A Powerful Message Is Delivered
Sep 3rd, 2013 by 'holic
Understanding full well what sort of shape I would be in the morning after the North London derby I booked a holiday yesterday. That served two purposes. The hangover duly arrived with the first raising of an eyelid long after I would otherwise have been at my desk. It also meant I could live most of the madness of transfer deadline day.
I went in to the long weekend with the dual ambition of seeing Arsenal win, and also strengthen the squad. That both were achieved is the cause for some satisfaction today. That is a pleasure to write, because those that followed recent posts and those with whom I had chatted knew my faith was being sorely tested by our apparent inactivity in a very, very important transfer window for Arsenal Football Club.
My belief in the team to see off the ragtag and bobtail rabble from the other end of Seven Sisters was total, but one or two I spoke to before kick-off knew that I was questioning just where I would be watching the Arsenal next season in the event of us coming out of the transfer window without having acquired some first team starting quality. Let me hold my hands up now, I of all people should have known better.
Not that the last day swoop for a world-class midfielder was enough for everybody. The three months of failure to nail down other targets would always allow those with glasses half-empty to continue their narrative, and understandably so. We have passed the deadline without the goalscorer we most definitely needed. To those who would argue Arsene is happy with Giroud and Sanogo (Bendtner really is a long, long way off consideration) I would point out the almost desperate attempts to sign Suarez at the start of the window, and Ba at the end. As well there was a genuine offer for Higuain and at very least an earnest enquiry for Rooney. We wanted more firepower for sure.
Our failure to convert a bid for Di Maria means we now face a period of Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla on the flanks, or else a converted midfielder or full-back. Gaps that existed on Saturday remained unfulfilled this morning. Yet for all that I will now say I thought the window became a qualified and massive success, Contradictory? I don’t think so, for this window was about more than giving Arsenal a squad to challenge for the major prizes. Whether we have or not is open to debate. I’m sceptical but when ‘the special one‘ bigs us up as contenders after signing ‘the best number ten in the world‘ then one has to wonder.
I doubt that there are many sets of supporters out there who will be content with the level of business their club has done this summer. That is the nature of the beast. What was so very important to Arsenal this summer though was to use the money that the CEO had virtually boasted was available, and yet sat smouldering in the dormant transfer account until after ten last night. The word was out from the disaffected. Arsene, or Arsenal, won’t spend £20m/£30m/£40m on a player (delete as appropriate).
The protracted negotiations that eventually delivered us the signature of Mesut Özil have sent out a signal that needed to be sent. Arsenal have reacted to the fact that football continues to defy economic reality, and to compete we have to follow the market in paying ever greater prices for a limited pool of top class talent. We supporters will pay, by buying advertisers products, by subscribing to the television channels that throw our money at the clubs, by buying ever more expensive tickets to matches. If you don’t spend our money on improving our clubs you will not remain competitive.
And so if you say to me we haven’t done everything that we should have done then I would say you are correct, but only partly. The signature signing of Özil, refreshing memories of deals for the likes of Alan Ball, Malcolm Macdonald, Charlie Nicholas, and Dennis Bergkamp, has sent a message to others. It opens the gates to other top notch players to join him. In January, and next summer, when the top names are being discussed in footballing circles, the deal-makers and agents will not shy away from talking to Arsenal just because they don’t spend that sort of money.
We do now, and football has got that message loud and clear.
Arsenal are back.
664 Responses to “A Powerful Message Is Delivered”
gët ïn.
Arsene Wenger has changed, not gone. And I for one am both relieved and wondering what else to moan about… 😉
Ah, I got Trev’d in the previous session so a repost follows:
————-
I must say that the Cretan sun has felt even warmer and nicer than ever before in these past 48 hours. We got here with about three hours to spare before the game, and were treated to a complimentaty late lunch at the hotel. Then we went to the neighbouring village and sat down at the sports bar to watch the Poo v ManUre game – which, as you would expect, was shit – and then the humiliation of the perennial losers of a full set of wheels started. They went from flying so high to crashimg down in a matter of just over 24 hours, and it is absolutely hysterical to see them start petitions to end the “partnership” with Real, a deal that they were crowing about a year ago but that everyone else said meant “ok, we’ll settle for Modric this summer but we’ll come back for Bale in a year!”. (for the record, though, they still have a decent team that in time may gel and be quite good but let’s leave that for now)
I still can’t belive it’s true that we actually got Özil in, and those moaning about the lack of a striker completely miss the big picture. This was a statement of intent if I ever saw one, and as a side note it was also the day that Real officially stopped being a football club and became little more than a travelling circus.
Alright, there’s probably a ton of other stuff to say but this’ll have to do for now. This very happy Swede shall now browse the interweb for a bit and see what has ben said during the day. Laters all, and the drinks are of course still on me even if I am on holiday!
CL Place?
that’s a mighty big wället, Λαρς, cheers!
Nice one Holic.
Ozillcious
Great pöst Hölic, agree with every wörd!
Olivier Cazilcott is going to tear defences [ I hope]
Top stuff guv, couldn’t put it better myself. (not for a lack of trying.)
The Özil signing is the statement of intent many of us wanted/needed to see, it’s not going to magically solve all our ails, but it’s a massive step in the right direction.
Window being a success??? As I argued with other bloggers on twitter last night whilst we are well stocked in midfield (though still no out-an-out ball winner – our midfield compared to Spurs on Sunday looked like tiny little diddy men), if we get any more crocked centre-backs and should anything happen to Giroud then we are struggling big-time to put out a team that can challenge for top-4. Also, The current cente-backs and forward can’t play every game, so what happens when they can’t? Also due to injuries we lack quality cover in wide areas.
Yes I agree with you that Carzola will now have to play left wing, a position he has no liking for, and thus, shows little discipline to assist his left-back when defending; how many times, especially in the first half on Sunday did Gibbs have little protection as Carzola was ‘lost’ in central areas??? The lack of another signed defender, winger and striker (and please having to field Bendtner is rather clutching at straws) will be Wenger’s, and ultimately Arsenal’s downfall this season as we simply have not got the raw materials to compete on all fronts.
This squad is so close to being good, yet our great one-track-minded manager has failed to deliver the players required to make us a worthy contender. Ozil can’t do all on his own so he can be the greatest assist provider on the planet, but the likes of Bendtner, if called upon which he will be, are not going to be able to regularly reap what the German provides.
BTW, don’t worry all you who are having trouble spelling Özils name correctly..
You can’t make an amlaut without breaking some eggs. 😉
First!
heh, good name, Lars!
You didn’t read it again, did you David?
I said I was dubious about our immediate prospects too. There is a bigger picture that is being painted here.
Open your mind.
Wise words as ever ‘Holic. When we signed Charlie Nick ahead of LFC and MUFC it signalled a sea change after the losses of Liam and Judas Stapleton in previous seasons, the signing of Dennis was the same after seasons of decline from the highs of 89 and 91. Mesut may not single handedly change us into title winners, but the sea change feels the same. We are properly respected again!
@David , the only place I feel we are short is striking department, but we are no worse off than we were last year [realistically speaking] – but of course 1 more striker would have been great.
But we didnt need a plan D striker. We have found it tough to get rid of such players.
And Bendtner , hopefully can be the 10-15 goal backup we have been hoping for.
Open your mind.
I did that once. A moth flew out.
Wizard of Oz
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
The gunners are back…Africa is feeling it….the goober possessed continent
Cynic, stop making me chuckle 😉
There is no being dubious about it, the simple fact is we are not going to be able to compete for anything. Whilst Sunday was a great defensive display (I never thought Wenger had it in him to organise a tea party, let alone a tactical defensive approach), we ‘lost’ the footballing battle as the match was played on Tottenham’s terms – I probably was not even born the last time they ‘bossed’ a match at our ground!!!
We had such an opportunity after how the season ended and Wenger has failed in his remit. The way Mourinho stiched him up yesterday over Ba was comical really. If it was not for Man U’s transfer failings, the focus would be firmly on Arsenal’s failure to adequately suppliment the squad.
@Sajit. Centre back we are so light, lets be honest. Sagna is not the answer as that takes him away from right back as that then only leaves Jenks ,so its another square peg and all that to cover a key area of the side.
Also, as for Bendtner, I was a huge fan of 5/6 years ago, then his arrogance got in the way of his development, and even Sunderland did not want him after his loan spell there which say it all. I would much Akpom be given the chance as in pre-season his movement was excellent for his age. Sango needs to hit the gym before he can be relied upon
Can’t think of a better welcoming chant for the new acquisition at the Emirates than:
“Ö-zil to the Arsenal!”
“Ö-zil to the Arsenal!”
“Ö-zil to the Arsenal!”…..
Looking ahead, there will be a real surplus of midfield talent once
Arteta and the Ox returns to the fold (Cazorla, Ramsey, Arteta. Wilshere, Rosicky). Any thoughts as to who might be deemed surplus and maybe made available, and address the imbalance of the current roster in January?
@ David
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling the buzz, but I don’t believe that the LWCs bossed sh1t on Sunday. They had lots of the ball but created nothing with it, and their keeper kept them in the game.
We’ve had plenty of similar performances down the years; heaps of possession, zero cutting edge, and we didn’t boss those either.
Wenger ate AVB’s lunch tactically.
Bossed?
Shakes head.
Didn’t read the post.
Didn’t watch the match.
Top stuff ‘ H.
And hehs at Cynic 😀
Drink
@N7 Gooner
Totally agree with your assessment, we created the more chances and Szcer only had what two saves of any note to make. Trouble is though, you would trust Chelsea and say Juventus to adopt the approach we did and make it successful far more than ourselves. Dont get me wrong, I loved the fact we proved we can park the bus for once, all I was trying to stress was that Spurs were able to boss the territoral play, even before we went 1-0 up, and that can be consider a worry and maybe a sign of the times and where both teams are at
Whether I am feeling the buzz or not about Arsenal is open to debabe. Ozil is world class and went under the radar at RM due to the show-pony drawing all the limelight. But he alone is not going to be make us contenders for more than just a top 4 place; qualifying out of our ECL group is going to be an uphill task.
Cheers ‘holic.
Personally I’m not bothered about statements of intent. Just glad we’ve signed someone of huge quality.
Dear Mesut, please don’t get injured in the international break.
Unfortunately I am w/o the buzz as well, and I LOVE buzzes. @David makes some great points in my humble opinion. I don’t think we came out of this window big winners. Bendtner is shaite, We are light in back. However, we did send a grand statement with this signing and it does bode well for our future, both on the pitch and in secret transfer rooms ( as long as we get some folks who are a wee bit more familiar with getting multiple deals done.)
don’t get me wrong if we can stay healthy we will be contenders without a doubt however in this league it seems no one to stay healthy all season long.
On a side note, any chance of using Theo some up front now?
I still believe! COYG!
What N7 said @22.
I also disagree that Sagna is not the answer as well. He has been immense in that position in every game he has played there this year. Flamini was a great signing because of the number of positions he can cover, including right back and as a back up to Arteta and Ramsey in the more defensive midfield position (not going to call it the DM position).
Good stuff, Guv!
David, no, we are NOT short at centre back. Sagna is a better CB than Ashley Williams who everybody is saying we should sign. The only place we look short of quality(not quantity) is in attack and I’d rather we kept what we have than buy another low quality striker to sit on his arse and collect wages. Our squad might look thin but the good thin about it is that they will genuinely contribute to anything we achieve, most of them have the ability to play at least one position at a very decent level and another position expertly, this will result in them pushing each other to develop well as individuals and as a team.
‘We lost the footballing battle as the match was played on Tottenham’s terms”
World class comedy. Thanks mate.
Good post as always and get your point Hollic. I too am in it for the long haul. Two years from now there is no reason why we are not contending with the Madrids et al.
But even now lets stop to think what it might be like with:
———————————————————————————–
Ramsay Wilshire
Ozil
Rosicky (Giroud/Walcott) Cazorla
————————————————————————————
There is enough movement in that little lot for no one to worry about being out wide if they don’t like being out wide – if you know what I mean.
Then look at your bench! We have a squad that can more than cope.
We can more than cope.
Rosicky btw is my favourite at the moment, He is a class act and a fantastic player when fit (as he is now). He will be a vital player for us this year, giving Theo a rest on the flank at times and playing more than a bit part in this squad.
Likewise lets not listen to lazy pundits talking about us having to use Sanga as a stand in centre half. He is quality in there and better than almost anything we could have picked up. There is a bit of me that expects him to play centre back when we play some of the more technical European sides.
If there were two more things I would like us to do – it is sign Sanga and Rosicky to new contracts. We have done the first part – made the big signing, now lets do the second part and reward players who are committed to our club. This is not charity. They are more than worth their place in the squad. And one thing we have missed in the barren years is leaders both on the field and in the dressing room. These two will be worth their weight in gold over the next couple of years.
David @26 – I really hope it is a sign of the times! A sign this team has learned to absorb pressure and break with purpose rather than pass sideways without and cutting edge. And that was before Ozil arrived. The way Spurs played on Sunday would have gotten AW skewered for lack of tactical nous.
For those that moan about our defence, here’s a quiz,
Whose was the 2nd best defence in the Prem last season in terms of goals conceded? Here’s a clue – the name begins with an A. Who have we lost since then? Santos. And Gibbs and Jenks have another year under their belts.
And who has just joined played left back during a run to the CL final that conceded the fewest ever goals? (His name begins with an F and he’s pretty handy in the middle when it comes to getting stuck in). And Sagna is awesome in central defense if needed.
And Bendtner will be hugely motivated with the World Cup and the prospect of getting a nice big contract somewhere, and when applied he has some talent, so he could be a very good backup to Giroud.
So FFS be happy for once when something exciting happens (plus 4 wins on the trot) and quit moaning for once!
Fair appraisal Holic! Hi everyone. You have been called out in the past about being lenient (soft) on AW, IG, Stan,etc. But people fail to fully appreciate that running a blog has inherent responsibilities ( sticking to the facts, not rumour mongering). We holics have more leeway, in what we say 😉 Think early on this summer, whether we would qualify for CL, proved to be an obstacle for some of our targets. Personally, despite legitimate concerns you raised, very optimistic about our future.
Anyone already seen this? It is a must…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10284922/Mesut-Ozils-42m-move-to-Arsenal-sealed-with-one-phone-call-from-manager-Arsene-Wenger.html
Cheers arse’s arse
Glad someone else can be objective about our great club! What a shame it could be for our creative players to be let down potentially by lack of cover that is of high calibre in other areas.
@ Cent’Berry
Oh that is brilliant, I am going to put that on twitter as it is a classic – Williams is a beast and would make a defence sooooo much better. Non-Arsenal fans would laugh at such a comment suggesting Sagna is superior at CB. Did you not notice that last week against Fener how is was out-muscled at least on 4 occasions when one against one with the big-man striker???
Good thin, hey, I will remind you of that when the injuries kick-in even more than at present (we dont do short-term niggles do we)and the suspensions added to them. Maybe Djourou will be recalled – for the recorded I have more faith in him then Nikki B!
If I may add, we have a ball winner now in Flamini.
We have a settled team now, nobody of note left us, the players we have now know each others movement very well and the new ones will gently be integrated into the team, some other players are now more experienced and still developing(Ramsey, Jack, Jenks, Walcott, szczesny).
Fine post H. Covered all the bases. Big signing on and off the park. A paradigm shift for Arsenal. Pity about the striker proving elusive but the BIG deal was done and HFB is going to deliver in BtMs promise this season.
Arsenal are back
FOYD
THMBD
To be fair, the match was played on Tottnumb’s terms, as is often the case: they lost.
Anyone recall Sunderland away last year? That was an amazing gritty performance from our defense. Backs to the wall stuff.
It is concerning, however, to think how many goals they have shipped this year with Sagna at CB though. Oh wait…
Interestingly having Özil gives us even more flexibility than we have shown already this season when we have switched seamlessly from 4-3-3 to 4-5-1, and even opens up the ability to switch to more offensive or defensive formations if push comes to shove.
Tactically we seem to be evolving, and abandoning the attempt to copy the Barca/Spain style in favour of something more suited to the players we have, although Özil makes a return to that Barca style possible.
No one of note has left…Gerninho would be a better bet than Bendtner, care to differ??? Please note, Gervinho is no world-beater but he never hide in matches and Wenger failed to man-manage him to give him confidence to perform consistently, it can be argued
At Comment No31: ok funny man, lets see you laugh the next time we allow the opposition to have over 60% possession, as more than likely we wont win the match – think about it! It’s a valid point I make, if you can’t see that then…
What makes me laugh is all these people who regard their own opinion as “objective” while all those who disagree with them are, presumably, “subjective” (or idiots?).
Objectivity is a myth – as quantum physicists have shown. So you can stick your öbjectivity üp yöür ärsë.
I don’t think that the planets will align this season, depending on the January window, but we are much closer to where we want to get than we were on Saturday.
“Williams is a beast” yea just like Roger Johnson, Mathew Upson, Chris Samba and Sylvian Distin.
Have we signed Russell Grant, H?
So people really think Sagna is the answer at CB then hey…ok, interesting thought processes. How about we convert Carzola to play at right-back then??? Sagna can do a job there, no question (Fergie phrase), but to have put him there for more than 2 matches in a row say is not going to work and eventually the defencies would become all to evident.
David @ 43 – It could be argued, just not convincingly. Gervinho’s lack of confidence was as much down to the fans getting on his back and his frail psyche as Wenger. Maybe AW should man-manage all the fans better.
The comedy just won’t stop but here you go.
We replaced Gervinho with Santi and in turn replaced Santi with Özil, makes sense now?
David – why not come back when you’ve learned to spell?
Cent’Berry, you might as well have added Senderos to your list. You are showing rather a lack of football understanding if you can’t comprehend how Williams would have bolstered and enhanced our defensive ranks no end.
David, please, remind me how many goals we have conceded with Sagna at Centre Back?
I’ve not seen a ton of Williams, but I can’t help but notice he’s got to, what, 28 years of age without ever playing for the first team of a big club. He wasn’t on anyone’s radar until about a year ago. That tells a story at this stage of his career.
Could be wrong, but there you go. I’m certainly glad we didn’t buy him. £10m for a fourth choice CB?
Cover is good enough. We could use a striker but we’ll live.
We won’t challenge for the title this season. We will take a step forward. Then another in the summer. That’s how it works.
I miss Gervinho’s ability to make something out of nothing. And his massive head.
dk, careful not to cross the line.
David is debating just fine for now.
Let’s stay cool and debate.
No, its a manager’s role to improve the performance of players – as in any industy really. The fans have a right to vent their feelings as we (as I do) pay vast amounts of money to watch the team, its up to the manager to instill belief, end of! Fergie would have got Gervinho performing, as would Mourinho.
The other team’s CB is always greener.
ÿäwn
‘Cazilcott Oliv’
Glad but also gutted not to see a marquee striker. Giroud is not enough as first option and worse we don’t have a replacement.
N7, I beg to differ, We WILL CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE THIS SEASON, we might not win it but we will challenge till the very end.
As for williams; check how many errors leading to goals he made last season, and the season before that, check it and see for yourself.
David, if we get bad injuries and suspensions you may be right. If we don’t you’re probably wrong. I will judge you at the end of the season. Or when we play sagna and rambo at cb.
David @ 43
Depends on the opposition. Give Bayern 60% of the ball and they’ll murder you. But It was quite evident on Sunday that we could have played all night and Spurs weren’t going to create anything and that we could deal with the pressure and hit them on the break.
What was he supposed to do? Push the back four to the halfway line, chase the ball down and try to win some points for artistic merit?
Also got to factor in that the midfield were gassed. They’d played a proper midweek game, not a joke fixture against a bunch of Ukrainian pig farmers.
That possession stat is no reflection of the teams and their abilities. It’s just how that particular game, in those particular circumstances, panned out.
And it’s a daft thing to bash the manager for. He beat a side who the media were all backing to win, with a shit ton of injuries and players knackered/coming down with food poisoning. He got his tactics spot on.
“Fergie would have gotten Gervinho to perform as will mourinho”they couldn’t even get Kagawa, Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Djemba Djemba and Veron to perform.
“It’s a manager’s job to improve the performance of players”
Ramsey
Giroud
Koscielny
Walcott
Mertesacker
Five of the best players on the pitch on Sunday. Five players the manager has repeatedly been told aren’t good enough for Arsenal. Five players he has markedly improved. I could go on: Gibbs? Jenks?
You surely can’t fault him for his record in this area?
Pip,
yeah, I sort of liked Gervinhos unpredictibility. Opponent never knew what to expect from him, trouble was, neither did his team mates..or often himself.
I still think there is quality footballer somewhere deep in him, should he find more calmness and ruthlessness in the box, he can be handful for any defense. But that might, or might not happen. I wish him to be successfull in Roma.
Cheers holic, but people can lower the tone against me, it just highlights their mentality really and levels of interlect/manners. Some people know how to conduct themselves, whereas others….
Now lets get the football out again…Sagna at CB, number of goals conceded, not many, but I prefer to judge over a longer period of time.
When I was a student I recall Cygan began in a blaze of glory and looked a masterstoke of a signing by Wenger (who then was a quality manager), but then over the longer period, Pascal got found out for being rather not very good. Hey if Sagna proves to be a hit at CB when called upon I will admit I was wrong, no question!
We needed one more defender but quality wise we have enough. I don’t see any available defenders in the premier league who are much better than our three. Some people who question Vermaelen but we all know that he has all the ingredients to be successful defender, and that he was just out of form which happens to a lot of players. He’ll come back stronger.
As someone commented all those so called world class defenders we were linked with in the past failed miserably and ended up being big time flops. Arsene knows statement is somehow true
Cent
God I hope you’re right.
Firstly, Williams will not come [ leaving regular football] to become 4th choice at Arsenal.
No really good defender will come. Only option is to have your Miquels, Squillacis, Sylvesters etc. – do they improve the team?
I rather have Bac play as 4th choice [ and he has been MASSIVE ] every time . Give the man a fucking contract you misers!!!
Secondly, you cannot say, lets have faith in youngsters and then go and buy. So if we really do have faith in Jenkinson [ and I do] , I trust him to play RB whenever Sagna needs to cover CB.
Jenkinson has really improved and we need to repay that improvement with better trust.
