A Quiet Day For Our Next Opponents And Us
Sep 1st, 2012 by 'holic
It’s probably not the best idea to start a post at five minutes past transfer deadline, but the effects of the Guinness and whisky are ‘liberating‘ (I may choose a different word when I read this back in the morning). The customary preview will take up precious little of the post. If you want a cut-down version of what I would have written then see Talking Heads on the official club website.
The ‘holic pound is nervously punted on the 0-1 referred to in that piece. Fancy Olivier Giroud to score first? Gunners Gaming offer a market-best equalling 7/1 against that. If you don’t have an account with them already sign up via the banner above and get a matched free bet up to Β£25 (terms and conditions apply).
Now it will surprise nobody that I am tipping Arsenal to win a tough away game. I’ll tip Arsenal to win most games this season I suspect. On a week by week basis I reckon we could field, with good luck and a following wind, as good an eleven as anybody in the top flight. If injuries and suspensions start to bite, as indeed they have in recent seasons, then I do wonder if we have greater strength in depth than in those previous ill-fated campaigns.
Did you notice that smooth transition to the question of strength in depth less than half an hour after the close of the deadline day that didn’t happen for us, or indeed Liverpool. In cold print we have three goalkeepers with first-team experience, although the word is for the second week running we may be relying on the third of those this weekend.
Ahead of them we have Sagna (when fit), Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Djourou, Gibbs, and Santos. Should be plenty for the defence, no? Well last season it wasn’t, and continuing questions about the durability of the full-backs in particular are a concern once again. I can understand entirely why many thought we would add another quality utility player in this area.
The midfield looks packed with creative quality once we have Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky back from the treatment room (are you noticing a theme developing here?). Those two to contest three places with Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby (if his fetlocks remain intact), Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, and possibly Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Is there sufficient balance between the attacking and defensive disciplines there for you? I ask the question because you know it is another area where many anticipated an addition to address that balance question.
The options for the front three will obviously come under scrutiny. The former skipper, the greatest striker that ever lived, and Ju-Young Park have departed to be replaced by just Podolski and Giroud. That means Chamakh is trapped as third-choice central striker, a player likely to recover his mojo elsewhere, but who is not likely to get the regular games that will see him recover his confidence with us. Out wide we have Walcott (don’t start on that now please!), Gervinho, and somewhat surprisingly Arshavin. Six players for three places yes, and Oxlade-Chamberlain can be pressed into service further forward.
So in black and white Arsene will doubtless argue we have two teams backed up by some of the most talented youngsters around, but raw unpolished gems nonetheless. One must admire his refusal to buy just anybody to add to the squad, insisting that they must have ‘super quality’. Those who question whether we have used all of the assets at our disposal to bring in that ‘super quality’ will be poised to pounce the first poor set of results we experience.
I make no apology for repeating my litmus test for Le Boss. A long as we are challenging for most of the season and qualify for the Champions League then he deserves a chance to repeat his successes at the club. Once again there is widespread concern if this can be achieved. For many years now the man has foiled those who you could be forgiven for thinking are waiting for that one opportunity to say “I told you so”. I have to say though that they are well armed this time around. We may have acted quickly to cover the loss of the last two skippers, but I am surprised when Park was offloaded on the final day of the window that we did not have another non-homegrown player of undoubted quality lined up to fill the squad vacancy.
I will confess to sharing a view with those whose opinion I regularly question. In the week that Arsenal silver members (actually it was mainly red members, thanks Ollie) forked out from Β£62 to Β£123.50 for Chelsea tickets I found myself accepting as valid the questions about what are these huge ticket prices for if they are not to help strengthen the team. In a summer when a player trading profit suggested to be in eight figures was supplemented by a last property windfall from Queensland Road I think it is not unreasonable to have expected that we might have perhaps added the player or two (or three!) who would have covered the areas of concern in the squad. We may land a major trophy with what we have, and we all pray that is so, but have we used the club’s resources as well as we could have to make that more likely?
I’m asking questions, of my club, of myself, because I do have a sense of disappointment that we have not done all that we could have to maximise our chances of shutting up those who would love to see us fail again. I’m not talking about disaffected Arsenal fans there either. I’m talking about the supporters of clubs who haven’t achieved anything like the success we have in the modern era. They are seizing an opportunity, perhaps as surprised as some of ours that we are not reaping the benefits of years of prudence while we were building the new stadium, and surprised as some of ours that we are not spending SOME of the benefits that seem to have accrued in the meantime. Only the hard of thinking want us to trade at a loss with the evidence of how foolish that has proved all around us, but with irregular windfalls being added to regular trading profits I suspect there was room to have been more ‘proactive’ this summer.
I’m not jumping up and down screaming abuse at all and sundry. I’m praying my concerns are completely unfounded. I have no power of veto. I’ll be there watching next week, next month, next year. Just let me question now and again if we are doing all we can to be successful, and if you would be so kind, start giving me some answers about what our money is being used for.
Thanks Arsenal.
482 Responses to “A Quiet Day For Our Next Opponents And Us”
First in?
Second? Despite promises to go to bed!
Still getting over that old trout around BTM’s flies???????
Now to read the post.
Sake! The first drink
Good evening to you.
I’d like to talk about our transfer activity on deadline day.
A week or so ago, I was telling anyone who would listen that it made no sense for RvP to leave Arsenal for Man Utd, as we’d be competeing with them this year. I hadnt realised that this, in my head, was based on the fact that Wenger looked certain to purchase more players.
Having lost RvP and Song, our embarrassing lack of investment since has lead me to change my mind about RvP going. He clearly knew this was going to be our spending all along, in which case, no wonder he left, why wouldnt he?
I’m gutted to have to say this, but we are at very very best, about the same in terms of quality as last year, and last year, like the year before that, we we’re good enough. Not even close. Man Utd however, will challenge for the title, they always do.
The very best we can hope for is 3rd, but likely 4th. This is not what I pay my stupidly expensive season ticket for. I really had high hope for this season a week or 2 back, but now, after buying nobody else and selling a CM in Song, I do not. A case of 1 step forward then 1 step, maybe 2 backwards. Not to mention the fact that we got rid of Bendtner and Vela who are both better than Chamakh but kept he Morrocan??
The thing is that annoys me most is that Arsene Wenger has won the title 3 times, with 3 Arsenal sides. He knows what it takes, so he must also know that we’re not good enough. We have money to spend, yet we do not strengthen.
I’ve defended the club for years, however its getting harder and harder to do so. We get praised for our business model, however the most efficient way to run a football club, is to get the most amount of talent on the pitch that you can afford. We do not do this, we can afford better.
We are less Arsenal FC and more Arsenal PLC these days. I don’t want to own a season ticket to a company. I want a season ticket to a football club.
Played ‘holic, like the best Arse sides – finely balanced stuff.
Wear do I sing from the same as him sheet?
SakΓ© all around the board?..I will have one too please. Lets just wait how things will turn out ..as I said in my previous drink, should we win the two opening games of the season I bet the mood during the last day of transfer window would be much different and for example Dempsey rumour would be massively “meh-ed”. Our squad looks good to me as it is for now and I will get behind it with my full vigorous support!
Holic,
Did you delete that last drink about Kroenke in the bar?
I am deleting anything that levels abuse at individuals as I always do Chippy.
Express disappointment and explain why you feel the way you do, but don’t just type vitriol. There are other sites that do that better than here.
A fair piece Guv’nor, and nothing much to regret in the morning.
I do, however, take issue with one point. I don’t belive it’s fair to say of the full-backs both “It’s incredibly unlucky to have all four full-backs out injured at the same time” and “we’re being extremely foolish relying on four full-backs”.
COYG ICDDR
Fair Dos shouldn’t have put it in Queens English and for that I apoligise,
He’s still a Mary’s Hunt tho π Do I get away with that π ?
I share the same view with you sir. I admire our model, I realy do and wish to prove most of the doomers wrong, but this season, at the end of the day we are in profit and our bases is not cover, It would be too much to ask of Jack that he comes out of Injury and beform as he was performing. We are a Carzola injury away from being a very poor in the attacking third in my opinion, and the truth is we could have strenghtened without breaking the bank. Is it too much to ask that we invest 15-20 million per summer? We finished 19 points from the top last season and our position was a miracle sort of and the truth is we are just about same if not worse… We should ve strenghted that team, but it seems all we did is try to replace those who left at best. I am not saying we shud ve held on to them, but we sure could ve improved a few other position more to not just compensate but try to improve. Come sunday though, I will be supporting as best as I can… I do not ve a choice anyway… I am hoping we get a champions league spot and maybe a domestic cup… Still hoping for the best… Giroud, Poldoski and Santi… You ve my support and patience.
@NorCal from the previous drinks. We must have a proper drink together some time on a less manic day. It would be interesting to find out just how far apart our views are. Do allow me to buy the first round.
Night all, and I mean that even more sincerely than last time.
COYG ICDDR
Howdy, bourbon here ole’ boy. Jesus how bout that clown striker at Athletico. I’d like Falcao and some fava beans, Thank You very much…. back to bourbon
I may have said the first of those two statements at some point Oxon, not sure about the second.
Fact is we have Bac coming back from a double break in the same season, Jenks and Gibbs have what we might call a track record with the medical team, and Andre may find himself banged up for his Ayrton Santos antics.
Unlucky, but not unlikely?
Jesus got rid of Song to be left with Diaby π It’s like trading a Nissan Cherry for a Robin Relisnt that’s not so Reliant π
Actually Chippy I genuinely believe Diaby is the better player, but can’t help but feel Dan Smith did for him. I pray I’m wrong, but his foot bone is connected to his shin bone by rice-paper.
Diaby is and will be awsome if….. he stays___. I think the team is in good shape. When two rich kids try to make you play polo, you just kick your buddy in the balls and keep Roshamboing for it. When you can play with the others you do your own thing. Rich kids will get bored.
sorry cant
Rationalizing the window
Now that the window has slammed shut firmly, and Im a few pegs of whiskey down and little more calm – trying to think of why we have acted the way we did.
On reflection, I tend to agree that bringing in some player for the sake of bringing in a player would hardly help us. In desperation, gooners were calling out for Essien or Dempsey. I guess it makes sense. In the past , Arsene has gone for bargain basement buys – Sylvestre , Squillaci, Park and while on that day they looked like steals – it soon became obvious why they were so cheap.
Short note. Quality does not come cheap.
Having said that , I still cannot believe we didnt replace Song or RvP. What Arsene has again done is put massive pressure on himself and the squad.
He is basically expecting to replace 35 goals and 14 assists and a dm from his squad. Now we dont know if it can be done, but this essentially means that everyone in the team will have to start contributing – from Theo to Ox to the new guys..
As Holic said, somehow or the other, we have found the resources to somehow qualify for CL for 15 years in a row. I dont think that will be different. But I dont expect anything else. In other words, I think this will be yet another Arsenal season.. 4th spot. CL round of 16. Quarters of the domestic cup competitions.
And that is why its a bit disappointing. Coz when we bought Santi Cazorla earlier this month – it looked like we were onto something special.
Unfortunately not.
I aint surprised no one came in. The latest according to the Independent is about Wenger preaching loyalty.
He is deluded if he thinks players will replay the trust and loyalty he has and had showed them.As for Walcott depending on results and the gunners status in Jan ,he could be off especially if the gunners are struggling.
Frankly Wenger has been given time to get the gunners challenging.Surely if the gunners continue to misfire after two games it could drag on until season end.He says the gunners could cause a surprise like last season.
It remains to be seen. To convince the sceptics,beat Liverpool /MC and Chelsea. If not failure to get at least 6 points is proof that his time is running out and fast.
@Sajit
I pretty much completely agree. When you ar e a club like Arsenal, you cannot start the season thinking its an achievement to finish 4th. It isn’t. Wenger talks about how great it was that we finished 3rd last year, but we should never have been in the terrible possition in the first place! Its like rolling in dog shit, then wanting praise for getting most of it out. Its mental. Utd were gutted to finish 2nd, we’re delighted to finish 3rd? That isn’t the Arsenal I used to know.
1st is 1st, 2nd is nowhere. 3rd and 4th? forget about it. Not good enough, and never will be.
Sajit, sometimes you surprise and delight.
Take that deep breath and a slug of the hard stuff every time you want to post π
I would have liked to see Arsene buy a few more top top players to strengthen our squad before the transfer deadline passed.
But I have no problem in accepting that it’s probably better to save the transfer resources that we do have until such time as the players that Arsene really wants are available, rather than simply purchase players for the sake of it, or, even worse, to make a section or two of the fanbase happy, many of whom were throwing their keyboards out of their prams at the lack of spending by Arsenal on transfer deadline day.
I trust Arsene to make the purchases that he considers necessary for the squad at the earliest available opportunity. In the meantime, the team & squad have got games to win, so lets get behind them.
