Crystal Ball Gazing
Apr 3rd, 2013 by 'holic
“I would really like to know what you would like to happen this summer. Not so much what you think will happen, but what you would like to happen.”
And with that plea in the drinks Trev set me on a collision course with an area I try to avoid like the plague for a number of reasons. The most obvious one being I am currently very much a man of straw and my view of what should happen in the summer is hugely dependent upon the final eight matches, and our transfer activity in and out in the summer. Added to that the fact that really what I think should happen is bound to elicit, and quite understandably, the response of “who are you to express such opinions?”
I am by nature an optimist, as followers of the ‘holic pound will testify, and so I have to believe there is every chance of us claiming a top four berth given what is going on around Chelsea in particular at the moment. It looks likely that all three London clubs, and chuck the two halves of Merseyside into the mix too, are so inconsistent that all are likely to drop points in the remaining seven or eight games.
I suspect the neighbours have a foot in the door and for only the second time will have enough nerve to hold on. Points in the bag are more valuable than games in hand at this stage of the season. Chelsea face a daunting end of season under an interim manager who must be tempted to prioritise Cup success over the non-trophy of fourth place. For me they are the side we must, and probably will, overtake.
That will mean that the minimum expectation I have always set of Champions League qualification will have been realised. I have expanded on that as this season has panned out and we have failed to strengthen the senior squad sufficiently to make any sort of tilt at the main targets. I now also believe the ruthless axe that has been promised in the last two summers has to be swung. The squad needs augmenting with a mixture of well rewarded experience and quality, plus some younger prospective talent signed on terms that reflect the gamble we are taking on them with a promise of rewards for performance and progress.
“Who are those players then that are available and willing to come in?” I have to express an inner chuckle when I am confronted with this one when someone questions my right to an opinion. I spend every summer slating people filling the new media with wishlists and their valuations of the several hundred players they insist we have missed out on in the last seven summers. I am one of many who will hold that opinion who have to trust that the club has the infrastructure in place to identify and close on any targets. I have no doubt we know who we want and keep close tabs on their situations, but the current set-up does need to prove this summer that they can deliver the sorely-needed recruits.
Last summer we made a great start by securing Podolski, Giroud, and Cazorla. However when it transpired they were signed as replacements for the departing, and not to augment a squad that was two or three players short at least, then the failure to add further proved costly. January provided an opportunity to strengthen for the challenges still open to us, but an enforced late swoop for Monreal aside, the apparent lack of activity condemned us to another season of hoping for slim pickings in the months ahead.
The recycling of the bed-blockers in the squad, and the arrival of new clinical specialists, would serve a dual purpose. Upgrading the squad so that we are in a position to at least mount a more realistic and sustained challenge for the twin major targets next season will also help to heal a fractured fanbase. The dissenters have some really positive contributions to make about the way forward, particularly with regard to supporter-related issues. Fanshare, staged payment schemes for season tickets, ticket pricing policy and downgrading or upgrading options for the different levels of membership, among others. All of these are things I can sign up to.
Obviously what I cannot agree with, should we reach reach the Champions League and strengthen the squad, is continuing hostility towards the manager or that vaguest of targets “the board”. Should those targets not be met I don’t think it is unreasonable for people to question the manager, and management, of the club with respect as well as passion.
A final thought from me should that transpire. “The board” as was put this club into a position from which the current custodians should be able to take it forward. Incredibly brave decisions were taken by this club in the formative years of this century under a different ownership model. Some of those faces remain, almost as a human shield it seems to me. They have done their bit and could quite reasonably expect a new organisational model to capitalise on their foresight and prudence.
Or maybe I am just a hopelessly incurable old romantic yearning for a time that will never return? Feel free to comment below.
With respect as well as passion.
267 Responses to “Crystal Ball Gazing”
First
Aha Holic,
I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist !!
Now to go and read.
Don’t even mind being cut off (again!) for this π
And ‘Holic cuts Trev off, again.
CL SPOT!
What I want to happen this summer is a clear-out of some shoes.
To make way for newer expensive shoes, no doubt.
Tell you what I hope happens this summer – we give the kangaroo loving aluminium bat wielding convicts a right good fucking hiding.
Is Roxy taking Ivan’s job?
I thought Snir was next in line. π
Yet again Esso exposes what is really important.
Crackng post Maestro. Just like you, I don’t care about the names of the players we bring in or move out this summer so long as they don’t wreck our club financially and possess the qualities required to bring us success on and off the pitch.
Would have been easy to resist, Trev. Opinion posts are not my favourite, either to read or write.
Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody has one” π
Arguably, Nasri has two.
Heh
Well Holic,
firstly, to your last sentence: “With respect as well as passion”, qualifies the piece perfectly.
I’m so glad I managed to cajole you into that. π
It covers all the aspects I hoped it would, but feared it wouldn’t, and brilliantly summarises the transition and expectations from ‘old board’ to new.
You won’t be surprised to hear that I agree with all of it.
Personally, I think you are at your absolute best when you give your own opinions with that kind of passion.
And noone could feel disrespected by a single word of it.
Thanks so much.
Great to hear what you honestly feel at this stage of such an up and down season.
Gazing at who’s balls?
Better read the post. π
Another boring CL game in the background while I read your post. Holic, you are an optimist, more so than I. Winning the rest of our fixtures seems a really big ask. Tired of depending on others to drop points. It’s exhausting. And as you point out, a lot depends on whether we secure top four spot. I’m just curious about these young players… where they come from. Hope they are homegrown. Well reasoned post and the timing couldn’t have been better. Going to be a long summer. π
I think this year more than any previous the manager will be open to more criticism and bile than ever before if action in the transfer market isn’t swift.
This summer will herald the triumphant return of Oleg Luzhny
Swift action in the transfer market will be made more complicated if we finish lower than 3rd because then we can’t guarantee CL football until late August (or won’t have it at all). That said, I can still forsee the wheels falling off the Spud wagon.
Oh forget it, here’s a guaranteed summer prediction instead, the weather will be crap.
Crazy Horse! Love it Ody. Good to see you Saturday π
Holic, like Trev I agree with every word. Very good stuff.
Not unreasonable or unreasoned, ‘holic. π
If it’s not too early to think about what might happen this summer, then surely it is not too early turn our collective ire on the baggies. I never was too much of a baggie man, myself, unless this is what they are talking about.
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Karma-Top-Grey-Short-Baggie-Black-Camo-with-pockets/2069315?id=2069315&slug=Karma-Top-Grey-Short-Baggie-Black-Camo-with-pockets
There goes Trev with his tongue firmly ensconced up holic’s opinion.
π
Okay, no-one has suggested a prospective purchase yet, so allow me to kick off. I believe Varane has been mooted as a possible transfer target and I thought he had a blinder today, repeatedly stymying Drogba and making him look foolish. If Sagna goes he would be my hope as replacement. And same position, longer term, I’m astonished Luke Shaw from our favourite south coast feeder club isn’t already on our books.
Oskar
Be the best that you can be? Have I said that before???? It’s all I have ever asked.
The phrase I tried to avoid pinching again Steve, but it is right on the button.
Fine writing H. Add Steve T’s phrase at all levels of the club and you’ve got it in a nutshell.
Esso — spot on. As I was recently present at the Auckland Test, I fear we will need a rejuvensted KP to prevail.
Holic — your willpwer and self control are the stuff of Legend! No wish list? Surely not!
I confidently predict that no player of any note will augment the current crop – ESPECIALLY IF WE QUALIFY FOR THE CL!
Wenger logic will see qualification as vindication of this squads “quality”.
The days when off season meant the capture of the likes of Sol Campbell and his ilk sadly fade into history.
Hope springs eternal however!
PLease prove me wrong!
Vindication of this squad’s quality, IF, even though we finish 30 points behind Manure, right?
Sol Campbell was a great capture … akin to stealing Bale today. Wouldn’t that be nice!
Oskar
Holic, that post was just fucking epic.
Bravo, sir. Nothing to add here.
Except that esso’s post had me in stitches. Awesome.
I think it was a good thing Samir told ‘me’ that Stan wanted to sell him π Btw, need to make clear here that I believe we have a good team that is inconsistant. Therefore making it extremely unlikely to win the rest of our games. We are something to be contended with when everyone is performing at their best. π
Evening abb. You don’t sound at your most cheerful? Hope all is well.
Hi Holic, I’m ok π Roberto was correct to c/o Samir not giving 100%. AW no doubt has the same thoughts too, about our season. A pity!
Given that all the contenders for third and fourth have to play other contenders (some of them face more than one) plus the Mancs it is inevitable many points will be lost and the end result could be anything.
We have Manure and Everton, both at home, but our run-in still looks easier than Totts who have Everton (H), Chelski (A), Mansewer (H) and Stoke (A), plus Europa games; Chelski who have Totts (H), Liverpool (A), Manure (A) and Everton (H), plus FA Cup and Europa games. Everton not only have us, Totts and Chelski but have a Liverpool derby to play.
Even if we hiccup against Manure and only draw with Everton we should still comfortably manage 4th minimum if our second half team shows up in the other six.
