A Big Day Looms
Nov 30th, 2012 by 'holic
Friday night pints pre-preview, followed by a three o’clock Saturday kick-off. The world is in equilibrium. Sort of. It’s a big day tomorrow, for one reason or another, so let’s crack on.
For the second time in three days we play a team within a point and a place of us in the Premier League. It’s an important game, for sure. As Arsene himself noted in his pre-Swans interview with Arsenal Player the month of December gives us four home games in six fixtures to get ourselves back into contention for at least a top four berth. Surprisingly these next two home games against Swansea and West Brom could be the biggest tests we will face in the month given the start that both have made.
The visitors impressed last season, and have replaced manager Brendan Rodgers with Michael Laudrup, a classy player in his day now proving to be a shrewd coach and buyer of talent. They went unbeaten in November and before I scare myself thinking about what could happen I should point out they will be missing Pablo Hernandez, one of their standout performers thus far.
We will be without Laurent Koscielny, ruled out in Arsene’s words for the dreaded three weeks. Let us hope that is not Diaby weeks. That means the skipper can return to his preferred berth alongside Per Mertesacker where the general view is that he looked far more comfortable on Wednesday.
More important, in my view, is that Theo Walcott is fit to start. He is changing my opinion with his performances. Just seven starts so far this season, but he is leading scorer with ten goals. True, part of the desire for him to play is down to the fact that the options are not that clever at the moment. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a great player, as better judges than I will confirm. At the moment though he is going through the footballing equivalent of ‘that difficult second album’. Aaron Ramsey is a midfielder, not a wide player. Stop hanging him out to dry.
The ‘holic pound looks nervously at 2-1 to the home team, assuming we can get a balanced side out and impose our style on the visitors. Gunners Gaming will give you 15/2 against that, and can be reached via the banner ad above. Thanks.
The Walk
Much has been written and spoken about the walk by the Black Scarf Movement tomorrow. The original wearers of that particular garment are long standing Gooners, and the amalgamation with others who care deeply about the club mean they deserve a more balanced hearing than has been afforded to them in many quarters. I have some sympathy when they talk about supporters who have been priced out of games. As a season-ticket leaseholder I have been protected from the changes I would have faced on my silver membership this season.
I feel for parents who want to introduce their kids to the Arsenal, but just cannot afford it. Yes I know tomorrow, as a grade C game, represents pretty good value to red and silver members this season. Now add in two tickets for the kids, three train fares from wherever, three quid each programme, and the GDP of a small republic for a couple of pizza and cokes. If I were growing up today my old man might well be saying “be a Barnet fan”. Long gone are the days when he had two season tickets in the East Lower and we would still pay to go and stand in The Clock End.
However I will save my walk to the ground until half past two. I cannot get behind a movement that is aiming its sights at ‘the board’, now just a ceremonial body in the modern Arsenal world. After years of service Peter Hill-Wood deserves better than to be an easy target, whatever one feels about his style of communication. This club is now entrusted to others. I am also a bit puzzled at the bad press afforded to the board for cashing in their shareholding, whilst a desire to see David Dein return is espoused. Guess how he filled his pockets?
Even more I cannot walk to support Red & White getting a place on the board. By their actions this season they have clearly shown themselves to be opportunists quick to criticise, and as such can surely not be surprised to find themselves on the outside looking in. Fundamentally they are at odds with the majority shareholder about the way forward for the club. It is better that such disunity is kept at arms length.
Above all I hope tomorrow is not hijacked by a vociferous minority taking advantage of the mood of unrest to whip up an entirely different protest. That will only end one way. It is time for Arsenal supporters to get behind the team on the pitch, and forget the infighting. That is a part of the pre-walk publicity I can endorse. Have your peaceful protest, then get inside and shout yourselves hoarse in support of a side that needs all the help they can get right now.
And The Emirates Family Legends Tour Winner Is…
I had to smile when our very own Steve T’s name came out of the hat for the prize so generously donated by Experience Days for an Emirates Stadium Family Legends Tour. Thanks to those who entered, and to Experience Days for making at least one family’s Christmas. (For my pedantic friend I should point out that Eddie Kelly and Charlie George were the correct answers, although as Eddie was on the Experience Days site but no longer on the arsenal.com listing I accepted just Charlie as correct.)
You might like to write it up for us when you go, Steve?
Have a great weekend, ‘holics.
390 Responses to “A Big Day Looms”
first drink then
Second round.
Sloppy turds
Thank you Ollie > π
Chevron editor supreme…
‘holic, I think that, in your understandable delight at the name of the winner (congrats again, great stuff for the kids too, Steve T!), you forgot a basic communication rule :
however easy a competition question may be is customary to give the answer alongside the name of the winner π
Sorry, I’m a hard taskmaster these days π
ETA still 12pm for me, good luck with the travel from the Wild West, maestro!
And I used to have a CitroΓ«n so know all about chevrons. As do you, ‘holic π
8th is the new 4th π
Nightcap for me please, barman.
Of baff’s choice π
Good stuff guv.
I think Swansea will provide a stern test, they’ve got a few decent players in that team. Last year a cock up by Vorn was what seperated us from them in a hard fought match and I’m expecting the same tomorrow. They are a team that like to play and they won’t come and park the proverbial which very well may play into our hands.
Enjoy your day out all who are attending.
Very nice preview ‘Holic. Wise words.
And the bottom line is:
“It is better that such disunity is kept at arms length.”
And well done Steve T. Enjoy!
Now COYRs – get a grip of the midfield and control this damn match.
More fine words Holic.
A frosty start guaranteed for you way out west.
A good day for The Iceman to make his league debut ?
Chamakh still frozen out ?
Meltdown if we lose ?
Thome thaw heads in The Tollie by closing time. No question about that one. π
A nice mellow 18yo Highland Park for Ollie with a wee drop of water please barman and one for yersel and all the regulars at the bar tonight.
Hope to see you tomorrow, ‘Holic and Holics.
Trev @ 12,
I shiver at the thought of a loss.
Cheers, baff. Sounds good to me. My ex-boss liked Highland Park much. I got him a bottle back from the duty free in Delhi.
Cheers ‘holic too, see: you even had to explain that partial answers were accepted and why π
Right, time to say goodnight from me.
WENGER OUT!!!!
Tip of the hat to Trev again for unending punmastery.
You truly are the best, but that’s not a scoop.
Bath,
I grew up in Dallas and all the rich hot girls were from Highland Park, so and 18 yo Highland Park brings a different thought to my mind.
But I’ll take one none the less
Hey Ollie, see you tomorrow. π
Dizzle! π
Forgot to ask. How many of our fine number are braving the freeze tomorrow?
Present, Sir. π
H @21,
I’m bringing my american Indian mate, so I’ll be freezing the brave. π
Baff, you’re gonna be at the Tollie? I’ll have to see ya. This and WBA shall be my last games for real.
With the protest going on it was fairly easy to snag tickets. I was happy.
Good stuff as always, Holic. I still don’t understand what the protesters hope to accomplish and it seems like a weak grasping at straws by people who are struggling with the idea that they have little to no say in their club.
I dunno how different that is from the past, as I haven’t been around that long.
I was wondering if this was the true dizzy. (I’m guessing you have more data to back it up, ‘holic π ) Massive hug if so.
Right, really need to get off the computer, so this time, for real, goodnight.
See you tomorrow, bafftrevolic. (&others?)
Seeya, Ollie.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a great player, as better judges than I will confirm.
Hmm… he’s got competent but unspectacular written all over him, not that I’m a better judge or anything…
I’ll be braving the freeze but not to watch this shower. I’m off out Xmas shopping and trying to get all my presents for less than Β£30. It’s occasions like this that let me play at being Arsene Wenger, who needs Championship Manager? π
If you were really trying to be Arsene, you wouldn’t get any Christmas Presents, Nonny. π
So, Trev and Talking Bull, Ollie, and me then. Given everybody else will be marching the pub should be pretty quiet after one π
Oh, and James, who tried to kill me at Reading. Who said Arsenal weren’t turning on Arsenal? π
Holic, I do believe you might have what it takes to work at the UN π And I’m just torn up over Pablo missing out π Will be rooting for our lads here tomorrow and hope for a big turnout at the bar. For those holics braving the weather, safe journeys and enjoy the game. Steve T, congrats and enjoy π A very goodnite to all.
Evening,all. Nice preview,Guv,i’m with you Re the BSM,some of the things they intend achieving with their walk are quite good,problem is that the few not so good ones stick out like a sore thumb and ruin/hide their good points,anyways,i will be watching my first game in three weeks tomorrow and i expect the boys in red to welcome me back in style.
Goodnight,All.
You’ve figured me out, Holic! Hahaha.
NorCal, your 236 on the last post was masterful. With punmastery like that, what can one say – surely gonna be a white christmas.
I’d like to see AA in the match at some point, tho i know that’s not a popular view these days, as that trickly little elf can cross the ball and has field vision like he’s above the pitch almost … looking down from the north pole.
Oh … that was bad.
The Highland is good, but I just splurged a bit on an 18 year old Laphroaig. Absolute nectar.
Surley we must stop the winter/holida puns. Don’t want the guvnor going all … Grinchy on us.
Bearded is my new best friend π
Excellent post Guv. Can’t find anything to disagree with. I’d manage to avoid hearing about the BSM march. Perhaps I should go and find out what they’re trying to achieve. (Pauses to consider the idea.) No, on the other hand I don’t think I’ll bother.
2-1 sounds a tad pessimistic, (dons rose-tinteds) I’ll go for 2-0.
COYG
Wenger is a deluded fool for stating the 6 matches in December represent a chance for us to get back in the title race. We have not won 3 matches in a row all season so to state the notion we should win the next 6 is madness. Mind you, this is coming from the man who has said Barcelona minus Messi are an ordinary side…er, Inestia, Xavi, Cesc, Villa, Sanchez. At times Wenger makes himself look a right cretin!
Yes David. I want a coach who says ” hope we win 3 of the next 6 matches cause we are mid table at best”.
That would send a great message to the team now wouldn’t it?
Delusional? Or being positive?
On what basis do you honestly think we are going to win the next 6 matches – be sensible. Wenger spouts the same nonsense each year about us being title contenders and it is embarrassingly pathetic. We can’t even beat Villa and they are awful! He comes out with so much rubbish he should be sent to the funny farm. Rather than chant “you dont know what you are doing”, the cries should be “you don’t know what you are saying”.
I cannot bring myself to join a protest unless I am absolutely certain that i trust and understend the motives of those organising the protest. I’m not sure I do and it is also worth noting that some other clubs view us with the lack of comprehension we view Chelsea when they sack managers because they would give their eye teeth to be where we are-the big irritation is the price we have to pay to enjoy our football.
Nevertheless I have laid into PHW in an article in the next Gooner. He has presided over this club while this negative change has taken place and I’m not sure this board are guardian of the minor shareholders or fans’ interests at all. I do actually think someone with nearly 30% of an organisation’s shares deserves to be on the board and as for being opportunist,most businessmen are opportunistic. Kroenke has been very opportunistic and I prefer an owner who cares about the club as much as I do and for the same reasons.
As for the footie it is hard to know quite where we stand. Our squad is alarmingly thin in places and let us hope Cazorla and Arteta are not as knackered as they looked on Wednesday. my hunch is 2-0 to the Arsenal. enjoy!
Umm, ttg, what makes you believe that the 30% minority shareholder cares about the club?
I didn’t say we would win the next 6 games but then why play them if you are not going to try winning them? I take everything that every manager says with a grain of salt. Why slag AW for having a belief in his squad?
Heh ‘holic. π
Anytime you make it to NY there is a glass at the bar waiting for you.
David – You seem to have missed NorCal’s point @40. Why would any manager set expectations low for his players? That would be foolish. Whether you believe or even whether it’s realistic that they can win the next six games, no good manager would come out and say he expects anything less.
Looks like you beat me to it NorCal. Well said.
David, perhaps you would care to take your belligerent style of debate somewhere it would fit in.
There is no abuse of Arsenal people tolerated on here.
Belief in his squad…this will be the same belief that was placed in the dream team of Denilson, Bentdner & co. Wenger has so much belief he negates basic tactical accumen. Watch tomorrow as you can bet your bottom dollar/pound/euro that our defending of corners will be awful, our pressing of the ball will be non-existant, and Swansea players will be able to shoot on-site from outside the area.
Setting expectations – firstly he shoould be saying we need to establish a basis in the top 4, let alone challenging for the championship. May I remind you that we are not even in a Europa League spot at the moment.
Tomorrow’s match will be entertaining, as was the Fulham match, because we face a team close to us in the table, and opponents no longer fear Arsenal; rather than parking the bus, they now come and attack us thinking three points are there for the taking. This is the biggest sign of how far we have fallen.
Oxon Gooner-a fair point but at least he follows the club and goes to games.
I am not ranting, I am neither a fan nor a hater of Wenger, I merely judge the manager on the team he serves up. At the moment we are rank, hit and miss, and if you look at the situation with common-sense, it can be argued that both Tottenham and Everton are better teams than Arsenal’s current side, – so getting in the top 4 would be better for me than last term’s third place finish.
