General Sale And Milan Take Two Together
Aug 26th, 2008 by 'holic
It is a black Tuesday for Arsenal. Checking the official website for confirmation of the loan move for Phil Senderos to Milan I am disappointed. Nothing there yet although it is so widely reported elsewhere that presumably Arsenal are waiting for the result of his medical.
I am drawn to the fact that tickets for the Champions League Qualifier against FC Twente tomorrow night are on general sale. Now at any other time you would write that off as being inevitable following the comfortable win in Arnhem in the first leg. There is however a growing level of discontent that may have contributed.
The releasing of the Swiss international is ringing alarm bells amongst even people who did not rate him that highly. He was the one ‘stopper’ centre-half we had at the club, and appears to have been sacrificed for a half-fit 31 year old who appears very similar in style to a number of defenders at the Grove.
We have a bunch of what would once have been labelled ‘utility defenders’, jacks of all trades but masters of none. One can understand the vision, however frustrating it seems. Total football requires players comfortable with the football, not afraid to pass their way out of trouble.
We should, I think, have kept one who was capable of treating the ball as an enemy, to be launched out of harms way when danger threatens. We should have kept one who would have thrown his body in the way of the toe-poke that unhinged us on Saturday. Milan wouldn’t have looked twice at Mikael Silvestre, but they have coveted Senderos for much of the summer and acted decisively to link him up with Matty Flamini. Surely that tells you something.
For some the departure of big Phil is the penultimate straw that can be loaded on the sagging dromedary. The ‘General Sale’ notices may be going up again if the squad is not strengthened and the solitary defeat to Fulham becomes a ‘bad patch’.
For my part, I am well and truly over Saturday. I don’t mind admitting though I think we need at least a ‘proper’ centre-half and an experienced defensive midfielder if we are to be competitive this season. If we get them, fine. If not it won’t stop me going and cheering on my team. Not everybody else appears to be thinking that way at the moment.
Update
Readers of Hol-Picks will be pleased to note I have got round to updating them after a couple of weeks. Eagle-eyed Ollie also spotted the inevitable renaming of the comments to drinks, as they have become widely known. Cheers ‘holics.
61 Responses to “General Sale And Milan Take Two Together”
The lord moves in mysterious ways but he`s is nothing compared to Arsene.Trying to get inside his thinking is like trying to explain the offside law to the missus.No matter how much you try you realise you are wasting your time.
Just saw a press conference with him on Sky and he looked seriously pissed off.He said Senderos was going so he could get games and could not confirm if there was an option for Milan to make the transfer permanent.
Worrying times but I think he has a plan.You can accuse Arsene of many things but stupidty is not one of them.
Anyway good luck to Swiss Tony a player who never gave less than one hundred percent.
Last years CL qualifier went on General Sale and did not sell out along with the first leg of the Carling Cup Semi against Sp*rs, so wouldnt use that to add to the doom-mongering.
Well I can’t see AC Milan signing someone on loan without an option to buy, unfortunately. We, the fans, have ballsed up there. We made a scapegoat out of the future Arsenal captain. Did we force him out? Probably not, but we didn’t help him stay. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
(And I say we, even though I’ve never criticised Senderos, because we need to be united – behind the team!)
I think AW is treating the fans with a total lack of repect. For some misguide reason he thinks we are stupid and are taken in by “the spirit is good” “the squad is big/good enough” rubbish that he spouts week in week out. He blatanly lies, contradicting himself with every press conference. I honestly believe he thinks it is a sign of weakness if he were to do what every sane fan would want.
in some ways I bet the club are quite happy we have this extra qualifying game. its another game with which to swell the coffers with gate money and the rest. OK so we might only sell 55,000 but thats better than nothing. as far as I’m aware, qualifying via this route does not reduce the TV money we might get later on in the competition so its pure profit. If the result was in doubt I think it would have sold out.
