Daily Bits and Bobs

Depressing Arsenal! Wilshere's concerns & 'we can score more than you' does work….

Posted on by rico

Morning Gooners.

I don’t know about anyone else feels, but supporting Arsenal these days has become quite depressing for me.

No matter how good we think many of our players are and try and convince ourselves that the tide will soon turn and the next game will be the one, right now it’s not happening.

Each day we discuss similar things, where we all think we are going wrong, who should play and who should not. Who the club should sign in January and who we should sell. Are Wenger’s days numbered as he continues to play certain players out of position or adopt tactics which are clearly not working.

Is Wenger to blame for us not signing who believe to be the players to make Arsenal ‘perfect’ again and get us back to be a side that other clubs fear to play. Or is it indeed Stan Kroenke who take 100% of the blame as he sits on his butt in America and appears to be disinterested in what actually goes on during the 90+ minutes each time we play.

All the above and more goes round and around in our heads, on HH and all across the blog world.

But we never get anywhere really do we?

Then we hear the same old bollox from the players and manager who always suggest that the next game has to be the one.

Just a few:

“It is going to be a tough month for us now. It is going to test us all, not just physically but mentally as well, and I think we are ready for it.” says Walcott.

“We need to focus on getting through the group now. We have six more points available to us and the next game is really important – we need to make sure it is a win.” says Mannone.

“We still have a lot of new players. I have only played with them three times and we feel we are getting better and better as a team, and that we are bonding. Hopefully things will just get better from here.” says Wilshere

I believe we have shown a good response to Saturday’s game and you feel the team is getting better. I think in one month, if we continue to develop, we will be there. says Wenger..

I know the last thing we all want to hear is players being negative and maybe they are just trying to remain upbeat with their comments but how many times have we heard it before, yet little changes.

As said earlier and as we all say each day, we have a squad full of very good players.

Each and every one of them now really need to look in the mirror and start taking a bit of responsibility for their own game. Regardless of whingers wingers wanting to be strikers, central defenders not wanting to play on the flanks or goalkeepers being asked to play centre forward, they are all mature footballers being paid a good salary for doing something they love and it’s about time they all started earning that wage.

Wenger suggests things will be ‘there in a month’, IF we continue to develop.

Well we haven’t got a month, we need things to be ‘there’ now and if each and every one in our squad start working a lot harder, we might just be.

Otherwise, all the ‘stuff’ we discuss here on HH and other places, seems quite likely to be what we’ll be discussing in 2013…

Jack seems to be having a worry, he fears that he’ll never be as good as he once was. Well somehow I think he will, especially if he is not over played by club or country. You can see already what he gives us, and I’m sure there is plenty more yet to come.

I’ll end on brighter note though, Arsenal Ladies are through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League after a dramatic 4-3 win over FFC Turbine Potsdam giving them 6-4  aggregate scoreline.

Sometimes ‘we can score more’ really does come true 😉

That’s it for another day….

rico

0 thoughts on “Depressing Arsenal! Wilshere's concerns & 'we can score more than you' does work….”

  2. Scott from Oz says:

    That is the one Rico.
    As for being a depressed Gooner…….never??
    If it depressed me,i would give it away.

  4. Scott from Oz says:

    I saw a bit of it,but read plenty of reports,and all were good.
    Rico,think back a month or so,when we were playing well.
    All Gooners were buzzing.
    HH was buzzing.

  5. rico says:

    I think you kind of miss my point Scott, change, when will it change…..?

    Same old excuses, same old comments, same old stuff from the club, but when are those wearing the shirt and the one who manages them going to make it right….

  10. JW says:

    Good morning Rico and scott,

    I said yesterday that I no longer enjoy watching Arsenal, it’s too much like watching an old movie, you know the sort of thing “Unsinkable liner hits iceberg”.

  13. Scott from Oz says:

    You are forgiven JW lol
    Just think,if we can change the ending and sidestep the iceberg,all will be good in the world 🙂

  14. rico says:

    I don’t enjoy watching either JW, we could be 3-0 up but I still think we need 4..

    Not that we go 3-0 up these days 😉

  15. JW says:

    Scott,

    I don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but you know that if we avoided the iceberg we’d probably suffer the same fate as the Lusitania.

  16. tsGH says:

    Morning all…

    Some depressing views in here. AFC is run like the MoD.
    They both pay more for their spin masters than the grafters.

    The way I see it I am not going to the Emirates to support this wimps unless AW buys a proper striker and a number 10. And saying that I gave up my membership after the Blackburn game last August when I saw AW had bought Santos to play LB and on his first game contributed to us conceding 2 games.

  19. JW says:

    Rico,

    At least i wont be watching tomorrow, it’s our village’s annual duck race in the morning and my grand daughter’s ski lesson in the afternoon. I will know the result before watching Football First in the evening.

    Less stress that way! 🙂

  23. JW says:

    Between now and the middle of January we have eleven winnable Premiership games, before back to back matches against the Oilers and Chavs.

    At least in past seasons we would have been confident of taking a good few points from such matches, how many of them will we win this time around?

  24. tsGH says:

    😀 I am always realistic Rico.

    Unfortunately the board sold our club off to the wrong person as one of our major parties sold our country of to the human rights idiots in Europe.

