Wooster. Our leader needs a Jeeves.
Football is about opinions and can inevitably be divisive amongst even the bestest of mates. Opinions over trophies is one such issue, while debate over the manger will always rage. Arsène is no exception. This is normal.
My thoughts on the Boss are that he needs some help. That’s all. No big deal. Some will say that all of those aspects of the game are in the job description of Manager. I say, what utter piffle.
Did DB10 need managing? Of course not. Tony Adams? Yeah right. Henry? Would you tell him how to kick a ball about? Thought not, me neither. In other words what does a manager do? Chew gum? Wear a cap while leaping up and down? Talk Northern? Fiddle the books?
Being totally honest, I could do the managers’ job. Easy. So could some of you J. The tricky bit is representing the club in the manner in which it likes to be portrayed. Harry and Spuds? Perfect fit. Ferguson and Utd? Cocky, rude, arrogant and again perfect fit. Northern team with northern manager, again, ideal. Chelsea and any of their managers….pretentious upstarts the lot of them. Works well.
This brings me on to Arsène and Arsenal. Of course I could do the footbally bit of manager, but represent the club as Arsène does? Not a chance. He’s the perfect figurehead. An ideal match.
So here’s my solution. Bin the Managers job. Waste of time. Crown Arsène King, and appoint “A Man” (cheap, loyal, discreet and wise).
A large part of the reason Managers are not very good is that they sit at ground level. Have you ever sat Row 1, lower tier? Can’t see a bloody thing can you? Ever wondered why managers like Arsène rush home and watch replays on the telly? I’ll tell you. Never had a clue what was going on during the game itself. That’s why. Fear not though, I have a solution.
Look, our owner does not attend, so why not install a throne middle front of the Directors Box and pop Arsène on it.
“Ah but..” I hear you say,”how could the King and His Man orchestrate things from up there?”. Simple. HRH is hooked up to the PA System. Can you imagine the booming voice echoing around the stadium…”Waaaalcott” (our little wide speed merchant gazing towards the heavens)…”Yes you. Would you mind awfully tracking back once in a while. Thank you so much”. Reverberating like thunder and sounding like the combined roars of Mars, Apollo and Zeus all rolled into one, there is no way our Little Hero will be ignoring that.
Before you all think I’ve taken leave of my senses, may I remind you that when our great club was founded, we were The Royal Arsenal.
Long Live The King (and his Man).
Written by MickyDidIt
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Cripes, forgot all about that piece of drivel. Lucky we’re off to the beach!!
[…] Arsène needs “A Man” […]
you need to change thrown to throne. just saying 🙂
Hugely entertaining post as ever Micky, they always bring a smile to my face.
aahhahahahahaha Brilliant!!!!
Don’t like to split hairs Micky but we were Dial Square when we were founded. But what you suggest is not a million miles away from what’s needed. Arsene has been wearing no clothes for a number of years now and everyone at the club keeps telling him how wonderful he looks in his finery. Someone needs to steer him towards a mirror. Maybe Steve Bould can do that.
Thanks gm – done it 🙂
After last night the whole football world (apart from the scum in the football press) needs cheering up.
😀 Micky…..enjoy the beach.
I fear a few will come here today and accuse of supporting everything that is wrong with the club (ie crowning an egomaniac). But let’s hope most see the humour.
Well Didit, you’ve gone and done it — brought a smile to my miserable mug this morning! 🙂
There must be something about the West Country that gets the creative juices of you ex-pat Londoners flowing! 🙂
Just leave those poor old Red Lobsters alone! All this oblique “just off to the beach” stuff is simply a cover for “I am out for the day to bump off some innocent crustaceans”.
Have you no empathy for these hard shelled, salt of the sea characters who are sitting around, minding their own business and reading the Sunday papers looking for some Arsenal transfer stories!
Hah!
Too late for the early morning comments, but to hell with it.
I have little sympathy for the Spuds as a general rule, and let’s face it their disappointment does soften the nagging, unpalatable fact of the Chavs winning the CL — (how lucky — fluky was that?)
But if we had finished 4th after a long difficult season, because we had been unable to stop WBA equalizing near the end of the last game of the season (thanks Gibbsy) and had been thrown out of the CL as a result, I hate to think how we would all feel today, (Thank goodness it was the Spuds!)
How perverse of UEFA, but how unsurprising, that their genius idea was to punish the country who won the CL by dumping another club from that country, who had already qualified, so that Astrokanistan United could stay in the competition and be roundly stuffed in the first round of the group stages, with “Null Points”.
I was going to say that Platini is a moron, but the master politician is quite the opposite in fact. He arranged the current system so that he will get the votes from the ‘no hope’ countries (In European footballing terms) because he is intent on eventually becoming the President of the corrupt FIFA having already wormed his way into becoming the President of the ineffectual UEFA.
Not right tho’!
This is the way to do it ………
Jaymin @kidse7en
I will be blocking out the chavs won the CL and only be thinking about spurs not in the CL from now on ! #ArsenaI
Morning all, after a truly depressing night for the soul of football that’s a nice little giggle there Mr Mdi89.
