The Day I Didn't Miss Being At Arsenal
Jan 31st, 2009 by 'holic
I’m hearing voices again. That is worrying. Due to circumstances beyond my control I have had to spend six weeks watching football online. I am discovering some quite interesting things. One of the most significant is listening to mates come back from another freezing afternoon bereft of much other than utter frustration.
For once, even I cannot muster much of an argument against those who would argue that we have become a modern day version of the King’s new clothes. We actually are a little one dimensional in our approach, certainly devoid in imagination when faced by yet another team who arrive with a back ten and no ambition beyond a solitary, precious point.
You wouldn’t come here if you didn’t expect me to offer up the absence of our most creative talents as a partial explanation (never an excuse). I have to accept, however, that even our average squad players should have enough in the locker to see off a side so totally talentless and limited as modern-day West Ham.
I suppose, as one who has followed some pretty turgid Arsenal sides around England and Europe down the years, I should appreciate the defensive organisation that enabled the one-time ‘academy of football’ to comfortably see off the Gunners’ best efforts at the Grove. To a degree I guess I do.
The voices, however, are telling me that the Premiership is heading for an inevitable decline if every away team (and lots at home too) continue to play anti-football. Fully aware that I am in danger of being charged with getting indigestion from a large bunch of sour grapes I should explain further what the voices are saying.
I can appreciate travelling the length and breadth of the country, and beyond, following a side with limited attacking ambition. In the days that I did that regularly there was much inexpensive entertainment to be had. Often you could jib on the trains, scrounge tickets from grateful players who weren’t carefully shielded from the paying public, and chuck inexpensive pints of decent (and sometimes not so decent!) ale down your neck, for less than a monthly payment on a new car.
Yes, it’s the old ‘I used to live in a shoebox, get up before I had gone to sleep, and work twenty-five hours a day down the pit’ speech. The point I am making is a valid one though, and the bean counters at Highbury should take heed. I have to express a degree of surprise that the Grove was a sell-out today. The decision to make West Ham a category A fixture was one born out of greed, and the safe certainty that there were enough people out there prepared to sacrifice a silly sum to watch an average opponent.
Under normal circumstances I would have been there today. For various reasons down the years the Irons has always been a game to attend. A lot of those reasons no longer apply, and the lack of quality on display in this latest meeting of the sides has convinced me that I will not be going again next year if it is a relatively meaningless grade A fixture.
Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I will always prefer to watch my team in the flesh with friends and enjoy all that a day out at the Arsenal has to offer. For now though I have to be careful to get value for money. My employer tells me I am ‘at risk’. The real world is knocking at my door. Good friends all around me are being released almost daily, it seems.
I know that I am not alone in carefully considering the contests that will empty my wallet in future. The best social gatherings will sway my decisions. A game at the Grove is a day out for me, and no longer will I hang that day on the back of a forty percent premium to watch the sort of stuff that the West Hams of this world are serving up, whilst being forced to sit down and keep quiet by the yellow jackets.
My belief in the way that Arsenal want to play the game is unshaken. My belief in the manager remains intact, although what currently ails us will take more than one signing to fix. My blind faith is though being tested like never before. And this warm chair in front of a free computer stream is for the first time becoming a viable option.
86 Responses to “The Day I Didn't Miss Being At Arsenal”
It’s Ok ‘holic. All will be well with us.
I could not agree more with you about the decline of West Ham and the sad so called football teams that make up the Prem. the death of football looms.
Bollox article as usual, i may be banned because you cant deal with the truth but fact is Wenger is finished and you my friend are in an ever decreasing minority of idiots who cant see it. Wake the fuck up, we have a worse team now than when the “genius” took over.
All fair enough in your cicrumstance. I’m reasonably protected from the meltdown and can afford to continue to go. My concern is that I’m attending out off loyalty. It’s only slightly better on the pitch than Graham’s last year, except you feel a couple of good signings would change things around . Then perhaps we would take a kinder view of Denilson and Diaby if they were really bit part players in a real squad
Don’t ban him. Let people see what a moron he is. He doesn’t speak for all, or even a fraction, of Arsenal fans.
‘holic
totaly agre with you. teams playing 10 men behind the ball are ruining the game. yes we should have scored – we hardly ever out of their half – but even if we had it would have been dull.
we’re not totally alone either with Villa also unable to break down bolton and ManU only managing 1 against Everton. If it carries on like this the Premiership is going to die
the only people it benefits are morons like Paulie so they can plant their crap over the web
You are bang right my friend, I’ve just got back from watching the game at a local pub of mine, which has an Irish box,so we mortals can watch a saturday 3pm kick off, & I see a worrying trend of the Arse of late, the fact that we look very mediocre.
I used to be able to console myself with the fact we were playing great football & that was great entertainment, but I can’t say that now. I go to see Arsenal a few times a season & it aint cheap.
agree with paulie. AW is stale and are team contains a few too many ‘average’ players. that simple
‘our’
Paulie, I realise there is not much to do in Ennis on a Saturday night, but do us a favour. Go somewhere where you might be appreciated.
Well said Paulie cant agree more West Ham must of laughed there bollox off when they saw RVP on the bench top tactical move that Wenger!
Thanks CG. It’s not just about being able to afford it. Let’s face it, if it was just the game that was the attraction we could cut everything else out and probably still go nearly every week. Football has always been about the package though. The other attractions of a day following the Arsenal, having a drink with mates, maybe even a bit of a dance.
The club will discover, if they are not careful, that the football is not enough to keep sixty thousand bums on seats.