  25. kel says:

    its hard not to be depressed these days, im going to the game on sat and tbh if flights, hotels etc wern’t all paid for i wouldn’t bother my arse going!! it’ll be my first and last visit this season thats for sure…. kronke aint gettin one more penny outta me! “simples”

  26. tsGH says:

    Normally if Arsenal were playing crap I could count on Dortmond but they are limping along just as us in the Bundesliga.

  27. JW says:

    Rico,

    That’s the trouble with growing old, all the days of the week merge into one.

    Thanks for pointing out my error, Friday is of course walk and pub lunch day. 🙂

  31. Lee says:

    kel, you’re not alone in feeling that way….tickets to the Emirates were like rocking horse shit, I get offered tickets all the time nowdays!

  32. Arsenal fan says:

    The buck stops with Wenger.He is responsible for the tactics,player transfers,etc.On both counts he has failed. Tactically he has lost it. It’s the same style and that’s why redfaced has found it so easy to beat the gunners repeatedly..His obssession withkids and cut price deals is causing the gunners to backslide.
    Celtic beat Barcelona . I doubt whether Arsenal can do it.Granted Barc a did not put 90% of their senior team.Still it’s a marvellous achievement.
    The thing is if the other team is noted for their attack and your attack is not that good,you don’t play to their strength. Flood the md.That’s what some weak teams do and sometimes it works.
    Wenger better watch how other teams score and win. He is too arrogant to change track believing in his way. The problem is the gunners aint competitive and will stay that way untilthe board says enough/

  33. JW says:

    No Lee,

    We need an out and out striker, one who will play sixty games a season and score thirty plus goals. But then Wenger would probably play him at left-back…..

  34. Lee says:

    I appreciate that Scott but we are being heavily linked to either of these two,and that’s for starters! We wouldn’t go far wrong raiding Shakhtar…. or we could continue paying a boat load of wankers top dollar!! Ho hum!

  36. Scott from Oz says:

    Lee,rumours,rumours and more rumours……which to believe?
    Forget Shakhtar…..go to the source….Brazil!!

  37. tsGH says:

    Guys we will not be able to buy from Shaktar. They have a billionaire owner and their brazillian earn as much as EPL players paying less tax. The chavs tried getting Willem but they did not need the money so they held their ground for £30m.

  39. rico says:

    JW – I’m not confident about Fulham, let alone looking any further 🙁

    Glad I reminded you about you walk and pub day, hate for you to miss it 🙂

    Tsgh – you and me both..

  41. tsGH says:

    Taarabt is another passenger type of player we should never buy. We already have too many players who fail to turn up on more occasions than they turn up.

    Scott- I choose not to go to the Emirates because I have never like Stan and his wife and what they stand for. I have friends who travel everywhere with Arsenal even to Ukraine and they are finally coming to the idea that AW does not have the power to tell the club thow much money to pay a player. If he had that power then the board are inept but they are not so I would say they are sheer snobs who lack any sense of reality.

  42. Bradster says:

    Season will be over by the time we are able to buy anyone. So we’ll just need to make do with the guys we have.
    Wenger’s a dumb ass to rely on Diaby doing an RVP this season, he is great and our team misses him but that’s alot of faith put in a cronically injured player.
    Seems everyone wants to play striker, reminds me of under 6 footy when the coach asks where everyone wants to play and there’s 11 hands for striker.

  45. Scott from Oz says:

    Tsgh,i wasn’t knocking Kel,just showing where i come from……a different perspective.
    It is very hard for me to understand howpeople can not want to watch Arsenal play,but i openly admit to that.
    Bradster,everyone said Wenger was a dumbass to expect RVP to do a job last season!!!!
    Still,he did go to the well once too often.

  51. Lee says:

    I we bid £10m or £12m I think they’d listen but is he what we need right now? We need a Falcao type player….pisses me off because we can afford him!!

  52. kel says:

    Belfast, rico, on averge a home game would cost me, £250 (before i buy a pint) 🙁 i usually do 4 a season! i understand where your coming from scott i’d feel the same if i lived in oz. i dont think so tsgh..

  54. jimd says:

    I’ve been a paying supporter of Arsenal for just over 60 years and a season ticket holder since 1969. Now, in that long time, I have suffered some pretty dire Arsenal teams and performances but I had never, during that time, felt the almost unbearable pain of watching them as I have over the last 5/6 matches( really since W Ham).

    I am with the less dramatic but nevertheless growing dissatisfied number of fans who believe the management of the club is the root problem and has been so for many years. However, this longstanding problem cannot adaquatly explain the current dire level of performance. So dire that in the Man. U and Shalke televised games, I found myself screaming, at no one in particular, ” I can’t take anymore”.

    What then has caused such a change in performance levels? Diaby who sarted so well going the way Diaby always goes? That could explain a drop in the level but not disintegration. The much vaunted technical ability of our midfield, which I believe is warranted, appears to be a joke as they miscontrol and misspass the ball to such an extent that makes a joke of their reputation as a passing team, who were a joy to watch. So what are we left with? New players? Player management? Tactical nous? All of the above?

