Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsene Wenger – He's not that bad is he, even though his job is easy…….

Posted on by rico

Morning Gooners,

I have in the past praised Wenger for what he has done for Arsenal Football Club, but  many supporters have different views and don’t want him to lead our club.

That’s fine though isn’t it, we wouldn’t all want to be the same would we and the lack of trophies in our cabinet since 2005 will always be a topic of conversation. Is it the players we sign, or is it the tactics? Of course, if fans feel it’s the latter, then the manager is always going to be in the firing line.?

Players can be temperamental, one minute they will be fired up the next minute they can be lethargic and perform as if they care very little. Managers can do as much as they can to motivate them but ultimately it’s down to the player to perform to the maximum, he shouldn’t need motivating.

However, it is the job of the manager and coaches to try and get them in the right frame of mind before a game with motivational talks and if there are players who need a quiet word in private, then so be it, they get it done.

Many players are superstitious, they like to do the same things week after week and if this routine is interrupted then that may result in the player under performing. Lucky charms, the same pair of socks or even the same meal before kick off and there are players around who insist on being the last out the tunnel. All this matters to them.

Most though just want to get onto the pitch and start playing, all the lining up, hand shaking  and waving to the fans just gets in the way for some.

Managers have all this to contend with on match days, they have to be motivator, Father figure and they have to also be a psychologist for some but as we know, if they get the job done and if we get the right results, it’s all been worthwhile.

Managing a football team seems like an easy job to the fans, all they want is one thing and that’s a result. Simples!

He/she doesn’t always care if they have been entertained for ninety minutes as long as the three points are secured at the final whistle.

Many just see the Manager as the man who leads the team out, you know the guy out in front who earns so many millions just to be there, the guy that sits on the bench or in his technical area kicking a bottle around or swearing at the fourth official.

Managers like Wenger have hectic days, emotional days and certainly a few embarrassing days.

He along with many others, have to select 11 players out of a squad of many, the players they think will win them the game but they also have to remember the other guys on the bench and the ones who haven’t even made it to there. He has to make all of the squad feel wanted and needed at the club and instil belief in these players that one day their chance will come.

Having the right staff around the manager is also very important, everyone has to be singing from the same hymn sheet and there is no place for divide or little squabbles as any such thing could cause disruption.

Managing may seem an easy, well paid job but when managers like Wenger are stood in front of the cameras being scrutinised, asked questions with a double meaning and criticised/ridiculed by a certain few, they to be on their guard. Saying the right things is important as there are millions of supporters hanging on their every word and this happens before and after a game.

It can’t be easy straight after a match when a few decisions have gone against the team and points have been lost because of it and suddenly there is another camera and more silly questions. Just one wrong answer and the FA can’t wait to take action, especially if that wrong answer has been about a referee’s performance.

Yes the job seems easy doesn’t it?

They travel to many away fixtures in luxury, go to the best hotels with room service and lovely meals and don’t have to fork out a penny for any of it. All they have to do is turn up at the ground in their best togs and get VIP treatment.

All sounds very rosy doesn’t it?

There are twenty managers in the Premier League and when the transfer window opens they have to know who to sell, who to sign,    whether or not their club can afford to sign them or not and what happens to players the club already have?

Not everyone can be pleased all the time but it’s the manager’s job to try and keep everybody happy.

Wenger speaks eleven languages, not many other than Roy Hodgson can boast that, but it’s a good job he does really the way football has gone, not even overseas player can be expected to speak English as soon as they arrive in England.

Supporters are continually calling for great players to be signed and cannot understand why Wenger just doesn’t pay what it takes to sign them and give them what they want in terms of salary but the books have to be balanced and selling  has become just as important as buying. Wenger has to try and compete with wealthy club managers, ones who can throw money after money and not worry. If they want to sign the same player as he does, he just can’t compete.

Does all this still seem an easy job to you?

Wenger has had his bad years where things have turned on him,  he has been gazumped more times than three bedroom houses in the seventies but he has got over it and has taken the stick from supporters along the way. Some of whom feel that he is just an old Scrooge who won’t part with the clubs money.

Managing is not as easy as it looks and you can see that on the faces of many managers who have come under a lot of stress when things aren’t going to plan and I have seen many age in just a couple of seasons.

So when you moan about how much Wenger earns, remember it may look easy but you must have a very thick skin to do the job properly.

Wenger has been with us sixteen years he has brought us trophies, he has given us the Invincibles, got us in the Champions League every year since it started and he has helped move us from Highbury to a state of the art stadium.

Could we do better than Wenger?

Possibly, but would you want to?

I certainly wouldn’t and with the team or should I say squad he has assembled this season we could finally break that trophy duck.

I say bring it on Wenger, I trust in you….

Written by Steve Palmer

rico

0 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger – He's not that bad is he, even though his job is easy…….”

  1. rico says:

    Morning all,

    Good read SP but his job is easy, it’s called delegation…..

    Scouts sort the players.
    Gazidis/A N Other should sort the finances out for players
    Admin sorts the accommodation etc

    He ‘just’ manages and talks to the media, well, that’s what he should be doing…

    😉

  2. sad gooner says:

    a genius! those who mock and say he pays too much to squillaci/bendtner/chamakh and bought crap wiltord/stepanovs and the rest of course are right, he makes some awful decisions, every person does, richard branson does, churchill did er everyone.. you have to look at his sucesses on a budget less than swansea or stoke, this is a fact not an opinion, if you look at the most spending premiership clubs in his entire reign, the last ten or five years arsenal are at the very bottom of the spending while finishing in the very top CL places… you can hate him for not spending or making bad decisions but you cant argue with those facts, who in the world let alone football has that ability?

  4. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico….no way his job is easy!!
    If it was easy,we’d all be doing it.
    Steve,i am with you mate.
    Wenger isn’t perfect,but he is asolutely perfect for Asenal!!

  5. rico says:

    Scott, I thought you would notice the 😉

    I wouldn’t want his job, well, maybe for a month or two for the salary but I’d soon be sacked…

  6. allezkev says:

    Another triumph from the formidable pen of Lord Palmer.

    A post that is open to debate, but no other manager, since 1996, could have achived what Wenger has, on the budget he has, and with the Luddites in the Boardroom he has to contend with…

    Good Morning AKB’s, Doomers and Gooners.
    Good Morning Rico. A day for sitting in the garden and soaking up the sun methinks.
    Off to work. 🙁

  8. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico,i’d tough it out for about 6 months and retire!!
    I missed the smiley,but it’s been a long day,so forgive me please.

  11. Scott from Oz says:

    I am off to bed guys……earliest night I’ve had in months,but i am knackered.
    It’s not like Arsenal are playing!!
    Catch you all tomorrow.

  12. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good morninf Rico and fellow Housers.

    Steve — A good well balanced article. Unfortunately, the Doomers as AK calls them only focus on a small part of what you have laid out. Yes, Arsene has made mistakes, he’s not a saint – he’s human like the rest, well most, of us. I can’t think of a single manager who vould achieve what Arsene has on the budget he is given.

    When he arrived in England he revolutionied everthing from player diet to warm-up routines. Much of which was copied by other coaches and managers and is now taken for granted. The likes of Tony adams, Lee Dixon, and Nigel Winterburn credit Arsene with extending their careers. We now have a new world class training ground, a new world class stadium, one of the best scouting systems in the world and the list goes on.

    Too many fans will ignore all of this only to concentrate on their pet peeves – always the negatives. Arsene is the focus for most of the fan dissatisfaction regardless of whether he has any control over or responsibility for it at all. For better or worse Arsenal is majority owned by a businessman who will not pour buckets of his own money into the club like the sugar-daddies at some of our rivals. Arsene has to work within these limitations, like it or not, and does a damn good job of it,

  14. James says:

    Much of what you say about Wenger is fair but what irks me is the contempt he shows for fans with his comments to the media. It wouLd be nice to hear the truth for once instead of his comments “I will write it in a book one day” The club say there is money available to spend every year & yet every year it is a negative spend £80m less than Stoke in the last 5 years … So what is the truth & yes he has lumbered us with far too many muppet players in recent years who he negotiated ridiculous contracts with … Park, Squilacci, Djourou, Bendtner (who he still says has a future at the club…which is bull shit…another lie) Denilson, Vela, Arshavin, a “genius” would not have done so and finally, Since he seems wrapped up in a collective management of the club with Gazidis and all ..it is high time the club stopped just aiming for CL qualification & started aiming for winning the league & the CL otherwise it is all just about money & not glory & they are letting the fans Down …. Badly

  16. Canadian Gooner says:

    Wonders never cease. The normally taciturn and uncomplimentary Frank Lampard has praised our young phenom Alex Oxlade Chamberlan for his efforts for England last night. Life IS full of surprises.

  19. rico says:

    CG – Lumpard is one of the few English players who praises our boys, I liked him as the England Captain… And he even pases to Theo sometimes, unlike many others….

    IG, steady on there 😉

  21. irish gooner says:

    indeed rico,i just get so pissed off with my fellow gooners who slate wenger,the man is a genius,he brought us to the top,he will bring us to the top again!!

  22. rico says:

    Welcome james, i’m with you really, just wish he, and the club would stop raising our hopes over signings, only to see no-one come in…

    I’d much rather they said no more signings etc and mean it…

    irish – he may take us back to the top, i sure hope so…

  24. Canadian Gooner says:

    Just watched a video of Abu Diaby’s goal for France in their game away to Finland. A well taken goal. Let’s hope he can do the same for Arsenal and add to our list of players who can be counted on to score. The longer that list, the harder we are going to be to mark out off a game. Let’s see if we can give our opposition a conundrum to solve every game.

  25. Canadian Gooner says:

    Steve — I would have thought your article would have ellicited more bile and vitriol from the Doomers. Is everbody in England out enjoying the sun since there are no domestic games today?

  26. Canadian Gooner says:

    Kev, Micko, SYG, et all — Where are you? I think I’m talking to myself here.

    Kev — I don’t need you to psychoanalyse my previous remark.

  27. agirlagunner says:

    Boo!! SSP, other than some truly horrid purchases and some excuses that have been trotted out one time too many (“we played with the handbrake on”; complaining that the opposition’s pitch isn’t as perfect as that at The Emirates; persisting with players who turn out to be turncoats, in any case), I think AW has been tops. 🙂

    I hope Diaby’s game continues to progress and that for a change, he be one of the admittedly not many players, to repay AW’s faith.

  29. W.A.T.H says:

    Evening AGAG, morning CG……… Afternoon the rest of you… pheeew what a scorcher…!

    How your not to hot AK, plenty of water mate don’t want you dehydrating 😀

  30. Aju says:

    Wenger a gr8 genius. We have completed 16 years of champions league nt 1 win nd in there. Y avb is nt a gem b.coz he cudnt do wt needed money can buy u player bt nt d play. We hv d players nd play b.coz of wenger. Nd i trust no matter wt happns like cashley,rvp,ces,nasri nd ol he cud hv movd on bt he belived in wt he started the invincible happned nd dis season smthng wil happen. My fellow gunners have faith by the end of this season we wont be trophyles nd nt to forget champions league along with wenger. I trust in arsenal with wenger. Our guns are up nd gunning up up nd up.

  31. devilgunner says:

    Buongiorno amici cannonnieri.

    Just woke up to find its past noon. We needed all the beauty sleep we can get.

    Good to see Diaby and Cazorla score. Hopefully they will continue to do so for us.

  33. devilgunner says:

    I saw the Diaby goal………similiar to the one PV scored vs Newcastle I think. when he cut through the middle to score.

  34. Canadian Gooner says:

    devilgunner – Yes, I also hope all of our players return unscathed by their respective national exertions. I understand at fifteen we have the highest count in the PL on national duty.

  36. agirlagunner says:

    CG, it’s rainy. Grrrr. And you, how are things in Canada?

    Boo, GG Man. 🙂 🙂 Off to the pub for yet more GG?

    AK, whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. 😉

    rico, enjoying your day? 🙂

  38. devilgunner says:

    bdw Rico………..at some of the farms in the Alps there were some amazing chicks. they were quite a big size and they were not caged ones but free roaming chicks.

  40. Canadian Gooner says:

    Sister AGAG — Sunny and balmy here. I went to my son’s first game of the season last night. He’s player/coach and his team had an auspicious 2-0 win.

    My daughter gave me a rave review of the Phillipines. I may have to see for myself.

  41. agirlagunner says:

    Italian alps was it, devil? I think I’ll die of the cold.

    CG, good to hear you’re having lovely weather. Is your son a football coach as well? If you like beaches and the outdoors, there’s much to see in South East Asia. But I think the Phils and Thailand have the best of sun, sand, sea. 🙂

  42. W.A.T.H says:

    Have GG on tap AGAG you know that…!

    CG, you know what we like when the sun shines here, make the most of it as it could snow 2moro…!

    Devvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv, good to see you back fella, glad you and the family had a great time on ya hols…!

