Will City Turn Their Backs On Customary Caution?
Jan 12th, 2013 by 'holic
Saturday 4th October 1975. I know exactly what I was doing that day. I was watching an Arsenal side including Brian Kidd losing 3-2 to Manchester City at Highbury. For what it matters Alex Cropley (one for the Hibees there, sorry zico) and Alan Ball scored for us. It was a season in which we avoided the drop by eight points, although our plunge down the table to 17th place was largely as a result of a disastrous run of seven matches at the end of the season of which we won just one, and drew just one.
Why am I going down memory lane? Well, believe it or not in the ensuing 37 years and 3 months the reigning champions have failed to beat us in a League fixture in North London. They haven’t even scored on their last five visits. To say Mancini sets his side up not to lose at our place is an understatement of gargantuan proportions. Arsene Wenger thinks that has to change this weekend on the basis that both sides desperately need the points. I hope he is right, because a City side playing 9-0-1 against the Arsenal that has so often failed to turn up this season would make turgid viewing at the much publicised category A prices.
“I think they are in a situation where a draw will not be good enough, and we are in the same situation. The fact that both teams have to absolutely go for a win promises a more open game.“
Of course what he is saying makes perfect sense and I have high hopes for a slow burner. This promises to be a game where both sides will probe nervously in the opening stages as they test each other out, picking up the tempo and attacking intent as long as the status quo is maintained. We have to hope City don’t score first and attempt to strangle the game. The imperative is for us to claim first blood, and turn that advantage into three points, much like last season in fact.
At the time of writing I don’t know if Olivier Giroud has passed a fitness test. If he has then we will have a full squad to pick from, excepting the second choice goalkeeper and Gervinho. Yes, even the much lesser spotted Abou Diaby who was outstanding when we took a point home from the Manchester Council stadium in September, but who has featured for just seventeen minutes since. The current midfield trio have been playing a lot of football this season, so I would not be surprised to see either Diaby or Tomas Rosicky feature at some stage.
Our prospects are helped by the absence of Yaya Toure, now on Cup of African Nations duty, the suspended ingrate Nasri, and the injured Kun Aguero. Having said that there is still an embarrassment of riches available to the cautious Mancini. I enjoy watching Silva play against anybody but us, and it seems likely that for once they will turn up with a front two. Tevez and Dzeko will need to be shackled effectively.
I am being very nervous with the ‘holic pound. This is not a match to lump on, but I will have a small wager on 2-1 to the home side which is currently available at between eights and tens. As usual the good folk at Gunners Gaming can be reached via the banner ad above and among their offers is a free bet of up to £25, subject to conditions, for new customers.
An extended journey by coach, train, and tube will hopefully get me to the pub about the same time as Lars’ wallet. The birthday celebrations started last night with some superb food and drink, and I am looking forward to more of the same either side of the match. I really don’t want much for a present lads. Three points would do just nicely. How about it?
302 Responses to “Will City Turn Their Backs On Customary Caution?”
Bang
Think or drink? Latter, please!
I truly wish for you the best of birthday gifts tomorrow night holic. Coty without Yaya and Aguero. We have a full squad to choose from, minus Gervinho. Tomorrow will make an intriguing game for sure, and even more so considering all the hype surrounding our lack of transfer activity. Coyg!
CL place?
Yes! Get in!! (Goes to read post, wondering what he’ll do for the rest of January now he’s run out of exclamation marks.)
Oh and on other news, Giroud is fit to make tomorrow’s squad, as he confirmed via twitter. 3 am for me, good night all.
Goodnight, Derrick!
Hope its a cracker for you mate and lightens the general gloom there seems to be around most other sites at the moment. Big Mathers will appreciate the Alex Cropley mention as well!
Come on you Arsenal!
I was in the midst of composing a response to NBN’s interesting, if depressing, comparison between the table today and that at this stage last season, before discovering the new post and launching an attempt at Champions League qualification. I didn’t have much interesting to say (no surprise there, say some) but I did hope to draw attention to an error in Ned’s sums regarding how far back the Spuds, the Toffees and ourselves were last season.
Fine post Guv. For the sake of those watching the match I hope our manager’s right and Manciti show a little more enterprise than is their wont. For all of our sakes I hope the more enterprising approach results in a massive justification for the negative approach hitherto taken.
COYG
Engineering works, ‘holic?
Also for the statistics, currently DaMarcus Beasley is the last City player to have scored at Arsenal apparently.
Cheers ‘h – 3 points’ll doooo.
Ohhh – benched.
You about tomorrow, AL? Long time no see.
Engineering works, Ollie 🙁
Coach to Reading. Will cost more too as not via Didcot.
That’s a fine summary of the situation, Holic. I notice the Holic Pound needle is stuck on 2-1 though. This time, I think it will be correct. If Giroud and Diaby are both fit tomorrow, we may see our first choice first team on the field for the first time this season. My fingers are crossed.
With apologies – I hadn’t got round to responding to young TaBS in your prior st of drinks. Here’s what I wanted to say to him (without wanting to reopen the whole ticket prices debate again).
TaBs @ 280 – I thoroughly enjoy your stuff. Every word. I’m not 100% aligned with you this time around (Is that a new haddock? A haddock that’s laid a spawn? Or a haddock that has swum by previously?)
I admire greatly the club’s ambition to compete on a self-sustaining basis. Two words. Compete and sustainable. I’ve bought into the wisdom that a club’s ability to compete is defined principally by that club’s ability to attract, and then retain, the best talent in the world. Arsenal has done quite well in attracting some supremely talented players. Arsenal has done much less well in retaining that same talent. (FACT – as LeGrash would state).
The club’s response to addressing the retention issue has been to increase player wages substantially. Unfortunately, substantial as the total wage bill increases have been, this has not yet served to stem the tide of departures (although I would argue that it HAS been influential in attracting new talent).
Arsenal’s stated intent, to run the sports franchise, entertainment centre, football club (call it what you will), on a self sustaining basis implies that it must be run on hard-headed business terms. Worse, it must be run on these terms and also be competitive as measured by trophy wins. And worse still, its primary competitors are patently NOT being run on this basis. They are being run as rich men’s playthings. “Here’s 500M, son – off you go and buy the BPL (Mansour) and CL (Abramovich)”
To challenge Arsenal to win trophies, to trade sustainably and NOT maximize revenues by ALL available means is to provide the challenge of an insoluble quadratic equation.
In my opinion, Arsenal is duty bound (to meet the hard-headed business challenge they’ve undertaken) to maximize ticket revenues by achieving the maximum price point for each individual seat that the market for the product being sold will sustain. They could, of-course, right now, declare that they have ceased all efforts to be competitive in the current market and that, from tomorrow, a new lower priced seating plan will be implemented for the well-being of die hard fans, but 1) Arsenal will plan to entertain only and not expect to win trophies and 2) will not expect to be able to retain players who can achieve >150k per week salaries elsewhere. And that’s all I want to say about “compete”.
The Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development requires that beyond just economics, – social and environmental considerations also apply.
Your “It’s not just about the money, it’s about the people who pay the money – now and in the future” is persuasive with regard to the social dimension of the business challenge that now confronts Arsenal. I agree that customer (us) retention is an extremely important part of this, very challenging, business puzzle. In other situations, when the means are not available to meet the price of the product or service desired (Health, Education) innovative support and pricing mechanisms are deployed. Arsenal’s ABC tiers and Capital Cup discounts represent both efforts to match price points to perceived market value AND provide lower cost access when the full means are not available. But more creativity is required here from Arsenal.
I’m not so sure we are seeing a bubble. That will depend entirely on football’s ability to continue to present a compelling product for which people choose, preferentially to allocate their hard earned resources toward versus other forms of entertainment, consumer goods or even food (not drink, of-course!).
Increasing interest from developing markets like Indonesia (heh, Steve) and China, and an additional 1.4 billion people on the planet by 2040, will help to avoid a burst bubble. But in the short term, a slowdown in escalating salaries, sponsorships and seat costs is likely, I agree.
So, I know you want Arsenal to compete. And I believe you respect the self-sustaining model. I don’t think we can have both and choose NOT to challenge the market to reward Arsenal with the highest levels of match-day revenues attainable. Together with higher sponsorship deals and TV income (some from our friends in Indonesia) stadium revenues will fund the wherewithal to retain the Wilshere’s, Gibbs, Chamberlain’s etc and also attract the Fabregas’s of tomorrow.
To pass up on the opportunity to maximize financial revenue is either to 1) hope that an Abramovich will come knocking or 2) to give up on the hope of winning trophies consistently.
Retaining, expanding and entertaining over the long term, a fickle fan base that will be encouraged to spend their money on many different things that glitter and shine brightly in the years to come, is all part of the Marketing challenge that Arsenal has to overcome. It’s as much about Marketing as it is about football. The product on the field will only satisfy if Arsenal’s marketing excels. And, in turn, the Marketing effort will be stimulated greatly by a really successful, winning Arsenal.
I’ll drink to that if you’ll buy.
BtM – Agree with every word that I followed. I’ll buy.
Blimey, was the last one the slaughter sp@rs O – (not sure you were there for West Brom)?
As for the morrow ‘fraid not – a combo of just past the post Chrimbo, crappo prices, a P in the A KO time and even creeping frustration at non-Arse activity in the tranny shop (so far?) have combined to mean I can’t be arsed at this point – so I’m orf to watch it Up The Pub with pals – where I’ll raise a “real” ale or two to the “real” fans like yourself what keep putting their hands in their pockets and keep turning up.
And I’ll raise one or two to the “real” keyboard die-hards who can’t get to games, too. (And I’ll still have bundles of change from a oner an’ all.)
Up The Arse!
(And see you soon O when i’m feeling a bit more chipper/flush etc.)
Oops, pardon – “the slaughter of sp*rs”
20 = QPR?
And Lester. I’ll raise one to you too. 🙂
‘holic, I’d say a 2-1 home win punt sounds pretty reasonable, and it should be worth a reasonable wager from Lars’ wallet. :;
HaHa! bt8bbgfg
Happy b’day Holic, 40 sixteen is already a decent innings but you’re only half way through, right?
I’m sure I was at that 3-2 defeat too with The StoreyDad *hunts for programme*
It should be a decent game tomorrow. 2-1 would be a terrific result for us. Would be great to see Diaby and Rosicky given a run out too in cameo appearances – surely they aren’t properly match fit yet?
Cheers AL, I’ll raise a glass to you too as I sit down to a late lunch with visiting family.
Enjoy the game peeps!
Psed to avoid causing any undue offence, the “real” thing was a cheeky wee ref. to an earlier post from a c*ltish sort – Trev knows.
Right back atchyer TS. (And visiting family so soon post chrimbo holidaze – you’re better man than I TS – but then you probably knew that already.)
@18
Am I allowed to influence the choir tomorrow in your absence, Reverend?
