Perhaps Alfie Can Help Me Out Here?
Mar 20th, 2017 by 'holic
Has this two week international break come at a good time for Arsenal? For the football club, possibly, but not where the supporters are concerned. It’s a fortnight before the players, rightly condemned for their no-show at the Hawthorns on Saturday, can show they have the ability to bounce back from a dreadful run of form. That is time in which egos can be stroked, and weaknesses tackled behind the closed gates at Shenley.
The break provides an opportunity for the squad, or at least those not called up by their respective countries, to work on rediscovering form, confidence, and most importantly desire. There is a job here for the club captain. Per Mertesacker should pull his squad together and tell them a few home truths about performing for their reputations, and the supporters, if not for the manager.
On Sunday week we will face the first of two matches in April against Manchester City. Lose that one and a top four place could sail away into the distance. Lose the second and the last hope of silverware this season would evaporate.
How unwelcome is this break for those on both extremes of the Wenger in/out argument, and those subjected to their escalating spat on social media. Thankfully I no longer have the time to keep up with all the shenanigans during the working day, but within minutes of getting home this evening there were more virtual wars being waged. If there is one thing more depressing than Arsenal’s form at the moment it is watching groups of like-minded web warriors turning on fellow Gooners who have the nerve to hold views that differ from theirs.
It’s a poisonous atmosphere that infiltrates the grounds where we play now, and may well have an affect on the problems the team are facing right now. Fair enough, everyone has the right to protest, peacefully and with respect. That respect is being shown less and less, however, both in the grounds and online. What’s it all about, Alfie?
I think you are all aware that I have swung round to the view that we should not be offering our greatest ever manager a new contract. That doesn’t mean I think that those who still support the man are all unthinking loons. Far from it. There are good and bad on both sides. I do believe it would do the club a lot of good right now if that announcement were made so as to instantly improve the atmosphere at matches and enable the supporters to unite in appreciation of the job Arsene has done.
Today it seems possible that the contract offer is not only still on the table but may even have been signed already. If either of those happens to be true then it is perfectly understandable that a weak and seemingly powerless board is looking to delay any announcement. All I do know for certain is that nobody on Twitter, or Facebook, or any of the other social platforms knows the truth.
For fellow supporters to be abusing each other over something that isn’t known and hasn’t happened is so utterly pointless. Lots (and I’ll hold my hand up here) have been very good at talking but not listening. Closed minds encourage barbed and uninformed responses, and it all escalates from there.
Whatever happens I will still support Arsenal, albeit differently next season. The season ticket will be the first sacrifice if another groundhog season is on offer. I’ll still be able to pick and choose the matches I want to be at next season in support of the team on the pitch. I’ll still enjoy a few pints with people on both sides of the divide who can debate all things Arsenal without going red-faced with rage.
But that changes the nature of this post to being about me. That is something we all need to consider at the moment. How much of what we are all saying and doing right now is all about us? That’s really worth more than a moment’s consideration, no?
Victoria concordia crescit.
133 Responses to “Perhaps Alfie Can Help Me Out Here?”
Swish
Swish indeed Jackster,if we don’t beat City twice in April.
Bugga, been talking to myself in the last round… 🙁
He does that a lot lately, talking to himself. Take it from one who has to listen to him babbling on…
Good evening ex-neighbour 🙂
Chris, Max, hello.
Clive, you are allowed to talk to yourself. This is a blog for people who do that as a matter of course! ?
It is indeed
Yup, it is.
Absolutely.
I agree with those three.
And so do I.
Evening all.
It’s all a bit of a clusterfuck at the moment. There seems to be a total lack of leadership both on and off the pitch at the moment.
All of that said, it’s time to get behind the club. Whatever has happened to Arsene I will always be grateful for what he has provided. I also believed that he still very much loves the club. So for me, Bollocks to all of the big brave boys who dispatch their vitriol from behind a keyboard. It’s time to point the guns outwards and start firing at any fucker remotely in range. I’m bored shitless with knuckledraggers constantly taking the piss at our expense. It’s time to remember who we are, even if Stanley and the Merry thieves have no idea what it means.
As for per? He is one of our only true leaders. I how he kicks 9 bells out of everyone that remains. All day, every day.
And on a lighter note…
For those still looking to blame the officials, even before the game, this is an interesting read. If only we had such a high percentage success rate.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/10808860/referee-myth-busting-how-many-decisions-do-officials-get-right
Cynic, Steve, good evening 🙂
Personally, I pity poor Alfie. Bless his cottons.
One for you CBA as well as everyone else that loves a good tune.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N23SjCypP5w
Evening Sir. I trust all else is good at Holic Towers?