If anyone else wants another larf here’s a Spud blog venting it’s spleen big time baying for Twitchy’s blood.
http://www.dearmrlevy.com/dml/2012/5/19/congrats.html
It’s a post that’s crying out for some glic “hhahahahahahahahhaahahhahahahahahaa”
It goes to show it’s not just Arsenal blogs who hate their manager.
Dial Square, and to be honest I doubt if you could manage Arsenal.
haha great post Micky
I don’t know how they do it from the sidelines like that! In aussie rules football the manager sits in the coaches box with the other coaches and phones down instructions to the bench. That way they have a better view, and you get to see clips of hilarious things like managers slamming their phone into the desk or throwing their water bottle.
I’m definitely not going out there again, crawling with bloody triumphalist Chavs. Yuk.
Very funny post Micky, love your writing style. Don’t agree with a word of it, but that doesn’t seem to be relevant.
The rule about allowing a non-qualifying CL champion from one of the big leagues in at the expense of the 4th placed side was brought in after an English campaign when Liverpool won in 2005. UEFA (pre-Platini) and the other leagues conceded the point to the English, so that Liverpool could compete, but said it would be too much to have five sides from one country, so it would come at a price, hence the rule. Seems fair enough to me.
Europe’s premier competition should be truly European, not solely for Italy, Spain, Germany and England, so it’s right that a balance is found that makes sure everyone is involved, especially given that it now seems all but impossible for sides outside the big four leagues to get to the Final. I’d prefer that the reigning champions shouldn’t get an automatic place and would need to qualify by league position, but if they should be allowed in, the current system seems ok, and certainly friendly enough to the big leagues.
hugely entertaining Micky, although unfortunately there are a few with a sense of humour bypass on whom your wit is wasted.
I know there are a couple of serious points hidden amongst the flight of fancy, particularly the part about the manager’s perspective of the game from ground level. I believe the man of mystery ‘primoric (sp?) sits up in the stands and reports to AW – but I’m never quite sure what his role at the club really is.
chary i’m there!
Morning all, just for your edification that illustrious journal of all that is just and right in this dumbed down realm of ours, namely the Sunday times. Has published an article highlighting that Arsenals missing ingredient is as Mickey suggests a man.
However in there considered view we need a man of steel and twho might that be? Why that all time winner and twittering nice guy, the one and only Joey Barton. ………… There you go Gooners problem solved.
ps I kid you not lol
Hi everyone! Last night was good for three reasons and last night was bad for two reasons.
Good reasons.
1. Chelsea edged Spurs outav CL. We can bully the spuds psychologically.
2. London receives the CL Cup. London then can brag to Manchester.
3. Chelsea’s win will bring good and worthy competition to North London.
Bad reasons.
1. On North London bragging rights, the Chavs will be higher on pecking order than Arsenal.
2. Chelsea will be in the CL and if history is anything to go by, our meetings in CL have been one sided.
All said, i think it will be good sportsmanship if Spurs in their footbll kits led by Harry and Arsenal in their kits led by Wenger met this guys as their procession start from stamford bridge. Will be better than Di Canio’s Show.
Congrats Chelsea. Lets meet Next Season. Obrigado.
Micky – you might be on to something, it is actually possible, just think about it – the Queen is a Gunner, Wenger is divorced, so the only problem is Prince Phillip. We could bump him off and have a perfect unison and a United Kingdom of Arsenal
Chelsea from North London? They wish. West London can keep them.
Sorry for the North London glitch. ofcourse Chelsksy not from there.
Being in denial about last nights proceedings is definitely the way forward, I’m not even going to contact my spud brother in New York to see how he is today 😆
we don’t need a new man we just need david dein back to back the old one up gazidis as no clue how to negociate
Oh Christ, I can’t even escape the triumphalism watching the cricket: they’ve just had Alec Stewart displaying all sorts of Chav finery.
Hi Dandan, 🙂
You mischief maker! 🙂
The article by Rod Liddle, (a la Mickydonedidit) was very firmly tongue in cheek, highlighting not just Barton as being deranged, (and hugely entertaining on Twitter to his strange 1.5 million followers) but lambasting the hypocrisy and sanctimonious cant of Shearer and other ‘respectable’ pundits.
But then you knew that!! 🙂
All the supporters that moan about AW saying that a Champions League place is a trophy should remember that you have to be in it to win it as the chavs proved last night.
Buy player we nigeria fan are ashamed
26,
In an egalitarian world order, I suspect your view that the Champions League should be pan European, regardless of the ability of the contestants, would be correct.
However, I believe the “Champions” League has already been diminished by virtue of the fact that it is NOT the Champions League.
It has been won many times by a team who clearly was not the champion of it’s own native competition. Chelsea for example.
OK, taking the top 2, or 3, or 4 top teams in each major national league to make the competition ‘inclusive’ and commercially viable is one thing, but to throw some tiny club from a footballing obscure country into the ‘elite’ European league is frankly already farcical.
My views on Platini and why he forced these changes thru’ have little to do with those reasons anyway.
If we had finished 4th in the Prem and been ousted from the CL in favour of a team from lichtenstein, Moldova or San Marino do you honestly think that would have been on merit, or commercially justified or somehow OK?
Egalité maybe alright for the French (when it suits them) but it makes no footballing sense.
I suspect we have reached an impasse here and neither of us will have a change of mind, but in any event, the qualifying rules won’t change simply because I think they are stupid or introduced to further one man’s personal career.
