Punchdrunk Gunners Close to Being Counted Out
May 10th, 2009 by 'holic
Reaction, and over-reaction, has started. An astonishing end-of-season game started with Arsenal threatening to demolish Chelsea after a week both sides will want to forget. Yet for all their impressive bobbing and weaving Arsenal were caught by a classic double sucker punch. With a couple of rounds remaining the Gunners are on the ropes and praying for the final bell.
For nigh on half an hour the hosts weaved their prettiest patterns around a bemused Chelsea, but failed to land the required knock-out blows. Theo Walcott found himself with excellent opportunities to open the scoring, and Diaby spurned perhaps the best chance of the lot. Had one or two gone in the final story could have been so different. They didn’t.
Instead the visitors profited when Drogba collapsed under minimal contact (surprise, surprise) and clipped in a free-kick that Alex powered in off the bar having out-jumped a pedestrian defence. Ten minutes later Anelka was allowed to run unchallenged to the edge of the box by that same defence and a fine strike was beyond the unfortunate Fabianski.
While depressed Gooners were still digesting their chicken balti pies Chelsea were three up when Kolo Toure put through his own net. The afternoon, and the scoreline, was now turning ugly. The arrival of Nicklas Bendtner for the out-of-touch Diaby brought about an almost immediate improvement, and a fine headed goal from the big Dane threatened to turn fortunes around.
However the afternoon was summed up with four minutes remaining. Adebayor spurned a golden opportunity to set up a tense finish and Chelsea broke rapidly to land one final uppercut, in the shape of the offside Malouda.
I had said beforehand that Arsene Wenger should treat the remaining games as the start of next season. I was wrong, very wrong. What was apparent today was that this group of players has taken one beating too many. The towel should be thrown in to save them from further punishment.
This beleaguered defence faces another trip to Old Trafford next Saturday, and on the evidence of recent weeks one has to fear for them. Thankfully Stoke secured their top-flight status yesterday so should not prove to be too committed on the final day.
I’ll take some time to consider things before drawing any further rash conclusions from an end-of-season game. It is clear some will not follow that example, and to be fair a degree of frustration is only to be expected in such circumstances. It’s not just today that has raised question marks about this squad, and its perceived shortcomings.
73 Responses to “Punchdrunk Gunners Close to Being Counted Out”
Disappointed by today’s result, though the performance (for the mmost part) was OK. Still, I better have a pint of cider, thanks ‘holic.
ill have a guiness ‘holic. though i think i’ve had one too many and ive got exams tommorrow. really dont know what to say about the game…. ill just get back to my lecture notes for now.
Good performance, crap result. Pint of cider please ‘holic.
Sorry ‘ holic, first drink seemed to die on me. Didn’t want to repeat myself, repeat myself etc. etc.
Im pretty sure it was not a good performance. The most important parts of the game are in either penalty box and today we were awful in both! I can see what you are getting at- we were better than the scoreline suggests, but it was def not a good performance.
Do I speak for most Gooners in wishing that Diaby would piss off and laze around somewhere else?
so many fans are going completely over the top about what was essentially a meaningless game (3rd place was never viable really).
chump sites like ‘arsenal action’ (avoid like the plague) are calling wenger a c*nt and telling him to fuck off. it’s a total lack of respect.
the summer is vital. if he gets it wrong again then he may just be putting the final nails in his coffin.
after what he has done for this club he deserves a chance to right his wrongs at the very least.
yard of ale please al.
I´ve lost the capacity to be shocked by losses such as this one..
how is this acceptable? Wenger´s chickens have embarressed us in 3 competitions over a span of 2 weeks. I think the board needs to tell Wenger his job is not for life, and that another trophyless season will not be acceptable. I´m sick of watching promising players, I want to watch great players play for my team. Diaby will never be a great player, I´m pretty sure Bendtner won´t either. Adebayor had one great season and has been absolute rubbish this whole year. We need to sign a world-class centre forward and a world-class defender and stop with the experiments.
Well summed up young man. You saw it exactly as I did and I really can’t add much more. The one thing you maybe omitted to stress was the excellence of Gobbs in every aspect of his game.
I sent an sms to BtM Junior about 30 minutes in with just one word on it. Eduardo. It’s difficult to believe that all of these early chances that went begging would have done so had he, or maybe Arshavin, been around. Pointless to ponder though.
I really did like your notion yesterday that the rest of the season starts here. But ‘Holic “The towel should be thrown in to save them from further punishment”. Nae, lad. I politely beg to differ. With one exception. Mr Fabregas. He looks lost and uncertain of what’s being asked of him. Start next years platform next Saturday. Why, because they need the experience that comes from tough visits like the one coming up.
The platform?
