Morning all.
Jackie boy is back in the news again and thank goodness, it’s all good, very good!
Just seven months ago, Paul Scholes laid into Jack and went as far as saying he’d failed to improve his game since he burst onto the scene at 17 years old. Two stand out performances for England has given Scholes food for thought, so much so, he’s totally changed his view:
I thought Jack Wilshere had two very good games for England over the last week. I would go one step further than that and say that at the moment he is England’s best player.
I think the penny has dropped and he has added another dimension to his game. He has always been capable of intricate passing. Now he can play the ball long, too. The quality of some of those passes into Wayne Rooney in Estonia was high.
You cannot underestimate the importance of eye contact between a midfielder and a striker in those situations. Wilshere mentioned it in one of the interviews that he gave and I would agree that it is critical.
Best player for England he says, that’s a far cry from his overly critical comments in the past. Let’s hope he continues his good form for Arsenal and we finally see the player we all thought he would one day become and with Aaron Ramsey struggling to replicate is high standard of last season, maybe this is Jacks time. Although I don’t think it’ll be too long before Ramsey finds top form again once he returns. After all, class is permanent isn’t it?
Well, it is when it comes to players, managers however seem to fluctuate with their performances and our fine leader is a perfect example of that these days but interesting enough, Ivan has just talked about how difficult it will be to replace him, although I’m not convinced he’s truthing. Just after his words though, Dragan Stojkovic has been talking about his future in football management:
I respect English football very much and the Premier League is an incredible league.
Of course [I would like to manage in the Premier League]. Why not? I believe I have enough knowledge about modern football to be part of the development of English football.
I have had a few meetings [with English clubs] but I am still waiting for a good offer.
Wonder who he’s been in touch with? Perhaps he is set to wait for another two and a half years?
Could he be the man lined up to take over the managers role at Arsenal? Well he’s pretty much followed the same path as Arsene Wenger during his career and has played for and managed Nagoya Gramous so perhaps Stan Kroenke sees him as the ideal candidate to replace Arsene Wenger.
And of course, they share the same footballing philosophy:
Arsene Wenger is a friend of mine and that relationship and friendship exists from 1995.
If you remember how he changed Arsenal, the way they play, the style and the quality, this is the same style I used in the last six years, and Grampus became champions for the first time in their history thanks to that work.
It is my objective to teach players to play in an attacking style and to give pleasure to the fans.
Well if he is to become our next next manager, let’s hope he’s not following the Arsene Wenger of today and thinks that’s attacking football will win everything because it won’t. Defending is equally as important too!
I still think Andries Jonker will be the man tasked to take us forward…….
That’s it for another day, have a good one…
Morning all.
Jack has certainly found his feet.
Morning all. Rico – Scotty from Oz.
A win on the cards at the weekend. No problem.
Other stuff – There’s a lot of negativity on Twitter re: the AGM.
https://twitter.com/martinwhittle19/status/522667508625854464
Morning all.
Scott, true Jack appears to have raised his game and needs to keep improving.
Syg, it’s hardly surprising there is negativity regarding the AGM.
A pretty average start to the season, a never ending injury list, no CB, no DCM and ticket prices are a few of the burning issues.
I find it a bit odd that the Monaco/Wenger link, has appeared again just as the AGM is about to take place..
Hiya BT62 – Arsenal play the media extremely well. Unfortunately for them the internet gives everyone a voice, not at least the blogs
Our arsenal like hospital
I’ve been talking to a load of old gooners of late – and they are all in the same mindset – WATH touched on this a few weeks back – The supporters – the people that go to matches week in, week out, seem to be getting more detached from the club itself as it becomes a mega business and they seem to cater more for ‘Tourists’ and ‘Day Trippers’ than the actual fan.
The blogs give everyone a voice, but there are some owners of blogs that are a bit ‘up their own arse’ in that they have become self-important in that they too become detached from their bloggers. These also seem to have agenda’s.
It’s why I blog here as opposed to anywhere else.
https://twitter.com/Gooner_AK/status/522700537993912320
Well that’s good
From Gazidis remarks about the management change, it would seem that they have started the process of replacement already. Not unusual in a massive, successful and profitable business. Get the appointment wrong and they will fall into the Manure crisis situation, get it right and they could move onwards and upwards a la the Chavs!