I dont think losing your 5th/6th choice CB is a big deal. far bigger deals are why wenger continues picking Toure/Gallas despite so much evidence they are a weak pair and why Flamini has still not been replaced after 3 months.
Good luck to big phil though.
I like phill too but come on guys he is not what i want to see as our best choice at the club. All of a sudden phil is a great defender, he has had moments but generally he belongs with a team with the tallent of millan, they are not all that you know, they just have history, which some teams live on for years. Good luck to phill though, he gave his best for the club. I will keep my opinion on wenger till the end of the season. come on you reds
What more does Song have to do to get in the team. I hope he starts tommorow, its the last throw of the dice!! We supposed to have a big enough squad, we’ve seen Randall, Ramsey, Denilson, Diaby (briefly) and Eboue get shoved into the DM position, and until Song gets a chance Wenger will continue to believe that there is no problem. But I suppose Song is going to have to settle for 5th choice CB for any games.
Phil is a defender, that’s all. Nothing more, nothing less. Arsene bought a hard(ish) defender who would try his hardest to win and is devastated when he doesn’t. Arsene tried to change him and make him a football player. Senderos simply doesn’t have the ability to play the football arsene wants. Arsene should just get over himself and play Phil. You cant play beautiful all the time.
Wenger knows what he’s doing. Noone has mentioned Alex Song in this post. He ended the season alongside Gallas and he ended the game against Fulham alongside Gallas. Wenger is converting him into a CB. He’s big, strong, and can pass. Once he spends some more time in defense and learns the positioning, I think we will see what Wenger has been saying. Wenger said that Song didn’t have the wheels to play DM for a whole game but he’s been getting rave reviews internationally. Senderos needs to go to get his mind right and rebuild his confidence. If he stays in Milan, thank you for the effort. I will still have Gallas, Toure, Djourou, and Song. Not to mention this kid named Nordveit that has gone out on loan to speed up his progress.
No worries…Arsene knows.
if the rest of the squad had big phils desire we would have no probelms turning over poor teams like fuljam ,apart from cesc an gael i feel like phil was the last real gooner ! i used to think kolo was but he has let us down badly by not learning from keown an sol and growing into mr arsenal ,instead he’s a follower ,if gallas makes a mistake and panicks so must i ,when keown played with bravery and passion so did i ,wat the hell is going on ture?? grow up or fuck off!
song is the best centre mid other than cesc at arsenal ,he is too heavy weight for centre half! why dont wenger like proper defenders who enjoy defending ? he loves these converted passers of the ball!
Frichie I could not agree with you more.I was certain that Song would start against Fulham and once again he was left on the Bench.
I watched Song in all the African Cup on Nations games playing DCM and the guy was quality.He was voted in the team of the tournament.
Given the current shortage of defensive midfield players and the crap served up by Denilson and Eboue on Saturday if I was in Songs place and did not get a game tomorrow night I would be knocking on the door and asking for a transfer.
Like you say if Wenger does not fancy him in Dcm and he is 6th choice C/B then for me he is wasting his time at Arsenal.
Spot on TGP couple that with the fact that everyones skinter than usual with the crunch etc and it was to be expected in all honesty. I went to 24 games in total last season but wont get to more than 15 this year from the looks of it.
I’m gutted weve let Big Phil go, admitedly Torres and Drogba both gave him a hard time but thats not really the best basis to condem a young defender on…it’s like saying that every defender that got torn apart by the likes of Henry, Van Elbow Diver, Ronaldo et al is shit. These guys are the best in the world for a reason
Daryl you may be right ref the conversion to C/B but I think what Wenger actually said was that he was not sure that Song could play 60 games a Season at DCM.
I think it is his recovery times between games that is the issue as opposed to him lasting 90 minutes.
But then what is the point in having a squad if you don’t rotate the players a little.He would not need to play there every single game.
More to the point we need someone in there NOW until we either get the new signing in or Wenger decides which of our current players is going to be given the job to do.
Screw worrying if he can play 60 games there a season lets just solve the immediate problem.