Fabianski
Eboue Toure Djouro, Gibbs,
Arshavin, Denilson, Song, Nasri,
Walcott, Van Persie
Robin as captain. Walcott through the middle. Sagna has been out of sorts. Fabianski needs more prime time
Have Vela, Ramsey and Merida on the bench. PLAN to play all three. The result really doesn’t matter. The experience is worth a great deal.
same old problem – where was the defensive midfield cover for second goal – Song is our defensive midfield player what was he doing in the Chelsea half
i am fed up as well – Sylvestre needs to go now he should not be wearing a Arsenal shirt.
i will reserve judgement for Wenger after summer a one more season but it is not looking good as he is saying all the wrong things – he needs to do things a lot more differently next season – if RVP does not sign new contract get rid or put in reserves as i want him to be more ruthless
top shelf in jar……
We need to sign a world-class centre forward and a world-class defender
Let me play devils advocate for just a second, Halli. That’s what we did last season (Sagna and Eduardo). Do you not think it will take a bit more than a flourish of the chequebook?
I’m not saying you’re wrong, rather pointing out we don’t need to be blinkered about the obsession with new signings. Hope you can understand that?
‘Holic, A tactician, Wenger is not, the formations have left me scratching my head, surely Nasri out wide on the left is fairly obvious as he is your best player on the left, equally if you want power in the middle to be met with fire, surely Diaby must play thru the center alongside or in front of the Cesc instead of the left alongside the junk yard dog style of Song.
Arguably, VP was the best striking option but desperately short of games since his injury, so maybe Bendtner or Adebayor would have been better foils and Wenger just had to command the team to go to feet, if it was movement that he felt might be Chelsea’s undoing. I am better coach obviously in hindsight, but I dont think I’m pulling up trees with my thinking.
I think the players are able enough and although the spirit typified by Flaminal and his ability to harry and win back the ball coupled with the ball retention skills of Hleb are missing, this team should be good enough but there is a malaise in this team, its as though they themselves don’t believe anymore.I am completely lost for words at the absolute whipping these boys copped from the KGB.
They need a mean streak, desire and genuine leadership for sure, its the commanding of the players on the pitch, someone to bark and cojole them into action or to steady the ship this seasons losses and draws have highlighted that so vividly. I just hope the stings of the recent defeats is etched into them and drives them at Old Trafford.
Need to drown my sorrows, double rum on the rocks, please Sir.
One solution and one only, thats Wenger must go. Its a joke that some people will still defend the man. Goonerholic, your blind blinkered defence of this man is unbelievable. Can you really not see that this guy hasnt got it anymore, do you ever really listen to his repetitive excuses and not think that we’ve heard all this before. Fair enough the guys been brilliant in the past but does this give him the right to carry on indefnitely with a mediocre record. This team is miles behind the top three in spite of what some of you say and you know it, these players are nowhere near good enough apart from Arshavin so why do you continue to bullshit around these facts, why dont you tell it like it is, why dont you question Wenger and indeed the likes of Fabregas and Van Persie who always seem to get away with being shit. Could it be that you dont want to fall out with the clowns at Arseblogger or gunnerblog who you seem to want to be associated with these days, tell it like it is for once and less of the bullshit.
Personally, I like Diaby, I think he is a rough diamond but he needs games in his position in order to improve and speed up his thinking or we have to move him on for his and our sake.
Have to say BtM I too like the idea of playing a bit more of our ‘youth’ in the last two games. Nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of experience and dare I say with something to prove to the manager – remember a couple of those earlier European ties this season? Just need to be wary that we don’t get turned over 6-0 or something equally ridiculous at old trafford, so we do need to protect ourselves. 4-5-1 with at least two defensive midfielders on show to really protect the back four.
We seriously need to show a bit more organisation and just a tad more cover for each other.
Anyway, trying not to dwell too much on the result today, but no doubt chaverholic will stick his blue nose in here at some stage trying to wind us up.
I’ll have bottle of premium lager please barman.
Paulie, presumably you are referring to the same van Persie who was our best player this season until Wembley?
No problem with you arguing your anti-Wenger agenda, as long as it is reasonably well constructed, and that is.
I do have an issue with you wiping out eighty percent of the season because a player has had a bad month.
“when Drogba collapsed under minimal contact (surprise, surprise)”
“Adebayor spurned a golden opportunity to set up a tense finish”
shock horror that arsenal fans and wenger blame Drogba for diving but mention nothing of adebayor’s disgraceful dive…?
I also dont buy into the Wenger out bandwagon, he is still one of the best coaches in the world, he has gambled and both he and the boys have come up short this season but he does need to bring about changes whether they are in personnel or in training I dont know, its impossible to offer an approach as we are armed with the least bank of information.
Its wrong to say hes been our best player, hes totally overrated, surely someone of your intelligence can see this. Please answer me one question, Do you think Wenger is doing his job properly?
true new signing’s do not always produce but we lost a couple of experienced players and replaced with less experience and one from our rivals c**** red swine flu producers and one position in midfield we did not fill – so we all know we need one good DF and one good holding MF player but we have know that every one knows that but Wenger does not seem to know which is worrying
he needs to get rid of Silvestre, Sendros and bring in two extra bodies and keep all the current squad and have a lot of luck with injuries next year and we could do better
we also need a new body on coaching that can give the team a little direction in defence play as they are clueless
it does take more than just a cheque book – that’s why i am still finding it hard to let go off that he let players go that had gained club experience and his project had almost worked but now it has to start all over again
we = fans
Who would you replace Arsene Wenger with, Paulie? A 4-1 home defeat hurts (though it doesn’t have any significant implications) but let’s look forward to next season (and yes, hopefully with some new signings!)