Would be managers may well throw their hats into the ring, some may be given serious consideration, but I think Rico has called it right, Jonker is the heir apparent, providing he does everything right and does nothing scandalous or has a footballing ‘gross failure’. It will be his to lose.
We shall see???
Not sure whether that is positive or negative, but good morning all. It’s not raining where I am!
Afternoon folks…
What’s being said at the Agm?
SYG. I have been saying the same for ages. As you know I go year in year out and the turnaround in ST holders has only accelerated. The crowd these days comprises enormous amounts of foreign visitors and less and less long-term supporters. The club have hardly helped by treating us with general contempt and trying to grab as much money from us as possible. Prices for refreshments inside the stadium are scandalous. The ST price rises are bad enough in themselves.
Look around during the game and most people are either talking to each other or texting away like crazy.
When you look at the relationship between teams like Dortmund and their supporters and then at our club I can’t help thinking that Arsenal are missing a massive trick here. If the club behaved more inclusively then it would almost certainly be worth points on the field.
Even the most long-term and ardent supporters are growing apathetic now. A huge shame in my opinion.
Wavy, same here, sunny but cold……
Daily Mirror, AGM live updates.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/live-updates-arsenals-agm—4446056?
Afternoon All,
Nice post, rico.
All Jack needs do is release the ball at the appropriate time, stay fit … while all Wenger needs help him is always play him box-to-box. I said it before he could be a better footballer than Ramsey. I’m saying it again.
The biggest mistake Arsenal board would make is thinking that just anybody could replace Wenger. Wenger might have seemingly lowered his earlier standards of late but replacing Wenger would be much harder than replacing Ferguson!
https://twitter.com/Gooner_AK/status/522712277657849856
AGM 1 minute ago
Just read the AGM goings on – thanks for the link Bt.
What a load of poppycock…
There was some heckling in the rank and file, Rico….
I’m in Cyprus – We’ll batter Hull on Saturday……
Thanks Tai.
Why do you think replacing AW would be more difficult?
I personally think it will be pretty easy to replace him on football alone, the owner/board might worry about another man demanding more money though…
Hi Syg, not surprised really. I suspect Kroenke had his hearing aid turned down though….
Can you stay there until Thursday… lol
I’m there for another 10 days.
The way the FA Cup final tickets were handed out was a disgrace….
https://twitter.com/johncrossmirror/status/522716802573664256
Good, perhaps we’ll get two wins then… 😉
Ramsey is back for Wednesdays game, Arteta back for Hull…
rico,
You might get lucky a few seasons, win some trophies…but there’s no luck in staying 19 seasons in the UCL. Consistency has everything to do with class. Now, Arsenal fans want one, who would be both consistent and lucky and they don’t come easy.
Paul Vaessen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYudZir1J-Q
Just why I think it was harder for Utd Tai, they won trophy after trophy after trophy and for many years- for me that’s far more important than merely qualifying for the CL each season and usually in 4th place…
Syg, are you single handedly propping up the Cypriot economy?…
As long as he’s not eating all the Halloumi…. lol
We try and do or bit BT62 – Not so much for the Cypriot economy but for Scott the Gooner at the New Inn in Dherynia and the Coffee Shop with the illegal gambling in the next village … We don’t stray very far
Halloumi is great, Rico. Fry it with Lountza and eat them together…. It’s about the only decent traditional food …. Dolmades isn’t bad – but like most their food, is a bit bland…
I love it Syg, there’s usually a pot of it the fridge, all grilled and ready to snack on…
What is Lountza and Dolmades..?
Give me an FA that has fair play as its motto, then add refs that stick to the rules and I chalk off 10 EPL trophies from Ferguson’s Man U.
This is doing the rounds on Twitter at the moment
MESSI TO ARSENAL, sort of
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12087/9519075
Rico, Lountza is not for you, dried pork i think.
10? You sure? lol
Mind you, thank goodness one of those bad referee’s gave us a penalty against Pompey, otherwise the invinsible season would never have been….
Thanks Bt, definitely not then.. I’ll stick to the Halloumi and Vine leaves… lol
Nipping out with Fido, catch up later….
