Daily Bits and Bobs

Classy Arsene! Henry Made The Perfect Return…..

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Only one place to start really and that’s with Lukas Podolski who has been talking to The Sun about how he left Arsenal FC and Arsene Wenger behind. He’s been quoted:

He said nothing to me. He did not call or say goodbye. I don’t need flowers or a kiss from him. But it is about respect, about saying goodbye. For me, respect is important. I did everything for the club I possibly could have. I don’t believe I did anything wrong. I did not get drunk in a club.

I wish all of Arsenal and their amazing fans the very best for this season and I see myself as a Gunner. (there was) nothing from him (Wenger) to me, but that is his way. He told me he did not want me to go just before the transfer window but never said anything else after that.

I had to move forward. I could not wait for 25 injuries (before getting his chance).

It is not a problem to sit on the bench, absolutely not. When you have three games in a week and you don’t play, though, you have to think about it.

I was happy at the club. I played 82 games and I scored 31 goals, plus assists. That’s not bad.

Wenger said to me I was the best finisher at the club. Let me play then.

The final straw for Podolski came when he played a starring role in Arsenal’s 4-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray last month. Podolski scored twice but was dropped to the bench for their next match against Newcastle on December 13, which is the last game he played for the Gunners.

The big moment was after the Champions League, I played a very good game against Galatasaray and then I was on the bench again. I knew I had to move.

That’s him never returning then, certainly not all the time Arsene Wenger is manager and by the time he’s gone, Lukas will be thinking about retirement….

I’m not going to try and suggest that I’m deeply saddened by Podolski’s departure as to do so would be hypocritical and as much as I think he has the best left foot in the PL and should have played more, especially when we needed a goal, he wasn’t a player who would put a shift in for 90 minutes and work hard for the team and we have too many of those.

What I think is so very wrong in all this is the way in which he left and if all the quotes from our German striker are true, it just shows how Arsene Wenger treats players and how his man management skills are seriously lacking. After all, why have a squad and not play many of them. Joel Campbell, Tomas Rosicky, one or two of the younger players, Carl Jenkinson, the list goes on – do many of them really know what their Arsenal future holds?

Has Arsene Wenger sulked because things haven’t gone his way, or did perhaps Lukas Podolski say something to him which he either didn’t agree with or didn’t like.

I strongly suspect that’s how many other players have exited too, after all, why is Martin Keown not employed as a defensive coach, or David Seaman/Jens Lehmann our goalkeeping coach and why on earth is Patrick Vieira at Manchester City and not Arsenal…

I’ll leave that for you to answer…..

Finally, on this day back in 2012, Thierry Henry made a dream return to Arsenal by scoring the winner in FA Cup against Leeds.. I wonder if he will return to the club one day…..

That’s it for Friday, have a good one all….

rico

321 thoughts on “Classy Arsene! Henry Made The Perfect Return…..”

  1. tsgh says:

    My post from previous page..

    Exactly Scott… to combat those deficiencies we needed 2 Ramsey-types or proper DM to cover the likes of SC19 and Poldi who are played on the wings who are not natural athletes but hey…

    Bt- I am sure you know my views on WC.. I never rate him… he is a nice player and all but I think his style of play wont be suitable to the EPL.
    He seems to need to much time on the ball…

    Of all the portuguese imports to this leage in the last 10 years only CR07, Carvalho the chavs defender and maybe 1 or 2 others have done well..

    Matic is different as he was schooled in the English academy before he moved over there briefly..

    The likes of Postiga, Boa Monte.. well… lol

  2. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    I ask Podolski, a player I’ve always loved, did he call Wenger??
    It goes both ways, and those comments give some insight as to why he left, IMO…..his attitude.
    Still, he is gone and we move on.
    100k a week freed up so Arsene, SPEND SOME OF IT ON WHAT WE NEED,!

  4. Joe says:

    Just posted on the last tread Wenger has just stated that the information in the sun article is not true.
    So maybe blaming the ref this time is unfair this time it’s the ever reliable British media.

  7. tsgh says:

    A very good read and a valid question to ask in your post Rico…

    Without appearing to be in the know… according to rumours AW dislikes bubbly personalities in the dressing room.

    In fact AW wanted to get rid of Eboue after the UCL final game even when Eboue was voted the best RB in Europe at that time…; allegedly it was the likes of TH14 and co who liked his personality that swayed AW’s views…The reason Sagna was bought.

    AW likes his dressing room to be tense or calm or quiet apparently and sees certain personalities as disruptive to the qi energy.. lol

    Wasn’t Lauren also sold when he became a ringleader for a faction opposing the french dominance in the dressing room too? At least 1of the purported reasons…

    If you re-read the twitter post of most of the AFC fans when Frimpong left AFC you would sense most of the players even including the likes of the BFG who fined frimps was asense of disappointment…

  11. Joe says:

    He also pointed out the how could they proceed with a loan move with out he’s ok remembering how much control he has at Arsenal. It’s hard to believe that the was no interaction between manager and player over the move.

  12. Wavy says:

    Stubborn, stupid and spiteful. That’s Wenger when he’s got it in for you! Imo. For all the good he’s done he’s done a little harm too. I don’t think he can set aside his personal feelings for the benefit of the ’cause’! It is perhaps one of the reasons we have made so little progress over the last few years. He cannot set aside his personal preferences and worse his urbane wit is wasted on most of his charges and he is too sensitive to criticism, no matter where it comes from……..a bit of over sensitive paranoia there then!
    At 66 years old you would think he had got his personal proclivities sorted out by now!