    I genuinely believe that player management is the problem since Wenger has always been tactically inept, even in our best years. I believe he has “lost” this squad and that there is a likely “disconnect” with his assistant Steve Bould, which may also explain how the back four squad has also completely lost its way. Solution? Deary me! We are back to Wenger.

  56. rico says:

    Agree there, we need the here and now…

    Think the club lose sight of that kel, just as they do when they put their prices up…

    You wouldn’t mind so much if you were watching the kind of players we had back in 1998 – 2005….

    Calling Jack up so soon is crazy, Wenger/Jack should refuse, its only a friendly isn’t it?

    Anyone know if Chamberlain is back for Saturday?

    Night Scott….

  58. kel says:

    Forester & wanyama would improve us, that boy fernandhino would give us an option or two thats for sure, but with wengers tactics podolski, ramsey on wings etc santos at LB… not much will change we just look completely disjointed..

  59. Marinello says:

    Morning all, Rico, Lee, WATH,
    TsGh, Bradster,Scott, JW and Kel.
    Taarabt is another moody player who is very unpredictable. I listened to a QPR match last season on the car radio, against Hull,it was at the time that the Mancs were looking at him, during the match, he started arguing with his team mates and just before half time asked to be substituted! Can you believe that? Not really the kind of player that is needed at Arsenal, he has great skill, and is a gifted player to watch, but the inconsistent moods and displays far outweigh the plus points for me.
    I work with a chap who is a Crystal Palarse season ticket holder, and he really rates Zaha. He has a great attitude and has really come on leaps and bounds, is still young, and learning his trade. Depending on the transfer fee and wages, he could be one to go for.
    I watched the match on Tuesday, and always felt that even at 2 nil up, we were likely to concede. We have to learn how to convert a lead into a victory. We seem to be making silly individual errors, that are costly, and each player needs to take responsibility the minute they walk onto the pitch. I still see players looking to a colleague to make a challenge, or cut a pass out, this has to stop. Blimey, I could understand it if it was a Sunday afternoon pub team, but this is Arsenal and the players are professional, and with being a professional, like in all walks of life as well as sport, comes a high expectancy from people around them.
    If they cannot come to terms with this expectancy, they should be shipped out.

  60. Micko says:

    Morning all,
    Who’s got the happy pills ?
    JW, 10.03, still waiting for the sequel.
    Jack’s played 3 games in 10 days for us and would have played Saturday if not for the suspension, he’ll have the weekend off and play a half for England, he’ll be ok.

  62. Micko says:

    Marinello, there are 2 reasons Taarabt will never pull on an Arsenal shirt and they’re called Attitude and Work-rate, he stinks at both of them.

  63. rico says:

    Welcome jimd, I have had my moan in the post….

    Me Micko, found them in the cupboard. Our luck though will see Jack get a knock and be out for the Totts game…

    Marinello, i thought he was, and i thought Hughes wanted him gone..

  64. tsGH says:

    AW has come out saying the team is not as good as united. So what is he going to do in January to save our season like the siberian warrior AA23 did for us 3 years ago?

    Saying that AW thought the transfer window opened in December so I have no confidence in him to buy.

  66. Marinello says:

    I here what you are saying Micko, but Jack is still not 100% there yet, and sometimes when a player is at that stage in their recovery from injury, they sometimes mistime a tackle etc, which if he did that playing for England, he could be back in the treatment room alongside Diaby, Rossicky (sic), Flapianski and the others.
    Any news which season, Diaby may return to play.
    Do you realise that Sir Alex Ferguson has been at the helm of Manchester United Football Club for 26 years, well 28 really if you count the injury time…..

  69. tsGH says:

    Sanchez watts is injured. I thought he had talent and the speed to play on the flanks for us.

    Is the youth system even worth it now? 😡

  70. Micko says:

    The players will never mirror our feelings rico, they just seem happy to go through the motions every Saturday and Wednesday at the moment.
    That was kinda my point Marinello ! only with Wenger.
    Always remember the 9 minutes the ref added onto the game at qpr years ago, it was like he was playing until Man U equalised, as soon as they did he blew up.
    Tsgh, sick of your excuses, get yourself down the Emirates for a game, you’ve more chance of seeing the Lesser Spotted Warbler than Stan and his missus these days.

  71. Marinello says:

    I am going to stick my neck on the block for Saturdays game, and say that I think it will be a draw. Funny how times change, a home game against Fulham, one would expect the 3 points.
    I wonder how long Steve Bould will stay as number 2? Even being paid £10k a week or whatever wage he is on, it must be hard to sit there and watch what goes on, out on the pitch and not be allowed
    to upturn a tray of tea at half time, or give the hair dryer treatment.
    Saying that Bould is as bald as a coot, so has no need for a hair dryer…..

  72. emma says:

    Hi Gunners,

    Taraabt another sashi man. Chamakh’s best mate. The Taraabt issue is overblow. I think its just a decoy. I know we are after Zaha, the Crystal palace wonderkid but whether an agreement could be reached in Jan transfer window is another issue. Some are saying an agreement has being finalized that’s why the coach left before holloway was appointed. Holloway says he will be happy to work with Zaha until he leaves in Jan. So there might be more steel in the story he could be heading to us. He will be a welcome addition.

