The Worst Aussie Sportsman, And Monday’s Unveiling
Jun 8th, 2013 by 'holic
A strange weekend for a blogger who tries not to do speculation. It isn’t easy when there is nothing but transfer rumour after transfer rumour out there.
I thought at first I could make the Australians feel better about the squad they have sent over for what looks like being a tough Ashes summer. Perhaps a piece about their least accomplished sporting export, one John Kosmina, would put into context the struggle their cricketers are currently experiencing. Truth is though that Kosmina was so bad (and yes, I saw him in the flesh) during his year and a bit at Arsenal from 1978-79 that he was sighted just four times, and three of those were as substitute. It wouldn’t make much of a story.
I am fortunate enough to have wangled an invite to the Ivan Gazidis Q&A session on Monday evening so I could have put together something CEO-related, but he has done that far better than I could have managed by his own pronouncements during the week. That interview has prompted much debate since appearing. He says all the right things, but the fact remains that before we start celebrating the summer of plenty let us start seeing some hard evidence.
The number of players who have been announced as departing in the week is encouraging, and it would appear there are yet more to come off the wage bill. (Yes, Nick, please do seal one of those six deals you are working on.) Now we need to start filling the vacancies that have been created. I don’t mind admitting I have harboured the thought, albeit very briefly indeed, that when we get there on Monday a fresh, exciting, and expensive new player will be unveiled before our eyes. I know. Dream on.
I suppose I could adopt an ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em‘ attitude and publish my own wish list, but what good would that do? My own belief is that we are probably looking at four or even five players coming in to make us truly competitive squad-wise. Whilst we may have more money available than at any stage since the stadium move that means decisions will need to be made about the composition of those new signings.
I might suggest two eight-figure signings with the balance being more frugal acquisitions. Those responsible might plump for one marquee signing, two at seven figures plus a couple of inexpensive punts. It is easy for us to sit here and buy dream targets with imaginary money and no complicated conditions to negotiate. We don’t have to juggle the fee versus salary conundrum.
Actually I think the fees are not so much of an issue given the ability to structure purchases now we have got better income guaranteed in future seasons. The salaries are paid out in real time from day one so if we are to pick up, let’s say, Gonzalo Higuain ‘s Β£120k a week (Yes please Arsene, whoops, sorry I don’t do wish lists) then I would suggest you can forget fanciful notions of, for example, Wayne Rooney’s Β£200k for the same shift pattern.
Added to all that is the issue that now everybody knows we have money available we will be quoted top dollar by all and sundry for any target. Some have already mentioned the deal that Fulham pulled off in the week for Dutch international goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of Β£3.5m to Β£4m (4 to 5m euros). Hypothetically, obviously, does anybody think we would have been quoted the same price?
Anyway, that is as close as I want to get to joining in the speculation I so often bemoan. I’m off to sleep, perchance to dream….of Ivan introducing us to Gonzalo Higuain on Monday π
172 Responses to “The Worst Aussie Sportsman, And Monday’s Unveiling”
First
Runs to the flag
Second…our minimum position next season ?
Toird? Great post holic! I too want the head of Higuain π
Good post as always, and I feel the same way about what we need. We need a signing of intent to excite the fans, and I feel that it has to be a striker given our current needs. Higuain, Fellaini, and a keeper, while taking a few punts and keeping our core players (I include Sagna and Vermaelen) would do nicely by me. Beyond that it’s just a matter of getting the deadwood off the books.
Well shit, half way to the flag I burst into flames. Hotter than hell here. 111 degrees F.
Only an ice cold beer can help this. After the third one maybe I won’t feel as hot. Cheers everyone from the surface of the sun.
Well in Norcal. A good synopsis of the current / real situation on in-comings guvnor. No doubt there will be plenty feverish activity on twitter and internet of ” imminent big signing” over the next few weeks. Lets hope some turn into reality. Gonzalo Higuain would be a good start!
Fellaini would be the dream signing whereas the Granny Shagger is a non starter ( we may be able to afford more than a Β£200,000 salary but do not believe Arsene would spend that…it would totally unbalance the rest of the teams wage structures. Here’s hoping for a productive summer of activity.
I went to the Gazidis charm offensive last year but disappointment with the gap between his optimism and subsequent reality and the fact i have a very early plane to catch on Tuesday have dissuaded me this year.
Not sure Gonzalo’s English would allow for meaningful communication anyway. Clearly we are working hard to bring players in but the more fancuiful notions just create disappointment. Let’sjust hope Arsene still does know.
Holic… The reservation and respect for the
club is immaculate! Proud you’re a big part
of modern life… I’m with you on higuain!
B
Buy, buy, buy
Wok da wok….don’t just tok da tok
…and commendably extremely well restrained, H.
You might be lucky on Monday Holic.
We were, after all, promised an exciting announcement in 48 hours around, er, 48 hours ago.
And here’s the comment you said you wouldn’t mind me re-posting from the last drinks, for the benefit of, err, the name(s) escapes me …….
“Itβs a very odd thing.
There is a group of people who communicate with each other as a result of their enthusiasm / support / even love of their football club.
Whilst being aware of the imperfections of their club β from top to bottom β this group prefer to give the club the benefit of the doubt, where possible, and take a positive and non-abusive attitude to their support.
There are also some people, purporting to be fans of the same club, who have nothing better to do with their lives than attempt to gatecrash that communication with their own incessantly negative agenda.
They are unable to ever enjoy an atom of positivity. They are determined to extract misery from every eventuality. They seem to think that others will have their attitudes altered by their interruptions, or will somehow find them amusing.
They are, of course, wrong.
They will also be the first ones complaining should a negative atmosphere ever happen to permeate the Emirates Stadium.
They are as unwelcome there as they are here.
If only they had the wit to get it.”
Cheers.
Just google the words Muscat vs Kosmina and see Kosmina’s finest moment as a coach in the Australian A-Leagueβ¦don’t worry we have a lot more cricketers that are currently as crap as the current team. Long time before we can put together a decent batting lineup.
No wish list of players required for the mighty Gunners. Did no one else notice we became a team in the last part of the season, just need a right back to prepare for the replacement of Bac
Be the best we can possibly be. That’s all I ask……, That’s all I’ve ever asked.
