Just a bit of naugtiness – Wenger has reassurred us all that Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain is nothing like Theo Walcott… PHEW 😉
They are quite similar types of players but Walcott is a bit more a striker and Oxlade-Chamberlain is more a midfielder, He [Oxlade-Chamberlain] likes more to be in the build-up of things and Walcott is more a guy who makes intelligent runs.
So they are not that similar as players but they have some similarities physically already. They look the same size, the same type of player. But I believe that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a central midfielder one day and Walcott a central striker one day. That shows the difference between the two players.
I don’t know if the comparisons are fair but you can’t stop that.
We shouldn’t compare them, the only two things they have in common is they play on the right and they both came from Southampton. Actually, make that three, they both cost a lot of money. 😉
On to tonight …..
The visit of Second Division, Shrewsbury Town to The Grove tonight will give Arsene Wenger his annual opportunity to field a young side in the Carling Cup.
After last seasons change of policy, I expect Wenger to return to his more traditional habit of using this competition as a proving ground for his most talented youngster, what a group of youngsters they are too…
Along with them, he has the added bonus of several young signings who have been kept mainly under wraps but can now be blended with our top quality home-produced talent. These lads emerging from the Academy create a recipe for some exciting League Cup ties to come…
We will of course take a keen interest in the high-profile new boys like Ryo Miyaichi, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but allied to those outstanding prospects will be a few new faces, faces we’ve had glimpses of already..
I anticipate a really strong young side featuring the likes of Miquel, Coquelin and maybe Frimpong?
Hopefully Benik Afobe will have recovered from his recent injury, I think this lad could grow to become a sensational striker and I’m sure his development had an influence on why Wenger seemed reluctant to splash big money on a striker in the Summer Window.
Oguzhan Ozyakup has already been a part of the 1st team squad this season and he cannot be far away from his senior debut. Ozyakup is a talented midfielder with a great range of passing, he really looked the ‘part’ in the two pre-season reserve friendlies I saw in July & August. He was also a key member of the Arsenal Reserves who recently beat Man Utd 2-1 .
The powerful duo of defender Daniel Boateng and midfielder Chuks Aneke certainly have the physical attributes to face senior opposition in the Carling Cup, they won’t be phased by facing senior pros from Shrewsbury Town.
Another young gun thrown into the squad for tonight could be Luke Freeman, he’s had really good summer – his inclusion tonight would not surprise me…
Of course the youngsters will need a few ‘old-heads’ to guide them, so expect a sprinkling of experienced players like Park, Santos, Djourou and Rosicky [if fit] to bring a calming influence.
These games don’t come with the same hype as EPL or Champions League but are none the less, an important barometer to the health of the club.
Added to that, and they give us all the chance to take a glimpse at the next generation’s progress.
Written by Allezkev
Morning all…
You looking forward to tonight then Kev 😉
Nice post, thank you – just hope the experienced players doesn’t mean Almunia or Squilli…..
Let’s hope there aren’t 4 things in common…….they are both useless!
Hi JSP, someone had to say that I guess 😉
Don’t think Theo is useless, just not used in the right way…
Still, don’t think he’ll play tonight unless Wenger will play him at Park together up front…
Morning rico….great post kev. Still think its a huge mistake keeping Ryo for the season. He ll be better off playing week in week out for a premier league team. I fear he may turn out to be the next “carlos vela”. Huge potential, less games. I just hope he doesn’t cause this kid has it in him to be a potential world beater soon. Oh well come on arsenal
Morning goonster – we should see ryo tonight, agree too, a loan in the championship or pl would have served him well…
It’ll be nice to have some distraction from the frustrations of the first team tonight. I’m going for 4nil but reckon Per will be played to get games. I reckon I would play my first choice centre backs together to build the understanding
Yeah rico maybe to bolton as a make weight for cahill. Owen coyle ll definitely toughen him up. Look at what he did for wilshere and last season sturrige. He should have gone out on loan.
Hi Sam – that’s a big score, you reckon we will lose by that many 😉
I’m with Kev, think we’ll see Miquel and JD – with Santos and Jenks left and right…
or West Ham goonster under FS, at least he’d be close by and be with Henri….
Its times like these that make me wanna throw my lot with those mugs over at legrove. Wenger frustrates me with his decision making. Little wonder theo has learnt diddly squat on decision making*winks*
Morning all,
Think I’d make sure Djourou was as far away from the pitch as humanly possible….!
Makes sense to play Per and Kos BUT what if one gets injured..? doesnt bare thinking about…!
Play the CB of Kozzer and Per so they can start building some understanding only games will do that. And give Ramsey the free role infront of Couqelin and Frimpong with Park, Ryo and OXO up front. There you have the old heads and some youngsters. And I’d put Jenkinson on the right and Santos on the left in defense.
Anyone read this from late last night…?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/19/arsene-wenger-arsenal-coaching
Just been watching the invisibles…..am all teary eyed right now. Goddamn it we had a wonderful team torn apart too early. Just witness henry tear leeds apart. Oh those were the days. Will we ever get back to them days? Big question…..no answer!
Hi WATH I saw the same article only read a few lines then I switched off. Same old wenger spouting the same old shit. We need keown not bould. Bould is soft…keown ll soon kick them up their asses before he ll let them ship in thirteen goals in three matches. Wish he ll be given the opportunity but we all know that ll near happen. What a rotten luck we have. The only club with a stubborn manager and a clueless and weak board. Hey guys what happened to the proposed demonstration is it still on or it has been called off.
No point in dwelling on the past goonster it only makes things harder….
TT am sorry men but that’s the only way I keep my sanity. At least I get to see what a world class power house we used to be. Its painful but hey what can we do?
Well, this game can’t come quick enough, we have some defenders who need the extra practise.
Goonster, were these invisibles running around in bandages.
I am surprised people are still calling for a defensive coach. When Keown was allowed to take the training sessions with the defense it was a one off. It is not more coaches or different ones that we need it’s a total overhaul of the training regime. If no or little time is spent on actual defensive training and planning then no amount of top coaches is going to help. Wenger micromanages everything to do with training and has total believe in his approach. As you have seen in the last few years we cant defend set pieces and its a simple thing to address on the training ground but you see Wengers system is the best can’t you see? its the players that are lacking in consentration, committment and application of the nonexistent defensive plans, never mind that most of them are seasoned internationals.
