Injuries are the bane of every football managers life, and also of us fans.
Every club suffers from them, but there does seem a feeling among us Arsenal fans that our club has had the rough end of the injury stick more than most.
Not withstanding Robin Van Persie, the player who has spent some of the best and most productive of his years in the treatment room has been Tomas Rosicky. Who could forget his initial impact, that starring role at Anfield in the FA Cup.
How many more match-winning performances have we been robbed of by a succession of niggling injuries that somehow turned into absences of 4, 5, and 6 months?
What might have been for Tomas and Arsenal if he had stayed fit? More of this maybe?
Then there was every Arsenal fans favourite Brazillian-Croat, that fox-in-the-box we’d longed for, to finish off all the embroidered approach work, Eduardo Silva? There we were waiting to see the goals racked-up, only to see all that promise wiped out by a talentless thug in a Birmingham shirt. A player who epitomized his thuggish manager Alex McLeish.
In that one uncontrolled lunge, we saw another mans career ruined and he most productive period of Eduardo’s career taken away by a moronic Brummie nobody…
All the top clubs were after Abou Diaby but he wanted to play for Arsene Wenger and therefore he joined Arsenal. We rubbed our hands at the prospect of finally finding a successor to Patrick Vieira, even if as it turned out that their styles were different.
The early appearances were promising, minus the Vieira-type tackling but Diaby look an accomplished performer, with a lot more to give. Then another talentless nobody, in a Sunderland shirt, smashed his ankle.
Yes you can imagine his manager claiming that N.O.Body was a good honest player and that his tackle [assault] was out of character, blah, blah, blah.
Frankly, Diaby has never fully recovered mentally from almost losing his career, hence his over-reaction to that wonderfully gifted gentleman, Joey Barton’s unnecessary and over-aggressive tackle at St James’ Park last season.
I doubt if we’ll ever see the real player that Diaby could have become, instead he is just a pale shadow of a midfielder and a bit of a forgotten man and maybe his days in the Premier League are over, just like Eduardo.
We cannot forget what happened to Ramsey either, another brutal assault which could have finished our young Welshman’s career but he was younger, he seems to have recovered well and he’s back playing without any set-backs.
They are not alone though, in days gone by we have suffered plenty.
Ian Selley, two broken legs and a broken promising Arsenal career.
Paul Brandon, another highly rated midfielder had his leg smashed by an over-the-top assault by Chelsea Neanderthal defender John Sitton.
Bobby Harding – the biggest thing to come out of the reserves since Charlie George, injury killed his career too.
Craig McKeown, Siggi Jonsson, Marc Thorogood [now a manager in the Arsenal Shop, and a really nice guy] – all lost to the game through injury and Arsenal lost out on them.
Back to Abou Diaby, a player who offers so much yet cannot stay fit enough to sustain a long run in the side and if he can’t do that, how can he ever cement a place in our starting eleven?
Do we as a club wait, wait to see ‘what might be’ or should we just accept the fact that the player needs to move away from this sometimes brutal league so he can start all over again and have a chance of a long career…..
What do you reckon?
[polldaddy poll=5476009]Written by Allezkev
Morning all
Good Post AK, if i thought Wenger would use the money to buy another player in Jan, and I mean in addition to any he has planned, I would sell Diaby on the 1st Jan.
If not, and now that he is near to fitness, last chance for him, he either proves he can cope with this league or if things don’t improve, sell him in the summer….
morning HH.
Good post AK..
good write up Kev
In one word No! Why sell him until we are sure that he will never come back to anywhere near his best?
Diaby needs a season without injury’s and a chance to be slowly brought up to match fitness as to decrease the onset of the niggling minor setbacks that often follow a long layoff. in the past, when coming back from injury’s, he would have been thrown off the deep end because we where facing injury crisis in midfield. But now with a good depth in midfield we may just have the luxury of bringing him back slowly.
Morning Lee & TT
Morning all, good post AK. For me it all depends what is offered in Jan. He has the talent but not fitness, how long do you wait before you have to quit your losses? I also understand he is on about 60k a week, could that not be put towards something more beneficial? Like RVPs contract?
At least the shit show at the chavs is keeping the gutter press busy!!!
Sell diaby and rue that mistake for all eternity. He ll come good. What’s the matter with you kev? Left to you we should just sell the whole team! Sheeeesh. That’s how some creep said we should sell sagna cause according to him” jenko is a better player anyway! Have you ever heard such SHIT! What a tool!
