The Thin Red Line Displays Some Strength
Aug 10th, 2013 by 'holic
There are a number of ways of looking at Arsenal’s final friendly before the season starts in earnest. As with so many of our recent matches we have an eye-witness account, with thanks to Lars…
“Helsinkiโs an expensive shithole with not one decent pub anywhere that we could find and the stadium was a prehistoric dump. But the win was nice! Right, back to the beerโฆ”
For the benefit of any of Carl Jenkinson’s relatives looking in I should point out that Lars is a Swede, and one who funds gallons of ale for us ‘holics on his credit card, so pricing is a sensitive issue with him.
I digress.
With an air of smugness I will point out that beforehand I had pointed out we had a team that could get us off to a good start to the season, although the squad looked incapable of sustaining any sort of season-long assault on the major prizes. After we had beaten the expensively-assembled Manchester City by three goals to one somebody far more important made almost identical utterances.
“I think what is important is the strength of the squad. Today is one game. We want to play 55 games and we are maybe a bit thin squad-wise to go through a whole season.”
Ok, so that is a view tweeted a thousand times or more a day. Ivan says Arsene is responsible for identifying targets, Arsene says we need strengthening. Dick keeps himself to himself. Whatever the politics that are being played out here people, the Arsenal are an institution, a way of life so important to so many. Resolve your personal tensions and do what everybody agrees is necessary to return this club to a position of challenging for the major pots. Thank you.
There is unquestionably a core, far too small, but a basis on which we can build. City were swept away this afternoon because we were more decisive and coherent than them in our attacking play, and our finishing was more clinical. Our first eleven know each other now. City were clearly still trying to mould a team into a new style with the added complication of the new arrivals that we crave.
There is a lesson there. To make up a full complement of seven substitutes we had to name Isaac Hayden, Gedion Zelalem, and trialist Sebastian Perez on the bench. Clearly we need at least that many quality additions to the squad but they will need to be blooded gradually if possible, particularly if arriving from outside the Premier League. This we can do as long as the core of the side that ended last season so strongly remains fit and clear of suspension.
For all that the squad has been stripped of quantity, the quality remains, and there is an argument to be had that a couple of players appear to have taken giant strides forward of late. The form of Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey in pre-season has been a joy to watch.
The latter set up Theo Walcott for a superb chipped finish in the ninth minute to give us the lead. We had not dominated the early play, but here was an example of our greater incisiveness on the day. In the second-half the win was sealed when Ramsey himself accepted a returned favour from Walcott to score the second, and Giroud chipped in his eighth pre-season goal. The Frenchman was denied a ninth by the linesman’s flag. Good eyesight he had, but the call was just about right.
City restored some pride when Negredo perhaps surprisingly out-muscled Laurent Koscielny and slotted the ball under the otherwise under-employed Lukasz Fabianski.
The result in itself may not mean a great deal, but it must send us into the Premiership opener against Aston Villa next weekend with confidence high. In the meantime we will have a nervous wait for international players to return in one piece from the meaningless midweek friendlies. (England versus Scotland, a friendly? Since when?) A handful of knocks would leave our reticence to supplement our numbers, for whatever reason, look like negligence.
We have the team on the pitch, now let the team off the pitch build on that, and with some urgency. You are the temporary custodians of our heritage, and have a duty to maintain the standards this club has set since long before you arrived, and that will be demanded long after you have gone.
Again, thank you.
241 Responses to “The Thin Red Line Displays Some Strength”
?First
Newbies night it is then.
Now off to read.
New post. Boom!
top 4 is like a trophy.
Nightcap for me please, barman!
A little pastis, Ollie?
That will do, cheers!
Nice summary H. And Trev provided a fine list of our purchasing heritage towards the end of the previous drinks.
Good review ‘H, didn’t watch the game but I love the way you summed it up.
Ollie can’t be a little pastie – he’s been in the desert. He’ll be at least a little pink.
Haha, bath. We shall find out next Saturday ๐
Very well put ‘H.
Might struggle to make “Best of the Blogs” on dot com though ๐
Absolutely right though. Whatever issues are being played out within the club, it’s time for everyone to get over themselves and get on with what matters.
With your permission, I will copy my “transfer list” from the previous drinks ‘cos it took bloody ages to do and is, I hope, quite interesting.
Cheers bath ๐
Which team spent ยฃ90m?
Arsenal looked awesome against a very cynical $ity team.
‘pool played a friendly in Dublin against Celtic and looked vey piss poor without Suarez.
We have had to live now in the shadow of Man Utd and the financial dopers of Man City and Chelsea for the past nine years.
As some, including myself at times, agonise over whether Arsenal are really prepared to spend serious money in the transfer market, now that we have some again, it is hopefully interesting to see that we have broken quite a few records over the last ninety years.
NB Ned, this is really a tribute to you, Sir. It is stats time.
I hope it does you justice.
Player Charlie Buchan
Year 1925
Signed from Sunderland
Fee ยฃ2,000
Record Arsenalโs first four figure signing
Player David Jack
Year 1928
Signed from Bolton Wanderers
Fee ยฃ10,890
Record Worldโs first five figure footballer
Player Bryn Jones
Year 1938
Signed fro Wolves
Fee ยฃ14,000
Record Worldโs most expensive footballer
Player Frank McLintock
Year 1964
Signed from Leicester City
Fee ยฃ80,000
Record Britainโs most expensive footballer
Player Bob McNab
Year 1966
Signed fro Huddersfield Town
Fee ยฃ50,000
Record Englandโs most expensive full back
Player Peter Marinello
Year 1969
Signed from Hibernian
Fee ยฃ100,000
Record Arsenalโs first six figure signing
Player Alan Ball
Year 1971
Signed fro Everton
Fee ยฃ220,000
Record Englandโs most expensive footballer
Player David Seaman
Year 1990
Signed from QPR
Fee ยฃ1,300,000
Record Arsenalโs first seven figure signing
Worldโs most expensive goalkeeper
Player Dennis Bergkamp
Year 1995
Signed fro Inter Milan
Fee ยฃ7,500,000
Record Englandโs most expensive footballer
Player Thierry Henry
Year 1999
Signed from Juventus
Fee ยฃ10,500,000
Record Arsenalโs first eight figure signing
Player Theo Walcott
Year 2006
Signed from Southampton
Fee ยฃ5,000,000 rising to ยฃ12,000,000
Record Worldโs most expensive teenager
Marinello was such a wasted talent. Lost it all to booze and tarts. Thought he was a certain G. Best.
Rodgers is a gift that keeps on giving, his demand for an apology from Suarez before allowing him to “join the group” should seal Suarez’s exit but perhaps not until the January window. In the meantime let us hope that next week JW, THE OX & TW can persuade Rooney where he should move.
Great list Trev. Won’t repeat my previous comment ๐
And great write up ‘holic. Your comment “For all that the squad has been stripped of quantity, the quality remains” particularly struck a chord.
Once again we are reminded that c ยฃ100m might get you big name players but it doesn’t necessarily get you a team.
Mr ‘H, perceptive and accurate as always, a pleasure to imbibe today after some pleasant back-drinking.
Excellent work Trev (and Ned)@14 well played it makes for fine reading, and thanks for the effort.
Mr Lars a thoughtful and insightful review of the delights of Helsinki (apparently they have heated pavements for Winter if that helps..), you have a gift for the travail-ogue, a future beckons.
Re Trev’s point Re transfers most of hose players I’d an outstanding job for us. Jack, McLintock, Henry, Bergkamp were ,literally, game changers. Shrewd but bold investment is the way to improve a side incrementally now. Have we got the will and the expertise o do it now?