Andy Gray didn’t seem to think so jake – he seemed to imply that intent from Cech would be enough to earn a penalty for Adebayor. Couldn’t understand that myself, but didn’t think the dive was any more disgraceful than anything we have seen this season from anyone else.
Paulie, I understand that you’re quite frustrated. However, let us not forget that before this afternoon’s 4-1 drubbing, we were unbeaten for 21 games. I don’t recall you or anyone else complaining about Wenger when we were winning. We’re more than capable of winning titles next season so long as we keep our whole squad fit, I know its hard to envisage but have some faith. We’re one World-Class Defender away from winning something big. I’m sure Wenger will get it right.
Regardless, its easy to point fingers and scream for Wenger to be sacked. Thats all fine and dandy, but who do you replace him with? Not so easy, is it?
agreed Holic. This goes way beyond a couple of good signings. winning trophies and big games like today’s goes way beyond putting 11 very talented players on the pitch. something intangible called tactics actually are rather important.
do you know how long it took us to score after we changed to 4-4-2 today? 2 minutes. for the following 10 minutes we put significant pressure on chelsea’s defence. of course it was all too late, but it shows had we started like that we would have been in the game at least. wenger could have changed it to 4-4-2, but he does not do that sort of thing.
If he buys 2 top players I still dont think we will win trophies in the current tough PL. I am sorry to say I have lost faith in wenger.
Paulie, not sure we are in a position to judge whether he is doing his job properly, unless we define exactly what the responsibilities of that job are. If it is getting Arsenal into the top four champions league spot the that seems to be fulfilled consistently. How would you define his job. What would you say his top 5 responsibilities are/should be?
Fin, for the money that Wenger extorts from us, coincidently he never seems to mention his £5 million a year when he tells us about not paying big money on transfers or wages, we could easily attract a top manager. Do you honestly believe Wenger will make sighnings in the summer, and does any of you actually believe that another manager couldnt improve on 4th place in the league in 5 years.
There are two transfer windows once it slams shut, you have what you have, so all this talk about he should have brought this player and that player is pointless. The squad is the squad.
AW has admitted he thought Flamini would stay, he envisioned Song would play in the back line so Sillys purchase was an emergency move and he has had to make adjustments along the way. We are without Gallas our best defender and Clichy our best LB, without Eduardo who is our best striker by a country mile and AA our sharpest player. These players have the experience that we lacked. Im just aghast at the amount we lost by.
It’s the majority of the team, not just Diaby, that I’d like to see hit the exit in the summer: keep Cesc, Nasri, Andrey, RVP, Eduardo, Clichy, and build a team around them. Take the rest (of our so called ‘first team’) out onto the Holloway Road, beat them with sticks and then dump them on the championship.
The majority of this team have no spine. They have no pride. They have no passion. The only potential I see, is the potential to implode, to capitulate.
Perhaps it’s because they’ve conditioned to be Wengeresque that’s the problem. I love the football we’ve played under Wenger and whilst I don’t want Wenger gone, a team that’s a reflection of him, that’s kept in a cocoon with no outside influence or experience, doesn’t work: some of the parts of the whole are missing. Ideals are all well and good, but in reality, they simply don’t work.
On a positive note there’s no more ‘unbeaten run’ hype. We didn’t score from the end of January until the start of March during that ‘magnificent’ run – that’s hardly something to brag about when goals are the object of the game!
Let me put the record straight guys, “we on nothing” dont talk to me about unbeaten runs. were it not for the complete collapse of villa then it would be a lot worse. there have been 3 pressure games during this unbeaten run and we were found out in every one
Do you think Wenger is doing his job properly?
You should know my answer to that one Paulie. I think given the restrictions he is working under that he has proved time and again he is best man for the job.
Where I think you and I differ most is I believe he makes occasional mistakes as he tries to get the best out of a necessarily limited squad. You think these mistakes mean something more. I think you are wrong. We’ll never agree, but I don’t mind having the Paulie here who doesn’t just chuck abuse and ill-considered bile around.
I do agree that 442 is our natural formation. As 433 is Chelsea’s and United’s and we need to go back to that sharpish.
Wenger did say “judge me in May” and with a £1,400 invoice from AFC looming this week, I believe I’m more than entitled to say that this season has fallen short of my expectations. No one should ridicule or insult our esteemed boss, but it is clear that Ivan Gazidis is in for one very busy summer, brushing away the cultural malaise that now afflicts the club. No change will equal the same outcome next May, which will amount to serious negligence. Groundhog Day indeed and this year I can’t even blame Alex Hleb! Black Label please – a double.
you know what would be nice. a statement of intent from our club. a nice early signing would do wonders. another early one like rosicky or RVP.
let’s not faff about this summer leaving it to the last minute to try and then fail to scramble deals through.
be ruthless arsenal.
This team is getting to be a real joke, if we don’t get rid of Wenger now, we will never win anthing while hes still around.
