Morning all.
Arsene Wenger has been criticised by ‘some’ for signing Mesut Ozil. Those who question the signing suggest he was’t really needed, he’s a luxury in a midfield already full of talent, a waste of money as we don’t have the right kind of striker ahead of him. Those are just a few of the kind of comments associated with the signing of our £42 million man.
I actually think signing him was a master stroke, but I still maintain we need a bit of pace ahead of him and had Theo Walcott not picked up an injury, that point may well have been proved. In any case, Mesut himself picked up an injury and has been missing now for five weeks but that absence should come to an end tomorrow.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s fixture, Steve Bruce has given his view on Mesut Ozil:
It was great to see them signing someone like Ozil. Looking from afar, it seems they spent eight or nine years funding the new stadium and were not able to compete at the top level in the transfer market.
But paying all that money for Ozil was a statement that they are now ready to challenge the biggest clubs in Europe for any outstanding talent that becomes available. It sends out a real message, because he is a terrific player, a real danger to any team he comes up against. In fact, I just hope he is on the bench for a long, long time on Sunday.
That’s the kind of fear a player of Ozil’s class puts into an opposing manager, we just haven’t seen the best of him yet but I’m sure we will soon and once the club have finally addressed our transfer needs. If they ever do of course.
Mesut Ozil is not the only one who has had his fair share of criticism, our manager has had more than his fair share and again, Steve Bruce finds it all a bit hard to comprehend:
Arsene hasn’t spent on anything like the same scale as some of the big clubs, yet Arsenal are always competing in semi-finals and even finals in the Champions’ League, as well as for honours on the domestic front. How people can question him, when you look at his record, baffles me.
The guy has done an amazing job in 17 years at Highbury and The Emirates. Sixteen of those have ended with a top-four finish, and that is remarkable. I’ve huge respect for him, and I imagine those who employ him will be doing everything in their power to keep him at the club, because they know the tremendous job he’s done.
He has been a problem for English managers and coaches, because he was the first foreign one to come in and make his mark, and other clubs have looked at that and decided to go down the same route. They think they’ll find another Arsene Wenger, but there aren’t many like him.
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he has proved to be one of the greats. He deserves everyone’s respect for what he has achieved, and I’m sure he has not finished yet.
One thing I think is true, Arsene Wenger is no longer everyone’s cup of tea!
But why is it that managers like Steve Bruce can see little wrong in all our manager is doing, yet many fans, me included, think he’s well past his sell by date and should gracefully walk away at he end of this season?
Is Bruce just being ‘nice’ ahead of tomorrows game?
Does he compare our continual top four achievements over the last seventeen years with what he as a manger would simply love to achieve at Hull City or any other club he’s managed?
Is he like Mourinho, Pellegrini and maybe even Rogers who don’t believe Arsenal are the threat that they used to be and he thinks he can beat us tomorrow?
Or does he honestly believe that Arsene Wenger is still doing a fantastic job and truly deserves to stay?
Questions which only he knows the answer to…….
I doubt Bruce has an axe to grind with Arsene Wenger so just maybe he really believes that Ozil was the start of something new and Arsene Wenger really isn’t done just yet…..
And that might not please everyone but then that’s because Arsene Wenger really isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, not any more….
Finally, there was some dreadfully sad news yesterday. West Ham’s young striker Dylan Tombides has died following a three-year battle with testicular cancer.
The 20-year-old Australian, who made his Hammers first-team debut two years ago, passed away on Friday with his family at his bedside.
RIP young fella, you have been robbed of your life too early. Far too early……..
That’s it for another day…..
Listen, every manager defends their trade,Wenger is part of that trade and have many times spoken out in favour of the hapless Bruce when he got sacked for being ever so incompetent in job a to z,he is simply repaying some of that .Wenger always speak of loyalty to managers because he know if Arsenal were run like Madrid or Barca or Juve or Milan or Chavski or City he would be out the door in a split second.
The passing of Dylan Tombides puts into perspective everything else in football. I am sure all Arsenal fans send their deepest condolences to his family and friends
rico, I like AW and I have never been unduly critical of him, but I do have a beef with his inability to change tactics in far too many games, and his reticence to call out players who are underperforming.
Oh, and I thought our match was today. Oooops.
RIP, young man.
Try telling Jose that Danish…
Absolutely JGee…
I’ve been quite critical of him agag for transfers, or the lack of the them and like you, tactics..
Both of which are baffling to say the least…
2.05 pm tomorrow agag 😉
“Questioning Arsene Wenger’s future is baffling.”