Ps- sorry about predictive text on iPad.!
Nice stuff Holic.
Heated paving – stone me ! ๐
Trev, Don’t say that in this day and age. It’s the dark age again for some people.
Wenger believes this team can challenge for the title and todays result will make the deluded old fool believe it even more we are 5 players short
This squad will run out of gas by xmas.No back up
I didn’t know Chamakh had gone to Palace ona permanent deal. Party time… only Bendtner left to get rid of.
Don
I take it you didn’t bother to read the post, judging by your snide dig?
Excellent report, ‘holic, and the result is just the thing to get the blood flowing for the start of the season. I’ve only just now seen the goals but they are a beauty of a trio. Apparently a good game for Wally Wally Walcott.
…and Park, cynic ๐
don, there is only one fool I can see…
Yes Holic you’re right, all three goals were quite delightful to behold.
Joe Hart was so cheesed off after he got done one on one for the THIRD time. Probably didn’t help that as he was chasing Giroud’s lobbed shot back towards goal, he slipped and fell on his arse at the last moment. Comedy. (arsenalist.com has all the goals btw)
As you say, the core looks good – now let’s see a couple of new faces eh?
Once again, ‘holic, nails have been introduced to hammers and vigoroisly pounded home. It was indeed a good 9erformance, butthat should not be allowed to cloud the fact that reinforcements are needed. We are one injury away from a full blown crisis in defence, likewise in attack. We have done very well to get rid of players who no longer contributed, but we need to focus on getting those we need to mount proper trophy challenges again. I hope, like all Gooners do, that we will see something positive on this front soon.
Apologies for the spelling errors. Still getting used to the keyboard on this tablet. ๐
Park is a figment of your imagination, ‘holic. Time to lay off the Scotch ๐
Good morning holic’s one and all. I’ve not been in the bar much this close season but it feels good to be back in the excellent company of the regulars, especially on the back of embarrassing the oil rich mancs yesterday. As usual I totally concur with the views expressed in the blog……competitive first 11 but woefully thin squad.
R.I.P Gooner Terry
~ ‘holics one and all ~ sorry it’s early sunday morning !
Hello ‘Holic and ‘Holics.
Excellently articulated point about the custodianship of our traditions and heritage. Let’s hope it is a point well taken.
Makes a Change to read some appreciation for the quality that we do have rather than the constant moaning about what we don’t have. The manager’s comment yesterday proves to the doubters that he knows we need additions. Personally I would rather they negotiate for top quality than buy for the sake of buying. We may have a bit more money than we have had for a while, but I doubt that we are in a place where we can just throw endless sums at a problem to make it go away. We need more than one player, so spending all of it in one place surely makes no sense even to the most mentally challenged among us?
Fine report Mr Arsene ‘Holic ๐
As said in the last drinks, I thought we played pretty well all things considered, clinical up front and reasonably secure at the back. I only remember Szcz having to make one save of note, I don’t remember Fabianski having to make any.
AW is certainly keeping us, (and one imagines both players), guessing on the goalkeeping front by giving each Keeper a half each. It looks like the older Pole is happy to play out the last year of his contract, so any goalkeeping arrivals must be very doubtful at this stage.
Kos was outstanding. Hope the French wrap him up in cotton wool this week. I was interested to see Hayden get a 10 minute run out at the end. He always impressed me whenever I saw him play in the NextGen games last season. Classy footballer, can play as a DM or as a centre-half. Hmm, penny for your thoughts Arsene?
Ramsey continued his excellent form. Whoever comes in in the next 3 weeks, it will be tough on the Welshman if he is the one to make way after the pre-season that he has enjoyed.
Anyone know why Rosicky didn’t play a part? He appeared to be the only one (save for the injured Vermaelen and Monreal) of the 17 or so names that are likely to play a significant part in First Team matters currently at the Club not to feature. Is he injured already?
Walcott had a good game, Giroud looked a handful, and, despite the negative comments that his performance attracted, I thought Jack showed signs that he was getting up to speed again with the rigours of English football.
Must admit that the news of the trialling of Perez completely passed me by. A combination of the french commentary on my stream, a less than perfect picture, and sight of the alice band had me thinking for a brief glorious moment that we had dragged Bobby Pires out of retirement. Wishful thinking! Didn’t know anything before the game about Perez. Still don’t.
So good performance by the core, and a little bit of silver at the end. Great confidence-booster for the squad.
Come on Arsene now, sprinkle the stardust.
Great title too ‘H. Bit gutting we were in the away strip though.
“Yellow Day” (2014) ?
I’d have gone for “Shorty and the Yellow Ring.” (1917).
I’d have gone for “Shorty and the Yellow Ring.” (1917). ๐
So good they named it twice ๐
Haha ๐
Negative comments about “wor Jack”? I think he is bit by bit beginning to show his true form – not there yet maybe, but definitely getting there. Must be the same folks who were decrying “wor Aaron” at the beginning of last season. There they stand now, with egg all over their faces – best player on the pitch by a country mile.
Walcott looking very potent and covering well when necessary – isn’t it wonderful he’s still so young? Must admit, I was totally wrong about him. *bows humbly to Mr Wenger*
I know the point has been made already, but which club was it yesterday that’s already spent ยฃ100 million?
Earlier days but encouraging ones – especially with AW’s comments about the thinness of the squad.
Didn’t think Perez gave us a lot to go on. Tidy and kept it simple. He looks good on YouTube but then so do I. The step up to the PL will be big for him though, I expect.
Morning all,
hope this is going to work having just replaced a very, very, very slow router – will be the first thing I have tried to send.
TABS,
I heard on radio yesterday that Rosicky was in Sweden having treatment on an injury.
I don’t know what is injured or why, given our medical facilities, he had to go to Sweden.
Maybe he fell out of the plane on the way to Finland ?! ๐
Oh, that seems to have worked.
Will try to watch some highlights on Player now – yesterday it was buffering after every 1 second. ๐
Has anyone else had problems with internet speeds ?
Arsenal Player was very hit and miss yesterday Trev.
Cheers ‘H,
Even the audio commentary was buffering on Player.
Just watched the bitesize highlights – no problems at all today.
This site has been taking absolutely ages to refresh too, but perfect today. Clearly my router was Donald Ducked.
Three (four, really) great goals yesterday. Giroud looks in wonderful form. As many have said, there is real quality in the team – please, please add some to the squad.
DK – show us your YouTube vid then! ๐
Trev – Cheers for the Rosicky news. Oh dear!
Yesterday I watched the second half live on some french stream (having thought the game was a 4 00 kick off), and then watched the first half on Player. Must admit I didn’t have any problems with Player yesterday, but I have found it unwatchable on other occasions. Very hit and miss as ‘H says. Just seems to be complete luck whether you get a good stream.
Talking of streams, I see FirstRow have been blocked in the UK. ๐
Good report ‘Holic. I’m with you completely that the squad is good enough to start the season. I anticipate three in by window close with Suarez at 45 mill being a great addition to a free scoring front line of Walcott, Giroud, Sanogo, Podolski and Santi. A muscular DM with two great feet and a CB with moves like Koscielny’s and we’ll be ready to rock.
What a hoot to read so many cite Man City’s early expenditure on “top class” talent that can spend the summer gelling with their new team mates as excellence that Arsene should learn from – and then we take them apart! Only One.
How woeful was Nasri yesterday? Clichy was always going to be second best to Gibbsy and it shone through brightly yesterday.
