Morning all,
Recently we have scored plenty of goals, including the seven against Newcastle. The following game against Southampton, we couldn’t manage one.
Wenger says this is all confusing him somewhat:
I find it difficult to analyse the players and to know what they are capable of.
When you score seven goals in one game and only get an own goal in the next one, of course, it is hard.
We have good offensive potential but we are not consistent enough. I change my mind whether I need to go into the transfer market from game to game.
If you look at the Newcastle game, you’d say fantastic but if you look at the Southampton game you can say we need to strengthen our offensive department.
The one thing which he didn’t include was the way we concede goals. One at Southampton, three against Newcastle, two against Reading and of course there are more.
Two of those ‘more’ were conceded yesterday and I’m not stupid, of course we are bound to have goals scored against us but most are gifted to the opposition by the careless way we defend and until that changes we will continue to leak goals for fun.
Most will agree that we are in desperate need of a defence minded midfielder and maybe the right player brought in this month will go a long way to stopping us conceded so many.
So maybe as well as worrying about whether or not to sign a striker right now, maybe Wenger should pay as much, if not more attention to getting a player in who will help us stop conceding them.
That is of course, if he isn’t already….
The two we scored yesterday were scorchers though weren’t they, the first was a fantastic strike from Podolski to draw us level and then Gibbs scored an absolute scorcher to give us the lead.
But that lead was not to be held onto, in the 87th minute, Swansea outcast, Danny Graham took advantage of a comedy show in defence to grab an equaliser and a replay at The Emirates on January 16th.
After the game Wenger said:
We should have won this game. I felt the first half was a bit locked and one-paced, as much as the second half became much more open. I think in the second half we created many chances and suddenly found ourselves 1-0 down. We have shown character and quality. I felt when we conceded the corner [that led to the second goal], we lacked a little bit [of] calmness and focus. It’s frustrating to concede a goal just like that on a corner where we couldn’t clear the ball before the corner. Even on the corner, we were first to the ball and didn’t win the ball. We have shown quality and heart and it’s quite good if we can repeat that.
On the penalty that I think never was:
It was one and the referee saw it. You know why he didn’t give it? Because he thought the guy had not done it on purpose, [which] I think as well. It was accidental but he [Ramsey] didn’t trip himself. He was caught clearly by the leg of the Swansea player. I don’t know who it was. He had a hesitation, the referee, and in the end he didn’t give it.
The problem is we could have had a penalty but that can happen, but after [we could have] gone down to 10 men and down 1-0 as well. Overall, we have shown good mental quality.
Finally, whether our current squad would cope with the amount of games we have coming up:
Yes, if we have no injuries. Today we had four players at home, and I didn’t bring on Chamberlain, Coquelin [or] Rosicky. Diaby’s coming back and if we find one or two on the transfer market, then why not.
He did hint that now Djourou and Chamakh have gone on loan, there is room for a signing or two….
Let’s hope Squilli and Arshavin soon go, then they’ll be room for four…
That’s it for another day, have a good one…..
Morning all.
2 signings would be good, 4 would be great if they are of the talent we need.
I think we are unanimous in the belief we need a true DM.
Are we missing something by playing Gibbs at LB?
That finish was brilliant, as was the pass to Giroud, the return chip and the finish….any striker in world football would have been proud and rightly so.
Should Gibbs be playing further up the pitch??
I just saw the Suarez goal.
What a grub of a man he is.
Good morning all,
Scott, Gibbs is turning into another Santos, great going forward but hopeless as a defender. On the other side we have Sagna, a good defender but can’t hit a cross to save his life. In the middle we have Mertes, oh God , I’m getting depressed now!
Morning all….
JW, you have made me smile this morning, thank you…..
returns last night for Liverpool as well so them and Chelsea have got immediate returns on their pre agreed deals – wonder what Wenger was doing for the months leading up to the window other than fighting with his zip
Scott,
I’m reading this morning that there was nothing wrong with the Suarez goal as what he did was “instinctive”, therefor there was no “intent”. So all the diving by Bale is OK because it is his “instinct” to cheat. Can I please have the three points removed from my license as it was my “instinct” to drive at 60mph in a 50 mph limit?
Just seen the incident between Samuels and Warne in the Big Bash cricket – what an arrogant man the latter is….
I used to respect him as a cricketer….
P.M.A the signings will be like buses this week!
M’Vila, Villa and Mbiwa all done this week… 😉
Moaning all…
Rico, always a pleasure to make someone smile, I just hate it when people laugh at me though. 🙂
He is Scott, a cheat through and through…
What’s ‘returns’ Oz?
Good Morning my Esteemed Fellow Hobbits and Dwarves.
Ozgunner……………
Did he really spend all month doing just that?? :lol
Good post Rico.
But getting two new signings simply because we had two muppets to throw away and who have now gone is talking garbage in the extreme. We should have got better regardless if they stayed or not.
The problem is not the personnel on show during the match. Its the personnel sitting down on the touchline and their tactics which have got it wrong.
We had the first 4 games where it was difficult to score against us. Granted we did not score that many either. But we were solid.
The players started praising Bould and his work. And Voila it unravelled again. And we are using the same personnel.
So it simply means TACTICS.
You forgot Vargas Lee, his agent says we want him 😉
If Wenger gets the three you list, I’ll be over the moon….
It was the Merts comment which clinched it JW 😛
Just 3 points from your licence because of your instinct JW??
Then what should we remove from Goonie because of his instinct when skirts are swishing around??? 😆
Morning Rico. Nope, it doesn’t feel any better this morning. I am trying to think when was the last time I could say “yes, we really played well today”. I don’t mean the last time we won or scored a lot of goals, but the last time we looked solid and played for each other, unselfishly as a team. For me, there is a question mark over nearly every position at the moment. I don’t think our players are as bad as some I know and the list of types of players we don’t have is certainly growing more apparent game by game. I wouldn’t blame Ramsay either. Whenever I have seen him play well, certainly before his injury, he looked capable of moving the ball through the centre of midfield and arriving late in the box to score useful goals that might turn a match. I would be interested to hear if anybody can fathom why Wenger sees him as a wide player. For me he has neither the pace nor the trickery to create much. I think it is harming his development and if it is just to get him on the pitch somewhere, as I suspect, then it seems dumb to me. It does however highlight the fact that we so not have a single wide player at the club.
Morning fellow HHers,
A very good and positive post…
JW, I knew I had seen you before… you over-speeding in your pink vw beetle convertible… 😀
Rico, Warne has always been a smart arse.
Outside of cricket fans, he was not well liked here.
JW, i do not know how anyone can defend that little bastard.
Thanks devil.
Call me a cynic but, my ow view is that once the players started praising Bould, someone put a stop to it and the continuing work Bould was doing..
Sounds far fetched I know, as who would think of risking their teams results for such a selfish reason…
Arsenal tuko mbele ka mfuko .wenger a sign any strika even if it’s rooney
Rico, “returns” Ba 2 goals and Sturridge 1 goal…I think that was Oz’s point!
Rico. You are a cynic. 🙂
Lee too. 🙂
SOJI.
Devil, we had Diaby then though…
Morning all,
So does that mean Wenger will rotate players for once because everyone is fit? Santi seems exhausted but plays 90 mins.
I would still like to see Wenger try the 3-5-2 approach, our defending is trash anyway, full backs get stuck higher up attacking, huge gaps in the middle, we have no real wingers and no one close enough to Giroud or in the box for any balls off him with our current formation.
If not then we need Diaby or someone like him because Wilshere is not playing box to box, Santi is too deep for number 10 so that leaves Arteta and the defence exposed.
Morning Adam.
