Guest Post – North Bank Ned Looks Back A Century
Jun 26th, 2015 by 'holic
Once again my thanks to one of ours, North Bank Ned, for a guest piece on something of an overlooked anniversary. A hundred years ago our last season outside the top flight had drawn to a close, and the first enforced interruption of the Football League by a world conflict had begun. Ned looks at that last match and what happened to some of the Gunners thereafter. Thank you Ned, for a wonderful reflection.
If we feel bereft of league football during its summer break, feel a moment of sympathy for Gooners of a century ago. Though they didn’t know it at the time, there would be no competitive games for four years. The Football League would be suspended for the rest of the duration of World War One, graver matters were to hand than football.
The unbeknownst last game had been played on April 24th, 1915. Playing on even that long after the outbreak of hostilities had been controversial. The Second Battle of Ypres, which saw the first use of poison gas, had started two days before that game. The ill-fated Allied landing at Gallipoli was the day after. The public was fast losing any appetite for men in shorts kicking a ball for money.
London had seen the first German Zeppelin attacks by then but at Highbury centre-forward-turned-inside-right-for-the-day Harry King scored four as The Arsenal put Nottingham Forest to the sword 7-0. Contemporary reports suggest the total could have run into double figures. A series of ‘magnificent’ saves by Forest keeper Albert Iremonger, the 6’5’’ brother of England Test cricketer, James, and reckoned to be the finest keeper in the country, kept the score down to 2-0 at the half.
Bob Benson, hard-tackling full back and occasional centre forward (he was playing there against Forest with King switching position in an experimental line-up), scored a brace. Jock Rutherford, playing in his regular position of outside right, got the other goal. Benson was also the team’s penalty taker. His style was unique. Another member of the team would place the ball on the spot while Benson jogged up the pitch from his customary full back’s position. He would pick up the pace as he approached the ball, arriving at full speed to blast it in the direction of the net without breaking stride. It is said that he had developed the technique at his previous club, Sheffield United. There, he reputedly sprinted the whole way.
The season had gone a bit pear-shaped in February and March. We lost seven of our final 13 league games (end of season collapse? surely not!) However, the size of the win over Forest lifted us to a final position of fifth on goal difference. Birmingham and Hull City also ended up on 43 points, seven off promotion. The original table listed The Arsenal as sixth. Remarkably, it wasn’t until the 1980 that a mistake in the official goal average calculation was spotted and the record set straight.
King played only one season for us, but what a prolific season. He hit 26 goals in 37 league games (despite a nine-game drought before the Forest game) and another three in two FA Cup ties. Those 29 goals set a club record for the most goals in a season. They included the first hat-trick scored at Highbury (against Grimsby) and another four-goal haul against Wolves. Small for a centre-forward at 5’9”, King had played league football for Birmingham several years previously with no great distinction. He then dropped into non-league football for four seasons before being signed by Arsenal from Southern League side Northampton Town when in his late 20s. He turned out 30 times for the club in wartime matches, but he was 33 years old when league football resumed in 1919 and was released. His career drifted to a close at Leicester and then Brentford, for whom he collectively scored 17 goals in 41 games.
In contrast, Benson’s story is a tragic one. The England international collapsed on the pitch during the second half of a wartime fixture against Reading in 1916 having burst a blood vessel. He died in the dressing room at Highbury. He was buried, it is reported, in his Arsenal shirt.
Rutherford, a flying winger who had won titles and cup medals galore during a 300-plus-game career with Newcastle before falling out with the management, would survive the war. In 1926, he became the oldest player to represent Arsenal. He was 41 years and 159 days old when he played in the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Highbury on March 20th. That still stands as a club record, though Jens Lehmann came within nine days of breaking it when he was drafted in as emergency cover at Blackpool in 2011. Rutherford played 232 games in an Arsenal career that bizarrely included four weeks as player-manager of Stoke. By the time he had moved on (to Clapton Orient following the arrival of Joe Hulme, Rutherford wouldn’t finally hang up his boots until 1928), Arsenal were well established as a Division One club, and no longer Woolwich or even The Arsenal.
The club was re-elected to the First Division when the Football League resumed in 1919 despite its fifth-placed finish in Division Two in 1914-15. That last game of the 1914-15 season against Forest is also the last league game we ever played outside the top flight.
We replaced some relegated club from Middlesex that had come bottom of the First Division in 1914-15. It still rankles with them — but that is a long story for another day.
107 Responses to “Guest Post – North Bank Ned Looks Back A Century”
Drink!!
😀
We’ll hello
Fantastic work sir. Certainly filled one of the huge holes in my knowledge. Long live The Arsenal.
Nice one Ned (I won’t refer to you as a proxy ‘Holic for fear of a typo).
