Gone For A Burton – The Future Of Arsenal?
Jul 17th, 2012 by 'holic
Given a few minutes of thinking time, it seems strange to be pondering how few of Arsenal’s youngsters have made the final breakthrough in an era termed by many, in both positive and negative terms, as Project Youth.
I remember mentioning the pre-season fixtures at Barnet this weekend, and thought I would have a quick check on the lads who featured in the annual curtain raiser from 2007-10. There were high hopes a plenty for many of the youngsters who we glimpsed at Underhill.
Gavin Hoyte, Nacer Barazite, Fran Merida, Jay Simpson, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, and a host of others not as well thought of who sadly fell through the Shenley trapdoor.
During this time we also landed, in quite spectacular fashion, the FA Youth Cup of 2009. New first team coach Steve Bould was in charge of that group, and a proud man in the wake of a 6-2 aggregate demolition of Liverpool over two legs.
“The way they have performed all year, they have been head and shoulders above most of the other teams in the country. I think we’ve got excellent players.β
Three years on what has happened to that all-conquering squad? Pick of the bunch would have to be Jack Wilshere, so badly missed by club and country last season. Francis Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong, Henri Lansbury, and most recently Kyle Bartley find themselves in the first team squad as I type. Of these I would be surprised if more than one is still an Arsenal player in a couple of years.
James Shea, Craig Eastmond, Sanchez Watt, and Conor Henderson (another to have missed much of last term injured) remain on the books as reserve players at present. To be fair there cannot be too many clubs who currently retain the services of nine of their youth team graduates from three years ago. The danger is that one or two who won’t eventually make it are blocking the progress of the next intake.
Thomas Cruise (Torquay), Luke Ayling (Yeovil), Emmanuel-Thomas (Ipswich), Gilles Sunu (Lorient), Rhys Murphy (Telstar), and Cedric Evina (Charlton) have moved on. There can be little doubt that Emmanuel-Thomas remains the ‘one that got away’. There was a footballer waiting to emerge there, and he still may blossom if he can find comfort and form in one position as he matures elsewhere.
That reflection on the progress, or lack of it, by some of our younger players was prompted by the return of Terry Burton. A familiar face to Gooners of my generation, Terry has always been Arsenal through and through. A reserve coach under Terry Neill and briefly George Graham, he coached the first team when Don Howe was manager in the eighties. It is fair to say his cv would highlight his work with younger players. The lads that George Graham moulded into Champions would be the first to acknowledge Terry’s influence on their early careers.
βYou look at the quality of players, and the ability of clubs to go worldwide and recruit, and it has become more difficult for young players to break through…it still stands that if you have the quality, certainly at a club like Arsenal, you will get your opportunity.β
Therein the man re-appointed in charge of the reserves, and as head development coach, sums up the challenge facing the young players today. Yes, at Arsenal they certainly have the opportunity. The Carling Cup has provided first-team introductions for so many in the Wenger years, but if they don’t hit the ground running then the chances to impress can soon dry up.
If the club is truly successful at maximising revenues in the next couple of years it can only get harder for the young pros to stake their claim. We all want the better quality players that such funding would bring, but wouldn’t it be great to get a group of young Arsenal players making the grade in the manner of George Graham’s boys of ’89? I doubt we will see their like again.
255 Responses to “Gone For A Burton – The Future Of Arsenal?”
Early door?
Hallo, there.
Well done Oxon.
BMBD.
I’ll have a pint of Burton’s Pale Ale, then.
And a Red Stripe for GT, the senitive wee soul….. π
He’s not sensitive z, he’s paranoid. It’s al that Californian π
Anybody going to read that crap? Took me three hours π
I keep thinking about the way everyone keeps raving about Barcelona, la Masia and their ilk. What everyone forgets is Barca can scout from the entire Spanish country unlike Arsenal and every other Eng club who are restricted to the 90 min rule. This rule has thankfully been removed. Also they have a B team called Barca B/Athletic where this team is allowed to compete in lower leagues but can never be promoted to La Liga. What this ensures is that a bunch of special players come up together ,learning and playing the Barca way and if they do get promoted into 1st team , they slot in quite seamlessly . It would be v interesting to do something like this in Eng football
Thx Lonestar.
I recall my big brother’s collection of Arsenal programmes from the mid-sixties. Each issue had a pen-picture of one of the youth squad. My brother’s favourite was one striker, maybe called a centre forward back in the day – the best (possibly the only) thing the writer could think of to say about him was “He certainly knows where the goal is”.
I tried to find this never-to-be-forgotten gem about 30 years ago and concluded that the whole collection must have been thrown away when we moved house. I’d love to know whether the kid ever made it.
Good piece, ‘holic. One of the minor disappointments of the early part of last season was the certainty that whatever happened, it wasn’t to be the season when all those kids stopped being “exciting talents” and finally delivered. Then there were some truly horrendous results and we started to get excited by the new signings, and the rest is history.
Right, now, how many drinks have come in while I was composing that crap?
Pints on the bar for all – mine’s a Landlord please, landlord.
Well in Oxon…experience over youth can still be a winner. π
Ah the Burton Brewery, purveyors of Double Diamond…..DD no longer welcome at the new HOF.
I DID read it H.
A sobering thought to think that based on recent experience, it is highly unlikely that Coquelin, Frimpong and Wilshere will play more than a handful of games for the first team together.
I’m not convinced that the other two named (of the current crop) will even be at Arsenal this time next year.
4 ‘holic….GT is out of Californian….he’s on the home “brew”….nuff said. π
well put, ‘holic. i doubt we’ll see a golden generation for *any* team in england again, given the snatching financial issues.
excepting la masia, is there a youth system in spain for the other teams?
would love to see bartley, lansbury, watt, and coquelin make it at arsenal, to tie in with gibbs and jack. i don’t think the rest will make it, though i thought conor henderson played well during his limited uninjured brief.
Aye, I think the bulked up Coq (oo-er missus) may be the only one to be alongside Jack in a year or two.
I continue to marvel at your ability to come up with interesting observation after interesting observation, Holic. Points well made. The progression from our exciting youth teams has in truth been somewhat disappointing though young Jack (here’s hoping for a full recovery) may singlehandedly compensate for that observation if he continues his progress. It would be tremendous if a few others on the edge of the first team squad could take the step up to cement a regular place.
18 year old Highland Park all round, barkeep.
uplympian, i hope gt hasn’t fallen so far as to be partking of the local hooch…
i’ll see your coq (oo-er, ‘holic) and your jack and raise you a henri. i do believe he is going to make into our next ray parlour…
bath, thanks for that. yummy.
have a redbreast 15 year old on me…:)
The problem with our current scenario is that with a long period since our last meaningful trophy, the press, a section of supporters and even senior players are becoming even more frantic in their desire of “success”.