    Sorry to see Podolski go. On his day he was unstoppable, trouble was he wasn’t allowed many days!

    Sunny blue skies here, windy and wild but lovely ( behind glass!).

    Morning all

  13. rico says:

    Thanks Ts, you could be onto something there, perhaps AW likes to be the only joker in the camp and he’s doing a very good job!

  14. scottfromoz says:

    Not sure Rico…..I was away when it all happened so sont know much to be honest.
    Ginge, Mile is doing the business as usual.
    Cahill is a freak……absolute superstar.
    Luongo is a kid that plays at Swindow Town and scored a Cahillesque header, and Matt Leckie is PL quality and damn near is quick as Theo

  17. scottfromoz says:

    Oh and I’ve said two years ago, Matt Ryan….plays for Brugge….is a sensational keeper better than more than a few in the PL.
    His only downside is he’s only 6’1 or so…..makes up for it in other areas though.
    Unlike Szczesny, he’s improved in the last few years!!

  23. Joe says:

    It’s strange sometime before the Southampton game the Mirror came out and said that poldi stormed out of the club to help force the loan move. Its strange he could not play against Southampton but but could play for inter and pass a medical.
    But this time it’s the Mirror not the Sun so where’s the difference.

  28. Joe says:

    The fact is what we read in the press and what we care to believe is based on our own opines for our against, left our right wing.
    By the way I am sure the same was said about Ramsey Wenger must be mad to play him.

  29. Lee says:

    All I believe is that wenger treated podolski badly and he fucked to Milan, can anyone blame him? He wants to play and sanogo was getting games ahead of him, a fucking joke!

  31. scottfromoz says:

    Joe, exactly…..Wenger was called every name under the sun for daring to play Ramsey.
    He doesn’t get it right all the time, but he cops shit every second of the day.
    Lee, nobody will ever defend Wenger for playing Yaya over Podolski lol

  35. rico says:

    No smoke without fire Scott.. 😉

    Bit of a risk for The Sun to quote Podolski if he’s not said those things. He’d sue them…

  36. tsgh says:

    Scott, AW was right to play Yaya Sir 4 goals to Poldi.. 😛

    One was a franco-African trying to be french and the other was an European who wanted to be Dench.. lol

  37. Joe says:

    Also it’s quit clear that Sanogo is not even close to being the finished article what does it say about poldi if Wenger thinks he gives the team a better chance of getting a result.

  38. tsgh says:

    If AW pays money for you he will ensure you excel…
    I love AR16 but he won’t still be with us if he came through Hale End imho…
    If you come in free or through the academy then that is a different kettle of fish… lol

  40. tsgh says:

    On all seriousness Poldi got chances to play as a lone striker and did not even try to excel in that role.. same as when LVG tried him at Fc Munchen and he failed…

    At least Yaya gave us the target man albeit with the touch of a ….

  46. Joe says:

    Let’s assume that Wenger wants to win football matches it says when he picked Sanogo over poldi he felt the team would have a better chance of wining.
    As Tsgh has just posted poldi was never a great target man and Wenger believes Sanogo is a better target man also when fit Giroud, Welbeck and Sanchez will start a head of Sanogo.

  66. Wath says:

    Brad, he should of been played up front with Giroud in a 4-4-2 but our midfield so piss poor and weak 4-4-2 qon’t work with the players we have..!

  69. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    Just seen that Wayne Looney has been voted England player of 2014 by England ‘fans’. Are they having a laugh? He was toilet in Brazil and had missed about a dozen one on ones that Jack has set him up for in recent matches!!!

  73. tsgh says:

    Creul folks.. 😀

    Bt- I think for 2 seasons S04 had tried to swap Poldi for Uchida the S04 RB who is meant to be better than even Lahm but AW before we bought Ozil wanted Draxler as the swap but S04 didn’t…

    Also Poldi fancied BVB instead I read on BVB rumours some time back…

  74. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    I wonder if pouring a bottle of Champagne over your manager, and the lack of respect that that action conveys, could have had an influence on Wenger’s decision to ostracise Podolski from Arsenal?

    I don’t either of them come out of this scenario, smelling of roses…

  76. tsgh says:

    Agreed Brad..

    Aw likes left footers in certain positions. 1 left footer in central defence, 1 in CM and one upfront..
    I guess Poldi was the closest to RVP when Robin wanted out or we did not want to pay him what he wanted and so we settled for Poldi…

    The difference in my opinion is that RVP had 5 or 6 years to learn to be a lone striker having joined us in his late teens whilst Poldi joined us at an age when most players do not improve much further…

    I believe Poldi can play 1 position only i.e the old fashioned inside left position only… his previous managers have all complained about his lack of flexibility in his game…

  78. eduardo says:

    whats all this fuss about Sanogo playing ahead of Podolski, yaya played in 1/7 of our league gaems this season, 2+1, whilst pod played in 1/3, 0+7, and in all competitions yaya in 5 games and pod in 13,
    its funny seeing so many of you have a go at Wenger over this, yes Podolski had a hammer of a left foot, but he had no work rate, poor passing, no battle in him, he seldom would even contest high balls. Pod not given a chance, he got over 80 chances, and for the most part failed, nearly all of his goals came against bottom half teams, few were match openers or match winners.

