We Should Consider Strengthening The Reserves
May 10th, 2011 by 'holic
“Do us a history post, ‘holic. It will cheer everybody up, maybe even you!” Thank you for the mail, old.
It has got me thinking. There was a time when while still too young to head off to games under my own steam we had a pretty set pattern during the football season. We would drive into town every Saturday on the A4, or that new-fangled M4 jobby. When Arsenal were at home ‘holicmum, and often sister, would be dropped off in the West End, or occasionally Chapel Street, to go on the razzle. The ‘holicdad and I would be off to watch the Arsenal, and everybody would meet up at my Nan and Pop’s house, just off the New North Road, for ham sandwiches on seedy bread, a thick slab of bread pudding, and a cup of tea.
Now every other week, of course, the Arsenal were away, but that made only a little difference to the routine. The family might have a little shopping expedition together and then ‘holicdad and I would venture off to Highbury to catch the second-half of the reserve team game. We would go in the exit gates as soon as they were opened. The old Football Combination was pretty much the same size, numbers wise, as the First Division, so fixtures were every week.
The difference in standard of the opposition could be marked. The Combination was almost exclusively a southern affair and so you might find yourself watching Tottenham or Chelsea reserves one week, and Reading or Charlton reserves a fortnight later. The sides didn’t just contain the brightest youngsters either. Those who could not force themselves into the first team, and those returning from injury, were likely to be in the starting line-up.
Generally the attendance was in the hundreds, with more than just two swelling the numbers after the break! Occasionally though something might happen to raise the gate. I remember one match against our friends and neighbours from the other end of Seven Sisters Road pulled in a near thirty thousand crowd. I forget exactly who was in our starting line-up, but suspect it was one of the new signings of the day, and the visitors had a couple of big names returning from injury, including one Jimmy Greaves. Perhaps Clive will remember more detail than I about that one, around 1969 or ’70 I think?
The point I am painfully labouring towards is that the ‘squad players’ of the day always had some recent games under their belt, and so had a degree of match-fitness when called upon by the senior side. A point that might not be lost on those who watched some of our less-regular performers struggling to overcome the likes of Ipswich, Leeds, and Huddersfield, when the season started to turn from the blunt towards the pointed end.
The reason for the reorganisation of reserve team football was that young players were perhaps playing too often, and often against sides not best equipped technically to give them much of a game. That’s all well and good, but now the standard has been raised I cannot help but feel that some of the players who have lost the faith of the supporters this season might have benefited from a few appearances with those now in line to be given a chance to replace them next season. The shared experience and match practice may have helped both sets of players.
I understand the progression from youth to reserve football is much more clearly defined these days, and there are fewer games available to these lads to make their mark, but a system that sees first team squad players making few appearances to keep them sharp is, in my humble view, a contributory factor to where our season unhinged yet again as the going got tough in multiple competitions. Those called in from the cold struggled to get up to speed, and confidence was badly affected.
You may think I am talking nonsense, and harking back to a different game, and that is your prerogative. All I know is that when I played the game, I never got better by not playing, if you get my drift. It’s another thing to be looked at when the season is being dissected in a couple of weeks time, by footballing brains far sharper than mine.
Thanks Matt Scott
Before they started filming the fans forum in a broom cupboard and making it a free broadcast, I used to regularly tune in to ATvO on Friday nights to watch the Tom Watt show. A new face appeared earlier this season while I was still tuning in, Matt Scott from the Guardian. He sounded passionate about Arsenal, didn’t spout the usual old stuff, and made you take notice. I’ve looked out for his work since.
I don’t think I have seen better than his piece today, questioning just what Stan Kroenke will bring to the table for the benefit of Arsenal Football Club, and pointing out the slightly worrying lack of detail in the offer documents. Whilst it may be absolutely true that “Insiders stress that Kroenke has not burdened his other sports assets”, there is perhaps a nervousness amongst the club’s support not helped by the ill-judged across the board price rises for next season, any clarification on future dividend policy and supporter involvement in shareholding, and the lack of a clear statement about the funding of the core-business (that’s commercial speak for football, as we used to know it).
There are reasons why the Grauniad’s football content is head and shoulders above it’s rivals.. Matt is just one of those.
112 Responses to “We Should Consider Strengthening The Reserves”
Beer please and one for yourself kind sir. Black beer π
It will surprise nobody to hear that is what I am on myself right now, zico π
I wish wenger would not lie to us. This time every season our season is over, and Wenger always promises changes and us winning next season. He does suggest that we would move for players, so every one gets excited and renews their season tickets (increased price).
Then come the end of the season he says, we dont want to rush any signings, we will wait and work as hard as we can to bring some players in.
Then were in the last week of August, and we are being linked to every player imaginable, because Wenger is still promising signings. He will say right now we have to focus on the league not signings, we still have a week to move.
The last day, the rumours are flying around, but we still do not move. Or he might buy some rubbish defender from France who no one has heard of because he is cheap.
Transfer window slams shut, Wenger comes out the next day and says “I did not see any value in the market.” We have a great team and have learnt alot from last season.
The cycle will start again next may.
Excellent piece again ‘holic. Helps take the mind off our current malaise. The black stuff sounds good to me.
…and the answer is ‘yes there is’ ;). So I’ll have a Guinness please.
Good job my Guinness is on special offer π
Very enjoyable blog sir. As it’s Tuesday, I’ll have a pint o’ plain please barman.
I’d better double the next order.