Youngsters coming into the first team are immediately under pressure to perform at the level of the more experienced players and do not have the luxury of a soft entry into the first team. Exceptions of course to the super gifted such as LJW and Cesc who slotted in seemlessly.
oh, and for maybe four in a row, bearded was asking if it’s official…at least it’s on soccernet: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1125300?cc=5901
and the .con said he was there in san sebastian for final talks, so…
Evening again…Holic, between this new post and the training pics, I’m teary eyed (again). Exactly why the youngins need all the exposure we can give em, preseason and Carling Cup (yes, we must be willing to let THEM play exclusively), their time in the sun. Sadly, think your last thought penned is probably true.
Actually, Uplympian, I think rather than senior players, it’s former senior players that are more of a problem.
Rent-a-gobs like Wright, Merson etc.
And Le Groan. π
A bulked up Coq should be strong in the tackle. Down Wolfie. π
*collects hat and leaves bar…not before sliding down the 18 yr Highland Park courtesy of Bath…it would be rude not to*
Holic, while James Shea was the goalie in the final and for most of the season, a certain Wojciech Szczesny was also part of that team but out for the entire season, that was when he had broken both his arms.
Bringing kids through is extremely difficult these days and if Jack, Woj, Wilshere and Coquelin become regulars in the first-team squad out of those in that cup-winning youth team I’d say it’s been a rather great result.
U @17 very good points. Agree entirely.
Highland Park 18, bath? You enjoy far more variety than I can provide π I have a golf break in a month with a mate celebrating getting his bus pass. Have to take a bottle down to share with him. Was thinking of a Lagavulin 16. Too peaty for you I would imagine?
Evening nurse. Don’t cry, my writing isn’t that bad, is it? π
Hehe Lars.
I am entranced by Arseblogger’s first question when Woj broke his arms. “Who is going to wipe his arse?”
We should be told π
Bath @ 13 –
Highland Park 18 year olds are all the rage here in Dallas. Their fathers are rich and their mother’s possess that surgically enhanced beauty… oh wait, you were talking about liquor…
Tee hee.
BMBD.
Heh@24 π
Holic (smiling). You in my humble opinion, are the ‘Julian Barnes’ of bloggers.
Evening ‘Holic,
I read it, it’s not crap at all, and it does highlight just how difficult it is to grow your own players.
Actually, five survivors from one youth team through to first team squad is probably an exceptional outcome. I don’t have Ned’s skill or patience with the stats, but I would be surprised if more than five England U-21’s from any given side make it as first choice Premiership players.
I agree that Jack and the Coq will be the only two current “youngsters” to make it. Makes you really admire the Boulds and Bradys as to how they maintain their motivation to keep trying to bring players up to standard.
And that standard requires players to progress from “reserves” to “international class” in around nine months.
Terry Burton is an interesting one. Hopefully he will work a little bit of magic as his charges move from youth to reserve football, and prepare for the step up to first team squad.
He is also a fairly obvious replacement for Pat Rice and will instill some old- guard Arsenal values, traditions and history into the young lads.
Let’s hope some of them are chosen, or indeed choose, to stay and put it all into practice.
Lars @22 –
Hoping Jack AND Wilshere make it. Have we cloned another one ?
Here’s hoping. π
Trev, had a really interesting conversation with Tony Adams (namedropper!) about young players a few years back. I think he is of the view that is a miracle if we get ANY homegrown youngsters up to the required standard.
Spoke about the competition for kids attention these days, and the issue of paying them loadsa money when they are only ‘working for 2 or 3 hours a day’.
A fair few of the old school not impressed that these precocious talents no longer do the mundane stuff they used to.
I can see both sides.
Also, Esso has a job, the jet stream is heading north, and I have whisky.
God is in his heaven and… π
Trev: oops – it should of course have been Jack, Woj, Frimpong and the Coq!
“And yet it takes only the smallest pleasure or pain to teach us time’s malleability. Some emotions speed it up, others slow it down; occasionally, it seems to go missing-until the eventual point when it really does go missing, never to return.”(Julian Barnes, ‘The Sense of an Ending’). Nite everyone.
Come on GTerry –
the nurse has gone to bed – no danger of a “kiss better”, come and play again and we’ll all be nice to you. Even Zico. π
Good post Holic, thought-provoking as usual π
Holic: If I didn’t know better I’d venture to say that with each passing 24 hours we are getting 1 day closer to the start of the new season. On a more germane issue, I’d like to offer a toast to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and the Arsenal-financed fancy sports car he crashed. Cheers!
Well no one can convince me that Miquel, Vela, Aussie Cup and a few more of the other youngsters couldn’t have done a better job if Le Boss had just shown more faith in them. I saw almost all of Tony Adams’ game when he first came into the side, as I did with nearly all of our Golden Generation, and I can tell you that if Tony Adams and a few of those were youth players today they might not have made it at all … Adams didn’t get his “donkey” nickname for nothing! The main difference is that there was less pressure then and our generation of supporters loved and supported our players and they responded – nowadays? Fuck knows what’s going on in the minds of the average punter but to say things have changed does not come close to describing the breach between player & fans … is the money? .. is there a seething resentment towards the players? Whatever it is it has got harder for players to make mistakes and “grow” into the team. There is also a reluctance by management to take a gamble with young players …
This is a list of players from the Under-18s who signed full-professional contracts with the club over the past 15 seasons, and where they are now. The figures are what we got for the ones that were sold. The length of the list shows how stacked the odds are against a youngster making it through to the first team, but that eight did, with another 10 in the reserves, is, to my mind, a high success rate in the circumstances, and a tribute to the Academy. You could make a pretty good team out of those who didn’t make the grade with us. I probably have missed a few, and the list doesn’t include those signed as Young Professionals with the Reserves, a big group in itself.
Emmanuel Frimpong 1st Team
Francis Coquelin 1st Team
Henri Lansbury 1st Team
Jack Wilshere 1st Team
Johan Djourou 1st Team
Kieran Gibbs 1st Team
Nicklas Bendtner 1st Team
Wojciech Szczesny 1st Team
Benik Afobe Reserves
Chuks Aneke Reserves
Craig Eastmond Reserves
Damian Martinez Reserves
Hector Bellerin Reserves
Jordan Wynter Reserves
Kristoffer Olsson Reserves
Phillip Roberts Reserves
Reice Charles-Cook Reserves
Samir Bihmoutine Reserves
Fabrice Muamba 5,280,000
Justin Hoyte 3,344,000
Anthony Stokes 2,640,000
Jeremie Aliadiere 2,640,000
Quincy Owusu-Abeyle 2,200,000
David Bentley 1,540,000
Jason Crowe 1,320,000
Jay Bothroyd 1,320,000
Jay Simpson 1,320,000
Sebastian Larsson 1,320,000
Armand Traore 1,188,000
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 1,100,000
Moritz Volz 888,000
Jermaine Pennant 660,000
Julian Gray 660,000
Tommy Black 660,000
Paolo Vernazza 462,000
Rhys Weston 396,000
Matthew Connolly 330,000
Jerome Thomas 132,000
David Noble 88,000
David Livermore 44,400
John Halls 44,000
John Spicer 13,200
Abu Ogogo Free
Adam Birchall Free
Ben Chorley Free
Cedric Evina Free
Craig Holloway Free
Frank Simek Free
Gavin Hoyte Free
Graham Barrett Free
Graham Stack Free
James Dunne Free
Jo Kuffour Free
Lee Butcher Free
Liam Chilvers Free
Luke Ayling Free
Mark Howard Free
Mark Randall Free
Neil Kilkenny Free
Nicky Nicolau Free
Paul Rogers Free
Peggy Lokando Free
Rhys Murphy Free
Rohan Ricketts Free
Ryan Garry Free
Ryan Smith Free
Stephen Bradley Free
Stuart Taylor Free
Kerrea Gilbert Released
Rene Steer Released
Thomas Cruise Released
Nacer Barazite n/a
Patrick Cregg n/a
My issue with our youth system is the lack of game time they get to prove themselves after they come through their scholarships.
