Bah Humbug
Dec 23rd, 2008 by 'holic
The ‘holic Christmas shut-down was supposed to be a brief appraisal of our chances against Aston Villa and Portsmouth. The arrival of ‘holicdad on Christmas Eve, and the need to nurse the management, means this will be my only post this side of the weekend.
A dirty great grey cloud has descended over my anticipation of the holiday with the news that Cesc Fabregas will out for months, not weeks. The vociferous pessimists have already gone into meltdown, and it’s hard to conjure up a picture that is anything other than worrying.
Do we really feel confident taking on serious rivals for our top-four berth with a likely midfield quartet of Samir Nasri, Denilson, Alex Song, and Abou Diaby? The performance in the last half-hour against Liverpool suggests they have the capacity to surprise and delight, but prior to that you would have to say we are likely to be lacking in both experience and accomplishment in the centre of the park.
I thought before this weekend that our needs in January had grown from a defensive midfielder and a central defender to also include a winger. Now we need to replace Cesc as well. Do I see us buying four players? Of course not. The chances of settling four new faces into an established squad mid-season are slim to none.
No, we just have to hope a couple appear, and that a couple of the players currently getting pelters can step up to the plate and prove a few of the doubters wrong. Johan Djourou may have made the new central defender less of a priority. A couple of midfielders have surely jumped to the front of the queue of potential January targets?
Anyway, I’m off to drown my sorrows. If the ‘holic pound is to be placed over the holiday it will be on something frivolous. How about Alex Song to score against Portsmouth? Good stuff, this Jamesons!
Anyway, may I take this opportunity to wish all of you, and your families, a very happy and healthy Christmas. If you are off to Villa Park give the boys an extra cheer from me. Have a good one, ‘holics.
34 Responses to “Bah Humbug”
arsenal should sign spaniard Arteta of Everton, not expensive and consistent
First drink?
Mine’s the usual malt.
And that’s to the best possible Christmas for you, ‘holic!
Fuckety fuck cunt.
We are looking rather fucked I would say.
Make mine a bloody mary please Al.
Move Nasri to the middle of the park – it’s where he played for Marseille. I’ve no idea whether we can go 442 with him in the middle but I think that Nasri, Denilson and Song can do a great job as a central three. Song does the dirty work and screens the defence, Denilson is the water carrier and Nasri creates. That leaves us perming two of Diaby, Eboue and Vela for the wide positions against Villa but we get the option of Robin on the right when Ade is back against Portsmouth. What do you think?
While you’re at it I’ll have a double Lagavulin
Not sure about your midfield, Beardy, but that is one fabulous malt 🙂
Thanks you for all your best wishes Holic, most kind gentelman as always. I would like to with you and family a very happy and healthy Festive Season, may that glass never be empty!
We do look rather thin and in the midfiled is were we lack that spark, as you say can Denilson, Diaby or Song really impress with Cesc being absent?
This makes me feel very worried indeed our next fixture will be very tough against a Villa side full of confidence especially after beating us at the Emirates.
I have noticed against the Scousers when we lost Cesc after the first half our midfield didn’t have much clue as what to do with the ball mind you that has happend few times this season against those weaker sides too. It only appeared after the sending off they managed to get really stuck in, I wish for this sort of attitude from the lads from start of the game in every game when we play with 11 not 10 men. This would be an ideal Xmas prezzie for all the Gooners.
Le Boss should buy at least two players who will adapt quickly into the side I say a DM and someone to cover the left wing letting Nasri to rotate a bit more. I don’t think we will need to bolster our defence we have enough quality there already.
Merry Xmas to you Gooners!!!
When, back in August, AW was already turning his thoughts to the panto season, he couldn’t have thought for one minute that his turkey would turn out to be leaner than the Christma fairy’s waist line. Very difficult to imagine, no Cesc, no Theo, Rosicky and DuDu still not back, Willie G thrown a wobbler and Kolo off with the babes in the wood.
So a squad that, by his own reckoning was two turtle doves short of a full nest is now depleted to the point where if Cinderella’s shoe fits, she might get a game in our midfield.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Step up Denilson. Cesc was younger than you when he was asked to step into Pat Viera’s magic slippers. No better time than this to have the bells chiming your name. And don’t worry about Alex Song “He’s behind you!”
