Guest Post – TaBS On The Youth
Jul 21st, 2012 by 'holic
Based on a comment on Tuesday’s post but deserving of a wider audience, I believe. Our very own Take a Bow Son produced a well-researched response which offered more detail than the original post, and hit the nail on the head with a greater degree of precision than I managed, given some of the responses I got. Id like to thank TaBS for enlarging on his post and giving me the opportunity to share it with you.
There have been some disappointed mutterings recently that only a handful of the widely lauded Youth Cup side of 2009 have, thus far, been able to step up to the highest echelons of the professional game. A closer analysis, however, of the amount of players that the youth game produces for the very top sides emphasises just how precarious the road is from successful youth team player to established First Team Star.
With Wilshere a given (when fit), and Sir Ches established as number one (even though injury kept him from playing in the 2009 Youth Cup Final), two players from that youth intake would, of itself, be a very good haul. Once, however, both Coquelin and Frimpong are added to the mix it begins to look a startling return. Coquelin appears to be thoroughly unfazed by the “big-time” and seems to possess all the attributes, both technical and physical, to justify the understandable but nevertheless unwanted hype that surrounds any star of the youth system. Frimpong has found out the hard way that untimely injury can derail a fledgling career just as easily as a lack of talent or application. Though not as technically accomplished as Coquelin, there is no reason to suppose that once his injuries are overcome a Premier League career, even if it is not ultimately at Arsenal, awaits.
In addition Shea, Bartley, Eastmond, Lansbury, and Watt are all still at the Club, and whilst it looks unlikely that any will ever be more than bit-part players for Arsenal they should generate transfer fees which can be estimated at a conservative £4m, thereby providing the investment by which the youth system can further profit in the future. Is that so very different from our previous Youth Cup winning sides?
In 1988 our Youth Cup winning side produced three players – Hillier, Campbell, and Morrow – who subsequently went on to play regular first team football. It was, however, a different age, an era in which homegrown talent had, to that point, always generally provided a core to the first team (6 of the 13 players on show for Arsenal on that famous night at Anfield in 1989 were homegrown). The numbers that stepped up from the ’88 youth side certainly reflected that culture. On a par with the 2009 side then?
Kevin Campbell might have been given opportunities today, given the way he tore his way through youth team football, but it is difficult to imagine that David Hillier would have had anything more than the staccato Arsenal career afforded to, say, Craig Eastmond, whilst Steve Morrow (hero of the ’93 League Cup Final and member of the ’94 team that beat Parma, lest we forget) is unlikely to have got anywhere near the first team today.
By 1994 the conveyor belt had stopped turning (arguably one of the greatest failings of George Graham’s tenure) 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, after making a handful of appearances for Arsenal, played regularly in the lower Leagues. Over half of the side did not have a professional career at all.
Come our consecutive wins in 2000 and 2001 and with the youth team now performing under the steely glare of Don Howe, the 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, certainly in Arsenal colours, was Alliadiere. Such was his pace and technical ability he may have gone on to great things had he been able to stay clear of the serious injuries that dogged his career. No other player however from those two Youth Cup winning sides got anywhere near nailing down a first team spot at Arsenal. Many more did play in the Premier League (Sidwell, Bothroyd, Jerome Thomas, Ricketts, Volz) and dig out careers in the lower leagues (Chilvers, Noble, Halls,Ossei Kuffour, Barrett) than did their ’94 counterparts.
From the 2001 team, both Pennant and Hoyte played in the Premier League, Svard enjoyed 3 seasons at Borussia Monchengladbach, whilst Chorley, Garry and Nicolau all played in the lower divisions. The lack of numbers breaking through at Arsenal from those sides, whilst at the same time providing greater numbers for “lesser” Premiership sides, reflected that whilst the Youth set up had undergone something of an overhaul and was beginning to provide Premiership players in greater numbers, the sheer brilliance of the first team meant that youngsters had to look elsewhere to move their careers on.
To break through at Arsenal now it is clear that a player has to have a stellar talent, competing as they do not just against the very best talent that Arsenal can pluck from their specified UK area, but also against young boys flown in from all around Europe. Come through that intimidating test, and you then have to break into a multi-national first team squad full of Internationals. In the circumstances that 09 youth team begins to look very special indeed. To have two established regulars from the same year, with perhaps two more ready to break through into the first team, is pretty outstanding by any measure and perhaps signifies that the Youth set up is now beginning to produce players that are technically able to produce the type of football that Arsene Wenger demands.
The point is emphasised with comparison to the Youth sides of other big clubs. Liverpool, winners in 2006 and ’07 have failed to bring anyone of note through from those sides (unless you’re prepared to count Jay Spearing!). Danny Welbeck is the only player from the Manchester United side that were runners-up in 2007 to have come through. Unsurprisingly the Chelsea versus Manchester City Final of 2008 has to date produced no-one for either side. Of Chelsea’s Youth Cup winning side of 2010 only Jeffrey Bruma, currently on loan at Hamburg, has made any kind of breakthrough.
If one widens the net and looks at all the Youth Cup finalists of the last 10 years, there are only 24 players, from presumably the best Youth teams of their year, that have played more than 50 matches in the top flight. They are as follows :-
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)
Of that list, who would make it at Arsenal ? Theo obviously, together with Rooney, Bale, Welbeck, Sturridge, Richards, and arguably Johnson and Cahill.
Eight players from eighteen teams over a period of ten years. That bare statistic alone throws into sharp focus what an achievement it will be if the 2009 side manages to produce four first team regulars for Arsenal. Notwithstanding that the game has changed and that we can no longer rely on half a team of homegrowns to bring home the bacon in the manner of teams of yesteryear, the ’09 side bears testament to the continued excellence of our youth set-up.
The Captain of our 1971 Youth Cup winning side was Terry Burton, our returning Reserves and Head Development coach. He failed to get a professional contract from Arsenal or indeed anywhere else, and hence turned towards coaching fairly early on in life. From his team only David Price established himself in the first team, and only then for a period of four years. Brendan Batson was the only other player to play at the top level, for West Brom, after a spell at Cambridge. Terry Burton will know better than most that the future of even the most talented players at Youth level is a precarious one at best,and that his job is one of the most difficult in football.
Good luck to him.
369 Responses to “Guest Post – TaBS On The Youth”
1st time for first. Just a good read second edited version.
Second!
When you see how few players made the grade throughout the premier league clubs, it’s not surprising how poorly English teams have done at the major competitions. How many of those listed above are top international class?
Just goes to underline how daft Project Youth was.
Spot on Nonny. What we really need is a sugar daddy with bottomless pockets who will throw money at us just for the hell of it. Dammit, if you’re reading sugar daddy, don’t bother going all the way to Ashburton Grove, just come to Oxfordshire.
“Just goes to underline how daft Project Youth was.”
No it doesn’t. Project Youth was a necessity because of our financial situation. Project Youth also kept us competitive enough to finish in the top 4 and qualify for the CL for the last few years. There are many teams who spent way more than us on experienced players who would love to say the same.
Excellent article by the way. Very interesting and informative.
Holic,
Is this imposter writing above the hired help you were on about the other day?
Nice one Wolfie, btw.
Don’t agree on Cahill, mind you. 😉
This is a very interesting read and thoroughly researched. The main point – the impact of the 2009 side is very well made. Youth development isn’t what it used to be and the drafting in of the best global talent raises the bar to forbidding heights.
The current youth teams seem to have some very real talents as well but it is salutary to note that Fran Merida who so excited us when he arrived was released by Atletico Madrid this week. You’ve got to be exceptional t get into the Arsenal first team. So how the he’ll did Squillaci!?
Hired help, z?
What was I on about?
He owes me Guinness for publishing it 😉
“What we really need is a sugar daddy with bottomless pockets who will throw money at us just for the hell of it.”
I’d prefer that to expecting fans to keep digging deep when they can’t afford it. Self sustainability obtained in part by draining every last penny you can get from your fan base is nothing to be proud of IMO
Cheers for the kind ones.
Dr Z – well I was careful to say “arguably” . 🙂
Think you’re right though. Very doubtful Cahill would have broken through at Arsenal at that age, given that Villa were prepared to sell him.
The usual “fee” then Holic 😉
Nice one Tabs. I’m sure I will find something to disagree with tomorrow when I haven’t spent the whole day in a pub by the river 🙂
Right again, far better to rely upon other to keep funding the club we love. With an luck at all they’ll keep on doing it then we’ll have fantastic football, we wont have to pay for it and twenty pound notes will grow on trees.
PS: Mr Daddy, if you’re worried about stuffing fivers through the wrong letterbox, just get in touch and I’ll let you know where the right one is.
Ha, alright for some Snowy 😉
ANM @11 – The presence of a “sugar daddy” sure has made those tickets down at Chelsea cheap as chips. That Russian fella is just giving them away isn’t he. What’s that ? Oh.