If we only finish fourth, Charlie, I don’t see that as detrimental to our chances of attracting top talent. We’d be strong favourites to advance to the group stages against anyone we’re likely to meet.
Oskar
@18 – If a player doesn’t want to play for Arsenal because they’re not in the Big Cup, then I don’t want him. He either wants us or he doesn’t, there should be no conditions. We’d be doing him a favour after all, not the other way around.
@27 – We’ll be ok against the Aussies because we won’t prepare wickets flatter than Kate Moss and we’ll be bowling with a proper cricket ball, not something that’s a cross between a cricket ball and a tennis ball. One that has a seam, is the right colour and stays in shape for more than ten overs at a time. π
What we DON’T want to do is fall at the first hurdle against West Brom on Saturday. If AW ‘rests’ anyone I will … er, something horrible.
Oskar
Easy on Kate Moss, Two points, we’re practically related since she married my great nephew’s wife’s brother in 2011. Not that I got an invite to the wedding, the miserable cow… π
Oskar
Heavy Irony in my previous post Oskar. OF COURSE Yanited are miles ahead of us — as they were last season (and the season before that,etc etc) My point is that, despite the fact that the rest of the planet can see that our current side will never reel in the Mancs, Mr Wenger either cannot or will not accept this as fact. They were better than us last season — before they bought our best player! I dont know how to fix it — but then I’m not paid a multi million pound salary to do just that. But I agree with “Holic — we aren’t “the best we can be”.
Two points @34: What you say is true of course, but it was the same for NZ — they desereved to win. Surely top cricketers who play all over the world,on all all types of wickets (prepared by the home nation to suit thier style,players and conditions) should be able to adapt. Are you saying that an “Away win” is impossible in Test Cricket?
I believe AW does the best he can within the financial constraints of prudent management, IF. The playing field never was level even before the oligarabs moved in, but we were lucky to have had a few great years with him in charge before the situation became impossible for properly managed clubs to compete.
Thing is, it’s not a case of one star player needed to make us the new galΓ‘cticos, we need several, and we cannot afford them. So AW buys several we can afford and hopes to build a champion team as opposed to a team of champions. Plus some really young ones for peanuts that could be anything when they mature.
Hopefully things will change when FPP takes effect and the new stadium hump is behind us, but until then we just have to hang in. I’ve never seen Arsenal so consistently good over an extended period in the 60 years they have been ‘my team’. And I am still hopeful of seeing them as world club champions before I kick off this mortal coil (whatever a mortal coil is).
Oskar
Of course away wins are possible in cricket. Didn’t we (England) win the last series in India – unlike Aussie who lost 4-0?? π
Even without one of our many South Africans we should comfortably take them to the cleaners both here and Downunder later.
Oskar
First thing I’d buy this summer would be one of those magic sponges that trainers used to have so we can keep the squad we do have fit.
These are the remaining fixtures for the four contenders:
Tottenham
Everton (H)
Chelsea (A)
Man City (H)
Wigan (A)
Southampton (H)
Stoke (A)
Sunderland (H)
Chelsea
Sunderland (H)
Tottenham (H)
Fulham (A)
Liverpool (A)
Swansea (H)
Man U (A)
Aston Villa (A)
Everton (H)
Everton
Tottenham (A)
QPR (H)
Arsenal (A)
Sunderland(A)
Fulham (H)
Liverpool (A)
West Ham (H)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal
WBA (A)
Norwich (H)
Everton (H)
Fulham (A)
Man U (H)
QPR (A)
Wigan (H)
Newcastle (A)
If the neighbours get through the next three games relatively unscathed they should be alright. If they come a cropper, St. Tott’s Day is on. Otherwise probably not. Chelski look to have plenty of opportunity to drop points — a couple of six pointers in there — and could have difficulty getting a run of wins to build some momentum. Everton probably have the toughest run in and the most ground to make up. We’ve got the easiest run in on paper, so should be able to secure a CL place, but, knowing us, will find the hard way to do it.
If the Totts get through Everton, Chelski and Mansewer ‘unscathed’ (while also playing two Euro games), Ned, they will deserve to be alright! I would bet plenty against it. And it’s worse for Chelski who are still in both the FA Cup and Euro. And worse still for Everton.
All of which means we only need to beat teams we should beat to make 4th minimum. And I might even back us to do it.
Oskar
If that doesn’t put the mockers on us nothing will! π
Oskar
Great few posts, Oskar, spead around a bit too much for me to find the numbers.
*spread.
/Toby, the Poet.
Will we have to endure?
Those red c*nts Manure
With Van Quisling, for sure
Lifting the title at our gaff? My thoughts are impure…
Like I have said before, if someone with the power to do so would offer me fourth place for Arsenal I’d bite his/her hand off. Yes, we have done quite well recently but I’m not sure I agree we have a significantly easier run-in than the other teams. WBA on Saturday is a very tricky one, they may mix and match quite a bit but when they are on their game they are a really, really good team and a match for most teams in the league.
http://www.connexionfrance.com/ouessant-sheep-to-cut-paris-lawns-experiment-view-article.html
I think abb will like that one.
It’s also topical.
Oh; the title of the blog doesn’t have that ‘r’, right π
I love what ‘holic did: copy Trev’s questions, and not in any way reply to them.
Which is how it should be.
π
I see TS is on a dooming rampage again at 46
What’s wrong with you mate? :s
Hope things pick up. Are you making the trip south of the river in a couple of weeks again?
Would be good to share a beer or two again.
It seems like every season we have this “easier run in….blah blah blah…”
Last season in our ‘easier run in” we lost to Wigan at home, nearly lost to Norwich at home in the penultimate game, and then were delivered in the final game by an inept (and that’s being kind) goalkeeping display by the reserve West Brom goalkeeper.
Points will be dropped people – your bubble-wrap suit is under your seat.
Should we land on water, Wolfie will dispense Speedos…..
zico knows, we’re definitely not home and dry yet.
I say we’re looking more positive at the moment though, but it’s only fragile.
Morning Ollie
I’m not feeling D+G in the slightest. I just fancied a poor attempt at topical poetry.
In fact, I’m feeling quite relaxed about our top 4 propsects although I think it’s just too tight to call at the moment. There are way too many variables for the Storey brain to compute.
I agree with Dr.z that our run-in is not necessarily easier than anyone else’s with the possible exception of Everton (with thanks to North Bank Ned for the fixtures listing).
I also agree with Lars about the WBA game. It’s a tough fixture, Lukaku(?) will be looking to impress his real paymasters and we won’t have a dodgy, ex-scum keeper to help us out with the goals.
In my lifetime, Arsenal have been famous for performing well against the top clubs and then dropping points to so-called lower opposition. Having said that, apart from Sp*rs at home and City & Liverpool away, our performances against the big clubs this season has been disappointing.
On to happier things…. The trip to the decent club in West London is very alluring. I am tempted to ‘spend some f*cking money’ if I can find a ticket. Either way, it would be great to share a few pints with you before the season’s out.
UTA!
Whisper it, TS, but I may be able to make a midweek game or two, depending on tickets and holidays.
Everton (a bit unlikely at the moment), and Wigan (I expect them to beat Millwall, and guess that the only possible date is the following midweek, before our final game)….
OK Ollie, mum’s the word. Everton would be a good one to go to. I see that 50 squid tickets are available on TX.
Easy to forget LWC’s did actually qualify for CL last season. Were only ‘cheated’ out of it by Cuntski winning it. Shame that,
Hello.
It’s interesting hearing what people would like because obviously we’re all different, and I’m also a positive person. My ideal (and I realise that this is not really of interest to the ‘Holic population but I’m going to say it anyway ;-)), which is likely not achievable, would be to reduce the squad size cutting out the people who haven’t played at all this season for us (e.g. out on loan) taking the hit on costs if necessary because at least the distraction they provide is then gone, to attract some more players of the calibre of those who have joined in the past year, and for us as fans to be able to stop thinking about money. I really only want to support the team, but feel as though we have been dragged into a constant financial fair play debate, even though the Board and manager are clearly managing this issue well (for which read too well, as there is an excess of cash in the bank). That is not to absolve them as they are the ones that perpetuate the discussion, and I would like them to stop as I find it insidious to be honest.
I’m with most of you in that I think that we are nowhere near safe into 4th at the moment, though feel more confident with Rafa at that particular helm.
‘Holic,
I like your piece above. Keep ’em coming.
You write “Upgrading the squad so that we are in a position to at least mount a more realistic and sustained challenge for the twin major targets next season will also help to heal a fractured fanbase“. I hope so too, but sadly I fear we will both be disappointed.
If we do indeed succeed in mounting a realistic and sustained challenge next season, the fanbase will be rent by the statements of two vociferous wings: one will proclaim that we should have done whatever it was that enabled the challenge many years previously, and the other will claim that their faith in the lowest level of management that remains, be that Arsène, Ivan, the board in general or Stan, has proved to be justified as were their calls for patience.