Have to agree re Ramsey, and I feel sorry for him and the abuse he gets but all the time he is played out of position and plays badly, it will continue no doubt.
It was no different for Bendtner, Arshavin, Denilson and others in a long list of player ruined by playing out of position.
As for the last time we played really well….
Give me an hour 😉
Good morning strangers, hope all is well!
Has anyone got any idea why Theo is suddenly our freekick taker??
I have never see him score one, and we have a few guys who actually have.
Ah, thanks Lee…
Ts, not sure about positive, just thought I would avoid writing about our defensive comedy of errors from the game…
It so often gives me a sense of deja vu……
ts,
Damn! I thought the long blond wig,the false Walrus moustache and the Elton John shades would be enough of a disguise. 😀
Cheer up HHers. Worse things happen at sea!
Have a nice day all of you.:-)
🙂
Apparent ‘Arry is all over Remy and M’Vila…
On Gibbs goal:
“It was a fantastic strike,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “I am happy that he scored because you feel there is a lot more coming out of Kieran.
“He does not always have belief in his finishing, and today it was there and I hope it will convince him that when he gets in these kinds of positions he can take his chance.
“[The match] is a missed opportunity because I felt we played well and created many chances. When you look at how busy their keeper was and how busy our keeper was it is frustrating [not to win].
“It can happen that you concede a goal but I felt we lacked concentration on the corner. You didn’t feel any urgency. It is down to nervousness and we were not calm and focused
“But we have shown character and quality and those are good ingredients for the coming weeks.”
yep that was my point Lee, thank you.
Its the same Bould defensive strategy we are using every match day.
Is this not the first time under AW that when ever we lose possession we break into 2 banks of 4 behind the centre line and then wait for the opposition to lose possession? At least in previous era’s with Denilson we use to put in a lame tackle. The method has worked in a way because we have the least yellow cards conceded and fouls too. This method only works if we play like we did at the dippers or against Newcastle often enough i.e break forward at pace but unfortunately we don’t.
And on Bould… only the usual sentimental fans and pundits think AW should relinquish coaching to Bould.
In fact Bould had one of the worst defensive record through out the whole Arsenal set-up. FACT.
Banfield had the 2nd best win record. I use to see a lot of reserve matches and u-18 matches so I form my own opinions and do not believe the rubbish on blogs such as Le Coq being a DM…
And he’s flown to France to do the deals apparently Lee…
He’ll convince them too I bet…
No idea at all Scott. Podolski actually scored 1 against Southampton and I am not sure if he has been near another free kick since.
Me a cynic Adam, how could you ….
I hope so Brad, otherwise injury will set in…
Ahh actually yes I have, it must be point 1c in the contract negotiations:
a Theo must be paid at least 6 figures a week and be the highest paid player
b Theo must play up front through the middle.
c Theo must take the free kicks
That means Iwe are able to deduce that the contract sticking point is a :-), but its not about the money 🙂
Twitters from across the globe regarding Giroud yesterday…..
What did Arsenal fans make of his performance? Are they keen to see him in the starting line-up on a regular basis? We took to Twitter to take a look at the general consensus and here are the results…
@jam_afc: Giroud had a strange game IMO. Not as dangerous as he needed to be. Should of had 1 goal today. #AFC
@harryiscesc: We will ruin giroud just like we ruined chamakj. Cross the ball to him!!!#ArsenaI #afc
@iamlkenna: The beauty of Gibbs goal lies behind the left loop from Giroud!!! #AFC
@itsme_dhee95: Its becoming abit of a trend..The 1-2 pass, flick from Giroud and…Bang ! Reminds me of Song and RVP last Season #KGibbs #LPodolski #AFC
@remycee: Once again the Giroud assist provides the one stat to justify he’s had a good game. Get real #illusion #AFC
@ahmed_underscor: World class assist from Giroud. Very important player for arsenal #AFC
@sanketgooner: We need a proper striker, give someone like David Villa the number of chances that Giroud got,he would have won the game easily. #afc
@the_afc: Wish all the players cared as much as Wilshere. Only other player close to looking like they care is Giroud.
@harrystarling: Giroud is so underrated! Love him #Arsenal
@arsenal_inv: Our ratings for today: to I think it would be best and fair to give everyone 6 bar Gibbs, Podolski & Giroud to get 7 for their contributions
@alialshakarji: Giroud’s assist was identical to the one he provided Podolski for his volley vs Montpellier.
@gold_gooner31: Because Giroud doesn’t start regularly he tries so hard to impress that it make’s him rush his decision’s like that shot.Needs a run in team.
Wenger’s coat. ITS A DUVET! And he’s actually asleep. “Tactics, what tactics. I’m dreaming of Messi!”
Our Freekick takers should be………….
Podolski, Arteta, Cazorla.
End of argument.
Not Theo.
Stick him to corners. He gives a good delivery on those. But free kicks is another matter.
And talking about players we are linked with… how many people have actual seen the players we are always linked with.
For instance, this morning a mate of mine called Chris who was at the match yesterday called me to say he saw Lopez play for the first time and he was shite… I had always told him that but he thinks he goes to see Arsenal home and away whilst I am an armchair supporter so he knows about football. This was the same guy who on Friday was telling me AW has money to meet A. Madrid’s 14M asking price for a Spanish international….
The same guy who like a thousand others think Navas is a better player than Yao or Ox and rate Tiote and dislike Frimps because he gets too many cards!
I apologise unreservedly Rico. It is of course I who is the cynic.
I saw that Warne incident. Once a man undergoes a Botox regime and dons a syrup it seems he loses touch with who he really is. Going out with Liz Hurley probably doesn’t help. She looks more and more like Squillaci these days. Neigh?
Good Morning Rico and Fellow Housers.
Just when I thought the team had got it together in the second half, they lost focus and let another game slip through their fingers. Adam had has made a valid point about Ramsey being played out of position and I think most, if not all, of us agree that weneed a proper DM. Wilshere and Arteta are both good players but lack the physical presence required. They are more box-to-box players.
However, I think our main problems are a lack of a clear leader taking responsibility for arranging the defence and a lack of self confidence. The amount of wayward passes this last few games has cost us dearly. It may be time to bring back the sports psychologist they brought in a few years ago.
Finally, I hope we do bring in some new blood to freshen up or better yet shake up a complacent squad.
So you should have her tattoed across your chest Adam. You will be enjoying Squilly and Liz at the same time. And you can look fondly at your chest and every time you take off your shirt you see Liz and imagine her doing so. 😆
TS. Careful with the stereotypes. It is obvious to me that you see much more sitting in an armchair than at the games. For instance. I saw Gervinho and Chamakh on TV and thought they were decent players but, having seen them live I now think they are shit. It is deceptive when you see the whole picture. They are of course both excellent.
DG. I am ahead of you on that one. I have Seb tattooed on my chest as a Centaur. 🙂
So 5 games in 13 days…big big test there!
I see the rumours are we’re interested in Casillas.
Lee. It’s lucky we have such squad depth for those games.
Casillas???? you can forget him. Adan has been sent off yesterday for Real. Unless Mourinho plays the ex dipper in goal.
Ts – can we compare the reserve team defending with that in the PL though??
Fergie ready to ditch De Gea and go for a PL keeper….
Almunia back from Watford?
I feel that Villa is a smokescreen. However, not for other players. but for not signing anyone.
I doubt he will buy and if AW buys it will be the likes of Sapong (a cross breed between a soap and sarong), or a like for like replacement for Chamack and Djourou.
Ts – I watched Lopez on TV, and his was appalling, goodness knows how bad he was live….
That’s better Adam 😉
Or b)?
Hey all…
Well after yesterday game there is defo no passion at all in the squad its dreadful. This team is slowly deteriorating, since when have we ever played the ball back and this is starting to become a habit.. Arsenal have always been known to push forward no days we retreat more then we attack.. Sagna looks like he doesnt want to be there anymore the last month has has been (pardon my french) SHIT!! jekinson should be on the pitch before him.
As for transfers we need a lot in to shape up this squad and im not sure a 31 year old striker is the answer.. Dont know why we aint got M’vila who is rumoured to be 8Mil and Remy who you can get for 10Mil… When you missing out on players like Holtby to the flids shows what bad shape we are atm and the spuds are just getting stronger..
Anyways Rant over.
5 matches in 13 days, we will struggle to cope with that
Nothing really being mentioned about manure being a one man team….ho hum!
Bartley and Lansbury should never have been sold. At least Bartley. He should have been loaned out till December and bought back now that JD has gone. It would have saved us hassle and money because he loved the club. Like Lansbury.
Wait till he gets injured. Then the wheels might come off.
Until Wenger buys a DM , he should play Coquelin in the position and be told to forget going forward.
Merteserker cause the second goal, what was that ?
His fall was almost comic, he needs to switch on more , especially when he knows that he lacks speed.
But his lack of speed is really terrible. A sports man should have an extra spring to his feet compared with an average man.
Rico, not if we had some new players….with Rosicky fit why are we running Cazorla into the ground??
Lovely goal by Gibbs yesterday! Still so many fundamental problems though.
He is doing quite well at Watford isn’t he?
Fingers crossed Devil!
Yes Rico but Zola is playing him in his preferred position….in goal! 😉
Adam – 10.40 😆
Lee – I have a sneaky feeling that Rosicky isn’t being played because he’s off this month…. Only my hunch.
Why isn’t AA playing either?
Matty, I haven’t a clue what is happening with Jenks, not even on the bench yesterday…
devil – agree re Lansbury and Bartley…
SD – I’d rather Frimpong played and got told to protect the back line at all costs….
Arsene KNOWS
Rico, I suppose we’ve got loads of creativity running threw this squad so we can easily afford to bin Rosicky….Maybe BFG has been earmarked as a creative midfield dynamo????
Arsene about…
Its the same crap every year rico… each year it gets worst… he should of got ba… Aint gotta clue whats happening with the club
Last year we had some Dutch geezer to help us though….. 🙁
Wenger wake-up! Everbody is busy in d market, pls buy a sharp striker against our match wit Bayern Munich
Got it right Mattyboy, i think Arsene thinks too much about how a player is worth the asking price or not that he forgets to look at his own club.
He knew he should have bought Ba, Ba wanted to play for Arsenal, Arsenal looked at Holtby and I am beginning to suspect that Arsenal scouts are acting as double agents now(Passing on Arsenal scout info to other clubs).
My reason is , how come any player strongly linked to us ends up with our rivals.
Or maybe other clubs just sit back and relax and wait for who Arsenal is scouting and use that info to scout themselves and offer the player £20 000 more than Arsenal is offering.
Hi Matty I think some parts of your post reflects the views of most sections of the fans.
But on M’Villa why should we buy a player who has been out for over 3 months and has played less than 8 games since July? Is it not better to buy someone who can contribute immediately instead of the media’s fave Yann?
Apparently Alex Song has been voted the worst signing of the season in La Liga. Another player who needs to learn that the grass isn’t always greener at Farcelona
Here’s hoping that there is some substance to the rumours that there are real financial troubles looming for a number of the Spanish teams, Farcelona in particular.
SD On Holtby can I ask how many times you have seen him play?
A player who does not have a position and hardly completes a full match. Is he better than what we already have or is he what we need?
Arsenal does not need a luxury player we need some height and work horse type of player…
TS, because they’ll cost more dough???
SD – Waiting to see who Arsene is interested in has nearly always worked for Happr Harry Redknap.
Liverpool have been offered 25 million for Suarez.
The LA Lakers reckon that even though he is short, his handling skills will more than compensate 🙂
Ha ha Lee re Zola…
I still don’t get why the hysteria when a player we are linked to by scumbag journos goes to another club, we “missed out” on him.
Since when does Wenger discuss transfer targets??
Any suggestions TSGH ?
How you doing CG, it is true re the Spanish league… Wenger is waiting to get Messi 😉
Scott,
He discussed Podoslki , Arshavin, Girioud, Walcott, and OX just to mention a few.
11.13 Lee, if he goes, Eisfeld will step up I suspect…
😆 re Merts..
Zone marking needs to go today. Zone marking for a soft team like Arsenal is terrible. Players can hide behind each others and no one is to blame. Plus have you ever seen a zone score a goal in Fooball ever ?. Wake up Bould. If we have tough motivated players on our site they should be hungry in stopping the other teams players from scoring goal from set pieces. But we drop goals on set pieces everytime we step on the pitch. Zone marking will only make that worse and the mindset of the players weaker. We dont need that. If Bould is not going to do anything for the defense he needs to leave asap. What i hate about Wenger is that he does not have killer instinct or winning mentallity. A tough hard nosed coach would have subbed two players at halftime yesterday. Wenger just subs when his stopwatch show that there are 70 minutes gone into the game. If he had balls he would react sooner in most games. To much brain and very little balls is not good in football. We should know that by know better then most.
Rico – I’m well thank you.
I’m sure Wenger is keeping an eagle eye on Spain for a real bargain. If so, hopefully he/they wont arrive too late.
SD, he never said we were negotiating with them.
On Podolski he said something like “he’s an interesting player”.
That is hardly announcing we are buying him.
What did he ever say about the players we didn’t get?
The players we were never in for…
That’s why we all get fed up Matty, like I always say, say nothing rather than false hope. Either that or actually carry out his promise….
SD – and he said he was watching Holtby…
Morning Adam, I did not intend to stereotype… what I was trying to say was that following the recommendations of some bloggers and main stream journalist who are biased is not the best way forward…
How many fans were calling for us to sign J. Cole 2/3 seasons ago? What about Sigurosson, Junior Hoillet,Dempsey etc. How many such fans are saying AW was right not to buy them and they were wrong…
As I said 2 days ago, most new buys do not help their new clubs within the first 12-18 months. Some may say Ba at chelsea but he was only bought because they could not get Cavani and the likes of this world. Some may say Llorente was available but is he that good?
The answer is that you keep the best players you have and unfortunately AW and Arsenal are very bad at that… even if you go back to the good old days of DD.
The media and so called expert pundits thought Wooney was still going to be the main man at manure and that RVP would be second choice but were/are they right?
Exactly Rico.
Watching, not buying.
I am not defending Wenger here, just saying we are probably actively looking at about 5% of the players the media tossers would have us believe.
Good point on those we “should have bought” and have gone on to do very, very little elsewhere.
Watching not buying seems to be the trend….
Just to add, we all know that is counterbalanced by the top players we have let go, but how many actually hail the boss for leaving those over rated players alone?
He makes mistakes, but he also gets a lot right.
SD I would take Sissoko (Toulouse), Blind or Alderweireld (Ajax)
I find AW quite straight forward when it comes to transfer rumours…
imho, when he says he likes a player when asked about a rumour he never buys them. When he says in response to being asked about a player ‘who’ first then you know he has been caught off guard and he is backtracking to ensure he shows no signs…
come on guys this man has been here for 16 y.o and he is very predictable imo…
I thought Arsenal was interested in Schurle at the beginning of the season. He looked a good winger for Germany.
I still think we should recall Ryo, he at least offers pace and width.
Who else is he watching though Lee?
He has mentioned Holtby, no doubt, but anyone else we are currently linked to?
The one good thing about this transfer window is that it is much shorter than the summer one. We wont have to endure as much unfounded and rampant speculation by the lazy press. In the meantime, our team may awaken from their recent hibernation, shake of their mid-winter torpor and entertain us with some good football. Fingers crossed!
Excellent point Brad. Schurlle team at 3rd in the Bundesliga
TS. I agree. If you search around the blogs you will see mildly deranged people calling for just about everyone to be signed. As a scumbag journalist myself, I say Arsene knows best and this is the reason we are doing so well.
Welcome Jonas, I share your view on zonal marking, it’s letting us down week after week…
A penalty, seriously arsene, sort your contact lenses out!
Exactly Scott, he raises hope by telling us he watches a particular player but we all know he seldom buys them.
Shut up I say, less talking and more doing!
Rico, he is asked about a player and answers.
If he doesn’t answer he is condemned, if he does he is condemned!!
We are linked to everyone and anyone by the media.
It isn’t as if they have an agenda, is it lol!!
That is all a smokescreen Rico. Then he will shuffle his feet and maybe tie down a shoe lace or two and by then the bird would have flown off. That is only a PR exercise.
As Scott rightly says. He says his hands are tied. But I also happen to believe that he and the players know something that we do not.
How often did he mention Santi?
What would have happened to the price if he had?
The journos missed a scoop on that one 🙂
And you called me a cynic Adam…
Devil, i reckon the players that have left know the truth.
Exactly Scott. He always uses players and names as a smokescreen. We never know his real intentions.
Both Santi and Podolski were not on our radar.
But I can also safely say that we get taken for a ride sometimes.
He tells us and the media grubs exactly what he wants us all to hear Devil.
The comments on “super talent” and the like are the silly ones, but hey, it is part of his strategy i guess.
In my view, he should just say nothing…
Just like Villa devil, wonder who feeds the media the story…
What do think they know?
DG. What do you think he and the players know that we don’t? When things don’t make sense it is often tempting to blame someone or something that we don’t know. But we also don’t know that to be the case. Admitting to not knowing about something you suspect we don’t know about is something that I know little about. I blame the Internet. Before it came along we never knew anything until we read it in the papers and the only people we could moan about Arsenal to were our friends or anybody who would listen. The Internet has changed that dynamic completely. We can air our views with comparative freedom and we can speculate on things like adjectives and also stuff that we suspect, but don’t know. But there is a price to be paid for this freedom of view exchange.
I am off guys.
Keep chins up, keep the faith, Arsene is still he man, whether you like it or not.
More chance of getting rid of Stan, i reckon, and it would be a better result.
Night all.
Arsenal must be loved by the media. So much attention for Wenger and they don’t care about other managers. Or is it that they always get a reaction out of Wenger (the prof who needs to show the media how smart he is) and all other managers just ignore it or laugh off any rumours. Last season Fergie said he’s not interested in RVP and suspects he will join Man City, simple to detract attention when you don’t constantly feed the media.
Rico. Yes you are a cynic and a nosey one too. 🙂
Adam – Amen brother. The circulation of news is much faster, but it is much harder to seperate rumour from fact, fact from fiction. The need/rush to post first has subverted the requirement to verify the facts. This is true for the commercial media as well as bloggers.
CG. Agreed. How’s it going over there? Where are you in Canada?
Good night from me and good afternoon to you all. I have a long day ahead. Till tomorrow fellow Gooners.
On the subject of journalists , is anyone else just about fed up with the world and his dog creaming themselves over RVP. Everytime I hear about his exploits , it’s like a dagger in my ribs. I am beginning to take it personally.
Adam – Other than being frustrated and put to sleep by our team, things are going very well for me. I live in Victoria on the west coast.
Night Scott, he’s not ‘the man’ be looks like he will remain the manager so we will continue to see more of the same I suspect for a while yet….
Hated more like Brad…
Me nosey Adam, I didn’t realise…
Not really Rico. In fact you are the least nosey person. Unlike me 🙂
Potter – I feel for you, but as important as it may seem at the time, it is just a game. Blasphemy to some, but life goes on and the sun still rises. God willing, we’ll still be discussing similar things a decade or two from now. Don’t let it get you down.
I’m off.
CG. Glad to hear it. I am off to NS later this year. About as far from you as it is from me in London.
Yes Potter – but of course Man Utd aren’t a one man team are they?
If I knew then it would not be “they know something that we do not know”.
So many flops…….Bendnter, Chamack, Djourou, Squilly, Denilson, Vela, etc etc
So many saying that they see AW as their father while slagging off the club…..Ade, Nasri, Song, RVP, Cesc, etc etc
AW said it once……….one day I might write a book, and people’s perspective will change.
1+1+1=3 for me.
DG. Oh, I don’t know.
Manure are a one man team as much as Barca are. Take Messi and RVP out of the equation and they will drop down a notch or two. They will surely miss them. However they are all surrounded by good players and have a manager who is working to win trophies not 4th place.
😆 Adam, did you not feel the yank on your leg ….
Potter, no media mention of manure being a one man team……
The syrup’s got Adam’s leg???
SOJI!
The boys are average but can handle games except that no one has ever given them tips on how are to protect a win with just 5 min or so remainnig Defending at sucth a time requires all team effort, But you find others just standing looking on when the oponents desparately need an equoliser.
Hi all,
re Ramsey. Don’t forget he played many games in central midfield last season alongside Song and Arteta and it was painfully static. 3 players turning circles with the ball giving the opponents time to get back into position. Only improved when Rosicky came back and added impetus. Sadlt, Rambo is too slow of thought and movement to play at the top level.
See you CG..
I feel that so many players who many claim to be deadwood are a victim of ………(one or a combination of….)
1) They play in a different and alien position to what they know.
2) Mismanagement by the coaching staff
3) They do not get on with each other.
4) Too much is left on AW’s shoulders and the board do not give a hoot as long as the money keeps rolling in.
5) They are there simply to take the money.
A club of Arsenal’s standing should have players falling over themselves to sign for. Yet, currently M’Vila is being chased and may as well be signed by QPR……a bottom three team. We should be going to Swansea, Southampton etc believing that we should win by around 3 or 4 goals not simply taking a point or a replay and be happy.
And I feel that even if Villa, M’vila and Yanga mbiwa will eventually come as long as the current situation goes on we will still be going round in circles. And eventually they will become like the others.
We need a change of direction. New ideas. A leader in the board, aleader in the coaching staff and leaders in the team. At present we do not even have the equivalent of Captain Hook…..we need someone who can kick the arses of everyone and have the dominoe effect.
I did Rico. It was quite, quite lovely. 🙂
Devil, your last sentence reflects the sad demise of Arsenal F.C this mindset has been indoctrinated into some supporter’s way of thinking!
DG. You speak so much sense it makes me want to cry.
I am all emotional now……
Which one Lee??
If its the be happy with one point or replay than its very sad. Even when I had crap teams I always went out for games head held high proudly and always asked my players to give 100%. But never went out there and be happy to get a point or replay and be satisfied.
here have a hanky Adam.
Careful when you blow your nose mate. 😉
My 12.29, maybe I should have included a 😉 to show my irony…
Take RvP out and they have little
Dippers without Suarez the same
But last season we were considered to be a one man team when the dutchman scored our goals….
Come on guys, we all knew we were buying Podolski almost a month before the window opened, they even signed a pre -contract agreement.
When we wanted to buy Walcott , everybody knew Arsenal was all over him.
He didn’t talk about Carzola though.
