What The Flipping Hell Was That?
May 8th, 2011 by 'holic
I know. You came here for perspective. You came here for a sense of ‘well that sort of thing happens but we are still Arsenal”. Sorry. Not today.
At two this afternoon there was still a feasible, if highly unlikely, series of results that would see us somehow land the title. At two this afternoon there was a far more likely set of results that suggested we could claim the runners-up berth ahead of the bus stop in Fulham, and claim some degree of progress. You would have thought that might motivate a group of players we are continually being told is intelligent.
So how on earth, two hours later, were we slipping embarrassingly away from a game where we were thumped 3-1 by a side who did not even have to live up to their pre-match billing? Stoke didn’t bully us. They didn’t do anything that similar sides haven’t done to us this season. They just worked harder than those who are being paid at least twice as much. As at Bolton we lacked width, and attempted to pass our way across the two lines of four the home side presented to them. How many times does a madman have to run headfirst into a wall before he starts to think of other ways around the same old problem?
Progress? That was defeat number seven, and four of them came against sides who just worked harder than us. Step forward and take a bow West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, and now Stoke City. Defend in numbers. Let Arsenal throw it away. It’s a pattern all too familiar. A week ago we thoroughly deserved our victory against the team who will deservedly claim the title this season. This afternoon all but a couple of that side thought they could have an easy payday against a team surely distracted by their FA Cup Final appearance next week.
It’s best I take my own advice, and reserve judgement until after the Fulham game, but only because now we have to win the last two to ensure mathematically that we cannot be overtaken by Citeh and subjected to a Champions League qualifier in August. Oh yes, that wasn’t all that likely at two this afternoon, either.
Apologies to those ‘holics who are behind the side regardless, but what I saw this afternoon was simply unacceptable under the circumstances. I know we are not far short of a team that can land the major prizes, which is why this hurts so much. We won’t add to our roll of honour though until we have added two or three first choice winners to this team. We don’t want any more heartless, gutless, squad players who will perform when they feel like it. We have enough of them already.
Six years of being beaten by the likes of Hull, Bolton, West Brom, and now Stoke. That’s too long. Sorry.
196 Responses to “What The Flipping Hell Was That?”
I hear you ‘Holic and thoroughly agree with each and every word. I like the lads and they all seem decent but enough is enough and this, SURELY, must be it. I have lost faith. Having that said, I’m not nervous for the next season just yet. I think changes will be made and we will be challenging next season. Just not sure if it’s going to end up like this again or not.
After all the stuff that’s gone on with this team to have such a performance was a disgrace! Arsene justb doesn’t seem to be able to motivate the players and every time he mentions we can win somethingb we wilt>>>>I felt sorry for all the fans who were there to have to suffer those scum as well would be too much our bplayres have no idea what bit’s like to be a fan!
Blimey I think the Happy Trains been de-railed, I know this won’t be a popular opinion but results like today may do more good than harm in the grand scheme of things – Put it this way after the united result if we’d gone on and won today and done Villa and Fulham that’s all that would have been needed for Wenger to exalt greatness back on this bunch and groundhog season would have repeated.
On a side issue how many stupid individual mistakes can one side make we all know the ones that have gone but add Arshavins schoolboy fucking push for the first and Djourous keystone cop moment for the 3 rd, But then again we are forever being told they have great intelligance and mental strength π
I think that may have been the worst display in living memory.
We’re supposed to hate that mob. The fans, the players, the manager. And yet we didn’t lift our game a single iota. In fact, we went down several gears on last weekend’s performance.
I’m still behind Wenger and the team, but if there aren’t some changes made during the summer (we all know roughly what needs to be done) then things could turn ugly very quickly indeed. The stands and blogs are restless enough already.
God knows what van persie makes of it all. We’re supposed to be a team that attacks but can’t defend. But can anyone recall the last time we scored more than one goal two games running? Robin has been carrying that attack for months now.
So frustrated it’s untrue. Sort it out lads.
Surely that rabble out there today must have known how important for the supporters it was to “do it for Aaron”.
That all but Wilshere and van Persie bottled that obligation is an utter disgrace.
Worried for next year not if we clean slate the defence 2centerbacks 1 goalkeeper 1 leftback, defence a total joke.normally i hold fire until well after the game but this has gone far enough it has to be said!i have had enough of bargain basement players i wont name names but some just have to go!i hate saying and seeing this happen to the club i love.how many more years of s**t players coming in every close season(defenders)the defence is just S**t always going to let you down, from crap keepers (except JENS)crap centerbacks and leftbacks(if i here one more time that they will come good in the future i will scream)oh yes iam not renewing my silvermembership for next year a protest but thats how i feel.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I’m truly gutted by what I sat here and watched on my tele today, gutted! Do these boys I dare say men want to really compete in any competition, or do they just want to be left alone to pick up their paychecks.. Serious changes need to be made to compete in 11/12 season, but AW wont do it because that will show he was wrong with his project jokers oh’ I mean project youth. I’m not making a knee jerk reaction to a loss, man since the CC final we have blown donkey dicks big time, so no knee jerk here…. If you know what needs to be done to fix something thats broke what do you do, you fix it, I’m afraid AW wont fix it, maybe tweak it, but not fix it, time to go upstairs with the bog wigs you love to smoooz up to, bring in some fire and guts…
Worst thing we could’ve done today was won and had Wenger deluding himself that all is well with Arsenal.
I wish I could believe that Chippy, my dear fellow supporter.
If the flaws haven’t been exposed enough already they never will be, and I am not sure Wenger would be believing any more in some of the players and the team in general even if we would have won today. Any team of his should be able to beat Stoke (now that doesn’t mean they have a divine right to do so, all I’m saying is that a win over Stoke proves absolutely nothing, and neither should a loss, sometimes you lose). So it’s just isn’t about one game. I hope that Wenger has been trying his best with the players he is pinning his hopes on in some cases and is stuck with until the season ends in others. I just can never see a loss as a great result. If we lost fewer games, well, it wouldn’t be covering up the cracks, it would be us actually being a bit better than we are, and I would be happy because of that.
Had we done Stoke, Fulham and Villa we would have been a better team, because they are no pushovers. We’ll see what happens now but I can’t see this being a positive in the eyes of Nasri or Fabregas who might both be a tad interested in getting a move on this summer.
A loss is a loss, and I won’t be angry forever, but it’s still a loss and I’ll never see it as a positive, so to speak. And I know that you don’t either, really, Chippy so have a beer on me and we’ll take it from there!
Every year I’ve believed two or three quality players would be all we need, but sadly not this time.
With the excepton of Vermarlan, Kos,Jack, Fab and RVP..oh and Nasri,if ManU dont buy him first, I would sell the lot of them. The trouble is, with their performances of late who would buy them !
More and more I am convinced that bringing in new players wont make a substantial difference.
What we seem to be lacking is defensive organization, lack of creativity in offense and tactical naivety. All this points to poor coaching rather than poor players. We have excellent talent, it’s just not being utilized effectively.
More importantly, we need some new coaching blood to take this team further.
Strongest ever squad? Mental strength? Fight to the end?
Whatever dementia induced delusion Wenger is under, surely this is another example of how far from trophies
this excuse of an Arsenal side is and will remain until there
is a clear out of passengers and sicknotes. This is probably the worst season I’ve seen for many, many years.
Another glaring example of Arsenal in decline because of the managers egotistical insistence of his own infallibility.
I remember in 2006 Wenger saying he was building a Cup
winning side for 2008…..I’m tired of hearing the same excuses. We need new blood and passion in this side.
That means Manager, Backroom staff and Players.
This is not about personnel, this is about management, tactics, and mental preparation.
That is down to Wenger.
Wenger has achieved miracles for this club, but it’s time the board sit him down and ask some questions.
Before they start they need to tell him he is on trial for his future at the club.
One wrong answer and he can clear out his drawers.
1. Do you accept that there have been far too many unacceptable performances this season?
Answer:
yes, continue.
No, go and clear out your drawers.
2. What is your plan to correct this shower of Sh!te?
Answer:
Should consist of a comprehensive plan showing detailed changes to coaching routines, some key personnel changes, a plan to address the general attitude of the squad etc.
More of the same? Cheers Arsene, and thanks for everything.
After that game, I think I might have to turn to a bottle of Absinthe!
The concentration levels of this squad are depressingly low.
They have the technique and nous to beat Utd, Chelsea and Barcelona, but they repeatedly default to autoplay when they come across teams that they feel are inferior to them.
You can understand it happening once, but it has happened so many times this season that indicates that something is very wrong in the dressing room
Chippy
Can confirm the HT’s been in a horrrible accident today. There’s blood, guts, bile and bragging rights all over the place. It’s going to be quite a clean-up operation before it’s ready to roll again.
How I hate Stoke, but we have no complaints other than to our own squad today.
It’s totaly mystifying how this can happen when last week we whipped Manure. Something’s definitely not right within. Very sad to see this going on with a team with so much potential and that’s looked after so well.
I think alcohol and contemplation is called for.
Cheers all, drinks for any that want them please Barman.
Toby,
All beer greatfully accepted π beleive me I wanted us to do them c@@ts today and would rather be downing a beer in celebration but something just tells me that Wenger looks for reasons to keep faith rather than dismantle this side, In a way I understand it fully as he’s nurtured them from lads but for Arsenals sake he’s needs to be shaken from his beleif- Hopefully that makes sense as I’m not sure quite how to put across my point in type !!
A very sobre post which I hope will get the analysis it deserves. Am at a loss for words on this. With the exception of Jack and Robin today and over the season all the players whom we have supported throughout the season and not resorted to mindless criticism have put in game after game of inconsistent and mistake ridden performances. Why does every game have to be pock marked with these, even the ones we win. They are not bad players in fact most of them are terrific but their attitude is wrong and the attitude of the coaching staff is wrong. There is a nervousness about Arsenal and every bog toed team up and down the country and beyond revels in it. Oh and a word for the stoke fans…classless.
TS,
Save me a seat on the soon to be updated 11/12 version, I hope it comes with a fully stoked buffet and a no Mancs carriage π
same terms as Blogs then ?
i’ll discreetly big up your reviews
with no hint of fake bluster
yeah
i’m up for that
what with my reputation
you two boys could go far
*is perfenectly serniumce*
Chippy
I understand your point exactly, and I really do know that you are not one of the “supporters” that WANT us to lose to prove a point, but rather than that you are trying to see the positive in the defeat. Of course none of us wants to see another team, especially not Stoke, walk all over us like they did today. And I take your point and can only offer my counterpoint that, well, had we lost fewer games that would have meant we were better and that the league should have been ours. Instead we’re not, and hopefully that will be addressed. Had just hoped it would have been addressed after we skewered Stoke, not after this sorry excuse for a performance.
Erm, three G+T’s four pints of leffe and a media blackout.
Personally I think the move to the new stadium changed Wenger, it forced him to become a Director of Football, building a sustainable future on a shoe string. It took away from concentrating on football and team building. I think that should be his job now officially, keep him at the club, he’s given us so much and I think he can give us more, but not as manager.