I’d love to hear more about Rutherford – was he really player-manager of Stoke for four weeks while an Arsenal player? Hanged if I can work out who this Middlesex team are that were relegated after the 1914-15 season… Still rankles with them… Nope, no idea.
COYG
Ned
Wonderful stuff and your recall is remarkable for a man who must be at least 110! This era in Arsenal’s history is one where there is a gap in my knowledge and I found this vignette fascinating. My grandfather followed the team at Woolwich but moved to Hoxton just as we moved to Highbury. Sadly he died while I was a babe in arms but these recollections give a real impression of what life must have been like then. But he would have missed this game.
He was at Ypres and sustained awful damage to his lungs. He died in 1951 in his early fifties an eventual victim of poison gas . His great love for Arsenal was passed by my father to me and I have done my best to spread it onwards.
Thanks Ned
Great stuff, Ned, however you and the monks do it.
This really belonged with the previous post but I’m just seeing my first moments from the Women’s World Cup. Much better than any wonen’s football I remember seeing previously.
Missing The Arsenal badly now I thought we might be able to field our normal team in disguise in the women’s competition.
For example –
Petra Cech
Hector Belle Erin
Per Merteslapper
Flaurence Koscielny
Karen Gibbs
Frances Coquelin
Sandy Cazorla
Jackie Wilshere
Alexa Sanchez
Olivia Giroud
Missut Özil
Excellent piece of history,beautifully told Ned.
This Bar constantly reminds us, that the written word when it flows and hums and all but sings to us, still sits head and shoulders above all other forms of communication.
Long may it continue.
Cheers
The Sweeper.
Loving that team Trev. Small adjustment, if I may?
Pearl Merteslapper.
Indeed, Cynic.
Hey Trev, no need to change number 17’s name for the Arsenalized women’s side, as “Alexis” is often a girl’s name — in fact more frequent than as a boy’s name where we live. If Alexis continues on the trajectory to become a Gunner legend, there’ll be a lot more supporters’ babies carrying that moniker, as it fits universally.
Great post! I wonder what those wartime matches were like. Were they used to be covered in newspapers? Would the young unfortunate sent to the slaughter try to find the results of those matches? Would the people in attendance celebrate joyously?
Some of you natives would probably have the explanation, but I have always wondered why none of the literary recollections of that era include football fanatics when from photos etc. you can clearly see there was no dearth of genuine football fans. Anthony Powell would not have come across a single interesting person devoted to football to warrant a place in his twelve-volume opus?
You’ve probably seen this already on Ospina vs. Argentina, but here goes anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bipqft7bVIo
Catch the Spanish announcer invoking Sepp Maier, Dino Zoff, etc.
Nice one Ned,
Being this prolific, I do worry that those monks are getting a bit distracted from the real task of alcohol production.
You don’t want good talent to go to waste….. 😎
I really hope we keep Ospina…. despite the odds..
Up The Arse!
😀
“Cech Agrees Terms With Arsenal” according to the BBC Sport website which also says he is having the medical today.
NBN. Great history post. Not a wonderful moment in world history to say the least.
Hugely appreciate your research and fine penmanship Ned – thanks for sharing. Being a proper Arsenal fan is all about recognising our rich history, so it’s great to hear about hitherto untold stories from our eventful past!
I particularly liked the anecdote about Bob Benson’s ‘interesting’ penalty technique where his colleague placed the ball down and he just ran directly up from full-back and lamped it into the back of the net. Maybe that’s what Henry & Pires should have done against City all those years back – I can’t imagine there’s any ruling against someone placing the ball on the spot for someone else?
BJ @ 13: Ospina was fantastic against the Albiceleste … Colombia didn’t play well at all but Ospina (was funny hearing the Oooooospina chant being taken up by the Colombian fans as well) kept them in the game. There was an unbelievable double-save from Pastore and Messi.
I know I am in the minority, and of course Arsene knows best, and it is quite likely that the need for aerial superiority makes a six-feet-one GK suspect in PL, but I would not have been worried about Ospina and Szczesny fighting it out for the next season or so.
I hope Cech will show us the performance and leadership that we are all so expectantly looking for.
I was with you entirely Dr Faustus until I read and heard the views of Bob Wilson. He seems completely convinced that Cech will make a huge positive difference to us and I ain’t arguing with him of all people.
I do feel very sorry for Ospina and you do have to wonder why, when Premier League tactics have drifted away from the high speculative cross into the box, height is such a big factor.it’s not as though Ospina is particularly short – just that he’s not particularly tall.
Maybe, on balance, it’s just that he’s more suited to shot stopping than dealing with set pieces and the odd team that do still favour a lump into the area.
Dr. F/ Trev
It’s a very relevant debate. I would let Ches go but could you expect Ospina to kick his heels on the bench or whatever you do on the bench ! My mind was altered at the West Brom game where Ospina mad two major errors. He is a good shot- stopper with amazing reflexes but I don’t think he manages defenders that well. This is where Cech wins out so much. He is a brilliant defensive organiser.
