Leaving On A Jet Plane, Can’t Believe Denilson’s Back Again
Jul 9th, 2011 by 'holic
The release of the travelling party that will board the plane to Malaysia confirms the strange state of preparation we find ourselves in.
For various reasons the squad is stripped of the services of Lukasz Fabianski, Manuel Almunia, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, and Nicklas Bendtner. Conspiracy theorists already have an opportunity to speculate about a couple of those, although Arsenal have confirmed that both Almunia and Bendtner are staying behind in the hope of negotiating transfers from the club.
The injuries to Fabianski and Diaby are well documented, but the ‘strains’ keeping Fabregas and Eboue out are worrying, coming as they do at the end of a close season that afforded more rest than is the case every other year.
Young Guns has been quick to point out the opportunities that this presents to some of the younger members of the party. I think it is fair to say that many would prefer to see the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Ryo Miyaichi, and Emmanuel Frimpong in the red and white than Sebastien Sqillaci, Denilson, and Carlos Vela. The inclusion of Denilson, just weeks after making his desire to leave plain, is an indication of the lack of the anticipated changes. The only eastern destination the Brazilian should have been shipped out to this summer was Brisbane Road.
You have to tour with what you have and accept that as preparation for the serious labours that follow in just five short weeks, this trip though financially prudent is poorly timed. It must also be a frustration in Highbury House that, Jenkinson aside, we are not travelling with the major new shirt-shifting signing or our most valuable asset, the skipper.
That doesn’t mean that the tour ‘Le Boss’ never wanted won’t generate interest and a few coppers to boost the club coffers, and it doesn’t mean that we are sure to make a hash of the opening weeks of the season as a result of the lack of gelling a new side together. In an ideal world though I’m sure everybody at the club, and most who support the mighty Arsenal, would have wished for a very different squad to be boarding that plane.
I hope, and suspect, more may be accomplished by the negotiators left behind, than those charged with raising the club’s profile in Asia.
278 Responses to “Leaving On A Jet Plane, Can’t Believe Denilson’s Back Again”
Numero Uno
wp
CANNOT believe that useless waste of space Denilson will be allowed to wear the shirt again. The worst midfielder Arsenal have had since Eddie McGoldrick has trashed the name of this club and now that reality has hit him that NO-ONE else wants his pathetic attempts of playing the beautiful game with his crab-like passing and snail-like pace, he is back on tour with The Arsenal.
On behalf of every single Gooner – Fuck Off Denilson, no-one wants you and everyone hates you. If you ever set foot onto the Emirates pitch you will be booed by 60,000 fans who barely tolerated your inept performances over the years but will not tolerate your disrespect for another second longer.
Wenger is like a junky and the look on dumb gooners faces is his fix.i just feel sorry for my fellow gooners who get mugged at the grove by phw and his bohomies.*kenyan gooner*
Can’t we sell Denilson to Sunderland. Seems like they are buying any old sh!t.
Q) If a male from Leverkusen is called a German, shouldn’t a female be called a Gerwoman?
Top 10! Drink for me please barman. Make it a Stiegl.
It’s a pity we haven’t found a buyer for several of the players who will clearly never reach the standard required for skill plus effort. Denilson is by no means the worst player to wear the shirt if you simply consider his ball skills but the lack of progress over the past 3 years and the lack of commitment plus his reported comments at the end of the season just gone (which were frankly ludicrous) do mean that it’s time he left. I agree with ‘Holic that there are a few passengers on that plane (who were passengers in the team a lot of the time), e.g. Squillacci, who should have made way for some more of the youth players e.g. Bartley, if not for some purchases. Arsene’s interview this week is worrying. No replacement for Clichy, and maybe 1 or 2 after Gervinho. What about the bloody defence, Arsene? Thought you had noticed a problem there at the end of the season, mate?
Spot on Jaks !!!!
cant believe denilson has travelled ,,,what a joke!!!!!!….gibbs as clichy replacement is taking a step back when we are being told that defence is a problem and will be strengthened,,,,,i hope wenger is just saying that so he can sign a real quality LB without the deal being hijacked,
well said Jaks, cant add much to that. Except I wouldn’t past Wenger to weedle the lazy git back into the team somehow.
Would appreciate it if we kept the venom and bile to a bare minimum please all.
Thanks.
‘holic,
I too am perplexed that Denilson is on that plane destined for the Far East. If he has clearly expressed a desire to depart for another club, should he not have remained off the plane, a la Almunia and Bendtner, amongst those who wish to negotiate a contract elsewhere? Surely, Le Boss cannot be considering using these two matches to figure out if Denilson can somehow fit into this side and his plans? We are well past that point with this particular Brasilian.
Arsene Wegner is suspect, cant see why he is carrying on like this…The top half of the club is dirty so is the end. Thanks Wenger for being the worst manager for the pas six years….
All a bit of a shambles at the moment. As.you said holic. Let’s hope those behind the scenes are working a lot harder than it would appear.
And we cannot seriously be considering Gibbs to be the full time LB. If a real replacement cannot be had for Clichy I’d rather see TV playing LB than Gibbs. Gibbs is an absolute nightmare 🙁
it is easy to accept a loss with the best players. but with average players yet you have the money to buy the best is annoying.
Denilson should be sacked imo
I`m damned if I can understand the benefits of this `micky mouse` tour. Hopefully it`s not the squad we can look forward to for next season and we don`t need the money that bad…..do we ?
Maybe his inclusion is a sales pitch. Make him look decent against weak opposition for anyone watching that might buy him.
Hmmmmm. Best get the drinks in.
Love the headline
T MAN don’t worry man we got Vermaelen coming back so he’ll be like a new signing lol
*downs quick pint. Sighs. Walks out the pub. Don’t really fancy it today. See you all on the HT MkII tomorrow*
CG,
Is it true? Are you a chiropractor? I thought you were a GP?
*sip, sip, sip*
The local cable company is showing Predator v Alien tonight. Just thought you should know …
Very worrying, and mildly depressing. The lack of activity in the market is hard enough to take on it’s own, but if you start adding up statements like “being very active in the market in the summer” and “*hope* to add one or two more players” with “we was very very close”, I fear that ‘stick’, rather than ‘twist’ has been selected.
Las Vegas this isn’t. 🙁
Agreed MtS. I fear we will look too much at the start of this season like we did at the end of last season. And it gives me quite a stomach upset 🙁
This is what makes other supporters laugh at us, instead of getting behind our players the fans prefer to slag them off. I just wish you lot would support the club and players it might even make them play better.
Theres a problem within this team in that Wenger has acquired many free loading greddy pay check players. Denilson has been given many chnaces and taken none. Rosicky was aweful last year, Arshivan although occassional excellent is not a team player, Squallaci is a joke of a defender, Alumnia/Traora are not good enough, Bendtner hasnt develop into a player who can challenge V Persie. Now f**king Narsi plays good for afew months and wants the same pay as Fabregas who is a much better player and has been with the club many years.
What you need is players who will die for the club aka Jack his attidue is excatly what you need.
We need rid of these players and bring in playesr who want to paly for the club.
I really think Charlton Cole would be a brilliant signing heard something like £4.5M of a transfer fee want a steal he would give us options up front and V persie could play of him. He is strong, good in teh air can hold the ball up and can score exactly want Bendtner wishes he could be.
This is the season we drop out of the CL. Wenger will walk away a multi-millionaire many times over and go to his beloved PSG. Arsenal meanwhile will take years to recover from the disaster that Wenger has brought upon us. It will truly be a day to celebrate when Wenger walks out the door, he is slowly destroying Arsenal FC.
Stingy. Yes. Sorry to disappoint.
‘This is the season we drop out of the CL.’
Not heard that every summer for the last 4-5 years…
As for the rest of TC’s comments, more evidence of the age of the internet, where every know-nothing can have their say.
You and your ‘contraband’ don’t disappoint in here Catalan. 😉
CG – This truth is not disappointing at all. You shouldn’t be so negative. Arsene might say a need for greater mental strength.
Have a drink of your choosing. Helps take the edge off. Now watch that Predator v Alien flick. It could be seen as an advance scouting of our potential new signing 😉
CG – I am currently not in need of your services, knock on wood. A lot of folks refer to chiropractors as quacks, as you yourself have mentioned. Not judging your profession by any means, mind you, as it is needed by many and has helped many. But I am curious, what is quack in Catalan?
Hats of Catalan! My shout at the next pub…definitely wrong turn go back sign ahead 🙂
although would be nice to see 4/5 cut off the touring party by the end of July.
All these fans supporting Wenger have become so un-ambitious and pathetic as he has become. Wenger was a genius and the greatest manager his first 9, even 10 years at the club. We won 2 doubles, another prem, fa.cups, got to the final of the champs league and played the best and most exciting football in Europe not just England. He was never afraid to ship out players not up to the job and replace them with quality players. The last 5 years however he is a totally different manager, he is content with finishing top 4 only and has some fixation with certain players that everybody can see are not up to it. Every transfer window we hear the same crap from him to excuse him keeping deadwood at the club and not going out and buying what all fans who have half a brain can see, every year we start the season with a weaker squad than the previous and barring some miracle(wenger might spend 60-70M!, ye right!!) we will be even weaker this year. Maybe he was abducted by aliens in 2006 just before he sold Henry and they done him a brain transplant, that would explain things the last 5 years.
To be fair to denilson he’s been playing out of position for 2-3 seasons. When he first came on the scene did anyone believe he was a defensive midfielder not a chance he was making runs scoring goals looked a good prospect. Now given the attacking prowess the team has nasri, fab, jack, arse on his day and theo wenger tried to fit a player into the team who he believed had talent and did in fairness but it hasn’t worked out and he now looks a bad player. Its not really anyone’s fault as I see it but he at least deserves some respect for the service………
So we have a weaker squad every year, but every year is pretty much as bad as the last – not too bad when I look at it that way!
No i disagree, supporters who care will voice their opinion while the yes-muppets like you get fooled into believing everything that they say and do. We just want our team to be the best what is wrong with that? we was the best in 2004 and 2005, why didnt we go forward since then and went backwards? thats the issue, wenger as the manager is responsible for this
Hello ‘holic: Having returned from a weeklong sojourn in New England, the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine to be exact, my take is that the benefits of our trip to China, never mind the cash that may roll in, just the chance to snap up a good General Tso’s Chicken will justify the whole thing. SV: Voyageur is a distinct improvement over Voyeur. Cheers!