I was just messing with you AK…..hahahahaha. Morning folks. That’s right. Am back baby!
i think wenger shud keep him n ease him into the 1st team. the lesssons learnt from dudu, abu dabhi and tomas brought rambo back to us. gud thing for abu dabhi is he wont be called up by france unlike tomas who was playin through the pain for his country. we shud also start restin arteta, rambo n vantastic in some games.
Take whatever we can get for him!
Useless player with a terrible lazy attitude. We do not need him anywhere near the first team. We’ve just built up a strong work ethic in the team, the last thing we need is Diaby coming in giving the ball away and then watching the opposition run past him.
We might get 5m for him?
It’s a tough one re Diaby, having seen what happened to Dudu, just have this feeling that Diaby is suffering not only with injuries but with confidence – i’m sure in the last game he played he was pulling out of tackles which will end up doing him more harm than good.
We had to sell Dudu for the sake of his game, i think we will end up having to do the same for the big frenchman…
Morning Sam, we could cover RvP wage offer by selling Nik, Squilli, Almunia and Denilson – add them together and its got to be near 200k a week 😮
They are up a creek without a paddle Lee, it would have been even better had it not been the dippers to beat them… Boaas will soon be out the door, hiddink back in and Roman will have to get his cheque book out all over again….
Wonder if they’d sell us Torres and Mata on the cheap 😉
Morning all. I must confess to taking the piss out of Diaby’s injury stints but I don’t think we should sell him at the moment. He has everything required to make a real impact. He has the physique and the technique and I think that all he needs is a long injury-free spell to show what he can do. I can remember people talking about how injury-prone Robin was and that Arsene should cash in on him if the price was right because he could never play a full season. If Diaby’s problems are really behind him then I think he could be really important for us. When I think of what that dickhead Smith did to him it makes my blood boil. A deliberate attempt to injure a player in injury time with the game lost. No wonder he’s a milkman now. May his milk cart’s brakes fail and it run over his leg.
Sell him for what…? What’s the point in selling someone for next to nothing when his potential value could be so much more. Give the kid a chance to play a run of games even if that’s on loan a la Ramsey then see where he’s at. If he’s lost it, them sell him, he’d still be worth more than he is right now. The infuriating thing about Diaby (and the encouraging thing) is that he is clearly very talented that’s the main reason to persevere. If we were talking about Denilson or Squillaci or Randall players who never once shown they had what it takes to play for Arsenal then fair play ship em out, no ones gonna wonder what if. Diary on the other hand has turned in several motm performances and I think everyone’s in agreement that if he could string a run of games together and find some consistent form he would provide serious competition in the Arteta and Ramsey roles
Croc he is and sadly has to be sold. Use the wages saved on someone else who is fit.
Take whatever we can get for him!!!
A useless player with a terrible lazy attitude. After working so hard at getting a strong work ethic in the team the last thing we need is players like Diaby or Arshavin coming into the team, lossing the ball and then watching the opposition run past them.
If we are lucky we might get 5-7m for him which is about all he is worth.
And please, drop the P word with Diaby (potential), he is 25 FFS! How old does he have to be before he goes beyond potential!!!
goonster, you do make some funny comments but that one has to be the daftest, it’s a good question to ask and about diaby and no-one is suggesting selling the whole team…
Morning to those just joining HH for the first time..
Hi adam, good point about RvP, many of us said he was a luxury and we should get rid etc, same was said about Rosicky. RvP stats speak volumes but Rosicky has also been near back to his best this season.
Hold on to your shirt rico….I was just messing with AK….sheesh talk about monday morning blues. Don’t take it out on me maam!
I don’t have the monday morning blues goonster and i didn’t see your follow up comment….
Just type Diaby into YouTube and watch, when fit and firing he’s pretty much unplayable, there aren’t that many players on our team you can say that about
Stu – but the key words there are when he’s fit? When was the last time he had a run without injury?
Goonster, not all of us have been having a ball in Thailand….some of us stuck here in blighty!!
Morning all, another good thinking mans post, do we or don’t we.
You know as well as i do, let Diaby go and he’ll come back like Eduardo did and bite the hand that fed him, but i believe there comes a time that the chick has to leave the nest, in Diaby’s case i would say that time has come, he in all honesty has never really produced a sustained period of reliability and we have quite a few who are the same. It takes a good manager to pick the right option all the time, but a decision has to be made, Diaby did show promise but it has to be said that he has disapointed as well. We could have got Scott Parker for free and we never tried, would you rather a Scott Parker or a Diaby myself, Scott Parker any day of the week. But you have also got to remember Eduardo came back ,and slapped us in the face. Some would say we didn’t wait long enough, i would say have we really missed him. Glad i’m not a manager . good one AK.