Hey Tabs, while you’re still ‘here’, good, interesting read. Thanks. Icing on the cake, our youngsters came from behind to win today, most excellent!
Cheers Nurse.
Yep, good win today from a very young side.
TABs: Before I plunge into the new improved version of your outstanding post of a few days ago I warn you that I can’t improve on “outstanding” so if you have added some sex, violence & punchy theme music you may be underwhelmed by my response after I have read it again …
🙂
More from the peanut gallery! @ 3, Yes, I mean look at GB’s olympic team (ghastly against Brazil, totally rudderless). @ 9, you hit the nail on the head re global talent (no turning back). And finally, Nonny Mouse, I hear your frustration…but when something is really worthwhile, worth fighting for, well it can be very painful getting there. Hang in there!
GT heh 🙂
In closing, allow me to say: “Hey, Nonny. No!!”
Night all.
Excellent contribution Tabs. Good points, well made. Fancy a wee dram?
@16 – they are not as expensive as ours, United’s are not as expensive as ours, City’s are not as expensive as … well you get the point. If you want to, that is.
Our cheapest adult season ticket is £400 more expensive than Chelsea’s cheapest. Our cheapest season ticket is more expensive than both United’s and City’s most expensive.
Yay self sustainability off the backs of people who can’t afford it, with two billionaires owning 90% of the club.
Thank you Bath, very kind Sir.
How are you ? Hope you’ve invested in some new headgear that I can model come the start of he season ? 😉
Did someone mention a dram?
Black Grouse here tonight. Pleasant for the money…
Hey Tabs.
I am adapting to retirement. So far, so good. Much like being a student again.
I bought a nice Hunters Tweed cap in Beauly during my trip to Orkney a couple of weeks ago. But wrong colour for match day. Might be good for stormy weather though.
I hope you are having a good ‘summer’.
Just pouring a Glenmorangie myself Holic. I’ll pour an extra 2 for you and Tabs.
Grouse has a lot of Highland Park in it tho the Black version may have more Ardbeg. Not tasted it myself.
I think you are right about the Ardbeg. Definitely what I would call a bit more ‘body’.
Played tabs – v good read – research and thou shalt find and that. You can’t beat a bit o’ homegrown…
Ah Glenmorangie, the drink of kings. Cheers Bath.
Summer’s(?) good thanks Bath, though all the RVP talk is a bit wearing.I am relying on the Cricket and The Olympics to see me through to the start of the season, and then off we go again 🙂
I shall look forward to your choice of hat with renewed anticipation 😉
Heh AL, too right 🙂
More Brigitte than Twiggy, eh Holic? Whilst Glenmorangie is a well proportioned middle ground.
Love Glenmorangie, always have 😉
Evening AL…
evening gentlemen – good to see yous taking the opp to dust orf the summer shorts…
Hi holic,holics and thanks tabs,good article interesting post,i would imagine project youth has more than paid for itself,not just the lads that made it but also the sales of players,win win in my eyes.
LANSbury won’t be pleased at your/tabs evaluation of his usefulness.
And neither am I, FTM.
Tabs, Nicely researched and written piece. Cheers!
Trev. Sorry to have been out of internet-range for your transfer saga. I hope this is only a figment of GunnerTerry’s warped imagination? 😉
Evening mrs
Lovely to see you here.
Have to say I do concur with my learned friend about Henri, but believe me we both hope to be proved wrong.
What’s best for Arsenal…
Cheers, ‘holic.
GT, That should have been GoonerTerry of course, and my apologies.
Well in’ tabs, two tons for you from the off. I’m many mint juleps beyond the pale, plus good Belgian beer and French wine, plus good cheeses, pulled pork, and other north Carolina BBQ acoutrement… love the post! Good luck terry b., and I hope a boilk doesn’t await…
WEll in tabs, for post numero 0! 🙂
Surely Wellbeck was runner-up in 2009 when we beat the Mancs, not in 2007, no?
Or does time fly and did we beat them in 2007 but no player is mention from that year? :s
I’m getting confused.
http://www.arsenal.com/reserves-youth/youth-honours
I’m clearly getting confused.
Maybe we beat Man U in the semifinal in 2009?
I have a memory of watching a game when the Youth Team beat a Welbeck-included Man U. Perhaps it was the Academy Play-Off final rather than the FA Cup, I guess.
Nonny@24: Our cheapest adult season ticket is £400 more expensive than Chelsea’s cheapest. Our cheapest season ticket is more expensive than both United’s and City’s most expensive.
Not really, according to this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/22/premier-league-season-ticket-prices
Also note that when comparing, you have to remember that seven cup games are included in an Arsenal season ticket which is not the case anywhere else in the league so if you take the average price of a ticket then our cheapest is not more expensive than ManU’s most expensive. Also, again counting the average price per game, the most expensive tickets in the league are actually at White Hart Lane, where the cheapest ones cost more or less exactly like at the Emirates, but their most expensive ends up at just above £97 per game whereas our most expensive is just over £78.
Yes, the tickets are still expensive (too expensive even, not arguing with that), but my guess is that there are significantly more of the cheapest tickets at the Emirates than at Stamford Bridge or WHL given that we have a stadium that is about 50% bigger than both of them. Also, Man City may still have relatively cheap tickets but have, again according to that article, raised the prices by 6% and 9% respectively in the last two seasons so having billionaire owners that do put money into the club does not make the fans immune to price hikes either.
Ollie, you really must take more water with it 😉
@47 – Lars, what in that article says my original post is wrong?
Arsenal – Adult season ticket prices for 2012-13 £985-£1955
Chelsea – Adult season ticket prices £595-£1,250
Man City – Adult season ticket prices for 2012-13 £275-£745
Manchester United – £532-£950
Yes, Arsenal includes UP TO seven cup matches but that is domestic cup games isn’t it. In other words, you get to watch the kids and reserves in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup, and if they get knocked out early tough titty.
Since that article was written, our matchday ticket prices have come out and they don’t make for attractive reading, despite the new category C. Don’t get me wrong, anything that cuts prices (although B and A have both gone up to compensate) is welcome, although it’s a mixed blessing given this team’s tendency to lose to the lower rated teams!
All I’m saying really is that it more than slightly irritates to hear people hold this club up as some great moral champion at the same time as it soaks its own fans, under invests in players and balances the books further by selling off the best players we have.
There’s no moral high ground in football finance and “self sustainability” shouldn’t be something used as an excuse for not competing on the pitch, nor held up like a trophy to make ourselves feel better that the club, which used to have an order of priority that placed finishing in the top four third, after winning the league and CL, now has that somewhat lowly ambition at the top of the list.
If self sustainability meant paying lower wages, instead of having average players on fortunes that are not earned, having lowish ticket prices and living off generated income from commercial deals and so on, while still competing, it would be worth looking at as a morally great thing we were doing. But really, all we’re doing is relying on 60 000 sugar daddies instead of just one.
I’m not saying jump into bed with Usmanov, but wouldn’t you feel just a touch better about things if our billionaires actually invested in the club in a way that wasn’t just gathering shares for eventual personal gain?
‘holic 48 😀
And you have a couple of hours to convince me to change my mind from yesterday’s 217 if you really think it worth it (by e-mail if you want)
I’m with you on 217 Ollie. As long as lower tier tickets are readily available on Ticket Exchange I think I would delay as long as possible.
Interestingly, given tickets this summer have reportedly been offered to those down to 13000+ on the list my position on the waiting list has not changed in 12 months.
They are hiding what is happening.
Hmm, a change of name in the middle of a debate? Are you trying to confuse me? 🙂
Kidding aside, once again I don’t argue that our prices are too high. But not all of them are the most expensive in the league.
If self sustainability meant paying lower wages, instead of having average players on fortunes that are not earned, having lowish ticket prices and living off generated income from commercial deals and so on, while still competing, it would be worth looking at as a morally great thing we were doing. But really, all we’re doing is relying on 60 000 sugar daddies instead of just one.
But the above is, apart from cheapish ticket prices, pretty much what the club is doing. A lot has been made of high wages, but I feel that this has taken on almost mythical proportions. We are tens of millions behind ManU, ManC and Chelsea and clubs behind us are closing in fast. Sure, there is the odd player on too high wages but there is not a single squad in the Premier League where every player is on exactly the right money. Yes, we have struggled to offload a few players but that is a problem for many clubs. Man City have several, Liverpool are allegedly finding it hard to find someone to take over Carrolls contract etc. The general level of wages in the Premier League is much higher than most other leages, something the Bastia president (or manager or whatever it was) said about Squillaci – it’s difficult to buy any player from the Premier League because they are all on high wages compared to what most clubs can afford to pay.
Matchday income is, if memory serves me, about 30% of the turnover and a hell of a lot of work is being done on commercial deals. We had to commit to long-term deals when building the stadium, and those deals were really good at the time. The kit supplier and shirt sponsor deals expire in two years and there are rumours that Adidas will take over as soon as next summer and I can assure you that that will be a much, much larger deal than the current one. The team that works on commercial deals have now also started to produce results (several deals in African and Asian markets) so we are moving in the right direction in that respect.