Why?
A manager that, knowing he will have his most potent attacker out for the rest of the season early January and goes out to get a 30+ something crooked central midfielder?
A manager that declears the 5 – 1 humiliation by Liverpool an “accsident” followed by another spanking by Chelsea and then Everton? Not to mention a loss to a distinctivly average ManU team away.
A manager that must have known we desperatly needed a new striker and did not address the issue last summer or in January?
A manager that played Ozil in every game or there abouts until his hamstring gave in. A player that was hardly ever played for full 90 min in Spain?
A manager that only now has come out and said there needs to be an investigation into why we have so many soft tissue injuries comepared to others after it has been obvious to all for several years?
A managers with so many flavs and you say its baffling to question his future. Why? hardly just because the leading light of super club management Steve Bruce said so…
We have been under performing for so many years, not because of the stadium but because Wenger lost his mojo, his ability to innovate and his bold incursions into the transfer market. To day we get Kim Kallstrom because he was the only one avileble that would strenghten the squad according to Wenger, Maureen saw a need for a DM and bought Matic. Go figure.
And rest RIP Dylan, only the good die young. Always sad to see young people pass away in their prime.
Too excited, rico. 😛 And I forgot to say that I hate that he rummages through discount bins. Grrrr.
Were you able to see the Atleti match last night, btw? Now that is a team full of grafters.
TT, the headline is from Steve Bruce, not my own thoughts.
I absolutely believe the fans have the right to question what is going on right now because so much is wrong.
Transfers, tactics, younger players being overlooked, the way players are managed etc etc, the list is endless…
And the bleedin zipper agag. As someone yesterday said, bin the darn coat and get one which is more user friendly….
I didn’t see the Atletico match, Simone certainly seems to know how to get the best from his players…
Love the way he’s now lording Giroud for being a strong, resilient guy – why, because he’s over feeling bad for cheating on his wife with the hot model? Or was it over letting us down and breaking club rules in the process. God is it any wonder the players don’t want grandpa to leave.
Yea rico I get that the headline is from Bruce. “you” is more a figure ofspeach and Bruce can be superimposed instead of that or indeed anyones name that thinks it baffeling 😛
Morning all,like so many, transfers and tactics really are my biggest problems with Arsene.Also the amount of power he has across other aspects of the club,eg wage structure etc.Likewise Rico,young Dylans lost battle puts everything into perspective,a lose so many can relate to these days.RIP,Dylan a sad lose,so young.
Personally I am so un-interested in the summer and who will be bought if its Wenger at the helm still. I am a deticated Arsenal FC supporter and have been since I was 6 yers old. I just feel we are still out numbered by Arsene FC supporters and that is what is keeping him in power. Thanks for the memories but its time for new blood and has been for few years.
The coat is odd, rico. With no less than the house of Lanvin as our suit sponsor, you would think he would get a better tailored one. 😀 😀
Simeone kept on urging the fans to make more noise, I really liked that. Your David Villa missed a pen. 😛
Oz, but what is AW supposed to do with so few matches left?
He can hardly say ‘the frenchman is an old shagger and really let his team down’…. 😉
You’ve baffled me now TT 😉
Morning Bt, right now I just hope he has it in him to get us at least 4th spot and an FA Cup and then hope the summer sees change….
TT – if it were at all possible to do a survey, I bet the number of fans in support of AW is an awful lot less than it was this time last year..
I think the problem is, Kroenke knows so little about football, cares so little about making sure we are equipped to win the PL etc, and all he does care about is getting as much money made as possible…
I’d love to see change from the top right the way through…
I totally agree with TT’s sentiments I find myself wondering if Wenger has not lost his mojo
I watched athletico madrid last night and found myself thinking this arsenal team do not have more quality that Athletico… but would we be able to sustain a title challenge against Barca and RM …never in a millon years with this manager and team..
Infact I am beginning to question how good Wenger really was or was it fate or a coincidence…in truth is the answer lies somewhere in between
Arsene brought a new philosophy that helped but then the invisibles were so much better than the other teams so with or with out tactics we always stood a chance..
Now the teams are closer and its all about belief and tactics and he has not been able to muster either to the players..
Sad as it may sound and as much as I love the man he has passed his sell by date .about 5yrs ago…..I have long given up hope that Arsene will change…
Good fair post rico, good points TT, I keep repeating many of them myself so much it gets boring. But they are such obvious failings to 95% of us. The other 5% must be AW in disguise☺
Rico
I share those sentiments too that it goes further than just Wenger even though Wenger is himself a big part of the probem
The main issue is Kroenke who has absolutely no knowledge about football and does not really care he is only interest is making the club profitable…maybe to sell and make some money..
