Morning all.
Transfer gossip today relates to a possible exit. Lukas Podolski is wanted by Galatasaray according to reports coming from Germany. He, along with Per Mertesacker return to training today although none are expected to feature in our opening match against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
Wasn’t it lovely to see Pat Rice at Wembley dishing out the medals? How proud he must have been handing them to Arsenal, a club which has been his life for so so many years before retirement.
Great to see him looking so well too after his health scare…
Another trophy, nice…..
So, 3 goals, all of high quality, were enough to see off the current Premier League Champions with ease.
Hang on, they had many many first team players missing, of course we should beat them….
Rubbish!
The players Man City used yesterday, all 16 of them together cost a whopping £242 million to assemble. In Comparison the Arsenal team, all 17 players used, cost a mere £140 million to assemble.
So City hardly had a weak squad on show did they? Certainly not if they are to be judged on how much the club have spent on their players. Or maybe they have just paid over the odds for who they do have….
Matters not really imo. We won and we did so by playing well, very very well and all without Ozil, Mertesacker, Podolski, Walcott Diaby and Ospina.
Sweet….
Yaya Sanogo may not have got on the score-sheet when perhaps he should have, he was a nuisance for the City defence and equally as important as scoring goals, were his two assists. Not a bad day for the young Frenchman. It wasn’t too bad for the old Frenchman either, his goal was pretty good to put the game beyond City.
Before then, Santi Cazorla, who I thought had a good game opened the scoring with a delightful goal.
Ramsey kicked the the move off with a ball Alexis, who in turn passed to Sanogo. He then did well to brush off Nastasic. Boyata fouled Jack, for a change the referee played a good advantage as the ball headed towards Santi…
Great first touch, and his second found the back of the goal.
Next up was Aaron Ramsey, the man who loves to score as well as bossing the midfield of course……
Again, he started the move, this time from the back. A quick ball to Jack, he passed to Alexis and was battered as he did so, our new man then pushed the ball onto Sanogo who made Boyata look silly before passing to Ramsey. Super first touch again, his second touch made it 2-0.
Concerns.
The injury to Laurent Koscielny.
The lack of depth in defence.
Lack of strong defensive players in midfield.
We will face sides who will offer more of a threat than City did yesterday.
Overall though, I thought we were good, very good and it seems like Arsene Wenger has got his long lost mojo firmly back in his pocket..
He just needs to dig deeper into that pocket and find a few million pounds and go spend it on two players, two players who will sure up the defensive side to our game…
That’s it from me, you can all tear into the players…. lol
Morning all, goo read Rico.
Ray Parlour says Arsenal should not get carried away with their comfortable Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
“City were missing lots of players, they had maybe seven first-team players out of the side,” the former Arsenal ace said, speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“Arsenal were excellent in the first half, they showed all the qualities they have, and Arsene Wenger will be delighted. Hopefully, it has given them a bit of confidence and belief, but I am still with the bookies.
“Chelsea, Man City, Man United will be a lot stronger this season and Liverpool have had a great pre-season. It is such a competitive league.
“I still feel Arsenal need a couple more players. I think the bookies get it right a lot of the time. Man City, Chelsea and Man United, who are third favourites, are the three to beat probably.”
Romford has a point…..get the final pieces of the jigsaw in Arsene, come on we’re almost there!
if we win the UCL the English press will still have an excuse to say it wasn’t on merit, better to ignore them, they just hate the Arsenal and we fielded 4 English players yesterday but Citeh fielded only 1 they still could compare our English contingents with Citeh its Silly of the English press really……………17hrs trophyless and the poznan was great to watch yesterday classy!!
Great post Rico.
You aptly summed it up nicely and made my day by giving due credit to Sanogo.
Thanks Gdna.
Totally agree with Parlour, he’s saying what most fans are thinking imo..
Thanks Tai.
Thought Ches had a good game yesterday too, perhaps he knows Ospina is a threat. Good, he needs that…
We really need a CB now and a DMF is a must, I know Wenger will do something but as we know him he will probably get one player to do both, he is Arsene our expectations will never be met by him but we still love him although I don’t believe he knows best
Chambers and Debucy look like they have played for Arsenal for years…
Morning Rico, Nice report And the stats was great
Statements like Parlour’s are great…Wenger need be warned to make his team complete!
It’s looking really bad if Kos’ injury is anything to drag…in that case, Wenger must look for first choice CB, not just cover…we have UCL qualifiers coming up!
Good Morning All
Morning Rico, just caught up on the early comments.
So Man City’s ‘weakened’ squad cost £100 million more than ‘Lucky’ Arsenal.
Baloney!
I don’t read the Daily Mail or their website.
A bunch of tossers…
Morning Lee, Adam, Coach, et al….
All this silver wear, it’s a great habit to have… 😀
Morning Luznic, thanks, stats?? What stats, the cost of the sides are facts, they can’t be manipulated… 😉
Morning Kev, it’s the only habit to have… 😉
Duraglit shares going through the roof in N5!!
🙂 Lee..
Supporting Arsenal Has Taught Me!
Growing up learning English as a language and the history of our colonial masters, I owed everything of modern accessibility to dear old Britain. Most books I read originated from England and America. I grew up hating Russia and communism. And it has remained so.
But being an Arsenal fan…I have witnessed how the English press, FA and referees ganged up to rubbish an entity simply because a Frenchman has guided the club to unprecedented height with strict but methodical approach to modern game and economics of lasting business.
Players like Steve Gerard, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, etc do no wrong on the pitch and always highly protected. Ashley Cole joined the elite of do-no-wrongs immediately he crossed over to Chelsea.
But take a look at their Arsenal counterparts – Wilshere is kicked about at random without any form of protection…Gibbs, Walcott, Chamberlain are all perpetual victims of being with the wrong manager and club.
How long would the English continue to punish Wenger for importing Frenchmen into the English League? For abolishing kick and follow and play football the right way? Robin van Persie, Clichy, Nasri, Adebayor, etc were kicked all over the place without protection but when they left Arsenal, it all changed…they get fouls against them once committed!
One of the reasons Fabregas left is to protect his career … he was so mercilessly kicked around that he hardly went beyond Christmas every season. Watch out how he will be protected now at Chelsea.
Of the so-called nine trophyless years, the FA and referees contributed to over half of it. The penalty manufactured at Bermingham, more than Eduardo’s leg break shattered that season…last season, the referee’s bias gifted Man City that 6 – 3 win. That’s when Arsenal started slipping!
Seeing all these led me into a re-think that all the ‘evils’ of Russia could actually be same act of media propaganda!
But how far has the Three Lions fared in world football ever since?
The FA, referees and press have to repent on the blind fury against Arsenal to have the mercies of god of soccer!
Morning winners.
Nice one, rico. Rubbish indeed. Even with our record signing we are still some way off the monetary worth of city’s team of yesterday.
That was a nice birthday gift for me yesterday. Looking forward to the new season. Oh, TV5 is class.
facts and stats have a lovely rhyme anyway……lol……..nice to know that even the ‘weakened’ citeh is still expensive so why the headlines of ‘rust city, depleted city, understrength team’ I think Wenger’s intention is to replace vermaeleen with Chambers and then just buy a DMF, Monreal playing a centre back position also is another reason he will tell himself there is no good CB out there according to his press statements after the match, he will buy a player to do both and imo its wrong
Good day all in residence…
Great, precise post Rico.
F**k the press with their hate campaign…
Responses like that on the pitch yesterday answer them perfectly…
Let them go hang….
As it stands, we are damn competitive.
Bring two more in, and we are red hot favourites, IMO.
Morning all.
Thanks C2..
And finally…..I’m about to watch the game.
Replay starting now…..
Cesc left because he wanted to go home…
Thanks Fatgun..
Scott, pretty much agree, let’s hope this summer we actually get what we need…
Seems we alternated between a 4141 and a 4321 yesterday. Did I see that clearly?
