£70 Million to spend spin! Keeper Crisis as Valdes and Reina lined up & A squad full of Internationals, but no true winners and that is why Arsenal fail!

Morning all…….

It’s still no better is it?

Knowing we had hundreds of shots on goal, a penalty shout turned down and of course and let’s not forget ‘they only had one chance’ line. None of it makes our cup exit any better does it?

They may have had only one chance but they took it……

That’s all it takes!!

I was listening to Lee Dixon, Gareth Southgate, Martin Keown and a few others talk about the results over the weekend, and of course, ours was hot on the agenda. They are ex footballers, two of which have been winners, the same two of course didn’t know what the word ‘defeat’ meant, well not until the final whistle blew.

In the main, their view is that we lack winners.

They are absolutely spot on!!

Every time an International break comes along, we read that we have 120 players away on International duty but, not one of those international players have won much in their career to date have they. In fact, apart form the odd trophy a few seasons ago, I don’t think any of our current crop have won anything.

I know Cazorla was part of the Spanish squad which won the Euro’s in 2008 & 2012, but that’s as good as it gets really and I’m not sure he was that involved on the pitch.

Maybe you know otherwise.

We do lack winners, we have for so often now and until that changes, we will always remain the same. A few showed signs of strong spirit last weekend, but where did it go on Saturday.

When the chips are down we lack players to roll up their socks, grab others around by the scruff of the neck and tell them how it is. Players who have the mentality to snatch a victory when defeat is staring the team in the face, players who will in the 93 minute of a match grab glory because that’s what they do best, that’s what they are used to and that’s all they know.

We have had a few, but now we have none, not when it comes to one off matches when the result really matters.

What about a manager with that same kind of attitude, a manger who won’t accept second place, won’t accept defeat and certainly won’t accept half-hearted performances. We once had one of those but he’s gone……..

The next two important PL fixtures are Aston Villa at home and the away trip to WHL, however, before that is a small matter of Bayern Munich tomorrow evening and according to reports, Wenger kept the squad behind on Saturday for 45 mins to try and put right what had gone wrong.

Well he can’t, nothing can change that result, maybe a 45 minute tactical/motivational talk prior to kick off would have done a lot more good.

We certainly need to be a lot quicker out of the blocks tomorrow night, in fact our play in general needs to be an awful lot quicker if we are to get anything from the game. We can’t afford 120 shots on goal and miss the lot either because if Bayern get a sniff on goal, they will take it….

Szczesny will have to be at his best, in fact many reports in this morning’s newspapers suggest that even his best is not good enough and they link us to many a keeper. From Valdes to Reina and many in between…..

What do they know eh?

£70 million is the amount Arsene Wenger will be given in the summer, and he’s ready to spend it according to reports in The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mirror suggest a mass exodus is on the cards at the end of the season…..

Season Ticket anyone???

Have a good day all…..

0 thoughts on “£70 Million to spend spin! Keeper Crisis as Valdes and Reina lined up & A squad full of Internationals, but no true winners and that is why Arsenal fail!

  1. ed the gooner says:

    The really scary thing is that even if (When) no trophies are won and we miss out on CL qualification, as far as the board and Wenger are concerned this will be the first failure of Wengers reign, not the eight years of slow decline that everyone else see’s. So expect it to be spun like that. More pain to come I’ m affraid, this is just the start!

  2. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Is Wenger the man to take Arsenal forward and upwards – even with £70 million to spend? Can he address what is so obviously wrong at the club when he is the architect of its decline? Critical questions.
    Perhaps Kroenke sees keeping him as an easier option than finding a replacement and getting it wrong. At the moment it’s down to Wenger but if a new manager blows out it will be Kroenke’s responsibility. I know what I think.
    Too many mixed messages coming out of Arsenal these days.

  3. rico says:

    Morning Adam…

    Good question, better the devil we know??

    I just don’t have a clue who SK would look to if AW walks. Does he even have enough of a footballing brain to know who would be right for the job??

    I’m not so sure….

  4. Breezy says:

    Ah yes the mythical 60/70/80 million pound war chest that we have to spend. There’s a better chance of aliens landing on the planet then us spending half of that.

  5. potter says:

    £ 70 million = cynical repeat of the jam tomorrow promise.

    2016 contract ? Is that when the financial bean counters have decided the most profit will be made for Kroenke to sell out ?

  6. Scott from Oz says:

    Option 1…Arsene, there is 70 million.
    Go and spend it.
    If you don’t, you are sacked.
    If you do and can not bring success, you are sacked.
    Option 2….Arsene, you are sacked.
    Replacement, please.
    Who do we trust at the club to employ a replacement?
    It is a scary thought, but Wenger has been there for so long, we must wonder if any of the board members are capable of making the call, because Stan certainly isn’t.

  7. Adam says:

    I know Rico. It’s the short memory thing. By this morning a lot of the pain will have gone, leaving just a dull ache. Many Gooners will be thinking that a good performance against Bayern could turn the season round. Wenger is blaming the players, quite rightly but is blowing off about preparing the team in the same way that he has for the past 16 years. For me he has drunk at that particular well a bit too often. He knows the fans support is critical but the fact is that, generally speaking, he hasn’t got it anymore. The “Don’t forget what he has done for our club” has worn thin. Yes, we all feel that pang of disloyalty but we also have the evidence of our eyes and hearts. Things are getting worse. Is there any doubt about that? Is it Wenger’s responsibility or not?

  8. Adam says:

    Potter. He had this money in January I believe and knew we needed some players. He said so himself with his “looking to strengthen everywhere” and “I expect to be very busy” schtick. What did he do? He sat around waiting to try and get a few last minute bargains and threw January away. Monreal was not part of a great plan was he?

  9. devilgunner says:

    £70 million?????

    In the film 300 the hunchback was given an army of beautiful ladies with hot sizzling atmosphere which sent his body temperature into the stratosphere………….yet he still remained an ugly hunchback.

    The same with AW……….even if he is given 700 million, he will keep it away and spend only the interest which would amount to….wait for it…….just 14 million.

  10. Scott from Oz says:

    It is Stans responsibilty, obviously.
    He owns the joint.
    He is the man.
    He can sack Wenger and replace him any time.
    He won’t though.
    Why is that, i wonder.

  11. devilgunner says:

    Make no mistake………against Bayern we will get hammered. I am going for a 0-2 and 0-3 reverses for a 0-5 aggregate.

  12. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Even if Wenger had £70M to spend … would you trust him with it?

    I can’t knock the three summer purchases or the purchase of Monreal ….
    its the Santos, Chamakh, Squillaci, Gervais, Park, type signings I can’t abide …….

    Give Wenger £70M and he probably be scouring central Africa for young boys whilst the top players get overlooked … Did that come out right?

  13. devilgunner says:

    He says nothing because Kronke is only in it for the money. You buy a room for £100……..yet you do not stay in it………so you buy it till the property price goes up. Then you sell it for £200. In the meantime did you clean the floor? Did you decorate the room? Did you mend the leaks in the roof? Did you check to see if the electricity is ok? Did you change the broken window panes?

