Bayern, Jack, and Titi The Legend
Dec 17th, 2013 by 'holic
It’s a Tuesday evening, a week to go until Christmas Eve, and almost as long to our next fixture. It’s not even an international break, pft. I can watch some other sods playing in the CoCup, or write something. Hello keyboard.
Biggest news of the week is the Champions League draw for us, handily timed so that nobody would notice that Arsene has seen off yet another failed challenger in the managerial hotseat at the little club in the marshlands. Holders Bayern Munich it is. After the event there seems an air of inevitability that we would be returning to the ground where our current run of form began in February. Here is the part where I mention the obligatory ‘If we are going to win this thing then we have to take out the big boys at some stage, so why not now?’.
As of today it is looking likely we will be without Jack Wilshere for the match against Chelsea on Monday next. The Football Association have given him until Wednesday evening to explain his salute to the Citeh faithful at the weekend. As long as we pick up no unexpected injuries between now and then we will still be able to field a formidable midfield against our friends from the bus stop in Fulham.
The other event today was a premiere of the latest in a series of Legends documentaries released by the club and available now on iTunes. Thierry Henry tells the story of his Gunners career in his own words, and is the latest in a series that also features Dennis Bergkamp, Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn.
Wait a minute. It’s available on iTunes now, so why am I even thinking of watching another game? Doh! Off I go to part with another £2.49, a small price to pay for an hour and twenty-three minutes of memories.
Have a good midweek, ‘holics.
212 Responses to “Bayern, Jack, and Titi The Legend”
first?
Just watched the Thierry film. Loved it. Some painful memories in there too, but I think sometimes we forget just how good he was.
There are loads of great bits, but my favourite was the reaction to being on the bench for the last North London derby at Highbury. I won’t spoil it, but it made me laugh out loud. Literally.
3rd?
Evening Tim and Goonertown.
Blogs, welcome. Halfway through myself now. Just need a top-up. Great result at the FSF awards last night. Well played.
JW out for two matches, not one. Explanation evidently is that if the offense has been video recorded, it’s two. Previous identical incidents (e.g., Suarez) got one because they were only reported, no video evidence. Makes a whole lot of sense, right?
Sadly though the Thierry documentary is not available outside the UK 🙁
Sorry Lars. Didn’t realise. 🙁
Interesting juxtaposition of TH and JW in the same story. In my opinion the one would do very well by trying to emulate the behavior of the other.
Not going to say which one I mean but I thought it was fairly self-evident. 😉
Top half?
<thinks> Must go read the post.
I will pretend that 11 didn’t happen because I don’t need to be wound up on a Tuesday evening. While being on top of the League and qualifying from the Group of Death is no guarantee of honours it does rather blow up the sort of garbage written previously.
While the press do make references to the situation in the Marshlands it should really be underlined that a club which consistently outspends Arsenal and which has yet to go through the pain of building a new stadium has still failed sixteen times in a row to finish above us and Wenger has seen off nine managers during his tenure.
It is quite legitimate to criticise Arsenal but ridiculous to call a squad that is top of the league and capable of sublime football the worst Wenger has ever had. It is not but Wenger has continued to build excellent squads within totally feasible cost parameters.
Any criticism from across the marshlands might always find a vulnerable point or two. Man Citeh, clearly a stunning team have lost to Villa, Sunderland and Cardiff this season so football is never a straightforward affair.But please look at the enormity of Wenger’s achievement in context
You weren’t kidding Blogs. In fucking pieces watching parts of that. 🙁
I’m sure you make some excellent points, thorn, but if I wanted to read a book about Arsenal I’d go to the bookshelf and pull down Fever Pitch again.
As for Chelski, I notice they’re getting THREE days more rest before they play us than we got when we played Shitty…
Öskar
Okay, he didn’t make any excellent points! I was right not to bother reading it, aye.
Öskar
Chavs running around in extra time at Sunderland * prays to the injury deities * 🙂
Just glad we’re not playing in this Minnie Mouse competition this week. Great for the lads to have a longer than normal break.
No surprise FA double the fine.
Henry and Tony Adams will be two of the great Arsenal players!
Heading for penalties at the stadium of shite.
Following on from previous criticism by Pangloss at the low level of journalism* (* being generous with that description ) at the BBC.
Tonight’s games:
Leicester v Man City. With the home team pulling a goal back on 77 mins to a 1-3 deficit, Robbie Savage ” I still think Man City will win this match”. No shit Sherlock!
Sunderland v Chav$ki. “Extra time now being played, Chelsea could do without this as they are playing Arsenal in 6 days time” Ignoring the fact of their huge squad, did any pundit truly sympathise with us playing at the Etihad last Saturday just 60 hrs after returning to England after a tough ECL away match. What a bunch of tossers.
Rant over.
Chavs going out of the crap cup
Rant endorsed, Up.
Chelsea have now won just two of their last six away games.
Time for us to banish the Maureen hoodoo.
Chavs out but won’t make much difference for Monday. 7 changes to last Saturday’s team tonight.
Moe loses on the road.
Haha, Moaninho back to his moaning best. I hope we beat those blue bastards on the weekend!!!
The “rules”, or whims, of the FA (surely the most apt acronym ever) as to when and when not to use video evidence are a complete joke.
So, a player who has a free kick awarded against him for almost breaking an opponents leg with a tackle seen to be dangerous on video after the event, cannot receive any extra punishment because the referee “dealt” with the incident at the time and is therefore deemed to have seen said incident.
