Morning all.
Happy St Michael Thomas Day!!
1989, back on this very day Michael Thomas charged through the midfield, to score and win the most dramatic league title ever for Arsenal. The greatest ever finish to a league title.
Fever Pitch was born. As was the great sporting commentary ‘It’s up for grabs now’. Brian Moore, probably one of the best football commentators in my lifetime reported on the way it all ended:
“Arsenal come streaming forward now in surely what will be their last attack. A good ball by Dixon, finding Smith, for Thomas, charging through the midfield. Thomas, it’s up for grabs now! Thomas! Right at the end! An unbelievable climax to the league season”.
Was that the last time two clubs went head to head on the final day of the league season for the big trophy? I think so. A great day for all Arsenal fans, a rotten one for the Dippers. I like those kind of days….
Football today has gone mad. Just over a year ago, Carlo Ancelotti was lifting the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid, yet yesterday he got the sack because he’s won them nothing this season. He’s the 9th casualty under Perez in 12 years. Ridiculous if this decision has been made on football alone and no wonder Arsene Wenger has never entertained taking The Spanish club up on their offer to him for the managers job.
In England Big Sam is set to be out of a job, Steve McClaren has already gone and I doubt they won’t be the only ones. Brenda’s cheeks must be twitching!
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is preparing for his 20th season as Arsenal FC manager and another FA Cup Final.
I’m not suggesting that is the right way either as sometimes over the last few seasons we’ve looked like we have have needed change, new ideas and a different manager would be the only way to achieve such things but this season, at times, we’ve been at our best for a long time. Not of course during the first half of the campaign but certainly in 2015, we’ve been a lot better.
Away at City sticks out for me, as does the first 45 minutes against Liverpool at The Emirates. Even at home to Utd we played well but we just couldn’t score enough goals from our many chances created. To this day, I haven’t a clue how we lost that. Battering Stoke and Villa was good too and beating Utd at the old toilet in the FA Cup was superb. There have been other results which the boys have ground out against sides who either defend in numbers or those trips on the road to places like Palace and Qpr where we have in the past struggled.
The first half performance at the weekend was perhaps a fitting way to end the league season.
Things could have been a lot better though, especially at The Emirates, and certainly in the Champions League but that’s all done now and we can’t go back.
Now we have to move forward, be ready for Aston Villa and repeat some of those much better performances we have seen during the season on Saturday.
Then we need a good summer in the transfer window, one which will finally make or squad strong, deep and well balanced. One which really will not only challenge but win the Premier League again under Arsene Wenger.
Transfer Gossip:
Morgan Schneiderlin has made up his mind on where he wants to go this summer and that’s to a club in the Champions League should he quit the Saints:
I think my decision is made. If I leave Southampton it is for a club that plays better than Europa League.
That’s the Totts out then!
Doesn’t guarantee he’s coming our way either I guess but at least we are in the Champions League so it’s possible. .
But with Sami Khedira reported to soon become a Juventus player, perhaps there’s more than just smoke to the Vidal to Arsenal rumours. In fact a darn big fire could be on the cards…..
The Jackson Martinez stuff won’t go away either….
But I will, well for now…
Have a great guys…..
Morning all.
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
Good post Rico. Should have included Benzema to AFC as well. lol
Am I first??? Again???
Vidal, Schneiderlin to Arsenal??? maybe you are right Rico……Cazorla is off to Spain.
Pahhh. the Aussie got in before me. his mud hut antenna is more powerful than mine 😉
That’s it bud lol.
Actually, it’s the time difference 🙂
Morning again all…
Thanks Devil, not seen the Benzema one..
What’s been your fav match/result?
good morning
One of the most best performance for me, was in Monaco. Wasn’t not only 20 minutes of halt time but the whole game.
Cazorla out ? maybe… but Ramsey, Barcelona?
Jackson Martinez will not staying in Porto this season. Thais is a fact.
Khedira, never plays
Schnerling isn’t always fit….(well in the cards)
Morning all.
Not a bad season, eh! Good summary Rico of what was a satisfactory season, mind you if we had Perez for an owner Wenger would have been toast years ago! It’s sha,evil the way they treat their managers/coaches. You’d think Blatter would step in and place a woman in charge! That’d settle their Spanish hash!
So, Morgan plus 4 And Vidal Sasson for the dressing room hair stylist. Sounds progressive to me.lets hope it’s all true, although I think the west London dwarf may Hoover up the Sniederlin, just got a feeling.