    Pod flopped at Bayern Munich, he has flopped at Arsenal, and he has been nothing more than a bit part player for Germany for four or five years now. He as a player has not developed his game at all since his early 20’s, and Pod has only one man to blame for that and it aint Wenger, its Lukas Podolski,
    by the way anyone notice where Mancini played Pod on his debut, it was not as a striker, it was wide left, just like Wenger mostly played him and where Low plays him for Germany whenever he gets picked. And lets not forget Bayern Munich also played him wide left most of the time there too. But of course you lot know better than all those top managers, and yet call Wenger arrogant.

  81. bradster says:

    I see the way you write is in a way to wind everyone up Eduardo. Had to add that snide comment at the end. Bottom line then is Wenger effed up with buying him knowing how he plays and how Wenger wants arsenal to play.

  83. joe says:

    It’s also true that some have the belief that only only opinion worth having is the one they hold and it’s alright to insult others who do not share that opinion.
    I say well written Eduardo it’s a shame it will fall on deaf ears.

  84. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Eduardo, has AW on many occasions not stated the amount of detail and research that goes into signing every player e.g. on and off field suitability, injury record {cough},team system suitability amongst other things. He would know all about the points you have made reference to in your post, then armed with all this information, why buy him in the first place. Unless he thinks he can change him, something you have stated Poldi hasn’t been able to do from an early age.

  89. joe says:

    Sanogo will also be going out on lone which will leave us with 3 strikers. By the way my posts never said that Sanogo was a better bet as a striker.
    My reason for posting was that as usual posters with a certain point of view would rather believe what’s in the Sun even with it’s history.

  92. Wath says:

    Only leave us with 3 strikers if Sanogo goes on loan… That’s two more than we had last yr…! Akpom would make that 4…!

  94. eduardo says:

    I have felt Wenger should have been gone from Arsenal 3 years ago, but I can find enough real mistakes he has made without having to resort to blaming him for everything and anything just to keep an anti wenger stance. Yes bradster as far as I’m concerned it was a mistake by Wenger to sign him, even though at the time of his signing I thought it was a good move.

    And Bradster it was not a snide comment, it was a truthful comment, as far as i can see most of those who call Wenger arrogant and the like really are being arrogant themselves, as they clearly are arrogant enough to believe they know better than he does on all sorts of things relating to the team and club, from selections, formations, tactics, transfers in and out etc etc and yes bradster I am arrogant enough to join that group as I believe “I can find enough real mistakes he has made”. but unlike so many I don’t go out of my way to find fault for the sake of it, and I’m sure some will call me an AKB, as has been done many times by the WOB, as it seems if you are not totally against him you must be for him.

    I don’t rate Sanogo very highly, but I can totally understand why he would get picked as central striker ahead of Podoski when Giroud and Welbeck were out, and although I don’t like seeing Alexis as a central striker I can also see why he was also played ahead of Podolski in that role.

    I’d fault Wenger for playing Welbeck wide left ahead of Podolski the couple of times he done it.

    lee the reason why the liverpool game stands out is cos it was so rare

  96. Lee says:

    He should of gone after the FA Cup win.
    I’d have Akpom in front of Sanogo all day long but why we are discussing him is beyond me….he simply shouldn’t be anywhere near Arsenal.

  97. joe says:

    Everyone has flaws including Wenger even with those flaws Wenger has I still hold the belief that Wenger is still the best man for the job as Arsenal manager. And like others on this site I will argue my point.
    And when Wenger is replaced I will support the next manager.

  101. joe says:

    Sanogo will be sent out on lone to crystal palace, Hull or some other pl team the is supposed to be 3 clubs after him plus the one in France.

  102. Lee says:

    Forming an orderly queue to take Sanogo on lone…… I read that his £25k pw salary was halting the Bordeaux move! £1.3m p.a we’re paying him!! I’m glad he’s going on lone!!!

  105. Wath says:

    Eduardo,

    I think the fact you say we are all arrogant and including yourself in that is rather extreme.

    Yes none of us have managed a game in the prem lge as Wenger is so quick to tell us but does that mean that what we see week in week out does not warrant an opinion… Does it mean we are wrong just because we don’t manage a prem lge side.

    Many have watched games for as long as wenger and yes some fans talk rubbish for the sake of it but also a great many have a very good footballing knowledge that’s cast aside due to wenger saying we have not managed a game in the prem lge.

    There is a point where a lot of fans have valid issues and make very valid observations I say do not belittle anyone or yourself purely because you have never managed a team before. Does wenger have coaching badges…? Does the fact he is the manager make him unaccountable or beyond reproach…? It most definitely does not.

    He makes mistakes but sadly tries to cover them up which then irritates fans even more.

    He never seems to learn and as we all know thats the sign of stupidity when you carry on making the same mistakes.

    Yes he’s been great but for me he is no longer great it’s as simple as that in my opinion.

  108. Wath says:

    So whats Sanogo been Joe… that’s the point really isn’t it and many who have watched Akpom over the last few years rate the boy way higher than Sanogo. If your good enough your old enough.

  109. allezkev says:

    Afternoon BT…
    It just went mental for a spell…

    I’m good mate, and how are you?
    When are you over?
    For a game…

  116. Wath says:

    A dignified way to hand over the reigns maybe…….. A trophy, a bank account full of cash and a core to build a successful side if the right players are brought in…! The board were only to happy to let him carry on though…!

  118. joe says:

    Again all along Sanogo has been 4th or 5th choice striker since the start of this season as Eduardo pointed Sanogo has not started more games than poldi.
    last season he was 3rd choice but we have moved on from that.
    Again my original post was to do with what was presented as fact the article in the Sun that Wenger didn’t say good bye.
    the Sanogo argument is just a red herring the fact is both him and poldi will leave the clue on lone the manager has decided at this moment both players will not get near the team when our strikers are fit.

