We Defended A Corner
May 23rd, 2011 by 'holic
So the last day of the season. The highlights were…
at the Eight Bells.
Lunch is served…
Nice pint at the river…
Spend some flipping money.
And afterwards…
Can’t believe they lost the Timothy Taylor beers. Not on. Swines.
G’night all, for this season.
106 Responses to “We Defended A Corner”
wowzers!
“I have to remind you we were not in relegation battle”.Can`t Imagine the cunt would sink so low!
Glad you made a good time of it, Holic! Someone had to enjoy themselves today…
Glad you enjoyed the stuff around the game Holic.
Iβm really glad the season is over, the current team are too often predictable, defensively accident prone and boring to watch. Our current form is relegation standard.
However, it’s unlikely that Inspector Clouseau will do what is necessary during the transfer window; at his last press conference he stated βI have enough experience to know what is important and what is less than important. It will be difficult to find a coach who teaches me how to manage a football teamβ source Arseblog.
It’s been painfully obvious for the last 2/3 years that Clouseau is delusional; that allied to his overweening arrogance is a sure recipe for ensuring that our regular seasonal pratfalls continues while he remains in post.
Unfortunately I have concluded that things need to get worse before they can get better, namely failure to qualify for the Champions League to trigger Clouseau’s dismissal and hopefully replacement by a new manager who is pragmatic, flexible and recognizes the value of basic team tactics like sound defending.
Will be back when next season starts.
no wonder no-one sings at the emirates any more the fans defeatist attitudes really rubs off on the players….for gods sake get behind wenger get behind the team…after all we aint spurs fans so there is always a bright side to everything
goonertilidie
nick.. i feel for the people you are calling defeatists. when you pay the amount those defeatists pay to watch the dross on display since febuary you cant be surprised with their attitude and on top of that 6% ur avin a laugh. as far as wenger is concerned he needs to wake up and stop critisizing chelsea whenever he is asked about the transfers his spins are getting embarrsing now, their are 17 other managers in the league who have no problem with that. if he wants to compete on his own terms than he should step down go home and buy a ps3 and fifa football manager on the way, this is real world accept the challenges time puts infront of you and find a way through as this suger daddy trend is here to stay and is only going to grow.
The sugar daddy trend is going to grow? First, there aren’t enough rich guys who are stupid enough to throw away a billion dollars trying to win the Champions League. Second, there aren’t enough hugely talented players for there to be more than a handful of teams that can legitimately challenge. And third, we will all get very tired of watching Man U, Man City, and Chelsea slug it out for the “honors” every year and stop watching. Since the Premier League depends so heavily on television rights (foreign and domestic) clubs like Bolton which “earn” something like 70% of their revenue from TV will disappear when foreign and domestic audiences stop watching.
None of which even starts to touch on the fact that Man U have a “suger” leech, not a sugar daddy.
The sugar daddy trend is not going to grow, if left unchecked by UEFA (which I suspect it will be) it’s going to destroy English football and move on to some place else.
Anyway, despondent about the lack of Timothy Taylor, ‘holic. That is my favorite beer when I pay more than a season ticket’s price to fly over and see a single game. Which I have done every year for the last five and which I will do again next.
Maybe I’ll take in an away day?
SAD !
‘holic the beer in picture #1 please, with the potatoes in picture #2. Good to hear that somebody defended a corner, and it looks like a lovely day with lovely English clouds over the Cottage. Out with that disappointing old season, in with a summer of promise.
Thank fuck the season is over.
Have you considered the possibility that you might just have a drinking problem? π
Can people stop calling Wenger names and at least show some respect to our most successful manager?
Mistakes have been made and the least we can do is give him the benefit of one more season of full support to fix them.
Ta-ra birmingham, I’ve never been happier to see a team go down. Bowyer,Bentley,Larsson, ferguson and all their numpty fans, go chant for martin taylor in the championship
Hey ‘Holic,
Good summary of a top day out. How nice to be able to wear the shirt and stand side-by-side with opposing football supporters and feel totally relaxed…. outside the ground.