Morning Rico and all, again. It really isn’t important what the press or the commentators say about our club so best to just ignore it really. The press have always been down on Arsenal, for years now and yet everything that Arsenal do is news for them. If we had lost yesterday the headlines would read….
Same Old Story For Sorry Arsenal. By Arthur Knobhead
Arsenal fans left Wembley yesterday with the feeling that, under notorious skinflint Arsene Wenger, their season is likely to be filled with disappointment once again. With Chelsea led by the maverick genius of Jose Mourinho and a resurgent Man Utd guided by the brilliant stewardship of the fantastic Louis Van Gaal, to say nothing of the magnificently-maned Manueline Pellegrini and the absurdly gorgeous Brendan Rogers, leading City and Liverpool FC, poor old Wenger will probably be sacked by Christmas, leaving this once-great club staring down the barrel of mid table mediocrity.
Or, as we won….
Arsenal Beat A Very Depleted But Wonderful Manchester City.
By Charles Ocksucker.
Wiley old fox Manueline Pellegrini knows that the real business starts next week and in an incredibly shrewd move played a depleted side which led a rather sad Arsene Wenger to draw false conclusions from the Charity Shield. Seasoned observers noted the ease with which the mercurial David Silva glided past the traditionally static Arsenal defence yesterday in a second half totally dominated by City. The score line was totally misleading and for Arsenal fans it looks like yet another false dawn under a shockingly complacent Arsene Wenger.
Good read Rico..
Morning Scott.. the Boy wonder is back.. 4 goals in his last 5 appearances for him. Phwoar…
Nickie, indeed Nacho looks good at CB; positionally he is perfect. He may lack the aggression of CC21 though…
Good read.I like the 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 hybrid formation we are using.It fits jack/ramsey well enough but it remains to be seen if we’ll retain it when Ozil returns.
Now he is at chelsea, rico, what’s the excuse re cesc?
Tai I don’t think the English press paints a picture of the English people what I say to myself is they are what is wrong with the English society, brilliant individuals who wants to be heard but in the process of forcing an audience they go to the edge and forget the right things to do, hating on the right thing for the wrong reasons for me I enjoy reading articles from the UK than reading the Americans the American writers are boring and they indulge in self proclamation but the English are people who writes to awaken your imagination and make you want to read over and over again, but this act of hating the right things for the wrong reasons is what overshadows the Brilliant English press for example in football its a must to read Phil McNulty’s write up always on the BBC website non biased and always enjoyable for my brain……….all my opinion anyway
Media hate Arsenal when they lose, Media hate Arsenal when they win. It just shows we’re a big club. Arsenal always try to do things the right way and get ripped to pieces, we win a trophy yesterday and it’s discredited by the media lol. If we had lost it would have been “back to old ways for the gunners”. The media only do it because we have such a big fan base it causes a stir they love it.
I think i’d like to see Monreal play CB in premier league before I make my final judgement on him. If he does well then a back up left back is enough. Chambers can cover RB CB, Monreal CB LB Mert CB Kos CB Deb RB Bellerin RB Gibbs LB then new defender Cover LB?
Morning again Adam.
Very funny and very good… 🙂
Ts, I guess we could say it’s a bit like Kos and Mert. Kos a bit hot headed Mert nice and calm. Monreal and CC looked good together against Benfica and looked to deal well with City in the second half yesterday. With Kos’ achilles trouble it could be the perfect time for Monreal to show what he can do in some serious competitive matches before Wenger makes his decision
Funny Adam you know your media very well and the knobhead,ocksucker is very funny
Good morning, spot on Rico, need those two positions sorted and a striker, would be the cherry on the cake. Depth and quality in the squad/team, will give us the fighting chance, to compete to the end, for a change. It was great to see Pat Rices’, beaming smile, how proud must he, have been yesterday. Great result and performance, but feet, still firmly on the ground.
As I posted yesterday morning…
“Arsenal defeat weakened City”
“Arsenal lose to big club once again”
Some things never change I guess…
Grandpa knows @ 11:09. Morning Adam.
Ginge! Kt! Luznic!
Kt, was it 433? I thought it was 4321.
Nickie- hopefully whoever we get in has height…
But we are working hard for find a defender… an EPL experienced one will do me fine… rumours are AW is looking locally again 😉
Hi C2
Brady still an AKB. lol
“What are you going to do about it pay £30m for a player you don’t need [Cesc]? Maybe if you’re Man City you can do that” – Liam Brady
Morning C2, ha now you are back with the Arsenal, what happened at the Mestella
Any names Ts?
Winston Ried is a name that’s popped up a few times in the past, his fitness record isn’t great though
Kt, Kuznic do you know anything about Jonathan Soriano?
JC- going on loan?? 🙁
Hey Ginge, yesterday was pleasing. Not also bad from a tactical point of view.
Gongs, Aaron’s first touch before the goal went largely unnoticed, from what I have read on the net, but it was absolutely genius.
He’s the complete footballer now.
Lol Nickie… no names mate apart from what is in the press…
The J.Mobel and Lemina rumours have died so…
433, 441, 432, 456..??
I thought it was quite simple, the players worked hard both on and off the ball. We had pace, width and movement and when that happens, we win.
Of course we defended well too and seeing Debuchy pop up at left back to help out when Gibbs was attacking, made my day..
Good stuff, and all so simple when the players keep it that way, and you have the right kind of players to play the AW way instead of trying to get a square peg into a round hole..
Just the final pieces of the jigsaw left to sign, go get the done Ivan… 🙂
Sorry Ginge…..bloody IPad hahahaha.
Santi just scored…..first one to congratulate him was Giroud, FROM THE BENCH.
Rico. As long as they get rid of Cazorla. He’s worse that Costa.
Luznic, I know very you’re being cheeky. Howdy?
Scott- As we use to say last summer, the Boy Wonder will cement his place amongst the Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Vidal, Busquet brackets after this season… its on queue as we speak. 😉
C2- in my view tactically capito Arteta showed why he and Pirlo, Schweinsteiger and Busquet are the best at the deep lying playmaker role…
4-1-4-1 in defensive phase and 4-3-3 in attack.i thought it was quite clear hills.
Luznic,Nickie- we still awaiting the WC and Khedira arrivals. 🙂
Absolutely Adam.. 😉
Ditto that Kt.
But as rico said we have 10 outfield players busting a gut…
Our issue is that we have players who can’t do that 2 times a week for 9/10 months of the year.
There we have it…
Wenger (new signing) “Maybe a guy who can play in two or three different positions would be a better asset for us.”
Yeah, he’s there already, Ginge.
Adam, what’s wrong wth Santi 🙂
Seriously, he stepped up late last season, and from what I’m watching now, he’s carrying that form on.
Love what I’m seeing from all our boys.
Luznic,
It’s incredibly astonishing that people with power to effectively convince are doing everything to turn neutrals from the truth by their bias against Arsenal. I’m trying to make them understand that such open bias on what is clearly known would lead to doubts over the more serious unknown.
I’m trying to drive home that the press bias over Arsenal is painting the English press in bad light …taking whatever they say with a pinch of salt. Would you ever take home a report of match involving Arsenal unless you read from Arsenal.com?
Even known Arsenal writers get carried away with the bitterness of any loss to trust his/her objectivity in reporting such match.
But all I hear here is, forget the English press…but I say we can fight back … if great writers here don’t form a unity ground to battle this bias then why do we love the club? Why should we swallow all these biases against us only to come inside here to fight among ourselves?
Why don’t we start by fighting this useless notion that Arsenal defeated a hugely depleted side?
My comment above was to draw the attention, which instead, all Rico pointed out is that Fabregas left because he wanted to go home. Of course, Tai, the wrong person pointed it out!
A must watch…imo.
Ginge – I know nothing about him but I searched him out and his records shows he’s not arsenal quality and I believe JC won’t go on loan Arsene will need him eventually
Personally speaking, rather than counting which players are where on the pitch to stick a tactical formation label on the team, surely we attack as a team, defend as a team and work hard both on and off the ball…
And that’s when it works.