  120. Lee says:

    Sanogo is not a red herring he’s a shit footballer that should be over Hackney marshes not at Arsenal F.C (sorry Fred)

  122. Wath says:

    Thing is Joe, The Sun is normally 95% full of shit like most papers as shit sells papers…. ( Sorry Andrex ) Some of the points they make though would make sense just like Wenger saying he decides who goes but deciding who goes doesnt mean you actually tell the player you could quite easily tell the agent…!

    I reckon from both sides a lot of crap but also some truths in there in we are honest about it.

  125. frednerk says:

    Podolski says wenger told him
    “You are the BEST finisher at the club”

    2 weeks later His Finished at the club

    Very confusing for us..Ain’t it.

  132. allezkev says:

    Podolski joined the club in 2012 on a 4 year contract…

    A fee of approx £11milliln was paid for him.

    On a salery reputed to be £100k per week.

    So in 2.5 years he has cost Arsenal, conservatively, around £24.15 million, for his 31 goals…

    Value for money???

  136. potter says:

    It’seems all about formations when you discuss playing on the left. When Van Persie first came he played as a secondary striker in a team set up for that system. He had no responsibility regarding dropping back there were others in place for that. If that was part of his job description then the wrong player was bought and the manager chose the wrong man as he did with Ars havin. I said then if he wanted a Parlour / Milne type he should have gone and got one.

  137. Wath says:

    Spot on Potter, if we bought the players we needed we’d not have to try force those square pegs into round holes….!

  141. Joe says:

    Thanks for the correction on lone should of been loan thanks for the nice way the mistake was pointed out hope you got my point( phone issues).
    It’s a shame it comes down to calling our players names just because they think proving he’s point on a player will validate he’s opinion on the manager.
    I hope they didn’t hold the same opinion on players like Ramsey or other youth players that did or didn’t make it over the years at Arsenal.
    In the end like this story in the Sun today they will use it because it helps prove their point that Wenger is useless and can’t even say good bye to a player. Their spin he let a brilliant player leave( which is clearly not true) and why would he not leave because Sanogo started more games than him again proven not to be true.
    Let’s call a spade a spade any story that shows Wenger in a bad light will be used and when it’s proved not true or not as bad as made out they move on to the next story or get on the back of the next player.

  142. Wavy says:

    Does Milner make hats? Or score hat tricks?
    Good footballer, no an excellent footballer!
    Missed a trick there, I think.

    The Lone Star State? Isn’t that where the syrup hails from? And isn’t he taking lones or loans from the club? You know he is a right winger and probably a bible basher. They mostly are from down Texas way! And always looking for handouts.
    All very fishy!

  143. eduardo says:

    frednerk there should be no reason for your confusion, the problem with Podolski was that being a great finisher and having little else meant he did not bring enough to the team to warrant a place in the team, its no good being a good finisher if your work rate and movement does not get you into scoring positions enough, or if when team not creating lots of scoring chances you are a complete passenger, or if you keep losing the ball leading to opponents attacking us.

    As for the idea of changing to a 4-4-2 formation with Pod the second striker, I’m not sure where firstly Cazorla would have fitted into that, nor Ozil and now Alexis, and should any of those be out of the side for Pod, I’d like to hear the views of those who believe that 4-4-2 was the way to fit Pod into the team, it was interesting that at the WC Germany decided to change to two strikers during it, but Pod was still not used as a striker. What way should we have lined up in a 4-4-2 with the players we have had in Pods time here, to get the best out of him. And can you afford to have a player who is just a finisher, in 4-4-2 or any formation really.

  144. Wavy says:

    But Joe, we on the side lines, the fans and armchair ‘coaches’ could see and have seen that Podolski was being treated very harshly. He wasn’t necessarily the best striker or forward at the club but he was better than some and his finishing really was first class. Yes, he is a lazy footballer and could have put more in but I don’t believe he was dropped for footballing reasons. Wenger took against him, maybe he was too lively in the dressing room, maybe he liked to party a little too much, maybe he was just beyond Wenger’s control! For what ever reason he was not being picked or even used as a late sub. To be treated in such a dismissive way was an insult to a player who has more than 100 caps for his country, more so in that they are WC winners, I know he didn’t contribute much in the last campaign, but none the less he has a certain status that should be applauded not castigated and sort of used as a scape goat. I’ll return to where I started Wenger is spiteful and vindictive, he was with Arsharvin, he has been with Keown and many others, good footballers with whom he finds no rapport, or whatever and as such they don’t get picked, others, his favourites perhaps do and to the detriment of the club and its results.
    We can see all this and we comment on what we believe are the shortcomings of the manager because in our own, impotent way we are trying to change the mindset of a man who will brook no criticism and take no advice. Not the sort of qualities that you would attribute to a man of his undoubted intellect.
    And finally I reserve the right to voice my opinion at any time upon any subject that I choose. Freedom of speech and all that!

  146. Adam says:

    Lee. Surely it’s a matter of someone accepting responsibility. German friends have told me that Podolski has always been lazy and tearing up and down the pitch has never been his thing. His reputation within the German game at both club and International level is exactly what we saw at Arsenal. There was nothing new in any of it. Yet Wenger bought him, we can only assume after knowing all this. It didn’t work out, perhaps unsurprisingly. Who, if anybody is responsible for that? I might cite Arshavin in a similar comparison and would estimate that Ozil could well be walking the same path in the near future.

