Daily Bits and Bobs

RvP did it, Vardy could too. British players transformed Wengerball into Crab Football.

Posted on by rico

Written by Merlin96

When Arsene Wenger arrived in September 1996, Arsenal FC was a typical English team, featuring ‘hard-tackling box-to-box one-footed midfielders’, giant centre-halves and centre-forwards who couldn’t play football. They were one-dimensional and lacked versatility.

Crucially, there was Bergkamp who had the physique to cope with the frenzy of English football and with the skills and vision to play Continental Football, Wengerball was born.

During the French spine era, a shot on goal occurred within five passes executed from box-to-box. One-touch one-pass breathing-taking football with a telepathic understanding amongst players and blind side running by Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg down the flanks.

In Wengerball, defending involves the entire team. Mertesacker and Koscielny were left cruelly exposed last season without a hard tackling midfielder to offer a shield in front of them. There was no development of the understanding between midfield and defence necessary to play free-flowing Wengerball with instinctive running into space.

Arsene Wenger, once hailed as the heir to Rinus Michels’ Totaalvoetbal, should have learned how to build his 2016/17 team by understanding how Ajax started to transform in 1966 then to hit its peak in 1972 in the excellent book by David Winner (2008) “Brilliant Orange”.

Ajax played their first European Cup final against AC Milan in 1969. Ajax attacks foundered feebly against a red and black brickwall, and was ripped apart in a one-sided match which Ajax lost 4-1.
 
Hulshoff remembers: ‘… … It’s so intense, it goes so fast. You don’t have time to think. We had such a young team then. They say sometimes you have to lose a final to win a final, and it’s true. Later we learned that if it was not going well for us, we could change ourselves in the game – we could change tactics. Against Milan we could change nothing. They were too experienced. We were overwhelmed in every way. In every way there were better.’
 
The Milan match convinced Michels to clear out the older players and replace them with those who were tougher, more modern and flexible. … … Barry Hulshoff: ‘Michels wanted me to be harder, meaner, to foul forwards if they beat me. He wanted me to kick a man, just take him out. But I couldn’t and didn’t do it. Maybe some little holding, but not enough. It wasn’t in my character.’ Hulshoff later learned to anticipate and read the game so effectively that it was unnecessary for him to foul forwards.
 
The following years witnessed two crucial tactical developments at Ajax. By 1970 Michels Ajax was rampaging through Dutch opponents and had begun to encounter new problems in the form of massed defences.
 
Michels encouraged his defenders and midfielders to join in the attacks. Position-switching looked fluid and chaotic and gave opposing defenders a blizzard of movement and hostility to deal with. Positions rotated strictly down each wing and through the centre. … … Sjaak Swart: “… … In 4 passes we would be in front of the goal. Nowadays they take 20 passes – backwards, sideways, backwards. We didn’t play like that. We went for the goal. We could play 60 minutes of pressing … …”
 
Ajax’s other decision tactical development – ‘pressing’ and the transformation of the defensive offside trap into an offensive instrument. Neeskens usually have the defensive task of marking opponents’ playmakers, forcing them to retreat into their own half. Now Ajax hunted in packs.
 
Swart said that the secret of the Ajax system was the blend of personalities and talents within the club “It came from playing together a long time. … When Keizer stood still with the ball, he could give a pass that would take out 3 men and leave you free on goal.
 
The full-backs, Suurbier and Krol, could easily play one-on-one. They were quick, they were tactically good. In the centre of defence, when a high ball came, you could move out immediately because you knew Hulshoff would head it because he was so strong in the air. … …”

We may be in love with Ramsey’s and Wilshere’s work rate, dribbling passed 2 or 3 players, many kilometres covered etc, but it is detrimental to the team by slowing the counter-attacks.

What Walcott, OX, Ramsey and Wilshere fail to realise that Wengerball is a thinking game. It’s not running around everywhere and just working hard, though of course you have to work hard too.

As Arnold Muhren put it:

We play the ball from man to man; we wait for openings. That’s how to play football: with you brains, and not with your feet. You don’t have to be a chess player, but you must think ahead. Before I had the ball I knew exactly what I would do with it. I always knew two or three moves ahead. Before I get the ball I can already see someone moving in front of me, so when the ball arrives I don’t have to think about it. And I don’t have to watch the ball because I have the right technique.

English players don’t think until they have the ball at their feet. You have to give the ball at the right moment. In Holland we don’t think about the first man. We think of the third man, the one who has to run. If I get the ball, the third man can run immediately because he knows immediately I will pass to the second man, and he will give it to him. If I delay, the third man has to delay his run and the moment is over. It is that special moment, that special pass.

Brit Pack 1.0, after playing together more than 5 years, do not know how to adapt, inter-change and run into spaces and passing channels instinctively. They failed to master Wengerball which requires the ability to look for space and passing channels like a modern day “No. 4” Xavi or Fabregas who hit passes left to right, up and down, at top speed. None of Arsenal midfielders, including Ozil and Cazorla, have this “high-speed passing” attribute.

As Xavi explained in Jimmy Burns (2012) “La Roja”:

Think quickly, look for spaces. That’s what I do: look for spaces. All day. I’m always looking. All day, all day. [Xavi starts gesturing, as if he is looking around, swinging his head.] Here? No. There? No. People who haven’t played don’t always realise how hard that is. Space, space, space. It’s like being on the PlayStation. I think Shit, the defender’s here, play it there. I see space and pass. That’s what I do.

Brit Pack 1.0 is a big let-down isn’t it?

Transfer gossip:

Arsenal have reportedly triggered Jamie Vardy’s get out clause. Some reports suggest that amount is £20 million, others, £30 million but at least there’s no £1 on the end of the fee.