Seems to me we have more than enough games where these players can be drip feed into the team throughout the year, but this never seems to happen well nowhere near enough anyway.
The last year has been a complete hash if you ask me, we seem to either loaned-out or let good young players go without even looking @ them in our first team, only to keep older players that are nowhere near the standard required who should been shipped out first, to cut the playing staff to a manageable level.
I don’t have a problem letting young player go if need be, but it’s just criminal NOT giving them their opportunity beforehand, not to mention finically ridicules given the recourses ploughed into them for years up to that point……
Ned: Nice list. I know we received “sell-on” fees for more that one of those players but can only remember the 4 + Million we got from Tott’num for Bentley
For a long while our product seems to have been English footballers trained by Arsenal. Got lots of coin into the club during our lean years.
Academy graduates have to be as good as the best in the world or they won’t be considered.
A team of local lads who are all excellent footballers would be great though. Hoping to see the day! Seems like it might be just around the corner…
Has there been a massive outbreak of irony overnight? Arsenal not giving youth sufficient chance? Last season was a disaster because we didn’t allow up-and-coming players a chance in the first team??
Either I’ve been watching a completely different club and team over the past 15 years or I must transgress against the rules of this blog, or it’s irony. It must be irony.
Several comments above along the lines of ‘unless an academy graduate can compete with the best in the world, he won’t get a chance for Arsenal’. If I paraphrase that as ‘some of the best players in the world play for Arsenal’ would it be accurate? If so, I think I need some help to understand why it’s a bad thing.
Enough, Oxon. Stop listening to John Humphreys in the morining while reading Goonerholic.
In other news… ‘holic, if you decide against plying your mate with Lagavulin, please can I have it? Just trying to help.
Terry, I think your thoughts about Tony Adams not having made it today are interesting. Maybe one or two could have made it given more time, but I doubt it because on the other hand we still see players breaking through, like Wilshere for example. Let’s also not forget that Le Boss has shown a lot of faith in many players despite these players being more or less hated by many supporters – like Song, Koscielny, Denilson, Theo, Bendtner etc. Not all of them worked out, but some did. And if some “supporters” had their way, Ramsey would be locked up in the Tower dungeouns by now.
Ned@38: impressive work compiling that list! We can also probably add a couple of million here and there for sell-on clauses, like the reported Β£8m we got for Bentley when he was sold from Blackburn to Tottenham. And I agree, looking at it like that I’d say we have got a rather good turnout from the youth system.
Lee@39: I can’t agree at all that young players have not been given chances. This past season we’ve seen Yennaris, Coquelin, Frimpong, Ozyakup (spelling?), Chamberlain (don’t forget he’s still young enough to be an academy player!), Jenkinson, and Miquel play for the first team in competitive matches.
This post is not a very good advert for Le Boss
Lars… The spelling is all right. π
Uncle Charlie, I’m not entirely convinced. I don’t think it’s a good advert for people who say “Arsène Wenger will play academy players and will continue to play them even if there are better players available”. Me, I’m happy if he adopts that approach.
Having re-read the last couple of sentences of ‘holic’s post, if I may dare to paraphrase, it seems to say that, given the global nature of the game today, we are unlikely to find a generation of players from the academy who are good enough to play together for Arsenal for several years. A previous drink alluded to how Barcelona have managed that trick recently, and points out that it’s not possible under current FA rules.
Oops, meant to say I’m happy if Le Boss continues to adopt his current approach, which appears to be giving academy players a chance to play in the first team based on their talent, their previous performances and his assessment of how they are likely to develop.
Anyone know what happened to Luke Freeman? He was meant to be the next best thing, with us beating off other clubs to sign him. DoesnΒ΄t seem to be around anymore.
CG – Luke Freeman is now signed permantly at Stevenage Borough – 3rd tier of English leagues.
Thanks Up.
A case in point, then. π
I don’t understand how you come to that conclusion Charlie.
When you compare the number of youngsters blooded by Arsenal compared to most of our rivals we are ahead of the pack in that regard. Only Manchester United, of the top sides, have come close to matching our Carling Cup policy.
The point of the piece was to highlight that with the odd outstanding exceptional batch (Arsenal in the eighties and Utd in the 90’s) the numbers making it have always been limited, and when insiders like Terry Burton and Tony Adams predict it as getting harder for these kids, for whatever reason, we should take note of that.
Nice work on the numbers Ned. Shows that actually the Youth set-up does provide income as well as being a necessary expense. It is remarkable how many of the players we release go on to make a career in the game at various levels. I would suggest instinctively (not as a matter of known fact) that we produce more players who remain in the game than any other British club?
The litmus test for whether Arsenal fail to give them a chance is whether they go on to shine once we release them (at a similar level).
I can really only think of Andy Cole (pre AW, of course) and maybe Seb Larrson who have done so….. so regardless of whether they get a chance in the first team or not, it seems that Arsene does know…. π
Lots of food for thought, ‘holic. I pretty much agree with Oxon Gooner.
I’m also going to plump for LJW, Chesney, Le Coq and Frimpers.
And also, the youth and reserve coaches already say that they regard getting one or two players a year into the first team – properly in – is a result. Which it is, given the competition and the pressure. The important thing is that we haven’t come to regret any of the kids being let go. And no-one has fallen by the wayside as far as I know – they all end up playing the game they love at some level or other. That’s important, too.
@ 31
That jet stream you sent up here has turned into a vertical river.
I’ll have wicketkeeper’s hands for feet if this keeps up….. π
Woj (done) LJW (done) Le Coq and possibly Frimpers (if his brain lets him).
Gibbs, Theo, Song and JD have all been through the system too. Not shabby!
Of those coming up, I believe there are very high hope for Afobe. Yennaris and Aneke are possibles. Apparently Gnarby is exciting.
What a nice positive topic this one is!
Jack Wilshere is a gem of a player. Health permitting he will definitely be the future of Arsenal no doubt
Among others, Coq has impressed me the most
Re: NBN @38. That looks like quite a summertime project you have going there. π
It could be the precise moment for a late bid on Dempsey. Nobody seems to know what club he belongs to at the moment:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18886354
CG@48, to add to Uply’s @49, Luke Freeman went from Charlton’s U-18s to Gillingham’s from whom we bought him for around $250,000. He had a spell on loan at Yeovil before being sold to Stevenage.