    But I still think we are short. We need to strengthen the following department

    GK
    DM(Can’t depend on the fitness of Diaby)
    Versatile defender/LB
    Attacker

    Wenger needs to start playing our players in their actual position. Watched Shaktar v chelsea yesterday, In Shaktar saw how arsenal have regressed. They outplayed Chelsea and I envy their fluidity, movement, skills, intelligence and pace upfront. That was the same Shaktar team we defeated in the champions league 2 seasons ago 5-1. If only we had kept ours.

    This team will come good but I still think it will take sometime. The chemistry is not there yet. We are still struggling. We are not creating enough chances like we used to. I hope the team peaks soon but my guess is the team still needs 2 good months together.

    We shouldn’t be looking at the league this year but the cups that should be our priority for now. This is because from the way we are playing we are going to drop more pts. simples 🙁

  73. emma says:

    rico – I think Jack will be ok. He is suspended for the fulham match and he needs games to keep his fitness level up. I wouldn’t mind if he plays for 45/60mins in the friendly before the seven sisters come visiting 🙂

  75. Marinello says:

    Hi Emma,
    Very eloquently put.
    There used to be a saying that foreign players joining a Premier League Club can take a season to settle in, what with moving family, finding a house etc and just generally adjusting to new surroundings and getting used to the style, system of play of the new Club and players etc….
    So I think that you are right, and that this season we will struggle for a top 4 finish, but could do well in one of the Cups. Just need to show some consistency, and hopefully get some of the injured back and competing for places.

  77. rico says:

    Micko – and there is the problem, not enough heart for the club right the way through the squad…

    But why does it seem to cause us more probs than most, we are not the only team with overseas players…

  79. DutchGooner10 says:

    Afternoon peeps of the Goonerworship,

    Or should I say guns worth shit.

    Paper over the cracks all you want, it won’t wash with me anymore. I feel dirty when I call thy name; Arsenal.

    Raises hairs on the back of my neck “IF we continue to develop…….” it flashes images of Darwin’s hominid trajectory in me minds eye. That sort of visionary has more question marks dangling over it than answers are available within our solar system.

    Like, will they ever learn to crack their own peanuts?

    Look at the Schalke equalizer, 5/6 Arsenal players watch the projectile going overhead as if they were rocket scientists in white coats scribbling notes on their clipboard, totally unaware the technology might fall in the wrong hands at a moments notice.

    Highlights here http://video.meta.ua/5221532.video?pos=0 Click the pic.

    Rico I have so much appreciation for YOUR consistency. People should take that into account when arguing your poured feelings. Everybody gets a welcome and a sensible reply on their comments. Each and every fecking day!! 365 days a year. Tell me wich blog gives you that experience? That’s committing to a cause, free of charge. Relentlessly battling for a spot among the best. Not to boast but to service needs. She sacrifices more than what you could call admirable.

    I’m more proud being a HH regular than a Gooner at this point in time.

  80. rico says:

    good comment emma, shame really, we seem to be saying the same things each season do we…

    CO Cup and getting CL footie – that’s about our max for this season i think, and that is only if Leeds can knock out Chelsea next round…

  84. DutchGooner10 says:

    Marinello

    Tiffin is indeed lunch.

    Urban dictionary is a good source, very enjoyable read as well. Recommend it to anyone.

  88. TT says:

    I watched the Celtic Barcelona game last night. Celtic had everything we lack…..courage, blood and guts performance, a manager not afraid of changing things around to suit the opposition and togetherness and willingness to chase after every ball every time.

  90. DutchGooner10 says:

    Lee make that a Nigerian Guinness, he’s saving on the real thing to buy us Falcao in January.

    (TSGH theory not mine.)

  91. smudge says:

    Micko says:
    November 8, 2012 at 12:03 pm
    Marinello, there are 2 reasons Taarabt will never pull on an Arsenal shirt and they’re called Attitude and Work-rate, he stinks at both of them.

    —————————–

    That’s exactly why they would fit in micko 😉

  93. rico says:

    You sound like Wenger Dg 😉

    You old cynic smudge, sadly though, you are possibly right….

    He wouldn’t fit in, but when did that make a difference to our manager…

  95. tsGH says:

    😀 DG10..

    Hey Micko, I am not making excuses. kroenke and PHW are not having my money…

    Not getting a proper LB did it for me last August. Especially after the LBs are the new playmakers comment. What happened to fullbacks have to defend first? And I am still AWs’ 2nd or 3rd favobigest fan after himself and Cruyff. lol

  98. emma says:

    DG10 – Very funny I guess our defenders are no rocket scientist. 🙂
    The second goal was a catalog of errors emanating from Mert who should have gone with the player that plays in the cross. Affelay had enough time and space to play in the cross. Our capt (TV5) of recent is suffering from lack of confidence. He should have marked forfar and allow kos to deal with the header. I wouldn’t blame him as it would have being worse had Santos played.

    First goal was Cazorla’s fault. It was a great opportunity for a counter but he decided to dribble backwards and as a result lost the ball in a dangerous position

  102. Marinello says:

    Smudge 1.31: that made me laugh!
    When you look at some of Wengers buys, that seem to be overshadowed by the Anelka, Bergkamp, Viera, Henry, Adebyore, RVP profit on transfers, Tarbuck leaving QPR for Arsenal could be another buy like Jeffers, Wright (GK), Tavlaridis, Pennant, Luzhny, Grondin, Stepenovs, Cygan, Senderos, Reyes, Wrea (okay he did score 1 important goal), and Chamakh. But safe to say, that from 1996 to date, Arsene’s profit on transfers far outweigh his iffy purchases.