Morning all :- To conclude a contract you need two things. The first is a product in good working order and secondly a buyer that has the cash to meet the selling price. I am not sure Diaby qualifies on both of these accounts. With his record he can’t be sold as a working object and I can’t see the type of teams that he would want queuing up to part with large amounts of cash or for that matter their insurance companies being willing to cover him. The best thing would be to loan him to a less pressurised league where he could try to get his fitness back and have a recall clause in the deal should we need him.
Am not in thailand lee….am stuck at work like the rest of you!
I think goonster had a hoilady in the UK really, he’s just been trying to make us jealous 😉
Morning Steve – Parker in a flash for me, he is the reason the neighbours are doing ok, he doesn’t know when to give up….
I miss Eduardo, RvP could do with him right now…..
Hi potter, well he is back in training so he’ll either go on a good run, injury free and prove his worth, which is prob deep down what we all want – but if he can’t get his game together, at least he’ll be saleable 😉
What he or we don’t need is for him to suffer another injury… didn’t PSG offer £10M for him in the summer?
Morning Rico, you mentioned RVP another similar to Diaby, Robin is having a very good run but we are sitting on egg shells whenever he play’s at the moment Wenger chose right with Robin but who knows after the next game.
Morning guys and chicks.
Morning to those who believe and have finally seen the light of HH. May the star of Rico lead you towards the promised land.
Ok. Sermon over to the new freebies.
Good post AK. One which allows a person to reflect. Regarding Eduardo I do not think he could have fitted with us in the present formation. With Eduardo we need to play 4-4-2. In 4-3-3 he is lost since he likes to play off a target man and likes to play off the last defender.
Regarding Diaby. When on fire he is an awesome sight. But he needs to kindle that fire week in week out mates. Hopefully with the midfield we have at the moment he can be allowed to build upon his fitness slowly and is not rushed along, but allowed to increase playing time in the same manner that Rosicky was allowed.
Goonster as AFC manager??? Thank God he is concerned with managing a lady’s career. Hope he does not kill them off. 😀
Nah Rico….I really did! It was glorious. The best time of my life. Only wished I could continue. Stupid work.
Hi Rico. I am inclined to trust Wenger on Diaby. In fact I think Wenger has got his mojo back and believe that, at this moment, he is absolutely the right man. A few months ago I was not so sure as he seemed at the mercy of events rather than controlling them. I reckon that with Clichy and Nasri in the team against Norwich we might well have drawn the game. There seems to me to be a better team spirit and a more consistent look to us at the moment. Wenger obviously believes in Diaby. The next test will be in January. If Wenger can rid us of Chamakh and buy a truly excellent striker and perhaps another full back for some depth we could be OK. Also I can see Arshavin going and a quality wide man coming in. I just don’t see any progressive reason for the Russian’s stay. In football you must always have half an eye on the coming seasons. This is what Chelsea have failed to do and with an ageing spine to their team and no replacements being bought through it seems like they will have to spend big, big money on ready made replacements who may or may not bed-in (see Luiz).
I forgot to mention what a complete tool Paul Merson was on Sky Sports on Saturday lunchtime.
morning DG, that was a nice welcome to the newbies 🙂
‘Regarding Diaby. When on fire he is an awesome sight.’
Which game was that then 😉
Steve – totally agree, every game he plays i fear an injury, every time he’s tackled i wonder if…
Wenger has to soon take some pressure off of him but who will make that step up, Park? Chamakh?
It is worrying….
How far was your flight to Thailand goonster from where you live, i hate flying and long haul is a no no for me 🙁 🙁
There was no particular game but there were moments of flashes of brilliance from him here and there. The talent is there, but either a mental block or else some physical boundaries are hampering him. more than everyone I hate it when a player is injured and cannot produce and therefore I do want him to succeed and be a great player. But if he continues in his present trend in the treatment room more than he is on the pitch then its better to cut our losses and get someone else. A Schweinsteiger maybe? Or M’Vila? Or get Roy Keane back from retirement and save him for when we play Stoke, Blackburn etc???? 😡
how old is Diaby? He strikes me as a player who still has a lot of developing to do.
You develop when you train and play and for the past 3 years he has done very little of either.