Finally. again – for raw talent Bendtner is better than Chamakh + Park. Its WC year, and his statement looks promising. Remember how good he is when he is motivated..? He is good in the air and has a decent shot in him. Not getting over excited but I hope he can turn a leaf.
David@57 “Fergie would have got Gervinho performing, as would Mourinho.”
How do you know this? What objective proof can you offer?
Bearded Gooner
Dead right – the problem with Gervinho, as has happened with a number of our players, is that a patch of bad form or a few mistakes and there is a small but very noisy section of the Emirates are on their backs. These “fans” knock the confidence of the players and make them play worse, which seems to be their objective sometimes. It’s why we often played better away.
It also makes me even more impressed with Ramsey that he came through all the shit that was being thrown at him (remember he was only 20 at the time) and proved the boo boys to be real idiots.
Oh Cent’Berry, now I never thought I would ever defend Sir Fergie, but have think son, have a think…for every dud how many successes were there.
Oh, as for Kagawa, I would sign him tomorrow, er should that be 1st Jan 14, as he is quality (I watch a lot of Bundersliga and this kid is a diamond of a player)
Don’t be harsh on those who don’t agree with everything you say here David (of whom I am often one).
We are a broad church, and not all have English as a mother tongue. Add to that the obvious fact that faces cannot be observed as opinions are given.
Mostly people here take that into account. All will bristle at perceived sleights.
Nice post Holic – have been cheesing all day because, without doubt, MO is super, super quality. I totally get the bigger picture stuff.
I am concerned about our inability to sign a striker though, and can recall exactly how I felt when Giroud got himself suspended in the run last season, and lets face it we are a sly kick or a maddening refereeing performance away from the same. Or worse still, the dreaded 3 week knock.
And it does make me wonder whether the Ozil deal would have seen the light of day had the Mickeys taken our extra quid for the bitey bloke. A bid for a top, top quality striker was how we started the transfer window madness (one we all agreed that we needed) and ended up with a quality creative midfielder (definitely not a top priority).
The deal was the icing on a fabulous weekend cake, and yet I have that nagging doubt at the back of my mind. Especially if we have to rely on Mick Bendtnah, TGSTEL. 🙄
PS – to Cynic, the Mrs says thanks for the tribute in the last round of drinks. 😉
Cheer up @David; it might never happen.
Look, you clearly care deeply about our club (as do we all) but for once please let us delight in a world-class signing, who may change the shape of the team and drive us forward to new heights, rather than complaining about potential missed opportunities.
Neither you, nor we, know how this season will pan out — so how about we all hop aboard and enjoy the ride? And if you’re correct in May, we’ll all queue up to shake you warmly by the hand.
Thanks.
@dkgonner
Merely an opinion. Those two managers seem to have had the ability to make players produce their best consistently. I am looking forward ot watching Gervinho for Roma as the boy has bundles of ability, he just needs an arm around him to make him perform. Wenger seems to manage all his players in the same manner, other managers seem to be more varied in their approach depending on the player’s persona
N7Gooner
you said “Depends on the opposition. Give Bayern 60% of the ball and they’ll murder you. ”
we did that against Bayern and won!!! how short is your memory? Also at the time we low in confidence as we were out of all trophies.
I think is just an assumption when we people talk about how bad a defense was and it would be punished by a greater offensive quality. You should know that even against the lesser sides defensive organisation, individual mistakes and lack of concentration can hurt you: we all know that happened at the CC final with Bermingham.
Cheers z.
If Ollie goes in the fetlock tomorrow then Theo gets his dream of playing in the middle, probably Rambo (or Ryo?) on the right.
Can’t do shit else now, the stable door is bolted.
For instance, contining with the man-management theme, Frimpong is a classic example as he badly needs to be sat down by Wenger, told to cut out all the off the pitch nonsense that he revels in (seemingly) along with being told some home thruths and maybe then he can become the monster of midfield dynamo he gave glimpses of two years back. Wenger seems to want players to work things out for themselves which does not work for everyone, whereas the likes of Frimpong, as Bendtner needed 3/4 years back, need to be harnessed in order for their potential to be fulfilled at Arsenal
“People could lower their tone against me” says the man who a few minute ago said “oh that’s a classic- I will put that on Twitter…non-Arsenal fans will laugh at that” really? Let’s continue with the football.
“number of goals conceded with Sagna at centre-back, not many I will rather judge over a longer period of time” then what does you saying Sagna is not good enough 4th choice say about the quoted statement?
P.s. I don’t think we conceded up to three goals with Sagna at Centre-back and he has played there like 7 times.
I’m afraid the idea of the World Cup qualification motivating Bendtner is a very slim hope. Denmark’s chances of qualifying were virtually dead and buried with the 0-4 defeat at home to Armenia.
David@76 “Wenger seems to manage all his players in the same manner” – How do you know this? Evidence please.
@75 fourallstar knows.
David, don’t agree with plenty of what you said, although you have some valid points.
However, can you please let us enjoy this moments. We beat the Scum, and signed one of the best players in the world, it is enough for the moment.
As for the future, I agree, we may struggle without a backup striker, but can you name me the genuine strikers Barcelona has at the moment. I will help you. None!
And yet, they’ve scored 6 goals at Levante.
Surprised you remember me Holic, what with all the correspondance you receive via this medium. We got on so well when discussing the merits of how Arsenal adopt the 4-3-3 formation as I recall and about the hapless Santos (how we got money for that poor excuse for a footballer I will never work out)
For the record, point noted
dkgööner
“David@57 “Fergie would have got Gervinho performing, as would Mourinho.”
How do you know this? What objective proof can you offer?”
Yes, we used to fans claiming that if Fergie had had this player or that player he would have made them great players. That’s just pure fantasy about Fergie or hatred for Wenger.
I know when Fergie had all his players complaining about him and not performing well which cost him three years of not winning the league. I know nobody better than WEnger in improving players whether physically, health wise or whether technical. Remember all those alcoholic English players vacuous to nightclub lives; they improved a lot after Wenger’s arrival.
Few come here with your carefully judged almost abrasive approach, David.
I am just the policeman, and as we all know plod ain’t perfect but he is da law.
dkgonner: I have my ‘sky sources’…if I heard that annoying phrase over the past few days I heard it 100’s times.
The truth is I don’t know, merely what I read and hear. For the record, the book by Xavier Rivore on AW that I read this summer is an excellent dossier of Wenger’s many merits and his obvious failings (far too many to list).
David, there are so many contradictions in your post that I’m struggling to cope.
It’s clear that we are not on the same level of intelligence and understanding so I won’t argue further.
P.s. My second paragraph is not an insult, it goes both ways, you could be on a higher level or I could be on a higher level so…
dkgööner
“David@76 “Wenger seems to manage all his players in the same manner” – How do you know this? Evidence please.”
lol you have high standard of judgement; you are a philosopher who love consistency.
Interesting pics, Ems, late Monday
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/the-madness-of-the-transfer-window
Abrasive, now that is not one word I would use to describe me, im way too pleasant for that description. You are likening me to Joey Barton it could be deemed, how red flag is that from the policeman??? 🙂
On twitter, the net, in the office, socially, I know how to generate debate, and Arsenal is my favourite subject.
By the way, the WengerKnowsBest twitter account is a work of genius and should be followed by all gooners on twitter
David@87 “the book by Xavier Rivore on AW that I read this summer is an excellent dossier of Wenger’s many merits and his obvious failings (far too many to list).”
I assume you mean Xavier Rivoire – who is just a journalist trying to make a buck by writing a contentious book about a man who has achieved more than Rivoire ever will. Is that what you regard as being objective?
Did Gervinho lose confidence in himself first, or was it AFTER AW did. Chicken before egg. David, I personally wish AW had held on to him and given him one more season. As for SAF, my memories of him bad mouthing Rooney in the press, still make me shake my head. So I guess there is always room for improvement, on that score. For all managers.
Frimpong is a kid. He’s barely played a dozen games for us.
How did Fergie get on with getting the best out of, say, Anderson? Constantly overweight and still crashing mercs at 26.
You can always pick on edge cases to prove your point. They’re both great managers.
Mind you, at least we didn’t pay £17m for Frimpong and persist with him for 7 years.
Good point abb. I can’t remember AW ever giving a player a public dressing down.
I too had a soft spot for Gerv – but I never regarded him as being good enough. I wish him well at his new club.
ASab you’re making a valid point in saying “Did Gervinho lose confidence in himself first, or was it AFTER AW did”
I think is kind of both to be honest. Wenger should have dealt with Gervinho better, couldhave trusted him more, but Gervinho failed to give himself a chance to succeed as well; he could have for example focused on his passing game instead of dribbling all the time.
I can see similar trend in Wilshere’s game at the moment; he tends to dribble when there’s no need instead of passing and making himself available for a pass or he dribbles when a key pass is available.
Ok, as no one bothered, probably because of the debate, I’ll try again. The short story from Jeremy Wilson of Telegraph, very interesting one, lots of answers, provides optimistic vision of the future of our club. Must read.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10284922/Mesut-Ozils-42m-move-to-Arsenal-sealed-with-one-phone-call-from-manager-Arsene-Wenger.html
ÖÖh tÖ ÖÖh tÖ be… ÖÖh tÖ be a GÖÖnaaah!!
ÖÖh tÖ ÖÖh tÖ be…. we’ve gÖt Mesut Özil!!!!
Dkgonner, the spelling lesson is always appreciated. I would never base research on one source, the book is merely one of several accounts down the years I have glanced over. A lot of commentators state the same views on what is good and bad about Wenger
arsabeatbarca, Gervinho was regarded as good play in France at Lille so I would state the case the manager should have found a way to get the best out of hm. True Gervinho is obviously a little brittle I grant you.
Hey dk and Guudy, value your input! Thanks 🙂 As someone mentioned earlier, our fans played an intergal part, as well.
David, didn’t refresh, before I replied. Brittle is certainly a fair adjective.
Most, even those who now hate him, would agree that RvP was a world class striker of the kind everyone wanted to buy in this window.
For the record, with RvP in full flow, we scored 74 goals in season 2011/12 … without him in season 2012/13 we scored 72.
Oskar
Lurky:
Good article spot. Good to see Ivan and Dick getting a deal done for once. Ozil is a superstar and would have got more acclaim from his time in Madrid had it not been for you know who. He is the biggest signing since Bergkamp, lets hope he can usher in a similar period of success.
Nice balanced post Holic. Your last main paragraph sums it up well.
The window was a real mixed bag for me. I have thought for several seasons now we have the level we should have been. I understand those who felt that financial prudence was the way forward but my view is that we have been way to thrifty. This window we were promised lots. Expectations were raised to new levels, yet come deadline day we had achieved very little.
Big pluses are the amount of deadwood we managed to shift. The ease on the financial burden will be large. I would still argue that the vast majority should not have been at the club in the first place.
Sanogo came in on a free. How can anyone moan at that? I wish him all the best. Flamini most certainly would not have been on the shopping list, but in on a free again is a no brainer. He is a decent addition to the squad. The keeper??? Never heard of him. I know nothing about him. I am still slightly bemused that we did not bring a more experienced, quality keeper in. I also wanted a centre half. Yes Sagna can play there. He is a trooper, he would probably play in goal if you asked him to. But he is not a centre half and I think we are short there.
Then, the big one. Mesut Özil is genuine world class. A fantastic footballer with bucket loads of talent. Perhaps as important is his attitude. You will struggle to find anyone say anything bad about him. He has Arsenal written all over him and I can’t wait to see him play. You only have to see how people have reacted to see what a lift a signing like this has on everyone. That said I don’t believe that he was one of the targets at the beginning of the window. Someone commented earlier that the signing may well end any hope of Cesc returning. Well I certainly won’t lose any sleep over that one. I would love to see Mesut grab the league by storm and see Cesc looking on from the Barca bench. How green is that grass over there???
Whilst Özil is a monstrous signing I also feel we missed out on a striker. I will always wonder what a difference Higuain would have made. I also sit and wonder that with a bit more ambition in previous seasons how great it would have been to see Özil laying on passes for RVP to latch onto?????
The signing yesterday is a massive statement an has to be used by the club as the beginning. This is the new dawn. If those in charge can broker a deal for a forward of similar pedigree in January then my guess is the whole of the football world will sit up and take notice. Me? I can’t wait.
Onwards and upwards holics.
Lurky @99, The first sentence! Timeline, people. Looks like we had been trying to get Ozil for sometime (earlier than this summer?) Good job, Lurky.
Fergie for me had heavens and football chairmans as well as refrees and Real Madrid working for him to be successful.
look at this
Fergie 2004-5-6-7 equal big failure. but some people decided to give him a break:
First, Arsenal board failed to see the future development of Sponsorship and commercial deals money by signing two very long term but shortsighted deals with Emirates and others. Imagine a team so successful such as the Invincibles accept such little money although at the time it was good they failed to predict the growth in that area.
and Wenger for accepting such limited budget
Second, Chelsea crazy chairman chose to sack Mourinho
third, Real Madrid gave him crazy mmoney for Ron which gave more money available.
Refs we all know
For me Fergie would have been successful withou all that.
Arsene Wenger with a limited budget outfought him so many years. Fergie until very recently was at the top of the chart of managers who bought most flops (Berbatov, The argentine before him so many costly creatures that all failed miserably)
uh Öh…. LÖÖks like all the jÖy’s been sucked Öut Öf this place tÖnight…
Norris what this funny keyboard ur using? Are you in Germany? Pardon my ignorance.
Dvaid@101 It doesn’t matter how many sources you base your research on; you still, like the rest of us, have preconceived ideas about the world and everything you read will be seen through those filters. At 37, you thanked someone with “glad someone else can be objective about our great club”, so you clearly regard yourself as being objective. My point , which you seem to have singularly failed to have grasped, is that your opinions are just as subjective as everyone else’s.
Where I would agree with you is in holic’s description of you as abrasive, but I won’t say anything more because I suspect I’m getting dangerously close to holic’s line.
(And by the way, the misspelling of your name at the beginning is deliberate.)
I’ve been speaking to lots of supporters of many different clubs today. Arsenal fans are either doing the Bergkamp moment thing and/or bemoaning the fact that we didn’t buy a striker.
The level of traffic here is evidence of an increased zest in the club. My old mate who sat next to me for fifteen years but gave up on Wenger some time ago emailed me,gobsmacked about the Ozil deal.
I can’t add much to the excellent debate that has gone on but I do think the following is fair comment.
Ozil is a genuine world class talent. N7 posted a video showcasing his tricks and he was astonishing. He could be sensational in the modern EPL environment. Good players like Cazorla,Rosicky (who has been quite superb for months) and Ozil are good enough to work out ways to play together. Giroud should be creaming himself.
We made a Horlicks of the striker. I would have been happy with Demba Ba. But now we can genuinely go out to sign people like Benteke in January. Most top strikers will be cup tied for the CL-if we are still in it!
A small group of spivs are already giving a ridiculous amount of stick to Sanogo. Give this kid a chance. He needs support and a bit of tolerance.
Despite my abuse of TGSTEL he has an opportunity that is way better than he deserves. If he can be bothered to get off his increasingly fat arse and try to resume contact with his undoubted talent he could do very well. I don’t like the lad but he must be a better bet than Carlton Cole (who was rumoured as a possibility-yes really) . Di Natale was approached after the transfer window was closed. he IS a striker.
There was talk of a bid for Schneiderlin at 9.40pm. I’ve heard no confirmation but that is just plain silly.Maybe we tried to sign Ricky Lambert? The re-signing of Flamini came at a good time. He was superb against the Swamp-dwellers and I’d forgotten what an asset he can be. He gives us something different.
I’ve been very critical of Wenger and I still feel he misjudged this window badly. He underbid his hand in the good old poker game. But Ozil’s revelation about his conversation with Wenger on Saturday night which persuaded him to come underlines what makes him such an influential figure and a bit of a guru to young players.
Finally I get the impression that Wenger is slightly relaxing his views on age. He seems more amenable to giving contracts of decent length to older players.Arteta for instance has been a huge boon to us.
@david if u are not optimistic abt ur team,why are u bothering urself to support. Good stuff holic
I approve Ozil signing because:1. An statement of intent 2. will lift the players morale 3. versatility (left, right, middle) 4. At last someone can understand Cazorla quick crafty passing and reciprocate that; how many times have I seen Cazorla negotiating tight area and passing successfully to a teamates while also making himself available for the return pass, but the receiver is dispossessed. That won’t happen again.
However, I also remember that our creativity issues are related to lack of able striker who can hold the ball, pass and finish with aplomb. Just look at this stat: Cazorla made most key passes in the premier league; 30key passes and through balls 17 more than the any other player. But how many of those ended up in the net: only 14; number of assists he made.
So for me we needed a world class striker the most.
Nice one ‘H.
Top 3 at the worst, at least one trophy, TGSTEL 20+ goals to supplement OG’s 40+! COYBG! Roll on the post Interlull resumption!!!
Phew. Back on the front foot again. At last. UReeeeeeeeeeeeeeeDS!
TTG; Are people really getting on Sanogo’s bacl? Strewth, thats just daft. Im with you in that we really messed up not signing a striker, hopefully we will get one in Jan and benteke would be a dam fine choice.
As for Bendtner, I cant believe he is still at the club! BUT as you say he has been given an albeit unwarranted chance to show his worth. A few seasons ago, his stock was pretty high and he should have got a move then, but as we have seen, his ego and completely unrealistic view of himself prevented that and has done ever since.
But overall, there’s no getting away from the fact that the signing of Özil has really given the club a huge lift and should do the same to the fanbase. But as is already sadly apprent, some will clearly never be happy.
Sad fools.
With “Holic permission of course….
The reasons behind the Ozil transfer. Makes sense.
http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles/4370-how-arsenal-landed-oezil.html
Steveö T @ 106 Nice post mate. Agree with most – guess my specs are just a bit rosier than yours.
I don’t see any reason why Sagna can’t adapt to the CB role. He has the height and heading ability, the pace and reads the game well. Ramos has covered both roles at RM.
As for Higuain, we’ll get a chance to see now that we’ve got Napoli in our CL group. I would like to have seen him come too, but unfortunately Napoli won the lottery selling Cavani to PSG and gazumped us when the deal seemed settled. I don’t regard that as a failure of management – like every other club, we have valuations of players and sometimes someone else is prepared to play a lot more.
There aren’t that many world class strikers available out there. I think the pursuit of Suarez was a mistake – he’s a top class player but as soon as RM started making eyes at him, he’d have been off. Spuds spent an awful lot of money on Soldado but, apart from him diving on the edge of the box, I don’t remember him from Sunday’s game.
I tend to agree with holic – Özil’s arrival sends out a message and maybe more top players will be interested in joining us in the future. Meanwhile we have to make do with what we have and see what we need to do in January.
Interesting thing about Ôzil is that he has played a lot of games in all 3 seasons for RM so he doesn’t seem particularly injury prone.
Exciting times.
guudy; Sorry mate, the Ö thing is all for our new signing!
@119 pay a lot more
Soldado was easy to miss in the NLD, tucked neatly away in Koscielny’s pocket as he was.
Lurky@118 Yes, interesting, but who is the writer? how does he know all this? if he’s so much in the know, what’s he doing writing on arsenalvision ffs? could be just another bit of fiction for all we know.
All that matters now is how the next few months go. All the hows, whys and wherefores of the transfer window are history now and irrelevant as far as I’m concerned.
A fine write up Holic.
Nothing to add, really, to what you and zico said.
In truth it was a highly frustrating, annoying window, caused by a foolish outburst at it’s beginning.
It ended with a salutary signing which could herald a new era of genuine competitiveness, and proved where the club really wants to go. For me, for now, that will do nicely.
Almost forgotten in the Özil induced euphoria is the arrival of a reserve international goalkeeper who will, hopefully, push Szczesny to realise his full potential. If not, he may make a fine number one himself.
Just as important to the defensive stability of the team this season, could be Matthieu Flamini. His desire to organise, motivate and lead his team mates when he entered the fray on Sunday was both obvious and immediate. He constantly filled important holes in front of the back four, and kept the midfield in shape. He will also be able to cover Jenks or Sagna at right back, allowing the latter to cover at centre back which, personally, I think he does really well.
Oh, sorry – I said I had nothing to add. 😉
Pip @ 55 – Gervinho’s greatest talent was his ability to make nothing out of something.
Incidentally, Wayne Rooney in January.
Holic – “Cynic, stop making me chuckle”
Is that some sort of Wiltshire mixture of chutney and pickle ? 😉
Cynic, you just made me chuckle now. 😉
dk. I think Sagna can adapt to a centre back roll. The point I was trying to make is that I don’t think he should have to. Unless we have lost 3 through injuries.
There can be no single occasion during the entire 17 years of Arsène Wenger’s tenure at Arsenal when having a multilingual manager has been more useful.
He’s finally learned fluent cash 🙂
Good stuff ttg @112.
Lurky @ 118,
Thats a great read and strikes me as credible. I certainly thought that Wenger was facilitated given how RM screwed us on the Higuan deal as a sort of recompense. But I never realised the swap out with Di Maria had such an impact.
AFC are a club on the rise. Its makes little sense for RM to piss us off.
Anyway, whatever the causes, the outcome is we have a player of mercurial ability and a platform to create something very special.
Holic,
A balanced and true account. Your propensity to strike that nail is no fluke. It comes from time, thought and understanding. And while you may have had your own doubts, they were never published in the same way as others who surprisingly faltered. And while I’m in that vein, I would also like to acknowledge N7’s steadfast contributions throughout the window.
I can feel myself going all Gradgrind-y – “facts, give me facts”.
Arsenal have a solid defence – second best in PL in 2012/13. Fact.
Arsenal were the third highest scorers in the PL in 2012/13. Fact.
Arsenal’s attack last season contained two players who were new to the club and new to the PL. Fact.
Yet we only scored two goals less than when TDB was rampaging in the previous season. Fact.
We now have an extra goalkeeper with international experience. Fact.
We now have a midfield which is as strong as any of our rivals and stronger than most. Not fact – just my opinion.
Given that Giroud will be more acclimatised, that Özil’s arrival is highly likely to create more chances for him and Walcott, and that we will probably get more goals from midfield (Özil + Ramsey getting a taste), I am confident that we will score more goals this season. Opinion.