I don’t know about you other Arsenal fans, but I’m getting fed up with the same old interviews he gives each week, “we have great team spirit, we will achive many great things with this squad”, my arse we will, We are an easy touch for many teams, we use to have fantastic players, Don’t get me wrong, we do have a few class players, but diaby, what a total waste of space, once people were comparing him to viera, nowhere in viera’s class, week after week I’ve seen him give the ball away many times and then he cant be fucking bothered to win the ball back, next we have probably the worst striker in the english premiership, Adebayor, Does he know the offside rules? Please someone give him the rule book about offside, and he’s lack of shooting when he has the chance to is a joke, what was he thinking when he was put clean through on goal today, he’s rather fall on he’s arse and con the ref into handing out a penalty that never was. Its time to out wenger and a few of these worthless waste of time idiots for which they do not deserve to wear the arsenal shirt, and lets re-build this team into a team that teams will fear to play against, after all as wenger keeps saying, “we are building for the future”, well let the future start from next season, new board, new manager and new world class players, needs to be done now or it will be to little to late.
A very sad result considering that we dominated for a lot of the game. Very obviously had we had Arshavin and Eduardo playing we would have given them a tonking and beaten them 8 – 4. On top of the fact that the defence is appalling we don’t have a player that can even hit the target given a clear chance at the moment. Either Wenger plays the obviously talented Diaby in his best position our lets him go as he was awful again today but is playing out of position so it isn’t doing him any good either. A big strong CB, a tough tackling DM and a proper centre forward brought in during the summer (experienced) and we will have a team to take on the world, if not then Arsene ought to stay on at Arsenal but let someone else manage the team and get us playing with a bit of passion again.
total joke,virtually a full strength team ,no excuses ,just not good enough
paulie, i know a good psych hospital
right now people are on about diaby being crap and rvp and maybe cesc
a few months ago it was song, eboue, gallas, bendtner, denilson
so doesn that mean we get rid of all the player
we have had a really inconsistant season…. no use looking at individuals….its the team as a whole….
with one or2 good signings it will gel
I don’t believe it is rocket science. We need a solid and consistent defence. Get that right and the rest will just fall in to place. I think we need to look at signing two central defenders, because let’s face it, Gallas is not likely to play for us again, he may not come back from this knee damage. Silvestre, while having tons of good experience is not the organizer and leader of men that we need. While Kolo probably is a natural leader, he needs a solid, no nonsense, highly rated and experienced partner who can get on with the job.
You look at the three teams above us and see Vidic/Ferdinand, Terry/Alex, Carragher/Agger with each pairing complimenting each other in terms of height, skill, aggression, pace, tackling and heading ability. We just have not had that consistency in our pairing (closest was probably Toure/Gallas for the couple of months before Gallas got injured although that lacked height).
But we also need the team in front to protect the back four, which we blatantly do not do at times. Yes, we’ve been unlucky with the injuries, but at the same time we have lacked that depth and experience at the back. Put that right and we’re not a million miles away from where we need to be.
I’ve learned not to let the Wenger-out bandwagon really bother me because I know that the reality is that nothing they bitch about can have any real consequences in the real world 🙂 Wenger’s here to stay and of this I am glad because I think any other managerial appointment would see us slide backwards. Apart from bad results of the past month, I still gain great enjoyment from watching this team, even though this team seems well and truly hated, loathed even, by far too many Arsenal fans who frankly don’t deserve to support a team involved in any finals.
These people were present before we had our good run going and before the semi-finals, saying ‘sack the manager’ and have only gleefully resurfaced in the aftermath of a disappointing finish. It’s all a bit short term. Shit happens, but it’s no excuse to sack the manager, and I don’t advocate at all the managerial merry-go-round of Chelsea, for instance, which, chances are, is exactly what we’d be inviting upon ourselves if Wenger were to be let go.
Anyhoo, I feel I’ve seen enough from this team to feel that they can achieve in subsequent seasons, if we can keep key players there which I think we can, or replace them suitably, and increase squad depth. It’s funny that none other than Ferguson seems to have the most sympathy and belief in our manager’s plight and project, and an element of empathy after having his managerial future questioned just three seasons ago.
Perhaps Fergie knows. But I’d rather we didn’t have more support from Ferguson than a vocal minority (wishful thinking, I don’t know the reality) of our own fans.
Cheers Aus,
Really well put.
Be ready though for a bit more ‘nice Fergie’ next week when they clinch the title against us. 🙁
While I wouldn’t say Wenger out – you have to ask serious questions about coaching, tactics, which ultimately come down to Wenger. Why are we consistently crap on set pieces year after year after year? Why don’t we ever have a crossing threat to spread the opposition’s defence out? Ever notice how when we do manage a decent cross, there never is anyone there. This has also been year after year after year. Why aren’t we ever a threat from a corner? Why aren’t we ever a threat (anymore) with a direct set piece?
Perhaps we don’t have the squad, but really Wenger needs to sort out the obvious here if we are going to be title challengers again. It isn’t just about buying and selling players (although I would gladly rid myself of Ade and Diaby), but basic things that seems to be missing from alot of Wenger teams for the past few years.
rvp and fabregas have been most of the season. diaby today had a better game than either of them but u are not aloud to say fuk all about the golden boys . 2 of the most overated players in world football who have shown how overated thet are in the last couple of weeks in the big games. disapeared just like last season when they disapeared in the tile run in
It is astonishing to see calls of ‘Wenger out’ from so-called Arsenal fans. Do they not realise that he has achieved miracles on the outlay he has spent over the last decade, a fraction of the spend of Manure, Chavski, the scousers as well as Sp**z and several other ‘also rans’. The last 2 seasons have been cursed by injuries to critical players at critical times.
