Morning all.
I love rugby yet despite not fully knowing the rules of the game it’s great to see a bunch of guys representing their country with so much pride every game. It’s refreshing to say the least and being a patriot Englishwoman- I love watching my country perform.
But the funny thing is, I don’t have the same interest or passion for the guys in red and white who turn up for the round ball game and that’s because in football, England always look like a bunch of individuals who allow their club allegiances to get in the way of national success.
Yesterday the England boys sang their heart out as the national anthem played, in football, the players barely move their lips…
So, why the reference to the England rugby team is the question you are asking. Well, Italy turned up at Twickenham with a very unusual and seldom seen before tactic. They wanted to surprise England and for forty minutes they did just that and it looked like a massive upset was on the cards. The England players didn’t know how to counteract the sneaky ‘non-ruck’ tactics and despite asking the ref for some advice, he wouldn’t, perhaps couldn’t, help them.
At halftime, Italy were leading 10-5 and this Italian side has been the worst during the entire tournament…
The second half kicked off and it was soon clear that Eddie Jones had resolved the Italian tactical issue which had caused his side so many problems. The final forty minutes were great for the English fans and that’s all down to Jones getting his tactics across and the team executing them. It was a joy to watch.
Ok, here’s where Arsenal come in, or more so, Arsene Wenger.
When has he ever done such a thing as Eddie Jones did?
The short answer from watching us play, is hardly ever, if at all. He sits, watches, allows players to be exposed time and time again. His subs aren’t proactive, his style of football remains the same regardless of whom we are up against. Had he been the manager of England yesterday in the rugby, his side would have been battered as he’d have probably done nothing at half-time to change things…
Which is just one of the reasons Arsenal FC are in dire need of change in so many areas, certainly on the managerial front….
*from the prev post*
Morning all.
Our transfers also show what is wrong with the club. What business has Wenger got quoting the prices. His job is to give IG and whoever should be in-charge of negotiations (Dick Law, I think) a list of the players he wants and then IG and Law tracks them and make negotiations. Wenger is a thrifty tight fisted git. He always offers less than the required market value then comes out to say how he ‘almost’ signed so and so.
He should be involved in price negotiations. The best he’d do is call us a player and tell him he’d like to sign him at the arsenal and let the transfer department do the rest.
Wenger make changes? Do a substitute before 70th minute? Unless forced by injury or a (Xhaka) red card. How long has he stuck with the tedious 4-2-3-1? Only twice has he changed which brought results then he though ‘nah, tweaking ain’t good’.
We are all craving for a change from a man who seldom changes.
So you’re saying Arsenal needs an Aussie manager, Rico??
I agree hahaha
Morning all.
A few things about Ange Postecoglou-yes, he’s an Aussie 🙂
He’d not tolerate any sulking or laziness.
He’d not indulge Prima donnas.
He’d have us playing a brilliant style of football.
He’d stand over Joe Say!!
He’d truly be brilliant for us and yes, I know that’s a massive call but the guys that good, imo.
We certainly are Marshall, change is so long overdue…
Not at all Scott, just a man who is very different from Wenger… Not sure you Aussies produce football managers at the right level, in rugby though, they’re ok…. 😉
He’d do the job, Rico, trust me.
He’s about the only Aussie I’d put money on to succeed in Europe as he’s tactically brilliant and a brilliant man manager, but has backbone.
Don’t forget cricket, League, Netball, Hockey and we go ok at Aussie Rules 🙂
Thanks Rico !……………………….Love Rugby, it`s like legalised war, cant say I`ve ever seen a “pansy” Rugby player and I dont mean gay, they are all warriors whether they win or lose and I`m absolutely convinced someone like Eddie Jones could walk into Arsenal and not be any worse than Wenger.
On the Suarez subject……………..I dont think Arsenal did any wrong in their offer for him, if I put my house up for sale tomorrow for £500K and some one offerered a penny more they would get a hand shake !……………………………………….where I think we failed was to increase the offer there afterwards to upto £10m more !
Right exercise and then off to Poundland with the missus………………I wont pay a penny more for anything there ! 🙂
Should say …..not increase…………..but you know what I mean ! 🙂
Reports have it that Andries Jonker is moving on to Wolfsburg. Maybe we’d see Freddie bumped up.