For manager my shout would be Andreas Villas Boas, his Porto team have absolutley dominaited La Liga, there in the Europa Cup final, they play lovley football and he’s got the tactical nous, pedegree and other desirable cliche’s to turn it around at Arsenal.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: this team is not good enough. One report stated that Arsenal had at least %70 possession, yet Stoke’s goalkeeper had a quiet afternoon.
Our players seem capable of adapting their play or raising the tempo of the game when necessary. We cannot cross the effectively. And they are mentally weak. They bossed Man U last week, and today we were COMPREHENSIVELY outplayed by Stoke.
Stoke, ladies and gentlemen. Stoke.
“more tea , Vicar ? “
The current formation does not work and is so predictable and sadly Stoke fans trying to be sarcastic were right it was boring!!
So easy to defend against no pace no width and tippy tappy slowly to feet. It won’t work without better players
2 full backs who could cross would help
What to do with CHamack? He looks awful
Gibbs worries me too bring on Baines please
Gutted
You can only judge the quality of a team with your own eyes and this team is weak, spiritless and I am afraid to say don’t seem like they want to play for the manager any more. The inquest will start but I have been through all that shit so many times this season that I really can’t be bothered any more. The club and by that I guess I mean Kroenke now need to ask themselves some serious questions and depending on the answers, the must be prepared to take serious, even drastic action. What is clear is that it ain’t working. Arsene’s faith in the squad has been left in tatters and even he must realize that although the players, or some of them, are talented, they don’t have what is required to win a PL title. Man Utd do and that is because Fergie understands the PL better than Arsene. So, if Arsene is going to tinker a bit, sell a few and buy a couple, including some young, promising talents I have to ask what is the point? Won’t I just be writing the same thing this time next year? All this stuff about killing young players, not making too many changes, keeping Arshavin and Bendtner etc, etc is, it seems to me, a crock of shit. I repeat, it ain’t working. Sometimes in life and football wholesale changes are exactly what is called for. This is where we are I think and a great manager will respond to the evidence before his eyes. I think big changes are needed because where we are is almost nowhere. The biggest question is what does Kroenke do? Because if he doesn’t pull some strings and demand that Wenger changes then nothing will change. Or does he wonder is it is worth going another year like this, with Arsene in charge. History tells us that
he will make the same mistakes he has been making for the past few years. Where is the evidence to suggest he won’t?
If you do what you always do you will get what you always get.
This game was another example of Wengers lack of tacticle knowhow and lack of motivation.too many errors made buy this over the top manager who has failed to buy and replace in vital areas of the pitch.
Same old sme old its like groundhog day every year.A change of manager a change of ideas will bring a change in fortune.
WENGER OUT NOW
A large irritation followed by a bewilderment chaser please ‘holic. What a good read.
That was completely unnaceptable. For the first time ever (and like most of you I have endured Chris Whyte up top as one of Don Howe’s masterful tactical innovations), I told my son to turn it off after 40 minutes, as it wasn’t doing my blood pressure, and general wellbeing, any good whatsoever. Fifa 11 seemed, and was, a definitely more pleasurable alternative. We couldn’t resist, however, and watched the second half.
I am at a loss to explain how a group of players can go from a commanding performance last week against the champions elect and make them look what they are, to a weak-willed, ignorant showing today. Not that I have any idea about what goes on behind the view of the media but all the blog-talk of Arsene ‘losing the dressing room’ stuff that I thought of as crap, was wheeled out in front of us in, possible, full glory this afternoon.
There are, usually, year on year, one or two big issues that need to be rectified in any sporting team. Most managers/coaches will acknowledge this and try to repair the problems. I’m beginning to doubt that there are only one or two areas and that we are heading for mid-70s mediocrity (oh for a Rimmer and a
Kidd again).
Sorry for the long blog, at least we’re all suffering together and there is strength in solidarity.
Enjoy the evening fellow gooners.
Toby,
My round isn’t it? I hear you mate.
Will say today’s improved slightly I’ve had great fun giving it to the Chelsea bods that have spent the last week telling me and texting me the leagues theirs for the taking π
We were pretty lucky earlier this season to get past the likes of Ipswich, Leeds and Huddersfield.
Bottle of whiskey please after that.
Its as simple as this. Arsene is no longer able to get this team to rise to the occassion. This is not an over reaction to one defeat. I used to be blindly behind the manager, but the past season and a half has opened my eyes and this failing has become so apparent now that is becoming genuinely worrying.
Its not that we got humiliated today (We did — completely out played in every department, and I felt that Stoke even left something in the locker for the cup final, they certainly weren’t their usual snarling selves), its that even going into the game, I didn’t give the team a prayer of getting so much of a point out of it, and Im sure Im not alone. We might (just might as its a home game)beat Villa next week, but as for Fulham away, there is no way on this earth that we will come away with anything other than a defeat. And this is Fulham we are talking at – the very definition of mediocrity. This is not pessimism. If felt the same at the tail end of last year (you remember, 2 nil up on Wigan and we loose, 1 nil up on Blackburn and we loose). And this year we are 1 all with Bolton, having all the game yet you are just praying for the final whistle, as you know that we cant win, even though we are supposedly the better team and in ascendancy. And as for Liverpool. And Spurs…dont even want to write about those games.
Lets forget all the arguments about budgets, who should leave and who should come in. It is beyond argument that the manager can no longer even get the best out of the players that we have. Week after week after week after week. I do not think there is any team in the league that, season on season, gets into a rut where you absolutely cannot see where the next point is coming from, either going into the game, but even when we get the upper hand and have it all sown up (Liverpool). I have been through the very worst of Arsenal since 1976, but I have never had as much dread heading into even what are, lets be honest, really easy games.
The team needs a massive kick up the backside. Every Arsenal fans knows it, even if many think that it is somehow being disloyal to the team to admit it. Lets just keep everything crossed that we somehow manage to beat Villa and that City dont win their last 3 mgames. Then maybe, just maybe, Arsene will either make some signinicant changes in both the playing staff and coaching techniques (not either or, both), or else step aside and let Villas Boas or some other young turk take the club forward.
Whatever happens, surely none of us want to continue on the path that we are currently on.
I was trying to watch for communication between the players today. It looked to me that at set pieces they’re not talking to each other, no one is organising, they just silently go about their business as individuals. That’s it, they’re a collection of talented individuals, no team spirit.
At least Wenger didn’t try to make excuse after the game. He said ‘we have our plans for the summer’. I’m not too optimistic but I really hope this means some proper changes this time. A few need to be shipped out, and some experience and leadership needs to come in.
Thing is, up to now there has been no impetus for change from within club, only from fans. The board are happy with top 4, so Wenger doesn’t need to change a thing unless he finds a compulsion within himself to do so
TS, Don’t we need a ruling on Chippy’s post at @18. If I’m not mistaken, no Mancs are allowed on the entire Happy Train unless attired in light blue shirts?
@ Chippy
I live in Suffolk (UK) and work in Norfolk (about 130 miles from South London). The amount of Chelsea shirts I see every drives me mad.
Give it to them large!
@Hal. Well said mate. The biggest fear I have is that Kroenke and the board will themselves be too fearful to make the changes the club is crying, no, make that screaming out for. Arsene and the club could save face by just saying that their ideas about the club’s direction under the new ownership are different, so it is goodbye. Villas Boas sounds like a plan but perhaps they have their eyes on Guardiola after next season and wouldn’t want to miss that opportunity. Can Arsene change? I have serious doubts as I reckon there is just too much baggage there.
I still had some hope before this game…How foolish I was
Strong Whisky please
I think our club needs some changes..
I think the problem is very simple, is the formation and tactics.
Wenger picks a formation in Pre-Season and sticks with the same formation all season.
So we start the season well but the more we use the same tactics the easier and more predictable we become.
I am not saying ditch the 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3) whatever it is, I am saying we need a 4-4-2 diamond for games like these, 4-5-1 works great in Europe and against the big 4, 4-4-2 Diamond would work against teams that park the bus when defending.
I think the problem to a large degree is the formation. We are playing players out of position for the sake of a system that only works against half the teams in the league, if that. While we have the players to change things around, Wenger is too stubborn to change formation to suit the opposition. He says we play a 4-3-3, but everyone knows we actually play a 4-5-1.
Here is how I would mix things up.
Change formation: play a 4-3-1-2
Team: Rather than trying to squeeze all our best players onto the pitch by playing them out of position, use them for rotation, how it is meant to be.
First team (subs): This is how I would line up (more or less)
Szczesny
(Fabianski)
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Clichy
(Eboue)(Squillaci)(Djourou)(Gibbs)
V Wilshere V
V (Song) V
V Cesc Ramsey V
V (Nasri) (Diaby) V
V RvP V
(Arshavin)
Bendtner Walcott
(Chamakh) (Vela)
This allows all players to play in their strongest position. Allow our fullbacks to provide the width and stick in crosses. Exploit wings against teams that park the bus for Bendtner or Chamakh to attack.
Then start practicing defending in training, including set pieces. Adopt man4man rather than zonal marking on set pieces. Take RvP off freekick duty.
Shorten the pitch to give our defense more protection and speed up our counter attacks. As we are better than most playing in tight spaces, a short pitch will suit us more than others.
Arsenal FC, please let me know if you wish me to send in my CV. Tactically, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do a worse job than Wenger.
βBon jour mes eleves. Today ze team talk is simple. We have a fine referee today so Stoke will take no chances with ze Cup Final next week. They will tackle like fairies, so you have no problem this week. Just go and beat them 4 or 5 -0. Have a good stroll.β
So we did and the fat lady finally sung. What a colossal let down.
Today’s nightmare has to rank as the worst performance by an Arsenal team in living memory! Does this team ever practise SHOOTING, because again Stoke might as well have played without a goal keeper today!
We were pathetic in defense and virtually the whole team was a big no-show today.
Changes needed otherwise it will be another season of so- near- yet- so very- far- away again next season.
We have swallowed enough anti-depressants and anti-ulcer tabs this season!
Gibbs/Sagna – why oh fucking why can you not clear the first defender when crossing the damn ball
Sparky@33,
I’m having a field day but it seems we must have had a power cut in South west London as I’m not having much luck contacting any of them π
Fully agree with Holic’s blog AND all of the comments written here which is a first. Hopefully we are reaching a tipping point with universal recognition al last that the King is wearing no clothes, this will hopefully trigger changes in both playing and coaching staff.
Let’s not pussyfoot around here, if Wenger won’t change his approach (I’m certain he won’t) he should be given the boot.
AKB? FFS give me a break……
Had enough. The side don’t have the right to be tagged as ‘The’ Arsenal, it’s a pale imitation of what has gone before.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on the ‘net (Arsenal-Land and Twitter) there is much to be done this summer.
Good write up ‘holic.
I agree Adam. ‘I would love Arsene to change. To turn around and say. Dammint, we cant defend. Our build up play is too slow. Our much vaunted attack scores far too few goals considering the amount of possession we have. Lets get in some players who can shake us up and address these faults’. But I have been waiting for this for about four years now and know that he won’t. The fatal flaw in so many managers towards the end of their tenure (george Graham, Brian Clough) is that they seem unable to face reality and make what seems even the most obvious changes to a plan that isn’t working. And there is no way he will be sacked, even less so now that Kroenke is in charge, as he will want as little friction as possible with the fan base.
