Morning all,
First up it’s a silly story from The Sun. They suggest that Lukas Podolski could be set to leave in the summer. Juventus and Atletico Madrid are both keeping an eye on him and could make a move when the season ends. We’ll see eh!
Next up is the news that Jack Wilshere may not be travelling to Germany with the squad later today as he’s suffered an ankle injury in training. Well I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a couple more join him. Podolski already has. Rather than injury, maybe it’s an indication that getting into that 4th spot by the end of the season is far more important than trying to achieve the near on impossible tomorrow night.
Arteta thinks so:
With 10 games to go and to be 24 points behind [the leaders], it’s an impossible catch and that, for me, is unacceptable.
We can’t be in that position because we have the best basic structure I’ve ever seen at a football club. Great philosophy, good players, we’ve got financial backing to do whatever we want, unbelievable crowds for the stadium. Let’s go for it!
Staying in the Champions League is massive. If we don’t get in those spots it makes everything much more difficult. To any team with top players, you have to ask what’s going to happen. There’s only one answer: we want to improve the team.
We want to be better and next season we want to get more points, which means we will have won more games. I think the board know that and, hopefully, this summer we’ll do something about it.
We all want that Mikel…..
Onto today’s post from George.
Worse ever players to wear the famous Shirt
While its doom and gloom at the moment at the Emirates, I often hear and read about how kak Nicklas Bendnter first touch is, how poor Ramsey is, how slow Mertesacker is, how Walcott has no footballing brain, Chamakh, Gervinho…blah blah blah….…
I could go on but let’s face it, they aren’t as bad as some of the players I have watched over the years..
Gus Caesar
Kaba Diawara
Junichi Inamoto
Andy Linighan
David Hillier
Ian Selley
Steve Morrow
Thomas Danilevicius
Igors Stepanovs
Christopher Wreh
Francis Jeffers
Richard Wright
Jimmy Carter
Then there were also the Ghost players, the ones we’d sign and never see play.
We have some today, Wellington, Joel Campbell, Ryo, Roberts and even Park etc
A few that have left without a trace like Murphy, Stokes, Agogo etc
Those yesterdays ghosts like Amaury Bischoff, Alberto Mendez, Pal Lydersen and Glenn Helder..
It’s all cycles..
The standard has improved, while a lot of fans are moaning about TV5, remember we had Stepanovs, and whilst we have junk on our books, Squillaci is not Gus Caesar.
Some Arsenal past players weren’t actually any good but will always be remembered for their contributions like Perry Groves, Martin Hayes and John Jensen. They are cult heroes. I saw Martin Hayes last week and he bought me a pint. We chatted along with the Aldershot Chairman of 1992 Frank, and had a good old laugh about when Tony Adams drove his car into someone’s garden drunk with Ray Parlour.
Not condoning drink driving but, 2 points here.
NB52, wrong headlines, Adams ? Ok different levels of player, but footballers have that extra limelight and are human too. M Hayes was 1st div high scorer once I think 1987-88.
So why we are naturally annoyed at what dross we get and the inconsistent performances, football is histories merry-go-round.
We will always a player that hasn’t lived up to his reputation, Davor Suker anyone? But we are not alone. Remember Jardel at Bolton? Taibi at United? Tramezzani at that lot down the road?
We will always have a dud.
Some will be heroes , some cult heroes, some Chamakh’s smoking shisha pipes and others will always be remembered for high-profile guff performances. If you are still wondering why Arsene signed players like Fabianski who rolled out the ball to a Porto player, remember , it’s in our history:
Pogus Cassius “Gus” Caesar (born 5 March 1966) is an English former professional footballer.
Written by George
That’s it for another day, have a good one all……
Morning all,
Good read George, first post of many I hope 🙂
Poor old Gus, what about Cygan??
Twitter rumours Jack may be out for the remainder of the season….anyone heard anything?
On a serious note though, surely there are more, and a better scouting system now, we shouldn’t be signing duffers.
There are more players far and wide (Santos) and if we weren’t so tight these days, we would have a much deeper, stronger squad….
I don’t believe that Lee, LG’s post hints at that but Sky Sports suggest he could be back for Swansea…
Believing the sun is on a par to believing pigs fly
Hence me writing ‘silly’ gc.
Morning all.
Jack just texted me…..he reckons we will touch up the Gerrmans and he just isn’t needed 🙂
Great post George.
Podolski rumours….SHIT.
Morning Lee, Jack has inflamed ankle and not the one he was out with for so long… may miss Swansea but thats it… via John Cross..!
He’s in Dubai…ah bless!
Ha ha Scott, that’s a nice thought
Wath, naughty mischief makers on twitter eh…..
Morning all,
A very good read George. It puts thinks in perspective. I love it when long supporters like yourself and Ak,( to name a few) reminisce about the past and are actually truthful. Considering the views of most fans are skewed by the standards set by the team between 200-2004 it is refreshing to have post such as this.
It is all fair going on about how poor TV5 is and how backwards Sagna has gone since his injury but then some fans forget about the ‘carpet chested Giggs’ weaving and darting through the midfield and defence consisting of PV, Dixon, TA06 to knock us out of the FA cup. Even the great DB10 crampled under pressure to miss the penalty at 1-1.
They also forget about a 16 year old scoring the only goal (his first ever goal) against us in October 2002, when we had the so called gladiators who some choose to say never took a defeat… lol
Even during those days when we had an English bulldog in defence, those same defenders turned their backs to defend a shot but when the BFG does the same he gets slaughtered.
How many times did Ginola make Winterburn look like a Santos?
Good morning all,Thanks Scott.
Rico, Cygan could play the ball, only he wasnt a very good judge of the awkward bounce, 2nd ball. He wasnt great only we had alot worse than him lol. Igors Stepanovs was well, shocking..
Podolski is going nowhere and I genuinely beleive Jack is being rested for the Swansea game. Its a chance for Rosicky and Diaby to stake a claim, if they’re fit that is.