Holic,
Have never been in love with either of the two in all honesty both have glaring faults the main one being any sort of discipline but to be fair Diabys performance against Chelsea in the Carling cup final was one of the most dominant midfield performances I’ve ever seen from
an Arsenal player, Was it a one of probably could Song of produced it no will Diaby ever repeat it probably not,
Did I mention Stans supposed love of Arsenal is otherwise known as Betty Swollocks π
Time For Bed Up The Arse and all that sail on her !!
Sebastian, second is nowhere?
We have been around 126 years. Champions 13.
Doesn’t feel to me like we were nowhere 113 times.
Mr Holic
The point I meant was, Wenger (who I am still a fan of by the way) says that it was an achievement to finish 3rd last year. For a club the size of Arsenal, 3rd is not an achievement. Utd dont want to come third, Madrid, Barce, Milan would all sack their managers if they came 3rd. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Wenger sacked at all, but don’t claim like its good to finish anywhere other than 1st. You cant win every year, I know this, but its been quite a while now…
Third would be a disaster for Milan, Barca, and Real. They play in Leagues that are now more competitive than the Scottish Premier only because Rangers were caught with their pants down.
Third isn’t the summit of our ambition, but a good performance given the clout of the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
so you’d be happy to finish 3rd every year? is that the new 1st for us? City, Utd and Chelsea have raised the bar, by whatever means. This is sport, rise to the challenge. We have funds, are we seriously being told that their arent players out there that are better than Ramsey or Gibbs? I will support anyone that pulls on the Arsenal shirt, but I also know who is good enough to win us trophies and who isn’t.
Have to agree we do look a little thin in midfield given that we have placed so much faith in Jack (I’ve been out for over a year) Wilshere, Tomas (How long did it take me to recover fully last time 2 years?) Rosicky and Abou (the ankle bone’s connected to the rice paper) Diaby. The Ox will one day be a great midfielder but I think that is still a year or so away and even Frimpong, arguably the lowest on the midfielder pecking order is returning from a second knee ligament problem in 3 years.
Our stocks a resting very heavily on Santi Cazorla and Miquel Arteta’s shoulders, both of whom will be targeted for a sound kicking especially by the likes of QPR et al and should they be successful, ….well… we saw the results last season without Arteta even though we had Song.
The 15M that Spurs reportedly paid for Dembele looks like cheap insurance to me for a player that could cover for every midfield position from back to front. (assuming of course he wanted to play UEFA CL this year and fight for a place with us rather than be assured of a place in Spurs midfield)
Thanks Holic. will remember, though drinks are not allowed at work. π
But , another thing I missed to state is that the squad looks really unbalanced.
Our attack and midfield have too many similar players. I doubt Wenger has a defined plan A,let alone a plan B.
The forward three in both the games looked really like they were getting in each others way.
Work to do on the training ground , I guess. Or change the formation. But something got to give.
Right back from my excursion
I see Essien joined the ‘mighty’ real and we are left with a bag of talent.
Oh well you can’t win em all
Drinks to everyone in the bar.
Love you all
Goodnight
Keep it Goonerish!
π
Gazidis said in June – after Podolski and with Giroud almost done but before the losses of RvP and Song – that Arsenal fans would be genuinely excited by the Club’s transfer plans this summer.
Arsene said after Song left that we’d “certainly” be adding a defensive player.
We still have Squillaci, Chamakh and Arshavin on our wage bill and we have been unable to fully off-load Park, Bendtner and Denilson.
Gazidis promised in June that we would be addressing the “inefficiency” in our squad spending.
In short, it doesn’t add up.
Once again we are relying on notoriously injury-prone players to stay fit and new players to adapt very quickly. Even Cazorla expressed his disappointment at RvP and Song leaving and his hopes that we would replace them. What chance he will join the ranks of the disillusioned come next summer?
Why do we always have to gamble? The likes of Mbia, Dembele, Sahin and Dempsey would all have strengthened our squad and allowed us to rotate our more fragile players but we decide to play it by the skin of our teeth yet again.
Frustration, concern and crossed fingers have replaced the optimism and excitement of a few weeks ago.
A pint of Harveys Best Bitter.
We have cleared the majority of the deadwood off the payroll.
We now know what the club is. We know what RvP already knew.
Song was sold to balance the books.
We are competing this season without genuine competition or cover for our first choice goalkeeper; we are giving jenkinson the opportunity to learn to be a professional footballer in the first team.
Chamakh is our second choice centre forward (podolski isn’t a no 9)
I can’t work out whether the club is incompetent / disingenuous or negligent. Tonight was a bit of a reality check.
On the other hand, I dream of Diaby, yennaris, le coq, theo and the Ox coming good. Gnabry will be the next rising star.
Wow you guys are taking it hard
Why not wait to see where we are after Sunday? Don’t tell me, you already know right?
We are a point behind Utd. Celebrate that.
Never be afraid to ask questions of the club. It does not make you disloyal, it does not make you a doomer and it does not make you any less of a fan.
Like many I feel deflated after todayβs events. Am I surprised? If I am totally honest, not really. As much as I wanted Sky to be at the training ground with 2/3 top quality signings being unveiled I never really expected it. Snir spoke about something in the last set of drinks that I have mentioned for some time now. It is a real bug bare of mine. All we do is replace, never add. The three early signings had left me thinking we had turned the corned. The departures made me feel that I had just been mugged. As if I had fallen for a small time con trick. I had bought into it all. In the end I was just the trout chasing the juicy fly. Until there it was, me, hook line and sinker.
The fact that I read in the last drinks people happy to play for third really saddens me. That is not The Arsenal I know and love. Never has been and never will. But if 4th was offered now, how many would embrace it with open arms?
Donβt get me wrong, I donβt think we are in bad shape. I just think it could be so much better. I suggested in the last round about how close we might be with this squad as it is now with the addition of Cesc and RVP? I would suggest that would make others sit up and take notice.
My big fear is the patience and tolerance levels that will be afforded to the team? My guess is that high paying fans will not stand for sub standard performances. The tolerance levels will be as low as I can remember. To understand why, apart for the ticket prices of course, take a look at the followingβ¦..
“If we do not deliver in one or two years I will be responsible,” It is the most important moment in the life of this club and we have to be strong now and support this team.”
Referring to Song, Daiby and Walcottβ¦.”They have a huge value and if they go somewhere else, in two or three years you will say to me ‘why did you let them go?’.
“They are great players and they will show you that they are great players.
“We are going in the right track and everyone at the club is convinced we are doing the right thing. If we do not get there next year or the year after then you can say this was not the right way.”
These are the comments of Arsene Wenger speaking at the annual supporters meeting in May 2009.
Now do you understand why fans get frustrated? I would love to see a list of those who have left the club since those statements were made.
Holic, you make some great points and you echo the frustrations of many I believe. All I have ever asked, as many will be bored hearing is this. Be the best you can be. Are we? Are we as a club in the best shape we can be?????? I will leave that to others to decide. I know which side of the fence I sit.
Time to call it a day. I am now out of red wine and need some sleep.
Keep the faith.
Now it all makes sense what RVP said in his statement. Somehow he knew being the club captain that it’s going to happen this way come end of transfer window. Too much gambling (no pun intended) and much less realism from manager. If you believe what AST said in their analysis of Feb accounts, around 50 million were there for transfers, since then we sold more property , made more money on transfers, released more funds by loaning out players and most likely will make profit again from core business in addition to players trading. All this time fans are paying the most expensive prices in the world ( yes I know every one knows that, sorry ). Was not this the whole idea to be self sustainable then why we are not spending what we earn? Recently Tom Fox admitted in meeting with AISA that one main reason behind MU commercial success was an unparalleled success on field. I would thought that if we want to match that we had to build a team which can win and not only happy to carry on with this CL participation. But those at helm have some other ideas. I wanted to get this out of my chest as once result will start to go wrong, saying this will be labelled as doom and gloom mongering.
I said that before and now saying it again that unless people stop paying these silly prices and start forcing club to change this PLC course nothing will change. If this team is able to finish any where between 6 and 8 that’s will be well deserved, any thing better will be a bonus. Fasten your seat belts and get your pain killers and anti-emetics ready folks, we are in for a hell of downward ride
Okay check this out
Dembele, Dempsey, Cabaye
Yeah could have strengthened our squad dah dah dah but they are not gunners.
Capoue, M’Vila Sahin now they are Gunners.
@38 interesting observation. I don’t know much about sahin, but why aren’t dembele or cabaye arsenal quality players?
Do you know what would be nice? Some genuine honesty form the club? What are our ambitions? And I mean genuine ambitions. Where does all the money go? Why is the PR that comes out of the club so poor?
As said elsewhere the only player we might have had today that we didn’t get that disappoints me is De Jong. We could have at least tried.. but then again, if AOC is going to be used in centre midfield, and he can tackle as well as get forward, I’d put him where Diaby is.
Theo is going to be used as third choice striker, it seems, and continuing on the right to start. At least I hope so because I wouldn’t trust Chamakh to do the job and he’s clearly not regarded as good enough any more by his manager (and hasn’t been for more than a year).
Midfield is covered really, the only concern I’d have is if Cazorla gets crocked.
Defence is ok on paper. I worry about the keepers (even Chesney) but glad we didn’t go for Lloris.
I can see why he thinks he is covered, but in recent windows he has talked about having numbers and I think he might end up a player or two short once the winter sets in.
So he’ll just have to do some work in January.
I’m amazed Arshavin is still around by the way
Holic, I agree with every single word and the reason I went on a rant earlier, is because I feel we’re so damn close.
People think I’m overreacting, and citing our great first eleven as proof that we can challenge.
But first elevens do NOT win titles.
In 2010-2011 we had a better first eleven.
We had Sagna, Clichy, Song, Jack, Cesc, Theo, Nasri, and RvP, all in the same team.
All those players, surely are the super quality AW refers to.
Yet, we didn’t win the league because of our lack of cover.
This season, we again have a formidable first eleven, with a better Gibbs, Kos, TV, Arteta, Theo, Santi, and two additions who will prove excellent in Poldi and Giroud.
But squads win titles, and do we have enough a deep enough squad?
Most of the people in this bar, thought that last year’s squad wasn’t good enough for the title. This year, we haven’t strengthened, but replaced, when we replaced a 30 goal scorer with two excellent strikers who haven’t played a PL game up to this season, and no one to replace our DM.
Are we stronger? No. We are just about the same. Adding injured players doesn’t make us stronger, they were in the squad last season as well, and we thought they’d play.
Can we win the league? Like I said last season. Yes.
What needs to happen? Well, Man City had 44 points (a point for each week a player misses through injury) in the injury table, as opposed to United’s 239 points (we were second). We need that to happen.
We need our first eleven or as close to our first eleven as possible, to play a large chunk of our games.
Very disappointed at this missed opportunity.
I didn’t know Mannone kept seven consecutive clean sheets last Spring for Hull City. Quite an achievement for him and the club.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/mannone-this-feels-like-a-fresh-start
What pisses the shit out of me is that once again we’re so close to greatness.
In 08-09, we needed someone in reserve for Cesc’s broken leg.
In 09-10, we needed someone in reserve to cover for RvP and NB’s injury (AA at CF)
In 10-11, we needed a reserve for Song and a CB to cover TV’s injury.
In 11-12, we needed a playmaker and an additional goal threat.
This season we need a DM as cover and a reserve playmaker.
Always so close. And like Holic said, we have money to address it.
I don’t often comment but read your blog most days as it is one of the few that is not into attacking players or the board on a regular basis.I keep hearing we should have signed a defensive midfielder. I don’t see why.Song was anything but an instant hit but he developed into a player worthy of the arsenal shirt. We have two fantantic young players coming thru the system in Coq and frimpong. I say give them a chance. We have a strong midfield with Carlzola and Arteta so their is room to develop a player and allow them to play alongside two outstanding players.I want to see young players make it at this club.We have a good squad balance now. So it is achievable. I dont want to see young talent blocked beause the fans want instant gratias from a 23 or 24 year old plucked from the french league. give arsenal players a chance.
Oxon,
Agreed. Would love to share a drink on another time. I don’t think we are that far off in our thinking. What each of us here wants is what’s best for the club. We want to win each game and each competition and remain healthy and viable for the future. We all see different ways to get there. What annoys, angers, frustrates or just flat out pisses off each of us is that the club and it’s management does not always have the same views as to how to achieve those goals. We don’t all agree in this bar on how to achieve those goals either. But I think the overall feeling is that we sometimes play it too safe. We are too cautious. If a deal gets just outside our valuation, then we lose interest. I know we can’t get in a bidding war with the big spenders, but we could have pushed forward earlier in the transfer market and gotten some good reinforcements for the squad. I am not saying we need to spend for the sake of spending like some clubs do, but at some point we are going to have to take a risk and spend that little extra to improve what we have.
I have said it before, but the revolving door of 1 in and 1 out will not improve the team. We have no cohesion. We rebuild every summer. The stoke game only had 3 players that played against stoke in April. Three. Can we hit the ground running when 70% of our team is different?
I don’t have a season ticket but I can see the absolute frustration for those that do. Those that see a real increase in price despite no real change in product. Arsenal needs to show where this money is going. It is not going towards transfers. There is no dividend to shareholders. If it is in the bank, well what good is it doing there? Interest rates suck.
Long post. Too much drinking and a holiday weekend at work ahead.
Let’s beat liverpoo and move forward as a team
Cant see how you can work out that we are as good as anyone in the EPL when theres been no reinforcements to a defence that let in 49 goals last season. Our only defence capable midfielder has left and not replaced.
The guy that scored 40% of last years goals and player of the season left to strengthen a rival and was replaced by 2 cheaper hopefuls who are completely unknown quantities in the EPL. The evidence of our first 2 games is that our forwards are going to take a long time to settle-if they settle.
The one bright aspect is Cazorla- but one player a team does not make.
This season depends entirely on the fitness of 3 key players who all have chronic injuries-and the hope that our defence will improve on last years performances. I’d like to be more hopeful-but just look at their injury records.
Can anyone realistically see Walcott,Jenkinson, Gervinho, Diaby, causing any real damage to opposition this year?
I would assess the squad strength different to you-I’d say that approx 7-8 teams are now stronger than us-the usual 3, Newcastle, Everton, Fulham, Spurs. We are around Swansea, Wigan level-in fact we will struggle to beat anyone in the EPL until there is more cohesion and understanding-that might take 10 games or more.
A far stronger team was incredibly lucky to beat Liverpool last year. I suggest that you don’t put too big a bet on because its money down the drain.
Wenger is just a patsy for Kronke!! It was so predictable his lies, there was never going to be anyone brought in, unless a freebie or on a cheap loan deal!
Wenger and a lot of you AKB’s out there keep saying how we have a large squad, sure b ut as always – QUANTITY IS NO SUBSITUTE FOR QUALITY! – and we sure have quantity but a whole heap of crap makes up 90% of it!!
Wenger got lucky last season first RVP hit fantastic form and so many sides who should have finished above us had bad slumps = Chelsea, Sp*rs + Everton(bad start) otherwise we should have finished 6th which in truth was really where our place was! With no RVP and all of our competitors having strengthened their squads considerably, 6th might be a dream finish this season, and to be honest unless a miracle happens and someone starts scoring regularly, we could be in for worse!!
Wenger now has survived longer than any Arsenal manager in history without winning a trophy, that says something in itself. I don;t like change for change sake, but I believe he should have gone in 2008, but like I say the board love a yes man, and now we have Kronke who as long as he gets profit at the end of the financial year he will be happy!!
Any of you who have you Wenger coloured glasses on still, may well want to keep them on and live in the same disasscocited state that you are in, because when reality returns you may well wish you had not kept them on for so long!!!!
45 jason
we have been giving young players all the chances but the problem is as soon as they start dilevering they jump ship (nasri, ade, cesc, song etc) and the rest turn out to be the denilsons and bendys of this world.
so if we cant keep them whats the point of developing them and then selling them to fill stan’s pocket, on top of that not even replacing them with atleast same class of talent.
Well said Kevin just about sums up where we are presently, & with Wanger on the enormous wages he now commands nothing is going to ever change, funny how he now speaks of loyalty to the Ars & money not being peoples gods well on 7 million pa loyalty comes as standard. That must be the new company bullshit for the week, from the last board meeting?
We are just not competing at the same level financially with most of the prem clubs now & by that I mean we can’t even pull in decent loan players deal, so I’m not even talking about the top three money teams we have to contend with.
Our squad is being depleted every season & we are going backwards @ an alarming rate.
As I have said many times before nothing will change with this management structure currently in place, I’m VERY sorry to say……
We have all been taken for mugs. And now I will be doing the only thing left that any of us can do, voting with my feet. I will be showing the exact same ambition to buy a ticket as the club have of challenging for the title.
I don’t demand winning things, just that we attempt to. It is plainly clear we exist just to line the Americans pockets. And I for the first time in 30 years will no longer be taken for a mug.
Steve – check your email.
Roberto – I don’t think we’re more than two players away. You do.
All a matter of opinion.
Fair piece ‘holic!
Nice grand-stand drinks Tabs-meister! A large African Guinness to that young fella Barkeep! I think his cosmopolitan nature’ll like that brew!
@Sebastian & Sajit,
Chillout FFS! The season’s only just started!
Snir,
Chillout too man! Bringing experienced players in is one thing but playing them regularly to keep them happy is another! Remember that Yossi last year and Tomas weren’t entirely happy at not being started or played in every match! Younger players of quality, or on the way to such a level, are much easier to satisfy in the squads of big clubs! Unfortunately they don’t remain young forever hence our recent former youth squad departures! Wrt our first eleven being superior in previous seasons, in an attacking capacity you’re arguably correct, but we didn’t fail to achieve in those seasons due to lack of scoring; it was because we conceded far and way too many unecessary and stupidly naive goals! That shall not be the case from now on with this more defensively disciplined, organised and dedicated squad!
Deadwood and deluded egotists gone or going was my main desire this transfer window so i’m pretty satisfied, however, I’m just a little bit pissed off that the likes of AA23, lazy porker, will continue to sponge solely off of us! Unambitious fcukers! Perhaps in his instance that won’t be the case yet again and Zenit’ll take him back on loan as Juve have done with the “greatest striker on the planet”! π
Jason has intimated the best attitude to take; let’s get behind the lads and the current squad mixture as it’s not as dire as all make out! Fingers crossed for no major injuries please; and don’t forget that injuries to major players will affect any side not just ours!
COYBG! π
AKB’s and Mugs? Its all happening.
How a 90 mins game will change everyone opinion here.
Chelsea being trashed by Atletico Madrid and it should serve as a wake up call after 270′ full of praises.
I think we’ll find how good Diaby-Podolski-Giroud is tomorrow.
Btw M’Vila didn’t move, so nobody wanted him after all the hype? Even after the President is offering him to every clubs during the transfer window.
Btw I struggled to remember the 22 quality players of The Invincible squad. I can only remember around 12-14 quality players. Can anyone help me?
Much a we critique either/or critisize our transfer policies and preferences, we are all in consesus that we expect, hoping against hope, that we somehow will win something. Such is being a gooner
danC
i salute your optimism..
call me fickle but we have subtracted the last season’s 1st and 2nd best players from the team. 31 goals and about 25 assists thats is. that dosent fill me with confidence and we only just managed to stay in the top 4, let alone challenge for the league.
hoping for the best but i am prepared for the worst too.
[…] remains at the club despite interest from Besiktas and Malaga and now looks ‘trapped’, as Goonerholic puts it, as third-choice […]
I think I am just really naive. When we signed podolski and giroud early on, I thought it was a statement of intent. I really believed the board had ‘got it’ and realised investing early, loaning / selling the deadwood would convince RvP to stay, others to want to come and create an environment for our promising youngsters to be blooded in.
I believed it when wenger told us all summer how we were going to strengthen the squad. Until he came out with the well rehearsed ‘only super super quality’ line this week.
No matter what, we have to be optimistic.
@51 – the defensive reinforcement is Steve Bould, who has hopefully been given carte blanche to do whatever it takes to get them organised, and although we’ve not exactly played the attacking flair squad in our last two games, the shape of the team defensively has been miles better.
Dan C – what makes you think I won’t get behind the lads? I will, cos they’ve what we got.
Arsenal till I die.
Always been like that.
But I just wish we coulda strengthened instead of replaced.
First? Oh.
Hey Snir, are you stilll up or already up? ;D
I have been disappointed since 2008 that we are just coming up a team of barely sufficient quality to challenge a 4th CL spot.
I have been cheated by Wenger and the management for too many times.
Now I refuse to be fooled again. I will not listen to their self-substainable model lie anymore. We are actally making profits for the owners.!! They take our money into their own profit without thinking about the fans and team.
Sorry to see you missed out coquelin. The plus side of not getting a Song replacement is that there is a better chance we will recognise that we already have one. He looked great in pre-season has tremendous skill on the ball plus the extra commitment song sometimes lacked – and crucially in Le Coq an excellent nickname (although I’m not sure the songsters have yet worked it into a (un)suitable ditty)
Still up Ollie.
Haven’t calmed down yet :/
I think there’s a glaring omission to the blog for once, ‘holic, on discussion our options: Coquelin.
I know he’s still relatively inexperienced (although people are probably a bit too quick to forget his year at Lorient, granted, it’s not the Premier League), who has proven (when fit, notice a them there? Oh π ) very apt as a full-back cover and happens to be a titular defensive midfielder.
I’m guessing the Boss has also liked what he has seen of him in training this pre-season.
I would have liked a MORE experienced talented player at the mythical DM position, sure, but hey-ho.
More concerned about no replacement centre-forward. As much as I think Chamakh gets a lot of unfair abuse, I’m with you thinking he’ll never recover his mojo here, and would have gladly swapped him for someone else.
Other slight correction: this week it’s REd members who forked out the money for Chelsea: Silvers had the previous week (s?) to do so π
As you know though, I would have liked the sharp increase in ticket price to be reflected in a lovely new signing or two.
But hey-ho, forwards!
Haha, Snir, I suspected so π
Good luck, I think there may be some stuff for you in the CMC.
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurse!
nice to drop by after a year or two away. Sadly we really havent changed as a profit seeking club,have we.
Sometimes I admire wengers arrogance in the belief that with whatever team at his disposal,he’d make top 4. How long will he ride his luck? I some how get the feeling that it’ll be a case of schandenfreunde for me to see him fail. But I love my club! Arrrrgh! Holic, a bottle of Guiness(big). Maybe the nectar of the gods will soothe my pain.
A round for all holics on me.
Cheers!
Same old same old. I would really love to see everyone who hyperventilated here so far and is not posting on regular basis to share a drink also when the things are looking good. That doesnt mean that I think that times are as bad as few of contributors are trying to suggest.
I have to agree with Snir though that in recent years we have always been frustratingly close to achieve greatness. I know I go on about TR quite often but just imagine how our seasons might look should he continued in the form he had directly before his longterm injury. And thats just one example. But thats life, thats football and we have to cope.
From the players realistically available yesterday I dont think that Dempsey would be bad signing…but I am not really convinced he would be that defining player for our campaign. One thing though..Id love Yossi in our shirt again, experienced players like him with such professional attitude he has shown last year are hard to find..even if he would be in for another loan.
The biggest spenders on overt famous ‘top players’ this transfer window have been Chelsea. They were just truly humiliated by Athletico. They won the CL by being the most negative anti-footballers I have seen in my adult life. Even Allardyce would be embarrassed to play like that.. I wonder what it is exactly people want? For much of last season Song was conceding possession and giving away cheap fouls and set pieces more than almost any other Arsenal player, and now people mourn him like the team has been disembowelled? Coquelin looks a much better, more disciplined and more talented midfielder. I’ve been watching the reserves matches and Eisfeld, Aneke, Akpom and Gnabry all look flipping awesome and I would LOVE to see them integrating with the first team… So I’m glad we haven’t signed more mid twenty year olds to block that progress. This constant progression and development of players is what our team is about, not buying off the peg and hoping it gels. That is not our model, and I for one am glad. We will surprise people again this season. United still haven’t sorted their central midfield, and while Chelsea have signed flair players, I think their defense is looking a lot shakier. City are mainly unchanged but Garcia for De Jong is attack for defense… I wonder how solid they’re going to be this season? We may appear to have signed no new defenders,but I think having a disciplinarian like Bouldy as the Asst. Manager will be like a total rejuvenation. Think very carefully before following the Talksport/Sky doctrine of worshipping the money spenders … We are in damn good shape!!
Good points ChrisN. aneke in particular looked great in Pre-season (in addition of course to being tall dark and handsome, Gun)
http://injuryleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/120510_table1.jpg
This is the only way we’ll win the league.
We need to be 20th.
Snir, Check your mail.
Morning all……
Fine analysis Holic. Nicely crafted and I could not agree more…..hopefully the squad does have what it takes, without the need for the signings we all hoped might be made.
I can relate to Arsene’s philosophy that buying is not of itself the solution to our prayers (park is evidence of that), but buying super quality is his objective. He implied that it would happen in December if not this week, so its likely he has a target (or 2?) in mind. Hopefully the squad can take us to a challenging position in January without him/them.
COYRs and a glass of Dom Perignon all round to toast Santi, Poldi and Olivier.