For fucks sake, we have qualified for the ECL again despite a dire start to the season, and reached the semi final of this year’s competition.
OK, he did not sign the defensive midfielder and dominant centre half that we have been needing for two seasons but by all accounts nearly signed the former last summer. The experience this season will probably ensure he does get both those requirements this summer.
When Arsene goes you will see the end of a golden age for Gooners unless we get really lucky and an astonishingly good succession planning occurs.
Be careful what you wish for!
It’s easy to say sack wenger without really looking at where the team is as regards development and potential. AW needs to really look at himself because this team with its shortcomings are not playing well, and I believe it has to do with coaching. They don’t defend well, track back when not in possession, shoot on goal when clear. These are all signs of a team lacking good coaching, so my point is that it’s not just the players, but AW and his assistants. I am not going to support sacking Wenger, but the board have to sit down with him to discuss the way forward if they have balls, they might even lay down some yardsticks for next season. They should also provide him with enough money to sign a few quality and experienced players. Diaby is a good player but not arsenal quality, so goes for Ade, who’s shown no loyalty to the fans and generally a crap player. We need as a matter of utmost urgency, an experienced CB, DM, and a solid striker to replace Ade. AW should also coach his team on how to shoot at goal and defend set-piece. There’s no current arsenal player who can attempt tp score the kind of goal scored by Ronaldo on tuesday from a freekick.
someone…i dont know who once said arsenal will be fine evan if we lose every single 1st team player, BUT if we lose Arsene in this period of time we are screwed. i could’nt agree more.
i dont see any other manager out there capabale of getting the performances that he gets from the set of players he has.
why he doesnt buy 30 million players???? i dont know
maybe when he looks at how ordinary berba’s been at utd or how veron and crespo and scheva and every single player houlier baught …. maybe our club cannot afford to spend 30 million with the risk that the player might not live up to expectations, then what? buy another and risk wasting another 30 mill? we have got quite a big loan to pay back.
sure fergie made good buys….but for every good one i think there ihas been a bad one…and jose and benitez.
the only difference between us and these clubs is we cannot risk a 30 million flop.
True Dubs,
Which makes this summer very interesting. I think most of us will accept we certainly need either 2 or 3 signings to take us to the next level, before the summer comings and goings. It’s also a fair bet 2 or 3 will leave, which means realistically we are looking at buying (or promoting) up to six players.
If the money has not been there in the last year, it won’t magically appear now. The hoped for bonus from the completion of Highbury Square isn’t going to happen now. So Arsene faces a series of stark choices and will have to prioritise his spending, and the players availability will complicate that further. What if he decides he needs two central defenders and he is offered David Villa for half his budget next week?
Not that simples, is it meerkat?
Yep, a very fair appraisal of the game.
Played well going forwards but 4-5-1 should never be played at home and most especially never with Van Persie as lone striker. He didn’t have a bad game as such but he’s not suited to that role. 4-4-2 with Bendtner to start and Diaby put on the bench; with a For Sale notice around his neck – injuries aside, this guy’s had so many chances but refuses to take them.
Defensively; oh dear. Pleased to see Gibbs do well, but the rest were back to square one (and that includes the defensive midfield cover, such as it was).
As I said the other day I don’t really see what’s to consider as to the future. We all know what the problems are and the sooner we address them the better. Ok the potential comings and goings are a little more difficult to predict but again surely it’s time to be a bit more pro-active and actually tell players they’re not wanted.
What we need to avoid is another exercise in brinkmanship on the last day of the transfer window. Last season it achieved nothing; the season before got us Gallas and Diarra – big fucking deal.
Fergie is now in the habit of knowing who he wants and gets them early so they can have a lovely holiday and then come back to a full pre-season of training and friendlies. We, despite AW’s supposedly unrivalled network of scouts, etc, haven’t done that for ages and it shows.
Today was rather horrible but even if we lose to the mancs next week it still means that we will, at worst, break even on points with our encounters with the other “Top 4” clubs. In turn this means our return against the lesser mortals has been crap, as we all know.
At the moment I would say 3 new players as a minimum + any necessary replacements + a dedicated defensive coach and probably a new Assistant Manager – sorry Pat but Arsene needs someone alongside him to say no every once in a while. I could go on but I’ll spare you other than to say why didn’t Ramsey come on and where, yet again, were Vela and Wilshere
p.s. a special mention to the plods for their typically idiotic handling of “the Piccadilly Line is broken” nonsense in St Thomas’s Road. With 1 train an hour on Sunday their stupidity guaranteed I spent an extra hour getting home. The execrable Southern railway then guaranteed I wasted even more time. I’m going to the Stoke game but that’s an end to this Sunday 4 p.m. crap. Life’s too short; well unless we win the league next year . . . .
p.p.s. bathgooner, I would love to see succession planning but it doesn’t seem to be on the agenda. Wonder why . . .