How goes it, guvnor?
I have to admit the performance this week was something of a blow for me, and one I haven’t recovered from.
For some supporters to turn against him is actually understandable. I can deal with that.
For his team, that he does so much to protect, to turn on him is utterly depressing. We by and large agree this is a squad capable of challenging, which is all we ask. Lets lose the League on the last day of the season, and/or reach the Champions League semi or Final even.
Let’s not be as uncaring and unmotivated as those clowns on Saturday. 🙁
The performance didn’t surprise me in a way, we’ve had stuff about “not being ready for the fight” for a while now. They’ve given up, for whatever reason.
Good words, H.
Manners don’t cost a thing
The Monday Arsecasts have been essential listening this season, although at times a difficult listen. Particularly today. Just thought I would say so whilst you are here.
Holic
I have been having the same debate with myself about the prospect of a groundhog season, in fact with Wenger in charge I suspect we will do well to match our position this season. I can’t stand the atmosphere in the stadium , the attitude of the players who are the biggest bottlers I’ve ever seen in red and white, the fact that the club is owned by an American who is almost the worst sort of owner we could have and a board that seem totally unable to oversee the football aspect of the club- as most of us have long feared was the case.
It comes to something when Mrs TTG gives me pep talks about not giving up on my team and asks a Spurs supporting grandson not to be too hard on Grandad because he is a bit fed up with football st the moment.
I retire at the end of the year and for the first time I need to prioritise expenses. I would always find a way to do it previously but I’ve never felt less optimism than I do now. I will still love the club to bits but from a bit further away. If absolute diehards like Holic and I are thinking this can you imagine what Gervaise from Hampstead and his chums who discovered football in 2004 are thinking.?
Thank you Blogs.
Good stuff Guvna. Even keel as ever. I’m betwixt and between. Both with regard to the manager and the season tickets. For sure I abhor the vitriol and the vitriolic.
What Steve T says @8.
bath, stay. Our circumstances are different. You are one of the reasons I will always be there, as often as I can be.
The social side now matches the football side. Oh to celebrate titles with those i know now. 🙂
Those days will come, Guv’nor. Those of us in the bar old enough to know, know that droughts come but also eventually end.
And you are one of the reasons I still enjoy the match day experience. However I am sick of the rest of the culture that now surrounds the game we love. Both the corporate obsession with milking the fans and the self-entitled obsession of the ‘new fan’ culture.
I used to go to games with the hope that I’d see my team give their all and maybe even win. I had the privilege to watch a team that played glorious football, won stuff and had me wondering when was the last time I saw them lose at home.
Now for sure the social side matches and in truth probably currently eclipses the football side and through you I have met some really great people with whom I have every intention of keeping in touch. However the STs are not essential to that and I have major issues with the money I have thrown into the gaping maw that is the Arsenal brand.
Talking of which, lunch at ‘Friends’ if we are successful in getting tickets for the SF?
Kick off too early, bath? I would love to go back there. Final?
@3 Chris,
Hi. Not to worry I caught your post
at the end of the last comments so
you’re not talking to yourself 🙂
I see your point but (in the spirit
of GH’s column) respectfully can’t
entirely agree on attracting players.
Yes, we have seemed hesitant in
the market in the past but we
paid up last summer and I think
only the Manc clubs are paying
more in wage bills. I’d like us to
step up again and compete with
Bayern, Barca and RM for players
but all the PL clubs are struggling
with that challenge at the moment.
Thanks for the post GH.
I agree with all of it. The sooner
the better for an announcement.
And thanks for the hand of GH
(index finger?) coming out to
smite the posts of the ill-mannered
ranters with great smiteyness.
Cheers H! On the money as ever.
I hear your thoughts loud and clear, ‘holic.
This is the first time I’ve taken a huge step back from watching The Arsenal. I feel so much negativity from everything during match days and it’s just horribly depressing.
Gunnerblog wrote something recently along the lines of “I want to hope again” and that’s what I feel now, utterly hopeless. Change might take a while to start, and of course, actually happen.
Will that change come in time before it all just goes to shite? (Mind you, some may already feel that it’s already shite)
Thanks Holic. So sad they way the s a son has turned.
My non Arsenal supporting Brother In Law last night said that Arsenal had loads of part time fans who just went for the glamour. I told him the problem for the club now is that it is the committed fans who are not renewing, not turning up. The ones that have been home and away, who have been there through thick and thin who feel so ignored and powerless.
The board has made a mistake in honouring the loyalty of one man over the loyalty of many. Arsenal, give us a plan, give us some inspiration, stop ignoring us.
Thanks Esso, Steve-o, and Lulu.
