I’m not suggesting for one minute he will or that I want him to but if he did:
Many fans would smile, many would be pretty cheesed off and some I am sure will wonder what on earth will happen now at our club.
I’m still of the opinion he needs to be given just one more summer, he’s finally admitted we lack maturity at the back and he’s given perhaps his strongest hint in a long time that he is ready to sign one or two experienced players to make us a lot stronger.
We all know that if that means bring in a player or two who has played in finals, have won medals and know what is like to stay calm when all around is going crazy, then that’s great. If the word ‘experience’ means buying a player who has had his day at the top and no-one else wants him, then that will just not be right.
But should he choose to walk away we need a hero to take his place. I don’t mean a big manager like Jose Mourinho, Gus Hiddink or anyone else in that kind of category, we need an Arsenal Hero to breeze in, ram what Arsenal Football Club is about down the players throats and drum into them what it SHOULD mean to play for a club like ours and what makes Arsenal what it is today.
Show them around the trophy room, let them see the gaps on the shelf, show them what happen in years gone by and let them know that right now they are not doing on the pitch, what it takes to be winners.
Liverpool Football Club have had many heroes over the years, they have the trophies to prove their success. Admittedly in the more recent years things have not been all rosy but they have still managed to do something which we have never been able to do and that’s win the Champions League. I think they have also bagged an FA Cup, both was under their then manager, Rafa Benitez.
But things got stale, they dropped out of the top four in the league, flirted for a few weeks around the relegation places this season under new manager Roy Hodgson and that is when they said enough was enough. Changes took place at board level; a new owner came in and with it a new manager in Kenny Dalglish.
As said before, Liverpool have had many heroes over the years, but not many could have touched their fans hearts as much as Kenny Dalglish did and still does today.
Smart move, the club may have been taken over by an American and they may have a few local born and bred players in their squad but what better to keep the history of their club alive and kicking than to appoint a manager who was once at the heart of all things good for the club.
He’s been like a breath of fresh air for them, he sold their so-called best player in Torres, replaced him with a younger, fitter Englishman and spent the money left from that one sale on Suarez. Ok he had to find an extra seven million but hey he lost one player and bought two for just seven million pounds. Not bad eh and both have hit the ground running and what did he do with Suarez, gave him the number 7 shirt!!
What he has also done is inject new enthusiasm into the players he inherited and now they are fifth in the league with a Champions League qualification place in their sight.
They have gone from a club in trouble to a club which no doubt every fan believes in again.
The moral of the story is, it’s not always a proven manager that makes a team gel, it just takes a man who has been there and done with ‘that team’ and can inject his attitude, committment and winning belief into the squad.
Arsenal Football Club have many many heroes of their own from over the years gone by, so if Wenger were to decide to leave, would we be better off looking to one of them to do for Arsenal what King Kenny has done for Liverpool?
And, writing this has not been easy, Liverpool are not my favourites as regulars here on HH know but sometimes, some things have to be said……
What? And get Georgie Graham back 😀
gnarley, haha that’s exactly what I thought this was going to be about too!
Hey gg, how’s you?
Not GG back but there are plenty of players who could lift a side like KK has…
Hi John, glad you weren’t disappointed 😉
Rico, if Wenger left, bringing George back is exactly what we should do. I know its a little simplistic, but can you imagine this team with some Graham-style discipline???
Hi hal,
i can imagine what this side would be under him but this board of ours wouldn’t see him return surely, i bet they have never forgiven him for what he did all those years ago…
If only AW would work on our defence like GG used to..
is that should or would we do a liverpool?
ie drop out champions league
with pat rice leaving is the perfect time for wenger to get a really good number to who bring some real energy back in to training session, a guardian journalist was told by the one of the coaches the youth player are just coasting in training. I really hope we dont promote from with in and get a wenger yes man.
Wenger really need to start deligating out some of the work load apparently according to the AST his actually sending out season ticket renewals.
hows you rico
Just a correction.. Dalglish sold 2 players and bought 2.. Babel and Torres out, and Suarez and Carroll in 🙂
We sold babel an paid nothin for either, best deal in football period. Lookin forward to next season I’m sure we will both be up there LFC an AFC, Wenger is a top boss but yeah you need the experience. When the untouchable’s played that season there was the youth an the experience of old players who had won cups in previous teams. I expect him to buy but more likely from Europe an above 26yrs with experience, 3 players like this in def mid an attack and it will prob be yours next year so goodluck an YNWA.
*two*
hypothetically if this were to happen, that means you need to take Woy Hodgson for half the season too… 🙂
however i wouldnt wish that upon you guys… that wish is saved up for when Woy replaces Fergie at the stupid manc’s… :p
See this article is a perfect example of why as a Liverpool fan, Arsenal will always be my second favorite team (although i will have a soft spot for QPR next season). Respect between the 2 clubs has always been top class.
In fact, the £7m was funded by the sale of Ryan Babel. Seems to have gone totally unnoticed amidst the January transfer window mayhem. So, net transfer is about £0.
Hi rsd, am good thanks, you?
You know what i mean, not dropping out of the CL 😉
We don’t know for sure PR is retiring but if he does, agree that an arsenal man must replace him…
Good article… Liverpool also sold Ryan Babel for about 7 million so they pretty much didn’t spend a penny.
KKD.
Yeah I know that – although the board ‘as is’ are really only of nominal importance with the new regime.
The biggest problem is the Arsenal fans. Graham gets tarred with a brush that he was boring. This is true of the last 3 years of his regime (in his defence during those 3 years he won the cup double and a european trophy). However it is manifest rubbish when taking account of his reign overall. From 1987 to 1991, Arsenal played the most exciting football I have ever seen from an Arsenal side – at least on a par with anything that Arsene Wenger produced. And dont just take my word for it – read Hornby’s fever pitch, where he recants that ‘4s, 5s and even 6s became commonplace at Highbury’. It really was breathtaking stuff after the Don Howe years.
George Graham did not build the club from nothing, but he dragged it into modern times. He was an intelligent and articulate manager, at least as much as our current porfessor, and had an edge of steel to boot. Yes he did loose the plot towards the end (but in fairness no more so than Arsene, and his decline did not last a painful 6 years), but Wenger could not have succeeded if it was not for Grahams team. He left the core of a squad of winners. Arsene and Rioch just needed to reinstall the flare that was cast aside after 1992. I honestly thing that, on the playing side his legacy was far stronger than what Arsene will leave behind.
Time will tell I suppose
Hi to the Pool fans joining us here on HH, KK has certainly done you the world of good.
I have to admit, I didn’t realsie that KK had sold Babel which does make his transfer business even more shrewd…
What ex Arsenal players are now top class managers thats your problem at Arsenal. Tony Adams could be your answer ex player great player been learning coaching abroad he is the only one that comes to mind but as a liverpool fan I no that we should have brought King Kenny back years ago and we would never have slipped to the depths we did but he is back now .I watch Arsenal regular on tv and as an out sider looking in wengers nervousness is going on to the pitch to the players when they look across for guidance he is walking up and down the touch line ringing his hands or kicking bottles of water and I believe it affects your players confidence and also I think you need a forward coach because Arsenal should be beating teams for fun instead they miss chance after chance in front of goal passing instead of shooting and this must all be down to your coaching .By the way as a liverpool fan I dont hate Arsenal I quite enjoy watching there brand of football till the end product but good luck with your team for next season gooners
hal, many fans also believe we have only achieved what we have under wenger because of the defence and keeper he inherited….
hal, good comment at 9.49
albey
the chances we miss frustrates the heck out of every arsenal too…
if arsenal fans believe that re defense rico then they are stupid 2001-04
Jens
lauren toure sol cole
thanks Rico. I think it was more than just the defence though. It was the expectation of the players that they not just could, but would win things. Dont forget they got to the cup winners cup final under Stewart Huston while the club was effectively in managerless limbo. I really dont feel that the current players have the same fire in their bellies, and sadly I think that comes from the manager who appears to be floundering a bit.
Anyway, Im off to watch the DVD of the 1994 cup winners cup final to feed my nostalgia. Yes it was probably the game that gave Georges team their definitive ‘boring’ tag, but what a feeling it was to win that trophy. Hope the boss doesn’t notice!!!
but they do rsd, not saying i do 😉
“…not always a proven manager that makes a team gel.”
What made it easier for us (Liverpool) is that Dalglish is a proven manager. As manager, three league titles with Liverpool, then with Blackburn. Few have done this. Only Ferguson, Wenger, Dalglish and the Chelsea mafia have won the Premiership.
Maybe Wenger will be moved to actually buy one or two ‘top-top’ players this closed season?
Benzema is the next Henry
1.both french
2.got talent
3.proven goalscorers
4.both made a wrong decision
henry went to italy n benzema went to spain
5.wenger bought henry to arsenal n now i do hope that
wenger brings in benzema
Hope im correct with bendtner out
i’m good thanks
how are the animals?
trying to put my finger on what the squad actually needs
i think the first team on their day have been a match and even better than everyone in eurpoe this season, the fringe i think they are good enough but lacking desire, a new number two could change that.
I hope he does Brian, my point is that so many clubs appoint big name managers rather than big names conncted to their club, the chelsea mafia as you call them are a perfect example and man citeh are following the same pattern.
I have to admit, i forgot he managed liverpool before but again my point is appointing him now has turned your side around…
I have always liked the ‘Gunners’,and followed LFC to a number of match’s in the 60’s.There are’n’t too many clubs I dislike but I could be an Arsenal fan if not for LFC! The Bergkamp(Dennis Nikolaas Maria),era was fantastic!The club has a great history!
hi arsenal fan, the rumours are gathering pace about benzema, hope their is some truth about us having tabled a bid for him, then get the two beasts in at the back…
nik a gonner, i am convinced…
down to two now rsd 🙁
steel at the back and a goal scorer has to the minimum imho…
To All the pool fans aswell like to watch them play
heard they are getting a kitty of 100mil to spend with the new owners and the kit deal they have had.
They are going to be up there with us next season
you guys can’t be serious? George “Mr Bungs” Graham to a club that’s tightfisted on money? Nostalgia gone wrong if you ask me.
Hi
Again as a liverpool supporter, I am on 9 that KK is back. Again to echo the previous LFC fans I (we) hold no anomosity to Arsenal, but rather enjoy the football you play. The problem for you guys may be or not be AW thats not for me to decide but you guys.
Its up front where you are failing season after season. You play some great football until in and around the box, when everything stops because the players want to walk the ball into the net by over elaborating. You need a top class striker who is direct and no nonsence. Lots have been argued about whether the defence is or isnt good enough, My answer is you need 2 experienced players in the middle (alla Keon and Adams) The rest is working fine.
Im sure you wouldn’t want George Graham back, hed turn Arsenal back into the worlds biggest Hoofers of the ball as in the 80’s and 90’s….still it hasn’t done Man ure, the worlds most overrated and lucky team any harm as the pox another title by default of others allowing them, flopping and rolling over.
