Getting The Buzz For The Hornets In The Quarter-Final
Mar 11th, 2016 by 'holic
The FA Cup quarter-final. I say it over and over in my head. We have experienced it so many times, some of us, and witnessed good and bad. One example of the latter was our defeat at the hands of this Sunday’s opponents in 1987, recorded and brought to life again here. There have been happier days, of course, and few more so than at Old Trafford a year ago. I’ll be in my seat this weekend cheering the boys on to what will hopefully be the victory that exorcises the demons of twenty-nine years ago.
Just what sort of a side is tasked with that job is pure guesswork right now. David Ospina is a given between the sticks, one would imagine. At the back Arsene seemed sure that Per Mertesacker would be available, less so about Gabriel, and Laurent Koscielny is doubtful. That probably means an immediate recall for Hector Bellerin, with Calum Chambers possibly switching to the centre alongside the skipper. If Kieran Gibbs starts ahead of Nacho Monreal then assume he is being saved for Barca.
Francis Coquelin is free to return after suspension, but it must be a toss up whether he returns alongside Mohamed Elneny at the expense of Mathieu Flamini. It is the selection of the trio ahead of them that will give the clearest indication of whether or not Barca is a factor in the manager’s thinking, despite his protestations to the contrary. Those of us who would like to see history made will be looking for Alexis to start on the left and Mesut Ozil in the centre. Theo Walcott’s brace in midweek may get him the nod ahead of Joel Campbell on the right, and behind fellow double scorer at Hull, Olivier Giroud.
If we see Danny Welbeck or Alex Iwobi starting then the boss is truly trying to shuffle his pack with one eye on a Champions League miracle. A victory on Sunday is very important to keep a lid on the frustrations undoubtedly bubbling under around the ground. There is little expectation of a remarkable comeback next Wednesday, but the natives will want Arsenal to march on in a competition providing them with the possibility of a unique treble in the modern era.
Watford, as in 1987, are enjoying a rare moment in the limelight. They have certainly fared much better than most neutrals expected this season. Their Premier League place seems assured. Thirty seven points are already in the bag with nine matches still to play, largely gained in the first half of the season when they found themselves in exalted company for a while. They have rediscovered the laws of gravity of late, and indeed have not won a match since defeating Leeds United 1-0 at Vicarage Road in the fifth round of this competition.
Much has been made of the potential for a boycott of this match in some quarters. There seems to be a degree of confusion as to why that is even being considered. Suffice it to say that those season ticket holders who have opted out have found their tickets lapped up by grateful red and silver members, and that is how it should be. I wouldn’t deny anybody the right to protest, no matter how futile their action appears, and it may just result in a livelier atmosphere at the Grove.
The ‘holic pound
When we last played the Hornets at their home in October we were in a rich vein of form, and three goals in twelve second-half minutes saw us to what then was an impressive triumph. We may have to show similar patience tomorrow. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the visitors hit the target this time, but I’ll back us to score three again. The Gunners to win 3-1 is a market best of 13/1 and I wouldn’t expect it to grow ahead of the announcement of the teams.
I know some of you will be in the usual spot on Sunday. This being another lunchtime kick-off, and with GWR running rail replacement buses once more, there won’t be time to enjoy too much pre-match cheer, but hopefully we will be celebrating post match. Wherever you are watching (or listening) to the match I wish you a happy and healthy weekend.
Have a good one ‘holics.
237 Responses to “Getting The Buzz For The Hornets In The Quarter-Final”
3-1 is good value, then. but i’m guessing 1-0 with nailbiting down to the quick, or 0-0, with nailbiting and a replay.
Evening H
Watford,like Hull in the week,are having difficulty finding the net of late,so let’s hope Flores doesn’t park the bus.
Expect us to win,but then i expected us to beat Hull first time round as well.
Watford are willing,but whether they are able,is another matter entirely.
As to the score,could be a scrappy 1 nil,or a joyous 3 or 4.
As long as it is in our favor,either one will do.
Cheers H! Appreciate the effort as always mate.
UP THE FUCKING ARSE!
As ever H. Wonderful & appreciated..!
Excellent preview, ‘Holic.
That 1987 defeat is our only FA Cup loss to Watford in five ties. The first two were played more than a century ago, both 3-0 home victories, home being the Manor Ground then, and then being 1906 and 1910. I fancy history to repeat itself.
No takers for my complaint in the last drinks regarding the six games in 18 days we had played up to and including the Hull replay, and the three three more in 9 more days starting with Watford. That will be 9 games in 27 days, an average of one every three days. Does no one else think this is unacceptable?
It’s all very well talking rotation, but not when you have rotational injuries and few to rotate with. Something is wrong with this scenario. Money isn’t everything, it’s the only thing apparently. And with the bigger TV deal next year it’s only going to get worse.
Should we (supporters, players, owners, lovers of the game) just accept it as inevitable?
Oskar
Great stuff from TTG in previous drinks @160
Just got back from the Reading game as my sons school did a nice deal for us me and his ticket only 25 squid so worth every penny!
Mike Dean please don’t start me with him again! I can’t stand the bloke!
Pre-match cheer. 😀
Predicting post-match cheer too. 😀
The Hornets have no chance of relegation this season and no chance of Europe next, so FA Cup must be their only focus right now. We should beware of getting stung by them.
But what we should do and what we do do are often at odds, and if we don’t impose ourselves early we could regret it. Can’t see us losing, but I can see us doing it the hard way … again.
Oskar
2 games a week Oskar? Of course it’s not unacceptable. The moment that Sky contract was signed 20 plus years ago then football sold its soul. You can’t take all the money on offer and then moan about playing games. It’s not massively different to how it used to be anyway.
If you choose to dance with the devil then you dance to his tune.
Now to read the preview.
Nice preview H.
Didn’t take up the clubs offer of a £35 match ticket. Unfortunately a Sunday lunchtime kick off is about as much use as tits on a fish. I will be with number 1 son at an egg chasing tournament. I don’t think I will even get to see the game live at this rate.
What team will we pick? What team will turn up? Who knows?
For those going, enjoy. Hopefully the TV changes will allow me to make at least one more home game this season?
THREE games a week, Steve.
Oskar
Oskar.
We will play at weekends and play one game midweek. Fairly standard I would suggest. The fact that games get changed to suit the TV should be no surprise to anyone. As I said above, if they want the money then very little else actually matters.
Form memory in the 79/80 season didn’t we play something like 70 matches? Can you imagine that today? Ivan and the boys would be seeing pound signs everywhere.
nice one ‘holic
Steve T@13: Brian Talbot played 70 games that season. Frank Stapleton 67, Graham Rix 66, Pat Jennings 65, Willie Young 64 and Alan Sunderland 61. Brady, O’Leary and and Nelson all played more than 50 games.
