Morning all.
I don’t know about anyone else but Christmas seems to have come around quickly this year. No sooner was summer over, it’s here. I don’t think the retail trade help much either, after all, they begin filling their shelves at the earliest stage possible.
But for me, today isn’t about food, drink or presents. It’s about family, friends and the birth of Jesus. If that offends, sorry, but I’m English and Christmas means a lot to me.
But as so many of us travel far and wide to catch up with our loved ones, for others, this Christmas will be their first without their loved ones and it’ll be hard. Losing someone dear is always hard but at this time of the year, it’s harder. I know, as I’ve experienced it…
Keep them in your thoughts guys, the homeless and hard up too. I’m not trying to depress you, I’m just taking a moment to realise how lucky I am, as I hope you guys and gals are too.
Merry Christmas to you all, whatever you are doing, be happy. Love, like and be loved and liked and always keep life peaceful and calm because sadly, these days we never know what’s around the corner…
And for one day only, forget Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, otherwise that fifth glass of Prosecco will get you all angry..
???? Enjoy….
Happy Christmas to you rico, and everyone else here. This forum helps keep a little sanity sharing the painful moments, and enjoying the better ones. Have a good one all.
Morning Rico.
A happy Christmas to all HH’ers. Best wishes to you all. 🙂
Morning Rico and the House
Best wishes for a happy christmas and new year to you all.
Marry Christmas and an Happy New Year to all HHs!
Best wishes for all of you and Arsenal!
Morning to all Housers where ever you are and whatever your circumstances.
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a happy and hopefully, a prosperous New Year.
Have a very merry Christmas folks from Norfolk to wherever you are.Take it slow and enjoy it.
Merry Christmas to all you HHers and I hope you all have most importantly………… a healthy New Year !
🙂
Christmas hasn`t just come around quickly it`s gone quickly !………I type as I`m eating my Easter Eggs !
If by anyway I`ve offened anyone with my comments in the past I`m sorry, but please believe me that I always write the the intention of trying to be on the humourous side with no malicious intent …………………………obviously not counting Kroenke as I hate the bastard and I hope Rudolph has shat on his syrup !
🙂
We may have some players running out of contract, but here are a few who will be available in the summer for nought as well !…………………….Robben, Ribery, Can, Goretzka Barkley, Mouthinho and my Fav`……………Chiellini, great defender ! ………………………any tickle your fancy ?
Well Cocker you’ve really offended me, but Merry Christmas anyway. ?
Afternoon everybody always read but don’t comment very often.
Thanks for the posts Rico.
Have a great day everybody what’s left of it and a happy new year.
Merry Xmas the entire house
Rico
i forgot Arsen+al and
what make me more happy is that little midget of Manure cannot beat Burnley……HEEEEHEEEhheeee
Lets hear who is to blame now
The PL is about how much money you spend. It’s flawed I’m sorry to say. Pep is as weak as piss! I don’t care how anyone twists my comment to suit their view, if Pep had integrity, he would back himself with what he has, not whore himself to the January market.
Sure he will win the PL, like a bully with unlimited dosh to spend. And the only way The Arsenal can compete with man city is if they spend more.
It’s becoming shite entertainment, & you all buy it!
On a more optimistic note, the MCC are back in the series?
Morning Rico.
Wild ‘n windy snow here.
Morning all.
Can’t blame Pep for spending surely? Its a great shame it can happen, but that’s how the game has gone…
I see Mourinho is moaning about not spending enough money. A man who spent how much on Lukaku?
Morning Adam, it’s the same here. Quite a bit of snow too…
Rico. Are you looking forward to the incoming transfers in January? 🙂
Morning all and a belated happy Christmas.
The Liverpool game was very entertaining and was great for a neutral observer. In many ways Arsenal and Liverpool’s strength’s and weaknesses are very similar which is why we cancelled each other out, and why both sides felt they should have won by the end. Klopp has Liverpool playing more consistently good football in an attacking sense so they have a slight edge on us currently which was indicated by shots on target, expected goals e.t.c.
