Morning all.
Before I even thought about typing a few hundred words about football this morning, it did cross my mind not to bother. In fact, but I wonder why anyone who writes/comments about Arsenal these days, bothers. Each day comes and goes and those days fall into weeks, months and then years and despite a new season beginning, it’s seldom long before déjà vu rears its ugly head. Some seasons we might be lucky enough to get to Christmas, others, we’ve barely gotten out of August before the posts/comments sound all to familiar. On occasions our hopes might have been raised after a summer when a couple of new faces have arrived but sadly, regardless of how bright they start, their game soon drifts towards the current Arsenal playing style. What else did we really expect though as the way Arsenal are is the way Arsene Wenger is because of that, we fans are where we are too, why historic comments return to the present time and time again. Ironic though isn’t it that déjà vu is a good old fashioned French phrase and one we are all so familiar with. A bit like our our French manager. Until the day he departs Arsenal football club, or until the day he’s prepared to listen to someone else, little, if anything will change as far as the game the team plays goes and I think there’s more chance of the world coming to an end than Arsene Wenger seeking help to improve the way we play.
But I guess we all plough on, hoping one day that when we hit that F5 button whilst checking Newsnow Arsenal for the latest bit of gossip, the much wanted headline appears and the source is ArsenalFC.com. Arsene is standing down, or Arsene Wengers sacked, Arsene Wenger has left Arsenal to become the French International Team coach. Any one of them would do, I don’t care, as long as he’s leaving the club we all love but are so disillusioned with right now. You might might not feel that way and if you don’t then fine, that’s your right.
Logic would suggest that Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career is nearing it’s end. New recruits brought into Team Ivan and the worst season yet under the Frenchman, so far anyway.
Common sense would suggest that this summer is the time for change and if as Merts suggested, players performances are being affected because of the Frenchman’s future, then what on earth will they be like next season when he goes into the final year? There is nothing about him staying for his last year which makes any sense whatsoever, not even if the guy the board want to replace him with isn’t available. That might sound the craziest thing to suggest but this group of players are in desperate need of a fresh face imo. The need the ‘new manager’ effect to hit them and hard. Everything seems far too comfortable and it shows on the pitch.
It’s easy to sit back and laugh at the way Alexis Sanchez career is going at Man Utd which right now is nothing short of disastrous but he was a worker for us, he wanted the ball and he fought bloody hard to get it too, and yes, sometimes he was the one who’d lost it in the first place yet Welbeck aside, who else does that now? Plenty lose the ball I know, but very few bust a gut to get it back again.
But that’s deemed ok isn’t it, because there’s no way Arsene Wenger will drop them. No, because invariably it’s one of his favourites who makes the same mistakes yet instead of rectifying those mistakes, or drilling those errors out of the players/team, he carries on regardless which is why we are where we are today. Well, certainly a big chunk of it anyway.
Anyway, that’s the best I can muster up to keep the site going for another day. I’m off now to press F5 on Newsnow, you never know eh…..
Good work Rico…
KK, yes midget midfielders indeed, or just attacking midfielders when we’re crying out for some big bastard who can shield the back-four, win tackles and maybe drive the team on when things go Pete Tong.
It’s just like the centre-half scenario from a few years ago when it took an 8-2 humiliation at Old Trafford to get that intransigent French twat to sign a proper centre-half.
Then we had the goalkeeping situation which seemed to drag on until Petr Cech fell into our lap.
All these things seemed obvious to the casual football observer and that’s why I’ve long held the view that Arsene Wenger isn’t the urbane know-it-all that he is portrayed as. He might have a view about everything but that doesn’t make him right or even knowledgeable.
Thanks Kev.
What worries me too is our Academy players. We have so many who look like they could be really good players over the next few years but some, who have already had a game or two in the first team, already look like they’ve been Wenger’d..
There really is nowhere for them to go, they can’t displace the first teamers and the quality of their own competition doesn’t allow them to develop. At 17/18 they should be playing for fun using their skills to go past players , to shoot from outragious places , to tackle and defend like their life depends on it. Instead they are coached to a system that drags all the flair out of them.
