Song plus two team-mates in the summer? Arsenal Legend retires & The Emirates stands idol!

Morning all,

Ok, ok, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just saving you buying the red-tops/internet to get your footie gossip fix!

What a joke this latest is which has been conjured up by Italian website Tutto Mercato Web.

They report that Arsene Wenger is looking to lure Alexis Sanchez, defender Martin Montoya and former midfielder Alex Song to the Emirates.

WHAT??!

Song back to The Emirates, never, no way, not ever! Arsene Wenger couldn’t wait to accept Barcelona’s offer for the lazy player who all too often thought he was Messi, so no way will he want him back. Not at any cost! Wenger can appear stupid to some of us but he isn’t that stupid!

Martin Montoya is a 21 year old right back, who knows whether any link to him is true but if Sagna really is set to leave, a player of this young age is not what we need in my opinion. We already have one at the same age who is destined for great things. Unless of course, Jenkinson is heading for a move central. (yes, that’s where I hope he ends up)

Alexis Sanchez – well he’s an under tall forward who has suffered with injuries.

Two players who are NOT about to turn their back on us is Per Mertesacker and Wojciech Szczesny.

I believe in the philosophy of the club and that Arsenal will start to win again.

I have a debt to pay here. I owe them. I don’t want to go anywhere else. As long as they want me here, there is no ‘somewhere else’ and I have a contract until June 2015.

Then there is Per, our big German international. He’s said:

A change is not an issue. Our manager Arsene Wenger gives me absolute confidence, I play every game.

I can think of nothing else, but to stay at Arsenal.

So mischief makers. Go and pick on another club!!

A read a ‘nice’ article about Arsenal FC this morning in The Daily Telegraph, and it’s HERE if you want to read it.

Whilst we are all down in the dumps with the way the season has unfolded yet again, there other others within the club who still have a lot to play for before this season closes.

The youngsters are still aiming to win the NextGen Trophy and the Ladies are battling hard to win the Womens Champions League.

Arsenal and England player, Rachel Yankey was just a few days ago, help England to win the Cyprus Cup by scoring this goal.

Not bad eh!

Today the Ladies face Italian side, ASD Torres in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

It’s sad really, this game should be an evening kick-off but owing to the floodlights not being up to European standards at Boreham Wood, home fixtures have to be moved to the day. Of course, that in turn means support for the ladies will drop by thousands, as many who would travel to their evening fixture will be working.

Meanwhile, the clubs wonderful stadium and pitch goes unused for a couple of weeks…

Hardly fair is it?

I am sure many male supporters would scoff at the very idea of watching the womens game, maybe they’d add a few choice comments about it too but the reality is, they are the only team within the club who keep on managing to win trophies season after season..

The BBC are screening two programmes which are presented by Jacqui Oatley, of Radio Five Live.

The first is ahead of the Women’s FA Cup final on May 26, which will also provide a review of the FA Women’s Super League, and the second on July 8, looking forward to the Women’s European Championship.

Good luck to those girls, I hope they show the men how to win…

Again!!

There’s only one place to end today really.

Faye White has decided to hang up her boots.

At 35 years old and after a long and very successful career with Arsenal, she’s finally giving in..

I never thought that I would win so much. I captained England and Arsenal for over 10 years and that’s brilliant. I look back and think I’ve done a lot and I’ve won a lot. I have to be thankful for that. I’ve won a lot and I’m really fortunate to have done that and played for so many years at such a wonderful club. I think it’s a great Club and that’s why I never moved.

I had offers in previous years, certainly around the time the American league started up. I knew Arsenal was a great place and really looked after the girls and did a lot for women’s football in this country. As the England captain, I wanted to play the game in this country rather than abroad. To spend my career at one club is pretty good.

We’ve been so successful over the years and have won a lot of trophies. I feel fortunate to have been a part of that. I won pretty much everything there was to win, including the WSL in my final season. There wasn’t much to come back and win really.

Michael Owen may have announced the end of his playing days, but Faye White will be missed by all Gooners, far more than him..

That’s it for today, have a good one….

0 thoughts on “Song plus two team-mates in the summer? Arsenal Legend retires & The Emirates stands idol!