Tis a big pity, you won’t be around – some of those choristers can get a bit boisterous as you know. 😉
Great win for Bordeaux!
Yep, AL, that was the last time I saw you.
Have a good day tomorrow,at least you can keep warm! 😉
Bruvva Zee – they could not be in surer hands (well surer than mine anyway, as you well know).
And remember – lead them into temptation – and if you don’t get their first, there will of course be plenty to follow there, nonetheless. HalleluYeah!
Will miss your ascerbic wit and ability to make pints of Guinness disappear tomorrow Dr.z. Enjoy, whatever the result.
Reverend – I didn’t say it was soemthing that I wanted to do ;-).
BtM- Excellent arguments. I liked that quadratic reference. Remove one variable and it all works out but which variable?
Oops – shudda been there there an’ all – the three bears i’ve had are kicking in and messing with me splelling – off to beds with no porridge for me for tee.
(Tights beneath your jeans Ollie – it’s the way forward. But tell no-one.)
Thanks Professor.
Them pints will indeed be disapearring.
This old dog ain’t interested in those fancy new tricks. 🙂
Heh at AL’s tights.
Some of the might even be disappearing
Fecking Apple
Pear rings? Interesting idea.
See yous tomorrow!
Wenger says he does not find it painful to watch Van Persie delivering, decisively, game after game in a different shade of red. “But what is painful is to see United so far in front of us,” he says. “We knew when we sold him to United that would be the case.” That is a stark admission from Arsenal’s perspective.
Amy in the Guardian.
Saddest thing I have read in years. Not the end maybe, but we are in the end game.
What I am intrigued about in that statement is who is “we” in the context.
Is it “Me and Bouldy knew what would happen but the Board went and done it anyway”
Or is it “Me and the Board knew what would happen but we couldn’t turn down the money”
Either he is associating himself with the event and is thus jointly culpable or disassociating himself with it and starting to show in public the extent of the constraints he is working with.
As I said to Esso in the last set of drinks, it is hardly a ringing endorsement of the guys he signed to replace van Stapleton.
It shure seems to be getting that whiff
zico, I don’t think it matters that much either way.
The situation (as always) is the boss.
I also believe that we’re within a season (or two maximum) of seeing a new Arsenal manager.
All good things, etc.
Oops pardon – i may have jus’ posted on the wrong blog – is this Christian singles?
Heh 😆
38 a ref. to last para 36
I think it does matter TS even if it is the end of an era, which I think as Holic says we are approaching if not actually there yet.
Not sure I can put my thoughts about it down in words, properly at the moment though.
Apart from a big Tourette’s outburst, perhaps…..
AL 😀
You will be missed tomorrow my friend…
Nice review, Guv, i reckon we will see a high scoring encounter tommorow, hopefully The Arsenal will come out on top.
BTM, nice post sir, you and TaBS have both enlightened this youngman with your informative posts filled, all through, with well articulated and presented points.
I find that Amy Lawrence piece more and more weird. When / where do those quotes come from? Yesterday’s presser? If so why did no one else pick up on it. Just find the whole thing strange.
Not saying they did n’t happen. Have the utmost respect for Amy as a) A proper jounrnalist and b) Absolute Arsenal till she dies. Just find the article weird. Was it an exclusive interview for her?
Cheers ‘h – have a good one Guv’nor
Zee – i wasn’t gonna put mine down so close to a game, but as the conversation seems to be going that way – oh well/oh dear – here goes…
I reckon that if there’s a continued Arse no-show in the tranny shop, and we finish outside the top 4 (cost at least 25-30 mill) and say DRB or A.N. Other, for whom we have scant cover, spend more time stranded on the side-lines having strained summat else – then the manager will certainly have far, far tougher questions to answer than ever before.
And hands-up already, sadly where once I thought AW’s stubbornness was borne of the clarity of his finely crafted vision, these days I’m inclined to think it’s probably more of a windmill meet tilting at attemptee type scenario.
My fear is he’s now lost his way, stuck in a glorious self-made past – which means, for the mo, The Arse has maybe lost its way too, which in turn means it might be best if he p’raps gets lo … goes, in the not too distant.
If it comes to that, I truly hope it gets done with dignity and not a little love all round. (Hands-up pt 2: I don’t mind admitting I will have to reach for the double-quilted kitchen-roll if his going on a low note comes to pass.)
But it seems to me we’s approaching borrowed time, time. Our great club is crying out for a more positive, more contemporary outlook, visiony thing than the current one (and I can’t see Kroenke or his cronies going away anytime soon, soo … what?).
I would love to see the club genuinely challenging itself to win stuff again; exhausting all its manifold strengths and resources in the glory hunt.
The clouds of interminable self-defeating (starting each pre-season it seems these days) semi-surrender to THEM 3, and relative failure hanging heavy over The Ems need shifting, at last.
Up The Arse …
(Psed – There’s a whole bunch of hypotheticals up there so things might not go them ways. And if we win 5 nil tomorrow, go unbeaten for the rest of the season and do the prem and champs league double – it wasn’t me wrote all that nonsense.)
Dunno, Esso.
Certainly hasn’t gone viral like some Wenger quotes – that IS strange.
Thats it Zico, it was in The Guardian, this morning, I bought a copy. But the only people hitting on it are Arsenal Bloggers – Arseblog, ACLF, etc. Like I say, weird.
AL,
One thing is for sure – it will be interesting to see if the current custodians, post-Wenger, have the vision to get the club challenging itself to win stuff.
5 nil tomorrow, eh?
That’ll do nicely. Along with my dry shirt 😉
Where’s the healthy/self-delusional scepticism gone?
There are more supporters of other teams than there are of Arsenal. If the Grauniad can slant a story in an anti-Arsenal way, they are likely to sell more copies than if they slant the story a pro-Arsenal way.
What do you expect Wenger to say in response to the question “Do you find it painful watching van Persie delivering decisively for Manyoo game after game”? “Yes. So much so that I cry myself to sleep every night”? Of course he’s going to mention something else, like that he finds it more painful that van Persie’s new team are so far ahead of the Arsenal”. Actually, I’m by no means certain that was the question he was asked.
Are you incensed that the Arsenal management team expected van Persie to continue to do well? How would you like that management team to have dealt with a player who had decided his future lay elsewhere? A player moreover whom they had appointed club captain at the beginning of the season.
I’m really sorry to express my disagreement so loudly and publicly. I actually think it’s an abuse of your hospitality, but I would really like to understand what the drinkers in this bar would prefer the manager to have said.
Sure, I’m disappointed with what’s happened to the team over the past couple of years; but I’m even more disappointed by what’s happened to the fanbase. If we don’t stick together, we will certainly have it stuck to us individually.
What would other drinkers like to happen? I discount the chances of Arsenal signing Messi before the end of the month. I discount, as only slightly more likely, the chances that there will be a crack of thunder, a flash of lightening and Stan Kroenke will emerge, waving his bank statements saying words to the effect of “Here it is, take it all. Go my children, buy buy buy.”
I’m sorry, when I get excited I lose control of my sarcasm reflex. I fear I have been a little more dismissive than I intended. But, PLEASE, what, within reason, would you like the club to do?
And another question in response to some postings that appeared while I was typing the bollocks above.
To those who believe Wenger should go: Who do you think should replace him?
I’m not even going to ask you to justify your faith that a replacement would be better, or would see in better times for the Arsenal.
Evening ‘holic
I was at that game and I still remember the sinking feeling I had during that season!
There is another presser, for a select few behind closed doors Esso. This will have been where that quote came from, and the Cesc may come back quotes she is reporting in tomorrow’s Observer.
Oxon, I’m with you mate. You’re singing my song. I’m fucking sick to death of everyone (which now includes ‘heroes’ of mine like Amy and Arseblogger) picking over every single word of what Arsene says and using it to file negative copy.
How about just standing up and going;
WE ARE THE ARSENAL
WE ARE THE BEST
WE ARE THE ARSENAL
SO FUCK ALL THE REST
s’what I used to do when it came on top.
Different age, different peole like you said.
Fair point Zee – the old super-quality AW to re-emerge and save them the bother.
Psed – i’d settle for 5-1 or indeed our regular sp*rs scoreline
Esso, thank you. Thank you also for expressing a criticism of the blessed Andrew. I said something about him a few months back and was buried for it. I was beginning to wonder whether I had a problem leading me to see imperfections.
(And if it ends that score reckon there won’t be a dry shirt in the house.)
And I wont welcome Cesc back. Part of the fucking problem. He’ll certainly have to earn his corn again in my eyes. Anyway – not happening.
Oxon. Blogger’s a sound geezer in all ways. Wont hear a word said against the guy. But I fucking hated today’s blog and told him so this morning. He accepted that. He’s Ok.
Oxon, I think the view that we should have reinvested more of the annual profits in the squad is spreading. Few would argue against the self-sustaining model, but making money every year, mainly by selling the crown jewels, and not using that to make us as good as we can be (thanks again Steve!) is plain wrong.
When Arsene says that we expected to be behind United it gives the lie to earlier claims of ambition.
Nothing hurts me more than to type those words. I’m sure you know that.
Good point Esso. How many, about to cream their jeans at the thought of our captain before last returning, were posting over the last few days that a midfield of Wilshere/Cazorla/Arteta had insufficient variety and we needed a midfield enforcer. Yes, Fabregas might get the nod over those three if he were still on the books, but he would hardly provide something completely different[tm].
And I’ll sing that song with Esso.
You can do both…
Guv, we read the Wenger quote differently. I see him saying that they expected van Persie to keep scoring for his new club. There may be some context that makes your interpretation more likely to be correct. I have a copy of the Guardian lying, unread, next to me. All I can judge from is you posting above.
I ought really to read the article for myself, but I see little point in doing so when it has given pain to so many whose views I respect. I’ll keep it as a treat for myself tomorrow evening should Arsenal win.
Trouble is there would n’t be any profits without selling the crwon jewels. So where do we go from here?
Is it down to the lake I fear?
Cos we cant do a Chelsea and swap debt for meaningless equity, or a Citeh and stike an extraordinary sponsorship deal with the boss’ brother’s major airline. And we not going to risk the entire club like United are doing, could all go pear shaped there quite easily. We’re running a proper business like it should be run. And we get slagged off for it, mostly by our own.
Makes life fucking hard it does.
Fair enough.
I have no divine right to be right, just expressing an opinion. We are allowed to disagree here, with civility.
Esso. I’ve fallen out of love with Arseblog. Before the advent of blogs like his, there was a self-perpetuating elite in the national press that passed on to poor mortals like me, and you I suspect, the few gems that they thought we deserved to know.
When the Internet started up and any Tom Dick or Harry could self-publish, things changed.