The morale in the squad is sky-high after the run at the end of last season, the CL qualifying games, the win on Sunday and the new acquisition. I think I can say that is Fact. My evidence is Jack’s tweet today and what Wojciech said on the AFC website.
So all in all, I will be astonished if we do not finish higher than last year.
I rest my case and will now retire for the night. Fact.
Nooooooo, don’t everyone go to bed, just yet. Jello shots, if you stay a little longer 😉
Evening all – great post ‘holic and a fine debate above on a window that has had some great plusses and some minuses too. I tend to follow the ‘sure, it’s not everything, but it’s a bloody excellent start’ kind of middle ground. Whilst internally doing cartwheels and grinning like the demented.
Was talking to my neighbour this evening, who’s from Munich and a massive Bayern supporter. He’s just come back from 5 weeks in Spain where his Spanish missus has just given birth, and hadn’t heard about us signing Özil. His calmly efficient Teutonic view was that it was ‘a very good signing’. I think we can all agree on that. Like almost everyone (it seems) he had nothing but good things to say about Nemo.
That we didn’t sign a striker this window is unfortunate for sure. But it’s not the end of days. And with hindsight, that we missed out on the Bitey one, but signed Özil instead, just might be the most amazing piece of outrageous good fortune (and we’re surely due some by now) because, just think how much easier it will be now to sign a striker BETTER than the targets we thought we were in for? What ambitious goal machine wouldn’t want the opportunity to run out each week with a playmaker like Özil (and Cazorla too, come to think of it) that can make them look THAT good?
Don’t hold out much hope for us getting the kind of striker we probably all want in January, but if we hold our own and quietly nudge forward a bit this season, this time next year we are going to be flying.
Oh and Lurky – brilliant links posted above mate. Cheers.
Jello shots? Is that something to do with breast implants?
I’m off
In a hurry 😉
Ö 2 B
Ö 2 B
Ö 2 B
A
Gööööönah
I still don’t believe we have done this!
Paradigm shift gentlemen.
THMBD
And Snowy.
Sörry.
And Snöwy.
Heh @ 136 ! 😉 Had a good time tonite. Merit in every drink. Will probably sneak back later, for seconds. A very good night, holics.
Compulsive reading:
http://wearethenorthbank.com/arsenals-transfer-window-pain/?
Heh Baff 😉
Some people who are very special to me here right now, but sadly the saddo klaxon is about to sound too 🙁
sorry to hear that, ‘hölic. *raises his glass to the sound of the saddo klaxon*
‘holic an excellent post. Not sure what the saddo klaxon is but I’ll comisserate as necessary. 🙂
Versatility has always appeared to be a key feature among many of AW’s teams and players. From memory, he has previously stated the difficulty in motivating, and maintaing confidence, with 3rd and 4th choice players – who have sporadic and infrequent playing time. This has been highlighted by some of the performances witnessed by these players – Silvestre, Squillaci, Djourou, Santos are examples of this when not playing regularly.
The idea that certain players can cover multiple positions when injury or suspensions occur is usually effective and potentially provides a consistency that may go missing when the team requires the 4th choice to step into the team. However, having said that there have certainly been games where it has not been a tremendous success – “insert least favourite memory of your choice here time”.
Sure, Williams may be a decent centre-back, but he would only be at best the 3rd choice, and more importantly would he have the technical skill to play the position the way Arsenal wish? Would he be happy to accept that role? Who knows, I certainly don’t, but given no overt interest from AFC I would respectively suggest that he didn’t fit the bill for the proffered price. So, moot point now, windows gently shut and we play with the hand that’s been dealt. Before everyone get’s too excited do remember we currently have a shit-load of injuries, unusually so for this time of the season, and LNS’s they’ll be back.
Overall, pretty tasty squad developing, reasonable cover from within at present, injured players returning, an unbelievable stellar signing and as noted by those far more experienced a little thin up-front (but suggest this will be addressed given the events of the summer).
Very few things are perfect, especially in football, but learn to appreciate and enjoy moments like these. There will be plenty of time to continue whatever narrative you wish in the future.
Lastly, thank you Mr ‘Hölic for the reminder of the joy and wonder the signings of Ball, Macdonald, Nicholas and Bergkamp gave me when I heard the news.
Beautifully put, Llöydie@146, and have to second your thanks to ‘Holic for the memories of momentous signings. Nothing can describe my half disbelieving joy when news filtered to me that Bergkamp, DENNIS Bergkamp, was an ARSENAL player. One thing though, I never understood Supermac’s signing fee – why go to the bother of negotiating a very odd fee but then not lower the final fee by a PENNY to a perfectly odd number? Did Newcastle think that they demonstrated getting the upper hand in the negotiations by rounding UP a third of a million rather than simply rounding it? Quite odd…
Seen plenty of stories like this one written about Arsenal’s lack of transfer dealings over the summer. The only difference is this one was written after the transfer window closed, and it’s not about Arsenal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23939901
Many a football executive will tell you shirt sales are where it’s at.
http://www.cityam.com/article/1378254765/arsenal-spend-last-and-spark-12-fold-increase-shirt-sales?
Just ask Snir. 🙂
I believe that some folks use “debate” as velvet fog to mask their true identities as wind-up merchants.
Ashley Williams was poo two weeks ago (I mean he almost single handedly shipped the scum two goals in that game), and he has done little to impress my eyes since the Swans came up.
Next, I really feel sorry that some people can’t be positive. We have strike options to last us to January. The most important thing here is the big picture. We’ve rounded a corner from stadium-induced fiscal constraints, and we have signed a marque player.
The folks who are slagging Wenger really need to fall back and respect. I admit that I had strayed and begun to doubt, but as more details are revealed, I can admit my wrong. There was an exceptionally calm hand on the rudder. I, for one, am thankful for it.
Wenger can’t motivate players? Rubbish (and Exhibit A in my argument that proponents of such nonsense are themselves wind-up merchants).
It’s late, and few will probably read this anyway…especially BBB, wind-up merchants, and moaners. Take heart, we got what we needed in this window…a concrete statement of intent and evidence we can close a transformative deal.
There is room for improvement. That’s why life keeps giving us tests.
Get behind the squad. Get behind the gaffer.
BMBD
The most telling aspect of the Özil deal for mine was the way, now being reported, that Moyes and Levy tried so desperately to stop it happening … Moyes trying to gazump us at the last minute with a bigger offer, and Levy demanding the deal be called off and, when that failed, cancelling the ‘special arrangement’ Spuds believed they had with Real following the Modric sale.
Add to that Maureeno refusing to loan Ba to us – after loaning Moses to Liverpool note – because he sees us as a major threat.
Too right we’re going to be a threat to EVERYONE this time … at last!
Oskar
I will buy a Ozil jersey today to support this great club (with the money we can buy more quality player com January)
I despise the fact that loaned out players can’t play against their parent clubs. It allows the Portuguese Pimp to use Russian money to provide players to clubs who he doesn’t believe will threaten Chelsea but can take points off of teams that do. Hence, Lukaku goes to Everton rather than West Brom and Moses goes to the Brendan Rogers Project. Similarly, I was incensed that Man City was paying GBP 5 million of Adebayor’s salary for him to play for Tottenham so he could take points off of their direct competitors. I still cannot believe this can be legal!
Sorry, the Brendan RoDgers Project…it’s as bad as misspelling Alan Parsons…
BT8B enjoyed the link to the BBC, well spotted and a pleasant change indeed.
Lonestar astute observation and great post.
Oskar too right to your too right!
Bstrum I agree with you whole-heartedly – I seem to recall AW saying that loan deals should be restricted to under-21 players precisely to stop that happening, and also to stop clubs like Chelski, Citeh, PSG from hoarding players to attempt to stop rivals from building decent teams.
Drinks on the bar.
@20 David
@” the simple fact is we are not going to be able to compete for anything”@
What make you think that? Pessimism?
We are 3 points off the lead (a 3 x 1-0 pool), 1 pt behind chelski, 2 pt ahead of Manure.
We are drawn to WBA in league cup
We are in CL group stage.
You can only know you are e right or wrong com MAY next year.
The press seem to be on our side even more than normal. 😉
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/02/mesut-ozil-arsenal-emirates-era
@David,
@qualifying out of our ECL group is going to be an uphill task.@
Dont know why you have high regards for Marseille, Napoli and Dortmund (I can understand why Dortmund, but they are now without Goetz) . Can you share your analysis?
January signings
Michu
Benteke
a Theo type left winger (so Santi can back to midfield)
an experienced GK (L Ceasar type)
BT8B@157, and contrary to what was reported by certain purported “German football correspondents” in some of the English papers, most of Germany seems to be very happy about Ozil’s move. Here are some excerpts from a Guardian article:
As you would expect, Mesut Ozil’s £42.5m move to Arsenal has reverberated through his home country…Ozil’s “escape from circus Real Madrid (Süddeutsche Zeitung) has been widely seen as a smart decision, both for him and, by extension, the national team.
…Ozil will instead find a team playing his kind of football, two German team-mates to keep him company and a manager who can explain his ideas in German. …The Frenchman tried to sign him first seven years ago, before he moved to Werder Bremen.
…Germany’s sporting director, Oliver Bierhoff, joked about a “hectic” start to the international week. The former striker had facilitated the deal just as he had done two years ago, when Per Mertesacker was signed on deadline day by the Gunners. You could just sense the slightest sense of exasperation in the 45-year-old’s voice – why do they always leave it so late? – but it was in his own interest to see it get done. Ensuring Ozil got out of the Madrid pressure cooker had become a thing of national importance.
…”I wasn’t surprised, I had known about it for two or three days,” confirmed his former Los Blancos team-mate Sami Khedira, possibly the only German who has seemed upset about Ozil’s London move. “I regret the decision, it could weaken [Madrid], from a sporting point of view,” said the 26-year-old in Munich.
Bierhoff carefully suggested that Germany’s No10 will “have to adapt to new conditions” in England after leaving a league that seemed more tailored to his lightness of touch. “In Spain, the style suited him, naturally,” Bierhoff admitted, “but he will mature [in England].”
A similar hope for Germany’s most beautiful but also frail flower was expressed in Süddeutsche. “Wenger is someone who understands artists,” mused the broadsheet, “[at Arsenal] somebody like him could find ideal conditions to blossom.”
Overall so happy with our signing of Ozil. Totally think that this is the start of things to come and a real statement of intent. Obviously I’d have loved some cover up front and at ch, bit it would be churlish not to be happy with ozil. I said previously that I wouldn’t buy our new shirt unless I could get it with a new big name player on it. Well I have to be good to my word – already ordered my ozil 11 shirt!
Mezut Özil
That is all people. Cheers
Hey there fellas,
Hope all’s well with everybody.
Dr. C knows about what I’m about to say (it’s gonna be a tactical post) as we’ve been whatsapping each other the whole summer.
So here goes:
I don’t know if you guys remember, but AW completely changed the way we play after Spurs away last season and reverted back to the start of the season (dropping back and playing a counter attacking game). The reason we were getting caught was because as this graphic suggests Arteta was too key in our build up play.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BTGk6CxIEAAv9mK.jpg
If you go back and watch our games before Spurs away, you’d see that Arteta’s average position (and remember, he’s our deepest midfielder) was about 10 yards after the halfway line. We attacked with 8 players (3 midfielders, 2 fullbacks, 2 wingers, and a striker), leaving only the 2 CBs to deal with the danger – this was seen perfectly against Villa at home when Weimann was given all the space in the world as all of our players were in attack!
Following the Spurs defeat, and coinciding with JW’s injury, AW decided to go back to attacking with 6 players. Arteta and Ramsey would go back and sit 10 yards behind the halfway line even in possession which meant we attacked with the two fullbacks, Santi, Rosicky, Theo and Giroud.
While it made us unbreakable in defence (conceded in open play only once, vs. Reading during the run-in) as we were much more organized when countered again, we were god awful at creating opportunities which led to excruciating victories with virtually no chances. In fact, we needed a set piece to beat Fulham and Newcastle. Against QPR, we took advantage of an early goal and never threatened after that.
Our possession game was suffering in terms of chances created.
This season, we have been able to revert to the counter attacking game with great success (goals vs. Villa, Ramsey’s second vs. Fener at home, both Poldi goals at Craven Cottage, Giroud’s goal vs. Spurs).
We did struggle to break down Villa when we played a possession game.
The reason for us not being able to break down teams when we attack with 6 players is that mainly, we’re playing 6 vs. 9 with the opposition striker stood close to the halfway line and the rest of the opposition in their defensive block.
It is extremely hard to create chances like that.
Dr. C will attest to me telling him that with Cesc that should not be a problem (when the rumors were rife on Cesc’s return), as 6 vs. 9 for him is a piece of cake.
It is even easier for Ozil. That’s how good he is. Some might say his assist records are skewed because of Ronaldo’s goalscoring ability, but he created 324 scoring chances in 3 years in Spain (La Liga stats only). Some might say La Liga is shit, which I agree with, but we all know Cesc’s ability and he is not even in the same ballpark in terms of his chances created stat.
That is what this signing has done for us.
An ability to dominate possession and rip open teams, and an ability to break and rip open teams. That, along with a very good defence (poor defence is a myth), would give us the title. Even with only one striker (does anyone have a doubt that we’ll buy a striker in January?).
Arsenal Renaissance, started by Arsene Wenger and Mesut Ozil.
Snir, that point you made about Ronaldo was something that has been in the back of my mind after watching that Özil youtube clip. Ronaldo seemed to put everything that came to him from Özil away.
I’m hoping our boys can do the same too. Let’s hope they can!
As for the earlier Ashley Williams duscussion, he may not be the best CB in the world but he almost “killed” RVJ so let’s cut him some slack fellas!!! 🙂
I wouldn’t have minded him as 4th choice although I rate Djourou over him…
Oops! Hölik, please fix my italiks!
Anyone up for an über-chuckle?
http://hereisthecity.com/2013/09/02/how-tottenham-fans-reacted-to-rivals-arsenal-signing-mesut-ozil/
Been an awful lot of mass debating going on here then.
It would also be interesting to see how many new fans we gain following Özil’s arrival. Just as many of us had joined the Arsenal cause through the Bergkamp way …
About the Strikers, it would have been nice to have a Giroud understudy who can play that role effectively from the bench without requiring the team to change shape.
However, as far as pure goalscoring is concerned the alternative is quite good as well (even in Poldi’s absence). Theo has matured into a very good finisher and an attacking triangle of Santi-Özil-TR7 in front of Arteta/Flamini/Ramsey/Jack will create enough chances for him to bury playing through the middle.
While playing that way we will not rely on the hold up play and flick-ons of Giroud but can simply build up incisive attacks around deep lying defenders due to Santi-Özil constantly interchanging positions and opening up spaces to pass or dribble through.
But even in majority of matches when Giroud-Theo are playing together Giroud can drift towards the wings and drag defenders away for Theo to dart in and get chances through Santi-Özil. The possibilities of attacking combinations really open up.
Dr F,
Calm down dear !!
Your 168 has Theo, Giroud, in front of Santi, Özil, TR7, in front of Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Jack.
Add a back four and a keeper and we have 14 players on the pitch.
Should be quite successful if we get away with it. 😉
Trev @ 169: The “/” is used in common English parlance to indicate a combinatorial ‘OR’ and not a conjugative ‘AND’.
Or do you not like the obvious? 🙂
Totally agree with Snir’s analysis above. Ozil will make a huge difference in marginal games and will help us get the vital first goal – so important to this team.
Re: Ronaldo, quotes from him this morning that Ozil’s departure is “bad news for me” and that he’s angry he was allowed to leave. Suspect he’s not a fan of Bale either. Oh dear Madrid.
Some other facts that came to light:
Ozil apparently has over 3m followers on twitter…! That number exceeds the entire following of the AFC twitter feed.
For a long time this club has been viewed as English – French. Now that the German Messi is playing for us, it will open up serious channels in gaining access to the German market for players. Markets that were usually closed or expensive to break into (Consider Schalke wanted 60m for Draxler who is 19 ffs!). German players will want to play with Ozil and we will be viewed in an entirely different light in Germany. So strategically, his signing is of huge benefit also.
8 ball. The Guardian article is spot on.
8ball from the last drinks: did you get me and Panglöss confused because we’re the only 2 name-changers in this fine establishment?
Pangloss, I think I just saw your Mrs looking for you. She was carrying a jar labelled ‘his balls’ in one hand, and some blunt scissors in the other. Nothing to do with 8ball’s mixup is it?
Right, giving in to the power of the umlaut (and I mean, I’m quite used to them!)
Töby, the umlaut is all powerful you cannot resist, it’s futile do not waste your energy until you have developed the force….
I notice that Mr ‘Rosso still roams free from the umlaut, but total heh for the second paragraph.
Good luck Mr Pangloß.
..sorry Panglöß
DrF@170 conjunctive “AND” I believe.
Mornin’ all.
Lonestar@150: Bang on the money – saved me the trouble – thnx.
ümläüts rülë ÖK
Trëv – absolutely I, finally, love the option of playing 14 players, given that MUFC have had 13 on the pitch for the last decade (yes lööking at you refs), so time to even the score. Spot on Dr “F for @168 top post.
CöF@166 Quite funny that they still think they’ve got the stronger team. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – Wenger could have bought any of the players they’ve bought if he thought they were good enough. He didn’t. He set his sights higher. End of.
I’m still unbelievably mesut this morning – it’s like I’ve drunk an elixir.
Bring ’em all on – as Wojciech said, we fear nobody.
CÖYG
Totts “partnership agrreement” with RM:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/tottenham-supporters-trust-to-ask-club-about-partnership-agreement-with-real-madrid/
LÖL
“agreement” even
a conjugative ‘AND’.
I’ve ‘ad one of them since I was a spotty teenager.
öh yeh – löve the umlaut bandwaggön!
Eye-Bath: THMBD? But they already have!
Pörcö Rößö@174. Thank the lord she’s found the rusty scissors. When I last saw her, she was wielding a rusty, blunt spoon.
I trust the littl’un is doing fine.
Panglöß,
Thank god for small mercies
Dr F,
Thank you, sir.
I thought ‘/’ was called a slash. Anyway, can’t stop now – just nipping off for a conjugative AND. 😉
@163 snir
good writeup.
this is exactly what i was saying the other day to one of my fellow fans. despite the fact that we really need a striker and were apparently looking for one, the ozil signing is actually a masterstroke of genius made to change the way we can play and how we attack. i see him as a cesc replacement, perhaps even an upgrade. in addition, he’s bigger than some of our other smaller midfielders as well as being pretty fast and strong from what i’ve seen of his play.
i am slightly disappointed that we failed to get in another pure striker, but it’s plain to see to anyone that arsenal is back.
Everybody still in good spirits?
Ah, I see you are.
Me too 😉
Seriously though, Dr F, in response to 170,
Who would have thought it ?
That, btw, is the third conditional progressive interrogative.
It is ! 😉
Pangloß @ 190 – HEH! Awesome. The little un is fine, thanks for asking. Especially her vocal chords. 😀
I loved reading the twatterings of sour grapes from Sp*rs fans. After being proved wrong again, and again, and again, they still think they’re going to finish above us this season.
I’d say if you factor in the necessary bedding-in period for their huge number of new signings, plus their perennial inferiority, that we’ll stretch the points gap this time round.
This season is shaping up rather nicely.
We’re all möst mesut here, ‘H. 😉
One…
Turkish delight shipped via Germany and Spain to your doorstep.
Goal
Pörcö Rößö.
You really have to be astounded by their optimism. Living life behind rose colored glasses I suppose. 🙂
Thanks for the assist 8ball!
Indeed, Pörcö.
One very worried Sp*rs fan I was treating on Monday morning couldn’t wait to inform me that Özil had just been seen at Old Trafford and was discussing personal terms.
Just couldn’t be bothered to mention the fact that he was in München – just another umlaut öppörtunity. 😉
Well in Cent’Berry. 🙂
Afternoon all.
Good spirits?
Yes please, I’ll have a double. 😎
Well in Cent and 8ball – I didn’t even realise it was close.
Conjugating “and”:
Present tense:
I and
You and
He/She/It ands
WE/They and.
Past simple:
I/You/He/She/It/We/They anded.
Present perfect:
I/You/We/They have anded
He/She/it has anded.
That’s asssuming of course that it’s a regular verb.
In good spirits, H? I’m bloody delirious.
Trev. As OG can attest some of the the best goals are scored that way. 🙂
Lonestar @ 150 – I love the call to arms, a really well-reasoned post and something the boo boys would do well to read. But then the thing they hate most is, of course, the voice of reason: it destroys their illogical pessimism. If you’ll excuse the tautology.
Can I also respectfully raise a very pedantic point. If you wanted to lay a calm hand on the rudder, you’d have to hang off the back of the vessel with your hand under water! However, if you prefer to stay dry, you’d sit in the cockpit and lay your hand on the tiller.
*retrieves coat, sprints to the door under a hail of bar snacks*
dkgooner. Delirious and demented by the looks of it. 😉
DK – Love the grammar lesson, impeccable conjugating. What would the present perfect passive look like?
And if it were irregular, what do you suppose the past simple and past participle forms would be? Might I suggest:
To and – ant – anten
Example: Good grief, it’s happened again! Those pesky dogs have anten my pies!
There were Only three creative attackers before the transfer window that arsene wenger truly had open admiration for. Marco Reus, Messi and ةzil. 1 out of best of 3 isn’t bad at all eh?
This is developing into a very boring week. The come down from Monday, interlull… Yawning.
The conjugation loonies are on the loose. If this the new interlull activity of choice I think we need a quick visit by Trev to begin a puniest right quick.
We having grammer lessons?
You’re gonna make me conjegate my lunch.
I’ve read the first few posts from David, and while it’s undebateable that more new signings would be welcome for any Arsenal supporter, I think AW has done a great job in the transfer market.
Regarding defensive worries, I think signing Flamini gives us great defensive and midfield versatility. If needed, he can cover at both right and left back, which allows for Sagna to cover for CB as well. We have enough fullbacks, and with Per, Kos, TV and Sagna, I think we are decently stocked in CB. If multiple injuries happen, sure, we might be a bit short, but which club wouldn’t be? Injuries happen all the time, look at Mancity desperately signing Demichelis.