Anyhow, off to the tip, lots of poison ivy to deposit in the recycling bin and , a few empties too!
Good read Rico…
Its like the jumbo sales already. lol
Next we will be after Matic.
Shameful not ‘sha.evil’ iPad failure!
Marvellous I no longer seem to have to fill in my email address or title every time I post. Now that’s what I call progress!
JM – yep, that was a good performance and result. Just a shame the same couldn’t be said for the home game…
First half against Anderlecht was good, second half was woeful…
Thanks Wavy, if we had Perez, we’d have had another ten managers in the last ten years I suspect… lol
Thanks Ts.
I remember St Michael Thomas Day – I was in an Arsenal pub and the whole bar was shouting ‘Shoot – Shoot – For F***S SAKE SHOOT’ and he did and I don’t remember much after that.
Rumour has it that we’ve signed Vidal from Juve – I hear he’s a typical Serie A midfield hatchet man – great if he stays on the pitch!
Keep up the good work
Brian
my favourite was the first half of the last game vs WBA. It was purely scintillating stuff
Brian, we still shout the same today.. 😉
That was good Devil, but I think the Dippers just edge it for me. Probably because of the dislike I have for them… lol
Morning Rico and all.
Liverpool for the joy….too many Scousers here in Oz….they were silent that night, though.
For pure football I’m with Devil…we were sublime v West Brom for 45 minutes.
For professionalism and a big middle finger to everyone saying Wenger is past it and can’t do tactics, Citeh.
Ok, so he doesn’t always use tactics, but he did that day 🙂 🙂
Thanks Rico for the writeup 🙂 know, the Real Madrid situation is bonkers. Im still happy enough for Wenger to be leading us into his 20th year. Even in the hard times of the past 5 years or so, its clear that Wenger has had a lot less money/resources than the clubs beating us in the PL. Now, with the finances loosened Im looking forward to more trophies including one this weekend! 2 FA cups in a row would be incredible. Next year the league!
I cant see Jackson Martinez to Arsenal. Every window hes in there…
Morning Adam..
And sweet revenge for last season Scott, although the FA Cup win was special against them the following week…
True, Adam.
Actually, the Cup win was massive as they thought they had the better of us….it did make it sweeter, you’re spot on.
Pleasure Roger.., 😉
Never thought I’d say this but I’m not fussed that AW has 2 more years. Hopefully it’ll be two very good ones..
Sorry Rico lol
🙂 Scott, I was having a wonder….
Morning all,great post there Rico… IMHO i think AW wouldn’t have taken some decisions he took in the barren years if he were under Perez . He most likely would have all the cash to splash on the kind of players he wants.The financial situation Arsenal were in and the love for the club turned Wenger into a very careful spender.Now that we have more financial power,things are beginning to change.
so guys what should be the target for next season .. EPL trophy, CL semi finals?
Thanks bondex. I’m not sure only because of what he said when asked what he’d do with a million pounds… Let’s hope for more quality in the summer and push on…
PL for me.
I really couldn’t care less about the CL.
It’s summed up in Chelski winning whilst being 6th in the PL.
It should be for champions only but anyway………
PL….belt the locals.
The league is always number one. CL if it happens is a bonus.
Pl for me too, and the FA Cup. CL? Not fussed…
Off for a couple of hours, catch up later…
Gee rico and scott. You don’t rate the cl?? How else to attract the best players in the world? Win the cl and see what happens the following years. I want the epl so bad but I want the cl much more
Plus we ll finally get the gorilla off our backs. I mean even rafa Benitez has won it ffs.
Morning good people
Stan, being in it is enough.
Afternoon All,
Great post, Rico…
For just one CL trophy, especially under Wenger I’d willingly go trophyless for following five season…
The CL is like the World Cup…luckily it comes every season…Arsenal can truly claim greatness without winning one. Whether it’s for pride’s sake or whatever, CL is the apex of club football…you gotta win it if you’re great…as a coach and as a club. No kidding!
…seasons…
…Arsenal can’t…
I feel the CL is like the holy grail of club football… having it adds something to AFC
WHU has won the fair play accolade…Fat Sam and his crew… lol
rico, whatever happened to the questions drawn up for Michael Thomas on HH, did I miss that post.
Still waiting for the answer to mine “Why Lauriston ?”
Afternoon all.
Afternoon All…
Just been on the picket line…
The workers, United, will never be defeated etc etc….
Off to read the post…
Jackson Martinez???
He must be 34…
Good afternoon Rico and the house Ginge I know you have your finger on the Stats do you know if there is any truth in the following.
