I Couldn’t See The Wood For The Trees
May 29th, 2012 by 'holic
Did you listen to last week’s Arsecast? The end of season roundtable discussion is always fun to record, especially with the birds singing and the sunshine pouring in through the window.
So who was Arsenal’s player of the season if you discount the obvious? I had to agree with the man from East Lower who had proposed Mikel Arteta and Laurent Koscielny. I also wanted to get a mention in for Yossi Benayoun who finished the season in such a rich vein of form.
It has been initially baffling therefore to see the former pair come in at five and four in the vote for our player of the season. Surely some mistake? Then it dawns on me, prompted as I was by news of Tomas Rosicky’s selection, despite a calf injury, for the Czech European Championship squad. Doh! Surely Tomas will be at two or three?
Another of the wise old heads who seemed to exceed expectations over the course of the season, Tomas even forced Aaron Ramsey into contesting one of the two anchor roles in the side rather than the advanced position the young Welshman may have preferred to occupy in Jack Wilshere’s absence.
I don’t think it is unfair to say this was Tom’s best season in an Arsenal shirt since his first, the inaugural season at the Grove, when he started 31 games and scored 7 goals. Although he hit the target just twice this season his return to form and fitness meant he made more appearances (38 of which 25 were starts) than in any of his previous five.
Think back (ok, I had to look) to the results of the player of the month votes in March and April, and it is clear that Tom deserves a top three placing in the annual award. Even if the consistency of his performance had not earned him an extension to his contract, his goal against the neighbours (above) would have ensured him a healthy share of the vote.
So I will hold my hand up. I dropped the ball on this one. I was wrong to not include him in that discussion.
Thanks for a great season Tom, and here is to another one to remember, starting in August. Well played that man.
271 Responses to “I Couldn’t See The Wood For The Trees”
First……
Top four!
Artetetetetetetetetaaaaa! All the way for me ‘holic – human section, therefore football god RvP excluded
UMP @ 155 (i think) over the post – OWZAT!!!
And ta – H2H – over the post @157 – i think
First!
Oops, pardon – that’ll be 156 and 159 – but who’s c(o)unting?
Fair point Holic.
Thought Rosicky was pretty good from the get go this season, (his performance in Udinese stays in the memory), but as you say, it was only when he was moved further upfield that he began to really excel and dominate games.
I would still,however, have Arteta and Kos at 2 and 3, and I find it baffling that they aren’t.
Pint of Cider please Barman.
‘holic, thanks for this post.
As you well know, Tomas is one of my favourite players, ever.
A picture not dissimilar to that posted above is my wallpaper at work.
It’s not going to be Rosicky though. Spot 2 and 3 will be Szczesny for his glimpses of brilliance and Song for his assists.
Hats off to Yossi too – but was i alone in thinking he looked a little bit like Tommy R’s slightly sickly ugly-sister?
Hey – but i’m pleased to say that that didn’t stop either of them coming good in the second half of the season – so reeespec’!
UREDS!
It’s obviously szczesny and song, not rosicky!!!! yeesh
Peter,
Players of the month this season – fan votes on arsenal.com
van Persie x 4
Szczesny x 2
Rosicky x 2
Koscielny x 1
Player of the season is a fan vote. If Song gets in the top 3 then something is wrong. Brilliant at his best, but far too inconsistent.
That looks like the top four to me.
I tend to agree with ‘holic’s logic there.
.con logic might be something completely different though (to be fair, having seen 5 and 4, I expected Tom and Song, no Szczesny, but I didn’t remember the Szcz POTM qualifications (early in the season, I think he got it in, er, August).
To some extent, I think Szcz has been as inconsistent as Song, except with his mouth ;-), I’d have had neither in the top 4.
I would have Kos at number two.
Not only was he the most improved player this season, I also thought there was an argument that he was our most consistent – he really kept going to the last day.
Without him I dread to think what our goals conceded column would look like. He also nicked the vital winner in the last match.
Really looking forward to watching him develop further next season, hopefully aided by some improved midfield cover.
RVP, Kos, Arteta, Song, Chesney would be my five in order.
Special mentions to Mozart and Bac, both of whom showed bottle galore, but neither of whom played quite as many matches as the five above.
Ollie, I think you and I are singing from the same hymnsheet on Szczesny. However young ‘keepers make the odd mistake and for the main part his confidence and attitude have endeared him, quite rightly, to so many.
I’ll take him at 2 or 3 on that basis.
Indeed and I’ll, er, drink to that, ‘holic.
On Lars’ tab!
For me Rvp Arteta Kos Tommy R Chesney. No Mr Chippy in my top 5 – far too inconsistent. Close for my no 5 between Chesney & Tommy V – both have very positive personalities but the young keeper just nicks it as he is the first keeper to inspire some confidence since Mad Jens.
Good shout by N7 Gooner, although I’d swap Rosicky for Song at fourth and keep Szcz at 5th. It’s worth noting that this list goes right up and down the spine of our team, which, if weβre honest has been weak over the past few seasons. Build around that lot and we have the makings of a very strong side.
Theo and Song would do battle for the top spot outside of the first five. Both sparkled at times, but were too inconsistent overall.
I would have Arteta as runner-up behind RvP. His contribution to the team has been almost as important as what Robin has given us.
Evening all. Talk about a fun post! But the problem Holic is that by the end of the drinks not sure who your top 5 are! Will take a quick peep and report back.
Feelgood,
Smallballs,
Leg Rash,
Dr Spin,
Peter Hill-Wood
Too many other dishounourables to mention……
I’d have Lars at number one.
His contribution, simply, and literally (sorry Jamie) cannot be equalled. I’ve never ever heard of someone picking up the tab for every single person in a bar during the whole of a season before.
Here’s to the wallet!
Andy Goram takes 2 spots.
Good call Ollie @ 22. Ermmm, is Larrrs. In the bar. At the mo…at all???
Well I see (hmm). This is my list. RVP, Arteta, Kos, TR, and Song. Our young Woj will be in the top five next season, when we win the CL on penalties, with Woj scoring!!!
Nice positive debate. After RVP I’d go with the following.