Rant over, maybe 🙂
I blame adebayor for the draw today he missed chance after chance but villa drawed so all is not lost (yet).
an arsenal team of 4 years ago would have been good enough to break down a team like west ham who simply defended for 90 minutes.
man united face the same sort of stuff every time they play at home, but they have enough invention to break through time after time.
yes it is frustrating the way these teams are playing, BUT who can blame them when arsenal have been totally worked out. teams no longer fear us, in fact we are a chance for points nowadays.
we need to look at our shortcomings as to why we drew 0-0, not the fact that west ham defended well for 90 minutes.
arsene should be expecting this every time we play at home. why not try and change things, mix it up and surprise the oppo. why do we always play in a one dimensional, obvious fashion.
teams come prepared for our limited style of play, a style of play we no longer have players capable of pulling it off.
im not blaming west ham. i blame arsenal.
that said, i certainly dont blame you for not attending this match.
How can you constantly defend these players holic, how many times do you have to see them to know they are just not good enough. Do you seriously think Song, Diaby, Eboue, Denilson, Allmunia, Adebayor, Bendtner or Clichy would get anywhere near another top team, no fucking chance, the fans would go crazy. I watched the game today but a long way from Ennis and let me tell you its like fucking groundhog day. The same rubbish week after week from shite that are spun to us as good players. How the fuck people can say we play great football anymore is a mystery and words fail me to describe what sort of a manager Wenger has become. Now its not raining anymore so I think ill leave you to ban me.
we arsenal fans pay most expensive tickets, is it too hard to see us buy 2-3 quality players not watch average or dire players like bendthner,eboue,diaby, almunia etc
All these stories about Arshavin is doing my head in Where the fuck is he? Last season we created to many chances and could’nt score them this season we can’t create a fucking thing how many saves did Green make today Henry & Co would have torn West Ham to shreds
I don’t want to ban anyone fella. I just want people to explain and argue their viewpoint and not come out with the monosyllabic shit that is always your first post. How about we start again. You will have seen, since you always come here, that I have not deleted anybody elses posts just for not sharing my point of view. That would be arrogant in the extreme. Other blogs do practice that as a matter of routine.
All I ask is that put your case relatively succinctly. You don’t even need to dot every i or cross every t, because I know there are a lot of genuine dyslexics out there. Just come and put your case without abusing the man most people feel has taken this club to another level.
What do you say?
It was a dire game, and when I saw RvP on the bench my fears were confirmed, never have I seen such a pair of lazy players as Diaby and Adebayor, Eduardo could have played twenty minutes and would have shown more heart and desire that waste of money Adebayor, I pay 950 for my ST to watch Arsenal and I am not being entertained anymore, we have become dull,boring and predictable.
Wenger needs to drop certain players who don’t seem to want to play, Adebayor had a hat full of chances and his header at Green was pathetic, he is no HENRY, he is more Glen Helder I would like to see the back of him come this summer.
In the last three seasons we have gone backwards, no more spin five draws in ten games is not top four finish, we could have reduced the points between us and Villa and we failed.
It’s the frustration and attitude of Arsenal players and Wenger that will drive fans away and paying the highest prices in the world.
There was not 60,000 plus in the Emirates today, we are being hoodwinked and I have read that 30% of ST holders will not renew I will for the first time in twenty years have to share the cost of mine for next season, and playing in the UEFA cup will not help one bit
I’m intrigued by the season ticket holder question, Paul. When push comes to shove I think those that can afford to renew, will. The waiting list will take care of the rest for the forseeable future.
Club level is the problem they have to solve. Those who bought on one or two year deals must be querying the value for money they are getting, but the club cannot offer price cuts or discounts to entice them back because those who signed up for four year deals will be up in arms.
It will also be interesting to see how many new silver members are created in the summer…
i cant take much more of this breathtaking football from the gunners time too give arsene the road and a few of his fellow country men also, enough( live horse and youll get grass) and ill line my pockets with £4million every year and keep the board happy and not give a toss about the loyal fan.twas with G G squad that we won the titles with under wenger
It looks like we have accepted as a team to finish outside the top 4 If that happens we might never get back in Because there are a lot of teams looking to take our place Listening to Hill-Wood its like he does’nt mind either maybe there will be less pressure on them to keep up with the other 3 so called big clubs
I’m not renewing my season ticket. It’s just not value for money anymore. Apart from the Man U’s, Liverpools and Chelseas who come and play, there is no entertainment in watching a limited team battling for 90+ minutes to break down 5-6 man midfields in freezing weather. Forget it.
14 PL games to learn how to break down 10 men behind the ball. Not going to happen is it?
mistaken,
nope, not unless we change OUR approach.
Great piece ‘Holic. Bad news seems to be hitting everyday doesn’t it?
It’s the sensible thing to do on your part. I can imagine the necessity and urge to prioritise games. Let this be a bit of a warning for Arsenal and other clubs.
On the West Hams and Evertons and everyone else, yeah, a Gooner just posted a link to the Season Review 2003-04. I watched it again all smiling and misty eyed. Of course Henry’s brilliance, the speedy counter-attacks, the pace at which our game was played, Bobby and Freddie scoring from the flanks, the rock-solid Sol-Kolo partnership, the mad German at the back, etc etc were all just out-of-this-world stuff. One other thing I noticed was just how much space we were given, even at the smaller Highbury. The abundance of pace and intelligence definitely enabled us to create space. But the sheer number of bodies in the box, if you count then vs now, the difference is astounding.
I’d put that primarily down to the huge stakes involved in the Premiership ever since Murdoch’s money started flooding clubs’ coffers. Teams are no longer driven by the ambition of winning games/points/trophies, but by the tremendous fear of losing.
