Is this the worst Arsenal team in the Wenger Era? Stats don’t lie. Or do they?

Morning all,

Last season’s statistics and results can now be consigned to the historical archives. Or should they?

As the debate rages on it would be foolish to say that now everything is over for it is not. While the hard facts and results are now behind the club, the performances and decisions will still have a bearing on the playing staff, the coaching team and the senior management staff. At the top of it all the chairman and owner would do well to spend some time analysing match comments and reports during their bedtime reading as well as during office hours, for the simple reason to keep in mind that last season’s woes should not be repeated again.

The end of the season brings with it one important statistic…..the league table. Personally I feel that the table has never lied, however, while some are happy with how the final table panned out, it is clear that some are not and the fans’ division on this matter is increasing and most of it is understandable. Such a division depends on whether one sees a bottle as half full or half empty.

Before I go on with this article I must point out that if one measures only the statistics we can always be sure that that person will surely miss the human aspect and statistics can be worse than damned lies. Nonetheless I will be focusing only on statistics.

Bloggers often referred to this season’s team as the worst Arsenal team in the Wenger era and many moments during the season, the team itself proved this by turning in lacklustre displays not even worthy of a Sunday pub team. Yet, this often lacklustre team managed to obtain the third best overall result since the move from Highbury to the Emirates. If you find it hard to digest take a look at the table below.

Season               P  W    D   L     F     A    GD    PTS  Points From 1st

2006/2007  38  19  11  8   63   35   28   68     4th -21

2007/2008   38  24  11  3   74   31   43   83    3rd -4

2008/2009   38  20  12  6   68   37   31   72    4th -18

2009/2010   38  23    6   9   83   41   42   75    3rd -11

2010/2011    38  19   11   8   72  43   29   68    4th -12

2011/2012    38   21   7   10  74   49   25   70  3rd -19

2012/2013    38  21   10   7   72   37  35   73   4th -16

This table clearly shows that since we have moved to the Emirates we have never finished first or second. It has always been third or fourth. That means that since 2006 we have been consistently consistent in the same manner as those end of season chokers up Seven Sisters road have been consistent in finishing every season in our shadow.

The best season was 2007/08 were we finished the season only 4 points off the leaders. That is the season which we can rightly say we truly challenged for the league and for a good amount of time,  Arsenal topped the table. But we choked it in the end and a run of horrible results and situations contrived to us finishing in third place.

Had that team played in this year’s EPL I think that Manchester Utd would not have found it so easy to finish top.

2009/10 was the second best season. We scored 83 goals but finished the season 11 points behind the leaders. Between 2009 and 2012 we conceded in excess of 40 league goals per season culminating in the 49 conceded the season before last. We had a porous defence which contrived to the gunners losing games and points from winning positions.

Funnily enough, last season (2012/13) was the third best season even though we dropped a position. We conceded less than the season before, had four players in double figures (goals), had more clean sheets and even managed to total more points than the season before, nearly scoring the same amount of goals. Had we sneaked three more points out of the games which we should not have lost we would have been talking about the 2nd best season since we moved to the Emirates.

This might change some perspectives a bit. It might not seem so bad after all. However, feet should be firmly kept on the ground. We cannot deny that some of our performances this season have been weighed, measured and have been found wanting. And it is not one or two players at a time. Rather it can rightly be said that while the end of season results have been a result of collective effort, the crap performances can also be seen as a result of a collective LACK OF EFFORT.

Is the present AFC team so bad?

Some seem to think so and they claim that every position needs better players. In a sense they are right even if we were winning trophies. Every position needs to be strengthened even if it happens to be the AFC Ladies team who have won their 39th trophy a few days ago. A team should not stay still.

Personally I don’t think that the present team is rubbish, neither can it be said to be good enough. Yes, we do need strengthening in all departments. We need a better goalkeeper, another centre back, a solid, strong and technical defensive midfielder plus an advanced midfielder and a finisher. Answers spring to mind. Mignolet/Cesar, Adil, Capoue/Gonalons, Grenier/Fabregas and Rooney.

While it is obvious that the above will all improve AFC significantly two questions will remain…………Will the club sanction such moves? Will the club clear out its deadwood?

Time will tell us whether it is more of the same old same old or else a new beginning.

Written by Devilgunner.

0 thoughts on “Is this the worst Arsenal team in the Wenger Era? Stats don’t lie. Or do they?

  1. tsgh says:

    morning all,

    A very fine post from the resident footie expert of this house…! You make very valuable points that most of us fail to recognise.

    For the first time since AW has been with us it appears we will not lose a key player during the summer… that means the team that beat NUFC on the final day can be expected to get a result against any of the EPL teams if they apply themselves in the same manner..

  2. rico says:

    Morning all..

    Good read Devil..

    It’s not what we have done, it’s how we have done it.

    The players/manager let themselves down big time in many fixtures, and had they not done so, we would have finished higher up the table.

    Beating those around us just doesn’t happen enough, and at least two of those fixtures the oppo were their to be beaten, again we failed.

    Ok, the league table says we did ok compared to other seasons, but what about the domestic cups, we were shocking and in both, we were knocked out by sides a long way from the PL…

  3. Scott from Oz says:

    Morning all.
    Nice post Devil…very well thought out and written.
    Yes, we are good.
    No, we are not good enough.
    Next season, i reckon we will be.

  4. ozgunner10 says:

    Arsene has been treading water for years and getting away with it, why change now? I see our first recruit is yet another gamble when we really could do with a real statement… it’s early some will cry.. but do we actually believe we’ll sign the quality needed?

  5. Danish Gooner says:

    There are lies,damn lies and statistics.No one real fan should give a monkies about statistics except for goals or assists.We all witnessed the abysmal 90 minutes at Norwich,the naive and utter crap first leg against Bayern Munich,the sloppy deafeats at Spuds and Chavski and the downright horrible against Bradford and Blackburn and the rest werent anything else to write home about.It still baffles me how we managed to get that 4th spot we all so love.The Pl must be in serious decline because this arsenal team is seriously missing in every department although slightly improved defensive wise.If Mourinho omes back to these shores(God forbid it) it will be another nuclear winter and Wenger and his naive tactics will once again be underlined.

  6. devilgunner says:

    Thanks mates.

    But as I said in the article……….if one measures only the statistics we can always be sure that that person will surely miss the human aspect

    we missed the human aspect BIG TIME against Bradford, Norwich and Blackburn. Stats were in our favour. A good dose of mental/human attitude simply was not.

  7. rico says:

    Agree Ergs, but now we have the summer to make sure the squad is good enough for next season..

    Scott, I hope we will be for once and for all….

  8. devilgunner says:

    Obviously I did not mention other games which Danish Gooner has mentioned. But he is right.