I hope Jonker takes afew of arsenal coaches with him.
LC, my take on it is Suarez had no real intention of joining us.
If he did, he’d have forced the issue.
I reckon loverpool offered him a pay rise and asked him to stay on til the end of the season, and if no success came, he could go.
Saying he wanted to join us is one thing, but he didn’t really show us he wanted to.
Maybe we could’ve demanded the FA step in as the clause had been triggered.
Ifs, buts and maybes-too many in our recent history to mention.
Marshall, you’re assuming we have coaches 🙂 🙂
Scott, I think Suarez wanted to join us. He sulked and even had a falling with Brendan.
With the way we do transfers won’t be surprised we let that slip though. The FA would never rule in our favor. We’d have tried though. Again, that’s history now.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10229750/Luis-Suarez-ordered-to-train-alone-as-furious-Liverpool-manager-Brendan-Rodgers-accuses-striker-of-a-total-lack-of-respect.html
Pretty vague clause, then.
Still, it seems that unless the offer was of a ridiculous nature, they weren’t selling.
The £1 poured cold water on the seriousness of the issue. imo ofcourse.
Marshall, I hope Jonker takes all of them…
*picture this at an auction*
auctioneer: The next item is a goal scoring machine which would greatly increase your chances at wining the league. Bidding stats at £40m.
Arsenal/ Wenger: £40m+£1.
🙁
*starts not stats.
Marshall, it’s wasn’t an auction.
The article you showed a link to even said that it simply allowed Arsenal to start negotiating, and negotiations would’ve seen that fee increase.
Apart from the attraction of the nicer weather, and of course money, I never really get why players want to leave top EPL clubs to play for Barca or RM. Sure they win everything, but I never feel it has been a blood sweat and tears win. Their top players are rested often when playing the minnow sides, and trotted out for the 3/4 games that may be tougher. Ok for your mercenary trophy hunters, but there is no bigger league in the world than ours. Every game is hard graft. Surely they get more actual football satisfaction playing here than anywhere else?
Perhaps they are just human after all, and a job is a job, so more money and less hard work is the main aim. It must be that, because they are multi-millionaires anyway.
Scott, didn’t say it was an auction, just showing the joke in adding a £1 to a £40m tag – on their best player. Yes it wasn’t a sell out clause, but any serious amount higher that £40m would have had us a sit down with the player. We offered £1, liverpool were agitated and even with Suarez wanting a move, the scums weren’t obliged to sell.
If we’d offered even £41m then that would have been different. How much would his fee increase had we entered the negotiation with Liverpool? £45-£50 I reckon. And he’d have been worth it.
Meerkat, it’s a great point.
They earn a Fortune in Spain for a handful of tough League S games each season, and even get a Xmas break.
Tough gig 🙂
Water under the bridge, I think.
Sine Barker had all his teeth extracted he’s been as good as gold. Now he’s not concentrating on his canine incisors he’s scored a shed load of goals and has turned into the player he always should have been. Would Wenger have sent him to the psychos chair and tamed his need for meat, I suspect he would not. So we’d have bought a meat eating cannibal who was suspended more often than he played. Not a good buy in the long run, imo. However, Wenger may have turned him into an Olympic diver!
Great footballer but he needs a lot of attention, all the time. Wrong type of human being for the likes of our Arsene.
Maybe, Marshall but we will never know.
Henry said they’d not sell, no matter what though.
Maybe 45-50 would’ve done it but it’s all academic now.
I’m with you Marshall re the £1. Why not just offer £40 million if that was the get out clause?
I think if we’d offered 42 million, we’d have received the same response, and been having a similar conversation now.
I’m not so sure, I reckon we royally cheesed off John Henry and then Gerrard got involved..
Anyway, nothing we can do about it now but I doubt Wenger will have learned as he’s always telling us who he could have signed… but didn’t because of the money…
Rico. Could you see Suarez wide left? 🙂
Left open mouthed, Adam?
True, Rico.
It’s all history now 🙂
Adam, I’m think he could be taking Santi’s role.
Suarez never would have stayed with us. He’s a winner. A ghastly man perhaps but he wants to win.
Agreed and that’s partly why I doubt he ever wanted to join us.
Could well be wrong, of course.
Back from Poundland and not one person offered the derogatory one penny over a £1 for my missus …………………..what are that lot smoking in Poundland ?
More bollox from the papers………………..Bellerin to reject move to Barcalona in favour of a move to Man City !…………………………….as if we`d sell one of our best players to a league rival !………………………………mind you….. I`d swap him for Aguero and De Bruyne !
Going back a bit……Jonker to Wolsburg is confirmed. We had several conversations on here about the possibility of him being groomed to succeed the old wrinkly one. Well got that wrong, didn’t we?
I wonder if he could see that the position he had lined himself up for , was just, never going to become vacant? So, unlike the wily old bird he’s moved on.
Good luck to him. Dead end job at the Ems!
Centre midfield Adam.. 😉
The crazy thing is though, as Herb said, had he joined us that summer, he’d probably have been a PL winner…
Hi all
Notice how the League Cup has become a Major trophy now that Moronho’s cheats have won it! Bet the linesman is looking forward to his luxury all expenses paid holiday to the Maldives! And it was very kind of Andre Mariner to allow them to surround him time after time waving imaginary cards!
Well that’s not such bad news Wavy. Just wish a few more would leave…
Funny that eh Bob, shocking officiating in that match. I so wanted Southampton to win and they should have…
I hope one day a former arsenal employee will write a tell all story on transfer circus at the club. maybe it will be IG, DL or the kit-man!
Cause it seems we never have facts on what happened.
Who’s going to replace Jonker?
Afternoon Rico and All
Amazing really the amount of coaches/managers seen
watching Eddie Jones in action last week at the
training session’s.
It’s clear he has nothing to hide.
Is it because Eddie think’s..It’s all Common Knowledge
What he is know’s….So no Secret’s Really.
By the way Arsene never went..Did He?
Arsene’s half time talk going by what he has said.
We played……….
Handbrake ON….Tempo to SLOW….Tiredness….
We need to Defend BETTER…..We Started SLOWLY..
I could see we were not at our Usual Level.
Let’s be honest…..We all Know..
The Time of Day….Don’t We.
It’ll be Wenger I suspect, when he writes a book after leaving…
My money is on Freddie or Bobby…
Hi Fred. You could almost guess what he’ll say post match pending the result of course…
It will be Freddie and Bobby, Rico.
How could Wenger let one coach do the job on his own. It’ll take two, for now. When Wenger frees up his diary commitments he’ll pick a fight with their methods, sack them both and do the job himself!!
Because that’s what megalomaniacs do!!
Afternoon rico and housers. .
I believe Antoknio Conte has met Eddie Jones to learn and exchange few notes. .and I believe few managers did the same. Wenger on other hand is too proud!
http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/39070266
I would be pissed off if someone offered me a pound extra for a 5 thousands car, let alone 40 millions!
They’d make a good team I reckon Wavy, if they are allowed to work without someone peering over their shoulder all the time..
Far too proud Kk, after all, Jones hasn’t managed in football for twenty odd years…… blah blah blah..
That would be one cryptic book Rico.
Wenger to consult? Never going to happen.
I’d love him to write one and be 100% honest Marshall, but somehow, I don’t think he will…
If Wenger was going to seek assistance, he’d have done so long before now and had he done so, he’d have enjoyed more success imo.
Freddie has followed Jonker according to NN
I hope that doesn’t mean Wenger is staying put with Jonker and Freddie set to return when he leaves… 😳
Freddie following Jonker wouldn’t surprise me. Was thinking of the move too.
We’ve lost two good coaches there. Let’s see how they’ll be replaced.
Is Jonker a good coach then?
Suarez did want to join Arsenal. In 2009 and then again 2010 Ajax offered Suarez to Arsenal. In 2010 the story goes that they had an offer for around 18m, Suarez bit a player, which lead AW to pull the deal. In 2011 Liverpool bid around 26m for him. Suarez agent went back to Arsenal and they refused to match. The reason Gerrard spoke to Suarez was because he knew Suarez only wanted Arsenal or Barce and Liverpool knew they can hold on to him if they promised him one of the two. No other team made a bid for Suarez.
We could do with a bit of bite Obi
Everyone knew that extra £1 was an insult…. Especially in the business of football. Regardles of what Henry said, they would’ve taken 45-50m because Henry needed the money at the time.
Fred…lol
That’s interesting Obi, I didn’t know that about Suarez. Can’t believe Wenger was put off by a bit of bite to a player…Cheap as chips too…
Wenger doesn’t buy delinquent players, ever! ‘Fang’ is a loony and as I said earlier, Wenger wouldn’t ever have been able to control his flesh eating proclivities!
Wenger’s control mechanisms are far more devious and far more permanent. If a player steps out of line he finds himself with the under 23’s and then he’ll spend months on the subs bench, not playing at all and then he’ll be offered around, if he’s lucky he’ll join another club but if he does not he’ll find himself in semi retirement. No end of examples from Gilberto to Perez!! And you can include the Ox in there somewhere too. RvP, Nasri, even Henry, although I don’t think he was ever frozen out, he was just too good to drop! Viera got sick of him asking for a,transfer every year, eventually sold him. And so on, Wenger’s tenure is littered with outcasts. Anelka and his greedy leech brothers was another.
Why aren’t Adams and Keown or Dixon back at the club earning an honest bob or two. Imo because Wenger couldn’t stand the opposition and they would and probably did question his dodgy coaching especially defensively. As has been said many times before the manager will brook no contradictions or criticisms because he knows it all and they all know f*** all!
Sorry should have finished off with:
Hence the reason he lost interest, serious interest in the carnivorous one, he was just too difficult for Wenger to handle!
Interrupted by a sparrow hawk arriving in my apple tree. Think it was looking for something to get its beak into! (I’m not joking the bird comes everyday looking for something to devour, magnificent creature but a bit cruel too.)
I hate sparrow hawks Wavy, I really wish they’d all die off… horrid birds.
Sir Edward Jones, the Earl of Tasmania…
Jonker and Ljungberg are big shoes to fill in the academy, maybe Bobby Pires could step in temporarily?
Jonker could well return for one or two more of our academy staff?
And a few players perhaps Kev.
Suarez bottled it, knew if he came to Arsenal he’d have to fight it out with Giroud….only one winner there, chose Barcelona instead, let Messi know there was a new centre forward in town and would he mind moving over to the right lol.
I wouldn’t be too hard on Arsenal, Bayern….five freaky goals again, a good recovery against Sutton in our last game, their roly poly goalie choking on his pies and Liverpool to come !
On a sad note rico, our beautiful gentle staffie of 12 years went to sleep on Friday, it’s only been a couple of days and the house isn’t the same without him.
I am sorry to hear that sad news Micko.
The unconditional love of a pet dog is one of life`s greatest blessing`s…….I feel for you Micko .
micko. Thinking of you at this sad time. I lost my 12.5 year old Boxer “George” three years ago. Loved him to bits.
micko. Thats my “George” as my avatar wearing an Arsenal away shirt.
Oh no Micko, I’m so so sorry to hear your sad news.. my heart breaks for you and your family…
Thanks guys, we buried Alfie on Saturday morning in the back garden so he’ll never be far away.
Bless him Micko, may he rest peacefully whilst watching over you all…..
Sorry to hear Micko, least he close by mate and will always be around…. they may depart but they never forgotten..!
Leicester beating Liverpool 2-0.. Funny what change can do…..
3-1 now but I bet they beat us…
On that happy note, goodnight all.
Adam, regarding Jonker, well he has on his CV, assistant to Van Gaal at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as well as assistant at Wolfsburg and working with the Dutch FA on their youth teams.
Now he’s been given the main job at Wolfsburg.
I ain’t sure we’re gonna be able to replace him with anyone with those previous job experiences.
Apparently he’s done a lot to reorganise the academy, especially at Hale End, where things had gone a bit stale.
I’d like to see someone come in, who could sort out our scouting network, particularly in the U.K. where it seems to focus on the London area whilst seemingly ignoring Essex & East Anglia, Kent, the North East, Yorkshire and the South West, areas where Arsenal once had impressive scouting networks before the obsession with signing 16 year old wonder boys (mostly midfielders) from all over the world took priority.
Maybe that’s why the Arsenal Academy haven’t brought through a centre-back since who, Scott Marshall? Or a striker since, hmm, Kevin Campbell? Or a goalkeeper since Stuart Taylor…
Plenty of effin midfielders though, millions of ’em… ?
Sorry for your loss, Micko, it’s never easy losing a beloved family pet.
The whole Arsenal thing is beyond a joke.
Wenger has allegedly turned down $30m a year to manage in China, which is fair enough, we know he doesn’t need money because Arsenal have made him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.
But then I read elsewhere that Kroenke is so desperate to keep this shi*fest going he is prepared to pay Wenger the same wage as Mourinho is on at United.
So Stan will pay a fortune to massage the ego of an old man who has no will or energy to make us better, and is tactically clue-less, but he won’t make the resources available to make us remotely competitive. It just doesn’t make any sense, and it’s yet another slap in the face for the long-suffering supporters.
You’d have thought by now that Wenger would be aware and intelligent enough to realise that the longer he stays the more his reputation is tarnished. He knows what it’s doing to the fans, and if he were to look at the situation objectively and without emotion, he would also realise that he is beginning to look like an obsessive ‘Billy-no-mates’ who has far outstayed his welcome, hanging around for nothing more than his own vanity.
Sorry, but if Wenger signs a new contract I’m done with Arsenal and football. I refuse to let my love of Arsenal to be turned into something that offers nothing in the way of hope or excitement, and instead continually insults the club’s historic traditions and generations of strong, loyal passionate support.
Great points Kev.
But before Wenger and co give it the ‘big ‘un’ about the players our academy have brought through, let’s analyse a few of those ‘home made’ products…
Fabregas, from Barcelona, as is Bellerin. Reine-Adelaide is a product of RC Lens, Bendtner came from FC Copenhagen, Djourou was nicked from a Swiss club, Clichy taken from some obscure French club, Gibbs from Wimbledon, in fact the list is endless, and a load of bollocks.
Iwobi, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles are the only proper home made youngsters in recent years. Before them? Ashley Cole I think?
In truth, the Arsenal Academy isn’t really that good…
Kev, seems they develop too many pretty footballers that lack substance.
Kev, you’ve been peeping at my post again haven’t you? 😉
Micko, I’m very sorry to hear about the pup mate.
I trust he had a great life so take comfort in that.
Morning Rico.
Very sad when your pets go but if you have young kids it teaches mortality. We lost our last two dogs 3years ago and vowed no more, it’s just too wrenching but we always talk about them especially if someone drops food you know the race that would have taken place.
Morning Rico. Is there ever going to be a ‘good-news’ day for Arsenal again? It’s all doom and gloom lately. Perhaps due to Wenger’s reluctance to vacate his position. Latest stuff suggests Real Madrid want him. Really?
Still, Ramsey’s back. 🙂
I just read there’s a 30 million a season offer from a China for Arsene.
I guess we will see if he really is all about the money, if there’s any truth behind it.
Morning Adam, Scott, Potter and all…
Real Madrid can have him, and Ramsey…..
We could be worse-could have Klopp lol
He’s just another in a long line of pretenders.
So many Arsenal fans wanted him and yet our lads Ginge told us he’s a replica of Arsene-very little tactical nous-and he was right.
The guys lost.
Seems there’s only one manager right now in the PL I’d swap Arsene for and that’s the obvious one, Conte, but as we’ve seen with Ranieri, it doesn’t take long for the gloss to fade off these guys, and once the downward spiral begins, there’s no coming back.
Morning Rico, nah, I ain’t been peeping, honest… ?
Cheers Herb, ditto.
Morning All, yep I read that Kroenke has offered Wenger a 25% raise to around £10million p.a.
Frankly the thought of two more years of Wenger just bores me to death.
I’d rather Klopp than Wenger, that’s for sure…..
Morning Kev. 🙂
If that’s true about Wenger then I too am done with all this…..
Motivating footballers seems to be becoming an impossibility…
I mean, how do you motivate someone who has everything???
New post up guys…
Take some of what they do have, away…. 😉