Also the big gap developed between the ‘top 4’ and the rest in the past few years. I’d argue that this very gap is being closed precisely bcos teams were afraid to attack the strong teams and came with a plan only to stifle our play. Practice makes perfect. This seems to be the season in which they’re reaping rewards.
All that said, I believe these things come in cycles. One day some glory hunters would get bored of this ‘entertainment’, some middle-class match-goers have to pick and choose games to watch. Then clubs will have to respond to the shifting demand curve and adjust their prices accordingly, that’s elementary economics. The Boltons and Boros might have to start lowing their prices first, before the London clubs stop ripping off their audiences of higher income. That day will come, and soon.
I’ve been a regular for over 50 years, and I’ve watched some awful Arsenal teams, but much of that was in the days when watching football was a reasonable expense. I go with 5 mates, and there is a real possibilty that 3 will not renew their season tickets, because the dross that is being served up is neither entertainment nor value for money. If things go on as they are, then forget the so-called 40,000 waiting list, because that will evaporate. People are not silly, and they will not pay top dollar for the rubbish that is now on offer. I’ve been a big supporter of AW, but the guy is losing the plot. Surely next Tuesday is the night to ‘rest’ RvP, not when the team need to secure every available point merely to stay in a CL place! Elsewhere, the quality is not there. Not too many years ago, if say, Viera or Lundjberg were injured, then Edu or Parlour – Christ how we could do with his runnning and never say die attitude now – would be avaiable. What do we have now? The likes of Eboue – arguably the worst player since Gus Caesar to play for the Club – as a FIRST CHOICE STARTER!!! What a complete joke. And he’s not alone. Adebayor, Diaby, Denison, the list goes on. The team needs an injection of quality, but I fear it will now be all be too little too late. I sincerely hope I’m wrong, because once we are overtaken by the likes of Villa, it could prove a near impossible job to claw our way back again.
Just not good enough after last years hurt & 2 hear glory Man utd as they pick up 3points again! is nothing short of sickening-especialy as we could have won the league if only we took r chances. This just isn’t our time. Gutted! (But our time will come)
ps oi landord, where in the be’jesus is my alcoholic beverage?
oh i didnt order one did i…
well tonight to ease my woes i would like 25 shots of brandy and vodka please and two yards of red wine.
lovely.
cheers big al.
its not just arsenal season ticket holders will not renew. the figure that Paul B quoted was part of a surcey of all clubs – Man U, Chelski and a number of otthers actually had higher figures saying they wouldn’t renew.
The reasons for this are simple – boring football with teams playing only to defend, high ticket prices to pay for inflated player salaries and transfers, and you may have noticed there is a recession.
I don’t get Wenger. He cocked it up in a large way by not buying anyone other than Nasri in the summer. But if he doesn’t bring anyone in during this transfer window, then I think that he is bringing his job into question. I know that he is a great manager and has done wonders for us, but you can’t live off of past glories forever.
If we really don’t have any money, then people need to know and I think that fans will be more likely to forgive and accept the situation. If we do have money to spend and he is chucking this season down the pan with his youth project, then that is negligence and I think that people would be right about wanting him out.
I agree with your first post, we are a team that is devoid of any ideas at the moment. I think the whole starting 11 seemed to lack confidence, Adebayor is desperate need of a goal or two and Wenger wont drop him as this will only affect him even more. I have never rated Adebayor as being good enough for Arsenal, although he banged a few in last season I often wonder how many would Eduardo ended up with had he not sustained that awful injury, and as I said although he did score a few last season some of his performance were dreadful.
I think Arsenal have some bigger issues inside the club than they would have us believe. The current board have taken the club as far as they can and should now move over for one of these sugar daddies to take the helm. Imagine Robinho at the grove? The place is crying out for a superstar and the prices we pay, we deserve it too.
I am also starting to think that “Le Boss” is coming to the end of his time as manager, if we go another season without silverware and its looking likely 5 years is too long for a club the size of Arsenal. Its ok playing pretty football but would we rather win one nil, shut up shop and win somet. I dont care how we play aslong as win something.
There thats my rant over with.
One more thing I wanted to add, if we dont sign Arshavin as has been predicted I think will and should send shock waves around the club at all levels. Hleb leaves, Flamini leaves, Henry leaves, who do we bring in? And we make £3million per game, where is all that money going???????? On the debt, I think the Emirates Stadium is gonna cost us dearly for the next few years unless as I suggested in my first post we get a sugar daddy. I think a certain Mr Dein was right.
Rant part 2 over with.
gunnerb, we are not even playing ‘pretty football’ now. It’s mindless passing sidaeways, until the ball is lost. No pace, no passion, no plan.
If you want to see something interesting (rather than most of the bollocks posted here) the Guardian football web pages have chalkboards of every pass, shot etc by every player for every team for the last few seasons.
Apparently we had 22 shots to WHU 2, and we had 584 passes today of which 495 were successful (Denilson had 79 of which 71 were succesful), whereas Manu had 421 passes of which 356 were successful v Everton.
Holic
Hey what Paulli said may be mis-interpreted FAN frustration but I agree to an extent. we are told the same old shite week in week out about , lack of creativity, sharpness, blah blah blah. Well why does Wenger not do something about it.
Trust me, I live in Jamaica where we have a wealth of football on TV-I watch EVERY Arsenal game live on TV or online and I am unsure whether I would cough up the $$$ to go to a LIVE game week in week out. Ponderous & predictable we have become -remember we LOST 5 games WITH FABREGAS! This team is just not good enough! As a true fan you love and support your club through thick & thin but a club with as BIG a RECENT history as Arsenal FC deserve more than the shite we have seen week in week out this season. Wenger has always said that there should be no mid-season transfer window as a manager should live with the mistakes he made at the start of thse season-is that a veiled admission that he FUCKED up by not suitable replacing Flamini, Diarra, Gilberto, Hleb???
For me this season has been a watershed-I will still watch every game but my EXPECTATIONS compared to the last 9 years have fallen. I now expect us to play like we did today. It was FAR TOO EASY for West Ham. How can you blame them! teams have been doing it for years……the football business is a results business……we ain’t getting the results and we ain’t playing GOOD football! They got a POINT away from home against the mighty Arsenal! Good for them and BAD for us.
Myles Palmer has been saying for years that “The Professor” is one big spin doctor-well, as much as I hate to say so – I actually believe him now! Wenger says the same annoying SHITE week in week out. FANS NEED to let him know WE AIN’T HAPPY with these tactically inpet performances or lesser than suitable players!
Over to you!
agree entirely with begeegs
wenger has been amazing for us. but either he lies when he says we have some money or his stubbornness with a clearly failing youth project is having us slip away quite worryingly. either way we’re not being told the truth or we’re being short changed. (probably both)
what makes it all the more annoying is you always know with united that if they play awfully and drop points that the hairdrier is coming. maybe behind closed doors he does this sort of thing too, but from all we can tell wenger instead makes excuses, blames injuries, refs, linesmen, says the team played much better than it did and refuses to show any sign of addressing the players which they need. i would rather the underperforming players went out there scared shitless they’ll be dropped and sold this summer if they don’t improve rathyer than thinking in denilson’s case ‘i don’t have to mark that closely since arsene doesn’t care either way. he’s so busy looking at my passing stats that he forgot to notice’.
Im afraid you (the blogger) are like your manager, your head is stuck up your arse and you can not see your teams blatant inadequacis, you are now a very,very average team, void of passion, penetration and ideas.
Hopefully you are heading the same way as your deluded Norf London neighbours.
yours etc.
from E13
The year we lost the cup winners cup final to zaragoza we were rubbish in the league and we weren’t great the season after that either. Thats where we were before Wenger, how do people forget that? We weren’t good to watch at all and we were miles off even challenging for the league. Wenger came in and changed everything, god knows what would have happened if he never came at all,maybe we would have got Cryuff who probably would have went mental and left after a few months. Yes Wenger has made some mistakes lately and yes the team is carrying a lot of deadweight, but you have to be some spoiled little cunt to be looking for Wenger to get sacked, does no one remember the two doubles, Adams goal against Everton, thrashing Inter, winning the league at old trafford and at spurs, an unbeaten fucking season! We have been incredibly lucky to have Wenger as manager, long may he continue
You must be so proud of your boys iron.
yes I am thanks
irontcv
for a team of so limited history and ambitions, i guess this must be something of a triumph
Be honest, apart from RVP in the current squad would we miss any player if he left?
It’s not that we want Wenger to get the sack but FFS, change something. This team has been in decline since the end of 2003-2004. Why can’t the fans ask for an explantion as to the direction their team (who they support with their hard earned $$$$) are heading in! The West Ham supporter has a point. we look medicore, devoid of any attacking IDEAS. wenger’s reputation and achievements are great but HAS HE MOVED THE CLUB to a point where SOMEBODY NEW needs to take over. How long will his “YOUNG TEAM” take to develop-a long fukcing time from the looks of things! If we couldn’t win last year with a better squad AND we have not added any improvements in the last 12 months-that suggests only way we are heading and results are the proof in the pudding!
NO ONE IS IRREPLACEABLE!
ONE FRUSTRATED GOONER!
you guys make me laugh – like liverpool and some others you now cry foul that Chelski, Man City and others have too much money to spend and its not fair.
boo hoo
Your club has always been built on privilage and advantage.
If you guys had been through the crap we have been through in the last few years, maybe you too, would have enjoyed today!
good luck for the rest of the season.
I dont really care about other teams, only Arsenal. The way I see it we dont have the quality to break down those teams. At the moment the only person that seems likely to score is RVP7. We used to have a solid team where goals were coming in from RP7, TH14, PV4, FL8, DB10…think of the players that have been used to replace those legends…no wonder were struggling!
We really have a massive problem, our creativity is lacking, we never get the ball in the box quick enough, no hunger to chase the ball down, go for lost causes etc…
irontc,
i think you are right.
we should be worrying about our own inept attackind displat rather than your defensive display.
we know what teams are going to do, but still cant prepare ourselves to beat it.
good result for you and hope you continue your run.
jay simpson scored a nice goal today. wouldnt mind him back in place of adebayor to be honest.
nice read.. Come on you gunners!!!!!!
Goonerholic,
I take your point about not turning on the manager who has ‘made Arsenal what they are’, but here’s a question for you:
Wenger’s last major success was, of course, the 2004 ‘invincible season’, (I’m loathe to include the 2005 FA Cup win against Man U as that was a joke – the jammiest, most undeserved cup final win ever, and I’m including the ‘Michael Owen’ 2-goals-in-the-last-ten-minutes-after-being-totally-outclassed’ 2-1 defeat we suffered against Liverpool in 2001).
So, what we’re now looking at is a tenre of two halves for Wenger – 1997-2004 = wonderful, but 2005-2009 = average (and getting progressively worse). At what stage, Goonerholic, should a BIG club (and we are, and always have been a big club – which some people seem to find hard to believe, almost suggesting we were some kind of non-league club or something before Wenger’s arrival) say – ‘right, enough’s enough, we’re not winning anything, we’re predictable, the quality of our football is getting progressively worse, and this has gone on for FIVE years.
