A provocative headline designed to grab your attention? Yes, guilty but I believe there is a quite a lot of truth in it.
The change of direction that I am talking about is reflected in the kind of player that Podolski and Giroud are. These footballers are big powerful no nonsense types, they signal a change in style, perhaps even a return to the days when Arsenal fielded big strong powerful teams which included the likes of Vieira, Petit, Adams, Bould and Campbell; when those players took to the field the opposition were scared. What Podolski and Giroud are definitely not is a continuation of Arshavin, Nasri and Fàbregas; for example, the super skilful diminutive types which to me is vital clue that indicates the change in direction that I refer to above.
If you think you are upset about not winning a trophy in the last seven years I am prepared to bet it is only a fraction of the pain that Wenger feels about that statistic.
Personally I think we were unlucky, the Fàbregas era was worthy of a title or two but equally I can see the argument that the league title does not lie and the fact remains that that experiment did not work and a new way must be found. The reason I can see this side of the argument is that I do not believe that even the most accomplished proponents of the super quick passing game, no other than Barcelona would win the EPL year in and year out. The Catalans never seem to come up against teams in La Liga prepared to play with ten men behind the ball. I remember reading an interview with Cesc saying that that approach would not be tolerated by any team in Spain regardless of the relegation implications – Barcelona meet Sam Allardyce and there are plenty more, as we all know, of his ilk.
Passenal has not worked trophy wise, although, entertainment wise it has been a dream for a season ticket holder like myself but I accept it might be time for a bit of silverware to take up some space in the still bare Emirates trophy cabinet.
I am going to do something now that I have criticised many in the past for doing and that is sing the praises of manu so if you want to get your own back go ahead. The reason in my mind as to why manu kept on winning as much as they did with what seemed like an average team at times was because they had a good balance between power and skill. That’s enough praise, they are now on a down hill trajectory. The reasons are fairly obvious; they have an aging team and the manager does not know which way to turn. They are, in short, where we were a few years ago. There are a couple a key clues that back this up. If Rooney came on the market now do you think he would go to manu or City? When was the last time we could say at this point in the transfer window that we were happier with our signings than we would have been with manu’s? Would you prefer Kagawa and Powell or Podolski and Giroud?
We are coming out of that dip because Wenger has found a way to operate amongst the two obvious financial heavy weights: Chelsea and City. Ferguson on the other hand looks like a spent force; he doesn’t know which way to turn now that he no longer has the financial muscle to buy the top players in the EPL.
Manu we have you in our sights.
Next season’s Arsenal line up is going to be different: for the first time, in a long time we will be starting a new EPL season with power and strength as our main weapons.
————-Szczesny
Sagna, BFG, Koscielny, Vermaelen.
——-Song, Diaby, Arteta.
——The Ox, Giroud, Podolski.
This is not the team I expect to line up for the first game of the season but it could be.
And if it is, the message to any opposition will be – Be afraid, be very afraid.
Written by LB
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning, People, 🙂
Before reading LB’s Post, can I refer to Timmy’s comment this morning re the cancellation of the tour match over there.
So, just speculating, the ‘postponement’ of the Nigeria tour match was linked with a note of the sponsors, and if you noticed, one of the sponsors is/was ‘Airtel’.
A short time ago, Arsenal’s Commercial department allegedly made a tentative approach to Airtel to discuss further commercial link ups, particularly in Eastern Europe.
As a consequence, Jabba, or Usmanov, ridiculed the Arsenal commercial guys for not already knowing that he (Usmanov) owned more than 50% of the 2nd biggest mobile company in that part of the world, as well as in Africa.
After the recent rather inflammatory ‘open letter’ from Red and White Holdings came out yesterday, it is curious, don’t you think, that the Airtel sponsored Nigeria match was also called off.
Colour me a delicate shade of cynical, but I smell a link!
That is not to say that the concerns over the state of the pitch and security issues are wrong!
“.. they are now on a down hill trajectory”
“Manu we have you in our sites.”
As delusional as you may have been as usual, these statements take the cake. 2 untried strikers in EPL next season and a manager that has been out-of-times since a long time ago. Nice try, now pass me those shrooms you’re tripping with.
If you think that Sir A.F has stopped his buying so far plus is going to be as tactically inept as Wenger throughout the season, you have been a sleep for a long time and it’s time to wake up from 2004 for your own good.
LB,
Top bloody draw, and I couldn’t agree more.
However, it is from my point of view even better than that. I was going to write a short post asking everyon to be Manager for a moment and list their starting line ups. Not what they think Arsene will do but what they think they would do. The one condition would be that they can pick from a 100% fit squad.
My hidden agenda was to see the middle three, and most interestingly, you have stuck Diaby in there. Superb move. The man has drive, power, positional sense, interceptibility, and a shot.
That team would be better than any we put out last season.
Bring on the new season.
Vermalen at left back??? No way Gibbs or santos. What about gervinho. ?? Still need another 4 players.
Very good Post indeed, LB. 🙂
The only caveat I would add is that Manu, (a club I cannot talk rationally about, much tho’ I try) were clever enough, over the Ferguson years, to replace and add new players every Summer, at some very high prices, to refresh and maintain their challenge, whether they had won the Premiership or not.
They were also just pipped at the post last season by an unexpected Citeh finishing spurt, which prevented them winning their 4th title in the last 5 or 6 years (?). Not too many signs of their decline just yet.
The Gunners team you show above is mouth watering and I whole heartedly agree that it could have a major impact on the season. (Not entirely sure about Vermaelen, at left back, for a number of reasons mind).
nonesense!!!!!!!!
Oh… forgot to mention that TV5 has said before he does not like being leftback. Stick him there throughout the season and we’ll see how next transfer summer pans out.
Let’s get Rory DeFlap and a few towels and we are ready to roll! 🙂
Really good post LB. I think it is too early to tell though. I rather go half way on this: passing with power to finish things off. Giroud is a direct replacement for RvP and the Pod is probably a bit stronger than Chamakh, but other than that it is the same.
Yes Diaby, and Vermaelen as LB, add physicality, but Arsene is more likely to play JW/Ramsey and Gibbs.
However, I like your idea of more power and a no-nonsense attitude next season.
G, first Europe and now the PL. You are getting squashed quicker than a Rednose chewing gum 😉
Sorry LB but that line up doesn’t install any confidence in me at all. I believe Wenger will still buy at least 2 more players before 18th August and maybe with the African trip cancelled, hopefully we’ll be better prepared.
Opps,
I meant Jack Diaby Arteta and with your no-nonsense back four, sod the dedicated DM rubbish. Jack and Arteta can do all the required mopping up and distribution Pirloey styley.
Right off for the day.
——————-Szczesny
Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs
—————–—-Arteta
————-Song Wilshire.
——————–The Ox,
————-Giroud Podolski.
OR
——————-Szczesny
Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Santos
—————–—-Arteta
—–Walcott Song Podolski.
—————Wilshire,
——————–Giroud .
I will come back to LB’s post later but the events of the last 24 hours can only do I thing and that is unsettle the club.
I would like to know why Kroenke will not converse with Usmanov.
Obviously Usmanov timed his statement yesterday just to stir things up and it is easy to say many things when not actively on the Board but a lot of what he said is true.
Without going over old ground surely there should be a middle ground inbetween total financial stability and throwing obscene money into a club .
When two majority shareholders don’t even speak to each other it must surely start an avalanche of discontent which passes down right through the club.
The other oddity is David Dein and his son Darren. The former a lifelong supporter and the man who brought AW to the club, sold out for an enormous profit and still remains to this day very close to Wenger yet his son is instrumental in advising (in RVP’s case) or being an agent for others who have left.
To me for a great club like Arsenal this is totally unacceptable.
it’s all right many fans saying to players that they can f*ck off but this cannot be sustained with our best players, who will be next ? as much as financial prudence to the extreme is also not the answer.
Now shoot me down.
Hi RA @9.42 I totally buy your theory. 🙂
The official reasons given are embarrassing. Surely, aspects like safety, accommodation, facilities/quality of the pitch are checked beforehand. What a cock-up.