Jack Wilshere, on the other hand, raises one finger to a section of football supporters, who will undoubtedly have been left traumatised by such fearful abuse, and can be handed a two match ban because it can be seen on video.
A player committing exactly the same offence not recorded on video, receives a lesser punishment, even though his judges are sufficiently satisfied by a report that the offence was indeed committed.
This sort of nonsense coupled with the scheduling of last week’s games and the financial doping that continues to be allowed in the Premier League, should find the FA charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
But hang on, there must be an Arsenal player or manager to hang that on instead ……………….
Oh the mysterious workings of the FA. They are truly a law unto themselves
Testify Trev!
I’m with you all the way. What a load of bollocks.
Hodgson has put his foot in his mouth criticizing the climate of Manaus and the city’s mayor responded that England will not be welcome. But there is a silver lining for Woy as it turns out the game against Italy will be played only 41 days before the “coldest” day of the year, meaning that England can expect a high temperature of “only” 91 degrees fahrenheit to go with the 80 percent humidity. I can’t wait for the close up photos of sweat beading on Woy’s face.
27
Trev
the FA have been consistent for decades:
Guilty of being a gunner, m’laud. Even though Jack was a gobshite and deserved a kick up the backside.
so the F~A had a vid of the game but chose not to watch the rest of the game including Yaya’s ‘tackle’ on Giroud’s leg?
F. ergie’s A. sslickers indeed.
Aguero off injured Saturday.
Zabaleta off tonight with a hamstring,
Couldn’t that have happened last week ? 🙁
Well done Arseblog for not boasting about his trophy.
Which is a trophy what he won.
For writing Arseblog.
Aguero may be out for 8 weeks. 🙂
Yep, well done Bloggs.
I’ve never managed to penetrate the arses – matron! – but consistently great stuff.
Congratulations Mr. Arseblog!
Since you’re here, can I ask how come the articles that Tim Stillman and Arsenal Gentleman write don’t get sent out via email to subscribers?
FA are a bunch of wankers but I don’t think we’ll miss Jack for either Chelsea or West Ham. He’s not the Messiah, he’s just a naughty boy 😉
Indeed, CoR, but what has Roman ever done for us ? 😉
Trev, since this is Jack’s first offence, I think he’s lucky to escape with only crucifixation. Bloody do-gooder 😉
8 ball @ 30: None of the three big teams — England, Italy, Uruguay — are going to enjoy playing in Manaus because of the extreme humidity. And I think the two teams from these three qualifying from that group (unless Costa Rica crashes the party) would be distinctly disadvantaged going into the second round…but hey that is the part of the fun of a World Cup I guess.
About Jack’s “punishment”, was any Arsenal supporter really surprised? I was expecting a five game ban or something like that. Now every time Jack plays and shows some aggression as is his nature we will hear some fuckers pontificating about how he needs to improve his behavior and all that. Same shit happened with Eduardo, one dive and you would think he has besmirched the glorious purity of Britain’s noblest pastime!
COR @ 37: I think we will see either Poldi/Gnabry start against West Ham, assuming the duo from Theo-TR7-Santi starting against Chelsea get a break for that game. I think Jack has actually played well on the right flank this season, has been inconsistent at the center of the pitch and rather poor playing on the left.
I hope to see more of Gnabry against mediocre defenses where his direct runs will cause real panic from which Ozil-Ramsey-Giroud would benefit.
What Trev said about the FA and Jack’s two-game ban. The FA is just a bad joke.
Good job the FA doesn’t have jurisdiction over this bar, or the place would be empty for years.
Interesting if unimportant than Glenn Hoddle is at shorter odds to be the next West Ham manager than to take over at the neighbours.
Maureen being interviewed by BBC reporter after the shock defeat to Sunderland:
“Perhaps we must focus less on playing football and more on defense…”
Wait, what?
BMBD
@41: DF, I think we’ll definitely see Podolski against West Ham. He’s in training already so might even be ready for Chelsea I’m guessing. We need some more power down the left for sure. Cazorla on the left tries but he doesn’t seem to help Gibbs enough I think. I honestly can’t wait to see Prince Poldi playing and scoring again!
Gnabry back would also definitely be a big plus.
How long before the Ox is back though? Is he out for the season?
Cheers Holic!
CoR – latest I saw on The Ox (somewhere, sorry cant remember where) sdaid mid January 2014 for a return.
Esso, that’s good news!
Theo, Podolski, Gnabry and Oxlade-Chamberlain all back would be great for our insane run of fixtures between January and February.
More width would surely make Steve T (and the rest of us) happy 8)
CoR
I would n’t hold your breath on The OX. Early prediction was December return, now saying mid January. I’d be surprised to see him back before February meself. But hopefully he’s not out the rest of the season.
I know I shouldn’t indulge in transfer tittle tattle but….
Diego Costa ? Yes Please 🙂
Esso: my guess is that given the current situation in the squad, Arsene will want to be ultra-careful not to rush the Ox back. To make a long story short I heard himself say he would be back in five weeks about four weeks ago, and a mid-January return is very much consistent with him being back in training in a week or so.
Chris,
While Diego Costa would be a lovely Christmas present anything that emanates from Goal.com is most unlikely to be true
You are right of course Ttg, we can fantasise though !
R.I.P Ronnie Biggs, he paid a heavy price for his crime. God bless him
I can’t really articulate why, but I don’t really fancy Diego Costa as an Arsenal player.