I’m not saying jump into bed with Usmanov, but wouldn’t you feel just a touch better about things if our billionaires actually invested in the club in a way that wasn’t just gathering shares for eventual personal gain?
To be very, very honest: if the owners put in money through proper sponsorship deals then that would be great, but I don’t want “interest-free loans” and over-reliance on the whims of one or two individuals. I’d much rather grow the club organically and yes, I’d rather have cheaper ticket prices but hopefully, with better commercial deals then the ticktes will in time become cheaper in relative terms (i.e. the prices will go up at a rate lower than the inflation) over time.
Those are my 2p, not including seven cup games 🙂
Ollie @43 – heh, I still didn’t get numero uno 🙂
And @44 and 45 – Welbeck was a losing finalist vs Liverpool in 2007. He scored the winner against us in the semi-final, which is probably what you remember. He was 2 years younger than most of the players playing.
The semi-final was over two legs.It might have been possible that we won the first leg before losing at Old Trafford ? I don’t know for sure.
Cheers for the kind ones 8Ball and Scruz.
tabs@54: I have a very faint memory of us losing that semi-final on away goals. Could be completely wrong, though 🙂
Interestingly, given tickets this summer have reportedly been offered to those down to 13000+ on the list my position on the waiting list has not changed in 12 months.
‘holic, I don’t think they’ve updated the positions yet, they’re probably waiting until all is sorted out: when I log in, I still appear in the same position too.
No no no tabs, I’m pretty sure he played when we beat them.
As I said, I suspect it’s the Academy Play Off final in 2009.
OK, I’ve checked, we beat Spurs in the final.
Oh fuck time flies, it might have been 2007 semifinal then?
Fuck, I’m old.
Perhaps all I remember is that we were better than them and they were cunts but still beat us.
Sounds familiar 🙁
Great post Tabs, as stared in previous drinks.
Season ticket prices:
Carling Cup, or whatever games are NOT included in the season ticket.
Up to 7 Champions League or FA Cup games, in whichever order they occur, are included.
Category A games (old system) were priced at £98 where I sit, Block 91.
If you can get one for £78 Lars, could you get me one too please. 😉
Don’t worry Olldie, it’s happening to all of us. 😉
Lars – That’s what happens when you post from a laptop and a desktop and forget that you changed names on one ages ago! Sorry about that. And thanks, it’s good to be able to talk about this stuff without being piled into and called a cunt!
@60 – as staTed in ……
Trev, on average that is what you are paying 🙂
Nonny, a civilized debate is always a good thing – have a drink on my tab.
Lars, Ollie – I knew those handbooks they dish out with the season ticket would come in handy one day !
We won the home leg of the semi vs Man Utd in 07 1-0, before losing the second leg 4-2.
Reckon it was the home leg you were thinking of Ollie.
Can’t find anything about play off finals in that era.
Old ? Join the club 🙂
Cheers Trev (again!) 🙂
Cheers, tabs.
Tabs my comment at no 1 does not read as it should have done viz
” just as good a read this edited version as for the original one in the previous drinks”. Posting late evening has its de-merits. 🙂
Its a well researched piece and I agree with its sentiments. A drink in the bar awaits you ( on Lars tab of course ).
Team/Squad list:
Polish International
French International
French International/German International
Belgian International
Brazilian International/English International
Cameroon International
English International (prodigy/future)
Spanish (International surely if not for Xavi /Iniesta)
OR Czech International
English International (Theo or The Ox )
French International (assuming Dutch International departs)
German International
Plus assorted Internationals and U21s on the bench.
That is what RvP considers is not good enough for him to win with.
It’s what ? Oh……..
Cheers Up .
All about the spondulicks, I’m afraid Trev.
Yep Trev. All shit cunts, according to some (not only talking about RvP there…)
Excellent post, Tabs, well written and researched. I am kicking myself now for not sending an e-mail to ‘Holic I drafted on Friday offering you my analysis of the length of the Arsenal careers of all 139 players who graduated from the U-18s since the 1999-00 season, but held off to compile some numbers on games played to test the hypothesis that the youngsters aren’t given sufficient opportunities to establish themselves. (a task still in process) What I’ve got so far confirms your broad point about how difficult it is for young players to make the grade. Even being offered a professional contract isn’t a given for Under-18s and few survive at the club beyond that first contract. Fewer than 20 of those 139 lasted at the club for four seasons or more. I turned up one case, that of Jamie Edge, whom we bought for the Under-18s for £176,000 and who wasn’t offered a professional contract when his time came two years later. I don’t know the particulars of his case, but there are, of course, plenty of reasons that talented youngsters don’t fulfill their promise — insufficient technical and/or physical development, lack of application, bad attitude, bad and/or ill-timed injury, homesickness or even an outstanding rival for their position.
There is another change from the 1980s and 90s that you didn’t touch on. Today’s squad depth makes it much harder for youngsters to break through to the first team. Most top clubs not only have a first team full of internationals (see Trev@68) but also a bench full of them, too. Take Benik Afobe, the 19-year striker off on the Asia tour and of whom the club has high hopes. He is good enough to have scored 22 goals in 36 games for England U-16, U-17 and U-20 teams. Yet every one of the strikers listed on the club site as a first-team forward is an international. Three strikers we don’t consider to have made the grade with us, Bendtner, Chamakh and Park, each have more than 50 international caps. So does van Persie. We’ve just bought Podolski, who has more than 100 caps for Germany. Gervinho has 37, Walcott 28, and Giroud nine. Even the Ox now has five. High bar to clear.
Joey Barton is an England international. Getting picked for your country doesn’t make you a top class player.
Theo has played loads of games for England and yet looks like a novice at times (and I’m a fan of his).
Or to put it another way, Nelson Vivas was an Argentine international and so is Messi.
Ned, great stuff.
I will look forward to your post as and when you’ve finished it. Sounds like a great read and I will be very interested to see what conclusions you are able to draw from it.
The fall out at that age is astonishing.There is a good article in the Independent today from Michael Calvin which touches on the flip-side of the likes of Van Persie asking for the best part of a million quid a month, and focuses on those who fail to make it at the top level, with particular reference to one of our former trainees, Ben Smith.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-last-word-how-to-stay-off-footballs-scrap-heap-7964182.html
Your point re squad depth is a very good one. For any youngster, the road to the first team now must look an incredibly long one.
Emphasises again how good that 09 side was, to have provided 2 first team players with 2 more on the cusp.
shaking my head in awe at tabs and ned.
bloody marys, a round for the house, guv’ (he says, while wrestling with a mild boilk on a sunny, warm sunday morning).
All hail the survivor of the Open Championship. Speaking personally, I always like it when the familiar names win. All sympathies though to Adam Scott who played magnificently until the last few holes. That is my contribution about (the) golf.
Shaking my head generally at tabs….. 😉
Look who’s talking ! 😉
Nonny @62 …it’s good to be able to talk about this stuff without being piled into and called a cunt!
If that was aimed at me, may I point out that I didn’t. However, I do apologise for slipping straight into excess sarcasm mode. Please accept a drink on the bar by way of solid (or should that be liquid) apology.
I agree with everything Lars has said on the matter and congratulate him on expressing himself better than I did. I understand that protocol forbids my offering Lars a drink, but otherwise…
A dam scot almost won the open – truly the world of sport’s gawwwwn all wonky – what’ve they ever done for golf???
Is there any way how to not be excited about this guy?! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZihog4CdV4&feature=related
Especially at 1:20 is just pure joy to watch 😀
Tabs@73: Here are the appearance numbers for the members of the 2009 FA Youth Cup winning team. It was drawn from two classes of Under-18s, the 08-09 and 09-10 graduates. Ahmed Abdulla, Lennard Sowah, Samir Carruthers, Wojciech Szczesny, Nacer Barazite, Jack Wilshere and James Dunne were the earlier year; Charlie Mann, Jonas Hebo Rasmussen, Daniel Bentley, Kyle Bartley, Conor Henderson, Cedric Evina, Roarie Deacon, Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, Oguzhan Özyakup, Benik Afobe, James Shea and Sanchez Watt the later one. Gilles Sunu also played in the team but wasn’t technically an U-18 player, but a Reserve.
The team was, as you say, an exceptional one. Of the 17 players involved in the two-legs, five are now in the first team squad (Bartley, Lansbury, Wilshere, Coquelin, Frimpong), four are in the Reserves (Shea, Eastmond, Watt, Henderson), seven moved to other clubs (Ayling, Cruise, JET, Sunu, Murphy, Evina, Ozyakup) and one, Mann, the back-up keeper, switched to another U-18s outfit; he would anyway have been 3rd in line, Szczesny being injured that season.
