Morning all,
One week into the Internationals and no doubt all Arsenal supporters have turned attentions to your parent countries, some of you may not have too much interest in these fixtures, perhaps your county is not involved.
If so, this second week will feel like a fortnight all over again.
Maybe you have been doing a bit of DIY, painting the kitchen or bathroom, or maybe the garden is now tidy after the first week.
Regardless of how you have filled your time during this stupid break, I bet at the back of your mind is the one thing all Arsenal supporters will be dreading, that is news of injury to one of our players.
Strange as it may seem but I get more annoyed when an injury occurs to our players whilst involved in internationals, than when our players are playing for us, not a good statement from a proud Englishman is it, but that’s how I feel.
When our team was losing at the start of the season, the back pages were full of stories about our useless players, our ‘passed his sell by date’ manager, how our club were on the downward spiral, how we faced a serious relegation threat and some even suggested it would be a miracle if we finished in the top half of the table!
The players signed in the summer were just a knee jerk, panic buys after our seasons start and most were judged to have been a total waste of money! We’d become nothing other than a feeder club now and whoever we have left, we are stuck with because no other club would touch them.
Those of us that take all that paper talk with a pinch of salt, realised that The Arsenal, after losing a number of players were going to have to go through a transitional period before they could retain their competitive nature.
I have been lucky enough to have been an Arsenal supporter for more years than I care to remember and I have seen many transitional periods.
Players of exceptional quality have passed their sell buy date and have moved on, also players who have seen their futures in pastures new.
I have seen many managers come and go but in all that time The Arsenal have always been a part of the top league in the country. Yes we have had barren times and we have had our magical times as well but transition means just that.
A change in players always means a change in fortune, sometimes good and sometimes not so good, I have seen fortunes change almost over night, where other times, it may take a number of years.
Many supporters may feel that a six-year drought of silverware is a down time, I personally see those last few years as very productive, as I believe that transition is not just about players it’s also about everything connected to The Arsenal football Club.
I understand many supporters see success only by cups in a cabinet, and although I agree that is the ultimate, the bragging rights which lets face it, we have all experienced and have enjoyed ramming down the throats of others is equal.
Yes, you know which club I am talking about, a club that have had a lot less success in their history than us.
In our lean spells, we have still had the pleasure of European competitions, not just once or twice like a lot of others, we have set records for how many times we have been involved and been very fortunate to have had good runs in the competition and we can’t forget how good that has been for us financially.
Also in that lean spell we have changed our home from Highbury to The Emirates and with that move we have enabled many more fans to watch home games, something which I believe is luxury splendour.
That in itself in my view is a transition.
I have read that the designers of The Emirates, designed it so it would be possible to increase the number of supporters for future years, perhaps another tier, maybe not in my lifetime but perhaps for my grandchildren, that in itself would be amazing.
Will this transition bring the success that supporters crave for, that is a question that cannot be answered?
All I can say is, winning the Premier League has become increasingly more difficult and as you know Premier League football is determined by how much money is spent on the teams and how certain clubs have more money available than many of the others.
We are one of the clubs with very rich owners and we could so easily be up there with the top spenders, in other words we could buy trophies if we really wanted to. All it would take is to buy the talent available before your competitors, we could battle it out with the best and I see no reason why we cannot attract the best, so why don’t we?
I don’t know is my answer but would that be fair on the poorer club? Would it really be such a great victory.
My view on this is I would love to win a trophy on merit, just like Birmingham did against us last year, what an incredible achievement that was, the under dog beating the favourite – how did that happen?
Simple, they wanted it more than us!
We would have seen that victory as a means to stop the press from throwing that six years down our throats at every opportunity they get, but Birmingham wanted a win because they had nothing else left to actually win, relegation followed their win but for a few hours after their triumph over us, that wasn’t in their minds.
That was a victory to remember until they die and that is the feeling I believe we should be seeking.
Don’t buy it, earn it, that has to be worth so much more…….
Just my view.
