I’ve Seen This Game Before
Dec 2nd, 2012 by 'holic
Wood; Hollins, O’Leary, Whyte, Sansom; Talbot, Davis, Nicholas, Rix; Sunderland, Vaessen
February 1982. I sat in the East Lower and watched a very talented Swansea team beat a very ordinary Arsenal 2-0. Who doesn’t believe in Groundhog Day? Yesterday I relived the experience in the West Lower.
The mid eighties, like the mid seventies, remain in the memory of those who supported the Arsenal back then as barren spells. As I sat watching yesterday those feelings returned, vivid recollections of knowing we’re not as good as we could be, given the talent at our disposal.
I say that more in resignation than criticism. I decided to turn the clock back when I got home after the match. The computer stayed off, and as was my wont back in the day. Match of the Day remained unwatched. There is a lot to be said for sticking your fingers in your ears and singing “la la la, I can’t hear you”. Back in 1982 we would have dissected the game in the Gunners, or the Bank, or the Tavern afterwards and gone home to forget it for another week. In the coming days further rounds of divisive debate on social media platforms will rage on. It’s the way things are. Get used to it, old man.
I have read elsewhere that Swansea came and played the football we play. I beg to differ. They came to play the football we used to play. They knocked it around purposefully, made themselves available for each other. In contrast I lost count of the times an Arsenal midfielder would put his foot on the ball and literally beg for those ahead of him to show themselves, to make that incisive run.
By now you will all have seen the game so further description is unnecessary, and will only add to the level of noise. Those of us ‘lucky’ enough to have endured watching football as occasionally poor as we are currently producing know it won’t last. The remaining fixtures in December all look as though they should yield points, and indeed Arsene needs those points to keep us within range of the challengers for a top four berth before he can actually address the obvious weaknesses in this squad.
In the coming month though he does need his ‘jaded’ players to start living up to their reputations. Those who spent yesterday cowering in the shadows need to make themselves available so that forward passes can be completed rather than surrendered cheaply to determined opponents. Tomas Rosicky returning may help our pass completion but only if he can find his targets. Olivier Giroud returning to the starting eleven would mean at least we have some power up top until we can buy someone to provide competition or support for him.
The solutions are easy to type, but obviously harder to put into practice. Shortly after losing to Swansea thirty years ago we faced West Brom at home and drew 2-2. Next week we are at home to them again. Another Groundhog Day would increase the pressure on the manager. We can only hope those chosen to start will put on a performance to lift the spirits both inside and outside the changing room.
Peter Hill-Wood
I am just seeing reports that the chairman suffered a heart attack on Friday. I am pleased to see he is making a good recovery, and hope that recovery is both full and quick.
381 Responses to “I’ve Seen This Game Before”
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Gets in for a sneaky drink b4 the doomers!
Looks like I just missed the cut, so here’s a repeat :
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
In other news: Get Well Soon, Peter Hill-Wood.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/02/arsenal-chairman-peter-hill-wood
I’ll drink with you, garsguns!
Perry Groves summed up our game nicely on Sky last night. His criticism of Rosicky on the second goal highlighted something I hadn’t noticed. He didn’t show for a pass initially, ran back to chase Michu then virtually stopped and let him have his shot anyway when he could have got a block in with three more strides.
Well I see, ‘holic got the news too.
Thanks fort the (real) drinks yesterday, ‘holic!
Rather too many I think, Ollie
Bad influence…
Leafing back through the Thierry biog this morning – it really is great stuff and a must-read for all Gooners, if only to recall happier days.
Anyway, I came across this quote from the great man, which seems pertinent at times like this:
“We feel loved. When the fans sing your name after you’ve messed up, you really want to bury the next chance, just for them, to give them pleasure. In England, if I make technical mistake, I forget it more quickly, because of the public. We may be pros, but it does a lot of good to be pushed that way. Because of that, we surpass ourselves.”
Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Funny you should say that, Nonny, I just watched it a few seconds ago. Rosicky was the only one to fucking bust a gut there and only gave up when he could do nothing.
Fucking absurd to slag him off.
Your beloved Feo, on the other hand, and I have praised him for his recent performances, was utter shite and cowardly for the 90 minutes.
But anyway, apart from Szcz, there weren’t really any decent performances out there…
Well Cazorla’s commitment and harrying, however tired, is also pleasant to see.
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.
Have you had the “You’re posting too quickly, slow down” message yet, Ollie?
The Rosicky thing wasn’t really a slag off, more of a “You’ve run fifty yards, why slow to a jog when you could have made a block?”
As for Theo, he was awful and he does seem to be a bit too satisfied with his contribution since he returned (the interview where talked about his flukey Everton goal as an example of deadly finishing for example).
But he was still light years better than Gervinho.
‘Holic – Great perspective , thanks. Right now, I’d take that 2-2 draw against The Baggies. Just trying to be realistic about where we are at the moment.
The 5pur2 effect this year seems to be the opposite of last year’s. I have no idea why.
Up The Arsenal.
Heh Nonny.
I really don’t think he had any chance of making a block, to be fair.
Abd I was wondering if you would dare saying that but no: yesterday Gervinho was shit, but in my humble opinion (and I seem to be far from the only one…) Theo was even worse yesterday.
And whichever way you look there’s certainly no-one who saw the game would could say he was ‘light years better’ than Gervinho. Unless you have John Cross-tinted specs, come on.
In Gervinho’s defence he does have an excuse for playing rubbish.
He IS rubbish
I think it’s down to the haircut, Nonny
We have giroud to come back ????? There is the problem, a lack of quality. We sell RVP and replace with that ! Look at the players we have, the tactics we have, the organisation in terms of having to sell our best players so as to balance the books. How can we expect to win and win in style any more, we cannot. Its the way its been done, at the expence of fans to make those greedy sob rich.
Re: Theo – if the club don’t have good reason to think he’ll sign in the next four weeks then he shouldn’t be starting games.
We’re in a trough, morale is low, and I cannot see it being helped by having a guy on the pitch who is known to be waiting out his contract before moving on, no matter what his abilities may be.
Sick of watching players walk all over us. We need to show a bit of pride.
And I say that fully recognising that both fivehead and the Ox are in no kind of form.
But they’re hardly likely to find any sat on the bench, and it’s highly likely that it’s those two players we’ll be turning to if and when Walcott walks in January.
Shame Bayern vs Dortmund and Atletico vs Real were on yesterday, the football on the menu today looks rather underwhelming on paper.
mike – I’ve not been Giroud’s greatest fan but I’ve grown to like him because he tries his very best all the time and it obviously matters to him that he does well. He gives us a great threat up front (in the air at least) and I won’t knock him any more because his attitude is great, and early on it seemed to clear to me that the pressure of the move was causing him to play badly. I didn’t think he looked like shaking that pressure off, but he’s done it and he’s flourished.
Of the new signings, he’s the one I like most. And I never thought I’d say that after seeing his early displays.
His good looks have won you over, Nonny
HFB – Huge Fucking Bignose.
Nice post Holic. Historical perspective to assuage short term angst.
A nice glass of Pinotage with lunch will help a bit too.
Thanks for the dram yesterday, Holic.
Will you be at the Baggies game?
Im missing a rightback for the XI i want to leave this club, can anyone help me out?
FABIANSKI
R.B UNKNOWN SQUILLACI DJOUROU SANTOS
RAMSEY DIABY
ARSHAVIN
THEO GERVINHO
CHAMAKH
I would be sad to see Rambo leave, but i think its time we promoted Thomas Eisfeld into the senior side. The rest of these useless cunts need to disappear asap!
Heh ‘holic! I went to both those games back in 82. From memory we was 2-0 down to WBA before snatching a draw at the death, inspired by Stewart Robson. Anyone big enough to play that role for us now? Not forgetting he never really delivered and fucked off later as well.
Afternon all.
I haven’t returned to the previous bar, catch up on that (time permitting) later.
Just popping in quickly to send out my best wishes to Mr PHW, a great custodian of our club and an Arsenal man through and through. Get well soon sir.
Head of nail firmly smote, Esso.
Unfortunately given we surrender the ball all too easily these days we don’t actually have a midfielder very good at getting the bloody thing back.
I will indeed be there bath. That’s how it works isn’t it? Regardless of what we serve up we’ll be there, hoping for another of the good days.
…worth remembering too there are more good days than bad…
Avoiding the Twitterverse like the plague. I can only imagine how poisonous it will be today.
Bet some inbreds are digging out the chairman on there, and I wouldn’t be able to resist getting dragged down to their level.
Spot on Holic.
I didn’t even look at the computer last night.
For whatever reason, and many have already said more than enough about that, yesterday’s was possibly the worst I can remember since we moved into our new home.
Credit, firstly, to Swansea who gave us a lesson in pass and move football. Apart from a fifteen minute spell in the second half, our team was static all over the pitch. The result was, therefore, inevitable.
I don’t want to mention any individuals, bar these.
I felt very, very sorry for Jenkinson who, with more experience would probably have put the ball out of play rather than run towards his own goal looking for a pass. It was not his fault that there was not one viable option on for him. Eventually he was harried into the stumble that cost us the second goal.
I hope it doesn’t haunt the lad too much. He was one of few who gave us 90 minutes of genuine effort yesterday.
Olivier Giroud. He seems to be getting a fair amount of the blame for yesterday which is surprising as he spent most of it on the bench.
He is not crap, at all. Neither is he a lone striker. In my opinion, he will only come into his own when he has someone alongside who is anticipating the flicks and links that he provides. After one failed attempt yesterday when he lost the ball, he sprinted the length of the pitch to help win the ball back in his own penalty area.
And he needs someone, anyone, who can cross the effing ball even half reasonably.
We have one full back who turns inside at every conceivable opportunity, leaving himself one option only on his one decent foot. That option is a left footed pass into the back four (well, I did say I wouldn’t name names.
. He did seem to have been ordered not to do it anymore at the start of the second half, but then ……..
Crosses from the other side are, sadly, generally woeful, although Jenks did put in one scorcher that deserved better.