WHAT DOES “BFG” MEAN IN THE AUTHOR’S LINE UP
Aren’t some people missing LB’s point? He’s saying that there will be a new level of physicality in the squad, and set out a POTENTIAL line-up to underline that point. He expressly said “This is not the team I expect to line up for the first game of the season but it could be.” We all know TV5 isn’t the best left back, but the line-up isn’t LB’s preferred or predicted XI, just one that could IN THEORY face our oppo.
And looking at the pics of Poldi and Giroud on the sidebar just emphasises LB’s point: these are technically capable players, but they are also physically substantial. Not much Aleksander Hleb about them is there?
Having greater physicality in the squad will help us deal with the big lumps many other sides have. It’s worth remembering that we dropped a lot of points last season to teams in the bottom half/third of the division, and having physically stronger players to call on could easily help deal with that lack of efficiency.
(PS: I tried posting this remark a few moments ago but it disappeared when I pressed submit and I hadn’t done what I often do by copying the text first. So if this comment belatedly appears, you can ignore this version!)
Mo: BFG = Big F***ing German, or if you’re a connoisseur of Roald Dahl, Big Friendly Giant. Either one seems to suit Mr Mertesacker very well.
I think If we sign loris then he should be our first choice keeper as hes experienced and older than Szczesny and he would be agreat number 2 playing all cup games with loris league and Champions league. Szczesny is good and will be one of the best keepers in the world but not yet, he’s still young and although made a lot of great saves also made some sloppy mistakes and that’s down to age and experience. Hopefully we get Yan Nvilla and a replacement for RVP the traitor. I can’t believe RVP has stabbed Arsenal and Wenger in the back after having only 1good season and having a great club stick by you through his injurys and even made him our skipper. I’m pleased he is going he thought he was bigger than the club and he is not. I still think we should grab Vertonghen as he is another great player. With Podoski, Giroud, loris, nVilla, Vertongen and maybe Belhanda we will be a force and contender to win premier league and cups.
Morning all, well done LB in leading the discussion off in a new direction, your prognoses is I believe correct.
I have deliberately refrained from commenting over the past few days knowing the amount of angst and breast beating there would be in abundance as the faithful and knowing would struggle to get their point of view across.
Football is wonderful in its ability to rouse the passions of often the mildest of men, tribalism is of course key among supporters and many struggle to understand that players are guys just doing their job, however glamorous and fulfilling that job would appear to be to Joe average. Consequently as in commercial life there are those whose character and loyalties and job satisfaction, carry them through a working career, with perhaps one or two companies. Whilst others seek the main chance and value their self-worth above all else and have a CV riven with change as evidence of their need to chase the pennies. So in football ego and glory go hand in hand in the minds of many players and the gathering of reward whether in the guise of tin pots or material wealth is all the justification they need to jump ship and move on.
Sol Campbell above all else perhaps signifies this breed refusing to be transferred until his contract expires, thus allowing him to significantly increase his income by diverting the funds normally available to his ex-employer into his remuneration package, this didn’t stop him from insisting of course that he moved for footballing reasons, thus his jump from Arsenal to Arry’s footballing wonder team down on the south coast made perfect sense.
RPV has now decided to take the same route, sell me now or I will stay a year and clean up, he is 29 years old and worth they say 20 Mil, would I hold on to someone of that age whose desire to be involved has gone, you can bet Rasps house I wouldn’t, not only would I take the pennies I would start the car and take him there, cash on delivery please.
Two new strikers in, cash in the bank, two months to strengthen the squad and reward those that have stayed it’s a no brainer. Should Theo decide to go the same way, and with the Ox pushing from behind whom could blame him. Lb.s team above does not show Theo and in all probability he is right.So be it
So we continue to evolve and change and who is to say it is not for the better, as for our verbose second major shareholder, history has shown that opportunism has long been the standard characteristic of the Russian character why then should we expect any different now, especially with those hungry pot hunters of our own growling their discontent and prime targets for the condescending bullshit outlined in his farcical open letter.
I will remind you of your comments regarding Ferguson as the season unfolds.
Good post LB and is something I’ve spoken about regularly over the years…we used to frighten people but which players strike fear at the moment?
Believe it or not, the most eloquent account of what we were comes from Roy Keane who said of our ’97/’98 double winning side that “they had you beat in the tunnel – they were all 6 foot something, big, strong Africans”…I’m paraphrasing, of course but the first part of the statement is a quote…and the rest is darn close to what he actually wrote.
Ian Wright and Martin Keown had a little not-exactly-subtle code – when Wrighty was getting battered he’d ask Keown if he and whoever was smashing him could have a “cup of tea” in the tunnel after the game…it’s that sort of fear and aggression this side is missing! Not that condoning physical violence in the tunnel, you understand…oh f*** it, yes I am. No one fears us…throwing a couple of broken noses about might make the Boltons of the world think twice about trying to bully us.
At the moment we’re the red-headed stepchild of the PL (regularly pushed around both at home and in other kids playgrounds) – I’d like to see us become the powerhouse we were in the late ’90’s, early noughties again!
Thank you for the kind words
And especially for those of my attorney at 10.39; he is, of course, bang on as usual.
Power and Pace plus technical ability is what you need in th EPL. Even Barca would get ground down by playing a flat back eleven full of hackers every week.
Im ment against a flat back 11
The Nigeria match was always in doubt, right from the time the game was first mentioned. At that time civil unrest was a daily feature in parts of the country with churches being burned by Muslims and revenge attacks on Muslims by Christians. This unrest still smoulders on today.
Having carefully read Usmanov’s letter, I can find little to disagree with. He genuinely seems to have the best interests of the club at heart and clearly sees that a rights issue is probably the way to finance the improvements that he sees as necessary in the squad. It would be open for all the directors, and other shareholders, to buy shares and thus inject some much needed cash into the club.
Surely the two biggest shareholders should be, if not bosom buddies, at least on speaking terms.
Morning all, thanks for the post London – I can see what you are getting at and it’s certainly food for thought about our change in the type of squad we can expect.
I’ve always doubted whether our form of tippy-tappy could survive, or be successful, in the Premier League with the rough house teams and free licence given to the Stokes of this world to rough us up by the refs.
I have to say I am truly gutted for Nigerian gooners as the pre season match there seemed like long overdue reward for their unswerving support.
The exact reasons for it’s postponement are a mystery to me, but given that Man**e have been on tour to South Africa very successfully our inability to fulfil the fixture makes us loook a tad second rate.
Whichever the case may be arsenal will challeng for title next season
The post would have probably been more fun with the headline of manu we have you in out sites (sites) is that the correct spelling?
Anyway, that would have brought them out in their droves. The thing is they cannot see what is happening to them.
The effects of Abramovich hit us much earlier than the effects of Mansour hit manu.
Arsenal fans, reflected through blogs, went mad blaming everyone who could be blamed. The vast majority understand now the change in the financial landscape and appreciate far more the difficulties that Wenger has to work within.
I just wonder if manu will be so tolerant of Ferguson as he struggles to adapt.
Top drawer LB – I agree with every word … there’s a first 😛
I said in a comment yesterday that I hoped AW would set up the team next season to play to the strengths of our new players.
Power in the middle and up front with pace and hopefully crossing ability from the wings as well as plenty of wengerball to make us potent on all fronts.
Ramgun – grow up. This is an Arsenal site, none of us will be trolling manu sites just to find some decent blogging thank you.
Power, Pace and Technical Ability were the key ingredients of Wengers early teams.
The intricate passing was developed as a way to unlock defences that refused to allow us to use the power and pace.
We can’t forgo all the passing but we can mix it up a bit now with the squad that is emerging.
LB thanks for the post…I like what I’m seeing. I think Wenger realises if you can’t pay the top money for the most skilfully players (Mata, Silva, Nasri, Cesc, Hazard etc) you need to change approach. We are definitely seeing it so far.
Who is BFG?
Good post about Arsenal becoming a stronger more powerful side again.
Can’t agree with the Man U bit but at least I hope your right haha
the last 2 seasons have deffinately seen the poorest Man U teams for ages, although they still managed to win a league & come runners up in the CL lol
& although he’s not my favourite person I also agree with what Usmanov says in his letter.
