What Might Have Been As Fergie Rewrites History
Apr 29th, 2013 by 'holic
More than twenty four hours after the event I can finally write what was impossible last night. A handful of you were, if not entirely responsible, significant contributors to my inability to focus on returning home from the match yesterday. It was a long day, and almost perfect, from brunch at Piebury Corner to the final pint on the train journey home.
Of course in the middle of it all was the distraction of a football match, although you would have been forgiven for thinking we were about to witness a contentious guard of honour followed by a period of civil disobediance on a scale unseen since the Tottenham riots if you checked the redtops beforehand.
Needless to say, as I had suggested, the majority of the home support afforded the new champions a mixture of generous applause or at worst total indifference as they came out. Until of course the last man loomed into view to face a chorus of boos about as loud as they got all afternoon.
The accoustics in the Grove aren’t the best. The cut away corners that allow sunshine and air in to help the playing surface also leak noise. From sixty yards away we could see the visiting fans opening and closing their mouths like a sea of mangy Surrey goldfish but couldn’t hear them, and so my next point could well be disputed by those who sat elsewhere. That song, you know the one, didn’t feature. A couple of times a handful of people tried to start it up only for it to die a quick and natural death.
It was therefore something of a surprise to read Alex Ferguson’s comments afterwards.
βWe have a great spirit of applauding players when they come back to our club. I expected the booing to be honest with you.β
Is that so pal? You have a short memory. Those same great supporters couldn’t wait to race up the M6 to dish out far worse abuse to one of your own than we afforded to van Stapleton yesterday.
Enough of the sideshow. The action on the pitch was captivating. United have a way of playing us that has invariably proved successful in recent years, inviting us on to them before countering with pace. Yesterday was no different and yet should have proved their undoing. We needed no invitation to get forward and had the boost of a Theo Walcott goal in the opening couple of minutes. Frankly we should have added to that as we pressed, pressed, and pressed again in the opening half.
Before turning to the moment it all went pear-shaped a word of praise for the spine of the side. Wojciech Szczesny, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, and Tomas Rosicky were outstanding. I have read too much criticism of those who didn’t play so well. These five fed off the encouragement of a crowd largely inclined to get behind their own than spit bile at the little boy inside one of the visitors.
Enough has been written about the contribution of Bacary Sagna to the equaliser. It has been clear this season that he has not returned to the heights he hit before Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Bradley Johnson broke his leg last season. His inclusion these days gives us experience and a player still so strong in the air, but the time is approaching when Carl Jenkinson will surely step up.
The second-half was a much more even encounter as United found the breaks that had seemed beyond them in the opening forty five minutes. We had a couple of decent shouts for spot kicks, but survived a couple of scares so on balance a draw was probably the right result in the end.
It could all have been so different though had we capitalised on our early dominance. The lack of a fit striker didn’t help, but this was our chance to finally finish off one of the top four this season, and once again it was beyond us.
That is a lesson to carry into a critical summer.
I cannot leave the day there. A big thanks to all who came and said hello in the Tollie before and after, and not just the ones who force fed me with various concoctions. So much is made of the differences between the various elements of Arsenal’s support that we overlook the many hours of thoroughly enjoyable socialising in so many of the pubs in the vicinity of the ground. That was my last for this season as the reorganisation of the Wigan game rules me out.
Thanks to you I can’t wait to get back there in August.
Cheers.
311 Responses to “What Might Have Been As Fergie Rewrites History”
Get in…..
Go on then, Guinness. 8)
Ferguson’s revisionist tendencies are well known. He is after all the arch-hypocrite.
Sounds like I missed a bit of a session. And you are all such a model of sobriety anytime I’m down there too….
Worked hard and got stuck in, but his passing and decision making was very poor. If he’d got his head up in the first half and gone to his right, instead of his tunnel vision pass to Podolski, we would most probably have been two up when we were dominating the game and they would have found it very hard to come back.
Still, no point crying about it now π
Europa League
Well Played ‘H.
Always good when Ferguson reminds us that his inner twat is never far from the surface. As well as Ince, I don’t remember Tevez getting too much of a friendly reception when he returned to the Old Toilet.
Talk of bad influences though, yesterday, I couldn’t breathe in the presence of ‘holic without being force-fed a Guinness. π
Thanks Maestro, see you next season, I’ll try not to get chucked out at Wigan.
In another side-show, certainly at least in the first-half, I think Evra only found himself once on the left-wing, so my scope for shouting at him was limited. I have him that one earful all the same π
tabs from the last post: Reading and QPR were not mathematically down before tonight even if Villa and Wigan were to play each other, but as Villa are tonking Sunderland well and proper at the moment they are now. Really entertaining game at Villa Park, by the way.
Holic, “So much is made of the differences between the various elements of Arsenalβs support that we overlook the many hours of thoroughly enjoyable socialising in so many of the pubs in the vicinity of the ground.”
Very well said and I couldn’t agree more, that deserves a drink on my tab.
Have to disagree Lars.
The best that Reading and QPR can do is 34 points. The only teams that they could catch (before tonight’s game) were Wigan (32) and Villa (34). Wigan playing Villa meant that at least one of them would have more than 34 whatever the result.
TRwp, I am pretty sure you would have thought differently if you were there. Ramsey was the metronome of the side, setting an example that Rosicky in particular looked to enjoy sharing.
He has had his moments and been slated for it. In the last few weeks though he has made himself unrestable I would have thought. He has fought back to form and fitness at last, and we will hopefully get the benefit.
tabs’ maths are good
And ‘holics view too.
Ferguson and half truths ? Surely not.
If he’d been around when great players who had left with a bit of dignity returned to Arsenal, he’d know we welcome people with great and genuine affection when they deserve it.
In today’s paper he says that Man Utd are always one of the cleanest teams in the league, so the fact that they got five yellow cards yesterday seems wrong.
Nothing to do with what they did during that particular match on the pitch of course.
Good to see you yesterday Holic, snowy, Ollie, bath – very briefly, and some nodders and greeters who looked very familiar but whose names I’m not sure of, for which I apologise.
This is a horribly tense period and a lot will have to happen in the summer.
Come August we will all be back in The Tollie with hopes and expectations as great as ever. Will we never learn ? π
Villa 6-1 Sunderland. I must say I didn’t see that scoreline coming.
How much did we drink Ollie? I remember watching the start of MotD2, thankfully it was us, then I’m getting woken up by the management with a cattle prod…
Normally I can get something out there, but …
π
tabs, you are right and I was wrong. I did somehow manage to make 32+3 equal 34. Not my finest mathematical hour π
Trev, learn? Apparently, I must start by learning some basic arithmetic…
What Holic said @10.
Lars – Heh π
Thought Ramsey was excellent (again) yesterday. Made a boo-boo when he didn’t pick out Walcott, but other than that, thought he was superb. Great to see him harrying the opposition so deep in their half.
Trev – The next 3 games will play a huge part in my expectations for next season. Miss out on the top four and we can kiss goodbye to any real challenge next season.
Holic – spot on post and spot on @ 10.
…and what Trev said @17.
@ 16
Think you will need more than basic arithmetic when you see your bill π
tabs, I think we can kiss goodbye to any real challenge for the league next season in any case. I think we have to accept that next season – wherever we finish in a few weeks time – can at best be about improving the team enough to finish in the top four a bit more comfortably and from there possibly be able to take one more step the season after that.
zico, that won’t be a problem. I’ll just have to make sure I never have to settle it π
So glad you called SAF on his lies and hypocrisy. A mob of about 200 mancs stood outside the Emirates post match, near the Danny Fiszman bridge, chanting RVP songs and holding up banners saying “thanks for RVP”, trying to provoke afc fans inside and outside the stadium. Probably the same mob who used to sing the rape song at Old Trafford. They had to be forced away by mounted police.
For SAF to claim that manc fans have more class is utter crap. And as for his claim the ref was biased and his players didn’t deserve 5 yellow cards shows his own lack of class.
It was an interesting day to say the least. Saturday night was a late one celebrating the achievements of the local rugby club. That meant the child in me saying it was fine getting to bed at 3am when an early start for kids sport was waiting for me on Sunday morning. This meant that a pre match rendezvous at the Tollie was out of the question. Instead I grabbed a quick pint of expensive fizz inside the ground. How do they justify those prices? At least Dick Turpin wore a mask???
It was then decision time. It was 10 minutes to kick off. Do I go to my seat and await the arrival of the champions? Do I applaud their achievements whilst wondering what might have been had the board actually run the club properly? No, bugger that. I reverted back to plan A. Off to the toilets it was. I decided that it was better to look at 1 bell end rather than 11 of them.
What followed has pretty much been done to death. Holic, we saw the same game I feel. We dominated for the first 30minutes. If we were more clinical we would have had the game won. The mad 10 seconds of Bacβs summed up a poor performance all round. Like others I think it is a shame to see such a warrior lacking in such a way.
The second half was a mixed affair. We started to let them back into it. Constant waves of pressure resulted in far too few attempts on goal. I also felt that we looked vulnerable to the break and again must be thankful to the performances of the two men in the middle. Also a big mention for Shezza for one outstanding save in the first half. Watching Arsenal is nothing if not frustrating. The lack of any genuine width meant that we did not really stretch the Manc defence. On two separate occasions towards the end of the game we had great chances to create something. On both occasions we broke into the box but created nothing. That is always a worry for me. As the final whistle went I was left with the feeling that it was 2 points lost. I was also grateful that they did not need to win the game.
The post match gathering was a very enjoyable affair. Good to catch up with some old friends and I echo the thoughts around the Arsenal camaraderie. Thank you all for your company.
We are now faced with a tricky and somewhat agonising end to the season, sadly, all of our own making. I do not intend to dwell on the obvious failings of this season. I am sure we can all see them now. What I do know is that 9 points from the 3 remaining fixtures is an absolute must. That needs to start next Saturday. We need to give old Yap Yap and his band of merry men a right good shoeing, and I mean a proper shoeing. Goal difference may well prove important so I want a proper hiding dished out. It may be 14 months late and it may be without the assistance of a jury but Arry is finally going down. Letβs just make sure we add to his misery.
Make sure your seatbelts are on, itβs going to be a bumpy ride.
Lars, Tabs,
Nah, rubbish!
We’re gonna sign Begovic, Capoue, Jovetic and Fabregas.
Plodoffski will have surgery and return as Podolski.
Jack will be repaired and back to his best.
