Morning all.
‘When you start supporting a football club, you don’t support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history, you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong.’
Mesut Ozil on Twitter.
Many, not all I know, support any football club because they’re born into it. Either born in the area or someone in the family has a major influence on their decision. For others though, me included, it just happened. Charlie George in the 1971 FA Cup Final was my moment.
I think what Mesut Ozil feels at home with is the £350k a week. But the reality is, for the sake of the club, the fans and our football, he’s got to play. Something between him and the manager has to give, or rather someone and in my opinion it has to be Unai Emery. Ozil is being clever, he’s saying all the right things on social media, he’s supporting his fellow teammates and he’s spreading his love for the club. Can we see through it, of course, he’s playing a game only this one isn’t on the pitch. Stay or go this summer, right now Emery needs to be the bigger man because otherwise this whole ridiculous scenario could cost him his job. If he plays and starts creating chances from which we score, Ozil might just be the guy to keep Emery in his job too as odd as that sounds.
Who’d have thought that here we are in February of Unai Emery’s first season and already his job appears to be in danger. But what happens if we turn the BATE tie around next Thursday and go on to win the Europa Cup, or nick fourth spot and with it secure Champions League football next season?
The question has been raised on here about whether or not the club should allow Emery funds to spend in the summer with the way things are going but why not? Haven’t Torreira, Guendouzi and Sokratis been good for the team? I don’t think the problem would be with who he’d like to bring in, his problem is having a few he’d probably have never signed in the first place.
Admittedly, I thought we’d be better than we are, I thought we’d be more organised defensively and certainly more exciting going forwards too but is it the right time to throw in the towel and start over again with a different manager? If so, who? Because I doubt very much that the club will break the bank and go for a top notch manager. Even if they tried to, without being assured a bumper war chest in the summer, who’d want the job?
Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean I think we should stick with Unai Emery for the sake of it but perhaps changing him already is a bit too soon. Even Utd gave Mourinho two and a half seasons before sacking him. Mind you, David Moyes and van Gaal weren’t so fortunate…
Ps. Well done to Freddie’s team who beat the neighbours 4-0 last night. Come on Emery, give more youth a chance…..
See you in the comments guys.
The first person through the door following Wenger was always on a hiding to nothing just as Moyes was at United.. 22 years of one vision does not get erased in 5 minutes. Not only has the manager changed though so have the other two power bases in the club as well. The senior management has been shaken up and the ownership is now 100% Kroenke.
Despite Emery hoping for a long term at the helm , I doubt that the owners see it that way . His job is to keep us in the hunt and clear the club of the Wenger dynasty and make the way for the club to move forwad again. This is why he was given 2 years and a bit.
At the moment he seems to be trapped on a treadmill going round in circles , injuries haven’t helped but’s definitely one step forward and then back again.
You are right to ask who else ? after all Van Gaal was a big name and so was Mourinho but they couldn’t turn things round for United . Perhaps like them a dip into a back player that knows the way of the club might bring dividends but the history of TA 4 or TH14 doesn’t give off too much optimism. Maybe it’s Freddie but would he take the chalice with the malice so soon in his managerial career.?
Patrick Vieria perhaps Potter? He’s the only ex player I can think of off the top of my head. He has managerial experience.
I often wondered if Emery was just the stop gap myself, you’re right though, whoever took over was on a hiding to nothing if his impact wasn’t immediate.
And the bloke who appointed him has gone..
Perhaps Mertesacker is in the frame. With the way our club do things, or certainly seem to, a big managerial name following Emery should he and the club part ways, is about as likely as us us winning the league in May. In my opinion.
morning all!
Charlie George! 🙂
Is he free to play for Arsenal again?
Ha ha Jm, how many chances did he miss though during that final? Lol
And why was Wilson so far off his near post when Heighway shot , Did Kelly or Graham touch it , Why were the scousers so quiet ?
Who cares , a few beers on the way home and then off to Seven sisters , take the shelf and have a great roar up a couple of days later. 71 our first double ,
They weren’t quiet. They did the greatest Walk-On I’ve ever seen.
The game at Spurs came first. I was at both.