Arteta is another who talks the talk but doesnt walk the walk. i wish they would do the business on the Pitch. As for the Sun, what a tosh of a paper lol..Only 2 pages in there worth reading lol, or staring at shall i say
Ts, but those were ‘one offs’ what we see now is the same mistakes over and over…
tsgh, all too true..They have been spoilt over the years.. Fickle fans , wenger out brigade who sing his name when we turn games around. I was at the bridge when we won 5-3. Hypocritical bordering on comincal and insane. Football’s magic is that rollercoaster of emotions, but on a serious note…football at ours has improved drastically, only the rest of the League’s standard has improved also.
When DB10 was making fools out of Leicester City players, you wont see Aguero at City doing that to Norwich or Southampton..
Cygan was awful George, never got his tackle timed right either, in fact even his wife complained 😉
Don’t think many are singing Wenger’s name these days George, not even when we do turn games around. Possibly because we seldom do against the so called better sides…
Rico , remeber the chant…
” He’s Fat, He’s ****, He’s plays when no-ones fit….
Morning Rico and all. Eddie McGoldrick anyone?
Adam, Eddie McGoldrick was pony lool. COuld not cross to save his life
Remember Caballero? Or Chris Kiwomya?
Ginge, i said it a month or two back.
I saw a replay of the 2-1 FA cup loss to the dippers and was prepeared to take any bet that Merts was quicker than Adams.
His turning circle is just as ordinary, too.
But Dennis, Thierry, Vieira and one or two others…..there was your true difference.
Class, and a brute of a DM.
Spoilt? An absolute liberty.
Are Arsenal, the team in decline? Should we accept it and sit around slapping each other on the back and reminiscing? Some people spend thousands of £s to watch Arsenal home and away. I know many who never have a holiday because of it. They love the club. You call them spoilt, which are exactly the words used by Josh Kroenke to criticise fans of yet another Kroenke team who dared to ask for some investment to compete.
Luis Pellegrini who I have heard some say should replace AW bought Cygan for £2M… lol
True Rico… but as I have always said if we were to go back 10 years we were still the 2nd best team in the land. If you take out the oilers and Arab money we will still be 2nd… the thing is either AW the dictator has deliberately sabotaged the team or the board has failed to back him when it matters…
The hurtfully thing is that we have not been able to keep our better players when another team comes calling… but then again even when we were winning the media were telling us that Anelka and PV were bigger than poor old Arsenal… well noted by Keown, where is the call for Bale to leave the Scums down the shite lane?
Adam the kroenke crew are bad for the club..Yes we need investment but I remember going to Wrexham and seeing our side lose 1-0. Yes we aren’t getting our moneys worth, but when your a supporter you take the Sh1t with the goodI guess..
We shouldnt accept it but things will change, they always do and we are due a good turn …once the Cowboys have gone back 400m better off.
Still, you couldnt replicate the old north bank for atmosphere…
Maybe, but unlikely…
😆 George, could use that one for Santos….
Morning Adam.
Hi Scott, I know when I say this I get questioned by some but I mean no disrespect to Adams…in fact when I was a young 16 year old working as a steward at Highbury part time I thought Adams was always a nice guy compared to what you read in the papers.
My point is if you were to ask any football lover (not an Arsenal fan who only watches Arsenal) his top 10 defenders in the last 15 years TA06 will not be mentioned…. in fact I will say he was not England’s best CB during his time but hey… 😀
Adam, i don’t think we should accept mediocrity….ever.
George can obviously speak for himself, but maybe we were spoilt to have Dennis, Thierry, Vieira, Pires etc,etc,etc all at once.
Will we ever see a side that good in the PL again?
Gee, i hope not.
Unless it is an Arsenal side, of course 🙂
The same way a lot of fans question AW’s sanity when he says the current players cared more than the so called legends… but fact is fact will TA06 be considered a great if he was playing today or he will be considered another Huth?
Can any player be a drunk and be a professional now?
David Bentley has made a comment to the press which I think is a really good one…
Similar to –
When fans buy a ticket, they buy the right to express their view from the stands….
Rico loool…we could use it for Santos…Doubt we’ll see him in England ever again…
Media hate us because itss a combination of Jealousy of past success and Its the “johnny Foreigner ” lark..sad but true…
Papers will always hail Bale and knock Suarez for example. Both good playres both divers!
tsgh O Leary was a beast
Keown much better defender than TA06
Ginge, how goes it?
People love a player that truly loves the club, and gives their all each time they pull on the shirt.
If that player is involved in a successful era, then it is even better.
We have players who are good enough to make the 2004 side, imo, but apart from Jack, and even he has a few levels to go, we have nothing like the best of the best players from that side.
Freaks.
Superstars.
World class.
The superlatives could go on, and on, and on……
Danilevicius?… lol
Scott. Fortunate is the word. Spoilt is very wrong and I don’t care for it’s implications. It is divisive for me.
I don’t believe fans ever have been spoilt.
The club change vast amounts of money to go and watch the team play football. Doesn’t that alone indicate that fans have a right to watch great football and footballers?
As for the Adams debate, personally I think there is little point to it, he was great in his day, one of the best.
The game has moved forward, he doesn’t play any more, so why try and compare what he did so well back then to what he’d be like now??
Fair call Adam, but i didn’t mean it that way.
Rico, are you suggesting Arsenal is a money laundering scheme 🙂
Oh George, I thought I was the only one who rated Keown but…. lol
O’leary was fierce…
That brings me to the question why a lot of fans think SB is an excellent defensive coach when TA06 was shite as a coach and Keane, Winterburn, Ince have all failed.
Some fans choose to believe the twisted opinions of a WHU or Essex Utd fan instead of the respectable opinions of the likes of Keown and Bob Wilson… it beggars belief but I guess controversy sells…
Not bad Scott… I am well… just getting ready for the government to take an extra 10% tax from me next month when the 40% tax comes into effect.lol
Hopefully not George.
Keown v Adams. Tough one, both had very special qualities and when they were alongside each other, they worked as one…
We don’t have a defensive pairing like that any more, unless we spend big money and allow a defence coach to coach, I doubt we will again under Wenger…
Rico, i think the comparison to Adams is merely raising the question of todays players being compared unjustly or unfairly to past players.
Adams will remain a club legend.
Let us hope Merts becomes one.