Evening aj…
Fill a slight cold coming on so best make mine a Rusty nail for those who’ve never given it a go try it mix a nice drop of scotch with a touch of drambuie and enjoy the tipple of the gods π
Nectar, Chippy, pure nectar.
Sigh Mr Holic, the old Football Combination, it really meant something. I remember waiting for the paper to land on the doorstep to check the results, the Sundays even published the league table! As you suggest, surely our ‘second team’ would benefit from playing more rather than warming the bench and walking down to HR once a week to pick up their Β£30,000 pay slips.
Maybe I’m too old and too sentimental.
Oh for fucks sake, my embarrassing family are gathered round the tv to watch Lord Fuckpig deal with a dozen of the most vile people in the country in the Apprentice.
Barman, please serve me up a 12 pack of Carlsberg Special Brew.
Very interesting point. The key question might be – Is the intensity of first team’s training higher and more strenuous than reserve team football? I suspect it is.
Kroenke can bring in an open-minded, progressive approach. For instance, he might be more willing and capable to renegotiate the commercial deals.
In the end he is a businessman and will try to make money some way or the other. But can he be much worse than those who have sold the club for hundreds of millions without investing much of their own cash (unlike Silent Stan)?
Never checked the reserves scores in the paper but lots of memories of waiting for the clock end gates to open so we could go and see David Price and co.Lovely article you’ve gone and opened lots of memories again.Thanks
I know it’s 20 odd year’s later, but I remember TA6’s first game back from his spell inside, which was a reserve game against Reading, attracted a over 7,000 at Highbury.
So what exactly do the club need with the extra Β£4.5m they will generate from the increase in ST’s?
I also see that Silver and Red Memberships have received a more than (un)healthy increase.
Huge PR nightmare from Gazidis and the Board.
I’ll join you in a Guinness please ‘Holic.
CoYRRR’s
Carlsberg please barman. It sounds like SR is onto something.
‘holic with the quality in our squad the lack of competition for weekly places in the team has been a real problem. Players are unhappy when they sit on the bench.
Pint of the black stuff sounds a great choice holic.
But after reading Mr Scotts sobering Piece think I’m going to have a hard job getting pissed….
Some of the points he made about the lack of detail in Stan’s bid has always been a worry for me, as I said a few weeks ago yes he’s a very very rich man, but in the world of money men it’s never enough especially, all due respect American businessmen, so I have always had the feeling he’s going to want a return on his investment, just depends how much & how quickly?
Also read another worrying piece a couple of weeks ago about how runs his other businesses, where they are in tax havens & don’t produce Financial Results, now that could a load of tosh but who knows (anybody?).
As for the Reserves spot on again holic, I’m convinced this would not only improve the teams fitness as a whole, but also improve the team spirit too, both reserves & first team players playing together in a meaningful match can only bring them closer as a team, this is something that appears to ME not to be happening just now.
As you said holic no player ever became a better player watching other people play, a couple of examples this year being Chamakh, Gibbs, Bendtner to name but a few…..
Spurs back to where the belong. Small stuff to cheer us up.
For Lettraggad, on the arses, with thanks for the laugh of the night.
Bye, bye Bale, VdFaart, Modric (West Stand Tone)
“Exodus, Movement of Spurs people”
We need 4 points to secure 3rd. City play Stoke H Bolton A. It’s gonna be tight.
We all know the players who need to be moved on, and this time I really believe that there will be a cull, and several players brought in, albeit cheap foreigners instead of the Cahills and Sambas we should be looking at.
One problem is that there is no-one to tell Arsene when he is plainly wrong or simply being too stubborn. Pat rice`s relationship with Le Boss has obviously become too cosy, and You can imagine him sitting on the bench nodding in agreement. Unfortunately Pat needs to be pensioned off and someone like Stevie Bould appointed, who knows why the defence has bees so abysmal, especially at coping with set pieces.
It is easy to understand why Stan Kroenke thinks Arsene is a `wonderful` manager, since he won`t be in a hurry to spend too mich of Stan`s money. Stan must be made to realise that Arsene is operating in the last chance saloon, with fans support likely to plummet if we begin next season with just a couple of bargain buys to show for the close season`s player dealings.
I played one reserve match in the old combination league. I was only 15 and it was only a few weeks before my knee fell apart and I was diagnosed with stress fractures in my back. So Norwich dropped me like a hot snot and I threw myself into watching Arsenal. In the match I was very late with a tackle on Gary mabbut. The ref gave the foul and was starting to give me a stern talking to. Mabbut saw this and said something like ‘give him a break ref, he’s only a kid’, to which I replied ‘fuck off grandad’. Got one of only three yellow cards in my whole career, which included playing semi pro for three years in my early twenties, before my cunting knee fell apart again.
Great piece.
Saw the reserves play Bristol Rovers in Bristol some years back. They won 5-1 with Lee Chapman getting four of then. Had a quick chat with Brian Talbot and John Hollins after the game. Those were the days.
Spuds were shite. Harry makes me laugh every time I hear him.
We need to finish third. We really do not need to play a qualifier. Especially with some of the teams likely to be in it.
The dividend situation is really worrying me. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong, but the last set of accounts show nearly Β£200 m in distributable reserves.
Arsenal have never, as far as I know, paid a dividend. Stan could have put a statement in his offer for the remainder of the shares about dividends.
He didn’t.
