The Thin Red Line

December 5, 2015

I should stop here – this post will not get better than the title 🙂

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The Northern Hordes are coming to the Emirates flying the flag of Attila Allardyce and our brave few are going in to battle defending the honour of free-flowing, intelligent, attacking football.

I have written enough about The Walrus and his brand of football but if one wants to see the damage he can do to a club just look East of the Emirates to West Ham. A sorrier tale of a club’s traditions reneged for the sake of points will be hard to find. Sure he could  keep a dreadful Sunderland team in the PL but at what cost? He is the prime example of Money over Aesthetics. Serve up “19th Century Football” (thank you Jose) and you may win points but certainly no fans and the locals will hate you for it. Keep doing it once you are secure in the billionaire playground of the Premier League and you get the spanish archer (cockney slang for El Bow”).

A man who will never get the spanish archer is our manager. Many believe Arsenal are wrong to commit so firmly to the Wenger philosophy but win, lose or draw people watch Arsenal. Why? Because in a few seconds you may see something not witnessed anywhere else in England – imagination of pass construction at a speed of thought which at times seems inhuman. OK, we do not win as much as a huge club should but in my opinion the manner of victory is more important than the victory. The only time I have considered giving up on Arsenal was in the last few Graham years – I just couldn’t stand watching them any more.

Can I get through this without mention Santi, Welbz, Little Jack, Alexis, Tommi, Arteta, Kos, Gibbo et all? Clearly not, but they cannot help us this afternoon, so who can?

Will Mr Wenger let Theo play against a team committed to hoofball or will he sacrifice Campbell? Given the big game midweek I would give TW 15 minutes .

There remains enough attacking talent to win. Concentration and strength at  defensive set plays will be essential. If we go behind it will be a long climb back.

Given our recent poor form and injuries I hesitate to suggest we will win at a canter but I do think we have enough to win this

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

 

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Posted by Erik the Red

Arsenal has no reserves – because there are no reserves …….

December 3, 2015

The current paucity of options from the bench to reinforce Arsenal’s injury ravaged squad has led many to ask whether we can recall any of the players out on loan, and further to question why they were sent out on loan in the first place. It is evident that the loss of the reserve league has been a major factor in the management of those players on the periphery of the first team squad..

Gooner in Exile explained it in this way yesterday …..

The issue of players out on loan is brought upon by the lack of the reserve league (which has been gone for about three seasons now I think) and a change in academy rules. We can play 3 overage players in under 21 games and we can organise behind closed door friendlies. I’ve been to academy games in the new format, a couple at Carrow Road watching Arsenal. One season it was all youngsters, another season Chamakh, Arshavin and the Park played. The problem is that it was far too easy for the older players and nowhere physical enough to reflect senior football.

Because of this we have players out on loan. It is my understanding that we cannot loan to another PL club and then recall whenever we want, I think that can only happen in the transfer windows (especially if player is over 21 as they have to be named in the PL squad). Players loaned to Championship clubs can be recalled, but only play for us if they were registered to the PL squad (again if over 21 on 1 January 2015).

I am not a fan of the Academy rules that were pushed through in recent times.

Academy funding was done by the FA. Somehow the PL now control funding and have implemented set criteria about coaching time etc, to get the the clubs to comply to the rules for each level of academy. A Top Academy status club can go to any other academy of a lower status and take their pick of the talent with very little compensation paid, which further hinders the lower league clubs unless they are prepared to invest money (which they probably they don’t have) to shift up a level in status.

From this it would seem that money and the power the EPL wields over the FA have been the driving forces once again. Is it good for Arsenal? Is it good for English football? …… What do you think?

Compiled from a comment stolen from GoonerInExile 🙂

 

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Posted by Rasp

American style English Football League?

December 2, 2015

About a week ago, Rasp made a comment about some American sport or other, and their League of no promotion or relegation. When I read it, I thought we could eek out a wee talkie for an hour or two, before naturally reverting to type.

Here’s my plan………

Number One, we shrink our league to 18 Teams. So, how to select the 18 permanent members of this elite league?

I like a local derby, so we must have pairs of sworn enemies. We must have regional representation, because that adds spice and diversity ie more hatred and stereotyping which I also like.

In line with the representation theme, it seems fair that London gets four sides, and the Midland area three, so let’s get choosing.

Man Utd    Man City

Liverpool     Everton

Newcastle    Sunderland

Villa    Wolves   West Brom

Arsenal   Spurs   Chelsea   West Ham

Southampton    Brighton

Bristol    Swansea

Norwich    Ipswich

Now the questions:

  1. Would this help the quality of football with no fear of relegation?
  2. Would it help develop better regional academies?
  3. Would the elitest nature help or harm football in general?
  4. Would four fewer league games help the national team ?
  5.  Who would be in your 18, as some big clubs will miss the cut?
  6. Should Spurs be included ahead of Barnet?

There are 19 Teams above, the bit I can’t decide is which to drop, can you?

As I said, I’m not sure which American sport Rasp was referring to, but whether it was American Football, Rounders for Men or Netball for Men, the Americans are the best in the world 🙂

So, wha’ do ya reckon?

Written by mickydidit89

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Is The Camel Wormer right?

December 1, 2015

Yesterday GB made a good point about our front 3 or 4 not being strong enough and the need to improve upon our chaps in the January TW but let’s consider other PL teams.

Chelsea: Costa, Hazard, Willian, Pedro. On paper all are top players but how have they done this season? Pedro is a shadow of the player he can be, Hazard the same. Costa benched. Willian is carrying the Chavs who have scored a goal less than us

Man City:  Aguero,  Sterling, Navas De Bruyne. Silva.  Again on paper this is a fantastic front line in which every player can both create and score goals. However, they have only scored 6 more goals than us and are but 3 points ahead. Also,16 of those goals came in 3 games.

Man Utd.: Rooney, Depay, Martial, Mata. That’s it though at a push one could include Fellaini and this is why the fans are so disappointed despite a decent points haul so far. Two kids, a stuttering old man and a Chelsea reject – not what one expects from one of the world’s richest and supported clubs. They have managed 20 goals, 12 of which came in 3 games.

Spurs: Kane, Son, Eriksen, Chadli, Dembele. Apart from Kane are any top quality? They have scored 24 gaols (same as us) with 11 coming in 3 games.

Liverpool: Benteke, Sturridge, Ings, Coutniho, Lallana, Feirmino , Milner. No surpirise their are so many of them (and I could have added more) given their shopping madness. but are they are good? I like Sturridge but he has Diabyitis. How many of the others are truly top quality? I guess you would say Coutinho but Ozil is different gravy. 15 goals of which 6 were scored in 2 games.

Looking at the above, what strikes me is that front lines are the reason why we are so far behind the top clubs in Europe….

Barca: Suarez, Neymar, Messi Iniesta
RM:  Ronaldo, Bale, James, Benzema.
BM: Lewandowski, Muller, Robben, Gotze, Ribery, Costa

None of the PL players would get in those teams. None.
I agree completely with Gooner B that we need better forwards. though I think losing Theo has been a massive blow.

Which brings me to the right wing position. Theo has improved playing centrally and I expect he will place in the middle upon his return. If he does then it makes sense to keep Ramsey playing (nominally) on the right. Bellerin doubles as a winger if  we have Coquelin/Flamini to cover his runs.

What do you think?

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

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