My son-in-law tells me someone published a list of teams that had finished within 12points of the side winning the P/L since it was introduced.
He states that there teams now playing in the championship that have done so but there is one team in the P/L that has not.
He tells me that the Spuds have finished more than 12 points below the winners of the P/L every year since it was introduced . Do you know if this is correct?
Sanchez has been voted pfa fans player of the season. Good for him. Learn to release the ball earlier and you ll be amongst the top 10 in next year’s balon d’or. Morning again guys been so busy lately. Just can’t catcg a break.
Evening guys…
Chuffed for Alexis, he deserves it…. Without him, we’d have been snookered in the first half of the season….
A good season report Rico. For me the best game was beating the Dippers 4-1 . The look on Brenda’s face at half time was a joy to behold.
Delighted to see that Jacks goal against WBA was voted Goal of the season
for the second year running.
Well done Alexis Sanchez.
Thanks Rick. That was my favourite too….
Kev I am not very happy with the news I am hearing about th U16 in the
tournament last w-end
They lost 2-1 to Benfica in the Semi-final then 1-0 to Milan to finish in 4th place.
After the Benfica game a report said ” Wow what a great game of football by both sides. A credit to their clubs”
At the end of the tournament our C/F Edward Nketiah (4 goals) won the golden Boot and the team was voted the best side in the Tournament.
Now comes the crunch. It is being said we were the best side and could have won it outright. The reason they did not on the second day the Manager left his best players out and played trailists who were not up to it.
I think he let the lads down.
Hi Rick just saw your question-
Your son-in-law is well read;… being a Barnet fan and all…; He is stop on. 🙂
Indeed the spurds have finished double figures behind the eventual winners of the EPL since its inception…. The worst was 1993/94 when they finished 37 points behind yanited and 28 points behind us…
Even in 1996 they fished 29 points behind one of the lowest winners tally of 75 points.
Their best was 1992 when they finished 3 points ahead of us but still 12 points behind the EPL winners; and 2009 their best season in recent times, 16 points behind…
Chat later… drive time
Kev- there was me thinking you were partying with your super-rich friends on a yacht somewhere near Monaco or in the Aegean seas…
Respect Sir… all those dubious dodgy mini cab drivers trying to mess up the best cab services in the developed world.
Ts, you mean it took you a long while to find the answer… Lol
Hola amigos
3-1 win sat
Ah, Malaga gooner – so unlike you to appear when a transfer window looms….
Did. You miss me rico
Not the stupid transfer stuff, no Malaga….
Ha, well l missed you
🙂 Malaga, where have you been hiding?
I had s break from social media nut house
Whats all that malaga stuff at the bottom of the page
That’s not. Me
No idea what you mean re the bottom of the page…
About spider
On its up for grabs now
Laters Rico
Lol Rico
Hey Malaga…surely there must be some thing to cheer me up.
That’s just your comments Malaga.. Ok, catch up soon..
Kev
Have you heared that George Dobson is leaving
How can that happen??
That’s a shock Rick.
Hello, Tu…you reckon Wenger will sign Vidal?
Ts
Don’t get him started Ts. 😉
Kolo Toure has been given a new Dipper deal. That’s a surprise….
Lol Rico…
Tai if AW signs Vidal I will be back to worshiping at the Wenger altar.
He’s a bit of a toughie isn’t it Ts?
A tough but indeed.
he can run forever.
Predictive text…
a tough nut
A bit like Alexis… Only really watched him in the WC..
My day is done so catch up tomorrow..
Night all..
Micko, not sure re the MT post, I’ll try and find out….
He was not fit during world cup… after missing huge part of season before world cup due to knee injury.
If we bought Vidal and his team mate Aranguiz we will have best midfield.
Vidal still covered more ground than anyone else who played 5 or 6 games.
before he went to Turin he played every position including CB.
Can he truly be our DM?
Kev, 4.04, you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose but you can’t pick your friends nose !
rico, the post was wath’s baby, you suggested we each put a question forward, in fairness it was a good while back.
tsgh, Juve’s average age is 31 and counting, I’d love to see ’em beat Barca in the final.
6.57, first sign of the cuckoo me thinks, howdy Malaga, long time, no hear ?
Very true Micko.
If juve beat barca you have to get Pogba’s haircut…
Are we gonna do Villa this weekend tsgh, we know Arsene doesn’t do back to back trophies, 4th placed trophy aside ! Are you going ?
I am doing the Emirates screening Micko.
you are spot on re back to back trophies. It will be a first.