Wengers instructions are clear keep us competitive somewhat ..that means top 4 and perhaps attractive football..
With a board that knows nothing about football and an owner that does not care the buck more or less stops with Wenger …they will do what he says….unfortunately he has no new ideas…
The situation is far more complex than most fans imagine…Kroenke is here to stay…do you have £1.5b to get rid of him?.
craszy, I too believe AW won’t change but if he stays, I hope the backroom staff pick up a bit as I believe one of our coaches is off in the summer, the main one whose name escapes me…
Boro Primorac, that’s his name…
Rico,i fear your hope for change will be in vain.I think winning the two cups, are the best we can hope for.Like Crazygunner,gave up on Arsene years back.
Thanks Ah, I too get bored with writing the same things….
Winning the remaining matches is what I am trying to focus on as nothing will change before the summer…. Not that i think much will change then either…
I can only hope though Bt, and mine is first and foremost that Usmanov has been waiting for his moment… And that moment arrives at the end of May…
The truth is like most arsenal fans we all look at Man Utd and it makes us terribly afraid of change …and yes it is scary
But lets not be afraid of change because sooner or later it will happen…if not now when he is really struggling to bring the best out of the team when would it be a better time?..
Like I said before I believe this team is under performing …player for player we are better then Athletico Madrid …their wage bill is less than Fulham’s…they don’t really have any ”superstars”…not even Costa ..(afterall 2 years ago he was farmed out on loan as a not too good troublesome player) …but we all know we are not performing anywhere near that level..
There is no better time to re evaluate and change things like now..
I don’t know how much credibility there is to the story,that there’s an offer on the table and has been for a while,to buy Arsenal.
Morning Rico and all. I might have mentioned the idea that football fans have short memories. Never was this more clearly illustrated than with Arsene and his recent years. Too many spankings, almost total apathy in the transfer market, predictability and lack of tactics, no ability to galvanise or inspire young millionaires to actually put a bit of desire into their game, severely limited striking options and a spiel that has led so many to downgrade their expectations. Last week, after the West Ham game I was reading that we should be looking Diamme because he is a beast! Actually he isn’t a beast. He is crap-but because expectations and ‘poor relation’ syndrome has been Wenger’s mantra for so long, some people really think that Diamme is Arsenal class. Please, do me a favour.
One of the reasons that Wenger has lost the vast majority of the fan base is that supporting the club, whether from your armchair or physically, is boring now. The semi against Wigan was a horrible day out for the fans, distinguished only by the astronomical cost of supporting a club in limbo. We have so very few of those players who really can drag a game to our favour by the scruff of the neck. We have some tidy players but match-winners? No, I don’t see them. No top club in the world would rely on Giroud for a season, but Arsenal have and he has let everyone, including himself, down very badly by waving his old chap around in an inappropriate manner. He should be sold as soon as the season ends and at least two top, top quality strikers should be bought in. Also a goalie, a right back, a centre half a central midfielder and a wide man. All these should be top draw. They won’t arrive of course, despite their need being mandated by the rather pathetic way in which the squad has been allowed to stagnate over the years. Injuries? Who could not have foreseen our current injury woes?
But the most important thing the club needs is ambition, burning, searing ambition to dominate teams with our quality matched by desire. Can this be achieved under the current, conservative regime?
Managers, players and pundits often say one thing in public then in private have a good laugh about it, Wenger is the perfect example of this. Arsenal and Wenger have become a joke, Jose gave the game away with his blunt statements about the boss, that’s the REAL perception of Wenger in football circles. I cannot face another season with Arsene in charge, it will be all too familiar waiting for injuries and then the collapse.
great post Adam – like TT i just have little to no interest anymore. Listening to them all giving it lip and failing at nearly every big test just puts me off all of them. Cazorla is a classic, I want trophies’or else’? When did he last shine against a real deal EPL team as an example? They get one or two against lowly West Ham and Wenger is crowing like a mad man – desperation plus
craszy, I personally am not at all afraid of change. Moyes was always going to struggle at Man Utd in his first season. I think he’ll spend big in the summer and be right back challenging for the league next season..
Maybe he needs to up any offer Bt and make it one SK can’t refuse….