Morning all….glad TDD is done & dusted and we can get on with what matters….football matches. It was a mixed bag this transfer window, early optimism with the excellent signings, disruptive mal-contents shipped out and much but not all of the deadwood moved on, but not followed through with late additions to strengthen the squad.
I fear that AW is relying on the perfect model of minimal injuries and suspensions to not decimate the squad at some time during the season but our recent history suggests otherwise. According to AST there would probably be Β£50 million sitting in the transfer activity fund at the end of our summer dealings, so not adding further to the squad should not have been a financial decision. Either AW could not find the players he would like to be available / at the right price or he believes he has a good enough squad. He is gambling once again and of late his track record is breaking even at best. We are just treading water!
The question is are we being the very best we can under the conditions prevailing withing the club at the moment….as we are not privy to the latter it is not possible to give a conclusive answer.
For sure AW will coach the team up to it’s full potential and with SB bringing a better defensive mind set into the equation, as always an interesting season awaits.
Next up let’s wipe that smug grin off the face of Brendan Rogers π
COYMG
I don’t think there is any disagreement that we have some fantastic young players coming through. Gnabry and le Coq I hope get plenty of game time. Gnabry can already teach Theo a thing or two about wing play.
I just would like AW to respect his audience (Arsenal fans) when he gives his press conferences instead of sitting there charming the hacks.
We still don’t have genuine competition for places (GK, LB, RB and CF). It is competition for places and cover that makes a team genuinely competitive. Song’s complacency was apparent for all to see last season.
This has been a very strange pre-season for transfers. Apart from the two Manchester clubs who have an abundance of choice for strikers, the other top six clubs look very light compared to recent seasons:
Arsenal: Giroud, Podolski, Chamakh, Theo?
5pur2: Defoe, Adebayor
Chelsea: Torres, Sturridge
Liverpool: Suarez, Borini
Newcastle: Ba, Cisse, Ameobi
Nice sleep and rest along with morning coffee doing wonders.
Last year this time, I said to myself that if Wenger manages to get us to the CL place in the end is pure genius. Which he is.
So, if he feels relaxed about our transfer activity, I am relaxed to.
Not sure that we have better squad than last year, but that doesn’t mean anything.
As Cuntski showed last year, you can win some title with a shit team, shit managers, and playing like shit.
On other hand, we have one of the most talented youngsters on the planet. Gnabry, Eisfeld, Apkorn, Miguel, Afobe, Ryo look class.
Most important I expect Aneke to replace Song maybe as early as this year. The boy is perfect.
Too kind, baff! π
And I’ll share a drink with ChrisN too.
Good point, Jez, it is kind of strange indeed.
The last line of your piece says it all!
The apocalypse has kicked in.
That, or there’s a lull in the posting.
I came hear to be cheered up a little bit. I can’t say it worked.
On the increase in prices for cat A games, I think we are being asked to pay the extra for the right to see the opposition’s expensive new players, not our own. Funny old game.
Great post Holic. My thoughts on the transfer D-day has been echoed by many earlier drinks. Disappointed, but not surprised.
In essence, yesterday reminded me of Wenger’s comments 2-3 seasons ago when he was asked why he did not buy a central midfielder in the transfer window. He replied along the lines of “you cannot expect me to develop the young players by bringing older players in that will inhibit their growth…” At the time AW was referring to young players like Diaby, Nasri, and Song.
And indeed, all three players did develop into some sort of quality PL players. Nasri is a cunt. Diaby’s ankle is made of glass. Song is soaking in the Catalan sun. Despite their relative growths, too, Arsenal failed to land any major trophy. But it seems that AW is still seeking to comtinue this policy of developing youngsters.
Why did we fail to reinforce the squad again before the deadline? Essien or De Jong are experienced players, but I guess AW may think that bringing them in will inhibit Coq’s development, as well as Jack’s when he comes back from injury. Put Ramsey to this mix, and you may well sense AW’s hesitation to sign them. Dempsey is also a similar case, 29 years old, probably asking for a 3 year contract. Realistically how long can Dempsey maintain his form and be of sufficient quality to represent us? Will his signing really bring in significant added value, aside from limiting the opportunities for Wenger to develop his youngsters?
I guess the only player that Wenger really wanted was Sahin, with an option to buy. He’s still 23 and Wenger has always said that Sahin is a player he likes. Unfortunately Mourinho did not want to put a buyout clause, and we rightly did not want to become a reserve squad for Real Madrid, at least not when we are paying them!
I am not saying I agree with Wenger, I am merely providing an explanation for AW’s decisions. Time and time again Wenger has declined to buy in order to give his youngsters a chance, and this time it is no different.
One thing I am perplexed about, though, is the failure to bring in any strikers. Afobe is out on loat at Bolton, Ryo at Wigan, Chuba is only 16 – surely adding a striker would not inhibit those youngsters’ progress by much? It seems Wenger is placing all his bets on the chance that both Poldi and Giroud come good. Meh. I can say I’ve seen worse bets win, but really, I see no reason why we should be placing our bets with such odds in the first place…
Toasey!!!!
It’s less mongy than the arses, still!
I’d like us to sign this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj9WDEvDkWQ
He might require a little brainwash to forgot the last year and a half though.
@ Ollie. Even Goonerholic.com wouldn’t survive the apocalypse. No such thing as post-apocalypse.
I thought we were just at the ‘during apocalypse’ stage. π
Sorry people, perhaps there is not enough balance in the piece. For the words I would like to have put together see Gingers for Limpar this morning. The most supportive are just firing warning shots across the Arsenal bows, even though nobody has the will or the firepower to do worse than that.
http://gingers4limpar.com/?p=2135
Do you really think we have done all we could? That’s the question.
Nice link Holic.
So Kroenke doesn’t want to get laid?
Always knew he was odd…..
Ginger’s article is a great read.
We have removed about 18 players (senior, reserves and juniors) from our payroll over the close season. We are only stuck with Squillaci and Arshavin (despite going on a business trip to St Petersburg).
We can persuade three international players to sign for Β£80 k / week and we didn’t have to sell Song or brief against him in the media.
Of course we could have done more. The questions are always the ‘why?’ and the ‘why now?’
Some fair points by the Ginger one, thanks ‘holic!
Holic, this was one of your better blogs π
I must have overdone it then, Nonny π
Liverpool killer lurk.
King of assists.
Boom?
chips
Merci beaucoup Ollie π
Has everybody killed themselves after the transfer window?
That’s one slow first century!
Well in CoR!
Eat them, lurky! π
Fat and out of form Ollie, must be the chips.
Nice work COR.
Morning all,
Read the drinks from last night.
What a hoot!
Loads of different opinions. No matter how they differ, we are saying the same thing.
That’s what life’s all about. The fact we can all submit differing views which we all acknowledge but depending upon where our minds are at the time, we will approach the same debate from various angles.
Thank you all for that. I genuinely mean that.
Now back to the fuckin footie
No fuckin signings, tut tut!
Bring on Sunday can’t wait to kick a fuckin scouse!
Well in COR. Read holics link to G4L and missed the shooting chance.
Holics post today and GL4 sum up how I feel about this transfer window.
Money was available – did we do all we can to improve the squad?
Understand the Scottish transfer window is still open today…no doubt Zico is fully immersed in the wheeling & dealing π
Thanks lads! I literally walked in, turned on the computer, clicked on Goonerholic, saw it was at 99 and thought to myself, “What would Shaft do?” and dove right in to take home the hundred-pounder 8)
How about this formation?
Shez
Bacary kos verm Gibbo
Arty andrei jack
Carzy. OG. Ricky Gervai
There’s a lot of creativity there plus a tricky forward in need of a little target practice. The only thing is it’s a little light on power. But quite a posseionery type of creative team.
That still leaves us with a few options on the bench: Diaby bfg podol oxy santos feo and the other pole etc
Excellent posts by Holic and Gingers. Lack of ambition in an entire club is hard to define but certainly it is hard to achieve as a club if you have a bunch of overpaid and under- challenged players on the fringes of the club.
8 ball
Lack of ambition is a term generated by the media to interpret what was meant by RVPs ‘update for the fans’. But I do not believe that is what he meant nor do I believe Arsenal ‘football club’ lack ambition.
I just feel that there is a conflict of interests within the club which is causing the club to underachieve.
What I mean by this takes a lot of dissecting and probably isn’t appropriate for the public domain at this point.
But there certainly is an air of under achievement circulating throughout the club at present which unfortunately cannot be resolved anytime soon.
So how about we smack a scouse in the meantime?
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8040672/Fergie-Irked-With-FA
heh, cunt.
That G4L blog was a great read.
Sums up my feelings at the moment as well.
All we can do now is get behind the team and not bitch at the players making them play worse.
‘holic, you are the Arteta of Arsenal blogmeisters — consistent quality, class, and professionalism!
So now, what goes with Theo from hereon in? Does he by default become part of the striker pool? I can see what his thinking might be — I get spearhead of the attack in an area where there’s relatively little competition on the squad, and where I’ll get more playing time since you always need to rotate strikers to avoid running them into the ground. So I can show how lethal I can be in that role, help out the Arsenal (and my own cause) this season and become a real star. Then I get an even bigger boat load of money and have tons of suitors since I’m on a free…
Say he shows some of that form in the first part of the season into the new year? WWAWD?
same old same old mediocrity fourth or fifth no trophies here we come glad to see a lot of fans eventually waking up.
I am excited by our squad. I am also hugely looking forward to the CapWunCup because I am gagging to take a closer look at the some of the young ‘uns.
My question for you, holic, is why would we stop short of doing everything we could? Why would workaholic, ferociously ambitious Wenger go for it 24 hours a day *except* when it comes to buying players? Why would SK not want us to go all-out for a trophy? Would it harm the share price? Would it undermine our standing or his? That is what needs explaining by those who say that they are unconvinced that we are trying our hardest.
***
I can’t remember who said it, but really if we had scored one of the chances in our first two matches, we wouldn’t be having this mass anxiety.
The way I look at it is – who has moved in this window who could have improved the squad – ie who is better than what we have?
Unless a player actually has moved for X amount, we (fans) are not in a position to say whether we could or should have got him.
If we’re worrying about injuries, numerically speaking, we do have enough good players in all positions. That is the only yardstick you can reasonably use because we do not know in what area this year’s statutory injury curse will strike. New players do not come with a guarantee that they will stay fit and we have a squad size limit.
We’ve got enough good players in every area. Currently we have five fit strikers for 2.5 positions. 7 fit midfielders for 3.5 positions. 4 fit CBs for 2 spots. And 3 fit FBs for 2 slots. That’s not counting Miquel and Yennaris who we already know can step up at FB if needed. We have only one fit GK but the injuries to the other two are not serious.
And regarding Diaby, I don’t want to tempt fate, what with the Interlull coming up, but this is the first year for about five years that he has had a proper pre-season. He has even been fit for more than five games (shock horror)!
***
Regarding transfer plans, plans don’t always work out. Not being able to do something is not the same as not trying to do something. It would be nice to have an additional striker in a different mould – Son of Eduardo would be my prference. He almost certainly exists, but is he available to buy?
**
This may sound brutal but if the ticket prices are too high, don’t buy the tickets. If they can’t sell tickets at higher prices, they’ll lower the prices and figure out another way to get the income. If people keep buying them, they’ll stay high.
****
Just think, Wenger was (it was said) taking a silly risk in driving down AA’s price. Would the last three seasons have been different if we’d paid Β£24 million for AA instead of Β£18m?
****
Our information is severely limited. Before we working ourselves up into a rage or a panic, we should all remember that we know practically nothing. Swiss Rambler and his ilk have given people the illusion of being better informed than they actually are. I don’t know what AW’s or IG’s plans are for the money the club is making, but on the other hand, I didn’t see the medical centre coming, nor did I know until years afterwards that we had made a Β£20 million bid for Reina (when he was good) – this was at a time when were paying Β£7-Β£10 million for players.
All I know is that having something put by is a good thing, not a bad thing. If we’re going to drop out of the CL this year, as some are prophesying, then we’ll need money in the bank to bribe players to join us. You don’t just spend it because you’ve got it, you spend it on something special, something that you really need – when the opportunity arises.
***
On “replacing” Song and RvP – you don’t replace a player like RvP. He’s a one-off. You can replace his goals, and hopefully we will. Getting LP and OG is not exactly the fuzzy end of the lollipop.
And in the case of Song, AW said from the start he was NOT going to replace him. He said that Song was not a specialist DM, that other players did the same attacking/defensive job and we had a lot of them and only if a really special DM talent came along would he consider buying.
Fun Gunner, I do believe you rose to Holic’s challenge and succeeded admirably.Might just be your best ever, cheers.
@ abb
thanks and bless you. big hug.
How’s the competition judging going? Has anyone cried yet? Have you seen footage of Trev’s grandma rooting for them? (This will mean nothing unless you watch X-factor, Britain’s/America’s Got Talent etc. And perhaps not even then…)
rooting for *him*, obviously.
