The First Ray Of Light?
Jul 11th, 2011 by 'holic
The best laid plans of mice and men, and all that. The first day there is a new signing to discuss, I get in from work, and a rare visitor arrives to wipe out writing time. Do I eat this late, or do I write? Pass me the rum, love. That will do for dinner…
The other effect of being occupied for the evening is that I have missed what is happening on Twitter, which promised to be interesting as news leaked of the Arsenal Supporters Trust meeting tonight. The results of their survey provide little to surprise given that it followed the most frustrating end to a season in recent history. I suspect few have been swayed from their view, be it ‘glass-half-full’ or ‘glass-half-empty’ since then, given the fact that the revolving door at the club has only just been freed.
The arrival of Gervinho from the French double winners Lille is hopefully the first of a few significant arrivals this summer. I had not realised that he spent time at Beveren in 2004/2005 which says much about the length of time that we have been aware of him. His arrival is welcome in as much as he is a genuine wide player, not a converted central midfielder or centre-forward. That means we have options for further developing Theo Walcott this season, although these will depend on who else turns up in the ‘in-tray’.
Given Arsene’s bullish stance on both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at this mornings press conference in Malaysia I am feeling a bit more encouraged at our immediate prospects. I personally feel it more likely that only one of the pair will be with us on September the first. Providing the other contributes to us at very least qualifying for the Champions League, for this coming and the following season, then we will have earned much more than his transfer fee would get us now.
Of course it is easy to be more positive when rum is sloshing around in an empty stomach. I think I should go and order a mate’s favourite delicacy, a Wigan kebab (four pies on a stick!).
Bon appetit, as they say in Lille.
206 Responses to “The First Ray Of Light?”
Got our man. Now let’s get more.
What is good about Nasri walking away next summer on a free to Man Utd.We lose a Β£20m plus player they get one for free.Wenger said a Flamini situation would never happen again well he lied.
If we get through this qualifier, and finish in the top three next season, we make three times what the Mancs of either persuasion are prepared to pay.
I’ll take that gamble.
If we win something big he’ll sign again.
He might have been wrong, but that’s distinct from lying. The boss is not the footballing equivalent of Richard Nixon.
Ferguson claims Nasri is leaving, but not to Man Utd. He’s got all the insider information clearly!
Would have linked Nina Simone singing Feeling Good if I knew how to do it…its a new dawn its a new day….
Gervinho is a strange one for me. Looks a player but if he was there with eboue and kolo then why did we not take him then. Must have been something that stopped us signing him at the time.
Anyway, drinks all round for the first proper signing!
Would have linked Nina Simone singing Feeling Good””
Birds in the sky , you know how I feel .
That any good for starters. ??
On the subject of starters , I think an amontillado will do tonight.
For Noel…
Peter Gabriel circa early 1970’s is where Gervinho got that look.
If I was Wenger I’d say this to Nasri…
“We really want you to stay at Arsenal but if you want to be on same wages as Cesc then you have to show what you can do for a whole season, not just the first half”
The problem with today’s footballers is that they have a few good games and think the are world class.
Sorry but to me world class means you perform like it EVERY TIME, regardless if you play against Barcelona or some 2nd league team in the FA/Carling cups.
Nasri was indeed deserving of a Β£100k+ wage the first half, but 2nd half no one in our team deserve to be on anything more than Β£50k
I wish wages could be based on performance, not reputation or potential.
Fergie should keep his whisky induced nose out of our business.
i would rather nasri spent out his last days than straight off head to the very team that unashamadley unsettled him. perhaps by the time his contrast expires, other teams would have come in for him too, and i hope its citeh who do just that, so he can be another tevez like thone in their flesh when he scores against the mancs in the derbies.
Rum and a Wigan kebab Holic?
Do you not have work in the morning? π
Thanks holic, I think the mood is lifting despite that utter prick fergie trying to stir the shit again….what is it with prem managers that they cant stop talking about us…who are the voyeurs for the last few seasons…hypocrites..
Holic Remember the last seasons of Henry and Adebayor they didnt want to be there.Nasri will just go through the motions.As for him staying the following year.Thats just stupidity.A free transfer City or Utd can pay him well over a Β£150k we would never do that.And what about Wengers quote that no player would be allowed to go into the final year of his contract?
A new post? I’ll stop tapping on the previous one then….
I like the title ‘Holic: there’s always hope, the Happy Train and at least we’re not LWCs π
All aboard that’s coming aboard. Oh it’s a great day, tum-te-tum….
Danish @ #11
Unfortunatley, it is his business to stick his red beak into ours. Best ignored. Sounds like sour grapes to me, that means he’s p*ssed off. Rejoice!
Graham
So we sell Nasri to City for Β£20m so you can go on blogs and whine about us selling our best players to rivals do we?
As for Fergie’s comments. They look like a combination of sour grapes and shit stirring.
Let’s not pick on each other please. We know what Graham means.
I just happen to think we cut our nose off to spite our face if we sell anybody for short term gain now who could land us a bigger sum in the year ahead.
Like I said, it’s a gamble.
He must be able to head a ball. He has the bigest forehead I have ever seen.
Don’t know much about the lad so it will be interesting to see how he plays. Basic fact is that he is a replacement for Bendtner so we are still waiting for genuine additions to the squad.
AW’s statement is a bit strange for me. It sounded as if we think they are going to stay, we hope they stay but deep down there is still a niggling doubt. My gut feeling is that I would not be surprised if we lost both before the start of the season. I must agree with some of those above. If Nasri walks at the end of next season for nothing when we have spent the last 5 years being frugal at best then I will be very annoyed.
Cesc is different. I still think we should just come out and say he aint going. End of. But Barca have problems. When the new financial rules kick in next season they could easily struggle.
Time will tell I guess. Until then the squad will continue their build up to the season playing in 95 degree heat. Ideal preparation for a trip to Wigan on a cold December evening where traditionally we are so strong??????? I wonder how many Frimpong shirts they have sold over there to boost the global reputation of The Arsenal?????
Onwards and upwards.
Fergie once again shows no class or respect for anyone or any club in the premier league, as he has been allowed to do for years. Look how he treats the FA and the BBC, mindgames ??? ignorant, arrogant drunk!! Really hope that Arsene has done enough to keep both cesc and samir. Nobody really knows but unlike that scots baffoon, at least our business will be conducted in private.
Missive from the Secure Unit
Evening Holic
Trust you are well,
I’ve noticed that your last few blogs have been a bit downbeat which is unusual for you,as you are normally quite the positive one.
I know there probably hasn’t been much to be upbeat about after another sad end to the season just gone,and the usual flummery about Fabregas, and now Nasri getting restless,along with a lack of transfer activity,but at the end of the day when you have followed the Club for as long as you and I have,it doesn’t alter the fact that come the beginning of August,just as we have done for many seasons past, we will be there dressed in all our Finery,full of hope and expectation,but tempered with a dash of realism, that it will be another 10 months of agony and ecstasy following the Club that is embedded in our hearts.
So cheer up mate,stay positive,keep the faith, remember,
THE ARSE IS OUR TEAM AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
I must sign off now as the Vuluptuous Cecilia has just arrived and she has that look in her eye,it could be a long night.!!
Take care
Cheers
Clive
Or he is up to his usual mind tricks – trying to get Nasri to force a early move. You can read it either way. I really hope Wenger will buy some new players and sell off the deadwood, but after reviewing his press conference I have a sick feeling that he is not going to make our dreams come true.
@SteveT: We don’t need any additions to the squad, first because of the 25 players rule and then because we have so many players already we have to play them out of position or let them rot on the bench. From reading you and others, you wanted to improve the squad and that’s exactly what’s happening with Gervinho replacing Bendtner (although I still think Bendtner will shine when given the opportunity of a full season as a striker).
As for Nasri and Cesc there’s still 2 months until the end of the transfer window. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves on both. We know from last season that if Arsene wants them to stay they’ll stay. As for Nasri walking on a free, if that’s the price to play for silverware I’m sure you won’t mind a bit.
Btw looks like Almunia is on his way to Atletico, not sure it will make a difference to have Mannone as a 3rd-choice keeper but hey, it’s not like there’s anything rational about the current climate of hate against the players.
@Sadman: put any player on the bench for 75% of the game and he’ll become deadwood.
@Clive: amen to that, I can’t wait for the season to start!
I’d rather we kept Nasri for one more season even if it came to losing him on the free next season. That’s a bold statement to bullish clubs – don’t sniff around my players even if they have just one day remaining on their contracts. For one thing, if Nasri stays, all clubs that are battling now for his signature won’t be that mad to wait a whole season…they’d go for similiar talents elsewhere thereby limiting nasri’s destinations next season. Besides, while he winds down his contract, he’s smart enough to know it’s a two-way stretch…loss of form, injuries, though I’m not wishing those, could render him untouchable. Rosicky, Eduardo are perfect examples!
It gives the Arsenal more steel to lose 20m than tell clubs we’re just about making profit.
For Fab, I’d tell Arsene to let him go provided Barca meets our valuation. Fab is a fantastic player no doubt and I’ll forever miss him but the team is built too much around the Spaniard for its own good. And when he does go, Arsene should do well not to build what is left of his team around any player so dominantly ever again.
