Guys, to say the last several weeks have not turned out as well as we all envisioned would be a gross understatement. It happens; this is one of the realities of life. This is now a new month, and it brings new hope for all of…
Despite what you read and hear in some quarters, there remains plenty to play for, and there is no reason why you cannot still achieve a successful season…If, that is, you are determined to make it happen. I personally think you are. And I think you can help yourself in a big way by simplifying things a bit…
Slumps eventually happen to all athletes, in all sports. They can be individual slumps, they can be team slumps…We are witnessing a case of the latter, where the collective team is mired in a scoring drought and that has led to a major dip in form and results. It’s not much different from last season’s New York (baseball) Mets, when they went into a collective hitting slump right before the All-Star break.
They took several weeks to get themselves out of the rut, but when they did, they started putting runs on the board and started winning some games again. Third Baseman David Wright – expected to shoulder the run-production burden with the team’s two other sluggers injured – epitomized the nightmare. He couldn’t buy a hit, let alone drive in a run. He changed his stance, tinkered with this, adjusted that, but didn’t begin to emerge from his hitting slump until he decided to simplify things – see the ball, hit the ball – and got back to basics. Sometimes it is that simple, and perhaps that will help you too…
Goals win games – would any of you argue that? A team can be stylish, hard to beat or any other number of attributes; but if the team does not score goals, they will not win games. With that in mind, I offer the modest recommendation of making that your starting point.
Many of you guys have scored goals – and nice ones – this season and there is absolutely no reason why you should not be scoring now. If you – as a team – are low on confidence while in attacking mode, then simplify it.
Forget the extra pass or three; if you work yourselves into good positions (as you have in most matches throughout this past month), take the shot. A deflected goal is still a goal. A scrappy goal is still a goal, right Robin? Somehow, I doubt you would put the equalizer at the Hawthorns up there with your all-time best goals scored, but it sure was important. And I have a sneaking suspicion that it felt pretty good too…
So go out there, build attacks, but trust your instincts and shoot the ball on goal. I think good things will happen if you do…
Try not to over-think things either…As a concerned observer, I often get the distinct impression that you are collectively over-thinking out there on the pitch. Remember the objective: score goals to win matches. When things are not happening, when moves keep breaking down, or you keep giving the ball away, just remember that the way to the opposition goal is ahead, not sideways or backwards. Bring it forward, think shoot = score; don’t worry about the extra pass to the extra man.
If you are the extra man, why not think about getting into the area to latch onto a rebound? We have seen plenty of those from opposition goalkeepers, often with no Arsenal jerseys inside the penalty area. Easier said than done, you say? Not really…You all have done it before…
If what you are trying right now is not working (as recent results attest), why not break things down to their most basic element, try that and build from there?
Hunt as a pack…Quick passing is good; quick, incisive movement combined with the quick passing is better. In your experience, which will pull a defender out of position quicker: a great pass or smart, quick movement from opposition players? Another observation is that you pass the ball well, but are often static in movement. Theo should not be the only one of you whose pace scares opposition defenders. And for those of you whom pace is not a primary asset, you can still use timing and anticipation to get yourself into good positions – and put opposition defenders into bad ones.
Most of this is in your head, guys…
Just get yourselves back to basics and I think good things will happen again. I don’t get to many games these days – I live far away from the Emirates – but I know the crowd has been on your back. Don’t worry about it – just focus on the job at hand. I am not on the pitch wearing the jersey; neither are any of the supporters in the stands or watching from wherever.
You are the only ones who will make this happen, not us. So don’t dwell on it, just take care of business and block it out. Same goes for all the pundits who use the terms “Arsenal” and “mental strength” as a punch-line…
If shutting us all up will give you extra motivation, great…But don’t let it all get you down. Just take to the pitch, concentrate on scoring goals and earning three points at a time.
One game at a time, one goal at a time, three points at a time. There is no reason – none whatsoever – why you cannot get this done.
Don’t worry about making a catastrophic error, don’t worry about missing a free header, don’t worry about boos from the stands, and don’t worry about online and media scorn. None of that matters – all that matters is taking care of business on the pitch.
Think about what you want to accomplish and go out there and do it. Sometimes it really is that simple.
I have no doubt that you can do this and neither should you.
Written by Oliver
Morning all, back in an hour…..
Nice one oliver, upbeat before today, simple is the answer…
Bad new on the ladies, they lost 2-0 yesterday, tough job in hand now…
Still no news on Sagna??
I want to see goals and not marathon passing which doesn’t win games.The gunners have to be careful of the swift counter strike.
Expect a tight game.
Morning all.good read oliver.a nice positive post.the players should not worry about the league;they should enjoy their football first taking it 1 game at a time.
Hi KT and AT – i’m off to the shops, back in a bit
Got to be done ready for 2pm 🙂
Morning guys.
Part of me is right up for this, chest thumping, vein bulging up for it but there is another part that thinks, why should I care if the players don’t and the manager says, with these players, second is success.
Get better players, second is nothing but first last.
I just can’t see us winning today.am very deflated about the club at the moment and am not going to watch the game.i can’t bear to be heartbroken for another week.
I am kinda like that KT.
For the David villa fans here,in 51 games he has hit the woodwork 13 times.
And someone please tell our ‘silly’ chairman to say hi to the dinasours.
Messi has now scored 47 goals and over 20 assists this season.he has equalled the club record set by Ronaldo (El fenomeno) in the 96-97 season.with barca having 9 la liga games left,copa dela rey final and possible CL semis the little genius is bound to shatter more records.
I wonder how good Barca are without him.
The News of the World are today reporting that Manchester City are lining up a sensational £40 million summer move for Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere.
If successful City would be offering the 19 year old England international an astonishing £100,000 per week to entice him to make the move.
Wilshere has cemented his place in the Arsenal line up this season starting 37 games with 4 further appearances from the substitutes bench.
Being under the age of 21 he will not be named in Premier League squads for another two seasons, making him even more attractive to the Eastlands hierarchy.