Arsenal do need a change though, it’s gone stale with Wenger, why not take a look at that up and coming manager dubbed the ‘New Mourinho’, or Frank Rijkarrd, who this Liverpool fan wanted at Liverpool….before Kenny came back, who will win the title next season with Liverpool.
I think Arsenal would benfit from a player like Alonso, hope he comes back to Liverpool, but I’m sure he would make a vast difference. That & a clinical finisher like Henry.
Thank DWA
afrix, not really thinking about a GG return but an ex player, a real arsenal man who could get the club back into the heart of the players, get them to show passion again, pride in wearing the arsenal shirt…
who could be that man?
looks like the benzema transfer might run all summer
And hillwood would never have GG back due to the bungs
bring back GG!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad to hear that rico mine had to go last year too
rsd, i’m so sorry to hear that 🙁
Morning all.good read rico.i’ve got massive respect for l.pool.Torres sulked for months but they sold him and they actually got better.i also feel the abscence of Gerrard has allowed the likes of maxi/meireles/lucas the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.whether that can be applied to cesc i don’t know…
Rico your players no how to win the problem is your defensive side to your game. Fantastic at times going forward but always look to leak goals at the back but your players can do it as your team proved against the mancs they need to play that way every game not all out attacking football not in the EPL it is not like spain were they allow barca to play here they are in your face the sooner Mr Wenger relises this the better your chances of wining the league and as a Liverpool fan if we cant win the league I would rather Arsenal did we both try and play football . One last thing I remember in the 90s when manure were just like Arsenal are today knocking on the door but trip up at the last hurdle they brought in kean ince pallester bruce and the rest is history so your not that far away just a few signings from being champions now for my club we are abit behind your club at the moment but we will get there under King Kenny .
Pool fans just joining, good to see you here and with sensible comments, we don’t always get that from different club fans, no doubt you guys experience the same..
The constant passing frustrates all gooners too…
Morning Rico, GG is definitely out, the board don’t trust neither will some of the player.
Only Tony Adams can be our new manager if comes to that if not maybe to join in as second man…
players*
Morning Kt, thanks – you see Citeh are talking about Cesc?
Hi Stef, I don’t want GG back but I wouldn’t mind AW watching a few games on dvd that we played under him, if we could instill the GG defensive discipline, we wouldn’t be losing.
But then that is no doubt why we are all crying out for changes at the back…
Stef, or Steve Bould??
Nice 1 rico. You are right about opposition fans. Heard some sh*te from spuds fans when they got CL last year & when we were in the relegation zone. I empithise with your plight against them.
No worries kev, sadly you have just been let down by one of your own, he/she was having a go at the liverpool fans i think, anyway, the spam button came into good use 😉
We have the upper hand over them kev, always will in my life time too, 50 years is all we have to tell them 😉
Rico if i were a city fan i’d be worried if they were not interested.who wouldn’t want cesc?plus i believe there is no way we would sell cesc to a club in England.
Good Morning
Good Post. I’m agree with it.
The Liverpool key is now Meireles and Suarez. Here is the change on the pitch; on the bench, the revolution of mentallity and level of confidence.
GG is past. We are in the XXI century. The football wasn’t stop since twenty years ago. New tactics, new mentallity, new players, new managers, everything was changing. We must be in this wave not in the past one.
No way would he play for them either Kt, he’s made it clear, arsenal or Barca – no-one else….
for all that want GG back, do you remember his last buys? Criss Kiwomya, Eddie McGoldrick, Faxe Jensen, Pål Lydersen and all the fantastic talent he prodused like David Hillier, Ian Selly, Stewe Morrow. And Not to mention the fantastic center backs like Colin Pates and handy Andy Linnighan. Yes those were the days of sublime football and tropies every year (apart from the downfall and not winning the league after 91…
Morning JM, glad you liked the post..
GG is in the past for sure 🙂
I read that Porto have made it clear their manager is going nowhere for many years..
My view is that Wenger will stay in any case, but should Pat Rice retire, his new assistant could be one of Wengers most important signings this summer….
Lassana Diarra wants out of Real Madrid…..
Hi Northern Gooner, we need to go forward, not backwards, GG’s defensive approach but wengers attacking flair, thats what we need, along with a few players who will put their body on the line for our club…
Morning, Bould would do for me!
Morning Lee, i have a feeling he is being groomed to take over from AW and that would do me mighty fine too..
He’s who i had in mind when writing the post 🙂
The FFP rules begin their implementation on June 1st.of the big clubs Arsenal,Bayern-have recorded profits for 18 years in a row,juventus and Madrid are in the clear.city,mancs,barca and chavs are in deep sh*t.
🙂 good Kt….
Got to pop off for a while, back later
morning rico, first liverpool forum i have ever been on. interesting take, the thing that strikes me – already pointed out by several gooners and scousers – is that in addition to being an absolute legend, kenny returned with tons of managerial experience. managed liverpool during one of the most difficult periods in the club’s history, is the only manager not named ferguson/wenger/mourinho/ancelotti to win the prem. he always had the credentials and is liverpool through and through – in short, the right man at the right time…
here at arsenal, we have no such candidate. we all know graham won’t be coming back. we have arsenal legends such as thierry, tony and db, but nobody is ready for this job. probably the closest is bouldy, but it is huge step from coaching the kids up to running first-team affairs. we have nobody similar ready to take over yet…with no disrespect, the liverpool job was too big for woy – and i think many scousers knew it when he was appointed. should we try and bring an “arsenal legend” in to take over from arsene in the next year or two, i can see us falling into a similar trap.