In reality the CL is the best league in Europe, arguably followed by the Premier League and La Liga. If they renamed it as the ‘Elite European League’ (or something similar) it would make more sense.
The fact that it runs concurrently with the domestic leagues which determine who gets promoted/relegated to/from the CL is a confusion caused by the naming.
This tickled me ……………..
KeithTheGooner @KeithTheGooner
We can still be the first team from Islington to win the Champions League #EveryCloud
I am so depressed today. Thank Denis we were third.
Is this true? Is Wembley holding the 2013 Champions Lge final?
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Wembley/NewsandFeatures/2012/ready-champions-league-final-2013
Red Arse Naughty may be but it made you read it 🙂
gm – clearly you don’t know enough spuds 😆 or sadly you know too many chavs 😦
I know it’s not PC on here but I realy hope terry dies a slow and painful death.
Is anyone else, finding the site so slow as to be almost unwatchable. 😦 😦
Actually peaches my brother is a spud. I think they deserved thier chance in the qualifying stages. The spuds have more history and class than the scum from fulham
Hi dandan – slow is usually to do with internet speed not the site. Have you tried re-booting?
It’s ok here dandan.
BTW. my wife collapsed in Vietnam (heat exhaustion) I shit myself (not lit) It made me think of you and what you’ve been going through. You are a very strong man. I take my hat off to you.
Peaches I believe after UEFA realised just how much they could fleece us Britons for tickets they decided to come again.
Funny how the chavs winning the cl brought out the Wenger needs to be sacked brigade on twitter last night. I’m off to my bindipper butcher. He’ll be slating the chavs.
https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisMathews7/status/204164643608993792
Talking of fleecing, the amount you pay for basic silver membership to enable you to buy tickets to watch the Arsenal has risen to £45 from £26. Last year they threw in Arsenal TV for free and this year you get it whether you want it or not and have to pay for it – pretty poor IMO
I do think a lot of bad feeling comes from JT changing into kit and being able to lift the trophy, but also Cashly’s comments after the game were particularly crass.
I am one that feels that now the Champs lge has been won Abramovitch may shut up shop in which case the chavs will have an eight year history in which they won things ………. so what 😛
Blackburn won the Premiership once and look where they are now.
https://twitter.com/#!/IanWright0/status/203967501221105664
another ex legend wanker
Thanks for the post Micky. Arsene dosnt need a coronation, for me he is already a King.
Very upsetting last night. Victory for the suger daddys with City and now Chelsea.
Since a little boy i have always dreamed of Arsenal winning the European Cup. its a dream that will not go away, despite how much money our rivals throw at building there teams and however unrealistic the dream can be at times, at least once a week without fail i will have that wonderful dream.
I believe in the Club and its ambition. Just like the 30’s team usurped the Northern domination and the 71 team equalled and set the precedent for surpasing Totnumbs double acheivment, the race for us begins again. The mantra for all successful Arsenal teams of the past has been not to worry or fear what our competitors are acheiving, it has always been to work hard, stick to our principles and then when the time is right reap our rewards, and so it shall be again.
Oh dear Ian Wright, where was all that good advice about moving on where your own son was concerned?
Morning all.
Just to say I wish you all a great Summer and I will be taking a sabatical from AA and hopefully by the time I return the smut, vulgarity on occasions and toilet humour of one or two will have long disappeared..
I love the banter as it used to be, and generally the Headline posts are great as are most of the comments .
RA
You’re right, we’re not likely to agree, but since when was reaching an agreement a requirement?!
The Champions’ League is stupidly named, as Rasp says, as its defining quality is that it looks to set out a basis for identifying the best teams in Europe, and to do that precisely does not restrict qualification to the previous season’s champions.
But I do stick by what I say, that it’s important that there’s a balance between openness and elitism. If a Euro Super League is set up one day, the situation would be different, but effectively keeping out clubs from lesser leagues would take away some of the magic and undermine the credibility of the competition. It might also mean we miss out on such delights as Basel and Benfica knocking out United in the group stages, or APOEL from Cyprus winning their group and getting to the quarter finals.
If there were a real problem of a team from Liechtenstein or Moldova taking a place from a runner up from one of the bigger leagues, I might agree with you. But in reality, our 4th placed team (except when the Chavs steal the place) only has to play one qualifying round and goes in ahead one, two or even three rounds of the champions of most leagues in Europe. So there isn’t any real danger of teams from the big leagues missing out in that way, and the current system doesn’t seem at all tough on the big leagues to me.
GM hope your wife is well, We all do what we have to do, no one knows what anyone on here is facing as they post or how that adversity effects that post. For me sharing some of this has helped at times and I would advise others who are facing troubles to share them occasionally, the old saying a trouble shared is a trouble halved is in a lot of cases based on fact.
Some let pride get in the way others recognise that most are aware that their but for the grace of god go I, however you wish to express that sentiment.
Thanks for your kind words GM
Sorry if I’ve offended you Kelsey.
All the best to Mrs GM, and as ever to Mrs DD.
Thanks 26. It was just a one off but really scared me. She’s only 40 and healthy.
