Reflections
May 24th, 2011 by 'holic
Apologies to anybody who expected something more substantial than a photographic tour of the ‘holic’s day out on Sunday. Frankly I felt it unnecessary to add to the air of gloom I expected to see everywhere else. It was a day to share the positives of the day with you. I had an absolutely blinding trip barring the ninety minutes in the middle of it.
What I did find myself doing was a lot of people watching in the stadium, or to be more precise, the Putney End. Few away grounds allow us to bring such numbers to them. The so-called neutral section was, as usual, a sea of red. The day started so well. Most, it seemed, had enjoyed a half or two on the way, and before long the good-natured choir were advising Mr Al-Fayed that it may have been more advisable to commission a tribute to Jedward, rather than the ‘king of pop’.
The potential for the mood to turn ugly came with an all too typical goal for us to concede, but Robin’s finish just minutes later prevented an early outing of what would follow in the closing stages. The humour, however, started to have an edge. “We defended a corner” provided the perfect headline for my drunken post, but what must Arsenal’s defenders and staff have thought as it boomed out across the Cottage. It came from thousands of throats as arguably the best away supporters in the League finally started to express the mixed emotions that have affected so many this season.
At 2-1 down the humour was still turned inward. “Let’s pretend we won the League”. Then the most interesting sights of the afternoon. As the faithful got a “one Arsene Wenger” chant going, and followed it with a long, long rendition of “We love you Arsenal”, I looked round. About half were stony silent, faces blank. The stuffing had been knocked out of a lot of good people who have spent the season travelling and getting behind this side one hundred percent.
Then it started. Somewhere at the back of P5 you caught wind of a chant that I understand got a bit, but not much of an airing at the Grove last week. Within seconds it was deafening. Everyone united again in song. “Spend some fucking money.” It got reprise after reprise, even after Theo grabbed a meaningless equaliser. Even those who had loyally tried to rally behind the side so impressively were in full cry of agreement.
Now before you get the impression that I have turned through 360 degrees, let me assure you that is not the case. The man in charge of Arsenal at Fulham is the right man for the job. When I made that point at the end of last season it was conditional on him spending some of the money that had been denied him by the board until last summer because of the property situation, and on us continuing to dine at Europe’s top table. On the eve of the season I wrote,
“I think most would still expect some investment in the playing squad during this next couple of weeks. The squad on which we are relying to open the season at Anfield would need to enjoy a huge slice of fortune to challenge for the very highest honours, I think. We have all seen the half-year results, and we know there is money that should be available. Spend some of it on our obvious shortcomings.”
The hoped for goalkeeper and defensive midfielder didn’t materialise. The clear shortage of quality in the centre of defence was addressed with the inexperience of Koscielny, and the ageing Squillaci. The younger player was a partial success, but his senior partner never came to terms with the pace or intensity of the Premiership. The money they cost tipped us from profit to a small loss in a year when we managed not to lose expensive playing assets. By and large the cash that was sitting in the bank in August remains there today.
I’m proud we continue to finish top four on such a frugal budget, but there was no need for it last season, and this summer the piggy bank will have to be smashed, if the entirely believable stories coming out of the club prove to be correct. Of course if well-rewarded players do move on, they will need to be replaced. We were short this season, it proved, and this summer’s potential departures will have to be replaced as they depart. We are in Champions League qualifying in August with van Persie and Nasri (should he remain) suspended. We cannot contemplate a potentially tricky tie with half the side sold, and two key remaining players suspended.
I’m sure we will cover this over and over as the summer progresses, so I will wrap up for now. Sorry if it is a bit downbeat for you. That wasn’t the intention. It is though the result of some serious soul-searching as the haze clears after Sunday. What I saw on the banks of the Thames opened my eyes to the depth of the split betweeen people who absolutely love this club, but who mercifully stopped short of turning on each other, and who found a common cause on which they could agree.
Spend SOME fucking money.
100 Responses to “Reflections”
Copied this over Holic as I couldn’t be arsed to write it again and it may help lift some gloom 🙂
Alright my brothers in beverage, Hope all are well.
Must say after a few days of reflection I’m quite upbeat and for the first time in 4 or 5 summers I can see the club making the changes we have been crying out for why you may ask,
Well in my view things have finally come to a head and no more spin and bullshit will be accepted by the fanbase the old trodden lines of well we had to many injuries or we cannot improve what we have or by buying x it will kill Y as no longer will these be excepted in my view the fans showing the unrest they have can only be a good thing in the grand scheme of things and finally the club will have to act to protect the cash cow so all things consided let’s get cracking
Oh and totally of topic how fucking good is Lemmys acoustic version of Ace of Spades fucking great tuneeeeeeeeeee !!
A new blog?!
Excellent blog tonight ‘holic – thanks for another great season of keeping the troops entertained.
