It already seems that our last fixture was more than two weeks ago; perhaps that is not such a bad thing. Ideally, we would have gotten back into action within a few days but, as the football calendar would have it, we’ve had to sit and stew over it…
A frantic final few days of the transfer window, where five new signings we officially confirmed, provided optimism that we would not have to send any more “lambs to the slaughter” sides out and maybe, just maybe, we would be better equipped to mount a top four/title challenge this season…
In Friday’s presser, Arsene remarked how awful our summer had been, to the point where he could write a book about all that went wrong; if the summer as a whole was bad, then surely August was our nadir.
From the departures of our former numbers four and eight, to starting the campaign clearly short in experience in several key areas, to a haul of zero wins, two defeats, one point, two goals scored, ten conceded, minus-eight goal difference and four red cards from our first three league matches. Grim, grim reading, to say the least.
So, with a new month and new recruits, paramount importance from today’s home fixture with new boys Swansea City was a win – regardless of how it was achieved.
Plenty of goals and great performances were desired, but not necessarily required on this afternoon. We had to get our campaign off the ground and needed a win to hopefully provide at least some confidence.
Injuries and suspensions dictated much of our lineup and bench for today. Two of our new arrivals, Mertesacker and Arteta, were expected to start, with speculation regarding which of the other recent recruits would make the bench. Republic of Korea striker Park Ju-Young was a question mark, as he spent much of the week in Paris awaiting his visa. The visa was confirmed Friday night, so Ju was able to take his place on the bench.
Brazil left back Santos, signed from Fenerbahce, was not expected to figure, as Arsene he was not yet physically ready and Israel forward Benayoun, signed on loan from Chelsea, was expected to start the game on the bench. The aforementioned injuries suspensions deprived us of the services of TV, Jenks, Squil, Jack, Song, Diaby, and Gerv, with OC and Rosicky also excluded today.
So Arsene shuffled the deck accordingly and we lined up:
Szczesny, Gibbs, Mert, Kos, Bac, Ramsey, Frim, Arteta, Theo, Robin, and Arsh.
Fab, JD, Santos, Coquelin, Benayoun, Chamakh and Ju comprised our bench.
As we kicked off, the home support seemed positive and supportive but there was an undercurrent of tension and apprehension clearly evident. In the very first minute, we almost had something to cheer about, as Arteta played Ramsey in, only for the latter to wastefully shoot over; we really should have scored there…
A few minutes later, Graham forced Szczesny into an excellent low save from close range. After these two early chances, the game then settled into a pattern, with Arsenal controlling possession and Arteta and Ramsey working well together at the heart of our midfield.
With 15 minutes gone, Theo should have given us the lead, breaking free inside and getting the ball past Swans keeper Vorm; unfortunately, his shot did not have the necessary pace on it, and former Spud Caulker sprinted all the way back to clear the ball a foot or two shy of the goal-line…
As we entered the final third of the half, Swansea started to put us under a bit of pressure. While Mert and Kos dealt with everything coming their way, nerves clearly began to creep into our play, as we rushed passes, muffed clearances, and couldn’t keep the ball.
With the pressure, however, the Swans could not really create any great chances during this spell and it was during this passage of play – five minutes from the interval – that we took the lead in hugely fortuitous circumstances.
After we conceded possession to Swansea deep in their own end, Vorm attempted to roll the ball out, perhaps without looking up. If he did, he would have seen Arsh and Rangel moving away from the area; Vorm rolled the ball directly into Rangel’s heel, Arsh noticed, spun, and fired the ball into the net from a difficult angle, celebrating with his traditional tongue out and a rather sheepish expression.
Perhaps not how you would have drawn it up Arsh, but it counts nevertheless, and, to be perfectly honest, we were due a bit of luck…
As the half entered stoppage time, both Theo and Dyer had chances for their respective sides, but neither cashed in and we took a lead into the break.
Neither side made any changes at the interval and the Swans came out quickly at the restart, immediately putting us under pressure and keeping the play in our half. Theo earned a quick booking, retaliating on Taylor, after the latter had slowed him down by grabbing his shirt – and not for the first time.