Fair enough 26. 🙂
My comments were engendered, specifically, by the nonsense of Chelsea ‘knocking out’ another ‘qualified’ British team by having the temerity to win (luckily) the Champions League, and tho’ I candidly do not care about the Spuds, my disquiet was that it could so easily have been us.
I suspect we have done that to death now! 🙂
Money can’t buy me love but it can certainly buy three of the top trophies open to English clubs. The fact that Roman (I’ve got billions) Abramovich and Sheikh (I’ve got even more) Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan have waltzed off with the Champions league, the Premiership and the FA Cup between them just goes to show that there is little to be seen of the remains of what was once called “The Beautiful Game”.
I’ve supported Arsenal since the early fifties and will continue to do so of course, but I can’t see us winning anything significant in the near future unless the proverbial playing field is brought to a more level state.
Pessimistic? maybe, realistic? sadly yes.
Watching the MotoGP on BBC2. Now those guys racing their bikes in the rain are brave! 🙂
Hi NG, a very sobering thought – worthy of expansion into a headline post I’d say ….. do you accept the challenge? 🙂
Norfolk,
If it is any consolation, I really think the FFP will have a big effect on the financial imbalance, eventually. [I have changed my mind on that].
Of course, there will be so and so accountants and lawyers, like me and 26M, doing our best to find loopholes in the rules on behalf of the wealthy clubs.
The good news tho’ is that an independent panel, including top notch accountants and lawyers has been set up to stop the nonsense, and, for example, they are examining the ManCity/Etihad ‘commercial’ deals already! 🙂
https://twitter.com/#!/wazzaroo08/status/204165980790849536
team mates in the Euros. i think i’ll be Dutch for the summer
Rasp I find that interesting on the Silver membership, my Red is £33 (full DD option with the Membership Pack) and am the wife’s Red (Lite DD without membership pack) is £26.
I haven’t checked whether I still get Arsenal Player (which was thrown in with the Red Membership last year. I doubt I will ever get Silver and a Gold Membership is out of question if I can’t get lower tier (the cost + travel of an Upper Tier Gold would be prohibitive).
I may have to take Harry’s suggestion and fake into Silver Membership by having a couple of Junior Gunner memberships, when the fictitious person turns18 they automatically keep Silver status.
The Red renewal email mentioned being able to get into the Emirates even cheaper next year, I haven’t seen any announcements on PL prices but I wonder if there will be a Cat C level of games for the likes of Wigan, Stoke that no one wants to go see? As there’s no Gold price rise I also wonder whether they will up the prices of the Cat A or Cat B games to compensate?
GIE
There are going to be cheaper non cat A games.
@ Dandan
I hope your mrs is improving and getting better as each day passes
@ Kelsey
What are we to do without our insiders info??? Can’t you just turn a blind eye to it?
As I thought GM, just haven’t seen it on the website (since last time I looked).
Oz my Good lady is back to 100% apart from her normal Arthritis, its me and a stupid fall and Cracked/Broken ribs that is the problem now, wouldny mind but have not touched a blinking drink since Xmas.
Thanks for the good wishes, you too 26 most appreciated
We’ve never been far away over the last few years but the lack of ambition is so soul destroying. We needed a goalkeeper for 4 years we needed a top centre half we now need a defensive midfield player and some defensive coaching. Our manager gets told what we need but he won’t listen he thinks he knows best. I’ve just heard he won’t buy until he can clear out some of the dead wood that his brought in the past. we might have a long wait.
Great laugh Mr Didit – thank you.
Perhaps another analogy would be that Arsene is like a Mafia don – and he needs a consigliere (a right hand man who does all the fixing for him).
Like Tom Hagen (Robert Duval) did for Don Corleone in The Godfather.
Obviously it would also mean we would have to put a horse’s head in Fergiescum’s bed and blow up ‘Arry while he’s on a fishing boat.
Dont agree with Stan very often but he got this right:
Stan Collymore@StanCollymore
Real fans ask questions,Johnny come lately’s just turn up to the parades.
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This is a great post about our right-back options for the start of next season ……… have a read
http://1nildown2oneup.net/arsenals-new-french-international-right-back/
Sweep peace be with you: its 90 days till the league starts again.
All questions will be answered then, have a holiday be happy, good times are coming.
Well, last night was shite.
Hello you, I thought nothing happened last night 😉
dandan can’t afford a holiday the club want my cash by 1st June. Money grabbing bastards.
Well I’m still laughing at Spuds so something has to have happened 😆
I turned off the second Drogba scored – I couldn’t when I saw Terry and all the other suspended mugs fully kitted out as if they had done anything on the night.
Irish – I was really expecting to fall in love with Bastian Schweinsteiger, what happened to him??? And Gomez – how many chances did he need??????
LB – there is God. He has shares in barrels of oil
evonne – have you been out and about terrorising spuds 😉
Gingers for Limpar @Gingers4Limpar
Chanderpaul out, just 9 runs short of a century. John Terry’s in the pavilion, heartbroken. He’d put on his whites and everything.
Schweinsteiger had a great game – he mopped up all over midfield, only got caught out once when Chelsea broke through midfield but apart from that he was excellent. Remember, Kroos is an attacking player, normally plays in the front 3, but with Gustavo out, he had to drop back and he’s not very good at the defensive part so Schweinsteiger had to do the job of two people last night. Normally Gustavo lets him to get forward a bit more but that didn’t happens last night.