But hang on I thought, RvP left us for Man Utd after a golden season and without him and his goals, Fergie would not have won the league during his final season as manager. RvP was a similar age as Vardy is now so perhaps Arsene Wenger is thinking something similar. Maybe he thinks his goals could do the same for Arsenal. 24 scored in 36 league matches is a darn good return so there’s no denying he knows where the goal is. He won’t need to get used to English football and he could just be the clinical striker we so desperately need.

Time will tell whether this story has any truth in it just as the rumour about Jack Wilshere will. Pep Guardiola wants him and City are reportedly ready to make their move. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this one is true, the only thing is, would Arsene Wenger let him go there……?

rico

204 thoughts on “RvP did it, Vardy could too. British players transformed Wengerball into Crab Football.”

  1. Adam says:

    Rico. I would doubt Wenger would want to sell Wilshere to Man City unless Jack himself made a big statement that he wanted to go.

  2. rico says:

    Morning again all.

    Thanks for the post Merlin, enjoyed reading it and I reckon you are spot on re the current English players – don’t agree re the guys we had playing before AW arrived though, some of those in the team were cracking players and English.

  6. Wavy says:

    Vardy in to cover for the missing Welbeck does seem to make sense. Unusual move from the aged maestro, but not without reason. Not overwhelmed but he’d do! Will he want to leave Leicester though? If I were Jamie I wouldn’t leave, not yet, not till at least Xmas, see which way the season’s going. If you know what I mean.

  7. rico says:

    I would Wavy, and in a flash. Simply because I can’t see Leicester doing much next season, not once the CL kicks in…

  8. rico says:

    Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Hoffenheim centre forward Antonio Colak, who spent last season on loan at second division side FC Kaiserslautern.

    The 22-year-old had a good season at the German side despite scoring just seven times in 25 appearances and left a big impression on both supporters and the club’s sporting director Markus Schupp – who praised Colak’s abilities in and around the box.

    “Antonio is a player who brings just the right mentality.

    “He’s a strong-minded player, with a very professional attitude who works a lot on the field for the team and covers large distances.

    “He is direct and also strong in the air and has a quality eye for goal.”
    However, any deal could be scuppered by the news that the Gunners have also looked to trigger the release clause of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who could join the north London side for a fee of around £21m.

    Should the England international agree to join Arsenal this summer, he would likely be the starting striker ahead of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck – meaning that should Colak also join, he would likely be way down the pecking order.

    The player and Arsenal, according to Soccerisma, are believed to have settled on personal terms but the two clubs have yet to agree a fee to take the striker to north London.

    Read more: http://goonertalk.com/2016/06/04/arsenal-agree-personal-terms-with-bundesliga-centre-forward/#ixzz4AbTeVTY1
    Follow us: @GoonerTalk on Twitter | GoonerTalk on Facebook

  9. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico

    If you are Jamie Vardy, late developer and coming into the best few years of your career, on the crest of a wave so to speak with one big transfer, probably, on the horizon, to make a financial killing and a club as massive as Arsenal come calling, do you turn down Arsenal and stay at Leicester thinking what if ?
    Or do you grab that golden opportunity, as Ian Wright did, and have possibly the best years of your career at the top table…

    Vardy has, what we lacked last season, he’s a match winner, he gets those goals that turns all those frustrating draws we had, into 3 points.

    If Vardy had been playing for Arsenal last season, we would have won the League…

  10. allezkev says:

    Leicester enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime season, it made news all around the world, because it happens so rarely…

    It ain’t happening next season, Leicester won’t surprise anyone, and they’ll experience being a big scalp, everyone will want to beat them.

    It wouldn’t surprise me if both Mahrez and Vardy leave…

  11. allezkev says:

    Rico, I don’t see Jack going anywhere anytime soon, unless as Adam said, he makes it clear he wants to leave…

    As with Diaby, Walcott and AOC, Wenger doesn’t give up on players that he’s invested a lot of time and effort on, and Jack falls into that catagory.

  12. rico says:

    Morning Kev, I’d jump at the chance if I was Vardy. You make a great point about had he been in the team last year, we’d have won the league because I reckon you are spot on. I’m coming round to thinking he’d be a super signing… 🙂

  14. Marshall says:

    Morning Rico and all.
    Nice post merlin, our british core fizzled out as fast as it was (over)hyped. Don’t know what happened they were good and afew seasons ago played good football – till they signed those contracts.

    As long as our players don’t pass forward Vardy won’t do us good anyway or any striker that we’ll get.

    Jack to City, if we could replace him with Kante I wouldn’t miss him. Wenger wouldn’t want to let go of his favorite though..or is it 2nd favourite? Tough to pick between Jack and the blondie.

  15. rico says:

    Morning Marshall. If we get Vardy, AW can get back to the kind of football Merlin talks about because finally he’ll have a forward with great pace and who can score….

    🙂 re Jack and blondie, I reckon they are even, behind Giroud of course….

  18. Le Coq Monster says:

    Rumour ( John Cross ) has it that the Vardy £20M fee is only available to teams in the CL !.