In the past decade, only three players have played anything even approaching that, Alexis with 50 games in 2014-15, Per in 2013-14 with 51 and Kolo Toure with 53 in 2006-07.
1979-80 was the last season when anyone played 60 or more games. Anyone in the bar recall who the physio was then? He was clearly in possession of the most magical of magic sponges.
TH14 has completed his UEFA A coaching badge
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCyDSjNA1Hy/
One step nearer a return to the Ems?
ned 15
just reading those names
put me in a good mood
thank you
on my family’s behalf
?
Nice one Guvna. Sitting in the sun in Madeira hoping I can find somewhere to watch the match. Happy to have your bet romp home a winner, mate. Hopefully, I’ll raise a glass of Malmsey tomorrow evening to celebrate a win for the Holic pound.
Ned @16, it wasn’t the physio that made the difference it was the beer diet and grit.
NBN
I think you may be right and I wouldn’t mind giving him a go I suppose, I know he is still learning his trade so it’s fairly long time away but I have a gut feeling it will happen one day.
Those number of games are astonishing and I suppose they didn’t have as many injuries either right? And yet with all the modern medical facilities we have these days we still have so many injuries and players take months to come back.
I say give them some bloody beer then 🙂
Three games a week is not exactly a hardship, football has always been Saturday/midweek/Saturday. Nowt to do with Sky.
My heart bleeds for the poor little flowers.
Excellent stuff, Holic,
and appreciation of some very elegant phrasing.
3-1 sounds about right to me, Warford having “rediscovered the laws of gravity”. ????
Theo “media spokesperson for the team” Walcott in for Joel Campbell ?
Not for me, no.
On second thoughts, maybe I’d keep Joel for Wednesday as we’re going to need some proper workers and chasers over there.
Who’d be a manager, eh ? ?
Just seen the Arsenal Gent’s Review over on Arseblog.
Required reading. ?
City not doing themselves any favours..
😀
Citeh do not look like champions. With Leicester and S***s ahead of us we have to believe we are still in it and that means we are in contention for a double( if we are sensible on Wednesday night.)
I remember that game in 1987. Watford were a bit of a bogey side for us and over Easter a few years before did the double over us in successive days.
As I’ve emphasised I’d put our best side out tomorrow. I think we may rest Nacho but I hope to see Sanchez, Ozil , Campbell and Elneny and Coquelin. I’d rest The Flamster for Barca and hopefully we will have enough to beat a tricky died with a pacy front two. 2-1 to the Arsenal would do me!
Cheers Guvna.
After a day in the warm sun here, a long walk, game of bowls followed by 2 hrs standing and watching the Paphos carnival procession trundle by, I’m a bit cream crackered. Off to watch the rugby at the Irish pub across the road and likewise the big match tomorrow.
I think this could be very difficult – with no distractions Watford can give it 100 per cent effort whereas it’s possible our minds may not be fully focused. It has to be a strong team put out tomorrow, but of course with regard to the Barcelona match following. I’ve no idea who he will pick so no score guessing this time – a win, however come, by will do nicely.
Full strength for Watford. End of.
Cheers, Uply.:)
Enjoy yourself, don’t worry too much, etc.
cba@18: when giants roamed the earth…
bath@19: 🙂
Lukaku….
…and Lukakuuuu
Costa second yellow and he’s off looked like he’s blood hungry too 🙂
Chelsea 2-0 down and Lukaku the striker Mourinho got rid of gets them both. Very interesting article in the Times today showing what a shambles Chelsea’s transfer dealings have been.
If the Chavs go out I fancy us even more for a hat- trick of Cup victories
Barry off as well
Chavski….the gift that keeps on giving this season
Ah, Holic, you missed the cast iron 2-1 home win! 🙂
“Much has been made of the potential for a boycott……seems to be a degree of confusion as to why that is even being considered.” Just about says it all. (I heard around here that it’s a cerebral protest against Stan’s moustache, its wax treatments are too costly).
See you after the game and I’ll look forward to that.
I would go all in for Lukaku in the summer if I am Arsene. Not so many better strikers out there. And he is 22 if I am not wrong?
Goal celebrations in spain are getting a little peculiar…
http://i.imgur.com/uZqxu1l.jpg
…or maybe it’s just that lot.
😀
..and here’s to no europe for chavs!
Indeed iBtM, I too shall anticipate the celebrations eagerly. I actually thought 2-1 a great shout but wanted to surprise you 🙂
A game I will be missing, but recording. I might not get to see it until the evening though, so I won;t be ranting about how shite we are on here until around nine 😉
Thanks for that, Cynic. 😀
Those numbers are extraordinary, Ned (#15). Here’s me thinking a game every three days could have something to do with our recurring injuries and there you go booting that one into touch. And back then, by general consensus, the game was tougher! How does this all compute?
How about my other theory, that there was a lot more ‘give’ in the turf when they played on pitches that roughed up like cow paddocks and players ended up looking like they’d be bog-wallowing. Was it perhaps that the leg/foot had somewhere to go when contact was made in those days rather than take the full force as they do on today’s ‘perfect’ pitches? Any thoughts Dr Trev?
Oskar
Nice one ‘h!
I’m still shooting for that Champion’s League miracle at the Cuntalans place on Wesnesday so I’m expecting a similar second-string starting line-up as we saw on Tuesday.
I see that Barca scored six again today (the Spanish League really is a complete farce as a contest) so I’m going for a similarly convincing scoreline of 4-0 against the Hornets.
Up the Arse! COYBG!
It could be a factor, Oskar.
I know from experience, when I was waiting for my knee replacement operation, that different surfaces can have a big bearing on joints and muscles.
I could play tennis, albeit with a hefty, reinforced brace, for about an hour and a quarter on astroturf, or just an hour on acrylic, or even cushioned acrylic surfaces. But 20 to 30 minutes – depending on the temperature – on tarmac left me struggling to walk.
Like tarmac, the current playing surfaces are very hard compared to the old swamps to which you refer. I assume the artificial material woven into them increases traction even further, and increases fatigue and soreness all through the lower body.
What remains unexplained though, is the huge variance between the numbers of injuries typically suffered by different clubs, given that they are all using similar surfaces.
We are, unfirtunately, much harder to shift from the top of the injury table than from the top of the Premier League.
Taken from the Telegraph last April –
let’s hope it’s not this lot heading for the Enirates tomorrow –
“Millions of huge killer hornets which eat bees and have caused the deaths of six people in France, could be heading to Britain because of the warm Spring, experts have warned.”
– they only get a maximum of 9,000 tickets anyway. ?
Do you suppose, Trev, that the ‘quality’ of the Ems pitch plays a part since our pitch preparation is recognised as the paradigm these days? That perhaps some/many clubs don’t spend as much on their pitches and so they tend more to the old type?
