“Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.”
Occam’s Razor.
And so we have the Arsenal Uncivil War. The Arsenal way is no more.
Whatever the reasoning for two expected bombs landing in two sites occupied by the public, the inner workings or malfunctions of our football club have conspired to make summer yet again, the most foul of seasons for its fans.
I am all-too-often a person who likes to complicate and pick apart notions and ideas for that which looks worth explaining. But in this instance, the simplest approach seems the most appropriate.
Let’s break this down:
• The best players want to leave year on year.
• The manager confides in no one and practises the art of damage limitation to no great success (unless we include his marriage).
• The board want to make money – huge money, out of the club by completing a 5 year plan and selling at around a 75% profit per share. Debt free, Arsenal is an amazing proposition to a billionaire looking for a Man City toy in a prime area of London. (Inevitable if the current financial base incurs a further economic demise – relative to our competition)
• The fans pay the most in the world for their tickets.
• If it is to be believed, the fanfare surrounding the appointment of our CEO and our Commercial Director culminates in a cold-call exploring sponsorship links with a company owned by our 2nd biggest investor.
The club is a mess. The Arsenal way is an organised, yet minimalist mess. Wenger’s overgrown teenage affection for all things Japanese – (eg no obvious acts of rebellion, no aggression to one another, take your shoes off before trying to burgle my house and so on), is the only thing that disguises the torrents and rumblings that continue to affect our planning and consistency.
Now it is not all doom and gloom. But right now the 8-2 defeat feels far more resonant in my mind, than any decent result as I remember how the disaffected Wenger and his shell-shocked troops were dismantled and imploded last September.
What appears to be the case is that it is not all the managers’ fault. He has made the club in his image and the board have allowed this to happen. Wenger is a better PR, commercial director, product in himself, manager, CEO and economist than most people working in football. All this for £6 million a year is a bargain. But only if you work on the board of Arsenal FC.
So what of the rumours of Wenger’s and Gazides’ relationship? What has the Chairman done in his Prince Phillip role? What do the chairmen of clubs like Tottenham, Dortmund and Porto do that is so relatively successful, yet continually have to contend with the higher achieving clubs around them, (or conditions such as Spurs minimal pay scale)????
These questions cannot be answered by us and need more than speculation by ourselves. However, as I started this with Occam’s Razor, I might as well continue it. The simplest way is to conclude that many errors have been made in many areas. Some are directly attributed to judgement and capability issues from employees at the club. Others are down to the irregular and unpredictable nature of cash and cache. We don’t know when a player is going to ask for more, or claim to want success – but we sure as hell know it will happen. What prompts them to do it is usually a mixture of agents, media, personal glory and stagnation.
Theo for example is another player in a similar situation as Robin. However he won’t be offered what R$VP wants because his demands don’t mirror his erratic cache. But in terms of what the club stand to lose, it will be viewed and take a similar effect (though in differing amounts/impact) to the R$VP case. This will contribute to the detriment of the club (and have a variable impact on the performance on the team), it will have a similar effect on the issues that affect the management of the club and team. This might sound like waffle but it is critical as it suggests the need of a rather large change to the contracts of our players.
Parity in pay can only be merited once players have proved themselves. Parity that Wenger espouses is contradicted by the policy to sell tickets at different values depending on the opposition. These are largely part of the same value system and therefore need to be further addressed.
EG: R$VP is paid £100k per week. Theo £60k. Denilson £60k and so on. Now is Theo a top tier player? Is Denilson a middle tier? We know Wenger pays (and it is Wenger, not the club) players based on the idea that they will come good and wish to remain loyal. Nope. He knows but is he willing to accept this? Arteta took a pay cut to come to Arsenal and is now the fans’ favourite to be made captain. A captain that will not leave next year. Sounds like a pay-plan to me.
If dead wood gets shipped out and frees up a load of money, that shift can change the current pay policy without costing the club more. Then again, we can also purchase and pay more without costing the club too much more. We need to make the decision based on the supposed pledge that 75% of all revenues must be spent on player acquisition and/or retention. Is it? Is it really? Have we spend all that we amassed with Adebayor, Toure, Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and so on? Or do those sums offset the heavy price we pay for Diaby, Denilson, Chamakh, Bendtner, Almunia (RIP), Squilacci, etc? In which case, we need to take a hit and start again with a new pay structure. Future players need it, we as fans need it. We are like Status Quo complaining when Radio 1 decided not to play them again. Who cares? We were once important and within our own fan base we are important but the difference is that Arsenal FC doesn’t have to age, even if the Arsenal way seems a bit old and stuffy.
Now the claims and counter claims, rumours and so on will try to kill our summer. They will try to destroy all that the club foolishly prides itself on by sending out a PR message dressed like Miss Jean Brodie in a Playboy beauty pageant. Does it even matter how good-looking she is, if the myth and allure are killed by the ‘surface’ presentation? Or what if Brad Pitt enters a body building competition? Is Arsenal the embodiment of Feminism or metro-sexuality in a world of hardcore banking porn?
It says so much about how football is viewed by the players, agents and fans alike that an attractive and decent club with an amazing infrastructure, can be mocked and pilloried because they decided to adhere to an ever-growing, utilitarian view of football. Ticket = pleasure.
Do me a favour!
Usmanov has taken a chance to destabilise, as has R$VP. Wenger has hidden behind the board and CEO for the first time in a while. The financial damage to the brand increases every hour that nothing is said or done. But this cannot be properly felt in the ‘bubble’ that has been created for the players and the management. Occasionally, the businessmen of the board have to step out of the bubble and take a look around, because in the original Adam Smith ethos of economics, the ‘market’ exists for the people. But the ‘football people’ don’t seem to see this and choose not to cater for it at Arsenal. Not beyond doorsteps of stale bread with morsels of fois gras. Meanwhile, the rest of the league are bankrupting themselves to gorge themselves to a slow, medium or rapid death.
So my patience is a thin as Usmanov is fat. My reticence is fragile and my faith in those who control and steer this ship is more Costa Concordia than Victoria Concordia Crescit.
We can come out fighting. We can do damage limitation PR. We are not the royal family. Nor are we cream and will not ‘float’ to the fecking top. Our class may be as permanent as the damage done by our own staff, the media and the economies of scale. If we think big and pay little, we will end up hosting concerts and X Factor auditions to more people than football matches.
We do not need sea change, we need some change. We do not need billions, but we need hundreds of millions. We do not need more fans, we need loyal and appeased fans. We do not need to be in the know, but we need to know some truths. We put our faith and hope in the most ungodlike of people.