As for the penalty – he could barely walk at the end but still stood up to take a penalty – unlike some of the other cowards in the Bayern side.
Gomez had a poor game, his touch was off, Bayern manager should have brought him off and not Muller when they were 1-0 up.
Hate to say it, but Cashley had a great game.
TheArsenalBrigade @ArsenalBrigade
There are now six London teams in the Premier League. The last two times this was the case, Arsenal won the double (97/98 & 01/02)
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Peaches – no. I actually feel for them. They deserve more, much more to be in CL than those slighmy s**t from West London. I am very down, didn’t watch any of the celebrations of interviews, don’t even want to switch the telly on in case I catch a glimpse of those bastards that bought our trophy
Love the lighthearted post micky. I can imagine you on the beach, ” I`ve caught the Lobster darling, cleaned it and stuffed it, shall I now kill it ? “. 🙂
I Love shows like 9 out of 10 cats and Mock the Week. The saddest thing was when Frankie Boyle got censored on Mock the Week, he had to sit there and watch the others do their stand up routines, thats why he left, shame because he was the funniest one on there ( IMO ). Kelsey, do you work for the BBC censoring dept` by any chance !. Sorry I`m not up to your high standards of decorum and etiquette , but at least i`ve got a great sense of humour.
That’s funny about the six London teams, I was going to write a post last week about us being the Top team in London but when I did my research it turned out we definitely weren’t 😦 😦 😦
Help ……….. not more London derbies ……..
Irish – I agree about Bastian and Cashley. Robben and Ribbery irritated the pants of me, what the hell was the matter with them?? Lost sight, like blind mice
It was probably that bloke Angela Markel that cut down their food portions, austerity and all that
You’re not alone Irish, just have to imagine it was another team and not them. I know we’ve already been over this but it does seem wrong that a team can strive for a top four finish and then have it taken away – thank Dennis it wasn’t us I suppose.
Mr arsene wenger should go plz, dats my contribution.
Evonne – Robben did all the approach work fine but he just seemed to bottle it after that. Cech also did well on the penalties to be fair.
Peaches – Its why I’d always place more value on winning the league than a cup. You deserve to finish where you end up in the league, in a cup, any bunch of average players can win it – I’m very excited for the Euros 😆 Bought my new Irish shirt and all yesterday.
Irish – who’s in your group?
evonne, peaches
I thought Ribery was really poor, but Robben had a great game (apart from his finishing). He caused problems all night long for the Chavs and, far from having a great game, Cashley struggled to cope (although he did make some crucial tackles and blocks towards the end as BM tired).
We can console ourselves with the fact that no-one in the future will talk about the great ECL champions of 2012. Great ECL winning sides come along every few years and get remembered for decades. Others are forgotten even as they’re hoisting the cup.
The Chavs were just incredibly lucky. Yes, they defended well, but 9 times out of 10 one or more of those Gomes chances would have gone in, as would the Robben penalty during normal time. And as for the jammy way they got past Barca…
The BM performances was not an argument against shooting. It was an argument against shooting badly.
We’ll be the next great ECL wining team 🙂
Irish – are you going to Poland or do you insist that it is happening in Dublin?
Muhydeen – very good idea…to keep such contributions short
Peaches – Croatia, Spain and Italy. I’m more worried about Croatia than the rest to be honest. We are set up to annoy teams like Spain and we’ve done well against Italy in recent campaigns but Croatia are awkward.
Evonne – I’ll be watching it in Ennis with half the Polish nation that live here 😆 Ye play Russia don’t ye??? Must find my Arshavin jersey 😆
Rocky – I wish you were right about great CL winners. Sadly, the world will just remember that Chavs did win it. I cannot come to terms with it, so gutted
Robben always runs and runs, and dribbles with his mounth half open, but he just couldn’t put it in the net!!
Irish – that’s harsh to be sure ……… I’m going to enjoy watching your games then 🙂
Irish – Polish love Russians as much as the Irish love the English 🙂 You cannot sit with the Polaks wearing Arshavin’s shirt. Wear Chesny instead 🙂
RL – I personally thought Cashley did well, that young fella in front of him didn’t really seem to know what to do. He didn’t do much wrong but that’s cos he didn’t do much – he was told to stay on the left wing and he did but he was really a number. Nothing against him but he didn’t seem to offer much on the night. He was meant to double up on Robben with Cashley but not sure he did.
Ribery never got into the game which was a pity seen as he was up against Boswinga.
Hope JT doesn’t suddenly find some Irish family link else he’ll be there in a green jersey for the photos 😉
Going to check out who’s in your squad – is Trappatoni still your coach? I have to admit to not paying attention 😳
😆 Me, nah – I like to stir. I wore a Bayern Munich shirt to work on Friday to annoy the one Chelsea fan who happens to be a supervisor, I’ll pay for that tomorrow 😆
Imagine if ye meet the Germans in the Euros – I’ll have a field day 😆
😆 Peaches I’d not be surprised, fully kitted out with shin pads and all.
Yep Trap is still the man, our squad is as expected with only McClean breaking into it. McCarthy (Wigan) isn’t coming cos his dad has cancer.