It is puzzling why we are so poor at the moment. As Abb said, many of us had high hopes at the beginning of the season for a team that looked full of experience and quality.
The depth of the squad is the obvious problem, but so too is the collective paucity of performance from so many good looking individuals.
Finally, an echo of Holic’s good wishes for PHW.
Not everyone’s favourite, but there are many other less favourable options out there.
Have a good day, Gooners.
I was at both of those ’82 games too. For West Brom I was in the NorthBank (via the schoolboys), for the visit of the Swans in the Clock End, but ended up in the East Stand (via bunking over the wall) The stewards knew that they weren’t gonna catch us, plus there were quite a few seats available, so let us be.
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 there will definitely be light at he end of the tunnel.
After all We Are The Arsenal
Yesterday I witnessed a bunch of strangers playing at the Emirates.
The bunch of strangers were:
25 Tremmel
04 Chico
06 Williams
22 Rangel
33 Davies
07 Britton
09 Michu
12 Dyer
20 De Guzman
24 Ki Sung-Yeung
17 Shechter
Tremmel is the reserve keeper (an experienced 34 year old German who I would rather have in my team than Mannone). Chico, Michu, De Guzman, Ki and Schechter are playing their first season for Swansea and Davies is the reserve left back who is covering for Taylor who is out long-term.
Whereas in Arsenal’s starting XI, only LFG and Cazorla are new to this year’s team.
Why can Laudrup, who has no experience managing in England, mold a team and a system which can press or hold their shape for 90 minutes and look composed and Wenger can’t get his squad to perform consistently? There was no negative tactics, no parking the bus, not a great deal of time-wasting. I was one of many who clapped off the park.
We need players who can give 7-8/10 performances week in week out. They need to have energy and commitment even if things aren’t working out for them.
We need a manager to have some tactical ingenuinity and fans to support the team from the first minute to the 90th.
I don’t want a manager to tell the media that his squad is tired after 15 league games, 7 Champions League games and two Capital One games. We haven’t played any more games than we usually do by 1 December. I’m not obsessional enough to trawl through past seasons but I would guess we have more squad players potentially at our disposal but I guess it is the quality of players Wenger has bought which is coming back to bite him on his arse.
As I am someone who enjoys catharsis, cracking omelettes etc, I am liking this season for all the wrong reasons
‘holic 29 same here.
Dons vs Dons doesn’t seem to be on TV here, sadly.
“I have read elsewhere that Swansea came and played the football we play. I beg to differ. They came to play the football we used to play. ”
Exactly what I said on the Arses yesterday.
No drinks for me, at least not yet. Still *boilk*ing.
good day gooners!!! am not seening anyone mentioning solutions to the problems at hand. may we should change to a 4,4,2 formation and play with podoski and giroud on top
Cheers ‘Holic, hope you all had as good a day as possible yesterday, notwithstanding the grim fare on offer.
I watched the game yesterday (highlight – seeing Ollie on the box – corner to Arsenal in the 55th minute if anyone’s interested) and then decided to watch a couple of films instead of internet venting.
Have done the full back-drink. Hats off to all of Thierry, Tim, N7 and Nonny in the last round of drinks for putting all their points across from very differing perspectives in a very reasoned way. It will be no surprise to anyone that I find myself nearer the views expressed by Tim and N7 but that is not to say that I disagreed with all that Nonny and Thierry had to say. I didn’t.
Yesterday was as dispiriting as it gets. ‘Holic, I was also at those two games you mention in the early eighties. I found the Swansea defeat particularly painful at the time as my childhood hero Ray Kennedy turned out for the Swans, a sad reminder of better days at Highbury. Other than the immediate and constant internet analysis which you mention, the big difference between those days and now is supporter expectation. Back then, we all mumbled and grumbled at a bad defeat, but did we really expect anything different? Not really I would suggest.
Where the Club really do deserve criticism, in my opinion, is in managing fans expectations. There has been no transparency as regards how much money has been available. As such we are all left to draw our own conclusions from the accounts, battle lines are drawn and people choose to blame either the Board, Arsene, or indeed both.
As for the game, little to add to what has been said. The first half was so dire that I shall draw a discrete veil. The second half was better for 25 minutes or so, where we at least pressed for the ball and the game was largely played in their half, but Swansea rallied and were the better side for the last 20 minutes and no-one can say they didn’t get what they deserved.
Can Arsene turn it round? History would suggest that he can, but the truth is I don’t know. What I do know is that he will get my support for as long as he is trying.
To better days.
Spot on tabs.
Does Ian Wright play for MK DOns now?
The answer to our problems is to bring back Bendtner.
The solution is to get premiership proven players. this is what United and City are doing. As an example Wenger can go for leighton Baines and Fellaini, but he will not do that. Yes they will cost more but that what ambitious clubs do. Fergie paid 24 millions for a 29 year old with few months left on his cotract. That shows he is so determined to win the title. Does he need to worry wether RVP going to get him goals, absolutely not. the guy is proven he can do it. Giroud has the potential to come good but possibly in a year or 2. The lads we have like Ox, Jenkinson, they are fresh from championship and will need years of experience to become proven players. Arteta was a good signing, a proven player. last year he was excellent, this year he is playing as a sweeper, that is a waste of such talent. If wenger replaced Song with another holding player then Arteta would continue to do the stuff he was doing last year, coming forward creating and scoring vital goals. Wenger knows this well in the end it comes down to money, I hear money is vaialable with the new sponsorship deals so it is time to get some decent players in.
wow.afc wmbeldon have equalised. and the fans invaded the pitch. grudge and passion mixed into one
There is much to be said for showing restraint when feelings are running high, but with all due respect Holic there comes a time when too much restraint could be read as burying your head in the sand.
I’m amazed that Wenger or the board has escaped any criticism whatsoever in your post. Seriously, how long can this keep going on before you acknowledge that a rot has set into our beloved club that spreads from the boardroom right down to the players?
“The remaining fixtures in December all look as though they should yield points”
Really? On what basis do you make that claim? It certainly can’t be what you saw yesterday or even any of the games since we beat West Ham which seems a long time ago now. We haven’t defeated any league opponent who kept 11 men on the pitch in the last 8 games and are 10th in the table, 15 points off the top and 15 points off the bottom.
I’m starting to think your reluctance to criticise is more blind faith than restraint.
I’m sure everything negative to be said has already been done to death so I’ll leave that for this moment in time. I thought that the Verminater put in a pretty decent shift and Woj proved his worth time and time again.
Credit should also go to Swansea who came to play and were good value for their win.
We’ll have better days, that’s for sure.
A sneaky tipple for all those who choose to join me in looking forward.
I’ll join you in a tipple H2H, cheers old son.
Thanks N7
A drink for me too, it’s really cold (but sunny) today here.
Nice one lads.
*raises glass and takes a hefty swig of an Absolute with a sidgoen of Coke*
In the meantime, Barton gets his second assist of the day and the cunts from Marseille lead 2-1. A weekend to forget (Bordeaux conceded a late equaliser yesterday in a game they should have won, Lyon won and are top).
Just to change the subject slightly. Excellent article here on something discussed before in these drinks – the German model:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2012/dec/01/german-fan-owned-clubs-bundesliga
Makes me nostalgic for those days standing on the north-west bank when, if you found yourself surrounded by a bunch of nutters, you could move away. Or others could move away from me, haha. And it didn’t cost a king’s ransom to get in.
I believe very strongly in paying my way/round but I have absolutely no bad conscience about watching matches on an illegal stream, especially as I’m not even in the UK.
Eisfeld scores again!
(I’m guessing that if he’s playing for the U21s today he won’t travel to Greece for the CL game though)
As we have already qualified for the last 16, I think it would be a good idea to give most of the first team the night off on Tuesday. How about:
Mannone
Jenkinson
Djourou
Miquel
Santos
Coquelin
Arshavin
Rosicky
Ox
Gervinho
Gnabry
Surely if Squillaci was on the bench yesterday, Djourou must be injured?
I have to say Ollie that it really is a mystery to me as to why Eisfeld has not figured at all after such a wonderful debut against Reading.
Yeah, a bit suprised too, tabs. However much I like Rosicky, even forgetting Arshavin, surely a fit Eisfeld is preferable to a clearly not match-fit Rosicky (who incidentally is not playing today so will most probably play a part on Tuesday)? It all sounds a bit panicky: we took our time getting Jack and Bac to match-fitness via U21s games, it looks like Rosicky is being forced into action while not ready (his absence has not been that much shorter than Sagna’s).
Hey Holic. Holic, you mention ‘jaded’ players. I was somewhat upset by your use of that word. Until I looked it up and found it has two meanings. Jaded: fatigued by overwork, exhausted. This I did not know. I was only familiar with the more conventional definition: made dull by apathy or cynical by experience.
I give you a thumbs up for offering a few tactical solutions, and as a novice, look forward to hearing more from you on what I find to be a fascinating subject. Now to switch gears. I echo your sentiments on a full and speedy recovery to our Chairman.
We are out of our minds if we field a single first team regular in Greece.
Hello abb
It is ofcourse hard to gauge how good a player is after one game, but he certainly did look the part against Reading. He literaly bossed the midfield.
However, instead of rushing him we maybe better served in bringing in a proper DMF (who, I don’t know) and move Arteta back to where he is better.
I think it’ll be a mixed team, N7. Hopefully we don’t pick an unfortunate injury like last season.
I know, it was Santos, but at the time he was seemingly our only full-back left and still had the people’s vote
And when I say ‘mixed’, I don’t mean that some of the Arsenal ladies will play.
I missed the game yesterday as I was lucky enough to be at twickenham for the rugby. An 8.30 start, breakfast and pub by 11.30. We watched the first half of west ham chelski and made our way to the game. I was then treated to a fantastic game of rugby.
We returned to the pub just in time to catch the scores. It was then that I discovered what had taken place at the grove. I think the really sad thing is that I really was not that surprised. Obviously disappointed but really not surprised. That in itself I find very worrying.
I still can’t bring myself to watch motd and probably never will. Not sure I can face it.