    What I wanted to point out is that even though we were crap, we did enough to finish in a better way than last season.

    Imagine had this AFC team been mentally on top with a better attitude all the time………….what could we have achieved.

    Oh……….we played the game of the season against the CL winners and did what no other team has done at the Allianz Arena.

  9. Lenz says:

    Tsgh
    we have no stars left,that is why we arent selling anyone,it’s not cos we’ve gotten tough..its just that no one left to sell again bar the deadwoods

  10. rico says:

    Oz, if we don’t, surely that will be the final nail in AW’s career at the club..

    Danish, it’s kind of hard to disagree there, Manure won the PL, but that side has to be one of Fergies worst in a few seasons….

  11. NW says:

    This team is not bad at all and it does not take a very good team to win a cup or even EPL.

    Has any one asked one question? Where will the club be if they have Monreal at the beginning of the season? Assuming that that he can wipe out defensive weakness of Santos or even provide some cover to the CB when they struggled.

    The team that ended the season should rank 3rd and might end up being 2nd plus winning a cup (whichever one). On the other hand, thatz only the first team. Its bench isn’t good enough for a few positions so it can’t run for CL, cups and EPL at the same time.

    On the other hand, adding a few very good players, thus allowing a good team to be fielded in cup games would mean that this team can challenge for EPL. I still don’t think they can do it in CL though.

    Has any one asked one question? Where will the club be if they have Monreal at the beginning of the season?

  12. devilgunner says:

    rico says:
    May 29, 2013 at 10:19 am
    ……………………

    Danish, it’s kind of hard to disagree there, Manure won the PL, but that side has to be one of Fergies worst in a few seasons….

    Had that team (the 2007/08) played in this year’s EPL I think that Manchester Utd would not have found it so easy to finish top.

    correct that………..they would have walked this year’s team.

  13. Ergs says:

    Top 7 mini league table from last season
    10 points from a possible 36 points!!!
    Horrendous.
    Can’t beat the better sides or more to the point the sides with better individual players.
    We are the lower league team bully’s.
    That’s why we finished above spurs.
    I don’t care who the manager is if you haven’t got the players you aren’t going to win anything.
    No wonder Fergie never wanted to manage Scotland again would of ruined his reputation.
    Preying we have a squad on paper come August that can really challenge for the title bin 4 seasons since we have.

  14. rico says:

    Lenz – disagree there. Pep wants to sign both Jack and Kos according to the media.

    And plenty of clubs would love to sign Walcott, Ramsey, Cazorla and Gibbs and a few others..

  15. rico says:

    But all if’s and buts Devil, we don’t have that team/squad. The one we have couldn’t find that last bit of digging deep enough to beat them. The same can be said about City away..

    And they way we rolled over for the Chavs both home and away and Totts away was simply awful….

  16. rico says:

    I’ll be praying too Ergs and keeping everything crossed that all this coming from IG isn’t just ST spin again….

  17. tsgh says:

    You can only beat what is put before you…No one is saying this team is world class.nor can the argument that the EPL is weak relevant.If that was the case Celtic and the likes in relatively weak leagues can not be deemed worthy champions.

    Remember even Celtic beat Barca;some will argue Barca are in decline…is that really true?

    The argument that we have no stars is IMHO FALSE because the likes of Theo and SC19 and Kosser will make most teams starting 11.

    If football was about stars the likes of Boateng who could not make shitty’s lineup will not be a certain starter for arguably the best team in Europe;nor would pique who could not make it here be Barca’s lynch pin whilst the likes of Cesc can’t make the team…

  18. rico says:

    Ts, in our case, we couldn’t beat what was in front of us in the domestic cups, and they were both sides a long way off of our level.

    My own view is it is still all a bit too easy for our players, a few more need a rod up their backsides…

    And, AW needs to find a few new ideas imho…

  19. tsgh says:

    Regs based on your argument of us being lower league bullies…should SC19 be considered world class?

    Previous seasons we beat top teams and still finished 3rd..

    I agree with your point btw..I always argue that apart from kosser,Theo,Mikel and Og12 and arguably Ramsey…most of the fans fave go missing in the 7 percent of games that wins you a trophy…

  20. George says:

    Morning all

    We have still got stars who others want to sign, and being run by the clowns that dictate the money…we will sell players before anyone of note comes in. However I fear we will still have the tosh which have contracts still to run …

    We will get 2/3 decent players in but , inevitably lose a few which will upset us yet again.

    The teams form since March , is the very least I will be expecting as a die hard gooner.Its like TH14 said in his recent interview, if you play for the shirt, you play to win.

  21. Andy says:

    Good post but fail to mention we made several purchases that took the first half of the season to bed in, the second half of the season we only lost a couple of games even when playing some games poorly we ground out a result which if that form keeps going at the start of next season can with a couple of class players replacing dead wood propel us to a team that can challenge the money no object teams. I for one am proud of the way Arsenal do it themselves and not with sugar daddies which make a mockery of the prem table!

  22. rico says:

    George, I don’t think we’ll sell/loan out any, other than those who most of us want to see gone..

  23. rico says:

    Welcome to HH Andy, hope you stick around. Good point about players needing bedding in time, just why we need to make any signings very early so they can have a good pre season together.

    Or of course, sign players from the PL, then they will it the ground running…

    Rooney and Williams would be good for starters 😉

    Then, why not break the bank and go get Bale 😛

  24. TT says:

    Good read GD.

    I’m going to go out on a limn here and stick my neck on the chopping block. I’m going to say that IF we sign a top goal scorer, defensive midfielder and maybe just maybe get Cesc back then we not only will have a chance to win the PL but it will be ours to loose!

    And here is why:
    Manchester United have a new manager and as most of us agree not the best team, they had the best manager though but he is gone and Moyes will not get them restructured and rebuild in one season. They will have to get new players in and bed them into their stile of play that will change somewhat from SAF teams.

    Chelsea even with Maureen still have to rebuild, when Maureen took over from Ranieri he took over a better team than they have today IMHO. terry and lamps where at their prime and where the enforcers for Maureen’s philosophy on the pitch, both are now shadow of their former self. Chelsea have some very good players upfront and CAM’s but defense and deeper midfield is not that good.

    Manchester City are in disarray compared to the other top 4 teams, players don’t pull for each other and manager got the sack partly for that. This can happen when you gather a lot of top players that also want to play all the time, you will also have players with their own agendas. The new manager is most likely the Malaga manager and he will want to bring in his own players and molding a team for someone that has no experience of the intensity of the Pl this will take more than one season.

    Hence if and this is a big IF we buy 2 or 3 top players along with 2 or 3 squad players we will IMO have the best chance of getting the title.

  25. Scott from Oz says:

    TT…i said a week or so back that get a world class striker and Cesc and we win the league.
    I wouldn’t mind a DM though 🙂

  26. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners.