8ball,
A good General Tso’s Chicken sounds good to me. I may go for it tonight. Good shout that.
My legal dept and my unusual capitulation to PC forced my hand wrt to my moniker. You may need to revisit your choosen moniker very soon, why or not Sami Sam stays or goes. Sounds like a Clash song.
Have a bottle of Red Stripe. The old stubby bottles are a fine talking point, if nothing else.
Oi Holic
Steady on with the Denilson to Brisbane Road talk. We need players who can get the ball forward not sideways. Now that Jack kid might do nicely !!
8ball- Also, Stingy Voyageur is appropriate considering the HT is coming our way and I am always in search of an affordable, even frugal, means of transport and sight seeing 😉
Spelling corrections to 41,
That s/b “wrt my moniker”, “chosen moniker”, and “whether or not Sami Sam stays or goes” in 2nd paragraph.
Boy, I need an editor. I may have to relinquish my prior Kanadian Spelling Bee award.
*sip, sip*
8ball,
The moniker change can also be seen as very timely, if only for the time being, due to AW’s present Asian trip 🙂
That being said, it is my firm belief that AW’s frugality is not of his own volition. He is working within the constraints imposed upon him from above.
Is there a full moon tonight ‘holic or what? I’ll have a swift sambuca and remind those of little faith(normally in the minority on here it has to be said) to read the moniker and just chill out and be happy! Although you have to love those poor souls who’s season is over before a ball is kicked! As the wiseman says its great to be a Gooner
We will also need to pick up some Instant Karma in the Far East since that is where we will be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4
@46 – Point taken. Very fine moniker of your own which contains much wisdom and huge relative truth.
CG,
If Fivehead proves to dispose of opposition as efficiently as the Predator disposes Aliens I have no problem describing Fivehead as the Predator. Until such time, Fivehead is Worf to me.
8 weeks have passed since the end of the season & whilst the Champions have concluded 3 major signings & expressed desire to buy one of our star players, we have done nothing bar of course the usual ‘kid’ signings !
Instead of seeing the signing of the type of players clearly needed, Arsenal fans have had to endure stories of the impending departure of several star names ! ……… DISGRACEFUL !!
Whilst that goes on there is NOT one impending departure from the deadwood. The following players ….. Bendtner / Eboue / Arshavin / Denilson / Almunia / Fabianski & Squillaci should have publicly been told to find new clubs as under performance & lack of guts would no longer be tolerated.
Cesc Fabregas is clearly going to leave & as a passionate fan it’s sad for me to say I don’t blame him as your actions or in truth LACK of action to significantly strengthen the squad where necessary means you have no positive argument to persuade him to stay.
Barcelona have disrespectfully AGAIN !! publicly courted the player whilst publicly dictating what the transfer fee value is & what has Arsenal done about it ? ………. NOTHING AGAIN !! Another example since the ground move where Mr Wenger & the board have betrayed Arsenal fans.
Cesc’s imminent departure is an obvious flaw from a football playing perspective in your obsession with ‘ Project Foreign Youth ‘. Foreign kids signed at the ages 15 to 17 are NOT going to play the peak years of their careers at Arsenal. It is fair to deduce that this policy is an ECONOMIC one & NOT a Football one.
Nasri & Denilson stating they wish to leave the club & now Gael Clichy who has left Arsenal today ‘in pursuit of silverware ‘ is a big joke !
Mr Wenger you are to blame for such statements as it’s your indulgence, protection of them whilst refusing to ever criticise them that has given those players an arrogant sense of entitlement whilst they fail to see or believe they contributed to the implosion of our season.
Half a good season in 3 years & Nasri believes he deserves better ! He obviously forgets for example Bolton away when his profligacy helped turn victory for the taking into a painful costly defeat.
Denilson is a player who has shown ZERO improvement at Arsenal but in fact deterioration instead. Clichy too often made glaring mistakes due to not being a defender FIRST, which have resulted in crucial conceded goals
Who will Clichy’s replacement be ? ……….. Gibbs ? …. Well he has the Arsenal disease of struggling to string a run of games together without injury absence. If not him & we bring in a replacement it won’t be the most expensive option even if that option is the best immediate one. It will be a cheaper one no doubt who of course will need time to settle in rather than be able to hit the ground running.
Arsenal FC now have a ‘ BIG Club mentality ‘ when it comes to fleecing fans for more & more money but display a ‘ Small Club mentality ‘ when it comes to buying star players ready made.
I crave the buzz & excitement of a superstar & it just NEVER happens.
It’s become as boring as our plodding sideways & back slow passing style which contrasts badly against the previously successful & eye catching swift passing & player movement.
The move to the Emirates was supposed to start a new era where Arsenal would compete with the biggest clubs in Europe.
As season number 5 in our new home is soon to begin, fans despairingly await such action.
Why when other clubs can swiftly conclude player purchases, are ALL of Arsenal’s signings tortuos sagas ? One can guess it’s because we always submit derisory bids for targets
Silence often says more than words ever can & in the week of players returning for pre season training you Mr Wenger have been conspicuos by your silence.
You usually are never short of a word to the media, holding court with them & pontificating on any matters in the game to people who reward you & the club by systematically trying to undermine Arsenal FC & report on the club in any negative way possible.
The fact you do that & the fact that yourself & the club has been silent this week has been a deep betrayal of the club’s fanbase. Astonishing that in the light of a torrent of negative stories you have done nothing to allay the fears & serial disappointments the fans are having to endure.
There is no other ‘big’ club in World football that treats their fanbase with as much contempt & ignorance as Arsenal FC do.
Tonight Friday 8th July, Skysports triumphantly broadcast that Nasri has told the club he wishes to leave & that Sir Bobby Charlton has ‘urged’ him to join Manchester United. NO HE DIDN’T !! I watched his interview & Sir Bobby said he is a good player & that he leaves transfer dealings to the appropriate people. That’s it ! NOT the anti Arsenal biased garbage that typically is broadcast by Skysports who have a permanent agenda against Arsenal FC.
What will Arsenal do in response to yet another example of this behaviour by Skysports ? …. NOTHING as always !!
I have always despised Alex Ferguson but at least he fiercely defends his club against the media even when he is unjustified in his complaint.
Late today Mr Wenger you have feebly & belatedly stated you will fight to keep Fabregas & Nasri.
The ‘Spin Doctor’ in you is exposed again by your obviously cosmetic nonsense statement designed to con us fans into believing you desperately wish to keep the 2 players.
The truth is you know Fabregas has gone & it’s simply a matter of agreeing the sale. Also at this late stage you see £20 million plus for Nasri as a good deal & frankly I do agree with that for a sullen ‘one half season ‘ performer with just a year left on his contract.
What I object to is that you are waiting for these deals to be done so you then have your transfer fund to spend belatedly on signings thus meaning YET AGAIN there will be no capital investment from the club in incoming transfers & you ‘proudly’ maintain Arsenal FC’s transfer dealings in the black.
RIDICULOUS !! for a club of our size & financial resources especially as at this time serious investment in the team is desperately needed to particularly strengthen the Goalkeeper, Defensive & Defensive Midfield positions that have repeatedly been proven to be weak & lack depth of numbers, physical strength & quality.
I see that today you also trotted out a familiar statement about the long term injury player being like a new signing ! ……… ‘ “I think you can say already we have got Thomas Vermaelen, who did not play last season at all ‘. If you are going to continue playing the Spin Doctor at least please be ORIGINAL !
Whatever disagreements I have with decisions you have made, I had previously always thought at least you were a decent & honourable man.
The fact though you accepted a 20% pay rise to £6 million a year having failed to win a trophy throughout the duration of your previous contract is disgusting & only goes to prove you are being rewarded FOR financial management & NOT football management.
The disgraceful price rise on ordinary Arsenal fan tickets which already were obscenely priced is shameful at a time of economic recession.
That price rise on that sector of Arsenal Fan tickets cumulatively will cover the cost of the obscene pay rise you will receive over the course of your contract …..
SHAME ON YOU !!!! ………… and that goes too for the unhealthy Autocracy you have created for yourself at the club, surrounding yourself with yes men & young players who feel they owe you a lot so would dare not question you.
Pat Rice should have been allowed to gracefully retire & been replaced by the likes of Steve Bould who should be given the responsibility of Defensive coach in training.
The ‘ AKB ‘ say ‘be careful what you wish for ‘ , well there are no guarantees in this game but I want a manager who is managing the club aiming to win silverware now & leaves the finances in the hands of the appropriate people. Mr Wenger you are delusional if you think the ‘ UEFA Fair Play ‘ rules are suddenly going to thrust Arsenal into an almighty position when they commence. Clubs will find ways of circumnavigating the new rules as Man City already have done with the ‘ Stadium Naming ‘ deal . All it takes for a club with a benefactor is for example to agree a sponsorship deal for say £100m & then the benefactor to secretly transfer a similar amount to the sponsor to add to the deal & hey presto ! it’s a £200m deal. There will always be ways & means and I’m sure you know this but it’s been a convenient ruse for you to hide behind. The likes of Platini have introduced the plan for their own future ambitions when they will require support. Ultimately UEFA don’t want equality as if the best playing talent in the game is spread too thinly then mediocrity will follow.
Hey Catalan – got any “truth drugs” left in your cabinet? Not quite sure what’s going on here.
“Stingy” asks me what, exactly, we are, – I expalin and he doesn’t believe me. You then confirm what I have said, and he jumps in to tell you not to be so negative!
Maybe we’ll need to have words with him in the treatment carriage, on the HT Mk II inaugural trip. If the “truth drugs” reveal anything untoward, I suggest a bit of neck rotation performed in a hyper-extension. See if he argues with that !!
(exits to sound of evil pantomime baddy-laughter)
Trev,
Never disbelieved you mate. But as the honourable Ronald Regan once said (paraphrasizing), ‘Trust, but verify’. I was just confirming with another source. That’s all. My legal team calls it ‘due diligence’.
And CG did sound apologetic when describing his profession. There was no need to do so and therefore he sounded a wee bit soft in terms of ‘mental fortitude’ — as is our squad on too frequent an occasion lately, sadly.
I’ll pass on the neck rotations and any adjustments to my spinal column. Other than that, we’re cool.
Cheers.