Lountza is ham that you fry or grill and double up with the Halloumi …. Dolmades is minced lamb wrapped in vine leaves… The owners wife at the coffee shop once knocked me some up using peppers as opposed to vine leaves … nice, but in my humble opinion they still needed a thump …. we are spoiled over here with our diverse array of food…. A lot of it is down to the Asian culture
Syg, are you getting good weather?
I went to Cyprus once.
Hi Adam, its a place i have never been, though my father was a frequent visitor, years back.
rico!!!
Other ppl are reading!
It was shocking yesterday BT62. Hammered it down. Hot and sunny today though. Nicer over at the other end of the island – scenery wise. We are close to the Turkish border in the east.
Syg, lucky you, it’s just miserable here….is it hard to cross between the two sectors?
Bt, Syg owns Cyprus… 🙂
Afternoon HH familai…
Good read as ever Rico…
There is a big Arsenal following in Cyprus I went to Limassol many years ago and this was a massive Gooner pub!
http://www.woodmancyprus.com/
Afternoon Ginge – Just ready to go out and do some painting. I hope the family is okay and that Atkins haven’t put any restraining order on you !
They like a cigarette too……..
Nice one Lee.
The New Inn in Dherynia shows every Arsenal match and has a bookie on site.
There’s a island-wide smoking ban in pubs – but the Coffee Shop in the next village is like some dog end in the club back in the 1970’s… you can’t see for smoke..
Hi Syg… howdy?
lol… fam ok…
well… they are trying to… 😉
make sure you are in the Dherynia pronto.. we need the 3 points…
Ts, did you watch the Denmark v Portugal match?
I didn’t watch that game Bt…
https://twitter.com/AngryOfN5/status/522750600736686080
did WC pllay for Portugal?
Ts, he did play, personally speaking i saw nothing to get overly excited about…
Afternoon all…
Tai – I hope other people are reading…
Thanks Ts, I thought you’d been kidnapped.. lol
Syg, bland food is a big no no for me too, love my spices and herbs and the more garlic and chilli the better… 🙂
Lol Rico… Unfortunately I have been up to my neck in _ _ _ _
Bt- he might be good but I have never really rated him much as a player worth more than £12m but as you know I am AW’s accountant so… lol
Rico, Ts has been under cover, shush……
Ts, as much as 12m, really?
Ta, glad you are having to work for a change instead of skiving… Lol
Bt, I didn’t like to suggest that in case anyone else was reading….
I thought Carvalho was the next best thing out of Portugal?
watch it Rico… 🙂
Summer is always for skiving…lol
Rico, under the duvet covers…..
Bt- its normally my sofa infront of the seatee watching jeremy kyle… 🙂
🙂 Bt/Ts
Ts, as long as your not attending matches………..
What’s a seatea cuppa by the coast? Lol
A seatee is like a seat from which you can hit a golf ball! Sounds very relaxing to me!
Evening Rico, BT and Wavy. I missed most of the day so what’s the general take on the AGM? All bollox?
WC played gainst Denmark last wednesday.
Podolsky wants to leave in january…
17 millions for Talisca? maybe not enought and Talisca may have problems to play in England this year
Was he good JM?
Adam/Bt have you been watching Cat Watch 2014?
I didn’t watched the entire game but was normal. The media wrote he was good and solid
That’s good enough then….
Arsenal v Man c cup final on Bt sports live now.
Eastenders on bbc1 Rick. 😉
Adam the meeting, AGM, was an extremely well choreographed series of questions and answers. The questions were hand picked and answered with the dexterity of a master, sorry a cabal of master magicians! The wordsmiths who constructed the answers were master technicians of the seemingly charming, vacuous, smiling, lying, married out of wedlock crew who were spewing the most unutterable bollox! But it’s all good PR, grist to their avaricious mill!
Hope that answers your straight forward question!
🙂 Wavy…
Of course Rico. I love cats as well as dogs.
Wavy. That is an extraordinary answer. I liked it a lot. 🙂
I know Adam, just checking you had seen the TV programme
I think you nailed it Wavy…..pretty much as expected, Adam..
Rico, seen the first one, yet to catch up on the next two.
Rick, i see Olsson scored a hat trick for Sweden U21s.
It’s good Bt, amazing what those bad girls and boys get up to…. Lol
I’m Off to watch Paul O’Grady at Battersea.
Catch you all tomorrow.
Night Bt, Adam, Wavy, Rick, Ts and all…..
