It is what it is, so get on with it. Theo Walcott wants the team to work harder, hmm, that’s a bit rich….

Morning all.

So the biggest news yesterday was the announcement by Man City. Pep Guardiola will be their new manager when the 2016/17 season kicks off. Yawn, most thought that would be the case anyway so no great surprise. At least now we know he’s not heading to Arsenal, not that that will please a few fans.

Neither will this transfer window and I can’t help but feel disappointed this morning after no deadline day action by Arsene Wenger, especially after he suggested he was going to be busy. He did though say he’d hoped to get another signing done but the right player just wasn’t out there.

How many times is he going to spin that line? How many times does he expect us to believe it?

Why oh why he allowed Mathieu Debuchy to go out on loan I just don’t know and don’t understand either as it’s not like this squad is full of experienced right-backs. Had a replacement been signed then fine, however…..

Anyway, it is as it is and it’s down to the Frenchman to take this squad over the Premier League line. He clearly believes they can do it, so now it’s time for him to prove he and they can.

Inject a bit more discipline into the team, a lot more organisation in the defence and midfield and certainly vast amounts more of energy into the slackers. If Arsene is able to do that then there’s no reason we can’t now go on a great run from now on. We all know this group of players can perform really well as we’ve seen it. The problem is, the better performances have not been on show enough of late, certainly not in 2016.

The players need to wake up and smell the gravy, or rather the potential success they could have if they work a lot harder and perform much better. Not all I know but there’s a few in this squad who have reverted back to poncing around each game instead of putting a shift in and doing what they get paid for.

Talking of which, Theo Walcott has spoken about the last encounter between the two sides and tonight:

If we want to be winning the League, we can’t have results like that. We need to definitely make it right and I’m sure we will. Every game is massive now. We need to get back on that winning trail starting with Southampton. It is all about work rate – if we work harder than Southampton, we will get the result we want.

Bit rich Theo….

Tonight we face them again, a side who truly battered us at their own ground. It was embarrassing and as much as a few of their goals shouldn’t have stood, our players were so easily out muscled and out fought and that’s another area of our game which has to change if we stand any chance of winning the league.

When the game gets physical, stand up and be counted, not fall over pleading to the ref for a foul because more often than not, he won’t be interested. It’s Lee Mason tonight!

Four months of hard work an effort from all, mixed in with discipline and pride is all we ask for, starting tonight.

COYRRG’S!!!

215 thoughts on “It is what it is, so get on with it. Theo Walcott wants the team to work harder, hmm, that’s a bit rich….

  1. scottfromoz says:

    Work rate….my favourite trait in a player.
    Theo and work rate barely go together in a sentence, though, unless it’s to say he lacked it 🙂
    No Pep.
    To be expected, because it would be too much hard work.
    It’s a shame he didn’t take a risk and choose a club where he could prove his worth.
    Soft option……it’s the way of the world, these days.
    Morning all.

  2. Lee says:

    “If we want to be winning the League, we can’t have results like that. We need to definitely make it right and I’m sure we will. Every game is massive now. We need to get back on that winning trail starting with Southampton. It is all about work rate – if we work harder than Southampton, we will get the result we want.”

    Maybe you should have a look at yourself Theo?!?!

  3. clockendjim says:

    As you say. that’s rich from Theo as one of the worst slackers in the side. He couldn’t put the gloss on our win, with a golden chance at the end of the Burnley. This is the man who wants to be our main striker ! I hope he gets left out of the team tonight; Iwobi, Campbell and even the Ox are much better bets right now. With Sanchez & Coquelin back, we can leave out those who have not been contributing as of late. The only time Theo seems to put himself out is when he comes on as a late sub which is how I see his role in future.

  4. Lee says:

    Pep has got to make some big changes to the Citeh squad BUT I’m with you Scotty he took the easier option, AGAIN!

  5. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, I hope he fails.
    Not just because he’s an opposition manager, but I’d really love to see him be forced take up a challenge and go to a club with a good but not great squad.
    Anyway, enough of Pep and that mob.
    Arsene again talked up the transfer window, and again it was an anti climax.
    I’ll never understand why he does it.

