The Season In A Nutshell
May 15th, 2011 by 'holic
“I shall be glad to avoid…what could be a less enthusiastic than usual response to the lap of appreciation at the end of the game. I hope I am wrong, but I sense there could just be a mixed reception for the boys at this one.”
OK, so I’m no soothsayer. I think everybody could see that one coming. This was an afternoon that will have entrenched viewpoints, not united people behind a common love. Those now charged with running the show may choose to consider that a couple of hundred people on a ‘walk’ beforehand was not much of a turnout. Perhaps they should pay more attention to the twenty thousand who did not turn up and take their seat, despite having paid the highest prices in the Premier League for the privilege.
The match that a third of the people didn’t turn up to see was a microcosm of the season as a whole, proof positive that a pretty impressive ship has been allowed to sink for a ha’porth of tar, and that the standard of refereeing in the Premiership has plumbed new depths. Very nautical in here tonight. Not surprising given we were masters of our own destiny by being all at sea in the opening half an hour.
Bent feasted on an unlikely pairing at the heart of the Arsenal defence. We’ve missed Vermaelen badly, and his overall performance ended up being one of the few positives on a miserable afternoon. Unfortunately though it seems he was sent out in slick-soled boots on the lush heavily watered carpet at the start. As he slid and slipped Squillaci, who looks as much an Arsenal centre-half as I do an Olympic skateboarder, decided it was a nice afternoon to do a bit of bird-watching. Twitching, I believe they call it. That bloke makes me twitch like Harry Redknapp locked in a cell with Dale Winton. You want to shut your eyes, but you just can’t.
We were two down before the pre-match pints had been soaked up by the four quid balti pies. Indigestion was the result for much of the reduced attendance. At this point we were entirely to blame for the situation in which we found ourselves. To be fair efforts were made to get behind the side, and the level of support grew as one Michael Oliver set about failing his NVQ in Premiership officiating. Where do they find these pillocks? Respect? Get stuffed.
The fightback, such as it was, should have started when Dunne cleaned out Ramsey as the young Welshman prepared to strike at goal. Penalty, surely? Not in the trainee’s eyes it wasn’t. A magnificent strike against the post from van Persie suggested that that the message was getting through to the side that a greater sense of purpose was required. The half-time whistle was greeted by a crescendo of boos. That’s never nice to hear, but even I have to say it was understandable to a degree, however undesirable.
The level of effort in the second-half could not be faulted. If before the break we had self-destructed, then after it we at least raised the pace of the game, and went to a more positive 4-4-2 formation when Chamakh mercifully replaced Squillaci. We became even more dangerous when Bendtner was summoned to replace Arshavin on the left-wing, which tells you much more about the latter than the former. As abject as we had been earlier, so now we started to suffer plain bad luck.
Any appreciation of what was being served up was negated when someone allowed the announcement of another sixty thousand crowd to be made. The words red rag and bull sprung to mind as chants of “60k, you’re having a laugh” and “six per cent, you’re having a laugh” echoed around a now half empty stadium. Sometimes, the Arsenal of today are their own worst enemy.
On the pitch Chamakh scored with a far post header, and an eager to be noticed young referee chalked it off for a push that would not have knocked a budgerigar off it’s perch. Openings were created, and one too many touches taken time and again. Finally, Bendtner’s persistence created an opportunity for van Persie to grab a classic scrappy goal, and extend his remarkable scoring record this season. Sadly it was too little, too late.
Afterwards Arsene wrote his own headline in his press conference.
“We were punished because we were too tentative. It could cost us the automatic Champions League place”
And therein lies the rub. A season that offered so much. A season that saw us defeat Barcelona, Manchester United, and Chelsea, should have seen us secure at least third place, if not better, long before today. That we are now a pretty good bet for fourth, and a Champions League qualifier with a very uncertain midfield combination in pre-season, is more than a worry.
Six and a half percent? Double digit increases just for membership, not tickets. Think again Arsenal. Seriously. Of course we’ll all be back in August. We have signed a lifelong pledge. But we know we will be witnessing the birth of Wengerball4, a new beginning. It’s a shame that those destined to leave were denied a decent send-off today. It’s a worry that those who will replace them could face an early test of their credentials.
It’s time we all, Football Club and supporters, got back on the same side. The Arsenal side.
570 Responses to “The Season In A Nutshell”
1st
Arsenal treat this club like a business. The money goes somewhere? Certainly not on good quality defenders. Wenger will go out and buy his usual second division defender.
I aks this question, does Wenger have the bottle to spend. I think not. Carry on with the kids university of football, more blank years!
Wenger should resign if he is a man of principal.He has to admit he has taken this club as far as he can. Bolton Stoke now Villa the exact same performance.Nothing will change even if we buy players.Wenger has lost the plot.He is no longer a good tactician.One play one way and he has been found out.The problem is Wenger.If Wenger stay we will not finish top 4 next year
I have to say that Wenger has sucked out all the testosterone from all the players including himself.
Arsenal have become synonymous with the crab. Our players always move the ball sideways and even our league position has gone sideways the past seven seasons. Typical crab behavior.
Wenger must stop this policy of bailing out underperformers and instead bankrupt them.
The refferee was a disgrace today and that is what cost us. I know there has to be changes etc but that took the biscuit. We dont turn up for the first 20 mins and we are dead. Man U were equally as shit yesterday and their 12th man comes up with the goods for them. Yes its been crap but as you say, fuck it decide which side of the line your on, and that goes for club and players too. Can I have a pint of tequila please and stick a straw in it
Wenger will buy a couple of cheap French players in the summer.Cesc and Nasri will have long gone.Today the ground was a third empty.That is the sign of things to come.We will not win anything as long as Wenger stays.Well done the board for giving Wenger a new contract at the start of the season.He always says judge him in may.OK Wenger you have failed.
The last three months have been like one long nightmare.
Just what exactly has been going on? We’ve swung from beating Chelsea and barca to actual, honest to god relegation form, and we’ve had better luck with injuries than in recent seasons.
I don’t know how arsene will go about fixing this mess. I’ve a strong suspicion that we may have seen the last of cesc and nasri in arsenal colours, and there are probably another 8 or 9 who could feasibly join them in departing if sanity didn’t prevent clearing out half the squad in one season.
We can say what we like about defensive coaches, about positions we might be a bit short in, but does anyone else feel like there might be problems in the dressing room? The manager has been under the cosh these last few months, and yet very few of the players have seemed able to find an extra gear to help give a bit of support to a man who has given many of them their careers at the top level, and who has defended them from sometimes vicious criticism.
Maybe it’ll all seem better tomorrow, but I honestly have no idea where we go from here. I couldn’t even begin to guess what is needed at this stage and I can only hope that wenger isn’t as bemused by what’s happened as the rest of us, and has some sort of plan to get this sorted.
Roll on the summer, roll on some half decent news, roll on something to get excited about.
Oh, and hats off to van persie. Sick scoring record since he’s come back, the one bright spot of these last few weeks.
All too predictable Holic. I think it’s truly time to call time on Wengerball3. Get back to the original format of power, pace, directness. We sorely need some old school nastiness injected. Goodbye Cesc. Was a pleasure watching you play. You deserved more.
Wenger seems worryingly unable to get anything out of them. He puts more in to defending them than they offer back. The better players should help but it seems that Cesc and Nasri have thoughts elsewhere.
Big, big changes needed; some may be forced others may need forcing
Sam, Wengerball3 is over. Changes are coming. Let’s hope we have a competitive team at the start of next season. I don’t doubt we’ll have one by the end of it.
Was hoping Kj Choi would make up for another dissapointing day but just like Arsenal he seems to be faltering let’s hope for my pocket he re finds his mojo sharpish π
A massive massive summer in the clubs history beckons let’s hope today’s shows of discontent make people inside thd club sit up and take notice that the fans won’t tolerate being taken for c@@ts for ever,
Roll on a beer by the River,
Up The Arse,
Agree with holic about the club making things worse at almost every turn
Sorry in my haste to be first I forgot to ask for a drink – 10 tequila slammers lined up ready to go please
I don’t reckon itβs conclusive Cesc will leave before next season. But then again I was wrong with my prediction of todayβs game!
However if he did stay, next season could be a justifiable finale whatever the outcome for AFC!
Just a gut feeling!
(I’ve bagged some reasonable dosh from these gut feelings in the past π )
As a season ticket holder for 21 years, I have never felt more removed from the Club I love.
The price increase has been a PR disaster. There is no more patience left in the Stands. Our hard earned money has been used to reduce debts in order to raise share price at the expense of team building, as Peter Hill-Wood, Lady Nina, the Fiszman family and all the other ‘custodians’ bank balances testify to.
We have the largest revenue generating stadium in the world, the most expensive seats in world football, yet we are constantly told we are paupers.
We have a massive summer coming up. No more rewarding bit part squad players with improved contracts. No talk of not signing new players as it will ‘kill’ player x. The squad that starts next season must challenge until the last whistle of the final game. No more coasting through games.
The time for excuses are over. We are the Arsenal, we should be the best.
Not sure what depressed me the most today – thousands of empty seats for the last home game, the boo-ing at half-time, Bent being given the freedom of The Grove, the half-hearted lap of honour/shame, Van Persie trying his heart out with no reward or the reflections of what could have been this season. Maybe just all of it. I can’t wait for this season to end, what the hell was I thinking getting a ticket for Craven Cottage.
Arsene, please, please, please repay the faith that us Wenger Loyalists have been showing and sort this mess out in the summer. The spine of a very good team is there, but get rid of those who aren’t up to it. It’s a massive summer Boss, don’t let us down otherwise there’ll be no fans left to defend you…..
Someones had one Rusty Nail to many π
Your in a dark place mats..now turn off the light before the warden comes around
I was fired up for this game, automatic CL place at stake, and after the Chelsea result, 2nd place was in sight. I expected us to tear into them from the off, so I was a touch surprised that, rather than a football match, for the first 20 minutes we were treated to a re-run of the classic 1995 video Tranny Wankfest Vol IV.
Just inexcusable. Aren’t these fucking players motivated? We weren’t even half asleep, we were totally asleep, and only woke up when it was too late.
I have been a bit critical of Wengers substitution policy, but today he really got it wrong. He waited until the 23rd minute to bring Walcott on, then took him off again in the 25th minute.
Ok, the ref gave an exhibition in cunty-wuntyness but we got what we deserved.
And announcing the crowd of 60,000, just piles further indignity upon us.
If you look at the league table, our home record against the teams placed in the 4th to 15th place is:
P 12 W 4 D 4 L 4.
Against the top 2 and bottom 5 P 7 W 7.
Dont know what the fuck that means coz I’ve drunk too much as usual, a holic ’til the end.
mats decided he didn’t like it here.
Nothing to see.
Move on.
cant blame the ref for us being down 2 – 0 by the first 20 mins you mugs !
wenger we trust brigade at its mad self as per.
YOU CANT WIN THE EPL with wengers system or kids, we cant even keep a clean sheet at home against Villa.
FFS says it all…
Wenger has to go as he will never change !
Nobody did.
Do you feel better now, abusing Arsenal supporters?
What is the EPL?
do you know what, i have never seen an arsenal team who looked like they couldnt be fucked, with the exception of about 2 or 3 players… squid at fault for both. thought gibbs had his best game for a while, played really well. rvp as always… ljw, not quite himself but still not bad…
rambo- awful
arshavin- worse than awful
walcott- nobody even uses his pace, barely got the ball passed to him
song- horrible first 15, then actually played reasonably well…
at least verm is back, he looked assured, strong and composed, and even gave us drive. shining light for me. huge love for that man.
our squad depth is fucked atm. huge summer, the biggest in my relatively short lifetime for arsenal. really is make or break and im beyond scared…
Just kiddin around holic…Empty seats on the last home match of the season says a lot. How far detached have the club become from their own supporters but then again when a footballer can forget he owns a porche never mind where he parked it then you know the line between us has become a big glass bowl. The Arsenal team and manager used to come to my school when I was a lad, I wonder does that still happen
Clutch at straws???? Chamakh played great.
Thats it, thats the only thing I can think of.
I can sense a rowdy night !!! Best get the plastic glasses out and some Ska on the jukebox !!
Heh, Chippy.
James Brown Funky Divas on here tonight.
Wait there…
Thought Gibbs done well when going forward but like the rest very suspect defensively, Wilshere was one of our best performers once again and showed some beautiful imagination at times -will be a far bigger influence when allowed to play further forward as he did in his youth and reserve apperances,
VP looks like he gives a Fuck and also backs it with actions,
Holic,
You seem to think there will be big changes any ideas on who we are looking at?
Holic@27
I’m feeling it !! Time for those dancing shoes to get dusted off !! May I request the Farms altogether now as it’s going to be a bumpy summer π
I am not sure about Gibbs. He tends to go walk-about and Arshavin has to back track to cover. Was he a left midfielder when he was younger?
If there’s a vacancy at the club, then it’s the assistant coach position. Fat Rice needs to go. The bastard is so lazy, he never gets off the seat even when we are losing. Maybe he needs to get himself a rupor to make his occasional shouts heard. He needs to be on the training pitch all the time, not just when photographers are there. Judging by the pale colour of his skin, it barely gets any sunlight. He’s probably an office rat and that’s not the most sought after quality for a person in this line of work. He’s Wenger’s right hand and AW is no southpaw. God bless the Great Arse.
Rice has announced tonight that he is not gonna retire, he is staying on for another year.
Stone Roses,
Yes indeed was a left sided midfielder in his younger days just as cole was, He defo needs to improve positionally but he’s far far more of a positive going forward, Theres nowhere to hide at the back in this side tho as there’s fuck all protection in front of them.
maybe a new defensive coach is needed, the defenders have the right foundations, just getting the wrong advice, the current defensive coach should be sacked
‘Hols,
Well I am speechless…quite a big deal for a lawyer.
I didn’t even see the game, but the drinks and the synopsis confirmed my fears. ‘Holic, I’m not sure if you remember this, but back in February, I said this team was like a horse that had just given up. It doesn’t matter what you do, once that horse lays down it’s all over.
I’m not sure AW can get this team back. The boys better be ready to qualify for CL in August. I fear what could happen with the supporters if we fail to qualify.
I was in the Army for a spell. I commanded a company of soldiers, so I know a fair bit about motivation – if my unit was up against men having the same mental state as this current squad, I’d be licking my chops. Few shots in the air, and they’d be in a full rout.
I feel really low. This team really concerns me. π
Didn’t even get to see Pires for the last time π
Keep : Chesney Hawkes in goal, Djourou, Vermaelen, Sagna, Wilshere, Ramsey, Van Persie, Nasri (if he wants to stay), Song.
Bin / cash in : Clichy, Cesc (with thanks and best wishes in a Vieira stylee), Rosicky, Diaby, EB, Bendy, Theo, Squillaci, Kosc, Flappy, Almunia, Arsh.
Jury’s out : Gibbs, Denilson, Chamakh.
Buy : A proven goalscorer, a proven winger, another keeper, a centre-back.
Samba and Ashley Young have Arsenal written all over them. Leighton Baines another one. Almost past the point of caring who – just buy some proven Premiership players not some kids who might or might not turn out alright.
Wenger’s right about one thing – getting top 4 next season won’t be easy unless we get some old skool passion for the shirt back.
COYG.
You think this is a request show, Chippy? You think this is a bleeding democracy? Oh well….
And Boris. There is not one member of staff on the books today who has given this club more than Pat Rice. 47 years, all for people who don’t know the first thing about him to totally disrespect him. There is a very good reason why the entire club has begged Pat not to take his well-deserved retirement at the end of the season.
It is beyond obvious. Apart from sentimentality, There is simply not one single cogent convincing argument for reataining the current manager. No a single one. Anyone who reflects on this season only as one where we contended for the championship is blatantly ignoring the humiliating and degrading fact that, for the final third of it, we didnt play like champions. We didn’t play like contenders. We didnt even play like a mid table team – WE PLAYED LIKE A RELAGATION TEAM. If we start next season playing like this, we will be in the bottom 4 or 5 teams in the premiership. Its easy to ignore that beause of our earlier better form, but this is what we are dealing with now.
‘holic, you clearly have an undying love for Wenger if you can even conceive of ‘Wengerball 4’. The team has hit a brick wall. This year provided a fantastic chance to move forward, but not only has it failed to, the unprecadented (er…except for last years) horrific collapse – one that is still continuing – cannot be ignored or papered over by saying ‘ah but remember the good results’. This is not inconsistency. This is complete implosion, and must be addresed.
A team that did not finish out of the top 2 for 11 years has stood limply by to allow an old rival and a small club to outstrip us without even a whimper for the past 5 years. This weekend has seen a third team go past us and, with our laughable adherence to completely the entirely self imposed financial handcuff of ‘self-sufficiency’, there is no danger whatsoever that we will overtake any of those 3 teams next year, or in the near future unless something changes. The decline is as monotonous as it is inevitable, adn to be quite honest, it is obvious to anyone that Arsene Wenger is clining as much as the team is itself. Surely, while we are in still in a relatively strong position it is time to give a new manager a chance? Surely it isnt fair to wait until the once great Aresene completes his descent from champions league security.If we are to stick to the woefully ill-conceived ‘self-sufficiency policy (woeful, that is, for everyone but an absentee american billionaire) this will give a new manager the twin problems of fighting an impossible financial uphill struggle against teams with a more pragmatic approach to spending money, as well replacing one of the true greats of the modern game.
That is a vista that no Arsenal fan should welcome.
‘Holic,
My last post might have been from an unusual email address. Please see if you can retrieve/clear it to post.
I’m too weary to retype.
It’s too early for scotch stateside, but I’ll be drinking tonight.
Thanks for putting the record straight on PR. Folks need to respect their elders (including AW) even when we disagree.
Looks like the chickens have come home to roost! No use talking unless changes happen. We will not win anything next season unless the club admits there are problems with the team’s management, tactics and players, and takes the opportunity to address these issues.
In my opinion, we need to change the philosophy that our brand of football entitles us to silverware, we will only win silverware if we fight for it as team. We have created a dependency culture within the club, which cannot be broken unless their is a crisis.
Consequently, I’m happy with today’s result because it means Mr Wenger cannot hide behind a late surge. Sadly, I don’t want us to qualify for the champions league next season because I don’t believe he will change things unless their is a crisis at the club. I’ve lost faith in his ability to manage the club and notwithstanding his great record we should have won one piece of silverware this year. He has no more excuses… If he doesn’t want to change then he should leave.
Chippy,
Altogether Now, best football song ever.
Hal,
Do go bashing Silent Stan. Let’s see what he does, first. If you wanted a “right and proper” owner, I’m sure there was a “Vicar” or “Duke” or “Count” or “Lord” waiting in the wings… oh, right…
Great Article and dont forget we destroyed Man City 3-0 at Eastlands. We need to say good bye to 10 players at least and we need to bring in some quality players with experience so they can help bring through younger players. Need to get the balance right because before we know it we will be in the Europe league and paying 70 quid for a ticket!
…holic,i need anything alcoholic now…
Holic spot on with your summation of the game. I also feel that we deserved more but were short changed by the twat with the whistle.
Regarding the performance, after the dozy first 30 minutes (when we were already 2 down and the damage was done), there was some good stuff played and no shortage of skill and commitment. The problems are rooted in the management rather than the players, as for predicting which new faces will come in it will probably be Wenger being forced to replace the players who want to go and that we want to stay.
Even today the potential is plain to see and I really think there are Managers out there who could accomplish far more than Wenger with the same group of players.
If Cesc and Nasri go it speaks volumes for credibility that Wenger has lost with them.
I’m afraid that the dead wood like Vela (who can’t even get a start for WBA), Denilson, Diaby & Rosicky will still be in situ in August.
I’ll be reluctantly renewing but only because I want to make sure I have my seats when at last we have a clear out of the management, hopefully in the not too distant future.
Agree with the other posters I can’t recall feeling so disenchanted generally pissed off.
Four pints of Pride please as I feel like geting hammered (at my age that’s all I need now).
Lonestar Gooner
A ‘proper’ owner is one who will judge success by what the team achieves on the pitch, not on what it does for his pocket. And one who is not afraid to help the club out if necessary.
The ‘self sufficiency’ nonsense is a joke coming from a billionaire, and by definition, it means that he will not put his hand in his own pocket even if there is a defecit that needs to be made up, however small, between what the club is making organically, and what it may need to achieve sporting success.
It is a euphimism, a smokescreen. And if you want to adopt the passive ‘wait and see’ approach, the first action of the new ‘proper’ Kroenke regime is to increase ticket prices by 6.5%- but hey, if you are a fan of the ‘self sufficiency” model you should be happy – this is how the model caters for acquiring 4.5 million extra. Levy it on the fans (who can ill afford it), rather than let it come from the owner (who quite obviously can).
@Boris Godunov
I have read some classless comments in my time, but yours takes the biscuit.
Please get lost.
Stone Roses,
Indeed – remember a night out in Norwich after a masterclass from DB10+Th14 think we ended up winning 4-1 could have been 10, We then spent the evening holed up in a fine establishment surronded by fine young ladies making the DJ play the song over and over again π Not quite sure what the Yocals made of it π
If it was in Norwich, the young ladies were probably shouting ‘Lets be ‘aving you.’
Please fellas. No abusing each other, even if you disgree totally. Also don’t quote drink numbers as I have no doubt some will have to go in the morning.
Thanks.
Whilst none of us can claim to be soothsayers of the calibre of Mystic Meg, I don’t think it’s a bad shout to claim that *today* was entirely foreseeable in May 2009.
Perhaps the AKB’s still had UV40,000 shades on (or is that 60,000?), and couldn’t see it, but even accepting that, *today* was surely foreseeable after Wigan away around about 12 months ago?
Who remembers the recently hoisted, – and hastily removed – home made banner hanging from North Bank Upper proclaiming, “Sign-ins, or Sign-out!”
Perhaps some could see the truth that stared them in the face. Others were still blinded by The Faith.
Is there any truth that an amendment to the “You Must Sit Down” mandate has been hastily suggested at board level, to include “You Must Not Sing Nasty Songs?”
“Leave it to me” claimed Le Prof, followed recently by “I’m prepared to change (Oh no i’m not…) my Principles of how we play”.
Well, for me, I have reached the point where I no longer want to hear, or read, what our greatest ever manager has to say. Porkies are no longer on the menu.
Not only do I foresee us losing to Fulham away last game, but I further see us then going on to fail to qualify for the Champions League proper, and a nice spell of Europa League and Thursday night football to pass the time with. Jumbulia away FFS.
The fork in the road has been reached. The next 10 weeks will reveal whether we are a football club or a breaking even financial enterprise.
Over to you AW & Stan.
I don’t agree that the solution is to hose obscene amounts of money at more players like Chelski and Man Shitty….
It’s spending a similar amount more effectively, and that starts with getting the deadwood off the payroll in the Summer to free up the funds to spend elsewhere..
Hal,
I am sympathetic to the angst surrounding the 6.5% ticket price increase. Futbol may be pricing its generational lifeblood away (just like baseball and football), but let’s get real. I don’t think anyone is forgoing rent and food to buy an AFC membership or ticket. If you are, then you have many more problems than forking over an extra 6.5%.
Yes, the increase was tone-deaf. If I were the new owner, I would have vetoed it after the announcement to garner some cheap affection from the supporters… so perhaps Stan isn’t the best strategist.
However, in the current media market, there are two models for big-time sports. You either take on massive debt to buy talent or you cobble together various revenue streams and try to “uncover” talent cheaply. The days of the gentleman-owner who “sacrifices” his own coin to field a championship team are over… and they died long before, Stan (or the Glazers for that matter) bought these English teams.
Xenophobia is unattractive no matter the venue.
I think I’d also like to add that the quality of comment uttered by Boris is synonomous of why Home Games aren’t quite so much fun anymore.
We are an institution.
There’s a bus stop in Fulham where that way of thinking is deemed more usual. I’ll pay the fare if you like.
Here, here, Mark.
Lets not forget, the 6.5% was probably approved a long time ago by the Board, of which Stan is a member. It may even have factored into his decision of when to go for it.
As it turns out, it’s a total PR disaster, but dont think he had nothing to do with it.
Good point West Upper – its not about spending obscene amounts of money, but it is about spending ENOUGH money. If, for example, WEnger wants to sign Benzema (who will cost 25 million), but, say Kevin Gameiro is also available (at say 15), then he should not even consider going for Gameiro, just because he is cheaper. Its about getting the right man in. I strongly feel that Arsenal have not taken this course in recent years.
The biggest problen that we have is getting rid of the deadwood. I think a lot of fans accept that we have made a major blunder with our wage structre. Man Utd and other big club s operate a three tier policy, whereby superstars get one rate, first team squad players get a second rate and peripheral players get a third rate (Im sure its slightly more complicated than that, but thats is the skeleton of it). With such a sensible system, the likes of Rooney are accomodated, even when they demand an outlandish salary. Arsenal have a very flawed, more equal sturcture, where there is much less of a difference between the top and bottom earners.