Our football will not be saved by two signings and a couple of loan deals. Nor will a farcical cancelled trip to Nigeria, which no doubt will still result in the website showing photos of ‘our’ Frank Stubbs posing next to an urban open gasoline pipe, a couple of Muslim-targeted churches and him hitching his way round the country blindfolded and gagged.
This is the time for political and financial change. But not revolution. Make the moves Arsenal but stop being so bloody British about it.
Written by fergalburger
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
This really is a fantastic site. Just saying 🙂
Provided you are not overweight 🙂
[…] 2 – The Arsenal Uncivil War […]
Fburger,
Is the post about PR, or are you advocating grabbing some cash from Jabba, or both? 🙂
Love this sentence, but haven’t a clue what it means.
“Is Arsenal the embodiment of Feminism or metro-sexuality in a world of hardcore banking porn?”
Rasp This is what I was talking about earlier. http://www.theweek.co.uk/football/premier-league/47901/arsenal-fans-back-usmanovs-call-spend-success
Wowee Mr Fergalburger,
That is some post. Thank you. Some truly memorable lines, and this one “Nor are we cream and will not ‘float’ to the fecking top” I’m pinching.
Off to think.
Oh no,
Please someone edit my Mr F. Genuine mistake. Sorry Furgalburger.
Haha, Furburger. 🙂
Thanks dandan, not only is that article extremely lazy journalism but it is also a misrepresentation of the genral view expressed at the meeting.
No-one was advocating allowing Usmanov to plough millions into Arsenal or saying he must have a seat on the Board. I’m sure the AST has no control over how its meetings are reported. I can only suggest you completely ignore the whole thing.
Its done Micky 🙂
FergalB,
I need to digest what i have just read.
In the meantime, Rasp asked me a question on a related topic, and as my answer missed the 9:30 cut, I would like to copy it here, before responding to your post.
Rasp: “Hi RA, would you prefer an American franchise system with pay capping and no relegation/promotion? That system basically protects the investment of the owner and it more or less becomes a cartel. I wonder if it you can say with your experience of US sport whether it also dimishes the excitement and competitiveness.”
RA response: @9:38
“Hi Rasper,
I would be very much opposed to the franchise system being imported to the UK, as transposing another culture just would not be right. The English system has developed over more than 100 years and is a tradition I much admire.
You are right, the franchise system is primarily for the protection of the owners, and profits are the name of their game. They can ‘buy in’ or transfer out the whole club as market conditions or personal whims dictate, with the whole club moving to another State or city, and sod the fans.
I have said previously that I am seriously smitten by an NFL team and an MLB team and have been since childhood, but I can honestly say that I do not give a stuff about the current or past owners of the franchises.
That is why I have been so intrigued by many football fans over here, in the case of the Arsenal ownership, with some choosing ‘sides’, —- “I trust kroenke more that Jabba” — “I prefer Usmanov because he is not so tight with his money” and so on.
Believe me, neither care a fig what the fans think. The next time money is needed (because FFP prevents ‘outside money’) the fans will feel the squeeze when the season ticket prices are increased.
Let’s face it, they know we are a captive audience, and hardly likely to go and support Fulham because it is cheaper, or give up football watching — and if anyone did, there is a waiting list of 40,000 to soon take their places.
Too wordy???? 🙂
Dandan,
With regard to this morning, I am not aggrieved, you are always polite, I was just surprised.
Pax vobiscum! 🙂
VCC, 🙂
Thank you for Glic’s address.
Mr. Fruitcake
Letsby Avenue
Stopatome,
Cornwall.
I will be needing a zip or postcode to go with that, please! 🙂
LMF AO69
FergalB,
I hope you are going to be around today to explain and enlighten us on many of the more abstruse points in your Post.
It is difficult to separate out points of fact from your own unsubstantiated views.
Where do you get the information for;
“The manager confides in no one and practises the art of damage limitation to no great success (unless we include his marriage).”
Making a personal comment about his private relationship is surely no part of this football blog?
How about “Wenger’s overgrown teenage affection for all things Japanese – (eg no obvious acts of rebellion, no aggression to one another, ”
AW has been plagued over the years by fans of other clubs maliciously deriding him as a ‘paedophile’ and your use of the term ‘Wenger’s overgrown teenage affection’ is totally inappropriate.
Later you say, “These questions cannot be answered by us and need more than speculation by ourselves.”,
— and then you go on to do just the and to add disparaging terms with liberal quantities of baseless innuendo throughout the rest of the Post.
I have no doubt you make some valid points regarding matters of concern for the faithful fans of the club, but they are so ensconced with the unfortunate terminology I referred to above that it is impossible to separate the wheat from the chaff.
I enjoyed your previous offering, but I genuinely regret to say that I am really disappointed with this. Sorry!
[You will probably find I am in the minority in my view, and that may give you solace, but I can only speak as I find].
Still digesting. Have moved on from the Milk of Magnesia onto the strong stuff
Thanks Chas! 🙂
You do have a penchant for comic genius!!
For what it’s worth, I think we’ve been trying to change elements of our pay structure for a few years now, paying good wages to younger players was a way of ensuring they stayed during the time we really couldn’t afford to replace them. We’re now moving the players on faster and mixing more experience with pace and power, I believe the change we need is happening but whether it’s enough to challenge our nouveau riche friends and whether it’s happening fast enough is an entirely different matter and the proof of that pudding can only be in the eating.
Red Arse am with you 100%, Though it Is mostly beyond my comprehension. Wonderfully wordy rant though.
RA,
I’m not sure FB was implying what you think in the Japanese comment.
Hopefully, its not what you think.
Oh God, I’m still trying to work out the Chas postcode 😦
Micky….
It’s a common text acronym for:
Laughed my f******ng arse off … I think you can work out the 69 bit for yourself 😆
Help me out someone, anyone? As far as I know I was born in Highbury London England (well thats what my papers say I mean I was there at the time but not all there if you follow) and have read and spoken English for over 50 years. Now here’s my problem I’ve just finished reading Fergalburgers post and I know it was written in the English language, but I don’t understand anything. I know I often don’t understand my own kids “they too speak English but its in a form thats often baffling” I mean they say things like “its pants!” which translates as being crapy. (an Americanism) So not understand kids comes as second nature to me, but now this today has me truely worried I mean I should be on solid ground, I’m on an Arsenal football blog. Its something I know about, its something close to my heart. Its not even 11:00 so drinks aren’t responsible but even so after reading fergalburger I feel the inclination to lie down in a darkened room, such is my state of confusion. I’ve read it, its in English, but whatever does it all mean?
on a lighter note
Morning fergalburger, thanks for another challenging and entertaining post.
