Fans favourite, Yann M’Vila has made it clear he wants to join Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, talking to Canal+ he had this to say:
Inter, Arsenal, Real … I will take the fun everywhere! These are great clubs.
If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything.
He goes on to say that the most important thing is getting playing time for France!
Ok, he’s not ruling out a switch to Inter or Real Madrid, but the latter comment about a French manager, well that couldn’t be more clear who he is talking about.
After Saturday, it’s clear we need a ‘proper’ defensive midfielder and finally I will hold my hands up and say Song is not that man. We need a player who will sit back and protect his back five when needed, not go gallivanting up the pitch thinking he’s Lionel Messi!
Onto todays post…
Saturdays fixture raised a few questions:
1 – Where will the TEAM be when Van Persie hits a blip?
2 – When teams start getting physical and refuse to allow Arsenal to play, what happens?
3 – Why does Wenger gets deluded and play Ramsey at left-wing when it imbalances the TEAM, leaving no rhythm and an entire midfield goes missing.
4 – When did Song get deluded and think he is the best thing after Cesc, the back four had no protection with him spending all the time trying to be that creative playmaker, making all those predictable lobs into the box that QPR defenders could afford to drink a cup of tea before intercepting and heading away.
5 – Pride goes before a fall. The players were just not focussed enough and failed to turn up for this match. No intensity, no fight, no guts to go in for all those 50:50 balls which QPR virtually won all of.
6 – Why were QPR allowed to make Arsenal look like a 2nd rate team?
7 – Our last 7 games? Will it be repeat of that 7 points out of 21 points in August/September when we last saw the kind of performance we witnessed at QPR?
8 – Nice symmetry as we play a Manchester team next, anybody ready for another 2-8 mauling next weekend?
9 – Lastly, Vermaelen couldn’t handle all the physical stuff from Zamora and Mackie who literally jumped into him to rough him up, to unsettle him and to force him to blow his gasket and lose his concentration It worked, and yes folks, that is what Stoke City, Abu Dhabi City and the rest of our opponents are going to do to this team of softies!
Sadly we demonstrated yet again that we had no guts for a hard physical battle against a team fighting for survival…
What is to be done?
First, get the balance right and field a TEAM that can battle it out physically and refuses to be run away like what QPR did to us.
Oh yeah…just drop Ramsey will you? He simply imbalances the TEAM……..it has to be either Gervinho or Chamberlain on left flank….or even Santos if Coquelin is fit, with Song-Coquelin-Rosicky protecting our soft CENTRE.
When Song trying to play like Messi high-up, Arteta was simply too “light-weight” to protect us against physical and powerful runners like Zamora, Mackie and Traabt, with Dialite driving behind them.
Abu Dhabi City has much better players than QPR…
All Chelsea need to do is beat us to regain 4th spot, as against Abu Dhabi City and Stoke City, I suspect we are going to drop points.
Robin van Persie has gone off the boil, he has been asked to play too many games and now it’s starting to tell on him….
Things need changing if we are to get 3rd, or even 4th!
Written by Merlin96
Morning all….
Fine post Merlin, and you raise some good points, many times on here fans have said that when Song plays well, the team play well, well against QPR, imho I though Song was awful.
It seems that just because he has set up a few goals which have won us games, he’s doesn’t have to do the job he’s meant to do and that’s defend when needed. When we were under the cosh a bit, where was he?
Regardless of whether their first goal was offside, why was that ball allowed to travel so far through just a gaping hole?
And yes, i am still narked, this time last week we were ‘mind the gap’ well that gap has now gone and all because we were sloppy on saturday!….
Slightly knee-jerk.
Bad performance by the team. Poor team selection, not much else. Drop it and move on.
There’s a tendency to over analyse things from time-to-time.
Monday, so I have to go off for a couple of hours, back around lunchtime…
HC – why knee-jerk??
We were playing QPR, not Chelsea, Manure etc etc…
We naffed up and we shouldn’t have, it’s hard for some just to ‘move on’….
It was a very bad performance, no denying that.
I think the fault lies with the manager IMO. I don’t understand why he tries to unbalance the team by playing a CM out wide. Some may try to highlight the idea of it giving us more posession but in reality it made us very one-dimensional and we lacked any real penetration in the final third.
If he wants to play a technial player out wide, he should’ve gone with Yossi. Gervinho and The Ox are both fit too so I don’t understand why at least one of them didn’t start.
To be fair though, it doesn’t excuse the whole team being poor and you’re never going to win when people are making basic errors.
Morning Rico. I generally agree with HC. Wenger’s focus must be on the next game. Saturday was a bad day and it is just too easy to make Ramsay the scapegoat again. I do believe that the formation was wrong but I was there and it wasn’t that physical actually. We had a bad day and Robin should have scored but looked a bit weary. We have the players we have and although there are certainly issues to be addressed at the end of the season Wenger must focus the team and use the QPR result to help. The players have been excellent recently and deserve our support. We should have won, but didn’t. Analysis is fine but positivity is mandatory.
Weariness really shouldn’t be an issue now considering we play one game a week.
How can you be that negative after one defeat????
You’re worse than the spurs fan that sits opposite me & thinks that one win in seven weeks against mediocre opposition means your back! Normally I don’t feel compelled to comment but come on? Wenger made a mistake in playing Ramsey on a narrow pitch against a team scrapping for points.
We’ve shown fighting spirit to get into the position we’re in, we’ve still in 3rd five points ahead of the chavs & they’ve still got to come to the grove… Hardly a crisis!!!
Wenger looks a though he’s pulled his finger out regarding transfers & Jack Wilshere is on the mend!!
COYG!!!!!
Agree with the suggestion on Ramsey, whenever he starts a game, the result is not good. Ramsey had a small part in the 7 unbeaten treak that we had. Hope the Boss is listening.
Ramsey was terrific the previous week in the same position,so the comment about him unbalancing the side is just wrong.
HC is right…….we come from 17th to 3rd,win 7 in a row,lose one and the good work is forgotten,and the boot starts getting laid in.
Sorry,but I disagree with a hell of a lot more in this report than I agree with.
You say some of our boys didn’t handle the physical stuff….another point I disagree with…..buy then say City have better players than QPR!!!!!
Wheres your point in that???
We cant handle physical teams,and we will struggle with sides who have good players!!!!
Pleas explain then,using your wizardry with statistics,how the hell we got to third place,because according to your analysis,we struggle against EVERYONE!!!!
.
Just a quick point on Ramsey Oz Scott…
I’m a big big fan of his. I’ve been defending him for ages when barrels of abuse has been flowing in from all quarters, however, he should not be playing wide left when we have natural options like Gervinho and AOC available.
Wenger needs to decide who he wants to drop but Rosicky, Arteta and Ramsey can not all start in the same midfield, unless we’re going to play some sort of diamond, which we all know isn’t going to happen.
But yeh, I don’t buy this stuff about physicality. We may have lacked commitment but we definitely did not get bullied.
I was telling people that our run in isn’t easy. We’re playing a lot of teams who are still fighting for their lives so people shouldn’t expect them to roll over.
Ramsay did unbalance the side on Saturday but not because he is a bad player. He was just playing wide left and he is no winger. He kept drifting inside and exposing our left flank. Judging by the state of the pitch and the fact that they watered the middle for hours before the game it was clear that Hughes’ tactic was to funnel our play through the middle and congest the midfield. In a sense we played right into his hands rather like Barcelona did against AC Milan last week. We never got behind them because we had no width. When Theo picked it up a bit in the second half we looked much more dangerous.
Good Morning Guys and Chicks ofthe everincreasing Gunners’ Faith.
Merlin…..I will give you just one compliment for your post and it says it all. — Imagine you and I in place of Stan Kroenke and PHW ehhhh?????
We will be hammerring the team, be there when the going gets tough and encouraging besides putting them to task when they let it slip a bit.