I fear that the only thing that will genuinely reunite the fanbase will be a lengthy spell of consistent performance, at whatever level. If that be sustained success, then we will have to put up with a season or two of crowing from whichever wing of the fanbase (probably both) feels most justified. It will be unpleasant to put up with, but we’ll manage by looking smugly at supporters of other clubs. If it’s at a lower level, then we’ll have rather more seasons of internecine strife before the more extreme fans get fed up and start to offer their advice to another club.
Whatever happens it will be a bumpy ride. I just hope it will be an enjoyable one.
COYR
FX: Fades back into the background
Heh, just seen an itw with new CEO. Opening line ‘It’s not so common to come back to France these days, when you are settled in London.. I feel a bit lonely on the Eurostar’.
Right… I don’t.
Well prompted Trev!
Great stuff ‘H. I don’t think anyone can reasonably argue with any of that.
The only small point I’d make is that I would resile from your position that the neighbours have “one foot in the door”. They’ve been through the door and been sat inside with their feet up in the past, and have still been turfed out before Dinner is served. In my necessarily biased view, they are by some distance the poorest of the three London sides vying for the Champions League places. All about what we do. They will mess up at some point.
The one other thing I’d ask of the Club is more transparency and more meaningful communication. There have been far too many mixed messages from both the Board and the Manager, (and of course not forgetting the fifth columnist Uzbecki), over the last 5 years, which are seemingly at odds with each other.
The lack of a clear cogent message has lead of course to people joining the dots themselves and taking wildly opposing positions. A greater clarity from the Board as to what restrictions the Manager has been operating under and what can be realistically achieved in the next 5 years would do more, in my opinion, to start to heal supporter rifts, than any short term upturn in results.
not really any mixed message from the fifth column, tabs, he’s as transparent as (whatever is usually considered transparent).
Ah Tabs, your metaphor is so accurate and perceptive!
I’d agree fully with that, and add that they’d got so comfy on the sofa that they’d started nodding off, so secure were they in the knowledge that they’d have their feet under the dinner table come teatime.
They could smell the wafting odours of roasting tats and corn-fed chicken with rosemary and a hint of balsamic.
They were about to ask for a pre-dinner glass of rioja to whet their appetite, when…
Boom. Their taxi arrived and they were ushered out with platitudes and empty entreaties to “come again some time.”
Played ‘H.
Apparently Bevin’s people are making all the right noises again (i’m keeping ’em crossed).
Up The Arse.
Morning all,
Poppet @57 –
Great stuff and interesting, isn’t it, that as fans we have all been convinced / conned by our financial situation. There seem to be as many opinions and analyses on the club’s finances as there are fans but, every time a top player is mooted as a possible target we all declare, while sitting at the top of our cash mountain, “oh, but we can’t afford him”.
I agree with you that being a football supporter used to be just fun. You were who you were and had what you had.
The game seemed to be played on a much more level playing field – albeit an extremely cut up, muddy playing field.
First topics of conversation / bragging were always about players you had and great goals they’d scored, rather than players you couldn’t afford and goals scored by opponents who are only ‘there’ because of oligarchs.
That truly ended for us after Bergkamp and Henry. And Sir Bob.
More’s the pity.
Indeed Tabs,
Sat with their feet up, half way through the fat lady’s new album. π
Blackadder’s in @ 61. π
And agree with tabs @ 60 – indeed along with others on here i’ve been saying similar stuff meself: the club needs to come clean re what’s going on with the cash it has. There have been mixed messages coming from the manager and board and this has lead directly to a certain amount of cynicism from a significant section of the fanbase.
More openness from above would at least allow properly informed debate/discussions to take place and might ultimately allow us all to get back to doing what we want to do – supporting The Arse – instead of arguing and speculating (sometimes wildly) – about what is actually going on financially re our beloved club.
A bit of that lot plus Bevin and i’m in a red and white errrr – hevin!?
UReDS!
Heh, Trev. Edmund always had a knack for setting the mood when it comes to the must-win-games for the nobel Gunners.
Percy: “It will be a great day tomorrow for we nobles.”
Edmund: “Well, not if we lose, Percy. If we lose, I’ll be chopped to pieces. My arms will end up at Essex, my torso in Norfolk, and my genitalia stuck up a tree somewhere in Rutland.”
Trev, Thank you for reading and commenting. I agree that the good old days, as I saw them, ended when our French triumvirate and Bergkamp went, a little in to the Buckets of Cash era. Such a shame.
Toby π
Poppet – pleasure, it was a good read.
Bevin just signed a new contract, Rev.
Just sayin’ π
Hi Rev – good to ‘see’ you. π
Afternoon Gooonahs T and Zee
Zee that’s disappointing news – however we both know that that t’ing’s barely worth the paper it wasn’t written on ( though it may mean a few extra noughts get added on to the boy’s eventual t. fee).
And i know this nitwit’s barely worth a mention, but he has been poking his haughty little nose back into our business lately, so here goes…
http://gu.com/p/3eqka
These days the boy displays a talent for little more than pissing all sundry orf (reading between the yellow-lines even his brief sounds fed up with him). $ami the bench/back-seat warmer. Mwahmwahmwahaaa!
Ollie @61 – Point taken and completely agree re Usmanov. I just meant that it was mixed inasmuch as his “message” is generally at odds with what the Club is saying, and that that message gains more credence than it would otherwise do, when the Club often fail to communicate a coherent unified vision of their own.
Camberwell @62 – Cheers, and heh at the culinary expansion. You’ve got me feeling quite peckish!
Trev @65 – Haha, indeed.
AL @67 – I’m liking the Reverend’s Thought for the Day! π
Rev AL,
Dr Feelgood will be most cheesed off / relieved to discover a contract is not a contract. π―
Name And Shame
Smashing stuff from the SHOUTsport website, who report:
‘Manchester United are tracking the progress of Benfica’s former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.
‘The 24-year-old Serbian shares the same first name and nationality as current Old Trafford favourite Nemanja Vidic and that could be a crucial element to a possible deal.’
It’s in the bag, United fans.
Heh. Serious journalism there.
oops – And “and”
And my “Thought for the day”: indeed it was my thought for the day brother Tabs. Or indeed the only “thought for the day” a man what toucheth the holy cloth like what I do, ought to go public with in these uncertain and straitened times. HallelooYeah!
Haha π
Cheers, tabs.
Italics?
Arsenal are on the trail of Theodore P Wildebeest – the vocalist who is popular with the ladies shares the same name and nationality as Arsenal striker Walcott and that could be a crucial element to a possible deal.
Zee, am always more than glad to be a help/hindrance where clarity/confusion of the Feelgood mindset is concerned – as it can lead only to good/no-good (both good things – no?).
Feelgood’s firstborn was nearly christened Uptonogood until Roxette intervened, AL.
Good thing if you ask me.
Will I be able to spill a pint with you next weekend?
Seriously. We don’t have any YouTube footage of Bevin yet? How can this be? π
haha zico 81 π
@ Rev AL
My thought on your thoughts:
When thou toucheth the cloth, be sure to take the holy book with you for a good read whilst thou doth sit and relieveth the pressure.
What thinkest thou?
FOOTBALL ABUSE NEWS (FAN) OF THE DAY
FAN has heard that Mancini is prepared to take a hard stance against the owners of Manchester City to make them open the war chest yet again. This time, the item of his interest is the young prodigy Bevin.
Bevin mostly plays all over the field (often in a single game) but is still thought to be very disciplined. This characteristic means it has been possible for him to retain a certain item in his possession. An item of great interest to Mancini – a valid drivers license.
FAN understands that Mancini has been saying to close friends that getting to and from places he needs to go have been quite hard as of late, with first Tevez losing his license, then getting additional punishment for driving anyway. Now that Nasri has lost his license as well, Mancini is close to the breaking point and is finally ready to go public with his disappointment in the team. A source close to him has reported him saying “Missing out on the title is one thing, but having to take a taxi to the dry cleaners is just too much”. A number of Arsenal players have also been suggested as possible buys for Mancini but apparently “All the good ones are too young to possess a license.”
Getting the signature of Bevin won’t be easy, however, due to the timeless youngster just signing a new contract with a big buy out clause just as the City owners have tightened up the purse strings. Arsenal are supposedly also interested in the talent, claiming he could solve their goal keeping situation and bring at least “20 glorious peaches” a season to the London Club. Chelsea are also keeping an eye out for him, claiming that their midfield of Mata, Oscar and Hazard lacks a little something when it comes to the offensive side of the game. PSG have earmarked him just because everyone else is interested. Barcelona, however, is the only top club that hasn’t yet made their interest public, claiming that they will wait until they “receive the results of that DNA test” before deciding one way or another.
Theodore P Wildebeest? He reminds me of an old Lenny Henry.
Hopefully Zee – was actually ticketed up for Reading but couldn’t make it in the end, so will be leaving all arrangements to the very last possible second.
And Dr. C – What? No Youtube footieage of the boy Bevin – why, I refuse to believe that such a rising star has slipped through the (inter) net, on that front.
I’ll get me cassock.
Ahh too true, True Storey, too true. In my humble O, one should always do one’s best to haveth the apostles in hand when one – as you say – wants to “sit and relieveth the pressure”. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhmeeeeeeeeeen!