Between them they have already played 133 first team games for Arsenal, though LJW accounts for 64 of those. Here is the full detail:
Player — Current Club (Arsenal first-team appearances — Reserve team appearances — first-team appearances while on loan)
Starting line-up:
James Shea — Arsenal Reserves (0-20-0)
Craig Eastmond — Arsenal Reserves (10-32-20)
Kyle Bartley — Arsenal (1-8-67)
Luke Ayling — Yeovil Town, free transfer, March 2010 (0-3-0; 91 first team appearances for Yeovil)
Thomas Cruise — Released July 2011; subsequently joined Torquay (1-14-6)
Henri Lansbury — Arsenal (8-2-102)
Jack Wilshere — Arsenal (64-1-14)
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas — Ipswich Town, sold for £1.1m, July 2011 (6-14-42; 44 first team appearances for Ipswich)
Francis Coquelin — Arsenal (21-13-25)
Emmanuel Frimpong — Arsenal (14-13-5)
Sanchez Watt (replaced injured Frimpong for second leg) — Arsenal Reserves (3-20-56)
Gilles Sunu — FC Lorient, sold for £1.3m, August 2011 (2-17-18; 15 subsequent first team appearances for Lorient since being sold to them)
Subs:
Rhys Murphy — SC Telstar, free transfer, July 2012 (0-27-11)
Conor Henderson — Arsenal Reserves (1-21-0)
Cedric Evina — Charlton Athletic, free transfer to Oldham Athletic, October 2010 (0-15-0; 36 first team appearances for Oldham and Charlton)
Charlie Mann — Crystal Palace, free transfer to Crystal Palace U18s, July 2009 (0-0-0)
Oguzhan Ozyakup (replaced Sanchez Watt on bench for second leg) — Besiktas, sold for £440,000, July 2012 (2-41-0)
Oxon – it wasn’t aimed at you or anyone on here today, it was a comment about what usually happens in certain places if you dare to step outside the general fawning praise of all things Arsenal, no matter how valid the point (or how crap it is!)
Ned, very good work on those numbers!
Wow – great work (again) by North Bank Numbers and of course Take a Stat Son 😉
Inspired by your tireless research I embarked upon my own rigorous, in-depth research project into the finances of the club. Unfortunately I only got as far as finding this before the urge for Guinness took over….
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/new-arsenal-kit-from-tesco-2012072035006
Well, it’s a start isn’t it?
🙂
Evening all. Word of warning, please do not read Tabs @ 73 re Ben Smith, et al (if you have been consuming adult beverages, such as I). Now to dry my eyes and continue with the drinks. Bless these futbal warriors, and the sacrifices they make.
Ha, Snowy, methinks you aren’t taking this entirely seriously 🙂
Cheers for the new moniker 🙂 , but I think Ned’s position as statto king is very safe. Outstanding work Ned, heaven knows where you get all this info !
Great to see that all of that team are still all fixed up in football.
Evening Nursie, sorry for linking that Ben Smith article 😉
Hi Tabs, hey listen, I’m glad you did. So many homeless in America, many from the middle class (including a nurse friend of mine, who was forced to eating out of a dumpster, at one low point in her life). Really have empathy for all those who are one pay check from being out on the street, so to speak.
Abb –
I’m shuddering ti think here what ‘eating out of a dumpster’ could possibly be referring to.
And as for your last point, Wolfie only earned one pay cheque when he was out on the street.
Ned – you know what I’m going to say.
*applauds another painstaking effort*
Your loft must be one almighty fire hazard. 😉
Snowy – just the kind of stats I would be capable of producing. 🙂
‘Holic –
I’m thinking of sending you an email containing 150 of my favourite puns for your further consideration. 😉
Nice post Tabs. Wolfie would be proud of the attention to detail being shown to the young boys.
😉
Here wiggo wiggo…..
Ned 82 ..tip my hat again to your encyclopaedic knowledge & contributions.
Trev 90….there may be some who may wish your email is pun.ctured en route 😉
*takes coat & leaves quietly*
Up@92, don’t you mean pun.cured?
takes up’s coat and leaves with a burst of maniacal laughter.
Pundit : one who comments upon or makes play on word type gags popular on goonerholic and elsewhere
i’ll get me supermac
oops, pardon “upun”
I blame me mac
AL. No need to be so punctilious 😉
So apparently RVP only wants 200k a week then???? And there was me thinking it was all because he does not like the direction the club is moving in??????
Silly me.
Perhaps we should sign Ham, Shem and Japhet?
Don’t you just love agents?
Great stuff Tabs.
Blasts it wide
Hey, Tabs, Trev, it is remarkable what you can turn up with a few monks armed with only some SQL queries and a couple of fire extinguishers to be on the safe side. 🙂
Granted Uply ’twas punnecessarily punickety on my part – punishment awaits – a gagging order p’raps!!!
I’d like to dedicate this goal to all the Arsenal youth players who never made it, to my Mum and Dad, to the kit man, Gwyneth Paltrow, Darren Dein, Mrs Thatcher, Lord Nelson, that Norwegian commentator, my personal grooming consultant, all Arsenal bloggers everywhere, the 1971 double side, Constable Alex Morgan (vocalist)…..
Well in, Oxon. Looks like you blasted it high and handsome rather than wide…
Ned – I was looking back to the discussion I had with Snir back in April that made GT reach for his nails. In the midst of it you said you didn’t have access to all Premier League results. Have you fixed that lack now, or have you lost interest. If not, I’ve got them all in an SQLite database if that’s of interest, or could dump them out in any format you’d prefer.
Good goal OG
Thanks AL, NBN and…
Night all
Constable Alex Morgan…
Now there was a vocalist 😉
Holic: The good constable once signed my programme – its was the only time a copper ever wrote down my name without me being nicked!
😎
Next Tuesday and Friday. That’s what I am waiting for. Hope I don’t die in the meantime …
😉
Very nice post tabs, who woulda known?
Not me 🙂
Checking in to see if we have gotten any closer to the new season. Apparently not, at least not to any significant degree. 🙁
Oxon and Wind, kudos for the magic 100 and 111. I expect you are cherishing them as the summer mementos they most surely are, in lieu of a magic trip to Mallorca. 😉
The Nigerians better be paying a sh*tload of money for this visit of four first team players, considering the travel and security risks.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/07/why-were-bringing-arsenal-stars-to-nigeria-deepak/?
Very interesting post.
*checks the ‘fawning’ potential of above statement*
OK? Thats all right then cuntos!
Esso: You beat me to it – couldn’t think of something witty 🙂
boreham wood v arsenal xi highlights. some sumptuous arsenal moves, and a nice one by olssen at the end:
http://mobile.theshortfuse.com/2012/7/22/3176105/from-footballexlcusives-co-uk-highlights-of-yesterdays-arsenal
courtesy of the short fuse.
Cheers for that Scruz! Nice stuff.
Hard to believe that I’m so desperate to see Arsenal playing some football that I just spent 7’26” watching “an Arsenal XI” play at Borehamwood. Still, I did, and I rather enjoyed it. Thanks Scruz. Does the real stuff start soon? Please?
Cheers Scruz
Just one question – why were we playing in our change strip of white until the 70th minute
Morning all
Nice expansion on the theme, TaBS.
The reserves; hearing more and more talk about this Olsson kid. Nice goal on Saturday.
Coffee?
Will we sign Podolski?
AW: “no”
Will RVP leave?
AW: “we want to keep him”
Will we sign M´Vila?
AW: “no”
Will we sign Cazorla?
AW: “who is he?”
On the above evidence, welcome to Arsenal, Yann and Santi! 🙂
enjoy it, folks. until the main boys hit the turf in malay, that seems to be about it…
btw, lars, aren’t you a birthday boy this week?
Given AW´s comments this wknd about him being comfortable with Song attacking, but acknowleding that it leaves holoes in CM…. perhaps we will see a midfield this season of Arteta / Coq (or M´Vila) and Song?
I think he may be about to demonstrate faith in Coq, which would tie in nicely with this post´s discussion! 🙂
holoes?? Sorry, Ollie.
bt8b @ 112, thanks for the prestigious accolade, I’ll take what I can get thank you very much 😉
Catalan @ 121, indisputable logic 😀
scruz@122: I sure am. Still in my twenties, turning twentynineteen on Wednesday…
heh, Lars. I´ll buy you a drink out of your wallet on Wednesday…. 🙂
With the demise of Robin Van Hearsie (TM True Storey), I have adopted a new player to follow as he develops into a world class player…
Mr Afobe is his name… and check out his bling in this photo, which I post especially for Wolfie and the girls. 🙂
http://i50.tinypic.com/9gzmug.jpg
Thank you Mr C, but I prefer Gervinho.
Wolfie, on the subject of swimming pools, I have a question for you.
When I go down to the pool for a few lengths, I just put on my gym shorts and jump in the water. Now, I feel that this is perhaps not the best idea since I get the feeling that the non-streamlined nature of gym shorts creates a drag which makes swimming more difficult than neccessary.
Now, with you being an authority on both swimwear and drag, do I need to get myself a pair of real Speedos?
Wolfie. Not the chap just behind him? Somewhat more generously upholstered …!
Lars –
The answer to your question is “possibly”.
There are, however, other factors which can induce drag that no mere pair of Speedos will negate.
Wolfie will not, sadly, be able to help you in this area, if you catch my drift.
Dear Mr Lars @130,
Whilst I am pleased to note that you are popping down to your local swimming baths for a few “lengths”, (Saunas, harbours and Hampstead common also being good hotspots when you feel the need of a “length”), I confess to feeling a smidgeon dismayed that after all this time, and after all my many top tips on the correct summer wardrobe, you feel the need to ask the question at all !!
Of course you need to get yourself a real pair of Speedoes ! Gym shorts are sooo last year Darling.
The new Speedo range has just the thing for you. They have brought out a natty yellow and blue striped pair with “Swedish Babe” imprinted on the nether regions. They are just soooo you, you must pop out to your local friendly speedo seller and invest a few krona immediately. Just the thing for those long hot Swedish summers.
I would also advise that you get a pair of top of the range goggles (perhaps I shall get you some for your birthday) , to complete that winning look.
I foresee that you will be quite the hit in the Nordic steamrooms.
As for “Drag”, it takes a special kind of man to pull that look off. One step at a time, dear boy, one step at a time.
Yours feigning irritation but secretly immensely proud,
Wolfgang Smallballs.
Mr C,
Gervinho all the way. His amply “upholstered” forehead provides the perfect resting place for my cinzano during moments of high pleasure.
*shakes his head at Wolfie to follow head shaking at # 76*
Wolfie, all that sounded so good until you said “long hot Swedish summers”. I have never known of such a thing, and certainly not this “summer”.
And while you have indeed been promoting the use of Speedos, how was I to know that you meant for actual swimming???
Question.
If the deal for M’Vila was done and dusted before the euro’s and was just waiting to be announced, why is it now dead in the water?
Lars , a good point well made. My enthusiasm for all things Speedo does sometimes get the better of me.
Speedoes are an extremely adaptable piece of clothing. Let me assure you that in addition to their “core” function of shopping centre strolling, they are as well suited to swimming as they are to other pursuits such as horse-riding and mountain climbing.
I realise too that I may have overestimated the temperature of the swedish summer. Fear ye not, there is also, for the more cold-sensitive chap, a fur lined version of the “Swedish babe” pair referred to above.
Dr Z – Much more of this head shaking malarkey and I might have to start calling you ‘Arry 😉
*shakes head some more and makes a mental note not to stroll through nearby shopping centre*
**makes further mental note to deploy Scottish aggression in retribution for ‘Arry jibe**
Steve,
I doubt that the M’Vila deal was ever “done and dusted” , other than in the minds of a few bloggers looking for hits.
I would also be doubtful its now dead in the water, if we ever were interested in the first place.
That would be my take for what its worth (not a lot).
Dr Z heh 🙂
I agree with tabs,
M’Villa was only ever a done deal on Twitter and the like.
However, I am hoping Monsieur Wenger’s bigging up of Diaby is merely a smokescreen and that we do have a plan B – it would be suicidal to rely on his (Diaby’s) fitness, particularly with Alex Song off to the ANC again in January.
“Calorza- fee agreed at £15m” now doing the rounds on Twitter Dr Z.
And so it goes on …
Well I see from Wikipedia he is both a winger and plays for Arsenal FC!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santi_Cazorla
Who said the internet was full of made-up stuff?
It also says an announcement was made on 26 July 2012.
Whatever next?
Feelgood to form new Temperance Movement??
Ha, deal’s already done eh. Who would have thought it would hav happened without Twitter knowing 😉
I see Arsene’s gone for a surprising “Dame Edna” look on tour.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/arsenal-press-conference-in-malaysia-part-1-wenger-gazidis-szczesny-the-ox/
Have to take your word for it, as the Firewall police are suggesting to me that that particular link is blocked.
Tranny State, Wolfie. 😉
If anyone is in any doubt about the mental state of Arsenal fans during the summer transfer window, just check back over this morning’s drinks.
The god of mental torture is hard at work on Gooners again, as the manager announces from the other side of the world, that we don’t need any midfielders ‘cos we have a bloke who should really just have left school and hasn’t played for a year, and another bloke who hasn’t played in anyone’s living memory due to 37 torn calf muscles, 14 knee operations and 78 pulled hanstrings, since his broken leg, who can carry us to Premier League glory.
Before anyone slags me off, I do think Diaby has the potential to be a fantastic player, and it was no fault of his that he happened across an idiot at just the wrong moment. I have a lot of sympathy for him as I was forced out of the game myself at 21, and have now undergone 8 knee operations as a result of an equally stupid challenge.
But this is The Arsenal. Jack and Diaby would be a wonderful outcome, if fit, but it seems a bit of a forlorn hope.
Anyone got a decent time machine, set for August 18th please. Let’s just get this over with.
wikipedia obviously have a time machine – see my posts #144 and 145 above.
Zico –
“internet is full of made up stuff” ?
Don’t forget this main post is entitled “Tabs on Youth” ! 😉
🙂
Oh,
an England batting collapse.
Never saw that coming.
I wouldn’t take too much of what AW says at face value Trev. He has never played ‘Arry’s game of expressing prior interest in any targets.
Agree with you that to go into the new season, reliant on Diaby, Ramsey, Wilshere and Rosicky for the AM role, all of whom for differing reasons, carry inherent risk, would be foolish.I would be very surprised ,even if he is recovered by October, if Jack has much more than an “acclimatising” season after such a long time out. Placing faith in Diaby and Tom to stay fit for long periods of time is at best a lottery, whilst I think Ramsey is better suited as a box-to-box as understudy to Arteta. Think we need a new creative fulcrum, hence the prolonged and ultimately unsuccessful chase for Mata last summer.
I think our priority should be a new No10. We have not to date replaced Fabregas (not an easy thing to do admittedly), and I think we lack the vision of passing that our type of football requires.
I was mildly encouraged by AW’s humorous deflection of the question about Cazorla. Might be reading too much into it, but it is the type of thing he is wont to say when there is real interest.
Never seen Cazorla play mind you. Nor M’Vila apart from one game in the Euros.
Up to this summer, I thought they were a pair of ice-creams.
Trev @150 🙂
Dr Z @147- A tranny state ? Chance would be a fine thing 😉
Eye Scream?
Ozil comes to mind. Him and Marty Feldman.
Ozil is the mutant offspring following a bizarre incident in which a poor gypsy woman, banished to a cave by her tribe following a minor indiscretion of bare-knuckle boxing etiquette, found the resulting isolation all but crushing,and mated with a giant cod.
Who’d have thought giant cods were so good at football ?
Oh no! Do you think I’ve set Trev off on another round of fish punnery?
🙂
I’m scaling back my odds on that one…..plaice your bets.
*bangs head gently but rhythmically against the desk*
Thankfully, a full afternoon of victims to spare me from what I believe to be about to happen in this Bar…..
Tabs –
I do believe you’ve got it, old chap. A fulcrum.
That’s what we’ve been missing. A fulcrum.
Not only that, but of all the available types of fulcrum, it’s an attacking one we need. Genius Tabs, pure Genius.
What’s a fulcrum ? 😉
As for fish puns,it’s good to have a laugh. Get’s the endolphins going. 😉
More victims for me too, now.
Laters. 😉
A fulcrum is the whole of the less-well known halfcrum.
Didn’t M’Vilas manager release a statement saying we had agreed a fee? I am sure I read that somewhere as a direct quote?
Trev, A Crum is an English viol player.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Crum
I have long been an advocate of the more free-flowing “rhapsodic” game. I have literally lost count of the number of times that I have shouted out in pure frustration at another missed chance that what we need is some sweet stringed instrument harmonies playing in the hole, so that our players are relaxed and dreamy as they take aim.
A. Crum is a stout woman who needs her food. Her bum notes are in direct proportion to her intake of pies.
A FulCrum therefore is just what we need to see us over the line.
Sadly, whilst her agent appears to be hawking her around all managers who profess a love for this new revolutionary type of football, Arsene has been scared off by her exorbitant price of £25m and a season ticket at Greggs .
Hope that clears things up 😉
Steve, you might be right though I haven’t seen it myself.
Sadly, I don’t set much store by what any agents say. Players seem to have so many people professing to speak for them, each competing for a slice of the transfer fee, that I don’t really trust anything unless it comes from one of the Clubs.
I think the Rennes chairman said last week that they were prepared to let him go if their valuation is met and that there was interest from “foreign” Clubs, though no bids had been received.
Think Rennes are in the same situation with M’Vila as we are with VP. Last year of his contract so buying Clubs will wait ’til the last moment in order to drive the price down.
Reckon M’Vila will leave Rennes. Whether he comes to Arsenal or not, your guess is as good as mine.
Crum.