I liked Big Phil. He had bags of guts, drive and ambition which in my eyes made it worth us keeping him.
hi there holic..
well i do understand the feeling and to go and cheer on Our team is always a great thing…i think i read that the prize for tickets was about 66 pounds..its getting cheaper and cheaper and for us ordinary fans who has to work for a living that helps…
and holic do hurry ..soon there will not be a team to support..but hey maybe you can get a vip lounge and at least get e decent beer…
ive supported Arsenal from 71 when my dad brought me to a game for the first time..and i still have a poster from *goal*on my wall ,yes charlie george 🙂
what really worries me is that the team have slowly been build down for the last couple of years..and im deeply concerned that its because of a moneygrabbing board of directors…
if i could wake up tomorrow and be waken by the news that mr hill-wood and mr fiszman have been found dead,killed by the notoriuos *Jack The Ripper* my worries would be gone..
please understand that fans will back arsenal always but we’re not obliged to support a totally f***ed up board of directors and mark my words there will soon be no one to fill up the emirates…
and holic ill even forgive Mr Wenger for the fact that he much more wants to be an assistent for a child care center ,than a boss for a team with men…
but again for all who likes better that we play playstation soccer and are more concerned about balancing the books than winning i guess this must be a dream come true !!!!
Daryl, I think you are 100% right — what this means to me is that he thinks Song (and Djourou) are much better talents than Senderos. And I don’t think any of us would disagree.
And for all the doom-mongers out there… grow up it was ONE BAD GAME against Fulham! Have all of you just become fans? WHEN HAVE WE EVER PLAYED WELL IN THE MATCH AFTER AN INTERNATIONAL BREAK?? NEVER is the answer. Combine that with all our injuries, its hardly unexpected that we played a stinker. Mark my words, you will see us reel off a few top class performances in the next few weeks. And if we can sign one more “link” player for the midfield, we will be contending for the title this year. I’m convinced of it.
I liked Big Phil. He had bags of guts, drive and ambition which in my eyes made it worth us keeping him. Gallas has been as much use as a chocolate fireguard since the Brum away game.
Wenger has lost the plot. While other managers were looking out for players in January, Wenger was asleep. He let Flamini go for nothing and then gave Adebayor 80k a week for being a disloyal twat. He let gilberto go and replaced neither of our central defensive midfielders.
Best thig hes done this year is to get shot of Hleb.
I despair at where we are likely to finish this year, and probably another trophyless season
I can’t help thinking that all this speculation is….well, just that really….speculation.
I personally follow Wengers logic, although will not do so with credulity. Maybe Song needed a rest after playing in the Olympics (so didn’t play against Fulham); as well as the travelling? Maybe Wenger wanted to test the Eboue/Denilson partnership ‘in anger’ against a moderate team like Fulham (which was clearly disastrous)?
What’s more I wait with baited breath to hear of any further signings before the transfer window closes. The reasons why have been done to death so I won’t repeat them.
Come 1st Sept…..let the real judgement begin.
It wasn’t one bad game, it has been three so far this season.
You can go back to the Aston Villa game last season where we played well in the first half because Villa sat back but second half we looked shit.
The only other game I can remember we played well in was the 2nd leg away to Milan, apart from that we have been paparing over the cracks.
While I wish Senderos all the luck, I can`t say that I am upset at his departure. In the quick, slick passing side that Arsenal are at their best, senderos`s lack of pace and mobility always stood out. Opposing teams could usually rely on one (often crucial) mistake per game, and it was not just Drogba who profited. Of more concern, is that despite adding another £1.5m. to the coffers, Wenger seems set to go with what he has, and I`m sorry to say that I don`t now expect any more signings. If I am proved wrong you can – oh, I`m feeling a little queer – I need a drink.