Would the move be good for the player? England players Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gareth Barry and James Milner have all seen their career go backwards after making the move to the City of Manchester. Would Wilshere go the same way? is the City squad just too big, with too many players to keep happy? Have your say in the England Web-Fans poll in the RHS menu selection. Discuss this further on the forum
I doubt that story has legs will.
Will he makes all the difference.Ronaldo has 72 goals in 79 games for madrid.i wish we had such a goal machine.henry used to do it and to an extent ade.rvp can but he gets injured alot.
I hope not but it is what worried me about Man City. Not just with Wilshere but with any player, they have billions upon billions.
Morning all.
Good post Oliver, if only it was as simple as that. These players are in an enveiable position well paid steady work and not too many games left for a holiday, some where sunny and warm.These so called players have let a once in a lifetime situation slip through their fingers the quadruple. Now just the championship to go, they may well redeem themselves with a bit of fight and resiliance and i certainly hope they pull it off,As always we will be there in support.This is by no means an easy game, Blackpool have played some great football this year, i have watched them in many games this year, and they have suprised me. Although going through a bit of a slump, a bit like us, they can still cause us more problems than i would hope for at this tender part of the season. I had almost certainly given up all hope of winning anything this season but have had a rethink, and hope that with a nice winning streak, and other teams missfortunes, it may still be within our grasp. Our players in all honesty are not the calibre i would expect the Arsenal to have, but with a hard fought last few games who knows, its up to them and the fighting spirit of the team, i am going to stick my neck out and predict a three one win, fingers crossed of course. I thought i would just comment On Peter Hill Woods comments on some of the Arsenal supporters silly comments appertaining to the management side of the club. I would just like to say to Mr Peter Hill Wood, you have sixty odd thousand fans turn up for every home game and they can see the deficiencies in the team, those life time supporters understand a lot about football, and when players are not to the required standard, its not silly to believe that your team can be better. If only you released some of the money, you say you have put by for the manager to buy the right players for. Where we hold up posters claiming In Arsene We Trust, does he realy trust You. because second place is a loser and we want to consider ourselves winners.
A bit of a slump?
Morning Will,
Morning Steve and sir, I think you are being to kind to the players.
Boo! Good morning, all. 🙂 A nice, rallying post, oliver. Would that our players actually read, so they know it’s not all doom n’ gloom.
I’ve decided not to be such a fatalist about our season. Brave new hope and all that. 😉 We may well go empty-handed at the end of the season. But we may also end up delivering the first bit of silverware to the Emirates!
Steve, I should hope our players realize how much of a privilege it is to be kitted out in our colors, and from this game to the last, wear it with pride… That is best achieved by scoring plenty and conceding little to nil goals. While not probable, it is still possible.
And it really feels much better to have faith and feel vindicated than to be all doomygloomy with eggs on our faces.
Oh and morning, KT and Will. 😉
I think we will go empty handed and this is from a position of serious strength.
Morning again, nice little win coming our way today 🙂
All quiet so catch up at match time…
Morning rico Agag & Will again,
Eight games and eight wins would be nice, but even if we dont, were still Gooners and we’ll give them our best wishes and support, Will its a lovely day our teams playing and we could do with a win, i Know your pissed and they have not been at their best, but what the Fcuk, Arsenal are playing, and a result will certainly lift me, to see a few goals fly in may just get me reaching for the Vodka bottle, and not the Gin, cheer up mate, you will only be moaning in the close season about no footie to watch, who knows after todays game we may have something decent to talk about even it doesnt come from our side Ha Ha
I will watch but I am angry at the way the side has capitulated. It disgusts me, some of them can’t be bothered. It is not a lack of form but a lack of passion and desire and that is not excusable.
I agree Will there has been times this year i have been speachless not some thing i’m known for
positivity is key..
but the players need to believe it as well..
all this tappy tappy nonesence needs to stop..
fucking shoot..
morning guys, nice post
Hi Jon Jon, thats the spirit
JJ, are you with me regarding this myth that we play beautiful footballl?
the jack to city story is bollox
but if city offer in the region of 40mil the club will sell…
let us not forget..we have denilson..
and we have the best profit trophy to win…
tell you what though..if we let jack go…thats it for me im done with this club until wenger and the board fucks off…
its always been a myth will..
this tika taka stuff is all aload of crap and only works if you have a messi..
wengers last two teams mixed pressing and counter attacking and we played better than what we do now…
i want to see some blood sweat and tears today for that cannon on the shirt..
nothing less…
Yes, the Vieira/Henry/Bergkamp team pressed at the halfway line in packs before barca thought of it. Won the ball high and hit one (yes one, not onn hundred) pass behind the defence and bang.
i was actually contemplating going today..
lovely day out..sun is shining..blackpools a shit hole but always good for a piss up and a nice day at the beach..even if the sea is full of shit..
but then i thought no..bollox to it..why should i im nothing but a silly fan so i’ll sit at home and watch it on telly then i’ll pop down to the pub…
not giving PHW the satisfaction of my pennies..fuck him…
Just tuning the tele in and the caption says it all.
Struggling Blackpool welcome Arsenal to Bloomfield Road in the Barclays Premier league. The seasiders can move four points clear of the relegation zone with a win today.
Yes Steve, when Man Utd or Chelsea go to these place, they are expected to win, we are not.
Lads, “You can be heroes, if only just for one day,”
precisely will
fabregas is supposed to one of the best passers weve ever had..
theos supposed to be on of the quickest players weve ever had
so why do we push teams right back with the 1000000 passes crap and compress the space so theres no room to through ball or space to run onto..??
Song wins the ball, gives it to Cesc, Cesc threads it through the defence for Theo to run on to and AA following up for any rebounds.
‘Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent’
Hopefully we’ll see some great shooting today and loads and loads and loads of goals eureka
jens is in
hahahahaha
Lehman is starting.
And the joke club just became even funnier.
Fcuking nora
this is going to be fun..
im going to enjoy this game now..
eboue in as well..
circus is in town
is diaby starting as well??
lol
Hill Wood wants to get his moneys worth what a fckuing joke
we’ll still win
but at least we have comedy value..