We’re not as alone as we usually are this season, with Manure for example even worse off for injuries. Could they be preparing equally ‘excellent’ surfaces?
I can’t imagine Leicester’s pitches receiving the same attention ours get.
Maybe only a factor as you say, but the causes have to be explainable by more than bad luck.
Oskar
Didn’t Mahrez leave the field with a hamstring problem last match? And yet he’s fit again already? Leaving just one Leicester bench player languishing alone in their physio room… Ugh!
Oskar
Received an e mail timed at 03.57hrs this morning telling me that the West Brom fixture that was due to be played yesterday has now been postponed because we play in the cup today. I world just like to thank the club for their prompt update. Otherwise I would have got up this morning, got showers and changed before heading off to yesterday’s game.
Would just like to thank….
Got showered….,,
Poxy spillchucker.
Watford? I went to an Elton John concert at their ground back in the early 70’s. It was pretty good as I remember – better than their team then, or now probably.
Anyway, I’m Still Standing and I trust that the Arse will be too at the end of today.
3-0 to the good guys.
UTA.
To no one’s great surprise Stan Kroenke has outlined his philosophy of sports ownerships and admitted he didn’t go into it ‘ to win championships’ . Well that’s a surprise!
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/stan-kroenke-i-didnt-buy-arsenal-stake-to-win-trophies-a3202046.html
I really would like an owner who sees our beloved club as more than a valuable brand. I pray for the day when the club can be in the hands of a ( wealthy) Arsenal fanatic who sees the playing success of the club as a key objective.
Sorry but the longer time goes on the less I believe we can achieve our potential under Kroenke’s ownership. I know there are those who don’t believe this as passionately as me but I really don’t want Stan to own our club
Arsenal: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Elneny, Coquelin, Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Monreal, Flamini, Iwobi, Walcott, Welbeck.
I went surfing the web to try to find out which English managers have the most victories in the premier league and this is the closest I got. The list is alphabetical by the manager’s first name. Accurate only up to December 5, 2014 (Ned?) 😀
http://www.barriesview.com/all-time-premier-league-manager-statistics
Apologies for all errors, but leaving aside the managers who won fewer than 60 games in the Premier League, based on those statistics I came up with this list. Allardyce, Hughes, and the other active managers, whose names are in italics, have won several more games in the last 15 months or so:
Harry Redknapp 231
Sam Allardyce:136
Kevin Keegan 116
Mark Hughes 110
Alan Curbishley 108
Steve Bruce 102
Glenn Hoddle 89
Roy Evans 87
Bobby Robson 83
Gerry Francis 79
Alan Pardew 76
Roy Hodgson 75
Peter Reid 74
Tony Pulis 67
Ron Atkinson 67
Joe Royle 66
Howard Wilkinson 66
Steve McLaren 64
John Gregory 64
Bryan Robson 61
Jim Smith 60
Steve T. @49: What happened to the West Brom game again? It is always good to know these things in retrospect, for the value of history of course. 😉
Welbeck and Walcott warming their willies on the wayside??
Come on!!
Come on you Gooners!
No one can tell me Walcott is more talented than Joel Campbell. On the evidence of my eyes JC has more natural talent, technique, is more creative and hardworking and doesn’t go hiding. Only thing Walcott has is instinctive finishing and pace. He doesn’t even show his pace anymore.
Giroud was NOT offsides.
Shoot for God sake
Gabriel’s tackling is scary. He needs to be careful. COYG.
mediocre first half, and Gabriel is a lucky boy. watford get less and less dire as the game goes on. jc and cc down the right are tasty.
I hope it’s not going to be one of those days we are huffing and puffing and there is not a great deal to show for it
Elneny certainly had his best chances hopefully we will score more than one in the second
COYG
Ironically, Gabriel is just who we need in FA cup games like these.. especially with lenient refs who don’t give fouls or penalties..!
Still we should be 2-0 up at least…Elneny hasn’t found his range yet!
COME ON!!
was going to say the same as you scruz about Joel and Calum on the right but you already said it. 🙂
Was going to say solid and dangerous but tasty will cover it too.
Come on lads make us proud!
Let’s go boys
What was that all about ffs
Not surprised to be honest wtf were they doing? Ball watching?
Predictable.. now let’s see what we’re made of….
COME ONNNNNNNNNNN!
Mertesacker why?
Come on show some urgency at least
Wake up
How do you give away a Goal from a throw in?
It’ll need a hell of a turnaround to get a result now.
Bunch of bottlers
Fuck!! We expect too much of this team. Resigned to they fact we are just another mediocre team.
Terrible defending. Unbelievable!!
What a goal!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNN!
Put some bloody passion into it!
Is Wenger really expecting to get a result at Barcelona?
i’d like to know what the fuck Wenger says at half time. From being well in control only needing to sharpen up in the final third to losing by two.
We are in serious trouble
At least now we can focus on not dropping out of the top four.
Ozil loosing the plot
This is ridiculous we are losing two nil and I can see no effort no heart in this game whatsoever!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
By next Saturday we probably will be out of all remaining competition.
10 minutes to save the season
We just lack natural finishers!
Going to struggle next season onwards as the other clubs pour more money in…! Frustrating the number of chances missed in the first half!
now COME ONNNNNNNNN!
Alexis is so frustrating to watch
The annual Arsenal Collapse Week. Traditionally a late winter/early spring event when Arsenal, having performed decently in all competitions to date, spectacularly exit all cups and combined with losses in the league are left free of the expectations with nothing to fight for but the rights to participate in the next season’s champions league.
At least Alexis is still running….
Get in
Yes yes yes
Nice goal but something tells it’s a little late
5 minutes tovsave the season
Maybe not.. welbeck looks natural enough!
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Fuck this fuck fuck
Well fuck
Oh my
Come on
Self assist whocl cares
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Yessssss!!
Wellbeck should have taken a tumble
Closer
Mariner you dickhead
such a disappointment of a team.
Great we rested Bellerin for the pasting were going to get Tuesday.
Yet again we start the second half and there is no urgency there is no heart there is no plan there is nothing then Watford come at us and scored two goals what a bunch of wimps
Did Walcott even get on?
All credit to watford… we were just not good enough!
Can’t imagine the boys will be relishing the barca challenge now…
We really miss Santi!…and Wilshere.
Adios.
I don’t want to hear any excuses we rested most players during the week the game against Hull City, obviously something is not working. Wellbeck that should’ve started upfront and Walcott should have never been allowed to enter the pitch
It pains me to say this but we are no better than Chelsea
So disappointing.We looked good only when we scored the goal.It is a lack of confidence that is sinking us at the moment and the officer in charge of motivation and confidence is either the Manager or the Captain.We clearly have the capability we just can’t feel the motivation and inspiration.Such a shame.