Bob’s view on goalies is that the ball moves so much the bigger you are and the longer you can be at full stretch the better. He thinks that the modern ball would have foxed even the greats like Jennings, Shilton and Banks. He cites the need for gloves as well which he rarely wore because of the speed of the ball and its movement. As Trev said I wouldn’t argue with him as he has had a lifetime studying the art.
Back to our situation I think Ospina has a better attitude than aches but maybe Wenger thinks Cech can influence him for the better
Nice one ttg – “aches” for “Ches”. Please, don’t ever sort out your spillchucker.
Ned, that was a truly magnificent read. Many, many thanks.
Excellent piece Ned. Very interesting. Good work sir.
I’m with Dr F and Trev in that I wouldn’t have been too concerned if Wenger had let the Ospina/Szczesny ‘dilemma’ play itself out for another season. It was an interesting one because they’re complete contrasts – both in temperament and goalkeeping attributes – and they’re also still good ages for a keeper, so it’s going to be a real shame to see the likelihood that one of them has to move on (presumably Ospina) to accommodate Cech. Still, I trust Wenger, and it’s certainly ruthless personnel management – as if he’s finally going “all in” to try and get some success in his last phase as boss.
In my humble opinion though, the goalkeeping position was only 3rd summer ‘acquisition’ priority behind: 1) Finding a top-class DM as competition/cover for Coquelin. (If Coquelin’s emergence has shown us anything, it’s just how essential a genuinely disciplined, athletic, positionally-aware holding guy can be in our system and can liberate the front five). 2) If available, a more mobile goalscoring alternative to Giroud in the CF position – though I would fully understand if Wenger wants to go with the interchangeable potential he’s got in forward positions with the likes of Alexis, Walcott, the O-C, and Welbeck.
Also, just to hog the floor for a bit longer if I may, I’ve been thinking about the squad, and to re-iterate my point about the major needs, I’ve looked at the “2 TOP players for every position” adage and can see those priority gaps at DM and CF….
GK: Cech/Ospina, Szczesny
RB: Bellerin, Debuchy
CB: Mertesacker, Chambers
CB: Koscielny, Gabriel
LB: Monreal, Gibbs
DM: Coquelin, ?
CM: Ramsey, Wilshere
CM: Ozil, Cazorla
RF: Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain
CF: Giroud, ?
LF: Sanchez, Welbeck
(Obviously those positions aren’t like-for-like, as Ozil and Cazorla can play in the same team for example, it’s just to emphasise where we can spread out 2 decent options for each position).
Back-Up Squad Fillers/Good Pros to have in the dressing room: Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky
Loan: Jenkinson, Gnabry, Sanogo, Akpom
Sell: Podolski, Campbell
It’s past your bedtimes, I know, but England are up 2-0 in Vancouver 20 minutes in. Still a ways to go.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ENGLAND!!
Japan will be a tougher proposition though… great match to look forward to!
Now.. if only the men could be half as good…
😀
Woke up to watch the second half. Those girls showed what it means to play for their country. They were disciplined, committed and determined not to concede. I was actually very proud at the final whistle. It’s a mighty achievement and the Gooner who came on in goal might push Aches ! ( as I christened him earlier ) or Ospina as back- up to the mighty Cech.
Come on you Lionesses!
Trev/TTG/Gregoire : I think among all the positions in football pitch we fans have least technical insight about the GK one (unless we have played there, I have played mostly as an attacking mid) and I fully agree with you that when a GK legend like Bob Wilson is so assured about Cech’s value compared to our current roster we should listen to him. Tim Stillman’s column in arseblog raises a few interesting points about how our defensive positioning and approach may or may not work with Cech’s strengths and weaknesses. He also very astutely reminds us that despite being an invincible man Jens had many a howlers that we have forgotten/forgiven over the years. On that note, I remember quite a few poor decision making from Cech last few times I had seen him play. However I am sure Arsene and his team run over the numbers thoroughly to ensure that they are not buying someone who is in decline.
The very ordinary Brazilian team departs Copa at the hand of Paraguay. Didn’t watch the match because without Neymar (and actually even with him) this not-so-talented bunch of Brazilians managed by a paranoid Dunga is no fun. Apparently a 31 year old Robinho was their best performer!
So, if no more upsets then potentially a Chile-Argentina final. Argentina haven’t won anything for a long time and Chile have never won Copa, so both would be desperate. While the majority of the world would probably want Lionel to get his hands on an international trophy, I am really hoping that this splendid bunch of Chilean footballers make their nation happy. And Alexis earns his just reward and comes back to us in a month’s time happier and more motivated (if that is possible).
Didn’t Bob Wilson also trumpet the abilities of Graham Stack and Stuart Taylor once upon a time?
Lovely piece Ned…..your monks seem to be at it 24/7 – maybe you allow them to imbibe their own tipple as a reward 😉
My late grandad told me of a similar story when he watched the first ever game at Highbury in 1913. We were awarded a penalty and the taker ran from the half way line and without breaking stride booted the ball into the goal. Bob Benson wasn’t a gooner then, so maybe it was the method more regularly used in those days.
Saw the last 30 minutes of the game. Congratulations and all credit to the England women for beating Canada and getting through to the semifinal. England have increased in confidence by a large measure during the tournament. Of the games I have watched Japan have looked like possibly the best team so England will have to be on their game. Penalties could feature so the players should be ready for anything. Come on England!!
Cynic@30
I’d be interested to see what he said. He was goalkeeping coach at the club then and was probably trying to encourage their progress. It doesn’t quite rank with the level of praise accorded to Cech. I don’t think he suggested either goalkeeper would win us the League although Mr. Taylor has got a PL winners medal in his collection.
I am intrigued by how lazy Journalists are. I have seen in several places the suggestion that Chilean newspaper La Stampa is carrying a story on Vidal to Arsenal.
On my visits to Italy I thought La Stampa was an Italian publication, released from Turin. That’s why it’s name is in Italian and not Spanish! ( hint) It may well be that the Italian paper is just recycling gossip originally invented in Chile but if you are going to publish something at least check its accuracy and the source. But then there are precious few proper journalists in these days of reheated fiction.
I would also expect the Canadian fans to turn quite strongly to the England camp, especially in the somewhat unlikely event of an England / USA final.
It now appears a silly joker in Chile has been hoaxing everyone on Vidal. As I pointed out earlier, this might have been ascertained by anyone with the wit to do proper research.
I find the tide of twitterati retweeting garbage extremely annoying but boy does it drive traffic to websites
Pangloss@4: Rutherford was nearing the end of his career. Stoke was looking for a late-season change of manager to head off relegation. So he retired and took the job. When he arrived at Stoke he was horrified by what he found at the club. So he headed back south and re-signed for Arsenal.
Clive@8: deeply appreciated.
Dr F@12: The professional clubs organized regional leagues during World War One. The London area one, in which Arsenal played, was called the London Combination. Teams comprised whomever could be roped in — players doing war work on the home front and players who’d enlisted and who were back in England on leave. It was common for players from one club to ‘guest’ for another.
And, what might be of interest to all Stateside ‘holics, Highbury staged Anglo-American baseball league games in 1918; the US Navy played Epson on August 24th, for example: http://www.iwm.org.uk/sites/default/files/iwm_solr_field/large/poster-baseball_800.jpg. Note the ‘Arsenal Football Grounds’. Like the old Polo Grounds in NYC, perhaps.
The Imperial War museum has a page about football in WW1, http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/9-facts-about-football-in-the-first-world-war
Uply@31: That would have been Archie Devine who scored the penalty in 1913. Interesting that he had the same approach as Bob Benson. Will have to see if the monks can turn up any other examples. Mark you, with those boots, heavy leather balls and muddy pitches you’d probably need a good run at the ball to give it a decent wallop off the penalty spot.
The blog post reminded me that I have this book http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22860561-fighting-for-football on my shelf, unread. Something I’ll remedy before the season starts.
Thanks, Ned@36.
It is tempting to say that nothing much has changed in the realms of Orcdom, but I can never forget the team where the likes of Matthews, Eastham and Hudson ended their careers and I fervently hope that Stoke City will rediscover their soul one day.
Impressive research, Ned.
COYG
Has gotten me to wondering just how many monks are on staff. Quite amazing stuff.
We just need to get our more, bt8b….
This might be more reliable re Vidal, Ttg … http://football-italia.net/68356/juve-send-vidal-arsenal-benatia
When dealing with reports in Italian newspapers re a Chilean player who plays in Italy but is currently engaged in a tournament in South America, it is easy (for today’s brand of journos anyway) to get a bit confused.
Looks good to me, and a very welcome addition – especially at the knock-down price suggested!
Öskar
Vidal looks like a Coquelin with teeth! Could toughen up our midfield no end.
Öskar
Is England’s backup goalkeeper better than the #1 keeper she replaced? And is she related to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain? All shall be revealed, I am sure of it.
Just in-case anyone is interested!
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9898014/petr-cech-set-to-be-confirmed-as-an-arsenal-player?
Great post and fantastic to read about our beloved Arsenal.
Vidal to Arsenal making rounds taking quotes from the chilean media. I do not understand as to why but it makes sense if he is replacing coquelin or coq is going to be the backup. But then coq with a stellar second half of the season will not take it kindly if he is relegated to the bench for no fault of his. So where will Vidal play? double pivot with coq??? So what happens to ramsey/jack??? At the moment we are unable to fit jack and ramsey in the playing 11 then what happens if we get vidal as well??? makes no sense to me but then i wont be complaining if we get a player like him. He brings in the sanchez kind of energy and never give up attitude, we could do with such a player. Only worry is who makes way.
Still cechingggggg by the way, this must be the record of the longest medical previously held by mvilla to Arsenal.
I don’t believe the Vidal rumours one bit.. not too sure who he’ll replace.. unless he’s willing to sit on the bench and be backup. He doesn’t seem like the type to sit back and defend..
Anyway been wrong before but this one just doesn’t smell right..!
Up The Arse!
😀
Well, Vinay, i’ve suggested more than once that they will have to take a decision on whether to persevere with a lot of players who are so often injured and unavailable or replace with them with a different, stronger and more mature type of player.
Maybe that’s what they’re doing – maybe not.
Ttg has explained that the whole rumour is probably rubbish anyway.
BB – I must say that, the fumes emanating from that Vidal rumour does smell abit off at the moment!
😆
@KingGT
Much prefer a player who sits deeper than Vidal.. who likes to go forward a lot.
If we do get him, fine ..if not no loss!
BB – Have to agree!
Cech is a gooner!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150629/petr-cech-agrees-to-join-arsenal?
I am seriously happy with that. I think he is still one of the best goalies in the world and that he will strengthen our team significantly. Well done Arsenal!
Top signing! Special quality!
We’ll win it this year!!
😀
Question now is which number will Cech get, 1 or 13?
Lowest vacant number, not counting Diaby’s 24, is 29.
Meh
So, Mr van Persie, what was that you said about the direction of the club again?
Cech mate jose.
Top signing and a match winner plus a leader. It does help that he is coming at the final stretch of his career and a one last hurrah may mean he pushing himself to the limit to achieve it, it helps us and thats what matters.
His letter to the chelshit fans was classy and he saying that speaking to Wenger made it easy (as much as it sounds cliched) sets the stage for a top notch professional to make him mark.
Hi all. As per usual on days when Arsenal sign someone, I’m finding it very hard to be productive at work! 🙂
Time will tell re. the Cech signing etc., but on the face of it it looks like a great move. Makes the team better and shows a real ambition to win NOW, as opposed to building for years down the road. Not so long ago Wenger would have been perfectly content to go into the new season with two “very good” GKs in Szczesny and Ospina, but this year he shelled out real cash to bring in a “great” GK in Cech.
Worth mentioning, too, that Cech (like Sanchez and Ozil before him) specifically mentions his conversation with Arsene as a significant moment in his decision to join Arsenal. On one hand it’s kind of what you’d expect them to say, but the fact that all 3 of our recent “world class” signings made a point to mention it suggest the old man is pitching a very attractive vision to these guys, and they’re buying into it. Great to see!
A good day for the Arsenal. COYG!
We can celebrate an official signing- and one that we can genuinely hope will prove inspired. I’m certainly delighted about Cech but have decided that the Holic route of waiting until it’s on Arsenal.com is the sensible one.
Yesterday’s garbage about Vidal was utterly pathetic and it apparently led to papers like the Telegraph and Independent carrying a story that never really existed. La Stampa never carried a story about Vudal nor is it a Chilean paper. But checking the veracity of a story doesn’t happen nowadays, even by apparently reputable titles.
I may be an unreconstructed Luddite but the existence of social media especially the benighted Twitterati has brought a huge layer of bollocks into many aspects of modern life, not least supporting a football club. It is destroying proper journalism and giving airtime to prats.
Checking the accuracy of my own story I of course mean Vidal!
Wojciech Szczesny, said: “Delighted to have a chance to learn from one of the best GK’s in the world.”
Sounds as if our No 1 is accepting of being the No 2, while our new signing is clear in his intent:
I am not at the stage of my career where I want to be on the bench
Really pleased about Cech joining, although I do feel rather sorry for him having to wear that awful new goalie’s kit next season!
Lost in translation: Chinese state media’s headline on the neighbours unloading Paulinho on Guangzhou Evergrande:
Hot Spur’s Brazilian midfielder Paulinho joins Guangzhou Evergrande
Not so hot as they sold him for £4 million less than they paid for him.
Ned
Good point but £10 million for Paulinho is extraordinary. I would have thought half that would have been steep. Levy does drive a hard bargain even if they piss money up the wall after they receive it
Charlie – He’s been wearing a Mickey Mouse hat for years, a dodgy shirt won’t bother him.
ttg@67: fair market value for Paulinho I’d have pegged at £8.5 million — which is about the same he was worth when the neighbours bought him for £14 million
Cynic@68: 🙂
But the new keeper’s kit matches his hat. Did Puma know all along?
Ned, ttg,
So how does one calculate the value of a player ?
I can’t actually remember but I take it from @66 that Paulinho cost £14million.
He has been utterly ineffectual for Tottenham since joining, so is now worth a paltry £10million. He is – because someone has paid it.
I would agree more with Ned’s valuation on the simple grounds that it is lower but how is that player even worth £8.5million. Say that figure again, slowly, and it starts to sound like a lot of money – which it is.
The market is mad. Before we dismiss the notion with a resigned shake of the head, it is worth remembering that, one way or the other, we are funding it.
Having said all that, the signing of Petr Cech for £10.9million – and the effect he could have on our team – looks like a complete steal when compared to Paulinho for £10million.
Bang on cue, Sergio Ramos has told Real Madrid he is absolutely determined to leave this summer and wants to negotiate with one club only. That club is Manchester United.
Canny operators that they are, United have jumped straight in with a bid of £28.6million. That’s right – say it again slowly ……
Do you really need to pay that much when the player has clearly stated his determination to join you ?
Especially when you already have Phil Jones … oh, yeah ….. 😉
Trev@70: You look at a player’s salary and capitalize it, then discount for length of contract, and at the depreciated value of his transfer fee being carried on the books, and adjust for comparables (position, age, nationality, length of time left on contract etc), then take away the number you first thought of, add double the telephone number of your first girlfriend’s best friend and divide it by however many angels you can see dancing on the head of a pin. But, in the end, you are right: a player is worth whatever his agent can hawk him for.
What number will Cech get? Here is a list of all the numbers worn by all our keepers in the Premiership age. Just four No 1s. Anyone in the bar seen all of them play?
1 Szczesny, Almunia, Lehmann, Seaman
13 Lehmann, Szczesny, Ospina, Viviano. Manninger, Miller, Bartram
20 Warmuz
21 Fabianski, Poom
24 Mannone, Almunia, Shaaban, Wright, R, Lukic
26 Will, Harper
31 Taylor
33 Stack
36 Martinez
38 Jordan
40 Mannone
41 Wright, C, Holloway
43 Huddart
44 Holloway, Iliev
49 Macey, Shea
53 Szczesny
55 Shea
57 Vickers
58 Holloway
60 Shea
69 Keto
Trev
I don’t think we can really calculate Pauhlino’s value as a player.
It’s really only a guess on our part.
I think he actually cost the Spuds 17 mill with the add ons.
But they just got lucky in this instance.
Scolari has been given a massive budget at Evergrande,and like anyone with more money than they know what to do with,think Dalgleish and Rodgers at Liverpool when Chelsea shelled out a shed load for Torres,and Barca same for Suarez,or the Spuds who got a shed load for Bale,common sense goes out the window,and they spend like no tomorrow.
Having said that,if Pauhlino helps Evergrande to the title,then he will have been worth every penny in Chinese eyes.
Ned
Jack Kelsey/Bob Wilson/Pat Jennings would all have been standout No 1’s if numbers were issued back in the day.
Seaman the only other keeper worthy of the number.
Yes Ned, I’ve seen all four No.1s play – fortunately many times.
The consensus seems to be that Ospina will leave so i imagine Cech will get the No.13. It would be a real slap to Szczesny to take the No.1 away although Cech will clearly be seen as first choice.
So how ruthless do you think Arsene is ?
Oi! We could do with a night off, mate!
You’re brilliant fellas, thank you.
Taking a bit of a break.
Hope the ‘break’ isn’t too serious, ‘holic, and that you’ll be fully recovered and fit to play come August!
Have a happy holiday, you deserve it.
Öskar
Give that monk a restorative mead, Ned, and get him back to his scribing. Can’t allow such caviling in the castle ranks mate.
Öskar
This is a huge mistake.
Not footballistically but morally.
But who cares about that stupid lil’ thing.
Clive@55: Jack Kelsey may have been the greatest of them all.
Otd@80: the monks work when the spirit moves them…
Trev@70: You look at a player’s salary and capitalize it
ONE HUNDRED GRAND A WEEK
Nope, it doesn’t look any better like that.
😉
Second best signing of yesterday….Phil “Calamity” Jones extends his contract at Man Utd 😉
Enjoy your break guvna – well deserved.
Cech, let’s hope it’s money well spent. He will at least have a full pre-season with his new defenders and I look forward to seeing better distribution of the ball. Jen’s long accurate throws were a feature of his game and I expect to see Cech in the same mould, time will tell.
Looks as though it will be the middle of September before we see Alexis fit and ready for next season. Let’s hope Chile win the final !
Happy holiday Holic.
Just a little pointer for Cechs distribution, I presume it was lack of communication and not so stable back four in our national team, but in recent games he channeled his inner Almunia and Fabianski in few matches for our national side, hope this kind of stuff will not happen during the season.