I wish Kroenke knew how much ‘most’ of us want him gone…
£ 1.5 b , Had a look down the back of the sofa but unfortunately no I haven’t . Last Christmas’ chocolate toffee looks interesting though if I can get the wrapper off. As for Wenger and the club the subject has been done to death and the split in the support remains. He still has a number of supporters in high places and as our board will never listen to the hoypoloy things are unlikely to change.
Gazidis once said that Wenger’s position was safe until the Emirates crowd turn against him. So work it out.
55000 home?? spectators . So 44,000 season tickets of which 6000 are platinum and club class ,11,000 reds and silvers and tourists.
The tourists don’t care.
Plat and club are monied people that in the main support the board and the status quo and only watch 75% of the match.
The upper tier is a mix of old money and the tourists and the lower tier is old North bank and clockenders from Highbury that have continued to go. Even here there are scuffles between the AKB and AOB factions ( how I hate these labels ) so they are split. and down the sides and on the new clock end your red/silver members , family members and kids.
In my estimation if all the anti Wengerites in the ground stood up and shouted for his dismissal , it would be such a minority that the club would easily ignore it.
Although I know that there are people at the club who are paid to monitor the internet forums , unless they get into the ground they are just pissing into the wind . The club only see gate receipts as important and the money that is spent by attendees. They are happy they call the shots and until the Frenchie decides to go on his own accord , we are stuck with him.
Morning Adam, you may have mentioned that before…. 😉
agree on that one as well Rico – What happened to Wenger declaration NO ONE CAN CHALLENGE City and Chelsea – Another comment bites him in the ass
Rico. I know and it is bloody boring now.
good points potter
as i sit here now i would rather follow another sport than put up with 2 more years of this guy and his ego
Trouble is Potter, those who are using the internet forums to voice or opinion can’t go to the games because a) too many tourists or b) no seats available…
As you suggest, as long as ST’s are being sold, the owner won’t give a flying one….
Which is why I hope Kroenke soon packs his bags and leaves our club because I don’t see anything changing until he does.
Until someone who truly cares about Arsenal, it’s history, it’s fans and it’s future is in place, it’s same old same old ahead…
agree Rico – talk about catch 22
Adam. It is, very boring but how can we get passed it?
We can’t imho because it’s real and it’s ruining the club we all love….
Potter. Of all the people I speak to on the ground, there is only one pro Wenger bloke left. The claptrap that came out his mouth in the week when he spoke about the mighty Wigan and how they were so difficult to beat was delusional to the point of insanity. I hear that boxes are getting harder to shift because the floating companies would rather go to watch Chelsea now, revolting though that idea might seem. On the way to and from Wembley last week I overheard no support for the status quo whatsoever and in the stadium there was a stagnant air of resignation. Perhaps this is not indicative of a majority, I don’t really know how to judge it, but I am quietly confident in thinking that his approval rating is not on the rise. More of the same old next season might result in the voice of the fans being heard perhaps.
Welcome Max, you are not alone with your view….
Potter
You know yes you may not have £1.5billion behind your sofa but you just hit the nail on the head …as long as the ground is full and the money is coming in nothing will change..
I was a seasons ticket holder and used to travel to London to watch games when I could till I realised that all the club cared about was money!..
I gave it up this season and have no intention of taking it up till I see a change in the structure of the club ambition and the way they go about everything including transfer …it just became too hurtful for me …even just watching from afar..
tbh I don’t see that happenning anytime soon
but Adam – how many seasons have we heard this mate – “he has to step up ” He just is never going to mate and there is always the long long list of excuses too many are ready to adopt. Does my head in and despite the fact three clubs in front of us all have relatively new managers, those still proclaim “we can’t do better” ffs its just plain sad – This song doing the rounds again 49 unbeaten, is just plain sad and tells its own very real story. He has total control and has very deliberately put himself in that position i have no doubt. He’ll retire with many glad to see the back of him and I am one
Hi Max – join the club mate
craszy – it does hurt mate. Many have a go at us saying all we want to do is whine, ignorance is what it is.
Am one of those who realize arsena wenger has lost it this season.Wenger is a great coach,that’s sure but managers who aren’t flexible won’t make it in modern days football.Wenger is too rigid,he approves every game the same way.Am I the only one who noticed that martinaz played lukaku as a right winger and naisaith as a false 9 against us?That’s the type of manager who survive these days.Martinez would have achieve something with this our squad.I LOVE AW but he has reach his peak and he’s coming down.