As to Guardiola,I dont think he will leave Barca. Villas Boas is not yet the biggest name in the game but mark my words, very soon he will be.Given the terminal lack of ambition that our board shows, there is no way we will get Grardiola even if he does leave, and we will certainly miss out on Villas Boas unless we get him now.
And that, but the way is a side issue we should all be aware of. There is not always such an obvious canditate to come into a club like Arsenal. The club needs to be careful to choose the moment to make such an important change as appointing Arsenes succesor. In many close seasons, the outstanding candidate could be, God forbid, Martin O’Neill or Fabio Capello. Villas Boas is a very exciting option, and much as we all love Arsene, we can’t let sentimentality towards him dictate the moment when he should leave.
All the same, wouldnt it be great if he just woke up, got a bit of fire back in his belly and changed things around himself! Im dreaming I fear!!!
I didnt think anything could top Newcastle away but today did.A gutless passionless performance.Its time to stop defending Wenger.He hasnt go a clue anymore.Too many players treat the club like a holiday camp.Turning up not putting in any effort but picking up their massive wages.We need a massive clearout of at least 8 players.But that will not happen as long as Wenger stays he is too loyal to this bunch of losers.Its so sad but Wenger is under no pressure at all to deliver trophies
Defence were shocking today. Djourou directly responsible for all 3 goals. Look at United today, Vidic and Ferdinand both experienced campaigners running the show while Smalling comes on as a bit part player. Thats the way to do it – experiencd players backed up with young potential to learn the ropes off them. Arsene always brags about them being youngest squad in the league – brag no more sir.
During the course of this game I moved from someone prepared to give Wenger the benefit of another year’s grace to someone who believes Wenger really can take this club no further. I also totally lost patience with Arshavin whose range of performance is unacceptable particularly when it has been habitually low this season. For an obviously bright man his totally needless push was utterly stupid.
I will cut Szczesny a considerable amount of slack even though he could have done better with the second goal but Djourou’s defending for the last goal was puerile. We can neither attack incisively against a well organised defence nor can we defend against strong,fast and committed players. Above all only Wilshere and Van Persie looked bothered at the situation.
A disappointing season is petering to a close with the inescapable feeling that we are so tactically inept and have so many physical cowards in this team we are lucky to have been in contention for so long.United fans can’t believe their current team could win the League. Perhaps if they had watched this sort of performance from one of their so called rivals they might realise why they have won it again.
It is sad that a managerial legend is seeing his reputation so tarnished but he has only himself to blame.
I too have noticed this inability to want the ball apposed to waitin for the other teams to give it back to us, in perspective on the ball man u are shit compared to us but off the ball they are incredibly efficient waring teams down to submission. Barca have managed to combine a sort of arsenalchester united skill on the hard work off it, we need to hit this nail on the head now because arsenal will always score but we need to get rid of the always conceed mentality out of the squad somthing only the players can sort out GET THE BASICS RIGHT FIRST and the results will come
Hal. I hear what you say about Villas Boas and tend to agree. He would be a breath of fresh air. I am jot so sure tou are right about Guardiola though. A friend of mine who is a fervent Barca fan who lives in Barcelona says that Pep has often mentioned the enormous pressure of that job and has always felt he has a limited shelf life because of it. I know he is a regular visitor to the Emirates too, so who knows? I also very much agree about these managers who have been in the job for a while getting stale and blind to the problems. It is the one thing I have always, somewhat begrudgingly, admired about Ferguson. He has this way of renewing himself and his hunger through the team. Arsene just hasn’t got this because he makes the same mistakes over and over. Not buying in January was criminal really. Who knows what might have happened if a couple of top quality, experienced players had been purchased? But I have said the same for the past several years and this is one of my great frustrations. As for Kroenke moving Wenger out? I think you are right. Wth the increase in season tickets ( big PR mistake) I am seriously thinking about not renewing after more than 30 years. What else would I do on a Saturday afternoon I think? I just don’t know if I can sit through the whole thing again. It is so bloody predictable and though I really admire Arsene, I find his pronouncements really annoying these days.
Spot on ‘Holic. Was weighing up the cost benefit of 2 x Β£1400 to renew 2 seats in North Upper. I need to feel that our team are working as hard as I do to earn that. Frankly it’s difficult to justify the cost if that’s all we get. I can accept the lack of trophies but I cannot accept the lack of effort when they can’t be arsed. Black Label please.
My fear is that we may be losing the dressing room. No real effort, no obvious passion. I wonder how many of the better players have already decided they’re leaving this summer? Nasri is said to be off; Cesc must be tiring. Van da Man must be wondering too?
as a season ticket holder and to get a letter in the post to tell me i have gotta pay more to watch this crap!!! to watch these players no passion no committment, my genral idea was is it not the managers who are supposed to inpart this into the team wneger makes to many excuses, get rid of the players who dont want to play, i feel sorry for fabregas willshire van the man these players are winners and he has put in the team many players that would not make it in the prem, and look at his buys should have got dixon winterburn bould and adams out of retirement they would have done better than this wenger has to go enough of this crap i will not renew my season ticket not to watch this it is a disgrace i feel sick, and my bank balance seems to be paying these players wages to play like a bunch over rated players send the french back home the russian get british people who have pride in the club they play for.
We are way too predictable when facing tough, strong defensive teams.
That HAS to change. We didn’t have one chance in the first half. On the other hand, we did have a chance in the 2nd half with both MC and NB. Maybe a change in formation is what’s needed.
That was the real Arsenal.
sc I know St. Totteringham’s day was unusually late this year (it was yesterday actually) which may explain your emergence from the swamp…..
A bit of advice…… fuck off back to the shithole where you come from
sc has gone.
Back to matters in hand please all.
Thanks.
good point someone made about this result doing more good than harm as quite rightly Wenger cant “spin” this one. The centre backs only looked good when stoke were 2-0 up and not under real aggressive pressure. You witnessed the way stoke restored their 2-goal advantage within a minute of us scoring. That combined with other examples this season tells you all you need to know about the defensive strength of arsenal.Weak in the last third, we are a soft touch led by a stubborn, feeble bottle-kicking goon that puts his ego before the club. Many people question the players, but where do they get the motivation from??…certainly not the invisible dressing room man AW. The reason we beat man utd was that the players were playing for their pride and in my view it had nothing to do with wenger. True they should have that pride every week, but i would guess its hard to continually fight the cause when your team-mates at the back are giving away the goals with regular predictability from set-pieces.Wengers risky project cheapo and youth now may have real consequences if RVP, and nasri follow cesc out the door…and do you blame them???
Absolutely dire. Where’s the fight and desire (bar Jack). Will enjoy Le Bob next weekend, some beers handily just down the road at Fulham and look forward to time out to regroup. Hope the team does the same.
Without Verminator who is the voice at the back.? Without cesc who is the voice in the middle. We have built a team around players instead of around a strategy. Take a couple of them out and the team forgets what it is supposed to do. Its all very well saying we play brilliant football but unless you have a plan for each match and not just ” we will play our game ” it will not work. Our football has not worked this season and we have not adapted. When you see things going wrong like at Newcastle you change it. We have become like a smaller club only getting motivated for our “cup finals” against man u.
Chippy@41
Strange isn’t it how they give it the big ‘un when they’re going well and disappear when it gets a bit tough?
I’ve got a similar mob here.
At least we know know our lot will be around in a decade, they don’t.
Half way through my 12 pack, have a lot of points to make but the words aren’t coming out quite as soberly as I would wish so will break it down into a few posts.
Throughout my career, I have noticed that bad leaders tend to have a life of one to two years before they are sussed and farmed out. Good leaders seem to last between 5 and 10 years before their ideas become stale, complacency sets in etc, and that staleness and complacency feeds down to the organisation. This is what I think has happened. (OK, Ferguson is an exception, his longevity is unbelievable).
I too have been looking at Porto’s record. Of course, one good season at Porto does not necessarily an Arsenal manger make (not everyone is Jose Mourinho). However, someone is gonna move for Villas Boas this close season, and if it aint us, the chance will be gone.
I think Wenger should be ‘promoted’ to Director of some shit or something, and bring in Boas to work closely with Wenger for a year. And there should be a complete shake up of backroom staff, including a good look at the medical competence and the defensive coaches.
Gooners, we have to be brave. This team needs ripping up, including the manager. The team is full of small technical players with no guts and the manager is a tactical imbecile. The two together won’t ever win the Premier League. EVER!
We have to stop this next year, next year, next year theorising.
Some blogs had this figured out two years ago and were told to get stuffed, well I’m afraid to say they were ahead of the game.
Wenger has to be got shot of and the team needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. It’s not “close” to winning anything. This has been the worst standard Premier League in living memory, and still we’ve fallen short.
If the board won’t listen and won’t invest we need to protest about it or simply stop giving them our money. If nothing much changes I 100% guarantee you’ll be saying exactly the same things this time next year.
Wenger did a great job working with what Graham left him defensively and created momentum which led to the Invincibles, but he’s been totally exposed now. It’s game over.
Don’t go turning up at home games with those views holic. You will get slaughtered for having thoughts like that???????
Funny but I do not feel that bothered by today. Let’s be honest, it was hardly a surprise was it? Results like that have been happening from the last 10 games names of last season. we all knew where the weaknesses were. Bugger all was done about it in the summer and here we are. Everyone in football can see the problem and until we do anything about it expect more of the same.
I agree with the comments above. if we manage to hold on to all our big players then I will be amazed.
Just not good enough. Even arsene said so for once in his interview.
I dont think the current squad is that far away. I dont agree we cant defend, look at last week, one of our statistically weakest attacking game, 2 shots on target, yet at the back we were magnificent.
What I do think is we get our tactics way wrong. Everyone knows Stoke have height and power, yet Chamakh and Bendtner started on the bench. It’s like 4-5-1 or die. I was so pleased when they were both bought on at half time, put RVP on the left and float in loads of crosses. But no, Bendtner is on the fucking left.
In the recent game at Spurs, in the first 21 minutes, I counted, we put in 7 really good crosses to the box – to nobody. Nobody was there. It’s like the right arm doesnt seem to know what the left is doing.
Fair enough, ‘holic. I only got to see the last 30 minutes of the game and was most most most disappointed.
At 2-1 I still wanted to hope, but then we gifted them a winner on a silver platter.
I know hindsight is a great thing, but I’d still have love to see Vermaelen ahead of Djourou today. I guess height dictated Djourou to play but oh dear.
The only less horrible thing to come out of today is that the bus stop in Fulham shouldn’t be too noisy while we’re there.
I’ll have a stiff drink to try and forget about today’s game, thanks’ holic.
My biggest fear is, has Wenger lost the dressing room? If so, the list of departures could be catastrophic. 25 man squad, pretty sure Almunia and Denilson will go anyway, but what about Fabregas, Nasre, Clichy. Gibbs is pissed off. Then there is RVP, he is not getting any younger.