    DG – An excellent article, balanced, and well laid out. You provided talking points for both sides of the argument and have sparked a good debate. Well done and take a bow.

  27. devilgunner says:

    Good point Andy. But the post was about how the season ended and the final table compared to previous seasons at the Ems.

  28. devilgunner says:

    If we get Rooney and Cesc we will win the league even with those we have at the moment. The point will be………how will the attitude be.

    Imagine this four man triangle…………..

    Theo, Cesc, Cazorla
    ——-Rooney———

  29. George says:

    Rico, who’s next to go ??

    Welcome Andy..

    TT, its us vs the Chavs for next yrs title for the foresaid reasons you mention. Some very valid points re Sheikh City , Manure and Chavs..

  30. devilgunner says:

    On paper this line up can take us far………….

    Chezzer
    Sagna, Kos, Merte,Gibbs
    Wilshere, Arteta/Aaron
    Theo Cesc Cazorla
    Rooney.

  31. tedblue2 says:

    To be realistic, buying four players would disrupt the progress of this team. U could see the kind of title challenging run we had late in the season, it was based on collective effort that can only be achieved from playing together overtime. This team just need to quality additions that must better our current squad. In my opinion, in midfield n attack, not necessarily a DM. I feel we lack dat creative spark going forward. In defense, I would love 2 see Merts and Kos continue the good job. Any defensive signin should be willing to stay on the bench and help the team when needed. We also have to buy to replace players leaving and promote a few youth players. Buying 4 or 5 player to enter the starting 11 would take us steps backward as they ll have to develop an understand which might lead to another trophyless season.

  32. rico says:

    Adk, I don’t dislike the two red/white ones, well, from what I can see but I hope we don’t go back for that awful plum colour….

  33. rico says:

    Morning Cg..

    I’m not sure just two players will make such a huge difference.

    Add a DM/HM, a CH and Keeper then just maybe 😉

  34. cin says:

    I think We need only 3 players. One strong defensive midfielder, a goal keeper to replace if our no. 1 is injured and one best striker.

    If we are not selling any of our defensive player, actually Arsenal doesn’t need a defensive player.

    Arsenal really need a super goal scoring striker like RVP. Our midfield players are really promising and expecting some players to improve massively next season.

  35. ArsenalDK says:

    rico, I think the kits are nice, but I agree regarding the plum coloured one. Although i wouldn’t mind the colour, if there’s a Fabregas or Rooney written on it 😉

  36. rico says:

    No devil, and I have a boxed one.. Just waiting for it’s value to increase 😉

    Always is TT isn’t it, we always seem to be 3/4 players short, usually in the same positions…

  37. devilgunner says:

    ok then……….you bet that boxed one against my tenner that Mourinho would not last his contract with the chavs

  38. rico says:

    Cin, add a CH and deal 😉

    Adk, that’s a very good point, I’d prob warm to it then – not sure re Cesc though…..

  39. devilgunner says:

    some people have all the luck………………..

    Former Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin has reportedly signed a deal with Azerbaijani football club Khazar Lankaran, that will make him the highest paid player in the world.
    Yalchin Aliyev, a spokesman for the club said back in March that the club wanted to sign the Russian International, but reports at the time suggested Arshavin was set to return to Russia with Zenit.
    It now looks as though the star will sign for Khazar, on a one year deal, with the option of a second year, according to reports in Russia.
    The report also states that the 31-year-old will become the highest paid footballer in the world, earning more than Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. The Russian is set to pen a deal worth an incredible €2million a month, and although Arshavin has not confirmed the signing of a deal, the club have at a press conference.

  40. ArsenalDK says:

    You wouldn’t want Cesc back rico? Or do you simply don’t believe that we will get him? Would he ever join United do you think? Personally, I find the Rooney rumour extremely farfetched, and don’t believe it in a million years..

  41. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – An interesting lineup, but I doubt we will get either Cesc Fabregas or Vain Wooney, far less both. It is nice to dream though.

    I don’t think Cesc will leave Farcelona this summer unless he is pushed. He is a proud and wont want to be seen as a failure. Especially after making such an effort to return to his ‘home club’. Even taking a wage cut to make it happen.

    Even though the club seem to clearing the decks by releasing or selling many of the Academy players and trying to sell or loan-out the deadwood and non-performers to reduce the wage bill for the current squad. Thus allowing them to offer better wages to retain our current squad and offer market rate for our transfer targets. I can’t see them completely obliterating their current wage structure to pay Wooney’s wages. Whether they do it with astromomical wages or with a massive signing-on bonus the rest of the team will know and will want reciprocity. Contract negotiations for the rest of the team will become a nightmare for future seasons. Once the genie is out of the bottle they wont be able to put the cork back.

    I can see us getting a striker of the like of Jovetic or Higuain, a midfielder like Grenier, a DM like Capoue or Gonalons, a CB like Williams, and a senior goalie like Cesar. If Sagna doesn’t sign a new contract, add a RB like Aurier. Whether we like it or not, only the likes of Abu Dhabi Citeh, Chelski, Monaco, and PSG can afford players like Falcao, Ronaldo, and Wooney. Even teams like Farcelona and Unreal Madrid are going to be pushed to afford them, unless they use a dodge like third party ownership which UEFA is frowning upon. The recent changes in Spanish income taxes only make it more difficult.

  42. devilgunner says:

    whilst noting that Cesc and Rooney would improve our team vastly, however I will still point out that whoever we sign needs to have the best attitude whether or not he is a superstar or an upcoming player.

    We can have this team………….

    Casillas
    Alves,Luiz, Koscielny,Alaba
    Schwiensteiger, Khedira
    Ronaldo,Xavi,Iniesta
    Falcao.

    if their mindset is lackadaisical then we would not win anything.

    BDW…………AW would shit himself in his pants if he saw the financial aspect of wages of that team. 😆

  43. devilgunner says:

    And yes I do consider Koscielny to be up there with the best centrebacks of the world.

    As I have been since he signed for us.

  44. leegooner says:

    Hi all, i”m new to the forum but read all 42 comments so far. Good post Dev. I still think though the team lacks motivation to killoff games. Wenger changed his attitude towards the end of the season with the likes of Chezzer and TV5 sitting on the bench. The message was clear, show commitment or sit out!!! I still think like-for-like we are a better team than Mannure, with the exeption of a few positions. However the Feggie factor had enough to drive them forward. I will forgive us for the first half of the season, however we need to take points from top teams if we are to challange. I hate the Spuds but they did well against big team (us included). My point is our focus must not only be the quality of the team, but the motivation to win, then we can be able to judge the quality of what we have, hence the reinforcements. Look at the likes of SC19 and TW14 when on top of their games.

    Ours is a physicological weakness……..