Wil be at the Fulham and Galatasery games. Prereirement commitments preclude Villa and Spuds unfortunately. Hope to see some Holics then.
Trev – I don’t think it was just your router last week. The bar’s been slow to refresh for me too for the past couple of weeks or more – both from home and work.
Ah, cheers Pangloss – here too.
My new router has made a massive difference – any chance yours is struggling too ?
Trev@ 14: Interesting list. Nice work. Shows well that there have been times when the board has spent some f***ing money.
You might like to append the below, which is those historic transfer fees in today’s money:
Charlie Buchan ยฃ101,000
David Jack ยฃ567,000
Bryn Jones ยฃ736,000
Frank McLintock ยฃ1.28 million
Bob NcNab ยฃ726,000
Peter Marinello ยฃ1.28 million
Alan Ball ยฃ2.41 million
David Seaman ยฃ2.23 million
Dennis Bergkamp ยฃ10.9 million
Thierry Henry ยฃ13.8 million
Theo Walcott ยฃ5,66 million rising to ยฃ13.6 million
If it shows anything, it is how inflated transfer fees have become.
Ned,
Interesting figures above. On what basis have you accounted for the increased fees? RPI or some special “football fee” index?
Tabs@51:I have been getting streams from first row sports.co.uk, not great quality but better than nowt
Chris – Oh, that’s strange. Maybe my end then.
Since yesterday I’ve been getting the message “Error – Site blocked”, when I’ve tried to access it.
Don’t let Wolfie know that tabs…..he’ll be so upset that there’s a problem at your end. ๐
Bath – Haha, mums the word ๐
Wolfie is in the pudding club? Well I never! The wonders of modern legislation! Whatever next?
Pudding Club? Well I’ve always liked a bit of Spotted Dick if that’s what you mean.
๐
If there was one good thing about the Man City goal, it was that it killed off the Mexican wave going round the stadium.
I have just got back home from the eastward trip, with just over 48 hours spent in good company discussing all things Arsenal and drinking beer. The weather didn’t disappoint, the game was thoroughly enjoyable and people were in a good mood.
But… Now, apologies to any Finnish gooners that might be reading this, but I found Helsinki a very wierd place. As far as we could make out, finding a proper pub in Helsinki is pretty much impossible. You know how good bar staff pour beer holding the glass under the tap, tilting it to make the beer pour into the glass like it is supposed to? Well, nothing of that seems to exist in Helsinki. Oh no, place the glass straight up under the tap and press a button like it’s a fucking Coca Cola dispenser and just wait. And for good measure, while you are doing this make sure you do not ever crack a smile or attempt to pretend you aren’t annoyed that a lot of people want to buy your ridiculously expensive beer… So while I enjoyed the day there thanks to the company I was in it is not a place I will return to in a hurry if I can help it.
To return to matters football, the game didn’t really tell us anything we didn’t already know about the team we have. We are capable of good stuff, but have a squad that is too thin to fight for the major titles. Arsene himself has said as much, so let us now hope that we can be successful in the last few weeks of this transfer window.
What I did learn from that game, however, is that Man City had better get their pressing game working pretty sharpish or they will be struggling to keep up in the title race. They played a very high line and it looked to me like Pellegrini is trying to introduce a Barca-style pressing game. But like we showed several times yesterday, once you get past the first wave of pressure you can find acres of space beind the back four. It will be quite interesting to see if they can get that to work.
Also, if this game is anything to go by, Man City have a long, long way to go before they approach anything resembling global support. Everywhere you went in central Helsinki, there were red and white shirts, scarves and flags. But I seriously doubt I saw even 30 Man City shirts all weekend. I saw one Newcastle shirt, one Liverpool shirt, the obligatory Messi shirt on a young boy, and one Everton shirt.
And somewhere in Finland, on Saturday morning, some bloke thought “hmm, Arsenal are playing Man City. What to wear to the match? Oh, I know, I’ll put on my 11 Bale Tottenham shirt!”. Not quite as off the rails but close was the chap with a ManU table cloth with “van Persie” on the back.
Anyway, here’s to us hopefully closing some good deals in the coming few days and weeks. But for now, I am off to make myself some food.
Lars, I did mention on Twitter that the Mexican Wave was to be blamed for that goal ๐
Cracking report, Lars! Have a less expensive beer…on your tab, of course.
Good stuff Lars.
Anyone care to enlighten me on the hatred for the Mexican wave? I quite like it.
Thanks for the on the spot account Lars. It did look like a stadium filled with red n white.
Nice report Lars.
I heard the Finnish fans were lapping it up as we went three nil up. That Finnish Spuds fan should have worn his Moosey Dembele shirt.
Glad the weather was good and you had no rein,dear. ๐
Guvnor – I have just entered a team in an ex-works fantasy footie team. Will the you ropey cup be running again this year, and is it too late to climb aboard?
I see Trev is warmiing up for a new season of punning.
I may have asked before but are you around for Villa? Or are you in France (again) with half of Britain? ๐
Cheers, chaps.
Cent, the Mexian wave is evil. Just accept that ๐
Pangloss@56: Very prosaic answer for you, I’m afraid: GDP deflator. Those numbers I gave are technically at constant 2011 prices for anyone who wants to be a stickler for accuracy — and anyone who does can buy the bar a drink as a penalty for pedantry.
If I can find a comprehensive enough set of historic transfer prices I’ll take a stab at calculating a transfer inflation index. But don’t hold your breath.
Ned (not holding my breath). Thanks for the clarification. I suspect that transfer fees have inflated faster than the general run of goods, so if you ever manage to come up with a transfer inflation index, it would be very, err quite, err a bit interesting. A benedictine on the bar for the monks.
The mexican wave is indeed evil.
The mexican cartwheel on the other hand …. ๐
I don’t know how reliable this is, but apparently
“Arsene held a squad meeting last week where he asked all the players to ask if they were fine if Suarez was bought.”
In other news, I watched the Turkish Super Cup and this Fenerbahce side looks quite decent, even though they are without many players that are injured (Meireles, Emenike etc) and played with 10 man for almost one hour.
Their GK is class, keep an eye on him against us, he is real quality. They have 7 players that play for Turkey, speedy fullbacks and experienced but intelligent forwards in Sow, Webo and Kuyt.
They are working hard all over the pitch and are quite a combative side. That is their advantage but also their weakness, because players like Emre and Bruno Alves are quite nervous.
Their style is similar to ours as they like to play attacking football with high defensive line, but don’t exactly have players for that sort of tactic. That is our big chance. We all saw this weekend what Arsenal does when the opponent plays high defensive line but fail to press high at the pitch as a compact unit. We destroyed Pelegrini’s team. It suits us.
Anyway, I think that tomorrow is the day when we will finally sign a new player.
Mexican Wave and ‘Olรฉs’. I think Oles are even worse, but it’s a very close call….
Apart from the last few minutes, and I know they were a man down for a while, I thought they were vastly overplayed by Galatasaray who should have been about 5-0 up in normal time, Lurky.
But yeah, they are hard-pressing we’ll need to be on top physically.
It was a very good game to watch.
They were by far the better side in the first half, Ollie.
And they had three clear chances after they were a goal down. With 10 man, playing 120 minutes, they impressed me with their “fighting spirit”. Not that I am that scared but they are a dangerous team.
Ollie,
Completely unnecessary question – of course I will be there for Villa !
Holidays all timed to be safely out of the way. ๐
Ned @73,
That’s why I would never make a proper statistician. ๐
Strange how there has been so little in the various media about our walloping of Citeh yesterday.