Two minutes later, Kos chopped Sinclair down – getting all of the man and none of the ball – for a deserved booking and free kick in a dangerous position. Sinclair took it and hit the crossbar with a fine strike.
Three minutes later, Robin repaid the favor, bringing the ball down the left, cutting inside and rattling the right post with a strike off the outside of the upright…
Arsene made the first change shortly after the hour, bringing Benayoun on for his debut in Arsh’s place. We had a sustained spell of possession and a couple of chances but never really came close to converting.
Frim had a good game in Song’s place, full of energy and he broke up several Swansea attacks. As the game entered the final 15 minutes, he was clearly gassed, and Arsene brought Coquelin on in a like-for-like swap.
At this point, Swansea was looking dangerous and putting us under pressure again, with Graham and Dobie both having chances.
With eight minutes remaining, Arsene made his final change, bringing Chamakh on for Robin. Within a minute, Gibbs broke quickly down the left, cut inside and crossed for the centrally placed Chamakh, who sent a firm, close range header directly at Vorm.
That was one of our best sequences of the game: a quick break, good cross and solid header…Yet that was also Chamakh’s last significant contribution.
There were only a few minutes remaining, yet I still counted two more touches from the Moroccan; in both he was outside the box, and passed the ball backwards or sideways as soon as he received it. I seem to remember a similar sequence from him during one of the dreary late season matches this past Spring: come on as a sub (with more time remaining than just ten minutes), almost score with a great header, and then never get into a similar position – or contribute anything – again that afternoon. His brief chance this afternoon shows he is still capable of getting into good positions and that he knows what to do when the ball is crossed in the air towards him. But we need more than just that moment from him…Much, much more…
As we moved into stoppage time, Swansea had the momentum, although they were not dominating.
Gibbs broke free down the left again, and this time he took the shot himself, firing straight at Vorm. Sinclair won the Swans another corner, but we cleared, and we had a chance of a three on one, as they had committed players
forward. Unfortunately, Ramsey’s pass found the one remaining Swansea defender.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Swansea’s chance came and went in a blink. Szczesny flapped at a high cross and wound up on the deck; the ball fell to Graham, just a couple of yards in front of goal and he shot over when a decent connection would have brought the Swans’ first premiership goal and would have taken back two of our three points.
As it was, he shot over and that was pretty much that…
I think us Arsenal supporters can understand what Swansea is going through – we were in that same rut at kickoff today. When things are going your way, you close your eyes, scuff the ball, and it deflects in off a defender’s can…
When things are not going your way, you are Tim Flowers watching a weak shot (pass?) from Stan Collymore (in Liverpool kit) hit a divot, loop up and over you and into your net (1995, Ewood Park, for those of us who remember that freak goal)…
Only advice I can give the Swans is to stick with it and sooner or later your luck will turn. As it was, I thought the scoreline was a bit harsh on them and if Graham had put away that chance right at the end, I would not have begrudged them the point…
There will be days where they will play worse and get three points, just as there will be days when we play much better and come away with nothing…
A quick word for Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, who missed the match due to his father’s passing. Having lost my own father six years back, I know how it feels, so our thoughts and prayers are with Rodgers’ family. His players may not have brought a point or three back home, but they played very well today and represented the club and manager admirably.
Many of us supporters – and I think one or two players – made the point that the season starts today.
Sorry, no…It started on August 13 at St. James’ Park and as difficult and painful as the three August matches have been, we cannot wish them out of existence. They were brutal – each of them – but they don’t necessarily need to be fatal.
So yesterday’s “baby steps” of picking up our first win were critical; we have to start somewhere and hopefully this will be the beginning of a good run.
There was much not to like, namely the lack of clear cut chances, the slower-than-necessary tempo when we had the ball and the endless sideways-backwards-forward-sideways-backwards passing sequences – all hallmarks of the second half of last season; yet should we really be surprised?
We dropped eight of the nine previous points on offer, have an almost-laughable negative goal difference and have a collection of players who have been beaten down since the final whistle at St. James.