    I presume not.

    And that is what SK is doing. Waiting till AFC can be sold for a profit.

  14. tsGH says:

    Hi all,

    It sure isn’t getting better Rico. Excellent post.

    Matt Le Tissier made a very solid point on saturday. He mentioned that he is worried about how no team seem to have leaders compared to even 5 years ago. His comment paraphrased was that during his time even a team who knew they were going to get relegated had about 2 or 3 leaders you wished as on opponent that they were not playing against you.

    Unfortunately, AFC has been lacking that since 2008 in my eyes. Why 2008 some may ask because we had not won anything since 2005? My answer is that no manager would have been able to win during that transitional phase of the club however, since then AW has really let things slip big time.

    When it comes to tactics, after a loss and in hindsight things are always bad.

    When you compare the performance against Sunderland at 10 vs 11, AW played an attacking minded midfielder at RB and we still went on to have arguably the best win all season. The player who played at RB is the same player most fans choose to blame for almost all our issues whenever he plays. But in my years of watching football I have never ever seen an attacking central midfielder play RB.

    Is it not also strange that Fergie has won it all in the 8 years AW has been stated as being in demise but the win ratio between these 2 managers is about 7 percent. That shows that something is not quite right when it comes to team attitude during key phases of games.

    For instance when OG12 was selected on saturday, did he think this is an opportunity to add to my goal tally or he thought subconsciously that I am a striker on fire so I should not be playing against a 2nd division team whilst players like JW10, SC19 and Poldi are rested?

    The issue I have noticed since 2009 is that AW has let a huge gap appear between the main stars of the team when it comes to team selection but on the other hand he has failed to reward them financial accordingly.

  15. devilgunner says:

    No Adam………I am a positive person every day. However it pisses me off when I see certain things happening.

  16. frednerk says:

    When someone’s sick they need help..
    wenger’s confused..
    stick or twist.?(I DON’T NO WHAT TO DO)
    Poor man need’s help.
    Who at the arsenal can help him?
    Anybody got any idea’s

  17. Adam says:

    SYG. As a snapshot of who bears responsibility I say, take a look at the last 45 minutes against Blackburn. I saw only one man on the bench making the decisions and I watched the clock tick by.
    I agree about the likely purchases and the earlier ones you mention.
    Can the man who fcuked it up put it back together again?

  18. rico says:

    Same old Breezy eh…

    Potter, if we drop out of the top four this season, surely by 2016, the share value will have dropped?

    Scott, apparently there was money in Jan and SK encouraged AW to spend it, I doubt little will change. I just don’t see AW getting the sack either…

  19. devilgunner says:

    M’ dear Lady………..Share value will drop not because we are not in the top four. But if the books are kept wrong. It will not drop as long as AFC keep making profits.

  20. Adam says:

    Fred. Surely a more pertinent question would be whether he will accept the help. According to the stories about him and Steve Bould, the answer seems to be in the negative.

  21. Adam says:

    TS. If you are talking about Ramsay, he filled in there for the last half hour after Jenks had got himself sent off. As for you not seeing that before. It was hardly part of the plan was it? And I seem to remember Flamini playing at LB for quite a while when Cole was injured. Attacking midfielder playing at FB?

  22. Scott from Oz says:

    I may not be getting this across correctly.
    Yes, IF this money exists, it is Wengers responsibility to spend it or not to spend it.
    However, Stan has the power to ensure everything is done to bring success to the club, and this includes demanding the money be spent, yet sits by and does nothing.
    Who is really to blame??
    I do not believe it is there.
    I may well be wrong, of course, but i may not be.
    Once again, we do not know the truth.

  23. tsGH says:

    Ha ha ha SYG, it surely came right, I can understand what you mean even though maybe it is not quite right. 😀

    My point is different countries bring different things to the table. So not forgetting that PV, Makele, Toure, Lauren , Eto, Sagna, the Boateng half brothers to name a few are all first generation Europeans. This shows there is still talent emerging from Africa. Even Zidane, Nasri are Africans.

    If I was ever a manager I would never buy a forward playing African. Why because since Weah, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Okocha, Roger Miller the forward players have been poor.

    The same way I will never buy a Spanish striker because history tells me the best Spanish striker is Torres and well… lol

    Just imagine Yaya Toure as a striker.

    I have always mentioned to Emma on here that, if I was tasked to assemble a team the defenders will be British or Scandinavians and maybe an Italian, DM will have to be African, attacking midfielder will be German, spanish or Dutch and striker will be Dutch or Italian or Latin American.

  24. devilgunner says:

    Its not only at AFC mate. certain things can be seen all over Europe. Even in our clubs mate. And certain decisions piss me off a lot.

    Take my club for example. For three years I had a defender at under19 level. He is already an under21 international and is earmarked for the national team. What did my club do? Sell him to the champions who already have an established international in that position (right back) and is the captain of the club (meaning that my former player will warm the bench) and buy a player who is not fit to lace my former protege’s boots. IT happens around many clubs Adam.

    And it really pisses me off.

    And that is what I see happening at AFC.

  25. potter says:

    From a footballing perspective I would agree Rico , but who knows quite what the bean counters have up their sleeves . After all we are a financial institution first and as such deals in the market may outweigh those on the pitch.

  26. SD London says:

    Well you would think a normal coach would to the obvious and go all out for the only realistic cup of the season.But no , Wenger did the
    opposite.

    I am a very thoughtful person (If I can say so myself) therefore I have given it a lot of thought before reaching this conclusion :

    ***************************WENGER OUT !!!************************************
    *************************** ************************************

  27. tsGH says:

    I never said that was a plan. All I was saying was that when things go bad even the best intentions become the most amateurish.

    And Flamini was a DM at Arsenal but a fullback at Marseille, so please lets get facts right.The same way Le Coq was a full back/ winger at Stade Lavallois and even during the FA youth competition I attended in 2009 when JW, Eastmond and Frimps were the midfielders.

  28. devilgunner says:

    Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Emirates.

    Pessimism has pervaded North London.

    A discernible pattern has begun to emerge with regard to Arsenal’s record in knock-out competitions this season. So far they’ve been eliminated from the League Cup and the FA Cup by clubs beginning with B: first Bradford City then Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. It’s coincidence, nothing more. But you get the sense the trend will continue against Bayern who are favourites to qualify at 1.24.

    Staggeringly Bayern have won 85% of their games this season. Of the two teams to have beaten them, one, remarkably enough, is BATE Borisov. Attributable to a blackout, Arsenal will be hoping the Bavarian giants once again fall asleep on Tuesday night. It seems distinctly unlikely, though.

    Watching Bayern overcome Wolfsburg 2-0 on Saturday, one thing in particular stood out. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, wearing a curious pair of…………………….four-fingered gloves………………..didn’t have a single save to make until a Diego free-kick came his way in the 77th minute. And get this, it was the first shot on Bayern’s goal in over four hours of league football.

    Given only Nordjaelland have averaged fewer shots per game than Arsenal in the Champions League so far this season and that Bayern have gone and kept 18 clean sheets on the road in all competitions, backing them to do the same again at 3.25would probably be worth your while too.

    So where is the fifth finger of the glove. I hope he is not going to use it as a con**m. 😆

  29. rico says:

    Not me Adam…

    Syg, same here. For each good one, we see two very average signings and that’s where we waste so so much money.

    I wonder how much those you list cost us, £25 m maybe in total?

    We could have signed Sissoko, Capoue and Mbiwa for that…..

    Goals conceded? What goals conceded…..

  30. Bradster says:

    Totally agree ts, Argentina seem to be the greatest at producing strikers.
    There are a handful of African CD that are worthwhile to buy.

    On Stan, he doesn’t care if we win or lose. Profit is the key so wenger is the right man for that job. The new manager will have to be someone who can find and mould gems for sale.

  31. devilgunner says:

    I believe that what AW wanted to say about the best players in Africa was that it was only recently that the best players were playing in Africa.

    Yes.

    Very recently.

    In the 2010 World cup that is. Messi, Van Persie, Muller etc all played in Africa.

  32. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, he has had some great successes, and some terrible failures.
    He is no different to any other manager in the PL though.
    The difference is his failures haven’t cost us 30 or 40 million.

  33. Scott from Oz says:

    The bigger issue is the players we have sold, not those we bought, imo.
    Wengers faults?
    The boards fault?
    Stans fault?
    Who bloody knows?
    Who knows anything?

  34. Adam says:

    I saw Coquelin, a midfielder apparently, play at RB on Saturday. Right in front of me he was and a right Coq-up he made of it too. Never an Arsenal player in a million years but a Wenger player through and through.

  35. tsGH says:

    And Flamini has never ever played as an attacking midfielder. In fact he has always been a fb. Its only that AW is weak when it comes to French players so they dictate what they want to him instead of it being the other way round. The current one doing the same is Le Coq who even Christian Gourcuff said he would never play him as a DM and whilst at loan at Lorient he played FB and RW.

    Strikers have been converted to CB (and vice-versa) on numerous occasions such as the dippers Gallagher, Sol Campbell, Senderos etc but nevr CM. Cashley argues he was never a striker but a winger before AW converted him to a FB.

  36. devilgunner says:

    Back in 1996, when AW came to England SAF was very comfortable, safe in the knowledge that nothing will ever come between himself and success for Manure. Then AW came and blew him out of the water in his first full season by winning the double. Realising that he was threatened, SAF went up a couple of notches and decided to put the new upstart in his place by winning the treble and the league for three season. SAF went up a further couple of notches , and went on to win more leagues and another CL.

    In the meantime AW has said that he has prepared the team in the same way for the last 16 years.

    Yes Scott, he has not cost us 30/40 million. But he could have made much more if he had won a couple of pint glasses.

  37. rico says:

    Of late I am taking about Scott. And some of those mistakes have cost us big money. IF we consider only what we all believe to have been available.

    And think how much we then pay them, and the months we persist with them. That all costs us money one way or another…..

    Will it change in the summer……. History would suggest not…

  38. tsGH says:

    Adam, I think I may be pissing you off this morning as always so please lets leave it. please. I do not understand why but I guess iot just happen because I was not even referring to anything you mentioned.

    Scott.A French manager. No. The same wway I will not follow a French military officer to war unless the officer was an Algerian descent from the french legion.

    I was on a Nato exercise once with a bunch of Europeans nations and a French officer in my team started smoking when we went fully tactical. If he was not one grade above me I would have floored him but hey … lol

  39. Scott from Oz says:

    Devil, fair call, but it was a direct answer to a direct question.
    I raised a question to some mates the other day.
    Was Wenger ever a great tactical manager!
    He obviously has the ability to put together a great squad, but early days he had so many world class players that there was no need for a “plan B”.
    When you have so many guys who know what to do when things are not going as planned that he simply sent them out to do what they do best.
    Look at Barca now…similar thing….no “plan B” required.

  40. Breezy says:

    @ Scott, he may not have us cost 30/40 million in transfer fees, but if the huge wages we pay some of the flops are included, I think we come pretty close to that figure. But I agree he’s done no better or worse then the other PL managers.

  41. rico says:

    G10 🙂

    No getting pissed off this morning guys, not with each other, it’s bad enough with all that Arsenal are going through….

  42. tsGH says:

    Scott the best French manager in my eyes were Aimé Jacquet and Rene Hauss but I think he was half German. lol

    Even Tigana has won more accumen than AW in France. AW on the other hand is loved by Germans and Spanish allegedly.

    I guess the saying that the prophets are always killed by their own people is true. 😀

  43. ozgunner10 says:

    transfer, transfers, my honest opinion is if you got someone in and the club flicked off this relaxed attitude we have in both training and towards opposition games, we’d see a much better side – We’ve heard it from so many players how they enjoy the intensity Wenger does not inspire at the Emirates – I say again, you could give this guy the best 11 players in the world and he’d win nothing any more

  44. rico says:

    Oops, sorry Oz, seems I am struggling to keep up this morning …

    Potter – I wish it was sooner….

    devil, surely not, our value would have to drop if we fall out of the top 4?

    I bet Liverpool isn’t worth as much as it used to be….

  45. Scott from Oz says:

    Oz, you must rate Di Matteo very highly then.
    He certainly won something last season with the 6th best side in England, and is currently employed at………….:)

  46. devilgunner says:

    In AFC case it is different because the financial model is a very sound one Rico………..in the champions league or not. And remember………….AFC are in london not in the dockyards.

  47. tsGH says:

    I think AW was always a great coach or scout but manager it is debatable. Galatasaray knocking him out in the 1980’s was a clear sign that when he had to make a sacrifice he was not born with it. The same can be said of Johan Cruyff too.

    That does not make a bad manager but I think like in all walks of life not every great general can be a Sergeant and vice-versa. He lacks that 5-7% that maybe Fergie has but on the other hand if Fergie is dealt the same cards as AW he would flop big time.

    The facts show that AW has always left a good legacy wherever he has been even at Nancy where he was relegated. Even his relegation was described as a blessing by the board to re-think… the same can not be said of ‘arry at Southampton or Portsmouth. lol

  48. emma says:

    Vermaelen: “I think we had too many touches on the ball, didn’t respect the game sometimes, and it was difficult to get through their defence.

    I dont know why Vermaelen is the captain. He observed what was going on and did nothing. Diaby was holding onto the ball far too long allowing the Blackburn players to get organised at the back. He should have alerted Diaby to release the ball quicker instead of being caught up. Arteta was also guilty of it as well.

    From tsGH comment: “For instance when OG12 was selected on saturday, did he think this is an opportunity to add to my goal tally or he thought subconsciously that I am a striker on fire so I should not be playing against a 2nd division team whilst players like JW10, SC19 and Poldi are rested?”

    I pick the second option from tsGH comment. That was what was running in the subconcious mind of Giroud, Ox, Diaby etc

    I also blame Wenger’s tactics. I believe matches of this nature where the opposition are likely to sit deep you need a quick mobile striker and not Giroud. You could see that when the trio came in (wilshere, cazorla, theo) we got behind the blackburn defenders on several occasions despite how deep they sat

    Giroud thrives when playing opponents that are physical(stokes, sunderland et al). He is rather a good option from the bench not a first team player. We definitely need a top quality striker that possesses mobility and physicality.

  49. tsGH says:

    And the answer to our woes, believe it all not, is that we need an English or British Centre Back. Even Williams will make us win a something. Who ever comes in after AW has to do this asap.

    The unwritten stats is that no team in European has won anything without a national of that country playing as a central defender. The reason Barca always ensure a Spanish player plays at the back.

    Maurenho knows that so at Inter he played Chivu even tyhough the Italians did not rate him

  50. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Ginge – Wenger tried several times for Jagielka …. And even went (albeit gutlessly) for Cahill …. It’s a shame … the former would have been an excellent signing ….

  51. tsGH says:

    SYG Pellegrini is best friends with AW. He got him his job at RM and so say Malaga too with his connections with the ‘rich’ Arabs.

    He is however a poor man AW with the same philosophy in my eyes.

    Dev, both .lol you don’t ask for cheap option do you? 😀

  52. Lee says:

    Scott, that was a quote from Wenger years back…. I didn’t say there was £100m to spend BUT there was a good amount and he chose not to!

  53. ozgunner10 says:

    Never minded Di Matteo Scott – the ECL is a joke now and purely a money making venture – its a raffle – with the likes of an average Liverpool and average a chelsea side already winning it – lost much of its appeal to me mate – the EPL is where its at for me – i liked the days when it was really a Champions League not this anyone in the top 4 crap

  54. tsGH says:

    True Dev,I meant Motta, Chivu is Romanian. What I meant was Motta was a midfielder used defensively in crucial games next to Lucio.

    My bad. A footballing man

  55. Adam says:

    TS. You are not pissing me off and your “as always” comment is unnecessary as it is not true. You and I have had some fun on HH.

  56. allezkev says:

    Morning Gooners.
    Morning Rico, great post Ma’dam…

    Hmm, busy on here today.
    We must have lost Saturday… 😉

  57. kel says:

    70m to spend, big names linked, hahaha season ticket/membership renewal time coming up… stop putting your money in to stans pocket, stop attending games, silent stan will soon get the message the fans are pissed off, and maybe he will realise wenger is well past his best and needs replacing (klopp)?? “Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes”

  58. ozgunner10 says:

    spot on John, said the same yesterday – 8 years will disappear for a few games if we win tomorrow and Wenger will be (as usual) giving it the ‘i told you this team was better than you all think” Like the tables lie every year

  59. SD London says:

    Where did the £70Mil rumor come from ?

    I suspect Arsenal putting that news out to distract us from the fact that we were knocked out by a lowly team.

  60. kel says:

    i believe if the attendances dropped to around the 40.000 mark it would send a clear message to the board!, yes and old fool like hillwood would just say sure the seats are already paid for dont worry, but a business man like kronke would be thinking to himself what if this continues next season?? this imo is the only way to make them change there ways…

  61. SD London says:

    well i still think Arsenal FC or Limited still used an intern to put the story out.

    The news is not fitting with the current situation, windows’ closed , we still have a few months till the end of the season and why after a terrible loss. ?

  62. SD London says:

    Kel , Kel, Kel !!!

    Please know this: Kroenke doesn’t care if the seats are empty.
    He will sell as soon as the share prices starts dropping.

    So i don’t think he will sack Wenger, the only thing that can happen here is for Wenger to resign.

    I genuinely saw that he was embarrassed on Saturday , he actually thought he could win after playing a terrible 45minutes.

    My wonderful coach still waited for the 70th minute before making a change.

    No wonder Jose Morinho doesn’t have any respect for him as a coach.

    Not a fan of him but I am sure Jose M would have made changes from the locker room.

  63. SD London says:

    Coaching is not hard !

    Especially if you are coaching Arsenal against Blackburn
    But coaching is hard when you are Blackburn coach playing Arsenal in their backyard.

    But Wenger likes making things hard for himself.

  64. allezkev says:

    Glorious defeat indeed Adam…

    Predictable result as well mate…

    Although it should not have been, but there is something rotten at the heart of our club…
    And it’s stinking the place out…

  65. allezkev says:

    Rico, what worried me was that picture of Jack Wilshere on his haunces (?) at the final whistle.
    We can only wonder, and worry, at what wzs going through his mind???
    He looked totally pissed off…
    Was he thinking ‘One more season, then i’m off to join an ambitious club’….???

  66. allezkev says:

    Wath, have you noticed some of the names being trotted out as perspective Arsenal signings in the summer…
    Now where did the likes of Capoue, Gotze and Reus come from, the Arsenal Press Office perhaps???
    Total lies, total bullshit, and i’m not falling for it this time.

    I smell the smell of panic running through that rotten club/franchise…

  67. allezkev says:

    As for tomorrow evening, i’m not as despairing as Coach, although i’m getting there…

    Nope, I reckon we’ll come out, all guns blazing, and maybe take a two goal lead.
    But I think it’ll end up 2-2.
    In Munich, we’ll get hammered 4-1…

    Hope that cheers you all up…. 😀

  68. W.A.T.H says:

    AK you know the club have people going through the blogs and twitter, there are people employed just to do that…. You think they don’t see and read what’s being said and the feelings that are out there…? thing is they seem to think that the 10,000 fans who signed up to Afc.com/china per month makes up for the extra few thousand disenchanted fans who go to the game and who are pissed off and are deciding if to renew season tickets or to bother going to games any more…!

  69. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Rico – 1:30pm
    Very sad…. Part of our growing up in the 70’s and 80’s …

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_See_God,_Tell_Him

    Absolutely fantastic series with Ade Edmondson – I got it on DVD
    Me and Julie were only on about Richard Briers’ role in it at breakfast ……. His character had a nasty head accident and he kept on repeating adverts off the telly…
    He went in a restaurant with another old lady and started explaining what he would like e.g Birds eye crispy pancakes, because “they are both delicious and nutricious” …
    The waiter just replied: “I’m sorry sir but we don’t serve shite…”

  70. allezkev says:

    Wath, yes mate i’ve read before….

    So if anyone from the club is reading this, i’d like to inform you that I will definately not be re-newing my season ticket next season…

    Wath, I will continue to go to the odd away game.
    Therefore I can get my football fix, whilst not putting any money into Syrup’s pocket…

    Arsenal tell more lies than Alistair Campbell. I will never believe another word that comes from that club whilst Wenger, Gazides and Kroenke are in situ…

  71. allezkev says:

    Actually, I really enjoy going up north, eating their pies, horse and all, drinking their beer, and hopefully bringing home the points…
    I especially like going to Leeds and Sheffield, and turning them Yorkies over….

    Hiya SYG… 😉

    Lata

  72. rico says:

    I ‘grew up’ with him too Syg, very sad day although he was never one of my favourite actors. But I loved the Good Life, especially being a country gal myself and all my family were simply doing what they were, trying to live off the land….

    Great programme…..

  73. W.A.T.H says:

    AK, I reckon AFC are thinking of filling the soup bowl up with cyber fans to fill those empty seats……………..

  74. NashuaGunners says:

    Hi All.

    Adam: “TS. You are not pissing me off and your “as always” comment is unnecessary as it is not true. You and I have had some fun on HH.” Well, I say true gentleman.

  75. tomstoned says:

    afternoon all 🙂
    c’mon im as devasted as the rest of you loosing to b’burn..but be honest we all knew this would be a difficult season,and try to not mix the buys of santos,park and all the others with the new dawn and buys like podolski,cazorla,giroud and nacho,
    this summer we saw the start of our rebulding after the move to emirates,and we’re actually starting to see small steps in the right direction,,the rest of this season will be a battle,in the summer we will see that our rebuilding continues and next season we will be back in contention with the best..no doubt..
    what i see now is a plan and to be honest that i havent really seen for a very long time,,we’re getting there slowly but surely,time to be strong and get behind the team…

  76. tomstoned says:

    SYG 😉
    sorry mate ive been drinkin heavily ;)hehe.nope honestly…we’re on the right track…and have been since the summer,..lets just stay on that road…and it may seem strange,but im actually upbeat,from being more or less in the dark of Arsenals future since 07…to the very positive signs now…i’d say we’re on our way to once again becoming a top top team,and ..most importantly..we once again have a plan…

  77. NashuaGunners says:

    @tomstoned, I would believe that plan when SK sells his shares and walk off. To be a club owner and desire for trophies you must LOVE the sport and take a front seat.

  78. tomstoned says:

    NashuaGunners
    i do in some ways agree with you,and its a valid point,i have as you struggled with SK’s ownership,and to be honest would welcome the Russian…still one have to look at whats happening mate…and the signs are there if you want to look at them
    until this summer,,we sold off or best players..and that was clearly down to creating funds(could SK have helped us..Yes)our buys we’re dictated by our economic situation…park,santos,etc..there where in my opinion no other plan working at the Arsenal besides to be financially safe not taking any risks..
    but..from this summer we saw a clear plan..from taking a close look at our wage bill construction,..buying rock solid players..getting rid of some deadweight,..not selling walcott…tying down wilshere etc .swift reaction to gibbs injury(nacho)quality player,,its very very positive signs mate…
    in fact The Arsenal havent showed this much determination since 07..im very positive at the moment NashuaGunners..we’re moving forwards and upwards..
    Time to man up..stand firm and show that we’re the feckin best supporters in the world..heey never forget we’re the Gooners right !!

  79. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Wenger knows what he’s done wrong, although he’ll never, ever admit it
    …. Bringing in useless players on high wages ….
    …..pandering to the French players – something which Ginge got absolutely spot on …..
    …..Never truly replacing Lehmann …

    The four recent signings were sound signings,…

    We need to supplement the squad with at least three WORLD CLASS footballers… by WORLD CLASS, I mean WORLD CLASS and not some flaccid African with an eight inch forehead and a fragile mentality who got his break in Ligue 1…
    We need to offload all the shite and cull the reserves, 90% of who will never ever make it with the club…..

    And that’s for a start ..

  80. DutchGooner10 says:

    Afternoon Goonerdom worshippers,

    Rico mighty fine post. Kind doctors make stinking wounds. If I start counting the self-inflicted scars us fans come out highly decorated war veterans. How long are we to suffer friendly fire?

    You – as well as I – have been beating the drum about a top notch custodian being a priority since many moons. Chestnut has cost us dearly with no one ready to dislodge his position.

    Besides I urge our HH regulars to take notice of Liam Brady’s resignation and the persistent rumours of Bould being deliberately disqualified in front of our squad. Lunacy I tell ya.

  81. rico says:

    Hi Dg, thank you….

    It is quite worrying to hear the reasons behind Brady leaving, and as for Bould, it’s quite clear from their body language that some is a miss between him and Wenger.

    Maybe Bould isn’t so keen just to yes….

  82. rico says:

    Syg, I’m hoping that that summer of panic is the last time we see a rubbish signing through the door…

    Last summer signings were very good, just our selling was dreadful as was not replacing Song.

    Dg, Any of the keepers we are being linked to would be a vast improvement wouldn’t it….. And Ches might realise that he needs to keep improving and a lot quicker than he is….

  83. Adam says:

    I just saw Wenger’s press conference. Oh dear, oh dear. I feel really sorry for him. He looks terribly stressed and even more unwell.

  84. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico

    Again – kind healers make stinking wounds – our goalie issue runs synchronous through this 8 year drought. It’s not like there’s never been signs on the wall it would cost us table positions or cup competitions over this period or the next.

  85. rico says:

    I haven’t seen it Adam 🙁

    Dg, it certainly does. A top keeper gives confidence to those ahead of him in defence, who in turn give confidence to the midfield etc etc…

    When the keeper is dodgy, the rest panic.

    Look at the Sunderland game. Ches played pretty well, and so did the rest in defence….

  86. rico says:

    I feel sorry for Wenger, the press do like to batter him.

    Many many clubs have gone 8 season without a trophy, some, like Liverpool look as though they could go another 18, but he does seem to get an awful lot of mud thrown his way….

  87. George says:

    No one is coming in the summer. We will clear the deadwood and sell 2 players, most probably Sagna and TV5. Of course Wenger will take the flak which some of it is undeserved but at £7.5m a year he is paid to deliver, so when he doenst fair dos.

    We will do Spurs for 4th, probably beat Bayern At home and get battered in Germany crashing out. Our only joy will be when we give Spurs a head start and still smash them at theirs,

    I really miss the mighty “David Dein”. The man was no nonsense. Our current board are mickey mouse fun club.

  88. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico there are only a few custodians that cut the mustard at such a young age. Most are mid-twenty with bags of experience. Awareness and positioning need to be polished over and over again.

  89. rico says:

    Many miss DD george but unless Usmanov takes over and brings him back, it will never happen….

    You seem confident re Spurs…. Wish I was, and Everton..

  90. rico says:

    The annoying thing was though Dg, all our older ones were rubbish.Now we are left with a load of young ones, none of which are ready are they…

    As you say, you, me and most, have been shouting loud for us to sign a top quality old boy…..

  91. Bendtnersgone says:

    Hi all, I haven’t had time to read all of the comments so I may be saying what others have said about Arsene’s supposed contract extension. It seems he’s refuted all reports quite angrily.
    My thanks to the footballing gods for that as I really can’t imagine anything more annoying right now than not even having the hope that he goes at the end of the season. Now, what/who do I need to sacrifice to make that actually happen?

  92. DutchGooner10 says:

    Stadium debt is now at a manageable level, TV money is about to go through the roof, and increased sponsorship deals will soon top up match day revenues of £93m. With revenue “exploding”, will Arsène Wenger ever spend the going rate for a world class player? Dein’s answer suggested no:

    “Arsène is a teacher. He takes a good player and makes them excellent, he takes an excellent player and makes them world class.”

    This doesn’t explain what he does with Squlliacci, but of more concern is my interpretation that Arsenal will me never financially match City, Chelsea or Manchester United whilst Arsène Wenger is in charge and the board are happy to do it on the cheap whilst Champions League football is obtained. It relies too heavily on Financial Fair play restricting the expenditure of others and expects Arsène to be continually turn the good to world class.

  93. Breezy says:

    @george and Rico, for me David Dein was the only one on the board that had vision of where the club should be heading and how it should get there. He was/is a football man the rest of he board are simply administrators.

  94. rico says:

    By the way guys and gals, I heard back from Micko, he is fine and dandy, just really really busy with work but hopes to be back here late March. Good news eh….

  95. tsGH says:

    Evening again,

    Excellent point Tomstoned.
    Personally, I think, AW has taken the ‘Richard Nixon’ BS samaritan deed too far. We live in a world where grown men and women would rather borrow money at 1500% to buy a new top for clubbing without contemplating that a big burly man with gold teeth will be knocking on their doors the moment the loan is due. People want another invincible and unfortunately that would not happen. Even the old lady of turin could not beat our ran with their ‘brown enveloping’.

  96. kel says:

    .SD LONDON, one kel is enough m8 😉 well that share price will drop alright if we don’t make top 4… But if we do make the CL spot for next season then in my opinion still stands

  97. tsGH says:

    I am waiting for him to refute the we have 50M to spend rumours. I have always said that rumours about money and contract and his ‘dictarship’ are all part of a sophisticated conspiracy to make Arsenal fall big time by the major spuds sports journalist.

    For instance they say SB is shoved in the corner by AW, without thinking that they are actually undermining SB’s authority. And the fact that SB has said on 2 occasions when he has been on the bench himself that he gets headaches because of the stress. whether it was a joke or not his body language on the bench shows he is probably not made for it. However, if that is the case should AW shift him and promote Banfield or just out of loyalty keep things as they are?

  98. eastsidepaul says:

    Did Wenger really say “I want to lose it and I want to lose the game tomorrow so you can all be happy.”….????

  99. DutchGooner10 says:

    Tnx Rico re update on Micko.

    Ginge all Wenger’s relationships show incisive patterns of tainted love at some stage.

  100. DutchGooner10 says:

    ESP

    Sun reported that line as the only source. Others have not included it in their ‘bizarre presser’ summit.

  101. rico says:

    Breezy. Wenger and DD are close friends, they holiday together, they talk football together and of course they talk Arsenal together.

    For sure Wenger would want him back, but he is the one that chose Gazidis too…. He chose the wrong man!

  102. emma says:

    esp – that comment was made when one of the stupid journo was asking wenger a question at 12:00 on the video clip

  103. eastsidepaul says:

    Ah right, Journalists are the worst people on the planet.

    Any chance of getting DD back, that would be nice, then maybe Wenger could get back to doing the job he is paid to do, and stop doing everyone elses job at the club!

    Étienne Capoue, Stevan Jovetic and Asmir Begovic would be a nice START.

    Getting rid of all the Chumps at the club would be a step in the right direction also.

    If Wenger came out tomorrow and said:

    1) – I’m spending every cent of the £70m in the summer.
    2) – David Dein back in, my only job from now on is managing.
    3) – Chumps will be hitting the bricks in the summer, all of them!

    Then I would bee 100% behind him, even after this diaster of a season.
    Just want a positive change at the club and I would be happy.

  104. emma says:

    Lets cut wenger some slack. Changes are taking place. I still think this summer dealings will be his defining moment. He has signed up our british core to long term contract, at least brought in descent summer signings(podi, cazorla etc) not the firebrigade approach that brought in park, santos. We will have to cut our losses and let some of this underperformers(Gerv, Djourou etc) leave this summer. Get in at least 3/4 players that can improve the squad. Do the biz early so this players can blend with the already existing squad. It’s a miracle we are where we are at this stage of the season.
    I love an angry wenger in the presser, if the players are as hurt as their manager then bayern will get a bashing tomorrow. Don’t know why some of us are scared at least they are no barcelona

  105. Scott from Oz says:

    I just watched the PC.
    Wenger spoke very well, and seems to know exactly which arsehole journo is starting the rumours.
    Anything to sell a bloody paper, the arseholes.
    Why not Vermaelen?
    Is he camera shy?

  106. Breezy says:

    Could we describe that as a press conference of two halves? Before the contract extension question, Arsene seemed quite chipper even cracking jokes. After the question, it was like a man who looked like he would explode if you looked at him the wrong way!!!

  107. Scott from Oz says:

    Emma, i think we are more scared because of our results against Blackburn and Bradford.
    Our latest non PL games have been woeful.
    Esp, describing journos as people is being very kind to them 🙂

  108. Scott from Oz says:

    Breezy, maybe he is just sick of the medias attempts to undermine the club at every turn.
    Journos can say anything they like after distancing themselves with “it’s been reported”, “rumour has it” or plain old “apparently”.
    They do not care what the truth is….it just doesn’t come into the equation, unless of course it suits their needs.
    It is the same everywhere.
    I though Wenger would have loved to jump the table at one of them.
    I am surprised more journos have not had one planted on their chin.
    God knows most deserve it.

  109. eastsidepaul says:

    You’re right there Scott.

    Emma, I agree the guy should be cut some slack if he makes positives moves. I do agree with you quite a bit, apart from the whole british core thing, not being british It doesn’t bother me if there are british players at the club or not, I feel it can be used as a deflecting topic at times, once a player is good enough I don’t care where he is from!

    Anyone watching the United game?

  110. eastsidepaul says:

    I must say no other club is picked upon as much as Arsenal are, journos love to pour salt on the wounds at every opportunity they get.

  111. Breezy says:

    I am afraid, because I’m not sure which Arsenal will turn up, if its the one from the United game and the first half at Stamford Bridge then we’re in for a world of hurt, if the Arsenal from the second half at Chelsea and the West Ham games turn up, then we will give Munich a run for their money.

  112. DutchGooner10 says:

    Scott

    Was thinking the same. Why isn’t our captain there to be accountable on behalf of the squad? I bet Jack wouldn’t shy away from such confrontations.

  113. Breezy says:

    @ Scott absolutely agree, the journalist love nothing more then to create a soap opera around anything and everything. Not mention some of the daft questions like do you have the desire to win the CL? Really what answer are you expecting. Loved the way AW handled that one btw.

  114. Scott from Oz says:

    Dutch, i love Tommy as a player.
    His form always dips when coming back from injury and he takes a while to get back to his best, so i always allowed for that when he had form dips in the past.
    The captaincy has definitely weighed heavily on him though.
    You are either a leader, or you are not.
    Wenger has chosen the wrong players to be skipper, and for the wrong reasons.
    Arteta would be a good skipper, and Jack will be a legendary one, but not yet…he has enough on his plate imo.
    Merts is one who would be superb.