We are suffereing the fallout from our errors in employing this system. Firstly, the types of clubs who might want to take the awful Denilson or Vela off our hands will not be able to affored their wages, or, if they do, we will have to agree a much reduced transfer fee. It will very hard for us to offload these players unless we accept less than their true worth ( I someimes think this is why the likes of Bendtner are only rated at 10 million, while some guy called Rondon, who has only 15 top flight goals in Spain is quoted at 18 million)
The other side of this, of course, is revealed in the worrying comment from Wenger when talking about respecting the wage policy in relation to NAsri. Screw the wage policy. We need to keep the Nasris and Fabregases. While I dont think any of us want to see them on a quarter of a million a week, if we want to be a big club, we have to pay the going rate. The futures of this kind of player should not be put at risk to keep the likes of JET Eboue Vela or Denislon happy. It would not happen at a better run club.
41 goals conceded again this season.The defence is still shit.We need a new number 2 all Rice does is put the cones out and say Yes Boss.And we need a defensive coach brought in because Wenger just hasnt a clue about defence.And we need a DM Scott Parker please
Home games haven’t been fun since we moved to The Emirates (what sort of name is that for a football stadium anyway).
Most enjoyable experience for me this year (notice I said experience, not result or performance) was Manure away in the Cup. 9,000 Goons all up for it in The Theatre Of Silence; having a few pints with the Mancs after the game (the ones with Manc accents, not the muppets on the motorway back to the Home Counties) and generally feeling proud of the club and the shirt.
I have no problem with armchair fans or internet, long-distance fans. In fact we need more of them if we’re to “catch up with” the Manure’s of this world.
What I do have issue with is know-nothing, numpties who slate true AFC legends like Pat Rice (whether they go to games or not).
COYG.
“Itβs time we all, Football Club and supporters, got back on the same side. The Arsenal side.”
Hear hear!
I’ve started on a bottle of red. No need to get back on beer now. So, more red, please.
Reg – you have no idea what Rice does, or doesn’t say.
Le Bob, I think we are all on the same side! However, I think the divergence between us supporters and the club we support is growing. The question is, how we can get back together again?
Evening Holic
Alot of disappointed bloggers tonight,with more to come i suspect,and whilst their distress is acknowledged,i think we are losing sight of the fact that at the beginning of the season there would have been very few,if any Gooners who thought we were anything other than a squad playing for a top 4 spot.
Unfortunately,due to Utd’s poor away form up to the New Year,and Chelsea’s form dip pre and post christmas,we found ourselves not far from the Summit.
Which lulled us into a false sense of security,and made us dream the big dream.
Cold harsh reality kicked in as Spring approached,and with Chelsea’s renewed belief and Utd just being Utd,our dreams once again turned to dust.
But to me we are where we should be,battling for 3rd/4th spot.
I expected no more or less this season.
I must be one of the very few Gooners who thought that if we had beaten a side battling relegation all season in the CCF,it would have made any diff to the confidence/morale/belief,than if we had lost.
The players are paid a shedload of dosh,and should be bigger and better than using the CCF loss as an excuse/reason for the following form slump.
That was No 4 on our priority list and should have been put behind us without a backward thought.
There were bigger fish on the Horizon.
Unfortunately we couldn’t ultimately beat the big boys when it mattered.
So we are where i thought we would be when the season started on a Sunny day in August.
Statistics don’t lie.
Of the Top 4 we have,
Lost the most Home games
Conceded the most Goals at Home
Scored the least Goals at Home
Conceded the most away Goals
Conceded the most Goals overall
Hopefully AW will make the neccessary adjustments during the Off season,re new players/working on defending better etc etc,otherwise come August our aspirations will once again be lower than they should be.
No idea what to say. Am at a mates stag night (he’s part of the Arsenal Sweden gang) and we are shit-faced beyond recognition but we can’t shake off the disappointment.
Ah, fuck it. We’re the Arsenal and they aren’t. And that puts us fucking miles ahead of everybody else. Have a good one, talk to you all tomorrow.
Holics
before anyone jumps on me,
I know City have scored 2 less than us at home at the moment,but with the incentive of 3rd place now firmly in thier own hands,i am expecting them to beat a gutted/deflated Stoke comfortably at home this week.
cheers
Clive
As for Pat Rice, what’s wrong with offering him the eternal thanks of a grateful Gooner Nation, a testimonial of some kind, a statue at the entrance of Emirates, an extravagant pension, and a cheering stadium as each player lines up to shake his hand as he turns over the number two spot to Martin Keown, Patrick Vieira, or Tony Adams? Would that not represent the first step in revitalizing a team that once strode like Titans?
Lonestar,
Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against Kroenke as a person or because of his nationality. I suspect that he has invested in the club for financial reasons only.
I also object to the rigid adherence to the myth of ‘self sufficiency’ and its use to charge spectators extra money rather than putting his own money in to the club.
And I think that your analysis of the type of owners is a little simplistic. Any sensible businessman will not nail his colours so rigidly to the mast as Kroenke has, but he will allow for some pragmatism. It is an absolute joke, for example, that any new owner should not allow, in his strategy, for extending some of his own finiance to the Arsenal at a time when we are hamstrung by the rediculously low commercial deals that we are currently tied into. A little external funding now may allow us to keep our champions league place. IF we were to fall out of it, we would already be down 20 milion ish, while we inevitably would also not be able to secure as lucrative commercial deasl when they come up for renewal.
So you see, I am not necessarily calling or him to throw us 100 million (but it would be nice). But it sends out the wrong message to insist on self sufficiency when our income could be down by 30 million or so in a few years, and no Arsenal fan should be told they should expect to operate on a budget of 3o million a year less than Chelsea, under a system which is supposed to nullify the influence of the billionaires. If that happens it will simply prove that Abramovich, for all that we (and Aresene, and the board) deride him, has won.
what made you write 20,000 people didn’t turn up?
it was pretty full from where i was sitting.
that fateful afternoon when we played fantastic football for 30 mins but ultimately buckled under the pressure of not having a leader at newcastle away will, in years to come, epitomise not only this season but this decade under wenger, with a skilful promising team that just can’t cross the line when it matters.
bye bye cesc, gael, nicolas (what the fuck was going on with those boots today), sami, tomas, abou, emmanuel, sebastien, manuel, andrei, lucas.
and for those that remain & are brought in
Some cojones next season please boys.
have a good summer all
Same old same old same old same old same old same old blah blah blah blah blah blah etc etc etc etc etc.
Not sure what else to say about all of that really. I have rarely witnessed such an abject performance. Pathetic at times beyond belief. Schoolboy defending and very little to shout about.
My day started with a few cold ones in the Tollie with some old friends, one of which included a Villa season ticket holder that we managed to sneak in. “A grand?” was the surprised answer as I explained the cost of my season ticket. “mine has gone up a tenner to Β£380 for next season.” Β£380 for a season of premiership football at Villa Park. Β£380 and they can somehow seem to buy players that cost more than 10p?????? Surely not???
A walk to the ground, a pathetic show for a pathetic march and a few smiles at the ridiculous sight. Then in we go.
2 hours later I kind of wish I had just stayed in the pub. The atmosphere at the start was quite optimistic. It did not take long to change that. Another 2 defensive howlers and we are 2 down. Another game with nothing created, another game with no width, (evening BTM), another game with no ideas, another game with no leaders and more of the same.
I have championed the home support all season but today the whole place was full of regulars far from happy. And I really do mean far from happy. The increase in prices has not been met with a fond embrace. Performances like today will do nothing to soften the blow. Rarely have I witnessed a bunch of fans feeling so despondent. The announcement of the attendance was met with massive boos and a choruses of “why do you keep lying to us?” I must say that the PR at the club for me is at an all time low. Someone somewhere at the club needs a massive reality check.
So, back to the Tollie. I walk in to just catch the start of Stevenage and Accrington Stanley. Is this what it has really come to??? Free chips, more beer and then a walk back to the station.
I will save my end of season views for the end of season. But today was inexcusable in my opinion. It is yet another one of too many “one offs” that have become all too common. Not good enough and just not acceptable.
what made you write 20,000 people didnβt turn up?
The fact that somebody from the club texted me to say that was the gate, and the fact that on television, I got the idea that even on fancy dress day, people hadn’t come dressed as red plastic seats.
there were lots of empty seats , but not one in three, nowhere near;
my guess based on the number of empty seats i saw was about 54000, but as we all know the club quotes tickets sold and not clicks through the turnstiles as the figure for the attendance;
I wouldn’t rely on your source for figures in the future, though they may be able to advise on when the fancy dress days are taking place, it certainly wasn’t today.
Must admit holic there were a lot more empty seats than normal but I must say that it was not even lose to 20,000. My guess would be around the 5000 mark but it certainly was not 20,000. Your source has had you over a bit there.
Four single thoughts from today:
1- Gibbs might have a career with us a left sided midfielder. Don’t think he is strong/aware enough to play left back in a great back 4.
2- Chamakh deserves a start in the final match
3- Vermaelen is capable of driving the team forward still, been missing that so much
4 – van Persie has scored a ridiculous 17 of our last 27 league goals. Full credit to him but not exactly a balanced attack. That’s 63% (!!!) of our league goals in that spell.
What a dismal day….and waiting til Sunday each weekend for these games has only added ire to the irksome idiotic spell we’ve endured. Bring on August…
Oh bugger!
Morning Holic & Holic`s
Bar signing messi on a free Wenger is done in my eyes if he is so deluded to think this is working. Gibbs, VP and Wilshere take a bow you seemed to think this game mattered and you would be right. Shame the arseholes classed as team mates didnt think the same.
How the entire footballing world can see whats wrong and you cant leaves me to believe you are insane or not the man to take my beloved Arsenal into the next season. Taxi for Wenger !
I can not put my hand on my heart and say the last time I saw an Arsenal side fall of a cliff so badly. Team spirit and mental strenght. These are the ramberlings of a lunitic, I have seen none of this in this side and I can no longer wait for him to be interviewed after a game as the utter monumental bullshit and excuses make me cringe.
If this side gave a 100% and lost 5-0 every game I would follow you to Hades in my Arsenal shirt and proud to be a member of such a glorious family of fans. This piss taking 6.5% rise followed by a load of meadiocer over paid cant be arsed players can go forth and multiply.
I have waited awhile before posting to get a clear reflection on my thoughts and nothing but pure rage still wells up from my toes. We will proberly loose Cesc and Nasri this summer but be rest assured Denilson, Diaby and a host of other coasters will still be in the team come the start of the new season.
Excuse the anger ladies and gentlemen it just had to be said.
A round for the whole bar please barman because by god they desevre it.
i have stayed away in disgust at our recent performances. it gives me no pleasure to recall comments i made after we lost at old trafford in december ; united had a better team and a better squad than us and most importantly knew how to win. i was shouted down – “go and support united” , “we have a better team and the best squad in the league”.
well, where are we now ? we beat united couple weeks ago (which shows how good we are apparently as we also beat chelsea; well so did wolves) but does anyone really think we would have beaten them if it had been crucial to them ? the next game their B team cruises through a champions league semi – can anyone see us doing that ?
we have a squad full of pretenders and wannabees. i wonder if chris smalling is wondering if he made the right decision ? as i have said more ethan a few times there is a handful worth having and 2 of those are probably leaving. ask ourselves this ; if stan wante dto raise money and put it out there that all are for sale, how many do you think ferguson would want ? cesc at a good price but he would kick his arse so hard and he wold not get away with preening indifference there. jack, for sure, but he would stick him in reserves for 6 months and play him in “easier” games for season until he understood what it meant to be a top player rather than act like jackl the lad when he has played a few good games. i don’t think he would want anyone else. i am fed up with my manc brother in law rubbing my nose in it but he has a point
When even pundits knew last summer what Arsenal needed to win the title, and were proven right when Wenger failed to buy veteran GK, good CB, and a good DMF, you know there is a leadership problem.
Either Wenger or the board do no know what they are doing with transfers and keeping good talent.
For example, the veteran GK was Lehman. Who is the nimrod that let him go?
The good CB was Gallas. Who was the cheapskate that let him go?
The DMF was Flamini. Hello? He was a leader when the gunners got 83 points. Who was the incompetent manager that let him go.
Wenger and the board: get your act together and start justifying your exhorbitant salary. Or, just slag off like Hicks and Gillett did at Liverpool.
Just watched Wenger’s press conference- I’ve never seen him look quite so deflated. He’s been badly let down by the players, and he’s not covered himself in glory either. I’m still pro-Wenger, but the mark of him will be how he reacts to it this summer. I don’t want drastic changes, but we do need significant ones: Denilson and Almunia aren’t even in the first team anymore, and I doubt we’d keep Bendtner even if we wanted to. I’ve no idea who to replace them with, but West Ham went down today, lets go get Scott Parker, even if he costs 15 million. Wenger must realize that while he may not find value in the transfer market, what he loses on the price tag he’ll make up in goodwill towards the fans. 6% is a bitter pill to swallow right now, so lets hope the club puts it to good use. It’s necessary anyway- Liverpool is resurgent, and you know that United, Chelsea and City will all look to strengthen. If we don’t we could be joining the totts on the outside looking in.
11 points in the last 10 matches? Now that’s NOT mental strength.
Don’t want household changes, want motivators, hard nose players – Scott Parker type players.
With the way this season is ending I don’t see Cesc or Nasri having enough faith/respect in AW to stay.
4th place is a disaster as it would change our whole off season (Training camp trip to Asia would be sooner, Ems Cup would be sooner, transfers would need to be bought sooner etc.) but we brought it upon ourselves.
What’s wrong with 4th place and CL qualifying matches? Extra matches and more revenue. Isn’t it what the club aims for?
@ATLGooner: if there’s something we can all agree on week in week out is that pundits know jack otherwise they’d be making big money on the sidelines.
Lehmann was past it, he was already past it the season he cost us the CL final. Replacing him too late was an error, replacing him with Almunia was another one.
As for blaming Wenger for Flamini, that’s the worst display of bad faith on this thread. Simply ridiculous considering the player kept saying he would re-sign only to take advantage of a free transfer to make big bucks at Milan at the last minute. He knew it from the beginning and fooled everyone.
@Steve T: I can’t agree more about the PR of the club. Did they hire Baghdad Bob? What’s the point on lying on the attendance?
1 goal for 24 goal attempts. We have the worst scoring stats of the top half of the league. Enough said, we’ll have the summer to debate what needs to be done.
its been a long long season…. I wish most of the players cared as much as we do…
Arsene is not playing ostrich on this one: “I feel very fortunate I’ve played 15 years with full stands so when people are not happy they can show it.”
Oh my oh my…. some heavy drinking is in order. I might need to break out the moonshine, boys. What the fuck has happened to us!?
Hey Sajit, you got any jokes for us?
Morning. Great write-up ‘holic.
Why, oh why do we do this to ourselves? Gift them two easy goals (leave Bent unmarked? Good idea….) get into a collective mental breakdown (after these 2 goals, you felt heads dropping, players thinking ‘why do I bother, I don’t even know how to pass the ball anymore’), and then somehow emerge and start playing again, albeit too late.
Of course, it doesn’t help that once more we seem to have to play against a different set of rules to what I know as ‘football’ (cue no penalty? disallowed goal? Seriously….).
So we do it to ourselves, and then we have to sort of deserve 3 goals to be allowed one.
Despite all the half-time booing from some, I had the feeling that the support was generally better and that, in my section anyway, there was some decent singing and encouraging despite the depressing circumstances.
Could it be that the 20,000 that paid for their tickets and didn’t turn up are our ‘plastic’ fans? Well they were wearing some nice plastic red.
I stayed for the lap-of-whatever-it’s-called-these-days anyway, if only to cheer for RvP and his kids. And a few other players, mind.
I have to confess one thing though: for the first time ever, I didn’t even jump out of my seat and scream when we scored. I was still hoping for an equaliser and carried on singing, but i was just numb.
To be accurate, i seemed to be having mini breakdown on my own all day for some reason. Couldn’t even drink much (can’t blame it all on ‘holic absence ;)), I just felt shit from the time I woke up.
Still, train journey was swift both ways, which is practically unheard of. Looks like Laurant Blanc was on my train on the way out too.
Also one of the highlights of the day was to see True Storey again, albeit very briefly, he went out of his way to greet me when I was probably looking like a zombie.
Anyway, weirdly, it’s monday, and I’m feeling better.
Cheers, and a strong coffee for me please.
That’s funny Ollie. It’s Monday here too but I still feel Shit and dreadfully let down.
heh Steve T. It’s all relative. I’m just hoping you didn’t feel AS depressed as I was yesterday. I think it wasn’t just the football though. Trouble is the football put an extra nail in. Today I’m just trying to forget about the football, just as I managed while getting a little kip on the train last night.
Although I know that I’m facing a week at work that I don’t want to face.
Steve T @ 87
We’ve been dreadfully let down from about the end of Feb mate.
Instead of dismissing the CCF loss as a minor irritant in the larger scheme of things,and rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in,
they seem to have resolved to feel sorry for themselves and blame poor Refereeing decisions for their ultimate demise,instead of looking into the Heart of themselves and finding not a core of steel,but a bale of straw.
As an example,little old Fulham down the Road,got flogged 5-1 at home by Liverpool last week,confidence gone/team morale shattered.?
Far from it,they go to Birmingham yesterday,who are desperate to avoid relegation and tough to beat on their own patch,and Fulham win 2 nil.
Pride and team honour satisfied.
If they can do it on half the wages our players are getting,why can’t we be arsed to make an effort AT HOME, against a Villa side with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PLAY FOR,except Pride in their Jersey.
We were supposedly playing to make 3rd place safe and possibly grab 2nd.!!
Go Figure.
Muted Cheers
Clive
I am not sure if they feel sorry for themselves. I am not sure that some of there care enough to feel sorry for themselves. When I sit back and think that my season ticket price rise goes towards paying for a bunch of invertibrates it makes my blood boil. How many true Arsenal men were out there yesterday? Perhaps some of them need to realise how fortunate and privileged they really are. Perhaps some need to realise that we are The Arsenal and perhaps they need it drumming into them what that actually means. And if they still don’t get it then please turn the light off and shut the door on your way out.
I read somewhere once that wildebeests nervous systems have evolved so that when they are being eaten alive, the system shuts down and they dont feel too much pain.
Dont know if it’s true, but it just about sums up how I feel. I should feel that I am being slowly devoured by necrotizing fasciitis, instead it’s just numb.
Hello holics,
Painful stuff..
All I can say is, I’m looking forward to the season being over
Anything strong, please
I’m just happy to be back at work despite the fact that I very unwisely threw all caution to the wind at a gig last night and got absolutely bladdered. Well what choice did I have after yesterday’s utter shower of month-old slurry?
But the problem is, it isn’t a month old. We’ve been treated to the same gutless, rudderless performances at this stage of the season for at least a couple of years running now. And people can talk about how the ref didn’t give this and disallowed that but quite frankly that is disingenuous if even hinted at as a reason why we didn’t take a point. It’s pretty clear that AW cannot get this team fired up and no amount of saying “Let’s judge him next season” and hoping for the best is going to change what we’ve seen year on year.
The writing’s on the wall. This team has stood still for the past few years and our illustrious manager has steadfastly ignored the holes in the squad, has tried to plug them too late (midday on transfer deadline day? Come on!), or has been utterly half-hearted in his attempts (or just been plain weird….remember the Schwarzer debacle? “We don’t agree with your valuation so we’re just going to apply again with the exact same figure and hope you’ll magically contradict yourself.” What the hell is that all about?). Sorry to be a complete downer but it’s time for a change.
this is very very painful….m scared for my team…our team…m very scared
‘Morning All *sighs*,
Ollie – Firstly apologies for a such a brief ‘hello’ yesterday but I had a mate waiting outside for me and didn’t want to pop into the Tolli for a super swifty without saying hello. I was just like you, for the first time ever, didn’t jump and scream when we banged in our second and this time allowed goal. Very depressing display of predictable football from a team that seemed to carry a lot of disinterest within it. Hope your journey back on the ST was tolerable. Say hello to Michael Jackson for me next week π
tabs (from previous post) – After the briefest of sups in The Tolli (see above), ended up going to The Compton Arms in H&L for a slightly more relaxed drink. First time there for me, a good ‘juicer’ as you would say. Met a bunch of very agreeable Danish Gooners there who had traveled all the way to The Ems to watch a pile of steaming poop. Felt sorry for them but we managed a few laughs anyway.
Steve T – exactly what you said, nothing to add! I got that old, mid 70s, mid table fodder feeling as the game unfurled. It was almost painful to watch and completely inexplicable.
Best bit in the match for me was seeing Song scream at Squilly in first half (did he lump him at half-time?) and a sort of return to form for Chamakh. A few of us even stayed for the lap of shame sorry honor. RVP was really appreciative and looks to me to be a true Gooner – he’s had a really good season. Jens was also really responsive, smiled broadly and seemed delighted with the recognition – very funny. Cesc, made no eye contact and looked uncomfortable to be on the pitch. My guess is he’s gone but that Super Sami will stay.
An uplifting round in the bar is required, I think, but I have no idea what to order. Suggestions welcome π
‘Holic,
Forgot to say that was a very poignant post. I agree, it’s a time for unity now as our future for next season is looking uncertain and problematic.
Your words….
“Itβs a shame that those destined to leave were denied a decent send-off today. Itβs a worry that those who will replace them could face an early test of their credentials.
Itβs time we all, Football Club and supporters, got back on the same side. The Arsenal side.”
…. sums it all up for me, in a nutshell π
Snakebite& Black, then, TS ;).
Heh Ollie! A ray of sunshine on a very depressing morning. π
For the first time this season, I read LG and found myself nodding. π
Well is seems that like it or not for Wenger and the fans alike there will be some outgoings this summer. Some will be ones we want to see the back of but maybe there will be 1 or 2 we wont like. Im actually quite worried about whats going to happen (or not happen) this summer.
Afternoon Holic and Afternoon All ,
Can i just say , ‘Holic , that your blog , posted within hours of the final whistle and written without having attended – bordered on the work of a genius , containing as it did , pretty much all the salient points of a dispiriting afternoon .
My only small quibble is that i have to agree with Steve T – You were let down by your club source – no way was the ground a third empty . At the very most , there were only 10,000 ” plastics ” who couldn’t be arsed .
What to say about the game yesterday , that’s new ? – Not a lot really , given the good stuff above by Noel73 , N7 Gooner , Steve T , Clive and others .
I thought the atmosphere for the first 45 mins was truly horrible – the air truly crackled with seething discontent , which was of course augmented by the non appearance of the team for the first half hour , ( probably the worst 25 minutes since AW flew in ) .
The atmosphere was of course hugely helped by both refereeing incompetence and signs that the players did give a shit . The PR disaster of announcing the attendance was frankly incompetent in the extreme . Phillippe Auclair made some very salient points about the club’s PR department in friday’s Arseblog , and there should be a complete overhaul of its ethos and its personnel . I won’t however hold my breath .
I stayed for the surreal lap at the end , partly because i wanted to give them a clap , and partly out of morbid curiosity . I’m glad to say that all those that stayed had nothing more on their minds than hearty applause .
As for the team it’s difficult to know where to start – so i think I’ ll leave that for next week’s end of season inquest .
What I would say is that the club stands at probably the biggest crossroads it has faced in the last 40 years .
Notwithstanding Ricey’s decision to stay for another year , ( and whilst i’m not convinced it’s the right decision , the cheap pop at him above by Boris , based on nothing more than the pallor of his skin was contemptible ) , 2 new voices need to be heard in the dressing room , ideally club legends , but if not , so be it .
The players need to hear a new voice from someone who can put his medals on the table and command instant respect .
Apart from anything else , it seems to me that the burden of making decisions across all aspects of the club’s business , without the necessary sounding boards , in either the dressing room or the boardroom , ( I’m wholly unconvinced by Gazides ) , is beginning to take a huge toll on Arsene’s health and that unless he starts to get the necessary help , the way of Chapman and Whittaker is not wholly melodramatic rumination .
I will defend AW until the day he leaves , he bleeds as much as any of us in the wake of defeat , but there are absolutely crucial matters that must be addressed before August . I really do fear that should he not do so , a less than perfect start to next season will result in him walking . Sometimes , what you’re seen to be doing is just as important as what you actually are doing ;-
– new big name voices in the dressing room .
– shipping out of players that are either not good enough , ( Squillaci, Almunia , Denilson ) , over the hill ( Rosicky ) , disgracefully lazy ( Arshavin ) , or will generate funds for the war chest ( clichy and Bendtner ) .
– fight to keep Fab and Nasri . This will only be achieved by bringing in 4 maybe 5 players , two of whom should be stellar , real statements of intent signings . A top top centre half remains the priority as does a defensive midfielder . A real no.9 to release VP into the No.10 role and an experienced keeper with a big personality to sit on the beach .
– ditch the 4-5-1 especially at home , and certainly if Fab is not playing .
– play players in their correct position . Bendtner will never a winger make . Arshavin and Walcott are not natural wide players .
Enough from me – the close season armchair looks to be every bit as rocky a ride as the 10-11 HT ultimately proved to be – try and have a good week gooners !
Hey TS glad you enjoyed the Compton – i went to the Tollie !!!
I was with a couple of friends so only made one sweep of the pub on arrival – unfortunately my search for a red haired frenchman ( thanks Holic ) was not successful . I think i will start calling you the Elusive Pimpernel , Ollie .
Next Season fellas
I had a thought yesterday how can a team that beat BACA CHELSEA MAN UTD AT HOME lose or draw with so called lesser teams at HOME and my answer was the CROWD they are upfor the big games make much more noise and create an atmosphere they don’t just sit there and say entertain us and if we like it we will support you !!!!! just a THOUGHT
Ah, tabs. Sorry to have missed you then! Might just have been a question of timing.