Quidditch player of Bulgarian descent, from memory.
Crumpet – Quidditch player’s girl.
Crum(pled) – English cricket team 😉
Heh @ 164.
@ 165
The “rumours” before the Euro’s were that we had agreed a price at between 15m and 17m making him our most expensive signing.
Then we had the rumour of “he has an attitude” therefore the deal is off.
If we are interested it won’t be at the price quoted at that time, which was £15m to £17m.
My prediction? Diaby to break down between now and 31st August and we the required fee to get him will be too spicey for our taste.
I don’t believe any of those “rumours” Dr Z.
Your prediction however has a ring of truth to it.
I don’t believe them either, tabs.
When we were being quoted £12m for Cahill, Arsene signed Kos for about half, from memory. I eould expect any signing (if we do sign anyone) to be in the max £10m bracket.
Fecking zPad.
Keeps moving the order of the keys…. 🙁
Think Kos was about £9m from memory Dr Z.
I lose track of our supposed “transfer kitty”. Didn’t The Swiss Ramble estimate it at £35-40m ?
I think a lot depends on what fees we can garner for the “outs” who can command a fee – VP, Arshavin and The Prince of Denmark.
I think we would go above £10m for the right player, but not £20m.
As a guess, I would say £16-17m is probably our self-imposed limit for any individual.
9m really?
Memory plays tricks.
You’ll be telling me my recollection of Gus is all wrong too, next. 😉
It’s summer.
No, really. It’s sunny and warm-ish.
If you say he was a damn fine player then yes.
If however you are minded to think he resembled a hormonal threshing machine with faulty controls, then i think your memory is still pretty good (for an old man) 😉
I see that Carlos Vela has been expunged from the listing of first-team players on the official site, so I guess that means the deal has been done for sure. £3.3 million I heard was the fee.
Lars, be careful. This is what can happen to Swedish men who don Speedos: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3ba_1256411934
Ned 🙂
Heh Ned :p
Very pleased to see the regular drinkers rounding into excellent pre-season form today. Multiple hehs and hahas. 🙂
Look like Giroud will be wearing no 12 next season. Will Podolski get no 9 or no 10 depending on which of Park and van Persie leaves first?
OK patients please form an orderly queue for your evening medication. Mr Smallballs please come to the front – Let me rephrase that: Please ‘advance’ to the front of the line! The rest please fall in behind (ooops missus!) … Nurse ABB please have the orderlies mop the day-room with some Pinesol. There’s a strong smell of fish in here ..
Please calm down patients. Real football will be back on the telly tomorrow ..
😯
Sixteen times! That’s how many times I have watched the 5-2, 3-5 and 1-0 over the last week. My favourite is still the Arabic HD feed of the Spuds smashing.
🙂
I’d put money on 10, Ned.
tabs,
Hormonal threshing machine with faulty controls….
Quality, side-hurting stuff.
Although Dr Feelgood has also been similarly described…. 😛
Can’t read a bloody drink. In the garden, on the vin rouge, sun directly behind. Hope you are behaving yourselves. Anybody want to volunteer to do the match report tomorrow. Didn’t realise k-o times were while I am attempting to earn an honest bob…
I believe that a certain legal eagle, who now has a thirst for a byline might have the requisite time on his hands….
But does he have the technical nous to operate (and license to access) Arsenal player? 😉
Going to sign my son up to be a Junior Gunner so that I can watch the game tomorrow!!
Is that wrong? I promise he can keep the pencil case.
Ned.. Heh! 🙂
Ned… I´ll see your Swedish chap (calm down Wolfie) and raise you a Septic…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWXSa9bQb1k
Really Wolfie. Is this the style to which you aspire??
Dr Z @185 heh, cheers 🙂
Holic – I’m happy to do it if nobody else volunteers. What time is kick off ? I don’t have a licence for Arse Player but I’m assuming there’ll be other feeds ?
I seem to remember that Wolfie’s last (and only ) match report was the corresponding fixture last season, so he’s got form in that regard.
That said, I reckon the Blog might benefit if it was given a caledonian flavour from a certain Dr Feelgood ! 😉
Certainly not Mr C !
I am renowned for my “swallow” dive.
Feelgood match report?
Alcohol and the fourth estate – that would never catch on surely….on second thoughts, give the job to Dr Disorder.
I can see it now,
Ball went out for a throw in……….reporter went out for the count
heh 🙂
Wolfie… you paint a vivid picture!
How can Mr Gervinho and his Cinzano supporting forehead resist?? 🙂
nudges the ball off the centre circle…..
Indeed Mr C 🙂
Executes a perfect triple salko combined with a double somersault which inadvertently sends the ball flying back to the centre half …
….who is so surprised he falls backwards and clips his head on the diving board a la Greg Louganis (easy Wolfie).
God knows where the ball has gone..
Tabs @164 – 😆
GT – evening and heh!
Wolfgang doing a match report tomorrow ?
Stand by for first three paragraphs describing the outfits of the Ladyboy Massive who are sure to be in the crowd. From memory, they were left there at the end of last year’s tour. “There” being anywhere east of the English Channel.
Wouldn’t care for a match report from Peter Hill-Wood then ?
Can’t think why. 😉
Tom Daley swoops from nowhere and smuggles the ball somewhere snug.. he flick flacks up the wing…. are the judges watching?
Starts day-dreaming about dear old Greg (surely the Mark Spitz of the Diving arena), and doesn’t notice the ball sailing straight for him from a route one keeper clearance. Hits him on the bonce and the ball sails towards the oppo’s area …
*picks up a loose ball and floats it to the back post*
And what a goal !!!!!
Trev, heh, a report from PHW would be fantastic 🙂
*world of our own here, failing to notice that someone just scored, punches the ref in the face for being a complete and utter …… ref *
Probably won’t be Tabs, cos he won’t be watching the match !
Never bothers the Daily Mail though. 😉
There is honour in 201 Trev 😉
That was always destined to be Wolfie´s goal. Well in, err.. son!
My vote for Wolfie as lead commentator with “expert” insights from PHW. Got to be better than Trevor Francis…
Fantastic climax there Wolfgang @200. 😉
ESPN classic tonight apparently; 10pm TH14 , 10:30 God..
Not that I have it, but would hate for anyone who has to miss out
Ah, might be a problem Trev, but then as you say, its never stopped others.
My plan would be to concentrate on The Ladyboy Massive, the rude banners , and the half time snacks.
Not sure Holic has recovered yet from last year’s “report” to trust me with another 🙂
I may ask PHW for some after match comments.
He may even have some transfer news ………
‘holic 186. Doesn’t matter. At least you’re drinking 😉
Garden? Is that the neighbours again? 🙂
Every man has her day Mr C .
Thank you Trev.
PHW as co-commentator ? Very confident he could provide the necessary penetration 🙂
Great finish, Wolfie.
If I dare say.
Thank you Ollie 🙂
Very good neighbours, Ollie.
Would prefer a TaBS report to a Wolfie one 😉
Don’t worry if you can’t mate. The game is bound to be on Player tomorrow night. I’ll just have to do a late pissed one 😉
But if you are up for it…
I say chaps, this is all very exciting.
It seems I may be asked to provide some expert comment on tomorrow’s game.
Is it the Cup Final again already ? It only seems a couple of months.
I will, of course, have Lady Nina with me. I thought we could do an expert analysis together and title it “A View From The Inside”.
Incidentally, Gazidis tells me the tour has already far exceeded commercial expectations, as we have already sold two of those purple striped thingys.
Fucking idiots.
Heh, Welcome back, PHW.
Wolfie’s stomped off in a sulk Holic 😉 , so I’m quite happy to give it a go. Will send it to you through the back channels as early as I can, so that can use or discard as you see fit.
Will let you know early doors if I can pick up a stream. I seem to remember there were plenty last year so don’t envisage a problem.
PHW 🙂
Excellent maestro. 🙂
You not at least a red member then, TaBS?
Haven’t rejoined since the season ticket Holic. Should rejoin really, but I’ve generally found a ticket when I’ve needed one, so haven’t got round to it.
Very lazy I know !
A. Morgan – redhead, baritone, no helmet, by clockend??? Or should that read – redhead, soprano, no helmet, by clockend???
Either way an appreciated but somewhat peculiar tradition for a gunner of my vintage…
Up the arse!
Heh AL 🙂
Have to say my attention was always firmly fixed on the bobby who had to hurl his baton high into the air and catch it before a baying North Bk, rather than the dulcet tones of Constable Morgan.
My memories might be faulty, but I seem to recall that he went years without dropping it, and then on one memorable rainy afternoon, dropped it twice on the same afternoon.
Careers have been ruined for less. 🙂
Don’t start me sobbing again. We won things at Highbury 🙁
tabs (sadly – oh yeah) – never saw i’m drop it, but the cheer that went up as he chucked it was defo a good natured, half-expectant prelude for just that outcome – IMHO!!!