Now, a few short years later, those Toms Dicks and Harrys (Harries?) are the new elite. They claim to be men of the people, but they undermine that position by publishing stuff, like something I read somewhere late this summer along the lines of “there were special circumstances surrounding the departure of van Persie. Circumstances so special that only I and a few privileged journalists are party to them. Circumstances so special that I can’t possibly share them with you.” (I paraphrase liberally.)
Your assessment of Blogs as a “sound guy” should make me give his blog another go. I’m not sure it will. My loss.
Guv – does excessive sarcasm count as incivility? I do hope not.
Blogs is sound I tell you, as is ‘holic, both men I have supped with and stood beside at games. Thats what I judge it on and like H says above everyone has their opinion and this place is probably the last place left on the interweb where differing opinions on Arsenal can be exchanged without rancour. Believe me thats no longer the case on Arseblog, either on the comments or in the forum.
Its me. I’ve just had enough of everything. Football supporting used to be a pretty simple actvity (which appealed to my pretty simple nature).
I’m Arsenal and I follow Arsenal. I’m happy when they win and I’m sad when they lose. You follow another team? Want to discuss that over a pint? Fine. Want to discuss it a bit more forcibly – well thirty years ago maybe.
Its just all so much now and so fucking complicated that I am seriously on the verge of chucking it in. Must admit thats not a new feeling, its been bubbling under for me (for reasons about the whole game not just Arsenal) for some years now. Something good usually happens to drag me back (only a few days ago H offered me a complimentary to be with him tomorrow to celebrate his birthday – geezer or what!) and I hope it will continue to do so.
But days like today chip away at my resolve.
Come on you Arsenal tomorrow! Make an old fat cunt happy. Just for one day.
They will make us happy many times over in days to come mate.
Let’s hope tomorrow is one.
I won’t let you turn your back on the one thing we can believe in 😉
Can’t argue with a single word in comments 70 and 71 above. Have a good day tomorrow. Fingers crossed it’s a three-point baggingly excellent day.
COYG and night all.
@various above,
I think we can probably all understand that Arsenal FC, having decided on a self sustaining model, need to maximise their various revenue streams, all of which, in one way or another, will come from the fans be they armchair TV viewers, merchandise purchasers, stadium attendees or whatever.
With reference to ticket prices, it would be nice if the club gave a choice to those who, through changing circumstances, found themselves unable to maintain the level of seat which they had once been able to afford.
The opportunity to move to one of the vacated cheaper seats we are now seeing, would be nice, instead of the upwards or out policy currently in force.
Fortunately, that is not currently a personal plea but I know several folk thus affected.
There would also be a lot less protest about ticket prices if the resulting revenues were being spent on adding genuine quality to the squad, rather than tens of millions of it being left sat in the bank.
I have said most of that in various dribs and drabs before and, for everyone’s sake, will not say it again.
Now, actual football tomorrow, thank whatever you believe the superior power to be.
And another thing.
Did nobody get the Poznan reference in the title.
I am casting to chaff, not wheat 😉
Talk to me tomorrow Trev.
Afraid to say I didn’t Holic, but I do now !
Consider myself chafftised 😉
Rev AL,
Shame you’re not going tomorrow. I still haven’t had a chance to answer that question you asked me in October ! 😉
Trev – i haven’t finished asking it yet …
Heh AL,
If you’re not using your tights tomorrow …………
They’ve got your name on ’em Trev (blue biro) – they’ll be behind the bar first thing tomorrow at The Tollie – just ask.
‘Holic @74: most of the wheat here is in the Belgian beer…
Evening all.
Some interesting debates about the current self sustaining business model that we seem to follow. I say seem to follow because I am unsure what self sustaining actually means. Does it mean that we have to make a profit every year? Does it mean that we have to curb investment every year to ensure that we are always in the black? Surely a self sustaining business model is about maximising what we have to enable us to provide the best product? We clearly had no problems seeking investment when it came to building the Grove? Taking out a loan was not something that phased the board in any way.
Now I am not for one second suggesting that we should start spending money that we don’t have. But I do think we should look at the bigger picture. I think we should have looked at the bigger picture for the last 5 years. For me we have been very blinkered and narrow minded. As others have alluded to, you can not keep on selling your prize assets, do little to replace them and expect to sustain the same level of performance. My problem quite simply is this. If we continue the way we have been going for the last few years then we will hit a downward spiral. It is not that long ago that we would challenge for titles. Now we see 4th as about as good as it gets. If we continue in this manner then what happens to our self sustaining business model? Are fans going to continue to invest in a product that simply does not produce to a level they find acceptable? Are potential sponsors going to offer top dollar for the privilege of sponsoring The Arsenal? Then of course we have the population explosion in Indonesia and the surrounding nations to consider. I am not really that bothered about what the future population prediction is. Or the prediction of the potential Indonesian love affair with the Premier League. None of it will matter if we drop down the table. The Indonesians will be wearing Citeh, United and Chav shirts. Not Arsenal shirts. Why would they???????
I have never asked for us to spend money we don’t have. I have never expected us to compete with the petro-dollar franchises. I would never want us to go down that route. But I have massive reservations about the way we are run. The fact that we were told this week that the high ticket prices are required to ensure we can survive at the level we are I consider somewhat of an insult. Especially when loyal fans are being charged £126 to watch a game that is live on Sky. A game that many who wont be attending tomorrow will be watching for free via a stream.
The club needs to have a big rethink. It needs to assess what self sustaining actually means. Those fortunate enough to be in charge of this wonderful club need to open their eyes and see what is happening. Because if they don’t I have real fears that we will only go in one direction. It will be one big vicious circle that we may find very hard to break. In my humble opinion we have spent the last 5 years under achieving. But the biggest failing for me is that it has all been so unnecessary. I genuinely believe that it did not have to be like this. I genuinely believe that with what we have at our disposal that it could have been so different.
The Citeh game last season is one I remember fondly. A bucket load of beer, an Arteta winner and I get home late to discover the two delights in my life have celebrated by doing the Poznan in the lounge in front of the TV. It will always live in the memory. I live in hope for something similar on Sunday.
Don’t think I will make pre match drinks in the Tollie. I should be able to make the celebrations after the final whistle. I take it there will be regulars returning after the game????
Onwards and upwards.
Heh ‘h a big Pat Jennings on the back for the Poznan ref. far too subtle for the likes of me.
Just read the Amy L. piece you mentioned in the The Observer re what AW said re Cesc. Along with the stuff he said re Pursie – it feels a little unsettling to me. And because it’s in print it’s hard to fathom AW’s tone … he maybe sounds weary and whimsical and … i dunno, fed-up? Or not. And for all i know he was taking the piss outta the press – or just going through the motions. Can’t put me finger on it (it’s that time o’ nite). Still feels odd though …
Bedfordshire Brighton and Hoves into view …
Self sustaining my arse. Under investment is the death kneel of a company. Not being able to move with the times and adapt is another – just ask Comet.
Amy wrote another article where she hinted that members of the board are happy to spend but Arsene is reluctant. If this is the case we are fucked. This has never been and never will be Arsene’s Arsenal. As much as we love the guy we were, for the most part, Gooners before him and will be Gooners after him. As will our kids and their kids.
No man is bigger than the club. Are you seriously suggesting Oxon that until Arsene is put in a box we can do no better than him. Is the man really bigger than the club in your eyes?
What could we have expected the club to do? Honestly, take the hit and sell him to Juve for a lesser sum. I don’t believe our hands were tied, or a gun was put to anyone’s head. We sold out to the highest bidder.
Unless I’m mistaken didn’t Le Boss state he wasn’t here to sit and watch other teams win titles?? Now he says he knew that selling purple nose Van Pussy would make them stronger and us weaker. This to a team that lost the league by one goal. Honestly. You really couldn’t envision this scenario Arsene, one where the Mancs would disappear further into the distance.
I’m on your page Steve. Have been for a while.
When Mr Wenger was ‘just’ a football manager, he was really quite good at that. Now he has (seemingly) become more than that since the move to the stadium he isn’t as good and appears to have accepted his lot. Ambition has been replaced with prudence and it is to the detriment to the overall growth of the club.
I’ve said before its the hope that kills you. Constantly highlighting our weaknesses then not addressing them time after time while feeding us the same old bullshit is just tiresome and painful.
We enter he business end of the season with one recognised striker. We have lacked creativity several times his season. We at this juncture have done nothing about it. All we get is lip service.
It’s ridiculous.
Oops – piece you mentioned what’s in the observer … nite.
Steve T: I’m sure you’re not surprised when I say I agree with your concise summary of the last 5 years.
Change is always difficult and painful to accept, some take longer than others for the obvious to dawn on them and some remain loyal beyond all logic.
I have to defend Arseblogger though. He has no hidden agenda, no irrational prejudice, he’s simply coming round to what so many of us have seen coming for the past few years, he takes no pleasure in it, in fact you can see from his writing how it pains him.
Ah – the old it’s been really, really shite for years and I saw it all along schtick …
One of the great managers has been working under incredibly difficult conditions for years, right up to the beginning of this season – and he’s always, always tried to do his best by the club. Sure he got some stuff wrong in the end – but who wouldn’t have working in such a complex enviroment.
The problem I now have is that as those conditions are apparently changing for the better (new front loaded deals and all) he apparently remains somewhat stuck in his old ways; what once was pragmatic and expedient now looks stubborn and retrogressive, and ultimately, perhaps, an impediment to real, fully-realized progress. (Progress he’s done just about everything to lay the ground for by the way.)
As certain fine fellows down The Tollie know, selling Pursie to them was a total game changer for me (and I think for many other good Gooners too).
In my eyes it showed that those that run the club (very much inc. AW) have possibly become too detached from the fanbase; it seems they may no longer come close enough to appreciating the depth of support that has been extended the club as prices have rocketed, glory has dried up and a creeping decline has set in – as the petrol-pumped and manku have pulled away.
For me this tranny window is close to this regimes last shot at redemption (and AW has the pounds and the power to do stuff). They could/should, I think, send us a signal that they know what their support has gone through in recent times, and a signal that they want to reward that support – (after all what else, in the end, is a football club there for), and they haven’t done it (yet?); because they know so much, much, much better? I hope so. But I’m not so sure any more. Their priorities seem to be elsewhere.
Arseblog may not have been stuck banging out a one note, one-eyed agenda for years – but not everyone can say the same.
Oops – far too much much – oil well – it’s very, very, very (very!!!) late and i must
Well I don’t know what to think anymore (a credit to the persuasive debating skills of those in the bar) because I felt like I enjoyed today’s Arseblog effort. But I can’t tell you why off the top of my end.