With Rafa at Chelsea, I think they are there for the taking. The trouble is, we are not consistent enough to challenge them for 3rd spot.
Abuse of Arsenal people….if implying AW spouts mad utterings is abuse than I am sorry. Some of the stuff he comes out with defies belief, but if that view is not shared then far enough.
I would never attack fellow Gooners, even if I differ over players, managers, board strategy. I adnire those people marching tomorrow, evening though I think they are aiming their protest against the wrong people (ie the board).
Heh NorCal @18. That adds spice to the flavour of that particular tipple. I can asssure you that the 18 year old from Highland Park is smoother and has a longer finish than both the 12 year old and the 21 year old. π
Calling Arsene a cretin is abuse, whichever way you cut it.
Not a hater? Hmm…
Holic add me to your roster tomorrow. No march for me tho planning lunch at El Molino pre-Tollie.
It could be argued that Wenger expresses optimism on the title chances to preserve the global-image of the club, and perhaps to pass on confidence to players.
What`s the difference between what he is doing and you, Davide, are doing when you copy and paste newspaper headlines (as you did for the stuff about barcelona) rather than direct quotes to support your opinion on him?
Best tapas in town, bath. Enjoy.
I want to ask a open question.
Does anyone agree that arsenal tendency to give players a hard time have an impact on our struggle for loyalty?
I can’t say I have seen many other clubs give there players as hard a time as we can.
Theo is one of a long line of players we showed little patience to over the years. Yes we love him than most players when he scores. However, I wonder if he would have signed earlier if we were more supportive of him?
David,
I am not blind to Wenger’s or this team’s weaknesses. What the manager says at his 10,000th pregame or postgame press conference does not really bother me. If you were asked the same questions week after week, you too would probably give similar answers. Is it delusional or just being positive about your team during the season?
We have not played better than most of the teams we are surrounded by currently in the league. That is true. I have said it multiple times here that this league is competitive from top to bottom. You say Villa is awful. Have you watched them at all? They are young and make mistakes but they actually play hard as a unit. They are not awful. Wolves last year were awful, but not Villa. They will not be relegated.
You say Spuds and Everton are better than us? That would be the same spuds we just beat 5-2 and an Everton team we just tied 1-1 at Goodison? Ah,I see.
I want better for the Arsenal just as everyone else but I don’t think the best way to do that is to slag the players or the manager on or off the pitch.
Cheers.
Ok, I take the cretin line back and withdraw it! It was o.t.t. But, I stand by lacking sense for stating we can get back in the title race. I say again, we are 7th. Fact. π
Wenger has failed to correct basic faults in the team since 2006 and here is the list:
– Awful at defending set-pieces
– No pressing of the ball until opponents are 30 yards from goal
– awful at crossing and taking corners
– a lack of width
– overplay and a refusal to shoot from distant.
– Full-backs caught too high up the pitch
– a lack of wide forwards supporting full-backs when defending
– playing some players out of position (square pegs in round holes)
– the team generally has no urgency until 30 minutes of home matches have passed by
– Leaving attacking substitutions far too late to have any real affect on a match
I recognise the good he has done, but most weeks Arsenal show the same failings and make the same mistakes. If we never learnt lessons in our jobs and non-work responsibilities you know what the end result would be.
And just to give some balance, I applaud (as I said on these pages after the Fulham match) him for not spending silly money as wreckless spending is not the way forward. You can do a lot, even in the EPL on a limited budget, as he as proven since 2006, despite the failings of team formations, strategies, tactics.
Spurs are the equals of us in terms of squad strength and Everton were unlucky not to win. Just my view. I began supporting Arsenal in the late 80’s both of these sides mentioned have never been closer to us in that time.
Yes we beat Spurs, well in the end, but the imploded thanks in no small part to Adebayor.
Villa were 18th for a reason and against us they should have won – no, last week they were by far the better team & it was a typical Arsenal away performance: no energy, slow one-paced passing, no shots of note, looking vulnerable on the break and at set-pieces
I can’t sleep. Something’s gnawing at me and worrying me and I won’t rest until I find out the answer, so I’ll ask the barman and the denizens of this particular hostelry this vital question….
Does drinking a Babycham tonight make me any less of a man?
2006.
Time moves on. Players move on. The world shugs.
Ahh … But could inbottle Dennis Bergkamp and keep him ever youthful.
Or barring that …. Ummm. Buy 4 CRonaldos and 5 of the Real Ronaldo.
Sadly life, time, the cosmos, REALITY drags me back to this mortal coil.
David … Kudos sir for your enthusiasm. Perspective tho.
See that. Not even one awful winter pun.
Guiness is on me! No not On me, but im buying.
Hope you had a brandy in it, Nonny π
Nice preview holic.
If you had looked at the fixtures at the start of the season you would have looked at the 2 homes games in early December with some anticipation. Both sides have played good football and are likely to be tough opponents.
Swansea will no doubt come to the Grove full of confidence. We have to match that and more. We need to be confident in our own ability and be prepared to fight for everything. They will want to play football which may well suit us. That said, both Swansea and West Brom are must win games. 6 points I feel is a must.
I have always respected the right of others to be able to voice their opinion. I am all for freedom of speech. I just do not think this kind of protest does anyone any favours at all. The last protest of this kind was the dampest of damp squibs. I was one of many that filed past a group of semi angry fans chanting βsack the boardβ and similar witty ditties. No one seemed to play a blind bit of notice. The vast majority just walked on by and carried on with their business. My views are that tomorrow will be no different. All it will do is give the media and anyone else that requires it an even bigger stick with which to beat the club. My views are well known on here. I am far from happy with the way the club has been run over recent years. But I do not see a march of this nature being anything but negative. Each to their own I guess.
I will be missing tomorrows game. An appointment at Twickenham booked long before the fixtures were announced is my destination tomorrow. Whilst I am very much looking forward to the day I almost feel dirty, as if I am having an affair. Itβs an 8.30 start for me so I am sure that the feeling will not last for too long. I will of course be there in spirit.
Finally, many thanks for your comments re the latest competition. I was somewhat surprised but delighted to receive the news. I will take great pleasure in arranging a family trip in the new year sometime. Both kids will have a ball and Mrs T will even get an airing. The one and only time she has been to the Grove was to see Coldplay. My thanks to you holic and to Experience Days for their generosity. Of course I will provide you with a full write up of the day. The plan already is to conclude the trip with a family outing to the Tollie. Got to be done really.
Enjoy boys and girls. As I said, I will be there in spirit.
3-1 to the mighty Gunners. Keep the faith.
*googles babycham*
Nonny I am inclined to say so.
Wenger didn’t say barca were ordinary without Messi. He said they would be “more normal”.
The extrapolation being that Messi makes Barca “less normal”. How anyone can disagree with that statement is beyond me, but I noticed this morning that a couple of the anti-Arsene blogs had wilfully twisted his words to suit their “mad Wenger” agenda.
Huge game tomorrow – got to be three points.
COYG
David you have points that are valid but I bet you were one of the people who jumped all over Wengers comments about being able to go a season undefeated and surprise, surprise the next season his team did.
He has been a very successful manager over a long time and i will trust his judgement over anything you stated in your post and the reality is you sound like a media driven prognosticator.
When you successfully manage any professional sports team then I will rate your rant.
Go you Gunners
‘holic I didn’t. I had it neat though, if that makes any difference and I did manage to show a young lady a good time later on.
Ten past eight, it was π
This is the third time I’ve had a go at this, basically cos I can’t see the keyboard, christmas innit.
Anyway, nice preview Holic.
Can’t agree on the BSM stuff though. Anyone who marches against Arsenal is, let’s face it , a little bit cunty.
Marching against the commercialism of Football? Are they fuck! Sorry to see good people taken in. If Arsenal were 3 points clear at the top of the league that march would attract fuck all.
They are marching against the lack of success, so fuck the lot of them.
As for you, David, sweetheart, wrong blog .
Nonny, Babychams is the new coffee. Well played π
Baba @57,
I agree with your point that reacting negatively towards a player would seem to not want to make him stay. However, the players that have left the last few years ( Cesc, Nasri, RvP, Song even Clichy) were rarely subjected to negativity. Most got more than enough praise while wearing the red and white. The ones that have gotten the most stick are still gunners ( Nicky B, Denison ,Ramsey ) so I’m not sure it has had that profound an effect.
Well that’s my answer at least. Where I do think all the negativity will hurt us is in getting new players. Our supporters and their booing and ranting gets mass media attention and I am sure players see that and have to wonder what type of support they will receive if they come.
Congrats Steve T. Wish we had done the heroes tour while visiting. There is always next time.
Cheers tabs
Cheers NorCal. I must now retire. As Arsene would say, I am little bit wankered π
Congrats to contest winner Steve T, a very popular choice. π
Now sharpening my teeth bit the objective of biting into some Welsh rarebit, or anything else Welsh I can get my teeth into.
Mnmmm… Welsh rarebit.
Just like mom used to make.
OG with 2 goals. Feo scores.
Goodnite Philadelphia!!!
In my work induced quasialcoholicnhaze – i missed it.
Protest?
What on earth are these simpletons protesting?
Sustained CL?
5th most valuable club on earth?
One of the best gaffers of all time?
Entertaining football? Annually competing for titles?
A beautiful stadium?
What … No free beer and no Haggen Das?
Ha. Protestors. Pfff … Bunch of spoilt brats.
Bunch of whiners. Pack of johnny come latelys.
And now … Am out of cliches.
Cheers holics.
‘holic
It’s the 3rd album that is fabled as being difficult…..
As for tomorrow – let’s hope for a polished performance and turn our run into something more impressive. Swansea are no fools and it reinforces just how competitive the league is when you can see them (and WBA for example) as legitimately pushing top 8 all season.
As for the protest – it’s so hard to know what to think from afar. I remember the last day on the north bank and us all nattering about how we should organise to save the standing area – but in those pre internet days it never became much more than a good idea down at the pub. I lament those days when we really had little interest in the board or knowledge thereof. It seems a million miles away now.
Marches aren’t a bad thing, but if the club are making a small fortune out of these marchers they will be smiled at and waved along. I (for one) still feel the club has been punching above its weight for 4 years now and if we fall short this season (non CL) the real flickers of fury begin. I fear it could get far more ugly. Then again I think we’ll finish 3rd or 4th.
From a foggy and lovely San Diego goodnight – 630 am start tomorrow.
COYR
Morning. Point well put, Steve T.
And tabs.
I shall be marching from Finsbury Park or Holloway Road at about 1145. A walk in honour of beer, if you will.
Beware: I shall be wearing a red&white scarf!
Oh, and two packs of soup, but that’s a different story.
Come on Arsenal. Absolutely crucial that the home atmosphere is vociferous
I hope not that the crowd will grow a bit worried if we don’t score early on
OK, so Holic and the rest of the guys who dont Arsenal to be critisized, what do you suggest should be done?
I mean those who want to protest should be allowed to do so.
The team hasnt been doing well….so what should be done.
Every match day a lot of blogs dont want a criticism of the team yet when we play crap they are the ones to go hard at the team on Monday…come on guys!!!
bo, have you any idea how frustrating it is when people sound off about what they think I have said.
For fucks sake read it again.
At no stage have I said Arsenal are above criticism. I have gone to great lengths to say those that wish to walk should do so.
I DO say Arsenal people should not be abused personally. Is the message sinking in yet?
It beggars belief, ‘holic.
As for protesting when the team doesn’t do well? Fuck me there’d be protesting at most ground most week.
+s +s
The trouble with taking the train one hour earlier is there isn’t much social activity on the Internet while I’m in the lounge π
Morning all.
Broken fast.
Now for a warm shower.
Then scrape down the motor.
Then the road.
Looks bloody cold out there.
COYRs.
Early-ish morning today, just had breakfast and will soon have a shower and then be off to the pub. Today will see the Arsenal Sweden Stockholm Xmas party, so drinking may (OK, will) be of the heavy variety.
The BSM march? I could never agree with a movement that demands the inclusion Fat & Orange on the board.
Up the Arse!
“However I will save my walk to the ground until half past two. I cannot get behind a movement that is aiming its sights at βthe boardβ, now just a ceremonial body in the modern Arsenal world. After years of service Peter Hill-Wood deserves better than to be an easy target, whatever one feels about his style of communication”—what exactly do you mean here Holic?
isnt this maybe the starting point to at least making an effort at putting pressure on the board/Stan to improve things?
I mean all these guys keep on saying they are happy with the way things are going, surely they need a tap on their shoulder.
@IOllie, i would rather we focus on our team and our case.i am not ready to accept that we should be like other poor performing teams and accept the status quo.
All the best to those going to support the Team today.
Football.
Part atavistic tribalism, part vicarious thrill of conquest, part visual and visceral entertainment, and sometimes when you are lucky raised to artistic levels. Great collective movements, individual skills and wonderful use of space. Like ballet.
And then the community. Of people close and far away. Drunkards and teetotalers. Poets and clerks. Doctors and vocational criminals.