I just seen the line up jens wasnt in Alamanda squil kos eboue Click diaby nas cesc theo arsh robin
whos winding who up
almunia bottled it
he was starting..then he got injured..but hes on the bench??
lol
leave it out Jon Jon please
it’ll be ok steve
if we dont laugh we’ll cry..
reaching for the gin
same here buddy..
nice cold lager..and a pack of 20… 😉
did i hear that right??
the away boyz chanting one tony adams?
wonder if hes there??
or the fans are just making a point
Ahaha. Abouuuuuuuu! Keep scoring and I wouldn’t want you sold. 😛
nice..against the grain but who gives a shit
good goal…
lol
Ebouieeeeeeee!!!!
you were right Jon Jon i’m laughing
lol
Well well well, good afternoon Gooners…
Everybody happy out there? Jens back in goal, Steve on the gin, JJ on the lager & i’m on the tea…
I missed the majority of the first half, how were we?
Afternoon all – missed the first half hour, i hate neighbours sometimes…. 😉
Good job it’s recording 😉
Will, we could be up 5-0; it’s 2-0 at the moment though… Not doing too badly. 😉
bonjour guys..
we aint doing bad not vintage arsenal for 1st 20mins but we came alive..
next lager please barman
AK, might i suggest that you make your tea of the Long Island variant? 😉
Boo, rico. Send them away… 😉
Looking good at the moment just keep the ball away from leyman, and it could be a good day. Kev get a beer out mate, you may need it later
They have gone now agag and i’m not a happy bunny grrrr….
Typical, coming to the end of the season and Eboue and Diaby playing like stars fcuking unbelievable
agag, i’m on the Twinnings, not very glamorous, but i do luv a cuppa Rosie Lee me o’ mucker… I did hear that you was a vodka girl????? lol
Steve, i had a few too many last night, today it’s all about a detox and 3 points, you make sure you have one for me ok…cheers
Ok, my curse has struck again, I turn it on and we play shit, The game is now off.
Will, turn it off!!!!
Here’s come Theo, now to expose the gaps they’re leaving at the back…
I have Agag.
we like to fuck it up dont we
No desire, the slightest pressure and they fold. Wenger, get some players with balls.
Grey Goose, OJ, some lovely black sage honey from The Bee Company equals yum. Add an Arsenal victory… Perfect Sunday.
But perfection, it seems is not yet a given…
Robiiiiiiiiiiin!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clichy you are such a dope!
It’s a toss between Lehmann and Clichy for Dope of the Match, AK. 😉
I know what you mean agag, but i feel safer with Jens in goal than that idiot from Espana
Rvp:12 league goals in 18 games.
SP, 3-1, spot on mate
Now where are those miserable doubters who thought we would get spanked today???? 😉
Diaby wins my Dope vote, has a half decent game then his petulance gets him another yellow card…
And Mad Jens does not fill me with any confidence whatsoever….
Now i’m off to cut the grass – happy with three points, that’s for sure….. 🙂
well had my hand on me heart all the way through the second half Robin motm if he had two feet he’d double his score, Never let leyman play again. but good three points never a doubt eh
Kev, wish i had money on it.
Thats what diaby can do.if he was consistent and fit he’d be immense.
Hi Afternoon all,
Diaby was always fairly consistent for me, but with the injuries he had nobody can be consistent all the time. he’s going to have a summer break and will be back to show that he’s a good player.
Talking about this win I don’t feel anything really. I lost all my appetite for Arsenal. I’ve never witnessed a team that doesn’t wanna play like this Arsenal team.
After a morning sports starts in the afternoon and evening on the bench. We won! :-))
Notes: a)we defend evil. There is no pressure in midfield and his opponents take the ball in is own area and just only stop in the ours. b) AA is misplaced on the field. Only yields more leaning to the left. Reclining, covered the right side of the progressions that you see there is a highroad. c) Squillaci was sleeping in the goal. Do not put his eyes on who should cover that cleared the back and never caught him. d) I was not sure if Kols made a penalty kick … e) AW definitely do not believe in either NB Chamak f) Clichy played well but occasionally has “brain stops”; Diaby idem, in particular when was booked that would then give a goal. f) Continue to do too much “ceremony” to shoot g) The amount of defensive mistakes against a superior team are fatal h) Fortunately, not having charged Fabregas allowed the implementation throughout the game, launching long for back of the defense Blackpool that could have been more goals.
Papering over the cracks.
I’ll tell ya what Will, if Blackpool had got that pen at 2-1, we might all be feeling a bit suicidal right now. But maybe we needed a bit of luck and a streaky 3 points, just to lift the mood of doom a little.
Now if we can take 3 points from the Scousers then we might just turn a corner, not that i’m holding my breath…
I agree and let’s be honest here, that Blackpool side should have been 5 or 6 down at half time.
Will, i missed the opening 30mins mate, so i don’t know, but what you say, suprises me not a bit…
From little acorns eh?
Why people keep saying that if this or that happens then Arsenal would have finished as if we’re not a team at all. What about if VP penalty in the first half was given we could have been 5 up by half. What about if the ref. did his job Blackpool would be down to 9 players.
I DID NOT a penalty for Blackpool nor a likelihood of sending off. Some people just exagerate everything to make their assumptions about Arsenal defense TRUE.
Walcott made the difference when he came on, a bit of raw pace, to stop opponants pushing up on us too much.
No Osi, i don’t mean that at all pal, i was commenting on a bit of luck going our way for a change, and you have to admit, Arsenal haven’t been getting too much good fortune recently…
fair enough allezkev
Peace bruv
Anyone knows our next fixture?
You know Osi, i was listening to a pod cast the other day, and some French journo commented on how Diaby was ‘destroyed’ by that asshole at Sunderland, and is still coming to terms with all his injuries, now if he could just sort his head out, we may have a very good player on our hands after all…
Liverpool [h] i think, then Scum [a], so it’s make or break time.