I disagree with Parlour and the bookies. Why have a Man Utd side that finished 7th and are yet to replace Ferdinand and Vidic been placed above us? Yes they can be strengthened but they are not as yet. We can be strengthened too with a DM and a CB but they need a lot more players than us. Would any of us be happy with Smalling and Jones as our CB pair going into a new season? I wouldn’t. What abt Welbeck as your back up striker or Fletcher playing CM? Not for me. They might have a point with Citeh and Chelski but definitely not Manure. Even Chelsea would be left with a Drogba in decline and a finished Torres if anything happens to Costa. Have faith in the players we have and stop thinking the grass is always greener on the other side.
Scot, AR is so composed in decision making these days. That little flick/first touch in the opposing box shows a very confident player.
Rico, how’re you gonna fit 15 players on the pitch? True though, the players worked hard.
Ginge, if we’re going to use MA as dm, think it would be better if we play a 4321. That way, we can play both AR and jack/flamini.
C2, why on earth would I want to try and do that?
Santi seem to like Wembley. Good!
Now let him continue in that vain…
OG12, however has to be sold; he is shite… and none of his goals will be counted by the Arsenal-quality brigade even if it is a winner like he scored at Shite Hart Lane… lol
Kt, its only clear to the initiated, not the uninitiated like me. I am basing my observation on the fact that Santi and Alexis didn’t really act like inside forwards.
Luznic- he was released by Barca due to injuries when he was injured but he scores for fun; albeit at Salzburg.
Rico- humans need rules, order and organisation imo…
Geziah – Man Utd aren’t as bad as their results showed last season, they just had a crap manager and players couldn’t muster up enough desire to perform for him.
It’s widely anticipated that LvG will bring back the wow factor to the club…
Time will tell of course, but I suspect that’s why people like Ray Parlour thinks the way he does…
Hi C2,
He is such a different player to that of two years ago.
Rico, you wrote 456 and I’m being a bit of a pedant.
Giroud isn’t shite, he’s just a bit slow and inconsistent and goes awol at crucial times, 2am being one occasion.
Ts, direction and guidance, but lumping a formation on when we attack, defend or go into half-time seems a bit pointless imo, footballers are intelligent people on the pitch, they know when to go where and when not to..
Well, the better footballers do….
Still, if ‘football manager’ says every moment of the game needs a formation, then it must be right… 😉
Yea Scot. And apparently, the magic words are simplify your game. *Hopes Jack gets there*
On purpose C2 to make my point. Sorry you weren’t able to spot that……
Ginge – I hope we don’t wait forever for Khedira….lol, Tai – as a matter of fact I read my match reports on BBC because if its at the Emirates most times its done by Phil McNulty and on the transfers I get it from David Ornstein, not all are bad but the critics do this intentionally and if I can’t change it I either enjoy it or ignore it, its football let’s see what they say when we win the EPL again, even Wenger said the fans got brainwashed by the press, everyone knows about the arsenal propaganda and the only way to fight it is to keep winning imo and you know by what Rico said she killed the argument…..lol, C2 – I am doing good just trying to give you a dose of you
In the replay, Ramsey just scored, and that first touch to flick it over the defenders foot as it’s mesmerising.
I’ll say it…..the kid is world class, and I mean up there with the best of the best.
If football manager was real, Everton would be a lot more successful than they are right now and I’d be a rich man
c2- JW, Arteta, ramsey would not work in all games… we need options and variety in that position imo… another working horse with height will be perfect.
The Octupus falling over his invisible 7th and 8th leg was too funny to ignore.
If he continues in that vain it will prove buying from Portugal league Primeira Liga is not a safe/guaranteed way. Majority of those bought from that league have floped. Boa Monte, Postiga ,Ferraira, Javi garcia to name a few… Obviously CR07and Calvaho the CB were the few exceptions but it took him 2 years for CR07 to stop falling over his own laces in the final third.
https://vine.co/v/MV2u6qYY0u0
Scott, you are biased…lol
I rest my case Nickie…. lol
Fine hills.it was quite fluid at times but it was good to see us keep our shape throughout.that was our biggest problem last season in big games that we lost shape all too often.you could even see jack was tasked to stick close to yaya.
😀 ditto- your refined way of stating ‘order and rules’ i.e guidance and direction. 😀
Ts, you really rate him don’t you? I thought he was dreadful yesterday, how much did he cost out of interest?
And that Nasri fella, how much did we get for him?? 😛
Ts he scores freely in Salsburg………that’s an lol for me
Rico, I know, it just didn’t stop me from digging.
Luznic, I know my brothers very well, they’d use me against me. Don’t even watch spanish league.
Imo too, Scot, he is world class. Don’t care what anyone else says.
Jack had a good game yesterday and he earned the respect of Yaya. Jack had tackled him on more than one occasion and Yaya took him out in frustration, he then helped Jack up rubbed him on the back of the head in defeat, knowing he’d been out played.
lol Rico…. 😀
If you were my boss at work I would hate coming to work. lol
Last January City nearly paid £27m for him but Porto wanted more…£12m this summer as he had only a year left on his contract.
He is better than WC imo… a true beast. not as pleasing on the eye though technically.
This is him at the best.
at his best*
Jack must have had a good game, his usual critics aren’t moaning about him, nor Santi 🙂
a lol
If Fernando is as great as he’s made out to be he will definitely need time to adjust. The game passed him by far too easily yesterday and you could see he wasn’t used to it
🙂 cheeky Luznic. well someone has to play at tier 2.
Good Ts, then perhaps you’d stay at home… 🙂
Not sure I’ll judge him on 4 mins of youtube, I’ll wait to see how he plays in the PL, but if yesterdays performance is anything to go by, he’s pretty average…
Best in the PL in his position, not a chance right now… imo
Ramsey last season struggled when pressed in close quarters.he has really improved in that aspect.
I have also always thought LB is one of our weak spots but I liked Gibbs play yesterday.he also appears to be quite bigger.
Szczesny is on the cusp of worldclass.his decision making has improved so so much over the last 2 years.his reflexes and ability to dominate the area has never been in doubt.
Kt, yea keeping shape is one of the biggest problem on a match day especially when things are going awry. Thats the reason I told someone that the spud will crash out of the cl the first decent team they come up against during Arry’s time. It was all exciting football with little organization.
Ginge, I want us to sign a dm as the next man, just playing around with what we have at the moment.
Jack kept it simple majority of the time.. that is how it should be.. its not about playing to make the back pages imo…
The best midfielders go around noticed until te team lose and then it is their fault as they say.
Kt, agree on Gibbs, he had a good game…
I reckon i judged Jack a little harshly last season, as I didn’t afford him the benefit of time back on the pitch after a major injury, yet I was always saying people should get of Aaron’s back because of that!
This is jacks time.
If he has a decent season injury wise, there will be no excuses, and he may not need any 🙂
Rico, Gibbs always plays well 🙂
He’s a super player, IMO.
Ts, watched Santana play against the shite, on Saturday, not for me.
how old is Fernando?
I found Arsenals MOTM suggestions on twitter strange. Debuchy should have been in with a shout as was great yesterday. Agree with Gibbs, also a solid game. We didn’t really look shaky defensively which is always nice.
I love Gibbs too Scott, in fact I love most of our players. The odd one or two I wouldn’t miss though… 😉
Nickie, what was nice for a change is no-one really stood out as having a bad game, one or two had a few dodgy moments but they didn’t cost us.
It was painful to see Breeze breeze past our new captain a few times which is why we need a DM so badly..
imo of course.. lol
Rico, that is why you never hear me ask for a beast as a DM…
Most beast are like that on the ball. He struggled as Yaya toure was dreaming about his summer holidays and offered no help…
Just a reminder as pointed out yesterday. City were beaten by Moyes and his Yanited exactly 1 year ago. A week before that we beat City 3-1 in Austria with a trialist Seb Perez as one of our DM… They then went on to lose 4-2 to Cardiff the following week.