Too disappointed with our transfer dealings so far, to get into it much right now.
‘Holic, you said on Wednesday that the Gervinho announcement was likely to be delayed until Friday. It’s now early hours of Sunday, Still no announcement, and the player is not going on the pre-season tour, apparantly due to ‘paper-work’ problems. Not, one would hope, of Silvinho proportions.
Why can’t we just complete ONE efficient, timely, decent signing without such a saga.
The observations made publicly by Wenger at the end of the season, as to what and where in the team our shortcomings are, seem to be gradually being reduced to the usual “one or two players of super- quality” now that season tickets have been renewed.
It does not take “super quality” to replace Squillaci, Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Almunia, Rosicky, etc. etc.
I said at the beginning of the window that I feared the problem would be getting rid of our deadwood, because of the wages they are on. We are going to have to make room for new signings, and there appear to be few takers.
I repeat my plea of last summer: Please tell me it is not yet time to start worrying.
The whole club needs to start the new season with a sense of significant change. We are running very short of time – as usual – to order such changes into some kind of coherent team.
Pleasant dreams.
@50 – jesus, get a life.
@everyone – gervinho’s visa ain’t in order. Not AW’s fault, nor the board.
1-2 signings is fine – IF nas and fab stay. If not, then replace, sure.
So: jenkinson+ gervinho + CB + Mid – would be fine assuming they stay.
Makes sense to me.
He will play Gibbs next year, same as he played Cole and Clichy before him.
I wouldn’t set too much store by who plays on a two-game money-raising trip to Asia. The games won’t provide much of a footballing test for first-team aspirants which is probably why Wenger hasn’t taken many of them.
I think Denilson’s treatment if he attempts to get on the pitch will be far worse (and deservedly so this time) than Eboue’s ever was. He doesn’t want us and we don’t want him. PFO.
The benefits of the Mickey Mouse pre season tour are in merchandise sales and overseas promotion – where we are way behind other top clubs (if we are a top club).
Wenger has previously refused to do pre season tours (so that he can prepare his youngsters to win the league and things) and the Board has been too scared xxxxless to tell him. Kroenke is evidently going to put his foot down when it comes to promotional matters – if not in insisting we buy a left back who can defend and etc etc)
comment submitted previously
It’s a fair comment above that Denilson – while being too small and insignificant – has been played out of position in defensive midfield.
Wenger seems to like buying players and then playing them where they aren’t good enough. The classic is central strikers / goal sniffers whom he then picks as wingers (!) They try to track back and help but don’t really know how. Walcott, Wilturd, Reyes, Bendtner, Arshavin.
Denilson is what the Brazilians said he was – an advanced sweeper. He has little defensive / minder ability … and never will have.
Somebody please explain to Wenger.
Tell him back to Brazil as he told to Gooners.
Jebus, some of you need some chemical help.
A reminder, for anybody who doesn’t normally visit here. Reasonable debate is encouraged and opposing views are not an issue. What is an issue is the gratuitous abuse of the board, the manager, the players, and fellow Arsenal supporters.
It may be encouraged in other places, but it is not welcome here.
Thank you.
I’m bored with all this. I may also need chemical help ‘holic 😉
Hellollie 🙂
Welcome back. I’m afraid there is a sea of shouting and screaming at the moment.
The funny thing is much of it is coming from Asia, although admittedly not Malaysia and China.
Not meant to provoke anything but a bit of thought, that comment.
Where’s SV when u need ‘im. Wakey! Wakey!
he wants to go we want him to go but he is not going to go to join the unemployed if no one will buy he stays best would be just to give him away to a 2nd division and lose any transferr but save three years wages and make a statement
Having a real up and down summer at present with inactivity and rumour meaing I can best describe my current state of mind as very worried:
Worried that AW was intending to take new players he had available to him on the Asia trip and has so far effectively only added Ryo and Jenkinson
Worried that Denilson and Squillaci are on the plane when they should be on the job queue
Worried that Lansbury and Bartley are not on the plane
Worried that AW’s definition of strengthening the defence is to have TV5 back and that so far we actually have one player less
Worried that Nasri is unlikely to be in the team next season and worse could be playing for one of our main rivals in the Prem
Worried that AW continues to talk about new signings needing to be of exceptional quality when we have had players like Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby, Alumnia and to some extent Eboue for so long
Worried that any players we do bring in will be too late in the transfer window and therefore rush buys (like Squillaci) as our manager and board have dither again
Worried that we will not have a first team that has had time to gel before we dive in to a first month which includes Man U, Liverpool and two CL qualifiers.
I know there is a lot of rumour and speculation which helps to fuel my anxiety, but even the words of comfort AW has offered appear to present more questions than they answer.
The nightmare sceanrio: we are out of the CL and 6 points behind Man U by the end of August. If we do end up waiting until the end of the transfer window for signings how many of our targets are going to want to sign for us on 1st September if we can’t offer CL football?
I know I sound like a doomer at present, but I am on one of my lows of the summer and currently there has not been enough good news coming out of Arsenal to instil me with confidence for the coming season.
As a person whos going to be watching the game in Malaysia live, its sad that I won’t be able to see Fabregas in what might look to be one of his last appearances in an Arsenal shirt (fingers crossed). Im sure many shallow fans will hate to miss out on Fabregas, but there is a small batch of loyal fans here eager for the game nonetheless. I’m sure for most of us Asian-ers it will be a great experience finally getting to see them live after years of TV coverage. And to see Wilshere, Theo or RVP play would just be an icing on the cake.
I hope Denilson doesn’t ruin the cake..
I hope they put on a show for you Kevin.
Wavey, I think you are expressing there what even the most optimistic supporters are worrying about, me included. It is however only one side of the coin.
That there is little hard evidence of the player movement that was anticipated that is not to say there isn’t furious activity going on in and around Highbury House.
We have a few weeks to show more patience yet. I know that is frustrating to some, but it is the fact of the matter. If we get to the end of the window, and we don’t have a new side, and we are out of the Champions League, I will be off to the Shit Creek Store for my paddle, but until then, the club I love gets the benefit of the doubt.
I don’t doubt that there are things going on in the background and I can’t blame the delay in signing up Gervinho on the club, although it would have been nice to see him going out to Asia with the squad in what is going to be a very friendly atmosphere.
Matters certainly aren’t being helped by a media environment which appears to be focussing on the collapse of Arsenal again this summer. In the past we have put up with the Vieira saga, Barcelona’s Henry chase and Adeboyor putting himself in the shop window and then sulking for a season when nobody wanted to buy him. Strange how the press have hardly blinked when Redknapp says Modric is going nowhere, but AW’s comments are dismissed out of hand.
It just seems that we appear to be dithering on players that we should have either snapped up or dismissed already. Chamberlain, Samba and Cahill are all sagas which seem to be dragging on and on without us having even made an offer. If Owen Coyle needs cash from the sale of Cahill to start his own shopping surely they would want to agree a fee sooner rather than later? If we have a tight budget imagine how tight Bolton’s must be.
AW himself pointed out that we had to resolve our poor defence of set pieces so surely we should be bringing in a player soon rather than later to allow time to get the training right?
And we’ve just bid £18m for Downing. Really?
‘Holic
Quick check-in from somewhere near Stoke where strange, mutant creatures dressed in red and white stripes can be seen to roam the streets to the sound of scraping knuckles dragging over drool and where football & rugby will forever be confused in this Gooner’s mind.
Nicely put at #68 and in your main post. I noticed in the tour party announcement the mention of Gervinho’s name, surley that is evidence that it is only a matter of when and not it we see his massive five head sqeezed into the famous red and white jersey.
As someone mentioned earlier, the best reason for Denilson to go on-tour is to get him noticed by a suitable buyer. Struggle to comprehend any plans being harboured for his inclusion in this coming season’s squad but what do I know?
I have a feeling that Wenger has decided to attack the new season with all guns blazing (good) and to press-on with his beloved youth policy (no longer convinced). Gibbs at LB and Miyachi on the flanks, I think will be regular first team fixtures injury and work-permit permitting. It’ll either be a master-stroke or the final straw depending on what we deliver on the pitch. I’m still holding out for Nasri & Cesc being with us for at least one more season.
Time for me to self-administer, maybe but looking at some of the posts above a good job that the CMC has been out of action this weekend 😉
I think some of the hatred towards Denilson is unfair. As I see it, he is a technically skilled player, who is a little slow and conservative in his passing. He was not getting nearly as much stick a couple of years when he was playing alongside Cesc in midfield with RvP and Ade%$£0* in front. Since the move to a three man midfield, and particularly last season when Cesc has basically been given a free role, Denilson has been asked to play a support role, which has inhibited his passing and put in positions where his lack of defensive ability is exposed.
To get the best out of Denilson, you need to partner him with a proper holding player and don’t have somebody like Cesc alongside him to force Denilson to take the creative initiative. Basically build the team around him, like Arsene has done with Cesc. I don’t think it is right to do that at Arsenal, as Denilson is basically not as good as Cesc or several others. I think he could do a job elsewhere in the premier league. Look at Danny Murphy as Fulham.
I think it is Wenger’s mistake in not realising this early enough. The only way that Denilson could have a place in the squad is for when Cesc gets injured, but we have Rosicky, Arshavin and Nasri queuing up for that roles. Actually, Wenger’s correct (in my opinion) decision to build his side around Cesc means that he is not getting the best out of Rosicky, Arshavin and arguably Nasri either.
The one criticism that you could have of Denilson is that he is not throwing himself into his unsuited role with enough gusto, especially when you compare him to Jack. I think the difference with Jack is that he is, younger, a better player, a more spiky character and can see that in a few years he may be ‘the Cesc’ so is prepared to do his best until then. I would actually like to see Jack cut out some of the Gerrard-esque ‘Hollywood’ balls.
As for Denilson saying he wants to leave, of course he wants to leave. He is not stupid and can see that his future is not at Arsenal, just like all the fans. The fact that he is on tour is, I think, because there is no immediate buyer. Not that he won’t be sold. I do think that putting him in the ‘shop window’ in the ‘Cesc role’ would be a good thing. Denilson is not as bad a player as Arsenal make him look.
Wavey @ #69 and Kevin|K @ #67
Sensible posts, decent comments in a sea of something different 😉
Kev, shout yourself hoarse and enjoy. Would love to hear a first-hand report of how Miyachi gets on.