Rosicky is a developed player and tries his heart out. Diaby could be far better but he has to play to get better and he is a biscuit(crumbles)
Adam, that’s all we can do, he will be the one to make the decision but i’m not sure he stands back enough and looks at the situation as a manager should – he’s a bit too protective and holds on to players too long sometimes….
Denilson, Nik, Almunia are good examples of that…..
I’m not sure I have that much faith in Diaby, i’d much rather have a player who can make impact in games on a regular basis, not one who shys out of tackles and reacts to the joey bartons of this world.
that’s just my own thought though….
Having mentioned Stoke…….and remembering that we stuffed them 3-1 (and they havent recovered since). Is there any club who we can genuinely fear going to this season?? Previously it was Stoke, Bolton, Blackburn, Birmingham etc. They all used to play rugby style football. Now we have tamed stoke, we lost to B’burn but that was ages ago and we have beaten bolton. Birmingham are where they deserve to be. Any one club which play with that style…..or do all the premier clubs now try to play football?? Seems as if no one is trying to get in our faces and be clever are they????
Morning all,
Diaby is about as much use to us as a fart in a space suit.
Would we miss him if he left the club tomorrow, absolutely not.
Morning Micko. So have you ever farted in a space suit?? Must ave been stuffy and smelly then!!!!!!!
DG – M’vila for me..
I’m sure we’ll face a side that will play the rough stuff again…
Morning Micko, you don’t want us to keep him then 😉
I know a lot of supporters like our new man Per Merts but the guy worries me, yes he has brought a bit of stability to the back line, but i have to say that when he is the last man and he brings the ball out he worries the life out of me. Now when Vermaelen is that last man and he moves forward i feel as safe as houses. Now i know that everybody makes mistakes and are left holding their head in their hands but i believe that had Vermaelen been in that same position Merts was in, he would have thought to the last minute and not just laid on the ground, i believe its crunch time for Per Merts, either this experience will make or break him, my impression is he is not the right man, i hope he proves me wrong.
Poor old Eboue 🙁
FORMER Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue was pelted with missiles during Galatasaray’s highly charged clash with Besiktas at the weekend.
The Ivory Coast midfielder was hit with objects ranging from a water bottle and cigarette lighters whenever he neared the touchline during the 0-0 draw.
The footage has already been circulated on You Tube and twitter with many saying there were racial motives behind the treatment meted out to Eboue.
But sadly for football, such a reaction from supporters in Turkey isn’t uncommon, regardless of a player’s ethnic origin.
Although Eboue appealed to officials for some protection, there wasn’t much response as this type of behaviour from opposition supporters has been witnessed many times before in the Turkish league.
Not this year Rico. They are all playable sides. I have a hunch that we will be 2nd in due time. Hope it will be gradual so that we wont fart it at the end of the season
Steve – this is what wenger thinks:
Per Mertesacker is far better than the critics would have you believe.
That’s the verdict of Arsène Wenger nearly three months after he bolstered his back four with the Germany international.
Mertesacker has been a virtual ever-present since signing from Werder Bremen just before the transfer deadline and Wenger believes he brings qualities that have gone unrecognised.
“I feel people have been harsh in their judgement,” said the manager.
“I like Per very much, because he is a very intelligent boy and reads the game very well. He has a calming influence, a commanding influence.
“Because he is so tall, sometimes if he looks less impressive in one situation, people make a definite negative judgement.
“But he grows stronger in every game and we watched him again in Germany against Holland in midweek, and he had an outstanding performance. I am really happy with him.”
Eboue is a CLOWN. End off.
Cigarette lighters ! As far as i know the guy doesn’t even smoke, that’s all wrong.
Rico, I must admit Wenger knows a sight more than i do, but after all said and done, he still worries the hell out of me.
Get rid of him. He is a complete liability and get rid of Rosicky as well. We have carried these crocks for too long and even when they have been fit they have contributed next to nothing. More deadwood that needs to be binned.
We’ll see DG when the going gets tough at the bottom in april and may 😉
Steve, he’s not my first choice…….
Micko – that’s good…. Now Gallas 😉
Now that would be a sight to behold……Gallas and Adebayor pelted by the scum supporters.
😀 😀
I heard the only ever present player in the league for us this season is chezzer, that surprised me, we’re yet to see our strongest line up.
Actually this season, post September that is, is the first season in years that I dont feel nervous about our defense Steve. It has a lot to do with TV Kozzer and Mert but lets not forget our midfield. They are IMHO helping the defense out much more and better than in previous years. A lot of that is because of Arteta and Ramsey who are not afraid to get stuck in and of course Song is much more Song this season than Songinho…..
I reckon you stop moaning about talentless thugs and get them to play for us
Agree 100% TT. And if we go back to 4-4-1-1 we will be even stronger especially against Manure and Shitty. since the midfield four will help the defence much more.
TT, I agree with that, its looking good in the centre of defence, as much as i like kosser he’s no right back and we may have to see him play there for the next few games which is a bit worrying, I only wish arteta would start to express himself a bit more in games, we know he has it in him, let song concentrate on protecting the back four.
I wouldn’t have guessed that either Micko…
TT – i don’t think our midfield is doing enough, the spuds winner showed that and the chav game – ok we won that latter but we are still giving the oppo too much time on the ball and too much space for them to get their shots in….
Damn you DG…..eboue is a LEGEND! End of.
A legend in is own underpants maybe.
No thanks alan, we don’t need thugs…
Great, now manone wants out too! What is wrong with these young lads? During my days……(dude am old) a keeper wasn’t even considered good enough until he’s in his late 30’s but these days they all wanna play regular football by 23! What is the world coming to?
LegEnd goonster 😉
Morning Rico.
Morning Gooners.
That was a great piece of Sub-editing Rico, thanks for making it so readable…
Hahahaha……good one mama bear. Leg end! Hilarious.
Hi Stan. How was Bogner Regis then?????
Huh? Where the heck is that kev?
Hi AK, I didn’t do a thing 😉 😉
goonster, it’s down the road and turn right 😉
Good re Manonne, he’s not good enough…..
Bogner Regis is in Viet Nam Stan.
You ask agag, she’ll put you straight… 😉
Some great comments on here today, personally i’d give Diaby another chance, but use him sparingly and possibly from the subs bench at first, 15 mins here, 20 mins there, let him feel his feet.
It would be a mistake to throw him in at the deep end imho…
Very funny rico…..vietnam? Dude I went to thailand not Vietnam.
Agree Rico, if Fabianski & Mannone go, i won’t lose any sleep, as long as Wenger brings in an older goalkeeper as cover for Chezzer, like Jaaskalinen, someone who’ll be happy as back-up and games in the cups…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8902768/Arsene-Wenger-wants-to-remain-at-Arsenal-until-his-contract-expires-in-2014-despite-hints-of-a-summer-move.html
AK, thankfully, i don’t think we need to throw him in at the deep end, although i’d like too 😉
I guess Wenger will be looking for him to build his fitness up, get strong and then on the 1st jan he can say…
‘Diaby is like a new signing, I don’t need to buy a midfielder’ 😆
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15804105.stm
Wenger, I will stay….
Camber Sands apparently….
Rico… 😀
You sound just like Mr Happy, Wath… 😆
Rico, you know that!!!
Kev, abou ll come good. I have a knack for these things and my intuition has never let me down yet. Remember when you lot were complaining about kozzer? I along with TT kept saying he ll come good and “walla” we ve got a potential world class CB in our ranks. Believe you guys believe. My dad was a juju man for crying out loud. I inherited his gifts….
AK, I caught the comments from last night….someones tired, springs to mind!!
Lee, just up the road from me, very nice beaches.
Well Stan, was it Camber Sands then? 😉
Lee, when you get to his age, you do tend to get a bit grumpy, so i am told… 🙂
Yeah Rico…WATH is always happy, its freaking me out. What’s he on?
Lee, have you got your Christmas party dates yet?
I’m up there for a few weeks, so don’t forget if you get stuck….
A shuttle service to Liverpool St would suit me fine… 😉
I’m half ur yrs AK 😛
As for you Lee could you read through the bluuuuurrrrr…?
Lee – I like Camber sands – looked at a house there last year, didn’t realise that several Pontins were sat behind it… Needless to say, I stayed put 😉
I think Wath needs a holiday Stan…..
Southend is very nice this time of year….
Here he is, they’ve just let him outta his care home for the afternoon.
Hiya Wath… 😉
Clacton, just up the road to me….my eldest played them on sunday, came second!
More like retirement kev…..hahahaha poor old WATH. Am sure he walks around with a cane.
i had visions of young Mr Grace after your 12:27 AK! 🙂
Or Mr Grace’s Dad…? 😀
Hiya AK. did you read my chat??
WEBSTER. What is Eboue did you say??? A FAG END???
“Your all doing very well…”
So according to you Webster, W.A.T.H. walks around on three legs. bless you son, you’re still walking around on four.
😆 was just jesting but….
Hi Wath, you still grumpy? 😉
DG….eboue owned ronaldinho during the 06 CL final and for that…..he’s my own special legend or Leg end like rico ll say.
He’s never grumpy….
…..and so says SIR WEBSTER!!!!!!! 😀
Ancelotti to PSG, apparently being mentioned…
Nah DG….am walking on two and a half, if you know what I mean.*winks* all them thai girls couldn’t get enough of “THE GOONSTER”. Kept asking “ween are you caoming baeck mester stan? God I miss them.
I’m never grumpy Rico……. I have the comedians on here to make me smile…! 😉
half…….and……ween do not go together in the same sentence WEBSTER. If you know what I mean!!!!!
W.A.T.H. you were refering to Webster no?????
fecking hell! Ance-nothing to PSG? Now I ve heard everything!
Thai women in Camber Sands that want a piece of the Stanley…..not far from you is it AK?
DG….you get the drill don’t ya?
DG, a sane voice amongst hmmmmm you know what……….
the sanest amongst the comedians. lol
lee, jealous are ya?
Loads of Thai women around here Lee, you can’t move for them…. eeek
I think Ginster has lost the plot………
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150384790171988&set=a.10150318632411988.369441.365383271987&type=1&ref=nf
Same here Wath, it makes it all worth while… 😛
Stanley, I thought Camber Sands was about 100 miles from you 😉
AK and Lee doing tie women…………. kinky…!
and that link was the evolution of Cech.
That will stop the Wenger to PSG rumours Lee…
Not my bag Thai-ladies/men….
Nice one DG.
Will send you some chat when i’m on the train later, about 2pm.
Once i get to London i’ll be as cheerfull as a mate of mine, who is of a certain age…. 😉
Yeah WATH…..lost it a while back.
How’s things on your trawler Stan?
What’s the catch been like today???
he caught some stonefish although he was trying to catch some slippery eels which turned out to be cescyfish
Guys what do you think of the story making the rounds that old c**nt nose is after our prime target. God I hate the fugly faced bastard. Why don’t he just fall off his stairs or something?
ginster ‘lost it’ in Camber 😉 Bless….
Righto, got some chores to do before i hit the road.
So i’ll bid all you Gooners adieu for the time being.
Thanks Rico, see ya’ll soon, young and old [!]…
😀
where u crashing Harold Wood AK?
There he goes…..WEBSTER’s changing the subject, the slimy toad!!!! lol
I am with you AK. see you later guys. After training today.
actually “crashing” not a very apt word…staying!!
DG where the hell are you heading to? Am not done with ya. Get back here you two time skirt chasing bastard( that should be me though)
See you AK, take it steady and mind the cyclists …..
Have a good one DG, laters…
Drive careful AK, you on that over 80’s licence..?
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/882380-arsene-wenger-staying-at-arsenal-but-still-wont-make-january-signings
To those that think Wenger will buy anyone in january….the sad truth. I for one am happy at the state of our squad in general but more than anything else if RVP gets injured who can fill his shoes…..
A couple of players could mean the difference between capturing 4th or even third and missing out. I fear Arsene just hasn’t learnt his lesson…
He’s got the free pass Wath 😉
Sam, the Metro are nearly as bad as Tribal, their stories are just that…..
Popping off for a bit, got some more leaves to clear 🙁
Back in a bit…..
Hi Rico, you may be right but for me this is totally believable. I really hope I am wrong….I just don’t think I am. Our best hope is that Diaby / Rosicky leaves otherwise Wenger will use thenumbers excuse
rico, i’ve noticed a bit of age-ism starting to creep into the site, you wanna keep an eye on that, i’m sure wath would lend you his glasses if you asked him nicely.
Gooner sam, i’ve been saying that for ages, i would be amazed if wenger brought in more than one player this transfer window, it could make or break our season and also decide if wenger stays or goes in the summer, its in his hands, he can have no excuses.
My bi-focals are perfectly fine Micko one looks one way the other have no idea where it looks………
The last 3 seasons wenger has sat on his arse come Jan transfer window and bought nobody and yet we could of pushed on and won things….! He never learns…! We NEED a player or two to push on and make sure we finish top 3 or 4 and yet my money is on him buying noone…!
I think a proven goal scorer is a must…
That’s a good job jobbed…
Sam, i don’t believe the Metro in anything they write, but, I don’t think Wenger will buy anyone in any case, unless he offloads Nik and co in Jan.
If he doesn’t, he is silly, right now we have a good squad, add a goal scorer, defender and a midfielder, we’d have a great squad and one that could see us progress through the second half of the season, rather than fade away like we so often do….
i’m trying to steer clear of the age-ism Micko, i’m getting away with it at the moment 😉
Apparently, AK had a bi-focal windscreen fitted in his cab….. 😉
I wondered why you were so quiet Rico 😉
😆 Lee, i hope he’s reading on his bus…
Wath, no need to be nasty now …. 😉
But I enjoy those stories Rico about back in the day when you worked for Queen Victoria……..!
Wasn’t Santos playing in Turkey?…maybe they were pelting him with food over there…… 😆
Hammer and chisel to do homework….
I know I like Eastenders Wath, but i never worked in the Queen Vic 😉
That’s why Santos runs with his mouth open…….
Rico, 😆
Bent to score and it to be 0-1 is 100-1 at Billy Hills…..
There were no pubs involved Rico and you know it 😉
I’d like to lose a fiver on that bet Lee, if it means Villa win 2-0 😉
I know Wath, but that’s the only Queen Victoria I know of… 😉
Has anyone else heard that diabys ringtone on his mobile phone is that old classic by olivia newton-john “lets get physio”
Hi all.good read AK.i like diaby since he can be immense when fit but i must admit time is running out for him.
😆 Micko
Hi Kt, i know you have always been a huge fan…..
Hi KT, do you think we can get Goetze??
We can get him lee since we have the cash and Götze himself said it would be a dream.will we get him though…unlikely 🙁
We’ll be fed that old clasic “like a new signing” when Diaby comes back and no need to enter transfer market!
🙁 🙁
You stealing my comment Lee 😉
Yeah Lee, we will def have that line with Wiltshire when he comes back at the end of Jan.
For me a creative mid and a striker are a must….doubt that will happen though.
We get that with every player who returns, it gets boring doesn’t it….
Surely stubborn bollocks must realise that this team definitely needs two more quality additions to push on again….
Micko @ 3:38 pm ………Has anyone else heard that diabys ringtone on his mobile phone is that old classic by olivia newton-john “lets get physio”
That had me in stitches mate. 😀 😀 😀
Got to laugh at that shit website sportsvibe…”Arsenal Plot Audacious £50m Double Swoop for Bundesliga Stars” 🙂
DG, how true though…,,
Tow words Lee ‘stubborn bollocks’ – if we keep this run going, he will say we don’t need to add, however we all see things more clearly..
Definately need a goal scorer, and a defender imho….
hello!
Diaby can rejuvenate the midfield and will need that in January. Diaby has three advantages: a) know the team b) It is an Arsenal player c) decide on his future as a footballer.
This does not imply the necessity of coming from another player in addition to Wilshere.
When the contract ends with Diaby?
Devil, I bet that one isn’t in your record collection !
Laters folks.
No Micko. My record collection is Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Queen and Classical music. But its a nice song although the music is not my taste.
Dinner calls, back in a bit…..
Hi JM,
i’m not sure diaby is the answer to our midfield, Jack maybe…..
Don’t know about Diaby’s contract….
Jack back with M’Vila and another striker and we won’t be far off
Ah, i thought i was on my own Wath…..
M’vila is reported to be £25M Wath, Wenger won’t spend that much sadly, did you see the story about the cheaper version 😉
A fully fit midfield would see……Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Diaby, Rosicky, Coquelin and Frimpong.
That is eight players for three positions. Obviously Rosicky, although slightly peripheral is important because he can fill the role that he is needed for. He can be utilised when needed and will not complain, offer great experience and give a breather to each player in midfield.
If we analyze the place they have in the team its that the defensive midfield position can be taken by Song, Frimpong and Coquelin, while the other two positions will be taken regularly by Arteta,
Wilshere and Ramsey. That leaves Diaby and Rosicky. If Tommy is fit than he will offer breather and experience while Diaby will not be rushed back. So for this season it means building him up slowly bit by bit and gradually increase his time. He might be played in Carling Cup and maybe the last game of the CL if he is ready. Then maybe introduced in a league game in the final 10 minutes and gradually increased. Rosicky is getting along fine with that situation. Hopefully AW will use all the above eight from January onwards.
If the situation with Diaby does not improve and Coquelin and Frimpong are found wanting when required to make the necessary leap, and if Jack suffers a setback than he may get Capoue.
In the meantime forget about any signings if all eight are fit.
And he wont buy unless he sells. And not sell fringe players like Almunia, Denilson, Bendtner. Only if he sells AA will he buy. And if Djourou and Squillaci leave.