Morning TT & Wath…
JD does worry me big time….
TT we need to do get rid of that fucking high line we play. Koshieny mertrsacker and vermalin are competent CBs but the high exposes third frailties. Even if we had vidic terry ferdinand and cavalho we ll still struggle. It needs to be scrapped…..end of!
Yes goonster I agree but high line short line medium line side line….it does not matter if you don’t put the time into it in training!
I’ll still advicewe allow this new group to settle in well. Arsene’s tranfers were done very late, allowing no time for necesary pre-season understanding. Whoever that comes on tonite those of you guys at the stands please give total support, while we those of us abroad should please watch with prayers. Arsenal MUST rise again. no time for necesary pre-season understanding. Whoever that comes on tonite those of you guys at the stands please give total support, while we those of us abroad should please watch with prayers. Arsenal MUST rise again.
There’s always a chance at the moment! I thunk these kids will run riot to be honest, as long as I don’t hear another player saying we have turned a corner or learned….
Hi Micko –
i think this game is a good distraction but if wenger doesn’t take shrewsbury seriously, we could see another dent in our confidence, they will think they are in for a chance tonight….
God am not even typing right……gotta be off for a while guys to clear my head……back later. I can’t even spell right.
Just read that article Wath – what a twurp he is, no-one is suggesting he gets rid of anyone right now, just get in a man who has already proved he can change things, let him help and sure up the leaky defence…
Another example of stubborness by our manager 🙁
Relax Stan, it’s only a game……. lol
Ok ok I’ll shut up…….. Spot on TT, the coaches and the training set up is wrong and thats down to one man…! acountability anyone..?
Nice post AK….
our major probs is not mainly on the defence,tatice,trainin, but our blockin 4 ‘SONG’ he no longer protect the defence, he allows ball to penetrate easily.i think he shoud be change..and lets pray for luckckin 4 ‘SONG’ he no longer protect the defence, he allows ball to penetrate easily.i think he shoud be change..and lets pray for luck
It must be a myth that wenger doesn’t work hard on the defence in training.
Bringing in someone like Keown would only benefit us, this guy played for one of the best defences in europe, played for his country as well, knows arsenal inside out and he’s a very scary bloke as well, if looks could kill…………..
Wenger is too strong headed, he needs to swallow his pride, what has he got to lose.
Agree Micko re Keown
Hi Lee and Welcome Bond, Brook or James 😉
How many young guns do you guys reckon we will see tonight?
Read the Guardian article which encapsulates the problem with our club – the arrogant refusal of our manager to recognise his mistakes.
I’m sorry I don’t know enough to choose between Keown or Bould, but it sounds like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
There’s only one change to be made at Arsenal and the sooner the better.
Hiya Rico.
Morning/Afternoon Gooners.
Rico, i reckon we could see Coquelin & Frimpong as a partnership in front of the back-four.
That could release a very attack minded foursome to rip into Shrewsbury…
Looks like Afobe is still injured so wouldn’t it be great to see Ryo, Oxo & Park up front with Aneke behind.
Steve,
Keown or Bould would sort this lot out, get shot of marking spaces and back to being a defensive unit… It wouldn’t take long i’m sure…
The board or Wenger, or both?
Hi Kev
thats the attack, who at the back then, that where i worry, Jenkinson and Santos no doubt but in the middle 😮
According to Jeorge Bird’s Arsenal Youth,
Daniel Boateng, martin Angha, sanchez Watt, Nico yennaris and Oguzhan ozyakup all trained with the first team this week. So a few of them could be in the 18…
The back-four…. Gibbs could get a game?
Miquel, Jenkinson for sure, and probably Djourou.
I don’t think that Wenger will risk any of his first choice back-four, although i can see the value in playing Mertesaker/Koscielny to help with their understanding. But it’s too big a risk in what is, to Arsene, a minor competition. Not a view i agree with btw…
Rico, tbh, i’m not too worried about the defence…
I think the speed & movement of our attacking players will simply be too much for Shrewsbury and they won’t have much time to think about attacking our defence… Well i hope so…!
I am worried kev, especially if JD plays 🙁
Back in a bit, just got to pop out….
I know where you are coming from AK regarding the CC but we have sunk so low that it is realisticly the only tropy we have any chance of winning….So play the best back 4 and they will not only get more time to get to know eachother on the pitch but also should keep a clean sheet which will boot their confidence some. At least play Kozzer and Merts with Jenks and Santos as fullbacks Pong and Couqelin in the middle and Ramsey in front of them and Park Ryo and OXO upfront.
TT, i don’t disagree with you at all.
I’m just going with what i think Wenger will do.
But mate, imagine the shit-storm if Mertesaker got injured against Shrewsbury, and was out for a couple of months.
Wenger would get slaughtered…
But i like your team all the same.. 😉
I actually agree with you regarding the Carling Cup.
If it was me, i’d go for it all guns blazing, but we all know dear old Arsene…
Eighteen players have been selected for tonight’s Caring Cup tie against Shrewsbury at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal squad (in alphabetical order):
Chuks Aneke
Yossi Benayoun
Daniel Boateng
Marouane Chamakh
Francis Coquelin
Johan Djourou
Lukasz Fabianski
Emmanuel Frimpong
Kieran Gibbs
Carl Jenkinson
Damian Martinez
Ignasi Miquel
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Ju Young Park
Ryo
Sanchez Watt
Nico Yennaris
I like the look of that squad Wath…
Apparantly Martinez [g/k] is a bit special.
Chamakh and Park as a partnership maybe??
4 4 2….?
Play Aneke in from of From and Coq…. back four anyone as long as no Djourou !! watch him make him captain…!
Yennaris is a good Kid. He can play either midfield or right-back.
Boateng is a big lad [c/h], a bit raw but has potential.
Fabianski
Jenks,kozzer,miquel,gibbs
frimpong,ramsey,coquelin
oxo,park,ryo.