I know he’s on an almighty hot streak just now, but I seem to recall he had more bookings than yellow cards last season. He’s 25 and he’s only started scoring goals in volume in the last few months, as part of a very good Athletico team that is built around him. He’d cost a mint.
Call me mad, but I don’t think he represents value for money and I think he’d be a bit of a gamble at the price we’d have to pay.
So according to the FA Jack’s middlefinger is worse than this “tackle”:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BbsCL7KCcAATqY9.png:large
I’m getting sick 🙁
N7 – so bit like Reyes? And even though Reyes was not real success with us, he had very positive impact during the time he was part of the Arsenal squad.
But I kinda share the feeling, scoring goals for fun in Spanish league does not mean he will score them in England aswell..and from big money purchase in January you really expect to hit the ground running and bang them in.
@ 55
not surprised, two years ago Balloteli got away with this https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSqik5cu2jnVoCreLk7P9zb5SKQq9VL6j81jcNSdFC84TQ2jOZx in same fixture, also no further punishment received from FA.
I remember that Eändy
Wasn’t he sent off later in that game or was that in the rematch at our home?
Just makes me wonder how Giroud is supposed to survive the season when our opponents are allowed to get in like that?
I think it was home match where he got sent off eventually and Mikel fired home that awesome strike from 25 yards to make it 1-0 for us.
Agreed about Giroud, it has been very obvious that refrees are letting CBs kick him up every time they damn please, while his every “stronger” contribution is usually penalised as attacking foul.
Few times already I have noticed expression of absolute disbelief on OGs face when those calls went against him.
@Eandy
Exactly. I’m concerned we would essentially be buying form rather than class.
So, Holics…do you think we have what it takes to trounce the Chavskis, or will the Special Moaning one do his voodoo magic again and we’ll bottle it??
Yup,
and we might end up like Lpoo did with Andy Carroll.
If Costa shows this level of consistency over the course of rest of the season, then maybe in summer, but definitely would go after him this transfer window.
Actually I might be in very much the minority, but with soon to be fit Poldi I do not think we really _need_ to buy in January. Towards the end of last season, when OG got three match ban, Poldi was given the run through the middle and while not exactly stellar, he did a good job, scoring few very important goals.
With the service he is going to get from the midfield we have now, especially in form Aaron and his mate from nationalmanschaft Mesut, I see him contributing significantly to second part of our campaign.
Also would love to see few of those thorhammerstrikers (c) scored, the last one he scored against WHU at home was thing of beauty, actually ..I am going to watch that goal for a while (since in my opinion it was one of the best we have scored during last year).
*would not go after him
To answer your question Peter, I am nervous about that tie, but if we are going to play like against Mugsmashers or Napoli, Chelski are there for the taking.
That said, they have deal with the devil and ride their luck in almost every tight match..so it is going to be difficult.
Eandy,
you mean like we played against Napoli at home right? not last week’s showing in Napoli? please not that again 🙁
Oh right, yes, like against Napoli at home 😀
If we score first, I think we’ll murder them.
If they score first, it could be the same old story.
Just to add to the last few kisses upon the buttocks of citeh, I noticed that during their warm up on Saturday, their team were partaking in a little shoulder barging exercise, with Garfield seeming to enjoy it. Anyway, my point is, seeing as we ‘forgot our defensive duties’ during this game; it may be a good idea, to get back to our ‘physical element’ of our game which has been leading us to glory so far this season.
As for Jack, the only thing which can be said here is, ‘oh no, not again’.
For Bayern, I would like to agree with Steve regarding “the bigger they are”…As I said earlier, a lot can happen between now and February. May the best team on the day win.
And for the legend which is Titi, good to see him learning his craft in the pundits chair at present. I am sure he will develop in to an even better analyser of the game than he is already. Alongside Shearer on Saturday night, it was good to see the two greatest strikers who have ever played in the premiere league, side by side breaking shite down, for the novices.
I’d like to give a shout out to the regulars 😉
Nice post ‘Holic.
I’ll have to get round to watching these Legends videos sooner than later, make a whole afternoon to evening out of it 🙂
Greetings to you too Holic. I expect that dvd to be an enjoyable watch.
Definitely one for the stocking this year. On the same note, can I recommend to anyone who has not yet purchased it, ‘Arsenals greatest premiere league games’. It goes right up to last season and is a must watch.
Take care for now one and all! 😉
Goonerholics are the most well- balanced fans I know. Most Arsenal websites and most other club supporters are desperate for their team to buy someone,often anyone, and here are we suggesting Diego Costa is a tad unproven for the price and Podolski might do a job for us as an alternative for Giroud. It shows great intelligence and responsibility to resist the clarion calls for mega signings because although Arsenal are now free from most of the financial shackles that bound them they can’t spend £30 million on a whim. I suspect that Costa ,if he is a serious target, and I doubt it, has been scouted to see whether he is the real deal. He may be 25 but so is Giroud or thereabouts and look at the development in his game this year. I would say that I think we need an alternative that us not Bendtner and not Poldi because Poldi isn’t a central striker and the team would need to change to accommodate him. I think we will look for a sensible loan deal which doesn’t break the bank and gives us options if it foes or doesn’t work out. Llorente at Juve is my preferred option. They are not in the CL and that will mean a drop in revenue and he wasn’t playing much before. But when he did I thought he did well and he is a similar player to HFB.