  6. tsgh says:

    Good read,maybe with AS17 back, the likes of Theo will up their game. then again he is not close to signing another contract so… 😉

    maybe AW may finally land yaya as I suspect pep will hound him out of Shitty like he did at Barca…

  7. Drake says:

    Ts we all know that the appointment of pep by city is that they want to do well in europe the epl will be a bonus to them.yaya will be out,potentail arrival of pogba, sane and a spanish fullback mancity are about to make a real name across the world.

    Arsene wont make it next year looking at stoke city they are building a great team,people forget that it is hughes who made man city.liverpool are about to go a level up,spurs also, ho say going to manu and chelsea simeone…

    The talks of spain and gemany not being competative need to stop because epl is shite

  8. Lee says:

    “As long as Kroenke is happy with Wenger, the amount anger and hate you express on the Internet is inconsequential.”

    On another site, how fucking true is that??????

  9. rico says:

    Agree there Lee. I wish they’d all shut up, leave the interviews to Arteta, after all, that’s his job and he’s not earning money any other way, and the rest just play bloody football…

  10. rico says:

    Drake, I’d say the competition here in the PL is more than in Spain or Germany, two teams battle for that each year, maybe sometimes three in Spain with Atletico…

    But the PL is different in many ways, refs, linesmen, dirty tactics and with AW, sometimes no tactics… 😉

  11. rico says:

    Or the PR team Lee, but yes, Wenger should surely tell them to stay away from the cameras and microphones…. But the official site is a joke, it’s like a free for all for all of them… Someone always seems to have something stupid to say, especially after a defeat…

  12. Drake says:

    Sorry morning all
    rico you not the only one who thinks another mananger can get the best out of our team…maybe we will get low since he wont be renewing his contract with germany?you never know

    on players talking to the media is something which i have been saying that it those who dont do well(all talk but not action)

  13. tsgh says:

    Lol Drake, i am with you on some of the signings coming to the EPL next season.

    Odd, how Thiago has said he may not extend his contract…

  14. allezkev says:

    I had the offer of a ticket for tonight’s game, but I just wasn’t ‘feeling it’…
    Gotta work late anyway…

    I wonder how many empty seats there will be at the Grove tonight?

  15. Drake says:

    Ts at 1st they said he would be out for 4months but i think they are the new arsenal…we can forget about seeing him play this season.weilgh is also linked to mancity, wrong club i think but would love to see him in the epl he is the young busi

  16. Marshall says:

    Theo has been talking too much lately. Superstardom is again getting go his head. Aguero, Kane even Giroud are going about silently. Does he watch himself after a game and see how rubbish he’s been? He’d start with himself then urge the rest of the team.

    Hate how we are fragile esp with Ozil and Giroud, they’re always raising their arms. Nobody is out there to massage their egos, they’d put in work. I expect Soton to come with the same physical game play they’d be ready for it.

  17. Marshall says:

    I do not expect even major signings in the summer. Zero expectations from Wenger since last summer.

    Don’t care about any managers who come in, the EPL is one place where no points are guaranteed. Klop realised that.

  18. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good morning Rico and All. Good read Rico.
    When it comes to T/W, one should never keeps there hope up. There is no iota of truth anymore or credibility when it comes to AW getting busy in the T/W.
    Hard work and Theo don’t go together. When he is not playing we missed him, when he is playing we ask ourselves if he really worth what he is earning. The OX and Theo don’t get me at the edge of my seat anymore. There are bunches of home-grownplayers in other clubs who want to prove a point that will nake us much better and better replacement for the OX and Theo.

  19. rico says:

    Afternoon Ng..

    Theo really is Mr Marmite isn’t he… After his mighty words, I expect to see a performance backing them up later…

  20. Malaysian gunner says:

    If Wenger wants to play ahdl,better use Gabrile. I don’t
    trust the bg. His lack of pace is abig problem.

  21. George says:

    Hi Rico and fellow HH’s

    I expect Walcott to run his socks off after that statement. He should of buried that chance against Burnley. He had all the time in the world to shoot.

    Would like to see more of Iwobi and Campbell tonight. The midfield needs a beast to regulate Wanyama as it will be a bullying session again and our midfield overrun.

