Well, this seasons transfer window wasn’t a debacle, it wasn’t a train wreck either. It was nothing other than a massive anti climax for all Gooners, because to be defined as any sort of debacle, something needed to happen!
I’m sure most of us had high hopes that at some stage Wenger would spend and make a red hot dash at winning the PL, and possibly even the CL. It was our time.
Ten years of settling for grinding out a place in the top four was trumped by winning two FA cups in a row. We had a squad two, possibly three players off being a true title contender, but we got one and a goalkeeper at that. Having a top top keeper is of course important but Ospina had proved to be a damn fine one, so it was not a position that stood out as needing strengthening to me but I know others did.
A DM and Striker, or possibly a Winger, are what was required in the opinion of most.
What did we get? A big, fat zero.
As a long time staunch defender of Wenger, I can defend him no longer. Although I’ve never been one to demand the sacking of a poorly performed manager, so I refuse to call for his head either. Results/performances should decide his fate…..
I believe the buck stops at the top and that’s Stan, along with his cronies on the board. Do these people ever lower themselves to allow the average punter a chance to convey their opinions across??
Would they dare take the risk of finding out fans aren’t happy?
Would they care?
They seem to be so far removed from the fans that nothing we say or do even rates a moments passing thought from them. They’re a disgraceful lot who need at some point, to take some responsibility and show leadership, but we shouldn’t hold our breath.
Today, I don’t know a single fan who is happy, but I know plenty who are livid, and nothing anyone says will placate them and who could blame them/us?
Our squad fell short last season, we have let a few players go, and added only one of any note. Just one!
Now, even if that player were Lionel Messi, one signing isn’t enough to cross the divide from 3rd in the League to title winners, especially as the clubs around us have spent big.
Anyone can see it, and I’m almost positive Wenger does, so why no signings?
From all reports, the money is there. Whether it’s the reported £200 million or not doesn’t really matter, as Wenger would get the money required if he asked for them, if he could find the “right” player.
Sorry, but “right” player, my backside!
There have been many very, very good players purchased by English clubs alone in the last month or so, leading to the questions of what the hell have our scouts been doing, and what constitutes Arsenes idea of the “right” player??
Quality alone can not be the defining factor, because there is new quality in every club in England.
Is Wenger truly so stubborn as to set a price he believes a player is worth, and simply won’t budge on it? If so, he has finally paid the ultimate price as he obviously couldn’t find a solitary player who’s club were so desperate to sell that they’d take a lower fee.
I don’t include Cech here, as he fell into our lap, so nobody at our club can take any credit for that one.
Is it he truly believes we have the squad to get the job done?
One answer to that…what happens if we lose Coquelin for any period of time??
As a staunch defender of Wenger, I can defend him no longer, though I’ve never been one to demand the sacking of a poorly performed manager, so I refuse to call for his head. I believe the buck stops at the top, and that’s Stan, along with his cronies on the board.
Then, and only then can changes be made to the culture of the club and that may well include a change of manager, but whilst Stan is at the helm, Arsene will be gauged by things other than titles, and that should never be the case with a manager.
Finances are the job and concern of others, except at Arsenal.
Written by Scott…
Morning again all, good read Scott..
Fair play Scott and as you said on yesterday’s thread, all we can do is get behind the team!
Toothless bunch on the board, an owner who seems to want only top four and a manager who has far too much control and won’t spend any money..
Not getting a DM and striker beggars belief….
I bet most of the players feel like we do, apart from Ollie….
The evening standard list of ins and outs is interesting.
Nice post Scott.
Our club are obviously no longer concerned with being champions just stacking the cash.
Another season of being a team that plays tiki taka side to side with a soft underbelly.
Love the site, don’t often feel the need to reply as what does a man from NZ really know about football.But come on Scott it seems you have done a Nick Kyrgios and spat the dummy.Australians should be better than that. Coq deserves his chance as the number one holding midfielder.And yes am disappointed no striker was found but Welbeck may surprise this year. Wenger may also know more about Rugby than I do to, So who am I to doubt.
jason
Look to blame everyone except Wenger – that’s the mantra of these sites isn’t it?
The board bought Ozil and Sanchez and came out to claim the money was there to buy anyone we wanted except Messi and Ronaldo so the board are not to blame.
The truth of the matter is that at every club the manager lives or dies by his decisions except Arsenal of course where mediocrity is rewarded…
solid post Scott.
Time to get behind the team indeed.
It does not make for a decent home atmosphere though…
Potter, think reading that would be too upsetting…
Great post bro, but deeply sick, today, i have not gone to work nursing the pain of my heart, too much disturbed, too much……………….
You have a point leon but if the board bought Ozil and Sanchez as you have alluded to what stopped them from buying another major star this window then? 😉
Nice one Jason…
Scott- is a last of a dying breed. I have resigned last January backing AW to the hilt…
Morning all great post Scott,the last time i felt this way was when we lost the league cup to Birmingham
Jason, Scott hasn’t said anything about the current players and if you do read here often, he’s one who always gets behind our own… I guess like most, enough is enough of the club behaving like they don’t have two pennies to rub together….
i am a little gutted but i never expected benzema due to him being only madrids only real striker, cavani is not worth £50 million and PSG wouldnt have let him go due to ibra being 34. higuain isnt worth the 60 million napoli slapped on him. so where did that leave us – dybala at 35 million would have been a risk – would he have settled in quickly ?- would the fans and media have said ” buy someone proven”
personally we shoudnt have let akpom out on loan, yes his decision making isnt there yet but he is a raw talent.
maybe we will play campbell a litte more?
we should have bought cover for dm role
but as for striker our mistake was last season when we didnt buy lukaku , he can do everything that giroud can do , has pace and will only get better
as martial yes he could be the next henry but i believe we have youngsters who can be equally as good as him out on loan gaining game time and less pressure
Leon, Ts is right, what stopped them signing Cavani or Rabiot yesterday?
Wenger was a winner and used to regularly buy players before Stan arrived at Arsenal so, after XX years of not winning the league, I would like to know why Stan (& now Josh) has never pushed Arsenal to go on to become an elite club. Perhaps the Kroenkes are comfortable with buying land in the US for their outdoor channel or investing in their US sports whilst Arsenal generates millions for them to be their feeder. But that’s only a guess.
Bet you are not far off Dave!
Dave…………….evidence?
Or one could ask why we were able to operate so successfully in the transfer market when David Dein was chief executive, and failed so miserably since he left.
A – £15 million on Charlie Austin wouldn’t have been much of a risk….
a – agreed.
I wouldn’t have spent £35m on Dybala personally… what I like about him is ability to protect and hold up the ball with his back to goal but he likes to dribble too much and so with hi and AS17 in the same line-up it would have been a bit too much…
exactly Steve.
The recordings of the cabaye recordings is a testament of the negotiators inefficiency…
AS AW said a few days back, ‘we’ will be in the market but he didn’t know how efficient it will be…
When Dein was at Arsenal Wenger could point out whichever player he wanted and 9 times of 10 the player would signed within a week. Dein was also the only man Wenger ever listened to and trusted.