But to be honest he mostly doesn’t buy players he talks about,
That is why I am hoping the David Vila rumor is true because he is not talking about it and i dont care about his age , if we just even get him on loan, he will not only score goals for fun , he will also inspire players and the players upfront will be forced to step up their game.
Let us be honest , David Vila is pure class, Wenger should have bought him from Valencia long time ago, £25mil wasn’t bad for his talent.He was never a Bacelona fan he went their to help Valencia’s financial problem (they were in debt).
I remember he sent a come and get me message to Arsenal then but you know Wenger , he thought he had a star in Adebayor.
We all know what happened to that story
Devil, your 12:43 mate.
Hi Bj, but he’s another year on from his injury now
Adam 😳
Well said devil….
I am off now mates. Nice speaking to all you lot of hobbits and Dwarves.
Looking forward being with you again to blunting some knives and bending some forks and smashing the plates……….that’s Rico hates. 🙂
Off to pick the little Prince himself…………the mighty Thorin.
Had he done so SD, Cesc may still be with us….
I’ve said before, why would he not offer RVP what he wants, sell him for 24m, pay 25m for Pod and Giroud, their salary is more combined than RVP was asking and now spend again on a wrong side of 30 injury prone with no EPL experience player. Who will still want to earn more than what RVP wanted.
Have a good one devil….
We need a good reader of the game who can break up attacks earlier. I would suggest them signing me, but Im too close to 30 and a bit short of fitness… just a wee bit.
Anyone care to revisit that “Do we miss Alex Song” post now?
Who knows when it comes to AW Bradster 😉
But. We don’t know what RVP said to Wenger. I suspectit was nothing complimentary! Wenger has a wicked sense of revenge, and he is prepared to exact it personally, no matter what the cost!
The grey badger was sold because he expressed an opinion that was probably true, about the club and its vision not to mention a few spiteful jibes directed at Wenger’s less than 20/20 sight!
So he was sold. The sad thing is it is the fans that are repenting and not with any pleasure albeit at their leisure!
RvP is dead long live …………..Giroud?…………..Feeeeeeoh?………..Yao………..any goal scorer!
Will XL,
Yes we missed Song, i think we would have fared better with Song still in the mix , even without RVP.
I think Song would have cleared some room for Carzola to marvel because Carzola cant play if not given room.
Then if all else fails we could still depend on his defense splitting through crosses and passes.
But NO, Wenger sold him for pennies on credit (Barcelona still owes us for Song)
We don’t miss Song imho Will, we miss replacing him…
Sell that Dutchman to manure was brutal then to sell Song on credit to barca….I wouldn’t give that lot the steam off my urine!
Afternoon all, back in the Emerald Isles, got an early release for good behaviour.
Great to see Chamakh sign for West Ham, apparently he was aiming for Qpr but missed !
The espn commentator is to be reprimanded for calling Suarez a cheat yesterday, loads of scousers rang in to complain, said he was biased and caused offence, comedy gold.
Welcome back Micko!
Missed all the usual suspects Lee, got to see the Newcastle game, West Ham was cancelled so went down to the Bush to watch Qpr boxing day, would have been better off reading about it in the paper the next morning !
But how many goals did we concede with Song in the side?
Hi Micko, great to see you back. I have missed your funny lines 🙂
Barca still owe us for Cesc i think…
latest rumours are were trying to sign Vargas instead of Villa
Johny Vargas the northern chap?
haha his brother from Napoli
Thats from his agent isn’t it Matty?
Wasn’t he is Benidorm Lee?
So we have Chelsea, Swansea, Liverpool, Manchester City and West Ham and Wenger hasn’t got any new players in
Doesn’t seem to be very prolific in front of goal, according to his stats. Does anyone know anything of him??
Rico, we’ll probably get Madge….cheaper option and more mobile! 😉
SD are you concerned or shocked?
well ive just checked him out on the tube he does look class and seem to know how to finish which we could do with right now… Dont understand why wenger hasnt got for Adrian Lopez with the amount of times we have been linked with him in the media
Rico, we conceded more goals this time last year with Song in the side(i am not going to analyse that).
By the way Daily Star claims David Vila will stay in Spain because his wife is due to have a baby in February so bye to Vila then.
Or if somebody sells the prospect of his kid been born in England as a good thing maybe he will bring his wife as well. 🙂
Lee, i am Concerned!
I haven’t been shocked as per Arsenal in like 4 years now , i just smile instead of been shocked (Like Bradford game, i was just laughing)
Rico, if we miss replacing him then that means we miss his skill set and ability, because currently we dont have anyone like that in our setup. You often call for a DM and Song had that abilty plus a bit more, as his 14 assists proved. He had the strength and physical ability, plus the game reading skills to fit that role.
Had the team continued developing the way we played early this season, we would not need that type of player. But we have regressed and now we are lacking in that dept.
Diaby will be the saviour now that Thierry isn’t riding in on his white charger!
Of all the defensive midfield names I have seen suggested here, I would not say any of those are better than, or would be more suitable to play that position for us than Song.
Had he not wanted the move, that is.
Good day everyone
Mattyboy- If you had watched the match b/w Mallorca vs A. madrid you will be having a different opinion on Lopez. He is not good enough. I would prefer we go for Lago Aspas the celta vigo striker. Relatively unknown but he is class and has a price tag of £8m. Our priority is for us to get a DM as soon as possible. But i doubt we will get one as Diaby is back
Just for your earlier post..
Arsenal have told Everton that Tomas Rosicky will not be leaving the club in the January transfer window – just days after the Toffees made tentative enquiries for the Czech Republic midfielder.
The 32-year-old’s time in north London has been severely disrupted by injury and he has only played once this season following further problems.
Everton manager David Moyes is in the market for a creative midfielder after missing out on the signing of Schalke ace Lewis Holtby who signed a pre-contract with Tottenham last week.
Keen to keep
However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger still sees Rosicky as a part of his plans and is prepared to give the former Borussia Dortmund man more playing time in coming games as Arsenal face a traditionally congested January fixture list.
Furthermore, Wenger considers the Czech a more ‘reliable’ alternative to Aaron Ramsey, but has opted to play the Welshman on the flanks in recent games to aid his development into a central midfielder.
Rosicky’s current contract expires in June 2014 and several clubs outside England have already showed interest, including Russian giants Spartak Moscow who made a formal offer last January.
Yes Lee. Prince Abou Vassiriki Diaby to the rescue!
Lets get ready for the best 30 minutes of football Arsenal will see for the rest of the season!
Why in the slightest bit of common sense would they have thought about selling a player that still had 4 years in his contract because Barcelona asked about him and he was interested ?
So what ?
He was still in a contract and we didn’t need the money (we didnt get all after all) , so why sell him , Song that is ?
In my opinion, we played well in the beginning of the season because Daiby used his speed , his vision and his size to feel in then he got himself injured in a stupid international friendly and Wenger doesn’t do plan Bs.
How he could have depended on Diaby , beats me.
SD, we never stood a chance against Bradford in the shoot-out, they have the best record in English football, played 9, won 9.
We done well to take them to extra time.
Hi Rico, any New Year’s resolutions you wanna reveal.
Emma, I will again say that an out of form foreigner cannot be the answer. Id rather Akpom get a run in than spend money on Lopez.
The more I think about it is the less I like the Villa idea as well.
Micko,
… and that is so sad
Praise where praise is due, if it weren’t for Diaby’s 5 appearances this season we’d probably be languishing in the bottom half of the table right now, if he fell out of a boat he wouldn’t hit water.
I think Wenger is keeping Diaby and Rosicky for the 4 big games of January because they are both injury prone.
Sorry Emma just seen your message… Sound like you should be apart of wengo scouting team :P.. I did see bits of the game was he not that great then?