Morning ‘ holics. Have a drink on me. I am going to start with my morning Dr Pepper. Now time to take anfield by storm and get those boy gelling.
It warmed the cockles of my heart to see Sp*rs completely outclassed by Norwich City in the first half at Shite Fart Lane. π
Ups @ 107 – depends what transfer window you mean π
The football transfer window closed in Scotland at midnight last night.
Holic, Others like Candy, Chris N, Jason and Kenya Connection spoke for me. I care about the game, how it is played. The beauty of it. And I want players that I can be proud of, on and off the pitch. Not just any hired gun, not for our Arsenal. Arsene warned us a while back that he thought it would be a “quiet transfer window”, I took him at his word. Do not feel mislead. Now, from the ‘Ginger’ link (enjoyed a ‘guest’ commentator, btw) “then maybe selling your key team players isn’t the greatest of ideas”…well I beg to differ. From our own personal experiences, we know that when our heart is no longer in the fight or we have made up our minds about something, it’s over. Time to move on. Time for our youth to be given the chance of a lifetime. And I’ll enjoy every moment of it. (sorry Eandy, spellcheck is very naughty today!).
Just message to the Capoue and M’Vila supporters out here. Do not forget that the French football transfer window does not close until Monday.
Keep the faith Gunners!
Zico…..the new year one….oh isn’t it…must ask Feelgood to lower the dosage next time. π
Read somewhere that it ended today north of the border – maybe they meant Greenland. Thanks for the correction and pleased you are not distracted from more important matters.
@ abb123
A good point which needs reiteration.
We did not sell Cesc, Nasri, Song and RvP as a matter of policy or because we wanted/needed the money. The players forced their way out. We just got the best deal we could, financially.
The Feelgood Foundation is contractually bound to NEVER lower the dosage.
Just so you know…..
King Kenute has relinquished the throne heβd placed on Toxteth Beach. His efforts to encourage the scouse waves of time to roll back to days of former glory having disappeared faster than the gilding on his golden commode. Thereβs debate on Merseyside on whether the waves were downright stubborn or, like his players, juscouldnaeunnerstan a singelfuckinnwurd that the wise king proclaimed.
Having had the best part of 100 million pissed through it, the commode still sits beached and forlorn, waiting for its next arse. Toxtethβs locals have ensured itβs lost its lid, seat and gilded sheen. Its cracked bowl lingers as a gravestone to Dalglishβs reign and a somber warning to the lazy wisdom of the βjust spend some f*ckin moneyβ brigade.
The Mugsmashers change managers more often than AndyCap Carroll changes his Ys. Big Brave Bren has swanned up from the depths of the Welsh valleys. Weβve already seen him breathing the fire of a Welsh bully dragon in a totally bewildering session with some youngsters in training.
A little black lad was on the receiving end of a βYou know what you said and I know what you said and he knows what you saidβ garble in a pseudo-Scots accent that certainly brought back memories ofDalglishβ mastery of the English language.
Bren has moved quickly to undo the Kenute damage. AndyCap the pantomime horse is off to the races at West Ham and proper Charlie has joined the other Orcs at Mordor-on-Trent. (Heβs a dead ringer for an Orc too, isnβt he?)
Time will tell whether we see the commode at Toxteth being warmed again by Bren with strides at ankle. The little waves can expect a good rollicking when he arrives βI know what you said and that other wave knows what you said and that starfishβ¦β¦..β
As for tomorrowβs game? It wonβt be an easy one but Arsenal has the quality at the back to hold Liverpoolβs front men. The quality in the middle to weave patterns finer than Dalglish tartan. Much will depend on whether Oli G and Poldi have switched into scoring mode and can bury Santiβs through balls.
I expect to see Arteta, Santi and Diaby start in the middle with Gervinho getting the nod over Walcott up front. Alex Chamberlain will feature and who knows, maybe Arsene will give Russiaβs finest coiffure the opportunity to recapture the glory of the visit to Anfield on which he scored four?
I think weβll LOSE our clean sheet record. But three strikes and out of Liverpool before some scouser nicks the wheels off the bus, will see a 3-1 away win, the first of the season.
Come on you rip roaring reds!
Dembele pops up in the plot again, and not in a positive way. π
But a Snodgrass keeps us laughing in more ways than one. Right 8ball!
I have a sinking feeling that we are in a perpertual decline.
We cannot say we are challenging the title.
We only target to finish 4th place to be in the CL.
Maybe it is a good thing we finish in the 10th place this year, thus forcing Wenger and the board think again. It is even better to finish lower than Sp*r, the anger of we fan will force them to take us fan more seriously.
With a owner who seems to care more about profit than we fans, I am very pessimistic that we can get a trophy with a surplus player budget.
I listen to Wenger’s lie for 8 years. I decide it is enough.
I will only give 100% support to our players when they are on the fields …
I would not care about what Wenger say and his mercenary boss any more,
come on you red
Gtown 124, that means they can sign players. We can’t.
HK: the old ‘let’s hope we fail this season to make things change’, you can’t be fucking serious.
Fun @ 116 – very special effort there, young man. I’ve been thinking much of what you’ve said there but decided to lie low this time around.
You might have chosen to say more about the return of Jack, about Nico and Coquelin’s ability to play FB if the FB Gods strike us mercilessly again this season, about the emergence of the young Germans Gnabry and Iceman and, I may be wrong, but I think we paid 15M not 18M for Russia’s finest. Other than that you done good, my son (as Zico would say).
I seem to recall making a similar effort at this time last year only to be cautioned and lambasted by some fellow called I Don’t Know Anything, that Arsenal wouldn’t even finish in the top four last season. Needless to say, he and his dark cloud were nowhere when we finished third and only exited the CL because Percy missed a sitter against Milan.
People like you, not IDKA, Dabish or Jerkyll make this bar the best place in Goonerville to imbibe.
See this is why we love Spurs.
Does AVB still have a job?
Keep it up secret deep deep deep undercover saboteur!
NorCal. I see you were watching the game. Interesting negative comments about AVB afterward by Barton and Wynalda of Fox Soccer, saying the Chelsea situation is already being repeated at Spurs with players not behind their manager. It could be a fun season down the Lane.
BtM. Careful, I’ve heard tell that Fun is not a young man. Genderwise, that is. π
Excellent discussion in the drinks. This really is an oasis of common sense in a desert of infantile gnashing of gums.
Special thanks to Fungunner @ 116. Excellent analysis. You put into print my inner feelings so succinctly.
The Gingerlink was an entertaining read but excellent point fro arsabeatbaeca @ 123 that we do not have a strategy of selling our best players, we have had the misfortune that several that we (and Arsene) would like to keep have chosen to leave. Perhaps because they share the need for instant gratification with the dummy spitting infants who have been whining today – and even invaded the arses this morning.
I fully buy into the point so well made by Fungunner:
[i]You donβt just spend it because youβve got it, you spend it on something special, something that you really need β when the opportunity arises.[/i]
COYRs
BTM.128…..a very fine pre match summary…top quality. Have a large dram on the house…courtesy of Lars tab of course.
I agree with Fun Gunner and BtM, by the way. π
8 ball,
A little early to say the players aren’t playing for the manager. But the media will push that agenda until it comes true. They better get a win streak going soon or they will be out. The doubts will only get stronger. I hope Ade is their leader. Haha.
Enough about the LWC.
Everton loss was a bit of surprise. Early season has shown the league is better this year.
Nice preview BtM.
If the Jam Tarts, total cost Β£2.50, can keep Suarez and Co out for 88 minutes, then logic might have tempted me to disagree with you on the clean sheet, but no doubt they will get their obligatory pelanty.
We going to see you at the Grove (or the Diggers) this season?
Ne’er thought the ranks of Arsenal support would include those window-licking ilk, but from a sample of offerings from above even WE have some mentally challenged in our ranks.
Excellent point Fun – if the tickets are too pricey, there is a simple solution, don’t buy the ticket. There is no right to watch a game in person.
Excellent contribution as always, BtM.
Finally, I must say all this xenophobic, anti-American sentiment is very unfortunate. Very unfortunate. I’ll just leave it there.
COYRRR BMBD
>>> This from the BBC
Jon, an irate Spurs fan, on 81111 on text: “Levy has gutted our team and replaced them with mediocre players. We should have paid anything to get Moutinho. Without a creative central player supporting the play Bale, Lennon, Adebayor, Defoe, Gylfi, Dembele are all useless.”
There you have it – they are just as miserable as us …
Evening all π
Oh lol abb, so from now on I am drag queen known as Candy?..Good to know I guess π Just cant wait for tomorrows match, time to see how good this squad can be when someone actually wants to play football against us. More space for Feo and Gerv/Poldi making an impact. Wouldnt be surprised if our starting front three resembled the one we had against Sunderland, with OG getting in to mix later on.
Oh and to the post above me somewhere regarding AA repeating his supershow from Anfield…yes please, I have soft spots for both Chamakh and Andrei and even though I know they were not good enough as of late it would really really please me to see them both restoring their mojo.
Yeah lonestar, don’t get the Kronke bashing. He has not been the majority owner for that long and I have not seen an evidence that he is taking money out of the club like the Manu or Liverpoo owners.
If someone has proof would live to see it. Otherwise it is just accusatory rubbish.
I really need to proofread. Autocorrect and phone keyboard really mess with my message. But you get the point.
@142 Dr Z, I will be in London on the day of the Chelsea game but only passing through from Bangkok to Edinburgh for Her Nellieness’ dad’s 80th in Fife – so look out the window and I’ll wave to you above Manchester.
Negotiating a London visit at Christmas so both games that week are possibles. Failing these, I’ll likely succumb to the addiction and fly over for a weekend. Plenty notice will be forthcoming should that materialize. I think TABs owes me a haddock.
Lonestar, Yep, don’t get why we Americans keep getting all these shots in the shorts.
All this has to mean one thing
We’ll will the league this year π
GT@144
This morning the arses were full of similar about our players and managers from those purporting to be Arsenal ‘fans’. I think that there has been a dip in the standard of brainpower in a portion of the Arsenal community to overlap with the lowest form of pondlife marsh-dwelling LWC. Fortunately the bar here seems largely to be spared that level of contribution. I think we can thank the Guvnor for that through years of maintaining a high standard.
Bt8 thanks for the heads up on Fun! I was about to write that age is a relative thing and that, relatively, I’m riding high at the speed of light on relativity…….then I noticed your comment on gender.
Fun, I will not dig myself in deeper. Excellent stuff.
FG: A wonderful summation of my current thoughts as well. Thank you for taking the time to calmly set them out. I have been too angry lately with the level of cretins that parade as supports of this great club. But as long as we have conscious people like you and the regular Holics here on a daily basis my anger can be manages..
π
Sounds fishy, BtM, keep me posted. π
Heh zico.
Fit like?
fung, most excellent at 116. thank you.
heh, QPR equalise
Indeed, baff151, indeed.
Jinxing cunt at 157, shouldn’t have mentioned it….
Heh, baff.
A dram of Glenlivet awaits ye…
Thanks Zico. A very fine choice, maestro.
When’s your next trip to THOF?
Ollie @ 159
I did the same on the arses – where the average mental age of the posters has finally reached double figures!
Talk about spoilt brats.
So, everything I have thought since the window nearly rattled off it’s hinges as it compulsorily slammed shut, has been said above a dozen times.
Particularly well by ChrisN @74, a very interesting Chammy link from Ollie @89, great piece by FunG@116 – not quite so keen on your ticket prices solution: have you tried to get a season ticket having once relinquished it ? – and a top preview from BtM.
Btw FunG – i have no idea what the reference to my grandma was, but whether she went upwards or downwards on judgement day, I doubt she’s been watching X-Factor. ???
My only squad comment is to re-iterate what I and others have said, which is that Coquelin, one way or the other, is going to be very significant for us this season.
It will all look better tomorrow once those, oh, purple and black shirts are attacking the scousers again.
Haha. Yes Trev,
COYP
Come on you purples?
I see it’s calmed down a bit in here. And not before time π
Drinks all round please barkeep.
As to the above, well…
Good work FunG.
Ollie – I’m surprised at you. A good response to HKG, but after everyone stoically ignored him for 8 hours, provoking him into posting another “closely argued point” you rose to it! Blast, that’s two responses he’s had – make mine a half boss; it’s all I deserve.
Let’s stuff Liverpoo tomorrow and many more times in the future. The future’s Red alright, but it has white sleeves.
COYG ICDDR
I don’t know if it was the rain at Stoke last weekend, but the purple on Arteta’s shirt when he got his champers was very much blue.
Or were they counterfeit shirts?
Oxon, sorry, I think I must have missed his other posts.