Another striker was also high on the agenda. But I think Wenger’s answer to media questions last week summed up his approach, which I truly support. He said he “will not panic buy”, and I think that’s the reason he stopped short of acquiring any other striker (after Ba deal was pulled off). Maybe if the need persists, AW can buy a better striker in January? Make better use of the money he has left to spend? If no top quality striker was available, would it be wise to panic buy and end up with another Park? Higuain you might say, but clearly AW thinks 30M was too much for him. And I would’ve taken Ozil over Higuain any day.
So yeah, my point is AW did what he thinks is best for the Club – that much is beyond doubt, regardless of whether your cup is half full or empty.
By The by.
With our new arrival, is our prefered means of transport going to be renamed The Mesut Träïn?
Cesc Fabregas: “I would not go [to Manchester United] for double the money.”
Good lad.
Saw this today, good reading (hope it hasn’t been posted already!):
http://that1980ssportsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/1980s-arsenal-and-transfer-deadline-day.html
So the ASTrash released a statement that basically said it’s good that we signed Özil but they’re unhappy that we still have 50million that hasn’t been spent? Do the people who run that group have any idea about investing in business at all? Our squad is at a stage where we already have all the average players(the foundation or core if you like) we need, IMHO it’s good that the said 50million(if it even exists) wasn’t splashed out on Three or four average players because frankly that’s not what we need.
A typical example is Ashley Williams, why spend 10million on him to make him our 4th choice CB when we simply recall Djourou(who is arguably more experienced at the highest level) from loan if we suffer an injury crisis?
What our squad needs from now on are exceptional players who will improve our squad drastically, it’s good that we have money at hand patiently waiting to pounce if any exceptional player becomes available. If we are going to sign any striker permanently it should be someone significantly better than Giroud because we cannot be looking for a back-up for Giroud when we’ve all agreed that Giroud himself is not good enough to be our first choice striker.
Still feeling incredibly mesut here, if slightly worried about our Ozil ( still can’t umlaut ) having lumps kicked out of him by the cloggers of Sunderland and Stoke. Hopefully Mathieu will be detailed to protect him from being Shawcrossed and the wunderkid will emerge unscathed !
Cheers Trev @206.
H2H @271, I vote “yes!”
*H2H @217 of course.
Cent @ 220
I have to say, the AST have been shameful this summer. Knee-jerking at every opportunity.
I find it really concerning that they’re the key point of communication between the fans and the club. Can we have some grown ups running the show please? Must be fairly easy not to take representatives of the support seriously when they spend half their lives b!tching and moaning on Twitter.
N7, I’m sure the club stopped taking them serious since their leadership started displaying incredible lack of foresight and agenda-driven opinions.
It’s a real shame though, because the idea behind the organisation is a sound one, and could really help with connecting club and support.
I find it ironic that they’re currently bemoaning the club’s lack of sophistication in its transfer strategy, when they themselves demonstrate all the restraint, savvy and sophistication of Nik Bendtner tumbling arse-first out of a West End nightclub.
We deserve better, because right now I don’t think they can legitimately claim to speak for the majority of fans; they certainly don’t speak for me.
Interesting that Levy felt the need to speak to Real Madrid about allowing Ozil to sign for Arsenal. Bang goes their partnership with Real. Real must be broken- hearted at the chance to couple their name with the Mighty Totts who won the League as little as fifty two years ago. Tottenham are having a laugh.
To me that’s slightly different from Mourinho not loaning us Ba which is entirely his decision and quite sensible from their perspective. Ozil plus Ba is a very different added proposition from the one we offered previously. But he might have told us straightaway instead of stringing us along for several hours. We could have sorted out the Carlton Cole deal then. Still it’s an ill- wind and a lot of West -End nightclubs are turning cartwheels at TGSTEL’s retention. Ditto mini- cab firms, paparazzi and kebab shops en route to Chez Bendtner.
I see the transfer speculation ha started for the next window. In all of the headlines and stories Sports Direct was conspicuous by its inability to find a story that dealt the truth even the most glancing of blows. Lots of websites printed crap and recycled crap but they are in a league of their own. Perhaps they might know who Newcastle are going to sign next.
Lonestar @150: Well said.
It is coming patently clear how perfidious the whole transfer business is. To have landed one of the world’s preeminent playmakers in such circumstances is a success to be celebrated. To have kept Moyes, Levy and Mourinho etc from running interference until it was too late to change the outcome suggests our club’s card playing is more deft than many of us have given it credit for.
Cent@220: Don’t underestimate Giroud’s importance to this team. He is not the lone marksman type of striker in the Suarez, RvP mould but a back-to-goal striker through which a lot of our attacking play will flow, especially as we are now playing a more counter-attacking game. I am loathe to say he is a functioning Chamakh (and technically both his movement and control are better than Chamakh’s), but AW is playing him in the same role Chamakh had to such success at Bordeaux and which I guess AW thought he was getting when he brought the Moroccan to London. So I would extrapolate from that that AW sees that type of centre forward as an integral cog in the way he wants the team to play. It wont be Özil to Giroud goal, but Özil to Giroud to Özil or Carzola or Walcott or Ramsey goal. Giroud may, or may not turn out to be a world class striker. If he does, I suspect he will never be seen as one because of the type of forward he is. But he’ll regularly nick a hatful of goals every season, though with few memorable ones. None of which is to say I wouldn’t like to see a proven world-class striker come in. It provides even more attacking options. But it should be the sort of Özil step-up in quality buy.
8ball – Tell you what, if you offered me the post of head grammarian, I wouldn’t ‘decline’ it.
Waiter! Check please, and order me a cab while you’re at it.
That’s better. Things always seem brighter with an umlaut or two.
Ned, I think you misunderstood my post(or maybe it wasn’t clear enough-my bad), I meant exactly what you ended up saying, that is-if we are going to sign a striker then let’s sign an “Özil step up in quality” type of striker.
Gotta say, I love the HFB and am really glad that he’s going to get a second season in the first team to really show what he can do. Adds so much more than goal – helps us at both ends of the pitch and seems a great character too.
All of that said, I think if you add a world class striker to the team (and the HFB isn’t quite at that level) then they might yet develop into something truly scary to behold, because I trust this side to defend a lead and to keep clean sheets, something that hasn’t been true of an Arsenal XI for some time now.
I will also be interested to see where Ramsey ends up. Holding midfielder? Box to box midfielder? It isn’t hard to imagine Arsene bringing in, say, Lars Bender and giving free rein to Aaron’s preposterous engine. Where that would leave Jackie-boy, I have no idea, but I would imagine it might be on the boss’s mind.
Whatever we do, I really hope it doesn’t disrupt the fantastic unity that seems to have developed across the squad. It’s taken us so long to put together what appears to be a happy, settled group of players who will play for one another and for the manager. The introduction of “super super quality” signings will need to be managed carefully so as not to disrupt that dynamic, a consideration I believe le boss has touched on more than once this summer.
I also think that winning something, even just the League Cup, would make a huge difference to this side, its development and the players’ growing self belief. That’s got to be the next step.
Not a bad pun, Porco, just imperfect, that’s all. 😉
I don’t really see these midfield choices as a constant either / or ( note Dr F. 😉 ). We now have tactical options and the ability to rest players without having only inferior players to come in.
Ned – well said.
bt8b@210 – me demented? You been speaking to my wife?
Dementia – she used to chew bread for our ducks.
Which brings me full circle because “and” in Danish means “duck” (the feathered kind, not the thing you do when bar snacks are flying)
QED
Comments on a photo the official page of Real Madrid shared for Bale’s first training session: http://t.co/xNeK94ZaaQ
This just gets better and better.
N7 @ 171 – Having watched several highlight clips of Ozil I was really struck by two things
1. Ronaldo must be crying himself to sleep at night right now.
2. Not that I am complaining but Madrid are idiots. Granted it was highlight clips, but Ozil at almost the same age is a much more complete player. He clearly makes his teammates better, whereas from what I have seen of Bale the last couple of years, he has a good shot and speed, but not much distribution. Oh and Bale cost twice as much.
I had decided not to participle in any more punfests. They end up going on for so long and getting so big that they’re almost inifinitive.
I’m regretting changing my mind already.
N7 – The dynamic in the squad is indeed very important, so I was very pleased to hear that the RM boys were unhappy at Mesut’s departure for more than footballing reasons – he seems to have been well liked personally.
The prospect of more of the cream of Europe being drawn to the Emirates makes me very mesut.
Cent, thanks for the clarification, and apologies for misinterpreting you. Glad we are on the same page.
Cheers, Ned.
You’ve split the infinitive, Pangloss?
Spot on, Bearded. As someone else said in previous drinks, we got twice the player for half the cost.
@ Bearded
“He clearly makes his teammates better”
Nail on head. I will always have more time for a player who gets a bit extra out of those around them.
An interesting comparison is Bale and Mata last season.
Bale scored 22 goals, many of them in the final minute, a few of them winning matches. He only managed a handful of assists. Having watched him, he was also prone to drift out of matches – in both our games against them last season if he wasn’t scoring he wasn’t doing a whole lot else. In fact, if you watch the 5-2 game, he spent the entire second half leaving his full back utterly exposed to Walcott (who destroyed him that afternoon), despite the fact his side were down to 10 men.
Mata, meanwhile, chipped in with about 15 goals, from memory, and roughly the same number of assists. He was actually directly involved in more goals than Bale, but beyond that he was also a constant threat, always involved, always probing, always moving the ball on, dictating the tempo and prompting his team mates with his passing and movement.
I know which of the two players I’d prefer, and it ain’t Bale.
Ozil, meanwhile, is better than both of them.
For me, Bale’s a player who looks great in the edited highlights, Mata’s the one who looks a genius when you’re actually at the match and can see everything that’s going on.
No Ned – I think he means it’s uncountable.
N7 – Maybe RM only watched Bale on youtube.
Derrick at 216: hear hear!
Carlton cole … not for a freebie would i want that guy. I’d rather watch Sonogo develop (or not) than Carlton Cole. From what I’ve seen of cc and Sonogo, the latter’s touch is actually better (or, at least, no worse).
MO is a massive, massive move by the club. A few have said above, but i also believe that Flamini is a huge signing and has been (understandably) overlooked. Steely def mid, good on the ball, knows the AFC system, good passer, and has a cannon of a shot. He’s ace and will play a significant role. Just watch those yellow cards Flam. (And admittedly, I have been very anti-Flamini in the past considering he left us for Milan and more cash. Over it now – and glad he’s back!) Now we no longer need panic when Arteta goes down or needs a rest.
And I think this Viviano move is good. He started for Fiorentina last season – who missed CL qualification on that back of some VERY dodgy referee calls in favor of Milan on the last day of the season. He’s no also ran and will give Cheszney a run for his money. Fabianski may well find himself #3.
Cheers all.
@ dk
I think it you were to watch a youtube highlights reel of Bale you could very easily convince yourself he’s worth £80m. I also think that the fact he clearly models himself on Ronaldo will have been a factor.
But I will always prefer a natural-born footballer, and that’s exactly what the likes of Ozil and Mata are. Read the game well, know how to use the ball, bring others into things, great movement. Born to play.
N7 – Not to pile on RM… Actually yes let’s pile on. Dennis knows they deserve it.
It would seem the addition of Bale who is much more similar to Ronaldo would seriously unbalance their team. Having two fast direct runners on each wing instead of a fast attacking winger on one wing and playmaker on the other (Theo/Santi) would seem to limit your attacking approaches. If they are good enough they can even vary in game which wing they attack from to fully exploit any mismatches in the defense.
N7, Özil’s arrival is going to make it tough for Ramsey, and also Rosicky and the Ox to get a regular starting spot. Ramsey, though, is versatile enough to be the first-choice replacement for any of the other midfielders that are out because of injury, suspension or rotation. I also wonder, on the basis of nothing save pure speculation, whether AW has a nagging doubt in the back of his mind about Jack’s long-term fitness, fearing a repeat of Abu Diaby. So he is doubling up on box-to-box midfielders as insurance.
When everyone is fit, assuming the starting XI is
Woj
Sagna
Koz
BFG
Gibbs
Arteta
Jack
Theo
Özil
Santi
Giroud
then we have a bench that includes Poldoski, Rosicky, the Ox, Ramsey, Flamini, Vermaelen, Monreal and the Corporal — which isn’t too shabby for strength in depth.
Plus there is Ryo, Frimpong, Gnabry and Sanogo on the fringe. And of course NB52.
NBN
I have the same starting XI, but with Ramsey ahead of Jack. On current form, I don’t think Ramsey can be dropped, and his work rate is really important for this team.
Fascinating to see how the boss chooses to play it all.
NBN – That is exactly my first XI with the exception that Ramsey, in my opinion, is undroppable right now so Jack would have to give way. In fairness to Jack he is probably not at 100% after a lengthy lay off. It took Aaron a long time to get his form back as well, but on current form he gets the nod for me. Not a bad problem for AW to have!
Good point about Ronaldo and Bale, Bearded. They both like to cut inside from the flanks. RM will end up playing very narrow, which is relatively easy to defend against. Just have to stop the pair shooting much and RM’s full backs from coming forward into the space vacated on the flanks.
Cripes N7. Let’s just pretend I never wrote that last post then.
N7, Bearded: My proviso was everyone fit. No question at the moment that Ramsey gets picked before Jack, who is clearly nowhere near 100%, and certainly not for 90 mins.
Drinky poos adding up fast. Makes it tough to get a proper back drink in.
I feel like it was Christmas and I got a nice new football, only to kick it thru the window and get it taken away for 2 weeks. We get that big name signing only for it to be a InterBull.
Great analysis of tactics by Snir. I think we all hope that our glaring error of no backup striker of proven quality won’t kill us this season. I like the look of Akpom and we need to give Sanogo the time to develop. I think Theo is going to get so many chances now, but I also think Santi will find himself in better scoring positions because he doesn’t have to be the soul creator. ( yes that’s the wrong “soul” but I like it. )
We have a good stretch of games coming up to let Özil acclimate to the style of the PL against teams we should handle even without him sparkling from the start.
We love you Arsenal, we really do.
In done with the psycho- babble. 😉
Plus there is Ryo, Frimpong, Gnabry and Sanogo on the fringe. And of course NB52.
Just when it was going well….
Ned. I would have Ramsey in ahead of jack regardless at the moment. I think in the last 6 months he has earned the right. I would also swap Flamini with Arteta for certain games. It gives the side a better balance in my humble opinion.
dkgooner & Trev — conjunctive indeed. 🙂
Note to self: not to practice linguistic punditry after a day of exhaustive driving around and evening of drunkenness … unless one is indulging in the cunning variety… 🙂
A promise to you Trev (especially given that there is this tiniest bit of detectable exasperation in your cyber voice): won’t be posting any further until I return back to Boston and put myself back together in one piece.
A question to the old-timers: other than Ian Wright who were the recognizable striking options for Arsenal when Bergkamp had joined?
Sajit
Let me be the first in saying:
Fukc Bendtner!! 🙂
Since hooking up with the princess of Denmark, he has become lazy, to add to his arrogance, copping groin strain everytime he has had the opportunity to spend the night at the palace.
Do not be deluded in thinking we are receiving a new Bendtner since his series of shenanigans. It’s the same Bendtner who appears to be fucking up his career wherever he is loaned to, talking shit in the process, but had yet another opportunity to redeem himself at my fukcin local on deadline day, but for Moureen taking the piss.
Sanogo anyday!
However if the rest of the squad appear comfortable with him in training photos, and he is happy as a plan desperate then he could get a run in the credit card! That’s as far as I’m willing to go at this point!
And thats a maybe 😉
GT. I will second your opinion on Bendtner. It is all money money money with him. If it was not pure greed he would have moved 2 seasons ago. How many clubs have we agreed can speak to him only for a deal to fall through because of his greed???? Personally I would not want him anywhere near the first team squad unless he was on car cleaning duty.
If Giroud can stay fit to January we can buy Benteke or someone else who is not cup- tied. Neither Theo or Podolski convince me as a central striker.
As to midfield I think on the basis of Sunday that Flamini will be very useful to us especially away from home against more physical teams. LJW could be rested until fully over his injuries and I think Ramsey will get in ahead of Arteta . The other guy to remember is Zelalem. It’s too early to have him playing regularly but I expect to see him break the record for the youngest Arsenal first teamer at West Brom in the Capital One Cup. He is a serious talent and Wenger isn’t frightened to use players that good. It’s a sign of the state of English football that leaving aside his injuries LJW is the great hope of English football but far from certain of his place at club level.
Other possible shooting stars are Bellerin and Gnabry. Both are real talents and are progressing very quickly . Suddenly strikers aside it looks like a squad
Steve
I’m glad somebody is listening.
I used to rate him, but he has become spoilt and only turns it on internationally these days.
It’s clear the feeling is mutual, but he is purposely running down his contract to fund his lifestyle rather than his career!
Awful!
(anyway how do I get those : things on top of my O?. My Utd and Chav colleagues have been salivating at the mere thought of Mesut Ozil being in the prem, much less the Arsenal and I’d like to join the knees up, if I may)
Dr. f@261
We had John Hartson when Bergkamp joined. He was quite successful with Rioch but Wenger didn’t fancy him.Merson occasionally played in a striking role where of course he began in 1988 but by this time was really a midfield/ wing option. Our other striker at the time was Paul Dickov who I liked but who didn’t convince Wenger.
Agreed TTG.
Am hoping we might see a game or two from each of Bellerin, Gnabry and Zelalem this season. They’re clearly the great hopes of the youth team.
Not sure he’ll buy a striker in Jan unless a top quality one becomes available (Suarez? Rooney?). He’s now had two chances to sign Benteke and he’s turned them both down – I really like the look of the player, but something is clearly putting Arsene off; presumably the similarity in style to Giroud.
Master poker player that he is, I reckon Wenger will manage his cards well enough across the course of the season, get to summer and go again for a really big name up top. A move for Benteke in Jan would curtail any such transfer.
Then again, if we somehow manage to get ourselves in the title mix and suffer injuries up front, who knows what he might do.
But isn’t it nice to even be able to discuss these options? And actually believe we might follow through with some of them?
Really exciting times ahead.
Bendtner could have been a player. He was/potentially is a lot better than people give him credit for. It is just that he is a total knob who believes his own hype. I would rather play with 10 than give him game time.
Theo, Giroud and Podolski have all hinted at a challenge up front. It will only encourage more goals.
But saying that midfield is looking pretty sharp at the moment so we could last it til Jan.
Re: TGSTEL, my read of the situation is that he’ll be used only in two circumstances; (i) we’re desperate; and (ii) he shows Arsene something truly remarkable in training (and I’m not talking about his pony tail).
We’ve all seen that once a player is in the sh!thouse with Wenger it can be a long way back; Chamakh found himself there and could barely get a game for love nor money thereafter.
I think it takes a fair bit to totally exhaust the manager’s patience, and just as much to win back his trust once you have.
He’s also talked at length about what a prospect Sanogo is, and he’s given him a few minutes already, so I’d expect him to be our number 2.
All of that being the case, I predict that unless there’s a really serious injury crisis we won’t see the Prince of Denmark play for Arsenal this term, outside the League Cup.
I know fukc that Goon!
The proof that it’s actually happened, just in case any of us were still wondering if it was all some beautiful dream.
Ozil in the kit:
http://t.co/X46j2P5gNs
http://t.co/go0YiWhjjw
Where’s my mate Pip?
And my mate Snail?
s’allright people just a bit maudlin and that.
Evening All,
Still buzzing my tits off here.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-mesut-ozils-2250810
Isco : “It is a shame that Ozil is leaving because he is a player with lots of quality and capable of giving a lot to Madrid,” he said.
“His exit has left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone.”
Tabs
Just imagine when we actually get to watch him in the shirt. It’s going to be a religious experience.
The more that comes out about this transfer the more I find myself thinking we’ve got him cheap at the price.
If Fernandinho is worth £30m, Ozil is a £60m player fo sho.
Just think… for the same money we could have had Lamela and Capoue. Pfffft.
Its just had an interview this afternoon, where one of the questions asked was, ‘Did the death of your Father affect you very badly?’. Started to well up but got over it. Wanted to go across the desk and smack the cunt. And then say ”what the fuck has that got to do with being interviewed for a project manager’s role?’
Note the order of those two feelings. Story of my life really.
Got me thinking of absent friends that’s all.
So on that note, gutted Gooner Terry never got to enjoy this TTD. Sure he would loved it.
Trev, you class my pun as only imperfect? Have a verb with yourself!
Lloydie, dkg, Porco, and NBN, thanks for mentions. Cheers. And thanks, Porco, for the nautical clarification…being an old Army guy, I probably should leave references to rudders and tillers to squid-types 😉
Still feeling it, gentlemen.
Question for the bar: I just volunteered to coach BLG’s co-ed footie team (5 year olds). The league is really about letting the kids run around and have fun (no score is kept). But in our practices, I really want the kids to get a lot of touches (with the ball…erm, you know what I mean to say…behave Wolfie). Any suggestions for age appropriate drills?
BMBD
Re however wanted to know about my ECL group assumptions. Quite simply, Dortmund will demolish us I feel – the 1-1 we got in Germany 2 years back was a 1-1 spanking by a long way. Napoli are a superior team to us in my opinion; getting any points from the away matches in Dortmund & Naples will be a tough ask – realistically 8 points will be what we may end up with. If Wenger gets us out of this group that will be a success worth shouting about.
however?
whoever?
It has slowly been dawning on me, David, that you are probably not English. Or dyslexic.
In which, my apologies about the spelling comment yesterday.
But I disagree totally with your analysis.
We’ll spank them all.
Esso,
I’m sorry to hear that mate. Just write the interviewer off as just another tit, a ridiculous and utterly irrelevant question to ask. All the best mate.
And amen to what you said about GT.
N7,
I was pretty overwhelmed by it all to be honest. Seeing him in the shirt today just made it all very very real. We’ve all waited a long long time for this moment. Actually seeing him play in the red and white is just going to be fantastic. It’s the start mate. Back in the market for a striker in January, next summer latest. It’s all about to happen.