All is well. Looking forward to the new season. Sopcast updated, Veetle updated. Haven’t signed with anyone yet though. Keep the faith gooners π
@Tai: “the team is built too much around the Spaniard for its own good. And when he does go, Arsene should do well not to build what is left of his team around any player so dominantly ever again.”
I couldn’t agree with you more, this is one of the main ingredient of our stalling (with the B-team rotation).
Matt. Nice to see you again. I have thought for sometime that we are not that far away. However I also feel that we have too many in a comfort zone and they have been there too long. My opinion has been for sometime that that the squad needs refreshing. I don’t know if Gerninho improves the squad. I do not know enough about him. As for NB52 I also think he may well be a player if played down the middle. But his attitude at times for me is not good. I am disappointed with the way we has turned out.
My understanding of the 25 players rule is that it does not include players that are home grown and under a ceratin age. I will stand corrected as if I am wrong because I do not know the exact figures but I have always believed that we fall easily withing the limits. I felt last year we missed a trick and it ended up costing us. I just do not want to see it happen again.
Re Nasri, everything that has ever come out of the club in recet years has tended to suggest that we would not let another player walk away for free. I find it very strange that we are prepared to gamble losing 20 million on a player now when we would not stump up the relatively minor extra amounts asked for to secure deals last summer. Deals that vast majority of us identified before the start of the season. For me, if Nasri does not want to sign then we sell him now and spend the cash on a replacement.
I do agree with the completely unjustified venom directed at certain players. Players such as Almunia and Denilson are likely to leave. I doubt many will mourn their departures. But for all of their failings I do not remember one game when I could say that either has given anything less than 100% for the cause. For that alone they deserve respect.
Gervinho looks a good signing to me – the kind of player we could really use. Hopefully he won’t be taking wardrobe tips from Eboue.
Unsurprised to read the Fergie quotes this evening. We’ve already had Evra and Scholes trying to publicly tap Nasri up this summer, so it’s about time the main man himself joins in. Great to know that the game’s authorities are utterly uninterested in trying to police this sort of thing – too busy trying to work out how to stage a world cup in Qatar.
Personally, I’d flog Nasri this summer, to City, where he can become another benched Mancini flair player and learn how lucky he was. When does keeping a player “one more year” ever work out? The lad has almost certainly burned his bridges with the support.
Anyway, here’s to Gervinho and hopefully a couple more to follow. Baines, Cahill, Benzema would have me dancing on the ceiling, even if we all know it ain’t gonna happen
@Tai: βthe team is built too much around the Spaniard for its own good. And when he does go, Arsene should do well not to build what is left of his team around any player so dominantly ever again.β
I agree. Do you think though that might be because unlike in days gone by we just do not have the quality that we used to have? If you go back to the invincibles era the quality of the players we had then was vastly superior overall to the quality we have now. Cesc being one of the few exceptions. In those days the squad was littered with real top drawer players. May I suggest that today that just is not the case. Perhaps that is why when we un earth a real gem that we tend to mould a side around him?
@Steve: Talents like Fabregas don’t come every season. The best clubside in the world presently is Barcelona. I’d go further to rate them the best playing side of all time and that includes Brazil’70 squad. For such club to do be going over-the-heels every season for just one player hints of just how exceptional Cesc is. That notwithstanding, Arsene got carried away and heaped too much responsibities on the lad, and even compounded that by making him the captain.
Much as I respected the Invincibles and still adore them, players like RvP, Nasri, Varmalaen, Rosicky(b4 the injury), Eduardo(just b4 the injury), Sagna, Hleb, Flamini, Arshavin(first season), Wilshere, upcoming Szeczeny are no powder puffs in all assessments about quality and ability. But despite Cesc’s rather frustrating injury record, Wenger retains one fixeted pattern of play where Fabregas, and just Fabregas, lubricates the engine. I’ve always believed that had Cesc remained injury free for just two of past five seasons, we would have collected at least three major trophies. But Wenger seemed to rely on gambling whenever Cesc was out while waiting for his return…to go out again.
In Arsenal there are many creative m/d players in Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Wilshere, Ramsey, Arshavin and even Diaby. Even Barca don’t have such luxury! But despite having Xavi as the orchestra, Barca is not as dependent as Arsenal is on Cesc despite having more players to step in. So I do believe that when Cesc leaves Wenger will open his eyes to see clearly.
Am I the only one who thinks that AW’s quotes are actually more disturbing? It sounds as if AW is trying to say that he wants him to stay but he doesn’t know if Cesc will listen to him anymore.
As for Nasri, sell his ass. Won’t forgive him.
As for the team’s dependability in Cesc – That’s true to some extent. I really have a feeling that this year it’d be different with Aaron and Jack getting more responsibility when Cesc would be available.
Our main problem is against the small teams at home when Cesc isn’t available. They crowd the middle and we forced out wide, Bac and Clichy cross the ball, but the problem is there’s no one to cross to.
With Cesc we (normally) breach that defense.
I really feel that Jack and Aaron can do that when Cesc isn’t avaialbe and MC or Gervinho will be some kind aerial threat when we revert to 4-4-2 against the lesser teams (if it’s still 0-0).
But let’s see if Cesc even stays. I didn’t like those quotes AT ALL.
It’s as if AW left a dangerous opening for himself to not get criticized if Cesc leaves when saying “he needs to be convinced if he’s in”.
@Steve: The rule is actually 3 rules in one.
1) The squad must be submitted at the end of the transfer window
2) A squad has to be made of 25 senior players (21 or more on January 1st 2011)
3) 8 of those 25 must be home grown.
As you see we are constrained by this rule. We’re fine on the homegrown front (considering foreign players who have spent 3 years at the club before 21 are considered homegrown) but we cannot have more than 25 players with young players like Ramsey, Gibbs and co turning 21 we’ll have to do some net clearance actually.
As for Gervinho what I’ve seen from him is that he’ll do better than NB52 as a winger if he has to. He runs faster and seems more technical. As a striker I’m not fully convinced (since I believe NB52 will do well if given a full season in the role) but then I’ve not seen enough of Gervinho anyway and youtube videos would make you and me look like Messi. In any case it’s about complementarity and gelling which only time can tell.
The transfer window has only just started so everything is just speculation at this point. I concur with you that it’s highly unlikely that the club will take a 20 millions gamble on Nasri, my point was that if they did take the gamble and it paid off we would not complain (aside from the usual ever-malcontents).
Now attributing our collapse to the comfort zone seems a bit too simplistic to me, I’m sorry to say. The entire team dropped the ball after the toy cup final, I’m sure you’ll agree about that point. What makes this season much worse than the previous ones is that the team was winning material. We did not need to be on our day to beat the best teams anymore, we’re at their level if not above. Finally we’ve reached the level of ability that is needed to win big. Unfortunately there were:
1) A few lapses that ended up being costly (WB, Newscastle away etc).
2) A total collapse after losing the toy cup.
To link to your other comment I don’t think the Invincibles were vastly superior. Superior yes, but vastly? Let’s not forget they were playing in a much easier league with only 2.5 top teams the rest being garbage. Since then multiple billions have been injected in the league which has become so much more competitive that the Invincibles would have been defeated at this level of competition over a full season. The Invincibles had bad days at the office too. The main difference is that they were playing 442 and were defensively much more compact in the center (we had a DM and Paddy in the middle). The problem with 433 is that it requires the team to be full on day in day out because it relies on the entire team to exert pressure off the ball. If for one reason or the other the front 3 are not up to the task that day it leaves way too much work to the midfielders. The Invincibles did not have this problem, they would just rely on their more defensively minded midfield to mop up and salvage a draw.
With the current team what would help is to recognize early those days off and adapt tactically on the pitch, the same way the Invincibles were implicitly doing. As Paddy said some days it goes against you and it’s up to the entire team to adjust.
As for 2) it’s totally psychological. All payers (or close to) were affected. I don’t pretend to have a solution for it but here again a couple of players won’t make the difference we need.
I’m not saying better players would not help but I can’t see how this will address the issues that prevent us from reaching our goals. I’m much more confident than one more season of experience will bring us what is needed that the new signings we will (or won’t) get.
Re: Nasri’s last season and his presumed free transfer in the summer of ’12: everybody is citing Adebayor’s last season as the expected model of how Nasri will play this season. How pessimistic, to say the least. Who is to say Nasri will not play to his fullest capacity as Flamini did in his last season with us? One is just as likely as the other, but let’s give the lad the benefit of the doubt since all he is trying to do at this point is to extract the best salary he can get. Since a footballer’s career is so short he would be an idiot to do otherwise.
@Snir: nothing has changed from last year. We set a price for Cesc, if Barca is willing to pay then Cesc is theirs otherwise he’s ours.
Arsene’s declaration are very clear: “Our position is always the same β we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him. Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him,” said Wenger. “I’m confident we can get both of them to stay.”
“We know that this story for Barcelona has gone on for years now, we have to close that and focus on the season, hopefully with Cesc FΓ‘bregas”
If Barca pays what we ask for and we have time to find a replacement, it will be without him.
Like last year it will linger all summer, there’s nothing we can do about it. And as Tai Obasi is very clearly pointing out, we could end up in better shape if Cesc were to leave so either way there’s no reason to panic.