That will see the job through tonight.
I think it’s nailed-on Wath that JD will start.
AK you and I both know stubbornarse wont go 4-4-2 although we all know its a start to helping things change he just wont do it !!
I’d go park n Chamack up front with Oxo and Ryo wide left n right with Benayoun in the middle with Frim of Coq….! Is Boateng a centre back or midfielder….?
Just seen the squad above, looks like I was a bit quick on the trigger.
Djourou for kozzer.
Yossi for ramsey.
Boateng is a central defender it seems, ok pls ls pls mr wenger pick him with Miguel at the back and keep Djourou in the changing rooms to make half time tea…!
Boateng is a centre-back Wath.
Aneke is the midfielder.
They are both huge.
I know Aneke is an attacking midfielder…. Surprised Martin Angha hasn’t got a call… Shame Afobe still injured but hopefully we get through and another home game and the boy gets a chance then…! We want Arsenal lads in the team who will bleed red n white…!
I totally agree Wath…
Angha is a good player, he’s also a c/h, but has been used at full-back.
Wath, have a read:
http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2011/09/team-news-wenger-mixes-cup-philosophies/
I know Aneke and Afobe both big lads but if Boateng is as well thats the basis for the spine of the team bing physically big again and technical…? Add Miguel into that mix as well and those are the kind of platers we need to be knocking on the door of the 1st team, Angha is swiss as well eh, maybe 3rd time lucky seeing as the other 2 really aint been good enough.
Wath, here’s another:
http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/
Yeah, good points Wath, don’t know if it was planned that way or coincidence, but we have a lot of ‘big uns’ in the Stiffs and Youths at present.
Not a bad squad at all though I would have liked a bit more exsperience in there.
Good morning
We are in summer and The League is now a mirage. The goal now is finished in the best position possible.
I realy hope will not be out in the Carling Cup in summer time too. Now, for me, the squad for tonight is important, but who plays today, must put Arsenal in the next round . We need a little joy in the midst of so much disappointment
It’s a shame that JD and Chamakh are both mega short on comfidence and what about Fabianski is he likely to poop his pants on the first hoof ball into the box, hardly the kind of players the young ones need around them in a match like this…!.
A chance for a few to shine though thats for sure….. lets hope the usual suspects don’t let the side down…!.
As you say AK, a few big lumps coming through and also good technically, just what we need…!.
Spot on JM, lot of pressure on a lot of the young ones from the older players who have let us down big time…! Lets hope to see players who put a smile back on our face and show passion commitment and get stuck in for their teammates and the shirt.
Another good article yesterday…..!
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/09/19/SOCCER_Arsenal_Graham.html&TEAMHD=soccer&BID=165
The last line from GG is pretty good…….
Graham questioned Arsenal’s overall summer transfer policy, which saw the arrivals come late, after Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri completed protracted moves to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.
Graham added: “Everybody knew they were on the way out way before the beginning of the season.
“I would like to know who was responsible for the approach to the new season.”
So would we all George……….!!!
morning all…at least we have a game to look forward to this evening. i think it will be very, very tense versus bolton on saturday, but we can worry about that later…hopefully we can get a result tonight – even with a predominantly youth team, we should still be too good – at least on paper. i think many of our players will be looking to impress, so perhaps they can play confident and unburdened…
ra, if you should make an appearance, we got the win last night. that is the most important thing – it wasn’t pretty, but it counts as a w…bradshaw/jacobs/ware all ran the ball effectively, eli settled down after another stupid interception in the first quarter, and tuck returned with 2 sacks…
unfortunately, two more receivers went down – manningham (concussion) and hixon (knee – again!)…both questionable – probably unlikely – for the trip to the linc on sunday…
ross was benched in the second half – he’s been terrible at corner this season, and he was burned twice in the first half…that was enough for tc, who put rookie coe in his place – and the latter was beat on stl’s only td…hopefully prince will be back in a couple of weeks – once he gets into shape, he and webster will be the starting corners…not sure what ross’ future is…
news….
The Argentina midfielder Ricardo “Ricky” Alvarez, hired by Inter Milan this closure, the bags can be made to Arsenal on loan from Italian club.
The Gunners have already begun exploratory contacts with leaders Inter Milan, to see how much it will be feasible to secure the loan player in January, at the reopening of the transfer market.
The Nerazzurri have paid about 12 million to Velez Sarsfield 90 per cent pass Alvarez, who was also linked to the interest of Arsenal during the close season.
Boo 🙂
hi ricco…
Hi oliver – how’s your lad today?
Looks like we are going to finally get a glimpse of Ju Park tonight, at last….
he’s a bit better, thanks…he was still sleeping when i left the house this morning…if he is still not ready to go back to school, it won’t be a problem as my wife is off from work today…
we should see both ju and miyaichi (in competitive) action for the first time…
glad to hear that oliver
ryo is on the bench i think tonight, not 100% fit… according to the YG article Kev posted..
If he is not 100 % fit then what the hell is he doing on the bench? Unless it’s matchfit you are talking about in which case what better way to get match fitness but to play a match…..;)
If that’s right then we may see Chamakh up top with Park, looks like park will have to put an extra shift in if thats the case.
Ah, could be just match fit 😉
I think YG said Chamakh and Park Micko, in a good old fashioned 442 😛
Here’s one for the pot;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14977442.stm
Ivan Gazides…… Smooth Operator…
i don’t have a prob with chamakh starting tonight. he took his goal well on saturday, and now is the time to get him to build on that. we’ll be facing a team that we should reasonably expect to score goals, so this is a chance to have him build confidence…
while i am happy to see our younger players in action, we have a handful of players short on form, condifence or fitness. this match is also an opportunity for some to work those things out…spotlighting kids should not be our only prioirty tonight…
Smooth Kev, he’s protecting SS’s money, would cost afc a lot of pennies to hush Wenger up if they sacked him….
Howdy Oliver.
I think most of the kids will be on the bench to start with.
Good point re: Chamakh…
Good to hear that your ‘saucepan lid’ is on the mend.
Hi all.good read AK.i also agree Gazidis is one smooth talking f***er 😉
Yeah Rico, what i can’t understand is where are all these comments etc, from Stan, that IG was talking about.