He’s posted twice in this bar. Said the same thing twice. Attracted zero responses the first time but sadly has sparked off this disussionette this time around. Frankly, I think ignoring him completely is too good for him, but ‘holic wouldn’t like it if I wrote my alternative thoughts.
COYG ICDDR
Bath G,
Probably October – this month is wiped out with work and Roxette reprisals.
I am trying to invent a mission-critical meeting in London then just happens to co-incide with the Champions League match against Olympiakos – failing that I will try for QPR.
Great effort FG @116,
Hits all of the proverbial nails on the head in one svelte wallop! A large drink of his regular poison to that fella, barkeep! Salut!
One sees that the LWCs are as deluded as ever! π
This tiny tott’s term’s gonna be mightily entertaining schadenfreude viewing! Stick with AVB; he’ll march you all back to the promised land! π
Ollie @166. π
DanC. –
surprised that a man of your professional persuasion has failed to spot FunG’s gender! π
Heh Zico, October 3rd it is then.
You think you’ve got problems with Roxette reprisals. October 3rd is Mrs Trev’s birthday !
Still, I’ve got my excuse all worked out. I’ll just tell ger I completely forgot. Ohh ! π
Tell her, even. iPads eh ….
Trev,
Planned forgetfulness is the most satisfying kind.
Indeed bath,
It’s the other sort that’s the problem. π
Aaarrrggghhh!
Hansen and Lawro replaced on MotD by Shearer and Yappyapp, ffs !
Evening Holics
Last night, for me, was like waiting around for that promised call from the person you love ,only to be disappointed, yet you will subsequently willingly forgive them and life goes on.That sums up my relationship over many years with Arsenal.
It wasn’t so much the inactivity by us that got me down, but the constant info from Sky that the Spuds , QPR and others were buying up all and sundry like there was no tomorrow, including the bargain buy of Dempsey by those up the road.
I admit that my knowledge of players in the European leagues is sketchy at best and rely on our continental Holics for updates on likely xfr targets. Arsene was obviously looking for a MF loan to cover LJW with the R Madrid fiasco. With the sale of Song the need was that much greater . Why, oh why ,with cash in hand ,did he not buy that DMF who could also cover at FB and/or CB, please don’t tell me there wasn’t that player available.
As it is we haven’t strengthened the team at all this summer but I dare say we will muddle through as we have done in recent years . There won’t be a title in May but I expect we will have our moments during the season as we have every year( Barca, Spuds, Man City and AC Milan).
As for tomorrow, we have to believe that the current squad can come away from Anfield with 3 points. I always think we can win every game there and with a bit of luck we may well do so . Let’s hope the Arsenal Player’s commentary is up and running this week, I find it hard to stomach the anti Arsenal crowd on Sky.
Sorry if this sounds a bit disjointed but have been watching Federer, at the US Open, at the same time.Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
As always COYRs
‘please donβt tell me there wasnβt that player available.’
There wasn’t that player available. Or maybe there was. Not like we actually know.
… and belated congratulations to NorCal for achieving the magic #1111 in the last drinks. π
Delia. No need to apologise for the effect RF caused on your writing. There are any number of young, top-quality female tennis players who have at least the same effect on me. π
Its always so nice to hear from Delia: a very authentic Gooner. I am a little more optimistic about our season Miss D – I think that we will do very well indeed…
Heh Trev – Let’s hope Mrs Trev falls for that one. It always works fine for me π
At least the “mighty” Longhorns are winning…
Hook ’em!!!
BMBD.
Not too indecent match preview by Amy Lawrence in the Guardian. Not that I am suggesting that she ever would be indecent. π
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/sep/01/arsene-wenger-rejuvenate-arsenal-liverpool
Yes lonestar. Looked bad at start but the alma mater is looking better.
Another 530 am kickoff tomorrow huh scruz!
Purple reign!
Trev @170,
Heh! Heh! π
Much certainly has changed since I was a young pup hence a generic term such as “fella” works pretty well on occasions when one is uncertain of ones undercarriage! Nurse Abbs on the otherhand I’m not so ambivalent about!
Several personal events in one’s professional, and private, history have caught one-out unawares when one was convinced of the other party’s landing-gear! The popular status-quo of sexual anarchy certaunly has had its floppy downs aswell as its erectable ups for this “Yardie” boy! π Besides, I’ve a strong feeling FG likes the firm handshake of a hard-man on occasion! Who wouldn’t?!
NorCal. Those 5:30 am kickoffs may wreak havoc with your sleep patterns but having lived out there for the 2009-2010 season I can say it did provide an extra element of overnight excitement. π As for me it will be 7:30 am at kickoff so a relatively complete night of sleep will be assured, unless I have a dream that Arshavin scores four again. π
Cheer up Delia @177, all will work out, you’ll see! How did QPR and the LWCs get on yesterday?! π
BT8,
Unfortunately I have to get up almost every day at 530-6 for work so my body is pretty used to it . But I am not a morning person and getting up at 530 on a Saturday or Sunday is still not fun but I’d do it every day to watch us play. It’s harder on my kids, but even my teenagers get up. Haha.
One bonus is I get more done!
Delia @177,
A little uplifting bedtime reading for you, post-Roger, from your Murdoch friends. Enjoy!
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8043134/
drunk…
arsenal…
Geez, Snir. When I get drunk I’m at least capable of more expression than that. π
8ball.
What’s more important than to say:
Arsenal???
Hey NorCal-
The more I learn about you, the more there is to like. What year did you graduate? I’m a 2008 “law”horn.
I’m not going overboard on the ‘Horns yet, since it’s only Wyoming. Man, how scary do Alabama look this year?
Anyways, back to footie, I’m thinking 2 nil to the Arsenal sounds about right.
BMBD.
norcal, yep…the dvr is on record duty again, hoping for a great game to watch repeatedly…viz. scum, bus stop, scouse, and al-citeh games last season.
irish coffee at 0530, anyone? snir clearly needs one now.
Count me in, Scruz.
BMBD.
Snir, Of course you are right. But watch out. Such a drunk could lead to quite a boilk so set your alarm clock to be sure you don’t miss kickoff!
you got it, lonestar…papua new guinea organic drip filtered coffee, organic 2%, a dram of the redbreast 12, and a spoon of sugar is my usual prescription…
8ball.
No chance I’m gonna miss the kickoff.
I’m well trained in that shit.
Even more than when I was in the military.
Pings one out to Scruz on the left.
BMBD.
Get in!
NorCal. With those hours I imagine you get to see quite a lot of the morning fog along the California coast. Your getting up that early makes me wonder what kind of job you could have. Are you PiK’s truck driver, by any chance? Just don’t tell the CHP. π
Result!!!!
Yeah. Undergrad class ’92. Med school at UT San Antonio finished ’99.
I thought longhorn D would have been better. Not a great start but not a loss either.
Alabama does look good. Hate them though.
2-1 tomorrow. Beefcake Giroud and Walcott to score.
Nice one for a drunk! Snir π
BMBD
Snir scores under the influence, as if not even trying …
What will the world see next??
SUI!!!
NorCal. Medical doctor trumps truck driver I suppose, but are Drs. C, T and Z aware of the new competition?
Lol NorCal…I loathe the SEC.
Good to see the Longhorn Network and the Arsenal Network can foster long distance connections.
BMBD.
well in, snir. nice assist, lonestar. i was in the back helping the lad put a new trackpad on his 7′ santa cruz gun…in honor of the island bhoys, i think, red green yellow pads.
snir a razorback? wonders never cease in the ‘holic bar.
Bt8, Yeah. They were quick to turn over the quackery to my care. Poor souls don’t stand a chance now.
Well in Snir!
I am just hoping for us to play well and show liverpoo that the short quick passing game is still ours! Give us space and we will eat them up!
If there’s ONE thing of which iI am certain, it is that Snir is NO razorback! π
You’re a good dad, Scruz.
BMBD
i think the only reservation was expressed by dr. f, insofar as norcal has dea “requirements” that were vaguely sinister…
I was hoping he was Swiss! Haha
But a fellow old southwest Conference team is alright, I guess. Even if they were one of the first to bail to the SEC.
NorCal. Should we call you Dr. N, or do you not want to be confused with Dr. No?
Upon (a great deal of) further reflection it does seem more appropriate to have a Dr. Y, as in yes, in the Quackery considering the “needs” of the clientele.
cheers, lonestar.
Unfortunately Dr C I believe is already taken in this bar, so Dr No works for me.
Dr Noclue is probably more accurate.
Of course James Bond was in Jamaica when he finds Dr No’s island.
What is it with those Jamaicans?
Have a good night all you greedy corporate Americans!
Early morning celebratory first drinks on me!
Norcal. Probably practicing their 400 meter relay baton handoffs and/or rolling a fat splif?
Cheers, fellas!
UTA BMBD
G’night yanks …
… but not before claiming another magic number, the mystical 222.
see you lot in 8 and a bit. time to watch a movie and eat choc with the fam, and have a sazerac for the bedtime noddy…
I almost understood every word they said π―
Quiet time at the bar. Time to reflect. So many wonderful patrons who visit, take time from their busy lives to pull up a stool, have a drink and share their thoughts. For me, it doesn’t matter if I agree with someone, for everyone has a right to express what they feel, sometimes going out on a limb, to do so. They say we are changed by each new experience we encounter. What a concept, both sad and promising at the same time. Feel very fortunate to be here with all of you, we’ve got something very special here and I just know, you feel it too.
heh & well in at Snir!
@226: We’re fortunate to have you sweetie π
I like reading the differing viewpoints as I’m always interested what other gooners think about current Arse-events. I may not agree with all opinions but being able to discuss the state of the club and have a good laugh is great!
A toast to the host of the gregarious establishment!
Now let’s get 3 points at the Kop, shall we?
Up the Arsenal!
I’ll raise a large glass (even tho it’s only 9.25 am) to everything abb @ 226 and CoR @228 say. Morning Ol.
COYP&BHs
Morning bath, et al.
Our transatlantic friends have been busy overnight, and who caused them some offence earlier. Can’t have discord in this place. I will get my hook prepared π
You managed, by some charm, to avoid an invasion of the most unpleasant of our ‘co-fans’ yesterday. We do seem to have acquired some very impatient, unrealistic and needy ‘affiliates’. Thank DB10 (and you) for this haven of sanity (*wonders momentarily about that comment*).
abb@226, well said – that deserves a drink of your choice!
Some football to look forward to today as a nice little break from what really matters in the eyes of the modern “fan” – the transfers.
Hoping for three points today of course, it should be a much more open game than first two in any case. Up the Arse!
baff, are you Alf?
Wondering.
8ball @207 –
“competition” ?
Mr C, Dr Z and myself share a special skill set which is not even close to being challenged by those who lack our particular resources.
I shall say no more.
Morning Nurse, keeping all the patients calm as ever, I see. Good work.
Wassup drinking people! Off down the rubadub (The Charles Dickens getting the privilege of my custom today) in 30 minutes. Life aint all bad, sometimes.
Yo Esso!
I shall be off to the pub a bit later, have a good one!
I will mate and yourself. See you at the Scummers game, yeah?
Right off out and about.
Come on you Arsenal!!!
Trying to annoy his old employers?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4516175/Harry-Redknapp-tells-Theo-Walcott-to-stay-at-Arsenal.html
Goonerhooklic?
Ollie, I am indeed. Hazza told me to change from Batholski and I thought I would revert to a timeless boyhood hero. It must have been the exquisite literary style that gave me away.
Haha! Lars. Gammon. CoMon yous purples!
Ah, cheers baff!
AL is around? All is back in order!
Morning all,
Toughts are with the squad now, preparing themselves for what I hope will be a cracking game with the Mugsmashers. Tough one to call. We now seem to be more solid in defence but lack a certain something up-front. It’s probably more like the opposite for The Smashers who are at least now trying to play football again under Brendan Rodgers. I’ll be rooting for a narrow away win of course. A draw would, realistically, be a reasonable result too.
Safe travels and strong voices to all the boys and girls of The Travelling Faithful. Make us proud yet again.
COYRRRs!!!!
Heh, just seen images of a Pistorius run, it’s rather pointless as a ‘competition’.
He’s basically only running against the clock. I only saw the final straight and so nobody else at all in the picture!
‘so’? ‘saw’. Jebuuuus.
boilk
To win today we need little bit of luck just like last year.
When we need luck, I wear my lucky Arsenal shirt with, erm …. Fabregas on the back.
Last time that shirt was seen was, exactly, Liverpool away last year. After that game I’ve decided that we can do it without the help of my shirt, so I pulled it away. Miss Lurky is still trying to find the shirt for me. She has one hour left to help us win the three points.
No pressure there then, Lurky?
I have a bad feeling.
And no lucky pants.
Go commando then Ollie.
I have hope and cautious optimism.