  1. Adam says:

    Good morning Rico and all. A fine post finishing on the excellent news that mercenary Michael Owen has run out of clubs to milk without actually contributing anything and now looks set to pollute our TV screens with his own particular blend of hypocritical bile. He joins a long list of blundering, unshaven, Little Englander thickos who adorn the pundit’s couch every week, wearing stupid shirts while trying to string a couple of coherent sentences together about diving foreigners and the wonders of Ryan Giggs and Sir Alex.
    A plague on all their houses.

  2. rico says:

    Morning Scott, Adam and all… And thank you…

    I’m not overly keen on the cheating little squirt either, be glad to see the back of him…

  3. Jay says:

    Here we go the rumour mill is rolling ,and we are only in March.Song has been found out for what he is in Spain, a loping ,inconsistent midfielder that drops the team in the mire week in week out.Please dont bring him back. We have good midfield players ,that perform consistently well,he would not get back in the team

  4. rico says:

    Hi Jay, that lazy so and so won’t be back i’m sure. Wenger seldom goes back for those he sold. Henry and Sol are the exceptions, but they were class…

  5. Adam says:

    Well said Rico.
    No Arsenal fan should EVER want to give Alan (beneath contempt) Pardew the benefit of the doubt obviously, but I am forced to agree with him over that tackle. I really cannot believe that the FA are going to ignore it. What kind of message does that send out? Wigan’s classic and well-worn tactic of “Wheeling Out Whelan” to give us the geriatrics’ view was an embarrassment.

  6. George says:

    Song can join Hleb for an Ice cream.

    He will probably end up at Manure…

    As for Owen, I thought he was an average player with a big ego.

    There were far better strikers at Liverpool, at that time, in the past and presently.

    the womens game does not get the credit and recognition it deserves. I echo rico’s sentiment and agree that we should let the ladies play at the Emirates in the evenings, they have earned the right and , alot of families would turn up for a tenner to see any succesful Arsenal side , male or female. It would also help raise the profile of the womens game.

    It wont be long before we see women managing in the Mens game. After all they have females running the lines and referreeing. At grassroots football , I have attended FA courses with ladies on the same ones..

    On a positive note, nice to see some of our players proud to play for our club. Aside Chezza and Merts, I found this from TR07 warming…

    http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8576410/Tomas-Rosicky-is-keen-to-play-more-regularly-for-Arsenal

  7. rico says:

    Can you imagine how embarrassed we would all feel had the been one of our players and out rolled PHW to defend him …

    I’m with Pardew on this one too Adam, and I think most people know he is up there of rico’s most disliked. 😉

  8. rico says:

    George, don’t care where he goes, as long as it’s not back to us 😉

    I don’t get why the Ladies or the Reserves don’t use the pitch for the big games. Can’t be because of pitch size surely as WC, Euro matches etc, are all played at the bigger stadiums.

    Seems a great shame that occasions like these are not made the most of and the womens game is not highlighted more..

  9. Adam says:

    I’m already embarrassed very time I see PHW in The Star, gracing us all with an insight into his views Rico.
    It looks like Halsey is feeling pretty bad about it too.
    No doubt Pulis will join in soon, announcing what a terrible toll Ramsey’s broken leg took on Shawcross. We live in a society where the perpetrator is so often looked on more favourably than the victim.
    The glue pot is boiling away nicely. 🙂

  10. potter says:

    Comparing ladies football to tennis at least in the Ladies game they don’t screech every time they kick the ball.

  11. George says:

    @Adam and Potter….looool

    You wouldnt see the kung fu tackles though like Shawcross , Mcmanaman in the ladies game…

    you will always get a bit physicality in a contact sport, regardless, but the 10 roly polys and holding your head in your hands to con the ref…You dont see it in the womens game..Yet!

  12. waiswa francis says:

    i would not want to have song back in the team, coz he forced his way out anyway!let us have some new blood in the squad

  13. Adam says:

    But George, the FA have effectively ruled that those tackles are quite alright. The sooner the ladies take this on board and start launching themselves into thigh-high lunges the better.
    I lunged at a woman’s thigh last week and appear in court in the morning.

  14. Scott from Oz says:

    I do give leniency to any referee…well, except for Webb And Dean, as they are just crooks.
    We have the benefit of several camera angles and slow motion replays.
    A ref sees it once and once only, often from a less than ideal angle or with several players in the way.
    Whether a ref saw something or not is irrelevant.
    Whether he had an opinion on the tackle or not is irrelevant.
    What is relevant is the fact that a dangerous tackle is a dangerous tackle.