Since the Sheiks of Abbly Dabbly (c. BtM) took over they have spent around ยฃ400,000,000 on their team. Over the same period we have spent ยฃ0.00, if not made a net profit.
This window they have already spent ยฃ90,000,000 while we, again, have spent ยฃ0.00. They are now rumoured to be “needing” to spend again – Real Madrid’s Pepe the possible target – because Nastyitch is injured for a few weeks, so they must naturally buy another centre back.
Our lack of spending has clearly not left our squad in great shape at this precise moment in time, but it is some feat to have outplayed them yesterday, friendly or not.
Financial Fair Play is dead. Long Live Financial Fair Play !
Oh no, not Fantasy League and You Ropey time already? ๐
I will try and sort it out tomorrow or Tuesday and include the details in the next post.
Also, I believe I have acknowledged the contributors to the Gooner Terry stone while I was on holiday by email tonight. Let me know if I have missed you and I will go burrowing.
Huge thanks to all for your generosity. Further details to follow once we have the ‘brown envelope’ donations in…
Holic, still want to join with a contribution for a stone. Asked a few blogs back but no answer. Is it too late?
Trev @ 81 : With this rate Man City would soon find themselves with 17+ non home-grown players of 21+ age. ๐
Man City may have become a very attractive destination for some mercenaries, but unlike Real — which is the only other club, not even Barca or Bayern, who has the history of stocking up on these many top quality players that don’t get enough time of the field — where the appeal of the club also contributes to significant player retention, I am not sure how they are going to keep all of those players happy.
Pellegrini himself is hard to dislike, his Villareal team was quite a joy to watch and he is generally known to be a gentleman, but as his Madrid stint had shown he may not be the best in controlling oversized egos in the dressing room and if City doesn’t start well he would be under immense pressure.
Toby @ 83 — Same here, I was hoping for an email from ‘Holic but as he was away in vacation I think we will get those this week.
Brown envelope coming on Saturday …..
Faustus,
They never do keep them all happy. It’s why they play like 11 individuals – all playing for their own ends rather than as a team.
We will be relying on it.
Sorry Toby, Doctor F,
Not seen everything this week. If you have a Paypal account you can transfer a donation to gooner(at)goonerholic(dot)com
Let me know if you have any difficulty, but that has worked brilliantly.
I watched the game yesterday live sorry cent to hungover to do the H2H ๐ thought we done well overall,biggest plus for me is arron Ramsey the graft he puts in is amazing not to mention his bond with theo.only gripe I’d have is mert trying to make up for his lack of pace by holding his arm in the air.im not slating mert as I thought he had a good 2nd half to the season and he seems like a real team player but if we’re looking to be champions of Europe and England we will be exposed.kos on the other hand should be given the golden handcuffs what a player.
Thanks ‘Holic. I will try that, should work.
Trev @ 87 — Just imagine Arsene could buy 4-5 of those player, Arsenal would be unstoppable. You add YaYa, Aguero, Kompany and Silva to the current Arsenal squad and Arsene would create one of the best teams in Europe. ๐
Arsene winning the CL with Arsenal, that really is the dream, isn’t it? And no less than what this great relationship has deserved!
Hey all ๐
Haven’t had Internet for a week due to AOL Broadband fucking about (we got a new Router in at home also Trev ๐ ), they’re also the reason why I wasn’t able to watch the game on Saturday (think I’ll do that in the early hours or tomorrow morning) but I’ve heard good things about the result, I tweeted at the time that the mentality seemed to have remained from towards the end of last season, this squad can do great things as long as that remains the case ๐
Eventful day today, met up with a good mate at The Arsenal Store outside Finsbury Park Station to give him his JW10 Home Shirt, they had free Cup Competition Printing on Members Day for Home & Away Shirts so I took the plunge and bought two JW10 Home Shirts ๐ Mine was marred somehow so I returned it today & got a new one done + I picked up a Black & Gold Arsenal Gymbag, very nice design personally.
But the whole point of this drink is, even though my manager booked me to work on Saturday after I’d given her the required 2 weeks notice ๐ก , I got out of it by switching shifts with a Colleague so I will be at the Villa game in my new JW10 Home Shirt (& the Tollie ๐ , & Piebury Corner) on Saturday! ๐
Looking forward to seeing you guys again, the Maestro of course, Zico (properly this time unlike City at Home last season :p ), tabs, Trev, Ollie & anyone else out of the regulars I’ve missed ๐ (Snowy, Steve T, TS, AL)
I’m racking up more & more 1st’s in recent years, and good ones at that. My 1st NLD, my 1st Champions League Group Stage Game and then my 1st Champions League Knockout Stage Game and now 1st Game of the Season ๐
Good stuff, Wind, happy for you.
Pellegrini may well be a likeable chap, Dr F, but that cuts no ice with the oily arabs … after the loss, what price he gets fired before the season starts?
Oskar
Thanks Cent, I hope you can experience the same in the near future.
I went to Helsinki once, about 1962. It was freezing, dreary and had all the appeal of a Siberian stalag from memory. But I did meet a girl called Anki who turned out to be the daughter of the Finnish ambassador to the UK. Not only that but they lived most of the year about half a mile from my home in Surrey. Ours was a great love, while it lasted…
Memories.
Oskar
And yes, before you ask, I did score in Helsinki, at least as many times as Arsenal. ๐
Oskar
Oskar,
Thought you were going to say she turned out to be a Lapp dancer. ๐
A little bit of Anki panky. ๐
Shoots!
And scores! Knee slides towards the North Bank into Fistpump! ๐
Its been so long since I scored, since before my self-exile from the blog :p
Nice finish, Wind ๐
Wind, I hope so too mate, and Well in!
Trev, is there any thing/word you can’t make a pun off?
She’d have made a great Lapp dancer, Trev, with a guaranteed happy Finnish. ๐
And the name is/was pronounced Unky as in (h)unky dory … hunky meaning ‘goal’ btw, so scoring was quite appropriate!
Oskar
Well holics, twas a very enjoyable game indeed to behold. Tried to find out if Arsenal use their own camera crew to televise their games on Player. Because the camera shots and angles seem tighter, then what is shown on the tele. More close ups, that sort of thing. ๐ Trev, like any ace reporter looking for a different angle to a tired story, your list was a timely reminder that our club is capable of spending big, when the right opportunity comes along. As for the match, agree that Ramsey and Kos were brilliant. Jenks had Nasri in his pocket ๐ Tabs, thought the same about Perez, he reminded me a bit of Bobby. From what I’ve seen of him on YouTube, he specializes in ‘quick release’ technique, or as you chaps refer to as ‘tidy’ ๐ GPN, you mentioned that Jack’s game, made him a target for the opposition. I too thought he was fouled a lot, and he finally lashed out, raking his boot against Di Silva. Btw, very nice to see some folks, we haven’t heard from in awhile. Welcome back.
Lurky, to be fair I forgot to say that I only caught the game after the first 35 minutes, so I take your word for it at 79. ๐
And yes at 1-0 down they had great chances, that’s cup football, mind you we’ll be playing them in a cup. Agree with the ‘fighting spirit’ too.
Holics, today’s ” Swiss Ramble” is a must read, if you have the time.
Can’t wait until Saturday, let’s hope every one comes back from these useless internationals in one piece.
The Swiss Ramble this morning seems to suggest we have money to spend.
I say we hold on to it – looking forward to the open topped bus tour round the Bank of England in May. It’s probably what Gazidis meant by we can do some things that would excite you…..