Written by Steve Palmer
Well I believe we cannot attract the best because the best demand the best wages, and we can’t offer that! Also big names like to see fellow big names at a club before they join, and we are in the business of selling those not buying. In essence so far, we are the ultimate feeder club I am afraid.
And has anyone one seen there is a possible friendly match to be played between Ireland and England if we’re not matched against each other in the euros. Would like to see it, and see it go off without incident.
Top gun. Good morning guys and chicks!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Paul won by a whisker.
Good post Steve.
Good point regarding the league cup last year. I feel that its not that they wanted to win it more than us. Its that we wanted to give it to them more than we wanted to win it for us. Dont forget that they had 11 players on the pitch while we had something around 8 or 9.
Morning all
I’m not sure we can attract the ‘top players’ either, agree with ESP, when it comes to wages we cannot compete, or don’t want to compete. Stan maybe wealthy but he’s not in the same wealth league as Roman or Citeh’s owners…. And, from what comes out of the club, that will not change either, not under this current board….
Wow just seen the Fabregas comments encouraging RVP to leave Arsenal, what a real piece of shit that guy is.
How rude of me, great post Steve, i’m fed up with transitions by the way – we seem to have been through more of them than Iv’e had hot dinners 😉
Morning Rico. But at the end of the day its 11 vs 11 on the pitch and if the club gets a squad of 25 quality players which has two players for every position plus one extra keeper, one versatile defender, one versatile midfielder and one extra striker then its feasible to say that anything can happen. With good tactics and intelligent footballers than results will be achieved. We could have got Sergio Ramos, Lahm, Bosingwa, etc to be our right back. But no we got Sagna who was not so famous and now we do not imagine the back four without him. Now we got Jenks and he is growing with every game. Was he famous? No he was not.
Its not who you are rather its what are you made of.
And remember……..all the big players were not so famous when they started out. And some players are not famous when they start out with us. They become. Football is a cycle. There is no guarantee that a famous player will be a good addition to your squad.
I haven’t read his comments yet Esp, if they are true, yes, what a piece of s**t he is…. no doubt Barca want him and he’s doing what the rest of his side did when trying to get Cesc…
Hi DG, yes it is 11 v 11 – but the likes of Citeh can bring players off the bench who as good as the ones they replace, sometimes better – but, I do agree a lot is about what is within the player, just look at Torres, a fabulous proved goal scorer who is off form and doesn’t look to be too interested in getting it back either…
Also, although I don’t believe we can attract the huge stars, I actually am not fussed, i have always said i prefer players who want to play for us, for us, not just to see what they can earn…..
CESC FABREGAS last night warned Robin van Persie: If you don’t quit Arsenal now you never will.
Gunners skipper RVP has put contract talks with the club on hold until the end of the season.
This has made the Gunners fear the Dutchman, 28, could be the next big name to walk away.
Fab, who left London to join boyhood idols Barcelona in the summer, said: “I don’t know if they will keep him. It is his decision.
“At his age, if he wants to move it will be his last chance and if he wants to stay he will stay and retire at Arsenal.”
Van Persie has just 18 months left on his current deal with the Gunners.
Fabregas said: “We will see what he decides but he’s been very loyal to Arsenal for a few years. He is a key player, the fans love him.
“He is the role model of Arsenal, the star player and they cannot afford to lose him.”
Van Persie has started the season like a house on fire, netting 13 goals in 13 starts.
Fab admitted: “He is having an amazing season. Hopefully he will be fit for the whole season.
“Unfortunately when I was there, he never enjoyed a whole season without injury.”
Fab, 24, has started seven of Barca’s 11 matches in La Liga this season, scoring five times.
He said: “It is like a dream.”
What did happen with the England result was a reason for our manager to have a look at himself. Following their defeat Cesc’s comments have followed the Wenger mantra of possession and style, whereas what was proven was that a team set up to nullify the opponent has a good chance of succeeding. Where we have fallen down over the past years is in ignoring the strengths of our opponents and trying to impose our own game. It’s a risky business.Capello took the sting out of Spain, cut off their creativity the way so many teams have done to us and like many of them on the day ” got Lucky “.
