Morning all.
Well thanks Kev, how am I supposed to follow that post from yesterday eh……
Kev is right, Arsenal FC are a club steeped in history and a club which does ‘stuff’ the right way. A club with class above and beyond all others.
But perhaps Arsenal have not been honest enough since we made the move from Highbury to The Emirates? Perhaps they could have made it far more clear about the financial restraints Arsene Wenger was under?
But that’s Arsenal and Arsene Wenger isn’t it, never bare their soul to the world.
However…….
Yesterday’s post was about patience of club owners and managers, about building a strong and competitive squad over time and keeping a club in a good place.
I asked, what about the fans?
In the Premier League, there are four different kinds of football clubs imo. First up there are those who truly believe they can be crowned champions. Next there are those whose aim is for European football or somewhere close, then there’s the clubs who know from the onset that a place around the middle of the table is a good end to any season and finally, there’s the relegation battle and invariably, those who come up from the Championship, are afraid to go back down…..
That middle group of club fans have possibly, over the years, come to accept that unless some big oil man comes in and takes over their club, they are where they are, although drift around the relegation places and the fans will get right on the back of the manager. And then he get’s sacked.
The newly promoted club fans will be so elated, they’ll be raucous and overly excited in support for their club being at the top level of English football but again, any fear of going right back down often gets even the most loyal of fans demanding change. Then there’s the other two types, the European chasers as in the likes of Everton, Southampton, Spurs and Liverpool, although I suspect they think they can win the PL and maybe they will one day.
Above them sit the so-called big boys…
Arsenal, City, Utd and Chelsea – four clubs who really believe they can win the league, all with fans who expect them to.
The Utd fans destroyed any chance of David Moyes succeeding. City fans got frustrated with Roberto Mancini as did the clubs owners and Roman didn’t give Roberto a second chance to repeat his Champions League success.
Arsenal fans have given Arsene Wenger hell since we moved stadiums and one only has to read around the good old blogshere to find he’s still getting a hard time, despite winning two FA Cups and getting top four for goodness knows how long!
Yet all the time he’s done nothing other than look after the club. It’s past, its present and definitely it’s future…
Which brings me back to my opening statement. Sometimes it’s not only a clubs hierarchy which needs to be patience, the fans need to as well and had Arsenal as a club been more open and honest about finances and how the manager was really up against the wall when making signings, and why he had to get freebies like ‘the puddie cat’, Sebastian Squillaci and other really bad players, Arsenal fans might just have been a little more forgiving and more patient.
And can you imagine the likes of Fergie, Mancini, Mourinho, Brenda,|Pellegrini etc managing to win the PL under such circumstances? No, me neither.
But unlike other clubs, Stan Kroenke and his merry board didn’t wield the axe and despite his ‘gung ho’ tactics in certain matches over the years, some shocking performances , disgruntled fans and empty seats at The Emirates, they stood by Arsene Wenger believing he remains the best man to take us forward but now with a lot more cash in his back pocket.
And this might just be the season where all the hard work pays off….
Big Sol thinks so:
I think it’s going to be Arsenal’s year. For the second part of last season their form was fantastic and I think they will take this into the new season. Arsenal are usually slow starters and do not fire into life until December.
I believe they now realise that they can’t afford to do this any more and have to get out of the blocks quickly. Arsenal have a strong, balanced side, there’s a great team spirit, which is very important and Arsene has at last, got the formula right.
He’s also made one of the most important signings of any of the top four clubs this summer…[Petr Cech] is a fantastic addition to the team and is exactly what Arsenal needed.
Do you think he’s right?
Other stuff and transfer gossip:
Jon Toral has departed for a season long loan with Birmingham. Isaac Hayden is rumoured to be heading for the same but with Hull City.
Arsenal have made a £24 million for Sergio Busquets according to The Star.
Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi has rejected the chance to join Liverpool this summer. The Reds have reportedly bid £13.9m for the defensive midfielder, who is also a target for Arsenal according to The Express. Although The Mirror believe Brenda will get their man.
That’s it for Friday,have a great day guys…
1st
Good Post boss.
I still do not believe the Busquets and Benzema hype.
I believe it when I see them play for us.
Thanks Devil, neither do I….
Morning Rico, devil
Solid post
I think you’re wrong devil, we will get a marquee signing
great post as always Rico ( & Kev yesterday)…
Morning Mg, bondex, thanks..