This is a genuine question. I also love Wenger and want him to do well. But genuinely, Goonerholic, how long would YOU give him before you start to turn? Is your love for him perpetual or at some point would you at least start to qiuestion, not necessarily his position at the club, but his decisions and the performances you are seeing on the pitch week after week?
Say in 2013, we’re still a 5th/6th/7th place team – will you say ‘it’s time for a change’ or will you say ‘It’s ok, Wenger won us the league, unbeaten, in 2004? so he must stay?’ I’d be interested to know, because in my view, NO ONE is above criticism, especially in a sport as high-profile, punishing (and let’s not forget well-paid) as football.
One final point, the park-10-in-front-of-the-goal-footballl you are so disparaging towards (which West Ham played today) also saved us today, because if Wigan hadn’t employed the very same tactic against Villa and scraped a 0-0 draw today, we would be absolutely f*cked, 7 points behind Villa and on the verge of settling for (at best) UEFA Cup football in JANUARY.
Top of the league by a good few points in January 2008 – compared to 5th place in the league and struggling to make up any ground whatsoever exactly 12 months later = serious mistakes made by the management. Can’t you accept that, or do you put it all down to bad luck?
It’s almost like you’re saying we should accept Man U are going to win the league each year, and we should just be grateful for anything Wenger achieves. That’s nonesense, Arsenal are a BIG club! No one’s saying they know anywhere near as much about football as Wenger, but if we, in our passion and despair and love for Arsenal, don’t have our say about what’s quite evidently going wrong, then who will?
oh.. and IRONTC, bugger off back to your own clubs websites
The thing is that last season proved that Wenger seems to live in a idealistic world. Obviously, in a perfect world, everyone would stay at Arsenal because of Wenger’s purist principles. As admirable as that is, it isn’t practical in the long run as some people are motivated by things other than Wenger’s vision. This is where his youth project falls down. Inevitably, if allowed to continue without reinforcements like last year (and arguably the year before that), we will be a selling club every year while our league position suffers which means less revenue for the club while losing our best players. Granted that is probably a bit of a doomsdayer view, but how long are our World Class players going to want to stick around when we aren’t playing Champions League football? So, the new stadium certainly looks less and less attractive the more that you look at things.
I hope the man can turn things around, but this year looks like a wash to me without reinforcements.
This kind of game is the type Arsenal are going to encounter woth frequently. It’s no use waving intircate beautiful patterns if the end result is a stalemate.For Aw to protest this is anti soccer shows his own lack of a plan to overcome such defences.
I think Aw has lost his way since 2004. Then the redfaced was on the way down . Now it’s a different picture.AW says the picture in May will be different from Feb. Surely he must know Arsenal are out of title contention and he has only the cl spot to aim at.
His reluctance to spend in the transfer market is well known.I just hope that if Arsenal miss out on the cl place,it is by no means easy to get it back at first try.He shd know that.
I think since 2005 with no trophy to show,he has been behind the redfaced in terms of managerial ability.Yes the red faced had tons of money but although AW lacking the mega resources could have mounted a more resilient challenge he has failed .Where once he was touted as equal or superior to the red faced,he has been firmly put back in the chasing pack thru his own idiosyncrasies and poor judgement in terms of tactics and player acqusition.
Brilliantly put gunner fan, brilliantly put.
So many sad but true comments. I, like a few others on here am an ex-pat and choose to get up at 3am to watch the games live on Sky but at the prices quoted I would find it hard to justify the outlay to buy a season ticket. There will always be the “johnny come latelys” who bought in to the total football of 98-04. They can choose their “entertainment” elsewhere, for the rest of us it is an integral part of our lives, not a case of is it the emirates or the theatre this week darling! they will sadly be a feature of the club from now on to provide revenue but no soul or atmosphere.
Another post asked where the money is? We have been crying out for 3/4 players since July to strengthen the squad. We lost 3 experienced regulars and bought Nasri. The board keep saying there is money to spend but Arsene won’t splash out prefering to “keep faith” with the current squad. Loyalty is one thing but there are a couple of players for who the well has run dry. Adebayor spent all of the off season wiggling his @rse at Inter and Barca and when they pulled out (no pun intended) he had to slink back and got a pay rise to boot! He is lazy and plays for himself. I can’t believe we allegedly turned down 20m for him.
How Eboue starts each week is beyond me. Over the years we have had some great and not so great wide midfielders. Ray Parlour would run all day, Freddie would score vital goals, Groves had pace and popped up with a goal or two, Rix was a brilliant passer, Limpar on his day was breathtaking, Pires sublime. I cannot see anyof the above qualities in Eboue at least Helder was fairly direct.
I think most of the squad deserves a go. Denilson, tries hard good squad player, Diaby has potential, Bendtner is young but the I two mentioned take the piss.
We need Arshavin (if he comes) to have a half season impact a la Brian Marwood to overhaul Villa and get into the top 4. In the summer the cards have to go on the table. Either we have money or we dont. This squad has had buckets of chances to shine and we need exprienced pros to shake them up and put pressure on for places.
Come on you reds!
For Aw to protest this is anti soccer shows his own lack of a plan to overcome such defences.
I’m flattered, gunner fan, but this was my assertion, not Arsene’s. He was full of praise for West Ham after the contest. He did not however pay over sixty quid for a seat that is normally forty-something.
We are talking from two different angles here.
Was going to make a comment but with all the D&G on here i’ll just have a very large Glenlivet and bollox to em all.
Think I’ll join you Steve.
Then off to my stinking pit.
G’night all.