And Width , Steve. You have asked for width, too.
π
I moan at the lack of width. I grant you that. But adding width is all part of it…….
π
Holic, ask Ivan. Ask him if over the past few seasons we have been the best we can be? See what he has to say. If he is still talking to you after that then have a pop about the lack of width.
π
To Lars
Belated thanks for the previous piece. Hugely encouraging and I’m completely ‘on-board’ with the sentiments that you expressed so well.
The Happy Train is about to get happier. Championship Central will be a destination within the next 2 seasons, I’m convinced.
See you soon…
Maybe we should save the width question for Wolfie to ask. π
I am quite the half-empty sort (nice re-post trev) but even I do feel enthusiasm in the current situation. I have burying myself in rumours, half-truths, innuendo and reddit so it is truly terrific to be grounded, w/o a dampening of spirit, by one so well-versed and seasoned as you ‘holic. Thanks for the post, look forward to our celebrations next week!
Higuain, Gundogan and Bender have been cited in bids totalling 62m today. But the details say that Gundogan is unlikely to be let go and Bender his alternative for DMF (when we all want Fellaini).
I also read that Jovetic is going to the bus stop. Mata all over again?
Still waiting for something concrete before everyone worth having is had.
Oskar
Ohh, Higuan played like Giroud (ie against Sunderland and Stoke) , cannnot score from 5 yards against colombia. His sentoff reveals he may add some ‘spice’ to our team which is judged too nice on the pitch.
Welcome Gonzalo !!!!!!!
Stelkenlenberg for 5 million pounds. Llhoris for less than 10 million. Why we did not buy these GK. Ches is good but not a title winning GK !!.
I am the retarded fucknugget Trev is talking about. I live to spout senseless bile. Everybody has a right to act the cunt, but I abuse the privilege.
Redtruth I have to disagree, Wenger will be around if he gets CL and has decent cup runs. The board is realistic in understanding who we are competing against in the EPL (Manpoo, Mancheaters and Chealski) and CL victory is exceptionally hard to achieve. So Wenger is most likely required to ensure CL football to keep the coffers filled nicely. Trophies would be awesome but financial stability is of major importance to our club.
These are my opinions and u can shoot them down if you so desire.
Only if the rich Russian buys control. If not it will be status quo.
Holic, A rare glimpse into what you’re thinking on this subject . π Hey everyone. So I tried to find out more about Higuain, watched some vid’s on YouTube. Most impressed ! He has a good philosopy as well and seems to really be passionate about the game (Nickolas, take note). Fellaini is someone who succeeded in making me very nervous, every time we played against Everton. He was everywhere on the pitch and if he hadn’t been marked as much as he was, his goal tally would have been more this season. Now I come to Rooney … he is a United Man, and it is a shame he doesn’t accept that. As Frank is to Chelsea, Wayne is to United. He needs to embrace that ! It would be a farse for (him) and the fans of both Clubs, for him to jump ship and come aboard at Arsenal π
Lars, thank you for your spirited reception to my suggestion you post some of your pics on Twitter. Gives us something to look forward to π
Cheers, TS and abb!
Brendan, apologies. You are unfamiliar with the work of multi-named boy. We don’t respond to his bitchy one-liners about how everything and everybody to do with Arsenal is ‘shit’ or should be ‘toast’.
That, please, is the last bit of oxygen the waste of space gets.
Thanks.
Nb52 on the wrong side of the Danish press again when will he learn,his career is passing him by in a haze of alcohol.funny if it wasn’t so sad.
Jaysus, what’s going on? It’s raining posts chez Goonerholic!
Heh @23.
Some of the drops are evaporating as they hit the floor, Ollie π
haha π
Heh @ 33 as well.
@33. π
First question for Ivan should be, “Do you actually think you’re convincing anyone when you come out with this “top players, big money” cobblers every summer?” π
Prediction – None of the names we are being linked with will sign for Arsenal, unless they are the very young and untried ones. Because we need some fodder who will never make it to replace the other fodder we signed that were never going to make it, and have since been released.
Bendtner says he has agreed things with Arsenal, which to me suggests we are paying him a sum to leave on a free transfer, to get him off the wage bill. At last.
Bendtner out, Bender in? That sort of business suits us down to a T π
Seriously though, any transfer announcements yet?
Can’t wait for some confirmed reports…
Btw, dud anyone read the funny account of how Stepanovs came to be with us on AngryofIslington? funny stuff!
Nice? to remember John Kosmina. A very strange signing considering we had McDonald,Stapleton and Sunderland at the time. He was from the fine school of Ray Hankin,John Hawley and Kaba Diawara.
Nice to see us beat the Aussies but Trott isn’t a ODI number three.Fortunately they have a lot of Kosmina-like cricketers.
Caught offside have a picture of screech in an arsenal kit have to say suits you sir π
CoR……Bender in, might become Wolfie’s next favorite player π
Hi Holic, my apologies, won’t make the mistake of responding to the negative Nellie’s again.
Hope you enjoyed watching Kosmina getting knocked off his chair and then attempting to strangle Muscatβ¦β¦ who has always been such a charmer of a player.
Please stop picking on Hughes, Bailey and all other super awesome Aussie batsman because here in Oz we think they are super duper players.
No apologies necessary, Brendan.
Actually Bailey did ok yesterday, in the Trott sense. He needed someone the other end to take willow to leather, but didn’t have much around him.
When Clarkey is back it will be like you have another two new players. I just hope for your sake he can handle the need to score big in every innings.
holic you are rude little boy that needs spanking with my Wenger slippers
Brendan take heed this blog is an irrelevance more akin to a Wenger Fan Club
Well, all blogs are irrelevant really, in the big wide world, even the very popular ones. They make no difference to anyone that matters, they exist simply to entertain the readership and to allow the writer to express their love (or hate in some cases) for the subject of the blog.
This blog is far from irrelevant on the entertainment front. It’s the best Arsenal blog on the web for me.
But not for everybody, Cynic, which is how it should be. Thanks π
Holic the Aussie lads are feast or famine type batsmen. Warner, Marsh, Watson, Wade and Hughes are all very capable on their days but the problem is their days are few and far between.