Can you imagine the scale of the songs should we ever actually SCORE from a corner?!!
ARSENE AND HILLWOOD HAVE FAILED AND FROM ENDING 4TH, SO THERE IS ONLY 16 PLACES LEFT TO THE BOTTOM. ARSENAL HAD BECOME A SELLING CLUB AND WITH THIS EXODUS OF PLAYERS WE ARE DOOMED AND HE STILL ASK FOR PATIENCE.5 YEARS IS BECOMING 10 YEARS WITHOUT A TROPHY.
Good write up Mr Holic.
We could have spent some fucking money before, if there had been a fucking rights issue.
The same fucking rights issue that Usmanov proposed, and the board (including Uncle Stan) rejected.
Hers,
Calm down dear.
Usmanov can bugger off to his beloved Man U as far as I’m concerned.
Love that you still support the manager .. I believe he can do the job and make us top once more if he stops being sentimental about some kids (but i must admit Ive started playing around with the thought of a new Arsenal manager). And I am in agreement with Chippy something tells me that this time some frailties will be addressed. When deadwood themselves inform press they want to move on its a good sign.
Stone,
The rights issue was devised purely to deliver the club to Usmanov by default as he would underwrite the additional shares that existing shareholders could not afford.
It was a tug at your heart strings designed to deliver him a cash cow.
Great write up Holic, just what was needed after what seemed like a season taking forever to end. The capitals for SOME are pointed I think and hopefully a shot across the bows of the likes of Chelsea.. Chippy the Ace of Spades version on the Young Ones is a classic..
@Stones Roses how cute you seem to think Usmanov proposed that because he has such a big heart and a loving for Arsenal? Im quite sure he in fact does have a big heart (hypertrophy) but trust me he does not love our club and we should be happy he was stopped from overtaking us.
Great report. I think you have summed up the crowd both at home and away. Many a true Arsenal fan has had a certain percentage of their stuffing knocked out of them this season. You will now undetstand why I have put up a staunch defense of those who make the effort week in week out.
I said at the start of the season that I would be really annoyed if the weaknesses identified at the start of the season that were not addressed, if they ended up costing us. Some on here took me to task over my views. I genuinely hope we do not make the same mistakes again. I agree totally holic that we had no excuses last season. We have even less of one this summer.
Pedigree for me tonight please.
Exactly that noel. Nobody expects us to spend £50 million on one player, but whatever we bring in from sales this summer should be topped up from the cash reserves.
We’ve improved the facilities. We’ve improved the stadium. Now let’s improve the team. Football is the object of the exercise. Not success, that arrives or it doesn’t. I do however want to see players who will give their all in exchange for the privilege of playing for Arsenal.
The Usmanov debate is so paradoxical that I dont really understand it. He is worth so much that he could buy us four times over and not even notice, yet he fucked around on his 27%. Lady Nina was openly marketing her shares for 16.5 but he didnt buy, and lets not kid ourselves, she would have sold to anyone at that price, even me, an alcoholic from Brighton 🙂
As I said, I dont really understand it, but the silence from silent Stan is deafening. I dont think ‘Spend some fucking money’ was quite what he expected.
And, off topic but very much embalmed in Arsenal hatred, I think the entire press should boycott the Manure press conference on Friday, stupid red nosed fuckpig.
As I said yesterday. Too many fringe players on big money and firmly stuck in a comfort zone. Changes needed.
Changes are undeniably coming Steve, but what concerns me is the complexity of transfer deals at the moment. We have maybe a limited number of negotiators. Hopefully Ken Friar has shared his knowledge and experience with more than just Ivan.
We may want to shift half a dozen players, but we need to replace them almost one for one, or risk having the squad stripped bare for the CL qualifier.
We may also lose a couple of players we want to stay, which is more worrying, and may stop one or two who want out from being allowed to go.
Totally agree with Mr Holic #16. We all got our lists of players that should go / need to go / best for them if they do go. But, squad of 25, we gotta replace every single one of them. I dont pretend to know enough about our reserves or loanees to say who will make it through to the first team, but some of the lists of “get rid” that list as much as ten players, while desirable in an ideal world, is just not realistic.
Morning all,
The way to avoid having the squad stripped bare for the CL qualifier is to buy who you want early on in the transfer window, not go on a 11pm binrake on the final day hoping to save a few shekels in the process and then miss out on virtually every target. Denilson looks to be off, Bendtner too. Add Eboue, Diaby, Vela and Almunia to that mix and we have a tidy sum to add to our expanding nest egg.
Many thanks ‘Holic for all your efforts in a bloody trying season. Can I have a final 09/10 Ardbeg to summon the blood for 10/11 please?
Noel 73 – Agreed, love the Ace Of Spades on The Young Ones.
“To the station, music!”