Wind (Myself): Pro-Arsene 95%. 5% wonders if Pep Guardiola/Jurgen Klopp/Michael Laudrup/David Moyes would be a better choice for Manager in June 2012. Reads a drink by someone saying Arsene’s past it with a rational reason and new blood is needed – 85%. One of the eloquent regulars also comes out with this in a good post, 80%. Watches an Arsene interview/reads a article (in general) – 95%. One of the long-supporting regulars who was previously very Pro-Arsene becomes disillusioned with it all (the current manager, the current state of the club), Wind thinks “Well if this respected Gooner can contemplate this, what about someone less versed in the Arsenal, what about fairly new me?” [6-10 years] – 70%. Another long-supporting regulars comes out with a passionate defence of Wenger combined with Wind’s own contemplation of what the great man has done and his always present evident love for the club – 100%. Bad result and Arsene seems unsure, uncertain of why, 95%.
So with this example you can see how an impressionable young man such as myself can be influenced by what happens on a weekly basis in terms of Arsenal. The 95% is so high because unlike many of you gentlemen, I have known no other manager than Arsène since I started supporting Arsenal. Arsène has brought me some of the greatest moments and football I’ve ever seen. I am one of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Gooners who as kids made the subconscious link between Arsene and Arsenal from a MOTD interview of the manager for example. So maybe its easier for you who have known Rioch and Graham before him but for someone my age of 18 for example, Arsène’s Arsenal is the best and the only Arsenal that I’ve seen. So to change that Arsenal to a different Arsenal with a different manager, however eventual it is (we all get old) is still something unknown and to be honest, quite scary, You’ve never known anything else. And what if this new Arsenal is worse than Arsène’s Arsenal? Questions that have yet to be answered with no ‘past-paper’ that you’ve witness yourself (Arsenal) to compare it to.
So maybe I liked the Arseblog post because I was at a 70% Pro-Arsene. Maybe because it was being resurfaced in my mind as I listened to the Arsecast on the way to work. But a Gooner like me, relatively new compared to the Maestro or to Blogs, is quite malleable, easily able to see many points of view but due to lack of comparison material, able to become ‘fixed’ with one. I just wanted to show all of you the manager out/current Arsenal situation from a different point of view.
Got Church in the morning so its beddy-bye-bye now, tithes to be paid then now that I’m working and no ‘Rev’ AL, none for you 😛 Hopefully I’ll get to see Esso (only saw the back of his head(?) and his brown jacket(?) previous on NLD day in the Tollie) and Delia at the Tollie pre-game tomorrow, shame Steve T won’t make it pre-game but the season is only… Middle-aged 😆 Hopefully I’ll get to buy Holic, Ollie, Trev, Snowy, Lars, True Storey(?), tabs and all the others who were so kind to me between AR5EN2L-S5UR2 and Montpellier 2-0 (and on the Arsenal Sweden’s Evening at the Tollie, good memories 😀 ) pints & the like, think I’ll have to take out more than the original £10 planned with that list 🙂 And no Lars, my wallet is not trying to challenge your Master Wallet for supremacy, it’d be done in about 1/2 an hour with Dr Feelgood about I suspect… 8)
Oxon @ 52/53 – Hallelujah, brother.
Steve T : Pretty simple really. Sustainable implies being able to continue doing business without need for recourse to a “bung” from your owner (500M from Abramovich in Chelski’s case plus, plus every season; 400M in one season to buy the title for Citeh last year). Interestingly, Manure are self sustaining despite their owner draining their resources – largely because of higher sponsorship, TV and gate revenues than Arsenal.
Holic : “I think the view that we should have reinvested more of the annual profits in the squad is spreading”……there is an annual profit then? Not from football though……(net off transfer income)
NBN : “Under investment is the death knell of a company. Not being able to move with the times and adapt is another – just ask Comet.” Why bother with a tiddler like Comet? Go for a big fish, let’s say one of the very biggest, say ENRON. (But wait a minute…..a little bit of over investment there, a little bit of woeful ethics, a little bit of over radical movement with the times and POP – there goes another multi-BILLION per year company). I guess it all depends on how you want to serve up your rhetoric.
Right, enough! Bet I shout louder than anyone tomorrow. An Arsenal win, a Liverpool win and things ail look less sad (SAD – what’s it mean and how do you spell it?). 🙂
Tiptoes into the bar and lays a bouquet of wildflowers on the bar for FunGunner and makes her a cup off tea. Solidarity, sister! Let’s give them ‘something to talk about’…. 🙂
Storms back into the bar and does her best Shirley Temple expression, nose all scrunched up, a twinkle in her eyes and failing miserably to keep a strait face 🙂 She readily admits she missed the meaning of the Title 🙁 but is eager to exclaim that she was not the only one ! 🙂 She also takes note of the ‘ingrate Samir’ reference. No nothing gets past me, she cheekily thinks 🙂
All grownup (at least in this moment 😉 and commends Wind on such thoughtful comments. Steve T, right with you. Rev Al, it pains me to agree 🙁 NBN, I think selling Robin to Manu might be seen by historians as his ‘Waterloo’ 🙁 Geoff, appreciate your defence of arseblogger. Zico, from the last set of drinks, courtesy of Dr C. I can’t tell you how much that article affected me. Thanks for sharing.
Morning all. That piece by Amy Lawrence is very sobering indeed. However, before I read that piece I read the full transcript from the interview (can’t remember where from exactly, I think it was a link from Blog’s comment section), and from what I read, what Wenger actually said was probably meant in a different way.
“When we sold him to United, we knew that would be the case.” Indeed, AW said this after he commented how painful it is to see United in front of us. But directly before this he was talking about his confidence in RvP’s abilities, that Wenger knew he can still produce top performances. When I read the original transcript, I got the impression that the above quote was Wenger referring to how he knew RvP would continue to do well if he sold him, hence saying that he knew “that would be the case”.
But for the lack of a clear explanation from AW, it is not wrong that Amy translated his words slightly differently. AW’s words were certainly ambiguous.
I’m not saying it’s all rosy for Wenger to say that, though. Still painful. Three points tonight, however, will certainly ease the pain.
BtM@89, I think we are in trouble of becoming Nokia a decade ago. Market leader at the time, but under investment and management myopia when rivals were upping their game meant they would be pushed off the top and struggle to compete again.
I hope Wenger and the board are smarter than that, though, and that we will start to reap the benefits of our financial prudence and become one of the five biggest clubs in the world, as Ivan Gazidis would say. Let’s first start by securing top four in the PL this season (by buying top, top players perhaps), nevermind our rank in the global footballing world.
BtM@89 and abb@92: wrong NBx. That was NB1 @83 with the Comet and selling RvP remarks, not me.
Some great posts above, especially the one from Esso
Cheers, please have a drink on my tab
BTM. Thank you for the explanation. If that is the definition of sustainable then I suggest we have failed. We are not continuing to do business. Our business is football and in my humble opinion we are in decline.
I don’t for one second compare our spending to the franchises of this league. I am not hugely interested in what they do. I know we can’t compete with their wealth. But we should not be that far behind. I’m sorry but for me, at the moment this is just not working.
I have said it before and AL makes reference above. Thus January is the most important transfer window of recent times. If we get it wrong then I am in fear for the future. The short term future at least. My view.won’t change regardless of the result today.
Never be afraid to ask questions of the club boys and girls. It does not make you disloyal or a doomer, despite what others may say. This is our club. The business model fails rapidly without the fans.
Assist?
Right on, Steve T @ 98.
See you later.
Morning all.
Well in zico!
Snow first thing, but nothing serious to keep me grounded.
Bring it on.
The game that is, not the snow. 😯
Big match today, ‘holic and one’s gunning for 3-1 to the lads with Feo Henry tearing Citeh a new one!
Regarding the sustainable model, interesting stuff from BtM, Trev and Steve T.
Amy Lawrence’s interpretation of Arsene Wenger’s comments are too simplistic and a significant degree of misinterpretation and paraphrasing has been indulged in by her. My position is akin to my “glass half full” buddy, BtM. For a sustainable model in any enterprise to exist, there has to be a target that you are aspiring to sustain year-in year-out! That genuine target may be obvious and clear to all (i.e. the winning of trophies) or the privy of a few in the inner-circle (i.e.CL qualification) based on the assets and resources available. For me, i genuinely believe that the sustainable model has always been based on a target of CL qualification year after year since moving to the Grove – a target that has always been attained by the current “inner-circle” of which Arsene Wenger is a key component. Before that, when Arsene first took over, as with previous managers at Highbury, winning trophies and honours was the target of the sustainable model. The question that should clearly be asked now is “when will satisfying for CL qualification considered underachieving in the eyes of the inner circle?” That is when we will see both the supporters targets and the inner-circle unite. That time will come soon once a “stable and united” squad of players is retained for a significant period of time together. That, imo, will not be this season but perhaps the next. Whether Arsene Wenger will be part of the shift in the target of the sustainable model
is uncertain but i’m sure he will be given a chance to at least have one season of trying. COYBG!
Up the Arse!
Morning all, the wagons are rolling
No where does it better one minute I agree with one then a different then back the other way,in the end we all want the same thing,3pionts today,a good fill of pints b4 during and after,some investment in the squad.read essos comment last night heartfelt from a lifelong gooner,never give up mate it’s people like you us younger generation look up to.this post and drinks session only at 105 drinks has been brilliant insight into the minds of some top guns.to many good posters to namecheck but our call to arms should be zicos post in the last set of drinks,class.enjoy ur day holics look forward to reading all about it.come on arsenal.
I’ll try and answer any questions that are put to me directly…
NB1@83. No, I’m not saying that Arsène is the best we can possibly do until “he’s put in a box”, and I’m emphatically not saying that he’s bigger than the club. I do not recall anyone suggesting who would be a better manager; I cannot think of one and I am saying that unless we can agree upon a better candidate, I won’t agree that we should get shot of the current incumbent.
Well, that’s a pleasant surprise just the one direct question. I seem to have survived relatively unscathed. (I guess that should come as a surprise.)
Thanks for the words of support BtM.
I sincerely hope today’s events, and those of the next few weeks render the discussions irrelevant.
Have a great, and ultimately successful, day all those going to the match, and all those who aren’t. Up the Arse.
Laters
COYG
Bugger, bugger, bugger. Bloody typos. Remark in brackets above should have read “I guess that SHOULDN’T come as a surprise”.
Still, at least this correction gives me the chance to repeat…
COYG
@107garsguns
Cheers mate. Feel better today, was a bit maudlin late yesterday.
With people like yourself coming up through the ranks, I feel a lot better about the future.
110 😉 I know it’s a long shot but would like to see diaby start today for his height on set plays think it’s going to be crucial against city.
Fine preview ‘Holic ,see you later Sir.
BtM, cheers for your eloquent and most detailed response. I find very little to disagree with. You guessed right, I don’t want Arsenal to become the plaything of an oil magnet, nor a gangster, and yes of course, I want to remain us to remain competitive and win things.
My rant about ticket-prices a few days ago was meant to be about the cost of Premiership football in general, rather than Arsenal in particular, though because Arsenal is where I go and will always go to get my football fix, any analysis of mine will inevitably concentrate on Arsenal.