  43. Canadian Gooner says:

    AGAG — Yes, my son is also coaching his team. He started coaching with me when he was thirteen. We were coaching my younger son’s team. When he was seventeen he took on my daughter’s team. She was still playing with the boys at the time.

  45. agirlagunner says:

    CG, I certainly hope they’re Gunners, too. 🙂 If they aren’t Rev AK might have inspirational words for them. 😉

    I found it a little funny that Diaby said he was shaking before the Fulham game last season because he was afraid e wold be injured again. Somehow, I cannot manage to shake off that same feeling when I see him take to the pitch. Hopefully, his luck has turned. 🙂

  46. W.A.T.H says:

    I just have shares in many of my “locals” AGAG best way 😉
    I hate this international shit… it’s soooooooooooo boring..!

  47. Canadian Gooner says:

    AGAG — Yes all three of my children are Gooners. I got that part right. My son and his wife hosted an extended family barbecue on Aug. 17 and requested I bring an Arsenal home shirt. So I posed with both my boys and both of my my new gandchildren (born the end of March). We were all suitably attired in Arsenal kit. Unfortunately, my daughter couldn’t make it, she was working.

  48. agirlagunner says:

    I know, WATH. internationals are a snooze; and our boys always come back so much worse for the wear. Good for Diaby and Cazorla to score; now their coaches should give them a rest.

  49. allezkev says:

    Ah Canuck, your 12.26…?

    Do you suffer anxiety?
    A fear of small dark places?
    How are you sleeping???
    You need to get out and do ‘an Agag’…
    Go and buy something…
    You’ll feel better in the morning…

    My bill is in the post….. 😉

  50. agirlagunner says:

    CG, excellent. You have done right by our club. 🙂 I make sure everyone in my family is kitted out in AFC. Even uncles who are Man Utd fans get AFC gear as Christmas presents. Haha.

  51. NashuaGunners says:

    Good Morning Rico and All.

    Good Read SteveP, a touch of reality. I would have given you your title, “SIR” but the captain of the ship said no more of that title. 🙂

    The man is a genius in my book for what he is doing for Arsenal. That doesn’t mean we can’t criticize him when things don’t go our way. He took us to the promise Land before and I still believe he’ll take us there again.
    To some extent, I agree with what ‘James 11:30’ said. Instead of raising our hopes by telling us we have money to spend and we’ll bring in new ‘special players’ as needed; just tell us the truth that we are not buying in this Transfer Window, and we’ll still love him.

    When in competition with the likes of ManU ManCity and Chelsea you know the field is not a level playing ground because of the amount of money they would spend and some of the calls the referees make, and still managed to stay within the top 4, that is something worth commending. In an imaginable world, let give all the managers the same amount of money to spend and see who will be still standing in the top 4.

  52. allezkev says:

    Wath, i’m parked up in the shade. It’s fantastic.

    Drink & Drive, moi Agag? Only on Sunday’s after my sermon. 🙂

    Canuck, like the cut of your jib, re: saucepan lids!
    A very intelligent family you sound.

    Hey Habib, how’s things in the Med..?

  53. Canadian Gooner says:

    AK —
    No.
    No.
    Fine.
    How does one do ‘an Agag’?
    Done.
    It is early morning here.

    Bill? Surely you jest, unsolicited services are complimentary (i.e. free).

  54. allezkev says:

    Hi Nasher. I wouldn’t take what Wenger said about Bendtner too literally.
    If Arsene came out and said that Nik wasn’t up to standard and no longer in his plans, then his value would plummit.
    This is a coded message to Juve, that they’re not getting him on the cheap.
    Remember Juve came out a few days ago and claimed that Bendtner was out of condition….
    It’s business.

  56. Canadian Gooner says:

    AK — I hear Juve put NB52 on a diet. I hope its neot the same one Gascoine was on when he was at Lazio.

  58. Will XL says:

    As some of you have rightly said, Wenger (and the entire organization) just needs to be more forthright with the club’s supporters. I think it’s an insult to those who keep the club afloat when you spew these puffed up and lofty aspirations, when in reality, your really only trying to balance the books and get a champions league spot. He is a brilliant manager however, and the club does have one of the best business models in the game. But at the end of the day, a football team is supposed to be built with the intention of winning football matches; and enough matches to win you titles.

