Is French international the answer to our midfield problems? If so, he’d come at a cost.

Morning all.

Chelsea v Barcelona didn’t quite live up to expectations last night. A good game but I thought there’d be more goals, certainly from the visitors. Suarez was kept quite quiet I thought and resorted to making a few unwarranted tumbles but the two goals scored were good, especially Will I Ams. Chelsea face an uphill battle now to go through to the next round. Tonight it’s Utd’s turn and I hope they get spanked.

This weekend saw the biggest shock of the season so far as Wigan dumped Man City out of the FA Cup. Things turned a bit ugly after Delph was sent off, handbags in the tunnel at half time and full time and it’s now reported that Aguero spat at someone so could face an FA ban which if so, might rule him out for The League Cup Final. Both Wigan and City have been charged by the FA for events which took place after the game.

Exciting stuff eh? Reminds me of some of our naughtiness over the years, or rather passion. Both George Graham and Arsene Wenger have witnessed their players getting into trouble. The worst or best, whichever way you see it, during Wenger’s reign was against Utd. Van Nistelrooy hit the bar from the penalty spot and after the final whistle blew, it all kicked off. I hate to admit it but I loved it, loved seeing the passion on show from Keown and co. Yes the FA reacted as expected but what would you prefer, days like that or days like today when there’s no passion on show from an Arsenal team? Pizzagate followed the season after when the same team, with the help of the officials, ended our unbeaten run. During that time the Utd v Arsenal fixture was always one not to be missed. How things have changed eh….

Transfer rumours don’t change either, certainly the constant drivel written in the back pages. It matters not what time of year it is, there’s always something being written somewhere. But to be honest, this is the time of year when clubs should be preparing for the summer transfer business, not the end of August which has often been the case with Arsenal. Well, more likely Arsene Wenger but now we have Sven Mislintat, I doubt he ever switches off from his scouting duties. Add to him the appointment of Raul Sanllehi, for the first time in years, we should go into the summer with a plan. I’d imagine Svens knowledge of the game runs deeper than just scouting and if he watches this current team play which he’s bound to, he’ll know where we are lacking as well as which players would strengthen in those positions.

Regardless of whether Arsene Wenger stays or goes, Our midfield and defence are the priority I’d have thought.

Abdoulaye Doucoure is in great demand according to back pages but regardless of some of the top clubs being after him, it’s us he wants to sign for. It’s true honest, he’s been quoted as saying he wants to play for Arsene Wenger. In case you didn’t know, Doucoure is French! I think I’m right in saying that Marco Silva was behind Watford signing him and the player looked good against us earlier in the season.

Fekir has been linked with us too, as has Koulibaly who was mentioned yesterday but to be honest, anyone mentioned in the press is just them just guessing imo. Arsenal keep their cards close to their chest when it comes to player signings and even with Sven on board, I doubt that’ll change. I just hope that whoever we sign in the summer is signed knowing that it won’t be Arsene Wenger managing them.

Tomorrow it’s the return leg of our Europa fixture agains Ostersunds and with us going into the game 3-0 up, we could see a few youngsters get a run out. I’d like to see Matt Macey start because he’s possibly our future, whereas David Ospina isn’t..

79 thoughts on “Is French international the answer to our midfield problems? If so, he’d come at a cost.

  1. potter says:

    Did Aguerro spit or was he spat at ?? Different reports and it seems that no action to be taken . No surprise there then.
    The spat with United went back to the Winterburn / Mclair incident.

  2. rico says:

    I read he did the spitting Potter, but if he reacted to being spat at then I don’t blame him. The latter makes sense if he’s to face no action from the FA.

    The 1990 ‘brawl’.. 😉

  3. Uwot? says:

    Those three,Koulibaly,Doucoure & that fekir.would be tasty.get rid of some more deadwood(Wenger etc) & get a goalie & rb.then we’re ready to rumble….

  4. potter says:

    This is why Wenger is liked by some of his fringe players. He makes promises and keeping them is his downfall.
    He sent Martinez who looked a real prospect out on loan to get experience .However as with most loans he was taken to Getafe and so far has made 3 appearences , waste of a season.
    He promised that without injury Cech would play in the league and Ospina the cups and he will keep his word. Macey gets the bench and all promises are kept and the fringe boys keep good spirits and don’t rock the boat.
    if you do you go the way of Sanchez , The Ox and Walcott. Speak out and you go. Tow the party line and your future is assured.