Yes. It’s a HUGE ask. But if the rest of the team pull for him, Denilson has the skills to play the Cesc role. He’ll need to raise his game to a new high, and so will the others around him. Arsenal may well come out of this with a much more mature and stronger squad.
Will AW buy? I think so. Who? I really don’t know. I think we’ll need to replace Gallas, I suspect he’ll be off to Italy. If I wanted to “cut and paste” to get us to the end of the season, I’d make Everton an offer for Arteta and Jagielka. But thoughts need to extend beyond this and into next. Who is the world class midfielder who’ll be there when Cesc comes back? Is Xavi too much to hope for? (NOT Alonso, the real Xavi).
hey i agree with beardy,(takes another shot of vodaka and tonic). i think nasri is the key i dont undertsand why he we stick him out wide nasri cant do much if he doesnt have the ball, he should be the play maker he is the only one with the same vision as fabregas, he can dribble, i mean i m a big arsenal and marseille fan and i kno what i m talking about. wenger shud stick vela on the left and eboue on the right for the villa game. i can tell u if our central midfielders are going to be song and denilson we are goin to see a lot of stray passes, only nasri is closest to cesc wen it comes to pin point passin. c the pass he made for van persie’s goal and the 1 he made with the outside of the boot to create chance for bartender (bendtnar) against man u…
ARTETA! We should make him our record signing (14-15m). One of the better midfielders in the league. Seems over his groin injury.
Ready to hit the ground running. Knows the league. Can play across the midfield. Great passer, good on free kicks, gets stuck in (elbows and all – just ask Cesc) and is mobile.
We really need a right sided midfielder, who can pick up the ball deep and under pressure and make a positive play a la Hleb. Arteta can rack up assists as well.
Ade Rvp
Nasri Denilson Arteta
Song
When he returns, Walcott starts home matches with Denilson or Song dropping to the bench. Good enough for fourth. Next season, get a dynamic player and replacement for Gallas and we can compete again.
Good post holic. Love BTM’s response. Apart from the highly amusing festive links I also agree re Denilson. I feel he has been harshly criticised this year by some. he is not the finished product but has on many occasions had better games than Cesc. I am sure this is for all manor of reasons. I do believe that he has come a long way in a short space of time. I know Cesc started younger but he was introduced to the first team with all sorts of minders to guide him through. Denislon has not had that luxury. I do believe in a few years time we will be talking about what a fantastic player he is.
We are currently being linked with Inler and Veloso again. I imagine most of that is paper talk but who knows? The Arshavin links keep on appearing but I will be very surprised if we pay 20 million for him. Time will tell but I will be gob smacked if we do not buy anyone.
Onwards and upwards. Merry Crimbo to one and all. Cheers for the great post’s holic. One of the few interesting and sensible blogs out there. Very enjoyable.
Up the Gunners……..
Yep, I’m with Nasri as creative midfielder. At 1st sight against WBA he looked capable of fulfilling that role and nothing I’ve seen since has changed my mind. So no doubt AW will give the job to Eboue.
Once again AW talks the situation down and I can understand why; but this is the 4th season running that we’ve suffered badly from injuries yet each season the squad’s got weaker.
Add in – oh what’s the point. We all know the problems and, as you say, we now need at least 4 players in – although I thought that before the Cesc disaster.
Anyway we live in hope: the Arsenal Way is to thrive in the face of adversity. Can’t see it with this lot but I hope they prove me wrong.
Failing that perhaps the Premier League could be abandoned in January and spare us another 5 months of this stuff?
A Happy Christmas to you and yours ‘holic and let’s hope for a better New Year for us all.
Best wishes to you and your family Holic.
Holic and all here.
I wish you one and all a very happy Christmas and my sincere(and sometimes drunken) thanks for keeping me from loosing my bottle.
and on that note a shot of padron tequila and this thought for the holiday ahrad..
WHAT IF……………..
Santa Claus drops down the chimney at120 maple place.
He goes about his task placing presents under the tree when the full lights go on.
Santa looks around and sees Melanie on the couch in her nighty.