Can’t see Benzema coming, not for over £40m…
Rico I. Don’t want bemzama, i don’t know who we will get, but I’m certain we will get a top player
I too think we’ll get one, maybe two goodies Mg, but hope Benzema is not one of them..
Morning, Great Post as usual, I have started reading this every day in the last couple of weeks, cannot believe id never come across it before!
Id like one of the Bender Twins personally and if we get another top player I am more than satisfied. I think id be happy with just a CDM, but im not one to be unhappy with new toys 🙂
Morning All
Not sure where I stand on wenger stage,
Do I fill guilty of past criticism..No
Wenger was treated like a god by all us fans
every word he uttered was sacred,we believed
the lot…..Didn’t we
So when he said……”To compete with the the bid boys
we have to move from Highbury”..Gut wenching.
We all went along….Didn’t we
Wenger then said….”Financial contraints for 5 years”
We went along…Didn’t we.
The next three years in my opinion is when the
die-hards got fed up with the Porky’s.
We all love wenger..well most.
And he has got us going again.
But everytime I look at him now I say.
Is he telling truth..Can I believe him again?
Thanks Bumba, HH has only been going for nearly 5 years, where have you been… 😉
What irks me Fred about him is for the last 4/5 players we always seem to have been one or two players short and are left reeling having missed out on winning the league and again, that’s where I feel we are.
After all, we moved to keep up, it’s our time to overtake imo…
Rico, I don’t know where I have been, must have been under a rock with some blinkers on all these years.
Good posts though and good discussions on the comments unlike most other pages I have visited in the past.
But alas, my rock is upturned and I look forward to future posts. Keep up the good work 🙂
He needs to sign llronte and prompto
As we went through ( using the buzz word of our politicians ) our period of austerity we went from a jam tomorrow club to one of bread and dripping. It was made worse by the constant stream of pronouncements from Hill-Wood , Edelman , Gazidis et al that money was there and that we were aiming for the stars. Problem was that in the words of Paul Merson that might have been where we were aiming but we kept hitting the glass ceiling of 4th place. Patience is a fine thing but however it wears thin after a while especially if you as a match going supporter are being soaked for every penny that the club can screw from you. It doesn’t take much to breed discontent and a media ready to put the boot in didn’t help. We stopped being supporters , the talk around the ground was more of accountancy , was it Arsene , the board or both that would not spend the money that we were constantly told was available . Football manager took over , everyone became an expert . Hopefully now we can get back to winning ways and maybe the crowd will get back behind the project. However I fear it won’t take much to tip them back should things not go to expectations.
Ha ha Bumba, things can get a bit feisty as the season goes on… lol
Good comment Potter.
Even when we go on a great run as we did in the second part of the season, there’s always a fear that a bad performance or result was just around the corner, unlike back in the days of Paddy, Adams, Keown, Bergkamp etc, when I for one always expected a victory because that’s the kind of confidence they gave fans…
Totally agree re all the spin that came from within, just why the recent comments from Harris were odd, talk about hang the manager out to dry if there is no intention to make 2/3 quality signings this summer…
Hey Lovelies and hunkies….according to Goal.com RM have accepted our Benzema bid.
we wait and see.
Wlcome to the house Bumba. If you have been asleep these last few years all the better. you will need to keep awake as the season unravels and believe me we can get feisty on here. but all in good humour.
Do you live under a rock???
we have one here who lives in a mud hut which is turned upside down. And he hunts crocodiles by spitting mud in their eyes. lol
Edin Dzeko agrees personal terms with Roma, but the Serie A club are not happy with Manchester City’s valuation of the forward.
City are holding out for £21 million according to Gazzetta dello Sport, but Roma are only willing to play £14m.
Do they say how much Devil?
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – I still think Arsene is waiting for other clubs to become realistic about their expectations on players’ prices and in the meantime use the Community Shield and first few BPL games to a final assessment of our players. Frustrating I know, but his normal modus operandi. Action in the final week of August, as usual.
Devil – It is a good thing that Scott has a good sense of humour.
I don’t get people saying we need another DM. Coquelin has showed his worth and should (and will) be given the nod as 1st choice. Chelsea won the league with Obi Mikel and 19 year old – Center Back Zouma as Matic’s replacements. With all due respect, i would take a slow Arteta over a reckless and irresponsible Obi Mikel anyday. So saying that if Coq gets injured we’re F**** applies for Chelsea as well with Matic, and they haven’t brought in any new DM so why should we be worried?
They said it was slightly less than 40 million Rico.
Meanwhile…….