The on-pitch performance was not too bad…. when compared with last week’s. Wonderful to see TV5 putting his body on the line for us again:
“We’ve miseed him all year,
We’ve missed him all year,
Thomas vermaelen, we’ve missed him all year”
RvP’s goal was a cracker.
Le Boss received some very strong direction form the crowd today, we’ll see if he’s willing to listen. Either way, he’s got one hell of a summer in front of him. I wish him every luck in sorting out the most important issues.
Glad to see that you’re very own ST got you back safe and sound.
Ollie: Hope the ST was tolerable. Look forward to seeing you again next season. Allez!
Hey `Holic here’s to cheer all those toasts to:
1. Arsenal 86
2. Chelsea 74
3. United 73
4. Liverpool 59
That’s what the league would end like if all the shots that hit the post had gone in. Not too shabby eh?
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/miscellaneous/71190/the-what-the-premier-league-table-would-like-if-all-shots-that-hit-the-post-had-gone-in-table-is-quite-interesting.html
heh ‘holic. Top report.
Some cracking chanting yesterday indeed:
Your statue is shit, your statue is shit, it should have been Jedward. Your statue is shit.
‘holic stilll is a terrible influence on me, but thankfully had to escape early.
I hope he woke up at the right stop though π
TS, the ST was fine, and with food and a mini bottle of wine, I was just the right level of drunk (it doesn’t feel so good this morning though). For the price of that particular journey, mind, it HAD to be fine.
In fact, for all the trains I had to take, connections to make, I think I had a maximum wait of 5 minutes at GdN on the way back.
Great day, easy travel, shame about the football results.
Here’s to next season.
Mong though, support yesterday was great.
Remember reading the debate in top ‘when was the last time “one ArsΓ¨ne Wenger” was sung. Well it WAS sung yesterday.
If you cast aside the ‘spend some fucking money’ chants – and even then — support was top from start to finish.
That was probably the best and most telling match report ever written about a game – and I really mean that. Glad that the season is over, sad that there is no proper football until August.
TS, Ollie and ‘Holic: sounds like you had a great day out. At least poor performances on the pitch can’t ruin the pre- and post match pint-drinking!
I’m relieved football is over this season, yet it will be a difficult two months to cope
One of my mates is a huge Arsenal fan just like me and he has been watching football since it was first telecasted in India.
He’s always been positive about our club’s title chances and he is always supportive of Arsene. But now, he admits some serious soul searching is needed- otherwise it could spell more doom in the coming years.
I still think we are not that far off. It’s all about confidence in sport. CC final shattered ours.
Make some quality additions Arsene, please.
As for HT mk2, let me know when the bookings start π
Hej Lars,
….And they never will but a pint always tastes sweeter after victory π
BTW, not all were poor yesterday. RvP & TV were the stand-outs for me. It’s good that the season has ended for Arsenal. Shame it was on a bit of a low but things could always be worse – I’m looking at you LWCs!
Great report Holic.
Sticking to the important events of the day it just has to be done!
Just to say I love Craven Cottage as venue, so glad they never got the planning application through all those years back, cos I’m sure it would not be the same fixture if they had today?
Another sorry day @ the office for The Ars.
I have to go public here & say over the last two/three season I have lost faith in AW’s ability to change the way he sets teams out to play, add that to his seemingly total lack of understanding when it come to buying defenders (Vermaelen aside of course) but we all get lucky now & again.
When I found out towards the end of the season that Koscielny is 25, when @ the beginning of the season he was being hailed as the next generation of The Arsenals defence. Well that summed-up AW understanding of defenders for me, @ 25-26 he’s not getting any better then he is NOW, & that’s not very good is it? loads of pace no defensive nous end of. & why pay Β£16M for two ordinary CH’s when you could have got one decent one for that money? it’s not that we did not have a decent 1 or 2 youngsters to throw in when they were needed, no AW chose to send them out on loan, or worse still save them for the Carling cup!!!!