Lots of things to address this week, but let’s start with the match. I actually thought that in the first and second third of the pitch we played well. We looked solid at the back, although hardly tested I would agree. Central midfield we looked good. i am very surprised at the criticism of Diaby on here. I thought that generally he had a decent game. Nasri was sharp and probing. Denilson also played well. What may not come over on the box is his movement off the ball and his reading of the game. Both of which today were excellent.
Where we really lacked sharpness today was up front. Funny but Bendtner also played well. He did not lose one challenge in the air. Apart from a few misplaced passes he was solid, and certainly more of a threat than Ade. In my opinion it was Ade that should have gone off and not Bendtner.
Yet again we had zero width. We are far too narrow. The balls we did hit into the middle were all hit and hopes. None were delivered with any real purpose. To be honest, all were food and drink to any average centre half. In the final third we were very poor.
So who is at fault????? I am starting to believe that it is not AW but more the board. We keep hearing about the extra millions we have but refuse to spend any. On the contrary, we actively off load players with experience. Why????? That is a total mystery to me. I am starting to wonder if there is some policy to try and pay back the loan in double quick time for some reason. Cue AW’s comments weeks ago that in 10 years time we will thank everyone?????
There are big questions to be answered. Holic, you will not be alone by any stretch when considering what games to attend next season. The board have to be made aware that the down wood spiral may well be a lot sharper than they anticipate. I for one am more than pissed off watching average players who earn more in a week than I earn in a year. I get even more pissed off when I watch the same players just lolloping around with a could not care less attitude. I can accept the fact that they may not be world class, or that they may be having an off day. What I refuse to accept is a complete lack of effort and a could not give a shit attitude.
We have until midnight on Monday to seal any deals. How about making a 25 million offer for Ribery??? He may be just the type of player we need.
One final thing. How about a rule cahnge. There have been loads of games this season, not just involving us where negative football has been the key. Play for a draw. Well how about this? You only get a point for a score draw? A nil nil and no one gets a point. If teams knew that they had to score at least once to get a point then we may just see a tad more adventure.
Steve T. Up till your last paragraph you were making sense. 25 million for Ribery, no way.
Steve,
Perhaps I am just getting desperate???????? Just don’t get why we move from the narrowest pitch in the league, to a wide pitch and then don’t bother with wide players I guess???? Is it me, or perhaps it really is rocket science and I just do not get it?
Tactically the team needs a SHAKE UP. Steve T mentions that until the final 1/3 we played well. Unless you are bombing in goals from 30-40 yds then u better play well in the final 1/3 or u will not score any goals! We play with width………Bendter and Nasri wer always on the wings-what we don’t do is use that width to create differnt angles with the balls that come into the box. The “Wingers” get the ball WISE and then retreat to teh centre of the park. Idealistically, the rampaging full backs will then overlap and create the necessary width and send over some dangerous crosses with pace! Clichy is a PALE imitation of himself circa 2007/08 and has a seriuos weakness in the crossing department and Sagna unfortunately ahs caught the bug!
Le Boss will not play any other way and teams have found us out. When we had “great” players, they would compensate by using their innate skill to open teams up. However, now with less talented players they are unable to break down defences that their predeecessors woul RIP TO SHREDS!
We need REAL wingers and a cretaive midfielder and TEACH the players HOW to cross a ball with PACE. Ade’s headers were on target but due to a lack of pace on teh delivery, he couldn’t generate the speed to beat the goalkeeper. I despair when I see Clichy FLOAT his balls into the box. Teh one thing PASSMASTER Ebouseless used to be able to do was cross a ball with real pace and venom. Now he is a just a jokE
SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE!
First holic I applaud your not banning people off your blog. Lg does that all the time and it is bs.
Next I have another suggestion especially since the problem tends to be with the away team. I suggest that an away win be five points. Then you would find away teams always going for it. If Bolton or west ham want to bore their fans in their own stadium so be it. They will lose fans.
Arsenal 2008/2009 season: out of the big four, out of the CL next year, allowing more goals then ManU and Chelsea put together, losing to a championship team, losing to Hull and Stoke, having two goals scored against them by Spurs in extra time (at home!)…..
Arsenal’s football has become so boring that I dread going to games now. I would like to start a “bring Mourinho to Arsenal” club. He might play boring football but at least he wins trophies. That beats playing boring football and not wining trophies.
its frustrating….
to actually se fans ,…keep protecting AW and the board,we new this would happen since the season started,not much to argue about anymore……the team has been build down…and the only reasonable explanation…..there must be some sort of financial mess…..we the fans are beeing left in a mist….im really so hurt…that a few choosen board members plays with our hearts…..how is it possible to play with fans deep love for our beloved Arsenal….Mr.Hill Wood please leave this club now…You are making a disgrace of Yourself Sir…..and AW take the offer from Real Madrid and get the funding for building the team..and have a chance to follow Youre dream of building the biggest and in my mind most attractive team ever…by us(Arsenal) You will never been given the chance…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and to us the fans lets just accept the fact…we have been ignored..laughed at…all the way to the bank…..
i have now been a Gooner since february 1969 when my father first bought tickets ,after my father got to now Mr Swindin who was visiting Norway..so there is a history ….and it will never end on my part….i will ALWAYS….be a Gooner.
but im not willing to be a completely fool and not recognize the facts….
ill even kneel down and ask from the bottom of my heart Mr.Hill-Wood …PLEASE LEAVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best Regards Tom….
its clear to every1 that were lacking creativity at the moment, especially at home. so when arsenal dont wanna pay 3 more millions to buy arshavin it kinna shows that maybe we dont have really have the ambitions we used to have before, or ofcourse maybe were really short in money at the moment, i dont know. but when u see other teams out of the top 4 like everton splashing 15 million on fellaini and spurs splashing 29 on defoe and palacios, you have to wonder why are we always expected to be in the top 4? other teams are spending so much money while arsenal don’t. im not saying we should be spending crazy but if we dont we just have to accept that there might be teams who are gonna do better than us.