  157. Joe says:

    Wavy if I gave you the impression that you could not make a comment I am sorry but are posters not allowed point out when those comments are mistaken or unfair.

    If I called someone shit because I think that they are not up to the job of being an Arsenal fan for he’s views I would be very wrong.

    Players have a responsibility for how they actually perform on the pitch and if a manager decides they are not reaching the levels they should he must do something about it even if he signed them. I think it’s fair to say signing players is not an exact science.
    Just a point the are 3 better forwards at the club than poldi and also the are better wide players as well.

  166. rico says:

    Seems that way sometimes Micko… Shame really as if we all agreed all of the time, what would be the point of a blog…

    Mind you, I sometimes wonder that in any case…..

  175. Wath says:

    I’d take Simeone Lee, he seems to be able to change tactics and formations and plays to win…! He seems to play his own game when he can but also knows the teams limitations yet still manages to set up a team to beat anyone… they hardly household or world class names he has are they…!

  177. Micko says:

    Lee, Simeone can’t speak a word of English ! The half time talks would be a right larf ! Haven’t we enough problems as it is.

  179. Wath says:

    Just ask Kev mate I am full of great advice Micko and of course I am discreet, I shall not divulge any of your stocking and suspenders wearing fetishes that we spoke of the other week.

  180. Joe says:

    Thanks lee it’s his then but you didn’t answer my question you would rather insult and demean someone.
    It’s strange that you spent the day saying that poldi is to good to sent out on loan or not been used and blaming Wenger and insulting Sanogo.
    Now it turns out the Wenger should have never signed him you should make up your mind or does it not matter as long as you can insult our manager and players that don’t live up to your standard.
    I can do ffs

  183. Wath says:

    I’m getting confused now between Poldi, Sanogo and Wenger and who’s shit who bought who and who should go and who should stay…..

    I think easy solution is they all shit and they should all go…

    Now that’s sorted, lets crack open another GG….!

  184. rico says:

    I’m going to draw a line under the spelling and/or grammar corrections. Highbury a House is a football blog, not a piece of work to be submitted to an English teacher for marking…

    Any more and those leaving such a comment will be binned….

    No more please….

  185. Joe says:

    Micko I agree bad spelling is a sign of something not sure what most of the time it’s the iPad or my phones autocorrect but as sufferer of mild form of dyslexia I don’t see the mistakes.

  191. Joe says:

    Micko I was not having a go I was trying to thank you for your support now I can’t even make my thoughts Clear 🙂

  195. Lee says:

    Joe here it is in plain English…. I don’t think Sanogo is a player that should be playing for Arsenal. You state that we have better strikers and wide players than Podolski….so if this is true why buy him? Surely Arsene had him scouted? Then to treat him like he has, I don’t get it.
    But he’ll play players that aren’t performing well. Play players when they need resting because he hasn’t got faith in his squad players.
    He assembled this squad.
    Sorry but Wenger is finished and needs replacing with a more dynamic manager, imo.

  196. rico says:

    Lee, but when we signed Podolski, we didn’t have a few. Certainly not Alexis, Welbeck, Giroud.

    But I’m with you, he’s been treated dreadfully, especially this season…..

  197. rico says:

    Podolski I meant, not Sanogo. The sooner he goes out on loan the better..

    At least that should mean Campbell and even Akpom might get more of a chance….

  201. Lee says:

    I thought he bought Giroud and Pod in the same window after he gifted manure the league by sell RVP to them.

  204. allezkev says:

    Paddington looks far more interesting, at night time…

    Anyway, can’t hang about, I got some chocolates to deliver…

  205. rico says:

    Exactly Lee, which tells me the club knew rvp was going all along and what he said on his official page was true..

    His and arsenals ambitions didn’t match… And they still don’t today..

  206. Joe says:

    Lee as Rico pointed out when we bought him 2.5 seasons ago we did not have the current crop of strikers we have now in fact 2 of them were bought at the start of this season.
    Things change in football players come and players go and after the purchases of new strikers at the start of this season poldi moved back to 4th choice striker.
    And because he would not track back more reliable players played in front of him.
    Now you may have used plain English but are you saying that we shouldn’t buy players because we might buy better ones in the future.

  207. Lee says:

    Wood and trees… we’ll be hiding behind the referees soon to mask wenger’s shortfalls as a manager next. I mean our performances against Manure, chavs and citeh over the last few years have been really sub standard haven’t they? But I guess some fans are happy with mediocrity, I’m not!!

  208. Lee says:

    Why hang on to him then? Sell him… not block him from moving on.
    Him tracking back, he never has before so why would he under wenger? Wenger fucked up by buying him in the first place then?
    Just won’t admit it….

  209. rico says:

    Joe, but the fact that Podolski doesn’t track back was widely known by many, Ts alluded to that point earlier today. So bearing that in mind, if AW wanted a workhorse, why sign a lazy player?

  210. rico says:

    I think the officials have a lot to answer for, but they aren’t at fault for Our dreadful performances this season, not one bit!

  221. Joe says:

    I see it’s back to demeaning next it will be I think refs are reasonable for weather big joke ha ha.
    We lost to Chelsea this season if the ref had carried out his duties that may have been different.

    We have beaten and drew with man city this season already and as for Manu it’s a game we lost but it’s not a game we should have never mind the fact the where refereeing issue in that game.
    Now I know you believe that refs make no difference to the out come of a game so why have them if they are not important I have a different opinion than you.
    Unlike you I don’t make demeaning our snide remarks on other people’s opinion.
    I have asked a number of questions today and you have refused to answer any I’ll ask the last one again should we not buy players because we might buy better ones later on.