God helps us in the summer transfer window, because AW will keep-on making the same mistakes cos he’s far too set in his ways of the “Beautiful Game” & NOT the winning game………
Nice match report, ‘holic.
From the last photo and Tim Taylors comment i’ll guess that you were in the Bricklayers Arms for your post-match beer. I was working behind the bar and was extremely pleased to see such a strong turnout from the red and white contingent. I have to keep a low profile as a gooner when I’m working for the most part, which is not always easy.
Say hello when you stop by next season.
Hello Jimbo, spot on. Shame about the Taylors, but that dark ale we had was lovely, and the Jamesons spot on π
Thank you.
Many thanks for such an enjoyable blog this season ‘holic, week after week, match after match. I’m deeply saddened by the disillusionment around the club at the moment and I don’t think there’s a one of us pleased with some of the happenings at the moment but they can be put right with a couple of astute signings and determination by the manager and players to put things right. I have to believe that, I’m a gooner and I’m still coming to watch the lads next season. It takes a bit more than this to put me off!
So no drink for me, rather everyone charge their glasses as I propose a toast to one of the finest gooners on the planet. Here’s to the health of ‘holic as after all, he has much more silverware to look forward to yet.
Cheers mate.
We had a few good beers on yesterday, and the Irish stuff always goes down well. Taylors isn’t a huge loss in my opinion!
Both sets of fans mixed well, with genuine congeniality. Looked to me like very little “defending of corners” was necessary.
Thank God it’s over. Never felt so sad and fed up at the end of a season.
BtW, hope the club captain enjoyed the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday.
That’s what makes the Fulham experience always pleasant in the few times I’ve been there, Jimbo : a nice day by the river, and you don’t have to worry about where you’re drinking.
I had to gulp my drinks a bit too fast after the game, but that’s only because my timing was awkward.
I am hoping for Fulham away followed by a midweek home game followed by QPR away next season to enjoy the river and some fine Jamaican cuisine somewhere around Bush
You can’t beat around the Bush, Bawston π
I like your thinking Bawsticks.
(well except I don’t like midweek games —oh, that CL qualifier? π )
A glass of your finest claret, as ever, ‘Holic, which I raise to you in appreciation for a great season of posts. Least said about the team at this point the better.
TS – how did you find the Cottage?
If you answer “turned right at the river” I shall revoke your prescriptions….
Heh CG.
I think we burnt down your old place or something.
I have to say every time I still laugh at the ‘do not feed the birds because it only encorages the rats’ sign in Bishop’s Park.
What’s wrong with setting a good example to the rats??
haha
Dr.C
Fantastic location for a football ground from an away supporter’s perspective, right in the middle of a park by the river. What could be nicer?
Great local boozers and places to eat. used to hang-out there from time to time in my late 20s/early 30s, good times.
And anyway, from The Boathouse I turned left at the river π
Ollie @ #26,
Didn’t stop you gulping them pre-match either π
Did you hear what Wenger said about Bendtner? He actually described him as one of the wingers we have at the club. It would be slightly easier to take if he’d said “I didn’t have much choice but to play him on the wing in the last few months”. Like the choice between complete and utter nonsense and mild bullshit.
Don’t blame the boy for wanting out but I think it’s a big loss. Imagine him and RVP in a 4-4-2 getting on the end of crosses. Well that’s clearly never going to happen cuz Wenger Knows Best, right? Not on this evidence he don’t!
In the words of the redoubtable Arseblogger, “this has an end of era whiff about it.” Nail. Head.
Your tweets made hilarious reading and spoke to a fantastic day out! Wish I’d know you were in the Bricklayers – I live about 30 seconds from there!
Anyway, I’ll be glad of the break from footie for a bit now but thank you for another season of witty, good humoured and rational blogging – I tend to the negative so it’s definitely a light relief.
Wilshire has pulled out of the U21. Sense prevails at last.
“I think I am responsible for the results”
At Β£6m a year, I would say, well D’uh, Arsene.
Please get it sorted.
With love, zico.
@Zico: I’m curious about what you mean by “get it sorted”, looks like there’s a lot of possible interpretations.