On the playing time for youngsters question, I am increasingly coming to the view that letting a B team from the top clubs play in the lower leagues would be a good idea. The advantage to the club of having a group of youngsters gaining the experience of regular competitive playing time together seems a better alternative to loans for blooding potential future stars. Their development would be under a more continuous watchful eye of the club, matches would provide a more realistic competitive experience than reserve league games and it would be easier, as someone in the bar noted in earlier drinks in reference to Barca B, for them to slot into the first team squad because the style of play would be consistent.
If not Dempsey, Ronaldinho for me. I think we need to up our quota of fat Brazilians π
bt8b@58: I need to get out more…
If we do start a B team, it would have to work it’s way up from Non-League right?
it’s=its
What is wrong with me?
Re: NBN @58. That’s an idea you can run with. Arsenal B could be precisely the club we want to support with all our hearts. I’m in for the away match at Dagenham & Redbridge. π
Not sure if anyone’s around but Arsenal has made a Youtube account. Found this vid of Vermaelen the Shaolin Master
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUmwHHmcNaI&feature=plcp
the vermaolin master? ok.
Not just reserves and youngsters I feel that the general quality of scouting at Arsenal has fallen in the last 3-4 seasons. We seem to be ending up with more duds than winners here.
Maybe I am biased , but I don’t remember us having a string of players such as Diaby, Chamakh, Denilson, Vela, Bischoff, Park, Traore, Boltehlo, etc who were absolutely horrendous.
I mean we have had the odd Jeffers, Sukor etc but in general – the quality of our purchases has really gone down.
Sajit
I wouldnΒ΄t include Diaby in that list. We know the reasons for his problems. Lack of talent is certainly not it.
sajit, maybe “absolutely horrendous” is a bit strong? only botelho among them hasn’t made it to the first team, and while their overall quality isn’t exactly henry or pires, i’d place them above jeffers or cygan (as a group).
i also believe our competitive advantage in scouting used to be that we plucked relative unknowns, now there are fewer and fewer of those, as others’ scouting networks have aped ours.
I was explaining the general cuntdom of Man Citeh to SeΓ±ora Catalan last night. Highlighted by their sudden interest in anyone that we are interested in… that young trialist for example.
She asked a good question; as they clearly canΒ΄t think for themselves, why donΒ΄t we act all excited about some complete numpty and get them to splurge millions on him?
It would alleviate close season boredom somewhat… π
cg, i have passing moments of wonder that rvp is playing al-citeh to help arsenal by tying up their transfer window and unsettling their strikers (“who have to be sold to make a place for van persie” we always hear). and that his letter to the fans was written to draw out fat & orange to show the fans exactly what they’d be getting if arsenal flaunts in that direction. and that he’s going to re-sign, put out a letter of apology to arsenal fans, and the result will be an improved arsenal while destabilizing al-citeh and exposing f&o.
of course, then i sober up.
@ 70
scruz, such a devious mind. Very rare in football circles π
lol@z. but could you imagine? the bar would positively explode with laughter…
My client asks me to release the following statement:
“I have not been speaking to Manchester City. They have not approached me, nor have I authorised Messrs Sue’em Grabbit and Run to speak to Manchester City on my behalf
Ends”
scruz@70. I never believed in the conspiracy theory I vaguely outlined a day or so after van Persie released his statement. I still fear that it should be taken to mean exactly what it said, and that he’s down the road. The longer with no news the more likely that simplistic interpretation is wrong.
I’d put the chances that van Persie will re-sign as very, very unlikely; that’s up from very, very, very unlikely just after he released his statement.
oxon, that’s why i only have those passing moments of wonder while drunk. i think he’s gone, too, but with each day that goes by and nothing concrete the fantasy spinner continues to spit out more details. and alcohol certainly lubricates the process.
I think he’s gone. In the very, very unlikely event that he re-signs, it’ll be LANS.
SO I’m temporarily working in an office that is more than twice closer to my place.
Great I hear you say?
I’m losing the will to live as my commute has been multiplied by approximately 3.
In the 2nd half of July.
It’s a notoriously bad place to go to/come from.
Road works? New Tram?
FUCK OFF.
Magners!
Strongbow!
Peroni!
Aspall!
π
If zico is about: have you seen the details for Sunderland game are out now?
Young Hurricane taking to being over 18 quite nicely, then?
ooo ‘e’s a zider drinkr…
Thanks Ollie
Can’t believe I’m going to have to wait till 6th August π
You guys re RvP, you should stop torturing yourselves. I haven’t been this certain on an outcome since the second leg against Milan π
Heh @ 77
I would therefore suggest that you seriously avoid Edinburgh for the next decade if road works and trams are not your thing π
Good to see young Henry still has the attitude…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnctKXXfJ8&feature=g-vrec
lol@z82…
cg@84, talk about calm as you like…
Yeah, zico, annoying. Especially as it means one might have to be on the ball, and not working in my normal office I may not be able to (although heh, maybe everybody will be on holidays even there).
Well unless I take up the season ticket.
Good post Holic.
Unfortunately I have to agree, the number of youngsters who will make it through to the 1st team and be big players will be minimal in the future and we should plan accordingly.
I’m not denigrating the youth policy and the Academy but the fact is that we need world class (or pretty damm close) players in our first team squad.
However, if we can produce the odd gem (LJW? hopefully) and a number of solid pros who can be sold on to smaller clubs to cover most of the running costs that’s OK.
Its tough to get the best players and all possible options should be kept open.
actually Scruz…. take a look at this
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/thierry-henry-new-york-red-bulls-v-chicago-fire/
Sign him up for January now! π
Actually I would not be too surprised if Arsene called Thierry to arms once again this season, after all his influence was massive when he was with us.
cg@89, hell yes, sign him up. his work looks so effortless…just beautiful.
Catalan –
I’m very much liking the sound of Senora Catalan, most ironically @69.
Sorry – i didn’t organise the ‘drink’ numbers. π
Luis Suarez really is a first-class tool. It’s no wonder no top club would touch him with a ten-foot pole.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/18/luis-suarez-manchester-united
“People at the club are sure that it was a way that Manchester United used to put me out of the team and stop Liverpool”
Yeah, beacuse Liverpool were really flying high there in sixth place or wherever they were at the time and really threatened Man U…
“I had to go to Manchester in a taxi for the trial. I got up at seven in the morning and I came home at nine at night. I was exhausted, I was so tired. I wanted to cry, and kick all the things around me,” he said.
“I came home and I wanted to do all that but I couldn’t because my daughter was at home. There were really complicated days and then things became harder after the punishment.”
Oh no, you mean you had to do what ordinary people do every day??? Oh the horror! Getting up at seven in the morning like the plebs and peasants, surely there must be a law to protect delicate little footballers from such atrocities!
Piss off you fucking cunt. You are a disgrace to the game.