Well that is true allezkev, even Arsene issued, at the end of last year, statement along that line. I don’t remember it was after a game that Diaby played fantastically in midfield dribbled a lot and carried the ball forward but so many times failed to shoot or couldn’t pass. After the game Arsene talked about how that injury at Sunderland affected him badly and that he hadn’t really recovered yet.
liverpol (h) 17/04;Totte.(a) 20/4;Bolton (a) 24/4;MU (h) 1/05; Stoke (a) 7/05; Villa (h) 14/05; Fulham (a) 22/05
I think I’m right
oh God i didn’t know that Diaby scored today. I missed the first 20 mins and the goals, but then I only saw the replay of Eboue’s goal and didn’t wait to see the other goal.
You know Osi, we may never see the player he could have been, Eduardo never got over it, and Abou might be the same, hope i’m wrong. Good to see Aaron back again.
These are tough fixtures and would drop some more points along the way. Anyway I don’t give us any chance unless ManU just don’t wanna win the Thing.
JM, i think you are right amigo.
Saw a bit of ‘your boys’ Falcao and Rolando on u-tube yesterday, that Rolando looks a right monster.
Dropping 4 points against Sunderland and Blackburn have really shafted us Osi. But hope springs eternal, beat the Scousers, then take it a game at a time. I bet Ferguson doesn’t think it’s in the bag yet…
It’s amazing how almost half of our team has suffered injuries through deliberate and violent tackling, but still some claim that there’s no anti-Arsenal sentiment in the Ref.World. You’re right Diaby could never be the same again and so is Aaron.
by the way allezkev the match today was really tough violent especially in the second half. When teams realise, even those like Blackpool and Brom who played good and clean football most of the time, that they cannot compete with Arsenal in passing they resort to violence. They don’t do that against Chelsea, United, City because they know they’ll be punished by the ref., but against it’s welcome freedom.
Allezkev you’re right in saying that Fergy doesn’t think the title in the bag, but that comes to nothing if our players THINK that the title is in the bag of United. As far as I can analyse the attitudes of our players on the pitch I can only say they’re already conceded the title in their minds.
Unfortunately, Will you saw the rubbish part of our game. To be fair, we did well to recover from that Blackpool blitz in the second half. I’d take three points from now until the end of the season, silky skills or pug ugly.
Osi, I agree about the failure to penalize the Blackpool players… The way they were barging into Jack, without impunity, was appalling.
Just made a cuppa Osi, yes mate we do seem to be on the end of a lot of career threatening fouls.
agirlagunner I lost the count of the fouls committed on Wilshare today. At one point I was screaming and feared he could be injured badly. But to be fair to him he stood his ground. He’s real athlete and a good footballer.
Today, I wasn’t happy with Fabregas and Clichy who played sloppy and put our defense in unnecessary pressure in many occasions.
Well Osi, it’s the nature of the beast, if our players don’t react positively to some rough play, our opponants will just take advantage of any weakness. That’s why i love Jack, he can play, take a kick but also give a kick. The refs won’t help us mate, we’re on our own and just have to give them a good old heavy tackle or two back, a la Rocky and Vieira
Osi, yes i agree, there does seem a feeling of ‘it’s all over’ from our lot. But ultimately that down to Wenger to give them a rollicking, can you imagine how fergie would react if his players ‘threw in the towel’…
Spike the cuppa, AK. 😛
Cesc tried to be too cute with the ball on more than a couple of occasions. But you have to admit, the range of his passing is breathtaking. RvP tried his very best to deny Cesc an assist. 🙂
Clichy had a forgettable game. 🙁
Hey, agag, you can’t beat a cuppa. Well, maybe a lager runs it close, then a glass of wine, hmmm. lol
LJ was tidy with the ball today. I love how he gives as good as he gets.
Agag, i didn’t that Cesc looked 100%, maybe that bloody hamstring was on his mind?
Cut a Sandwich. Be back.
didn’t think. That should read, think how bad my grammar would be if i wasn’t on the tea?
Yeah agag, that’s what i was saying to Osi. We all know we get a raw deal from the refs, but it ain’t gonna change, so you just have to ‘dig in’ and Jack does give a dig when need be.
AK, I thought Cescy had a couple of dodgy moments, and that his hammy could be troubling him occurred to me, too. I wish he wouldn’t play if he doesn’t think he’s fully fit. I hope he remembers our most recent outing at Camp Nou…
Maybe, we’ll convert you to the House of GG, AK. 😀
Actually i’m just off to the off-license [see what you did agag lol] back in 15
allezkev my grammar is very bad when Arsenal loose.
drink safely allezkev. Remember not to drive.
Boo, so are we happy having got three points? We said we don’t mind how they get them right now and today was scrappy in places, brilliant in others…
Papering over the crack, yes, in a big way but we got what we all wanted….
You guys seen the Sky Sports headline?
‘Kroenke Makes Gunners Move’
Clicked on it and there is nothing…..
Sky sources understand that American Stan Kroenke is in advanced talks to take control of Arsenal.
Kroenke is the largest shareholder in the Gunners already owning a 29.9 per cent stake, indeed purchase of another 0.09 per cent of the shares would mean he has to make a bid for the rest of the club’s shares.
Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov also has over 20 per cent stake in the club – but now Kroenke has made a move to secure full control.
Kroenke first took a stake in Arsenal in 2007 when he purchased the 9.9 per cent which was owned by Granada.
Kroenke has major interests in sporting teams throughout America as his company also owns the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer and the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.
So that is the story Will, I don’t like it!
Go get a strong one, AK. 😛 I am a very happy girl, rico. A few nervy moments, in true Arsenal fashion, but a job well done, nonetheless. 🙂
Back from the ‘offie’, typical, turn my back for 5 mins and Silent Stan makes a move. Not sure how i feel about that one…
I don’t want anyone but he does have a sports pedigree.
You and me both agag, that’s just what we needed 🙂
I don’t like the Stan story, what will be any different if he takes over?
Will he splash the cash, has he got any to splash??
I don’t know…..
Agag, got a bottle of ‘Old Peculier’, brown ale. What do you think that says?
Osi, i drive for a living mate, nooo drinking&driving for me amigo…
So what’s your take on Stan’s move everybody???
RICO no I’m not happy with three points, I will only be happy if we win against Spuds, Dippers, Reds and win the thing. That should be impossible at the moment seeing the way this team play.