You are three of the reasons i will never stop going these days even though the experience is very different.
Good thoughtful piece for the interlull.
ST renewal for this season happened to coincide with timing for the BSM march against the club last season. I was swithering on renewal and that nonsense nudged me out. I have enjoyed the freedom from the need to attend every game, particularly when it means getting home overly often near zero dark thirty on freezing winter nights. It’s been easy to find good seats on ticket exchange for the matches that I want to go to and which are convenient in these days of late changes to fixture dates.
I listen less and now very selectively, I’m afraid, Holic. The sneering cynical one-track mindedness of many is something that adds nil to this enjoyable life I lead. The same applies to written garbage – helpfully, monikers enable an easy fly over of the usual nonsense peddlars and attention to scribes whose opinion I value (include yourself in, young man!). I write much less ‘nonsense’ myself to balance my account but still enjoy a positive, rational exchange, preferably while holding a good glass of something wet. Hopefully I’ll see you for more of the same at the City game.
Just reading Arseblog and his bit about “All that’s missing is some indication a retired legend might be appointed to the board to add some ‘Arsenal knowledge’ to the mix.”
There was a story somewhere yesterday, or Sunday, that Patrick Vieira has put his house in Cheshire up for sale. Now I know “journalists” read this particular blog, so if you read the drinks as well, oh bringers of “news”, you could weave that in somewhere.
@Cynic – thanks, appreciated.
And a big HEH at that Vieira story. Classic!
It was yesterday
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/patrick-vieira-cheshire-mansion-arsenal-12768299
lol and rofl and all those other things kids used to say about 20 years ago
@33 BtM
Not sure if you’ll read this given
your post but i did wonder who
on earth BSM are and why they
would march against The Arsenal.
It seems a bloody strange thing to
do.
Black Scarf Movement
They’ve been around for a while
@38 Cynic
Thanks, I googled and now I see.
Passed me by in the wilds of Kansai
I’m afraid.
Looking forward to that Citeh pint, BtM. 🙂
I think a lot of these bloggers on Facebook are click bait hooers
Trying to rile up the the fans constantly and as you say Holic it’s carrying on into the stadium,fucking wind up merchants most of them,if they care as much as they say they do they wouldn’t be stoking the fires at every turn.most of them are posting six and seven stories a day trying to rile up people sickened to death of them.
Great piece. I don’t do Twitter, I don’t even do Facebook and I find that I am so much better off for it. I have occasionally peeked into the world of Twitter and just seen many attention-seekers and very few sensible people. What frustrates me is people thinking that the world of Twitter is a summary of how all people feel which was surely exemplified best by the card protest last season – everyone from BSM to the AST were jumping on the bandwagon expecting a mass protest and what they got was a few hundred pathetic pieces of card . I gave up my AST membership soon after because they didn’t consult me and weren’t speaking for me.
Most of us aren’t arguing with each other, most of us do still get enjoyment out of supporting the club and going to games. Most of us still do love The Arsenal. And if someone hates the experience now, hates The Arsenal, then why on earth do they still put themselves through it?
Nice Post.
Without getting all “Sociologist” on you I would suggest the online debate around our club is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with social media ; in that no one knows how to debate anything properly any more – just shout opinions and abuse at each other, thinking the louder and more abusive they get it will somehow become fact rather than just opinion.
Present company excepted of course !
Fair points 41 & 42, but is it just me or is it looking like the club and the Manager are displaying massive arrogance and complacency in assuming that just because people don’t vent their anger that they are in fact staunch supporters of the status quo ? It feels to me like there’s still an assumption that the fanbase is fairly evenly split pro and anti but where’s the evidence ? Has a huge cohort not just given up on the manager and the club quite literally in the last few weeks ? Indeed, would many not now wish they had quietly, politely raised said A4 card last season v’s Norwich and might they now just feel a teeny, weeny bit silly for launching into “Only one Arsene Wenger” ? Not all, just a few I mean. I accept fully that many would always abhor such gestures as the old A4 and that’s fair enough.
But I know what I saw with my own eyes when people flooded out of the stadium around me after 50 minutes v’s Bayern and is the club really listening to those who voted that night with their feet but probably never post, tweet, blog or whatever. I’m not a fan of social media, at all, but I’m reliably told that the Liverpool owners only changed manager when the social media campaign became overwhelming. As I say, I hate social media, but I can accept it’s a massive part of everyday life now.
sorry I meant nice post 43 too, can’t count, or something…must be the trauma
Holic. You might want to consult with the bank manager if you are drinking with BTM. You know it will cost you?
NDR. One of the main problems with social media is one of accountability. It’s a lot easier to shout abuse behind a barrier of anonymity and a keyboard.
No comments on the Sky article about officials. More evidence of people hiding behind the keyboard when things don’t go quite right???
We live in a blame culture with very few are brave enough to actually offer any meaningful solutions.
Thanks Scgooner. I don’t think anyone knows the full answers to any of those questions!
Maybe the Board is being arrogant or maybe it just thinks that the vocal minority/majority is wrong? Given the Board knows far more about the day-to-day machinations of the club than us external observers maybe it’s right? I’m not saying the Board is but it strikes me that there’s a childish petulance to many attitudes towards the Board – if certain people don’t get their way then the issue is always the Board (or Wenger). Do the protesters ever stop to think that they actually know much less than the Board and might just be the ones in the wrong? Where does the arrogance truly lie?
Has a fair cohort really just given up on Wenger in recent weeks or are we reading too much into the media-driven hysteria after a few bad results? There was similar hysteria before the Norwich game and we all know how that ended up. The trouble with reading too much into the ‘Bayern flood’ is that there are often mass exits when games are over, particularly on midweek nights. It wasn’t necessarily a mass of people who all wanted Wenger out, some might simply have wanted to get the early train home. What we do know is there have been a few banners and protests and (based on what I saw) about 200 people attended the latter – hardly evidence of a groundswell of mass opinion. Again, i’m not saying there is such a move in opinion or not, I don’t know, I have no way of knowing what the views of all Arsenal fans are and i’m surprised that some people are so certain that they do.
Even the AST’s survey of members will only show the views of the 1,000 or so members who were so keen to be active to influence something about the club that they paid to be members of a protest group – what about the 100,000s of other Gooners who aren’t so intrinsically driven to change the club that they aren’t members of a protest group?
No comments on the Sky article about officials.
Not seen it.
However, it’s ironic that Sky are doing a respect the ref thing on SS News, as their level of analysis has led to officials being under far more pressure than before.
Not feeling good about Arsenal.
Goonerholic,
Why not just conduct a straw poll of the “sober and grounded drinkers”, quite an oxymoron in narrative that, whom frequent this diverse bar. We’ll then see who’s a cowardly scaredy cat hiding behind a keyboard! I’ll start, all 6 feet 4 inches and 100kg of me; Wenger out!! A new head coach and a Director of Football in!!! ?
AFCOF!
Sober and grounded drinkers? That certainly leaves me out. Scaredy cat on the other hand, I’ll have to think about that one. 🙂
Guardiola is far from happy at City. Have you seen any of his bonkers interviews lately? Agitating for a move to Arsenal, if you ask me.
Excellent candidate to antagonize the London media.
Welcome to the drinks Gus. A couple of excellent posts, thank you.
Evening all.
Sat on a table with several ST holders tonight. All really unsure about renewal. All hoping Arsene takes the hint and moves into the sunset without haranguing it embarrassment. If we had clarity on that it might reignite the season.
Lots of rubbish in the press. No one knows what he will do, including , I suspect AW himself
Great point made by New Day Rising at 43. Social media sucks- he says on social media!
Personally I don’t count blog comments or message boards as social media. Facebook, Twatter and the like are a completely different beast to a platform like this.
I mean… nobody’s posted a photo of their lunch on here for at least five years. 🙂
Being out of the loop on the opposite side of the globe I’ve always assumed there was a long waiting list for Arsenal season tickets, and that however many current holders decline to renew it would have zero effect on overall numbers. So a rather pointless gesture, especially if they want to return later when things have turned around again.
I doubt I would return mine, if I had one, which I never have had in my 66 years as a supporter. There never was a problem paying at the gate when I was young and the last 50 years I’ve been overseas. But if I had one I’d be guarding it jealously confident the product it represents will prove a good investment when the good (better anyway) times cycle round again.
I find it all very sad at the moment, all dithering (or ‘swithering’ as BTM writes above using a delightful word I, a writer, have never heard before, thank you BTM) while the club continues its gradual slide of recent years into hopefully temporary oblivion. Someone somewhere at the pointy end of our club needs to clarify wtf is going on and give us some reassurances about the future. Reassurances we can actually believe, that is.
For starters, what is the point of a two-year contract? That is neither one thing or the other. Have they a saviour in mind who won’t be available till then? Or does AW think he can reverse the slump in just 2 years? Does anyone, much as they value his contribution to Arsenal history, still believe his judgement is sound enough to turn it around in any time-frame anyway?
It’s the uncertainty that breeds this rather unpleasant hiatus in the Arsenal-time continuum of our lives. Someone please sort it soon.
Hear hear.
Sorry, ‘holic, I forgot to change the monicker back!
Well put Mad Max!
Mel Gibson would be proud; post the social media and vox-pop cataclysm! ??
At least the Arse Ladies are doing us proud.
Flogged the NL Neighbours Ladies 10-0 in FA Cup 5th round on Sunday.
A small ray of sunshine in the gloomy overcast sky, beset with rolling thunder and forks of lightning, loitering with intent above the Ems.
I was idly wondering just now who I
could possibly vote for as Player of
the Season.
My son cynically suggested Santi
Cazorla 🙁
OsakaMatt, I didn’t know you were Cynic’s dad. Small world, I suppose. 😉
Player of the season is easy.
FEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!
🙂
I do think Feeeooo should be on a list
just not the Arsenal Player of the Season
list 🙂
He should be top of the list of most under appreciated player of the past ten years.
Any winger at a rival club with 17 goals would be looked at with envy, but as he plays for us, he’s obviously shit.
#55 TTG – Well aware of the irony mate !
I run my work’s Facebook page for my sins and am growing to loathe the whole concept of social media which may have coloured my judgement a bit – But I would contend that Goonerholic is allot different to Arsenal groups and posts on Farcebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like…
Superbly summed up, ,Holic.
I’ve pretty much decided to rent my ticket out next season – if I can find a taker – and it will be gone after that if things don’t change.
You may or may not be aware of the abuse I have taken over the weekend on another forum – and that was for objecting to being called a lazy bullshitter for saying the players at W Brom lacked desire.
I’ve had it with these self-trumpeting know-alls.
It’s supposed to be about the football, the team and some fun.
The financial demands of supporting your team have raise expectations to unrealistic levels, especially in the face of totally unfair financial competition from other clubs.
For me,there is little enjoyment left and plenty of other really important things to tend to.
I’ll always be glad to join you even for a single pint. The rest of it has changed – for now at least.
“My son cynically suggested Santi Cazorla”
Hasn’t put a foot wrong all season.
Well, apart from ‘that’ one – obviously ?
Note for the manager.
When you have to point to the failures of others in order to “prove” your case, you have lost the argument.
Doesn’t matter if Liverpool have never won the Premier League, because you’ve won it, it’s what you’re doing NOW that counts. Also, stop talking about how you built this club please. You didn’t.
“It’s not easy to replace Podolski in the team. He is unique. He is one of the greatest players that Germany has produced,” said boss Joachim Low.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39275693
Shame, perhaps, that wan’t the view at the Ems.
Point three – don’t go on about how winning isn’t everything at the same time as pointing out that Liverpool’s failures make your success 12 years ago somehow something to write home about. You can’t have it both ways.
Bloody hell I just wish he would shut the fuck up and get on with his job. Something he insists is all that matters (in between interviews for BeIn that is)
And while I am on the subject of pointless fuckwittery in the press, shut up Giroud. If you’re all behind the manager show it on the fucking pitch. Shut up and prove it where it matters.
End of rant.
For now 😉
Have we strung anybody up yet?
(Not that I’m advocating it, quite the opposite. Whatever that is.)
*whistles a happy tune*
Those of an ancient disposition may remember when Bruce Rioch stepped down a number of players including Bergkamp and Adams were unconvinced about the new man coming in. Bergkamp particularly believed that Rioch had helped him significantly in his first season. He confirmed this in his autobiography.
Although Rioch agreed contractually not to reveal his side of the story at Highbury, I happen to know some horrifying stories about how he was treated during his season in charge by Merson and Wright and he had major problems with Adams , the reason for which he revealed just after Wenger took over.
So player power ( Wright was briefing against Rioch to David Dein) is no new thing, even at Arsenal. But the recent amazing transformations at Chelsea and Leicester show how players’ attitudes can make or break managers.
It is entirely possible that if Wenger leaves we might retain Sanchez and Ozil and even Lucas if the new manager wants them. But we might lose Hector and I suspect a new manager like Allegri , for example wouldn’t fancy Theo or Giroud .
But I don’t expect Arsene to be leaving .
Some of us were continually bemused by the lack of playing time Poldi had under AW, Ned. Something to do with the manager’s apparent intruction to walk goals in rather than bazooker them from distance I suspect.
Now negotiations with Mesut and Alexis have been shelved till summer I have to conclude AW is staying. Unless he’s dodging the isue of course. Either way I guess it means they’ll both be gone after comparing Arsenal’s traditional cautious offers with the bucket-loads others will come armed with.
Then again, perhaps losing all three will allow a fresh, new, shiny start. Or not.
My mind is going numb….
Great read barman
I have defiantly leaned to the AW out camp and that is mainly based on the no show of any kind of plan B, and the constant everything is fine speech.
However I don’t believe any fan leaves their house to go to the game and thinks have I got my ticket, keys, wallet and o yes my banner. These are a by product of fans trying to vent their anger to a board only interested in a balance sheet.
AW takes all the flak as the board are as quite as a church mouse who`s lost his voice, and this anger is directed to the clubs figure head AW. He doesn’t help himself as everything is a secret, Im sure pen has already been put to paper but an announcement will be made soon, this is just another thing that infuriates fans who love the club and hates it being the laughing stock of the PL.
Tell us what is going on as without us you have nothing but a large building with signage on it. We are the Arsenal so show us some respect.
TTG – I remember Bergkamp speaking to the papers at the time of the sacking, saying Rioch was “absolutely the best coach for this club” (I think those are the exact words)
I’ve aways wondered how things would have gone if Rioch had stayed and Dein hadn’t been such a star fucker.
Don’t you just hate it when your expensive DVD boxed set, that has taken ages to work through, has a fucked disc about three from the end?
First world problems.
Or, with the advent of Bluray, is DVD now considered fit only for the third world? 🙂
Chris @76: I was one of those people who loved watching Podolski play in the Arsenal shirt. A true fox in the box who was so underused that it seems as if he was only here a season or two. Our attack was so much more potent with him in the team. A memory of when we were a team to be feared.
@66 Cynic
Apologies, I thought you were joking.
Personally, I don’t think Theo is shit
obviously as he’s scored a 100 goals
for us down the years, mostly playing
wide. But he’s too injury prone and
goes missing in too many games –
yes, I accept he pops up with an
important goal from time to time but
I want more from an attacker – i.e.
40 games a season, 12-15 goals and
to be hated by defenders as a real
fucking nuisance.
I don’t really mind if he stays as a
squad player as he is a goal threat
but if i was the manager I’d have
sold him at the last contract
renewal and bought someone more
reliable. Just an opinion – I don’t ‘hate’
him or think he’s shit or anything like
that.
Is Wenger out yet?
@69
Trev,
Yes 🙂
Our worst foot of the season by a
mile.
More on Podolski: It has been a long time since any Arsenal player has smiled as much as he did. Especially with Per and Santi out injured all season.
BT8
sorry mate,Poldi was rubbish at the Arse.
Couldn’t go the distance of a regular 90 minute lung buster in the EPL.
Coaching staff worked out pretty quickly that he wasn’t up to it.
Hence his limited starting appearances,and his regular stints as a sub.
The Germans just cannot cut it in the hurly burly/harem scarem EPL,where you have to be able to run bloody marathons just to keep up with the pace of the game.
Name me the last top German to be a success in the EPL.
Even Ozil has struggled many times in this environment.
Ballack couldn’t hack it at Chelsea,and he came in his prime.
Spent most of his time drifting in and out of the action,making it look like he was involved,but it fooled no one.
Schweinsteiger,a complete waste of time at Utd.
Even our BFG with a turning circle wider than the Titanic,needed a real speedster alongside him to cover his lack of speed.
You probably have to go back to Klinsmann for the last truly successful German player to hold his own in the EPL.
16 goals and 11 assists for Poldi in his first season for us, Clive. not to be gesundheited at. Jens Lehmann, apart from his CL Final red card, was generally good. Robert Huth had a more than useful 2016-17 season.
He lasted 2 and a bit seasons Chris,including to be fair a major hamstring injury which kept him out of action for a while.
But he was already a regular sub by then.
Be interesting to see his full figures,starts,sub appearances etc.
But Wenger got rid ” because of strong competition for places ” a euphemism for not being able to cut it.
Wasn’t the greatest trainer or tracker back.
Jens doesn’t count.
Outfielders only.
I must admit to being puzzled how a player even slower then Per ,and having had journeyman seasons at other clubs,wins the Title with Leicester.
Perhaps the quality of players around him masked his deficiencies.
Notably pretty average this season.
‘Strong competition for places’ but those that usurped his weren’t especially successful, Clive. There has to be something more to it than that. Another thing we’ll have to await AW’s bigraphy to clear up perhaps.
Not a lot of quality Germans seem to have been in the EPL in their prime.
But who cares frankly. The things we find to argue about in these troubling times! 🙂
Or, Chris@77, AW is leaving and Ozil and Sanchez are waiting to see who replaces him.
bt8b@81: Poldi joined Arsenal ahead of the 2012-13 season and was loaned to Inter Milan in the January transfer window of the 2014-15 season before being sold to Galatasaray at the end of that season. He played only 4,590 minutes over 82 games (equivalent to only 51 90 mins, which may back up Clive’s point @86) in all competitions for us, scoring 31 goals with 17 assists. He missed 23 games because of injury, mostly a torn muscle.
Bruce Rioch? Never sure why we appointed him in the first place and didn’t really care when he left. I’ve never spent a moment wondering what would have happened if he stayed and, now I do, I can’t imagine for a second that he would have brought us what Arsene did – apart from maybe the last couple of years.
UTA.
Here’s Wikipedia’s list of Germans who have played in the Premier League. So take your pick:
Markus Babbel – Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers – 2000–04
Michael Ballack – Chelsea – 2006–10
Stefan Beinlich – Aston Villa – 1992–94
Jérôme Boateng – Manchester City – 2010–11
Fredi Bobic – Bolton Wanderers – 2001–02[Note 37]
Matthias Breitkreutz – Aston Villa – 1992–94
Emre Can – Liverpool – 2014–
Sean Dundee – Liverpool – 1998–99[Note 14]
Steffen Freund – Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City – 1998–2004
Michael Frontzeck – Manchester City – 1995–96
Maurizio Gaudino – Manchester City – 1994–95
Serge Gnabry – Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion – 2012–14, 2015–16
İlkay Gündoğan – Manchester City – 2016–
Dietmar Hamann – Newcastle United, Liverpool, Manchester City – 1998–2009
Thomas Helmer – Sunderland – 1999–2000
Thomas Hitzlsperger – Aston Villa, West Ham United, Everton – 2000–05, 2010–11, 2012–13
Lewis Holtby – Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham – 2012–15
Robert Huth – Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Leicester City – 2001–
Eike Immel – Manchester City – 1995–96
Loris Karius – Liverpool – 2016–
Steffen Karl – Manchester City – 1993–94
Jan Kirchhoff – Sunderland – 2015–
Jürgen Klinsmann – Tottenham Hotspur – 1994–95, 1997–98
Lars Leese – Barnsley – 1997–98
Jens Lehmann – Arsenal – 2003–08, 2010–11
Stefan Malz – Arsenal – 1999–2001
Marko Marin – Chelsea – 2012–13[Note 38]
Alberto Mendez – Arsenal – 1997–99
Per Mertesacker – Arsenal – 2011–16
Shkodran Mustafi – Arsenal – 2016–
Savio Nsereko – West Ham United – 2008–09[Note 39]
Mesut Özil – Arsenal – 2013–
Sergio Peter – Blackburn Rovers – 2005–07
Lukas Podolski – Arsenal – 2012–15[Note 12]
Nick Proschwitz – Hull City – 2013–14
Karl-Heinz Riedle – Liverpool – 1997–2000
Sascha Riether – Fulham – 2012–14
Uwe Rösler – Manchester City, Southampton – 1993–96, 2000–02
Leroy Sané – Manchester City – 2016–
Stefan Schnoor – Derby County – 1998–2001
André Schürrle – Chelsea – 2013–15
Bastian Schweinsteiger – Manchester United – 2015–16
Lennard Sowah – Portsmouth – 2009–10
Michael Tarnat – Manchester City – 2003–04
Gerhard Tremmel – Swansea City – 2011–15
Moritz Volz – Fulham – 2003–08
Stefan Wessels – Everton – 2007–08
Philipp Wollscheid – Stoke City – 2014–17
Christian Ziege – Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur – 1999–2004
Sorry if this is inappropriate after yesterday, but life goes on. I was living in London in 1979 – 1983 when the IRA were having virtually weekly attacks on us. Londoners then gently grumbled and got on with their lives. That’s what we have to do now.
So it is with pleasure that I can tell you that I’ve got my semi final tickets. Lower tier, behind the goal.
We’re gonna win the Cup!
Amen to that C100.
What comes may, support The Arsenal.
I always felt Rioch was maligned by Arsenal. He was fiery and almost puritanical, but HE signed Messrs Bergkamp and Platt. He began the ‘hearts and minds’ approach to style that moved us from the latter dour nature of GG’s reign to ‘ball to feet’.
It was Rioch that put Keown in midfield to complete his education and it was Rioch that unshackled our fullbacks and Arsene that continued the good work.
Not quite the ‘yes’ man the Board were looking for. But, I vividly remember the change of style.
Equally, this is not to malign GG – he gave me my finest moment thus far. Anfield 89.
I am firmly ‘no new contract’. Every star burns out eventually. What we are looking at is a fading light.
…and one who did NOT build the bloody club (if he says that one more time…). He built a new stadium with his chums and, frankly, we needn’t have bloody bothered. Highbury was ideal size for the top 4-8 outfit , “not quite at it in Europe” club we have become. And yes, yes, he was great for 10 years, wouldn’t deny that for a moment. COYG.