Totally agree on the reserves. First step is reducing the number of 1st team substitutes from the ridiculous “any 3 from 7” selection box approach which is totally over the top. Of course this would need to apply to all clubs. Playing ressies behind closed doors helps no one either. Tennents Extra for now please.
Playing the devil’s advocate for a second, SR, he didn’t have to.
He is also a businessman, born a long way from the Holloway Road. Let’s accept he will want something in return for his investment…
…and let him understand that SO DO WE!
The Combination….ahhh…..
My grandparents lived just a short trip on the Piccadilly from Highbury so if we were visiting my brother and I would sometimes pop along for a reserves game, I always found Highbury really odd with just a few hundred inside.
Remember studying the program and wondering about this kid or that and if he had managed 15+2 -but knocked in 6 then surely he’d be a better bet than Trevor Ross.
Wondered ‘holic….any memories of a player from 1971-1978 who you saw in the reserves and wished we would have held onto?
best abbreviated headline of the season?
“Peter Crouch scores to assure top 4 finish….”
Tom@23,
HAHA That little story cheered me up no end always had a dislike for Mabbut, You should have kicked the runt while you were at it π
Bit after my time, tim π
I do remember going to a game at Reading one afternoon and being particularly taken with Clifford Cant, for no reason other than he appeared to be swearing a lot at everybody in distance, including the referee, and yet he couldn’t pass wind.
I said to the bloke next to me “He won’t last five minutes at the Arsenal acting the cunt like that”.
He replied “I’m his fucking dad. What’s your problem?” π
‘holic…..priceless….simply priceless
Great story that one. No wonder they have a bad reputation in Reading. If I’m not mistaken there an Edward Lear limerick beginning “There was a young man from Reading …” with a ribald ending. Sorry not to remember more.
Genius.
Wonderful blog, Goonerholic. Thanks for lightening the mood a bit.
classic ‘holic…..I’m always insulting people to the wrong person….
Eh, so the Limerick would be……..
Clifford Cant played a game once for Reading
Where even he couldn’t pronounce a spelling
Says Holic to Dad – “who the fuck is that lad ?”
“He’s my son” by his language, repelling….!!
Always enjoy the history ‘holic.
The Saturday Evening News and Standard always ran the Combination results, and wers suitably scoured.
There was always the chance of slight compensation if the first team had lost.
Half of me agrees that more reserve games would be a useful thing.
The other half thinks “dear God, no!!!”
Half of our second string pick up training injuries every other week, to add to the list of usual absentees from the first choice eleven.
How would we ever get a team on the pitch if the reserves actually played matches ?!
Thanks Joe,
Problem is, Cant was one of ours. He didn’t play for Reading…
Hear hear `Holic.
Can’t agree more with your drift. Some fans are clamoring for better subs but why would a first-teamer in a decent team want to become a sub if not for wads of cash and how long on the bench would it take for the better subs to turn into average subs?
Btw did you know that we’re top of the mini-league this season? I had a hard time believing it myself but here it is:
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/12150
I’ll have a glass of that nectar of the gods with Chippy if he will.
Talk about quality and subs, here is my comment from the other post.. Maybe I’ll have better luck getting replies in this post π
This team is such an enigma I canβt even get myself to decide which changes should be made.
On the one hand I came to the conclusion we need a good, strong CB, but then I see that we conceded most of our goals from set-pieces and set pieces is a collective defensive effort as opposed to just the back four. The blame can not be put on the back four only on a corner or free kick.
I then thought to myself we should get a replacement for Song but then I remind myself of Frimpong who I think IS ready (after seeing every game he played in the preseason) for the EPL, and if not to the high level competition he is certainly ready to boss the midfield against the likes of West Brom, Wigan etc.
I then thought to myself that we are way too predictable against a well organized defense but then I remind myself that we have the 2nd best passer in the game in Cesc (Xavi is the 1st).
I then thought to myself that we could use a striker instead of NB52, but what good would it do if when he would come in he would be inserted on the left? RvP wonβt be benched or subbed if he plays like he has since the 1st of Jan.
The more I think of it, the more I come to a conclusion that the only thing we need is a good 4th choice CB but more importantly an experienced leader that could just be in the squad for snowball effects. To stop snowball effects like the Derbies, Newcastle etc. To rally the team around him, calm them down and stop the snowball.
We might need to learn how to keep possession in a defensive position like Barca do so we would protect the lead and not just panic and hoof the ball upfield inviting teams to pressure us (St. Jamesβ Park, White Hart Lane).
Boy, this is way too frustrating, good thing I ainβt the manager and donβt have to make these decisions.
Nice one holic — Matt Scott’s great. Tenacious journo and proper Gooner. Wish he wrote/appeared more often.
wasnt always southern teams saw birmingham at highbury in the arse team that day r kennedy c george.after the games we kids would wait for the players for autographs..kennedy and george sprinted away from us straight up highbury hill,but peter marinello stopped.much later i did see jim leighton play in goal for the gooners and the TA6 game 7000plus for that one as mentioned already.it was great going to Highbury for reserve games in a way almost as good as going to see the first team…appy days indeed.
I’ve been trying to write something meaningful here for the past day or two but I still can’t come up with anything.
Better just have a pint, then. John Smith, please!
Blimey Lars,
You’ve driven the HT into a siding. Nobody can find it π
http://www.football.co.uk/arsenal/arsenal_target_felipe_melo_eyeing_premier_league_switch_after_disappointing_at_juventus_rss1660822.shtml
My fingers are crossed, Holics. He would indeed add some “steal”, and I will enjoy watching Deni star for the Old Lady in return.