Oh Irish, you are terrible 🙂 Why was Lady Gaga not allowed to perform in Indonesia?
Robbie Keane – that famous ‘I’ve always wanted to play for – insert club – ‘ is your out and out striker. Is he still banging them in? Where?
Religious nutcases, Evonne. Something about her corrupting the youth, they threatened to kill her 🙄 cos that won’t corrupt anyone. Damn her and her message of love and acceptance.
Peaches – LA Galaxy. He has been very poor for them lately though, they are getting a bit peeved with him. I will say though he has always played well for Ireland. 53 international goals is impressive and its not just the minnows he has done it against Germany, Cameroon, Italy, France etc. etc.,
Just discovered that the Euros is less than three weeks away 🙂 starts on 8th June 🙂 ………. easily pleased 😀
I’ll be hungover for the month Peaches 😆
Irish – if you can beat Croatia in your first game then you’ll be off to a fine start. You must be pleased that the fixtures worked out like that.
On the other hand England have France first 😦
See how therapeutic it is to chat about football that you don’t really care about 😆
Yeah, that makes sense – kill Lady Gaga and set a good example to the youngsters.
Peaches – I am going there in June 🙂
evonne – how can I watch Poland games with you if you’re not here 😦
Come with me 🙂
Rocky has disappeared, doesn’t want to chat with the girls, big boy 🙂
evonne – who’ll pugwatch??????
Peaches – Alan? His grandson too 🙂 OR the dog owners, Posh and Becks?
I hope Terry regrets putting the full strip on, laugh of the nation.Or is he too dense to care? Dense, yep
Peaches – We get something from the Croatia game and we’re well set up. It’ll be a bit of craic anyway 😆 I think Germany will win it but I’ve a sneaky suspicion about France. They are coming in under the radar, have a good squad, and a manager they respect. You can get them in a double with Benzema as top goalscorer at 80/1 – I think its worth €2 😉
Evonne – What part of Poland are you from?
Me and the three Belles of AA 😀
It’s a beautiful day here in Toronto and the outside calls…
What’s all this about Captain Pugwash?
Central Warsaw, about half and hour from the new stadium. They demolished the old stadium (used by Koreans to sell rubbish) and built a state-of-the art beauty. But they failed to finish 20km of the motorways and traffic is going to be horrendous 🙂 Still, polish Zloty is weak, so the booze is going to be cheap
Rocky 🙂 Peaches daughter and my son have a pug. Peaches and I are the caring grandmothers. We take turns in looking after our beloved Ralphie. He almost died last month; I saved his life and Peaches nursed him back to health. And he is a Gunner and loves watching games
I don’t know anyone from Warsaw but I know quite a few from Lodz and that is only 2 hours away by train?
I saw the new stadium, looks impressive alright.
Irish – of course you do, me 🙂 From Lodz? (means Boat), old schmata business town, dying now. Best linen was from Lodz and Ireland.
My mother went to the opening of the stadium and was very proud of it. Let’s just hope that the team won’t disappoint
Sweep if it upsets you that much stay home and watch on Liveon line footy at 75 pence a week, you dont even need to buy Sky most of the time.
Rasp re your 1.30,
I shall be away on holiday until mid June, but I will give it a go on my return.
Sod the Euros. How can I support terry, rooney, gerrard and cole? They are pikeys. Shouldn’t they be in my big fat gypsy football team?
gm 😆
You may have found the secret to our desired success, we need a few pikey`s in our team, they are the missing link ! 🙂
Evonne – Apart from you of course 😆 A lot of my friends did a college year in Lodz, which is where I heard of the place first. I’ve a friend living there at the moment (She’s Polish but she’s really Irish 😆 we’ve taken her I think) and hope to go over see her before the end of the year, she’s coming back to Ireland for the summer, she wants away from the Euro madness. I heard Krakow is a nice place to go?
Confused Gooner,
So RVP is going to start the euro’s highly possible without signing a contrct extension with The Arsenal or without being transfered to another club.
What is in his head…..?
Doesnt he realise what happens to him when he plays international football?
Doesnt Arsenal realise what happens to him when he plays international football?
INJURIES…INJURIES….INJURIES!!!!!!!!!
What happens if he gets a serious injury????
What happens to his prospects then?????
Would we be able to get a top quality striker in to replace him for the seasons ahead..? assuming if he gets fit and back to his best he leaves on a free???
Arrrgghhhh to many questions…..!!!!! Please someone answers on a POST(card) please.
goonerjake
(see what ive done for you their peaches… trying to get you a post 😉
Jake he has a year to go on his contract so he plays for us and anyway all international sides insure players that represent them
Some parade 😆
Jake, isn’t it in our favour if he gets injured, obviously not too seriously, but enough that potential suitors consider their offer.
Sweeps, you talk like you’re the only one forking out for a ST, there are quite a few here with one who don’t complain about it being a rip off, and quite a few who would love one, there is a waiting list. Has the club scrapped the monthly payment option they introduced last year to ease pressure on the pocket.
Haha IG, they are all at the Flower Show.