Where I will disagree with you is when you say
” Arsenal is duty bound (to meet the hard-headed business challenge they’ve undertaken) to maximize ticket revenues by achieving the maximum price point for each individual seat that the market for the product being sold will sustain.”
Depends entirely on whether you take a long-term or a short-term view of the Business. It is unarguable that Football is vastly more expensive than any other comparable sporting pastime. It is noticeable that there are far less children at the Emirates now than there used to be at Highbury. Very few fathers will be able to take 1/2 children on the regular basis that I enjoyed throughout my childhood. Will a couple of Capital Cup games a season engender the same sort of passion in the kids today? No way of knowing, but I would certainly be doubtful. Will those kids then turn into adults who traipse off to Arsenal every week for no other reason than that they”had to be there”? I’m not so sure they will be, especially if Arsenal are having a fallow period.
And yes, I do think there has been a boom since 1990. All booms end at some point. Nothing goes on forever. Who would have guessed in the immediate post-war years when all Clubs were playing before huge capacity crowds, that Arsenal would entertain Leeds before just 4000 people by the mid sixties, just a couple of decades later?
I am not suggesting that the bubble is about to burst, but the trend throughout the country is undeniably downwards.
I accept Arsenal are between a rock and a hard place, and I neither expect nor anticipate that they should go out on a limb on their own.
Until the Football authorities in this country get a grip on the Sugar Daddies (It really isn’t that difficult – Germany have managed it), then that will remain so. If there’s a will, there’s a way. I won’t however hold my breath.
Instead, Football will continue on its merry way, billionaires will be given free licence to do as they wish with their Clubs, whilst other Clubs will charge what they can get away with to keep pace.
All the while, a generation will be lost to the game. There is always a price to pay, and the price will be paid tomorrow, when grounds are a quarter empty, and the stars are all rushing to learn German.
Anyway my head hurts. That Lars is a bad influence. Is he the new Ollie? 😉
BtM, I shall look forward to buying you that Haddock when you’re next over.
Adios amigo, a gutbuster awaits, or I’ll be in trouble later on. 🙂
If Carlsberg did drinks, then Esso @56 would probably be the finest drink ever!
Up the Arsenal mate.
Fine work too from the Rev. You will be missed today mate.
TaBS knows. The boy’s a good ‘un. Quiet party at the moment. Just me, and my vodka, and…
Cheers tabster . Reckon if I’d known it was effectively ‘holic’s b’day do earlier I doubt I’d’ve made/allowed myself to get sucked into alternative arrangements. But there’s Sundee dinner and other halves involved now too. (An attempted resched at this late juncture might result in me Mrs. doing something unseemly to my unsightly bits.) Nevermind – I don’t think the mighty ‘h’ll be celebrated any less without my sorry arse there. Have a top one Bs and Gs.
Thanks abb for your acknowledgement of my drink @ 88, I think I might know how you felt when you felt your presence wasn’t acknowledged here in the bar a few months ago but whatever 😛
After Church, went shopping with my little sister and now we’ve just finished cooking our Lunch together, its been a great day so far 🙂 Hopefully will do an hour’s revision then its Tollie Time! 😀
See you all later 8)
Hello Wind 🙂
Hello Geoff 🙂
High wind!
Hello everyone.
Wind, your post @88, clearly defines how i felt about everything Arsenal before i decided to make things easy for myself and just enjoy supporting/watching the Arsenal both in joy and in sorrows, no matter how things turn out.
ABB, you have mail, ma’am.
Ok Cent 🙂
Oh Wind! As you can see, we enjoy your company, always 🙂
Oxon @ 119, 😆 very funny 🙂
Poignant words Cent @ 120, need to be reflected over methinks.
I can only hope so abb @ 122! 😀
I’ll be representing all of you at the ‘real’ bar today but be yourself in this bar whilst the barman is having fun and so why its a great place to be when a game’s on 😉
Come on you Gunners!
NBN @ 95, sorry mate.
Wind, have fun, mate.
Good afternoon, here streams for all other streambound like me 😉 http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=183895&part=sports
Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Walcott
no arteta
Diary He Lives ???? 🙂 Come on you Reds !!
and no Per? Hmm..intriguing
Afternoon all.
Interesting line up, no BFG, no Arteta, no OG.
Who’s this Diaby geezer? 😉
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING……………….
I think Per left out because of the pace in the City attack.
Arteta not even on the bench. 🙁
Arteta injured? Oh boy:(
WHAT????
Schez you beauty!!
Eat that Mike Dean you Bastard!
Is that a red card? How so?
Not sure what Kos was doing, the replay showed he clearly rugby tackled him. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Woj!!
Well it’s a big ask from here down to 10 men after 11 minutes!! Great save though
Stupid tackle. Not sure it’s a red, would probably have to see a few more replays, my first reaction was definite penalty, yellow card. But it’s hard to see at times with my red tinted glasses.
Now, let’s have the one point, and climb the table someday later! Baby steps.
Stupid Kos, great decision referee. No complaints from me
Fuck me sideways
I don’t MIND the quick free kick. I would just like to understand it. Now, that might be a bit sanctimonious coming from an Arsenal fan, but, you know, if nothing else I’d like to understand it as a person interested in the workings of football.
Having that said, we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foo… ah what the fuck. Said it enough times. I’m just going to sit through this with a grumpy face and suffer.
A win here would be nice , chaps
City have 12 men out there Toby 🙁
Sorry to disagree abb but Los is off the field and doesn’t count the
oh sugar
It doesn’t help that they have gotten the decisions this far, agreed, abb, but Kos really should have handled that differently. Worst case scenario if not rugby tackling would have been down 0-1, 80 minutes to go and eleven men on the pitch.
Now we are 0-2 down and got 10 players on the pitch. I think I need a drink.
🙁
Fuck sake Arsenal!
Oh guys, this is so painful to witness…
Amost Poldi,good set up….
unlucky pod
*Pours a big glass of cheap, export strength gin for abb*
It isn’t tasty but it will take the edge off proceedings…
Now here is the part when they start playing some football against all odds, give us some faint hope, then get hit on the break for 0-3.
Ah Toby, nods head and winks 😉
Well if City gets complacent and we get one lucky one in we might get a sniff…strange feeling we are going to get something out of this.
Heh, I got that feeling as well Eandy, hence the reason I wrote my post at 156.
Impossible task now. Dean should have given him a yellow.
THIS REALLY SUCKS!!! FUCK U MR KREONKE!!
Masai Mara. Not sure I agree with our American majority owner when it comes to everything, but Kos is a decent defender and I didn’t feel putting him on the pitch was a mistake by Wenger, let alone Kroenke.
Dissecting the club hierarchy for me is post game material.
Oh, and the gin bottle is over there. Not much left after that glass abb had, but please, help yourself.
Fuck Mike Dean. He can never get enough of fucking us over.
2nd goal offsides? meh, this so sucks. Great header by Jack.
Sorry gin gone 🙂
lavatories Masai Mara an anagram of Emirates Mire?
T9 suckd
16 games with Dean and we have only won one…
Damn, watching at home and no alcohol available to numb the pain, no oversight 🙁
Red card was a ref looking for assessor marks, wording in Law is ‘ Denial of an OBVIOUS goal scoring opportunity’and I couldn’t see that as obvious, penalty yes & I think everyone, even the blue Mancs were only expecting a yellow not red. Their first was a debatable free kiick after giving advantage, but we should have switched on quicker, going to be up hill now, bet blue mancs park the bus 2nd half
Arsene should bollock the ref off the pitch and see if he remembers to put it in his report.
Works for Ferguson. In fact, go a step further and get Bouldy to flop him.
COYG. It ain’t over til it’s over.
I’ll be happy with 0-2 and 10 men on the pitch. Can’t really ask for more.
Why isn’t Walcott playing?
Penalty, yes, red..no …and also losing Kos for another matches, I honestly have no idea what I would do being in Arsenes boots right now. Who to send in who could help us to dig out a point at least.
That first goal was such a poor one to concede. Everyone stood watching the ball, city’s quick FK wasn’t even quick or anything. Diabolical. Embarassing. And Mike Dean is a cunt.
Why are so many blaming the referee? If you have any complaints direct them to the brainless Kos, as Toby has already said if he doesn’t rugby tackle Dzeko worst ways it’s 1-0 down with 80 mins to play.
Yes, Geoff, Kos was guilty, no two ways about it. A red card though is just typical Mike Dean fucking us up. Kos has some real making up to do.
Sigh.
I’m with eandy, Geoff. Penalty yes, red harsh. Very. You make a valid point though, 2nd sentence.
C’mon Arsenal, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee!
Diaby close to getting subbed..I think 60 mins are enough for him after that long pause.
Even russian commentator is going with “Arsenal s Mikom Deanom vygral adin ze sestnactij” – Arsenal won 1 from 16 with Mike Dean …heh ..so not only us recognizing that fact 😛
Is TR7 ever going to get an outing ?:(
We need some bin bags on Wednesdya.. If people can be arsed to show up that is.
In my opinion, hte only way to change the shambles that the club are in right now [ticket prices is what Im angry about – though it doesn affect me, two of my best buddies in London have been outpriced over the last few years]
. People should just stop renewing their tickets.
Get the fucking message across that we are not happy with the wya that the club is run.
Good response arsenal last 15 mins
Eandy, we’ve used up our subs, but I know what you mean.
We can still do this. Come on lads.
Sajit – do one with that stinky chat. Have you not heard there’s still a game on? Get behind the ten men FFS.
Lets get real here we are toothless
Oh Woj, proud of you son!
Fair enough N7.
For all the anger, heart still bleeds Red and white.
Come on Jack…
I agree with Geoff (doesn’t happen often. 😉 )
Kos was stupid, it was a rugby tackle. We can think it’s harsh and it is, but Kos was the last man and the rules are clear about that.
The goals we conceeded were both down to our bad defending and not the ref.
However Mike Dean remains a cuntspanner of the highest order.
Oooh OG:( shame!
I’ve no problem with this second half performance. Some real balls being shown, crowd getting behind the lads. Ref a Cnut (tho it was a red card).
Good lad Sajit
Los is in good company
Come on lads! We can win this!
Bad Kompany.
Heh
Kompany out! Game on…kinda feel sorry for him though ..even though I should not …hes a annoyingly likeable and I think Jack went down even before contact was made. COME ON!
Heh @ 195 🙂
Still going to call Mike Dean a cunt?
Coyg
Geoff, you bet your bootie I am!
I’ll do the honours Geoff: Mike Dean is a cunt.
coyr
Respect to the home crowd.
Mike Dean is a fucking cunt. Always has been.
Mind u that’s an even worse decision to send Kompny!
There’s a mantra that the majority of refs use (at all levels!) No Surprises, that’s two red cards that have been a surprise to the players.
This would be a great time for Theo to switch on.
Speaking of bootie, just where is our Theo?!