We’re gonna win the league !!! π
Ferguson’s hypocrisy is one of the main reason’s I despise Manure.
Holic- nice report and good to mention our spine which was effective and focus on positives. Ramsey has done really well in the last few weeks and has replaced Diaby very effectively. I think Koscielny is the best buy Wenger has made in the past four years.
I think the second Sagna leg break has significantly affected him. He seemed to recover from the break at Tottenham which was largely accidental well but the spiteful Johnson foul was another thing Taking Rosicky off was a strange decision and he looked none too pleased. He is by far our most positive midfield player and always looks to increase the tempo and get beyond the back four with a pass or run-the goal was a great example.
We have suffered all season because we haven’t got a really strong tackler in front of the back four. Trev has been as down on Walcott as I was on Giroud last week but Theo does score against good teams even if he doesn’t do much else.
We should have enough to get past the opposition in our last two games but Wigan at home will be a struggle although we have ten days to prepare for it and they will have played a Cup Final three days before.I wish Wenger had given us a reliable alternative central striker instead of us having to dig around for someone reliable to play there. Theo has no strength and Poldi is not remotely fit.Gervinho will never be a striker while he has a hole in his arse. Sadly we didn’t even let any possibles go as Bendtner,Chamakh and Park were all dire.
Mr. Bentekhe might be an interesting signing next season
Trev. You forgot Villa and Gonalons and I think next season will be the season we finally get to watch our boy M’villa pull on the red and whites, and all those medicals he has been having with us must mean he will never get injured, ever!
Will the Bale recognition lead more clearly to his transfer at the end of the season? I dearly hope so. I found the tone of the Times and the Mail I read at the gym deeply offensive. Joke team,not in United’s league,can’t keep their best players etc yet completely different standards are applied to the LWCs. There will be huge sympathy for them if they lose Bale. Personally I think apart from Barca DNA he also has some from Real,Bayern and baboon.
QPR. Wigan. Newcastle. Bite nails.
@Trev:
Naah..we’d get Cesc, Jovetic (Remy too may be)and no Copoue but James McCarthy. You ask James McCarthy Who? The man who plays for Wigan, British. He’s 22, Solid. Plays as Arteta 2.0 and also as a CB and play maker. And he’d be FA Cup winner by the time he joins us.
Bale will be off in the summer, regardless of where they finish. Written all over him.
Ferguson can cock off. The fact that he objects to the idea of five Utd players being booked as a matter of principle speaks volumes. No idea why the doddery old twat is allowed to get away with bellowing at the 4th official either.
Utd wouldn’t know class if it smacked them in the mush. The most spoiled fans in the country, a manager who has his fingers in every pie going and a left back who you’d never get sick of punching.
On the upside, at least we’ve got the old git’s back up again. Good sign.
Can’t see any sense in criticising Ramsey for misplacing a handful of passes. Yet again, he was all over the pitch and his pressing in the first 25 mins was exemplary. If he continues to develop like this he will be some player.
thundertinygooner – the Independent was just as bad, luckily the cat sat down on that page of the newspaper in the end.
Anyway, it’ll be tough but we’re still very capable of winning the last three games, we’re in much better form than we were through April last season. If nothing else, if we can’t beat QPR we don’t even deserve a Europa League place anyway, they really are dreadful.
Typical Ferguson,forgetting how his classy chav prawn sandwich fans always sings about Wenger being a peadophile.
I really don’t think Sagna’s injury history had anything to do with the cock-ups that resulted in the goal. They were mental cock-ups pure and simple, in my view. He panicked twice, first to give away the ball and then the penalty. We’ve seen this before when we get pressed on the ball, Sagna is not the only one we’ve seen this happen to (back four).
It seems that when we get into the big games we are a nervous wreck and the inevitable happens. Only one win against the top 6 is all you need to look at.
We’ve made our bed, now we have to lie in it. Be ready for an emotional roller-coaster in the next three matches.
The thing is, our record last year against the top six was a lot better than this season (it wasn’t amazing but there were a handful of wins there), and we were in pretty much the same position we’re in now. Sometimes our problems are like a game of whack-a-mole, you get rid of one and another one pops up.
Hey Cent, if you can’t dream, what’s the point ? π
It’s pointless Trev, just like ManShitty in the UCL.
Me coat sir…
Good morning everyone! Hope everything’s been good recently with you and yours 8D
Is there anything I hate more than Fergie and his travelling band of idiots? Don’t think so. Before the match all I could think about was beating them but having failed to capitalize on our period of domination at the beginning of the match I guess a draw is a fair result.
The remaining matches each seem to be tricky in different ways. Hopefully we can find a way to avoid slipping up against the relegation candidates. In any case, as Charlie said, if we can’t beat these teams then Europa really is what we deserve to get…
By the way, is there any truth to these Fazio and Kondongbia rumours flying around at the moment?
Apparently Man U need strengthening with Fergie reportedly offering Β£55m plus Nani, Anderson or Young for Bale.
Meanwhile the big hope for some here is to re-sign a player not good enough to get a regular start at his present club. Hmmmm.
And Trev, it is already reported than Begovic is too expensive for us.
Until we are in for really top talent we are bound to continue struggling. Three players down the spine should do it, but not the three that seem to be favourites right now.
If Sagna goes Coleman would be a good replacement, but I would sooner steal Kyle Walker from the neighbours.
Nine points will definitely be enough since one or both of Totts and Chelski will drop points when they meet.
Keep the faith. We may be destined to fight for 3rd or 4th for the foreseeable future, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Just pray it isn’t a train coming the other way…
Oskar
Steve T. told it like it is:
“It may be 14 months late and it may be without the assistance of a jury but Arry is finally going down.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And like many others I despise Ferguson far more than pitiful old Arry.
ManU does need strengthening if they are to be a force in Europe again. They might have cantered the Prem but that may say more about the strength of the Prem than anything. Fergie’s got some promising young players coming through but the mid-career core of the team hasn’t developed into a vintage crop.
Interesting that AW chose Carrick as his player of the year. Bit of insight into the sort of player he thinks is missing from the team, or perhaps what he is trying to turn Ramsey into.
Holic, you are the memory keeper for our club. As this season winds down, it is a chance for us all to reflect. For me, your blog helps me feel more connected to Arsenal in a way that is beyond just informational. I envy the companionship you holics share at The Tollie but I so enjoy the bits that emerge from these encounters. Keeping up friendships is a beautiful bit of effort. ‘I had wanted life not to bother me too much, and had succeeded – and how pitiful that was’ ~ Julian Barnes
Despise Ferguson? Why? Much as I admire AW I’d take Fergie’s successes since 1986 in a heartbeat.
Oskar
This game proved to me that with the right application, this team CAN challenge.
This game also proved that we are in desperate need of a clinical striker.
A Mario Gomez type, someone whose profession is just to score goals. Put him in front of goal and let him shoot. A goalscorer. Pure and Simple.
I’m still rather confident because I believe we’ll win our games, and if we do, we should be fine.
Like I said last week, I think Chelsea will lose to Utd and draw with Spurs, and Spurs will draw with Chelsea and Stoke.
That should be enough.
As for the summer… We’ll talk about it when the time comes.
And Holic – Spot on. Ramsey was immense. You didn’t need to be there to see it. It was obvious for all to see. He is truly unrestable at this time.
You’ve been hanging out with kiwis for too long Oskar!!!
So the ‘despising’ expressed here by many for Fergie has nothing to do with his success then, DUBNDH?
I love my Kiwis, by the way, although I’d sell some of them for a post-match celebration at the Tollie! π
Oskar
Just read that at the end of the game Theo swapped shirts with RVP. Now what the fuck would RVP want with a Theo Walcott shirt? I can’t seem him rushing off to have that framed and mounted on his wall???
Not going to speak for others but I would think a lot of people ‘despise’ slur Alex due to his propensity to be a hypocritical, whinging, bent cunt who is known to be a bully, has many previous allegations of all sorts of dodgy dealings and manages one of our fiercest rivals.
I might be alone in saying this but I’d have AW over that jakie cunt anyday.
Greetings ‘Holics.
Great report Maestro (hic).
SAF: Huge achiever, massive see you next Tuesday. Him and many of the followers of that club fully deserve each other.
Some great points up there from Ging-Gang-Geuli, Wide-Boy Steve, MD Trev, Feelgood zico, Tollie Ollie, N7 et al.
With 3-4 decent additions and no significant departures (bar Sagna), we can build a title challenging squad for next season but I just can’t see Arsene changing his spots and splashing the cash in the way some of us would like him to do so in what could prove to be his final year…. but what do I know…?
All the excitement now surrounds who will finish 3rd and 4th? I can’t call it. All I know is that our run-in looks easiest playing the 17/18/19th placed clubs as I type this and Chel$ea’s looks really tough (LWCs, Manure, Everton) and in theory it is they who will drop the most points but they have the best squad out of the three contenders (and the worst manager).
9 points out of 9 for us is achievable but it won’t be easy especially against Wigan who have the biggest fight for survival on their hands.
Those red Mancs had better give Chel$ea as good a game as they gave us. Ditto Chel$ea when they play the LWCs.
Up the effin ar*e!
Oops! Not feeling at all ‘Darth’ today.
You are definitely not alone DUBNDH re AW and Fergus. And regarding their various degrees of success, I have no doubt in my mind that AW would not have been miles behind Fergus’ success if their circumstances were to be reversed.
And without giving it much thought, I think AW is the better man
Fine account H – worth the wait. And I love the image:
“From sixty yards away we could see the visiting fans opening and closing their mouths like a sea of mangy Surrey goldfish but couldnβt hear them”
Great literary style, maestro.
Good to meet up with multiple Holics after the match.
Good ponts -as ever- from multiple correspondents above.
Szc, Kos, Per, Gibbo, Artie, TR7 and especially Rambo were outstanding v Manure.
I think it s very easy to respect Fungusface’s achievements as a manager and still hold him in utter contempt as a lying, manipulative, allegedly corrupt bully.
9 points please gentlemen.
Interesting news item in today’s telegraph about PSG and AW. I wonder what they make of it in France????
Thanks Steve and here’s the link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10026250/PSG-confident-of-luring-Arsenal-manager-Arsene-Wenger-to-France-this-summer.html
And here’s Blogs view on it.
I agree with him.
http://arseblog.com/2013/04/wenger-to-psg-stories-dont-make-much-sense/
Interesting also, Steve T, that the final year of AW’s contract is in fact ‘optional’ apparently, so he could leave at the end of this season without technically breaking his contract.