All in all I am glad we signed him, as said ..once top class keeper like him becomes available ..you buy him.
Harsh on Ospina (most likely) but thats how it is. Besides..I have always said that he is pretty much only Chelski player I could stand (along with Yossi due to his loan spell with us).
On Goalkeepers
All our top ones were unassuming,no nonsense down to earth individuals.
From my era,Jack Kelsey,through to Bob Wilson,Pat Jennings and David Seaman,my all time top 4.
In fact the only 4 worth a carrot.
Completely unflappable,giants of the game,and embedded forever in Arsenal folklore.
Now to be joined i confidently predict,by number 5 on that list,Petr Cech.
We will for the first time in many a year,have our goals against column down under 30 in the league,an absolute must if you are going to challenge for the title.
Like all great keepers,it won’t just be the saves he makes,but also the saves he doesn’t have to make,particularly in one on ones,where the opposing forward bottles it because of the reputation of the keeper he is facing.
Something we haven’t had for a long time.
That is worth it’s weight in gold.
But above all that i welcome him because he is a Leftie.
There are so few of us now,having been persecuted and covertly assassinated down the Centuries by the death squads sent out by the Catholic Church high command in Rome,who have convinced themselves that we have been spawned by the devil himself.
I am still surprised that Obama, another one, !! has not yet been eliminated.
So a big welcome to the new member of the very small, elite keepers club at the Arse.
I will be writing to Arsene post haste,to beef up security around our latest recruit.
Cheers
The left handed Sweeper.
Just in case anybody cares, Ronald Koeman stated the following in an interview issued yesterday on Southampton’s official YouTube channel:
“We have the situation with Morgan Schneiderlin, we will have to wait what will happen,”
“Until now, we have not a serious bid for him from Man United.
“We will wait, but OK – that’s business that normally starts from now. It’s no problem – it’s the first day.
“We have the experience from last season – it will be not the same this season, but we are prepared for everything. I am looking forward for another good season.”
Whatever that means!
Great Post Clive echoing many thoughts on here.
I am utterly chuffed he has signed. And I have a feeling that if ever there is going to be a comparison between signing players of real quality as opposed to spending huge money on big names……that Petr Cech epitomises that distinction and thankfully falls into the first of those two categories. Of course some will argue that 10m for a 33 year old is quite unprecedented for Wenger, and it probably is, but 10m for a player of Cech’s quality, even at 33, really is superb business.
It also sends out a serious message to the squad because Ospina has been wonderful for us all season, yet now he is deemed surplus to requirements! Pretty ruthless move by Wenger showing clear signs of intent to improve and challenge. Furthermore, as if being dropped wasn’t such a kick in the arse for Woj, now he’s going to have to play second fiddle for some years to come yet. But the fact that he’s prepared “to learn” and bide by Wenger’s decision shows a deal of maturity and attitude that maybe has been lacking before.
And as Clive referred to, its the saves Cech won’t have to make that will probably be his most important contribution. He will bring solidity, assurance, comfort to a back line that needs to have leadership from a guy who knows how to win at the highest level. In both Kos and Cech – we now have 2 lynchpins to consolidate a serious defence.
He’s a great signing and I think he’ll make a huge difference to the squad. Even the way Cech has spoken about the manner and way he was approached reiterates, once again, the inestimable importance of Arsene Wenger.
In regards to Cech, the most important additions needed this summer are defensive.
Wenger has added a very important defensive signing. Cech is a world class goal keeper with a proven record in the premier league. He comes with a lot of qualities; however I do not want to sound like a broken record.
I am pleased that the club made this addition nice and early as Pre-season starts in another two weeks. There was a hint from Ivan Gazidis when speaking to AFTV, that we are on the lookout for ‘world class’ players to become available through activity from other clubs. He pointed to Ozil as an example. I believe we purchased Welbeck in a similar sort of manner.
Anyhoo – Welcome Cech! I am sure you will prove the doubters wrong and do what you came to the Arsenal to do!
Up the Arse!
Clive, good stuff.
I’ve been convinced – mostly by Bob Wilson – that the Cech signing is going to be a great one for us. It seems ironic that the main criticism of Ospina is that he’s not big enough when the “lump into the big forward” is a declining tactic and, due to the amount of movement of the modern ball, keepers tend to stay at home more and rely on their shot stopping ability, something at which Ospina is one of the very best.
I also think it will be the end of Szczesny as a genuine Arsenal prospect. Irrespective of his ability, personality, mentality and whatever else you think about him, he is already 25 years old. People like Bob Wilson are saying that Cech has another 5-6 years at the very top and is a great signing because of his vast experience.
