Supporting The Arsenal Next Season? Of Course
May 30th, 2017 by 'holic
David Ornstein’s piece on the BBC website about Arsene Wenger signing on for a further two years has not surprisingly poked the hornets nest that is Twitter. If and when the confirmation is released by Arsenal the warm glow of a magnificent performance on Saturday will leave some, that seems certain.
I don’t intend to let it have such an impact on me. Arsenal’s wonderful victory in the FA Cup Final has put me in a really good place and I will not be made to leave there by a decision entirely out of my own hands. We have different ways of supporting the club, and different views about the way forward, but at the end of the day we are at the mercy of a majority owner who is clearly happy with the way things are.
It isn’t a secret that I feel this would have been a great way for Arsene to bow out, head held high, his last memories of a delighted following at Wembley. Instead he clearly wants to move on and attempt to put right what has clearly gone wrong in the last decade. He obviously believes there is at least one more title, or if we can secure qualification next season, one last crack at the Champions League in him.
I don’t share that view, but I do accept it is not my call, and I do not believe that protesting and adding to the negativity around the club is something I should be doing. It’s a personal thing and you should do as you see fit. I will see fewer matches next season, but that will be down to the number of Sunday/Monday/Thursday fixtures and not a message about the man in charge.
I think Stan Kroenke is being very pragmatic in making the deal. The club is in no position to bring in just one man to do all of the jobs that Arsene does. The structure is not in place to bring in just a top class coach, and it seems others are attempting to force a new structure capable of enabling a smooth transition. Good for them if that is the case, but Arsene has added shrewd politician to his armoury of qualifications.
We can only hope that Arsene will continue to work with those he has ‘trumped’ to put such a structure in place by May 2019, for this must surely be his last chance saloon? Don’t misinterpret that. I want him to land that fourth Premier League title, that first Champions League, more than anything in fact. It would crown a remarkable reign. I just can’t see it happening.
So in August I will be back up the Arsenal, exercising my lungs in support of my club, and wishing the current manager every success. His successor is surely only two years away, and we must use those 24 months to prepare the club to be even more successful under whoever that turns out to be.
Take care, ‘holics.
194 Responses to “Supporting The Arsenal Next Season? Of Course”
I can always wait till 2020 for us to win the PL again. Spineless board with a shameless manager= Two year contract extension. See you all in January when we will be going through the same old shit from the past 6-7 years.
This is going to be fun, isn’t it? ?
that’s a nice read ‘holic
cheers big man
UP THE ARSENAL
The key to happiness..having low expectations.
Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised.
Up The Arse!
😀
Thanks cba. ?
Hear! Hear! ‘h!
Now for Jeremy Corbyn to become Prime Minister and we’ll have a Full House!
It’s been three days since I returned from Wembley yet I’m still on a massive high. Always thought I was discerning but given the gloom enveloping some Gooners I’d now have to conclude I’m easy to please. 🙂
Will be there with you next season ‘holic.
Couldn’t have put it better, Guv’nor (and not for the first time).
SAG: Winnie the Pooh comes to mind: ‘Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.’
Were I a betting man, Dapper Dan, I would wager that Arsenal wins the CL before Corbyn becomes the UK’s prime minister.
The Wenger years in numbers and charts: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39231549
It’s difficult to imagine what would be ‘new’ about a ‘new’ structure – other than the obvious change in a change of manager. The DoF route seems a prosaic and well trodden one and in itself doesn’t offer any greater chance of success but if a new structure were needed why wouldn’t Wenger be part of it, if structure is all it is? The reality is that the structure is more or less meaningless, little at all in fact, without the right people.
It’s funny how things work out. A wonderful trip to Wembley has been followed by 3 tortuous days at work. Long, hard and dealing with total vermin. I get home tonight, change, grab a beer and for the first time I sit down to watch the extended highlights of the final.
It’s then that I log in and read your excellent post H. The facts are really incredibly simple. If you support a club, then you support that club. That doesn’t stop you having and opinion and it certainly doesn’t stop you voicing it. On that point alone, in my sincerely humble opinion, when it came Mrs that the football side of the club, out board are fucking useless. In fact, they abuse the privilege of being fucking useless. Ivan Gazidis? A man depriving a village of its idiot. As I said, just my opinion.
Now that we’ve all agreed that the board are not fit for purpose, you have to ask, do you trust them to select a replacement for AW as and when that time arrives? That time for many is now, but for me it is quite clear that they have no idea about finding a successor. AW is the easy option for the rabbits well and truly looking straight at the headlights.
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. Personally, I think Klopp was an ideal fit for us. But that ship sailed some years ago.
If AW is to get the two year extension that is being widely reported then it’s time to get behind the team and show your support regardless. I will be one of the first to voice my opinion in the coming season. But my support, on the odd occasion I actually make a game, won’t waiver.
The board in my opinion don’t have the ability at this moment in time to deal with AW’s departure. But I also believe that AW deserves our respect. He has earned that. He has certainly not deserved the idiots and fuckwit minority that take their hand made A4 bits of paper and embarrass our wonderful club.
Go to The Grove. Support your team. Drink ale and debate in the pub on Sunday n this bar. But show respect and support your team.
That is all.
Ned@9. Dare I say it but I’ve got more chance of scoring the winner in that final than Corbyn being elected UK PM.
?
Steve ??
I’ll be there more than any of the last 5 years. I felt so meh about it all, then I really plumbed the depths this season and regularly tweeted my support of the Wenger Out movement, I was so done.
And I can’t explain it but that cup final somehow brought my fervour and enjoyment back. To be honest I didn’t want him to stay but what can you do. Here we are, and all we can do is believe and take each game as it comes.
THE Neighbour is coming home
Having sat and watched the final again, (we won by the way) I have a few observations.
1) How good were the crowd? All I could hear were Gooners. The one exception was when The Chavs scored but then Rambo put that one to bed.
2) Leaders. I have moaned for ages about a lack of leadership on the pitch. Big Per makes a difference. Nacho was running around full of passion whilst guiding others. Others lead by example. What a difference that made?
3) The amount of chances we created. If we had an RVP, Henry, Wright etc we would score millions.
4) What an all round great team performance. If only we had played with that passion all season?
5) The officials. What a great game the officials had. I get bored with those that blame officials 48 hours before kick off to try and mask our own short comings. Having watched the game again I thought they were excellent.
6) The fans. Just awesome throughout.
What a great day.
It’s much easier to be relaxed and sanguine about the situation at the moment. Saturday was a wonderful experience and a terrific sign of what the squad can do when it plays to its potential. I silenced a particularly annoying Chelsea fan today something I never expected to do after their title triumph.
There is a set of alternative facts that will be spun by the WOBs. Why did we enjoy such a poor season when we can outplay the Champions so comprehensively.
I am very much with the Guvna and Steve T’s comments . Arsenal are and always will be my club and part of the joy of supporting your team is that they can lift you to heights of joy and excitement that are completely unexpected. I have been deeply pessimistic about this team and Saturday astonished me as much as it delighted me. Part of the pessimism arises because our Board is so incompetent. I’m hearing that Wenger wants to stay well beyond two years and they will probably let him and part of the reason is because as Steve says they don’t know what to do next.