  45. Ergs says:

    @tsgh
    Good point I would consider Cazorla as an individual to be a worldclass technical player but not a world class athlete.
    I think he would be maybe even better in a side with superior individuals just my opinion.
    I remember a few seasons back when we scored a lot better in the mini league table of the top 6 and finished 3rd like you said but we were also closer to the top 2/3 then 16 points behind like this season.
    Our away form was a lot poorer then and our home form was almost formidable.
    This year we have won a lot of away games we definitely have more grit about us then a few years ago even tho I think we have less talent in the squad.
    I can’t see any player joining us who is the public eye linked with s!
    We will buy obscure targets.
    I’m sick of the money bag clubs auguring in the face off FFP!!
    We must believe in Wenger and his ability to transform young or undervalued players into world beaters!
    Wenger = moneyball king/Genius

  46. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – You’re trying to take the Michael there. Falcao has just cost Monaco 60 million pounds in transfer fees alone. Arsene’s reputed 70 million isn’t going to stretch very far with players like that.

  47. Jay says:

    Season tickets are due for renewal this week guys ,expect 1 signing and plenty of rumours emanating from the club.Anyone leaving will not be announced till the end of June,unless its the deadwood

  48. devilgunner says:

    CG…………you did not understand my statement. I said that even if we have that line up but with a bad attitude we would still win nothing.

    then added a bit on the side that AW would shit even by looking at the wage packet of that lot.

  49. devilgunner says:

    did he really Jay? 😉

    would AFC sign Messi?? You bet they would.

    but he did not say that the club has bought him.

    Imagine this scenario…………Ladies and Gentlemen, WE GOT HIM

    he would be so excited that he would have more trouble with his zipper

  50. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – Yes, Arsene would definitely have chocolate shorts with their wage bill. Also, a heart attack from trying to manage that shed load of egos.

    I think with four or five good acquisitions we have a chance next season.

  51. rico says:

    Good for him Devil, he prob needs the money after a nasty divorce settlement 😉

    Adk, both really, he shafted Arsenal big time… Can’t see him going to Manure now Fergie has gone, unless he’s seriously missing his old buddy….

  52. devilgunner says:

    imagine him fumbling with his zipper and trying to speak on the microphone and wetting himself with excitement.

    an explosion of atomic proportions can easily cause a tsunami mate

  53. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – My money is on Maureen Yo getting the axe before the end of the third season. If he gets 100 million pounds or more to spend this summer, he wont last two seasons.

  54. rico says:

    Might be difficult Jay, the TW doesn’t open until July 1st 😉

    But as said before, that never stopped Fergie from getting early signings done, we should be doing the same…

  55. Canadian Gooner says:

    Monaco’s recent forays in the transfer market and the recent changes in income taxes in France (and Spain) vs. those in Monaco are only going to harden the attitude of the French FA and its teams regards there recent spat on an equalization fee.

  56. potter says:

    Maureen putting his oar in on the Grenier situation, Just buying to prevent anyone else getting him. It’s all mind games with A.W. that’s why he is claiming to want Jovetic as well. It puts the price up and gets under Wenger’s skin.

  57. rico says:

    Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire, Mark Hughes is set to replace Pulis at Stoke….

  58. rico says:

    Seems so Scott but suggestion is he’s heading back to France on loan…

    Won’t it just Jay… Two days of it to go and then we’ll see what the club are really made of….

  59. Scott from Oz says:

    But still a possible early one Rico 🙂
    The PL seems to be the same as the Rugby League here in Oz.
    The more times a coach/manager fails, the more jobs they get.
    Hughes??
    Based on what?

  60. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Mark Hughes to replace Tony Pubis at Stoke. That is a like for like trade, one clueless ignorant pugnacious Welshman for another. So no change there.

    P.S. Apologies to the Welsh as I know they are not all cast in the Hughes/Pulis mould.

  61. rico says:

    Most of the ones I have met are Cg, but yes, not all I guess 😉

    Pulis and Hughes are certainly from the same mould….

  62. Bob John says:

    Hi all,
    Sorry not to come back re: the champions league questions yesterday. Only get a short lunchtime period to log in! It was indeed Mr Squillaci who came on as sub for Monaco against Porto in 2004 and promptly deflected a ball straight to a Porto player to score! Also in the Monaco line up was that little sh!t Evra with Adebarndoor on the bench. What a harmonious dressing room that must have been!

  63. Bob John says:

    More of the same at Stoke then! Hughes just might be the man to get them relegated with any luck!

  64. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – I was trying to be diplomatic and avoid a hoard of angry Welshman logging on. I think we had enough of that when someone stirred up the Norwegians some months back.

  65. rico says:

    Welcome Lg ( there is already a Lee here)

    Sorry, I didn’t see you in moderation, hope you cpome back…

    leegooner says:

    May 29, 2013 at 11:55 am (Edit)
    Hi all, i”m new to the forum but read all 42 comments so far. Good post Dev. I still think though the team lacks motivation to killoff games. Wenger changed his attitude towards the end of the season with the likes of Chezzer and TV5 sitting on the bench. The message was clear, show commitment or sit out!!! I still think like-for-like we are a better team than Mannure, with the exeption of a few positions. However the Feggie factor had enough to drive them forward. I will forgive us for the first half of the season, however we need to take points from top teams if we are to challange. I hate the Spuds but they did well against big team (us included). My point is our focus must not only be the quality of the team, but the motivation to win, then we can be able to judge the quality of what we have, hence the reinforcements. Look at the likes of SC19 and TW14 when on top of their games.

    Ours is a physicological weakness……..

  66. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – I guess that is one of the few perks of being the House moderator (dare I say House mother)?

  67. rico says:

    No JM …

    Not at all Cg, I just spoke the truth, most welsh folks I have met have been quite full of themselves, not all but most…

    I like the TV programme ‘Stella’ though …. 😉

    Must pop off for an hour now, need to get some housework done…

  68. Canadian Gooner says:

    Lg makes a good point about Arsenal’s pschological weakness. This has been mentioned by a couple of our players and how the win away to Bayern Munchen helped to lift the team and give them some self belief.

  69. Jay says:

    Just been asked an Arsenal trivia question guys ,which 2 Arsenal players played against each other in an afternoon intenational ,then travelled back to Highbury together and played against a top Eurpoean side the same evening.will post answer later

  70. tsgh says:

    Cg you make a valuable point…how many of our players including SC19 believed we had a chance the past season…SC19 and OG12 both mentioned that they thought VP would stay…
    Apart from Scez and Mikel most of our players did not have the self believe needed to challenge…

    One question…even with PHW officially out of the picture are arsenal prepared to spend £50m on a single player I.e £25m transfer fee plus £6m a year for four years.If such a purchase turns out to be a ‘ veron’ what happens?

