The Best Of Gabriel On YouTube
Jan 28th, 2015 by 'holic
I heard you all. You were saying “I wish Arsene would sign a central defender”. There were doubters amongst you, I know. “He won’t open his piggy bank. Come back in Ten Years Time.”
Le Boss heard the debate and understood. “Sometimes it isn’t easy to get the deal done, but if I can find a player of super quality, I will buy him. Give me a little more time.”
All along the Arsenal manager had someone in mind, but his current club insisted he was Out of Reach. Then it dawned on him. That chat with Joel Campbell when the diminutive forward had said to him “If You Really Cared you would let me go and find regular football”.
The following morning Arsene suggested the deal. He was staggered to get agreement. “Dreams can come true.Β Thank you. That is a super super transaction.”
So eventually we arrive at today and Arsene greeting the new boy to Shenley. “I didn’t expect you to come here. I am very happy today Because of You.”
“Why?” asked the rugged looking Brazilian, “I Don’t Need the Sun to Shine. Now I’m here I’m Going Nowhere else. I am Gooner.”
A thought too for Joel Campbell, after all Nothing Hurts Like Goodbye, but he may return after Picking Up The Pieces of his career in Villarreal, particularly having signed a contract extension with us shortly before heading for Spain.
Last word with Arsene, I think. “We are delighted to have got Closure on our man. Things are a little bit on the Rise at Arsenal, I think you will agree.”
Welcome to Arsenal to the well-known spelling mistake, Gabriel. We wish you every success in your stay with us.
197 Responses to “The Best Of Gabriel On YouTube”
first?
Nice one.
Absolutely brilliant. Took a moment to clock what was going on and then laughed when I did.
Played, Gaffer.
Evening aj. π
Nice one GSD, methinks.
Cheers N7. I haven’t a scooby about the fella. Let those that do give you the lowdown. π
When did Wenger last sign a truly outstanding centre-back? Answer, Sol Campbell back in 2001 and any fan could have tipped him to turn out as well as he did. This chap may turn out to be very good, but as he cant get ahead of David Luis for Brazil, let us reserve judgment.
Heh! Quality stuff as ever H!
Cheers Esso.
David, I would argue Mertesacker and Koscielny, but yes, Sol was pretty decent value. π
Holic, both those two are good defenders but not outstanding; non of our rivals would seek to place them on their rosters I dare suggest. I will give Wenger credit though for blooding Bellerin. I can envisage him being the reason for Jenks being sold in the summer.
Koscielny.
None of us had heard of him. Relatively cheap. Now arguably the best centre half in the country.
Agree that we should reserve judgement on Gabriel, but on that basis unsure what relevance Wenger’s record on signing centre backs has. Let’s wait until we see the lad play.
COYG
Nice one, ‘Holic. You play to win. Always.
Gabriel Paulista may turn out to be what Luiz isn’t – the defensive specialist/no nonsense center half we’ve needed.
As long as Paulista is closer to the Kos end of the Koscielny-Squillaci spectrum we’ll be alright.
Touch of the Keown to the boy?
http://img.vavel.com/1234-3197594597.jpg
Every picture I’ve seen of this guy in action, he looks like that bitey thing from Hellraiser with no lips. If he scares the opposition as much as he scares me, we’ll only have to play one defender.
Top work H.
David: not sure Jenks will be sold,unless he himself wants to go. Debuchy is no spring chicken and was, I believe, always intended as a stop-gap signing to allow Jenks and Bellerin to develop for a year or two.
Bielik has been given the No 36 shirt. Will Paulista take the vacant No 5? Next lowest available number is No 29.
And here is a trivia question for you: Name the only five players to have worn the No 5 shirt for us in the Premier League.
Let us hope so H.
I have now read the post- cracking effort! I loved it. Dunno what put that idea in your head but it’s an absolute winner.
It would be lovely if Gabriel is too…
I missed Burns’ night this year but would be damned if I missed out on Haggis for another twelve months. I have just finished a truly enormous (and delicious) meal. Neeps, tatties and whiskey sauce the supporting cast. Mmmm.
How did your masterpiece go H?
Nice to see you back David. Didn’t think we were doing badly enough for you to post.
I completely disagree with you about Koscielny. A fit Koscielny is one of the best CBs in Europe. I think we also heard on here a few weeks ago that we had to all intents and purposes signed Sergio Ramos last summer. Not bad either.
Thanks for this Guv’nor. Witty stuff.
I was driving and heard the Totts concede two in a minute.
Prepare for them to lose any focus they have on the League now they are at Wembley. Oddly I think they might trouble Chavski
Percy Sledge sang that particular tune
Cheers, Guvnor. Gabrielle is new to me so this is all very interesting stuff. How you pieced together those song names and connected it to Gabriel demonstrates some truly idiosyncratic thinking, I must say. π
Nice one H. π
Because of you, people will come round to an understanding of unfamiliar music.
Good signing I hope. Reminds me of the young Keown. Just what we need.
Indeed young Bath. Looking forward to seeing him settle quickly.
You mean I’m mad, bt8bbgfg π
Thanks all for dropping by at this bit of insanity.
Heh! Nice one, Holic. π
Bit of a one-eyed view of the new man, if I may say so. π
Heh @ Trev!
GSD
As a man born on Burns Night I salute your adherence to tradition. It’s a good one too.