  103. tsGH says:

    Lee their coach Mircea Lucescu is another who believes in AW philosophy. He said that when he was at Besikta. He has world class forwards and cheap defenders and goalies.

  104. tsGH says:

    marinello Luzhny is a work horse you can not underrate him. (joking)

    He was probably the most highly rated defender AW bought but then went about to try to turn him into a CB.

  106. DutchGooner10 says:

    Emma

    That’s why I was cautious not naming players, it was a comedy of errors altogether. The deflection coul have happened to anyone arriving first at the post, they all made a blind dash for it as the unfathomed reality hit their grey matter.

    You can call yourself propulsion scientist if you’re able dropping a pack of Mentos in a bottle of coke. No intelligence needed. 😉

  108. Marinello says:

    tsGh 2.06: I agree with you about Luzhny, he was a good honest pro, and as you say played out of position.
    I was reading about another good honest Pro the other day, Stephen Hughes. It would apear that he made a good living from having his contract terminated, and paid up at various clubs.
    We transfered him to Everton for £3m, where a year later his contract was terminated. Then a free to Watford, again season after contract terminated. Free to Coventry, where he had his best spell. that followed another free to Walsall, where at the end of his contract, he retired, as they didn’t offer him a better deal than he was on….. So for a player who showed early promise, suffered a few injuries, still made a good living for not doing a lot. Not many jobs like that around.

  109. DutchGooner10 says:

    Marinello re iffy purchases.

    The last I read it equates by rough estimation to 45 mln bought < 210 mln sold for profit. Excluding the sale of Judas and Sing Along. Which should make it around 251 next balance book.

  110. Marinello says:

    DutchGooner10 2.32: You can see why the Board and Stan love Arsene from the profits that he has made them from his buying and selling. Mix that up with early success on the pitch, full houses at Highbury and the Emirates, he cannot do any wrong in their eyes.

  111. tsGH says:

    Very true there on AW dealings. But I think that should have ended in 2010. That policy was needed to enable us to get some initial stability at the Ems. But I think post 2010 they should have pushed the bought far enough. Especially when you consider we could have offered more for players like Huntelaar and bender last summer.
    Saying that ee offered Cesc enough for him to stay with us for ever but…

  112. DutchGooner10 says:

    Marinello

    Keep in mind that they managed to keep the deadweight out of the books at a loss. Only Park got on the minus sheet last accounting term. Reason why Bendtner, Derision and Arsshaving haven’t been sold. Sheer number fetishism!!!!

    The profitability I gave only relate to the super stars we make being sold. Don’t have it top of mind on the flops.

    Re Wenger can do no wrong. PHW states he can have the job for life if he wants. Says something similar to diplomatic immunity.

  116. NashuaGunners says:

    Hi Rico and All.

    DG10.” I’m more proud being a HH regular than a Gooner at this point in time.” I second the motion.

    It gives me no more joy to watch Arsenal these days with Arsenal lineup, with players out of positions and those who are not even qualified to be in the first team.

    SteveP said it best the other day, let AW become coach again and stop worrying about profit at the end of the fiscal year, and stop worrying about who among our best players he is going to sell to make up for the profit at the end of the year.

  118. NashuaGunners says:

    SteveP said,” Wenger should have only one thing in his mind and that is building a squad of players that can win things again, leave the finances of the club to whoever it concerns.”

  119. arsenal11730 says:

    Good point Emma – Focus on the cups.
    I get frustrated when players speak often, and do not follow up on the pitch.
    Let AW talk.
    I do not expect us to win every game, but it is when we play poorly with tactical ineptitude, I scream.
    A team of grafters with a few decent players like Celtic portrayed last night. I would be a happier Gooner.
    Cottagers and Spuds at best will be 2 points.
    Our title hopes will be extinguished outright within the next fortnight.
    Sorry to be bearish but these players have NO mental steel.

  120. DutchGooner10 says:

    Nash

    I feel I’ve become a fan of supporters these days. HH is my fix for proper legends. Not allowed to muster any affection for those that grace the pitch.

    Emma

    Tnx for the vid. Bless Muamba every time the Bolton badge appears. Akpom looks a killer if he can compose his crosshair a bit more ruthlessly.

  121. devilgunner says:

    DG10……………Rico I have so much appreciation for YOUR consistency. People should take that into account when arguing your poured feelings. Everybody gets a welcome and a sensible reply on their comments. Each and every fecking day!! 365 days a year. Tell me wich blog gives you that experience? That’s committing to a cause, free of charge. Relentlessly battling for a spot among the best. Not to boast but to service needs. She sacrifices more than what you could call admirable.

    I’m more proud being a HH regular than a Gooner at this point in time.

    I will second that DG10.