Best wishes to PHW.
Heh, shame.
Hi there Ollie and company
Just scrutinizing the drinks 
I’m betting we’ll get MK Dons in the Cup
Swansea in the FA Cup!
Away to Swansea.
Or Man U as predicted by Tone?
Nope it’s Swansea again. Away!
We could get very sick of playing Swansea soon. Especially if we qualify for the next round of the League Cup.
Heh @ Ollie
Throwing on some of the ladies might not be a bad idea at this stage.
Given how flat we look at the minute I reckon a midweek rest for the firsts is a must. It will also give some of the squad players a chance to push their claim for a first team berth – they should be extra-motivated.
Ollie 69
Swan-seasick?
Yeah, I agree with you, N7. While there is a chance of finishing first, it’s out of our hands, and well, while it’s nice to play the second leg at home, it’s never a guarantee to draw an easier team, so I’d say not worth getting mad about.
Of course, whichever way, not winning will see mayhem again. :’(
If that floats your boat, H2H
Swansea beat us twice in 3 recent meetings. So we will go into that game as underdogs. It might suit us better.
U21s equally doomed. Martin Keown’s son scores a late equaliser for Reading. Bah.
Arsenal Live @ArsenalLive
GOAL FOR READING. Equaliser right at the end through Niall Keown (90) 2-2
Ouvrir
5 min Arsenal Live Arsenal Live @ArsenalLive
Into the final moments now, and Arsenal look pretty comfortable (90) 2-1
Jinxing, ArsenalLive-style.
Ollie,
The Arsenal ladies are more likely to get a result right now.
First I must offer up an apology to Tabs. I know you always post when you are in full control of your thoughts
And yes, I can endorse your latest contribution. What may come as a surprise is that our passing success was slightly better than theirs (89.8 % / 88%). They faired better with tackles (14/21) and overall shots (7/9).
Re: Champs League, given the effort involved in away games, I think we either need to decide it’s a critical one to win and play the firsts, or reason that the risk is not worth the possible benefit and play the B team.
Worst case scenario is we go there and get beat + pick up a couple of injuries having fielded a strong XI (some of whom will then need resting for West Brom).
West Brom game looks critical to our season right now. It has to be the priority.
The remaining fixtures in december all look like they will yield points ? thats what we were all saying this time yesterday and numerous times before. Lets hope rosicky learns how to tackle as well as he stands beside and watches an opposition player scoring. But who cares if december does yield a few points everything will be rosy again we might even get up to ninth.
I would be bothered by the Cup draw if we gave a shit about it as a club.
I’m more bothered by the local pitch being frozen, so my afternoon out is cancelled. Gay.
NorCal 77, I will use N7′s hint at 70 to make a terrible joke.
You’ve been warned:
they certainly would be less flat that their male counterparts.
*gets coat and exits swiftly*
dave, dave, Rosicky is one of our best tacklers. I may have to see the video again since so many people seem to fucking moan, but I don’t think he could get there (without picking a red card).
Or perhaps his lack of fitness made him hesitate. But blaming him there is fucking lunacy.
Tell them to invest in undersoil heating, Nonny
Abb, I have no idea why you’re apologising to me, but whatever the reason, it’s certainly not required. As for me only posting when I am “in full control of my thoughts”, Oh how wrong you are!
Ollie @54 – Agreed. Rosicky looked woefully undercooked even for the 15 mins he was afforded. With Diaby crocked (indefinitely it seems), Ramsey struggling, Jack over-utilised at this stage of his comeback, and Arteta and Sani both knacked, I would have thought that a few cameos from the bench might have been the very least that Eisfeld might have expected.
Swansea away? Shiiiit.
Oh dave, dave
Well, as usual the holics have not disappointed me. Some interesting reads to be had. Lack of depth in our squad is our biggest problem. Did you know it is common for players to rely on sleeping pills? Who would of thought that. I mean with all that physical exertion spent off and on the pitch. 
Totally agree with resting our key players on Tuesday. Time for our diamonds in the rough to shine 
Hey Tabs
Hello holics, Long time no see coz life has kept me super busy lately (not exactly a bad thing I realize now)
Twitter and ITKs are all on about how Wenger has lost the dressing room and how Wenger and Bould have serious difference of opinions.
Its a well documented fact that Wenger doesnt like his decisions questioned – but he could have met his match in Steve.
Now in any other club , this would only mean one thing. Sack the manager and get soemone who can motivate the players.. But at Arsenal, i wont be surprised to see everyone else fired and Arsene still in there..
Judging by the relatively few angry posts today, perhaps the club have achieved their goal of managing our expectations.
I think maybe we are ‘jaded’ too; we can’t cope with watching uninspired unimaginative football twice a week.
I might rest myself too for the Olympiakos game before I develop ‘learned helplessness’
Twitter and ITK? Best ignored. Especially when one of them is Stewart Robson.
Heh, Jez. As long as you come back refreshed
Jez
Umm, I see today’s Arseblog has posted the pic of Santi and Mikel that I refered to in the last post. Worth a peek.
Welcome back Sajit.
Twitter and ITK? Best ignored.
OKB
Great piece by Blogs today I thought.
Was indeed a balanced post.
Undertones of doubt mixed with cautious optimism.
yep, harsh but fair I thought
OKB. Heh. I like that.
Looks for the Ollie……………..
pings it towards the penalty spot
KABOOOM
Well in H2H.
Ollie, you truly are the king of the assists. If only Feo was as reliably consistent!
SIGN HIM UP
Still the winning combination, well played H2H!
heh, tabs
(in the usual spot
)
At least we’re consistant.
Always the ones for me Ollie. I’m just a glory-hunter!
Right, off for a bit.
Just ventured into Twitter. One retard apart better than I expected..
A fair summary of Piers Morgan, ‘holic
Walk into dining room. Feet get wet. What tha?
Seriously? House flooded last night. Great. Sunny California.
What a fabulous weekend. Oh and phone lines and wifi are dead.
Fack me.
I’m just a muppet too.
Sorry, bad timing.
The laugh was for Nonny.
Bad luck NorCal
H2H,
I am in a shit mood but I knew it was not for me. Thx
It’s only early December – but i’m jaded.
Sorry to hear that NorCal, but I think we´re all a bit pissed )angry or inebrated, your choice
) at the mo.
~~~~~~
Heh AL, I`d have to sleep for a week just to be jaded.
You – H2H – are a true pro!
BIGGEST—COMPLEMENT—EVER
Cheers AL
NorCal
Well in H2H and most understated assist (pings) 
Hmm, The Greeks are playing well this year. Don’t seem to have an Achilles heel 
Is it just me or is the new iTunes interface completely crap? I feel lost.
I’ll take a Pyrrhic victory, abb.
I’m on call so the binge drinking will have to wait. But after this weekend there is a lot of pent up drinking coming.
Thank you ABB. *waves*
Nor Cal, There’s always the Med Cabinet.
H2H,
Ha. Yes always the meds. Mine come in a locked red tackle box. Most of what I’ve got would just make me more jaded and start crying like a baby. ……. Come to think of it, that might be a positive change.
I honestly dont know which is worse , seeing the title go to Utd or seeing the title go to City . In any case , this is what we are going to see in the next few years . I`d become a juventus supporter if it wasnt for Bendtner
Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s a good thing we had such a cracking Xmas party at the pub yersterday because the game was utter, utter shite. Swansea won deservedly and only Szczesny kept the scoreline “respectable”.
Other than that, I am just lost for words to describe what I saw. I haven’t been able to muster the energy to back-drink, but if tabs has said anything then I agree with him
Hey Ollie, Good one.
Trev would approve, no doubt 
Waves to H2H (missed you yesterday, feller) 
He said you were gay, Lars.
Lars, Enjoyed that video you posted of the wee Arsenal kiddies, quite adorable
Oh Red, Welcome to Juve. I’m the unofficial spokesperson. Except for our shameful loss to Inter, we’re on fire
Of course, AFC will always be our #1 
Which Utd? Which City? It’s early December. Plenty of points to play for!!!?!
H2H – i’m raising a glass, a smile and a small family at the thought of seeing you down The Tollie (sorry those that peeves – that’s not meant to sound too clubbish), sooner rather than later – so that i can look you in the eye. Eye/s. Depends.
Onwards and (perlease) upwards!
Nor Cal, I’d tackle anyone for a box full of drugs.
Hehs @ RI & Nonny
Lars, great vid last time around (i added my own translation)
ABB, too busy yesterday, but sweet of you to say so.
You are in Holland, doesn’t everyone have a full box of drugs?
Cheers AL, it’s hard to get away with a (relatively) new business…….
When I’m able to make my pilgramidge you’ll all be the first to know.
Government issue NorCal.
Pleased to (nearly) hear it – H2H.
Arseblog – harsh but fair? Like tabs’s new doo in The Daily Hate Mail last week?
Hi Holics, hope you are all coping fine since yesterday. Work has kept me too busy these past months, although thankfully I’ve not been too busy when it comes to an Arsenal game. Even when performances like yesterday seemed more like a standard than being the exception. I’d just like to offer a possible explanation for our recent downturn in this post.
Perhaps the major change we’ve witnessed this season is how we defend. In the past seasons we’ve seen our team defend high with lots of gap behind the back four. It left us more vulnerable on the counter, but we had a chance to cut passes more, dominate possession in dangerous areas, and crucially make incisive runs, passes and plays. This season we’ve seen the lads defend quite deep, keep a solid defensive shape, and sit back more off the ball instead of trying to hurry with retaining possession in the middle of the field (Bould influence?). This enabled us to concede less goals, but at the same time we are regaining possession nearer to our penalty area. This is where the problem starts to unravel.
In the past seasons we mostly regained possession near the midfield area, play quick passes and one-twos, and we always had runners from all areas trying to exploit or make space to run to. We also had good passers that can comfortably maintain possession with short, quick passes.