Yanited became favourites for the title after the community shield game but finished 7th with Moyes getting sacked as we all know…
As your post rightly stated we still need 2 or 3 to chanllenge but with AW drumming up his unnamed player who can play 2 or 3 positions we know we will only buy 1 more as was reported all summer.
You are right about making judgement based on a youtube clip but based on the fact that he has been highly rated in the Portugese league even higher than Matic was I would say he will come good.
Kt- re your comment about AR16 that was why last season I was moaning about him playing in advanced position. He is better making late surges into opposition half…imo
challenge*
How old is Fernando? 50?
Oh I see Bt… jeez my scouting network is letting me down this time around. lol
I want Arteta to play a big part this season but like we said last week, maybe someone to come in and rotate with him game in game out scenario. A more enforcer style player against the big teams and Arteta can pick up the scraps against the Hulls etc lol. He is a great player and you can’t fault his effort and commitment towards the gunners, it’s just a shame his legs aren’t anywhere to be seen
Ginge, was there a house full of cake in Yaya’s dream? Jack really did a number on him yesterday. Never thought I’d see the day.
With so much pace and movement in the side even Santi looked comfortable.It was refreshing too see us play such good combination plays all over the park.I thought our Debuchy/Alexis combo looked very good.Its such a huge advantage to have players that can win 1 v 1 battles so regularly as Alexis does.it opens up so many spaces for the likes of Ramsey to run into.Ozil must be licking his lips now…
Morning guys…birds chirping insects buzzing the wind in my blonde hair. Cassie smiling gee it’s a great day to be a gooner . couldn’t ask for more. What a game last night. Hopefully we get a cb before the window closes shut.
Ts, the right beast would be fine, one who can tackle, and who is mobile..
As for yesterday, I think everyone has their feet on the ground and know that the CS means little really, other than another run out, a trophy and a huge confidence building exercise.
The new campaign begins on Saturday…
“Ts, in my view tactically capito Arteta showed why he and Pirlo, Schweinsteiger and Busquet are the best at the deep lying playmaker role” lol. Overreaction Theatre
MA08 is not in that category of players, cut it out.
True re:Ramsey ts.Dortmund last year really pressed him and he struggled.In fact thats why Ozil is so good.he rarely looses the ball in those crowded areas of the final 3rd and its why he creates so many chances.Even at the just concluded worldcup only messi created more chances than him despite the media saying how poor he was.
Hey ts did you actually say my dear old vitesse did a number on ajax*spits* I ll be damned. What was the final score? Hendrik has to hear this. Hehehehee
4-1 Goonie…lol
Dna- no hating… lol
Arteta….I keep saying it…..play him against technical or physical sides, but when we play speedy sides, no way.
That’s when he gets caught out.
Rico, did you see Sven Bender yesterday against the dippers?
Hi goonster/gdna
No Ts, won’t catch me watching that lot unless its against us…
Ts, other people reading the blog and not posting, some of those comments are hilarious, cut it out bro. Its modern day everything game is televised. lol
Kt, Arsene paid 40million for that ball retaining ability in the final third. And the almost always perfect passes.
Hi Rico, how yo doing?
4.1??? Yikes it’s the sign of the apocalypse I tells ya. Heheheheh poor old Hendrik won’t pick up his phone all day but am a patient man. I ll call all day
😀
Goonster.
Vermaelen out for up to 6 weeks with a thigh strain after 1 training session
City have signed Mangala from Porto…
http://twitter.com/Matt_wilson98/status/498535486089334785/photo/1
I just read he’s not training because he is still recovering from a hamstring injury 🙂
Nickie/Dna- Arteta played in the 2nd leg against BM and Pep and Lahm said we were stronger in the second half…
Flamini played in the first leg and got dropped after that in almost all games when MA08 came back from injuries. All the better pundits like Bodo Illgner and G.Neville who I respect their views on tactical matters said Flamster was tactically naive as I had been saying throughout the season. Even Lee Dixon said teh same about how Flamini talks more than play…. lol
The answer to getting the best out of MA08 is to use him 1’s a week not 3 times a week at his gae imo…
Ditto above Scott…
Morning rico and dna stop picking on ginge bro. Leave him be. He’s my ace 😀
Adamant
lol Goonie. Ajax was on fire… for a change. Frank De Boer is proving a manager and a half. lol
Centre midfield,most players can play that position,the problem for players is sitting in,its easy to join in,the attacking parts,and get caught upfield.Song was a good example
Arteta was never a defensive player,but he sacrifices his game for the team,we all love him because of that.
Wenger said yesterday that he might look for a player that can play centre-mid/centre-back.
How are you fella? The wife doing good, no?
I don’t think Arsenal fans do necessarily abuse Nasri unless he opens his mouth first and he only does this to deflect attention from the fact that even his International colleagues despise him. Since he won the International Pig Of The Year award in 2012 I haven’t given him a thought.
Hello everyone, Am Andy and I have visting HH for a long tym jes to read the post and read the entertaining comments. So today I decided to write a comment.
Yesterday’s game was awesome buh what I dont get is why the press are always anti Arsenal?. A Win Is A Win Especially, When It Is Earned the way the boys did yesterday. So to the press I say keep hating we aren’t hearing
I know Ts….I’m saying I want Arteta to play lol
We are well thank you Stan and hope you and the family are too.
Ginge, Gary Neville messages me daly for my opinion and them passes it off as his own 🙂
He is one of very, very few “experts” that knows anything about the game.
Very smart man.
Why compare Arteta with Flamini? Neither are what our midfield needs in the big games against sides with oodles of pace..
Everything is a.ok adam. Just can’t stop smiling. What a weekend.
Ts, whatever Pep said is irrelevant to me or my support for AFC, i don’t need Pep to confirm what i view from my TV room. The entire football world know MA08 & Flamini is not good enough to be starting for a club like AFC.
Dna- your hatred for MA08 is clouding your judgement mate… chilax buddy.
I know he does Scott… 🙂
His loving for Ar16 is becoming a bit… 🙂
Scott. I assume you are talking about the reborn Gary Neville and not the thug that did Ferguson’s bidding by fouling and cheating his way through entire seasons? 🙂
I know Nickie… 😉
Ditto your above Fred.
Adam, most definitely……..no comparison between the new and the old Gary.
Ts, it’s gonna be view as hatred because everyone view ambition differently bro, for me its the club first, everything else is secondary.
You got to love how the bin-dipper loving Ts pundits are revving up the Liverpool win against BVB yesterday.. considering BVB are a week behind us and had key players missing too…
Scott. Having met you and broken Nan with you I doubted you meant the same person. 🙂
So are you back here next year? I hear The Gunners pub hasn’t been the same since you left.
Dna- define Arsenal quality to me please…
I can and do admit we need a DM that is why I had been taking up Cabaye and Morgan for over 2 years now… but I am yet to be convinced why a professional player such as Arteta is not Arsenal quality as you put it…
We all hear to have a bit of fun…no need to make it life or death imo…
A bit off topic but worth it lol
Arteta has never had issues tactically.however when we come up against pressing sides with physical/Speedy players in the middle he cannot cope.more often than not he’ll spot the danger but his physical limitations prevent him from doing anything about it.
Adam, I’m hoping to get back ASAP.
My wife’s dream job finally came to an end a few months back, and we have this horror trip to Disneyland coming up next month, but once the dust settles, I’ll be working towards my next venture.
The Gunners profits are well down! I hear 🙂
fred, hope it’s more than just ‘might’…
Gdna, I share your view re both Arteta and Flamini, neither should be first on the team sheet for many of our fixtures, but I don’t hate either, just think a club like Arsenal should have a better midfield when it comes to defending.
Well, in Arteta’s case younger. Nice chap and all that, but one who should be used sparingly imo..