Hugh Cornwell once said ‘something better change’.
Hey everyone, remember to order your Β£45 new shirt and get a free beach towel!
Whoever it is out there who allocates league championships, I have just this one question: Do Manchester United really need another one at this point?
Free beach towel, SR?
Is this Stoke FC?
Yeah, the advert I got said if you order the crappy new shirt you get a free beach towel, while stocks last (which could mean the stock is 1).
Sparky@60,
Bang on the money mate they make Houdini look like Paul Daniels during the good times and vice virsa when a true vanishing act needs to commence π If evey Chelsea fan that went during the bad times as they suggest they did Chelsea would have needed a San siro size stadium not an accrington Stanley one for 6k,
Yes we’ve got a fantastic and far bigger Fanbase for the forseable future but if they keep upping ticket prices I’m not sure support in future generations can be taken for granted,
Interesting programme on at the Mo Lord Sugar tackles football, He may be a fan and ex chairman of that lot but it’s quite interesting,
@ 16Chippy
“Toby,
All beer greatfully accepted beleive me I wanted us to do them c@@ts today and would rather be downing a beer in celebration but something just tells me that Wenger looks for reasons to keep faith rather than dismantle this side, In a way I understand it fully as heβs nurtured them from lads but for Arsenals sake heβs needs to be shaken from his beleif- Hopefully that makes sense as Iβm not sure quite how to put across my point in type !!”
Quoted for absolute truth. You nailed Chippy.
*nailed IT Chippy.
Wow. I really need to lie down. π
I say let’s give Wenger 1 more chance to solve his mess and then get Pep Guardiola. He is the only one manager that knows Arsenal. It’s that simple, the club needs to show real ambition moving forward. We can afford his salary, he always signs a 1 yr contract with Barca, let’s hound-poach him or whatever if we have too. I know the coach from Porto is great but for me Pep is the “ONE”, he’s said himself that he likes Arsenal even when Barca knocked us out of CL, he said it’s difficult for him to comment because he also likes Arsenal. Wenger has to be the technical director at the club after next season, he’s too intelligent to lose all together. So Pep-Manager, Wenger-Director (GREATEST COMBINATION EVER OR WHAT!) or maybe I’m delusional?
our defence is pathetic to say the least. Unless we buy a tall strong defender we are going no where.Judging by Wenger’s latest comments and add to that the return of TV I am afraid we wont buy anybody. wenger would reason out that TV is like a new signing and that he could not disturb the harmony of the squad by bringing new players.
My son just asked me:
‘If Ferguson was our manger instead of Manchester United’s, would we have won the league.’
I just dont know how to answer that.
@Stone Roses 66… Hugh Cornwell also said “Every time, just like the last, on her ship, tied to the mast” and after today’s performance… I know what he meant. It’s terrible when the drug you love starts taking you to places you never dreamed of going and after promising so much too…
Woe is me. Another glass of the very drinkable Big Kahuna please, ‘holic.
Manger? Too much to drink as usual, holic ’til the end.
Is zonal marking the root of our problem at set pieces? Discuss.
Has anyone seen the Sunday Times rich list? Usmanov is 2nd at Β£12b. Stan is worth under Β£2b.
This is interesting…. I wonder what motivates footballers…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Stories in the paper linking us with a 18 year old starlet ! Yes Arsene thats what we need a another 18 year old maybe could be but we will see player. WE need proven experienced players who are willing to work for a living.
TOO many very average players in our squad on long contracts who know they just have to turn up for Β£50,000 a week.
Please name one manager in the top 4 in any country who would still have there job after 6 years of ” maybe next year we are a very young team” BOLLOX !
He constantly talks of fighting spirit and mental strenght, then evry game that matters we fold ! fighting spirit mental strenght ?
A shake up is needed before we are here in 12 months writing the same things again. Arsene its not your money please spend some of it.
Start the shake up with a cull of the over paid lazy bastards and see were we go from there. It may probt the others to life.
Just leave the bottle barman please.
RVP@72,
Thanks,
Well that programme was a total waste of time in the end basically all the clubs pay to much in wages – No shit !! Interviewing Harry was priceless TV mind so Harry what do you think of players wages ‘Well Alan I couldn’t tell you within 10 grand of what each of my players earn ” Comical no wonder he’s got such a great record at previous clubs π
Ps Footballs fucked if that programme was anything to go by each and everyone blaming someone else and as for Richard Scudamore what a plank, To be fair Dave Whelan came across ok!
I normally try to find a positive from any of our results & performances, but that today was just plain pantomime.
Fucking ridiculous.
What’s worse is that sort of shit will get us relegated if it’s not sorted, I mean *properly* sorted out.
How many points have we ‘amassed’ since the brum cc defeat? It’s relegation form, seriously. π
Really sad tonight that we are persistently witnessing such gutless performances. If we are to lose, at least lose by trying FFS.
I said that we should all wait for a reasoned and constructive debate on Arsene’s future relationship with The Arsenal until after the final game of this season but I regret that today the straw has broken the camel’s back.
I had to check the teamsheet to see whether the lot that played for us at that Staffordshire shithole today was the same lot that played the mancs off the park last week. Two games: one great hard fought victory against the champions-elect, one gutless defeat against mid-table cloggers. It just about sums up our season very nicely. Will the “real” Arsenal please stand up ? The eternal optimist in me could find few positives today to beam about other than perhaps Jack the Lad’s steely determination and RVP’s perserverance.
The Club is now fast approaching another crossroads in its long history. Big decisions await in the months ahead. My guess is that Arsene will be given substantial funds in the summer to “tweak” the squad. If largescale defensive tweaking doesn’t work, or worse still does not materialise, I hope that at the very least he is allowed to bow out gracefully stage left. An exit strategy from the Board that recognises the monumental success he has given to this great Club of ours since 1996.
It has to be said that Arsene’s credibility amongst the fanbase is now approaching critical levels. This team has again been found wanting at the final stretch and it’s fast becoming a case of deja-vu. Just like a horse that leads the National for most of the race, we are consistently hitting the wall at the elbow. A bitter pill to swallow which has frustratingly lingered on my tongue none more so than this particular end-of-season. In full knowledge that we handed the title on a plate to our northern rivals by failing to capitalise repeatedly when the opportunity beckoned. When we hoped that this time, THIS TIME, we could find that mental strength Le Boss kept referring to in order to take us victoriously over the line.
On the flip side consider this scenario: no Champions League qualification, high wage bill, old squad, 50 years since your last title, and finishing behind your bitter rivals, again. Now there’s a hellish combination to lose sleep about.
I’m keeping faith, though my patience is being severely tested.
A large Johnny Walker Black Label, please barman.
“Has anyone seen the Sunday Times rich list? Usmanov is 2nd at Β£12b. Stan is worth under Β£2b.”
Did you find that out by yourself Stone Roses or was it again your son who pointed that out to you?
Reading around the blogs, the AKB percentage is diminishing exponentially. There seems to be a mix of anger on the one hand, and confusion and resignation on the other, which just about sums up how I feel.
andri,
No, my son is 12, he doesnt read rich lists. I only read it in the hope I was on it.
I wasn’t.
Missed the game today because of work, Had my phone in hand checking the score constantly and can honestly say for the first time in a long while I was embarrassed to be connected to Arsenal today. I seen a Wenger headline saying how “you could see we had lost something”. Is he taking the piss, we could see we lost something on the 27th of February, why didnt he sort it out on the training pitch over the last 10 weeks. There is nothing to hide behind for Wenger anymore, apart from RVP early season our injurys have been as good as it. AW cannot motivate this team and I am starting to think he has lost the dressing room. In my opinion he has had a bust up with Cesc over that interview and in fairness to Cesc nothing he said was wrong. Its just a pity our untouchable manager cant emerge from his bubble and see that.
Gavin,
Count yourself lucky. I wish I had missed the game because of work π
Chippy@71
Nice one, I tend to ignore them, as I’m sure you do, although you want to give them a dig.
We seem to have arrived at a crossroads – again – in the history of AFC. Our owners have decided to up the ante and screw us for what they can get.
I’m not too badly off but it’s still a financial effort for my boy and me to go to a lot of games. Gazidis and co are taking the p**s if they think that we are all going to accept the increase to watch a bunch of unerachieving freeloaders (sorry, I’m still quite f****d off). As well as the football side, are we just a corporate body that worships at the altar of dosh, or are we a community group, acknowledging our support and trying to progress; i.e. win a bloody trophy? It’s really worrying that future generations won’t understand what it’s like to watch the boy and don’t get a chance to watch your namesake and other icons like Wrighty, Bobby P, Titi etc.
Thanks for the heads up on the Sugar prog mate, let’s hope we talk again in more favourable circumstances.
Keep the faith!
@Stone Roses 88
I’m not on that list either, though my 10 year old doesn’t understand why not.
I see the ‘Everyone knows’ brigade are out in force tonight.
And what does ‘He’s lost the dressing room’ even mean?
Just a Talksport catchphrase
Dressing Room? It’s easy to find Arsene, ground floor and turn left. Tsk.
An interesting reading some of the information about formation changes. My question is why do we need one set formation that never changes? Man Utd changes depending on who they are playing. We should do the same. We can be dedicated to beautiful total football and continue to do it in different formations
Onions @ #85,
Quality mate. Sums up my feelings to a tee esp. the bit about LWCs. Did you see Twitchy on MoTD tonight? Even he doesn’t really believe that they’ll win the league again.
But enough of the scum, we need to get our own house in order first. I think that we really have thrown the title away this year. It was in our hands so many times and each time we’ve choked.
Totally bemusing from my perspective. Such a talented, highly regarded and well looked after squad can fail to step-it up when called upon, time and time again.
I love my club. I know the players have it in them to conquer all. I respect AW for what he has achieved in the past. Sadly, the combination of it all just isn’t working the way it should. A silent prayer from me that the summer sees the changes necessary to find that final few percent that will make us champions again.
Again, sorry regulars, but that hurt. G’night.
So many comments….so many valid. Not sure where I’m at tonight beyond frustrated as hell. Optimist in me says Wenger will know who just collected their paycheques these last dozen games. In all the years since he’s been the boss I’ve not seen such a lack of endeavour, resilience and heart.
The time from RvP (who has been remarkable since January) scoring to the final whistle was as painful as it gets. I’ve been optimistic all season long until we let in such a soft goal to get things started today and the rest was so obvious I found myself thinking about other things (music, breakfast, coffee) for the rest of the match.
I love my club more than I can express but I don’t see the same from the eleven in the shirt. Please let’s get it fixed.
Holic-
I wondered what you would write about this performance. Everyone supporter has his breaking point, not the kind where you stop backing the team, but the kind where you just go bonkers b/c the team you support can’t get it done. Many supporters, like me, went bonkers weeks ago when we could see it slipping away. From that point on I was hopeful we could rectify our shortcomings but had a hunch that we wouldn’t given we are not determined to do so.