Hey, ya never know!!!
every squad had its heroes inn batches , whether you use spoilt of fortunate as a description..
rocastle wright merson davis Smith -batch
graham , armstrong brady mclintock-batch
bergkamp, vieira,adams,henry, -batch
Where we all can agree on this current side hasn’t got any outstanding performers.. none
Ha ha Scott, more like fraudsters…..
Woke up to hear that JW10 has gone into the 3 weeks limbo. Devastated
https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/311420397193134080
B/w good post George
But I guess I think there is little point Scott. Compare Adams to those in his day, comparing him to today’s players is pointless imho.
Different fitness regimes, diet, vitamins, facilities etc etc….
Players are fitter and faster these days, well except ours 😉
Thanks Emma
Hmm, the 5M write off for Park was a questionable scheme imho… considering the year before we were told it was 2M with add-ons… the add-ons being that he played a certain number of games. Considering he played about 10 games only, the question has to be asked why the write-off? Is that to cover a bigger scheme?
No salary figures are shown for Stan but the rest of the board take a good wack home weekly/monthly…
You see, I find it very strange when a lot of fans get crossed when records show we have £129M in reserve but do not actually question why the money is being kept?
The media and some fans go on about our salary but a detailed look at the figures show that a much lower percentage of that amount goes to the playing and coaching staff… Man u and the rest of the top 6 teams have about 79% going to players and coaches ours is in the 60% range…
Three weeks!! Make that six then. Not good news emma….
Hi Emma, re JW10, not good news… another mismanagement or just unlucky?
rico – I fear the worst. He might be out for the season :(. I heard he was out 2 days ago but chose not to believe
tsgh the Park write off had me thinking too. I could look into that given where im working..
That’d be a good post I’m sure…
Rico, your probably right 6 weeks off for JW
tsgh – I sense it’s mismanagement. But it would have caused a furore if AW had decided to take him off after 60/70mins.
It is human nature to compare athletes from different eras.
I don’t get drawn into it unless to defend a player….or players.
I have had 10 dogs start at a particular racetrack, and every songle one of them has run at least 10 lengths quicker than an all time Austrlain legend greyhound.
The track is still exactly the same.
As you say though, everything else is different.
On the contrary, the passing of time is often very kind on those from a different era.
Yep, a nearly pointless excercice, but still fun.
Lee or Wath…..sorry guys, but can not remember which one it was who suggested i watch the Football Factory.
It arrive today from England, and what a great show.
Bloody enthusiastic, to say the least, were those guys.
Gnge, a 10% whack in one guy….how nice of them!!
Hi all,
Good write up George.
ts, I remember that, I was more upset with Seaman’s rubbish keeping where if he just stood up it would’ve hit him instead of trying out for a role in the Matrix.
Also that shocker where we lost the cup winners cup (think that’s what i remember the UEFA cup was called) Lobbed on the goal line.
On the money laundering, it was just a joke on Ricos misfortunate use of a single wrong letter in her 10.25 post.
The club CHANGE vast amounts should no doubt have read the club CHARGE vast amounts…..
Yes the govt has decided to reduce the tax burden for the rich folks by 5% and increased the middle hard workers by 10%. Their excuse is they have increased the non-taxable personal allowance to the region of 9k annually. Its like robbing peter to pay paul… lol
One of the guys at work told me he is refusing his pay increment to avoid the tax….lol
waddup people – thanks my American accent, not bad hey? 🙂
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “Wilshere has an inflamed ankle, the other ankle. He will be out for Bayern, Swansea and for England.
“Hopefully for the Premier League, he will only miss one game because of the international break.
“I noticed recently he has had to dig deep for us, it’s not welcome for us but he needed a breather.
“But it’s more preventative. We trust our people who are specialists
True Emma, since the AA23 incident AW has lost his mojo. He is even scared to replace SC19 for tactical reasons imo..
Piss off back to Texas and take Stan with y’all!!
G’day Oz.
Hi Brad how is sunny SA?
hahaha gidday mate
tsgh – ditto
Sadly, we all know when Wenger says 3 weeks, we can at least double it emma…
But maybe it’s just that he needs a rest and doesn’t want him in playing for England….
Bradster seaman did have howlers but he left on a positive note , that save vs sheff utd
Love to see Santi and rosicky combo. Both players seem to be on the same wavelength when both are on the pitch
Rico, the word preventative gives me hope.
Emma, i am gobsmacked as to why Rosicky is not used more.
We always look better when he plays.
Brad, ditto re that goal, and why someone else didn’t hack him down before, I’ll never know…
Dreadful accent Oz 😉
@emma, that would be class
TR and SC in the centre in a 4-4-2 with AA23 behind Giroud and TW right and AOC on left…
We need goals, why not?
But the words ‘our specialists’ make me me worry Scott…
He had proper flu during christmas and so I suspect TR07’s fitness was compromised and considering he had played less than 10 games since the Euros…
Wengerspeak, 3 weeks = 3+ months. We won’t be seeing Jack again this season.
Bets? Any takers and what odds?
You enjoy footie factory Scott… a lot better than greeen st…!
George re looking into Park’s deal… exercise caution. 😉
I knew a young Swiss man who worked with one of the International Accounting consultancies who mentioned to me 5 years ago that Stan was taking a salary… Every year when the P&L sheet of Arsenal PLC is released to the city there is no news of that. On the other hand a chairman of a PLC is entitled to a salary so… doing the maths… its very suspicious.
Ceasar didnt flee our great club for 60 large ones every week,squid does.
Not me Wavy…
And wenger takes a slice of the transfer sum not used that is why we keep being understaffed.
DG, I think that is an LG conspiracy. That will be fraud that even ‘arry houdini can’t wiggle out…
Oh I will regarding Park Tsgh
watch this space
George – I doubt Wenger will change tactics (4-4-2).
Good point Danish, but wages weren’t that high back then. Wonder what Gus did earn. All relative I guess..
Why would SK take a salary from us five years ago? He was only thinking about a takeover bid then wasn’t he, or have I got my years in a muddle…
I already watched it today Wath 🙂
Great show!
wavy re 11:10… it is 3 months if a player gets injured before Setember so that he can be revealed as a new signing in January… it is always 3 weeks post February which then turns to 3 months as you said. What happened to Giggs only being out for 3 weeks…
AW won’t change tactics, to do that it means playing to outwit the opposition and on his own admission, he doesn’t watch them before a game…
Smart move eh!
without looking too deep…
http://angryofislington.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/directors-remuneration.jpg?w=584&h=266
Stank Kroenke takes a salary.