Similar with Seaman when Giggs scored ‘that’ goal but in his case, he went to ground to early. Had he stood tall, he might have stopped it..
A good year Jimmy. I’m far too young to remember it well though…. lol
Potter/Rico, how was Emery on a hiding to nothing?
If Wenger was truly as bad as you said he was, surely, any manager with a hint of ability was going to improve the club.
It should’ve been an easy gig.
Morning all.
Good post Rico and great to remember the first Double that was started by the Fairs Cup win . I was at most of the home games from 65 onwards. Many years of being a mid table team then success for a while.
As you say its still early days for Emery and many of his squad are not of his choice. But until the end of the season he has no real option, but to go with the players that he currently has and that means playing Ozil in games. I know that he has gone missing in most of the big games, and he is a luxury player in many peoples eyes, but he could create chances for the front two players and should be given a run of games. It would mean the rest of the team putting in an extra shift, but that’ with the comments.s what has to happen when you have a “luxury’ player on your books.
Great response from Potter, always very thoughtful
Morning Rico and all. If it was even remotely clear what Unai is trying to achieve with this squad then I might think that he ‘could’ be the man. I am no football manger or tactician but I can’t see it at all. Kolasinac bombing down the wing, waiting for the pass from Iwobi to cut the ball into the box might be a good ploy IF it was part of a tactical masterclass by our manager. From what I see, it’s about the only way he sees us creating chances and although it has merits, it won’t be long until decent teams snuff it out at source and with Kolasinac being such an average defender I can’t see the future in it, especially as a main scoring tactic.
My fear is that the board will go all soft and squidgy as they did with Wenger and might well throw the season away and go with Emery for next season too.
From what I have been watching we have had very, very few really good performances this season and it’s worrying. We are getting worse and for those who rightfully cite the poor quality of our defenders I would ask that they compare the Bate Borisov defenders who are surely worse than ours. But with a bit of coaching, organisation, preparation and a lot of determination, they shut out a side supposedly competing for a CL place in the PL.
it doesn’t stack up for me. I know there is no patience in the game anymore and I know, because I am reminded on a daily basis, that Pep and Klopp had shakey starts too. But I can’t remember ever feeling that either was as inept as Unai now looks.
The decision for the board is to stick or twist. They stuck with Wenger and the ripples are still being felt. There are some really serious issues at stake here. I say it’s time to be brave.
This, being Arsenal, means we are always closer to a disaster than anyone thinks.
So was I Jimmy but obviously I either drank too much or age is catching up with me..
I don’t see how replacing a guy whose footprints were stomped all over the club for 22 years was ever every going to be an ‘easy gig’ Scott. If it was, Emery would surely be flying with this team right now.
Morning Adam. You put a very good argument across for change. I can’t see Raul sticking his head in the sand though. The power struggle has gone now and if the board believe the axe should fall on Emery, I think they’ll act. The fans at the Emirates will I’m sure play their part, after all it’s them and the away fans who hold the cards really.
Thanks marinello. My head spins over Emery. One day I think just make the change now and move on but the on another day, watching individual performances makes me have a rethink believing not even a guy like Simeone could torn players like Kolasinac, Mustafi and Xhaka into good defensive players.
Could Pep turn Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Aubameyang, Ozil into an exciting attacking unit? Wenger didn’t, Emery can’t, so perhaps there’s the answer to my own question.
Rico, seems no matter what the line of discussion, it can be twisted so Wenger is to blame:
He was a bad manager, and because of that, was blamed for players not improving, yet when he left, those same players haven’t improved because suddenly they aren’t good enough and Wenger is to blame for buying them.
No matter the case, we haven’t improved and that’s a concern, and blaming wenger won’t solve the problem, imo.
I’m hoping time will.
Not by many here though Scott. As my comment said, Wenger couldn’t, Emery can’t so at some stage one has to perhaps accept the bleedin obvious. As I said before, time changes opinion often.
Mind you, there’s no denying who signed most of our players and I’m still glad that the academy players won’t be affected by his weak managerial approach.