And on that note, a very quick but fully deserved thank you to both Joe, who remained steadfast throughout the whole summer in his belief that we would get the business done, and yourself for remaining resolutely rational and sensible amidst a sea of hysteria.
During a summer of so many twists and turns, at times this place was the only thing that kept me sane. 🙂
In fact, we’ll objectively spank them all 🙂
Here, here Esso. But I believe Gooner Terry knew before all of us…and he’s having a right proper laugh at the scum.
BMBD
Cheers Tabs. Forgotten already. Trying to scheme a way of getting to a game this season and having a swift half with yer good self like.
IT WILL HAPPEN!
Im as English as a rural member of the countryside landed gentry! Tea served at 4pm, crusts cut off my sandwiches – I refuse to attend football matches where I am not wined and dined. Corporate tucker/grub at the Emirates is splendid
It is good that you disagree, that way there are no grey areas. I love optimism, but I am a realist and the current Arsenal squad will not cut it amongst the premier teams from across the Channel – as the past few years have highlighted to.
BTW, the first para of my last message was a wind-up. I just dont check what I input on here as this ain’t work, this is fun
Tabs
Hear Hear
David,
That’s a very negative view. Its a tough group but which side in Europe can relax against our midfield? We got a superb result in Munich (who are better than Dortmund) and their 1-1 was only 1-1 because of a worldie in the last minute. The 2-1 at our place saw them score again in the last minute after being well held but they did sustain injuries
As for Napoli what makes you think that the Italian League is so strong? They are a decent side but we are well capable of a point over there. Marseille we can clean out home and away.
Please keep the negativism to a sensible degree. This club is on the march again and is well capable of qualifying. Le Grove might be a more sensible home for pessimists like you
Still don’t understand you’re reasoning David. The “past few years have highlighted” that AFC are one of only 3 clubs who have qualified for the CL group stages for each of the last 16 years, and that AFC has qualified for the knock-out stages in most (if not all – can’t be bothered to look it up) of those years. That is why AFC is in one of the top seeds, a.k.a. one of the premier teams and Napoli and Dortmund are ranked below.
And there you go again labelling my subjectivity as optimism, whereas yours is realism.
Your realism is what I regard as subjective pessimism.
My glass is always three-quarters full.
you’re = your
Le Grove is a great site – 9.30am roughly is part of my working day reading material!!! Highbury House is always a good read. I had a bit of a set-to on twitter the other eve with the writer of Ashburton Grove over the merits of Bendtner, but his site is a good read to. In My Arsenal Opinion is the best of the lot though.
What annoys me about that win in Munich is that no one gave us the proper credit for that – they simply stated Bayern did not know what to having one the first leg. What utter tosh, and offensive to what was achieved on the night. I have always hated the away goals rule
236 DK – That was hilarious in its off-the-wall-ness.
So what’s on the menu tonight? Crispy shredded and with hoi sin sauce? 😀
In fact, at the moment, my glass is overflowing.
As my wife reminded me today, heaven is not a place, it’s a state.
David – Le Grove is pure toilet written by retards.
Yes I am negative – I was worried at 3-1 against Fulham we would not win! I remember against Newcastle and THAT match turning to the people I was listening to it with that a 4-2 we would not win and what happened. I stated to work chums the Friday before the Leagu Cup final in 2011 Arsenal would probably find away to not win, and what happened.
Its the roughest ECL we have ever faced, even the French mob could take points off us. Quite correct DKG, always qualified from the goups, but alas it regularly goes downhill after that.
Has anyone here met that cunt ‘Pedro’? Gets his bollox reprinted in the Standard and fucking everywhere now. Sums up the sad state those publications I suppose. ‘Racing Results’ edition of The Standard used to be one of the most hotly awaited publications in London Town. Every day. Now look at it.
Seriously I will debate, but not with people who give Le Grove any time of day, whatsoever. Time to go therefore.
David, you’re right. Why even bother going to those away CL matches? Let’s just cede them now … WE’RE DOOMED. DOOMED I tell ya!
But we won’t do that, I reckon. Because in sport anything is possible. That may be why they even play the games AFTER the groups come out. Yes yes, I’m sure I’ve heard that somewhere before.
Napoli, a better squad than us, eh? Hmm … based on?
And you overlook the fat Spanish waiter factor, something highly in our favor.
True, however, that Dortmund will be tough home or away – but every other team on earth beside Bayern Munich is in the same predicament. Hardly a reason to start predicting failure. Especially with them missing Goetze AND an apparently grumpy and unrequited Lewandowski. If – and its a BIG IF right now – we are healthy or mostly healthy, I like our odds in both away matches.
Cheer up man. A lot to look forward to yet.
Le Grove, eh?
I just gave you way to much credit. My sincerest apologies.
Le Grove is a great site.
In what way?
Objective analaysis?
Or pandering to the hard of thinking?
Le Grove is a bomb-site.
Fixed that for you…..
Porco Rosso: Well thank you sir (she said, as she wagged her wooden leg, and blinked her cork eyes, spasmodically so to speak).
Nice to know that not all falls on stoney ground.
Menu tonight was actually Rack of Lamb, seasoned with rosemary and garlic, roast potatoes and carrots, with “rich brown gravy” (as my dear old Auntie Glenys used to call it).
Oh, and a bottle of Rioja Crianza as a thank you to RM for totally fukcing up by selling us one of their best.
Mouth watering?
Esso @290 – Now that is very good news. I will look forward to it mate.
Ttg – @293 – Hello mate, how was Grandson No.2 on sunday evening? Any chance of gringing about a conversion? 😉
David, I hate to pick nits but not so long ago you very confidently asserted we’d only garner 8 points from our CL group, now you’re implying that actually we’ll probably get through the group. You can’t have it both ways.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with a bit of realism, sometimes even negativity can have its place. But if you can’t get at least a little excited about our prospects this season (and even if that doesn’t include a trophy, I predict we’ll have fun trying), then it seems like you’re taking your ‘realism’ a bit too far.
I see it like this: massively frustrating summer…browning my pants going into the first few games of the season…4 wins from 5 including a beating of the little club down the road…world class playmaker on board…things must get better…which is, you know, good.
Ahem – “bringing”
Le Grove is a great site
Haha, the comedy just keeps on coming.
Written by a self-advancing cock-knocker who can’t write.
Read by people who can’t read.
Great video of behind the scenes. Derby day.
http://www.arsenal.com/derbyday
Esso @301
Pedro turned up in The Tollie after we beat Villa 3-0 at the back end of the 11-12 season. Let’s just say he received a “welcome”. As far as I am aware he hasn’t been back.
A victory for the silent majority.
Porco Rosso, no I did not imply we would get through the group, I dont think we will, I did say though if we do, Wenger deserves the praise to be heaped upon him!
I am not fussed about winning a trophy – sorry domestic cups are a mere side show to finishing top 4 (I am sounding like Wenger now, better stop that!!!), I have grown up with us being champions for 5 seasons and reaching Euro cups finals (4), that is my yardstick.
Bruce Rioch made the same point today that I made on here last night: Ozil may well be the best creator of chances on the planet but have we got the right sharp shooters who can reap what he creates on a regular basis – that is the burning question.
Oh and and if we finish 3rd in the ECL then I will be well up for the Europa Liga campaign! Reaching the old UEFA cup final was brilliant – that campaign brings back so many memories for me: first year at uni, viewing Thursday night matches in crowded pubs, then hitting a student event at a nightclub, what memories. Kanu, Henry, Bergkamp, Suker, what 4 strikers we had…bit like today really as there’s Giroud, then there’s er….oh, thats it
How can those who can’t read actually read….hmmm
David @ 296
Can’t take you seriously after that.
Tabs @ 309 sums up my feelings on Le Grove. If you think that’s a great site then discussion is futile; you are incorrect down to a sub-atomic level.
Enjoy your misery, maybe you and your cohorts will get the manager sacked one day, but I very much doubt it. In the mean time you can all huddle together with your Peroni and your self-loathing.
They look at the pictures.
Duh!
David, so what did you mean when you said “quite correct DKG, we always qualify from the groups”?
I admit it.
Perched high in the North Bank, 17th August, I surrendered to the theory that we had fucked up the summer big time.
Having watched Agbonlahor waltz unattended through our midfield and defence, and our keeper on several occasions being visited by the ghost of Almunia, the game on opening day suggested nothing other than a season- long hard slog. For reasons too inane to go into, I wasn’t racing back to the Tollington as tradition would dictate, and at the end, I sat there, thinking Just what the fuck is going on? .
Fast forward, 4 games on, all won, and the fog has lifted.
Credit to the team for that – each difficult fixture (difficult on paper at any rate) negotiated with a mix of verve and determination, rounded off with a comfortable victory against the swamp-dwellers.
Credit to Wenger too, for resisting the turmoil generated by the whining of certain high-profile (so-called) Arsenal supporters all through the summer and in particular on the eve of the Tottenham game itself. Warmly applauding Tottenham’s transfer policy and using it as a stick to beat our own club on the eve of the NLD achieved what exactly?
Shameful. If there is another club’s fans that engages in virtual fratricide the way we do, then you’ll have to point me to it. I just cannot fathom some of these cunts.
But the fog has certainly lifted.
The narrative surrounding Arsenal will now have to be re-written. Arsene Wenger DOES know how to spend money. But what he knows even more is value. I have been a student of young Marty Feldman for quite a long time. This signing is massive for us. You only need to read the reaction of every former team mate quoted to know what it means. This is a step-change.
I cannot fucking wait.
Damn you to hell interlull and Bring It On!
Always qualified hitheto!
Dr Z @315 – word. Ain’t no more shandies for you this season my boy! Large Rum and Cokes all the way! 😉
N7@315 – Beautifully put. Ain’t no party pooper gonna rain on my parade this week.
hitherto
DK – Masterful weirdness!
Your writing reminds me of the poems and short stories of a guy called Anthony something (I think it was) that a friend introduced me to.
In one of them, he espoused the theory that when night falls, what you’re seeing is not a lessening of light levels, but actually a cloud of black particles that bring on continuous fainting fits (ie, ‘sleep’).
In another, he discussed the phenomenon of policemen on bicycles, asserting that at the point of contact between their trousers and the saddle, the friction results in exchange of atoms between bike and policeman. Over time, he says, every single atom of policeman is swapped with that of the bicycle, meaning that eventually there are only bicycles riding policemen and not the other way round (despite what it seems to the naked eye).
I WISH I could remember that dude’s name.
David, you are swiftly sailing into realm reserved for trolls. You’ve long since crossed the borders for idget-ville and muppet-town.
With “supporters” such as yourself, the scum will soon find themselves out of a job.
Your pessimism is neither objective nor realistic. If you are actually an adult, then you may have my pity. If you are what I think you may be, then, move along you’ve had your fun.
Regardless, I’ll waste no more energy on you.
BMBD
tabs,
My dalliance with shandy is over.
It clearly did not agree with either of us 😉
OK David, fair enough, you’re entitled to your viewpoint but I think we’ll qualify with ease.
Zico knows!
BMBD
Not about shandy, however. 😉
That stuff is pure nectar.
BMBD
Just checked out the official Özil pics over on arsenal dot com.
I think he looks like he was born to play in Arsenal colours especially that away kit.
And huh… It seems like the folks over at arsenal dot com are having some issues with the umlaut. Might need a hand from the many umlaut experts that drink at this fine bar.
Dr Z – Haha, quite right 🙂
Lonestar Gooner, referencing and linking me to scum and what that word represents reflects badly on you and shows you in a poor light indeed. When people resort to such wording it shows them up perfectly for the true person that they are deep down. If you can’t take differing views to yours then that is a shame.
If we qualify the last 16 round that would be a great achievement indeed, as previously referenced
Re: dkgooner @236. Roast duck is tasty, in case you are looking for a menu option. 😉
@Tabs
Just seen your 287.
It was never in doubt….
…. much.
That Zico! He’s alright for a jambo.
Heh LoneStar.
Right techy question – anyone know why, every time I post on zPad, my name and e-mail address disappears from the Word Press submit form?
It is really getting on my thrupenny bits….. 🙁
333 Esso?
Half-evil in other words 😉
N7 – Haha, indeed! 🙂
@iLonestar Gooner
i believe the weil coerver system is one of the best for teaching kids and one i grew up on really. actually, in a round about way, it is why i support the gunners. as a US-based fan, it went like this.
dutch coach weil coerver ->
the dutch school and ajax ->
gullit rijkaard van baasten ->
marky marky overmars ->
arsenal
mostly liked the premier league because the coverage was better here, and all the commentary and coverage was in english. before that, we only really got to see the world cup.
i have some recommendations on small kids practices if you’re interested.
ping me back.
Essooooooooo…sorry to hear you had a shit interviewer mate. Tabs knös. All the very best to you mate, hope to see you söön.
Zico @ 318 – and that sums it all up 😉
Anyone else going to Sunderland then? My ticket has arrived and I am dementedly excited.
In other news, just got an email from my neighbour saying thussly:
“So with Oezil you should win the league this year. I certainly will support Arsenal this year. It is half of the german national team meanwhile”
His comments certainly beat the Man $hitteh taxi driver that drove me to my meeting in St Ockport this morning who pronounced Nemo a good signing but ‘not what Arsenal need’… pah, what pish 😉
David, the issue I have with ‘fans’ like you is that you’re just too inconsistent for my liking, I’m sure as recent as last week you were of the opinion that there is no way we could spend money and land someone like Ozil but now we’ve landed him you will swiftly change to “oh why didn’t we also get a Suarez to finish off his passes, we’re doomed”. You’re saying we won’t qualify from that group, I agree that it’s your opinion but will you come back here by January when we do qualify and put your hand up like a man admit you were wrong and not make excuses for the teams we will beat? I doubt that.
Hope you didn’t tip him Snowy 😉
Hah -Tabs I most certainly did not 😉
@ Zico 334. Known a few from both sides. But my best mate will always be Big Ian. Who sure is a hibee.
And Hello snowy! Hope to see you soon mate!
Just checked out the official Özil pics over on the club’s website.
I think he looks like he was born to play in Arsenal colours especially that away kit.
And huh…It seems like the folks over at the club’s website are having some issues with the umlaut. Might need a hand from the many umlaut experts that drink at this fine bar.
Matt, thanks man, I’ll look that up. I’ll also ask the guvnah to send you my contact information to get your ideas regarding small kids’ practices.
Zico, first off…I’ve no idea how such matters (iPad stuff) work. It’s all magic to me.
Secondly, please accept my sincere apology. You “knew” what “he” was several days ago…and called “him” such. In my misguided attempt at magnanimity to the cretin, I castigated you. And I was and am wrong for that. A drink mate, as reparations?
Finally, I’ll save you the effort of reaching into your pocket, ‘Hols. I’ll take my caution.
BMBD
Esso – half evil referred to the post number 333 (666) – I’m too oblique for my own good. Not as bleak as David though, eh? 😛
Lonestar – no need for reparations of any sort but I NEVER refuse free beer. Just so you know 😉
Tabs
I was at the game so my daughter relayed the news to me. Grandson no 1 is very down because of Bale,likes his brother’s JuniorGunners kit better and thought the Totts were boring.He is threatening to support Barcelona as he acquired their kit while on holiday. His Dad was most alarmed. But he hasn’t converted yet to either team (in fairness my son-in -law is a very atypical Spurs fan. When the Invincibles were flowing he said it was the best football he had seen and Henry the most exciting player.He was of course absolutely right!)
Grandson no2 and his Mum were highly delighted. Oliver spent the rest of the afternoon giving impressions of OG notching at the near post-or as close as a four year old can get to it. My daughter ,God bless her,insisted that at least one of them became a Gooner to keep a family traditiuon alive but in years to come their house might be lively on NLD days!
Thanks for asking! And as for Le Grove you are absolutely right. Some of the pond life who frequent that site give our club a bad name.
Le Grove is a great site in the same way Jimmy Savile was the world’s best baby sitter.
Bored of this international break already.
Ttg – Haha fantastic stuff. Apologies for getting the grandsons the wrong way round! 🙂
Beat them at the Lane, and perhaps pick up a trinket this sason, and Grandson No.1 is there for the taking!
Your son-in-law sounds an eminently reasonable man. In his heart of hearts I’m sure he knows what’s best 😉
Up the Arsenal mate!
Heh Cynic 🙂
@Lonestar
i updated this post with an applicable email address.
Heh’s @ Zico and Cynic. A right pair of comedians!
David,
This from ’95,
“Arsenal today obliterated their transfer record by paying Inter £7.5M ($8.92M) for Dutch international Dennis Bergkamp”
The reaction of some of the fans, reminds me of yours, so please take a look…
———————————————————————————
What is Rioch up to? He goes and signs a creative player when we have bigger problems than creating chances. Look at the shambles our defence was for most of last season.
Seaman in goal – what a joke. Last minute of extra time in a Cup Final and he gets beaten by a shot from the half way line. And an ex-Spud as well.
Bergkamp – what a waste. Sign a goalkeeper.
—————————————————————————-
NBF – could not agree more on Seaman but look at what he has in front of him. Dixon, Winterburn, Adams and Bould – that is not a back four that is a disaster. We finished 12th last season and let in 49 goals. Seven teams conceded less than we did – Palace allowed the same number and got relegated.
We used to have the best defense in the league by a mile but look at it now. We need new a pair of centre backs who can run for goodness sake. And full backs who can bloody defend.
What do we get? A forward who scored 11 goals in the last two seasons and who won’t get on an airplane. What is Arsenal thinking!!!!
———————————————————————————-
I know we have problems at the back but we need a goal scorer don’t we? 52 goals last season – that is putrid. Blackburn scored 80 and United 77. What’s more let’s remember that Wrighty scored 18 and then it was Hartson with just 7. Smith was awful last season 2 freekin goals in the league – he has to go.
If Wrighty gets injured we are SCREWED!!!!!
———————————————————————————-
Any thoughts?
Lurky – Just being “objective” innit 😉
Göödnight
Lurky @352.
Awesome post. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Moaning is still moaning.
Zico amen again brother. Or as Cesc seems to spell it “brather”.
Hello and goodnight Ollie 🙂
Cent @ 339 – It is a serious problem and not down to innocent inconsistency. Rather some ‘fans’ would rather be right about their whining and teeth gnashing than take joy in brilliant positive moves the cub they supposedly support have made. You will notice there are a lot of regulars on here who were pretty pessimistic about the summer business and didn’t think anything would happen, but once it did they were thrilled. In the end they were only worried about the best for their club which is a beautiful thing.
Zico, your name disappearing is probably because cookies have been disabled (which can happen without you having done anything, I’ve had it happen on my iPad as well as my iPhone). Go to the Settings app and look for cookie settings under Safari and enable them if they are not.
Have we signed anyone yet? Oh, yes – it seems we have! 🙂
Get rid of the “deadwood”? Most of them, yes.
Bring in a backup for Arteta? Check.
Bring in a goalie that may even challenge Szczesny? Check.
Get a proper world-class player? Check.
Yes, we didn’t get another striker. But overall, late though it was, the window was a success in the end. Will we challenge for the league this season? Probably not. But I said in May that we now had the opportunity to at least build on the squad and create a platform from which we could then make the final assault on the top prizes the following and this is what we have done in my eyes.
Been back-drinking a bit and there are too many good posts to mentioned but it’s nice to see the optimism return. Some will never be happy but hey ho, that’s their problem.
Up the Arse!
Evening all.
Don’t tell a sole but another Hangout in the pipeline for tomorrow night.
I will just sit here with a stupid grin on my face.
I am still on Cloud Nine 🙂
My cookies are disabled?
Blame Rox!
I trust the Cretan landscape is treating you well, good sir?
I’m keeping an eye on your tab – its a free bar again tonight 😉
Don’t tell a sole.
Fishy, like Mesut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgSz1nfjc6c
Solution found.
“Let me hold my hands up now, I of all people should have known better.”
Indeed you you should have, Holic. Come on, man, raise your game! I’ll be looking for 100 press-ups in your underpants at The Tolly before I buy you your next Guinness.
Personally I didn’t have one moment of doubt. It was pretty obvious from the outset that we were after a standout player and two to three good squad men after the decks had been cleared of those who couldn’t. Exactly what we got.
I didn’t read much over the summer but every blogger from ABlog to ZBlog was full of the same old, same old “incompetent Arsenal and the board and the owner and the manager don’t know what they’re doing”. Fools and bairns should never see things half done, as my mother continually reminds me.
The double is on this season, but I suspect the odds have shortened. Back in London in October. See you then. Come on you rip roaring reds.
Shana Tova Umetuka to any Jewish ‘Holics.
I’m amazed at the generosity of folk in here who are willing to spend their time, in such a positive, landmark week for The Arsenal, “debating” with a bloke who is so determined to find something to get down about.
Hats off to you…….
I’ve waited too long to enjoy something like this.
100 press-ups in my passion-killers would clear the place double quick, BtM.
Looking forward to October.
Holic I promise not to tell a sole, but only if you’ll let me whisper it to a haddock. 😀
Meanwhile everyone keep it to yourselves, we don’t want any ‘pike-ys’ or pond life finding out…
Ah, fish puns. Back of the (fishing) net.
Disabled cookies ?
That takes the bloody biscuit.
Just the way the cookie crumbles I’m afraid, Trev.
Floundering now, Porco.
That’s enough now.
Or, as the French say, “Fin”. 😉
You’re right. We’re heading into murky waters and before you know it we’ll be all at sea.
Too many good stuffs above, special mention to Lurky’s post about the reaction to Bergkamp’s signing, Lars @360.
Ttg, good job you’re doing with the grandsons, more power to you.
Bearded @359, agreed.
Happy new year, Snir.
Porco, you don’t want to be at sea? Whatever rocks your boat, mate.
Anyone need more good news?
New contracts for Bac, Mozart and Per.
Hansen quitting MOTD.
It just gets better and better…
Surely this dave dude is a piss taking spud….? No way is this fucker fo real, fo sho???
Either way, seriously putting me off my crack….
Night
All of dat is excellent news N7!! Laters mate.
Cent’Berry
As you correspond in a respectful manner unlike others I will gladly comeback and say I was wrong about our ECL chances if we qualify. I hope I am proven wrong.
N7 – where did you get the contracts news from?