  20. goonster says:

    Lol that old geezer just can’t win can he??? I am wenger out and harbor a deep hatred for him but the outcry from fans regarding the imminent arrival of Jamie vardy is just outrageous. Let’s break down the facts. Number 1 we need a change of tactics and ditch this crabby side ways footie we ve been playing for almost 10 years now. Every dog and their owner have been wailing about how predictable we ve become and now we re sniffing around a player that can both give us a fear factor and also bring out the best in ozil yet some people are losing their shit. Number 2 welbeck is out for the season and OG (whom by the way am a big fan) have shown that he can’t carry us to the championship. Plus we actually need a striker. I love morata but he won’t set the season on fire like Jamie vardy would. Yes his age is an issue but who cares if he wins us the title. Number 3 not since RVP have we had a nasty fucker up front. Giroud is pants, Walcott is a “children’s book publisher and welbeck just can’t stay fit. Vardy is a bastard on the pitch. The kind of player we ve been crying out for in a while. Plus this guy can actually score loads of goals. What’s not to like??? Besides it’s seems arsene is going out with a bang and he’s planning on ditching the possession based footie for one touch counter attacking blitz which we were accustomed to. With three acquisition of xhaka plus ozil playing behind him mark my words vardy ll score a ton. Sign him up arsene 😀

  22. Le Coq Monster says:

    If that is true (£20M CL fee) then maybe Manshafter and Bindippers would have had to pay £30M for his services !.
    £20M is not a huge fee in relation to todays fees and TV money deal, remember Manshafter paid £30M for Veron in 2001 and £30M for Ferdinand in 2002……we had to wait 12 years till we paid such fees and we have more money/cash in the bank ( did have the official link but have lost it ) than any other team !

  23. goonster says:

    Or better yet would you rather have vardy or no one. There’s no pleasing some people 😀 had conte pep maureen or klopp signed him trust me arsenal fans world wide ll be raining curses on wenger. Poor bastard just can’t win with this lot. Lol

  25. Le Coq Monster says:

    With you there Goonster, although I would like 11 bastards on the pitch !…….let me think 💡 Gariel looks a bastard as does Xhaka and jack is a little sneaky bastard, also, Sanchezmanian Devil runs around like a bastard !………..fuck Wengerball, we need Bastardball !. hahaha

  27. Marshall says:

    Gazidi’s full transcript according to arseblog. Glad he also felt the pinch in Allen’s equaliser…or he reads Rico’s comments on HH

    news.arseblog.com/2016/06/ivan-gazidis-supporters-clubs-q-and-a-full-transcript/

  29. Marshall says:

    Sure Rico, we’d have to play more direct football. I bet Ozil and his dog are jumping in the park with the prospect of having a pacy striker.

    Am with you goonster, if Utd, City or Chavs went for Vardy we’d all be envious. And I agree on ” Walcott is a “children’s book publisher ” too, lol

  32. goonster says:

    LC I ll rather we played bastard ball than continue with wenger ball. With wenger ball we have won squat in 12 years. Can’t beat maureen and fall at the second round in Europe. Heck with bastard ball we might just win the damned thing. Bring on bastard ball 😀

  33. goonster says:

    Xhaka is going to be huge next season. When teams like liverpool and shitty press us in our own half, one long ball over the top with his left peg could free vardy and you know he barely miss those one on one with the goal keeper. Now just sign mkhitaryan and we are set arsene. Come on you gunners 😀 I ve found my MOJO again.

  34. goonster says:

    Rico am hearing it’s a done deal maam. 120 per week and 20 million pounds transfer fee. Medical booked and could be unveiled in 48 hours. Wow is this arsenal??? God help me. I think i might die of excitement 😀

  35. Le Coq Monster says:

    Forget Totalfootball….forget Wengerball….a new dawn…..a new hope…..12 years in the making….Bastardball, the making of champions !. 😆

  38. goonster says:

    Am serious it’s a done deal. He’s a gooner LC. My source is reliable. He broke the ozil story to me too 3 years ago. I believe him ever since. Vardy is a gooner.

  40. goonster says:

    So LC how would you line up next season. Here’s mine cech bellems kozzer per monreal xhaka santi ozil Sanchez Rambo and vardy at home. Away it’s cech bellems kozzer per monreal xhaka elneny ozil Sanchez Rambo and vardy. Switch things up after 60 minutes give them something to worry about. Come on you gunners 😀

  42. Le Coq Monster says:

    If for some miraculous reason they were all fit Goonster, Wenger would have a nice headache !………..strength in depth and you have a great chance, add being hard to beat and we will have it sussed !. ……………starting to look exciting times ahead ( every thing crossed ).

  44. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Merlin…..that was simply breathtakingly superb to read, beautiful to imagine and music to my ears.

    If only AW can read that.

    Good Afternoon lovelies and Hunkies.

    I am still not convinced by Vardy. Yes he is 29, topscorer, knows where the goal is. But I saw him in his last game for England and was not impressed.

    I just hope he proves me wrong.

    Hopefully he will think before he receives the ball at his feet

  45. goonster says:

    LC for the first time in years we have a nasty fucker in every department (just wish gabby can sort himself out) . From defense to attack we have someone would could hold their own and look after himself. Vardy can take and dish it out too. That “softie” label we ve carrying around needs to dropped this season. Xhaka looks like someone who ll gut you in a dark alley and wait for the cops smiling and watching you bleed to death 😀 add lecoq to that and teams ll think twice before getting into a physical battle with us. Bring on the season I can’t wait 😀 come on you gunners.

  46. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Afternoon to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Merlin – A great read and something to ponder. We occasionally, but rarely, saw flashes of Wengerball when the like of Rosicky came on as late sub and injected some pace and directness into our game. It caught the opposition of guard, as they were so used to our tiki taka game.

    The Vardy story leaves me with a few questions;

    1.) Is Vardy the prime striker target or a relatively inexpensive fallback if Arsene’s prime target isn’t available, interested, not for sale or we get gazzumped by the likes of Abu Dhabi Citeh or UnReal Madrid?

    2.) Is Vardy a short term fix while waiting for his prime target in the January or next summer’s windows?

    3.) Is Vardy a short term fix while waiting for a young striker (e.g. Barbosa, Colack, etc.) to mature into the first choice.

    Vardy is a known and experienced BPL player who should give our team a couple of good seasons. The likes of Higuain, Lawandowski, PEA or Ronaldo are either going to be unavailable or extremely expensive. There are cheaper options like Janssen and Lacazette – promising but unproven in the BPL/UCL and definitely more of a risk.