Oskar
Okay, it’s all there in the article and looks about as likely as RvP wanting to move back to the Emirates.
Oskar
I think Blogs has the correct take on this.
It seems likely that the Telegraph has fallen for another “inside scoop”.
I must agree. The Telegraph needs to start checking its sources a bit better I would suggest.
Not even worth a mention on the France Football or L’Equipe site yet, Steve.
This has the smell of bullshit and Qatari PR money again.
Keep Sagna as third CB and lose Verm if he wants to leave? Sagna gave an outstanding display there earlier in the season, partnering Mert.
Would make sense if he’s really losing his pace but not his desire or smarts. The loss of pace plays with your head and tempts you to do silly things, as anyone who used to be a speedy RB/LB can testify.
Of course it is possible to both despise and envy SAF for some of the same reasons (i.e., the surfeit of success at our expense) but I have to say I despise the man for a whole host of other reasons. Just compare the way he expresses himself to the way Arsene Wenger expresses himself, and the choice is made within seconds, I say.
Not to mention his constant whining and whinging in the middle of his barrages of accusing others of doing the same thing.
Excellent stuff, Holic. Made me feel like I was there. (I will be for every game next season and looking forward to that very much). Delighted to see you call Auld Purple Nose on his most recent Famous Red Grouse. Tha man is an utter twat.
Life is conspiring against me in terms of Goonerholic contributions at the moment – although I continue to read all of the wise words of the regulars. I’m delighted to see Aaron Ramsey continue to flourish. He received more than his fair share of brick bats here and elsewhere.
Put me in mind of a response I made to Clive at the beginning of the season. Recycled below.
For those who may be wondering, I remain very confident of Top 3, Ollie G 20 and one trophy (thanks ladies for the forthcoming FA CUP victory π and, Ollie, get your finger out in the last game at Newcastle, mate π )
See you all next season.
“Hello Sweeper.
It’s always a pleasure to be asked to comment, particularly on the young Welsh wizard, the exceptional Aaron Aragorn Ramsey, future captain of The Arsenal.
I think that for the sake of context, its important to remember:
1. The extent of the “coup” and excitement associated with winning the signature of the best young prospect of his generation, ahead of the likes of Manure
2. The form, impact and energy he was displaying immediately prior to the moment that Shawcross’ scythe severed the tibia and fibula of his right leg, condemning him (and Arsenal) agonizingly to a full year of absence from the game.
I can only imagine the agony of the physical and mental climb through rehab to full fitness. I think I can conceive of the doubts associated with the return to the game. I can comprehend the pain of rebuilding the stamina required to perform and the huge frustration of sharpness and skills lost during a redundant year in a career already too short in the base.
So, I was not surprised that :
– He didnβt explode out of the infirmary on his return.
– He appeared to have lost pace and staying power.
But I WAS very surprised by his apparent lack of fear in putting his damaged leg in danger (he neber shirked a challenge).
And, frankly, I was very disappointed by the doubters who, apparently unaware or disrespectful of circumstance criticized his play to the point of calling for his exit from the club.
Arsene said on his arrival βHe lacks a little bit the technical side of the gameβ, referring of-course to a skill-set developed in Welsh high school football and the proving grounds of Cardiff FC (hardly the Nou Camp or London Colney).
So then finally to your question.
β’ I think Arseneβs primary request of Aaron will be that he continues to develop the technical side of his game, learning βon the jobβ and the training pitch from Santi, Arteta and Diaby.
β’ I expect Arsene to rotate a rich vein of MF talent to keep everyone sharp and out of the red zone. This will see Aaron start fairly often against lesser teams and feature as holding- sub in bigger games.
β’ Heβll feature just behind the front two in MF when he starts, with latitude to add width and pace now that his stamina and speed have recovered.
β’ I think weβll see βfour teamsβ this season. One each for BPL, CL, FA and League Cup. Aaron has the fortitude and game for the domestic cups and will start in both, captaining the League Cup team to build his leadership.
β’ I think heβll score more goals for Arsenal this season than ever before. This by virtue of a less hurried approach and through taking on tired legs late in games.
With Sczez, Jack, Gibbs and The Ox, Aaron is the foundation on which the clubs future will be built. His personal qualities transcend the others and, while Jack will be the star of the fututre, Aaron will be the anchor, the rock of stability, the Captain who picks up more silverware than any Arsenal captain before him.
And, Clive, From the doubters, Gimme Shelter and come out Street Fighting, Man.”
BtM … crystal balls on loan from Snir π
So a move back from Stateside is on the cards? Permanent transfer, or do we have you on loan only?
Afternoon all,
Down Under @53 – agreed.
Steve T @52 – Theo’s shirt ? Would much rather he just mounted Theo on his wall. π
Personally, Trev, although as poor as TheoΒ΄s form has been, IΒ΄m not sure he deserves to be mounted anywhere…
Afternoon to you from this the most oranje of days in the Lowlands. Yes the Queen has abducated and we have a new King, these events have filled me with… well…. alcohol, if I’m wearing an orange coloured garment, then there’s no way in hell I’m doing it sober. π
Cheers for the report ‘holic.
That must of been some session to delay the procedings for so long. Nice one.
The Wenger to PSG story has been around for years and I think it has been given more credibility than usual because the journalist,Paul Hayward is one of the best of an admittedly shabby bunch. He is not given to the tabloidesque scoops of most of the hacks and has clearly been seriously schmoozed by PSG.
I think this falls into the category of facilitating a situation by using the press to create a scenario which puts uncertainty into a number of parties. Frankly I was waiting for something to derail the close season as the likelihood of AW splashing the cash seems a little unlikely to me.
We really don’t want this dragging on. It needs to be sorted ASAP if he is staying and if be isn’t we need to find a successor quickly so we don’t lose impetus in the close season . Frankly I think it is 90% certain he will stay because he will be under huge pressure at PSG and it flies in the face of everything he stands for. But football is a strange game. Interesting if the successor was someone credible like Klopp or Low what can reaction would be. If its Arry that’s another matter!
Sorry meant fan reaction!
Not much to add. I’ve watched the game twice now. We were in full control and if we had a clinical strike we would have won. We would have been 2-0 up in first 30 minutes. The piss poor decision/ execution of that back pass castrated us. Why?
We gave that skunk 2 goals this season. Sagna and vermaelen should each have an assist added to there tallies. Arrrrgh.
We can compete but this year we couldn’t beat any of the big boys. For us to challenge next year we will have to add some quality and a change in attitude that we can not only compete, but we can beat the manchesters and chelski’s of the world. The Bayern victory helped but we need to do it more consistently.
9 for 9 is very doable but we need to start each game with authority. Any temerity and we will be in for a fight to the end.
Cheers all. Enjoy each game!
Afternoon All,
Lars @22 – You’re probably right, however a top four place would allow me to dream, no matter how unrealistic those dreams might be.
Trev @26 – That’s the spirit! π
Oskar @42 – Kyle Walker?? Bloke has got a turn of pace but that’s about it. He has been found out this season. Jenkinson above him every time.
Ned @46 – AW has always liked Carrick. I’m not surprised. I saw Carrick’s debut for West Ham at Highbury and it was obvious even then that he was a stand out. AW was reportedly very interested in signing him before he went to Tottenham, but decided against it because of the promise of a certain Cesc Fabregas. Imo Carrick is a very under-rated player. I have never understood why he is not a certain starter for England given the game time that has been afforded to the likes of Barry, Parker et al.
Oskar @48 – I don’t think “despise” is too strong a word at all. Reckon Bath had it absolutely bang on when he said …
“I think it’s very easy to respect Fungusfaceβs achievements as a manager and still hold him in utter contempt as a lying, manipulative, allegedly corrupt bully.”
That pretty much sums it up. The only word that I would perhaps consider superfluous is “allegedly”. Any comparison between Wenger’s achievements and those of the machiavellian wanklord is to compare apples and pears. Ferguson has had every advantage during his time in England. That is not to doubt that he has used that advantage very well, but who knows what he would have done on a break even budget? Who knows what AW might have achieved if he was given carte blanche to spend upwards of Β£60m gross on injury prone 29 year olds? We shall never know, but there is good reason to suppose that AW would have run him pretty close, as he did up to 2008.
Ferguson’s legacy to the game can be found in more far-reaching ways than merely his results. It is there in the relentless intimidation of officials, it is there in his contempt for the media (and by extension his own fanbase), it is there in his cultivation of a cabal of fellow Managers who seem happy to bend at the altar of the “Godfather”, a pseudonym in which one suspects Ferguson glories, and it is there in his avaricious quest for power in the game at large.
The Game will be better off without Ferguson. I can’t wait ’til the old cunt disappears.
‘Are you ready for the year 2012?’ Some spam, eh?
*Applauds that tabs post*
Spot on about Ferguson.
Spot on about Kyle Walker.
Spot on about Carrick.
Saved me three posts, that did.
@ 78
You forgot to add to his rap-sheet that he is also a Weedgie cunt π
TaBS knows!
Cheers N7, Cent.
Dr Z – Didn’t realise he was Norwegian? π
Heh, I like Scandinavians.
For reasons reported, and not-reported. π
Haha π
Heh, one month before the end of the season, they have at last changed the positions on the ST Waiting list, bravo…..
I can’t access that Telegraph report. I am informed that I have used up my 20 free articles for the month. I must admit I don’t remember spending much time on the Torygraph’s website but heh ho, I won’t be subscribing.
I can guess what it says though. Almost certain that it comes, as Blogs’ hints, from a certain disgruntled shareholder, seeking to ratchet up the pressure at the business end of the season and to exploit, purely for his own purposes, any consequences that might flow from a failure to achieve top four.
Indeed Tabs, all of that @78.
I do know that AW was involved in a Carrick bid when he was still at West Ham and Vieira was still at the club. At the time, I have to admit it seemed a strange one to me, but several people I was in touch with inside the club at the time, were getting quite excited about it,
It now seems AW would have been right again – maybe he decided he just preferred Phil Collins. (Just in case Bloggs drops in. π )
Oskar – Walker before Jenks. Not on your nellie – or mine, come to that.
And Bellerin looks to be maturing nicely behind him too.
Bath – may I add my endorsement of your Fergie assassination. Bang on.
tabs, you will not be surprised that said person has apparently spoken again today….
I almost expected it too:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-30/usmanov-says-arsenal-s-kroenke-shows-no-wish-to-create-winner.html
courtesy Hazza on the arses.