Let me know Scott, I need to book a holiday… 😉
Scott 🙂
Disneyland might not be so bad. :). Sean will love it and you’ll get into it too. Is it the Florida one you are going to?
Lukas-Podolski.com ✔ @Podolski10
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10:58 AM – 11 Aug 2014
Podolski really needs to get off of twitter… 😉
Hahaha Rico,
You and Wath, both 🙂
At least Kev, Lee, Adam and Ginge hung around for me.
I miss the place.
I’m off for the night guys…..have a good one.
Adam, we are going to Anaheim.
The saver for me is a week in Hawaii on the way back……can’t wait to visit Pearl Harbour.
Later…….
There was a mighty handsome chap amongst those fans Gdna… 😉
I’ll be around this time Scott, I’ll make sure of it… 😉
Night you, sleep well..
I need at least a 3 month warning Scott 🙂
evening all – got to be happy with that, players missing or otherwise. We did well on the ball and tested them often. Good result and a good start to the season
Scott. I have been to that one. It’s ok for a day and with a young’un it won’t be too bad.
I would love to visit Pearl too.
Hi Oz. Bang on. 🙂
Rico, i have mad respect for them, they traveled near and far to watch AFC.
Adam, 11.09am;
Brilliantly written mate, that should have been the opening gambit for tomorrow’s post…
I was sitting in The Plough in New Romney, watching the game.
Who on earth, at BT, made the decision to employ a prick like Michael Owen…
BT really are a laughable bunch of idiots.
Cabaye is not who we need imho.
Hi Wath/Oz..
Me too Gdna, and spent a few pounds doing so…..
good evening from Perth Rico
Dreadful coverage Kev. Must have hurt Owen to admit how good we were back in 2003/04
Cheers Kev. Me neither Lee. Bit of a tosser.
lee – agreed totally with that
I actually like Cabaye, but I’m not sure he’s what we want and not at the price Newcastle wanted…
The kid at PSG, Rabiot, he looks interesting…
our net spend is quite low so far, leaving us plenty to speculate with if Wenger decides its required. For me, we need pace imports to both DM and CB as priorities. Love Artea, he’s a warrior but we will get caught out again with the lack of pace in this area if left unchanged. Thought Sanogo showed glimpses of quality yesterday but should he really be the Giroud challenger, i think not. Very impressed by Sanchez and Chambers. We got the money but i sense one and a max of 2 budget buys incoming. Hopefully not
Hehehehehe Tony pubis is running scared. Crystal Palace ‘ s selhurst park is where a new king ll be born. Sanchez to rip them to bits. King Henry reincarnation?? I think so. Lol
so do we loan out young Gnarby now – thought we’d see him yesterday actually, is he injured? I see Diaby is down again, just sad this story now.
Oz- it was a good match… 49 more of those then we do a treble.. lol
Also all those calling for Ramsey to be captain were saying Per and Ramsey were not Arsenal quality a few months ago but hey.. 🙂
Also, a team fielding Arteta as its CDM won’t win anything was said last summer too but I hear no owning up…
tsgh – hi mate. As you know always rated Per big time but one has to play to his strengths and pushing up the park doesn’t do that. Arteta is the obvious choice although given Wenger’s world record of selling captains i think we’d better find someone else ha!
wish Verm all the best BTW – a good move for him to kickstart his career
What point are you trying to make Ts?
Good Afternoon Munchkins and Chipmunks.
Good match report Rico. balanced and without hint of bias
21 hours since the Arsenal captain last lifted a cup.
Tsk Tsk
Thanks Devil..
lol Oz I agree- Leg-hair’s captaincy is a nice nail in the coffin for MA08; he will more than likely leave next summer…
I have always said the reason i like and respect MA08 is that even after we had been thrashed 8-2 and the media and know it all pundits were saying without Cesc and Nasri we won’t make top 4 ahead of everton and Looserpool, the man took a pay cut to join us last minute..
AW has even commented too that Mikel talked up Arsenal even more than he could especially when most fans were saying Arsenal was finished.
I always defended Per in his first season by saying a better RB i.e a fit Sagna will make him better… but as with the history of AFC captaincy I did not want per weighed down especially considering Loew replaced him with Boateng of all CBs.
Those days it was all about how AW should have bought Cahill then… 😉
Arteta will not leave next summer.
Hiya dev… you think he will stay and be part player?
yes. AW and AFC will keep him.
I feel that he will be part of the coaching staff as well
he has already been photographed giving instructions during training to others. seems that AW trusts him more than SB imo
observe the photos
non verbals speak volumes
funny, i see him having his time in the Sun in the MLS personally
Hummels now Dortmand Captain – there goes that idea then 🙂 Van Gal undone again?
Rico, my point is there is no point in hating a player and singling out a player when we lose… re arsenal quality
I suspect you will tell me you don’t care what other clubs do but nonetheless fergie never had a DM after Nickie Butt retired and still won titles…
As you pointed out this morning if you have 10 players giving 100% then we have a high chance of winning almost all our games…
Looserpool have SG as their DM similar to Arteta. Gerrard gets found out when Henderson who does the donkey work of AR16 is missing too…
Jose played with a reject 5’5 Makelele as his DM and won almost everything because they were very few luxury players in his starting XI. The likes of Joe Cole and Robben had to leave because they couldn’t be bothered to do it Jose’s way…
Almost all top teams in europe have a 30 y.o as their DM… the way I see football a no.6 is foremost a playmaker not a beast as a defender…
Yep, Oz I am pleased with that re hummels.. he deserves it…
Oz. But Man City just signed that filthy sod Mangala.
Totally agree Dev… that is my dream for him too; Aw trust him explicitly according to rumours… he was instrumental in SC19 coming too…
The whole club trusted Arteta to take the FA cup to Dubai too… if he is not made a coach I see him as a scout or some sort of ambassador.
Adam – the greek lad? Wasn’t he tipped to come to us?
Ts, yes, you are right, I don’t give a toss what Utd do or have done.. 🙂
I care only about what Arsenal do and if they get it right, we can be winners. Not sure why you assume that just because a player gets criticised, that player is hated? Really crazy to think that imho.
Just because you can see no wrong in Arteta, it doesn’t mean every other fan on here has to think the same, we are not a bunch of sheep…
On the other hand, even when Flamini does something good, you seldom find a way of praising him, instead you quote all the pundits comments to back up your theory that he’s a flapper..
Does that mean you hate Flamini?
My sensible head would say you don’t, however, if I am to use your theory, I would suggest you do…..
No Oz. The animal that came from Porto. A couple of seasons ago when we were leading them in the CL comfortably, they bought him on in about the 90th minute purely to do damage. He ran around kicking everyone and then went right over the top to Gibbs who was making a routine boot down the field as the game was essentially over. Gibbs kicked through the bottom of his boot, putting him out for weeks and weeks. He is, by any standards, a vile player.
Bloomin heck Adam, he sounds a nasty piece of work…
tsgh, I know this is really gonna sound far fetched but contrary to popular belief it wasn’t only you and scott that were backing ramsey on here, only some of us don’t go on about it every 5 minutes !
ah ok Adam – i was thinking of someone else. Don’t remember the event in truth but sounds like a rough lad. Not sure how much game time he’ll get there
🙂 Rico, i was one of the few one’s on here calling for Flamini to be signed last summer.. I don’t hate Flamini… I only defend Arteta as the general assumption is Flamini is better but in no department is he better according to AW’s selection and most better pundits like Neville…Before every game I hear so called ex-pros saying because we have Flamini we will be solid but they fail to tell us why…
My simpleton way of showing otherwise is through stats and also compare who was playing next to Flamini i.e Ar16 winning over 4 tackles and making loads of interceptions whilst Flamster flaps his hands…
I see some things wrong with Arteta’s game i.e he is easily dribbled but in all other areas he is as good as Lucas and Morgan and better than Fernandinho who is bigger and faster… imho
What I want ideally is for JW or whoever comes in as a young DM to from TR07 and Arteta because they retire…
In the ideal world Ox and co will be humble like CC21 is at the moment and learn from both football brains…
RM spent big on Asier last summer (the so called best DM in La Liga 2 seasons ago last summer) to dispose off Alonso another pensioner but he failed to do it.. Ancellotti preferred the pensioner in the end.