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2013/04/04/151830_nasri-aussi-prive-de-permis.html
I hope they have a minibus at Citeh.
Heh @ 88.
Ollie, they can always bring the one they park on our pitch anytime they around.
:). :). Fan, Rev, TS
The weird thing is AL, that when you do your Rev bits, I actually picture someone dressed in the cloth.
Blimey FAN man @ 87’s got all angles of the big BEVIN tranny story well und truly covered – hats orf.
And haha TS @ two big-boned types of possibly – tho not necessarily – a different gender thingamy to meself.
That and little else Trev – that and little else.
Trev – In general, I’d say it’s better to be dressed in the cloth as opposed to touching it π
Rev – Wears the cloth? Yes it does, doesn’t it?
Tabs @74,
I am liking the, presumably legalese, practise of combining three words together – e.g “inasmuch”, in your post.
With space everywhere at an absolute premium, this seems an admirable thing to do on many levels – for example, saving internet storage space; saving electricity as computers will only need to read shorter character strings; and saving time as we will all have shorter posts to read.
Unfortunately, it could also lead to a certain amount of confusion.
I noticed, that when I try this technique, the first thing ‘tohappenis’ that you get left with some rather uncomfortable word endings – as in my example.
Imagine, should Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League, some of the press headlines at the end of the season:
“WHO RESIGNS NOW” suddenly becomes “WHORESIGNSNOW”, leading everyone to believe that the football club has given up and re-opened as some kind of 60,000 seater house of ill repute !
On second thoughts, this may not be such a good idea ???
Afternoon all.
Good stuff ‘h, not an easy thing to write, but I feel you touched on almost all of the points that seem to be on most fans’ minds.
I’m of two minds (a touch of the Gorams) on a few of the issues.
I’ve never really understood the need to wait until we see where we finish before bringing in the players we need. If we need them, we need them regardless if we are in the CL or not.
Hold on, I hear the masses cry in unison, you have to be in the CL to attract the best players, don’t ya???
To which I retort, is it really the be all and end all or is it just a line that has been spun to keep the unwashed masses (us) in a sense of false security.
“Oh, we finished 4th, so we have to be careful who we buy because we are not in the CL proper yet”
Sound familiar? You can bet your arse you’ll hear it again if we finish 4th this year, which ironicaly is the target we’ve set ourselves to see “which kind of player we can attract”
Personaly I think it’s all a crock of shit, why? Well, a number of reasons;
When do we ever go in for the “top players”? The 30mil plus, the supposedly crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me? Let me think…. ummmmm…….. Oh yeah, never! We’ve had top players, we sold them and failed to replace them, that’s why we are where we are today.
The only players that we’ve pushed the boat out for are the young up and commers, the Feo’s, Aarons and Ox’ of the world. But as these kind of players rarely come straight into the starting XI what difference does CL footy make?
We’ve had top players, we sold them and failed to replace them, that’s why we are where we are today, yet all this time we have been in the CL, so who did we attract?
The likes of Santi and Arteta have strengthened us.
But can you really honestly tell me that CL football was a must to attract the likes of Park and Gerviniho? How’s about Chamakh, a guy that can’t even get off the bench at Wet spam for fucks sake. Are these the type of players that will only come if we finish in the top 4? Fuck me, why the hell should we bother?
Is Giroud, and bear in mind I really like the guy, your idea of a player who must be spearheding the attack of a team challenging for the CL? IMHO he’s not there yet, not by a long shot, but I’m willing to give him time as he is a tryer……. but trying will only get you so far in modern football. Would he really look out of place at a midtable team? I think not.
Let’s look elsewhere for a moment, cover your nose as we gaze towards the toxic end of the Sevensisters Rd, this season alone they signed Dembele, one of their most underrated players, and Jan Vertonghen, an International top defender that left a title winning, CL playing club to join them. How did they manage that then?
No matter what you think of him, and he is a total cunny, there’s no denying that Luiz Suarez is a great player, yet L’pooh are nowhere near challenging for the top honours, Everton managed to sign Mierallas, Loic Remy, coveted by many went to Queens Park bleedin’ Rangers, Newcastle pick up some decent players too without the promise of CL involvement, so it’s obviously not impossible. Back to us, Nacho Monreal signed up, once again from a CL club, knowing that he would not play in the CL again.
I believe the best thing about this close season will be the simple fact that we aren’t in (much) danger of losing our best assists, now is the time to consalidate and tweek rather then, as in the case of the last few years, rebuild. What we need to do (imho) is to get rid of the deadwood, loan them out, sell them, donate them to Oxfam or if all else fails tie them to a tree in the woods and drive away. (Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.) Then strengthen the areas where we all know needs it. Forget marque signings, it’s not gonna happen, just some good solid professionals that know how to kick a ball, without falling over it, that would add some competition for places.
Whatever happens, we can look forward to a long summer of discussing it. π
Hoofs an ecclesiastical long diagonal into the edge of the penalty area whereupon it lands at the feet of St.Giroud
Howzat for a cross-come-shot? Praise be.
Self 101ing TS. ?
Is that a yellow ? π
Well in TS
Divine intervention made me do it Trev but I’ll take one for the team.
I thought that was Wolfie’s job. π
Cheers H2H. Thats a helluva post @ 99.
I was fortunate to have a bit of a chat with Tim Stillman after da yoot game last week on what Arsenal might need to do to move things forward.
Put simply, we kind of agreed that for Arsenal to become genuine PL and CL title challengers, we need 3 top draw players.
So instead of buying the usual Β£10-15M players, we’d need three at circa Β£20M (you choose the positions, it doesn’t matter).
Β£20M players are likely to want higher wages. Our top earner(s) are on Β£100K / week (Theo?) so that means a second change for us i.e. Β£100-Β£150K per week.
So three Β£20M players plus three, 5 year contracts at Β£150K/week equals a total investment of ~Β£177M.
I realise that’s putting things way too simplistically but it gives you a scale of the investment required. Even if the contratcs are ‘only’ Β£100K/week it’s still ~Β£138M.
Then of course, could you put your hand on your heart and say if we spent that kind of money we would be guaranteed to win the league or the CL the following season? Just look at Man City as an example.
Now the questions is, if you were a long-term investor like Kroenke, would you chuck a further Β£100M++ at one of your ‘franchises’ and perhaps gurantee a runner-up spot in a major competition or leave things as they are having realised a very healthy increase on share equity?
I’m sure Ollie is now going to insist that I remove myself to a darkened room with a bottle of valium but that’s just how I see things at the moment.
Apologies bruvva Zee, hadn’t fully appreciated the full delightfulnessness of your first-born’s prospective handle – now that’s a service i’d’ve given a choirboy’s right-hand to have conducted.
Plus – 177 mill over 5 years means the club has to sell some season tkts, 12 burger and chips and 3.5 replica kits per annum – roughly, dunnit.
Well done TS, on that infamous ‘I didn’t mean it’ sort of goal! π
All true H2H @99.
TS,
Yes, the figures are large for sure, but isn’t that a bit like saying Stan Keoenke has to chuck Β£145 million in the pot this summer just to pay next season’s wage bill.
In reality, the wages are running costs, accumulated and paid piecemeal over time.
And other than the money he borrowed, or spent, to acquire his shares, why is he chucking a “further” Β£100 million at anything ?
He can get a hell of a lot more back on his shares than he has paid for them, and as far as anyone knows, he hasn’t chucked any other money at the team thus far.
So, clear the deadwood, free up the wages, spend the cash mountain.
Simples, innit ?
“ME” for Chairman !!! π
I’m not sure why I am so much struggling to agree with TS these days.
We don’t need 3 Β£20m players, we need great players.
Whether they cost 20, 5 or 45 in fact doesn’t matter. It means nothing. At all.
They could be cheaper, they could be more expensive.
Btw, H2H,
How cone you have so many unwashed masses in your bar ? π
You’re welcome to the darkened room, but I’ll keep the valium, thanks π
Oh, and Trev for Chairman !
(hope we get a permanent ‘holic box π )
Good stuff about the good ol’ days from Poppet and Trev.
*pumps up the Hovis music in the background*
Various hehs @ Trev, Rev, TS, tabs, Ollie, Z’ and The Fan.
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2013/04/04/160720_barton-convoque-devant-le-cne.html
Barton may be banned yet.
*doffs cap for 98 and 99*.
TS, well in sir.
Bruvvvva Trev – for it’s worth (hopefully a coupla pints in the tollie) – you’ve got my blessing on the chairman front.
and ta and (god al) mighty work @ 99 H2H
Good exchanges above, you’re all intelligent people.
what! “what”
Cheers gents.
Interesting TS, but I tend to air more on the side of what Ollie said @110.
The players that we bring in could cost various amounts.
If we are going to invest in one particular aspect of the club, then why not in the scouting network?
We used to be able to unearth gems from the four corners of the globe, now not so much.Players don’t have to cost millions, Swansea seem to have put together a decent enough side without spending stupid money, it can be done.
====
Heh Trev, bloody dirty farmers here. π
Cent 118 : Is ‘intellingent people’ the new ‘cunt’ ?
Tie them to a tree in the woods and drive away
Tried that with Roxette – it was over two weeks before I was rescued.