Matt, it is answers like this that make me believe something’s fishy.
Q: He is under contract until 2015 so he technically cannot force his way out?
Arsene Wenger: No but you can only be in if you are completely in. He is the leader of the team. He has to be completely focused and convinced that he wants to stay.
Q: That’s clearly the issue, isn’t it? You have to be convinced that Cesc, in his heart, wants to stay 100 per cent…
Arsene Wenger: I am convinced but I want him to be convinced. I am convinced. I am happy if he says, ‘Yes, I stay.’
Q: In summary, if Cesc is not happy, you would let him go?
Arsene Wenger: I want him to be happy and to stay.
Q: But if he said he was unhappy…?
Arsene Wenger: That’s the only way, he could get out. I don’t think he’s unhappy but he wants to go back to Barcelona. If we wanted to make a money situation and wanted to sell the player, we put him on the market and we ask ‘Who gives more?’ But that would not be the conversation.
For us, it’s not a question of money. It is a question of Cesc wanting to be with us. And I think he is torn because he loves the club deeply. We will fight until the last second to keep him.
It’s his answers, he never once said he’s confident Cesc “wants to be with us” but that he needs to be convinced.
His answers last season, didn’t give that much of an opening, they were a lot firmer.
But Snir it was exactly the same thing last summer!
We all know Cesc wants to go to Barca, it’s no secret. The only question is: are they willing to pay what he’s worth?
I’m not sure Cesc has been too pleased at Barca’s attempts last year resulting in them valuing him at a ridiculously low price. The more they play this game the more likely he’ll stay.
Matt, I know all that. I actually think he will stay but only because Barca are broke.
But, the more I read AW the more I get convinced that Cesc is fed up and is desperate for a move at any cost necessary.
And it was NOT like this last summer. Last summer AW was a lot more defiant, he never said anything about needing to persuade a player to be “in it” or convince him it’s his future etc. He just said that Cesc won’t be sold cause we want to keep him, end of.
This year he saying we want to keep him but he needs to be convinced he can be happy at Arsenal.
RE Gervinho – Thought – What is gonna happen if RvP is injured in January when both MC and Gervinho are in the ACN? Who’s gonna lead the line? Arshavin? I really hope there’s another striker signing for that scenario (I wouldn’t mind one of Benzema or Higuain ;))
Now if you’re looking for something more juicy which matches what Steve believes: “In an ideal world, no one (should be) really sure of his place (in the team). Maybe the captain and the goalkeeper but all the other players shouldn’t really know before that they will play. It’s always good to have competition and be on your toes.”
Dixit… RvP.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2013632/Robin-van-Persie-Arsenal-need-spend-NOW.html
Who do you think he’s thinking of?
Snir, could it be that Arsene is less keen on keeping Cesc this time around?
It’s not like Cesc was 100% committed last season and his performance both as a player and a captain was well below what he’s capable of.
Who do you think this warning is intended to? “f we wanted to make a money situation and wanted to sell the player, we put him on the market and we ask βWho gives more?β But that would not be the conversation.”
I guess it’s both meant for Cesc and Barca:
Barca: pony up or we’ll sell it to the highest bidder.
Cesc: better give 110% or you’re off to Real or Inter.
Arsene has a very polite way of being threatening…
Matt, to be honest, I don’t think he wasn’t committed, he just had a stop start season.
People say he had a bad season, but he played 22 EPL games and still created the most scoring chances last season.
How does that make a bad season?
About RvP, maybe he’s thinking of himself lol ;).
What do you think re the ACN and lack of strikers then?
Cesc creates the most scoring chances because the team is built around him playing that role. The stat you provide does not reflect his performance but his position on the pitch.
I’d be surprised if RvP wasn’t thinking of Arshavin…
As for the ACN I think Gervinho was bought as a winger first as we already have Chamakh. Walcott is now of age to be moved centrally and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets his chance during the ACN. And so will Frimpong if Song goes.
Matt, surely if he was uncommitted and in bad form he wouldn’t have created that many chances no matter where he is on the pitch.
An uncommitted player is usually in constant bad form therefore not being able to exhibit regular abilities such as creating chances in Cesc’s case, let alone be the leader of the league…
About RvP, he said the Captain and GK are the only guarantees so he meant either Cesc or himself. At first I thought it was a hint of Cesc staying but it means nothing. Could be referring to RvP just as much as Cesc.
Interesting stuff to read, every one. If only Wenger knew how dear this club is to us all, most of us any way. Arsene will be powerless to continue fighting to keep Cesc if Barca meets Arsenal’s asking price(if indeed there was any). Hence Arsene would look completely stupid if he made a categorical statement now that Cesc’s staying. The French is only covering his…you know what. But believe me, only Xavi has the abikity to effectiveky replicate Cesc for Arsenal of all players in the world presently. And believe me again, our dear club would be better if Cesc left now. But AW is too emotionally attached to see it now. It’s like a man facing the obvious divorce of a woman he still dearly loves.
As to Nasri, let him run out his contract. What’s 20m to Arsene and Arsenal’s prestige? Absolutely nothing!
Arsene knows this is his last season at the Club if he ends it clueless. So, I won’t try to tell him whom to buy but take it from me again, Gervinho is an excellent acquieition.
High-fiveheads all round – Arsene has begun the modification of the TAMM – credit where it’s due …
And i’m with ‘holic – maybe the most exciting aspect of his signing (he is definitely a wide player) is the chance to put Theo (who was never really a wide player) through the middle – where he can scare the life out of centre-halfs and force them to drop off and leave space in front for the creatives to weave their pretty patterns.
I know some think Theo’s a bit lightweight/nicy,nicy for the job but the boy is built for goals in a similar mould, imho, to Lineker, Owen, Anelka and maybe Wrighty too – and some of them were decent sorts as well.
Re Nasri and Cesc – surely it’s still watch this space. And whenever the Le Proff pronounces on them he has to be aware that he’s talking to us, the players, their agents and other clubs – that’s not easy – and i don’t understand why some Gooners don’t appreciate this and cut him some slack.
Hopefully the club’ll keep strengthening with a couple more quality signings – there’s still time.
High-fiveheads – up The Arse!
acquisition pls.
It would be rude not to – Ureds!
Now wonder there was no new drink: there was a new post!
I’ll have Ivory Coast’s finest drink to celebrate the signing of Gervinho, thanks!
(whatever that is).
Now, this weather can fuck off back to Poland, please π
No not now.
Zico and TS, from the last post.
I am in no way advocating the continuation of Project Youth, just looking at the worst case (and most likely) scenario and trying to put a gloss on it.
I too will be massively disappointed if some experienced heads are not brought in. I too am wondering how the quotes from Arsene are changing from promising lots of action to “one or two” more signings.
The quality of those signings needs to be spot on.
Still, I am clinging to the footplate of HT MkII, just can feel my hands getting sweaty…..
Hi Dr C,
think AW’s comments of late raise more questions than answers tbh.
Arseblogs has pretty much nailed the Nasri situation today, if you haven’t read, worth doing so.
Oh, and don’t let Wolfgang know you have sweaty hands. π
Dr.C @ #53
Didn’t think that you were advocating Project Youth, glad your still on-board. Our youth policy is, however, now deeply embeded in the club and much of it does us credit.
I’m totally with you that a couple of experienced/proven, quality heads will make a world of difference to our squad and I very much advocate us going out and signing such players, whoever they may be. So over to you Arsene and team. Let’s hope they’re listening, eh? π
I think we should sign True Storey. Fits the bill, right?
Is he a teen age midget?
Not if we want to win anything Ollie, and I REALLY want us to win something…. anything…. please ! π
Afternoon Dr. z. AW is quite a master of intrigue and seems to be backing away soemwhat from his words immediately post season but, as always, we shall see what the next month and a half brings us. Assuming Cesc and Nasri stay, 2 more signings with experience (inc. a CB) would make me think he ‘listened’ in as much as he does or needs to.
More of a middle-aged lump Dr.z @ #56
No good for the TAMM (copyright And Lesser) then π
And Lester (Feckin phone)
TS – for the record, I am with Snir and Arseblogger on Nasri – sell and replace.
Too many downsides to letting him run down his contract imo.
And I’m with zico on that. As long as the drinks are on Lars.
One thing not to forget is that he mostly won’t have the fans on his side anymore.
And I honestly cannot trust him now to give 100% on the pitch for us while he’s seeing the £££ signs from up north.
Whereas I trust Cesc to give his all as always (except that one fucking game in Camp Nou which he really shouldn’t have insisted on playing/carrying on playing, that really is my only grudge but leaves a lingering bad taste.)
I too, am surprised by Arsene’s comments RE:Nasri and Fabregas
I hope both of them stay but keeping Nasri is a big gamble
This transfer window has been very tedious, to say the least
Zico – I reckon Arseblog has been cribbing from us on the Nasri / Mata swap!
Clearly we were the only people in the world to have thought of it before.
I agree pretty much with everything he has said, and I must admit to frustration with the APPARENT lack of lessons being learned. Let’s hope we’re wrong.
Now then, a refreshing glass of cava to wet your whistles at lunchtime?
Afternoon all ,
Some welcome news at last , as the ” active ” summer finally begins to stir .