Today, it seems you’ve reached your breaking point. There is no shame in that at as you eat, live and drink Arsenal. Hope the boss takes a serious look at the squad and himself in the offseason.
Mellowing, slowly, because of good mates, and Jameson 12.
More Four Tops, because yet again we are Top Four…
Talking heads. Road to nowhere?
Or is that a bit harsh?
Unfortunately, I’m not 100% convinced that things will be different next season.
This season was last season all over again, as if our lives were on replay.
Please, no more superkids.
Savage Steve T, savage π
Holic,
Thanks for the write up – and more so for the honesty which resonates with so many. Somehow I feel that those words of criticism probably hurt you more than the manner of the defeat(s) itself. This past few weeks (years) have been excursions of “passive suffering” for most fans.
Echoing TS, my extended thanks to Onions in No 85 – a johnny black label on me !
I too will refrain from any autopsy until the league ends – but I, like many, am preparing my log.
Y’know, you run a most wonderful blog Holic. I find myself in the dark of night regularly agreeing with stall wards on here despite the obvious confliction of opinions – which of course is testament, not only to the contributors themselves, but to the man who’s passion makes it all happen also! Thank you! One of these days – I will actually stand you a proper pint or three..!
Well said Joe.
Joe, I think you know where I am tonight. Words of criticism of the boss and the team from others hurt. I cannot defend them. That was the low I haven’t felt since, well, this time last year.
As it happens the result at Old Trafford means we can still achieve something, but the difference between second and third is only money, and not much.
I am more concerned that we finish above Citeh than Chelsea. That shows where we are now. Not that long ago we should have been Champions π
What a rubbish performance, the only reason stoke played so well is because we just did not.
When the players lined up I though to myself no way! why did he not give vermaleen a chance he could not have performed worse than djourou. Once again Wengers stubborn side is going to make us pay. Then he brings out Shamak and Bentner. The strikers with the worse records. What was he thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!
For goodness sake I wanted to have been one of them and show some pride. Did they forget how much we do not like stoke fc???
ASK YOUR SELF:HOW COMES NASRI AND FABREGAS ARE INJURED? !!!
DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING NASRI INVOLVED IN AN INJURY INCIDENT. I DO NOT SO WHAT IS THE CONSPIRACY?
I THINK THEY MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH WENGER’S IDEAS MAYBE?
Anyway inorder for us to win next season we had to LOSE today. There should be changes made otherwise we will end up in the same situation,WE CANNOT rely on lady luck anymore.
Players have to go, others need to come in, more skillful players means competition and that means players will perform ( dont hate me but I think this is what manu have and we dont). We also need players who want to play for ARSENAL and have pride in doing so not ones who are just happy to get paid and hope to do better in the next game.
I want the club to rethink their ways otherwise we might even end up 5th or 6th next season, I am not joking ok?
This team is such an enigma I can’t even get myself to decide which changes should be made.
On the one hand I came to the conclusion we need a good, strong CB, but then I see that we conceded most of our goals from set-pieces and set pieces is a collective defensive effort as opposed to just the back four. The blame can not be put on the back four only on a corner or free kick.
I then thought to myself we should get a replacement for Song but then I remind myself of Frimpong who I think IS ready (after seeing every game he played in the preseason) for the EPL, and if not to the high level competition he is certainly ready to boss the midfield against the likes of West Brom, Wigan etc.
I then thought to myself that we are way too predictable against a well organized defense but then I remind myself that we have the 2nd best passer in the game in Cesc (Xavi is the 1st).
I then thought to myself that we could use a striker instead of NB52, but what good would it do if when he would come in he would be inserted on the left? RvP won’t be benched or subbed if he plays like he has since the 1st of Jan.
The more I think of it, the more I come to a conclusion that the only thing we need is a good 4th choice CB but more importantly an experienced leader that could just be in the squad for snowball effects. To stop snowball effects like the Derbies, Newcastle etc. To rally the team around him, calm them down and stop the snowball.
We might need to learn how to keep possession in a defensive position like Barca do so we would protect the lead and not just panic and hoof the ball upfield inviting teams to pressure us (St. James’ Park, White Hart Lane).
Boy, this is way too frustrating, good thing I ain’t the manager and don’t have to make these decisions.
Holic,
Agreed – its now a game of very fine margins. In 2007/8 we were four points off the pace – and we finished third, of course, we should have won that one too..!
Unfortunately my despair has been diluted somewhat by my anticipation of what would happen. Without sounding defeatist, the writing was on the wall for me a long time out. While many will point to the carling cup final, or the Barca defeat, or even the FA cup debacle as being the low points of the season – for me, no game summed up our season more than the newcastle one. If we couldn’t defend a 4 goal lead against a team like Newcastle – what could we honestly expect? I know Phil Dowd was deplorable, but good teams beat referees too.
and they have the audacity to call themselves professional footballers,they should be ashamed.
im sorry but the signs were already there at the beginning of the season,losing at home to newcastle and westbrom,throwing away the spurs game….
Listen, here is the trick,Wenger will not add anything next season.
1 cause we have beaten Barca,Man United and Chlesea last season.
2 The team has qualified for CL (and won a trophy).
3 We were in Four competitions and very close to winning them all.
4) The fans are fucking retard who won`t see progress being made since 2005.
Wenger time was finished long ago.He is a embarrassment who hides behind every possible excuse,latest being CL qualification and how his team has conceded less from open play this season ,hence the defence is better.
You can say it`s a good season,because you qualified for fucking CL,CL my arse,I am not chuffed about being second to Shaktar next season.
Wenger needs to go,fullstop.He is senile,stubborn and not qualified to run a club of Arsenal stature,was it Djorou who said ,Arsenal was nothing before Wenger,well fuck that ,it will be something even after both of you are gone. Time for big decisions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz_lt8poAoM
Grinding Halt…..that’s closer to our last few months.
Djourou today made me realise I really miss Senderos…and I’m bloody serious…
To be fair, we are not doing that badly What about City? What about Spurs? Cannot even beat Blackpool! We will almost be 3rd or 4th….Don’t believe in the myth that we are just a few players short of winning something –except of course the CCup, as even a team like Birmingham can win it–we are way short of building a good team.
WE are going backwards this season.
Why? Our players, when out of form, makes schoolboy mistakes, like JD does and our team plays like West Ham. Manutd is not good, they only won 4 away games, but won 17 of their home games. Therein lies their success. We never get any series of winning going. However, even when Manutd is bad, they don’t make that kind of mistakes. That is why Manutd has potential to become a good team with the addition of a few players; but we can’t; because our players are not taught HOW to defend.
These two years, our team is taught under Wenger to play 4-3-3 and play like Barca; but Barca players know how to defend from the front; whereas Theo, RvP in some cases never do the defending from the front. Our midfield consists of one 19 yo, one 20yo, and one 23yo. who should play in the U23 instead of the EPL. What can you expect?
With Wenger, we will have to wait perhaps 4-5 years, provided that he keeps this group of players for them to mature and be a good team, if they are potentially that good. Or else, kick AW out, spend 50-70M to bring in a new manager (Who? another Rioch? Martin O’Neill? ), clean the deadwoods, and buy new players who are probably overvalued, and start all over again like Liverpool?
No anyone can tell you that Kroenke or the board wont do that–this is financial risktaking that can be compared to subprime mortgage. Look–City has spent over 150M, and what do they get? Another team as good as Arsenal. No!
I understand the frustration of not in the title race; but that is a fact we cannot change. Let Arsene go on deceiving himself, the team and us; but keep Arsenal at around 3th or 4th next season…
hopefully we can win the CC the second time trying….
When teams get stuck, and cannot go forward, fans always clamour to oust the manager; but then teams which do that will suffer a big fall–like Charlton, after ousting Alan Curbishly, who cannot be called a good manager, fell down straight to League Two.
Aston Villa after MON is gone now stares straight at relegation.
Why? because teams are made by managers, and managers buy players in their own image. Roy Hodgson cannot boss the Liverpool players and gets poor results because they cannot play Roy’s way. Liverpool falls down the ladder. He went to WBA a team very similar to Fulham, and look what he has achieved.
This team is made in Wenger’s image. Kick him out and I can bet you that the next season we won’t even have CL football. We would spend 50-70M buying useless players like Dzeko–remember a few seasons back, some bloggers are clamouring for Dzeko, saying he will be another TH14 at Arsenal….Haha! Or Cana?
Now they are clamouring Samba/ Scott Parker/ Hazard…? Or Flamini, Diarra both being subs….
The only player I regret missing is Xabi Alonso. With him in midfield, we will have defence and leadership…
I thought there was some decent stuff from Arsenal at times. My expectations are low, which helps, but I didn’t get too upset.
Didn’t Koscielny look ok? Sagna? Song? Ramsey? Van Persie? Wilshere? Was Wocheck at fault? Djourou had the howler late on, but he’s still the decent player he has been all season. Don’t people do player ratings anymore? Who was really abject?
As I think about it, Djourou was at fault for all 3 goals, but overall this season he’s over-achieved, and I’m looking forward to having him get some games next season.
We’re all going on a summer holiday,no more working for a week or two.
Looks like our team have clocked off 3 wks early.!!
This performance was so indefensible even BTM looks as though he has thrown in the Towel,where are you Big Fella.??
Good to see one of our ‘ Old Boys ‘ finally showing what he can do on the pitch rather than off it.
He is obviously enjoying his football under his Manager’s guidance,and was a constant thorn in our side all afternoon.
He also has a lovely day out at Wembley to look forward to next week,so good on him after so long in the wilderness.
Pulis reminds me a lot of Fat Sam at Bolton/Blackburn,who knew exactly how to play against us particularly on their home turf,
Shawcross incident/and Barndoor over the touchline not withstanding.
If memory serves me correctly,i can think of only 1 win at Stoke since they were promoted,and our record wasn’t that great at Fat Sam’s place either even when we were the dogs bollocks.
Stoke have won 10 games at home,which is only 1 less than us and
Man City,so it was never going to be easy,but as i said at the beginning ,we looked like we were already on holiday.
We’ve clearly lost our Mojo and i don’t think it will be coming back anytime soon.
Also congratulations to another ‘ Old Boy ‘ one Monsieur Flamini,who is now the proud owner of a Serie A title winning medal.
Still horribly frustrated. Can’t even find the words to express my thoughts. Think I’ll just settle for this:
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
Hej Lars,
Well said. It tried banging my head against a brick wall for 20 minutes yesterday evening and it was lovely when I stopped.
An early Boddies might help you to ease the pain this morning. As the MC is unlikley to be re-stocked until next season, it’s the next best thing to medication available in this bar π
Have a good day, at least the sun is shining brightly here in the SE of the UK.
I have just been going back over some old posts to see what views were back when the season had just started. This was my post on 02/09/10 at 10.01pm. It may go some way to explain why I feel so frustrated now……….
28Steve T
Having just returned from a glorious 3 weeks away I expected to return to a few new signings and loads of optimism. I must say I am very disappointed with the way things have gone. We have a great chance to add the 2 or 3 players we really need and we would be well fancied. Now? I do not see us being any stronger than last season. The loss of Gallas makes us weaker at the back in my opinion. I have not seen enough of either new centre half to see how they will cope with the Prem. Have seen more of Chamack and am impressed. Does make me wonder what might have been if we had pushed the boat out last season and actually paid the asking price then???