This year, lots of times we regain possession near our penalty box, and the defenders have a job to move the ball upfield, which usually culminates to passes either to Arteta, or the two wing backs. Because Wenger commands the team to dominate possession in midfield, our defenders and midfielders are hesitant to play dangerous passes to dangerous areas. And the forward line is also more focused on keeping shape to maintain possession than taking a chance to run into space. Therefore we see our slow, sluggish buildup play that severely lacks penetration.
To put simply, we are struggling to make the transition between defending deep solidly with a good shape and attacking with penetration and incisiveness, probably because we are so focused on keeping possession. The solution? Perhaps try to make more gambles on the final third, make the incisive pass or the incisive runs during that transition period. This may not explain everything about our slump, but hopefully it provides some explanation.
I hope some of you are arsed enough to read this. And finally thanks Holic for such a great piece. Always offering a different perspective on the game and the Arsenal, thoroughly appreciated. Have a good one all.
And be fair – the boy looked good. I reckon i’d want him to represent me in court – if i could afford ‘im.
Heh Lars
, and Heh Nonny 
AL – “Harsh but fair”? I’ll take that. I’ve had a lot worse recently!
And always available and very cheap for fellow ‘Holics. Couple of pints and a bag of nuts is my going rate these days!
Now where’s this kiddie video? Err, perhaps I should rephrase that!
Derrick – Excellent stuff. Agree entirely.
@ Derrick
That’s a great piece you wrote…makes perfect sense…especially when thinking about the typical rhythm of our matches this season.
We’re more disciplined and yet have less teeth. Certainly explains us creating very low shots on goal when for years 15-20 per match we completely normal, now it would seem a deluge.
This gif needs cropping but may come in handy.
http://cadfael.tv/image/src/1354458211567.gif
NorCal, sorry to hear your news. Hope it all sorts itself out soon mate.
Nonny
Every cloud has a silver lining. I picked a pretty good week to sign Michu for my FFL team
I’ll blame you then, ‘holic.
NorCal, having experienced water trouble in the past, you have my sympathy. I hope the insurers over there are a bit more responsive than over here…
Good stuff Del.
I’ll leave it to those more sober then I (*most at this moment) to dissect.
*Darts competition here in the bar, been on the Vodka/beer since 14:00 (it’s a dirty job, but I wouldn’t swap it for the worrld………………well, maybe with NorCal.;) )
Holic ,
Please don’t mention clouds
Looks like the woe’s are sorted then… we just need to shoot more?
Fuck me sideways Sherlock…
Greetings from a wet and warm NZ, fellow drinkers. Just a quick word re the rugby. As much as I love my friends and neighbours here in beautiful NZ, it does an English ex pats heart a power of good to see the mighty AB’s DESTROYED by a rampant England.In truth though, I would have swapped an Arsenal win for a (narrow) NZ victory in the rugby.
Wonderful retraint again “holic!
I noticed you waited a long time before posting! In the Lotus position no doubt!
Just a thought — If you play football in the premier league you are most likely an excellent footballer.This includes Ramsy,Gervinho and all of the current scapegoats. However, when you take to the field against other excellent footballers ( like those wearing Swansea City shirts for example) it becomes harder to look special. Those who do are exeptional indeed. RVP is one such player of course. Another match winning goal for the red scum yesterday — how can such a player be replaced?I wish I knew…. Whats my point? Simple really-the teams with the best players tend to win things. WE dont have the best players and are unlikely to win anything this term. I have faced up to this now. As somebody mentioned earlier, perhaps our expectations have been raised to unrealistic levels. In my youth,in the Schoolboys enclosure, I witnessed a few defeats which upset me for the rest of the day, but was at the next game ready to throw my support behind the team. I’ll do it till I die now,but I think I am finally over the high expectations I once had. We are’nt very good are we?Perhaps we should get used to it.We simply do ot have a Premier League winning team.
Ever since Pirlo grew a beerd I think he is the son of god . And I dont even believe in god .
How could it be that Swansea played with more intent , more conviction and more assurance than us on our soil ?
We completely lost our deterrence and the opposition smells our lack of faith like wolves prey . The way to get it back might be a stellar signing
Ancelotti is getting blasted on Canal+.
Seeing the Bordeaux goals from yesterday. Both originating from Trémoulinas crosses.
If we can’t afford Baines, sign him up, Arsène!
Good evening,all.
I do not know what is wrong with our players,i can’t understand why with all our “creative” players we still manage to create so little in the attacking third,i don’t know if it’s as a result of tactical indiscipline on the players part or poor tactics from the management,i don’t know if Stan Kroenke and the board only care about profits,what i do know though,is that our players are under-performing,Arsene cares about this team as much as (if not more than) most of us do,most of our players care about results and want to win too,PHW and Arsene have served Arsenal diligently and deserve more respect than they are accorded ATM,booing our players WON’T make them play better.
8 points lost at home after th 86th minute though, should be top
P’raps AW should kick ‘is shoes orf, pull up pouffe and get stuck in too – Ollie @ 152 – it’s gotta be worth a go jus’ now – no? No – oh!
Cent.
How I see it(pretty dazed at the mo’) is that we have “creative players”but the movement in front of them is missing.
We are way too static bunched up and seem lacking in options when we are attacking. we have width but always seem to be running into a wall.
I won’t pretend to know the solution but those are our weakness’ as I see them.
Derrick,good analysis at 137,i’ve been thinking along the same lines but not quite in the clear terms you expressed yourself.
I’d like to add the following questions to my earlier post:
1. If Arsene had money all along and refused to spend it why is the club asking Emirates to pay us part of the new sponsorship deal in advance this winter to fund possible transfers?
2. If Arsene had money all along and refused to spend while winning nothing for the past eight years,why has the board kept faith with him?
3. If Arsene has been working on a shoestring budget since our stadium move,is it not right that we allow him enjoy the benefits of getting us through those rainy days?
4. If we sack Arsene can we get a new manager that will perform better than him on the same shoe string budget?
5. If we have money to give this new manger to spend on players,why not give it to Arsene and see what he achieves with it?
N.B. I wish PHW a speedy recovery from his ailment.
Wengers not looking so clever now is he old timer.
hate to say it but i told you so. yourself gs and knob jockey
aka arseholeblogger are finally having to go with the tide
or else look ridiculous and so out of touch. t just goes to show
how full of shit you guys have been for years but lets forget that
shall we. Take it easy now holic, chat you again when the
has been is finaly removed.
It’s Swansea…Vendetta.
Despite my love for Aliadière (or just his funny name), I’m not sure I can be bothered watching Lorient vs Toulouse tonight.
Or Fiorentina vs Sampdoria.
H2H,yes + we seem to cautious with our passes and as Derrick pointed out we are been too rigid with and without possesion.
With a performance next week and the luck (bad or good?) of the draw, and including a possible replay; we may even be playing them 4 times in January, SSY!
Paulie,
Very classy. Do you have a blog where I can follow your finely crafted stories?
NorCal, I use the ‘ignore’ function, I don’t know who you’re talking about
I’ll let that one stay as a reference point. Ignore it fellas.
Ollie,
I should use it more. Disrespect and smugness just rub me raw. I would never allow my children to behave the way some people on here and elsewhere do.
Cheers.
Right you are, Ollie. January of the jacks.
Please don’t take it away ‘holic.
Hey Paulie, why don’t you send Tony, Christopher and Sylvio round to sort them out.
OK, a bit weak (Soprano’s reference) but that’s all I got at the mo’.
Cent and H2H, to my eye it does seem like that failure to make the transition between well-shaped defending and incisive attacking has been our recent undoing. Perhaps this is largely explained by our great endeavors to always maintain possession, even at the expense of threading a through ball, or making the run into space.
Whenever our midfielders make a run into opposition box, our midfield shape becomes off-balance, we have one less player to pass to in midfield. So it becomes a contradiction between keeping possession (and with it our midfield and offensive shape) or taking chances, making runs both on and off the ball. This is compounded by the fact that Arteta, Gervinho, Poldi, Santi and Giroud are all somewhat new and don’t have the inquisite understanding that say, RvP and Cesc had with their delicate onetwos and flicks.
Furthermore, the longer we pass the ball in midfield without incisiveness, the more time opposition defense has to maintain a solid defensive shape, henceforth keeping players like Theo or Ox struggling without any space to run into. It is no accident that our win at Anfield was achieved with Liverpool having a larger share of possession. Poldi’s goal, in fact, was a great example of transitioning effortlessly between defense and offense. Other teams who are used to defend deep can do this reasonably well too. Defend, defend, defend, and counter quickly. It’s not a new tactic by any means. Roy tried to do this in the Euros with England.
Now with Arsenal, we don’t defend nearly as deep as Roy’s England, but neither are we trying to penetrate enemy lines as quickly as the England team. Theo’s goal against Everton, for example, came when Theo had space to run into and played a one two with Ramsey. We should be doing more of this during the transition period, but we aren’t, because the team is drilled to keep possession with sideway passes, and to make themselves available for a pass. The latter does not equate to running into space to receive a dangerous pass, or commanding our midfielders to quickly release passes to the forwards and wingers. There seems to be a disconnect between our defensive routine and our offensive routine. At the moment the two are contradicting one another.
We can try to loosen the back a little, and with more bodies up front we might be able to score more. We could try having players penetrate more, make the pass even if it may not come off. With more understanding this can be better achieved of course. What’s best, though, is to find the balance between attacking gung ho and playing rigidly like we did at Villa or yesterday. Be solid defensively, keep the defensive shape when we need to. But when the chance arrives to go forward, do so without hesitation, without everyone trying to play it safe and make the most obvious pass. When we have the lead, pass the ball around, keep possession, wait for the opponent to become impatient and slowly make space for another goal. All easier said than done for sure. But these are things we can work on, things I hope Wenger have identified. He should know best after all.
Arsene a man guilty of making us a world known football brand:Play the arsenal way ,db10,th14 ,the ***ates stadium,great wins vs barca ,real,inter,ac milan etc…
Arsene an arsenal man through and through,always fighting for the arsenal and always thinking how football can be played in a beautiful way.