TTG @70:
I guess the geezer in the pic at the opening season Villa game with the placard screaming ‘Spend Spend Spend’ must not be a Goonerholic lol…didn’t come across as too balanced 🙂 gotta luv that pic though!
Haha, Peter, that bloke deserves all the credit, we all know his heroic act forced Arsene to sign Ozil.
Just finished watching the Legend – Thierry Henry video without paying those cunts from Apple a penny. Result!
Like Holic admitted on Twitter yesterday – got a bit teary at times.
Remember telling me Mum (RIP) on what turned out to be her death bed a few days later, that he’d left for Barca and she was distinctly unhappy about that. But what a guy, and what a servant for the club and us. And what a great production, absolutely loved it.
Well worth a watch people, however you get to see it.
Fucking hell, the weather is really quite something in Stoke. Heavy rain, hailstorms and strong wind. Play has been stopped for now, let’s see what happens.
Evening Esso. Very teary in bits wasn’t it 🙁
No airbrushing of history by the club. Respect that.
Very Thierry?
Got to try and find that Thierry doc somewhere…
I see Adebayor has been welcomed back into the LWCS fold. Just the man to stabilise a struggling club and raise team spirit!
@Lars DM on twitter.
Lars, please let me know if you find an alternative way for all of us outside the UK to watch it.
Lars,
We have the same weather here in balmy, leafy (well it was a few weeks ago) Hertfordshire – whistling winds and hailstones at the moment. 🙁
Ttg,
If Adebayor is the answer for Tottenham, I can’t begin to imagine what the question is. A twelve year journey with Levy to arrive at Tim Sherwood. One paper yesterday was suggesting he has been given TWO games to convince Levy that he can do the job !
He’s been there since 2007/8 – if they think he’s that good, why didn’t they give him the job in the first place instead of Another Verbose Bullshitter ?
Sometimes you almost have to feel sorry for them …………………..
Just kidding 🙂
Cunt just scored. Booooooooooooooooo
It’s the 28th false dawn of the millennium for the LWCs.
It will return to pear- shaped next week. As Trevor says you couldn’t make that club up.
1-2 to the hammers now!
Sherwood will get sacked in the morning!
29th false dawn next week ! Sherwood out!
The mancs kept apart.
Surprising.
As in ‘surprising’ being a new word for a ready-up.
The nation looks forward eagerly to two of the most pointless semi- finals ever go be held. Still it will be a wankfest for Five Live.
Evening all.
Just had great fun texting some Spud mates of mine. Not a hint of witty retort. Not a hint of witty banter. I have never known them this low. I think the penny has finally dropped. I did point out that they have managed to lose to West Ham and West Ham Reserves in the space of a matter of weeks. I’ve not had any replies yet.
😀
The clamour for Sherwood’s head has begun!
http://www.tottenhamhotspur-mad.co.uk/feat/ed11/sherwood_is_an_idiot_819052/index.shtml?
SteveT
Don’t start feeling sorry for them now!
Chuckles uncontrollably.
Oops
*Goes to dry socks*
Ah Spurs. It’s the hope that kills you.
Best to just stay utterly shit and know it, eh?
Evening all.
I wonder whether anyone could remind me about the Tevez and Mascherano story? I have a vague memory that they were signed by West Ham on some kind of third party ownership deal, and were foisted on a manager who didn’t know what to do with them and eventually got himself sacked.
The reason I’m asking is that I have a further vague recollection of making some sympathetic comments about the manager to one of my Spud mates who rapidly shot me down in flames, asserting that any manager worth his salt ought to be able to get the best out of such stellar talents.
I feel that I might get the opportunity to throw those words back in his face in the near future, and I’d hate to miss out because of lack of background knowledge or confidence in my facts.
Many thanks,
COYG
Why do the tinytotts never have a go at Levy and Lewis?
Our own more unstable and brainwashed gooners regularly moan about Ivan and Stan.
Pangloss, exactly which ‘stellar’ talents are you referring to at the lane?
chrisgooner@53:
R.I.P Ronnie Biggs, he paid a heavy price for his crime.
I’m not so sure, chris – I think the jury’s still out on that one.
Thank you and goodnight.
Watching the Keown Legends documentary. In bits again. What a club we support. 🙁
DC@93 – I hope I never mentioned any stellar talents (with or without quotation marks) at SCL. I intended merely to quote “one of my Spud mates” as using the term in connection with the two South Americans.
(Sorry, but he and I are both pedantic bastards, and I have to adopt that mindset when planning a conversation with him.)
Esso – How did you manage to do watch it?!?!
I am at a loss!!!
I’ve tried everything including changing to the UK apple store and writing Emirates Stadium as my address.
Needless to say – it didn’t work!!!
I am desperate to watch all these documentaries and I am not in the UK.
Please help… Anyone? Pleaseeeee 🙂
Dangerous cross or shot?
Pangloss, no probs.
I always laugh at the spuddies trying to convince everyone, including themselves that their team is full of top top talent and has so much potential.
Well in DC.
Claims the tabs memorial slot. 🙂
Pangloss
Your recollection is good. As the summer transfer window closed they were hawked around by Kia Joorabchian who had offered them to Arsenal. There was interest but most clubs shied away because of the third party ownership but the Icelandic nutters who ran West Ham went for them. Pardew was in charge then and I suspect he loved the idea of them as players but neither settled in well. Tevez eventually saved West Ham but Mascherano was moved on to Liverpool and Carlos to Old Toilet .West Ham fans creamed themselves but it eventually blew up in their faces..