    Perhaps, we are better off with a 4-1-4-1 . Coq is back and can shield the back 4 which picks itself. Sanchez left ozil Rambo Campbell with Walcott up top or OG who will at least offer us aerial presence defending set pieces , which we recently take a sh each time the opponent wins a freekick or corner.

    Jack wont feature for us again, as neither will the crocked wizard. I expect flamster and Elneny and Gibbs to come on to protect a nervy 2-1 tonight.

  22. allezkev says:

    Koeman loves playing Wenger…

    He knows exactly how Wenger will set up and approach the game…

    Soton will be very tactical, frustrate us, nick a goal from a corner or free-kick, then park the bus…

    I reckon another draw…

  23. George says:

    Salam Kev! Our stadiums name sponsors are getting their beans out of me and i haven’t been on here as much as the past.

    For sure it would make a welcome change if we could scrape for the 3 instead of the 1 point

    The saints absolutely trashed us last time at theirs…

    Would also be nice if our chances didnt always fall to Flamini

  24. Lee says:

    Freezing my nuts off getting the train to and from Liverpool Street George! What about you, tee-shirt, shorts and flop-flips? God I’m jealous……

  25. George says:

    I must be the only US trader in flip flops Lee! I remember that race to Liv st station to catch a cramped crappy delayed train to a dive only to do it again the next day, stand my whole journey, get taxed 40% and give the 30 % to my ex…can’t say i miss that life brudder. Yep Wenger does have a few that give him the stick..

    You guys dhould arrange a ruby murray night in Dubai

  26. potter says:

    Arsene Wenger admits he was surprised by Southampton being able to sign Charlie Austin for £4 million.

    The 26-year-old completed his move to Ronald Koeman’s side during the winter transfer window and scored the winning goal during his debut to seal a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

    Austin could be given his first start against Arsenal on Tuesday night and the Arsenal boss admits he was surprised that the striker was available.

    “Yes. I was surprised how cheap he was,” said Wenger.

    “I was surprised that he was on the market and not many teams came in for him. He has shown his value straight away when he came on against Man United [to score the winner].” Moral of the story :- Ask and you might receive.

  27. rico says:

    Why didn’t Wenger sign Austin I wonder….. Right price, home grown and ticks all the boxes…

    Must have been because there were no players out there suitable for Arsenal….

    Afternoon all..

    Lee/George, I’m just broke and have lots of pairs of flip-flops, does that count? 😉

  28. George says:

    hahaha Rico…very funny Micko at 3:30… Habibs and habibtis, an hr and 45 to kick off!

    Lee , US broker, welcome brudder, swapsy London for the sand tax free?

  29. rico says:

    Walcott on the bench, Elneny nowhere to be seen, Gabriel instead of Merts and Flamini with Ramsey fill the middle..

    Oh dear…..

  30. goonster says:

    Afternoon it’s not a bad line-up just wish mert woulda started ahead of Gabriel. Oh well arsene knows. We need to get at them from the get go. We can do this. Come on arsenal.

  31. allezkev says:

    Interesting team selection…

    Rumours that Southampton are going to go three at the back?

    Is Koeman gonna have a go??

  32. goonster says:

    Pace is overated maam. Obertan is as fast as fuck but as useless as gerwanko. Mert ll have been a better partner for either one of them.

  33. George says:

    elneny nowhere to be seen…fair dos flamini and rambo in the middle…let hope wanyama has a stinker and shane long doesnt start Rico

  34. goonster says:

    No it won’t rico they ll crowd the middle and make the harder for us to break them down. With tadic and wanyanma it’s going to be a long night for Rambo and flamini. I hope he doesn’t. Hope it’s all a ruse to throw us off.

  35. goonster says:

    Ramsey and flamini ll have to keep it simple. No hogging the ball for less than 7 seconds. We need them to release it faster. Do that and we have a chance but I see soton trying to nick the ball off Rambo and hit us with pace. We need to be extra careful.

  36. goonster says:

    Lol rico Austin??? Really?? How low we ve fallen. Lol. 10 years ago we eat guys like Austin for break fast. Sad.