Off published accounts as per article
Maybe he doesn’t watch opponents out of fear, Rico lol
Ts, they said Gibbs was 2/3 weeks then a few days later did say 4/6 weeks to be fair to them…!
Emma would really catch the Germans out though if he did
Rico he took over officially? in September 2008… or should I say it was announced then. However, Arsenal already had a technical link-up with Kroenke’s Colorado Rapids when in April 2007 Granada Ventures, a subsidiary of ITV plc, had sold their 9.9% stake in Arsenal Holdings plc to Kroenke’s KSE UK inc.
I suspect the AU link in 2007 was all a big con to ensure that the fans believed it was safer to sell to the YAnk than an Uzbek…
😆 Scott…
Off out with Fido. Won’t be long it’s too bloomin cold….
I like that George… you should be working with SOCA or for one of the firms by the river doing corporate analysis as they call it… 😉
When was the last time AA23 was seen? Either on the pitch or even the subs bench, or training? I think the KGB have spirited him away to a gulag far away from these shores!
One thing is for sure he will never grace the Emirates turf whilst Wenger rules the roost. Apart from eating. Too many burgers and swallowing too much bortsch, which clearly affected his form, I don’t think he he did toomuch harm, except complaining about being played out of position! But you know after 30 years of being a manager Wenger knew best.
Tomorrow will be interesting, but not very interesting, if you know what I mean?
rico – he wont change tactics but i doubt if AW doesn’t watch dvd of the opposing teams before he plays them. I believe he said that to get the press off his back. I still believe at the moment we don’t have the personnel to play 4-2-3-1especially in attack. Giroud is not quick and skillful enough like the greedy dutchman. He needs TW14 to play alongside him. That’s where a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 would have suite the team until the summer when we can get a player to slot into his principal system
Emma, Scott, Yes, TR oozes class and always seems to perform; surprised he isn’t used more, although he had that nasty injury. I suspect he will start with Ramsey, who for me is technically gifted but tends to hold on to the ball and play sideways. (Sometimes when i watch him play, I think of crop circles!) TR is like Jack, more attacking.
But if we are going to play 3 in the centre, we have to give up on Abou, too unreliable and never match fit. When we talk about holding players, I think TV5 could do that behind the other two, with Kos back at Centre Back. Surprised we haven’t tried that, The three little fellas combo is sometimes just too lightweight for some games, especially the big ones.
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of the Bayern Munich game:
on the team news…
Wilshere is out with an inflamed ankle, on the [left side], not the [right side] where he was injured [before] and he will be out for three weeks. He will not be available for Munich, for Swansea and not for the England games.
on Kieran Gibbs…
He is back in the squad, yes. It is great to have him back because we play Vermaelen out of position, although he can play left back. I have not decided if Kieran will start, but hopefully he will be fit to start.
on Sagna and Diaby…
Sagna is not available, Diaby is back in the squad. He has a test [on Wednesday]. Again, he is a bit short but hopefully he can travel.
Tsgh – I get it now. Jack will be like our new signing in September! Of course!
Money still in the bank then. Win, win!
Hi ts,
Warm muggy day today but the sun’s trying to pop out.
Kevin – “The three little fellas combo is sometimes just too lightweight for some games, especially the big ones”>> You hit the nail on the head. What we are missing is a specialized DM who knows his onion. Arteta/Ramsey are too lightweight to be our DM. Arteta hasn’t got the pace and positional sense to play the DM position
why not play TV5 up front? he can shoot control a ball and head?
Emma – Agree. Mind you in saying all this, if we actually converted half the chances we create, we wouldn’t be having this conversation!
Kevin – ditto
George – behave! But while you are being silly what’s the betting Gervinho bags a hat-trick to defeat Bayern three nil?
Kenin , thought I’d suggest it as we have seen Mert up front last season in a 4-3 loss to blackburn, ramsey at right back against Spurs and Arshavin as a left winger Versus Chavski lol
Gervinho to have a good game and maybe score, silly as it sounds , likelier, but then we will see him be the plank he is against swansea lol
Forgotten we still have the best player in africa in our squad. Gervinho issue is confidence. He can’t even trust himself in front of goal.
…he would make a good alternative to the vileda supermop in my kitchen though Emma
Rumour has it AA23 could be in the squad vs Bayern ! somehow doubt it..
If Gervinho plays, there’s more chance he’d score for Bayern than Arsenal…..
We should know the squad details soon, what time do they travel, anyone know?
off to lunch peoples…
Subway calling
George – 😆
Don’t know what happened to the Gervburger. But he was really good when he was playing for Lille. Since he started with arsenal, he lost confidence on his ability
What are you smoking George? 😉
Afternoon,
Jacks out!?..
Don’t worry people… Ramsey will be our saviour..
We will see the devastating Rambo/Diaby compo we’ve long been waiting for…
Emma, he is not a 11m player…we definately got bumped. He was good for Lille, but the standard in France is not the same as the Premier league..
Rico, I had a funny looking cup of Earl grey…hmmm:S
emma – I still remember his first two goals in The Emirates Cup the summer he arrived, I thought, crikey, has AW actually signed a decent player???
I know the answer now 😉
Judge, that’s not even funny 😉
I did wonder George….
Got to shoot again – blue rinse day 😉
Back later
I tend to agree with Emma. Gervinho has ability but his confidence seems shot to pieces. Confidence is so important. Imagine, you get the ball, miscontrol it or you drag a shot and 50,000 plus Arsenal fans sigh or gasp. Yet to be convinced he is good enough for us but who knows a few games and some goals……?
in the case of AA23, i think the fans have to take the blame for it. I remember very well that in January 2008 before he was signed AW said on TV that he was unwilling to pay the asking price because of AA23’s body language and work rate,which AW predicted will piss the faithful off.
What Lachter (spelling) said in response was that AW was just saying that to stop Barca and other teams interested in the player increasing their bid so that AW can pay a cheap sum.