    But I still maintain that chicks are for the stew in the saucepan!!! 😉

  127. devilgunner says:

    Beef, Chicken, Turkey, rabbits, I like the lot. It does no difference to me. If its meat than its more than welcome. (Erm..even a bit of flesh will do wonders. 😉 )

  131. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We need a player like Fernandinho (Fernando Rosa) nº7 of Schacktar. That’s the mean goal. Schacktatar has a very good team, where each player know what they must to do to the team and improve themselves for the team and to valorise themselves.
    Each player has he specific function on the pitch.They were unlucky yesterday.
    Porto is on the next stage. they have a good team? Not at all but they work as a team. A block defending and attacking intelligent. As Schaktar, are very strong pressure on the ball carrier away from the area and very strong in defensive compensations. They have a collective sense without dazzle.
    Like yesterday Mancs won in Braga when RVP came in, He gave them another depth forward and especially a special class in the last 20 meters,

  132. DutchGooner10 says:

    Devil

    Credit where it’s due. Even when she awoken from narco and was recovering from a double shoulder operation, which gave her a zipper back wide, Rico still managed HH with her big toe. Welcoming first timers. 😉

    Make mine flaked with chili sauce dipped crispy by members of KFC.

  133. devilgunner says:

    Member of KFC???? That was one of the best I heard today!!!!

    Rico is worth her weight in gold.

    Not only she has patience with us and writes daily. She also LISTENS…..something which many people do not even know what that means.

  136. devilgunner says:

    I am ok Kev.

    Hope you are fine.

    Back in a bit. Got to help the little prince with his HW. GRrrrrrrrrr

    I still hate homeworks..

  138. allezkev says:

    Coach, it’s all those beans and pulses, they make you a very good listener….

    And very regular…. 😉

  141. Marinello says:

    Yep, well done Rico for consistently giving up your time and stirring the brain cells of fellow Gooners about the woes of being a Gooner. I suppose if you supported a team like Lincoln City who are now plying their trade in the Blue Square League, you would question why us Arsenal fans see 4th spot in the Prem as a failure. But then Lincoln fans only pay a fiver to watch their team and we pay top dollar, and just want to see our team play with a bit of bite and pride and never say die attitude. So, well done from me.

  142. devilgunner says:

    I know what AW might need to make it work as it should.

    The dance of the twenty veils.

    Hmmmmmm. But would Rico do it???? 😉

  144. devilgunner says:

    Rico will be as red as a beetroot when she comes back.

    Off to help again. This HW lark is getting on my nerves.

  146. Micko says:

    Dutch, lol, I’ll never be able to look at a vegtable in the same light again and I’m not talking about Diaby either !

  147. DutchGooner10 says:

    Micko it’s the light that makes you notice. Most veggies are best kept out of the sun if you want to go home for dinner. 😉

  148. Lee says:

    Yeah, Coach re your 3:48 post, I totally agree about your praise for the House! I need a daily fix…..or I go cold turkey!

  149. devilgunner says:

    I miss HH daily…………except during some moments when I am literally a step away from heaven (that is on the mountains in the Alps)

    Cause Rico has not simply created a blog. She has managed to create a family.

  152. rico says:

    Afternoon you bunch of rogues…..

    Right now I am close to agreeing re chickens, the little B******s I have are still clearing their fence and trashing my garden. Went for a walk with them all scratching away happily on their side, returned to all four pooping everywhere on the lawn and having dug up a few plants – trust me, I was red all right, with anger!! 😉

    Now waiting a quote for a new fence to be erected, much higher!

    Grrrrrrr

    And thank you for such kind words in my absence, but you all know who I know makes this place tick, and it isn’t me! 🙂

  153. DutchGooner10 says:

    Devil / Lee amen to that.

    And there Rico was, thinking she could all give us a miserable day with her poison. 😛

  154. Marinello says:

    Right I’m off. Enough joviality for one day.
    Have a good evening all, keep the faith and speak tomorrow.
    Marinello.

  155. rico says:

    Micko, 😆 Re Diaby…

    Leave those turkeys out of it Lee, you know they get a bit sensitive this time of year 😉

  157. devilgunner says:

    Sensitive and TENDER Rico. Except for me its all year round. I do not need to wait till Christmas for Turkey breast.

    What do you make of veggies now Rico?

  160. devilgunner says:

    I am not trying to put you off Rico. They should go hand in hand with the flesh……..erm sorry meat. 😆

  162. devilgunner says:

    I simply cant stop laughing folks. I keep seeing that clip on veggies and keep imagining its Goonie in front of Clorinda.

    FABULOUS.

  163. Micko says:

    Anzhi vs Liverpool up shortly, Anzhi have to play their Europa cup games in Moscow as their home town is deemed too dangerous for foreigners to visit, if I didn’t know better I’d say players were only going their for the money !
    The Moscow fans ain’t happy with the arrangement either, sounds like a recipe for trouble to me.

  164. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico just buy a rubber chicken from the Swedish chef in the Muppet Online Shop. Mock it up like scarecrow on a stick with the complimentary raincoat and dented hat.

    Presto, keeps those buggers out till they figure through conversation, it’s only a deaf mute.

  166. devilgunner says:

    tsGH at 4.13 for the dance of the seven veils Lady.

    If AW sees that he will return to what he once was.

    PHWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR

  168. tsGH says:

    I am up for anything that would help him return to the AW just before he appointed William Cryass as captain….