“Santa, she breathes……..you’ve been so very nice to me over the years I want to do something nice for YOU this year.
santa says “HO HO HO SANTA’S GOTTA GO, DELIVER ALL THE TOYS TO THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS!”
“But Santa…..I REALLY want to do something special for you and drops the spaghetti strap from her right shoulder.
santa says “HO HO HO SANTA’S GOTTA GO DELIVER ALL THE TOYS TO THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS!”!
“Santa”, she breathes….”I reallllly reallly want to do something special for you->” and stands up and drops the other strap. Her top drops to the floor.
Santa, awestruck, finally says “HO HO HO SANTA’S GOTTA STAY CAN’T GET UP THE CHIMNEY WITH MY DICK THIS WAY!!!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas to all and to all and a better new year.
cheers
by the way…what’s a Lagavulin
Steve T,
I’ve been following Inler’s progress with Udinese since AW announced that we could “expect to hear news of a new signing next week”. That was back in August, but Inler said “No thanks, I’m staying in Ude”.
He started the season like a WORLD BEATER, so did Udinese and I thought we’d missed out on greatness. As the season has progressed Udinese have lost their sheen and Inler looks like he doesn’t want to get his shorts dirty. AC Milan thumped Udinese last Sunday. Inler was not at the races. He just sailed disinterestedly through the game. On that showing, give me Alex Song every time.
Can’t comment on Veloso. Don’t get the Portugese League here.
Gooners, we’ve got some great youngsters. Keep the faith!
Happy Christmas ‘holic and all the best to you and the management over the remainder of the week. Here’s hoping for six festive points to the gunners for our group present!
6 points, at the very least, should see us clear of the chasing pack for a few weeks at least.
Cheers!
I agree with Steve T ref Denilson – he has been better than Cesc on a number of occasions this season. It’s up to him now whether he takes his chance or not. Song is also improving.
Will we buy? We probably need to because the squad looks awfully thin now, but buying well in January is notoriously difficult we’ll just have to hope Wenger can pull something out of his Christmas stocking.
I don’t know about Lagavulin but I reckon Redbreast is probably the best whiskey in the world!
Have a happy Christmas and an injury free New Year everyone!
Cheers.
Some excellent points folks (first time post). However, on careful analysis I have to say that IMHO Denilson is only going to ever cut it in a 5 man midfield, a luxury in the EPL. Statistics can be misleading BUT cogitate on the following
Mid field pairing %of poss points gained
Denilson / Eboue* 50
Fabregas/Denilson 62
Fabregas/Song+ 81
Denilson/ Song 0
* In the WBA game Nasri was wide left alternating with Denilson occasionally but Denilson was primary central against Fulham
+ In 6 of the 7 games where song has partnered Cesc, Denilson has played wide (R or L)
Denilson’s successful tackling rate is very low and one explanation why Cesc doesn’t appear in as good form this year is that he is doing the bulk of the defensive duties when playing with Denilson, whereas MF did most of it last year, freeing Cesc to create.
Denilson doesn’t track back particularly well in CMF witness the free runs for Man U’s chances in the 1st half, 3/4 of the Spud goals and Giovanni having all the space in the world to shoot.
Denilson has been in CMF for all of our league defeats this year.
Like the idea of Nasri in CMF and if we could put Mark Noble or Jimmy Bullard along side with Arteta wide I would think we could go for the title. Song, Diaby Denilson Ramsey and Wilshire should be the cover not the front line (i.e only a max of 2/5 playing in any starting line up)
Just my 2 pennorth.
large single malt with a treble single malt on the side please barman.
Mines a Woodford reserve on the rocks, and sort yourself out with one as well Landlord.
Cometh the hour, cometh Diaby, easily our most creative midfielder still available barring Nasri who brings added physicality to the play in the middle.
Denilson’s first instincts when he receives the ball is square or backwards whilst Diaby’s is go forward, even Wenger said as much.
Denilson and the Song Tank also taking up the in the middle with Nasri means we move from the quarterback type cesc magic ball to a more rugged combative running game, which will take everyone by surprise.
Diaby’s final ball will hopefully improve because he can go past a man and its no surprise that he is always tackled by three players he just needs to release the ball earlier and that will only come with a run of games.