The difference is that Ancellotti rotated the ex-sperds Modric and Alonso to ensure Alonso their best CM was still fresh for the bigger games…
Martinez and later Thiago were bought to replace schweinsteiger but in the end Javi was moved to CD and Thiago was benched… in the end pep turned Lahm a RB into a DM even though Pep had paid over £20m on a younger proper DM a few weeks before…
Also some might think I dislike SC19 but I criticize Poldi and Sc19 only on their defending that was why I was confident Diego Simeone won’t be interested…
My point of debate is always that without proper wingers who will help to defend we all admit we get exposed on the flanks…
If it works like yesterday then the players are super… but if it fails like against NYRB and AS Monaco then AW was wrong to select SC19 and JW in the same team with Arteta…
I never backed Ramsey and I was wrong, shit happens 🙂
If you say so Micko. 😉
Micko, you are spot on there, I know plenty from here who were behind Ramsey. I wasn’t, not whilst he was played out of position.
I’m happy to let the press and bookies underestimate the quality we have. 11/5 on the arsenal win yesterday – easy money and long may it continue into the season. I reckon this year that there is lots of money to be made backing our team against the so called big boys (ha!)
lol.. oz its not about right or wrong honestly… at least that is not my intention when I bring up Ramsey or Per.
Its about partnership in key areas of the field.. some work and some don’t.
Kanu and DB10 on paper were 2 of the biggest football brains in the 2001-2003 team but they could never play upfront together. How many times did AW try it and finally admit they would never work?
My point is always that we fans slate some of our players too much too early when sometimes its AW’s fault…
An example is Clichy… he is doing well at City but when he was with us he was deemed not good enough… Just maybe even Winterburn, Roberto carlos and Maldini would have struggled with AA23 playing infront of them without any protection…
General assumption?
You mean Gdna and because he believes that you tell him he’s wrong. He’s not as it’s his opinion.
And again, I don’t give a toot what other managers do with their players it bears no relevance to what AW does with his.
Every manager has his own ideas, and Arsene has his. I’m sure he knows just a little bit more than you and all of us here.
Your point re debate. This you won’t like as most of the time you don’t debate, you tell us, like you are the oracle of all things football and only a select few on here are worthy of having an opinion…
Well I’ve got lots of egg on my face, I thought Ramsey,Kos, BFG were all not good enough for The Arsenal! Luckily I don’t manage Arsenal…… stop smiling Scott! 🙂
So I better internalise my views on Jack as I haven’t got a Scooby on what I’m talking about….
But at the time Lee, you were entitled to your view, it’s not all about waiting two years and then telling us you were wrong or right and ramming that home every day.
One can only see what’s in front of them at the time and at that time, Merts was being embarrassed by speedy players, Kos mucked up in the CC and Ramsey was shocking when played left or right..
We all might have an opinion, but AW see’s the players day after day and he does what he believes to be best.
Reality is, all the footballing know it alls around the blog world would be paid £7 million a year if those same people really knew what they try to make out they do on Arsenal forums…
Rico, its not as simple as that imo;as you said earlier if it is just about what AW does and his ideas then why are you always saying Arteta is not good enough when AW thinks he is good enough?
We will all accept if AW spent £15m when £100m is sitting in the bank because its AW’s way…
I thought the whole point of blogging is just that share opinions in an amicable way?
All football watchers have their views, some are extreme other are not.
We all agree with regulars on here about rating of other players and disagree on others… that is how the world goes…
In my view if anyone is going to make an assertion then they have to have to justify it and not just say someone is a disgrace or label a human being a way they won’t accept themselves if the shoes were on the other foot.
12:36… Hi Andy and welcome, sorry for being stuck in moderation for so long Rico was busy doing the ironing and washing…!
I’m not a big fan of AW, so whats the problem if i wasn’t a fan of Ramsey? I’m not a fan of players who are not good enough to help the team win trophies. Shit happens, even a blind squirrel find a nut sometimes. I don’t see the point of arguing over a average footballer, we conceded 17 goal in 3 games last season and the manager hasn’t done anything as yet to offer comfort that it won’t happen again, that’s the reason i want a proper CDM with height and speed. I’m not trying to be right, saying i said this or i said that, for me that’s not beneficial. I have special sentiment only for the club not the employees.
Ts, of course it’s that simple. AW will have the final say, we all just have an opinion and HH was set up to allow everyone to have that opinion.
No we won’t all accept AW spending £15 million when there is a lot of the money in the bank, what we will accept (well I will and I can only speak for myself) is signing the players we need to plug the gaps and to make us stronger.
Sharing opinions is exactly right, but being told each day that you are always right about what you said last week, last season, or a few years ago gets boring as it sounds like you always want to prove yourself to be right.
It may or may not be your intention to come across that way but so many of your comments come across as being quite condescending. Even when Micko told you he backed Ramsey, you almost laughed in his face….
Well, that’s how it came across…..
Over to you rico !
Not waths fault he can’t make it through the lunchtime news without having a snooze.
Everyone needs an afternoon siesta Micko… you know you do…!
I hope Micko did not take it that way as lauging in his face.. because Micko gives as he gets… and I think or assume that is along the lines of his sense of humour… most times I take what he says as tongue in cheek at least when I got to know him virtually on HH…
Andy 12.36.
I love the fact we’re the establishment.
I love the fact we’re traditional.
I love the fact everyone hates us, wants to have a go at us, I love it.
We are The Arsenal.
Only Micko can answer that Ts, but that’s how it seemed to me, and almost like you don’t believe Micko supported Ramsey….
Sorry Andy…
I am a bit confused…my post ‘tell’ people what to do or is right but when someone says we need a big and faster player its not telling people what is right? lol
As I have no qualifications to be a coach as do most people on here I asume, I can only base my views on history and what successful managers/teams do… that is my simple and logical point of view… nothing innovative in my views.
Saying that even Steve Jobs cared about what and how his competitors did things imho… at least that is what I read.
Boeing and Airbus compare themselves too…
we deem OG12 is slow because as compared to Suarez or Aguero or whoever one may fancy as a top striker he indeed is…
Imo, its a cope out to say we shouldn’t care what our competitors are doing otherwise we won’t be saying we need 2 or 3 more players to win the league as we already have 25 players. But even with the good business we have done on paper at least we are short as compared to others …
Wars and empires were built studying the past or competitors to do it better imo…
But hey as I keep getting reminded I am not a manager… it’s always the intolerant who accuse others of not being tolerant when views differ…
Micko…. 3:00 spot on matey… Fuck em all I couldn’t give a rats arse what people think of us and the more they hate us the more I think they scared of us…! Bring it on….
I was having a snooze too Micko… lol
ok… Micko… I apologies if you took offense to my post earlier…
as I said I try to replicate the tone of your post to me.. I take it always as being tongue in cheek.
Not at all tsgh, often had a few late nite discussions with scott about ramsey, he’ll probably deny all knowledge of it anyway !!!
What I am trying to say is, you all too often want to prove to us all that you are right and tell us that you said something would happen months ago.
Just like earlier about Ramsey and Merts – the old ‘I told you blah blah…. I don’t understand why you always have to prove that you are right…
Ts, to base football on history and not have an innovative view is pretty limiting don’t you think…? we don’t play based on history, yes we should look at what has happened previously in the not to distant past but history means fuck all compared to what’s gonna happen this season. You don’t have to be a coach to know what your talking about as much as some coaches don’t know what they doing even with a badge…..! One doesn’t give one a footballing brain does it..! Great ex players talk shit, average ex players can be sensible and great to listen to with insight and constructive views. Your stats can on paper look great but the game is played on grass and making a tackle isn’t always necessary if I put myself in the right place yet your stats would say I never make a tackle yet I may of stopped 5 attacks as passes went astray and to one of my team mates…………!