Gazidis has been speaking utter bollocks, a not unusual situation. Wenger has got him right where he wants him but in the chaos below stairs some interesting news emerged. Wenger wants the BFG to join the coaching staff. He might be a substantial figure going forward in the future of this club. He is intelligent, inspiring and able to gain respect. What he did on Saturday is also the stuff of legend. Watch this ( very large) space.
So I think the Wenger decision is wrong but I know why they made it. We hear tonight also that Onyekuru may be on his way to the club. I can’t believe he will be a shoo- in for a work permit but after Rob Holding I won’t rubbish a signing just because the fee is low. With Nwakali ( similar age no work permit ) looking promising in Holland it might be that Nigerians will figure large in the future of Arsenal as well.
Agreed gents. We go into a new season with a new formation that has ended the season majestically, if a little later than was necessary. It appears to be working, but let’s understand it is another option we have, there are others.
The Times are reporting the definite departures of Sanchez and Ozil. Sanchez to Bayern and Ozil wants to run down his contract and leave for free. That ain’t gong to happen. If it’s true then it already throws into disarray Arsene’s plans to keep them at the club and sigh one or two others. It makes the summer yet again about transfers. We will have the need to sign several expensive marquee type players without CL football. Let’s hope the Times knows as little as most current journalists.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pi74Ohov3z4
This is the time……
One for you to salivate over CBA
@Goonerholic
Agree. Nearly all of our players played to their strengths and lessened the weakness in a 3 man defense formation.
This 3 man defense formation shows that the team is able to adapt and can play in a different system with authority.
AW was flexible enough to give it a go but was late to do so as he said himself.
But one thing is clear that the team has the ability to play 3-man or 4-man defense formations and we have the resources to shift things before/during games.
The board and management have 2.5 months of pre-season to complete required tasks and prepare the club for a title challenge (plus aim to win the cups)
Lets hope for the best.
UTA! 🙂
A man who has supported the Arsenal for nearly half a century now, is unable to feel any satisfaction from the news that his club’s best ever manager, who is nearly 70 years old, may carry on for another two years.
He would rather prefer a Sp*rs manager.
He is pathetic.
The Times is rarely correct so I’m not too worried about their report.
I expect most players would like to run down their contract – perhaps
his BFF Flamster told Ozil all about the rewards of leaving on a free.
I hope we our best offer on the table in a take it or leave it approach
and force a quick decision, the more things drag on, the worse for us.
What’s best from an internal contract negotiation perspective is not
always best from an external perspective – i.e. to other players and
our fans. Our thinking is too narrowly issue focused at times. Of
course we want to keep Sanchez and Ozil but only if they want to
commit to staying, there’s been enough time to consider. Put
forward our best offer now and sign or go should be the message.
We are The Arsenal and we should show confidence that we can
bring top players to our great club, that is leadership to me. No
excuses, no whining about it’s complicated. Of course it is, now get
it fucking well done.
@BB in the last drinks. Completely agree, I can forgive everything
except abject surrender !
I wouldn’t give too much credit to having a back 3 in the last weeks. Most of the games were against clubs who were already on holiday or stuck in an end of year time warp for one reason or another, and that includes the chavs who played as if a league/cup double was a formality. The exception of course was the LWCs, who ran rings around our defence.
It’s not the tactics that worked so well it was the attitude of the players which was chalk and cheese compared with too many earlier performances.
Chris@25: I would argue that 3-4-3 is a highly suitable for our squad. The formation is inherently attacking, it works best with forwards that have the speed, dribbling ability and readiness to switch positions frequently, and are as comfortable out wide as in the middle. It enables high pressing and provides defense against central attacks (our centre halves have always looked vulnerable to direct runs against them). We also have four potential wing-backs in Nacho, the Ox, Bellerin and Gibbs able to mitigate the vulnerability of 3-4-3 to wide attackers. But what has really made the system work for us is that Xhaka and Ramsey have found the necessary self-discipline as the defensive midfielders while still playing box-to-box.
I would argue that our squad is strong enough to have won most of those 3.4.3. games with any number of formations. It it was good fortune allied to good attitude that won us a string of games against modest opposition, despite struggling to score a lot of the time and getting by with a couple of deflected goals and a penalty at one stage.
3.4.3. certainly didn’t work against the spuds, the only team in the run who looked properly motivated to win.
I’d also suggest that only Bellerin of your wingbacks is real quality and that Ox and Gibbs can be serious liabilities in both attack and defence.
Xhaka and Rambo do work well together and both have been slowly improving all season. But they play more like two old-fashioned half-backs than DMFs, imo.
What I’d like to hear from the club today is that this will be AW’s last contract before his retirement and that the club recognises that it will divide opinion. Then surely we can all agree that we can get behind the team as much as possible and give it our all together over the next 2 years?
I’m sick of our fanbase fighting with each other, surely genuine fans only want what’s best for the club irrespective of who’s in charge, who plays where and what colour our away shirts are? It’s not a matter of one side winning and the other losing, as ‘holic says, we’re not the ones making the decision here, a decision has simply been reached.
So I think it’s time for genuine supporters to decide whether you’re in or out. If you’re in, support the team and respect your fellow supporters and let’s give it our best to make match days a positive and enjoyable experience for all.
According Gary Lineker, Arsenal are “further behind than Wenger thinks”.
I think that the jug-eared tosspot should stick to what he is good at – which as far as I can remember, is shitting himself in the middle of a football pitch.
NBN, Me man Corbyn’ll show y’all on the 8th June! You wait! @MomentumOx
If Sanchez and/or Ozil leave; game over already before the season even starts; and that’s even with the new 3-4-3 formation or not. The Ox will invariably then also follow them out, and no new ready-made worldies will replace them to compensate without CL and equally world class players to play alongside. Both Kroenke and Wenger will then have already made a huge rod for their own backs. What Sanchez and Ozil now do is the only barometer that matters of what’s really going on internally. If they sign on and stay, it’ll now show that Arsene Wenger and Kroenke finally have ambition as a partnership. If either or both don’t sign; toodle-oo!
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Up the Corbynesters!
From the BBC site:
“Neither Arsenal nor Wenger, 67, see this as definitely being his final contract.”
Don’t underestimate the stubbornness of Wenger and the complacency of Kroenke. Wenger will cling to this job as long as he can. For me, if next season shows no sign of improvement I’ll be campaigning to get him out or it will never happen.
Dapper (30) – it’ll be sad if either of the big two leave but we can’t force them to sign contracts and I only want people at the club who want to play for us. The club will still be here either way, no player is bigger than the club. Personally, as much as I love him as a player, I think Ozil is quite replaceable – there are a vast number of creative midfielders out there who would love the opportunity to play in a free number 10 role and maybe they’ll offer us something different too? Alexis would be harder to replace but we replaced Brady, Vieira, Pires, Henry, Bergkamp and he’ll also be replaced. All players are transitory.
Dorsey Mick (29) – Lineker didn’t win a league title in his career – one FA Cup, one Spanish equivalent and one CWC in 16 seasons of professional football – he wouldn’t have a clue what it takes.
Well said, ‘holic.
Gus Caesar, if I may ask who did we replace Viera and Henry with? We still have not replaced Van Persie? and its been how many years now? No player is bigger than the club, same can be said about a manager too. At this point, we have to support the team of course. I am hoping this will be his last contract. We will win the PL again some day, I just don’t see us winning it under Wenger.
Excellent analysis, Holic.
One should only worry about those things that one can influence. If those spotty yoofs think they have any influence upon the Board’s decision with their e-whining, shabby banners and tawdry marches then they are even more misguided than they are offensive.