Moniker
I agree, Denilson is not suited for the role he has been asked to play and has also been gulity of not throwing himself whole-heartedly into this less-favoured role. I also believe that is true of Diaby to some degree, but it does seem strange that when, due to injury, we have played Diaby and Denilson together in midfield neither has really taken up the creative role and the midfield has looked fairly ineffective.
In the second half of last season it appeared that AW had lost faith in them as well, as he was more willing to play his favoured team in every game rather than swap either of them in from time to time.
I think we have better creative midfield players available to us than either Denilson or Diaby and it appeared last season that AW has been coming around to that way of thinking as well.
Denilson might well do better in a setup where the midfield is built around him, but Diaby just seems to me to be more suited to French football.
Re: Kevin @67 There is no doubt about it, this game in Malaysia is going to make or break our season. Also it is refreshing to see a few people defending Denilson against the tidal wave of negative comments made earlier. Will BtM be joining in, and/or has he joined in recently (sorry, I’ve been out of town and may have missed something) after he named Denilson to the infamous Fabulous Foursome in happier days? We shall say nothing of the Sensational Sextet of Success, in which I played another infamous role, of course. 😉 But after having recently spent a passing moment in Salem, Massachusetts, it would not go amiss to remind people that witch hunts are seldom warranted.
I think people are getting far too wound up about the CL qualifier, yes we should have avoided that bullet but now we just have to deal with it. We’ve had to qualify before and it’s just a case of doing it again, and I think we should do so (Udinese, Rubin Kazan and Kiev are the three teams I wouldn’t want to get, but otherwise I think it’s not too bad a bunch of possible opponents) – after all we don’t start playing really badly until March or thereabouts!
Wavey, you are right Denilson’s problem is that there are better creative players at Arsenal. I am not sure how many games Diaby and Denilson played together last season because Jack played in the majority of games hence. We switched to the three man midfield in 2009-10 and that season Diaby and Denilson would have played together a lot. When they did Denilson would play the deeper role, because he has the better football brain. Although Diaby has the physical attributes to play the holding role, he does not have the tactical discipline for it. I don’t see Diaby as a creative player – a passer like Cesc. He is more a box to boxer like Vieira or Michael Thomas. If you do play a box to boxer with limited tactical awareness then you have to make sure that their partner is tactically aware so they can cover for them when they go charging forward. I don’t think that Diaby has the necessary work rate to compensate for his lack tactical awareness.
I think if you want to get the best out of Diaby, you need to have a player who is technically skilled, but happy to operate from deep, like Petit or Van Bommel. Not to mention a coach shouting at him to keep him motivated. Whereas to get the best out of Denilson you don’t necessarily need so much of a passer alongside him, more of a scrapper. Also you need a manager who has belief in his abilities, to allow him to take more risks creatively.
Both are not really what we need at Arsenal. We need players who are able to bring the best out of best players.
Charlie @76, You make a very astute observation that we don’t start playing really badly until March. Maybe AW having recognized this as well has decided to wait to make a massive infusion of new signings until we really need them in the January transfer window?? It’s all about timing as they say … 😉 Given all that, it is also extremely likely that we will have to play at least one game at Rubin Kazan this season.
Maybe the January signings will help fill in for all the players who will have been injured due to our crowded schedule of fixtures. Or are we relying on Denilson to have his breakout season after all the first teamers go out? So many questions yielding depressing answers …
Have we signed anybody yet and/or offloaded any of the dead wood? What are we waiting for again?
A true sign of lov 4 some1 or sometin is neva givin up on them, being there 4 them when all signs & their attitude tells u logically that u should shout/abuse/hurt/get rid of them. If we d fans show them that we care that they succed, y wont they get better & giv their all not to let us down… A case in point 4 u all 2 remember as our beloved asrenal goes on the asian tour is the korea/japan wc. Who got that no named korean team 2 the semis… Their fans. I’m not sayin its wrong 2 feel & express your doubts, jus that we shld kno that the written or spoken words hold so much power. Any1 that perenially lives in an atmosphere of abuse has a slim chance of succedin. I tot i shld share this with u all.
Pls enjoy the rest of your summer… I’m of 2 watch old matches of my team & drool about seeing them finally take 2 the pitch, whoeva it may b. Its been 2 months & i miss them badly. COMON U GUNNERS, time 2 load them guns, cos we got your back, a’ight.
**smiles**, apologies misspelt or shortened words.
@81
I appreciate the warm attitude in spite of the misspelt or shortened words, I’m very negative by nature and you are far more sunny than I, I bow to you sir, Barkeep whatever the man wants he may have on my tab 🙂
How pretentious of you holic..so u can say spend some fucking money and rant in general, but I cannot. Kthxbye.
Moniker
Denilson and Diaby played 5 games together last season with the only winner being the 5 – 0 drubbing of the mighty Leyton Orient. They did start the game in the FA Cup against Huddersfield, but when Diaby was subbed on 69 mins it was 1 – 1. Fabregas replaced him and took us through with a pen on 86 mins.
Sajit, just this once let me explain it in language that you seem to recognise.
You are entitled to criticise the fact that we are not spending ‘some fucking money’. That isn’t a problem. What I will not have, and how many times have I got to tell you for fucks sake, is I will not have abuse of individuals.
Now fuck off.
Wake me up when we sign some f*ckin’ body 😉
Things may look rough but we’ve got to keep the faith in our club.
I still believe in Wenger and our team but realistically this season is the last chance saloon for Wenger before the fans start calling for his head.
http://bit.ly/pwzw03
Apparently we’ve very very nearly signed Gervinho.
And that’s from .con.
Wind – “START calling for his head.” ? Where have you been for the last few seasons ?
And Kipmonster@ 1.50p.m. – Well said. Excellent post.
“In Arsene we rust.”
… I see the regulars taking the weekend off. Is there a sanctioned ‘holic BBQ in the Midlands perhaps?
What’s this obsession with BBQ, Stingy?
It’s hardly summer. What? Oh.
I love my BBQs Ollie. And I feel slighted that I wasn’t invited.
The BBQ season over here is very short. So, when ya got’em, ya gotta smoke’em. As the saying goes.
How’s the weather? Still raining?
Cor blimey guv if it’s like this with 5 weeks left imagine what it will be like come Kick off time if we haven’t re inforced will be a bloodbath 🙂
Who’s for a pint or two 😉
Beautiful in Poland just on the saturday, Stingy….as I left.
A bit grey in Paris, but not raining. Supposed to improve.
You’re on the HT touring Europe Ollie?
Does anybody seriously think that in 4-5 weeks time we will all be drooling over our superlative new season changing signings or is it just me?
This sunstroke is good stuff I gotta say 😉
Agreed Chippy. The wisemen of AFC are not helping their cause with their dithering. It could get extremely ugly indeed if things remain status quo come mid August. The natives will become increasingly unruly and the wisemen will only have themselves to blame.
Spend some fucking money!!!
Controversial headline holic…dont you know once that goes up on newsnow the doomers will decend as per above.. T’Interweb is a dambdable tool of the devil. alka seltzer please
hi all,
I’m gooners from Indonesia and now I’m kinda excited to see my Arsenal LIVE for the first time (yeah, poor me)
day by day I’ve been waiting for this moment, and when the day comes closer I realized..who’ll I want to see/meet..I know now is the time to see some future kings of Emirates, but still, I don’t want to meet some future kings (not sure enough will the future kings still be at Emirates afterall)..
damn, I wish I had the chance to saw TH14, Pires, Bergkamp etc in action for LIVE..well I guess all I have for now is Wenger and RvP..don’t misunderstand me, I’m still excited and still can’t wait to see my beloved team…gotta enjoy what you have, right?
and no drinks thank you, I have a plane to catch..
Did somebody yelled FORWARD?… Oh, sorry, it’s FOREWORD.
It’s a sad and beautiful world…I agree with the first part.
Gulp, gulp, gulp and… gulp again.
Stingy
Many thanks for the concern, was apologising in case I disappointed – I am British, after all. Absolutely not down on my quackery profession at all – I would, and do, apply the same term to medical doctors, physios, osteopaths, sports physios, massage therapists, Dr Z and TS.
I know the term can be seen as being negative, especially by the sad cynical and loud few. I see it more as a way of not taking myself, or others, too seriously 😉
A pint for you, Trev and Y.O.G and a speedy departure for Ape in honour of his nice positive post.
*note to Holic; don’t include “Denilson” in the headline again!*
Spot on, Noel. Too clever for my own good there 🙁
Perked up by reading Digger tonight. Pick of the Arsenal journos in my book…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/jul/10/cesc-fabregas-departure-arsenal?CMP=twt_gu
Cheers CG – Thanks for the polite response. It seems both English and Canadian folk, for the most part, are known for the apologetic and polite nature. I, on the other hand, am an exception.
Still very curious as to what “quack” translate to in Catalan. Do get back at your leisure as inquiring minds want to know.
A good read indeed…a shiney penny in the shit so to speak..
Catalan
What the hell does moc-moc mean?
Stop attacking Denilson. After all his name is not Devilson and boy, can he dance. Besides I found out from reliable source that he’s on the plane because he’s going to sign for Malaysia Utd (or City) for an undisclosed fee.
Just listening The Business and mixing beers so sing with me: “Knock it back, have another one, drinking and driving is so much fun!”
Just had a moment of sheer bliss -Ive just realised by the NOTW going pop it means no more column inches for that slimy Cunt Rob Beasley oh what joy 🙂
Stingy ; Curandero
Old Gooner; Mucus (snot). Why????
It’s what Cesc and the Barca geezers all say on Twitter. Must be slangish for laughing then.
I’m guessing it might be a dig at Mourinho….. His normal nickname is Mou Mou….
How remiss of me. Forgot the appropriate video of the weekend.
Tim from Clashblog will love it 🙂
Dear Virginia Ironside ,
First of all , can I take this opportunity to thank you and your many readers for the hugely encouraging responses i received to my small problem last week . You are so much better than that very unhelpful Marge Proops .
You will all be pleased to know that I followed your advice and attended the party in my Speedoes . I also wore some swimming goggles as I am anxious to cultivate a more mysterious look . Unfortunately this was not a look that Russian Goddesses appear to go for , and I was once again left twiddling my thumbs . I did not get to show them my extraordinary dance routine to oops up , side your head .