I think we have bowling attack to put pressure on you guys but suspect we just don’t have a batting lineup that can consistently score runs. The Ashes remain with the Poms for the foreseeable future.
Enjoy your day lads.
Nice post H, already looking forward to the monday evening/Tuesday morning post.
Tuesday evening, probably, Cent.
Blogging doesn’t buy the malt π
@42: Uplympian, heh π
I reckon if we sign Gonadlongs too, Wolfie will be uncontrollable!
Nice one ‘holic.
Transfer speculation, eh? It’s what makes the summer without footy bearable/unbearable *delete as appropriate to you*
With my semi hungover head, dart tounament yesterday, came in third thank you very much, even managed to grab a trophy (some tag great importance to such a thing), I’ve had a skim of the gossip seeing that the Daily Fail are linking us to three, yes three possible, very maybe, could be signings.
Top of the poss’, is some Frenhintine called Higgins, for 20million squid we can get the guy who struggled to get a place in the Real Mad’ team, not that there’s any shame in that, they do have a forward or two there in what used to be Chez Maureen.
Next on the list of the maybe lads, is a guy who scored a penalty at Wembley not so long ago and goes by the name of Gungadin. He’s a DM that does the moping up at the back, all that unsung hero stuff, a kind of water carrier for the team if you will. But apparently no one knows if BD are willing to sell due to the fact that he’s one of their only players who is not already promised to Bayern Munich to be fed to Count Ribery to keep him alive.
The final target is Bender, but not the Bender from Dortmund, no another Bender, apparently there are quite a few of them, Benders everywhere, not that there’s anything wrong with that ofcourse. Unfortunatly it’s not the Bender from Futarama, he’d be great, anyone trying to get past him would be mangled up, the thought of him bending RvP into a reef knot before booting him out of touch really is quite appealing.
I can totaly see him in an Arsenal shirt, check out the image below and you can see he’s even got his goal scoring celebration sorted;
http://s3.amazonaws.com/auteurs_production/images/film/futurama-benders-big-score/w448/futurama-benders-big-score.jpg?1289481740
I also saw that picture that was refered to above (Garsguns @41 at time of writing) on that, twister of the truth and maker uppers of whatever they think will garnish them hits, site, Caught offside, of Fellani in an Arsenal shirt, For those of you who haven’t seen it;
http://cdn.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Fellaini-Arsenal-Shirt.png
Me I’m not convinced………
I mean, there’s no way that his hair is real. π
One week to go. Checking the T-shirts in my wardrobe.
Guinness shirt? Er, maybe not, eh?
Bender, Gonads & Hiqueen…
Meet Lulu, C-arse-sore-la & Nuttersacker.
All to be passengers on the HT Mk3?
Heh @51, noted, sir.
Many hehs @53.
H2H, that picture is clearly a photoshopped picture of Metersacker. Fellaini’s chest and shoulders are broader than that of the person in the picture + his neck looks shorter in that picture.
Don’t think mert has big hairy arms like the one in the picture cent and if he does i think they would be ginge π
I’d love to see Ivan unveil felliani,Williams,millineot,higuian tomorrow at that meeting with the fans tomorrow night and say this is my gift to you after all the backing you have giving us and fook the haters..we can all dream and that’s mine at the mo. π
RIP Iain Banks. And Iain M Banks. Two of my favourite writers gone at once. Gutted.
What with Tom Sharpe been a bad few days for good writers popping their clogs. You hang in there Chief, you hear!
Iain Banks and Iain M Banks? Is they a relative of mine? :s
I’d like to see Ivan unveil one of those cabinets magicians use, then do a full routine where he locks Dick Law inside and stabs him with swords, then do that freaky thing where they take the middle bit out and get Dick to wave out of it (with his hand, not his actual dick) when his belly is three feet away from the rest of his body, then when he puts it back together and opens it up, Fellaini steps out and Ivan goes, “And that’s magic”.
Anything less will be a disappointment.
No Arsenal player in the starting line-up for France tonight.
What Andy said.
Sorry to disappoint you chaps but Ivan will appear surreptitiously on the platform with that guy from Arsenal TV or Tom Watt and answer carefully scripted questions fluently.He will then answer a few questions from the audience a bit less fluently but at least he stops for a Shandy with the fans. You have to pay for drinks after the meeting and the queue is 100 yards long so we didn’t speak.
I like Cynic’s ideas much better but alas there are control freaks at work. Still its nice to be at the ground on a summer evening and there is no queue for the tube cos they are all waiting to speak to Ivan .
Garsguns @58, those arms don’t look big to me and the hairs on them aren’t exactly far from being ginge, anyway, their is nothing you can’t do with photoshop if you put your time into the little details.
Ok, I’ll settle for Ivan stabbing Dick Law with multiple swords.
Re: the Ivan meeting, I would love an unveiling, but I don’t think it’s likely.
What will be interesting, from my perspective, is what he says about Arsene. This summer is not the first time we’ve heard: “the manager has money to spend, he could afford a superstar, we’d back him”, it simply marks an escalation in the tone of that message.
If (nightmare scenario) we get to September without signing anyone of note then I honestly will not know what to think. On the one hand, Ivan appears to be sending Wenger a public message (spend!). On the other, he’s sent much the same message in previous transfer windows, and is now openly admitting that, at the time, “our hands were tied”.
What I’m hoping we see evidence of this summer is a steady ship, with everyone working together in the same direction and genuine optimism about the future. I know Ivan is a polished performer, but I will be reading between the lines of his answers to see how they stack up re; the above.
Oh, and if we’re doing fantasy unveilings I’ll take Schwarzer/Jagielka/Fellaini/Cesc/Benzema please.
Just on that aussie angle ‘holic, is Kosmina the only Aussie to wear the mighty cannon? Please tell me us poor colonials we have more to be proud of than a man that makes Park Ch Yung look like a good signing…
Oh well, a late Giroud cameo apart nothing much to enjoy about that. Brazil comfortable winners but France, after a bright start, fell away badly.
Get the cricket on π
Hello Kos, so far I am afraid he is.