  15. George says:

    FA has lost credibilty so much Adam you get the FIFA bigwigs laughing at them now, and rightly so.

    What they do to their national managers, how they kiss Manure rump, and live in the 60’s is why they will never get it right. Thats why England will never win a major international trophy again.

    I once got a Red for getting up and lamping someone after a ruff tackle. So I was suspended for a few games and fined. I never got injured or fouled that bad ever again. Maybe that’s the way forward. A smack in the teeth never hurt no one You can’t be too nice on the pitch but the FA sends out the wrong message but brushing it under the carpet.

    They even go to the extreme lengths of rewarding kung fu football. Shawcross for England…jokers…Well justice was served in the end as Ibrahimovic done England and made that numpty look like a tool.

  16. rico says:

    Halsey is considering quitting having received death threats hasn’t he Adam. Not sure that the way to go.

    That pot could easily be filled eh…

  17. NashuaGunners says:

    Good morning Rico, Adam,George, Potter, Scott, Jay and All.
    Nice one Rico, you left Lehmann out.

    There is first time for everything. I would take Song back depending on how he left the club. If we are planning for a proper DM then the answer is no, but if not, why not take him? We all know what we are lacking in the midfield and MA8 is not the answer.

  18. Scott from Oz says:

    Probably one or two more, Adam.
    Tough gig.
    Linesman tend to be to keen to throw their flag up, or not keen enough.
    FA need to stop hiding behind their own piss poor rules.

  19. Adam says:

    RIco. As you probably know, I have a long list, growing every day, for the pot.
    I was going to comment on the dangerous tackle but thought you might get that picture out again. 🙂

  20. Bradster says:

    Hi all,

    I remember many games last season shouting at the tv because Song either gave the ball away cheaply in a dangerous position, misqueing a long pass, giving away free kicks in dangerous areas from last ditch tackles and trying his signature dink 300 times to many. I put it down to needing a break as he played well in the beginning of the season and assisted RVP well.

    I don’t think he’ll fit in our team anymore unless his game changes to similar to Diaby in those first few games of the season.

    Perhaps we tell Barca give us Sanchez or pay up for Cesc and Song.

  21. rico says:

    And all four Adam 😉

    I just think his couple of assists went to his head Bradster, AW should have taken him to one side and reminded him what is job was, but annoyingly, our manager loves goals…

    Is Sanchez what we need?

    His strike rate isn’t that good…

  22. tsgh says:

    morning all,

    A fine post and a hilarious one too.

    Adam re Adam 9:39 am… there has to be a second part to it. lol

    Splendid…funny shirts… 😀

  23. tsgh says:

    Dowd and his battered double fried energy sports bar… he takes 1 before a match, 2 at half time and a fat cheque from Rednose post every Arsenal match he makes us lose.

    Who wants to take a bet that he is probably going to be officiating one of our next 2 matches after the internationals?

  24. potter says:

    In many ways the F.A is very similar to the Arsenal board. Self serving and out of touch. I remember being called up in front of my league committee and fined for swearing at a linesman. I was given time to pay however because I could not work at the time due to the broken Fibula and Tibia which caused the reason why I was swearing. They just sat there in their de-mob suits full of their own self importance.
    I was not a happy bunny and don’t bear a grudge honest.

  25. Scott from Oz says:

    I was sent off once in app. 600 games.
    A team mate got sent off for a nasty tackle, i called him a dirty prick and the ref nailed me.
    Dumb bastard thought i was talking to him lol

  26. Bradster says:

    I get sent off more now playing action football than ever when I played out door. Guess the refs are more lienient in the bigger game.

  27. emma says:

    Good morning all gunnersphere,
    Good post rico

    At least someone’s dad has spoken

    https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/314341055564759041

    Alex song better stay where he is. He’s got £60m buy-out clause so except barca wants to cancel the clause he is going nowhere. He is going to end up like Hleb(from one loan to another)

    Alex Sanchez is a good player but his injury woes gives room for concern. Reports say he is heading to Juventus. I think we will just pass

    https://twitter.com/barcastuff/status/314322957101064193

    COYG’s Ladies!!!

  28. ozgunner10 says:

    subuteo doesn’t really count as a proper game though Scott – hhee only kidding, how ya going bud?