Oh, morning Kev… 😉
Night Rico, watching the Ladies 0-0 at H/T….
BT
Thats the only game he has played since he left us.
abench warmer in the league.
Night Rico…
So Olsson is doing his thing as usual.. I guess he needs to bulk up before he gets into the red/white puma jerseys of Arsenal…
Second half of the ladies.
No bollox!!!
Coylgs
1-0 to City
Early night for me. I feel quite ill today. Night all.
Night Adam, Ladies lost to City….tsk…
Morning Rico…..
Thank you, in anticipation, for the wonderous post that I shall be enjoying, in a few hours time. 😉
My only complaint is the lack of moaning on HH these days…
Where is Wath?
Too much vape Adam!
AGM hahahahahahaha what a load of contrived bollocks! Wenger is a fucking fraud and needs to fuck off asap!
Sir Keswick made it crystal clear where the decisions on football matters rested at the Emirates Stadium….
“I don’t think that my wish or intention to double guess what Arsene Wenger wants to do – as you know, your board backs him 100 per cent. If he has a plan, we back him, if he doesn’t have a plan, we keep quiet,” the chairman said.
“So don’t let’s be in a muddle about who calls the shots about football at the Arsenal Football Club. It is not the chairman, it is not the fans, it is Mr Arsene Wenger.”
Wenger, who declined the opportunity to add to his chairman’s statement, had earlier addressed the shareholders, and reiterated his belief in the squad’s potential, but conceded more cover was needed for the battles ahead.
“I believe we have done remarkably well on the transfer market. I agree we could have bought one more player, (but) we did not find (him),” said Wenger, who rejected a chance to bring former captain Cesc Fabregas back from Barcelona before the Spaniard went on to sign for Chelsea.
“We are a bit short with the injuries we have (defensively), and I think we will rectify that in the transfer market in January.”
Several subjects were addressed at the AGM, including whether the club had a succession plan in mind for when Wenger, who turns 65 later this month, eventually decides to step down, the cost of tickets, especially at away matches, while chief executive Ivan Gazidis used graphs to try to explain the need for continued development of all revenue streams to keep the club competitive.
Morning all..
Thanks Kev.. 😉
Well at least now even those who suggest Wenger doesn’t pull the strings at Arsenal know the truth…
How any manager can have such control is simply wrong, how a club like ours can have a board who allow him such control is wrong…
Rotten to the core!!
Morning Rico, Lee and all. I have been banging on about it for ages. But, who else could have any serious input in reality. Certainly not Kroenke and the rest of the board are old businessmen who are, in all likelihood, not really up on the modern-day PL. It seems abundantly clear that Gazidis is a rather smooth operator who has become the one who justifies everything by simply saying nothing of any consequence.
Surely, with this set-up, Arsenal are totally ill-equipped to find an appoint a successor to Wenger as there is no hierarchy in place and who of us could imagine that the man who takes over won’t actually be picked by Arsene.?
Arsene Wenger “We are a bit short with the injuries we have (defensively), and I think we will rectify that in the transfer market in January.” Who’s fault is that? The bloke is fucking incompetent! The thought of him picking his successor leaves me totally underwhelmed bit like Arsenal at the moment!
I agree Brudder. One of the things that Kroenke and Gazidis should be doing right now is to create a much more dynamic and ambitious structure within the club. I imagine they are holding back because they are not really interested in the financial commitment it would require to go toe to toe with Chelsea and Man City and that, to do it now, would royally piss off Wenger.
They both hung themselves out to dry yesterday . Wenger for not buying the players and the board for not insisting that he did.I described Arsenal as a rudderless ship some time ago As more and more of the supporters , players and eventually Wenger leave they will continue to drift into oblivion . Marie Celeste F.C.
Morning Adam.
I think you and Lee have been peeping at my post… lol
Mind you, what else it there to talk about. I wish Kroenke would naff off and take them all with him…
Potter. I tend to agree. Kroenke has had it easy up until now but his big tests are to come. Looking at how incredibly average his other sports businesses are, like you, I fear the worst but, of course, hope for the best. 🙂
Morning all.
Adam, hope your feeling better. as for the AGM, did anyone really expect anything different…NO! Just another corporate legal obligation to fulfill, a chore that irritates but must take place.
Morning Bt, in short, no.
New post up now..