You cover several topics. My view on the ‘parity of pay’ debate is that unless we are prepared to do man city type deals and accept lower transfer fees to allow the buying club to pay a big signing fee to offset the drop in wages the player receives, we will be holding on to the likes of Denilson, Chamakh and Vela until their contracts expire. This would not be good.
Morning all, an intriguing post F Burger with quite a few whimsical flights of fancy there; some of which I agree with, some not and some I’m not sure about.
Anyone been following the JT trial? hope he get’s found guilty, he really is scum(allegedly) 🙂
Cashley has just turned up in court to lend his wholesome support after JT supporters turfed the Ferdinand family out of their seats for the last 2 days.
Looks like I’ve been contentious. Yet misunderstood.
First point. Wenger had an affair with a famous French female rapper. The story was broken yet brilliantly managed through PR and deals with the media. What opposition sing though disgraceful, has nothing to do with it. The PR just shows that we are capable of managing issues better than we have in the last week.
All the other points raised through my conjecture are worth discussion. Training ground ettiquette based on Japanese rules of domestic and business culture.
Usmanov according to many is a pig of a man and acts like a snake. (unsubstantiated)
The point of speculation not mentioned is the 75% profit (speculation) the board stands to make.
I am not ever insulting Wenger and the need to defend him is unsurprising but a little territorial. But territorial over what?
Anyway, aside from that I don’t think I made any potential insults. I hope.
What about the state of the club right now?
I still haven’t really got a clue what this post is about after a second reading.
One thing I do know is the 5-2 comeback against the spuds is far more resonant in my mind than the Old Cowshed debacle. 🙂
I like the R$VP addition to the Na$ri and Cashley nomenclature but can’t enjoy it to the full if there’s any chance I’m going to have to support him in red and white next season.
…..”the simplest approach seems the most appropriate”
Thank heaven you didn’t choose the most complicated approach!
FB,
Did Wenger visit Japan when he was a teenager?
Sorry, like chas, I just don’t understand this post, FB
Chas, I believe what F Burger was alluding to was that he was besotted with the Japanese way of doing things in the way a teenager is besotted with his first love. It’s how I read it anyway.
I like abstract stuff and F Burger’s post is quite quirky.
Wenger’s admiration for Japan is akin to many teenagers’ that I work with.
Chas Arsene managed in Japan Prior to joining Arsenal
I realised that, Chary.
It was one of the points RA raised which hadn’t been answered, so I was prompting for an answer and now see that one has been given.
I realised that, too, dandan. But not as a teenager. 🙂
i.e. didn’t manage as a teenager, rather than me not realising that as a teenager. I’m off out before I get any more confused. 🙂
The point of the post was to emphasise how this part of the Arsenal fans’ life is precarious, prone to faith and hope as we are pulled apart by our own staff, as well as the desire of other clubs. It is the unexpected disarray caused from within. Sorry if it was too wordy.
As one who worked with the Japanese for twenty odd years, I have I suppose as much understanding of them as most, except our resident AA’er who has married into the culture. But still dont see the point.
Very well written post but since My wife is Japanese, it’s my favourite place and I was a samurai in a previuos life I must take issue with your generalization of the Japanese. I was in Tokyo in 1977 when there was a full scale riot in opposition to building Narita airport, There have been many protests about rapes by American soldiers. There have been protests to try to remove the US base from Okinawa. There is also a very active Japanese branch of anonymous. What you said is a bit like saying Black people eat fried chicken.
Wengers “affair” with the rapper is a non story as he’d already split with his wife.
Cheers FB, i liked the Japenese stuff. I think this is the reason why Wenger encounters so much hostility from the likes of ‘Fatso clive Allen’ and ‘Tango Brown’
i love Arsene Wenger, but i reckon if i was an opposing manager ide want to have a ruck with him. Its not the English way not to have a beer or a joke after the game, never mind not shake hands. I get the feeling Arsene would prefer never to talk to his opponents and that handshakes should be replaced with some sort of weird Sumo bow.
But again, this is Arsene all over. A man of principles who refuses to submit to the majority, this can only be respected. Strange isnt it? I can imagine Fat Sam for example fantasising about reigning blows on Arsene but at the same time yelling “I respect you so much Wenger arghhhh”, “I admire you so much Wenger, but take this right hander arghhhhh”
Good afternoon Fergal and all other AA’ers 🙂
Fergal, thanks for another tour de force. I have likened you before with Will Self. I used to read his articles in The Guardian and although they made me itch myself whilst digesting them, I always found I had learned something at the end. However, if I subsequently tried to explain to my wife what his article was about, I struggled badly.
Your posts are written in a similar vein, and it comes as no surprise that not everybody is getting the full value out of it.
I am not sure I did so either, but I think I got the main points out of it.
Although it would be very nice, we don’t really need those additional extra hundreds of millions. We need to stick to our guns, our beliefs, our values and not waver now. Cesc was a big loss and the imminent departure of RvP will hurt us too.
But, I think this team is now growing quicker bottom upwards every season than it is destroyed from the top, by the filthy rich enticing away our very best player (Cesc last year, RvP this year – forget the rest).
Wenger is now adding a different type of player to the juicy fruits of our youth policy. The likes of Mertesacker, Arteta, Koz, Santos, Podolski and Giroud will mix very well and quickly with the likes of Szczesny, Gibbs, Song, Sagna, Ramsey, The Ox, JW and Theo. Add to these players our style of football and Arsene’s genius, and I see the future very bright.
As soon as we become successful again, it will be easier to hold on to our seasonal top player, especially with the additional funds coming in over the next few years.
Why change now with pumping in hundreds of millions and succumbing to a way of running a club that is unethical and very likely to turn out to be unsustainable?
Finally, I agree the club could be managed better, and needs to improve its PR, but I don’t see these as a major problem.
Hi TA,
It is possible in English literature, and I assume other languages too, to string together a number of apparently meaningless words in a sentence which can have the readers scratching their heads looking for some deep, if obscure, meaning, only to discover it was nonsense after all. 🙂
As it is you, 🙂 I offer you a well known poem of incompatible words and meanings, which nevertheless conveys a sense of humour. Would you agree?
One bright morning in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back-to-back they faced one another,
Drew their swords and shot each other.
One was blind and the other couldn’t see,
So they chose a dummy for a referee.