Rico: I like you, look at individual performances as well as team performance. My constant gripe is over players like Xhaka, Iwoeful, and Mustafi who appear to switch off at crucial periods in a game. Iwoeful runs at players in wide areas then gets tangled up with his own feet, and never knows when to release a cross or a pass at the right time. As for the Man City game, as Bill Shankly always said ‘Play football in your opponents half of the pitch, not your own…”
So there are players that need to move off at the end of the season as they just are not performing for whatever reason as they should be. To replace them will either cost a lot of money or one introduces the youth players that have gained experience out on loan.
Rico, the academy could well be our future.
Could be a good thing, to be honest.
Marinello, I like you too. 😂
Seriously though, seems like we’re on a similar page. Emery could perhaps change Iwobi to Willock who this season has looked quite at home in the first team imo. Against BATE, why not take a chance with Eddie who being smaller than our other strikers might just have cause a different kind of problem. The exclusion of Mavropanos in the Europa squad doesn’t make sense because game after game Mustafi makes mistakes. Jenks at right back, with AMN on the right wing might see a better attacking option.
It’s the not trying different options and persisting with some which irks. But then on the other hand, try and fail with them and Emery will be criticised. Not by everyone of course…
G’day to you all, I’m just about recovered from Thursday’s horror show, the football that is, not the couple of pints and a game of cribbage.
It’s really all we’ve come to expect from Arsenal of late, we had become inured to it under Wenger but hoped that Emery could improve on some pretty sad performances under the old regime. Given time I believe Emery can improve things but he will have to take drastic action to do so.
Watching our lot lapse into a slow, and inaccurate, passing game in Belarus the lack of a creative midfielder was blindingly obvious. Mesut Ozil must play!
I don’t know who is responsible for coaching the defence, it looks the same shambles as under the tutelage of Bould, so I can only surmise that he’s still in charge. That must change!
I feel sorry for Bernd Leno having to play behind the Keystone Cops must be terribly demoralising. Cech’s hopes of winning the Europa League as a finale to his playing career look decidedly dodgy.
The Bate team are already in London, acclimatising and preparing for the second leg. Apparently they flew tourist class on the same flight as some of our returning away supporters. That after a team meal in the airport KFC restaurant.
Looking forward to the return leg? I’m not. 😉
Of course Scott. Not only because many of them appear to be good enough to get their chance but we’re not a big spending club.
Jeorge Bird, Rick and Kev too, if they see something in these players then that’s good enough for me. Also, who of them when played in the Europa league group let themselves down? None I’d say and their eagerness and willingness to play and work hard is something a few of the first team players could learn from. Love or loathe Alexis Sanchez, he was a battler from start to finish and Ozil seemed to raise his own game around him. Imo anyway.
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico, yes Charlie was the King of Highbury and to me always will be.
Results, it’s all about results, if we get into the CL then Emery probably stays.
I’ve come to the conclusion that under Kroenke we are destined to remain as we are because he isn’t the slightest bit interested in Arsenal and nor is Josh.
They aren’t David Dein or Fiszman or Bracewell Smith or Hill Wood. They feel nothing for our club and we’re stuck with them for the foreseeable future.
I find it all very depressing…
I was right behind the Liverpool goal for Charlies brilliant score and I had been at The Swamp on the previous Monday to witness the first leg of the Double. Fantastic memories!
Absolutely spot on Kev. The much maligned Old Guard were Arsenal through and through. They may not have been popular with 100% of the fan base but they knew how to run a football club. Unlike the Krankies whose only interest is money.
How right our chairman was when, referring to Kroenke, he stated “we don’t want his sort here”.
Complacency has been our enemy for a long time now. If inactivity has become our default position and we continue to reward the wrong people then we can look forward to more of the same. Ambition seems to have become the first casualty.
Great post rico, thank you.
Ive been supporting The Arsenal for 64 years. Had ups and downs. Its been a helter skelter of a ride, trust me.
I too was at the Charlie George final v Liverpool. The only ticket I could get was at the Liverpool end. I had a little cheer when our first goal went in, but when Charlie scored that scorcher I forgot my self and jumped for joy. After coming down from ecstatic enjoyment I took a gulp and thought, boy I’m going to be in trouble here. No, I hadn’t needed to worry, the Liverpool fans were brilliant, no trouble at all. I cannot say the same when I was at the Arsenal end against Manure though. Absolute pigs, they started to stream out of the ground when we were 2-0 up, but soon came back, punching, spitting and plenty else when they equalised. Oh, such joy when Sunderland got the winner. Never to be forgotten.
rico…11-33……..Me too. One day I feel we will be alright, as you say Socrates, Torriera and Guendozi are fine acquisitions, and I think he will unearth some more gems in the summer. Then I hear him say “Our defence is OK, we need creative midfielders and another attacking player” ?????
This concerns me when I look at our defenders on paper. Not the best bunch that have ever played for the mighty Arsenal.
Ozil hasn’t got the minerals when he comes up against the big boys, so why not play him against bottom half opposition?
BATE was an extremely low point to the season so far, mis managed imo.
I’m hanging my hat on us making them pay next Thursday. 3 or 4 nil at least. We will progress to the next round, no doubt.
As for top four? NO chance. So why not play some of our youngsters, surely we have nothing to lose, and maybe a great deal to gain?
Thank you again for a super read. COYG
Afternoon Kev, sadly I think you’re right re the results. Win and regardless of the performance, Emery will probably be safe but if BATE knock us out next Thursday, I can see the board getting a bit twitchy. It’s them who’ll need to make changes after all, Kroenke told us that…
Was that just before he sold he shares to him Cicero 😜
NBS I believe has said since that she made the wrong choice by selling her shares to Kroenke. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
What’s intriguing me in the Twitter wars are the numbers of current and ex players liking Özils post.
This strikes me as a camp divided and I’ve never seen an endpoint from this point that doesn’t end in the manager going.
They ‘all’ say we’re a club with ambition though Adam. Josh said that only last weekend before the Super Bowl. Champions League finalists, that’s what he told us. 😅
If that’s the case and the Arsenal camp is divided, there’s only going to be one outcome imo.
Rico. Sacking a manager early has become synonymous with bad governance and panic. This is largely due to Abramovich’s impatience at Chelsea probably. I can’t really see why a decent manager couldn’t hit the ground running with this squad and the additions made in the summer. Nobody would expect him to win the league but surely some attempt to address the problems that the whole world knows we have might be expected.
Most Arsenal fans I know are quite happy with Emery if they could see what he was trying to do and if he was moving the team forward.
Just wanted to put the brakes on the praise that Emery is getting for his current signings. As was reported at the tim, all of the summers deals, bar one, were done before Emery signed for us. Apparently the Guendouzi contract was still to be signed, but the medical and everything else was done.
Supposedly his choices for the last window were Banega (30), Perisic (30) Suarez (25), (Carrasco (25), Nzonzi (30) and Nkunku (21).
As I’ve said before, if Suarez doesn’t turn out to be an improvement then I don’t trust Emery with the little funds we have left.
Thanks Vcc. For a split second I was confused over your Sunderland comment, then I remembered Alan, not a team up north….
I too think we’ll win on Thursday, despite the approach the other night, they’ll want it for Cech if little else.
Top four is still on I reckon. Chelsea have problems of their own and Utd, well I guess a lot depends on how they react after losing under Ole for the first time. We know what that did for us…
Adam, I certainly feel we should be better than we are right now. I can’t work out why we’re not unless he’s trying to sort out too many things at one time and it’s gone to pot.
Hobart, the key word is ‘reportedly’ – Benaga wouldn’t have been a bad addition would he?
Hi Rick, hi everyone.
Charlie George, what a player! I was a young boy glued to the Telly, enthralled by the whole occasion, and naturally delighted when big Frank lifted the Cup and completed our amazing ‘Double’.
A league campaign of 42 games, one of which was a 5-0 loss at Stoke. (I only mention that because of the great Gordon Banks).
Hi Scott.
You do like playing to the crowd, don’t you.
It’s completely wrong to say Arsene Wenger is/was a bad manager.
His record at Highbury is better than Chapman’s, it is only after Arsenal left Highbury that his and Arsenal began a slow decline.
As fans, we will never know the financial implications of building a brand new stadium, or the impact on Arsenal’s ability to compete in an extremely expensive transfer market. When you’re shopping for bargains it is always a gamble on their quality, and their willingness to embrace the club’s philosophy.
I have a lot of respect for Arsene Wenger, he gave us a brand of football that was respected world–wide, but since moving to the Emirates, Arsenal have lurched awkwardly further and further away from those standards.
When we were a relatively small outfit, playing in front of 38,000 at Highbury, Wenger was supreme, on the bigger stage of the Emirates, he looked a bit exposed, as if he’d over-reached in terms of his ability. In their heart of hearts, Scott, not many Arsenal fans will consider Wenger a bad manager, just a one-time legendary manager who stayed on too long.
Arsenal’s budget has been so tight, Emery has had little opportunity to overhaul what is an average squad, and as others have said, when one individual’s philosophy has dominated the club for 22 years, it’s going to take a while.
The Ozil situation is horrible, and highlights just how poorly Arsenal use their resources.
He was bought at a time when we were desperate for a predatory striker ( and two days after an opening day 3-1 defeat at home against Aeon Villa), so he was an answer to a question that didn’t exist.
He was the wrong signing, because whatever talent he possesses, Ozil is the player you buy when you have all the other components in place. The quality around him has been no-where near good enough, he knows that, but when you’re offered a King’s ransom for very little in return, who among us would refuse?
One of the fundamental differences for me is pitch dimensions. At Highbury the ground was relatively small, the pitch was tight, and Arsenal utilised it perfectly with fast counter-attacking football. The dimensions are so much bigger at the Emirates, it is impossible to replicate.
But Emery and Arsenal will do nothing without significant investment.
Even after a major shake–up of significant staff, including the manager and CEO, we are still waiting for a true identity to emerge from the smoke and mirrors, and it feels like we’re being mugged off.
Arsenal are miles away from both Manchester City, United, and Liverpool.
Both Liverpool and Tottenham have schooled Arsenal in how to conduct a successful transfer policy, and it’s paying dividends on the pitch. Clearly Tottenham won’t win anything, but they’re leaving us behind.
People need to search their hearts and minds at Arsenal, apply the necessary intelligence and expenditure for the club to have any hope of being a footballing force once again.
Time for Stan Kroenke to show his true colours.
Scott , I am back from working so can now answer you.
The fan base was divided about Wenger and still is. The early euphoria kept things down but as soon as the pear shaped form appeared so did the calls for his head.
Wenger’s shadow still haunts the club and that’s why I used the phrase Hiding to nothing. Whoever came in ,it was instant success or the knives would be out .
The question is is it the Wenger supporters that are now holding said knives or just the twitter , snapchat brigade that love the sounds of their own voices.
*Sorry, that should read ‘Hello Rico’.
G’day all of you – nice to see some fresh input (nothing wrong with what went before by the way) , &, your HH is certainly catching on Rico.
I liked your “motives for joining a club” input – as for me, I attached myself to Arsenal in 1959 when I stayed with my brother during some school holidays when he lived in Tufnell Park – The Gunners with their red shirts and a cannon on their badge really appealed, & also because I could walk there. I was 12 and totally taken up with the atmosphere inside Highbury.
They were the days when a friend and I went to a Spuds match (Arsenal were “away”) and we were at the back of the stand and couldn’t see what was happening so the guys in front of us just picked us up and passed us overhead to the next guys and so on, all the way to the front.
Brilliant!
This friend’s father was a banker with strong connections within the inner circle of the club and when that Cup Final came up with Liverpool, we had the best seats in the house.
What a day!
Emery has a language problem so is not easy to understand but, is making progress….slowly. Could this be a problem for some of the players during coaching?
Here’s a thought that MIGHT explain some of our problems – we have a team full of foreigners so what is the common language?
If Özil was playing, in a match, and spoke only in German, anything he said or proposed wouldn’t be understood so, do do the first team have language communication problems? How many nationalities in the starting 11 were playing against Bate for example?
Cicero, I was just to right of the goal in1971, about half way up the stand, it was brilliant.
Winning the FACup meant something in those days, it was about trophies, glory, beating Anderlecht, Tottenham, Leeds, now it’s about money, the 4th place trophy and foreign owners, the whole thing is eating itself.