Little wonder that there isn’t much confidence in the side and that is why the three points are so important – it wasn’t pretty and never stylish but it was both a win and a clean sheet.
A labored win in such circumstances may do more for us than something like our 6-0 over Blackpool last season; remember how our players began to pick and choose matches in which to apply themselves for 90 minutes?
How they took the pitch thinking they were all that, and then walked off on the wrong end of 3-2 scorelines at home to both West Brom and the Spuddies? This time our players should be under no illusions about what they are and what they will need to put this right.
Amidst the things we did not do so well today, we did several things right: Szczesny – late flap notwithstanding – produced some key saves and looks every inch our number one goalkeeper. I think it is time to make that official, Arsene, especially as the current incumbent is in the squad in name only and is about as close as I am to playing for the first team.
Think of the boost it will give Szczesny – and the team – to give him the number one jersey. Likewise, both Mert and Arteta had solid debuts. The former, in particular, dealt with what came his way, and looked far more imposing than I have seen any of our defenders recently look. While Arteta did not mark his debut with a goal or assist, he did look quite at home in our midfield and kept things going for us.
Frim did what defensive midfielders are supposed to do – he concentrated on breaking up attacks and shielding the back four, while generally leaving the attacking to others. I thought everyone worked hard today and while much of our attacking didn’t produce an end product, everyone seemed to understand this was no time to drop heads and kept at it.
So we have the first league win out of the way, and hopefully this will be the start of something; if we lay a dud up at Ewood next weekend, then we’ll find ourselves right back at square one, with even more scrutiny and problems than previous.
However, with the cavalry – in the form of Gerv, Song and Jenks – returning, I see that as a perfect opportunity to get a nice away win against struggling opposition. If we can make it two out of two – and get another three points, then August will become more of a distant memory and we will have started to build some momentum.
First we begin our Champions League group round with a visit to Westfalenstadion in midweek, where Arsene will serve the first (of two) ban in this particular round of FIFA suspensions.
Regardless of the result against Dortmund, we will be judged more on what we do in the league, and there is where will be will build traction and results.
So job one was achieved today. The circumstances and performance were far from ideal, but right now, only the result counts – the style and standing should come later.
Let’s quietly take care of business, build some momentum, and climb the table.
We still have a long – very long – way to go this season, so if we just focus on one game at a time, and three points at a time, who knows where that will take us…
Written by Oliver
Morning all
Good write up oliver, thank you…
Can’t say that much of that game made good viewing! RvP’s chance, AA’s finish, Gibbs super run and cross for Chamakh…..
Our finishing is shocking….
Morning Rico & HH,we won hooray, but the finishing was terrible…Arteta looked looked very at home…..we just got use this a stepping stone going forward! Nice match summary Oliver, btw…..as AK said “I’ll take a 1-0 win!” well bring on the Germans now!!
i thought the performance was patheitic. The signings are journey men players. Lets get the russian on board so we can buy some decent players, before its too late.
Dave Boyle. X season ticket holder. Living in W.A.
Morning Rico. Strange atmosphere at the Emirates yesterday and a bitty performance. At the moment we have a club, but not really a team I think, just 11 players running around with little in the way of organisation or shape. When you are in our situation you surely need some serious coaching so the basics get taken care of and give a platform on which to build. I am not seeing that and haven’t done for some time.
Morning Lee
Just really glad we got the points on the board and hopefully we will pick up a bit now as players return…
Dalglish thinks he’s having a few tough decisions from refs…
Welcome to our world Kenny…..
Morning Adam, I can see what you are saying, there seems to be little cohesion in the side, i don’t see how wenger is going to change things?
We missed very good chances yesterday..after watching the whole match I can say there is more to come from this team
Unbelievable.
3 months ago,whinging about looking pretty,but losing games.
A month ago,whinging about losing players and no new signings.
A week ago,whinging about the players signed.
Today,whinging about winning,but not looking good doing so.
Common theme…..most Arsenal fans care more about having their whinge heard than they do about the club.
Of course,their lack of support is passed off as passion and wanting the best for the club……what a cop out.
Supporters support,not bag their club,so decide exactly what you are before making us endure you constant whinging and whining.