Ah well, we live in hope… doesn’t look like happening anytime soon I’m afraid.. unless Wenger feels like snapping up a sprightly 40 year old GK from Fulham on a free!? (I for one think it would make sense)
nother scorchin day
nowt to use but the anti-sun slop for kids and the elderly
i feckin know which one i’m closest to
hence me
beatin down the road
lookin like i’d thrown a four stone bag o lard in the air and swept majestically through it
a heavy drinkin male geisha minus the happy disposition and the will to live
jeez
me feet are in feckin turmoil
mind you theirs were too
though mine i thought were doctor marten protected
evidently not
oh
and in other news
apparently
an such
an evening howdy ‘hol and ‘hols various
hope you’re all well
Kos,
Don’t worry we’ve had crap Latvians, South Koreans, Danes ,Irishmen and a few bad Brits too( who said Jimmy Carter?)We should have signed Schwarzer two years ago. I think we were going to sign Harry Kewell once too.
The internet is buzzzzzing with news about Higuain.
I hope he gwan come to us π
CBA @ 74
I don’t suppose there is any remote chance you could be going on a very very long holiday anytime soon.??
Cheers Not
The Sweeper
gooner since 54
grumpy since 53
Before the media wankfest descends later today, I just wanted to say a few words about why I cannot abide Jose Mourinho.
Obviously, there’s the fact that he manages Chelsea, and that he’s been less than complimentary about our own manager in the past, but I’d like to skip over those issues – this is a loathing rooted that goes far beyond mere club allegiance.
Why can’t I stand Mourinho? Let me count the ways….
* The fact that his teams play dire, dire football. We’ve all seen it. His previous Chelsea outfit won trophies galore, but no fcuker ever looked forward to watching them. In fact, it’s difficult to recall a Mourinho team providing a single really beautiful performance in all his time in management (maybe the Barca tie 7 or 8 years ago?).
* The fact that every single managerial job he’s taken, arguably until now, has involved leadership of the club with the greatest spending power in its respective division.
* The easy ride he gets off the media. The deal is simple: he feeds them quotes and stories, they sing his praises. Even this morning you can find senior hacks frotting themselves senseless over whether he’ll refer to himself as “the special one” or not. Seriously, who gives a fcuk?
* Related to the above, Mourinho is the living embodiment of a nasty trend in football towards pretending that what happens off the field is actually more interesting than what happens on it. There’s a veritable shadow league going on, in which clubs are praised for making new signings, giving great quotes or doing anything else that makes easier the lives of the newspapers. Fcuk all that. I don’t love football because of people giving themselves stupid nicknames or hiding in laundry baskets. I don’t watch it for the soap opera. I watch it for the actual football. Mourinho’s “contribution” to the game is incredibly lopsided in this regard – he’s done a huge amount to drag the sport towards the WWF-style pantomime which Sky would dearly love it to be.
* His general behaviour. He’s always been a disgrace, but never more so than at Madrid, where his infantile kicking and screaming at imagined conspiracies was truly painful to behold. His response to Barcelona was similarly so – whatever we might think of the Catalans, Mourinho clearly instructed his players to kick them all over the field during various encounters between the clubs. Between that and the tendency of the Barca players to dive, those games became nearly unwatchable. But anyone who repeatedly sends an animal like Pepe out to kick a player like Leo Messi doesn’t deserve to be called a true football man in my book. Added to that his poke in the eye to Vilanova and his numerous personal insults directed at Guardiola. I firmly believe that Mourinho was a major part of the reason that Guardiola left Spanish football. Not because of anything Madrid did on the field, but because he’s an essentially honourable man (at least, that’s always been my sense of Guardiola), and he realised he was being dragged down into a deep, deep gutter by the Portuguese.
* The notion of Mourinho as some sort of style icon to whom all men should aspire. I’m sorry, but these days he’s just a fat bastard in a tracksuit.
* His pathetic flirtation with Man Utd during the Madrid ties against them last season. Imagine watching your club’s manager behave like that.
* His total failure to engage with the details of long-term club management. Mourinho lives on a three year cycle: join club/spend fortune/build paranoid fortress mentality/ramp up paranoid fortress mentality/win trophies/push paranoid fortress mentality too far/find someone to fight with/leave club. He never has to worry about what’s coming 4 years down the line (i.e. will my line up be too old, are there too many egos in the dressing room, are there any kids coming through), as that’ll be someone else’s problem. Hence why every club he leaves is in a right fcuking state for years afterwards. He’s not a manager, he’s a fcuking highly paid management consultant.
* On that note, the weird love affair between him and the Chelsea players who served under him. OK, it’s nice to see players respect their coach, but – jesus wept – to be bleating on about it six years later like a lovesick schoolgirl (see: Drogba) is just pathetic.
* Dropping Iker Casillas. I don’t have any particular love for Casillas on a personal level, but he’s clearly one of the two or three best keepers in the world and he was dropped out of pure spite and to wind up the support. Pathetic.
* The way that no one has called him on going slinking back to Chelsea like a total coward after making an utter hash of the Madrid job.
I could go on, but it’s Monday morning and this stuff isn’t good for the soul.
Suffice it to say that I am not “glad to see him back in English football”, I do not think he’ll “make the league more exciting”, and I wish nothing but ill-fortune to him and his backwards-@rse, classless, basket case of a club, no matter how much the back pages might attempt to convince me that he’s the messiah.
Glad to have got all that off my chest. Now we can all sit back and watch the English press spend the rest of the day sucking him off.
Good block chez arseblog today.
And top top post, N7, I fully agree with you.
N7 Knows!
And if you need more logical reasons why Maureen is a cnut this will help http://t.co/Mncx1mcG8i
Sums it up perfectly N7 re Mourinho – top post. Whereas he was mildly interesting when he first arrived in England, he is now become plain boorish and un-interesting…in fact totally suited for those who support the bus stop in Fulham.
Although I feel the treatment of Iker Casillas was very poor considering it was to a long time player of the club and was done purely for machismo reasons. Ironically his replacement Diego Lopez(?) played pretty well for them when given his chance – guess Maureen just got lucky with that one.