Ok who???
Liverpool brought Dalgliesh back – who already had (albeit a while back) huge managerial experience.
Who have we got thats a legend AND has the experience?
KT, those rules won’t stop all the back handers and the bending of the rules one bit they will still get who ever they want for what ever price it will just be done differently.
Albey asked what ex-Arsenal players are currently top class managers at the moment, well it didnt stop LFC making KK manager originally when he was purely an ex-player..! I think if you’ve got it in you to be a manager then does experience really count..?
I share with you this weel written article:
The adventure Guardiola
by Santiago Segurola (newspaer Marca-Madrid)
Three years ago began the adventure of Guardiola on Barcelona. Came from doubt, with president Joan Laporta, and subject to a motion of censure that almost cost him his job. 62% of members voted for the impeachment of the president, but it required a majority of more than 66%. That plebiscite Laporta has placed a desperate situation, rejected by his supporters and dependent on a team that had missed the previous season. Barca finished the League in 2007/08 to 18 points from Real Madrid, with a humiliating defeat at the Bernabeu 4-1. That team seemed extraordinary at first sight. It was very similar to the current and which won the Champions League in 2006. Played, for example, Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto’o, Messi, Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Valdes, Abidal, Touré Yaya and Zambrotta. Impressed by names, but Barca was a ruin. Several of those players did not take their profession seriously. It was a team with no ambition, more concerned with the good life than football. The collapse of Barca invited to think of a painful cycle. Most of the press, and many Directors considered that the solution was Mourinho. The Portuguese coach seemed a good solution to restore the prestige and good results to a team shattered. The only alternative to Mourinho was Pep Guardiola, who represented the best values of the famous dream team of Johan Cruyff in the 90s. Guardiola was the brains of that team, a product of Barca’s cantera, born in the heart of Catalonia, in the small town of Santpedor. No player better represented the ideals that cruyffiano Guardiola. Its position in midfield represented something more than an extension of the coach on the field: Guardiola was more than cruyffista Cruyff. Passionate, unyielding supporter of Barça, always on the boil, with some strong ideas about the role of Barca, Guardiola was imposed to Mourinho by the enormous influence of Johan Cruyff on Laporta. However, most analysts pointed out as a historic mistake that decision. Guardiola had only one year of experience – had driven the Barca B, the third division – and had to deal with a demoralized team. The general manager of Real Madrid, José Ángel Sánchez, said the appointment of Guardiola as coach would be catastrophic for the club. Three years later the club won nine trophies, including three league titles, missing a spot in the league at the moment, one Champions League, a World Cup and the club. In less than three weeks reissue at Wembley, the Rome final in 2009, against Manchester. Contrary to most forecasts, Guardiola has transported the boat to the golden age, a season of unforgettable titles and admiration in the football world. With a countercultural style – passing, patience, possession and dominance of cantera players – the club perfectly reflects the obsessive mentality of their coach, a man who deepened all the ideas that Cruyff neglected, especially chapter defensive. The effect of Barca has been great. Their influence is notable in the Spanish champions of Europe and the world. Seven players from Barca played the World Cup final in Johannesburg. But the crown jewel is the formidable Messi, the player who takes a great team in a monumental. Guardiola realized very early the importance of Messi. Just so we understand your need to sell Ronaldinho to AC Milan and Deco to Chelsea, and later the controversial transfer of Eto’o or twitching with Ibrahimovic. Guardiola wanted a team around Messi and trained players at the club since childhood. The game and the results have given him reason. The team became the main reference point in world football, a smart team, which generates fear in their opponents. Even the luxurious Real Madrid, Mourinho found himself intimidated by the prestige of Barca. However, this season has caused some alarm, injuries have plagued players and do not hide the weariness of three grueling seasons. Recent months have shown some weaknesses that Barca can not allow the next season. Real Madrid will be more powerful and ready to end the hegemony of the current Spanish champions. Guardiola knows he has work. His team is very good but vulnerable. You’ll have to go to market and strengthen yourself with a good number of players to keep the upper hand. There will be an easy task. The method of Barca is so unique that even the best players in the world have difficulties in adapting to the demands of Guardiola.
Great article JM……….
Hi oliver and WATH..
We could ask whether wenger was experienced enough to take the managers job at arsenal, personally i don’t think the job would be too big for Bouldy, especially if he were to go via the assistants role…
Wenger is a bit of a idiot, all the years he’s been here and he didn’t learn anything new.. Arsenal should just try get Dalglish!! he’s obviously a far better manager that ACTUALLY WANTS TO SPEND MONEY!!Hell they’re even playing better football than Arsenal right now with attack and defense and scoring bucket loads..If not him maybe take a chance on Dennis Bergkamp.
JM, that article is really good, just goes to show doesn’t it, you don’t always need a ‘Jose Mourinho’ to step in when things get tough….
Rico, Keown would have to be a close call as well, very articulate and is Arsenal thru and thru… Has had GG and AW as bosses and knows what it all means to be at The Arsenal, has also done his badges !!
we could, but i would argue that arsene has made this job far bigger than it was when he first arrived.
i think it would be too big for bouldy right now – if he walked into it in the next season or two. if he progresses to primary assistant, than he could certainly be ready in a few years. much will also depend upon where the team is and what circumstances arsene departs under…
Hi Patrick.. DB lack of flying could be an issue..
WATH, i didn’t know keown he had completed his badges, what about the two of them together then, can’t see us leaking goals then… 😉
WATH, would you be happy if Wenger got Diarra back?
Foget Benzema………….