It’d be more exciting anyway GIE 😆
GiE – yeah, as exhibits, pansies
Jake – exactly! Wenger knows only too well what happens to the Boy Wonder at internationals and he, Le Boss, doesn’t want to sign a new contract in case the injury is too serious. He aint just a figurehead at the Ems, you know 🙂
Irish – ‘she is really nice, not really Polish’ 🙂 I know what you mean 🙂 Girls are ok, men are vile
If Torres wants to stay in England he has just issued a huge come get me with his interview to Ballague to any viable candidates. I’d take him in a heartbeat if RvP leaves or stays. Now imagine a front three of
Pod——-RvP——-Torres
Ok it’s a pipe dream but that would be very tidy.
😆 Evonne
GiE – but would we want torres with blond or brown hair, what do you recon Micky ?
The absolutely lovely moment when one remembers that Harry Redknapp is Frank Lampard’s uncle through marriage – I wonder has Fat Frank shown uncle ‘Arry his medal yet?! 😆
John Terry has been spotted in a cricket kit heading to Lords ( in case England beat the West Indies)
Evonne – blonde Torres is better isn’t he?
I do like Torres, thought he was excellent at Pool and he led the line on his own so often (and created goals for the likes of Kuyt and Gerard with that running). I think he would enjoy it if he wasn’t always chasing lost causes but would also bring an extra option of over the top outball such his willingness to run.
Sweeps @ 2:41
“Lack of ambition”? Don’t agree, we had no money till 2010, every single decision from 2004 to 2010 needs to be seen from that perspective. We didn’t absent ourselves from much of the transfer market as a strategic decision, it was the reality of finances. That Wenger managed to keep us at the top level in those years with no money was a stunning achievement, one that no other manager could have matched.
“We now need some defensive coaching.” Always makes me laugh this one. How do you know what coaching is needed? Unless you’re a professional coach yourself and you spend lots of time at London Colney, you cannot have the foggiest what coaching or coaches are needed beyond what we have, it’s pure speculation.
“Our manager gets told what we need but he won’t listen he thinks he knows best.” Gets told? By whom? And even if he does “get told”, how do you know what he does and doesn’t listen to? As one of the global game’s most highly respected coaches, I hope he does think he knows better than the vast majority of pundits, journos, ex-players, bloggers and fans. I’m sure there are a few people whose views are of value, but I’d find it pretty disturbing if our manager were so insecure as to make decisions based on what outsiders said. It’d be a bit like Harry Redknapp and his decision to play 442 when others had said he should, see it flop and then tell Spurs fans he’d always said 442 wouldn’t work. Wenger is a stronger man and a better coach than that.
Rocky my point on shooting was it was a lot of shots from outside the area which were blocked or went sailing over and pretty much let Chelsea off the hook. They stopped going to Gomes.
26 may @ 7:28 Super reply: Honestly I sit here at times and shake my head in wonder at the audacity and certainty of some of our posters, when did common sense decide that it did not apply to football.
dandan
i respect your opinion however football by its very nature is devisive and emotive. It can have the best of friends in a heated debate! People put there hearts before there heads.
Many a time i read a post i dont agree with.
Disagreement among supporters over players / tactical choices / managers and their decisions … is not important.
Football is great because of the diversity of opinions… even i whom have been strongly entrenched on certain ideas can see the point of others views… to believe ones own views to be infallible is often the result of delusion.
Embrace your fellow gooners and if you dont agree with what they say “fair enough i dont neccessarily agree but your entitled to your opinion.”
Again I respect yor views as i do everyone.
Jake, I agree to that to an extent.
But one thing I hold dear in my support of Arsenal is the camaraderie, the brothers in arms mentality of being an Arsenal supporter, us against the world. We are not the biggest club in the UK contrary to what some people will have you believe, we also have no divine right to win trophies, but when we do they taste sweeter because we know we got them with a lot of blood sweat and tears and because we worked hard for it.
Giving a manager a limitless cheque book is everything we are not. George Graham didn’t need it, infact he got rid of the glory boys, and replaced them with the talent he knew was there in the lower divisions. It’s what Clough did at Derby and Forest.
When we give in to the press and rival fans and start giving credence to their view that we as a club should do things differently we are going against everything that is The Arsenal. I don’t disagree that we could do some things a little better, but building an empire takes time and there are always some losses along the way. One day soon we will win again, in the mean time I will take refuge amongst Arsenal friends and fight for the right of the club to be different.
One last thing when Holland lost to Spain in the WC final in 2010 everyone said it was a victory for football, interesting how the British press change their tune when it is an English club providing the anti-football. Of course they are brave lions, whereas Holland were cowardly bully’s of the beautiful game.
Thankyou goonerinexile. my intent was never to suggest a lack of camaraderie. I scincerely appologise if that is how it came across.
To put it simply i meant that any gooner should be free to express his opinion. Then for other gooners to either agree or disagree respectfully. To say someone lacks common sense of deride their opinion can be hurtful.
We are gooners together – respect is paramount!
GiE, your 8.35, fantastic comments. Thats exactly how i see it to. Your points capture what Arsenal is all about.
Had an interesting chat with a friend who’s a TV journo and has been doing some work on corruption in football. He said his team had come close to catching Harry Redknapp on tape accepting a payment to not sign a player. Redknapp ultimately didn’t accept the payment, sounds like he worked out it might be a trap, but the fact he was even willing to talk shows where he’s coming from. As if proof were needed.