Bacary get the ball behind the first man ffs:(
N7 🙂
Heh guess I asked for that! 🙂
Beautiful pass by Jack..shame
Judging by the way Dean is letting our players shout at him, I’m guessing that Dean knows he’s a cunt.
Dzeko is a d*ck head too 🙂
A consolation goal please…
Theo..almost
Jack has been huge second half. Tommy too. And Ramsey has done well since he came on.
Keep at it lads.
Its a sad state of affairs, when someone as crap as Theo Walcott is your best striker.
On to Swansea then.
Giroud has worked his nuts off. Needs to start next game.
Useless bunch of players after Kompanys red we should have killed em!
Jack worked tirelessly start to finish. Heart n Soul of AFC.
Chasing the game in ten men for 80 mins Arthur, I am afraid there was not enough steam anymore in them to have a real go for it ..shame…I for one think City were there for the taking, not even close to be unplayable but yet again we are faulty for our own undoing..sigh…roll on Swansea.
Great effort in the 2nd half from the players. Ramsey was superb when he came on, we’ll done lad!
Another record breaking game! Man city’s first win at arsenal in
37 years
I’ve no complaints with that second half.
Early sending off was daft (what was Kos thinking?) but it happens. Second half response was great. Handbrake off – we need to play with that sort of urgency every week.
Biggest worry for me was what the fuck Diaby is doing coming straight back in after so long out. I will be extremely concerned if we don’t buy a holding midfielder this month.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. Got to beat Swansea and give us a lift.
COYG
Great spirit and effort in second half both by players and fans.
Good to see Diaby back. He’s lasted 2 x 60 minutes now. Must be something of a record :).
Bring on Swansea.
Totally agree Geoff – Ramsey was great. Deserves some praise after the stick he gets for poor games.
Tommy also great second half – roared the lads on and told the ref to stop being a twat. Jack too – huge.
And hats off to the crowd. Couldn’t be there today due to family stuff, but proud of the way we got behind the team. Goes to show that if the players get their heads down the support will fall into line behind them.
Done as well as they could after the red card which it was, Deans a cunt but it was rank bad defending again that cost us, Jack was quality as was TV and Sagna but if we seriously don’t add to this squad we are fooked.Fuck all options up top and still desperately need some zeal in the middle,Onto Swansea.
Up The Arse.
We are 21 pts off first.
6 off spurs.
Jaysus effing christ on a cracker.
N7: totally agree, I felt for Diaby today, so obviously thrown in well before he’s had a chance to get up to speed.
CL qualification looks a long shot right now and the blame lies firmly with the club/manager/whoever for going into the season with a poor squad beyond the top 14 players
Bad decisions always come back to remind you …
To go into a season with Arteta as the only possible candidate for the defensive midfielder role — and Coquelin obviously not be trusted to start in major games — we were always one fitness issue away from a really out of balance line-up like today’s. To have to start a game with returning-from-injury Diaby — who is not a natural DM to begin with, but more of a box-to-box player whose main instincts are to attack — as the DM saw us losing the midfield battle even before the red card, and there may not have been so many goal-bound attempts in the first ten minutes if there were a better tactical organization and possession in front of the defense.
Now we are another fitness issue away from Squillaci in the center of defense!
Also, Theo still has miles to go to be able to play as a CF against any and all oppositions. He cannot physically dominate neither can he hold up play. Giroud should have started today with Theo down the right.
Anyway, great performances from Jack & TV5 in the second half. Ramsey was very good as well. Gibbo, Giroud and Sagna even though made mistakes showed great work rate.
Just like Man U away, City was there for the taking. At least we turned up this time, but this is three points dropped given the recent encounters with them …
Perhaps it was me but Schoolboy did fuckall.
I hope he either signs soon or fooks off ASAP. Playing him as a lone striker is idiotic.
And i questions AW’s sanity for continuing to do it.
There was no goal threat at all.
10 men and all sure. But using the descriptor toothless is being charitible.
I have to say Dean did what he should have with the Koscielny red card, having seen the foul. My problem is the large number of times I have seen referees look at the same foul and not even give a yellow, but Dean played it by the book whether he is a cnut or not which is another question. 😉
Really proud of the second half performance (team and crowd). Wilshire is a real bulldog and was pleased for Ramsey with all the criticism he’s had to endure recently. I really don’t care whether Walcott signs or not. It’s not as though he turns up that often in any case. Surely we could get a real striker for £100,000 per week?
Homer, Theo was mostly invisible today. Once Giroud came on he found more space for him and played better and would have had a goal if not for Lescott’s clearance. But still he cannot be the main striker against oppositions like Man City as he is not very good at either pressing or holding up play, neither is his off the ball movement consistently creative. He is a bit of luxury center forward because when things are going well and the opposition defense is having trouble coping with our play he will get you many goals, but on his own he is not going to keep the defense busy. He can become a very good right winger if he stays focused and improves his game, and I hope we retain him, but he cannot be the only alternative to Giroud.
another insane attempt at playing players out of position.
just how many kms did our super striker feo cover today.
we just do not have any quality. poor by most of the team. except wilshere. he was a lion. how long before he too decides to eff off.
nobody bar wilshere dominates the opponent. not at fullback not CD or midfield and certainly not upfront.
going to be a long long season i fear.
TR7 was not even on the bench today. Hope he is fit and there is nothing odd going on about his involvement. He was out best player in the second half of the last season and the few minutes he had since his return from injury he looked to be carrying on. Swansea game will tell us.
We are only six point off the 4th with a game in hand. And more importantly 7 points off the third with same number of games. We should strive for at least third as that is still very much possible especially if we beat them next Sunday.
We need a DM and a striker who would be the first or second choice, swapping with Giroud, whereas Theo to play mostly down the wing and is used as a third choice in the central position.
And Jenk needs to start playing — the few yards of pace Sagna has lost has really taken away from our ability to attack down the right wing.
Dr Faustus: I agree with every single word you’ve posted today. 100 percent on the ball Sir.
DF. Agreed.
I think You know my pisition: always listen to the good doctor!
The game was over the moment that Kos tried to molest Dzecko (whatever) in the penalty area and saw red.
I wasn’t at all impressed with Man Citeh, we might as well just hand the title to Man fucking Ure, which we literaly did with the sale of van Quisling anyway, 🙁
I didn’t think we lined up right from the start, I agree with those questioning the sense of throwing Diaby straight in to the mix in a game against the “Champions”, but that is a discussion for another day………
Just like the discussion of is Feo really a 100 grand a week centre forward? Surely the evidence speaks louder then all the “gif ’em wot ‘e wontz” bollox on the interweb.
At least we showed a little bit of balls, but the decisions from the bench baffled me, but that, like the previous points are a discussion for another day.
All in all, a crap result, but no shame in losing against the current champions, it’s just that what could of been a feest of football was ruined by a cunt with a whistle and a few cards, (even if some of his decisions were right, too many were wrong)
Impec1 @ 239 : Hopefully at the end of next couple of weeks we would be given no reason to share our concerns about exactly these same problems again. 🙂
We looked second best even before the red card was shown.
The penalty decision was let say ok, I can live with that. But to claim that was straight red is just wrong. Was Dzeko in control of the ball? I don’t think so. The rule is simple. No red card for me.
As for Mike Dean, he simply enjoys to watch Arsenal lose. Fact. And looks like a f.cking grasshopper too.
This Arsenal team needs fast rebuilding. At all levels on the pitch. I don’t care who, how, at what cost, world class or not. We need players, and we need them this week.
Sagna is a shadow of a player he used to be, and he ain’t getting younger. We need a RB cover. Fast
Walcott is maybe all he wants to be but he is no central forward. He cannot hold the ball, cannot dribble, cannot win headers. His free kicks are awful and he keep on taking them. We need an attacker who is fast but who can pass his marker and stay on his feet for most of the time
The most important position in modern football. Defensive midfielder. The Tots have 3 or 4. We don’t have a single one.
If we refuse to by, why don’t play Kos in there, he has the attributes needed.
Those are three most important weak spots of this team and we need to address them right now. Not later in the evening, not tomorrow, but, right now. As I said, I don’t care who, at what cost, what age, what league, as long as they are more motivated and combative than this players we have.
Remember when we were all saying with our marketing deals expiring soon, Arsenal will be more compelled to spend this January to ensure top spot? If Arsene or the board don’t spend now and try to reinforce the squad, I guess it is plain to see how much ambition they have for this Club on the field.
Fair play to our players they did ok in the second half, but really Mancity did not have to take any gambles going forward, they were sitting pretty already at 2-0. And what about their first goal? Shambolic. We are lacking true leaders. By leaders I don’t mean players who will guide new players or young players and help them settle. I mean players who refuse to lose, who will shout at people and make sure everyone are on their toes. And I can’t even blame the players anymore. Year after year we sell our best players and leaders, surely this must come to no surprise for AW.
So if I ask myself if we are being the best we can be, sadly the answer is no. We replace leaders with squad players or promising prospects, and expect them to become leaders in an instant. Tonight Jack was our leader on the pitch, judging purely on merits he deserved to be captain.
Speaking of Kos and Vermaelem, it’s always been the case that the two playing together makes our defense nervous, lacking calm, too eager. And Per was fit tonight. I guess hindsight is 20/20, yes, but Verm and Kos has never looked as good as Per/Kos or Per/Vermaelen.
At the end of the day, we are still within touching distance from fourth. We might still nail top four, and who knows what will happen with CL and Fa cup. But unless I see a drastic change in our transfer dealings, it is simply the case that Arsenal’s management is happy to walk along without ever taking any risks, or even dream of becoming the best we can be. Except when it comes to ticket prices, of course.
Sorry for the rant. Roll on Swansea I’d say.
Lurky Oliva, Mike Dean looks like a grasshopper indeed! Funniest thing I read all day, besides NB52 returning to Arsenal to solve our problems up front.
Dean the grasshopper. How I wish I can step on him, show him the red card and point to the spot.
Arteta three weeks out, misses at least five games. If someone is near any panic button, please press it.
Derrick, I have the same wish, but reverse order. Show him the red card first, than step on his long ugly face.
I have just realized that he was referee in the CC Final against Birmingham two years ago. And Bradford this year too. Useless cunt he is.
And that only game in 20 we won with him in charge… Anyone remembers? Maybe I am wrong, but it was Sp.rs last year, when he happily gave that diving cheat Bale a penalty for 0-2.
Coincidence? I don’t this so.
We’ve been in decline for years. Wenger supporters use FFP as a shield to protect him but its not an excuse for leaving us short in key positions, paying poor players way too much, playing players out of position and persisting with dross.
It’s no surprise to me that we’re in this position. This is not a knee jerk reaction to today’s result, in fact credit to the players for making a real go of things in the 2nd half.
Diaby played after 3 months out and just 60 minutes U21 actions shows our paucity of options. He’s not a DM and the player he was replacing isn’t one either.