New North Road eh? – ‘oxton territory for some of us. I found Matt Scott’s piece slightly paranoid. Why the need for a formal dividend policy when the club has never had a formal policy in the past? Although they’ve never drawn dividends before there’s been nothing to stop them doing so, so why force one now? I don’t know of any business that would enshrine such a restriction into a share offer. Even so if Kroenke is good enough at his core business of maximising commercial revenues from sporting enterprises why shouldn’t he pay dividends if increased revenues permit it provided a fair proportion of increased revenues also goes into building and developing the club which it will need to if he’s going to maximise commercial revenues. As things currently stand Kroenke will be a majority but not sole owner. That’s the biggest brake on the slightly hysterical musings in the Guardian. Usmanov my prove to be useful to the club after all.
‘Holic, I did it to spare everyone else the horror. It’s just a huge heap of twisted steel beams, shattered glass, broken chairs and broken spirits and it’s all surrounded by an eerie silence… we all need to reconvene at the bar in preparation for the construction of HT mk II.
Lars, ‘Holic
See my drink on the previous post re: HT Mk II status, etc.
Still waiitng for zico to regain his mojo and mental strengz so that he can head-up the project of re-building.
I propse we wait for confirmation of first ‘major’ new signing in the summer before putting her back into service π
Great post BTW, Holic. You’ve mentioned the seedy bread sarnies and bread pudding afters before. Sounds delicious.
I’ll have a black beer if there’s any left. Drinks for you both on my tab when you’re back in the bar π
BtM @ #45,
Thanks for the feed.
Qn: Is a player who has clearly got prodigious talent but has only managed to ‘disappoint@ @ Juve’ what we need? I fear we have a few of those in our squad already.
Just saying….
A drink BtM or is the hour all wrong for you?
At this rate, with only Ollie taking notice of my posts and commenting on them, I’ll switch to emails with him and that’s it lol π
TS, Lars, BtM, Zico, Bt8bbnn and other loved holics, what do you think of my post at #40? Would love to get/hear your opinion…
Snir @ #50
Don’t worry, we love you too π
I’m going to stick by my previous posts and suggest that we need three key signings in terms of proven quality and experience:
An attacking midfield player
A snarling, spitting CB
A poaching goal scorer, good in the air, plays down the centre (classic CF role, always in the box when cross comes in)
All should have more than enough ability to fight for first-team places on a regular basis, thereby increasing the level of competition amongst our current first XI.
Above all, they need to have ze REAL mental strengz and turn-up for a proper shift whenever they get the call – pride and passion being the watch-words.
I don’t give a flying f*ck which nationality they are or which league they have come from but they must have the ability to step-up and be counted in The EPL. A bit of height would probably be a good thing for the CF & CB given their need to be strong in the air.
Then again, as others here would say, what do I know?
Does that do it for you Snir? π
Sorry Snir I was busy contemplating whether to rename the happy train the bipolar train. π You make excellent points about how difficult it is to manage a team of talented players, especially the ones who don’t quite make the starting eleven. Eboue is about our longest serving player who has made a consistent contribution no matter whether he is a member of the first eleven in any given year, but we need a few more with his dedication to the club. Not sure you would agree about Eboue, but we definitely need more flexibility in our tactics depending on what team we are playing against.
Snir,
I think ‘nasri answers your questions better than me, I was just having a mini rant cos I know Le Boss reads these pages regularly π
The BT it is…. for now.
Jeez, the Islington Gazette has really gone downhill lately.
As for Mr Paul Chronnell (‘author’), a plague on his house. Muppet reporting at its finest.
http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/arsenal/arsenal/arsenal_s_cesc_fabregas_gets_ready_to_say_goodbye_against_aston_villa_1_890387
Matt@39,
No problem maestro I’m just knocking up another π
I agree that we don’t need more defenders, we need to get the team to defend better. Too many times the front 5 have been missing on set pieces and even in open play. That’s were we’re so far away from Barcelona who when needed have 10 defenders on the pitch.
Then we have an atrocious shots to goals ratio. We can either wish for a top striker but imho I really would like us to play any formation that has 2 strikers up front. 433 leaves the wingers too far to be really effective.
Backup for Song would be nice but Coquelin is doing wonders it seems, so does Bartley as DM for Rangers and of course Frimpong is back so I doubt anyone will come.
Now if the rumours about Eden Hazard could be true…
Time for an aperitivo Chippy, count me in!
SG 40,
Good post. I agree, we dont need too much, but with a 25 man squad, maybe it is better approached by looking at who we will have to replace.
I really think Almunia and Denilson are beyond redemption in everyone’s eyes and really should go.
Then there is Bendtner. I feel sorry for the guy, I hope we give him a transfer to a club that wont play him as a left winger against the likes of Stoke.
Next is, who wants to go. Arshavin I am guessing really does. Clichy, Fabregas and Nasri are questionable.
Then there are the fringe players whom we have to ask, are they good enough to even be fringe players, and should we sell them while they have some residule value? Eboue, Roscisky.
Then there is Diaby, are we still prepared to pay him to be available for maybe 40% of games.
Gibbs is vocally pissed off.
That is nearly half the squad I have bought into question.
I have no idea about the answer to the question.
BTM. What is so good about Melo? I have seen very little of him. However, all the things I have read suggest he has not played that well for some time now and that hot head does not do him justice. Enlighten me if you please?