Oh,and I am under no illusion we are going great,but I also am under no illusion,as plenty of YOU are,that I can do a better job than Wenger!!!
Excellent point Rico. A bloke who sits in front of me was chatting at half time with a few of us. He is not an extremist or a rabid pro or anti Wengerite, but rather a balanced and intelligent person I think. During our ” state of the club” conversation he merely made the observation “let’s face it, Wenger is not the future”. I thought it summed things up, in a non hysterical way, rather well.
Scott – that is poppycock….
We are all glad the three points are on the board but if we are to get into the top four, we need to play better than we did yesterday, it’s called being constructive about our performance….
Jrock – hopefully when we get gervinho and jack back we will create more, also the new players need time to settle – hence most fans wanted early signings, dd signings are fine but they are only human, how can they bed into a side without a pre-season…
Morning all.good read oliver.i don’t care how we won.the new lads have barely trained together and it would be unfair to expect instant chemistry.right now the lads need to grind out results to build up confidence.this will come if we can manage to string a few wins and the chemistry will also grow.while that happens i don’t care if goals come from deflections off arsene’s nose or howard webb’s bum so long as we win.
Adam, i think you and i are similar to the fan you were talking to, i don’t hate wenger but i just don’t believe that right now he has it in him to change the way we play…
He is trying to play the kind of football we did between 1996 – 2005/6 but we can’t as the players we now have aren’t the same, he has a great crop of players but we need to play to their strengths and not just play in the same old same old way…
4-4-2 😉
Good blog was not a great win but we got the 3 points on the table Arteta looked good Pers done his job Goal keeper looks world class .Looking forward to Tuesday hoping Young Park plays for us need goals !
Morning Kt,
agree re how we win but… 😉
Morning Diane
Ches was darn good, up until the last minute but we got away with it…
Constructive Rico,I think you actually believe that lol.
I read very,very little constructive comments about the club anywhere.
Dreaming.
Again, that is not right Scott, not here anyway!
Most of us have said we would have preferred another CH, and maybe each fan has their own idea of who we wanted to sign but it doesn’t work that way.
On DD most of us said that the signings Wenger had made would make us stronger, now all that needs to happen is they train together, get a better understanding of eachother and get the results each match.
Sometimes pretty football cannot be played to get the result, everyone knows that but i’m not one to bury my head in the sand and believe that beating Swansea 1-0 makes everything better….
Rico,its pretty clear i was generalising,and not targetting anyone specifically,hence the use of the word most.
Again,MOST Arsenal fans are whingers,and MOST are not constructive in their comments.
If this is clear,would you still disagree with my post?
Excellent post Oliver.
Morning Rico..
Match of the Day did a hatchet job ln Mertesaker.
Ignoring all his no fuss defending and highlighting the 3 isolated i incidents Hansen could criticise him.
BBC wankers.
I can’t comment on other blogs/posters Scott…
We are here on HH and in general most are constructive, most know things are far from great within the club right now but getting a win yesterday was all that mattered..
Then it’s about the talking points, that’s what blogs/forums are for and that’s what we do here…
We cannot expect Arteta and Merts, or Yossi to walk into this team and make everything rosy, well, not just yet anyway 😉
Jack, Diaby and TV apart – everyone is back for the next game so things are starting to look a lttle better and we should be able to field a stronger side on Tuesday
Morning Kev, what did you expect from the idiots…
What made me laugh is how they raved over Nasri’s cross for Cither but no-one was on the end of it…
Theo does that for us and they lambast him saying his cross was poor and into no-mans land!!
The best thing i can say about the game is that not playing great and getting a win is a good sign.
The club has a heap of upside,and if close enough come January,one or two more signings may well have us in the mix.
Our best eleven is a very,very competitve side,and when we get all hands on deck,our squad strength is actually much improved on last year.
Honestly,I can’t see us NOT finishing top 4,and even 4th would be a good result,under the circumstances.
The reason i am so confident is that i think Liverpool and Tottenham are simply not much good.
Anyway,I will keep scanning this blog,and hopefully keep reading comments from true Gunners fans…..you guys will be in the minority,unfortunately.
Actually Rico the mistake here is that some people think that any criticism is wrong and somehow disrespectful. My criticisms of the club are just that, criticisms. And I have been making them for a lot longer than this morning in reaction to three points but a dismal performance yesterday. It doesn’t mean that I think I could do a better job than Wenger. Criticism should be constructive and not made for its own sake. I believe HH to be a fair and balanced blog where all points of view are entertained and discussed. This isn’t Stalinist Russia after all. But there will always be those at both fringes who don’t like that. The day that Wenger or the board move beyond criticism will never come and that is just how things should be. It has nothing to do with being some kind of ideal robot- supporter who blindly nods appreciation at everything. The recent transfer window was appallingly handled by the club. But I don’t know who is to blame. I speak about what I see. Keep up the good work.
I think liverpool and spuds will suprise you scott, and a few other sides – top four isn’t guaranteed for us this season, far from it….
Very pleased with yesterdays result, 3 points moved us up the table, the 8.2 defeat will be with us for a long long time, that goes in the record books, but being without 8 players won’t. We will be stronger against the Germans than we have been all season,and we must remember that our manager will not be able to lead us, home and away. And it wouldn’t suprise me, that if we do get through the round, they find something else to hit us with. What i have noticed is that i thought we played very well, our new players fitted in well, and had our finnishing been upto what it should have been, this would have been a comfortable victory. Our forwards at the moment seem as if they are in a time warp, and look as if they are playing the latter part of last season, i just hope that the injection of our new forward players has a bit more idea than the ones that played yesterday. Theo and Robin were woeful and should have scored Rambo’s shooting was dire, but i’m sure they will all improve. It may still be a couple of months before we have a full squad to choose from. But what we have to do, is keep our game tidy take the oppotunities that come along and keep winning, As i am sure that when we have the whole of the squad available, and our manager on the touchline, we will start inflicting high scores on our competetors. As whatever anybody say’s about this team, theres no doubt in my mind that they can win things. No sendings off yesterday thats a start.
Too true Rico. I didn’t rate Man Utd last year and look what happened. The truth is that we haven’t seen our best 11 play together yet and a team is far more than the collective skills of its players.
Thanks adam….
Totally agree re the transfer window and that backs up all you have said about criticism – without me harping on about all i said in the summer but we all heard the spin about transfers from the club but still had to wait until dd to secure a striker, two defenders and two midfielders that we knew we needed in may.
Had they all been bought in May, they would have gelled by now, had a good pre-season and the first three games would not have happened they way they did.
As Oliver said in the post, our season began long before yesterday and the three rotten results have done nothing but instill more nerves within the squad.
How long it takes for those nerves to settle?
That’s anyone guess…..
Got to pop off for an hour or so, final day of nurse duties…..
back in a bif…
morning steve, catch you later…
Adam,I have absolutely no issue with people having an opinion,and my post is not about that.
It’s about people simply whinging for the sake of it,and never,ever seeing anything positive in regards to decisions made by Wenger.
Again,nearly everyone wanted a new keeper,bagging Wenger for not buying one.
These same people are now proclaiming Szczesny as a great keeper,but you do not read them giving Wenger credit for showing faith in the kid.
That is one example,but gets to the core of my argument.
I am not a blind follower,I see the negatives,I just don’t concentrate wholly and solely on them.
Rico,Tottenham will beat Liverpool home….my tip for the season.
I really think the Reds have very,very little.
Anyway,we have our first win,onwards and upwards from here.
Looking forward to seeing Gervinho in action again this week. He gives our attack a different dimension.
At least Wenger has the options of a bit of rotation in Dortmund.
I’ve not read a newspaper today or listened to the radio.
I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in what the Press/Media have to say on yesterdays game or Arsenal in general.