  226. potter says:

    If Wenger were to leave now or even at the end of the season contrary to what people are saying he would be leaving the squad in a parlous state. There are gaps in the squad already and players getting old and coming out of contract , a new manager would need a lot of cash to rebuild because even if you just take Rico’s six there is no money there and if you add Podolski 5 -6 million at the most.

  227. Adam says:

    Potter. Whenever he does go I would think the transition would be difficult because a new manager would likely introduce a completely new culture. Just about everything within the club would change as Arsene has had such control. Perhaps this is part of what Gazidis was talking about when he spoke a short while ago.

  228. potter says:

    Joe we need to buy because we really do not have proven players as back up. However when we do ,we need to buy to support the squad not just to get a new shiny toy. We spent a fortune on Ozil but needed defenders. In my humble opinion it is better to buy a good defensive midfielder than an outstanding attacking one and asking him to play back. If you want wingers then buy them if you don’t have any coming through , don’t ask central players to go out there and play an unnatural game.

  229. rico says:

    Joe,in can see where you are coming from re Chelsea as Cahill should have been sent off but not sure I agree re the other examples, especially Utd – our poor finishing lost that game…

    Drawing at home to City is little to brag about, especially as we took the lead but yet again, our defending gifted them a point….

  231. Joe says:

    Rico now if officials have a lot to answer for why is it not for the results of some games now I believe certain actions by refs change the results of games.
    Early yellow cards against players when they deserve them second yellow cards, red cards and penalties wrongly or correctly given and also penalties not given when they should.
    Ask Chelsea .
    I have never said that refs are responsible for all the game we have not won or the way we played and the fact you think that’s what I believe is unfair.
    Others might point out that if I believed this it makes me a moron or an idiot what ever the term for insulting posters happens to be that day.

  232. Lee says:

    What snide comments have I made?
    No we should always be looking to upgrade players but Arsene doesn’t believe that does he. He continues paying them and not playing them. Sell them and move on.
    We simply have not played well in certain games so hiding behind referees is a pathetic cop out. The team has needed a spine for ages if Arsene had one he would of bought the players that were needed. Not making do with freebies and sub standard players!
    We’ve not beaten one of the worst manure teams for years, chelsea, citeh,liverpool, Everton or the spuds this season….that’s not good enough in my book.

  236. potter says:

    I don’t think you can include the community shield after all it is no more than a pre season friendly .

  237. rico says:

    Joe, you and I have been there and done that discussion. I don’t buy into it…

    I know decisions go against us, but I can also see that all too often, the way we play is nothing short of rubbish. When we start playing well and a referee decision makes a difference, I’ll be right behind you with your view…

  240. Joe says:

    Potter I think you are being unkind to the state of Arsenal’s squad now if you except Arteta is the type DM that Arsene is looking for. Because no normal DM in the conventional sense would not survive to many matches without picking up a lot of yellow and red cards.
    I think we may all agree we could do with another CB I won’t say world class because they are very hard to find I see Hummels has said he is very happy in Germany.
    So from what I read on HH all we need is a DM and a CB so I’d like to see is Arteta like DM and keep Arteta as back up.
    I also think the are some youth team players not that far away.

  244. Joe says:

    Potter sky sports news does because they included a couple of them as a major trophy when they told us how many major trophies Gerrard has won. 😉

  245. rico says:

    I sure hope we don’t sign a player like Arteta to be our Dm, he has been nothing more than a make do!!!

    Our squad needs a massive overhaul imo, massive…..

  246. Joe says:

    Rico it doesn’t matter if we are playing well or not it would be nice if we played well the fact is a wrong decision that changes the result of a game is a wrong.

  247. rico says:

    Joe, that’s where I really disagree with you and perhaps I now understand why you believe what you do… It seems you are happy for arsenal to play like Oxford and win, as long as the ref has been good…

    Sorry, Arsenal FC are better than that….

  248. Joe says:

    Our DM needs to be able to have very high completed pass % because a DM who can’t pass will slow the game down.
    Now we get a yellow card for every 4 fouls which 50% less than most teams and some teams it’s even higher like I said before a normal DM is going to get a lot cards.

  249. rico says:

    Actually, bloody right it matters about playing well, we did a few years ago under Wenger but we don’t now. Back then the rubbish refs played no part because we knew how to win!

    These days we don’t know how to do that!

    We don’t have the players to do that, nor the manager……

  250. rico says:

    And there was me thinking a DM needed to have the ability to make crucial tackles and recycle the ball…

    To protect the back four and to control the midfield play….

    Poor soul having to calculate his passing percentage before he walks on to the pitch….

  252. Joe says:

    Rico you have been unkind to Oxford when you look at some of our games this season but the fact is I’d rather win playing badly than to lose playing well look at the first half of the Manu game and most of the second half.
    And this where I differ from most posters on HH I believe we would win a lot more points if refs could do their jobs correctly.

  253. rico says:

    Sorry Joe, I find the referee thing boring and a hide behind… Untold Arsenal go down that route and I don’t agree with it, not wholeheartedly…

    I think it’s perhaps time to stop banging that referee drum on here, it’s all been repeated too many times….

    And I don’t mean to be rude there, I think we all know refs are crap, just lets stop harping on about them and concentrate on arsenal….