Usmanov said he βwill think what to do with Arsenalβ by the end of the season.
Well, good luck with that, as long as Stan has his share then you can think all you want, but that’s about it. You’ve got about as much input in the club as we have, but poisoning us with your negative media stunts is not going to garner you much love, well maybe with the hard of thinking, but not from me.
Ah Cheers Ollie. No surprises there. It’s all so bloody transparent.
“we also wonβt sell out, as we are the teamβs fans,β Usmanov said.
Dear oh dear!
Cheers Trev. I remember being a bit cheesed when we didn’t get him I must admit, largely on the back of that debut performance, where he went toe to toe with PV4 for a good hour before tiring. Just had a look at Wikipedia and he moved to Tottenham in the Summer of 04. If he’d come to us, he would have been understudy to PV for a year. Maybe that’s what swung it in Tottenham’s favour?
H2H – Indeed.
He’s clearly playing the ‘look at me, I’m not Kroenke, you don’t like Kroenke, do you?’ card to the full now.
I found that bit interesting:
Should the team finish fourth in Englandβs Premier League this season, Kroenke βwould probably be happy.β
Er, yeah? At this stage, I would definitely be happy too.
In fact, you could argue that Usmanov could possibly one of these types who wouldn’t be happy about that…… So much for the ‘team’s fans’ puke-tastic bit.
The problem is, a lot of people will fall for it, creating futher divides in the fan base, basic Art of War stuff.
I guess that speculation about AW’s position is going to be a constant from here on in. I’m doubtful that he will sign a new contract unless there is a credible challenge for the Premiership next season (if at all).
In the absence of that signature, possible successors will be put forward.
One name that I really don’t understand is Joachim Low. The bloke has been out of the Club game for 9 years, 10 if Arsene sees out the last year of his contract.
In the Club game, he has never managed at the highest level and his biggest achievement was winning the German version of the FA Cup. He then went to Turkey, was relegated, and then subsequently sacked by two different Clubs.
He wound up in Austria, that hotbed of top level football, and though he won the Championship, the Club subsequently went bust. Has he got a twitch?
Got the German position almost by default, and though it is debatable, it might be argued that he has underachieved with the players he has had at his disposal.
Not for me.
tabs@78: you sing from the same hymn sheet as I do re: Sir Rednose. Also agree about Carrick, I’ve never really understood why so many think he’s shit. He’s anything but.
And H2H knows @93. Jabba the Hut knows exactly what he is doing with these statements.
Good points, tabs
Good to see Man Utd represented in the CL semi final courtesy of Mr Webb.
heh zico
Don’t forget Tabs, German is the flavour of the month. The vultures at the media put two and two together and come up with 5 times the bullshit.
Wait a week or two, Ajax will win their third succesive league title under De Boer, someone will twig on to this, do a quick google and see that he is partnered with Dennis Bergkamp, add two and two again and Bob’s your aunties live in lover;
De Boer In Arsenal Take Over Talk Exclusive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bang!
Seeins as both Gronaldo and Di Maria start, I can only see a diving contest (well contest is within the same team…)
Well in Lars!
That’s great news H2H !
I’d much rather have De Boer and Dennis in charge than that Asusova a barrel bloke.
When do they start ? π
Nice finish Lurky Lars !
Hey, Dennis will be LANS !!!
Heh Zico.
Well in Lars.
Ollie. They’ll have to decide on a designated diver.
Heh Trev.
Well in Lars. I think we sing from the same hymn sheet on all things football related! π
Heh Dr Z π
H2H – Yeh that’s fair enough re media manipulation. Seen his name crop up on several occasions, but you’re right, there’s probably nothing in it.
Ollie – Cheers.
Storming game in Madrid thus far. Really hoping for early goals for Dortmund. I really want to see the Madrid crowd turn on Maureen.
Heh zico π
We certainly do, tabs π
Why do people think The big Uzbek would not be incredibly shady if he gets his fat mitts on the club. He is being crazy manipulative already. If he’s behind the telegraph article it only goes to undermine the team prior to their last 3 games of the season. How is that “best interest”? I see that as only “self-interest”, and that won’t change if he is on charge. And as for the ” we are fans of the club” , in certain his partner is a well known Manc.
I still think if he wants to help the club, he can talk to Kronke and then make a shirt company that out bids Nike and just tell Kronke that that money is for player purchases only. 50 million pound a year shirt deal. It’s a win win if he wants to help the club!
Amen to that, NorCal.
*applauds NorCal*
Had half an eye that first half.
How the fuck is Ramos still on the field? He should of seen red at least three times.
Cheers fellas.
Hate it when people think that turning is into Chelski north will fix all that ails us. The Uzbek is a scary unknown in my book. I prefer our history and morals. Kronke is not my ideal either but he has at least kept the morals of the club intact. I wish we had a more visible/ vocal owner who gave us a firm direction and honesty about some affairs. But in Kronke’s defense, he did little to change the way the club was run when he took over. If anything he has been too status quo.
Ah but enough of that. Glad to see the U-21 won tonight. Akpom and Bellerin getting the goals.
Cheers all.
” turning us into Chelski North….”
Damn phone and typos.
I didn’t turn the telly on, so don’t blame me.
easy on yourself Norcal.
what with the typos and all i’m the king of the dipshits.
right, king of the “typos”.
yes, yes … showing myself out.
Oh shit, 2 back from Real……………. It’s on.
is dortmund about to bottle it? 2-0 in the 90th, one more and they’re through.
and norcal, dead on about the fat orange. frightening prospect; if people think the silent one is bad, he at least shows consistent morality in his dealings. not so the blimp.
one more for real, that is.
i really want to see the special one’s face if they don’t get the third.
Evening all. Can someone please explain to me why Usmanov is behind the PSG stories that have appeared? Have I missed something here?
Maureen will presumably be handed his P45 after tonight?
Unemployment is the scourge of the Western economies, so they say…..
Oh and well done Dortmund, make sure and win it now.
good for dortmund.
fuck real.
Good, Real cunts are out.
Following that end on the internet wasn’t relaxing.
thankfully the best team went through.
Oh Special Cunt, not enough money at Madrid then?
I hope Ronaldo is crying too, can anyone confirm?
can’t tell, ollie. his face is covered in bits of grass and mud and shit, from all the diving.
NorCal, Thank you soooooooooo much, for putting in a good word for me @Gervinho π π π
Steve T,
I have NO proof of a certain Uzbek using the media to his advantage π
What I do always find “interesting” is the timing of these articles and that they almost always show up in tandem with a article that does quote the “not so slim shady”.
Exhibit A.
A certain Dutch skunk publishes a now infamous letter. Within hours the not-so-slim shady publishes a letter questioning the board and manager.
Exhibit B.
Thierry Henry is said to dine with the not so slim shady at which opportunity he makes a statement that even Henry prefers him to silent Stan.
And now Exhibit C:
An article comes out today that states the Manager may well jump ship this summer. Also today an article comes out quoting not so slim shady as saying Kronke is comfortable with not winning and that he is what is best for the club because well…. He is a true fan.
Coincidence or just more PR maneuvering especially if we fail to qualify. Keep your mouth shut and out of the press, that is what is best for the club at this point on the season.
That’s my take on these things.
Cheers
You forgot the big takeover bid on the eve of the North London Derby NorCal. Of course the potential Arab buyerss didn’t want to work with Stan, but funnily enough had no problem working with Fatty.
Ah yes. I knew there was more. Thx Tabs.
Again all conjecture of course but….. π
Completely with you NorCal, and the points you previously made so well.
He’s been so transparent since Day One of his involvement with Arsenal that I genuinely weep that some people still fall for it.
*transparent = transparently cuntish π
He is the richest bloke in the country. He owns 30% of the club. My guess is that you will continue to hear him spouting off, especially in the foreign media. I don’t see how he is linked to the PSG stuff though.
For me Usmanov and Stan need to talk. I really do not think the situation is good for the club. To be honest, neither of them impress me in the slightest.
Who said Women’s Football isn’t worth watching?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I-8SEoVvHm0
Don’t think the stand off is good for the Club Steve – how can it be? – but Usmanov has to look to himself for the reasons why he’s been excluded.
As for him continuing to spout off, I think you’re right there. Difficult to see an end to it all unless and until one of them gets fed up.
I agree but for me they have to talk before this gets too destructive. Otherwise the club could just turn into a battle of two men’s egos. Personally I would be happy if both sold up and fucked off.
Indeed.
I hear you Steve T. And agree. The standoff only pushes and pulls at the club and supporters in the middle. Kind of like the kids in a divorce. Not so slim shady is the vocal parent who takes every opportunity to bad mouth the other parent to the kids ( fans). Stan is the stoic one who just digs in his heels and becomes obstinate and noncommunicative. Not a good situation in the least.
I am not saying he was absolutely behind the PSG rumor but it fits his M.O. And the timing is again perfect. We dropped points against one of our traditional rivals, it’s going to come down to the wire and he is getting his ducks in a row to drop the ” I can do better , just let me show you” in the summer routine especially if he can create more factions in the fan base by creating uncertainty and turmoil.
In fairness NorCal, he probably could do better. From where I am sitting I don’t think it would be too hard to better the work of silent Stan. For me he is a wet lettuce. I have no idea at all why he wants to be involved with The Arsenal apart from personal profit. Whilst he continues to be the leader of our steady decline he is bound to divide fan’s opinions. The longer these two clowns continue their ego trips the longer us fans will pay the price.
I am not a Stan’s the man guy either.
He has not done anything. Seriously, I have not seen one thing he has accomplished that betters the club. The staleness was here when he arrived and it has continued since.
What I do know is I would be very upset if Usmanov took control and turned us into a Chelski or man shitty. I have followed Arsenal because I am proud of our history, our morals and our beliefs of doing things ” the right way”. Both on and off the pitch.
I’d rather be in a scrap for 3rd or 4th then buy a bunch of mercenaries at the highest inflated price. I absolutely hate what has happend at the top of the leagues. The top 2-3 teams in each major European league is littered with teams that win only because they spend an ungodly amount of money each year to hoard the best established players. What players have Chelski or man shitty developed in the last 5 years. Barca is an exception, in that a number of their players were developed by the club. I prefer our method of developing a core and then augmenting it with transfers. We can do a better job, and have in the past at doing this.
We can definitely do better as a club, but I don’t want to sell my soul to the devil to do it.