Skysports.com understands Arsenal have been keeping a close eye on Malaga forward Salomon Rondon.
The Venezuelan forward has enjoyed a standout season in Spain, notching 14 goals in 29 appearances.
He only made the step up into the Primera Liga last summer, having honed his skills at Aragua and Las Palmas.
His efforts this season have seen his reputation enhanced considerably, with scouts from across Europe having flocked to Malaga to see him in action.
Chase
Arsenal are among those believed be leading the chase, with Arsene Wenger weighing up the merits of a summer approach.
Representatives from Emirates Stadium were in Spain over the weekend to see Rondon score in a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.
Having been suitably impressed by the 21-year-old, they will have sent a glowing report back to England.
Speculation in Spain suggests that a bid of around 15-20million euros (£13-18m) would be required to tempt Malaga into a sale.
DB10 non flyer rules him out……!
oliver – that is what i am thinking, if PR retires, Bouldy takes over then, when Wenger leaves which could very well be in two years time, we have the perfect replacement and in the mean time he is the Arsenal man we need involved in the management.
Like WATH says though, there is Keown to be considered too…
Thats typical Arsenal dont by proven buy cos we can save 5million…..!!
If we don’t try get Ashley Young as well that will show our total lack of ambition in the trasfer market…!
Great article JM.
WATH, same with squill and kos, could of brought a proven CB with the dough spent on them (although I think kos will be ok)We need not to fck about trying to penny pinch and also get the deals done quickly….be nice to show the fans our intent?
WATH of course they’ll find a way but credit to UEFA for trying to do something.
Back shortly, dentist for me, ouch 🙁
Rico, you missed your appointment!!
Lee, yep spot on mate show some ambition some intent and be pro-active for a change. Don’t penny pinch get what we need and sorted
Sure KT the sentiment is right but its not going to be workable and lets be honest can you see them banning the mancs or the chavs or citeh or barca…? no chance that will happen.
Lee, am with you on Kos I think he’s ok and will get better next season as well, was well thrown in at the deep end this season for sure.
WATH, he played loads more than he was expected to in his first season and on the whole has been ok….it’s getting to the time of the year to remove Newsnow from favourites!
Mate we got 3 months of bullshit to read and look at…! the stuff thats gets you all excited only to be let down time n time again when said players sign for someone else and then we get told “we were so close to signing this one and that one” blah blah blah…..!
Yes mate for me Kos did ok, rememeber Vidic’s first season everybody thought he was a complete yard dog…!
linked with all and sundry…I was reading your banter from last night re season tickets…I’m in the same boat as you, I’ve rented mine out to a mate….you watch now….Buffon, Cahill,sakho,hazard and benzema all signed lively!! I’ve the shidas touch… 🙂 🙂 🙂
The article is very well written.
Rondon? Is interesting but isn’t expensive?
Suarez were arround 12 millions, rigth?
From a sport daily newspaper
Emboldened by the presence in the Champions League, Roberto Mancini wants to build a formidable team for next season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cesc Fabregas are the targets most vocal – and expensive – the Italian coach.
“If Zlatan want to come to the City, immediately find a place for him”, said Mancini.
To rescue Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder, the City may proceed with a proposal more than 55 million
JM, suarez was more than £20m, I’m pretty sure…
Koscielny was better defender then Djourou this season more consistent and making less blunders, but we will see how will they next season Vermaelen was our best defender.
Regarding Steve Bould I think he should first replace Pat Rice before we consider him as a Wenger replacement.
I’ll still like to see Adams more then any other plus he has the experience and the knowledge to be a manager.
Lee I think u r right, re Suarez.
Suarez was 22million JM….!
Well if we buy all that lot Lee and i have to sit in the pub and enjoy watching us for a change I’ll be happy. It’s a start.
Afternoon.
Had a look this morning. It was like a Harry Enfield Scousers sketch on here. A right old London/Liverpool love-in.
Rondon? Sounds about right for us. Hope he’s more Henry than Kaba Diawara.
Rico, had two fillings myself today. Lovely Swedish lady dentist.
Levante vs Barcelona tonight. Wonder if Wellington Silva will get a run out?
Whilst on the loanees, i’d be delighted to see Henri Lansbury in the squad Saturday. Can he be any worse than some of the currant 1st teamers? In fact i imagine he’d be a darn sight better than many.
Least you’ll get 100% from Lansbury AK…. Hope you didnt mention your erection to your swedish dentish mate 😉
Lee 😆
Toof-Hurty 😉
Ak in truth I don’t wanna spend 15mil on a south american that we not heard of or who has no prem lge experience he may well be the next Drogba but right now I’d settle for Drogba himself for 2 seasons to get us back to winning ways.
Ha ha ha. Wath as i typed that i just KNEW what was coming back. No mate, nothing about posts or anything of that nature mate. But she is very nice…..
Leeco how eeezz dee toooofff…?
Ah I wont mention woodies then AK if she very nice….. 😉 Pleased u behaved yourself though although even Swedish and nice means nothing with big needle in hand !!!
Well Wath mate, i kinda agree with ya. Drogba would do for me as well, even if it’s Benzema as top of my wish list [sorry KT]. But the Drog would be massive for us.
Why would you pay 15mil for mr venezuala when you can get Benzema for 20mil… a no brainer…!
Wath i was very brave, i kept my eyes closed throughout.
That’s it Wath, it seems so obvious to me. I know his wages would be on the large side, but a big signing-on fee a la Campbell, could solve that.
Must of been hard work when she was bent right over in front of you 😉
What do you make of all this Cesc to City stuff, nonsense or money talks?