COYP&BHs
Re: CoR @239. “A superbly-run club”? Is he on drugs or just mushrooms? π
I have a good feeling about Ollie going commando. π
Ollie – bad feeling and no pants – sounds like a friction problem!
Ollie,
Dr Z suggests Diocalm π
Heh! @ 8balll.
Go on Ollie, let it all hang-out.
‘Awwy is trying to do two things 1) Ingratiate himself with anyone who will listen to him and remember, he is a Gooner at heart 2) Keep pressure on LWCs management who dared to sack his saggy ar*e – I have been reliably informed that there exsits an injunction to keep schtum in place between Deputy Dawg & his former employer.
Mannone, Jenks, Per, Gibbs, Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Podolski, Giroud. Walcott.
Confirmed
3-4-3 or I am blind?
No Verm, no Kos. Strange is euphemism.
…and add a thick dollop of Boots E45 plus a Factor 40 sunblock to protect delicate skin that has not seen the light of day for a few decades.
Right, I’m off.
DanC. Missed yours @185. π
Vermaelen starts LO,
Walcott on the bench.
As is Koscielny
Keep him on the bench until he signs, Dr.z?
Wrong info, then. 3-4-3 looked so strange. Sorry.
TS,
AOC would get my vote before Walcott every time, contract issues or not.
zico,
Walcott’s real comp in the starting XI is now probably Gervinho vs The Ox.
Good luck everybody.
Come the fuck on Arsenal!
BtM,
Haddock on me next time you’re in town! Might bend your ear a bit about your prediction that Robbin’ iVan’s Pursie would still be at Arsenal this season though π
Boilk
Afternoon all.
Anyone got a stream?
Would go to the pub but a week of soaking up rays on the French Riviera has left feeling like my sofa is the only place to be.
Holidays well and truly out the way, time to catch literally my first minutes of football this season – and that’s not counting the snippet of West Ham I caught in Paris yesterday. I saw that fat walrus-faced cunt Allardyce celebrating and turned away in shock and revulsion. God what an almighty wanker. Welcome back to the top flight, you whinging, anti-football tosser.
So, about that stream Holics…much obliged if you could help!
Oh and of course – CTFOUReeeeeeeeeds!!!
COYP&BHs
Gerrintaerem.
Come on Arsenal!
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/
There you go Camberwell.
COME
ON
ARSENAL
Cheers Tabs!
Giroud to score, Santi to bag one himself.
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=168543&part=sports
There you go Camberwell. Find one according to your broadband speed
Ah such sweet relief, no Alan Parry.
TS, they’re both benched today – I was merely looking at todays 11.
If its Gervinho vs Walcott, then it has to be Theo.
Just sayin’ ….
good morning, all.
fucking stuart robson and Howard web, and that scouse dive bar suarez.
Suarez diving already
Jenks not in it today so far ..dreadful ball..lucky to get away with it.
definitely, candy…;)
Shush you scruz:P
Scruz behave! Morning all.
heh.
morning, nurselet!
morning abb:)
one for per, surprised the cunt didn’t dive.
Jenks ffs keep it simple!
fucking howard webb. two fouls, two yellows. bullshiatzu.
Gibbs and Diaby looking good to me.
nicely, jenks!
Poldi!
Poldi
Per and Jenks should really take bit more care with their passes…silly giveaways this ..dangerous…Abou looking good, but we have yet to impose ourselves..
POLDI YOU BEAUTY !!!!!!!
WOT A FUCKIN GOAL
EAT THAT YOU DOUBTING WANKERS
I just knew it, yes lord I did!
Goldi Poldi!!!!
Hi, everyone – just got the game up in time for that goal!
great run from midfield, great work, team…
LU LU LU !
Getttin!!!
Hey Fun, good timing, just like Poldi!
Did Suarez kick the Verminator?
Stepped on him FG it seems.
@ abb
hiya
@ And Lester
Nice goal, Poldi showed you the way
another nice break, at speed… morning, fung.
Doesn’t the diving cunt get anything for standing on vermalaen? Btw, what a lovely goal from podolski.
@ Eandy
ah, I see – thanks.
We’ve scored our first goal! Drinks all round.
whew …cool it down boys!
How did he miss
Diaby is COLLOSSAL
bath, yes, stay fit, lad!
oh poor Olivier:(
Gah.
hold out, boys.
Is Jenkinson regaining his confidence, would you say?
nicely marshalled, don vito.
I’m rubbish
loving poldi’s tracking back on defense!
another sitter for Giroud, boy that lad needs to score soon or his confidence will go down the drain.
I hope that all the hystericals from friday night had a fuckin’ good luck at Diaby in that half – awesome!
My word olivier, this is turning into a habit there mate!
So that 26 year old German with 102 caps turns out not to be so bad after all !
So many wonderful things from Diaby.
Keep him fit and you can put M’Vila, Sahin, and all the rest on the same shelf together. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Lots of other good fighting performances.
Have to love Bouldy.
Come on Reddsss !!!
Oh bugger, Purples !!!
TABS,
Diaby IMMENSE.
Drink.
Diaby looking monumental. Podolski a workhorse who can score the odd goal or two, it appears. 2 1/2 clean sheets so far. Bring us home boys.
Hiya Tabs, that No 2 looks okay to me !
After all the moaning the last few days…may I just say.
YESSSS!
Keep it going lads (Gibbs is amazing, if he can just deliver that final ball)
Diaby looking majestic
Come on Arsenal
Webb…you can book Liverpool players too
Looked good on the counter. But the cheap giveaways at the back are what’s keeping us in trouble. I rather see Jenks hit it up field than try those crossfield passes to Gibbs.
Let’s keep the sheet clean boys and ‘Holic is buying the drinks with his winnings!
I thought we’d hear the Lu-Lu-Lu, Lukas Podolski song when Lu slammed that one home. I think the Dutch Percy song should be condemned to the dustbin.
Diaby’s technique – Superb!
Suarez is such a miserable, dirty, cheating cunt.
That is all.
BMBD.
Trev, the shirts look more blue to me. Did they change them?
Now the bar is filling up, just the way I like it. Welcome all.
Jamie Redknunt creams his jeans over Abou Diaby. Maybe our own doubters will sit up and pay attention now.
can I also add…Sahin strolled around like he was collecting litter
Hats off to the manager. Vindicated by that first half.
Some terrible passing from the back line, but otherwise terrific stuff. We look really solid. Now let’s grab another and put this lot down for the count.
Chim chiminee, Chim chiminee, Chim Chim chiroo, who needs Nuri Sahin when we’ve got Abou.
Arsene knows.
Done some back-drinking, so thanks to abb, BtM, scruz, bath, gt for the kind words.
This blog and the regular contributors are “triffic”. (Just channelling ‘Awwy there. Sorry.)
Yeah..Abou is fantastic so far, Jenks needs to reconsider passing in front of our back four and we are well set, everyone working his socks off ..still think Giroud is going to score today …third time is the charm:P
good game from Diaby and Podolski. Giroud made some clever runs just the finishing is not quite there yet. I think there are still goals in this game. Liverpool will attack more and leave space at the back, perfect for Walcott
I agree that Theo as a sub when they are pushing forward would be good. But he and Jenks don’t work well together.
for Cazorla playing well is a routine, he doesn’t know how to play badly. Awsome
YaYa Diaby.
COME
ON
ARSENAL
FINISH THIS JOB
Maybe Theo down the centre instead of OG later on? With Gerv hopping in instead of Ox?
Fuck you Skrtel!
Suarez you diving c*nt!!! So predictable that he was going to try that
Fucking desperate scunts.
Can’t someone just accidently kick Suarez in the mouth – three times. π
same old pool, always cheating.
Good for you Vito!
Arteta brilliant too.
Why doesn’t Webb book that cheating toss pot ?
Ooooh i love our defending today
Really, Suarez should be ashamed of himself. World Cup cheater, that is is.
magnificent slide tackle by Arteta, whole defense frustrating Suarez..keep him this way and hes going to do something silly sooner or later:)
Good form Vito.
Good work rate boyz
I love Arteta – in a manly kind of way. π
Can somebody break that cheating cunts leg for good? It’s sickening. Where’s Barton when you need his likes?
Arteta brave with his defending, being on a yellow.Good for him.
I am literally creaming my pants from Arteta right now ..such a professional performance by him.
Keep it manly Eandy ….
Santi scores!
OHHH YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
apologies for sudden outburst of manlove *sheepish*
Santi delivers!
saaaaaaaaannnnnnntiiiiiiiii!
Getttin Agin!!!
SANTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Clever FunG
Cazorla You FUCKING BEAUTY !!!!!!!!!
Quality top quality
Good run and goal from cazorla.
and agree all around abou-t diary and arteta, serially massive.
diary=diaby, iPad.
Ox off, Aaron on. Go Ramsey!!! And thank you OAC, for all your efforts!
I can hear the lads singing ‘she said no Robin’ from here! Lets have a third just for sheer spite for our favorite jackass
Defend defend defend
Quite agree Gedo. TV showing how to do it.
Nice block verm
And what did I just say, whew. Bless you TV.
Divine justice you cheating little cunt.
Passing clinic….OLE
Manometer!
Mannone = Roman Gladiator.
Going to be hard for me to pick MOM. Santi, Diaby, Poldi, Gibbs, Arteta, TV, and now Vito has one hell of a save.
Well played Rambo
You know I want to put Jenks in there too. Heck, just chaulk this up to a terrific team effort.
O.k…my man of the match…hell, everyone looks good here. Even if manone and jenks dont make the cut, well, i’ve been impressed. And we didnt need mr anfield!
Three clean sheets!!!!!!!!!!
FT, well done, boys!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Yeeeeeeees! I’m not ashamed to admit that I was frightened to death about the possibilities if Arsenal lost or even failed to score in this match.
I now feel strong enough to go and read what certain bloggers and certain well-known Arsenal supporting journalists have to say about this team and this manager.
Keep the faith.
COYG ICDDR
AVE IT !!!!!!!!!
Yeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa – quad’s on!!!
Get in! Great stuff from the lads. π
Well done lads.
Well done.
I always enjoy a 2-0 win at Anfield, me.
It was up for grabs and we grabbed it.
270 minutes of 00000, first time ever to start a prem season for arsenal.
5 points from three games, three consecutive clean shields, where the hell are you now doubters? DRINKS ALL AROUND!
A word for Giroud.
Took a battering, worked hard, never gave up, many good defensive headers. Missed a chance but that will come.
Well played lads. Great spirit.
Spent enough money Spuds ????? π
That was fucking lovely…so many great performances. Per was perfect….Diaby immense…Gibbs amazing…Vermaelen insanely good.
Love my club.
oh i got 400…off the mark!
let me be the first to say…wanger OUT!
Stewart Robson a parasitic nit couldn’t stop going on all game about how Liverpool were completely dominating. Pathetic.
That was nice.
Abou Diaby, good for you son. Finally looking like the man who was cut down at Sunderland.
DOG’S BOLLOX, gentlemen.
Wow, that’s a surprise. BBC Radio 5Live all about how disappointed Liverpoo supporters must be.
Would that be because they daren’t mention the might Gunners or because they don’t want to have to admit that they may have written off Arsenal a trifle too easily?
Oh, I was too quick to report the silence about the Arse. Their pundit has just said something along the lines of “Arsenal will certainly finish in the top 4, but they won’t mount a sustained title challenge.” Fuck you Mr Pundit and the horse you rode in on.
Bollocks to the lot of them. An interlull to relax during. What more could one want.
well in, tim, a natural…
Well that was wonderful I must say – looking forward to hear what the moaning cunts will say now
π
Hey there Toby! Cheers Eandy and everyone from around the globe. God bless our Arsenal!
Fantastic performance only marred by having to listen to Stewart Robson commentating. It seems as though we mugged the far superior team on the pitch? Gibbs can’t defend … blah, blah, blah! Great to hear the Bouldy song – what a difference he’s making to our defence.
bt8b, I didn’t listen but the last 10 minutes, and he went on about that again and again…
I know Diaby was THE one of his generation that AW wanted.
Today should explain to the doubters why he has been supported all this time.
What. A. Player.
Well deserved win, two lovely goals, would have loved to see Giroud score as well. Next match am sure. And some commendable performance in the middle. Back four did good too, but maybe there were some nervy moments? I like how almost everyone tracked back to defend. I like Sunday’s like this.
No MOTM today. They really won as a TEAM. Diaby was imperial, Poldi clinical, Santi artistic, Arteta tireless, Per and TV unflappable, and both young outside backs beyond their years.
If you were in the away end today…you did us proud
What Tim said.
Diaby! What a game. Zidanesque.
I am impressed with our overall play. We are looking a squad.
I little disappointed with Giroud. I say disappointed because I expect great things from him in the future.
Oxon @ 405
The info for the match programme on Sky Digital’s TV guide said ‘Liverpool will fancy their chances against an Arsenal team yet to score’ – even the TV guide was doing down our chances!