Nor Cal
you raise some good points but Paul Hayward does not write articles at the behest of oligarchs. Usmanov is supposed to like Wenger so why wind him up?If Dein returned with the Uzbek he won’t be sacking Wenger any time soon.
Although holics find the Gooner a tad critical I commend an article in this month’s edition which asks the editors of the fanzines of the franchises Kroenke runs what sort of owner he is. noone is desperately negative but it stiill makes depressing reading for an ambitious arsenal fan. Maybe Wenger himself believes he has fronted up for the board long enough
Incidentally the whole magazine has a much more constructive air about it this month=at last many may justifiably say.
Who says he’s winding Wenger up Ttg?
Wenger’s attitude towards the Uzbeki, given his relationship with Dein, has never been fully ascertained.
Where AW stands re all these Boardroom shenanigans remains the great unanswered question.
TTG,
Again I am not saying it was Usmanov that planted the article this time. He may not have. I think it’s a bit suspect in its timing and the fact that he was quoted in an article today.
Why an article about Wenger leaving? Again, to create uncertainty and chaos amongst the supporters. Speculation and chaos are the best pastimes of any Arsenal supporter.
Cheers all. And thanks for the discussions. It has made this afternoon so much better.
Tabs
you raise a sound point although I would credit Wenger with considerable loyalty to Kroenke thus far. Like most political struggles it is getting very murky.
My comments were based on the very fierce reaction Wenger gave to journalists when his two year contract was raised at a press conference. That was not the reaction of a man into internecine plotting behind his employer’s back and in fairness Wenger has been hugely supportive of his employers thus far.
I think we can agree that PSG want him and while I think that has nothing to do with Usmanov I may be wrong. but i don’t think so. I think this story has legs but i still think Wenger will stay
Fair enough Ttg.
All very murky as you say.
Very valid points ttg, tabs , NorCal .
We seem to be stuck with two not-very-likeable people controlling the club right now. Although right now Stan may look like a a big Rock dragging the club down into the sea, I still much prefer him at the helm that the uzbek. Simply because he has a history of taking care of his investments. No doubt the uzbek will do that as well, but with him i fear a chelski like splurge and whimsical management of the club, which i would hate to see happen.
I do not think Arsene would have said a word against the uzbek as well.simply because he is an honorable man. Unlike a lot of managers who like to wash their dirty laundry in the media, Arsene keeps his cool and presents a unified picture to the public (Like any employee should) . He is paid to work for the club and he does that with aplomb. I hate when the media does not even acknowledge these things and instead paints him as a whining loser. We ARE EXTREMELY lucky to have a guy like him at the helm managing the footballing side.
Oh, a bit of a debate to catch up on tomorrow.
Usmanov + Kroenke = UzbekiStan
Seems obvious enough ………
Hang on guys, I never said I would rather have Ferguson than AW. I greatly admire AW and the whole Arsenal model and would never sell out for any reason.
Like most here I would like to see us win more often and for all his (agreed) faults that is what Ferguson has delivered to Manure. And I think it a little hypocritical of some here to despise the guy when they would, I have no doubt, have forgiven similar ‘faults’ in any Arsenal manager who had delivered those same results.
Unlike most here I don’t keep complaining when the results don’t go our way. I’m often disappointed, but it’s the price we pay for NOT having a manager and business model I don’t approve of.
I hope that makes some sense! Maybe I should just stop digging…
As for Kyle Walker, tabs, I was suggesting him as a replacement for Sagna if he goes, not Jenks. Obviously I think he’s a better player than you do, but I’m hardly alone … he was Young Player of the Year last year (beating Bale and Ox among others), and as much as anything he would be another England international to join half the team in the interlulls.
Oskar
Could there possibly be a worse scenario than choosing between a Russian or a Yank to own the club? Lose/lose either way, imo.
I hear the Queen is a gunner … why can’t she put her money where it would do some good!
Oskar
Arsenal by appointment to Her Majesty … I like it!
Oskar
oops didn’t mean to say that we wanted arsene out or in or whatever π
I was just responding to that notion that arsene is comfortable with Stan.. I mran arsene would be loyal to his employers if he believes they have a proper philosophy or else he would just walk out.
also do believe that the past few years of pocket pinching were a bit too much and much better could have been done to improve things. lets hope arsene is given the backing he so deserves.
and heh@trev π
Okay dumbphrey … apart from Fergie, name one manager in the EPL with a greater record of success than AW.
Oskar
And now humphrey is gone, deleted … in case anyone’s wondering what my previous is about!
Oskar
I have just read that goalkeeping coach, 43 year old Tony Roberts was on the bench for the under 21’s last night??????? Have we adopted the Victor school of mathematics and no one has told us???
I think you’re allowed 2 senior players in an U21 team, Steve?
Or in last night’s case, 1 very senior player.
Tried to get to Underhill last night but couldn’t get away in time.
Last chance to see an Arsenal U21 game there is on Friday vs Mugsmashers. Tempting…
BTW, they had Bongo Shelvey playing for their U21s in the away fixture.
Keep the width π
BtM @ #69
Splendid news!
Did Ivan finally give-in and appoint you head of marketing?
Will you be stationed in god’s country or are you moving back to north o’ the other H’s wall?
Looking forward to sharing a haddock or two with you next season young man. We’ll get battered together.
Doesn’t everybody use deer antler spray every couple of hours?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/22362070
I know I do. It helps with my deer antlers. π
Don’t get into a rut 8 ball, you need to be more bambitious
Not even in disguise.
Best way – completely ignore.
TS @159 – π
8ball – Barry Venison used to use that. π
Gilberto Silva,
Great man, dignified at all times, terrific example to younger team mates, defensive wall we sorely miss these days, World Cup Winner, but hey, ask a turnip like humphrey if you really want to know. π
A good afternoon to you all. A couple of points to add to the fine discussion above, if I may;
The top 2-3 teams in each major European league is littered with teams that win only because they spend an ungodly amount of money each year to hoard the best established players.
When has that ever been any different? Not in my lifetime anyway. Teams like Man U, Madrid, Bayern, Ajax, the Auld firm, have always controlled their leagues by spending more. I remember Fergie splashing out 30mil on a defender and also on a teenager long before the Oliegarchs turned up.
I think we can agree that PSG want him…..
Ofcourse they do, which club, bar maybe IOU wouldn’t? I think sometimes we lose sight of just how good a manager AW is.
Reguarding the chairman, apart from lack of communication, I donΒ΄t really see what he’s done wrong. To say that he’s responsible for the under investment in the squad is pure speculation, there’s absolutly no proof to back up those allegations, only extrapulation from the media and rhetoric from a disgruntled shareholder who is out in the cold. As far as I can remember we’ve never been a club that made marque signings or offered ridiculous (well more ridiculous then what Feo gets) wages to entice that kind of player to our ranks.
I also read that we don’t trust the Uzbechi and that we don’t want an Oliegarch in charge, so what do we want?
How’s about a Venkys? They’re not silent, are they? They’d certainly shake up the management team for all you “Wanger Oot”-ers. No?
Well let’s try a Fernandes type, he’ll bring in a bunch of mercenaries for us to improve our position in the league, it worked wonders for QPR didn’t it………..what? …………….Oh!
Man Utd have won some stuff, how about a Glazer type deal? Let’s mortgage the club to the hilt and relie on extreamly volitile bond issues and paying off extorniate interest on dodgy loans to insure our financial future, in the current economic climate what could possibly go wrong?
How about someone closer to home, an in one go pint guzzling fat lager lout like Mike Ashley more to your taste? He’ll steady the ship by bringing in a good old fashioned honest to goodness English manager on an eight year contract and everytime we get a bit of stability he’ll wanna grab a piece of the spotlight by doing something ridiculous, nothing silent about him either.
Before I get accused of jumping on the Stan Wagon, I too am a fully fredged member of the Steve T gang, who don’t believe we are being the best we can be with the recources that are (alledgedly) available, but I have seen no proof that this is the fault of the board, I haven’t heard of any monies been taken out of the club and distributed amongst the shareholders, have you?
The late Mr Fitzman, an Arsenal man through and through if ever there was one, literaly entrusted the stewardship to his beloved club from his deathbed to Mr Kroenke to insure that the club was run the way he would of wanted if he were still with us today, with a policy of non interference regaurding footballing issues. We have highly paid profesionals like Mr Wenger to make those decisions and that is the way it should be. Can you imagine for one minute that if a megolomaniac like Fat & Orange took control that he wouldn’t want to intefer with which players were brought in or other things regarding team affairs? Per–lease! That beached whale would set up camp in the dressing room.
Maybe everything is not super rosey in our garden, but it could be a hell of a lot worse. Maybe Stan is not the man, but he seems to me to have the best interest of the clubs future stability at heart and some of the other options out there just don’t bare thinking of.
To sum up;
Be careful what you wish for………… You might just get it.
That would be Gilberto Silva the Brazilian World Cup winner, double winner and Invincible. Oh and Champions League finalist. Blimey think what he could have achieved if he had been any good
Bravo H2H.
Humphrey please wipe your mouth. I’ll send you some toilet paper.
Good write up H2H. I’m also optimistic that the club seems to be making efforts to embrace concerns from varying sections of the fan base. Mtg with Pedro @ Le Grove is a recent example. Always believed folks have more in common then they realize. Once they acknowledge this, it can only lead to constructive dialogue. Now to switch gears. Would love to see Akpom and Bellerin feature in our last 3 games.
H2H 164, great post.
abb. There is no such meeting: did the cunt from Le Grove try to sell it as that?
I believe that was the meeting with many people invited, includind, ‘holic, blogs, etc.
Cheers H2H.
Yes the top teams have always been big spenders but I think the disparity between them has increased. Maybe it’s just the big numbers that bogle my little mind but I saw somewhere recently that Chelski has spent almost a billion pounds on players the last 5-6 years.
You make some great points. I don’t know what I wish for.
There are days that I want my cake, and eat it too.
I don’t want the not so slim shady but the very silent Stan also gets my goat.
ABB,
Now is not the time to switch things up. We need 9 from 9 just to have a chance to qualify. Not a time for youngsters no matter what talent they show.
And Trev
Oh deer, I was afraid you would be fawning all over yourself to get the puns going. π
Cheers all. Have a beer on Lars.
Ollie, Yes, that I was I was referring to! π I will take full responsibility for using the word mtg π Btw, Pedro taking a lot of grief from his followers. ‘Consorting’ w the enemy π Some people just want to complain and know that if things are hashed out in a reasonable manner, it will spoil their fun π
Pedro taking a lot of grief from his followers.