As regards Gervinho , I’m in the haven’t got a clue camp , having never seen him play . If he’s been bought to play on the right of a forward three , I’m not sure where that leaves Theo , but hey ho .
Glad to see AW finally coming out with a bit of fighting talk , but as others have said , his pronouncements raise more questions than answers .
What is definitive , I think , is that there is no way he will lose Fab and Nasri in the same summer . I think we are therefore stuck in the somewhat unhappy position of waiting to see if Barcelona come up with anything like market rate for Fab . If they don’t , Fab stays and we cash in on Nasri . If they do , it appears Nasri will stay another season with the likelihood he goes on a free in 12 months time .
I personally do not see the point of keeping Nasri another season , irrespective of what happens with Fab . If he won’t sign another contract , flog him , get as much as you can , and reinvest in someone who wants to be here .
I take ‘Holic’s point re the potential upside of keeping him another year , but to me it’s too big a gamble . Who’s to say we can’t achieve those goals with a suitable replacement in any event .
Clive@23 – another nail hit firmly on the head . Well said Sir .
Drinks all round for all the usual suspects .
Cheers Dr C – cava will take some of the tedium out of hanging about at an airport this afternoon (if not the transfer window, Harsha) π
I think the secret plan might be to have Theo available as a central striker.
After all, that was the initial plan for him, wasn’t it?
Ah, airport, poor zico. I hate these places.
Dr.z & Ollie
I think the majority are beginning to favour the sale of Nasri now. It could still happen that way. I’ve read Arseblog today and his points make a lot of sense to me too.
I don’t think we should sell Nasri to an EPL team. Citeh wouldn’t sell us Given when we needed a proper GK. I don’t like the idea of helping a direct competitor to strengthen their squad.
I like the gamble that ‘Holic outlines in #3 above.
Flog ‘im!!!
Then sell him. That’ll learn him!
Sell…. get the money, reinvest all in suitable replacement eg Mata. Keep RVP happy. Cesc… let’s see how the dice fall. Reading AW’s comments I reckon he’ll go.
Interesting idea about Theo through the middle…. maybe cutting in from the left in true #14 style?
Zico…. I’ve opened a bottle and left it for you to finish off. I’m facing a trip back to blighty with 3 kids tomorrow. My nerves are frayed already!
Dr. C @ #70,
Heh, like it. What that boy needs is a damn good flogging. Then get his team-mates to p*ss in his wounds. Sensible policies for a happier Arsenal? Good luck with the travelling tomorrow, sounds like you’ll need it. I’ll leave the CMC open in case you want to prepare π
tabs @ #65,
‘Afternoon and cheers, lager please. I’m wondering if the arrivial of Gervinho will see us switch back to 4-4-2 with Theo & RVP up-front. That could also help to reduce our dependence on Cesc. Unlikely but possible…?
BEHIND THE ARSE EPISODE 5
IG has been in his Hospital Bed for 5 days , recovering from hyper-tension . Gareth the C is in the next door bed and has not let up on his harangues . The ever faithful IPA is by IGβs bedside to fill him in on developments . Meanwhile , 3 hours before the flight to China , PHW , Lady Nina and AW are in the Waiting Room prior to attempting to make a deal with Gareth the C , and to pick up IG en route to the Airport .
Gareth the C : So do you get my point yeh , itβs really easy to run Arsenal yeh I can make us successful yeh , give me the job , sack Wenger yeh what has he ever done for me right yeh , nothing cept give me third degree burns yeh , get rid of all the rubbish players yeh but hereβs the thing yeh , negotiate high transfer fees for them yeh and then spend all the money on good players yeh , know what I mean yeh , anyway yeh right my mateβs in right so Iβll speak to you later , yeh β¦ Geoff m8 r u gud β¦.. β¦
IPA : My God Sir , how do you stand it β¦ how are you ?
IG : Quite easily IPA , as a matter of fact . He hasnβt noticed I am wearing ear phones , havenβt heard a thing he says .
IPA : Very good plan Sir .
IG : Yes , and I must say that Dolphin music you left with me on your last visit was extremely relaxing .
IPA : That was our new signing Gervinhoβs first interview Sir .
IG : Oh β¦ well β¦ very relaxing all the same . So weβve made our first signing eh ? Great news β¦ the fans must be pleased IPA ?
IPA : Err β¦ no Sir .
IG : What do you mean , No Sir ? No , we havenβt made a new signing , or No the fans arenβt pleased ?
IPA : Both Sir . Slight hold up on the transfer Sir . The fans think weβre doing nothing Sir .
IG : For fucks sake , IPA , whatβs the hold up ?
IPA : Fish , Sir .
IG : Fish ?
IPA : Weβre offering him Cod Sir , but heβs insisting on Dover Soul 3 times a week .
IG : Hmm β¦ Dover Soul is fucking expensive IPA β¦ we might have to rethink this one .
IPA : Yes Sir .
IG : What other news IPA ?
IPA : PR Department is taking a bit of a hammering Sir .
IG : But thatβs your area IPA , You incompetent cunt , whatβs gone wrong ?
IPA : I didnβt put Fabregas in the advert for the new kit Sir . Fans think it makes it clear he wants away and makes us look stupid Sir .
IG : Well they might have a point . Still , they must be pleased we put Nasri in the advert .
IPA : No Sir , the fans think because he makes it clear he wants away it makes us look stupid Sir .
IG : Thereβs no pleasing these fucking people IPA .
IPA : No Sir .
IG : By the way , Iβve been reading my Arsenal Magazine , whose idea was it to make fucking Nasri the lead article ?
IPA : Mr Hill Wood Sir .
IG : Well that figures . Doesnβt he remember what happened with Adebayor ? He left as soon as we put him in the magazine .
IPA : Yes Sir .
IG : For fucks sake , Doesnβt he learn from his mistakes ?
IPA : Yes Sir , Iβm sure heβs learned from his mistakes Sir , and is able to repeat them exactly .*sniggers*
IG : Donβt get smart with me IPA , I might be wearing my flowery jim-jams but Iβm still your boss , you fucking two-bob Granada driving Cunt .
IPA : Yes Sir . Shall I bring the others in , theyβre in the waiting room Sir .
IG : If you must IPA , just make sure my Pipe is close at hand .
IPA : Yes Sir .
IPA goes to the waiting Room . Lady Nina is wearing a Policewomanβs hat , a red Basque with a small white cannon on the left breast , and thigh-length leather boots . PHW is dressed as a Sumo wrestler , and AW is nowhere to be seen . Lady Nina is talking to PHW .
Lady N : Peeter , vhat are you vearing ? I thought Ve vere coming as The Police you know , Good Cop Bad Cop , you said .
PHW : Change of plan Bracewell-Smith , Flightβs in 3 hours , got to blend in with the natives what . Donβt want to be mobbed when we get there .
Lady N : But Peeter , sumo wrestlers are from Japan yah ? Ve are going to China .
PHW : All the fucking same to me , Bracewell Smith , all fucking rice-gobblers . Anyway Iβm not talking to you , you fucking bitch . We give you Β£120 million because poor old Carr fell under your fucking spell and then you tell the public weβre all useless . Iβm not having it , you hear me , your charms donβt work on me . Iβm happy with my Llama , so you can cross your legs , stop fucking winking at me , and fuck off .
Lady N : But Peeter , calm yourself , you know vhat the media is like . I vas misquoted . And you joke I do nussing for my money . Shame on you Peeter . I zhink you know all zhe zhings I do for zhis club . Look at all zhe men I have seduced for you , my arse for zhe Arse , yah ? Terry Neill , Charlie Nicholas ( he vas good! ) , Zhe schoolboy Cesc , Denis , I even go vith David Platt for you .
PHW : Alright , alright , woman , just stop fucking going on , and make sure we get what we need from that Gareth Cunt Pedro tosser .
Lady N : I donβt zhink he vill be a problem Peeter *laughing* he vill be like putty in my hands .
IPA appears .
IPA : Good Afternoon Mr Hill Wood Sir , Good Afternoon Lady Nina , how are you ?
PHW : Whatever the opposite of tickety fucking boo is , IPA , Iβm it . Iβve had to listen to this fucking witch warble on about her insatiable sex drive , Iβm dressed like a fucking baby , and Iβm looking at a week where Iβve got to swap my Llama for a Geisha girl , Vintage Port for fucking Sake and Roast Beef for a bit of crispy fucking Duck . Not fucking happy is what I am .
IPA : Very Good Sir . Mr Gazides will see you now .
PHW : Gazides , that fucking shirker , I βm not here to see him . Weβre here to sort out that rat faced cunt Pedro . Just thinking about him makes my fucking head explode .
IPA : Indeed , Sir . Slight complication Sir . Geoff Gervais , his partner in crime is here .
PHW : No complication IPA . Bracewell smith here will use her witchly charms on the rat faced Bellend , Iβll take care of this Gervais scumbag . Tell me about him .
IPA : Heβs the thicker one of the two Sir , even more ill-informed Sir .
PHW : Sounds like my day just got better . Iβm going to enjoy giving him a fucking good kicking .
IPA : Yes Sir , but remember diplomacy is the order of the day . Whereβs Mr Wenger Sir ?
PHW : Donβt know . He wandered off about half an hour ago .