Scott. I personally see very little “whinging for the sake of it” and it was you who used the word “most” when describing the amount of supporters who offer no constructive criticism and are, in your words, whingers. Apart from a few exceptions I read people who have issues with today’s Arsenal but who give clear reasons why. Sometimes the vitriol goes too far but I think it is mostly borne out of frustration and in a perverse way, their love of the club. Personally I see us dropping off the top level and I could cite the reasons I believe this to be the case and these involve both our recent history and Arsene’s policies. I am hoping sincerely that it all comes together, but I have doing that for long time now. I think that HH is a largely a level headed forum for a respectful exchange of ideas and am glad we have it. Making it a them and us discussion won’t move the debate forward.
Hi Kev. Good point mate.
Hi guys great game huh? We did win that’s what’s important. Three points in the bag while we hunt for more against a dogged blackburn side. Hopefully we ll be strengthened with the return of gervinho and song. With another week’s training under their belt the newbies should start showing the talent we know they possess. And hey alan hansen is a TURD! COYGs
Hi Adam. Cheers mate.
It’s quiet in town today.
What did you think of the new boys?
Stan a run of turgid 1-0 wins will do me.
Low on the entertainment maybe. But Arsenal need a run of positive results not flowery football
I thought the new boys were all overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Hopefully they ll get over themselves and help propel us up the table. Hi ya kev.
With the return of song some of our fluency should return. I ve never been a fan of his but even I couldn’t deny that he was sorely missed yesterday. Song and gervinho ll be a massive improvement to what was on display yesterday.
Well considering that Mertesaker only started joining in training from Thursday i thought he did well Stan.
Offski for now.
Kev. I thought they did OK. To me the whole team looked a bit disorganised and nervous. I imagine Wenger will try and introduce some shape as we looked weak through the middle and there was acres of open space in front of Gibbs which they targeted. Better teams will expose us I think. One thing is certain and that is that Wenger has his work cut out. I am cautious at the moment. Are you knocking around central London then?
Adam,in my first post,I addressed those who whinge,in my opinion,for the sake of it.
I reiterate the fact that my comments were a generalisation,but must assume you do not read most of the forums and blogs I have been………….it is quite a number of them,and the negatives still vadtlt outweigh the positives. .
Just reading this topic does show some good,positive commentary on the club,and I hope it continues.
Boo, what’s occurring …
You still moaning Scott 😉
hi Rico been kinda worried lately. What ever happened to WILL?
hi goonster, not sure really – haven’t seen him here since the CL game….
I think you should email him to make sure he’s alright.
Anyway what are your expectation for the dortmund game? Its gonna be a close game but I think we ll nick it by a lone goal.
He’ll be ok goonster, just think he got a bit fed up here and left….
Dortmund haven’t started their campaign as well as they would have liked goonster, played five, won two, drawn one and lost two…
I think it will be a really good game, we’ll have a stronger squad (bar jack and TV) and we should see a much better display than we saw yesterday….
Well said Rico!!!!
Wonder what you made of Theo’s game?
Sorry….I meant Oliver. 🙂
Got fed up? How do you mean?
Hi Xavier – no probs, Theo was poor imho….
goonster, fed up with me….
We need arteta to pull this team together. I have huge faith in him to succeed. With song back for the dortmund game I believe we ll see a different arteta.
I thought so too. Theo has never been one to whine but that’s about all he did yesterday.
Wonder when we get to see Ox in the line up…..
Should mean that Song will know his role a bit more, he can protect the back four as he should and not think he’s the second striker 😉
I like Arteta, 2/3 more games and we’ll see a settled, confident and effective player…
I think we’ll see both Chamberlain and Ryo in the CC match in two weeks time….
we havent’ a team and a squad.We have a short team. We are not well organize. We must change our system to a clearly 4-4-2. Sagna and Gibbs (bad in defence. I hope Santos will be must better) are good in attack. They must be our wingers. We must have a player with VP. Like Holland has one. We must be much more stronger in the midfied.Walcott and AA cna’t play a full game. Arteta is a tecnical player, good one but in yje end, he didn’t be in our mind. Fabregas and Nasri will be in Arsenal history because their quality; I’ve doubts about Arteta even his qualities. Mancs and Chelsea are much more strong then us. Chelsea is now much more strong with Meireles. We need one or two more midfiels and one central forward like Aguero, Tevez, Soldado, Benzema,etc.