‘holic, re. your last post my aardvark thinks the meerkats know nothing and suggests we buy 2 central defenders and tell Villa’s agent to fuck off. I concur; we need to buy but not spend stupid money . . .
Agree with all you say Garrett, but succession-planning will be for when Arsene decides on a target date for departure and hopefully that is not on his agenda yet.
I heard somewhere that Pat Rice will retire this summer and there is therefore an opportunity there for a bit of new blood on the training ground and on the tactical bench. It would be good to see a Bould/Keown/Adams type of appointment but longterm I cannot see the ultimate succession coming from within and sadly TA6 has not impressed with his tactical nous as a coach though he may be just what we need as a number 2!
This summer should be interesting. If it is not then I fear we are in for a slow downward spiral as it is difficult to see a solution within the current squad or the kids in the reserves.
Am I the only one feeling deja vu? Everyone was saying the exact same shit at the end of last season and look where we are now… I’d like to think Wenger has learnt, but all the signs are he is too stuborn to change his ways and give up on project youth… I’ve had enough of the feeble excuses- “they are young” – ummm you’re the gaffer, that’s down to you sun shine… “This team has potential” – potential has won us fuck all… ” I don’t want to kill my players” – since when did we become a fucking charity? Who cares if Diaby gets killed if we have a better player in his place? Never thought I’d say it but I’m loosing faith in Wenger… Someone asked what should be regarded as a good achievement for this club- easy, a trophy, or at the very least, genuinely competing with the rest of the top 4: at present neither is happening. Oh and mines a Jack/coke cheers…
My turn to agree with you bathgooner – although it’s never too soon to start succession planning. I just fear Arsene takes the view no one can replace him so won’t bother.
It’s a shame but I too don’t see TA6 capable of taking on the job. Could perhaps come in at No 2 though, or more especially to sort out the defence. Someone has to and Arsene clearly can’t.
Bouldy’s there already, doing a good job and could just make the jump to No. 2 and Keown I do think could be a serious contender but he needs to come in now.
The summer may be interesting but I fear will be more the old Chinese curse of “may you live in interesting times”. We’ve had that this season so something a bit less interesting and a lot more successful would be nice . . .
This season has truly been “a learning process ” for us all. Unfortunately, so have the last four.
Have definitely spent most of this campaign considering the inevitable “ post Wenger Era” since?as we all know?no love story lasts forever?
I really believe that management + supporters should be looking to inviting Denis Bergkamp back to the club to take on the manager’s job?
Wenger should be allowed another year ?maximum 2? to attempt to win silverware .
Denis is now applying his trade with Ajax’s youth program and as we all know, has the experience and character as a leader of men and most likely , the business acumen too to “take it on” succesfully.
Certainly would give many true Gooners a renewed sense of
confidence.
A possible ” Gunners Pep Guardiola”.
Good post thruNthru, though to be honest, 2 years is too long IMO. Doesn’t matter cos apparently he has a job for life regardless of results… Would love DB10 to return, but the fear of flying would be a problem…
Did overlook that sore point?Thanks for the reminder Kao?Prerequisite to signing contract?Denis: six months flyingphobiacs anonymous course!
I thought that our passing, movement and style was amazing until they scored. We seemed a bit deflated after that. I think that people do not realize that this team has over achieved this season, yes it has been a transition season. I do have 1 complaints against Wenger:
Why play players out of position e.g. Why play Nasri in central midfield, when his skills are most suitable in attack. It did work in the case of Lauren and Petit (was a defender initially), but these were mature players and also were part of a successful set up when they came in and so was easy for them to integrate them into a winning team.
Also for people who think that Wenger should leave, they are truly delusional, but i see their point. Remember Wengers famous quote that once you are used to caviar, you cannot eat sausages. We have been spoiled by this great man. I also see in modern day football, his Eutopian philosophy will not work because players are rather selfish making us a selling club (Cesc is an exception and uses his brains too unlike most). Wenger is a smart man and i am sure he will rectify his mistakes in the summer transfer window. Our team is desperate for quality centre backs and specifically next year because of African Cup of Nations, we will need quality reinforcements. Big money need not be spent, but quality just like Dudu and Sagna would be perfect.
I do think that this team is special but people have to give this team time, ManU can go on winning but Arsene does not have money to spend: the board may say anything, but if he did have money, he would spend it on players he needs. So patience lads and hopefully we can build on this season.
I have couple of exams this week so its back to my books. Also thanks ‘Holic for the blog!
What the fuck was going on with the Piccadilly Line? 40 minute standstill at Finsbury Park. F***ing needed that like a hole in the head.
Met up with a pal for a few pints after eventually getting home last night, a Southampton fan which kind of brings some perspective to our season.
In all honesty Man Utd could really have taken us apart on Tuesday, that could have been 6+ which hurts but losing 4-1 to that f***ing lot yesterday is a real kick in the nuts. Our finishing was terrible and the team as a unit just can’t defend.
Arsene is well aware of our failings and I am absolutely sure he will bring in two new quality players next season. A top class central defender and a defensive midfielder will bring balance to the side.
I hope to God Gallas is still with us next year, his fight was sadly missed yesterday as it has been for a number of weeks now.
The sale of Adebeyor would fund these signings almost entirely. There is no way back for him after the events of the last year and yet again Bendtner put him to shame yesterday.
Going to be overseas almost certainly for the next year at least, finding somebody to take my seat is proving a fruitless task at the moment, I’ll have to subsidise it.
The problem this season was of Wenger’s doing, Everyone knew that we needed strength in the DM and CB positions. The good thing is that Wenger has acknowledged his folly and has had more than enough time to identify solutions.
The only player I would sell is Diaby. Ade’s value has been severely reduced, but I am sure the emergence of Bendtner coupled with the return of Eduardo will give him the kick up his behind he needs.
The Piccadilly Line slowness yesterday was because of a broken rail around Covent Garden, so the whole bloody thing was suspended from Kings Cross to Hyde Park Corner. It was a real pain, I was on a train heading home from Oakwood and it was a crawl – made a bad day even worse!
Had a nice day yesterday, although spoilt by 70 mins of football, and the delay on the Picadilly line.
But this is the pain us fans have to endure, so we can really appreciate the good days, which, in fairness are not so many years ago.
I concure with the majority of the comments about ‘being close’, and ‘we only need a couple of players etc etc’. But i’m wondering if that is really the answer. Although Jamie Redknapp is as inciteful as my left shoe, he did touch on the physical aspect of us. It does seem AW prefers svelt, skillful palyers, over the bigger, more powerful player.
I guess its all down to getting the balance, and maybe we need a couple more ‘power-houses’.
Anyhoo, come the summer we’ll all be getting excited and saying we can win the league, FA cup, and ol big ears, regardless of who we (dont) sign 😉
‘holic my friend…you set the tone in your opener on the previous thread [entitled ‘Next Season Starts Here’]. Well I agree it does, and Wenger has to be humble enough in recognizing the deficiencies in a number of key positions across the park……..and plug those gaps urgently.
Today convinced me that Diaby will never be an Arsenal great. He is not as good, not nearly as reliable as, more lethargic and lazy on the ball, as compared say to Lampard. Silvestre is simply not good enough and needs to be replaced immediately. In defence we do not have a John Terry or Alex type player who will command from the back. As good as is RVP/Ade/Bendtner, we do not have a reliable striker of the stature of Drogba (although may do in the form of a fully fit Eduardo).
We can get there I am certain, but if Wenger continues along the same path by continuing to put total unquestioning faith in the same set of players, I’m afraid to say the anticlimax is that we can only look forward to seeing a bigger gap between the top 3…..and us.
UP THE GUNNERS!!!!!!
Evenin’, Gooners. Bit late and sorry for that. Me and a few of the lads from CHAVERholic been out celebratin’. Only just woke up there! That Tolly Cobbold, Grand Marnier and Brasso is a tough old tipple, ain’t it?
Blimey! You Gooners are raising up a right old stink over here. What? Lost again did you? Time to throw the toys, the manager and the team out of the pram is it? Diddums.
Not surprised you want to get rid of that Wenger. Let him go to Real Madrid for the 40 Mill they’ve offered. Clueless b**tards , ain’t they? Buy anyone, wouldn’t they? Beats the sh*t out of me how they’ve won the CL more times than any other bugger!
Formations all wrong is it? Yeah, our Guvnor Chaver noticed that. Bill, he said to me, they’re playing 9-1-1, mate. You sure, Chaver?, I said. Looks more like 4-2-4 to me. Nah, says Chaver. It’s written on the phone here “In emergency, dial 9-1-1” and look, all them Gooners are phoning home! It’s ET not BT for those Gooners. Time they got on their bikes. He likes a laugh does old Chaver.
Succession plans is it? Oh my giddy aunt’s pink drawers! We’ve got them in sh*tloads at the Bridge. Full extra wing on the big stand for ’em! We need them, mates. Old Roman, he gets his chopper out one day, his succession plan the next and before you know it, The Special One’s a Dutchman via Israel!
Still, we’ve got the Cup Final to look forward to, ain’t we. Be nice to see Captain John, Fat Fwank and the lads pick him up, old Fig Ears.
Tell you what, Gooners. If Madrid don’t want old Wenger, maybe we could take him off your hands for, maybe, 50 Mill? See we’ve never been to a CL Final like what yous ‘ave and, well, old Chaver, he ain’t getting any younger, is he?
And that Denilson, would you like to take that pint sized Portugese Pilchard we bought from Barca for 8Mill plus 10Mill (in used roubles, brown paper bag, you now the deal) for the little Brazilian?
Night, night, Gooners. Now, where the f*ck is that Brasso, Chaver?
Your old mate, Bill.
Hello Old Chum.. my days on VSpurs are numbered but I popped by for some advice.. You blog is horrible, which from a spud means its great ,, its just the content that is so sickening.. Went to the Wigan game .. Emirates is the best and worst stadium, I hope to god if DL builds one for us he keeps the noise in.. send me an email I have some questions
Just taking a few moments off from writing “The Hawking Arse” to see what the competition’s writing on here. Wow, Goonerholic. You really do allow some freedom of speech on this site. Even the opposition?