I feel that I am making elementary mistakes , and in an effort to improve , I have decided to go to America in search of my all time hero , Mark Spitz , who might be able to point out where I’m going wrong .
I am however a little bit worried about Passport control . In these very vigilant times we live in , I am very concerned about the deeply intrusive body searches that now appear to be the norm . I wish to avoid big hairy male hands rustling beneath my undergarments .
My question to you ,therefore , is should I go to the Airport dressed in just my Speedoes ?
Yours in Anticipation
Wolfgang Smallballs .
In the summer of 2007 we had a central midfielder who hardly anyone wanted to keep. He was on his way to Birmingham for £2m, and many were surprised – and some quite angry – to see him included in the list of squad numbers for the coming season in early August.
During the same summer, we had bought some French right-back called Bacardi Whatshisname that no-one had heard of, and some Brazilian Croat who no-one had heard of either if it hadn’t been for a good game v England the season before.
We had also sold Henry. We were going to miss Gilberto for the first few weeks of the season – and this from a team who had secured fourth spot only very late in the season after having trailed both Tottenham and Bolton (!) in the league for large parts of the season. We got dumped out of the CL by PSV after two truly embarrassing displays and went out in the fourth round of the FA Cup to Blackburn after losing the replay at Ewood Park.
The season that followed is now being referred to almost as the good old days by many. It is heralded as the last time we really challenged for the league. I don’t really agree that that is the case, but nevertheless many see it that way.
***
Now tell me one thing: why is the coming season already written off with such certainty?
CG – Could one also use curandero when one speaks of ducks? As in, the other day I feed the curanderoes at the park.
I always thought “moc moc” was roughly equivalent to “ha ha” in English.
Holic,
Tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuune!!!!!!
Carnt agree with the selling of the clubs best players tho Keeping Cesc and building should be the way forward, Nasri on the otherhand is a syptom of all that’s wrong at the club and I don’t mind on iota if he’s sold and never seen again,
s/b fed the curanderoes
Spelling, spelling
Lars – Very insightful sober logic as is the usual norm with you. However, are you pleased with the offseason thus far? And what if very little is done, and by and large remains the status quo, before Sept. 1st?
Ah good, the usual nutters are back 😉
SV. No — you can’t feed the curanderos in the park. Unless there are a few impoverished medical types that have lost their marbles….
Ducks are Patos (Spanish) or Anecs (Catalan). The noise they make, I have no idea…. I will consult my kids’ books and report back in due course.
Odd that Lansbusry has missed out on the tour? I thought he would be promoted this year.
Wolfgang Smallballs,
I would recommend wearing the Speedoes and whilst going through airport security declare, “Don’t touch my junk!” 😉
‘holic – Nutter!?!?! I resemble that remark.
‘holic – Curious, what is your all time record for most drinks to one of your columns?
Without going through them all I couldn’t tell you Stingy. It will be recent though. The HT is responsible rather than the quality of my writing, I’m sure.
Re: ‘holic @123 The quality of the host makes all the difference so you might have to reconsider but a few of the HT fellows (TS, tabs, CG and Dr. Z not least) do rank somewhere between talkative and verbose.
Catalan: Lansbury is not in Asia because he has not returned yet because he played in the U21’s. All players are always given four weeks off so Lansbury is not back in training until next week.
Stingy: I am not entirely happy with what has been going on so far. I would have liked to see a central defender and a left-back to replace Clichy. But – assuming that Cesc stays – other than that I am not too worried. What we need isn’t neccessarily players, we need to find the source of all our soft-tissue injuries and we need a slightly altered approach to how we defend set pieces.
‘holic – Best guess ballpark figure? And you sell yourself short mate.
I’ll be staggered, Stingy, if the 570 on the May 15th post has been topped.
I’m not going back further…
That’ll do.
Quantity of posts does not define this blog am sure that like myself a great many read and dont post often ( due to limited cerebal content in my case). The quality especially post match analysis and history class keeps em coming back. The weird stuff seems to happen between 12 and 6 am as far as I can tell…the witching hours ooooohhhhh
Dear Holic,
So now you’ve blocked me from posting here,eh. Bravo.
As the great man Voltaire once said “I disagree with what you have to say but will fight to the death to protect your right to say it.” May help in dealing with a difference in opinion once in a while. What you think is right not always so.
Since I know my way with computers (and am pretty darn good at it) I can still find ways to get my views across if I wanted to .. But no you’re not worth my time.
Dont give me the hypocritical bullshit about abuse..ive seen others on this forum do worse and get away with it. Double standards thats it. Follow the law in spirit, not word.
So on a parting note, Id like to say thanks to many of the fantastic posters in the drinks section.. TS, zico, pik, Snir, Steve T – been a pleasure reading your views.
Adios,
Sajit
Evening all. Have I missed anything or is it still all a clusterfuck?
I would have guessed that the post match comments following the most recent match at Newcastle would have garnered the most drinks. And the most business in watering holes that Gooners frequent.
You’ll have me in tears in a moment Sajit. Want me to approve the shite you were posting from the other ip?
Bye.
And forgive my laziness but could someone give us the dates, times (GMT), place, opposition, etc. of this AFC Asian tour please? Thank you.
Kipmonster@50. Don’t agree with all of your points but very well written.
Holic. Wonderful choice of song. How good are The Clash by the way?
Verbose?
Words fail me. 😉
I think the word you are looking for is ‘awesome’, Steve 🙂
Dr. Z, I may have figured out why so many of us are in a poor to middling mood today, namely we have too few common enemies in the close season and one of the few we have always had, NOTW, has permanently shut up shop. Therefore may I raise the specter of Fat Harry’s face so everybody can aim a virtual tomato?
Joe Strummer was a legend…looking forward to seeing Big Audio Dynamite at the end of the summer Mick Jones still has it..
zico – That would be frugally verbose 😉
Oh, and zico, did you catch the big Fla-Flu match today? You big Flamengo fan you 🙂
Allez les femmes fatales francaises. I heard AW was scouting their game against England and a signing of one of those foxes could be in the offing. I think #14 could put Clive’s spatula on the rise, I know it sure did mine.
Rule of Thumb: When the British press and media use the word shock” as in today’s headline, “Tottenham Hotspur in shock move for Arsenal target” the reader should quickly presume there is nothing particularly shocking about the story. Time to turn attention somewhere else to let the reality of the situation sort itself out. Samba the player in question here I think but I didn’t read the story.
Now, now. You’re a married 8ball. That distinctly puts you behind the 8ball 🙂
Stingy, You are indeed correct. One of the redeeming features being that the management in this case does not read Goonerholic. Allez numero 14! 😉
Blazer Alert! Blazer Alert!!
tabs and PiK might be particularly interested.
The Chemical titans clashed today in the Copa America. It was Colombia 2-0 Bolivia. Allegedly a good time was had by all including the musical accompaniment:
“At the Copa. Copa America! Music and passion are always in fashion at the Copa. Copa America!!”
The announcer said she grew up in the streets of Marseille idolizing Zinedine Zidane so why does she wear the number of Thierry Henry?? I watched the game as an airplane passenger on a tiny TV on the seat in front of me on the way to Milwaukee and the sound wasn’t too good so I don’t remember her name but intend to find the next time France play.
If it was a witnessed via a dodgy tiny tele how on earth could you tell whether or not she was fine?
Off to Milwaukee to pick up some fresh suds?
Stingy, All the more reason to watch on the giant screen next time! No suds picked up in Milwaukee as it was just a stopover but I had a few good microbrews in Maine which was my actual destination. Don’t remember the names of those but Harpoon, a beer brewed and tasted in Boston, does stick in my memory (like a harpoon might stick in a whale, I suppose) so maybe it was the best of the lot.
8ball – Why did C3P0 & Obi Wan Kanobi have English accents in the original? I didn’t know the English ever made it to space 🙁
8ball – That Frenchie #14 — does Necib ring a bell? Or more than a bell 🙂
Necib it is, an exotic name to go along with an exotic and beautiful face. Body not too bad either but I won’t mention that.
Stingy, Not sure about the first one but as for Obi Wan Kanobi he was played by a better and more majestic actor (Ben Kingsley, if I remember right) than we Yanks had available at that or most any other time.
C3P0 would have made a right proper English butler. You can’t get a stiffer upper lip than on an android 🙂
It looks like France will play in the semifinals against the United States so I expect to have divided loyalties but to tip the balance back in favor of my native country I looked up Google images of the American players so as to pick one to rival my French hearthrob. After careful analysis Lauren Cheney emerged as top choice with Heather Mitts reasonably close behind. Not sure if either can really rival Necib however in my mind. Lovely Louisa I should say. 😉
Mitts would be a great name for a keeper but it turns out she is a defender so might have missed her true calling. 🙁
Stingy, We could use an android with a stiff upper lip to usher some of these Stoke players out of our penalty area, which seems to be where they have semi-permanently set up shop these last few years.
Catalan Gunner @23: Is the HT MkII really making its debut tomorrow?? If so I hope you’re dreaming up a good debut scenario over there in the land of Pique and other assorted cunts.
‘holicville missed you 8ball whilst you were wandering about New England. Many of us thought something untowards might have occurred to you.
The USA almost got jobbed today against Brasil and a particularly poor female Aussie referee. Had they not over turned a very late difference they would not be up against France come this Wednesday.
The USA keeper is quite a cutie among others.
Yes, Hope Solo, the keeper is a cutie but I wasn’t so smitten as before after hearing her in an interview. Thanks for the kind words, Stingy. It is good to see you back contributing regularly. I should have recorded the game but will make sure to record the semifinal for my benefit and possibly for my soccer playing daughter who as yet shows no interest in watching the game even if at world class female level, somewhat surprisingly to me. But now, seeing as tomorrow could be a big day for the HT MkII it looks like the right time to catch a few winks and regain some precious energy.
CG, bt8bbnn, TS and the others… – Is the Ht MkII making its debut tomorrow?
I’m not sure I got a ticket, where is the box office? I’m supposed to have a reservation under the name “Geuli” with 2 tickets on this stop for me and my father and 2 more tickets for the February stop for my 2 brothers when we’ll be top of the league!
Am I the only one who just wants this window to end already so it would be the middle of August and we could start the season knowing who our squad is?
Problem is, I wasn’t too happy with additions last year even though having plenty of hope. I have plenty of hope now, why do I have the feeling I’m not gonna be too happy again?