    As for Morata, it appears that RM are going to drag out the buy back process hoping that he will have a great performance at the Euros and increase his value and start a bidding war for his services with the prospect of Arsenal being gazzumped there too.

    As usual with Arsene, we have more questions than answers. In the meantime we have a good alternative to OG12; maybe just not the player some of were hoping for.

  47. Marshall says:

    With the way we are conducting (serious) business early am begging to wonder how much we’ll owe SKE sports for ‘consultation services’

    Someone leak a pic of Vardy posing in red and white already.

  49. goonster says:

    Devil he was chucked on the wings plus he ll be playing with ozil Sanchez santi and xhaka 😀 trust me he ll fly next season 😀 how’s the little prince mate?? You barely mention him anymore. He’s beating your ass in a foot race now?? Lol you re getting old dev 😀

  50. goonster says:

    The big question CG is if he wins us the league who gives two hoofs??? People are missing the picture here. This guy won’t need to bedding in period. He ll just pick up from where he started. We won’t have to wait for 6 months. He ll hit the ground running. Anyway it’s all hot air now. Vardy is a gooner:D ooooh vardy is a gooner. Oooh vardy is a gooner. Ooh vardy is a gooner 😀

  51. goonster says:

    Maam the same guy who leaked the mesut to arsenal story 3 years ago. He’s reliable. I can vouch for him. He’s a gooner rico.

  52. rico says:

    Afternoon Cg, the Vardy news hardly had me jumping for joy but having listened to others views, I actually hope we get him…

  56. Canadian Gooner says:

    Stan – I’m glad to see that you’re happy. Just be careful that in your excitement that you don’t slip back into your old creaming habits.

    As for Vardy, I’m not against him. I’m just surprised as I was expecting someone else. Maybe that someone will also arrive later.

  57. goonster says:

    Ask yourself this…you re 29 just one the league with a freakish team that might struggle to stay up in 3 seasons time or jump ship get a once in a life time chance to play for a top team. Live in London and most of all get one last big fat cheque. Heck I know what I ll do 😀 he’s coming rico. Game set match. Vardy is a gooner 😀

  58. goonster says:

    CG you don’t get it do you. It might be vardy or no one. That’s why am happy. Heck my cup is half full but half full of strawberry smoothie 😀 knowing wenger if this falls through we might not get another cf. He ll say he tried and there was no one available. Suarez Springs to mind. He’s not the world’s best player but hey he’s premier League proven and another player who can and will improve us. Don’t want to go to the next season with OG as the only striker. We ll be thanked. Hence my excitement.

  59. rico says:

    Think I’ll wait for it to be official Goonster… 😉

    Nipping off to walk Fido and you know what happened the last time I went out for the day??

    Xhaka was confirmed… 🙂

  61. goonster says:

    Please leave for a few days rico 😀 maybe we ll sign mkhitaryan too. I ll handle HH for you?

  62. goonster says:

    Waiting for ts and obi to come rain in my parade. Brandishing all kinds of stat to diminish vardy’s meteoric rise. Lol trust ts to come up with something 😀

  63. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Afternoon all!
    Hulshoof, Keizer, Swart, Surbier. Neskeens,.. players who will always be in my imagination.
    Vardy? I prefer Morata
    Had you watched him versus Portugal? Well, I know England Team it’s a normal team but played against ten , they must play better and the forwards must appear.
    One very good season not meams another good season. I’t’s not Crhistmas everyday….

  64. Canadian Gooner says:

    Stan – “CG you don’t get it do you…” I do get it. You seem to be hell bent on starting an argument where none exists. Vardy is a good player, just not one those that I was anticipating and hoping for.

  66. Hell Raising Devil says:

    JM exactly my thoughts on Vardy.

    tbh….I will not pay more than 25mill for Morata either.

    then again…..some people see only as far as the tip of their noses. And imo….Vardy is just looking at the tip of AW’s nose.

  68. Canadian Gooner says:

    Stan – Maybe it is going to be Vardy AND Mkhitaryan. Possibly Arsene thinks that is better than one of the top strikers that we may or may not be able to get.

  70. Canadian Gooner says:

    Stan – No problem. Enjoy!

    I just didn’t want you to think I was trying to rain on your parade.

  72. goonster says:

    CG there’s a dearth of quality strikers out there plus most won’t want to move unless they were shown the door plus they ll cost an arm and a foot. Look man I love morata but if we are Serious about winning the league next season then he’s not the man but in the long term yes he is. I am super excited with vardy. He scores all kinds of goals. Some say he might struggle with us and I say err not with ozil Sanchez santi and xhaka feeding him. Yes like you said I hope MK too is on his way. It ll make a fabulous summer. And for the record I won’t pay 65 for Lukaku. No way.

  73. goonster says:

    PEA has his eyes on madrid. Aurelio de Laurentiis won’t sell higuain to us for less than 60 miles. I don’t see bayern selling Lewandowski even if they do we won’t be able to compete with the money bags. So who else is out there dev and JM??? Benzema??? Heck no we already have giroud. Thanks.

  75. Canadian Gooner says:

    Benzema stated just recently that he was happy to stay at RM and isn’t looking for a move.

  76. goonster says:

    Plus the bottom line is would you rather have vardy or no one??? That’s the question right now. I don’t want to head into the season with OG as our only option. Remember after the saurez deal fell off wenger didn’t even bother with a cf again. He went straight to Madrid and got ozil. We need a cf dev. We need one asap. Vardy ll do for now. Then the search for his successor ll continue.