We’re going to finish the season undefeated and everything will be forgotten 😉
Seriously I am amazed at how many people discard the economic reality around us. We’re barely getting wet before the storm.
The Liverpool owners are looking to sell to get out even and didn’t get any sheikh to look at them more than 5 minutes. If their debt payments had not been pushed back to the summer, the club would have become bank property in February. ManU are riding their debt too, they cashed big time last year so it’s not in the spotlight anymore but the threat is still there. If either one gets bumped out of the CL too early there’s going to be a player exodus to keep the club afloat.
Chelski have already become a selling club. In the next year or two they’ll have to replace half their team of aging stars. Unlikely that the oligarch will splash another 300 mils to rebuild a team of galacticos with the way his fortune is shrinking.
Not even talking about many EPL or foreign clubs with levels of debt that were barely sustainable when sponsors and TV money was much more than it will be very soon.
For all his defaults Wenger’s tight wallet policy will be our best asset to sail through the recession. If by then his youth experiment doesn’t work our at least we’ll be financially sound to try something else.
To the defeatists calling for Arsenal to become Lokomotiv London or Al Arsenal, as far as I’m concerned I’ll call it quits if that happens. What has made Arsenal so special for me for 20 years would not be there anymore, we’ll just become another fat cat’s toy club. Not for me.
I was with you word for word until you got to the last paragraph, Matt. I would consider not going to games or buying merchandise if that were to happen, but you can’t turn off your support for the club, can you. It is our club and the custodians, whoever they may be, are only temporary. I think I would still have to head for pubs around the place to watch and enjoy the company of like-minded souls.
Good comments though. Thanks.
A tight wallet policy is fair enough BUT 3 million EXTRA ain’t going to break the Bank of Arsenal. However, extra players may be necessary BUT the real concern at the present moment has to be the MANNER in which we are playing. Now all but a few of the team are good players-some will be great but our style and system of play has become PREDICTABLE and teams can defend against it. there are so many areas that we can improve (change) our style without betraying our “beatiful” footballing instincts. For a start, we could laearn to do something with set pieces-what is our ratio of goals to corners (we get a LOT of corners) Try something new on our freekicks into the box. Our beautiful football is becoming BORING becasue we have seen it all before – SO have our opponents- Why can’t Clichy learn to cross a ball with pace. Why wasn’t he overlapping NAsri then Vela more often yesterday. We didn’t attempt to get BEHIND WHFC’s full back’s. It was tepid stuff yesterday and it really has NOTHING to do with $$$. It has everything to do with coaching and forsight! If something ain’t broke-don’t fix it. However, the opposite must hold true. What say u?
Matt, spot on mate.
I’m not too sure about Utd but Liverpool are certainly in trouble and Abramovich has obviously decided that he is not going to bankroll Chelsea anymore.
I know yesterday was a frustrating experience, the top 4 finish we have maybe taken for granted is not a given but we are on a decent unbeaten run, I’m sure we will get a result against Cardiff and then up the road on Sunday which should hopefully drop the Spuds back into the bottom 3.
Take a look at our fixture list for the rest of the season, Liverpool and Utd away aside we should be capable of putting a run together that should secure a CL finish and possibly at the expense of Chelsea.
As for yesterday, I thought Denilson had a really good game, a lot of his work is unseen but I thought he put in a really good shift. We are lacking creativity in the middle but we are missing Cesc, Rosicky and we are certainly missing Theo’s directness. Adebeyor I’m afraid has lost the support, his was the name on everyones lips walking back to the pub and none of it was complementary. He was I’m almost sure the cause of a bit of a punch up in the North Upper after that near post miss. I can’t stand the barracking of our own players, it’s always wound me up but yesterdays performance from Adebeyor was woeful. His first touch has never been great but add that to a reluctance to challenge for the ball in the air and what appears to be a complete lack of effort and we are left with a complete waste of space. A look over to his mate Bendtner working his nuts off out of position on the right might be an idea.
Well Said Matt. With you all the way.
Do all you D and Gers remember that many of our current 11 are not first choice picks? Remember Walcott, Fabregas, Rosicky and Eduardo?
Wake up.
Good read as always ‘holic. I was amazed that Bentner started when 3 points were so vital. He is fine as an impact sub but beyond that he struggles in nearly every game. I thought Ade was quite dreadful in midweek and did little better yesterday. I would be delighted if he went in the summer as he is just not up to it. We just need to hope we get luck and manage to grab fourth spot but I am not holding my breath.
If ade was to go, then who would you think would be a suitable replacement? Becasue we need that target man, or could Bendter step up to the plate?
Consolbob, Manu has a raft of injuries yet their replacements have stepped up to the plate!
If any one is NOT watching Federer vs Nadal in the OZZIE open final..do so now!
Got to agree with Matt’s sentiments about the real economic world.
One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how some people forget that transfer fees are paid with real money. Those that say ‘they’re asking for 3m more, just give it to them’ really need to rethink. Three million pounds. More than you or I will see in a lifetime, and even to a rich Premiership club, not insignificant.
Much is said about this phantom 50m/70m/whatever the spending power of our club is, and the belief is sometimes that we should use it.