I also think it is very dangerous to keep suggesting that frimpong is the answer to the cover for Song. I have seen him play live a few times and he has great potential. But for me that is what it is at the moment. Great potential. I think it is very dangerous to suggest he is capable of being a first team regular immediately he is fit.
I am going to hit the 6X tonight if you don’t mind?
Barman, Beer please for everyone on the train, be it the BT or the HT. The beer should help in any case.
As to me calling into question half of the squad, I have no fucking idea of replacements from the reserves, the Belgian league, French league or any other league.
When you read a blog and someone is having a self-combusting orgasm about some 19 year old who plays for Ajax or Anderlect, well, I do question exactly how many times the writer has actually watched the player concerned. Probably none.
Well, as Matt & Chipy are getting a thirst on for Rusty Nails, I thought it might be appropriate to put together a ‘Fave Tipples’ menu for the HT/BT Buffet Car when she rolls again.
I’m going to add a Snakebit & Black which makes me misty eyed for my late teens/early 20s when we used to drink that sh*t and not give a f*ck if it was a schoolnight or not.
Who else? If you don’t post you don’t get your fave drink on the menu π
Oh, TS, Snakebite&Black? You spoil us. I’ll have that too, thanks!
In memory of this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13327913
Quite appropriate also as we’re playing Villa, so let’s hope for some other stuff from Aston crumbling on sunday.
Snir, I wanted to comment on your post but every time I start thinking about what I think the team needs my head starts spinning π
Snir. We need an experienced keeper, a dominant centre back, a holding mf player, a proper winger and a top class proven striker. We also need to sort the balance out. It is not just about having the best players, it is about molding them into the best team. Just my opinion of course.
TS. 6x, Pedigree or a drop of draught Bass for me please.
@Steve T: with a budget of 30 mils which probably has to include Nasri’s raise we may have issues bringing the 5 world-class players you think we need…
30 million? We got 40 from the sale of kolo and ade. We are the 5th wealthiest club in the world and we have just put our prices up. Reports said we had 50 million to spend last year?
I guess we will never know the exact budget but with certain players leaving I would hope that there is enough in the pot to address weaknesses that have cost us for 2 years now. Time to speculate to accumulate.
TS, Large supply of rioja needed. The everyday but good variety, if you know what I mean. 3 points for anybody who can accurately say the sum of our transfer budget this summer, but I won’t be participating. π
Evening all,
Interesting discussion. Steve, you may get your wish in part. Word is this will be a summer of playing staff turnover.
Trouble is there may be more replacing going on than supplementing π
I don’t think we need to break the bank. Last night showed why I was so in favour of paddy coming back. 20 min cameos to sure things up. And if the likes of wilshere, ramsey, denilson and song can’t learn from a player like that then there is no hope. He would have had more influence on the training ground than on the pitch.
Just my opinion of course.
Don’t name targets or incumbents – but which 3 positions on the pitch would you consider ‘replacing outright’ plus which 3 positions most need cover in order?
Obviously some of this is based on our formation but let’s pretend we’ll be 433 for another 38 games.
I would most consider replacing :
Left Back
Left Midfield
Central Defender
I would like to see more/better cover at:
Goalkeeper
Right Back
Left Back
Although part of me says central midfield, holding midfielder – I’m basing it on Cesc staying and Ramsey (hooray) being fit all season.
Hey ‘Holic,
Cheers for post #69, it’s sent me into a mini panic. I’ve got a horrible picture in my mind now of us waving goodbye to Cesc, Nasri, Arshavin and Clichy, replacing them with bargain basement ‘whooooos?’ and then heading for mid table mediocrity for an eon whilst teams like LWCs, Citeh and even St*ke start a regular habit of finishing above us in the league.
Nurse? A change of under-crackers please and a mild sedative.
The HT/BT remains firmly off the rails. π
Can you lighten the mood? Pretty please ‘Holic?
Steve T, Lars, nasri, TS and the rest.
First, to make it clear, I do NOT think Frimpong is ready for regular EPL action but I do think he’s ready for the likes Wigan, West Brom et al. and he’d be a better option than Diaby/Denilson (Diaby cause he doesn’t have that defensive discipline and that would be unbalancing the 11 like Steve said, and Denilson straight out cause IMO Frimpong is already a better replacement for Song than him).
I disagree re the GK issue, I think we have found what we need in WS.
I agree we need a good winger but I don’t see a better combination than Nasri and Walcott on the wings. One is trickery, pace and an eye for both a pass and goal and the other is blistering pace, an improved delivery and improved finishing. That gives us something different than all the tippy tappy through the middle.
A dominant CB? I agree. But like I said, I would be satisfied with TV and JD as our CB’s for next season, that is if we bring in a defensive COACH that’ll teach the team how to defend as a team with a focus on defensive set pieces.
A top class striker? I don’t see any top class striker coming in to be on the bench and with RvP’s form, he should not be benched.
A top class striker would be very welcome if we go back to 4-4-2.
The player we need the most doesn’t even need to be an important player IMO, he can be a fringe player but he needs to be that player who stops the snowball.
Every single one of us knew Newcastle would equalize from the way the game panned out. The stadium went crazy and our players played as players not as a team, hoofing balls out of stress and pressure and inviting Newcastle on. We needed someone to gather them around and calm them down. We don’t have that right now. That’s what we need.
P.S: From what I saw Kyle Bartley is a CB who isn’t afraid to shout at his teammates on set-pieces to organize them and he gets to every offensive set piece as well. That is the KIND of CB we need (I capitalized the word kind on purpose so people won’t think I’m implying that Bartley is what we need :D).