Arsene appears from a side room . He is wearing a white Baseball Cap , white tracksuit and his hair is dyed a virulent orange and is singing β Iβm turning Japanese , Iβm turning Japanese , I really think so β . He is drinking copious amounts of water , his eyes are bulging , and he has a refereeβs whistle .
*a patient wanders past and AW blows hard on his whistle*
AW : Monsieur , Monsieur , I am a revolutionary football coach , and I must tell you to stop ze training immediately . I can tell wiv my trained eye that if you carry on , you run ze risk of serious injury .
IPA : He has just had his leg amputated Sir . How are you sir ?
AW : Tres content , IPA , Tres content . I found some Happy pills . I take three .
IPA : Good Lord Sir . Keep drinking the water Sir .
AW : I will IPA , it is very good water from Goonerholic Bar .
IPA : Shall we go through to the ward now Sir ?
IPA leads PHW and Lady Nina through to IGβs bed . AW follows on , break-dancing .
IG : Hello Everyone . Iβve missed you .
AW : Bonjour , bonjour β¦
Lady N : Ivan , Daaarling , how sexy you look in your pyjamas , just how I remember β¦
PHW : You fucking pussy Gazides , staying in bed , whilst the rest of us work our fucking arses off .
IG : Err β¦ yes Peter . Arsene , how is the pre-season training going ?
AW : Tres mal , Ivan , Tres mal , I ave already lost one of ze ants , and one of ze hornets as lost its bite .
IG : Oh , is it difficult to get insects to play football ?
AW : Well , I think ze word difficult is a terribly good one here , but we will be successful , I am convinced of this .
IG : Right , what gives you hope ?
AW : They breed , Ivan . I start wiv 3 ants and 2 Hornets , I now have 16 million ants and 58 thousand Hornets to choose from .
PHW : The perfect self-sustaining model , Arsene , Brilliant . Right , onto the business in hand , where are these pair of scrotum scratching delinquents ?
Lady N : Yees , it iz time for me to play I zhink .
PHW and Lady N are directed towards Gareth the C and Geoff Gervais , who are engaged in whispered talks .
Gareth the C : Pam said that ? M8 , thatβs gr8 β¦
G.Gervais : Yeh and Iβve got direct evidence linking our manager direct to Gaddafi β¦
Gareth the C : Gr8 , m8 , gr8
PHW : Gentlemen , Gentlemen , or should I say you pair of total fucking parasitic knobend , dickbrained , no-balled monkey-gibbering cunts , weβre here to make you an offer β¦
PHW puts Geoff Gervais in a headlock , and walks him down the Ward . Lady N bends down and kisses Gareth the C and draws the curtain around his bed .
Thirty seconds later , Lady Nina emerges from behind the Curtain . Gareth the C is wearing a beatific smile . IG looks up expectantly β¦
IG : All Good ?
Lady N : Nicht , it took the vanker 25 seconds to get his nappy off . I am not satisfied but zhe job iz done . Ve vont be hearing from him again .
IG : How can you be sure ?
Lady N : Concealed beneath zhe cannon on zhe left breast iz a camera . I ave zhe whole zhing on tape . Hiz villie iz zo zmall , I can make him a laughing stock . No vorries .
IG : Well done Lady Nina .
Lady N : Ah , how I have vaited for a kind vord from you Ivan Daaarling . Ve do it on the plane yah ?
IG : *gulps* hmmm , weβll see .
AW : I sink these pills are making me feel a little bit naughty too β¦ Je tβaime , Je tβaime .
Lady N : vunderbar , vunderbar , ve vill all get vhat ve vant on zhe plane . Vhereβs Peeter ?
PHW is walking back from the other end of the Ward , rubbing his hands together and whistling Incey Wincey Spider .
IG : Peter , where is Geoff Gervais ?
PHW : *smiling* Chucked the cunt straight out the fucking window .
IG : But , Peter weβre on the sixth floor .
PHW : Thatβs his problem , not mine .
IG : But the Police will be here any minute , Oh my God , this is the end , I canβt carry on β¦
PHW : Gazides , man up , you fucking girlβs blouse .
IPA : May I respectfully suggest we leave the Country .
PHW : Good idea , IPA . China , here we fucking come .
PHW , Lady Nina and AW lift IG out of bed , hoist him up and start running for the exits .
IG : Oh sweet Lord , good god β¦ β¦ *looking back* IPA , donβt forget my fucking pipe .
IPA : Very Good Sir .
CUE MUSIC AND END CREDITS .
TS @71 – Possible but highly unlikely . I just don’t see AW going back to 4-4-2 anytime soon .
Bravo tabs @ #72, another episode of comic genius. Barman, whatever he’s drinking please π
Gervinho speaks dolphin! π π π
TABS – excellent thank you , together with ‘holics starter that has made my day , no matter how AW reorganises the squad (again) this p.m. You can have that VSOP Cognac that I had to refuse at lunch
Have to excuse my typing , entertaining the family to a typical french lunch here has blurred my musings – I suppose that explains AW a lot of times
I wanted Theo to be up the middle last year, and Nasri deeper centrally, so the Gibbs/Gervinho centering system will give us more options for RvP and Theo – lets get started
Cheers TS .
And thank you CG for the cognac – very welcome .
tabs @ #73,
Can you see a starting line-up with Gervinho (Dolphin Boy) , Theo, Nasri (if he stays), Cesc (if he stays) and RVP? How would that work?
TS @ 78 – the short answer to that TS is no I can’t . If both Nasri and Fab stay , ( which I now think for the first time is probably unlikely ) , then I think we continue to play 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 .
If Nasri stays wide which he would do if Fab stays , then you have Gervinho and Theo competing for the final position of the front 3 .
Am I the only one who thinks putting Theo in the middle is wrong? I reckon he’d just get lost in the middle against the small teams where there isn’t much space for his pacy runs.
tabs @ #79 & Snir @ #80,
Hmmm, complicated isn’t it? I have a feeling that (assuming both stay no matter how unlikley) that Theo would be competing with RVP for a place in the team i.e. down the middle. Hence my 4-4-2 thinking but as you say tabs, would Arsene really consider switching away from 4-3-3 or 4-5-1?
Who knows…. Arsene, probably π
TABS – pour yourself a Guinness. You know why!
Gunnerblog has discussed today how the Dolphin Predator Trekkie bloke should fit in … will be interesting.
Still want us to flog Nasri.
CG. You’re about the only one from that place I agree with!
Sell him. Don’t wanna see him again. Can barely watch highlights that he’s on. I genuinely feel insulted on behalf of AFC for the way he disrespected the club.
Oh and re Nasri. He’s doing exactly what Rooney did. From what I know the Mancs forgave him. Do you think that’d be the case with AFC fans if he DOES extend his contract?
tabs, you complete nutjob – turning Japanese indeed π
We’ve finally got a signing! Hip hip hooray! Any coincidence to the UCL competition kicking off today?
Snir, not convinced he is forgiven as much as tolerated.
Zico, do you think Theo would be a good fit down the middle?
I think it won’t work out at all.
Maybe, on his return, The Barman could embed the following link in honour of our ‘complete nutjob’? π
thanks for the guinness Dr C .
Cheers Dr Z . π
Thanks for the link TS , I’d forgotten it was Bruce Foxton .
SteveT@29 / Matt@34: The 25-man squad rule is definitely a factor in the byuing and selling of players. Chelsea, for example, can not buy Nasri unless they move on one of their non-homegrown players. They already have 17 senior players who are not homegrown, and Nasri does not qualify as HG (the same goes for Modric, by the way, if they buy him they have to move someone on or not use him). We have to plan ahead as well, while we can still use players like Wilshere and Ramsey as U21’s (i.e. not part of the 25), that won’t last forever and this may well be part of the decision to not buy a left-back, both Gibbs and Traore are HG players and won’t affect the 17 unrestricted places in the squad. For example, Theo was not part of the 25 last season but must this season be listed as an HG player because he is now too old to be an U21 player (you count as U21 if you turn 21 in the year the season starts, i.e. players who turn 21 some time in 2011 qualify as U21 for the whole of the 2011/12 season) so we have one place less than last season. This bit is always forgotten when talking about getting this or that player, we can’t buy too many unless we manage to flog some of the fringe players.
Matt@43: “Cesc creates the most scoring chances because the team is built around him playing that role.”
No, it’s the other way around – he plays in that role because he is so good at creating those chances.
Catalan@70: “Interesting idea about Theo through the middleβ¦. maybe cutting in from the left in true #14 style?”
Yes, please! If you look at Theo’s goals the past season, almost all of them were scored when taking up an Henry-esque position and running on to through-balls. Remember, that is his original position, he was an attacker at Southampton.
tabs@72: you, my friend, need to tell the world what you had in your tea so the rest of us can have the same!
TS@81: I can definitely see RvP and Theo working very well together in a two-man attack. Against teams who just sit back, I can’t see any reason at all to not go with a 4-4-2 formation.
Snir @ 88 – let me put it this way – I am less convinced that Theo is a natural wide player.
Still at airport – bad π
Still drinking Guinness – good π
Ollie is right, bad places, airports.