Snir, Since hope is all we have at this point, let’s make sure we have plenty of it on board the happy train, whether it leaves the station later today or later than that. Dr. C said something about it @23 but we’ll just have to see. I imagine we will need everybody on board and nobody but nobody who wants to be on board will be left behind. That’s not the way of the HT MkII, is it????
Snir, While we are at it with the hope business, how about the May stop when we will be top of the league. You are planning for that one too, I hope, despite our now almost traditional drop in form near the end of the season. AW is planning for it, I presume, and no team can win the league without faithful and dedicated support from people like you and me. We need a whole season’s worth of hope, not just enough to last into February. If we don’t do it nobody else will.
Still catching up on the last week’s news and drinks. Bon voyage Gael Clichy. You served us both long and well so all the best with your new club except when facing the Arsenal. Barman please a cuppa India’s finest and an endless supply of the same for the HT MkII.
AW in Malaysia says Gervinho has been signed, and Cesc and Nasri (the latter for one year at least) will stay.
Zico @ 136
Reference my comment,’Some you wouldn’t kiss with a Leper’s Lips ‘
Having read the first 100 odd drinks from Holics Current Post,
I Rest My Case.!!!
I think the Lunatics must have had a w/end pass from the Asylum.
Of Course it is all Holic’s Fault.
Cheers
Clive
Morning All
Strange weekend, some interesting news, some ‘colourful’ posts, some un-medicated new posters… we’ll soon get that fixed 😉
Snir & ‘nasri: HT MK II already up and running and various sightings reported here. I put a request into the chief engineer end of last week for a maiden voyage to Asia to follow the boys and help medicate a few of the surprise members of the squad but I’ve forgotten where we are with that. I know there were some last minute plan reviews for possible tweaks to carriages and compartments. Trev had a request approved for on-board ablutions, very sensible.
Wolfgang: Good to see you and your budgie smugglers back in the bar. Marje was given a 24 hour cold coffee enema for past cruelty to your empassioned pleas and may be added to the pets section of HT Mk II if she doesn’t sharpen up her act. Did you manage to pass thru’ airport security with your dignity in tact?
Stingy: Star Wars? Are you seeking a sci-fi compartment?
BTW, congrats to Japan ladies for stuffing the Germans 1-0 in QFs. Really good game to watch, I thought. Japan were the small technically gifted team who clung on and beat the large, athletic bruisers (actually, some of them were very attractive too) with a corking goal. Reminded me of Wengerball vs Pubisball, only this time the good guys/gals won. 🙂
Clive @ #166
As you can see, pass now revoked!
Morning All ,
Good to see the normal nutters back in here today , rather than the criminally insane who all chose the same weekend to drop by .
All aboard! All aboard! Stoke the Engine , Llamas please file an orderly queue , Ladies of the Sports Carriage some decorum please ,Get your Curly Wurleys here , Pass the pipe old son , a round for all Barkeeps .
The sounds of a new season are upon us .
Come on the Arsenal!
Leaves on the line…….. 😉
Excellent – more drinking time 🙂
Top o’ the mornin’ to you TS and tabs. Re: TS @167 Germany v. Japan sounds like a great game and I’m sorry to have missed it. Did they call it the Axis Cup? By knocking out the host(esse)s, the daughters of the rising sun did everybody a favor.
Dear Mr TS ,
Thank you for your concerns . It is so comforting to know that you worry about me and my speedoes and that I am not alone in this world .
I have decided to follow Mr Stingy’s advice and wear my Speedoes to Passport control .
I will update when I reach the Airport .
Yours in my Speedoes and feeling optimistic ,
Wolfgang Smallballs .
Morning Nas , Good to see you back
Dear Mr Smallballs
Whilst admiring your optimism, I would caution against your suggested apparel at the airport. You may find that lots of sweaty palms will try to wrench your Speedoes, as rumour has it they are a collective item in these “parts”.
nasrl’ @ #172,
… and to you old bean. Yes, they did. I thought it was a vague referral to the WWII axis powers but then again, I am a Brit with an island mentality and I know that they don’t like it up ’em Capt.M.
Dr. z,
Try these attached to the HT MkII locomotive?
http://www.ganos.com/leaf.htm
Check out the prices too. No need to forgo golden pipes, little pleasures and priviledges, etc., etc. Are the water injectors working again?
tabs,
Morning. Talking of ‘Stoke’ & ‘llamas’, there were a couple of the furry creatures staying near where I was this weekend. Was very tempted to call in to satisfy a couple of guilty pleasures…
Dear Wolfgang,
Of course, it also depends on your destination. Some cultures will embrace your show of manhood. Others may take a view with a harder line. Climate could have a baring, sorry, bearing too.
Yours, Mr.Storey
Mr Smallballs – re my advice in 175 – I did of course mean collectors item.
Wolfgang’s balls got me to thinking we all might like to have some small ones aboard the HT MkII, so where better to get some than Amazon.com?
http://www.amazon.com/Jugs-Bucket-Small-Balls-4-dozen/dp/B001CF3L80
Jugs and small balls ‘nasri? It’s the sport carriage for you….
Thanks for your suggestion Prof Storey @ 176 – you may however need to brush up on your HT code
“Leaves on the line” means “problem with work permit/visa/transfer negotiations/hamstring injury/basquet cases”
Water supply is however intact, although the supply levels are low due to a miserly Kanadian guzzling all night…..
How naiive of me Dr.z. The Prof has been corrected. I think the 5Head situation is close to resolution. Manga Teenage Warrior may take a little longer forcing the real prof to (perhaps) loosen his iron grip on the purse-strings (please) 🙂
Stingy, please go easy old son. Your body can only retain so much water 🙂
How was the barbecue, TS?
Try again, I am no longer a comrade.
Morning TABS @ 169 and all the other “normal nutters” – is that oxymoronic ? – I decided, aided by familial commitments, not to get involved with the simply moronic over the weekend.
I am looking forward tremendously to my ride on the HT Mk II, and hoping that this season’s incarnation does not, come March, turn into the bi-Polar Express.
Could whoever is the Chief Engineer tell me, for interest sake, are we powered by nuclear fuel, electricity, or is it still steam and hot air. I have this worry that it could be . . . . no, let’s not spoil the first trip by even thinking about it.
Casey Jones . . mmm …
Ollie,
Welcome back to the Western Bloc.
Er, it was a family affair. I suggested alternative meats such as llama steaks (to help destroy the evidence) but alas, no takers.
More importantly:
(1) Did you secure suitable quantities of Polish Vodka for the bar and HT Mk II?
(2) Can you give us any intel on how The 5Head plays?
Wolfgang Smallballs @ 173 – “Yours in my Speedos”
I assure you that “mine” are not, and never will be, in your Speedos.
I bid you good day sir, as I have to return to work.
Trev @ #185,
Regarding potential bi-polar express passengers we have the answer. The security carriage is populated with beasts in PARS who, on sniffing any potential Lillywhitedom, will set their flamethrowers to ‘toast’ and go roaming amongst the carriages for victims.
Bottom line: Best to stay positive or else risk being served as an accompaniment to breakfast.
Heh, Trev. I think I know where you are going on that one!
I’m bored. Just looking at the Asia trip photos on pravda. Mildly interesting to see who chooses to sit next to whom!
I do like those casual tops though. Wouldn’t mind if they were the actual kit.
For the avoidance of doubt, the HT MkII will run until it is mathematically impossible for it to do otherwise.
The nature of the fuel, is, I’m afraid, not going to be disclosed due to commercial sensitivity (i.e. we have patents pending and the spoils will be distributed amongst Club Level passengers as you might expect).
Yours
Delirious Locomotives Limited
Quite right Dr Z , The HT Mark II must be a self-sustaining model , and must allow club level members to get rich beyond their wildest dreams . Now where’s my club level pass ? 🙂
Lars @113 – Well said Sir !
Trev , Good Morning , have no fear , we have sufficient ” fuel ” to see us through until the end of May .
Its just been confirmed that the game against the Scousers is 12:45 kick off on Saturday 20th.
TS – I am hoping to make this subject to travel arrangements and a requisite pass from zico Management.
No other home games on Sky before end of November as far as I can see.
Internal Memo – Delirious Locomotives Ltd:
————————————————
From: Prof TES
To. Dr. z
Good news. Legal counsel have advised the searches for the patents surrounding HT Mk II propulsion system were successful. They have now lodged patents across all major geographies. Should get feedback from Malaysia, China and EU Member States first. Potential royalties could keep PHW and his family in nights out at ‘Secrets’ and resuting legal costs for the rest of their lives. Club Level now expecting a bumper year in new revenues. Have contacted 1500 llama sanctuaries across the world in anticipation of extra stocks required. Suggest we look into the self-sustaining model and consider going into farming to ensure supplies.
Slow day at work (obviously).
Edwin
Nice to see the pics of the squad jetting off to Malaysia for the tour. (http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-travel-to-malaysia-picture-special) My reactions:
AW looks like a hitman with his sharp suit, skinny shades and 2 duffel bags. Also, it was nice of the kind pilot-man to allow little Jack to see the cockpit – I hope they gave him a model plane to play with on the flight. And whoever it is on the far side of pic 15 with his foot in the air resting it on the window needs to learn some manners (the management at Chez Cam Gooner would whip him into shape in no time).
My final thought was, if AW had all the squad sit in seats according to their position (i.e. strikers first, AMF’s just behind etc) would it be called formation flying? Sorry, my taxi’s outside with the engine running.
*peeps in, shakes head, backs out slowly* 😉
PS – Oh and Robin in pic 10? You are not a gangster or a chav. Don’t do that. Ever. My taxi driver just started the meter so I’m really going now.
Dear Mr TS ,
Thank you for your further advices . I don’t mind admitting it got me a little confused and I found myself dropping and then putting back on my speedoes at a rate the Ladies of the Sports Carriage would have been proud .
In order to avoid any speedoe snatching at the airport , I am not wearing my pride and joy , my Mark Spitz vintage Gold medal pair .
I have settled on a plain orange pair , which I have teamed up with a pair of Jimmy Choo high heels . I have even been wolf-whistled by some Builder types . They may not be world champion willowy Russian tennis players , or even female , but I think it is a start .