Let’s just see what happens, TS. I think it is fair to say at this stage of last season we had a handful of players on our wishlist. Not everything works out in real life.
Agreed ‘Holic. It’s the potential departures that are giving me the biggest concern right now, not what we may or may not buy-in.
Your favourite tipple is….. Guinness????
Wouldn’t Cesc leaving make Nasri more inclined to stay (based on preferred position?).
I think rolling the dice for a Clichy upgrade is worthwhile at his point, assuming he wanted to go.
blast *this point*…fix me ‘holic…all I’ve had is bottled water
tim @ #76
One or two first teamers leaving might be OK but Cesc would still be a huge loss. 3, 4 or even more and the Marley/Exodus joke will be back-firing on us.
Tim, maybe you need to spalsh that bottled water on my face? *reaches for paper bag, inhales/exhales deeply*
I want lots of new shiny players.
And a night with that blonde girl from Sainsbury’s.
And a key ring for my new keys to the medicine cabinet.
And a good night’s sleep.
Thanks Santa.
Ah, zico…
Glad to hear the new keys arrived. How did you open the envelope with mittens on?
Are you ready to contemplate the work needed on the HT/BT yet?
If not, distract us with tales about girls from Sainsbury’s….
Ahh! I found that “snowball” player I was talking about.
Scott Parker… God, I love his character, a true winner!
Snir. I agree and disagree.
WS has had agood start. But he is a long way from the finished article. Whilst putting in good displays he has also demonstrated that he can make poor decisions. He will continue to learn but we need good experienced back up. That is to keep him on his toes and to be there to step if and when required. I would not expect to see Almunia or Flappy at the club next season.
Without Tommy V we are weak at the back. There is no direction and no leaders. JD and Kos have both improved but are still too error prone and at times indecisive for me. We need a quality, experienced centre half who is a leader as well. Someone who is not afraid to take control if TV is missing. Someone who can organise. I am also not adverse in seeing JD play in the holding midfield role.
We need and experienced holding player. Do you think we lose the Newcastle game if we could have brought on a Vieira or a Scott Parker? We will never know but I would say not.
I do not agree at all re the wide players. Neither Sami or Theo are natural wide players. Both want to play more central. Theo is still injury prone and blows hot and cold. He has pace that terrifies people but raely runs at defenders using it. I do not undertsand why he does not take more players on.
I would like to see us play 442 at times. I think it suits us better. I do not see the reason why we shoudl not sign a top quality striker to add to the squad. I also do not see why they could not play with RVP.
I will stop there as I thought this debate was for the end of the season.
TS – I have servants to open my mail π
The Bipolar train – not a cast off from the Polar Express by any chance (oh God, Santa again…..)
I have a feeling that Ollie can point you in the direction of a temporary HT somewhere in France – have a few extra pints at the Tolly on Sunday and walk South.
Normal service will be resumed as soon as that fixture list comes out – and am hoping that we don’t need to board for an early European excursion (and that means 3pts on Sunday so get them vocal chords well lubricated) π
I really do need to get that sleep – my travelling at the moment means I am up again at stupid o’clock. Laters.
Night, night zico.
I quite like the sound of ‘an early European excursion. I’m hoping that the vented bile from any possible BBB uprising on Sunday will not force me to don the LWCs bio suit again π
Steve T,
Some really good points as usual. Some bright spark earlier posted that we need to be able to swtich tactics from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2- to 4-5-1 or whatever is required on the day. This might be a great way forward for the team. Totally with you on a striking soul-buddy for RVP, that could also be a really smart move.
@Steve T: Fabianski had the second saves to shots ratio in the league before he got injured. I seem to remember that Woj is 3rd in the league at the moment. Fabianski is still ahead of Woj imho and I wouldn’t be surprised if he regains his number 1 sport next season. There aren’t many better GKs right now and the ones available would certainly not leave their club to play second fiddle to Woj.
As for the money, I’m basing my 30 mils estimation from the AST estimation in November minus the money needed to secure long-term contracts for Nasri and Clichy among others.
Finally Armand Traore has made it as first-choice LB at Juve. If Clichy leaves I wouldn’t be surprised if Traore was recalled.
All for 442 in some games, 433 in some others and variations thereof.
Lars @ 43 –
I have also been trying to think of something worthwhile to contribute while climbing out of the wreckage of the HT.
In the end I laid back, closed my eyes and thought of Arsenal.
And what came to mind ?
Money.
I tried again. The result this time ?
Season ticket prices – same thing really – and Arsenal friends I have made who are quitting or renting out their tickets for next season at least.
One last try. Result ?
Boardroom politics and uncertainty over every aspect of club management from our new owners to our retiring assistant manager.
For comparison purposes, I decided to go back 10 years and try the same exercise.
First thought ?
Dennis Bergkamp.
Second attempt ?
Thierry Henry.
Third go ?
Patrick Vieira.
This was real fun, and I hadn’t even got as far as Sir Robert Pires.
I appreciate that these are not players that can be replaced at supermarkets, even though I have worked for not even half a day in football.
But as I asked in a previous post – “what has happened to our club ?”
Two seats on the Bipolar Express please, as I fear I may have to lie down for a good part of the journey.
Matt,
Really sorry. I just do not rate Fabianski. He is a decent shot stopper and has good reactions. But he is just not big enough or dominant enough. He might be a decent shot stopper but he has more of a fear of crosses than Dracula.