What happened? Am I missing anything here?
Hi JM, I think Arteta is quality, my only worry is his age and is he on the way down or can he maintain his peak for 1 or 2 more seasons..
Fabregas will be in our history but Nasri? No, the money grabbing git is history, but not in a remembering kind of way….
As for 4-4-2 – i wish we would go back to those days too and it’s time to start with Chamakh and RvP up front, if Chamakh can’t do what he’s meant to, get rid in Jan….
@Joaquim….are you for real? Don’t you the see the work in progress at the moment? Why do we spend time wishing we had this and wishing we had that? We have players coming back in a couple of weeks and I think the exciting part of of all this is seeing how we grind out wins no matter how bad we play. When TV, Diaby, Wilshere come back coupled with Song and Gervinho we can all expect to see a more fluid team. I say that the Gunners will only get better barring injuries and needless cautions.
Let’s get behind the team and quit moaning fellas.
goonster, just a disagreement that’s all….
Theo’s feeling the heat. Never in his arsenal career had he been under pressure from players around him. The emergence of Ryo AOC and ben ayoun is scaring him, I guess.
Good, he needs a kick up the ass …
Good one, oliver. I completely agree about building momentum. No point dwelling on the disastrous results at OT now. Onwards and up!
Hello, rico. How are you? Hello, everyone. 🙂
Hi agag, i’m good thanks, you??
Just a little busy. Can’t wait for Dortmund. I’m eager to see if we really have turned the corner. Watcha having for dinner?
I think the Dortmund game is just a the right time for us agag, a scraped win yesterday against a side we should be beating much more convincingly.
Now we face a tougher opposition and i think the team will buck up a bit instead of thinking the game is an easy one..
Win against BD and the confidence will take another raise….
Dinner is a lazy pizza agag 🙂
You busy?? Must mean you are due a vacation 😉
Dortmund should present a good challenge. Last night, I though we sat back on our heels after the goal, so it would be good to get a game where we play more freely.
I had spaghetti for dinner. With stuff you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. 😉 Ahaha, cheeky. In three weeks, yes. Off to Cebu, a good friend is getting married and I am in the wedding party. I’ll go easy on hols next year.
I knew it agag 😉
I’m off for dinner as it’s all quiet…
Boring result in the cricket rico…
I know, bloomin september english weather did that, huff – just why do we play matches here this time of the year??
I don’t know but guess sometimes the weather can be….
blah blah blah 🙂 🙂
rico, what is all this rumour about the brazilian striker who wants to join a CL side in Jan, apparently its us and Manure who could sign him but he knows he won’t get a game for the mancs…
we in with a chance??
Ah, you mean Vagner Love…..
That’s him rico, all rubbish i suspect…..
Looks like everyone has gone, so I’m off too, no point in chatting away to myself 😉 😉
Night all…
Wagner Love… Sounds like a composer to me. Valkayri [spelling doh] & all that.
Adam, last day in the smoke today.
Back to peace & quiet tomorrow.
Yes thefe was a definate underlying unease at TheGrove yesterday. We could have done with Ramsey scoring that early chance. It would settled the crowds nerves & the teams nerves. Maybe would have led to a more comfortable result.
But it was good to see the crowd staying patient and sticking by the team.
Were i was, in the cheap seats, the fans really got behind the boys in the last 15 mins as we could sense that they were hanging on and needed encouragement.
This team needs the fans more this season than in any other season during the last 15 years. It would be great to see the home fans replicating the support the away fans give.
I’m sick of reading or hearing snide remarks about the support we give our team. I’ve been at Highbury and TheGrove when it’s been rocking, so it’s in there..!
We fans just need to show it more often.
Wagner Love? It’s a fantastic player! Unfortunateley I think he is a bit older. We need him now ! 🙂
Xavir: with so many games we can’t expect for all players be fit. It depends what are our goals. Win the League? Go to the quarters or semi-final in CL?
With this team, all if everything going well, we can finish between the 4th and the 8th. I repeat: we can dream but we are weaker than Macs and Chelsea.We must play in a different way for optimize the qualities of our players and the collective strong.
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