A blind man went to see fair play,
A dumb man went to shout “hooray!”
A deaf policeman heard the noise,
And came and killed those two dead boys.
A paralyzed donkey walking by,
Kicked the copper in the eye,
Sent him through a nine inch wall,
Into a dry ditch and drowned them all.
(If you don’t believe this lie is true,
Ask the blind man — he saw it too!)
Will Self? Are you sure? 🙂
great read thanx fb.
Hi RA, that is a beautiful poem! 🙂
I saw your earlier comment, and it befits an accountant like you to zoom in, quite rightly, on the truthfulness of some of the expressed opinions in the post.
I think I got the bigger picture but still decided to zoom in on one or two elements of the post in the end. I think the post is very well written but hard to digest.
Changing topic slightly, if Afellay really is available for around £6m we should snap him up.
Fergal,
After struggling through the first few paragraphs of your post I almost stopped reading (I sure wish that I had) but foolishly I forced myself to read the entire self opinionated and wildly exaggerated rant.
In the end I realised why;
a) I disliked the post.
b) I disagreed with the vastly majority of the post.
c) I must have supported another team for the past 65/66 years.
the reason was simple I don’t understand, and dislike reading
“Glory hunter English”
If anyone was ever confused about the meaning of juxtaposition then Arsene Wenger has an affair with a rapper should clear it up.
Afelly is not a number 9 so I think it is right to say that he plays wide left so I assume he can play wide right as well.
Wide left?
Wide right?
We have a veritable glut of players who can play in those positions.
There are some seriously weird statements in there
Less weird, because its so common, but not necessarily true is the part about the best players wanting to leave every year. If you are talking about Cesc and RVP, then fair enough. And both are very different circumstances. Who else has been our best player that has wanted to leave?
the inner workings or malfunctions of our football club have conspired to make summer yet again, the most foul of seasons for its fans. – The inner workings of the club have got us the top scorer in France, and a 100 cap German player. Anything foul hasn’t come from the club.
There are others too, but I do not understand the logic behind the statement that “Parity that Wenger espouses is contradicted by the policy to sell tickets at different values depending on the opposition. These are largely part of the same value system and therefore need to be further addressed.”
How is the pay parity in the team the same as paying the same for different opponents? Makes no sense to me.
The club is not a mess, minimalist or otherwise. It is in a state of flux, but far less than most of the football world is, and such that is, is due to instability outside. Not in the internal dynamic of the club. The pay structure has been debated and decried, and even explained very many times. We all agree that now, it needs to change. The PR stance. I’d prefer specifics. What are we to do to counter negative publicity or perception? I agree the club should do SOMETHING about it, but I have no idea what can be done.
LB,
DO we? I see it as one of the areas we need to strengthen in, unless RVP stays, and Podolski plays on the flank.
GunnerN5: “Glory hunter English” – I’m sorry you’ve lost me there, or perhaps that was intentional ? If so, I apologise for being a thicko.
The best position for Afellay would be in the hole and as such he would fit well at Arsenal. He can pick a pass, has got a good shot, is not bad defensively, and has a good touch. Technically a very fine footballer, but there might be issues with his temperament/ ability to fit into a group (going by recent issues at PSV and the Dutch national team), and I am not sure whether he has enough stamina for the PL.
I would have him though, especially for 6 million squidelickers!
Well that was easy on the eye. Since my new Redders induced ” Super Quality” intelligence everything is looking so simple and I`m currently in middle of inventing Time Travel, haven`t finished yet because if I had, I`d be on here telling you how we won the league this coming season..ooops !.
I would try and explain FB`s post to you, but being a cockney who has lived in Cornwall for 20 + years I am completely un – un derstandable.
As for John Terry . This man is a liar, an adulturer, egotistic, actually he is prime politician material. A new party is born, ” I am your new ConservaTerry candidate “, vote for me and I wont shag your wife ” !.
Off plant hunting.
PS
Great Post Code chas. We are deffinately on a similar wavelength !. 😆
Love the poem RA 🙂
I still cant get why RVP wants to leave. Alright, people will say he can earn a lot more dosh and increase his chances of silverware at somewere like City, but what does that mean?
Surely the whole idea of winning trophies is a great feeling of personal acomplishment both as an individual and within the team. No one can tell me he will get the same satisfaction from winning at the likes of City compared to Arsenal.
As for the money, its not like me or you moving jobs is it? Money shouldnt be a factor for a guy as rich as him, or am i been naive?
i must say i find the RVP situation unsettling. If its not all about money is there something within our club we are not aware of? Why do players not seem to give a shit anymore? Were is the loyalty, the affection, the harmony?
Sorry for all the questions, maybe i should write to dear deidre?
Rasp, luckily he is mainly right-footed 😉
Hi Terry,
Who can tell?!
Maybe it is just for the money and/or he simply does not believe Arsenal are capable of making the final step upwards – based on his conversations with Wenger and Gazidis. Or maybe he just wants to play for another team in the latter stage of his career.
Whatever it is, it’s a kick in the teeth that he clearly seems to be engineering a way out before his contract comes to an end.
FergalBurger…..I’m with others that are at a loss to see where this one is coming from.
Although dotted throughout are some cleverly crafted lines I am not sure there was a beginning middle and end.
But well played for writing, in these lack of news times it’s difficult to get the inspiration to write about anything..so a confused rant is as worthwhile as another article on Deadwood players or Summer targets.
If I read right the overall tone is that of “evolution not revolution” and overall I think that’s what we have actually seen over last couple of years.
Regarding Afellay I thought he was friendly with RvP, would his signing convince the latter to stay or will the latters departure have any effect on the lad wanting to join. Think he could do good things…..but…..aged 26 and without that much experience is he a good or bad choice? I actually thought he was much younger.
My dear TerryPerson,
You are clearly suffering from unrequited love.
Do not be so hard on yourself, and do not despair, somewhere out there is a wall for you.
Do you have a close friend who could advise you in the social etiquette of wall flower arranging, or perhaps to introduce you to a possible attractive wall who does not mind syrups?
Nil desperandum mon petit pois — there, there.
love, Dierdre xx
The picture of Santos and Arteta smiling together is just great!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/44083/arsenal-back-in-training-picture-special?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
Hi TA,
Maybe if i wrie him a letter he might stay. Something like this.