  59. allezkev says:

    It’s all a game of call my bluff Canuck.
    Juve wouldn’t have taken him on loan otherwise.
    I hope he has a fantastic season. Scores 20 Serie A goals.
    And we see his value rocket.
    I really cannot see him back at Arsenal.
    Lata

  60. NashuaGunners says:

    Hi Kev, I hope business is good for you today since the sun is shinning.
    Yes agreed there Kev but he can still tell us that we have enough players in m-field that can get the job done. When he talks about Special, he’s raising the stake up. And we as fans look forward to that “Special One.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the man because he turns the unknown to Special.

  61. Canadian Gooner says:

    I think some are being a bit hard on Arsene regarding the transfer window. A number of recent articles indicate that Arsenal had made two bids for Yohan Cabaye and bid on Yanga-Mbiwa, but he had his heart set on going to AC Milan. Even if you have money like Chelski and Abu Dhabi Citeh; you don’t always get what you want, but if you try real hard you’ll get what you need, Apologies to the Stones.

  62. stevepalmer1 says:

    Afternoon all, had a half day today, too warm out there, Thank you for your comments and i must admit i do agree with a lot that you say. I take it with a pinch of salt when some body in the club says we are going to be active in the window , he knows who he wants but its as it has always been can we get them for the price we are willing to pay, not only that can we afford the wages they would want, it seems to me that we are trying to cap wages to a certain degree and if we were to buy a fifty million player he would expect 50 million wages and that would throw a spanner in the works. There are clubs out there that will pay that kind of wage and its every Arsenal players right to look elsewhere if they are not happy with their lot, just remember that they signed a contract and that contract is binding.

  63. NashuaGunners says:

    Come on CG, you know we are humans. We always never look at the big picture but pick at the little things. Not the ones he got but the ones he didn’t get. But as I said the AW is a genius in my book. When you look at the resources of the others clubs and we sometimes beat them, we shouldn’t complain.

  64. stevepalmer1 says:

    Allways makes me smile when a player of RVP or a Cesc leaves because the press or pundits very seldom say that they are the best in the league when they play for us but as soon as we sell them they happen to be our best player, Cesc and Robin were both long service players and they did all right by us in my opinion and when a chance comes that affords that kind of wage bloody good luck to them. I can see why Sagna would be jelous of the trophies that the others have won i too would probably be the same , but i would definitly fancy my chances this season with the replacements and those coming back, i don’t feel worried about any of the teams we face and to be honest it wouldn’t suprise me that they have.

  65. Canadian Gooner says:

    Nash — I think that negative mindset is part of the Arsenal Syndrome. We can’t afford to go toe-to-toe financially with the sugar-daddy clubs. The sooner we admit that and get behind the club and the team the better. That is not to say we have to accept everything that the club does, like the highest ticket prices. However, I think if we put more of our energy into supporting the teamthe better, The away fans at Anfield were great, you could hear that on yhe broad cast. I’m sure the team noticed it too.

    We have too many moaning fans and not enough supporters. I love the team, but many of our fans are no better than an albatross around the club’s neck. No mayyer how hard they moan, there are some things they can’t change. So, why waste time on them. Ket’s move on.

  66. Canadian Gooner says:

    It’s getting late and my figers can’t keep up. It’s off to bed with me. Till later fellow Gooners. Have a good day.

  68. Will says:

    We can’t afford to go toe-to-toe financially with the sugar-daddy clubs. The sooner we admit that and get behind the club and the team the better.

    Hallelujah.

  70. rico says:

    I actually don’t think we need to go toe to toe with the sugar daddies, and in all honesty, not many fans expect us to either.

    Signing better than Song was all we hoped for and Neither M’Vila or Capoue would have broken our bank…

    And a defender better than Squilli or JD wouldn’t have bankrupt us either….

  72. allezkev says:

    Tbh Rico, you have to ask the question?
    Despite all the rumours, a lot of them generated by us, did Wenger have any intention of moving for M’Vila and/or Capoue???
    Could be that he feels that Arteta, Coquelin, Frimpong and maybe even Jack, in that position, is enough.
    Not only that, but the fees being asked for M’Vila/Capoue might have been too much for what AW thought they brought to the team?!
    God, it’s bloody roasting…

  73. rico says:

    Hi Jm..

    Ak, I truly believe that AW was looking at M’Vila, all that stuff a few months ago about us securing a deal was too much to be pure fabrication. I also believe that Rennes asking price in the end was too much after all he’s only 21 years old and £17M is a lot of money..