  37. goonster says:

    Well we haven’t really painted ourselves on glory maam. Only one game sticks out and that’s the manure game. We ve looked toothless lately even with pace to burn. We need to move the ball faster all over the pack to make pace work. Lol

  38. goonster says:

    Rico he’s a good player am not knocking him just saying being worried about him just shows the state of affairs over the past decade. That’s all am saying.

  39. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, I think he should’ve tried to head it.
    Taking it on the boot meant he was never getting over it….gave the keeper a chance.
    Still, it was a little unlucky.

  40. goonster says:

    We look appalling out there guys. No creativity. Nothing. Flamini needs to come off. He offers nothing going forward neither does he give us stability in the midde. We could use a santi right now. Oh well let’s hope we pick it up in the second half.

  41. George says:

    coq for flamster, iwobi for campbell

    But yes we look dire…I can see Soton nicking this 1-0.

    Rico, vipbox is a good link like mentioned above. im watching it but the stream freezes

  42. Kel says:

    Evening guys… not going to well atm.. tough game indeed fingers, toes and everything else crossed for the 2nd half.

    The spuds blowing Norwich away 🙁
    Utd cruising past Stoke.
    City winning…

    Fuck me Arsenal come on.

  43. Joaqim Moreira says:

    the usually… we don’t shoot, we not winning the midfield battle, poor imagination, not speed enougth, everything predict…
    A few players are not at the pitch…
    hope somethiong change because all the others are win for the moment

  44. allezkeva says:

    Well Arsene needs to work some magic at half-time.

    Seems that Koemans tactics are his usual rope-a-dope…
    Fraser Forster has made three important saves…

  45. Kel says:

    I agree lewis… If they fail to win tonight that’s it for Arsenal imo. That would be 3 games no goals, no wins in 4… more like relegation form ffs..

    Missing that finisher again.. 🙁

  46. Micko says:

    Regardless of tonites result I don’t think we’ll hit top spot again this season, Arsene’s a busted sofa.

  47. allezkev says:

    When we dropped two points at Anfield I just had a horrible feeling, that I kept to myself, that we were gonna blow it….

    Title winning teams hold on to win 3-2
    They win 1-0 at Stoke.
    They don’t lose to Chelsea.
    And they beat Southampton 1-0….

    It’s slipping through Wengers fingers.

    And Guardiola will be winning it for ManCity over the next few years….

    I’m not sure even the FACup will save Wengers arse this time….

    Night All

  48. Kel says:

    Forster, van dijk, wanyama.. 3 former hoops nullifying Arsenal yet again. 30m for the 3… well done Southampton…

  49. Kel says:

    Fight for 4th again… and again and again and again… but sure there ain’t no players available to improve us.. hahahaha..

    Come on Leicester, go for it lads…

  50. Bob John says:

    Once again Koeman stops us scoring. Lee Mason no words to describe that cheating fuck. Foul after foul yet he only books one player and that was for kicking the ball away! Theo £100,000+ a week to do absolutely fuck all yet again. Ramsey and Flamini non existent. Campbell out if his depth. Best chance for years and we look garbage apart from the 5 decent players we have. So pissed off!!!!!!!

  51. Lewis says:

    We’ve had enough chances to win this game twice over! Fucking disgraceful.

    Totts looking like favourites at the moment. Never thought I’d hear myself say that.

    We look like the usual Arsenal team over the past decade, we flatter to deceive. We won’t win the league as long as arsene is at the helm, he peddles the same tired tactics season after season and expects different results. The only reason We are in With any chanc e this year is everyone has been just as shit but the serious teams are kicking up a gear and we are going the opposite direction.

    None of this team look like they believe they can win. Their psychology is wrong and that malaise has come from one man IMO. Roll on the post Wenger years.

  52. Joaqim Moreira says:

    Why we are forbidden to shoot?
    We walked the “walk” the ball, to “play” the small screen, always with a reported game, and far and fearful of the goal.
    What’s happen to Elnealy? I think is a good and a fresh player. Our midfield, since December, not won any game at the midfield.

  53. potter says:

    Don’t worry boys the walking wounded will be back soon to save us and the progression to the coveted fourth place trophy will be back on again.