Stan’s silence is deafening
Depends on how seriously we are taking this competition this season, imho it is the only one we are in with a chance of, maybe the FA Cup is another – if AW is not taking it seriously then no doubt we will see mostly youth…
however much it would be nice to see the youn guns, changing 6/7 players could be catastrophic…..
The last thing we need right now is to be knocked out tonight by a second div side…..
Cheers KT, did you see the longer version of the interview…?
I wish i could believe him, but i just can’t.
Also notice how he ‘danced around’ the question about late transfer dealings…
Good one, AK. Finally, something to get our minds off the dross that is our first team… (be kind self, be kind)
hey, rico. How are you? oliver, I hope your son is well soon. It’s flu season here as well. 🙁 I wouldn’t mind Chamakh playing tonight either. I want him to be Chamakaka again.
Agag, cheers, i thought you took your mind off of the dross with your ‘flexible friend’.. 😉 😉 😉
hi kev, hi agag…
whatever happens tonight, i hope to see our players lay low and concentrate on the task at hand. i think we have returned to the point where there is a bit too much talking: i mean more promises about how we are going to set things right and get this sorted out. they haven’t done it so far, and as each of the recents seasons has shown, talk is really, really cheap…
nothing wrong in withholding comment…or restricting it to something as vanilla as “it was a good result tonight, but we have a long way to go and a lot of hard work to do.” dot com may not have a lot to write about, but i prefer it that way…and the if the players keep quiet, they will lessen some of the scrutiny and pressure on themselves…
Redcard for you AK 😎
Yadda yadda Gazidis… 😡 Hiya, KT. How are you?
Who’s my flexible friend, AK? 🙂
Who’s to say wenger didn’t have an input into who we signed as chief executive, there just all covering each others backs.
Agag…. could it be… Mr Visa or Mr Mastercard. 😀
Agag there is a reason rvp barely scores nowadays.rico no longer falls asleep thinking of rvp’s thighs.she prefers the ‘cute’ Arteta 😉
Rico, i think it was KT who suggested that the FA Cup might be our best chance of success. That is, the new lads would be fully integrated by then and [please God] Wenger might make a signing or two in January…
Is that right KT..?
KT, 😆
Ahaha, AK. These days, Mr. Mastercard. 🙂 Very accommodating 😀
Micko, our board’s such a boys club. Silly and self-satisfied. 😡
KT, haha. What haven’t you been admitting, rico? 😀
Gazidis is a slimy fucker with forked tongue, he answers questions differently depending on who’s asking…. The bloke should of asked well if your not sacking wenger will the board be stepping down…???
Gazidis, best spin merchant since Blair…!
Don’t Gazidis just spout on all the time about the Arsenal way is the best and we’re such a great run club, talk about arrogant and stuck up your own backside… Why do we have such poor off field income then, why have we done nothing to catch up the other in the 3yrs he been there….! We’ve been successful for 15yrs…. whats he been watching the last 6 then the ladies team…? What a complete knob…!
Easy, WATH. 😀 Have a drink.
Kev – and his silence speaks volumes
Hi Kt and agag
Yeah, there may well be a couple of very funny hand shakes going on in the boardroom.
Kt, yellow for you re Arteta, it’s RvP’s thighs for me 😉
Our current spaniard is not as cute as our last 🙁
Reyes I mean of course 😉
Thats right AK.a run in the CL/FA cup is our best bet right now.
AK, sounds obvious but it all depends on who we draw, if we can steer clear from the PL sides and gather a bit of momentum, we have a slim chance in both….
Wath – that’s describing him mildly, he has to be the worst ever man afc employed, i really cannot stand listening to his pack of spin and lies…. He actually makes Blair look a Saint….
Micko, and funny patterned aprons……
I don’t need a drink AGAG i need that smarky twat to shut up and earn his massive salary….! They really do think we’re all so stupid and gullable to fall for their smooth talking eh….!
just the fact that the chief exec has had to come out and deny suggestions that arsene’s position may be in jeopardy shows how much pressure the club are currently under…until very, very recently, such suggestions would not even receive a response from the club – and none would be expected…
i think we all need to enjoy tonight, because there will be less pressure on…if we should lose it will be back, but mitigating factors (mix of youth/second stringers) will exist…saturday, however, is a different story…bolton are below us in the table, have lost eight of the previous nine league fixtures – in short, on a run of form and results even worse than ours…should they manage to turn us over, the atmosphere will be that much more toxic…
rico, Cesc is the cutest. He looks clownish in his stripey kit though. 😀
I find it impossible for us to mount a serious challenge in the PL, tbh. Let’s just go win everything else.
Agag was Torres staring at you dropping from the skies in your catwoman costume when he missed that open goal at OT? 😎
Rico and Arteta sitting on a tree,k-i-s-s…too bad rvp has to watch it all from the bottom.if he tries to climb the tree he’ll be out injured for months 😉
hi guys..
good post..
we will surely win today..
the main concern is the win against bolton at home….if we dont…the cl game is going to be a very uneasy game with wenger in the stands…
ig? surely his brief is to not answer questions…i don’t always like what he says either, but i see the fact that he even address the possibility of arsene being sacked as the most significant thing from his comments…
i think our club’s management is really feeling the pressure now…i don’t think the squads form and results can be blithely dismissed any longer, it has gone on for too long, and i infer that it may finally be seen as a threat to our self-sustaining model…i.e. if we play ourselves into irrelevance, then will will lose the ability – at least in the near term – to reap many of the benefits our strategy is intended to give us…
how this pressure manifests itself on the playing side remains to be seen…but i really think we are now at the point where there is an understanding within the club that this is serious and could have potentially severe long range consequences…
arsene’s brief remains simple: utilize the players we have to the best of their collective abilities, eliminate the constant repeated mistakes, and get this team moving up the table again, back to the top four…
agag, i meant Fran Merida 🙂
Kt, You are lucky, I am having a Graham Poll day, 2nd yellow for you but you stay on the pitch 😉
Rico you did not zee it 😉
A right ray of sunshine you are, WATH. 😉 rico, what’s happened to Merida though??