Next season indeed. For hopefully better things.
Pimpernel. heh.
@Matt: point well take on Lehmann and Flamini; however, let’s move on to the quality on Wenger’s defensive and team leader type transfer buys since 2006:
Silvestre (Fergie had a laugh on us)
Squilvestre(that was a waste, he cannot he make French team)
Almunia(wot happened?)
Koscielny(too much, too soon)
We should of bought Schwarzer and some CB from Everton or Fulham by offering up enough funds.
A year ago Wenger told the the media told let him fix the defensive problems. It does not look like he knows how to. Some one needs to help him out in assessing defensive talent. Not just look for defenders that can score goals like Gallas and Vermalen.
Hello all. Good to see so much reason here in the light of the venting going on elsewhere.
Quick heads up for anybody who has sent me an email. Virginmedia and Google appear to have fallen out. Not sure which is to blame but I haven’t had access to my mails this weekend, and the issue was not solved this morning. Apologies, I am not really that ignorant.
Great post well worth the ‘100’ label too.
Perhaps we’d have had more of a chance to meet during the lap of appreciation in fact ;).
I have to say that the attendance announcement always ever annoyed me. You can read it in the papers if you want.
Yesterday, with announcing the whole season figures etc, it was ridiculous, especially in view of price increases, but my main issue with it is that they would announce it with 1 minute to go of a tense title decider (if only, eh? π ) without thinking about it.
why not announce it at half-time if it’s available or after the final whistle?
Frankly, nobody does give a toss about it (and – whether 10,000 or 20,000 were missing, it’s ‘tickets paid for’ figures rather than actual attendance), and it’ s some sort of self-congratulatory announcement that is totally out of place.
Virginmedia and Google appear to have fallen out. Not sure which is to blame
Ah, come on, ‘holic. Surely ArsΓ¨ne is to blame, no? π
Haven’t read em all ‘holic…I usually do but getting up at 0020 this morning to watch a less than satisfactory performance and it was pretty sh*it , led to an also less than good day here downunder, so not as switched on as I might have been
One way and another, I have been there via attendance since ’56 with my Grandpop/Dad/Uncles at Highbury (mosty), occassional visit to Ashburton via an annual pilgrimage courtesy of my brother (season ticket high up somewhere)…and of course every week here, courtesy of Australian Fox…..me and mine are there well and before PHW…let alone AW…who appears to know less and less..sadly
So, with apologies for slightly high-jacking your site…For me and all of us who are very much less than satisfatied since 2005/6, suggest a written (a letter) correspondence with Mr Gavidis..no good sending an e-mail..who does that go to? So a letter, registered perhaps to Ivan Gazidis… and put your views stridently…politeness helps…but we’re not happy…Ticket prices of course…defensive capability or in fact lack of..Pat Rice…how upset can one be about a bloke who was a right back in 70/71 and can’t teach the team to defend…bye bye tasty Pat..and all of the other stuff….
Fab4
Nasri
Staying or going…who knows…..tough life though UKL80k per week….not bad in anyone’s overly inflated world…bejezeers, they’re only footballers…where did it all go so wrong?? Anyone remeber George Eastham, Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Hill..and 20 quid per week?
Goodnight folks…and thanks for your indulgence..’holic…late switch to a very ordinary Charddy ..best stick with Croser
Yesterday’s game produced yet another terrible result which this team has specialised in producing over the last few years when the pressure has been on. I would give Wenger one more season to get it right but if there is no improvement then I think it would be sensible to bring someone else in. Even though we are still in the CL places, which most clubs would dream about, there is a feeling of staleness at the club which is similar to the end of George Graham’s reign in 1995.
Arsene’s recruitment policy of recent years has been a disaster. Areas of the team like central defence and goalkeeper which have neglected to a ridiculous level. OK, Sczezny is coming through now but he has let in goals in the last couple of games which he should have done better with. But the real problem has been our centre backs, especially the cover for them. How many games have Silvestre or Squillaci played in the last three years? They have been awful. It’s all very well signing bargain basement French has beens (or never weres) on account of the low cost, but would it not be worth spending an extra few million on players of higher quality? Central defence is such an important area of the team and Arsene has really cocked up here. Also, are set pieces beneath us or something? We are hopeless at both defending them and taking advantage of ones we have near our opponents’ goals. Too much emphasis in training on creating pretty football while ignoring the aesthetically unpleasing aspects of the game?
Saying there is a lack of leaders in the team is often sneered at for being a bit clichΓ©d but it’s true. If Cesc is to leave in the summer, there arenβt many candidates apart from Vermaelen ready to take over are there? And Cesc is hardly Tony Adams in the first place. We’ve had a problem with this ever since the Gilberto debacle – when Arsene decided to install Gallas as captain, a poor enough decision to begin with, but went down like a cup of cold sick with most of the players. To compound this he responded to questions about Gallas’ captaincy and lack of leaders with stuff like “To me every player is a captain”, what a load of nonsense. We really could have done with some players of more character at the last couple of months of this season, last season and 07-08. The fact we had barely any has cost us badly. This has to be addressed in the summer.
There are so many other areas which are baffling, like continually bringing on Bendtner and playing him out on the wing when we’re chasing a game, keeping on picking players who either make too many mistakes (Clichy) or donβt try hard enough all the time (Eboue, Diaby, Arshavin), giving long term contracts to underperforming players like Vela – and how on earth do we have a wage bill comparable to Man Utd’s? It makes you wonder how much some of the dross in our squad is on.
No wonder Cesc and Nasri will probably go in the summer. They must be thinking their ambitions in the game will not be satisfied if they stay. Sad to say but I canβt really blame them if they wanted to bugger off.
By the way, who is the player Arseblog says is leaving this summer which will hurt us badly? I donβt think Cesc or Nasri leaving would hurt us badly as they are half expected to go. The only player I can think of who would really hurt if he left is Wilshere. Can anyone shed any light on this?
cant disagree with any of that Ollie – just for my own peace of mind where were you guys – outside or inside ?
‘Holic , i have managed to avoid the venting , but know its only a matter of time before i force myself to confront it .
TS – a brave man indeed for visiting Le Grove !
outside, tabs. Car park side.
Brave indeed from TS, and I have to be busy at work, so have avoided the venting too.
In fact, I think I have to rush out of the bar now π
We can still finish 3rd if Stoke cunts draw with the sheikhs…
Fuck, what has the world come to?!
Good persistence beast. Sorry, haven’t a clue what happened there.
TS, if you were reading that you weren’t nodding, you’ve caught LE TWITCH π
Harsha, don’t do it to yourself. Do you really think we are likely to win at the Cottage with confidence so low, or don’t-give-a-monkeys level so high?
Cheering on Stoke and Bolton in their last two games? Urgh π
I’ve lost count of the number of teams I hate I had to ‘cheer’ on this season, ‘holic. π
Awww, just watched the RvP interview during the lap on ATVO.
Cool attempt to make the daughter speak in the mircrophone.
I love RvP.
Sneaky Gunnersaurus chipped into the picture too π
Correct me if i am wrong someone isnt this season’s overall performance in a way worse than last season?? In terms of points, no of goals conceded (41 same as last season inspite of having played a game less and we travel away to an inform fulham), the only positive we managed to beat city,utd,Chelsea and barca, which we couldn’t do last season..
Also if i remember correctly the total no point gathered this season are 67 and it seems to remain that way, and weren’t these the exact no of point we got from the 05-06 season where we just nipped the spuds for 4th..
Are we getting better or in reality going downhill from here, that is the real worry for me, loosing the faith… stats don’t lie..
‘Holic @ #113
I’ve got a twitch, I’ve got a twitch….
Many thanks for also brightening my day with a genuine LOL moment π
tabs & Ollie @ #s 110/111,
Not brave just a bit mis-guided and yes, terrible planning yesterday re: ‘musical juicers’. I sincerely hope we get a chance to fix that next season!
beast @ #109,
Some really good points above and yes, it could be 1995 all over again. I think Blogs was referring to CF4 this morning – if it happens it’s still gonna (me) hurt like hell. I’ll stand by my earlier post – I think ‘Nasri will stay this summer…. but what do I know?
Harsha @ #112
Stop doing that to yourself! Expect 4th, a CL Qualifier and the foul stench of Citeh’s choccy starfish and if the unexpected happens then we can finish the season on a teeny, weeny, sort of, mini ‘high’ and they can sniff ours, the profligate b’stards! π
A round for all please Mr.Barman and whatever you’re having too.
Ollie @ #115,
Ah, Gunnersaurus. He’s another one that’s got to go in the summer. Can we sell him to Farca?
Let us just get this season done with.. No point in finger pointing right now.
We were shit. But the ref was a total cunt.
‘Holics,
It could always be worse…..
Please spare a thought for our departing friends in East London:
You go to bed knowing that you’re relegated and probably glad to see the back of Mr. Grant. You wake up only to find that you’re still relegated and the new manager is likely to be Steve McLaren.
TS, it could be worse, but according to @Orbinho on twitter, this is Wenger’s offically worst season at Arsenal if we lose at Fulham.
Progress? We are having a laugh.
Sajit, I don’t think it needs @Orbinho to confirm that this is Wenger’s worst season in a long time π
You know whats the saddest part. I thought we would make real progress this summer. Because, we didnt lose anyone vital – but gained 3 or 4 quality players in Chamakh, Squill and Kos.
I know Squill is now everyone’s favorite scapegoat but he aint half bad for a 4th choice center half. Considering that the previous owner’s of his jersey have been Cygan and Silvestre!
Cannot blame the quality in the squad. Its just that their attitude sort of sucks bigtime. And honestly I dont know whats the solution for that other than a change of management.
Sajit. Do you seriously believe we made quality signings in the summer? I really don’t know how anyone can say Kos and squil are quality signings. Kos has the potential but looked out of his depth at time, squils is not even close to being anywhere near good enough.
I personally believe that the difference between Vermaelen’s first season at Arsenal and Koscielny’s are Vermaelen’s goals.
I can think of so many games where Kos was our best defender. Even better than JD.
Stats do not lie, but they do not tell the whole story.
Would we give a fuck if this was the lowest total ever and we won the League?
Don’ think so.
It’s just that the end of season collapse has been quite spectacular, Man U game aside.
Ollie
Well at least our collapse has been ‘spectacular’ this season π
have to agree with Sajit on the Centre Backs things.
Kos HAS been rash at times, but he’s also progressed on that front through the season.
The problem is more collective, and a massive problem in the head rather than the quality of individual players.
None has had a perfect season (well maybe RvP during his non-injured time), Wilshere has been superb but is looking quite knackered (U21 championships? you really are having a laugh. At our expenses… π ), but while certain individuals have been below par and there have been some critical individual mistakes, well, I don’t know.
Torres was a quality signing for Chelsea. Potentially. It didn’t work.
Well I’m confused, the season’s end has been very cruel. Let’s still hope for 3 points at Fulham.
TS @128, yes. There are some spectacles I really don’t enjoy π
Ollie, Sajit and Steve T
I’ve been a big fan of Kos too this season and see him as a great player in the making.
BUT, he should have been used more efficiently through the year and been given plenty of resereve action so that he could (a) do his learning away from the spotlight and (b) then made to fight for his first team place.
He became a nailed on starter because of injuries to others and lack in the depth of our CB quality in the squad. To me, that means AW is at fault for not buying ‘good enough’ players and for buying ‘not good enough’ players.
I think this kind of player scenario is a very familiar one at Arsenal these days and I believe that it’s a big differentiating factor between the way we blood new/inexperienced players and the way that Manure do it.
BTW, it pains me to be criticising our manager like that so I’ll go and self-flagellate for a few minutes.
I really feel some of the “heart” “attitude” issues have to do with Cesc’s so publicly demanding to leave and then staying as captain. Sends a bad message, a leadership rot if you will – he’s seemed sulky at best all season. What a fucked up situation, your captain wants out? Give the band to someone that bleeds Arsenal Red, like RvP or Vermanator, ship anyone that doesn’t want to be here, and build from there. And that goes for Nasri as well – honestly fuck off to any player that doesn’t want to be here, this is AFC not BWFC. And I have to tell you, Wenger is going nowhere until his contract is up FFS so just don’t even waste your time pondering the issue, just hope he can sort it out – no idea if he can. One thing I just can’t understand is playing people so totally out of position, both Nasri and Arshavin are hole players, not wingers…really so is Walcott. To say nothing of playing Bendtner wide. We don’t have a winger in the squad, period. I actually feel bad for Arshavin, as poor as he looks he may as well be playing goalie he’s so misused, if he played in the hole as he did his whole career before Wenger got ahold of him we’d be seeing a totally different player smashing in tons of goals around the edge of the box. Oh well.
If you are feeling blue,
There is always someone more fucked than you.
Steve Mclaren is odds on for the West Ham job.
TS, I take your point, it is fair.
Heh, SR, thanks.
‘Holic, TS,
I will take your advice and forget it then…
I think Kos is a decent signing too, if not a season changing one..
We need a season changing one..
Drinks for everyone who still has some Arsenal left in them, please π
I agree with you LA. I think AW became more enamored with his vision of how football should be played and lost sight of the type of football his assembled squad COULD play. Players out of position; persisting in the 4-3-3 when even me missus remarked that our opposition had figured us out; substitution howlers…
I wish I had the chance to see the AW that was more tactically profficient.
I also agree with you that if a player wants out, you say thank you for your service and here’s the door. If you kow-tow to folks who are disenchanted (for whatever reason), the rest of the folks remaining either know hard work is not required or resent the rewards heaped on a teammate who is only partially in the fight.
Personally, I think the Cesc deal is already done and dusted. Fair play to him. He’s fought the good fight with us. I just feel sorry for him that he doesn’t realize that Barca are a bunch of hardworking, lovely playing, cunts. Their diving and card-appealing shennanigans drive me bonkers… they are (and should act) so much better than that.
Not sure how we improve because it is hard to ask the “man in the mirror” (whether it be AW, Pat Rice, or any number of players) to make a change…
Harsha,
I think the two ‘signings’ that will be season/team changing are:
1) Mr. Self-Assured Professional Confidence (I can’t bring myself to say mental strength at the moment)
2) Mr. Experienced Winner
Someone in the mould of TMG only 10 years younger?
Is it true that Cesc has sold his house?
Ok guys, bought tickets for the Manyoo Barca game in DC, July 30th..
Gonna boo the fuck out of Manyoo and Barca and gonna cheer Fabregas π
Storey, I second your two suggestions for signings.
Feeling hungover and deflated. If I knew what to change I wouldn’t be saying it here, I would be a professional manager at the top level. But I don’t and I ain’t.
But I do know that Arsene has a massive summer ahead of him. And make no mistakes about it, if we want to remain anywhere near the top of the table he needs to do really, really well over the coming two or three months.
Lars,
Very good point. Arsene has a great opportunity now to show us what he’s really made of as a manager. Perhaps we should judge him at the end of August?
Hair of the dog Mr.Viking?
Sajit, really.
Who cares if Fab has sold his home? No one should.
We really need to get over this personality cult. Let’s allow ESPN and LeG… go about the rumormongering business.
Storey, I think I will pass on the extract of canine fur, alcohol isn’t really what I want at this moment… *boilk*
The problem with us judging Wenger at any given point in time is that all it will ever amount to is guesswork. Whatever we think we know, we probably don’t even know ten percent of what really goes on behind the scenes. I hope that one day he writes a book and tells us the real truth about these past few years.
Totally agree about playing out of position.
Poor Bendtner, feel for the guy. Right footed front man playing bit parts on the left wing. I hope he gets a good deal with a club that is gonna appreciate him.
Arshavin, that is really a business decision now. Do we get a few mill for him now, or pay him another years salary and get shit for him next summer?
But the big crisis is Walcott. On the wing, he is so sporadic that I actually sometimes forget he is playing. It was 24 minutes before he touched the ball against Villa. Yet, when he gets a run at the defence straight down the middle, he is electric.
Every game this season I have watched twice, the good ones three times, but not this time, my Virgin box has been zapped from the roadkill that was Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Gonna settle down now and enjoy Swansea Forest, should be good.
LAGunner, great point about Arsh being mis-used. I’ve been very critical of him and to a certain extent, it’s warranted because it relates to attitude, but he is no left winger/midfielder, he’s more a “roaming role” player.
The lap of appreciation was very embarrassing – for players, staff, manager and fans. Although the season can’t end soon enough, there is still so much to play for. I for one, do not want to be turning up in August for a CL qualifier.
A glass of Red please.
CoYRRR’s
Evening ‘holic – thanks for the blog throughout this season. Your words are the ones I usually end up emailing to friends and fans with a “this seems to sum up what I am feeling” subject.
I have a request for a blog subject. Maybe it’s not your style, maybe you don’t want to give your views explicitly, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts on a player by player view of the squad. Maybe marks out of 10 for the season would be to go too far, but I for one would be interested to hear your views.
Beyond that, the one thing that does worry me is the views of some who suggest that we should speculate to accumulate and suggest it would be better to go into debt than to maintain the status quo. That said, the views of those suggesting a trimming of the dead wood sit fine with me – can’t see it happening though.
Evening all. TS – the keys, please….
With all the talk of HT, we forgot about the MC π
Good point, Dr C.
Merci, Ollie.
@ Lars. I agree and would be interested as hell in the read down the line, but the state of things as they are really makes one question the function of Arsene’s extreme tight-lippedness around dealings at the club. I certainly respect that blabbing off about this signing or that problem (ala Rafa at Liverpool) is counterproductive, but the total secrecy that Arsene operates under in relation to the club only seems useful to the degree we get results. If we managed some great coup of a signing or saw a strong turn around in the dressing room due to ‘behind the scene workings’ then great- but nothing seems to materialize. Messi? Samba? Reina? C Ronaldo? It just seems downright bizaare that we come ‘close’ to such signings but end up with Squillaqi or Cambell/ Lehman in return….
Forgive me for including Samba in that group, I know that in and of itself is bizarre, but such are these times, from my perspective.
A book would be brilliant – “The Truth About The Last Six Years” would make essential reading.
A sequel to ‘The Professor’. Would it be incorrect to title it, ‘WTF?’
I was thinking about our defense and was wondering if I was being too harsh. In my opinion I am not. If I had said 12 months ago that JD would be the main man in our back 4 this season you would have had me institutionalized. Kos has potential but is too lightweight and makes too many errors. We had one quality centre back andll he missed almost all of the season. You only have to look at the goals conceded at set plays to know that they have not been good. In defense of the defense what I would say is that they have had very little cover from midfield. One of my biggest annoyances all season is that ay times the gap between midfield and defense has just been huge. It leaves us so vulnerable at times.
Just my opinion of course.
SR@152 – Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher’s ” Arsenal – The Making of a Modern Superclub ” is a terrific read . Concludes with the 07-08 season and details the move from Highbury , the financial restrictions that placed on AW , the expulsion of Dein , the failed attempt to sign Ronaldo and much much more .
Apologies if you have already read it .
Did i read that the medicine Cabinet was open perchance ?
I staged my own personal protest yesterday and chose not to go to the game. To some I may seem disloyal but the inept Stoke performance was the final straw.
A few random thoughts:
I really hope Nasri and Cesc stay next season. Barcelona messed Cesc around during the close season and didn’t stump up the cash when he went as far as stating he wanted to leave without putting in a formal transfer request. Maybe he will be a little more cautious this close season.
One of Wenger’s strengths has been his aura. He is seen as an intellectual (I never realised having an economics degree could create such a mystique) but now he seems to have been found out. A reputation is hard to rebuild when it has taken a battering. I don’t see how he is going to turn things around, but apart from Guardiola, who else is there?
In other walks of life, if a company experienced an epidemic of key employees (first team squad) seriously underperforming, it would trigger some form of internal enquiry or getting some expensive management consultants in. Squillaci, Vela, Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, Arshavin, Diaby, Rosicky, Clichy, Chamakh, Eboue and Walcott (recent performances place him in the ‘out-group’) are all or have been international players who our scouts and Wenger have believed have what it takes to make the grade at Arsenal. So why has a contagion spread around the club?
On a positive note: next season, I predict we will rejoice the curse of the Europa league and Birmingham’s unexpected Carling Cup win which hopefully will have led to their relegation. Spurs have had an even worse season than us and they cannot sustain such an expensive squad in the Europa league. Harry has done to Spurs what he has done to West Ham, Southampton and Portsmouth. Let’s hope for a Spurs win on Sunday that will guarantee them Europa League and may put Birmingham down. Also, Stoke will be financially over-stretched too and have a disastrous season with the additional burden of European football.
pik, this should cheer you up,…
So the perch is the number of years you’ve had more titles than anyone else? Aston Villa 50, Liverpool 33, Arsenal 12, ManU 1 (3 less than Preston).
-Credits Twitter
Question ‘holics.
Hypothetical.
If you could keep one of Cesc or Samir next season, who and why?
Just asking…
I would keep Cesc Holic, I think next year will be a big transtion year for Arsenal and even if we got one more year out of him would keep the wolves at bay and let whatever new players we get be given a chance to gel and not go straight in at the deep end in an already caustic atmosphere. I love Nasri but I think we could live without him (as we have since xmas-ouch ). Just read a good piece on arse2mouse which really made me think of where our midfield and forawrd line is going. DB10 abd TH14 worked so well together with a less than technically magic midfeilder. Excuse the late night blog stalking as on enforced work leave so am bored shitless. A pint of dramanine please
Cesc every time Holic , if he leaves then wengerball4 will be a very different animal to wengerball3 . He’s the guy who makes it all tick , the only guy who consistently finds the space , the time , and the eye through a needle pass required .
Whilst our season has unravelled as a result of the ceding of the 4 goal lead at Newcastle and the CC final defeat , it has sometimes gone unnoticed that Fab hasnt been the same since getting injured in the stoke game and that we have lacked any sustained creativity – the one exception being that wonderful first hour at the marshlands when Fab laid on a masterpiece and what do you know , we scored 3 and could and should have had more .
Nasri is a wonderful player but Fab is right up there with the best in the world .
I venture the above with the proviso that if he stays , he signs a new improved contract with maybe a one year extension and makes a fully committed rallying call to arms that this is where he wants to play his football . I don’t buy the allegation that some have levelled at him that he has been disinterested , but the annual will he wont he debates are hugely corrosive , when it’s the captain of the club .
Hows that for sitting on the fence ?
Cup of Horlicks and some lotion for the arse splinters please .
No worries noel.
It was a genuine question, and you have given a genuine answer.
Let’s take it a step further, hypothetically. Barca refuse to pay the asking price for Cesc. Samir moves on. Next summer Barca pay up, and Cesc goes. Still happy?
This really is a fictional situation, but I really am interested.
Cesc without a doubt. Nasri has performed 3 months in 3 seasons. Nasri is too tippy tappy to play a central role. Fabregas can change the tempo of games with both his 1 touch play & long passes. He’s carried us as a team on his own on many occasions.
Without Cesc next season, it will be a massive loss, however, if he decides to move on he’ll go with my best wishes as he’s given us everything. Long live Cesc.
‘Hols,
Upon pain of being shouted down, I would go with Nasri. I think the captaincy was too much strain for Cesc at this point in his life. With the whole Barca saga, I fear he is tainted goods.
When I evaluate things dispassionately, Nasri brings a bit more pace, close control, and decisiveness. His passing is as almost as good as Cesc’s (but Cesc hasn’t necessary been setting the assist stats ablaze lately). Nasri is as much a defensive liability as Cesc (probably a bit less so, actually), but I think Nasri works a bit harder.
Unfortunately, I think the call of the Spanish Sirens have opened Cesc up. I know many folks might not want to hear it, but Ade-pay-me-more aside, Cesc, might have contributed as much to the lockeroom malaise as anyone. Not because he did anything, mind you, but because of what he did not or could not do. The blame for that falls as much on Arsene as anyone else.
Finally, I would take Nasri in spite of the fact that you can abbreviate his name to Nas (and I hate that non-rapping f*cker). AW should pony up the quid to keep him a Gunner.
The usual please, guv’
‘Holic, excellent question.
I have considered this in the context of numerous debates throughout the season.
Obviously two v good players but the idea that Cesc can be shifted because Nasri will take over is laughable. This simply because they have a vastly different skill set.
Nasri is more of a dribbler etc and we have a number of similar players in the squad. However, nobody comes close to matching Cesc’s passing ability and it is such a feature of our incisive play. Indeed, his passing game is remarkable in any team he plays in – I was at the WC Final and as soon as Cesc came on you felt the winning goal would quickly follow. His ability to cut open the Dutch defence was amazing – admittedly they were tiring etc but still.
I was speculating about signing Gamerio the other day – he plays a bit like Theo, great pace with passes over the defence. Who could supply this on our team except Cesc?
The ability to pass the ball like Cesc is a rare talent – rarer than the skills Nasri bring.
Therefore if I could keep one – it must be Cesc. (I have not considered ‘happiness’ issues etc and am assuming for current purposes all those elements are equal.)
Sorry TaBS, you and I crossed posts.
Situation changed then. Barca meet our Cesc valuation. Do we change to 4-4-2 as a preferred modus operandi, play Samir and a defensive midfielder in the middle?