Don’t think I would ever play Vermaelen as a LB & I’m not sure about BFG, he’d be on the bench.
Think we really need to buy a LB, Kieran Gibbs is so injury prone & I’m not sure he is ever going to make the heights of a Cole or Clichy & as for Santos, great winger but not a great defender lol
Would really like to see us get M’Vila in the DM as he’s a no nonsense big tough mutha f**ker, exactly what we need in there oh & he can pass pretty well
RA
Airtel is an Indian company. Usmanov owns megafon. Both companies are separate. Usmanov’s statement, even if it is true, is only meant to demean Gazidis. What is wrong with approaching ANY company to see if they would be interested in giving Arsenal money? Surely they’ll take the decision looking at their best interests. If Usmanov deems it not in the company’s best interest, you would also have to wonder why? Because he’s not in control of Arsenal?
Nigeria’s Sports minister said the pitch miht not be ready
am a staunch Arsenal supporter bt what am abt to say is good for the club.i think its now high for our club to let go all those players who dn’t want to commit their careers to our club,the earlier we take notice of rebellious players the earlier we offload them n better use what amt we get 4m their sales to acquire new players.Mr Wenger alwayz know that there are many players our there who want to be part of Arsenal family ,so those that feel the opposite let them leave
Sualisu – Big F******* German – Mertesacker
Thanks, Shard, 🙂
I now believe Airtel are big sponsors of Manyoo in India — and THAT is the reason for Arsenal pulling out of the tour match.
Just kidding ………………… it seems I have mixed up my ‘Air’ with my ‘Meg’! 🙂
Anyway, its all TA’s fault for agreeing with me!! 🙂
No RA..The real reason is that the only way to get our kits delivered to Nigeria was through DHL, who as you know are ManU sponsors. So we decided to pull out.. Also, the players didn’t like the taste of Malta Guinness. They were under the impression it would be Guinness, but more malty, and it turned out to be some non alcoholic kids drink. How unprofessional of us 🙂
TA..You agree right? 🙂
LB
We’re definitely moving back towards more speed and strength. The change started last season where we had some speed on the flanks again, rather than the more technical players. We’ve also added some strength up front now, and perhaps will add some in the middle of the park.
I disagree however, that the league table does not lie. It can, and quite often does. Especially where it concerns ManU. They’re performances, their team, do not justify their results for at least the past 2 seasons. Many won’t agree, but many will as well.
From a full squad, I would choose my line up as
Sagna- Kos -TV- Santos
Song- Arteta
Jack
Theo Giroud Podolski
BFG comes in for games where we expect a more aerial threat, and less of a fast paced attack. Gibbs and Santos are close in terms of ability. Gervinho needs to add goalscoring to his..ahem… arsenal, and he’ll be in my starting line up, with Poldi moving to the centre. Ox, isn’t far, but I think still needs to develop further to be in front of Theo. Diaby… I like him.. I’m just not going to count him as a player that’s available until he is. Even in a hypothetical situation, I just think of him being there as a bonus.
Oh left out keeper..but there’s no question about that is there.. It’s Szcz.. Being a showman, naturally he warranted a separate comment to include him in the lineup 🙂
Although there’s been, as you would expect, some chest thumping over RVP it seems most people have accepted it and are already moving on. Is that because we’ve all become so used to it now and we’ve built up a little immunity?
Or maybe it’s because the sane amongst us appreciate that no sportsman (with maybe the exception of top boxers) should be earning more in a week than the Prime Minister does in a year for running the country.
Top top comment from LB yesterday…if it’s not about money and only winning trophies then RVP should sign for Celtic! Love it.
I will prefer all the disgruntled elements like ungrateful RVP and inconsistent THEO to leave for ambitious players so that we can fire on all cylinders next season.
“I disagree however, that the league table does not lie. It can, and quite often does. Especially where it concerns ManU. They’re performances, their team, do not justify their results for at least the past 2 seasons. Many won’t agree, but many will as well,”
Shard
I like that; they really have been defying gravity for too long.
I advocate 3-4-1-2, since
(1) We have 3 international competent CBs
(2) Both our regular LBs looked more like LWBs
(3) We have 2 good CFs to share the goal scoring responsibility
(4) We have 2 hybrid DM/CM players who can defend/attack well
(5) The 1st eleven in this system would balance team defence & attack equally
(6) An almost similar formation (3-5-2) was used by the Italy national team in the EURO in their 1st match & their drew their game with eventual winners, Spain.
(7) Using this formation w/o RvP & Walcott (who both could leave this season or next with no contract extension signed)
(8) At the same time from (7), using whatever players with have at this point of time, disregarding more potential signings.
(9) Also from (7) & (8), excluding other players in so called “LIMBO” list: i.e. Bendtner, Squillaci, Chamakh, Vela, Mannone, Fabianski, Park, Arshavin.
(10) No “Star Players/Prima Donnas” required, just an “Indestructible” Arsenal team who play & fight for one another – a band of brothers.
(3-4-1-2) roll-call: Player (Primary position/Secondary position)
—————————-Szczesny(GK)
———————-Mertesacker(CB/Libero)
———Koscielny(CB/RB)————-Vermaelen(CB/LB)
–Sagna(RWB/RB)——————————-Santos(LWB/LM)
—————-Song(DM/CM)——-Arteta(CM/AM)
——————————AoC(AM/RW)
——————Giroud(CF/SS)——Podolski(SS/LW)
Subs: Martinez(GK), Gibbs(LWB/LM), Coquelin(RWB/DM), Ramsey(AM/CM), Rosicky(AM/CM), Wilshere*(CM/DM), Gervinho(CF/LW)
*I have placed Wilshere with the subs as he shall be eased back slowly into competitive matches.
We can also call up to fill in the subs: Djourou, Diaby, Frimpong, Miyaichi, Jenkinson, Lansbury & Miquel.
===========================
The latest news is that RvP is on Evens(50%) moving to Man City.
Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina) & Robert Lewandolski(Dortmund) are being discussed in meeting as possible recruits should RvP leave before start of new season.
Maybe, just maybe if both RvP & Walcott leaves, we could dream of getting Falcao (fingers-crossed).
Shard,
I like your theory @12:42. Don’t know why I did not think of it. Damn!! 🙂
Illy, I think last season did a lot for the unity of the fans behind the club. Losing Cesc, Nasri and then the poor start, but we found a couple of new heroes and eventually finished higher than the team containing Cesc and Nasri the season before.
spot on shard@12fiddynine.
jm@juan30nine- love that line up.
Malcontents are never good for any business let alone a team sport.
They create a great deal of dysfunction and distraction to those that are easily misled. They need to be moved out in order for the committed to fulfil their maximum potential.
I would far sooner see a committed group of players, working towards the same goal, than I would a bunch of greedy egoists.
I say ship them out…………….
Bloody hell JM, just as well you’re not the analytical type! 😉
I really like your 3-4-1-2 line-up. I would love it if we were to start with it.
Dandan: good to see you back with a very fine comment 🙂
Shard/RA: glad that is resolved now. Next time RA comes up with a theory I will check with Shard first 😆
Illyb: that was my joke and not London’s Best blogger’s 😉
Send R.I.P to Madrid and get cash + Joselu in the deal.
Get a playmaker…preferably a goalscoring one (I dont know why but my gut says Wenger might go for Gourcuff and revive his career, what say?)
Get a utility young defender….or keep Djorou and promote Miquel.
Aim to keep Diaby and WIlshere fit.
Szcz/experienced Goalie or Fabianski
Sagna/Jenks–Kozzer/BFG–Verm/Djorou/Miquel—Gibbs/Santos
Song/Coq/Frimmy —- Arteta/WIlshere/Diaby
Walcott/Gerv—————-new CAM/Rosicky———–Poldi/Ox
GIroud/Joselu/Afobe
In addition if injuries strike us,we still have many good reserve players …..Miyaichi can cover the wings and can get an Ox like oppurtunity once Gervinho leaves for AFCON. WIth the number of players in midfield, I xpect Ramsey to be loaned…but still can cover for injuries if kept, decent enuf player. Gnabry, Eisfeld, lansbury ,aneke can also cover for the injuries in midfield, but i hope we wont be needing them much.Personally, I am xpecting a huge season from Gervinho ,Oxlade and my favourite youngster Coquelin.