I pressed my panic button when AW said “to find players of Arteta’s calibre in the transfer market (now), I wish you good luck…we have a team around me who analyse everything (in the transfer market).”
That’s bollocks. As RedNose proved, you don’t need luck; you only need your wallet. And as we proved recently, having a team analysing everything is not always a good solution. Sylvestre, Squillaci, Park….
Come on AW. I pray you rediscover your sparkle. And I hope I’m in better mood tomorrow. Night all.
Lurky oliva, if I remember correctly that grasshopper refereed the ManU vs Arsenal game that brought the end to our 49 game unbeaten run. Gave Manure a pen for Rooney’s dive, and let G Neville kick Reyes out of EPL. I’ll make sure I step on him with my studs showing.
The funniest thing is that no one asked Arsene to find player of Arteta’s calibre, just asked will he find any cover for him.
Unbelievable.
Oliva — it is clear to see for everyone (including Arsene fans like me who thinks he still may be able to bring balance back into the side) that the excessive analysis and intellectualization of the transfer business have taken its toll: paralysis by analysis. It is not always have to be a game of jigsaw puzzle and not always we have to do the tightrope walking in terms of strategy an personnel. Sometimes it is better to be do respect the obvious and the self-evident.
Going into a season with Arteta as the defensive midfielder — and BTW, Arsene’s reasoning of Arteta playing the Pirlo role doesn’t really hold true; Pirlo’s best games for Milan and Italy came with a meaty cruncher like Gatusso by side — and Coquelin still as an understudy is taking too much risk: it is the playing equivalent of Higuita always dribbling at his own penalty box. Tactically suicidal as it now has created a situation where our midfield (which already was a little too same-same) now has no balance and possibly it will entirely depend on how Coquelin can now stand up to the challenge with no evident lack of hull trust in him.
If we don’t end up addressing this issue, and the additional striker problem, we would again have to rely on someone playing a blinder for the much of the second half and crossing our fingers he doesn’t get injured. That is not only unfair to fans it is also unfair to the team as they are always under the threat of one injury away from a season collapse, and already stretched beyond the abilities the time spring arrives. One more reason we do not compete at the business end of the cups anymore.
@252:
“Sometimes is better to respect the obvious and the self-evident”…
and ” … can now stand up to the challenge with no evidence of full trust in him …”
Phew!
… It is better for me to stop posting now and join back the real world.
Today’s performance was largely fine by me.
What’s not fine is the lack of balance in the squad. As I’ve said all across the last three weeks: if we don’t strengthen this month I will be extremely concerned.
Concerned because it will suggest that either Arsene generally does not see the gaps (and I find this hard to believe) or we still have no money to spend, despite having waited all this time.
I’m honestly not sure which scenario worries me more.
Anyway, a fortnight left until we know where we stand. For now, well played the lads (10 of them, anyway) and COYG.
237DB10**
another insane attempt at playing players out of position.
This is one of my biggest gripes over the last few seasons, square pegs trying to be hammered into round holes. It has worked previously with players who were, let’s say, of a higher quality, but now, not so much.
243lurky oliva
The penalty decision was let say ok, I can live with that. But to claim that was straight red is just wrong Was Dzeko in control of the ball? I don’t think so. The rule is simple. No red card for me.
The rules are indeed clear…… he had to go.
I agree with most of the rest.
I had a decent post just that vanished into the ether due to the fact that my connection BLOWS.
BUmmer.
Not been in from the game long. Not a great day I must say. Sadly I can not say I was that surprised. I accept all the comments about Dean but he is not responsible for Kozzer’s buffoonery. He is not responsible for us going to sleep and he is certainly not responsible for the fact that after 85 minutes we had only had one shot on target.
I must say that what really concerned me was our movement off the ball, both when we had the ball and when we didn’t. At times we were so static that we had players gathering dust. Very poor.
The day’s only highlight was adjourning to the Tollie to meet a few friendly faces and enjoy a glass of ale.
We have some mountains to climb people. Best we find our walking boots on the hurry up or this season is in serious danger of disappearing down the pan at a great rate of knots.
Fine post Steve T, totally agree. If only someone in charge (Arsene?) would wake up and realise we need to invest. Now.
My post was to the effect that:
Many of the regular posters appear absent this evening. Life is inconvenient and gets busy & complicated, i get that. I myself worked most of this weekend. But whats the word i’m looking for here … apathy? It seems like there’s a rot at the club.
On paper, Arsenal has one of the most dynamic midfields in ENgland. But in practice, they are poor. Do these lads even practice together?
Cazorla needs to be sat. He stunk today. Jack worked hard and was at the center of everything good. But it seems noone except he has any fight or desire. Lackadasical – that what we are.
Spoilt, overpaid, soft and lazy.
AW’s tactics are mind bogging. Start Diaby? Start little Schoolboy? Feo can go. He was USELESS today. And WTF was Santos doing on the subs bench?? Its like AW does this stuff just stick his finger in the eye of his critics — to the detriment of the squad and Win/Loss record. Most (admittedly not all) of these overpaid clowns just go thru the motions. A disgusting, gutless display. Again.
BTW – to me the pen shout on Koser was fair but the red card was wrong. Denied a clear goals scoring opportunity … to a man that did NOT have possesion of the ball? Surely that’s wrong. But WTF was he doing grabbing Dzeko like that in the first place??? I thought the red on Chumpany was also harsh.
We look like the Keystone cops out there. The players need to step up, but surely the manager has gone off the reservation. This has to stop. I don’t know who to replace him with – and that’s not to overlook all AW has done for the club, which is A LOT. But it feels like we’re in another universe. Not the spend/no spend issue, but the squad simply doesn’t perform anymore. Arsenal cannot win matches any longer: its just that simple.
Tomorrow is another day and we have Swansea at midweek.
Frankly, i’m dreading it.
Cheers holics. A bumpy road lies ahead.
Just seen the highlights on MOTD. Definite penalty. If it is a pen then it is a red card. Even AW has said it was a red.
The defending at times today was awful.
Homer, most of the regulars are still in the Tollie.
2nd to almost every ball. Not good enough….
Did you go to the game today Homer ?
Post-match interview from Arsene Wenger. Make of it what you will?!
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/130113/wenger-atmosphere-emirates-making-arsenal-players-nervous-189182
For me, sounds alot like the same old painful excuses over again!
Was with my eldest boy at the Grove today and he said something quite seminal which i shall paraphrase for clarity: His observation was on the lines of, “Daddy, aren’t adults, or guardians of their wards, supposed to take FULL responsibility for their failures as well as their successes?” For an 8 year old to see and ask that about what he saw in the flesh this late afternoon is quite compelling!
Top 3 and a trophy are still very much possibilities this season but not until what even an 8 year old boy recognises is properly addressed.
The most important 3-4 weeks in the tenure of Arsene Wenger is well and truly here, and a large portion of it will be without his Vice Captain through injury! Difficult times that will make or break men! What will we see I wonder?!
Evening All
We are in a right pickle.An injury away from Squilly, Arteta out for 3 weeks,a tired squad with must win fixtures on Wednesday and Saturday and a manager who played Diaby, not anywhere near match fit ,with alternatives available on the bench.
I can’t complain about the pen but the red card was extremely harsh.In fact Dean made a real hash of refereeing the game. Jack was hacked down by successive Citi players and the cards remained in Dean’s pocket.The Kompany red card was a nonsense.
We gave it a go in the second half but the Giroud/Rambo substitutions were made too late,both worked extremely hard when they eventually got on and Diaby should have been off at the interval.Jack was outstanding, driving forward at every opportunity, I feel he was deliberately targeted with the purpose of getting him sent off.
Where was Theo, missing for long periods of the game. Sadly we gave away to preventable goals yet again. We were not prepared to defend the free kick and Szczesny was at fault with the second goal.
I worry that things may go from bad to worse this week, I hope not but an air of resignation has descended over me. It’s a bit late to open a bottle but I am sorely tempted.
Needless to say the mood on the train home was grim.We Gooners are not enjoying our Arsenal at the moment and the small band from King’s Lynn make a very sad picture.
Night all.
COYRs
DanC,
Just listened to that interview on your link and I have to say it is a bit exasperating.
AW says that the players started “a bit too timid”, and that they are nervous because there is some scepticism about the team, who have a tremendous desire to do well.
So it is our fault!
Did they not hear the crowd getting behind them and urging them on despite what Arsene then desribes as a lack of concentration and some sloppy defending in not keeping it to 0-0.
So whose fault is it now? I’m confused.
Vermaelen, in today’s program notes, says that our tempo was far too slow against Swansea and we didn’t create enough chances, and we didn’t defend well enough having taken the lead so near the end of the game.
Now I’m even more confused. Whose fault was that then ?
Vermaelen is supposed to be the captain, the leader. If the team is playing far too slowly, why the hell doesn’t he tell them to speed up?!
Am I missing something here?!?!
You bet there’s some scepticism in the crowd, but that crowd supported well today.
This wasn’t intended to be a negative post.
The second half performance was good and Jack Wilshere is an amazing player. Does he have four six-foot brothers by any chance?
We do, however, need to be a lot more clinical. Despite creating some good openings, even with our ten men, we just don’t capitalise nearly enough. Walcott was terrible – offside, unavailable, couldn’t hold the ball up, couldn’t win a challenge, free kicks (not today, Jack took them) are hopeless, and has he ever headed the ball?
Central striker, £100,000 per week? Meh!
It’s good to see more supporters questioning free club and the manager. It’s the only way change will happen.
Homer, you haven’t answered my question.
Is it apathy ?
Free = the
🙂
Indeed Delia,
Forgot to give Ramsey a mention.
Did very well today when he came on. Good to see.
Hi Trev, I didn’t go to the game today (in the absence of a reply from Homer I feel compelled to reply) 🙂
Why didn’t Ramsey start instead of Diaby????? That would have been my decision.
I spent 6 1/2 hours today meeting some fine Gooners in The Tollie – several of whom had travelled from different countries to be at that game – Lars, Zico, Ollie, Holic, Tabs + brother, snowy et al (sadly not AL), and then went to applaud and sing the team on, trying to ignore the fact that I was simultaneously freezing my nuts off.
And then I, presuming I am one of the regulars, am asked if I am apathetic. Pffftttt!
I don’t know Steve T, but if you’re not careful your “?” is going to be out for three weeks with an overuse injury!!!
Puzzling times these, eh ?
Holic,
Hope you enjoyed the Birthday do despite the result.
Trev,
Agree with your thoughts and I’m as confused as you are about Arsene’s speak and TV5’s scribings!
As we’ve discussed before, individual and collective responsibility is the name of the game and far too often, as happened again today, it goes missing.