One thing I do not agree with you and at the same time I do not. Ramsey. Aaron does not unbalance the team but at the same time he was not suited to Loftus Road. On wide pitches he gives us breathing space and strength in the middle. However at loftus Road the pitch was a narrow one so it should have been more of a benefit to us if Gervinho or the OX or Santos was started on the left. This would have left them stretched and this was shown when Theo drifted to the left and scored unmarked. Had we had two wing outlets than I am sure that RVP would have had a better chance while Mackie would have had to track back to help….something which he did not have the need to do with Aaron on the left. Had Santos and Gibbs been on the left than it would have meant that QPR would have been stretched out wide the whole width of the pitch.
So mate, Aaron does not unbalance the team. But his inclusion on the left was uncalled for last saturday.
OTherwise I agree with all that you said. 100%.
it’s hard to fanthorm why Wenger is sacrificing the fortune of the team for the a particular player called Ramsey. It was obvious he’s not going to improve his game even when he has all the oppotunity in this world to do so.
Let him go out on loan to finetune his game. Enough of using our team as guinea pig for players’ growth
Morning all…..let’s just hope that result is just a blip and we can kick on again for the remainder of the season!
@DG
Ramsey only unbalances the team when played out on the left for the reasons you mentioned.
I’m a big fan of him but he needs to be played in his proper position. Wenger has had this problems for ages.
As Adam said, all our play was in front of QPR. There was no threat in behind, and when a team is defending deep like that, you need dribblers like Gervinho and AOC who offer something different.
Still, it was reassuring to see Gareth Bale back to his old diving tricks yesterday, flying through the air when untouched and coming to rest facing the referee with his Simian features and arms extended in yet another penalty appeal. And how about that textbook two footed tackle from Assou Ekotto? Beautiful stuff.
It’s going to be close between us and Spurs. We have a harder run-in though. One can hope that cup distractions for them and CL distractions for Chelsea can work in our favour.
After 10 mins you could see we werent up for it. Why didnt Wenthe break….That is where they should be offering value to the team and in my opinion,they failed miserably
After 10 mins you could see we werent up for it.Why didnt Wenger/Rice sort it out at half time? We were worse after the break.That is where they should be offering value to the team and in my opinion,they failed miserably
Oh dear.
A bit harsh Merlin, but i respect your view.
And it was well written.
Morning all,
Seems Ramsey taking a lot of stick for the whole team who mostly went AWOL……!
It wasn’t just Ramsey who was poor but most who walked on the pitch on Sat, we didn’t compete we didn’t put in a shift at all and for me we most def got bullied….! we then got rattled and we were never in the game… pretty football knocking the ball about in front of the opponents isn’t going to threaten them. We had no tempo and no width and looked like we’d turned up to walk on the pitch win and go home….!.
One loss yes and not a knee jerk but when we lose in the same way over and over it’s the same lessons not learned…! Why do we lose when we don’t turn up and put in a shift…? Hopefully a kick in the bollox for the last 7 games and for the players to realise you need to compete and win the battles to beat the lesser sides.
You busy AK?
I’m just pulling into Ebbsflett. On way home.
Morning Gooners.
Morning Rico/Lee/Wath.
Hiya Sir AK. You ok???
On way home!!!! 🙂
Gooooooodddddyyyyy ffoooooorrrrr yooooooouuuuuuu!!!!
Morning AK, slacking I see 😉
Hope the Mrs got the kettle on and your fluffy slippers ready and waiting for you mate…! Oooh and egg n bacon on the go as well.
I’m slowly coming around to the view that we do not have the required def/mid who we need to act as cover to our back~four when we all charge forward.
Rico…..it might be a bit harsh yes, but I think that Merlin is right in many ways. Blimey….they had a whole week to rest, AW is a top manager who should be able to see what QPR managed by MH will be going to do and the players are practically all internationals.
I knew what to expect and I told Pa to expect a tight pitch, an in your face attitude plus parking the bus and overcorwding RVP’s movement. If I can see these things Before Christ why cant AW in 2012 AD???
Hi Coach.
Fluffy slippers Wath..? Perish the thought 😀
So M’Vila seems to be the man we need?
Personally i think his signing could cost us the services of either or both Coq & Frim.
AK, If we got M’Vila I’d let Song go……!
Spot on Dev, if we can see if why can’t AW and why were the players in his words not motivated to deal with QPR and the way they played….?? Again team selection of square pegs and round holes…!
Back in a bit.
Got some eggs & bacon to nosh… 😀
Jammy git………………
Good Moaning Monday all *Basil accent off*,
Nobody mentioned it but to me we simply have too many midfielders with a choco leg. They waste time controlling the ball allowing to be closed down when there was a gap to shoot on goal. How many goals have been scored from 25 +/- yards this season? Merlin do you have any stats cuz I really am interested knowing this to be true or false.
Well written post btw.
We didnt lose the match b/s of ramsey or narrowness of the pitch. lets face the truth, we lost b/s Verminator switched of twice which eventually proved to be costly and the energy level from the team was low. We won even with Ramsey playing in the match at Everton. Lets get behind the team and hope for the best in subsequent matches
Morning y’all.
What a stinker saturday, are defence got schooled.. been doing the rounds on the blogs and seem like alot of fan are not happy with ramsey.. and chesney seem to be getting some doubts too.. your thoughts?
Honestly,and with due respect to the author,why stick the boot in as soon as we lose a game????
How could anyone expect a side to play at their peak week in,week out for any extended period of time,especially whilst understanding we have a distinct lack of depth in the squad???
Seriously,if statistics meant anything at all,why is it bookmakers are rich and the best horse doesnt always win…….yes,this is the same thing.
Nobody,but NOBODY will ever understand why athletes simply do not turn up sometimes,and this has absolutely zilch to do with statistics.
Morning all. Good post Merlin.
Jimmy Bizzle, you’re right, we have shown fighting spirit to get into 3rd. So where was the fighting spirit on Saturday? Let’s face it, we only just beat QPR at home, so I’m not that shocked we lost away. Same happened with Swansea. And as for our CB’s not handling Zamora properly…. He did exactly the same to us when we were mugged off by Fulham earlier this season. Surely they should have worked on ways to stop that happening again?
Now, I’m not as negativs as Alan… I still think we’ll get Champions League football… But we need to buck our ideas up against City. A performance like Saturday’s will not be good enough.
I also don’t think Merlin’s post is a knee jerk reaction. Why should we suddenly perform like that? After playing so well for 7 games, we should be in the ascendency, not rolling over and getting our bellies tickled as we get steamrollered by a team in the bottom 3.
Morning all,
Dunno what it is with Arsenal and bottom 6 sides, they always fancy their chances against us, whether we’re going out with the wrong mentality thinking we’ve already won the game is anyone’s guess.
Anyone think Man U will slip up against Blackburn tonight, I can’t see it, that’s the difference, they go for the jugular.
It was bad all round, TV5 had a real mare which is unusual, but we’ll still 3rd with a bit of breathing space between us and 5th place.
Hate Chelsea why not Love Arsenal.
Dutch,I’ve been asking that same question for a few years now.
Read my comments during the game……..Song and his fancy chips, was one…..take a bloody shot was the other.
Arteta showed what can be done last week.
@Micko
I’m not really sure why HC is the registered name. I normally post as Romford Pele on most Arsenal blogs.
I do hate Chelsea though, second only to Spurs.
Don’t think anyone expects us to play at our peak week in week out Scott but when you saw the effort on Saturday that wasn’t about playing at our peak that was about not turning up at all simple as that we were poor but least put in a shift and compete and get stuck in and we didn’t.
Mattyboy – I know Chezzer was getting a bit of stick here on Saturday too. I’m not sure how well he can do when the defence in front of you play like that. As for Rambo…. I’m not his biggest fan anyway. I know he’s young, and hope he gets better (and I know a few on here love him) but he’s only ever going to be a sub in my eyes. Defo not a winger.
Rocky, there’s the problem with Ramsey…….. As you say he ain’t a wingers arse yet he’s getting stick for playing there and having a pretty poor game… There were plenty other players in their natural positions who were poor as well but it’s easy to pick on Ramsey it seems. Play the fella in the middle if your gonna play him or at least on the right, not left wing.