Arsenal have turned down a £3.5m bid for striker Joel Campbell from Palermo, write the Daily Express.
The Gunners are willing to sell the Costa Rica international, but want £7m.
Excellent post.
Now Now, who was the ghost writer Rico? 😛
Morning Cg and all
Thanks Bondex…
As for today’s post Rico, it soared, it swooped, it took us to another level…
It was good 😉
Devil, stay put…..my pet Great White is headed your way to have a chat 🙂
Morning guys.
Morning Cg, you could be right and who would blame him for not paying over the odds for players…
£40m for Benzema compared to £35m for a younger and more dynamic Alexis doesn’t makes sense to me…
Morning all,yes many may see haris comments but it was about time they pressure to wenger to start competing for barclay title.it win it or go.many may not beilive that wenger could be fired but he will if he does not win the bpl,haris comments are saying we gave you everything but you did not take the advantage
I’m a huge admirer of WENGER, however I have no regets at criticism that I have given him over recent years . He has made very many errors, not least the inability to bring in a quality CDM and goalkeeper over many years. He enjoyed a huge slice of luck last season with Coquelin, but in many ways, for what he has done for our club, his luck was deserved
Aye Scott, she can talk to my sea agent, the giant octopus. 😉
Rico, 40million for Lewandowski are ok for me. But not for Benz. I would not pay more than 25mill for him. And I talk Euros not Sterling.
Afternoon, good read, rico, big sol is definitely right, in saying we need to hit the ground running and Cech is exactly what we needed this past few seasons, it is just a pity it took Wenger so long to find a true world class keeper, “any great team needs a great keeper”, fact. What is also frustrating is we keep going on about the fantastic run we went on after xmas, and if only we,d of gotten off to a better start, but the previous season we did the damn opposite, leading the table till janurary, then falling away, it,s these deficiencies we need to sort out. We definitely have it within us to win the title, as long as we have the right Mentality and most importantly, Consistency.
See haris comment wrong but it about putting wenger under pressure
Thanks Kev, Ts – I’ll let you know who wrote it tomorrow… lol
Lol Devil, no worries.
We’ve all criticised Wenger at some point, to varying levels of intensity.
The man has copped more abuse than any ten managers combined but has come through it, and hopefully he can add the final love to the puzzle……the League title.
Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott have both agreed contract extensions with the club.
Walcott, 26, is Arsenal’s longest-serving current player, making his 300th appearance for the club last season. He has scored a total of 76 goals since joining the Gunners in 2006.
Cazorla, 30, enjoyed another excellent year for Arsenal in 2014/15. Playing in a deeper midfield role for the Gunners, he made 53 appearances in all – more than any other player.
Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150731/cazorla-and-walcott-sign-new-deals#bpkl2zkxZC001voR.99
Cech alone would not win us the bpl and mark my words wenger will be left wishing he spend some of that 200m,chelsea are not spending because they a spuad that ready compete but also won last year.arsenal?well i think we still need two players
Drake, pressure can be put on AW but why in public?
Great news re Santi and Theo….
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150731/five-premier-league-fixtures-rescheduled
Lol Scott. I was dying with laughter at the mere thought of you spitting mud out of you mouth to blind crocodiles.
Theo has signed a 4 year deal. But I do not know for how long Santi has signed.
Chelsea have
Thanks Dublin. Spot on re the quick start. What is it with us, we seem to play great for half a season, sometimes at the beginning then fade or like last season, better in the second half.
Hit the ground running and build….
Devil, if I saw a crocodile close enough to do that, I’d die of a bloody heart attack lol
Drake, has the transfer window closed?
Funny how this contract extension for Theo is longer than his last….
Yep. Rico I thought you were Theo’s agent?
Manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website: “We’re delighted to have extended the contracts of Santi and Theo. Both are top quality players who are hugely important and influential to our squad.
“As well as their huge contributions on the pitch, they both have a great deal of experience and are very popular off the pitch. We’re very pleased with them both signing contract extensions, as it provides our squad with further stability of quality.
now that Theo has signed I can assure you that Benzema will follow. I feel that the club was holding up Benzema’s transfer so that they could assure Theo that he will play through the middle. If Benzema signed, would Theo have signed as well knowing that now he will have to displace Ollie and Benzema from the CF role he craves??
or now that he has signed the cheque book will be closed for attacking personnel???
I am Ts, a very wealthy one this morning… 😉
Crowley off to Barnsley on loan for 6 months.