I agree with everything N7 has said about Mourinho. There is evidence to support everything he states, it is not merely a personal opinion. Spanish football seems to be glad to be rid of him. His lies about Anders Frisk led to death threats being made against that man and resulted in his retirement from football. It is damming of the mainstream media in this country that not one of them has filed a report comtaining any of the points made by N7.
Cheers all.
Joeos – it says everything that I was able to write a post that long and not even touch on his disgusting behaviour re: Frisk. Well said!
Mourinho is a living demonstration that winning is not everything. Class, integrity – these things matter, even in modern Sport.
Brazil ’82 did not win the World Cup. I still watch the replays of their games, as do millions of others – pure joy.
Greece won the European Championship in 2004, but I couldn’t name you a single member of that squad.
One team will be remembered as long as football is played. The other were pretty much placed out of mind by the end of the calendar year.
Take away Mourinho’s media hype and what are we left with? Greece 2004, writ large.
I wish N7 would stop beating about the bush, come on mate, tell us really how you feel about Maureen. π
Heh @86.
N7, go on mate, summarise him in one word or phrase.
I’m going to go with “douchebag”.
Cheers ‘Holic, thanks for the post. Hope this evening proves an interesting one for you.
Like many others, I do detect a difference in this year’s more bullish pronouncements than those of years gone by. I have often been critical in the past of Ivan’s somewhat injudicious promises that there is “money to spend”, succeeding as they do only in hanging Arsene out to dry with that part of the fanbase who are, it seems, unprepared to read between the lines. His recent confirmation that we have hitherto operated with “one hand tied behind our back” at least appears to have finally put that misconceived criticism of the Manager to bed.
No doubt there has probably been money to spend in the last 2 years which might have gone unspent. Whether that “kitty” has been sufficient to improve a top 4 side enough to justify the outlay required is far more open to question. My guess is that it hasn’t been, and AW has preferred to horde what small amounts have been available until a time when it can really make a difference.
That time must surely be now. With the increased sponsorship deals on the horizon, the “over to you Arsene” element of IG’s interview at last has some credence.
Here’s hoping that we can at last enjoy a summer that will give tangible hope that real progress will be made next Season.
N7 @79 – Top post. Agreed with every word. Mourinho has, for me, long been the poster boy for everything that’s bad in the modern game. The English media’s infatuation with him is as nauseating as it is misjudged.
Cent @82 – Great link, thanks.
Up @42,
I’ve had my eye on the Benders for quite some time. I want them both, Sven and Lars. It’s about time Arsenal operated on an axis of Benders.
I also want Goodwillie, there’s always room in the Squad for a Goodwillie.
I would also want Bent, but sadly he’s shit, so I will have to pass there.
I WANT MY ARSE BACK! π
Tabs, cheers mate.
Heh @Wolfie!
The transfers I want this summer are as follows:
Peter Ramage
Titus Bramble
Kieron Dyer
Shay Given
Nicky Butt
That would mean that if the ball was passed around between the players in a very specific order, the commentator would be forced to say:
“Cazorla given dire bramble butt ramage”
…which sounds really painful.
N7,
Top post in relation to Jose. I hate seeing him back in the PL. I largely agree with all that you write especially when you refer to his disgraceful behaviour and general lack of class that permeates his egotistical bubble. That said, I do think he has jaw dropping ability to deliver trophies. And its not the trophies with Real or Chelski that impress me (given their resources) but rather the CL titles with Porto and Inter. Inter were truly a team on the wane and were pummelled 5-1 in Europe by Manu in the year preceding their CL win if memory serves me correctly. Having re-built the defence with cast offs like Lucio from Bayern he won the CL the following year (with some luck). 7 league titles in 4 different countries is very impressive and Wenger has (rightly imo) marked them as the team to beat this season.
Tabs,
Nice comments on IG.
I only hope Arsene goes and spends some money now!
I know I’m in the minority at the bar but I’ve been impressed with IG. I think he’s very smooth in public and over the past few years has largely addressed all that he could reasonably have done in such a short time by maintaining the values of the club; retaining the manager at the helm; exercising prudent financial management; improving the commercial deals to provide a platform for the future……………..
I was especially buoyed to hear what you refer to as the “over to you now Arsene” part of his recent interview because not only does it demonstrate that there is money available and that the board are backing Wenger, the public nature of the nudge also shows he’s as anxious as others to see some new blood come in.
Superb post N7. Agreed with every word. That guy is despicable and I hope it ends in tears at the Bus Stop.
N7 @ #79
Spectacular.
I’m not sure he’s the devil incarnate but, as you say, there is so much wrong with the three-ring circus that goes with him.
On the positive side, what a great way to vent your spleen and get rid of any pent-up anger when he comes to The HoF next season.
N7 knows.
Cent@82, that was a good read.
And tabs: “Mourinho has, for me, long been the poster boy for everything thatβs bad in the modern game. The English mediaβs infatuation with him is as nauseating as it is misjudged.”
Amen to that, brother. All this while Arsene Wenger, a man with more class than most in the game, who always answers questions from the media, rarely loses his temper when interviewed, who was instrumental in modernising the game in England in terms of nutrition, training methods, playing style et cetera, who founded the academy that has produced more current professional players than any other club in the country gets pretty much one thing and one thing only:
“He’s just a whinging frenchie who hasn’t won anything for eight years!”
Passes it upfield…
Cheers Lars.
Floats in a cross…
N7 @ 79 – agree with every word.
Tabs@89 would have to extend your: “The English mediaβs infatuation with him is as nauseating as it is misjudged” as it is unsurprising – and that to me, is the really sad part.
I don’t give a stuff about Maureen being back in the Premier League for next season. I do give a stuff about having to hear about it again and again and again and…
Ping lob
…and slots in a proper drink for the century. Drinks all round, barkeep.
Oh and Lars, just like you, it also baffles me, more than anything else in football, how so many English “journalists” think it’s cool to ridicule Arsene and then praise despicable characters like Ferguson and Maureen who bully them at every turn, it really is a strange world we live in.
Well in Oxon – rose like a salmon to nod that home.
Well in, Oxon!
Looks like supporting the Arse is not the only thing we have in common.
Oxon target.
Thanks you all for the kind words.