    Then, he went after Sahin but rightly opted out, he wanted someone I’m sure, but wasn’t prepared to pay the high prices….

  74. Adam says:

    It’s the old spoiling the ship for the h’aporth of tar isn’t it? Wenger obviously feels that 1. We need extra quality but, for whatever reason, we couldn’t get it and 2. He won’t get sacked whether we win anything or not.
    Personally I think a little aggressive ambition in the market would have been great for the fans. To have their full support has to be good, with the exception of the charming folks on Le Grove and it would also introduce an extra competitive edge in to the players to put in more powerful and consistent performances to earn their place. Theo, I am looking at you here. But, we are where we are. Perhaps more has changed at the club than seemed likely over the close season.
    And there’s always the January window. 🙂

  76. allezkev says:

    I’m sure that Wenger will look again at M’Vila, if his price becomes realistic, maybe in January as Adam says.
    In the meantime, someone else may emerge from within the club and the need for M’Vila will lessen.

  79. NashuaGunner says:

    We sold RVP and Song and put the money in the bank when we could have use part of it to get M’Villa. Arteta would be more useful upfront in helping in the creative department rather than the defensive role. We cant always expect bargain from other clubs while we sell ours expensively. Rennes knew that that why they refused to budge in there price, IMHO

  81. NashuaGunner says:

    In the present crops to replace Song, maybe Coquelin but not Frimpong. We need a real defensive midfielder that is better than Song.

  84. rico says:

    Hi NG – £100M I read, that’s what we have in the bank…

    £60M of which was made on property/land sales….

  85. Adam says:

    Evening Rico and Kev. I can’t believe it’s rubbish Rico. Not at all.
    What we need is some luck with injuries. It would also be good if Theo signed up. A period of low-controversy, winning matches will bring its own rewards I think.

  86. NashuaGunner says:

    Or maybe the money we used to buy them (those three)from the bank, replaced it once we sold Song and RVP.

  88. rico says:

    Think AW is playing hard ball with Theo Adam but keeping him on the bench.

    He either signs soon or he’s going to watch his club and England career go down the swannie over the next few months…

  89. NashuaGunner says:

    Hi Rico, Adam and Will. The money is there to spend if Arsene chooses to spend. M’Villa could have covered the back four nicely when we face team like Mancity or Chelsea that have strong attacking forwards. May God help us nothing happen to Arteta, IMHO

  91. rico says:

    NG – That is my worry too, Arteta is so so important for us, just look at our results last season without him, worse still, our performances without him…

  92. NashuaGunner says:

    No Will, it not a bad thing to put the in the bank but when you real need a player after you’ve sold the best you got, you need adequate replacement. Team like Arsenal needs better replacement than Frimpong.

  93. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all,
    Don’t think it matters whether the money that paid for our new players came from the sale of the other players that left, or if we have banked some of the cash, Van Persie wanted to go and i suspect Song felt the same way and if it turns out that Sagna also see’s his future elsewhere they are better leaving. Personally the signing of the 3 new guys has been very good business, we went a whole season without Jack Wilshere and he is supposed to be the real deal that is like having 4 new players, we have youngsters who have waited patiently for their chance and are just started to show they are ready, Jenkinson has come out fighting and i like his fighting contribution ok he is not a Sagna at the moment but he truly wants to play for Arsenal, we have 3 keepers who are not the best in the world but they will fight tooth and nail to be in our team Diaby has been a passenger for years and has now come of age, Kosi BFG and Virmin are pretty formidable and the Ox and Gervinho will worry many, when Theo gets his head out of his arse and starts to think about football and not money he also can be considered, Rosiski has done nothing wrong and has been a stallwart Arteta will run through walls for ya all in all just how many players do we need sitting on the bench, the way i see it we have many fighting for few places and nearly all of them are quality, with Wenger Bouldy and Bandy we have what i consider the best team we have had for years.

  96. stevepalmer1 says:

    Most supporters at the end of last season would have been happy with a couple of new players we buy one before the season ended and then i read just 3 more we buy another and its 4 more granted robin sodded us about some body i thought was Mr Arsenal personified how bad a judge am i. Then Song goes and he had got a fair bit of stick from everybody and then when he leaves he is supposed to be our second best player whats happened to Virmin Sagna Kosi Czez Arteta The Ox are they no good then

  97. rico says:

    My pleasure Steve, just sorry I wasn’t around for a few hours. But it’s a funny old time right now, really quiet in the blog world. I guess winning 2-0 at Anfield leaves little to moan about 😉

  98. rico says:

    I think Song leaving was the one Steve, when he went off to Barca, we all assumed we would replace him with a ‘proper’ DM but we didn’t.