Win. Loss. Trophies. Positions. CL qualifications. All very important. But how much? How much is too much?
Should one ever lose a sense of perspective or is there a limit — different to every one — when one can feel personally hurt/offended enough to protest through marching against the club not achieving what he/she thinks it should achieve? What should the club achieve? Should one follow in the footsteps of Gandhi and MLK and arrange for maybe hunger strikes in front of Ivan’s office? Peace marches may be?
So is football not that far away from politics? But of what polity? Our own personal sense of entitlement? Success? Is there a principle that dictates we Arsenal always deserve to be what we think we should be?
Questions. Genuine. Not rhetorical.
A great game of football is on the cards. And I am sure we will win. A hat-trick for Giroud?
Morning All,
Apologies for the drunken post last night. Unfortunately I was too drunk to remember my resolution never to post drunk. Oh dearl.
Ollie, your march sounds like one I can support. Have a good one π
Can’t make it today, so all those that are going, enjoy the day and give ’em a shout for me.
Come on Arsenal!
No TaBS? This saddens me π Especially as the pub is still virtually deserted.
Sorry ‘Holic, have a good one mate. Easy win today I think.
Three points is the bare minimum i expect today. Come on you gunners
I agree 100% with your summation of The Walk. In essence a good opportunity to demonstrate the fans’ voice but too many objectives have been tagged onto it, which makes it hard to agree with all of them. And I am directly opposed to some of them.
I’d love to have your even-handedness Holic but I can’t bring myself to approve of this marching nonsense.
Marching against Steve Kean’s reign at Blackburn – that I can understand. But protesting at the Ems? Really?
Sorry but I just don’t get it. If trophies are all you care about, seriously, there’s other clubs to choose from.
It’s an important game for sure ? and the next two games against swansea and west brom could be the biggest tests ? there was a time when teams like these were no test at all, and would have been swotted like flies. It just shows our decline but who cares.
Assist Ollie stylee…………
March….Beware the Ides of March…..lets hope we can Caeser victory this afternoon. I’ll get my hat on the way out but not before pushing slide rule pass onto the rushing…..
Cheers for the assist h2h, blatant mis kick wrong footed the keeper and the ball trickled into the net. π
Well in Uply.
I’m going into media lockdown now, way too busy today to give the game my undivided attention so recorder is set and will watch as live later.
Enjoy the game and your day, friends.
H2H, You absence will be felt π Hi holics! Are we excited yet π Looks like I missed a terrific debate re THE MARCH. You know, I think the Club’s ticket prices are too steep, esp. for families to cough up. Gotta think of future generation of gunners π As far as the Red and White, I will glady defer to those in the know. But no matter which side of the fence you stand, just doesn’t make sense to protest on match day π Get a petition going, for pete’s sake, or chain yourself to a tree naked. You get my drift π
Streams for todays match here;) http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=176342&part=sports.
As for how I feel about the game …well I believe in our lads but I am quite nervous, Swansea proved to be tough test last year in both matches and I think it will be the same today.
Yahoo! WHU score 2nd goal! WHU 2-Chelsea 1! π
Hahahahaha Chelsea!
3-1 π
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski, Gervinho.
Subs: Mannone, Squillaci, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.
Why Giroud on bench O.o?
Cashley shocker!
Right, come on lads – got to get three points today.
Cashley mistake makes it 3-1 to WHU
Rotation. Giroud being given a rest against a team who won’t sling much into our box.
Hmm..fair enough N7, makes sense, for some reason I am torn now if I would like to see Poldi spearheading our attack or Gerv. Given the fact that Poldi has great understanding with Gibbs starting on the left seems obvious choice but Gerv still havent convinced me as main striker.
But as long as we put more in to Swans net them to ours, I dont care who scores:P
Need a Paddy V like player….. Could do no worse then Diame. Best for WHU against us and Chelsea. Up to standard for sure.
Hmmm – thired increasingly coming up for grabs.
CoMonURedSS!!!!!!! Let’s nick this.
Eandy
Agreed – i’d like to see Poldi at CF too. There’s definitely some goals in him.
Eandy, I’m just relieved Poldi (virus) and Theo are starting (ankle). I don’t see Girvinho as much of an impact sub. If he’s gonna play, start him.
abb, I share your sympathies towards Gervinho, I still think there is quality player in him..somewhere, but he just strikes me more like chaos creator and provider than finisher of things π
Too bad that sometimes he creates chaos even for his own teammates….and himself too XD
I hope the very good Arsenal turn up today Chelski loosing makes it even better for us!
Now Come On Arsenal!
Hey Eandy π
And Hello to all you stragglers!
Great timing by TV!
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh you guys and gals, don’t make me do all the ‘color’ π
Come on let’s pick this up!
A rather nervous start for my liking!
TV really looking sharp :0
ATG, calm down, this game is young and so are we!
That’s my boy Woj π Double save!!!
TV good defending, whew!
Nice build up play by our lads.
Great cross by Jenks!
We’re gaining momentum!
Ooooh almost!
We’re cooking. A goal is a coming π
TV having the best game ever! Terrific block!
Whew!
C’mon you rip roaring reds, lets tear them to shreds!
Aaron Ramsey bashers, please observe Podolski, Cazorla and Walcott.
Ramsey keeps slowing the play down, getting caught in possession and misplacing his passes….oh wait….that’s Cazorla π
That Jenkinson cross merited a goal though
Hi BTM! Tim, you are so right.
Swansea should sign non-league midfielder Nigel Pleased….
just so we can her the commentator say
“Pleased to Michu”
Utter dross so far. They are all waiting for someone else to do something. Utter shit.
The lack of movement ahead of (usually) Wilshere is just depressing…..
Does Jenkinson have 10 brothers/cousins?….he’s up for it
How I want Giroud on the end of that cross …beautiful link up play between Poldi and Gibbs..
Some fucking idiots booing?
Hey we rallied at the end, WE CAN DO THIS!!!!
We’ll take care of things 2nd half
Why there are crosses coming in when OG is not playing and when he does hes out of service. .oh well π come on lads! We are going to win this!
and apologies if I sound bit grumpy but my dear friends in IKEA screwed up delivery of my order and now I have two same parts from three needed to assemble freaking bed XD
come on Arsenalll!!!
Eandy : (
Great interplay there, a goals a brewing!
Nice try by Theo, cutting in like that.
Dictating play at last….far more like it
I believe we only beat them one nil last season and Arshavin scored for us!
Come on you REDS!
They don’t want it enough. Just casually pinging the ball off and if they lose it, they don’t really mind. Bloody awful
What they need is Cazorla off, OX in his place to try to inject some energy.
One of Gervinho or Podolski off and Giroud on.
has the second half not started where you are Nonny?
Yes and they’re still fucking shit
Great save by Woj π Jack on Fire!
Nut I have been in and out of the room, if I missed a sub
But*
OG and AOC to come on!
Can’t agree this half Nonny…tempo vastly better..chances created…pressing the play.
Thank God for that.
Come on Arsenal!
Gervais and Poldi off. Some nice footy by Gervinho (he puts me in a trance) !
Keeper casually fucks it out of play and gives Jenkinson abuse? Fuck off.
No PK?! Ergggggggh
Oh Santi, soooooo close!
Come on…get a goal!!
Hey all, Clattenburg hates us… π
Our Boys Want this BAD!!! Come on lads, all holics behind you!!! Great save Woj!
Wind, You Think!
We can’t even call ourselves an average team. An average team would beat Swansea at home, surely?
Rosicky to save the day?
TOMAS OOON!
Eandy, you can cheer up now π
Might as well bring Henry back necause he doesn’t move much these days either.
Oh Woj, amazing save!
Nice to have a proper goalkeeper again
What a save boy Wojtek! Come on Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!
The commentators on Fox are bloody useless as well, so they match the standard of the game.
TV, Almost, great header.
FUCK SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
unfucking real
Got exactly what they deserved there. Fuck off, Wenger
BLOODY FUCKING HELL
Well we were open like a tin of fish…. Hats off great move by Swansea!
Fuuuuuuuuck.
Okay moaning cnuts, have at it. Hope you enjoy yourselves.
Media blackout for me. God awful result.
Absolute crap
Words can not explain what I feel right now!
SHAMBLES FUCKING SHAMBLES!
This is grim stuff. π
FUCKING DISGUSTING!
Bloody useless. Jenkinson had nobody to pass to, got caught and it’s goodnight Arsenal.
Count your fucking money
Count your fucking money
etc
Done.
Vermaelen is awful. Yeah I said it.
Positional awareness of a box of dirt.
Let’s hear the optimists now…. Come on…?
Wow
this is proper shite this
Bogey team
Fuck!
Every team is a bogey team
But WENGA IS DA MAN LOLZ
Fuck off.
Just turned off the stream I have had enough!
Chelsea loose we laugh at them but we can’t even beat Swansea at home!
Some serious question need to asked and I believe the only left in mind is:
IS WENGER STILL THE MAN FOR THE JOB?
Optimists yeah I’m here.
We were awful first half, far better team in the second. Two sucker punches – it happens.
Vermaelen has exhausted my patience. Cazorla needs a rest, Arteta needs a rest and at least nobody can blame Ramsey.
Got wot we deserved – well played Swansea.
This team couldn’t beat a puppy with a slipper.
Shitty day gets shittier ..off I go.
Wenger didn’t plan for Gervinho and Podolski to contribute nothing. Nor did he expect giving TV the armband would see him turn into a League 1 centre half.
Although he needs to see that it has.
Now you lot know why Wenger plays Coquelin in the last 10 minutes. he knows this team is simply lack quality to see out any sort of result. He certainly has to do something this January to sort out this crap
so painful.. we are just so clueless and lacking idea to break thru.
Fire. Them. All.
Not an attacking bone in any of them.
Gibbs terrible.
Jenkinson terrible.
Theo invisible.
Wilshire invisible.
Arteta pointless.
Giroud did nothing.
Per was shakey.
TV decent game.
Cazorla only one playing.
Sir chesny kept us in it.
That was just terrible football by arsenal.
Where from here?
Fuck this this is not going to ruin my weekend!
They should be ashamed of themselves Wenger including!
Tim, if you’re relying on the likes of Gervinho at this level you have serious problems, and Vermaelen has always been a bit rubbish at defending.
We threw all that hard work away in the last 10 minutes or so. TV had a great game till then. Not making excuses here. It should have been ours. Wenger made his subs early enough. How is he to blame? Loss of concentration was our nail in the coffin. Tabs, more then ever, sober or not, I look forward to your take π
And Lester
I agree, credit where is due, hats off to Swansea they were better than us!
You can’t really blame the defenders for a lack of movement in attack and to give Gibbs and Jenkinson their due, they had more attacking ideas than Walcott, Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski, Wilshere and AOC put together. They at least tried to get crosses in and support the attack, but the attack wasn’t too interested in doing anything to help them at either end of the pitch.
Credit to laudrup he said prior to the game it is not difficult to play against Arsenal. Got it spot on.
How is he to blame?
He’s bought defenders who can’t and attackers who don’t know how to create chances.
Is there a player we’ve got in our squad who you’re genuinely glad to see in the team? That’s a general question, not just to ABB. Anyone who you see on the team sheet and think, “Yes! X is playing, can’t wait”?
Anyone surprised?
Well, nobody can say that Swansea did not deserve to win and we were just bloody awful, Wenger no longer seems able to motivate, coach, select winning tactics, make meaningful subs, turn around games, but he does make one hell of a profit.
I’m going to go whale-watching this afternoon and forget all about this match and see if I want to come back for more. Do we have more games coming up?
Our defense IS NOT the problem (although TV is the weak link) so I hope people notice it genuinely is much better. The service provided by the midfield is non existent and the runs off the ball are vanishing. So much standing around it looked like a friendly.
Giroud did nothing wrong, at least he tries to shoot. Fuck knows why he didn’t start.
I’d start Ramsey/Rosicky and Eisfeld in the next game cos it can’t get much worse and give the regulars a proper rest.
he does make one hell of a profit.
Which is why they will never ever sack him, when he should have been fired years ago by any serious club.
we are too pridictable with our passing. every game is the exact same crap, pass pass pass in our own half that is, most team would sit tight and capitalise on mistakes on the other end. I simply could not see us scoring. every attck has almost the exact same pattern. it becomes easy to defend against, crosses into the nopx were poor. we are kleft without any other option to break a team down. Awful stuff
I might go next home game just so I can leave at half time π
So so much wrong at the club at the minute it’s going to take at least a couple of years to put it right, Is Wenger the man to do that ? on the evidence of the past year id say probably not but any new manager coming in would need serious funds to re balance this squad and is Kroenke the sort of owner to inject it, Probably not, Sad state of affairs!
We’ve papered over the cracks for the past few years but it seems we’ve run out of paper and sticky tape.
is there any irony in my feeling that we’ve over-performed for half a decade (even though it never felt like it) and finally we’re under-performing and it looks just awful.
Irony is the wrong word – it’s a simple fact.
Can anyone remind me once again why we sold Song?