It seems that Silent Stan has agreed to buy the shares of Lady Nina and Fiszman.
The plot thickens methinks….
i feel the title race is back on come on you gunners
I forgot we have a shareholder called Stan so every time someone mentions his name I think they’re talking about that other STAN we hate. You know what I mean.
Osi, one game at a time, all we could do today is get three points, that is just what we have done…
Steve, as long as we keep winning, spot on….
Apparantly that’ll give Stan 62% of the shares…
SP, do you do the lottery? If not, i reckon you should start straight away while your on a hot streak…
Had two numbers last night Kev and had two wins on the trot a couple of weeks ago, playing with their money at the mo, but i dont expect it to last, not like the super Gunners i may have a bet on them tomorow they look sharp, only wish Robin had a right foot.But Eboue where did that come from
AK, not my top tipple but well, that is strong… 😉 Arsenal may yet drive you to the hard stuff. 😀
Osi, we did get our three points. I hope it’s the start of our winning ways. (gulps)
rico @ 6:12, I completely agree.
And I don’t like this Stan thingie…
Steve, Eboue scored two great ones pre-season. Not a bad return from someone who’s been a second stringer for most of the season.
rico what doyou think of Eboue and Diaby getting their feet wet, actually in the box, i am amazed
Just had a look on the BBC website, Wenger/Lehmann interviews, you just gotta love Jens, he’s up for it that’s for sure.
Agag, tell me, what is GG? Is it gin & something? And yes, how Arsenal haven’t made me an alcoholic is a miracle…
Steve, the big one for me is the Scousers, beat them, and who knows? You have that bet mate…
Eboue’s problems with the fans, i think, is when Wenger plays him in midfield. He isn’t good enough , but at right-back, he’s ok. Wasn’t he part of the back-four that got to Paris in 2006?
Steve,
I think Eboue is a gonner, and despite Diaby scoring, he is just isn’t good enough, how many times did he lose the ball and make no effort to get it back?
Also, you did a post a bit back saying about our lack of commitment to ariel challenges, that was so on show again today, why do our defenders see the ball coming and then back off, … only to lose it on the ground?
(gasps) AK, AK, AK. Tut tut. 😉
GG stands for Grey Goose, which is only like the best vodka in the world. 😀 But I shall leave WATH to school you on its finer points. He has warehouse upon warehouse of the stuff.
kev, he was and in the final he took a dive for the free kick that lead to Sol’s goal…
Scousers, had a great game against Utd, they get at our boys early on and they wont like that at all, the one thing our boys dont do well is foul, Blackpool did it as though its part of the game our boys look like crafty schoolboys when they foul never get away with it normally, Leyman needs to be locked up he was lucky to stay on the mugster.
GG is yuck kev, don’t listen to them 😉
I thought the mad one was dire – i can see shea in goal next 😉
Haha, agag, i’ve never heard of it [sheltered life me], it’s all Smirnoff etc around here. I like Southern Comfort, but i’m more into beer or wine [or tea]..
I’d like to see Wath’s warehouse, sounds a good place to have a knees-up
Agirlagunner, We’re not good enough a win or two won’t change my opinion on this group of players who just think they can turn up and win a match without much effort. My problem with them is not about their quality it’s about their attitude, mentality, and persistence.
Rico I’m loosing patience, confidence in our players. Actually i’m loosing everything else as well.
Agag Grey goose what a lovely drop of gear that is had a few bottles myself, have you tried Bison grass Vodka a blade of grass inside the bottle its an aquired taste but after a few, Arsenal look a lot better. Rico your right about the double d’s but i couldnt get over how far up they got
Carroll will be a mega-threat next weekend, with our two dopes at the back it could be interesting.
Rico, Shea is a good goalkeeper, i’d have him in front of Almunia, actually i’d have Bob Wilson in front of Almunia.
Osi, after a couple more wins, and your be back in the fold son.
Osi, get a grip mate, you’ve got a lifetime of Arsenal messing up your head, hehe
Allezkev, lol. StevePalmer you’re right im going to be back in the fold if we win some of our coming fixtures. But right now i’m bit frustrated with our players, even today we have people like Clichy and Fabregas, senior players now, playing sloppy passes and holding on to the ball instead of simply passing it to a teammate while under pressure.
Osi, i think we are all pretty cheesed off with what has gone by, but lets put that to one side for now, look to the next game, look to the next three points and look to keep the pressure on the mancs..
Once the season is mathematically over for us, then we will lay into the team, the manager and the board….
StevePalmer Arsenal is my life and I am not a TROPHYHUNTER, I’ll be supporting Arsenal all the way even if they loose everything as long as I see a fight in them.
Cesc ran that game today, his passing to find Robin was out of world…
You know what guys/gals – had Nasri put the chance that hit the post away and had robin converted his volley from a cesc free kick ( yes a free kick we didn’t pass sideways!!)
We would be looking at two contenders for goal of the season…
ok, i know they didn’t but….
Osi, have a GG with red bull it gives you wings mate.
silent stan eh??
im all for a shake up but will stan change anything??
hopefully hes been sitting back and waiting for the club to become debt free before he makes his moves and then he’ll start being assertive when hes in charge..
first thing he needs to do is to tell phw to get fucked..
although it would be interesting to see how barron von greenback takes this news..
AK, a whiskey gent, I see. I hope you’ve stocked up… we’re in for a bumpy ride. 🙂
Osi, like rico said, we could only have gotten three points, today. And that’s exactly what we did. 😉 take heart, you.
rico admit it, you’re a closet GG fan. 😛
Steve, I haven’t. There’s a very limited number of vodka brands here. 🙁 But sounds like I’ll be off on a hunt soon. 😉
Oh, we’ll win next week. 2-1, I think.
Osi, its not over till its over, i Know you will give them your all, but as ricolicious says one game at a time, this could just turn out to be the best part of the season.
agag, i have to admit, i have never tried it and i prob never will, i don’t like any spirits… 🙂
jj, i don’t think the russian will sit back and do nothing, we could see a bidding war between them for LN and DF’s shares….
we could rico
but if stan takes the shares i cant see what the fat man can do about it..
in any case i hope DD is in someones plans..