Watford fully deserves the win.. took their (meagre)chances well.
Apologies guys but I missed the first half. I just want to know whose fault it is this week? Are we blaming officials? Or is it injuries? Or perhaps the ball was too round or the grass too green? Clearly it won’t be our fault.
Answers on a postcard…..
I’m going to be very interested to hear what Arsene Wenger has to say this time?! Hmmmmm….
Steve T
At least we created chances in the first in the second we were dire! Walked onto this pitch thinking we were going to have a stroll in the park, it took us 88 minutes to score a goal against Watford come on did I miss anything here?
We miss Alexis. He lost his speed, his drive and where the hell is that thunder shot he used to have. So frustrating to watch him these days.
And if you want to close on that two goal lead you do not sub your striker. As poor as he was, as he was really, really poor, Giroud can at least occupy two of their defenders. Sub Mertesacker for example, he is useless anyway.
I am so pissed off at the moment.
Dapper
1. Bad day at the office
2. Referee wasn’t good enough
3. There are positives from the game….
I reckon it will be the third option 😉
Sorry, I have calmed down now. I will have to drown my sorrows with a few drinks.
No one on defense trusts anyone else to do a job. On the second goal, three players run to Igualho leaving the shooter wide open. No organization at all.
And you could see that today what Arsenal did not have was a Troy Deeney — not the specific player, but a fulcrum to give stability and on the pitch direction.
Guedioura shot one of the better ones. Thunderbolt!
Arthur. Results like today, and many others this season, is the result of the last 5 years. We have been in gradual decline and have done virtually nothing about it. Many will feel pissed about today’s result. Very few I would suggest will be surprised. However, the happy trainers will tell you that world domination is just around the corner. Those with a grip on reality will realise that nothing could be further from the truth.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLL!!!!!!!! ????
Steve T
Too right, we always hear same old excuses this that and the other. I suppose people hope for better times ahead but nothing gets done and I don’t think it will as long as millions are sitting in the bank.
I can smell a rat
Lurky
Yes a very lost rat indeed 😉
Just putting this here…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBBGrH9R1A4
Funny enough am not really surprised or pissed off at this result. Just like the players, I switched off from this season a couple of weeks ago. we are in March, what else were you guys expecting? Do the triple? Or double? Maybe a single. By Wednesday it would all be over and we can focus on the PL. Am more worried about the Everton game, don’t want to drop out of the top four. Unfortunately, that seems our only realistic target for another year.
Arthur.
About 3/4 years ago we were told we were on the way up because we hadn’t sold any off our players. The fact was that at this stage we had no real jewels left to sell. Not for a healthy sum at least. The rest is pretty much history. Every season we have tried to put a sticking plaster over a gushing wound. There comes a time when, as admirable as that plaster has soldiered over the years, that you discover that it is just not good enough to do the job.
Just remember what we were told at the start of the season. Not one player available that would improve this squad???? Believe it or not, many actually fell for all of that.
We were not up for it mentally, it was sad to watch the last 10 mins of the game that we show that actually we can. But football match is not starting from 80mins.
With this kind of mentality, even Guardiola will having a hard time coaching these players.
Sad But still love this team!
COYG!
Well the triple is mosy definitley OFF!
we all still love The Arsenal
of that i’ve no doubt
ambydex
but
we all know
it’s the frustration that’s the killer
frustration bordering on anger
steve T ‘s called it well many times i think
Thought we were unlucky today but Wenger should have prioritised this match ahead of the Barca game which we are already “95% out”
Howdy CBA
I trust you and yours are all well?
Your favourite triple awaits you on the bar. As it is for all loyal holics everywhere.
True CBA, couldn’t said it better. That is why nowadays, losing is more painful than ever.
Just coming back from the match. Obviously gutted but in this of all bars I hope we can retain civility and perspective
Watched it, we were shit apart from about five minutes at the end.
Dreadful display.
Not much to say apart from the second goal was a great strike, but if Campbell doesn’t mindlessly follow his runner into an area already well defended, he’d be on the edge of the box to block the effort (or should be)
Thought Ozil and especially Sanchez were completely abject, but I know I’ll be alone in thinking that.
Apologies guys but I missed the first half. I just want to know whose fault it is this week?
Walcott’s of course. It always is. 🙂
slainte big man
all’s well
surprised ye can’t hear the undertones
blaring from o’er the sea
a cheer up tactic
the missus employs
all too often recently
mind you
we think we have it bad
little jimmy disappeared one day
and
no one saw the ambulance
that took little jim away
.
.
.
JIMMY JIMMY
OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Cynic
Sanchez and Ozil were disappointing although the effort was there. Walcott managed to be completely anonymous but the was not his fault. There is a real need to rethink our tactics. We played at a snails pace until the last few minutes giving them time to cope with whatever we threw at them
Teenage Kicks. The song where the lyrics had to be changed to suit top of the pops.
Not many bands get away with singing about teenage boys knocking one out.
indeed ambydex
goonerdom isn’t for daisies
we earn our stripes
1 win out of the last 7 to a team in a division below and I do believe it will be 1 win 8 after Wednesday as well.
The team looked clueless to how to break a team down who have been broken down by nearly every team in the PL. That hurt today as I didn’t think we would loose that, we had to many players that wasn’t bothered and went through the motions.
The best team won on the day and well done Watford.
So the battle for fourth starts on Saturday !!!!
What has gone wrong so badly wrong ?
Plus one, Cynic. Although I noticed that Sanchez on the right side towards the was a much better version of the leftsided one.
And after watching Kane scoring once again for the Spuds I can only imagine where would’ve been this Arsenal team with a decent striker. I have high hopes for Welbeck on that front, but we need one more.
mickey just published a book steve
worth a punt
he’s a funny fucker
and a good soul
Apologies Cynic. I forgot to add Theo to the list.
?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teenage-Kicks-Life-Undertone/dp/1785581805
Still ploughing my way through Rick Buckler’s book.
Maybe after today I might do a bit more reading and cut down on other things?
Speaking of Kane…
😀
Just seen the stats. 71% possession and only 4 shots on target. Those could be the stats from almost any game over the last few years.
Book ordered on your recommendation CBA. I will look forward to it.
I guess I just miss my daisies badly, CBA.
@TTG: re-think the tactic, yes, I agree but I think it’s a matter of whether we want it or not, if the answer is “yes, we want it”, the follow up question would be how bad do we want it?
The way I see it, it only took 80mins for us to realized that we needed to win the game. And sadly, I’ve seen it way too often.
herself has the right idea
i don’t exactly have to be
talked in of a ledge
but i pollute the house
with repetitive bullshit
when we lose
.
things can always be
looked at from a different angle
.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLbaOLWjpc
Poor.
Really poor.