What is more telling is that if you analyse all the 3 goals we conceded you can see the same tactical and coaching issues we have suffered for years, but you need to look at how each attack unfolds earlier in the move.
In certain instances it is full backs getting caught in possession in advanced wing positions and then the quick attack drawing a CB across the pitch to cover the missing FB, leaving a 1 man CD to exploit with quick midfield runners. This is why against better teams that utilise a quick counter-attack we are more solid with a back 3. Why do we only seem to get our main width from the FB’s? It is different if they are running onto a ball in a more incisive way, but often ours are just standing and receiving the ball statically in a high up the pitch wing position. This is an issue that has been discussed for years now and years down the line still shows itself on a consistent basis.
The defensive midfielder is another problem area and some attacks come through the middle with both CM’s being caught too high and runners exploiting the space behind them to run at our defence. Our defence either has the choice of back peddling till other players get back or having one CD stepping out to close down. Both are fraught with danger as in one you invite the opposition into the danger area and in the other you risk having a CD caught out of position if he doesn’t intercept when he steps out. Again how often have we asked for a proper DM, one that is more of an athletic beast that can be more disciplined in his positioning patrolling in front of the defence. It is not Xhaka who doesn’t have the skills for this. I have watched the Xhaka / Wilshere combination and many times Xhaka positions himself higher up the pitch than Jack leaving Jack having to cover behind him. Jack is often doing 2 jobs (to his credit) but with his skills getting us on the front foot he should have a specialist DM just tucked in behind him that gives him more freedom to play.
The third thing I noticed was in the focus of the players when we are defending. The psychological focus and being switched on is too often absent in this team, and again has been a point of discussion for years. There may be other culprits but the 2 I noticed jogging back when we were under attack and unaware of midfielders sprinting to get past them to join the attack were Xhaka and Bellerin. They are often seen casually jogging back rather than busting agut to get back goal side of the ball. Xhaka has no pace so needs to be better at not being out of position but then reacting immediately if he is. Bellerin has better recovery pace but often, even with this, reacts far too late rather than being more pro-active in being aware of the danger before it happens. You just wonder what sort of preparation and instruction goes in on these matters in training.
Again all old faults that are about training, discipline and tactics.
? Adam, indeed I am…
GoonerB, we know who’s to be held responsible for what you’ve written. The same mistakes get made week after week, season after season.
I see Vieira has said our midfield isn’t aggressive enough..
Rico. I thought you would be. Seems like we might get Benzema at long last. He’s only 42 years old after all. 🙂
Well rumours are gaining pace and Sam Allardyce claims Giroud rejected a move to Everton last Summer (before Allardyce had ben appointed.) as Giroud’s wife wants to stay in London.
Rumours also persist in a swap between Sanchez and Aquero in the Summer,yet not sure that City need him and that would cost Arsenal money.All very delicate.
Walcott still linked with a move to Everton or West Ham but can they afford his wages.
Whichever report you read the Jack Wilshere contract talks are not going that simple.
Debuchy has publically stated he wants to leave in January. We couldn’t give him away for free in the Summer and his few appearances this season he hasn’t been worse than many other defenders.IMO we need to keep him.
We are now playing catch up especially on Goad Difference and have yet another difficult Away game at Palace and then at the Weekend at WBA followed by Chelsea.That should give us a clearer position and Wenger needs to get it right more often than wrong.Can he do it? It’s a big ask..
I still believe their is major unrest in the dressing room and it’s not just about Sanchez.
We have no devine right to win anything but I am of the firm belief that many players don’t want to play for Wenger anymore for a multitude of reasons which we have discussed over and over again
I am. not interested this season that we are so many points behind a cluster of clubs as my interest is in Arsenal and Kroenke and Wenger have achieved the fantastic task of making us a second tier club
The only glimmer of hope is for Wenger to
step down this season and geta younger more motivated man in who
hopefully will
Improve some players and get rid of others
We are halfway through the season and won just over half our games and our goal difference compared to those above us is abysmal
I don’t think some people realise the gravity of the problem if things continue like this
I don’t see Kroenke selling to Usmanov or anyone in the not too distant future
We dither about everything be it trying to buy or sell and invariably lose out or generally buy very average players often those not wanted by clubs who feel they have had the best of them or aren’t of the required standard
and good Morning all
Adam, did you see Benzema in the Barca/Madrid game?