It’s a Jordan-sized crack. There’s no papering over a gash that wide.
Nonny, You mean you LIVE THERE! (sigh). Look fellas, most of us saw something special in this team, early on. It wasn’t just AW…just sayin.
“The captain of this lugger
He was a dirty bugger
He wasn’t fit to shovel shit
From one place to another
Friggin’ in the riggin’
Friggin’ in the riggin’
Friggin’ in the riggin’
There was fuck all else to do!!!”
Egads, Lurky and Nonny in the same bar, at the same time! Gawd help us optimists π
Yeah but what we saw, mostly, was an improvement in defending for a change. We’ve had a pretty awful season when it comes to making chances.
Ah, and looky here Silly Second Yellow. Well done lads π
we’re on the verge of falling into liverpool-esque irrelevance. no champions league negates the benefit of the new commercial deals. and if you think about it, even with the new commercial deals, we won’t come close to the top of the table. assuming the new deals give us 500 more a week or so, that pays the salary of 2-3 quality players at current market rates. if the rumors are true, mata passed us up to play for chelsea because he was going to get 200/wk. we need to let that sink in and then consider why teams like swansea are comfortably better than we are, and make no mistake swansea looked a good deal better than we did at our place.
just not looking very good right now.
Let’s move back to Highbury? Can we move the occupants to shiny new flats at The Emirates?
Well we’ve just failed one of those big tests you talk about (miserably) again (whats new) but not to worry you probably still think everythings rosy.
Something Special? Seriously, We had a couple of decent results and the defence looked like they had actually met but apart from that the squad never looked anywhere near strong enough to challenge,
Again I must ask, truly is anyone surprised?
Every team is improving.
Spurs. Liverpool. Everton. Fulham. WBA. City.
We are getting worse.
Swans outplayed us – but only in the last 5 mns.
How does that happen?
These players should be ashamed. That was utterly dreadful.
I am digusted. I see no silver lining.
We are crap. And going nowhere.
All right people. Lets form 2 lines at the bar and mud wrestle each other π I will conceed that we miss Song terribly at the mo, with Diaby out. Still don’t believe AW has access to the funds he needs. You’ll have to prove it to me, first. The board and Stan, well have at em!
Mate sod the wrestling let’s just get hammered π
Chippy π
Media blackout for me too.
I gave bar fighting two decades ago.
I nearly went back on my pledge today on some fuckhead from norh london. The wrong part.
Self imposed exile.
Cheers gooners. Our stadium is pretty. Our football is ugly.
Hey all,
Well I’m gonna venture in here. First of all, dave, dave- if you’re talking to the ‘Holic you are well and truly out of line. If not, I apologize for misreading, but your black and white cynicism completely ignores the depth of conversation that is the culture here- in good times and bad.
I feel livid. While I know none of them and know little about it, it seems to me we have a board that has been totally content with how things are. Wenger has his rightful place to stand for criticism, of course he’s the manager- but I truly feel ill thinking of the way Gazidis represents the face of contented success through this. Of course money doesn’t solve all but our priorities- which they have clearly stated- have been financial for the few and not football for the many. This doesn’t mean I’m saying ‘we should spend 100 million dollars on superstar x and we’d be great’- I’m sick of that assumption. But they have been cheap cheap cheap and happy happy happy to make a buck and assume we all will keep delivering the cash because of our passion and loyalty to the club. It feels like thievery, and I feel bitter about it.
Again, I’m open to criticism as a I know less than many of you, but as a fan and lover of Arsenal, I feel robbed by those at the top who seem to pretend to love the club as part of the face work for making a pretty penny off of us. I would not hold that true for Wenger- I think his challenges are other than that. But he is clearly challenged in his own right right now.
Homer: “Cheers gooners. Our stadium is pretty. Our football is ugly.”
Ugh. I hate that you said that, and that it’s true.
ABB: Always agree with you — TV was looking good for most of the match as he did at Everton.
I really noticed our crab-like play today as soon as Rosicky came on because he seems like the only player that really drives us forward. We need him big time.
We’re going through a very bad patch at the moment and I’m worried. We really have to start a winning streak and soon.
Arsene is the only man for us at the moment but he really needs to spend a lot in January and more than anything we need someone to replace Song.
Up the Arse
I think we are lacking courage right now- which Swansea demonstrated beautifully- and I think that begins with Stan and the Board. Courage and fight.
Hey Matt, Appreciate what you said. I too am very worried, but what can I do? I deal with life and death at work…so I try to put this in perspective. But, in truth, behind my bravado, I’m heartbroken π
Me too mate — but we will come good. I know it
Sorry to say that Wilshere, Cazorla, Arteta didn’t look like it would work on paper and it’s not working on the pitch either. There’s no ball winner, no drive in that trio. Lots of sideways and back but not much in the way of forward momentum.
It really is time to rip up the blueprint, because we’ve got blueprints for a peashooter when we need one for a tank, and get someone else in with a fresh approach.
It might take a resignation to get change, in which case we’ve had it because Wenger thinks he is doing a great job.
If you can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs…
Five points off third. The time for some of this defeatist bullshit is in May.
I’d like to see some boots up arses and some dough spent in Jan, but we’re a long way from out of this.
Im such a sucker.
My comments are bang out of order. Apologies to the guvnor.
Fuck me im depressed.
I have to say that my “glass half full” state of mind is now being challenged to every inch of its belief! On my way back with my boy from the Ems and I have to say I’m struggling to raise his spirits this eve after such an abject attacking performance! Help me out ‘holics. Has Le Prog lost the plot?
One point and I would have felt disgruntled. None, and I feel bad — and worried. For all the overall disappointments over the past several seasons, there was usually one player on the field who you always felt could pull a little bit of magic out of the bag to win a game. I just don’t get that feeling with this team at the moment. Across the piece, it is arguably the best team for several seasons, but that flash of genius at the business end of the pitch just isn’t there, and certainly not at the moment.
*le Prof*
Just got back from the game – Swansea thoroughly deserved the win and should have had 4 or 5. Our initial line-up was bizarre – no striker on the pitch and no outlet, width or attacking threat.
The first half performance was as bad as I can remember and I’ve seen some shite over the last few years.
The highlight of the afternoon was the interview with Bob Wilson on the pitch at half-time – what a gentlemen.
The boos at the end were the loudest I can remember – more and more supporters are recognising that Emperor Wenger has no clothes – not before time!
@Nonny
Arteta really seems wasted in that deep role. He can be a decent playmaker and shot taker, but I’m not sure he’s allowed that luxury now. Wilshire to his credit does look like he’s starting to figure things out again and drive us forward, but yes Rosicky looks like his quality has been sorely missed as well. Which leaves us with Cazorla, not sure what to do with him, but he needs a little more movement around him, which he’s not getting.
It’s painfully obvious too, but why the hell do keep playing the same way when we change our striker from Poldi/Gerv to Giroud? These players are not at all alike. When we make our subs, trying to come from behind or get a result, we may improve or decline, but despite the changes our game plan remains the same…always. Why?
The glass is still half full Dan – mostly because the league has two great teams and then all of the rest. We could finish ANYWHERE between 3rd and 8th as best I can tell, I still think it will be the top 4. I’m not saying that’s enough but it is reality.
Cazorla often played out wide in Spain – and was apparently very useful but obviously would drift in and out of games. Time to try that and push to a 4-4-2 with Walcott/Giroud.
Surely worth a try, especially since my 5 at the back plan is fucked for now.
Nonny, we seemed most threatening when Jack was playing farthest forward of the midfield three. We are lacking a powerful midfielder who can drive forward, either getting in between the lines if coming from deep or from in between to deep into the opposition back four if more advanced. Diaby (if anyone remembers him, tall chap, strong runs, weak legs) could do that. Jack has the ability, but he is clearly not back to his old self yet. He isn’t bossing games.
One other thought, would it have made more sense to rest Podolski and play Giroud if Jenkinson, our best crosser, was playing, albeit by necessity?
And a tip of the the hat to Woj for keeping them scoreless until so late in the game. At least four top draw saves.
Fuck it – let’s go bowling.
Thanks Tim! So painful to hear such realistic words from a fellow Gooner! What the feck has happened to 4 – 3 to the Arsenal?! Please bring back the entertaining days! A very somber and vitriolic post-mortem to follow in the bar me thinks?! A double of your most vintage malt please Barkeep whilst I await perusal of the posts to follow in the bar.
I was at the game.
We were lethargic and clueless in the first half, had a burst of energy in the second half and when the goal didn’t come, we reverted to clueless.
The last 15-20 minutes were a tactical disaster. When we needed width, we went narrow. Gibbs and Corporal Jenkinson did not have the confidence / technique to attack at the right angle and get a ball in to OG’s head.
The Ox is having a terrible season. Arteta seemed to give up in the last 10 minutes.
I blame Ramsey π
Wenger used to be an innovator. These days he can’t set up a team to cope with being pressed or against a defence that sits deep. Other managers have caught him up and overtaken him in tactical thinking.
Re: BSM. Which Arsenal do we want back? The one that lost to Luton in 1988? The dreadful football of the early 80’s? The 97-2004 pre-Ambramovich era team, when we had the financial clout?
Why did Kroenke buy the club? Because a lot of major share holders were prepared to sell their shares for a hell of a lot of money. How much did Dein make out of the club? Peter Hill-Wood etc?
Gazidis might be a slick, corporate ‘bullshit-bingo’ type but his job is to bring money into the club, which he seems to be doing.
I’m not sure what is wrong with the club but that was XI players playing against a team (Swansea).
Complex problems usually require complex solutions.
Question – Is Cazorla the new Arshavin?
Miss of the season by van Persie. It doesn’t make life any more cheery though
Soooooo…
As most of you will have noticed, I have been fairly critical of things lately. More critical than most I accept, but always trying to find the balance required when we are discussing all things Arsenal.
Ok, that little bit of perspective on what I am about to say will hopefully go a long way, at least I hope so…
“We were simply crap today” – This is actually far too simple a way of putting things. Simply crap doesn’t almost keep a clean sheet. Yes, I know that they had a few decent chances but, and thanks to the Pole Between The Poles (All Rights Reserved @ BtM), we actually looked like pulling that feat off at the very least. The goals were just “one of those things”, especially the second where, had we been 1-0 up, I like to think would never have happened.
Unfortunately, chasing a game without genuinely creating a decent chance in 90 minutes is a bit of a mission impossible, and so it proved with two knock-downs in the final round. What now remains to be seen is what, if anything will be done about it now and, perhaps more importantly, in January. Will they prove to be the kick in the pants that was both needed and coming or will they be the knockout blows that shape the battle for Europa League football 2013…Only time and a few more games will tell.
“TV5 blah, blah, blah” – REALLY?! For once I actually thought that he looked fairly decent again. Reasonably well positioned, a couple of great moments including “that” tackle after chasing down Dyer, who was at full pelt at the same time as TV was almost falling over. What was to hate today? No Ramsey, oh well, the captain has to get it then.
Put simply, we are in trouble. LOTS of trouble.
We have a team that appears to be devoid of creativity in the final two-thirds of the pitch.
We have a manager that is obviously feeling the pressure of the fans bearing down upon him.
We have a fan base becoming more desperate and thus fractured and impatient every time we go down in flames against a side that we should, as the MIGHTY ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB, be beating.
We have a board that is continually showing little or no respect for the traditions of Wenger’s Arsenal (note, I am NOT referring to the constant and foolish claims of hacks who appear to believe all of a sudden that Arsenal has historically always been the best club in the world and Wenger has done nothing other than dragged us from consecutively wins in the Champions League under Graham, Neill, Howe, Houston and Rioch and into mid-table mediocrity, but I AM pointing out that this team and squad is OBVIOUSLY the worst he has assembled in his time at the club and anybody with a grain of football knowledge can surely not argue with me on that point any more – If you feel you can, please don’t bother. This time your words will fall on truly deaf ears).
We have a group of players that. far away from not gelling, simply appear to not actually be that great at football any more.
…Podolski (invisible and lacking in ANY ability WHATSOEVER to find an inch of space against a team that was, in all reality, playing with more men in front of the ball than United did).
…Cazorla (could he look any more tired and pissed off with being a part of this team right now? Seriously, he didn’t look like NOT losing the ball for 90 minutes!)
…Gibbs (who clearly spent the past few days working hard on his crossing…With SAGNA!)
…Gervinho (sorry, but I am going to say I told you so in two words – PURPLE PATCH!) were as poor as they have been all season, if not worse.
JW10, Jenkinson (although 10/10 for effort as ever), Arteta, Walcott, Giroud and The Ox were so far off the pace today it was not even funny. Bad touches and runs into blind alleys for all of them and, again, the inability to find any space at all or pick the pass to the player who had was just so repetitive I got board of shouting at the T.V. (no, the electric one NOT the centre-back!) and this smacks of problems with the formation, the training, the management, the, dare I say it, menturl strengfff and, worst of all when discussing Wenger’s teams, a complete lack of confidence that this team can actually win games any more. That lack of confidence can easily cost one of his teams 20 points a season, as has been proven before.