  29. rico says:

    Potter – 11.38. I would 😉

    I don’t think injry has help him Bradster. If he is a poacher striker who knows where the goal is, then he’d be just the kind of player we need…

  30. Scott from Oz says:

    The breaks are killers for fans, but our lads had started finding some good form.
    Let us hope the spell doesn’t finish it.
    Off not guys…..have a great day.

  31. ozgunner10 says:

    yeah Rico – break also happens at wrong time for us so often – Spuds need the break to regroup as well which doesn’t help. oh well not much we can do about it – What did you think about chezzers dad having his two bobs worth?

  32. rico says:

    Just hope not too many play 90 mins both games…

    Guess he’s got a right to moan but… If his lad was injured why didn’t he tell AW. Or is he suggesting Ches played regardless of injury..

    Sour grapes I think…

  33. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Afternoon all ….. Rico, Adam, OzzieG, Ginge.. Two great results…. I’ll take another couple of 2-0 wins …..

    NashuaGunners at 10:34am = LOL
    Maybe we can tempt Adi Akinbyi out of retirement, eh?

  34. Will XL says:

    Its so strange how many of you ridicule the idea of Alex song returning because of footballing reasons, when so many of you found Arsene’s failure to replace Song to be one of his big errors.

    If we don’t need an Alex song or an Alex Song type player, why would we need to replace him?

    Fact it’s fact. Song was one of the best holding midfielders in England.
    He was not even our holding midfielder last season. Arteta was.
    If song comes in to play that position instead of Arteta, we will be a better team. Fact. Song did much more good than harm for us last year and over his entire time with us.

    Despite that, I wouldn’t want him back either, but not because of footballing reasons. Only because of the precarious position his relationship with the fans and players would be in. He would too easily become a totem of fans’ discontent and a distraction.

    Can we keep all the facts in mind when we write? It irks me when a player is made out to be a greater evil than he actually is.

  35. rico says:

    Will, there is a huge difference there.

    When Song was with us, many moaned he was far too attacking. We wanted a more solid defence minded player in there..

    It’s not Song we missed, he gave so much away, it’s the position we lacked, and still do….

  36. Adam says:

    Will. Your first sentence makes no sense. How is Wenger failing to replace Song incompatible with not wanting him back? they are two entirely different things surely.

  37. NashuaGunners says:

    MA08, as a DM, how many assist this season? how many, as Adam would called it, “Killer passes” this season? the answer is none.

  38. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Nashua ….. There you go with the “ASSISTS” again …. the “STATS”…….
    Last season we were one-dimensional and reliant on the greatest striker (bar Messi) in Europe …..

    The Arsenal game plan last season was simple …. “Boot it to Van Persie”…

    Look at the Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal last season.
    Two lumped balls into the area a two goals…… by Van Persie….
    If Gervais had been our No. 9 (that is a centre forward) that day there would have been no goals and no assists….. Van Persie was the difference, not Song….

  39. rico says:

    Because he is defending Ng.

    If Song had been in the side to create goals, then things would be different but he was our DM.

    Wenger said that and he also said the Song was too attacking….

    And for as many killer passes Song made, how about how many costly ones he made, how many free kicks he gave away in dangerous areas, some of which led to us conceding a a goal…

    And no, I don’t think Arteta has been the answer either….

  40. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Hiya Adam – I use an English bank account …. No problems ….

    Greece and Cyprus has had this coming for ages …. Their banks aren’t as aggressive as ours over here…..

    ….A lot of Cypriots depend on the tourist trade, so for seven months out of the year they do nothing and therefore rely on borrowing money what they don’t like paying back …..

    … A tale from last Tuesday …… I had a few beers in a local bar in Vrysoulles … I’ve used it for the last 7 years …. Me and the wife got talking to a big guy, again who I’ve know for a few years … A nice guy – a security guy who works the night clubs in Agia Napa …

    “When are you back out,” he asked
    “Possibly, next month or May,” I replied
    “Well if you come back in may could you lend me two or three hundred euros?” he asked.
    “Sorry pal, I don’t lend money,” was my reply
    I never lend money. 48 years of experience.

    Then we got the sob story that his bills were due etc….