I am not sure we will ever know the exact truth re the money and I had completely forgotten that Traore was still an Arsenal player.
Trev, I know what you mean but I think we just have to make sure that we secure third place and move on from there. You just have to hope that we do not make the same mistakes as we have done previously and that the weaknesses are addressed.
Steve – It’s a bit late here so I’ll be quick.
Re Theo & Nasri on the wings. I just think that the first 11 we played against Chelsea/Barca is the best we have. The perfect balance between tippy tappy, trickery and pace.
True, they aren’t natural wingers, but few players are these days.
Snir, I commented on your post @40 yesterday from work but for some reason, it didn’t register..
Re: Us keeping the ball in defensive half of the pitch better- I completely agree. Most of the goals we concede are immediately after we score. If we can just learn how to keep calm for 20 mins after scoring by keeping possession(not necessarily in an attacking manner), we will address the panic/losing heads situation greatly
I don’t think we need a goalie.
We need a DM/a solid one at that.
A poaching striker/who will just be in the box all the time when we play 442
A left back/replace Clichy
A proper centre back
It’s morning here, so I will just have coffee please
not a day goes by that i think of 27th Feb-that ill fated League cup final. Its like the mother of all what ifs…..
dont think of, i meant.
On the move at the moment so I will be brief …… Fabianski ahead of Wos?
Not for me thanks. Some quality time spent with Mad Jens should help Pole the Younger to fulfill his destiny.
In my humblest of opinions, of course. π π
imb @ #s 90/91,
I think many here agree with you on that but the players are also highly-payed professionals who should be able to deal with disappointments and move on. Post CCF, we still had 3 (more important) pieces of silverware to pursue, it was hardly season over time. Hey ho, there’s always next season….
zico @ #92,
Quality time with TMG? Have you checked out @Mad_Jens on Twitter yet (with thanks to Dr.C for providing that link a few posts ago)?
TS above. I agree completely. But thay comes back to the mental strength and leaders debate.
Steve T
Yep, spot on. Provided we can keep enough of the right members of the squad together this summer, that really is, for me, the most important factor to address before we start the new season.
Sorry if that’s a bit obvious. I’d love to know what the feelings are on this within the walls of London Colney.
BTW, I’m hoping that any demonstrations on Sunday will be both orderly and meaningful. It would be such a shame if the last game at The Ems this season get tarnished with something unsavoury. Very un-Arsenal, I think.
Must admit I think Cesc will go this summer. He would rather be somewhere else. That has been so obvious at times this season. It then depends on how we use the money.
I think the protest will be a damp squib. Recent performances have left a certain air apathy about the club. I will be very surprised if many are really that bothered.
Afternoon Holic and Afternoon All ,
For reasons too dull to go into , I have been unable to pop into this esteemed bar for the best part of 3 weeks and boy have i missed it .
Lets go back to the eve of the Totts game – I was safely ensconsed on the Happy Train , medicine cabinet within easy reach and availing myself of the newly installed ” sport ” carriage , care of the N17 lovelies , who were as i anticipated ripe for plucking .
For an hour i thought we were magnificent , ( and TS i want to hear all about your adventures the wrong side of the seven sisters road ) , and with a bit more luck and a competent linesman we surely would have won . Anyway still aboard , still reasonably happy and on the way to Bolton . All I can remember after that is a terrible screech , an almighty bang , rampant panic and then a darkness permeated only by the sound of a thousand ” Told you so’s ” by the BBB’s who had inexplicably climbed aboard and were surveying the wreckage .
The N17 lovelies were no more – consigned to a footnote in history – a wondrous journey that took them to a glorious QF drubbing – we will not see their like again .
I had to face facts , I was on my own and couldn’t raise a whimper , hemmed in by the wreckage of the medicine cabinet . As i heard others scramble for safety , my only hope was to somehow ingest , smoke , and inject my way through contents of said cabinet in the hope it would lighten the load that bore down on me , and so that i might be able to climb through the detritus and once again see a new dawn full of red and white gooner victories .
Through the haze of many wondrous medicines i have heard rumours of a comforting though ultimately meaningless victory over the Devil’s own sporn , and an abject surrender to Tony Penis and his neaderthals , but no matter , i am through the rubble , it has only taken me 3 weeks , and tho I have taken on the demeanour of a Chilean miner , I feel sure full health will be restored in August .
I will of course fully restock the medicine cabinet fully in time for the 2011-12 HT – someone please tell me construction is nearing completion ?
The nurse has told me i can only have soft drinks for the time being , so barman a glass of chilled Chablis please , and of course drinks all round for fellow Holics in the bar so that we may put asunder all thoughts of wreckage and turn our minds instead to incipient glory and happier days ahead .
Steve, on what do you base the assertion that he would rather be somewhere else? I don’t think it has been obvious at all. He has given his best in every single game, but he has been plagued by injuries and has also gone through a breakup with his long-time girlfriend. He has himself (I have been told, I’m not on there myself) said on Twitter that this has been his worst season ever due to those two reasons. But even with all that weighing him down he has quite impressive stats, he’s got nine goals and 17 assists in 35 games in all competitions. You won’t find many players in any team who can match that average per game.
In any case, I think that either way whatever deal or no deal will be done or not has already been done or not done. The silence from the Barca camp either means that they have given up or that the deal is already done – but considering their pathological need to brag and boast I find it hard to believe that they could have kept their gobby mouths shot if a deal has already been struck so I guess that means that my money is on him staying for at least one more year.
tabs, it’s good to see you back at the bar – have a pint on me!