Woj and TV5 were, I thought, the stand-out performers on the park, let alone just for us. BFG was, well, BFG; calm, organised, calculated and RARELY put a foot wrong, regardless of claims that he looked shaky today.
So what should be done…Well, that is for better minds than mine, but let’s be straight about what SHOULD NOT, CANNOT be done…
We CANNOT go through another transfer window without actually getting a couple of game-changing signatures.
We CANNOT go another transfer window without replacing Vieira (yes, all these years later and the PV4 shaped hole in the midfield is still as obvious as ever.)
We CANNOT go another transfer window without getting shot of the ikes of Chamakh, Djourou, Park, Denilson etc. on a PERMANENT basis thus freeing up the money needed for wages for players who may actually be the slightest bit of fucking use to the team.
We CANNOT permit the like of Cazorla and Arteta to look like they are dying a slow death whilst relying on Rosicky and Diaby as back-up…ENOUGH OF THAT BS…TIME TO BUY THEIR BACK-UPS WITHOUT BLATHERING ON ABOUT ONLY BUYING SUPER QUALITY PLAYERS.
We CANNOT allow any more talent leave without having ready-made replacements. That does NOT include Eisfeld, The OX, Gnabry et al as, clearly by their regular absence or non-existence, the manager does not feel that they are ready to make the step up.
We CANNOT keep fighting about these things. It is time to unite the fans again, time for all to accept that things MUST change and time to support the players whilst questioning the management and the board WITHOUT taking flak for being a doomer or a grover.
I am not trying to stir things up here, I am trying to be as realistic as possible without throwing everything we have spent so many decades building out of the pram. That said, we MUST have a serious look at whether or not those in charge are willing to do the very same.
Oh, and to round things up, I actually thought that Ramsey for JW10 would have been a smarter sub! There, I said it! Time to at least give the lad a chance to prove he can play in his favoured position, no?
COME ON YOU GOONERS! WBA ARE THERE FOR THE TAKING π
Limp, pathetic, lacking quality. Come on Wenger lovers, defend today’s shambles and tell us all how the team’s fortunes will alter!!!
I might add, Swansea were excellent and deserved to win 4/5-0. Fulham should have won 3 weeks back at the Grove. We are in decline, anyone care to counter that????
Huge number of black scarfers on the walk pre-match. I was surprised by the numbers in the photos I’ve seen and it’s no longer a few dozen old men who like a moan in the pub.
Wenger said that most of our players need a rest and that they are on the verge of getting injured.
In next 60 days we will (possibly) be involved in 15 games.
God help us all!
Hi all, long time no speak.
Geoff, – no, no surprises for me.
For those that say AW shouldnβt go, what excuse, or reason, do you give for the tactical ineptness that we are now seeing all too frequently?
Like everyone, sick to death of this rot that is setting in. The weirdest transfer policy in the world, long drawn out contract negotiations, lacking a bit of sharpness, attendance figures announced as 60k+ every weekβ¦
Get a grip someone.
The only thing left is to not go any more. I say boycott the 1st half of the next match in protest. All bundle in at half time, point madeβ¦ this is what itβll be like playing for Arsenal soon if it doesnβt shape up, empty new shiny stadium.
Going to get drunk now…
Mark@271
I agree almost entirely with almost everything you said there apart from…
“All bundle in at half time, point made…”
Point made or a new record for short-sighted thinking in trying to bring about the Hillsborough of the naughties?!
Seriously, boycott the game or don’t. but make sure you offer your seat to somebody who genuinely wants it π
When the going gets tough the weak start to moan about things being dufficult.
Me? Well, I am just drunk beyond recognition.
Dark times indeed upon the Gooner family we are all but broken apart when things don’t go our way and I’m also feeling it in a big way. Things are not looking rosy at the moment we have only beaten the small club up the road and drew against Fulham at home and away to Everton (which was a different game) and Today we witnessed the same Arsenal that lost to Norwich away this season.
That is not enough points and indeed points wise it’s our worst start under Wenger. Let’s not kid ourselves every game it’s rather a scare and nail biting when we think which Arsenal is going to turn up today?
I have asked this just before the game and the answer we have received from a team full of quality international player was just abysmal. Seems they most games just don’t have a clue and run out of ideas very quickly. I’m not sure if they are instructed to play like this but it’s obviously not working, I’m sad to say but Wenger’s tactical decisions are letting him down and questions needs to be asked.
Gervinho pains me to look at him, I respect the other views but I just never really taken to him. I don’t know why we have gone with him upfront the bloke has no presence and he can not keep the ball.
He use to run past players on the wings not any more he looses the ball infact too many times. Then he plays on the wing and there is no one in the box to receive the ball.
Swansea can pass the ball very well, we tried to play through the middle as usual and then fucking sideways I have seen it too many times. Why not sometimes use the wings, switch to the traditional ways if things weren’t working and they certainly have not been. Today Gibbs was not in the mood to run forward perhaps him and Jenkinson thought hey let’s take it easy it’s only Swansea after all.
I’m not pointing fingers here the team lost the game and other players are also to blame. We know what they are capable of but unfortunately occasionally it’s not really good enough. Many will question Wenger me too because we are told every season the money is there and we will add to the squad quality players and season after season we come back here again and whine!
I still think we are a big club but perhaps certain things need to change. Can someone please tell me where Diaby is? Ok he’s a nice guy and he’s really good when he plays but come on he’s hardly playing games. If we so tight on money matters why not invest in a player that will play as he’s supposed to do when he’s getting paid?
We started the season brightly things were really looking up and we have seemed to forgot how to really play the game, what has happened to that team? Why are we constantly year after year have to go through these issues? Same old issues every season is getting rather boring after few years.
It’s Wenger’s team he tells them how to play and motivates them I hope for his sake because I don’t really want him to go he will go back to the board and tell them straight things need to change and we need spend some fucking money otherwise things could look really ugly next May!
iLars
I hope you are enjoying my credit car to your full advantage π
Mark the Spark
Out of interest, who is the (realistic) favoured candidate to be our next manager amongst the “Arsene out” brigade?
Arthur
That’s a very balanced post – spot on. Have a drink on me.
Wenger blame fatigue and few other things. It iis not fatigue it is the way we play. all the teams who came to teh emirates and got a result employ the same tactics 2 banks of 4 around the box and 2 attackers to capitalise on mistakes. job done. This game was no different to the way Chelsea beat us or the way Stoke, Sundeland, got points at the Emirates. Even QPR should have got a draw if it wasn’t for an offside goal given. To simply blame fatigue and next game at home play the same way is wrong. Things need to change in training. These players don’t seem to want to do their own thing and make something out of nothing, they stick to the same pattern of passing and hoping it will work. I would like to see a player just for once to take the ball and do something amazing on his own and score. very rarely happens.
Seriously, boycott the game or donβt. but make sure you offer your seat to somebody who genuinely wants it
No point in not going as a protest if all you do is give your seat to someone else. It’s empty seats they will notice. They won’t care though.
For those who want Arsene to stay, a few points and questions.
Wenger has shown in the last few years that he can’t compete on a self-imposed shoestring any more. The club and the manager have always insisted money is available, accounts prove this, the manager and board have said he could spend Β£30m on a player yet he has not even spent half that on an individual.
Things are so bad from a squad quality point of view that serious money is going to have to be spent to rectify things. So….
Do you think Arsene Wenger is the man to spend that kind of money on the number of players we probably need now?
If you do think he will, do you trust his judgement, based on purchases made in the last four or five years?
If you think things could be fixed with the “two quality players” that has been the opinion of many fans since forever, it seems, do you think Wenger would chuck the kind of money required to secure the level of player we would need?
Even if you still believe he could do all of the above, the very top players want two things when they sign for a club. They want to compete for and have a more than even chance of winning the big trophies and they want big money. They will get neither at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is no longer a draw card when it comes to signings, so even that is not in his favour any more.
Change is needed and I don’t see why we couldn’t get Guardiola, if we wanted him. I think he would appreciate the long term aspect of the job and the fact that he would be allowed to get on with it, rather than work for a man like Abramovich. He supposedly wants to manage a London club. Wages should not be a problem, seeing as Wenger is already being paid something like 9m euros a year. Go for him. He’s young, has a great reputation, top players would want to play for him and, hopefully, a page will be turned on finance once Scrooge has gone.
We have nothing to lose.
N7
Thanks, just trying to see the light at the end of this really long tunnel I suppose.
I’ll have a pint of wisniowka Barman and bucket as well please. π
Now I’m going to drink my beer! Football changes quickly we all know that right? However I do have to say I hate it when Wenger is making excuses. Tiredness and fatigue should be taken care of by himself, end off.
Gervinho will go AFC in January which means we have to get someone unless we are going to rely on Henry which would be just a joke really.
We need to spend and rid off dead wood!
N7 Gooner@276
Please, please, PLEASE take this comment in the spirit in which it is written which is one of Devil’s Advocate more than one of boredom from hearing the same circular argument, albeit only slightly.
Whilst I understand the meaning behind your post, is it not time that that question was eliminated from the conversation? I for one believe it is. And for one MAJOR reason…
I remember when Wenger was hired and everybody was saying “Arsene Who?”. It didn’t mean that hiring a relatively unknown manager was a bad decision though, did it?
We do not need all the answers to know what the questions are. For example, we know that the club as a whole is not spending anything like the money that would be required to sustain a title challenge and yet the manager and the board continue to spew out the same old bollocks that they have for years, even with Wenger himself claiming before today’s game that we could still win the thing! The problem here is that we can all see and, in some cases even appreciate the need for the problem, but the answer as to who is to blame – a manager who refuses to spend or a board that refuses to free up the cash – is irrelevant. The problem is still that we do not have a cat’s chance in hell of winning the title or even competing for it as long as the best players leave and their replacements are either not as good or not even used to playing in that position.
Asking who could do a better job when we are so clearly in desperate need of SOMETHING to change is simply counter-productive and overly minimizing of the problems themselves.
Asking who could do a better job and is a realistic target is like asking who shall we replace Theo with. Please tell me, once we finish failing to offer him the contract that he, as a regular England international, top scorer at the club and a VETERAN Arsenal player in comparison to the vast majority of his team-mates, is asking for and arguably deserves, who shall we replace him with? Who has his pedigree, his status, his ability (albeit almost as rarely seen these days as that of the bulk of the rest of the team) and his experience that would be available in January or the summer?
Only REALISTIC targets please.
All of that said, I am STILL not at the “Wenger Out” stage, but I do understand the VERY valid opinion that he has very little time left to show he can still cut it at this level before the question will become “Who will fill the vacancy left by the sacking of AW.”
Sad times indeed and I STILL hope that it doesn’t come to that. I mean, things would have to actually get worse for that to happen…
GULP!
The only thing that scares me the most is the fact every year we loose quality player and we never replace them with the same or even better quality.
The thought of Walcott leaving scares me. He’s been most of games the real deal.
And why the hell do we still have Squillaci on the books?
Nonny@279
“They wonβt care though.”
Which is EXACTLY why the chance to see the game (a once in a lifetime game that will NEVER be played again EVER) is something that a willing Gooner should get rather than just leave the seat empty.
Maybe all fans sitting in a protesters seat should simply go without a top on…That amount of Gooner-flesh should get some attention!
Seriously though, the bulk of the seats are bought for the season so what difference would it really make, as you said.
Thierry Wrightkamp
Spot on about loosing the players and not replacing them!
We still have Squillaci because a nonentity of a player was deemed to be worthy of Β£50 000 a week, and stand to lose Walcott because he’s not deemed to be worthy of Β£80 000 a week, despite being 23 and probably our best player in terms of attacking threat. Seems once you get to be any good, your time at Arsenal is over.
Nonny
I really hope that is not real reason I suppose he’s still under contract and no one wants him so there I think I have answered my own question.
@TW
You seemed fairly gung-ho on all but crucifying Ramsey earlier in the week but leap to the defence of TV today? He did some nice things today at a glance, but a fuller observation showed his distribution was abysmal and his positional sense was worse than that. He is meant to be a central defender and yet didn’t seem to be marking anyone.
Singling out players doesn’t solve a bloody thing but the attacks on Ramsey have been so heated when in my humble opinion the most mistakes leading to goals have come from the captain. He should have been there for Jenkinson at the end without question. We all have our favourite players whilst we support our team but if today proved anything it was that Ramsey’s effort was sorely missing.
However, the issue remains with our goal scoring – I maintain our best back five is well above average and was so today with 2 of those five absent.
Lovelly free kick by Christiano btw
Tim
Ramsey didn’t play today I thought
Right…that’s my point. He’s been the scapegoat for weeks. Shows that it isn’t down to one player – and if anything we missed his effort. In fact I’m convinced we did.
Great post match interview with Wenger on this link on the BBC. Check this out:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20474718
The young lady asked some very searching questions which her male colleagues bottle out of – Wenger’s answers not surprisingly are completely unconvincing.
Thierry
I read you, but “Wenger out”, without a replacement in mind is only a partial argument.