Rico i have just lost hope, and i was trying to say haris is not the only one who went public about our finance ivan once did too.all they are trying to do here is to distance themself from being blamed for not backing wenger financially
looks like Ozil,s mate is staying, if reports are to be believed, Flamini has turned down Galatasaray offer. Wants to see out his contract at Arsenal..
Drake, I still, I have high hopes we’ll see a couple of signings yet, AW often leaves things late, saves a months wages…lol
Par for the course with Flamini , he loves a signing on fee.
Flamini always sees out his contract. Not one club has ever paid a transfer fee for him…
Arsenal should buy out his contract and get rid imo, if that’s possible..
Wenger has to give gala flamini on a free transfer if he wants him off our team even if we have to pay him that remaining year.
Ginge – If Rico was Theo’s Ms. 10-%, do you think she would be wasting her valuable time being ringmistress to this circus of malcontents and whingers? She’d be off yachting in the Med. with the likes of young Mr. Dean. LOL
You bet I wouldn’t Cg, even without the 10% sometimes I wonder… 😉
Are you Flamoney’s agent too? I’m sure he would love it if the club bought out his contract.
There would be no financial advantage to doing that unless he agreed to a portion of his contracted wages. It also sets a bad precedent for other unmotivated players.
I think he,s still of the belief that he can still earn a new contract,
We will see signings once we are sorted in house
I expect a big signing within a week
Cg- when Theo signed the contract last thursday I noted Rico was in high spirit.
When I asked why she hadn’t informed us… her response was very telling? 😉
Just let him go for free then Cg, we really do need him gone…
Ginge, I heard Rico wanted to ensure the cheque didn’t bounce 🙂
Indeed. Flamini wants Arsene to let him go for free again. the cheek of him?
It’s that time of day, so catch up later..
Night Cg..
😀 Scott
another city worker ‘suicide@?
Ginge – Rico in high spirit usually involves a bottle of cava.
Pains me to say it, if Theos, contract is worth 140,000 sterling a week, which i,ve read it is. I don,t believe, to my mind that , he,s performances warrant it. Not yet any way. i,m surprised they agreed on that amount. he,s still to do it in my book.
🙂 Scott/Cg…
£140k a week, they must be mad..
Laters..
He bowls to the left….
He bowls to the right…
Mitchell Johnson…
His bowling is shite…. 😛
As for the question “Should football fans should be more patient?” I’m reminded of that popular 1960’s poster with two vultures in a tree. One vulture says to the other “Patience my ass! I’m going down there to kill me something.” Strange what you think of late at night.
Anyway, with that I’ll bid you all a good day.
Keep The Faith!
Ah! In the words of the late Robin Williams; Cricket – Baseball played on Valium.
Afternoon, had to wait to catch up with the cricket before reading. Yesterday read about Mich before wTching!
Good post rico, but I disagree with your banding. Might get a bit of flack here, but I feel we are only in band two, not up with the money no-object spenders. How many points were we behind the last two years?
And I also feel letting Sneider go to ManU a big mistake. Hope I’m wrong of course! I reckon third of fourth place and League Cup 🙂
Where’s Digger?
Afternoon all..
Thanks Andrew – I’d have agreed before the statement from Lord Harris… 🙂
Kev, he’ll be having nightmares..
Love your little jingle…. lol
Afternoon Rico and the house
Just a short visiot from a grumpy old man.
Our U19 have drawn 1-1 in durban.
We had Theodorides given straight Red for what looked like
wasting time. you can see highlights on jeorge bird.
Kev I think your post yesterday was fantastic
, its the type of post you can only see on H/H.
Great win in the test match and once again Johnson lost his Rag
Latta
Surprise surprise, both Cahill and Costa are fit for Sunday. Good!
Costa & Cahill fit, now there’s a shock, not…
Thanks Rick…
So Crowley is off to Barnsley till January.
Good for him…
Good post Rico, I said earlier in the week we had a great second part of the season so much so our defense was was better than chelsea’s when Sol says you pay attention. 🙂
Says it….
Walcott is a waste of time
Joe, did I say I believed Sol…. 😉
Thanks by the way… 😉
Sweeping statement Shanice….
Rick, The ref was an absolute cnut in that U19’s game… We were unlucky not to win even with 10 men, lads played well.
Monreal to sign on soon as well….
I also think Walcott is a waste of time…….. Does he earn time..?
Afternoon you lot.
I had great news today my Daughter got a teaching job We are all very happy I am buying drinks for everyone down the pub later all welcome. 😉
Great post, though,
But I will really like to see lewy play for us
Mines a quadruple Grey Goose please Joe, cheers… congrats 2 ur daughter..!