Kt, that miss with a sight on open goal is a touchy topic. Ha. You warrant a red. Three game suspension.
oliver, what annoys me is that our players seem to have learned nothing. It’s the same mistakes again again and ever again. The players have much to answer for. That last match was already a win… And yet…
at this point in time, just what is it that we are actually sustaining?
That would be a Wenger day Kt 😉
agag, don’t think he’s doing much, he should ahve stayed put…..
Hi af, anything is possible tonight…..
that is the million dollar question oliver…..
I want to see ryo/oxo.it will be a chance for us to have a rough idea of what they are capable of.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if ryo/oxo were to turn out as good as the hype suggests?even rvp is really looking forward to seeing ryo play.
Kt, that is the problem with all the hype, we can expect too much and end up disappointed….
agree with ricco here…i think hype should be a dirty word at arsenal club…i think the way to go for our younger players is develop them outside of the glare of the spotlight, let them build their strength and learn their craft, then introduce them when they are ready…as a supporter base, i think we go way over the top regarding some of our prospects.
I remember Arsene referring to Merida as technically perfect.last season he said JET was banging on the first team doors with both hands.they both failed to make it.thats why i agree we should be ultra cautious with them.
Nice to read a post, that makes me look forward to the game. Looking forward to watching some of these youngsters, we all know the result doesn’t matter seeing how its only micky mouse, but a shit result will only bring out the hanging squad. But i’m sure if we win, most will say they knew we would. Come home tonight with Talk shite on the radio, we are a right shit club you know, were not run right apparently, being solvent and running within our budget is the wrong way to be apparently, United owe multi millions and just carry on spending thats the right way, but apparently they agree with a lot of you lot, we have a shit manager shit players and a shit board, we must be a bad club. fuck em !!
Enjoyed the post AK.
And what about our two new signings from Barca – what are they actually doing right now, are they playing??
They are meant to be the bees knees…..
Hi Steve
This cup is not micky mouse in my eyes and the result truly matters to me too, any match arsenal play in matters – big time…
winning tonight has to be the priority, any other outcome will be just another massive dent to the confidence, regardless who plays…
We are a squad, winning builds confidence and that is what our squad needs more than anything…..
bellerin and toral? i think that tonight’s squad has several players who were already ahead of them (development-wise) coming in to this season, and if so, it makes sense that these players will get this chance ahead of the barca pair…i think they are sixteen or so – plenty of time for them yet.
Evening rico, glad to hear it, me too.
i just wondered exactly what they are doing oliver – i have heard nothing about them since they arrived, are they playing for boulds side? Not the last time i looked….
Steve, forgive me, from your comment, i didn’t think you gave a toot about the result – irony i guess 😉
What’s happened while i was away??????????
Cheers StevieP.
Rico, what was you doing up a tree???? 😀
They are playing for our U18s rico.they are not even to reserves level yet.
They are developing well rico.apparently Bellerin has already had some eye catching perfomances.
Rico, Hector Bellerin has played in the Youths.
Don’t think Jon Toral has played yet.
Probably some Home Office rubbish…
as k says, they are in the u18’s…this is kinda what i was alluding to – they are at a level commensurate with their age group and we are not hearing all that much about them. that is how it should be – i know they received immediate attention because of the club they left to join us, but being they are just kids, surely it is in everyone’s interests to keep the spotlight off them so they can develop properly without hyperbole and unrealistic expectations…
if we can avoid hyping them up and let them progress naturally, i am fairly condfident that we will see them at this level in a couple of seasons from now…i wish we would do that more often – just let our kids develop naturally…
Snogging Fran kev or was it Arteta 😉
Thanks guys re the update on the nest spaniards waiting to go home 😉
Yes Oliver, Bellerin and Toral are too young, only 16…
Cesc was an exception.
The lads in the squad tonight are all around the 18/19 age group. Watt is 20, but he’s up for sale.
the situation we are in right now doesn’t help oliver – if we were getting results and everything behind the scenes was settled, the young ones could natrually come through – just like thay have done at OT – but the pressure is on…
off to get dinner, back shortly….
That’s it Rico, you go get em girl… 😉
Oliver, if the first team was more successfull, then we wouldn’t hear so much about the next batch of wunderkinds…
It just goes to show how desperate we are for the cavalry to come over the hill and save our season/club…
kev, i am not so sure…i seem to remember our “young guns” being hyped a lot longer than just the past few seasons…perhaps i remember it wrong.
we’ve had a few step in and excel right off the bat – jack and our previous captain the notable examples – but we have also had plenty of next big things who have not made it…merida, jet, denilson, etc…
even our season squad is struggling as we currently are, i think overhyping our kids does more harm than good…i understand that it is human nature, but if we (as a club/supporter base) were more conscious of it, perhaps we could guard more effectively against it…
Here we go, Ivan’s on Talkshite as well;
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1119/81/gazidis-arsenal-represent-future-game
jermaine pennant comes to mind as an example of a youth prospect – hyped as can’t miss when we signed him from notts county – who failed to cut it with us…and this during a very successful period for our club…sadly, he didn’t come close to making it with us, and became a bit of a nomad…mind you, i thought he played very well for stoke in both games against us last season…but he has to be pushing 30, with his prime years almost certainly behind him.
Well Oliver, i see your point buddy, but i don’t recall the hype reaching the recent heights it has since Wenger went down the avenue of building young teams from within.
When we won the Double in 2002 and Invincibles 2004 there was no mention of the kids…
Mind you, the kids then, weren’t of the high standard they are today.
Yeah, i agree re; Pennant, but football is littered with players like him, i think the hype surrounding him was more due to the fact that we paid a fee for him.
I remember when Man City paid Crystal Palace £250,000 for a midfielder called steve Mackenzie, if my memory serves me right.