Keeper situation is a shambles. Almunia is just not good enough. Not his fault. I have never seen him give anything less than 100%. But he is just not good enough. I am not really sure who of the 30 or so keepers we were linked with we should have bought but if the big aussie was the man then why not just pay the fee and get it sealed before the world cup? AWβs prog notes at the Man City game last season said that he had identified the areas that needed strengthening and was already talking to targets???? Well, how can that be? At this time both Gallas and Sol were staying so we had no need for 2 CBβs?? For once I think our dealings border on embarrassing.
I think you make some valid points holic but like you I feel we will be just short. The frustrating thing for me is that I do not think we need to be just short. Ask yourselves this. Is the club maximising thier potential with the resources it has? In my honest opinion the answer is a big fat no. I sincerely hope that I am very wrong but if I am not I do not think many fans will tolerate another trophy less season considering the comments from the management re the financial condition of the club. As I said, I genuinely hope I am very wrong.
Keep the faith??????????????? Well at least I am trying.
Steve T @ # 122
Sometimes, it gives no pleasure at all to be proved right π
Keep the faith??? Well, despite it all I’ll be at The Ems on Sunday for our final home game against Aston Vanilla so if you (or any other ‘Holics) are planning on hanging around for a post match drink then happy to buy you a real one and chew over a season of what ifs and onlys.
Morning Hols…
Our expectations of our club are high. Wenger has set a high precedent which even he himself is finding frustratingly tricky to top (no other club to my knowledge has gone unbeaten since).
As I sit here reviewing lasts night MOTD, I watch how the team slightly weakened at the back since being destroyed by us last weekend, have taken the bus stop to task.
So where does that leave our young inexperienced team?
Individually disappointing presumably to them, compared to the Horse Manure there are different circumstances between the two clubs in a lot of ways. Now isn’t the time to expand, but I’ve said it all before.
Yes it would have been the right result to have gone level with the Chavs yesterday. If the lads are honest with themselves, finishing anything less than 2nd this season will be a disappointment in terms of league position, although there have been many progressive moments elsewhere across the season, eg:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/van-persie-increases-away-league-goals-record
For me this team was potentially good enough to win the league this season.
However as they say you have to earn the right to play and in conclusion rewards will follow.
After the game yesterday Sagna and Wenger said respectively that we “were not competitive enough” and “we didn’t fight enough”. To be honest this was the fixture which I felt if we were not mentally prepared for we would struggle this season for obvious reasons.
Saying that, changes need to be made to our set up in certain games otherwise we will continue like this every season.
Going forward I expect us to win next week. The final game of the season will hinge upon how both teams set up and play on that day.
Second place is still a realistic option for this team, but that will not necessarily mean everything is back on track
Iβll have a cranberry tea please
Support of a team is no excuse for ignoring facts. This side is NOT close to winning trophies. It has shown that it doesn’t have the talent or the resolve to win the games necessary to win trophies. And it has done that consistently throughout this season and last. In fact, in some respects one might even conclude that they are overachievers.
So what will Wenger change? Nothing, really. Oh, he’ll sign one or two more French-speaking lesser lights, on the theory, evidently, that the French language equates to goals and good defense. If Bendtner stays, he’ll continue to be used as a winger, horribly out of natural position. Wenger will continue to use Nasri as a winger, despite the fact that the player prefers and interior role, and performs better there. He’ll continue to roll out, week after week, transparent excuses for each pathetic loss. Bad pitch, compressed schedule, cards given, cards not given, too many London derbies…it’s embarrassing. If only that were the worst of it. The most deleterious effect of his whining is that the players begin to believe that if they lose, it is because of something outside of their control. And he’ll plead with supporters and his players to keep “belief” in a project which has failed.
This side is too small, too weak, physically and mentally, too disjointed, and too undisciplined to win a fucking thing, and anyone with eyes should have reached that conclusion by now.
While I laud his past accomplishments, I believe Wenger is now failing. His experiment is a proven failure. If he expects to persist in making this project succeed then he should be required to do so elsewhere. Since we all know that he is stubborn to a fault, we can conclude that he will persist if for no other reason to prove that he was right for all these fruitless six years.
I don’t want to wait any longer. I’ve seen what Wenger has to offer at this stage of his career and I’m not buying it anymore.
I want him gone.
Blimey ‘hols,
You did hurt yesterday, didn’t you?
At least you know where Stoke is. The FM2011 pair of clowns at Le Moan think it’s in the Black Country.
Chin up son.
Apparently we have conceded 22 goals in the league from set pieces and only 17 from open play????
How on earth have we allowed that to happen?????
TS. Absolutely no pleasure at all. Not an ounce.
Unfortunately, it’s because we got so used to caviar.
It’s a bit like your first couple of hits of the white powder β unbelievable high (so i’m told) and then it’s just so you’re chasing that first high.
And until we find another opiate we’re just gonna wander around.
We have been spoilt β no doubt about that. Quite happy being mediocre as long as my expectations are met. But after eating off the top table I don’t want sausage and mash β I want caviar!
Sarcasm aside, We were abject, devoid and looked totally emasculated. Big, Big changes required to attitude and don’t stop till you’ve gone through the squad and weeded out the chaff.
As for Arsene…I just don’t know anymore…
A very sad Gooner π
I was on the golf course while our game was on yesterday. Phone was on in my bag in error. It pinged. I looked to see why and couldn’t escape seeing “abysmal” in the sms that had arrived. Then, sitting to watch the match I switched on at the exact moment the highlights on Fox showed their third for 3-1. So or the first time this season I watched an Arsenal game knowing the score.
It didn’t make it any more enjoyable (!) but I was numbed from the start – a bit like a tooth extraction after the needle. Good commentary team here, Stuart Robson was the expert and was showing his frustrations in a way that wasn’t exactly neutral. (Jack Wilshere should reflect on some of his comments though).
Difficult to find much to be either positive or humorous about in this one. The biggest puzzle was how in less than a week, we’d gone from “The Kids Are Alright” to “Tommy Doesn’t Know What Day It Is”. This was not a performance by a team that was there to WIN, no matter what. It was a game we’d seen too often this season.
Four determined big guys in the box who we try to go through rather than around. Time after time throwing ourselves at them like waves crashing on a beach only to be forced back into the wash. And of-course, it came off beautifully a couple of times. Robin missed one great chance then scored on the second and, for a great team, that would have been enough. One nil to the Arsenal at Stoke, sufficient guile to score a good goal and then hold a very average attacking side without breaking sweat.
But, of-course, that is where we come unstuck. With a few exceptions this has been a season of defensive inadequacy. Not in my opinion because we didn’t buy a new CB (we bought two in fact) nor a new goalkeeper, nor a deputy for Alex Song. Rather, because the collective will to work like hell to stop the opposition scoring at any cost is just not there.
Yesterday’s goal losses were truely “abysmal”. School boy stuff (with a twist of good fortune thrown in for fun on the second). I’m a big fan of JD20 and think he a TV will start for us next season. But yesterday was not his finest day – by a mile. Having said that, it wasn’t the finest day of any in yellow. Only RvP showed the attitude and commitment required in this kind of game.
I had been hoping for a strong four game finish, if only to mitigate the “fire the manager and sell the entire team” brigade. Unfortunately, an insipid fourteen were incapable of delivering even on that. Incapable of delivering for the manager who has defended them through thick and thin and stood guard every time the shit has flown.
This team isn’t far away. Its skill level matches any and surpasses most. The wins against Barca, Bus Stop and the Deeply Indebted showed what can be achieved, just as yesterday, Newcastle, West Brom and Blackburn exposed the depths which can be plumbed. Misery loves misery which is why all of the usual suspects who are noticeable by their absence every time Arsenal win, pile in to spew their woe after every poor performance (draws included).
Arsenal’s season is one that all but two teams in the league CRAVE. Those who demand the manager’s head and summary expulsion of most of the squad live in a wonderland of mad hatters in terms of proposing a solution. Arsene will provide the opportunity for several to go off and plough greener fields elsewhere in the summer. I’m confident that the three additions who will be incoming will be sufficient to elevate the team beyond the $900M debts enjoyed by the two teams above Arsenal in the league.
A fun footnote for me was Stuart Robson waxing lyrical over the days when Arsenal were five points clear at the top and Adebayor was the man who worked his socks off to move stolid defenses around and open up space in the middle or others. “Many people forget that Adebayor wasn’t only a goal scorer, he created a huge number of goals and chances for other players and Robin Van Persie was a main beneficiary” quoth Stewie, his head reflecting brightly in the summer sun. I’d add to that that his defensive work up front is something that’s been missed since he was booed and bleated out of the club.
It’s my birthday today, ‘Holics so I’ll get off to Bull Run and hit a few more balls with the Famous Red Grouse’s face on them. I’ll leave a tab open on the bar for any and all.
Cheers BTM
Happy B’day!
Its fine guys,…. We wont have to suffer this for much longer. Just another 2 more games. And after that it’ll all be how we are getting stronger and how we want to win everything blah blah blah.
This game will soon be forgotten.
BtM,
Many happy returns, it’s a shame that yesterday was no early present unless you like receiving small turds wrapped in gold foil masquerading as a box of chocs π
Lee Dixon on MoTD last night agreed with you in that he said Arsenal needed “3 big signings” to help them step-on and he even qualified that by saying not big in terms of money but big in terms of character.
This I agree with whole-heartedly.
I’ll draw down a nice cold pint of cooking lager on your tab to acknowledge that you’ve turned 21 (yet) again.
Cheers.
BtM
All the best on you Birthday, may all your wishes come true! π
Barman I forgot my drink, I’ll have a double expresso please I need to wake up from this misery!
BtM, Happy birthday. Golfing was an excellent choice, I’m sure.
*Stumbles into the bar after all and sundry have vented their spleen etc….*
As luck would have it, yesterday was one of the games that I managed not to see either live, via Sky or a stream. Seems like it was a good one to miss. And there was me bitching about having to sit 35000 ft in the air when the mighty Arse would be giving it to Pubis and co on the ground……
In the end I could not even watch MoTD – I have enough loathing of that red nosed weegie at the best of times, so the thought of watching him acting like a 15 year old in front of the Stretford End just did not bear thinking about.
I watched 12 minutes of “highlights” on my Arsenal app – and guess what, the defending was inept, as it has been far too often this season (and indeed has been for a while). Interestingly, I listened to Ray Parlour (on Talkshite radio I confess) on my way up the A12 yesterday insisting that Arsenal actually practice defending set pieces.
I don’t know which is more worrying – if they don’t and Ray was just talking shite, or if they do – well, christ knows what it is they are practising. Maybe practising bumping-into-one-another-without really-any-clear-idea-about-who-should-be-doing-what, is what they practice. The stat above about goals conceded from set pieces really says it all and this is not a new phenomenon, where we can only blame the current incumbents wearing the shirt.