Enough of the tiki taka crap, get these physical players in, bring back our beloved counterattacking Wengerball . COYG !
From Arsenal.com
Denilson has extended his loan spell with Sao Paulo for the 2012/13 season.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who began his career at the club as an academy player, returned to Brazil last term for an initial 12-month spell during which he made a total of 47 appearances, helping the team to sixth place in the Brasileirao.
Denilson has played 153 times for the Gunners since making his debut in October 2006, but with opportunities for first-team football limited at Arsenal ahead of the 2011/12 season, he has returned to his boyhood club.
Everyone at Arsenal wishes Denilson well for his continued spell with Sao Paulo.
Dodgy Dutchmen, eh!
It would have been your ‘joke’ Total had it not been posted on Le Grove the day before you recycled it.
herbivore! 🙂 Good try! If you really think I am the sort of person who would read/blog Le Grove, you might as well believe that I was the one who posted it there in the first place! 😯
Hope you are well!
Herb
What is the joke you are refering to?
As well as can be expected in these testing times Total, thanks.
Once a joke is out there in Arsenal ‘blogland’, people can only ever recycle it, and whether you read Le Grove or not is up to you, but since you posted it a day after its first appearance, you can’t legitimately claim it as yours.
LB
the joke about van Persie going to Celtic because he wants to win trophies.
Van Persie in a mock up Celtic shirt would be funny.
Hi Herb,
I thought you were Spartacus, and YOU posted the joke, until I realized I was Spartacus and I posted it. 🙂
Actually, I’m not sure what the joke is, but if it is being recycled it must have been OK — so I will definitely claim it! 🙂
Hi RA,
hope everything is good with you.
I hope your right about thechange in approach LB.
I loved that game at Blackburn in 98…pace and power put us 3-0 up inside 12mins….finished 4-0. Title on its way.
I’ll go check my ‘facts’ now…probably be back in 5 with a complete retraction.
Just realised 98 was 14 years ago….where’d the time go….
Don’t even get start thinking about Mickey Thomas !!
I’m Spartacus 😉
Sharkey
For your facts the game against Blackburn finished 4-1 😉
From Wiki –
“Arsenal beat Newcastle United 3–1 to move within four points of Manchester United in early April. The return of Bergkamp from a three-match suspension helped Arsenal to thrash Blackburn Rovers; the team scored three goals in the space of the opening 14 minutes.[46] Manchester United’s failure to beat Newcastle United meant Arsenal went top of the league table after thrashing Wimbledon by five goals to nil. Victory to Barnsley and four days later at home to Derby County meant Arsenal now needed one more win become league champions, regardless of Manchester United’s results.[47] Although Bergkamp was ruled out for the rest of the season having injured himself against Derby, Arsenal strolled to a 4–0 win against Everton – the last goal scored by club captain Tony Adams in memorable fashion to become the first club other than Manchester United or Blackburn Rovers to win the Premier League.[48] A run of ten straight victories – a new record, was set, and Wenger became the first foreign manager to lead a team to win the league championship. Arsenal lost their final two matches of the league season, choosing to rest players for the upcoming FA Cup Final.[49]”
Love the ten straight wins bit.
Does anyone think that the last 7 trophyless years in any way diminishes the joy and fantastic memories that Arsenal have given me..?? No f***ing chance !!
About nigeria, i have been worried about us visiting because they have a MAJOR radical terrorism problem, and my nigerian friend here tells me that arsenals visit was going to be a huge spectacle for the locals, therefore, opportunity for a splash for bad guys. Who knows about intelligence reports, but thw postponement is very suspicious. Most likely safety concerns. Not confusion on the teams part. But the club would never say that. Im happy we are not going, but very sad for the amazing fans over there, who lose out. From the guys i read on blogs, they are super passionate gunners, and deserve alot of attention from the team
About the team, im feeling good about the additions, obviously, but i am hoping for a little more, maybe a new strong dm, back up keeper. I dont believe lloris stuff. BUT , IF Walcott goes also, Or song, We must not get caught without replacements at the end of the window like last year. We need to determine their future with us as soon as possible, and make arrangements before its too late. To get maximum return. And be in a position to bring STRONG replacements.
well done LB,
change of direction and when we kick off i want to hear the commentator say “what’s this?..Wenger has changed his formation…”
i dont believe we will buy any more players and going with what we have, i really really like JM’s formation at 1.39pm…on its day could be devestating..
JM, great taste in music…actually ‘disturbed’ and the energy they produce would describe my emotions in the last couple of…
Redders, long time bud, how you doing?
TotaAL, you can cut Arsenal from your name, but if you get cut i bet you still bleed red and white 😉
Kelsey @10.22am, i tend to agree
Yeh good memories from past successful seasons are always cherished & everyone has a story to tell 🙂
Lets hope we get afew successful new memories very soon
above is in responce to Sharkey’s 4.11 by the way lol
“Does anyone think that the last 7 trophyless years in any way diminishes the joy and fantastic memories that Arsenal have given me..?? No f***ing chance !!”
High five Sharkey, well said although i have lost alot of hair in the last 7 yrs.. 😉
Does anyone think that the last 7 trophyless years in any way diminishes the joy and fantastic memories that Arsenal have given me..?? No f***ing chance !!
Thank you Sharkey xxxxxxx
LB,
Excellent.
Power, Thrust and Intensity.
Cmon you Reds.
The Celtic joke was on twitter on Wednesday evening.
Peaches,
I replied if you haven’t already seen/decided.
Off to the pub.
Friday beer.
Yum Yum.
Arsenal will always give us lots of joy & pain, trophyless or not,
its just we remember the winning years with much more fondness 😉
LB,
It should be ‘sights’. As in rifle sights.
Tony 4.28 – bragging about still having hair to pull out…??
I’ll take your head of hair and trump you with MickeyDidIts’s. Oh you’ve brought in Simba the lion and his golden mane..??
No my friend you lose again..I give you Kelsey and his astonishing bouffant-ness !!!
Thanks for the correction earlier Bryan, and in respect of recent memories…its like LB’s great post states……..we see some wonderful things almost every time we play. Some are connected to a good result, others aren’t.
I guess its anything you remember fondly or makes you want to hit the rewind or record button when its happened.
When I think of some of the absolute shitfests that pass for football matches these days, I thank the Lord that I’m a Gooner.
Amen..??
Cheers Peaches, Tony.
No offense Tony, but I always struggle a bit with non distinct blog names such as yours, cos I never quite know if I’ve blogged with you before.
I tend to think – lack of effort. Same goes for you Scott, Bryan and….
No I can’t throw Chas in….he actually derived that name from his own…just for blogging 😉
I can throw that pole Evonne in though….I even gave her a couple of new monikers..but does she use them..?? No.
Sharkey, i was previously robbing your pursey (rURp)
Fark, i cant even say his name and a few days ago i loved him
call me fickle, but i have standards 😉
im in between monikers atm, waiting for the next player to sweep me off my feet 😉
where is everybody hiding?
come on Tsonga..lol (im joking guys…chillax)
Fascinating post LB. Its a question a lot of people are now asking, how do we combine our current style of play with the penetrative power of Pod, Giroud etc, This is another reason why i feel we win the league next year. There are plenty of playing ingredients to provide an explosive cocktail. i dont know how to make the thing, but ime sure Arsene does. Despite the loss of RVP, we go into next season with the strongest squad weve had since 2005. Expect a season were we do it against the odds.
Ime sure my old boss from the distant past would agree with the added penetration. He was a man in his late fifties who shared his abode with his Philipino house boy. He would always say to me “Terry my dear boy, in life you must penetrate”. Next season our oppenents will get penetrated for sure.
again dandan we differ !
what has kroenke or nazidis done to be your love childs..and again who has made the real money since the year of the dead 07..my friend the board have made bundles of cash..and it should have gone to pay off the emirates or invest in the team,instead we run a profitable business model…who does nothing for the football club…its time you wake up my friend..we are being milked by the shrude kroenke and his henchman nazidis..
usmanov in short tells most if us what we already know…
so my question…??..are you happy watching Our Beloved Arsenal going down the drain ,just so that some american businessmen and the board(Yes Wenger included)can make their quick earned cash
????????????????
its a robbery..and we all seem to applaud it :::
Terry, 🙂
Glic could help you out with an explosive cocktail recipe. His favourite is to eat plenty of baked beans, a soupcon of cabbage and about 5 sliced cloves of garlic.