Fast forward to autum 2011 when he some fans realised he was not going to be scoring 4 goals every game, we started to get on AA23’s case. The final nail was when he came on for the Ox t the Erms at 1-1 and then AA23 failed to stop Valencia going past him to prevent the rednose team’s second goal.
Even against Reading when he and Eisfield orchestrated our 7-5 comeback most fans were still complaining because he was giving the ball away…
I always say most Arsenal fans do not know what they want. A lot of people as for DM but will complain if a dedicated DM gives the ball away in dangerous areas. The question is which DM does not do that? Even MArtinez at £35M did that several times against us a few weeks ago playing for the Bavarians.
When we had Silva lots of fans use to complain about his ‘non-brazillian’ skills…
Rico – ‘A silly story from the Sun’, missed that. Is there any other story from that excuse for a ‘news’paper? They have the worst Sports Reporters in the business, ever read a match report? Too busy in the bar getting drunk with each other, sharing identical views and trying to come up with fresh stories to invent. It’s is a daily edition of Aesops Fables, Never ceases to amaze me how many people quote articles in the Sun, as if fact. The Sun is for those with the intellectual capacity of the local village idiot. Yep, Spurs fans love it!
tsgh, I agree with you 100% on AA23.
As for Yao Klingon, we can only hope he becomes a Kanu like sub to call upon from the bench.
afternoon all!
Not good news, but haven’t we 2 good players for each position? (the sentence is not mine)
What’s the problem?
It’s time to thinking in Moutinho (Porto) 25 millions euros and Draxler (nº8 Schalke)
The Erm is the only stadium where set of fans sigh or ‘ahh’ when a player makes a mistake. The energy in the stadium is so bad it will take a special person to be able to perform when the fans turn against him. I feel sorry for Ramsey… the player is tries.
I think he is hardworking and the most tactically sound midfielder apart from MA08 we have in the squad. In fact against the scums whilst playing at RB he was the one getting into dangerous areas and albeit he missed a sitter but what were Theo, JW10 or SC19 doing?
I understand fans pay top dollar but sighing and ffing during games never helps. The media will always do their best to tell any naive person how much of a disgrace it is to support Arsenal or play for Arsenal but won’t tell the fans that in the last 5 years we have had the best comeback record in the league… just because we do not have a ‘Fergie’ pointing to his watch to add the extra 2 minutes on top of the 3 minute injury time does not mean we have no bottle.
Last season we came back from behind 19 times in all competitions… the highest in the league again but I guess it was thanks to VPursy
tsgh – fair point. The way fans get on the back of players is shocking. What they fail to realise is the importance of confidence. Some players are better under adversity but most are not. I have a player in my team who can only perform when he is constantly being praised. Shout at him and he goes in his shell and could’n’t trap a bag of cement. A nervous player or a nervous team with the crowd on its back, stands no chance.
I loved Gilberto Silva, I thought he was underrated by a lot of Arsenal fans. No nonsence player who could read the game. That is what you need in a DM, they need to be able to read the game and play the precentages. Not get caught on the ball or ahead of it, like Song used to.
Draxler now that is a player but I prefer Sebastian Rode and Marco Reus… DM I like Bender but he is not having agreat season so…
Kevin/ Tsgh, In the national side they called Gilberto Silva “the invisible wall”
How we could do with one. 6ft man mountain with good control, good range of passing, good in the air, clean tackler..
Rarely got booked did he? Couldnt hear him on the pitch , always smiling..
Someone will come along, they always do…never at the right time with the right other 10 on the pitch!
TSGH, it’s the manager responsibility to choose and motivate his players.. He gets paid fortune for that.. Blaming the fans is just a daft excuse.. no disrespect mate.
tsgh – 1.23pm. Totally agree. Amazing how fans can be so ignorant of the pressure they create on the team and the players. I would shoot any fan caught booing the team or a player. What are they hoping to achieve? Ramsey does try, no question and he suffered that horrific injury wearing our shirt, takes balls to come back from one of those. I don’t think he is good enough for us but I would never disrespect the lad, like some do.
George – “The Invicible Wall”, I did not know that. Perfect description. Yes, anyone can fly into a tackle but Gilberto rarely went to ground. So composed on and off the ball, a truly graceful player. Players who read the game so well, make everything look so easy. Hard to find a player of that quality though.
JMIM – Yes it is the managers responsibility to motivate players, absolutely. But players are only human. If you heap pressure on players, they lose composure, take extra touches, miscontrol the ball, snatch at shots and things like timing go out of the window. When confident, they do things on auto pilot. You speak to any football coach and they will tell you how important confidence is. That is why clubs employ Psychologists.
I don’t condone players booing either, I don’t think fans boo Rambo himself (majority)
He does try we all know that. I think they boo the managers decision playing him in every position except in goal.. just to prove a point.. On the expense of other better players and the whole team. I don’ttthink wenger is doin him any favour ..
Ginge, as far as I can remember, Ginola never made a mug of Nigel as they were usually on opposite flanks, but I could be wrong… 😉
How about Geoff Barnett, Jim Furnell (Fingers Furnell), George Wood, Malcolm Webster…
That was one position that George Graham never cut corners on.
John Lukic and David Seaman. Both title winners.
So we will have Diaby for 3weeks , now Wilshere is out 😐
Times never change with the Arsenal fans. If they take against a player there is never any forgiveness, no matter how good they become. Once a pariah alwys a pariah.
A few examples from years ago to the present:
Geoff Strong was booed whenever his name was mentioned or he received the ball, if and when he scored there was much muttering and grudging applause. Was sold to Liverpool and was a greatmcrowd favourite there, mostly because he was a bloody good footballer!
Similarly Ray Kennedy got an unkind amount of stick, he too moved on to Liverpool and was highly successful.
Alternatively, Bobby Gould was a great crowd favourite, scored a few goals too, but the crowd loved him because he ran around like a gerbil on speed. Never did much but he was ever so enthusuastic. But not a good footballer, imo.
Toure too was a crowd pleaser for the same reason as Gould. And so and so on.
The fans/crowd can and do make or break a player. Sadly their judgement is often biased to the point misjudgement! We sell many players who should never leave the club simply because they have been broken by the fans and we keep too many because they are crowd pleasers!