But you could argue that 30m should be kept back in case we miss the CL, and in any case if we spend ALL our spare money we’ll be unable to snap us a bargain (even a few million on a 16 year old genius we’ll be thankful for a few years later) without selling first.
I would much rather the board save some money for a rainy day, because this recession is exactly that day. There are too many clubs in financial trouble for us to be told our club is going about things the wrong way.
Stay optimistic, it’s one of the things I love most about your blog.
Is there still anybody out there who thinks that AWs Arsenal finishing 2nd in every competition available (CL PREM UEFA FA+CARLING CUPS) was bad luck? Before he did it I thought it was impossible.
I hope all these people haven’t emptied the drinks cabinet.
I’ll have a malt of your choice to celebrate the return of my (seemingly now stable) interweb connection.
Cheers!
The Hammers were poor yesterday and kept presenting us with the ball, especially in the first half. I can`t help wondering if Robin had started the game whether we would have scored. On the evidence of January`s games, you have to say yes. Bendtner was – well Bendtner. And while we `re on the subject of AW being over-protective of players, I`m getting more than a little annoyed at the non appearance of Eduardo. The guy was fit to play in Cardiff, or at the very least to be on the bench, but `he`s almost ready` or`he just needs a little longer`. If Eduardo were to get crocked playing for the reserves, or in a specially arranged `closed doors` friendly, or even in training, we would have lost him again anyway, when he could have featured in our last three games; or are we so comfortably placed that such considerations don`t matter.
Lots of people talking about the current financial climate and the real economic world. I would agree with some of the comments. In the current climate it is right to be prudent with our finances. but with us I would suggest that those arguments simply to not add up.
We moved grounds to have the financial muscle to compete in the markets. Since the move we now have an annual turnover of over 200 million. That is the second highest in the country behind the Mancs. Recent figures listed by official sources showed us the 7th wealthiest sports club in the WORLD. The 3rd wealthiest football club in the WORLD behind the Mancs and Madrid. Now consider that along with the transfer deals we have been involved in since the move. I do not have the official figures but I am guessing that we are actually in credit??????
So taking all of the above into account, surely we can afford to buy the odd player or 2?????
Sadly football is now very much a business. A business is judged very much by the quality of the product produced. Combine a series decline in the quality of the product with the current economic climate and what have you got? My guess is decline.
We have the money. We have generated the money by our own business means. If we do not start investing wisely then the future may well look bleak.
I think that is what pisses people off and leads to frustration at games.
What say you Holic??????
Holic, forgot to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. Also this is a great article. These days I don’t have much time to watch many games other than ours but in the last few years I’ve noticed that I tend to follow the promoted clubs because they come straight out of the championship with a lot of belief and generally a very lively attacking game. After a few defeats they start adopting catenaccio and they become as boring as anyone else. Hull’s start of the season was very enjoyable for example (except against us…) for the bits I’ve seen at least.
Re: Finances etc
It’s true we moved to the Grove to generate more gate revenue so we could compete financially with Europe’s best clubs. Still I don’t remember anyone in charge saying that would happen overnight and it was made clear that repaying the debt would take time. Don’t forget it was contingent to the the Highbury flat sales which I can only guess are not going according to plan these days. I’m pretty sure we don’t have much cash, the board made all these noises in December about making a big kitty available to Arsene and as soon as he showed intentions of buying players they backtracked.
On one hand some transparency would help a lot to quell the rumours and wild accusations floating around. On the other hand if we disclose our lack of funds we would be raided hard by the other big clubs.
It’s a tough spot but still better than most.
Matt,
The official figures released by the club show us making in excess of 30 million a year more than we were making at Highbury. That is after we have made all the loan repayments. So there is no excuse that will wash from the club. The plans not to spend much is fine as long as we continually play at the highest level. But we are in serious danger of not playing Champions League next season. If that happens then all the millions in the bank will count for nothing. We will struggle to attract players, we will struggle to keep all of our players and fans will not turn up for a 6pm kick off on a Thursday night to watch us play some side from the arsehole of Europe that none of us have ever heard of. That is the reality of it all.
Steve T,
I’m curious: where do you get that information? I’ve read the opposite in quite a few articles, if the flats don’t sell, our situation won’t look very good.
Here’s an example:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7545274.stm
BTW I really like your suggestion of no points if no goal scored.
I thougt I’d leave a short post. Here it is.
Matt,
Everything I have stated has come out of the club over the last few months. The last that I read about the flats ale was that deposits had been paid. If deals fell through then that would lead to rental agreements.
The turn over figures were quoted by Keth Edleman. The wealthiest club figures appeared in the papers about 2 weeks ago. We are the 7th richest sports club in the world. There were 4 American sports clubs , (don’t remember who) and 3 football clubs.
As I said, not sure about the final bits of the flats deals.
The draw thong I think woudl realy work.
Drawn “thing” even……. Did not intend to inject undies into the blog…
Keith Edelman resigned 9 months ago, before the financial turmoil. Richest clubs lists etc are compiled from previous year’s figures. Nobody knows yet what club finances look like in the last 6 months.
Man U are £750 mils in debt. Payments must be stinging. As long as they win the CL, everything looks fine on the balance sheet but if they lose against Inter, watch the drop!
Same for us, we sold the real estate as planned up to last spring. Since then? Your guess is as good as mine.
The ‘holics are an intelligent bunch. There is a huge loan that is due to be paid back when the flats are complete and available for occupation. Then there is the little matter of funding the Queensland Road development. The uncertainties surrounding these events are what is causing the large amount of cash to be retained in the football side of the business. I’ll be returning to this at a later date in the blog, but for now wanted to thank you guys for your perceptive and reasoned arguments.