Now we have Ivan and Law who drag the negotiations out because of wanting to save as much as possible, then players go and sign for other clubs like Mata, Draxler & Hazard did. Areta only signed for Arsenal because Wenger forcefully pushed to transfer through after Arsenal were going to pull out & Wenger personally went to see Ramsey and his family otherwise he would have ended up at Manchester United.
The point is the current board don’t really care about buying top players or winning trophies – their real aim is to make enough money for Stan to keep him happy.
Rico- Agreed Charlie would have been a solid signing..
I think QPR wanted more than £15m though… I thought Leicester and Newcastle bidded circa £15m for him which was rejected…
Scott, like you I’ve always been an Arsene fan, but like you I’m definitely wavering. Playing Aaron on the wing, and now no signings. I don’t think its a Kronke thing – this sort of investment in players is small beer to him and Arsenal, and as a businessman he can see the value of limited speculative investment – the returns on a CL win, or even a good run in it and in the PL in world-wide sales outweigh the risk, so I’m afraid its down to the manager.
As a life-long optimist I haven’t given up hope – perhaps Chuba will return in January and do a le Coq, and the rest will self-destruct.
The only good news is that the Daleks have taken a real hiding on the Horror Channel.
Brian
Solid read Dinkum. I enjoyed it.
I repeat…..i would have loved Austin/Berahino and Rodwell as squad players and kept Arteta and Campbell. And let Flamini leave.
Those two would have given us depth and maybe Austin would have surprised a few. Rodwell would have got his career back on track as he would have played alongside and rested Le Coq.
Austin I really like and he would have given us the edge in some matches, especially against the Stokes, PAlace, WBA,Bournemouth etc. yes he might not be CL standard but he certainly is EPL standard.
Morning all.
Isn’t it funny the biggest critics if posts are non regular contributors lol
Jason, everyone here who actually does post will laugh at that dummy spit jibe, as they’d suggest I’m the most patient bastard on here as far as backing the club and Wenger is concerned.
Leon, read the post again and ask yourself where I’ve blamed everyone by Wenger.
Either or you two can write tomorrow’s post if you like 🙂
Morning all.
Just a thought, but don’t we have this the wrong way around?
By the time that United have finished with Martial they will have paid around 60 million euros for a kid with little experience. Arsene Wenger has been criticised for not strengthening his outfield, and to a certain extent that criticism is justified, but only so far. Cavani was available at 50 million, Benzema the same; neither with any real sell-on value. That’s crazy money for a limited improvement in the squad. . . Schneiderlin, on the other hand, is another story.
Away from Arsene Wenger’s celebrated parsimoniousness there have been so many examples of the opposite. Kevin De Bruyne, 55 million pounds for a failed former PL player, 50 million for a twenty-year-old Raheem Sterling. These are patently ridiculous prices for players that aren’t currently at the top table of European football.
The unpalatable truth is that the Premier League is the richest league in the world, and yet it is fighting for second-class scraps because the very top players don’t want to come here.
I have to ask myself why?
It can’t just be the weather, and it isn’t just Manchester United and Chelsea who need to sort themselves out. The entire Premier League, and all of their billions in disposable income, needs to do the same.
When the PL negotiated this astronomical SKY deal we all smiled to ourselves, thinking that the PL would financially dominate the European market, but the reality is that didn’t happen , because the PL didn’t understand, and still doesn’t understand, how to best use that wealth.
All that has happened is that PL clubs are now handing over their financial advantage in hugely inflated transfer fees to European clubs that are selling them pups and laughing at them.
To my mind this has to change. The PL has to become smarter, and especially in its dealings with Europe. The PL has to start using its brain rather than purely using its financial brawn.
If instead of offering European clubs staggering transfer fees for average players, say the PL started offering a staggering wage structure that no European Club or league could match.
Over time the PL wouldn’t have to pay constantly inflating transfer fees, because the world’s best talents would be demanding moves and beating a path to its door, and players like De Gea wouldn’t be interested in going home, if doing so meant a significant reduction in his salary.
Player power is here to stay, so why not harness that? The reason Neymar and Bale and Ramos aren’t Manchester United players is partly down to LVG and Woodward’s stupidity, but mostly down to the fact that the players they touted didn’t want to leave Barca or Madrid for rain-soaked Manchester, and who can blame them?
But if Neymar or Ronaldo, or even Messi were offered the chance to double their incomes by moving to the Premier League, what then? Would they dig their heels in? Possibly, but there are an awful lot who wouldn’t, and before too long the trickle of top players choosing the PL would become an avalanche.
It is unlikely the money-grabbing boards of PL club directors would go for it, but if they did, if that actually happened, our poor mainland-Europe relations just might start looking at us with jealousy in their eyes instead of tears of laughter.
And I say it again……if everyone chips in with goals all through the team then there will never be a need for a super striker.
tbh…..i hate those type of strikers. I would rather the defenders and midfielders chipped in with goals and have three strikers….Theo, Ollie, Sanchez getting 15 goals each. Ozil and Cazorla and Aaron all have 8 to 10 goals each in them. that makes it 54 to 60 goals on 5 players. better than having a super striker who will get zilch goals if he is man marked throughout or is injured.
that is why I would have preferred Austin to Benzema or Cavani. the latter two would have demanded the ball all the time like TH14 used to do in the last three years with us. goals from the rest would have dried up.
I still remember that if IW08 did not score goals no one else would. Just ask Alan Smith.
Scott you are not wrong. I have been a non stop supporter of Arsene against all odds. Two cups and a lot of spare money began to change the haters minds. Then he pulls a stunt like this. I do not think its the board at all. The rumour is from someone close that the board has said ‘name the players you need and we will get them’. After 67 years of support I an used to watching teams being made by managers and then all money dries up. This happened to AW for the past 8 years but no more. Arsene will never accept (A) that anyone else knows anything about his team re; who is needed to take us to the top etc. And (B) He prefers to stick to players he bought in based on how they played for their previous clubs. He ignores the effect of bad injuries and age has on them. The classic case is Arteta and Flamini. Both were perfect for the role we needed but now both are reserve class only. He sold Afobe who after many injuries was just making big progress..(ask Wolves etc) Out goes Sonogo, who in my opinion made things happen in the box even if they looked clumsy. I sit and watch with horror the farce of the FIFA letting crooks like Chelski buy up top youngsters at high prices and loan them out for years, 34 at the last count. We have 11 on loan. Sadly even with two of the richest men in the world as share holders we spend sod all compared to West Ham, Liverpool, Spuds, Southampton, Everton and more average clubs? WHILST WE KEEP TURNING UP AND FILLING THE STADIUM THE HIREACHY WILL KEEP LETTING AFC DOWN.
why do people think kroenke can just turn up at the bank and empty the bank accounts
its the clubs money not his
Malaga, you believe that then?