Again the fuss came about due to a record fee being paid for a teenager….
probably not in 02, but in 04 i think there were already rumblings about a certain midfield prospect signed from barcelona…and i am pretty sure that pennant made his debut for us – to great hype – prior to the 2001-2 double season…
either way, i will agree the hype then is nothing like it is now…but i do think we have overhyped youngsters for longer than just the emirates era…
my main point – one i have argued here previously – is that overhyping our kids and utting the burden of expectations upon them is not the way to go…i don’t think that many are ready for the first team, and most of those who can be in the squad are not ready to become our saviour…there is a normal development progression that i think sometimes we ignore…
i think many will argue that theo has not panned out as hoped…i am going to be careful in citing him as an example of overhype, as he is an established and integral part of the first team, and is our top goalscorer so far this season…
yet, as well as what he has accomplished, i know many of us who are still not entirely happy with his development…certainly he is one of the most polarizing figures in our squad…and i cannot help think this is at least partly due to the hype surrounding his signing and fast-tracking into the squad…i think it is reasonble to say that he – so far – has not developed in accordance with initial expectations…theo still has plenty of time, but i am not sure everyone is willing to afford him that time…wasn’t it only last week that this forum suggested he should be dropped in favor of oc? as i understand, the author’s intention was not to drum theo out, but open debate about whether or not he should still keep his starting eleven spot for now…
i personally do not think we would even have such discussions if not for the hype that surrounded kid theo…
Agreed Oliver, but it’s the nature of the beast.
Even Wenger and Gazides today, trumpet the young talent at our club…
Maybe it’s also an Arsenal thing as well, because we have such a rich history in bringing players through and thus, that generates interest from the fans…?
As far as Theo is concerned, i think we can thank England and Sven for a lot of the Theo hype.
Wenger should have done a better job in protecting him…
Also the TV/Media used to bang-on about Theo being the only English player in a foreign squad blah blah blah.
perhaps, but i there are plenty of other teams who have – at various points in their history – have brought through youngsters with great success…busby babes is only one example of another period at another club…
i just think we do ourselves no favors by trumpeting our youth before their time…i see miyaichi as the latest example of this – calls left, right, and centre from to start our biggest matches…despite the fact that he has yet to kick a ball in a competitive match for us, and came to us directly from a high school squad in japan…
i hope he gets action for us tonight, and i am certainly looking forward to seeing what he has, as well as watching his long-term development…but we do neither him, ourselves, or our club any favours by annointing him our saviour and calling for him move right into the starting eleven…
I used to likened the hysteria surrounding Theo to all the nonsense that surrounded Charlie Nicholas when he joined us as a 21 year old.
I also recall the rubbish around Peter Marinello, he was only 20 i believe.
A transfer fee ups the ante i think Oliver.
as i remember, there was plenty of hype over theo from the club and amongst our support base…
sven bringing him to the world cup at that age, with his current level of experience, was probably the worst possible thing he could have done to the player.
I cannot disagree Oliver, you are right, but Miyaichi wouldn’t be the ‘next big thing’ if, for example, we had Mata, M’vila and Cahill to salivate about…
It’s a symptom of our currant position.
i am sure that transfer fees play a big part in the hype in most cases – i could call miyaichi a definite exception to that – but i still don’t think that is all of it…i think the club and us supporters sometimes get a bit ahead of ourselves in hyping some of our kids…
it’s human nature, i completely understand…but my whole argument is that we can do a better job of toning down expectation – which will allow most of these players to develop and progress in accordance with the established model (as opposed to being fast-tracked under unrealistic expectations) under a more realistic timeline…everybody is served better if we can do that…and i think we can, if we would dial the hype down…
i hope that someday – when arsene, ig, and the people currently running the club – have handed gracefully handed off to the next generation, we get the real story about what actually went on during the summer, with regard to player recruitments and sales…
fabianski, jenks, miquel, jd, gibbs, oc, coq, frim, benayoun, ju, chamakh
martinez, yennaris, boateng, ozyakup, aneke, miyaich, watt
Do you ever see Kroenke on U.S. TV commenting on his U.S. sports franchises.
How does he come across.
I mean, you probably have a bit of a different view on him on your side of the stream.
Do you think his intentions are honourable or do you think he’s out to make a quick buck???
eight starters are regulars in the first team squad…one – gibbs – arguably current first choice in his respective position…
that is a pretty strong starting eleven…i am hoping that they can get a good result and we will be able to give some minutes to some of the younger players.
Yeah that team looks to have a good balance about it.
I don’t think Oliver, that we should freak out too much about playing Shrewsbury.
We easily have enough talent to win this tie.
kev, i have never seen him speak, either on tv or in person…in the leadup to nfl’s kickoff two weeks ago, i know he spoke to the rams beat reporters – and i am pretty sure that he mentioned arsenal once or twice…even over there in st louis, he may have been asked about us…but as i understand, his reputation is that he says little…i don’t recall him saying much when the speculation over carmelo anthony (trade) swirled around the nuggets for virtually all of last season…and carmelo was traded to the team i support, so i was following the event closely enough that i would have caught anything substantive kroenke had to say on it – there was nothing that i saw…
All being well, we should see Miyaichi, Ozyakup and Aneke get a 2nd half run-out.
Curry eaten 🙂
Like agag said earlier, we need Chamakh back to being Chamakakakaka
This game could have come at a good time for him….
we should win kev…shrews are third (i think) in division two, and i expect that graham turner will be more interested in maintaining that momentum than causing a cup upset…
Hmm, Silent Stan seems an obvious nickname.
Does he have a good reputation among sports pundits etc, as a ‘safe pair of hands’ as far as ownership is concerned…?
Oliver, you should do a post on Stan, it would be interesting to get an American perspective on him…
I hope that was a Quorn curry Rico…? 🙂
Just veggie Kev, with a Tarka dal 🙂
hmmmm…thing is, kev, i don’t support any of the teams he owns, so i am not in much of a position to comment on what kind of owner he is…
i can say that one the rams “greatest show on turf” party ended, they spent a few years in the wilderness, and are now starting to see of the players they drafted come through…georgia frontiere was the owner during their super bowl era, so the jury is still out on how good they will ultimately be under kroenke’s watch…
a couple of seasons ago, the nuggets pushed the lakers all the way in the western conference finals, losing a tough six game series…they have not gotten back to that point, but they have an excellent basketcall guy (george karl) as head coach..how much kroenke has to do with it, i don’t know…
and the avs have been pretty much irrelevant since the core of their two stanley cup teams (roy/sakic/forsberg) departed…i don’t even know if kreoenke was involved with them when they were winning – that was over a decade ago…
in short, i know about as much as anyone else regarding how good/bad an owner he is…
oliver – i disagree, they will be after our scalp tonight, and if i am honest, i thik they may get it…..
hi all rico or anyone else has a link to watch online stream?