A wonderful epistle from Steve T at 12. Always a wise word from that quarter.
It’s been a fractious and unpleasant season off the pitch for Gooners and I don’t see that changing soon. Our image around the country has been seriously tarnished amongst our fellow football fans and I don’t see that changing soon either.
I do believe that we have several seasons of transition ahead of us as I really cannot now see the long-unsigned Sanchez and Ozil contracts being signed this summer. In which case I expect them to be sold to be replaced by young aspiring prospects rather than marquee signings (I hope someone has put the toys back in the prams so they can be thrown out again). If they re-sign will that be a sign that the manager still has a bit of influence? Fingers crossed, as, flawed as each is, they represent key building blocks for continuing upward progress.
The other reason I expect transition is that surely the ‘restructuring’ is geared around succession planning. No successor will be able to fill the full extent of the roles that Wenger does and he can only do so as they have grown up around him. A new contract was inevitable this summer as there has clearly been no attempt hitherto to address this not to mention the paucity of suitable candidates (Tuchel? Give me a break!). Had we parted company now the club would have been plunged into chaos of the degree that only a Shadow Cabinet member could possibly comprehend.
The delight of Saturday’s unexpected win and the extent of the team’s (sadly unrequited) dominance was wonderful and like the Guvna, I will cling to that for as long as it lasts.
COYG
Agree with most of what’s above. The board have bought themselves a bit of time with the new contract, next it’s:
– sign Ozil and Sanchez, then
– get at least one big signing in in time for preseason (if we can assume Kolasinic counts as a done deal).
Fail on any of these and we’ll know next season will be the same or worse than this one.
I’ll be there next season.
Hopefully more frequently than the one just passed.
Although my Brownie Points are seriously in deficit, after the last two weekends. 👿
SanAntonioGUnner 34) – We replaced them with Fabregas and Van Persie and we replaced Van Persie with Alexis.
I thought Alexis was a winger who scores more goals than our actual striker ( Giroud)….. Yea and how did that work out? replacing Viera with fabregas?
SanAntonioGUnner – You asked a question and I answered it. As I say, players are transitory, but what you seem to be conveniently overlooking is that Vieira and Henry were pretty much irreplaceable, they were the finest in their positions at the time. Using the difficult job of replacing them as a stick to beat the club with and conveniently forgetting the context at that time strikes me as odd – there are things you could understandably get angry about (if you’re that way inclined) but that one doesn’t strike me as sensible.
I agree with everything else you say – I also don’t think we’ll win the league under Wenger, but I’ll get behind the team 100% and will cry like a baby if I’m proved wrong.
“I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement,” said Wenger.
We love it too Arsene and most of us have loved it longer than you have! How long is this “future” that you’re looking forward to exactly?
“This is a strong group of players and with some additions we can be even more successful,” Wenger told the club website.
So you’re going to keep ALL of the players that you currently have (that’s including Sanchez & Ozil), and you’ll add some more to try to win more than just the FA Cup?
“We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge and that will be our focus this summer and next season.”
So your aim is to really now try to win the league next season and to not just be happy with getting into the top 4?
All noted Le Prof and Great! However; just pardon me if I don’t hold my breath in expectation of Sanchez & Ozil staying, and of your subsequently being able to win the league.
AFCOF
Gus Caesar.. I understand your points, but I just don’t believe the club cared enough to replace henry, especially. We had two opportunities to do that with either Higuaín or Suarez and we fucked up in both situations. Me supporting the team doesn’t necessarily mean I should care for a man that thinks he is the more important than the club he claims to love. Twenty three years and 3 PL. I will give him credit for the 6 FA cups. They should have given him a 5 years contract that way we don’t have to be here saying the same shit a year from now.
Piers Moron’s latest tweet:
As promised, I will now never tweet about Wenger again.
It’s over. #Afc
Hahahaha twat! Love it! I hope you back that up with action, you fatuous bellend.
Chris
We wouldn’t have won on Saturday unless we played 3-4-3 nor would we have beaten Citeh. The system has provided cover for us defensively – can you imagine how much easier it was for the BFG playing in a 3? Holding has had the benefit of two experienced defenders around him.
It has liberated our wing backs who are better going forward and on Saturday curbed the attacking tendencies of the two best wing backs in the league over the season. It has given us much better balance in midfield where Ramsey and Xhaka have hit their best form of the season( no coincidence) . Upfront it has given Ozil and Sanchez a lot of freedom which they have exploited well. Welbeck’s mobility was crucial in the system on Saturday.
Having seen our last 4-2-3-1 game live at Palace let me assure you it has brought about a massive improvement . I think it is here to stay and on top of that it has helped to match up with other teams who are increasingly playing this season.
Despite some negative comments from those around the interwebs waiting to pounce on our every defeat or setback.. we can do well next season …covfefe!
😀
TTG knows. ??
That’s fair enough SanAntonioGunner, you’re entitled to your opinion. I personally don’t believe we did mess up on Suarez knowing what I do about what went on there. Give me Alexis over Higuain any day. And 10 trophies in 20 years ain’t bad at all, you won’t find many at a 4th biggest club with a record like that.
1. I think the shift to 343 has been an important factor in our recent improvement. One of the main problems we had earlier this season , (and before),was vulnerability to counter-attacks. This formation effectively encourages at least 3 players to cover deep even when both fullbacks attack. Also I would love to see us try out the BFG in a back three with Kos and Holding.
2. The win on Saturday for me makes a big difference to Wenger’s long term legacy. The weight of 3 FA cup wins in 4 years makes the second half of Wenger’s reign far look from a complete failure.
3. I agree with those arguing that now the decision has been made we need to support Arsene and the team 100%, and not get on their backs at the first sign of a setback.
You can’t underestimate the role 3-5-2 played in the turnaround in our season as TTG says. It has simultaneously shored up the most dangerous spots on the pitch which are in and around the centre backs, and in the channels between CB and FB. I think 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 is too much of an indulgence in requiring 4 specialist wide-men to hug the flanks, when in a sense, if you’ve got 2 great athletes – they can do the entire job. Someone like the Ox is liberated because he gets the ball in open space rather than in tight positions closer to the opposition byline surrounded by opposition defenders. It’s also given Xhaka and Ramsey some freedom with 3 CBs behind them, and Ozil and Sanchez are liberated from being wide men, and can find the gaps in the opposition formation.
And before I hear the line about Spurs beating us comprehensively disproving the relevance of 3-5-2. Well, no formation is a panacea for winning every game, but I’d say winning 9 of 10 including victories over Man C, Man U and Chelsea is quantifiable evidence enough. Let’s give Spurs some credit for actually just being a pretty dynamic side at home and being much better than us on the day.
This isn’t just a bandwagon appreciation though, as I’ve always been a big fan of 3-5-2 since it was a fad in the Hoddle/England days of the late ’90s. I was never sure why so few teams retained it – especially as it’s ideal for solidifying a side.
You give Kroenke too much credit. He has given Wenger 2 more years not because he sees the need to put in a transition plan. As long as Wenger keeps the money rolling in, Silent Stan will keep renewing Wenger’s contract. He is clueless about football.
When have you ever heard ANY mention of succession planning from anybody at the club ??? A leopard will not change his spots. You saw Wenger’s reaction about the possibility of a Director of Football at the press conference a few weeks back.