Still hypothetical, and still interesting…
I would keep Cesc, apart from when he has been (all too frequently) injured he has been absolute class for seven years now. Nasri improved a lot this season but lost his form after about February. Still a top player though. Sadly I doubt either will be there next year – Nasri more likely to stay than Cesc though.
I would like to see a return to the 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 which won us the titles in 2002 and 2004, OK I know personnel is different now but we could still do it. Plenty of players who could play in the hole or on the flanks.
Large Laphroaig please
Hmm, see you’re also thinking about the 4-4-2 ‘holic, great minds and all that…
In the new scenario you pose ‘Holic – I won’t be devestated if it pans out that way because in the back of my mind I know Cesc will eventually leave.
However in a double whammy scenario Cesc is more important to retain because the nucleus of the side is retained – albeit short term.
At the risk of sounding overly simplistic I think we need more time to figure out how to replace Cesc – if we get an extra year out of him it is a bonus in my opinion.
I just don’t think Nasri is cut out for a central role unless it is in a number 10/in the hole type position.
Looks like I am in a stark minority on this, ‘Holic.
Query this however, could it be that the praise lauded on Cesc for his eye-of-the-needle passing is part of the problem. If we are honest with ourselves, for every pinpoint through-ball or chip, there were an equal number of overly-ambitious, play-the-perfect-pass type numbers that were cutout, when a less ambitious pass might have been preferable.
If you will remember our first leg with Barca. One of the most perfect goals I have ever seen. Wilshere to Fab; Fab with a wonderfully-weighted pass to Nasri; Nasri with an equally masterful pull-back to Arshavin.
Nasri can pass. There can be no doubt about that. But Nasri can manufacture goals with his “tippy-tappy” that Cesc can’t, and Nasri has more grit and nastiness that we desperately need.
Ollie @148, the confusion may have arisen in some quarters due to the constant references to the MC in close proximity to the HT, leading some riders to mistakenly believe the MC was part of the furniture on the HT. I should know because I’m one of the most confused myself. π
Wow, crossed a few posts, and sorry for that.
I have to knock it on the head for tonight, but this is an interesting debate. It is possible Cesc may go. No problems here. We have always known where his loyalties lie. They have to pay top dollar though.
He is, however, the driving force behind whatever version of 4-3-3 you care to believe we play.
I am isolating Nasri only because of the crap in the media about the clubs that may or may not want him. I love him as a player, but perhaps Arshavin has more to gain from a switch back to a 4-4-2?
I think that may be the situation anyway but that is one more year for Ramsey and Wilshire to gel, one more year for Arsene to tweak his formation. I would not be happy as you say but sometimes a fresh perspective is needed on the field. I know I will get stick but I would feel a lot better if Arsene bought midfeild protection as I am not truly convinced by Song as a mentor for our younger players but thats just me. If Arshavin leaves also however as well as Nasri I would fear for the season out come as they can both fufill that roll and are more capable than anything that would be on the market in the summer…fuck it I want them all
noel, between you, I, and the gatepost, I fear we will be left with one of Cesc, Samir, and Andrey next season, and I pray to God I am wrong.
‘Holic , wow you’re really testing the old grey matter ! Wrote earlier today that i would definitely revert to 4-4-2 when Fab doesn’t play , and if it were me i would keep Nasri on the left with VP in the no.10 role . Might also consider Nasri in the 10 role with vp in his present role . Wouldn’t play Nasri in the middle of a midfield 4 .
Did i pass sir ?
‘Holic,
How can we build the team chemistry we need if we are afraid to let folks go who are clearly disaffected?
This is paralysis by analysis.
We have seen how this team works with the current personnel. Why do we think that keeping all three of Nasri, Cesc, and Arshavin will produce anything different?
I don’t know the answer, TaBS.
But I do know the question.
Sadly.
Well, I guess the pro-Nasri faction has been placed at the little-kids’ table tonight.
That’s cool. I’ll just nurse my bottle over here in the corner. As long as there’s scotch in the bottle.
Thanks, boss.
Nas at 171 – i can definitely attest to there being a version of the MC on the HT , if not the original . It kept me pinned down for three weeks amidst the wreckage when the HT ran aground in Bolton , and i had to smoke my way out .
Lonestar – come and join – i would sell Andrey of my own volition . Feel sorry that he’s been played out of position , but for such a talented player , his attitude stinks .
Interesting question Holic…Very interesting…
I think the logical move would be if Cesc doesnt go this summer and Samir is forced to go – then we better tie up Cesc for a longer period.
But honestly if I had to choose between the two – there would only be one answer – our captain.
Cesc for me, Nasri is excellent but Cesc is world class and we couldn’t replace him. The only straw to clutch at is that Barca don’t actually need him and because of this may not stump up the readies. I’m ambivalent about Arshavin, he seems to have lost a yard of pace this season and maybe we would better getting some money for him this Summer rather than him going on a free in a years time.
New players. New tactics (and new manager too?).
Can you win the league with kids? Well, one thing is certain – you can’t win it without them.
Arsenal has lots of thing to improve in the summer. First, it’s not whether the players are superb, is whether they bother to try and actually achieve something. You can’t have a good season and good results with bunch of “players” who can’t be arsed to try and be good. Here’s where the main problem lies. This is Wenger’s fault. He provides so many excuses after every bad game that the players don’t even care anymore cause they know it wont be their fault if they don’t play good enough. You conceive a goal in 101st minute from a penalty, and everything you’ve heard from AW is moaning about the referee and how it WASN’T FAIR that he gave Liverpool a penalty. Not ONE single word was said about the idiot who’s fault was the penalty. Face it, you can’t excuse all the mistakes the players do. You have to cut it. You make mistakes? You don’t try enough? Your place is on the bench then. Can you imagine what would Ferguson do if one of his players ever did such a stupid mistake like Eboue did? The player will spend the rest of the season playing for the reserves. And when he’s called back in team 1 again, he will be sure he wont do a stupid mistake like that again. Underachieve and you’re out. Play good and you’re in. That’s how you get a 100% from every player. What AW does is giving excuses. The players know it wont be their fault, they know they wont be punished, so they don’t care how they play cause they know they will be in the squad for the next game too.
Then, there are the leaders too. While a good team needs young players, you can’t win a damn thing without leaders. Take Utd or Chelsea for example. They have strong individuals who are ready to give every teammate a kick in the butt if he’s not playing good or if he’s lost. Terry, Drogba, Lampard from one side, to Vidic, Ferdinand, Scholes and Giggs on the other. You can be sure with these guys that they WILL carry the team on their backs and you can be sure they will take care of the young players when they don’t know what to do. And who’s doing this in our team? Surely not CF. Not only he’s too young, he looks like his mind is elsewhere. He’s not a captain material. A referee gives a penalty against your team in 101st minute and you as a captain must go and give him some hard time. Show that you care about your team. Where was he at that time? Nowhere, that’s where. Any of those guys i mentioned above would have had the referee kicked if it happened against their team. But not here, not in our team.
So, my thoughts? Get some older, more experienced players. Strong individuals, born winners and strong minded players. You need those. Winning a league with bunch of young players is impossible no matter how good and talented they are.
Also, don’t ask the players to be good. Demand it. AW has lost his touch long before this season. He has a good team, but he doesn’t know how to motivate them.
We beat United, we get on -3 and what do we do from there? With United having a game with Chelsea (who are also -3) we lose from Stoke… Are you f kidding me? We get back into the title race and what do we do? Lose. Now who’s fault is that? Every other team would beat the hell out of the opponent if they were in our shoes. But not us. And why not? Because they players are not arsed to give a bit more that the miserable 50% they are used of giving every game.
And who’s fault is that? The managers. What else do you expect when he excuses every bad performance… surely not a good game? It’s a fact. AW gave them too much space to do what they want and he’s lost his voice in the team. They don’t listen to him anymore. So either change the whole lazy team full of underachievers or bring another manager, one that WILL bring some discipline in the team. Cause the kids are not bad. They just can’t be arsed to do more. And who will, when they know that they will be excused for all the mistakes and that they will be in the team for the next match, no matter what.
This is just my opinion of course, feel free to agree or disagree. And round of drinks to everyone here. With the crazy season of Ups and Downs, we all need at least one. π
K87 good rant….agree that the Manager should carry the can, the contrast with SAF is illuminating, he’s a nasty piece of work who just doesn’t tolerate lack of effort or below par performances from his players and that’s why he’s a serial winner.
Cesc is a genius, but a genius with chronic hamstring problems who is overburdened with the responsibility of carrying an underperforming team. He is our strength and our weakness, just as TH14 become when his back started playing up.
Isn’t time to debunk the myth of 4-4-2 … when did we ever play that formation? Smith and Wright? but that was a different era. The ‘partnership of Henry and Bergkamp’ certainly wasn’t within a 4-4-2 formation; Bergkamp just appeared to be a striker as he received the ball more often with his back to goal (Cesc doesn’t) and Henry wasn’t a left winger although his starting position was wide.
Morning all – I think this summer, our priorities are clear.
1) World class goalkeeper
2) World class centre backs x 2
3) World class left back and right back
4) World class midfielders x 4 (or 3 depending on formation)
5) 2 / 3 x world class strikers
If Wenger finally decides to spend on the small list above we will be ok I think!!!
Heh EPB.
I think I’m with Jez on that. And I’d rather Cesc stayed but if one had to go, I think that planning means it has to be Cesc? Why? Because of the same saga every year. It’s affected us with Vieira (though his last kick of the ball was memorable), it affected us with Thierry Henry and I’m sick of these Sagas.
I’ll miss him (despite the overall shit season, and the selfish absence of ‘thinking for the team ahead of yourself’ showing at the Camp Nou, which was fairly criminal), he is a fantastic player.
I also wish we kept him for one more season, as at last he will be able to have a rest and a normal pre-season (The World Cup may have cost us a lot in Cesc’s term this year), but since the question is ‘if we kept one of them’, long-term slightly tilts the balance towards Nasri for me.
Whatever the new formation and personnel is.
‘Morning ‘Holic & ‘Holics,
Cesc every time for me ‘Holic. We don’t have many world-class players at the moment and he’s the best of the best. Even though I am one of those that believes he has shown disinterest at times, I am with the comments made by tabs@160, bernard@162 and others.
Having said that, I also want Nasri to stay and play a full season the way he played for us in the first half of this one. The goals he scored against Fulham were as good as anything from Messi this year. Arshavin too, he’s our Mr.Magic, he can turn a game in a heartbeat and he is our best impact sub – just don’t expect him to run around too much and never play him in front of an inexperienced left back. Arshavin also has plenty of experience.
A word about the MC based on some questions above. It’s in the bar, it’s always been in the bar and it’s there primarily for health and safety reasons (although not this season). It’s generally kept under lock and key but like Arsenal matches, you can always get in if you really want to. New, improved HT Mk II will also have its own MC. The plans for this are with zico pending approval i.e. when he can be arsed. Now is probably not a good time to press him on this. Maybe a ‘Good Arsenal’ performance at The Cottage this weekend will persuade him to get interested? Does that help? π
I would choose Cesc Holic..
One reason would be that he and RVP strike a real partnership when they play together…
The thing is one of them is injured when the other is playing….
But it all depends on Cesc, isn’t it? If he really wants to leave, he will. I have no problem with that as he has always given a lot for us.
But as Arsene says, the biggest achievement for him would be to win something with Arsenal and not with Messi and co. I really feel so.
I wouldn’t understand Nasri not signing with us. If he doesn’t sign with us because of his wage demands being low he can fuck off for all I care.
On the formations debate, 442 should be played against teams who set up not to concede.
Our main problems are in defense(as a team as well as back four), let’s not forget.
EPB @ #186
Excellent! That deserves a voucher for drugs of your choice from the MC π
BTW, I think we’re going to need to implement some form of financial fair play in terms of the constant re-stocking this season. We can’t keep spending on fresh stocks unless the income is there to support it. Basically, we need more (paid for) drinks to offset the costs. Alternatively, Lars settling his much abused tab will probably carry us forward until the end of next season.
Morning Holic
I take it you will be having a lie in this morning,as you were up blogging well past your bedtime post midnight.
On the subject of Cesc/Nasri ,i believe we have 2 players who feel they are not being used in what they perceive to be their best position.
The catlyst for Cesc’s positional change was the arrival of young Jack in the first team,much earlier [ due to injuries to others ],than anyone expected.
Jack was then utilised by Wenger as the defensive midfield anchor ahead of Song,which forced Cesc into a much more forward role than he was used to.
Instead of seeing 2 thirds of the field in front of him,he was seeing one third.
Not only was this crimping his vision and curtailing his long range passing,it also had him much closer to the oppositions defense,which allowed them to get a lot closer to him and exposed him to much more aggressive/physical challenges than he would have received further back ,where the oppositions defensive enforcers couldn’t reach him.
This i firmly believe has contributed to his injury plagued season,dodgy Hammy not withstanding.
I feel certain that if he moves further back next season,and i am Supremely confident he will stay,then he will get less physical abuse and will be the player we all know he can be.
The Nasri issue is fairly simple,with Cesc further forward this season ,Nasri has not had much opportunity to play behind the main striker which he feels is his best position,which i happen to agree with.
But unfortunately it hasn’t been possible because Wenger prefers him out wide,either left or right.
Whether this is the reason behind him not yet signing a new contract,i guess won’t be known until the Summer.
If Fab goes back to his favoured position and has a full pre season to get fully fit,then it is no contest in who of the 2 you would like to stay.
As confident as i am about Fab staying, i am sure that Nasri loves the Club,and with his best years ahead of him i really hope he does sign on the dotted line sooner rather than later.
We don’t want a drawn out Contract saga distracting the Team during the Summer.
Cheers
Clive
Clive
I’ll second, third and fourth those words too. Cesc, Nasri & RVP in the same team playing in their preferred positions is an almost unbeatable combination.
For all Jack’s promise and outstanding play this season, I can’t help feeling that he’s being brought-on too quickly esp. in terms of expectations heaped upon his shoulders. Maybe it’s because AW thinks Cesc is likely to leave this summer? However, to build our team around a 19 year-old, no matter how good, is questionable in my opinion.
TS
Wilshere is definitley showing signs of fatigue/wear and tear etc,
I agree he has played far too much this season,but again due to injuries to Ramsey/Cesc/Diaby/Song and with Denilson proving totally inadequate on the occasions he was given a chance,Wenger really had no option.
With under 21’s this summer,+ a Euro qualifier early June,there is no
way he is going to be ready for August.
Which may well be a good thing,because Ramsey will be fit,Cesc can slot into his preferred position and who knows,if we get off to a flyer early on,it would make it difficult to change the setup.
With the right additions in the summer,maybe just maybe all the heartache of the past 6 years will come to an end.
A man can only dream.!!
TS – its not that I can’t be arsed – posting on a smartphone with mittens on is a major undertaking π
The Happy Train will be rolling come August no question – the number of advance bookings will no doubt be influenced by AW’s “performance” over the summer.
coffee for me this morning – was a late one last night. I was celebrating my long telomeres π
Why are people saying our main problem is defending when anyone can see we can’t even put the ball in the back of the net any more?! Can you name one game since the CC final where we looked really dangerous in the final third, with the exception of the only person who remembers how to shoot, i.e. VP? Oh yeh, we beat Man U, which granted is priceless, and yes in that game our attacking play was wonderfully direct and we looked like scoring at any moment. Problem is, that game and the defeats of Chelsea and Farca are the exceptions, not the rules.
This is not just about last weekend’s shambles, I defy anyone to disagree that our build-up play has been absolutely ponderous of late, players ambling around playing the ball sideways, politely waiting for the opponents to reorganise themselves perfectly into 2 banks of 4. Against Stoke there were a couple of counters where the ball was worked into the final third from the edge of our box via no more than about 3 really direct passes, and the knuckle-draggers were getting their knickers in a serious twist. Which shows what we can do but most of the players spend most of these games nudging the ball around really slowly instead of quick-firing it up the park.
I’m telling you, the whole league has worked us out and the Emirates is the one place where you can go when you’re on a crap run of form and be confident of getting something out of it. Does Wenger actually know any other formations?
Morning all ,
Some great over-nighters – I’ve had my twopenny-worth re the Cesc-Nas debate so wont say any more – as fear imminent head explosion if i do .
Particularly enjoyed EPB’s transfer policy outlined at 186 .
TS -thanks for the clarification regarding the MC ! On reflection , perhaps it wasn’t the MC after all that kept me pinned in the wreckage of the HT all that time .
Whatever it was , however , was pretty damn good stuff – probably Catalan’s personal stash !
Clive – great glass half-full stuff as always .
Irish coffee and a bacon sarnie please Barman
Clive 193, I agree, I think we’ll see far less of Jack next season.
Unfortunately. Due to the idiotic U21s selection when you can see that he’s rather knackered already.
Unless a cleverly picked Month-and-a-half injury next sunday sorts it out? π
hi holic and holics
some interesting stuff here but I tend to look at it this way. The defense that everybody is saying is not good enough has let in 6 more goals than Manure who have won the league, if we take off the stupid newcastle capitulation that fig would be down to 2 ok it should be better but with out verm for the whole season and the amount of changes in goal and players in that back 4 I don’t think its terrible could be better agreed but it can always be better.
some people are now saying we cant score goals but we are 2nd highest scorers in the league 17 more than the lwc and 15 more than city now that is a problem scoring goals. manure have won 3 more games than us the margins are this small and I know a small compensation at the moment. Our run of form is terrible at the moment from the carling cup final but look at it this way every team has a slump in form every season it depends how bad that slump is and how quickly you get yourself out of it. Look at the Chavs they won 4 out of 14 in all competitions between Nov and Jan sound familiar doesnt it? we are unfortuanately having our bad form now however and this is the most frustrating point it seems to be this period every season and this is where we need to be better.
we are all looking forward to some new players but be careful who you wish for these players beat barca, manure, and the chavs this season and you dont just become bad players overnight the confidence will return as it always does and the ht will be back on track. i must also add that it does seem our play over the last few seasons has got slower and i really would like to see that quick direct counter attacking mixed in with the play as it does allow the opposition to much time to get organised.
i for one am not worried too much and playing a CL qualifier is not ideal but if it happens this way then so be it. But The Arsenal will be back rest assured and when you look at the above a couple of tweeks here and there will see us back where we belong. and look on the bright side we are where we are now without spending any money when we do spend the others better look out as all they are doing is buying league titles, I would like to see how old red nose would do if he had to balance the books every season.
Up The Arse
Clive @ #193
Completely agree again. The injury/form situation left AW with limited options and he did the best with what he had available. Some would say that the lack of depth/experience in the squad also caused this which will lead back to the argument that a couple of additional strategic purchases last summer/winter would have helped to avoid that situation in the first place. Keep dreaming those dreams, any additional positivity is very welcome at the moment.
zico @ # 194,
Was it one of those concoctions that you (inadvertently) mixed form the MC that helped you to improve your life expectancy? If so, please share or are you telling us that it was your birthday recently? π
tabs @ # 196,
Dr.C has a stash?!
Do you think that if we had addressed the weaknesses that were so clearly indentifiable 12 months ago, and had achieved what we should have achieved this season that there wouldn’t even be a need for this debate?????
Just a thought.
PS for Clive:
A midfield based on on a fully fit, head-screwed on right combo of Cesc & Ramsey should be enough to un-pick the tightest of defensive locks. An experienced, won things before DM behind them would be the icing on the cake for me.
TS @199 – merely speculation, old son , merely speculation – I’ll leave it to Dr C himself to confirm or deny …
great piece by Blogs over on Arseblog today BTW
TS – top shelf, green tin, behind the methodone, next to the LSD.
Combine all for better viewing pleasure.
Great debates lads. No time to add my views (other than Nasri in No 10 behind RVP?)… worth a look.
REALLY want to get pace and power back into our attacks though. Lansbury wide right of a 4-4-2?
TS @ 199 – birthday is in
August so it must have been the other π
On the debate above – its not the number of goals conceded that is the issue – its the way they are conceded. Our defending at set pieces is a shambles – concede a corner we are all shitting ourselves.
It’s really not on – a settled defence would help but people were raving about JD all season and yet olook at the goals he was directly responsible for at Bolton and Stoke. That suggests to me that whatever we are telling them in training some of Arsenes giggling pupils at the back ain’t listening.
For the Summer top of my list is a hard bastard to put the fear of death into some of these poppets – if they cant handle it, then they should sling their hook(s).
Ready for beer – Guinness for me and whatever the usual suspects are having. True Storey’s tab π
OK then, it appears my tab is open but I’m not a supporter of financial doping π
Austrian,
The lack of pace in attack was painful to watch on Sunday. Villa had an age to get organised behind our players. Very good point.
Dr.C,
Thanks for the directions! As everyone else has them now too I’d move the tin somewhere safe.
Dear Holic,
I have consiously supported arsenal since early – mid nineties (born 1980) at a period where our club was finishing 12th 7th and 10th. i remember my arsenal being famous for ‘boring boring arsenal’ , 1-0 wins and a team of thuggs and donkeys where artistic flair was non existant. i learned about arsenal through my father. i am not english. i live in athens greece but arsenals red and white shirts remind my father off his olympiakos team so you can do the math there. back then tottenham with klinsmann was finnishing higher than arsenal. back then arsenal was a parody of a football club with our players disgracing the badge and shirt with htier midnight antics and their snorting techniques. half of them would collapse on the field even before warm-up for games. outside of england nobody knew arsenal. noone took us seriously. arsenal was just another english team that played hoofball. and a poor one too. even newcastle made bigger transfers than us. Prios to wenger;s arrival i ask older people and they tell me that they didnt know much about arsenal. even in the 80, 70 60 s ..arsenal wasnt ever the big football power house. in fact with later research i found out that for a period of almost 40 years arsenal only had one league double to show for it ( the 70-71).
now if i talk with facts and stats i arrive at the conclusion that in wenger;s tenor the club has never dropped below position 4th for the domestic comeptition ( a position which grands youe ntry to europes elite tournament plus loads of cash potential ), and has reached semis, q/finals and a finalist appearance in uefa champions league in 2006. the club;s first ever. the club has also during wenge;r tenor won two doubles i think and has won a league title unbeaten with a record of 26 wins 12 draws 0 losses.
for a club which performed its football in a small 36k seater (highbury) the ceiling had been reached in 04. with the decission of tony blair & gordon brown to open up the domestic football industry for foreign investors and lift the ’embargo’ so to say, it meant that new players came into the game. roman abramovich , saudis, thai, ukranians, americans, in fact anyone with money was invited to invest in the english prmeir l;eague , a sports product which is one fo the highest multibillion exporting commodity for english economy.
before 04 wenger and arsenal had only mancester to ctach up with ..now they have 3 -4 maybe even 5 new competitors. therefore a decission has to be made for the club. do we saddle the club on loans and get the players that will help us remain competitive? or do we invest whatever we have in facilities and create our london ajax/barcelona set up ? knowing the risks of investing heavily on players that may or may not work out, the club opted for the safer route , a route that requires a lot of work, sacrifice and devotion and most improtantly self-belief.
therefore we acknoweldge that after 04 and especially with stadium expansion and facility investment in place, any talk about chsing titles (which is directly linked with first team roster investment ) goes out of the window for a minimum of 10-15 year period. that is the time required for the youth to grow and mature as personalities and that is the minimum time allowance we need as a business in order to recover the expenditure of the emirates and break even.
and even that, wenger has sliced in half …just within 7 years our remianing debt does not exceed 140 million pounds. a plan that was programmed to be repaid within 10-15 years wenger;s financial prudency sliced it in half. fans need to remember and have things pointed out to them before slagging our fine manager.
arsene wenger is one of the finest managers you can find in football. he honours contracts he develops youth he does not spend money like a drunk sailor in a brothel he builds clubs basically, he is not just a first team coach , he is a football manager with capitals and in every sense of the word. his working methodologies have practically changed the whole of english football and professionalised the english league and influnced it perhaps like no other.
if you people think that arsene wenger tears down wilshere and cesc and clichy at their 19 23 and 23 respectively applying them the kind of pressure ancelotti does to drogba who is 32 then you are all mistaken and you dont know how to judge managers. the manager must be calm and encourage his players, not blast them as useless like the stands do ( even if they are useless). the manager is under a programme to first teach his players the arsenal way of play. after that , he will have to wait till his players reach maturity and develop character in order to do what they are able to do consistently. ability wise and quality wise our team fears noone but because they are still young and do not have the collective expereince as a team to handle pressure situatuions they will fail at the big occasion. this is a natural process of learning ….and no you dont learn sh*t till you get to 26 27 and 28 and beyond.
i note in arsenal sites that supposed fans who have been throught the thick and thin…. moaning and complainign and asking for change. why is there any change necessary you ask them and they tell you its because we havent won anything in 6 years. as if not having won something in 6 years is so bad for a club of arsenals rich history in trophies (tongue in cheek). when i take the stast and facts i note that that the people asking for change using the trophyless spell as an excuse are in fact myopic ( if not stupid) and should not be allowed to talk about football let alone arsenal. yet these people create an atmoshpere of despair and doubt for our manager, who is one of the best in the game. a bunch of amateurs passing judgement on professionals who are top in their profession and acknowledged all over the world.
when i discuss with them they call me a wengerist ignoring the fact that i supported arsenal before arsene wenger arrival. when they cant argue back they prefer to insult you and call you a troll or a wenger fan. when you explain to them the position fo the CLUB and its history with trophies and its development as A CLUB again they call you a wengerist , when in fact im doing the exact opposite as i take into account the POSITION OF THE CLUB in the modern competitive environment of football and not so much wenger. and in the end of the day since this manager is good for the club (and that is unquestionable and the proof is to be found in the fact that prior wenger dein bought his shares for 275k , after wenger revolutionised arsenal he sold them for 75 million) we would be foolish to not want what is good for our club.
so with all due respect why dont the logical arsenal fans..the ones who appreciate that wenger has devoted his life;s work in ensuring we dont go bankrupt trying to compete with chelsea manure and a bunch of other cretins who chase their football success with financial shortcuts, put them gloryseeking idiots at their places.
starting with that monumental moaner arseblogger calling our club a failure
if we start calling top 4 finnishes and european semis and quarters on a roster of 45 million at an avergae of 23.7 years a failure then what the hell do we call tottenham, man city, chelsea and liverpool ?
when was arsenal comepting on so many levels on so many fronts and losing it only on small details ? NEVER
also..no manager however good he may be, can be better than the manager who is already in his position for 15 years…its impossible.
arsenal fans need to start reevaluating their supporting ethos and protect the club from the english biassed refs and horrible media who aim to mock and insult our foreign manager for he is a threat to their national @kicknrush@ football style.
i have plenty more to say …but my biggest disappointment aint denilson aint bendtner aint vela aint cesc aint chesney or diabby..my biggest disappointment are the arsenal fans who are poisoining the team we love to follow and support
Cheers TS
Its been slower for a few seasons now and I would love to see Theo given a go down the middle or somebody of great pace and VP in a Bergkamp role and also chipping in with the goals.
be almost like the old days!