Whats everyone view on Remy btw? isnt he meant to be good?
Lee, good news that re Tomas. Top man he is.
SD, I refuse to let the bastards grind me down.
Mattyboy, when I hear “Remy” I think Sturridge or Welbeck.
Will is that a good or bad thing lol?
Will I agree 100%…why not play him and stop running Santi into the ground? Just thought….
good morning from a sunny raleigh, didnt see the game so can’t be arsed to comment but my gripe is this” why do we all clamor for arsene to sign new players when he barely plays the ones we have now” I mean why wait till the 70th minute to make a substitution! even when its so obvious even to stevie wonder that the team isn’t clicking he still persists with the same players! its mind bogging! arsene knows huh? yeah right!
Good question! Why do u think I just gave comparisons instead of a proper answer? lol.
Lee, I would have brought on Risicky a couple times already since he has returned. And I mean since the first swansea loss. Wenger cannot be understood.
hey lee, what’s cracking amigo? SOJI is trending my man. credit to you and adam.
Hola Stan, same old shit re Arsenal…at least the board will get extra dough in their pockets for the Swans replay! Adam has a copyright on SOJI…
SOJI!
How was your mom when you left man?
its shows how we ve sunk when a draw against relegation fodder like swansea is considered a good result. SOJI!
I feel your pain Stan…
well she took it well lee, her sister moved back to arherm after her husband’s demise. so i guess she ll be fine plus i promise to visit often. thanks lee i appreciate.
Sturridge , not bad (but got attitude, always conscious of the camera)
Welbeck, I cant really quantify his quality level (almost like Darent Bent)
At least she’s got someone near her to look out for her….you gotta hurry up and finish your contract man! Get your arse back to clog land!
now i hear the old geezer is looking at villa! am with DG here, never gonna happen in a million years. its just a smoke screen for zilch to happen. SOJI!
Hahahhah clog land he says! we haven’t worn clogs since the 1800’s yet you folks won’t let it slide.
Ricky Villa….
Hello all. I just changed my name by deed pole. I am now officially Adam Soji Adamant.
hahahahah adam you old plonker……..adamant huh? are you a distant relation to arsene adamant wenger? the resemblance is uncanny!
You all sport wooden shoes…Micko told me, so it’s definitely true!
ricky villa? isn’t that a latin american singer?? i ll take him over gerwanko right now. lol.
Adamant he was massive in the 80’s……..Prince Charming!
Hi Goonie. No I don’t have the mental strength.
How far is the drive from The Hook Of Holland to Arnhem Stan?
yeah lee but that was in the 1800’s! nobody wears clogs anymore, its so uncomfortable. i tried it once and it felt awkward.
Carzola says FA Cup is our hope for trophy this season.
It is good know (or not) that our start player has given hope on Champions league and Premier league all together.
Carling cup was for the taking but we threw it away.
RICO,brilliant statement about not missing song, just missing the replacement for him. Genius! i think the same, and you said it perfectly!
Lee. I am named after the original Adam Adamant. He was a Victorian gentleman who had been encased in a block of ice only to be thawed out during the modern era. That is why I must seem to be living in a different era. You will note that I refer to waiters as “My good man” and to waitresses as Madam and that I carry a sword stick to protect me from blaggards.
haven’t really driven that far adam, maybe i ll when i get home sometime…..hey lee take micko’s words with a pinch of salt. that dude is drunker than a fiddler’s bitch!
That doesn’t explain the white plaster across your nose….please explain.
SD, nothing is there for the taking with this current mob! 🙁
That happened when I was struck by a bottle thrown from the audience while playing guitar for a band in the 80’s. it was a sickening blow. You might remember the name of the band.
Nothing Lee , nothing !
nigel tufnel says:
January 7, 2013 at 4:14 pm
It is still the same thing, we shouldn’t have sold him.
sex pistols???
I threw that very bottle….I owe you an apology and would like to offer you half a cow plus a pig on 31st!
No, sorry Stan.
Are you back in the US or still in Holland?
As compensation….
Gratefully accepted Lee but only if they are first incinerated over a searing mountain of flaming coals and then slathered in garlic by a man with a moustache.
Not a problem,how would you like your bread?
Unleavened?
Slathered in garlic and roast over coals by a man with a moustache please. Just like everything in that restaurant. Is Stan coming with us?
Stan, are you coming out with us on the 31st?
Stan treats us like ginger step-children, I’m afraid to say…..
Hello again all, had to nip out….
3.22 Micko, not on here 😉
Train calls…
Safe one Lee….
I know it’s the rumour site but….
07 Jan 2013 15:11:20
i have been told there was an argument between wenger and tommy vermaelen..i am told he has asked for a transfer and there is a chance he could be moving in january…
Welcome Tom, I am really sorry, didn’t see your comment in moderation 🙁
off to get dinner as its quiet …
on the 31st adam? what’s the occasion?
hey rico, i ll take that rumor and shove it up where the sun don’t shine! i won’t be surprised though.
afternoon all!
Any important news?
Why not Leandro Damião instead of Villa, Lopes or other else?
Mike Dean: the referee for Arsenal-M.city
Evening again,
world’s best 11 and they are all Spanish based players from RM or Barca apart from Falcao…
I guess RVP can’t say it is because he plays for Arsenal…
hey ginge, how’s it going my man? how’s surrey this lovely sunny afternoon?
Goonie it’s the HH Curry Club.
hahahahahah don’t that sound corny? HH curry club! hahahaahhha sorry i ll pass.
tsGH, I’m not there?
Adam, you mentioned the other day about TV4 didn’t you?
Carry on up the Khyber….the scene where they are all eating dinner as the building is being bombed, bit like Arsenal at the mo!
howdy lee, any news?
Hi Lee. Remind me. What about TV4, apart from his reduced ability to play football with any conviction?
Evening folks…
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go goonie, could explain why he’s rubbish this season…
Something like, by TV’s recent body language that he’s probably leaving…. I think?!?!
SOJI.
Ts said a few months ago about TV being unhappy, was after his comments when he was told that RvP was leaving….
rico he’s not rubbish, most of our players aren’t rubbish. am dutch. i knew TV5 back in ajax. he was a beast! wenger just has the knack of ruining players’ career lately.
There’s a few that’ve gone that way….maybe just maybe AW can’t motivate these players any more
TV5 even, my error….but you cannot deny that he’s regressed as a defender. The curse of the armband, perhaps?
don’t be surprised that this time next year, y’all will be saying poldi is shit!
goonie, i said this season, and he has been off his game … ..
I happen to think that those who suggest that whoever is meant to motivate our team, can’t do it any more, is right…..
We have many very very good players but…..
I think things could change before it gets that bad goonie….
you can say that again maam…….santi, poldi, giroud, sagna, mert and kozzer shit? i dont even think arshavin, ramsey gerwanko and denilson is. its a coaching thingy. he needs to rectify it or we re doomed!
He is shit now Goonie.
Yes Lee, TV5. Perhaps the talk of Barcelona went to his head. But he hasn’t had a good game all season has he? Funny how when their game goes it’s never their fault and they want to leave. Sell him and buy a proper defender who likes to defend. Fat chance of that happening I would say.
SOJI for me too.
well we said that last season, didnt we? am sorry maam but i see no way back. just wait till the totts finish above us. then we ll see some backlash.
Guardiola said he is ready to get back into football…..
He’d probably get a game for us!
Stan, you can’t deny that AW is making good footballers into shite ones of late…..
The whole Arsenal set up is stale from top to bottom…..
SOJI for me too…….and am tilting towards the arsene out brigage too. thanks arsene you finally did me in. thanks a lot. i now think gambon is smart. Lord help me.