Trev heh!
She is a woman of formidable talents…!
@Cg
Well, DIaby is bloody talented but he is of little use to us, isnt he?
@scruzgooner 68
Fair points . Additionally, I think the explosion of social media has made it difficult club such as Arsenal to do their deals cheap,fast and in secrecy.. Too many idiots gobbing off – and guys such as yours truly plugged in 24X7 for bits and scraps.
…but I like the suggestion by Senora Catalan, let’s throw some spanner in the Man City works by spreading the word that we are trying to buy Emile Heskey π
@lars, he sounds like he never passed 8 on the maturity scale. maybe if mummy had made him a glass of warm milk and read him a dr. seuss book he could have ascended to the level of his daughter.
Lars @93 –
If you know where there’s a ten foot pole, maybe we could get him in goal for us ? π
Heh, Boris Becker of all people just tweeted “Just heard Van Persie signed 2year deal with ….Arsenal!?”
Don’t believe it for a second, but it was a rather unexpected source for a rumour π
sajit, i think it’s that (the 24/7 world), but i think the success le boss had during the late 90s and early 00s with finding gems in africa and lower leagues everywhere meant teams that hadn’t organized to look in those places began to so organize.
* shoves GT out the way and dives at the near post ……. *
lars@99, thanks for the assist. and if it’s true i’ll buy you *three* rounds, rather than one*.
*on lars’ tab, of course π
Scruz scores without even looking – nonchalant finish, old boy. π
π @ trev in tabs’ spot. gt doesn’t take much shoving these days, seeing as his stock of pik is down and the local hooch is making him sensitive…
CoR@61, bt8b@63: The logistics of allowing B teams into the leagues would need careful thinking through. If all the Prem clubs were to field a B team then a new division would need to be created to accommodate 20 extra teams. That could be as simple as sticking all the B teams in it, inserting the league at an appropriate level in the tier structure, perhaps between Leagues 2 and 3, and then let promotion and relegation work its magic over the ensuing seasons. A B team could be promoted or relegated, with the exception of not being able to be promoted to the Premiership. If the parent club is relegated into the B-team’s division, the B-team is automatically relegated, too. Those are the rules used in Spain, where most B teams play in the third tier, though that has four regional divisions. Alternatively B teams could be sprinkled across the existing divisions to start with, with an extra heavy dose of relegation in each league to make room for them, with which ever turn out to be the bottom 20 clubs, including some B teams comprising the new division. A second alternative would be to keep the existing league structure and allow Premiership clubs to take over teams lower down the divisions that they could run as B-teams. There is also a question of participation in national cup competitions. Real Madrid’s B-team reached the final of the Copa del Ray in 1980, where their opponents were Real Madrid’s first team. In Germany, B-teams are no longer allowed in national cup competitions; they also cannot play higher than the regionalized third tier of the league.
SCG@70: you win the Grassy Knoll award for conspiracy theories.
trev, i’ve been watching cg’s videos, you see.
nbn, but of course. i live in california, so grassy knolls abound.
Trev@98, I did make that same association and thought that someone will pick up on it – and it was the punmeister himself that did π
SCG@100: Well in. Very insouciantly done.
And nice goal, scruz! The ones where the scorer doesn’t even appear to try are the best π
Trev 101, nice dive, was it to celebrate scruz’s goal?
I though Santa Cruz was all about surfing, SCG. Doesn’t that make the grass wet?
@all, insouciant, nonchalant, without even trying…cheers…i saw i was where i was, but did want to answer sajit. i’d’ve been happy with an assist at that, especially given trev’s effort.
Yellow card for Trev for simulation, Ollie?
ned, no, *all* isn’t exactly the right word. they go hand-in-hand, like fire and smoke. pickup trucks and kombi’s are excellent places to experiment with making smoke from (wet) grass.
ned, either that or red for dgso…
Some rumours that Michael Owen is going to Stoke to line up alongside Peter Crouch. That is the long and the short of it.
*gets coat*
Ned –
I find myself wondering here, are you still able to gain access to Ned Towers at all, or is the entire dwelling stuffed solid with programmes, annuals, computer printouts, old newspapers and library cuttings from the last fifty years ?
I don’t know how you collate all this information but hats off.
So impressed am I that, just this once, I will overlook the rather unnecessary remark about a possible yellow card for my brave attempt to nod in at the near post. π
Heh@117!
The Scene:
Feelgood’s Mansion in the rather damp rolling hills of
Zico is standing looking somewhat lost and confused, following the unpleasant ‘domestic’ which has just occured, following the announcement that there is a good chance he will be able to get away to most of Arsenal’s home games this season.
The incident unfolded as follows:
Roxette: “Well if that’s the case you can pack your bags and leave for good”.
*throws several bags in zico’s general direction*
Roxette (continues): “And, you bastard, I hope you have a slow and tortuous death !”.
Zico: “Oh, so you want me to stay after all then ? “
Bloody hPad!
‘damp rolling hills of Scotchland’ (no idea why that was deleted?)
trev, i thought it added to the mystery and imagination…
Trev, isn’t yours a tPad? π
Trev 120 Heh. I assumed the location of the Feelgood clinic is a closely guarded secret to stop the rush of people trying to get in. π
zico is standing looking somewhat lost and confused…
*scratches his head and wonders, what’s new?*
Ollie – kind of emphasises the point, eh ? π
Great post mate. Cheers for that.
Roxette wants to cuddle you Trev.
Be very afraid π―
Still standing at this time of night Zico…..that must be confusing in itself. π
Arsene casting a careful eye over the players back in pre-season training.
Wondering who is the most likely to leave next, as he must clearly be appointed as our next captain.
It would be interesting to know if this is a new trend, but our last three skippers have been stripped of post mid-term, left, and declared intention to leave while criticising direction of the club.
Rearrange these words to form a well known phrase or saying:
Toerags. Ungrateful. Bloody.
Zico –
She does? Maybe we can arrange a menage a trois with Senora Catalan.
Eek, feel like I’m getting into ‘The Sweeper’ territory here. π
130 Trev. Who would we like to go most…..make them captain.
Uplympian,
You got me. Now taking the weight off.
Trev, menage a trois – anagram of As at Ogre Mine.
Go figure. 8)
Roxette (continues): βAnd, you bastard, I hope you have a slow and tortuous death !β.
Zico: βOh, so you want me to stay after all then ? β
We did chuckle π
Hey Trev. Nice dive. Good luck getting those grass stains out of your kit! heh π
Holic: Roxette Knows π
@ 134
We did.
SHE didn’t. And she cuddles like a python. π
GT – thought you were the one with the grass stains ! π
@137 –
If she cuddles like a python, I’m hisstory. π
*Hands coat to Trev*
Here’s your coat Trev π
Snap! π
Two coats ! I’ll be off then, π
It’ll take ’em a while to dry…
Two coats?
Nice finish.
Better give me my jacket as well ‘H. π
I’ll need a little while to recover. A bit upset and emulsional…….