Injury wise im hoping that its just the stop start nature of his game that is causing that, hopefully with a sustained run of games his body will adapt.
Areta would be awesome but if memory serves me right i dont think he and cesc get on even a tiny bit, but the move for him might get him noticed by the spanish national team and that could be the difference maker. Personally I smell a Bischoff in the air.
Pass me my bourbon whiskey please good sir, ahhh the good stuff!!
*gulps it down, burns..eyes water* Blimey!… Cheers all.
Merry Christmas , ‘holic.
Happy Christmas to the ‘holic household.
*raises glass*
Armourist, for a while (a season or two ago), I couldn’t wait to see Cesc, Diaby, Denilson in our mid-field such was their collective promise. For me Diaby has been unable to come close to fulfilling that promise. I think he is potentially a great talent but 1) is he ever going to be fit enough for a sustained run? and 2) his game is a dribbling game, not a passing game.
Clerkenwell Phil, Holic does good work, you should come back frequently. Lots of good points on Denilson’s game. He’s not the finishe article yet, but who is at 20? (“Damn few and they’re a’ deed” as we say in Scotland)
Holic, Gooners have a great Christmas. Lets put Villa in a box on the 26th.
Bergkamp’s The Man, i feel in my limited knowledge the reason why he has been unable to fufill that talent is because he has a world class player playing in his ideal position, so he gets bits and scraps, if Wenger has the balls and plays there I honestly believe he will have a selection problem when the Cesc returns.
And you are right his is a dribbling game, a running game, he hopefully will power thru midfield and he would need runners on the flank with him, hopefully a return to the red swarm when we broke with the ball and hit teams like the invincibles did.
We saw the microscopic version of what that midfield brings against Liverpool, rugged and combative although the adebayor sending off variable played a part but if we search back to the Carling cup team that went to the final, I remember them being rugged and in control till Diaby left the field.
I have championed this kid for a while and believe me with some of his performances it has been an uphill battle but Fenerbache gave me hope again.
Holic has been championing Denilson for a while after he has only played half a season, and rightly pointed Denilson at 20 is better than Flamini was but crucially Denilson has had the games, Diaby hasnt, I think we can only judge him after he has had a chance, whether Wenger is brave enough is another thing.
Holic, Bergkamp’s The Man…..Whiskey?
Invariably Glenmourangie (on Thursday’s), Lang may yer lum reek, Laddie.
Midfield @ Villa?
Nasri, Denilson, Song, Vela with Diaby playing just in front?
Not too shabby if you ask me. I actually think Eboue will play rather than Vela which maybe adds a wee bit more solidity. We all know Eboue is a right back and the wide midfield role just doesnt suit him but I think the events surrounding the Wigan game will galvanize him and hopefully he’ll go out with an “I’ll F****** show you lot attitude”. We’ve got to get at them from the off today and a repeat of the last 30 mins against the Scousers will do nicely. I’m positive we’ll turn Villa over today.
I agree with an earlier post suggesting we should make a sneaky bid for Mikael Arteta who to me seems very much an Arsenal type player. Only 26 too!! Certainly capable of putting it about a bit too, although if Nasri moves to a central position (and Diaby on the wing), it still leaves us with the problem of who does the central defensive role!?
Alonso has probably increased in value and Zenit St. Petersburg will want too much moolah for the services of Arshavin – can’t see Wenger be willing to part with too much cash for those two.
To todays game, I’m quietly confident we will baton down the hatches and steal a result from an understandably confident Villa. 2-1 goes the Arsenal way.
Hope all is well with you and yours ‘holic
Thanks Jackster, and all. Sorry I’ve not been around but sadly had to rush the management back into hospital on Christmas Day to be carved open once again. Hopefully I will be back with a double review after the Pompey game. Cheers all.
I’ll raise a pre-match glass for you, ‘holic, take much care in these cunting times.
Really sorry to hear your news, holic. Very tough to bear, particularly at this time of year. Thoughts with you and your good lady. Wish management a very speedy return to the boardroom for me.
The quality of your posts is exposed in your absence. There’s some pretty atrocious nonsense out there from teenage scribblers who lack your balance and breadth.
All the best to you and yours ‘holic