He looked 42….. lol
Gooner B. This is why many of us feel that a change of manager is the only solution that makes any sense. We are unable,to do much about the board room but different thinking on the pitch should enable changes of tactics to get the best from the players we have left after the ones that wangt to leave have gone.
Kelsey, it’s clear we need a few additions to the squad but it matters not who we sign as Wenger either ruins them or plays them out of position. I don’t honestly believe the problems we have are major. A new manager with his own team around him would soon sort us out imo.
Might take a couple of seasons but that’s not long in football..
Rico. I really, really hope that this Benzema thing doesn’t happen. It would be so Wenger, ultimately negative and a waste of resources too. Wenger has been crowing on about money again but if you look at the horrendous amounts he has wasted over the last decade, it’s a completely unrealistic point of view to try and use as an excuse for his failures. Looking through the team there are so many question marks, but this isn’t entirely about the here and now. Instead, I believe it is a result of years of tunnel-visioned complacency, a failure to plan ahead and to make the right investments at the right time. If ever a club was in need of a new direction it is Arsenal and I very much hope that Wenger leaves at season’s end and that the board have been ambitious and shrewd enough to have planned for that scenario. Pep’s success and style of play has thrown a sharp and unflattering light on Wenger, Mourinho and several others.
Good morning Rico and all !
We notice there are changes occuring already to the back staff therefore i do not think that Le Prof is in command specially on buying selling or negotiating contracts.
Do you think the club will be active on January ?
Certainly some one already have realised by now that Xaka was a wrong buy and that midfield given Santi absence surely i expect an addition in the likes of Da Silva to put some life in there.
Defence
Koscielny never been outstanding but average and now that is aging seems obvious an addition is needed as we are liking goals for fun.
Me too Adam, that Benzema ship sailed a long time ago. I’m still hopeful that he’ll sign nobody next month and leave in the summer. It makes so much sense for him to leave..
I think the media mentioned to him about Mourinho moaning about money which is why he responded but as often is the case, he should button it.
Morning Alex.
GG, your earlier point about the PL being about money spent is obviously valid, but I think if we are looking at it in how it relates to Arsenal I believe it only tells a fraction of the story. Firstly when looking at City’s spending it is often only looked at in total amounts which I feel distorts the true picture. When City come calling for a player I am pretty sure that the selling club add more to the players supposed value just because they know they can, and that City will go for it anyway and would rather get the player even if it is over the true value rather than miss out. In that sense I feel their total expenditure is altered to an artificially high level relative to what they have actually bought.
Think about the players they bought this summer. Who have they actually brought in that makes you sit up and take notice and go wow? There was no Neymar, no Mbappe, no Messi. It looks to me that Guardiola was more looking to get the squad depth right for a full EPL season and he and City just decided they wanted to do it all now rather than slowly over a couple of seasons like we would. Arsene always says you can only introduce 3 players at one time but I think there are examples now that show this isn’t true. There have been a couple of TW’s in recent times where I have thought why not just get 5 players if that is what is needed and spend 2 TW budgets in 1. As someone once said to me he seems trapped by his own rules at times.
If you actually look at the City first team it is largely the same as before the summer and the new recruits haven’t influenced the 1st 11 that much. Those that have are hardly stellar names anyway, just good players. Whatever you think of Guardiola the main difference is that he has had a year to coach his team in his identity and this is why they are now so far ahead of us…..superior coaching. Sterling and De Bruyne are both excellent players but they have each moved up a notch or 2 through his coaching. They have improved individually but more importantly are playing in a well drilled, balanced and fluid team.The same team more or less that he inherited but now just moved on to a higher level.