Retires to consider more fully “Oxon as salmon”. Nah, can’t get my head around it. WIll have to have a nice lie down.
At Paddington. What happened to summer?
It’s over here too, didn’t even last a week. π
‘holic@108 Please take our handy quiz below.
Q1 – Is it raining?
Yes – Goto Q2
No – You’re not in the UK. Please go to the appropriate supplementary quiz.
Q2 – Is the rain warm?
Yes – It’s still summer. Don’t panic.
No – Summer has passed. Get over it.
Hope this helps.
I’m not in the U.K.
The weather is still shit.
Joe @93 – Yep fair enough, difficult to disagree with what you say. IG is clearly a class act when it comes to public speaking/presentation etc, and I do remember being very impressed with his performance at the Q and A this time last year. I’m afraid I do think there has been a transparency issue over the years though that has hurt the Club. That of course may not have been his fault, but an order from on high. No way of knowing. He certainly talks the talk. Time for him now to walk the walk imo.
On a separate note, and as I know you’re a fan, been reading Hitch 22 – a great warts an’ all autobiog. I would thoroughly recommend it if you haven’t already read it.
Lars @96 – Indeed. The contrast as to how they are treated is stark.
Oxon @100 – Probably naivety on my part, but I do find it surprising. With the tabloids I can almost understand their masochistic supplication. He makes their job easy and gives them enough soundbites to live on for years. There are however several intelligent writers working for the broadsheets who one would expect to view him more critically. Instead however, they seem, with only a few exceptions, to be equally in thrall to him.
Holic @108 – Did it ever arrive? π
Whoops. π³
wolfie/tabs@112 It’s probably a combination of my cynicism and your naivety – I’d argue that being in thrall to Maureen might be an indication of lack of intelligence, so would require other evidence of the intelligence of the braodsheet writers. Essentially, I seem to be a more dedicated whinger about the shortcomings of the fourth estate. Hey ho.
Once again while sifting through the gossip garbage which “informs” me that many of our targets, well, those who they “informed” me were our targets are now talking to or being targeted by others, nothing new ofcourse, this is what silly season is all about.
However, this time around, something does, as many have pointed out, feel different. This new found optimism makes me a little edgey, not that I am adverse to optimism, not at all, but still there is something knoring away at me.
For once, it’s not a question of the availability of the always promised “warchest” or funds, no, this time Gazidis just seems more believeable, not that he hasn’t done a good job with his spin in the past, but the added buck passer, it’s now up to Arsene, seems to signal that the cash is there and it’s up to Le boss to Le Splash it.
For the last few years we have had to be prudent, had to tighten our belts, didn’t really have the dosh, whatever reason, there’s no escaping the fact that we, for lack of a better phrase, under nourished our squad, not leaving it in a state of anerexia, but still pretty thin in the quality department. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve made some decent additions, but a lot that came in, as even the most rose tinted bespectacled among us must admit, was not that great. This underinvestment has meant that we ve done remarkably well just to remain in the Top 4, and here’s what worries me……
Will we, after years of squad neglect, still be able to attract these so called targets that we are supposedly after or will our lack of quality be a factor in them choosing different pastures anew?
H2H
I don’t think Arsenal (will) have a problem attracting players, even more so now that we seem willing and able to compete in the market in a way that we haven’t done since the move to Ashburton Grove.
The only time we have/could still lose out is (a) if we end up horse trading on fees/wages with the petro clubs or (b) if a player prefers to move to the current champions.
Fairly hefty caveats, I know, but we do seem far better placed to conduct some swift business this summer. We’ll see…
Oxon – Fair enough. For my part, I still think that even in this era of the easy soundbite, there are journos out there who display both an innate love for the game and an ability to captivate with their words.
H2H – Who knows, certainly not me. If pushed, I would have thought that ultimately the potential stage of Champions League football, AW himself, their pay packets and the lushness of the surroundings would all be more persuasive factors than the negative of a lack of recent trophies. That said, I guess we will have to shuffle into line behind the kudos of joining the Champions or the megabucks available at City and Chelsea before finally welcoming any new arrivals.
On a different tack altogether, here’s an article linked to by Amy Lawrence on twitter some time ago which I have only just got round to reading. A brilliant but sobering piece on how Italian football provides the backdrop to the self-expression of the more extremist elements of Italian society. Pretty long, but well worth the effort if you’ve got a spare 15 mins.
http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/9338962/when-beautiful-game-turns-ugly
Tabs 112….caught out cross dressing again π
Now to read your link on 117 above.
‘Fraid so Up π
howdy ‘hol and ‘holics various
nowt to say
just thought sweeper was missin me
π
Howdy CBA. Hope things are bonny in Donny.
Tabs 117….that link was some read. Seems like with the current political scenario in Ialy, things won’t get any better. It will be up to the football authorities to try and seriously deal with it. I won’t hold my breath then.
I would rather remain with the view that the ultras in Tim Parks book ” A Season With Verona” as a more realistic appraisal of the genre. By the way, this book has to be one of the best football books ever written and is recommended for those looking to keep the flames burning during the close season.
Tabs,
I read Hitch 22 sometime back and of course I enjoyed it immensely. I would also recommend “Arguably” which is a great selection box of essays over the last 10 years. And the Amis autobiography “Experience” is also a fine read and gives an insight into their friendship. So many books and so little time. I got the Hauser Bio you recommended on Ali, but havn’t managed to open it yet !
Wolfie is Tabs’ alter ego? There are obviously more information in this bar I’m yet to become privy to.
Uply@121 +1 for the A year with Verona recommendation. I owe all my knowledge of “unorthodox” Italian to that book. Dio boia.
Evening all,
Good works above from N7, Tabs, Joe, H2H on a quick read through after another loooong day.
Haven’t had time to check out the links yet, so apologies for any repetition, but one more piece of unnecessary nastiness from the Specious One would seem to be in order.
It goes back to the Reading v Chelsea game in which Petr Cech received his head injury.
According to Mick Dennis in The Express at the time, Reading made every effort to assist the Chelsea medics in treating Cech, and had an ambulance ready to go in 7 minutes. Not good enough for Mourinho, he implied that the injury may have been more serious than necessary due to the delays and paucity of the Reading facilities.