2. Arteta
3. Koscielny ( played all season and we conceded 49 goals)
4. Sagna ( had he played more he would be higher)
5. Rosicky
Szczesny is a work in progress.We tend to forgive him several mistakes because his potential is obvious. He conceded a lot of saveable goals.Honourable mentions to Benayoun,AOC ,Song and Vermaelen.
At least we have major candidates contending for this prize who have had decent seasons.
Only regular negatives are Gervinho ,Chamakh and Djourou
Noooo??? Oooooops – I’ve jus’ clocked Feelgoo *Swoosh…bang.That’ll be the swooshing bangy sound of bar doors slamming shut behind me*
As i scarpered*
Oops! @ 26 How did I leave Sagna out of the top 5(big sigh, head down aghast)! Sorry Song. Boy, this is hard.
Cheers, Ollie π
AL, yes I am here!
Wait a minute here Holic. You’ll take Woj and TR in the top 3…so what about Arteta and Kos?! And Zico, who is your top 5? Honestly fellas…
Dear Dr Z,
I am honoured to be your No.2 .
Yours ploppily
Wolfgang Smallballs
Just watched last night’s Panorama on iplayer. Geez !
As for top 5 , I’m in Nurse Abb’s corner, with the proviso that Bac would have figured had he played more games.
OMG, I’m truly honored Tabs! Thank you mate. Cheers!
Off to work. Expect a full top 5 list from the usual suspects on my ‘desk’ in the am. I know it’s hard, we love them all but this is ‘push comes to shove time’. Nite all.
ThunderTinyGooner @ 26 is bang on the money for me. Although Chamakh looks like a little bit of the Chamakh of old in our last few games this season π
tabs @ 33, watched it yesterday with the family as the barbeque died down, as soon as I saw the first scenes, I said ‘Ultras’. And I was right π
RvP,
Arteta,
Kos,
Woj,
Grass Muncher Terry.
Picture almost matches my screen saver. While I enjoyed the great seasons from the aforementioned, I was was absolutely thrilled that Rosicky found his form this year. Henry brought me to the mighty Arsenal (before his last), but I immediately loved TR7’s style of play and his ability to get up the field and break-up play with his sliding tackles. Gutted when I thought he was through….always held a glimmer of hope he would get back into the team.
His goal against Spurs was an exclamation point that he was back and that all of his hard work paid-off. His right arm, wind it up windmill celebration just did it for me.
Kudos for the post, barman.
Oh ok then nurse…
RvP
MA
LK
TR
WS
Wind,yep very grim.
Even allowing for the inherent sensationalism in a report of that nature, it was disturbing and depressing in equal measure.
I am also honoured to come in fifth in The Guv’nor’s list . π
π
Also just watched Panorama. Having been to Leipzig and Belgrade before the wall came down I am not surprised. Authorities used to allow the proletariat to vent their frustrations at football without fear of reprisals.
Institutionalised, I think you call it.
Off for the best of commentary prog that was on Radio 5 last night at 8pm.
Laters.
First time poster but an ardent reader. Well done Holic, more grease! My top 3: Squillaci, Jenkinson and Ramsey….og sorry, that’s for the booby’s prize. We all need comic relief here and there, don’t we?
RvP
Artetetaaa!
Kos – never lettuce down
Sir Ches
Tomas Notsosicky/ Mart F(U)lop (by way of arseblogger, i think)
And a special mention to Lars who hit the bar more than most last season and has apparently paid a heavy price for it
Watching the Panorama prog i couldn’t help thinking that a lot of them looked like misguided kids who might be lucky enough to get shown the error of their ways come the summer – just a thought.
Nice thought AL,
Hope you are right…
Re: Ollie @22. Wasn’t Lars contribution last season just as stellar as his contribution this season? In any case he should be first on everybody’s team sheet. π
My top seven Arsenalistas are:
RVP
LK
TR
MA
WS
AS
BS
straight bat down the wicket…
Now to read the post… π
Re-education moves in mysterious ways ‘holic
psed – noticeable how TV has slipped off more or less everyone’s top o’ the shop lists. Who’d have put money on that after the Newcastle game in middish March? The lad needs to come back next season switched on from the off i reckon.
I love Tomas Rosicky and agree he’s done well this season but for me, this is my top 5.
RVP
Koscielny
Arteta
Song
Walcott
Without these five our season would’ve been much, much worse I think. Szczesny is a little unlucky not to make it in…
Geez thinking about my top 5 is harder than I thought it would be. I agreed with several of the permutations above, particularly Holic’s and AL but I am gonna make my selection based on the impact a player had on our season:
1. RvP
2. Henry
3. Arteta
4. Kos
5. Chez
Song, Theo, Tomas R, Santos and Sagna would all get into my top 10 for their supporting roles..
Doc Watson, a master of the folk guitar, passed away this evening. π
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdUrg2Cqxdw&feature=relmfu
Apart from a number one, should there even be a ranking of the players of the season? It is a team game.
Bt8b@55: now that is sad. I am starting to feel my age.
Team of the season? Just to get the debate going:
Woj
Sagna, Kos, BFG, Gibbs
Song, Arteta
Rosicky
Walcott, RvP, Gervinho
Bench: TV 14, TV5, the Ox, the Coq, Ramsey, Santos, Benayoun, GK TBA.
@58: NBN, I’d have Santos in over Gibbs in my team but other than that I’m in agreement. Btw, is TV14 the upgraded version of TV5 model? If it is, I think we should push to get a TV1000 from Skynet and send him back in time to destroy Alex Ferguson π
thats very sad news indeed about doc watson , 8ball
yesterday
after getting two huge dollops of bad news
i sat on the canal bank for a wee think to myself
was there for a while
i discovered that the ducks here are either stupid or very trusting
two of them – mr and mrs i’m guessing – one brown the other ducky coloured
sat beside me
right beside me
waddled out of the canal after giving me the hard stare from the water for a good half hour – sat down – nodded off – practically in my lap
cheered me up no end
i’m sure there was no cross-species empathy goin on – i’m guessing they just thought i was a big duck
Just to add to the joyous tributes above.
I wouldn’t mind if we signed Yossi on a permanent deal, or atleast on another loan.
But I wouldn’t blame him if he preferred to play for the ‘champions league winners’ ( as a certain Belgian tweeted a couple of days ago).
Oh well, thanks for the contribution last season Yossi.
Heh, not a chance, GT, he’d get even less playing time than with us.
In other news, apparently Hazard is not allowed,’ for contractual reasons’, to say ‘Chelsea’ before he appears on their TV Channel.
Which presumably explains his formulation, rather than a clever ploy to leave things open between ManUre and the Bus Stop.
No, me neither.
Ollie that’s what I think.
What with their shiny new name, yoss has a better chance with us.
But what does Yossi think?
Maybe he should tweet and let us know.
#I’m joining le Champianos#
*Is that right Yossi? Which one?*
Thanks for the post holic, Tomas’ calf is discussed in czech media on daily basis since it was revealed that he didn’t arrive to the pre-Euro camp fully fit. “What ifs” are discussed from every angle and just shows how important he is for our national team hehe.
I have always been huge fan of him, first caught my attention with his impressive solo goal vs Dynamo Kyiv when he was in Sparta. Also I am sure that this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZtuaL9rSrg was the moment when AW knew he wants him in his team one day:).
As for the player of the season..the top has to be RvP ..thats without discussion, but excluding him my first five would look like this.
0-status divine RvP
1-Mikel
2-Kos
3-TR7
4-Woj
5-Song
Bacary is on par with Song for me, he has been gravely missed when he was injured, made Theo show glimpses of what he can be and also the “I have fucking enough of this” goal against Sp*rs provided pretty much turning point of the season for me. Runner ups for me are AoC and Santos, really looking forward to see these two next season.
http://www.football365.com/faves/7784731/F365-Says
I think this only covers half the topic.
I have a strong suspicion that the Bus Stop (who was one pk away from Europa League, which is their actual level this season) will be leaking goals by the bucketload next season.
Variation on a theme (and since it’s a slow day at work)
Top 5 – Choonz from “down there…..”
1. Down at the Doctors
2. Down at the Tube Station at Midnight
3. Waterloo Sunset
4. London Calling
5. Roxette (also in my top 5 favourite women) π
At number 3….is Perry Groves.
No, looks like .con will make us wait a few more minutes at least.
Ah, here it is:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/player-of-the-season-in-third-place-is
Super Tom for number 3 it is.
@67
3 and 5 will do for me – nice
12XU perhaps
Having checked back the figures and to bounce back on the votes aspect of it, it’s all mighty close between places 5 and 3 (4.1%MA, 4.29% LK, 4.79% TR), and I don’t expect number 2, whoever he is to get much more than 5% if that.
Which means MA and LK weren’t far from 2nd or 3rd anyway.
Health news: I have nearly stopped coughing, now I’m sneezing like mad.
Poor Ollie π
Wolfie @161 prev drinks – π π
Now to read this lot!
Re: Ollie @72: How did you infect me from the other side of the ocean? π
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2012/05/30/144813_ben-arfa-je-reve-du-ballon-d-or.html
What’s wrong with these French footballers? After Nasri and Benzema, I give you Ben Arfa:
Hardly half a decent season and all they talk about is Ballon d’Or.
Quite right Ollie…The Toon with Ben Arfa season & we had $amir arfaseason na$ri….a case there of 2 halves making a hole
Heh @76, its sort of same like the speculation in our press that Petr Cech might have been Baloon d’Or candidate too.
Mad Czechs, Eandy π
Hehe yeah, I mean..he had good second half of a season and pretty much won CL for Chelski, but there is no way you could compare that to wonder stuff Messi and Ronaldo produced this year.
Their numbers are completely out of reality..just nice comparsion – Leo Messi scored 72 goals in all his competitive matches this year, Ronaldo 60. NHLs top scorer this year Steven Stamkos scored 60 goals ..and goals fly in in much higher rate in ice hockey than football. So there is no way any other player than these two are going to win it in my opinion.
Messi and Robben won the CL for Chelski. The penalty-bottling cunts.
Thats bit like taking credit from Yossi, Santos and Kos for scoring against WBA away and saying that Fulop won it for us though:P (which he pretty much did but still:D)
Good middle of the week, holics. I really enjoyed reading all of your lists, felt like a proper teacher checking everyone’s homework! NBN, yes truly a team effort by all. You know, when I look at Gervinho, he has such a beautiful style of play…but he seems to lose possession of the ball too easily, usually when he is in striking distance. And our Theo, we are being hard on him because he has shown us what he is capable of. Of course, he might be #2 on the list, and well done, if he is. The Ox should be a starter, need not play the entire match. For the 30 odd minutes he played against Norway, he was really trying to make things happen. So much for us to look forward too.
Nurse Abb. On an obesity olympics related subject, when does the hammer throw start? π
ABB, I thought Gervinho gave glimpses of what he is capable of in the last two games of the season. There is a quality player in there somewhere.
In the case of Messi, only if you assimilate Cech to the framework, Eandy :p
1. RVP
2. MA
3. TR7
4. LK
5. TW14
Of course Ollie, I am not saying that Cech was not lucky in that particular moment, but especially in final he made some pretty decent saves and did his job quite well in penalties.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate the fact that Chelski won the CL, since Bayern really deserved it much more, but credit where its due and thats why some journos here think that he might be in for competition for Ballon d’Or, which is as far from my opinion as humanly possible. Yeah, he is one of the best keepers in the world, but nowhere near the level Messi and Ronaldo are on in term of how they performed this season.
He seems to have found some redemption in that Champions League run, Eandy, but from all I have seen, I think he’s been quite average over the last few years, just living on a reputation…
Anyway, my line is that I’m not ever prepared to give the Bus Stop any credit whether ‘due’ or not. And I won’t deviate. π
Hehehe nothing wrong with that attitude:D, I am quite biased since hes our national team keeper (and did for us fantastically on many ocassions)and pretty much only Chelski player I can stand for that reason.
Long day at work but got a hell of a lot done, so a good day in that respect – but that also meant far too little time spent in this bar!
Eandy: I fully agree that it would be absolutely ridiculous to even consider giving the Ballon d’Or to anyone but Messi or Ronaldo. And we have had the same situation here in Sweden with Ibrahimovic a few years – though not so much anymore, people have started to realize that while a very good player he is far from the best in the world.