  71. leegooner says:

    Hi Rico, i”m still there….i’m glad we all share the same opinion on the issue of team spirit..

  72. devilgunner says:

    If I were to be chairman I would not sanction such a fee Ginge. But if Ronaldo, Bale, Messi, Xavi or Iniesta or Fabregas became available then I would sanction a 50+ million fee.

    I would not sanction a 25m+ fee for Jovetic, Cavani, Falcao etc. They have the potential to be another Veron as you said. And the risk in that is bigger .

    But a player like the ones mentioned in the first paragraph will have a difficult maybe 3 to 4 months. But will eventually come good.

  73. devilgunner says:

    Welcome Lee Gooner.

    work hard mate and maybe you will get in the first 11 of HH team. 😉

    wage rage at the chavs Ginge? where did you read that?

  74. tsgh says:

    Exactly my view Dev…

    I think some fans thinking Aw should spend what it takes on the likes of Higuain and Stevan is the wrong approach…

    It is also worth noting Chelsea were prepared to pay double what we paid for OG12..

  75. rico says:

    Good to see you back Lg ..

    Ts – between who??

    JM, I hope they don’t get the guy from Porto..

    Bale’s agent is trying to get his player more money I see, he’s bigging up a move to Real…

  76. devilgunner says:

    So the chavs were going to pay double and yet some of our fans still want OG out!!!! Mental.

  77. Bradster says:

    Afternoon all,

    Putting it into perspective some more, Man U won the league at Villa before the season ended and only won 2 out of their last 6 matches. I would call that lifting their foot off the pedal.
    We still finished 16 points off the leader even after an amazing run and Man U throwing points away.
    Scored 72 goals where in 9 games we scored 41 goals averaging 4.5 goals a game. More than half the whole season’s goals in 9 games.

    I agree that we needed gelling but that’s what happens with no pre season, late buys and selling the top goal scorer and lead assist midfielder.

  78. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – Whether you buy a marquee player or the cheaper promising up-and-comer with potential, you are taking a chance. In the past Arsene has had great success with up-and-comers, but for every Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira he has had the likes of David Bentley, Jermain Pennant and Francis Jeffers. Thierry Henry was one of our greatest players, but even he required a season to bed into the team.

    This year I think Arsene will buy a mix of proven experienced players and young up-and-comers. We definitely need proven players in the striker, defensive mid-fielder and central defender positions (whether Vermalaen goes or not a team needs four to five CDs). At least two of those three players must be able to hit the ground runnig right from the start of the season. WE can’t afford to wait to bed in all three positions. Add an experienced veteran goal keeper like Julio Cesar to challenge Fabianski and/or Wojciech Szczęsny and a couple of up-and-comers like Grenier and we are off to the races.

    With three of the top four teams in the BPL getting new managers, the financial difficulties of many good/top teams in Europe & their need to sell before they buy, and the looming restrictions of FFP; now is the time for Arsenal FC to take the chances and speculate on some good/great players to get a jump on the competition. We have never been on a more secure financial footing than we are now and we have the core of a good team that has gelled over the closing two to three months of the season. This is a nexus of opportunity that may not be repeated in our lifetimes.

  79. devilgunner says:

    Adam I will personally buy back Senderos even for 50million if I had the money. honestly. He leads the defence so well.

  80. tsgh says:

    Its not football related…lol.a headline grabber by daily star…

    Adam 30m French francs or the good old sterling…lol

    Dev that was why the Montpellier chairman was vexed…as Chelsea and pc of shitty were kin.in fact it was reported that OG12 left the French squad early to sign for us because Montpelier had accepted Toa higher bid…

    It was reportedly the case with Lukaku the year before but he chose the chavs instead…

    How TRUE no one knows…

  81. tsgh says:

    I am with you Cg…but the other argument is that because of ffp teams do not want to sell as they can’t replace such said players and so fans revolt as is happening at Inter.Conversely owners want far more unless the player has been ‘tapped up’ as we may do with Clement… Or we did with No real…;)

  82. Adam says:

    Ah feel curiously tired today mi brudder. Too many Lizards Gizzards for me dinner di last night.

  83. Will XL says:

    3 first team players sign for us aaaand… We’re right back where we were at the start of this past season… Needing .5 to .75 of the season to gel. Madness.

    We need no more than 2. Maybe even 1 new first team player if the current squad remains. As devil rightly said, star signing or not, the attitude, commitment and focus is paramount.

  84. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – The upcoming tranfer window could be the craziest/silliest of all Silly Seasons. Few clubs have much spare cash, many must sell before they buy, some clubs are flirting with bankruptcy, many ‘big’ clubs will want to rebuild (Abu Dhabi Citeh, Chelski, ManUre, Farcelona, Ureal Madrid, Bayern Munchen) – especially those with new managers. Throw in the wildcards of the nouveau riche clubs like FC Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, FK Khazar Lankaran in Azerbaijan and Monaco & PSG in Ligue Un and it is going to be a mad house. I just hope Arsenal can do much of their business early; before some clubs get desperate & are willing to pay silly asking prices, start bidding wars as the list of good candidates dwindles and so we can have a proper pre-season for all of our players.

  85. STV says:

    Hello all.. Good read devil..
    In parts last season we were so consistent and defensively solid. all we need to do is consistently doing it

  86. Canadian Gooner says:

    Well once again dawn has come and gone before I’ve got to bed. So, I bid you all Good afternoon and/or Evening. Keep the Faith fellow Gooners.

    Also, I’d like to thank Devil for a great article. It has prompted some good dialogue and discussion today.

  87. rico says:

    Sorry Will, have to disagree there, we need more than two, rotation will allow them time to gel and a few 89 mins subs from AW 😉

  88. Adam says:

    I reckon we need at least 4 new players. All of them absolutely top class. No more Ramseys or Gervinhos, Santos or Parks.

  89. Will XL says:

    On potential signings…

    Signing a striker is NEVER out of the question, as every team is always looking for a prolific goal scorer who may be a better fit and score more. So doing some speculation by investing in promising young talent is always on the cards, and so is investing in proven talent.

    However, defenders are another case. Unlike strikers, you rarely look for individuality in defenders but you strive to find cohesiveness and balance across the entire unit. Because of this, I find it hard to support a move for a 10mil defender right now. Unless Vermaelen leaves, a 2-5 mil defender might be ideal to fill that 4th spot… And that is only if you aren’t confident in your youth prospects.

  90. Will XL says:

    Rico, I understand your position.

    But given the prevailing sentiment that our current starters aren’t good enough to win the league, I assume that these 3 or 4 new signings would ideally be of greater talent and would be automatically become starters… right? If so, our existing players will then become the rotation option and gelling the first eleven is still an issue.