Nothing will change as long as the fans continue to accept being treated with contempt by the club, cash cows to be milked and exploited.
Not me, I am done with Arsenal Disney Corp. I will return one day if it goes back to being a football club but I am not optimistic.
Today’s news was hardly a surprise for me but it was very welcome for all that.
I wouldn’t have been unhappy to see Arsene leave on Sunday on a FA Cup high IF (very big IF) a better candidate had been identified, had been available and had wanted to come to Arsenal. The ‘top club successful coach’ shop window is a big one. The trouble is that at present it’s nearly empty and there are some real doggies in there. Buyer be VERY aware. (BTW, I would also have celebrated Arsene’s appointment at Barcelona had he left for a much easier time).
I do not buy the proposition that any change is better than no change. In the circumstances, the board’s decision is a very sound one. They do, however, need to 1) increase financial support with a higher level of risk tolerance (£200M transfer fund is realistic with prudent squad management and 2) begin succession planning for 2019/20 now (that’s the minimum that well run businesses – which Arsenal is – undertake. (Spot on, Holic)
For my part the season just finished has been an enjoyable success. With three trophies up for grabs and two teams operating on a financial footing that makes a joke of any notion of FFP, winning the second biggest award was a great outcome. There were a great many highs and yes, the lows were there too, but that’s what adds the interest, the texture and builds the excruciating emotions that football delivers.
It has been a delight to be present with the team at Wembley five times in the last three years, see five wins, Chelsea beaten twice and Man City made to suck up their petrodollars. Last Saturday’s win was, without doubt, the one I enjoyed the most and I’m still buzzing.
Like our barman “In August I will be back up the Arsenal, exercising my lungs in support of my club, and wishing the current manager every success”. And as far as a fourth Premier League title is concerned? I can see it happening 🙂
dbq @50. I will try and keep this polite and respectful. You cannot be a real supporter if you are now “done”. I have followed the club since age 7, in 1964. Trust me I have seen far worse than this. I would still be at games, home and away, in my red and white, if we were relegated. I do not recognise you as a valid supporter of this football club.
In contrast, I agree with every word written by BtM @51.
There we go again.. Yep countryman100 you are the real supporter? there lies the problem.. support Wenger and his bullshit.. real supporter, don’t support his shit.. then you are a fake supporter. Who cares how long you have been supporting Arsenal. There are fans that have been supporting Arsenal longer than that so what?..
SAG. It’s nothing to do with supporting Wenger. My point is that I would support the club whoever was managing.
I have a lifelong friend who supports Crystal Palace. He is currently amused that some Arsenal fans are in ferment at a time when we are celebrating our 3rd FACup win in 4 years having outclassed the Champions in a glorious final. He says he would love to have that problem at Palace who lost the second final in their history last year.
I think we need to get a perspective . BTM put it very well. I personally would have liked to see Wenger leave on a glorious high on Saturday and I would love Kroenke to sell his majority stake in the club.
But while Wenger is our manager he has my support even though I may be critical of some decisions . Why?
Firstly because as Countryman says we have had MUCH worse teams and managers in the past and Arsenal are my team . I will support them wherever they play because nobody can or should expect to have unalloyed success and if that’s all you expect you have a strange view of supporting a football team. Secondly I was immensely impressed and moved by Saturday. He got that Arsenal team to school Chelsea in the showpiece game of the season. It proved to me he still despite his many faults has the ability to remotivate this team. Thirdly unless Allegri or Simeone or Ancellotti are available I don’t want us to end up with the likes of Roberto Mancini or Eddie Howe or Sam fucking Allardyce in We ger’s place. It would be like trading your Jaguar for a mid- range Volvo which is the point BTM is making.
It may well be that tip- top managers were approached and found unavailable but I’m not sure that’s giving this board too much credit for initiative. Let’s get behind Wenger despite any reservations we might harbour because if he did manage one last magnificent hurrah this would be a story that would rank with any in our club’s history
To repeat my point earlier, 3-4-3/3-5-2/3-4-2 or some variant thereof with three at the back, two wingbacks, two DMs and three fast and mobile attackers suits the talents we have available. There is an old saying in football, play the formation to suit the players or pick the players to suit the formation. It wasn’t until the last 10 games of the season that we got round to doing either by doing the former.
I can see this debate from both sides. On one hand I empathise with SAG, this season was sickening at times and I even took up F1 to take my mind off Arsenal. I can understand the viewpoint that fans have a right to vocalise their frustrations with the club.
But I can also see where Countryman and TTG are coming from. You two were supporting the gooners when I was potty training so you have a lot of perspective and like you say we’ve been way worse than this – I just don’t know it because I’ve only known Wenger as manager.
For me, that cup final was redemption. It’s been years since football really took me out of myself and my 3 yr old daughter was alarmed by my falling on my knees and shouting at the TV. I’m not saying it wipes the slate clean but it certainly makes me feel cautiously optimistic for next season. And it taught me a valuable lesson in sticking by your team.
Whilst some of the doomers are at it again – I would completely agree with holic about supporting the team wholeheartedly.
I can understand the trepidation of some of the fans about the same/similar failures that plague us in January-February but to be so certain and advance moan about it is pointless. We will see when we get there.
I am very optimistic about things just like every summer, this time more so because of our best FA cup final win under Wenger and also the swap to the 3-4-3 system. And I also think we will tie down Alexis and Ozil under contract extensions. I don’t expect any huge name signings though. I think we will sign effective players who are perhaps in the second rung of ‘in demand’ players – someone like a Xhaka or Mustafi but no break the bank Griezmanns for us. If we’re able to do keep Alexis and Ozil and do that kind of business, it would be a great summer for the club. Arsene has already indicated the need to trim the squad and the departures of Debuchy, Gibbs, Jenks, and sadly Lucas & Wilshere seem imminent. I would not be surprised to see Theo leave if we sign a good wide player and retain the Ox.
In retrospect that final was huge for the club. Imagine if we had lost, the club would have been in no position to deal with either the managerial situation or the Sanchez-Ozil contracts.
Sad to hear our little magician Santi, had another operation on his Ankle on Monday.
He has now had 8 surgeries on it,and the earliest he expects to be back is Oct/Nov.
That is of course if this op is successful.
Fingers crossed for him,as it will be a full year out with injury by the time he returns.
Hopefully he still has some more good football years left in him.
It’s good to read that most of you are forming the same opinions that have been churning in me since Saturday.
I’ve been clamouring for AW to leave for a good few years now, stampy foot annoyed at times due to his lack of willingness to change (tactically) when things clearly aren’t working out.
Yet, – whatever the reasons that the change came – what I saw on Saturday I liked. And if that is going to apply to Huddersfield away on a wet Monday night then 2 more years I can live with.
Like the Guvnor says, not that we have any real choice anymore anyway.
BTW, for the tacticians out there, don’t you think the formation could be better described as 5-4-1, morphing into 3-4-3 only when in possession and going forward?
BFG was my MOTM as a footnote.
COYG 🙂
Good stuff BtM, CM100 and TTG.
I think the self-entitlement, lack of perspective, neediness, economic illiteracy, lack of loyalty and lack of backbone is a generational thing.
It’s time to bring back conscription. ?
That is very bad news on Santi. Tough
to come back from so much time out.
I really hope he does but we will need
to be patient as he tries.