Ha ha ha Wath, no she wasn’t in the Jordan dept. But she was very gentle with me, i was putty in her hands…….
yep plenty ways to cut his wages down to keep em “inline”
I’d like the money to talk least we would get decent money for him we must just spend it first b4 people know we selling him 😉
Well Liverpool did very well out of flogging Torres, Arsenal just have to do the same, and like Liverpool spend it all…
I’m saying nuffin AK, Rico will ban me 😉
kev, mine was a handsome and very wealthy south african and he lives just down the road from me – can you believe his wife gave him a porsche 4×4 for his 50th…. huff…
I’d spend the money first get 2/3 good players and then get what you can for him. One pays for the others. Cesc should get us Cahill and Benzema if we play our cards right. That would be a good start in my book.
Now that’s the kinda wife for me, hehe. All i get is nag nag nag.
😆 WATH
If he wealthy why he still working Rico, did he do your railings for free then 😉
Btw, Hi Rico.
Wath that’s 2 of the 3 on my wish list. But Arsenal never buy the players i hope they will. Well to be fair Bergkamp & Platt were amazing signings back in ’95.
yes, I want to write 22 not 12
how we evaluate a player?
For example, what is my market value? 5 million? 10 million? 12 Millions? 18 million? 🙂
I’d like to know
JM, market value seems to change from one player to the next who is buying who is selling what country how long left on contract etc etc….. 90% are way over priced.
AK remember watching sky non stop when we bought DB10 just kept thinking YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS oh for a couple of signings like that.
railings, you cheeky git WATH 😉
How rude of me kev, evening to you too, i forgot my manners then 🙁
kev, you should see what he gave his mistress, it looks great in my living room 😉 😉
Off out peeps back lata, be good 🙂
Rico, ha ha ha. I hope it wasn’t a rugby ball, lol
Have a good night WATH, catch up later… dont sink to many GG’s 😉
Yes Wath, Bergkamp and Campbell, the best two transfers ever.
See ya mate.
I’ll tell ya what Rico, i don’t know how you think up posts every day. I’ve been thinking a few ideas over and i keep getting writers block. How do you do it?
Apparantly Lazio have bid £9million for Chamakh…
Not nearly enough me thinks.
Thanks kev,that means a lot 🙂
i don’t know really, sometimes i clip on the news or an article just starts me off 😉
And of course, you fine folk all just carry it on through the days and nights…
I’m very lucky too as I get a lot of help from you all 🙂
Thats not bad kev considering we paid nowt for him…
Liverpool will be frigtening next season, no way we will finish over them with Wenger at the helm
Oh, and re the writing, you are probably worrying to much, posts are not about writing the perfect article, jeez, reading mine should tell you that. 😉
just write how you feel about what you are thinking about and go from there – no-one is marking an essay in school kev, you’ll always get idiots that want to critisise but thats usually during weekends and school holidays 😉
Rico, i did hear a rumour that Marseilles were after him, 15 million was mentioned, not sure if they meant Euros or Sterling?
Hi jew, give him one more summer, i’m hoping he’ll surprise us in a good way for once…
Prob Euros kev, thats their money…
Ha ha Rico. Yeah i know what you mean, it doesn’t phase me, i just want to do something half decent. I’ve got some ideas in the pipeline……
I’m still jury out on Chamakh kev – look what he did for us at the beginning of the season when robin was out, he did well – he’s in the Kos bracket for me – can’t be easy to adapt to the PL in your first season…
just look at others who have taken a whole season to settle, henry, bergkamp, pires, nasri…
he could be good for us…
nikki however… bye bye
well kev, that is good news for me then, i trust it will be coming my way 😉 😉
Well i kinda agree with you Rico, i found it strange that once RVP was fit that his confidence just evaporated. I wouldn’t let him go unless AFC got an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Bendtner out and for me Vela as well, he’s just too lightweight.
I’m gonna sit down and try a few things on paper tonight. We’ll see how it goes, and then i’ll send it to the sub-editor/editor for her expert eye.
this is wengers biggest test yet…
Rico, i’m offski now, i’ll see ya later, ta ta.
yep kev, what about using Vela in a Cahill deal?
Sheet, editor, sub-editor – i never send mine to her 😉
ok kev, have a good one… 🙂
sure is jj…
Guys did u see this http://www.arsenal.com/usa/news/news-archive/golden-goals-no-41-wright-v-everton
What an amazing goal, I’ve never seen anything like that.
Oh to have a ‘Wrighty’ Stef, we had Dudu who would have been a poacher but for that thug….
All quiet here so i’m off for the day…
Have a good one all, i’ll catch you tomorrow sometime…
Nighty night….
In my old gold times, i’ve scored a few goals like Ian Wright 🙂
Everyone having an early night?
Sorry I have not been around guys, finding it hard to get up enthusiasm for the team at the mo.
I’m back who’s around, JM, clean your boots you can play sunday, I’ll play central midfield for ya, game over we’ll smash em 😉
Evening chaps, just been reading aclf, they’re at each others throats over there and that’s a pro-AW blog. Just goes to show how pissed off everyone is. Fellow Gooners at each others throats. Not good.
Wath, fancy talking about erections???
whats not good is gooners resorting to want spurs to get something from the city game to stop city catching us..
its turned into a nightmare
evening
Coquelin & Sunu didn’t play for Lorient, Wellington Silva didn’t play for Levante. Waste of time them being there if they aren’t gonna play!
Think we need ur swedish bird on here AK you can talk erections all you want just dont mention it to JJ 😉
He has divided many fans and thats not good but I think the ordinary fans are pissed off with him and now the AKB are also getting a little peeved with him, you cant wear blinkers all the time…!