Watford won every 50/50 ball.
Really poor.
Stench.
“That” banner sounds positively courteous at this stage. A way worse collapse than 2008, especially given we do buy big players and pay huge wages these days. Untenable. In theory… Sick of it. We want our club back. COYG.
get
……..off
……………the
……fence
bt8
Belief comes from the top Wenger should go , enough ,
?
moo
Lydon: “NeveR tRust a lapToP hIppiE.”
Just seen the stats. 71% possession and only 4 shots on target
This is why I say that for all the drooling over how good they are, Ozil and Sanchez ain’t all that. They create very little.
And I know Ozil has an assist record but I reckon that flatters to deceive. We’re not making enough chances.
Cynic. We managed 20 shots in total so I’m not sure creating chances is the major problem. Our conversion rate is shocking.
lydon’s mammy :
if ye see richard hell running at ye
with a big stick
deny all knowledge
and
just say you were trying on
his clothes and haircut
before
mc mc mcLaren got someone else to
Yeah but in general our chance creation is rubbish. Or has been this season.
speaking of which
any oul gooners here
encounter the lydon gooners
70s
esso ?
i’m looking at you !
?
Player ratings in I see. Arsenal defenders and midfield all 5-6. Watford’s all 7-8. If I’m honest I hadn’t really heard of their three 8’s. Mert, Gab and Coq ALL given 5. The main theme of Wenger’s presser was that we deserved to win. Hmmmm. Can there be any doubt now that our defensive spine is a complete and utter liability ? And don’t give me any of that KosCoqzorla shite. Would have made no difference.
I went to our last two home games against Swansea and Watford and saw us beaten 2-1 in both by teams defending deep with two banks of four and a high work rate. Even with the most optimistic mindset like the man I was speaking to at Arsenal Tube who believes we now have a real chance of winning the title our problems lie as much at home as away even though the home fixtures look much easier.
Today we suffered because of a lack of pace out wide. Chambers is sooo slow and not suited to bombing on. Gibbs was slightly more effective but is no Nacho . Added to this we didn’t defend intelligently centrally. Gabriel allowed Ighalo too much time for the first goal and we needed to block the shot for the second goal. Everyone got attracted to Ighalo. Mertesacker on a bad day looks to have the turning circle of a large ocean liner. In midfield Coquelin created very little but Elneny was sacrificed. He was wasteful with his shooting but much more likely to make something happen and Inwoukd like to know why we can’t play Campbell and Sanchez on their natural flanks. Alexis ran his bollocks off but only looked effective when he switched to the right.
Giroud had a putrid day, Walcott managed to be almost invisible and although Welbeck missed two good late chances his movement gives us many more options as the goal illustrated.
Ozil worries me in that I sense real frustration in him. He is an elite player and I doubt playing in a team this limited thrills him. I think with the offers likely to come his way this summer Wenger may struggle to hold onto both Sanchez and Ozil and if we don’t make the Champions League this would be highly likely. I think our unwillingness to strengthen in the summer with another top quality striker has cost us dear and will continue to do so.
As for Arsene , while he has reinvented himself countless times the paucity of tactical nous in our last few games really concerns me. You get the impression almost every team that come to the Grove are pretty clear how we will play and we do little to confound their expectations ( and several have worked out a way of coping with Sanchez, crowding him out on the left as often as possible.
It doesn’t help we have the best team in the world to play away on Wednesday. I suspect Wenger can’t roll out a really weakened team,on Wednesday and then we MUST beat Everton on Saturday lunchtime.
I always wanted Wenger to go at a time genuinely of his choosing, his star in the ascendant. He might not be sacked by an owner with Kroenke’s priorities but may not want to stay in the poisonous atmosphere that is building up. If only Welbeck had turned in that late chance we might have given everyone some breathing space
Slightly off-point but after a back drink (it is drinking time after that performance after all) NBN @ 16 ; I would be pretty sure good ol’ Fred Street was our Physio back in 79-80 but open to correction. Ah yes, 60-70 games a season without complaint, crappy muddy pitches, 1 sub, no shin guards. Never a bother to good old Fred.
liam
with his socks
that always behaved gravity (™holic )
shin pads
or
anti-Gabriel socks
?
for pansies
or them
wot like their shin bones
and
who could blame em
cos
#yer leg bone is
#connected
etc
?
Hard to argue with any of that, TTG.
(though, I’m sure someone will try).
I don’t know about everyone else but I for one have lost my faith in this team and won’t let these overpaid wimps get to me.
If Arsene thinks he will get anything out of the game on Wednesday perhaps he hasn’t got it through his thick skull that we are utter rubbish so please can someone tell him how it really is?
From his presser you only sense one thing and that is ignorance as if you had to be really stupid and believe in every word that comes his mouth. We should have won the game? Which game? Was he watching a different game?
Yes we had chances in first half and yes we didn’t take them but we also showed zero determination and heart when we went 0:1 down. We still strolled thinking come on it’s only one goal we can score more. Then they score second and this is when we saw urgency but it was way too late for that.
Arsene, the best tactic for defense is attack, attack and f……. attack!
For me, another Arsenal match and another embarrassing result. Not all that surprising, however. Its been a few years now, that its always a question: which Arsenal side shows up today? The slick moving, sharp passing, goal machine side? Or the shower of shyte of today.
AW’s comments … what can you expect the man to say? The meedja go after him no matter what happens. He rightly ignores them or treats them with the seriousness they deserve (i.e., none) but doesn’t lose is cool or say crazy B.S. (e.g., Brendan the weasel Rogers). That supporters expect something else is baffling in itself.
This is the time to stick together. Yes, in the modern world of 8 second attention spans, Twatter, extreme need for instant gratification, and social mores focused on satisfying what I … I … I think (or, is that me, me, ME? – thanks a lot, facebook) that’s hard to get across. And even tastes bitter going down in the wail of non-stop media. But there are games left for the title. While the squad looks pathetic, if they go on a run, it may be close in the end yet. That we look no where near doing it is undeniable. But no supporter should be writing us off, calling for AW’s head, or planning for next season until this one is done.
A round on my tab for all the drinkers in the bar.
Scgooner – The more footballers are turned into athletes, the easier it is for them to get injured. Football is not a game for athletes, its a game for men.
Stick a fucking pie down them a couple of times a week.
Why oh why, after we clearly haven’t given everything, does Wenger have to say that we did in his presser? Nobody is convinced mate.
180
genius as ever
?
ATG, was not responding to you specifically as I’m not trying to offend you or getting into a jousting match. (and if I did, i apologize.)
Those are my thoughts generally. And while I, too, am pretty over this side and its continual cock-ups and understand a loss of faith in these overpaid, namby-pambies having the stones to make the club proud, I choose to stay positive and hope for improvement. (Of course earlier today was the stress, yelling, and hair pulling….)