I remember players like Rocky Rocastle, Frank McLintock, George Armstrong, Bob Wilson, the club meant something to them, it was part of who they were and then I think of Mesut Ozil and what a wanker he is.
It’s gone mate, the club I knew Cicero, we left it behind at Highbury…
Now it’s just a massive, soulless, money making machine…
I just rechecked the Bate goal in highlights and there were 8 Arsenal players in a line and 5 Bate. Guendouzi was nearest the freekick but was not involved when the cross came in.
Lacazete was next and then Xhaka and, as I said yesterday (sorry to be repetitive – must stop that) where was the defensive will and desire to clear that ball and, more importantly, WHY is it missing? It’s as if they couldn’t give a “tuppeny toss” – substitute “fuck” if you like……..?
If Tony Adams isn’t still managing why not get him in as head defensive coach?
Just a thought….
Hi Herb, good to see you back. Agree re Kroenke to show his true colours now. He ‘owns’ the club, prove he’s serious for once.
I still wish Wenger had left years before he did because in the end, he suffered because of his early success. 2005 fa cup final was a warning sign, the 2006 CL final should have been the end. But he did what an addict does, especially a gambler, he tried to chase his losses but forgetting that his chances of him doing that were hampered by the stadium move. Plus, he’d lost his mate Dein, the guy who would make good things happen and knew what our club meant to the fans.
Nice story Andorra.
I can see where you’re coming from re the language issues. It wasn’t so bad when Wenger signed many overseas players because most were French. 😜
2-55 Kev, spot on. These younger players coming through will hopefully feel the same about Arsenal. They’re are fans first and foremost I’d imagine and it’s a privilege for them to be playing for the club they support.
Just why I’d rather see Jenks than Lichtsteiner because he might not be perfect, but we know we’ll get from him as far as effort goes..
This is from Football London about the BATE match and the board members watching on:
‘Fahmy shook his head over and over again, Vekatesham slumped in his chair while an ashen-faced Sanllehi soon headed for the exit. This was not the result anyone had been expecting.’
‘The vision that has been set out from the top brass has been clear. Champions League football is a must and winning the Europa League is arguably Arsenal’s best route back into Europe’s elite competition.’
https://goo.gl/images/tEuQGh
Rocky was spot on…
Evening all and thanks Rico for a great post.
I think we are going to destroy Bate, but I must admit that a draw or loss would keep me a lot more amused by the fallout than winning.
As I`ve said many a time ……….Dick was way down on my list of Wenger replacements and think the board were bamboozled and brainwashed by his interview technigue where he was rumoured to know everything about the squad of players, something the rumoured 3 interviewers knew fcuk all about ! hahaha
Was always Simeone for me, but he has just gone and signed a new contract………………….the next was Arteta and I`m still perplexed how he did not get the job seeing as he knew more about the club than Dick and with the added bonus of knowing Peps secret training technigues !…………………probably pissed Sanllehi off by bedding Zeta Jones wearing his Zorro mask !
The Juve` manager must be laughing his head off at the rumour that he was going to get the job !…………………yeah, like he was going to leave a trophy hoarding juggernault to manage Arsenal with not money for transfers but the contents of Islingtons Pizza Hut !
Again as when Wenger was the manager the biggest culprit for our demise is Kroenke !
We can either bury our heads in the sand and start to blame Dick like we did Wenger and then the next manager or we can blame Kroenke !………..we are stuck with him for probably longer than most will live on this site, which means a long time of mediocrity, we are fcuked !…………………or as I prefer to say ………Stan has our hairy Jacobs clasped with the most sticky velcro hands invented ! hahaha
Thanks Lc. Why Arteta out of interest?
Kroenke obviously got his team selection and tactics wrong against BATE….
Can anyone believe that Arteta was, for a moment, considered a candidate to take the manager’s job after Wenger departed?
Just what were his qualifications? An ex Arsenal player a good, not great, midfielder. Fully indoctrinated in the Wenger management philosophy but no actual management experience. A season or so sitting next to Guardiola on City’s bench watching how, arguably one of the three best managers in the world, handled an immensely talented squad of truly world class players.
How does any of that qualify him to manage a club with a mediocre squad, little or no money to spend and an absentee owner more or less ignorant about top grade football.
Maybe after Emery has completed his two years, and Arteta has built his managerial skills, he may be worthy of the position of head coach at Arsenal but not manager.
I’m of a similar view Cicero.
No place in Leipzig’s squad for Emil Smith Rowe away to Stuttgart this evening.
Mind games rico, anyone at London Colney will tell ya Mesut never shirks training, he’s always the last player off the pitch every day only he’s like “Billy No Mates” always ploughing a lonely furrow back to the changing rooms but like you say whatever’s going on behind the scenes he should be starting, it’s plain daft.
Easy Herb, Scott’s the only bloke I know who could start a fight with his own toe-nails lol.
Rico, I’ve been trying dodge football today, so sorry to take so long to get back to you.
Banega would have been an impact signing but in my opinion we don’t have the money to spare on buying older players with no resale options.
Mislintat was going in the right direction IMO with his purchases but obviously some in the club have disagreed.
I just hope we’ve got the money to back up there transfer style.
Well if it’s any consolation I’m sure I read a little while back that Emery said he was in no hurry to take up where Mislintat left off, said he always believed in structures thank Gawd !
Potter, I reckon most on social media calling for Emery’s head are people who were also excited when we got him, and were calling for Wengers head so can tend to chop and change their minds pretty quickly.
Yes, I’ve seen some comments from the staunchest of Wenger supporters saying “told you so” but really, that’s just silly as no matter what anyone has ever said or written, Wengers time was well and truly up and those people really are few and far between from what I’ve noticed.
Honestly, the biggest concern is when long term supporters of the club, those who admired Wenger but realised he had to go-the moderates, for want of a better term-are already questioning Emery, I think he’s in a bit of trouble.
Herb, all I’ll address is your comment that Arsenal and Emery will do nothing without significant investment.
Fair call, and exactly the same thing could’ve been said about Arsenal and Wenger.
So even when I defended Wenger against criticism and abuse, I said for a few years I believed he should go, but no matter who came in, they’d be up against it because of the lack of financial support.
Tell me where that’s “playing to the crowd” and explain to me where I’m wrong, in your opinion.
Micko, as usual, you slink up from behind and offer very little but hey, I’m sure you think you’re funny 🙂
Because as Cicero said……………………he knows Peps secrets and I`m sure as I was a long while back persuaded by Adam that Pep even without money would make Arsenal a better team !………………………..so I believe basically in what Adam said ! hahaha
Not sure Kroenke even knows where or what Bate is, but he sure is responsible for all the money he has invested in the team, same as Mansour and Abramovitch are responsible for all the trophies City and Chavs have won !
Hi Scott, hope you are OK after being hospitalised by your toe nails ! 😆
And Scott, it doesn`t how many thousand of times you say anything bad/anti Wenger, you will still be seen as Wenger and Dame Edna`s love child !
😆
LC, that’s true lol
I’d defend Emery against personal abuse and insults if they ever came up as well, though.
Criticism is one thing……
I’m glad you didn’t mention Rolf Harris there 🙂
Also, LC, I’d have taken Arteta in a heartbeat, because he was available, keen, technically and tactically brillant and knows the club.
Arteta tactically and technically brilliant Scott? What has he done to show this in management/coaching? That’s not me trying to be an arse, it’s real.
Surely someone like Vieira would have been a better option if were thinking of ex players because he’s been doing it for a while now. Also, he’s probably more of a club icon for the want of a better word, than Arteta will ever be.
Morning Rico and all.
Thierry’s free I believe. 😉
Morning Adam. 😀
Rico, as he’s had no managerial experience, how could anyone prove or disprove that?
I’m talking about as a player, quite clearly.
Of course, if it’s all about Icons, surely Tony Adams is the man or as Adam suggested, Thierry.
We will disregard their resumes lol
Morning all.
That’s my point though Scott, put Emery and Arteta head to head and bearing in mind the clubs situation, Arteta was never going to win the race.
Adam was being ironic.
New post up now.