I’m becoming very amused by the websites claiming we are just about to sign the young defender who actually signed for Juventus today! A lot of charlatans rehash rubbish at this time of year. I also see that Sky are no longer leaving their reporters to freeze their cobs off outside various stadia. Certainly we never tie deals to well aster midnight. Apparently obscene chanting, signs and the waving of ‘ sex toys’ decided them it was a risk they couldn’t take. Quelle surprise .
Who do I wave my sex toys at now?
Heh @ Trev.
GSD, I am the king of haggis stacks. It would have been something else, but guests were unable to attend. I settled for runny Scotch eggs as a poor second best for just me. They have a rain check which I expect to be cashed in soon. I love haggis anytime. Cooking and eating. π
@27,
Have you tried Mrs ttg. ? π
Sniggers π
Heh ! Holic is Giant Haggistacks !
That’s one for the younger Holics to wrestle with. π
The Merkans must all be completely bewildered this evening.
Now you know how we feel when you all start waffling about the super bowl ! π
TTG. Are we paying less for him than Juve did?
Perhaps they are trying to beat the spuds record for greatest financial loss on a player in the shortest possible time.
TTG part two. Mourinho- seems appropriate to wave a massive cock at another one. Although I have made rather an assumption about what you’re armed with.
Boss- I don’t even know how you stack haggis. One day I’ll pick the brains of the king of them. Mmmm, brains…
Trev. Excellent!
Trev
Where do you think I got them from?
Did we see this news about Gareth Bale?
http://www.thesportbible.com/articles/gareth-bale-reveals-which-premier-league-club-he-supported-as-a-child
Heh ttg!
So if Sky are no longer reporting from outside the grounds, does it mean we have already seen Brian’s Swansong ? π
So, Chavs vs. Spuds in the COC(k)up finale at Wembley.
Re rooting interest, it’s like choosing between gonorrhea and syphilis.
Best result would be multitude of injuries and red cards.
By the way, if Spuds had not tied the match today at full time, is it true that they would have gone to extra time, even though they had an away goal in their aggregate? And that if there was no score in extra time, then the away goal rule kicks in? Who thought that up?
Hey Holic,
Just TUNED into read your post π Music to our ears π
Hope you had as much fun putting it together, as we did ‘listening’ in xx
Gab and I are going to be good buddies π
#KOS IS BOSS π
GSD, starter and pud,
Scots smoked salmon with lambs lettuce and cherry tomato
Brandy snap baskets with lemon cream, Scots raspberries and 80% choc drizzle.
Surrounding stacks of haggis, neeps, and tatties with fresh veg.
holic, you’re a caution. if i’d been drinking milk i’d’ve snorted it out of my nose at your love of giant haggistacks.
trev, being merkan (but not a merkin, thankfully, i’ll leave that to ttg to wave about on sky, freezing at midnight) that’s often the case, but being of scottish descent (walkers and grants on my mother’s side, from paisley and grantown-on-spey) burns night isn’t foreign. my grandmother could never get the haggis to the gates of my grandfather’s kitchen, but the neeps, tatties, whisky sauce (and whisky!) weren’t such an issue….
i think it’s why i love me a good glenfarclas much more than a laphroaig or highland park (though i’d never say no to any fine single malt).
welcome, gabriel, you’re music to our ears. π
BJ. I’ll be rooting for a natural disaster. Some sort of localised hurricane that carries the lot of them away and deposits them on a desert island with no chance of return. Away from the media and as the pressure of island life tells club allegiances begin to break down. They find themselves unsurprisingly unable to structure their new society and bicker about who should be in charge.
Eventually a massive Battle Royal style brawl ensues leaving all of them dead bar one man.
My money is on Ivanovich.
Meteor strike please.
And that is proper haggis gravy (whisky sauce) in the boat!
It’s the neeps I’m worried about. π
And abb, superb drink. So glad you tuned in. We are on the same wavelength I think. π
H. That all looks amazing. Nice one! My effort tonight came nowhere close for presentation. I have saved those photos on my phone for future reference.
I can tell you without a trace of shame I am nicking that haggis stack idea wholesale. Brilliant.
And the puds. Wow. Just wow.
They are a bit tasty. the lemon cream is just lemon curd and creme fraiche, and if you really have a sweet tooth a drop of runny honey. If you do that drizzle more chocolate. π
Oh thank you Sir Holic! π and yes, got the ‘wavelength’!
Ttg, A very unfashionably late ‘Happy Birthday’ to you, brother. xx
Like the way you chatted up our David π David, don’t be shy, just reply. See, it rhymes π
Gareth is a gooner β₯
Heh, abb. And heh-lo.
H- you had me at lemon curd.
Having been off the booze for about ten days (the world needed time to replenish it’s supply after my sister’s birthday a couple of weeks ago when we came close to drinking it all) I am going to blaspheme somewhat and open a bottle of irish single pot still.
Powers John’s Lane Release. Been waiting since Christmas to dig into this one. I hear it is awesome.
I am already a truly blessed man. But if that hurricane comes up trumps I think I will pass directly into nirvana…
One of the best I’ve ever drunk. And three sips has gone straight to my head. One glass will be hard to stop at but I have work early tomorrow. I’ll sure sleep well though.
So good I think even the Scots might let me get away with it. (Seeing as it isn’t actually Burns’ night.)
scruz- I’m blaming you. Planting ideas in my head…
I thought haggis stacks were part of Aiken Drum’s wardrobe?