  115. Scott from Oz says:

    I can’t name my second team.
    Well, i will.
    Please allow me a little leniency due to naivety.
    As a kid growing up, this side always battled away avoiding relegation, and i love the underdog.
    It has been later i realised they are hardly a liked club.
    Luton Town.
    There, i said it 🙂

  116. DutchGooner10 says:

    Mine was/is Leeds United, sad demise of a once formidable force in top flight footy.

    Scott agree, wrong choice but excellent player and professional. Let’s hope the skipper-sale curse pass him by.

  117. eastsidepaul says:

    Was thinking would love to know everyones story about how they came into supporting Arsenal!

    i was born into it, my dad is a huge Arsenal fan, so I grew up a fan, which was tough! I was the only Arsenal fan in both my primary and secondary school!

    Was just thinking, since I’ve been on this planet there has only been two (3 counting Rioch!) managers at Arsenal..

  118. rico says:

    You could write a post about all that Esp 🙂

    Luton Scott, Luton?? Why not a local Oz side?

    Same to you Dg, Leeds, and of all clubs, ‘Dirty Leeds’ How?? 😉

  119. rico says:

    Scott

    I think the departure of RvP has affected him, they were quite close apparently…

    I would not be surprised to see him leave this summer, which would be interesting considering he said a while back he wants to stay for life…

    If we signed Sakho, I wouldn’t shed too many tears 😉

  120. tsGH says:

    The war between AW and the journo’s started 16 to 17 years ago when he shocked them in his first few weeks by showing them he was not a stereotypical English manager on the disguisting rumour the spuddie journos’ started to circulate.

    The songs sang about him is disgusting and it is a shame that we Arsenal fans have more infighting than any other team so we are like the proverbial hot cake for all forms of media outlet.

  121. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, i do follow the Central Coast Mariners…they are my local A League side.
    Luton were no. 2 in England.
    Paul, when i was 6, a new local club opened up, and they were called the Glenquarie Gunners.
    The club sent a letter to Arsenal asking to use the nickname and received one back which is still on the wall at the club….36 years later.
    Rico, i would love to see Tommy have a season minus the captaincy, and minus some injury problems.
    I truly believe he would be a world class DM though 🙂

  122. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, agreed.
    Could you imagine Utd’s manager copping the crap Wenger does?
    Utd fans would not be divided, they’d stand together.
    I reckon we bring a lot of the crap on ourselves.

  123. tsGH says:

    Liverpool the 1st or 2nd most successful club depending on who you speak to have outspent us every season especially in the last 3 transfer windows and have only lost one star player during that time are still congratulated for drawing with us ( a team according to what the media say is such as disgrace that, a journo’ asked England’s best player/prospect since Gazza why he decided to stay with us).

    On the other hand talk of the likelihood of Bale leaving the scums is considered a taboo…

    If support a team such as ours is considered a disgrace and worth not even discussing in public then I would profound my pride and be shamed…

    Yes losing hurts but lets please put things in perspective please, because as far as I know almost evry team bar 2 or 3 teams in Europe want to be Arsenal. FACT

  124. rico says:

    Luton will always be ‘number 2’ Scott, just like Spurs 😉

    Ts says:

    Yes losing hurts but lets please put things in perspective please, because as far as I know almost every team bar 2 or 3 teams in Europe want to be Arsenal. FACT

    No Ts, it is not FACT, not for one minute. It is your view, nothing more and nothing less……

  125. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico we all have our youthful sins. Leeds got my interests in EPL footy started in general. 😛

    I know I’m treading a thin line, running the risk of calling some of you gullible, rest assured none insult is intended. Wenger’s presser bust up was probably premeditated. It’s a proven strategy by politicians and media figures alike to muster sympathy against the backdrop of unrest among their ranks. That’s not to say journos aren’t drawing blood from under his nails.

  126. rico says:

    As Adam would say Dg, you are becoming cynical about our manager, have you joined him on the dark side 😉 😉

    Ha ha re Leeds, I hope you quickly learned to leave them ….

  127. rico says:

    That’s me done for the day folks. Nearing my cocoa and hot water bottle time 😉

    You all stay safe and catch up tomorrow…..

    Night DG, Scott, Esp, Ts and anyone else who is reading….

  128. DutchGooner10 says:

    Night Madam. It’s my professional deficiency rather than the dark side pulling my sanity into a vacuum. Fleeing press manipulation is one of my merits. LOL.

  129. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Back in …. Tindaloo Special plus Tandoori King Prawn starter sound ….

    ————-

    Wenger/club can dress it whichever way ….

    Someone HAS to be accountable…

    1. For wages and toss structure of the club – mainly shitheads .+ reserves …The outgoings are fcukng obscene…. OBSCENE
    2. for signing the likes of – Silvestre, Santos, Gervais, Squillaci, Chamakh, Park etc … and there’s loads more … a lot fcukng more… Procuring Wankers? OBSCENE
    3. Not utilising one of the worlds 6 best players properly – aka Arshavin.. How do you make a great player shite? OBSCENE
    4. For not being mercenary when it was needed … Why release the likes of Pires, Gilberto & Ljungberg and perservere and stick with the likes of Abou ‘Fucking Lantern Jaw Let’s piss about with the ball in midfield and I am a lamppost’ Diaby? God knows …. OBSCENE
    5. Bad business with transfers away from the club – Fabregas, Reyes etc … again OBSCENE

    Wenger has to be accountable … he’s had money but wasted it on investing in SHITE …… He’s made money by flogging overpriced shite i.e Song – the best business the club has ever done ————– but he’s wasted a lot. lot fcukng more …. A lot more

    YOU COULD…. OR I COULD … WRITE A BOOK ON HIS BULLSHIT….

    This preseason and transfer window was Wengers best ever sorte into trying to build back up the club ….. Unfortunately, it’s a little bit too late … add jagielka, Capoue, Jovetic and Snjeider and there is INTENT …..

    The last throw of the dice has been what almost every fan is saying …

    1> stick to fcukng coaching
    2> Fuck off the shite… No, fcukng execute them …
    3> Don’t pander to little French gimps who couldn’t make the 1st team in Guingamp … Coquelin – he’s wank.. Get shut.. in fact execute him
    4> Never buy an African, unless he is one of the 0.0000001% who are actually fucking good at football or who have a fcukng heart for the game … Ferguson doesn’t ….. He got his fingers burnt with Jemba Jemba and he’ll now buy fcukng ‘chinamen’ rather than Africans …
    5> Buy proven internationals from Spain, Germany, Holland,Argentina, Uruguay or Brazil unless there’s a REALLY, REALLY special, special talent out there who doesn’t happento be 15 years old and coloured playing in ligue1 …..

    there’s loads more I could say ..