How time changes Quickly.What am sure about is that,If theo,Ramsey,ozil and Ox aren’t injured this season,arsenal would have still be in title race probably leading,You guys won’t be calling for wenger’s head
Oz. Yes, I agree. The home crowd is generally sticking with the team and that is as it should be, but the empty seats tell their own story. Not to attend when you have pre-paid about £50-70 for the privilege says a lot. The booing that we are hearing more frequently is a real stab in the heart for any supporter to have to endure. I hate it and would never do it myself but I can see where it is coming from.
If he stays then I can’t see him doing much as he won’t be up to making the right changes to the squad. He would probably keep Giroud simply because he wouldn’t know who else to buy, except Kalou of course. If he goes then we are in the hands of the usual knobs to find a new manager and then back him. Under Kroenke I have little or no enthusiasm that this would work. If Usmanov came in then at least it might get interesting again. It might be a bumpy ride though but is that worse than the excruciating slope we are now on?
Sukky – did you write both of the above posts?? uumm little confusing
Sukky, no you are not the only one.
Sukky. But the point is that we DO have the injuries. We always have the injuries. That is part of the problem.
Sukky, that’s another question which is raised, why do we suffer so many injuries and those who get injured take so long to recover and return?
Something is quite clearly wrong with training, diet, over playing players etc etc. Just another in a long list of questions over what is going wrong….
Am just been realitic dude@Oz
The big problem is that Wenger don’t rotate.Maybe he doesn’t believe in other players,I don’t know.I was thinking about a perfect 11 to face hull city but I remember wenger doesn’t go with a perfect 11 for an opposition,he always put the winning team on the pitch.So don’t be surprise if We field the same team that won on tuesday.Lol,maybe one or two changes due to injury.
Off for a while now, catch up later…
Hi Rico,
I think that was a first class Post, thank you.
You have never been afraid to broach topics that touch a nerve – and you clearly have today. 🙂
He doesn’t rotate because his squad is too small and because he doesn’t allow players to get game time to develop.. I believe he picks his best eleven at the start of the season and only deviates when the inevitable injuries come along. His regimented 70 minute first substitution doesn’t help as it doesn’t allow the fringe players enough time to settle into the game. More use of Fabianski ,Vermaelen , Gnabry and so on would have given them less incentive to wish to move on and possibly less injuries to the ones he flogs to death. Every team gets injuries, mostly however they are knocks from late tackles or bangs on the head impact type ones. We get muscle strains and pulls , and structural ones .because of being myopic and not seeing the obvious early. Take Theo’s out for the season injury for instance , I could not help wondering if the severity could have been avoided had he gone off for a sub when he went down for treatment for a knock 2 minutes earlier. My son and I discussed the whole situation on the way home and concluded that he fell awkwardly because he was probably protecting the earlier knock . These are the things he misses , he thinks reactively , has a system and will not deviate.
Afternoon Lady Rico and fellow HHers..
Interesting title of post and a good post too… a definite debate starter.
My view on Ozil has always been the same; we needed a no.10 as I do not rate Santi in that position.
My ‘beef’ with AW are namely:
1. Lack of squad management- the fact that he believes a squad should be made of 16 top players plus 3 fringe and 4 or 5 untested youngsters is so nighties imho…
2. Not wanting characters in the dressing room; preferring only nice guys.
3. Preferring flashy players over the constant 6/10 or 7/10 performers/grafters. Example last season and this season he was asked who had won the most tackles in his squad and he made 3 guesses and still did not get the right player. However, when he was asked who was the best finisher and top scorer he game 2 correect names…
4. The lack of appreciation of the whole club hierarchy for hard workers/physicality…- Giving Santi a 2 year contract extension at 28/29 y.o knowing he is less likely to be effective in 2 years time due to his stamina;
5. Failing to renew Sagna’s contract even though he is by far the most naturally fit player in the squad apart from Ramsey and CJ25