I understand Arsenal made an approach to Barcelona for Mascherano in the last transfer window.
Esso, a Twitter DM for the Thierry Documentary would be highly appreciated, I’m also loathe to contribute to Apple’s coffers in any way, shape or form…
Hooray for the spuds – the gift that keeps giving!
I am with Snir, if anyone can share the methodology for non-uk gooners (or uk gooners) to watch the legends, I’d be in your debt. holic, if you have any spare attention in this season, please forward my email to esso against the hope I can watch one…many thanks!
Esso!!! Hook me up bro! 😀
Hi guys how do I watch the legends documentary here in the States? Damn damn
Seeing as Esso’s the only one who seems to know how to get access overseas, you can maybe say he’s got essoteric information….
*get’s coat*
scruz @ 105: Same here, and willing to pay Apple if the need be …
One possible way a ‘Holic in UK can facilitate this for people like us is open up his computer for a remote RDP/SSH connection and then we can log into iTunes UK from those machines … Not sure about the technical legality of that but as long as Apple gets paid shouldn’t be an issue…
Ideally speaking those should be available in Arsenal site as digital contents that can be bought …
I’m overseas and had no problem finding Arsenal Legend – Thierry Henry on Youtube, where there are many links to it. This one worked for me … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzI38BF-FI
Öskar
Nice one Öskar!
Thanks Öskar @ 110!
that is a great one, Oscar, and it has been out since 2011, iirc. but it’s not the new one just released…
dr faustus, the problem remains that payment to the apple store uk requires a uk-based credit card… I spent about an hour last night trying to get on from my phone, and couldn’t complete the credit card requirement due to it being based in the us. frustrating.
scruz @ 113/114: Yes after finishing through 1/4th of the Documentary I realized I have seen this one before. 🙂
If the requirement is CC issued in UK (which I guess would need an UK residency? ) then the only thing is for us to wait for Arsenal to buy out the rights and then sell to a global audience …
Maybe holic can livetweet what’s going on inbetween shedding man-tears over Henry’s magnificence 🙂
lol, cor.
Trev: If Adebayor is the answer for Tottenham, I can’t begin to imagine what the question is.
I know it’s petty and all that, but seeing them struggle and being on the brink of self-combustion is really, really funny 🙂
Double Canister@94: up until now, Levy has pretty much escaped any criticism but it does seem as if that may be about to change. I browsed through some of the comments on the Guardian yesterday and there were a few who were questioning how Levy can still be seen as a genius yet everyone he fires has also been hired by him. His much-lauded negotiating skills are also being increasingly questioned, and rightly so – it’s all well and good to hold out for a few weeks for a few million pounds more but that also means less time to re-invest and to be honest, as much as he seems to be able to squeeze out top dollars from buying clubs he also seems rather keen on buying players at premium rates. £30 mil for a completely untested 20-year old in Lamela? £25 mil for Soldado, a 28-year old player with one single season of 20+ league goals in his entire career?
Re “the”documentary” Guys, I’m no computer whizz kid myself but isn’t their a thing called peer to peer file sharing , or is DRM too clever or scary for the mighty ‘holics to overcome ? Just saying…..
I don’t think my socks will ever dry. 🙂
*Continues chuckling*
Public grief can be entertaining sometimes
http://i.imgur.com/oMFnp81.png
Reports this morning that we have a five man shortlist for strikers:
Costa – see discussion above
Lewandowski – got to be a hail mary at this stage, never going to happen
El Shaarawy – quite like this idea, looks a talent
Llorente – would be happy with this if he’s relatively cheap, but feels unlikely
Lavezzi – again, sounds good to me.
I’d imagine Benzema might also be somewhere in the mix.
Still don’t think we’ll sign any of the above in January.
El Shaarawy, Lavezzi- not what we need, because neither of them can’t play as a lone striker.
Anyway, if we want this type of converted-winger striker than Griezmann is the more adequate and cheaper option, considering Shaarawy is almost always injured and to lightweight and Lavezzi is in worst form of his life.
It would be great if we get Eduardo type of finisher, fast, creative, good as a lone striker but can participate on the wings if needed, who can run behind defenses but will create by himself, who knows how to use both feet but will score some headers too.
TTG@waaaay earlier
Thanks for confirming my memories re Tevez and Mascherano. I though the WHam manager at the time was probably Pardieu. I shall take any opportunities to remind my mate that might come up.
COYG
Re Daniel Levy
Is he the Power Shit in North London?
Btw anyone seen this? http://25.media.tumblr.com/789f8947026556f18b71431cd119ba3a/tumblr_mxwolfqMHV1ro94ojo1_250.gif this is Neuers reaction after Bayern drawn us, I hope we give them proper spanking.
Just play that clip in the dressing room, Eandy – team talk done !
Cynic @121 – makes it almost worth joining Twitter. 🙂
Pangloss @125,
He probably is – that’s how AVB picked up the verbal diarrhoea. 😉
Best cut out these puns, Trev, or people will start to get browned-off.
Re: Spurs 1-West Ham 2
Which is more fatiguing and more psychologically depressing?
Losing out in an earlier round of the League Cup or losing out to a relegation candidate of a club in a later round? 😉
Nice quote from Allardyce having witnessed his team’s destruction of Tottenham:
“We saw the shaken nerve ends of Tottenham when we scored. We then went for the jugular.”