I think there is almost a Goonerholic consensus emerging ! Most correspondents seem to believe that Wenger was a breath of fresh air but has stayed too long . I’m in that camp myself but like many Gooners I hope that we can handle his departure with a dignity that sets us apart, mainly because Wenger deserves huge respect whatever his perceived failings now.
My colleagues who are closer to the club than me tell me he will stay but with a new structure and an agreed succession plan and frankly it would be negligent to appoint a 67 year- old without that. I think the Board come out of this with no credit whatsoever. They’ve given Wenger too much authority and exercised very little scrutiny as if the man could and would go on forever. Whether they are capable of implementing and policing this new plan only time will tell but my sense is they are uneasy about football matters ( yes really!) and may appoint someone who is a bridge between Wenger and the board, particularly Josh Kroenke. If this is the case there is a strong chance that Thierry Henry will be that man and our next manager.
New stadium site agreed for Everton FC.
Buyer beware.
Ttg@97: You have succinctly summarized the intent of the bar. I hope, though, that you are wrong about TH14 being the next manager, or at least coach as I assume that is what the role would become under the arrangements you outline (unless I have misunderstood you and TH14 would take on the director of football role in that scheme of affairs). I would prefer the statement of intent that appointing a coach with proven European club credentials would make, a person such as Allegri or Tuchel, for example.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL
Well in for the ton, Cynic.
It’s all I have ever done in life, but at my age I’ll take that.
peripherals jockeying as per
.
.
media whores
Sorry to read your news, Trev. Hope that in real life much better family news is being experienced? I don’t mind admitting the Arsenal have got me a bit down right now.
Daft, innit. S’only football.
R.I.P.
cba, good to see you.
Hope you are in good spirits my friend.
Fine ton, Cynic.
Ned
I’m not sure what the role would be. I assume he would take over from Steve Bould as coach but this would mean we have another director of football. I understand Dick Law is leaving and this means that we might have a bit of politics going on .
The issue seems to be that Thierry and Kroenke Jr ( Arsenal is his train set) are increasingly close..oo-er…and that is what I based my hunch on. Not sure how Thierry and Arsene are getting on but Thierry would have to give up his punditry to work full- time at the club.
I share your concerns that Arsenal is a big job to cut your teeth at but Zidane has done very well in Madrid
I just wanted to pick up on what ‘Holic said about the season ticket being the first thing to go. This season I gave up my half share in the same because I just hated the whingeing that went on around me in the ground and as a result, wasn’t enjoying my day out. I firmly believe that we will only actually get the board’s attention once the season ticket waiting list is a thing of the past. I’m not trying to encourage anyone to desert the cause; good for you all (provided you’re going to support the team), but the club takes no notice of sentient beings these days, only numbers on a balance sheet!
Thanks Sid.
A short few words re last night is now up. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
grand altogether ‘holic
.
not a great time
.
a great tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYJO5fJgNSQ
.
any god’s amount o bullshit
i’ve heard today
contrived yesterday
heard today
.
anyhoo
.
talking of another tower of a man
trev – let me know who that cunt is
that called you a lazy ginger* bullshitter
.
i’ll go round his house
show him a real bullshitter
(probably late afternoonabouts)
.
*i may have added that
fuck it
tv off
music on
.
i’ve found a site
i’ll share it
has better tunes
than the clash
.
youtube
(shuffle)
you practically never hear them
it’s brilliant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJpYyVROqg
i dunno !
fuck
youtube suggestions , is it ?
i can’t get away from the fuckin clothes horses
posture posture
.
alright then
here’s a whole clash album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-GueNOKolo
only joking
joe st.john strummer
knew a good tune
when he stole one
as indeed did
mick common as muck jones
woooo hoooooo
post chevron
where it’s at !!!!
yeaahhhhHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!
.
WHO’S WITH ME ? ????
*whittles*
not a fucker !
feckin shower
typical
sorry ‘hol
sorry c100
been standing on me tongue
for hours
“gently grumbled” ?
.
not my recollection
nor anybody’s
of kaleidoscopic thinking
name
or haircut
.
.
.
there is no chance
i will make the 2 ton
wi my back n Ronnie Barker’s feet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt-GeuNAQKU
better here
shoals o twats are thinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFJi3l1DPWk&app=desktop
dinner is on
.
.
.
chip butties
fuck the fuck off wi yer oul jealousy
(as blogs would say – getting the parlance all wrong)
fuckin free state fake fucker
undercover spud
*dublin accent*
let them eat fake