Morning all.
It is in the back of your mind to always prepare your team in the best possible environment. What is for sure today is that fans have a preconceived idea of how the season will be very quickly, that it will not be good. In football, even the best team in the world will have good or bad games. That’s why the most important thing at the end of the day is to convince your fans that having a positive season doesn’t depend on one or two games.
You can only have a positive season if we are all behind the team until the end of the season. Then you can accept the verdict. It is for sure to be in and out with your support or commitment as a player, it doesn’t work. Top level sport today demands consistent commitment on every front as it’s so difficult to win the games. I completely understand that people are unhappy when you don’t win. You can understand that but as long as the game goes on, you want people to be behind the team.
What a load of poppycock! His words prove just how far removed he is from reality and the Arsenal fans. I can’t speak for anyone else but I know my opinion today is not based on one or two losses. Nor is it based on getting thrashed by Liverpool at Anfield. The 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford and the way the manager reacted to it finally woke me up but then I fell into the trap of believing that when our long wait for silverware was over after winning that first FA Cup for a long time, Wenger would push on and build on that successful day at Wembley. Yes yes, I should have known better but trust me, I fell out of that trap soon after I fell in it.
In reality, the day the decline in our club began after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2006. The big guns had all departed, gone to another club or into retirement. Project youth came along and spectacularly failed and as it did, even our better players soon realised they were on a hiding to nothing at Arsenal. There was little chance of success in London so they jumped ship. At the time seeing them leave my emotion turned from what was admiration for the way they played football into dislike, almost hatred for what they’d done. That’s how I felt then but now, actually before now, I totally get why they jumped.
For anyone who believed the departures were all about players chasing the money, RvP back in 2012 should have put the record straight. Don’t get me wrong, I was seriously cheesed off with the Dutchman after he chose to join Fergie at Utd but at the time he made his reasons clear. He was open and honest. This move wasn’t about money, it was about winning the Premier League before his footballing days were over and he knew that wasn’t going to happen with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis pretty much confirmed that during a meeting with the player. The three were miles apart with their views on how the club should move forward said the Dutchman at the time. He left, won the PL title the following year. He got what he craved for, just as others who left us did too. I don’t mean the likes of Denilson and co, but Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and co. Even Hleb too although the latter has since voiced he wishes he’d stayed. Mind you, I suspect that was more about not getting on very well at Barcelona more than wining something with Arsenal and like Mesut Ozil now, Hleb’s final season with us was hardly his finest.
So for Arsene Wenger to suggest the fan unrest is down to one or two losses, is the most bizarre, no ridiculous comments he could come out with. This is because what’s been going on at the club has been a perennial theme for a long time. Players come and go but nothing changes.
I smiled when listening to Ronald Koeman yesterday after his side had been beaten yet again. His players aren’t of the quality needed in order to play the way the Dutchman wants to play the game he said. Funny really considering he was the one who signed them. I guess he’s more like Wenger than anyone would have thought. Not because his teams are physical and like to give some rough stuff out at times but he’s got a squad of decent, if not good players which he himself assembled yet he’s not got a clue how to get the best out of them.
He might however if he looked in the mirror and realised that to improve his teams performance and results, it’s him who has to change tact. Play the game to suit the players, not ask the players to change their ways and get roasted while they try to adapt. He isn’t able do that though, or at least it seems that way. With Wenger though, we know he can’t as if he could, he would have done so years ago.
Here’s a thought though, how about signing the players to play the way either manager believes the game should be played.
Oh I know, you’ve already thought of that hadn’t you and a long time ago….
The two go head to head tomorrow and both need a good performance with three points. Should be an interesting, might not be pretty though.
Have a good weekend guys, it’s a bit breezy out there so stay safe..
Boring Boring Arsene!
Boring Boring Arsene!
Boring Boring Arsene!
Home then Gg? Lol
rico, you probably missed it but in Koeman’s defense it looks like he still hasn’t recovered from his car crash this summer…….something like £140 million on new recruits, go easy on him lol.
Wegner will give him a leg up.