Raulduke13@207 – your interpretation of Arseblogger’s piece was wholly different to mine . As far as i was concerned , he merely gave a very rational and considered plea that at a time of heightened emotions , and yes , failure , ( i’m sure AW considers this season a failure ) , Arsenal fans come together and recognise that there is a middle ground to be had between the AKB’s ( of which i am one ) , and those who agitate for change , without resorting to personal abuse .
The middle ground is of course recognising Arsene’s magnificent achievement in keeping us challenging whilst operating at a profit in the transfer market and at the same time , noting that this present team contains systemic weaknesses , which as a result of the financial probity in the past , can now be addressed in the forthcoming window .
This site manages to accomplish that feat very well nearly all of the time , so welcome , and get yourself a drink .
Dr C – ha – the green tin is now empty.
Right , i’m going to steam in on TS’s tab !
tabs @ #209,
You’re more than welcome (as are you raulduke), fill yer boots.
Your post defines the middle ground perfectly for me and it is a place where I sit very comfortably. I believe that we all have the right to constructively criticise when we feel it might help the club/management/players/fans.
Nothing wrong with an empty green tin but (pretty) please replenish before the end of the season π
Just deciding now on the best time to talk to The Storey Management about a possible offer of a ticket for Sunday.
‘I only want to see Michael Jackson,
see Michael Jackson,
I only….’
Cheers all!
TS – cheers .
I have placed on order for the new HT , a new Russian MC , in light of concerns re stock levels . The Russian model replenishes regularly of its own volition , though one drawback is that as a result , the long-term direction of the HT may be affected , and if there ever was a crash again in the near future , it would prove to be terminal .
TS – If you clear sunday with management , make sure you also clear with management the additional expenditure required for fancy dress outfit – i would suggest the monkey-suit , known in the trade as the Gareth Get-up .
TAKEABOWSON hallo there.
i will focus on your second paragrpah where you say that the team contains a systematic weakness.
this systematic weakness, isnt it a result of immaturity and lack of character?
that our players have no idea how to handle pressure in the 85th minute being 2-1 ahead and will eventually conceed is a matter of PERSONALITY. and in my experience personality and character are two things that you gain as you grow and mature.
when i look that our keeper is a 19 year old kid and our two main defenders this season are basically two rookies ( one coming out of long time injury and the other being a new transfer) …what kind of pressure handling characteristics are we looking for exactly ? of course they will flop ..of course they will sh*t bricks ..of course they are likely to f*ck it up. these things are natural and necessary for the learning process of any pro
the problem is that the fans can not wait any more for the youngsters to mature . the fans see that the team gets close but ignores how difficult it is for these players to even be at that stage from this early age. and because our youngsters fail then our fans start demanding heads and asking for change. therefore it is mostly the fans who cant wait or tolerate their team coming so close and losing it on details and not so much that the players cant do it yet. the players will do it ..whether here or somewhere else thats up to our management, but players who reach such positions against such rivals at this age can only be a good thing, and im shocked how arsenal fans focus on the negative.
some of them believe that we have reached a stage as a business where we can rectify these weakneses ( that have to do more with experience rather than ability) with over the top expenditures. it is my opinion ( and this is the only one time ill mention my opnion) that some arsenal fans have only endured the current period with the thought in the back of their heads that ‘ok any time soon we’ll be spending money on torres essien ronaldo or whoever else we might need’ like fergie mourinho and some others can do. but nobody has stopped to think that fergie’s club is one billion in debt, plus fergie has a legacy of 25 years to protect , of course he will spend and wont mind saddling his club on further debt for the immediate NOW. mourinho on the other hand takes teams with 400 million budgets and when he fails spectacularly its the fault of unicef and not his neanderthalish football tactics. ancelotti and roman spent 70 million n january to win the champions league and lost from a 38 yearold giggs ..a few weeks later they could win the league and they failed again ..their roster includes drogba torres essien malouda and a bunhc of other players who are light years ahead of anything we got in arsenal. tottenhma has been spending 50 million per summer the past 10 summers to break into top 4 ..they did it once and now there out again…they also have some players who are light years ahead in their development as characters of anything weve got at arsenal. liverpool ..dont get me started. city ..how much do they spend what players do they have and what positions do they reach.
people think that arsenal is swimming in money when just a few months ago the results for the 2010 year showed a loss ( small loss but still on the minus) which proves that wenger was right not to spend the kolo and ade money like the fans wanted him to do.
this manager has proved time and time again that when it comes to transfers there is noone better than him and amateurs from the stands are gonna tell him what players to buy for his team ? its insane illogical and totally wrong.
and even if we have money what should arsene do ? go pay 2 or 3 idiots 250k per week to change things around? is that how things change in football ? no it isnt..barcelona plays with 8/11 homegrowns and adds to them with expensive buys BUT barcelona has been on a 40 year jumpstart comapred to arsenal…barcelona has had one johan cruyff there the past 4 decades laying down the football foundations necessary to reach the stage they are now. sure they needed laporta with his investments too ..but if cruyff;s work in the academies wasnt there .. dear pep wouldnt have a pool of iniestas and messis to choose from… thats why its no coincidence that our best player comes from their academy.
our team is one of the finest managed clubs in the football world and is way too young to be delivering the kind of expectations the fans have right now ..the team and arsenal are still a work in progress and like every work – in progress you dont go mouthing them off at the first or second disappointment. it is even possible that the first crop might get burnt from the burden of expectations in order to allow for the generation of wilsghere gibbs etc …its a process which takes time …. alot of time …
in the meantime wenger offers spectacular football to cover for it and you can see him that even at these restarints the man wants to win . he wants to win for the club and for his players and for the fans too. and instead of us creating a shield of protection to our manager and players i see our fans becoming enemies of what we want to build and achieve …its sick
it makes you wonder it rteally does ..i read all these things abotu arsenal fans wanting wenger out and im freaking out ..are they that mad i think to myself ..has the press turned their heads to such extent they dont know what theyre saying any more? are they all still drunk form the royal wedding or something ? wenger is unsackable .the man generates football and most improtantly makes it all work at a plus and not a minus. plus he dont offer shit on a stick but champagne and chaviar with eggs (material) bought from asda and not from waitrose like the special one demands for his omelletes.
wenger defeated barca with high line defensive pressing and packing the mid in zonal /space marking with close lines and in second half turned a game from 0-1 to 2-1 against barcelona and not scunthorpe.
mourinho went with a team of 400 million cost to play like the slaves at the colloseum instructing adebayor and pepe to kick and punch their way thoughout the game …and some call that football and then call wenger clueless in tactics ….it makes you wonder it really does ..it makes you wonder if the birthplace of football has lost all sense of measurement when it comes to judging and quantifying what each manager offers considering the material he works with
raulduke13
I have no problem with you giving your opinion here, as long as it doesn’t stray into personal abuse, as your deleted post did.
Please bear that in mind. Thanks.
tabs @ #s 211 & 212,
A Russian MC, eh? Are it’s door coated in Polonium? I’m not sure if radio active elements would interfere with the French GPS that is planned for the HT Mk II.
Forgive me but no more fancy dress for me esp. after watching those Villa(-ge) idiots who contemplated storming the Tolli on Sunday and my previous experiences of bio-suits at SHL π
This is quite long, so put your feet up and have a pint while you read it – but I think it is worth reading.
Ok, here we go:
Lately it has been rather popular to say stuff like “none of the players in the team today would have made the Invicibles squad” (while conveniently forgetting that three of today’s players were actually in that squad, of course), but is that really true? I mean even overlooking Clichy, Fabregas and Lehmann for various reasons?
Hell no.
Just look at these three players, for example, who were part of the squad for the whole of the 2003/4 season:
Pascal Cygan
Jeremie Aliadiere
Sylvain Wiltord
Now you try telling me with a straight face that Walcott, Nasri, Arshavin or RvP are worse players than Aliadiere or Wiltord were at the time. Or that Koscielny is a worse player than Cygan was. Or… et cetera.
“We have no squad depth, but we used to”, is another one.
Alright, then. Let’s see – in the right-back position we had Lauren, backed up by… Justin Hoyte, 19 years old. Behind Sol and Kolo in central defense we had Martin Keown and Pascal Cygan. Yes, none other than Pascal Cygan was our third/fourth-choice central defender. Left-back: Cashley Hole and Clichy, who was 18 at the time. Two world-class players in each position? Not very much so in the back four.
So what was the difference? Well, first and foremost, our first team was of course better than the current first team (“first team” as in “the best we can muster up at any given point with all players fit”) as a whole. We don’t have an equivalent of the Pires-Vieira-Ljungberg-Bergkamp-Henry core today, we only have the Cesc-RvP connection which is very good, but they quite rarely play together since they seem to be taking turns in being injured. And secondly, we could use our best players a whole lot more because they weren’t injured quite as often as many of the current players are – particularly in central defense. Lehmann, Lauren, Sol, Kolo and Cashley started 38, 36, 35, 32 and 30 league games respectively during the 2003/4 season. Compare that to the constant injury-enforced chopping and changing of today and it’s no wonder that we can never get any kind of consistency going in defense.
21 players started games in the league, but six of those started less than ten games (Keown 3, David Bentley – yes, him! – 1, Wiltord 8, Reyes 7, Kanu 3, Aliadiere 3), so we bascially had a main squad of 15 players. Yes, fifteen! Ten players started 25 games or more.
According to arsenal.com, this season has seen 25 players start in the league and only seven of those will have started 25 games or more. In central defense we have Vermaelen with 4 (likely to be 5) starts, Koscielny 30, Djourou 19 and Squillaci 20 (21). And the keeper situation… well, we all know about that one. Moreover, looking at our most creative players we find Cesc with 22 starts (many of them hampered by injuries) and RvP with 18 (which will be 19 on Sunday). Compare that to Henry (37) and Pires (33) and that is a hell of a difference. I’d actually go so far as to say that with a fit Cesc starting 33 games and a fit RvP starting 37 I have very few doubts that we would have won the league this season.
(all stats concerning 2003/4 from http://www.arseweb.com/history/stats/04.html, by the way)
There are more details of course, it’s not all down to injuries (which, I want to point out again, is NOT bad luck, we have far too many soft-tissue injuries for that to be the case) but it is a very large part of the problem and the above shows that the “all players were better back then”/”we don’t have the same squad depth anymore” theories don’t have too much basis in truth.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again: we can buy all the best players in the world, but until we find the reason for all the injuries it will probably not do us much good anyway.
Raulduke13 thanks for your lengthy riposte .
I agree with much of what you say especially in regard to the monstrous debt levels of Manure , the wholly immoral spending of Chelski and City ,( which without getting too political about it , represent the pillaging of their respective chairman’s own country’s resources ) , and of course the year on year failure of the Spuds to amount to anything more than a slightly less classy version of Southampton .
I also acknowledge wholly the view that some of the fans ire is as a result of having been thoroughly spoilt since AW arrived .
For 5 years from 2005 AW had no money – in my view – and the regular proclamations during this period that he had a thirty , forty , fifty million pound war chest sitting there unspent were hopelessly wide of the mark – an invention by the board to ward off the threat posed by Usmanov .
Where we depart however , is that by the summer of 2010 , the financial threat to the club posed by the property crash and the banking crisis had passed , R and W Holdings had failed to garner popular support , and money was available to spend , if not in the proportions of our less responsible rivals .
Systemic weaknesses ? … yes ! Firstly we’re nowhere near good enough without the ball , and secondly our failure to defend either set pieces or hopeful hoofs into our box .
This weakness is not simply as a result of immaturity . Our central defence generally looked porous even when the not so young or inexperienced Gallas and Toure patrolled that region .
As such last summer cried out for a centre half who could organise , cajole , lead , and head the ball into orbit . – Cost – 15-18 mill which would not have jeopardised the security of the club . As it was , we got the much cheaper Schillaci who is simply not up to the job .
I agree with you that Djourou and Kos probably did far better than we could have anticipated , given their recent CVs but we should never have been in a position where we had to rely on them so much .
Central defence must be addressed by a big money signing this summer and I am more than hopeful that the great AW will do so .
Finally , as regards the fans , there’s a whole heap of difference between the virtual world ( apart from this site ) and the real world .
As someone who has been mixing with Arsenal fans for more years than i care to recall , the vast majority remain broadly supportive of AW , even in the most difficult of circumstances . That that support comes with a plea to spend within our budget , and improve the side should not be construed as in any way disloyal .
Lars – someone’s been a busy boy ! a good and well constructed argument – still want a centre half though !
Any derogatory comparison with the Invincibles to show up the failings of the present team is in my view , worthless . Sides like the Invincibles come round but once a lifetime .
A drink on me old son .
TS – perhaps you’re right – i will withdraw the Order , though i may have to enlist the support of Clive in dealing with the Russian Heavies who might turn up at my doorstep .
Too many long posts, i’m busy folks, I really don’t feel like reading long missives. A very very very very superficial skimming though suggests to me that I agree with tabs’ take on arseblogger’s post, I personally found it spot on.
And I need a stiff drink.
The Pimpernel is back – especially elusive today Ollie !
Here’s a large JD and Coke
@195 CG and 217Lars and 218 TAB – for me, you are all right
But finally AW has not been able to adapt the squad to outscore the opposition in any way that might emulate the way Sir Bob, Denis, Thierry etc were able to all those years ago(!)
It comes back to his lack of ability to find a Plan B to overcome packed defences
For me Cesc has been a shadow of the player who could look up and find a telling ball over round and through defences, and I accept any combination of reasons why that is. I am impressed by Jack beginning to play that way, and hope that Aaron will follow suit
Chammy scored well when he got good service in the early season and Theo likewise in mid season, but they both have not been given the right service, and therefore not scored often enough of late
NB has been put on the wing which is not his position (didnt we say also that Theo would do better as central striker..), and Sami has likewise been played out of position (attacking mid fielder for me)
Our squad size has been reasonable for our budget with a parsimonious AW (tight wad if you want) doing a good job of managing funds to aid the club reduce its debt, but I think that he has spent too much time on finance and long-term issues and not enough on thinking about short-term solutions to scoring problems
Time for a creamy glass of the black stuff methinks
(BTW thanks ‘holic and ‘holics for a thought provoking season)
Thanks tabs, just what the doctor ordered!
*sigh* I get all fired up and post my ideas then people come along with well-reasoned arguments contradicting mine that I find it very hard to disagree with. Austrian Gooner, TS and takeabowson, you are the reasonable talkers I mean.
But look. We agree that the build-up play is like watching people run through treacle. What happened to our rapier-thrust counter attacks? Yes I know, Man U, Chelsea, Barca, but how many other games besides? I’m not implying there aren’t any others, but that that aren’t that many.
I don’t want to go on because it’s all been covered, and it’s true what’s said that AW is a quality manager, but when in the last 3 seasons have we seen the team find a way past teams of cloggers who play 10 men behind the ball and just sit in the box? Not that often. Our manager never changes the system and the simple fact is, it’s pretty easy to play against us. Slow attacking, sideways passing, oh and no defensive organisation at set pieces.
CG – dont think you’ll find many disagreeing with you about the ponderous build up play or the rigidity of formation .The first is i think due to the complete haemorraging of confidence since the newcastle and Birmingham games and the absence/ loss of form of Fab since stoke at home .
As regards the second i hope AW becomes more flexible , as he was in the first 12 years of his reign .
Have a pint .
Camberwell @ #224
Cheers. I think I posted earlier that the most painful thing for me to watch on Sunday was the s-l-o-w and ponderous build-up to our attacks esp. as lightning quikc counters are often our trademark. Perhaps we should all be kinder and put a little of it down to end-of-season fatigue???
tabs @ #219
Perhaps it might be more expedient to just accept delivery. I’m sure there’ll be a bar at the wrong end of the S.Sisters road where we could off-load said MC at a bargian price. I know a twitchy geezer always looking for a deal π
Lars @ #217
Compelling stuff! Your day job must surely involve some kind of research and analysis function. Please have a Boddies on my tab.
PS for Lars:
“….We donβt have an equivalent of the Pires-Vieira-Ljungberg-Bergkamp-Henry core today….”
Not quite as good as the above but Theo Van Nasregas, when playing together and firing on all their cylinders, is a pretty awesome combination too, no?
TS – Ha ha – a very good solution – tell the twitchy one that the MC has already been in his bar before and been a failure – he pays top dollar and we make a profit – a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ! – ( metaphors care of Baldrick )
We have sunk so low on the evolutionary scale that we have to root for fucking Stoke.
tabs
Double heh! Pull a fast one on Twitchy? That’s madder than Mad Jock McMad, winner of last year’s Mr.Mad Competition π
Suck it up SR, suck it up!
Alternatively, save yourself the gruesome pain, accept 4th and a CL qualifier in August(?) and hope that Pubis and The Monsters get another beating tonight.
Support St*ke? I’d rather stick my c*ck into a Glaswegian, ecoli infested bacon slicer.
PS: If you ask tabs nicely, he may have re-filled the ‘green tin’ by now. That will help you to chill π
heh TS when needs must . This is the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a Sticky Bun ! ( last one , i promise ) .
The green tin fully restocked and back in its usual ” hiding ” place . you might need to give SR the key TS .
tabs,
Damn, I forgot the ‘sticky’ one! Baldrick? The cocker spaniel please….
Good news about the green tin though.
SR the key are yours but please pass it around π
Another PS: 7amko has a good post today. Plenty of balance and perspective IMHO.
Hey Zico, let me know if there’s any room for some California homegrown in your little tin- I’m happy to top it off for everyone.
Pondering some of the many observations and suggestions put forward so far, i actually am finding myself wondering if we really do need a strong DM. If in fact we had two, terrifyingly strong CBs, could we not run with Cesc, Nasri, and Wilshere/Ramsey through the middle, Cesc tending to sit deeper than the other two pulling the strings? If we included a wide-let player that had pace scoring ability as well? I agree wholeheartedly that our attack has become stale. Passing in and of itself is not exhilarating to watch- it’s movement that has an incisive moment that is captivating, and deadly to the opposition. I think Cesc sitting a bit deeper, Nasri attacking more directly, and a left-sided player somewhere between an Henry and a ‘first 6 months at Arsenal Asharvin’ would spice things up. There were times earlier this season actually that finally reminded me of the Invincibles- not specifically their ‘Invicibility’ but a free-flowing game that was brutally functional. Long story short, I just wonder if Vermalaen were partnered with someone equally (or more so) fierce and steady, whether the need to remove Cesc from the deep role would be as pressing…
Thanks for the thought experiment, Holic. Pint of Guinness, if you will.
PIK
All donations for the GT gratefully accepted. BTW, it’s the original property of Dr.C but things can get confusing in here, that’s for sure.
I’d still go for another strong DM once we’ve sorted the CB issues – remember, we’ve only got one Song….
TS – Lord blackadder himself … cocker spaniel ?
PIK – now you’re talking , no need to go via the MC with that little beauty – pull up a chair and I’ll go fetch my pipe …
PIK,
How could you possibly refuse such an offer? Please make sure it’s a comfy chair and well away from any windows, this could be a long night. Enjoy…
Rooting for Stoke calls for massive investment in the beer industry, good job I bought some Carling shares before I went to the offy.
bravo lars ! those two myths you busted can be added to the collection with the rest of them like “wenger inheritted the invincibles from graham” and i agree 100%. however you end your fine arguement with a question..what causes these injuries? …maybe the physical demands of the epl are for body types which are fully formed and not still during development. when most our players have started playing as early as 16 17 18 19 20 21 in the worlds toughest physical (fitness-wise and brutality-wise) league isnt that quite normal? also our game isnt it a bit to alien to the barbaric football culture of the stokes birmis and rest of em ? complexic gits of 30 and 32 years of age come out to kick a bunch of kids cause its funny to laugh at wenger;s project with his soft players ( and the refs are even worse ..they are 45 and close to 50 and still get on the pitch to punish arsenal players for playing football) ……or because we are too fast and technical for them ? a combination of both for sure. also in the case of fabregas ..the boy had a serious injury last year in liverpool game with alonso ..came back wobblng in fact rushed back cause without him arsenal was finnished and wenger knows this..played against barca ..broke his foot..recovered with injections and chemicals in order not to miss the world cup , went to s. africa till end june or whatever …missed preseason training and has been plagued with hamstring injuries ever since…eh he is not bionic he is only human. i say that part of our injuries are the result of unnecessary aggression and cheating from all those neanderthals who can not accept that a bunch of kids can beat them at football and as such reply to their football with kicks elbows and a mentality which does not belong in football or sports ..unless youre playing rugby or cage fighting, kickbox one of those. and due to the fact that wenger can not let fabregas out 5 months out to recover he will rush them back seeing how desperately they are needed and that combined with their young age and not fully formed frames holds us back. but where are the civilised people to draw a line and say “right gentlemen wtf is going on here.?.wtf are u doing smashing kids legs and we as press /f.a or whatever football authority/body to sit there and laugh at them and mock wenger and call them soft” this is a disgrace. as if its not enough having robinsons and whichever else idiot chasing our players around around to tackle them with studs out challenges ..we also got the refs who let them go unpunished ..and then we;ve got the press and the f/a mocking our right to equal competition without putting safety of players at risk. is wenger;s football ideology to good for a culture that accepts leg breaks in a professional sport as an occupational hazzard ? a risk players take they say…theyre paid loads of money they say…thats what football is about they say….i beg to differ. football is a technical game that relies on precission, movement and control of tempo. everything else is for the sams pulis and mourinhos who see football as an arena to release their complexic nature and set up teams to destory calling it tactics ..tactics my @ss ..any jerk can instruct 11 players to sit back and kick and waste time and infuriate opponent..thats teh easy part in football..the difficult part is to create…something mr special cant even do with players worth 450 million …
takeabowson, thanks for your reply ..yes my posts are long perhaps im going mental reading all these negatives things for a club that gives so much back. yes results havent favoured us lately but no other team gives me the pride this arsenal does…they create their own players own football and they do it all on their own because they have a manage who CAN DO IT ..and not a manager who needs 300 million to create football teams. we are modern ajax, we lack their fine history and success of course. but i guess youve got to start from somewhere dont you ? lets see where we are in 10 20 years time and see what people say then about wenger.
i have reread your post and im glad we agrre on most points , in the part where we depart i note you talking about a systematic weakness in spending money that was there. i thought tht the systematic weakness you first mentioned had to do with the players ability thats why i replied as them being still young and immature. sorry my bad ..so if i get this straight the complain ( if i can call it such) is that money was there and we could have used it but we didnt.
as for not being good enough without the ball…he he he … arsene does nto teach them such things …when the team is finely tuned and players play as they should the opponent never touches the ball :)) . so in a way ..not having the ballis unknown territory for them. they have to learn to retain possesion like barca;s pressing but its new to them ..with time theyll get better.
as for set pieces ..sorry but the english refs are a bit clueless…in manchester the linesman gave a penalty because nani kicked the ball on clichys arm which was used by clichy to balance while he was falling…they give fouls to song which simply arent fouls..refs put our opponents back in the game alwasy..they did it with newcastle too. we blame diabby ( i dont know why) and noone speaks about the crimes of that referee who was so biassed and partial it was criminal. where is the dein figure to protect the team the manager and our players from the refs biass and the media? where is the club spokesman who will take the heat of the team? where is the club person who will defend us against them rotten scum who come out to break our players legs? where is the club spokesman to put every journalist muppet who mocks insults and offends our team manager and player at his place? nowhere to be seen ……
also set piece defenidn is all about communication..all the big teams that have won stuff ..their defence were people who played to gether for long years who knew eachother who had massive expereince and who could essentially communicate faster and with better results ..when rio and vds nod to eachother its a bit diferent than chesney and djourou isnt it?
as for the centre half our team cried for but didnt get …wasbnt vermaellen the defender to fill the role of organiser leader cajoler ? he got injured and lost the season what can we do? does that mean that wenger should have gone out and buy somebody else in january? is that what we are gonna do? buy new players when ours get injured? these things are mad. mad people do such things like roman the saudis and perez certainly not arsene wenger who is a technocrat and holds degree in economics and speaks five languages and can solve the world financial crisis instead o f wasting his time with 11 athletes kicking a football
i hope what you say is truth in your final paragraphs and that the serious and logical people will prevail aganst the ones who want to sack our most succesful ever manager ..but what a fan wants to see and what club can do are two seperate things. if the fan can not see that his club can not do what he expects them to do then he cant demand stuff and disguise it as constructive criticism asking for change. the way i see it this team should be more appreciated and our own fans should encourage our players and not boo them and walk away. after all those kids are busting their legs for the club.