(you didn’t see any other survivors in the wreckage? Do we perhaps need to send out a search-and-rescue team?)
Interesting. Normally, we have drinks on Lars’ tab(s) π
I’ll join in a sunny afternoon beer.
Lars , Hi and thank you , a pint is just what the Doctor ordered ( just dont let my nurse see ) .
Havent been able to revisit all the drinks taken in my absence but it would appear that all regulars safely escaped , and that whilst the mental scarring may take some time to heal , all are keeping themselves busy building a new all-singing all-dancing 2011-12 HT.
My only request would be that seat-belts are installed in the event Arsene doesn’t spend big on a talismanic centre half , as without said defender ,I anticipate another rocky ride if not a cataclysmic crash . – oh , and that the medicine cabinet is made of sterner stuff .
Steve T @ #96
I really hope that you’re wrong on your first point and right about your second. Should be an interesting afternoon nonetheless.
Lars @ #98
Must admit towards the end of the match with the LWCs Cesc did have the look of disinterest about him and his body language has been somewhat negative at times. However, even in a ‘poor season’ and with mitigating circumstances like injury and heartache I’d take him above most. I’m also far from convinced that there’s any done deal or that he will leave this summer. This debate’s just never going away is it? BTW, everyone survived the HT Mk I crash. Just severely bruised egos, bragging rights and vented spleens all round π
Tabs
Welcome back, you’ve been sorely missed. LWCs game was an absolute treat despite the disappointing result. Away support is definitley where it’s at for a good ol’ sing song and boy did we take the p*ss at times. Travelling there and back was an experience. Everything smelt of stale pigeon and delusion. Coming out of the ground I’m sure the police set up our exit to give themselves maximum opportunities to spark a riot and make a few arrests, plonkers. They probably had their LWC shirts on underneath their unifiorms. Their ground is indeed a crumbling dump (far worse than I remember but it was 30 years ago) and they must have the ugliest bunch of fans in the known universe. 50 years of failure will do that to a club.
BTW, drinks all round please Mr.Barman and one for yourself.
TS – ” Everything smelt of stale pigeon ” – brilliant !
Get yourself one on me for that wonderful description alone .
Have to say that for most of that game i thought we were really terrific and showed what can happen when heart and desire ( sadly lacking on sunday ) , is allied with the skill this team is undoubtedly capable of .
tabs
Yes, we played some dazzling football combined with some killer finishing but defensive naivety let us down again – we should have hammered them.
Best (nor scoring) moment for me was when Woj went in for a 50:50 with monkey boy (for the second time) and then winked when he got up with Galen a gibbering wreck on the floor.
Cue the away fans:
Szczesny is a Gooner
Szczesny is a Gooner
La la la la
La la la la
It was almost enough to forgive him his poorly timed charge on Lennon which gave them their equalising penalty. The boy’s a legend already in my eyes but he’s still learning and needs someone to pressure him for the #1 slot. Fabianski, IMHO, will never be quite good enough to do that.
TS – not really much for Twitter – care to elaborate for the inadequately socially networked ?
zico
I’m not a big twit-errer either (though many would disagree) but there’s some golden ‘tweets’ on his ‘account'(?). My fave is:
“If you lose to Spurs I’m going to kick all your heads in”, I said after training. Theo cried. This bunch of players, I swear to Gott.
Heh!
That’s exactly what I meant by the quality time Wos and the rest need – so I was right then, right?
PS – Tabs – nice to have you back – you’ve been missed. Have a pint of black beer – its nice π
…. or even this posted on 17th April i.e. after The ‘Pool at home:
Got back to the dressing room. Everyone silent. “Fuck!”, said Eboue. “Fuck”, he said again. “I think I might have left the iron on at home”
TS – Not sure that on that occasion we were let down by our famed defensive naivety – there first was a sweet finish , as was there second . Had we gone in at HT 2 or even 3 goals to the good , as our play deserved , we would not have dropped points . Only in the last twenty minutes of the second half did we start displaying all our customary nervy blind panic and that would have been allayed by v-p’s goal that never was .
Defensive naivety was there in abundance at both stoke and Bolton , however , and a top top centre half must arrive in the summer .I would also be tempted to give Vermaelen a go at left back – for me Clichy has gone backwards and Gibbs hasnt been the same since his England call up .
Agree with you fully about the boy Schez , the guy has ” it ” , whatever that indefinable quality is , and i for one wont be arguing for an expensive goalkeeping arrival in the summer . Let the boy develop – he aint gonna do that sat on the bench . Have to agree with you- re Fabianski – good shot stopper but dont think he has ” it ” – too nervy and transmits those nerves to his defence – a good reserve i guess – think we need to bring in an experienced keeper as no.2 or even no.3 to schez , – Friedel anyone ? – assuming mad Jens is too busy tweeting to carry on for another season . Even in a non playing capacity it would be good to see the mad one remain at the club .
Zico – thank you – i’ve slurped the black beer down in one and very nice it was too .
Gotta fly – adios amigos
Just wondering who might get us a goal against Villa on Sunday.
If Andrey can’t be arshed, and Nik is out of favour after Bendying Arsene’s ear this week, will we be too reliant on Robin ? . . .
Must be off . . .
Tabs, That was definitely worth the wait. Glad to hear you’re working on the HT reconstuction π