    I mentioned it to my mate – the bar owner … who said …. “He works in security and he’s not been working as there isn’t anywhere open at the moment … and when there is he only earns around six hundred euros a month …. ”
    I knew that….
    And I knew if I’d borrowed him it in April I wouldn’t see him; and in May I wouldn’t see him; and in July I wouldn’t see him ….. It is the same with the banks ….
    They borrow but they can’t pay it back ….

  41. tsgh says:

    Will… I think this debate about the importance of Song has been discussed so many times now…

    Personally, I totally understand what you are saying. Its funny how some fans choose to blame Song for the team conceding goals but then forget most top teams defend as a team and attack as a team.

    The fact that a lot of people say Song was too attack minded really surprises me as most other mobile DM in top teams across Europe play their defensive midfielders the same way AW played him… ie farther up the field. Martinez (last summers best DM allegedly) at £35M plays the same role and let the least mobile midfielder but with better ball control play deeper. Pirlo plays deeper whilst Montolivo plays further farther up even though Montolivo’s natural role is as a deep-lying playmaker (regista).

    At Juve, Vidal does the Song role whilst Pirlo sits, the same way MA08 was meant to…

    It’s the same at RM, where Khedira plays farther up field whilst Alonso sits deeper…

    Only Barca, chavs and possibly Manure play the traditional DM in the deep role amongst top teams. But the difference is that the teams play a pressing game…

    Another point is if he was doing what he was doing properly?

    Would I have him back though? NO. My reason is that he put his house on the market and started to rent even though he said he was willing to discuss his contract… and he is closer to 30 years… 😉

  42. rico says:

    Ts, those others who play the same way are no doubt fitter, quicker and more willing to get back… And when then do, they don’t bundle opposition players over…

    😉

  43. George says:

    G’afternoon SYG…Welcome back…And I was thinking for a moment of bolting to Cyprus…till my Dad told me to stay put…UK is a better bet.

    Cyprus Pounds I think in the summer beckon.

    Euro CCy will come crashing… and to add to that, Spain et al will be skint too, only they havent got Natural Gas or billions of dodgy russian money lol…

    which means Spain and Italy will have player sales…

    which mean even the tightest board will get the players we want…

    So Navas Sanchez Valdes etc…maybe more than transfer rumours …
    Re Song, its not the players abilities , its the lack of respect he has shown by bolting after 1 good year..

  44. NashuaGunners says:

    @SYG, I hope you didn’t forget so many others when we’re in a bad spot like the Dortmund, Everton game to name a few. The same Stat you’re mentioning also rate him third as the best DM in England.

    If what you’re say is right, why was everyone saying “we sold the Username without the password”?

    @Rico, We’re not defending as a unit and that alone cause goals. How many of those ‘free kicks’ MA08 cause recently? BM, Swansea City. Although they never lead to goals…

  45. tsgh says:

    .. adding to the above comment… Yaya Toure plays the same role with Barry sitting deeper. Its modern football…

    DB23 played a similar role for PSG as a holding midfielder for PSG a few days ago against St Ettiene with Matuidi a very defensive player doing what Song use to do…

    A lot of Arsenal fans want us to get Capoue as a DM next summer but the funny thing is those who watch Toulouse matches know he has been playing CAM or 2nd striker since the summer… 😉

    The same way M. Sissoko has been doing for NUFC since February…

    The solution is that every player puts in 100% defensively and not say its not player A or X job to defend…

  46. agirlagunner says:

    Boooooo!! Song again? But he’s been discussed to death. 😀

    Hello, all. Hiya, rico. Howdy?

  47. NashuaGunners says:

    @George, totally agree with you. His head was too big for his shoulder just after one good season. imo

  48. agirlagunner says:

    Oh and “death” is the only thing one can associate with Song’s career these days. 😉 Tsk.

  49. tsgh says:

    NG… I always say a lot of Arsenal fans would never accept a DM…

    How many fans openly rated G.Silva at the Erms before he left…. one reason he was used as a CB in his last years and ended up scoring more goals strangely enough…

    The same way the chavs fans did not appreciate Makelele when he was there until his last 2 seasons… The same way Zidane told Perez you can not sell the RR engine and paint the body and expect it to be the same car…

    When Makele was at Chelsea… he was never appreciated by fans until Makélelé’s importance was recognized by Mourinho, who declared him Chelsea’s “Player of the Year.”…

    Every DM concedes silly fouls… even Keown and Pep arguably the best DM conceded silly fouls every single game…

    Against FC Bayern how many fouls did Martinez and Gustavo concede?