*GT Opens door for TREV*
… SEE YOU LATER STUD π
Zico takes his coat, rushes to the door and varnishes into the night. π
* Followed closely by Trev ..
Lifts needle and lowers it onto the vinyl.
I wonder where Matt is these days?
149 trev – looking to dry out π
150 ‘holic – climbing the munroes π
Whoops make that 148 Trev :
Trev@118: you are an officer and a gentleman, as ever…
@150 –
Matt’s outside satin his Roller wearing his top coat. π
π
You are in the primer your life, Trev.
crimeny, don’t paint trev into a corner! it might mask the grass stains. as for roxette, i’m sure shellacs zico about just what he’s chuckling…
Hehs all! π
Off to bed now and my new duvet. Only fair I should spend the night in dueluxury. π
Well that crowns it all…
Lars:
Working nights this week so a little slow getting back to you.
From 43.
Yep agreed he’s looked @ some young player this year with Coquelin, Frimpong, Chamberlain Miquel, all getting a decent airing + Jenkinson but more by default than design I suspect?, but all the others Yennaris, Ozyakup I think prove my point rather than dispel it, as they only really got cameo parts at best never extended game time.
I just feel he had a load of very good & perhaps better than (very good) talent this year that never got a chance to prove themselves, & some have now been discarded without even having a chance to fail in the first 11 before being sold-on.
Seems you guys are primed for tomfoolery.
BMBD.
‘holic, just don’t leave it to set, it might mould…
We holler for experienced players to be signed and then complain the youngsters aren’t given a run in the team. Who’d be a football manager, eh?
Lucky you don’t have to sleep outside, Trev, under coats.
@84, 89: Catalan, those were great videos! It would be great if he could visit again on loan. Number 12 has been given away thoughβ¦
@105: NBN, some interesting scenarios there. It would be good for young players to play against older players week in, week out but then again, if every single club (from Premiership down to League 2 for example) were to set up a B team then it would be a logistical nightmare I reckon. I think there are already so many clubs in England they probably wonβt vote to allow B teams to start anywhere but the bottom. Especially if the B teams are only from the bigger clubs in England.
I like the idea of taking over a team though. But would we have to have a gladiator-style death match to do that? Iβd be up for thatβ¦We could easily force Leyton Orient to be our B team, theyβre already wearing our kit FFS π
http://www.football-shirts.co.uk/fans/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LeytonOrient.jpg
Worse, CoR, Orient has the nicer version.
Haha, true. I’ve killed my 2009-2010 jersey by playing football in it too much and washing it too vigorously. Because of that the “Fly Emirates” has fallen off, improved it significantly though 8)
What’s the first thing we should do when we conquer the O’s?
Spurs stinkβofficial. For the LWC’s home kit for next season, “Spurs and Under Armour have forged Anti-odor technology in to the sinews of the shirt.”
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/12/13-kits/tottenham-hotspur-2012-2013-under-armour-home-football-shirt.html
Also learn that our new away kit is made from up to 13 recycled plastic water bottles for each set of shirt and shorts. The picture of Woj looks like he sat on one that wasn’t recycled.
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/12/13-kits/arsenal-2012-2013-nike-away-football-shirt.html
I awake from the clutches of the imaginative but inevitably disappointed SeΓ±ora to marvel at the spontsneous explosion of paint puns!
What a bar!
Sajit @95. You included Diaby as an example of poor scouting. Hardly their fault that Dan Smith exists… IMO of course.
At least the inevitably disappointed Senora didn’t python-cuddle you.
True Dr Z. I live to disappoint another day! π
π
Catalan@169, Please don’t bring that up again. I thought we’d managed to brush it all under the carpet.
*tries to come up with a paint pun but fails miserably*
Catalan@169: agreed re: Diaby. It is also not the scouting team’s fault that Martin Taylor butchered Eduardo.
The mention of those two cunts’ names (Smith and Taylor) emulsified my mood π
Can’t believe Taylor is still playing…
Surely employing players like those demonstrate a lacquer common sense?
Heh CoR! Sorry Oxon! π
It has occurred to me that when I was young(er) and innocent, oneΒ΄s John Thomas was referred to as a “JT”. Ironic, then, that it now means the complete opposite! π
Catalan @171 π
Darn! Too late to cut in with paint pun…
Are we there yet???
ooops “a” up the rsenal!
Great report holic. I have often had similar thoughts and wondered why so few actually come through. I would really love to know the cost of it all and would wonder how much we spend on project youth.
Lots of good comments above and some very valid points. I had hoped that when they increased the number of subs to seven that a few more may get the chance to sit on the bench and enjoy the first team experience and benefit form that.
In the early Wenger years I guess AW was somewhat of a pioneer with regards to scouring the planet to try and discover young talent. All other major clubs now do the same and so the pickings may not be as great as they once were. I do also think that words such as money and motivation play a major part. Mention is made of Tony Adams. Players of his era would have effectively served their apprenticeship at the club. The values of the club are well and truly installed. There was a pecking order. The young apprentice would have the role of looking after the boots or kit of a senior player etc. Now I am not suggesting that we go back to those days but it shows how things have changed. Especially when the likes of JET sign their first contract at the club and was earning 10k a week. Now I have no idea what he is on at Ipswich. I also know that he will never be able to open contract negotiations around the 100k a week mark that so many others crave. But letβs be honest, I am sure that most on here would be more than happy to earn that kind of money. If he can not set himself up for life on that amount then he has serious issues.
I watched a lot of that 2009 youth team. The vast majority seemed to have a vast amount of talent and you could see all of them making it at some level. Wilshere and Frimpong were the outstanding talents and it is no surprise to me that they are the two that have the best chance of making it a real success at Arsenal.
Taking players at such a young age can also have their problems. Theo is now said to want 100k a week. That is a debate that will always rumble on but having signed him so young he is now negotiating his third contract with the club. He will obviously feel that he is due a major pay rise and there has to come a time when those in power have to question his true value.
Business sadly plays far to major a part in current football for my liking. Far too major. This obviously increases the demands for results. That only has to hamper the development of young talent in my opinion.
A quick note to Ledley – enjoy your retirement and give those knees a rest!
Credit where itΒ΄s due; IΒ΄m glad youΒ΄ve retired!!
And on that note, Genius by @GeezyPeas…
https://twitter.com/GeezyPeas/status/225897260553236480/photo/1
Snir!!
Santi Cazorla… please give us the full run down! π
Agree re King. That wanker Terry would have less than 10 caps for his country had he stayed fit. Who knows, could have been another Gooner freebie?????
Funnily enough Steve I understand we were after him at one stage. Interest cooled when his condition was made known to us.
Sort of topic but kind of related and quite interesting:
Jamie Sanderson β@YoungGunsBlog
Real Sociedad have announced that, as well as a sell on clause, Arsenal have the option to buy back Vela at any point.
Interesting Holic. When was that? Circa Sol leaving (the first time)?
In other news, Agent Denilson is on Barca’s top 50 wanted list! You couldn’t make it up.