@Catalan: I’d advocate not selling Nasri and do whatever is needed financially to keep him. Our wage structure is making us fall behind big time. While most believe last season was a failure (and the collapse was certainly a failure) in reality we again overachieved finishing 4th considering we had the 5th wage bill of the league. We can say all we want about love for the club but asking the players to take a 30-50% cut from what they would get at other clubs is too much to ask.
From what we’ve heard over the years the end goal was to grow and keep the core of team, improving it with 1-2 signings a season and the best youth(s). The core of the team is there, our first team are finally at the required level. On the acquisition front we’re getting there (Chamakh, Kos, Squillaci last season, Gervinho and likely 1-2 more signings this summer). On the youth front we’re on schedule too (Woj/Fab/LJW last season, Gibbs and perhaps Frimpong and/or Lansbury this one, possibly Miyaichi next summer).
Keeping the team together is now becoming the main issue because of our wage structure. If we want to win silverware consistently this is the key. It’s not like we can match Citeh’s salaries (250K/week for Tevez, 220K/week for Yaya, 120K for Kolo etc) but now every big club offers much more than we do.
We can blame Nasri for beeing greedy but in reality whether he stays or not he will earn at least 25% more than the new improved contract of 90K/week we initially proposed. And Nasri is just the tip of the iceberg, RvP at 80K knows he can command close to twice as much elsewhere (if he stays fit once season that is). So does Theo (60K/week) and soon LJW and Rambo.
Spending more has certainly become a priority but I’d rather get only one more signing and keep the entire team together rather than buying big but losing our best players. If we let Clichy and Nasri leave for a 50%+ rise (probably 100% in Nasri’s case) we’re at risk of hemorrhaging big time next summer. The discrepancy has become so wide that love for the club and silverware won’t be enough to retain our best elements.
From a football perspective we could certainly survive Nasri’s departure. Flamini was not influential, Adebayor and Toure were kicked out, Clichy has been struggling at times. But Nasri is one of our best players, can’t claim he’s homesick and in the end would be the living proof for our top players that leaving Arsenal is the best way to double one’s income, silverware or not. It would take us years to recover from a talent exodus.
More than Nasri’s contribution I believe this is why we seem to be so intent on keeping him.
But Matt, it’s not about money remember? π
For an alternate take, check out Arseblog or Gunnerblog. The subtext of all this may be that Wenger is goading the board
@ Lars: Matt@43: βCesc creates the most scoring chances because the team is built around him playing that role.β
No, itβs the other way around β he plays in that role because he is so good at creating those chances.
What I am saying is that If Nasri, LJW or Ramsey was playing behind the strikers that player would be the one creating most chances, more than Cesc if Cesc was playing deep.
Again that statistic is not representative of the players’ commitment, even more so since Cesc is an exceptionally gifted player whose stats on an average season would still be above everyone else bar a handful. And as a captain I don’t think anyone here doesn’t think Cesc has what it takes to perform better, it’s been written here by many in the last 10 months.
zico @ #94,
Delays in airports, about as good as a birthday surprise and the surprise is a tour of The Sh*thole because the person who bought you the present thought you were a Spud by mistake, but I digress….
Re: Further thoughts on Mon. Nasri. I agree in that I don’t understand how the board can condone what Arsene said in public y’day regarding keeping him this year vs settling for a payout now. That could be the making of a big fissure between the board and Arsene. Is that a first under his reign?
@Zico: both takes aren’t exclusive but like Steve I really doubt the club/Arsene/the board will take the risk of losing Nasri on a free in the end. It’s really hard to decipher the true meaning behind all the quotes since it’s a mind game and we only know a small part of what’s really going on.
The funny thing behind all this is that most of what is said is intended to Nasri/his agent/the board and is just another another move in their blinking game but half the fans will believe it’s intended to them personally and will howl for being lied to if Nasri leaves π
Lars @ #91
So, maybe like this:
——————-Szcz—————————
Gibbs—TV—DJ/Newboy—Bac
Dolphin—Cesc (IHS)—Song/Pingpong—Nasri (IHS)
—————-Theo—RVP———————
(IHS = If He Stays)
Song/Frimpong sweep in front of the back four.
Cesc is still the architect.
Blood LJW and/or Aaron to replace Cesc (and/or Nasri) for when he/they eventually depart(s).
Could that be a possible 2012 squad?
*reboots Championship Manager again*
Matt @ 98
Good points. Agree.
Matt, Nasri did play centrally for much of the season. He had one (1) assist in the league. Cesc, despite taking part in only 25 games, had 14. And Jack Wilshere played in the center of the park all season. Neither of them can replace Cesc outright.
And if Nasri or Jack could take his place, why did we win twice as many league games (in percentage of games played) with Cesc than without last season? Why do we struggle a lot more to break down parked buses without him?
Storey, there are many variations but one lineup would be this:
Szczesny
Sagna-Djourou-Vermaelen-N. Ewguy
Jack-Cesc-Song-Gervinho
RvP-Theo
Where Jack and Gervinho are told to swap wings every now and then a la Ljungberg and Pires.
You could also play Arshavin instead of Theo or Nasri instead of Jack. Against some teams at home you could play Jack instead of Song with Nasri on the wing, or rest Cesc and play Ramsey etc etc…
Lars @ #102
Yup, that makes sense although I can’t see us buying a new LB unless Norman Ewguy is either Gibbs, Traore or Jenkinson.
So I take it your assumption is Cesc stays and Nasri goes. If one does go then that would be my pref too.
Like the wing swap thing. That’ll confuse c*nts like Lenny.
I was also assuming that we will buy a new CB of proven quality and experience but will not hold my breath on that one.
Only thing I’m not sure of is Arsh down the middle. Chamakh would be a better option to replace Theo, IMO.
Sweet mother of God, what is TaBS on these days? π
hopefully gevinho will be that 1st quality addition to the squad, fingers crossed
@Lars: Nasri played most of the season on the wings. There have been many discussions here on how his talent was wasted because we was almost never played centrally.
Anyway back to Cesc:
22 starts, 11 assists, 3 goals (out of 71 shots, 25 of them on goal)
Compare that to:
Nasri:
28 starts, 1 assist, 10 goals (out of 81 shots, 34 on goal)
Arshavin:
25 starts, 11 assists, 6 goals (out of 70 shots, 26 on goal)
Theo:
19 starts, 7 assists, 9 goals (out of 68 shots, 28 on goal)
So yes on all accounts, Cesc being the better player has similar if not worse stats that his teammates around him.
As for the stat you mention, Cesc was injured shortly after the beginning of the collapse until the end of the season and at the time we won slightly more games without him that with him (due to the fact that he was also injured at the beginning of the season when we had our winning streak).
Anyway you look at it Cesc last season did not perform as well as he is capable of. He’s our best player, one of the top attacking midfielders in the world and is capable of much more. Asking of him to be totally motivated next season and perform better than the past one makes total sense.
The funny stats is that Song is our most accurate goalscorer: 4 goals out of 21 shots, just ahead of RvP while LJW (1 goal out of 27 shots) and Rosicki (no goals in 24 shots) are the worst.
tabs
It seems The Barman has honoured you at #89 above π
Thank you ‘Holic π
Interesting discussion all. A round for everybody.
However, all this talk of going to a 4-4-2 is rather pointless, in my view. I don’t see Arsene reverting to it except in certain limited circumstances. It will be the formation of the exception as opposed to the rule.
Most of the top clubs in Europe play some variation of the 4-3-3 and for good reason.
A Sam Adams please barman.
Lars @91 – Californian green mixed with the tea leaves – a heady brew π
Holic@104 – see above π and thank you for the embedding . Thanks for the heads-up TS .
Matt , I often agree with quite a lot of what you say , but whilst stats are often a helpful indicator , they are nothing more than that . So much more happens on a football pitch than can be measured in stats . Nasri cannot do what Fab does on a football pitch , and no amount of stats will prove the contrary . Whilst Fab did not have his most effective season , it is interesting to note that the team’s most effective spell came during Fab’s only injury – free part of the season – december , January and feb . Our season went backwards when he got injured against stoke . I don’t think he was any less committed than any other season .
Interesting discussion re 4-4-2 , but it just aint gonna happen . Hopefully , we will however be more tactically flexible in the last 20 , if we need a goal . I can only remember going 4-4-2 once last season – 2nd half at west brom . There may of course have been others .
Was this a collaboration, TS?
‘Holic
I wish I could lay claim to writing of that talent but sadly no.
Maybe it’s a half of one percent in one particular scene but the genius that is tabs is, I think, best left to bloom and prosper unfettered by the influence of the likes of me π
*tugs forlock, adjusts dayglow Speedos*
After last season can’t see an Arse line-up without future Captain Jack in it
I don’t think you do yourself justice TS – a veritable fountain of ideas – I think you’re after an Opus , however , which sadly is beyond me π
…. However, talking of collaborations, the Storeyknee got a right good seeing to from the able Trev this morning.
The last time I paid that much money for that much pain was on a night out in…..
Seriously, any one considering professional help of the noble and physical kind should consider Mr. Trev. Really helpful, made a big difference quickly and a top chap to boot. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others needing help with their joints/muscles/tendons, etc.