Lovely fella.
Evening all. Some interesting comments above.
First of all, Ivan. I have no problem with him as a business man. I just have major doubts with him as a football man. I am also not convinced he is an arsenal man. The “over to Arsene” comment I am still not sure about. With a year left on his contract the cynic in me says that any hint at failure means he becomes an easy scapegoat.
I am also of the opinion that our activity in the recent transfer windows has done us harm. I do not think that we carry the same clout that we used to. I think we need to do our business early. We need to show strength in the market. We have been all talk for too many seasons now. If we dither this term then I can see potential targets stalling to see if better deals are on offer elsewhere. I think it is imperative that we strike early. I just hope that all the talk is not just all that. Don’t let me down Ivan.
Well It sounds like the Q&A this evening was what everyone expected. But I guess that depends on you perspective. The negative perspective is that it was the same rhetoric that has been spouted the last few years , ” we have money, it’s there to spend, it’s all up to Arsene”.
The positive listeners heard ” we have come through a difficult period but things are improving on the commercial side and that can translate on the football side. We will address the wage structure and make changes if we need to. We are looking to increase our revenue to equal that of Bayern (300M) so that in the next few years we can compete with anyone in spending power. We have identified targets and are working towards bring in new talent. It is sometimes tough negotiating with clubs that have or are changing managers. ”
I realize talk is talk and the last few years have made us all gun shy in the summer. I really hope we are working hard to make those necessary improvements!
Steve T, I agree with pretty much everything you said except “any hint at failure means he(Arsene) becomes an easy scapegoat” I don’t Ivan or Stan will want to do that to Arsene, I rather think that they’re afraid he might decide to walk away at the end of his contract and are shitting their pants at that possibility, so that, for me, explains why they’re trying to make everything easy for him by giving him all the resources and support they can manage to make available to him at the moment without jeopardising the Club’s future.
Tim Payton looks like Officer Dibble.
now
calm down sweeper
i’m guessing your moniker is not mine or road based
although my old man was a dustman
no
he wasn’t
he was a spark
aaahhhh
jeeezz
sparky – what a twat
a face you wouldn’t tire of beatin with a swingball circullarly
circullarly ?
mmmmm ?
i agree
what the who hey am i talkin about
half
or indeed
most of the time
we’re all agreed on sparky though
turd of the highest order
hangins too good for him
its a good 70s swingballin he requires
or indeed a good boot in the arse
.
cheers
The Bullshitter
I think I have just become too cynical Cent. I am not convinced by the board and will really just wait and see. I hope it is not all talk, I really do. I am just not convinced at the moment. I will wait and see how it all goes before judging. I sincerely hope that this is the start this time because I am bored shitless with the bollocks we have been fed over recent years.
What Steve T said @131. Likewise.
Wock da wock, Ivan…….stop just tockin’ da tock.
howdy uplympian
thanks for askin
how are you ?
things are indeed bonny in donny
and
its
a
very fine mooo to you too
.
can you write the rhymes
that indeed rhyme with
baaa
cos
i’m too elderly
and
hunger – e
to finish
my nonsense
π
Indeed, Norcal, indeed!
Steve T @131, I hope so too.
flollop
i’m a gooner of old
not 54
i still cut my own food
–
am i outside of the box
i come here to read
all the mental stuff
and
the financial stuff
but i’m still
an oul fan
i read the money stuff here
some dribbles in my brain
doesn’t fire me up
but
soon as we’re on
you couldn’t break my stare with a lump hammer
CBA
Loved your riposte at 78,then you go and spoil it @130 and @133.
If only you could remember, it’s across the page,not down.!!
I am convinced you belong in the ‘ Secure Unit ‘,Permanently.!!
Have you kept in touch with the March Hare.??
cheers
The Sweeper.
Then top it all off with 136.!!
#54
play nice
doesn’t take much
i talk shite
i know it
what you want me to do ?
hide in the corner cos you don’t like my brand of shite ?
nope
you make me laugh and i’ll bugger off for good !
howzat ?
i said
HOWZAT ?
Well cba, I’m a bit too sheepish to find a rhyme with baa
I’d rather we share a few scoops in a bar
Talk about the greatest team by far
Alas the distance between us for now is too far
One day we’ll meet but for now tata
Must go….nurse is here with a stronger dose of medication.
#140
aaahhh !
π
Re: Ivan’s “clubs without managers” thing, the mind goes straight to Higuain and Fellaini.
Which would be a very tidy summer indeed.
-redtruth
do not feed my mother before or after noon
or
indeed
anywhere near christmas
i still have the cleaners in
oy
N7, this will be me if we sign those two http://25.media.tumblr.com/cf6d91bd87838dabd76063a138442e8c/tumblr_mo1z6qJug81r03eaxo1_r1_400.gif
goodnight all
sorry ‘hol for draggin this place down
π
see you all soon
or
maybe not
it’s down to The Sweeper
and his
hilarity muscles
N7,
What’s the “clubs without managers” thing ?
I looked on .com but nothing on there yet. Where have you got the quotes from ?
CBA
Do not under any circumstances respond to 143.
He is Holic’s Nemesis,with multiple names and Technicolor Coats of many many colors.
Beware
cheers
The Sweeper.
Trev, Ivan said words, in a recent interview, to the effect that we’ve been slow out of the blocks as regards transfers this summer because some clubs are still managerless or have just appointed new managers and it’s difficult dealing with clubs who’re yet to appoint a manager or one whose manager is yet to fully assume office.
Trev,
When Ivan was asked about signing players early in the window he may a comment that it is sometimes difficult to accomplish with teams that are without a manager. What his exact meaning was can only be guessed at. But he implied that we may not have signed anyone yet because we are dealing with a manager less team. Real Madrid also made a comment today that Higuain will not be sold until they have a manager. Still all just speculation.
Cheers Cent
Thanks fellas,
I had seen those actually. I imagined N7 was quoting from tonight’s Q&A at the Emirates.
Cheers mates. And goodnight.
Silly season done yet? there’s only so much clicking of baseless rumors my computer can take π
It has started asking me “are you sure? It’s all bs you know!” before I click on a NewsNow link…
@Trev
From what I can gather, Ivan made the “managers” comment at last night’s AST meeting.