SteveT: while 10k/w is probably too much for any totally unproven player, JET was a bit of a special case and probably on bigger wages because he was the biggest talent we’ve seen for a long time and he could play more or less any position on the field. His problem was that he couldn’t be arsed enough when talent alone wasn’t enough anymore – he would probably have been a very, very good player today if he had just had the brains to understand that he had to apply himself to make that final step. And it doesn’t appear to have become any better in later years, I saw him play last season in a game that was on the telly and his attitude was quite frankly appalling. The guy has pretty much everything you need – he’s big, strong, quick, can shoot with both feet, good on the ball etc, but has pretty much wasted it all by being lazy. Such a shame.
The summer transfer merry-go-round is already got on my last nerve already and we have to look forward to another 6 weeks of this *Bulls**t*
Every season we seem to only discuss who is leaving,
Any number of Players : “Excuse me Arsene I had one good season and now deserve to leave and join another club, you know who ever will pay my merchenery self the most money”
So very tired of this π
How about only talking about the players who want to stay π
Sounds like a plan
Plus we have the NextGen Series for our youngsters this season (just like playing in the CL, kinda). The final in March. Each squad max of 18 players under the age of 19…(loophole provided there). So between this new venue, the FA Youth Cup, and slots provided for them in Carling Cup fixtures, should be ample opportunity for each young gun to strut their stuff (hopefully!). Like little 9 year old Dublin lad Zak Gilsenan (being hailed as the Irish Messi), who will be attending Barca Nursery school this year.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2174962/Barcelona-gospel-spreads-America–Neil-Ashton-column.html
Can we sue this prick? Read the headline then read the article and then right at the very end we discover that the so-called “Arsenal Kids” being taught a lesson by Barcelona Kids have nothing at all to do with the Arsenal ..
π―
ABB
Do you know if the NextGen series will be televised at all? I think itΒ΄s an excellent development.
official!! LJW and Diably will be LANS!!
So says Le Prof π
@cg194, yeah, until they are out in 6-week blocks because they’re “not fully recovered”. but wait, they’ll be lans again…just in time for the january window!
so it looks like yennaris, afobe, and aneke are all going to be with the first team in asia, as they’re not at boreham wood this weekend. eisfeld, henderson, and ebecilio are all named for that squad, so they won’t be going (i’d imagine): http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=530176
200 on the horizon Scruz, time to flush out the lurkers. Wallops the ball out of the defence for speedy Gonzalez to chase…..
…….plays keeps uppy whilst waiting for his team-mates to catch up….
Delivers a pin-point cross to the far post and puts on boxing gloves to avoid self assist.
GT@192: from the look of things not only is the Arsenal FC team nothing to do with our Arsenal, but neither is the Barcalona Academy team any thing to to with the Barcelona we know and hate.
http://www.barcelonausa.com/page/show/58695-about-us
http://www.arsenalfc.us/About_Us/index_E.html
See the disclaimers down the pages.
Thanks for the assist, Uply, albeit for a bit of a scudsy goal.
Well in Ned – they all count at the end of the day. You’re welcome to the assist…relief to get the boxing gloves off. π
Ned: If that is the case then it begs the question: what is the point of that article FFS!?
well in NBN
Heh! Up @199 π
So, it looks like GT couldn’t hack it with the paint puns but he just dropped in and lost distemper!
*early coat, thank you*. π
Heh Uplympiam. π
Trev….would that be an undercoat ? π
Brother Trev: In case you haven’t noticed, I am no longer interested in scoring in what is obviously a rigged competition. I plan to get my pleasures vicariously from seeing the “young ‘uns” get their day in the sun ..
π
It would indeed Uplympian. Sorry I should have stipple-ated that myself. π
Hey zico – bet you’d trust me to paint your fence ! π
I think these paint puns are getting thinner and thinner.
Evening All,
Nice post Holic.
I’d say that if 3 players make it from that Youth Cup winning side to become regulars then that is still absolutely outstanding. With Wilshere a given (when fit), and Sches established as No.1 (even though injury kept him from playing in the Youth team that season), I’d say that that in itself would be a very good haul.
Once you, however, add to the mix both Coquelin, who I ,along with everybody else, have high hopes for,and Frimpong who even if he doesn’t make it at Arsenal (and who’s to say he won’t), seems pretty certain , recovery from injuries permitting, to have a career in the Premier League, and that looks a very special Youth side indeed.
As you point out, Shea Bartley, Eastmond , Lansbury and Watt are all still at the Club. Even if they don’t make it at Arsenal, I would have thought that that’s about Β£4m in transfer fees.
I had a squint at earlier Youth Cup Winning sides.
At a time when Youth team graduates might have been expected to fill half of the first team ( 6 of the 13 players at Anfield in β89 were homegrown), the Youth cup winning side of 1988 provided Kevin Campbell, Steve Morrow and Dave Hillier for subsequent first team action.
By 1994 the conveyor belt had stopped turning, and only Stephen Hughes of the Youth cup winning side of that year made the step up, and then only briefly . Indeed , from that side only Matthew Rose, Adrian Clarke and Gavin Mcgowan played in the Lower Leagues after making a handful of appearances for Arsenal.Over half of the side did not have a professional career at all.
Come our consecutive wins in 2000 and 2001, la revolution francais had arrived and it was clear that only the most technically accomplished would break through at Arsenal.
Of the 2000 side the most successful was Alliadiere,which kinda says it all, though many more played in the Premier League (Sidwell,Bothroyd, Jerome Thomas, Ricketts, Volz) and dug out careers in the professional game,(Chilvers, Noble, Halls,Ossei Kuffour, Barrett), than did their β94 counterparts.
In 2001 the Premier league players were swelled by Pennant and Hoyte whilst Chorley , Svard, Garry and Nicolau all played in the lower divisions.
To break through at Arsenal , you have to be a stellar talent. To have 2 from the same year, with perhaps 2 more ready to break through is pretty outstanding.
The point is emphasised with comparison to Chelseaβs Youth Cup Winners in 2010. Only Jeffrey Bruma,currently on loan at Hamburg, has made any kind of breakthrough. Liverpool, winners in 06 and 07 have failed to bring anyone of note through from those sides (unless youβre prepared to count Jay Spearing !) The Chelsea-Man City Final of 08 has to date produced no-one for either side. The Man utd losing finalists of 07 produced only Welbeck.
Notwithstanding that the game has changed and that we can no longer rely on half a team of homegrowns I think weβre still doing pretty well in that regard.
For those interested, Youth Cup finalists of the last 10 years who have played more than 50 times in the top Division :-
Peter Whittingham, Liam Ridgewell, Stephen Davis, Luke Moore (Villa 2002) ,
Rooney (Everton 2002),
Phil Bardsley, Chris Eagles, Kieran Richardson, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Man Utd 2003),
David Wheater, Andrew Taylor Chris Brunt, James Morrison Adam Johnson (Boro 2004),
Craig Gardener Gary Cahill, Gabby Agbonalahor, Luke Moore (Villa 04),
Leon Best, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, (Soton 2005),
Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards (Man City 2006)
Danny Welbeck (Man Utd 2007)
@ abb
very excited about the Next Gen series, and as you rightly say, great way for the youth to get playing time. Good motivation for them, too.