Gooner Jake thank you for your civil post, I am not aware of having debated with you before other than pointing out earlier today that RVP was both employed and insured.
I therefor deduce that your 8:19 was in reply to my 7:45. The question I posed then and reiterate here was, “when did common sense decide that it did not apply to football” This was my response to 26 may and his, reply that I considered was blindingly obvious common sense. Given that the facts he outlined are common knowledge among all well read and thinking Arsenal fans.
I did not think I was being in any way contentious or argumentative. Or that my stated view was infallible or unchallengeable. If it came across different to that then we must put it down to my poor use of language.
Just goes to show what age can do to you.
Jake, no worries I wasn’t suggesting you did, there are some however that take the criticism too far (in my opinion) and it has become a vendetta to change the ethos of the club and what it stands for in search of silverware.
When our suppoerters deem CL qualification a minimum requirement we have to think that not is all bad.
26 as you say it’s no surprise, Bond was sacked by Newcastle less we forget over the Mike Newell Panaroma, bet he wishes he had kept quiet now.
Dandan
Cheers for your reply, Both about VP which I did know about the year left and the insurance but did not think about it thanks for putting my mind at ease. also I did missunderstand the other post. Hope everybody sees friendly debate clear and reasonable discussion is best way to talk between fellow gooners.
yours
goonerjake (you aint old too me pal)
Terry mancini and norfolk said what i have been thinking since agueros winning goal, the ridiculous over spending has paid off, and this season shows it. I worry because this will affect every league and arsenal in the future. Im hoping red arse is right, and ffp has teeth, recent articles sound promising. And if platini is behind it with success, i will praise him always.
Hi jync,
Its very depressing seeing City and Chelsea clean up. The fundamental question is, can Arsenal win the premeir league when competing against these type of clubs? If the status quo remains the same, then i belive the evidence says no. However, as you alluded to in your post, the prospect of ffp should and in my opinion will narrow the gap. In addition to ffp Arsenal are free of the dangerous debt associated with the Highbury project and new commercial deals in the pipeline should narrow the gap further.
The most crippling aspect of the suger daddy clubs, and there have been many, has been there propensity to take our players. I genuinly beleve that if we were the masters in controlling who left the club we might have won the odd league or two, but unfortunatley as you saw, Nasri and Cole won the big prizes to go along with there even bigger pay packets.
Football, as in life, has a way of changing very quickly. The great thing about our clubs status is that things can only improve. We have a splendid ethos, great management and are financialy secure. Onwards and Upwards.
@ Dandan
great to hear about you mrs,
@ GiE
that’d be a dream, if I saw those three at Arsenal I’d have to pinch myself every time we played.
I found something else to smile about.
Lots of Spudders believed that as Chelsea won we would have to go into qualification.
That calls for the biggest lol.
So here it is
Montpelier just showd that dirtty oil money doesn’t always win. eden hazard seems an arrogant little shit. Night night everyone
😀 GM, he will be perfect for Chelsea then (where according to rumours he will sign tonight).
Agree GM,
Montpellier beating PSG to the title is great news.
GiE,
Hazard to Chelsea? I thought it was a Manchester side.
“Saturday’s penalty shoot-out didn’t just cost Spurs £100m in prize-money next year, it killed our chances of ever competing at England’s top table.”
Grim reading for Spurs fans, great for us tho 🙂
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/paul-eddison-this-killed-off-spurs-chance-of-ever-dining-at-englands-top-table-7769626.html
Hi Micky,
These guys tart themselves around to the highest bidder. Yoonited, Shitty, Chavs — tomorrow??
Someone who claims to be in the know (as an Arsenal fan) put on twitter the following two tweets:
Nothing to do with Mirror paper but claims to be ST holder and good friend of Darren Dein. (first time I’ve heard of him but he seems certain of himself)
Reading his timeline back he actually seems a bit of a twit do disregard those tweets.
Morning GiE – I wasn’t sure if Chavs or us go to qualifiers, I could be a Spud 🙂 If the chavs winning means that they take the 4th spot, it could be good for us – extra games, early starting season soon after the Polish adventure, hm, they’ll struggle
Peaches – the heatwave is here!! have you got your bikini ready??
GiE – agree, sounds faaaaar too cocky, probably front bottom
GIE,
That article about the Spuds demise was pinched from AA. Well me actually, as I said I wanted the Chavs to win for precisely the effect it would have on the Spuds.
Not rocket science really! 🙂
Evonne,
Neither Chelsea nor Arsenal need to pre-qualify for the CL.
RA – how did they arrive at 100m? bit excessive, no?
RA – really? shit, i had hoped they would 😦 oh well, never mind, they are hardly a team to be feared
Evonne, I don’t know where the £100m comes from unless they factor in revenues from tickets plus merchandise (or it is set to increase next season)
But United earned €53.2m in 2010-11, €27.3m was prize money the rest was from the Market Pool of TV Monies.
RA – thought you would say that, Levy kept Modric last season, will be interesting to see if they do the same this year.
GiE – I know, I know!! All the disappointed Spurs fans will support Arsenal now 🙂 No, let them support Chelsea, we don’t want them
did I say something wrong ? 🙂 ok, coat on, laters
Morning all
New Post ………………
Of course, what a fantastic website and informative posts,
I definitely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!