  77. goonster says:

    There you go CG. Benzema doesn’t even want to move. So what do we do keep waiting and hoping someone shows up or just get someone in and pray a super player becomes available. For once he’s not dithering and spending all summer talking out of his ass. It’s a welcomed development. Vardy isn’t world class but I ll rather him than no one and at this rate I think it’s no one.

  83. goonster says:

    Hey kev have you seen vardy anywhere near colney?? We need your super cab mate. Make like banana and split. Go to the airport. He’s expected anytime soon.

  84. Canadian Gooner says:

    Stan – I accept most, if not all, of your reasoning on Vardy. However, Joey Barton is beyond the pail. There are tough bastards, then there are just plain thugs like Barton. Even in jest, it is a bridge too far.

  86. Canadian Gooner says:

    Off for the day.

    Stan – Keep them all in line until The Lady of the House returns.

  87. Wath says:

    It’s a done deal,
    he is ours,
    he’s a Gooner,

    Stan, I’l like to say one thing to you…………

    Juan Mata………….

    Enough said……….!

  90. goonster says:

    Hahahah I know someone ll throw that in my face eventually. Look WATH mata fell through because we were out muscled and besides we lacked the funds then secondly wenger didn’t have the Cojones to complete the deal. With vardy it’s exactly the opposite. We have the upper hand. Liverpool offered more money but he’s not joining them. He won’t go to chelsea or manure because they lack what his contract states CHAMPIONS LEAGUE and finally we have the funds to compete now WATH so hey get off my case 😀

  91. goonster says:

    WATH he ll be unveiled in 48 hours. You wanna bet?? 30 quid I ll send it via PayPal if you win 😀

  93. Wath says:

    We had the funds for Mata BUT you are right… Wenger procrastinated as usual and we lost out..!

    BUT it also has to be said that you even had your Arsenal shirt with Mata printed and was wearing it long before he joined the Chavs…!

    So………… for now, shut up before Wenger gets the jitters and pulls out and you jinx yet another purchase..!

  94. Wath says:

    Stan, if you read between the lines i think you’ll find Wrighty gave the game away over a week ago… Just saying…!!

  95. goonster says:

    Lol I won’t WATH vardy is a gooner. Ooh vardy is a gooner. Oooh vardy is a gooner 😀 😀 😀 ??????

  96. Hell Raising Devil says:

    yes we need a CF Goonie. And at the double.

    But imo Vardy is not the answer. its a short term fix.

    then again I hope I am proved wrong.

    what would you want??? 20 mill for Vardy or 30 million for Lukaku???

    I would go for Lukaku. Over VArdy and Morata any day.

  97. goonster says:

    Yeah WATH I saw that on twitter even smugder said something along the lines. Meaning they knew something was brewing. We re finally acting like a big club WATH and I for one is super chuffed.

  99. goonster says:

    Dev everton have snapped 65mill pound on Lukaku. You and I know Wenger Won’t sanction that kind of transfer. 50mill for morata too is outrageous and am a big morata fan. Maybe wenger has something up his sleeve and don’t want to be caught napping incase he don’t get his primary target. Am happy he’s proactive rather than waiting till the last day of the window.

  100. goonster says:

    Lol dev you old goat. I don’t even have any tattoos on me. Am petrified at the sight of any needle coming close to me let alone my 12 inch FISHING rod 😀 no chance mate.

  103. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Seems that the Vardy stories are true. His wife is confirming it. Ranieri confirmed it. and AW is keeping mum.

    This has sprung a surprise now.

    Will he play on the wing or as a proper CF??

    Honestly I still feel it is a step backward from Ollie. Granted, Ollie may not be a Ferrari but he is a Rolls Royce. Ollie is a footballer who reads the game.

    Will Vardy read the game and contribute to the team???

    Or will he be another Frannie Jeffers?

  104. rico says:

    Wath, isn’t there one on the Apple products? 😉

    Afternoon guys, Mata, now that’s a Gooner story and a half….. lol

  106. Wath says:

    I’m surprised you see him as a step back Dev, I think Vardy is everything that Giroud isn’t… He has pace, movement, attitude, feisty, runs the lines, hits the spaces and can score all types of goals…!
    Exactly what we lacking and his movement will be ideal for Ozil and Alexis naming but 2…! Lukaku ain’t gonna be bought for 30million in a month of sundays..! for 20million think we would get a player who’ll score us goals for 3 seasons as a minimum..! If we sign him I’ll be well chuffed.

  109. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Are you sure Wath??

    deep down there is a feeling that this is not right. I am not that optimistic on Vardy.

    yes his scoring record is good but we need a beast up front.

    I still have to be convinced.

  110. Hell Raising Devil says:

    my problem is that I always compare CF to Drogba (minus his theatrics). that is why Lukaku imo. Or Lewandowski.

    Vardy, Kane are two CF in the RVNistelroy mould. in the Frannie Jeffers of Everton mould.

    I hope I am proved wrong

  111. Wath says:

    I think he’ll suit us Dev i really do, as for a beast can’t really think of any and the only one i’d love we’d never get…! Lukaku decent as well and still learning but look at what we’d need to pay and he also goes missing through a season as well.

    As for M or M dep definitely neither there are better around that would suit what we need far more than another 2 similar to what we have…. just my opinion mate but neither offer something different in my mind..!

  112. Wath says:

    Vardy and to be fair Kane have both done it in the prem lge though and yes the Drog was a beast but who around is similar to him…? Lewandowski was the one i was referring to but as said zero chance we’d ever get him the others would blow us out the water with wages and fee on the table.

    If Vardy scores as many for us as Ruud did for “them” i think you’d be chuffed…!

  113. Wath says:

    Dev, we have a “Beast” he just has a quiff….!

    That one’s for Adam………………..

  116. andrewh1313 says:

    Praying this one is true. But be amazed if it goes through in 48 hours, rarely happens with Arsenal. Who knows, Wenger finally seen the light? Buying for future never works at Arsenal, we need Here and Now. No way will Vardy be a one season wonder, he has to much about him, and an attitude that Walcott could do with.

    I’m imagining Sanchez and Vardy harrowing defenders, they would get no peace. Also could see Giroud nodding back for Vardy to volley in. OK, getting carried away now, but just maybe?

  119. Wath says:

    Dev, it’s not the size of the beast it’s the beast in the size…! Ian Wright 5ft 8″…………..

  120. andrewh1313 says:

    No Rico, Giroud doesn’t get enough good service at Arsenal. How many times do Walcott, Chamberlain, Ramsey skin defenders and cross back for Ollie? Rarely happens, Sanchez occasionally gets ball back from Line but we play tippy tappy in the middle. How does that help Giroud. He holds up ball well and can play a nifty layoff. We just don’t play to his strengths. 442 with Giroud and Vardy please!?

  125. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I agree on everything…..but IW08 used to play in the counter attacking style not the tiki taka drab crab slow build up football.

    IW08 had 8 defenders behind him with DB10 feeding him. Wham bam thank you Sam is longer than it took for the ball between our penalty area and a goal being scored by him. Do you honestly think that IW08 would score as many with today’s massed defences???

    Andrew is right with regards Ollie. OG12 is a Rolls Royce who was not serviced well. just remember the service for the JW10 and TR07 goals which were pure football. Ollie was involved in both. Remember the knock downs for Podolski to pounce on.

    Ollie is important for our team.

    I said it and will continue to do so……AW must change our style to suit JV09

  127. Wath says:

    Yes Dev Wrighty would be just as good now because he knew where to be and ran the lines and hit space…!

    Maybe out tippy tappy will change a little with a different kind of player up front Ozil looks up and see’s movement now wouldn’t that be novel…!

  128. obi says:

    Rico remember when I said why pay 50m for Morata when 25m can get you Vardy. And all the none sense about hoofing the ball over the top is just none sense. The guy is a footballer and works hard. England don’t hoof the ball n he’s affective. AW just pulled off a coup.

  131. obi says:

    Now sucker loserpool for Benteke (the dude is not done) get Mkhitaryan and a CB, and u have reload

  134. obi says:

    Guys am trying to be a positive Gunner and If the wife has confirmed is just as good as arsenal.com lol. Oh yeah Andrew, Higuain! Don’t remind me.

  140. obi says:

    Benteke playing for Arsenal is a better Giroud because of the syle of play and it looks like his injuries are behind him.

  144. allezkev says:

    Hiya Coach…
    I think that Vardy is/ will be, a great signing.
    And as far as style is concerned, I think we can change our style…

  145. rico says:

    Headline on NN suggests Klopp is ready to hijack the Vardy deal… Er, play in the Europa league or champions league at 29 years old….?

    No chance klipperty… 😉

  146. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Vardy is a poacher of the highest order. Of that I am convinced. Infact I compared him to Nistlerooy. not TH14 or Drogba.

    that is why I am not convinced he will fit our style since if AW plays 4-2-3-1 he will either play as a lone forward, in which case I doubt he will play as Ollie does for the team….or else he will play out on the right or left in which case his effectiveness in front of goal will diminish.

  148. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Maybe we can play a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-4-1-1 system,. but AW could have easily done it with the players we had……

    4-3-1-2
    Cech
    Bellerin, Kos, Gabi, Monreal
    ………….Coquelin………….
    …..Elneny……Cazorla
    …………Ozil……….
    …….Ollie….Sanchez

    4-4-1-1
    Cech
    Bellerin, Kos, Gabi, Nacho
    Aaron, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil
    …………..Alexis………..
    ………….Ollie………

    So in essence if he changes now with JV09 why not change it before and give the other teams something to think about?

  149. Hell Raising Devil says:

    with JV09 it will be

    Cech
    Bellerin,Kos, Gabi, Nacho
    Xhaka, Cazorla
    Iwobi, Ozil,Alexis
    Vardy

    Of course if AW buys the Wolfsburg LB and another midfielder who can play on the right then the line up will change

    as it is the present squad is

    Cech
    Ospina

    Bellerin …….Kos,,,,,,,,Gabi……….Monreal
    ??????…….Chambers,….Per…….Gibbs

    Xhaka…………Cazorla
    Coqulein…….Elneny

    Aaron………..Ozil…………Alexis
    Iwobi………Jack…………..Theo

    Vardy????
    Ollie

    DW23 is injured.

    Where that leaves the OX and Campbell I do not know.

    and bdw……in case no one has noticed MF20 is still listed on the team sheet , while MA08 and TR07 have been removed to the bottom with no number

  150. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Unless AW is planning to keep the OX and sell Theo for a good sum (25mill anyone)

    Did not put Jenkinson on purpose…..as we have not heard AW say anything about him

    plus Toral who might easily slot in.