PS @ Wind – opening time is 11am I believe ๐
Speaking of internationals, have been reading in czech press today that TR7 will not be included in Czech squad for the international friendly. Apparently it is nothing serious and Arsene just rests him. Fingers crossed that thats the reason he was not playing against Citeh.
So, here we are on Monday and I find that what I regarded as previously rational blogs have nearly all entered the re-entry orbit meltdown due to “the complete lack of signings” due to the “totally incompetent club” (insert manager, lawyers, negotiators, Ivan, Stan, tea-lady) that has continued over the weekend. Add to it apparently “inflammatory bidding” on our targets (oh dear, how sensitive are the precious angels) and it’s game on.
Everyone can see, and it has been acknowledged by all (including the club), that the squad that has been finely pruned over the summer needs extra juice to build on what looks to be a fine corp of players as witnessed by most of the results of the pre-season. Yes, early signings = GOOD, but my belief (call it naive if you wish) is that transfers for a club like Arsenal have become increasingly difficult.
At this point a hypothetical scenario needs to be touched on here (N7 and Tabs may help so I don’t stray close to Mr ‘H being tapped on the shoulder) that I imagine has occurred over and over this summer.
Ahem, so there’s a room with the representatives of the club, the agent and player all gathered (FFA is totally f**cked here). The negotiations I’d imagine goes like this “cough, what price for the fine specimen there, does he have good fetlocks?”, Agent- “of course, his fetlocks are magnificent, the best in the world, and now what is your offer?” Purchaser – “what did Arsene offer? we will add an extra 5-10 large on top of that, wages – ha a minimum of 300+ per week is that OK?, those Bentley keys on the desk are for your wife Mr Agent – so enjoy, the seats are pure Snow mountain leopard (the rarest), Mr CEO here are those business connections and contracts we talked about earlier to help smooth your transactions when next you visit us, and here’s some credit-cards for the kids… Mr Agent ambles over to Ivan and shows him what’s cooking (without mentioning the Bentley – because that’s a done deal wherever Mr Fetlocks goes). Ivan counters but the reality is the decision’s made and a desultory offer of some Somali player instead gets the right response from Arsenal of “F**k me not again, time to look elsewhere.
And so here we are frustration all round at the lack of any signings, and I really hope in my heart that the above represents the reason why. If it’s not well I’ll despair come the end of the transfer window but ultimately I’m a gooner and I’ll support the Arsenal come what may.
Heh @ Dr.z @ #108. We should line-up a load of financial based songs for the new season:
(To the tune of ‘he scores when he wants’)
We’re more liquid than you
We’re more liquid than you-ooooooo…..
or
(To the tune of ‘we’ll support your ever more’)
Have you seen our balance sheet?
have you seen our balance sheet?
or
(To the tune of ‘we’ve got Cesc Fabregas’)
Our cashflow’s positive
Our cashflow’s positive
PS for Lars: My experiences of Helsinki are quite the opposite of yours. Of course, nothing’s better than Stockholm which is far, far cheaper to have a beer in than Helsinki ๐
Speaking of having beer in Stockholm, I hope any and all of you that happens to swing by here for one reason or another does contact not only Lars but also me. I wouldn’t mind a few cold ones and a chaser or two.
No time to back drink so apologies if this has already been posted, but I’d just like to say I bloody LOVE US Soccer guy. Top tips for You Ropey league here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fantasyfootball/10237121/Telegraph-Fantasy-Football-US-Soccer-Guy-names-his-EPL-Allstars.html
๐
Hasn’t he noticed that Kuyt now plays for Fenerbahรงe, snowy?
Anyway, I followed him briefly on someone’s advice, but unfollowed not that much later as I found him boring and repetitive (and he seemd to like some Spuds players, I think). Was funny for only a short bit.
I mean, even Jackster, occasionally, does it better :p
“Arsenal’s Ramsey has been ruled out with an ankle injury while West Ham’s Collins has a knee problem.”
– http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23660815
Pangloss@74: this is more a sticking a finger in the air than constructing an index, but as a measure of transfer fee inflation, if you take the transfers of two 34-year old international centre forwards who were both among the best in the world in their pomp and still had a good year or two left in them despite their age — Charlie Buchan and Didier Drogba — then in today’s money, Buchan sold for ยฃ210,000 and Drogba for ยฃ2.6 million (I’ve upped Buchan’s price from the ยฃ101,000 calculated off Trev’s ยฃ2,000 because apparently there was another ยฃ2,100 paid to Sunderland based on the number of goals Buchan scored in his first season back with us.) So on the basis of that one pair of data points, transfer fee inflation has outpaced general inflation by more than 12 times. That is what TV, oligarch and oil money will do for you.
Swiss Ramble, as zico said, is very interesting today.
I don’t have time to look at all of it now but it seems that we may have been a little bit hoodwinked over the club’s finances.
Our cash balance is, apparently, ยฃ154 million and has been steadily growing since 2005.
Many of us expected to be, and have been, patient over the club’s “lack of funds” since the Stadium move, and it was no doubt prudent to keep some cash in reserve to protect loan repayments, especially had we not achieved Champions League qualification.
But what of all the “we have to make ยฃ20 – ยฃ25 million each year in the transfer market before I can spend” quotes.
It seems that various director’s claims that money was always available to the manager, may well have been true all along.
That, oddly, concurs with a conversation, reported to me by an acquaintance, with AW himself some four years ago.
Looking forward to reading the rest of that report ……
Meanwhile, Zico. ๐
Hmm Vydra apparently signed by West Brom, looking forward to see what he can do in PL, he pretty much owned championship last year at Watford.
Swiss Ramble????? Money available for ages???? You don’t say?????
I must say, having witnessed what has happened over the last few seasons and what has happened up to now reports like that make me furious. I have been slaughtered by many for saying that. I am really not impressed, not impressed at all.
Just read the Swiss Ramble report in its entirety and it doesn’t paint a good picture at all. It’s a highly detailed report on the state of the ‘union’ and unfortunately adds a shedload of weight to the argument that our beloved club is either hopelessly disorganised when it comes to transfers or is presiding over a calculated campaign to line fat cats’ pockets while doing the bare minimum to maintain status quo.
A return to recently scabbed wounds inflicted by the flimsy excuses given for the lack of transfer movement do nothing for the sense of irritation either. Remember “other clubs have acted early”?
Call me negative but it’s a shambles – damage limitation at best.
Holic @ 102 & Cent @ 103, thanks ๐
Zico @ 108, 11am? For a 3pm kick-off? Bloody hell… ๐
You guys still trust Wenger? Nope not me. I appreciate the optimism benne shared by so many of my fellow gooners, but still don’t believe these sorry asses of management team know or give a fuck about this club, just saying.
Cheers ‘holic and ‘holics who reported on the game, once again, I’ve only had times to watch byte sized highlights. Always nice to beat the newly minted and I’m sure thec win will boost the confidence of the squad, now to boost the squad………..
Steve T
I don’t understand the fuss of the Swiss Ramble new report. It basically says what he was saying for the last couple of years.
In general, the cash is there to spend, but the Arsenal FC still has a debt of over 100 million more than they have cash. The cash is there, but the debt is there too, always was.
Why the Board didn’t spend the cash in previous years?
Well, I guess the club wanted to be sure that the new commercial deals will happen and we will be in safety zone, not in danger to end up like fycking Leeds or Portsmouth. This years new deal with Emirates and the next year with Puma provides the comfort of actually spending some part of that previously EARNED money.