History shows that when a manager and his players are struggling a visit from Inspector Clueless works wonders! Wenger claims to have a ‘global plan’ that he is working to and players have to accept it.It turns out though that this ‘global plan’ is just the same old rest some players on Thursday when playing in the Ropey Cup so they will be fresher for Sunday’s Prem tete a tetes . Hardly rocket science that – is it. Wenger however then admits that he will have to play stronger teams later in the Ropey – so there is no plan at all really… You couldn’t make it up.
Ha ha Micko, just like last season eh. You can always rely on Wenger to keep another man in his job…
Best not to listen or read his comments Jeff, not unless you need a laugh. Gone past crying that’s for sure…
Norwich City have sold all of their ticket allocation for next week’s cup tie against Arsenal.
It means 8,800 City fans will make a trip to the Emirates Stadium next Tuesday for the fourth round League Cup match.
Norwich City’s initial allocation of 5,200 tickets sold out within three hours when they went on sale as supporters clamoured to see the match.
It was the biggest demand for tickets seen at the club since the play-off final at Wembley in 2015.
An additional 3,600 tickets were then made available by The Gunners for the match.
City reached the fourth road after a 3-1 victory over Brentford at Griffin Park in September.
Arsenal saw off Doncaster at the Emirates with a one goal win.
The match is two days after the East Anglian derby against Ipswich Town at Portman Road, and also two days after Arsenal travel to Everton and kick-off on Tuesday October 24 is at 7.45pm.
I can’t remember the last time I listened to anything the man says pre or post match . If it’s on telly I watch the incidents again and then turn off if it’s on a foriegn stream I turn off at the final whistle
Jeff, that’s the beauty of the Europa Cup and what makes it so special……chop and change, chop and change, end result no consistency to performances, guess that’s Thursday nite and Sunday afternoon football for ya.
Still can’t believe Wellington Silva didn’t start for us the other nite !!!
Always been well supported and the Norwich fans like a trip to the city. If they are reading this and travelling by car :- watch out for the approach to Barton Mills where the police set a trap every match day at the 500 yard 50 mph stretch leading to the roundabout. They say the fines there pay for most of Suffolk’s police force expenditure.
I wonder if Arsenal have sold all theirs Kev…
Potter, when you watch on a foreign stream, which one do you use please? I can’t seem to find a secure one…
I usually use totalsportek and go from there. Usually get an American one but sometimes south American ( which is good for my Spanish revision ).
Thanks. I was learning Spanish but my teacher left his job to return home… Annoying at the time and I’ve since forgotten most of what I learned..
The only way to learn a language properly is to go and live there. I reccommend 6 months in a non tourist area.
I would if I could, in Catalonia…
rico, hablas espanol?
hope things settle there at the moment, my friend who lives near Vilanova say’s things are very tense at present and most people are worried that the military will take over and things will get nasty.
solo un poquito aqui. Joaquim.
un poquito es suficiente.
I was at Highbury Micko the night when we won the original Ropey Cup the Inter City Cup. An unfortunate name that with the WHU gang connection ! Wenger is ludicrously trying to pretend that he has come up with something original resting players midweek , a global plan …he’s having a laugh surely…this has been going on since the spuds last won a league title and that was donkeys years before we won that Iner City cup in 1970. Despite all the ballyhoo about them at present the fact is that they have won nothing but they have replaced us as the team in North London that plays in the Champions League while we have taken their place t in the Thursday night Ropey bore fest. So much for Wenger’s global plans. As i said you couldnt make it up.
Afternoon Rico. Good, topical post. I really can’t understand what Arsene is banging on about. It’s clear to me that the fans have had enough. Attendances are failing and the atmosphere is lukewarm in the stadium. He has drawn at the well of the fan’s goodwill so many times now it is hard to feel anything but qualified resentment for him. That’s not a good place for a football club to be. This weeks’s CL games were a clear illustration that we are some way off being an elite European club now and it’s probably going to get worse as the days and weeks pass. A look at the first team shows a lot more questions than answers and as for any discernible sense of stability at the club? I can’t see it myself. But the person responsible for all this is in denial. I really, really hope that the board isn’t because as soon as they remove themselves from this bizarre spell that Wenger seems to have them under, then we start the rebuilding process. Everything between now and then is Wenger-inspired nonsense. Where are the positives, except in Arsene Wenger’s head?