Rico
Hope the House has room for a homeless blogger (blog homeless that is)
I did a trawl around the various blogs and came across yours. A number of things sttracted me 1. Like your ok to disagree banner, 2 your mention of Charlie George is very close to my heart. Both my kids were taught the,Wembley goal celebration before they could crawl 3). Interesting and varied blogs.
Mines a spring water Joe, well done to your daughter…
Wath, I thought you’d be thrilled about Theo.. Nacho next and then two more signings eh….
Welcome retsub1, always room on hh for a Gooner… Especially one who taught his/her kids the Cg celebration… 🙂
Thanks Rico
Appreciate the very quick and friendly welcome . I like your breaking down of the teams into compartments, it’s very true. Unless Liverpool’s spending pays off, I think the top four for this season will be a no brainer.
R1, it’s easier lol
Liverpool spent big last summer and that got them nowhere, I doubt much will change this season with them….
Top four? we need top spot….
You must be a proud dad Joe.
If I were you I would tell the bouncer on the door to watch out for Wath. His type can make Roman nervous about his bank balance. 😉
Welcome Retsub1…
Ts, don’t worry about Romans bank balance I’ll only half it…
Welcome retsub, Nothing wrong with doing a Charlie….!
Rico you lightweight ask for a Cava you know you wanna……
Rico
We definitely want top spot and this may well we’ll be the season we do it. My only concern is I don’t think we have strong enough back up for Coquelin. Really pleased about Cech, it’s been a long time since we had a real top quality keeper.
No chance Wath, not touched the stuff for months… Christmas maybe……
R1, my view is the same, we need a midfielder, coquelin can’t do it alone..
Cech is a great signing but we need two more imo……
I am so proud am thinking of buy 2nd round of drinks thanks for well wishes.
Gray goose on tap spring water from the Wicklow mts available no problem any more orders.
I’ll put the Cava in the post you should have it by Christmas.
My Daughter says thanks guys.
Tsgh know my daughter has job my bank balance will feel like Roman’s. 😉
Now my…
😀 Wath
Joe- a big calabash of palm wine for me if you can get one. 😉
Congratulations to you and your family joe
Tsgh that calabash wine it wouldn’t be 95% black with a white top on it by any chance.
Isaac on loan to Hull for the season confirmed…. Good move all round, hopefully he gets lots of game time and comes back ready to be the player we hope he can be.
Seems like the ones getting loaned out are all starting to go….
The ones getting sold off are likely to go and then we’ll see who we buy…! As someone said earlier CG I think it’s leaving things a little late but it also makes sense to a point
lol Joe. That will do.
Joe- re. wallet; you sound like my father in law.
As tight as Aw in the transfer window.
Congrats Joe to you and daughter. Don’t think you live in SE Essex otherwise I’d be there! Mines a pint of Landlord.
No players left to step in for League Cup at this rate!
Agree Wath, hope Bruce plays him…
Joe, how many have you had? 😉 😉
Tsgh why oh why do you think i’av alway stood up for Arsene I know what financial drain can do to ones disposable income. 😉
😀 joe. Lmfao
Enough that I am watching Lilo & Stitich 2 and loving it
🙂 Joe, enjoy….
Thanks Guys for all the well wishes I may have said that already 🙂
Waiting for the Elvis songs
I’m off for a stroll down our local for a glass of Sprite….
Catch up tomorrow guys..
Night all…
Evening Rico and the House.
Still playing catch up Rico and have just read todays post.
A great read to follow Kev’s how do you do it.
Have you seen that Rocky is going to be the Guest of Honour on Sunday
and Janet (His Mum) will be giving out the Medals.
There is a interview with him on the Player.
Wath re your 5.14 Yassin Fortune the other french kid we signed (with Jeff) looks good..
If all the others who have joined this T/W are as good the academy could be having a good season
Rumour has it that Akpom is joining Hayden at Hull for the season.
Just a fortnight after Arsene said he was staying with the first team this year.
Everyone is saying we should sign a C/F and a D/M we send them on loan Strange
Maybe someone is coming in . or Maybe not.
Thought Ben Sheaf looked good as well Rick, a few good players there for sure and yep Fortune looked very tricky and pacey, over did it at times but he still a kid so lots of potential there.
Hayden off to Hull then…
Akron set to join him.
Interesting…
Akpom 🙄
Morning all..
Toots want Sven Bender… 🙁
New post up.