Dear Robin
Please dont leave, you are my bestest player ever. i love all the nice goals you score and you have a beautiful way of running. you also have lovely hair. I have tried to model my hair on you, but it hasnt worked. My wife says its weird that i like you so much but she dosnt understand the pleasure i get from seeing you. One time you scored a realy cool goal and i almost started crying because it was so sexy. I tried to run on the pitch when you scored against totnumb last year but some nasty policeman hit me on the head with his truncheon.Afterwards i got a letter from Arsenal saying that i was banned from going to matches so i now have to watch you on TV. So please dont leave Robin, forget the horrible things other people are saying about you, they dont understand you like i do.
Lots of love
Terry
P.s. can you ask them to lift my ban. And at matches can I sit next to you when you are in the dugout?
Thank you auntie. hahahaha
Hi TMHT, I agree winning with Arsenal would give greater satisfaction than winning with City. If we dissect that statement, however, we get at the gist of the whole “ambition” argument. Here’s how I think it goes:
1) Why would winning with Arsenal give greater satisfaction? Because it would be quite an accomplishment to prevail over teams of expensive talents.
2) Does that mean that Arsenal don’t have the talents to win? Not necessarily, it could be that Arsenal players are great but unrecognized at the moment. (And note: RvP is in a better position to judge whether Arsenal have sufficient talents than the typical fan.) There is no denying, however, that Arsenal don’t have many recognized (read “expensive”) players, and like it or not, it’s hard to shape a group of young and “bargain” players into a winning team.
Thus, we think it would give greater satisfaction to win at Arsenal because the challenge is greater. But perhaps RvP has made the calculation and concluded it would be impossible, which would be quite disappointing.
Myself I enjoy supporting Arsenal for many other reasons than winning trophies, but apparently RvP feels differently.
amendment to the above, “…that is, if RvP really isn’t leaving because of money.”
Thanks TT, Great post. Lets not worry, once he gets my letter hes bound to stay. hahaha
🙂 TMHT, I’ve always wondered about the “Hair Transplant” part of your name, and now I know.
I see Afellay more as a right sided attacking midfielder/playmaker.
The main worry is with his injury record. He’d be a perfect replacement for Rosicky/Benayoun
I don’t really have much to add to the RVP debate, as most people have made up their minds and are unlikely to change them at this stage.
I have no problem with Van Persie going. Players from all parts of the world, and from every club in every league have their contracts bought and sold. That’s how we got him in the first place.
That aside, I think the Perse has been unlucky to have spent so many years at Arsenal, becoming a star at the end of a wonderful epoch with the “Invincibles” team, and at the beginning of an era of austerity caused by the new stadium build, and compounded by the rise of the filthy rich oligarch clubs.
Bit like Andy Murray really. Playing great tennis when there are three other fabulous players like Djokovic, Federer and Nadal means that he is unlikely to ever win a ‘slam’.
The Van Man might be thinking that he remained faithful during a trying time for the fans as well as the manager and the team, and feels after eight barren years it is now time to look out for himself in trophy terms.
I have every sympathy for that thought process (altho it is only conjecture on my part), and the only thing I think he and his advisors have messed up is the way they have handled things.
So he has infatuated Terry and realistic RA on his side!! 🙂
If anyone wants to beat us up for that — take Terry, that will give me a chance to leg it!! 🙂
Rasp,
I would have Affellay in a heart beat, and, as you say, he would be an excellent right sided attacking midfielder/playmaker.
At £6m pound he is worth a gamble. I’ll put a tenner in the pot!! 🙂
Redders, hahahahaha
Terry,
I am quite worried about the Glicster.
He is always coming on AA for two minutes, makes me laugh and then buzzes off to play poker with the grand kids.
Rumour has it that he keeps losing and owes them a million chocolate candies!! 🙂
Do something, oh, telescope guru!!
Agreed RA, didn’t RvP say that Afellay was the type of player he really enjoyed playing with? – wouldn’t that be good if Afellay came in just as he was leaving.
Redders, no problem. I will send him a message, bit like the one to RVP. hahahaha
RA..Murray c’mon unlikely..well how about him not being good enough much like The Arsenal at the moment,what could Murray do to get better ? firstly get e new coach its pretty clear that he have not improved in a while…much like Our Beloved Arsenal..to blame others for you own shortcomings is at best stretching the truth…
van persie..what a joke of a socalled man…get rid !!
ive always wondered who would gain from Our move to the Emirates and now it has become very clear..lets see how much hilly woody and the rest makes…and i really should have said how much they have already earned selling up to that hollywood looker 😉
Finally Fergal Burger..great post and spot on….
if you look at gazidis work..one have to wonder he proves over and over again that he is not the right man for The Arsenal…
for Gods sake bring in Usmanov !!!!!
…… I’ve just seen that GiE made the same point about the Afellay/RvP partnership
It is all really simple, I have first hand knowledge from Mrs VP. Throbbin can only ejaculate when he hears the sound of a Fire – Engine, thus his proposed move to Moss Side ( Pent house next door to Fire Station ) !.
A million chocolate bars is nothing to the Willie Wonka ( carefull ! ) of Cornwall !.
This is interesting until i reach “the quote about nigerian muslims targeting churches”.you see fergalburger,if u know very little or nothing about a country and it’s people, i’d prefer u keeping quiet about their internal happenings.maybe it will strike ur ego to knw dat there are more than ten different occations,ranging from a christian dressing as a muslim jst 2 bomb a church 2 others claiming to have a problem wit the church,where christians were caught red-handed attempting to bomb a church.dnt be one of d succes of the media trying 2 implicate nigerian muslims.jst concentrate on ur arsenal dealings pls.
hahaha, Cornwall if fire engines sounds gets him going then he will be close to death within one day up there. I hope he will be alright with the ambulence siren when it goes to pick up his drained body?
It`s OK Terry, I have had your ban lifted, the one at the Harlow night club, one rule though, no more turning up as Theresa Mancini the Telescopic Trannie !.
😆 Who cares Terry, look on the bright side, he`ll be too drained to score when he wants to !.
Hi Terry 🙂
Why don’t you do a poem for him?
With doing a runner
You have upset this Gunner
Give me some good reasons
You wanna leave after 1.5 good seasons
Once I loved you, boy wonder
but now I feel like thunder
I am struck with grief
Ever since you announced to leave
Is it for money, is it for glory
Or is it for some other story?
Whatever it is, it cannot be right
It is time for you to see the light
Can’t you see
There’s no club like Arsenal FC
There is still some time to say you saw it all wrong
That you got your knickers in a throng
That you had the wrong sort of cake
And made your life’s biggest mistake
That you will swear on your children and your wife
You want to be a true Gunner for life
A true Gunner
Does not do a runner!
Right, back to watching cartoons, which reminds me, I was watching a programme the other day when glic jnr walked in and asked me , ” what you watching dad “, I said, ” something about an old fairground and someone who chases kids about wearing a mask “, ” whats that jnr replied, Scooby Doo ? “, ” No”, I said, “It`s a documentry on Michael Jackson ! !.
Thanks for lifting the ban Cornwall, but i wont go if i cant wear my racey frocks hahaha.
Lovely stuff TA……..still gona send him that letter though. hahaha
Hi TomS – I was watching a documentary about an island you visited last year, Svalbad, and was looking out for a gooner in the background.
It was about astronomers going there to catch the transit of Venus – they went to Ljongyear(?) and even that had an other worldy quality.
Definitely Terry – let him have it! 🙂
wages? pay parity? money? This sums it all up…
http://www.7amkickoff.com/2012/how-much-money-would-it-take-to-bring-arsenal-level-with-the-big-spenders/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+7amkickoff+%287amkickoff%29
“Punters joining bwin.com today can claim a free £20 bet and placing it on Van Persie to be a City player by September 4th, 2012 would offer a return of £40 if the transfer does materialise”
That shows they are sure RvP won’t go to Shitty. WHERE then?
wordpress is rubbish
Who does he play for, GM?
Any news on that Pyang N’Dang’s trial?
RA,
He’s having a trial with us?
I posted 2 tweets about terry in court today and they didn’t show up so I reposted them and it said duplicate etc” They still aren’t here.
Basically the QC asked terry ” how many times you’ve been sent off?” could you tell us please? 4times?
terry actually answered “please please please please”.
Morcambe and wise would be impressed
the away kit really is awful.
http://www.arsenaldigitalcatalogues.com/away-kit-2012-13_aak396/
Click the “quick view” link on the top right
Sir Chesneys pink kit is a speciaal “world pride” one
Micky,
Yes sort of, actually I misrepresented his name, it’s M’Baye Niang, and apparently there are other clubs interested in him.
He is only 17 but seems a good prospect from what I have read.
Ok sorry I haven’t been around very much. I was taking a school trip to London Zoo and trying to keep up with what was being said without much luck.
I will try to make a few points clearer. First. The whole idea behind huge post was to emphasise the mess the club has got to clear up seems to be at total odds with the Arsenal Way. The idea of us having class yet washing our laundry in public smacks of irony. (unless the class Arsenal claim to have is not the inferred upper class and something all together different).
Second Wenger’s affair and marriage problems predate his official bust unveiling and his break up according to those I have spoken to who are working within the media rather than football. Those being papers/outlets who were asked to withold the story and not break it in the UK.
The reason for the PR point was to state that we can approach pre season in a more direct and forthright manner than being food for the media and other football clubs.
The points about the board and commericial deals was because they are the real mess behind the clubs financial issues. We face punishments for paying off loans early but that does not stop us exploring commercial revenue and so on in a manner much more appropriate to our existing and future target audiences.
With regards to the Japan comment, in Japanese culture no one is allowed to question authority in public for the good of family or business. Obviously these rules are there to be broken as RVP and Usmanov showed. The teenage/Japan comment was me chatting rubbish and a poor analogy.
The bubble football exists in is very real. Maybe not very well written but explains the disconnect between the players/marketing depts and the fans. Unless some of you feel there is no disconnect, in which case I’m not surprised I’m not agreed with or understood.
The Nigeria comment was a stereotype yet deliberately vague and based on media reportage in the UK. For anyone to be offended I apologise but might question how much free press you have that isn’t spun and corrupt compared to the UK. As we have been admired for so long for our press here, the damning Leveson enquiry shows just how poor our standards are. I know that in Nigeria the desire for a free press is large but not remotely satisfied. That is not open for question as far as I am concerned.
In terms of the Concordia points, just hyperbole. Sorry. It looked nice.
In terms of the change needed it starts at the board but not necessarily the existing board. That is going back to the mess we are in again.
In terms of best players leaving, it has always happened as the Arsenal Way made us open to vultures. I accept it.
In terms of parity of pay, Wenger sought to close the gap between the best and worst players at the club to create a capitalist with a conscience structure. It failed and we cannot ship the dead wood without paying them off the money we tried to save.
In terms of ticket pricing, to claim that some games will be better than others and therefore charge accordingly suggests a different viewpoint. If games are of a different calibre then maybe the players should be paid less for the cat b and c games. Now wouldn’t that be a drama?
In terms of change, much smarter people than myself have been deliberating that for years.
In terms of being so British, we are generally a slow and reactive nation and rarely get off our backsides to be proactive. Building the stadium was meant to be and will be. Buying 2 forwards was also proactive. So I give credit and have not blamed Wenger for much.
In terms of doorstep stale bread and fois gras, I mean RVP playing with chamakh and park. In terms of other clubs gorging themselves, I mean Leeds, Bolton, Portsmouth, Everton and Manu more. To be fair to them, they are all trying to find a way out of the fantasy financing.
Anyone else I have confused and or offended I hope this appeases or explains some of my opinion. In terms of the likes of GunnerN5 you like meat and potatoes. I served up chorizo and prawns. I might have cooked it like shit, but you took one look and threw the plate on the floor. A man of your age needs to know when to stop having tantrums.
FB
Just catching up; was pleased to see a post had been written by someone I’d not seen here before (I guess fergalburger’s previous effort came while I was bunking off from AA duties).
But what I understand of the post I disagree with. I’m sorry to say that, as I very rarely slag off posts by someone who has taken time to write something, but I can’t in all honesty say I got anything out of it. And comments like the cheap jibe about Nigerian Muslims are out of order.
The main point appears to be that the Club is a bad state. I see no evidence of that at all. Of course it’s disappointing when our best player has his head turned by the moneybags teams offering the chance for him to cash in for his final big contract, and have a better chance of a trophy or two. But shit happens, developments like that don’t mean the Club is badly run.
Personally, I think the Club is generally very well run, far better than pretty much every other big/biggish club in England. If anyone thinks the Club could have done better in managing the enormous task of building a new stadium on time and on budget, financing and refinancing it on incredibly good terms, and undertaking three major pieces of urban redevelopment, all while still running a football club that gets CL football and gets to the odd final, and while the sheikhs and oligarchs turn the football world on its head and the global economy goes into meltdown, is living in cloud cuckooland. Sure, I have the occasional gripe (e.g., Usmanov should be on the Board), but I can’t help but find ridiculous suggestions lacking in evidence that the Club is poorly run.