Oliver, i kinda get a vibe that the recurring theme throughout his sports teams is mediocrity.
Or is that unfair?
can’t wait to see our young guns play after so much disappointments with the seniors performances. Need something to cheer me up tonight.
tut tut, ricco…i think we’ll be fine. there will be pressure, but it won’t be quite as intense because there are more younger/fringe players in the squad…i think that will allow them to play a somewhat less inhabited game…at least, that is what i hope…
i am not sure that is quite accurate, kev…certainly the nuggets are pretty competitive – they absolutely fleeced the knicks in the carmelo deal (thanks to our unmentionable owner (cablevision ceo and madison square garden chief exec) james dolan), and have some buidling blocks for the future – they are a pretty good team right now…
rams and avs are at similar phases of the cycle most teams go through…the glory days are gone and rebuilding is in progress…rams actually finished 8-8 last year and they are seen as an up-and-coming team…they started 0-2 losing to my team, the ny giants, last night – but they have some key injuries to deal with and are just trying to keep afloat until the cavalry can return…they are also a very young team and make the mistakes we see young teams make…
avs are supposed to be rebuilding as well, but i think they are kind of stuck in place right now…outside looking in…
i see this as a mixed bag…some teams are good, some are not…
hi osi, i’ll find one shortly i hope 😉
not a case of tut tut oliver, its realism – i thought we had enough to beat BB but sadly, we ddin’t – no longer do i have faith in us winning, not even against a second division side…..
Righto, off to find a link. COYG
tut tut ricco…i think we’ll be ok…
http://www.vipflash.net/ch2.html
hi!
What’s the prevision for tonight?
Vela is playing in RS versus Granada
rico I lost faith in us winning against anytime me too, I mean look we’re playing like a stupid team. I wasn’t angry with Song and Koz conceding own goals as much as I was angry with the passivity with which the dealt with defending the freekick and the counter-attack. Song could have attacked that ball instead of waiting and allowing a very nothing ball to drop to his knees. Similarly, Koz positioning was wrong when he saw that Olsen get past Song. Also they way DJ tackled was amateurish to say the least.
shrews have already hit the post once and forced fab into a good save…
chamakh had two early shots – including a header tipped over – but little since…we’re about a quarter of an hour in now…
goodness me!!
we just went 1-0 behind…what was that you said, ricco?
rico the link is still loading, it seems it’s not working or has it something to do with my PC?
Apparantly Djourou was ball watching….
shrews have been doing all the attacking in the last several minutes…
JM – i think it will be close….
osi, doesn’t work for me either 🙁
sorry oliver 🙁
I predict 0-0 and it’s 0-1…
Anyone remember when Arsenal lost 3-1 at home to Walsall in the League Cup.
Terry Neill got the sack soon afterwards….
don’t go for that link guys, my security has blocked it….
rico watching Joe Cole & Hazard playing: Bordeaux vs Lille
i remember allez…
Shrewsbury almost scored again…
no worries ricco…if they cannot recover from this – and they are starting to play slightly better now – than our problems are far worse than i thought…
it seems jd was the main culprit on the goal – surely he his playing he way out of the first team squad? even with all the injuries, he has to be making it very difficult to persist with him…
wow! should have been 0-2 there…they headed just wide…
kev – you have a link??
jd is totally out of form oliver, i would not have played him ….
oliver who’s playing at the back ?
Listening to a radio link Rico.
Coquelin last ditch tackle just save a certain goal.
ah, ok kev…
1-1 Gibbs
1-1 🙂
phew…gibbs drew us level..
Gibbs – 😮 good man ….
osi, it’s jd – captain, i may add, miquel, jenks and gibbs…
if arsene thought that giving him the responsibility would help him up his game, it has had the opposide effect so far…jd has been our worst player so far, and we are not too far from the interval…
Kev, I went to every home game that season and the only programme missing from my collection is the walsall one, never was able to replace it, a real shocker at the time, it was around 83 I think, i’m rubbish with dates, must have left it behind me on the train.
I follow the http://www.eurosport.com
anyone got a stream link
I’ll have a look and see if i’ve got a spare Mick.
1-1 gibbs
1982-83 wasn’t it?
Haven’t heard Park’s name mentioned….
Not very encouraging so far.
I can’t get a stream either steve 🙁
Haha.
mancs are 3-0 up agaisnt leeds 🙁
there’s the whistle…not good enough, but at least we are not still losing…
can’t comment on the way we are playing oliver, unable to watch 🙁
According to the radio, the Shrewsbury players were really puffing and blowing in the last 10 mins.
Maybe that’s our best chance, if they run outta steam.
Don’t it make ya feel proud………….
and united’s stiffs are, by all accounts, making short work of a leeds side much better than what we are facing tonight…and this in a hostile atmosphere against bitter rivals…
No Kev, not one bit…..
How is Oxo doing??
This is their cup final, fair play to them, they brought 5000 with them tonight.
Anyone know the attentance ? 40 odd thousand i’m guessing.
We’re put them to the sword 2nd half.
exactly oliver….
and we struggled last season against that leeds side….
Micko, hopefully tonight they will come good….
Wonder how much the 1st half took out of Shrewsbury?
comments… http://www.eurosport.com
Last year’s losing finalists have lost just one of their last 39 League Cup home games against lower league opposition, but that could be about to change as the imposing pairing of Morgan and Collins are giving Ignasi Miquel and Johan Djourou a torrid time.
we’re putting all the pressure on early in the second half…haven’t made the breakthrough yet, but it seems only a matter of time…
wonder how much it took from us kev….