I tried to put together a top-five but only got as far as Rvp followed by Arteta and Kos. After that I can’t decide between Szczesny, Song, Rosicky and Vermaelen. Yes, TV made a few mistakes primarily v QPR away and Norwich at home but his drive and leadership has been very good.
But I came up with two other suggestions for top five lists:
Top five Crap Predictions of the Season, Supporters’ Section:
1. “ManU will fall away from the top now”
Yours truly when Vidic tore his cruciate.
2. “There is no way Chelsea are going to win the CL”
Too many to mention
3. “If you think we have the slightest chance v Milan you live in Cloud Cuckoo Land”
zico
4. “We will win the league”
Snir
5. “We will finish above you, RvP is going to get injured”
cousin pre-op
Top five Crap Predictions of the Season, Players’ and Managers’ Section:
1. “There is no chance that Arsenal will finish above us”.
Rafael Fanny-Fart
2. “Liverpool are going to win the league”
Tens of thousands of deluded LFC supporters
3. “I’d still fancy us to finish above Arsenal”
Harry Yappyapp in March
4. “I think we will catch Arsenal and finish above them”
Harry Yappyapp in April
5. “Harry Redknapp will take over England after having guided Tottenham to the Champions League”
Every self-appointed expert in the media
I think you will find that prediction in 3 above was proved correct, Lars π
Heh, great lists, Lars.
In other great lists of failed predictions:
1. We’ll find another juicer open – Wolfgang Smallballs last man out the door as the Tollie closed after Leeds
2. I won’t need a toilet stop – Dr Feelgood contemplates the Picadilly Line from Holloway Road to Heathrow Terminal 5 following a gallon of guinness
3. St Totteringham will fall before Xmas – Feelgood and Smallballs
4. The Eurostar should get me there by…….. Ollie
5. The Holic Pound – various. π
Actually in 1 above, it was actually the pub AFTER the Tollie – could be replaced with
I’ll get a cab – Wolfgang Smallballs mistakes an order for his kebab π
DR Zee @ 92: In fairness to Lars he was referring to the return leg against Milan when you didn’t even want us to show up! I believe you said something to the effect: “email them and say ok chaps we give up so save yourself the long trip!”…
π
zico@95: true, we did find an open juicer (The Metro) after the Tollie but it wasn’t open for very long.
..Walks up the crease, prods the ground, secures gloves… looks around to all fours sides of the field..
Back home on time for an assist!
Smashes it over extra cover to bring up his hundred π
Well bowled Ollie π
Great run, GT.
I was actually strongly considering putting the notion of ‘bowling’ for my 99th, but figured bowler and batsman are in opposing team, so it wouldn’t quite work.
And zico 94, I think this season is the first in ages when I didn’t suffer any MAJOR delay on the Eurostar, I think.
The Club decided to postpone a game by a day instead.
Cover drive from GoonerTerry – I suspect a bit in the air – would’ve been out if it had been yours truly fielding at cover point….. 8)
No doubt Dr Zee.. no doubt π
Hey Ollie: We are all the same team having a knock about and having a few beers till the real game starts up again…(oh Jesus I’ve gone and reminded myself again..shoo )
Ollie, congratulations on delivering the assist.
5. The Holic Pound β various
Guilty as charged, a horrific season π
I predict great things for the ‘holic pound next season.
*bookmarks post for future reference*
Heh…
BBC Sport reporter David Ornstein tweets: “Claims that Robin van Persie has agreed a new Arsenal deal are wrong. Ivan Gazidis met with his agent at Emirates on Monday. No developments, still no contract offered.”
I should imagine the conversation went something like this:
Ivan: So is he gonna sign or what?
D.D: WTF?? That’s what you asked me last week?
Ivan: Yes but you didn’t respond!
D.D: I said show us the money!
Ivan: And I said take off your trousers..
D.D: You know that I can’t do that Ivan..
Ivan: You did for Barcelona, and people are saying that you did it for Mancini at City just the other day..
D.D: I can see that you are talking this for a joke..
Ivan: I assure you that if / when we verify that you do have a penis we will all stop calling you a cunt…
* Door slams! Ivan & Bouldy giggles to themselves*
‘David Ornstein’, heh, the same cunt who ‘claimed’ that he got confirmation that RvP had signed an extension some time last October or something.
He’s another pretend ‘ITK’.
Massive heh at the conversation π
Due to Rosicky’s lovely control and ability to maintain that control while changing direction, he allowed us to open up many more spaces offensively than we we have been able to do. Certainly we were able to maintain control and open space immeasurably more than we were able to do earlier in the season when Ramsey was tried in that position.
By the way, ‘holic, due to the title of this piece I was originally afraid you were going to follow that cricket piece with one on “the golf” so I was very pleased to see that you did not. One for the guv’nor please, barman. π
bt8, don’t tempt him! π
Started to write a longer post along the same lines as Ollie@113 but accidentally deleted it. Can’t be arsed to write it all again, but in short it went a bit like this:
“No developments, still no contract offered”
A meeting is in itself a development, so no matter how much Ornstein tries to pretend to know he has no idea what has been said and/or done at that meeting. Like Ollie said, another pretend ITK.
***
And also a massive heh at the conversation in the GT post!
Re: Lars @91, zico @94 and GoonerTerry @111. Standout posts of the day award. π
8ball@114: Golf, you say? Nah, I think we are still a fair way away from that, a little birdie has told me. Although writing such a post would suit the Holic right down to a tee, I am not sure we should punch a hole in one of the as yet green pastures this blog has not ventured into.
(Pun-master Trev, over to you!)
You’ve used up all the puns in one post, Lars, you selfish punster.
Fair to say though, a new pun-theme for every ‘holic post is now par for the course .
Of course, in keeping with the theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_u7VGiMO0U
At this rate, the next century is still a fairway away.