A lot of points left to play for and you never know how things go. Wishful thinking, maybe!
In my job I deal with negativity and idiots yelling and writing silly things. I choose look for the best in this rag-tag bunch (the team, I mean).
After today, I think I’ll have a Redbreast…Make it double. Gonna be a bumpy ride in.
Homer
No offence taken mate I’m just fed up and obviously few hours after a game I’m still feeling the pain. Surely come Wednesday evening I will be behind the team as always.
The only thing that gets me down is the fact that after Swansea we did exactly the same we huffed and puffed with not much result. You could feel it in the air that a defensive cock up was around a corner.
Redbreast sounds good to me make that a triple, something to wash down all the sushi I consumed in anger 🙂
Na zdrowie!
Good news, Holics! 🙂
I can confirm that after a thoroughly enjoyable post match at the usual watering hole (that last Glen was a peach, well, not strictly a peach but you know what I mean and for which many thanks, Holic) Goonerholic and his Glaswegian escort safely departed Holloway Road underground station en route to Reading and all points west waxing lyrically about Stirling Albion and Celtic (yes, it has come to this).
He ‘doesn’t know how the hell he’s going to write that one up but at least he has Monday to reflect upon it’ (sic), but I’m sure it’ll be a cracker – more than can be said for the first 80 minutes of today’s Arsenal effort.
https://m.youtube.com/?gl=GB&hl=en-GB#/watch?v=JQsg6XXGxXQ
no they aren’t
but
what a fuckin song
.
c’mere
give us a big hug
ya lovely ‘holics
.
(rumours of my violence)
(are not only lies)
(but mis-placed time-wise)
so
.
WHO’S FOR A BIG KISS ?
btm
fancy a big smacker ?
Agree with Cynic about the effort issue. It does grate when we are perpetually told about their ‘incredible spirit ‘ and giving ‘ absolutely everything’. Large pinch of salt required.
If that is Theo or Giroud giving their utmost then I’d hate to see them having a breather. Sorry to be down on Theo again and it’s not really fair to pick on him but I hate to see players ducking out of tackles or failing to track back and letting the game pass them by when they are paid such huge sums by people who work a hell of a lot harder a large amount of the time.
Theo is a wuss and that won’t change. Giroud isn’t a wuss but he is incredibly slow and we have to play a certain way to accommodate him at home.
I know Holic with the benefit of a very balanced perspective and the added benefit of time will manage to draw a sensible conclusion but that game really hurt and in fact I haven’t seen us play well , or near well at home in 2016.
I like the sound( and taste ) of the Redbreast. Make mine a quadruple!
Sorry, forgot the Leicester game. That was a notable exception
I think it isn’t so much the lack of quality players or the not spending despite us having the money that irks me most.. it’s the way we play.. no passion or hunger and at times no sense of cohesion among the players.
How we re-ignite the passion, will and hunger is more than likely the key to our progress.
Whether this involves changing the players, rotating, tactics and formation, the manager or having more players only backroom talks with theo and gang, i do not know.
What I do know for certain is that with the ultra competitiveness of the league(Everton being the latest cash rich club), even fourth place will be difficult if things remain the same.
Changes, I feel, will be made sooner rather than later.
Looking forward to the Barca match, as everyone expects us to lose.. we may just do the opposite.
Up The Arse.
The general consensus around me was that we’ve had enough of paying to watch this fare, the season ticket cost is now too high to watch this sort of stuff year after year. Will just go to the odd game via red or silver tickets.
A quite motiveless display to say the least.
Had to laugh at one wag, shouted at Giroud, “Has Per been giving you running lessons?!”
So awful it was laughable really.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=sf3eabt_e8Y
You hear so many people saying look what AW has done for the club, and I say he has done an amazing job, but his time has come. He is out of touch of the modern game and with the fans.
He has also been very fucking well paid for it !!!!
He hasn’t done it for free !!!
One of the highest paid managers in the world and the only manager who doesn’t have to be successful to keep his job.
Yes my heart goes out to him.
Somehow on days like today,you have to keep your sense of humour.
So i offer the following.
At a recent Open day for a Company hiring Security Guards,one of the written questions on the application form that was asked of the hundreds that turned up was,
” When on duty, in what circumstances are you permitted to use a firearm.”
22% wrote ” When there is a fire. ”
National Security is in safe hands.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=56u6g0POvo0
On a sadder note,
Images are appearing online of Arse fans fighting each other outside the ground after the game.
Is this how low we have sunk.?
clive
dicks are dicks
but
numpties
are
He did an awesome job with George Graham’s back four, Bruce Rioch’s greatest ever managerial stroke and the help of two or three world class players that he sneaked in under the radar.
With or without financial restraints, the last 12 years have been pretty slim pickings and I’m afraid the guy just isn’t the genius he’s cracked up to be.
His reputation for picking up gems and polishing diamonds is particularly overstated IMO
But it could be a lot worse.
Cynic @200: The Invincibles back four were primarily all his signings though, as were the motley crue in the back line who sustained a thrilling run to the 2006 CL final. We have been putrid recently, in 2006 especially, but let’s not be such careless revisionists.
@201:…in 2016 I meant …
I think the game has moved on technically, physically and most importantly tactically so far ahead that Arsene is finding the necessary self-reinvention little too hard. Games like this at home are not exceptions anymore because tactically we haven’t found a solution to offset the limitations we have. Arsene’s trusted mechanism of asking players to find a solution in certain circumstances no longer work that well because the opposition has worked on all possible variations of what that might look like.
What did the Romans ever do for us eh?
From 1996-2004 Wenger did a quite remarkable job and he assembled in 2004 arguably the best English side there has ever been. He didn’t spend wildly to do it, the back four was entirely his own , we had six world- class players possibly more and we did it at the time United were a top- class opponent with double the income ( at least) we had. That was a remarkable achievement.
But in recent years I think his methods have been overtaken in some respects and his natural conservatism in the transfer market has been a problem. I really don’t think he wants to buy lots of megastars even if he can because he is an idealist and he did it before without splashing the cheque book. This season shows that big spending isn’t necessarily the panacea but we were in a position where a couple of judicious signings ( say a Higuain and a Wanyama might have made us a much more credible challenger
Community Shield 2016………Leicester v Watford!
I think Stan has not made it any easier on the fans by saying he basically doesn’t give a flying toss about trophies. To me that shows nothing but disrespect to people who put their money in his pocket and this raises even a bigger issue as our sustainable model is crushing down from the very top.
It’s not who you buy but how you use them.
Either way it’s change methods or be changed ultimately.
Stan isn’t a fan… he’s a businessman.
Stan for me is, and always has been the major problem. No doubt there are those that will salivate at the business model and the way the club is now run. For me it’s like we have become North Korea, but with David Brent in charge.