You reap what you sow. Zero sympathy from here I’m afraid.
NorCal, You snuck one in whilst I was talking to Ollie. Chuka in particular is on form, he can score. Just thought w our goal drought, he might be able to help. Last 20 min. of a game against QPR, maybe?
h2h@164, but exactly. well, well said.
norcal, the weight of those puns has me all haunched over. i can’t even roe my boat, deer. i suppose i should just hoof it.
can’t wait until barca leave it all on the field today…including progression to the final. bayern, meet dortmund.
We have signed up a new commercial deal in Africa with a bank.
Is that to:
A) hide our money
B) count our money
C) make us money
D) spend our money.
ABB,
Yes the young Akpom has been score for the youths but a step up to the first team at this stage is not what I want to see.
Goonerholic is the best Arsenal blog I have read, I have been an Arsenal fan since 1978 FA cup final and probably earlier, but it is good to read about Arsenal with such a long view- cheers from Finland!
Applauds H2H.
NorCal, Fair enough. But I’ve never been shy w my views re promoting our youth. For me, seeing them develop their game and taking it to the next level, is so satisfying. Don’t think him playing against QPR is that big of a gamble. Just my two bits π Might just make Theo take notice, too.
Greetings to Hannu! π Hey there Cent π
Good post H2H,
It does put the rosiest possible glow on Kroenke’s aspirations but, as you say, there is no evidence to dispute it.
I’m afraid the lack of communication and the failure to “be the best we can be”, are not convincing me to date, but the present alternative is even more suspicious.
I don’t really think Usmanov would be looking to asset strip the club or manipulate it to make money, because he already has vast amounts more of that than he could make out of football.
The fear would be the megalomania and the manager merry go round that would completely destabilise the club and destroy it’s values.
And ours.
Aren’t there any classy, benevolent, benign, multi-billionaire Gooners out there ?
Cheers ABB. Hope all is going well with you.
Welcome Hannu. Have a drink on my tab.
Trev, I was your man right up to the point you said “multi-billionaires”.
So close. π
Hi Nursie.
Welcome Hannu.
Norcal 176, A ,d C are all viable options, we don’t pay much tax here in Africa, just saying.
Trev, Lars’ wallet could buy Arsenal but that might mean cutting down on our supply of alcohol in this bar and we won’t want that to happen now, would we?
Ollie 173, spot on!
NorCal@183: yeah, don’t you just hate it when it’s so close and you fall on the last hurdle? π
Trev and Norcal, the richest black man (a Nigerian. He is richer than Stan and Abramovic.) claims to be a Gooner, now if I can find my way to his office maybe I can convince him to make a bid for us.
Heh NorCal. π
BREAKING NEWS! Lewandoski in talks with Manure
http://pic.twitter.com/p1DYkZrc1E
heh Lars and NorCal π
heh at Cent too
Afternoon All,
GPN @147 and @152 – Good stuff. I agree that AW is a loyal and honourable man. That said, I don’t think the situation is as simple as Arsene upping sticks and walking out if he didn’t agree with his employers. Bob Wilson has said on many an occasion that AW views Arsenal as the “Club of his lifetime”. It is his baby. He has revolutionised the Club from top to bottom in sixteen years and everything at the Club now bears his imprint. As such, it will always be difficult for him to walk away, even if there are issues with his employer.
There have been pointed remarks made by Arsene (or at least as pointed as Arsene gets) in the last couple of years, not least in the Summer of 2011, that all has not been hunky-dory in his relationship with the Board.
Oskar @149 – Fair enough on Ferguson. Football allegiances make hypocrites of us all, and what we hate in other team’s players or Managers will always be dismissed with a cursory shrug or a conspiratorial wink when it’s one of our own. I remember years ago a Spurs friend of mine saying how much he hated Ashley Cole. At the time I couldn’t understand it. Of course, as soon as he was in Chelsea blue it took me no time at all to get what he had been driving at. Same goes for the Dutchman. Even the way he runs and wipes his nose irritates me now.
I agree that some of my feeling towards Ferguson is no doubt borne of a jealousy of the results that he has achieved, but for all the reasons previously given above (and a few more), he makes it very easy for others to despise him. I shall carry on doing so. π
As for Kyle Walker, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I thought he had a decent first season (though nothing like as good to have merited the Young Player of the Year imo), but has been distinctly average this.
H2H @164 – Great post. I agree with a lot of what you say, although I would temper it with the thought that if we are lauding Stan for no other reason than that “there are a lot worse owners out there”, then we are not setting the bar very high are we.
Stan just strikes me as someone who is not very interested, other than from a business point of view. I might be doing him a huge disservice, but then he hasn’t said or done anything to dispel that notion has he? I’ll put up with him as a bulwark against Fatty for the time being, but other than that I’m not sure what he brings to the party.
Abb – Who is Mtg? And why are you reading Le Grove? The man is using Arsenal for a meedja presence. Shame he can’t write.
As for either Bellerin or Akpom getting a look in before the end of the Season in what amounts to three absolutely crucial games, you jest surely? NorCal is right, now is not the time to be blooding youngsters.
Cheers Ollie.
Messi doesn’t start. Either he’s very very unfit, or BarΓ§a are not taking this game seriously. Not that they have anything else to play for though, so must be the first option.
Or they will try to do a ‘psychological thing’.
Given that Arsenal never in its history (maybe except for the Chapman years to an extent) enjoyed decade-long dominance the way say Bayern or Barca or Madrid or ManU or Pool in their heydays did, is the vexation for not being able to sustain and grow the footballing glory of early Wenger years for a longer period vexing enough in itself?
My Arsenal support coincides with Wenger era — like many other non-local supporters across the world — but looking up our history I see that this pattern of long stretches of lean years is quite the norm and not at the exception. However, in this particular incarnation of that pattern we made tangible progress to the well-being of our club: new stadium, new facilities, much improved brand identity. None of those obviously can replace the ecstasy of the immediate joy in glory, nor they should, but like any other organization in the world sometimes the ephemeral and the immediate need to be sacrificed for longevity and growth.
I know all these sound obvious. But I think even though we intellectually admit the soundness of this perspective we cannot really bring ourselves to identify with it because footballing joy is so visceral a pleasure and footballing identity is so tribal an affiliation. If we are forced to honestly choose between say Arsenal winning a quadruple next season and sudden end of all violence across everywhere in the world many (not ALL, but many) of us would choose (even though we won’t admit to ourselves this likelihood) Arsenal winning it all. Such deep and profound is the identification of self and self-worth with the club.
I love the fact that Arsenal stands for some core values of how to play and how to conduct business in the wider world, other than the obvious winning at all costs. And hence when that inevitable glory comes it would be so much more pleasurable, so much more meaningful and so much more to be proud of.
So tonight is the night we find if Cesc is the new Messi or something π
Ollie – or a back-up for Giroud? π
Evening all,
About to watch Bayern show we went out to the finalists.
Thank you Hannu π
Assist?
heh Lars.
Bang !!!
That was too early
Scores when he wants !!!
And maintains modesty ….. π
Well in Trev.
You still have to work on your timing, Cent! All you achieved is make me succeed in an unexpected assist π
Evening Maestro.
Perfect timing on the tabs though, Cent! π
Cent suffering from premature congratulation …….. π
Bayern are really impressive….
Tabs@191.. You said so eloquently what i had to express. Arsene is managing the club because of the philosophy of living within our own means and a BUILDING a team.
Like Dr Faustus said earlier, I did start following arsenal during the wenger era (in my case 2006 due to Mr Henry:D ), and for me the most important facet of the club was the philosophy that we could achieve greatness by building a team. A team that was not a pack of players bought for exorbitant prices ala Real or Chelski. It was the class with which we conducted our business, the way we handled our transfers (Barca.. watch n learn) The way we played football. It was an ideal concept and still is. But i guess the immediate glory that Arsene bought has kinda brought about that impatience that a lot of us feel in terms of wining stuff. I for one would be proud if we could still continue fighting the same way. I don’t want us to win the league by throwing away 100s of millions on new players.
Now im not saying that im satisfied by what we have done in recent years, but i would hate the day our club also turned into a club who just throws their money around and gets what they want the easy way. Thats what makes following Arsenal just a joy and makes it worth it.
Cheers.
Thanks for the kind ones nurses and gents.
abb, as others have already said, this is not the time to be blooding raw talent, the step up from the youth to the first team is massive, there’s a time and place for such a thing and it’s called the League cup.
NorCal. The big differance lately is that you have teams spending money that they really shouldn’t have, falsefying the league. Man U may indeed be a bunch of dispicable knobhandlers, but they have earned the right to spend big, they have invested their winnings in their infrastructure and have become rich due to their success. It’s the new money, oil invested clubs that have come in and fucked the whole PL up.
Maybe our new comercial deal with that bank will allow us to print our own money, even things up again. π
Cheers Ollie.
Hehs @ Trev, Cent, NorCal and Lars.
Nice one tabs, although we can set the bar wherever we want for all the good it will do us. π You just have to look at all the clubs falling by the wayside to see that we’re not really that bad off with him.
I really don’t have a problem with Stan, I think the under investment in the squad started before he took the reigns, he took over the club when we were promoting and already long apopted the so called self sustaining model, he’s just continued what had already been put in motion.
Before I get outed as his PR man, I too have niggling doubts, but I have no proof to found those doubts on. Ofcourse Stan is not one of us, so his passion will never be the same, or would you rather that he come out with one of those “I’ve always been an Arsenal fan” bolloxy statements? He’s a business man, we are now part of his portfolio, maybe it sucks, but that’s just the way it is nowadays. Rather a guy who may lack a bit of passion that stays in the background, then one who meddles in the teams affairs and loves the limelight.
Sans Messi, Barca are worse than Arsenal. Interesting.
They have good technical players but he is their key to opening up teams. People beat us with the no plan B bullshit. Well, where is Barca’s plan B?
H2H,
I think most of us are of a similar mind and beliefs and hopes. That’s one of a million reasons I love Arsenal. People from all around the globe with a common passion.
Cheers
So, the Germans have a sense of humour afterall;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnVRqFVaB0U&feature=player_embedded
End of story.
Take That u Barca cunts!! (not u …. cesc n villa.. u can run along)
No more enhancement drugs is Spain no wonder they are doing shit!
Catching up with a lot of drinking in the bar today. Two outstanding contributions from H2H on the subject of He Who Does Not Speak. Our opinions are as one, sir.