Two weeks?
Damn, way too soon, hardly time to build a treehouse or gain the trust of the renegade gang of squirels.
It was my own fault – I should’ve recognised that her fixation with pirates meant she’d know the ropes…. π
Good discussion on here
Agree with Tabs @ 60. Need more transparency from the club and the manager
I hope when we win the league, we do it our way. Not the Cuntski or the Shitteh way. I hope we don’t turn to Stan Kroenke to throw in money so that we can make big money signings(I know, never going to happen)
Spend what we have, take a gamble – That, I am totally for
Good stuff above.
Hehs at Dr Z’s “Theodore Wildebeest” and Fan of the Day’s inside track on young starlet Bevin π
Trev @98 – Haha, not legalese Sir, it’s even in the dictionary …
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/inasmuch
I like your example of word grouping much better though π
Varios hehs at the Rev, TS, Ollie, Trev, Feelgood, et al.
H2H – Helluvan assist there! Whilst not exactly disagreeing, I do think there is a flipside to what you are saying. Yes good players do exist outside of the Champions League but …
– the pot available to Champions League teams is substantial, and therefore qualification makes it much easier for those sides to not only attract players, but also to be able to afford them. I think Arsenal earned 16m euros this season from the Champs League in prize money, plus the income from four bumper sell out home games. The prize money for reaching the last 16 dwarfs even the money available for winning the Europa League. which would be something in the region of 9/10m euros (depending on wins in the group stage and whether you win your group). I would also suggest that the Europa League, unless it was very competitively priced, would struggle to sell out certainly before the quarter final. Either way, gate receipts would be massively down.
At a time when our accounts still show a loss (without property and player sales) , and notwithstanding the increase of commercial income that we have long been promised, the loss of Champions League Football will still represent a massive hit on the balance sheet, and any transfer targets will necessarily be reassessed.
– If AW is to be believed, we have gone for the “creme de la creme” players. We have been told that in the summer of 2011 we had a huge bid of Β£30+ for Goethe rejected. In the summer of 2012, Arsene has specifically stated that we matched Chelsea’s bid for Hazard, but were stymied by the wages they were prepared to offer. Fair enough, we didn’t get either of them, but the reason we were even under consideration from the player was because we could offer them Champions League Football. Without it, forget it.
– Yes it’s likely we could have attracted Chamakh, Park, Gervinho, and Giroud without Champions League Football (Arsenal of itself still represented a massive step up in their careers for all of them), but with the exception of Giroud, have any of these players improved us? No they haven’t. I agree with you on Giroud, I like him, I think he’s a good player, but he’s not top top drawer. You want an upgrade? You better make sure you can offer Champions League.
– Down the road, I’ll give you Dembele. I think he’s a good player, and still have no idea why we weren’t interested. Vertonghen not so much. He’s a good player, but in my eyes nothing more. He formed part of a Defence that looked utterly woeful in Milan the other week? Would he improve us to any degree? Not convinced.
– Newcastle? I keep hearing about all these wonderful french players who we keep missing out on, and who keep pitching up at Newcastle because of their fantastic scouting system. Really? Last time I looked Newcastle were lying 15th and very much in the relegation mix. Are Cabaye, Tiote, Marveaux, Sissoko et al better than what we’ve already got? I don’t know, but I’m very very doubtful.
– Mirallas? Remy? – I don’t see either of those players improving us to any significant degree.
– Luis Suarez? Can’t disagree with you there of course, but he is very much the exception rather than the rule. Only guessing, but I would suggest that there was a limited market, because of his cunny status, and because Liverpool threw money at the transfer. Given his present form, it now looks a bargain, but it shouldn’t be forgotten it took him 18 months to properly find his feet up there. Will Liverpool hold onto him in the Summer? They’ll probably get the fabled “one more year” and a last throw of the dice. Fail to qualify next season, and he’ll be off.
Basically, this is a very long-winded way of saying that I agree with ‘Holic, and that qualification for the Champs League is huge, not only to move forward, but actually, just to stand still. I don’t think it’s spin on the Club’s part to say that transfer dealings depend on continued qualification. We are a good side full of good players, but, with the exception of Santi, and potentially Jack, we lack the great ones of yesteryear. It is exactly those kind of players that we should be looking to sign, and for that to happen, Champions League is a must.
Failure to qualify would not be the end of the world, but it would be very close to it.
Agree with you completely on one thing though. Come what may, we’ll all be chewing it over endlessly in the Summer. π
Drink on me squire.
Goethe, tabs? Heh. We need more poets.
And very good post (there was a lot of sense in signing Gervinho though, he could have improved us, maybe he still could though I think his mind isi too fragile .Chamakh should have too, and did help us for a bit. Park still baffles me. Why?).
Heh, apologies Ollie. Ahem … Goetze!
Though, as you say, the more poets we have in midfield the better π
Take your point re Gervinho. I think he’s a better player than most give him credit for, though I admit there have been times this season when my patience with him has been pretty much exhausted.
Even at his best though, and with his fragile confidence high, I have my doubts that he is good enough to form part of a title winning team. Maybe as an impact sub, but nothing more.
Chamakh? It’s always a risk when you’re shopping around for “second tier” players. I have heard on the grapevine that all Chamakh’s problems lay away from the pitch. Little more than pub tittle tattle so I won’t elucidate in fairness to him, though the source was good. Again though, even at his best, was he good enough to fire us to a league title? Unlikely in my view.
As you say, the signing of Park was, and is, a complete mystery.
Well he was part of a title winning team when we signed him.
I agree though, he’s more a (potentially) great squad player rather than a regular difference-maker.
I think we’ve been more successful when signing player in France who were not Champions though π
Let’s just say that both Chamakh and Gervinho were hailed as top top players in France when we signed them.
Probably more so than Giroud in fact, and more than a lot of French players who have eventually done better.
There’s always a degree of gambling somewhere.
They just didn’t export their qualities so well.
Yep, can’t argue with any of that Ollie.
tabs: I donβt think itβs spin on the Clubβs part to say that transfer dealings depend on continued qualification.
It most certainly isn’t. My view is that we CAN buy decent players even without a CL spot, but most likely only of the calibre to lift us back into the top four and THEN go for top, top players. One year out of the CL would not have to be a disaster, but the second it turns into two years running we are, barring someting rather extraordinary, in deep, deep shit.
Many thanks for all the sensible, quality feedback fellas. It would be a boring world if we all agreed all of the time.
Ollie – I certainly agree that a really great player doesn’t have to cost Β£20M, a good example of this is Cazorla.
H2H – An improved scouting network (more investment) to un-earth gems like Michu could also be of tremendous value to the club. We seem to have fallen behind a bit in that area.
I’ll stand by my claim that, in today’s market, the squad needs substantial investment to become competitive in the way that we would like it to be but I would be genuinely delighted to be proven wrong.
Chairman Trev – The current wage bill is an on-going cost currently supported by various streams of income including player sales. Bringing in new ‘top quality’ reinforcements and committing to long-term contracts to pay them is an investment in Arsenal’s future and an increase in our current outgoings. Yes, some will be subsidized by departing players but Sagna aside, we’ve mostly got only deadwood left to shift. I understood what you meant, however, and take your points on-board.
Tabs – Excerllent @ #126.
Right, I’m off out for some real drinks so will bid you all good evenings.
Have fun, TS!
Ha ha ha – LWCs.
Double ha ha ha LWCs!
Hi holics. Ollie, I feel sort of sheepish, don’t know why π Course Chelsea 2 up doesn’t help. Nice to see Benny though.
Trev for chairman you say? No half measures I say. π
Have a good one TS.
See Tabs, here’s the thing –
I’m just feeling better about possible non-qualification for the CL having read H2H’s mega-post, and along you come and take it all apart with all this reasoning and logic jiggery-pokery, and now I don’t know what to think again.
Seriously, that’s an excellent post, but it does introduce yet more smoke and mirrors speculation about our finances. Sorry, Poppet !
I fully accept the figures you have quoted and how difficult non-qualification would make things.
On the other hand, I have heard from the club, more than once, that we budget to qualify for four years out of every five. That puts us about three and a bit years in credit by my reckoning.
I know, I know, my reckoning is that of a simpleton, but this comes back to your point earlier today.
A little more clarity and a little less double speak from the club would help every one to just get on with it – come what may.
And I, for one, hope that by the time May does come, it will bloody well stop snowing here. It’s been at it most of the day again. π
Eurostar are wankstains.
See twitter or the arses if you want to see why.
I can’t believe it.
heh abb @ 137 π
Ollie, no abusing the… oh, hang on. That’s ok π
haha π
Bale hurt. Looks bad.
I see a lot of people on Twitter are quite happy about Bale’s injury. I’m not joining in the celebrations, because injury or no injury (and we don’t yet know the extent of it) we still need to focus on doing our job and winning as many points as we possibly can.
Agreed Lars.
With or without Bale, both Chelsea and Spurs are going to drop points.
We just need to focus on doing our job. Fuck what’s going on elsewhere.
Having read Arseblog today, and from what I generally hear about it, the attraction of Twitter remains a mystery to me ……..