Looks like Ricardo Alvarez at Arsenal is a “done deal”. He’s either an attacking midfielder or a winger or the next Messi, pick your choice.
Matt – given I am time poor at present – I would like to prevent a recurrence of “2 points from Sunderland, 1 point from WBA, 1 point from Newcastle Utd, 1 point from the LWCs” as a for instance.
I think I am responsible for results he says – so get it sorted.
Where did you get this “done deal” from, apart from internet gossip?
Whether Alvarez is coming or not, undeniably he fits AW’s transfer criteria. He’s free π
Finally some good news! Thank god Jacky Boy saw sense and pulled out of the U21s. In your face Psycho.
I would like to think AW sat down with Wilshire to remind him just who it is who pays the fucking piper.
To next season and coming back fighting fit and fully equipped – come on Arsene!
Good ones Zico… WBA’s the worst for me.
Gaz: 3…2…1…
As for Ricardo Alvarez it was just a joke to ready us for a summer of “done deals” every week π
On Sunday, I will be playing footie at the Emirates in the Supporter’s Club tournament – will perhaps any of the punters from this bar also be there?
Dodgy knee retired me a while ago Lars , but good luck . Are you playing for the swedish branch ?
As a measure of thanks for a years worth of grins, think i’ll wash a few glasses up for you ‘holic π
Thanks tabs, and yes, I will be playing for Arsenal Sweden. Really looking forward to it, I hope they have kept the pitch in good condition – it would be very interesting to experience first-hand how good it really is.
Should be amazing … … enjoy ! Hope they’ve lined up a few Arse celeb appearances for you .
I’ll be cheering for you from AFAR. Forward us the vids afterwards!
An interesting collection of stats from the Guardian, between that and my earlier post (table rankings including the shots on posts) it dispels quite a lot of myths and falsehoods on our season. It also confirms hard truths!
Between 1 January and 22 May 2011, Robin van Persie scored in nine consecutive Premier League matches away from home; a new record
Arsenal saw nine opponents sent off, a 2010-11 high, all nine of them were straight red cards
Three players managed 10 shots in a single game this season. Samir Nasri for Arsenal at home to WBA, Andy Carroll for Newcastle at home to Manchester City and Daniel Sturridge for Bolton at home to West Ham
Robin van Persie equalled the Premier League record of 18 goals scored in a season from January 1 onwards held by Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo
Jerome Thomas, Andrey Arshavin and Jermaine Pennant were all substituted 19 times, more than any other player this season
53.5% Arsenal conceded the highest proportion of the goals from set-piece situations this season in the Premier League
61% Arsenal were the only team who averaged over 60% possession this season
75% Arsenal had the best pass completion in the attacking third
142 DenΓlson made the most touches in a single game, 142 for Arsenal away at Wigan
1104 Arsenal made more touches in the opposition penalty area than any other side in 2010-11
From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/23/premier-league-season-in-numbers
Lars. I take you will be playing with a lot more heart and Passion than others have at the grove in recent weeks.
Good luck.
Matt. You would be seriously lost if they make statistics illegal.
Steve T: Considering it’s an integral part of my job I would be definitively lost indeed… and we’d all be in a very poor shape if we had to rely on “crowd wisdom” and the “we all know” mantra.
Anyway: over 50% of goals conceded on set-pieces, if I remember well that was a point you’ve been making more than once and certainly one to address this summer now that we can’t blame Almunia π
Shooting inside the frame would be another one.
Hi all
A little Squad improvement talk here from me as promised.
We could do with at least two ugly additions to the squad.
They do not necessarily have to cost too much. They just need to be effective.
During this season when we were leading games and then ended up dropping points, I felt two ugly defensive players could have helped to close down games, especially when it came to holding leads.
These players do not necessarily need to start, nor play against every opponent, but when needed, they can come on in a defensive capacity, ideally in the middle of the park and at the back. They can also be included in certain squads as assurance when we set up against certain teams
One of these players should ideally play In the middle of the park to break up attacks and possession and the other at the back to deal with set pieces. Both players would also be useful adding physical presence against the appropriate teams required.