    I’m all for 4 players to improve squad depth, but in terms of guaranteed starters, 2 of superb talent will do the job for me. Anything more is an overhaul of sorts.

  91. Coadsi says:

    Hi Rico hope all is well with you. good post DG.
    Re Rooney, i dont think he will sign for us and i dont think i have a problem with that either. i think he would consider us a step down and would not put that much effort into playing for us ( another EA25). also remember how he went on a recently about leaving manure because they were not ambitious? well what would he say about us? after they showed some ambition, signed RvP he was out of the starting 11 and that led to another drama from him.
    aah sen and arsenal have back themselves into a corner. wage bill too high with average players, no one wants them and so we cannot offload them. inclusive of SS18 and AA23 who are certain to leave i can think of a least 10 others that are a waste of space. wish they would just release the lot and buy quality. but there in lies the other problem all these years saying we have no money, now the world knows that we have money and now we will have to pay a premium for players. but even that is difficult to do know, attract the best players. until and unless change happens at the top then it will be more of the same i think.

  92. rico says:

    Hi Coadsi – all is good thanks – you??

    Will, but they will need time, unless we sign PL players..

    I want four at least so others start fighting for their place a bit more, that’s the only way we will start to see a bit more effort each game..

    Lee, new manager and owner?

  93. Will XL says:

    I think last season’s signings, and contact renewals are a good indication of how things will progress.

    Poldi, Santi and Giroud in one transfer window is no mean feat. They were well planned and executed transfers. And in the end they were all effective given the instability that shrouded the club in terms of losing our stars at the time and the fact that they were all foreigners.

    We are now stable, as no foreseeable outbound transfers will have a catastrophic effect on us.

    Any similar inbound transfers for the coming season, added to our current stability and we will be well on our way.

    2 new additional starters , plus any required replacements for outbound current starters and bench depth.

  94. coadsi says:

    all good here as well Rico, we need at least 4 players, right down the spine of the team. we need to adopt the strategies of buying the best players in the position we need from the teams below us in the prem, instead of buying some ligue 2 player and them complain about them having no prem experience. and i agree with lenz comments from earlier, we have something to build on because no one wants what we have now (bar probably kozz). pep spoke of kozz and whishire but that is his modus operandi, destabilze this year then next year he will come calling for sure.

  95. rico says:

    Good to hear Coadsi.

    I too think we need a new spine. I was so sure Fabianski’s contract runs out this summer and hoped a new keeper would be signed but it doesn’t and I suspect we won’t sign a keeper….

    A true goal scorer is a must, as is a DM/HM kind of player

    A right sided defended too..

    3 a minimum imho…

  96. tsgh says:

    Good point Will… I was banking on a freebie like Fernando Amorebieta but it seems fulham have swooped him up so…

    The likes of Sakho, Varrane (spelling) are all behind Kosser.A few thought Debuchy after an impressive Euros was better than Sagna but even he is now 3rd choice after Sagna and Jallet… The argument is that maybe french football is the relevant… but even so, the still produce more stars than our national team…

    The likes of Matuidi are not even DM anymore…

    The Clement rumour started by AW’s revelation is suspect considering that is very unlike AW. The fact that he said Grenier is similar to Samir makes it a typical AW disinformation or double-speak as it is considered…
    It is interesting to note most fans may not have seen Gonalon or Clement play but would prefer him to Cabaye when the same fans will say no more gambles with unknown players 😉

  97. allezkev says:

    Some good points made on here today.

    Nice to see some new faces and views.

    Makes a change from listening to Wath moaning. 😛

    And Adam… 😀 😀

  98. allezkev says:

    The young French guy will, I reckon, remain the only signing for the foreseeable future, in my view.

    We’re in for another ‘White Knuckle Ride’ on August 31st, from the Knuckleheads that run our club.

    Mourinho will just blow Wenger out of the water, stealing AW’s targets, whilst Arsene and Ivan contemplate their navels…

    It’ll be business as usual, with a summer full of excuses and a flurry of last minute panic buys.

    Happy Days!

  99. allezkev says:

    Tbh, i’m quite hopeful that Gnabry, Miyaichi, Eisfeld perhaps and a couple of the young lads can come through, because I don’t wanna see anymore additions of the Park, Chamakh, Santos, Squillaci variety.

    I’d rather we didn’t buy anyone, than crap like them…

  100. allezkev says:

    Adam, has the club rung you up yet re: ST’s…

    It would be interesting to find out how lethargic the re-newals are going…

    The silence from the club, on the subject of ST’s, is deafining…

  101. tsgh says:

    Shitty also did a last minute super market style sweep last summer … lol.

    On a serious note, only Monaco, FC Munchen, Barca have made moves thus far. Those players were never within our price range so no worries. The dippers are not going to sign Kolo until 1st July… that is when we even confirmed Poldi lasy year so lets let give up until the fat lady… i meant santos sings… lol

    I use to have a quiff at leasty in my dreams… but years of wearing a beret has taken its toll..

  102. allezkev says:

    Glad to hear that Vermaelen wants to stay…

    And why not?!

    Wenger needs to keep his bloody squad together.

    There’s quite a few other candidates that he wants to get out of the door first, before worrying about Verm & Sagna…

  103. Kevin KJ says:

    WILL XL
    I agree Will, this is probably the most stable we have been for a while. The last few years have been frustrating, constantly having to watch our key players behaving like unscrupulous whores.

    A couple of proven players in the key positions, keeper, striker, creative mid (who can also finish!) to add to what we have and I would be happy.

  104. tsgh says:

    yes Ak… very positive… if we can have TV as an option it can only be positive as the 2 CB’s playing will know, it is make or break…

  105. tsgh says:

    KJ, since 1999 in my opinion… we have lost key player/s every summer since Anelka and Petite/Overmars

  106. Kevin KJ Downton says:

    tsgh
    It does seem like that. Be good to start a season without any of our key players leaving. I just hope that any new signings are bought in good time, so we can have a decent pre-season for a change and get the boys playing together. Tonight should be boring.

  107. Adam says:

    I agree with you Rico, as I do most of the time.
    Kev. No mate. They sent me a renewal e-mail a week ago. We have until Monday to pay or they will sell our seats to some of the 10 billion people on the waiting list. But with all the new teenage French sensations we have coming I am optimistic, as I know you are. This is the summer where everything changes after all. Rico has been telling me that for a while now.

  108. Kevin KJ Downton says:

    Rico
    You do get some funny old weather where you are. Storms, electricity failures, snow drifts, flooding etc. In fact, the only thing you haven’t had is a tsunami! Yet.

    Meanwhile, back on earth I am sitting here with a load of Aloe Vera ‘after sun’ on my back, after just one sunny day!