Just read the Swiss Ramble piece, and it is indeed excellent. However before there is panic on the ‘shambles’ front please consider the following:
“this does highlight the fact that not all of Arsenalโs cash balance is available for transfers. Itโs not quite that simple, due to many factors, including the need to pay those pesky expenses”
“the headline figures do not tell the whole story, as much of this excellent performance has been down to profits from player sales (e.g. ยฃ65 million in 2011/12) and property development (e.g. ยฃ13 million in 2010/11). Excluding those once-off factors would mean that Arsenal actually made losses in the last two years: ยฃ4 million in 2010/11 and an apparently worrying ยฃ31 million in 2011/12”
None of us knows exactly what is in the transfer ‘pot’ – as Swiss Ramble admits there’s only a approximate guess at around ยฃ70m. And that is the only figure that matters when it comes to what we have to spend.
Most signals (including Gazidis’ own) are suggesting we have ‘an’ amount to spend, and we are prepared to spend big. The questions as to ‘how much’ and ‘on whom’ we don’t know the answer to yet. I realise this is causing a not inconsiderable amount of anxiety. But I’d still rather wait for some big, game-changing names than on incrementally improving ones.
Snowy, fair points. If what you say is true, it makes the boasting of riches in June look even more like a cynical ploy to drum up more season ticket sales, don’t you think?
Swiss Ramble has gone over some well-trodden ground, not least by him, though with his as-ever excellently clear exposition. In short, there is a decent pot of money available for transfers, if not a bottomless one. To my eye, the two most interesting points were (i) the wage bill is growing far faster than revenue. Unloading as much deadwood as we have was probably intended to lower the wages to turnover ratio while still having enough capacity to pay the sort of wages a marquee signing would command; and (ii) the importance of have a point person (the ‘sporting director’/’director of football’ call it what you will) leading a transfer negotiations team. That we clearly haven’t had since DD’s departure.
Good summary Ned.
Not a direct response really, snowy, but my disappointment at those losses is mitigated by the fact that ยฃ2,704,000 of said losses each year is due to paying the salary of TGSTEL.
Looks like another ยฃ2,704,000 will be going the same way this year if one of the world’s elite clubs doesn’t soon realise he is still available.
Snowy, to my mind we need that game-changer, in the form of an attacker who can conjure that goal out of nothing when you most need it, and a couple more defenders — a CB and a DM — who are good enough to start and can, respectively, provide cover in the middle at the back for when the inevitable injuries, suspensions or loss of form arrives, and rotate with Arteta so his legs only have to carry him through 30-35 games next season.
Luis Gustavo ? What has happened to that rumour / bid ? (Lurky ?)
He can play the midfield and defensive positions, make the tea, do the laundry, drive TGSTEL to his club in the evening and collect him at chucking out time, with or without his trousers round his knees or with his Paddy Power pants showing.
Trev, maybe the club should peel off a smidgen from the cash pile and just pay off the last year of TGSTEL’s contract to be done with him. At least then we would have closure, as the Americans say.
NBN @ 131 and 133 – great points.
Just a tad more on the excellent Swiss Ramble report. It suggests that we are actually being inefficient by keeping a load of cash on deposit at very low interest rates( what appreciates quicker than footballers?) and by paying unnecessary corporation tax. We actually have probably the biggest cash reserves in the football world and as other drinkers have suggested they have not just arrived there. The difference is future cash flows have been secured through sponsorship which gives us predictability of income.
So yes Wenger has had money to spend but never as much as he has now. It would be criminally inefficient to fail to invest in the squad now and by advancing bigger sums upfront we should get most of the players we want .
Not holding my breath on Luis Gustavo but with Ramsey and TR7 nursing injuries we are short before the first game has even started. So over to you AW!
Ps- well done England , those Aussies collapse quicker than Spurs in April!
Can’t we make TGSTEL sell programmes or something.
He should at least work for the money, and he’s clearly not going to be playing for us again.
Is he !?!?
PR @127 – yep looks very cynical indeed. And I have to say I was initially a bit bloody fuming that there was no early news this window, because I was expecting more and sooner.
I’m not sure it’s the whole picture though. Putting my comms director lenses in for a bit, I think there was a need for a clear and unequivocal statement of intent, not just for the supporters but to signal that, having been out of the big spending game for a while, we are definitely back in so please take notice clubs who might be in the market.
I also think tactically there may have been some calling of bluff/boardroom politicking going on, which has been suggested here before.
Trev @ 130 – couldn’t agree more. How in the name of the the very devil we get rid of that waste of air I have no idea. Has ideas above his station and always has had. But at least he’s pretty much the last to be being shoved out the door, and the day he leaves I will be celebrating mightily.
In the absence of any other suggestions, NBN’s at 133 get my vote ๐
In other news, I am putting on record that if anyone in my office does not have pictures of Bell and Broad with lots of hearts drawn round them when I arrive in the morning, I shall regard it as a disciplinary matter ๐
Trev,
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8867137/transfer-news-arsenal-table-bid-for-bayern-munichs-luiz-gustavo
Snowy, Ned,
How to get rid of TGSTEL ?
Do those cannons at the front of the stadium actually work ?
Trev @ 136 – Excellent idea! And tea-making, handing out the coloured jerseys in training, collecting the cones, carrying the magic sponge, serving pizzas on matchday (because there’s always a hellish bloody queue in my section) and when that’s all done, cleaning the bogs. He might be the most expensive cleaner we’ve ever had, but at least he’d be being USEFUL…
Cheers Lurky.
Trev
You’re on fire Re TGSTEL . At least he’d believe he was the greatest bog cleaner that ever lived. TGBCTEL!
Yay snowy !
Would be great to see him mopping out the bogs with his “I earn ยฃ52,000 per week” bloody shirt on. ๐
Actually, add Bresnan to my 137 too…
143 – ๐
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/marouane-chamakh-joins-crystal-palace
How much did we have to pay Hollaway then, do people think?
Just waded through that Swiss Ramble piece, as mentioned above it was well troden ground, but excellent and insightive as ever.
Snowy, you make a good point that not all money is available for transfer funds, however the point was also made that sitting on the cash has also done us no favours.
It all boils down to speculate to accumalate, I suppose, with a better squad we may of got futher in competitions like the CL meaning that we wouldn’t of had to relie on player sales to keep us profitable, it’s all pretty frustrating, even more so if you ask (honestly) are we being the best we can be?
====
Heh @ Trev’s Nik “Canonball” Bendtner.
Indeed H2H – couldn’t agree more. I think somewhere in the piece he mentioned we’ve done few things like paying off net debt, some capital expenditure, plus interest payments (or something like that).
But as we oft keep noting, none of us has ever seen a healthy bank balance score a goal, make one or keep one out. So it’s not really making us the best we can be right now.
And guess what – if we were a better team and won more matches / trophies / titles on global television, we would automatically sell more and more of our shirts on all those far flung shores, earning even more money.
Simples.
But I’m no accountant.
Indeed Snowy.
Spot on Trev, I was in a sports shop in Alkmaar last week and there was a lot of footy shirts displayed, I’m afraid not one of them was an Arsenal shirt, there were a few in the shop, but hanging on a rack in the back (the red and white one) I asked if they had the new away kit, but it hadn’t been ordered, not a good sign. A few years ago they would have had loads. Top 4 may be good at keeping the books steady, but as a global brand it’s doing us no favours.
Interesting H2H. They have slipped backwards along the rails here too.
Chamakh will be hoping to gel quickly with his new teammates at Palace. ๐
Did we get actual money for him. Bit embarrassing to give him away with a year left on his contract. Better out than in though, as they say. ๐
Heh @ Chamakh and gel.