Have to mention….I’m awestruck at all the fans suddenly coming out (it would seem) of the woodwork in support of Big Phil?! Whilst he’s likely to cope with the slower pace that is the Italian serie A, he was clearly struggling, when really tested, with the faster pace that is the EPL. He is not an Nemanja Vidic. He is not a John Terry. So I personally think the future is without him. BUT the far bigger issue is, is Mikael Silvestre (or even Song) a worthy replacement? I’m not convinced.
I don’t understand it ‘Holic. I completely agree, there is just no reason that I can see to send Phil out on loan. Even if he isn’t absolutely top class at this point, shouldn’t we want the squad to be as large as possible right now while it appears so thin? Silvestre is not the answer to the problem, he was just supposed to help in support of the starters. I’m really so confused about why this is happening.
Bravo ‘holic, can’t argue with any of that!
Apparently Inler doesn’t want us so I’m placing my hope on the possibilty that we are beavering away behind the scenes and a last minute deal for Alonso (Barry going to Pool) will restore our faith. (I’d take either Alonso or Barry but think Alonso is more likely)
Heh at the modification of the comments’ names ‘holic.
However I’m sot sure anyone noticed, as nobody has claimed first drink yet, so I’m taking it, thanks 😉
Although a little check suggests Biscuitman maybe unwittingly has, so I’ll settle for second. Guinness please!
DRINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’ve summed up how I feel ‘holic.
I’ll have a London Pride please.
Drinks
Nice
Did n’t consider ‘drinky-poos’ ‘holic?
Glass of red please
It’s about time you painted those nicotine yellowed walls, now the focus is solely on drink.
A large brandy for me please. And when I say large I mean about 6′ 3″ and with plenty of X. Row X to be precise.
Now you are eagle-eyed, Snail. A minor coating of the walls so the notices stand out a bit more, hopefully.
I’ll leave the bar open tonight on an honesty basis. Leave me some stock for the game tomorrow night.
😉
Mr `holic I`ve heard the bar is doing a lot of business .We should be partners.I will make you an offer you should`nt refuse.
Regards Dutch.
Doing ok thanks Dutch, but not as popular as you – yet!
😀
Tom
“that its because of a moneygrabbing board of directors”…
Our Board of Directors have not taken a dividend for years.
If you do not understand the significance of this let me explain.
Basically our Board of Directors have millions of pounds of their own money tied up in Arsenal Football club and their return each year for this in immediate cash terms has been Zip,Zero,Nothing.
If they sold their shares and say bought shares in ICI then each year they would be given a dividend ( a cash payment) based on the profits of the company.
Or quite simply they could put their money in the Bank and at least earn some interest on it.
Whether you think the Board are good or bad is not a problem but you cannot call them money grabbers when for years they have had no money out of the Club other than their salary.
*celebrates the official naming of the drinks with a kir royale*
Chippy what was the cost of Arsenal shares 10 years ago and what are they now?
Work it out they don’t need dividends if they sell up now they have made a fuck off profit.
And who is the only one to have sold up then trizzo? Take your time mate. Let it sink in slowly. Need help do you?
If you know the history there isn’t “just one” so you can help me to the answer you may want to hear..
“what”
You never heard of the lockdown then?
The lockdown ends when? take your time let it sink in…
Eternity!!!!
Put it this way 25 years ago Arsenal football club was worth less than £2 million pounds.
Now it is worth what £400 million, Not a bad investment even if you don’t take share dividends.
If you were refering to DD why not look at the money grabbing ***** who sold him the shares in the first place.
And you need more foreigners Dein sold Usmanov 14% of Arsenal football club now he has double that..
So who is the ONE person who has sold his shares!!!
Take YOUR time and let it sink in!!
Trizzo I accept that the share value is now much higher than ten years ago but none of the current board are prepared to sell their shares at this point.
They cannot be accused of grabbing money if they have not grabbed any.
Other businesses have seen huge increases in the share value over the last ten years but it has not stopped the shareholders taking Dividends.