Snir, mesut 5774
The Mirror reporting the new deals: http://bit.ly/13fpk7A
Norris, never refer to me as Dave – I am not a builder nor left-wing nor from the north of the midlands. Would you like my season ticket ID for proof I am a gooner? The whole point for conversation/debate is for differing views surely.
Thanks N7 – good news indeed if they succeed.
With all this stuff about Löw and others thinking RM have lost their marbles selling Özil, I start to get the jitters. They can’t change their minds can they? Or will I wake up and find it’s all been a dream?
N7,
Well deserved for the trio.
What is interesting, there is no news about Szczęsny, his contract expires in 2014 too.
Anyway, anyone bar me, who thinks that we let Gervais go a little to early?
A left sided attacker (we don’t have anyone healthy at the moment), who can also play as a central forward in games when Giroud gets a rest.
Also a fast one, and skillful who could have blossom from the creativity of Cazorla and Ozil, and exploit that “Arsenal space” Neville talked about in link that Snir posted.
That’s right Dave – you tell him.
Yeah, go for it Rodney.
My bad, just seen on twitter that Szczęsny’s contract expires in 2015. It is Fabianski whose contract is till 2014.
🙂
lurky, viviano tells us fabs is a free agent when that contract expires. unless he moves before it does, say, in january.
Whoops that little grin was aimed at 387 and 388, but Lurky lurked in.
Strange – I thought builders were called Bob.
Multiple heys (you know who you are 😉 ) BTM, let’s just pretend this is a church. Holic is the preacher. His congregation is poor. Holic’s sermons every week are about his parishioners need to tithe. Pretty soon, he loses his following because he is not RELEVENT to their NEEDS. They find a pastor, who is more REALISTIC in his approach. Same goes for blogging. Sticking your head in the sand by ignoring legitimate concerns, by LOYAL fans, is both disrespectful and disingenuous to your readers. We’re adults here (well, most of the time 😉 ) and don’t need to be fed Pablum. 🙂
Quick pop in to congratulate tabs for his perfect use of the always excellent jibe – cock-knocker.
===
Sorry to read that Esso, bit of a feckin stupid question from an interviewer that.
===
As for our transfer business this summer, I think Steve T summed it up well here at the begining of the drinks, we might not all of got exactly what we wanted/believed we needed, but boy the club came up with something special.
But for those who can’t get to grips with what an absolute monster of a signing Özil is then well, I don’t think you really understand the nature of this game. It’s an unbelieveable coup and those that know football agree, like him or loath him, Maureen of the Chavs agrees(stupid question ofcourse we loath him) , those that say “well they need a player in a different position, ie Pulis (more loathing) and other assorted hacks just don’t get it.
If you really can’t get excited about our new arrival or revel in the feelgood factor that he has, without even kicking a ball, brought to our club then I seriously think you should consider investing your spare time to another pursuit……….
Or bog off to Le Groan with the other Black and Deckers.
Scruz,
Don’t know what to think of Viviano, I saw couple of Fiorentina games last year and in all honesty I didn’t even noticed him. Which, if I reconsider, is a good thing for a goalkeeper.
picks out a pass that splits the defense, call it özilian…
Mesut Özil
That is all. Cheers!
Assist
Aw
Easy
IN
lurky, i have to assume they brought v in to replace fabs, since damien m. is going to be riding the third bench. so, fabs will be history january or gone in june…he was nearly so this past year, remember?
NorCal, you can’t score with Aw!
What is Aw? Arsene Wenger? That is A.W.!
Now I am angry!
Well in, just kidding…
Lurky – Pretty sure we disagree on this one, but no, I don’t think we let Gervinho go too early. I agree with you that he had his moments and there was a good player in there somewhere, but his confidence had gone, and he was never going to figure this season at Arsenal.
Good for the Club (we got half decent money for him), and good for the player as he gets a new start in fresh surroundings. The right move imo.
We are obviously a little exposed given the injuries to Poldi and Ox but Santi will play out there bearing in mind firstly the form of TR7 and now the arrival of the FishGod.
On the sidelines we also have Miyaichi and Gnabry both looking for a chance, who could both do a job out there if push comes to shove.
Oooo, Gervinihiod it 😳
I hope that answers your question Lurky, I don’t think he was anywhere near the standard we require at the Arsenal.
Still wish him all the best in his future endevours.
====
Well in NorCal
supercalifragilisticexpialidözil…could a song be brought out from the old chestnut?
Haha, my through ball was so enticing that three of my teammates went for it. Well in Norcal!
it’s a team game, cent.
way to go, nözilcal
Scruz, agree with all that, but just pointed that most of us don’t have a clue if Viviano is better than Fabianski.
lurky, yep. but i am sure that someone at arsenal f.c. does… 🙂
Yes Arsene Wenger with the goal. He deserves a little glory today. I have had my doubts but I feel this is a turning point of things to come. Manure are going to struggle to find a foot hold this season and if a few more results go against them they could be in a lot of turmoil. City have yet to impress or hit their stride and may find it hard striking a balance. Chelski are the favorites to end up tops but are their flare players willing to play ugly ( Maureen -style) football for the cause? The scum? Don’t make me laugh.
We have a core that is willing to play for each other. Added an exceptional play- maker.
Will we win the league this year. Maybe not but I put us in with a shout if things break our way.
Evening H2H – bang on the money Sir.
Well in Norcal.
Don’t be angry Lurky, you got the glory position! 😉
And, even if I say so myself, you proper tabsed it there. Ollie will be impressed. 🙂
Sorry Lurky.
A.W.
Too much work on my phone and didn’t want to miss!
Aye, Scruz!
Tabs, I agree that we disagree.
The club didn’t need that money at the moment, although they need a striker. They would pay 4 times the Gervinho sum to get the forward of of course better quality, but similar characteristics as he has.
As for the confidence matter, I agree. That was Ivorian biggest problem. However, that was Ramsey biggest problem too, but he was given many chances to overcome that issue. Gervais wasn’t.
We can blame the player, the manager, we can blame the fans, or we can blame the manager coming under influence from the fans.
I don’t care, to be honest.
But I know one thing for sure, if he was here, he could have been useful, at least he could have score couple of goals, at least couple more than that 8 mill. in the bank could.
lürky, the primary difference between ramsey’s “confidence problem” and that of le garçon avec un grand front is that ramsey’s wasn’t self-generated. he had to overcome (very probably) pretty deep seated fears that he’d get his leg knacked again. as well, he had to get back into shape to play at the topmost level (never easy).
gervais was just shorn of confidence after missing that penalty at the acn, and we didn’t have time to put the metaphorical arm around him.
i think that’s why aaron got his chances (and has shown the result) and gervinho is at roma.
Can’t argue with @ 116. No sir! Must say, besides things def. looking up for Arsenal, Liverpool faired pretty well, also. They managed to hold onto Suarez and with Victor Moses on board, think they will move up a couple of notches. Should be a good pairing, for them.
Pedants 😉
Gervinho decision is close. I respect the decision that was made in light of his almost invariably unreliable performances, despite his considerable talents, but know he could have a breakout season at Roma making us reconsider the move. Good arguments on both sides.
Esso. Good restraint at not knocking the cunt to the floor. 🙂
Well, Scruz, you are basically saying that we are now better without Gervais who is an attacker (the position we all bemoan is our weak point), because we didn’t have a time for him to regain his confidence?
I am sure that we have plenty of time now, especially because we have only one recognizable forward. And especially after we will obviously give that chance to TGSTEL. In the end, it looks like he deserved it more than Gervinho!
http://arseblog.com/2013/09/arsenal-gentlemans-squad-profiles/
🙂 🙂
Cesc says it’s good for Arsenal.
http://www.sportal.com.au/football/news/fabregas-stunned-at-ozil-arsenal-move-251412
While Cristiano Ronaldo says it’s bad for Cristiano Ronaldo.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/336746/Cristiano-Ronaldo-s-rage-over-Mesut-Ozil-sale
8ball @ 422,
Now the breakup is complete. I guess we’ll have to get used to seeing each other at work events and parties. We’ll learn to make small talk and exchange knowing glances.
Eventually, we’ll learn to be “happy for each other.”
Bah…I’ve never had a good breakup. The Spanish Bloke should just keep our name out of his mouth.
BMBD
‘Holic,
Sorry about that.
‘Holic, would you mind sending my email to Matt Foley @ 352. Gracias.
BMBD
Serious question for the night-shift: Would you take Cesc and RVP back if they offered their services?
Could we possible line up like this in case OG injuired:
Back 5
TR7, Ramsey, Wilshere, Santi
Oezil (the world,s best No 10)
Theo
@428
@Serious question for the night-shift: Would you take Cesc and RVP back if they offered their services?@
Cesc No. Our midfield is already too congested.
RVP. Qualified Yes if he apologies to us fans.
interesting that robin the cunt’s name comes up.
http://www.givemesport.com/376348-robin-van-persie-to-regret-leaving-arsenal-for-manchester-united?autoplay=on
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Just see from .com
Diaby change to No. 24… does it mean he is unlikely come back in 2 years? till his contract ends?
What a pity!
SCG, were I RvP, I’d be a lot happier at the thought of being on the end of service from Özil, Santi, Jack and Theo than I would be at the prospect of what I would likely get from what now passes for a midfield at OT.
Man, this Madrid backlash is really entertaining. Absolute madness. Goes to show you never know what’s going to happen. If you had told me just a week ago, that we were going to get Özil, I would’ve laughed in your face. We all would have. Because it’s LUDICROUS, that any team would let a player like that go. And to Arsenal? Who never spend big money? And yet, there are the pictures on dot com, there are the umlauts all up and down this thread.
8 ball @422 and 423. Nice juxtaposition. I love that the first thing Ronaldo thought when he heard was “…bad news for me. He is the player who knows best my movements in front of goal. I am very unhappy about his sale.”
Ned, do you think RvP knew when he signed for Man U that Ferguson was on the way out?
HKG@429: only in extremis, because the current favoured formation is not so much a 4-3-3 as the fashionable lopsided 4-4-2, which needs a wide and preferably fast forward to get on the end of the diagonal through balls coming from the player on the opposite flank cutting in. TR7 and Santi can both offer the service but neither would be the player to be on the receiving end. Once he is fit again, Podolski would probably be the player to take an injured Giroud’s place.
GL@435: I doubt it. Fergie would have been too canny to let on even if he had firmly made up his mind at that point. Moving to OT to play for Fergie is one thing; moving there to play for Moyes, as Moyes is finding out, is quite another. RvP wanted to win titles, and it was a reasonable bet Fergie would deliver him some. Had Moyes already been in place, RvP, I would hazard, may well have gone elsewhere. If we has signed Özil a year ago, he might just have gone nowhere.
Ned, that’s what I was thinking too. It’s a little vindictive, but I imagine most Arsenal fans have had a “I bet RvP is regretting leaving now” moment or two by now.
And again, it goes to show that how unpredictable football is, and how fleeting success is. There are more important things for a player to consider when choosing their club. Are you content and happy there, do you respect the club, the manager, your teammates, the fans, is it a cause you want to invest your career into? Instead the motivation tend to be simple, self-centered, and few: (1) Where can I make the most money, and (2) Win.
Well, there’s winning and winning. How you win is also important. And I appreciate that Arsenal have retained a real sense of that amid all the madness. Despite his years here, RvP seems to have missed that part.
@291, David
Let the FACT talks
1. In the calendar year of 2013, we get the most points in EPL (think it is 46, thanks to the last 10 games last season) Manu with 44. and Man C with dennis know how many.
2. Last season we are second in conceding fewest goal.
Can see why in our current form and improved squads, we will not fare even better.
I will regard my comment subjective because it is FACT.
Yours just only pessimisim, (or you are just a spud fan in disguise, trying to talk us down)
But we are Mesut !!!!!!!!
Lurky @ 410
I believe it doesn’t really matter if Viviano is better than Fabianski or not, since I just can’t see Fabianski staying with Arsenal any longer. However good or bad Fab is/has been/can be he has been here since 2007, is 28 years old now, never cemented that first place, but most importantly of all, has 21 caps for Poland and wants more. He is currently at a club where his main rival is also Polish and even if (as I understand it) Szcz perhaps isn’t Poland’s number one at the moment, being behind him and not getting any game time hardly won’t help his chances of getting to Brazil or for that matter to the Next Big Thing.
Viviano might be worse, better or about the same as Fabianski, but he needs replacing, whatever the club wants, I’m sure.
This is epic.
Absolutely epic.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2013/09/04/reaction-to-arsenal-signing-mesut-ozil-2013-and-dennis-bergkamp-1995/
It’s non-PC to say ‘disabled’ cookies, Trev … make that physically challenged … or in the Piscean context phishically challenged…
Oskar
Whatever happened to that Bergkamp guy, Snir? Terrible signing! Now here we go again with this Özil character … what’s he ever done??
Oskar
zico, the Cretan landscape is doing me a world of good as always. Sun, beer, sea, Arsenal beating Totnum and then signing Özil – what more can you ask for? 🙂
This Friday’s lottery numbers please!
This is to supplement my video @364.
http://counterpressing.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/analyzing-arsenal-20132014/
My @446 is a must read.
It is one of the best pieces I’ve read. The way it was written and the amount of football understanding and intelligence the guy has is magnificent.
So apparently we now need to be objective, well then objectively here are the reasons to be very very happy:
1) We have Mesut Özil
2) We are the Arsenal.
3) Just in case you may have a wandering attention span – we have Mesut Özil
4) It appears that by signing the above super-super quality player Arsenal have now made much of RM and the LWC’s “upset”.
5) We have Mesut Özil.
6) Arsenal have bought twice the player that is Bale at half the price.
7) We won over the weekend.
8) AW has most of the media, worthless pundits (oops being subjective here – presumptuous) and Europe scratching their arses and scrabbling around trying to work out how he pulled the magic Özil out of the hat.
9) The AST and nay-sayers have not done themselves any favours with their recent statements.
10) We are the Arsenal AND we have Özil.
The rest is all ahead of us, the great unknown, the matter of much debate, will we win?, will we get out of the CL group stages? and to be honest to Kevin Keagan it – “I’d love it” if we did but I know that the potential is mouth-watering. As N7, Steve T, H2H, Lars and others have more eloquently said it might not happen this season but it’s intent with size 15 boots.
Good grief Snir, your 446 is an exciting read indeed. Before perusing that article I honestly didn’t believe I had any more cream to shoot over the signing of Nemo. How wrong I was.
I guess we’re all out of fish puns but I’d like to make it clear that I hake interlulls.
Thank you Snir @446 excellent find. The quality of the links at the bar is exceptional – a reflection of the clientele and the ‘Guv – Quality.
@ 386
Nope. Gervinho was pants.
Next. 👿
@ 449 – way too much information there, Mr. 😯
Zico – Absolutely!
Zico, Lloydie, point taken.
I guess I’m just ‘finding Nemo’ quite an exciting prospect.
Snir, great link @446.
Masterfully written piece agree every word of it.
The basic idea is that Arteta is Arsenal’s most important player. This season, we have already won four games without Arteta, but the one we’ve lost, is where his absence was most obvious.
The importance of Arteta is that he is as good defensively as offensively. Just like Busquets and Alonso.
Wilshere is more of an offensive midfielder and Flamini is classic mobile DM.
Thanks for the link.
Speaking of Alonso… out of contract next summer. I just wonder if we might not take a look in January if they don’t sign him back up.
Would be a very Arsene-type signing and would leave us really strong in the DM dept.
Morning all,
Lloydie @448 – Top post.
Lurky – Fair enough mate, we’ll have to agree to disagree on Gerve the Swerve then.
Right I’m off to attend to Ozil the goldfish’s divine needs.
Toodle pip.
Cheers, tabs.
N7, how about De Rossi? Always liked him, great uncompromising DM with thunder shoot, can cover at CB if needed.
@ Lurky
I like De Rossi, but I can’t see him ever leaving Italy. I think if it was going to happen it would have happened by now.
Theo Walnut 66-1 top Prem Goalscorer.
Someone has to be on the end of Mesut Ozil’s assists.
Just saying.
Look at Arsenal’s record over the last 13 games. The Villa game was an aberration because of refereeing. How many times do teams get gifted a goal and then have an opposition player sent off? In statistical terms, I would regard this game as an outlier. Disregarding this game, then we have we have 32/36 points. Per and Kos, as a unit, are probably the best two central defenders in the league. I also think Sagna is a better player in the centre than at fullback. Some may disagree but I’m thinking at this stage in his career. Tough, good in the air and reads a game so well like Per. Defenses lose games and I think we have a very tight one. I think strategically and tactically we have made some important changes in the last six months. Others have commented upon this. For instance, we are less laissez faire and more accountable across the park. I can’t get my head around how much depth we have in midfield where I would argue games are mostly won. It will be the best sort of problem for AW to determine who plays. My heroes are Brady, George and Bergkamp. I’ll go on the record to say Ozil will be better (how could he be because he’s a genius with the ball) and will help us to go close if not win the league this year. I’d take 12/1 Arsenal winning the league because it is way over the odds! David may have overcome Goliath but I won’t be considering his efforts on this occasion unless, of cousre, he’s playing for Arsenal.
GÖÖzil AfternÖÖziln GÖÖners
Still on cloud nine myself H. Good way to describe it.
Basking in the screams of the LWCs at the rupture of their “special relationship” with Real Madrid. Serves them right for getting into bed with a rapacious shark. Ought to be more careful in future…..Dagenham and Redbridge is more their level ….but what a pity for Dagenham and Redbridge.
Fascinated at the Real players outrage at losing their “second best player” (according to CF4 – who has finally got round to saying he would NEVER have signed for the Mancs…a wee bit slow there sunshine, aber beßer spät als nie wie wir sagen beim Grove im diesen tagen).
We’ve had the naysayers observing that Özil is not the player we need and that we’ve plenty of talent in that precise position – an opinion that is horse manure IMHO and grossly underestimates this guy’s talent for splitting defences and the effect of this signing off the pitch which is a paradigm shift (go look it up Mr Winter).
I’m just waiting for the legions to observe that he’s not robust enough to cope with the premiership – well we shall see, won’t we.
Skips away singing to the tune of the Pet Shop Boys…
“Özil of the Arsenal, Özil of the Arsenal, Özil of the Arsenal…..”
People always pick holes, don’t they.
My favourite thing this morning has been Utd telling the press that they were offered Ozil for a much lower price and turned him down.
A notion that’s supposed to reassure their fans.
That their new manager turned down Mesut Ozil and bought Marouane Fellaini instead, for a presumably similar price. Just a few weeks after he turned down Thiago Alcantara for an even lower price.
Their total inability to admit that a player might want to go somewhere else is fantastic to behold.
I’m loving how much this signing has clearly sent the royal shits up our rivals.
Zico, Tabs, Lurky, et al.:
Probably the easiest way Gervinho could improve his productivity would be to learn how to find a pass when he’s in one of those great attacking positions he seems to find himself in. Better passing may not be easy to learn either but his shooting could be a near lost cause.
The facts are, for one reason or another the fans did not take to Gervinho. I could never see the issues to the extent as the displeased supporters. The fact is players like Theo and Giroud recieved supportive chants when they struggled with form whereas G didn’t. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it was the haircut. Maybe it was the grin. I don’t know, but his lack of support was clear for all to see.
The principles of the club have changed a lot since the days of booing Denilson and Diaby. The club did the right thing moving him on because the lack of support G recieved was extreme in comparison to his faults.
That’s it now. I don’t wanna argue. He’s gone!
Just a clarification on Ozil’s ability so I’m not misunderstood or thought to idealize. It’s also the Real Madrid players as reported who truly understand his genius and know what they have lost. Ozil creates, is 24 and will make our team so much better. I think he may score a bit more for us than he has for Madrid and Germany. He’ll be more central to our team and I think the added responsibility will make him even better as the German leadership think. How can we improve from 32/36. We’ll consistently give it to those Manchester c’s and those lesser London teams like Chelsea. Flamini and Arteta will look after Ozil because of his importance. Some have indicated doubts but make no mistake Ozil also will be able to look after himself.
N7 – spot on mate, couldn’t have put it better myself. Maureen is a prime example of what you’re talking about.
Bath – Göözild greeting, sööziln everyözilne will be talking like this!
N7
Fergie papered the cracks at Utd as much as he could. They have been going downhill for a while.
We gave them RVP as a parting gift to Fergie for his devices to football. But to come back for Cesc was taking the piss.
The biggest fee released the player and whatever Utd may have been offered, it was clearly higher than their current expenditure of 30ish mill.
Utd have and will continue to have bigger problems than finding a ‘baller’ , as their team was not built on such players. For years they have been screaming out for a change of style of play, under sir Alex, but he continued to develop his teams to play his ‘attacking style’ of play. The idea of following the Chelsea and Man City mould of copying Wenger with the ‘passing flare game’ is a bit obvious. Utd fans were starting to warm to the idea of adding these types of players to their squad, in the mould of Thiago, Cesc, Hererea etc, but have found that transferring such players is almost a secret society. If you don’t know the codes you cannot deal, unless you pay dumbfuck money of course.
Utd have to chat shit about Ozil to appease their supporters for returning with the same crackers after the close of the transfer window.
It’s now time to face the real utd which wouldn’t surprise me, if they brought Sir Alex out of retirement, secretly, in some type of capacity, during the top four/title run in, whichever the case may be.
@ Goonertown
Totally agree re: Utd and their style of play. The fact that Kagawa doesn’t even make the bench speaks volumes.
I really hope that they’re currently as much of a shambles as they appear to be. It’s not even so much the failure to land a top quality midfielders this summer that should concern the support, it’s the weird variety of player types they tried for; Thiago, Cesc, Herrera, Fellaini, Khedira.
Doesn’t suggest a manager who really knew what he was after.
I also think that they’ve failed to identify the real problem with the first XI – it’s not centre midfield. A centre mid of Carrick and A.N. Other, with Rooney as third man, is good enough to deal with 95% of the teams they’ll encounter.
Their real problem is on the wings, where Utd have the weakest selection of players in years (assuming Zaha isn’t ready). The likes of Ashley Young would not have got a sniff of a Utd shirt ten years ago – they’ve always had great widemen, until now.