N7: also, it wouldn’t be the first time a team get their star player injured and either someone else steps up or they win a few easy points because other teams underestimate them.
Nurse, a little something to help Lars relax please. π
Dr T, I do, upon re-reading my latest drinks, see that they do look quite negative and grumpy which wasn’t really my intention. But something relaxing from the Quackery Medecine Cabinet wouldn’t go amiss regardless so just pass the pills my way… π
Evening one and all.
Some excellent stuff as I have only come to expect, to compliment an excellent post. Nothing wrong with an opinion. It is thought provoking and gets others thinking.
First of all I still think that third is very much up for grabs. I do believe it is in our hands. I also think we need to win 7 out of 8 to achieve this but I do think that we are capable of doing it. West Brom at the weekend? All games are tough but surely if we are to be considered a big club with Champions League aspirations then we should be going to the Baggies and expecting a win???? I donβt wish to sound conceited. I just feel that if we want to be up there then itβs time to step up to the plate.
AW identified several seasons ago that the squad was not good enough. He spoke about it in his programme notes. At this stage we needed evolution, not revolution. We are now at the stage where further major assets have been sold and not replaced. We are now bordering on needing revolution.
I have no intentions of going over stuff I have been saying for years. All I would say is that we have made far too many sub standard signings. This has resulted in a massive drain on resources. I dread to think how many players we are still paying and will never get a look in at getting a game. This is the first priority. We need a massive clear out. The spending then has to be on quality and not quantity. We need established players that can go straight into the first team. Not someone who might make it in 5 years time.
For me we also need players that are both winners and leaders. Personally I would want a top class experienced keeper to start with. I want a top quality centre back, a top drawer midfield player out of the Vieira mould and a top quality striker. With a dozen plus to come of the wage bill I do not consider that to be excessive.
Only time will tell as to what happens. However we have all seen the unrest and discontent at the lack of activity in the transfer markets. My guess is that if the shortcomings are not addressed this summer then the final strand of tolerance may well have been exhausted.
Lars @132 – As always I completely agree.
TS @133 – Cheers.
Trev @140 – Haha, cheers and sorry about that π
I think that quote about “four years out of five” was made at a time when the borrowing was far more burdensome than it is now and was made in a context of whether non-qualification would place the future of the Club in jeopardy. It was also made at a time when our net spend was essentially zero.
No fancy accounting about my post. I am as clueless as the next man.I do however think the bottom line is the bottom line. Without Champs League, we are essentially Β£15m worse off, more if we actually start progressing further than we are used to of late, or if we crashed out of the Europa League early.
Will we be in jeopardy if we don’t qualify? Nope.
Will we be able to attract top top players without it? For the reasons given above, I doubt it.
Will we suddenly embark on a spending spree without the safety net of Champs League money? Unlikely in my view.
Watched the LWCs tonight. They were seriously outplayed all game and the Swiss can count themselves very unlucky not to have won.
I make no apologies for being pleased that Bale was injured. I got told off on Twitter for “celebrating” an injury. I wasn’t celebrating his injury, just the fact that he might miss a few games.
Do I hope that he’s seriously injured? Certainly not. Do I hope that he’s turned his ankle keeping him out for 6-7 weeks? Absolutely I do.
His absence does not make our qualification a certainty, but it certainly helps our cause. He is a fine player and the Totts are a lesser side without him. If that means they drop more points than they would otherwise have done, then I can only see that as a good thing.
Good post SteveT.
Champions League is an absolute essential for next season. Not just for financial reasons but as Tabs and others have said, to allow us to compete for the best players. It will me much harder to attract players without the offer of Champions League. Failure to qualify also sends out entirely the wrong message. It sends out the message that we are in decline rather that a side on the way up.
Tabs, cheers for the drinky and taking time to comment on my ramblings.
I agree with you on almost all points, but I think you may have slightly misconstrued my point, probably my fault for not being clear enough, speaking dutch all those years plus disko bikky and beer abuse has probably diluted my ability to be crystal clear. π
I too, as I’ve posted before, believe that missing out on the CL would be a disaster, we have to be in it. I’m just always surprised that we always have to conduct all our business based on it. I mean there should be more then enough players of a certain quality that would be willing to join us even if we hadn’t yet qualified, I just think our scouting and ability to identify such players need to improve.
I do understand that the CL gives us extra bargaining power and a larger war chest (ahem). But as any business man worth his salt would tell you, you have to speculate to accumalate. By all reports we’ve had the means to at least roll the dice on a few occasions but have chosen to stick rather then twist. (if that dice and card analogy makes sense).
If positions need to be filled, and they do, we should fill them regardless of CL qualification or not. (I feel a Steve T slogan coming on)
Too busy to read the rest of the drinks (after 126) got a regional billiart tournament all week here in my gaff and there’s some thirsty men and women wielding sticks, well, cues which are kinda sticks, so I better get back at it.
I’ll catch up with the rest tomorrow, next round’s on me.
Cheers.
Cheers H2H, that’s all very fair. I just think that the Club is, rightly or wrongly, far less likely to “twist” without CL football.
Good luck with the Billiards.
Hi all you sleeping holics π Dr T, I can’t help Lars! Whatever Zico has, it seems I’ve caught it too π Tabs, I get what you’re saying about Gareth. Fellas, this whole Champs League business, has got me down. I am not being biased when I say this competition is BORING w/o Arsenal. Btw, every game I’ve watched there has been a reference to Arsenal, by the commentators. We have such a long hx in it. What a shame we didn’t go further!!! So I heartily agree with H2H, Steve and anyone else who feels missing it next season would be god awful π Not just for us, but true football fans everywhere.
On a happier note, Eboue has said some nice things about our club and it’s fans on SKY Sports ;). And David Seaman gave Fabs an endorsement ! : ) And Samir will no longer be terrorizing pedestrians in London π
Ollie 121, No sir, ‘intelligent people’ is NOT the new ‘Cunt’!
Abb. Eboue may be a charming guy but I saw his first half “performance” against Real Madrid and it was none too good. Cristiano Ronaldo, of all people, seemed to be able to score goals at will against him. I guess that puts him into a pretty big club, but maybe that’s what set his Arsenal nostalgia flying into the ether?
Hi 8Ball, Yes, I saw it too. But I think he was sincere. Seems most of our former players have come forward to say nice things about our club and I try to take them at their word π Now Cent, shouldn’t you be asleep π
Abb. I meant he’s charming and sincere. I think. π
Over at the Sp*rs camp, sings of exasperation appear to be creeping in, if you can gauge it by this headline and the Parker picture anyways.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/389433/Spurs-have-a-mountain-to-climb-now
Morning all,
I have ‘parked’ a couple of posts from overnight.
I also have a really crowded schedule today so if anybody drops me a line it may take me a day or two to respond.
Newly confirmed Gooner grandson on his way to visit today. Need to make a fuss of him. First though, a morning at work…
H, is he a new grandson or a new gooner (or both), I’m confused?
I assume the former, but either way, congrats.
Does this mean that you don’t get to the boozer for the pre-preview? π
Steve@152, good stuff that deserves a drink on my tab.
West Brom at the weekend? All games are tough but surely if we are to be considered a big club with Champions League aspirations then we should be going to the Baggies and expecting a win????
Absolutely agree, if we play at a level near our best and they play at a level slightly above their best we will still win because overall we have a better team than they do. If we approach the game the right way we will almost certainly win it. But approaching games in the right way seems to have been our problem for large parts of this season, so let’s hope the recent trend of not engaging that infamous handbrake continues.
Also, this@155:
It sends out the message that we are in decline rather that a side on the way up.
Agreed, and this is what I mean when I say that one year out does not have to be a disaster, but two years running would brand us a club going downhill in a way that would make the current debating climate seem rather pleasant and civilised. It is a bit funny how different perceptions can be depending on where you are coming from and how it can affect transfers and whatnot, if you had never seen a Premier League table but read the articles in the press and listened to the pundits on tv you would think that Tottenham have been massively more successful than us in recent years despite us having finished above them for upwards of twenty years running. But this is a reality that we have to deal with and it is mainly up to ourselves to change the public perception of the club, and the best way to do that is of course to improve the team and start moving forwards again.
tabs, cheering the fact that Bale will (by the looks of it) miss a couple of games is very far from the same as cheering the fact that he is injured in my opinion so I am with you on that one. Like I say, I never wish injury on any player except Ryan Shawcross who would deserve quite a lot in the way of serious injury before he has atoned for his crimes against football, but that doesn’t mean I will bemoan them when they do happen unless they are really, really serious and I see absolutely nothing wrong at all in taking pleasure from the fact that competitiors also missing important players levels the playing field in our advantage. In this case though, I’d like to see how they perform without Monkey Boy before I crack open the bubbly because like I said last night an injury to a major player can sometimes liberate others or make them take more responsibility yada yada yada, a bit like Denilson (hard as it is to believe these days!) and particularly Song stepped up when Cesc banjaxed his knee in December 2008. This may sound pessimistic, but I guess that really all I am saying is that personally I just want to avoid premature celebrations.
