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

Norwich Discussion Points

November 30, 2015

Did we deserve the point?

Why did we create so few chances?

Why was Giroud so quiet?

Should Sanchez have played?

Is it worth the time and effort to study French?

Given the much lauded  and expensive signing of Chad Forsythia, why are we having so many soft-tissue injuries?

Would the team function better if Ramsey and Cazorla swapped roles?

Is Gabriel good enough to partner BFG?

Which would win in a fight between a big shark and a tiger?

Has signing another CM  in January become a necessity?

Can we still win the title?

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Can Canaries shoot down High Flying Gunners?

November 29, 2015

Things have not been working in the last two PL games. One point is not a good enough return against two mediocre teams. Is this a blip or a trend?

This afternoon will tell because on paper we should win this. In the awful event of us losing and Spurs winning we could be 5th this evening.

The return of Ox and Ramsey to the squad gives Mr Wenger some welcome selection choices. Will Mr Wenger use them?

My expectation is that he will have both players on the bench. Campbell was crap at WBA but he was very good on Tuesday night and perhaps he needed a good performance to prove to both himself and AW that he is worth a place in the squad. How many times do we say a player needs a run of games and yet criticise them after just one game? (see Arteta/Debuchy).

Sanchez has had a 5 day break which will take him from the red zone into the pink 🙂 and will surely start. With the wizard Ozil in magnificent form and certainly not in the red we have the tools to win.

A solid defensive performance is essential as is good fortune. WBA scored twice last week and yet had only one shot on target for the whole 95 minutes! Who knows, Norwich could win today without a single shot on target – it happens.

And what of Norwich? Well, it is a lovely town and the cathedral is spectacular. Carrow Road is a friendly and enjoyable ground for away fans. A few years ago I was in Norwich on a Saturday afternoon. Mrs Raddy was in total shopping mode. I checked the time and noticing it was half-time went to the stadium asking if I could watch the remainder of the game for free. The steward invited me in and said “sit in any free seat”. Top bloke.

Alex Neill has already stated that his team will be resolute which is another way of saying “I don’t care if we are at home, we will be parking the bus because it is the only way we stand a chance” (not in those exact word 😉 ). So expect loads of possession, lots of fannying about on the edge of the Norwich box, long ball breakaways aimed at Mbokani, and Arsenal to score from a set piece.

Redmond is their best player this season and will undoubtedly cause problems. My answer is to tell Flamini close him down at every opportunity.

So …. vigilance, continued brilliance from SanZil, clinical finishing and Bob’s you Uncle  – three points on the road and Happy Days.

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Why are Arsenal supporters so Fickle?

November 27, 2015

My personal pet peeve is well known to all AA readers – its fickle fans!

The Gunners are my choice of team by way of my family and where I was born; I had little option other than to support Arsenal as the “other” choice up in N17 was a taboo name on Avenell Road and 3 of my cousins and one Uncle had already become outcasts from the family due to their unfortunate choice.

I am continually upset by “fans” that purport to be “experts”

Do they really think that they know better than our Manager?

Do they have degrees in medicine?

Do they have their own scouting network? Oops I forgot – they use You tube.

Where do these armchair experts get all of their knowledge from?

What do they think gives them the right to spout their venom after every loss?

Why do they believe that anybody gives a monkey’s about their extreme views?

Why do they continually state the same rubbish over and over again?

Do they really believe their nonsense or is it just a reaction to a bad game?

Why is waiting to say “I told you so” so important to them?

To me an injury is an awful stroke of bad luck for both the club and the player, for others an injury is an opportunity to be critical of perceived lack of activity in the transfer window.

To me healthy bank balance is the sign of a well run and managed club to others it’s a sign of broken transfer promises – apparently we should spend regardless of the quality of the player – after all the Red Tops have said we were interested in X, Y and Z so why didn’t we sign?

To me Arsense Wenger is an honest man who has taken the club to unimagined heights and continues to excel, to others he is a liar who is not in touch with “modern” football.

I watch each and every game with one thing in mind – to sit back, usually nervously, to enjoy my team display their multitude of talents – and rarely do they disappoint me.

During the game I cheer and shout as if I’m sitting in the stands. I yell at referee’s who invariably make the wrong decisions. I’m a supporter and it’s my job to support with every ounce of my energy. I never waste my time being critical of my team or our Manager nor do I believe in any way, shape or form that I know better than the true experts who are employed by AFC because they are the best at what they do!