Anyway, yesterday was in many ways the final act in a mental season. It has been fun on the Happy Train whilst it lasted and a number of you guys knew I said I would only concede that the train should stop when it was mathematically impossible for us to catch United, and unfortunately as TS has intimated, the emergency brake was hauled on by our own team, in a rather limp fisted fashion I might add (with apologies to JW and RvP).
As for where we go from here, well I think that this summer is a massive one for the club. If we do not make the 3 signings suggested by most as being the minimum that we need, then we will be lucky to be even talking about our CL qualification “trophy”. Make no mistake, Chelsea, United and the Nouvea Riche will all make important signings and add to their squad. Liverpool look like they could be on their way back to serious contenders in the top 4 and no doubt the LWCs, much as I hate to admit it, will fancy their chances of being in the mix at the top. With that in mind, I am hoping that the noises AW is making about “no big changes” is a smokescreen, because we cannot afford NOT to change. And that starts with him.
I know that there are still 2 games to go, but for zico it just seems that the season is now effectively over – at one point I had mentioned to TS and a few others that I would probably make the Grove for the Villa game, but my Employer has had other ideas and therefore I will have to wait till the new season before we get those beers in. Hope its a good day anyway.
Oh and BtM – happy birthday! Diggers awaits π
Happy Birthday BTM! Seems you intuitively gave yourself the gift of distance from misery- you always seemed like a wise one…
Hey BtM,
Happy Birthday, and thinks for some sanity. Come on now, ‘Hols, we can’t have you giving sway to the BBB.
I haven’t personally experienced our days of past glory, but I do know that AW (whatever you may think of his decisions) has given this club enough glory to earn some respect.
Give him another year to sort this all out. Some clubs haven’t ever won anything. Phil Jackson’s squad just got their asses handed to them by Dallas, but everyone knows he’s a fine coach,
I’m as disappointed as hell, but let’s take a step back and be sensible about all this.
zico @ #137
That’s a monster post from you, you must be really pi**ed off π
So… we’ll keep the beers (& champagne?) on ice for next season whilst we trawl through the wreckage of the HT crash and gradually re-build her through the summer.
Like you say, it seems to require some major changes (if only in tactical thinking and training) within the club/team as well as few strategic purchases of EXPERIENCED as well as talented players before we’re going to be properly ready to roll again.
In the meantime, there’s always this bar, a couple of games left when surely we’ll bang in more goals than we concede (PLEASE?) and, of course, The Emirates Cup to win – now, does that count along with CL qualification as a “trophy”? *sniggers*
Let’s see if our current squad has ‘ze mental strengz’ to wrest 2nd place from Chelski as opposed to being overtaken by Citeh. The latter might cause a mini revolt. Some would argue that we’re already in the middle of one but not me.
Abysmal performance from our lads yet again. we cant seem to take hold of games. we dont know where to concede professional fouls. we dont defend as a team. our whole mentality is to not tackle. we dont impose ourselves in midfield. all this is down to the manager. he bought a lot of similar type players. flair but no workrate. small players easily shoved off the ball.
our bargain buys show why we did not have to pay a lot for them.
I doubt that we can buy in 2-3 players and then be challenging for honours. problems run deeper than that.
I would love it if wenger hands the job to someone else. and bring in a new ethic into the squad. we are carrying a lot of players at the moment.
TS, the happy train was an evening too early. I certainly didn’t stumble upn it yesterday.
Happy Birthday BtM!
TS @ 140 – as I said I didn’t see the game so I can’t say that I was THAT pissed off – more disappointed (again) at unfulfilled promise.
I am pretty exasperated though. It’s come to a fair old state of affairs when Stoke, yes Stoke!, fans are taunting us and our fine away support.
Sometimes I just wish Arsene would say something different – or nothing. I don’t think he appreciates how antagonistic it is to a lot of Gooners, (and at both ends of the spectrum AKB or BBB) to say that he doesn’t see the need for big changes. ‘Holics concluding words in the above post are really on the money – its not about not winning a trophy for 6 years – its the attitude that we take into (certain) games that sees us lose to Hull and West Brom and now Stoke – it happens too frequently and you know that it would not be tolerated at the home of the Champions elect.
Anyhoo, I’m sure in the fullness of time, (who knows maybe even after Holics next post), I’ll be back at the bar and re-stocking the medicine cabinet. It’s become increasingly apparent that the MC is not a job for one person. π
I will watch the game against the Villa in the land of the tractor boys (where I am currently exiled from my exile). I have started to wear mittens so that the locals won’t notice that, unlike them, I only have 5 digits on each hand. π
Storey, cheers for the Boddingtons earlier today!
BtM, happy birthday!
zico, just let me know when the construction of Happy Train mk II will start. I will be there to help.
“Make no mistake, Chelsea, United and the Nouvea Riche will all make important signings and add to their squad.”
I’m not so sure about United, for various reasons. And for how long can Chelsea rely on the ageing core of their squad?
Not that that really matters much for us, though. We need to do what we can to improve ourselves first and foremost. The calls for Arsene’s head are getting louder but I am far from convinced. I think he knows exactly what need to be done, but has he got the financial resources? Make no mistake – if he has and doesn’t want to use them just because he doesn’t like spending money, then he should go (I mean, what’s the point in willingly giving ourselves a disadvantage? In that case why don’t we start all games with ten men?) but I can not believe that any manager at this level would not try to use the means at his disposal.
Cup of tea, please.
Grotesque performance yesterday.
I shudder at the very thought, but would appear that Arsene has perhaps outlived his usefulness. He’ll always be an Arsenal legend, but the team are no longer performing for him; his babied players are simply not taking the responsibility that is duly theirs.
Weak, timid and guileless, unless it’s a Hollywood game. Just not good enough for the Arsenal.
Time to shake things up.
Oh, nice cup of tea for Randy, too!
And can we have a competitive squad for next season please?
Happy birthday BtM!
Yesterday’s performance was very disappointing to say the least, abject is more like it. But the disconnect between the fans perception of what we should achieve and the means that we have thrown at it is simply mind-boggling. The “funny” part is to re-read last year’s mocking of Liverpool fans who were branded delusional for having the exact same disconnect from reality we’re plagued with now.
I’m with Jackster on the Everyone Knows Brigade. At the start of this season finishing 4th was the best we could hope for according to the same ones who are now frothing at the mouth because we’re 3rd.
There are definitively things that can and should be improved, don’t get me wrong but that’s no reason to lose any semblance of perspective. You may not like it but we’re the 4th budget in the league, perhaps 5th depending on what Liverpool, Spurs and us will spend in the summer and that won’t change until 2014 when the contracts are renewed and the fair play rules come in full force. That’s the only fact that matters. Until then we’re the 4th club in the league and the 9th club in the CL by a wide margin. Sorry to break it to you.
Lars – for Chelsea I meant replace some of their squad, rather than add to it. But they will spend money.
And Man Utd will add to their squad one way or the other – part of Ferguson’s success is based on buying players when they have won stuff, not just when they have failed to.
My point was that it will only get harder for us next season – the thing that separates us from Utd, Chelsea and City (namely money) is not going to go away. And if we just expect our chances to improve because everyone is a year older…..well, we’ve all seen that particular movie.
As for the HT, you will be sent a timetable along with all the other regulars – this may not be the best time to tell you this, but the fare is going up by 6.5%. You may note that we didn’t increase the cost of tickets at the same time as the Government imposed an extra 2.5% VAT in January……..
Times are hard. π
@Randy: “the team are no longer performing for him”. You mean since last week, right?
“And can we have a competitive squad for next season please?”
Sure, let us know where to find 100 mils so we can match Chelski and Citeh and you got a deal π
On the thought of transfers and money Torres has to be the signing of the January market though for this season.
From proven lethal striker in the Premiership to flop. See what next season brings for him, but if money has to be spent, it has to be spent wisely.
Money can’t buy you love. Or football results.
Many happy returns BtM
I trust you have a special evening booked with her nellieness? Enjoy.
zico, and what I meant is that in replacing some of their squad, they might not improve at all – at least not for next season. And look at what United bought last summer: a player who barely made the Fulham bench, a Portugese player they had never seen play and a Mexican who was behind Carlos Vela in the national team and who had barely played a full season in the Mexican league. They made a net loss of over Β£100m last year and Wayne Rooney has signed a new and insanely expensive contract, have they really got the money to buy that much? Remeber that they need to replace VDS as well, that in itself is no small task.
Matt: The βfunnyβ part is to re-read last yearβs mocking of Liverpool fans who were branded delusional for having the exact same disconnect from reality weβre plagued with now.
Agreed, and again we return to the perspective thing. We will have spent the whole season save for after the first game in the top four. Hundreds of teams in England alone would kill to have our problems.
Having said that, though, sometimes you actually need to change things just for the sake of changing because I am afraid we are very close to becoming stale and stuck. Now, I can’t tell for sure what things need to change, but finding the right replacement for Pat Rice might be a good start – not necessarily because Pat Rice hasn’t done a good job but just because it will be a new voice with, perhaps, some new ideas.
Stone Rose, ‘not that far away’, well actually it’s far enough. But I guess some people will always believe in fairy tales.
Matt – as I said, the team perform in the Hollywood games, as you’d expect they would; motivation won’t be much of an issue against the best teams that play nice football.
I’m not delusional, I know where we are and how lucky we Arsenal supporters are to have such a nearly great team… But let’s not jump from one extreme to the other – this team has a major deficiency and it needn’t take a hundred million pounds to fix it.
Lars, good points well made.
It is all about expectation, but expectations are not static; they change over the season.
Arsenal have been infuriating in some patches this season, simply because the defied expectations in the first 3 to 4 months of the campaign.
Having exceeded the generally held expectation that we’d “struggle for 4th”, doesn’t negate a supporter’s right to the opinion that our team is lacking a couple of fundamental pieces to our armour.
Well, I promised myself I wouldn’t do it to myself, but I did. I watched it again, and have to say, using a musical analogy, it was like Ronnie Wood trying to play “Sway”. Inept.
We seemed to launch wave after wave down the middle, time and again hitting a wall 5 metres outside the box. We could have used the wings but Walcott and Arshavin weren’t playing. We tripped up over air, simple passes went astray… no need to go on, we all saw it.
I still cant get my head around it, even Wenger in his post match interview had ‘I Cant Explain’ on his i-pod.
I feel like I’ve been beaten up, gonna take 48 hours off from dwelling on it.
PS. Feel really sorry for Bendtner, stuck out on the left, at least he gives it his all.
@Randy: I’m not saying you personally are delusional. Being delusional is thinking a team with half the budget of the top spenders in the league ought to be champions. There’s no extremism in this statement…
Certainly the team has been infuriating at times, they could and should do better no doubt about that. But so can Chelski and Citeh who spend twice as much and our better team could still come short. As long as this is understood, we’re certainly on the same page.
Fuck it. Managed to not dwell on it for 10 minutes.
You could stamp on our dear old friend paulie instead, SR.
Who let him out?
Relax, Paulie. No need to go on about knobs and fire and such.