*showing my age yet again*
Powers, mmm π
Hehe, Cynic. Hope all is well.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. You lot are the mutts. π
They are the mutts holic! β₯
All is far from well, H, but it’s just totally irrelevant stuff like not being a multi-millionaire and being upset by Spurs going to Wemberlee
That and the suspicion that a mouse has died in my shed. Or set up home in there. Probably a Lithuanian…
We had an earthquake this evening too.
Fun times.
scruz- I take it all back. You, sir, are a genius!
Cynic, the earthquake in California ? Hope no damage for you π
If you have a dog or cat, did they react, before the quake ?
never tried
plagiarism
not my style
and why imitate
the inimitable?
but I’ve come over all
he-man
and it’s a free country
.
.
just don’t tell anyone
and don’t expect
people to know their even BORN.
Broad tried it.
got retracted.
Let that be a lesson TTG.
nitey-nite
from one mutt
to amutta
I wish it was California, but it was in the middle of England. 3.8 on the Crappedpants Scale. No reaction from any animals as a warning either (cheers, I feed you and that’s the way you treat me?) but maybe it’s the earthquake that killed the mouse… π
Real Madrid are renaming their ground the Abou Diaby Stadium?
They’ve adapted their historic crest to remove the cross and now this. Classless cβ¦. lots.
@59 You are a charming chap, Cynic (smiles). In more ways, than one π
And cba, mama not ignoring you, plenty to go around (chuckles)
Barman, Tea for 3 please! Plenty of sugar, needed!
never planned it this way
guess neither does
the usual user
but the vertical script
infects your very virulent vertices,
got sucked,
no you dirty minded mutts,
into a vortice
hard to explain
non-linear thinking
like a flint sparking
THE TRUTH
perfectly permeates
and after years of abuse
you know you’ll be perfectly perfect
when tomorrow comes around
Powers now.
Power tomorrow.
s’la vie
as the (surrender) monkeys would have
you believe
I know one man
who would approve
of the irish foxy gentleman
(and his whiskers…)
but in his absence ABB
always remember that
there is only one cba
and he is not here.
my muse is away
his work on hold
misunderstood though loved all the same
but
I
will never apologise…
If I knew
how to post a link
I would be
a different man
watched one of the Doc’s archangel
videos and did not,
as instructed,
mute the sound.
the beginning reminded me of bush,
kate obviously.
feel like we are
running up that hill,
no swapping places though,
got our own swagger
don’t need anything from the rest
when we get to the
TOP
it will all be on us.
The mountain peak
does not care
which route you climbed…
but one club
can say
that ‘we did it
the Arsenal way.’
OMG GSD! I thought it was cba @58 (mouth agape)!
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, that’s what I say. Cheers to you both! π
After penalties
or
from 2-0 up to
almost
Queening it
got that Sunderland shirt
never a dull moment.
still failing
on the perm
mind you.
then again
Arsenal last forever
but nothing else is
Perm-ament.
flattery is homage
and homage is respect.
a million billion things
make this space what it is
and I have my moments
(attempts)
at real debate
but I am a fan.
not just of AW’s
boys
but of hol’s
boys and girls
idio(t)syncracries
make us who we are.
it is all we can be.
GOONERS!
thrilled this
cheap
imitation could be confused
with
the REAL thing
but differences are legion.
were I a
naughty fellow I
might take
a (fig) leaf from abb’s entendre book
and advise
the closing of that jaw.
mouths agape
are an invitation to
the unscrupulous.
N’est pas?
busy day for
Oskar,
I guess,
could rouse him-
Ozil’s great-
but better let the
old dog lie.
pot still,
mmmmmmmm,
still pot?
DEA
stay well away.
who are you?
scouse boss?
never mind what we are smoking
Suarez for Mad Mario?
crazy world.
says the mad man.
Here endeth the lesson (bollocks).
Back to square one.
I blame scruz entirely…
GSD, you’ve got work in the morning, god love you xx
To sorta quote a balotelli…”why is it always my fault?” π gsd. Enjoy my bad influence!
Lemon curd or lemon cream
Must be a good thing either way. π
GSD. More powers to ye. π
*And that’s what friends are for xx
Nite you lovelies β₯
Bt, lemon curd with Devon cream, even better!
and goodnight nursie, π
Cynic.
Re: Gabriel you are right. He is not somebody who would be optimal to meet late at night in a dark alley. π
Re: The England earthquake. At the South Wonston Social Club they apparently only felt 2.8 on the Crappedpants Scale, but this bartenderess must have made them feel a bit better. Or bitter, perhaps.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-31009707
Haggis! Forgotten how good it is/was. When I shared the flat with Big Mathers and the other boys from Musselborough back in the day, one of them would always bring a Haggis back after a trip ‘up the road’.
This is fun!
If I might borrow a well-known phrase.
*boilk*
Abb- many thanks. I may need a permanent nurse soon.
Scuz- I have never waved a Merkin at the Sky cameras. That was a munchkin but it is no way to refer to Santi Cazorla.
Cynic- if they do play in the Abou Diaby stadium it will never be fit for play!
Has anyone ever seen GSD and CBA in the same room? Are they alter egos!
Four more days to Taylorgate! Live on TV his capacity for incompetence will know no bounds
Long term reader, first time poster.
NorthBankNed @16, the trivia was lost under a mound of haggis it seems.
Linighan, Bould, Keown, Toure, Vermaelen?
Thanks for hosting a brilliant site Holic. Best bar in the nation.
I’ll echo 81@PMI Gooner
Best bar in the nation. Holic is tops!
Enjoyed all the brilliant postings immensely.