  54. Lewis says:

    Teams we have dropped points against recently are average sides at best. Utd just put 3 past Stoke ffs! We just scrape a point. Liverpool battered by Leicester we squander the win whilst conceding 3 goals. The worst Chelsea team in years pull our pants down yet again. And the. Tonight when we desperately need a response we get that.

    Let’s face it gooners we’re just a bit shit.

  55. George says:

    We could have played for another 90 and still not score. quite frankly out , we were as Pony as Villa.

    Walcott, Flamini, Ramsey, were below average. Campbell also had a stinker, but when he came off Southampton were relieved. The ref, well he was just a ‘wrist shaker’. On another day, the amount of set pieces we gave away on our area edge would have cost us the point.

    Glad Leicester done the dippers. As for the yids, they will lose next week. They are as flaky as we are.

    Lets hope Afobe doesnt haunt us next game. Good night all

  56. Marshall says:

    Arsenal are the most disappointing bunch of a club I’ve ever seen. The fucking game was full of back and blind passes. We’ve been doing that sh”t since November and its like AW doesn’t tell them sh*t when they train! Bunch of mediocres.

    What title winning team would have a brainless player like Flamini in their midfield? Wenger sucks big time.

  57. Silky says:

    Apologies for the expletives but I needed to make a point!!

    I can’t fully explain how pissed off I am! I mean last year we had welbeck and Akpom to offer an alternative to Giroud and do u know Afobe hits his 3rd in 3 games, this season all we have is that absolute coward Walcott he’s a fraud get rid! This is the clown talking bout a backlash from the players for the last few results n he’s shit wouldn’t hit a barn door! They should only give the little shit a 1 year extension at a time as he only seems to play well when lookin for a pay raise!

    I don’t buy this shit of only superstar signings because we did buy Elneny what would hav been wrong with Austin for £4m n I jus read that Wenger didn’t think he’d have been available, seriously come on the guy was out of contract this summer!

    Was always a huge fan of Wenger still am but he’s throwing the league away, same as usual one or two more signings would have done the trick I think a couple of short term deals anything! Atthis point I would take the FA Cup and pray that we get a St. Totteringham day this year!

    Apologies if I put anyone on a downer think I just need a hug ?

  58. Marshall says:

    Referees don’t like us. Arsenal should know that and expect a physical game. Did they really prepare for it?

  59. potter says:

    The only thing that surprised me Silky is that you are still a fan of a man that has been a fraud for the past 6 or 7 years. It fascinates me that people are still scared to face up to it and tell it like it is.

  60. Marshall says:

    Wenger been loosing it since 2008. Sticks to the same tacts he has no bloody surprises and doesn’t think. Chelsea and this game shows we desperately need a finisher but AW is a…. PEA is worth the price tag on him yet he can’t find quality in the market. He’s full of sh*

    He got to go. Please.

  61. Kel says:

    I feel the pain guys I’m Totally gutted Arsenal, London, big stadium, massive revenue probably 100m+ available to spend… everything is in place except the right manager…

    Leicester, Spurs, City all in better form, were still in with a shout but I doubt very much we have it in us I’d put money on us not finishing top 2… 3rd at best imo.

    Frustrating, predictable same old same old..

  62. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Who can tell me what’s happen to Elheny? I think he is fresh at the moment and all the others players are not in physical good shape. It’s difficult to watch and understand our players are not fresh?
    Watched the headlines of the others games. For instance, Totts. they shoot twice outside area, the goalkeeper defended both two balls but not keeped it, and another shot 1-0 and the other a penalty – 2-0.; Leicester second goal: a shot, the ball hit a defender, went to the nº9 and a goal…
    Arsenal never shot. It’s much more easier for the defenders because they can be prevent with the short pass, much more easier to intercept the ball and the movements off the players.

  63. Wavy says:

    Only seen the MOTD highlights, never truly accurate a story but it seems Soton brought the ghost of Robert Green with them! Not sure how many saves he made some of which he should never have got to. Amazing. I think we did well to only score 0! I don’t think if we’d played for another 90 mins we would have scored. Another one of those nights ………again.
    Positives? We are now 4th wash rinse and do it again!