Pangloss / Trev…….stools & fools (after being schooled by ‘Pool). 😉
My coat’s already on.
That’s how you kill a circus, 8ball – go for the juggler ! 😉
Which reminds me, did you hear about the performance standards for circus telephonists?
They have to make sure they always answer within three rings.
We here in India cant get to hear the great man speak, at the moment its only for UK and i do envy the ones who have heard him speak. Whatever experts we have managed to read does indicate what Titi was all about- class and outspoken.
With respect to jack though, it seems strangely right that he will miss a game or two( knowing the FA two it will be), he has been poor and maybe needs to get back to basics and work his way back,its not about the talent with him, its just the mindset.
Lastly strikers, until and unless Poldi comes and starts scoring for fun we need a striker who can be quick and clinical , theo well sorry not the one who can hold up the play, so can moyes be stupid and give us hernandes???? if not llorente is to similar to OliG, pato lazier than bendtner and rest all we cant have them, not in jan for sure.
Ambition is one thing arrogance is another. I remember a discussion coming back from Arsenal on the car radio several years ago. Someone (this was about 2001) was talking about what made a big club and a Spurs fan came on and tried to make a case that they were the biggest team in London. It was the most subjective, biased and flawed argument that one could ever advance and yet within seconds there were Spurs fans ringing in to back him up.
As I recall their arguments were;
They won the Double in 1961
They had a tradition for playing great football( much better than boring Arsenal)
They had a lot of Fans
They won the Double in 1961
Er that’s about it.
By then we were on our second double and just about to complete our third.
The host eventually concluded that to be a really big team you had to ;have had success in a number of different eras
Have a huge fan base all around the world
You were respected in European competition
You had a number of iconic players dotted throughout your history.
One can argue until Kingdom come about about what the key criteria are but using the ones the host adopted Tottenham fail on most measures.They have had a few iconic players in the last fifty years–Jennings, Greaves, Gascoigne, Lineker and Bale come to mind but most Premier sides could say the same. Otherwise they haven’t challenged for the title in fifty years. Their average position would be around 8th or 9th I guess. They have played in the European Cup 51 years ago and the Champions League once and they are way down the list in terms of international fan base.
Yet today we hear the list of managers who they deem appropriate to run their car crash of a club. De Boer, Capello, Hiddink and so on. The reality is that they will be lucky to get Hoddle ,Pocchetino might see a better future at Saints and their best bet would be ‘Arry who they thought had taken them as far as he could eighteen months ago. Wake up and smell the coffee Spuds fans you are not in the top , second or even third level of European teams and what represents failure and ridicule for Arsenal ( fourth place) has been achieved by them twice in the last twenty years. So get real,beg Arry to come back and stop deceiving yourselves you sit at the top table when you eat at an annexe in the servants quarters!
Must say this inability of non-UK readers to see the documentary is only adding to Titi’s legendary status. 🙂
Vinay, I like the sound of this Poldi scoring for fun. 🙂
And this raised a titter!
http://www.tottenhamhotspur-mad.co.uk/feat/ed11/sherwood_is_an_idiot_819052/index.shtml?
Sorry I sent the wrong thing.
See this!
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/child-mascot-hilariously-snubs-suarez-handshake-163503105.html
TTG @139 – She will get banned for the next two home games by the FA for that gesture unless they have double standards (Shock! Horror!)
Jack banned for 2 games – (Cuntski and the East End Murdering Scum).
I- Bath
And so she should its much worse than a Wayne Rooney two- footed tackle or Ashley Young dive. Brings the whole game into disrepute like that cad Wilshere. I bet several Citeh fans were treated for shock after that awful moment
More delusional stuff from a Tiny Tott. Kyle Walker says “we’re a great football team with great players”
Good thing Jack didn’t swoop back around with that finger or it would have been two more games out …
This reminds of one of my old teachers saying:
“It could be seen as you’re standard to have no standard!”
FA-ckin’ idiots!
ooh
“your” not “you’re” 🙁
A good read on Gazidis and South Africa:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10517295/Arsenals-chief-executive-Ivan-Gazidis-Nelson-Mandela-Dad-and-the-fight-against-apartheid.html
8 ball @ 147: Very good read indeed. Sure these experiences and inspirations have given Gazidis a nuanced and balanced perspective about the role of Sports in the wider world and the values of community building…
Nothing nuanced about this though – literally the reluctant superman:
http://instagram.com/p/iGrTW3uJ2C/
🙂
Ooops, sorry for the bum steer with the Henry doco. Good luck finding the right one guys!
Öskar
ttg – whatever we make think of the totts, fact is if they pay enough money they can get managers of the stature of Hiddinck – especially when you think that even if he screws up, they’ll still have to pay his contract off. AVB just got 3 years’ money for 1½ years’ work. May just have a problem getting work in the future though – except maybe in Portugal.
No apologies necessary as far as I’m concerned Öskar – enjoying every minute of it.
From Ben Dirs’ article on the bbc website about the sacking of managers: “Think of the “period of transition” as that stage in a relationship when a once love-struck couple have been reduced to “trying to work things out”. In which case, Tottenham have been locked in an unbroken chain of periods of transition since their League and Cup double in 1961.”
Re: Trev @133. Now that is qualitee. 🙂
Big trouble for our big rivals this weekend? When, and if it happens please recall that you heard it here first. 🙂
Time to put our heart into it≥ Whatever that means. What does it mean, ‘holics?