JM, i hope that record remains tonight….
oliver – are you able to do the report for tonight please, i can’t get any link and now my internet is playing silly beggars?…
i’ll do it ricco…but i am not watching a link either – i am following via text commentary…it seems there are no working links available…
OXo 2-1
oc!!!!!!!
finally, we’re in front…
Now, lets see if Shrewsbury’s level drops and we can run in a few goals…
thanks oliver, huge thanks……
way to go cube boy…..
Could have had a pen…..? Oxo fouled in box…hmm
Sounds like we’re getting on top now.
It could be a confidence thing…
Djourou nearly ‘did it’ again.
Wath, how do you feel mate?
Radio says Shrewsbury are looking very tired now.
Got 10 behind the ball
Only 1 up front…
Ryo coming on….
Oxo another good shot, corner, another corner.
Could have had another pen. Handball.
Sympathy from the ref for Shrewsbury?
Ryo on for Park.
Sounds like oxo will be picking up the man of the match this evening.
miyaichi on for ju…
According to radio we’re playing 4 2 3 1 with Benayoun in the hole.
Oxo had a good game then … ?
Ozyakup on for Frimpong
According to sky he’s been very impressive, see bolton are 2 nil up against villa, they are on a similar run to us at the moment, something will have to give this weekend.
Rico, it’s sounds like he’s had a very impressive 2nd 45.
3-1 Benny, Ozy assist
Yossssssssssssii 😛
benayoun…that should do it…
Rico, sounds like Benny has had a good game as well as Oxo.
He almost set up another goal. He seems to like the hole
I hope its not us Micko… Are Bolton playing a full squad though i wonder?
Thats good then for Oxo…
Playing in the hole i meant…..
hope so oliver…
i am surprised benny hasn’t started more to date, he oodles experience kev,….
if shrewsbury cannot get another goal, this will be our first win by a two goal margin of the season…i think we won 3-1 at bloomfield road this season…before that, i think it was the fa cup replay against the lower league side where chamakh scored and nik had the hat-trick…i think that was 5-0?
mind you, this one is not over yet. but if we win by more than the odd goal, that will be a rarity, going on recent form…
i wasn’t going to go there re yossi kev 😉 😉
that was leyton orient – who, by the way – just went level at ewood park…if orient can get a result there…
blackburn just went 2-1 up…
Sorry boss… 😀
I’m just soooo smutty 😉
Aneke coming on..
its not worth looking back or looking at others oliver… afc are no different to us, it is all about what is ahead of us……
Coq to Benny, another chance. Radio says Coq has played really well
i know kev, bt then you are a man 😉 😉
Aneke, debut for him isn’t it?
Aneke on for Oxo, Oxo gets great applause
I just can’t help myself Rico… 😀
Ozyakup seems to have done well since he came on…
I’m offski guys, early start and looks like all is safe into the next round – they had me worried for a bit, but all ok in the end…..
be good all, nighty night and hopefully we will all sleep a little better 😉
Nighty, stay safe….
Thanks again for todays Kev…..
Great atmosphere at stadium.
Fans singing Wenger’s name.
That’ll upset the Press.
3-1.
that’s it…finished 3-1…job done, perhaps not impressively, but a result nevertheless…
Like i say Kev 😉 😉
Nighty….
hopefully we can build on that – nothing was as important as getting a win tonight…that’s done, now we will have a tougher test against bolton…focus on them, one game at a time, and hopefully we will be able to start moving up the table…
Goodnight Rico.
Sleep well boss.
Sweet dreams….
There was a few positives outta tonight’s game.
Oxo, Coq, Benny.
A mate of mine, who watched the game in Malta, said Ozyakup touched the ball more than Park….
Room for improvement there methinks…
Match report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14893648.stm
Stoke vs Scummers, gone to penalties………
Stoke win 7-6 hahaha… 😆 😆 😆
A great way to end the day….. 😀
Another match report:
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3449515,00.html
Who is doing the dodgy match report lol……
Seems no one saw….!
Oh well least we won…!
kev, earlier this evening you asked me a couple of questions about our esteemed majority shareholder. the below is from espn’s nfc west (national football league) blog, regarding mr. kroenke in the aftermath of his rams loss to ny giants at the meadowlands:
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On Kroenke’s postgame Spagnuolo chats
September, 20, 2011
Sep 20
7:17
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By Mike Sando
Team owner Stan Kroenke was the first person I saw upon entering the St. Louis Rams’ locker room Monday night. He stood near one of the main entrances.
The Rams had returned from the field following their 28-16 road defeat to the New York Giants. Rules require teams to open their locker rooms to reporters following a 10-minute cooling-off period, but in this case, the locker room remained closed for an extended period without the head coach emerging for his scheduled news conference.
Why the delay? Kroenke, who took over last year as majority owner after years in a minority role, sometimes meets with coach Steve Spagnuolo following games.
“I do deeply apologize for being late at the postgame conferences,” Spagnuolo told reporters in St. Louis on Tuesday. “I want you to know that it is not out of any disrespect. … I have visited a couple times with Mr. Kroenke and I value that time. He’s great. I appreciate him coming in and talking to us and myself and that’s kind of what’s happened, but we’ll get that squared away and I promise you that we’ll take care of you like we should.”
I pass along this information as a window into the often vague coach-owner dynamics. Kroenke doesn’t reveal much about himself publicly and isn’t one to comment on day-to-day team operations. That he would meet with the team and head coach following games shows a level of engagement we might not normally know about.
A few more Rams-related notes from Spagnuolo’s day-after game media session
—————————————————————————————-
the fifth paragraph is of particular interest, as sando speculates that kroenke may be more engaged with his rams staff than anyone thinks, at least based on spags’ admission that the owner has met directly with the owner…
of course, spags would have a much easier time accessing the owner than arsene would – simply through geographic proximity…and sando’s comment that kroenke does not reveal much about him publicly suggests that he may just as much a cipher to rams fans as he is to us…
Yeah Wath, who is doing all those dodgy match reports, diabolical liberty… 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhu-UD8UaWw
Arsene interview… 😉
Hello !
Even against Shrewsbury Town we still concede. God have mercy on us.
Cheers Oliver. As you say, i think the distance between the club and it’s owner, could be a problem.
Morning – New Post up…