And JJ appears as u mention erection AK……. 😉
Evening JJ…………. Agreed mate far to many players out on loan cant even get a game for second rate teams what does that tell you of their chances to play for us..?
Whats up with erections on this blog?
Wath, that Swedish dentist, man she had a gentle touch mate.
It’s all borne out of frustration mate. We’re all so pissed off because we’re so bloody close to the Promised Land.
Does JJ wear spandex i wonder??????
the only thing i think of when i see the word erection is bendtner..
KT dont go there mate AK is teasing JJ it seems lol
As for the spandex mate best you ask JJ about that one, the swedish touch sounds rather nice though 😉
Frustration AK and pig headedness from Wenger for letting it get like this…!
I don’t like discussing rumours but a benzema/rvp partnership gives you a sort of henry/bergkamp feeling…
JJ maybe you wanna rephrase that last comment 😉 lol
Hi JJ/KT.
Yeah Wath you gotta wonder about the true value of some of these loans. For every Miyaichi there’s a Sunn, Wellington and a Galindo [ although he’s been injured ].
You need help jj…
no amount of spandex, pvc, or pink frilly knickers is going to dress his situation up..
wengers got nothing else to say..its all been said and hes looked a plum
actions speak louder than words this time..
KT, RVP/Benzema/Theo/Young would be a wicked front 4…? mix and match nd two can drop off as well n play on the wing as and when needed.
bendnters has a huge cock.. lol..
Well JJ hopefully this summer we’ll finally see some action. Although KT has a good point about speculation, it’s mostly just a wind-up and a newspapers ploy to sell copy.
JJ, talks cheap mate and all wenger has done the last 3/4 years is talk, enough of that now we need actions and signings and show some intent and some ambition in the transfer market show us the old wenger not the myopic man that you have become…!
Pace and skill at its climay Wath.we have enough creativity,we need more pace.it is said that most goals are scored seconds after winning possession.3/4 passes with that front 4 we go from a Szczesny save to a Benzema tap in.
ha ha ha Wath, the penny just dropped. Yes Bendtner is a bit of a big one….
JJ, now u’ve lost the plot lol Don’t u mean he is a great big one…???
So Kt are you saying Arsenal should revert to a more direct style [no long ball i hasten to add] and less of the over-indulgent passing?
Wenger looks older than red nose nowadays.surely he wouldn’t let stress take toll on his health due to something he can easily resolve?of all big teams in Europe we made the highest profit of 56 mil with Bayern 2nd with 18 mil.surely Arsene,spend it…
We used to break counter and score like that now we slower than a sumo up a hillclimb….!
We lack speed and we not direct enough…!
i remember a few years back destroying Leeds at Elland Road a couple of times. Arsenal’s couner-attacking was leathal, what happened to that team Arsene? I wanna know??
AK both styles have their merit.when facing a parked bus the direct approach may not work and it would most likely leave us open to a counter.tiki taka opens up teams but we miss so many chances.its also good when you’re protecting a lead since the opposition gets tired.what i want though is that when we win the ball we should go for the kill before they reorganise.
we only have one style
tika tika
dont work without a messi to finish it off and it dont work over 38 pl games if you cant do the basics like set pieces
we have plan b strikers but the footballs still tika taka so they have no affect..
We’d all like to know why wenger didnt replace like for like and carry on with that kind of play that destroyed teams….!
Maybe i’m going out on a limb here, but has our style change coincided with the team being built around Fabregas? Not that i’m blaming him, because only 3 or 4 years ago Cesc inspired AFC to a wonderfull win at The Slum. Adebayor got a great goal that day…
counter attacking only works if you can defend first
we dont counter cos we cant defend..
we dont score from set pieces either..
so we rely on build up play everytime..and its been worked out..
tika taka doesnt beat the parked bus KT if you also got no width and continue to try pass through the eye of a neddle…!
Wath is a neddle similar to a kook???
KT, i know you love your european footie, and fair play to you. But i wonder if Wenger has this obsession with the CL and he’s building a team more with an eye to winning in europe rather than in the domestic competitions???
Bayern and Schalke have agreed an €18mil fee for Neur that could rise to €32mil depending on appearances,trophies and other bonuses.
AK he is definitely obsessed to win the CL.he has elevated us to being among the top clubs in Europe with a brand new stadium.he has won trophies domestically but none in Europe.he is desperate to do that.he must be aspiring to make us reach the heights of the madrids/pools/milans of Europe.red nose also said the same thing recently.
Hmmm a kook may well be the same AK just not 100% sure mate 🙂
To win in europe we need to win “at home” first…!
Well maybe KT he has to find a balance between a team that wins domestically and in europe. That could mean signing some players, maybe 2 or 3, with the domestic game in mind whilst keeping a broadly european squad. I recall that George Graham would always bring Paul Davis into the team on european nights, but Davis would often not feature in the more robust domestic fixtures.
We cant defend and can’t counter attack cos we to slow JJ it’s a vicious circle……
Wath i think you need a ‘balanced squad’ containing players who can excell in both forms, but with the odd specialist, like a Samba type for example, for those interesting visits to the likes of Stoke, Birmingham and Blackburn.