Let’s face it: Stoke are already in Europe, so Pulis’ll be delighted it they lose this game, if only because it’s detrimental to Arsenal.
I’ve just switched the telly on then off because I saw the score π
Come on, Stoke, prove me wrong.
So Stoke lasted 7 minutes.
Sigh, 4th place, CL qualification, pre-season shot to fuck, and far harder to convince all the Β£30m players we were gonna buy to come to the Emirates.
Heh, the MC has become the GT. π
On the other hand Reading just scored against Cardiff
GT? Gravy Train?
On the positive side, SR, a possible European sunny summer trip?
OK, I’m stretching it, really don’tt want that one.
Much more enjoyable game to watch as I hate both MC and those cun*s from Stoke
Ollie come done now please, who’s got the keys to the medicine cabinet?
No Ollie – the HT is STILL the HT.
But the medicine cabinet has morphed into the green tin. π
Ask Storey, he’ll explain.
Fuck Stoke btw. Fuck em all.
Up the Arsenal!
Ollie,
Sunny trip to Munich? Oh dear π
Ollie the GT – Green tin – is Dr C’s personal stash hidden at the back of the MC – tut – keep up dear boy !
JET is playing tonight for Cardiff. 2 goals this season. Probably not gonna get Β£10m for him this summer.
As I said: ‘too many posts, too long’ π
Cheers for the help. I like the GT idea.
Hmmmm, OK, SR, can we keep that one until the Oktoberfest? π
TS: no, my job does not involve statistical research and analysis, but I do enjoy compiling such stuff when I feel that it may support my arguments π
And that Boddies went down well. It’s taken until about now to recover from Sunday, though…
SR
He doesn’t look that good to be honest with you, even though Cardiff had most of the possesion they are now two nil down, shambles defending in the box penalty for Reading!
Something reminds me of our lads too much fucking about no end product!
And that 4th place makes me want to cry ……..
Have to admit, this is probably a record day in holic land for number of lines posted. Too much for my limited intellect.
Stone Roses: pre-season shot to fuck? Why? The qualifiers are played when the league season has already started, it’s not like we play these games in July. It doesn’t affect the pre-season at all.
And while I absolutely do not want to have to qualify, let’s not make it worse than it is. Yes, we might be really unlucky and be drawn against a difficult team but it is far more likely that we will play a team that we will beat without too much bother.
Yes, it can get confusing in here. Often, it’s my fault. Tabs and zico your explanation of MCs and GTs is spot on.
SR, told you not to waste your anguish on those mealy mouthed c*nts from The Potteries. They’ll happily lose if it means they help Citeh into third. Like zico says, f*ck ’em all! BTW, if you had to buy beer shares, could you not have chosen a brand other than Carling π
I’m with Ollie, the oppty for a nice summer jaunt into Europe to ensure CL qualification. Germany? Even better.
ATG, good to see you back in here.
Sure I read somewhere today that the qualifying round is seeded – meaning we can’t get drawn against Bayern for example.
Maybe I just imagined it – really need to stay away from the green tin….
SR @ 256 – we got up to to 500+ drinks in one post earlier in the season
No zico, you’re absolutely correct. We’re all going on a summer holiday…..
TS
Throw myself upon the mercy of the court, and plead guilty to the Carling. I admit I am a cultural philistine π
Eurostar for the Happy Train – they won’t know what’s hit ’em π
zico, the draw was seeded last year but I have been told that they will not be this season. I am currently trying to find information on uefa.com if that really is the case. Will report back if I find anything.
Yeah, we could get Paris, zico π
/LazyOllie
Thanks TS
I’m always around dont you worry π
I join you and Zico on this one, fuck them all! I can’t be bothered to watch that game anyway!
I would rather not to play that qualifier to be honest with you, but if we must we must!
Man , PIK’s californian is good , pull up a chair SR , better than that Carling take-out ,
Think we should take the field next season in psychedelic kit , and find room in the side for Bill Clinton ( leadership ) , a semi- tame cheetah ( pace ) , and Lady Ga Ga for that little bit of Je ne sais que
JET had a bad game! He just got subbed
OK, found it: yes, the draw IS seeded. Anyone saying otherwise is wrong. This is from uefa.com:
“The five clubs with the best coefficient will be seeded and drawn against the other five clubs reaching this stage from the third qualifying round.”
This means that we can NOT be drawn against Bayern Munich becuase there will not be four teams other than us with a higher ranking. The teams in the play-off are as follows:
1. English No 4 (most likely us, that is)
2. Villarreal
3. Serie A team no 4
4. Bayern Munich
5. French No 3
6-10. Winners of the third-round qualifiers
Note that this is also the ranking with, of course, teams 6-10 still not known. But no team from the qualifers can outrank the top five.
http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=1627566.html
By the way, those fucking pottery cloggers are doing their best to let Man City improve their goal difference. 3-0 now.
nice one , Lars – phew .
Apologies ‘holics.
New post planned this evening, but just back from hospital as management has been admitted again. Hopefully just a precaution and I’ll be back tomorrow. Everything crossed here.
Sorry, but carry on the great debate. You lot are awesome. Thank you.
Well, no trip to Paris then, didn’t think they could be seeded. Thanks for the research, Lars!
Fingers crossed, ‘holic, all the best to the management.
Good work Lars
Good luck Mr Holic, thoughts etc…
Best wishes ‘Holic
All the best to Management from here Holic!
Sorry to hear that, ‘Holic. Best wishes and fingers crossed here.
It is very sobering when something happens that makes one realise it’s all shit apart from what really matters.
God bless the management.
Qualifiers it is then but not many even gave us that chance at the end of last season and we have never had too much trouble getting through them. I know its not done and dusted but be prepared and all that. Maybe we can encorporate it in to the Emirates cup or tell them we will me them in Austria behind the ski sheds..would make it handy.. Well done Reading by the way am sure trips to Wales would not be up anyones street next season so hope they do it in the final. Hope all works out ok Holic..
Best wishes from me too, Holic.
Sorry to hear that ‘Holic – hope everything is ok.
All the best to the management Holic
Wow, sobering indeed, Holic. Wish you all the best!
Funny how 3 months ago we were the only genuine challengers to united and the title was in our own hands. Now we are happy with 4th? How does that happen?
Holic, very best wishes.
Steve T, who exactly is ‘happy’ with 4th? While I am by no means a glory-hunter 1st or nothing fan, I have to say that this talk about ‘everyone said we wouldn’t even be 4th so we’ve done better than expected’ is hugely suspect to me, as the only reason in my mind that we were written out of the top 4 was due to Arsene’s lack of strengthening in areas of obvious need, primarily CB and GK. And, amongst other valuable variables, had we signed quality players into those two positions, there is VERY LITTLE argument that we would be higher on the table, and maybe have a trophy (or 2) in the cabinet.
Which, secondarily, brings me to: how is it prudent business to save a few million pounds on a signing (Xavi Alonso, Reina, Schwarzer, buying Squilliaqi) and lose out on the MANY more millions earned through performing better in the league? I understand it is a gamble as $ spent doesn’t DIRECTLY translates into trophies won, but surely even financial prudence would have seen us sign those two needed players at the beginning of the season to secure/ increase our fanbase/ popularity/ success on the pitch, all of which have revenue-affecting outcomes?
Ok, ok. Puff puff pass….
The Guardian is reporting that we’re open to offers for arshavin.
The report seems fairly certain, although I guess it would be unusual for us to be so transparent re: our transfer dealings.
Mixed emotions – he wasn’t at the top of my list to go, but he is hugely frustrating to watch and he’s probably exacty the kind of player we can’t afford to carry any more on the days he doesn’t feel like it.
Anyway, I guess we’ll see if there’s any legs in it. Hopefully it might mean we bring in an honest to god left winger to replace him.
I hope the Cali green didn’t put everyone to sleep on here!
Hope all is well ‘holic….please come back with good news soon
If AA goes he’s got himself to blame….a very expensive passenger with questionable dedication to fitness. Amazing talent and equally amazing lack of application. Never liked the signing due to his price/age/fitness and having done it in a ‘lesser league’. Of course he had his moments but not enough of them.
Jesus. Just noted that the report concludes by stating that wenger isn’t expected to make any big name signings and is focusing his scouting on France and Africa (as usual).
It also adds that if Clichy goes he has faith in the ability of Gibbs to step up and fill the void.
If this is what’s coming out of the club (and that’s a big if) then it doesn’t sound too promising, I have to say.
Sreve T. No one is happy about it but am all out of pent up negativity at moment. 5 months of it is enough one dismal week after another…Am moving on and looking forward to what happens in the close season which is when this season will be truly exorcised I expect
PIK still here but have gone on many a wondrous adventure – thanks for the trip !
Tim – you sum up perfectly my view of AA .
N7 – worrying but the ” if ” , as you say , is an almighty big one .
N7Gooner
soon , with hahalf of the team some sort mis-match arsene bought from garage sales , I am not surprise by this time of next year , we will be fighting relegation .
remember , a year or two ago , we get sylvestre on the cheap and we get result on the cheap
this year , the same story , we get SQ18 on the cheap and we get result on the cheap .
the denilson , bendtner ,eboue is not the exception , it is the norm of this club , yes we play beautiful footbal like the harlem globe trotter , soon we will be the arsenal globe trotter
Up the management!
Takeabowson, what did you pass to Montreal!? He’s tanking quick! Get Dr.C in here to find a lift for Montreal- he just turned our current drop from 1st to 4th into a free fall to the 3rd Division! Next maybe I can play against the mighty Arsenal in my pub league!
‘Holic
Sorry for the news, best wishes to The Management. You have mail if you have time/inclination to read it. Take care…
PIK – not guilty m’lud – but I’ve heard there’s some pretty strong stuff in the Northern Territories !
PIK at 285. Your second paragraph hits the nail smack on the bonce for me. Something I have been saying for the last 12 months. It is not rocket science is it. All signings are a gamble to a certain degree but you have to trust those in charge to get the majority of the decisions right. Basic economics, a company is only as strong as its assets. Speculate to accumulate etc.
Sorry boys but I am still mightily pissed off. Massively pissed off in fact.
Holic,
A little word or two to simply say: I hope all goes well…!
Apologies all but just had to try and grab a 300th drink.
Awesome session toninght lads, thanks for the laughs and the info π
TS – Back of the net – as Alan Partridge might have said !
‘Holic, I don’t know how you managed to write that post so soon after such a crushing disappointment.
Numb is a word often used in this set of drinks, and I still am.
I stayed for the lap of appreciation, refused as ever to boo, and left completely demoralised. Maybe I expected too much of the lap of whatever, but not even then could the squad manage to walk round with a bit of togetherness.
Just as they alight the team bus before matches, more concerned with their enormous headphones than with each other, so they ambled around the lap of appreciation ridiculously spread out, with some almost seemingly unaware of those of us who, despite everything, had remained behind.
A worrying performance on the pitch and acrimony between club and fans off it, left me wondering on the journey home if I have ever felt so disconnected from the club I have loved since my first game at 8 years of age.
Actually, it didn’t leave me wondering at all.
Other comments can wait until next week, other than to say that there are some good posts on here and it’s maybe unfair to single out Clive Waterman, but I will anyway.
Top stuff Clive – over and over again.
Anything in that medicine cabinet for depression ?
raulduke13
the empty kettle makes the most noise. frankly i can’t be bothered to read through the rest of your essay because i got to this bit and realised you have no idea about the fundamentals of football economics, or indeed footballl most likley
“but nobody has stopped to think that fergieβs club is one billion in debt, plus fergie has a legacy of 25 years to protect , of course he will spend and wont mind saddling his club on further debt for the immediate NOW”
where to start ? well that legacy didn’t fall off the trees – he built it. we once had a legacy ; when he went there we had more titles than united and now look at us ? united are at latest estimate 490 million in debt (not a billion , but hey you were close). united is probably the only club in the world that makes significant money from football activities. they have 130m approx in bank some of which i suspect they are saving for runs at a keeper, schneijder etc this summer. they paid very little for ronaldo really (and sold him for 80m) so why knock that ?
as i have said time and time again on this blog, united have developed a winning culture that runs from the commercial side (they were mocked for this 20 years ago and now expect to make 100m this year and all others are running to get even half way there) through to the groundsman (the pitch now rivals ours – for years it was a disgrace and i believe ferguson send a team around the world looking at various stadia until they got it right) . the team of course embodies this; 3 champions league finals in 4 years and even the might barca can’t rival that. wenger deludes himself that we are even close to them as my brother in law reminds me every time i see him
raul duke
out of interest i am going through the rest of your piece now . you are hilarious – for 40 years we only had one double. we were only the second team EVER to win the double – that was a huge thing in 1971. you say we were nothing through to the 80s – we held the record number of titles and until ferguson came along we were comfortably second. you don’t know much about football and nothing at all about our proud heritage. the world didn’t begin with sky and the premier league you know.
raulduke13
forgot to add that united’s debt was put in place by the owners when they bought it – effectively they borrowed against the club’s assets to buy it and use the club;s revenue streams to pay it off. not unusual in business but footyball fans (rightly) get very emotional abouyt it. not one penny of that debt relates to football activities which is why it will all be ignored by the new eufa rules.
people (like you) bang on about how much united spend on players but they have earned every single penny of that so good luck to them, if we had the balls we might spend some to earn some and thereby get the cycle going. but no, we do it on the cheap. well that is ok if you are blackpool and pay 10k pm max but we then pay these numpties top wages. we have the 3rd highest wage bill in the league so lets pretend we have no money – we just spend it badly.
TS @300 That is shocking, bald-faced numerology of the very lowest sort. Thing is, odd numbers are quite nice when you give them a chance. π
3-0-7th…..our new formation for home matches next season…..
Fingers crossed and best wishes ‘holic
Some excellent posts above…
Lars, good research on the myth busting invincibles revelation and the UEFA seeding info. Thanks.
TS,tabs et al- Good stuff lifting spirits in the bar
I doubt there is any Old Monk Indian Rum available in this bar, so I may need to send a shipment for the bar in HT Mk2?
Speaking of, when does the construction of the new HT actually begin?
I’ll just pour myself a coffee for now
Now after seeing yesterdays game, i have come to only one conclusion, firstly that’s how easy it should be beat stoke city, and that the wining of silverware is a real boost to one team, and the loosing of it in the cup final is an utter moral killer..
You could see the difference yest, for the first time i saw carlos tevez happy and smiling, saw Kompany play like a man possessed, compare that to stoke city who never really troubled Hart, otherwise for sure city would not have won this fixture, at the best would been a draw..
And if you look at our boyz, the entire downfall has started since that carling cup final, and to add to that the blunder which led to it, i am sorry but wenger has to be at fault here for not being able to lift the team after that…
Good morning all,
Firstly, who’s going to be a Bolton supporter on Sunday afternoon?
tabs @ #301,
A-ha and are you a mentalist? π
Trev @ #302,
Chin-up son, many of us battling with the same emotions in here. Try the GT, it’s the new MC don’t you know. If that doesn’t work, there’s always Clive to help keep us going.
‘nasri ‘ #306,
No, it was shameless.
Tim @ #307,
Great idea! I can predict 5-5 draws all season long but how exciting? π
Harsha @ #308,
Recommend you send that bottle of rum in now. The building of HT Mk II could take a while π
Sure TS, I’m on it. I must warn you though, it is the most local brand of alcohol you will ever get to experience π
PS:Today’s arseblog is one of the best I have read. Cheered me up no end.
BTW ‘Holics,
If you want laugh this morning to lift the (4th placed) spirits, look no further than Mr.Blogs. I wonder who his article might be aimed at???
Sorry Harsha we crossed…. great minds and all that.
Want a great start to the day? Read Arseblog – absolute comedy gold.
Hope you don’t mind the plug Holic.
Heh TS π
Eden Hazard-like killed me! Too funny
Sorry – didn’t realise you guys got there before me !
If only our defence could be as telepathic as we ‘Holics.
OK, no more sniping from me today. Maybe I should crawl back inside the GT? It’s so safe and cosy in there…
IDONTKNOW ANYMORE
what do u mean friend ?
‘where to start ? well that legacy didnβt fall off the trees β he built it. we once had a legacy ; when he went there we had more titles than united and now look at us ?’
yes my friend he has been building that legacy the past 25 years ..wenger started 4-5 years ago
as for arsenal;s legacy prior to wenger …dont blame arsene ..it was those superhero drunks who couldnt continue that supreme legacy
united was investing and building and arsenal was a bunch of dysfunctional alcoholics with no fkn hope. finishing 10 and 12th with schwarz in midfield.
united commercialises its tragic accidents in thrid world countries where they aint got shoes to wear and arsenal was in fkn highbury trying to get vieira and petit on a free. what they have built took time and a hell of a lot of investment …sorry that your /our arsenal wasnt an attractive investment prior to wenger;s management.
united won the league and went to the finals and had to sell ronaldo for 90 in order not to show losses of -60……….. and where do u get that their remiaing debt is only 450 million…pik payments last november mean sh*t ..they havent even paid the interest…
united is also seen as the flagship for the english premier league to promote its country;s football (since the national squad is pants) …so i ask you who will the governing authorities ‘assist’ ? the team with a abckbone of brittish players or the team of the foreigners ? or are you as naive to think that ‘interests and favours’ have no place in an industry as dodgy as football ?
as for their commercialism ..you have got to be kidding …they are milking the traggic deaths of their heroes to make money and you like that? sorry mate i dont want my arsenal to whore themselves to dubai philipines or whetever for 5m a game and sell lunchboxes with rooneys face on it …
as for their winning mentality …theyve got a dictator scotsman there if you havent noticed who kicks boots in players faces and barks at them like a drill sargeant ..we are a bit more sophisticated than a bunch of peasants thank you very much …we dont force our players to perform we create the conditions for their talent to flourish and if theyre good enough they will win if not we will still be there next year …for them things are different ..if they dont have success they go bust ..thats why they spend like maniacs and thats why they have no problem putting their club assets at risk ….we dont have to do that…
and lets see where united is without ferguson in 190 years time and where arsenal will be
you lot have a nasty habbit of thinking that football is only about the now …forget the now ..as a club youre way too small to compete with them …therefore you prepare and wait for the time to strike …so i ask you ..who is better prepared to take advantage ?
when united were building they were on their own here …arsenal and qwenger have to factor in city chelsea totnehm and liverpool ….
one double in forty years mean sh*t my friend …arsenal was never the type of team that was challenging for three or 4 titles every year ..you got that with arsene since he upgraded the whole menatlity of arsenal and where we should be.
and these numpties , our players, the ones you mock …are way too young to be cirtisised by a bunch of amateurs who havent worked a single day in football
*10 years time
raulduke’s posts seem awfully similar to ones which were being posted yesterday on the arses..
“and lets see where united is without ferguson in 190 years time and where arsenal will be”
I mean, what’s your point really? If you can sum it up in a couple of meaningful sentences…
who the hell are you to say i dont know much
from what i see in england you people aint got a fkn clue how to support your team
you aint even got a clue what position our club is in
you lot think that building the emirates meant buying kakas and ronaldos ………
well weve got to pay for that first
others have sugardaddies to pay for their mess…we dont ..
secondly you dont even know hoe the manager of arsenal works you havent understood what he is about and yet you want to critisise him
its simple…arsenal has been upgraded from just another london club into a world known football brand with world class facilities and as such has become more international
just cause some of you cant identify with what the club has become dont mean you can throw your toys out the pram and blast our manager and players
if you havent figured out what their plan is then dont comment
they have a lookout to 15 and 20 years ..they have prepared the team to abide to all financial and homegrown uefa regulations..what have the rest done? gone to the supermarket and spent their last credit ….in 2012 the expenditures end for all those muppets who are driving themselves to bankrupcy in order to defeat arsene;s wilshere cesc and eboues ….
yeah harsh you got a problem …that person says that we need to be civil and then comes out swearing when you expose him as a know nothing t…..w……..t
Lars,
Re: CL Qualification. Here it is on pravda.com:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/champions-league-what-if-we-finish-fourth-
I prefer your version π
my point ? that we should kneel at wenger;s feet for keeping us where we are with a bunch of kids and semi crippled russians at a club with no money that just went through its bigger transition in its history
and
that if people arent prepared to judge arsenal with a lookout to the managerial futuristic and dveelopment perspective then they shouldnt even comment.
and
that we are stiil at embruo stage a s anew club to be comparing ourselves to united barcas whateververs who have had a 25 and 40 year jumpstart to what we re doing
we have just started ..they are miles ahead …yet they need to put their fkn assets as collateral to defeat eboue almu8nia chesney fabregas and walcott
and you lot complain ??? hahaha
raulduke & IDKA
Whilst the boss is away and possibly tending to urgent family matters (see above) would you mind upholding the code of the bar and keeping things on a friendly and non-abusive level?
Pretty please and thankyou both in advance.
arseblog cheered me up.jardin warning heh.
I think citeh will draw at bolton.But you can’t really expect us to win at fulham can u?
well sorry man but some people are far too offensive with the things they imply
i haven offended anyone im talking about my arsenal and i get people who dont even know what arsenal is doing telling me that i dont know much …..
our team is on a different path than the rest ..PERIOD ..either our fans understand that or they dont ..those who dont understand it shouldnt even comment. its that simple
we have just built a stadium, we never had money , we were never a rich club and we are slowly slowsly and methodically and at a very low risk building our empire. and we have started from sctrach with a bunch of babies who still need a couple of years to mature as characters
in the meantime we support them !!! not blast them and swear at them like ungreatful muppets
because in the end of the day those teams that beat us have to ourspend us a by couple fo hundred millions and others have to place their assets as collateral in order to defeat wilshere and eboue….
yet people dont see it that way ….
WHY?
our football when applied by world class players and world beaters ( petit vieira henry gilberto etc etc) not only wins titles but breaks records. this football is pure wengerball….but when this wengerball is applied by clichy who just started shaving and wilshere and song who are still babies it will take time
so stop complaing and moaning and support our team
the stadium is an embarassment ..fans go there and sit down as if they are in the opera ..one stray pass and they boo …..that is pathetic im sorry.
you need to see the real ‘bad scenarios’ in other teams before yout hink you can complain
and in the end of the day .all the complains come down to two things
a) that wenger is to sensible with the financial management of things
b) and that he has faith in his young players who havent even peaked yet
if you put it all down you will arrive at these two things ..these are the complains …that he dont spend much and that he believes in his players way too much
ive heard it all i think … a manager being critisised by his own fans for having faith in his players and being sensible with the club;s money
its crazy ..sort yoursleves out
raulduke
could you please send me the prescription for what you are taking because the rainy days would go by much faster if we were on that.
i don’t know when you started following football but it seems post sky.
here are some facts
– arsenal has a very long and proud tradition. until the premier legaue started we had the 2nd most titles and won the title under the old first division in 1991 – the epl started in august 1993.. maybe those bozos and drunks were better than you thought.
– until sky came and threw money at the game clubs didn’t have much money. it was a game run by and for the benefit of relatively wealthy families that had been associated with the club for many many years. very wealthy foreigners started buying clubs very recently (abramovich really started it in 2006 – maybe after you were born ?)
the big clubs all have a legacy in terms of true tradition and pride whether they have won something recently or not . united had only won a few cups between 1968 and 1993 – unthinkable now but true.
ferguson started at united in 1986. won an fa cup in 1990, european cup winners cup in 1991 league cup in 1992 and then kicked on. and on and on. many people say that wenger has had too long yet ferguson didn’t win the league for 7 years. he did however win trophies during that time.
wenger joined arsenal in 1996 ten years later. his success came much more quickly – some people say that he inherited a better situation ( league had been won relatively recently and the fa cup in 93 and 94) but his success came more quickly than ferguson’s .
that’s the history lesson. now for your nonsense
it is clear that ferguson at best had a 10 year start over wenger. the concern is that wenger seems to be getting further away
united don’t have sugardaddies – far from it. the way the glazers financed the acquisition has sucked money from the club (as i think stan will from arsenal). some estimate as much as 300m that might have gone on transfers in past 6 years has been paid to the glazers’ banks.
the only teams that are likely to pass the new rules are united and arsenal. as i said united’s debt has nothing to do with football – it financed the price that the glazer’s paid for the club. just like when you buy a house (when you are old enough). the money with which you buy the house is given to you by the bank and they secure it on the house. that money didn’t build the house – it is a loan so that the previous owners can get paid. do you understand that ?
where did i get the united debt ? well in this country we have accounts and every business must publish them every year. in those accounts there is a number that relates to debt, you know with the internet this stuff really isn’t that hard.
and as for commercial activities – it is a fact that every club in the world is running very fast to catch up with united. your pride of arsenal in this is endearing (well, sort of) but misplaced. we gave the naming rights of our stadium – i for one wish it was still highbury or something to dow with our tradtion. have you looked in our store recently ?
http://onlinestore.arsenal.com/browse/household?ex=co_wizr-locayta&collate=ivtype&collate=price&collate=pcatid&collate=colour&collate=department&collate=gender&collate=bagstyle&collate=brand&collate=author&collate=format&collate=edition&collate=occasion&collate=cardformat&collate=event&collate=size&collate=metal&collate=language&collate=necktype&collate=sleevelength&collate=duration&collate=acctype&collate=cardformat&collate=footballsize&collate=glovestyle&collate=glovessize&collate=headwsize&collate=headwstyle&collate=imagesize&collate=imagetype&collate=jackettype&collate=jewelltype&collate=clothesstyle&collate=mediaformat&collate=subscriptype&collate=stationarytype&collate=toystype&sortpdxtmanualsort=ascending&sortorder=pdxtmanualsort&fieldinvt=type&termtextinvt=invt&typeinvt=exact&fieldpcatid=pcatid&typepcatid=exact&termorder=invt%3Apcatid&template=wz_locayta&pagenum=1&perpage=10&threshold=1&spellcorrect=1&datasource=afcen&setpagenum=2
lunchbag/toothbrush ? even shoes !!
so you don’t agree with us going to malaysia and china this summer ? you think this is for charitable purposes ?
grow up. and when you do, send that prescription
“Because those teams that beat us outspend by millions”
What, like Stoke and Bolton?