He took cash out a year or so back…
Gunnerpete, I wish I was wrong, mate, I really do.
scott he took a fee for some work 1 of his firms did for the club
if he owned the club outright then he can do what he likes but he will never own the club outright as long as usmanov is around
Hi Scott, you just woke up? 😉
Being realistic wenger has always been
happy with the squad.
He knows we have Danny to come
and Tuba to call on..plus Campbell.
Lastminute.com……… was on the cards
…………….2 month’s ago.
He/and the board backed themself’s
into a corner at the beginning.
We have £200 million/I want super,
super players.
So what about the loyal season ticket
holders………where’s the explaination
the price has not gone down…..has it?
For the record Cech has been been
on the cards for 3 years.
…….As regards to wenger……..
Anyone over 30 years of age.
Support’s……….The Arsenal.
That’s why he get’s the stick.
Threadneddle Street..is where
Wenger’s next job will be.
none of the share holder get paid any yearly dividends
BTW scott,good post
Ts, they were talking about Austin on SS’s yesterday, apparently £15 would have got him but other clubs offered less. Not sure if that’s true or not though…
Having read all the posts I’d like to thank Rico for setting up the best football forum bar none. I think the discussion says a lot about Gooners as well.
By the way, for ‘optimist’ in my previous post read ‘straw-clutcher’.
Brian
Malaga, I realise he can’t milk the club dry, but it’s still to his advantage to have a manager like Wenger around.
Rico, a late start at work meant a late finish, but it ha soothing to do with the TW, I promise lol.
Though funnily enough, I woke up around 3.45 am this morning, just as the window closed.
You’d have thought I’d awaken to some news, and news, but alas…….
I think AW and all at Arsenal should stop spouting the ‘we only want an exceptional player…..’ line, it’s boring and often untrue.
They should just have kept quiet, don’t tell the world we can sign anyone bar Messi and Ronaldo because it’s quite clear they can’t and won’t. Otherwise, Cavani would now be an Arsenal player, as would a CDM…
Good morning. I expected few to zero signings (i.e. greatly fought the urge to believe that we would sign anyone) this window so I’m thankfully not so disappointed.
All we saw added to the first team squad were Cech and Jeff Reine-Adelaide while a number of our better youth players went out on loan and are all performing quite admirably – even Szczzzny is having a great run after being reunited with the forehead.
One has to wonder what the thinking behind this is though, and I think that it’s that Wenger (plus the rest of coaching staff and the board) trusts the squad, wants to ensure that we get returns on our previous investments and wants to ensure that development continues.
What do I mean? For the CF role we have Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck. Giroud showed an eye for goal, clinical finishing and good all round play during the second half of last season and his hold up play and ability to link up so well with the playmaker and midfielders (in most cases Ozil and Ramsey – in fact somewhere out there there are stats that show that we hardly ever lose when those three players are on the field together) was as integral to our success as Le Coq’s tackles and Sanchez’s magic.
Danny Welbeck was one of last season’s additions and seemed to have trouble melding with the squad at first; probably an effect of the heartbreak Van Gaal had caused him. He was free scoring for England though and got a hat-trick for us in the Champions League and showed what it is he can offer. He is a mobile CF, a big mobile CF, and is quite the good dribbler at pace and so should be able to cause most premier league defences a lot of trouble. With the pace of Alexis and Ox/Theo alongside him and with Ramsey and Ozil behind he can be part of one of the most feared forward lines on the counter.
Theo Walcott can also play in the CF role and can be just as dangerous as Danny, but is less able to stand up to physicality and less natural in the role. Although, contrary to popular belief he does have a footballing brain, its just that its system is mostly autonomous since when you’re a forward with his sort of pace, most decisions are made on instinct.
Then we have Chuba Akpom, tipped to become the next big thing, he has pace, strength, a nose for chances, and hes been shipped out on loan.
I could go further into the squad but I think that just looking at the options and actions regarding this one position could be a window into the thinking of the powers that be at Arsenal. They have an established and very capable first choice in Olivier Giroud, They have the capable, ever improving, dimension changing alternative in Danny Welbeck – in whom a substantial amount of money was invested last season. Then, knocking loudly at the door , is Theo Walcott and that leaves the enthusiastic talented young Chuba Akpom out in the wind needing to prove himself. Or to put it another way, out on the conveyor belt ready to come in and gradually replace one of those in front of him, or usurp their position depending on how strong a loan spell he can have.
This is typical of what Arsenal do. Just look at the way Francis Coquelin’s career has played out so far. The club recruited Arteta and Flamini, and when it started becoming clear that these two could no longer perform the role to the level needed week in and week out, Wenger sent Coquelin out on loan watching him all the time, checking to see if our problem could be solved from the inside, if one of the players the club had invested time and money into developing had become what they hoped he would. And he did.
For defenders, it was not believed that we had the quality to replace Sagna in our ranks and so the more capable Debuchy was purchased. When he got injured there were cries of, “we should have bought more defenders”, from anxious sections of the support but then young Hector stepped up from the conveyor belt and has now made the position his own and earned himself his first Spain call up. Had we signed another defender his potential may have never been realized with us, and that is a sad thought. In the case of centre halfs we definitely did not possess the quality necessary to replace Kos and Mert and so we looked externally and found a young defender brimming with potential in Chambers and a more established, tough and smart defender in Gabriel ensuring that our conveyor belt has exactly what we need when the time comes.
Now when it comes to the position of DM, if Le Coq gets injured, Arteta is capable of stepping up in his absence also if Jack Wilshere is fit he could do it too (I mean he’s good enough to do it for the England squad and be man of the match almost every time), and I know people say that he gets forward too often but he is a smart footballer and if the boss tells him to hang back he’ll hang back or if not, a double pivot of he and Ramsey should have enough running and skill in it to keep us safe. But in terms of an out and out DM we have Isaac Hayden and Krystian Bielik on the conveyor belt both waiting for their chance to step up. Like Coquelin, Hayden has been loaned out to get game time and show what he can do while the Bielik is a few years away but is big, strong and has plenty of character. So it seems that another addition in this position would not have made much sense. I mean in terms of stats Le Coq has been at or near the top for most of this year. Would a new quality addition want to sit on the bench for him? Arteta and Jack Wilshere would have had little choice in the matter though, and would do what is necessary for the team to progress. A new addition here while not only not needed, would have seen the talent already in our ranks be wasted and halt the progression of our youth and possibly see us lose future stars, like Chelsea and United have done with De Bruyne and Pogba respectively.
Alex Ferguson recruited rvp when he realized rooney could not win him the title. rvp was aging and fading and united have not won a title since because striker was just one of their problem positions but the manager decided to say to hell with it all, got in an established forward, kept his other established, aging stars, squeezed a last title out of them and left the club in a lurch (although it was apparently due to unforeseen circumstances). Wenger’s time at the club is almost up. Why would he risk negatively impacting the quality players he has at his disposal now who will all be carrying the club in the years to come just to slightly, slightly, improve his chances of winning the title. I mean City’s De Bruyne and Sterling have both played against us and our talent outshone them. De Bruyne in particular was made a mug of by our new fantastic first team teenager Jeff, who ripped Wolfsburg to shreds and plays at a level beyond his years.
We have a fantastic squad and a boss who has performed amazing feats with much, much less.
I’m just going to support the team and see how the season pans out all the while hoping for the best. The only disappointment I’ve experienced thus far was that West Ham shock and that wrongful Liverpool draw when our excellent goalscoring midfielder should have officially got off the mark. COYG!
Virg, I believe the manager and directors are their own worst enemy.
Firstly, by telling us the club has 200 million to spend, the indication Is we will buy some world class talent.
Wenger himself backs this by telling us his staff are working around the clock to Identify targets.
They should simply say nothing, as at least then we’d half expect little or no activity in the window.
As disappointed as we all are, the massive majority will still show their support each and every time the boys hit the pitch.
Agreed Scott, difficult for them to say nothing though, with the amount of press conferences the manager has to attend.
Virg, you could have made that into a post…. 🙂
I think the biggest concern at this point would have to be what are players like ozil and sanchez going to do when their contracts are up? will they stay and fight for a team that shows zero ambition? if they leave, are we not back to where we started? rinse and repeat
I find it odd when people say they wouldn’t pay this or that for a player or that someone or other is overpriced. Tell you what, 90% of them are overpriced and their wages are stupid. Ask a nurse. But that is the world of football that we live in. Was Ozil overpriced? What about Chambers? Perhaps we can look at what Mesut has done on the pitch and make a judgement bearing in mind what we might get back if he leaves at the end of the season and then make a determination. But we won’t be able to do this in a dispassionate way because we are so tied up with our love for a club that doesn’t give a toss about us apart from how much they can wring from every sucker that attends all the matches. Idiots like me in fact.
But when clubs like Man City, Chelsea and ManUtd buy players for crazy money, it sets the market and also appals Arsene who doesn’t see the value. If you can’t afford to sit at the top table then you won’t. We possibly could do it for less than most but we don’t. Who gives a shit whose fault it is? We will never know for sure.
The truth lies in the points column. If we have a higher number there at the end of the season than any other PL club then we will all be fulsome in our praise of old Arsene. If not, then who will ask him what excuses he has this time? The answer is only the fans and the press.
I believe today’s football is complete bollox and completely out of control and leeches like Kroenke have seen from afar the earning and investment potential and moved in. Does he care what the fans think or have to say? No. Does he give a monkeys about the history and traditions of Arsenal? No, although he may tap into the emotions involved if he thinks there’s a buck in it for him.
Lol, didn’t expect it to be that long Rico
Very good post, an even more excellent comments that followed.
Just on a point of interest, some time ago I understood that Ivan Gazidas had taken over the responsibility for signing new players, along with Dick Law. Wenger simply indicated the player(s) he would like. So when IG was haggling about how much money to put up front for Benzema, who was he answerable to? The BoD? Or Kroenke, via his son on the Board?
I just don’t think Arsene Wenger would have had much input in those final negotiations?
The way it has turned out, the players we have out on season long loans was done to see if they could improve their level of play in order to be considered first team material, which, now with hindsight, has probably left us short? We can get Gedion Zelalem back in January, and any injury to Ozil, and he might become the next ‘Bellerin’
Alas none of the handwrining changes where we are right now.
“Anyone over 30 years of age.
supports……….The Arsenal.”
This.
Although Kev is 29 and he supports The Arsenal!
Damn, Lee…..he’s had a hard 29 years 🙂
Thank you Lee…
Scott….
I never had you down as a Doomer…
Just for the record, I too am very disappointed that Arsene hasn’t added to his squad…
I suppose trying to negotiate with selling clubs and agents wasn’t helped by Master Chips ‘Mega-Mouth’ Keswick, gobbing off about £200m in the bank, etc, etc…
I kinda saw the way it was going when Vidal joined Bayern.
As Mike said, I’m saw that Arsenal, with our resources, could have blown Munchen out of the water with wages, but it seems that that traditional Arsenal ‘tightness’ scuppered that deal…
That’s if we were ever in for Vidal…?
If we weren’t then that would be cause for concern…
But someone is to blame for the transfer fiasco Adam. There appears to be absolutely no direction at the club and clearly there’s someone or all of them who aren’t prepared to pay what players cost these days… And as LG wrote the other day, if the price is a few million more than the club are willing to pay, they simply walk away…
Kev, I’ll never be a doomer mate.
I feel very let down ATM, and had to get it off my chest, but that’ll pass once we take on Stoke 🙂
Rico/Adam, I’ve always said fireman, nurses etc etc put the ridiculous wages sportsman earn into perspective, but that’s the way of the world we live in.
Again, why the club persists in setting themselves up for a fall by telling the world how much cash we have, and how we can afford any player around is totally beyond me.
They really lead with their chin.
Rico. Who knows. We all have our own ideas I suppose but Arsene has rolled the dice so we will see what he comes up with.
I know Scott, I was pulling your leg… 😉
Good post btw…
As you know Adam, I blame the lot of them. All toothless.
Fido is nagging me so catch up later…
Squad Russian roulette yet again…..
Morning all, the blame solely lies at AW feet. He has done it before. He is just a specialist in failure.
Hill-Wood.
“You occasionally hear rumours of him going somewhere. I do not think that is likely to happen. He’s very happy where he is. He has a very good job in that we don’t interfere with him. We agree with most of the things he says and he agrees with most of the things we say.”
“Don’t let’s be in a muddle about who calls the shots about football at Arsenal,” said Keswick. “It is not the chairman, it is not the fans, it is Mr Arsène Wenger. If he has a plan, we back him. If he doesn’t have a plan, we keep quiet. Our board backs him 100 per cent.”
Good post Scott, from the heart. I did think rico was being pretty moderate to AW until the very last line when I realised it was from you!
Bring back Dein!
maybe there is no one to blame Rico. Maybe its a choice between the board and AW himself.
Maybe they wanted it this way.
I would never even for a split second divert the blame from Wenger. The board might be alittle reluctant to push AW but wasn’t it one director who said we have £200 to sign anybody. To me that was the board washing their hands off the stinginess and dropping the buck onto that Senile Wenger!
Any team can win FA. Hech Liverpool won the UCL cause it’s simply a tournament with less than 10 games. The league is another monster altogether and Wenger is a stubborn f*! Now he’s talking about Martial- classic psychological diversion. Why can’t the old fool talk about his signings!
If something bad has to happen so arsenal can turn around so be it. We wont be able to compete let alone win the EPL, drop out of top 4 and I wont be mad. Wenger got to go! Anyone thinking different is just like him.
Am pissed!
Afternoon all, Im down and i believe the players are too, unlike giroud, Whether wenger likes it or not we need director of football.we are struggling when it comes to signing players,example the dm who plays for sevilla it was the 4th time we tried to sign him.why cant we offer what is needed?we always like to complicate things.