Not me. Over on THA (The Hawking Arse), I nix them immediately. Flick switch. Dead. Gonzo. I mean, I’m all for free speech. Absolutely. As long as it’s not from the enemy.
Well, not ONLY from the enemy really. I won’t have anyone contradict me either. Different point of view? Flick switch. Dead. Gonzo.
I even get some gits on there that want to debate! Debate? I ask you. Debate away, I say, but not on my site. I tell it like it is and don’t want to hear your nonsense. It’s a little tip on democratic blogging I learned from my uncle Vladimir at the Politburo. He learned it from a Mr Mao who used to live in Peking apparently.
Never been to the Emirates. They say it’s nice. Doesn’t stop me telling Arsene Wenger he’s a cloth eared c*nt though. Never played the game either. All that mud and blood and spitting! Not for me, you see I’m only in it for the clicks. Tactics. What the hell are they. Big Clicks, that’s my currency. Denilson? A turkey. Can’t even fly.
Got to rush, that wise man Lou Macari’s on Setanta, I’ll record what he says and publish it as my own original thoughts tomorrow. Brilliant! Another 1,000 clicks for f*ck all effort.
Come on over to THA, Goonerolic. I’ll show you clueless blogging made easy. A pea brain can do it and I get more clicks than the pimples on my arse.
See you then, Young Arsehawker at (THA) The Hawking Arse.
I agree with what some of you´ve been saying here, the spirit and level of fighting spirit that some of the young players show while playing for Arsenal is not good enough. I was happy to hear that Gibbs was absolutely wrecked after gifting Utd. with their opening goal. That showed for me that he expects a lot from himself and doesn´t accept failure. However I´ve been watching Song and Diaby jog back all season after losing the ball with a careless pass or dillydaddling with the ball in midfield. What I expect is for a player who loses the ball to run back as fast as he can and win it back. I hate to see players expect others to do their work for them.
I just really hope that Wenger realizes some of the big mistakes he´s made over the years. Losing Edu and Vieira the same year was a big mistake and losing Flamini, Hleb and Gilberto last year was also a bad mistake. He´s breaking up the partnerships that these players are building between them over a few million pounds a year. For me that is the difference between success and failure. Nobody wants Arsenal to become like Parma which bloods youngsters so that they can win titles for other clubs or .. dare I say Leeds or some of those other clubs that used to be big..
It really would be a shame if the club had to sack him but I think the club is bigger than Wenger and if he doesn´t start appreciating the importance of having continuity and long serving players he has to go. That is my humble opinion
Halli: Flamini & Hleb wanted to leave, AW fought big time to keep them but the former was out of contract (and thus could earn much more at Milan) and the latter threatened to buy his remaining years. As for Gilberto, he was way past his prime and with no guarantee of first-team action he decided to leave too. Being left with a bitter aftertaste this season is not an excuse for spinning it as AW’s mistake.
There is very little money available, that’s a fact. We spent 5 millions in the last 5 years on the transfer market while our direct competitors spent between 150 and 250 mils in the same period. Unless Kroenke and Jabba the Uzbek splash some of their own cash or a big profile player is sold (Adebayor?), our transfer kitty this season will be as close to 0 as it was in the last 5 years. That doesn’t mean good players can’t be bought but it won’t be half a team of them.
I don´t care if they wanted to leave, Hleb was under contract. Flamini should have been offered a better contract, for me he was a key player last season and it was just silly to throw away a player that fit well with Fabregas in midfield. The result of failing to pay him enough wages? Having to offer 16 mill for Alonso in august, good business? I think the answer is obvious.
For me that´s the problem, Wenger is the best coach in the world but an awful stingy businessman who counts pennies. Perhaps the big mistakes were made in not replacing Dein and having Wenger multitask and do things that didn´t suit him.
I´m simply stating that you can´t replace your midfield and expect success the following season. We can count ourselves lucky that Villa´s season imploded because if they would´ve kept their momentum they would be in 4th place.
That’s like saying that Man Utd can count themselves lucky last season that we imploded. Besides not to forget but we did go 21 league games unbeaten before Sunday, it’s not just ‘luck’ that had us overhaul Villa.
As for what to do in the summer, I’ll worry about that in the summer.
Would you disagree with that? I think Arsenal were just very unlucky last season, everything went wrong from horrible injuries to bad refereeing. I´m not sure if Eduardo hadn´t been slaughtered at Birmingham and Rosicky hadn´t gotten his mystery injury things wouldn´t have turned out differently. Luck plays a part but I think this season that O´Neil made a bad mistake in signing Emile Heskey and after that they couldn´t score.
We did have a good unbeaten run (many of those were draws for a long while though) but when it got down to the business end of the season our players and squad were not good enough. Chelsea and Utd proved this over 4 different games.
Wenger has a lot of deliberating to do and a lot to consider over the summer. I only hope he gets it right.
all u muppets of harping this undefeated nonesesnse, please check the number of points we picked in our (un)impressive unbeaten run
consider this:
take four games in the league. when you win two games and lose two of them then you get 6 points; if you draw all of them (unbeaten run!!!!) you earn 4
we had a true undefeated season in 2003/4
we also had an impressive clean-sheet run in the champions league in 2005/6 (with Martin Kewon coaching the defence!)