  254. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Firstly, let me defend Eduardo…..
    He wrote a hefty post, full of bloody valid points, yet the responses focused exclusively on him calling us arrogant???
    Nobody attacked the other 95% because he was right! but why not discuss those other points guys??
    It was a fantastic post, in general, yet one slip and it’s an all out attack….that’s disappointing.
    Another thing……Podolaki is carrying in like a spoilt little bitch, and I say that as one of his biggest fans….previously!
    Wenger dint even call me….boofuckinghoo….you’re the one that left, You earn 100k a week so surely you can afford a mobile phone and make the bloody call yourself!!
    As for the “best finisher on the club” then letting him go…..guys, it’s been clearly stated by the player Wenger did not want him to go at all but the player forced the moved!
    I get frustrated when we attack Wenger yet conveniently leave out points and facts that don’t suit the argument.
    It’s called offering up a fair opinion, yet too often we cop biased, one sided ones.
    Wenger AND Podolski are to blame here, and that is absolutely obvious to anyone who can see both sides of the story.
    As Eduardo said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with criticising Wenger…I find myself doing it more and more all the time…but making shit up and blaming him for things he’s not guilty of just make us look bloody silly.

  256. Joe says:

    Rico as you have said most refs are crap and we can all see that when we are watching Arsenal games but when we don’t win it’s always 100% Wenger’s fault.
    Players make stupid mistakes it’s always it’s 100% Wenger’s fault
    The media prints lies and half truths it’s believed if it is a story that puts Wenger in a bad light And this is not ago at you but your headline Classy Arsene is it fair.

  258. scottfromoz says:

    Joe, just lurking lol.
    A few years ago, I’d defend Wenger to the hilt.
    Not now, though.
    At the same time, I still see plenty attack him for things he’s clearly innocent of, and that’s simply isn’t right so I’ll have my say.
    We should be better than that.
    Podolski has acted disgracefully and we can all see that as fact, Wenger has said nothing yet people blame him?
    It’s just bullshit.
    Why didn’t Podolski call Wenger yet whinge in public about not receiving a call?
    That’s petulant at best and manipulative at worst, and neither is a good trait.
    We, as Arsenal fans, and human beings, need to cut the crap and judge each situation on it’s merits, apportioning blame where it’s warranted.
    Again Wenger is making enough errors for people NOT to make things up to attack him with.
    Micko, Is there a game on lol

  259. potter says:

    Joe I do actually believe that in his system Wenger is not looking for a DM in the conventional sense . But it is sad if looking for that player Arteta is the guideline and the level that he is setting. He had the chance of a distinct upgrade but turned it away earlier this season from a player that would pass any of his pass completion statistics, He said that he had Ozil to do that job , well the chances are he will be back soon so if he’s put back on the left it will say more about Wenger’s planning than anything else..

  261. scottfromoz says:

    We already have a top class DM with the engine to match any in the world, whose tackling stats stack up with anyone, and positional sense is world class…..Ramsey.
    Trust me, he’d be superb.

  266. Joe says:

    Scott it’s strange after everything Podolski did to forced a move to inter Wenger is the bad guy because let’s see
    He didn’t say good buy
    He bought the player
    He didn’t play him enough a head of Wellbeck , Giroud or Sanchez
    He bought him and then had the cheek to buy better players.
    He let go on loan
    He also bought Sanogo a youth player who now will also go out loan oh and he’s sh* t.

  267. potter says:

    Scott , you think Podolski has acted disgracefully , did RVP or Cesc or Nasri. The last three left citing ambition to win things and have done subsequently. All Podolski seemed to want was to play and to help The Arsenal but it seems that he was unwanted. Wenger claims he wanted him to stay but if he wants to keep people happy then he has to give them playing time. He has a funny way of keeping team moral in my opinion.

  268. scottfromoz says:

    Joe, honestly, whether I agree or disagree with you is not relevant here.
    The fact is you offered up logic and reasoning while others didn’t, so I’ll back your comments.
    Not being smug here, but I remember when we signed Podolski and most Gooners I spoke to didn’t know him until you remained the, of the hat trick he banged in v England.
    I liked him long beforehand e got him…hew as on my wish list, so to say I’ve been underwhelmed with him is an understatement.
    I’ll say this…..I believe the support if him is more to do with the fact Yaya has been played at times we thought Podolski should have.
    It’s more an indirect attack at winger for that, and not so much a defence or support of Podolski.
    That’s just my take, anyway.
    His comments show me it was his attitude that got in the way if him playing and succeeding, and nothing else but again, that’s just my opinion.
    Yourself and Eduardo are right though……too many blame Wenger for stuff that’s simply ridiculous.
    Debates should be based on fact, not sentiment or emotion.

  269. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, I’m more worried you DON’T think those three acted disgracefully.
    I’m stunned.
    Cesc refused to play yet many want us to bend over and kiss his arse….sorry, but fuck that!!
    RVP PUBLICLY criticised a the club on his website….a club who had supported him for years when injured, a club whose ambition HE NEVER QUESTIONED when sitting back injured collecting his wage, and Nasri??
    Please!
    He wanted a payrise, we offered one, he knocked it back saying it’s NOT ENOUGH then left us saying it’s NOT ABOUT MONEY??
    Please, you can’t be serious with that last one.
    Don’t dare call any AKB delusional mate……….the proof is in writing every day that those wanting him out see exactly what they want to see whilst ignoring the facts, so it seems to me we ALL must be delusional.

  271. Joe says:

    Whose this Özil bloke your taking about is this the guy Wenger bought for a lot of money but it seems the media and some Arsenal fans are saying he is now not worth what we payed for him.