We also need to increase a wage structure to 250k at least.henry said it you cant expect a player from real to join easily,you have to pull him by something specail.by special i mean wage increase and investing in the squad,but than again there were bargain deals we should have taken like pedro or someone with potential like vietto.
I wonder if we were in for verrati,how much would wenger rate his prize?30m maybe the guy is a joke.
From now on i support our players only.wish for another stoke train part.2 for wenger
Who recalls us having to be beaten 8-2 so thus springing wenger into signing the required players? Number 5 would work for me, and the board letting him go.
There is nothing more Wenger can give us.
Talking shit about top top quality like he doesn’t knpw top quality costs top quid.
Afternoon gdna. One can almost taste the disappointment around here today.
Adam, what’s up my man, Was yesterday AW April 1st? lol
Who knows if The Arsenal even tried to sign anyone?
All spin…..
Complaining about de bruyne and martial prizes wont cover wengers faillings.what i know is both manchester clubs took a risk and if it works they will be hailed.
mancity are likely to make a profit on de bruyne because i believe that he wont last more than two seasons with them because of his talent.a move to spain in the future is on the cards for me
A heart attack Marshall…?
Do you really mean that..?
We’re all disappointed to a lesser or greater degree, but let’s keep a bit of balance here.
Pie n mash Lee…
Your call…?
“It’s not the money that’s missing at the moment, it’s not the desire of investment that is missing, it’s the number of players available who can strengthen the big clubs.
“The problem at the moment is finding the players that guarantees you are a better team after.
“So am I happy with the investment I make? Yes, every time. I bought Sanchez, I bought Ozil, I bought Cech, I bought Gabriel last year.”
lol.
With you in charge AW, Arsenal is not a big club.
Gdna. Feels like it was, but for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction apparently and the Emirates crowd won’t take too long to turn I think if things go wobbly. I can hardly think of a dumber move for Wenger to make than inactivity during this transfer window.
We shall see, but all the guys I sit with are mega pissed at what’s happening to our shambles of a club.
Wow that’s shocking. Using deadline buy from United as an example of quality players been unavailable with the whole transfer window been available as well as scouts who should work all year round.
Kev he’s making my blood boil!
Do you think it’s proper having an obsolete like Flamini on the team while there were proper and available CDMs. Who would bank on Wilshere to cover? Arteta hasn’t got an hour in him on a fast paced game. Utter negligence I say. We were let down. Period!
We see with our eyes the quality of a player and can only surmise.
AW sees quality through the statistics. He does not go simply by the look of his eyes. Jeffers taught him that.
All AW does is compare statistics of each player. And that is where we supporters differ from AW.
Cohesion, stability, exceptional…
Hold up play- words that irks me to the bone. Only accepted at mediocre arsenal.
Marshall, I can understand your ire, they’ be plenty to go around here and on other blogs for awhile.
God help us if we blow up against Stoke…
As for def/mids, I can’t think of any that we could have got, last minute…
I would have taken Schneiderlin or Vidal for sure…
Not so Wanyama, just my opinion on that one…
Flamini wouldn’t leave without being paid off, but he isn’t the reason we never got another def/mid…
The thing is, if we’re gonna pay Flamini, we may as well keep him for his last year, if only to keep Ozil company…
My major gripe is why the club leave it so late to try and do business…?
If they think by leaving it until the 11th hour that they’re gonna get a bargain, after one of our directors gobs off about having £200m in the bank, then that is misguided at best and negligent at worst…
Wishing Wenger a heart attack is though, harsh…
lol… Dev. Jeffers would have been a poacher if they had not curbed fox hunting. 😉
At the end of the day I wish I had a boss like AW’s bosses… AW must be meeting his boss’s requirement.
we are all punters now… PHW said it once; its their club. 😉 🙂
I was at Camp Nou last weekend and the number of South Asian, Australian and American punters in the stance was interesting…
Like almost all this in the world now its all about corporations and plutocracy…
Never hate the player, I only hate the game…
I repeat that we have a very short squad. Even with three acquisitions in principle would only leave Flamini. I personally do not look kindly Benzema or Cavanni. Would be many “egos” in the same team. Suffice it to Ozil and Alexis, and distance Cesch. MU MCity and hopefully will have this problem. Have many expensive players, young people were expensive and that will have the attention on them.
Put them all to play without hurting susceptibilities will be tricky. Their problem .. This is one of Chelsea’s problems. Mourinho, bought 2 “unknow”, “cheap”, to avoid problems …
I think we could have acquired players who completed in without spending a lot ..
Russian, Brazil, players without a team…. is open but we can’t sign anyone, right?
I hate the agents
Coquelin. in five games he will be punished. I hope 2 things: a) Never be sent off 2) Not be injury.
So, in 50 games he doesn’t play, in average, 5, if i’m optimist.
Marshall, Pissed or not and as upset and as annoyed as you are kindly don’t spout such nonsense as wishing Wenger a heart attack….! Bang out of order…! Don’t do it please.
Thought you lot might enjoy this….!
http://www.lasportsanostra.com/arsenal-wenger-kroenke-arsene-epl-premier-league/
Fans just have to pray that all the players who are on international duties return health. AW is a joke, he overvalue his squad, he didn’t want TR to go on a free transfer and took the option to renew and it backfired.
Good post Scott, now where’s my vodka you promised me…? I’ll stick it in the motor for a few weeks and sure i’ll get at least 100mpg…!
wath- the dvla just read that. 🙂
dear oh dear…
Is this just football…?
Kev I think Marshall’s comment was in the heat of the moment! Benefit of the doubt and all that…..
Pointless going on about Wenger, the BOD’s our lack of transfer activity, even though it winds the living daylights out of me……nothing can be done until January (unless Stephen Appiah and Salomon Kalou are free agents! 😉 )
So let’s get behind the team and cross everything!
Arsenal is now a business plain and simple.
When Josh was appointed on to the board I read on here and other blogs that he wouldn’t tolerate Aw’s inactivity in the transfer window…
I wonder where IG and Dickie Law fit into this scam?
I think Dick law was hired to do DD’s old job…
Neither way AW is not on the board…
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/sep/23/arsenal-premierleague
When Dein was pushed out it was during the period when Peter Hill-Wood & co stated we don’t need the likes of him (Kroenke) but soon after, as Stan begun to buy more and more shares, the board started arse licking him!
What would have happened if Dein stayed was he would have controlled Stan’s stake in Arsenal, that’s why Dein, for the good of the club, had no option than to support Red & White holdings otherwise Stan would have had gone on to buy all the shares and Arsenal would have been like the Rams, Niggets, etc. immediately. As it turns out Arsenal are now like Stan’s US sports clubs generating £millions without hardly any silverware.
Back then if anyone ever wanted Dein could they have naed a suitable and successful replacement? Look how that has turned out!
If anyone wants Wenger out then fine but please name a successor who, for Stan’s aim, would continuously make money without selling top players, hardly buying and finishing for the champions league every year.
Dev- I think you and goonie will have to compete over Viktoryia Gameeva if she joins the chavs from S. Moscow. 🙂
Damn why can’t AW sign a medic like that. 😛
Dave- I thought DD was the one who brought Stan around first?
Three time CL winner Carlo Ancelotti unemployed.
Jurgen Flip Flop unemployed.
Or is Wenger teeing it all up for Pep?
What you think?
Depressing. 😥 And here I was all faith, all expectant. Pffft.
Hello, all. 🙂
I will take Carlito in a heart beat…
I am not big on Klopp; as a bvb fan I think klopp is tactically senile…
His gegenpressing is respected in Uk due to his outing in the UCL 3 seasons ago but if we Arsenal fans are worried about injuries under Aw then I wonder what his style will do to the likes of JW and gibbs who are always injured…
moreover, Klopp likes his midgets in central midfield big time… 😉
I will take Monk of Swansea tbh…
JM – we can still sign players who were free agents before window closed…
tsgh – yes Dein introduced Stan to Arsenal with a view to limit his stake and then other billionaires to bid for shares but PHW & co didn’t have any foresight and got rid of him then started bending over backwards for Stan after the initial lockdown of shares.
Dein’s plan would have ensured a sugar daddy to spend for Arsenal with the the board remaining in place but they didn’t have a clue or any understanding on what he was proposing
I have a feeling when wenger goes, kronke will sell his stake in the club
Bring it on…..
Stan’s shares would have remained limited to what ITV had invested.
hey Agag. how are you?
I was in Camp nou to see TV05 score his first goal for Barca.
Unfortunately, the stalker-Rakitic had a poor game. 😉
Hiya, Ginge!! ow have you been. Hello, Lee. JM, Malaga.
OG12 1 goal in last 11 games but still better than Benzema, Cavani, Jovetic, Dzeko, Mandzukic, Benteke over last 2 seasons.
The rest just need to step up- Welbz, Theo etc
Didn’t you feel icky watching Barca, Ginge?? 😛 Rakitic still looks like his stalker self. 😀
I was in London for a bit, did I tell you? flew out exactly on the day season started. Eeeek. 🙁
I’ve been around.
Been to Germany to see the new look BVB and Tuchel; Barca last weekend. I missed Vermalen watching him play.
Unfortunately, Arsenal matters are too heated…
Now I need to see what AW , le Coq & co. have for the rest of the season…
2nd place me think…
I expect far more from Theo. He has to start being a great player; no more excuses.
Jetsetting, ginge!! 😛
No wasn’t aware of it. Hope the queen treated you well? 😛
I take it you enjoyed the UK summer. 😛
re. Nou Camp, so many tourists and fans eating and smoking during the game
Yes, ginge. I caught up with Prince Harry. 😀 😉 Funny story: the “heat wave” in England was all over the news before I left Manila, so I pack light, summery things; and of course, when I get there, people were wearing bubble jackets. If that was summer, I can’t imagine how your winters are, haha.
Next time, I hope to stay longer. I didn’t get to see any of you. 🙁
Evening all….
Still cheesed off big time but as others have said, sod Wenger, the owner and the board, the players need supporting… None of this shambles is their fault….
rico, I’m so frustrated, too. Grrr. Where is the ambition??
Not quite Agag.
A friend who writes a conspiracy blog wanted to see the birth place of Adam Weischaupt’s’ (spelling) infamous society for research and so got me a ticket for Ingolstadt game…
Barca game was just sheer luck. I bought a ticket from a tout and didn’t expect it to be legit but….
😀 if harry contributed to your charity then I am walking charity case; pass some over…. 😉
Wow unlucky..
Weather was not August-like at all…
Did you get to visit carnaby street or Westfields’?
There isn’t any Agag, not anymore…. Sad times…..
Harsh on Theo Agag, he’s only started one game… 😉
I’ve never heard of Adam Weisch.. or Ingolstadt, ha!! We could retire if we were to sell just one of the Queen’s gazillion paintings, sculptures, objets d’art . 😀 She could buy us a player, isn’t she and Arsenal fan? 😀
Not Carnaby Street, ginge (must make a note to self); Westfield, yes. And Harrod’s (the prices, gosh!!!) and Bicester Village. 😉
Ts and rico how much would you pay to get a player rues quality?especial if the club says they are not selling.
I ask this because de bruyne was not for sale,so city were force to overpay.samething happen to bale and ronaldo.
All in all every player has a prize as long as you are willing to break a bank for them you will get them.
Or go for players with potential especially in germany.players like xhaka,gues,draxler,kramer and werner.or go to spain there is paco,vietto and koke(but if you are willing to break a bank)
the problem with arsenal we dont go an extra mile to get the players we want.we sbmitted a low bid for alexis and we were help because of london
rico, I was waiting for you to comment on Theo. 😛 TBH, I’m glad(ish) he stayed. 😉
Agag, you went to Bicester village and didn’t tell me?? I could have met you there….. 🙁
Call me crazy but which club can fail to sign one player in 3 different transfers and call themself a big club?all this highlite the real need of a director of football.
Drake, whatever the club I managed said it was prepared to spend and could afford…
Hi Agag, did you enjoy Westfields?
Camden Market is an interesting place to visit, for all kinds of wacky stuff…
Wath hangs out there all the time… 🙂
Portobello Road is another good spot to visit…
And of course, you can’t come to London and not visit Costco on the A406…
Adam practically lives there… 😀
You can’t be talking about Arsenal then Drake!
Lee of course, does a his shopping in Bond Street… 😉
lol Agag.all the way to Bicester?
I could have connected you with folks who sell discounted designer gear that had fallen off a track. 😉 🙂
Drake- German players are very hard to get imho…
Xhaka would have improved us imho…
Koke has a 85m Euro buy-out clause. Reason no one has gone close.
Vietto should have been bought last January.. after that we were out of it. he turned down RM apparently.
I believe the window would have ben different had Barca not been banned or RM gotten Aguero from Shitty…
Rico. I think Agag was trying to avoid us. 🙂
🙂 Kev, do they sell Bentleys on Bond Street?
Adam, I think so too… 😉
Did you read Lg’s post today, I think Pedro has a point… Lol
All top of the range Rico, you better believe it… 😉
Makes sense then Kev 🙂
I respect your uncommon courage and depth Virg.
To be able to maintain your position on Wenger especially when the normally fair Rico loses faith (or feels the heat of defending Wenger fairly) is commendable. FYI I used to read LeGrove before, I stopped reading because he (Pedro) clearly was intent on spreading his Anti-Wenger propaganda – his blog was set up around the time Wenger’s trophy drought started. I googled up blogs, and started following Highbury House because of the fact that Rico and Co. try to balance their analysis.
I believe Rico has just allowed the barrage of Anti-Wenger pressure get to him and becloud his judgement a bit. We needed a world-class Striker, only 5 or 6 in the world are clearly better than OG, they were already at the Super-powers (Barca, Bayern, Real) or money bags (city, Psg); so how do you get them if those clubs dont want to release them or simply over-inflate because they are not financially desperate?