Romford Pele, now your talking.
Rocky, Citeh will be interesting next week, they won’t be coming to the emirates for a draw like they have the last couple of seasons, the need the 3 points as much as us, could be a real hum-dinger.
wath, I totally agree. I’m not putting the boot in on him for this gamme… Just in general. In fact, not really putting the boot in, just saying I don’t think he’s first team quality. Not even in centre mid. Not if we want fast, fluid, attacking football.
Ozzy, once again you are right. Why come out when we loose?? But the problem was there the week before when we were winning. For example the Ramsey situation. You know that I like him a lot, but last game and the one before Aaron was theree in the same position. If he was good/ok in one does not mean that he will do the same in another. If the pitch is wide than by all means, play Aaron on the left to give us balance in the midfield like Parlour used to do. But when the pitchis narrow for heaven’s sake play two wide men to keep them stretched and at the same time it will be easier to defenc. So Ozzy, I agree with you but the same things we have said them before and before before.
The thing is that sometimes I have the feeling that AW is trying to look clever. Anyone else feel the same???
Rocky – I think that he has been slacking a tad, he know there no one in the team to challenge him for a number 1 spot so its his.. I think wengo needs to sign vertonghen some one who has a voice and can command the back four, he got no one who can atm. Also get martin keown doing the training with the defence ex players for me are the answer. Wenger should of kept the likes of bergkamp and varia and get them working with the youngers and showing them what is expected to be winners, sadly we dont have that atm… Rambo im not keen on either he hasnt got the flair he had once he started but like everyone else has said maybe he still getting over his leg brake… but i dunno!
Agree Micko. And I think we’ll turn them over. It’s just what happens after that match that that will be decisive. the 8-2 dicking against Man U aside, we are pretty decent against the top sides. We mauled Chelsea (and think we will do again), mugged the spuds off, and should have got at least a draw in the home game against Man U. But then with the lesser clubs we are inclined to stumble a bit. But that’s hardly a new problem with us. Been going on far too long for my liking
The prob is Dev wenger persists with playing players out of position for reasons only known to him…! We all know the kind of game your gonna get from a team managed by the wanker hughes so again why not adapt go 4-4-2 and make sure the spine is big and strong….?!?!
Why is he soooooooooooooooooo stubborn in not changing things..?
Devil, no-one likes a clever dick.
Maybe he is Matty…. But in that time, Song has come on leaps and bounds (agree with Scott re too many flicks) Wilshere has become out main midfielder, Rosicky is playing his best football in an Arsenal shirt, and Arteta has been pretty efficient. The leg break has now massively affected his chances of first team football.
Scott it’s a competitive world, there will always be comparison analysis. Be it league table, possession, topscorer lists or otherwise. It doesn’t tell all but explains a lot. Without it a public vote would determine who wins a match. Stats take out most buts,ifs and maybe’s.
It’s amazing because we clearly lost the game because of two Vermalaen errors yet we ae all blaming it on Ramsey…..Don’t get me wrong I have not been impressed with his play lately but Arsene did get it wrong. I only hope he doesn’t persist in trying to prove us all wrong by playing him there again…..it did not work at everton even though we won narrowly and it didn’t work at loftus road.
We are all ready to overlook players like Chesny and Vermalaen who are our favourites and readily blame the Ramseys etc…
We were piss poor no guts no fight no fire in their belly and determination to win at all cost….thats why lost …..poor team selection or not…we should be beating a poor QPR side devoid of confidence…
I knew we would not win that match and thought we maybe able to get away with a draw because I knew they wouldn’t mentally see it as a real battle and unless they see every match as a battle we will keep dropping points…funny enough we will do well against city….I am not sure we will win though….
i love song think he is amazing, but he needs to be rested him and RVP have played most of the season and they must be feeling it now. RVP has score for four games and song doesnt look so sharp to recent dates.. just prey wenger gets it right for sunday and we do abu dhabi city sunday.
Agreed Devil.
Dutch,I disagree.
Stats are great when speaking of inflexible,consistent materials,but not humans,or any animal for that matter.
If stats were so important,we wouldn’t have managers running side.
Which stat tells us why oh why Song suddenly tried his chip every time he had the ball???
Melvyn, re 10.20, totally agree, it does make you wonder.
Marty,I love Song also,but he needs to realise which position he’s playing.
For all the obvious problems nominated as to why we lost,the biggest factor for me was the constant attempts at pulling off the perfect pass….and not just by Song.
Plenty of times players simply would not play the safe pass,opting for the miracle.
You don’t need to play the perfect game to beat teams like QPR.
Rest Song and play who?
We are not in a position to rest anyone. This CL race will go down to the wire and the best team needs to be played every game.
This should be the team IMO:
—————————Szczesny——————————-
Sagna—————Kos—————Verm————Gibbs
———————-Song——-Arteta/Ramsey————–
————Walcott——–Rosicky———–Gervinho/AOC
—————————RVP—————————–
Agreed Scott. But you do need to ‘turn up’.
I’d play Walcott and Ox over Ramsey and Gerv any day.
People are harsh on Gervinho. Granted he has been wasteful and needs to improve his composure but people forget that it’s his first season at a new club, new culture, new language, new teammates etc.
Plus he was at the ACON for a month. Last season the guy had better stats than Eden Hazard in their title winning team.
I believe he’ll come good. People forget how long it took Henry and Pires to get going as well.
i think gervinho is a headless chicken, all he can do is run, he cant cross or shoot… what happened to the gervinho that was lobbing keepers in our preseason? he is a shadow of that man now.
HC, that’s my gripe with Song, he knows he can have an average game and get away with it over & over & over again and still be an automatic starter the next week, he has no proper competition for his place imo.
There you are Ozzy mate. The Rock told you that you need to turn up. 😉 You did not turn up for the game. 😉 You preferred to stay in the mud hut. 🙂 Next time be in front of the defence. 😆 😆
HC – I just don’t think his end product is good enough. He gets in good positions, then shits his pants and chooses the wrong option almost wvery time. I hope he WILL come good… But while we’re in a fight for third place, I don’t want to keep playing him in a hope he comes good. Impact sub would be my option until next season. I think at this stage in the season, we need all players performing at the top of their game.
I’m not opposed to competition. I actually think Szczesny needs it too. He’s become a bit lax in certain games this season.
If we sign someone like M’Vila, how are we going to line-up? Wilshere will be back next season and plays in the deeper role next to Song.
Also, signing someone like M’Vila who is young means you destroy the careers of Le Coq and Denchman
Devil – Cheeky sod!
I know Devil,I’m copping it today lol.
Scott not all stats are to my liking over-analysis springs to mind. Song should be schooled in counting, if 5 chips categorically fail to create danger it doesn’t add up as a solution. We both agree on that. It’s a players responsibility to keep track of their effectiveness and adjust accordingly to instructions, skills and ability.
Also managers use software these days which take every detail in consideration. Each player has an extensive statistical file. Reason for me to believe Wenger sticks to certain players when others loose faith. It’s the flexible interpretation were a manager can do good or wrong moulding individuals into a symbiotic collective.
Mattyboy, we were saying the same about Arshavin, its like he gave up the ghost when he joined us.
@Rocky07
AOC or Gervinho, take your pic. My main issue is having a balanced team.
Wenger playing Ramsey out wide shows that Wenger doesn’t have faith in Arteta, Rosicky and Song to control the game.
With a 451/4231/433, you need to be able to kep width otherwise the play becomes too compressed. As someone highlighted earlier, Barca had a similar problem against Milan last week.
Look how well the team was balanced when we beat Milan a few weeks ago.
Ozzy (Scott) and the Rock….. 😆 😆 😆
That got me laughing a bit. God knows how I needed a laugh today. Sitting here and hearing all kinds of problems can make my time a very miserable one. But comments like this do get my spirits up.