Maybe i’m saying all this because he’s the only manager i’ve known since i started supporting arsenal and i’m too fearful of what might happen if his replacement gets us in a worse position than we are (no champions league football- we all know what happened to liverpool).
I don’t know the solution to our current problems but i know that when the going gets tough the tough gets going and we the supporters must now more than ever show our passion and loyalty to this great club .
I will be at the olympiacos game on wednesday cheering for my beloved ARSENAL …
greetings from greece and an olympiacos fan who is going to ‘betray’ his childhood team
Nonny@128:
Paulie….
do one
Do you think Paulie is still wearing his 70′s shell suit and a large medallion. Or does he just sound like someone who wears that shit?
Ask him yoursef Bath;
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v-tN-fFj8sA/R9xbzv5wlEI/AAAAAAAAAPs/w8zlw5d32Pw/s320/paulie%2Bwalnuts.jpg
“The Boss o’ this family told you you’re gonna be Santa
Claus. You’re Santa Claus! So shut the fuck up about it.”
We’ll need Mr. Gualtieri at half time.
Heh, 2 summers ago we stayed in a resort in southern Sicily that was run by a Paulie lookalike with a special table for him and his ‘squeeze’ in the dining room. He was a real sleazeball and tried to schmooze with all the female guests.
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????
I counter with a -We’ll be back and raise you with a keep the faith.
“The boss told you you’re gonna be winger, Theo. You’re a winger! So shut the fuck up about it!”
What surprised: how well the fans got behind the team and how any barricking was kept to a minimum of a few isolated voices. I left the ground as soon as goal number 2 burst the onion, and what also shocked me was how mute the fans were leaving the ground and on the train home – no anger at all. Either the fans accept the situation or they do not care a great deal
*I wanted to add a beeeatch, but I respect the houserules.
Ollie,
Ignore? I’m trying…..
David,
Did you come to gloat? Bravo.
You are right. I am sure you have all the info on why the club has underperformed this year. He’s lost the plot. I’m sure that’s it.
Why do you support a team that you enjoy seeing struggle and antagonize fellow supporters when things are not going well?
I am curious. These things will happen at every club. I just don’t get where certain supporters get pleasure at slagging the team and coach and fellow supporters.
NorCalArsenal:
After our brief exchange the past few days, you say we need change…what change for you then? I half expected Wenger to offer to resign yesterday as the players are not playing for him? The sitation can be turned around as we are ONLY 5 points of 3rd spot. Alas there is no signs of a run of positive results being on the horizon.
I don’t think spend £100m is the answer as our victors yesterday are proving what can be done on a modest budget – as Wenger has done since 2004! He has worked wonders. Alas I feel the coaching and tactical approach needs to alter, and that may only come with a change at the helm.
Should we lose to West Brom next week, and the unlikely step of AW resigning, I would be happy for the Club to try and get Frank Rijkard, who began the Barca Revolution
To support a winning team is easy.
When the going gets tough, the tough stay put.
It’s the pussys that get going.
Arsenal Bloody Arsenal!!!
How can a single fan defend the 2012 version of Wenger? I just don’t understand.
Here’s a quote from him after the game yesterday;
“They (Swansea) had a lot of possession without going anywhere”.
REALLY ARSENE? They twice went somewhere we’d love to go! Sorry but that is right up there with AVB’s deluded claim that they controlled the game against us.
“We look like we are playing with the handbrake on” *speechless*
I’m fed up of Wenger patronising me. I’ve heard the same rhetoric for too many years. Even yesterday he spoke of “the quality of the players and the spirit within the team makes me believe we can do it”.
Well Arsene I’ve seen the quality of your players and half the squad of 25 are championship quality at best and if we had any spirit we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Sorry but its time to go mate, you’ve been amazing, our best ever manager and you are a true legend but you’re best days are only now seen through a rear view mirror
I did not pay the best part of £50 yesterday to gloat. I praised Swansea as outside the big boys it is refreshing to see a team come and play football rather than ‘park the bus’
psed (AL tribute)
I’m not saying that everything is hunkydory, but screaming and crying about it is
*not going to help us much at this moment in time.
Frank Rijkard?! Jesus. Throw in Hughes while you’re at it.
Derrick,looks like we’ve been watching the same team all season.
Fotanen@171, i doff my cap to you,sir.
Norcal knows@183.
H2H @185, Hear! Hear!!
Anyone recomending Frank Rijkard needs to come and visit here.
Beer on me,……
Egg on face on you.
David,
Your post at 184 has the same general theme and content as your previous post but without the antagonism and rigor as your previous one. That opinion I can respect.
I agree that there needs to be some real soul searching. We scraped by the last few years and perhaps even got a little lucky to end the last few seasons in the top 4. And that was with 2-3 players that I rank as world class. I do think that Wengers previous successes have probably clouded his vision in that he really believes that we will again pull a rabbit out of a hat and finish third again. I also don’t think that he or the board are blind to the fact that it is getting harder and harder to do that. This past summer we sold RvP because he really gave the club no choice. I would argue that Song was sold because he wanted to renegotiate a contract that he had just signed 2 years prior. Once Barfalona showed interest he too was gone regardless.
I have more patience than you. I am willing to give AW and this board and this team until the end of this season to make the changes that will make a difference. If we end up mid table, then I think AW will walk away.
Today is a better day……We’ll be back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyUsJWO-7jM
@Geoff
hyperbole overload?
“Well Arsene I’ve seen the quality of your players and half the squad of 25 are championship quality at best and if we had any spirit we wouldn’t be where we are now”
Which 12.5 players would struggle to get a game at Ipswich? Just need to understand your perspective.
Where’s Ollie at????
He’s waiting for the assist, H2H.
He’s lurkier than lurky himself.
Watch out, he’s a master
On a side note, one of Kronke’s employees for the St. Louis rams just kicked two 50+ yard field goals to force overtime and then win the game. Think he could help Szczceny with his kicking?
OK, In honour of Ollie….
Er, Rijkard won 2 Spanish titles plus the European Cup – enough said about his coaching capabilities I do believe.
NorCalArsenal:
Arsene has his standards, he will walk if we finish below 6th & miss out on Europe. And please, Arsenal fans (general point), do not dare bemoan the Europe Liga should we end up in it! I remember as a teenager jumping around my living room when DB10 smashed in a 25 yard blockbuster to qualify us for that tournament back in the day. We need Euro football come what may next season!
Yes players I needed to be signed, I concur, but that alone will be of little benefit as the coaching and team strategy needs to shift as well. There was movement of forward three yesterday (Poldolski barely broke out of trotting speed) so his claims to play centrally should be dimissed from now on.
BTW, sorry about the scarcasm – I have always enjoyed a creative writing style, something teachers/lecturers always tried to beat out of me.
Go and read today’s post on Le Grove (if you have not already), some objectives views there in my view.
Stole it. Yes!!!!
Cheers H2H. And Ollie.
The rain has stopped here. Now to soak up all the indoor water.
Looks like I’m still a pro’:cool:
Keep it respectful, all.
Might be an idea to not quote post numbers tonight just in case anybody fails to observe that rule.
I am on holiday tomorrow so have plenty of time in the morning to rid the comments of those who cannot put their point without abusing Arsenal people.
Thanks.
David,
I too can be quite sarcastic and it doesn’t always translate well in writing. It’s hard to read “tone”.
We both want what is best for this club. I don’t have the pleasure of living close enough to attend most games but I will always wish for what’s best for the club even if I don’t always know what the specific answers are.
Cheers
Bloke walks up to a bunch of women in a bar and says,
‘with these hands,if i fondle your breasts i can tell when you were born.”
One bold young lady steps forward and says “go on then”.
So he slips his hands under her jumper and proceeds to enjoy a couple of minutes of imtimate fondling.
The young lady becomes impatient and says ” come on then mastermind,when was i born.?”
The bloke replies ” yesterday ” !!!
Cheer up everyone,it’s only a game.!!
Cheers
The Sweeper
I always try and give a view/answer, even if it is wrong or goes again the grain.
For me, if AW goes shopping in January he needs a holding midfielder as Arteta can’t do it game in game out (I would love Franny Cocq to be given a run as every Arsenal fan I speak to, like me feels he will be a good footballer).
Next he needs a striker to back up Giroud (I was wrong to label him back in September as not good enough); also a left-back to cover Gibbs. In an ideal world he would get a back-up keeper to – WS proved yesterday why he deserves to be no.1, kicking aside he is going to be the real deal.
@Tim 195: I’m not going to get involved in a protracted post exchange with you.
Carry on enjoying your football mate
Oh & Eisfeld should be given more playing time – can’t wait to see him play in the week & at Bradford as boy does he look a good prospect who deserves to be on the bench far more than he has hitherto!
Top post H2H @185 – I can second that emotion!
and heh Gs54 @206.
David – we do all share your concerns, we just express it in different ways and have more faith in the man at the helm to sort it out.
Apologies in advance if I broke any rules.
I’m not at my sharpest (soberist)
Signing off, but leaving a drink on the bar for ALL ‘holics
A fair list David and one most of us have asked for since the summer/start of the season. I think that AW had a similar list this summer as well except maybe a back up keeper. He tried to sign Sahin but he lost out because of price. At that point he took a gamble on Diaby staying healthy. A big gamble with shit odds but that is unfortunately what happened. I think he also thought Poldi would be the backup striker or even theo . A top class striker unfortunately costs big bucks, it’s the glamor position after all. And we are stingy.
I also think that M’Vila was a viable option to replace Song but then he goes stupid and hits some kid and then joins Nasri in the French Revolution and so AW rightfully backed off.
Tactically we are trying to concede less but still push forward. Some earlier posts here discuss where that has left us. Also, Giroud is a different type of player than we have had recently in that position and thus we have had to adjust there as well.
These may sound like excuses depending on your perspective but that is where I sit. Things will improve.
Clive
Ah, bath. Did I show you my ‘gift’ last evening?
Two wonderful young ladies got me a 26 year old Tamdhu numbered 10cl bottle.
http://www.adelphidistillery.com/archive/tamdhu842836
That will be my next birthday treat. I have ordered a proper tasting glass for the occasion. Sounds like it will have to be tried with and without water.
tabs, missed you yesterday.