Heh tabs! There was me trying to avoid be labelled a nutter of equal magnitude π
*guilty as charged your ‘Holicness*
Did Trev make you wear speedoes TS ? Wolfgang might be interested π
I think Arsene’s better teams were a version of 4-4-2. I cant see an arsene team where Nasri is the fulcrum, the driving force..Even when he was on top form he was more mercurial than inspirational. I think Jack is the real heir to creative midfield maybe even playing higher up the field with Ramsey and Song protecting. Add to that Gervihno, RVP and maybe one more world class forward and that is the future of Arsenal going forward. If he keeps Cesc, he can rotate this and get it right through the season with the added benefit of one of the best midfielders in the world pulling the strings for one more year. If he keeps Nasri he gets another winger who has yet to put in one good full season and we already have a few of those.. No contest. Oh and if you did not know Barce is the peice of skin between the balls and the arse…does cesc really want to be going there..( fact courtesy of man in pub with doctors coat on )..
Lars, Matt, TS et al – fantastic discussions. I agree and disagree with you all, but genuinely do feel that I am in a pub discussing stuff with mates. The beer in my hand helps.
Matt you scared me a bit with your post about the wages.
Still, doesn’t matter – I’ll support them even if they’re in the non-existent fourth division. Well, it does matter, but you know what I mean!
A second round (after Stingy’s) for all of you.
PS – Bruce Foxton was in The Vapours??
tabs, there were other times that we went to 4-4-2. At home to Everton when Bendtner came on, for example, and iirc also the whole of the Fulham game on the last day of the season. There were a few others as well, but I can’t remeber which they were now.
Trev! You’re getting business out of Goonerholic! Genius.
Mind you – if any regulars care to turn up at my establishment I will treat you for free. You’ll have to pay your own air fares though. And not knees – I’m crap at them!
And well played TS for keeping it in family. Top stuff.
Fair enough Lars , but they were the exception rather than the rule . Blackburn , Sunderland and Villa at home stick in the memory with the Prince of Denmark stuck out on the wing .
TS got his neck, spine, and pelvis realigned and rotated by Trev? Oh boy, TS is now going to be addicted to that witchcraft/vodoo hocus pocus π
Opus, TaBS?
Buy an iPad and it is Β£7.99 from the bookstore. Sadly without all of the lovely pics, but a decent read at a decent price…
Probably available at Kindle as well I’ll wager…
tabs, it certainly was the exception, and why Bendtner was stuck out on the wing so often is still a mystery.
tabs @ #117,
I believe Trev caters for all tastes but no doubt he’ll be on later and can answer that question for himself π
Noel @ #73
Barce = perineum? Did the man in the doctors coat have a pair of bright orange Speedos on underneath? π
Dr.C @ #119,
The feeling is reciprocated here and should I ever find myself in the vicintiy of barcelona in need of medical of a physio I know where to come. PS: The Bruce Foxton look-a-like is, I think, Dave Fenton.
‘Holic , wow Β£7.99 , good value indeed . The hardback , complete with pictures was several hundred pounds wasn’t it ?
Spurious ‘of medical’ above.
Lars @ #125,
There are many mysteries that need solving in terms of Arsenal. The soon to be ex-PoD on the wing is definitely one of them. Persisting with Manuel is, with all due respect, another. Can’t wait for AW’s memoirs when he finally hangs up his managers hat. That’ll be a helluva read altho’ not sure we’ll be able to understand it fully π
TS @126 π
I would be surprised if AW writes any Arsenal based memoirs , so we might all be kept waiting on that one π
Yes tabs, I sink he lacks a little but ze concentration (for those sorts of things) π
But, put him in a white tracksuit and dye his hair orange….
Storey, if Arsene Wenger ever writes his memoirs that will (assuming he reveals the real truth about these past few years, at least) be the most interesting book ever published. But I think he is too loyal, I don’t think he will ever tell anyone the whole truth.
Lars & tabs agreed. I’ll choose my words carefully here. I don’t think he’s big on transparency.
Perhaps, more importantly, he absolutely isn’t the ‘kiss and tell’ type. That’s a virtue in this day and age, IMO .
Good point TS , give him some Californian and the truth will out π
I think Lars is right , though , sadly .
…. if only he could instill the levels of loyalty that he has in some of his players.
Heh! Le Boss on PIK’s finest. π
Yes it was, TaBS.
I would love one, but alas, a poor blogger cannot stretch to such frivolities…
Did I mention my new iPad by the way? π
I think it’s one of his finest attributes is that he never publicly slates even those that have let him down – adebayor , anelka , hleb spring to mind
tabs, wasn’t it Β£3.000 even? I remember there being a copy at the Armoury, it was a big-ass muthafucka’ of a book…
Obviously a good investment ‘Holic π
You might be right Lars , I just remember it being well out of my budget . I wonder if it has proved a good investment ie rarity value , for those who did purchase .
…. talkig of big ass mofos, are we still in for Samba or is the whole story just media BS? Did I read that Sir Twitch of Totteringham is in for him too?
And I agree, I love the fact that Arsene doesn’t slag off players or board members in public. Too bad some players are too immature to appreciate that and return the favour.
TS, I doubt we are really after Samba. I feel that if we really were it would have been tied up by now.
Yup, and I think it’s the same story for Cahill. Media smoke without fire?
Can’t believe anything you read TS .
On ArsenalNews today , we are on the “verge ” of signing Mertesacker , so your guess is as good as mine .
My optimism will take a dent however if we go into the new season without a new top notch centre-half , a far more pressing need imho than another tricky winger , not that I’m knocking Flipper . π
As for Cahill, I’m not sure he would fit in that well in our way of playing. I’m not convinced he is mobile enough for playing a higher defensive line. The same concern goes for Samba, for that matter. Still, as I am sure I have said before, both would most likely be lots better options than Squillaci.
Flipper!!! F’in ace tabs π π π
That name will stick like dolphin poo to er, something really sticky in the ocean.
Yeah, another re-hash of ze German and Jan Vertongen too. Blah, blah, blah.
I think a top-notch centre-half is a must too. After that, it’s all icing IF Nasregas stays.
Believe Samba was back-up position if Cahill didn’t come. The fact that Cahill and Bolton have played silly buggers has probably turned Samba off us.
To be honest always worried about Samba playing behind our midfield. He gets some protection at Blackburn…
Flipper (the real one) would be a click and a squeak up on Squillaci Lars π
With all due respect, etc., etc.
@tabs: I agree that stats don’t tell everything, at least the stats we can lay our hands on. I’m sure the club knows much more with telemetry and don’t rely too much on their “impressions”.
Anyway my point is that this was a barely average season for Cesc, for any other player it would have been an excellent season. Just compare with his previous seasons, by his own standards the last one was low-key:
2010/11: 22 starts 3 goals 11 assists
2009/10: 26 starts 15 goals 13 assists
2008/09: 22 starts 3 goals 8 assists
2007/08: 32 starts 7 goals 20 assists
So far he alternates an exceptional season with a “normal” one. Next one should be outstanding and we should keep him, if he’s committed of course π
Quite right ‘Holic. Can’t imagine Arshavin providing too much cover for Samba although seeing them in the same line-up would be quite amusing π
Cheers TS π
Given the shortcomings of Cahill/samba , who do you want Lars ?
…perhaps he could perch Arshavin on his shoulder as a launch pad for The Russian to be an aerial threat at corners?
Hang on… where the fuck is PiK???
Holic , that makes sense , but if you believe what the Bolton manager said , we haven’t made any offer ( yet ) for Cahill .
Matt , I don’t disagree with any of that . I’m sure Cesc will be committed if he stays .
I reckon he might have overdone it on the homegrown Dr C π
tabs: who I would want? Vidic π
Kidding aside, I would most of all like a changed approach to defending set pieces. This is where our real problems lie, we don’t concede too much from open play, but or set-piece defending is appallingly bad.
either that or the cartels have got him for encroaching on their turf…
Dr.C @ 154,
I think we keep him too busy as a CMC preferred supplier for him to be passing comments on here π
If you notice, Lonestar is also an infrequent visitor these days. He’s a key supplier of llamas and llama by-products to DLL and its patented propulsion system (NOT hot air contrary to popular belief)
Am now back home and catching up with the vsop I bought tabs earlier!
Comments on the beautiful and thought provoking chatting above
A number of players were played out of position last year, both in starting line ups and substitutions, most of which decisions were under AWs control (rather than being forced on him by injuries,)
Frequently it was Nasri starting on the left and NB substituting on the right or Chamikh playing deep, all of whom looked totally lost in their roles. Can we blame them – not really, cos AW called the shots IMO, and this means we were playing with an effective 8/9 man team. (I should say that Theo seemed out of position on the right thereby also being ineffective)
In the end I cannot blame people for wanting away, since they didnt get the results that AW had promised them would be theirs at the end of the year.
What we want now is a cohesive, effective team that can deliver the results that we perceive that they are capable of, well managed with clever squad rotation.
Maybe some extra signings (OK definitely some signings), but results results results
TV5 and Djorou wouldn’t be the end of the world – if they stay fit. For much of last season (forget the last games) Djorou was our talisman….
Mind you, I’d still like to see a big, solid. aggressive lump coming in, if only for “those” games..
Lars @ #157
Surely Vidic would be better suited as back-up for Szcz? π
A great leader though….