Arshavin was another played out of position. I was over the moon when he signed but his application/work ethic has to be up there with the worst i’ve ever seen. Hope we can get shot of him in the summer.
Scott – DG – I agree with what both of you are saying, and there are pro’s and cons for stats. We all know the possession stat is a complete waste of time. I’ve lost count of the times we have lost when we have had over 70% possession. In that aspect, the only real stat that matters in the “Goals Scored”. However, I think individual player stats can help a manager decide a number of things regarding training, match tactics etc.
Micko – I think its because board have put a stop on the wingers coco pops and frostys of a morning due to budget restriction and Chickvinho and Rustyshavin aint getting there high sugar levels 😛
By all means….play Aaron out wide yes. BUT ON THE FECKING RIGHT HAND SIDE NOT ON HIS WEAKER FOOT. Not when we have Gibbs who does not go up much on the flank. If it had been Santos as a left back than yes by all means. But Gibbs is not Santos or Clichy. He is a left back in the (early days of) Nigel Winterburn mould. He is not going to go up and down the flank like Cashley or Clichy.
Aaron is good in a 4-4-2 or in a 4-2-3-1 but on the right. Shades of Diaby on the left (AW said it was to improve his left foot). We all know how that turned out to be.
HC – Arteta, Song nor Rosicky have the pace to play out wide. Think it’s as simple as that. My surprise that Ox was on the bench rather than Ramsey when it came to the left wing. I’d tave Ox over Gervinho. Ox has shown in a handful of games that he knows when to pass, and which is the correct pass to make. And he can hit a ball, well, on target. For those reasons alone, I’d have him starting over Gerv. I totally agree with you about the need for a balanced team. Which is why Wengers sheer bloody mindedness to play random people in weird positions annoys the shit out of me.
I think though that next game will see this line up…..
Chesney
Sagna, Kozzer, TommyV, Gibbs
Song, Arteta, Rosicky,
Theo,RVP,OX
Devil – I wish Gibbs WAS like Winterburn……
The weekend game was the absolute epitome of us NOT being prepared to win ugly.
I am not deflecting criticism from the side,nor am I defending their woeful performance,but I think too much of the criticisms have been totally misplaced,and I can’t condemn players who have,as a collective,brought as back from the brink.
I always say stay positive,and sometimes that’s hard to do,but its bloody easy to be negative and come down like a tonne of bricks on a side as soon as they lose a game…….one game.
If their performance…result aside……is as bad against Citeh,then we have major concerns.
I know Scott… Your immense positivity cancels out my vast negativity… I think that’s what keeps the world balanced….!
I take back my Gibbs / Winterburn comment… It was a bit on the harsh side!
Scott, if it helps they say 67.5 % of statistic’s are made up on the spot.
@DV
Don’t play Ramsey out wide at all. We have more than enough options there. Next season Myiachi will be back and Podolski will arrive too, so there’s absolutely no need.
And I disagree about Gibbs. Gibbs is naturally attacking by trade. He started his career as a left winger and has also played CM. He’s handicapped a bit by the fact we tend to attack more down the right with Sagna and Theo.
@Rocky07
That’s fine then, just drop Ramsey and put him on the bench and play a wide man. If Wenger does want to play a technical player out wide, then Benayoun and Rosicky would be better options.
I have no qualms with playing the OX at all.
Rock….read my comments carefully. I did not compare Gibbs to Winterburn when the latter was part of the famous five defence. I compared him to the Winterburn of 22 years old. The playing style is the same. Their physique is the same and both have the same stature.
On the same level we can compare Jenks with Dixon. Not the Dixon of 1998 but the Dixon who first came to us under GG.
I hope I communicated it well.
HC – Glad we sorted that out!! Problem is, Wenger won’t agree!
Dev, It’s ok, I know what you said!! I was just going for a cheeky ccomment, that’s all!
Craszy – 11.29………… Sorry for the delay all first comments go into moderation…!
Too true Rocky.
It’s a dirty job,but somebody has to do it.
I’m suprised Petit hasn’t had something to say………
So you are the Cheeky Sod now Rock!!! 😉
Gibbs is getting better all the time.
A little fine tuning is required,but how food will he be in 2 years time??
Same with Jenkinson,the guy from the lower leagues nobody wanted much to do with when signed.
There is only one problem with Gibbs mate……he has not got GG or Keown or Adams or Bould drilling him on the back four defensive system.
He has got only AW.
Lee,he has spoken.
His new alias is that of a stats man!!!!!
THIS PREDATORY. COYG ARSENAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0kzdu_wTM0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I agree Scott, he is getting a lot better, and now he’s keeping fit, he will only improve.
Lee – Give it time mate. I see Bale’s already had his say…. And twitchy Jowler had the nerve to tell Scezeney to shut up!! Fucking crook.
Devil – I try to be!! The only thing keeping the stree from work at bay!
and by stree, I obviously mean stress!
The way we play is risky. We’re always susceptible to the counter and that’s why we often see individual mistakes. If we were a tad more conservative like United, we wouldn’t ship in as many.
Saying that, I still prefer the way we play. We just need to continue to work on our shape when we haven’t got the ball. Wenger needs to decide whether he wants to press ala Barca or soak up pressure and hit teams on the break.
The problem with Arsenal pressing is that it’s never consistent. Where was it on Saturday? Maybe it comes down to the issue of complacency again and I think that stems from the manager.
Right, I should really be working…. Catch up with you all later
I know Rock matey. Everyone has his job stress and sometimes it can drive you crazy. Its a good thing we can joke or pull legs otherwise I will end up banging my head against the wall.
Yeah that shower of shite from up the road have really turned a corner…..well according to that primeval jaw boned prick! He had another dive up yesterday to boot…..
He really does have a lantern jaw doesn’t he. Nearly as big as Will Young’s!
Devil/Rocky,I stay positive with everything.
Stress at work…..doesn’t exist….I just don’t let it,and believe me I could.
If I can’t control it,I refuse to let it worry me.
Trust me,its lightened my load big time since I adopted this attitude.
and Mathew Upson..
And Desperate Dan….
Willie Young…………..
And Richard Wright….
Seriously, this time I’m definitely going!
Back later
Lee & Rock
Or Jay Leno / Michael Phelps.
Or Michael Schumacher
Or David Coulthard….
Laters!
Rock……………..??????
Afternoon guys and gals….
Afternoon Bosslady………..
Hi Wath, i don’t blame Ramsey, I blame the numpty who stuck him out on the left of a front three…
Shame we didn’t sign Chamberlain, Gervinho or Yossi back in the summer eh, one of them could have played there instead…
Indeed Rico, makes you wonder eh………….
Afternoon Ricolicious
Roger Ramjet…..
Brucie……..
Worrying me where ol stubborn bollox is going to play his new recruits…..Pod in goal? 😉
If M’Vila does join will he sell Song??
It does Wath, and then all that happens is ramsey gets a slating and his confidence will drop, good move eh….
Afternon Lee – we have plenty of time to balls up the Podolski deal 😉
Don’t get me on Songinho 🙁
Maybe Song is offski anyway?
I know everyone seems to be having a love in with Song but for me he’s supposed to be our def mid yet he lacks the brain and the discipline for that… I’d sell him Lee and get M’Vila but I said that last year…! A proper def mid who sits in front of the back four and does a job, nothing spectacular just stop the opposition…! Why was Song in front of Arteta for most of sats game…? madness…!
I was trying to justify Song here the other day with TT but now I undersatnd what he meant and I must eat my words – a fe classy assists are all well and good, but when the chips are down he needs to do what he is meant to, protect the back five….
He’s too hit and miss and invariably he’ll put in a clumsy challenge that’ll put us under pressure…..
If we get M’Vila Lee, I can see Coquelin being his ‘understudy’ and he’ll learn a lot, two Frenchman together….
I think the role of a DM is so overrated
After People.
NO, not knee jerk but just waiting for the other shoe to drop with Lady Luck helping us for 4 games when we won in injury time.
Don’t read too much in that 5-3 win as Chelski was playing for AVB..(like when CHelski was playing for Solari); and it is a different CHelski we will be facing on 21-April, all pace and power like QPR but with better players.
Abu DHabi CIty this weekend?
We wil lose as ABu Dhabi CIty will not sit back (a draw is not good for ’em) as they have the players to attack our “soft centre”..right down our throat..just watch again from 1-3 down and they pulled back 3-3 within minutes.
DO we have A ‘Nik Bendtner” to trouble Abu Dhabi defence, jumping into their faces liek what Nik did?
If we want to beat Abu Dhabi CIty, then we need Rosicky at his best and RvP starts scoring again.
Our 1st 7 games – we scored 7 goals with RvP scoring 3 goals.
Our next 8 games, we scored 21 goals with RvP scoring 12 goals.
[These 21 goals incldued 5 against CHelski and 4 against WIgan]
Our next 7 games, we scored 9 goals with RvP scoring 4 goals.
Our next 8 games, we scored 22 goals with RvP scoring 7 goals.
[Note that these 22 goals included 7 against Blackburn and 5 against Tiny Totts]
And RvP had not scored for the last 3 games against Everton, Villa and QPR.
Arsenal is in danger on missing out on 4th spot as I can’t see ’em beating Abu Dhabi CIty and Chelski, plus Stoke City away.
Assume the worst:
08-April – 0 point – Loss to Abu DHabi CIty
11-April – 1 point – Draw with Wolves away
16-April – 3 point – WIn against Wigan
21-APril – 0 point – Loss to CHelski
28-April – 1 point – Draw with Stoke City away
05-May – 3 point – Win against Norwich
13-May – 1 point – Draw with WBA away.
Total points from remaining 7 games = 9 points.
Statistically, if we are to win all our remaining 7 games, then RvP, Theo and MIDFIELD must start scoring a total of 21 or 22 goals!
That is, 3rd spot is ours when we win remaining 7 games.
But I can’t see it and the next 4 games will define our season as to whether we can focus and fight for points.
21-APril is the KEY as beating Chelski means 70% chance of finishing 4th spot and there is nothing Chelski cna do if we draw at Stoke City and win our games against Norwich and WBA.
Let’s hope that 31-March is not a repeat fo that dreadful sequence on 18-Dec-11 when we lost to ABu DHabi City 1-0 and went on to collect 8 points from 8 games..before on 4-Feb-12 we started that 7 consecutive wins sequence….broken on 31-MArch with loss to QPR.
How so HC…. It’s why the defence gets no protection what so ever and the spine is weak as we don’t have a proper defensive midfielder as he goes wandering far to often and if he was any good we’d be playing 4-4-2 as wenger would trust the two in the middle to do a proper job…!
HC – but the defensive side of a good strong midfielder isn’t 😉
That for me is where we lost the game, a Paddy or Gilberto would have stopped that ball from reaching Tarrabat but Songinho was far too far up the pitch..
It’s ok to do that in the final five/ten mis if we need a winner, or if we are 5-0 up, but it was tooe arly in the game to be playing that way, imho of course 😉
Good post Merlin pains me to say it but you have hit the nail plainly on the head, we looked out of sync on Saturday and reinforcement came far too late hopefully just a blip but we must wait and see.
Let’s look at the 1st goal when that 50-yard pass went unchallenged.
Where was the MDIFIELD?
COntrast that to QPR playerswho pressurised Arsenal players whenever they got the ball, refusing to allow Arsenal players to turn, to run pass ’em….plus whenever SOng or other Arsenal players lobbed the ball…guess who always got to the ball first?
Have you all seeen Messi Song’s lob…beautifully flighted,,predictable flight path and plenty of time for QPR players to intercept.
2nd Goal?
Where was Gibbs and Gervinho at the left flank?
Or even Song getting back into CB posiiton as cover when TV5 moved to cover MAckie?
Oh, did you see CHamakh tracking back DIaalite’s run…and then suddenly stopped?
This is not the first time Vermaelen slipped…or Mertesacker slipped..or CLichy’s notorious slipped..or Gibbs gone misisng at left flank…….
But the question is….why was our DEFENCE out-numbered by the sheer number of QPR players in our box…with a late-running Dialitte (hey where was the MDIFIELD tracking this late run from centre-circle??) haivng a free shot at goal???
When you have Mackie 1-on-1 with Vermaelen, surely there was be a left flank player or midfield player somewhere helping out as you can’t leave a defender 1-on-1 with an attacking player who has a greater chance to slip pass a defender……
Assuming Vermaelen didn’t slip and Mackie got pass him and cut-back to DIalitte….bad defending when TV5 is left exposed with 1-on-1 and left holding the can?
The wya Wenger plays the TEAM high-up on the pitch, with a high-line means that the TEAM defends as a UNIT and all over-lapping FB must have the ENGINE to track-back when the attack broke down with opponents counter-attacked with a Route 101 ball.
ANd that was exactly what MArk Hughes did with Zamora standing at centre-circle…holding the ball in quick break…and Mackie and Traabt racing down the flanks.
Look like Arsenal is getting a taste of its own medicine from Zamora, MAckie and Traabt isn’t it?
Hi Merlin,
I really hope we don’t crumble against Citeh, Stoke and the Chavs and I’m desperately trying to stay optimistic but there is a niggling feeling that we may well drop points, not against Stoke though…
Also, I can’t see the swampies losing any of their remaining fixtures, not now….
Love in with Song, my arse, I bet the only time he breaks sweat is to pick up his wages.
Afternoon rico, I see you’ve cheered up.
Since Vieira-Petit or Vieira-Gilberto or Vieira-Edu or Fabregas-Flamini, we always played with a DCM in Petit, Gilberto and Flamini.
Song just doesn’t have the discipline to play DCM as his tendency is tojoin in the attack, plus he does not have the FLAMINI ENGINE or the pace to trakc-back whenever the attack broke down.
That was what QPR did, waiting for our mistakes, our invariably wayward passes…and then a quick direct coutner-attack with our entire MDIFIELD caught in opponent’s half..plus worse, Gibbs caught out and missing from left flank.,,ooops…….
See you all tomorrow…..got to get some work done.. 😆
Merlin, all thats needed in situations that you stated was to do what city utd and the chavs do take the man out and it gives you time to regroup. if a player is ever in a one on one situation take him out, although they all get away with just giving a foul away i could see us get sending offs
Afternoon Steve & Micko
Not one bit Micko…. 😉
Got to pop off again, back shortly, need some groceries and i must stay away from the BWS’s section 😉
An apple a day keeps the green grocer happy.
Micko, Sainsbury’s want you buying 4 at a time… greedy bastards…!
For me personally, it’s a waste to have someone who just sits in front of the back four and passes it to a more skilled player.
Any decent defensive player with discipline can do that. That role basically got made famous because of Makele but I don’t buy it.
Man United have won the title numerous times without a DM.
We play a midfield three that constantly interchange. If anything, Arteta has been the deepest midfielder for us this season, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. Having different players who can take on the mantle of creating makes Arsenal a lot less predictable and I think Arsene sees it that way.
Despite this, I do take into the consideration that our back four is often exposed. Against QPR, there was too much space in between the lines. Taaraby had time to receive and turn on the ball and that shouldn’t be allowed.
Arsene’s method to combat this is normally to press high up, but that seemed non-existent at the weekend. That is what needs to be worked on more than anything in training. Arsene wants to play a high pressing game but it isn’t always apparent when we play.
With regards to the 442 issue, most top teams don’t play that anymore. The formation is just too rigid and if the CM’s aren’t good enough, they can be bypassed easily. We also have way too many CM’s to play that formation anyway.
Rico. What is the BWS section, if you’ll excuse my ignorance?
Yeah that got me too, Adam….
Hi Lee. I guess we must wait for Rico’s return for the answer, though I am conjecturing.
Beer, wine & spirits………….. cherching!
I could do with a beer….
Afternoon all
Just seen this on SkySports… This guy looks about as much of a footballer as I do….
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7646671/
Lee. I think you may be correct there. I was thinking along more exotic and risqué lines.
Adam…. Have a lazy weekend of teaa and strawberry jam on toast?! Gotta be Tiptree for stuff like that….
How was your lazt weekend Lee?! Were you booted off the couch as expected on Saturday afternoon?
rocky. Corruption takes many forms but you will find most of then in Italian life and sport. Things are altogether more subtle in this country, but I fear, just as iffy.
Dirty sod Adam!
Yeah I know…. But look at him!!!
Doubt he has women flocking around him to be a WAG!
rocky. I think you have an unfair image of me as a kind of latter day Roman Emperor consuming Little Scarlett’s by the jar and having tea poured down my throat. That was last Friday. When I take a day off I really take a day off if you know what I mean. Today I have been hard at the keyboard and fielding calls from irate Arsenal supporters.
If Peter Crouch ends up with Abby Clancy then anything is possible.
Fair enough Adam! Although, to be honest, I think every day should be Tea and toast day. What is it you do then mate?
And if you’re not a latter day nero, getting totally pampered does that mean that job is going spare?! I’d happily take that!
Hmmm…. Good point. I still can’t work that one out!!
especially as HE cheated on HER…. And she is still with him! That was her perfect chance to ditch him!
Hiya Rock, well we had to go to a black tie charity do (which I’d totally forgotten about) on Sat evening, I tried to feign an injury and blow it out………but strangely enough, I didn’t manage to pull it off!
As for that Italian footballer was he in the Thriller video? Or last seen being booted out of Turnmills at 6.00am?
in The Hills Have Eyes?
Rocky, I’ve seen healthier faces on a pirates flag.
How do Adam, Lee.
Wath, it’s enough to make you wanna take up scrumping again.
Rocky. I am a journalist but not of the newspaper kind. And I have an interesting ” other” job buying and selling old guitars.
Lee. Is that Turnmills in Clerkenwell?
Well I’m de-mob happy….it’s a synthetic thursday for me today!!
Was that a work or family do mate? I can’t stand doing things in the evening during weekends! I’d rather have given the monety to the charity and swerved it
God bless turnmills!! Loved that place back in the raving days!
Buffalo Wing Spices
She’s has serious doubts about the chickens.
Lee. Keep away from the BWS then
Yes, Adam an old rave venue.
Micko, yeah I’m good, I’ve got over my Arsenal induced depression….
Buffalo Wing Spices
She has serious doubts about the chickens.
DG. Can’t see Rico as a chicken consumer at all.
Haha! Like it DG!!
That Italian footballer… Am I the only one that hasn’t a clue who this douchebag is?!
Spot on Micko….. the word gaunt was invented for thatguy!
Lee… You away on hos on Friday then? It’s a synthetic Wednesday for me!!
hols*
A friend’s do….but there was a three line whip from my wife!
Boo, no apples Micko, not even cider 😉
Pretty diverse jobs there Adam. Which do you prefer? As I guessed on Friday… your job(s) are exponentially more exciting than mine!!
Yeah fly tomorrow night after work…..gotta go through spudland on your train line!
Ahhh… Friends do’s are a bit better… At least you can slope off early! I think my mates are cottoning on to the “I have to go in a minute because I forgot to bring my insulin with me” excuse that I always dredge up a couple of hours after we’ve all eaten dinner if I’m getting bored!
Stansted I take it?! At least you’ll be going from the proper end of Liverpool Street….!
I just dropped the shoulder……people should be more understanding, I’d had a hard day on the sofa nursing a hangover!
Just read that Italian guy is only 26!! He must have had one hell of a tough paper-round……
Rocky. Guitars are fun but, in this climate, risky. Writing is steady but there are a lot of press trips involved. Both pay very poorly.
That’s the end where the leg draggers depart from…. 😉
FFS, if you’d said he was 36 I would of not believed it…..
…………..
As opposed to the other end where the mouth breathers depart from….!
I’m now travelling in between the two zones……platform 8 & 10 most nights!
I’ve actually just drank the black coffee I made at 9am this morning. Is that wrong?
Adam it’s just to make them aware of the threat. A bit of sprinkling in their nest, chickens have a keen sense of smell. An offer they can’t refuse. *Hears Godfather music* 😛
put a few cubes of ice in it and call it a frozexpresso….then take the piss and charge 4 quid for it, it’s a winning formula just ask Starbucks!! 😉
Oops, how rude, afternoon all….
Good idea Lee… Although I don’t think it could have possible been any colder! It was basically a coffee ice lolly…. Tasty though…..!
Afternoon Rico.
Not wrong rocky, just cold 😉
I do get some strange expressions when I drink it. People around me forst look at me funny because they think I’ve made a selfish cuppa and not asked if anyone wants one. I then tell them it’s nearly 8 hours old, and their noses suddenly turn up….
The guy looks like a Polish Plasterer.
Great description DG!!
Howdy rocky 🙂
I thought he looked a bit like an older and slimmer Senderos 😉
I’m actually still chuckling at the ‘Polish Plasterer’ remark!!
I dunno why Rico, but he reminded me of Stepanovs…. Maybe because neither look like footballers!
Lee – don’t you go bringing back a donkey, it’s a couple of chicken your wife wants 😛
Lee 🙂 re Starbucks. They did turn coffee into oil barrel prices. You can’t elude them either, turn a corner and your confused if you’re in the street you just left.
Add Cygan then rocky 😉
Starbucks do an amazing Gingerbread Latte at Christmas though…. For that reason alone, I love them!
You guys heard that petrol is going up TEN PENCE a litre 😮
Having said that, I do REALLY resent those kind of shops for forcing me to use the word “Latte”. Especially if preceeded by “Skinny”.
Cygan never looked OR played like a footballer Rico.
Your should read* you’re
rocky, that sounds disgusting 🙂
DG, ha ha re the prices, just one of many reasons i avoid them…
10p? That all?!! Jeez. Glad I always defend Osbourne to my scummy Labour supporting friends…..
I’m on manoeuvres gang catch you later….
Hi Rico. Ten pence per litre? I will have to cut back on something.
Disgusting?!! Are you on glue?! It’s amazing! I never thought anything sould trump Coffee Republic’s Large hot chocolate with hazlenut and whipped cream… But the Gingerbread sure does just that!
hazlenut syrup*
You’re right Adam. I’m thinking of cutting back on life as a whole, just so I can drive.
I was thinking of one less bottle of champagne a week Rocky.
See you Lee, have a good evening……
night Lee
Rock you and WATH know your juices. I like the sound of that XL hazelnut cocoa. Yummmm.
Rico. Are they laying yet?
or maybe just the one tin of caviar a week?! Or buying Tesco Blue Stripe jam instead of the fancy stuff….?!
That 10p rise is a scam, wait for the oil tanker driver to strike next, then they will all block the army from taking over their role and then, petrol will go down y 10p 😉 😉
Me cynical, for sure I am not…..
Catch you laters Lee.
Hi Adam, me too and I can’t think what at this moment…
I know it won’t be eggs as no, those lazy b******s are yet to produce any….
Rocky. Tesco Blue Stripe. Surely not. Standards must be maintained.
😛 rocky – but I don’t drink coffee…..
Have their crowns turned red Rico?
That’s the beuty of it Rico…. you can’t taste the coffee… It’s not as sickly as it sounds. It truly is a delight!!
Adam. I say stuff like that to my wife, and I get called a snob!! Luckily, she’s not bought it yet… But she threatens me with it! (although for the most part, I’m sure it’s not that much different…. !)
jesus, my spelling… Beauty*
Of all the jam from the main companies I think Little Scarlett and the Tiptree Mulberry are the best. The latter is rare so buy it when you see it because you might not see it again for years. The Tesco stuff is all sugar with a whiff of fruit.
Tesco stripey jam is lovely, no pips 😛
Rico Watch the petrolstation asking ‘Will that be diamonds, platinum card, gold or coupons, madam?’