  272. Joe says:

    When RVP said he was leaving to win things if he had stayed he would at least won the FA cup and maybe even the PL.
    Arteta who came to Arsenal to win things has won the same number of trophies as RVP who left to win things.

  274. Joe says:

    Let’s hope we get some more new signings soon like this Ramsey guy and my favorite Arteta
    This Wilshere bloke as well.

  275. potter says:

    Actually ,when I read the Van Persie letter it told me that Wenger had lost the dressing room , that the players no longer felt that the team was capable of winning the league or the Champion’s league.For me I let the the side issues pass me by I am purely interested on what happens on the pitch.All three had the choice of glory or money or both.Two took the route out for both ,as did Henry for that matter. Cesc took the journey for the glory, actually taking less money to go to a now broke side propped up by Quatar, regretted his move and was turned away when he wanted to come back, which from a personal note I can understand but from a footballing perspective I can’t.Players have often left us to taste some /more glory I think it’s easy to take the moral high ground and say that they let the club down. From a footballing angle I think the club let them down. Still it’s nothing new the club did it to Ashley Cole ,our board caused that one and the club’s team policy caused the others.

  277. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, that’s exactly why I will always rate Dennis much higher than Thierry.
    I don’t rate those others though.
    RVP disrespected the club, end of.
    Of course, when we made a few signings, he decided he wanted to stay but the right call was made….you want out, piss off and go.
    Everyone says the club is bigger than the manager, yet whinge about these players…players won on us nothing.
    I don’t get it.

  278. Joe says:

    Yes it does but a trophy is a trophy ask Gerrard and we also won the community shield and like I said earlier sky sports news thinks it’s a trophy 😉
    By the way is it possible we may had won the PL if he stayed the year he won it for Manu or most definitely last year.

  280. potter says:

    Last one Joe, you said He bought him and then had the cheek to buy better players. I would suggest different players. Wenger took a route which isolated his style. He would have played quite well and scored had he partnered up with Giroud or Welbeck . So we come back to it , he was a bad unnecessary purchase , frankly a disappointing waste of money ,not his fault but that of the man that bought him and could not find a way to use him.

  282. potter says:

    Semantics Joe , the community shield has always been the ” traditional curtain raiser ” to the season and has never been anything more than a charity match whichever way the T.V companies try to hype up their viewing figures.

    anyway I have had my tablets and it’s time for sleep. Good night boys it’s been good to debate rather than slag off.

  283. Joe says:

    I am off it’s been a long day the one thing I learned to day is it will make no difference what I write.
    once someone has made up their mind they are very unlikely to change all you can hope for reasoned debate rather than been insulted or poked fun at.

  285. Lee says:

    Yes once someone had made up their mind they stick to their view. Constantly blaming the officials is a massive cop out we need to look closer at Wenger’s neglect to the balance of the squad, poor performances tactically or lack of activity in transfer windows. As someone mentioned earlier there are gaping holes within the squad. But I guess people don’t want to see or admit that.

    Arsenal is massive football club its about time they showed some real ambition. This fourth place mentality has to be eradicated.

    We’ve won one trophy in the last 10years,citing the Community shield as a trophy is really scraping the barrel.
    The Premier league is far greater achievement than the FA cup and always will be. Does anyone seriously think Wenger will win the PL within the remainder of his contract? Because I really cannot see it.

    Using Arteta as a bench mark for our DM, surely we should be setting our sights higher than that? Why is our wage bill so excessive yet we have so few top players? Is it because the squad is littered with mediocre over paid players, who’s fault is that?

    The indoctrination hasn’t occurred to me yet…..time for Wenger to move on.

  288. Lee says:

    Exactly Scott. 🙂
    Do you seriously think he will? I have my reservations.
    Last minute Reid perhaps is all I’m expecting but would love to be proved wrong.

  289. rico says:

    Morning Lee, Scott and all..

    Well I think it can be said that yesterdays post sparked a debate. Just cheesed off I missed half of it because HH kept getting diverted off to some other weird website or two…

    Scott, I’m beginning to think he won’t…. But I sure hope he does. Cdm and a CH and we’d be good to go… Well, we’d be better….

  291. scottfromoz says:

    Morning guys.
    Rico, he just has to.
    Ditto Lee….
    How can he not?
    My support of the man remains through respect, but this lack of action…if it happens….will have me wanting him gone ASAP.
    I hope he proves me right and spends, though I’m not at all positive he will.

  300. scottfromoz says:

    Oohhh nasty…let the games begin:)
    Aussies are ancestors NOT only of convicts, but the supreme examples of the English species.
    Those smart enough to steal a loaf of bread were given a free trip to paradise 🙂

  302. Wath says:

    Ancestors of convicts…… Since when did your history teachers change the syllabus to talk such rubbish…..! Stole bread and got banished to a lovely little place called New Zealand yet they got lost and came across this other gaff that was so dire they thought what better place for convicts…….. Hence offloaded them and the rest as they say is history although seems your future teachers have changed things some what 😛

  311. allezkev says:

    As far as new signings are concerned, i’d not expect too much.
    Reid is a good call, but only because he is cheap.
    Sissoko is off the radar now that Newcastle are talking in terms of £25m

  312. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, that’s the ultimate compliment 🙂 🙂 🙂
    Kev, Reid is young and keen, as well as strong.
    He will improve over time but is good enough now I reckon.
    Lamb chop…..mmmmmmmm.

  321. Lee says:

    My son played against “old Albanians” in a rugby tournament last year. I had visions of Eastern European ageing men but it was an U11 tournament. 😉

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