I honestly have no idea how you
stop supporting your team, but
agree with SAG, each to their
own is fair.
@63
Hello Bath,
And the birch? You forgot about
bringing back the birch 😉
Too right Bath, and I would conscript Griezmann, Messi, Reus and Hummels for starters.
MtS@62: Yours is a better description of how a side that uses a diamond in front of its back-three (like Chelsea) plays the formation than one like us which plays a box midfield. It is also important to note that the first line of defense in a back-three formation is your front three pressing the opposing back line to cut down their outlets.
Now so many top Premiership teams are using a back three, it will be interesting to see who comes up next season with an effective counter-strategy. My guess is that the measure of tactical nous, for better or worse, will be which team is better at switching formations during games.
On a historical note, in a sense, we’ve just gone back to a modernized form of the WM formation that Herbert Chapman and his captain Charlie Buchan invented in the 1930s, when they dropped the centre half back between the full backs, played the wing halves wide and dropped the inside forwards into the gap between them, leaving three at the front (including wingers who broke with tradition to cut inside).
I was on sabbatical but I’m interjecting again, can’t help myself ! I’m an old-timer (almost 50 yrs) and I enjoyed a lot of the posts above. I’m really intrigued by the “real fan” debate. I don’t think anybody can argue that it’s right to support your team come what may and thru good times and bad but it may not be completely logical to lace such comments with complete optimism based on one Cup final and an end of season run when there was zero pressure on the team. Re Saturday, will Ozil, for example, be clattering into Palace and Baggies defenders all season the way he destroyed Eden Hazard in that tackle ? You decide that. I know what I think – and that assumes he’s actually still with us. Perhaps he may even have been putting on a shop window performance as Alexis might tend to do. Alexis will leave, I have no doubt about that, by the way. It makes me really sad and I honestly believe a new manager may have had a better chance of keeping him. To be honest, I’m disgusted – completely outraged in fact – at how Wenger failed to defend Alexis properly when he was being scapegoated during the really bad run. But we all know (and Theo knows) ; thou shalt not rock the boat.
A true fan will have a relationship with his/her team all his/her life. Like a marriage, there will be good times and bad – honeymoons, stand-offs, turbulence, rebirths and even renewals of vows ! I stood on the terraces in London watching Terry Neill’s team. I loved it, even when we got beaten at home many, many times. Often the odd bit of skill from the likes of Brady (before my time in London), Nicholas or poor Rocky made all the difference but what really made it was the atmosphere. It was gritty and unpredictable and the reality is a lot of grounds still have that up and down the country, from what I can see. We have none of that. We have division, we have boredom, we have late season rallies and early season optimism in a recurring, predictable pattern. Yes we overlay this with contamination by modern day realities for big clubs but I will be taking a back seat also for a while. I hope starting with a five man defence (that’s what I call it anyway) will make a massive difference still but you need potency up front to make up for the lack of numbers in attack and if Wenger falls down on recruitment and replacement yet again, I aint optimistic. Other better, younger coaches will simply figure our “new” system out anyway, as they always do. You can tell us you’re real fans (or more real) if you wish but don’t tell us how to feel about the future. COYG.
Scgooner@68, It is amazing that you’d be ‘disgusted & completely outraged’ at Wenger not defending Alexis when he was being scapegoated!!
As far as I can remember Wenger was busy defending himself most of the time during our poor run and the players virtually had a free pass. Even when ex-gunners came out and said that the players need to put their hand up as well – most of them were complimentary about Alexis because he always puts a shift in. So I don’t think Alexis was scapegoated ever during that time. There was of course talk of a training ground incident the details of which have rightly been kept from becoming public(although one could argue that even the news of some incident having happened should never have become public) which led to Alexis being benched from the starting line up against Liverpool.
Alexis has been fantastic this season – our best player by a country mile. He contributed to 44% of the goals we scored in the league this season. That staggering stat in itself should be enough for the club to move heaven and earth to retain Alexis in the squad.
But that does not take away from the fact that when the team had its poor run – it coincided with Alexis himself having a dip in form. Some of his behavior was irritating &’drama queenesque’ – like gesticulating to his teammates multiple times during games or moaning after being substituted in the 87th minute in a game that was won several minutes before.
dropped (when he’s clearly the best player all season) = scapegoated
ScGooner as so often makes some very good points.
The thing that the last few seasons have shown us is that a small deterioration in effort or attitude or fitness or level of energy can change things enormously. We’ve seen teams try for one manager and not for another ( past champions x2 ). We’ve seen the huge advantage of only playing once a week and the massive benefit of not getting continual disruptive injuries. Things are not totally predictable although the big clubs who spend the most money do best over a season on average.
It is possible that we might improve our position by getting better in the key areas. It was amazing that we went into Saturday’s game with numerous injuries but Chelsea didn’t have one injury in their squad.
That is an area where we must make massive strides next season
Scgooner @68,
Top drink fella! You’ve reiterated it all succinctly from the perspective of the soberly grounded majority. Have another on me tab! But you have to wear a cravat and a smoking jacket if it’s a fine single malt, with some cookies on the side, that you’ll be indulging.
AFCOF!
Don’t mind if I do Daniel, but only if I can reciprocate with a drop of my fave Irish from Bushmills up North, the rather unfortunately named Black Bush ! For you too TTG. Sláinte to all.
“Black Bush”??? Compelling!!! Don’t mind if I do! Salut me ol’ mucka!
Benched for one half of a football match=scapegoated!!
By that benchmark, Lucas must be the unhappiest person on earth.
SCG@68: I doubt it will take a better, younger coach to figure out our 3-4-3 formation. Like every formation it has its Achilles Heels. Most obvious is its vulnerability to attack down the flanks, where big gaps can open up behind the back three (notice how Xhaka was hitting long cross field passes into those areas against Chelsea). But opponents can also overload the midfield, plus your midfielders have to be disciplined so they are not both caught up field leaving you vulnerable to counterattack.
You are spot on about our lack of potency up front.
It’s understandable i think if people
are not optimistic about next season.
However, I think generally AW has
defended his players well and I like
that about him.
I hope Ozil stays – and creates/scores
more goals next season, not too
bothered if he clatters anyone. Why
would we need him to do that? We
can just get Cattermole if that’s what
we want.
i love anniversaries
????????
.
# IT WAS FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY !!!
.
the best Beatles album
was a year old
.
.
*stands ground*
*hears the sound of pets*
too
but the world’s spoke and spoke large
cloth-eared eejits
ps
.
best round of drinks up above
for a while
smarter than the average bear you lot
and by the way
where’s cynic ?
no disrespect
but he himself alone
is reason to pull up a stool here
so
FUCKFACE !
get here
and get yer grump on
just a note to say: mazel tov to snir geuli and his new missus, natalie baya. may you have many happy, blessed years together (including on deadline day, where she helps you research).
?
Life Rule #1
If it upsets Piers Morgan then it’s alright with me.
howdy hüsker
i read piers morgan’s tweets
i enjoy the bollocks and counter bollocks
If you can count ‘er bollocks you’re in the wrong pub.
*baddum-tish*
That’s all folks!
??????????????
cba,
Have a tipple on me tab ye mad hatter! ?
Scgooner,
So Snir’s been a courting all this time off?! Well done fella! Mazel Tov! She better be a Goonerette?!
Now come back and get the feck back to what you do best – transfers!
no
no i won’t
thanks all the same
bit late for me
????