That’s football I suppose. I like Ramsey, I think he will go on to become a really good footballer, but the majority of fans don’t agree and sadly are not patient enough to let him develop. We all want instant gratification!
Kev – Jeff Blockley, remember him? Geoff Barnett was a rush buy due to an injury to Bob Wilson, and played in the 1972 FA Cup Final with Leeds I believe. My team of the worst Arsenal 11 yesterday included:
1.Vince Bartram
2. Nelsen Vivas
3. Andre Santos
4. Gus Caesar
5. Willie Young
6. Stewart Robson
7. John Jensen
8. Ian Ure
9. Francis Jeffers
10.Peter Marinello
Wavy too true we make them or break them
We used to call Blockley “club foot”. Harsh but true. Every time he kicked a ball it went 50 feet up in the air, sometimes forward, sometimes not! Not agood player!
KJ, that is an XI, that’ll keep you awake at night.
Jeff Blockley is an intetesting case.
At £200,000, he was, at the time, 2nd only to Alan Ball as the clubs most expensive signing.
When he first came into the team, he partnered Frank McLintock, and Frank helped him settle in and he did ok.
Then Bertie Mee replaced Frank with Peter Simpson and things deteriorated.
Blockley had a nightmare in the 1973 FACup Semi-Final at Hillsborough, and Arsenal lost to Sunderland, and Blockley never recovered from that. He lost the fans and just went into decline before he was sold to Leicester City where he had a reasonably successful time.
Think he finished up at Notts County….
Wavy – Another excellent post. Very true about instant glory. That is modern football and it is always the Managers fault.
Once a player crosses that white line and all that weeks work is behind them, it is largely up to that player. The manager doesn’t miss ten yard sitters, misplace a pass or fail to defend a through ball. And once a players confidence goes, it doesnt matter how much ability he has, he’ll become average. The fans should support every player 100% during the game and encourage them. I get embarrassed by our fans sometimes, especially when mates who support other teams use it to beat me up. But other clubs have had the same problems. You only have to look at Torres to see what a lack of confidence can do and he was a World Class player.
KJ, I actually thought that Stewart Robson was a very good player during his early time at Arsenal, I saw his debut as a 17 year old, at Upton Park, and he was the best player on the field.
Robson’s problem is that he is an opinionated oaf.
A disruptive influence in the dressing room.
George Graham soon got rid of him.
He’s here , He’s there, He’s every effing where Bobby Gould , Bobby Gould !
Come on without , Come on within, you ain’t seen nothing like fumblingJim ………..( Furnell )
I also liked Willie Young.
He was an old-fashioned ‘stopper’ centre-half, very much in the Herbie Roberts, Les Compton, tradition.
He had, I think, a good understanding with the then 20 year-old David O’Leary.
O’Leary played the sweeper role whilst Willie cleared out the opposing centre-forward to good effect.
I well remember a stunning volleyed goal he scored at Wrexham in 1978.
If Messi had scored it, then commentators the world over, would have creamed their pants.
Calm down Stan… 😛
Very true Ak, re Ginola my bad David was a right footer playing left wing… Anderton IF fit playing as the no.7 always caused us problems…Steffen Iversen use to trouble us on occasions… The dutch boy Korsten was another. Who can forget Ziege before he moved to the dippers. Thinking about it the dippers have had very good players but forever beneath us…Middlex united…
AK , spot about SR good player opinionated oaf is being kind…I could describe a a bitter ckGrunt!
Jeff Blockley now thats a name from the past!
Vince Bartram was no better than Fabianksi imo Kevin..
Ian Ure was proper dog lol
Nelson Vivas our 5ft Argentine !
Kev – The reason I added Stewart Robson was because I am ashamed to call him an Arsenal player. I had heard he was disruptive, is that true?
Potter, I remember, I remember! ………..but never where he should have been! Never or rarely on the end of the final pass to score that winning goal, or half a yard short of connecting with that delicious cross!
Bless him!
Ha Ha Potter, yeah, I remember that Bobby Gould song.
Gould 16 goals in 65 appearences according to wiki= 1 goal every 4.06
Gervinho 7 in 41 = 1 goal every 5.85.
Ginge, never take the name of Nigel Winterburn in vain.
I will always fight his corner… 🙂
Btw, that was an excellent debut post George.
The first of many I hope? 😉
Rico needs the help you see George.
She’s losing the will to live… 😛
Bloody slow out here today.
And bloody cold as well.
AK , where I can I’ll chip in ..thanks
KJ, I was told by a mate, who has close connections to the West Ham dressing room, that Robson was a nightmare.
I recall him having quite a bad facial injury around 1989, which was put down to an accident at training. But I heard that he copped it during a dressing room punch-up that he himself instigated.
Rolling back the years
I will dig into Silent Stan’s salary from Arsenal…Will make a good post..
as per company records he’s on £ 25K p.a. does he really need the money? he gets his shopping for free from walmart doesn’t he?
Emma , that was a great game
AK, Stewart Robson clashed with everyone and alot of past hammers blame him for contributing to their relegation in 1989..
My money was on Ian Bishop chinning him, though Julian Dicks maybe in that dressing room bust up
Arsène Wenger has made four changes to his squad for Wednesday night’s clash against Bayern Munich.
Lukasz Fabianski, Abou Diaby, Andrey Arshavin and Kieran Gibbs have all been included in the 18-man group for the Champions League last-16 second leg at Allianz Arena.
Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski (both ankle) have been left out, while Wojciech Szczesny has been rested. Meanwhile, Nacho Monreal is ineligible for the match, having represented Malaga in the group stages of the competition.
Hello all…
Anyone else injured 😉
Bayern will be laughing their socks off, Flappy in goal, having been out for many months and no first team football in ages…
What a joke we are!!
Ak, me losing the will to live, I think I have already lost it when it comes to Arsenal!
🙁
Good day all.
Nice post George. We have always had our fair share of dross, I guess with all the added media coverage these days, how we feel as fans is highlighted more.
Cheers for that video emma, what a team. such swagger. Doesn’t really compare to our squad now does it.
Not sure if I’ll watch tomorrow night, will probably just ruin my evening.