If I was Moyes I’d have had a little look at Gundogan and then, assuming he’s not available, gone after a left winger. I know it’s easy to just keep naming Dortmund players after the year they’ve just had, but Reus would have been top of my list. Left winger who understands the game, has pace and vision and is proven at the top level.
Here’s hoping they have a shocker of a season, because there is very little I’d love more than to see them knocked off their fcuking perch.
It looks like we’ll be playing next at the Städiüm öf Light. Göt thät?
Greetings to everybody.
So I woke up this morning to news that one my colleague from University has been snatched by the cold hands of death and as if that wasn’t enough for a day, I went into town to make a withdrawal from the bank and got hit from the side by a car while leaving the bank on a commercial motorcycle. Somehow I managed to sustain just a couple of bruises to my shin, the bike man sustained worse injuries and his bike will need some serious repairs. I could easily have met up with said colleague but I didn’t, I feel blessed to still be alive and wanted you all to share my happiness.
Töö many pösts while I am busy
Blimey Cent. That doesn’t sound good – hope you’re OK.
N7, I’m fine, Cheers mate.
Sorry if that read wrong, I meant sir alex’s ‘services to football’ not ‘devices’
Anyway…
Cent, I’m glad you are okay and sorry about your friend.
Goonertown that ‘devices’ must have been a Freudian slip, and a good one at that. 🙂
Just realised… Ozil also takes a mean free kick.
We might actually score some goals direct from set pieces. Will make a nice change.
damn, cent, glad you’re ok. sorry to hear about your colleague, too. count your blessings it wasn’t worse for you.
Blimey Cent, glad to hear you’re ok, that sounds nasty. And condolences with regard to you colleague. Take care mate.
Glöry cöüld be öürs?
Glad to hear you’re OK Cent. Sorry about colleague. Look after yourself.
What everyone else said Cent.
On a different note – correct if I’m wrong but ’twas on here, recently, that I heard Le Grove being praised. Anyone seen what that utter bellend Pedro has been up to on Twitter today. What a cunt!
Cent, glad you’re OK.
Goonertown/N7: you make very good points about ManU and their rapidly diminishing stature and I have been thinking along the same lines. Many of us have said for a long time that ManU won’t be half the club after Ferguson retires and all the signs so far point to that being the correct prediction. We’ll see in time if Moyes can turn it around, but he’ll have a lot to do. Alex Ferguson sure as shit didn’t leave him much of a developing team either, they still rely heavily on a core of players who have all passed their peak (and quite a long while ago in some cases) so he’ll need to guide them through a transitional phase as well.
Bath: Cesc not publically telling ManUre to feck off was a good thing, it only added to the look of them being desperate when he kept turning down every offer they made. And to be honest, I think he probably DID tell them he wasn’t interested – remember that Arsene said in early July that as far as he knew (and make no mistake about the fact that he knew because he had spoken directly to Cesc) that Cesc would stay at Barca.
Right, I have a date with some tzatziki, a beer or two and some form of barbecued meat so laters all!
@ Esso
This is the clear highlight of today’s Le Grove output:
“Do you have direct contact with a sport CEO who deals with player deals? A question. Because I do.”
WHAT a bellend.
Is it possible to sell a fan? Maybe in a bundle deal with Park? Something to think about ahead of the January window. Maybe there’s a “sport CEO” out there who could help with it.
Interesting points about Ozil adapting to English football and the Arsenal team:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-ozil-is-just-outrageously-talented-
Just to expand on what Le Grove has actually been saying today: Wenger doesn’t deserve all this credit for the Ozil deal. Anyone can spend £43m.
Pathetic on multiple levels; the juvenile refusal to give the manager any credit (our transfer failures are on his head, our transfer successes are nothing to do with him), but also the total lack of understanding of how the adult world works and the role which Wenger quite clearly played in the Ozil acquisition.
“Do you have direct contact with a sport CEO”. Jesus wept.
@ A HK Gooner
Nope Spurs fan is I, though I have two close pals who are Lilly Whites and I have dated two women that support that mob. I am merely a Gooner who has long lost faith in the Wenger project.
Oh on another note, the criticism of other Arsenal fan sites is not really on; fans sites cater for different folk with different views (as do newspapers after all). As a telegraph reader, I don’t mock those that choose to read the sun, as an example. If fans are bothered to take the time to coordinate blogsites (such as Holic), they should not be ridiculed for doing so – its called freedom of speech after all.
A heartfelt thanks to you all for your care and concern, I’m looking at the bright side and counting my blessings as Scruz opined and I count you all amongst my blessings.
@ David
I think you’ve misapplied the concept of freedom of speech just a tad there.
Le Grove is free to spout his moronic nonsense.
Others are free to point out that what he is saying constitutes moronic nonsense.
Freedom of speech in action.
Cent, glad to hear you’re ok. Keep safe.
Man Utd are in decline?
They may be in some difficulties but lets wait until we take more than a point off them this season before we start crowing about how bad they are/or are liable to be.
They are the current champions ffs. I would wager for all their “issues” they will be in the mix for the big prizes, as usual. Personally, I hope they get relegated, but my dreams and reality are still wildly divergent.
Speakng of which, do we still have that new shiny German fella?
Le Grove is to intelligent thought what Roxette is to credit-crunch.
@ zico
Apparently so. I’ve pinched myself daily, but I don’t seem to be waking up from this beautiful dream.
Agree re: Utd – they’ve had a bad summer, but there’s bags of experience in that squad, particularly down the spine, and they certainly won’t have become a poor team in the space of just a few months.
I do think they’ll have issues without Fergie as time goes by, but I suspect it will take a while to really manifest; I note that most of their key players are now 30+, which will hopefully speed the process on its way.
@ N7 Gooner
Technically you are correct, I am implying he/they should not be criticised for placing material on the web if you do not subcribe to it. Its all a question of taste, people can criticise but in a respectful way it should be – why use terms such as moronic?
Bet you can’t stand the Arsenal Action and Arsenal Truth sites then? 🙂
Come on man/woman (to full on pc) why diss fellow gooners? The angst thrown may is puzzling, its like the playground, people have to conform to the popular view otherwise they are classed as wierdos and scum (as I was yesterday). It is a another sad example of the society here on Blighty
Cent, condolances and keep safe mate.
@ 493
I agree with the spirit of what you’re saying, but I make an exception for Le Grove.
The author shows no respect to the manager, the club or those who disagree with him. He is a preening, loud mouthed, sub-Nathan Barley, troll, and I therefore elect to treat him accordingly.
I don’t think he’s remotely comparable to the authors of the vast majority of other Arsenal blogs (even the negative ones), and I note that when I occasionally drop in on the comments section of his site I can generally find someone openly wishing cancer on Wenger. Perhaps you might wish to start your campaign for better manners over there?
Arsenal Truth is wonderfully comic. I must take a dip back in there this week as I’m sure the author must be furious at recent developments. Arsenal Action, I don’t know, but I suppose I can guess what their output might look like.
I would add that this has nothing to do with the “popular” view. We’re all adults here, and people are free to express whatever view they choose – you’ll find posters on here from right across the spectrum. But if you express a daft opinion then you may be pressed to defend it.
That’s not the playground, I’m afraid. That’s just life.
Finally, why use the term “moronic”? Because he is David. He really, truly is, and I can prove it with an etch-a-sketch. I’m sorry that it’s the case – I’d far rather he was bright and erudite. But he’s not. If that’s problematic, I would take it up with his parents, or maybe a few of his teachers.
Ahem.
Cheers, Dr Z.
H2H, thanks mate, will do that.
Beautiful N7.
Opportunity knocks or knocked
Bang
To be honest N7, I never read the comments on Le Grove as they seem to have a lack of sentences written. Yes I would imagine Arsenal Truth was taken aback by the beating of the Spuds.
The non-populist view soon gets shouted down though, re yesterday. I must take the time to do a detailed criticque on what Wenger’s failures are, but alas I have no weblog platform…maybe Holic would allow me a guest post opportunity??? I would of course make it clear what a visionary Wenger was and how he propelled the club forward – until 2008 in my view.
By the way, are people against Adrian Durham and his anti-Arsenal views? Now that guy does spout & write nonsense about our club
I think there may be a hint of a valid point in this noble defence of Le Grove but I just cant see it. The idea that Wenger had no hand in bringing Ozil in, or any other major signing, but is clearly responsible only for the flops is utter bollocks and must be ned as such.
Freedom of speech means nonsense can be called out. I don’t have to enter into reasoned argument to make that a sound premise.
Are there good odds on Man Utd getting relegated? Could be worth a punt. 😉
Giröud!
very late with the goal attempt! shambles:(
Ned as such! I think you’ll find the word you’re looking for is NAMED as such. ..
@ David
I think that it’s very much a case of selling your argument.
I’ve seen people make some excellent criticisms of Wenger on here – really valid, well constructed points – and they’ve been treated with the requisite respect.
I’ve also seen people come charging in bad-mouthing the manager and anyone who defends him and, yes, they get shouted down. Quit rightly.
As a side bar, you may want to check Le Grove’s “How to spot an AKB” tab for a quick guide to how that site’s constituents think about those who hold opposing views. It’s semi-literate and written in crayon and finger paints, but they clearly spent some time over it, bless ’em.
For me, the test is as follows: if Wenger were to go off now and win the league/European Cup, whatever else – if he were to make a success of things – would you fall behind him?
If the answer to that question is “no” then you have moved beyond rational debate. You no longer want the manager out because you think he does a bad job – you want him out because that’s become your mission statement. You are actively hoping that he fails and, by extension, that the team fails.
I don’t get the sense that you fall on the wrong side of this line, but the Le Grove folks most certainly do. Their objective is to slander, ridicule and diminish Arsene Wenger, through whatever means are available to them (usually crude analogy), and to dismiss any evidence which does not conform to their world view. Because that’s becomes what it’s all about, for them.
People like this are simply not worth engaging with. And their bullsh!t needs pointing out.
But that’s not to say there shouldn’t be criticism – there absolutely should. Maybe you think we didn’t need an attacking midfielder this summer? Disagree – but I understand the thought process. Perhaps you feel Wenger doesn’t rotate his players enough, and isn’t overly creative with his substitutions – actually, I agree with that myself.
There are dozens of valid criticisms you can make of the manager and the club and how they’ve conducted themselves these last few years. It’s just a case of making them sensibly, and with a bit of respect to the fact that not everyone might agree and that there’s room for different opinions.
If you stick around here, I think you’ll find that’s exactly what happens. We’re all in euphoria mode this week because of Ozil, but wait until the football starts again and there’ll be a good deal more balance.
By the way, just spent 30 seconds on Arsenal Truth. Here are the highlights, which I offer without comment:
“Arsenal Cut My Tongue Out” (headline)
“I occasionally read other Arsenal blogs, but nearly always with disdain, as if somebody has placed excrement under my nose. I find myself wondering where they get the enthusiasm to repeatedly write about Arsenal’s contemptible bungling – seemingly every day! Writing for the sake of writing – or something more cynical perhaps?”
“Summer of lies goes into overdrive” (headline)
“On a personal note, I have now decided to give up watching Arsenal completely. This will give me an opportunity to use my footballing free time a lot more productively by watching more entertaining games in either England or abroad, or some non-league and lower league football.”
“Wenger is dead as far as I’m concerned, and the club is dead in real terms. From that perspective, I’m drawing a line in the sand after this post. Arsenal’s board and manager might refuse to move on, but I finally am – and, sad though it is, I’m proud I have the principles and strength of mind to sacrifice over 30 years of support to put behind me a regime that’s done absolutely nothing in the last five years but lie, conceal and obfuscate, then pat each other on the back while shovelling supporters’ money into their own pockets.”
Lonestar-
Re coaching, I have some games to share if interested.
‘Holic, feel free to forward my email along.
Good luck Lonestar. Too bad we can’t just meet up at the Tollie for a chat over a pint!
Firstly Cent please accept my good wishes and I hope things improve. Great to feel the positive vibes continuing and the Le Grove analysis. David the value of a site is not just the editorial. Sometimes it makes fair points sometimes it goes too far but the quality of debate and comments determine its vue too. While I would consider many people on here friends because of their obvious decency and care for others I recognise a maturity of anysis which most of the Le Grove’s correspondents completely fail to achieve. This is a great forum. I suspect we might all be a little bit too optimistic but it is just great to feel the in has turned a corner. Wenger’s success and impact wi only be possible to assess when he is gone but I suspect there is much we don’t know. He irritates me sometimes but he has taken this club on a journey few of us ever contemplated before he arrived
Cent, Stay safe. Condolences on your colleague.
Evening all,
On the Arseblog Hangout at 8 tonight, and out all day tomorrow, so emails and stuff will have to wait for Saturday I’m afraid.
Sorry about that. Hope it’s ok.
Cent, so glad to hear you are ok.
http://i.minus.com/iYRyXvvxKZ5nw.gif
😀
Re: N7 @507: Wenger not rotate his players enough? Everyone except Podolski that is. Now that Poldi is injured though there’s no telling who might get rotated. 😉
Heh @ 515!
zico@490: Like I said, the signs so far point to ManU being in turmoil and dancing perilously close to the edge of the cliff. They may yet turn it around, absolutely, but I see a lot of parallels between their current situation and where we were in 04/05 and on. We still had a really good, bordering on great, team that still challenged for the major prizes but with an ageing core that we struggled to adequately replace for various reasons. ManU are now, by the looks of it, struggling to get their targets because they don’t want to play for Moyes or possibly because they are simply running out of money. While players like Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and David De Gea look like decent prospects I struggle to see them reach the heights of their predecessors (possibly with the exception of De Gea), so how do they intend to replace Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, RvP, Rooney, Giggs and Carrick who are all still very vital components of their team? Fellaini, ok, but good as he is he’s nowhere near the consistency of someone like Scholes.
So in summary, I think they’ll do quite alright this season and may very well even win something. But Moyes is facing an uphill task of gargantuan proportions and I think we are already seeing the first signs of trouble.
N7@495: spot on.
Fuck, buggered up the italics 🙁
N7 knows@507 too.
@ Lars
My post wasn’t primarily aimed at you, but at this:
Fergie papered over the cracks. They have been going downhill for a while.
So downhill that they won the league. And the best we could manage against them was a draw. 🙄
Ferguson was unique and Moyes has a large task. But so do we, if you look at the points differential from last season.
Simply put, I’m not gonna write them off just yet, as poor as they were in their most recent game, they are still the poisonous snakes they always were and should be treated with the necessary caution.
Once again, thank you all for your care and concern.
N7, keep the good work up.
Another football writer thinks we have a good man, apparently.
http://www.football365.com/f365-features/8905501/Do-Arsenal-Have-Best-In-The-League-
Enjoyed that Hangout, H.
Was obviously thirsty work. 😉
A tip of the hat to N7.
@ N7 Gooner
I think Arsenal need a new manager to take the team in a new direction and to correct the obvious failing of team structure and tactical approach. But I do not want him out at the expense of team failure, I just feel another manager could get more out of the current squad. That defeat to Villa was a rehash of typical past failings. And I would never mock Wenger, those who suggest Ozil’s signing was nothing to do with him are obviously deluded, but I feel his stubborn ways will ensure we do not process as a side. I hope I am wrong!
I wish he would properly integrate the likes of Frimpong (that boy has so much heart and desire to succeed at Arsenal, his commitment just needs to be channelled by Wenger) and Akpom into the match-day squad. I know it way to early to judge obviously but from the footage from pre-season of Akpom and Sanago’s two sub appearance (which I know is no ideal yardstick) but the former looks the more impressive option. Also, Miquel should have gone out on loan last year to aid his development, then he could be in our squad for his campaign – a better option than Sagna for the 4th CB spot I feel. Instead he is experiencing a loan move now; Wenger seems to be losing his touch in developing youngsters by this example.
David. I have been as critical as anyone about the way the club has been run in recent years. My views have not changed. I still believe we could and should have done things differently. But one thing I have always been sure about is that AW deserves the opportunity to build a third title winning team. His record, commitment and what he has done for this club mean for me that he has earned the right.
The signing of Özil should be the beginning of that. It’s the start. Arsene has earned the right. My advice is back him and enjoy the ride. We will know next May if he still has it or not.
David @ 525
Well, I don’t agree about changing manager, or re: the Villa game (we were poor, but the ref really did screw us only my view).
My POV is that Wenger has spent the last 8 years with little or no transfer budget (wages, admittedly, a different story), tasked with keeping us in the top four, and his success has been a credit to him. I think it’s critical that he now be given the chance to spend the money that his shrewd management has effectively earned us, although I suspect that the transition from prudence to genuinely competing will not be without its hiccups.
That’s not to say he was perfect the last few years. We were the best team in the country in 2007 and should have won the title that year, Eduardo or not.
I think you make fair points about Miquel and Frimpong, particularly the former, who had real potential but was very raw and crying out for a loan to a Prem club. Frimpong is a little different – I used to go watch him play for the youth team and he was a real beast. I think that injuries took from him, mentally and physically, but he also suffered from being a player who could bully opponents at youth level, but not fully grown men. I will be interested to see if he gets any game time this term.
I also totally agree re: Akpom; like the look of him and think he could do a job for us if called upon.
Thanks z,
Just ended in time. I had run out 🙂
Pleased to see some decent exchanges above. Thank you all.
Zico, Lars: two things to be said about Fergie. First, he could motivate players; his teams didn’t contemplate defeat and that won them a lot of games they could easily have lost. Second, he was a master at rebuilding winning teams on the fly, at least until the end when, maybe knowing he was done, he just gave up or perhaps felt his successor should have a clear run at the task rather than inherit his final project half-completed.
David, I suspect Miquel wasn’t loaned out last season because he was being given a last chance to convince that he was a keeper for the long-term. His loan this season looks more like a way station to leaving the club.
N7, this might amuse. It was written about financial bloggers but seems to apply equally to Arsenal blogs.
There’s a vocal subset of the blogosphere which specializes in “I am right and everybody else is wrong” blogging — something which usually then becomes “I am right and everybody else is stupid”. It’s possible, sometimes, to find nuggets of useful information in those blogs — but it’s difficult, and you generally need to wade through a lot of annoying garbage before you find them.
@Stevo T
For me Wenger has had long enough. After the end of the 11/12 season I said Arsenal should not have to go through that again to claim a ECL spot – and hey, 12 months later it took another championship wining (please note, for me footy was around prior to 1992 when I was mere boy) to get another qualifying spot. I take the point about little transfer budget etc but I feel amore adaptable manager could have got more out of the playing resources available by setting the team up differently, making them harder to beat, having more attacking strategies (which is now coming with Giroud).
The signing of Ozil is going to be sensational, however, he is not going to make us more organised at the back, better at pressing the ball etc. I feel he will play Ozil in the middle (I would like to see him play on the right where is was position at Werder & Real), which will mean Carzola gets shunted to the left wing, where he is utterly useless from a defensive aspect and holding his positional area (how often on Sunday did Risicky and Ramsey look for an outlet on the left wing on to notice Santi had ‘run off’ elsewhere!
@ N7 Gooner
Same point over Wenger as above and the past few years – for me he has been failing since the title chase of 2008 blew-up in England’s second city and that penality conceded. Two further seasons from then we should have won the league but didnt. As for the Frimster, I will happily go with your knowledge of the youth team ranks. His injuroes are a factor, but his off-field twitter antics and Dench stuff should become less obvious I feel. And that reminds, why was Franny Cqu let out on loan this term??? Again that should have happened last term. The u21 league seems to offer little progression fulfilment. If people think Flamini is good at playing in different positions, this kid is on another level for me!
Guys, loved the chat but I need to retire to slumber-land.
N7 and David, I think Akpom and Sanogo are not the same type of players, Sanogo is Giroud-like while Akpom is Benzema-like, the reason Benzema starts for france is not because he scores more goals but because he offers more qualities like mobility and been able to run at defenders with the ball at his feet. The difference between the two types of players is that Giroud looks good only when he is scores or assists but Benzema can make you notice him by dribbling all over the park, running at defenders with the ball and taking routine shots that end up 19/20 in the opposition’s ‘keeper’s arms but still end up not scoring or assisting a single goal. At the stage they are in their respective careers Sanogo is more developed and experienced than Akpom but the later has the potential to become a better player than the former.
I think Arsenal need a new manager to take the team in a new direction and to correct the obvious failing of team structure and tactical approach.
Depends. If he has changed his approach and Ozil is the first instalment on a continuing plan to buy the best players, and not be held back by prudence, then he should probably stay. I certainly did not think he would ever spend that kind of money on one player. Ever.
If, however, Ozil turns out to be a one off…
Cent, glad you’re ok. Sorry to hear about your friend.
Evening all.
History tells us you write Man U off at your own peril, they’re literaly the same team that easily won the PL just a few short months ago, however, that was under SAF. I never really liked the guy, but he was a master at creating teams that were greater then the sum of their parts. He made good players better and he got pretty average ones to actually look the bizz. He was a winner plain and simple, he wouldn’t tolerate losing and he kind of scared his charges to victory.
Moyes is no Fergie, not by a very long shot, you can see it in the way that United play and set themselves up, the fear factor is gone, the cohesion and from what I’ve seen the desire too. It’s just not the same animal anymore, that’s not to say that they’re going to go into freefall, but I believe that Moyes is going to need time, a comidity/luxury I don’t think he will be granted. (not if the fans have their way).
I’m also pretty sure that SAF would have retired if Citeh hadn’t snatched the title away on goal difference two seasons ago, plus I’m almost certain that RvP thought he would be playing under him for a few years unstead of under Moe Szyslak.
Haw Haw.
Cynic
Im with N7 on this one and given that even AW said the club had money to spend this summer (spet 1st is still just about summer I guess?) and despite the loooooooooooooooooong arsed wait, he was true to his word and landed you know whÖ! 🙂
For dennis’ sake I know I have been on his and the club’s back enough over the last few months for the seeming apathy and inertia. BUT until this summer, I dont think we have had that type of money to splash and now, finnaly, after the austerity years, the boss deserves a chance to see what he can do with a transfer pot that can get us top class talent.
That isnt an indefinite offer, but he deserves time to give a real go. The way the black clouds are circling over OT, we could be title challengers this season, although we’d probably need to sign at least a striker in January. (FFS why oh why didnt we buy a striker already???) 🙂
H2H Yeah, and Fergie really got Mike Riley performing miracles too!