  169. DutchGooner10 says:

    Micko

    Guus Hiddink coaching there makes you wonder how many retire pennies one needs. Eto’o earns about a million plus per month I believe.

  170. devilgunner says:

    We have a volunteer. tsGH to dance the dance of the seven veils in front of AW.

    Makes my stomach go round. HEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPP

  173. tsGH says:

    😀 Ok Dev- battle lines are drawn. I have to drop WATH an email to assign you to a new role after the takeover.

  181. rico says:

    Ches, playing Friday and then in the squad for Saturday, how bizarre…

    I will take a look devil…

    Santos back at Lb, i bet… AW won’t see the PL game as important as Fulham…

    Who plays on Fulhams right, any one know?

  182. devilgunner says:

    Chesney might be a sub on Saturday.

    The worst thing that AW will do now is simply to drop Mannone. He will shoot his confidence to pieces.

  183. DutchGooner10 says:

    Emma

    You think we’ll see Diaby before Christmas? I feel slightly uncomfortable knowing he’s still officially considered part of a rotating/functioning squad. I know his value when fit but those days are shrouded in mist.

  186. rico says:

    Dg, I don’t. I wish Wenger would tell us what is meant to be wrong with him. Didn’t it all start as a dead leg?

  188. emma says:

    DG10 – We might not see him after the end of this season. Probably if he does appear, he might get 2/3 matches under his belt and off to the treatment table again 🙂

  189. Micko says:

    Scousers 1 nil down at half time, Samba playing for Anzhi.
    Tsgh 1.40, there’s a growing swell, your not alone.

  190. arsenal11730 says:

    Wow – Just read the Adrian Clarke comment from RVP about Manu start training at 10am, NOBODY IS EVER LATE.
    We start training at 10.30am and many turn up late.
    It all begins on the training ground and the lack of a leader at our club.No Respect leads to complacence.
    Whether you like or loathe Sir Alex he is a REAL LEADER of HIS club.
    AW is the leader of the Colney Creche.
    MA should be given the armband now, TV form has suffered as he cannot handle the additional pressure.
    IS it true about Szczesnys injury or was he dropped????
    When a player is dropped we should all know, so the rest of the squad keep standards high, for fear of being next.
    That is how Sir Alex runs it.
    AW needs to grow a pair and ACT….

  191. rico says:

    I hope he has a couple of games over Christmas emma, maybe then some other team will want him and we get him off of our treatment table once and for all….

    Phew devil…

    Just turned the footie on Micko, how is Samba playing?

  193. DutchGooner10 says:

    Emma / Rico

    Shame he’s such an enigma to our medical staff. But I also blame playing him 3 matches on the trot. Shouldn’t be a make or break player for the entire season. Not with his injury record. Wenger could hardly be comforting the term misjudgment.

  194. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all.
    Nice one Rico, don’t think anything will change. We need to pass the ball forward instead of sideways and backwards and we need to lose zonal marking untill then doesn’t matter who we buy our form will not change . Yes we have a few good players and yes they can play a bit but this system will only knock players confidence. Theo Walcott can say anything he wants, to me he is a player who should be doing a lot more, he finds it dificult to cross a ball to a player and his dribbling is non existant he is also a keen back passer, this is not just a dig at Theo cozorla started well but has also started passing backwards people knock Ramsey but at least he tries to go forward Jenkinson as well but Wenger doesn’t play them. Watching Chelsea last night and bouts of Unied and they play forwards and make chances until we do the same expect more losses.

  196. rico says:

    Agree again Dg, and the same thing is happening with Jack, thank heavens for his sending off….

    Hi Steve, sadly I too am starting to think changes won’t happen for a long time….

  197. DutchGooner10 says:

    Steve

    It’s number fetishism in all directions. On the pitch as well as off.

    – most possession percentage
    – press releasing 60.000 attendees when patches of empty seats were witnessed
    – best in class at maths but shite at athleticism
    – boat load of employees, few prize fighters
    – most injury related implosions
    – strict wage policy to justify human capital reduction only outside office
    – least amount of height in the squad and therefore least amount of muscles pound for pound
    – etcetera, etcetera

  198. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening Dutch, yeh your right there mate. I noticed the other night that City have adopted zonal marking as well, got to say i have never taken much notice of them but i see that their results are also dipping

  199. Micko says:

    Lets just say don’t waste your time with the sky+ button rico, Joe Cole vs Chris Samba, a bit of a mis-match.

  200. DutchGooner10 says:

    Steve

    With Shitty you could argue panic management with us it’s statistically mismanagement. At least we’re lucky to have such consistent leadership.

    Being the Manchurian candidate Mankini is. Believe he’s already packed his EPL medal and strolls the EasyJet site for Holiday tickets as we speak.

  201. rico says:

    Nicely put Dg..

    I have already switched off Micko…

    Steve, you would have thought Mankini would have given up following Wenger…

  202. smudge says:

    Don’t know what all the fuss is about M’vila’s antics. He only got kicked out of a night club . What’s the big deal about that? The French FA really need to take a good look at themselves. Wenger sign him up! We need someone with a bit of fight!

  204. tsGH says:

    Evening all,

    I am sure AW knows this is a make or break season for him. I am 70% sure he will walk this summer. Its all over twitter now that fans have had enough. He was told by IG last year that if the fans turn against him they he would be sacked!