ESP :- just depends which report you have read. there are others saying that Arsenal should reach agreement and keep him. Journalistic spin on the same comment.
Hi Potter – i think Hoddle said something similar, he also added that he hopes Capello doesn’t play his side like that again.. Why?
didn’t he just play the right team, right tactics and pull off a great victory….
The international week will be over soon. Hopefully the players will return unscathed,hopefully all of them. Then the gunners must carry on the good run.
Baletolli scored another long range goal. This seems to be the trend of the gunners conceding goals from long range. The Spurs winner,Dortmund equaliser etc were such goals.
Wenger better get the defence working and the nearest defender should go near any striker going to shoot. The split second tackel,harassment can mean the difference between a goal and the result.
Hi Shahr, agree, we need them all back unscathed, it’s sometimes easy and i know i do, and think too much about Rvp, but should we lose Merts, Kos or TV, we would be up doo daa street….
The spuds winner should have taught them a bit of a lesson, far too much space given for the shot – not only the defence though, the midfield should be doing their bit to close the oppo down in such areas…
Szczesny should stay closer to his line though. Hopefully he will learn.
Morning all,
thank you for your comments. Rico again thanks for your help.
Robin would be a great loss for us at this moment in time, he has had a blinding run and of course we all hope he continues, but should he get injured or if he see’s his future elsewhere is just a way of life. We could give RVP a million a week and he would be a fool to turn it down, but that would cause all sorts of problems, the rest of the team would want the same and no football club can afford to do that, All Wenger and the Board can do is to offer Robin a very good deal and hope he wants to stay.If he see’s his future somewhere else, i would say good luck to you Robin, as he has done his best for us. Robins Loss would hurt, no doubt about that, but it would allow someone else to come in and try and take over his mantle. A tough order for a new man but we would survive. Robin is no kid he knows he is at a very good club he knows he has been well looked after since he joined, but robin is a married man he not only has himself he has his family to think of and if he decides that Holland .or Spain is where they would benefit the best well good on him, football is a game, players are just human . If he stays good on you Robin if he goes, i’d understand
Shar have you looked at our stats 19 of those goals we have conceded came in five matches 16 came from four of those and t another 3 came from the 5-3 win against chelsea. We have had four clean sheets and two games conceded 1 goal. The united game was a freak result a bad one but still a freak. the blackburn one was a poor performance and the liverpool one we were down to ten men. the spurs goal was keepers fault and there was a lack of closing down from midfielders etc. we are conceding goals at this stage of 1.91 a game, however remember that is including those big scores at utd and blackburn i will do last 5 prem games if you want which works out as 1.4 so a huge drop in amount conceded and the verminators back either alongside per or kos so should become more solid. the next three prem games are norwich away fulham home and wigan away this should be at least 7 points, our scoring rate for the same period is as follows overall it works out as 2.09 a game in last five prem games it is 2.8 per game. December will be crunch time for us we play villa, everton and city. Remember the only loss we have suffered at home this season is to liverpool and we were down to ten men. Jan-march is big we play spurs, utd,liverpool and newcastle. if we can take the points off of spurs newcastle and liverpool with draw against utd then we will be in a good position.
I think Holland should be applauded for leaving RVP out. If their tests show he is at the limit then hopefully Wenger will give him complete rest without training and only have him on subs bench for norwich and wigan games coming on if we need to score a winner maybe even a sub for fulham that would keep him partially rested and minimise risk of injury.
Agree there too Potter but he’ll learn..
Morning Steve, it’s me who should be thanking you 🙂
My prediction for January, we’ll sign Gourcuff ;).
And trim some of the fat..
M’vila and one of the German’s linked to us 🙂
Afternoon all,
StevieP, this break has seen England become the unofficial world champions, that should put a smile on your face.
ESP, trim the fat, just gotta make sure santos stays away from the burger van.