Imbued man.
Two things…
1 – I’m a she, not he
2 – I didn’t write today’s post which had you got to the bottom of, you’d have realised….
Make that three, my view is mine and I don’t get swayed by anyone here or elsewhere…..
Adam 1.19, the gospel according to Arsene Wenger “If you throw the dice and don’t get want you want you got to like what you get”
All we can do now is suck it up !
I’m positively sure, AW agreed to resign MA, TW, TR, JC and kept MF. Replacing all those players would make the team stronger. Blaming this, that and the third is bs. As I said before, without people accepting that AW is finished as a top coach/manager we are always going to be stuck moderation.
I did Rico. I thought he was more restrained that I might have expected. But, some good points.
I thought it was funny yesterday as Sky went to that bloke waiting forlornly at the Emirates. When he said that the club reminded the fans that we made transfers over the past couple of years, forgetting to mention that even they had only replaced the players that had left I realised that they’re not very good at this PR stuff at all. The gap between the club and the fans is wider than ever and they never really ‘get’ how much the fans can help the team and club if they are onside.
Gdna, as I said yesterday, you have your views, others have theirs.. Theirs don’t need to be labelled bull shit do they? Oh, and not everyone chooses to accept that AW is finished and it’s not up to you to tell them they should….
Rico i am talking about arsenal and those players are krychoik ever since reims days and kramer and we call arsenal a big club
Perhaps it’s all too familiar Adam… But his thoughts on Stan are very similar to mine…
Ts what do you mean by saying germany players are hard to get?
Rico. He and you may be right. You probably are in fact. If we compete strongly in the PL and the CL then Arsene will sign another contract. But if the team blows out then I really cannot imagine what the excuses would be and I am afraid that he will be left in no doubt how the fans feel. Silly really. If only he had built on the later successes and team development of last season.
Drake, have you ever thought that some players will not move clubs regardless….?
Adam. Agree totally about building on our recent success and having seen the fans reaction after winning the FA Cup after so long, you’d think that not only AW would be more determined to win something bigger, and that’s not disrespecting that cup but so would the board and Stan..
But like Scott said in his post, does Stan really give a toss about us fans? I doubt he does, and as long as he knows the manager gets the CL money to boost his profits, he’s happy…
That’s why I’ve always wanted Usmanov, because I think he’d be a bit like Roman. But with good football….
Rico. I can’t disagree with any of that really. Everything that seemed to be required has been known about for over a season. Where is the strategic planning that would have allowed us to get those players? It all stinks of being very ad hoc to me and for Wenger then to come out and criticise Man Utd for the Martial deal seems almost surreal to me. Not saying that the deal is also a bit desperate but at least they went for it.
Would the Arsenal squad be stronger with two out of Scheiderlin, Vidal and Jackson Martinez? All of them were surely attainable. Who knows?
Evening All…
Great post Scott.
I wasn’t disappointed because I had longed expected Wenger wasn’t signing any other player after Cech.
Come on dear Gunners, cheer up…the only way to enjoy this club without perpetual heartbreaks is think like Wenger. To him, the cup is usually half-full. Truth is, he may be right this time.
Adam, you know what really annoys me about Arsene Wenger, other than his tictacs- is he’s always ready to tak about other clubs and in this case the signing of Martial. There was a day when he was all keen to pluck a teenager from France who had great potential but now, because this guy, albeit a little older than Anelka, is being questioned. Yes it’s a lot of money paid but I bet you that right now, Wenger wishes he was an Arsenal player but no way would he have paid that much money for him…
Nor would LvG I suspect had the pressure not been on. But he, well, Utd did, they’ve taken the chance…
Wenger is living in the past because I think he still believes that kind of player comes cheap…
Martinez, Morgan, Vidal… There’s many more too and I don’t understand why we didn’t get them, or at least try. Morgan apparently wanted Arsenal, Arsenal clearly didn’t like his price yet he has everything, including PL experience……
Tai, the day I think like Arsene, I’ll shut my bank accounts down and keep a few quid under the bed for emergencies….. 😉
Great then…just remember to transfer all your money into my account before shutting down, Rico
Marshall speaking as someone who has had a coronary you need to get a mirror and have a good look at yourself. Everyone seems to be clamouring for top expensive additions where the truth is that really what we needed was better backup. That was out there even the best squads that we have had contained a Grimandi or a Parlour. A couple of those would have helped.
Rico, I have a post…how do I get it across?
Tai, no chance, I’ll give it Stan…. Lol
Highbury.house@yahoo.co.uk
I look forward to it Tai, thank you…
I look after if for you Rico
Potter, couldn’t agree more on both parts of your comment.
Deal Kev… 😉
Only have a few pounds though…..
Imbued Man if you fancy an alternative to Le Grove, give Arseblog a look…
They criticise when if is warranted but as with HH do it in a balanced way, well usually…
That’s ok Rico, I’ll keep in my safe in Barbados… 😉
Ok, Rico…
🙂 Kev, can I have the code….and a ticket… Lol
Flight ticket that is… 😉
2. Mathieu Debuchy, 3. Kieran Gibbs, 4. Per Mertesacker, 5. Gabriel, 6. Laurent Koscielny, 7. Tomáš Rosický, 8. Mikel Arteta, 10. Jack Wilshere, 11. Mesut Özil, 12. Olivier Giroud, 13. David Ospina, 14. Theo Walcott, 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 16. Aaron Ramsey, 17. Alexis Sánchez, 18. Nacho Monreal, 19. Santi Cazorla, 20. Mathieu Flamini, 21. Calum Chambers, 23. Danny Welbeck, 24. Hector Bellerin*, 28. Joel Campbell, 33. Petr Čech, 34. Francis Coquelin, 51. Tafari Moore*, 52. Stefan O’Connor*, 44. Deyan Iliev*, 45. Alex Iwobi*, 47. Glen Kamara*, 49. Matt Macey, 54. Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, 59. Chris Willock*.
Champions League Squad
Too late Rico, I got you a train ticket… 😀
Wonder if Campbell will get playing time Kev, he might jus be a surprise this season if given a chance…..
Ooo errr Kev, you are so money supermarket….. Aldi….
??
I hope so Rico, Wenger might as well use him now that he’s staying until at least January…
Campbell can at wide right and I keep on hearing that we need a winger…
Although when I think ‘winger’ I tend to think Brian Marwood, George Armstrong, Peter Marinello.
Which is pretty good as I’m only 29…
So says Lee…
Aldi is good Rico 🙂
Hi all, evening, IM late again and catching up on the banter.
Im actually not mad we didnt buy a top striker – its clear we tried and there was VERY LITTLE around.
But Im bloody mad we didnt buy another top DM – Lars Bender, Schiederlin, Kondogbia or [add top name DM] . That is what I dont freakin understand.
That failure to land a top DM will cost us perhaps more than not buying a striker will.