6. Obvious favouritism-Not giving Akpom, Eisfield, JC and Aneke a first team chance ahead of Gedion and Yaya.
Lastly do the chavs, Pelle’ and Brenda underestimate us now?… imho hell No! Jose and Brenda bring their most guerilla tactics to the table whenever they have to face us, however I think AW over rates most of his players who imho are bottlers…
Totally agree Potter at 12:31
i am convinced Wenger has lost pace with it all – he came with a new approach, it worked very well. As the landscape changed Wenger did not. One trick pony is a term used that many have felt was unfair but you can see why the term has been used. I used to watch the interviews and found myself confused and annoyed at most of them. The quoting of things that simply were not reality, that ‘i know everything ‘smirch he is famous for. A smirk that comes from total security no matter what and a huge ego. A look at the league each season tells its own story, we have simply trodden water for sooo long. We were top for 17 weeks Scott said the other day, where are we at the business end. Isn’t that the judgement? We’re miles off is my opinion. Not just 2/3 players. The whole excuse and accept failure philosophy has to change but sadly its who Wenger is so it won’t. The players love him, everyone he buys is a super star regardless of their performance. We don’t buy super stars we create them has gotten totally out of control. The press don’t help either, they often print and support his rubbish without ever actually checking to see if its factual. I gave an example of this yesterday with his ridiculous comment ” we always finish our seasons strongly “, complete rubbish, provable by facts. He’s hidden behind the fact that City and Chelsea buy the league and now Liverpool offer more contradiction as we are left to fight loan specialists Everton for claim his now world famous top 4 trophy. Still the press in places today claim it a top achievement if he does it, why?? They print his stories “we have improved this season” and yet how can this be close to the truth? A cup run is that what we now fall back on. A cup always regarded (till the latest failures) as a distant third on his list of priorities? Even then we were unable to beat a championship side over 120 minutes and still Wenger claims it would do wonders for our confidence? We showed great character!! Can he truly believe this rubbish? Many had our goalkeeper as the man of the match… enough said. So so out of tune with everything and my regret with him is he never had the balls to take on one of the ambitious clubs, he would have lasted a season and no more but of course he’s not stupid and he knows that.
Some evidence of AW’s making up his mind on his squad by September and not deviating unless injuries dictate…
In 2007/2008 season he had decided that Diaby was going to be his main CM and so was willing to sell Flamini even though Abou was injured; had Flamini agreed to join Steve Bruce at BCFC we would have not had any midfielder fit apart from Cesc…
This transfer window he had decided that Frimp would not be used because he wanted to play Ox as a DM/CM even though a few on here had observed and noted he was not tactically ready and also did not have the legs to cover…
AW only moved for Kim on the Thursday 2 days before the window closed because Frimp decided after being omitted from the CoC game against Coventry that he wanted to leave the club to improve his chances of getting into the squad for Ghana in the WC in brazil…
AW had the chance to sign Huntelaar but he decided that he wanted to make RVp the AFC Messi or false 9
tsgh – some very good points there mate
Oz- you have a point on Wenger losing pace with it all’- 10 or 15 years ago Aw making 70 or 75 minutes substitutions like any top manager was the ‘deal’ because most top teams in particular his teams were physically well conditioned than most other teams and so when games needed to be changed the injection of a fresher player gave his team an extra 30% to win games.
These days almost all teams have a modern fitness programme and so it was less likely for a team like ours who play every 3 or 4 days to be fresher than other teams who play every 7 days, especially in the later part of game when he makes his default changes… imho of course
i have questioned a lot of what he has said and done over the last years and but nothing quite got the point home more clearly than the Chelsea game – He had big noted the game, it was the one game where we’d prove his greatness was the underlining story. It was a disaster again and he sat there offering nothing all game long. No encouragement, no reprimands, to changes.,.. interview skipped because he might have missed a bus ffs… Mourihno had made it clear who was the boss and Wenger just like Arsenal meekly surrendered. So utterly predictable to use one of Adam’s sayings.
What the hell has happened?
Suddenly, everyone is negative today, and all because someone outside the club has said something nice to say about Wenger?
The comments I have just read have been posted a hundred times by people, so why do we need to hear them again?
On a personal note, I went to watch the Sydney Swans play tonight…..they are our local Aussie Rules side.
Sean played at half time…Arsenal is still no. 1, I promise 🙂
Anyway, playing the lone fullback, he still managed a few length of the field solo goals!
Morning all.
Wenger is not the Devil some of you think, and nor is he a saboteur 🙂
But he has had two transfer windows to buy the missing pieces of the Arsenal jigsaw but has failed miserably! This season was a great chance to win PL, it was there for the taking, but yet again his lack of ambition spoke volumes.
He is getting out thought by managers on a more regular basis and his time to depart is now…..but we’ll get 4th and win the FA cup followed by two more years of dear old Arsene! I’ve had enough of having my expectations lowered by this regime.
SOJI.
Scott :- I too do not believe him to be the devil incarnate. I believe that he is as frustrated as most of us . The difference is that we think we know some of the answers but have no way of finding out. He however has the opportunity to do things another way but obviously feels there is no need.
Afternoon all, stormy debate but all said nicely kudos….
Are there people like me who should Wenger stay want a total overhaul of his backroom staff except Bouldy?