Thank you TS.
raulduke13, or birbi, or whatever you want to call yourself today, I asked you yesterday not to abuse good people you haven’t met and couldn’t possibly know.
Today you carry on with a disrespectful tirade. You may be making valid points from your standpoint, but that doesn’t mean you are right and others are wrong. We debate here, not bully.
Take your bombast off to a more suitable site where bickering and abuse is acceptable. I won’t have it here.
Hurrah , well done ‘Holic , safe to come in again .
Had two go’s yesterday to calm him down and recognise merit in all sides of the Gooner debate but sadly failed .
When the third spell-check free , syntax void , missive of abuse came in , I decided to adjourn to the altogether more thrilling prospect of watching Holby City under the influence of PIK’s californian green .
Well done Harsha and IDKA for having a go , but some are beyond redemption .
Hope everything at home is ok , ‘Holic .
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/champions-league-what-if-we-finish-fourth-
Sorry no time to check if it’s a repost or anything, so to update on Lars’ post, it seems it’s a little more subtle:
we could still draw Paris if they finish 3rd π
So Ollie,
All back to yours after the match then? π
tabs @ #333
When I used the term ‘mentalist’ this morning wrt to your previous Alan Partridge post, I guess it was applicable in more directions than one π
Must be time for a lunchtime swifty?
if the points i make are valid then im right
if the points you lot make are not valid ( which is the case ) then yes you are wrong
if you dont like the way i express my disgust at watching arsenal fans threatening to destroy what we have then say so …but dont lie please..i have abused and offended nobody which is in contrast to the people here who want to give ‘lessons’ ……..
what lessons can an arsenal fan give to anyone ? lessons about arsenal;s history? lol what history are we talking about ..what tradition? …norwich and nottingham hambrug and porto have more european honours than arsenal . one double in 40 years …thats great tradition isnt it ? or are youtalking about an era whtn the league wasnt even a professional one…..
who lost the saragosa final with that spectacular manner ? with a lob from 40 meters out in the dying minutes of the game? was it chesney and konscielny ?
who missed the penalty with manunited and glatasaray? was it db10
who missed three one on ones in our most imprtant game of the century / was it the bombardeer thierry perhaps?
has this team lost 6-1 yet ? no not even with 16 yearolds
who messed it up with chelsea q/final in 04 ? was it cesc and eboue again ?
yet all we know to do is complain and moan and abuse our players and setting ultimatums to a professional like wenger
thats not right
perhaps he spoiled you in his early years and you thought its gonna be a piece of cake
well people back then we had 4 -5 players who were the best in their position. back then you had a french colony of tough mofos who had no problem fighting with rivals refs the whole establishment …
now we have children and wilsheres whom we aim to educate and create a soul for the club
and the fans boo them like idiots ……….. thats what sad …and not whether wenger can get reina for 25 million
who is stupid enought o waste 25 million for a goalkeeper ..thats liek throwing money into a bucket ..its like rent …no return
weaknesses ?
it goes without saying that arsenal will be weak till they repay their debt for the stadium
that is something each and everyone of you shuld have grasped the first day you set your foot in that jewel of a stadium.
what do u wnat arsen to say ?
‘forget about us for the next 15 years and come back when we recover again’
of course he will hype his players , of course he will keep the belief going, of course he will give diplomatic replies
Blimey! Name changed now?
this is perhaps the best manager in the epl FOR POINTS WON / MONEY SPENT RATIO and one of the greatest in the history of the game ( and hasnt even won the champions league yet) and a few myopic fans think they can critisise his work because according to them arsenal used to be rich in success history and tradition prior to his tenor …..BOLL…..KS as the english would say
we were a club going nowhere and this man gave us direction purpose and leadership and today you can go wherever you want in the world and people will know us ….20 years ago only the english knew about arsenal, the rest of the world was like ‘oh yeah i think ive heard of them ..they have the derby with totttneham dont they there’
now people hear arsenal and immediately you see their faces glow from pride and appreciation and recognition of the values that this frenchman has set down as a standard
we have a serious multiple identity here – can you not just block the IP addy Holic?
Some verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long posts on here today…I cant keep up
TS – I’ll neck a swift black one with you , but a more sustained drink may have to wait until the bouncers have sorted out the multiple named one .
Mentalist ? -I’m off to do a spot of DJing in Norwich .
Unfortunately zico, “serious multiple identity” doesn’t even begin to describe what’s going on here.
…. and no, the MC is not big enough to cope with this kind of abuse π
Why is there always one spoiling the fun of many?
he would get so much more attention elsewhere – you know where
Raul pachanka whoever.
Where do you sit at the grove? I take it you are a regular?
“if the points I make are valid then I am right.”
You can’t teach that……
pachanka, raulduke13, birbi, and whatever aliases you use.
Everybody has a right to be stupid, but you really are abusing that privilege.
Keep writing if you want, but you are wasting your time and mine.
A man depriving a village of its idiot.
” Norwich have more European honours than Arsenal … ”
The gems just keep coming …
Not sure Piraeus is a village, Steve π
Quite a trek for home games. The pillock could read up on his history on those long trips.
You have never been have you???????
Must confess I relied on others. I really could not be bothered to read all of that. Life is too short. I feel the man is nothing more than an oxygen thief. I would say he was a spud in disguise but at least he could type.
Actually fellas, I’m going to contradict my post @ #345
This ‘roll’n’butter’ is now providing us with much mirth.
Steve T, didn’t realise what a keen sense of humour you have. Oxygen thief was a classic! Has brightened my day no end π
Goodnight. Make sure the nice nurse tucks you in.
Holic. He made paulie sound positively learned.
Hope things are better at home.
TS. I thought whoever he was was great. Makes me realise how genuinely lucky I really am.
Steve T,
Lucky indeed. I did wonder at one time if he might have been Arsene’s mum but then my crap filter kicked-in and I realised that he’s probably had a bad day at school or possibly the hospital and might have even burnt one down. So much anger from one so small….
TS. To be honest I just switched off.
‘holic, do you think it could be sapman? π
TS: 335: if only I had a place big enough…..
In other news, at least one of the people I am ‘training’ this week seems to be in mostly for the tourism, so always ask if we can finish early.
Suits me down to a tee π
The nutjobs gone then has he?
OK – time to break open the MC – Morrocan Gold is on me π
In other news it seems that Cahill is on the verge of a dream move to Arsenal. The media in this country don’t half love a “crisis” (especially an Arsenal crisis). We are also buying Eden Hazard, Scott Parker, a half dozen “foreign” blokes I’ve never heard of (don’t have a Playstation you see) and Uncle Tom Cobley (not quite as fast as I would like but what the hell).
Anyone got any REAL news?
Poor old raulduke13….in between all the fury and unpleasantness he actually made some good points. Makes you wonder how many nutters could solve all the world’s ills if they could just be civil.
‘Holic is this a record long thread for the season? It feels like the Liverpool home game….
zico, france football had an online article a day or two ago saying Twitchy was at the French Cup final to watch Hazard and Gervinho.
Forever in our Shadow π
I see you.
Where is the barman these days?
If I’m counting right, this year I have been to 10 wins, 6 defeats and 4 draws.
I realise I have been all 4 of our home defeats.
I have only been to 2 away games in Europe: both defeats.
I am no Lars, that’s for sure….
What will next sunday bring?
Or will someone call Eurostar?
Bosticks, I refer you to his 270
zico @ #363,
Not news but a great analysis on 7amko of the scoring performance of Wenger’s teams (phnar) inc. comparisons of our performance against the other top 4 clubs and the small club from the shite end of the S.Sisters Rd (which is highly amusing). Definitely worth a scan and would have had our soliloquy writing friend creaming his underpants no doubt.
Lars, you’ll love it! π
Ollie,
The Storey pound says away win (with a margin of 2 goals) and you can take that to the Monopoly Bank.
If I’m wrong, I’ll pay you back in SnakeBite & Blacks. Fair?
Hang on, coming through….. got a truckload of Lithium for one Mr Duke of Piraeus……
Actually that was the location of the worst public loo I have ever had the misfortune to need to use – couldnΒ΄t actually see the porcelain for all the shit. Which seems appropriate.
Like Tim said…. there were some valid points included, but then the nuttiness got too much.
Good job that the GT in the MC destined for the HT was only a decoy. The reeeALLLLY good stuff is hidden elsewhere. …
Catalan, is that you?
Si SeΓ±or
Buenas Tardes!
A ha. Propose then that you hang on to the good stuff until HT Mk II is rolling.
One point, the MC stays in the bar. tabs is looking into an HT Mk II dedicated MC. We have a Russion one on order already but that needs flogging to some dodgy, twitchy geezer with an obsession for jobs currenlty occupied by Italians.
Bon dia PIK.
TS – sounds like the plot for a James Bond film!
Ok – back to the usual now!
I am bereft of solutions, but heartily looking forward to a break from footy (not the talking about it) and then a VERY interesting summer.
My main request – pace and power purchases, a la Eto style. A someone who scares the others, a la Keown.
Yes it does Dr No, I mean C π
Who’s going to play Pussy Galore ?
Heh tabs! π
Actually, you’re the one in favour of fancy dress….
Hmm … …. only if the money’s right !
Have now taken delivery of the Russian MC for the HT , ( not to be confused with the GT in the MC ) , the question is do I go and flog it in the Marshlands or I do I retain it as a weapon to be used against our kebab- munching madman ?
Ollie, my five games this season yielded two losses, one draw and two wins. I was at BOTH Newcastle games…
Storey, interesting read over at 7amko. Now THERE is someone who knows how to compile and analyse statistical data!
Decisions, decisions….
The money would be nice and he’s unlikely to ask for a receipt.
Then again, polonium coated doors could come in very handy should we get an attack of the Greek Philosophers again.
If Awwy’s willing to jump into a cat-suit, I say flog it. Fair?
370 TS, fair enough.
Ah right, Lars. i just remembered a winning streak of a few games (in my dreams, it was more than 2) ending in the Newcastle away game (I chose to believe that you left Geordieland at half-time π ).
I’ll have to looks elsewhere for a lucky charm then π
Off to the Marshlands now – wish me luck .
As regards our philosopher friend , that old truism came to mind – that if you have an infinite number of monkeys bashing away on their typewriters for an infinite amount of time , eventually you’d end up with the Complete Works of Shakespeare . It would appear that tests have now started in earnest !
I actually agreed with him on many of his pro AW points , but he just wouldn’t come up for breath . Oh well …
Lars @ # 382
I said that you’d like it. The comparisons with with the LWCs only goes to prove that they / the media are full of ‘skitsnack’ π
Ollie, my massive winning streak was two games – Huddersfield and Everton at home. And maybe I should have left at half-time on the following Saturday – but several thousand geordies left after ten minutes, bet they regret that far more than I regret going there π
Storey, a bit of (useless?) trivia: the word “skitsnack” is not used very much these days. Lots of people actually use the word “bullshit” as if it was a Swedish word.
Catalan, I have a taste for the same two signings! And your tempranillo, as well… (anything left in the bottle for a half-Chilean compa?)
20-25 minutes left in French league games
Bordeaux 1 PSG 0.
In normal circumstance, I ‘d say ‘yeah’. As it is, PSG practically need to win, or at the very least draw to make it to the CL.
As you know, my Bordeaux on the other hand is in limbo.
Lille 1 Sochaux 0. We may well have a new French champion. If they win, their goal difference should still be enough so that they could even afford to lose the last 2 games. Interestingly, they play PSG (currently 4th) next.
Takeabowson- some just use it all in one fell swoop, then the great silence…
May we remember this day and meditate on it…
Or just find something else to talk about. 100 bucks says RVP and TV score 35 goals between them next year!
PIK@ 390 – pass me the Californian and i will ruminate on your offer of a very interesting wager !!!
Are people loitering in the bar readying themselves to smack the 400th home a la TS’s shameful behaviour last night ? May need to keep a clear head if that’s the case .
Heh, Canal + are letting Eden Hazard (subbed) doing the commentary on his own team while the game is in progress.
What do you know, tabs, ‘holic will have a new offering as soon as there’s 399 drinks?
For a(n attacking) team who only won their first trophy last saturday, Lille showed remarkable maturity not trying to score from a very promising free-kick, just doing a bit of keep-ball.
Game over, championship practically over too, well done.
Indeed Ollie . As a two-fingered freddie on the keyboard I’ve got no chance anyway !
Modeste is the new Kaba Diaware (well he played for Bordeaux too!) : hit the post and the bar within 2 minutes.
If I auto-correct Diaware to Diawara, I reach 398. Someone else can do the rest, and ‘holic can do his usual removal after correction to confuse issues further.
Final score in Bordeaux 1-0 too.
smash it home Ollie !
PIK…. the bottle is always open, and always half full. Help yourself…. I do like a bit of Chilean red. Afraid IΒ΄m just a plain old 100% anglo-saxon, with a taste for all things Spanish……
Ha!!! Do I get a prize???
I feel like Michael Owen after the 2002 cup final! Do nothing all day and then grab the undeserved glory…..
Or was it 2001??? It has mostly been erased from the memory….
Special stuff from the GT is what you win, CG?
I think I didn’t deserve to post the 400th.
Watching the highlights, I see Gervinho, who scored, should have had about 5 goals and hit the post twice himself. Couple of very wayward shots that were sitters .
Top prize of PIK’s Californian Green goes to Dr C – a very natural home for a goalpoacher extraordinaire !
I see you’ve already helped yourself and the drugs do work :
I’m pretty sure that remembering what actually happened in 2002 should put your memory straight, Dr C. With a smile.
2001 when we woz robbed Dr C
Ollie – sign him up, sounds our type of player!
Right, IΒ΄m off for a smoke. I may be some while…
Ollie – before the drugs kick in – yes, you are quite right.
The old gentlemen of North London were mugged by a young scouser whilst enjoying a pleasant stroll in the 2001 May sunshine. .. the next year JT fell on his arse and all was forgotten!
Moment of lucidity over….
When someone offers you drugs , just say maybe …
Thanks to you all,
Back from the hospital with the management. Antibiotically powered now she is.
Too worn out to write, although I should just recycle one of the letters from our mate today. Bit of a Greek tragedy, wasn’t he? Shame, as he made one or two good points in amongst all that other nonsense.
Anyway, something tomorrow evening definitely, and thanks again. I’m going to enjoy HT2 I think π
Exceellent news ‘Holic
Bah, just switched to the final of Spurs’ favourite European competition to see Porto score. I’m switching off in disgust again.
Good stuff, ‘holic, now get the good rest you deserve π
Holic,
Great news! Look forward to a new post soon and in the meantime we’ll crack on and ‘bullshit’ our way to #500 π
Lars,
Thank you for the Swedish lesson. I seem to recall a word that sounded like “wheat-snack” but it’s been at least 3 or 4 years since I’ve been to Stockholm.
tabs,
You’re back early, did you make a sale? Please leave the bio-suit by the door ready to take to the cleaners tomorrow.
Dr. C & PIK,
Your home-grown delights are going down a storm. The GT’s the best addition in the bar since zico left the MC unlocked after a rare home win.
‘Holic, some excellent barkeeping earlier sir.
Thanks for the laughs Steve T, actually beginning to feel slightly better today, aided and abetted by all here.
Here’s another piece of amusement.
Not content with their rack-full of DVD’s issued to commemorate recent hard won draws against us and others, the LWC’s have, I hear, now brought out a commemorative WATCH to celebrate – wait for it – LOSING to Real Madrid.
I’m starting to look forward to next season already!!
Excellent news about the management. Strategic use of the MC, legitimately authorized by a physician. A practice we would all do well to observe, doubtless. CG, since you’re a physician please prescribe me a chain of the preferred Chilean reds. Onward to the magic 500th landmark post. We seem to be well on our way.
Trev@414 – wonderful stuff – must be a spoof surely ?
TS@413 – Any trip to the marshlands has to be a quick one – in and out – don’t think i caught anything !
Deal done old son – bought from the Russians for Β£2m , ‘Arry was prepared to pay Β£33 mill , if i threw in a tube of anti- twitch cream .
Profit should cover HT refurbishment , a new MC from Columbia for the HT , and a new top notch centre- half !
Happy to hear the management is getting better, ‘Holic!
Trev, let’s hope that the commemorative watch will be the hight of their achievments for the foreseeable future π
Don’t take it
In too deep in the lungs, Catalan- while we still cant fet our ‘foitballs’ straight, we really know what we’re doing out here with that stuff!
Plenty for u and the newly improved management as well, mr. Holic!
Woah, ‘scuse the iSpeech on the previous post. Apple’s a brilliant company, but they haven’t worked out text speech for ‘ish.
I’ll add 20 bucks to my previous wager about next season (I know that dollar ain’t worth much these days, but oh well) that SZCZ gets a red card for a headbutt, ala Zizou. Should be a great season, all in all!
I read in todays Mirror that Gary Cahill wants to play for us. Someone should tell him it ain`t gonna happen.
tabs – i kid you not. If you don’t mind soiling your laptop, just venture over to tottenhamhotspur.com (i just risked it for the first time) and look for “a moment in time”. There, i promise you, is said item in all it’s gory – sorry glory.
Wow, Trev, I feel a little dizzy having ventured over there… bizarre.
Ok PIK your Californian has kicked in and I want to up the stakes .
I’ll have 200 on Denilson scoring 20 before the end of october , Fabianski taking over from the captain in the No.10 role so that we can legitimately claim we’ve retained Fab in the hole , and finally that ‘Arry will be cleared of all tax evasion .
Oh f*ck , I’ve just looked at that last one again , and clearly i’ve overdosed … … Nurse
Trev – astonishing – what’s next at that place of jokers ?
Commemorative wall-plates to mark training sessions where the first team beat the stiffs ?
Nasri – remember I’m just a quack, not a physician. I’m happy to sign any prescriptions you like. But can’t guarantee quite what the effects will be…..
Lars @ 217 – assuming it remains 217 –
really interesting post that.
You may remember that Catalan and I have discussed the soft tissue situation many times on here.
I have a twisted pelvis theory on the Cesc hamstring, which I have offered through a connection within the club to investigate for free. (That could now rise to Β£1955 in light of recent events.)
I know it is highly unlikely that a man of AW’s knowledge will not have investigated this theory somewhere along the line, but you never know.
The offer is there – so far, no response.
Catalan – good to see you – how’s tricks?
Very good Trev.. in a massively sleep deprived way! I swear I’m going to walk in on the 3 kids one day and find them discussing the diary of who’s turn it is to play up that night.
Still, the sleep deprivation allows me to leave the GT alone for TS, SR, TABS and PIK to indulge in as they wish….. roughly the same effects!
Good on you for making the offer to AFC, will be interesting to see if you get any response. I gave up with professional sports guys long ago – too much attitude of “you’re honoured to be able to treat us”.
I treated some of the Royals (name drop extraordinario) whilst I was in Blighty, and found them to be much more appreciative than most of the footballers etc…
Now then… a bottle of red…?
PIK @420 re the early wagers on next season, I’ll wager a tenner we’ll see SZCZ KO at least one opposition player. I’m talking about Stone Cold, which reminds me the weather is starting to heat up in this section of the woods. Cold Lager please, Barman.
Anybody think Porto have had more than their fair share of success in European competitions? It does seem so to me at any rate. Is some Portuguese palm greasing of UEFA officials going on here, or would that be too cynical of me. Honestly, don’t they now have Champions League and Europa League trophes within the space of a decade with two different managers? Would if we could match that record, and I’m not even sure the Incredible Hulk was playing for them today. Somebody, please investigate!
Somebody has got to take up this late night (UK time) slack and make up the numbers. If it takes sombody half-way around the world (like me) to do it, well then so be it. We stated a goal of 500 drinks before ‘Holic’s next post so he can nurse the management and with the help of MC, HT and whatever else it takes, we folks from the west of the Greenwich Meridian had better be taking up the slack. Whisky please barman.
Lots of long, unhappy posts up above. Honestly, can we not just play well from the start to the end of a season, both at home and away or must there be a massive falloff in springtime each and every year. I could not even bring myself to watch the Villa game at all. So predictable, as I finally came to realize.
nasri – it’s all down to two of their teenage youth products that apparantly we are first in line to sign this summer – the 17 year old striker Esccorro Estraordinaro, and their 15 year old DM Booto Inzenutso. Long term deals for undisclosed fe. . . . no really.
Trev Right now we have 2 Arsenal scouts up the street. They’ve been looking at and are reportedly on the verge of signing our once in a century prospect, Kandoo Rightnow.
Good news on management Holic.
BT8BBN, just back from a nightmare flight from London (that for reasons only Easyjet know, took 7 hours as opposed to the scheduled 55 mins) – and that’s the only reason I am taking up this “late night slack”.
Good to see everyone getting back into a good frame of mind and humour.
PS – I will be having a word with my friend (too good to be) True Storey tomorrow on his slanderous comments about MC security π
Trev, Booto Inzenutso sounds like he may be just the thing to buck up our spine in crucial situations. An Italian who doesn’t mind making enemies with ambigous mafia connections. Has anybody mentioned we need to address our soft centre? And wny haven’t we signed him yet then?
Our Governor here in California just split from the wife and ended his job… What if our back line had both the Vermenator AND the Terminator!?
Zico, scheduled 55 minutes turned into 7 hours? Definitely does not sound like the happy train. We all know who the prime suspect is when somebody “discovers” the crime as TS claims to have done. Time to take inventory and check TS’s pockets. π
Nasri, there ain’t no way we’re hitting 500 before Holic wakes up… we need takeabow and raulduke to go at it again if we’re gonna get close.
How about a tenner on SZCZ being chosen to take our penalties next season? If he celebrates like that when a teammate scores, imagine when HE scores…
Zico, jesus man that’s a hellofa flight. Welcome home (where ever that may be!)
How about 5 dollars says TV gets the whole back line to grow mustaches and start a new era of invincibility?
pires, unlike your dreamy namesake the Terminator may not one Arsene is considering among his top ten summer signing prospects. Just saying … π
Fifty bucks says Viera, Lehman, AND Henry all play for us next year.
I know, Arsene sometimes likes ’em dreamy. Of course, we did sign Asharvin, so maybe Arnold has a chance?
And thanks for piping in bt8bbnn, taking to myself is a lot of work!
pires, you may be right about the mustaches but my money is on Sagna haircuts all accross the back line.
Folks, just remember it was PIK at 440 who said we would never make it to 500 before ‘holic wakes up. Famous last words?
Come on Holics!!!! The old man needs his sleep!!
The idea of Vermelean with a Sagna haircut would be hilarious! SZCZ should definitely grow a mullet though…
This can be Samba (when we sign him) and SZCZ’z entrance to the stadium for home matches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrW0kySM6CE
Okkaaayyyy…. so I guess that last video clip emptied the bar!
Well, let me see if I can find something to set things straight….
PIK, You talk about building a critical energy level well I think that was it. Was that Eboue in disguise?
Ah yes, here we are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGav7yfla7g&feature=related
Eboue no doubt! He said he wanted to be an actor, who know this is what he was talking about!
Samba in the superman suit? But can SZCZ do the splits?
Lehman will train him this summer!
How about this to get the blood boiling?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZyRqEXGoLo
‘I think he’ll be alright, it’s unfortunate but he’ll be okay’ Talking about Ramsey? I don’t think so…
Well, there’s always these moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlu5PoSiGmo
Alrighty Holics, we did our best. I’m off to the live pub. If we don’t hit 500, at least we showed real mental strength and desire, and THAT’S WHAT COUNTS! π
Up the Arse.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/7iFEtwb8xzo
It’s amazing to think we really did have some high highs this season .l.
None recently mind you but some people would kill for what we achieved.
If what’s past is prologue, I hope that means that next year is going to be more like 2004 than any year since then. Oh no! The boss is going to be waking up in a few hours and we’ re not up to 500 yet. Aren’t any Asian Holics up yet who can help get us over the hump?