To whomever was asking, here are the details of when it will be on telly – just the final and semi-final.
http://www.nextgenseries.com/en/Watching-NextGen
No info yet about tickets for earlier rounds.
Welcome Tabs – interesting stuff, by the way, of Nedesque proportions. π
Evening Trev,
Yeh it was pretty nerdy wasn’t it π
By the end of it I had completely forgotten the point I was trying to make !
Great stuff tabs, that shows how difficult it is to get players through from the youth teams.
Agreed Lars , a very imprecise science. Amazing that so many fall by the wayside.
Evening
Tabs, I said Ned – y, as in NBNed, NOT nerdy.
It’s good stuff. I just don’t know where you guys get the time to compile it all.
Tabs@215: And it only gets worse…
Evening Ollie – a very concise post. π
But fine work @212, Tabs. You confirm ‘Holics point that it is really hard for a youth player to make it anywhere these days, but ours do better than most.
Ah Trev, apologies I read it wrong π and apologies Ned !!
Evening Ollie
Just watched the vid from the asia tour 2011 and my gf glanced over commenting “hah, they had ungrateful Robin there too huh?” “oh is that japanese guy that Ryo wonderkid?” “oooh my god, Arsene is so sympathetic and lovely guy, he really seems to consider the club being his own, but my oh my is he thin”. Looks like my work of preparing her for trips to Ems with me is almost done π
Trev@219: I have turned several wings of Castle Ned over to teams of Tibetean monks who commit vast amounts of information to memory, much of it derived from old Bovril-stained match day programmes, ready to be chanted as ordered lists when needed, and which novices then transcribe into the equivalent of prayer wheels. It is selfless work requiring total lifetime dedication and the wearing of sandals, with the only relief to hand being when The Sweeper sends his angels to perform their missionary work. I can’t speak for Tabs, though.
Heh Ned , haha π
Have we sold/signed anyone?
Where is Snir?
Heh Ned! π
One of our American scribes can probably keep your Tibetan monks happy with a supply of Daily-Llama π
Ollie – has somebody sold Snir ?
Only he could tell us, Trev.
Ollie – agent SNIR is working undercover at a secret location. His personal mission is to hold RVP hostage until he re-signs π
Actually, Snir is probably in the throws of a three day swoon over that Thierry Henry wonder goal.
He is probably lying in some long grass next to an idyllic little pond with baby ducks swimming to and fro in a warm summer breeze, making little moany love noises, as he replays the video over and over again in his head.
We may well not hear from him for another couple of days yet.
By the way, does he love or hate Thierry at the moment ? π
Outstanding post TABs .. 3 Thumbs up (I borrowed one of Trev’s) π
Hey Eandy: It looks like you have done a really good job on the gf – hope it carries through when you actually marry her! That’s the litmus test …
π
Snir is en-route back to the U.S. from Israel .. I am sure we will hear from him soon..
Bit early for you GT – another 67 to go yet π
Kiss my black butt Trev – sorry couldn’t think of a ‘paint’ related insult π
Pass on that one GT, butt thanks for the offer. I’m sure your, er, door is always open.
Wolfie, on the other hand, may respond more positively. π
Hey Ollie: As far as I know young Snir is still on our books – but I am negotiating the final few items on Lurky Oliva’s transfer to Tott’num. When that’s done I will start on Trev’s transfer ..
π
As a postscript and just to show it was pretty much ever thus, the Arsenal Youth Cup winning side of 1971 was as follows :-
Graham Horn
Dave Donaldson
Brendon Batson
Micky Shovelar
David Price
Terry Burton
Jim de Garis
Charlie Newton
Brian Hornsby
Paul Davies
Kevin Kennerley
Of that side, only David Price established himself in the first team, and then only for a period of 4 seasons.
Brendan Batson was the only other player to play at the top level, for West Brom, after a spell at Cambridge.
Of the others, only Horn, Donaldson, and Hornsby carved out relatively successful careers in the lower divisions, though Davies and Kennerley both played professionally for a couple of seasons after leaving Arsenal.
Some Holics will remember Brian Hornsby scoring for Sheffield Wednesday against us in the FA Cup marathon of ’79.
The Captain of our side, one Terry Burton, our returning coach, who failed to get a professional contract from Arsenal or indeed anywhere else, and hence turned towards coaching fairly early on in life.
Stevenage Shaggers came in for him – butt I refused to pay the 10 Grand they wanted to take him off our hands – Bo-Boom!
π
Cheers GT @233.
I’m sure Wolfie would be honoured to “kiss your black butt” π
As regards Snir, I think its the calm before the storm. Probably saving his energy for when the transfer rumours really start to kick in .
Uplympian, unless he licks the boot of every single fan in the stadium on his first re-appearance, I don’t want RvP to stay now.
He’s probably counting the days, tabs. But too many seconds to count down to the end of the TW at the moment.
Who’s in charge of re-stocking the CMC before the start of the season?
You may well wish to sell me GT, but don’t forget you have to find someone who wants to buy, and I have to be prepared to leave.
Can you find another blog to match my current terms ? π
GT – You refused me the chance to join the Stevenage Shaggers ??!!!
As fine a group of young ladies as you will find in, well, er, Stevenage.
I will only go to another blog that can match my ambitions (and is not populated by over sensitive, stroppy goal hangers) π
Ollie. Agent SNIR is Mossad trained. He will use torture to get him to re-sign……..non stop playing of Diamond Lights by Hoddle / Waddle;-)
Jesting apart, RVP is gone in my mind….sell him overseas for what we can get and move on.
Trev: I have drafted Darren Dein in as advisor – we agreed on a 12.5% cut for him. If we can’t get a transfer fee we’ll consider renting you out an hour at a time ..
π
Trouble is Uplympian, we can only sell him to a club that he, like myself, is willing to join.
Ultimately, that choice is not only ours.
He’s a double dealing sheister that Darren Dein.
He’s already working for me for 15% π
Trev: I know. The 12.5% is on top of his standard 15%! I have waived my cut, such is my keenness to get this one done …
* btw where’s Nurse ABB – she usually loves when me and Trev get our handbags out
π
Which blogs would you consider Trev ?
Are you fundamentally at odds with how this blog is being run ? I am assuming your new blog will show more ambition ?
I have searched in vain for your personal website. Poor form. Your fans deserve to be told the truth !
Who’s in charge of stocking the CMC before the start of the season
Which brand of amnesia have you got, fella? 8)
More historical nonsense >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tabs,
Ideally I would like to stay here, but I’m not happy about the direction this blog is going in.
I will talk to the Guvnor again next week and see if he can reassure me that this blog can provide me with the sort of posters I need to achieve my personal goals.
I have not been happy with some of the lower quality overseas contributors that have been posting recently – like this evening !!!
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