  64. potter says:

    As usual motd sanitised the whole thing. The refereeing was suspect to say the least , Mason is always one to let pushing and shoving go unpunished and is a master of the art of breaking up the rhythm of play. All of this however glosses over the facts that our finishing is woeful . No doubt tomorrow the story will be about Forster’s magnificence , he made so many saves that years ago would have been termed “one for the papers ” The guy is nearly 7 foot tall and his arms are another 21/2 to 3 foot long , so put the ball on the floor , stopping shots bent into the top corners is like swatting flies to him , his weakness is 2 foot either side of his ankles. We need a finisher ,a predator and in our present system of play we don’t have one.

  65. Kel says:

    So apparently wenger and koeman had words..

    The Daily Telegraph says things kicked off in the tunnel with a furious Wenger confronting Koeman.
    It’s claimed Wenger shouted ‘it’s always the same with you’ at the Dutchman – in reference to the Saints’ defensive football.

    Koeman is believed to have replied ‘No, it’s always the same with you.

    If this is true it goes to show how silly, childish and naive wenger is does he honestly think that koeman is gonna go gung ho just to suit Arsenal.

  66. Lee says:

    So the move to the Emirates was going to make us competitive with Europe’s elite teams…..or a money making exercise for that wig wearing cnut?

  67. scottfromoz says:

    That bloody keeper of theirs knows how to perform against us lol.
    Just saw the second half highlights.
    Incredible.
    Still, Ozil takes his chance on his head instead of foot and he scores.
    Kozzers header…..defender put him right off from below..
    Clear foul but still.
    Just saw Spuds 3 goals.
    Seriously, all three were lucky.
    I know you make your own luck, but not much is going right.
    It’d wanna turn quickly else top 4 is no given.

  68. George says:

    Good morning Scott and early birds…

    After seeing that last night, its obvious we have deadwood and non performers. We need to bring back some of the loanees and sign 3 class players for a lot of money-no bargaining just pay what they want.

    Arteta,Rosicky and Flamini are gone in the summer.
    Wilshire and Welbeck will hardly play or be fit.
    Walcott is overrated and Ox cant score or assist.Both should be either sold or loaned out.
    Ramsey is being coveted by Barcelona.I say flog him! He’s good but not a game changer.
    Campbell must know his time is up at Arsenal.
    Sanogo is a postman-end of
    Mertesacker has a year in him at best
    Debuchy will be sold in the summer.
    We have Chez and martinez who are deadweight and not good enough
    Wellington is still on our books? he doesnt make Boltons bench
    Bring back Akpom and Hayden. They are good enough for the bench
    Zelalem is not built for Premier league football and is hardly setting Scotland alight
    sign some tall players. i am done with midgets
    Buy Cavani and pay top dollar.
    Bring back Jenks from West Ham and try for Payet as well
    Buy the leicester lad Chilwell
    Bring back Gnabry and actually play him as a winger rather than playing Ramsey there etc..

  69. scottfromoz says:

    Morning George and Lee.
    George, wholesale changes are required, but we know they won’t happen.
    Arsene limped through until Xmas riding his luck on injuries.
    Strange now we have players coming back, we are playing worse.
    Still, he should’ve brought quality in and didn’t.

  70. Lee says:

    George, Wenger could have the Barca team and he’d not win the PL …..he’s finished as a top flight manager, he constantly gets out thought by managers, gets his tactics wrong, rewards mediocre players with bumper contracts, relies on players that are perma crocks and neglects the squad!!

    Time to fuck off imo.

  71. Lee says:

    Apparently Wenger had words with Koeman in the tunnel after the game, basically saying always the same with you ie a defensive set up……….what the fuck does he expect teams to do?

    Turn up at the Emirates and play gung ho football?

    The bloke is a moron!

  72. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, I’ve asked this before….was Wenger EVER good with tactics?
    Let’s face it, he changed the landscape of English football, but it wasn’t tactics.
    It was professionalism.
    That’s what made the difference.
    He was ahead of his time in nutrition, training and scouting.
    Soon enough, other clubs caught up so the advantage was lost.
    I don’t agree he’s lost it tactically as I believe he never really had it.
    I’d say give him Barca and he’d kill it because, as when he had Dennis, Theirry etc etc, keep the squad healthy and happy and when they’re that good, they just get it done.