    The others….like Silva, Akpom etc will either be loaned out again or be sold. if Vardy comes I feel that Akpom will be the first to leave. Theo as well

    And if AW gets Mahrez or someone who can play on the right than Ox will bugger off as well

  153. Hell Raising Devil says:

    that is what I suspect Rico. Ozil wants MF08 to stay. He needs someone to hold his hand poor sod. especially when OG12 fails to convert his chances and Ozil bursts out crying

  159. Le Coq Monster says:

    In all this staggering news there is one person whose career has been totally forgotten about !…………………Vardy`s dead ringer look-a-like !………….what does he do ?…..he`s a Leicester fan and even if he was to change his allience to the mighty Arse` there`s no way he can afford to move or live in London, not on look-a-like wages surely !…………well, unless he moves in with Vardy and his fit wife !……..could be interesting !, having an off day at home or work and he blames the look-a-like…..or maybe the look-a-like is better !.
    Reminds me of the day I helped Arsenal win at Upton Park one year !…………..12/4/1988………..me and a friend went with some `ammer mates, but got lost amongst the sardine tight crowd. The Arsenal fans were all behind the goal with the corners either side left empty to stop the ICF from getting at them, but eventually they opened the corners up to relieve the pressure.
    Me and my mate got into the corner of the stand and were then stalked by ten plus knuckle draggers, my mate said we should split up to get away from them and before I could answer him he was gone !…..next thing the Neanderthals were chasing me, probably because I was a dead ringer for Charlie Nicholas and the stupid thing of wearing an Arsenal shirt !………………….the only place to escape was the pitch and I jumped over the railings and ran along the wing and at that point Michael Thomas scored !…..I swear to this day that I thought I heard Tony Gale tell Julian Dicks to pick up Charlie Nicholas on the wing !.
    So there you have it, I pulled Dicks out of position and we scored !….thing is Charlie had already left for Aberdeen.
    I was ejected from the stadium by a copper with Dicks looking bemused !.

  162. Malaga gooner says:

    Evening Rico and the house

    Looks like we’re changing our style of play if we’re signing vardy

  165. joe says:

    Hello from a drunk Joe sitting in a beer garden is Vardy a replacement for Walcott.
    I mean a very drunk Joe

  169. Micko says:

    LC 7.59, did you go the whole hog and get the curly perm as well lol, great little story.

    Jamie Vardy or Zlatan Ibrahimovic……no contest for me, big nose can go and do one, United are welcome to him !

  170. Marshall says:

    One person who might scupper Vardy deal is OG12, turned clinical overnight. Being a killer in the box… Might change AW’s mind God forbid!

  171. Micko says:

    Marshall, much like Podolski, he always looked like the best striker on the planet every time a tournament was just around the corner !

  172. Micko says:

    Devil, not so sure about Giroud being a Rolls Royce, more like a Ford Fiesta in my eyes, very reliable and you get what you pay for !

  175. frednerk says:

    Late I know But…
    Wenger has exposed himself again
    no not dropped his strides
    Example..I mentioned on here about a week ago
    what players have scored over 20 goals
    Vardy was one at a price..20mil so it seems
    cheap as chips..But 29..(Van Persie)
    Talk about move the Goalposts
    Contradictions on players ages and contracts
    are what bothers me not to mention systems of play
    Yet we come second all that after that crap
    After 5/10 years he signs a left footed geezer who can have it.
    What the fuxk is Wenger playing at.
    We all love him
    We want him to be a legend within the the Arsenal history.
    But..Is he really at the races.
    He came to us with a modern outlook on the game
    where players were running up hills and doing 10 mile runs
    drinking 20 pints a week having a full english every day
    he changed all that..
    He taught players to look after them selfs which brought an
    instant improvement
    He brought the best team player I have ever seen Paddy V
    But the core was already there so it was an execise of what can I add.

    We ended up second fuxk knows how this season
    so all the Akb brigaide are giving it a large
    we have the stats brigaide
    we have the playstation know it alls
    we have the prawn sandwich 150 quid a seat is cheap yer man
    it’s no wonder wenger has a personal following
    of thousands within the club
    it’s amazing what you hear from supporters and the opinions
    when it comes to players and the running of the club.

    So is wenger giving it the last fling,is he following Alex
    and going for the proven premier goal getter and copping
    red nose..if he is maybe we were right all along.
    Had a few to-nite guys..Good-nite

  178. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all.

    Yes Micko, did have a perm and from being a gambling boozer right bastard to infidelity issues……. the perm was the last straw my wife could take and only by shaving my head did I save my marriage from a messy divorce !……………….the perm was my blonde moment ! 😀

  181. allezkev says:

    Three cheers for the summer and Jamie Vardy…

    Morning Rico…

    Morning Adam and All…

    Who is this Armenian guy we’re linked with, is he any good?

    What about Gibbs to Liverpool?
    Personally I’d rather we kept Gibbo, than sell him to that shower of Scouse shite…
    Horrible club with an attitude of entitlement, who I despise…

  183. Merlin96 says:

    Morning all.

    News all over NN Vardy is supposedly doing medical on Sunday.

    It is not new stuff that Wenger gambled on oldie to provide the experience and stability in the team … e.g. Mad Jens, Silvestre, Squillaci, Mertesacker, Arteta and lately Cech.

    Like Vardy, all these players are without resale value.

    I see Vardy as an interim measure till Welbeck, Iwobi, maybe Malen, Reine-Adelaide and even Akpom and Willock are ready for 1st team football as regular in 2 years time.

    Alex Iwobi, no doubt is vastly talented but he cannot start every game without long-term impact like Michael Own playing too many games at a tender age.

    If Wenger intended to buy another centre forward as a alternative to Giroud, then Vardy will most likely push to left flank in a Vardy-Giroud-Alexis Forward Trio.

    and if Wenger should buy Mkhitaryan, a left-side attacking midfielder, our 2016/17 squad is complete with Mkhitaryan-Vardy-Alexis as the Forward Trio.

    Cazorla, Iwobi, Giroud and Walcott will then be a valuable squad member.

    The future of current Arsenal players will be assessed by Arsene Wenger during July pre-season training and he will start culling them as empty slots in a 25-man squad is limited with at least 2 or 3 new buys.