I’m a seasoned (68+) SUPPORTER and will be until the day I draw my last breath.

GunnerN5

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

If only we had this great Arsenal player in today’s team …….

November 26, 2015

Arguably the return of a re-invented Coquelin in the latter part of last season was the biggest factor in our improved defensive stability.

Many (including me) would have put the procurement of another top quality DM at the top of our shopping list last summer.

It didn’t happen and we may now have to wait and see how costly that will be with Coquelin sidelined for the next 12 weeks.

Rather than keep moaning about what could have happened, I thought I’d fantasise about the influence my favourite Arsenal player would bring to the current side if he were that missing signing and at his peak of 27 years of age.

P2

What our current team really needs is the Patrick Vieira of 2003/4. In my opinion, he would make this current Arsenal side considerably better than it is now – and it’s not too shabby at the moment :). Don’t get me wrong, when the team clicks as it did against Zagreb the other night (not the strongest of opposition) having a Vieira in the side would be a luxury rather than a necessity, but it is when we are under pressure that a player of his stature would come into his own.

He possesses all the qualities we need to make the team complete. A natural leader, fearless, strong, skilful, powerful, tall and elegant. A player who could tackle, who could defend, who could see a defence splitting pass, who could go forward and score a goal. He wouldn’t allow his teammates heads to go down. He wouldn’t sit back and watch our players get bullied.

But then I thought maybe there may be another ex Arsenal player of the EPL era who would make a similar or maybe even greater impact in a different position.

Some among us had been calling for a top striker over the summer. Would you prefer to see a TH14 at the peak of his powers instead of PV4 (I’m only allowing you one fantasy). Or maybe you think DB10 as our greatest ever player would have to be the one?

What about a proper winger; Mark Overmars, or the massive presence of Sol Campbel in defence. Maybe you’d prefer Seaman in goal in place of Cech –  or the calm control Gilberto brought to our midfield? Dare I ask if Ashley Cole or the underrated hard man Lauren is what our current team really needs? What about the artistry of Pires or the Arsenal DNA of Tony Adams.

These are the rules: you can only choose one ex player from the EPL era to bring back to our current squad at the peak of his powers. The player has to be the one you think would bring about the greatest improvement to the team.

I’m going to list the most likely candidates, if your preferred choice doesn’t feature on the list, tell us in comments who and why.

Rasp

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Posted by Rasp

Zagreb Victory Discussion

November 25, 2015

Things to discuss:-

The brilliance af the Alexis/Ozil combination. Best since DB10/TH14?

Why has Monreal improved so much?

Flamini is good enough for teams like Zagreb.

Is Campbell any good?

Why were there 12,000 empty seats?

Which was the best goal?

Can Chambers develop into a DM?

How do flies stand on glass?

Giroud’s record is good, make that very good. Why do fans not believe in him?

Unknown

Was winning last night the best result for the club?

Should Alexis or any of last night’s team be rested on Sunday?

Is Mrs Frith a force of good or evil?

Does Bellerin’s pace allow Campbell the freedom to play with confidence?

Why did DZ allow Cazorla so much space?

Hastily written by BR

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Posted by Erik the Red

Wish You Were Here (JW/AR/AOC/FC etc)

November 24, 2015

A MWG or a MLG or even a MDG? If Olympiakos get a point in Munich it doesn’t matter anyway.

My opinion is that we should give it the full beans, attack from the first, if we are two up by half-time bring on the kids and look forward to a trip to Greece. If we start slowly, go in even at half-time then fight out a tough 1-0 whilst picking up an injury or two would it be considered a successful evening.

I am sure Mr Wenger will go all out to win this game and expect to get a result in Athens, he is focussed upon the CL and rightly so. The CL is the source of our European reputation (such as it is) and AW has a wonderful record of getting our club into the last 16.

Why is it important? Money and seeding.

There have been times this season when I thought it would be better if we gave up on the CL , finished 4th and concentrated upon the PL, but that is not how AFC work – the club philosophy is to try and win every game; tonight will be no exception.

Who plays?

Same as Saturday. Flamini replaces Le Coq. We do not risk Ramsey who has only had one day of full training. We have a 5 day break before the Norwich game.