Everything can be interpreted differently by many people in many different ways…. Always.
Who was the most pissed in those late night ramblings Micko… you or 2 Scotts….?
A solid start,but lets not get carried away.As written city were weakened, and they were in truth, but we still gave a very good account of ourselves, Without kompany and zabaletta they are vunerable at the back. With ozil, walcott and co to come back it bodes very well for us. Debuchy. Ramsay and chambers and monrael to a lesser extent impressed. Sanchez had a decent game, He,s through balls very nearly connecting, but one beautiful ball did to set up a great move. And if only sanogo,s through ball had of been a touch lighter sanchez would of had he,s debut goal. Sanogo also scuffed a sure headed goal, making me still think he,s not quite ready.looks like we,ve to depend on mssr Giroud again this season. Wenger has something special here. were just 2 world class players away. c,mon you Arsenal.
Ok folks… just to clarify my Per and ramsey point was in reference/reply to the video dna posted… no one mentioned captaincy issue on here today… I assumed it was self- evident…
All I was saying was I had seen some of those individuals slating Per and Ramsey on AFTV but are now saying they should be captains… that is why i brought up Cahill…
I was brought up to treat others how you expect to be treated… my simple motto in life… I won’t call anyone what I won’t take myself… and won’t say something to someone’s back if I can’t say it to their face…
In my view professional football is a job, luckily they get paid huge sums .. as I can’t claim to be the best at my job as I am sitting in the office blogging I am cautious how I judge people… so far as I do my best and do my job then respect all round imo…
Highbury slaughter-House lol
Wath @ 3.11……….spot on
as we always say………if we have 10 outfield players who put a shift through all the games then no need for that DM or CB or CF or whatever.
good point regarding tackles. Gilberto used to think and cut down many attacks before they even started.
Reading the game is something you are born with….
Micko. They only have a go at us because they are inwardly jealous I think. I have often wondered how much “character” comes into buying the right player for Arsenal. This will certainly apply when it comes time to pick Arsene’s successor. He seems to have generally had his finger on the pulse of the club’s tradition. Very few managers would be able to buy into that in such a sensitive way I think. The team can be a reflection of the manager’s footballing ethos which is why Pellegrinni, who seems decent, confuses me with his love for such filthy cheating scum on the pitch.
Fair enough Wath… but you will at least agree history tells us you need 11 good players in a team working togethertto win something in football. 😀
my point from my unqualified position is that i justify my views from what others have done or do well… I have not had the luxury to put anything I say on here in practice professionally
As it has been said Only the madman is absolutely sure; since my only chance of managing a team is getting myself CRB/DBS checked and helping out a mate who teaches PE in a girls public school or trying to delegate positions to my colleagues when we play football after work 😉
Having read Tony Adams’ latest proclamations re TV, I have to say that the poor chap needs some help. Perhaps a month locked in a room with David Icke would help.
Ts, Your 3:20 re Per and Ramsey though makes out that your initial comment was about people on here who has said that or thought that and wasn’t a general comment from you at the wider AFC fan base..! As you well know no one really slagged off either player on here although a few didn’t agree they were going to make it yet that’s very different from many on other blogs who slaughtered both Per and Aaron and who now claim them both to be world class and having always backed them…!
When making general comments it’s difficult when read that is sounds like you can be having a pop at people on HH… just an observation from my side..!
Most people’s idea of reading the game Lee is reading 4-4-2
Lee. No it’s not.
Ts, totally agree with 11 players on the pitch all pitching in, It’s why I shy away from the over emphasis on people going dilly or tactics etc etc…! A great squad and a team who fight for each other with a couple of top class individuals will mostly beat 11 great individuals 9 times out of ten. It’s also not just history that tells us we need 11 good players its common sense…!
For me MA08 is a magic player, a proper baller, far more attacking than defensive but he was the attitude and the brain to know what the team lacks and has done it as best as possible the last few years. The sad thing is that in 75% of the games he can cope and does a great job but it’s the 25% of games where he is found wanting of pace that we come unstuck and we get hurt badly. The need for a younger physical mobile central midfielder is essential and they need to mold their game on MA08’s footballing nous and learn from him and how good would we be then…?
Exactly Dev- that was exactly the point i was trying to make re.my view on other teams playing a 30 y.o as a ‘DM’… most teams play as a team.. PV04 won’t maybe have been a legend if TH14, DB10, FL11 and co did not defend from the front…
As I say Edu was no U.Bolt and always always injured too but he had Parlour and PV04 to help out…
When I try to cite an example that even PV04 made mistakes and quite bad and amateur one’s too it is interpreted as dissing a legend.
Its not a fact but a hypothetical comment to say we won’t be beaten 6-0 etc if someone younger was playing there instead of what we have as a DM…
we had 21 y.o’s playing in midfield on all occasions that we lost who did not bust a gut but its not their job to do that i guess….
point taken Wath… Rico tells me all the time but I guess bad habits are hard to shift. 😉
Think Adams is missing his piano lessons Dev……
Duncan Castles @DuncanCastles 1h
Eliquiam Mangala transfer complete. FC Porto say they received €30.5m for 56.67% of his economic rights. #MCFC #FCP #FRA
Lord have mercy
Gdna, have seen elsewhere the total fee is in the region of 42 million euro for his third party owner and previous club as well…! Ridiculous money..!
Wath, for a CB, its crazy right. lol
True Wath re some ex-pros talking shite. Also not all top players have football brain.. maradona in my view never had football brain… he was a genius at playing his game or doing it his way…
That is why Diego M is a shite manager and will always be imo… Gullit as well. To me someone like Alonso will eb a bettedr coach in future than a CR07.. assuming they want to be managers…
It’s not hard to see why Tony Adam’s managerial career never really took off is it? Intellectually he was on another plane of consciousness altogether.
Mad money for sure but then again we can’t judge til he falls flat on his face or becomes a world class player but for me he is one who hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, yet….!
If I was gonna spend 40million euro on a centre back I’d probably try get Varane…! who else is worth that kind of dosh and is really top class..?
Just seen a YouTube compilation on diaby. Damn what a player. I know YouTube can make shitvestre look like Franco baresi but boy do diaby look good. Damn you dab Smith you ruined a perfectly world class player. So sad.
Hey wath where did crawl out from? A giant’s ass crack 😀
Wath. What about Vlaar The Impaler?
Another plane or another planet Adam…?
What Vlaar for 40million euro Adam lol
Wath. That is the thing about Man City’s money. There is no risk, no comeback. If it doesn’t work, then just sell him to the NY whatever’s or some other club bought by whoever. That way you can fix the books for FFP just like I imagine David Luiz’s transfer has been accomplished.
And they say it’s a level playing field.
Wath.. did you see Varane vs Costa last season or even in the WC? I think he could do with getting initiated into Rugby hoofball from pulis… lol
I’m sure in this modern day and age Cygan would command a fee close to that Wath
Ts, great players don’t mean great coaches great managers that’s for sure…
History tells us that 😉
If it was that easy everyone would be doing it.
CR07 a manager… can you imagine the entourage he would need, hairdressers… outfitters… bodyguards…. PR people… the list is endless the team would be totally insignificant..!
Nickie, Lira or Iraqi Dinar…?
tsgh, maradona was the highest paid handballer in history, i’m sure i remember reading that somewhere.
lol Wath
Afternoon Rico and the House. Lovely post Rico to sum up a great day for Gooners.
Wonderfull to see Pat looking so well and enjoying himself.
Did you notice the very limp handshake with Na£ri, and he was the only one Pat did not speak to.
Like so many on H/H I thought it was a very good allround performance and the lads were all up for it.
This afternoon behined closed doors the U21 team have beaten Colchester 3-0 with goals by Akpom (2) and Bellerin.
See you latta.