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbCnRr3wbPg
Just for you Jeff and anyone else that’s interested .
Highbury was a library – really ? not that night . All on the pitch afterwards.
AGM next week I think , Gazidis is spinning his speech as we write.
Afternoon all and thanks Rico.
I think the last how many tears of humiliation in the CL was a clear illustration of how far off the elite we are , Adam, not just this season being in the EL…………………although we are doing quite well in that …………….100% record !
😆
Gazidis will just copy and paste one of his old bullshitters, Potter, he has more pressing things to do……….litterally……………he`s probably pressing his wrinkly old tenners form his £900K bonus !.
Tomorrow I expect a record EPL away score when we have the Holy Trinity playing their first game together……..plus Jack in the side to add some care, some determination, some fight, some honour, some mental strength ! hahaha…………………..aint heard the mental strength cliche for ages, I`ve been missing it, although I always hated it !…………must be getting Stockholm Syndrome ! hahaha
tears should have been years, but works just as well ! hahaha
Also Jeff :- 56 years 6 monthe 3 days 16 hours 50 minutes and counting.
🙂 Jm, I did say I’d forgotten it…
Me too Potter, my friend and her family are in Viladecans, they are quite angry at the moment…
Things are going well at the Kings Road .
Stamford Bridge is falling down poor old Chelsea.
Don’t time fly potter! It was a great night though and winning the Fairs Cup put an end to the long gap without a trophy .Wenger did his best to replicate that with near 10 yawn inducing years without winning one and there was a 4 year gap after the 1998 double as well so 14 years of Wenger’s tenure have been trophyless.What a genius.
Afternoon Adam and thanks.
I agree, in his head he thinks he’s doing well. He must do, otherwise he’d have either changed things around or walked away. But I do think sooner or later the fans objections will be too loud for he and the board to ignore. Soon he won’t even have a select few singing his name like he did last time as he stood up with utmost arrogance whilst they were in full voice. Not that there were many of them even then…
spoke too soon , still it was fun while it lasted
Rico. I do wonder what he thinks. But he has reduced expectations by such a huge amount that a lot of fans are down to extolling our horrible performances in the Europa League as something to be pleased with.
Viladecans is not far from San Pere , we should meet up for an Estrella or two one day. in Castledefells or Sitges. If I can get to walk again Carnaval would be nice.
Chelsea win 4 – 2 . I wonder if Watford got bullied out of it.
Beat Everton by 6 clear goals and we go above Chelsea into 4th..
Any pigs flying about ?
Adam, I try not to think about what goes on in his head as it would drive me nuts. To be honest, I’m not sure even he knows what’s going on in his head…
Potter, it’s been well reported Watford were spying at us through the bushes at London Colney all week leading up to the game, we never stood a chance.
Potter, I’ve not been for a few years now because we have a woofa but one day I’ll definitely return. Should we both be fortunate to be alive and kicking, meeting for an Estrella sounds like a good plan. Sites is a beautiful little town, busy in the summer so I always avoided that time of year but out of season, it’s quiet and quite quaint. I love the church at night time and their festivals.
More pressure now on Wenger after the chavs result potter .Just as well then that l he handles pressure well !
Micko. Good to see you survived the storm. 🙂
Was there for Santa Tecla this september but found the small hills difficult to walk up. Still my next trip to the N&N is only 3 weeks away , Hopefully we will get somewhere to restore things.
If I knew how to post a picture I would, the festival is spectacular.
rico: Who knows, do not forget.! Quien sabe, no olvida ,or in other language, Quem sabe não esquece!
everton tomorrow? Games away have been our misfortune. Last year, I think we had 14 points in total and we conceded only fewer goals than the Palace. This year, the statistics are even worse. The defeats at Stoke and Watford were shameful. The tie with Chelsea, for my part, left me the bitter taste that could have done more. The defeat in Liverpool I can not adjectivize it. It was interesting tomorrow, leaving Liverpool with another image.
All good here Adam, Mother Nature is something else !