Dapper Dan, one for you on our tab (well, OK, Lars’s), too, for this:
https://fringefocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DapperDan_FringeFocus_HalftoneFinal-940×705.jpg
right
95
mouse’s ear from 100
NBN,
Splendid! Don’t mind if I do! The old handlebar could do with a touch of smoothing. Salut! ?
97
looking at you !
96
Plays it out confidently from the back 3 to the marauding right wingback
97
oooh get you
Keeeerrrbaaanng! £350k a week! ?? ??
Keeeerrrchiiiiinng! ?? ??
arse biscuits
??
An £87million bid for Mbappe has apparently been made by Arsenal. The perfect PR ruse with season ticket renewals underway. I never believe these stories and I don’t believe he’d go to a club without Champions League football.
I though Mbappe wanted to go to Real Madrid because of his admiration for Zindane, and only concern for a lack of regular starts is holding him back.
Mbappe will go where he will play regular football, and continue to develop more as a young player. Real Madrid is rubbish for these. That’s why he asking for Didier Deschamps advice as the France Manager. He clearly wants to play regularly for his international team.
Getting Mbappe would change our goalposts considerably. A real sign of intent. You’d definitely be showing us all that you’re back Arsene! Get it over the line and keep Sanchez and Ozil! ?
£87 million is an awful lot of money for an 18-year old who started only 17 of the 35 league games he played in this season just past. He may be the second coming of TH14 (would have to be at that price), but could we not get Antoine Griezmann for that sort of money?
In other transfer gossip, Werder Bremen are said to be entertaining offers of £25 million for Serge Gnabry, once of this parish and sold to the Germans last year for £4.5 million having struggled to get a game with us or even West Brom when he went there on loan.
At the other end of the scale, another of our cast-offs, Josh Vickers, has just been released by Swansea, if anyone is looking for a 21-year-old keeper without a club.
Mbappe’s transfer fee will only increase in the crazy microeconomy that is called Association Football. He has resale value.
He’s also going to be the new Golden Boy of French football – a Marketing Dream. Finally, his wages won’t be as much Griezmann’s will be.
Letting Gnabry go was a mistake. He should have gone on loan or a buy-back clause with first option should have been there. ?
Just to add my best wishes and mazel tov to snir geuli for the reasons reported by scruzgooner above. Many happy returns, and productive use of your non-Goonerholic time. 🙂
Sgt pEppEr?
Boooooooring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcyI3KbOAkY
hot pool of lonely hearts
Interesting that in the recently announced FA payments to clubs Sunderland, who finished bottom, received £93.471m which is more than Leicester got for finishing top the previous season.
No wonder transfer fees are rocketing!
Noted your comment that Chelsea had zero injuries in their Cup Final squad (#71), TTG, but interestingly nor did they have a single player with Cup Final experience. On that criterion we had it all over them, and it showed.
It makes me sick how we’re being played by Özil and Sanchez. I’ll be disappointed to see the latter go, even if he plays like a selfish brat at times. On balance he’s worth more than whoever we’re likely to replace him with. But paying Mesut what amounts to blackmail gets my teeth on edge. I’m with Scgooner (#68) finding it hard to believe he’ll be getting stuck into the opposition on a regular basis next season foregoing his usual Özil Gummidge impressions in midfield.
Özil Gummidge, Cynic? I bet you wish you’d thought of that one. Hehe.
Arsenal’s earnings from the Premier League last year was just short of £140 million. That’s just from the Prem.
Anyone else wonder why Stanley is laughing at us??? As far as he is concerned it’s like money for old rope.
Season ticket renewals are out by the way.
That’s it. I’m completely sick of this club/owner/board/players/fans and so called supporters.
I love Goonerholic but I’m not reading/watching/posting again until Stan leaves/ Wenger leaves/ Gazidis leaves / Ozil and Alexis stay and we win the Champions League, Prem, FA Cup and anything else we enter all in one season.
I’m not entitled but I’m entitled to stay away if I want to.
Goodbye until then.
Right, I’m back. How long has it been? Have we signed Messi yet?
No, thought not. Typical.
It’s funny how the press keep harping on about how we could lose three of our “stars” at the same time – Alexis, Ozil and the Ox.
How does the Ox get mentioned in the same breath? I like him a lot and think he still has the potential to succeed but how many times this last season did he get dragged after having a shocker? How many times did I shout at the tv after he gave the ball away for the umpteenth time? How many games did he miss through injury?
I hope he stays but one of our “stars” – not yet mate.
UTA.
Good to see someone agrees with me about the Ox. 🙂 He’s a good sub when we need some energy, but he shouldn’t be a regular starter.
#88
Don’t do it – You’ll go blind !
Best time of the season now. No matches to worry about, no embarrassing defeats to fret about, just the usual transfer rumour bollocks which is best ignored.
A final comment until next season (I hope)
Those hoping for a succession plan are going to be disappointed, IMO. At least, you won’t be getting a succession plan unless they do it behind Wenger’s back.
For all the talk of change, don’t be surprised if nothing happens.
Think about it for a moment.
Through all that has happened in the last ten or so years – the failure to challenge for the title, the abject failures in the Champions League and the gradual fracturing of the fan base along IN/OUT lines, which has actually split further into IN/OUT/SAD BUT TIME FOR A CHANGE camps, the one thing that has remained constant has been Arsene Wenger’s belief that he is the best man for the job. Even after the recent season, which has seen the most sensible of Arsenal commentators, who are not prone to hyperbole, calling this “a broken club”, he has still extended his contract and without any mention of it being his last.
For there to be a succession plan, Wenger will have to put a definite date on his departure. You can only plan a succession if that is done, otherwise you will have ear-marked candidates with no clue of when they will be needed. You wouldn’t be able to approach someone like Allegri (as an example) to offer him the job. “Finish your next year or two at Juve, Arsene is going so you can come straight in in 2019”. That cannot happen.
For a succession plan to work, Wenger will have to siign up to a leaving date. He has no intention of doing so.
This coming season is a warm up for his second, when the fans will once again be expecting him to go and agitating for a change. 2018/19 is going to be very unpleasant unless we manage to fluke the league next year.
Don’t get your hopes up, folks.
Cynic @ 121
“For a succession plan to work, Wenger will have to siign up to a leaving date. He has no intention of doing so.”
I’m impressed that you have inside information on AW’s intentions.
A definite date doesn’t have to be shared with Hoi Polloi.
Third FA Cup in 4 years and first time in 21 outside the top 4 is a hell of a “broken club”. Where in the history of Arsenal FC have we ever matched that record?
Could it be better? Yes
Have there been frustrations over the past decade? Yes
Were the performances from January to March shit? Yes
Can we improve things in the short term by changing the coach now without any apparent preparation for succession? Certainly not.
Will it be in Kroenke’s interest to ensure that succession planning is carried out to address the inevitable departure of the most successful manager the club has ever had? Of course.
Does Kroenke have experience of that sort of thing? I have no idea but his business c.v. suggests it is likely.
Cheer up mate. We won the cup. The club and the manager have set new records. It could be better. I am sure AW believes that it should be better and will do his best to make that happen.
COYG
Cheers H.
I was forced into complete radio silence over the Cup Final weekend and only found out that we won it a couple of days ago. I am thrilled. And from what I have seen and heard we did it in some style. We got our Arsenal back.