Snowy tells me you are back on the weedsticks.
Is it the pressure of being posterboy for the Daily Mail?
Opinions………..at times can be overrated.
Right up there with “Champagne, Lobsters, Picnics and Anal sex…”…!
You did.
Wish I had fans like that.
You should always sip a new one neat before you add a drap of water. It’s interesting how the flavour broadens.
Thanks for the Glenmorangie yesterday. They didn’t have that the last time I asked for it.
Warmed me up for the drive home
@Geoff…fair enough. Things aren’t going well…there’s no argument there, but 50% of the squad being at the level you suggest is just over-reaction I’m sure you’d agree with consideration.
My biggest complaint and one we probably share is having players like Chamakh/Arshavin who aren’t even given a role to play any longer. Why have them here? Too hard to move on I guess.
We don’t have 12 of them though.
Hey Bath, yep back on the deadly nicotine and yes I’m blaming The Daily Fail. I blame them for pretty much everything else so why not?!
Ah Joe, wise words mate, The Hitch has the answer for everything
we’re not as good as we could be, given the talent at our disposal seems to say it all, ‘Holic. Not sure many of the Swansea team, save perhaps Michu, would make it in a combined team on talent alone. But they were certainly more than the sum of their parts yesterday, while we were far less than the sum of ours.
*Lifts bunker lid and pokes head a teeeeny-weeeeeny bit out*…Hello ‘Holics…Is it safe to come out now?
The ancient Mayans predicted the world was gonna end in 2012. Thought Saturday was the beginning of the end.
Guess, the Mayans don’t know afterall!.
Evening Holics
I have seen some poor Arsenal sides in my time but never did I think that I would sit at the Ems and feel so embarrassed at my team’s inept display, as I did in yesterday’s first half. Swansea literally waltzed around us, while our players stood back looking on in admiration.
We need fresh legs,clear thinking and a lot of luck to get us out of this mess. Can we get Frimpong back from Charlton, I see he is still in the nominated squad? He might be reckless, raw and likely to pick up cards but he is the only fit guy around who could add bite to our MF.
Send the “out of favour” and the kids to Greece, they need an outing before Bradford.Where is the side that gave us so much hope at the start of the season? We look lost, demotivated and a shadow of the side that played so well at the Pool and Citi. I am not just sad but worried that our present malaise is becoming irreversible under the current regime. It will take more than just 9 points before Christmas and a win in the League Cup to put things right. Our play must be raised to a higher level, its’s not much fun watching Arsenal these days.
I will still be at the Ems on Saturday.
As always COYRs.
Nothing has been the same at the Arse since David Dein left.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding his demise,i would argue AW has never been the same man.
He lost his sounding board/best mate/kindred spirit and we lost the beautiful game the Arse used to play.
Apart from the odd illusory occasion when we looked as though we might win something since then, unfortunately it has all been downhill
from that moment.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
The question though is;
“Does Arsene Still Know?”
Black Saturday like a friend of mine choose to call it, might not be the beginning of the end of the world, but it sure seems and feels like the slow but inevitable dawn of the beginning of the end of the Wenger era.
Very good point sweeper
Five points off third place, Holics. This team will turn that around.
Top four. One trophy. OllieG 20 goals.
Once Frimpong comes back we’ll be fine.
All getting a bit hysterical.Fancy us to improve as the season goes on.
Stand on me , there is nothing to worry about.
Peace
‘Holics –
It’s been a while. I hope you all have been good lads and lasses in my absence.
Only have time for a quick drink, so I’ll be brief.
2 points from the last 9 points on offer – poor.
21 points from 15 games – extremely poor.
Lack of player ideas and belief; Lack of belief and patience from supporters – stark.
5 points out of third place – small ray of hope…
I don’t have the answers (I have ideas, but no answers), but I do think that all who have eyes (and care to look) will recognize that Arsene has had his hands tied financially for over 6 years…and the chickens are now coming home to roost. Those with any sense of empathy will give Arsene the credit and respect due him.
I do know that the Sun will rise, and we will have our day (if not this season). Saint Nicholas and I are maintaing a list of those of us who are keeping the faith versus those who are jumping ship like so many lemmings…
BMBD
Spend some fucking money…
well, the likes of Swansea and West Brom don’t spend anywhere near half as much money as we do and are decidedly playing the game we used to. Must spell the problem lies elsewhere.
Tactics comes to mind, not that it matters now that a poor run helped by inexplicable decisions in rotation have now eroded our confidence to new lows.
It will take some doing to turn this ship around.
And Dein can only blame himself for that shit though, the cunt.
Anyway, morning all. Miserable weather this morning for the return to my normal office.
There’s a Lonestar shining in the sky. I’m not sure we need the help of Murdoch’s tabloid though. Oh
Lonestar, welcome back!
Sweeper, that the slide started when Dein left is mere coincidence, I’d say. Far more important factors include silly oil money for Man City and the economic downturn which has made the stadium repayments more difficult.
Spot on @231 Ollie. DD made some very poor decisions and has to live with them. He did great work for Arsenal but he’s made his bed and must now lie in it, though the chubby boy he metaphorically shares it with will not be as cuddly as he hoped.
And let’s not forget that he also was the one who brought Kroenke on board in the first place.
(for those moaning at Kroenke)
Watching ESPN last night, but only briefly as I was trying to find something worth watching, and saw Steve Nicol and Gabriele Marcotti talking about Arsenal. You know things must be bad when everything that pair of cunts said made sense.
The game kicks off and the chants begin. “You franchise b”stards, you know what you are,” sing AFC. Midway through the first half a new chant rings out. It is potentially the most confusing in football’s history: “where were you when you were us?”
heh at AFC Wimbledon chant
Must say I very much agree with Clive. AW has not been the same since DD left. I am not going to get into a debate as to the rights and wrongs of his departure but his leaving left AW with a massive void. Unfortunately it appears to be a void that Gazidis is nowhere near big enough to fill. There may well be one of the problems. AW clearly needs a right hand man and I would suggest that since DD departed he has not even come close to having one.
Morning workers.
Lovely to get up late on a Monday morning
Saw an interview with Shane Warne the other day. He was saying that in his new role he never gets a lay in. He is always up Hurley every morning.
Just saying like.
Every day can be like that Holic.
Until you get a puppy!
I’ve been trying to put my Christmas tree up for the last three days but things keep getting in the way.
Like my total fucking apathy when it comes to Christmas.
Dear Santer
Pleez giv me a noo manidger this Chrissmass, coz the old wun iz broked down. Sumfink maid in Portigrail Prattygul Potgualr Spain pleez.
Fankoo
Nons.
Oh shit. Strike through doesn’t work
Fuck off Nonny. You have been a bad boy.
“Who’s that team they call the Arsenal…..?”
*Boilk
When I was a kid and getting ribbed by glory hunters at school I wanted Arsenal to be like just Liverpool.
Be careful what you wish for, kids.
Delia – Swansea ‘literally’ waltzed around us? Sounds like an episode of Strictly!
Dear Santa,
I would like a new pair of Speedoes please, with a great big canon on the Arse, a little side pocket big enough for a packet of fags, and a diamond encrusted crotch.
Please can I also have a new pair of socks to put down the front.
Yours festively,
Wolfgang Smallballs.
http://www.football365.com/winners-losers/8305927/Winners-Losers
I like the Arsenal bit (in the Losers section) in that.
heh, Steve T @241
Ollie@250: agreed, that was a few points well made.
Good link, Ollie.
And Dennis, and Danny, and Arsene (for those moaning at David)
Psed – And Stan, and Usmanov, and little Darren (for the flip-side)
Whatever else he had about him (and there’s plenty there, egotist etc., etc.) – the lad gave off a certain dynamism and nous that seemed mostly focused on making us great at pitch level – (football not business; though he clearly did good there too). An essential emphasis, even in these changed times i think, that seems to me to have gotten a little skewed re those that run our club these days.
And AW would seem to rate him still.
Not suggesting he could or should come back (too much dirty London rain-water has passed over the Fiszman bridge since – i reckon). Just – as they say – saying.
Wolfgang @249.
You forgot ‘Wembley’ on the flip-side
We’re missing something there, but whether it’s all down to DD is debatable.
I certainly don’t want him back in any sort of form.
Ah Trev is here. Pun time?
Wembley didn’t happen … not clear what you mean re the rest.
But nevermind – Trev – PUNch-time
No, thankfully it didn’t happen, but that’s because he didn’t get his way.
Fucking gigantic heh.
Let’s Get Juxtaposed
Headline from The BBC Website:
‘Gay footballers ‘would be accepted’ – Southgate.’
Headline from The BBC Website, immediately below:
‘Lambert rejects Bent speculation.’
HEH
Wembley way??? Re the other bits and Dein’s role
Dein brings pal Fizsman onto the board; Fizsman brings with him a big fat chunk of change that he loans to club at more than generous rate; Dein, who does all Arsenal football deals at the time, uses much of money to purchase Dennis nee god.
Later Dein unimpressed by B. Rioch personally headhunts/woos AW.
P’raps there’s an ITK out there who knows better – but above is how i understand them there events to have occurred – more or less.
Am well aware of Dein’s faults – (have seen them written up here in this fine establishment on numerous occasions), and am not an apologist for him/them. But feel there’s more than an unholy whiff of revisionism among some of our fanbase re the enormously positive things he brought to the club too. Balance – innit.
And a smaller heh for this :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20555620
You know things are bad when we’re getting all misty-eyed about David Dein.
On the upside, he was a chancer and a fixer, and his influence on various commitees both nationally and internationally placed Arsenal, politically speaking, right at the heart of the game. He also had the foresight to bring a manager in from leftfield, of whom very few knew much of.
On the downside, he’s a cunt, an egomaniac riding roughshod over any other consideration other than self-interest, including Arsenal’s. He would have had us playing at Wembley(!!!!!), and he sold out to a gangster.