  109. Jay says:

    Deadline for season ticket renewal has been put back till June 7th,according to the club today.Read into that what you will

  110. rico says:

    You’ll regret it Ak 😉

    What about Adam?

    Kj, Aloe Vera, I have a plant – it’s great stuff. I drink it pure every day, egg cup full morning and night….

    It’s not that bad here though 😉

  111. allezkev says:

    Jay, that is oh so very interesting…

    There ya go Adam, I know you finger was twitching over your phone, credit card in hand, in order to boost Ivan’s bonus pot…

  112. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening all,
    Fine Post Devil, but i wouldn’t expect anything else. You seem to sound a little like me, although you seem happy with our finishing position, you don’t sound convinced that Wenger will dip his hand in his pocket. Yes i believe your right that this is not a bad team but champions in waiting i can’t see it. I said yesterday that we could change every player but i understand that this is not going to happen but the positions you have stated could definitely need strengthening. I feel a bit uneasy at the moment, Lots of talk and no movement apart from a freebie, doesn’t fill me with confidence. But who knows Wenger may just take the handcuffs off and go bloody mad. There must be loads of Squillys and Bendys out there and if their going anywhere its here.

  113. rico says:

    Jay, that’s a weird one, my bet the club are worried over the lack of renewals.

    AW has 9 days to make a super signing 😉

  114. tsgh says:

    Kj, an effective pre-season does not exist anymore especially with this far east tour that stan and IG have signed to… if consideration is given to $hitty and ours tour to manure and chelsea, it tells you why man ure won the league after match day 15…

    The key is that not more than 2 new players start on match day 1… that has always been Rednoses strategy…

    lata Ak

  115. tsgh says:

    Rico… in my opinion it is dangerous to sign any player now unless they are grade A ++ like Messi because of the internationals and confederation cup etc…

    UEFA does not even allow clearance until the window open… as an example if £25M is agree between us and La Viola for Stevan… but as all 3 parties can’t sign to confirm the deal, Chelsea can come in and bid £30M and fiorentina can decide to reject our bid so it is a game of cat and mouse. That is why Poldi was not announced until the ink was drying on the contract… just maybe

    Only players going for the £30m plus mark are going provisionally and even then those are for certified buys…

    Players like Gotze were never going to go anywhere us apart from Bavaria… Falcao and the likes all 3rd party owned which our FA do not approve of…

    Cavani, J Martinez, Lewandowski etc will be fought over by PSG, City, Bavaria FC, Chavs utd and maybe Shaktar…

  116. tsgh says:

    … even klopp said that when the transfer window opens and they receive the money for Mario then they would go out and buy…

  117. Kevin KJ says:

    Rico,
    “Aloe Vera, I have a plant – it’s great stuff. I drink it pure every day, egg cup full morning and night….”

    Seriously, you drink it? I have really bad sunburn, sore as hell, and the Aloe Vera stuff makes a massive difference. Jesus, this sounds really gay – I had best man up and talk about the football.

    I cant believe some fans are complaining about no transfer movement yet. It is really early days, we are only in May and one thing we don’t do is negotiate via the press. As all the leagues finish, the agents will be hawking their players like common whores and leaking stories, the media will be wildly speculating and deliberately lying (because it sells papers) and the gullible fans will be working themselves up in a frenzy. Every year it seems to get worse but it is as predictable as a Spurs team choking.

  118. rico says:

    Kj, yes, I drink it. It’s great for people who suffer with dermatological probs and I have eczema – it’s really good…

    I have a plant too which is great for soothing skin…

    I don’t think people are complaining about no transfer activity, we can’t do much until all the leagues have finished playing, one more weekend to go I think..

    Then, we need some action!

  119. Micko says:

    tsgh 5.16, AFC were delighted to annouce the Podolski deal had been agreed back in April 2012, not July.
    Proof deals can be negotiated early on if Gazidis and his cronies can be bothered to pull their fingers out of their holes.

  120. Adam says:

    I haven’t received the official letter about renewing Rico. Perhaps there was a delay as our glorious CL spot wasn’t guaranteed and this, apparently, would have bearing on the figures. OR, there is a massive signing expected this week. Someone of the stature of Santos or Bendtner perhaps, who will get the juices flowing. This is, after all, the summer when everything changes.

  121. Adam says:

    Wenger has a job for 6 weeks this close-season as a football commentator on French TV. It’s for a bit of pin money as needs a few quid.

  122. tsgh says:

    Hi Micko, my bad there and I get your point… but in actual fact the agreement was not sealed until July even though an agreement had been reached between all parties.

    It was the same with Kagawa when Man ure announced a deal has been reached but will be signed when the window opens… it depends on the parties I guess… just an opinion

    Clement deal looks may already be agreed based on the players comments because he only has one year left on his Lyon deal… however, if we offer him 60k and Mauren-yo comes in with 90k he can choose to go there if he wants…

  123. Micko says:

    Not according to the website tsgh.
    Think it’s the reason many thought the Jovetic rumours could be true, another false dawn.

  124. tsgh says:

    Manuel said that the Monreal deal was agreed last summer between Arsenal and the player… if Manuel had be touted as a replacement for Munchini in January maybe Monreal would have decided to go to $hitty instead…

    Someone told me that is one reason why Arsenal put a clause in their contracts (purchases) that state the amount as undisclosed…

    Mata deal is an example where Chelsea undercut us to him when an agreement had already been agreed between us and his club Valencia…

  125. tsgh says:

    On Poldi, Bild.com announced that the deal was made in January but because Poldi knew he would not play because of VP he decided to wait until the close of the season so that he can feature at the euros… I think that was unique…

    Even VP said on TV in January that it was great that Poldi was joining the club… everyone knew Poldi was coming just that Hamburg were going down and the chairman asked Arsenal not to confirm until the season was over…. similar to Gotze to Munich I believe… except BVB09 were not going down but had qualified for the CL finals…

  126. Jay says:

    Season ticket renewal date has been put back to June7th because of a delay in sending the renewal letters out.It is not being posted on the website yet. this was confirmed to me by arsenal box offce this afternoon. ring them and check if you wish to confirm this

  127. Jay says:

    My season ticket quote was actually 45£ less than last season owing to 1 cup voucher not being used.

  128. tsgh says:

    koln I meant at 7:37…

    I like the look of Westerman of Hamburg… He is allowing Lars to operate further forward

  129. Lee says:

    I’d like us to show some ambition and refrain from tyre kicking in the transfer in the transfer market….act like a big club, buck the trend!

  130. rico says:

    I think if two clubs want to do business, they can do so at any time…

    Adam, hopefully it’s a signing which will show everyone that IG/AW means business….

  131. Adam says:

    Hi Lee. I’ve been busking at Oxford Circus mate, playing my guitar and singing Beatles songs while collecting for our season tickets. Today I got £4.80 and some bottle tops.