Hey Lars, I can imagine David Letterman reading your lists, pretty darn amusing. Trying to come up with my own list of funny pairings at the bar. Ollie and Zico (my peanut butter and jelly), Gooner Terry and Trev (watch the sparks fly), andy gorham vs andy gorham (never knew who was the real one). Then there are those it like to go it alone, Al, 8ball, H2H, Lars…many more. Tabs, not sure how many alter egos you have…Then there are the ‘serious’ folks, Steve T(hope I haven’t gone too wide of the mark), our lovely Deliah(what an eye you have) and our very own Snir (a legend in our time, and we’ve got him!).
lars@118, you’ve given me a stroke with all those puns. shanks.
oh, and for those who understand scottish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcnFbCCgTo4
Evening all. Clever thought provoking post ‘holic, here’s my two cents;
My personal POTS, minus RvP, would be Arteta by a country mile, if I were the manager the first name I’d put on the team sheet. Check the stats, behalf from the final match of the season, in which Fulop was our best player, we failed to win a single game in which he didn’t play.
Maybe it’s because he’s not a flashy player that he doesn’t get the credit he deserves, he doesn’t do the Hollywood passes, choosing mostly the safer easier options, retaining pocession instead of needlessly giving the ball away. A very intellegent player.
Next would be Kos, our most improved player. Has grown into a very good PL CB.
4th place will have to go to Woj, I’ll admit he had a few wobbles, but which keeper hasn’t? He saved our arses plenty of times and I feel the defence let him down on many of the goals conceded. Does need to work on his distribution though.
The 5th place is a hard one as I feel the rest were too inconsistant. TR, Feo, Song, TV all had their moments, some more then others yet their levels dipped or rose from game to game. Ox, Sagna and the BFG made too few appearances to make the cut.
But it is a top 5 so I’ll give the last place to Theo, a player who delights and frustrates me in equal measures but his stats (goals and assists) show there is a real player in there somewhere.
I am worried though that hardly anyone else seems to have him in their top list and absolutly no-one seems to give a rats arse that he is in the same place contractual wise as RvP.
Have we all given up on Feo?
118 119 Lars Ollie.
Not sure if he used up all the puns, but it was gready to use more then fore.
Ps RvP (wearing No16 tonight) has just been taken off for Oranje. Just a tactical switch by the look of it, boring game btw.
H2H, I share your worry about Feo. I don’t want to lose him.
And isn’t Song too on his last year now?
Ollie@121: booo, I already used the “fair way away” pun in my post π
we failed to win a single game in which he didnβt play.
This ‘fact’ has always annoyed me, because it became a bit too much of a self-fulfilling prophecy after some time (thankfully put to bed in the last game), but I still agree he was vital.
Besides, it’s totally a wrong ‘stat’ too, as it is only a League stat, as we won Cup games without him (domestic and European)so it’s rather rubbish. Lest we forget, we beat AC Milan 3-0 without Arteta, while we got trashed by them 4-0 when he was playing.
The most significant bit of that is not that we couldn’t win, but just that we rarely kept our calm without him. Without him, we lost some points from winning positions, even after great recoveries as against Norwich and that’s the telling bit.
So he was truly vital, significantly with his Premiership experience.
I’ve said what I needed to say about Szcz above. Theo has been OK in patches, but also injured, I think TR7 (always reminds me of that car π ) has been much more consistent than either.
Holland playing again already, H2H? :s
If you aren’t already you should be watching Arsenal Ladies at Bristol.
http://www.coolsport.tv/stream3.php
Enjoyed it so far.
lars, i’m sure ollie is deep in his cups. either that, or he is secretly pinning away for the fjords, we’ll have to ask his driver, chip.
Heh, Lars, how could I have missed it?
Such a pun overload, I may have done a ‘reset db’ at some point.
Or let’s just say, I didn’t have the eagle eye.
maybe it’s an england/america thing, ‘holic, but that stream is “private and protected”. must be on a golf course.
I’m not sure Lars, we’re not hearing much about that either.
The RvP saga is casting way too large a shadow, we have to be careful we don’t lose sight of other objectives.
====
Wasn’t in the bar today as I was in Alkmaar on business.
Tipple de jour was a tasty little bugger called Texels Skuumkoppe (yeah I know, wierd name) a dark, white beer;
http://www.speciaalbier.com/images/bieren-glas-fles/skuumkoppe.jpg
Ollie, playing against Slovakia. Just gone 2-0 up.
ollie, you must have thought you were playing sam spade in “the maltese falcon”…
Sorry scruz,
Try http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/124974/1/watch-bristol-academy-vs-arsenal-%28women%29.html
aaah, there we go. cheers, ‘holic!
Interesting point regarding Theo, I am Theoist and always will be, the amount of potential in him is immense and as someone pointed out in Fans Forum month or two ago, hes still only 22…I would say lot of Arsenal fans are having kids that age which puts all in very different perspective.
This season he has shown in some matches how good player he can be, now its down to make those good performances more consistent, which will come with age and experience.
I really believe he will become real terror of defenses, even now when hes on his day he can make pretty much every defense in PL craps their collective pants. His pace is out of question, you would have to look really hard to find quicker player in whole Europe I would dare to say, also he is actually very good finisher once he gets in to good position. Decision making seems to be his trouble but as I said, I believe that will improve with the maturity coming with age.
The fact that he still didn’t sign somehow keeps me weirdly calm, I believe its just waiting tactics by him and his agent to get best offer possible, waiting for Euros to rise his price. I don’t think even him would want to leave, when you think of it, there is not many options for him since he still is not complete player which would make big spenders really interested in him.
Personally I really wish both RvP and Theo will stay, Theos goalscoring run this year was decent and he proved to be good provider for RvP too, add Lu Lu Lu to them on the left and you have real force to reckon with.
eandy, i agree with a lot of what you say, but until the lad learns how to dribble past people using his body to get them off balance, he’s going to have the ball taken away when he tries. it’s one of his primary failings, in my eyes, and makes it much more difficult for us as a side when we play teams that don’t give him space to roam.
Is that link a football match or Avatar?
fecking smurfs.
A great film that, scruz
tell y’all what, this is my first time watching arsenal’s ladies, and their style is *certainly* reminiscent of our lads.
if they give up a goal from bristol’s first corner, the identification will be complete!