I think his influence re the transfer market is massively overstated. He didn’t, for the most part, have to compete with gangster or oil money and on the one occasion where he did have to do so (Ashley Cole), he fucked up massively.
Where I will go along with Clive and Steve is that we have, however, never replaced him. Gazidis leaves me pretty cold, but more importantly and if intermittent reports are to be believed, he leaves Arsene cold too. AW and Dein were and still are big mates. That is unarguable. How do you go about replacing that?
Good link Ollie.
Cheers Trev.
I don’t think I criticised what he brought to the club (which you put right). I didn’t get your ‘not sure what you mean re: the rest’ and still don’t do.
I was just (clumsily, on second read, granted) saying we miss something, someone probably in a role similar to what DD was doing, but surely someone else in the world could have the ability to bring that sort of stuff.
And I still don’t know why I bother, when tabs is, as always, around the corner to articulate what I mean
I shall forever shut up or stick to dodgy one-liners
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8305894/Demba-Ba-Set-For-Toon-Exit-As-Deal-Talks-Stall
How long before ‘Arsenal in for Ba’ hits the tabloids?
(and why not?)
The Wembley thing – Dein lost the argument – good. The better idea prevailed – good. He stayed on the board long after he’d lost the argument and carried on working at the club. Good.
He’s an egotist, he made mistakes (who hasn’t), and selling-out to Usmanov is difficult to stomach etc, etc. I’m with Clive and Steve T though – don’t feel we’ve replaced his level dynamism at B/room level. That does not mean i’d want him back though.
Last i heard BTM was applying for the role.
AW and Dein were and still are big mates. That is unarguable. How do you go about replacing that?
Get a manager in who can work with Gazidis.
Oops Olliie @ 266 – got yer – misunderstood. I see we were – broadly speaking – on the same page. Shall meself endeavour to stick to dodgy one-liners.(I reckon that’s where sanity lies in the current Goonerverse.)
Up The Arse.
Interesting that some of the very same people who are reminiscing that David Dein is “a big miss”, are some of the same who want his mate to get sacked.
Personally, I think Wolfie is a big miss.
No worries, AL. I believe there’s a drink for you at the bar.
And heh: Ivan out, BtM in!
heh zico
Is the lineup at the top of the page the one for the game you described? My recollection is that Charlie didn’t join us until 1983
Dutch local papers reported that FC Emmen winger Jeffrey de Visscher was caught red-handed by police in the early hours of November 16 as he squatted down next to his car and defecated by the road.
Maybe he’d had an… ….. …. Emmena.
Cheers Ollie – one in the pump for you too – sir! (Dodgy phrasing, i know, what with Woolfie at the bar.)
More Big Misses In The Boardroom – Now!!! (The black head-scarf movement.)
Gazidis has walked into two UEFA jobs in the last week that Dein would have relished and you have to wonder how he’s managed it, because he’s not exactly Johnny Knowledge when it comes to football. At least, he doesn’t come across as a football man at all.
Nonny, I’m not too sure Gazidis knows that little about football. He has played the game himself and did so for many years even if it was on a low level. But very few of us in here have ever been remotely close to a high level so he’s no different from us in that respect.
heh Nonny 276. Glad it’s past lunchtime.
Dr Z – Not so much of the “big” thank you very much. I can tell you that in my new purple hotpants that I am wearing today (today is a shopping day), the girl behind the counter at Topgirl remarked how wonderfully well my curves were suited to the extremely tight fit.
So there! Stick that up yer skirt and smoke it!
I’m getting fed up with people who put ‘forecasted’ in their e-mails.
I have decided to discard all such e-mails without reading, until these people learn to speak.
Monday afternoon, and i’m still annoyed
Sorry just realised it is Peter, not Charlie – i’ll get back in my box…
AL – Reckon you’ve got the balance about right re DD. Am I still allowed to call him a c**t though, given that the revisionism is being revised?
Nonny @270 – “Get a manager in who can work with Gazidis.” –
It would be my worry that that would be the first priority. Get on with Ivan, and sod the footballing abilities. I have no faith in the present Board to make a good appointment, whether that be at the end of the season, at the end of AW’s contract, or in 5 years time.
Red Dude @275 – It was Peter Nicholas, welsh midfielder from Palace. Crap footballer and shit perm. Wannabee hardman but utterly schooled by Graeme Souness in a league cup midweek game at Highbury. It was a bit like Mike Tyson going to town on Russell Grant.
Hehs at Nonny and AL 276 and 277
As expected not that many first-teamers in the squad for tomorrow.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/akpom-ansah-and-monteiro-in-arsenal-squad
Quite interesting to note that Mannone is not in the squad either and is not mentioned as one of the injured players.
Ah apologies Red Dude. I see you got there first.
Larsene @ 279 – Speak for yerself sunshine … I played London and Kent Borders Southern Sunday league football (Second Div. and below mostly) for nigh on a decade.
And as my old man – who picked the team – said, over and over and over again – if he hadn’t owed the bloke what played in my position money I wouldn’t have been sub most weeks, and would’ve probably gone on to be player of the year most years.
Still every cloud – I can slice oranges with one hand whilst making a lovely cup of tea for a largish party with the other.
LegRash
Tabs – bless you my son – go forth and call whomever thou doth wishest a c**t. Amen!
My kind of Church Rev AL, amen to that Brother!
Sack me !!!
288, no FACT in your post?
Nonny @278,
Gazidis is not a football man, footballistically speaking, but he is a football administrator having, I believe, been a central figure in the running of the MLS and player contracts.
Yeah, I know, that last bit stretches the imagination.
Insofar, though, he might hold some sway in getting some form of FFP implemented.
Ahh, I see the flying pigs are out again ….
And so Squillaci will start, Lars.
Ooh goody, a goal feast … Oh.
Interesting also that Giroud is not in the squad but also not mentioned in the article itself.
’2-3 weeks’ announcement soon ? :O
Is Eisfeld injured? Why is he not in the squad?
A classic?
Tabs,
I just thought I’d drop in to say – I still disagree with you on Dein…!
But its nice to know, that there are at least, a few others on here who think like me in this context.
Banggggggggggg
Bugger………
A lazy morning assist? Ollie style as I start another day.
And I would take Demba Ba. One of my favorite names in the game.
Blimey, don’t say that Ollie!
Why no Eisfeld? Doesn’t make sense to me.
test300…! – It’s a question of timing Steve…..
and having impeccable good looks…!
Damn I’m slow this morning. No different than most.
Joe – Haha, fair enough
And the goal as well. Well played Sir!
SteveT in the glory position though
Steve T,
as I mentioned way above he played for the U21s on Sunday so was never going to be involved.absolutely no idea. He wasn’t subbed on Sunday. But then neither were Ansah and Monteiro. And Akpom played half an hour too.
Well in Joe. Although I’ll repeat what tabs said. Despite the good things he did, David Dein is a (treacherous) cunt.
Joe’s right. You are wrong Tabs. FACT.
The extra gs probably did for Steve T’s attempt: too wide
The O @ 293 – FACT – off!!! Everybody’s at it these days. FACT!!! In My Opinion!!!!!
Ollie still believes in me Steve. Good enough for me
I don’t get the “no Eisfeld” either. The kid has played well all season. He could use the reward of a CL game. Resting him for west Brom?
Hope so NorCal
Yeah, I was wondering about that too, NorCal!
test
How does strikethrough work?
Cheers Ollie and Lars.
Next few months will be hit or miss for me, what with work and the missus being preggars and all, but I do (and will) try to drop in for “silent” drinks pretty regularly.
You chaps and chappettes will help me get my Arsenal back, right?
BMBD
Nonny, use ‘strike’ inside the usual brackets.
Following what went on at the weekend maybe AW’s saving him for Saturdee … (Ermm – not sure i buy that meself, even.)
“We’ve got 3 Fukkin Germans, 3 fukkin Geeeeeeeermans” etc., ad infinitumish
Oops, pardon – Norcal, see you got there with shakyish theory first
No problem AL. I love it when others are as delusional as me.
I see. Thanks
testHavin said that brother Norcal – if it doth come to pass, and baby Germ (that makes Mert Daddy Germ and Poldi Mummy – i reckon) doth play for our lot this Saturdee – then I shall be declaring thee and me (but mostly thee – for getting in first) “Arse visionaries.” Hallelujah!!!
Tabs. You make a truly lovely couple.
We’re both meeedja stars Steve
Is Rev AL having visions of arses@325? I thought that was Wolfie’s domain…
The more the merrier Lars, it’s a broad church …
I make a lovely couple too.
I think of you more as an orgy Andy
Heh @ many above.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20586343
Will you lot have another Bank Holiday for such trivialities?
Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that he was “delighted by the news”, adding: “They will make wonderful parents.”
Yeah, sure, the kid will never lack money.
Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: “Fantastic news for Kate, William and the country. A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate.”
Only celebrate on the day of the beheading!
Little else fills my waking (i said waking) thoughts Larsene @ 328.
And ’tis indeed, as Wolfie says, a broad church – as, ahemmm – women and those from overseas welcome too, obviously. HalleluYeah!!!
The Dein situation is a difficult one to call.
Did he do great things for the club? I’d say yes.
Did he line his pockets and soil his legacy? Yes indeed.
Do I want him back? Not particularly.
Are we better off without him? I’d say no we’re not.
Does Arsene miss him? I’d say emphapiticaly yes.
We haven’t really been the same since he left, but the whole footballling landscape is bearly recognisable since back then, so there is no guarentee that we hypothetically would of been better if was still in his position.
Royal baby? Does he or she support Arsenal?
Ollie @ 333 Re-publican – i’ll have a pint o’ that.
“We pay your benefits, we pay your benefits…” etc., adinfinitumish.
Ollie,
Now lets not go and lose our heads.
AL,
Thanks for including us poor little Puritan upstarts over here in Merica. It has only taken us a little over 200 years to totally screw things up. We really are the best at everything!