Right, time to do some work…
So –
Walcott, Nacho and Wilshere all having a big chance of being involved tomorrow. Should anyone of the trio be given a start or should we stick to what has been working this far?
…to think that FAN wanted to poll it’s readers the EXACT same question I was about to ask.
Theo and Jack not available tomorrow. Both “may” be available for Norwich is what I read.
Lars. Approaching games in the right way has been a problem of ours for several seasons I think. Not just this one.
Correct Steve T. I do not know how the leaders of the world get through information sessions in the morning before making important decisions. I shouldn’t read anything before noon.
heh Toby
I see Bouldy did the pre-match ATVO (sorry ARseplayer) interview.
Will he do the press conf too?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/bould-we-hope-abou-comes-back-stronger
We can hope, but do we believe it?
I wish him all the best and I have no problem at all with Abou staying with us for his entire career. The cost for his rehabilitation is huge for a single person to pay, but for a football club, it isn’t all that much. And after all, his initial injury came in the line of duty, so to speak (even if I’m not too fond of military allusions in sports) and (continuing anyway) he can in a way be looked at like a war veteran. He could still add something to our squad, and will probably have that ability for a couple of years more.
Having that said: He can’t be on a footballers salary. Give him what the groundkeeper earns, keep him afloat, pay for his rehabilitation. Take care of the poor guy, and see if he can deliver in the future. Also – do not take him into account at all when considering adding to the squad. If, by chance, he comes back in the future, he will have to be considered a luxury and he can not be thought of anymore as integral to our plans. Really impressed by the guy and the resolve he has shown this far as a person working through all these injuries and he deserves help from us.
So – have a talk with him, see if he can agree to the idea of having an ordinary persons pay check until these days are behind him, pay his medical expenses, help him in every way, buy someone to replace him in the meantime. If he can’t agree to that, release him as soon as possible. No hard feelings.
I see blogs has got the answer :
Normally we’d have an Arsene Wenger press conference to look forward to but the boss can’t make it this week because he’s lost his voice.
Why didn’t holic tell us he is on the arsecast?
Because he knew I have a busy day today, and except for all the work I have to do, I have to listen to two episodes of Guardian Football Weekly, the latest Tuesday Club, and the latest episode of Radiolab. Hearing he is on the Arsecast would make me have to listen to that as well.
So, yeah, Ollie, not too happy with you at the moment.
Oh, and just want you all to know that it’s still very much mathematically true that we can win the league this season. 24 points left to play for, which if we get them all puts us on 77, the same as Utd has at the moment, and if that were to happen (…) surely we would have a better GD than they have.
Huzzah!
Bale Hotspur with no Bale????
I have had some massive bites with that one this morning.
Garrote Bale.
Who will Bale them out?
Is it just me is this week dragging like that dreadful interlull we’ve just come out of?
WHAT IS GOING ON I FEEL STARVED OF FOOTIE AND…stuff
Bale’s twisted his ankle, has he? Really shouldn’t laugh at injuries. Not at all.
Morning peeps.
Catchy up time with a greasy breakfast containing the replinishing qualities of one of those creatures that went we, we, we, weee, all the way home.
I heard it works well.
Morning all.
Abb, yea, I should have been asleep by then but I was awake doing my packing, travelling home to see my parents, I’m already on the road and if this driver steps harder on the gas pedal I should be there in 5hours.
No, not a new grandson.
A new Gooner.
Wolves have lost one to Grandad π
Well done ‘holic for saving the poor lad a lifetime of heartbreak as a Wolves fan….
He can now have one as a Gooner. π
Morning All,
Holic – Whether it’s a new arrival, or “merely” a new convert to the Gooner cause, hearty congratulations. Have a good one.
8Ball – Good pic. I don’t know whether you saw the game last night, but Squadron Leader Parker missed a truly astonishing open goal – 2 yards out, unguarded goal, all the time in the World – he contrived to hit his own player who was lying prostrate on the ground to his left. The commentator remarked that he was yet to score for the LWCs, and I can see why!. The more I see of him, the more he just looks like a shit John Jensen (without the funky perm and ‘tache combo).
Abb- Hang in there kid, our time will come π
Lars – Yep, completely agree on what you say on Bale. His absence doesn’t of course mean that the LWCs will fall to pieces, or anything like, but it certainly won’t do any harm. Everton this weekend will be a big test for them, especially as their first team spent all last night essentially chasing shadows. Basel had a speedy little egyptian right winger who was very impressive. One to keep an eye on.
Toby – Very good stuff on Diaby. Agree with all you say apart from the bit about cutting his wage. It simply isn’t realistic. He has a contract to the end of next season(?), and I would never expect him to tear that up, especially in circumstances where his next contract, whether it be at Arsenal or elsewhere, is likely to be “pay as you play”. In those circumstances, would you agree to a pay cut that was signed in good faith by both parties? Fair enough if you would, but you’re a better man than me if so.
Pay him what he’s due (they have no choice anyway), get him back playing as a luxury (but not essential) part of the squad, and at the end of his contract, and, depending on how his rehabilitation has gone, either release him or offer a pay as you play in addition to a vastly reduced basic.
And heh @179. π
Ah a new Gooner i see Holic. Excellent!
Well played H.
Big game tonight, ‘holic : Marseille vs Girondins.
Heh @188.
TaBS, I’ve heard good things about that Egyptian boy, never seen him play though.
Tabs, I didn’t really mean it as I wrote it. It was more to balance out that I said I’d have him for his entire footballing career. I mean, I wouldn’t mind looking out for him for quite a few more years but we just can’t do that on the wages he is on now. I’d not expect him to tear up his current contract, especially, as you since, since he really might need to save up some for the future. Of course I wouldn’t.
I was really trying to say pretty much what you just said, only I would like to think that we could start the discussion now already. I mean, there are other things you can throw into the discussion as well as salary. There are several jobs being performed at a football club, and we might well convert this horrible situation into a special Diaby role at Arsenal while he can’t play. Perhaps not groundskeeper, but you know. I don’t know him well enough to know what his strengths outside the pitch are, but if we look outside the cookie cutter roles there might well be a solution that benefits both him and us more than the current one does. A part of that might be a pay cut, part of it might be something fulfilling for him to do for nine months. He doesn’t strike me as the lazy type (even if he can look that way when we have an early kick off!).
Be creative is what I’m saying.
Holic, I remember you lamenting the nipper’s choice of Wolves some time back.
Now I’m a firm believer in ‘once you’ve chosen, you’ve got them for life’, but in this case I think we can all make an exception. π
What puzzles me is why such momentous decisions are EVER left to a stripling who’s barely out of nappies. It’s a clear case of sending a boy to do a man’s job.
No, that decision must be placed firmly in the hands of the parents. Unless they support Spurs, in which case the child gets special dispensation to Save Themselves and Do The Right Thing.
When my first one enters this world a few months hence? Gooner or given up for adoption. End of.
Trev, sign me up for that particular social media un-appriation movement……..
As long as I don’t have to sign up on Twitter.
====
Tabs, cheering the misfortune of a footballer from a rival team is nothing like wishing harm on an individual, only the hard of thinking would believe otherwise………..
Hold on, it was Twitter’ers…… enough said!
====
Nice one Lars, I agree that we have to be careful about counting our chickens (Heh, Spurs analogy) but have you seen the LWC’s sans Bale lately? Against Milan they were clueless, had no creativity and spent the game running around like headless chickens (that’s two). I know the term one man team can be misleading, but they are pretty much as close to that that you can get.
Still, fuck them, the Chavs and anyone else that is supposedly in the way of us achieving our goal, I agree 100% that we just have to concentrate on what we have to do, win all our games and we have nothing to worry about.
====
Oh, and just want you all to know that itβs still very much mathematically true that we can win the league this season…..
Most – optimistic – post – ever!
Cheers Toby, that’s a great way to start the day. π
Of course, H2H, we would have to take it one game at a time. We can’t rush this league win. One single slip-up from us (or for that matter any of the teams United will play!) and we have to wait until next year. So whisper it softly and all that…
Cent @193 – Yeh, he looked good I must say. His name was Salah. Only a young guy. Foolish to judge a player on just 90 mins, (it might have been a one off for all I know), but he gave Assou-Ekottu such a torrid time that he was hauled off. Dawson and Vertogen who was shuffled over to the left fared no better against him. The guy looked to have the pace of Theo and the first touch and dribbling skills of someone like Suarez. His finishing was off though, sadly.
Toby – Yep, that’s all very fair.
Camberwell Gooner or given up for adoption – Well said Sir! That is a movement I can sign up to! π
H2H – Indeed! π
An Ollieesque pass …
Chip it like a Swede – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmg9jTkyfc
Great finish Toby and a fantastic Freddie goal into the bargain.
Well in Sir.
Nice combo Tabs & Toby.
Agreeing with H2H here. Sure, the finish was good, but that goal was all about the quick feet and pass from Bergtabs.
TaBS, he was also voted The Best Young African player for last year.
*approves of tabs/Toby scoring combo*
And I only now see H2H’s 202 post, but I’m not suprised.