These additions could be experienced preferably. We know and I am one who praises AW for holding the purse strings tightly. But I am also of the opinion that if a tincy little bit more is required to secure that desired deal if possible, then I believe we should give if a shot if the budget permits. Not that we have not tried this in the past (see the Mello transfer saga 2009).
Now a good 20+ striking partner for RVP who could also be called in if we do not get a full season from the striker who surely had the best goal ratio in the league this season, would also tip us over the edge, although those two ugly defensive additions are more priority in my opinion.
AW has never been a manager who believes in buying to push us over the edge and with very good reason when you look around football today; however the right additions would make that significant difference.
It will also be interesting to see which academy players who went out on loan will also be ready to make next season their time to shine LJW style! Everyone knows how I feel about Frimpong and if my predictions on LJW and WS are anything to go by, the “new Essien” could be worth the wait. He recently mentioned in his last interview on ATVO that his injury has naturally affected his confidence a little and so with that in mind, I will hold back my expectations upon his progression and transition until I see otherwise.
Denilson says he is leaving us and as his finest moments flash through my mind, I feel at the same time his departure leaves a gaping hole in the 25 man squad in the DM position (ahem!).
But as TS put it, the Jibbly headed samba dance will always stick in the minds of gooners, everytime we think about how we opened our accounts in promising fashion at the beginning of the 2009/10.
As for Cesc, well my guess is that speculation regarding his movements is more dictated by third parties than the player himself. The past 9 months have proven that to me (yet again). Although if he did decide to do the unlikely and return home this summer, I doubt very few would question that decision.
So I’ll leave it there for now and anyone who agrees/ disagrees please feel free to comment. As Iβm just expressing my humble Gooner dedicated opinion. π
I’ll take a bottle of water please Barman!
Hello Lars, won’t be there this year. I bowed out with one of the last goals scored at Highbury. You will have a cracking day. The pitch at the Grove is amazing.
By the way Holic, nice pictures of Cottage chicken and the local. I’ve always wanted to go there!
I wouldn’t need to travel too far from my house. Upton Park has also been one of my desired destinations, especially after my elder sister moved up that way over a decade ago.
That Guiness looked a bit dodgy Holic, did you see Obama downing a pint of pure black gold. Nothing like a sunday morning pint o plain
Dont think you’ll get an opportunity to go to Upton Park anytime soon GT , unless we draw the Hammers in the cup !
TABS –
That’s what I was thinking π
Great pics neighbour
Evening ‘Holic & ‘Holics
Caught the SP (sleasyJet) to Paris this evening to test if the SP is any better than the ST, it isn’t….
I was hoping that by going to the last two games of the season that I would be ready to take on the building of the HT Mk II single handedly if necessary. Strangely, losing to Villa and scraping a draw at The Cottage and finishing 4th has left me feeling just a tad…. er….. disinterested.
At least my pint, bottom picture, top left is a glass that’s more than half full π
We love you Arsenal we do…. Spend some f*cking money…. We love you Arsenal we do….
Lars – enjoy the Ems and your footie tournament. Like Steve T said, I’m guesing that you’ll be playing with a lot more commitment than some others of recent weeks. Some piccies would be great.
‘Holic would you consider posting them if Lars provides them?
Dr z – thanks for the memories, just what I needed π
Cheers all. May need to lose myself in the GT for a little while before coming up for air….
Did i hear you say the GT is on offer TS ?
Oh yes tabs, plenty to go around. Feeling better already. Did Nobbie Savage sort the CMC out yet?
Can do on the Lars pics front, especially if Sweden play another team with a ‘holic in. North Wilts should have five of them π
Noel, dodgy Guinness? Two words that simply don’t go together. To be fair the Boathouse staff are not the best, or quickest. Paul at the Pins is the man for pouring the plain, or one of the young lads at the Tollie.
Both of those pubs could teach the riversiders a thing or two about serving lots of people quickly.