Good on ya matey, who knows you may be able to call in a favour between now and Saturday, fingers crossed for ya !
Cousin texted me tonite to say he got 3 tickets in the front row right next to the corner flag, jammy doughnut !!!
Up the Gooners, nite folks.
Night Micko.
Your cousin is lucky…
I sus like you it might be a long train ride from Wembley.
Think you two have forgotten 2002 and 2003…!
As for Lauriston I think his Mum is to blame Micko, maybe he’s taking this long to answer as she still not told him..?
Pick me a winner Mick
Rick, not sure what to think about the team selections in that youth competition?
Maybe the Coach thought that a the players he took were good enough to play…
Have to say mate, if they weren’t good enough, then what was the point of taking them…?
Just saying…
As for George Dobson, that is a shock if it’s true…
I’ve asked a friend of mine, who knows the Dobson family, if he knows anything…
Just have to wait and see what my mate says…
Morning all..
Ts, must have been another competition I watched Vidal, but I’ve definitely seen him.. lol
So the breaking news this morning is Corruption allegations among FIFA – ha ha, surely not!!
Morning Rico..
You definitely saw him in the world cup…
What I was alluding to, attempting to say was he was no eve at his best during the world cup…; he had only played 2 games in 6 months before Chile played Oz land in the first game.
It’s funny how last week Kev and Cg mentioned FiFA’s corruption on here and caboom…
How Blatter always manages to escape these kind of controversies still amazes me… Teflon Don
FIFA….???
Corruption…???
Surely not…!
Morning Rico.
Morning Ts.
I thought so and started to think I was going mad. lol Well if he wasn’t at his best, he was still very good…
To be fair, many of us here believe FIFA are corrupt and yes, how Blatter is being kept out of it beggars belief.
Morning Kev.
Bit of a shock eh… Not.. 😉
Rico, you will very likely see Vidal against Barca in the final of the UCL on the 6th of next month…
It will be interesting to see where Vidal plays in the final as against RM he was assigned the task of countering Kroos who played DM for RM.
Against RM Marchisio who is actually attack minded played in CDM next to Pirlo, with Pogba who I gather you rate highly playing in advance position.
Will it be Busquet vs Vidal as in the world cup when Chile won or Vidal vs Rakitic
Morning guys.
If I watch it Ts.. lol
Morning Scott..
Morning Rico and all. So, according to that beacon of truth The Mirror, Wenger wants to sell Giroud and buy Benzema. Please, say it ain’t so.
If you watch it? common there is only so much Eastenders a lady can watch… lol
Hi Scott..
Good morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
MArtinez, Benzema??? hmmmm. paper talk I presume.
Knowing AW and his modus operandi this is more like it…….
http://www.squawka.com/news/arsenal-eye-3m-villarreal-forward-gerard-moreno/384807
Morning Adam. Thought that would make you happy.
come on* even
Two bits of good news coming out of Ireland this week marriage equality and the Fai are going to vote against Blatter.
At least the mirror are subtly implying for Benzema to come here OG12 has to go…
I still do not get what the fuss is with Higuain and Benzema? 22 goals this season playing next to Ronaldo and Kroos is not impressive imho…
higuain another big game bottler…
We need big game players this summer; Bacca is south American but at least he turns up on the big occasions. 26 goals in all competitions this season as well.
Marriage equality? what is that? lol
http://thearsenalhistory.com/?p=10493
Worth a butcher’s!
Zurich , FiFa , Arrests re Qatar and Russia , money laundering . all going off today.
Morning Joe, Devil..
That’s when everyone finds out who’s the real boss. 😉
Shame about Danny
Morning everyone, morning Rico let’s hope this is the end of FIFA as we know it.
Morning All…
It’s a beautiful sunny day in London Town…
Perfect weather to sit in a traffic jam whilst the Queen opens Parliament (and the point of that is???) and we have the odd anti-austerity demo from the usual suspects, those unwashed SWP yobs who love to kick off a riot outside of a Hi-Fi shop
This time I feel, the truth will out! And we’ll see the end of Blatter and his corrupt cohorts. GO, the investigators, please get to the bottom of this and clean the global game up! Maybe we’ll and the rest of Europe get a fair crack of the ‘whip’.
FIFA…well, they’ve done nothing but rape, pillage and plunder money from world football whilst sprint little else for a long time.
Sorry, how rude, morning all.
Shame Arteta can’t lead Arsenal as captain to 2nd Fa cup win..
New post up now.