Is that one of tabs midget porn movies, Ollie?
indeed, ollie. i’ve always loved bogie…:)
Given the dates of the Ladies’ season, does that mean they change kits during the course of the season then? I see they’re still wearing last season’s fashion!
Heh H2H, Hadn’t seen that scruz post lurking around at 143
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/euro-2012-squads
I like that fact the we play things by the book, although it means that Podolski could still change his mind if he wanted.
rough game, these wimmen.
148 Ollie.
As the release date for the new kit is next week (07-06) will be interesting to see what the ladies will be wearing then.
and 150.
Strange that, because he is now officialy an Arsenal player…. isn’t he? *confusedsmileythingy*
Nice counter goal.
oooooh, what a goal.
Agreed with that scruz, and thats when change of tactics might come in handy against those teams, moving Theo more central with RvP under him, and either Ox or Gerv filling on the wing. Hes not technician and prolly never will be, just play direct ball behind defense for him and enjoy the show:D
I think the ‘official’ transfer window may not be open yet, H2H.
Or there’s other more subtle ‘tax’ reasons or such like when we signed Na$ri.
eandy, that’s it, he’s not a technician.
but then, greyhounds usually aren’t known for changing direction, either, and people still bet on them to get the rabbit.
theo will come good. or, should i say, better; he’s already gotten to “good”.
ollie, i think it was delayed with na$ri because he’s a cunt. even then.
heh, probably right, scruz.
well done, ladies. miss davison is quite the handful, down the right.
thanks for the link, ‘holic, that was a well-spent lunchtime. time for me to carry the bag another few hours…
Oh, I thought it was done and dusted, photos in the new kit and everything.
Bloody red tape.
===
BTW gents, gotta be careful if your other halfs (managements) ask what your watching on internet.
The ladies of Arse and Bristol could be misconstrued. π
H2H: formally, Podolski is not officially an Arsenal player until July 1st since that is when the transfer window opens.
*you’re, d’oh
Lars knows.
In grand slam news, Lars makes a bid to be one of the masters of golf puns, so it’s open season. Is the competition still open? I felt he’d established a Pretty Good Average but his performance was little better than par. Shame it’s golf puns today, it’s always been a bit of a bogey subject for me. Oh well, claret all round please barman. From the jug.
Lars’ lists right at the top of the lists list – for me
And now u mention it H2H – right there with you re The-O.
I have just read that Mancini said he didn’t need new strikers (when questioned about Ibrahimovic. So presumable he’ll say the same if questioned about RVP? Good.
Lars @91 – excellent post
zico @94 – π
GTerry @111 – π
Now for the remaining 60 or so.
Like Lars a stupidly busy week – sadly little or no time to get into the bar with me virtual mates π
Have y’all seen this;
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/899869-arsenal-stars-use-john-terry-as-code-for-ugly-girls-says-wojciech-szczesny
abb / Lars – honoured to be mentioned by you even in my absence π
H2H @124 – great work – not sure about Theo for same reasons you mentioned, but his assist stats remain impressive and RvP reportedly “loves him”, so I’ll ‘allow’ him position 5 in the list as there are too many to try to separate.
Would anyone be kind enough to post the WordPress syntax for italics.
Cheers.
H2H @135 –
“skuumkoppe” = frothy head ?
Just for interest from my German and very limited knowledge of Dutch ?
Trev, no idea what the specific WordPress syntax is – might Google be your friend? I use <i> and </i> which is clunky but works. (I hope the angle-brackets get through OK.)
Trev, frothy or foamy head is indeed correct.
For italics to close (remove + and spaces)
My post for italics went wrong, Oxon’s is correct.
Frothy head?
OK, if you insist.
Black bodied, if you please. π
Back read the golf puns…a big heh to all. No doubt Wolfie would get a hole in one.
Trev – I had a quick poke around with Google and the best I could come up with was this. It looks as though you have to do bold, italics and hyperlinks the hard way, i.e. <i> and </i> for italics, <b> and </b> for bold and <a href="…"> and </a> for for links.
Be careful though, I also found something saying that if you forget the closing tag it makes all following comments bold, italic or whatever.
I managed some filthy great inverted commas a week or two back by using <blockquote>, but be careful.
A shame I wasn’t around earlier for the golfing punfest but it has been extremely busy here so I’ve had to make some cuts to my visits to the bar.
When I had some time at lunch time I was feeling a little under par, join the club Ollie, so I putt myself to bed for an hour.
However, a light meal of sandwedges and a small jug of claret, followed by a stroll in the woods amongst the birdies and eagles (in Hertfordshire!!!) has me feeling a lot less rough and really back in the swing of things.
Had to wear two pairs of trousers on my stroll – as I had a hole in one – but the extra pockets were handy both for tissues, as I cleared the bogies from my earlier malady, and a small radio, on which I heard an interview about Eden’s transfer, from his father Walter Hazard.
*I’ll get me coat now*
Bugger, that should, of course, be </b> in the middle of my previous drink to switch off bold.
As I said, be careful out there.
Oh dear, Trev sneaks in with more golf puns. (Watery grin)
Drinks for the rest of the evening to the first person to manage a sensible “niblick” pun. A weeks worth for “mashie niblick”.
Thanks for the italics help chaps.
I’ll try it out after a decent interval so everyone forgets to blame me when the following ten posts also appear in italics – or disappear altogether π
I made the mistake of forgeting to close the italics here once Oxon.
==
Well done Trev, punmeister is you to a tee.
Golf puns ?
Join the club.
Trev @179, I salute you.
straight to the top of the leaderboard
Cheers Ollie.
Top 5 convos you might have hoped happened during last season:
#1 – “Nah son, these boots give me loads of grip, innit!” JT to the bootroom boy prior to Ch3l5ea.
#2 – “You c*nt! Why did you open your fat gob before the match?” Chief PR Man from Roman’s Fulham Bus Stop to Mr. Bruce Buck after Ch3l5ea.
#3 – “Which one of you three muppets came up with that t-shirt idea?” Any LWC fire-drilling their way out of The Ems who spotted the Mind The Gap mugs.
#4 – “We paid Β£35 million for ye, why cannae ye do that ye big f*ckin’ donkey” Former King Kanute turning to Carroll after RVP’s wonder strike.