Hi RM, sorry for the delay – i think Holland had little choice, Wenger I believe told them how his GPS is reading and thankfully they honoured the agreement to play him in only the fisrt fixture, giving him a week to rest before our next game…
And Arshavin Micko 😉
Afternoon to you….
Micko couldn’t agree more, the guy needs to lose a few lbs I think! What are you doing for the match tomorrow?!
lbs Esp, more like stones…..
Good morning
I’m very busy today.
See you later.
Hi and Bye JM 🙂
ESP, I’ll be in town watching the game tomorrow night, when in rome do as the romans do.
I’d like to see ireland draw france in the summer and get their revenge on the cheese eating surrender monkeys.
Same here Micko!
Could I grab your email address Micko so I could contact you about the Villa game next year?
ESP, rico can pass it onto you, the game doesn’t clash with the fa cup, i’ve already checked that, you just have to watch if sky choose to move it to a sunday, otherwise everything is cushty.
Guys, do you want me to send the email addresses??
I’m cool with that rico, just send paul mine, that will be fine.
Micko, i have sent both to you both 🙂
Hope thats ok Esp…
Hey! Thank you very much Rico! Micko I will sand you an email later this evening! In the middle of an assignment that is kicking my ass :(.
Always a pleasure Esp 😉
Assignments – horrid 🙁
It’s a quiet old day today, but hey ho – five more sleeps and the boys are back 😉
Evening Gooners.
Evening Rico.
Nice post StevieP, and yes i’ve done quite a bit in my garden during the Interlull.
Not sure what was behind what Cesc was saying…?!
Was he asked about RVP..?
If so, then he was simply stating the obvious.
In retrospect, maybe he should have said nothing.
The bottom line, is that the tight bastards in our Boardroom have to sanction terms that Robin can’t refuse.
Phuket! Phuket!! Phuket!!! I love this town. Hi guys, is the interlull over yet? Well I wouldn’t know..am having a ball….three days and we get to see the boys in red and white. COYGS. I ll be back guys just need a few drinks then its BLOGGING time. Yeeeeaaaaah!
Evening all,
Thanks AK, and Micko i was elated i can tell you.
I felt that England set up to keep the score down, i don’t like the manager as i think we need an English Manager but i hold my hand up and say he set them up well, not pretty but quite efective. i felt that Spain were missing a player like Messi they had plenty of the ball but seemed to be missing that final key i am only glad Messi is not Spanish as i felt we would have collaped like a pack of cards
Goonster watch yourself out there makke sure you always have a rubber Mac, the weather can change so i’m told
http://arsenalist.com/
Big Mert Interview.
Ah, you are out there then 😉 😉
Evening guys….
Today it’s Vermaelen birthday.
The legend Alf Fields die today.
I read Fabregas “interview” or comments about RVP anis it’s just a normal opinion (my opinion of course).
He sems a bit out of his depth at the moment AK, but he sounds level headed he could be imense for us i am keeping my fingers crossed for him
JM, i thought you was busy today..?
I hope your not skivving..??? 😀
Evening rico, and JM the press can turn anything anybody says very easy.
I’ll tell ya what Steve, he reminds me a bit of Dennis Bergkamp, the way he talks and considers an answer.
Not sure i would say he’s out of his depth Steve.
I’d say he’s gradually adapting, much as Kozzer has done.
Remember Laurent K was a bit shaky 12 months ago.
I have great hopes that this team is really evolving into a team we can proud of.
Hiya Rico.
Here comes the Devil. 😀
Evening everyone.
I do not give any thought to what the papers say at the moment. They need to fill up their papers and by hook or by crook they will fill it.
Shame that AFC do not have the balls to sue them.
Just as you all say hello, I have to go…
You all know it’s a soap night, and i don’t mean the washing kind….. 😉
Have a good one all, sorry to desert you all…. 😉
Nighty night…..
May have used the wrong words AK but i am also hopeing the same as you, Germans are normally very forward he seems to think before he speaks i like that and if he continues to play as he has started will get better and better
Nighty Rico.