  73. Marshall says:

    Wenger sympathisers always said AW can’t compete with Arab or Russian backed teams, now he has the money and still not using it.

    Leicester are showing what ambition is. Something Wenger has never had since heaven knows when. With limited resources and they are moving mountains. Wenger once had limited resources and was still crying foul advocating for FFP.

    The players are all dip. They don’t talk to each other on the pitch, its like they are strangers. With all those blind passes do they really train together? Fancy our chances with AW gone.

  74. Lee says:

    That shower of shite up the road have a salary bill £70m less than us and arguably are playing better football with a younger more dynamic manager!

  75. Lee says:

    Still we managed to procure a brace of Nigerian embryos that should clinch it!

    £200m in the bank…..beggars belief that he didn’t sign an outfield player!!!

  76. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, he did tactics v Citeh.
    I never said he didn’t do them, just that he wasn’t that great at them, imo.
    Morning Rico-is that conversation with Koemans confirmed?
    Seems I’ve heard it mentioned on a few sites and pages but it’s all been people repeating what others have said.
    I’d like to think he’d be above that, because it is a silly argument.

  77. Kel says:

    It’s all very tiresome isn’t it… blowing up every year, failing to compete properly because of squad depth, relying on players who are consistently injured, having faith in players who just aren’t good enough.

    I’ve no problem with failing it’s all part of the game but doing it the same way yr in yr out is pathetic.

    From possible title tilt to now fighting for 4th.

    The fans should show their anger imo it really is time to show the board this has to change. How thats done I don’t know but considering Arsenal is money grabbing cnuts the upcoming Barca game would be good game to boycott as no doubt they’re rubbing their hands waiting on the 5m gate receipts.

    But hey that’s just my opinion Frustrated fan.

  78. tsgh says:

    It is what it is…

    Where is Goonie btw? You argued Keoman would fail.. 🙂
    As I always say its a matter of philosophy or school of thought e.g like Shaolin vs Lama

    The Cruyff school has always been beaten by Huddink school.

    Taht is why even though Cruyff’s ajax set a record by ending the season with 120 goals in total in 2 seasons they still ended up 2nd behind PSV under Huddink.

    The Cruyff school currently being led by AW has always gone into games thinking that their teams are better than their opposition and also that every game is equally as important.

    The other school has always approached certain games from an underdog perspective… Keoman is one of them as he hails from Guus Huddink’s 1988 squad of PSV even though he made his name at Ajax.

    My only issue with Arsene is that he has mediocre players who cant get into most teams but are made to look good and so fans thing they are better than they are…

    I completely disagree that any other manager will get the best out of some of these players who imho are not actually footballers…

    Players like Ox, theo will not get in any other top 3 team in Spain, Germany, Ligue Un or eevn the under rated Serie A.

    Flamini left us as a starter who fans adored but ended up being a reserve at AC Milan.

    Scott- i agree with you most times but I have to disagree that AW never did tactics. When he started out he was so innovative that Platini’s dad gave him a job and FC Bavaria went out really hard to get him.

    AW problem in my opinion is that he has always been naive or seen the game from an idealistic point of view.

    AS Monaco fans also use to say that finishing 2nd and 3rd was not good enough and another manager would do better. Well it never happened when Aw left.

  79. tsgh says:

    Leicester are an anomaly imho; can they repeat it again?

    Comparing Ranieri to AW is a bit desperate imho…

    Ranieri attends UEFA manager seminars where AW lectures…

  80. rico says:

    Morning Scott, Ts.

    I don’t know Scott but if true, it’s all rather silly…

    I didn’t see the game, so not much point in writing a post really. Might as well moan on this one… 😉

  81. scottfromoz says:

    Can everyone stop saying I commented Arsene didn’t do tactics lol.
    I said he wasn’t that great at them, his strength lay elsewhere and that’s a big difference.
    Thank you 🙂 🙂

  82. tsgh says:

    Come on Rico,

    Wath would have cut and pasted… 😉

    The game was like any other game we have played in January for the last 3 seaosn as our NOvember blues have now been moved to January/ February…

    If history is to repeat itself, AS17 will go a few games without scoring (consistently) between now and end of March before he comes back again to his best…

  83. tsgh says:

    Tactics are over rated I read sometimes anyway Scott.