The board would be out of their minds to sack him without having a better option in mind. If people even want to start to go down this road they need to come up with a realistic candidate.
In fact, I’ll start you off. Sack Wenger now and the best you will do as a replacement is David Moyes.
Arthur
Great minds mate π
N7 Gooner,
Sack Wenger you say?
To be replaced by whom?
Let Wenger decide!
π
Tim
I would ask you to go back and read exactly what I actually said regarding Ramsey and not what you think I said. You might find that I was having more of a gung-ho dig at the manager choosing to constantly play him out of position and how that obviously leads to out of form and eventually, sadly, out of favour.
I am pretty sure I then continued with other examples of other players that Wenger has pretty much destroyed in this manner and followed that up with my worry that he will do/is doing the very same to The Ox.
Let’s face it, Gervinho on the wing makes a little bit of sense, Theo in the middle makes a lot. The two of those roles reversed makes no fucking sense whatsoever.
I stand by what I said regarding Ramsey and, to be honest, I am actually quite pleased and surprised that was all you chose to take issue with in a VERY long and VERY opinionated post π
As for TV5, we will, as normal, have to agree to disagree. I thought that he was positionally very good today and to blame one of the few players with a decent shot in the team for being in the middle of the scrum trying to get a goal at 1-0 down in injury time whilst Per was also totally invisible in the same situation is a little harsh at best.
N7
No, sorry sir, but I disagree.
The best alternative that you can THINK OF is Moyes.
The board would, as you correctly state, be out of their mind to get rid of Wenger without a replacement in mind, but they had a replacement in mind when, if David Dein is to be believed, when Wenger was brought in so why would this be any different?
Just because you or I do not know who would be better/willing/available, it doesn’t mean that the board don’t. Nor does it mean that there isn’t a better manager out there.
All that said, the board would be crazy-ape fucking bonkers to boot him now anyway. At least wait until we get rid of few more players in January and replace them with super, super quality that takes s into the bottom half of the table!
Tongue in cheek sir, but only slightly.
Thierry
I’m still waiting for your (or anyone else’s) suggested replacement.
In the absence of that, I’m assuming that the people on here calling for our manager’s head think, quite strongly, that we should sack the most successful manager in the club’s history, but haven’t bothered to go so far as to work out who we’d bring in once the dirty deed is done.
Or maybe you just trust the board to pull a rabbit out of the hat?
And just for good measure, when most here here were unhappy with my assessment that we are a mid-table side at the moment…
– We are currently exactly 15 points from the top of the league
– We are currently exactly 15 points from the bottom of the league
– We are currently in 10th place
Not sure if it is possible to be any more mid-table than that. In fact, I think of you looked up mid-table in the dictionary there would be a photo of Arsene, naked, face pressed hard into his desk with Kroenke shafting him from behind whilst David Dein looks on with a wry smile, a told you so look in his eyes and a pocket full of enough money to pay Theo 100k a week until he dies!
Or something!
Oh yeah Vermalen was great…as captain he held a high line all match despite Swansea having exploited that how many times before getting the goal they deserved? Was it six or seven times? Fortunately up til then we had a keeper doing a wonderful job. There were times today he gestured Per to move up higher with him. On both goals conceded our full backs are far deeper than our centre backs. I accept he has shown he struggles to captain the team but surely he can marshall the defence? It was his desire to create a goal at 1-0 down that led to the second goal. As for his passing – I shudder when he constantly plays the ball to players with an opponent a yard away
I’d take issue with much of your post if I had more time. Very peculiar fence sitting to say “I’m not a Wenger out person” and yet asking for nominations to replace him.
We’d agree on one thing – things are not going well at the moment. We’d probably disagree that I read your reactions as very over the top. You wrote we didn’t “genuinely create a decent chance in 90 minutes”….that’s pure hyperbole. We created a number of very decent chances in the 2nd half. In terms of actual chances we’ve had far worse games.
As for playing with more width – agree 100%. If would help if Walcott actually stayed near the touchline for some of the first 45 minutes instead of trying to prove he is the striker.
Ultimately, I don’t think things are anywhere near as bad as they appear although I might be proved very wrong in the weeks ahead. You go on to say we have to change/fix it all in the next transfer window. January is never a good time to get things done, the emphasis should be on getting far more from what we currently have. It must start with Arteta and Cazorla getting a rest and trusting other players. Ideally something radical tactically too up front….Podolski alongside Giroud…Or Giroud with Walcott. The lack of goals is killing us, the defence has improved.
Its the hope that kills you. Hope that we adrdress the quality of the team. Hope the board divide is sorted. Hope the fans unite.
The funny things is we all know what’s needed but we all know what will happen come January.
Wenger will not admit that his vanity project has failed. We won’t buy the players its obvious we need because it too obvious. Wenger’s too smart for that.
Fans will continue to march and vent on various blogs.
The board I suspect will continue to ‘award’ Holic his silver membership so long as he keeps telling us Red & White are not to be trusted.
Question though Holic. Do you think its more opportunistic to a) seize on the fans anger at selling our last world class player to Manure (of all teams) or b) cash in on any world class/ decent permiership player that’s been at the club since you (Kroenke) took ownership?
N7
“Or maybe you just trust the board to pull a rabbit out of the hat?”
Would you say that they did NOT do that when hiring Arsene?
How about the Everton board hiring Moyes?
Or the ManU board hiring Ferguson?
Not sure if you are intentionally ignoring the twatting great elephant in the room but…
We don’t get to sack him, pay him, manage him or replace him. That is what the PLC does. We do get to have an opinion though, and some seem to feel that him not being around any more would be a case of a change is as good as a rest.
Getting harder to disagree by the match.
Seriously, do you honestly believe that questioning the position of the manager is only dependent on having a replacement in mind? If you honestly think that then we are genuinely, hopelessly, truly fucked forever!
That is like saying that we needed to have a replacement for ~The Rotter when we “had to sell him”. No sir, the management of the club needed to have that sorted…
…and they fucking well did not.
Arsene Wenger may be our most successful manager but he is also our most heavily resourced manager, yet still only beats George Graham by one trophy, and doesn’t have a European trophy, which Graham does.
He’s also won four of his trophies in two seasons (two doubles) and had just five trophy winning seasons in fifteen, as opposed to Graham’s five in nine.
Anyway, it’s not what he’s done in the distant past that matters, it’s what he’s done recently and is capable of in the future. Two words and the second is “all”
This puts it all into perspective: West Brom, Swansea, West Ham and wait for it… Stoke – yep, Stoke for fucks sake, are above us.
By the way, for anyone who wants to claim the walk was sparsely attended
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8574/article2241503164c94be0.jpg
And another thing: the ‘deadwood’ that so many talk about have absolutely nothing to do with our league position. With the fatigue that has afflicted the wole team, I could argue that there involvement may have actually improved our position.
What worries me is the amount of players whose careers appear to have been destroyed at Arsenal.
ThierryWrightkamp knows @267.
Am i the only one who noticed our players seemed to be too careful not to make mistakes in the final third? Nobody seemed willing to take the risks required to make things happen.
Evening all.
Just back from the game, via the Tollie with Holic, Snowy, Dangermouse and others;
and Papagone’s for a consolation Tagliate del Manzo and Canole.
Things go in cycles. Just sayin’.
End of.
I’ve also given the name Guardiola in response to who I’d get in, but I can already hear the responses of how over rated he is (and Wenger isn’t?) and how he’d never come here. Well why wouldn’t he? We keep being told how well this club is being run, the huge revenues to come in the coming years that mean we will compete for the top players, we know our board don’t sack willy nilly so he’d have job security, he’d be well paid if we gave him Wenger’s salary, the infrastructure is in place in terms of stadium and training facilities, it’s a London club blah blah blah..
If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Approach him, see if he bites, sack Wenger if he says yes.
Papa Gone? Omen, bath?
Lars at #273 nails it.
As does Yogi’s match report on ACLF.
What this club needs right now is far more whinging, moaning and griping. What? Oh….
Just to be clear,i do not agree with everything ThierryWrightkamp said @267 but he made valid points.
Maybe not finishing in the top 4 for once will be a good thing.it will push everyone to sort out the squad and possibly have a good go at the league next season. I don’t know , I’m just trying to see some positives that might come out of this. Top 4 finish is far from over, a long way to go, look at Chelsea they were flying now they look in trouble. between 3rd and 10th is 5 points that is nothing, just ask Spurs about their 10 points “mind gap” thing last year. My only concern is every game I wonder who is going to score, I have no confidence in any of the players to score. In the past You knew Theirry, pires , Bergkamp or RVP will curl one in from distance. that is not the case with any of these players.
Tim@299
OK…I’ll bite…
“It was his desire to create a goal at 1-0 down that led to the second goal.”
No, that would be Jenkinson dallying whilst searching for a team mate to which he could pass the ball and then slipping over. None of which is directly his fault, but how that becomes TV5’s, I seriously do not get.
“As for his passing β I shudder when he constantly plays the ball to players with an opponent a yard away”
EXACTLY the same passing that was shown today by the majority of the team…and he is our centre-back but apparently deserves more stick than the rest?!
A quick bit of research here and you will find that I was calling for him to be dropped a few games back, and loudly too. Now I feel that he is due a little more credit than he was getting and it is obviously as unwelcome as criticising him!
“Very peculiar fence sitting to say βIβm not a Wenger out personβ and yet asking for nominations to replace him.”
Where on fucking earth did I ask for nominations to replace him?! I challenge you to copy and paste it here.
“You wrote we didnβt βgenuinely create a decent chance in 90 minutesββ¦.thatβs pure hyperbole. We created a number of very decent chances in the 2nd half. In terms of actual chances weβve had far worse games.”
Three lame shots from out side the box by Santi that the keeper had no trouble at all with, a header that nearly hit the corner flag, an air shot and, oh yes, TV5 actually forcing a close range save. (Bad TV5!) Where were these decent chances? I honestly, and I mean HONESTLY, did not see them.
“As for playing with more width β agree 100%. If would help if Walcott actually stayed near the touchline for some of the first 45 minutes instead of trying to prove he is the striker.”
You have possibly misunderstood something that I have said there. I have not claimed that we need more width but that having Gervinho in the centre and out top scorer on the wing seems foolish.
I would also suggest at this point that the formation that Wenger is choosing to use REQUIRES that the wingers make inside runs the whole time. In truth, we do not play with wingers at all, we play with outside forwards and they have to get into the box or we are relying on Giroud (or Gervinho today, Dennis help us!) to do all the work in the box, make all the runs into the box and score all the goals in the box.
“Ultimately, I donβt think things are anywhere near as bad as they appear although I might be proved very wrong in the weeks ahead.”
But Tim, we have been saying that for 4 years. When is it time to realise that languishing in mid-table in December after the worst start EVER under Wenger is simply not good enough NOW?
“You go on to say we have to change/fix it all in the next transfer window.”
No I didn’t, I said that there are things that need doing but better minds than ours have that task (and are handsomely paid to take care of it). what I also did was make a list of things that we CANNOT do if things are to get even slightly better.
“January is never a good time to get things done,”
And neither is the summer for the past 7 years where AFC are concerned, so what exactly and when SHOULD we be doing to improve things in the short and long terms?
“the emphasis should be on getting far more from what we currently have.”
I agree 100%, but that is simply not happening so surely the buck stops with the management of those players or, indeed, the manager?!
“It must start with Arteta and Cazorla getting a rest and trusting other players.”
Who exactly? Diaby? Rosicky? Eisfled? The Ox? JW10? Ramsey? I understand the sentiment but again, if ANY of those names are on your list (and I am not for one second suggesting that the last 3 should not be), shouldn;t the fact that they are not getting rested and the players named are not getting games in those positions not rest with the manager?
Ideally something radical tactically too up frontβ¦.Podolski alongside Giroudβ¦Or Giroud with Walcott.
I agree 100% again. So, and for emphasis more than anything else, I have to ask this again…Who is responsible for the tactics and formation?
“The lack of goals is killing us,”
Thank Dennis we let the best striker in the EPL and one of the best in Europe leave the club in the summer then!
“the defence has improved.”
The same defence that had the worst positioned and worst passing centre back in the whole world in it today?! You surprise me! Ok, sorry, that was sarcastic and unnecessary. Cheap to be fair, but there is a real point in there somewhere, I am sure of it!
Tim, seriously, I don’t think that we are so far apart, believe it or not, but I think that the difference is where the blame has to be laid for these problems. For me it is Wenger’s job to fix ALL of the above and yet, after literally YEARS of seeing the same shit getting worse every season, we are STILL no allowed to question his judgement without taking general abuse or having the answers to all the questions ourselves.
I will state this as clearly as possible…
I WANT ARSENE WENGER TO FIX THIS. I WANT THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THE SOLUTIONS THAT HE WANTS TO INTRODUCE. I WANT HIM TO BE OUR MANAGER FOR ANOTHER 16 SEASONS.
BUT…
I DON’T WANT TO BE THE NEXT LIVERPOOL WHILST WE WAIT FOR THAT CHRISTMAS TO COME.
I hope that is clear and that we can, at least, agree on the last bit!