Unknown

 

Tonight I will don the full kit, turn the TV out towards the terrace, settle into the padded teak Steamer and enjoy a Pretendies. Thanks to the freezing conditions I will be armed with a full bottle of warming fluids (single malt), an Arsene Wenger down coat, a Steve Bould woolly hat, Eduardo gloves and a Chamakh snood. If there is no sign of BR in the morrow then send out the St. Bernards.

We are a much better team than Zagreb and should win tonight.

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Monday Morning Blues

November 23, 2015

I think we were all looking forward to taking three points from the game and putting pressure on City at the top of the Premiership. Sadly that was not to be.

There were sufficient omens before the game to dampen our expectations. We had half a team in the treatment room, we were playing a Pulis side which is morphing into his old Stoke City just as they are throwing off their Orc reputation and starting to play football.  Our players had barely time to catch their breath after the Internationals and we have a Champions League game to follow.

Having said that, we started with our first choice ’keeper and back four, our mid-field pairing of Cazorla and Coquelin were in place only Gibbs, playing on the left with Alexis wide right, has not been a regular starter while Giroud has taken over as central striker since Walcott’s unfortunate injury.

It was when things started to go wrong, with Le Coq forced off by injury, that the threadbare nature of our squad became horribly evident. A rusty Arteta was making heavy weather of his role alongside Cazorla and despite Giroud’s headed goal two errors by Arteta meant we went in at half-time 2 – 1 down.

The second half quickly saw Arteta off with a calf injury with Flamini replacing him and then Gibbs giving way to the uninspiring Joel Campbell, further evidence of the weakness of  the bench.

So just what was it that induced the Monday morning blues?

Well, for me it is the realisation that over  the many games played against Pulis’ teams we still haven’t learnt how to deal with that particular style of play.

On top of that we are most certainly being bitten in the bum by the failure to recruit a decent back-up for Le Coq, as well as a distinct lack of an alternative striker.

Finally, with City losing at home to Liverpuddle we wasted a wonderful opportunity to move to the top of the table.

Oh, those Monday morning blues!

Written by Norfolk Gooner

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Posted by Rasp

Arsenal succumb to defeat as injury crises deepens!

November 22, 2015

Hussein 1

A dismal day at the Hawthornes for the Gunners was compounded by a key injury to Francis Coquelin and leaving Arsenal even further in the injury mire.

The day started with much optimism as the teams came out. There was a moment to pay respects to victims of the horrific Paris attacks last week as the French national anthem was played.

The match began and the tackles were flying in and with one resulting in Coquelin going off and being replaced by Arteta. The fans were very worried and the hardcore travelling fans were left ruing further injury misery. It was evident that Coquelin was one player Arsenal could ill afford to lose due to the tenacity he brings to the midfield. To add insult to injury (no pun intended) the fans were left bemoaning the decision to bring Arteta on rather than Flamini.

Arsenal got in their stride and without looking too convincing took the lead with another Giroud goal from a Mesut Ozil free kick, the German delivering yet another assist.

Then the mayhem occurred. A disputed free kick was awarded to West Brom which was cut back for Morrison who was left unmarked to flick the ball past Cech. The Arsenal supporters were left raging at the lack of marking fuelling their anger at Per Mertesacker. Then just before half time another sucker punch. West Brom worked the ball down the Arsenal right and the low cross was diverted by Arteta into his own net. The fans were left seething about Arteta and considered this a double whammy with him playing then scoring an own goal. One fan was so furious and shouting vitriol towards the team due to the manner of the West Brom goals that he made his way to the concourse for an early drink.

The second half began with Arsenal bombarding the West Brom goal. Mesut Ozil came a whisker away from restoring parity as he hit the post and Kieran Gibbs was then denied at the back post. West Brom thought they scored a third and put Arsenal out of reach but the ball did not cross the line.

Then there was hope.. Campbell went down in the box and Santi Cazorla took the responsibility to put Arsenal level. The West Brom players were then playing mind games with Santi putting him off and there were even suggestions in the crowd that the West Brom players were kicking the spot… Their dirty tactics paid off as Santi fluffed his lines and his penalty went over the bar.

West Brom secured the 3 points and the West Brom fans were ironically chanting Santi Cazorla’s name much to their delight trying to wind the Arsenal fans up. To the Arsenal fans credit they took it with a pinch of salt with most putting today’s defeat to injuries and misfortune. A miserable day for the Gunners but we move on now.

UTA!

Written by Sir A Hussein

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

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