  5. potter says:

    He’s not strong enough and as we know from his substitution policy once he has a pre- set practice he rarely deviates. He is incapable of thinking on his feet and frequently his decisions baffle just about everyone in the stadium. When the team was 1 to 11 we used to play odds and evens on the next goal but now we play guess the most obscure substitution he can come up with.

  6. Goonster says:

    Morning Adam it was wonderful seeing Sanchez stank up the whole place last night ?I had a grin on my face the whole game. When he finally got subbed off I let out a peal of laughter. He’s really going to struggle as long as Maureen is managing manure. Am loving it??? he ‘ll be 30 next year so the rapid decline ‘ll set in soon. Can’t wait to see him get shipped to Brighton or stoke to finish his career.

  7. Goonster says:

    On the other hand it’s nice manure gave Maureen a brand new contract. He ‘ll take them to the next level alright….stoke city level that is. ?????

  8. rico says:

    Morning Adam, Goonster, all.

    Back in the days when Ktr7 was on here, I suggested we should sign de Gea… 🙂

    Utd would be nothing without him…

  9. Goonster says:

    Morning Rico de gea was a beast last night. He was immense. Sevilla should have wiped the floor with manure but for his heroics.

  10. Goonster says:

    Rico no one knew he would turn out this great ??? he was like chezzer at first when ferguscnut bought. Heck flappyhandski looked world class next to him. Guess that’s what a proper goal keeper coach brings to the table.

  11. Goonster says:

    See how cech deteriorated in 3 seasons?? Coincidental??? I don’t think so. You don’t go from world class to a Sunday league keeper. Our goal keeping set up needs revamping heck the whole back room staff needs to go. Fire the lot of them.

  12. rico says:

    I watched him a few times Goonie, it was clear then he was going to be a top top keeper imo.

    Re Cech, perhaps it’s just a case of his years getting the better of him now, although our coaching staff are pants i know. Saying that, we have a new one now but just need to get rid of the main one who has been at the club far too long.

    Cech was better than who we had though when we signed him, but in all honesty, better defending by the players ahead of him wouldn’t make him look as bad as he currently looks.

  13. Goonster says:

    Rico cech is 33 or so. He couldn’t have gone to waste that early. We had seaman till his late 30s and van der sar was still in his prime by 35 heck buffon is almost 40 and still keeping a relatively young chesney on the sidelines. I still think another manager another back room staff and we ‘ll see the best of cech. Am not his biggest fan just think he’s not been properly coached right plus any goal keeper (that includes de gea?) Will look suspect behind that shower of shite we call a defense. They hit the panic button anytime the opposition gets into our own half. That’s enough to make any man shit himself.

  14. allezkev says:

    It’s natural that people would think that Petr Cech has lost his edge due to his age.
    Personally I still think that he’s a good goalkeeper, a goalkeeper who was better when he was coached by the guy at Chelsea, his coach for most of his latter career before moving to Arsenal.

    At London Colney he is coached by Gerry Peyton, a coach who has patently failed to improve any of the senior goalkeepers under his charge.
    Peyton is one of Wengers picks, so he’s gonna stay in situ as long as Wenger is in situ.

    Fabianski was in pieces for most of his time at Arsenal, but has improved massively since leaving and joining Swansea.

    Szczesny also improved greatly when he went on loan and stated that the coaching he got when he left Arsenal was superior.

    Szczesny is a much better goalkeeper now, as is Mannone.

    The common thread here is Peyton, a very average coach it seems.

    Id be interested to hear Bob Wilson’s view on the standard of our goalkeeping coach.

    All said and done, I’d still like to see Arsenal go out and buy a top top goalkeeper, a goalkeeper in his prime, something that Wenger has never done.

  15. allezkev says:

    Hey Rico. If Borussia Dortmund get knocked out by Atalanta this evening, does that mean that Aubameyang becomes eligible to play for us in the Europa?

  16. allezkev says:

    Their home kit is white and their away kit is red & black, no mention of a 3rd kit..?

    Sounds a bit random to me but it’s a decision that UEFA made, so it’s not going to make sense is it?

  17. micko says:

    Now you mention it rico, Borussia Arsenal does have a nice ring to it and we do have a bit of history to back it up as well !