Did you get my email today??
I am also for a short visit today, Very tired as usual at this time of day.
Steve, despite all the garbage written and spoken in certain sections of our appalling media, i gotta say that i thought Capello did the right thing.
Can you imagine what those media pillocks would be saying now if England had taken on Spain, and got stuffed 4-0.
Remember, it was those media pillocks that got Ramsey the sack.
And we really benefitted from that didn’t we.
They were also responsible for pushing the claims for Don Revie.
Something else they can be proud of… the wankers.
Rico, it’s called a VCR…. 🙄
Hiya AK. Kif int habib??
Now why doesnt someone sue the toilet papers for such claims??
Is it possible or not??
Nte rico
evening Devil, that would be a first ah
I did DG, and Steves and Kev’s – I am a very lucky gal 🙂
Thanks guys, and I really mean that….
Kev – I have run out of tapes …. 😉
Kif Int Coach.
Did Pa get that book/magazine i sent him..?
Steve, i listen to Big Mert and i hear an intelligent man.
And an intelligent man more often than not makes an intelligent player.
The other end of the spectrum = Wayne Rooney.
All the talent, thick as a brick…!!!
Rico….. 😆
I’ve got loads of old video tapes you can have.
You have a good point there AK, just as the public have started to warm to Arry down the road as a new England leader out comes he’s dodgy deals tax stories, the man has just had heart surgery and they come out now, shit press
Put your feet up Rico… 😀
I am ok AK. Just tired a lot. Mondays and wednesdays are the worst days for me.
Will ask pa tomorrow.
I said it and will say it again. With Rooney and Terry England would have lost.
And please do blame the players and not Capello for all the past failings. Remember he is the most decorated coach in world football. So even the world cup fiasco is not his fault. If he has brickheads for footballers he cannot teach them intelligence.
Capello is one of my favourite coaches. He is one of the select few coaches who have won titles in different countries with more than two different teams in different decades. He won with Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real twice. So please do not contest him.
Steve, i hate them.
And i’ll tell ya something else mate.
You read a million times more sense on the InterNet.
How some of those newspaper idiots hold down a job is a mystery to me.
Trawl through the Arsenal websites and you’ll find a million times more talent writing blogs.
The Press are becoming irrelevent.
Who cares what those tossers write anymore?
DG, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
….or send a duck to an eagle’s school.
Again DG, i have to go back to my pet subject.
The Press are responsible for heaping unreal expectations on everyone.
They constantly do hatchett jobs on the England team.
Who can forget the total crap they dug before Euro 96.
And who keeps going on and on and on and on and on about the WAGS. Who gives a fcuk.
or polish a turd..
evening gang..
Devil you have a point, but i still dont like him just my thoughts.
AK, the internet is for supporters and it doesn’t need to sell papers
http://goonerholic.com/
Some good reading.
But that’s because the FA has no balls. Whatever the papers say if a coach is doing a good job then I do not sack him simply because one of the toilets has run out of page 3 girls and simply wants to fill up space.
That’s all from me today dear friends. Off to snuggle with a pillow.
Night all
Evening JJ.
Yeah, i can see what you mean Steve.
Doesn’t say a lot about us though does it..?
nte Devil sleep well
Good Night DG.
the fa are tossers
the media are tossers and not just regards to football either..
the english team are full of tossers..but they aging now and the younger lions are coming thru..
we know our limitations so does capello
got to go out nte all and helo and goodbye JJ
Wise words JJ.
Goodnight Steve, great post buddy.
JJ, i like the look of some of the young England players coming through.
Hopefully they will have benefitted from more technical coaching.
Lets hope the Press don’t destroy them before they’ve got their feet under the table.
Ok, i’m offski. See ya’ll tomorrow.
JM, you still working? 😉
i would like to think that the press have learned their lesson but maybe not..
its upto the younger lions to keep their feet on the ground and capello is a good coach he will do the best he can with them
hello
yes, I’m still working maybe till midnight.
New Post up…..