Szczesney said that he learned more in his first 3 months at Roma than in all the time that he was at Arsenal. Marcus McGuane joins us at 6 years old but goes to Barcelona’s B team to learn what he didn’t at Arsenal where he said his career was stagnating..Some facts about him Date of birth 2 February 1999 (age 19)
Place of birth Greenwich, London, England
Playing position — DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD. ENGLAND UNDER 19 INTERNATIONAL
These are the ones we know about , how many others are there that just don’t suit the Wenger style ?
It’s frustrating to say the least Potter..
Afternoon all.
All things considered this is a worthy post. Well done Rico. It must be hard to find a fresh approach when dementor Wenger has sucked the life blood out of the ‘true fans’!
As time goes by I find that the view or rather belief that old woman Wenger will leave his post asap is becoming less likely by the day! I can quite envisage him still being in post for another three or four years. As someone suggested a few days ago, so he could beat old red nose’s employment record! The club will even deeper into the mire but pensioner Arsene will be laughing all the way to othe bank! Hope I’m wrong but,……………???
Sunny intervals here with a cold blustery wind. Not a good gardening day.
Thanks Wavy
It is hard because everything seems to come back to Wenger and moaning about him is tiring…
I remember not to long ago, that every defeat cast me into dark pit mood wise. Depending on the importance of the game, would decide how deep the pit was. These days a defeat means a shrug at worse and maybe even a small smile as the worse the opposition, the harder the nail is banged into Wengers coffin……. maybe.
Depressing really that I too cant wait for the ‘Wenger’s Gone’ headlines. Like he said recently, I don’t hate the man, only the manager and pray this is his last season with hopefully a EL trophy so we can wave him off misty eyed and remember only the good times…….
Hi Rico, all. About time I sprung out.
End of last season we were asking if it’d get any worse. And yup! It did. It’s amazing how y’all regulars have managed to stay consistent with dialogue about the Arsenal.
We are closer to relegation than the title. I don’t even get mad, sometimes I wish we’d go burst if it’d take that to have Wenger gone. He’s one selfish human being. Make no mistake, I hate both the man and the manager.
Was glad to see Bellerin dropped for a few games. Cause AMN was immense, his composure is really what we need in our defence – if we have any. Plus he connected superbly with Elneny, it’s a shame they’re not Arsene’s favourite.
Afternoon Rico. Like Chrispy and thousands and thousands of others, I wear the mask of a man resigned to our current situation. It is interesting, to me anyway, to watch the way that disappointment has led to an ever-cascading waterfall of feelings. It seems pointless to be angry. Surely we have moved beyond anger now. I don’t feel any real animosity toward Wenger. He has been given plenty of money and unbelievable support from the club and the fans. Critics of Arsenal fans always make the mistake of thinking that we are like spoilt children who are having a bad run so we get all huffy and throw our toys out. But the truth is that that all this has been years in the making. Disappointment leads to apathy, as does the need to immunise ourselves from the pain of it all, hence the shoulder-shrugging resignation.
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Another excellent post Rico I really don’t know how you do it.
( Whats F5)
In this years Elite Round of the Euro u19 Championship England have beaten Hungary 4-1
Playing at No 10 Reiss Nelson scored twice (2).
Eddy and Joe Willock also played.
Afternoon Adam, Chrispy, Marshall, Rick and all. Thanks Rick.
If only the board would see what we see and feel the same way. Perhaps they do.
I’m in the same boat, it’s a long time since a defeat either surprised or upset me. Unlike not so many years ago…
Marshall, I think it was Kev who said yesterday about how close Elneny came to being sold back in the summer but imo, he’s one of our most consistent performers when he plays but as you say, not a Wenger favourite. Just like Gabriel and Lucas Perez. Yet wouldn’t Perez have made a difference to our team this season? I reckon so..
Good to hear that re the younger ones Rick, I dread Wenger having too long with them in training, I really do.
Rico
Free view Channel 95 Free Sports
Todays game was shown live on this channel .
Being shown again just after ( and again tomorrow morning.
Must say Reiss looks good in England colours.
Think all England youth games being shown live,
Night Good People.
Thanks Rick, I’ll keep that in mind for the next one.
Night to you, and all.