And I third what Tim said. Backs to the wall, defending the lead when the legs are a little tired and the concentration can sag, and the voices of the away support rang out to lift the lads beyond the line.
And finally a special f*&* you very much to Stewart Robson for going on all game about how Liverpool dominated the game and should feel good even though they didn’t get the result. The same idiot who slagged off Arsenal for the last several years for dominating games and not getting results.
Never in any doubt my friends. I weatched in a liverpool bar over here and am basking. Might be spittle in my Guinness but who cared right? Oo to, oo to be, oo to be a, GOONER!
Yes Bearded Gooner, Yes.
when was the last time you saw us work so hard to get the ball back….so nice to see
Diaby-Arteta axis immense, and once the space started appearing Cazorla showed what an inventive little bugger he is.
Great stuff.
Must go and read Friday night’s drinks again. π
Well I will admit I wanted Kos over Mert. But the BFG played well. Suarez only really turned him once early on. Solid back. Jenks took the mistakes out of his game 2nd half and played well.
Perfect away win. May not have dominated possession but made it count.
Diaby MOTM.
Sahin, meh.
But I would take Joe Allen.
Greedy Americans, I said it last night. Celebratory drinks on me. For everyone.
Proud to smash the mugs!
and all over the pitch, tim.
i really hope robson isn’t a regular on fox this season. the mute button will get a workout, if so.
Diaby standing out as somebody you would want to build your team around, if he can stay healthy. Did anybody ever say that before? π
Hey abb! Have been away for a lil while, lots of things going on at the moment. I’d love to hang around but I need to get a few beers and celebrate now. I’ll be back for ‘holics take on the win for a few puns and laughs.
You lot take care and enjoy this lovely afternoon.
Now, everyone together now:
You are the Spurs of Merseyside! You are the Spurs of Merseyside!
Oliva. Giroud’s clever play was ecxellent the way he deguises his runs are very good, the finishing will come, he is not snappy enough at the monent, premiership’s pace is a lot quicker than the french league but he will adapt. Its hard to choose MOTM, it was a team effort. But Cazorla shades it for me. Diaby, Arteta and Pod not far behind.
The signings of the summer: Santi Cazorla, Steve Bould.
I’m loving our defense. All this without Kos, Sagna, and Woj.
The thing I’m loving the most is our wingers’ work rate. Wow.
Diaby, absolutely immense. Wow.
And most importantly – Kieran Gibbs is the best ENGLISH LB at the moment. Cashley not even close on current form. Baines should be Gibbs’ understudy for the England NT.
Also, it took Stewart Robson until late in the second half to say something along the lines of “Diaby is having a good game in midfield for Arsenal.” As if we all hadn’t been watching hardly anything else for the last hour. C*nt.
Trev, BtM,
Hello Chaps. Geez, how good was Diaby? π
Anybody still want Dempsey? I’d even bet a serious amount of dosh that if he put his mind to it, Abou is a better rapper!
ArseneKnows. Full fucking stop.
@ 432 Trev
I will check friday night drinks later, too, π
Has Andres Villas-Boas been fired yet?
And finally, never thought of saying this but, Song Who?
norcal, agreed on per-koz, per was immense as well.
the tracking back by the midfield was beautiful to see, and but for the lack of the goal ground had a great game, worked his socks off.
Someone who knows holic more than i do should convince him that his next post should be titleD ‘THE NEW BOYS COME GOOD’
Kenyan, I’d go for “Poldorza? Never in Doubt”
S. Robson was saying liverpool outplayed Arsenal. Who is he kidding? I know he has to say those things so that he does not sound too bias to keep his job. Liverpool were really going nowhere with their possession. Everytime we had the ball we looked lot more threatening. We played the perfect game. we don’t need to have more possession just for the sake of it , the defending was awesome from everyone, Ox and Pod in particular, at times looked like extra defenders on the pitch. Down to Bould’s work I guess.
I agree with everyone about what an unpleasant distraction Robson’s mutterings were … anyway, he has been removed from Arsenal Player post-match report and hopefully we won’t have to listen to him on Fox too many times.
A disciplined and ruthless performance. Hopefully TV5’s injury was nothing serious. Great organization, leadership and defending from him.
Diaby man of the match, Poldi a close second…was hoping that Giroud gets on to the scoresheet as well. Very clever runs off the ball and strong hold-up play, but still a little off the pace and that is why hurrying the scoring attempts. The couple of ones he has missed until now he would start scoring once he gets used to the overall pace of PL.
Thought Ramsey and Santos both looked sharp for the few minutes they were in.
Special mention for Gibbs and Jenk. Gibbs was excellent going forward but caught out of position a few times and Poldi defended very well on that side, but Jenk’s determined and no-nonsense defending against a rather tricky and pacy winger was reassuring.
He’s making a list.
He’s checkin’ it twice.
He scores load of goals
‘Cause ur team is shite
SANTI CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!!!
BMBD
SG
Gibbs looks our most improved player…if he can stay f__ and play like this most of the season we’ll be in very nice shape down the left. His energy is remarkable and already shows wonderful understanding with Podolski. Could it be not doing double duty for Arshavin helps him immensely?
Hope we are patient with OG (surely) as Podolski looks wonderful on the left.
wc@436, robson is just a grade A fool, his bias was shown completely.
And it’s Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal FC …
Still buzzin, so many good performances today. My oh my will Arsene have tough task when TR and LJW are back to full fitness. Every single one of the lads was impressive but our midfield stands out bit more.
Abou was unplayable today, the full pre-season did him world of good and *fingers crossed* if he stays fit, this might be his season to shine. Santi has shown his value even in previous matches but now proved how brilliant signing he is when there is actually space to play, hes just dominant..and Mikel?…True professional, team player and brilliant off and on the ball..oh and looks like we now have two slide tackling masters in our creative midfield :P.
So perhaps the silver lining to the cloud of losing so many fbs last year was that different CB combinations got to play together and achieve familiarity?
Special big-ups to Jenks for starting nervously and playing himself out of a hole. Well done Corporal.
Everybody happy? π
Wenger was right: we are looking like a real team. For certain games we may even include a back-three behind wing-backs. We really need to have both Poldi & Giroud up front to create the space for Carzola in the hole .. I feel that there’s plenty of goals in this team .. but our defence is what I am most excited about..
π
SG @ 429 — Gibbs’s technical abilities, pace and now the physical strength as well are all top notch, what is still missing is his defensive positional coverage. It is not as haywire as that can sometimes happen with Andre Santos — who too, in terms of pure footballing abilities is better than any LB in PL — but is still immature. He has enough scope to improve. If he stays fit and improves as is expected, he should end up being a much better player than Clichy, and as good if not better than Cole at his peak.
Amazing performance.
Controlled, patient, intelligent, intense, reactive and telling..!!
Best Signing this season: Steve Bould.
I think our defensive set up over the past three games has been most impressive, from set pieces to how we apply pressure on the ball up front. Bould has had a huge effect and he’s obviously been empowered to do so. Big big change and most welcome…!
Most amazing player today: Abou Diaby. My God, I never thought I’d see him repeat the form he showed in the carling cup final against the chavs, but he was utterly magnificent today..!!
We were patient, we were fluid, we controlled the game and for a change, we were surgical at both ends when we needed to be.
What a pleasant change. Even for the very best Arsenal teams, Anfield has always proved to be a litmus test. Last year, we were played off the field only for RVP to score against all odds and see us take the points.
Today, without RVP, we looked far more assured, controlled, dangerous and hungry…!
What a great day to be a gooner…!!
Barcelona frantically searching for any evidence that Diaby has Barca DNA, and trying to arrange a swop deal for some bloke they just bought called Song. π
8ball.
I’ll say this.
I coulda watched the game on a 42 inch TV on Fox Soccer Channel, but I preferred the 17 inch sopcast stream on Sky Sports on my laptop.
I’m pretty sure my hatred for that cunt Stewart Robson is well known.
Snir. You are wisdom itself. π
Now pardon me if I don’t return to:
And it’s Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal FC …
The other thing I like to go along with our defensive organization is our greater height and bulk what with Giroud, Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain all tracking back, and Jenkinson and Mertesacker getting in the way of things as well as using good agility on the back line. Vermaelen maybe not feeling as much need to gamble as he did last season.
snir, i *did* watch it on the 42″ flat screen on mute, but i did miss the crowd noise. your solution might be mine on robson days.
per has excellent feet, and positioning.
See my post at 193.
Who needs Snir’s crystal balls? π
The boys (especially Diaby) were immense. Everyone worked for each other and the shirt. Extremely proud of their efforts on the pitch and practice pitch (thanks Bouldie!).
Where are the doom merchants right now? Tossers.
BMBD.
Takeabowson 435, seem like that one too!
Gooneholic 444, over the moon
@abb, dotox please…z there rehab i can check in to? At the moment i can say no to a drink!
Oh, who’s next?
scruz…and Per has a very good game reading ability. Brilliant anticipation of the final ball, in that area I think he is better than both TV5 and Koscielny, who are much more dynamic and hence may have not honed that part of their game as much…
@Arsenal: Wenger: “It looks very good for Wilshere. I would say give him a month.” #LFCvAFC
Ecstatic.
dr.f, agreed. it seems his limitations have led to greater strengths. though i must say every time he had the ball in the back with suarez bearing down on him i got a touch nervous…unnecessarily so, as per’s calmness on the ball won the day.
Snir, just connect your tv to laptop next time as secondary display, if you watched Bloodzeed stream like I did, he broadcasts in good enough quality to look good even on 42 inch screen..I watch it on my 22 inch one and its just brilliant.
I have to say I was bit surprised to see both Gerv and Feo benched for the whole game, expected them to be used as impact subs, especially Theo once we led would have tons of space to exploit, but once again it shows that Arsene knows.
diaby the destroyer…love it!
http://www.london24.com/sport/arsenal/diaby_the_destroyer_leads_arsenal_past_liverpool_to_first_win_1_1502103?
Well, Well Well…
Looks like we smacked the curly perm and social security cheques straight off the Merseysiders
That’s right mate…
…he drives how he wants…
Anfield ’89 or Anfield ’12?
I think at this point in time I’m leaning towards Anfield ’12 8)
Couldn’t be bothered to watch the second match of the day.
Boring poop. Think I’ll weed the garden.
Physicality and technique…
…depth? well let’s not start panicking yet!
Eandy – I was being lazy, didn’t wanna get out of bed π
Bloodzeed is fantastic. I watch it all the time.
Eandy, about Theo and Gerv — I think this being on the bench experience would be rather instructive and educational for them. One needs to tighten his game and be more clinical, the other needs to be more consistent and disciplined…
I would expect Theo to to start in most CL games where his pace and directness are much more of a threat. Gerv now has a real battle for place with Poldi.
Still at the pub, feeling very happy right now. Was never really in doubt once the game had started, we were closer to 4-0 than they were to gertting one back.
Oh, and Suarez is such a see you next Tuesday.
Did anyone notice Season-Saviour Sahin play, by the way?
Very @ 444 Especially since I predicted 1-nil to the Arsenal in the first half and more in the second. Pleased as Punch.
@469: He was playing? I thought it was some wannabe from their academy π
Absolutely delighted.. Loved the fact that both the goals were from link up play between the new boys..
And Arteta is simply vital for our team this season. Another masterclass from him.
—
Ive gotten over RvP but seeing him score yet again.. you are left to imagine ..what it would have been.,.had he stayed on..
I care not for RvWho anymore and his goals at ManU Sajit, and especially not after the masterclass performance we pulled out at Anfield…
Now THAT’S the kind of sh1t I’m TALKING about!
3 clean sheets, clinical finish from Poldi, comedy bit of keeping from Reina (reminding me of when he spooned it his own net against us under pressure from Morocco’s greatest haircut).
Dirty red scum drawing 1-1 with Saints at HT after van Pursestrings equalised for them. Wanker.
Meanwhile Villa remain 1 up against the barcodes. Keep up the good work all!
I’ve nothing to say.
Bar this. π π π π π
A pleasurable write, today π >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Point of protocol, ‘holic. Is Sheißkopf acceptable language to describe a fellow-drinker? I fear I might wish to use it in the future.
Thanks.
Totally agree Lars.
Dog’s bollox, we were.
Wengerball 4 (c) Holic, is going to be fun.
C’mon Southampton!!!!!!!!
The mancs are now a one-man team!
Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield:
FULL-TIME – Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal
“Liverpool’s fans gave their verdict on this abject display by leaving Anfield in droves well before the final whistle. Arsenal’s supporters, in sharp contrast, celebrated a performance that offered real optimism for a team still bedding down. Tough start this for Brendan Rodgers.”
Fire drill at Anfield? π
Gone very quiet here. Everyone must be getting properly pissed.