‘Evening bath. Hope all were in fine fettle?
Cycles indeed. Only Manure seem capable of consistent success over a prolonged period. We’re now in the ‘lows’ after the great highs of the early and mid noughties.
It’ll cycle again. Might take a couple of years and some significant changes which will need to settle down.
Going anywhere? Not me…
Have a nightcap on me old bean. Rare single malt?
TS
“What this club needs right now is far more whinging, moaning and griping. What? Ohβ¦.”
Can I start by saying “heh!”!? As ever, your dry wit brings a smile even when there is so little to smile about. Thank you..
But!
I disagree entirely with the sentiment that we don;t get to question what the club are doing. We are in genuinely terrible shape and when the very few classy players we have left are “jaded” and their replacements are players that have been injured since 14 BC or were born in 2009, isn’t it the DUTY of us fans to ask those questions?
I have spent the past few years feeling this storm coming. So have many others. Maybe even you included. If we saw it coming, how did the board and the manager not?!
30 years ago I stood on the North Bank and watched an experienced Arsenal side lose 2-0 to Swansea. I survived and so will the rest of us.
TW
Stop arguing with yourself. You’ll end up with herniated digits. Then you won’t be able to bring joy to all of us with your enlightening posts. God forbid….
Good perspective Fin.
Muted and philosophical under the brollie this evening, TS.
And very cold.
Cheers mate.
Slainte.
@TW
I wish I did have time…I do think we are miles apart. I’ll try a few things. You may not think you are sniffing for Wenger replacements but you wrote the following
“All of that said, I am STILL not at the βWenger Outβ stage, but I do understand the VERY valid opinion that he has very little time left to show he can still cut it at this level before the question will become βWho will fill the vacancy left by the sacking of AW.β:
and then the replacement suggestions started.
As to our defence being improved..yes it has. Gibbs looks much improved, Szcz benefitting from more maturity, Per is imperious this season and Sagna and Kos when 100% fit are proven commodities. For me TV is not first choice. However your use of hyperbole is worthy of a chuckle as for my sentiments about him. I think he can be good..not exceptional…and being captain isn’t agreeing with him.
We did create decent chances, you wrote we didn’t. I’m not grading how good they were. I hoped Vorm being out for Swansea would benefit us…as it was Tremmel was solid in the second half. We probably only had 9 or 10 shots, not enough, but better than in some matches this season.
Width – Wilshere and Cazorla were constantly looking for wide options – Swansea did a great job keeping the middle congested. If for that reason only Walcott has to provide that outlet.
Losing RvP. No idea what the solution may have been, we were never going to pay him 210k a week. How do you replace one of the best strikers in the world if you don’t have with incredible depths of cash – and even City don’t have a player like him.
Midfield rotation – any of the above. We’re not using our squad properly/injuries as usual have us hamstring, pun intended. I’d take Ramsey in his natural position over a completely knackered alternate.
Transfer window – you wrote we cannot let another pass without doing this, that and the other. Or perhaps your double negative ploy was a ruse? We’re not going to reinvent the squad midseason either way.
You see it as years and years of rot, it seems. I’m in the minority that feels that top 4 has been punching at or above our weight since at least 2008 and more especially since Man City became so cash rich. I don’t see a steady decline, last year looked equally worrisome but we stuck together. This year the same may or may not happen.
My biggest complaint with Wenger is formation, not purchasing or motivation. We are very much a one trick pony – and even with a near complete overhaul we’re playing the same way we played 5 years ago – but with personnel not as well suited to it. I don’t know if Wilshere or Carorla can be the nucleus of that formation, so far it doesn’t look like it. I have no idea how tired a professional footballer is – but we look knackered in midfield and attack. I don’t know if tactics can help that but more rotation surely can.
I’ve watched far too much football this season and outside of the Manchester clubs I see 7 or 8 teams us included who could all finish anywhere between 3rd and 8th. Each with as many issues as us. I fail to see how we can’t close a 5 point gap when it is December 1st.
If Wenger doesn’t get us into the top 4 he may well walk away, he certainly must have the duration of the season to accomplish that. If we win a cup and finish 6th will anyone be much happier than today? I have no idea.
I think you both make excellent points in keeping with the traditions of this venue. I am not convinced that you are miles apart but I am convinced of the truth of your final paragraph @320, Tim.
Crashing in flames here…..do phoenixes exist?
Nytol
Nonny @ 308
Fair play – at least that’s a plan.
Guardiola is a great manager as far as I’m concerned. You don’t win what he has just by inheriting good players.
However, I don’t reckon he’d take the job.
Thierry – respect your opinion, but it wasn’t this board who hired Wenger, and if you think we should sack the boss without having a quality replacement willing and available then to me that smacks of another bloke on the Internet letting off some steam. Which is fair enough on a day like this.
We’ll see if we’re a mid table team in May.
That’s enough from me. Here’s to better days.
TS@317
Still funny even when you are genuinely trying to be rude!
Seriously though, if my posts are so unwelcome I apologise for having an opinion different to yours. Just because you may have typed a few more words here than I over the years (and yes, I have been here for years too even if I haven’t posted all the time or previously under a different name) ad been to a few games with the landlord, it does not entitle you to try to belittle anyone with the differing view.
Sometimes I think that reasoned and thoughtful discussion only goes on here when everybody agrees that all is well…
…Sounds a lot like being an Arsenal fan in general!
Can’t we all just try to get along without drawing battle lines whenever anyone questions the status quo?!
N7
I see what you mean regarding Guardiola and, dare I say it, I don’t actually think he would be right for us anyway. Even moodier than Wenger! HAHAHA!
Regards not having a replacement, I didn’t suggest for one minute that we should even get rid of Wenger. I have NEVER said that in any forum, anywhere, EVER. But if the club make the decision to go to that extreme rather than support him in making the changes that are required, surely it is their job to ensure a replacement is willing and available, no? In that regard I am suggesting nothing other than it is unrealistic for us to choose the replacement when it is unclear as to whether a replacement is needed and certain that our opinion would count for little or zero with the current board.
As for the board not hiring Wenger, they didn’t hire Moyes or Ferguson either, if you see my point.
Anyway, fuck it, yes, to better days/ Better days that will surely come.
And that is, of course, why we are still here π
@323 TW
No battle lines. There’s no right or wrong. I think the only rule is politeness…..you’re free to contradict yourself all night long.
We see things differently, I’m fine with that. The club is going through a rocky patch but it’s not Liverpoolesque…more hyperbole on your part. They were 2nd and 3rd in salary for 2008-10 and were imploding. We’ve always got what we paid for.
Thierry get used to being bullied on this blog if you swim against the tide. If you don’t drink in the Tollie and have each others personal emails, then you will get rounded on.
NYGooner was the first to pick up on this. He was then accused of ‘riding’ with me when he offered his support for me having to take on 4 regulars over the Usmanov debate.
Still, keep posting my friend. Some of us that are not hard of thinking hear what you are saying.
Wenger supporters, where are you??? Where are you??? Your beleagured manager needs you…where are you??? Let’s be having you (he needs you) π
Tim
I still don’t see anything in what I said that reads “Wenger Out”. I see me pointing out what the natural progression would be if the situation continued as is but nothing where I asked for a list of names. I think that maybe you are misreading what I typed there. Go at it again with the view that I have just clarified and see if it makes any more sense.
Yes, TV5 needs to hand over the armband and no, he is not first choice. There you go, like I said, closer than you think π
I said that we didn’t create any DECENT chances. We forced one half-decent save out of the keeper in 90 odd minutes. Not good enough.
Width – Speak to Arsene about the formation. Not my fault his wide men are not wingers.
Re The Rotter – Agreed, again…Although what chance of him going if we were actually competing for titles?
Ramsey at CM – 100% agree. See width for the next stage of that answer!
Transfer window – The main thrust was that we CANNOT let quality leave, replace it with nothing, players in other positions or second-rate players and expect to go anywhere but down. Is that something you would disagree with?
I see it as 4 years (that is FOUR and I DID specify that in my post) where the club appears to have accepted its “fate” and yet told us all (and charged us all) to a different tune. Make a choice is the main point, but telling us this is the best squad, we are not out of the title race, Gervinho is a great player who can electrify a stadium is just silly and shows contempt for the fans.
Formation – 100% agreed. That does appear to be our biggest problem. Well, apart from selling all our best players and replacing them with players who play in other positions and then trying to crowbar them into said formation.
Knackered players – I agree but surely the decision to rely on Rosicky, Diaby, Gibbs, Santos and Arshavin to give us “fitness opions” is about as stupid as selling The Rotter to ManU and hoping he wouldn’t score against us?!
Again, the final decision here rests with Wenger, like it or not.
Wenger leaving – As Bath so righteously says, I think the truth is somewhere around there. One question: If he leaves, will it be my fault personally if I haven’t planned his replacement?
Again, I urge you to consider the possibility that we are not as far apart as you think we are. Maybe your belief that I was calling for Wenger’s head and the a list of replacements is why we are having such trouble seeing what appear to be the same things from the same perspective.
All in all, we are Gooners. We live, we laugh, we die and cry by the club and we will still be here doing these very same things long after The Rotter has stopped sleeping with the enemy, after TV5 has left his post for the final time, after Kroenke dies in a freak yachting accident, after Wenger is gone…
I just want Wenger’s to be the marble bust that gets cleaned and polished the most and not the one that people see on the tours and say to their kids “tha guy was the genius that destroyed his own legacy.”
Dennis knows, he deserves it.
After my rubbish attempt at a humour, a serious point. The Gunnerblog site has done an excellent review of the match today & analysis on Arsenal’s & Wenger’s problems.
Today might just be a watershed. We can’t get any worse. Surely not.
TW
It was more bare-faced cheek than rudeness on my part but out of respect for this bar, which I love, I’ll reign that in when addressing you as I seem to have caused some v.mild distress.
For the record, I have no problem with differing opinions whatsoever. It all adds to the rich tapestry, IMO. So, you’ve mis-called that.
The fact that I know some of the patrons in this bar personally and have stood side-by-side with them is irrelevant. An opinion is an opinion. I don’t think any of mine are more valid than any of yours.
What grates is your incessant repetition of what’s wrong with the club and your ability to argue with yourself.
It appears I am not the only one who spots this, see Tim’s post at #325.
PS: You’re not that chap from Kanada are you?
David
Things can ALWAYS get worse. For a start, we might be based in N17…
@TW
You’ve calmed down a lot since Everton. Agree with far more of that than your post-match panic.
There’s some buddhist thinking needed in where we are now as a club. Sadness/anger is simply caused by not accepting things as they are. Here is my short summary that I’m trying to get used to. Please note this only applies to now – it can change and hopefully will.
Money dictates the game like never before. Payroll and results are more intertwined than ever before. With that said the best we can probably aspire to (today) is 3rd. We have managed that twice in the last 3 seasons. It can still happen this season. Payroll says we should be 4th.
I think in totality that we’ve over achieved since the rise and rise of Chelsea and now City. I dislike how it has changed the game but reluctantly accept it. As such I don’t know of another manager/coach better equipped to get more from our current predicament. That too may hopefully change (the predicament). When we had the 2nd highest payroll we played like it.
Buying young players, watching them mature and then leave is tragic. They leave to acquire or achieve more I suppose. There is every chance that some of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Gnabry, Gibbs, Szcz and Eisfeld will become every bit as good as those we have lost before.
I wrote recently that in 2-3 seasons we have the core of an exceptional team, a team that can really compete, even with less payroll. Many of them played today.
For now however there is a reluctance to wait long enough to find out. If we had underperformed in 2007-9 and finished outside the top 4 the whole cycle would look very different. We can’t persecute a manager who delayed what perhaps was inevitable. Can we agree that the gap between the top 2 and the rest of the league has rarely looked quite so Scottish?
Can we accept falling away to move forward? Replacing truly top players with very good players can work, if they are the right age and temperament….just as easily as it can fail. Beyond fiddling with better rotation, tactics and formation I don’t really expect much more right now. We’ve never gone out and bought the most expensive players and I don’t know that we ever will. (Alright…Malcolm McDonald). Most seemingly great managers have that option to hand.
I still believe we are a very unique club, quite like no other.
Ah well, still only 5 points off third place (looking on the bright side).
Although winning the CL is beginning to look a more realistic way of qualifying for next year (with Tottenham finishing fourth again … π )
We seemed to play without luck today. If we’d had any the result could have been different. And at least it wasn’t Ramsey’s fault this time!
Good to see Rosicky back, if only for a cameo. I thought he looked livelier than anyone else. But Jack is playing as I predicted, sadly, and I doubt he will be really back in form until next year.
So, who should we buy in January? What we NEED is a Falcao, but that’s about as likely as Szczesny winning the Golden Boot!
TS
“youβve mis-called that”
Then I sincerely apologise and I am glad we got that straight.
Truth be told, I have always liked your comments here and found yours to be one of those voices that gets me out of the funk if and when it is needed. Trouble is, I genuinely don’t see the funk clearing with words this time. It simply MUST be actions and the next few team selections, formations, matches and the transfer window are all that can really do the job.