π
Ttg,
I think – can’t honestly remember now – I mentioned a few days ago that my fear is that Anthony Taylor will be so determined to show that he is unbowed by the criticism he got last time he refereed this fixture, that he will give Villa everything all over again.
We need at least one extra goal to protect ourselves from his random inconsistency – sorry, that should have read, raging incompetence.
Damn spill chucker, eh ? π
GSD,
You’d better make yourself scarce when “cba” gets back in here ! π
* please note that ” “s were used only for purposes of clarification, as “cba” has no capital letters with which to identify himself *
Honest. π
Trev, you echo my fears for Anthony Taylor exactly. Even some Stoke fans were embarrassed after his display at the Britannia, that’s how fucking atrocious he was.
Yet another reason not to drive a car in the “Good Ol’ U.S.A.”:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jan/29/us-plan-track-car-drivers-documents
Not sure if this also applies to horse-drawn hay wagons or other wheeled carts. So far as I know, horses are not required to wear license plates in most states.
Political rant over, for the time being.
Paulista will be a very shrewd signing. He has all the traits of being an excellent fit for us and i do not see him taking to much time to adapt.
Villa aint easy, i mean yes they havent scored in ages but they are not as bad as they are made out to be. Should be an interesting game sunday. Also if city can beat chelshit sat, it will be an interesting weekend after all.
Now Alexis be a good boy and score a hattrick will you. I need you to win the player of the season award boy.
The question of just how lucrative the frozen food business is in Thailand will soon be played out at Sheffield Wednesday, it seems:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31040959
And here we go …
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150129/team-news-pre-aston-villa-updates
“The squad will be exactly the same as last Sunday. The only uncertainty we have is Alexis Sanchez who has a hamstring concern, and that will be decided on Saturday. He might be out for Sunday.”
Hopefully he is back before we pay the swamp dwellers a visit…
Another worry is Ox not recovering yet from the groin strain. I thought he was getting better and better and was hoping for a scintillating run of performances towards the end of the season against tiring defenses.
Spot on Trev @83. Chilled by the memory.
Injuries ?
Not another Ox tale ……… just souper !
π
@ 91
You can always go for the jerk
Chicken or not
Better than a boudin noir?
Evidement.
Trev, it’s a con some other guy got injured.
A broth, er.
Good Thursday Peeps π
Ttg @ 80 In need of a nurse π Hope it is nothing more than post holiday blues. Too much ‘reality’, too soon! Feel better, lad.
8ball, Interesting links. @88, that company is purported to be the largest processor of frozen seafood in the world. State Dept. has alleged Human Rights Violations, which said company, denies. Sighs.
Alexis injured. Boy, we didn’t see that coming! (rotation is a player’s best friend).
BB, I’ll echo what you and PMI gooner, proclaimed! π
Dr Faustus, real shame about AOC, you’re right, he was building up momentum…
Want to end on a happy note. Oh, that’s right, Gab and I are best buddies! Sorry Samir π
Heh@ a media conspiracy against Chavski. Borinho could never cope with the heat in the Arsenal kitchen. Specialist in petulance. π
Just Mourinho doing an Allardyce.
Claim unfair treatment to stop fair treatment being handed out.
Bit transparent, JosΓ©, even to the dimmest of your buddies at the FA.
Like the consomme, bath. π
Whips one across the six yard box ……………
Bang
Slides towards Trev on his side in a HFB-like auto-tribute whilst lifting free arm in a salute towards Trev for his impeccable pass. :0)
Consomme bath? Sounds delicious. But I’d want to be clean before I got into that.
Veloute and potage up next- but I can’t think of anything for either. Trev, over to you.
Also, I put AOC in my fantasy football team yesterday. Now we find out he is injured. Cause and effect?
Bath. Quite a celebration. π
@92. What could be better than a boudoir noir?
Spill chucker at it again. Boudoir = Boudin
Although a boudoir noir could also be very interesting, I am sure. π
8ball- you should have seen what spill chucked at me when I put in consomme…
GSD. Let me guess. Something prehistoric?
gsd@106, i read “get in costume” for “put in consomme”…my own personal spill chucker. it did make me laugh…
Gotta laugh at Winchester’s ‘earthquake’. 2.9? Pfft, we have those daily … three in the last few hours in fact … http://geonet.org.nz/quakes/region/wellington/felt … wait till you get quakes in the mid 6+, as we have had several of in recent years.
Just one reason I’m seriously considering returning to England to die … eventually. That and to regularly attend gunner’s matches.
Γskar
Not such a busy day, GSD (#68), just a lazy one.
I agree, Γzilla is a very good player (if not quite a ‘great’ one). I just hope I live to see him bring his very goodness to Arsenal on a regular basis, not just on rare occasions as he has to date.
Γskar
8ball- I wish I had thought of something prehistoric. That would have been better. I got nothing though…
Scruz- ‘get in costume’ is also much better!
The (suitably upstaged) answer was ‘condom me’. Not at all what you need when you are thinking about soup- you just want something hot to put in your…
*gets coat*
Trev
Not only will Taylor try to bugger us he will bugger us anyway cos he’s incompetent. At the end of the Villa match last year I ( wrongly) blamed Wenger completely for the summer chaos . One of the mates I went with saw me outside and immediately said that the game was irrelevant as a guide to our fortunes because we had been refereed out of it. As his words proved correct as the season unfolded I reflected that only once before had I seen a game where a referee had so much influence on the result, in the sense that had it been refereed competently the result would have been quite different. That was in 2001 when Poll refer our game v Newcastle at home and Henry lost it at the end of the game.