Fully agree with the fact that should we sign Fellaini and Higuain, it would be very very tidy business. One can dream right?:P
Where is Snir anyway when you need him, I would expect him to be superactive since the start of the transfer window π
Transfer window opens today in France. I mean, officially.
Hi ‘Holic,
I have to say that I am really interested to see your take on the Q&A. So glad you just went and took it all in (obviously for the benefit of your discerning readership :-)).
Hi Ollie. I’m not often in the, are they called, drinks (you’ll be pleased to note given my general babbling on Twitter that you kindly put up with). Silly question but why are all the transfer windows in Europe not aligned? [Popsie]
The only way I’d know is if I was making the decisions :p
Start of the window seems to be completely misaligned, but end of windows are more in synch.
In fact, the French window, when first announced this year only a month ago or so, was from June 9th to August 31st.
When they realised that most of the other European windows finished on Sep 2nd (presumably due to 31/8 being on a Saturday), they shifted it by 2 days…
And heh, yes I enjoy the general babbling π
Morning all, in case you didn’t know you can read the Gazidis Q & A here:
http://news.arseblog.com/2013/06/ivan-gazidis-qa-full-transcript/
He couldn’t be a more polished performer if you sprayed him with Mr Sheen before the meeting, but he has to when he’s faced with the usual questions.
Now I know this will come across as average needy whingeing football fan, but how come we haven’t signed anyone yet? That’s a serious question, I’m not trolling. IG says the money’s there and there’s “less uncertainty” this transfer window than the last two, so you know…
(I know the whole process is complicated and not like choosing between Sainsbury’s Organic milk and Yeo Valley semi-skimmed, so just crossing fingers that talks are happening right now.)
Camberwell: it is a player’s market. Many of them are in no hurry to sign for anyone, they want as many clubs interested as possible. That is the simple truth.
Thanks Ollie, I’ve never really understood it and quite frankly I think you should be involved to provide more clarity :-).
Glad re. the babbling! I’m hoping to coincide with you all at the Tollie next season.
CG @ 161
I think Ivan has suggested that the delay in transfers has been caused by a number of top level clubs operating without managers (i.e. they don’t want to sell until they’ve bedded down their own transfer plans, sourced replacements, etc).
Makes sense to me.
Twitter speculation suggests that this probably means we’re in for one or more of Higuain (who I believe Real have said will not be sold until they appoint a new coach), Fellaini, Rooney and the entire Wigan first XI.
While I would love us to do our business early, I can see the logic of the above. Buying top talent means you’re dealing in a relatively small pool of players and an unusually high number of managerial positions at top clubs have been vacated in the last 6 weeks, which is bound to have repercussions.
The smart money seems to suggest we have genuine interest in Higuain and Fellaini.
We really do need Snir back for this stuff.
He’s probably hidden in Fellaini’s barnet right now, getting the inside scoop.
N7 and Lars, wise words re transfers.
Heh @157.
I have to say, I thought that the transcript from Stillmanβs βminutesβ made for fascinating reading.
Some will say that this is just another “part and parcel” performance of what Ivan does every year: the smooth talking; the suave PR front; the rehearsed answers; the slick communication. Some will say weβve heard it all before and now its time to “walk the talk”. I politely beg to differ.
This was much different to the previous years.
I thought some very definitive points were made:
1. Not only is there a lot of money available for the manager, but there is a very firm expectation from the board that he goes and makes use of it..!! This would suggest that there was money available last year and possibly the year before that was not spent. And while the manager has steered the ship through tough financial waters, there is a platform now in place to make sure we become competitive again.
2. Bayern Munich were mentioned deliberately, on a number of occasions, as an expectation to where we should be at. While there is an acknowledgement that the Bayern model is different (in relation to ticket prices), the inference seemed to suggest that considering how well Bayern have done through organic development, that we, too, should be competing for trophies at the very highest level and there can be no more excuses for not doing so.
3. The Manager received the support of the board and the club are prepared to issue him a new contract. But I canβt help but feel that there will be serious expectations now attaching to future performances β the comment of watching us βstumble over the line into 4thβ was premeditated, as also were the deliberate referrals to the Blackburn and Bradford cup exits.
Yesterday Tabs alluded to the recent IG interview as being βover to you nowβ Arsene in what seemed, to me, like a polite nudge to move forward and spend some money. This was no βnudgeβ. This was an explicit push and I feel the board are now putting positive pressure on the manager in a very public and bullish way!
It all augurs well for the future and shows that our austerity may finally be a thing of the past.
You all know how I feel about Wenger. But I think Kronke and IG are very impressive operators too!
Don’t do it Trev! π >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Up @121 – Thanks for the Book recommendation. I have to confess to not having heard of the Parks book before, so I shall seek it out.
Joe @122 – Thanks for the recommendations, I shall certainly get them. Both writers are a joy to read. And don’t put that Hauser Biog off any longer – you’re in for a treat!
Cba/Sweeper – Hehs π
Joe @168 – Good take on last night’s events. I would agree with you that Tim Stilman’s piece was a very fine and comprehensive bit of reporting. I’m afraid that I would however still veer towards what Blogs wrote this morning. That it is all essentially a piece of PR, and that anything that is said by IG should be digested in that context.
I’m not sure that I agree in full with your No.1, or at least I would interpret what he said slightly differently. IG also said that there was no point spending all the money just for the sake of it, just so that they could then turn round and say all the money has been spent. He added that Arsene had seen the Club through a “difficult” period on a “limited” budget, and when questioned as to the less than “superstar” signings of recent years he said “The parameters he’s operating in are the parameters of what the club could afford”.
Like I said yesterday, my view is that whilst some money may have gone unspent, the wider question is were the available monies sufficient to significantly improve the side? Arsene’s view, rightly or wrongly, was clearly no.
Completely agree with your points 2 and 3.
Cheers for the replies holics. I am in touch with the bar’s resident(currently missing) crystal ball gazer
And Ollie, I too am going to book el al I think
I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in
writing this blog. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade
content by you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities
has inspired me to get my own, personal website now π