I have a lot of Gods, but perhaps John Squire is the almighty. If I saw him stick his knob in a fire, rather than join him, I would say ‘Excuse me John, do you realise you have your knob in a fire.’
No, Matt – I don’t think we ought to be champions, I merely think we should do better and I think it’s not a simple matter of personnel and millions of pounds.
Newcastle, Sunderland, Bolton, Stoke… Not to be too demanding or anything, but when the title is within our grasp, it would be nice to at least compete rather than surrender in a rather familiar fashion.
If Alex Ferguson stuck his knob in a fire, rather than join him, I would say ‘Hey Alex, if you are feeling a burning sensation down below, dont worry about it, it’s just your age’. π
If that raging alcoholic Ferguson was that close to a naked flame he’d go up like a fucking Christmas tree, so his knob would be the least of his worries.
When I was young, I once stuck my knob in a fire. Her name was Maureen.
165 & 166.
Stop making me laugh! I’m supposed to be depressed.
Har, Har.
S/R sit a spell with me and sip on some Macallan. You’ll feel better. All the dark lords of the BBB are welcome to a drink on my tab. (Not that you’re a member of the BBB, S/R. I know you’re not)
Let’s all just take a few steps back from the brink. It’ll all be resolved by and by.
LG,
A few steps back from the brink, good advice π
BTM. Ade birthday to you.
Evening all I’ve got some good news Next years programme will be a stylish perfect bound jobbie rather than the tatty double staple we have to put up with it will have a much more stylish feel, Chippy the scoop π
Just a shame that with the price rise no one will be able to afford one.
onions @ 85 – great post.
I’m sure everyone here knows well enough by now what happened yesterday.
The worrying thing at the club, for me, is the lack of effort, gratitude and intelligence shown by our players. These are not things that can be repaired in pre-season training.
The lack of effort shown by far too many of our players in far too many games. They don’t all need repeating here.
The lack of gratitude shown to the club, it’s manager and it’s fans, by this bunch of overpaid, under-achieving players, for providing them with a life style that most of us can’t even dream about. There are some exceptions, and we all know who they are too.
Little more than a week ago, the manager, (over)protecting his players as usual, stated that the players had been exceptional all season. Well they repaid your generosity good and proper yesterday Arsene. Another improved contract, anyone ?
The stupidity shown by Arshavin vs Stoke epitomises the lack of intelligence in the team. For a team that can’t defend, we give away a ridiculous number of unnecessary free kicks in areas where our goal can be bombarded – usually with disastrous results.
As you say ‘holic, “how many times does a madman . . . . .”
In my youth, I used to turn up to home games and stand on the old North Bank where we sang our heads off for an hour before the game started. All fans – all cared.
Many of the players in those days could not compare, in terms of talent, to the current crop. But they knew how much the fans cared – and they cared too.
Some may have lacked top skills, but they never lacked fight. Playing for The Arsenal meant something special in those days.
The end of a season – right up to last season – arrived like a cloud that couldn’t be shifted, until the August sun once again lit up new pitches, ready to usher in another 9 months of hope and, occasionally, joy.
This week-end sees the last home game of this season.
I will be there only because I have paid a fortune for a season ticket (Β£1825) that I am loathe to waste. The end of this most painful season can’t come quickly enough.
Ten minutes before the game starts, we will be treated to Elvis Presley singing The Wonder of You. in a magnificent stadium which, at that stage, is normally, sadly, still only about one-third full.
Arsenal, where have all our values gone – pride, fight, tradition ?
I must then face the bill for next year’s season ticket – Β£1955.
This increase is necessary, according to Gazidis, to allow Arsenal to adhere to their business model.
This is a model where fans foot the bills while the club maximises the profits.
I have been all in favour of that model until now, but am now beginning to wonder. With the sad passing of Danny Fiszman is something already changing at the club ?
I’ve even begun to wonder if it would be such a bad thing for us to go for a ride at the expense of a multi-billionaire, ‘cos I don’t know if I can afford the fare much longer myself.
Ah, but we would lose control and the values of the club we all love, I hear you say.
Really ?
Are we sure it’s not already too late ?
Cheers ‘holics.
Some good news – 3 new signings for next season.
Vermaelen, Ramsey and Frimpong.
Well, like new signings, anyway.
A couple of news stories struck me as of some interest. One: Christopher Samba says he was very close to joining Arsenal in January; Two: Sagna says we lack killer instinct. Should Samba, the incredible bulk, still decide to come perhaps he could supply needed killer instinct. Added determination, pride and fight, as well as a few surreptitious elbows on our behalf could not hurt the cause, could they?
Trev – You’ve got mail π
Trev@172,
Sad but so very true !!
Steve@171
π
I am really worried about next season after watching liverpool’s performance yesterday.manure will buy a good central mid in the summer which will only make them stronger.The Chavs will spend whether they need to or not.If cesc or samir leaves we might not even get the coveted 4th place trophy with wenger at the helm.
Hmmm after seeing a little talk about Villas Boas as arsenal’s next manager apparently Chelsea are tracking him and and Guss Hiddink. missed opportunity on either of them u think?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/09/chelsea-guus-hiddink-andre-villas-boas
Guus Hiddink and AndrΓ© Villas Boas top Chelsea’s managerial hit-list
Nasri’s agent has said that Nasri wants to stay with Arsenal..
Well, I wonder why his agent has to say things for him
Trev, a really great post. I wish it didn’t ring so true…
Getting to the North Bank after 2:15 meant being away from the noise and a half decent view…and it was the highlight of every fortnight wasn’t it? Playing for this club does matter and finding the right blend of 22 (is it 22?) who understand how special Arsenal is might just offset any loss in skill.
It’s not too late is it?
Oh and belated birthday wishes to BTM
Chippy, Tim Merrick – thanks lads.
“Sad” is the word – good to know the sentiments are shared by some other real Gooners.
Even ‘holic’s pain is too much to suppress any longer.
zico ‘ #143,
Yes, feckin’ Stoke taking the p*ss. I’m not sure it gets much worse than that. Oh hang-on, my out-laws are coming down on Friday night en route to the Cup Final. They’re not big supporters of the leg-breakers form The Potteries but I think I’m going to need to make myself scarce and avoid all talk of football π
BTW, the real reasson to wear mittens in Suffolk is to hide the fact that you don’t have webbing between your fingers.
Happy to share responsibilities of MC management. I’ve cut a duplicate set of keys and put them in the post to various exile addresses.
Lars @ # 152,
I think we should try and have HT Mk II ready in time for the announcement of our first new major summer signing – Frimpong, Rambo and Vermy don’t count π
Much of the wreckage of HT Mk I has been cleared but it’s in a right old 2 & 8 so all help gratefully received. Zico will be in charge when he can summon ze mental strengz to be bothered. In the meantime, it’s parked in the sidings looking rather sorry for itself and wondering whether or not to make us of the money that available for its re-buliding π
Like you, I find it incredulous that AW wouldn’t use resources available to him to ensure success next season. I’m also with you and , I think, many here in that some form of change is going to be both good and necessary for the club to shake-it from it’s current pattern of performance.
We do indeed have problems that others would die for (including Bloody Stoke!) but AW has set the bar so high that there’s now no turning back from dining on caviar and champagne back to hamburgers and chips. I’m still convinced he’s the best guy to sort out our problems in the shortest possible time but some fresh thinking on his part is required. A strong and influential right-hand man might be a solution IF Arsene is willing to share power at this stage in his life and career. Not easy…
Ollie @ # 142,
Note zico’s post @ #148 re: new time table and fare increases. Tough times indeed π
Trev @ #172
Excellent post, straight fom the heart. Things have changed big time since the days of getting to the ground early and singing for your entertainment pre-match although that still pretty much applies when travelling to away matches.
I think it’s as much about the way we now tend to live our lives as anything and I don’t miss everything associated with football from days gone by.
I’m totally with you about player pride, passion and commitment to the club. There certainly seems to be a number of our squad that just don’t get it. To me, addressing that one problem will be the single, biggest factor in turning our team from so-called ‘chokers’ into champions. Some players need to move on for a number of reasons. I really hope that their replacements are the type that are willing to put their bodies on the line for The Arsenal week-in and week-out.
Please have a drink on my tab and enjoy the match on Sunday. I’ll be shouting myself hoarse with you.
They were wise words that suggested we shouldn’t start asking the awkward questions for the sake of the team – before the season’s end – but after that shocker I can’t abide by them any more.
Whoever said above that the club are at a crossroads right now was spot on. We’ve got a new owner who won’t say whether or not he will personally dip in to the club’s hard-earned cash reserves – even though some sections of the media are pressing him specifically on this point; a team that – despite what the league says – feels like it might be going backwards and a once unquestioned genius of a manager who appears to have painted himself into a corner with his teen-age midget master-plan. Come on Arsene swallow your pride and sort it out while you still have some of that credibility left that you built up over those first 7 or 8 fantastic seasons.
This pre-season and the season to come feel like the most important in a very long time for The Arse – possibly the most important of Arsene’s time at the club. For me the S***e result/performance means that big old clock has started to countdown – and if nothing’s changed by the end of next season – then surely things won’t be allowed to stay the same.
A scotch for me please – or something equally hard to swallow.
Well thanks Lester,
I will have to think of another post tonight now!
Sums up where I am word for word I reckon.
One more year, do something different.
I’m with you there too Lester & ‘holic! Drinks all ‘roud.
TS: I wouldn’t mind the 6.5% increase in HT fares, if only the Sad Train (aka Eurostar) was getting cheaper π
TS, If it weren’t so early in the day over here I would order hamburger and chips to help pay for rebuilding the happy train. Is there any breakfast menu remaining?
I think all we can is hope for is that all AWβs rhetoric of βNO wholesale changesβ is just hot air, to either to give the players that he WILL sell a boost before the end of the season to maintain us in 3rd, or keep their saleable price up @ current levels for summer transfers?
If not well the alternatives just donβt bear thinking about?
As we already know we are not good enough TODAY, & thatβs without additions to the other top six clubs in the summer, that we also KNOW will happen.
For me the board has to step-in here to save AW from himself, he obviously needs some motivation to win something next season, i.e. perhaps βhis headβ if we have ANOTER barren season, & to be honest this is more likely then unlikely if you ask me.
‘nasri @ #190,
The breakfast menu remains the same as the past six years or so
π
Ollie @ #189,
Is the ST taking you to the Vanilla game on Sunday?
TS, Maybe our breakfast menu is the problem then. Not to go upscale, but to add something different, may I suggest granola and yogurt as a symbol of positive change?
TS 192 : yes indeed.
Lester,
Great post.
I too am concerned about the lack of a statement of intent from Uncle Stan. He certainly could have put something in his offer document about the cash reserves AND future dividend policy, but he didn’t. My question is, why not?
that’s pretty harsh man, but true too.
We’re not shit, we’ve won against barΓ§a and man u, but one can’t help but feel that this is what’s killing Arsenal.
They have an excuse not to change things because we’re always 3rd or 4th but this result against Stoke doesn’t call for changes, it calls for a bloody Revolution.