When Arsene had his young guns to take care off, I could understand his fatherly, protective musings, but he’s now dealing with several seasoned, mature, professional adults, many of whom are regular internationals, in his first team squad. Should they not now be able to step-up alone and not require someone to hold their hands and wipe their nose?! If I was one of the seniors players, I’d be embarrassed to the point of catatonic that a young lad called Jack Wilshere is leading the way for someone like me to follow! It’s pretty shameful!
Geoff,
Your views do have some merit but perhaps it’d be better to highlight what can be done immediately to ensure short-term success in terms of what this season has always been about, CL qualification, rather than continue to call for The “change” you seek which will clearly not happen this term, but it is inevitable as night follows day. I’m sure even Arsene knows that too.
Ramsey did indeed have a good game. Should’ve been introduced much sooner than he was.
Well, off to bed. A large night-cap of your finest brandy for those “apathetic” lot that froze their “bo**cks” off this afternoon. Delia excluded of course, assuming she’s anatomically-endowed as I assume her to be?! 😉 COYBG! All’s not lost this season but just start taking some feckin personal responsibility for your actions as all professional adults should!
DanC: good point, what would you like to see happen in the short term?
Bollocks I say, simply bollocks.
Yes it was a penalty, and as last defender it was red. I have no complaints. In fact I wish more refs would clamp down on the ridiculous holding that goes on in the penalty area. Well done Szczęsny for the save by the way.
No complaints either about the quick free kick … TH14 used to do it all the time. There’s no excuse for getting caught napping.
Second goal was not offside, just more poor marking.
There was little wrong with Kompany’s tackle on Jack either, a yellow at most. In fact I suspect Jack himself would have been proud of such a tackle.
Frankly I’m coming to the conclusion our current squad is not only incapable of matching it with the top 3, but now struggling with 4, 5 and 6. After all this was a Man C without Aguero, Yaya and Nasri – none of whom we could afford on the open market by the way. But they had competent subs to throw on, while we had to pick between an out of form Welshman and a broken-down frog.
Where was TR7 again?
Oskar
Arteta out for 3 weeks according to AW. I kid you not.
Where is Tomas Rosicky?
Hes going to be unveiled as a new signing on Jan the 31st – You can hear it now ” I Can Surprise you ” 🙂
Morning all. And *boilk*. One of those evenings when I simply had to leave the Tollie quite abruptly due to feeling too drunk.
Highlights of the day: Piebury Corner, ‘holic’s fabulous whisky flask, and people in the Tollie, including a fleeting sighting of Wind.
Good blog over at arseblog, spot on.
Second time in a row I didn’t see ‘holic leaving as I went to the other Tollie garden. There’s a Guinness from Ricky still waiting for him 😉
Didn’t see you baff.
And oh yes greeting the mascot and family at half-time.
Just woke up. I’m not sure who to blame but I had a few too many last night, I think.
Still, massive cheers to you all for what was, apart from the Mike Riley Tribute Show, a great day. Great to see you all again, I ejoyed it very much.
I shall now get into the shower and try to wash away my sins and then start doing some work.
Hairs of dogs lined up on the bar for all who wants them! (I’ll stick to water though…)
Sorry Ollie, second game in a row that I couldn’t get to the Tollie – due to the journey up beforehand (got in just after ko) and due to Miss B needing to be somewhere else pronto post match.
That’s a birthday dram in the bank for Holic next time – suspect he didn’t need another one last night. 🙂
Ah, I see, baff.
Cheers Lars, great to see you again.
You might want to get a coffee, (or take the dog for a walk) 😉
Once every 37 years : Part 1
Darkness.
The alarm screams and momentarily, I’m uncertain of where I am. Beside me, Roxette turns and coming to , I realise I have 30 minutes to deal with ablutions, dressing and breakfast.
29 minutes later, I check I have my Membership Card, some coins of the realm and, with a quick salute in the mirror, I’m set. I know that I will have to find, from deep down inside me, the strength to make pleasant and inane conversation with the cabby who kicks off the latest jaunt to The Grove. Why is it, that they always send the same type of guy, the irrepressible, loud, know-it-all-about-everything-under-the-sun-and-cant-wait-to-tell-you type, to my door at that time of day, when the rest of the world is asleep?
This time they surprise me. It’s a woman.
Doesn’t keep the word-count down, though.
We get as far as the Bridge (the Forth one, which, incidentally, was the third) when I realise I haven’t heard a single word she’s said. (On that score, it could be Rox at the wheel, heh). I manage to conceal this by then engaging in a completely dis-ingenuous conversation about the hardships endured by taxi drivers. There is scant evidence of this as the meter hits £40 long before we are even in sight of the airport terminal. On arrival, I avoid the temptation to be fleeced further by any lurking airport robber-barons, and rush to board the plane.
I wake up for a second time, as we begin to descend.
At about 4000 feet (so the BA flight monitor tells me) we burst through the cloud and the urban panorama of The Smoke unfolds beneath us. The Thames winds its way through the city, like tabs heading for home at closing-time on matchday. With a clunk we are on the ground. About an hour later I am climbing the interminable stairs at Holloway Road station. A trip and a skip to the Armoury lasting all of 10 minutes, leaves me £50 lighter. Haemorrhaging funds at £300 per hour would send some of my kinfolk into traumatic shock. It simply leaves me predictably thirsty.
The Tollington Arms, is an oasis of calm, relative to the scenes that will be seen an hour or so later. I spot the Birthday Boy in quiet conversation with the viking, and immediately have an order for guinness from H. Lars takes a bit more persuasion as he nurses a reluctant staropramen on its journey south. We are joined by Trev, tabs, tabs junior (sibling, not offspring) before I slope off inconveniently mid-session to do “some business”. When I return a hurricane wind has blown in, engaged it would seem, in a torrid affair with his blackberry, and I am formally introduced by Top Man Snowy. After some further fortification, we head for the match.
I feel like I’m back in the clouds. Row 30′ in the upper tier, an entirely different perspective to the touchline view I had the last time I visited. With some surprises in the line up, we start tentatively and things only get worse. Although the penalty was given at our end I could not work out what had happened. As they don’t replay the incident at the ground, a text to my brother confirms a definite penalty but a debatable sending off. The failure to convert the penalty only prolongs the agony.
Two more soft goals conceded and we are right behind the eight ball. We play better in the second half without really menacing City, and but for our Pole in goal, could have conceded at least one more. Wilshere is the pick of the crop, and Gibbs and Vermaelen also try to drive the team forward. Theo, I’m afraid, broadcasts the best advertisement possible for not conceding to his agent’s wage demands, and confirms what many of us suspect- if he stays, he should stay out on the right. The only other “thing” of note is Mike Dean. If our sending off was debatable, Kompany’s looks ridiculous, from my position in the stadium. This tops off a shambolic performance where he is happy to let Wilshere suffer from serial rotational fouling but quick to brandish cards for misdemeanours by those in red and white. I hope that the double boos at the end were for Mike Dean the ref and Mike Dean the cunt.
The post-mortem in the Tollie is good humoured as usual, with the Holic family joined by Steve T. With wounds to lick, the tongue is in need of being lubricated with good Guinness. Because I have the luxury of not gnashing back to the airport though I avoid any detours into rum and coke territory. That usually precedes my disappearing trick, which this time is performed by Goonerholic. There one minute. Then gone.
And the night wears on.
My client meeting in the morning starts to prey on my conscience. I take my leave of the last two remaining Tollie Warriors (have a guess) and head for the underground. The trip back to my hotel room is sufficiently vague to be non-existent. I engage in some vigorous hand-combat with toothbrush and paste and, spent with the exertions of a long day, crash out on the bed. My last thought before I pass through sleeps silent gate , despite Arsenal’s current woes, is “I’m going back.”
Darkness.
To be continued
Nice account, zico. Sorry I missed the Tollie bit. And kinda sorry I witnessed the other bit apart from the inspirational, talented and hardworking LJW. We really need to build appropriate strength and talent round that boy.
Trev @ 273, oh, so I was actually ‘like the wind’ in the Tollie yesterday? *raised eyebrow* 😉
Ollie @ 285, it was good to see you again too, you and Holic are the easiest to spot mind you, I didn’t notice tabs when he was right in front of me! 😆
And on that matter it was lovely to meet him yesterday with his brother Mike who has graciously offered me the chance to purchase a Ticket for Swansea on Wednesday that I think I’ll definitely take him up on because 1) Top Man Snowy said “See you there 🙂 ” so I have no choice but to turn up (cheeky 😛 ), 2) Lars is extending his stay to come to the game as well, 3) Because Trev might come, 4) When Lars or Snowy are in the Tollie I always have a great time (vs Montpellier & Arsenal Sweden Gooners Tollie Night the day after/vs Sperz) but them being in the Tollie at the same time!?! 😀 , 5) To complete the Quartet of Competitions that I have seen Arsenal play in (League Cup 1st, then English Premier League, then UEFA Champions League, only FA Cup remains) & 6), after 2 exams on Wednesday I can relax at the game then spend all of Thursday revising for my hardest one on Friday Morning. Pretty good reasons methinks 🙂
Also great getting to watch the 1st half with them, they are actually a comedy duo, their synchronicity is almost scary but proper brothers they are 🙂
Sorry that I missed Steve T, Delia, Bath who couldn’t make it (Esso was nowhere to be found, I really want to meet him 🙂 ), Good to also see Lars, Holic and the main man himself Zico, sorry you came all the way over for a loss, but I’ll be staking my 6 in 6 wins attendance at the Emirates on Wednesday, hopefully the lads don’t let me down, I have Faith, Come on you Arsenal.
Time to finish the Revision for today’s exam that I put off at 2pm yesterday to head for the Tollie, until later all :).
Couldn’t really comment on the game as I only saw the 1st half, bit I think that showed it all. A sending-off either half, a grasshopper (whoever said that :lol:) looking wanker (for better choice of words) of a ref, and no strength from the bench.
Victory through Harmony, not Discord.
Come on Arsenal.
Very nice Zico @ 292, and I was very relieved when you came back from your ‘business’, in both places 😛 😉
Just looked out the window and apparently there has been a right blizzard over London. I can see like three snowflakes on the grass in Finsbury Park.
zico: “like tabs heading for home at closing-time on matchday”
Heh! He almost got into a fight later on yesterday, not of his own making but because one chap threw a massive hissy fit when tabs said he didn’t quite believe that Michael Jackson was not guilty of child abuse. Don’t ask me how that topic even came up though because I don’t remember that…
Wind, see you Wednesday!
Good luck with the meeting, zico.
Ah for the sake of it, a forced assist 🙂
Backothenet
Cam’s back! Well in to both you and Ollie 🙂
See you Wednesday indeed Lars, now I HAVE to come, did Snowy put you up to this? 😉
tabs mate, if you see this, tell Mike I’ll meet him at the Tollie with the pre-agreed Cash for the Ticket. I’m having me some Thai Food on Wednesday, its been too long… 😀
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Oh my head 🙁