Good night, kids. I shall leave you to your drinks and debates.
Osi, you haven’t had enough alcohol. Go grab a bottle.
rico, you should. Everyone needs vitamin GG. 😛 I only like GG and rioja and merlot. I don’t drink anything else.
Hi, JJ and bye JJ. 😉
Night agag 🙂
jj, thats what i’m saying, the russian may offer LN and DF more for their shares?
StevePalmer said
“Osi, its not over till its over, i Know you will give them your all, but as ricolicious says one game at a time, this could just turn out to be the best part of the season.”
Don’t get my hopes high Steve because I’m one of those people who got carried away easily and I know that if I get carried away this time and come May the lads mess it up, then my I’d be hit hard on the heart. You don’t wanna see that do you?
Nte Agag
Osi, even if we win the league i will still be peed off, we should have the CC in the bag too…
All is not good, not at all good but we have what we have right now, the summer must be a summer of changes….
Osi, I’m not saying we will, but when we stand together at the end of the season, and it falls our way, things will seem pretty good believe me.
thats true rico..
stan has money but not in cash form… equity???
usmanovs loaded and could write a cheque tonight…
Rico I may be still disappointed about not winning that CC.
Anyway, guys I’m looking forward to the next season hoping that we would add some quality players by splashing our savings.
Wenger said chesney and djourou will be back for liverpool.
night agag
I think he has not long sold up one of his football interests in the states, not sure though…
where as the russian is made of money…. WATH said the other day he has more than Roman at the chavs….
Oi……………..
😀
Nte nte all golf beckens
osi
next season we will have a new owner…
someone will actually be calling the shots…and if dd is back we’ll be making signings and not profits..
wath have you heard the news 😉
SP where you going…? golf only gets interesting in a few hours Arsenal takes priority at the present as we’re going to get a new Chairman…!
yep I seen JJ…
yeahhhhhh…
im excited now..its about fucking time..
Hi wath.don’t you just love counter attacks?one minute we were in our defensive third and seconds later walcott was racing clear to square to rvp for our 3rd.that has been a textbook move between cesc,rvp and theo.
Hi WATH, your ears must have been burning 😉
Steve, I bet Rory bottles it, catch up soon 🙂
JONJON to be honest I’m not looking forward to us having new owner.
jj, DD won’t be back…..
Osi, i’m not looking forward to it being Stan….
JJ, I don’t want that yank dont trust him fuck all………. I reckon he just now wants Usmanov to counter offer and he’ll take the money and run… watch…!
KT, makes me laugh when the times we’ve countered like that this season you can count on one hand, Lehman catches near the end and screams “Theo Theo….” looking to give the ball early to Theo yet Theo had been nack defending a corner how pathetic is that…? Even a geriatric keeper can see one of our big threats yet the manager wants him back defending…!
either way we get a shake up..
anyones better than the shower of shite thats been pulling our pants down for the last go knows how long..
JJ, better the devil you know etc etc………. this yank fuck will use us as security and get us neck high into debt just like the glazers and the mancs….!
Stan or other I’m against any takeover of this club by foreigners who don’t know anything about our club and didn’t have any connection to us in the past. 3 or 4 years are not enough, in my book, to show your understanding of the neighbourhood.
WATH – and what did Jens do after shouting Theo? Kick his goal kick out for a B’pool throw in…. he’s crap!
Osi we far beyond anyone local or Arsenal taking over any of the big clubs in England, we’re prime takeover “meat” and its now a matter of who we get thtas not gonna kill the club or get us into debt to line their own pockets…! the current board have been lining this up for ages they corrupt bunch of cnuts….!
the glaziers had debts before they took over utd though…
the only reason they bought utd was to plough the debts into them..
can see stan in the same situation to be honest and if the fatman outbids him then so be it
we knew the board were going to sell us out anyway im just glad its over and theres no more lying..
the truths out
and it can take phw with it
Who exactly could he kick it to Rico… noone wanted it….. where was Theo…. He kicked it into touch to end the game, very strategic 😉 I think he did ok and I’d rather have the mad kraut that that useless turd waiter…!
heres a little snippet i knicked from another blog that all the yanks visit…
Word here in the USA is that SK wants a trusted man to run things in London. Wenger, Dein and SK are all in close contact and the stateside rumor mills news is that DD is the man that SK wants. Especially as he is fully aware of how well Wenger and Dein worked together in the past. Should be an interesting few days ahead of us.
I don’t want either WATH but sadly, until Chesney is fit i have to put up with them, you think almunia pulled out on purpose??
JJ, Hill-Wood is a drunken old relic who is a fuckin disgrace to his Dad who would be turning in his grave with how he’s allowed The Arsenal to be taken over, they have done a brilliant job of alienating the fans and now we getting taken over by foreigners who know fuck all about our club or our traditions or anything else and they were the fuckers who spouted on about we are the custodians of the club, rot in hell you pricks…! You’ve sold us up the river to line your pockets and now we left to who ever to come rip us off and the club will never ever be the same…. R.I.P Arsenal Football Club….! There once used to be a football club that played at Highbury now there is a business that kicks a ball around at Ashburton Grove… How fuckin sad.
In a 3 years we’ll be able to compete with clubs in wages, salaries, buying etc.. Some of the big clubs won’t be able to sustain the same spending behaviours of this time. We have some tough guys coming through our academy as well which will allows to compete better on the pitch as well. Chuck, Afobe, JET, That French guy, I forgot the name, oh that Japanese lad in Dutch league, and if you add the other young prospects we already know about such as Ramsey and Co, then we’ll be Kings again.
Looks like DD could be on his way back then…..
WATH, if only Danny Fiszman was in good health……
alas wath you are not wrong
but we knew what they were doing..weve known it for years…
its all been about the money..all this youth project bollox was indeed bollox..
and in many ways wenger has carriesd the can..
we were sold a pack of lies and now we were being sold out..
but like i say.. we knew..
and wenger got paid a pretty penny ot carry the can JJ make that 6 million a year to carry the can while we put up with shit on the pitch that he bought, the Yank is only worth $1.8 billion and Arsenal valued at 950million quid which is approx $1.6 billion… so where Kroenke getting the dosh…? he’s borrowing so straight away we’re in debt to cover him buying us…..! Not fuckin good news at all……..