So do not count any chickens dear guys and chicks of the everincreasing gunners’ faith.
And no AK. I have not been to a confessional today.
I like m’villa but I don’t think he will come because he is to expensive and also Wenger will still believe Song will stay extend and buying him will ‘kill’ Song’s career. Plus Le cow and Frimers are still options if not ready yet. I’d rather Goetz and a striker.
AW will buy only if AA and Chamack go. So its a winger plus a striker. Forget about any other place.
Look at the midfield players though DG, take Jack out, who can really change a game..?
M’Vila (or similar) and a top notch creative player would make that midfield complete….
Yeh we’ll you know we like cheaper options, the fact wenger says squilli is part of our 5 centre backs fills me with dread….
Your comment is spot on DG but what if we go 442…? Song is apparently pissing abt with his contract, get M’Vila show some intent let Song go as we have Frim and Le’Coq….. then we need a striker…!
I agree Rico. At the moment no one can change the game since Jack is on the table.. But they are growing. Ramsey is growing up also and they are shaping to be a fine midfield. Not even M’Vila can change a game since he is more defensive. And we cannot compare anyone of our midfield to Cesc and Nasri’s abilities. They were a one off.
Personally I would like M’Vila or Capoue simply because they are European whereas Song is not. In which case let Frimpong develop well, and sell him . For the simple reason that I do not like players who go gallivanting all over Africa in the middle of the season. At least until they move the ACN outside of the season to June.
Better stick to the Europeans.
I wrote an article on this issue recently W.A.T.H. And I said that it is much better if we stick to Europeans.
If Song is pissing about his contract then I agree…..sell him for M’vila or Capoue.
I read it DG don’t worry i don’t miss much mate…! Totally agree, Song can go he is a ok player in my eyes but we could do with a lot better and would make us much more solid and competative.
Wath, do you still think we need a defender?? i do…
DG – trouble is, we have a few that are growing but we need now, otherwise all that has been done over the last few weeks will go to rats…
Coq, Frimps and others are still very young in years, their time will come…
Agree re Song too, he’s good, but he isn’t that good to think we can’t get better than him….
I’m off this time, you all have a good evening, some of us need beauty sleep after a dose of the Queen Vic….
Nighty all 🙂
Don’t forget in january the African Cup – Gervinho, chamach and Fripong are out. If AA leaves who replace Gervinho? And who is the sub for him?
Personally I would like to have a squad like this.
Goalkeepers….Szceszney, get Jaskelainen, Shea. (Sell Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone as they do not want to stay)
Right back….Sagna and Jenkinson are enough.
Left back…..Keep Gibbs as cover and let him learn and develop. Get a new lateral defender like Schmelzer or Vertonghen (Santos later on)
Centre backs….Keep Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker. Sell Djourou and Squilli. Get Cahill and keep one of Miguel and Bartley as cover and send the other on loan.
Winger/forwards…Keep Theo and Gervinho. Move Santos up to the left wing. Sell AA. Get one of Reus or Grosskreutz.
The centre of midfield I have already spoken about in depth above. I would only add Goetze and/or Lucho Gonzales (though he is argentinian)
Strikers. Break the bank to keep RVP. Sell Bendtner and one of Chamack and Park. Get Podolski,
I think its only Chamack and Frimpong who might go. The rest will stay as they did not qualify. Song will stay for sure.
Good night Rico.
afternoon all…so after all that, we are back in seventh place as of yesterday. it’s like those five extra pound that just will not come off, not matter what you try…oh well…
would be nice if villa did us a favor here. not doing badly at the moment, but i am not holding my breath…
ade just opened the scoring for the spuds…cannot say i am surprised.
at this moment, they are in third, ahead of newcastle on gd…
DG, we missed a trick not getting freidel on a freebie in the summer…!
As for Goetze would he replace AA or play behind RVP for us to go 4411 or 442…???
If wenger buys him then we need to change formation as 433 is crap for the players we got…! still say we crying out to go back to 4 in midfield…!
Lucho is Argentinian. Was good, not now.
Tottenham wins…
Tottenham look a good bet for a top~four finish.
Harry will be celebrating from his prison cell.
5 years for tax avoidence.
Arsenal will need to go on a fantastic run to finish above the scummers.
Don’t worry. It’s less than 6 weeks to go before the January Window opens.
That’s a good 10 weeks of transfer speculation.
Press transfer lies and wind~ups.
And agents using Arsenal’s name to generate interest in their clients.
What fun……. 🙂
New Postie up…