Oooooh, I love a pip! The challenge of getting them out of your teeth with just your tongue is like nothing else!
When I used to work in a Beefeater when I was 18 (some 16 years ago) whenever we ran out of bread, we always went to tesco to buy loads of their blue stripe bread! It was only about 20p a loaf, and was pretty decent! No shelf life whatsoever, but pretty good nonetheless!
About 10 years back when I was working in the UK, tesco’s were promoting all their own brands for a penny each, a guy I worked with must have bought about 20 tins of beans, he thought he was getting a great bargain, he used to heat them up in the microwave at lunchtime, I kid you not, it really was a case of spot the bean, the tin was full of juice, makes me laugh thinking about it.
It’s just something about coffee rocky, my tum doesn’t like it….
😆 DG, you know the best thing I ever did was become the very proud owner of a Toyota IQ 🙂
rocky, it’s come a long way since then, it lasts for ages…. in the freezer…
Being a southern snob though, i prefer making my own 😉
Micko, that makes the beans quite expensive 😉
Smart girl you. Had to Google, looks nice especially in white with a sunroof.
Times don’t change Micko!! I remember a few years back we were staying in a cottage in te Lake District, and there were a few provisions left for us by the owners, which was a nice touch. I spotted some Sainsburys Economy beans and sausages in there which I claimed. After a long morning’s walk one day, I decided I was going to hurt these beans as soon as I got in, and was really looking forward to them (I think you can see where this is going….). My heart sank when I tipped the can into a bowl to cook. There was 1 (Yes, 1) sausage in there, which was broken in half, almost to give the impression I was getting more than I actually was, and a mass of juice, with very few beans. I was distraught!
Is the IQ basically a SMART car?
DG, mines silver with air con 🙂
Nothing like them rocky, they are wider, more space to get a couple of small people on the back seat – turns on a sixpence and 60 miles to the gallon – love it, it’s a smashing little city car…
Almost to give the impression i was getting more than i actually was, that’s a great line rocky !
Catch you all tomorrow, over and out.
Rock if they packed it in a thimble you wouldn’t have been disappointed. It’s the can that makes a hungry mind.
Catch you 2morrow Micko.
Speaking of food, off for dinner. 🙂
Night Micko!
Nighty Micko, have a corker 🙂
DG, enjoy dinner….
as long as the thimble was packed with 10 sausages still in one piece, it would satisfy me!
Never actually seen an IQ Rico, so can’t pass judgement. My dad picks me up from the station every night (gives him something to do) and sometime’s he picks me up in my mum’s Smart car. I hate it. With a passion. We look like a right couple of fruits. There are 2 things I wasn’t built for… Running, and sitting in a Smart car!
Isn’t the IQ a car that shares platforms with Peugeot and Citroen? Is it a city car for a thrusting career girl that lives in the country Rico? By the way, I will be heading westward down the M3 next month so perhaps we could meet for a cuppa if I am passing nearby chez Rico?
I’m off to cook dinner too, back in a bit…..
My uncle had a smart car, i hated it too, too low to the ground, hard and bumpy ride rocky, honest, the IQ is a smooth dude….
Bad choice of words Adam, from me I mean, it is a city car but its also great for the country lanes and nipping into car park spaces in ‘town’ 😉
I live in the country, but not quite in the sticks 😉
That would be fab Adam…
Back in a bit, getting hungry…..
Sorry Romford didn’t see you in moderation 😉
‘It’s only Ray Parlour’……
Eat your words Tim Lovejoy 😛
Adam, different model, it’s the Toyota Aygo, Citreon C1 and the Peugeot 107 that are the same car with different labels, bit like value beans 😉
Def off now to eat….
Except you probably get more sausages with the Peugeot….
I am super impressed with your automotive knowledge Rico. Bon appetito!
Full tum and back for a little while before my monday dose of soaps 😉
Don’t be Adam, just a little research before purchase 😉
Who needs Clarkson when we got Rico……………..
Eveining Wath, i think you will fine that i am more politically correct that our Jeremy 🙂
Evening Rico / WATH
Talking political correct, Mike Dean you prick.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/did-mike-dean-celebrate-another-goal-against-arsenal-adel-taarabts-opener-for-qpr/
Evening DG, Mike Dean is a twit of the first degree….
Firefox won’t let me view that vid DG, is it as bad as the others he has celebrated….
Rico content been removed due to rights issues. Haven’t seen it either but I take the words ‘ hands in the air for seconds what appeared to be awkwardly close to celebrating ‘ as no smoke without fire. There’s really no reason for a ref to be caught in such physical signs of emotions imo.
Morning all.
Same here DG, as soon as i saw he was the ref, i thought we were doomed……
Hi Scott – good sleep i hope?
DG, Dean is a cnut of the highest order he hates us…. The first time Zamora jumps into TV and nothing is given you know whats going to happen although lets be honest most refs hate us so why moan about it just get on with it…! Mornin Scott.
Would love to stay around but….
It’s late for me so you guys be safe and have a good night, Scott, you have a good day….
Catch you all tomorrow…
Nighty night
Morning Scotty.
Anyone picked up on the racist tweet-story addressed at Muamba. Good he got prosecuted.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/27/student-jailed-fabrice-muamba-tweets?mobile-redirect=false
Night Rico, sweet dozing.
Morning Rico.
Just reading everything on Song,and my thoughts were made clear,takes me back a few weeks when I suggested his importance,or impact,to the team is underrated.
I said simply that if he plays well,we play well but if he has a shocker,so do we.
Could I have been more correct,because he had a shocker on the weekend.
Should we give up on him being a defensive midfielder,and let him do is thing forward???
Was my analysis only correct because of our lack of creativity from others…hence,if he’s creating chances,we do well,because few others are making opportunities.
Now,he can still be crucified for his defending on the weekend,and his fancy chips were woeful,but if we think back,who of our other midfielders actually DID create any chances???
Maybe we are actually being harsh on Song,as we were expecting him do the lot!!!!
That’s a backpedal,I know,but I have to be honest that he had a shocker,we had a shocker,so again I ask,is he more important than we realise?
If our midfielders were creating chances,he’d have stayed back,making the odd charge forward,but possibly would have been in position to stop,or assist at least,both goals.
Jack is needed back more than we realise.
See where your coming from Scott but for me Song is neither one thing nor the other, his fancy flicks and trying to play the ball through the eye of a needle are just plain stupid… when we play teams that give us space his lob pass over the top works but as I said and have said for years he lacks discipline… he gets wrong side time and again and gives away far to many stupid fouls…. He doesn’t give us tempo but in games where we have space he looks better than what he is in my opinion. For me he gets told to sit deep and cover the back four and let Arteta dictate the game not the other way round. When he is bad we suffer as we have no other midfielders to get stuck in and do the donkey work and hand on heart for me he does that ok but not great so when he doesn’t do it well we suffer badly…!.
I know your gonna say i’m being harsh but that’s how I see him…! I’d take M’Vila over Song any day of the week…!
WATH I met a spitting image of Dean at the superstore today. The same fragile build that can make a 40watt bulb into a x-ray machine. The miserable sod hastened his trod when we approached the cashier and had this self-important grimace on him when he nicked 5 minutes from me.
Scott that was a thought of mine as well, should we allow Song to develop more creativity? Well yes if there’s someone who can cover. Wenger has been clear on this weekend though. He told press we had the basics wrong.
DG, if we had the basics wrong who picks the team and who tells them how to play… common sense tells a player when to cover or to get forward the manager should not need to tel pro footballers that but is that part of the problem that wenger just gives them free reign to do what they want hence we lose shape as we are far to gung ho and no one takes responsibility in making sure bottom line we defend properly..?
I agree Wath,but maybe his position should be more defined….to him at least.
Forward or back,not in between,but tell him.
Morning Dutch.
Just a second WATH let me get you Wenger’s mobile, you tell him yourself. Joking mate. True assessment imo.