Joy:- if AW stays,Boro and the medics need to go imo
Ian wright was guest on the channel i watched the west ham game and he was asked what Arsene was going to say at half time. He said the boss dosen’t say anything for the first ten minuites then spends the next five giving out tactical instructions. Those first ten minuites were usually taken over by Tony Adams and Bouldy. He said it in a critical manner but i recall Steve Clarke saying something similar about Jose. Infact he said Jose hardly talks once the team reaches the stadium contrary to public perception except he needs to address something specific. My point is that all managers are rigid- they stick to their tested and trusted method. When it was all going well for Arsene nobody questioned his tactical deficiencies which were always exposed in Europe similarly if Jose has a second trophyless season, there will be questions asked hence his little horse stories… Rant over
Totally agree Ts… Totally agree
Afternoon all…
How many Easter eggs have you all chomped?? 🙂
Scott – I know you are in the land of nod but I actually read Bruce’s comments and wondered, ‘am I missing something’ – because I thought he is seeing something I’m not….
So, it was meant to be a positive post, just don’t blame me for all the negative stuff…. 😉 😉
Hi Rico, HH.
Arsene Wenger’s big opportunity to dispel all the negativity and get the fan-base firmly back on-side was in January, when we sat top of the league.
The whole world knew what would happen without strengthening, and all Wenger has done is prove them right.
It’s hard to take any positives out of seeing the same pattern emerge year after year, especially when the perception is that we’re only playing for fourth place instead of challenging for the title.
Ten years this year since we won the title, and not looking any nearer to closing the gap.
Hiya Rico,
Bony is proving to be a player and a half…
Blimey, after reading todays comments I need a drink !
tsgh, he could teach our turk a thing or two about how to take a penalty.
Hi Herb, I think you are right. Jan was a huge missed opportunity..
Hi Ts, he is, I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d be happy to see him up front in a red and white shirt….
Micko, me too and Lent is over tomorrow so I may just have one… Or two 😉
Blimey after reading todays comments I think I need a Spliff…
ganja Kev..
Hey Micko you know Bony and Gervinho could be related? lol
🙂 Kev.. I had mine before going to Aldi lol
Wath always had a thing for Bony and Yilmaz…
Mr Wath pretends to like world class strikers like Suarez but he was talking about Bony even before he joined Swansea… that tells me Wath likes the basement buys too; a definite sign of a AKB follower… 😛
That horrible git, the skeleton-like Ramires, is one lucky piece of shite.
🙂 Ts, Wath will be one here telling you what for shortly 😉
Just put the game on Adam…
lol.. Rico.
It looks like the bin-dipper are getting the title…
Sir Gerrard next Christmas then 😉
Hi Rico. Ramires blatantly elbowed Larson straight in the face. Red card all day. About 5 yards in front of Dean too.
🙂 Ts, Sir Stevie me me me me me me me…
I didn’t see it Adam, but I can only imagine.. Evening to you…
Lol.. as Brenda is Northern Irish… does he qualify for future England boss? 😉
wow 77 games unbeaten at home comes to an end…
But Brenda likes pace, England don’t have any…. lol
Have the Chavs lost??
How did the best tactician get beaten by Poyet and Borini?
Because Sunderland are fighting for their lives I guess..
Surely the dippers will win the PL now….
will Sauarez stay if he wins the title with them?
‘congrats to mike reilly’… you got to say Jose has the balls of a bull
Mou looks clueless everytime chelsea are having a bad game which happens so often… His madrid experience must have taken something from him or he’s taking lessons from Wenger or the term world class manager is loose… Imho, i don’t believe any manager is world class… Time, chance and money to spend makes the difference.
I don’t think he’ll stay Ts, no more than I think he ever wanted a move to us. It was all about getting a pay rise…
me too Rico… we are definitely out of the equation..
I m with you Joy…
Shame we can never beat him Joywed….
I believe Jose wants to beat Aw more than Aw wants to beat Jose… if it makes sense.
Jose wants to be respected as or more than AW…
Jose gets my respect for saying what no one else can say!
now will AW have the common sense to keep his opinion to himself when he is asked his opinion on Jose’s’ comment?
I think Jose want to be respected as much as AFC respect AW… I don’t mean the fans but the club….
He’d love to be at one club for 10 years plus, but he never will because he’s an ‘arse’!! And a short one at that….
AW will never shut up, he loves to give his opinion on everything…
so true re. Wenger
I think Jose is right on this one though re dean and Reilly…
I remember saying that the FA will schedule most of our live games for 12:45 just to derail our season…
we have played at that time more than any club too…
We’ll beat him one day Rico, i promise… Sure Ts If le boss is not going to support Mou on this one then he should shut up. Classy post mortem by Jose.
lyon vs psg on bt sports 1 if anyone is interested…
What has Jose said about Dean?