He sent off Parlour for a trifling offence at a time when Arsenal were outclassing Newcastle. After they equalised he sent off Bellamy but then gave them a penalty for a superb saving tackle from Campbell on Shearer. He awarded this from forty yards behind without reference to the assistant ref. he was an egomaniac who thought people went to see him.
I sound like the nutters who analyse refs on Untold but that was so unjust as was Taylor ‘s intervention last year. Ever since that day I have watched Taylor ref and he is useless. Trepidation mounts.
gsd, i think you put the last “in” there by mistake *before* the final “your”…if you’re talkin’ that way, anyway.
that’s a different kettle of costume, by the way π
PMI Gooner@81: Thanks for noticing, and yes, you are correct. Andy Linighan, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Kolo TourΓ©, Thomas Vermaelen are the only five to have worn the No 5 shirt for us in the Premiership.
If you would like to go for bonus points:
Whose shirt number did Aaron Ramsey take over?
If you watch a referee like Howard Webb run a game, however bad he may have been towards us and probably several other teams too, he at least looks like he is in charge.
Of the current crop the one who looks like he has the most confidence in his own ability, in my opinion, is Mark Clattenberg. Again, I’m not saying I particularly like him but he does at least look like he has the courage of his convictions.
Most of the others betray by their body language the idea that they are nervous and unsure of what they are doing.
The most obvious of these is Anthony Taylor who generally scuttles about looking quite bewildered.
Even he knows he “don’t know what he’s doing”.
Sorry, no more soup puns from me – I can’t be brothered π
Ned,
I think the pre Ramsey No. 16 was the Flamster. Can’t remember any others although I wondered about Squillaci to begin with ?
scruz- big smiley face!
Trev- I think Michael Oliver also looks like he truly believes he is doing a good job, making all the right calls and generally showing us all how it’s done.
However, conviction in awful decisions is no better than wishy-washy um, um, ah performances in my eyes. Possibly worse as many people don’t notice how bad the decisions are if the ref looks confident in what he is doing. Webb made a career out of the fact that he looked like he was controlling the game.
Thats right – Flamini.
And previous No 5’s Ned were Young, O’Leary and McLintock. Before that I think I’d have to defer to some of the more senior members.
Trev,
Expect to see anyone else in before the Window closes?
Joe,
Probably not now. Schneiderlin seems to be the one AW wants but it seems he won’t be going anywhere before the summer.
The William Carvalho thing seems to have gone very quiet and, seeing as his ownership issues are supposed to have been resolved, you would think it would have happened if it was going to.
I think having got Paulista, AW will now gamble again on the other centre backs and defensive midfielders staying fit enough to get to the end of the season. Big responsibility, and opportunity, for Coquelin, but with organisation like that against Man City, maybe he can do it.
Of course, there’s always a possible return for Kallstrom ……….. π
GSD,
The trouble with referees who don’t even look confident in what they’re doing is that games tend to get out of hand.
It’s how the Stokes and over physical sides get away with the rotational fouling of our creative players. They spot the uncertainty in the referees and go for it.
A strong looking referee is not always right, of course, but at least the games don’t finish up being run by the most bullying players.
Trev,
Yeah – agree completely in relation to Schneiderlinn. I think the interest is very real but it won’t happen until the summer.
What are thoughts on a Centre Forward? I think we’re in the market for a top class player (ala Cavani) as well.
Also think that Walcott is going to find it very difficult to make a place in this team.
Gabriel is more than enough AW business for one window. So that will be that, imo. Unless some random becomes available for a song come midnight on the last day (or even later).
Γskar
Theo will always be one of the first picked, Joe, so long as he is fit.
Γskar
Fair enough Trev. I can see the sense in that.
Though it’s a bit like discussing whether we’d prefer to burn our mouths on hot coffee or bang a hammer into our thumbs…
Couldn’t we just avoid both?
I don’t think we will sign anyone else. Schez detain (schneiderlin) in summer sounds plausible.
Any strikers taking your fancy Joe?
Think I might start leaving all the spill chucks in. Some of ’em are barmy.
“Theo will always be one of the first picked, Joe, so long as he is fit.”
I’m going have a pint with you on that Oscar.
I think Theo will be marginalised at best and possibly even sold in the summer!
GSD,
Cavani at the right price.
Cavalier at the right price? Yes please!
Joe,
Not sure about a centre forward.
Not saying I wouldn’t like an absolute top-notcher but I do think Giroud suits our style of play well, and is very useful defensively, and I think AW will give a fit Welbeck an opportunity first.
Agree that Theo will have a fight on his hands to displace The Ox and, in the longer term, a fit Gnabry.
Doesn’t it just drive you mad though that every thought on our players is conditional on them possibly not being fit ?
I think Theo has exceptional pace and finishing. Can’t see AW letting him go until he has replaced him with a similar type. I think theo has it in him to score a lot of goals if he stays fit. Does he do enough else? Dunno. But TR7, Ozil and Santi can play him in all day and he’s our best finisher now Poldi has left. An effective player and a great option in the right games.
Messi rates him too!
Cross posted with Trev there.
Too right- if any of ’em stay fit it’ll be a bloody miracle.
I think I have sussed it.
The successor to the throne. Studying from the master for all these years. Drinking in the culture of the club.
A massive diversionary masterstroke. We’re all looking one way but they’ve played us like a fiddle.
Our next manager will be- Abou Diaby!
It will be interesting, and potentially extremely expensive, to see what happens with all of our “young” British players, not just Theo Walcott.