Arsene is staying. No surprise. Let’s see what happens in the summer. Changes are needed but if I were to expect them to be made it would be with my heart not my head. Still, we will see. I’ll look forwards to getting behind our boys next season whatever happens.
Boss. Thankyou for another season of world class blogging. If our team had performers of your quality and consistency we would be regularly challenging for Big Ears. Top, top man.
Have a great summer everyone!
VCC
You too GSD!
I’m just trying to work out where you can go so that you can’t find the FA Cup final result ! ?
TTG. ?
There are still some places you can get to where phone signals can’t reach. Granted, not many. But I am seriously off grid these days. ⚠⚠⚠
I’ll be back in London before next season kicks off though.
In the meantime there is some stuff that actually matters… I hope the young’uns in your family enjoy a summer of playing football. Jumpers as goalposts, tops off in the rain (you wouldn’t want a wet teeshirt now would you?), some small change for a halftime refreshment from the local newsagent and home muddy and knackered a good hour after you were supposed to be to inspect the cuts and bruises that you didn’t notice at the time because there is no ref in park football but you still play to the whistle! And no-one getting paid a penny for the privilege. Now that’s football.
Mind you, I imagine that watching on benignly with a sneaky hip flask in situ might be a compromise that you could see your way to accepting.?
nice one ‘holic
nice one Alan
nice one Arsenal
’79 oh fuckin yes
Steve, check out how much of the £350M+ that Arsenal realises each year goes on salaries. It’s the players that are laughing at you, mate 🙂
The Premier League is a money machine. The players are the primary beneficiaries. In your next life, come back as Yaya Sanogo. You know it makes sense.
Spot on @122, Bath.
Carlos Vela coup de grace finishes off the Republic of Ireland. 3-1 for Mexico in a game played on neutral turf (New Jersey).
Sorry for my absence. Went up to the Royal Albert Hall to count the holes last night. There were none. Not even standing room left for the Bootleg Beatles with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. What a show. The Times review gave it a 5 no less. It was a simply amazing night. ?
Thanks GSD- I think I can handle that!
bath (#122) … You say ‘sure AW believes that it should be better and will do his best to make that happen‘, but where is the evidence? What has he been ‘believing’ the past several years during which the club has shown little sign of improving? What ‘best’ has he applied which has actually changed the gradual decline which is evident to practically everyone bar himself?
Agreed 3 FA Cups in that time is brilliant, but as long as I have been supporting the club (67 years) Arsenal have been a better cup team than league team. Great wins, but apart from the collective hiccups by other top 4 aspirants in 2015-2016, we look less and less likely to challenge for the Prem title every year, never mind the CL.
For mine AW should have retired with dignity intact at least 3 seasons back, before all the angst started dividing the stands. I wouldn’t have expected a sudden change in fortunes, in fact the opposite would have been more likely … down as far as 7 or 8 for a season or two perhaps, until the new manager (assuming the right manager is found) gets it sorted.
That kind of dip is inevitable, whoever succeeds AW. And in the interests of the club – which AW always insists is his primary concern – it would have been better done then than have us endure the past several disappointing seasons. It would also have been better done to have formulated a succession plan. To be fair he may well have one and the delay has been the result of whoever not yet being available. But believing that excuse would be grasping at straws, imo.
The above first bit should have read … You say you are ‘sure AW believes….
Wenger rates Mahrez and may be trying to get him to Arsenal. Depressing.
Arda Turan from Barca also linked but it is difficult to believe that Wenger would be interested in a thirty year old.
Szczesny looks to be headed to Juve. Martinez may get to be number two if Ospina decides to leave.
Ospina reportedly off to Fenerbache, ksn. Szczesny had a good enogh season at Roma to rank in as one of the ten best keepers in the five main European leagues. But if he went to Juve, wouldn’t that be as back-up to Buffon? Not sure he’d want that.
Also historically Juve have a liking for Italian keepers. Milan’s 18-year old wonderkind Donnarumma, already an Italian international, seems a more likely successor.
An Italian has kept goal in more than 96% of games Juve has ever played. Buffon has played in four times as many games as all Juve’s non-Italian keepers combined.
It’s a slow day at Castle Ned…
The holes never were in The Albert Hall, ‘holic, they were in Blackburn, Lancashire. That’s where they had to count them all so they’d know how many it would take to fill The Albert Hall. Don’t ask me why though. 😉
We have a Mahrez already, ksn, he’s called Walcott. Scores more goals than anyone but Alexis, but not good enough to get a regular start.
Usual transfer bollocks in the press, I’d be amazed if
we bought Mbappe for 87m. Although it would be some
kind of statement I must admit.
For that money I’d prefer Griezmann too, but I guess Athletic’s
summer transfer ban puts a stop to him moving.
We’re linked with Griezmann, Mahrez and Lacazette.
I’d laugh if we bought Vardy instead, although it wouldn’t
be a delighted surprise sort of laugh. More a fuck me what
are we playing at laugh.
If Szczesny comes back that’s all well and good to me, but if
Martinez is the No.2 I don’t mind either as we need to
have a look at him and make a decision I think.
Is it me or are we always linked with ridiculous signings at season ticket renewal time???
The PR juggernaut is on full steam ahead mode.
It’s not you Steve.
Manager Didier Deschamps said: “Giroud is our best scorer, he continues to get goals and when he is not scoring himself he helps others around him score.”
Interesting comment on our started 11, subbed on 18 times striker after his hat-trick for France:
That should have displayed:
Manager Didier Deschamps said: “Giroud is our best scorer, he continues to get goals and when he is not scoring himself he helps others around him score.”
Interesting comment on our started 11, subbed on 18 times striker after his hat-trick for France.
NED, Buffon is retiring next year and Szczesny is probably his anointed successor. If Juve is serious about Szczesny, a non Italian, it shows how highly they rate him also the extent of his improvement as a keeper.
Good we already have a Mahrez, Chris, and all the more reason why we don’t need him. Imagine having him, Theo and Ozil in our team; three who play football as if it is not a contact sport.
Osaka, no chance of getting Mbappe as Monaco have apparently turned down a bigger bid and this is probably Wenger’s way of saying how he tried to sign him; it could also just be a ruse to speed up season ticket sales.
just watching The Who live from few years ago
fuckin still some balls about em
bar all the moddy union jack palaaaava
(sorry steve ?)
and daltrey
still looks like he’d rattle yer jaw
iffin he took a notion
brilliant
here’s a tune for ye , modify funky types
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ja6hRx145o
hunt out the other side
baby it ain’t no way
.
the fact i can’t find it on youtube
means i am cooler than
that whole ramshackle organization
.
gather round me chillun
gather round
for i have a tale to tell
?
all stemmed from
the recently all too frequent
tartan Saturday march to “ma hoose fae tha fitba”
delicious homemade swally
for to steal
thought the sight of Who union jacks
would start a row
nope
our unintelligible lumps appear
to like a drink instead
shower o fuckin hoops
.
think
i’ll restrict their shang-a-lang privileges
in the future
Ksn,
Yes, I agree. But for me it has more
of a smell of Ivan than AW.
I don’t know of course but either
way it’s fair to assume he’s not
going to be a gooner.
Oh! And raises bat to acknowledge
150 before passing out drunk at
2.30am in Osaka 🙂
osaka
what is Japanese whiskey like ?
wins awards but
popularity contests
often result in cunts exalted
.
ps
shouts QUIETLY
please anyone living in England
do not vote for the tories
PLEASE
FORZA JUVE!