Amen.
just a quick stop by to share in the laments, and the hope. it’s been a rough couple three weeks chez scruz, with the scruzdad in hospital and no end directly in sight. have enjoyed much of the banter over these weeks in the drinks (and all the guv’s blog posts), but haven’t had any heart to participate. i am yet not quite crying in my beer, though (even with the way we’re playing). cheers to all, and a round of shepard neame’s spitfire to all the hopeful, and a round of coors light to all who feel they must slag off…
In other news;
Chelsea have now gone 3 games without conceding a manager.
Best wishes, Scruz.
Scruz ,
Good to see you here my friend. Best wishes.
Heh @ 340.
All the best scruz.
H2H,
I think Rafa has been cleared off the line a few times though. Avaram will help right that ship Oh!
Perhaps Eisfeld is jaded?
H2H @335 Nails it.
Scruz – all the Best.
How do I feel about another royal baby to carry on the thick-as-shit, people-preying, silver-spooning, sychophancy-demanding, hair-balding, inbred-shagging Windsor line?
Dunno really.
All the best scruz. And heh H2H @340
Evening Holics
Blind faith can be dangerous, *in Arsene we trust* *Arsene knows* are just two of the gooners responses to the decline of are beloved team over recent seasons.
I am not out for my pound of flesh but I dont see any harm in fans venting thier anger at a manager who is untouchable by human hands. AW could set fire to the Emirates and run round the streets naked and would still keep his job. Every now and again he may need to be touched by a reallity check !
Why else would Boulds rant hit every newspaper and media feed willing to listen, strange how this escaped Fort Knox I mean the Arsenal dressing room.
This escaped the inner sanctum of Arsenal as AW knew that blind faith may be waining a bit and he needs the most loyal and highly ripped off fans in the land on side with him.
The quickest hand shake in the world and down the tunnel dose nothing to ease the frustration of Arsenal fans. Walk onto the field and appluse the empty pockets around the stadium to show respect to them, not by letting out a *Bould got the hump after the game release*
By no way is AW to blame 100% as he dosent even play for the Arsenal. But he is the only one who can put it right ! If this means some big names are put in the reserves to wake them up and find there hunger then thats fine by me.
I have said before we have far to many average players on stunning wages which is handicaping are future business in the transfer market so this squad is the one which will have to get us out of this rut which is fitting as they got us in it.
Bring in the youth ! win or loose I think you will see desire ! If you dont then God help my Arsenal !
Come on, don’t sit on the fence, tell us what you think, tabs :-p
Heh Ollie
Olympiacos squad. No Eisfeld. No Gnarby? Shea, not Manone. All very odd.
Arsenal squad:
1 Wojciech Szczesny
5 Thomas Vermaelen
7 Tomas Rosicky
15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
16 Aaron Ramsey
18 Sebastien Squillaci
22 Francis Coquelin
23 Andrey Arshavin
25 Carl Jenkinson
27 Gervinho
29 Marouane Chamakh
38 Martin Angha
39 Zak Ansah
48 Sead Hajrovic
53 Jernade Meade
55 Elton Monteiro
60 James Shea
67 Chuba Akpom
Are the U21′s a complete squad of anagrams ?
Maybe we’ll see mose of meth tomworro thing.
Haha, Payton getting a pasting!
Hear hear …
http://invinciblog.com/?p=507
Also no recognised left backs in that squad, but two right backs. TV5 or Angha set for LB?
Starting line up?
Szczesny
Jenkinson
Angha
Monteiro
Vermaelen
Coquelin
Ramsey
Rosicky/Meade
Gervinho
Chamakh
Arshavin/Ansah
On the subject of managers, to the gentleman who would like to see Rijkaard replace AW;
Are you really sure he’d be an improvement? I can’t see it myself.
FR started off his managerial career well enough as assistant to Hiddink whom he eventually replaced as Oranje Coach a position he, after two years, resigned.
He then went into club management he took over at Sparta (Rotterdam) where he became the first manager in the clubs history to get them relegated from the Ere Divisie, unsurprisingly he was shown the door.
Then, which came as a shock to many, he was offered one of the biggest jobs in football, the chance to coach Barca. As you correctly stated he won two La Ligas and a CL (against a ten man Arsenal) , but what you fail to mention (or realise) that a great deal of credit for these achievements should also go to his assistant Henk Ten Cate who many believed was the brains of the operation. After Ten Cate departed it started to go pear shaped Rijkaard was asked to resign he refused but Joan still gave him the old Spanish Archer.
His next appointment was in Turkey which for a third time running ended with him getting the tic tac due to dissapointing results. He currently manages the mighty Saudi Arabia in which his priority is to qualify for the next WC……………….. He’s failing.
You still think he’d be a good replacement?
Trev, Chuba Akpom is an anagram of A Backup Ohm.
Haha, thanks to someone on the arses: there is a very simple explanation why Eisfeld isn’t travelling to Greece:
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2013/clubs/club=52280/index.html
he was not registered in the CL squad!
No conspiracy theories/injuries, etc.
NEd, there were rumours that Gnabry picked up an injury. I’m guessing there weren’t only rumours!
And I’d say Meade for left back. Did quite well there when he came on against Reading.
And you are deluded yourself if you think Squillaci isn’t starting.
He was on the bench on Saturday, so as long as Djourou & Koscielny are injured, he needs to get ready to step up so needs the game.
Saw/heard that earlier today Tabs. If nothing else all us Gooners can be pretty imaginative and wait for it…… Creative. Now for the team to get some of that creativity back!
Is Kermit looking a bit Jaded or is he normally that green?
You can’t trust a frog, NorCal. Trust me.
You got me on that on mon ami.
That “one”
Great track that Tabs, Payton is a…. well I don’t have to say it do I.
Heh @ Ollie 361
Not sure if we should play Jernade Meade………….
He’s an anagram of E Men Are Jaded.
heh H2H, you’re on form!
Anyone know of a player who is an anagram of:
“Fuck Jaded let’s play football?”
I worry that we are already preparing for life outside the CL. Reports that we want new contracts to include a player`s pay cut for non-participation (if true) beggar belief, and run contrary to what is needed to compete succesfully at the top. If we need to save money, how about cancelling the contracts of the likes of Chamakh and squillaci, even though they might take a lot of persuading, thus reducing the wage bill, instead of trying to get unreasonable transfer fees for them each transfer window.
It appears that a few stories are leaking out, now that things are going pear-shaped. I heard the other day that Theo begged the club (unsuccessfully it seems) to give him some coaching, and Stewart Robson said that he had heard from an insider, something that many of us suspected, that it was a complete myth that Arsene is tactically astute. Now, all of this may be a load of hogwash, but there is certainly more to come out, now that Arsene is no longer seen as untouchable. I sincerely hope that many years hence, if we ever get the full story, he doesn`t appear like a latter day J. Edgar Hoover.
For the present we all know that the squad is wafer thin, and poor Cazorla and Arteta are being run into the ground because of our inability to rotate; but I can`t but agree with those who say that telling the world the players are knackered becomes self-fulfilling.
Strange to say, but I`m actually very much looking forward to our next two games. Tomorrow will be interesting as many players will be rested, and to be frank, I`m not expecting too much for Saturday against West brom.
And the reason for Eisfeld not being in the CL squad:
He has not been at the club long enough to qualify for the B list of under 21 year old players. We would have to have registered him in our official 25 man squad (and obviously thought he wasn’t quite there)
Ta brother Norcal – though must confess the “a broad” bit re gals and those from overseas, was more cheap pun (always, always) than somewhat patronizing attempt at pseudo inclusivitynessnessness.
Anyway – best I leave it there, as as my bishop beat into us from day 1 and every day after that, relentlessly – “people who do what we do should never ever explain nuffink to the flock – fuk ‘em in fact” – Piece.
Phil “orange” Brown on Radio 5 Live critting AW for not “winning anything” has all the credibility of proud parents favourably comparing the contents of their new-borns nappy to a Picasso (not the motor, the Pablo).
(Comon AW, ‘urry up and sort stuff out – if you still can – so at least gooks like the bloke that wondered aloud, on national radio don’t you know, whether Italian footballers were “homophobic” because they don’t like playing abroad – can stop sniping at le club.)
AKALBAHHF (i think)
Presumably, Rev AL, Phil was talking about ‘not winning a prize at the local karaoke’. I hear Mr Tango does that well.
Good evening,all.
So many top drinks in the bar,just dropping by. Bye.
Cheers AL.
Not offended at all. Hope I didnt sound such. Sometimes wish I was less abroad. Maybe I should stop taking the estrogen. Wolfie said it would help. Help what, I’m not sure.
You know we’re in a bit of Barney when “fans” are looking for conspiricy theories to explain why a 19 year old who has a grand total of one appearance as a substitute in a league cup game under his belt is not included in the squad for a Champions League game. *shudders*
Brother Ollie – I also heard he tried to sign karaoke “a cracking little player i’ve heard aboot from the J-League like” before someone pointed out that you were meant to sing it.
I get my cassock.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Pardon – “aisle”
Heh @ the Rev.
Phil Brown has the IQ of a retarded potato.
Estrogen helps tits Norcal. Never fails me!
We need a General on the field, something we haven’t had since Fabregas left. Also, it is apparent how much we are missing Alex Song on the midfield.
When looking back on this seasons games played so far I only see one consistant player, Per Mertesacker. Whether that is due to poor physical training or a too ‘thin’ squad so routating can’t be made, I can’t say, but everyone ca see that there is something wrong with the team as it perfoms less than the skills of each individual, and that, Mr Wenger, is your.
Wenger has been a tremendously good manager for our beloved Arsenal despite his lack of coaching skills. But every good thing has an end and I recon it is time to move on and re-build the team under another manager.
I saw the same lack of movement and ‘static attack’ in the Villa game. Arsenal of old had 3 or more options moving forward now there are none or just one (a back pass to the keeper) Is that a result of Wengers coaching? Regardless if it is or not the culture of laziness in the team is something to be thrashed out of them by the coaching team. If it is not then the manager is not doing his job well. We all know the potential of these players and this team. They can play well and beat the best of them, it is up to the manager to bring out the best in the players. If it does not happen I am sad to say Wenger will have to go.