I would have thought that every day Gazidis should ask himself if the club is moving forward in the right way. Is the budget being properly spent? What will things be like in year, two years, five years? Are we improving as a club? Are the fans happy and being seved? All that shit.
Dein used to say that he looked in the mirror every day and told himself to get a better team.
The answers to so many questions at the moment are negative. Does the club really have to vanish halfway down the plug hole before someone sees the writing on the wall. Where is the accountability? Why isn’t the syrup asking what the hell is going on?
tell me about it lee……..he’s ruined a lot lately. i mean playing nicky pink boots on the wings? what was he thinking?
Stan, since you’ve been on here you’re always upbeat and have faith we’ll come good….that feeling is dwindling!! Sad but that’s the state of affairs at AFC right now…….
SOJI&AWNTLT 🙂
But Lee, some people think things are ok. Honest, they really do. How can people be so satisfied with the mediocrity that we are seeing on a game by game basis?
Go on Rico. What does it mean?
Not just try out NB 52 on the wing for a game or two but to run him into the ground out there… the list is endless of square pegs and round holes!
lee he just ruined it my man……..i ve never forgiven him for losing that F.A cup semi final against the chavs at wembley.. we had an on fire ashavin yet he rested him and played an off form denilson and diaby! i wept that day cause that was our chance to win a trophy and silence the mugs in the media.
Anne Wintour Never Tugs Lee’s Todger?
Apologies. That last post was disgusting in female company. 🙂
Well all my family and close friends that are Gooners through and through are over it….loads have rented their ST’s out!
Maybe AW’s spiel is being absorbed and believed…..
I have 3 STs for rent next year if anyone is interested.
I used to be a eunuch, so not me Adam.
Lee 🙂
Anne Widdecombe now your talking.
thanks adam, i ll pass i wont be one those funding syrup’s ranch and wenger’s retirement plan.
I am so tempted re your 7.39 Adam, but I mustn’t…. 😉
Lee. Bloody predictive text. I meant the fair Anne Widecombe.
Go on Rico. You know you want to.
When we moved to the Emirates did you at any juncture think you’d be renting your ST’s out Adam? I was looking forward to world domination as a team, signing qwality playerz with mental strength!
SOJI.
It ends in ‘needs to leave now too’…..
SOJI!
Ah. I agree Rico.
Lee, no I didn’t. I fell for the spiel hook, line and sinker. It seemed the best ticket in town. Under Wenger I thought I would be seeing the world’s best. I feel small now.
The whiskey sodden jock seems to have moved with times of late it’s a shame AW can’t seem to. He has been revolutionary in what he’s done for AFC but he’s just undoing his legacy…..
Sitting here in the quiet, lights down, listening to music, I do wonder where our club is heading.
hahahhaahha that didnt come out right adam…….you feel “small”. yikes mrs adam must have some work on her hands!
He is becoming a parody of himself.
That same man is going to sign Reina or another top PL keeper….
I still respect and like AW big time but he’s looking more and more ill and I’m genuinely worried for him……
It’s. curiously English expression Stan. Mrs Adam is doing the washing up after I cooked chips an mayonnaise for her.
He needs a good meal down at Tayaabs Lee.
lee i ve lost all respect amigo…….he’s a shadow of himself. SOJI
I am like Lee. I respect and admire him but only a fool wouldn’t be concerned for his health. He looks totally washed out to me. I imagine he is a man with an enormous amount of pride.
Still, when I am depressed I can always read The Bleacher Report and see what the latest American teen wannabe thinks about our club while sitting in Georgia eating burgers.
No-one can ever deny what Wenger has done, and imho he has been one of the best things to have ever walked into our club….
But…..
You know what, I actually agree with Jamie Redknapp. The best thing that could happen this season is for us to win the FA Cup and Wenger walks away…..
Or the Champions League of course, I’m not fussy…..
On that note, I’m walking away for the day…
Night all, have a good one…
Catch up tomorrow….
Rico. On that note of optimism I shall take my leave of you all. Night, night.
If he delegated more of his responsibilities and got back to basics, focusing on the team that’d be a massive step in the right direction. Dein’s departure has really unbalanced the whole equilibrium, surely the powers that be can realise that?
Spot on Lee…..
Gone now….
Night guys and gals… again 😉
Me too, this town ain’t big enough….. buenos noches amigos!
see ya pals………off for a few burgers.
Seems to be a few rumours suggesting that Walcott is close to signing a new contract….
There we have it, Wenger’s new signing’s…
Walcott (new contract), Diaby (fit until Feb 1st), Santos (fit until whenever), there’s our new signing’s….
Isn’t it exciting…
As for M’Vila, Villa, M’bwia & Lopez, forget it.
It ain’t happening…
Seven games in Twenty days from this weekend’s home game with Man City…
Plenty of excuses in the pipeline!
Fatigue.
Nervousness.
Injuries.
The Economy.
Third World Debt.
Jimmy Savile.
Wrong kind of snow.
Stanley’s undergarments.
The excuses are inexhaustible….
Kev. You cynic
Of course a couple or three signing’s would help spread the load.
Would it not Arsene?
Adam, you should be bed, especially after chips. 🙂
At this time of night I’m usually only posting with Antipedeons… 😉
I am in bed kev
Lee will be asleep now, dreaming of how he can become the next Mervyn King.
Kev. I am off to sleep perchance to dream too. Night mate.
Rico will be dreaming about steak and chips.
Night Adam, I also, must take a trip into dreamland. And dream about Syrup selling up his shares this summer…
HHers…
Morning all….so David Villa has been spotted at Heathrow?!?!
There was an excellent article in the Telegraph this week by Jason Burt, who somehow managed to get Arsene Wenger to admit responsibility for Arsenal’s ‘socialist’ wage structure that has proved so destructive to the club.
It quotes Wenger’s principled approach to spreading wages across the squad, and to “pay something that makes sense and is defendable in front of every single player”, adding: “We have a more socialist model. We make exceptions sometimes but they are not maybe so high.”
The newspaper sets in stone the assertion that Wenger sets the pay bands amongst the players with the board “deferring to his judgment”.
When asked point-blank, whether Wenger sets the wage structure, the Arsenal manager responded: “Yes. I don’t know how it works at others. But it’s not only me, it’s in co-operation with the board.”
This gives huge credence to my post last year, “Arsenal’s £130m wage bill exposed” and the updated version “Arsenal’s £143.4m wage bill exposed”, published in November, which shows a ceiling of approx £100k per week for Podolski, with smaller incremental gaps for the vast majority of the remainder of the first team, themselves on fairly equal footing irrespective of age, talent or contribution.
This idiotic implementation of wages across the squad has caused massive problems to Arsenal on multiple levels, and doesn’t even make sense as a socialist model.
First, to even assert that paying any one individual £60,000 a week equates to a ‘socialist wage’ is fundamentally preposterous. Furthermore, it seems Mr Wenger is more than happy to exclude himself from his own socialist model, as his wage is twice that of the average player at the club. An average that, according to The Telegraph is £61,000 p/wk to Manchester Utd’s £64,000 p/wk.
This was also pinpointed by Arsenal Truth back in September, when I also suggested, now in agreement with The Telegraph article, that a relatively inexperienced player like Danny Welbeck earns roughly £15,000 p/wk at Man Utd compared to world class stars such as Van Persie or Rooney who earn around £200,000 p/wk.
The problems that the wage structure has caused the club are clear and obvious. Most notably in the tremendous amount of money wasted on young players that have never fulfilled their potential at the club; money that could have been spent on older, experienced professionals who would have no-doubt accepted a similar wage.