Thats what we were saying last night we have no balance at all mate, all technical and skill and very little graft n brawn…! also now not enough pace either
I keep on seeing some Arsenal fans going on about this UEFA Fair Play thing they’re supposed to be bringing in. But do any of us really believe that UEFA are going to eject Real Madrid, Barcelona, ManUtd, Chelsea, ManCity, Milan etc etc, out of the Champions Lge. Yeah I’m sure if the sponors of the CL threaten to pull out that UEFA will go with it. I smell a pile of bullshit…
AK i’ll answer you with an example from the mancs.J.S.Park rarely plays against lower league opposition instead Nani gets the nod.However,in big league and CL games fitness permitting he always starts.he is the ultimate tactical player for red nose.i remember when the mancs destroyed Milan last season he marked pirlo out of the game but at the same time he was very influential going forward.when the mancs play 4-4-2 and they meet a team with 3 CMs he tucks in off the wing to form a midfield 3.he can also cover in fullback position very well.he is the ultimate key in Fergie’s plan.a very underrated player.
Nothing wrong with Davo AK he did like a bit of a box once in a while 😉
Yeah mate, our build-up is so slow, it’s embarrising. By the time we’ve reached the oppositions box via 300 passes they’ve got 10 men parked behind the bus.
Wath, he was one of my favourite players. Met him a couple of times as well, a really nice guy. Mind you i never mentioned boxes to him…..
KT, Graham was the master at using certain players for specific jobs. David Hillier wasn’t the greatest, but George recognised he could do a marking job and Hillier was often given the task of marking the oppositions danger man, a task he rarely failed to do.
Mind ypou he did like a suitcase as well, so i’ve been told…
He’ll have a giggle if you mention boxing and cockerill 😉 I remember when he first started as he used to pull out of tackles and was so frustrating and then bang he changed almost overnight, had a sweet left foot, sweet left hook 😉 and got stuck in, proper Arsenal too….!
AK madrid and milan are fine according to the FFP rules.for the next 3 years a maximum of £45 mil loss is allowed.3 years after that it will go down to £30mil.expulsions from the CL will only begin in 2014-2015 season.if a club however is showing reasonable progress despite not achieving the targets they’ll be allowed to compete.those rules were unanimously approved by 662 clubs in 53 countries.Abrahamovic,Galliani (Milan C.E.O) and Moratti (Inter) were huge supporters of it.Barca’s Sandro Rosell has even cut down the spending in anticipation of these rules.Aw may not be perfect but he saw this coming from a mile away.
Yeah i remember Wath, wasn’t it Man Utd at home about ’82, i think we lost but he was like a man transformed. I used to love his partnership with Stevie Williams, a real hard nut.
KT, i hope your right mate, but i can never see UEFA chucking any of the ‘Big Boys’ out of the CL. They simply haven’t the balls to do it. All the same i’d love to be proved wrong.
Stevie Williams was my man AK, he was from Finsbury Pk family all Arsenal mad and I thought he was brilliant, he had a few battles with the yids n loved it big time, Think Davis was more 84…? didnt think it was 82 less I am getting fuckin old lol…! I must be 79… your age 😉
Denilson is ready for sunday ?
Ha ha, yes mate very good… I think your right, it was about ’84, didn’t Remi Moses go around kicking everything that moved and Norman Whiteside got the winner. But what stuck in my mind was how Davis got stuck in.
Loved Williams, a real tough cookie, reckon he’d be bollocking a few if he was in the dressing room now.
JM, please dont ruin my evening with such shocking news 🙂 Is he ready to sweep the dressing room clean….?
I saw Paul Davis in his debut, it was at The Slum, about 1980 i think?
Earthquake in south of Spain. At least 10 dead … :-(((
If Denilson plays then, well, i don’t know, it’s just a joke. Surely Wenger isn’t that stupid or stubborn?
Jm, how far away from it are you?
UEFA has its reputation on the line AK.the champions league is king at the moment.a super league cannot be formed in the near future due to this.Recession hit football hard and many clubs are realising it.the FFP rules are not a punishment and deep down the clubs and their owners know they are the right thing for football.
Lorca, in Murcia…
Time will tell KT, i hope your optimism isn’t misplaced, but football does need some kind of break to it’s unsustainable wage inflation, and rocketing costs.
Oh for Stevie Williams in todays team and the boy could play as well….! yeh the moses n whiteside thing does ring a bell was that the league game or the 4-2 cup game where they battered us…?
Where’s Lee, i wanted to tell him about the fantastic curry i had this evening……
The supporters must continue to prepare for an attack of nerves, heart attacks, protests, whistles, sorrow, discontents to the ultimate joy!
We must have League until the end!
So, give another opportunity to Almunia, Denilson and so on.
How far? I’m in Portugal
The FFP will not affect wages directly but will introduce a ‘soft salary cap’ as it will sieve out the cash that has not been earned by a club.this will also affect transfer fees.the rules may not be perfect but are a step in the right direction.
League, about 3rd game of the season, not sure if there was a sending off, think it was the season we had John Cartwright as Coach. I always wondered if he had a positivve effect on Davo in that respect?
I’m going to bed
see you tomorrow
Goodnight JM.
That’s it. I’m off to put some Swedish toothpaste on my Swedish toothbrush. Goodnight Gooners
Cheers JM, chat 2moro.
All those games back them were a blur AK, saturdays were just one big laugh and fun n games, the manc games were always big games even then. Remember beating them at home most times yet we always lost away from home and they beat us in the semi’s league cup and fa cup…! Stewart Robson running round like a loonie he was always right up for it, shame his injuries stuffed him up.
Night AK, am off as well cheers KT chat 2moro…!
I think we will first appoint Owen Coyle, Arsenal “Roy Hodgson”…..:D
Then midweek thru the season in the relegation zone…..David Dein returns to find us another “Arsene Wenegr”…lol