If AW plays him Kev, he could be good, a worker too. I’m actually glad he’s stayed just so he can prove he’s good enough… If he is of course….
Just hope he’s not treated in the same way as he has been so far. If Walcott doesn’t improve, give Cambell a chance I say…
Roger, the cdm thing really cheeses me off, after Coq we have very little other than Arteta and he’s only good for half a game. Or more if used sparingly….
I’m off guys, catch up tomorrow…
Night all..
@Rico
Point 1 especially noted. I’ve learnt something new & crucial on HH today. Good work you’re doing overall though.
@AllezKev Thanks for your care & information. I may check ’em out. I’m still happy with HH though.
No probs Imbued… And thank you…
Hopefully you’ll stick around…
Gone now….
Scott, no offense but I was hoping for something exceptional today !
tsgh, my only gripe with Camp Nou is you’d think they could afford a roof by now, saw Messi score a hattrick there a few years back but the Bernabeu pishes all over it for me, lovely city is Madrid and unlike London you don’t have to jump any railings to look around their Palace either.
Morning all.
So, some believe my post diverted blame from Wenger, while others say I jumped on the bandwagon and pointed the finger squarely at him.
The wires are the same, no matter who reads it, but it’s funny how people’s own opinion changes the way they interpret something……I’m not upset at all by that, but it’s interesting.
I mean, DNA was always going to take it the wrong way, because if said the sky was blue he’d disagree lol.
Here’s an analogy I sue when describing my feelings on the board, and why they need to accept blame.
If a 7 year old walks around telling everyone to F**k off, and the parents are three feet behind, saying nothing, who’s to blame, really???
Wenger spends little, has seemingly complete power to do as he pleases at Arsenal, while Stan and the board sit back and allow it to happen, so who is at fault, really?
Not once have I ever said Wenger doesn’t make mistakes, and plenty of them, but the fact is this……..Stan and our board will never been to make mistakes, because they DON’T DO ANYTHING.
Until you find out who truly is to blame, how can you fix a problem?
Micko, none taken, but I didn’t have much to work with lol.
Check your mail Rico when you wake up.
Scott, you’ve been pretty tetchy these last couple of weeks, I was worried about ya mate but as it happens there was no need to be, lets take our frustrations out on Stoke, call me delusional but I fully expect Reus and Bender to make their debuts myself, nite folks.
Micko, it’s been a tough period.
Mums hubby passing to cancer.
This week, the funeral of a guy who seemingly had it all….beautiful wife and family, lovely home and all the toys, takes his own life.
39 years old FFS.
Before that, cancer nails a 37 year old dad.
You start to wonder why people get so upset over football, but then, I guess we all treat as an outlet in our own way, and I need to remember that.
All behind me now, so onwards and upwards.
Which all leads to the question of who is out of contract? With or without a broken back.
Kevin wingers. ……….. L impar would do for me.
Please find time to read this:
http://www.lasportsanostra.com/arsenal-wenger-kroenke-arsene-epl-premier-league/#comment-2927
Potter, so are we able to pick up free agents still?
I didn’t realise that.
Shouldn’t get to this though lol
Dave, that’s exactly what I’ve been saying.
Yes, Wenger takes his share of blame, but ultimately, it’s on Stan.
Nothing changes until he leaves.
Sad sad picture of the dead 3yr old Syrian refugee being picked up off a beach by a Turkish policeman………..really puts everything into perspective!! 🙁
On a much lighter note many happy returns to my good friend Brudder Adam! You have a wonderful day!!!!
I saw that, Lee.
How cruel can humans be to each other?
I’m amazed every day.
Happy 29th, Adam 🙂
Today Adam’s birthday? Have a wonderful day…you’ll live long and healthy enough to see Arsenal win la decimal in Europe.
Morning Lee, Scott…
Scott when do you ever sleep?
Tai, I live on not a lot of sleep, to be fair….the result of several years shift work, I reckon.
I catch up in the off season though lol
Morning Rico and all. Thank you brudder, Tai and my mate Scott. Really very much appreciated. 🙂
If there is any fizz being opened in celebration of your birthday, can you please promise me that Mrs A doesn’t go for it!?! We don’t want another boat show episode, do we?
Morning all btw.
Oh no. She has been on a short leash since that shocking episode with the two empty bottles and the doorman.
Our company has stopped sponsoring the boat show on the back of that sordid episode!
You should have been our chief scout then Scott since you wouldn’t miss much…in which case we’d be calling you Scout. Lol
The shame of it still haunts me Brudder.
Tai, I actually rarely watch any football, other than Arsenal.
Every now and again I’ll find a player I like, and keep an eye on him….that’s why I’ve been talking Lacazette up.
Plenty of other big names over in Europe, I’ve hardly seen play, so don’t comment too much on them.
Ginge and Devil watch more football than most other mortals lol
Morning Rico and all..
happy birthday Adam.. have a good one on the house…
Micko, surely it was by design that you were rained on in Barca. lol
Scott- well said at 10:47.
Whilst we get diverted by football and the likes, the dreams/aims of the architects of the Frankfurt school, Fabian Society, critical theory, Trotskyist strands is being unfolded in our time…
Cheers Ginge.
Thanks TS. Very kind. We do live in troubled times don’t we?
scott- I only watch football ‘cos I only sleep 4 hours at night… 😉 lol
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Have you calmed down now?? Look at the whole picture…as Lee pointed out…..the dead 3 yr old boy on the beach…..and our transfer inactivity is put into perspective.
Happy returns Adam. Is it your B’day?? Ave Adamus. Ad multos annos. May you live your days in peace.
Here we go again…….the first one after the window slammed shut………
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/sep/03/football-transfer-rumour-mill-arsenal-22m-simone-zaza
Rico…..is it possible if you do a list on HH of all the players mentioned that are going to be transferred to AFC?? you know on the side, beneath the EPL table. you just add the new player if he is mentioned.
You’re right Scott…Ts and Dev are out of this globe the players they know things about.
Indeed Adam.
Its very difficult to be optimistic.
Even some working in certain quarters (defence, security etc) who will care to be honest are wondering…
Still if AW can fiddle with his zipper on the touchline it makes my day… 😛
Tai- I just copy and paste ask Rico. 🙂
HH is special because I come on here and I learn from almost everyone…
Kev, Rick, Fred, Syg, Micko and Potter and all the one’s who have followed Arsenal longer than I have been alive are always here to share some jewels…
Yes, we have an abundance of knowledgeable people on HH, no question.
Brilliant stuff.
Devil be easier to put a list of players we are not linked to! 🙂
Take a peek…..
https://www.facebook.com/footballplanet2010/videos/1152360928112038/
Can you all see it?
Lee- Damn we did not get linked with Messi, Ronaldo, Pique, Neuer.. a bit unfair really… 😉
Maybe AW would have bought one of them
Very good video Scott- a bit short. is there a longer one?
A younger Arteta alongside Le Coq will be perfect.
Fireman Coquelin..
New post up………….