Pieboy, what is this “Arsenal scoring from a corner” of which you speak? I seem to recall that this may have happened long ago, with a certain Number 7 that some called “dreamy,” and there may have been a Brazilian or two involved, and a Frenchman who only shrugged AFTER scoring, not while trying to like some others I could mention… It was long ago and far away…
Gotta say, the Ace Of Spades on that advert lager thing is bloody brilliant.
“Now before you get the impression that I have turned through 360 degrees”
You are aware of the fact that if you turn 360 degrees, you are just back to the starting point..? 🙂
.. it was so much better than it is today.
Poignant, but sadly true.
Can someone please explain to me what this whole “rights issue” thing is all about and how it would have made it possible for us to spend…?
@21 – He meant 180 obviously, don’t be so petty 😉
Noel73,
Cheers for the heads up will trawl YouTube,
I wouldn’t worry to much just yet I’ve a strange feeling that players will be signed and even better signed early and then the departures will begin, Ive gotten to the point now that even if players like Cesc and Nasri and Clichy etc want to go well let them, Half this half arsed attitude we’ve seen over recent seasons can be attributed in some small way to to many of our players thinking the grass is greener and that Arsenal are there to further their carears, Bollocks to that Arsenal F C is bigger that any player and the sooner we get players understanding that again the sooner we will re find our soul as a club.
Anyone else watching La liga hoping this so called big player joining a top club in England will in fact be joining Londons biggest most succesfull team 😉
The transfer situation will also come down to players expectations if they come to Arsenal. We have not helped ourselves in this regard with our continual stagnation which means many players will decide that the price of maybe being trophyless is an unrealistic contract. Its been a while since a decent player has fluttered his eyelashes at us and Arsenes promises will ring hollow in their ears if they see our top players walking the other way. The price we have to pay has suddenly got a whole lot higher. Good Luck Arsene
Rights issue.
Under normal circumstances (which excludes football clubs), if a business wants to raise money to expand, it can borrow money from the bastard banks, which comes at a price, the interest rate.
However, instead of going to the banks, it can go to its shareholders and say something like, “hey, you got X number of shares invested in us, which means you do kind of trust us, well, if for every £1 you got invested, you give us another 30p, we will invest it in expanding the business and give you a better return”.
So it is about raising money for the business “for free”.
That is basically what it is all about. But it takes a majority of the board to approve such an action.
Usmanov wanted a rights issue. The board told him to go fuck himself.
Holic at 16. I agree totally. I also think that it shows that this year we need to act swiftly. Lay down a statement of intent for all, including those who may be thinking of leaving and who we want to stay.
Holic,
Thanks for the time – a wonderful blog as ever..!
Im Irish. I manage to get over 5/6 times a year when I can get tickets and a family pass from the missus, but at least these days, between having subscriptions to about 4 different stations – I count myself lucky to be able to catch pretty much all games live.
Now many of the Irish pundits can be very poor and withering – but there are one or two who I’d be inclined to rate such as Brady, Giles and Houghton. Houghton said something at the weekend when he was commenting on the Fulham game which caught my ear, he said from what he’s heard, the club are about to sign 2 players in quick succession and that each will break the club transfer record.
I know it might be pure speculation, but houghton isn’t the type of pundit to say such things and this action might also be a statement of intent to persuade others from leaving. Just a thought.
Goonerholic,
You are wrong to dismiss the rights issue so readily. It may have been designed to give Usmanov a path in, but, if my understanding is correct, all the existing shareholders would have first dibs at buying the shares in in direct proportion to their current shareholding. Therefore it would only have played into Usmanovs hands IF Kroenke did not put his hand in his pocket, purchase the pro rata share to which he was entitled and therefore maintain the proprotion of the club which he owns. If Kroenke bought into the share issue,there is nothing that Usmanov could do, and the winner would be the club (i.e us and the manager)
By you dismissing this out of hand, you are effectively saying that ‘well I wouldnt expect Kroenke to buy up the shares, and thereby invest his own money in the club’. I know there is a depth of ill feeling towards Usmanov, but surely we need to look at this critically. We need to scrutinise the actions of the owner, not judge on preconceived notions. There may be other, better ways to inject cash into the club, but at least this plan did involve someone other than than fans getting fleeced. And thank the stars that at least we have some alternative to turn to, however unpopular a view that may appear at the moment, if Kreoenke does turn out to be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Or at least a wolf in a very sharp suit!!
Hal, #30,
Absolutely right, you put into words what my limited vocabulary couldn’t.
hal, I’m not saying anything of the sort. Kroenke, had such a move taken place, was not the issue. If it was underwritten by Usmanov, at the time it was proposed, then potentially every shareholder who could not have paid the premium would have seen half of his percentage pass to the underwriter.
It was a brilliant move by Usmanov, and why do you think he did it?