Rather a guy who may lack a bit of passion that stays in the background, then one who meddles in the teams affairs and loves the limelight.
Absolutely nails it. I have real difficulty with an opinion that I seem to keep reading, which appears to go along the lines of: “Boo! Down with Chel$ki and Man Shitty! The rotters, coming in throwing their money around. Boo! And while I think of it, down with Kroenke, fancy buying into the club and not throwing his money around.”
H2H, it seems insignificant to offer a drink to a man with his own bar, but there’s a drink of your choice from me waiting for you at this one. Just tell the landlord to put it on Oxon’s slate. (Lars will be settling it for me later.)
I present u idiot of the week : telegraph guy on twitter
**************
Mark Ogden β@MOgdenTelegraph 43m
Fabregas would have developed better under Mourinho or Ferguson. Would have given him an edge.
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Mark Ogden Mark Ogden β@MOgdenTelegraph 45m
@redhod99 Slow, neither defensive or attacking midfielder. What does he do?
View conversation
Mark Ogden Mark Ogden β@MOgdenTelegraph 46m
Obviously has plenty of talent, but stood still when he should have progressed at Arsenal,
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Mark Ogden Mark Ogden β@MOgdenTelegraph 47m
Fabregas looks lost in this Barca team. Paying price for staying too long at Arsenal and being allowed to coast by Arsene Wenger,
Expand
**************************
I don’t know who this cunts is, GPN, but he’s obviously a bitter and stupid cunt.
Ohhhh dear
Just a twitter troll.
Sooooooo people say that when we played at Bayern they had little incentive and we only beat them cause they were coasting at the 3-1 first leg win. Welllllll today they were up 4-0 from first leg and still beating farΔa. Just saying!!!
Ian Wright just said ” where’s their plan B”. Haha.
Damn this Bayern team is scary strong…joyful to watch how they dismantle Messilona..
sad thing is Cesc is not the player he use to be…
Farcelona dna and all that. ……..
I have never even logged on to Twitter to find out how to open an account.
Everything I hear and read about it makes me more surprised that anyone can be bothered to filter the drops of wisdom from the oceans of shite.
I know there are regulars here for whom I have the utmost respect who do use and enjoy it, but they also repeatedly condemn it for the nonsense they find on it too.
==========>>> back to paragraph 2 ===^^^
Eandy, it’s hardly Messilona tonight though π
Trev, I think it depends on the use you’ve got of it.
It’s never a source of information for me, I don’t follow journalists, I don’t follow players.
With very few exceptions, I interact only with people I actually know.
Eandy: though as much as Bayern have been good, Barca just aren’t anywhere near the team they were two years ago.
It may just be my Arsenal persecution complex, but it always seems to me that Xavi and Iniesta in particular will go out of their way to ignore Cesc.
If Cesc points to a man ‘left’, they will go right.
Cesc moves constantly to find space to receive the ball but they always go somewhere else.
Exactly the same thing happened to Thierry Henry when he went there and was shoved out on the left wing.
ATG,
Cesc is not the player he used to be because he doesn’t play the position he used to play. Very peripheral in his team, due to his position and his team ‘mates” attitudes.
When I first saw this headline I was going to say this proves the Americans are cannibals, but reading to paragraph 2 it seems to indicate that the Jamestown settlers were actually British as well as cannibals. THAT seems to explain a lot! π
Yep, fair enough Ollie.
I suppose it would help to provide the link referenced in 225 …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22362831
Hey, well played 8ball,
you’ve found a photo of humphrey/julian/peter/etc/etc/etc π
Ollie – well yeah but you got my point, one man team they are:P and agreed Lars, but still, they pretty much cruised to yet another domestic title so there must be some genuine class, but that leads to what I wrote in my first sentence, as said by many here, without Messi they are clueless.
He creates the space for others by dragging two, sometimes three defending players with him and bailed them out by his individual brilliance more than on one occasion.
Trev
Most games he is but tonight he had a bit of a roaming position. My statement was based on his desire and look on his face he doesn’t look as determined as he use to.
8ball
Sounds like Fringe division case Walter Bishop anyone?
Knockout stages vs Bayern:
Spanish champions elect: Score 0, concede 7
Italian champions: Score 0, concede 4
Arsenal: Score 3, concede 3
Second leg best performance and result by an English club anywhere this season.
All of that said, how fucking jammy do you have to be to catch Barca without Puyol, Alba, Busquets, Macherano and Messi. I swear no cunt so much as stubbed a two the four times we played them.
PS – come home Cesc.
Someone should put twitter to good use and tell Cesc that we reduced Ze Germans to time-wasting at their own ground, and with him we would have even won. What’s he doing there?
Whoops, should be “toe” rather than “two” @232.
We need to get Boris Johnson to publicly slate the Catalans for holding Fabregas against his will.
See how they fucking like it.
N7 Gooner @ 232 – amount of credit we got from the media from our second leg performance against Bayern: Zero
Hope Dortmund win the final anyway.
Well said N7; not a single cunt, especially the biggest of them all!
One man “team” if ever there was one!
Bayern: quality “team” with class! Just goes to show that this game can be played in many different ways not just the Cuntalans way! Just need to work as a “team” without-the-ball interspersed with “super quality” attackers to be successful!
Come On You Beautiful Gooners! You’re not far off now! It’s ours next season!
Dortmund to win the whole feckin’ thing and Cesc to come home! COYBG!
Petit,Overmars, Song,Hleb,Van Bronckhorst ??,Henry??, Fabregas
All Gooners who have seen their form dip after moving to the Nou Camp. (well I have suggested with the question marks that GVB and TH won stuff but never played particularly well.) The rest have not made a success of their moves even Cesc. Goodo we have generally been paid a fortune for them. I estimate it at around Β£84 million.
I’m also sure that Gervimho has Barca DNA and Giroud has a Catalan grandmother. Happy to drive both to the airport.
Oxon
I take your point about the double standards we apply to owners. The problem with Kroenke is that he is so distant from the club in almost every respect. At least Abramovich, Sheikh Mansoor and co go to matches.Not that I remotely consider them suitable as owners.
I believe Stan’s game is basketball. It just doesn’t seem right someone so alien in terms of interest and engagement effectively owns the club we love so much. And that toupe! I think the greying moustache is a giveaway.Nobody with a toupe should ever own our club. That rules out Terry Wogan,Bruce Forsyth and Elton John.
If Utd had notched that result in the Allianz, even going out, the press would still be spaffing over it now and asking if this might be “Ferguson’s greatest ever team”.
And we’ve barely lost a game since.
Charlie
great point-it won’t even be mentioned.
Interesting to note that our last three exits from the CL;
2011–RVP sent off when we were ahead on aggregate against Barca
2012–Almost recovered against AC Milan
2013–3-3 with the best team in Europe
Not exactly outclassed were we?
You just wish we could bottle up that sort of performance and try and make it happen more often in all competitions.
TTG,
Shhhhhhhh, don’t let the trolls hear you.
We are crap, never gonna win anything, always in it for the money, no ambition, can’t compete, blah blah blah.
My wish is that we add to the core we have got. Take a risk and actually have a bit of a deficit in our transfer budget this summer and if we are still without a trophy then I will feel we at least gave it a go.
No turnover, no rebuilding. Just augmenting a team that since the Bayern game has been one of the best teams in Europe. A team that has come together and has one loss since feb 1st.
We all know what would augment this team. Now we just need to do it.
Cheers
We saw a bit of it against for 25 mins on Sunday.
Important to note that this is a team still gelling, and with several young players who will only get better.
There is definitely a really, really good side percolating away under all the “stuck in first gear” frustration.
A few areas we need to address, but there’s room for optimism, no matter how this season ends.
NorCal
Spot on.
Title winning form since the NLD, even if its not always been pretty. Second half of season far, far better than first. Defence looks good. Find some goals and we’ll be well away.
Have a drink N7 ( mine will have to wait until after young Poldi’s game this evening).
Looks like we were writing the same thing at the same time.
And manure have been far from pretty on numerous occasions this year. But they are efficient and have gotten the points. Something we need to do more of. The last 3 games should hopefully see that continue. A tonking of QPR this weekend would be a great start.
Lovely to see Barca handed their arse on a plate tonight. A bit early to be writing them off (given the absentee(s) ) tonight, but nevertheless even the top sides only ever really enjoy 5 years at the very top, and that side is coming to the end of their cycle.
Doubt that the Barca public will react very well to that mauling, so we can expect an overhaul in the summer. I wonder if Cesc will survive the cull? Pretty sure Song won’t.
GPN @207 – Amen to that.
H2H – @208 – Yep that’s all fair. It’s not however the self-sustaining model that I have a problem with. It is, as Ttg has pointed out, the remoteness, the lack of communication and transparency, and the general vacuum of leadership from the very top that irks me. Too often Arsene has been hung out to dry by the top brass in my opinion, and for that Kroenke must take responsibility. I am also fully on board with Ttg as regards the toupe (and the tache). You wouldn’t have seen Dennis Hill-Wood mucking about with that nonsense! π
And no, I don’t need him to come out with a silly Usmanov type statement of allegiance. π
I just need him to show that he views us as something more than merely the European wing of his franchises.
N7 @236 – Haha π
we saw what a Barcelona without a fit Messi looks like. an ordinary side that passes the ball with no end product. That could’ve been us in the final. people will drool over this Bayern side but we came within a whisker of knocking them out in their backyard.
@norcal- Not sure about a tonking against QPR, it will be a tricky game, very small pitch and few players will be putting themselves on the shop window for a move, a 1 nil will do for me
ttg – Terry Wogan ?
Would that be Terry Wigon ? π
Maybe I’m not right ( lord that’s a first), but everyone keeps saying its a small pitch at loftus road. But I remember reading something that said all the pitches in the PL had to meet a minimum size this year. Was I dreaming that?
One- nil or tonking, I’ll take either.
Ah yes, a google search gave me that answer. This year they required a standardization of pitch size, but some clubs could opt out do to confines of their stadium.
Wet spam and tosspots have the smallest pitches.
Loftus road is 103 meters by 66. Emirates is 105 by 68. Not a huge difference and besides my friend Steve T always says we don’t play with any width so that 2 meters of extra width is wasted space as far as Arsenal are concerned.
Anyway, lets get the points and move forward.