Still waiting on his availability TS . Apparently he’s booked in to make a c*nt of himself on 606 after the Manure-Barca fest on saturday . My Columbian contacts , on the other hand , cant wait to get started …
Off to get my pipe …
We want Β£8.7m for ‘the greatest striker in the world’. (the Guardian)
Two thoughts….are we serious & could anyone possibly pay that. Obviously his age and potential are big pluses, I’d be shocked if we got 6 million for him – and if RvP was to be injured (honest….it happens) we’d have to buy another striker then regardless.
Is Jay Emmanuel Thomas’ best position as a forward? Have we worked that one out yet?
TIM – I was budgeting for 10m !!
JET will have to buck his ideas up if he wants to make it at Arsenal .
‘Holic – not used to big crowds down at the Riverside !
tabs—- you may be right, his ‘stats’ aren’t awful and he has had to pretend to be Anders Limpar this season (poor sod).
JET is fascinating….so big and so different to anything we have, does he have an issue with application?
Nice one ‘Holic…. and yes service at The Boathouse was a tad shabby although the scenery was nice π
There you go Lars, if you’re willing then we can all enjoy seeing another talented Scandinavian play at the home of football π
Tim,
I also think Bendy should be worth a good Β£10M. I also think he deserves one more chance in a proper, centre forward role. A run of 6 or 7 games playing with/alongside/off RVP.
I know many in here disagree with that so I’m going to pop back into the GT and dodge the bullets. Let me know when it’s safe to come back π
Tim – no first-hand knowledge but stories circulating that he likes a nightclub or two – he certainly didn’t set the world alight at Cardiff .
Heard from someone in the know that the management team rated him as potentially the best CB at the club ( admittedly not too difficult at the mo ) , but JET didn’t fancy it .
@ TS….I’m at the front of the queue for a 4-4-2 in some (most?) matches in which case I do think NB can score a goal every other game…as he’s done before.
@ tabs – didn’t fancy it? cheeky sod….
Sadly I think Bendtner probably lost value cos of this season, although that’s cruel
Think the Prince of Denmark will do decent job wherever he goes – not convinced however , he’ll ever be good enough for a championship winning side ( unless he goes back to Birmingham ! ) .
Laters Chaps
Am I the only not who isn’t impressed with JET and Lansbury?
To me 4-4-2 is useful against stubborn defences. Most pre v Citeh@ the grove Jan 2011 defences was naive to our 4-3-3 attacks. Besides as Matt pointed out they work better with Cesc in the team (4-4-3 attacks).
As AW points out our formations are often mixed (depending upon who plays on the wing, ie: B52).
About formations.
4-4-2 would be difficult to establish with both JW and AS in the starting 11, if you do that then it’d be unbalanced in that you have a DM in AS, a CM in JW and an attacking midfielder in Cesc, and then a player who is kind of like a freelancer cause if he’s on the flank then we have one unused flank.
How would you implement the 4-4-2 in our team?
This week we played 4-4-2 and were totally unbalanced.
Diaby and Wilshere in the middle, Nasri on the left and Ramsey on the right.
It was so messy we kept on going to the middle and having no width so we didn’t gain anything by this change of formation.
Also, if you change to a 4-4-2 you have to set your transfer plans to buy wingers.
It helps when everyone plays in their best positions! π
agree fully…we don’t have the wide players at the moment to return to a 4-4-2
We now have to start utilising what we have and not only play to our strengths but also add the required talent.
Setting up against the variety of opposition at the start of the season should plug alot of gaps.
Our formations should adjust depending upon who we play against! π
Night night Holics I’ve out done myself tonight! π
Matt – apparantly, strangely, exactly 50% of Arsenal fans really believe in statistics, and 50% do not. The other 50% couldn’t give a toss – they’re more interested in performances.
What we need is for 30% of our squad to try 50% harder. The source for this statistic is me, and I go to every game. And it gives me no pleasure to say so.
Trev: The thing with statistics, logic and maths in general is that they make it easy to spot falsehoods. Let me give you an example.