ATG/206 I was about to say the same thing too. When you have a owner making a statement like that you wonder why the club seems to have no ambition. I think we need bigger changes than just wenger leaving. Unfortunately, the biggest change should come from the owner to the board to the management team. Changing the owner is definitely not foreseeable in the nearest future and to me there lies most of the problem. As for Wenger, I think 20 years in a job is decent enough and he should just bow out holding his heads high. I think its going to get real bad as in the banner getting displayed more often than he might want to see.
BB@208, I know he is not a fan, but why make comments like that though. That’s just plain stupid.
Lack of hunger and ambition at the very top of an organisation breeds complacency, comfort and lack of drive throughout that organisation. I think you are seeing a test case that will in time be used in Harvard Business School if it is not already used. A fish rots from its head.
I am sad for Arsene. He is stuck in the middle. If he wasn’t so committed to this club and so personally driven to succeed he would have left long before now. Sad times but it will get far worse before it gets better.
Excellent drink @ 203 Dr F – I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. With increasing money pouring into the game, and ever-increasing backroom staffs, analysts and a general level of professionalism across ‘lesser sides’, I think teams are beginning to work us out and Arsene isn’t responding accordingly, either in tactics or player acquisition.
That said, I disagree that it’s primarily a player recruitment problem. Rather I think it’s a tactical/deployment/injury-management issue with our current squad – the way the players are being managed, motivated, rotated, ‘schooled’ if you like. When we’re on a poor run we can always pluck at ‘names’, but sometimes Giroud is fucking good and Higuain or Cavani are pretty ordinary. Sometimes Coquelin is quality, and Wanyama is a fucking clown who makes the sort of rash tackles we chastise the Coq/Flam for. By all means, if we are able to buy at the next level – Lewandowski, Neymar, Ibrahimovic etc, then let’s do it, but I think our problems are more ‘internal’.
Also, let’s save the conclusive post mortems till the end of the season. If we do pull the title off, a lot of the contributors on here are going to look remarkably fickle. 75 points wins the league: it doesn’t seem remotely possible at the moment on current form, but on paper and last season’s Spring form we can do it – we’ve got to nail those 5 home games (somehow) and win 2 of our 4 away games at Everton, West Ham, Sunderland and City. Stranger things have happened….
Doc F @203 nails it all 100%! Arsene & his coaching team are now completely out of touch with modern footballing training methods and match tactics. Moreover, if Kroenke thinks that trophies aren’t important for a high expenditure club just like Arsenal, he’s living far too much in the cloud-cuckoo, sponsorship-driven land that is North American professional sport. Association Football in the UK does not work like that! Stan Kroenke better wake up soon if he wants to maintain his grip on our club because far more British and homegrown-owners that have won far more honours have been forced to sell up and leave a football club for far less. The pressure is on Stan Kroenke and the Board too and not just on Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal Football Club forever! Up the Arse! COYBG!
I have to agree with Steve T (#167), it’s not the chances created that’s the problem it’s the conversion of them. As it has been for years now. If there’s such a thing as a successful conversion rate table I can’t find it, but I’m betting our position on it is diametrically opposed to where we sit (or lie flat out) in the physio room league.
And, yes, it’s all Theo’s fault, never mind he kept making the runs but no one could find him. And never mind Mesut and Alexis were poor for the whole game and Danny can’t hit a barn (never mind a barn door) from six yards when it really matters, and JC would rather run into blind alleys or slow the game down by picking easier passes backwards, and that we still lack real quality in defence, or that we never seem to find any energy until we’re two down. We were definitely the best team over the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes, just not good enough to take advantage of it.
And yes, AW’s time is up, and has been for a while. The problem will not only be finding a replacement for him but attracting the players we need to join us who will actually want to now AW has lost his mojo. Playing under him used to be special, but the longer he stays the more the gloss fades.
I need a drink, or three.
Oskar
Oskar.
Rebreast is the tiple of choice at the moment. On my tab, sir.
But ..: That im buying is just a fooking shame. For me at least.
Im soooo glad we have that TV money. Now, if only we could see some of it…
Nah. None of that from me. Goddamnit we are the arsenal. We do it the Hard way.
Another round on menfor anyone left in the bar. (Now … Where the hell is my wallet!!!)
Ozil and Mertesacker are not the ones I would criticize. Sanchez, yes. He looks like he is injured or something but he is just not the same player he was. The one injured player we have been missing the most the most recently is Koscielny.
Slainte for the drink, Homer. I’m an HP man myself but if our resident Irish Whiskey authority cba gives Redbreast his imprimatur I’ll give it a try. 😉
Oskar
sekandbest by name and…
No wait, firstworst would be a much more appropriate moniker. 😀
oskar
4-2-4 doesn’t work anymore and hasn’t for close to three months now. Yes it gives us the occasional win against championship sides or poor premier league sides on the day but that’s all we can hope for.
In this configuration the wingers play too deep to be efficient, no wonder Sanchez doesn’t score he’s never roaming where he should be, same for Walcott. The striker is dealt with too easily by the defenders while the midfield/fullbacks take care of the wingers. And when they’re all forward we’re completely open to counter-attacks while all the forwards step on each other toes.
4-3-1-2 is what we need to play if we want to inverse the trend. That’s how we played when we were flying.
Ozil behind Sanchez & Welbeck with the occasional rotation including Giroud/Walcott/Campbell.
3 of Coquelin/Ramsey/Elneny/Cazorla/Flamini in the middle.
I’m not in Arsene’s mind but I’m thinking he may try too hard to please the players.
Alternatively he got lucky when he felt obligated to play Coquelin, Cazorla and Ramsey together which is the only time we looked dominant.
I’m afraid he will feel we need to score against Barca and will persevere. On the other hand hopefully he may want to steady the sinking ship. We’ll see.
@Oskar: “The problem will not only be finding a replacement for him but attracting the players we need to join us who will actually want to now AW has lost his mojo”
Let’s see how the season pans out but as it stands we’re in much better position than Chelsea and United to attract players.
I see the knives are out for Arsene in the media.. think Stan should go first before him!
Another disappointing team performance. That is the most generous words I can use to describe another shambolic performance.
I have learnt to live with defeats over many long years of support but this team appears to be going backwards. All cohesion and confidence has long gone – players are performing way below their level. They are playing with no belief and nothing is coming from the manager that hints of arresting the mood.
No doubt Arsene believes he has to put a positive spin on events but his utterances continue to suggest he is in denial. They are coming over as arrogance and this is alienating even some of his loyal supporters.
Maybe a change of tact from him might be the catalyst to get things back on track.
I can only hope, but with little expectation, the manager and players can find their mojo between now and the end of the season. The forthcoming post mortem will probably be the most severe of Arsene’ reign.