There is a suggestion, TaBS, that Bolton are hoping for counter offers from Chelsea and Citeh…
CG @ 160. Good points, especially about what we have promised… speaking of which; it is my belief that Cesc was given a Gentleman’s agrement last year – hence AW’s comments today about it not being about money and hoping Cesc wants to stay etc.
In which case; adios y gracias!
TS @159. Is LS that much more efficient than BS?
I do love it when the landlord teases us so with his “suggestions” !! π
Dr.C
Apologies, cannot disclose the answer to your question without an NDA and a pair of Speedos π
Perhaps the absences of PIK and Lonestar are linked , as they seek an upgrade to the Llama flavoured Californian . More potency , less bleating .
CG – hi and bye , I’m off .
Tomorrow , fellas .
That makes sense ‘Holic
‘Night John-Boy…
…..y gracias para todos los pescados….
From The Waltons to the Hitch-hikers Guide in two lines….
Only on Goonerholic!
You are all positively barking…
Any of you at the Sunday of the Dubaibury Cup? Let’s do post matches at the Tollie…
Reasonable chance ‘Holic. Will let you know.
Goodnight my pedigree chums π
TABS – intentionally in capital letters. Episode 5 quite brilliant. PHW’s entry dressed as a Sumo in “order to blend in” had me struggling to breathe with laughter.
TS – many thanks for the compliments – good to meet up.
Tabs (again) – you can wear Speedos if you want to – I never divulge such information.
All too frequent late entry to the bar, finds me in here alone. Try again tomorrow.
Goodnight Jim-Bob.
G’night Trev… π
Yes, good night Trev. I believe you will sleep well in the knowledge of your newly found business. GH should receive royalties according to my legal team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7EK0Izjh_Y&feature=share
I feel like crying with this fella.
Nothing in this world has a stronger effect on the soul than football.
Snir – You’re staying up until kickoff at 08:30? Pulling an all nighter?
Correction: Make that 08:45 EST (13:45 GMT).
If we can’t beat a Malaysian XI our season is doomed! Doomed I say! Doomed!
A pint of Creemore Springs please barman.
Nah, I’m actually gonna call it a night for now and wake up for the match.
Was supposed to have an overnight poker session but I didn’t listen to Holic’s punts so didn’t have the cash ;).
Nothing’s better than to start the day with an Arsenal match… (come to think of it, I really like the fact that all the news and the day’s arseblog is already online when I wake up, don’t need to spend hours clicking the refresh button!).
Football’s starting! Arsenal tomorrow and Maccabi on Thursday in the Europa league. Life can’t get any better than this, can it :)?
One can only imagine that your studies don’t start until September SG π Sleep well.
Tabs, This Behind the Arse stuff gets funnier and more clever every time. Bravo!!
TABS@72 Brilliant!
Interesting discussion on 4-4-2 and other stuff
After days of fucking about, we have an Arsenal match to look forward to π
Cheers all
PS: I’m working on a shipment of the finest ‘shrooms from Kodai for the HT Mk II as I speak
Nice work Tabs
Good to see the Le Proff having pops at Citeh, and if Dr. Z is right, the board. Both have had it coming imho, and it suggests Arsene might be getting a bit of his old pep back.
I always thought he was at his best taking sly shots at Sir Slur from behind a cheeky/slightly smug Gallic half-smile – then standing back and watching the purple one pop, fizz and gnash and that.
Mind you i hope he wasn’t having a go at ’em in the new kit as judging by the pictures he hasn’t got the figure for it (surely you’ve either gotta have a gut and/or a set of shoulders like the boy Song) – he looks like he’s borrowed his from his much bigger brother … Do take note the expensively assembled marketing department and let him wear his suit else the board might be coming in for some more stick from the sticky looking one. Up The Arse!
Shrooms? Oh dear, keep them away from Wolfgang.
Morning All
Harsha @ 183. Being a supplier to The Bar or DLL is hard work. Make sure it doesn’t stop you posting on a regular basis. PIK hasn’t been seen in here for weeks and concerns are growing π
In other news, good to have a game of football back on the agenda. Arsenal Player is primed and ready to go.
So says future Captain Jack:
“Loyalty is a big part of football and it shows if you are a real man or not. If you are loyal, it means you are a real man.
“We have loyalty at Arsenal and players have shown that in the past.
“Cesc showed that last year and hopefully a few more players will show it this year.β
Obviously Jack’s not only talking about Cesc, but he is talking about him. And re our Catalan Captain he has no John Devine right to go to Barca just because he apparently wants to return home. He’s a professional being paid shedloads to play for a great club he captains – who was v happy by the way to sign an 8 year contract and a 5 year contract with 3 year extension option thingy with us – he wasn’t thinking of his old mum’s paella then.
Arsene’s right- he wants to go back because they’re the biggest club in the world right now, and they want him and so it must be tempting for the lad.
But imho we’ve indulged Cesc a little too much on this – great player that he is, decent fellow and fine servant so far to The Arse etc etc. – But to say I want to go and only to that one particular club is ultimately unreasonable in the context of the world he/Arsenal are operating in.
Time to get real for me – either he stays true to more of his long contract and plays like he can for a team that’s been built around him OR we stop letting the bull-shitters at Barca undermine our club/captain and put Cesc on the open market and get a fair price for our investment in him.
Future Captain Jack’s right he should man up and get on with it – the whole thing has become a terrible pain in The Arse (boom,boom).
Up The Arse!
Match is being shown on firstrowsports if anyone is looking for it
Sure TS, I have been lurking about if not contributing to the banter here π
It’s more due to getting swamped with c*nt loads of work than deliberate absconding on my part
Jack has asked Cesc to ‘Be a man’, I see π
Right, off to the pub – the season is now officially started! π
Afternoon All ,
Trev@174 – Thanks for the kind words and I shall pass on the speedoe related information to Wolfgang π
Nas , Harsha , and And Lester – Cheers fellas .
Harsha , I look forward to sampling a few of those mushrooms π
And Lester@187 – Good stuff – I don’t disagree with any of that . Young Jack showing his teeth I see . Nasri might just be feeling a little isolated right now .
TS – I have sent Lady Robbie to go looking for PIK . Do you think his absence has anything to do with the fact that he offered us a lifetime’s supply not so long ago ? The plot thickens …
Right , enough of this nonsense , where’s my 1977 Arsenal canons scarf ?
COME ON THE ARSENAL .
1-0 to the Arsenal!!
Ramsey.
Hi Holics,
Anybody having problems with Arsenal Player?
And Lester @187 – me too.
Just one proviso: if I had ever had the talent and had been recruited by Barcelona and won the CL and La Liga and, and, and … and then Arsenal made it known that they wanted me, regardless of anything and everything else, I would have been out the next day, were it humanly possible.
Basically agree with your post Lester, but . . .
Now off to watch as much as I can of our first pre-season friendly.
Please try to remember, if anyone is posting after the game, that our prospects for the entire season can be judged on THIS GAME ALONE.
It really is that important.
Sorry ‘Holic, in retrospect that sounds a bit bossy on your blog, but thought it might get people going a bit!!!
VERY pleased from what I see in the first 10 minutes because of one thing.
Gibbs got caught on the attack when they were breaking so TV went to LB and Song to CB until he tracked back.
That’s defensive play! Finally it seems as if they had been working on it!
P.S: John Barnes is an AFC fan in disguise, he keeps on complimenting us:).
tabs @ #191,
Good move re: Lady R. We should introduce him/her/it to Lady N at the next available oppty.
I think PIK might be feeling the strain. The pre-season shenaningans have put undue pressure on our medicine cabinets so we may need to locate alternative reserves if the situation continues. In the meantime I recommend we put the GT on ‘by prescription only’ status π
Anyone managed to get a live stream on Arsenal Player yet? First game of the season and the whole thing just fails to work. Maybe it’s sulking for higher wages?
Excellent material for BTA Episode 6 though. IPA must be having a meltdown right now π
Snir – where are you watching? I tried to go to Arsenal Player and the main site will not start up. Bloody typical or what!?
Trev.
http://www.soccertvlive.net/watch/72913/1/watch-malaysia-vs-arsenal.html
http://atdhenet.tv/37980/watch-malaysia-vs-arsenal
If doesn’t work, choose one of the four streams showing the match on atdhenet.tv (the first one is arabic).
Some insights – We have 2 jet planes on the flanks. The players look very rusty. Despite Aaron being in the Cesc role, it’s Jack who’s trying the Cesc-esque passes.
H2H, Snir – thanks chaps, off to give it a try.
Another insight – It seems Kos and TV are playing differently. Kos is playing man coverage and follow his man everywhere including very deep in their own half and TV is playing zone
Jenkinson is very naive. He got the ball kicked over the top of him twice in the space of 3 minutes but recovered quickly on both occassions.
H2H @ 198: Cheers that works.
Trev @ 197: Hopeless, I’ve given up and am writing an Angry of Mayfair letter to IPA.
Nice.
The pitch is absolutely horrible.
RYAN SHAWCROSS I hope you just drop dead. You prevented me of watching this player.
What a Cesc pass from Aaron to Theo, 2-0.
Reminded me of the pass from Cesc to RvP at Craven Cottage in the 09-10 season where we beat them 1-0 from that goal.
New post up – ‘Holic’s clearly impressed too!