Rico, DF would be in no position to stop any of this… I think he’d just follow suit and cash in as well to be honest, its become a business for them all to make a lot of money and it now seems they are all
about to cash in and fuck us all over…!
Arsenal Soccer Club…………. Sounds great eh…..!
Oliver where are you when we need your comments and thoughts…!
A very very sad day, and sadder times to come i fear….
unless the big boy in russia is watching…
Hi JJ/Wath, hi again Rico/Osi
So JJ, according to that Yankee blog, Dein could come back on board. well i’d be glad to see that.
i did hear that even if SK takes control, he’ll still only have 62%, i think you need 75% before you can take total control. Ursmanov has around 27%
WATH – sundays are impossible for oliver, he is always real busy with stuff, hopefully tomorrow he will be itching to tell us all….
AK, SK has to offer the highest amount paid for a share in the last 6 months I think it is, if he then gets 74% he gets compulsory purchase on the remaining shares…! Unless the russina counters with a bid higher than what SK offers now…!
Rico, you really don’t like Jens, why is that?
if he gets upto 62% he doesnt have to buy the club..he has the option to…
hes got more money than we think hes recently gave two of his franchises away to his son and his mrs owns wallmart…
and yeah wengers been paid well to keep his trap shut and take the flack
Wath, do you think Lady Nina has dropped her asking price, as her shares have been available for a long time?
he can sit with his 62% and still be the man…
If he gets up to 62% JJ he HAS to make an offer for the remaining 38% and the offer is subject to that amount on the highest paid for a share in the previous 6 or 12 month period…! if he then gets the 74% the rest is a forgone conclusion as its compulsory purchase then…!
JJ yeah Mrs SK is worth a fortune, but is she interested in soccer???
He’s 41 – over the hill and passed it – i am more cross with wenger for not sorting our keepers out properly really kev 😉
Its not Jens fault i know… 🙂
U can’t drop the price AK…. JJ he cant sit with 62% it’s not legal… he has to make an offer and if he makes an offer then the russina can counter until one makes the breakthrough…!
The thing is lads, we all knew this was on the cards, there’s nowt we can do, i just hope whoever takes over is more Abramovitch than Hicks/Gillette.
i think nina wanted dd back and has refused to sell until she was given assurances 😉
I’m offski folks – if anyone wants to write a post about all that is going on, feel free as i sure as heck don’t understand it 😉
Be good all, til tomorrow…
Nighty…
JJ i dont give flying fuck abt DD i care that this yank has o borrow to buy our the remaining shares and thats a huge problem from day 1 IF he buys us…!
Rico any news about Danny Fiz’s health? looked like a nice guy that bloke.
allezkev welcome back, are you feeling a bit fresher now or bit dizzy after that pint? lol.
no matter what wath i dont think its going to be as bad as what ppl think
ive been sick of the baord for too long theyve been just as bad as a sugar daddy only the other extreme..
instead of ploughing cash in theyve been taking cash out and its taken the piss and ruined the club for everyone and im glad its over and im glad theres change…
Rico, yeah i know, none of us are really happy about it, but if Chezzer hadn’t got injured, it wouldn’t be an issue, like Sol a year ago it’s just a convenience. We’ve just had some crappy luck over the last 6 weeks.
Night Rico
Osi i’m drinking it now zzzzzzzz
ive just asked our friend over the pond for some info about stan..
heres the reply..
JonJon. Six sports franchises in all. Plus his wife Anne is the daughter of the co founder of Wal-Mart. This man is not short of cash. The question will be what are his real plans for Arsenal FC. Based on the way things have been done in the past with him don’t expect too much over night. He is not a rash man and sudden change is not his way.
All they have done JJ is paid off debts they’ve not taken for themselves they’ve made the club look like a cash cow and it’s worked and now all that will happen is the yank will take money out to pay off “his” debts….! no change what so ever…!
Osi, from what i know, Fiszman is fighting cancer. So i assume he has more important things on his mind than AFC. He currantly lives in Switzerland. Think that right, isn’t it JJ/Wath?
Yes AK, he’s very very ill with cancer…. lives between london and Switzerland….!.
Wath, if you had a choice, who would you prefer, Kroenke or Ursmanov, assuming you are left with the two we have?
its right kev
hes been over there for ages..
the clubs been running itself seeing as though everybody else has been kicked out or not allowed in
wath..paying off the debts is raising the prise of the shares..
if your a company and your in debt your not worth much but if your debt free your worth millions..
thats what theyve been doing theyve created a debt free cash cow and when they sell out they will make millions..
allezkev I thought you only need one! lol. I wish him good luck hoping he can beat it.
Osi, depends what ‘that one’ consists of amigo.
See Botelho got sent off, he’ll do for me…
i think weve got every right to be concerned what will happen but we dont know yet until it does..
he could be like the glaziers or he could be like john henry..
we just dont know yet..
JJ, if SK brings DD into the mix, then i’d be fairly relaxed as DD is a Gooner and would want us to be sucessfull and compete. Well i hope so anyway.
AK, given the choice i’m purely looking at who is the richest… noone in their right mind pays a billion pounds for anything and not want a return, who’d be happy with winning things and not want financial reward…? I’d say the Uzbek purely cos he worth ten times more than the yank….! I’d rather have an Abramovitch than a gillette or hicks scenario and lets not even mention the glazers…! what you reckon..?
JJ the share price has been up and down like a yo-yo so all they been doing paying off the debts is making the club look more attractive to a buyer and yep their shares and then worth a few bob BUT they worth as much as the most paid as I said, Usmanov paid 11.5k for shares a few weeks back so any offer to buy has to start at 11.5k per share for the reamianing 70% of shares…!
if DD comes back then i agree with you..