  132. Lee says:

    Carry on for another couple of days Adam and you’ll be able to eat swimmer & chips at the stadium! Deep joy…..

  133. Lee says:

    We could easily get our transfer business done early doors and surely that would send a really positive vibe out….

  134. Adam says:

    Lee. I did actually buy fish ‘n chips there earlier in the year. The fish was a half inch of solid matter with something off-white inside. They forgot to charge me for the chips but then sent me an e-mail a few weeks later saying that they realised this and would add the cost onto next season’s ticket price, with interest of course. Hill Wood added an addendum to the effect that, if it was up to him, I would receive a life ban as they didn’t want my sort at the Emirates and they regarded the inadvertent “theft” of chips as a serious offence.

  135. devilgunner says:

    sorry………look of Kruse

    4-0 to the krauts.

    Bender looks good also.

    then again its the might of Ecuador in front of them

  136. Lee says:

    Did you pay upfront Adam or use the “Arseloan” finance option? At 349% apr I think it’s really quite reasonable…..

  137. tsgh says:

    I dont know much about Kruse, I don’t watch SC Freiburg much unless against the power 5 in the Bundesliga

  138. devilgunner says:

    Merte could have taken a cup of coffee with him. What the hell is he doing on the pitch? the krauts might as well play with a couple of men less and still run up a cricket score.

  139. Lee says:

    I think if we can sign Bender, Adam should have his Squillaci tattoo gone over with “BENDER”…..will be cracking!

  140. devilgunner says:

    going by Adam’s reasoning Ginge……I will simply pay around 20 million for Kruse because he can play really well with his back to goal and hold the ball quite well. 😉

  141. tsgh says:

    my bad lars is the attacking minded twin… I always get confused between Lars and him… position wise.

  142. Adam says:

    No Lee. I borrowed the cash from Kev. As my house is worth less than £1 million I couldn’t qualify for the Arseloan scheme.

  143. tsgh says:

    Ha ha Ha Dev… Adam did not tell me if it was 29=0 Million Naira or GBP…

    How was your day with your friend of 37 years?

  144. devilgunner says:

    it was difficult to say goodbye Ginge. dont know if we will see each other again. who knows.

  145. Lee says:

    Arseloan was invented by the former Watford owner Elton John but was purchased when he decided to become a full time mum!

  146. Lee says:

    If you’re talking about the finance facility on offer from Mike Ashley I thought it was called wanka?!?!

  147. tsgh says:

    Dev-What do you honestly think about Lars? He is reported to be better than Sven but he looks like Ramsey in German mofti…

    They are not quite the De Boer brothers…

  148. Adam says:

    That’s tough Dev. I missed the background to that one. Thirty seven years is a lot of mateship.

  149. tsgh says:

    Lee you are going to draw the attention of lady rico away from a pre-bedtime beauty routine with that … lol

  150. martin wengrow says:

    TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER.
    Danny Clapton ( England ) played against Jack Kelsey ( Wales ) in the afternoon. Then travelled back to play for Arsenal in the evening V. Juventus in a friendly in front of 56,000 fans.

  151. tsgh says:

    poachers goal…

    Dev do you think Ox will be moved to CAM next season if Gnarby is ready…

    he is featuring for the germans in the u-20 wc I believe

  152. tsgh says:

    the no 7 is the highest scoring english man this season… not bad… lol

    who is the no.11. Does h play for liverpool or man u?

  153. devilgunner says:

    ehhhhhh?????

    No 11 is the Ox Ginge.

    I see him as a winger only. dont see him as a AM/F. will still need around 4 more years to develop in that position.

  154. Micko says:

    Catch ya later tsgh, gonna nip down the pub for the 2nd half.
    Gotta say Theo never struck me as a number 7.

  155. tsgh says:

    🙂 was just kidding re no.11… he is having an effective game…

    Dev the question is does he want to wait that long… judging from his comments post the nufc game when he came on for Arteta…. I agree with you by the way

  156. devilgunner says:

    of course I would play him there occasionally, either as a sub to rest the AM/F or else start him in games where he can be effective. Example against Stoke, who do not play the ball on the ground. But in games against Manure or shitty or chavs I would play him out on the right/left.

  157. tsgh says:

    I think he could be a very good CAM but I think his idol is Xavi and he see himself as a Pirlo than a Laudrup… if you get my drift

  158. devilgunner says:

    I do not think the Ox would be wise to play as a PIVOTE. Neither now, nor in 4 years time and not in 10 years time.

  159. devilgunner says:

    No Ginge. As an AM midfielder maybe yes in 4 years time. But as a PIVOTE or deep lying creator no.

    Night mate.

    I am off too.

    Gd night all

  160. CowboyGunner says:

    Long time no post…bittersweet season, no? Saw the rumors about Cesc to Manure today…any thoughts?

  161. allezkev says:

    As far as Benders go, and whilst avoiding those midfielders who drink in the Admiral Duncan, I gotta say that I was impressed by Sven. Not seen as much of Lars tbh…

    I wonder if Arsene could sign either of them by using an Arseloan.

    You can see the Sun headline now, ‘Arseloan seals Bender’..
    .
    Night Gooners

  162. Micko says:

    The Ox and Theo both missing good chances to win it in the last 10 minutes for England tonight, anyone give a rats arse, me neither, still the guinness was good.
    Howdy Cowboy, those rumours have been doing the rounds for the last couple of weeks now, with us supposedly having first refusal on Cesc it would be a massive kick in the bollox, think it’s just the gutter press shit stirring again.

  163. rico says:

    Morning all.

    New post will be up around 9.30, I have to go out…

    Catch up in a couple of hours…

  164. devilgunner says:

    Good Morning Lady and Gentlemen.

    Hiya Lee.

    I read that already. If AW had all that money and not buy……..no make it……build the greatest team in the world then he is a big fucking plonker.

    but then………….Myles Palmer is a a shit stirrer. So take what he says with a pinch of salt.

  165. devilgunner says:

    Good Morning Lady and Gentlemen.

    Hiya Lee.

    I read that already. If AW had all that money and not buy……..no make it……build the greatest team in the world then he is a big fucking plonker.

    but then………….Myles Palmer is a a shit stirrer. So take what he says with a pinch of salt.

  166. devilgunner says:

    Good Morning Lady and Gentlemen.

    Hiya Lee.

    I read that already. If AW had all that money and not buy……..no make it……build the greatest team in the world then he is a big fucking plonker.

    but then………….Myles Palmer is a a shit stirrer. So take what he says with a pinch of salt.

  167. devilgunner says:

    WWWWWOOOOOOWWWWWWW

    One touch of a button and my comments triple by themselves.

    I’ll go and touch a couple of Eur500 notes a day then 😀

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