Funny that, I was gonna ask you the same thing wath !!!
Adam, we all know there ain’t no level playing field mate, how can Citeh say it’s a 32million euri deal when they then paying 3rd party owner 14mil euro and old club another 5/6 mil euro…?
Pathetic but the oil barons and gazprom will as you say just keep cooking the books and lining the pockets of those that matter.
Ts didn’t see Varane v COsta, did Varane get bullied…? He still young though and learning, just think he’s quality although still not worth 40mil euro but if I was to pay that kind of dosh he’d be one i’d consider…! maybe Cahill also 😀
Wath. Don’t you like big Ron then? I agree that £40 mill is too much but City might pay £30 mill? Lol
Adam, if we let slip we willing to pay 30mil for big Ron you know Citeh will pay 35mil 😉
Wath. 🙂
Sad but alas, true. As long as the people in power are getting a financial cut, nothing will be done.
lol he is indeed quality wath… but yes like in the world cup and UCL final he struggles against traditional CFs…
Hopefully he will grow into it…
I didn’t know that Micko… was he paid in Naples powder or cash? 😉
take it easy rick.
What a storm we have just had, cripes…
Afternoon Rick and all, thanks re the post Rick. It was good to see Pat looking fit and well….
As you say Adam, money talks and when those in power score they’ll continue to turn a blind eye and at the same time use hot air to make idle punitive threats…!
Very few traditional centre forwards around these days though Ts… maybe a bit of time in the gym and he’l be fine lol
Interesting debate or statement or pronouncement, I’m not really sure…
By and large, Arsene Wenger is more right, than he is wrong, concerning his team selections…
If he picks Mikel Arteta, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is the correct choice.
He also picked Igors Stepanovs, Mikael Silvestre and few others we’d all rather forget.
So Wenger’s can still be criticised if any of us feel the need…
Personally, I like Arteta, and I believe I can safely claim not to have ‘dug him out’…
I can also recall reading Flamini being dug out unmercifully by some.
It’s all opinions, and you either give them honestly or you don’t…
This is a blog for debate…
Not a blog for ‘I told you so’…..
Only Scott is allowed to do that…
Because, well, he’s an Aussie… 😉
And we all know what they’re like….. 😛
Santi Cazorla has said he is going no where. Good news.
And.
Luiz Gustavo has said he is staying at Wolfsburg. More good news.
Were Arsenal interested in Gustavo?
I have no idea, but after seeing his pitiful performances in the WC, I’m sure that Arsenal can do better than him….
Galatasaray are still being linked to Podolski and Joel Campbell…
Really???
What a croc of shit…
Why would Wenger allow two of his forwards to leave?
To me, it makes no sense.
I didn’t wanna see Vermaelen or Fabianski or Sagna leave.
It doesn’t interest me to read any crap in the Press regarding the dilution of our squad…
All of our squad have a part to play.
I wanna win everything and to do that we need a strong squad…
Very good news re Santi Kev…
I didn’t want any of them to leave either Kev, but sometimes we have to accept that players either want more money, or don’t have the stomach to fight for a place…..
Ron Vlaar mentioned……Ginge will be happy
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/08/11/arsenal-linked-with-surprise-move-for-aston-villa-defender/?
CO though Devil. They are strangers to the truth…. lol
I did say about Vlaar a little while ago didn’t I Rico lol news broke from BT sport representative couple of weeks ago 🙂
🙂 Nickie. I don’t remember…. lol
noo waaaaay we laughed at how it was from Bt sports representative and assumed it was rubbish…never mind lol, I’d take Vlaar as 3rd choice 🙂
What about the Swiss fella – Scharr? (spelling)
Schaar for youth and set piece offensive, Vlaar for experience and prem pedigree
Good way of thinking…
🙂
All quiet so i’m off for the day…
Night all….
Mick, 3pm;
Quality mate. One to remember…
Night All
Lee, you’re 2.36 lol
Mate, at the time, they probably weren’t Arsenal quality.
Still, they were what we had at the time, and I thought/hoped they one day would be, so you have to back yourself.
Hey, I thought Gervinho would be a star for us.
Kev, why so nasty 🙂 🙂
We Aussies are loveable critters.
I don’t say I told ya so over Aaron…..everyone else does that for me.
Actually, I do say it to one particular HH regular who is never wrong, and when he is hides away hahahaha
Scott you’ve ruined the whole package mate… how can you admit to thinking Gervais was anything other than a tea boy…?
Hahahaha Wavy,
I thought he had plenty, and would improve in his second season.
Sorry Wath.
Damn IPad 🙂
R.I.P Robin Williams!
I have a feeling we aren’t getting a DM just a CB……. I really hope I’m wrong!!
Bloody heck, that’s terribly sad news.
RIP Robin Williams…
Morning Lee and all..
If what is written in the newspapers is true, it’s looking like a player who can play DM and CB..
It’s going to be both, I can feel it in my bones… 😉
I hope you’re right re two players! Carvalho is who I think we’ll get but I know fuck all from my armchair! 😉
Me neither from my high-chair… 😉
Telegraph:
Benedikt Höwedes, Luiz Gustavo and William Carvalho are among the players being monitored by Arsenal as manager Arsène Wenger aims to end the transfer window by recruiting a player with the versatility to provide cover at centre-back.
Remy linked with Chelsea after Drogba injury. Why couldn’t he have got injured on the 2nd Sept…
Morning Chipmunks and Munchkins
So sad regarding Robin Williams. One of my favourite actors. A genius who made others smile and laugh, maybe at his own expense.
Old bones have funny feelings Rico. they can give you answers to questions you never ask and make you realise hidden agendas.
They may also play funny tricks o your emotional state as well.
the news linking Remy to the chavs after Drog got injured means only one thing!!!!!!!
the injury is a serious one with Drog missing quite a big chunk of the season.
Morning Devil. Mine mostly tell me I am getting old…. lol
6 months I read for Drogba…
Marca dot com thinks it could be any between 4 to 6 months out for Drog. Good.
Morning Lady.
Good match report you wrote there 😉
When do we play the Chavs???
A pie in the face of the dwarf who brought him back simply to play against us
I dislike drogba and put him in the robben catergory….good footballer but a cheat!
Cheeky Devil… 😉
Chelsea.
5th October Away
25th April Home
so 5th Oct will be out of the question for poor Drog
by the 25th April we will be some 10pts ahead of the 2nd place so it will not matter. 😉
If we get two more signings we might be Devil… lol
Robin Williams was a genius, but a troubled genius.
Blood depression……gets the better of one of the funniest men alive.
Morning guys.
Bad day for the world.
Morning Scott…
Yeah Scott I was a massive fan of him!
Dead Poets Society.
Good Morning Vietnam.
Says it all.
Anyway, on a brighter note, my daughter is shouting dinner, so I’m out for a while.
Catch you all in a few hours.
I wasn’t a huge fan tbh, but loved him in Mork and Mindy….
Good will hunting…
Mrs Doubtfire
Drogba out…. Hahahahahahaha
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/08/12/arsene-wenger-interested-in-howedes-and-two-defensive-midfielde
Morning Kev..
Tsk Lee, that’s in my post. And there was me thinking you would have known… lol
Morning All….
Koscielny has an Achilles problem.
That’s an injury that can effect a player for months, if not treated.
Could explain why Wenger might go in for an experienced defender like Howedes…
As good as Chambers and Monreal have done this pre-season, we ain’t gonna challenge for the EPL without experienced quality at centre-back…
Morning Lee… That’s awful news about Robin Williams.
Morning Rico…
Great post… 😉
Rotten news about Kos, but could ensure AW signs a CB, just in case he was thinking about not…
The Kos injury maybe the kick up the arse Arsene needed!?!?
So it was you peeping then Kev… 😉
I hope so Lee…
New Post up now..
So the OG12 goal did not take a deflection at all…
Morning Rico/Wath and all
http://www.gfycat.com/UncomfortableRealBuck