PLEASE
bath
please don’t vote tory
I’ve sent a postal vote in already.
Not telling ya who for!
???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBn2ux5vRHk&list=RDdBn2ux5vRHk#t=0
@152. A rather strong endorsement. 😉
Anybody but RM, I say. 🙂
i provide shelter
to some of yer countrymen
on a weekly basis
if it wasn’t fer me
they’d still be painting the cattle
green and white
and
fluffing Jimmy Johnstone runs
round them
Wish it was Arsenal in the finals. Someday, hopefully.
Juve disappointed in the finals two years back, hope they put it across RM tonight and that strutting peacock Ronaldo.
cba did you see the programme about the Lisbon Lions? Real memory lane stuff. That day I was on a school trip on the Waverley going’ down the watter with a tranny (60’s definition) glued to my ear.
Lots of players playing tonight that we have been very heavily linked with over the years.
Looks like the dodged bullets are on machine gun mode.
Well we were outclassed by Bayern who were outclassed by Real who may be outclassed by Juve so we aren’t at the top table in Europe yet.
I think our co- efficient is 11th highest in Europe
This game is blindingly good. Football from another planet
Fantastic equalizer by Manduzic? 1-1.
Seeing as Juve have leveled it maybe I will turn on the game.
it’s a goodun 8ball
.
i have
HERE COME THE WARM JETS
roaring as well
Scottish people expect chaos
what with all the drinking
etc
In the second half Real have blitzed them . Allegri out?
More terrorist activity on London Bridge and in Borough Market. What an awful series of events we are living through. Our hearts go out to all those affected
Actually, ksn (#145) Theo had been playing with astonishing aggression (for him) until he was dropped for his after-the-Palace-match gaffe. More importantly he’d been scoring goals regulalry, which is more than you can say about AW’s pin-ups Danny and Ox. Theo should never have crossed the boss, who was clearly not averse to cutting off the team’s nose to spite him.
Interesting to see Deschamps’ Giroud comments btw. I wonder what OG has said to AW behind the scenes. I also wonder if we didn’t lose at least a point subsequent to the pair’s virtual banishment in the run-in.
Problem with the terrorists, TTG, is that it’s all so random and difficult to know who will do what next and where.
In the current spate of terrorism I believe more could be done by Muslim leaders. It’s their religion which cops the backlash after every Isil-related terrorist act. And surely they have better access to the offenders, as well as more to gain by rooting them out.
And if that makes me sound like a religious bigot I would point out that I hold all religions in equal disregard, viewing all of them as forms of latter day Medieval mind control – which everyone is entitled to practise if they so wish, in the privacy of their own homes and ziggurats. Just as long as they accept some responsibility for their extremists.
My comment about Theo and Ozil is based on watching them over many seasons. Theo’s aggression this season is a one off just as Ozil’s tackle from behind (how brave) on Hazard in the cup final. Does not change my view that both are averse to the physical side of the game.
The way AW has treated Theo after the Palace game shows his other side. Difficult to say if we dropped points because of this as we won all the matches in the EPL (except against the totts) after the Palace game. But the way he sidelined Theo completely during the run in was vicious.
Fair comment, ksn.
Hope all Gooners safe and sound after Borough terrorist attack. Thoughts with families of those who died or have been wounded.
ksn@145: Buffon, as I understand it, has said only that he is retiring from international football in 2018 after the next World Cup.
Szczesny, by all accounts, has been having an outstanding season at Roma. Shows the value of playing regularly for any player.
The Polish press report saying Szczesny won’t decide where he is playing next season until after he has spoken to AW about his possible Arsenal future also makes the point that Buffon hasn’t given any indication that he is about to retire from club football with Juventus. That report also links Woj with a possible move to Napoli to replace Pepe Reina, who, in turn, has been linked to a move to Newcastle.
http://www.przegladsportowy.pl/pilka-nozna/ligi-zagraniczne,wojciech-szczesny-nie-porozumial-sie-z-juventusem-serie-a,artykul,789039,1,461.html (in Polish)
In all this transfer bollix, the reports of a £7 million bid for 19-year old Henry Onyekuru, a Nigerian left winger with just 28 league games in Belgium under his belt, sound far more AW’s style than a £95 million bid for Monaco’s 18-year-old superstar-in-the-making Mbappe.
cba,
Japanese whiskey?
As it ever was, you get what you pay for.
Taketsuru and Yamazaki make some that
I’ve liked. But I don’t buy into the ‘best in the
world’ reports. It’s not better than an Islay single
malt like Caol Ila or Ardbeg for me.
The cheap stuff like Suntory is shit until about the 5th or 6th
shot and then it tastes just fine.
Diane Abbott could be our next Home Secretary.
Let that sink in for the next few days…
Thank you Ned for summarizing that article. The Polish was Polish to me, excepting the picture. 😉
ahh bath 160
yeah saw it
real enjoyable watch
and cheers for the tranny joke
without sounding soft as shite
giving someone a chuckle is priceless
.
osaka M
am really curious about them
just outta pure nosiness
sláinte fella
Heard ..Nikka From The Barrel is rally good ..!
😀
Cristiano Ronaldo says his numbers don’t lie.
Neither does his boorish behavior.
Cynic, let’s keep the politics out of this bar can we? Or I might be forced to remind you who cut 20,000 police, 2,000 armed police and intelligence staff during her 6 years as Home Secretary and 1 year as PM.
bottle of Japan’s finest on the bar for c100
BB@182: Nikka was founded by Masataka Taketsuru. He came from a sake brewing family but having gone to Glasgow University just after the end of World War One, spent a couple of years working in Scottish distilleries before returning home (with a Scottish bride), eventually to start his own.
…and you have heard right.
@NBN
😀 😀 😀
You are right NBN that Buffon’s retirement date is far from certain and he could be with Juve for years. Szczesny would do better than join Juve. Interesting to know what Wenger tells him. Tough decision for Szczesny as Cech does not look like retiring any time soon.
I bang no drum for anyone, c100, just commenting in light of earlier posts about certain events that we have the prospect of a police hating ****** being in charge of the security of the nation by this time next week.
And again I point out that according to a former Met police officer on Sky News this morning (see my Twitter account to see the video @countryman100) the person who has been in charge of the nation’s security for the last 7 years has deliberately run the Met police into the ground for the sake of cutting public spending. This despite warnings from many that it would put Londoners in danger. But still, better the devil you know eh?
I fully expect Holic to delete this exchange but I cannot let these comments go unanswered while they are up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edrmCIdCr7A
4 the always mighty (well – May be mostly, mighty) Bath at 160
https://youtu.be/LemG0cvc4oU
Und Cynic, you’re wee (all ways)
(Soz ‘H, no hard thingies when you ping me orf the postings – UTA!)
Wonderful to see AL back in the drinks. I’m a happy man again! 🙂
I’ll try not to remove any political drinks as the subject is so important in the coming days. Whatever your persuasion go and vote with your conscience.
Cynic I take your point about being nervous at the prospect of Diane Abbot being Home Secretary although I have removed one word that could land me in trouble.
It’s hard to see, given the events of the last month or so that she could be any more incompetent than May, who has been responsible for the defence of the homeland, in one capacity or another, for seven years and who has failed spectacularly.
Keep it non-libelous please all. Thanks.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>