    I think Arteta is doing a great job at sitting deeper but are we missing out on the best side of his game by him playing there?

    I said a few weeks back, imagine a midfield of Santi, DM, Arteta & Jack…

    In reserve/rotation we’d have Tomas, Coq, Chamberlain, Diaby and Ramsey

    I don’t include Frimpong because he won’t feature for us this season imho….

  99. stevepalmer1 says:

    Don’t think its all about winning its the way were playing that pleases me we seem to be gelling and fighting for the ball defending in numbers and also trying new things as well, we even cross the ball now which we stopped for some reason but the guys we have up top are looking for it now Giroud and Poldi will get on the end of some i’m sure

  100. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Totts fight for Ganso again.
    M’Villa, maybe… but I think we must sell someone (a foreign player)in January (Squil, Chamack, AA…)

  101. stevepalmer1 says:

    Good point there Rico i think rotation may be the key, but not too many at a time seen that backfire before

  103. rico says:

    That’s what most said all summer Steve, winning silverware is no given right but just having a squad that can really compete means so much.

    Our three signings really are quality and if we get lucky on injuries for a change, i wouldn’t write us off ending up at wembley…

  105. rico says:

    Totally agree re the rotation numbers but the difference this season is we have Santi and Diaby, and we have Jack coming back soon. For once, rotation won’t mean taking one or two quality players out and replacing them with average.

    Ramsey/Theo really need to start stepping up when they get a chance….

  106. emma says:

    SteveP – Good post

    Gervinho on fire for cote d’ ivoire 4 v senegal 2 : Had 1 assist, scored 1, had a penalty, had a goal disallowed and had an assist disallowed goal. Played the entire game. No injury

  108. stevepalmer1 says:

    Get a dozen games under our belt Will and i think we’ll know exactly what we have, The ox will want more starts i’m sure of that

  109. rico says:

    Hi emma – that’s great to hear about Gerv, hope he brings that form hope, along with a fully fit and healthy body.

    That’s him done for his country isn’t it, just the one fixture?

  111. emma says:

    rico – yes. Just one fixture. He should be back tomorrow. He was the MOTM. He played out of his skin to dig back Cote d’ivoire after falling twice behind.

  112. rico says:

    even better emma – he needed that, we know what he can do, he just needs to start doing that for his club… he will i am sure…

    second season and all that, just like Merts….

  113. emma says:

    rico – He was unplayable today. He created lots of chances. I really hope with this new found confidence he brings this form home.

  114. NashuaGunner says:

    The main reason why some stop complaining is because we won the game at Anfield. If we were to lose, God helps us, even Will would be complaining. We’ve the money, we sold our DM, we did not replace him.

  115. stevepalmer1 says:

    Merts suprises me every game i would have outed him but the guy looks solid as a rock i may have misjudged him he could be imense for us and i never thought i would say that about him

  116. rico says:

    Wished I’d watched it now emma….

    NG, sadly, you are no doubt right, let’s hope that loss doesn’t come for a long while…

  117. stevepalmer1 says:

    Understand your point Nash but Wenger must think we have enough in reserve. I was a bit surprised he wanted to go but i feel his ego was growing more than his talent.

  118. emma says:

    stevep – Its not easy to acclimatise to the english league in the first season except you are a Cazorla. I think we will see the best of Mert and Gerv this season. Giroud will come good with time and we will see the best of him in his second season but won’t mind if it happens this season

  120. stevepalmer1 says:

    Spot on Emma, you know what your talking about , he just looked so gangly to start with and i still think he’s slow but the defensive work from our coaches has helped their positional play.

  124. stevepalmer1 says:

    Thats me done for tonight , thanks for all your comments you know your on the best site , Nte Nte all. 🙂

  126. rico says:

    Ak, I think Steve is right about Merts, he isn’t the quickest but it’s not always about that, Big Tony was no Linford Christie 😉

  128. Joaquim Moreira says:

    When I was 19 Arsenal tried to buy me and another player from Argentinos Juniors – at the time when Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles signed for Tottenham.”
    ‘But it was not. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened. “
    Diego Maradona

  131. allezkev says:

    Got a couple more posts for ya tonight Rico.
    Will fire them off when I get home.
    Wow, it’s so hot & stuffy in London….
    I could murder a pint or three.. 😉

  137. Will says:

    How have we not replaced Song? How many goals have we let in? How many times have the opposition come streaming through a Song sized hole in the midfield while our”defensive midfielder” was up front trying to chip balls to RvP?