    If all that happens I can say Arsene “fixed it for me” asnd hopefully I’ll get a square silver badge ……

    “your letter is only a part of it etc etc etc etc”

    Will it happen?

    Ask Rico…. No, ask Allezkev, or Adam, or Ginge, or WATH, or ESP …

  130. Scott from Oz says:

    Syg, i honestly do not think anyone, even his most ardent supporters, suggest Wenger is not responsible for a lot that has gone wrong over the last few years.
    He is not, however, responsible for ALL that is wrong at the club as most of his knockers would have us believe.
    As someone pointed out earlier, look at his latest purchases, and it points to a definite change in philosophy.
    No more buying decent plodder,s we are getting very, very good players in.
    Yes, we need some more, and let us hope the trend continues.
    Why the attacks on Coquelin…not just you here Syg….
    He was terrific on the weekend.
    People suggest he was bordering on mistiming a tackle which would have left us a man down, but he didn’t get one wrong, and he made plenty!!
    That is just fishing for criticism.
    He was nearly our best player v Blackburn, and though that was no massive achievement, it is still a fact.
    Seriously, he NEARLY mistimed a tackle, what the hell does that mean??
    He nearly made several mistakes, but kept getting it right…how is that a criticism lol!!

  131. Adam says:

    SYG. Your 10.26. Great stuff. Fuelled by a curry was it?

    Watching Wenger today at the Press conference I felt sorry for the MAN. Not necessarily the manager, but the man. He clearly has decent values of respect and dislikes what he sees as the underhand ways that he believes the football writers are trying to destabilise the club. I have some sympathy but do feel that he has bought a lot of it on himself. At the beginning of the season and again in January he backed himself and his judgement, against general opinion. In fact he has done this for the past several years. His problem is that it looks as though he has lost, thus his downgrading of the club’s ambitions to 4th place. I also feel that he sets himself against the world but probably doesn’t realise just how much support he really has, even at this stage. Every supporter I know that thinks his time is up, believes that with a heavy heart. There is no sense of joy in saying it, just a considered opinion based on what they see.
    Sometimes the truth would be better. Sometimes it sets you free and sometimes it is a millstone around your neck.
    I don’t like much of what I am seeing from Arsenal at the moment. There is a sadness and a pall of negativity hanging over the place and in the websites devoted to the club and at the moment Arsene looks like a casualty. No Arsenal supporter can enjoy watching all this stuff unravelling.

  132. Bradster says:

    Morning all,
    There may be deeper problems at Arsenal but surely the players we have should be good enough, we are just not playing them to their full potential. I don’t see a difference between Cazorla and Arshavin, same skill set, some pace but not blitz, prefers the left and cuts inside, pretty sure Arshavin has a better shot on target where santi blazes over, one doesn’t tackle and the other fouls mostly. Giroud needs a second striker, he’s not a striker and really struggles when he’s isolated and crosses are poor.
    Ox needs game time to get form but we are too reliant on our wide men to allow him the time to get back to form, he needed a premiership loan.
    Rosicky proved his worth last season and now he’s hung out to dry, he would’ve eased the pressure off Cazorla to create something every game.
    I’ve said before, Gerv can’t think for himself and gets himself in a knot. He needs like in NFL, a game plan that shows him what to do, where to run, where his team mates should be, and who to pass to. Definitely a winger, clearly he can’t finish.
    Still think Santos could’ve been useful on the left as a winger, beats the full back, can cross, can shoot, decent control, can tackle and willing to track back.
    Diaby has lost his head and seems to want to replicate Wilshere, unfortunately he is much taller so does not have the close control in a quick jink or drop of the shoulder like Jack has. Strtching his long legs and basics suit him best.

  133. tsGH says:

    Morning all,

    SYG you were on fire last night. 😀 I hope the your head is not too sore this morning… 😉

    But you know I will disagree in parts. Ha ha ha ha….my reason is as you or kev recently stated, how is it that the 3rd most successful team in England has never dominated this league for even 2 consecutive seasons? The answer is that when ever we win something the board has always sold the better players.

    An historian like yourself knows what happened to Arsenal when we won the double in the 70’s. 😉 The squad was broken up until Charlie George moved to Derby of all places in 75/76 season.

    From Liam Brady to VP, the board have always chosen to take the easier option rather than actually put their hands in their pocket like the Walker (BB) of this world.

    Fast forward to AW’s era… after his first double what did we do? We sold Anelka and bought a winger (who no manager ever trusted to play in a final apart from AW) to replace him. Gamble it was but it paid off. Then we sold Overmars and Petite to the annoyance of PV that he gave an interview in the sun stating how the club is ran poorly… and guess what DD was still there.

    Yes he has made mistakes and as you mentioned yesterday, he would never admit to it publicly, however, no one truly knows the factors involved….

    Unfortunately, I have not been around AFC long enough to know some of the facts apart from what I have been told by people I consider through gooners I grew around with told me. It will be nice for some of you life long 3rd or 4th generation supporters it will be nice for us new generation to be educated truthfully.

    He can still work on the tactics though sometimes… that even I can’t defend him there. 😀 I shall leave Scott to do defend AW there… 😉
    ——————————————————
    Arsenal has always been a selling club, blame AW is justus burying our heads in sand I am afraid.

    Ps. I know Charlie George had injuries towards the end but even John Radford moved to WHU or Essex F.C because we sell when any donkey asks…

    Frank Stapleton? the original VP…

  134. Scott from Oz says:

    Hi Ginge.
    Even i say Wengers tactics leave plenty to be desired.
    Against Blackburn everyone blamed the tactics, but i reckon if you get 15-20 shots to one, then they couldn’t have been to bad, on that particular occasion.
    Morning Bradster, Lee.
    When do we play next 🙂

  135. tsGH says:

    Hey Scott I was just trying to hang you out to dry. 😀

    Lady Rico says we would love the post today so I am rubbing my hands together in glee… 😉

    Maybe I shall leave it you to defend the cause. I am out numbered here whilst you only have Oz to hunt you down.I live too close, I do not want to be send a horse head for what I say… 😀

    How it by the way? Have you picked up your new Mustang yet?

  136. Scott from Oz says:

    Got the beast today.
    Love it, and it is Arsenal Red mate.
    I leave my chin exposed enough on here without your help lol.
    Rightly or wrongly, i say what i feel.
    Usually wrongly, according to most 🙂

  137. rico says:

    Morning all.

    Got to pop out first thing, new post will be up around 9.45, should be back then….

    I wish Kroenke was a selling man!!

  138. tsGH says:

    I know. You try. Living on your conviction is best. But then again if my grandfather and uncles and everyone supported AFC, I may share some of these views but unfortunately, I am a 1st generation Arsenal supporter so… my lil boy supports Arsenal too but I guess he is messed up just like me being an old soldier and all. I love pain… 😉

    Read this.. apparently every 65 mins a US veteran commits suicide.
    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/suicide-soldier-forced-into-sex-6303715.html

  139. Lee says:

    So a German client has just told me that Neuer has made a save for over 400 minutes….. what are odds on us winning tonight???

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