  184. allezkev says:

    I’ve seen Gibbs is valued at £18 million, which is only £1 million less than Granits mate Rodriguez, and a lot more than the fees quoted for the Leicester and Celtic right-backs…

    Seems like good business, but if Liverpool want Gibbs I’d like to see the price jacked-up to £22/£25 million. Let’s see them smoke on that…

  185. allezkev says:

    It might make sense to send Akpom and Hayden back to Hull for another season, they both seemed quite happy up there and a year in the EPL should help Wenger to decide if they have a future at Arsenal…

  186. rico says:

    Agree re Hayden and Akpom – good manager for a defensive player to learn from. Akpom, he seriously needs to be somewhere with a manager who’ll play him, actually, they both do… 😉

  188. allezkev says:

    Rico, you have to wonder if Akpom has a future with Arsenal, especially if there is any truth in the rumour linking us with a bid for that 22 year old Hoffenheim striker.
    Same age as Akpom, sounds a similar type of player etc ?

  189. allezkev says:

    I was reading yesterday Rico, that Gibbs has won 10 England caps, that surprised me if true, but with the English premium thing, £18 million sounds about right to me…
    If Gibbs was at another club, and Arsenal wanted to buy him, you can bet that the fee would be a lot higher than £18m…?

    Arsenal are continually asked for inflated fees, we should do likewise…

    Maybe we should quote Liverpool a fee of £25 million plus £1…?
    ?

  190. Merlin96 says:

    Gibbs is valued at £18 million?

    What are they smoking over there?

    On the other hand, Arsene Wenger knew that quite a few EPL teams are desperate to fill up their homegrown player quota, which means Brit players are a scarce commodity now, which every economist will attempt to leverage as much as the market can bear!

    Who are our 12 homegrown players now … with EPL teams given 4 seasons to fulfil their quota starting next season?

    1 – Chambers
    2 – Gibbs
    3 – Jenkinson
    4 – Ramsey
    5 – Wilshere
    6 – OX
    7 – Walcott
    8 – Welbeck
    9 – Iwobi
    10- Hayden
    11- Akpom
    12- Vardy?

    13- Cech
    14- Bellerin
    15- Koscielny
    16- Mertesacker
    17- Gabriel
    18- Ozil
    19- Xhaka
    20- Coquelin
    21- Cazorla
    22- Elneny
    23- Alexis
    24- Giroud
    25- Campbell or Ganbry or Wellington or Mkhitaryan?

    Look at this 25-man squad.
    It proves that Wenger must sell to free up the slot for new players.

    And how do we fit in Martinez or Ospina or Szczesny into this 25-man squad?

    Look like Wenger may promote youngsters like Macey or Hiddart to understudy Cech!

    Anybody knew had all EPL clubs agreed to this new “12 homegrown players” rule yet?

  194. Merlin96 says:

    Kev, afraid Akpom may go the way of Benik Afobe.

    I was not impressed by Akpom as he is a selfish player obsessed with scoring when a simple pass to an unmarked team-mate will result in a simple tap-in.

    He simply lacks tactical awareness and link-up plays and the saw old saw as applied to Walcott applies to him: “shoots when he should pass, and pass when he should shoot”.

    I believe pre-season training is vital for him to impress Wenger that he had developed tactical awareness and link-up plays with his team-mates.

    Alex Iwobi had taken his slot in the team with his intelligence and immediate understanding with Welbeck, Alexis and Ozil. There is a buzz and synergy there with Iwobi and Welbeck playing together for the first 2 games.

  195. rico says:

    Merlin.

    Chambers – loan
    Ches – loan
    Akpom – loan
    Hayden – loan
    Welbeck – out for the season probably, or much of it.

    Walcott – sell
    Gibbs – sell
    Campbell – sell
    Wellington – sell or loan I suspect
    ospina – sell.

  196. Merlin96 says:

    Rico, that will leave us up the creek without a paddle if that “12 homegrown players” rule should kick in, starting next season.

    I believe current rule that all EPL teams must have at least 8 homegrown players?

  197. Merlin96 says:

    Goal understands that Vardy’s England team-mate Jack Wilshere has played a huge part in persuading his compatriot to join him at Emirates Stadium and that a medical has been pencilled in for Sunday afternoon at the club’s London Colney training ground.

    Arsene Wenger was at Wembley on Thursday night with former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein to watch England take on Portugal, with Vardy’s agent John Morris also in attendance.

    http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2016/06/04/24270292/arsenal-close-to-completing-vardy-deal?ICID=HP_HN_1

    Good old Jack, doing it some useful tapping.

    Dare I say that it is his good friend in David Dein that pushed a dithering Wenger to sign Vardy? 😀

  200. allezkev says:

    The goalkeeping situation could be interesting…

    David Ospina is a great No.2, but he wants to play so I can’t see him remaining. To me he has to be worth £10 million…

    Wojicech Szczesny had a great season at Roma and will have been scouted by a lot of other clubs as well.
    To me he has to be worth £20 million…

    Martinez can be our new No.2, play in the League Cup and even FACup…

  201. allezkev says:

    Yeah Rico, you’re right about Toral, with the Copa America and Euros, our initial squad for pre-season should look a bit unusual, Toral being among them I suspect…

    Yeah Akpom kinda missed the chance to cement his future at Arsenal, with his underwhelming goals return at Hull being less than Torals at Birmingham…

  202. rico says:

    I read Ospina could go for less than we signed him Kev.. Guess Martinez and Macey will be fighting it out for the number two unless Wenger signs another…

    And for the start of the season re the squad as it’s likely Ozil, Alexis, Kos, Ollie will go far. Can’t see Switzerland progressing far into the competition but at least we’ll have Theo and Ox fit and raring to go… 😉

  204. Marshall says:

    Merlin in the 25 man squad Monreal is missing. I get what you’re driving at though. Add Bellerin and Coq to the homegrown list and we can easily replace Gibbs and Theo – if we’re to cash in on them.

    £18m for Gibbs? We’d qoute 20 and sell. How has Hayden been proggressing?

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