Gibbs, Walcott, The Ox, Ramsey and Wilshere are all perennially and repeatedly injured. If we are seriously going to remain in the Champipns League and actually have any chance of winning it, that situation is going to have to change.
You can’t mount a serious challenge to win the two toughest prizes in football with at least 25% of your squad constantly unavailable.
AW clearly hoped to build a side around that young British core but it is looking increasingly unlikely to happen. To me anyway.
Trev,
I rate Giroud very highly and I rate Welbz even more so.
However, neither possess the finishing ability to make a difference at the very highest level. Of course, players like that are very hard to find – but I do think its one of two gaps in the current set up (the second being Schneiderlinn).
I have for a long time believed that a player like Theo would have to be eventually marginalised on this panel if we were to really challenge and progress as a team. This season has brought a sea of change. I believe that Oxlade, Welbz, Sanchez and TR7 are all ahead of him at present for a position on the flanks and thats before we see how Gnabry fairs after his injury. He is to my mind, an English version of Podolski. He provides certain positives in his finishing abilities but his overall workrate and decision making are a serious cause for concern. So too will be his contractual demands I fear.
You last point strikes a very pungent note. At the start of this season we all would have thought that Ozil / Jack and Rambo were the basis of our midfield. That can not longer be true because all of those players (along with Diaby) just cannot be relied upon to deliver consistently. They can’t stay fit! You just cannot be really successful at this level unless your consistent. And that means sustained fitness throughout the season. Which is why, I think, players like Sissoko are now being looked at seriously. This year has been a reality check for our “midfield”.
Danny and Ox simply don’t compare with Theo at his best, Joe. Ox is a more useful defender and Danny creates occasional chances on the wing, but neither has Theo’s pace or striking ability. Obviously I’m looking back a while to when he was physically fit and match fit, but he’s already shown signs of it in his brief come-back after a year out. Let’s give him time, please.
But I have to agree with Trev regarding the wisdom of continuing with our injury prone regulars (I have to agree cos I’ve said as much myself on several occasions π ). But what is AW to do? Sell them and start over? What would they fetch compared to what he’d have to pay? Even if he wanted to he couldn’t build another youth-based team in the time left to him, and neither could he afford ‘ready-mades’.
I imagine AW is hell bent on winning something big before he retires and I don’t see him taking oily mafia money as a short-cut. So he has to do it with what he has now, plus a new player or two, in the next 2 or 3 years.
As for Cavani I don’t see us in that market any more, even if we ever were. Especially not after Falcao’s inglorious season at Manure. Or Balotelli’s at Poo.
Γskar
Trev@117: Correct. Flamini wore the No 16 shirt for four season. Giovanni van Bronckhorst had it before him.
Joe@119: Young, OβLeary and McLintock were No 5s all but pre-Prem, which was the qualification in the original question.
Here is a puzzler for bonus, bonus points:
How could you pair off Dennis Bergkamp, Martin Keown, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord so they all equal another member of the Invincibles, and who is it?
Bell’s out. Engerland chasing 201 to play the convicts on Sunday.
North Bank Ned @ 137
Frankenstein would take Bergkamp’s head and Keown’s legs, Ljungberg’s left arm and Pires’ right, with Wiltord’s body and Viera’s heart to create…..Ray Parlour!
Ned, I’m guessing Fabregas at No 15 before he became No 4 ?
Or, as Paddy was still here, Cesc was further up the order so PMI is probably right with the Romford Pele.
Morning Trev, always enjoy your posts.
I think both Keown and Wiltord moved on the year Fabregas switched the number 57 for the number 15.
A question for the monks at Castle Ned: Did Fabregas take the number 4 straight from Viera when he left, or was there a year that it was vacant?
I think someone should take the keys of the Castle and lock Ned, Faustus and PMI in the cellar to discuss mathematical & statistical riddles et cetera. Members at the bar can view discussions via a live feed to the dungeon and discuss proceedings over some drinks and gamble accordingly. I already have a tenner on Faustus. His “sesquipedalian loquaciousness” gives him an edge I feel.
Joe. Great plan.
cba as arbiter please.
PMI@139. Heh.
Thanks PMI, much appreciated.
Re: Ned @137. Numerically thinking, which is apparently the only way the monks do think, π the answer must be Ray Parlour 15. You pair off these players and add up their uniform numbers:
Dennis Bergkamp 10, Martin Keown 5,
Freddie Ljungberg 8, Robert Pires 7,
Patrick Vieira 4 and Sylvain Wiltord 11.
I would add Jens Lehmann 1 and Thierry Henry 14; and Ashley Cole 3 and Lauren 12 to the equation, and the monks work would be complete. π
Costa cheat has been banned.
3 matches for a stamp. How many for being ugly?
Trev, I don’t enjoy your posts. π
Costa banned, time to hear mou and his whining, sick retard. He will play cuadrado who i think is gervinho version 2.
Paulista will play sunday i am sure even though Wenger may say same team as the city one. Just a gut feeling. Alexis hamstring and Ox injury leaves a sour taste in the mouth but we should have enough to beat villa.
Now how about wishing city to win tomorrow just to rub it on mou’s face. City winning is better for football and i cannot believe i have to end up saying this.
Zico, that’s cos you can’t understand them. π
Banned the dirty bugger! Good news indeed!
Am also of the opinion that Paulista will play, probably in place of Koscielny whom i think is still nursing a long term injury, his achilles may still be troubling him. A proper rest should sort it out!