I haven’t lost hope, heck, after the 80’s there is nothing really to lose hope over, it could ALWAYS be worse, but I have lost a little faith in the man at the top to support the man in the middle and I don’t see anything other than a downhill struggle if that doesn’t change.
All in all, we want the same things, we just disagree, sometimes mildly, sometimes vehemently, on how to go about achieving those goals.
Goals…Geddit?!?!
π
PS – NO! I AM NOT FROM FECKING KANADA!!! I am from Ireland but lived in England for a great chunk of my life, owning a season ticket for most of that time.
David,
I am guessing that you may be referring to me in your attempt at humor. As I said yesterday, I realize this team and AW have weaknesses and faults. What I don’t agree with is calling any of them names. You can criticize without insulting. As a supporter of the club I will do just that. Support. I am not happy with where we are as a club. I am sure we can do better. How it will all happen I am not sure. We need change. We need to ask the hard questions. But we need to do it rationally and probably without as much emotion that is flowing around the club right now.
TW,
You raise some of the questions that need to be asked. I hope the team and board are willing to really analyze where we are going from here.
north bank 1
Thanks for the support there although I hope that it is:
a) Ultimately unnecessary and;
b) Worded a little differently from here on in.
Let’s not go with phrases like “hard of thinking”. We are all Gooners at the end of the day and, even if you believe that somebody is being rude to you, the only thing you can do is try to get past it, look for an apology if you feel one is necessary and try to get the conversation back on track.
I understand where you are coming from, just don’t want us to do any “stooping” whilst we are about it.
Meanwhile, let’s hope that we actually see some real changes for the WBA game. I would personally rather see Gnabry than Gervinho, Eisfeld than a totally run-down Arteta and Walcott in the centre with Giroud. At least we would be trying something different.
In fact, how about this for an XI to take on the brummers…
Szcz
Jenks – BFG – TV5 – Gibbs
Gnabry – JW10 – Eisfeld – Cazorla
Walcott – Giroud
Bench:
Mannone, Djourou, Coquelin, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Podolski
Plenty of options to change things in terms of both subs and formations there.
Reckon we’ll find our feet.The team just has’nt clicked yet.We will.Fancy us for silverware this season, strong challenge mounted next season.Way too early for hysteria.
Give it a week or so.
Peace.
Tim@332
Great stuff there and lots to think about. Thank you for taking the time.
I agree that a resetting of expectations may be needed, but if that is the case, would it just not be fairer for the board and manager to simply stop lying to us all the time?!
They could charge a little less for the pleasure too π
One question…Why is it that you and TS are both claiming that I spend my time arguing with myself?
Because I changed from thinking that TV5 was playing terribly to thinking that he is now starting to show a little bit of better form?
Because I think that Ramsey has been playing badly but would benefit from the chance to at least get a run out IN position?
Not being sarcy, genuinely interested to know what part of my opinions seem to be contradictory.
where in Ireland TW?
Is anyone feeling any better had few beers but….
Watching the La Liga made me worse…..
Now watching The Dark Knight Rises and I tell you it’s fucking good film!
If you like Batman that is! π
off out for beers/dinner now Arthur…will advise if it helps any. With my luck I’ll probably bump into someone with a RvP Man Utd shirt…that’ll be nice.
Ps Tim
“I still believe we are a very unique club, quite like no other.”
That +100 π
I’m a fucking ina good good vibe mood peeps!
It could be lot worse we could be tiny tots farts π heh….
Sunny Dingle, Kerry! Little and quaint, even now!
NorCal
Fingers very firmly crossed.
Great posts Thierry, you have my full support.
And for anyone saying calling for Wenger’s head before lining up a replacent is wrong I ask you to consider this; I divorced my wife because she was a real cunt, without a replacement lined up! I’m now happily remarried.
If something is wrong, really wrong, worse this year than last and the year before that, we’ll, to keep faith when something’s bad…..you’ll get what we’ve got now.
Night all.
Geoff, Gooner since ’71 (first game not year of my birth!).
Dingle…edge of the continent. Lovely little place, did that dolphin finally bugger off?
Tim,
Then you need to smile and say I’m a Gooner and he never will be! π
HAHAHA! Fungie the Dolphin!
I left the very same year he arrived and my grandmother used to say that it was my spirit in dolphin form!
Crazy old bat!
As for Dingle being the edge of the continent…Edge of the world more like!
Geoff – Thanks mate…The ex-wife story will put a smile on my face for at least a week! Well in sir!
TW Glad for Gooners like you good mood is the key π
and by the way, according to the family, he is STILL there! Apparently very old now but still a big tourist attraction!
We’re cool TW. Glad you hail from an altogether more Emerald isle.
π
Hey TS fancy some wisniowka? π
=Shit lads it takes us towards 1:30 to cool the party down….
Well 1:39………..
TS@353
π
Holics
Keep those heads up! I’m out now have great weekend what is left of it!
I call bullshit on guardiola.
Hes flavor of the month. An he sure as fuck DID inheirit the best foot allers on the planet.
Hes barca thri and thu and he ticka tacka woild run us [further] into the ground because we lack the squad for it. Anyone saying pep for arsenal is either a fool, lying to themselves, or plays A LOT of video games.
2 week self imposed media ban starts now.
And for what its worth, methinks these marches and protests are juvenile and cou terproductive.
Cheers and peace holics.
Homer…
With you 100% sir.
http://twitter.com/ArsenalEdits/status/274991029080436737/photo/1
Sadly, this really is funny!
Anyone saying pep for arsenal is either a fool, lying to themselves, or plays A LOT of video games.
But at least I’m literate.
havnt been in here for ages< funny to see the same arguments/disscussions going down,i wont put my two cents in as i dont have acess to watch the team at the moment,hope all are well.
I can’t take much more of this. Chronic hyperventilation over the last three seasons is costing me a fortune in oxygen cylinders. Also my doctor refuses to take my blood pressure ever again. He claims I’ve blown up twenty of the clinic’s machines since August. Not to be outdone the warranty insurance company covering MRI and Cat scan equipment issued a fatwa on me this evening.
Let me offer this one crumb of comfort. A reminder of past glories and those dim distant days of heroism when we last fully tasted the Holy Grail , AFC 5 – Seven Sisters Sewer Authority 2.
I do have one other useless suggestion, however. Offered more as gallows humour than anything serious.
“Time for Big Sam and chicken wings Nolan to the rescue.”
Photos can bring a unique perspective of any match. Stats don’t tell the whole story. Pictures of our lads frozen in time. Neck veins distended. Muscles bulging. Bodies twisted in mid air. Faces contorted with pain and grim determination. Arms and legs, bent at unnatural angles. We miss these closeups when watching the game. Thank heavens there is evidence in pictures. The most heartwrenching pic I came across, was of Santi and Mikel, standing side by side, heads down and shoulders sagging, after Everton had scored. Two noble, weary warriors who game after game after game try their very best. Yes we were outplayed. But before you say ‘we didn’t try’, think again. LOOK again. Oh why oh why do you not see. A picture is worth a thousand words π
Meant to say Swansea. Just tired myself and a bit emotional…
if only wenger n co. would b influenced by bloggers!!! we as fans know what we need but wenger and co. wount admit to their flaws…
what has been said by yall is true and just a pointer…what we need are winners from the board, to the coach (who a decade ago used to be) and players too (of whom now are not willing to play for the coach nor the club)
again arsenal fc has lost the plot!!
bring in any coach with drive passion and go for it attitude wenger doesn’t have it in him any more!!
at least we have a place to vent out…thanx holic and all ma fellow suffering gunners!!!
Hark now hear the Arsenal moan……………..
right…1am in California….just back from dinner/pub. still annoyed about a match that began 18 hours ago.
I am glad/shocked to read that fungie is still alive however.
Geoff @ 347
I assume there was a gap between wife #1 and wife #2?
Sadly, I don’t think Arsenal have the luxury of operating without a manager for a few years while they wait for the right replacement to come along. We’re not Chelsea.
Arseblog spot on this morning.
He sure is, summing it up with one sentence:
“This season is what last season probably would have been like without Robin van Persie”
I think the Guv’nor must be cooking up a “Sunday Special” for our tittification.
What a surprise that Arseblog singles out Walcott for particular attention this morning. What a joker.
Nonny: Why is that a surprise?
And as far as Wenger goes you only have to ask yourself one question.
Is Arsene Wenger doing the job to the best of his ability?
If the answer is no, why not? Motivation, attitude, staleness? He should be fired if he’s not doing his best.
If the answer is yes, it’s not good enough. Football is a results business and his have been wank for ages. He should therefore be fired.
Simple really. Cheerio Arsene.
It’s not. Sarcasm is hard to do in type.
Nonny: you are Roman Abramovich and I claim my Β£5.
Also: can I borrow a few quid?
Bad weekend gets worse. PHW recovering from heart attack.
Get well soon old chap.
You can have Β£5 but if you spend it badly, I’ll give you another Β£20m to fuck off π
Nonny @ 380
Heh! Very good.
Funny to see Sunday Supplement muppet Paul Heyward saying that Mertesacker is not a good enough player to get you top four in the Premier League, but Vermaelen is world class and will be wondering about leaving his sub-standard team mates behind.
Obviously not a regular watcher of Arsenal games, Paul.
Arsenal to make a triple raid on the transfer market with swoops for Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. It would have been four players but Clive Dunn snuffed it before the transfer window reopened.
Heh @ Nonny @ 383
Hah! Esso nails it (again) at #368.
ATG! Proper Polish Vodka for brekkie, oh go on then & na zdrowie !
Ok I had a few replies to my deeply distressed knee jerk pattern of thinking last night, which was:
“I say boycott the 1st half of the next match in protest. All bundle in at half time, point madeβ¦ this is what itβll be like playing for Arsenal soon if it doesnβt shape up, empty new shiny stadium”.
Clearly not thought out at all, but what if there was some kind of consensus that no-one went in until at least 15 mins of the match had transpired? Start filtering in after that. The cameras would be quick to record it, and the point would be made.
Nonny replies: “But they won’t care though”
Well, maybe not. But we (collectively) would know where we stand from then on.
At the moment it could be argued that they don’t care anyway… what changes have happened in the last 3 seasons that have gone a long way to reinstating us to Invincibles level?
NZ @ 276: Next manager. The answer depends on whether we are a big club anymore. Whilst talk of Guardiola and Mourinho et al is a good bit of tub thumping, realistically where are we at? Is the craziness down to AW, or the board?
I’m talking of the bigger picture of still having Squillaci Denilson Bendtner and a host of others still on the payroll.
That’s without addressing the tactical ineptness thats been on display for oh so long now.
Even Phil Brown would do a better job than the current display.
Whether the players are tired or not – some sense in that for the newcomers, as it takes some time to adapt to the faster pace and frequency of games in the Prem – they certainly appear to play in a backwards, sideways, anything but forwards, clueless way.
And I’m fucking sick of it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So tabs is in the Daily Fail for a limp draw on Villa and apparently I was show on TV yesterday during that shit performance at home?
‘holics should stay well away from the limelight π
In other news: Get Well Soon, Peter Hill-Wood.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/02/arsenal-chairman-peter-hill-wood
I understand everyones frustration the fans are paying the most expensive ticket in world football and we have had the worst start to a league season under AW. To keep us in the top 4 against the artificially financed teams such as City, Chelsea and even to some extent UTD who have huge debts and spend money they don’t really have ie a dodgy share offer on the US stock exchange to raise the funds for RvP is really a magnificent achievement in my opinion, I really don’t think any other manager could do the same.
We have for the last few years since the move had to sell the crown jewels every summer and replace them with bargain youngsters or players with potential which has worked to a certain degree as unless we had bankrupted the club we would not have been able to compete with Billionaired owned clubs anyway. however it seems that we have maybe gone one too far in selling RvP this time around as 30 + goals is hard to replace and the depth in the squad lacks the quality at the moment to give our better players a breather and keep them fresher.
Those who thought that the move to a new stadium would be easy and that we would be able to spend millions on players due to the extra revenue I think just need to be that little bit more patient as I feel now the new sponsorship deal has been signed with Emirates and the upcoming shirt deal will enable us to not only buy better quality players but also to have more quality in depth. It would be a shame for all the hard work AW has done getting the club to this position to be forced out before he has the chance to use those extra funds, I think it is obvious really that through austerity caused by the stadium that AW really has had his hands tied and I think to have got us this far along a very hard path he at least deserves the chance to be able to spend those funds and be judged then.
Having supported the club since 1971 I can assure the younger followers of this blog that if they think this is dark times then they should go and read an Arsenal history book. AW is a proud man, hates to get beaten and is a winner who has the club at heart and I’m sure he is hurting just as much as us this morning.
Lets keep behind the team and the manager and win the next game and stop the bickering they need even more than now our support as I feel their will definitely be light at he end of the tunnel.
After all We Are The Arsenal
Thoughts are with the Hill-Woods this morning. Their family has done a huge amount for the club we love over the generations.
Get well soon old boy.