“We need 30% of our squad to try harder” sounds true enough to me. But:
a) When the boys give it all and lose, `Holic, you, me and a few others are the lone voices acknowledging their effort in the usual avalanche of criticism that follows every single defeat.
b) If they were winning silverware while strolling on the pitch, no one including you would worry about them trying harder.
Just trying to show the usefulness of it because I fully agree that our main issue is attitude. Finally we have a team that can win against anyone and they failed to fulfill their potential.
Now I have a question for you and everyone who believes the main issue is attitude/spirit. How will 2-3 signings address that and prevent us from collapsing in the last 10 games next season?
How?
Well attitude is down to character and bringing in strong figures to the dressing will help change the attitude.
One form of attitude is complacency, and there can be no complacency from any player when his backup is breathing down his neck (i.e Parker and Song).
It’s all about attitude, it’s all about that player that gathers the group around him and calms everybody down.
One other thing that is the core of our problems is DEFENSIVE POSSESSION. Get a fucking coach for that.
There is no reason in the world that we’d start hoofing the ball from our defense when we’re pressured and just invite the other team on (St. James’ Park, White Hart Lane) – That’s why we can’t protect a lead, we don’t hold on to the ball. For all I care once we’re leading and the crowd of the opposing team tries to get their team in it, pass it from CB to CB and calm them down, sort of like when a goalie covers up the puck in hockey. They’re just so terrified they smash it over for “icing”.
Someone was asking if this is our worst collapse? YES!
2 reasons – 1) 2 wins in our last 11 games.
2)We got less points than last season! How that’s possible is beyond me since I felt we have a better team (and don’t tell me the gap is smaller from the lesser teams cause this team ain’t worth only 68 points).
I think Bendner will leave…i would too if my manager refused to admit that i am a striker and not a winger.
been watching and supporting Arsenal since they began to telecast football here in India.
never been this dejected end of season..m glad its over.
Will be there for Arsenal next season and the season after and the season after…
Having a really busy day at work today, but never too busy to stop me from stopping by here for a few minutes!
Snir: “4-4-2 would be difficult to establish with both JW and AS in the starting 11, if you do that then itβd be unbalanced in that you have a DM in AS, a CM in JW and an attacking midfielder in Cesc”
I beg to differ. Wilshere can play as a proper winger as well, in fact that was almost always his position until he was loaned out to Bolton. I can easily see a midfield of Nasri-Cesc-Song-Jack work very well against most teams, with Jack and Nasri allowed to swap wings every now and then just like Pires and Ljungberg used to do. Up top we play RvP and Walcott.
SteveT, ‘Holic and TS: I will definitely play my heart out at the Emirates, I am really excited about this! I will also definitely bring my camera and mail a few pics to the ‘Holic. And again, if anyone else in this bar will be there, please feel free to come over and say hello. I’ll be with the Arsenal Sweden team.
Right, back to work – cup of tea, please!
Lars – good luck. The problem you may encounter is your effect on the team that you support when you travel to the Emirates…. I suggest you play your heart out but support the opposition!
Lars, would love to join you but will be at Twickenham with my 7 year old watching Saracens hopefully stuff Leicester.
Matt, some interesting points as always. I do agree with alot of what Snir has said. It does not have to be world class players. It has to be ones with the right attitude and a warrior character about them. we had that with players like Gilberto and Kolo. It is something that motivates others both on the field and in the dressing room.
I do think that some of the squad players have had a total lack of motivation. Almost as if they were quite happy to pick upi their wages and not really do a lot for it.
I am also expecting at least 5 new signings to come in. We need a bit of a clear out in my humble opinion. Some have just got far too comfortable.
I think the biggest change of attitude needs to come from Arsene Wenger – we (he) need(s) to accept that there is more than one way to win a football match. And you need to be prepared to be flexible both from match to match and indeed within different periods of the same match.
Everything about our team has been very one-dimensional in many matches this season.
And he needs to stop whingeing about spending Β£50m on a player – nobody from the Uber doomer to the happiest of happy clapper, has suggested that he should.
All in my humblest of humble opinions, of course. π
Drinks please – black ones.