And before anyone gets on my case about Arsenal not being a businesses the day you stop running it like one we end up broke and relegated like Leeds United.
trizzo, you must be talking about the money grabbing ‘dead’ that Usmanov has been looting the corpses of and the 10% or so that was wrapped up in that hedge fund, one of the major institutional investors that have held a bulk of our shares (like ITV) for some years prior to selling them to Usmanov. None of those ‘people’ have sat on the board…
ARE WE BEING LIED TO?
I know we should be focussing on supporting the team for the game tonight, but AW did state something to the effect that we would (not might) be making an important signing before today’s game.
Please don’t insult our intelligence by suggesting that Sylvestre was ‘that signing’. So either he had his eye on a player that he felt sure would sign (Inler?) or he was just speaking optimistically and hoped some good performances might deflect attention away from the paucity of quality and experience in midfield. If that’s the case it hasn’t worked and if venerable barman’s specs have a rosy tint, I think AW’s must be totally blacked out.
One of the things that epitomised Arsene and made me proud to have him as manager was that he proved that you can be intellectual and manage a top class football team. He didn’t chew gum like a rabid camel, or shout and scream at players. He always found a way to support his players and coax the brilliance out them. I have noticed over recent seasions that he has become far more agitated on the bench. Facing up to Jol wasn’t a very good idea, and the sort of statements he has issued these last couple of months have been uncharacterisitcally inaccurate. It doesn’t appear that he has a lot of leisure time away from football, perhaps it would have been a good idea to spend a couple of weeks on a remote caribbean beach this summer away from football – I’m not being facetious, I don’t want him to go, but I don’t understand what he’s doing/saying at the moment and I know I’m not alone in that.
Heres a question, what if Arsene wants David Dein back and the russians money could the current paucity of the squad and the apparent lack of funds to invest, lead to enough unrest amongst supporters for there to be support for a takeover?
I have always assumed that Arsene was in line with the board over this but what if he isn’t?
What if there’s a really devious sub-plot in play?
( I don’t agree but its a thought! )
Cor! that was brave peaches, you’re going to get a lot of flack for that….
On a lighter note but with the same theme. I occassionally come across Pat Rice in my line of work and a nicer fella you couldn’t hope to meet. Whenever the cameras go to our bench after some contentious incident, all I see is Arsene gesticulating and moaning at poor old Pat who just sits there placidly soaking up all Arsene’s angst. I guess he must just go home after a bad game and kick the shit out of the cat!
50th drink!
*hic*
*Reads the ‘holic blog*
I do no such thing to the Cat Rasputin!!!.
I have a Tottenham fan on a piece of string , I kick the shit out of him!!
sorry to ask …. is arseblog down ?
have been unable to access it since morning or is it just my ISP !!
Arseblog is working here, kalki.
Hi Pat……..tell me it’s Glen Hoddle
By the way, don’t you think you are getting on a bit for all that up and down the pitch warm-up malarky?
Pint please, ‘holic. Pickled egg, bag of scratchings aswell, if you could.
It’s hard to say whether the General sale signs are due to the first leg score-line, or actual discomfort with the eleven on the pitch.
I just want this midfielder to signed, because I can’t see how we can achieve anything this season with the central midfield (Cesc excluded) that we have. It’s not numbers, it’s quality.
Hi Rasputin,
It is it is, How did you guess ?.
Yeah I’m not as young as I used to be for all the warm-ups ect but it helps keep me fit for giving Hoddle his slapping when Arsene has been chewing my ear!.
Well done Pat and congratulations on being part of the second best team (11 players, no ‘squad’ in those days) ever to play for Arsenal. Sorry I couldn’t put you ahead of ‘the Invincibles’
Starting Gallas and Djourou in the match tonight…Please tell me why Gallas is preferred to Kolo? He’s been awful for half a year at least now…
ArseNole, Kolo’s not exactly been top drawer either.
Nasri just scored!!
Evening guys, welcome.
Just grabbing a half-time drink. We look good, they don’t. Not sure yet which is causing the other!
Cheers.