#5 – “Traore, you’re fired” Lord Alan Windsor to a smiling Armand after the match we 8-2 be reminded of.
Thank you all and good night!
No takers for the Mashie Niblick challenge then?
Night all.
Re: TS @189. My favorite is #4. Hilarious. π
**Breaking news: Clint Dempsey would like to sign for Arsenal**
my wife loves to write with a fountain pen. when she gets ink on ‘er nib, “lick it” i tell ‘er.
goonertown, link?
Why am I always elsewhere when Trev turns up?
π
scg@123: he ripped that routine off from Billy Connolly, whose version was much funnier and, amazingly, not to be found on YouTube.
GT taking strike, with the double ton a mere boundary away?
‘Holic@195: self-preservation?
Rolls the ball across the face of the goal…
Lofts a tidy little one over the boundary to bring up the 200..
Thanks Guv π
Strange game, but a quality strike GT.
G’night all.
Sleep tight and all that π
Deftly placed, GT.
nbn, where’d you see it, if not on youtube?
the only thing i can find is that he *might* have done that bit, but did a hilarious bit of golfing with a hitman.
still, knowing williams’ penchant for stolen jokes…it wouldn’t surprise me.
well in, gt. love those lofted balls…even though it sounds like something smallballian to say so.
Thanks Chaps..
Listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Yes I am in that kind of mood π
Is that Salt, Mustard, Vinegar and Pepper ?
‘Night all π
Trev @ 208: Those spices are what makes English food so… how you say: “renowned” throughout the world….
I am more the Cumin, Garam Massala, Sage, Basil kind of guy π
SCG@205: saw him do it live, and also on TV. The hitman story is very funny, btw.
Double dipping on the cumin there, GT.
Hey Ned. Sorry been busy elsewhere and didn’t see you standing there π
SG @ 194
**more breaking news: Goonertown will provide a link to this transfer story after the Euros. In fact I’ll post it over Twitter**
Trev@179: Heh! I knew you would bunker down and come up with the goods!
TS@189: ooh, that brought back memories of John Terry chewing the grass as Robin put the ball into the back of the net… mmmm… that’s a good way to start any morning!
Now time for work – Barman, a cup of tea, please!
GT reaches the 200 mark. Well done!
Thankfully, other people (and more than 10 by the look of it) score runs in the meantime.
Strange game indeed.
Morning all holics, just read that Tomas’ calf is getting much better, allowed him to train with ball yesterday and that he should be fit for match with Russia.
Really looking forward to this group, us, Poland, Russia and Greece. In my opinion its all to play for and every team can go through, also it will be fun to watch Tomas, Woj and Andrei in action playing against each other:)
Well in GT, and nice lay-off Holic π
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/i-will-stay-at-arsenal-for-life-vows-thomas-vermaelen-7807256.html
Love this guy :’)
Morning all
Cheers 8ball @ #191 & Lars @ #214 – great memories indeed! π
‘Holic, forgot to say that I’m totally with you on Thomas. So good to see him return to form and just hoping that he can kick-on next season from where he left off on this one.
There’s a round on the bar for all. OLT as per usual…
Well no Szcz at number 2 then, it’s Song.
My maths at 71 are correct though, he still gets less than 5%.
Numbers 2 to 5 are all within the same %.
One or two fairly unpalatable bits and bobs, but worth a look i reckon – on a slow footie day – and there’s a happy ending sooo…
http://youtu.be/AleYSkW2LoQ
hahaha @221 ..saw that one just yesterday and lot of fun in that, woj cracked me up π
Invisible like Gilberto, GT.
Wind@218: what is that bit about Vermaelen battling to be fit in time for Euros?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-i-think-that-francis-has-done-excellently-
I am guessing Neil Banfield’s favourite phrase is ‘he has done ever so well’.
Count them.
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7788381/Wages-Soar-By-200m
FFP
Some good quotes today:
http://www.football365.com/mediawatch/7788386/Mediawatch
Re: Trev @208 and GT @209: I’m shocked you didn’t mention coriander or mint. (Actually, not really in Trev’s case.) π
Afternoon.
Well it all had to end, didn’t it?
The weather here has returned to type, miserable and rainy, rendering the beer garden damp and useless (I may rename it the MikaΓ«l Silwetstre garden, but probably not)
AL nice link, some funny stuff.
Ollie you did ever so well posting those links. I think Neil might of watched a little bit too much of *Brucey back in the day.
Some very good stuff from media watch too.
*For our younger and Overseas ‘holics; Brucey = Bruce Forsyth, who hosted a gameshow in the 70’s called The Generation Game where he employed the catchphrase; “Didn’t he do well?”.
I am really struggling today, feel very sleepy.
H2H, he’s still hosting game shows, no?
Or was until fairly recently at least, I’m pretty sure.
He does Strictly Come Dancing I think, Ollie, I saw him while I was channel a while back.
He was ancient (or at least I thought he was) back in the 70’s when I was a kid, but he somehow is still just old. His teeth looked better though.
ps, get well soon.
*channel surfing
Cheers, H2H.
I think I saw hiw doing ‘Family Fortunes’ or something of that ilk only a few years ago, maybe The Price is Right? (although time flies, so it might as well have been at least 5 years!).
http://www.football365.com/mediawatch/7788386/Mediawatch
Hmm, he did The Price is Right last time in 2001.
Time FUCKING flies.
*feels very very old*
With the correct link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Forsyth
He made his tv debuet in 1939, fuck, I didn’t even reaslise they had tv back then. That’s a good 70plus years ago, he must have signed the same kind of contract with the geezer from below as Fergie did. π
Well a joyous Thursday everyone! Our Song at #2. Nicola’s favorite Arsenal player and one of my favs but we know he must be more consistent. Read the great drinks (TS well done) Gooner Terry should play for Arsenal ! Trev, it kills me to admit this OUTLOUD, but you are brillant @179. Goonertown @ 192, Tell me more! Dempsey is a good all-around player. Being a Yank, I’d be tickled pink if he joined the Arsenal. And leave it to Ollie to be so fashion forward (Arsenal ladies, all lovely English Roses ). Heys to all.