    Another example of a DM playing further forward is Gatuso with Seedorf or Pirlo holding at AC…

  50. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I own a gym in Scunthorpe, Nash …..

    I had this Cameroonian guy join a few months ago …. Serge …. He left his home country for France and lived in a shit hole on the outskirts of Paris … He left there to live in London where he got moved on via Leicester to a factory in Scunthorpe ….. A lovely smiling guy …. made even better by the fact that he supports Arsenal ……

    …However all he wants to do was talk about how good Song and Eboue were and how good Gervais is… Really … That was/is his sole Arsenal conversation .. and every chance he gets/got he brings them up …

    It isn’t the club he supports, it’s his boys …

  51. agirlagunner says:

    Hi, Ginge. How are you? Bought Mrs Ginger any new AW shoes? Song is a sour note, as far as I’m concerned. This is the same guy who said he would cry if he left us/would be heartbroken etc. etc. Barca came knocking and he bailed on us. Surely, we could do better. 😉

  52. ozgunner10 says:

    i would agree the DM position if played properly, is a rather unnoticed role much of the time bit like a good ref should be in fact 🙂

  53. rico says:

    Like I said Ng, I don’t think Arteta is the solution either… Neither he or Song are/were what our midfield need imho…

    A fitter, strong, more able Diaby might be 😉

  54. NashuaGunners says:

    tsgh: This is not new topic in HH. As a matter of fact, SYG and I have a history. 🙂

    How many Yellow cards did PV acquired during his Arsenal days?
    Song was not the best DM in BPL, but the best in Arsenal squad and was always willing to play when he was fit without excuses. We sold him without adequate replacement.

  55. tsgh says:

    I am sure most fans would have preferred for AW to come out like ‘arry or Fat Sam to provide information on the true reason he was sold so quickly… 😉

    He is stupid and anyone who knew him should have advised him he was a 4rd option/choice after Thiago, TV and Kos for Barca…

    Kos being smarter stayed…

    All Darren Dein did was take his 20% and walked like an agent is meant to do… next he will be negotiating a fat deal to FC Anzhi and he will still be stupid enough to go because of money not thinking about the monkey chants etc…

  56. ozgunner10 says:

    hopefully the summer will be filled with real brand name players – house hold names no less – stars of their trade – giants in the world game – game changing individuals whose skill takes your breath away… where is that bottle i had

  57. tsgh says:

    NG.. I thought he was very good as a box to box midfielder… people forget in JW10’s first season, him, Cesc and Song had the most fluid midfield the only issue then was goals and Flappyianski in goal… VP only became VP after his injury just before the CoC final and barca game…

    Arguably the 2nd in this league after Yaya… and Song was voted amongst the top 10 DM in Europe too..

    Good point made about PV.. and the suspensions …

    Oz as you rightly said a quiet DM like Petite is all we need… ps he was a left back naturally too…

  58. ozgunner10 says:

    you are right tsch and Song of course was brought as a CB originally, funny old game this Wengerball

  59. tsgh says:

    Agag… not yet… I am doing some shopping tomorrow before a short break… I have a long list considering we are only going away for a weekend…

    Do you know her what her latest excuse for needing new shoes is? my feet shrinks during the winter… 😀

    I bet you have used that excuse before… 😀

  60. tsgh says:

    Song- ” I am enjoying my life here… my kids enjoy pretending to be Messi when playing football in the garden”…lol

  61. ozgunner10 says:

    Rico 🙂 Come on after all these years don’t you ever dream about one, just one ‘real established’ world class player pulling on the famous shirt?

  62. tsgh says:

    Rico re 2:05pm very true and not using a fake age… 😉

    Have you heard of Yaya Toure telling $hitty he wants out if he is not offered an improved deal by saturday?…. already on £220k p/w… it will take an average nurse or ambulance driver 10 years to make that…

  63. rico says:

    Thanks Ts. Still has a couple of years in him then….

    I thought he was older than Kolo, certainly looks it….

  64. agirlagunner says:

    Oz, What are you drinking?? I am in Manila, btw. 🙂 🙂

    rico, it’s the Flamini, Hleb et al. story all over gain with Song. Career suicide. Does he even get a medal if they win? They don’t play him… Even Cesc isn’t shining in Barcelona. And he looks like he needs a bath, that boy.