Think I’d rather watch Corrie Lewis…
We are a joke, all week AW says we need to do this in Germany, we need to do that, play without fear etc and believe we have a chance….
Then he puts Flappy in the squad and no doubt Martinez.
I know Ches is average right now but surely he’s better than a keeper who hasn’t played…..
Thankfully I have been saved by a school play and will miss the Fabianski horror show.
Tomorrows line up will probably be:
Flapper
Jenks kos mert TV5
Rosicky Diaby Ramsey
ox Theo Gervinho
AW has already thrown this game unfortunately
And the club try so hard to get into the Champions League…
Don’t anyone try and convince me that it’s nothing more than a money making exercise!
It stinks, and what makes it worse is players like Arteta think it’s about attracting great players, what utter poppycock, it’s all about lining the clubs pocket….
rico – I don’t know which is worst. Fabby or Sczes. At the moment I don’t think Sczes is any better than Fabby 🙁
rIco , I am fearing the worst for tommorrow..
When an evening with the£$%$£^%$ that is my ex wife at a boring school play is a better option than watching my beloved Arsenal, well…
says alot
Why isn’t Mannone playing?
He’s a bit suspect, but he’s better than that Fabianski idiot…
That news has basically told me that we’re gonna get stuffed.
A 2-0 defeat, might be a good result.
But I’m tending to lean towards a 4-0 thrashing, and I’m not joking either. Fabianski really is that bad in my view…
I was toying with the idea of finding a nice pub, to settle down in and watch the game…
Well no chance! Not wasting my time doing that…
Pity those poor saps that have travelled to Munich for the game?!
Stay in the pub lads…
AK as per my post,…Our fears confirmed:
or even worse..
that commanding goalie is an embarrasment to all of Polands finest goalies
Ak, I think we will get battered.
George. As do I…
How did we become what we are today?
Oh, I know……
rico, join me in mcdonalds round 8.15 lool the game is a write off im afraid
Ill be in Mcdonalds opposite UGC cinemas southbury road Enfield , scoffing the best trash of a burger in consolation whilst glancing at my iphone BBC sport..in case Haleys comet goes past, and we do the unthinkable
If I did McDonalds George I would, but I don’t 😉
Can’t even suggest Pizza Express as I have given up cheese for Lent….
Something really has to change if Arsenal are going to improve…..
Ah, I know, FFP 😆 😆
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/311533341436411904
i was on the fasoulia for lent for a week or so , then I saw the team-sheet and have wolfed down a katsu curry for lunch…(it was closer than subway)anyhow Ill think of you when I cross the road and munch a box of krispy kremes originals!
FFP , yes that old chestnut…heres hoping
Why doesn’t Wenger just admit he’s not ready to be our Number one keeper. Too young and not good enough….
emma chezza needs abreak?wtf? he was in club 108 sat night!
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/311533552724492289
FFP = Reminds me of Doctor Who…
It’s all about a cushion to hide behind. And aren’t we hiding behind FFP….
rico – we need a keeper with experience whom scesney can learn from otherwise he wont be better than what he is at the moment. Feel AW has given up on this match but I still feel anything can happen tomorrow. Its either we get a spanking or we go out with pride or a miracle of munich could happen seeing us thru
George – Wenger is so funny. Saying scez is rested when we ‘ve not played any match in 10days is a no brainer
I don’t believe the Jack stuff. i think it’s all about England…
We have all been saying the same emma. Ches has no competition and unless he does, he will never improve.
Wenger should have offered the right amount to get Swarzer (spelling) but as so often happens, he was too tight….
If we don’t sign a keeper this summer, well, I don’t even want to think about it. There are many keepers in the PL who can be bought for the right price. Wenger needs to pay that price!
IF of course he is still manager….
rico – I wouldn’t mind us spending big and getting Begovic. He is just 25 and still got 10yrs+ service to give
Lets get this keeper issue permanently sorted and if Scesz feels he wont be no2 then the exit door is wide open. Promote the young keepers (Martinez, shea)
Ak, apologies there about Winterburn but his partnership with Paul Ince at BB was shocking. A true gentleman though. lol
Still the 2nd best (arguable) LB after Sansom in our clubs history me think…
Flappianski’s comedy showing at the U-21 level has been shocking since his return 2 months ago.
Nice that Arteta feels the pain.
I will be shocked tomorrow if Fabianski starts ahead of Mannone. When was the last competitive match Fabby had for arsenal? arsenal 3-1 chelsea december 27, 2010.
Flappy was brilliant that day wasn’t he? 🙂
Morning all.
Fabianksi will be MOTM.
What do i base that on.
Well, when was the last keeper to score a hat trick?
And you all thought i was being silly 🙂
When this guy goes, if he ends up at the right club, he will show exactly how good he is.
Every mistake he makes, and there are plenty, are not due to a lack of ability.
Chop his demon filled head off and you have a world class keeper, i reckon.
Still, as it stands he is not good enough.
6-0 with Aaron and Fabianski potting 3 each…..what odds are you doubts offering??
Evens?
Willie Young has a place in today’s team.
Merida was another…
with AW on the bench we loose tomorrow. If i’m there the probabillity for win, rise a lot.
Nor would I emma, he’s class and knows what the PL is about, as do a few more who would be gettable….
😆 Adam. I actually sensed he was bitter about what’s happening at the club…
Like ‘ I bloody joined this club because you made me promises, promises which you aren’t keeping!! Board, you know what this club needs, sort it’….
Wenger, either get help and listen or push off!!!!
AW = failure. Good evening HH.
Funnily enough Rico. So did I but I thought it was him saying that everything is in place for big success, but something is wrong. What could it be?
Bayern’s Brazilian centre-back Dante taunts Arsenal: “To be honest, our training games have been more of a challenge.” Embarrassing.
Adam you tight arse.
I want 2-1 to make it worth risking my house on mate.
Flappy has never been brilliant has he Adam?
7.35 Adam. I think we know what that could be.
Seriously, I think one of two things needs to happen.
Either Usmanov comes in and demands change from Wenger. And he would demand it.
Or
Kroenke stays, he sacks Wenger and gives the incoming manager money.