Just don’t tickle him or it could become contagious!! 🙂
Lloris looks like he,s on his way
Afobe scores in England U/19 win against Serbia..they won 2-1 and drew their first game 1-1 with Croatia…France is the fourth team in group B
Hi VCC, 🙂
Does that make sense to you?
An expensive goalkeeper to go with an outstanding youngster in Chezney?
I am not impressed with Lloris as he looks skinny, shortish and suspect on crosses. I know nothing about goalkeeping, and I would be interested to learn what GIE thinks.
I hope, if it happens, it is not a recipe for tears!
Police tackling a massive fire at Van Persie,s house……they suspect Arsene
Hi Tony, 😉
Your new (ish) moniker threw me for a second.
I thought you had retired for the Summer and would be back when the friendlies started. Good to see you about!! 🙂
Buying Lloris is ridiculous unless AW doesn’t rate Sz any more. Considering he stuck with Almunia for so long and he was a disaster I don’t rate AW’s assessment of keepers.
If we’ve got £15m to splash, we should buy a midfielder.
🙂 CLEVER 🙂
Hi Red Arse…..Not a lot makes sense lately with Arsenal I’m afraid.
Why oh why if it’s true do we need to spend our money on a goalkeeper who in my opinion is no better than the one we have already (French maybe).
My patience is wearing thin, but I daren’t say anything against ……in who we trust on here. Mums the word Redders.
Hi Rasper, 😉
Very true! My feelings exactly, mon ami.
Did you see my love letter to you? Or more precisely my email?
Probably best not to look!!
Hi Redders 🙂
good to be back..hard to stay away sometimes, even when busy..
How are you travelling?
VCC,
I sent you a 🙂 because I liked your joke, but the WordPress gremlins must have eaten it!!
Hi RA, sorry I haven’t, I’ll have a look in a while.
inter milan are looking to offload their keeper Julio Cesar as theyve signed Handanovic from Udinese..
i would have thought he’d be a better fit for us. Cheaper, older, and experienced and won a C/L title…
Crazy to sign a 15mil rated keeper before at least offloading a least one of at least Fab or Mannone…
Rasp, you dont seem balanced…
what happened to your gravatar? 🙂
Hi Tony, I’m not on my PC … do you think my judgement on keepers is also unbalanced? 😆
NO definately not…im with you, 15mil on a flair midfielder we so desperately need, especially with the uncertainty of Jack and Rosicky’s injuries
VCC,
Apologies for my visual humour (?) of this morning.
I’d hate to upset a real Gooner. 🙂
Rasp 7:17. I’m afraid I don’t trust AW assessment any more, full stop.
I know it goes against the grain on here to dare criticise Le Boss, but if you remember I posted several days ago before the Euros that Van Persie had made his mind up to leave and that Aw knew……that is why he purchased Podolski and Giroud, do you remember?
Chas, I love you too…………but for the second time you did peeee me off a tad.
I still love you, off to the pub now to drown my sorrows with a fellow Gooner and Hammer.
Trouble is Chas…QPR are close to my heart.
Not as close as Arsenal though. He he .
VCC,
Sorted.
Glic,
Your parody of Vandemort’s statement was brilliant.
Sharkers,
I think you’re right. I could do with a distinct blog name.
Any suggestions from the floor?
VCC,
we don’t do grain here say what you want .I am leaning on your side in any case.
Hi VCC, yes I am also of the opinion that RvP had made it clear to AW and IG at that meeting that he was not going to sign a new contract. I think he was going to sign Podolski any way as that deal was drwan up before the end of the season, but the Giroud purchase was as a result of potentially losing RvP
Evening peeps
I dont really care what style of football we play, whether they are Tiny Technicians or Athletic Amazonians, I`m just going to get behind my beloved Arsenal whatever, no more heroes for me, Retched Van Judas has put paid to that, my Heroes have retired.
Lets take the names off the back of the shirts and make them all wear Red and White syrups, ” who scored ?”……. an Arsenal player, ” who assisted ?”, an Arsenal player, ” who we buying? “, an Arsenal player, ” whose leaving ?”, who cares, only interested in the Arsenal players.
chas
Thanks for the Twycross vid 😆
Back to the post LB.
To me it’s like a fairy tale but who knows. AW always says new foreign players take a good half season to bed in, so let’s hope he is wrong. I still maintain if things are going to chang in the way we play then the defence has to improve as a unit.
I also woudn’t under estimate SAF just yet.
TA – my apologies, credit where credits due. Too lazy to scroll back and check!
Hey Tony, what happened to Egor ?. 🙂
When I said ” Egor`s good for a start “, I was replying to your comment about bringing in Modric ( Egor ) , but I think you thought I was saying Egor`s a good new name for you !. Talk about crossed wires !. 😆
We`ve got enough hideous deformed AAers already, have you seen how many AAers are accountants ! 🙂
Thanks Chas
You would have thought that with the level of intellect on this sight (joking) that someone would have changed it.
How many of you knew that VCC is my uglier twin brother ?.
Who is Tony ?
RurP
Loving the edit king, whoever it may be. 🙂
Some people are in for a hell of a surprise next season. Everything as it should be. Look at LBs post and consider the new strength we have in our squad. Combine that with one of the most technical sides in Europe, then what do you think the outcome will be? Are the 2 Manchester clubs supermen? of course there not. There is a growing maturity about this current Arsenal set up that titalates me.
As for Arsene Wenger, nothing wrong with expressing doubts, but i have none. He is the greatest manager in world football and i bet you all of Cornwalls money that he realy fancies it this year. We are going to go real close to winning the league because we are good enough, wait and see.
LB,
It must be a f”cker having to get a post out everyday without having to edit them as well.
Terry,
I love your comments. With Stevie Bould adding the Real Madrid element to Arsene’s Barca we’ll subject every other team to our might next season.
With VanDerMort’s statement in mind, does anyone think that whoever we bought this summer wouldn’t have been enough?
I’d so like to read who the Dutch traitor thought would have been enough for him to stay.
Thats a lovely way of looking at it chas. Seriously, we have a great chance next season. I expect a lot of players to go up 10% next season. Thats what Arsenal is all about, improvement in individual players making the collective stronger. We will go very very close, and hopefuly nick it.
TMHT
I think we definitely have it in us to do it. There are still some areas we can strengthen, but of course, the real work is on the field. We’re good enough, but we have been a few times before and fallen short. Some of it is down to our faults (which hopefully will be addressed). The jokers in the pack for me, are the referees. I have seen too many blatantly wrong decisions go against Arsenal (and yes I know every club has them, but we have them more) and with 2008 in mind, I am scared to predict a title victory. We will definitely fight for it though, and as long as we give it our all, win or lose, I’ll be proud of the team.
Sat in the van early this morning and it was raining, listening to ELO`s Mr Blue Sky and reading my paper, The Sun, shame it wasn`t a Sunday, it would have been more ironic.
I`ve been to Truro, Falmouth, Porthleven, the Lizard, Marazion, Penzance and St Ives and the weather got a lot better, lucky I`ve got ahead that swivels like an Owl because all the totty was bearing flesh, It was wolf whistle mania, but hey ,I cant blame them, I`m one hunky bastard !. 🙂 It beats working, oh I forgot, I was working ! . 🙂
It`s a bit differant around Pendeen though, very bleak and stormy grey looking, real inbred country, they dont have window wipers on their cars around there, their offspring just use their tongues !. You know that film ” Young Frankenstein “, well they all look like Marty Feldmans hunchbacked “Igor”, I`m not even going to try and explain what their wives looked like !.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTw1lzxTAis
I must have met his daughter today, I`m a lucky bastard to have escaped with everything still intact ! 😆
I passed a few of them knockers today ! 🙂
I cannot see anything on Lloris – whose got a decent link?
haha, last one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZybFl_pfMk
*The shot-stopper says that he wants to join a big European club and with Spurs playing in the Europa League, Lloris might not be that excited with the idea of joining the London side.”
http://blogs.bettor.com/Tottenham-make-initial-bid-for-Lyons-Hugo-Lloris-a168738
chas
I will have watch that film again, I`ve forgot how funny it was, that last clip had me howling 😆
Cheers Chas, not much proof though he is indeed coming to Arsenal 🙄
I think an Igor prowling the technical area at the em`s would add something !.