FG
Wenger and his wife had split amicably 2 years before they made it public as far as I’m aware. The story died a death as it wasn’t a scandal. He can shag who he wants. For a man of his age I think he did well. She’s quite fit. the press also said she was having his baby.
I wasn’t offended FG. I don’t understand a lot of the post TBH.
RVP has never played with Park and hardly with Chamakh but I know what you mean though. The fact that he would be playing with Poldi and “king dong” Giroud would fix that I would have thought.
robin is gone and he’s a wanker.
Who cares who Wenger has sex with? Has this become Heat Magazine??
Fergalburger, at the time they were signed, the commercial deals were lauded as being astonishingly good. They were long deals so as to ease the financing of the stadium, and the Club therefore benefited from them in a way it couldn’t if it had only signed short deals. Now that we’re through the financing, it’s possible to get back to the market.
And the policy on salaries was a way of achieving squad stability for a time over which we couldn’t afford to be spending much in the transfer market. It was a good idea and served its purpose. It has also served its purpose and we can wean ourselves off it now. But it takes time to work everything through the system.
I agree. Who cares who Wenger has sex with? I don’t. And it was perfectly well managed. Let’s not make a point of the sex but the PR.
In terms of the mess within the club, I think it exists, others don’t. Fair enough. Both sides can be equally celebrated and condemned. I don’t think the mess denigrates what is already in existence that we revere. But I do think it could have a damaging effect on future partnerships and signings. I don’t want Usmanov on the board. I want great fan voice on the board.
In terms of me being a ‘glory hunter’, I didn’t see that til now and will savour the first time of that comment being thrust my way.
The problem with football love and jn this case Arsenal, is that everyone wants to own a piece of them and/or claim some kind of special two way relationship. It is one way all the way. I like that and I’ve grown out of protecting them. They can look after themselves.
Fergal, your post seems to have attracted a lot of criticism, which is very unsual for this site. I dont agree with most of the content of your article but its good to read different perspectives.
Also, in general, the way you have handled your responses is to your credit. Well done Sir.
What odds can I get that John Terry has a Red robe underneath his suit and a Wig stuffed down his speedo`s ready to jump in at the end of the trial and fine or sentence himself !.
Personally , I think his punishment should be a Prostate examination by Dr Abu Hamza.
Who cares who Arsene has sex with ?.
Well, If one of his many persona`s is that of a Catholic Priest who like`s to dress up as a Magician and say , ” Little Terry, be amazed how I make this magically disappear inside you “. Well I would care !. Saying that, I dont believe the wild Spud accusations about his famed youth policy .
GM
I like the new away kit and pink is my favourite colour, in fact I like all pastel shades.
Pink with grey hair is very nice thank you 😉
This site never cease to amaze me. Is someone going to do a headline post about the demise of Wenger due to his sex life.
I too like the new away kit kelsey, so at the moment gm`s out voted !.
Anymore voters, can we have a poll on it ?.
Shard
To answer your earlier question: yes I was assuming that Podolski would play on the left, I got this wild idea from watching him in the Euros.
I also thought that Gervinho might play out there, I got that crazy idea from watching him play there last season.
Same applies to Arshavin, Vela, Miyaichi and even the Ox, seems like a glut to me.
There is, of course, a gulf of difference between: would I like Arsenal to sign Afellay and do I expect Arsenal to sign Afellay?
The answer is: not only would I like the club to sign Afellay I would also like them to sign Messi. Do expect the club to sign either — no I don’t.
Come on you blue, purple and corals.
She wore, she wore, she wore a blue, purple and coral ribbon, she wore a………….
kelsey, maybe gm can give you a pink rinse instead of a blue one !.
Fergal,
I prefer tenderloin steak, rack of lamb or lobster accompanied by fine wine and cognac.
I don’t throw tantrums, sonny, I simply get disgusted at people who write nothing but negative diatribe about the second best team in EPL history, and in most peoples opinion, the best coach in our history. At least I took the time to read it, but I’ll know better next time around.
I’m positive that if we had won a trophy or two then you would take a far different stance – which indicates that you are only the “glory hunter” type of supporter.
I supported through the good, the bad and the worst of ugly and I have never once sunk to the level of despair, or utter disrespect, shown in your post.
Goodnight………………….
LB,
Am I right in understanding that you took offense at my question? Perhaps it read wrong. I had no intention to accuse you of wild ideas or even saying that we need Affelay necessarily. It was intended genuinely and yes, with a bit of surprise, because in my head, we are short of players on the wings, if RVP leaves, and Podolski plays through the middle. (His stats are the closest to an RVP type player)
Gervinho, Ox, Theo (and possibly Miyaichi if he’s deemed ready) will be all we have. With Gervinho to go to the ACN as well. Ox might need to occasionally fill in at the AM position, and then Podolski will at times play left, with Giroud in the middle. I still am unsure that will be enough. If Poldi does play on the wings, it leaves Giroud as our only option up front. Which leads to a different problem.
Of course, if you count Arshavin and/or Vela, then I would say it is enough too. I discount them, but hey, maybe Arshavin stays. I doubt it though. Podolski played up front for Koln all season, and was very effective. If RVP was staying, then Podolski would definitely play on the left. Without Robin, I’m not so sure.
GN5 “the worst of ugly”
That’s no way to talk about John Jensen and Glen Helder 🙂
Sorry GM, but that is a fine away shirt 😛
Yeah, I don’t mind the away kit as well, and I’m sure it will grow on me even more as time passes. Does that make it 5-1 in favour? 🙂
the Arteta away shirt on page 15 looks really good – our new captain?
RA,RASP, you know i would be in for affelay——- 😉 but also, i am concerned about whether theo wants to stay anyway. Some thing has to happen with him this window.
Maybe the shirt will grow on me. someone gave me the new home one and I like it even though I didn’t at first. at the moment I think the away shirt looks like kids pyjamas
Bed at 8.49pm? Night night old bean.
‘nothing but’ negative? Hmmm?
I agree Wenger is the most successful manager the club has had.
A few trophies would have proven us a relative success so I’ll give you that. However we were far off and I still renew my st.
You choose to ignore the fact that I have supported the manager and attacked no players in my ‘diatribe’. The ‘negative’ comes from the mismanagement (in my view) at board level.
Since the 70’s I have watched the game change. Now it is at a point that to compete, you have to conform. The billionaire or the hundreds of millions spent plus an amazing academy seems to be the winning formula for any major club.