Spot on, N7 (#232) we never seemed to meet Barca on an even footing. We either had key players missing injured, or had them sent off … eg, our keeper after about ten minutes in the 06 final (yet our ten men were still leading with about 15 mins to go) or the infamous RvP sending off when Bendtner stuffed a late goal attempt that RvP would have scored it in his sleep and won the tie for us on the away goals rule. We haven’t exactly been lucky in the CL.
Interesting the number of drinkers who say they have been gunners only since the Wenger era. Now I understand where a lot of the comments come from … from supporters with a very rose-coloured vision of how the club we love has travelled historically. Perhaps if they’d lived through the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and most of the ’90s during which winning anything was a rarity, we generally played the most boring football in the first division, ‘enjoyed’ several false dawns only flattering to deceive, and were universally hated by everybody, they might have a slightly less aggrieved perspective regarding what (1996-2006 aside) is actually a period of greater achievement than Arsenal have experienced since the 1930s.
And I believe it can only get better.
Oskar
Im a bit worried abt QPR to be honest. That tarabt guy usually turns up when he plays us. Hope he is benched this time.
Loftus Road just seems a lot smaller cos the crowd is closer.
The game should be a relative doddle and if we don’t win comfortably we don’t deserve CL football next year.
Oskar
Had a good laugh at the Barca there! Schadenfreude at its finest…
Maybe this will silence the brown-nosing in the press, doubt it though. π
Transfer rumours are bollocks but a friend of mine told that we’re planning to bid 24m for Jovetic? Is he that good?
Speak of the devil, Yogi’s Warrior has done just that …
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/
I started support Arsenal at 2007-2008 Season, so I was used to the frustration of not winning trophies. But what excited me at that time is the football played by Cesc, TR, Hleb, Flamini, Eduardo, Adebayor. (Where was RVP? maybe at treatment table ?). They are full of youthful energies combined with high level technicality (those on touch passing). I can say we were better than Barca at their peak (or even better than Bayern yesterday).
What I am disapponited is we do not play that kind of football anymore. We are too slow now. Maybe it is because our fast players (Theo, Ox, Ramsy) are not too technically gifted, and our technical players (Arteta, Santi, Poldi) are not fast enough. That is why whenever we have a fit TR7 on the pitch, we seems to play better.
Hope we can find a way back to that kind of football we used to play.
COYG !!!!
Well, at least Barcelona didn’t get eliminated from the UCL SF in a humiliating fashion by Arsenal. That would have stopped the revolution of the planet.
Let’s all take a moment of silence for our deeply loved and greatly missed former captain, Cesc Fabregas.
Cheers H.
I’m totally with H2H, and a bit with tabs. Agree there is a disconnect between The Board and the fans, which Le Boss gets shafted for sometimes. Ivan, despite his modernistic understanding of commercial deals,PR etc., is simply not the man to fill it. Do we need someone to play the sort of role Marwood performed at Citeh? Maybe? Interestingly Marwood got the bullet there, but not before some silverware had been delivered to ensure the relationship was stable. If so, who? Bob Wilson or someone younger? If anyone says Ian Wright, they can fuck right off. By the way this is only an idea for discussion, not a fully thought out plan of action.
Esso-
Good call. Keown is our most articulate ex-player but he’d make a good defensive coach.He’d be tough in the Boardroom! Old Ivan would be laid out off the ball if he gave any flannel
And he’d have Stan’s toupe off in a trice.
Trev-see what you did there!;)
Very foggy here this morning.
And not very warm either π
Sunny but chilly here, Darth. π
Cent? Lars? NorCal? howΒ΄s the weather your way? π
Catalan, I’d say sunny and fairly warm but with rather cold winds π
Are people voting for Player of the Year or Diver of the Year?
Sunny but chilly wind here in the World Heritage City.
Just read the news re Bale’s 3rd player of the year award. So monkey boy gets it for having something like 9 good games out of 38.
I think I’m going to be sick in my mouth.
Good stuff Esso.
Not too many names present themselves if we are limiting it to ex-players.
One would have thought both Keown and Dixon have qualities that would suit the role, but whether either would want to do it given that both seem fairly well established in the media world would be doubtful. It might even be argued that Keown best serves Arsenal now combining as he does his part-time roving ambassadorial role together with his media work where he can be guaranteed to provide a rather more reasonable approach to what’s happening at Arsenal than most of his hysterical (and stupid) colleagues.
Bergkamp? – Doubt that he has the skill set required. Heresy to say so, but I think that Denis, like most Gods, is not particularly bright. π
His future surely resides solely with on-pitch matters.
Henry? – Would be great, but whether the role would appeal to him I couldn’t say. He has already hinted that he wants to pursue a coaching/managerial role when his playing career ends.
Top of the Pops for me would be Marc Overmars, for no other reason than that he is doing the role at Ajax. Whether he has impressed in the role I have no idea. Hopefully H2H, as our man in the Lowlands, will be able to shed more light.
Would far rather Bale won it than Van Persie.
Had a quick back-drink and see that I missed something….
Steve T @ 58
un chapeau? π
Hi all.
Catalan, the weather here is sunny and hot, as always.
Re: 258, it was Yogi’s previous piece I was referring to, including something about Humphrey and Usmanov.
Tabs – Fair point!
Good morning everyone.
Dr C
Sunny and hot here in the north state. We need some rain but I fear that time has passed. Moving quickly into fire season already. I just hope they don’t get out of hand this year.
Have a good day Holics. I’m going to miss the live version of the game this weekend due to little poldi’s game ( he scored 2 more left footed last night and three with his right 8) ), but I’m still plumping for a tonking!
Never Fancied Her Anyway
“I’ve never thought of it,” said Brendan Rodgers when asked about Liverpool potentially getting into Europe via the Fair Play league.
Fair enough. Seems sensible. Probably best not to think too much about things you have little control over.
“It’s the top three countries and we’re fourth,” continued Rodgers.
So you haven’t thought of it, but you know exactly where England is in the table?
Righto.
Eurostar news : ……………none.
Same shit.
Good luck Ollie. But I am sure that wont help.
Oh well, booking done over the phone.
The Eurostar woman was very nice and we had a good laugh, especially when she confirmed that yes they have a lot of people who are seriously working on the issue as it’s been going on a while now (amusingly, rather than say ‘oh it’s only with some banks blahblah’ she seemed to intimate that nothing worked with their web;) ).
Well at least in that respect it was more pleasant to book over the phone rather than over the internet π
Ollie@277: You’ve almost convinced me about Eurostar.
hey Holics!
Although i do not follow things on twitter and know that you always need to take things on there with a bucket load of salt.. i found this one interesting nevertheless ..
https://twitter.com/OhhCaroliinaaa :
seems there is a small hint of fire to all that cesc smoke going around..
Talking of fire.. i might have to head back home to check on things.. talks of wild fire running too close for comfort there..
Norcal.. hope things are fine over at ur place.
GPN,
Stay safe. No big fires up here yet. But we are just getting started and we had a dry winter.
Good evening all.
Out of curiosity: how many people here will have Cesc back?
Re: Norcal @275. If only Big Poldi were that prolific. It sounds like the little one is “on fire” if I may mix metaphors.
Or mix drinks. I suppose that would be even better. π
Cent, welcome Cesc back?
In a heartbeat.
Humphrey, not so much. 8)
It’s probably not hit the shelves yet, but this month’s 442 has a great question and answer session with Lee Dixon.
Controversially claims that the 97-98 Arsenal team would have beat the Invincibles.
Discuss.
Oh and Saleh knocks one past Cech, just for Tabs…..
I’m still in the ‘no’ camp for Cesc.
Well, he’s still in the Nou Camp himself.
Heh @ Ollie
wolfie’s in the camp camp
Isnt’ that the Camp Nou?
Anyhoo, I’m in the Cesc “Yes” group.
[lookit that … an almost rhyme!]
I will get a walloping for this but here goes:
I love Jack and that grit he shows, but he’s far from the finished article. Arsenal are 10xs more fluid and dangerous when TR7 is on the pitch. Jack needs a couple more years to watch a superior player, like TR7 or … hmm, who else …? I know, Cesc Fabregas! Right, not exactly the same position, but my premise stands. And I’d love to take Cesc back for like 10million after we raked those Barca twats for three times that! Assuming their credit will still be good in a year or two, which is iffy.
TR7 is off soon. Santi is not exaclty the same type of player and is 29. Cesc would be just the thing.
Yes, alright fine. And there’s that man crush thing too, but lets leave that aside for pete’s sake!
Yes Homer, it is. Although a fair few people still say ‘Nou Camp’. And well, jokes need poetic licence π
heh zico @292 (soon to be 291)
If Cesc is motivated and wants to come back then oh yes pretty please with sugar on top and a side order of crisps.
If he were to return for any other reason it would be a huge gamble.
What do you get when Tottnum plays Basel? Herbed lasagna?
I ain’t playing that Fabregas game.
I’ve been hurt before. That Brady fella fucked me up. Every bloody year he promised he’d come back. He never did. Well not until he was old and bald and nobody else wanted him anyway.
No Siree, not me. Older and wiser now.
Oh fuck it. COME HOME CESC!
*sobs quietly*
Dr Z @289 – Heh, I was just about to tweety that all he lacked was a finish when he banged it home!
Bollocks, 1-1, just as it was getting interesting.
assist that will become pre-assist
Hmm 2-1.
Might be time for a bit of Benfica and Fenerbache
Thanks for the responses, keep ’em coming.
Seems to be 2-1 now tabs π
And tabs just missed out on the glory position…
Heh @298.
Well in Cent! (I think ;))
And they just had to score when I checked Livescores, didn’t they?
Olllie the post hasn’t moved yet, cheers anyway.
Oh the Swiss defence has gone all cheese-like ….. π
Nobody up for the debate at 288 above then?
It actually really irritates me that some teams that go out of the CL group stage are parachuted into the Europa League (I know we got to the UEFA Cup final in 2000 because of it but even so, we shouldn’t have done really). I can understand it for teams being knocked out in qualifying for the group stages, but once they’ve begun that’s the competition you’re in, you shouldn’t get a second chance. Chelsea might now wind up with a trophy this season, simply because they were too crap to get through in the group stages. Meanwhile we get to the last 16 so we don’t get any extra shot at a trophy after going out. Did Abramovich make some Faustian pact in March 2012 to get all this ill-deserved European success?
*end bitter rant*
Ollie knew π >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
3-1 Benficunt
Sorry about that. Iwas working on my own optimistic predictions, and not the reality that the spuds will probably win their last 2 games.