A player like Abou Diaby for example, who has played 117 times for Arsenal in seven seasons and has never proved his ability nor contributed to any success, has cost the club around £23.8m in wages/fees. Of course, it may not be Diaby or Arsenal’s fault that he is perennially injured, but why should the club suffer the cost of Wenger’s economic stupidity when at a ‘normal’ big club Diaby would have joined on £15k p/wk or less and had perhaps one increase commensurate with his productivity (or lack of it) throughout his injury blighted career.
Yet Wenger shows no sign of conceding to this madness, re-signing an average player such as Aaron Ramsey – who has already cost the club a £4.8m transfer fee and an estimated £13m in wages – to another 4 year contract, probably on more money. Imagine the waste if Ramsey remains as average as he is now? By 2017 Ramsey could well have cost the club somewhere in the region of £30-£35m.
Apart from the obscene wastage noted above, you also have the more obvious problem of being unable to shift overpaid players from the wage bill, such as Djourou (scary to think how much he’s cost the club since 2003 – I’d estimate at least £20m), Chamakh, Park Chu Young, Squillaci, Fabianski, Denilson, Bendtner, Mannone, Miyaichi and previous hard-to-shift drivel such as Traore, Almunia and Eboue. The club even has to subsidise much of the wages of many of the players that go out on loan.
The contract situation of Theo Walcott only highlights the insanity of Wenger’s model. Like many other young players, Walcott was grossly overpaid upon joining the club, and now that Arsenal are in desperate need to keep him – presuming he even wants to stay, will have to fight off outside suitors by offering him a significant wage rise that is likely to cause restlessness amongst other players that have far more talent and experience that are currently on an equitable wage. This could conceivably create a situation whereby if Walcott does re-sign, Arsenal will have to throw a load more money at other players to ‘keep them sweet’.
However, I don’t fully believe Wenger is interested in a socialist model. I actually think it’s a ruse. He put those players on massive wages so that nobody would touch them. He experimented with Arsenal’s financial future in order to indulge himself in “project youth” and the club has paid, and continues to pay, the consequences of his selfish idealism.
Equally astounding is the board’s complicit ignorance in going along with Wenger’s wishes, probably due to their professional ineptitude. As Peter Hill-Wood does no worthwhile job as far as I can see, the majority of the blame should lay at the door of Ivan Gazidis. One thing’s for certain, this would never have been allowed to continue unabated (or even happen) under David Dein’s watch, nor Danny Fiszman. Neither man would have allowed Wenger to ride roughshod over them in the media, contradicting them at every turn over who was responsible for what in the boardroom.
Indeed, in the summer of 2009, Fiszman claimed “Arsene can afford to buy any player he wants, he only has to ask” and told the media that when the board asked Wenger what he would do with a £100m windfall, his response was that he’d hand it right back again. With the cat out of the bag, Wenger’s bitter response was, “I believe the more everybody shuts up inside the club, doesn’t talk about anything and works hard is [for] the best”
At the end of that season, Wenger also commented: “We want to run the club by respecting the financial balance and by developing the players who have been at the club for five years. If we do not get there next year, or the year after, then I will be responsible and stand up for it, don’t worry.”
Nearly four years ago now – and only going backwards, we’re still waiting for Wenger to stand up and be responsible, but he appears to have conveniently forgotten his pledge.
Of course, Arsenal could easily have afforded to pay 2-3 players £200k per week. Instead of having 77 players on the books, including reserves such as Wellington that Wenger blew £3.5m on yet can’t even get a work permit, the squads could be downsized, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to change now as the club can neither keep or attract world class players – nor get rid of the dross that contributes so little, while any new young player that joins has seemingly to be fitted into Wenger’s ‘socialist model’ and immediately put on a daft wage on a par with all the others.
Gazidis needs to grow a backbone and take firm control of the club, and he should start by shoving Wenger out the door before even Champions League qualification becomes a dream, let alone competing for a paltry domestic cup. Then perhaps he can earn his corn by focusing on revolutionising the wage bill in a sane fashion, rewarding players for success and incentivising young players to earn what their peers have achieved – while keeping any future appointed manager’s nose well out of the books, as normal clubs do.
Lionel Messi probably one of the best footballers I’ve seen BUT he needs to stop getting dressed in the dark!
Lee, the problem at the moment is players seem willing to give up some cash to play at Utd, when we need to pay more to convince them to stay.
Morning mate….how are things over there?
Here, it is 6.30 and about 38 degrees.
Bastard of a day!!
Gazidis does need to take control, and his first move should be telling Wenger to manage and that is it……do not set transfer policies, do not set wage policies and do not be responsible for turning a profit on transfers.
Look after the first grade squad and get results.
Wenger should live or die on those results alone.
When the club has him wearing so many hats, it is unfair to judge him purely on results, imo.
Morning Scott, that was a pretty good article wasn’t it? Well, I wish we had some of that weather coming our way unfortunately we are getting a cold front, ground frosts and sub zero temperatures! 🙁
As you say Grazidis needs to grow a set and tell AW to hjust focus on the team.What about AW telling them his transfer “wish list” and someone else focus on getting them, one less thing to stress AW out?!?! Try and get the old AW back not the meglomaniac!
SOJI!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20941109
Hartson speaking sense, for a change!
How many will love this……
I watched a few games from 10-12 years ago.
People often comment about how far the quality of our players and squad has dropped, but is that really true?
The difference between then and now is twofold.
Actually, threefold.
Firstly, Henry, Bergkamp and one or two others were world class and yes, would be better than anything we have now….no isouting that, and this post is not about the absolute best players, but entire squad.
Secondly. The quality of opposition back then in the PL was nowhere near as strong on a week to week, club by club basis, so though we had some champions, even our average players looked better by comparison.
Third, our back 4 of then made todays look tame, but that is because defenders then could nearly get away with murder.
Adams would last 5-10 minutes a game if he brought his exact game from then to today.
This is not a criticism of Adams or any other player from that era, but times change.
Also, the next person to mention how slow Merts is should do some research and watch Adams.
I posted this elsewhere earlier…..it will be interesting to compare comments 🙂
Lee, i agree in part but is Wenger ego the problem, or the fact the board don’t want to take responsibility?
I know we disagree on this, but gee, the board can take control of things and make everyones life easier.
You do not want this heat mate.
It is murder.
Bush fires all over the country.
Hartson is saying exactly what plenty of us have said, but we don’t get paid for it 🙂
Now that would be nice to paid for it….
Merts is slow, very slow and yes, so was Adams..
The difference was, Adams made up for his lack of pace by reading the game well from the back, getting into the right place at the right time and being very very committed both on the ground and in the air.
For a big tall CH, Merts is actually not ‘that good’ in the air imho…
Morning all, off to try and find a rumour to write about, Jonny Vegas maybe 😉
£50 per comment…..we would be floating in cash lol!!
I will tell you one thing, i may disagree with plenty of posts on here, but they are more thought out and offer a better argument than some of the dickheads in the media.
Though i must bring up the TV4 Lee……shit, that was hard for me to leave alone lol!!
Rico, Adams had the advantage of defenders being given more leniency though.
Believe me, i am not knocking Adams at all, it is just that if people want to compare players of different eras, all factors need to be taken into account.
I got my PV4 TV5 in a mucking fuddle….
It has been happening on and off a for a few weeks Lee 🙂
Adams was a great captain maybe not a great player,
the will to win attitude was what he had and what we need now.
We seem to have the lame duck attitude these days.
Great bit Lee ..Liked it
Not from me, that’s the first time I’ve mentioned him for ages because he’s been very lack lustre of late…… another player that’s regressed massively!
New post is up… finally..
Big Tony was the best fred 🙂