My comment @ 8:59pm, the last sentence should have ended, ” what their husbands looked like “, but I suppose down there , ” brothers ,fathers, sisters , mothers , wives ,husbands, pretty much all the same !.
Cheers RobinUrTony…6.03
I was a bit like that when Sharkey Sure stopped playing for the mighty Arsenal…but I decided to let his legend live on by carrying the name forward (nowadays its in a ghostly fashion) 😉
SSG
Not you , but who`s ” Sharkey Sure ” ?, have I missed something in my time ?
Wayne Bridge on loan to Brighton, next time Theo talks about leaving for money I’d show him a picture of Wayne in the Chelsea kit, then the City kit and then Brighton and ask if his money has made him happy.
great post LB, i agree a mix is definitely needed. That midfield would be hard to beat, just a shame Diaby is too bloody fragile!
@ Sharkespeare
well said. someone said the other day that Arsene should walk into the dressing room and ask everyone if they really want to be here. It’s exactly right, piss off if you don’t (i’d expect a ‘dead poet’s society’ moment where they all stand out shouting their allegiance to Arsene and Arsenal).
I suppose that reference can be twisted also to explain how we feel about RVP also:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Together the team will galvanise just like the supporters did at the Emirates last season. In the words of TMHT: “the title will be ours!”
@ TA
cheers for the comment the other day, sorry i didn’t get back to you. My ideal AM is Julian Draxler from FC Schalke. 6’2, picked in the Germany team for the Euros, exceptional talent, highly rated. Stick him in there before he becomes another 30+ player like Goetze. He was linked with us a lot in January as a replacement for Arshavin. It seems they have a 15 million dollar price tag on his head though.
Have a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhhikRJCksI&feature=related
Spox says the youngster was watched by Arsenal scouts last week.
“I’ve read about this,” said Draxler. “That has made me very happy …”
PHW strikes back
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/06/peter-hill-wood-arsenal-alisher-usmanov?cat=football&type=article
Wow OZ 🙂 I like him a lot. Thanks! A bit young I guess, so one for the future, but lost of potential.
I read that article too GiE. Very decent response.
What’s your view on Lloris?
Draxler looks sharp Oz
I would not mind our team being build around English, French, German and African players, with the odd non-homesick Spaniard and loyal Dutchman on top of that. Looks like it is going that way anyway.
Night all 🙂
TA Haven’t seen him play but think it could be agent trying to get Spuds to pay more wages … “Wants Champions League” “Arsenal are interested” …. wrong time to drop Sz imo, you need to decide on a Number 1 like City did with Hart and letting Given go.
Hi Rasp. After my nights interactions, I am now convinced my info received several weeks ago was correct.
AW/IG new Van Persie was not going to sign a new contract.
The news was held so Arsenal could get Podolski and Giroud on the cheap before other clubs were aware we would be without a strike force, and demand more cash.
This chaps/fellow AA,errs is what our beloved club has turned into I’m afraid.
On a personal note, I have always told my Children, I would sooner trust a thief than a lier, because you know where you are.
Maybe, just maybe, we are being told porkies.
GLiC … 8:26. You crack me up. Hahahahahahahhaba
shard, oz, TA, GiE, chas, VCC, Sharky and my mate Cornwall, what ever happens, Arsenal will always be Arsenal, and with people like you they will never be able to take it away from us. We will win the league next season and it will feel great.
But whats much more important than a trophy is your desires and wishes. You and your kids will determine whst happens.In the long run, everyting comes out in the wash and i sincerley hope wonderful football, a semblence of integrety, and a feeling of belonging follows you in your Arsenal journey.
Come On You Mighty Reds.
Decent article 🙂
I’d say remove Diaby and put Rosicky in. That way we can play a 4-3-3 formation like when we playED AC Milan at home. Only this time, we have wingers with better decision making skills and better crossing. That way Giroud can finish with confidence. At the same time I’d like to point out that Song needs to work on his defensive abilities more. His partnership last season with Arteta was fantastic.
We used 4-2-3-1 for the majority of the season last year, which is a a more defensive formation then we usually play. It’s time we go back to our original style of play and bring out the Arsenal from 2007 (for example). We have the players to win silverware this year. COYG!
Rhyle……so if I read your post correctly, you are advocating that we need to become physical bullies both on and off the field…all 6 foot bruisers whose sole intent is settling ¨scores¨ with opponents by smashing them either in the tunnel or on the field?I gather that your next request will be for us to find some British ¨spine¨ and change our playing style from tippy-tappy pacey passing to a more direct, threatening, bruising and retaliatory form of Rugby as played by such model Football teams like Stoke, Blackburn and Fat Sam’s cloggers?
Yes, the great double-winning sides were tough in the tackle but that was then…the game is evolving towards a more continental style and while the Referees are not, we must preserve our Arsenal football…..the rest is all 2nd rate!
Can I make a serious comment about Jabba the Uzz please, because either a lot of our own are Naive in the extremus or they ain’t well informed?
1st Jabba ain’t an Arsenal fan I’ve heard it from his own greasy mouth that he supports Manu’er. o.k guys?
2nd I’ve heard it from his own mouth that he bought Arsenal shares to make money as he could only envisage the price of those shares growing and he intended, (so he said) to off load them whenever he didn’t think they’d make him any more money. o.k. you guys?
3rd Remember a while ago he proposed to make money available to the board so that Wenger could strengthen the squad? However his offer came with strings. Whatever amount of money he would make available, he wanted the board to return in equity. In other words if he gave £100mil to the board to strengthen the squad he wanted the board to give him 10000 shares in Arsenal. In other words he wasn’t giving anything that the board couldn’t get for themselves if they sold their shares (at the time Arsenal shares were £10K each) Surprise surprise His offer was rejected!
4th My last point is my take on Jabba; If he wanted to strengthen the squad there is nothing to stop him. He criticises the board in an open letter, for not having plans to spend beyond the clubs means.
He’s a billionaire! At anytime he could’ve said to the club and to RvP I intend to make sure this isn’t about money, (because I Jabba want RvP to stay) so I’ll pay the difference between the £80K a week the clubs offered and the £225K a week Money City’s offering. On a 4 year contract it would cost him the price of just one of Abromovich’s player buys for Chelski about £30mil, why didn’t he offer? Simples he didn’t want to give away £30Mil to a club he doesn’t support a club he’s only trying to make money out of.
He wants control of the club, sure but only because it would allow him to amplify his profits massively.
Hi Richie says…….I think you have hit the nail on the head. Jabba is Russian Mafia, and remember, when he has sucked every ruble out of his shares he will turn round and say, `It was nothing personal, it was only business’.
P.S. Re Drexler I watched vids of him in Jan when we were first linked. A very typical Wenger style player, already very technical and easily capable of playing one touch football. we paid £14mil for the Ox so why not €15mil for Drex? Bloody hell imagine a midfield attack of Drex Ox & Jack.
@Reddawn Mafia or not the one clear thing about Jabba is he’s in it for himself, not Arsenal!
richie says
Why not 15mil for Draxler?
Because we already bought a young German attacking midfielder in Thomas Eisfeld in January.
Great point about bridgy GIE
@ Shard I’ve watched Eisfeld live but he really is one for the future, My take on the Drex is he’s much further along developement wise already. IMHO Drexler is at least 2 years further along.
Finally off to bed guys I’m getting cross eyed.
richie
I was just saying it won;t happen. Wenger won’t buy 2 players of similar age, and similar skill sets. I’m guessing we were interested in Draxler, but deemed he wasn’t worth the money, and went for Eisfeld instead.