  18. Goonster says:

    Unbelievable 2 nil down at home to oserieid?? I can’t even wrap my mind around that. Is this really happening?

  19. Goonster says:

    Lord God in heaven!!!! 2 goals in one minute. I take it all back Rico shitty will tear us a new one. I ‘ll be mailing your 50p to you tomorrow. This is unbelievable.

  20. Goonster says:

    Rico it’s not….its unbelievable that some people still refer to this fossil as leprof?? If he’s a prof then hell I am a dean!!!

  21. micko says:

    rico, I meant moving the club forward but after reading your comment…………..I just got a shock to the system !

  22. Goonster says:

    Rico he needs to get the sack tonight. Conceding 2 goals in a spate of a minute to a team like osteriod is a sackable offence. We haven’t had a shot on target yet Rico. This is crazy. God help me.

  23. Goonster says:

    The stadium looks empty from here. Who can blame them? Arsenal should pay fans to go watch such tripe not the other way around.

  24. micko says:

    Stan, what were you thinking, if you need a sub mate, I’ll borrow you the money, all them 50p’s soon add up.

  25. Goonster says:

    Micko I guess I was on cheap drugs mate. Pep ‘ll be licking his lips. It ‘ll be a massacre mate. He ‘ll literally kill us on Sunday. Am shuddering right now.

  26. micko says:

    No worries Stan, just don’t like rico taking advantage of your kind nature !

    2nd half should be a larf, come on down Eddie, the time is right.

  27. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I’ve posted more or less one month ago: Arsenal now is much worst then the beginning of the season.
    How many players we have in the pitch? We have nine? Always missing a player in the right place!
    This team (squad) was the worst of this century

  28. Goonster says:

    Rico zizou ronaldo and pele ‘ll have a stinker playing tonight. Have you seen the team effort? It’s appalling. To think these guys earn a fortune to do what they enjoy doing.

  29. Goonster says:

    Arsenal are a gift that keeps on giving?night Rico. Off for a night of binge drinking. See ya in the morning God willing.

  30. Lee says:

    I see no one has appeared out of the blue to blow smoke up the “Le Prof’s” arse, after that scintillating performance against the Rose & Crown 11……

    City must be shitting themselves…

  31. Wavy says:

    Another wenger gem…….
    “”We prepared the game very well because I have enough experience that in these kind of games you have to do the job.”
    Congratulations Arsene, you overlooked the vital ingredient, with all you experience………it’s all about winning the game, the tie as well of course but the WIN was essential and with all your 103 years of experience they lost!
    What does it feel like to be a loser?
    I’ll tell you it’s ,sh1t!

    Roll on the end of May.

  32. Lewis says:

    The next manager that comes in has a hell of a job on his hands! Years of rebuilding as they allow the egomaniac to continue his destruction of this team. It baffles me just how bad he is

  33. Goonster says:

    Lee???? what are you on about?? We won the tie didn’t we?? We qualified for the last 16 and in the league cup final you old git. Stop moaning and get behind the team. There’s only one arsene Wenger there’s only arsene Wenger ???? in arsene I trust. Keep the faith lee you miserable twit ?

  34. Goonster says:

    Morning guys I ‘ve seen the light. Wenger isn’t at fault for all the debacle we ‘re currently facing. It’s all kroenke’s fault. Kroenke picked the team, drill the defense how to be shit and wont let bouldy take on the defensive duties. Kroenke insist on playing iwobi and bellend even though both are shit. Heck kroenke is the tactical genius who makes sure both our full backs are always caught up deep in the opposition half. Am serious guys let’s all cut Wenger some slack. He’s doing what the owner wants. In arsene we trust.#amthebiggestsAKBever???

  35. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. Yes, I agree. It is baffling at just how bad the team has become but at the very least, the results are inescapable for the powers within the club that might have a say in bringing this farce to a swift end. Surely he cannot be allowed to complete his final year to somehow justify his tedious mantra of never having left a contract early.

  36. rico says:

    Lewis, I still don’t believe any new manager would have a huge task on his hands. New coaching, new direction, whip thes current players into a whole new approach and then clear the dross and sign what/who we need.

    If Wenger was sacked and replaced today, I bet we’d soon see a very different kind of performance from this group of players.

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