    Is Jose a great tactician or a guerilla warfare practitioner?

    LVG was until his time at Yanited heralded as a great tactician but his time, he gets slated for playing boring football now…

    Martinez does at lot of tactics but has a soft under belly as he practices the AW philosophy…

    Klopp at BVB was praised for being tactical but he though he claims to be a gegenpressing practitioner he is really a follwer of Kohn/AW/Bertz.

    If he had his way he would a team of 6 number 10s’ plus 2 ‘proper’ defenders plus 2 wingers as full backs.

  84. bradster says:

    Morning all,

    I think we are missing Cazorla the most. Someone to start/pick up the ball from the back and find a forward player.
    Rosicky would’ve been ideal along side Coq but that horse is lame again.
    So Wenger needs to use his player not yet moulded in the Arsenal way to do something different. I say play Coq holding, Elneny box to box and alternate Ramsey and Campbell on the right.

    Walcott is shite and only useful in the last 20 when the defence is tired and he can easily run past them.

  85. Lee says:

    Ozil created 10 fucking chances last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    We need a top draw finisher, Walcott isn’t the answer!!

  86. Wath says:

    Ts, I don’t need to cut and paste “Bottled it as usual, gutless cnuts”……!

    Think that sums it up.

    Lacking in central midfield as we all knew from the summer, players with zero bollox to get stuck in, to many namby pambies and passengers and a stubborn blinkered manager. This was the season to win the league and we’ve gone and fucked it up cos the players don’t have it in them to fight for a win when things don’t go their way. Yes the ref was utter shit but he didn’t piss away chance after chance after chance and he didn’t pass backwards sideways and keep giving the ball away did he…!

    Oh and good morning one and all……………..

  87. tsgh says:

    Pep- is a Cruff/AW hybrid who was lucky to have arguable the best group of tactical players to ever play football all in the same era in his team.
    Puyol and Marquez at his peak was as good as Costacurta, Baresi were at reading the game and defending.
    Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio were as good as Albertini, rijkaard were for Milan.
    Oddly, his team at Barca was put together by Rijkaard who was a LvG/Capeillo/Sacchi disciple.

    Almost all of Pep’s signings at Barca failed. Names such as Maxwell, Jeffren,Keirrison, and the biggest waste of money Chygrynskiy are no where now…

    For BM pep joined at the time when my beloved BVB were no force as Klopp had turned them into a team similar to Everton under Martinez.

    Pep was slated by almost FC Munchen legends apart from Sammer who appeared to back Effenberg.

    Read some of Sammer and Rummeineigge’s comments on Pep and one will wonder why the English press rate Pep so highly…

    In the idea world Pep will take over Arsenal or even tottenham and then we can see if he is as good as he is made out to be.

    I can bet who Pep will convert his position immediately as he turns up at Shitty…

  88. tsgh says:

    Agreed there Brad, SC19 is the most important player now as MA08 is no more..

    This team has no identity…

    Wath- I think there is a hint of de ja vu in that post above.. surely cut and paste. 😛

  89. tsgh says:

    Ozil created chances but the team has become very very iefficient as Ozil now has to come deep to pick up the ball as the team does not have MA08, SC19 or Per to dictate play aand tempo of the game…

    We have no thinking players at all…

  90. tsgh says:

    I think we could have done with someone like Sissoko to take us ove rthe line…

    I always said when we signed debuchy and Chambers that we should have added the money to buy Sissoko from NUFC.

  91. Lewis says:

    Racking up the draws like nobodies business.

    Arsene must have been getting nose bleeds being that high up the table for a few weeks.

  92. Kel says:

    Ts I remember a few on here wanting Sissoko because of his power and strength in midfield something we hadn’t and still haven’t got in midfield. Tbh tho I didn’t think you were one of them..

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