We’re in the middle of Storm Brian at the moment, not as intimidating as it sounds lol,
Never catch me laughing at a team before the final whistle, Potter, always bites you, you know where ! hahaha
Dont suppose Micko even left the pub…..what storm ? ………………….more chance of finding a four leaf clover than a storm keeping an Irish pub closed……………………….more chance Wenger inventing an automatic zipper………………………more chance getting them 6 clear goals to go 4th ……………………..more chance Wenger listening to advice…………………….etc etc etc
🙂
Brian should make it to Liverpool just in time for kick off . Another excuse brewing up .
Yeah I know L.C. he who laughs last and all that , but I am so depressed at the moment I am having a feeling sorry for myself day, I was looking for something to cheer myself up. Should have known better.
I fancy having some money on Burnley to snatch a win at Mansour City as I`ve seen they have Pope in goal, even though they will probably need devine intervention !………………….
John Devine ? now there’s a blast from the past.
I`m here to help, Potter, ……………………confessional box is here !………..when did you last confess ?………………have you blasphemed like Rico and others about Mesut ? hahaha
What or where is N&N Potter?
You can always email the pictures, I’d love to see them…
Jm, I don’t know that phrase..
Firefox disappeared.
The phrase came fom the Lone Ranger. Qien no sabe who knows nothing and of course his sidekick Tonto meaning Mad.
N&N norfolk and norwich hospital.
Are you struggling Potter, if so, I hope you soon get your health sorted….
At least Mourinho won’t be going the season unbeaten, well done Huddersfield… love it..
I had a fall and seem to have lost all strength from my legs .I M hoping,it’s a trapped nerve but currently I am on sticks and walking and can’t feel my feet. Nothing serious ,,still breathing
Sorry to hear that, no wonder you’re cheesed off.
Getting old is fcuking shit…
Sure is Kev…
Bit like supporting wenger’s Arsenal of late Kev….
Tell me about it, I’ve had to cut out rice krispies for breakfast lately, I find them too loud !
Get well soon potter.
Don’t try grape nuts then Micko……
Never heard of them rico, do they crackle as well.
Catch up tomorrow Gooners.
They are just very crunchy Micko. Lovely though.
I’m off too, Strictly calls…
Night guys.
And with that, she does a foxtrot into the front room.
Night Rico
Getting old might be shitty, but it’s better than the alternative 🙂
Morning all.
Citeh roll onwards.
Chelsea had an escape-they should’ve been 3-1 down which would’ve made things interesting-and an Aussie lad helps ruin Joe Says evening 🙂
What surprise awaits us tomorrow????
Bit late in the day Rico
But..How true your post is.
Get well soon Potter!
You’ll be breakdancing again before you know it!!
Another point of view from an unbiased observer.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/peter-reid-laughs-troy-deeneys-11383949
Morning all.
I dare say Wenger is a tough old bugger, but for some reason, his sides aren’t these days.
I think he’s too idealistic in his approach to the game, and not realistic enough.
Wenger tough? He’s weak and gutless imo.
Arrogant and stubborn I’d say, but not tough…
Morning all..
Morning Rico.
Rico, is he?
What makes you say that?
If he was weak, he’d have done a runner already.
He buys some weak players, granted, but he’s not weak.
Stubborn and arrogant-well, he is French 🙂
Morning Adam.
If he was tough Scott, he’d be getting more out of the players than he is.
The French being stubborn and arrogant, that’s rich come from an Aussie….. ?
Rico, I don’t agree with that.
He’s not getting the best out of them because he’s lost their confidence, IMO, due to the lack of spending, poor tactics etc etc etc
Aussies arrogant?
There’s a first lol
Strong willed and loyal, more likely lol
Stubbornness and weakness just don’t go together.
Quite the oppsite, I’d say.
He lost their confidence a long time ago Scott because he’s weak, a tougher and stronger manager would be able to see things for what they are. A tough manager accepts defeat and moves on to a new challenge, a weak one stays where he is because he’s frightened to move out of his comfort zone.
As for the Aussies, you couldn’t have spoken to many English people whilst you were here then? ?
Oh, and a tough person doesn’t hide behind excuses when things go wrong, they face up to things….
Wenger blames everyone and everything bar himself for what’s going on on the pitch…
New post up now.
City win yesterday?