Zico, You are spot on since a club’s attitude as well as its dimensionality are down to the manager. I feel very uncomfortably criticizing the best manager in the club’s history but we’ve all been very patient these last few years and the players’ on-field attitude just seems to get worse. At least we’ll be getting a change of atmosphere this summer, with scheduled games in Malaysia and China. If the crowds turn out to be good, maybe the club can import 60,000 cheering Asians for the home matches?
Afternoon All ,
Well we seem to be limping our way to the ton .
Dr Z – Can’t disagree with any of that .
Lars – cant agree with your proposed midfield 4 in your 4-4-2 . Wilshire isn’t a flank player . Played as a No.10 all through the youth system , only played wide when first introduced into the first team because he wasn’t big enough or strong enough to play in the middle – wasn’t a success , and needed his time at Bolton to toughen up .
Steve T – I think you’ll get your clear-out.
Snir – good stuff – think we should only go 4-4-2 when either Fab is not playing/here , or in the last twenty when we’re chasing a goal and a midfield of Cesc/another will be sufficient to stop non existent oppo attacks .
Baguette and Beer please Barman
tabs, every time (which, admittedly, wasn’t too many times) I saw him with the youth team he played as a proper winger. But I’ll take your word for it.
In any case, however we line up I want our tactic next season to be “ok, let’s not make so many stupid mistakes”…
Matt – “how will 2-3 signings change attitude”
I refer you to the answer given by Snir some moments ago.
I also think that a couple of departures may do as much good as a couple of signings – no particular individuals in mind – as it might get the message into the heads of some of our players that there is a required standard to meet, if you wish to stay.
That brings me rather neatly to your second point – “if they were winnig silverware while strolling” –
Matt, some of them ARE strolling and they are NOT winning silverware.
When we get a performance where every player gives 100% – e.g Chelsea, Man Ure, Barcelona at home, Everton away at beginning of last season – we do not lose too many times.
Unfortunately we have not been getting many of those performances.
If we give 100% and lose, fair enough, but 100% has to be the new minimun requirement.
Bit of greedy poaching here to grab 100.
Shameless Trev
Lars – fair enough – i didn’t see too much of the youth team if i’m honest – only going on what i read .
In our 1st leg Champions League qualifier, away Aug 16/17, we have RVP, Nasri(if still here) & Wenger all suspended. Knowing the importance of qualifying & the Cash involved, would Wenger go into that game without Captain & Top Goalscorer RVP, without a suitable replacement?
Will it make AW move quickly to sign a Striker to cover for RVP?
I guess we’ll have to wait and see. We all know the implications of not qualifying for the CL proper & entering the Europa Cup.
Lars – I don’t Jack as a flank player.
I want a natural winger of the Young, Downing, Bale, Valencia sort. One that would be able to take on the defender, go through him and deliver a great cross.
I do NOT want a player on the wing that would cut to the middle, we have plenty of that.
Tabs – Important suggestion. I’ve thought about what you said and apart from the Man City match at home I can’t remember the last time we failed to breach an opposing defense with Cesc in the lineup.
But, when Cesc is out of the 11, our 4-3-3 looks absolutely awful, predictable and worst of all compact.
On and Lars – Good luck and enjoy it mate, as others were saying, I’m sure you’ll show much more spirit than certain players of our club for the last 11 games.
Alright my brothers in beverage, Hope all are well.
Must say after a few days of reflection I’m quite upbeat and for the first time in 4 or 5 summers I can see the club making the changes we have been crying out for why you may ask,
Well in my view things have finally come to a head and no more spin and bullshit will be accepted by the fanbase the old trodden lines of well we had to many injuries or we cannot improve what we have or by buying x it will kill Y as no longer will these be excepted in my view the fans showing the unrest they have can only be a good thing in the grand scheme of things and finally the club will have to act to protect the cash cow so all things consided let’s get cracking π
Oh and totally of topic how fucking good is Lemmys acoustic version of Ace of Spades fucking great tuneeeeeeeeeee !!