Just in case you choose to misunderstand me it is a matter of record I am also not chuffed at ANY one individual holding a controlling interest in OUR club.
Hal,
I think Holic is right.
The rights issue was merely a plan to curry flavour with the fans and flex some PR muscle.
Put yourself in Kronke’s shoes for a moment:
Why would you want to buy more shares, when you already control the club?
The actual buyout of the club was not a move that was instituted by Kronke’s aggression – but moreover one that was forced upon him due to Fismans ill health at the time.
Again I posit the question, why would Kronke want to fork out so much more money for a club he already controls? Gazidis was Kronke’s appointment. The commercial restructuring was all Kronke’s/Gazidis doing. Wenger supports Kronke. There was a lockdown agreement in place excluding Usmanov or any other potential aggressive takeover. The only thing that could have forced a potential buy-out was if the lock down was threatened, as it was, by Fismans ill health. That was the reason for the buy out in my mind.
No heart scumbags singing that bring shame on the club.
Go and support man city or villa or spurs if you want to see vast amounts wasted onthe so called next big thing. No class, no heart no faith so bugger off. Most of the fans there were not your usual away crowd.
I need a stiff one after that please, barman. Macallan, double, straight.
Oh I think we all know why Usmanov did it. Problem is, at least he DID do it. And, whatever his intentions, it would mean a cash investment in the club,. In any case, Im sure that Stan and his colleagues in the lock down agreement could have raised the cash to keep the status quo pretty much as-was if they so chose. No sign of the silent one proposing a similar rights issue now that he owns the majority of shares I fear.
But I couldnt agree more ‘holic. keep the ownership out of any one single onwers hands. So in this respect, its very important that old Alisher is kept sweet (rather you than me on that one, let me tell you!!!)
Rinse, not going to get into a pissing contest, but trust me as one who was there, there were lots of long-standing Gooners of my vintage in that crowd, as well as the fancy-dressers and the boat crew. I won’t diss the kids. I was one a long time ago. It’s different for sure, but the majority who were there were up for the Arsenal.
And I agree with them. I’m not talking go into debt. I would suggest we take around £25 million from the reserves, add that to the summer income, and utilise the work that our scouts have done, and strengthen.
Easy to say, piece of piss to type I agree. Think about it seriously though. I don’t want to go further at this stage in justifying that easy statement, because it will be a post, sooner rather than later, and I will need to justify it then.
Denilson. Bendtner and apparently Clichy too – the clearout has begun with our season barely done. Surely these players have been pulled aside and told they can go, but in a dignified Arsenal way (and to maybe keep their values as high as possible) we allow them/their agents to announce it as a ‘player wants away’ scenario. And I include Clichy in that who despite playing a lot of games for us this season has gone too far backwards developmentally (ouch), and when we try to play offside – boom, boom. May the rest of the deadwood slope off soon too, for as high a price as possible. Come on the Arse!
What the Bear is hoping to see at Arsenal is a few changes among the coaches as well. If in six years we have had a gaping hole in defense that was not plugged, then that is also the fault of poor coaching, not just the players.
We have also send out unfit players to play a system that requires a squad light on its feet. That is also down to poor training techniques.
However, you cannot fail to account for experience, quality, and stamina. Arsenal must also have a B – Team strong enough to beat the weaker teams in the Premier League. Wenger must also make full use of the best reserve players as well, therefore he must also include them in the first team training programme.
Wenger must start thinking outside the box. I was a little disturbed to hear him say “no one can teach him anything in the game”. That is the root cause of Arsene having to swallow humble pie this season. In the long run it is not about Arsene but the good of and for Arsenal.
Someone mentioned earlier the rumours of a “top” la liga player heading to England.
David De Gea, Man Utd, £17m, about to be announced apparently.
Anyway, great post ‘holic, as ever.
Quite heartened by the last few days to be honest. Happy to see the back of Denilson, less so NB52 (though I suspect it’ll end up being in everyone’s interest) and am fully at peace with the Clichy rumours. Would be delighted if we could make Leighton Baines our first piece of summer business. Just imagine – some actual, proper crosses. And maybe the odd goal off a set piece. Brave new world.
And just maybe the departure of Clichy – the last point of connection to our last great team will unblock the thingamee and allow the wassername to flourish thus finally and fantastically leading to the too long longed for rebirth of the mighty Arsenal who will then enter their third great age and lord it over the filthy oil rich, the Russsian money launderers, mouthy mancs, etc for an infinite age – amen!
Unfortunately can offer no solid logic for the above – it’s just a hunch/hope. You reds!
Sorry rinse but all those around me were those that have been to almost every away for years. As ‘Holic mentions there was plenty of booming support for the team, no away team has had as much support at the grove, but a message of discontent was delivered.
Yeah N7. Just imagine just as Bendtner goes we get his supply line sorted.
Noel73 is correct. If you thought last summer was bad, this summer will be even more talk and less action. We can no longer recruit the best, and it has nothing to do with finances.
dan/noel
Good point & one I have been debating with myself for an age now?
Has the path we have trodden in recent years given the impression to likely suitors that WE are no longer a viable option if you are a series trophy hunting footballer?
I’d have to say if we are not there yet, we are very close to it, & this alone will make it all the harder to sign the right players we need.
With the Rights issue question for me we have to ALL ask ourselves that painful question, do we want to stay the club we have been throughout my years of following the ARS, or do we move with the times as it appears all the other big teams in the perm have.
I have to say that with silent Stan now in charge now, I don’t see the old Arsenal way surviving anyway, because those dammed yanks do business very differently to us, what with their profit taking & all……..
Lee I think it merely puts us back to 1996 levels and philosphy and if Arsene could do it then bringing in the likes of Paddy, Manu and the rest I dont see why not again. Finding players with a point to prove was always his strong point and thats where he should refocus I think. Dan I hear ya but I dont believe ya….this will be a defining summer dont worry
Noel personally I think he should spend the whole summer sorting out the defence, for me we have enough top class mid’s & attaching options (as long as we can keep them of course) in the team.
The defence has stunk the place-out for a good few years now & we can no longer accept their woeful performances any longer.
If he needs to get rid of 70% of the current defensive players & recoup whatever he can from their sales then spend about £35M putting that right then so be it, but leave the rest well alone because also from the kids coming through that looks safe to me for the future too……
Nice blog holic, we’re on the same page. I support Wenger, but the squad needs a minor overhaul. We’ll definitely see signings though, as Denilson, Almunia, Rosicky, and Bendtner are all likely to go. Add to that the potentials like Clichy, Nasri (god I hope not!), Arshavin, and Squillaci, and we need a lot of players just to get back to a full compliment of players. Some of them won’t be ideal replacements, but hopefully some of them are. I think Denilson and Rosicky and be replaced by Lansbury and Henderson, while Almunia is third choice anyway., so Mannone will do the trick for now. We’ll need a world class CB and striker though, and I like the idea of Gervinho on the wing for Arshavin. However, I’m not inane enough to realize that any of this can be done easily- this is a major ask for any manager. Lets hope ours proves his grit.
There’s got to be a better way forward than the one we’ve been trying over and over, and it has to be different from the ways we have tried before. At least we have to be doing it with different personnel because these people have let us down, over and over. Not 100 percent change is required, but significant change is.
Opinion guys….
We have had a lot of players on loan this year.. Who do you think will step up next season?
Our loanees included – Bartley, JET, Lansbury, Miyachi, Coquelin.. And Frimpong and Eastmond were injured.
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Personally I have high hopes for Bartley , Miyachi and Coquelin. Would love to hear more from other holics.
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And welcome to Arsenal , Carl Jenkinson. 🙂
No worries, and I’m not asking for anyone’s belief, and I do think this will be a defining summer but not in the way you are thinking.
Wenger’s lack of transfer activity in the upper echelons of quality(not price mind you), has degraded not only our squad but our market credibility. We had best be careful what we sell should class replacements be difficult to secure. This is all assuming of course that wenger can change his philosphy, which I don’t think he can. A big signing of the likes of Benzema, without considerable other additions, I don’t think will help us enough, and would in my view further indicate a management in desperation.
When Our Kids play at Underhill, i normally take myself along to have a gander at the next generation – and I saw the vast majority of the players who spent last season out on loan – I fail to see the amazing youth potential that AW says we have – Jack Wilshere apart – many of them seem to be average – making the same mistakes that we see week in week out at the Emirates.
Arsenal have a serious problem – we have too many average players around the place on fat contracts – how on earth are we gonna shift them- i mean who in their right mind is gonna take Denilson on £55K a week- Bendy on £60K+- Rosicky £??K – Eboue £??K – Aluminia £??K – Squillachi £??K -These players all think they’re better than they actually are because they’ve been told about this amazing potential for too long- Ship down the road to the wheeler dealer – if we bombard Newsnow with transfer rumours about these players Harrys bound to try for them when his “scouting” network trawl the net.
We do need to spend some money but it must be on players who are going to improve this lot – i suggest Eden H from Lillie, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Benzema, + Baines – Go shopping Arsene!!
Nice post ‘holic
I agree on one thing- Spend SOME fucking money
Although, I believe it is down to more than just spending/freshening up the squad..Arsene has to put more emphasis on the defensive side of the game.
Sajit,
I think Miyachi has already been included in our pre-season plans
Lansbury and Frimpong will be in the squad for next season- may be as league cup/FA cup players. As for the others, I don’t see them in the mix of things
Good one ‘holic
my main grouse with wenger is that he has made us less competitive. over the last few years, defeat has become acceptable.
over and over the last few seasons we have seen that we cannot live in the 100kmph speed and muscle power required to win the english league.
Wenger makes united look extra good and his average performances these last years has helped fill up united’s trophy cabinet. did united need to get out of 2nd gear this season?
whatever you say about united and believe me I hate that team you have to admire their hunger year after year. qualities that our players and managers would do good to learn.
Usmanov has offered £14k for any remaining shares out there. Cant really see what he has got to gain by that, but there is a lot that has gone on I dont understand.
Don’t comment often –
Two years ago I commented that with our new stadium, new training facilities and with a shed load of youngsters coming through that we were sitting better than anyone.
Last year I expressed frustration at the lack of a leader and midfield enforcer and also commented on what appeared to be the over comfortable attitude of some of our young players.
This year if I reflect on the pathetic attitude we took in to the final champions league mini-league matches (that saw us saddled with Barcelona) and the (yet again) capitulation at the end of the season, I can only deduce that a strategy that I thought brilliant has turned out to be fundamentally flawed.
It appears that a large contingent in this Arsenal side are not prepared to earn the right to play.
My real fear is that Arsene over analyses – to the extent that our players end up playing too much with their head and not enough with the heart.
Anyway – I have only got a week to decide if I renew my season tickets or not. No doubt I will do – but worryingly I am thinking about it.
Great Post Holic as usual, but i am still waiting to read a really long blog of the entire season summed up, now thats gonna be pretty cant wait for that,and also your thoughts on next season, and your thought on our potential first signing Jenkinson.
😛 Now i know thats a lot to ask but we have got two months before the start of the new torture..
We do spend money, but it goes on wages not transfer fees. Not terrible in itself, but I wonder if the structure of players’ pay is right (not, I must admit, that I have any idea of how it is done). But we hear all season of players with fat long-term contracts going through the motions, not being able to be moved on because they can’t get the same money elsewhere, &c. Should pay be more performance based? Low base pay with big bonuses for playing, bigger ones for winning and the biggest of all for silverware won? Or do agents have such a grip on the game now that that would just be a pipe dream?
A glass of your finest claret, as ever, ‘Holic, to be raised once more to an excellent season’s blogging.
Great post ‘Holic .
Comforting to hear that whilst the far from happy hordes at the Cottage made their point forcibly , and not without some humour , that Arsene does indeed need to ” spend some fucking money ” , their ire stopped short of collective abuse of AW .
I am 100% with you that AW remains the right man for the job , and that the parsimony of recent years reflected , not the failure of some mythical and misconceived ” youth project ” , but a move to a new stadium , made under testing extraneous factors which neither Arsene nor Arsenal could control .
Why Arsene nor Stan/Gazides do not make this point more forcibly , I have no idea . Another failure of the Club’s PR .
That more money has been available in the last 12 months than has been spent is however on the public record , and it is to be hoped that the mistakes of last summer are not repeated this year .
It is undeniable that the end of season collapse has marked a shift in public opinion amongst the Gooner Faithful , and that it is not just the Johnny- come-lately’s , the fuckwits who populate Le Grove , or those that glean their opinions from TalkShite Radio , who are less than enamoured with the current goings-on .
People who are Arsenal to the core , – who remember being second best in N London through the sixties , who can remember relegation battles in the Seventies , who can remember the mediocrity of the first half of the eighties and the tedium of the last couple of years of GG’s time – , are beginning to get more than a little fed up .
That angst is still being expressed in a semi apologetic way , but should the necessary changes not be made , the angst will build until every defensive mishap is seized upon as evidence of AW not being up to the job . Nonsense of course , but a powerful force nevertheless .
So Arsene , spend the money available , and make sure you spend it wisely , the fuckwits they are a coming .
Noel73 @27…. agree entirely. Hopefully we can make a decent signing up front to signal our intent and persuade others to join / stay (those that we want to stay)…
I think that this may be the biggest hangover we face from the collapse from 2nd to 4th in the last few weeks…
Got to share this with you as its so amusing i carnt for a minute beleive its true but ive just heard theres a very good chance the next Chelsea manager could very well be a certain Mr Twitchy as i say i cannot beleive it but thought id share as it made me laugh no end !!!
Cheers ‘holic. Great post.
BTW… RvP & nasri will only be banned for the 1st leg of the CL Qualifiers….
My head hurts – it’s Arsenal pain.
Source – trying to prioritise the problems we face.
Coaching, money, attitude, divisions in the fan base, the real agenda of KSE, Red and White and Usmanov (money again, I guess), defending, xenophobia, the media (same thing I guess), the home fans (not really a problem, just teasing Steve T), the cost of tickets (money again), the Barcelona c***s, Agents, youth academy not really producing (exception of Jack), sugar daddies (money again), fascist stewarding at the Grove, a defensive midfielder, captain material – not 11 captains thanks, goalkeeper(s), losing a four goal lead, losing against a relegated team of cavemen in the last minute of a cup final, the enigma of Arshavin, a quality (I mean real quality) striker, and finally, ultimately, when do we learn our lesson? Oh and delays on the Picadilly line.
Solution – Deuchars IPA. Keep em coming barman 🙂
Nice post Dr Z
Cheers tabs – the thing is, the announcement said that there was a good service on the Picadilly line……
Have an IPA – not too violent on the head, and you can drink gallons of it without Management noticing 🙂
Is there an interlull or something? Over here the cat is asleep on the shelf, quiet as the announcements about our making a blockbuster signing. Which reminds me, are cats allowed on the HT? This one is house-trained and habitually dabbles his foot in the water dish. Probably would dabble his foot in IPA if given the chance. Could be just the thing if the HT could use a mascot, or just to keep emotions on a more even keel after our weekly capitulation.
Nice idea Doc – cheers .
BTW i think you missed the smoking ban , Le Grove , Twitchy , Sir Red Nose , crap programme , over-priced balti pies , fictitious attendances , and no parking within 33 miles of the ground.
Apart from that , everything hunky-dory … Bottoms Up !
Nas, the only pet I saw around last season was a LWC, name of Cusop who disappeared around St Totteringham’s day.
I would be all for having your moggy on board, but for my allergy. I have a number of animal allergies me – the rotweiller Barton, the primate Bale, the walrus Allardyce, the list goes on and on.
But being a reasonable man, if you want to take said cat to the rear carriage, you can deposit it with a strange man wearing a Bio Suit.
Nasri – get stuck into the IPA – Dr Z has got a jug .
Hmm – mascot ? … i like your thinking but surely we can come up with something more suitable than a pussy
Zico, not wanting to disturb any passengers and least of all yourself, I will leave the cat with the man in the rear carriage so long as visiting privileges are granted and the cat is treated to his accustomed level of service. Barton, Bale and Allardyce are several classes of obnoxiousness down from the cat, I can assure you, not to mention Evra who deserves cat urine in the face for calling on Nasri to move to Manchester to claim his guaranteed yearly trophy. He who laughs last laughs best, and we will, eventually if not immediately. 🙂
If I was Patrice Evra I’d concentrate more on minor trivialities such as not disgracing my country at a major international tournament, and a bit less on constantly running my gigantic mouth.
Still, if we’re going to give press cons talking about each other’s players then maybe one of our lads should come out and publicly offer Mrs Giggs a shoulder to cry on, just in case she needs it….
She has a very wide mouth, doesn’t she?
My bigger fear is that no money will be spent on a new defensive coach… surely that is the most glaring part that needs improving?
And even El Capitan doesn’t escape this… think to the crazy backheel away to Barca.
Does anyone have the inside track as to why Keown’s stay as a defensive coach was such a short one ?
Sajit @50 –
My personal preferences are Bartley, Miyachi and Frimpong from your list. I see them slotting in to the first team straight away as squad players in their positions, more than the others. But that is not to say the others aren’t decent players.
There is such a wealth of talent in the reserve/youth set up with nice prospects, eg: Henderson, Afobe.
My guess is that the transition to the first team takes a certain mentality. So players are either ready or they’re not regardless of how good they are. Then there is the issue of available positions in the first team. There’s even first teamers who cannot get games.
But yeah to conclude B, M, F are ready for the first team when taking all factors in to account in my opinion.
TaBS, he was never officially defensive coach. He was studying for his UEFA badges, and Arsene let him do the practical with the club for a brief period.
There is some funny stuff written about the defensive coaching at the club. All of the coaching staff were defenders (or defensive midfielders, eh boss!)
I think our issues revolve around the choice of zonal marking and players not taking responsibility. That isn’t as easy to resolve as people think, and in my mind needs stronger-minded personnel than we have in the squad.
To my mind “zonal marking” = “prevent defense” = “boom goes the dynamite”
To my understanding there is an issue at the club with paying the right money for the right player without exceeding the pay bracket at the club.
Certain players are not willing to take a pay cut or want to exceed our pay bracket, which ever the case may be.
In my opinion Torres was the ideal replacement for Henry but was overpriced when he was brought to Merseyside. Surez was an ideal replacement for Eduardo and yet again was bought over priced down at Merseyside yet again. IMO it was sheer luck Chavski decided to splash 50 in effect paying for the said two players.
Doing business this way does not fit the clubs principles. But the spin is that we always dig deep when scouting and uncover the rarest of gems alot.
tabs @ 74
Further to ‘holic’s answer, I heard Keown himself say on radio that he wanted a “proper” position as he felt he had no real authority, but Arsen(e)al declined. Pity, I think.