    Ginge, hahaha. even I can’t top that shrinking feet comment. I luv it. 😉

  65. ozgunner10 says:

    agirl – i had bourbon and coke but the coke ran out, ah what can ya do – Was in Manila 2 years ago on my way to Palau – night

  66. NashuaGunners says:

    Rico say “And when then do, they don’t bundle opposition players over…”
    I love that Rico…as long as they don’t do it in dangerous places. It just send a message “don’t you mess with me today…I’m in charge of this midfield…”

    That’s my kindda DM player…

  67. NashuaGunners says:

    SYG, they say one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

    There are few who think Ebou was an asset even though he was played out of positions so many times, I still remember his good days in Arsenal.

  68. tsgh says:

    NG that means you were not a fan of Rijkaard or Thomas Gravesen?…

    I use to love Torsten Frings and Matthias… very efficient… now Bender is doing the same but he is no upgrade on Ramsey imho…

    Players like Fernando Redondo are not made anymore…

  69. tsgh says:

    Dunga? Even the Brazillians never rated G. Silva… most fans really dislike DM until they have none in the team.

    I guess one reason Germany with Schweingster have been habitual semi finalist recently…

    Everyone remembers Zidane and Gouchuff but how many remember Didier Deschamps even though he was the captain of the successful 1998 and 2000 squad?

  70. tsgh says:

    My top 10 DM… what do you guys and ladies think?..

    10. Keoman

    9. Edgar davids

    8. Michael Essien / Vieira

    7. Dunga

    6. G. Silva

    5. Didier deschamps

    4. CoCu

    3. Matthais

    2. Rijkaard

    1. The kaiser, franz beckenbauer

  71. agirlagunner says:

    Good night, Oz.

    How fantastic would it be to have a Gilberto Silva type of player now?? I always liked him. Never said a bad word about our club.

  72. rico says:

    I loved Gilberto, but then that’s another story been done to death…

    Ng, agree, that’s ok but not just o/s the penalty box…

  73. tsgh says:

    He was so underrated even the Brazillian fans asked the manager why he was taken to the WC. If you recall, the media said AW had bought the wrong Brazillian because Rednose bought Klerbersen… lol

    people forget even when G.Silva was at Arsenal Edu use to do the holding… typical AW…

    I think MA08 does a great job… it is just unfair for only 5 or 7 players at the most to be interested in defending…

  74. tsgh says:

    Another point.. when the media talk about how or why we are the only defence in football to have such a high back line…

    Did you see the manure players including G. Neville setting an offside trap on the half way line? If Arsenal did this we will be called clueless… very unfair on our defenders imho…

  75. Adam says:

    I was in a leather bar called CHAPS in Soho at about 2am this morning. I’d spent about an hour on the tower of power when I got into a discussion with a large, tanned man about DMs. He didn’t know what I was talking about either.

  76. agirlagunner says:

    Not ageist, Ginge. 😛

    Oh, and of course, 5. I remember him. I went through a francophiliac phase. Haha. Studied French, watched TV5/RFO (understood little), cheered on Les Bleus. Plus, we had sooo many French players.

  77. rico says:

    Adam, maybe he thought you meant Dr Martens?

    Ts – is ok playing a high line if you have the players to play that way, Merts is too slow.

  78. Adam says:

    He might have Rico. I did have my boot pushed firmly into his nether regions at the time of our conversation.

  79. tsgh says:

    The video also shows how slow Vpursey was compared to others…. re 3:44

    My comment about defensive line is made only based on what some commentators say including G. Neville… i.e I have never seen a team play such a high defensive line… He was in the team that was carved open by his nemesis Reyes…lol

  80. agirlagunner says:

    Dr. Martens, rico. 😀 Are they comfy? They look… well, badass, if not pretty.

    Adam, you on break now?

  81. Adam says:

    Agag. I am, as they say, between assignments. Work starts again tomorrow so I have been cruising the bars of Soho looking for heavy action. 🙂

  82. agirlagunner says:

    Adam, you’ve struck a rich vein with this “Soho” business, it seems. 😛 I suspect you’ll be mining it for a loooong time.