I don’t disagree with any of that but if Cech lasts 5-6 years and Szczesny remains as his understudy, when Szczesny gets his chance in 5-6 years time, he will be 31 years old and have no experience at all.
Clearly not happening is it ? Not saying it’s a bad thing – just obvious.
I’m swimming against the tide.
The Cech pre-2013 is the one that is drawing the fulsome praise above. The one today is in decline and has been for a while. His performances in the last 18 months for club and country have been littered with mistakes.
I am not convinced that he is a substantial upgrade on what we have and what we soon won’t have.
Bob Wilson is an Arse legend – I saw most of his career in person and his bravery bordered on the insane. He is a fine man and Arsenal through and through but to my mind he was never a truly great goalkeeper. The near post was always his weakness. His opinion is therefore valued but not infallible.
I would be delighted to be proven wrong in time and hope that Cech helps us win everything next season. In the meantime, I’m just a bit meh.
UTA.
Apparently, Galatasary have have their own TV channel (not unusual). Lukas Podolski has been spotted on there stating the following:
“Yes there have been meetings with Galatasaray. I hope the transfer happens. I’d love to play at Galatasaray. The fans are great. They showed a great interest in me on social media.”
So for the sake of speculation, does that mean they are interested in both Poldi and Ospina?
Will Arsenal allow two players to be sold to the same club in one year, just as they did Clichy and Nasri?
Or does Ospina fancy fighting for his place alongside Cech?
Who bloody knows, aye?
The summer transfer window is here again folks! 😉
I don’t know why it didn’t, but it was meant to say ‘same year’
I have enjoyed Cech’s interviews on .com. I do not remember seeing him interviewed before and he comes over well. I hope his experience boosts the dressing room. He seems to have a great temperament, his calmness when the team is suffering is likely help the rest of them maintain their composure.
Seaman has joined the chorus of praise for the move- another good judge.
And Mourinho has made it perfectly clear that he was wholly against this. Which shows that he thinks Cech will make us stronger. And is also funny because we signed Cech despite his wishes and he is, y’know, a right front-bottom and is now an unhappy one too. Hurrah!
Cynic@83: 🙂
Most interesting thing about Bob Wilson’s comments on Cech and the final pieces of the jigsaw for a title bid was that we need to sign “a good centre half” as well as a box-to-box midfielder. I would have thought that we were reasonably well stocked at centre-half with Kos, Gabriel coming into the team as the BFG starts to transition out, and youngsters like Chambers and Hayden coming up behind, plus Debuchy and Monreal to provide cover in an emergency.
For what it’s worth, my Chavski mates are nicely wound up about this Cech signing!
They are trying to justify it by saying they still have Courtouis or whatever his name is and that they got paid handsomely. Hahaha!
Easy does it boys! 😉
Clive@87: To your point, last time we conceded less than 30 goals in a league season was also the last time we won the league (2003-04).
However, in only six of the subsequent 11 seasons have the team conceding the least goals won the title.
Counting back season by season from last season, the title winners conceded 32, 27, 34, 29, 33, 28, 24, 22, 24, 22, 15, and 26 (Invincibles in 2003-04) goals.
The difference in goals conceded between us and the champions were 4, 14, 3, 20, 10, 13, 13, 9, 11, 9, 21 and (self-evidently) 0 respectively.
Which provides a measure of what Cech has to do for us.
Rabona cross
Interesting back drinks with a lot of the ‘ more experienced’ Holics talking goalkeepers.
I would make a plea to include one more goalie as a standout. Jimmy Rimmer played in a pretty awful side behind defenders like Mancini and did exceptionally well. He got half a game for England at a time when caps were harder to come by. He was a very good keeper indeed. Agree on the others. Genuine legends and great servants to our club
Thanks Cynic, I flapped at it and put it into my own goal!
Perhaps I missed it, but apart from us “experts” on the internets, has it been stated that Ospina goes and Szczesny stays?
A mistake in my view. What Ospina has is uncoachable: calm, focused, great reaction, and is physical tho a bit short.
What Szczesny lacks is uncoachable: not calm, lacks focus, good reaction, and is physical.
Ospina every time for me. Trusting in AW though. Gonna be interesting no matter what the outcome.
Goonersince54@87. Speaking as a fellow Leftie, I think Cech is a cracking signing for you. Not a patch on the legend that is Pat Jennings though.
I’m with Noosa but hoping we’re both wrong. Got me doubts though. Anyone who can wear a titfer like that is definitely three short of the bundle.
You can’t make this stuff up! Well, perhaps you can….
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11707814/Gervinho-demanded-a-helicopter-and-private-beach-to-move-to-Al-Jazira.html
I’d have given him a toy helicopter and bought him a beach in fucking Scotland, the Mekon looking fool.
Can’t get away until Sunday week, so you’re stuck with me for a bit longer, I’m afraid. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>