Surely we can hit 500 for the management’s sake.
Is everybody going to settle with 300 or 400 drinks? I thought we were talking about excelling here, and in the world of numerology 500 is a considerably more important milestone than either of those numbers, I will tell you that much.
pires is king did yeoman drinking today, and must be recognized for an excellent 24-hour contribution. Drinking early, mid-day and late. Admirable.
If we hit 500 drinks maybe they’ll write an article about us in the newspaper or something. True fame.
Just a few more elements will give us the solidity we need that can pull us across the finish line next Springtime. Let’s weather this summer then make the most of our strengths for a real run at it next year.
SZCZ has got the right mojo.
Song has got the right determination.
It seems like a lot of our players have the right skills, but we need the right team psychology.
Nasri and Fabregas are two of the best players in the world. Stick with Arsenal guys.
Theo showed every sign this season of being one of the most reliable goalscorers in the league, and he scares the shit our of defenses.
We have to have greater depth to withstand the inevitable injury crises that come up every year.
Any closer to 500 yet?
Barman, this multiple posting business is making me thirst. Lager please…
Thirsty I mean.
Somebody please get up before ‘holic and move us on past 500. It’s near my bedtime.
As if on cue, (football season about to end) I’ve received an offer on my house, which i’ve accepted.
Raising the season ticket money has taken new depths π
So I have a house to pack up and move off into the yonder. Sporadic postings from me from now on for the short term.
One more done Bt8bbnn π
Well done bt8bbn!!!! Sorry for sleeping on the job!!! And congrats Mark, I hope it wasn’t a forced sell. 500 is a given now, me thinks…
So where were we, Eboue was a drag queen, Vermalaen and the Terminator were growing mustaches, and SZCZ was KO’ing Shawcrosses at the corner flag. Did I miss anything?
Oh, I think it’s time for a lovely trip down memory lane. Let me see if I can find the clip…
Here’s one version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9k3-c8Sek
Can’t find the other, but that’s in honor of your namesake, bt8bbnn. Cheers to you!
Hey, maybe INSTEAD of Samba we sign that guy dressed in the superman outfit in the Eboue Drag video- surely he’s out of contract!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuLb8XoAP4s
Ah, he must be signed…
While we’re going back in time, I would like to re-visit my personal favorite match I ever saw at Highbury (not that I have many to chose from like most of you I humbly submit):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcVHJ7jfXw4
Come on Holics! We got 10 to go, but it’ll be totally cheating if only Nasri and I make up half of ’em with bullshit quips and video clips!
We’ve gotta be fighting for SOMETHING still this season!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDJ60V8hlA0&feature=related
Glad he’s back. He and SZCZ are not to be fucked with.
And one from my namesake… damn that was nice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHwsTWm_27o
This was my absolute favorite!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHGEEaP8rgw&feature=related
Well, this is certainly winding down, but I’m keeping the faith Nasri! If 500 is the only title we win this season, I’m happy to play a part.
Somewhere, out there, a gunner is awake and needs to buy a round…
Alrighty, I’ll keep the HT mII coasting along while everyone sleeps off their happy pills… Last time I bring Cali buds to the party!
Nearly 500? F*** me! I bet the MC and and the GT are empty.
Let’s not forget this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3B7loO2gcE
Just in the nick of time! I’ll let you take us over the line… g’night!!!
You lot are positively certifiable π
Well two of you, anyway.
Cheers ‘holics.
Whoa! bt8bbnn and pik..you guys have some mental strengfff! π
Drinks on my tab to you fellas..
Congrats on your 500th birthday drink, ‘holic!
Wow. 503rd. I would like to thank my mum, my dad, my trainer……..
Wow! 504?!
Do I really have to go through and read all that now :D?
Morning All!
I see plenty of overnight (for us Brits) activity has pushed the drinks past the 500 mark with the maestro claiming 500, excellent stuff!
It looks like PIK’s and Dr.C’s ‘special selections’ have made a significant contribution to the bar last night. Demand is starting to out-strip supply.
tabs @ 416,
Well done! Β£31m for a Columbian MC, HT refurbishment AND a quality CB? Might be stretching it esp. as we need to keep the GT well stocked. Go get yourself checked over by Dr.C just in case, a trip to the marshlands can leave you with all sorts of nasty side-effects. Better safe than sorry old son π
zico @ #436,
I resemble that remark π
A Tony Adams v Everton 98 moment there by Holic
Trev@427: thanks, and I do indeed remember that discussion between you and Catalan. I actually added that bit as a kind of disclaimer, I have found that whenever injuries are brought up and you don’t add “it’s not bad luck” people tend to believe that you are just using bad luck as an excuse so I wanted to be extra-clear.
In the Mail have a look at the last picture is that a sneeky packet of Marlboro in Kos’s hand
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1388622/Whos-new-friend-Nicklas-Bendtner-leaves-Arsenal-end-season-party-mystery-blonde.html
ah so raul makes valid points huh ?
but its the civility that bothers
i guess its more civil to @lecture@ people you dont know behind your screen with a condensending patronising attitude
right gentlemen …sort it out ..what do u want ? do u want to question and doubt whoever raises valid points with your arrogance or actually talk about arsenal with realism and logic ?
because if you want to do the second then things need ot be taken into account..things like
a) arsenal was never a big club
b) arsenal never had/has money
c) arsenal had no european pedigree of any significance
d) arsenal was a club going nowhere infested with alcoholics who had lost all purpose as footballers
e) that pre 06-07 we were blesssed with a nucleus of world class beaters which is impossible to replicate within 6 years with a bunch of teenagers who have no experience
f) that prior to 04 we only had manure to catch up and after 04 we have 4 or 5 new financial giants to comepte with
g) that saddling the club on loans is a businees option which is completley opposite to the manner in which we want to conduct ourselves
h) that our rivals have better players and more expereinced and more ready than ours, currently
i) that our cluib has gone through its biggest transition in history
j) that some fans have been spoilt and dont know what theyre asking and their expectations cretae moaning and dissapointment k ) that arsenal can in no way be compared to united chelsea city liverpool for
l) that we need ot understand the difference between investing in ready players for the immediate now to chase trophies and investing in facilities with a lookout to 15 – 20 years and beyond
m) that wenger has created the perfect conditions for his players talent to flourish and thats all he can do in the end of the day ..he cant put his boots on and start passing or doing bicycle kicks
n) that considering our age and crap paleyrs and financial difficulties our opponents still need to outspend us by a couple of million to marginally beat us
o) that our squad fails on details of experience maturity and not being able to handle pressure situations and not in terms of ability and quality
p) that character and maturity come with age and expereince
q) that difference pressure is applied to a drogba who is 32 and costs 180 per week and different pressure is applied to 21 and 22 kids who still have a long way to go before you start demanding titles of them
r) that arsenal misses its core spine of players in crucial momments of the season, chelsea lost three players and lost the plot, let united play without vidic vds and no striker and lets see how far they go
s) that the press and media hate our manager our methods and our youngsters
t) that our rivals set out to damage and hurt our players and that we as arsenal receive no fkn protection from nobody …not even our clubsopkesman has the balls to face the f.a and the refs and the journalists and put them all their places
u) that fans are there to protect team manager and players from all those coonts who want to insult us and attack us
v) that wholsesale changes are a thing of fantasy for a club that has never dropped bel;ow the top4 for 15 years running and has climbed to 3rd or 5th place in financial power in europe
w) that wenger aims to instill in his young players the expereince a normal player would acquire past his 27 years two or even three years sooner thus gaining more years from their carreers in top flight football , most our players are 22 -23 ..by the time they hit 25-26 -27 they will already have about 10 years experience in epl and another 7 years minimum to punish all those who treated them unfairly during their development
x) that if you put all the complains down you will arrive to two things , one the manager has too much faith in his players and teo the manager is too sensible with the clubs money, sorry but these two complains are ridiculous.
y) when you built a shiny new house your top priority is to repay for it and not go get more loans to show off with ferraris and lamborghinis
z ) and when your father builts the family house b*sting his @ss all those past years you dont go to him like an ungreatful bas tard son to ask for a full hd tv plus playstation3.
when wenger wants to buy players to win trophies ..he can find the right people and does nto mind spending a bit over the odds for them. he did it previously when his priority was to break united monopoly
but when youve built a stadium and your priority is to repay it, you go with youth , you believe in them and when the time comes when you can spend again you integrate your new buys with the ones who will have survived
the time to do that , i dont knwo if it has arrived yet. maybe arsenal as a club needs a few more years in breaking even before even considering approaching players who will immediately change our fortunes
and that is not a bad thing. arsenal had to become a money making machine. if this means that the club must go through a period where they buy low sell high and try to make as much they can from transfers then tahst what they should do and none of us should complain
feel free to abuse me mock me and reply in your arrognat ways , but i love this arsenal and the most horrifying thing is not watching djourou denilson koncisleny or chesney but the fans who are poisoning the team with their moaning… people moan when they dont understand things ..its called fear
Gilberto – Honestly – I think it’s the repitition that is the problem. Will you continue until everyone agrees? It’s good to have your opinions, some of which I agree with, and some I don’t. But you can’t force everyone to agree with you.
It won’t happen.
He’s back! And not any more concise.
Which is a shame, as I have no time to read long posts.
i dont want anyone to agree with me
i just want those who critises to know what they are critisisng and why?
just now i have read john cross where he says that the problem is that borad wont stand up to wenger.
this journalist and his ilk are the ones who create the biggest p-roblem to arsenal
this journalist said some time ago that arsenal needed a goalkeeper and was tearing into wenger for not buying one ..a few months later he backtracked
now he says things which are only aimed at igniting flames among the fans who are unrest and unhappy
how on earth will the board of arsenal ever go against the golden goose that has took their small shop and turned it into an empire state building ?
it is madness to listen or read to the articles these journalists make on arsenal.
wenger is unsackable .a nd if he wants one more year or two or three or five nobody can tell him anything ..because after all this club is his club..he has built it
the board and the rest aint got a clue how to run football clubs or else they wouldnt need wenger’s financial and mangeruial leadership
just bring in a figure that will put all these journalists and refs and f.as at their places.someone who will protect arsenal behind the scenes.since dein;s departure we are missing that figure and as a result many clueless people throw knives at our manager.
arsenal needs a dein figure to put all those muppets in check
who the hell is pulis and brown and dean dowd or rednapp and gray and shearer to mock abuse and offend the arsenal manager ?
and as for the amateur fans and bloggers ….leave the football to the professionals. i think its safe to say they know a lot more than you me or anybody else in here or elsewhere who uses keyboards to pretend the football manager…….
Hey PIK I never saw Jens bite the ball before. Very worrying …
Afternoon ‘Holic and Afternoon All ,
Well , sterling work carried out from those over the pond – well done PIK and Nas . Marvellous build-up play , the way you kept possession was exemplary until ‘Holic himself , crept in unseen at the far post , rose like a salmon and banged it home … and that my friends ” sums it all up ” – thank you Noel73 .
TS – bio- suit by the door ready for cleaning .
Thought about checking in for an appointment with Dr C , but the man , on his own admission , is a quack rather than a physician , is hopelessly sleep deprived , a serial drug user and only treats members of the Royal Family . May try Trev – he offers his work for free ! .
tabs – alternatively, you can pay a visit to Dr z – he has things to quell what ails ya! π
think our resident personality disorder got there before you though.
Holic
Glad management’s ok, some debating going on here…
Roll on Sunday please and lest finish off the season with a WIN
Bolton need to do us a favour don’t you think?
Tabs,
Thnaks. Now, desperatley looking for a dry cleaners in the YP that can deal with polonium stains, at least that’s what I think they are….
PIK & ‘nasri,
Think I forgot to add my thanks for your sterling work earlier. It seemed to keep Plato away for a while but hey ho.
Onwards to 600!
Austrian Gooner
Thanks for that link she has got some legs on her uhmmm, what is Koscielny doing with that box of fags I wonder.
well mate plato knows more than your average arsenal supporter who moans and complains about things he doesnt understand π
6.5 youre having a laugh
nice going …show the world what support really means.
if wenger comes with a gun in your head and threatens you to buy a ticket i would understand your complains.
buying a ticket is not an investment to give you a return with kodak momments and trophies ..you buy a ticket out of gesture of love and support to your club.
you have one of the healthiest clubs in the world and you ask for wholesale changes
media and rivals taunting have made gooners lose their mind and they attack their manager and players …a disgrace
Dr Z @517 – nothing sir , just needed a quick once-over given that i went to the Marshlands to flog the unwanted russian MC to ‘Arry .
Thanks for your concern – will give your bunch of goodies some thought and return with a request list .
TS – Certainly polonium , my friend . Impossible to get even remotely excited whilst stuck in the Marshlands and dealing with old twitch face !
tabs,
It wasn’t your excitement that I was concerned about but thanks for the confirmation anyway π
Dr z,
How does the girl from Sainsbury’s compare to The Great Dane’s new friend (see Austrian’s link)?
Austrian @ #509,
A spotters badge for you my friend. Arsenal players smoking tabs eh? Perhaps they belong to a friend out of shot? That might well be a ready made excuse for Uncle Arsene π
Gilberto. Dare I say it but it is you that appears to have jumped on the media band wagon. You sound to me to be a classic case of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. I take it you have never been to the grove. May I suggest that you read the views expressed in numerous previous posts. You might then moderate your ranting and start to undetstand those who read and post here.
Just a thought. Either that or just change your name again and crack on.
TS – ha ha – oh dear , another faux- pas at this end .
Great spot from Austrian@509 – Glad to see that Kos agrees with me that a night out is always improved by the presence of tabs !!!
ATG @ #518
A win would be really nice, not banking on it though. As for Bolton doing us a favour, pfffffffft…. π
Let it not be lost on anyone, especially you rauldukeofgilberto’s100thgranniesbirthday, that bt8bbnn and I came up with a BRILLIANT solution to our woes by making the signings announced at 451 (well one signing and one wig at least).
Of course, with only yes men and the voices in our heads to engage with last night, it may have been a little Gaddafi-esque and weird, but we gotta try something!
Heh! PIK @ #527 π
That’s some reaaaaly good sh*t in that there GT π
Really don’t want to antagonize our philosopher friend into any more outbursts , but i have to say , he did make me laugh when he introduced lettering into one of his posts , presumably to give the impression of making short concise bullet points and then got all the way to Z and then carried on regardless !!
Good job he’s not Cambodian – 74 letters in their alphabet .
Heh tabs!
Goad away son, goad away π
And thanks for the factoid too!
Hexadecimal might be the answer though. Shhhhhh….
Bloody hell, what happened here? Has it been a five for the price of one Happy Hour? (scrap that, nothing “Happy” about last weekends events)
It will kill me to get through all these drinks, (the queue for the toilets must be gynormous too) so I’ll wait for the new bar to open and in the meantime grab myself a lager.
Cheers.
H2H
Suggest you avoid any post longer than the height of your PC/laptop screen π
True That TS! :0
I had a quick gander, but I think I’ll just take your advice lads, sip a drink here in the quiet corner.
One for the lads please squire.
Cheers H2H, mines a black beer as zico would say.
Good pressie from Le Boss today I thought, chin-up in difficult circumstances.
cheers H2H , reasons in a nutshell why the barman’s been kept so busy , are that plans are afoot for the HT reconstruction , a russian MC has been rejected for the HT , a GT has been found in the MC , PIK and Nasri went overboard on the GT , and now we want another MC , not to mention a GT , for the HT .
All this while dealing with a mad greek philosopher who changes his name a lot and has some sort of compunction to sermonise without interruption , contradiction or contents from the GT , or the MC .
All clear now ?
Good point tabs.
Procure a 2nd GT from Dr.C for the new HT and don’t let Dr. z take the new GT and put it in Sainsbury(‘s).
Nice one tabs.
Thanks for the 411, I now feel I’m UTD (up to date, not a tossy manc) and everything is A OK.
—
TS, as per usual, I ‘ll wait for ‘holics report on Le Boss’ pressie before passing judgement.
Agreed TS – Dr Z uses any excuse to go and see that check-out girl
TS Check your email
As for the rest of you to brighten your day:
Police Complaint
This is a genuine complaint to Greenock Police Force, Scotland from an angry member of the public. A true email sent to the force, lengthy but brilliantly written…..
Dear Sir/Madam/Automated telephone answering service,
Having spent the past twenty minutes waiting for someone at Greenock police station to pick up a telephone I have decided to abandon the idea and try e-mailing you instead.
Perhaps you would be so kind as to pass this message on to your colleagues in Greenock, by means of smoke signal, carrier pigeon or Ouija board.
As I’m writing this e-mail there are eleven failed medical experiments (I think you call them youths) in Mathie Crescent, which is just off Mathie Road in Gourock, Scotland.
Six of them seem happy enough to play a game which involves kicking a football against an iron gate with the force of a meteorite. This causes an earth shattering CLANG! which rings throughout the entire building. This game is now in its third week and as I am unsure how the scoring system works, I have no idea if it will end any time soon.
The remaining five failed-abortions are happily rummaging through several bags of rubbish and items of furniture that someone has so thoughtfully dumped beside the wheelie bins. One of them has found a saw and is setting about a discarded chair like a beaver on ecstasy pills.
I fear that it’s only a matter of time before they turn their limited attention to the caravan gas bottle that is lying on its side between the two bins. If they could be relied on to only blow their own arms and legs off then I would happily leave them to it. I would even go so far as to lend them the matches. Unfortunately they are far more likely to blow up half the street with them and I’ve just finished decorating the kitchen.
What I suggest is this – after replying to this e-mail with worthless assurances that the matter is being looked into and will be dealt with, why not leave it until the one night of the year (probably bath night) when there are no mutants around then drive up the street in a Panda car before doing a three point turn and disappearing again. This will of course serve no other purpose than to remind us what policemen actually look like.
I trust that when I take a claw hammer to the skull of one of these throwbacks you’ll do me the same courtesy of giving me a four month head start before coming to arrest me.
I remain your obedient servant
???????
———————————————————————
Mr ??????,
I have read your e-mail and understand your frustration at the problems caused by youths playing in the area and the problems you have encountered in trying to contact the police.
As the Community Beat Officer for your street I would like to extend an offer of discussing the matter fully with you.Should you wish to discuss the matter, please provide contact details (address / telephone number) and when may be suitable.
Regards
PC ???????
Community Beat Officer
———————————————————————
Dear PC ???????
First of all I would like to thank you for the speedy response to my original e-mail.
16 hours and 38 minutes must be a personal record for Greenock Police Station, and rest assured that I will forward these details to Norris McWhirter for inclusion in his next Guinness book.
Secondly I was delighted to hear that our street has its own Community Beat Officer.
May I be the first to congratulate you on your covert skills? In the five or so years I have lived in Mathie Crescent , I have never seen you. Do you hide up a tree or have you gone deep undercover and infiltrated the gang itself? Are you the one with the acne and the moustache on his forehead or the one with a chin like a wash hand basin? It’s surely only a matter of time before you are head-hunted by MI5 to look for Osama.
Whilst I realise that there may be far more serious crimes taking place in Gourock, such as smoking in a public place or being Christian without due care and attention, is it too much to ask for a policeman to explain (using words of no more than two syllables at a time) to these twats that they might want to play their strange football game elsewhere?
The pitch on Larkfield Road or the one at Battery Park are both within spitting distance, as is the bottom of the Gourock Dock, the latter being the preferred option especially if the tide is in.
Should you wish to discuss these matters further you should feel free to contact me on . If after 25 minutes I have still failed to answer, I’ll buy you a large one in Monty’s Pub.
Regards
?????????
P.S If you think that this is sarcasm, think yourself lucky that you don’t work for the sewerage department with whom I am also in contact !!!
Thanks Arthur,
When it arrived in my inbox the title made me wonder what terrible thing I might have done π
Brilliant ATG
Great piece this one hope it put a smile on your faces π
TS he he what have you been up to?
Arthur, you are truly gangsta.
It just goes to show that people will read a l-o-n-g post if the content is worthy.
π gotta give Arthur a chance, insane or not.
ATG @ #544,
Well for starters there was aiding and abetting a deal involving a polonium coated MC and HMR&C’s ‘most wanted’. Should I go on or should I just come quietly officer?
548 only? Slackers? π
TS @ 526, are you forgetting the ‘away win is an absolute banker, possibly by 2 goals’, and the Snakebites&Black riding on this?
Or were you under the influence when you did that prediction? π
Is Snakebite and Black’ what the loser of the wager has to drink?
Ollie @ #549,
Ahh, found out (twice in one evening)! *raises hands*
May I hide behing the substances in the GT and revert to my original optimistic prediction? I’ll stand by my SB&B ‘promise’ though π
If it’s true and Barca are to offer 26.5M for Cesc after the CL final, it would be a disgrace of humongous proprotions if we accept such a low bid for such a world class player.
Sobering thought amidst this endless bar night chaos…
I actually have
More faith in cesc stayin now then last year- not sure what backs my belief but there it is.
Happy days when Barcelone could lose at home :
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2011/05/19/191343_le-casse-du-siecle.html
Although I’m shocked at this, I was always convinced that Tony Kurbos had scored the 4 goals, not just 3.
Just checking in
555 drinks I see.
Well done Holics.
Who said we’re not Utd? π
Perhaps the HT MkII could be adapted to have a carriage number 13? We could call it the Philosopher’s carriage.
The advantage would be that in times of emergency (imminent derailing as we get Birmingham in the cup) the hot air collected could be used to inflate a giant balloon that explodes out of the top of the roof in a James Bond gadget stylie….. so carrying us away from danger and back onto the rails……
LOooooong day at work…. I’ll settle for a beer!
PS TABS @ 516- wise choice.
Dr C, I’ll have you know that carriage 13 (as well as 6) is the buffet-bar on the Eurostar π
I’d have a drink, but it’s better if I have it after I’ve driven back home from work.
Which I’m about to do. Now.
I need to take a few days off work to get through the drinks! Is it worth it? Can you create a highlights reel ‘holic?
I realise there seems to have been a barney up in here recently as I started scrolling back and before I started feeling lethargic.
That was probably me trying to scroll backwards. I stopped before it resulted in to an unwanted nose bleed!
You know what I’m like when the blood rushes to my head! π
Tim, they say we live our whole lives all at once… that’s a basic summary of the bar- we’ve bemoaned our fate, fired Wenger, won the double, had Wenger’s mom bitch slap us for 46 hours unceasingly, seen Pires curl one into the corner, watched SZCZ do the splits in a wig falling from the ceiling, smoked copious amounts of california love, drunk everything under the sun, re-railed and derailed the GT umpteenth times, hired Benzema, and grown a hideous mustache on Eboue.
Did I miss anything of great import?
Oh, and ‘Holic lept like a salmon to nod home the golden goal! Well played, sir!
There’s a great recap of the financials of the entire league in today’s guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/19/premier-league-finances-black-hole
The financials depend on when the clubs publish their yearly reports so Citeh is spending way much than stated in this report for example and Spuds are likely spending more too.
Any way the salient points are that
1) We’ve got the fifth wage bill behind Chelski, Citeh, United and Liverpool.
2) The property redevelopment has brought in lot of money to the club. It will be interesting to see how that money will be used between team investment, reducing the debt and keeping a prudent chest just in case we win the CL and have to pay big bucks to keep your players or we finish out of the top 4.
Outside of Arsenal, I dont watch too much football, primarily because I hate every other team in the premiership, the only variable being the degree of hatred.
But, I have been watching the play-offs and have to say, all the games have been great viewing, loads of goals and shit.
With the news about the under 21 squad, I have decided Pearce is the Pulis of the international scene, no class, no intelligence, probably no knob.
With the news about the under 21 squad, I have decided Pearce is the Pulis of the international scene, no class, no intelligence, probably no knob.
I think you may be on to something there. He’ll probably be sporting a baseball cap soon too.
And I know we wanted 600, but it looks like the barman’s re-stocked.
I say sod the golf, the roll is on… 600 is in sight!
PiK, no, not a forced sale, just an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and buy something to do up, work being tight and all that (Builder as well as a sparky π )
Heh, nice try Mark, but doomed to failure I fear.
Did I ever tell you lot, you are barking π
568…..May 1968….
Results Date Time C Opponent F A R
11 May 3:00 PM P West Bromwich Albion (H) 2 1 Win
07 May 3:00 PM P Leeds United (H) 4 3 Win
04 May 3:00 PM P Sheffield Wednesday (A) 2 1 Win
A very good month…..
The year 568? Full of events…..
April 1 β King Alboin leads the Lombards into Italy; refugees fleeing from them go on to found Venice.
Leovigild succeeds his brother Liuva I as king of the Visigoths.
Γthelric succeeds his brother Adda as king of Bernicia (traditional date).
Ceawlin of Wessex defeats Ethelbert of Kent at the Battle of Wibbandun.
Sigebert I of Austrasia repels an attack from the Avars.
Fredegund becomes the mistress of Chilperic I after the murder of Galswintha.
We can get to 600…..May 1968 also saw the birth of Kylie Minougue, Steve Sedgely and Oliver Bierhoff
Heh, Mark, Tim. I happened to still have that page open.
600 you say?
Can’t see it happening myself.
“Keep right on till the end of the road…”
Seem to remember singing that one at some daft point in the past lol π