    On zonal marking even GG mentioned that it is the best system to use.Most teams are lining up behind the 18 yard box instead of the 6 yard box like they use to. This makes it very difficult for the defending team. If you go man for man he will have most of the defending players around the D of the penalty box wish will make it much easier for goals to be scored.

  205. smudge says:

    Yeah i’ve seen him a couple of times and really does look good rico.
    The guy from Skhaktar ‘ ferdingho’ ,i think he’s called. also looks worth a punt.

  207. DutchGooner10 says:

    Smudge

    Someone mentioned we should laud Theo for keeping his life clean and sober. Well that’s his problem to me. Pattern thinking, rigidly.

    Seriously Theo try poking danger and expectancy in the eye more often. Invent your own trickery and all that. It’s not get out of the gates the fastest every time. Spring heeled cat instead of chicken. And no I’m not mad you missed Tuesday night in the dying seconds. We didn’t deserve 3 points stolen. Sorry for your binned headline though.

  208. tsGH says:

    For a number 10. I wont mind Honda at all. Quality and in his last year plus he will sell jersey’s too to earn IG more bonus points and commission.

    For a best of a DM on a free, Odil Ahmedov of Anzhi. I think Dzagoev is on a free sometime in Feb so there are options

  209. Micko says:

    Smudge, didn’t he slap some gobby teenager in the face, thought he was up for GBH.
    Anyway he’s a fighter, not a lover, he wouldn’t fit in.

  210. smudge says:

    I think Wenger has no option but to make decisive moves’ s in the transfer market come January. It could be his last throw of the dice. He made a big move in jan 09 with Arshavin when cesc was out injured and ‘ 4th place trophy’ was at risk. This time we could see at least two signings.
    Agreed tsgh Dzagoev would be an inspired move. Don’t know anything about Ahmedov.

  215. Micko says:

    Yes thank you Smudge, I know a very good char-walla I can recommend to you if you are interested, you know where i am.

  217. rico says:

    Tsgh – IG possibly only said that for the sake of it. Can’t see this current owner sacking AW, he looks after his money too well…

  221. Joaquim Moreira says:

    our man: 🙂
    Fernandinho (nº 7)
    Nationality: Brazil
    Place of birth:
    Date of birth: 1985-05-04
    Weight: 67
    Height: 176
    Biography
    Player’s career:
    Full name: Fernando Luis Roza.
    FC Shakhtar player since 2005.
    Ukrainian Premier League – 2006, 2008
    Ukrainian Cup 2008
    Ukrainian Premier League runner-up 2007
    Brazilian League-2004 runner-up, Libertadores Cup finalist 2005.
    Season League Club Appearances Goals
    2008/09 Premier FC Shakhtar 16 5
    2007/08 Premier FC Shakhtar 29 11
    2006/07 Premier FC Shakhtar 25 1
    2005/06 Premier FC Shakhtar 15 1
    2005 first, Brazil Atletico Paranaense 2 –
    2004 first, Brazil Atletico Paranaense 41 9
    2002/03 first, Brazil Atletico Paranaense 29 5
    93 matches, 18 goal in the Ukrainian League.
    9 matches, 2 goal in the Ukrainian Cup
    72 matches, 14 goals in the Brazilian league.
    9 matches, 1 goal in Libertadores Cup.
    39 matches, 7 goal in European matches.
    Best player of Parana state U-19 – 2002.
    Played for U-18 and U-20. Won World Champion’s title as Brazilian U-20 player in 2003 scoring a winning goal in the match.

  222. rico says:

    Funny really, I used to think that maybe under Usmanov, Wenger might revert back to being the manager he once was but right now, I’m not so sure.

  224. smudge says:

    JM

    Fernandinho is a the peak of his career ATM , doubt he would choice us even if we did want him. Willian now that’s a different situation. Chelsea are top heavy with am’s so if we would put down say 18m it could just be enough .He also was class last night.

  226. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico

    Arsene can revert under Usmanov if given a new job description.

    Not; keep this project ‘moneymaker’ afloat.

    But; parade trophies around town.

  228. rico says:

    I guess he’d be able to buy players to fit the gaps Dg and that’s what we lack. Too many ‘fitting in’.

    I think the prob goes back to Dein, not so much the fact he left but not having a replacement ready and waiting. Wenger’s role then extended and he’s never had his reigns pulled back in…

  229. DutchGooner10 says:

    Madam.

    Ask Mankini what he charges for a burger with onions and what it costs without. Silly looks is all you get, I predict.

    Ask Wenger and you get a whole inventory list of every spendable penny within footsteps from the Ems.

  234. rico says:

    That’s me done for the day guys and gals.

    No pessimism tomorrow I promise…. 😉

    Have a good evening and catch up tomorrow…

    Night all

  235. smudge says:

    Wenger mentioned Rosicky in his injury round up today for the first time in ages so he must be back in rehab 🙂

  238. DutchGooner10 says:

    Rico just be lazy with the post and enlighten our visitors with this commendable English football documentary. It puts all sorts into perspective.

  243. rico says:

    I didn’t even know what it meant Tsgh 😉

    New post will be up around 9.30, i’ll be back then, got to pop off….

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