The lady on the radio says “Who is your favorite rain deer and why?” Actually rain and deer are not separate words, but ‘holic’s website host does not allow me to write those two words as one. I have a feeling I’m almost getting nonsensical here …
Now she played this song to put us into the CHristmas spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCcvcbruI10
In case you are wondering, which I know you are not, I am drinking one of these vintages:
http://www.clinecellars.com/ourstory
Nice people, as I recall from my occasional visits to the winery, the easiest one to get to in Sonoma County on a visit from San Francisco.
Still the funniest Christmas parody, from the actor better known for playing Father Jack…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=latTtV-KHaM
Öskar
Cheers all. Work is killing me. The price I had to pay to make my trip last month. I’ll gladly do it again. 😉
Hope the lads are rested and ready. Part 2 of the season starts Monday. We need a home win to kick off the momentum again. The team that is most consistent wins the title. We can let our guard down.
Hope everyone has a good holiday season.
Well we can let are guard down but we really probably shouldn’t. 😉
Jeez it’s quiet here this morning. Office Christmas parties last night then? I prescribe Irn Bru and Berocca.
I know some people mentioned in the last thread that they’d be happy to see us finish 3rd, but really and truly, the league is there for the taking this year.
I don’t want to sound disrespectful but when you see a team as poor as Liverpool in second, it actually begs belief.
I think we’ve a strong enough team to win it, but whether we’ve the panel and the depth is the question. Over the past few weeks when we’ve had to play a cluster of games in short succession, we’ve dropped points and I don’t think thats a coincidence. We lost to Manu, Napoli and Citeh all during busy schedules. Which makes the christmas period we face vital.
Citeh are possibly the only team in England who can drop 8 players and still get a result in Munich. Despite their depth, they’ve been inconsistent away from home. Chelski are an aging team and no longer possess a striker like Drogba up front and are also inconsistent.
I think Zico mentioned earlier that we have been the most consistent team in the PL over the past 12 months and he’s right. For me, its essential that other players step up to the mantle and share the goalscoring duties because its been skewed disproportionately with the contributions from Rambo and Giroud so far. As blogs mentioned this am, Theo and Poldi are now back in the fold and both need to step up. Oxlade should create a presence too. Jack also needs to up his game. We might even have a new addition come January. So if we retain our focus, there’s no reason why we can’t win this. If we can win it, I think we’re going to have a really really special team for the next few years.
2 games for jack and nothing for yaya toure on that lunge on giroud?, oh wait he plays for the sheikh’s and jack plays for just Arsenal, hmm well done FA.
Vinay,
Any player who makes claims of becoming the club and national team captain, cannot be caught giving opposing fans the finger, or smoking in the bicycle shed. Getting a 2 match ban coming into the Chrimbo schedule is just indefensible no matter what way you look at it. He needs to take a leaf from Rambo’s book and let his football do the talking.
Joe@153,
Allow me to put a positive spin on things.
We have a busy schedule coming up over the next couple of weeks.
You want Wneger to rotate.
LJW is out for a couple of matches.
Wenger will have to rotate.
Problem? What problem.
I do agree the Wilshere needs to mature a little and stop doing silly things (or if he can’t stop doing them, then at least stopp getting caught doing them).
I also agree that we can finish higher than 3rd. I believe (and I fear I may have said before) that I believe Wenger teams run on confidence, and am a little concerned that should we “only” finish 3rd this season after such a strong start confidence might take a bad hit.
However, at bottom, I’m delighted to have these worries, after all things might be much worse.
– We might have flushed 100m down the toilet over the summer on players who can’t play together;
– We might have just sacked our 93rd manager in ten minutes;
– Our manager, who had been in place since before than most of the squad were born might have retired and been replaced by a mere mortal;
– Our squad might look around the dressing room before each match wondering which of the other players their wives were sleeping with;
– We might not be The Arsenal
So, stuff to worry about, but not as worrying as recently, and not as much stuff as most other clubs.
COYG
OK the ‘xmas’ schedule starts tomorrow. Lets have a look at the current top 4’s fixtures (cant be arsed to go any lower).
Arsenal play;
Chelsea H
West Ham A
Newcastle A
Cardiff H
Scouse Cunts play;
Cardiff H
Citeh A
Chelsea A
Hull H
Chelsea play;
Arsenal A
Swansea H
Scouse Cunts H
Southampton A
Citeh play;
Fulham A
Scouse Cunts H
Palace H
Swansea A
On paper for me Citeh would appear to have the easiest group of fixtures, however as we all know games are not played on paper,
and they will be missing Aguero and this Saturday at least have a definite problem at right back. Scouse Cunts have the hardest run for me and Chelsea’s is harder than ours. I see our toughest fixture as being Newcastle away and I include Chelsea at home in that assessment. Whatever all of our current nearest rivals are going to take points out of each other.
Going into the New Year could be ourselves and Citeh pulling away from the pack? We’ll see.
Nice analysis Esso. I like the optimism. Cheers.
Cheers Esso,
Interesting list – hadn’t had time to look at that much detail.
Oh – snap, bath. 😉
Felicitations Trev.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=563770823700021
I love you Arsenal.
My passion.
Top work Esso. Cheers.
Afternoon all.