Dear Mr Trev ,
I assure you that my speedoes are so tight there is no room for yours or anyone elses . Anyone who knows me remarks on how possessive I am about my speedoes . I thank you for your interest however .
Yours , a little bit tottery ,
Wolfgang Smallballs .
Nice one Wolfgang!
Heh! No wonder The Barman has backed away 🙂 🙂 🙂
*leaves to re-stock CMC*
Rude not too…..
‘to’
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gervinho-agrees-deal-to-join-arsenal
The 5Head is nearly amongst us, hooray!
“Still subject to regulatory processes”, boo!
Internal Memo – Delirious Locomotives Ltd:
————————————————
From: Doctor Feelgood
To. Prof T E Storey
Professor, I am a bit concerned that you are stretching yourself a bit thin. Take it as read, that the patents and all benefit(s) accruing thereof, are already being taken care of (ahem). And please refrain from speaking to the legal department immediately, they’ll only come up with something legal.
As for your suggestion of diversifying into llama farming, I think that we will have to rely on our good friend Lonestar Gooner to supply whatever quantities we need. Diversifying is required, but I feel that the side effects of the batch infused with llama, were liable to see us in court for the wrong reasons (see legal department above). We don’t want anyone bleating (heh) to the press, as we need to concentrate on our PR, so I task you to find something different for the next journey. Consider it our equivalent of the Nike deal, a new season, a new confection.
Also, can you get someone in Security to look into the stories I am hearing about a passenger who has stripped down to swimming trunks and is tottering toward the Sports carriage, as we speak? I am hoping that this is not going to be a disciplinary matter and assume that you have the CMC keys well hidden from view?
Camberwell Gooner, Judging by the size of those rice balls offered by the Malaysian hostesses greeting the Arsenal players at the airport, I have a feeling the ladies could be underwhelmed by Wolfgang’s smallballs. Oh well, I have a feeling it isn’t a comparison to Malaysian rice balls he is worried about at any rate, but I could be wrong of course. 🙂
Does anyone fancy entering for a caption competition for pics 14 and 18?
Bt8bbnn – I’ve got hope (solo :)) to last from today till next season’s offseason.
My brothers on the other hand are a bit wary so they’ll be joining later:).
AW has said Nasri is staying, what are your thoughts on that?
Personally I’d be glad if he would sell his greedy ass, can’t forget how disrespectful he was towards our beloved AFC.
Internal Memo – Delirious Locomotives Ltd:
————————————————
From: Prof. TES
To: Doctor Feelgood
Re: Your last memo
DF
All points noted and understood. I have now disengaged with our legal department which will save costs and should leave the revenues for addition to the benefits pool.
A few further points of my own.
Our good friend Lonestar only has limited stocks and demand is expected to out-strip supply esp. as ‘the process’ is extremely taxing on the llama’s immune system. It is estimated that we will need over 1000 ripe, young females to complete the Asia trip alone. I therefore urge you to re-consider self-sustainability before the season starts and look further into the possibilities of establishing our own herd.
I will look into a new ‘Nike equivalent deal’ as requested. I have already started discussions with Speedo. They are willing to talk provided that we can assure them that we will drop our negotaitions with Jimmy Choos.
As for the security matter that you raised it is in hand and under control, no further action is required. WS is now recovering gently in the Secure Unit with His Cliveness as mentor and The Voluptuous C as his release agent. The CMC keys were spotted bulging in his swimwear but were removed without causing any harm.
Yours stretched thinly,
PTES.
PS from PTES for DF
Look forward to continuing discussions during a pre-match session vs The Mugsmashers on 20th Aug 😉
Camberwell:
Number 14: “Hey Tommy, check out these awesome Arsenal speedoes, they’re all orange and it says ‘Wolfgang’ on them!”
Heh Lars @ #209 🙂
CG for photo number 19: “Is it true you three are signed up for bar duty on the HT this season?
TS: or maybe “hello, are you the medical staff here? Great, we’ll be seeing lots of each other in the coming days!”
🙂
Re: True Storey #176: Island mentality understood but Capt.M.?? Either Lonestar is very busy tending his llama stocks or he has gone AWOL and must be stripped of a good portion of his llama “handling” duties, in my humble opinion. Either way, not a very pretty picture for viewing by young eyes such as mine. 😉
Re: 210, TS Anything is possible on the HT MkII especially if the subjects are willing and in my mind’s eye in this case it appears they are. 🙂
nasri
Capt. M is Captain Mainwaring from an old TV series called Dad’s Army here in the UK. I doubt it would translate properly so, in hindsight, another poorly thought out post from me. Hey ho….
TS @ 208
PRE match pint? For a 12:45 kick off? Excellent, what time is the Tolly open – 11am?
If we are discussing “stock” for the rolling stock we may need to reconvene after the match then – D L Ltd Management meeting could have a pretty full agenda?
8 ball at 214 (and everyone else!)
Opinions stated by some passengers are not necessarily shared by D L Limited Management.
*sip*
zico @ 216
Mmmm… yet another poorly thought thru’ post from me? This time hopefully not! Not sure what time The Tolli opens on a matchday Saturday, I’d be surprised if they weren’t willing to cater for pre-match sessions though. I’m guessing your journey is somewhat longer than mine so if we have to wait for a post match drink then so be it. With any luck, other ‘Holics will be able to join us….
I think it might well open at 10am for early kick-offs.
11am it will definitely be open.
I like early kick-offs for the post-match drinks.
I hate it for having to wake up even earlier…
Though I may try to reach blighty the previous day instead.
…. like Ollie for example 🙂
TS (and Ollie)
A few logistical hurdles still to be overcome, in order of ascending difficulty
1. Flight tickets
2. Match tickets
3. zico Management 2 day pass
Challenges, not problems 🙂
Dr. Z @221 Noted that Management has a capital M and zico a small z. The significance is not lost on this gooner but could be beyond most Spuds. Something must account for 50 years and 2 months of ineptitude.
zico @ #221
Mmm… like Gervinho, we’ll keep the champagne on ice for now 😉
Don’t worry, may have a few of the Management issues to contend with myself but goodwill should be high for first home (w/end) game of season. I expect to be there.
8 ball – LWCs can read?
Dr. Z, The answer to your question is very likely to entail doing research of a most distasteful variety so the research without question being vital and necessary to the advancement of human understanding and knowledge, I respectfully propose contracting a qualified, willing and unbiased graduate student to conduct the study. 😉
G’day all,
Is it true? Rumours from last night have the HT departing today. When is the scheduled arrival in southern Canada?
I’m going to guess that we haven’t made a splash in the market today, as per usual. One could say that we make a bigger splash in the fish market than the transfer market 🙂 Go fish.
‘nasri @ # 225,
Sounds OK to me ‘nasri as long as they require no management and are willing to be paid in local currency which is clear, tasteless but effective 😉
Asia first, I believe Stingy, subject to regulatory processes on woolly, long-necked mammals. The commercial opportunities are too great to miss….
Based on recent seasons past and until proven otherwise the HT must be powered by hot air. We can huff and puff but it’s all hot air to me until we blow the house down.
Good luck, zico!
Lars, TS: *scratching head, devoid of captions*
Some might call this ‘comedian’s block’ but if you take my ‘joke’ @ 195 as representative of my ability to be humorous, it’s no surprise I can’t think of a caption!
Does anyone have a Spuds’ joke to lift my spirits?
Might I suggest we post a Spuds’ joke daily. As they say, a Spuds’ joke a day keeps the negativity away.
Hey Stingy
Why the negativity? Monday morning-itis?
We ‘announced’ Gervinho today and AW went on record regarding our intention to keep Cesc and Nasri at Arsenal for another year. Pravda.com, after deathly silence has gone relatively potty by its standards today. Even the b’stard press has responded in kind. This, I believe, is about as good as it’s going to get for the next couple of weeks.
We may get another one or two ‘quality’ signings but I’m willing to lay another bet there will be no more than that. AW, like it or not, has also made that pretty clear to all.
This is a good test of our glass half-full capabilities. If you’re expecting 3-4 more new players min then I respectfully suggest that you’re setting yourself up for a big disappointment. Look at the man and his track record. Is he really going to change his MO that much? I’m not saying I agree with all he does (far from it) but he has, at least, been failry clear about his intentions now.
Or is it that very reason that’s making you feel negative? 😉
PS: We call it a ‘Happy Train’ because it’s all about getting on-board and enjoying the journey.
Whereas, on the ST…. 😉
Heh Ollie! That’s further brightened my day, ta! 🙂
zico @203, TS @207 – very funny stuff.
Stingy, I think I am sharing your concerns that the numbers of ins and outs seem to have reduced somewhat since a very angry and frustrated AW appeared on TV (no not Vermaelen, the other thing) at the end of the season.
However, another 1 or 2 of quality and character in the right areas would make things a lot more promising.
tabs @ 192 seems convinced we will have plenty of “fuel” to get the HT Mk II through to the end of the season.
I am still worried that the burners on the hot-air generators will ‘lack a little bit the spirit’ come March, but we will just have to let those who are paid to know better, do their job.
Cancelled appt for me, back to work again shortly.
PS: Small infestation of ants in my office today. Too many to see if they’re DMs, AMs or CFs. None of them appears to be playing Wengerball.
I was of the impression that if I board the HT it would make me happy…
Have we really officially signed Worf? From reading the Guardian today I got the impression that it is still very imminent but not yet 100% official. Although Worf is from the Ivory Coast his name sounds Brasilian. Hopefully, he can play like a clean shaven one.
Cheers Trev @ #237.
I think we’re all concerned. AW seems to be pressing on with his youth policy regardless: Jenkinson, Gibbs, Traore, Frimpong, Miyachi et al.
Maybe a Cahill (or similar) and a.n.other (not a Squillaci or similar) will help to calm nerves but the HT is rolling-on regardless until the point where silverware is no longer possible.
It will help Stingy, the rest is up to you 😉
We still have some regulations to overcome re: Worf, see the Pravda link @ #202.
TS, As Tabs might have pointed out if he were around, the ants would only be playing Wengerball if accompanied by hornets in suitable numbers.
*Disclaimer* No reference to Watford FC and/or Elton John intended to be conveyed by above statement.
Stingy @239 – depends which carriage you get in. If it’s “happy” you’re after, may I suggest the Sport carriage. Other dwarves are, of course, available.
May I suggest Grumpy?