There you go Rico
:- Just when you think there is nothing to say about Arsenal the media drag out the Wilshere situation. Of course there is nothing new in the story, we have known about it for months.Pay as you play , stay fit , and get bonusses on top of a lower wage.
The last bit is the line which doesn’t make the headlines though but you wouldn’t expect the facts of the added extras to cloud the doom and gloom story. Still on the surface it does seem strange that a club that can pay Ozil so much can’t pay Wilshere
.
It is said that this is coming from the board ,maybe they are playing on his loyalty to the club.
Worked well with Ashley Cole didn’t it.
This business over Wilshere’s new contract seems to me to be an attempt to lever the player out of the club without saying so! Who, in this day and age, at 26 years old negotiates a worse contract than they already have?
For some obtuse reason Wenger, the soon to be retired manager, has decreed that Jack is surplus to requirements, an injury prone liability and not worth keeping. If the club follow the decree according to our purblind coach, they need their heads examining, (we all know that anyway!) but Jack is a popular player, I think amongst his teammates and certainly the fans. He, unlike many of our imports plays for the shirt, he is a keeper not a get on yer bike and pack your bags merchant.
This affair typifies all that is bad at Arsenal. Short term planning or no planning at all. A very poor understanding of man management, and a breathtaking example of the arrogance of the administrators.
‘Things can only get better’? I don’t think so.
Morning all and welcome to the warmish blue sky world that is today’s weather offering, locally.
Morning Rico, all.
Elneny is a player I like to watch. Keeps it neat and tidy.
The Arsene debate has been dragging for too long. My guess is he’ll see out his contract. His resolve will be made more firm if he wins the European second tier cup.
If Jack leaves, as I think he will, I do hope that he doesn’t join Everton or another English club, but takes a chance and moves abroad, it could be like a new start for him,
Milan have had a lot of success on sorting out players’ medical issues and extending their careers, it would be great for him to experience a new culture and football heritage, built around a more technical style than the crash, bang, wallop in England.
He will go for the best financial deal he can get , he is supposed to love the club and so he has no actual desire to play elsewhere.
It does look like the club are engineering him out and probably don’t want another Diaby/ Cazorla. situation , maybe they have medical advice that he will break down again . Maybe he has been caught smoking behind the bike sheds with a photo of Szczesney Maybe he has been sticking pins in an effigy of Wenger .Who knows ? Certainly not us.
Football abroad would probably be good for him less physical contact and more concentration on playing with the ball but unless the actual big boys come in I doubt he would leave , unless they really stumped up some unreal cash.
Mind you life in the southern mediterrainian is nice and relaxing . I am sure he could invite his party crowd if he gets lonely.
Potter, they must be desperate for news. Like so many other players, manager too, contract renewals do seem to hog the Arsenal news. If Jack has previously been told by Wenger to find another club, I suspect he will.
Morning to you, Kev, Wavy, Marshall and all. Or is it afternoon now… lol
Afternoon Rico and all. IF a new manager is arriving surely a decision on Jack would depend on whether the new man would want him. Or not.
Afternoon Adam, perhaps that’s why the saga is running on. Then we’ll have more of it with other players next season…
Evening Rico
Night Kev, that’s another day gone… lol
How the ‘English core’ is one failed project. Everything has been a failed project yet the one responsible is having it easy.
As was project youth Marshall. Failure.
Still, I do wonder what the English players would have been like under a different coach, after all, wasn’t it Howe who changed Jack for the better..
I wonder how ‘project retirement’ is progressing. I really hope he’s successful with that, his latest and last ‘project’.
? Wavy, love that.
Jacks injured his knee training with England so that’s his World Cup out of the window unless he recovers and plays a blinder against Italy…
Morning Rico
Morning Kev and all..
Apparently Southgate expects Jack to be back for the Italy game although I wouldn’t hold your breath.. If it’s a serious one, that’s him gone from Arsenal too I’d imagine..
Yep. Jack’s toast! Unless he makes a miracle recovery.
Clearly, the wise old man, with all his decades of experience understands a ‘crock’ when he sees one. And knows when to let them go, just like Diaby et al!
Morning all. Overcast and miserable here. Not nice.
You’re on a roll these days Wavy..
New post up.