Anything else, and we will continue our decline imho…
Gdna, those comments don’t surprise me at all….
Rico, i saw a snippets of a particular game…i can’t remember which one…in which Fabianski was sensational.
One game….not bad, hey lol!!
He has the talent, he just doesn’t believe he has it.
Szcezney is very good, but not as good as he thinks….he has a long way to go but the potential is there.
3-4 years down the track he could be the best keeper around, or just another “could have been”.
2/1 then Scott.
Rico. Flappy was a worthy successor to Almunia. The plank! 🙂
But we need more than that Scott, we really need to sign a proper keeper in the summer, he will save us ten points a season at least….
Szczesny = Bendtner im my opinion… I wouldn’t feel too sad if we sold him….
Messi’s second….ffs!
Gee Adam, I’d be a worthy successor to Almunia, and I’m under tall like Garfield 😉
I reckon it will be 5-2…..
What’s the bet??
Lee ???
Lee. Are you off to somewhere nice then mate?
I really hope the result tomorrow doesn’t upset Lee’s holibobs….
Lee is off to Bognor Adam…. 😉
Rico, i never suggested we wait 3 years for him to come good though.
Schwarzer 🙂
Begovic.
Plenty around.
I go to Bognor for a fortnight every year Rico. The Seaview Guest House.
I didn’t mean to suggest you did Scott… Sorry if it cam across that way.
Many keepers, not that bloody Reggie Perrin guy though 😉
Maldives….the honeymoon that we never had.
Ches hasn’t got a senior goalkeeper to keep him on his toes…
Cripes Adam, as do I. I love Bognor, it’s ‘the’ place on the soith coast….
No song or fabregas for barca….I’d have one of them back!
Rico, you know the circles that Adam circulates!?!?! 😆
Vila scores a cracker….
David villa world class
There’s a great swinging scene in Bognor.
Lee, have a great time mate and bring me back a stick of Maldives Rock please.
AC is being embarrassed.
So would I lee, and it wouldn’t be Song 😉
I think we will get Villa in the summer….
David Villa, can’t believe he’d want to play for Wenger.
😆 Lee, I think I do.
Of course Adam, if your not watching barca at the moment, do yourself a favour and put them on! Playing proper soccer.. 😉
Gosh, Flamini is playing football tonight. Little s***e…
We need Wenger the manager back not the busy body fucker that’s involved in everything!
he may not Steve, but he may want to play for Arsenal. Wenger won’t always be the manager… hopefully.
We’ll never get that man back Lee, not now. Not in my opinion.
Not unless Usmanov buys Stan out…. And that, in my opinion, will be because he will demand that he changes…
I was talking about the Syrup selling up and my old man reckons it doesn’t happen for years….
AW lacks ambition, the football club will never move forward until he leaves. Afc is stale no growth because the board is scared of changes.
Look at Alex Song. Lol
My own view Lee is that the fans will pay huge part in what happens between now and the end of the season. If they focus on him and not Wenger, he could be tempted to sell…
Gdna. If Usmanov comes in, you may see a very very different Wenger…
However…….
Rico Stan, AW, PHW and IG out. If Aw stays with a new owner he will corrupt them. Aw is like disease at the club.
I’m done folks, I can hear my pillow calling me….
Night all, stay safe….
I think too many changes would be detrimental. Just my own view.
I want Usmanov in first…
Gone now, catch up tomorrow…
Rico AW is finished. Stan don’t choose the playing staff, Rico believe your eyes, you have witnessed how stale the club has been under AW guidance, we have become laughing stock because of AW egos. In Aw we trust is like saying squid is the best defender in the world. Aw is the wizard of oz
Opinions….everyone is entitled to them DNA.
The fact that you belittle everyone who has the slightest amount of faith in Wenger is not right.
Disagree, but until Stan goes, none of us will know 100% what has been going on, no matter how much we like to think we do.
Thanks for the vids George…
Wenger won’t be leaving before the summer of 2014, if at all…
Whether we get into the CL or not, he will stay…
If there was any hint of him leaving, then the Scum Press would be all over it. But they are not..!
Despite the Fabianski rumours, has anyone heard for certain, that that cretin is actually In the starting XI, or is it all hearsay?
Kev, how goes it champ??
The rest are cuddling their pillows but you and i, well, suffice to say we are keeping our relative countries ticking over 🙂
A bad day today….my brother in law is heading over to your country, and i could have been on the plane.
The missus gave me the thumbs up, but i made the call to wait til next year so we can all come over.
Dumb decision, hey lol
Ginge, my views on Winterburn, are based simply on his playing career at Arsenal.
Personally I would choose him ahead of Sansom, although I understand why you would not.
George, Southbury Road, Enfield Town used to play there?
I was up Freezywater way last Sunday…
Hiya Scott. Yes mate, I am again on the night-shift…
Can’t say that I am looking forward to this evenings game in Munchen.
If Fabianski plays, we are fcuked.
If Mannone plays, we’ll give it a go.
You watching the game Digger?
I’m still up Kev. But not for long.
Hiya Adam, how’s things mate?
Like you Adam, I am calling it a day.
Will be seeing you soon.
Offski now, so goodnight Adam and to you Scott.
Night Kev and you Scott.
Scott. Your 11:13 pm, was spot on.
The slightest amount of faith in AW or even mentioned his past records, GNA thinks you have no footballing brain. Well, maybe he knows something about the club that most of us don’t. So please do tell…
Nashua, maybe he does know something we don’t, maybe not.
Kev, i will watch a bit of it, but work will once again be in the way, so i will jump on every ten minutes and expect a pass by pass explaination of Aarons hat trick 🙂
Morning all.
My electric is being switched off today at 8am . Won’t be able to get on until I head off out in an hour so catch up then….
Post will be late up I suspect…
It’s still on 🙂
Morning Rico.
Morning all,
Out all day yesterday, but would like to congratulate George on his first post, Blinding George, names from yesteryear certainly brought back memories 🙂
Got a good feeling about today, just hope it lasts all day 🙂
Morning Scott, Sp…
Just going to put the new post up……
send them a cheque Rico you know you will have too in the end 🙂
🙂 Sp, the whole village is off, blooming roadworks everywhere, I’ve got out for a few hours…