On the subject of shirt sales, I’ve combed through this list and Marouanne isn’t hair at all Trev ๐
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2384835/Robin-van-Persie-leads-Premier-League-shirt-sales-Gareth-Bale-10.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Pretty slick to still have 3 in the Top Ten though…
*gets coat*
back from a few days on lake tahoe, fully gorgeous up there. heard we won against the oil-drenched blues. btw, if anyone ever is interested in trying parasailing, i recommend it…though my hands are still cramped from their steely grip on the ropes!
this place is so molto excellente, love seeing everyone’s take on the various permutations of why we haven’t bought/do we have the money/how much money we have. i’m still content to wait until september 2 before my head explodes. and welcome to loydie and the other coupla new faces…drinks on the bar for you (and all, lars’ wallet is burgeoning today after there being nowhere in helsinki to drinki).
and trev@151, i don’t think there’s much of a chance marouane won’t gel with his new teammates…he already has a head start.
Ooh snowy, nearly repeated your ‘combed’ pun – good job I checked.
Amazing that The Ox made the top ten while he hardly played.
I guess Mousse Dembele would have made the top ten slick list.
And Nathan Dryer.
And Steve Wigley. ๐
So Swiss Ramble estimates the transfer pot at about ยฃ70m.
For those going into the oh so predictable meltdown, could anybody enlighten me as to what is new about this news? Our transfer pot has been estimated at there or thereabouts all summer.
For the very last time, cash balance is not the same as transfer pot. If you still can’t grasp that concept after god knows how many times it has been stated, you deserve to be “slaughtered”.
Snowy @126 – Well said.
*bows at the champion punmeister @155*
๐
Evening TaBS – didn’t refresh before posting as I was watching the Ashes highlights*. Cheers mate.
*Not actually a hairdressing pun*
It’s nothing new is it. We have known all along that we had money to invest in the squad but instead chose to sell our best players. Quite fucking remarkable if you ask me. Genuinely bizarre. And we still can’t seem to bring the right faces in????!? I’m quite glad I am missing the Villa game now.
Heh! @ 159. ๐
That 159 was head and shoulders above the others. ๐
Heh Snowy ๐
Yep the Cricket was good. Took my mind off our lack of activity for a while. Don’t know what I’m gonna do tomorrow though ๐
Heh – cheers Trev.
TaBS I suggest watching that Aussie batting collapse again for a few thousand times until you get bored ๐
Wise words! ๐
Ah the cricket, a welcome distraction from what is(n’t) going on.
Broad played an absolute blinder
๐
Some interesting comments from Neville here:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/12/gary-neville-british-football-sky-sport?
Am glad you enjoyed the cricket TaBS – thought you and your fellow legalists might have been too busy today:
http://newsthump.com/2013/08/12/uk-criticised-by-humanitarian-groups-for-threatening-spain-with-lawyers/
๐
While we’re on the cricket tip: got back from work today and Mrs Rosso is there on the couch after her first day of maternity leave.
Me: So what did you get up to today?
Her: Watched Mary Poppins. Then when that was over, I discovered the Ashes and got really into it.
Me: *dumbstruck with astonishment*
She’s not only a girl, she’s South American.
๐ @169
If Mrs Rosso’s on Twitter I suggest she gets following the lads from the England team in about the next 5 minutes.
They are clearly all getting utterly spannered, and it is only a matter of time before the England management take their phones off them…
Re: The Gary Neville interview referenced above by snowy.
Liverpool the direct competitors of Arsenal?
Things must be worse than I thought. ๐
Excellent stuff TaBS: From what I understood from Swiss Ramble, at least up until the point I started to glaze over (sorry, no offence — the guy is hugely impressive) was that we have ยฃ70M to spend on transfers.
No shit? I read the same thing in the Metro back in the happy old hopeful days of late Spring…
We all know what needs to be done and I’m just hoping — like all of us — that something will be done. Suarez; Gutavo; a CB? Another 3 quality players, at the very least, will put the shits up the like of the Mancs and Chavs.
And that’s all we really need to be competitive. Truly competitive. Why would AW not see what the rest of us sees? It’s on the cards. It’ll happen — or something very close to it. Can’t wait!
Hmmmm. Real seem to be losing interest in Bale. But the spuds have already spent the money they were expecting for him! Time we put in a bid. Whaddya reckon, ยฃ40,000,002? More than any spud could ever be worth, but let’s do the neighbourly thing and help them out, aye.
Oskar
TTG@135: What depreciates faster than footballers? Chamakh was worth โฌ17 million in 2011. Goes to Palace for an estimated โฌ2.5 million. Revenue is vanity, profit is reality, but cash is king.
Trev: TGSTEL should be seconded to your pun mines. Set him to hard labor where it is so dark he couldn’t even read his own underpants.
The sad thing about TGSTEL is that if he wasn’t such a self-centered jerk, he could have been a more than decent player.
It’s now up to Luis
But I now which team I’d like to be heading the spear for post deadline day.
First thought before back drink
Know
Snowy – “utterly spannered”: nice turn of phrase!
Feeling very zen about the whole transfer thing. It’s all gonna be fine. Gustavo this week, Suarez at about midnight on deadline day and a half decent right back somewhere in between. Good business.
I would be very surprised if the Suarez thing resolved itself in the next 10 days or so. I’m still convinced he’ll go, the only question for me is whether a third party might join the bidding late on.
In terms of the final price, I think it could be anywhere between ยฃ40m+1 and ยฃ55m, depending on how the respective parties play their cards.
Can’t wait for the football to start again.
COYG
indeed Ned
The Suarez Soap will be amusing whatever the outcome. Brenda the arch man manager displaying his skills trying to corral the wayward Uruguayan with the clever tactic of demanding an apology and 100% commitment ensures that there will be more twists before it ends.
However I think the likeliest outcomes are, in order:
1) Suarez is sold to Real for ยฃ50m
2) Suarez is made to cool his heels in the Scunt reserves until January 2014 when 1) happens
3) Suarez makes peace with Rodgers, plays for Scunts all season, then goes to Real in June 2014
4) Rodgers and Henry choke on their tongues and Arsene gets his man for ยฃ50m + ยฃ1.
Rodgers key problem is that he can’t resist a microphone. Sometimes good management is knowing when to STFU. He’s a hair’s breadth away from delivering a half time team talk on the pitch.
Mr Rosso @168, and Snowy@169 fantastic heh. Thank you.
Mr Bath@180 have to agree with you on all the potential options, and the exemplary man-management skills of the aforementioned club, I’m looking forward to the resulting debris.
Onto more pressing news I read today that “the extra-hard, holding midfielder, the Brazilian’d Gustavo will be playing at Wolfgang’s this season, instead of at the Arsenal”
Gazumped by one of Mr ‘H’s own, what is the world coming to?
Gotta be quick in this game Lloydie. Dog eat dog world innit ๐
Bath – Can’t see (2) or (3) happening in your scenarios Bath.
(1) or (4) for me.
What an arsehole of a morning.
Not only am I tired as hell, about the first thing that happened at work was that my boss, that I get on with really well and who is a really good boss, told us he has handed in his notice.
Let’s hope it doesn’t go downhill from here!
In other news, still no luck on Tx for Spuds.
#patience
Sorry to hear, Lars ๐
Sorry to hear that Lars.
Here’s a bit of Subbuteo art to cheer you up.