I think AVB still thinks he’s at Chelsea. Trying to bring in vert, oscar and lloris. The scum aren’t made of money. I hope they bring in Lloris because he would be a step down from friedel. He will get murdered during long balls and corners. No way in hell would Arsene bring him in, he wouldn’t spend when we had almunia, why would he when we have a good keeper already. Bring in an oldie to teach szcz the ropes.
@ Shard
He will be worth a lot more soon as he earns his way into the German squad. 15 now or 30 tomorrow, we should have learnt this from Goetze. I agree Eisfeld is a bit behind in his development compared to Draxler
OZ 🙂 🙂 🙂 86-84… phew
Morning all.
I totally agree with oz about a keeper, something that should have been addressed two seasons ago.Our young Pole is a great prospect but is still learning and he will want to forget the Euros.
I tried to start a debate yesterday but it fell on deaf ears.
We all support the club but we are all entitled to different opinions.The Russian generally is considered a bad bet for the club , the two main reasons being his shady past and he supports United.Kroenke isn’t known as Silent Stan for nothing, and I haven’t got a clue what his long term plan is, ooes anyone ?
Attending our games or not is not an issue for me.
Abramovich isn’t squeaky clean either and he wanted to buy Spurs not Chelsea initially.and I wouldn’t want him as our owner as he has huge expectations of every manager he employs.
If one wanted to be pedantic maybe Barclays should be examined to see if they pass the fit and proper test to be sponsors of the PL because a number of high employees have committed what amounts to fraud.
Going to back to the squad we have the ANC this year and Sagna is not going to be ready for the season start and by all reports Wilshere not until Xmas.
Then we unfortunatly have three players who are highly prone to injury in Rosicky,Diaby and Gibbs, do we have sufficent cover for them.
IMO there is more uncertainty in and around the club than it has been for years and there are many factors to explain this though it is remakable we have achieved.CL football for 15 or 16 consecutive seasons creating of course extra income.
Only now gazidis in his latest meeting with the AST stated everythig we already knew and he hinted that the wage structure was wrong.
RVP is a fine player and appears to be a motivator on the field and though none of us know him he was ill advised to come out with his statement.
Do we have player power at the club now as a few players seem to be undermining the very man who nurtured them in the first place ?
I hope we still sign at least two more quality players and hopefully finish with players who are not prima donnas but give 100% for the club and fans alike and play as a team.
Wenger is set in hs ways as a coach and I can’t see a dramatic change in the way we play.
I am not drawing any conclusions as yet but to me there is a lot to sort out befoe the season commences.
@ Tony
just shhhh it would you haha, bloody dean cox, absolutely despise him!
Interesting thoughts through the wee small hours.
I think there are a few who need to understand Usmanovs position as Richie puts it. He is also the only major shareholder suggesting dividends are paid. He is here for the money, let’s get that straight, he is upset that others have made profit but at the end of the day that is what he would want to.
He talks about repaying the debt but it’s not an option, commercial deals are finally coming.
Finally I am going to be writing a post on the subject of finances and wages but my underlying question is why do some fans expect others to pay for their ambition, they are behaving like a benefits cheat.
Morning, Oz, Tony, Kelsey, 🙂
Grey dank morning here in the UK! 😦
Kelsey, I wish I could agree with you about the GK position, but I cannot.
We do not need Lloris or any other such keeper.
Spending big money to put either him or Chezney on the bench does not compute captain.
Bringing in an ‘oldie’ GK to understudy Chezney makes no sense to me either.
At best he would be happy to warm his arse on the bench, at worst he would be an underachieving old git, who is good at sitting on the bench and useless if we needed him.
City have shown the way. Bring in a young talented Keeper (Hart), back him to the hilt and get rid of the oldie (Given) who anyway was not happy to just sit on the bench.
There! You have your debate!! 🙂
Peaches/Rasp,
I’m back on line and doing a post.
Hi GIE, 🙂
Some strong stuff there, and you would have to couch your argument very carefully to avoid becoming a hostage to fortune.
I look forward to reading it.
At least you have the knowledge and experience to put forward a cogent and intelligent case, but one of the comments in the ‘wee hours’ is so full of bile and scant knowledge that I sometimes wonder why I blog.
If any of you would like to read a very good article on Arsenal’s current RVP/Ownership woe, have a look at Des Kelly’s article on NewsNow this morning. It is excellent.
Ta ra.
Hi RA,
I didn’t imply to bring in Lloris but an established keeper of maturity to guide our young Pole, two years ago
What does everyone think of the David Dein-Wenger-Darren Dein scenario. Bizarre or is that acceptable ?
Morning,
Anyone think we should go back to 4-4-2? It’s worked for us in the past and there’s nothing saying we can’t change to 4-5-1 on European nights when the football tends to be more technical, we’ve got the players to do it.
IMO the 4-5-1 over complicates the game and relys too much on the CF and the AM to create. When these aren’t firing it can fall to pieces as we have seen on many occasion. It also creates individuals rather than a team collective, something that is starting to bite us on the arse! If we go 4-4-2 and someone gets injured then there’s no pissing about with box to box midfielders or defensive or attacking midfielders, it’s just a case of putting on a central midfielder!
It’s the perfect time to make the change with the players that are leaving and I think it would give us much more unity as a team, something we need right now.
morning Redders, sowwy but have to disagree..For me it depends on who the old git is as back up…
without being biased, i like the idea of Mark Schwarzer..he already knows what would be asked of him and would be happy to take on a part time coaching role as well on top of relishing the chance to get 1 or 2 games in the C/L, a dream for most players who are coming to their final days/yrs ala artettttaa..
its not in an Aussies nature to sit on their arse and not have a go….wait…who am i kidding 😉
all seriousness, he would be my first choice…Jussi Jaskalinen (?) is off to west ham and Green goes from Hammers to QPR, so there are not many alternatives…i dont like Gordon by the way
…..just sayin 🙂
Szscesny
Sagna Kozzer Verm Gibbs
Ox Song Arteta/Wiilshire Santos
Giroud Podolski
Redders, let me remind you that you bother to blog because, believe it or not, there are some fine fokes on here who value your opinions and voice of reason..
you will find dikheads in all walks of life and not just on the blog scene..for example my old man is a manure fc supporter and i tell him he is a confused dikhead everyday 🙂 🙂
ps excuse my french, i mean no harm
Unfortunately we don’t need a gk coach otherwise I’d go with your idea Tony.
I wrote an article at the start of last season looking at our competitors GK situation, I think I concluded that apart from Number 1s we were all pretty similar, Hart and Reina are clearly the standout stoppers amongst the top 5 and whilst Friedel had a good season and De Gea came good towards the end our Young Pole also gave us some match winning performances, as well as some uncertain ones. His best displays came behind a settled back 4, as did De Geas.
GiE,
“Why do some fans expect others to pay for their ambition?” is an exceedingly good question.
Very, very good.
Oz, Micky, its reported that ‘Oscar’ laughed at AvB’s offer and said “spudz, NO Spank you”
GiE,
Their arguement is usually that the one’s who do attend (I wonder) pay the highest prices and therefore have a “right” to expect.
Apart from the fact that I detest people who think they have a “right” to these kinds of things, the fact is that the money they pay (again ?) just about sustains a break even business model.
And a bloody nice model it is to. The ungreatful bassterds.
@ RA
yeah what Tony said.
by oldie I meant more of a Schwarzer type who would fight tooth and nail to play out his days and push szcz. Not a past it keeper who is happy to collect his money. At the same breath it needs to be someone Szcz respects otherwise all the tips and hints fall on deaf ears.
@ GiE
look forward to ready it!
GiE, i dont know what the situation is with Manonne or Fabianski but assuming they both want to leave are we happy with Martinez or Shea ?…both i have not seen by the way..
im very happy with WS as our number 1 but i would like a squad for the next season rather than just a starting 11
GiE, any chance of a link to that article…curious cat 🙂
Disagreeing with me is OK, Tony, but we need to be clear with what we are disagreeing about.
Let’s look at what I was getting at for a second, because it applies to what Kelsey said too.