DG, you think me telling him would make him listen… not a chance, mr stubborn listens to no one….!
Scott your right to a point mate but any decent footballer with a brain knows what he should and should not be doing on the pitch, you can see if your getting caught out of position so you say to yourself ok listen no more over the half way line we getting caught out here let me sit intercept go forward at the right times… you really should not need to be told and that for me is the problem with the 4-3-3 system when we have basically 5 attacking players and only Song who’s supposed to be more defensive yet he really isn’t and that where we come unstuck…!
WATH sure he will, if you tell him you hold the French Parrot Sarkozy for ransom.
I made a similar remark today that a professional should access his effectiveness while playing.
Wath,that is assuming that because a man can play football he is intelligent.
His haircut should give you a hint lol.
Any player with a footballing brain knows whats going on around him DG, I knew when I was playing if we were getting over run in midfield or if i was playing to deep or getting to far forward, your other midfielders need to cover you and also think and we seem to lack that far to often…! I’m told Wengers says players don’t need to be told well when you see it happening time and again maybe they do need to be told and told that they can get forward by all means BUT think about your position and that of your team mates, who is covering you if you get forward and who is covering them when they go forward…? Discipline and a footballing brain is all you need also someone at the back to make sure they shout out to the players in front of them not to all go haring forward and to cover and stay back…! Not rocket science is it…!
Scott………….. U finally got it 😉 I see Song as a player in Dev’s words… Not a footballer…! He has no footballing brain…!
Exactly the reason Arteta is playing deeper.
He’s a footballer,and recognises we have guys venturing forward too often,and hus creativity is suffering.
That’s the problem though Scott, Arteta is a footballer and see’s the game well, he creates space and dictates tempo… he should be driving forward not sitting deep worrying cos Song has gone running off like a headless chicken… Arteta sees the danger but isn’t really a solid enough midfielder to hold the midfield and win headers and tackles… he wins his share but he’s not there for that. That means we wasting his brain and flair…!
Scott, does that mean the players are to scared to tell wenger to sort it out and that some players need to be told…??? Why doesnt Arteta tell Song to sit deep and stay where he should while Arteta and Rosicky dictate the tempo and create…? Something isn’t right…!
WATH I once thought out that it would make sense developing training software connected to earpieces. You would program instructions for each individual, when they execute correctly it gives no tone but when you mess up it would raise the pitch volume on a annoying squeal. Just to drill formation, formation, formation.
I still vividly remember 5 players gathering around the mid-circle for when we just scored. Resulting in a counter goal straight from kick-off.
DG, i like that………….. a high pitched squeal in their ears screaming… Cnut……………………… 😉
Some of the things we do leaves you shaking your head in disbelief…!
gathering around mid-circle for tea and biscuits*
DG, wasn’t that Swansea away…?
I had that brain wave years ago when PSV Eindhoven tested a digital tracking system on their training pitch. It used high poles at each corner flag pinning down positions and plotting movements of each player. I thought it made sense to combine it with my idea.
CNUT works for me. 😛
Can you imagine how many times Chamakh would get called a cnut in his earpiece 😀
I hope you guys are copping my hints that,though I love Wenger,I am the first to admit he makes mistakes.
All these problems are for him to fix.
The talent is there,the structure,not quite.
WATH I wasn’t sure so I left it out but you could be right on Swansea.
The idea was also about improving shooting and passing, giving acknowledgment beeps when the ball was hit correctly inches from a receiving player or hit marks on the net of the goal.
In psychology it’s called ‘mental conditioning’.
Chamug 😛
Must admit Scott quite impressed you not moaned at me for saying lots of this shit is wengers fault….! Basic stuff that should be routine yet we seem to struggle with basics and routine stuff and then make the hard stuff look easy…! I still say he needs a no2 that challenges him BUT will Mr ego allow that………..? I think not but leats see in the summer who he chooses.. a yes man or someone to push him on to better things..?
We’d have a few platers going deaf from perforated ear drums DG……….. can you imagine the problems Denilson would have lol…!
Mental conditioning…. Hmmmmmmmmmm less pampering would help a lot…!
Scott many bloggers here have said the most important signing next season will be new co-coach(es).
I don’t think the signal would reach Brazil WATH. He doesn’t receive rave reviews in his homeland at the moment.
Lets hope his return flight doesn’t reach England DG……….
Right i’m off for the evening… cuppa time and a bit of tv…. Cheers DG have a good evening and you have a good day Scott…
Lata…………
Mental conditioning has to do with recognizing correct body positions when hitting the ball. Less pampering with mental resilience.
Night WATH enjoy the rest of the twilight. Scott have a good day I’m off too to pop a wheat water. 😉
Goodbye gents.
Yes,a hardnut needs to be Wengers no.2.
Arsene Wenger may have to break Arsenal transfer record to sign Yann M’Vila from Rennes
Rennes have told Arsenal target Yann M’Vila that he can leave this summer but, with Real Madrid and Inter Milan also interested, Arsène Wenger would almost certainly need to break his transfer record to sign him.
By Jeremy Wilson
9:33PM BST 02 Apr 2012
2 Comments
Wenger made an inquiry for M’Vila last summer but Rennes eventually persuaded the 21-year-old to sign a new contract on the understanding that they would allow him to leave this year, subject to an acceptable offer.
They still intend to honour that agreement but would want at least £17 million for a player who has already being hailed in France, where he is an established international, as the next Claude Makelele.
Arsenal’s club record signing is still Andrei Arshavin at £15 million but, with Wenger having made holding midfield one of his transfer priorities this summer, it is thought that he would be prepared to surpass that for M’Vila.
There was certainly encouragement on Monday from M’Vila who strongly hinted that Wenger’s personal influence could be decisive.
“Inter, Arsenal, Real — these are great clubs,” he said. “If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything. The important thing for me is getting playing time for the France team.”
Arsenal, though, will have a clear idea of what they regard as value for money and, if the asking price is excessively inflated by the interest of Real and Inter, they will move on to other targets.
Anderlecht captain Lucas Biglia is also on Wenger’s radar. Arsenal have already agreed terms with Cologne on the £11 million signing of Germany forward Lukas Podolski and Wenger also has an interest in Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen.
Former Gunner Jens Lehmann says he believes Lukasz Podolski has got what it takes to play in the Premier League, but has warned his former international teammate that he can’t go through the motions.
Speaking to Bild, Lehmann talked up the qualities of the Cologne hitman, but sounded a warning that the pace of the game in England, and the pressure, will be different from what he’s used to in the Bundesliga.
“He is quick, dangerous in front of the goal, and has a good pass. I’m happy for him if he soon joins Arsenal,” he said.
“It won’t be easy though. He will have to get used to the pace, and he will have to realise that participating is not enough. You must win. Expectations are very high.”
Arsenal’s winning streak came to an end so abruptly they could almost be forgiven for dwelling on their shortcomings against Queens Park Rangers.
But rather than mulling over a 2-1 defeat which came after seven consecutive League victories, captain Robin van Persie has encouraged his side to switch their focus to Manchester City’s visit on Sunday.
The Dutchman, who for the first time this season has not scored in three consecutive League matches, also denied that the squad’s lead over Tottenham had made them complacent.
“We will have a couple of days to be disappointed but after that our focus is on Manchester City,” he said.
“Everyone is disappointed but towards the end of the week I am sure the spirit will be how it was.
“Even last week when we were three points ahead with eight games to go we never thought it was done.
“We have seven big games to play but if you look at the big name teams then we have City and Chelsea. As a football fan I always like to play those games and one of them is next week.”
Van Persie feels Arsenal must head into the final stage of what has been a difficult season in positive mood.
“We have seven more games to play and I believe we can come third,” added the 28-year-old.
“It won’t be easy, everyone is fighting for every point and our opportunity is next week against Manchester City.
“We have to go for it and believe — and we will.”
What a pair of unprofessional idiots:
http://twitter.com/#!/TheGoonerFather/status/186933562459701248/photo/1
New Post up
Morning….