    Ginger, on top of your 1, 3, 7 ( I don’t know him, after all), 10, who are all these people you’re citing, now?? 🙂

  83. agirlagunner says:

    Adam, I’d rather NOT believe you. 😛 rico, good. I was being kind saying “bad ass”; I just don’t like the look of those shoes. 😀

    Good night friends! GInge, say hi to Mrs. Ginge. 🙂

  84. NashuaGunners says:

    Good Afternoon good people.

    @tsgh, Edgar Davids was a good player, I only enjoyed him play during the World Cup when he and Seedorf bossed the Holland’s m-field. They’re the best team to watch during that year.

  85. tsgh says:

    Night Agag,

    CoCu played for Barca and Holland and when Petit left their were rumours he would be coming our way… Lothar Mathias was the best sweeper I have ever seen… Rijkaard well is like PV and Diaby missed together… lol

    Adam… ‘The eagle has landed’… he is the reason why I nearly sold me soul to HM…lol

    One of my favourite books of his is ‘Drink with the Devil (1996)’
    He wrote under the names Harry Patterson and James Graham too..

  86. tsgh says:

    Rico… you must be joking… how can you not like the man who use to kiss Barthez’s shiny head before every match…. 😀

  87. rico says:

    The best thing David’s ever did Ng, was be on the end of Giles Grimandi boot during Bergkamps testimonial… 😉

  88. potter says:

    The Grimandi – Davids thing was classic.

    Edu and Reyes were two players that we never got the best from , both strange decisions for differing reasons.

  89. tsgh says:

    I love Conor Henderson… its a shame about all his ‘Diabyics’ injuries… a proper north londoner too

  90. tsgh says:

    Miquel has improved too… Watts looks very mobile he could be a cheap 4th choice striker for us….

  91. emma says:

    I can still recall when sanchez watt was a huge prospect. I guess he is playing his last couple of months on an arsenal shirt

  92. tsgh says:

    True Emma… a few of them. Eastmond, Watts, Henderson

    Hi Scott… I need your list of top 10 DM… lol

  93. rico says:

    Sure was Potter 🙂

    Totally agree re both Reyes and Edu. Shame the latter was so plagued by injuries….

    Hello all…

  94. rico says:

    Gj, I won’t pay that channel to view…. But agree, we seriously lack coverage of our own – bring back AFC TV, that showed it all….

    The club are missing a trick…

  95. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, i don’t see a lot of of football other than Arsenal mate, so not much point me giving a list.

  96. tsgh says:

    Everytime I see Hadjovic I get confused about what type of player or position he will be playing in future… he obviously has talent but he never seems to play in any position like a natural…

  97. tsgh says:

    yes Rico… he never recovered but then again he is from a travellers family so… he was bound not to settle… 😉

  98. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, i would have been there right now mate, but did the family thing…
    My wife gave me the green light, but i made a very hard call……if i wait 12-18 months, the three of us can come over and have a month or so over there.
    Even though she is no massive football fan, she has seen enough games to want to view one live, and honestly, it wouldn’t have been the same without my boy along side me.
    Probably around September next year, i would guess is when we come over,
    Tough decision, but even family comes before Arsenal…..sometimes 🙂

  99. tsgh says:

    Flippin’ heck..the manure team from top to bottom are nasty. Even the 17 y.o are assaulting the ref…

  100. tsgh says:

    Good call mate… life and good health is what matters… so far as we have that there is always tomorrow…

    This is me for the day… a nice win for the boys… which means that the seniors will also win… fingers crossed

  101. Scott from Oz says:

    But it’s their “winning culture” Ginge lol.
    Wankers, the lot of them.
    Only their bloody fans are worse.

  102. rico says:

    Just make sure you sort tickets out before you plan your journey nest year Scott.

    After all, if we are to believe Mr Gazidis and all the positive fans, this summer will see us make a few top top signings as this has been the summer the club have aimed for..

    Of course, that will mean that so so many fans will be snapping up tickets to see the best of the best in red and white.

    Getting a ticket could be tough…

  103. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, i have 4-5 offers for tickets from very kind Gooners for myself, Sean and Keiryn.
    Just need to give them the heads up.
    I definitely want to see one home and one away game.

  104. Scott from Oz says:

    Ginge, i know, but i could have been at that Swansea game…bugger lol.
    Back to work…..have a good sleep and wake up all raring to guy guys.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

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

Continue reading