I think it’s also important to note that it may take a couple of windows to properly “staff up”.
I would guess that we will aim to properly compete for the title next season, and maybe win it the one after. Maybe a cup in the mean time.
That’s the timescale my faith is working to. I was in danger of running out of patience this summer, but now that I’ve been given evidence of our intent I am willing to wait once more and see what unfolds.
I don’t think we should expect miracles this season. It’s going to take some time.
RvP is denying that he doesn’t like Moyes’ training methods and playing style.
A sure sign that he has told someone that he doesn’t like Moyes’ training methods and playing style.
He clearly thought Slur Chewy was going to deliver him a shed load of trophies before he hung his hairdryer up. 🙂
And whatever anyone thinks of Arsene Wenger, it is quite clear that he was the deciding factor in Özil’s capture.
I agree with Steve T that he has earned the right to try to be successful at Arsenal again, through his loyalty and commitment over a period where he was operating with very limited resources.
Özil is a start. Personally, I think Arsenal will need to continue to grow and become successful again before Wenger eventually departs, as he is integral to the club, in it’s present stage of development, being able to recruit the players they need to do that.
Seems we’re all saying the same things at once. 😉
“We’re all in euphoria mode this week because of Ozil, but wait until the football starts again and there’ll be a good deal more balance.” N7
————–
I’m glad you said that, N7, cos the level of euphoria had me feeling a bit uneasy. We could not have made a better signing (no, not even Messi, imo, given the relative stages of their careers) but one player isn’t a team, and we should be cautious until we see how the rest mesh with him. If it works as we all hope we should be well in contention by Christmas and ready to attract the final pieces to our jigsaw in January (if we still need them). But let’s see how it goes and not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet.
“I think Arsenal need a new manager to take the team in a new direction and to correct the obvious failing of team structure and tactical approach.” David
————–
There would have been several times in sralex’s career when Manure fans would have said exactly the same thing, but they were always proved wrong. As you are.
Oskar
Well stated Oskar. Euphoria is a great thing but balance and perspective also have their place. 🙂
New contracts for Sagna, Rosicky and Mertesacker all well deserved. They have performed like rocks during the shaky times.
Trev @534 thanks.
H2H @535/536, my thoughts exactly on Manure.
Trev @541, aye.
Oskar @542, spot on.
8ball, new contracts for those three is definitely a step in the right direction.
If my Google translate can’t help me, I think this article says Bale has been debauched by Real Madrid and he is stressed out by the transfer. How the French take an amusing view of things. 😉
http://www.football365.fr/real-madrid-bale-a-stresse-1057239.shtml
Also, the same website has a prominent picture of Giroud in training with Les Bleus.
Having had the dubious pleasure of witnessing a number of limited Arsenal teams and players does allow for a more balanced view.
I therefore agree with N7, H2H, Norris, Otd.
Be grateful for what is there and what has been achieved. Criticism is valid and valuable, it allows for improvement, but acknowledge the big picture and the artistry that you have been privileged to see over the last few years (and some dross for balance).
And, if you do wish for a replacement manager one can look no further than Coleman who managed to miss his flight with the Welsh squad by apparently losing his passport. Which for the manger of an International sporting team demonstrates genius talent.
Off topic article but could be of interest to some of the American ‘holics and maybe others, about the biig game tomorrow night in Costa Rica.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130904/usa-costa-rica-world-cup-qualifying/
David @ 531,
Respectfully I’d like to offer the view that playing Santi on the left against Spurs proved to be a masterstroke, especially in the first half when Jack still kept his shorts dry.
This is because the interchange between Jack, Ramsey, Rosicky and Santi was almost impossible to defend against – they kept rotating positions in midfield seamlessly, and the understanding between them was briliant in my opinion. But when Flamini came on, understandably the midfield did not have the same cohesion and our ball retention sufferred in the second half.
Another testament to this was Martin Jol’s post game comment, when he essentially said that our midfield played really well and at times was impossible to defend against (even though Poldi was playing left against Fulham). And with the kind of speed, movement and cohesion we showed in both games, it’s not too incomprehensible to acknowledge that AW did a great job in building such teamplay.
Last year we sufferred a bit because new players needed time to adapt and learn each other’s playing styles. This year we have a better understanding between our players, augmented by the arrival of Ozil. Yes, like you said his arrival would not make our defending more organized, but for me defending was not a big issue last year, and hasn’t been so far this season (Taylor was a rather shit referee against Villa).
For 8 years AW managed to keep us in the top 4 with a negative net spend. Other teams have spent much more and finished below us – if AW doesn’t deserve to build a team with the money he’s helped acquire, who would? Moyes? Martinez? Klopp is happy at Bayern, and Pep is out of the question. RVP fucked us over last year – if it wasn’t for Wenger I struggle to think he can become the player he is today.
Your arguments regarding Coq and Frimmy is rather futile – we did not loan out Coq last year because we needed him as a backup. Imagine if Arteta had sustained a long term injury last season, what with Rosicky and Wilshere not fully fit and Ramsey still struggling to find form. Frimpong had bad luck with injuries, not Wenger’s fault is it?
I’m not saying AW was infallible during the last 8 years. I’m just saying he deserves our full support in building another title winning team. I respect your opinion, but I really find it hard to see eye to eye with your views.
Klopp is happy at Dortmund*, not Bayern obviously.
Positives I can see? Suarez won’t be facing a six match ban in January. If he stays in line between now and then. 😉
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/onthemove/id/13063?&cc=5901
Back-drinking furiously and LOTS of really interesting (differences of) opinion as ever.
Will continue on but just wanted to say…
FUCK ME GENTLY WITH A CHAINSAW…
WE’VE GOT MESUT ÖZIL!!!
🙂
May make you chuckle.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=tf0dlFSOAi4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dtf0dlFSOAi4%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player#
I really want Frimpong to make it and I feel like there is something of a player in the making there which is why the boss has kept him at the club and left Coquelin go off on loan.
Coquelin seems to have been agitating for a lot more play time for a while now and while I think that he may be slightly better than Frimpong at this point, I feel like that may have a part to play in the decision to loan him.
Frimpong should get better if he keeps his head down, works hard and learns from Arteta and Flamini I reckon.
As far as I’m concerned, the more real gooners in the squad the better. I’m fed up with players playing a blinder and then moving elsewhere.
And besides, Arsene wouldn’t want to get Jack upset by getting rid of one of his best friends, would he? 😀
Btw, thanks for the response regarding my question last night HK Gooner!
stevet…”don’t cry, we have lasagna for dinner…” classic!
this was the first one of those I saw…laughed so hard my coworkers thought i was nuts!
http://touch.dailymotion.com/video/x3pmmu_hitler-arsenal-3-spurs-1_fun
Steve T,
Crying with laughter here @552. 😆
There have been numerous versions of that clip but that has to be one of the best I must say.
Heh, great clip, Steve.
Heh! Great clip. Just forwarded it to a couple of LWC acquaintances.
I sent it to a few. For some very strange reason I have not had one response?????? I do hope they are all okay???
😀
We signed anyone yet?
Not yet, Lurky, we’re still 360 days away from OUR transfer window opening and closing.
😀 @ Steve T.
Fairy tales in football doesn’t get better than this, forget the fact that ‘Arry is a part of it and enjoy it http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/sep/05/harry-redknapp-played-fan-west-ham
Ship It
Panic! Outrage! The WAGs are back and journalists aren’t happy. No siree.
‘England’s players shipped in the WAGs on Thursday night as they prepared for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Moldova,’ writes Neil Ashton in the Daily Mail, with seemingly no shame in describing human beings as material goods. Stick ’em in a freight container, they’ll be alright.
‘The Grove Hotel in Watford played host to the wives and girlfriends of England’s players just hours after they arrived at their London base,’ continues Ashton.
‘The scenes were reminiscent of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when wives and girlfriends stayed en masse at the Brenners Park Hotel in Baden-Baden.’
Without wanting to dismiss what is certainly an important match against Moldova, Mediawatch would argue that the players spending time with their partners on Thursday is hardly the same as the distractions at the 2006 World Cup.
And the only thing that suggests ‘the scenes were reminiscent of the 2006 World Cup’ are the pictures of partying WAGs from 2006 that the Mail have used to accompany the story. Does Ashton’s following description of the evening paint a picture of poor preparation?
‘Although the women could not gain access to the annexe that specifically houses the England players, some were seen openly wandering around the hotel and the grounds with their respective partners.’
Openly wandering around. Oh, the shame. They should neither be seen or heard, ghastly creatures that they are.
‘Although they were not allowed to stay in the England players’ rooms, the FA conceded there was nothing to stop the WAGs booking their own rooms at the hotel,’ writes Ashton.
‘An FA spokesman said: “No-one has broken any rules.”‘
See, there isn’t a problem. You know there isn’t problem because you’ve written that there isn’t problem, so spare us the bulls**t.
Ban This Sick Filth
In the interest of balance, Mediawatch should add that the Daily Mirror are also in uproar over WAGs at the England hotel.
‘Some players were spotted holding hands with their partners at the hotel, which the FA claim that families are allowed to stay in ahead of the game,’ writes John Cross.
Psst, John. Come round the back of the bike shed and we’ll show you what else they get up to.
haha
Good stuff Cent.
As kids, my brother and I always used to bring our boots to Highbury….
You know, just in case. 😉
Lovely story Cent. How big a buzz was that? I have to say I have a bit of affection for West Ham mainly based on our mutual hatred od the LWCs and their great work in 2006 on the day of Lasagnagate!
I met a bloke at the station on that night when Highbury had closed. He was wearing a West Ham shirt and I thanked him for what his lads had done. “No problem mate-our pleasure. West Ham think Arsenal is a proper football club but we hate Tottnum as much as you do.”They had a Cup final the following week but they never held back. This story taps into the fanaticism of their support nicely.
David @487: mmmm you’re a Telegraph reader, perhaps your abrasiveness should come as no surprise.
Afternoon girls,
“You make me feel, Mesut Ozil, you make me feel, Mesut Ozil”.
New Emirates chant, care of Geezy Peas.
Getting my outfit on now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_p-gacgSns
Thanks, PAGooner. One day I will make it over to the Tollie…bet on it.
‘Cent – Jeebus, mate. Glad you’re ok. You have to be so very careful nowadays. Condolences on your mate’s passing.
On another note, I do not believe you all are still talking to “him.” Now off to give this Google a hangout.
BMBD
— fucked slowly with a chainsaw…hmm, I’ll pass ;), but still mesut.
H2H @565 – I still do mate! Actually for a while there and for the first time ever, I was beginning to feel quietly confident that I might get a game. Reckon I was only a pulled Giroud hamstring away. Luckily the crisis has passed.
Great link Cent.
H2H, heh, I’m sure I would have done something similar if I lived close to Highbury, might even sneak into the training and try and give the manger a reason or five to sign me.
Ttg, I’ve always seen West Ham as a decent club but I must say they’ve not impressed me much under Fat Sam.
Lonestar, thanks.
TaBS, cheers mate.
Heh tabs.
That “Giroud Hamstring away” could mean the return of Bendy, so I’d not hang the boots up quite yet mate. 😉
===
No fan of Wet Spam myself, a tearful day at Wembley in 1980 and dodging bricks and assorted projectiles a few years later, kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Heh tabs.
That “Giroud Hamstring away” could mean the return of Bendy, so I’d not hang the boots up quite yet mate. 😉
===
No fan of Wet Spam myself, a tearful day at Wembley in 1980 and dodging bricks and assorted projectiles a few years later, kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Like my vodka’s, my posts seem to have become doubles…
Don’t know the reason why.
*well for the posts part, that is.
H2H – Haha 🙂
I’m with Arseblogger, I too have umlaut fatigue.
Our shiny new player will be known as Mesut Ozil by me fom now on, and you philological pedants (cunning linguists) who care to take exception can do one.
Or two. 😀
bloody umlaut spöilspörts 😉
A bit late I realise, but sorry to hear your news Cent – all the best
Umlauts in, umlauts out, you do the Mesut Ozil, and you shake ’em all about …
Cent
Fat Sam is not a proper West Ham manager like Ron Greenwood or John Lyall. I don’t think he’s very popular there from what I can tell. In fact I don’t think he’s popular anywhere other than Bolton.
I also quite like Fulham,they’ve never done me any harm and I know some decent supporters there
In news from Macedonia v. Wales, AR is apparently playing and has not been injured yet. Knock on wood.
Heh, Snowman. 🙂
Just back drunk (hic) – Cent, I too am sorry to learn of your disastrous day, condolences and best wishes.
Meanwhile….
We’re öff to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard öf Özil….
Pedants röööööööl, zico.
Heh Czech Republic trailing to Armenia 0:1 ..
oh 1:1
TR7 with the goal aswell 😀 (just came back home from work and started watching)
Thanks, Snöwy.
Ttg, as a result of me been of a certain age I don’t know the West Ham managers you named above but I will take your word on them. I like Fulham too just as I like every other Premier League team that tries to play Football the “right” way.
*waves at zico*
Multiple hehs at all the özil chants – but none yet topping “ooooh, I wanna dance with Koscielny” which for some bonkers reason remains my favourite of recent years. Not heard enough I say.
Unlike ‘Liar liar’ of course 🙂
Thanks, Bath.
TR7 absolutely brilliant so far
Never really had a soft spot for or any kind of aliegence with another English team.
If it’s not the Arsenal then they are cunts.
Snowy – Haha 🙂
heh 1:2 for Armenia..time to watch Germany
Don’t know is this reliable. Appeared on my TL
“French TV just announce a possible injury for Giroud. He will miss the game versus Georgia tonight.”
Apparently only for a praceaution.
I have no love for West Ham. I fucking hate the cunts. They killed one of ours and justice has never been done. RIP John Dickinson.
Tabs, get your boots ready. 😉
It is confirmed.
Just a precaution for Giroud. He pulls out of the France squad today
Lurky: very unreliable: he starts
Apparently it was a kick from Evra.
Surely Wolfie is ahead of Tabs in the squad peckering order?
Marica just scored for Romany. He is still a free agent. As a backup striker, not bad at all.
Well in Lurky – a natural – you’ve just got yourself a squad number.
Thanks Bath. So, it appears Giroud will not be rested. I guess Arsene is fuming now.
H2H – Phew, I was getting oiled up and anything. 😉
Bath – Wolfie is suspended (indefinitely). Boot violations apparently. 🙂
Be careful with that oiled up, tabs.
Wolfie will be all over ya like a slip n slide, 😕
it’s worth noting that, in the france georgia game, evra hasn’t gotten in a decent cross in four or five tries. all blocked.
so, our sagna, who has gotten in a couple, is not the only one who gets his crosses wrong. “the best left back in the premiership” does, too.
Haha
Tümbleweed…
Finished 0-0 in Georgia.
I think you can blame Deschamps’ tactics with 2 defensive midfielders.
The game really changed when he pulled one out.
While Benzema wasn’t good, Gignac wasn’t much better either so I thought the other substitution should have come before and much earliere.
Late headers by Giroud and Sagna were fantastically saved by the ‘keeper.
Giroud played the whole game and looked fit enough.
WTF? Wilshire off due to injury?
Not watching, relying on espn game cast – which is dreadful btw.
Is taht right??
Channel surfing the internationals I caught quite a lot of the Germany game and watched LJW look a class apart for England. Interesting to hear the commentator in Munich say that Ozil is a typical Arsenal player. Would anyone have said that before Wenger? He has totally redefined the style and playing philosophy of our club so that the best attacking playmaker in the world is seen as a natural fit for the team.In fact LJW in his England role looks great pushed further forward. An
embarrassment of riches although Theo still flits in and out of matches
Homer- LJW was fine I think he was always going to play for an hour
H2H @ 590 Spot freakin’ on! Amen to that brother. My feeling for all other teams ranges from complete and utter contempt to mild disdain.
Who do I hate the least? Maybe Norwich, but then…Grant ‘Ten Chins’ Holt…the fattest, dive-iest cunt ever to pull on a football shirt. You see, so hard to decide.
Much easier to lump them together.
Thanks Ttg!
Interesting that the press now report that Arsene is planning to sign the entire German nation. To them he’s clearly now only got eyes for the Bundesliga. How long before they depict him wearing lederhosen with a jug in his hand and a Brunnhilde on his arm?
Oh, Bath,
Du bist schrecklich – und trotzdem mag ich dich ! 😉
Vee are all kummink to ze Tollie !
Oh, goodie gum droptz.
Ein halbes Guinness für mich, bitte. Viz umlauts, natürlich ! 😉
Bath
He’s being linked with Reus, Gundogan and Bender.
Great news. Exactly the sorts of players we should be after now. I gather that the first two have deals set to expire in the next couple of years, so could be real value next summer if we can beat others to them; I would expect there’ll be a proper que.
The notion of Walcott on one wing, Reus on the other and Ozil supplying the through balls is truly scary.
Was ?!
I am sinking, sorry, thinking of setting up ze London branch of ze German branch of ze Arsenal Supporters Klub.
I sought, sorry, thought zat your Wolfgang Smallballs vud be ze ideal Person to be ze leader of zis branch.
Vee could call it “Guns and Poses”.
Any soughts, sorry, thoughts ?
Ganz fantastisch, Helmut. Der Wolfgang wurd ein Zuperfuhrer sein.
Ich kann ihm sehen im Tollie mit lederhosen und ein Brunnhilde helm.
Heil der Obergruppenfuhrer Wolfgang Kleinballen!
Vorsprung durch Kleinballen!
Entschuldigung.
Schrecklich Grammatisch.
‘Ich kann ihm im Tollie mit lederhosen und ein Brunnhilde helm sehen.’
‘h – I’ve now seen your mail message.
We differ on the importance of presentation. Pity. Perhaps not, since without differences of opinion there would be no debate which would make life in general, and this bar in particular, a great deal less intersting.
CÖYG
Ve aar ze Arzenil
Gott im Himmel. Achtung Nederlander Schweinhund. Wir nehmen ihr Fahrraden.
Warum sprecht Mann hier schreklich Deutsch? Um Gott das will, es ist fast eine Woche. Genau!
Entschuldigen Sie….. 🙁
Bei mir ist es ganz egal Baff, ich habe nur gefragt.
Vot de phuq?
Was ist los?
Bitte gehen Sie weiter; nichts zu sehen hire.
RIP Keith Moon.
Patron Saint of the Fieelgood Foundation.
35 years. Fuckin schnell….
Scheiße!
…hier
Sad news indeed, Dr Z.
Dead for longer than he was alive, Zico. Sobering thought. But greatest rock drummer ever. Better than Baker, Bonham or Hiseman, to my mind. Copeland and Watts not even close. And that quintet comprises five of the best.
:), Govn’r @629
Bath@614, like Pep?
http://www.gq-magazin.de/mode-stil/modetrends/oktoberfest-2013-zieht-den-bayern-die-lederhosen-an
Joel Campbell scored for Costa Rica who won at home 3-1 against the United States.
Ned knows.
Transfer speculation now is usually complete rubbish but if it comes from the Mail,Express or Star, Sports Direct or Caught Offside I think you can treat it with absolute contempt.It would be interesting to work out who was the most inaccurate and misleading site but these would be high on the list.
I like a strong midfield as much as anybody but signing Bender and Gundogan on top of what we already have would not be a good use of our cash. its more interesting to hear we bid for Rooney and Benteke on Monday . That may be a better indication of where we might focus in January.
But let’s watch some footie now and forget about transfers for a few months. Did I mention we have Ozil to watch!!!!
Heh at my cousin Wolfgang Throughballs @619. 😀
And a few other hehs as well 😀
Hey, I vont a pizza the action. 😉
Pangloß @ 626,
spricht, und, schrecklich. 😉
Bathgooner,
Danke schön, Darling Danke schön. 😉
Sprechen zie Yiddish?
Eight !
Sorry, Nine !
Scheiße, Nein !
@643, hey ho.
😳
Have I backdrunk into Germany or somat? 😛
Sorry nothing new today, which was the intention.
Researching a new history post and praying the Sunday papers give us something to talk about tomorrow.
Take your time Guv, your posts are worth waiting for.
Your History Posts are worth their weight in literary gold Maestro 🙂
Hi all. I’ve been hibernating for 2 days to try and make next weekend arrive quicker – then my wife woke me up to tell me the mole under the lawn was active again. I’ve named him Gareth Bale because he spends so much time under the turf.
Anyway – sorry if this has already been posted:
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/the-madness-of-the-transfer-window
but if it doesn’t make you laugh out loud, you’re dead.
Back next weekend.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
‘Sound Bites’. Holic, enjoyed the google hangout. Please tell Andrew that either a Caracal or a Serval, can jump the highest VERTICALLY ( reference to him talking about Per 😉 ) Snir @ 446, signed up for his emails, good stuff. Cent, so sorry to hear about your mate, but grateful you are ok! 8ball, too many good links to single out 😉 dk@ 652 Thoroughly enjoyed that. Also enjoyed the fairytale story @563. And @ 637, heh! Now, must make myself presentable, good nite holics 🙂
Thanks abb 😉
Thanks, Nursie, goodnight.
A Cultured Left Foot had a good history post, ‘holic. Maybe you could do some research over there. 😉
First game as “manager” didn’t go as planned. My co-ed team of rather disinterested 4+year olds vs. some suspiciously older looking boys. The Dragons went down to defeat, but BLG scored a goal from open play (I cannot believe they expect 4 year olds to take corner kicks), and she played tough-as-nails defense (making several boys look silly in the process.
I fear the 10 game season will feel more like 20. Can I just borrow Ozil for a few games?
BMBD
Azarenka uses tip #1 in the psychological manual of how to soften up your opponent:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/24000851
… and Macedonian reports say these two fellows just wanted to “do the monkey” with him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24002771
*das tumbleweed*
So uh, how about that Madrid smear campaign on Özil?
Pretty fücked up if you ask me…
Madrid scüm. No wonder our boy wanted to leave.
” … memories of deals for the likes of Ball, Macdonald, Nicholas and Bergkamp …”
H – You have mail mate, at the virgin address.
Speaking of Mesut 😀 http://ww3.sinaimg.cn/mw690/9a52a42cjw1e4k9yjoqptg209e05qhdt.gif
A TaBS special >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>