Chesney is an excellent keeper who is, because of his relative youth, inexperienced. How does he get the experience? He plays. That is an inarguable truism, which applies to anyone, in any position.
Why, then, do we need an ‘old’ GK back up?
Is it to have cover for him when he is injured? Or is it to replace him when he is crap?
Either way, the ‘cover’ should be a quality GK, irrespective of age.
So, if a GK is worthy of playing in the Premiership, would he be happy warming the bench getting splinters while just waiting for Chesney to get injured, or to suddenly play crap?
Would you?
Therefore, what is being suggested by the ‘old’ adjective is to get a GK who may have been good in his prime, but is now past it, and not wanted as a first team player by any other club.
Would such a GK be good enough for Arsenal? Seriously?
We could have the circumstance that Chezzer gets injured, but don’t worry we have an ‘old’ GK, not wanted by a club elsewhere, to cover for him. Or, Chezzer starts to play crap, but don’t worry we have an ‘old’ ………………………………………………
Can you imagine the howls of anger coming from the illiterati —- and I would join them!!
@ GiE
I don’t think we need someone to replace him because as far as I’m concerned he is the best keeper in the league (the liverpool performance won us the game). I would just like to see him pushed a bit more, not to mention I’m assuming the don and fabs won’t be around much longer
Factfile on Julian Draxler (Winger) & Lewis Holtby (Attacking midfielder) – both from Schalke 04.
In Bundesliga 11/12:
(1) Julian Draxler (LW/AM/RWCM), 18yrs, 1.87m
30 games(2273 mins), 2 goals, 6 assists, Shots/game=1.1,
Pass Success%=82.8, Aerial duels won/game=0.5, MoM=1
Offensive stats:
Total Dribbles: 76
Total Fouled: 18
Total Offsides: 12
Total Dispossessed: 36
Total Turnovers: 25
Passing stats:
Accurate/Total Passes: 636/768
Accurate/Total Crosses: 15/53
Accurate/Total Longballs: 53/69
Accurate/Total Throughballs: 3/9
(Draxler’s character strengths): Holding on to the ball(Strong), Passing(Strong), Dribbling(Strong), Long shots(Strong)
(Draxler’s character weaknesses): Crossing(Weak)
(Draxler’s footballing style): Likes to play long balls, Likes to dribble, Does not dive into tackles
(2) Lewis Holtby (AM/CM/LW/DM), 21yrs, 1.76m
27 games(1929 mins), 6 goals, 2 assists, Shots/game=1.6,
Pass Success%=84.5, Aerial duels won/game=0.3, MoM=1
Offensive stats:
Total Dribbles: 38
Total Fouled: 55
Total Offsides: 2
Total Dispossessed: 51
Total Turnovers: 27
Passing stats:
Accurate/Total Passes: 824/975
Accurate/Total Crosses: NIL
Accurate/Total Longballs: 79/96
Accurate/Total Throughballs: 2/9
(Holtby’s character strengths): Crossing(Very Strong), Ball interception(Very Strong), Through balls(Strong), Key Passes(Strong), Dribbling(Strong), Defensive contribution(Strong)
(Holtby’s character weaknesses): Aerial Duels(Weak)
(Draxler’s footballing style): Likes to dribble, Likes to do layoffs, Likes to tackle
==================================================
Backup GK seems to be mooted, with “LIMBOS” on Fabianski (linked away) & Mannone (linked with Hull City).
(1) Jaroslav Drobny, 32yrs, 1.92 (@Hamburg), Czech.
32 games(2812 mins), Pass Success%=56.7%, MoM=2
Defensive Stats:
6 games w/o conceding a goal (18.8%)
55 goals conceded.
Total Clearances: 31
Passing Stats:
Accurate/Total Passes: 425/749
Accurate/Total Longballs: 237/542
(Drobny’s character strengths): Long passing(Strong), Saving long shots(Strong)
(2) Diego Benaglio, 28yrs, 1.94m (@Wolfsburg), Swiss.
32 games(2880 mins), Pass Success%=58.7%, MoM=1
Defensive Stats:
7 games w/o conceding a goal (21.9%)
56 goals conceded.
Total Fouls: 2
Total Clearances: 44
Total Dribbled by other players: 3
Passing Stats:
Accurate/Total Passes: 373/635
Accurate/Total Longballs: 229/473
(Benaglio’s character strengths): Long passing(Strong), Saving long shots(Strong)
(Benaglio’s footballing style): Likes to come out of line
(3) Ali Al Habsi, 30yrs, 1.94m (@Wigan), Omani
38 games(3420 mins), Pass Success%=53.9%, MoM=1
Defensive Stats:
8 games w/o conceding a goal (21.1%)
62 goals conceded.
Total Clearances: 30
Total Dribbled by other players: 3
Passing Stats:
Accurate/Total Passes: 251/466
Accurate/Total Longballs: 150/352
(Al Habsi’s character strengths): Penalty saving (Strong)
(Al Habsi’s character weaknesses): Saving long shots(Weak)
(4) Allan McGregor, 30yrs, 1.83m (Free agent, formerly Rangers), Scot.
Well, I have just read Oz’s comment endorsing Tony’s position on GK cover, so I withdraw my comment at 8:27 as we must respect democracy of the site! 🙂
Really going now.
where are my manners, morning all
@ RA
that is true and completely fair enough but what if it’s a keeper who dreams of playing champions league football or the chance of winning a trophy in his final seasons. He can perform admirably when needed (cups or injuries), heck he may even keep szcz out forcing him to improve his game. You are correct in saying he needs to play to earn experience but another old head around giving him pointers can’t do any harm, and surely better than having a confidence keeper in fabs who also needs game time (without it he is all over the show).
@ RA
haha your argument lacks one thing: Big words
if you had of chucked those in Tony and I would have been left scratching our heads whilst you ran to the finish line.
Debate ends: 2 to 1 (sorry GiE’s vote doesn’t count as he has goal keeping experience therefore knows too much!)
Well played Tony, a gentleman’s win, Hazzah!
oz,
i was just about to scratch my head and with GiE in the mix i threw my keyboard at the screen..thanks for being my back up keeper, i will only get better 🙂
Redders, have a fantastic day, you make a strong case..i just worry for complacency in a young keeper with no real competition…
I too forgot to Morning All……Morning All
https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/szczesny-arsenals-no-1/
There you go Tony
Oh ok then Morning all.
As the sun is shining I am off to mow the forest that has emerged from a few weeks of neglecting the garden. Waiting for 9am before firing up the flymo
off to eat, i made meat pies from scratch after watching that masterchef show last night….if im not back, i botched the recipe and…..oh well..
Great comment at 3.52 Richie.
Sun???!!!!!!???
That’s it. I’m moving.
thanks for the link GiE, im sure i’ll enjoy…
Read and enjoy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2169935/Arsenal-trust-Arsene-Wenger-Robin-van-Persie–Des-Kelly.html
Always sunny in Norfolk Micky….apart from yesterday when the heavens opened. Seriously though I think North Norfolk is the driest part of the country historically.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/ee/print.html
Good article GiE,
How can anyone not like the idea of referring to some of our “supporters” as “Justin Bieber fans” 🙂
GiE,
I’m not bloody well opening THAT link.
I pretty much guarrantee North/West Devon is the wettest place on Earth.
Before I disappear in my role as Taxi Driver, I would like to ask the Justin Biebers something.
I may lead a fairly insular life, but given that I’m not aware of any die hard Gunners Fans with a spare seven hundred million quid sloshing about the petty cash box, exactly what do they expect from their owner?
Right, off to get the old wheels going round and round.
Morning all 🙂
Chas, I have been thinking about a blog name for you (as per your request last night). What you do really well is make us hear, see, taste, smell football with your comments, occasional posts, and of course video links etc. Then, now and again, you post an outrageously funny/cheeky video that makes the likes of Evonne explode in rapture.
So taking this all in account, I have come up with the following suggestions:
1. Monster
2. Monster Arse
3. Raw Arse
4.Arsene Senses
5. Arse Sense (my favourite)
6. Or just back to your old avatar with Chasella.
What you think? 🙂
That really is a good article in the Mail.
GIE 9am.
Morning all
New Post ………………………