Arsene has built his side over many seasons now rather than assemble it all quickly but when analysed on a player for player basis I don’t see them as massively superior, just each player is playing to his highest level in a team doing likewise. I hate to say it but I think Guardiola would add 18 points to our current team given 12-18 months time with it and if both managers were at the opposite clubs for the last 15 months or so it would be Ozil rather than De Bruyne that everyone would be salivating over. De Bruyne would likely be another excellent player that flatters to deceive at times in a team that does likewise.
Good comment GoonerB..
Thanks Rico 🙂
Off for family duties. Catch up soon.
Enjoy GoonerB
Afternoon Rico and all
Hope you all enjoying the holidays ..
Well said gooner B
What’s been happening with arsenal over the last few seasons has little to do with finance. .
Wenger’s teams keep repeating the same mistakes season after season.
His histstation and dithering in the transfer market has actually cost the club more in revenues, wages and sale than what city has spent under Guadiorla.
Afternoon Kk. Totally agree. Money is just a lazy excuse for Wenger to hide behind. It’s his tactics and lack of defensive coaching which is two of the biggest problems.
Hi Rico and fellow HH’ers.
I hope you all had a marvelous Christmas, and may I wish you all a prosperous New Year.
And let loose the venomous contempt for which we now hold in our useless egotistical megalomaniac.
Out of all the players we sold to the opposition Sagna hurt the most.I remember when he signed for us and from day one fitted in so well and then had mny seasons with City.
I agree it’s not all about money but IMO Wenger wouldn’t know acent defender if he stared him in the face whilst I agree a more pro active manager would get a lot more from some of the players
In his last two games I watched Xhaka literally walk back to defence whilst the oppo counter attacked.he was 40 yards from the goal when they scored.
In today’s press conference The latest update from Stanley Unwin (younger members look him up)Wilshere staying depends on wages,then prioritises that clubs want our players on loan or buy them and finally he is “open minded” about any possibility to strengthen our team” rather a vague statement and the order that he spoke in might be a clue.
a decent I meant.
Sagna left for free Kelsey and although he had three seasons at City, he only played 54 times and a lot of those weren’t from the start of the game.
RvP hurt us more than losing Sagna imo..
Hi Herb, hope your Christmas was good too..
Afternoon Rico and All…
I watched 89 on Christmas Day evening, it was fantastic and a must see for all Gooners of all ages, it really tells you what this club is all about.
It also puts into perspective where we are now and the schism between the fans and players and how the whole games total obsession with money has tainted our great game.
That 1988-89 squad was built around a core of players developed by the club, who knew what being an Arsenal player was all about, allied to a group of hungry players signed from other clubs and lower leagues, who really appreciated the opportunity of playing for a great club like Arsenal, managed and coached by an ex-Arsenal player who was ambitious, had sticky fingers, but who also knew what the club meant, with a director in the boardroom who wanted success on the field.
Ah, the good old days…
Afternoon Kev, I have 89 ready to watch, once I can get my hands on the remote that is. Really looking forward to watching it too..
Liverpool have agreed a deal for Virgil, another one we’ve missed out on..
Evening all.
I told you that Gooner B was good didn`t I !…………….being Tony Cottee`s stunt double he picks up a few pointers !.
A lot of comments today whilst I`ve been outside doing a Snow Dance !…….pisses me off that we dont get any snow in Cornwall !………even more pissed off because I invested my life savings in igloo double glazing frames !………anyway I met an eskimo in Iceland and was immediately attracted to her blow up igloo`s, no rubbing of nose`s shit, straight inuit I was, anyway no sign of snow, more chance of Wenger buying a genuine defensive midfielder beast !
Have to love Mourinho for moaning that the £300M he spent is not enough to compete with CFG !…………..obviously forgets when no one could compete with his Chav millions before CFG came onto the scene.
Happy birthday Francis “Frank” McLintock!
Happy birthday Frank McLintock.. How old is he today Lee?
Morning to you and all..
Morning Rico and happy birthday Frank. 🙂
Morning Adam, it’s a cold one..
Big frost here Rico, but now bright and sunny.
Same here Adam.
Of all the goals we’ve scored in the last 21 years, Wenger has picked Girouds scorpion kick as the stand out.. I can think of better ones..
New post up now.