I like being called Sonny more than glory hunter but I don’t mind that either.
Next time I write, I will serenade you like Otis Redding or Bobby Blue Bland, but I will choose my topic to demonstrate the love you feel the club unconditionally deserves.
It is the least I can do.
I hope you don’t have gout.
@RA 1:07 Brilliant! Totally Brilliant!! That comes closer to suming up Fergalburgers post than anything anyone else has written. The poem is quite magnificiently madening as is Fergalburgers post!
@Fergalburger 6:07 Language and the written word is all about communication thank F**k you’ve now managed to communicate! I mean that is a well written post! I understood every word in every sentence. Moreover you’ve made me a “happy chappy” (You see like all Gooners I’m easily pleased, I don’t want much) I just want Arsene to throw together a team spending virtually nothing that will play fast attacking and snatch the league title away from the mega rich. I mean I ask you is that a lot to ask for?
@ Rasp
thank you for the great insight yesterday, along with all the top notch comments by others throughout the day explaining things further
@ Fergie Ferg
I know I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but thank god others on here had no idea what was going on too. You are a really good writer that’s for sure, but after reading this I feel like I’ve just watched the Matrix trilogy!
like 26 i feel we run pretty well (yes we are by no means perfect), but in better shape then you believe.
@ TMHT
brilliant letter, we should pin all our hopes on it because if that doesn’t melt his ice cold heart nothing will! In saying that bugger off already RVP you traitorous swine!
Morning All. I like the away kit, but wont be buying the home kit, the sleeves remind me of the French flag. I wonder where that influence came from.
Looking at the launch of the away kit is getting me all excited about seeing our boys in action this season.
COYG
Hi VCC,
Like the away, hate the home.
Re home kit, historically we used to have those three colours, but I am in the rd and white only camp.
I see the Pod role emerged again.
Personally, I hate the idea of him playing left in a front three. Only seen him play there in the Euros and I did not see the goal threat. For Club, he played central and scored a hatful against teams which were virtually all superior. He has scored for Germany, but also playing centrally sometimes, and often in meaningless friendlies or against utter dross in qualifiers.
Now Pod and Gir in a 3-5-2 I think would be deadly. Just cannot see it happening.
Cyclists,
Am I right in thinking that The Tour hits the Alps today?
Morning all
I think our wide players in attack need to be more direct to make the 4-3-3 work, the width should come from full backs and the centre of the park should hold a solid base.
Theo on left, Pod on right and Giroud at top would mean the wide players coming in on their stronger foot to shoot, and if we need crosses they can come from the full backs.
I personally liked Milans formation which I think we have the players to achieve.
………………………Sz…………………
Sag……….BFG……….Koz…..Gibbs
……………………..TV………………….
…………..Song………….Arteta…….
………………….Jack…………………..
……………Giroud…..Pod…………..
Hi Micky. I liked our kit when it was red and white shirts, white shorts, blue and white socks.
3-5-2 with Pod and Giroud up front looks mouthwatering, but like you I can’t see it happening.
Fergal,
“Now it is at a point that to compete, you have to conform.”
I’m sorry, but I completely disagree. What does ‘compete’ mean? The perception has been built up that Arsenal don’t compete for trophies.
2006-UCL Final
2007- League Cup final
2008- 3rd in the league,
QF in CL – (Both exceptional circumstances)
2009- FA cup SF
CL semi final
2010- nothing
2011- With a chance of 4 trophies heading into February
2012- again, exceptional circumstances, but ok, no trophies.
Still, what is the evidence to say Arsenal don’t compete? Arsenal are most vilified for not conforming. Which could also account for your perception of Arsenal having poor PR management. We haven’t gotten over that line yet, but we perpetually give a kick in the teeth to the lie perpetuated that you must conform with stupid practices in order to compete. And we are hated for it.
GiE,
That is perfect thinking.
VCC,
Blue and White socks!!! Way too French 🙂
Stripey red and white socks every time.
Morning all,
2010 strip, white shorts with thin red piping down the side. white socks with one red hoop through the middle with a blue print of the old school cannon in the hoop…classic
thats my two cents worth…ok bye 😉
as to our away strip…. does anybody remember ‘ a nightmare on elm street’…hahaha
one, two, wengers’ coming for you
three, four better lock your door
running out of coats i am 🙂
It’s nice to see Kyle Bartley have been promoted to the first team.. I hope Lansbury can make the cut as well..
The away kit is ok except, what the hell is that red line on the socks, is it an aiming point for the shawcrosses of this world? Dont we get hit enough without putting sighters out for those who are not sure which is the best part of the leg to break.?
Its time Kelsey was called in to design the kit, Pink and Grey now that would make us different. 🙂
Morning Micky
Yes, it is the mountains today. All the Arsenal supporter has to do to be the first Englishman to win the TdF is not have an accident because his outstanding strength and his brilliant team will carry him in Yellow to the Champs Elysee and glory.
Wiggins did used to go and watch Arsenal as a kid; he lives up norf now so that is no longer really possible.
LB,
It would be a truly monumental achievement. Had no idea he was an Arsenal man.
LB,
I think I’m about to seriously cheese off my wife. Heading down St Ives way for a long weekend and now have to inform her I’ll be watching telly all afternoon on sunday 😦
Mind you, she wants a new wetsuit and being an odd shape its horrendously expensive, so I feel an arrangement coming on.
Micky,
Don’t you mean tall, rather than an odd shape. 🙂
Hi Chas,
6’1″ and skinny is odd for a woman. I believe there are only three woman in the country that shape, ruling out off-the-peg wetsuits 😦
Who are the other two?
Morning all
RvP is not on the latest training pictures, did he not go to pre-season training?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk1Cte0arDE
One is a hop picker on a farm in Kent, and the other is a high jumper from West Lothian.
Evonne,
Those that were at Euro 2012 are not due back yet.
Evonne, all the first teamers who took part in the Euros get an extra week off.
🙂
Ha, the beast and the monster both answered you Evonne 🙂
That’s it. Off seal hunting 🙂
That man Grylls has watched too many Ray Mears vids!
Morning all
Rasp and I both have busy days ahead so we won’t be around to monitor the site so can everyone keep an eye please. I can get to a computer if necessary so any problems just text me evonne, chary, kelsey, GiE or Micky 🙂
Peaches,
Oh God, its got Utd or Spurs and the words “utter rubbish” in the title 🙂
Yes Micky, sorry it has 😦
…………..joking ……………. no it hasn’t 😆
New Post ………….