‘Holic, don’t know if your ether is clogged but I’m having trouble leaving comments.
Very slow, and some being lost.
I have a few longer obs to make, but don’t want to lose them so will desist for a day or so. (Sighs of relief breathed all round, no doubt).
@ trev 79
wonder what Keown was getting so wrong that the current defensive coaches are getting so right?
Lee, leaving aside the issue of Keown’s effectiveness as a coach, I’d say we can use him merely for his effectiveness in the art of screaming abuse in the ears of opposing players, be it after they’ve missed a penalty or you name the difficult situation. Psychological warfare is an area where we can apply ourselves to new heights, and then add in a few extra spicy interrogation techniques for the likes of Patrice Evra.
Yep he loved a bit of verbal so he did….. We could defo use some of that today.
Staying on the Keown theme back in the day when players were NOT interviewed quite so often especially defenders, was it just me or did anyone else look with utter amazement when they first heard him speak?
He looked such a thug & was!!! Then spoke like an Oxford graduate…
Speaking of coaches – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1390891/Patrick-Vieira-line-surprise-Arsenal-return.html
I love the sound of that.
Glad you had a good day mate. See you one day next season.
great post Holic never a truer words spoken, Spend some money!
‘Holic @76 and Trev@79
Many thanks for your replies to the Keown thingy . Always found it rather strange that he didn’t secure a position given that his time at the club coincided with the run to the Champs League Final going ten ( ? ) games without conceding a goal . Could do with some of Martin’s in-yer-face motivational techniques in that dressing room now methinks .
Happy 22nd anniversary of the greatest day ever , one and all .
Vieira coming back as an Arsenal coach? That would do lots to change the atmosphere around here, in a positive way methinks. 🙂
I know its churlish but the ANFEILD89NOW on twitter is fucking Hilarious
I never saw Paddy as being the inspirational type OFF the field, more what he did when he was on it.
Think we could do with Martin Keown more, personally.
Oh and happy St Michael’s day to all ‘Holics!
noel73 – some of it is inspired – thanks for the heads up .
Afternoon ‘Holic & ‘Holics.
‘Holic & Ollie – twas a real pleasure on Sunday. Not even the footie spoiled the day. Money will be spent, I think. I also think that it will also be extremely hard for Arsene to change his ways at this stage of his career.
zico @ #68
FYI, I don’t play in the rear of the carriage. Maybe Nobbie Savage does?
Heh TS – you have to sit where I puts ya 😉
you been talent spotting in France TS ? Did any teenage wing wizards take your fancy ?
zico @ #93
Who opened the bookings register? Why wasn’t I informed? HT Mk II was a twinke in the eye last time I looked. Have you been spending lots of f****** money? 😉
tabs @ #94,
I have indeed but not that kind of talent. 😉
More things to add to the worry/priorities list:
* How to face CL qualifier sans Nasri & Cesc?
* How to supply enough commodities for the GT/CMC should we not win our qualifier.
Things to be happy about:
* RVP becoming (possibly) the best striker in the EPL and top 10 worldwide?
* Evra proving to everyone that he’s a total c*nt by sending an open loveletter to Nasri.
* The memories of 22 years ago and thinking that if that team could do it, a rebuilt Arsenal formed of players that only really want to be there could actually perform a similar feat next season.
Trying not to clutch at straws fellas…. not sure I’m convincing anybody.
You know you don’t need to book TS – the usual suspects will all be on board, forming a scrum around the Colombian cabinet 😉
In case you were wondering, front carriage is reserved for me and the blond girl from Sainsbury’s (not that she knows it yet) 🙂 🙂
Dr. z @ #94,
Ah! Well played again I see….
In my dreams TS @ 97……….
So just running through the list of pre-requisites for the 2011-12 Happy Train:
1. Ale
2. Chemicals.
3. Storage space for bio-hazard resistant clothing.
4. Resident stand up comic (plenty contenders already made themselves visible here) for when morale is flagging.
5. Spanking new Playstation for our Championship Managers.
6. Cage for any interloping swamp dwellers – they’re bound to show up sooner or later, wild eyed and delusional as ever.
7. Finest malt (not a big fan myself, but our Chief Barman will be tempted I’m sure).
8. Dartboard, custom made with Evra’s ugly coupon for a bulls-eye.
9. Spanish for Dummies handbook.
10. Best of the Arsecast on continuous loop – especially the Mick Bendtnaaah sketches.
I suppose you’ll want some seats thrown in as well.
Feel free to add to the list Holics – this is the summer we spend some f****** money. 🙂
Ah, TS! Made it back in one piece on the SP? 😉
Hope Paris treated you well.
Does anybody have a picture f Thierry Henry that they own the rights to? Ive just realized that his picture on wikipdeia is in a Barca shirt. We must correct this blasphemy