Keown doing a bit of horse-training.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPtqizLLozU/UglduUdVaGI/AAAAAAAABoo/_ktSrqmSZbs/s320/March+Orders.jpg
Heh@Subbuteo Keown! ๐
tabs @188…..fabulous Subbuteo art – I never managed to reproduce the real thing in such detail!
that was a classic moment – I’ve got the teeshirt!
tabs being name checked by Yogi.
How long till he’s on Sunday Supplement with the Alice band in his hair?
I’ll be telling my grandkids about how I used to know him when he was infamous…..
Snowy @167 – Haha, on my way to Spain. Taking N7 and Joe with me.
We’re needed in Liverpool first though on more urgent business. Something to do with a Uraguayan consignment and “sorting out” the Northern Irish “problem”. ๐
Bath – If I’d still been playing Subbuteo when Van Horseface first appeared, I would definitely have stamped on him! Just take him out once and for all.
Blimey, immediately scurries off to ACLF ๐
Dr Z – Haha, well I’ve already got the alice band ๐
you have? ๐ฎ
I use it for media appearances Bath.
and when I dress up as Bobby Pires ๐
Anyway, enough of this alice band nonsense.
Punts the ball forward in the style of Wilf Copping …
Bang?
Living next door to the Alice band?
Smokie have a lot to answer for…..
Doctor? Doctor! it’s the old trouble again.
Well in Zico
Assist or goal!
Oh dear!
Well in, Dr Z!
@ 197
I think you should wear it on Saturday.
If it’s good enough for Ollie Holt… ๐
Everything N7 said
Oh and I hope Luis makes the right decision.
๐
haha tabs 188 excellent!
Good stuff with the sub’ art.
Afternoon all.
Have we si…..
Never mind.
Villa face a very difficult start to the season, with their first three matches against Arsenal (away), Chelsea (away) and Liverpool (home). I’d say they should go for it in weeks 2 and 3. ๐
Heh @Tabs, it’S-a-beauty, oh ! ๐
In other news,
For YaYa it’S-a-no-go. He’s hamstrung already. Don’t ask!
Any chance Abou will be ready for the North London Diaby ? No need to ask.
As you were, then. ๐
Goal! Whatsup?
Should we sign the new Ronaldo or the new Benteke?? It’s all too confusing. ๐
http://www.givemesport.com/368027-new-ronaldo-wont-leave-real-betis-for-less-than-20m?
http://www.givemesport.com/368029-arsenal-tottenham-tracking-the-next-benteke?
Maybe if Wet Spam made a bid for Suarez they could get him for around 6 or 7mill;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23665483
H2H. Liverpool lost 14 million quid on Downing. No wonder they are trying to milk an extra 14 million out of us. And that is not even mentioning Andy Carroll or any of the other disastrous transfer expenditures they have made over the last few months!!
Congratulations on the long awaited arrival (see @ 168! ) ๐ Kinda like a new signing ๐
N7 @ 178 — Not to be pedantic and all, but how is ‘all gonna be fine’ a zen attitude? It is a very commendable positive optimistic worldview, but it is a deeply attached one, no? ๐
I hope you are right, but I have accepted the possibility that we may get to the next month with the squad we have today without any more additions. It would be a mistake, of course, but given the types of quality players we (rightly) seem to be after, and given our relative failure in recent years to pull off these types of deals — by that I mean no disrespect to Santi, Giroud, Poldi, Arteta et al. who all I think are very good players — I think it is and it will be proving to be much harder to make those happen in this window. It would be a significant failure by the club, obviously, but I think that is as much in the realms of possibility as its inverse.
If no quality additions happen I will be disappointed, of course, but I will not be surprised.
According to The Mirror, Theo Walcott is now a doubt for England’s game and Saturday vs Villa, having picked up an ankle injury during England training.
Aaron Ramsey apparently a doubt for Wales.
All looking good then.
Gerrard: “I’m not sure if Suarez will be a LFC player this season. But one thing I’m certain of, he won’t be sold to another English club.”
That’s Steven Gerrard of LFC, the all seeing, all knowing fount of fucking wisdom?
Gerrard has about as much say in Suarez’ transfer destination as you or I.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen over the next couple of weeks but I’m really confident he won’t be going to anyone in England.”
Oh well he’ll be going to Sligo Rovers then as they aren’t rivals to Liverpool.
Dr. F
While I can fully understand where you are coming from and agree about the difficulty of making transfers which ManUre and even Chelsea seem to be finding but the fact is we have let go around ten players on the periphery of the squad and will struggle to fill in a full roster for the CL qualifier. Even Wenger acknowledged that a squad of 19 is thin especially with regularly injured players like Diaby, Sanogo , Rosicky and Walcott in it( all currently injured to a greater or lesser degree ). If he literally doesn’t sign any further first- team players he will not only reap a whirlwind from the fans at the first sign of problems but he would be guilty of negligence in not equipping us adequately for a full season. The way I see it is that he has to do two or three deals minimum but is arguably still trying to pull off a marquee signing in Suarez and is not sure what that will ultimately cost.
What would be a grave mistake is another supermarket sweep if the quality is not available. But hell with our cash reserves who is not available to us? The situation is almost beyond belief and only a feeling that even if Wenger has no longer got the nerve to do big transfers someone like IG needs to ensure that we are in a position to compete next year by insisting deals are done in the key positions. It’s interesting that Fellaini’s buy- out clause expires on Thursday and Everton have apparently had no bids for him. That is a strange sign from a very unusual window
Gourcuff for ยฃ10m anyone?
Maybe the holder of the lucky programme number at each home match this season will get to play in the second half –
” Congwatchlations”. ๐
Sorry bath, I don’t have ยฃ10 million. ๐
A French dude willing to take a pay cut;
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8868562/Transfer-news-Lyon-admit-Yoann-Gourcuff-was-keen-on-Arsenal-move/comments
Aaah, I see Bath beat me to it.
No 10 mill Trev?
How do you afford those season tickets then? ๐
Looks like he would add cover /competition for Diaby on the treatment couch.
No price is too great to keep Bendtner in luxury, H2H.
I think Sanogo may have beaten him to it, bath.
Hehs.
I see we are already joint top of the English Premier League Injury Table.
Theo expected back on Aug 17th, but Ramsey, somewhat concernedly, listed as “no return date”.
You’ve just gotta laugh, there really is no other sane option.
Ramsey, Diaby, Rosicky, Sanogo.
Looks like at least the card school is taken care of ๐
Three midfielders out – and we only had eight including Diaby, Frimpong and Myaichi, who is also injured !
Still feeling relaxed ZEN7 ? ๐
What news of Rosicky? He wasn’t listed on the injured list. Is he still AWOL in Larsland, or is he back in training?
I assume Santi after travelling to Ecuador will be rested, or at very most be on the bench, for the Villa game, too, so he will be fresh for the trip to Fenerbahce four days later.
Heh Trev.
It’s a bizarre blend of emotions – I cannot wait for Saturday and real football but at the same time I am absolutely bricking it. Haven’t seen a winning start for the past two seasons. Not hopeful this time either!
Bring on Saturday, I say, Porco. First game of a 10-game winning streak…
Indeed Porco,
Our squad is so stupidly thin, I’m getting quite elated at every suggestion of an actual player coming in, and then really depressed / annoyed when it all inevitably fails to happen.
These injuries are doing my head in. We have Ville, Fenerbache, Fulham(a) and T*ttenham in the first 14 days of the season. Don’t the football gods know we simply can’t afford ANY injuries.
I’m going for a meditate with ZEN7 –
“D-i-n-g”
Meditation – now THERE’S a plan!
Fantasy League anybody? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You Ropey mail to follow…