Kroenke is not the problem BB.
Wenger runs the football totally and has done for a long time. The football side of things is broken so you change the guy in charge, you don’t get rid of a hands off owner or wish for someone to come along who “cares so much” he can’t stop meddling.
Stan is not perfect but he’s better than most simply because he’s not around to fuck it up.
@Cynic
He still was around to siphon off 3m, if i am not mistaken.
And one wonders why ticket prices keep going up.
As to not mucking things up.. I’ll wager it’ll happen in the future, that’s just in my opinion.
I’ll admit Arsene has to bear the blame for believing in his underperforming players and for some dubious tactics at times.
But surely he’ll know it’s his time to go if he can’t bring about winning ways again, I am not looking forward to that.
Who would replace him? And would that person be given free reigns or would it be management by consensus?
Cynic
Because Stan is not around he dodges the pressure. He’s insulated from the clamour for change. He isn’t worried by his own admission about winning trophies per se and a manager who maximises revenue by hitting the CL qualification target every year whilst being highly conservative about spending is perfect for him. Added to these we have a conservative board who must be delighted with the basic business model. In 1998 I know that the then board were over the moon that they had found a manager who delivered the Double on a relative shoestring.
The much- maligned David Dein would be agitating to increase transfer spending if he was still there but I can’t see anyone with that mentality on the current board. So I think while you are right that Wenger bears a share of responsibility, Kroenke’s ownership exacerbates the problem considerably .
Not sure why so many are so scared of change it’s not like we have been pulling up trees for the past few seasons our football is boring, sterile and without purpose and has been for a few years now, Long gone are the days of pace power and precision, We’ve been well overtaken in them disciplines,
And as for the Champions league we’ve not had a sniff of winning that for 7 years and are further away now in regards of personnel, tactics and any sort of coherent gameplan than we were pre move,
Is anyone generally excited about the overblown, cash cow competition anyway, Personally bores me rigid, it’s like entering a raffle knowing the winning ticket was never in the book, Each and every time we come up against one of Europe’s Elite we are sent packing with our tails between our legs and sometimes it’s not even the Elite (Monaco Debacle) – So a couple of years out of the competition whilst we build and re group wouldn’t be the end of the world, That said any manager worth his salt taking on this squad and with a couple of additions would easily finish top 4,
All this said I hope Wenger proves everyone wrong and goes out on a high as his loyalty and brilliance in the early years and move deserves everyone’s respect and admiration but alas time waits for no man and the club/team is just in a perpetual state of motion and needs a major shake up with some fresh impetus and ideas bought to the table,
Up The Arse
I love how AW and this arsenal team have a childish tantrum with 5 to go about time wasting, but waste 85 mins of the match by themselves with no help from anyone.
Wenger, please do the right thing and walk, none of the management team have the balls to fire you and just like an old champion boxer, dont lesve it way too late where you lose all dignity
Stan is the owner, and not a poor one at that, he could easily just mandate that we spend to get the top players if he so wishes. To show ambition to win trophies and to inculcate that ethic and mentality, however and he has clearly shown he is an astute businessman first and foremost.
To avoid rambling on, and as TTG said rather more eloquently that myself, he clearly exacerbates the problem.
Spot on chippy.
It is truly a worry when you enjoy watching others football style better then your own team.
This Arsenal squad are now even boring to watch on fast forward x 16 from a recorded program.
What has happened to us, we are unrecognisable…
“The thing I have learnt from my involvement in England with Arsenal, is how you can use brand loyalty to generate revenue”.
That quote is from Stan Kroenke. It may not be absolutely word perfect but I have not altered the meaning one little bit.
It is from an article I read last week in which he also said that if your aim was to win trophies, you wouldn’t get involved in the first place.
I have not attempted to quote that last one because I can’t remember the wording clearly enough but that is what he said.
Let’s just say it didn’t help yesterday as I sat watching another season of promise disintegrate in front of me.
I agree totally that Stan’s is the sickest form of football capitalism (I’ve always said give me a fervent, egotistical oligarch or sheikh any day) but let’s not get carried away and deflect from the football manager and Ivan for that matter too. Stan didn’t actually say he didn’t want to win stuff. It isn’t actually his fault that AW got utterly turned on by his sports model and trying to impress him all the time with his scouting, experimentation and financial meanness. Nobody is going to persuade him to sell and with oil where it is, a knockout bid won’t happen either. It is only the fans who can get Arsene out here. That’s how Brenda Rogers got the boot from John Henry, perhaps a bit harshly. I work with a Pool fan who used to send JH 10 or 20 tweets a day. In fact when BR left, we played a trick on this lad and left a gift on his desk with a bogus letter from JH thanking him for his contribution. Childish stuff (you had to be there) but fan power is the key here and maybe Henry and his people were getting 10,000 tweets a day from irate scousers.
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/stan-kroenke-i-didnt-buy-arsenal-stake-to-win-trophies-a3202046.html
Chippy @ 224
Excellent.
UTA.
howdy oskar 215
redbreast would be popular here
as the good drop you’d get out for people you like
not an everyday swally
indeed some keep it in it’s box on the shelf
and show it the air once in a blue moon
so homer is clearly a good soul
All through Wenger’s barren period, we’ve had “Well it’s not about winning, if you just want to win have that horrible cunt Mourinho. No thanks” etc etc from people. Not necessarily so much in this bar and pointing no fingers.
Now we hear the argument that Kroenke is a bad owner because he doesn’t care about winning. Coincidentally, Wenger is now largely viewed as yesterday’s news by the fanbase, which is catching on, finally.
I think Stan Kroenke is a tool, but I’d rather have him than an Ashley, or a Cellino. Or an Usmanov.
Or see it sold to the Chinese or middle eastern mob.
Stan is safe hands. It’s frustrating to those who have only just concluded that we’re not a winning team any more but for those who got used to that notion years ago, he’s comfortable slippers and they’re better than fuck me shoes.
Chippy 224
A very well written summation of the problems AFC are facing right now without all the hyperbole of the tabloids, talkshite, blogs etc…Far too easy for swearing and finger pointing in the digital age.
Chippy @224 am with you there, couldn’t have said it any better. One more thing, we need to stop this whole idea of who is going to do a better job than wenger. There has to be at least 2-4 coaches out there that I would go for right now. That’s the job of the useless board we have there now. Personally I would put Diego Simeone on that list for starters. The board will never sack Wenger, its left for him to decide that he cant take us further and just walk out with his dignity and grace in tact, because am afraid its only going to get worse.
Woke up from an interesting dream this AM. In it, Marriner sends off Gabriel, the Arsenal is forced to play more astutely down to 10 men, Watford’s game plan goes south, and we nick it with a mid 2nd half goal.
Anyone else think we might have been better off down a man?
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