Ollie, from your mediawatch link;
Loopy Lawro said;
“The chance for Brendan to manage a club which is in the top 10 in the country was too much to resist.”
A silly thing to say as they pointed out that Swansea finished 11th.
You could actually see it as a step down if you take into consideration that Swansea actually finished as top team in their country, which is of course Wales.
Hey Ollie @ 226: That Mediawatch bit about women being more hygienic than men is a load of bollox! All through my working life and even at home – where I am the only male – I can tell you that the women’s cubes, desks and computers were always the worst. At home I am the only one who cleans up the computer table, computer screens and headphones. I have even retrieved half-eaten sandwiches from behind the printers! My wife and younger daughter are the main culprits! So I don’t buy that shit…
8thBall: Yes we can add Coriander and Mint to that list, as well as, fresh Thyme & Scotch Bonnet Peppers π
Hey Nurse ABB, hope all is well with you today… just to clear something up from a few drinks ago: Pun-Miester Trev and I are the best of buddies – we only had that one disagreement (spectacular as it was) and since then we have mostly been playing to the gallery because we know you like a bit of ‘argy-bargy’ in the bar…. right Trev?
H2H: Wow old Brucie seems to have been around for ever! “Cuddly Toy, Cuddly Toy”…I loved him and that Poof Larry Grayson when I was growing up on the mean streets of North London… Can you imagine how funny it would be to have Bruce commentate on a football match with Larry Grayson as the pundit..
π
GT 239, can’t argue with that much. My experience in flatsharing at uni was quite eye-opening. I dreaded entering the kitchen or opening the fridge some days.
Although maybe it had more to do with them being English students (and northern at that…) rather than girls.
Hallo ‘Holics –
Just popping in for a drink. Hope all is well. Cheers!
BMBD
Lonestar, In case you didn’t notice at the end of the season, Barcelona WAS destroyed. π
Nothing to be happy about, bt8, the cunts should have destroyed Cuntski instead.
(and they still won their local cup, annoying idiots)
True enough Ollie but at least there’s the satisfaction of Cesc settling for a relatively minor trophy. Which reminds me, is Carlos Kickemhard going to plant a swift kick in the sensitive section of Nasri’s private parts?
8ball.
He’ll have to find them first.
Like looking for a needle dick in a haystack.
He’s liable to repeat this behavior so Carlos be on the lookout for your moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUnxD-wvpe4
NBN @ 223, apparently he tweaked his groin a little bit π
Abb I’m just playing around ( as per use)
Up thee Arsenalage!!!
So,
everybody else is on holiday until next Wednesday now, yes?
(sups Guinness in the pub)
I am always on holidays these days Holic – Cheers π
‘holic 250, with due respect : f*** off! π
Just back from The Home Depot (do you have it in your neck of the woods?). We’re there obstensibly to buy a new mower. I turn my back for one minute, and find Nick chatting it up with some cutie wearing a toolbelt! Hmm, well, well. Come home and head straight to the bar for some much needed fortifcation. Only to see some misbehaving here as well! Women wash their hands. Goonertown, you are in deep do do, raising my hopes about Dempsey (wagging my finger) lad. Gooner Terry, you and Trev are the ultimate dualists at the bar, sorry, no refunds. And I missed saying hey to Lonestar, major bummer. Tomorrow, I’m looking for a toolbelt.
Heh, I was a bit bored and went back to read some old drinks, and look what I found from a certain Mr Storey in the aftermath of the Chelsea away game:
This one goes straight to the top of
Top Five Best Predictions of the Season
1. “Hereβs another thoughtβ¦. The scorleline yesterday should have been the same at SHL. It will be when The Scum come to the HoF. We will murderβem.”
True Storey post-Chelsea 5-3
2. “Next week we’ll only be three points behind Chelsea”
True Storey at the Tollie post-Stoke
3. “PS: Another thing that I said last week, weβll be 4th by Xmas.”
True Storey post-Chelsea
OK, I could only find three so it wasn’t a top-five, but it’s quite clear who should be doing the Holic pound predictions for next season, don’t you think? π
I’m sure you can find some posts after Chelsea vs Napoli, sadly, stating the Bus Stop might fluke their way to CL Victory π
(even if it’s not Arsenal-related predictions)
Please note though, regarding TS prediction number 1, that I don’t think ‘holic ever got money from the bookies for being one goal either side of a bet, heh π
Ollie, there were indeed quite a few of us saying that Chelsea would fluke it. I know I (and tabs and you and zico and… etc) said it well before the Barca games.
“I donβt think βholic ever got money from the bookies for being one goal either side of a bet”
You do have a point, TS predicted “the same result” but Sp*rs only scored two. Pffft, what a crap prediction when you think about it…
abb: so you didn’t get yourselves a mower, then? π
I think we should petition to keep Yossi and RVP at the club, le Gerrard stylee!
Whose in?
I predicted in the Tollie I would be drunk when I left the Tollie – eat your heart out mystical Professor. 8)
Dr Feelgood, it doesn’t count if you are already drunk when doing the prediction!
Hey Lars, No, and probably for Nick, a good thing we didn’t. When we do get one, it won’t be self-propelled. Serve him right!
Posts on Twitter saying M’Vila has been quite badly injured tonight.
And in one second, thousands and thousands of Gooners went from “I hope the rumours that we have signed him are true” to “crap, I hope the talk of us having signed him is rubbish”…
One predictions that usually comes good once a season is ‘tonight, ‘holic will end up in Bristol’.
-s
Ankle injury after 3 minutes apparently, Lars, and he broke down crying.
I didn’t even know France were playing tonight.
I’m watching Germany v Israel, 1-0. Too bad for m’villa, don’t like to see anyone hurt.
Oh, PM just had a lovely taclkle, so good to see him play again!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TS @189 – heh π
abb – @237, thank you for yet more kind words.
GTerry – @239
of course we’re buddies, even my original bit of feistiness was only ever meant in fun. I thought it was so out of character that it would be obvious.
Sorry abb, I know you have this weird blood-lust thing when it comes to tales about Arsenal supporters, but there won’t be any fights in this corner of the bar. GoonerTerry is too much of a coward for that π
http://on.ft.com/L79jHg