Alexis finally broke π
I am sad …. :~~~
Blasphemy! We make break down a lot, but we are GOONERS!!!
Sincerely yours,
Kieran
Theo
Alex
Aaron
Jack
no cranes
.
R.I.P.
13
72
.
AW on transfers-
βIf I wake up in the morning and somebodyβs stood in front of my door who is an exceptional player, I will open the door. It looks very unlikely now. I can give you my address if you want!β
Gotta love it!
Nice ones NBN.
As Joe mentioned my name in your hallowed company, let me make my humble contribution:
Szczensy ? Gibbs ? Arteta No-one ? Coquelin
If Arsene is actually planning to play Gabriel this weekend, wouldn’t he be saying his lack of English could cost the other team goals?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31054979
For instance, he might say “Eu te mato se voce tira.” (In a bad facsimile of Portuguese, “I will kill you if you shoot.”) Which theoretically could work. Maybe along with one of his fearsome glares. π
50 years
bbc
how very , wwII invoking , far away dignified of you
seems like another age
.
7 years on
.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vkOpgr1ElXg
.
remembrance has been thrown around recently
.
remember
ALL
Faustus – harmless play acting on my part my friend.
I thoroughly enjoy your contributions at times – which is why I remember them so well π
Puzzlers all: Romford Pele it was. bt8b nailed it @147.
PMI@142: The no 4 shirt was left fallow for 2005-06, as were the no 5 and 6 shirts, in their case for the second successive season.
Joe@143: with all due respect to Dr F β for whom I do have the utmost respect β the monks would have him little bit on toast, especially if playing in their home dungeon. Itβs a fortress. π
Dr F@155: I suspect a trick question. Szczesny + Arteta + Gibbs = Le Coq + no one to the power of no one but only if you use 2011-12 shirt numbers.
Gabriel Paulista.
From dusk till dawn…but without the dawn.
Long live The Killer!
Thanks Joe & NBN.
Think Fibonacci …
Heh Ned!
I was miffed by your original Puzzle because I managed to get 4 out of the 5 PL No 5’s and could even remember three of the one’s prior to the PL – but Linighan escaped me. I guess I’ll come to terms with it in time π
Heh Joe. It only gets worse. Believe me. π
Nice one, Dr F. Have a Pleguezuelo on me.
cba, very sad but watched the whole film xx
NBN @ 163: Thanks. π I see that the young Julio is really allocated #55 in the academy squad as per Arsenal web-site (and the others too with suitably high numbers), but whenever I see highlights of the youth team they wear more memorable numbers. Why is that? Are these official academy squad numbers are just in case they have to jump in to the first team squad?
Anyone else for the little puzzle @155…clue has already been given. π
Sad news for Holics of a certain age.
Vic Groves has passed away. He was in the first Arsenal team I ever saw. Nice man apparently.Uncle of Perry.
Room for Poldoski in the sequence and possibly a shallow diagonal run from Cygan in between the triangles we play, Dr F?
Not sure of the exact answer to your shirt numbering question. It might be something to so with the fact that a club can have an infinite number of B list players (i.e. youngsters) in its Champions League squad and I suppose their numbers can’t be the same as any of those used by the 25 permitted A list players, so they get pushed to higher numbers. Similarly the Premier League club defines the first team squad to be 25 players but a club has to submit numbers for “any Under 21 Players who in the Clubβs reasonable opinion will play in a significant number of League Matches.” As an aside the form used by the Premier League for clubs to list the names of their squad is set out with numbers one to 46. A club’s Academy appears to be considered a separate playing entity from its first-team squad, so I guess you ar right that it can have its own set of shirt numbers. Do Academy players even get their own shirt numbers until they sign pro terms?
Just wondering, would you care to come into my Parlour?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_poHA8KZt0
I promise a devastatingly good time. π
Debauchy – Gabriel – Chambers.
Its only with the persuasion of Whisky that I’m thinking “Fibonacci”. For a moment there I thought we were signing some Italian striker π
ttg
I too remember Vic Groves from when I first went to Highbury. I also remember cutting out full page colour photos from Charlie Buchan’s Football Monthly of Vic, Derek Tapscott and Danny Clapton and sticking them on my bedroom wardrobe door.Happy if unsuccessful days.
RIP Vic.
Right Joe! π
Prolific Fibonacci the striker flanked by two electrifying wingers in Marconi and Volta, all induced into radioactive brilliance by some creative visions from the no.10 Fermi. π
NBN @ 167: Lucas Numbers? Lucas(n) = Fibonacci (n+2) – Fibonacci (n-2)? That is all I could think of…Cygan appears in such a sequence.
@171 — And of course the polymath genius of Leondardo to manage …
Cracking goals from Parlour, 8ball (#168). My all-time favourite Arsenal player, when you discount the obvious Bergkamp and Henry.
Note the distance most were scored from, something today’s players rarely even attempt let alone achieve, except Rambo. Parlour and Rambo have a similar buccaneering nature about their play, imo.
Γskar
Sorry this is a bit of a rant. Apologies in advance.
Re: the British Core, its pretty astounding to me that people demand 100% loyalty from their footballers and will absolutely massacre them should they leave – but then they themselves are so ready to easily let them go, lose faith or question them at the first sign of difficulty and start making wish lists of their own. In my opinion it works both ways.