You seeing him do the double was rarer than ‘h’s claim of seeing us lot win fings at H’Bury – i reckon – pre AW and GG o’ course ( bertie jus’ b4 mee)
Might be wrong AL but I think Constable Morgan and the old baton twirler were still going strong during Terry Neill’s tenure.
Hey Holic, remember Highbury had to wait an unlucky 13 years (not counting the years lost to the first world war) til the first pot, so we’re still ahead of the game at The Ems.
Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 7 years before The Ems gets off the mark !
Yep, pretty sure meself he was defo still going thru the the cap’n and t’neill years…for – p’raps unfortunately – they were largely my formative arse ones. fink there may’ve been a small misunstandin – nevermind!
Up The Arse!
Psed – previous, previously ” ‘im ” and “winning fings” (darn it tabs i’m having to reread hastily writ posts – and it aint pretty) – but who’s c@nting?
Agreed. Sure the Met Band played until early eighties. Bring back the Sousa marches 😉
Re: Dr. Z @166. Bulgarian Quidditch player was Krum with a “K” and for your reference here’s a handy photograph of the movie character. I do not recall whether Bulgaria defeated Ireland in the Quidditch world cup final, however. Krum was also one of four entrants in the TriWizard world championship but unfortunately (for him) finished third. Harry Potter of course finished first.
http://chiteki.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/viktor-krum.jpg
That makes it fulkrum, I suppose. 😉
Interesting pictures on the dot con of Arsenal players touring the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, but no word on whether the Ladyboy Massive was encountered inside. 😉
Apparently we are playing in Malaysia at 14:45 UK time and the match is broadcast on ESPN. Am now trying to figure out what time I need to tune in here in the land of more than 10,000 lakes. Adding a third continent to the proceedings is challenging my brain cells.
The Guardian says Bendtner is in talks to join Galatasaray. Arseblog says his agent is saying he could stay at Arsenal. Ah, the drama…
8thBall: The game is on ESPN 3 at 7:45 Eastern – I think. Goog Night 🙂
Good night, GT. This seems to be one of those odd nights when my late afternoon iced coffee is keeping me awake. And I thought I was immune to the effects of coffee, blue mountain or otherwise …
8 ball @ 230
Actually I knew that, but would’ve got in the way of my cheap joke 😉
Coffee please, and then work I suppose.
No chance of seeing the game till late tonight – probably settle for bitesize highlights and The Tabs Report.
Allow me to pour, Dr Z.
Now, I´m off to work out how this Junior Gunner thing works… 🙂
For bt8 and all others overseas
There is a site liveonsat.com which shows which matches are being shown on which satellite channels world wide and for bt8, you can change to your local GMT displacement so you dont ‘ave to fink no more heh heh
Well, apparently Laurent Koscielny is more in tune with the future direction of the Arsenal than a certain Dutchman. New “long-term contract” signed.
Yes, nice one Kos.
Our second best player last season imo, by a distance.
Although Arteta would have run him close if he had played as many games……
So maybe not by a distance after all……
Where’s that coffee Dr C? 🙁
zico, even one millimeter is still a distance. A short one, but still a distance 🙂
So Roxette tells everyone within earshot…..
Heh! 🙂
If we do happen to land Santi I’ll be over the moon. Fingers crossed.
If he joins the club lets not waste his talents on the wing. Saint Santi needs to be played in the hole.
Off to watch Coldplay play in jolly olde Toronto tonight.
Happy Days 🙂
So, Guardian reporting that we have agreed terms with “Santi”. He is a good player, but is he worth 16-17 million? Only Snir can answer
The question is, Harsha,
does the Guardian get its’ scoops from Wikipedia 😉
Another Spaniard in the midfield, por favor. Santi would mesh well with Arteta.
You should see Santi take free kicks. Just ask Señor Casillas and Real Mad. Check it out on You Tube ‘holics. Sorry, but I can’t provide the link 🙁
It could be fiesta time at the Grove 😉 Mucho gracias amigos!
No, Dr Z. The question is, why is there no free beer at work places?
Depends where you “work” 😉
I worked for a Dutch outfit that provided free beer after 17:00. Gotta love the Dutch, eh?
The Guardian is also just reporting that Bendtner will become Milan’s next Zlatan … oh dear …
Dr Z @237 – So no pressure then 🙂
Actually I am currently in the process of committing huge swathes of Hugh Mcilvanney prose to memory for plagiaristic purposes. 😉
Have already decided on a headline – “Arsenal well set for world domination” in the event of a win obviously and “Gloom deepens as Crisis threatens Arsenal future”, if we lose.
What do you think ? Your advice might be crucial as I embark on my new tabloid career.
Harsha, I’ve barely seen this Cazorla chap, but I have to say that this latest round of transfer speculation has got me in quite the flutter.
This might whet your appetite :-
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/10/05/santi.cazorla/index.html
tabs,
If you are going to plagiarise McIlvanney, there is a fair chance that some of what you will write will describe a tongue deep in Alex Ferguson’s rectum.
Whilst the guy can write, his fawning over Obnoxious from Govan is nauseating.
In other words, desist. 😉
Good lord,
Thank God Twitter is forbidden by our Firewall Police at Concentration Camp zico.
You know who you are……
tabs — Santi is the real deal. If we get him he will be our best player.
Yeh fair enough Dr Z , will leave the Mcilvanney alone.
Can’t say I’ve read enough of his stuff to have an opinion but its always been my impression that he lauds all high-achievers. I’ve seen him be equally effusive about Arsene Wenger, to give one example.
I’ve always enjoyed reading his stuff.
And @257 Who on earth do you mean ? :p
Big “if” Roberto, but I hope you’re right.
tabs,
It’s true that he has written some flattering pieces on Wenger, but he usually manages to get a dig in at the Arsenal in the collective sense.
Of course, I could be biased. 😉
In any event, I expect your match report to be full of references to triple pikes, stroking of breasts and the ubiquitous head of Duncan Goodhew. 🙂
You set the Bar very high Dr Z 🙂
Is the Walcott contract saga still ongoing?
It’s all gone a bit quiet. Strange.
Maybe I’m just following the wrong timeline 😉
The tension is building .. will the second piece of toast be as good as the first? It was an inspired by Mrs T to offer me breakfast in bed this morning – because sure as hell I would have missed kick-off time … I was having a dream about the latest episode of True Blood that I watched late last night: Let us just say I was glad to discover upon awakening that I wasn’t doing what I was doing in that dream … now I am just sipping my tea without a concern in the world – except wondering if this stream will work ..
Morning all (7:40 AM Jamaica Time)
🙂
Tabs@225 & AL@225
I absolutely remember the “twirler” dropping his baton thingy. I was on the North Bank where most of the “twirling” took place but the whole ground went crazy when it finally happened one day. We had waited years for it to happen – each throw being accompanied by a rising growl of expectation and then a collective groan of disappointment as the bugger always caught it. I do not recall the date/time etc but for the stattos out there it was between my first game circa 1964 and my departure for warmer climes in 1980 so probably late seventies for the actual event. It was as if the twirly man himself somehow took a visceral pleasure in raising our hopes to always just crush them and march on. To finally see it happen was probably my first real understanding of “schadenfaude” – a word unfortunately now sadly misused by some.
UTA – Cheers.
GT,
The second piece of toast is NEVER as good as the first piece of toast.
The above COULD be a metaphor.
True Dr Zee. It wasn’t. Probably because the second is always cold by the time one gets to it? Anyway the rest was wonderful: green tea, eggs & cold tomatoes. Yum ..
Metaphor? For what? 🙂
Haha GT, I stopped watching every now and then after Gideon died 🙂 Although I did watch a few of the succubus Mary-Ann’s (I think that was her name)episodes, only word that describes them = WILD.
Morning GT .
Noosa, cheers. Based on where I was – West Lower – for that memorable “drop”, I’m pretty sure that it was 78-9. Nagging feeling it was a 1-1 home draw with Villa played out in driving rain and thick mud, but that might be completely wrong.
Mr Tabs,
no need to be nervous old boy, I’ll be backing you up to the hilt.
It’s all been a frightful rush for Lady Nina and myself. We alighted the Docklands Light Railway only to find that the game there isn’t until Friday.
Anyway, long story short, we’re here now, if you get my drift, and waiting for kick-off.
Have we left Henry at home ? Can’t see him warming up at all.
Purple Reign making its debut 🙂
Seems to be a nice team we put out, all in all. Looks like
Santos Chammy Gerv
Arteta Coq Diaby
Gibbs Vermaelen Djourou Jenks
Don Vito
Not really filling the stadium though, are we?
Hah! Nice try at the dribble right after kick-off. Won’t see many doing that in a real game.
The pitch looks very bad. Lots of players have gotten caught in it already and you can see the holes all the way from the camera. Hope we get through this without any twisted knees.
Trying to watch Arsenal Player on iPad but keeps freezing then going black.
Anyone else struggling – or got a stream.