Like N7 and Lars, he often speaks for me π
As of now I still haven’t received any notification that Eurostar received my message yesterday, nevermind a reply.
I think my complaint was strongly worded and wasn’t requesting anything in particular, but still, you know, customer care and the like, definitely not their forte.
(P.S: I’m pretty sure I didn’t use wanker or cunt in my message. I think I didn’t even use ‘useless’. I may have used ‘pissed off’ , may have just refrained from ‘joke’ though I’m not completely sure….)
But now I have just secured myself a lower tier ticket for Man U on Tx. With, you know, that credit card that Eurostar can’t take….
Ollie, sorry to hear about your Eurosatr woes hopefully our Afro-star, Gerv the Swerve, will brighten your weekend with a match-winning performance against ‘Brom.
Holics… I have a conundrum… GP just prescribed antibiotics. Which, of course, donΒ΄t work if one drinks.
…They can wait until after the weekend, Shirley? π
Row 24 though, never been that far back in lower tier.
Mind you, depending what I find between now and the game, it might not be my ticket.
I need row lower than 6 for us to score a big win π
heh, Cent, cheers!
Dr C, I don’t know. Does it depend on the antibiotics?
I think the one time I was prescribed antibiotics in the UK I was a bit surprised because I didn’t see it mentioned that you mustn’t drink alcohol.
ThatΒ΄s a good point Ollie…. maybe they just donΒ΄t bother telling you in the UK as they know itΒ΄s a waste of ink! π
I shall enquire with my friendly drug dealer and see what she says.
My parents are here for the weekend, so it would be rude no to drink, clearly….
Re: ‘holic @164 and Camberwell @195. Top, Top recruiting success and plan, respectively. I wonder what the Sweeper would say is the preferable method, but tend to think he would lean to Camberwell’s approach. π
Haha, Toby and I are the new Radford and Kennedy. Cheers for the kind words π
Cent @204 – Ah, not so much an undiscovered gem then! I can see why he received that accolade if last night is anything to go by.
Tough it out Doc! Beer not pills. You know it makes sense π
And heh at Ollie’s complaint. I’m loving the fact that you do not appear to be 100% sure whether you used the word “cunt” π
We have a weekly circular in the legal world which amongst other things lists those Solicitors who have at some point fallen foul of the Law Society, and are either struck off or fined or both. I remember one Chap was heavily fined for the following …
Dear Mr Fat Ugly Welsh Bastard,
I no longer care.
Yours Sincerely …
Short and sharp. I loved it! π
‘holic 1 Wolves 0! Absolute top result, well deserved for all the effort put in high up the pitch.
I’m gutted about Bale. Gutted he still breathes that is. Same as I feel about any of their players, whilst they’re employed by LWC’s that is. He’s no special case. Fuck the lot ’em.
+ of
Bang on the money on both counts Esso!
tabs, I now remember I used the word ‘fools’ though π
Mild! π
If I am not mistaken, researchers have found out that alcohol does not interfere with antibiotics. Of course, drinking is not recommended in any case while ill since it lowers your body’s ability to self-heal.
Lars @222
Yaaaawnnnnn….. you sound like my boring other self! π
IΒ΄m going to think what would Dr C of The Quackery say? Ah… ok then, make it a large one! π
Interesting about the non-effect of alchol on antibiotics. Not one IΒ΄ve heard before. I shall investigate..
Healing is over-rated.
Guinness! 8)
I’m with Lars on this (as on so much else). Last time I was on antibiotics they said that most kinds are not a problem at all to use with alcohol. There are still a few exceptions to that rule, according to my doctor, but the vast majority is completely safe to use with alcohol. But, as Lars said, having alcohol in your body makes the body spend energy on removing all that good stuff, instead of getting healthier. So all in all, the combination is most certainly safe in most cases, but if you really need to get better quickly, stay away from heavy drinking anyway.
Sounds like Swedish wisdom.
Don’t mix alcohol and drugs?
Why?????
Antibiotics without alcohol?
How you supposed to wash them down?
John Terry endorses Paolo Di Canio.
Heh. Make your own jokes.
As the kids are about the preview will be very late, and very drunken.
If you cannot wait there is a taster here…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/47669/west-bromwich-albion-v-arsenal
and here…
http://arseblog.com/2013/04/continue-the-evolution-arsecast-273/
Heh Ollie.
Anything said would be surplus to requirements.
heh at mediawhorolic π
I just got a reply from Eurostar.
What they are saying is that they have a security thing meaning you cannot book a May trip if your card expire in April, but if you book for April it should be fine.
True, I didn’t specify for what dates I was trying to travel, but it was in April.
So their reply is mostly irrelevant.
I’ll try again tonight and if the issue isn’t fix, I’ll give it both barrels.
Their support is clueless and useless.
Like the letters between Napoleon and Josephine, so will Ollie’s correspondence with Eurostar forever be embroidered into the fabrics of time. Forever etched into history.
I can’t wait for the rest.
Oh, and alcohol goes as well with writing letters as it does with antibiotics, so have one on me!
heh, cheers Toby!
The paradox of desire: the attainment of desired object never diminishes the power of desire. Simply the object is replaced.
They key to contentment is neither the rejection of desire nor being enslaved by it. But an open ended acceptance of desire as the treacherous friend it is.
What is true for a single human mind is true for the collective consciousness of a group.
Whatever happens in the summer the fractured single-mindedness of the Arsenal fans will not be satisfied. Next target: PL. CL. Quadruple. Beating ManU 8-1. Beating Barca 6-0.
Open ended acceptance of football desire: a metaphoric perennial priapism (as the real ones would really hurt) of Arsenal-love for … for ever. After all, the libido needs all the outlets the body can afford. π
BREAKING NEWS…….
Sky News are reporting that France have just surrendered to North Korea.
Ollie, can you throw any light on this?
π
Heh.
What is that Kim Jung-un(stable) playing at?
Doesn’t he know that if he attacks the U.S.A that they will bomb him all the way
backforward to the stone age.Careful h2h. He could be playing up front for us next season.
If he makes as many appearances as the other Korean we had then I’m not worried in the slightest.
It will also cast serious aspersions to the feriocity of his firepower. π
I can confirm that Eurostar are an absolute joke.
Oh dear Ollie….it’s not like you are a good customer;-) You may not have called them “cunts” but calling them “grand branleurs” probably hasn’t helped.
I watched Spurs on and off last night. They really are a two man team( the other is Vertonghen). If Bale is knackered they are in the doo doo. I’d not be surprised if they struggled to get in the top 6 . It’s in their DNA. If they start losing they won’t stop.
Chelsea have got a ridiculous schedule but have a good squad and lots of experience. But they have so many games to play. We should finish above both. Everton aren’t going to fade away but their schedule isn’t easy. Get your cash on another 3rd place
Haven’t heard of it here, Steve. π
Commiserations Ollie, I take it that you have had no joy? Take it all the way up to the top cunt. Then you’ll see a bit of action. Request the name of the Boss – that’ll get ’em dancing to your tune.
Faustus @237 – “metaphoric perennial priapism”?
A tad logorrheic perhaps? π
Actually I think there’s probably a lot in what you say. It is seemingly the fate of the modern football fan, force-fed a diet of hysterical overreaction from all the usual media outlets, to constantly bemoan his lot. As such, victories and baubles will only ever provide interim release from his insatiable demands.
That said, I prefer to agree with what Nick Hornby wrote in Fever Pitch. That the immediacy and essentially transient nature of Football offers a comforting relief of sorts. Get knocked out of the Cup in March and you go again in January. Lose this weekend and there’s always next weekend to hope that things will be different.
And if it never gets any better, there’s always the old DVDs to watch! π
Oh for a bit of “perennial priapism”.
I haven’t had a boner since dear old Bobby Pires left us! π
Take it all the way up to the top cunt….
John Terry works by Eurostar?
No Barton tonight.
If only H2H π
Heh.
I mean he’s on the bench.
If he did, that would explain a lot, H2H and tabs. π
Bollocks. 1-0 to cunts.
Barton is on.
Not that there is anyone in the bar, mind….
Shit result.
Hope the rest of the weekend goes better.
Well if anyone needs cheering up, follow Ollie on twitter, works for me π Of course, hearing we have recruited another Gooner fan, makes me π as well. Will be working tonite n the next couple of days, so will miss our game π But I’ll be cheering our lads on and casting spells, if needed. π Have a great weekend holics.
Ollie 255
‘holic’s waiting for Trev to post. π
@257 abb
Love you darling!
Abb, Have agreat one too Nursie.
Come on then …….. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dare you. π
Faustus,
I can go with the mechanics of desire and the perenni how’s-your-father, but if you take desire out of football supporting, what exactly have you got left ?
You have to care whether you win or lose, or beat your nearest rivals, and why do you care ?
Because you want to achieve the next objective.
Without that, in any walk of life, we may as well just all go to sleep.
Faustus,
I just looked up ‘priapism’.
Hope I never sit next to you at a match. :(. π
Well played Holic, btw, in converting the new Gooner.
Noone expects ……… π
Playing with fire here ……. π
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Not really Arsenal news, but always awesome to watch Barcelona get humbled by a team we outplayed π