Before the calendar year 2014 Ramsey had that infamous leg break and that was pretty much it in terms of injuries…apart from some minor niggles that any footballer faces he was good to go. In 2013 from January till December he was played in almost every single game. There was bound to be a knock on effect from that. Admittedly 2014 was a bad year in terms of injury for him, he had two hamstring issues and that thigh issue, but given that he was our player of the season last year I find it odd that people are already counting him out as ‘injury prone’ when he really stepped in through the clutch and played game in and out during our run in to finish 4th in the spring of 2013 then spearheaded us to the top of the league in the fall.
Ox’s LCL injury last season was not down to his injury proneness because that was one of those freak injuries that happen – IMHO this season he’s been good and has steadily improved but is now starting to reel from the effects of playing so much in the first half of the season with this groin injury. Still developing really well in my mind and in my opinion will continue to do so.
Theo, Jack and Gibbo I’ll concede as players who tend to be injury prone, especially the latter two. But perhaps with some management from Shad their records will improve.
Then for those knocking Ozil, he has had essentially a clean slate in terms of injuries before joining Arsenal – again, a few minor niggles here and there but nothing serious. He’s had two serious injuries since joining us… make of that what you will but I don’t really intend to, but again its been a bad year to 15 months for him on the injury front but for me that time frame does not make an ‘injury prone’ player when you look at the overall span of his career thus far.
Given that we’ve got some real performers at the moment in our form players in Cazorla, Sanchez and Rosicky, it sometimes dumbfounds me how those guys must be praised but only at the expense of others on our team who are returning from injury and have proven time and again their worth to the team.
So yes, fine, pine for the Schinerdlin’s (him I want) and Sissoko’s (him not so much) of the world while ignoring or writing off what we have, that’s fine – a ‘midfield reality check’ as some have called it. We as fan’s always want what’s best for our team, but then do not for a second moan when our current crop – one of the most talented of the Emirates era I reckon – leave us for other pastures.
Sign him up! : http://i.imgur.com/UP76302.gifv
π
Nice “rant”, Sarah. I’m with you all the way.
Pascal Cygan’s triangle, Dr. F.
I’ll get my coat…
Hello. My balls are mighty!
Excellent post Sarah- I agree thoroughly.
Good to see you Cent. I imagine your are busy but hope you are well!
Morning all. How mighty are your balls.
Great pat SarahJ. Agree 100%.
Here’s to a Shitteh victory today over an embittered and twisty bunch of Chavs. A few reds wouldn’t go amiss either. Plus there may be a few more surprises in our favour. Here’s hoping.
TTG Cheers for news about Uncle Vic. Had n’t heard it elsewhere. Very sad, but time waits for no man and all that.
Cuadrado? .. In all seriousness…how could those massive #$@$ afford another 20+M addition??
Does financial fair play only apply to spanish clubs??! or some brilliant creative accounting is in play..
Do them one city.. !
Esso- .com have a short piece noting the club’s sadness at Vic Groves passing.
Never saw him or really knew much of him but if he was anything like his nephew (or the other way round) then I’m sure he was a good man and good servant for the club.
RIP
Delia/ Esso/ GSD- My dear departed Dad played against a number of the Groves family when he was playing after the war. Several of the family worked at Billingsgate. One of their number ( Bunny?)was a senior amateur player at Walthamstow Avenue. Vic was a young lad in this game and I think we signed him from Leyton Orient along I think with Stan Charlton. He was an old fashioned inside forward and was the occupant of the midfield role before Frank McLintock joined us. From my very faint memories I recall he was very popular with the crowd, as a genuine and skilful player. Arsenal weren’t a great team then but he and Jimmy Bloomfield were very decent performers in the midfield role together with Tommy Docherty .
He went into the insurance industry after retiring and did well I believe. I met several people who knew him and they spoke extraordinarily well of him. I think he remained close to the club for the rest of his life.
Thankyou TTG. Much appreciated.
There hasn’t been much discussion in the bar recently about the very poor results at U18 level this season. They have not won since September and were thrashed 5-0 by West Ham today although they did rest several players ahead of the Youth Cup tie on Monday. They have a new Dutch coach who was appointed by the Academy Director, Andreas Jonker, but results have been consistently poor. The philosophy at the club is to promote players early to stretch them but I understand questions are being asked about some of the imports and the quality (and style) of play.
certainly the optimism felt at the appointment of a new Academy Director seems to be evaporating fast.
Another must win match for us if we are to keep pace with most all of our rivals they all won today with the final match yet to come..!
Keeping fingers crossed Paulista will be ready to go tomorrow! Kos needs a rest to fully recover from his niggling injuries.
Prediction for today’s game:
Chelsea 0 Man City 0
Could be wrong, it’s happened before now. π
SarahJ
From the bottom of my β₯, thank you!!!
And our players, are not mere chattel. AW know which ones are in transition, before we do. No wonder so many lads want to play for him. He is loyal and a gentleman.
Sometimes I think we carry on like Chelsea fans … buy this and that. Unload him, cause he’s past his prime. News Flash, players realize this also but it doesn’t diminish their zeal to play. It’s a process that must be managed with some sensitivity and compassion.
Holic, hope you’re feeling better!
Hear! Hear! @Abb
π
Welcome Sarah, and thank you.
Thank you abb. bug has moved to my chest so I am fine again standing up. Tonight’s sleep will reveal all. Last night I rattled like an old steam engine. π
This won’t be popular but Thierry Henry is dreadful on Sky.
I’m fine thank you, GSD., trust all is well with you & yours mate.
Fortunately yes Cent. All good. And even our beloved Arsenal are winning. Long may it last!
Hope you are feeling better right quick maestro. π
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>