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 16s
TEAM NEWS: “Koscielny is certainly out for the game. @JackWilshere is of course suspended. @Podolski10 is available” http://po.st/2EzL9S
Arsenal FC @Arsenal 23s
Wenger on @Podolski10: “It will take a little while for him to come back but he can score goals for us” http://po.st/2EzL9S #AFCvCFC
Massive blow to have Kos out but expected, although to be fair, TV5 did ok on both occassions he played.
Also I think that Chavski game is good one for Theo to pull off his annual “oh look I fell, or not..actually…here..I just scored” signature move.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2526450/Spanish-game-braced-probe-528m-tax-debt-Barcelona-Real-face-charge-receiving-illegal-tax-aid.html
If Vermaelen can restrain himself from making rash decisions he’d take that final step to becoming a world-class centre-back. Watch Silva’s goal last weekend; Vermaelen was well positioned but couldn’t keep calm and know where the cross was coming to before moving, in that one moment of rashness he left the exact spot where the ball was delivered into and veered off into a position where he had to try and stop the incoming cross with his weaker foot. He needs to calculate his movements better.
So Suarez signs a new contract with Liverpool – maybe with a release clause that actually exists this time? 🙂
ATG
Interresting article. Not really surprised though 😉
What I don’t understand is the part about the mils to the french FA. They were hosting the WC in 98 right? What much more than some paint do the stadiums need not even 20 years later?
Suarez contracts don’t have much meaning to them
If he wants to go he will just ignaw
and bite his way out of it
All it means to him is a pay rise.
Evening all, watching presser tonight so will preview Chelsea tomorrow.
Have a great Friday evening those who have it to come. Enjoy your Saturday if you are there or nearly there.
First Guinni of the week heading south apace. Interesting medical experiment underway.
Hahahaha Guinni!
Best word in the English language? Prolly
Pangloss @166 you forgot one.
We might have woken up and realized that our recently departed manager had left behind a surprisingly calcified, entitled, and decidedly subpar team, who with 2 or 3 exceptions lack anything like “top” quality. And that with said team we were gonna struggle mightily to finish in the top 4.
Instead we have a hung teams, packed with both developing talent and experienced leaders, who are just a player or two away from being one of the most dangerous and feared teams in Europe.
Oh and we’re top of the league.
I’ll take it.
A “hung teams”. Well that may be so. But what I meant was a *young team.
happy christmas
to
the coolest shower
of gooners
under made up god’s
big blue sky
what a
load of crackers
‘holic
you have made
a thing of beauty
long may you
and the ‘holicnation reign
proper gooners all
happy christmas to cba
one of the brightest stars under the firmament
as well as to all the great
and mighty
and occasionally delirious ‘holics
happy christmas
bt8
tis a glorious time
to be a gooner
Cba
Inimitable greetings! Merry Christmas to you!
Interesting to see that we have let three of our lady superstars leave and signed a top goalie when we have the lovely Emma Byrne. Are we deciding to take less interest in the ladies game or are there other signings to come?
I watched the Legends video yesterday on Thierry. Boy what a genius that man was
thunder T
it’s nothing
but a big
happy christmas
to you
and yours
hope you have
a good
roarin an shoutin
dollop
of festive joy
🙂
howdy ‘hol
just tried to leave
a sparkly howdy
for blogs
can’t get it sorted
tell him
herself loves
christmas fm
it’s gone a
bit commercial
but it’s nice
to hear his
wogan-esque
tones
still
top gooner
Got to log in these days cba 😉
I’ve posted it for you.
merry Xmas my friend, and a happy and healthy new year.
Raising a pint o’ plain to you right now. 😉
Evening all…..
Off from work until Friday next week cant wait for the Bus Stop in Fulham on Monday now!
I hope to meet some of you in the Tollie on Monday! Really looking forward to Crimbo now!
Come on Arsenal!
cba @189,
big “blue” sky ?
come now !
that seriously needs turning red. 😉
Preassist to the byline
trev
i do apologise
my world is
as
yours
red
as fuck
with my back
and
these feet
shirley
knot
Ooh shame, cba !
Dropping into the bar
About as regularly as Father Christmas
Only to self assist
And get a big fat yellow card. 😉
can i just say
that young lad
cba
outdid himself today
him
and
his
chocolate
foot
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun
It is to card
That young lad, cba. 😉
young
you have
cheered
an old
fart
up
wha
?
Trev
You have certainly effort into that! 🙂
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells….. Jingle all the way!
Oh what a fun it is to read Trevs has open the Safe!
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells….. Jingle all the way!
CBA has taken keys and enjoys the open safe!
*correction
CBA has taken keys and enjoys all the way!
Following on from Esso #167 … if we can beat the chavs there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be top, probably with a healthy points diff, well into February when the going starts getting tough. Our next 8 games…
Chelsea H
West Ham A (bottom 4)
Newcastle A
Cardiff H
Aston Villa A (big grudge match)
Fulham H (bottom 4)
Southampton A
Crystal Palace H (bottom 4)
On form only Newcastle and Southampton should be a problem. Okay, football doesn’t always follow form but we haven’t been as strong as we are now for years.
Öskar
Öskar
Despite the poor form of those bottom 4 clubs you mention, they are still London derbies so anything can happen.
That being said, they are 3 derbies Arsenal won’t be playing next season.
And I’m also beginning to think Harry deliberately got QPR relegated last season, just to get the parachute money and then bounce back into the PL considerably richer.
Just saying…, in case the lawyers are reading.
Morning all.
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