First attempt to use Player for months with usual crap result. 🙁
Works well on my Mac, think it is the first game they show on idevices so perhaps they haven’t yet figured that out. So if you’ve got a computer nearby the player-stream works fine there.
This is a serious question and not a pop at anyone – I wonder if Robin is watching.
wiziwig.tv is my friend.
arsenal haven’t scored in 18 minutes. no ambition…:)
have decided to treat myself to the game for the anniversary of my birth. so i’ll go in an hour late.
the pitch does look like a sandpit. it’s worrisome that santos is actually being accused of “good defending”. and chamakh looks to have been taking first touch lessons from tgstel :eyeroll:
Watching on iPad is like seiing every 10th frame with Norman Collier commentating. Absolute waste of time.
Well done Player – again – rubbish.
nice save, don vito.
Chammy is chesting the ball down left, right and center, getting volleys and half volleys off whenever he likes. Hasn’t scored but he has had a good game this far.
le prof running the glasses look, rather than contact lenses. very professorial.
Heh, yep. Brings back the memories of the oval glasses –
http://img.skysports.com/09/09/218×298/Arsene-Wenger-Arsenal-1996_2367194.jpg
soooo 1990s, those ovals.
“the fans were expecting some goals and a little more vibrancy from the gunners,” who are being outshot 5-3.
nicely played, andre. that’s two you could have had.
malaysia scores a screamer. don vito pissed off. just before halftime. crowd going nuts. horrible defending, no one closed him down, he set up shop, sold his goods, and retired, then took the shot. wow.
Was a good hit, quite avoidable though, that’s what you get when you underestimate the opponents and just get into defensive position and then wait for the opponents to misplace a pass.
But hey, it’s just pre-season on a shabby pitch. Even if we win it will still be pre-season on a shabby pitch. Let’s change a few players now to save the legs of the players that was on.
Well the goal was a bit tasty wasn’t it? Someone else apart from Santos needs to be on the end of our chances ..
🙁
Picture froze but th..k i he… .n .he com…tar. ..at Ma…ys..a ha.. Sc…red.
Of course we wouldn’t be expecting anyone to try and watch on an iPad would we …. Ffs.
Losing?
Boo!
Wagner out!
*Slinks back to work, double boo!*
Poor first half but hey, this is only the Big Inning.
The torture never stops.
Trev: Try this link:
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/131983/1/watch-malaysia-vs-arsenal.html
Told you.
walcott, song, ox, ryo, nico, and another six outfield changes…
afobe, bartley?
eastmond in central defense!!
Yep, Afobe on! Good lad… seize the moment…
Miquel playing LB.
Aneke and Arteta in midfield with Ox CAM.
Oops – apparently Aneke playing further forwards and Ox sitting back with Arteta…
better so far this half from us, at least until the final ball. much more active.
yellow to catalan. at least i got tabs’s spot.
Celebrates quietly, maybe noone noticed. Crowd too noisy, didn´t hear the whistle….. 😉
oooh, quick from ryo, offside by chuks, then off the post.
Damn! Scruz was watching.
I accept the yellow, but as it was unintentional, can I reduce my ban??
ignasi bartley eastmond nico
arteta ox aneke
theo afobe ryo
nice!
we’ll use the ban pein hammer, rather than thor’s bahnhammer. a quick rap on the left big toenail.
ignasi to ryo, the left side of the future?
ouch! Fair enough.
afobe wide open on the split, hits the keeper. argh!
great ball from songinho.
unlucky, ryo, deflected for a corner.
a little home cooking from the ref, there.
Theo could do with some Chammy-like touches. Not every day you say that.
another nice save by don vito.
theo comes off for 37…eisfeld!
aNObe…
Wonder if Eisfeld will move into central midfield and we stick Alex out on the right?
nice run by the ox, not the greatest shot, but good stuff.
looks like iceman is playing right.
Eisfeld!:)
equalizer…eisfeld from yennaris…
Iceman
Heh, seems to be a good move from Le Prof getting Walcott off and Iceman on.
yep. much more control and movement by eisfeld, goal aside.
I dont believe it, a deflected goal for us?:D
goal for aneke, off a deflection…2-1 great break, and interplay between miquel and aneke.
Winning?
Wagner in!
Really do agree Scruz, Walcott isn’t really the man to get on the field if you are trying to get some control over a game and we desperately needed to get a hold of proceedings with a very mixed team in pre-season. Walcott do have strengths, no doubt, but helping to control the ball isn’t one of them.
shaking my head @z, chuckling duckly.
Mental strength lads, mental strength. Wagner is like a new signing.
yeah, maybe eisfeld is going to be the impact sub of the year. he certainly changed the speed and direction of the game, preseason though it is.
Quite something! I finally got a stream to work at 83:00, just in time to see Eisfeld and Aneke stick a couple into the back of the net. Neither one spent much time futzing around when going for goal was indicated. Fountain of youth all ours!!
Dr Zee: You are like those local Gooners – Talk about flip flop support 🙂
That young Ox is a special player. Remember you heard it here first 😎
GT @ 335 Ha!
The guardian now reporting personal terms agreed with Cazorla. Just need to work out a fee. Fingers crossed! If Arsenal do sign Podolski, Giroud, and Cazorla this summer how much egg would RvP have on his face for his “direction of the club” statement. Unless he was told the direction of the club was to completely reinforce the attack and provide him with great backups and he couldn’t take the competition?
For 200k/week I could stand having lots of egg on my face.
Just saying, like.
And, GT, I got to see that run by Ox through the entire Malaysian midfield and defense. Agreed, he is quite something.
Bearded, it’s not true until it is on twitter;
or something.
We aren’t signing Messi, so I fully agree with Robin Van Usmadein.
What?
On the other hand….
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/7930093/Malaga-Claim-Cazorla-Isn-t-For-Sale
Ollie, that’s not on Twitter either, so it can’t be true. You can on the other hand, believe what you read in the Grauniad
or something.
I don’t believe anything I read anymore. Truth is at the bottom of a pint of Guinness 😉
Well I think “or something” would be a good signing as well but I’d be happier with Cazorla.
Also it dawned on me during the match that I dont mind the away kit that much when actually worn by players and played in …and I hate that fact since I still think that nike did awful job on them this year.
Very good evening all. That’s TWO wins (count em) since Gibbs saved us from the unthinkable last season! I want a statue of him erected asap outside the Ems (shakes her head up and down). Gooner Terry, I discovered the AOC (along with Nemar, well you get the picture). But what is the fuss over this Cazorla, what stats haven’t I seen, that might just get me excited. What does have me so very happy is that our KOS has pledged his allegiance to Arsenal, Wenger and the fans. Not a bad day at all.
What I hate is trying to stay a little later at work due to an earlier crashing lorry, in the vain hope that traffic will be better.
Checking the website it looks fucking horrendous and my 10km journey could still stake an hour.
I really fucking loathe this place with a vengeance. 6 more weeks here? Jaysus. I’ll definitely give any possible extension into September a miss.
Not that there’s that much work being done, I’m mostly feeling alien and reading docs anyway, which I could mostly do in my normal office.
Anyway, I’ll go. We’ll see.
Ollie,
Truth is found not only at the bottom of a pint (of Guinness) but is also infused throughout its’ head and body. It also contains the answer to “how come I ended up in Speedos?”
Everyone else:
Wagner sort of out and sort of in. I’ll decide tomorrow. 8)
What?
A win? Always bet on pink.
Just tweeted this, then realised that as I have about 3 followers, ivt would reach a wider audience here. For what it’s worth.
How good would an in form Chamakh be for our squad? We will be set up to play to Giroud’s strengths, and Chamakh us similar in those.
Afobe to offer something more mobile and get playing time. Money can then be spent elsewhere.
Yennaris, Aneke also seem like they could merit a squad place. Interesting times…
Has the HT left the station yet??
Fair to say it was nowhere near as bad as feared.
it never is, ollie…
The Happy Train is touring.
In Arran. 😉
Report in the back channels Holic .
Drink!
Am I still on that fecking island?
352 Ollie …. I find a blue disco light on the car roof always speeds up my journey 😉
Esso,
If you mean Britain, then probably. 😉
Can’t do it with the roof down, Uplympian 😉
But heh nonetheless.
You never watch Father Ted Zico?
I lived on that particular island a few years back Esso.
If you’re there, enjoy 😉
I’m not so craggy mate.
Ollie…..a bit of British invention required….fix some leather straps to the base, place light on head and fix straps around chin – it’ll be like wearing a helmet. Of course wouldn’t work for the chinless wonder. 🙂
heh Ups, fancy trying that…
Right, back home from the pub – got some back-drinking to do. This will not be made easier by the fact that I had much more beer than I had first intended down the boozer and am now in fact rather drunk… but we had a great time and that is all that counts!
Where’s the match report ? We want Tabs !
Sent to the Guvnor ages ago Trev. He’s either out, or having to rewrite the whole thing 🙂
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