TS @227, Payment in Vodka and/or other clear, tasteless but effective substances is already specified on the graduate student’s job description, but maybe the successful candidate, assuming she is at least of Voluptuous Cecilia caliber, should also be granted a delightful foray in the Sport Carriage?
Sounds OK to me Nasri, please send the CVs/resumes thru’ to the usual addressee at Delusions Of Grandeur House.
BTW, the liquid I was referring to was far less alcoholic and far more acidic 😉
Grumpy on the HT.
What a testimonial to D L Ltd services that would be.
Better than Dopey, zico?
In keeping with my fine moniker, I am the most frugal of travellers. I expect the upmost in accomodations aboard this ‘Happy Train’, to be entertained frequently, my thirst quenched always (and for Lars to pay for it), to have voluptuous female HT employee goddesses feed me grapes by hand, to become utterly ‘happy’, and to pay very little for it.
Dopey is in beside Cusop for obvious reasons….
Stingy, I fear you be setting yourself up for disappointment again, unless you’re willing to pay Club Level prices 🙂
Dr.z @ #251
Heh! Or next to the CMC depending on your definitions 😉
Stingy, that should read ‘you may be’ at #252.
It`s not time to panic yet, after all Chelski haven`t spent yet, and Citeh have paid good money for their latest overvalued and overhyped Arsenal recruit who will doubtless be as dazzling as the others. All this paper talk of meltdown is crap, as Clichy won`t be missed, Fabregas was always going to go, and if Arsene can persuade Nasri to sign on again, not impossible IMO, we can stick two fingers up to Holt and all those other Manc-loving hacks. Gervinho looks like a smart signing, and IF we can bring in the right defenders the team will look quite strong. Just think, you could be a Spuds fan, with Modric clamouring for a move, Bale to follow if he goes, and little chance of attracting top players, with no prospect of CL football on the horizon.
But this is Arsene`s last chance. Bring in the right people in the right positions, and we will be up for all the major trophies; otherwise he could be finished. Stan will act swiftly if the prospect of losing £20-30M pa. becomes a reality.
“Ask not what you can do for the Happy Train, ask what the Happy Train can do for you!”
Well said Biscuit. I’m pretty much aligned with your thinking. CL Qualifiers exit would probably precipitate an AW exit too. I don’t think the great man could survive that and the board might act pretty swiftly too under those circumstances.
Let’s look on the positive side and expect a CL qualifier victory with some degree of panache, along with a solid start to the league and cup campaigns. The players will be eager to rid themselves of the lingering disappointment and bad feeling built up after the end of season collapse so motivations will be high, and expectations and positivity should be accordingly high as well, both on the part of the players and the supporters (i.e. you, me and my faithful but rather dimwitted dog).
TS @ 257 – I don’t agree – if god forbid that were to happen, I still think AW would at least see the season out and the Board would let him. No trophies at the end of the season would then see him fall on his sword.
Not that I think it will come to that.
However, there is still a lot to sort. Relying on Gibbs at full back would be a big risk, and I don’t see Nasri staying, and even if he does, then we could have a final season akin to that of Adebayor – namely going through the motions and at odds with the fans. We are also in need of a goal keeper, defensive midfielder and at a push, centre back although I can understand why Wenger might not see that as a priority if we get TV back (personally, I still think we will be suspect at set pieces unless we get someone in who can organise and defend properly).
SV @ 256 – I’m beginning to think you (and JFK) may have missed the point about the Happy Train – you don’t get on it to become Happy – you get on it because you ARE Happy.
We are about to embark on another journey of discovery, currently level on points with Man Utd and Chelsea – so get Happy (as the dwarf kidnapper used to say – or was it Elvis Costello?)
Lars. Thanks for setting me straight about Lansbury a while back.
Zico – looks like we are in for a season of Gibbs and Traore (which of course means just Traore after the first half of the first game). BIG risk IMO – would have liked to see someone come in there.
Lansbury and PingPong to be promoted from within. Maybe Coquelin too? Miyachi off on loan. Afobe to make a break into the squad?
That’s all good. Would like to see Miyachi replace Vela, actually, but out of our hands.
Just really really need to get a solid lump of a centre-half in. Cahill / Samba – whoever.
And then, IF Nasri / Cesc go then get in Mata and perhaps Benzema too.
Not the end of the world… we could be Spuds.
zico – Then you’re Happy Train is not ‘happy’ enough. You should think bigger and follow the blueprints as per #256. You’d become another Scottish millionaire 😉
And if the hostesses on that Happy Train aren’t curvaceous enough I demand a refund. Damn it!
make that “your” Happy Train in 262
A sign/ing … he of the high-five head at 24, 6ft and 10/11 mill says the Le Proff wasn’t B.Essing Gooners, he had realised his TAMM as we knew it needed modifying – and so has begun the process. Credit where it’s due. I’m getting back on board – up The Arse!
@ Catalan – that sounds awfully like Project Youth all over again – have we learned nothing? Wenger himself admitted at the season’s end that we lacked experience yet now appears to be distancing himself from the overhaul that we thought was coming.
My main wish for the coming season is that we avoid another Groundhog Day and lament our “lack of experience” – the thought of that almost changes my demeanour from Happy to mildly disgruntled. Thankfully I have a set of keys….
And Lester, welcome aboard.
Please make your way to Club Level where we will divest you of all your worldly goods…..we may also ask you to leave a limb on deposit.
For those of you worried about the cost of travel, D L Ltd will accept certain medicinal compounds as a form of currency. * Payments must be compressed into small segments, easily hidden in the palm of the hand and weighing no more than 0.25g. All payments will be vetted by D L Ltd “quality control experts” before travel. Please note that livestock, of any description, will not be accepted as legal tender, although in certain specified cases, travellers will be allowed to board with said livestock in the absence of a proper girlfriend.
* (Except on Bank Holidays, Winter Solstice, and if we are paid a surprise visit by the Catalonian Special Branch, in which case you’re on your own).
“They can take our lives, but they will never take our Happiness!”
At last..words have been spoken deeds have been done, football is back on the agenda and arsene is looking the consumate tourist thinking to himself why the fuck didnt I do this years ago….pauses to smell the fresh cut grass and old leather footballs…On a slightly less positive note am not too pleased regarding not signing a left back as Gibbs while being through the ranks and totally deserving of our full support as he strives to cement his place in Arsenal history, is not quite ready and is a big gamble injury wise. Traore, like a lot of players we stuck out on loan could not buy a game and that my friends is not the solution to what for 3 seasons has been our weak flank..but we are heading in the right direction…In Arsenes relaxed vibe we trust..
Thank you Dr. Z – have read the terms and conditions in depth and feel largely able to comply. A little worried thou that the giving over of a limb might make the payments in “small segments, easily hidden in the palm etc.” logistically tricky – a kind of giving with one hand and having the other hand taken from you type situation.
However will endeavour to re-read the small print as am sure this exact situation has been covered by the onboard illegal team.
Psed – i don’t have a proper girlfriend at present but am becoming increasingly intimate with a self-sustaining model – request permission to pipe aboard at the appropriate time.
Up The Arse!
Hi folks,
Just checking in again!
I would like to welcome the signing of Gervinho. Shame about the departures but players will come and go!
Good to see the usuals in here especially True Storey. How’s it going mate?
Until next time folks
😉
Zico @266,
Do you mean to tell me that my fine crop of llamas and pheasants are not good enough to book my passage aboard the HT mk II?
I must confess that I now know how poor Cain must have felt when told that his blemish-free, organic, top-shelf vegetables were not pleasing to the Lord.
I’m not saying he should have killed Abel, but I understand… *pauses to acknowledge Chris Rock*
If we don’t bring in some more quality signings, I’m gonna go all Cain meself – then again, I’ll just take a refreshing Guinness and chill in my dark corner.
Dr.z @ #258,
Like you said, it’s a ‘god forbid’ scenario. My point was made (in agreement with Biscuit) as I feel that fan sentiment is just not strong enough to tolerate another lean spending summer, which is likely unless Cesc or Nasri leaves, followed by a near-term failure on the pitch of that magnitude. The beying mob might well get their cries answered as KSE seeks to shore-up its investment. Cue possible mini-meltdown (of LFC proportions) as we try to replace our greatest ever manager, stabilise the core of the team and then re-build the squad in winter. It was, overall, a rather negative stance on my part fuelled by the knowledge that AW is not going to change the way he operates given his age, experience and the possibility that he might just be right. However, he is, I think, out of chances and if ‘le collapse’ rears its ugly head again at any point next season then that of our leader could well roll with it.
Dr.C @ #260,
Like you said, it could always be worse, we could be Spuds but project youth is very much alive and kicking and that is a great concern using the rear-view mirror of the past 6 seasons.
AL @ #264,
I’ll add my welcome aboard and suggest that you shut your eyes and think of Arsenal… and golden pipes 😉
SV @ #s 261, 262,
You need to bring your happiness with you and as for refunds, DLL is not M&S 😉
Gt @ #270,
Welcome back, pull up a chair/pint/pipe/warm furry mammal.
Lonestar, never fear. Your stock (or is it flock) is always most welcome.
Club level beckons – send your cheque (or is it check in yank speak) to Ivory Towers, my man Storey will do the rest.
Noel @ #268
From what I saw of Traore, like you, I am not a fan. However, according to Young Guns he is now a much improved player – he’d need to be in my view. I can see the general clamour for a new LB growing louder than that of a new CB. It looks like we’re going to need to get used to Traore/Gibbs/Jenkinson in that postition. At least there is cover…. and we’re not LWCs 😉
Dr. z,
Have I become ‘Dirty Storey’? 🙂
Lonestar,
Look on the bright side. Without your herd, our patented propulsion system would not be a ‘reality’ today. You’ll go down in ‘Holic history mate 😉
Zico & TS,
Thank you for the reassurance. As I am a bit of an Anglophile, your alternate spellings are fine with me (re: cheque v. check). I hope your man Friday, I mean, Storey will not be put-out if the check…um, bounces.
I’m good for it.
A round for all my good Gooners, please. Up the Arse!
Llamas? Llamas?? Seriously? I hope not for sexual gratification purposes.
What ever happened to the good old days and sheep? Baaaaaaa …
Well, I suppose a llama can be viewed as a cheap date but for the love of God man! It is so wrong. It is a violation. What would those animal rights’ activists say about this?