Wath, i prefered Ursmanov, but mainly because i hoped that Ursmanov would mean Dein. Also Ursmanov actually goes to the games, and has probably got property in London & lives part of the time here.
Kroenke has, i believe been to only about 3 games. Now that doesn’t make him a bad man, but i’d prefer someone who invested more time here and thus became more emotionally involved, hench a fan, rather than just ‘an investor’…
Kroenke has run successfull franchises in the states.he doesn’t interfere with on field issues.he concentrates on global branding and thats why i think Tom Fox must have had his seal of approval along with Gazidis.Usmanov is shady and risky but wealthier.beyond that we have no clue about him.
Any investor wants a return, the more he feel a bond or connection with his investment the less he will want to take out he’ll be happ to see the investmetn give him pleasure…?????? whats the lesser of the two evils..?
KT we have no clue about the yank either Football ain’t like baseball or basketball it needs passion not a sales pitch !! We’ve been americanised the last few years and its crap…. diluted bullshit to make the “bowl” all lovey dovey…..! It’s a day out for the family not a footie match anymore….!
im going to set my stall out and say stans the man..
if im wrong you have permission to tear me to bits but we’ll have to wait and see
i think we’ll be ok..
From http://www.eurosport.com:
American billionaire Stan Kroenke, Arsenal’s major shareholder, is set to take over the London club by increasing his holding, according to reports.
Related LinksArsenal beat Blackpool as Lehmann returns
Wenger vows to maintain intensity
Kroenke, who already owns close to 30 per cent of the Premier League club as well as several major sports teams in the United States, is in talks to acquire the 16 per cent stakes held by both Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, according to Sky Sports.
If he were to acquire the shares he would be compelled to make an offer for the remaining shares. Russian steel magnate Alisher Usmanov is Arsenal’s other major shareholder, holding a 27 per cent stake through his Red and White Holdings.
No one at Arsenal was immediately available to comment on the report.
Reuters
JJ i hope your right. I’m afraid i just don’t know enough to have an educated opinion, i’ll just be happier if Dein is involved, as the man said, better the devil you know…
Match of the Day coming up, see you gents later..
i think stans going to concentrate on globalising us as a brand in the us..
DD will run the show and wenger will stay in charge..
if we make millions from the fans over the pond we can reduce the prices at the ground and with the cash we make anyway per year i think we’ll make signings again..
i hope. 😉
Cheers AK,
JJ I think your wrong on this mate and I hope to fuck your not but in anycase I ain’t gonna slag you off cos all we doing is guessing anyway as none of us know at all until one or the other takes over…! I just have a really bad feeling…!
if its only reports jm then weve got nothing to worry about 😉
but i dont think the guys at the stock exchange will be reporting it if it was bullshit..
If Stan takes over the rumours of us trying to sign the likes of kaka,Neur…will start circulating especially if we end potless.maybe stan will sanction a big money signing to get the fans onside…
i share your bad feeling mate..
but like i said we knew all along..we knew it was coming so we might as well go with the flow and hope for the best…
all the profits, all the prices, all the ‘perfect arsenal model’ all the youth policy was all aload of crap..
weve been fucked..
Neither kroenke nor usmanov speak too much so its difficult to know what their intentions are.
i dont think he’ll do that ktr but i think he’ll let us spend what we make..hes not going to plough money into us or he would have done it already..hes been the major shareholder for years and hes just stayed quiet so i doubt he’ll be injecting..
its a good sign hes got experiences with sports franchises and if he, fox, and gazidis corner the us market with us then he’ll make his money off us that way..
MOTD on.
The only thing that came up the other yr KT was usmanov saying the board should put their own money into the club to make funds avaialble for players and the board said no…..! makes me think he’d be willing to put his money into invest in quality..?
Maybe they take half each in the club..?
We’ll just have to wait and see wath.
As usual KT its us the fans that suffer…….
Carlos Vela, unused sub ‘again’ at West Brom [Should have gone to Bolton son]…
Emmanuel-Thomas, Watt, Eastmond, Randall, none of them even got into their squads. Now if you can’t get a game for Cardiff/Leeds/Millwall/Rotherham, or get into their squad, then it doesn’t say much for your chances at Arsenal…
Morning guys.
What do we think?
Morning Will,
About the game or the impending take over battle??
The take over. Will it be a leveraged take over and leave us in debt, can he afford to pay it all? What does he want with us?
I can find hardly any info about him.
Stan agrees fee for remaining shares…..
I was hoping the russian would get of his backside this morning and put up a bit of a challenge, looks like that isn’t going to happen…
Does this mean DD is coming back?
Today KSE, UK, INC. (“KSE”) has announced an Offer for Arsenal Holdings PLC.
As part of the Offer KSE, which is a company owned by existing Arsenal Director Stan Kroenke, has committed to continue to operate the Club in line with our existing self-sustaining business model.
Mr Kroenke has a proven track record of successful long-term investment in sport and has confirmed that he has asked the existing Board to remain in place. This includes Mr Peter Hill-Wood as Chairman. Mr Kroenke is also fully supportive of Manager Arsène Wenger whom he has stated is a wonderful manager.
KSE has also stated that the offer will not be funded by debt finance secured against the Club. These confirmations are outlined in full in the press release, which is available here.
The Independent Directors of Arsenal comprising of Mr Hill-Wood, Ivan Gazidis, Ken Friar, Sir Chips Keswick and Lord Harris of Peckham have considered these confirmations as well as the Offer price and, having received advice from an independent adviser, Rothschild, are recommending that shareholders accept the Offer.
Follow these links for more information covering the offer, fan questions and answers and a film of Ivan Gazidis:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/37753/frequently-asked-questions
Will,
I am not sure but I can’t see DD coming back, where would that leave Ivan??
Unless, Stan is under impressed by Mr G and he’s on his way…
If DD comes back, we will have wenger for the next ten years….
Maybe DD will be Wenger’s man regarding transfers and Gazidis will be in charge of commercial?
If Stan gets in, you can see our presence globally growing.
I have put the new post up Will
But what will Stan do re transfers, how much money will he put in?? He isn’t that wealthy and i can only see this as a kind of static move for our club..
New Post up….