  138. Scott from Oz says:

    Morning all.
    Some ery positive posting overnight…..well done guys!
    Great to hear a few of our buys are doing well in the waste of timers!!
    More importanty….no injuries to report.

  140. Scott from Oz says:

    Thank god we never replaced Song!!!
    Did anyone see Siabys little dink to (i think) Gibbs in the left corner…..Songs would’ve ended p in one or two places…..RVP’s left foot or three rows back in the stand.
    Diabys was inch perfect.

  141. Scott from Oz says:

    Emma,he made similar comments about a month ago.
    Sold we be sending him out on loan,because there is no way i’d be selling him…he is too good.

  143. Canadian Gooner says:

    I ran across this article the other day and it echoed a lot of my thoughts since the end of the transfer window.

    http://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/wenger-planning-a-december-surprise/

    Add to thar the following and I think the story may have traction;
    1.) Arsenal appeared to be in the market right to the end of the transfer window. A number of recent articles indicate that we made two bids for Yohan Cabaye and that we bid for Yanga-Mbiwa, but he had his heart set on AC Milan, but got neither.
    2.) We have room on our 25 man PL squad roster. The club sold Henri Lansbury and Kyle Bartley, two promising young players who were no longer elligible for the U21 exemption and would have to be listed as part of the 25 man PL squad if they were not sold or loaned out. Was this done to ensure we had space for new purchase(s)?
    3.) For the first time in years Arsenal has been ruthless in clearing out, or at least trying, fringe players. Rumour has it we even went so far as to offer Squillaci a buyout. Was this just Arsene’s well known thrift or was he making room on the wage roll for new experienced players?
    4.) Was the reference to December a fallback if he missed signing player(s) before the summer transfer window closed? Possibly it was a refernce to a Brazilian/South American based player who would be available at the end of their seaon in December.
    5.) Is Arsene was still interested in Yan M’Vila? Rennes refused to budge on their high valuation for a 24 year old. Yet, they had already borrowed/purchased Jean Makoun to replace him. It is expensive to pay for two when you only need one. Will Rennes be a little more pliable on M’Vila’s price come December?
    6.) Arsenal have money in reserve. it is showing on their accounts. It can’t be for reducing the debt on the stadium as that is all in long term bonds at a manageable interest rate and which have an early retirement penalty clause. Is the money a reserve in case of financial hard times (e.g. the collapse of one or more European banks or a return to deep recession) or is it earmarked for player acquisition(s)?

    Yes, a lot of speculation where other explanations/reasons may well apply. Yet, when one does have time on his hands due to an international break his mind does wander and wonder. This just may help me through till Christmas and the winter transfer window.

  144. CowboyGunner says:

    Howdy Ya’ll…

    A few comments about some of the posts…CG…great use of “conundrum.” That word isn’t used enough just like “cornucopia.”

    How to do an AGAG before the sunrise? I pulled one off this morning getting my Nike Free’s on runnerswarehouse.com. Internet shopping…for the early riser/night owl/agoraphobic in all of us.

    About leCoq? He is ambitious and confident. I hope Emma is right in that he’ll get some games, because I rate him higher than Frimpy b/c of his versatility and discipline. Let’s hope leBoss hangs on to this little engine that can…

    Only a couple of baby earthquakes too…the dogs have fallen asleep and I’m waiting for the next match. No American footy for me tomorrow as the Boys already won and no Arsenal either…humdrum…humdrum. I am kinda upset about the USA losing to Jamaica…is this the Olympics? Yowsers.

    Peace and harmony…ya’ll.

  145. CowboyGunner says:

    Nice post, OCG. Makes sense. Logical. But sometimes logic doesn’t make it to the game…interesting comments, though.

  149. Lee says:

    Morning Rico, this international break is so tedious! I’m a glorified cab driver this morning as my boy’s football has started….

  150. rico says:

    Morning Lee, hope Ak has given you a few tips 😉

    Did you see that Gerv was on fire last noght for the Ivory Coast, emma watched it and said he was unplayable…

    Tedious? Extremely…..

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading