Daily Bits and Bobs

Sir Chips wants improvement! Arsenal players suffer re-run – Good!

Posted on by rico

Morning all,

How many times here on Highbury House have many if not most, suggested that Stan Kroenke only cares about his money and making more out of his little Arsenal investment? Does anyone think he cares if we win lose or draw certain fixtures, as long as we achieve a top four place when the season ends? I don’t.

Would he have set his alarm clock or cancelled a dinner date on Wednesday to ensure he sat and watched us play Monaco and study Arsene Wengers tactics on the night? No, I doubt it.

But I bet Roman hasn’t missed a single Chelsea game, other than for a crucial alternative appointment.

Arsene Wenger has no-one on his back, no-one pushing him to do better, no-one telling him that things have to improve or his career is on the line. Well, not in my opinion of course and my view is that those above him don’t particularly care, as long as we get into the Champions League places.

Then we have the players and all the time Arsene Wenger has no pressure on his shoulders to achieve nothing other that Champions League football, he’ll carry on as he has done since the mid 2000’s and I doubt that involves ripping any of the players apart for lacklustre performances.

Lethargy starts at the top, Arsene is under little or no pressure and that carries on through the club in my opinion and onto the pitch. No pressure on Arsene = no pressure on the players and nights like Wednesday show that.

Where’s the fight, the desire and the passion. The pride to be the best they can regardless of what goes on ‘above’ them?

Yes, Arsene Wenger will ultimately take the blame on days like that because he’s the manager, the guy who who us meant to play the right team, the right tactics and of course, make sure we win every game but hang on….. How much do these players get paid? Clearly not enough to motivate them, not enough to make sure they all turn up in the right frame of mind and work hard for 90 minutes!

Yes, 90 minutes for £50,000+ a week and most of them are on nearly double that amount. Alexis can do it, as can Santi and one or two others, but as for the rest, if they need a manager to motivate them each week then perhaps they are in the wrong job. Does anyone honestly believe Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell etc etc needed motivating? I didn’t think so….

Stan Kroenke, the board and Arsene Wenger might be getting many things wrong, but so are a few people who clearly don’t realise how lucky they are to be playing football for a living and earning mega money. And they don’t know how lucky they are to be playing for such a prestigious club like ours either.

Apparently, Arsene Wenger has made the players sit and watch the Monaco match – good, perhaps they’ll learn from it although I won’t hold my breath.

If they wake up and put a proper shift in, in the role they are given, then the football we play and the results we get will be much improved. We’ve seen what they can do when they feel like it but that’s not enough, they have to all start performing in every game.

And right now that’s what we need because it matters not how much we moan about Kroenke, the board and Wenger, all are here to stay. For a while at least….

Sir Chips has been talking about our huge cash reserve which stands at £138.8 million – this figure doesn’t include the January signings of Gabriel Paulista and Krystian Bielik, nor the contingency plan in place should we fail to make the top four.

“Our commitment to investment in the squad was evidenced by a record level of expenditure on players joining the club. Crucially, this investment remains at a level which is consistent with our principle of affordability and which is financially sustainable in accordance with the applicable regulatory regimes.”

“On the field, the team has produced some strong results and the squad is looking fit and better balanced. However, we need to find our best form on a more consistent basis as we approach, what I hope will be, an exciting end to the season.

“It has been particularly rewarding to see the recent emergence into the first team squad of Francis Coquelin and Hector Bellerin. In an era when many are seeking short term results and instant action, we remain true to our principles of investing in the future by continuing to sign outstanding international talent while developing our own.”

See, even old Sir Chips wants us to improve but I suspect that’s purely because he wants that Champions League spot, after all, that’s the goal from the off isn’t it?

That’s it for Saturday, have a good day folks..

rico

79 thoughts on “Sir Chips wants improvement! Arsenal players suffer re-run – Good!”

  4. James says:

    If they’re not motivated that’s the managers fault. But I believe they are motivated and do put the effort in, it’s Wenger’s piss poor tactics that are fucking them over.

  5. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    It’s not the players rico,we can’t keep blaming them,
    we have some great players,all good teams suffer losses.
    But we over the last 10 years are not able to go toe to toe
    with teams who want a fight,
    Last week and the build up to the monaco game,
    Hatley and Hoddle and were all agreeing about one thing.
    Wenger Never seems to bother whats going on at the back,
    Wenger coaches offensive football..you see
    Nothing has changed,
    Apart from Big Tone,and Big Sol..who cost Nothing.
    We have not had any sort of a leader at the back.
    Us gooners have had to accept we play great football
    going forward,but as soon as we lose the ball
    It’s like watching the Keystone Cops in action.

  7. Danish Gooner says:

    Who in their right mind lets Wenger just sit there year in year out without achieving anything ???? They must be out of their mind !!!! And very year we hear the same bull around this time.Trust me to put it right,is he fucking kidding me !!! It is the tenth year we dont even come close to winning the PL and regarding the CL well,it speaks for itself.It is putrid old hat and i am sick and tired of it.

  8. potter says:

    “When I first came to Arsenal, I realised the back four were all university graduates in the art of defending. As for Tony Adams, I consider him to be a doctor of defence. He is simply outstanding.”

    At this point we should have realised that the players knew more about defending than he did.

  9. Marinello says:

    Good post Rico.
    Good points made by Frednerk as well. Like a lot of Arsenal fans, I have grown frustrated with what appears a lack of tactical nouse from Asene, when things do not go to plan during a game.

    I see, like for like substitutions but no real change of formation etc. there is a lack of genuine old fashioned leadership on the pitch, a person who without being told, will roll his sleeves up, shout encouragement, cajole, and lead by example, be that by making a telling crunching fair tackle on an opposing player who is dictating play etc.

    The same old lack of discipline where all 10 players are bombing up the pitch and leaving a heavy legged old German on his own when the counter attack always happens. Are the players not listening to Wenger once out on the pitch, or is he not giving clear instructions as to what he expects.

    Maureen at Chelsea would never allow his players to stroll back after losing the ball, neither would old Red nose at United when in charge.

    Wenger, along with Bould and the coaching staff have to accept responsibility for getting the players mentally right before they set foot onto the pitch. Tactics etc are worked on, out on the training ground, the discipline instilled here is then carried onto the pitch on match day, otherwise surely the players will feel the wrath of the Coaching and management staff.

    I for one am a tad bored with never knowing which Arsenal team is going to turn up. The one against City or the one against the Spuds and Monaco. What happens inside the players heads, to make them perform one way, one week and totally different the next.

    All answers on a postcard please addressed to Arsene Wenger…

  10. Wath says:

    Morning All,

    Spot on Fred and Marinello……..

    Same old queation, which Arsenal team will turn up… The one that can beat anyone or the one that could lose to Dagenham & Redbridge….? We ask ourselves the same question before each and every game. I think it’s the whole management team and the lack of ambition also from upstairs where for nearly 10 yrs now 4th is a trophy and it’s acceptable not to be competitive.

  11. Lee says:

    Mertsacker needs to be benched indefinitely!
    Still pissed off about that shite performance on Wednesday night, Wenger and the players should be so ashamed of themselves! They’ve got a perfect opportunity tomorrow to try and gain back some of their dignity…….

  12. Rick says:

    Morning all.
    Miserable day down south.
    At long last we are about to see Beilick in action .
    He is playing for the U18 against Norwich today

  14. Marinello says:

    I agree Wath.

    4th spot will get harder to achieve though as the Clubs around Arsenal improve technically and tactically.

    Not sure what role Steve Bould has really? As a player he had guts, was brave and led by example.
    I can only think that Wenger does not allow him loose on the players after gutless performances like the Monaco one.

    Not sure if this is true, but I heard from a former player that when Arsene first took control after Pat Rice has completed a caretaker role after Bruce Rioch left, Rice was now his number 2. The players had totally under performed during a league game and at half time, Pat Rice laid into them. Wenger was allegedly shocked at Pat’s out burst and asked him to leave the dressing room and never address the players like that again….

    Nothing wrong with a bit of passion…..

  15. GoonerAsia says:

    one bloody bad result and some are calling for heads to roll! We must move on from these childish banter..get behind the team scream your head off while you are at it at Te Emirates…dont mind getting your face into BFG and Ozil priior to the match if you can..

  16. Wath says:

    Gooner Asia, one bad result………… What about away at the yids as well what about the manner of the loss thats the problem its not the loss its the attitude and passion missing and the piss poor tactics that happen time after time after time or are you oblivious to that issue…?

    Marinello, that story re Pat Rice is an urban myth……….. or is it…? wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest mate…! trust that your well..!

  19. allezkev says:

    Well all that stuff they learned the other day when they lost 1-4 to the Spuds, they have obviously put to good use against Norwich…

    This situation is becoming embarrising and quite worrying….

  27. allezkev says:

    To be fair Wath, there is a striking resemblance between Brown and O’Shea. 😉

    Personally, I think that Browns ginger barnet should have given the referee a clue.

  28. Wath says:

    Maybe they wearing the same boots Kev……………. Cos they were definitely separated at birth so very hard decision for the ref..!