I hope so jeff….
Agree re the 12.45, also the ref’s who are given our matches. Adam has always maintained that when we play a physical side, Riley always sends out a weak ref and he’s right….
Rico
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1791056/chelsea-manager-jose-mourinho-congratulates-officals-loss-sunderland?cc=5739
Thanks Ts, just watching BGT right now but will listen later…
Well, Mourinho has just experienced what Arsenal suffer on a regular basis, so much so that it no longer suprises us.
In fact, it’s more of a suprise if we get a fair crack from the Officials.
Nothing will change until the appalling Mike Riley is removed…
Spot on Kev..
I’m done folks.. Night Kev, Ts Adam, Joywed and all…
Night Rico, night all…
Morning all.
Rico, I never blamed you 🙂
So Sunderland beat Chelski?
What the hell is going on?
Is everyone falling over for them?
Is this another case of Riley getting his own back ?
Probert came in for criticism when he was fourth official for a Premier League match in August 2009 between Manchester United and Arsenal. Probert and the referee, Mike Dean, were censured after Arsène Wenger was sent to the stands for his reaction, including kicking a plastic bottle, to the ruling-out of an Arsenal goal for offside.[9] League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan said of the error of judgement: “Probert totally failed to manage the situation and created a needless pressure point taking the focus away from the pitch in a big event with only a minute to go.” The Premier League subsequently issued an apology to Wenger.[10]
Probert of course will be the ref at Wembley for the cup final.
Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 mmmmmm…….yeh right!!!
Bent…….sitting on the bench! A pun!
Fixed? What do you think? Liver pools engineered EPL title.. Yes I think so. 25 years on …….how appropriate!
Or am I just being too cynical?
Wavy, there is too much evidence to suggest you are cynical.
what about they are top because they deserve to be? To simple?
I watched the game, Chelsea simply had their mind on a huge game days away and didn’t fire quite properly. They still had almost 62% and we’re the last side to give them stick for not converting possession into wins surely? The penalty call was harsh but it happens every week. Ramires will be suspended as the ref missed/ignored his strike on the Sunderland player, the cameras did not. Schwarzer was poor. Liverpool will need to bolster their squad now as next season they will be under a lot more pressure with games coming thick and fast. They have hardly gone trophy less those years though have they, their crowning achievement being European Champions not so long ago along with various other cups.
Morning all..
Wavy, I reckon you are spot on. The perfect ending to 25 years on..
Makes football a laughing stock, well, the FA!!
Jose might be an under tall ‘orrid man but his 2 minute interview was top class and so so true…
Morning Rico and all…..thinking about it even if Arsene had strengthened in January it would of been in vain, as it has already been decided that those scouse arseholes are going to win the PL.
Morning Lee. Yep, I think you are right too. I was just sat thinking about Man City away, a game we should not have lost but did. It all went wrong from there…
Potter that is a very interesting point mate, but myself, I am quite calm about the appointment.
For an English referee, the FACup Final is the absolute top domestic appointment in their career…
Even if Probert harbours any resentment from the Old Toilet incident, I doubt that he would be small-minded or stupid enough to sulley ‘his’ big day, with controversy…
Morning Kev, perhaps Probert is out to make ammends? 😉
Not only that Potter, but the fact that his history with Wenger has been highlighted, will only put the spotlight on him more so, it may actually work to our advantage, for a change…
Morning All
Morning Rico.
Jack back for the Cup Final then?
As long as Probert treats both teams equally the same, then i’d settle for that Rico….
Mind you, if Mr Probert wants to award us a couple of dodgy pens, then I won’t complain…. 😉
Same here Kev, would make a refreshing change to see an honest ref in one of our games…
🙂 re the penalties…
New post up now..
Having seen MotD last night, I think Sunderland’s winner was a penalty.
Ramieres should have seen red.
Wickham wasn’t offside.
And Jose was deflecting attention away from himself, as he is so adept at doing.
Also his assistant should get a 10 game touchline ban for violent conduct…
If you remember the incident it was the one where Wenger did his Brazillian Jesus bit in the upper tier of the old Trafford crowd. Riley really got hauled over the coals for it and has in my mind been bitter ever since. It is not of course without parallel after Webb was taken to the F.A for sending Adebayor off for a punch thrown by Eboue. Well we all know how retribution was served following that.