  29. Marinello says:

    All good this end Wath. Trust you are keeping well.
    Gooners Asia: not sure about the one bad result… It’s the way that we lose. And the lack of tactical changes from Wenger. Maureen at Chelsea goes from 5 in midfield to 3 then 4 then back to 5 in the space of 15 minutes when he feels the game needs it. Pushing up or supporting the defence. We bring off Giroud and bring Theo on. Take Cazorla off, bring on Rosisky. No change of formation and no sign of passion, only from Sanchez, Cazorla and Welbeck And Tomas.
    Let’s see what happens tomorrow against Everton who are on a bit of a high.

  31. Marinello says:

    The players and coaching staff are all in this together Rico. Obviously once the players cross over the White line and onto the pitch, one hopes that they have listened to what is expected of them. I just feel that with full backs bombing forward to give width, leaves us constantly open for the counter attack….
    Wenger only left his seat once on Wednesday night to go into the technical area to give orders, Monaco coach was constantly up and down barking orders.
    We just look devoid of ideas, if we do not score early.

  32. rico says:

    Agree Marinello but I still think the players could be doing more.

    One of old boys was interviewed last week, not sure if it was Merse or Winterburn, could have been some else but whoever it was said that once he was on the pitch, he couldn’t hear a word being shouted from the sidelines….

  33. rico says:

    But I guess my point was, Kroenke doesn’t give a toss, so if all he cares about is top four, there’s hardly any pressure on those around and below him to achieve more but that’s where personal pride comes in with the players, as professionals, they should want to do better.

    Arsene Wenger isn’t going to change…..

  34. frednerk says:

    I know times have changed,
    but years ago when we went on 10 mile
    cross country runs,the leaders and winners
    stood out in squads.
    When ever I see pictures from the
    training ground the players are all strolling
    around smiling at the camera.
    These images flash through my nut,
    when we decide to play like we did
    the other night.
    Prehaps we might do better if made
    Mo Farar our next manager.

  35. allezkev says:

    I actually think that we should make Uncle Bob Mugabe the next manager…

    Bob is an expert in motivational techniques.

    Basically you win the game, or you are shot!

    It works every time… 🙂

  41. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Gooner Asia……if you catch your wife with a prized dick would you suppose it was just one bad night’s mood and forgive her or throw a tantrum and claim she had been screwing you all along your marriage???

    What have you been smoking in your sitting room???

    Good evening Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Good post Rico. Hope you are better now.

    Imo, and as I have been saying all along, the person behind all this is AW. His stubborness and his vision are hindering the team and keeping its break on.

    As soon as I saw the team last Wednesday I knew that we were going to loose. Why?? For the simple reason that Bellerin and Gibbs do not have the tactical nous to hold back when the other goes galivanting up the pitch. And this points to the arrogance that lies in AW. Figure this out. Berbatov is no Olympic sprinter and Mertesacker would be able to keep pace with him. Add Kos to the mix and both SHOULD have kept Berba in their pockets. That is how AW reasoned it out. So he put two fullbacks who like to act as wingers. That makes the formation a 2-1-4-3…..practically you are playing with 2 at the back, 1 in midfield and 7 advanced or up front.

    I would have began the game cautiously. Yes, I would have told the players to lie back. In all his arrogance AW wanted the game dead in the first 20 minutes. he gambled on getting 1 or 2 early goals to kill them and decided on two attacking full backs. He went for the jugular and not stability. If it pays off then fine. But what if Monaco scored? Arsenal would have to press forward and leave it more open at the back.

    Granted, OG12 had some horrible misses. He should have got a hat-trick at least which would have changed the outcome. And we paid for his misses.

    On Thursday Kev said……so its the FAcup and 4th place. And while 99.99999999% I agree with Kev…..i would say that not even these are granted.

    Back to the daisy flower……to decide which Arsenal will come out. Jeckyl, Hyde, Jeckyl, Hyde…….

  65. Micko says:

    Scott, broadband ain’t the fastest over here, agreed they’re all guilty as charged, not just Ozil !

    Prayers for wath also, can’t be easy looking over ya shoulder everyday and seeing the Grim Reaper staring back at ya !

  67. Wath says:

    It is the Metro Rico but even for them that’s a bit of a wild card article…. Piss funny, What exactly does Josh Krunke know about football…? Oh yes he know’s Thierry Henry is an ex famous Arsenal player and quite a legend in the game…

  68. Wath says:

    The only thing I see over my shoulder Micko is the barman waving my tab at me…………..! cheeky fecker…!

  69. rico says:

    Exactly Wath, made me laugh when I read it. The Metro quote The Mail as the instigator of the story however, there’s nothing there… 🙂

  71. Wath says:

    Next it will be Josh Krunke’s dog wants to hire Brooklyn Beckham as it’ll make David happy and sell us loads of shirts…!

  76. Wath says:

    I think I am missing out on all there reliable “sauces”….. I’ll have to start reading Captain America again for an insight on the way Josh thinks…!

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading