That’s it, I’m Done…….

No more will I listen to anything said by Spanish reporters Guillem Balague and Graham Hunter.

Nor will I read anything they write with any belief in their ‘stories’.

Over the last seven/eight seasons we have listened to them link our players to Real Madrid and Barcelona. We have had it with Vieira, Henry and now Fabregas – both have an opinion on what is going to happen, seldom has it come true yet…

Ok, Henry eventually joined Barcelona but that was several years after they started to stir the pot but Vieira ended up in Italy – they got that one very wrong. Over the last three or four seasons now we have heard how this will be the season that Fabregas goes home, has it happened yet? No!

Well, they have excelled themselves this summer so far, not only about Cesc but all the b****x about Mata…

First off they both are reported to say player was pretty much a done deal for Arsenal then a day later they go back on their word, well, especially Balague and say the deal is far from done and in fact they say there is little chance of him leaving his current club.

It’s just one more in a long list of presumptions made by these two who happen to be based in Spain. No doubt they get all their information from the Spanish equivalent of our red tops…

What they don’t realise is that many fans read all this transfer speculation and raise our hopes, only to be disappointed and bitter when they don’t come true…

Why do we do it to ourselves and when will we learn?

So, when I read last night this little tale, I thought to myself – more b****x!

Samir Nasri has told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he will stay at the club for at least next season, according to Guillem Balague.

But……

Of course Nasri will stay for another season, he has no choice unless Wenger puts him up for sale and from what we have read and he isn’t going to do that. He’ll stay, walk for free next summer and we kiss goodbye to £20 Million while Nasri sticks his fingers up to his fellow Frenchman.

We are a club that are so money orientated, who won’t pay inflated prices but when it comes to this situation, they are prepared to lose vast money, just to make a stance.

It’s wrong and goes against all that the board preach to us about the money they have available to spend.

Tell Nasri to sign, or sell him.

Simples!!

Ryo Miyaichi and Arsenal are hoping for a successful work permit application and should that be granted, the youngster is destined for a first season at Arsenal playing in the first team.

Wenger plans to get him involved from the start:

My plan is to get a work permit for him and to put him on the pitch for Arsenal Football Club.

Call me cynic but I doubt Wenger will buy a winger until he knows the outcome of that application..

A bit about Jack Wilshere, he’s having a scan today to see how good or bad his injury is. Not sure if that is down to the injury he sustained on Sunday or the smack around the head he got from Wenger after he said his manager needs to buy players to make us stronger 😉 (or something similar)

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

175 thoughts on “That’s it, I’m Done…….

  1. rico says:

    Arsenal’s Ignasi Miquel has won the European Under-19 Championships with Spain.

    The 19-year-old defender was ever-present throughout the tournament in Romania as Spain claimed a fifth European Under-19 crown.

  2. Arse&Nose© says:

    Let’s remember Hunter and Ballache are freelancers and get paid each time they have some news.

    The are the football equivalent of day traders, who gather snippets of information from various sources and try to tease out the truth by reading between the lines. Truth is they often know little more than us.

  3. tiny says:

    well said….been thinking this for along time about balague and hunter…they aint got a clue like the rest of us….wouldnt surprise me if cesc stays as well…..and by pre season if we sell him were in deep trouble

  4. W.A.T.H says:

    I think ur just so harsh on those two entertaining sports commentators 😉 They’re experts don’t you know…………..

    Oh and good morning

  5. arsenal fan says:

    ballague only knowns how to spread rumours…..after the mata incident completely lost faith in them until its on our official site….not gonna beleive in anything.

  6. Adam says:

    Isn’t Mata in a similar position to Nasri regarding contract? If Man City have offered 22 million quid then take it and spend it on Mata. Sign him on a 4 to 5 year contract. Where’s the downside?

  7. rico says:

    welcome tiny, they have until Friday to make their decision on Cesc, if we believe what is written….

    af – you and me both, afc.com or it’s all b****x….

  8. arsenal fan says:

    is it true that before friday the players should be registered for cl? then what about the signings after that date?

  9. allezkev says:

    Good Morning All You Happy Gooners.
    Great Post Rico.
    See that Dopey Hill-Wood has been rabbiting to the Daily Toilet again.
    And talking to Scummer Woolnough, yeah he loves us doesn’t he?

  10. arsenalDK says:

    GOOD morning everyone.
    AM I the only one who is excited about the idea that Walcott plays up front? I think he could create a lot of space for the others. I know he’s very weak physically, but he could give the most defenders a hard time with his pace..
    WIll wenger finally play him there?

  11. allezkev says:

    AF, they have to be registered to play in the Qualifying Rounds only. If AFC sign a player on Saturday, they can still play in the rest of the competition. That remains the case up to Aug 31st
    [when we’ll do our business 😉 ]

  12. arsenalDK says:

    I haven’t read a statement stan.. but hasn’t he declared himself that he Is ready now? ANd will WEnger fulfill his wish?

  13. Tony Batone says:

    I love how you finally come round to the idea that Balague and Hunter just blatantly make things up and then quote a £20m fee for Nasri like it’s a fact. It’s just more media stirring; relying on the fact that Arsenal fans are the most reactionary spastics in sports fandom.

  14. gooneral says:

    I stopped listening to the two Spanish shit-stirrers a few years ago when they were banging on about ‘inside knowledge’ that Barca (loudly clears throat and spits) had signed Henry in the 3 seasons before he did eventually go there (by mutual consent with Arsene and the board). Having had to put up with these two arseholes spew about how Vieira had signed for R. Madrid previously I came to the conclusion that these two were talking shite, but then I should have known all the time because they were spewing this crap on Talkshite radio, which I have also stopped listening to. My doctor says he happy with the levels to which my blood pressure has fallen!

  15. arsenal fan says:

    i dont think we will sign barton,according to wenger in recent years his team room should be without any destabilizing factor……and barton is certainly one of them…..for eg gallas,adebayor

  16. goonerstan says:

    With theo playing upfront we ll literally tear teams apart. Our counter attack ll be lightning fast…imagine a theo gerv and MATA combo coming straight at ya….most defenders ll think twice about coming up for corner kicks against us.

  17. Rocastle says:

    Balague is on barcas payroll. Has been for years. He will stir up whatever he’s told to stick his scabby little spoon into.

    Joey Barton. I’d have him in an instant. Word is the bindippers have stolen the march on him.

    Rico, not forgotten about the FF league,I’ll inbox this evening with some links and info.

    Oh, morning all!!!

  18. goonerstan says:

    Rico not on this side of judgment day…wenger signing joey Barton Hahaha that’s rich….I for one won’t mind him though.

  19. arsenalDK says:

    THat does sound frightening stan 🙂 even if we don’t get Mata, nasri has a fair amount of pace too.. if he can get his lazy ass motivated…

  20. rico says:

    Hi gooneral, thats funny 🙂

    stan, i’m not sure he would sign him either but the fact that he’s free makes me wonder 😉

    Oh, and SS’s latest on Nik is Pullis wants him at Soke 🙂

  21. rico says:

    Morning Rocastle, bindippers, Barton wouldn’t fit in there would he?? Mind you, he and Stevie Me me em might be able to go out together and beat up liverpool 😉

    Thanks re the FF, idiots guide please 😉

  22. goonerstan says:

    No DK I don’t want that fat ponce near my team…..he should be sold off to the highest bidder..I can’t stand him now.

  23. allezkev says:

    I hear what your saying AF.
    But weren’t Gallas, Adebayor, Nasri, Flamini and Anelka all difficult characters ‘before’ they came to AFC..?
    As Rico says, it wouldn’t suprise me if AFC haven’t made contact with his agent, Willie Mackay, the shark in a kilt!

  24. rico says:

    Rocastle, as someone on here says, there is a village out there somewhere looking for a missing one 😉

  25. allezkev says:

    Wonder if we’ll see some movement in the transfer market this week?
    With the Friday deadline for the CL qualifiers approaching, it may energise some clubs into action?

  26. Rocastle says:

    I don’t mind having a nutter in the team, cigars aside, he’s no worse than a few (now official legendary) ex players. Adams, Storey, Williams, Ray Parlour and his love for the Hong Kong taxi service. Even heard a few rumours of Michael Thomas pinning Tony Adams up against the dressing room wall after an exchange. A bit of fire wouldn’t hurt this team. And if your gonna bring up him punching Pedersen then you’ve either never played the game or you don’t remeber Grimandi or Paul Davis. Get Barton in and use him as a spoiler like Grimandi.

  27. allezkev says:

    I remember Vieira gobbing all over Ruddock [ couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke ], yes Rocky, we’ve had a few over the years. In fact every winning team team usually has one or two.
    Arsenal are just too nice…

  28. rico says:

    Nik to Stoke – Shawcross to AFC, now there’s a nutter for you 🙂

    Thought you’d smile at that one Rocastle 😉

    Paddy was disgusting doing that Kev, i wish he’d just punched him rather than spitting 🙁

  29. allezkev says:

    Rico, i used to like Shawcross, well before he tried to end Aaron’s career.
    Now, i don’t think Wenger would touch him with Fergie’s… 😉

  30. Rocastle says:

    I for one would have been honoured if paddy had spat in my eye!!

    And besides he got the last laugh, he’s still in the PL as a coach and a pundit for BBC.

    Razor on the other hand is advertising on TalkShite for 2 for 1 suit shop (the big red building on Golders Green road click click) and a local cab firm in Harlow.

    My old man also recalls a certain Charlie George decking chopper Harris at the lane one afternoon. For a ‘Playboy’ he didn’t take any shit

  31. rico says:

    😆 kev, never forgive him for that, thankfully Ramsey is a strong one…

    Rocastle, you would never have washed your eye out 😉

    Ruddock, he’s a fat lardy now isn’t he, he always used to be on Soccer AM too, such a thug… he makes Vinnie look a saint 😉

  32. K-TR7 says:

    I have not seen him play AK but he has received some good revidws.we’ll have to wait and see on that one.

  33. Mr islington says:

    My days whats got into people…How the hell could you welcome that scumbag joey barton to the Arsenal.I know we are desperate but are we that bad that we want a low-life like him at our club.???

    I would have Parker on loan over him any day of the week.

  34. Rocastle says:

    Onto othe news, the online gooner and myles palmer (ok let’s stick with the reputable one)……the online gooner reckon we WILL sign BOTH Cahill and Jagielka by the end if the week.

    Please let this be true, we can then do a Del Boy on Squillacci and send him on a jet ski with locked steering. Point him towards Calais, and Bon Voyage Seb!!

  35. Chico Guerrera says:

    No point at all in listen to these, or any other tabloid journalist. They are always wrong, and when they get it right it’s because they can see the same press releases we can.

    They’re a bunch of useless wankers.

  36. rico says:

    Rocastle 😆

    You are on form this morning…

    Morning Mr Is, it’s called desperation 😉 I don’t think we really want him we just know he’s free …..

    Agree on Parker….

  37. Mr islington says:

    I really can’t stand him and i can’t believe we have fallen that bad, that we would even talk about signing Barton.

    He makes me sick that guy!

    Phw needs to suck on cigar and just shut the f up!!!
    They are so out of touch with the fans,that this could get nasty in the end and none of us want that.Phw should show us some respect because we have been patient then most fans and lived on there dream.But there comes a time when people open there eyes to what’s going on and have to vent there frustration.

    Phw do yourself a favor and put yourself in the fans shoes….He can’t do that because he loves he’s champaigne lifestyle all funded by Arsene.

  38. rico says:

    Mr Is,

    PHW should take his cigar and all his bags at AFC and leave, taking the rest of them with him… They are all too old and stuffy for modern day football..

  39. Mr islington says:

    Rico,

    I think they have done a great job down the years to put our club where it is right now and they will always be admired for that and deserve all the plaudits there legacy to the club will leave.

    But its starting to be put in danger by stupid out of touch comments like that.We have always been patient fans and never really questioned the club until we started making the same mistakes over and over again and telling us how there gonna strengthen the side and we will come back much stronger next year.

    Just the same old recycled stories year after year and im sorry but, it’s becoming very boring and it’s like we know what’s gonna happen even before the season has started.

  40. rico says:

    Exactly Mr Is,

    Right now though they are living/surviving on their past glories…

    You won’t see me disagreeing with what you have written, what do they actually do at the top now?

    Why aren’t they doing something to make Wenger buy the two/three players we need just to keep up and in the top four.

    Should we not make CL next season, PHW will have to start curbing his fizzy intake and his cigars, but i bet he wont

  41. Mr islington says:

    I think i will become a recluse if i see Mata signed to another club after falling for all the speculation he was coming to us.

    I think Mata would be one of the biggest signing’s this club has ever had.The guy is genuine top class…He had something like 33 goals in 4 season’s and countless assit’s.

    He would be a marquee signing that everyones looking for and show’s that real world class talent still want to join Arsenal and then we can thob that little rat off and show him your not as big as us mate.

  42. itchyballs says:

    piles pamer over anr reckonswe’re gong to sign 3 players this week of whic two will be english c/halfs?Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……

  43. Danish Gooner says:

    Knowing how well Arsenal do red tape they will probably send an application consisting of Junichi Inamotos CV and a picture of kim jong ill.

  44. allezkev says:

    Mr Is. PHW should just retire to a care home.
    I haven’t a clue what he is still doing at our club???

  45. arsenal fan says:

    according to marca,
    barcelona have made their supposedly last offer for fabregas around 35 million……

  46. Will says:

    Good afternoon guys, I have been building furnture so sorry I have not been around.

    All I will say and keep saying on rumours is, ignore them and wait till the player is standing next to Wenger in the shirt.

  47. allezkev says:

    Is that 35 million euros AF ???
    Because if it is, then it looks like Cesc is gonna have to stay…

  48. northbank02 says:

    I also listen and read various comments on newsnow, what we know as expierienced gooners is that our team is not in any way or form in the Transfer Market as it is today with all these figures being quoted. Arsene will never spend 20 million plus for a player he will only spend if its a bargain as he did recently for Gervinho and Jenkinison.. I have serious doubts on the Nasri situation and from what has been said to what will happen is a different issue..
    Do you honeslty think that Wenger will keep Nasri at the club without signing an extension to his contract and go on a free, the answer is simples NO WAY!! In my opinion we have more chance of keeping Cesc then Samir due to cesc havin a contract till 2015. And Barca have been a Joke on this issue they have twice bought another player before they moved in for Cesc…And how those cesc feel about the way Barca have treated him when it came to money on the table, again in my opinion its a complete disgrace to offer that kind of Money in todays transfer Market.. If Cesc goes to barca he will be a shadow of what he has at Arsenal, their again it might be better as he wouldnt have the same kind of pressure he has at Arsenal…Another point I would like to make is Samir has vanished from twitter, nothing not even a word after that fan abused him when the Man utd story came out…..
    In the meantime we should be looking at some EPL player cause its what we need a centre back thats has what it takes and a defensive midfielder that can tackle and get up and tackle again.
    Fancy passing and a fragile defence those not win titles… if we loose Samir and Cesc… and dont replace we can always depend on the Diaby’s of this world who play seven games a season!!!

  49. W.A.T.H says:

    It’s a shame PissHeadWanker doesn’t choke on that big fat cigar Mr Is……! Do us all a favour senile old fucker…!

  50. Will says:

    Wath, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. I have no issue offering a low first fee but now, we pay want they want or leave the player alone.

  51. allezkev says:

    Wath, if the story is true, it could just be an opening shot.
    Don’t tell Stan, whatever ya do… 😀

    Interesting piece Mr Is. Doesn’t suprise me.
    What also doesn’t suprise me is how out of touch PHW is.
    The bloke is a constant embarrisment.

  52. arsenal fan says:

    yes i think it is 35 million euros and fabregas will be with us for the members day…..mostly

  53. Will says:

    Lee, just that until we see the player standing smiling next to Wenger and in the shirt, we should not give these odious creeps in the press time of day.

  54. allezkev says:

    Looking forward to seeing the Stiffs at Dover Athletic tomorrow.
    hope Lansbury gets a game. Still no news on his contract.
    Not happy about that.
    Lee, check your in-tray, 😉

  55. Will says:

    All we need is one commanding defender and one bastard in the centre of the park who knows how to stay in position.

  56. allezkev says:

    Frimpong Will, i think we have him already…
    Give him a chance, i think he’ll solve the problem.

  57. oliver says:

    will, i don’t think frimpong is experienced enough at the moment. but unless we send him out on loan, he is going to need to play to get the experience…

    i think he is a great prospect, but i am not sure he is yet ready to become song’s deputy…

    i am going to guess that arsene is not looking for dm cover and expects to start the season with song and frimpong in that position. fair enough – i think it’s a risk, even more so if ghana selects the latter for the acn – and we’ll have to see how it goes.

    i see too major differences between jack and frimpong at this point. jack had the benefit of that loan spell at bolton, where he gained prem experience prior to last summer. and frim is coming off that major injury…

  58. oliver says:

    we have a handful of players who are young, and probably on the verge of the first team squad, frimpong certainly among them. i think arsene can find some first team playing time for most of them by rotating differently than he did last season, and fully utilizing his three substitutions where circumstances allow…

    i’ve always felt that his mass-rotation policy (making eight or so changes to the starting eleven for certain (i.e. lower priority/risk) matches) did not serve the squad and club so well. i think that fewer numerical changes each match will benefit as those selected will play alongside first team regulars; it makes sense that these youth/reserve players should learn more/improve playing alongside first team regulars. this will mean fewer playing minutes for those waiting their chances; arsene can partially offset that by using trying to use at least one sub per match as an opportunity to give some of these players quality minutes (say 20-30) as part of the first team. obviously, there will be situations where this is not feasible (injuries, we are chasing a game and need a result, etc), but there should still be plenty of such situations where we can do this – some where we can perhaps introduce two such players – give them some valuable minutes. which, in turn, should help these players fit into the starting eleven when some will inevitably be called upon…

    at least in theory…

  59. Merlin96 says:

    Mata’s buy our clause is £17.5m, and Wenger offered £14m.

    Jagielka is valued at £15m, we offered £10m.

    Cahill is valued at £15m, we offered £10m.

    Samba is valued at £12m, we offered £8m.

    On the reverse:
    Barca offered £35m for Cesc lst season, we valued him at £50m.

    Teams offered £6 to 7m for Nik, we valued him at £15m.

    ManLeeds offered £20m for Nasri, we valued him at £25m.

    It is apparently Wenger thought he is the sharpest dealer in the transfer market, offered below market-priced to buy players and selling Arsenal players at above market-valued price.

    In commodity trading when buying for your factory produciton, the buying price you are willing to pay is reflected on how desperate you need to continue production or risk a factory shutdown and failing to honor your contract in sales.
    E.g. you need a tonne of copper and your competitors willing to buy it at US$12,000 per tonne.
    But you must have it else your factory will come to a standstill and you can’t fulfilled your oders to a confirmed buyers.
    In desperation, you will just bid US$15,000 per tonne in the LME spot market over the odds in this “must have” copper.

    Ask ourselves:
    Is it wrong to bid over the odds for players we desperately needed o strengthen the squad into a title-winning team or to ensure a 95% probability of winning a trophy this season?

    WHat is the extra “£10m premium” we need to pay to secure the services of Mata, Cahill and Jagielka to boost the moral of teh squad exponientially and to ensure players like Van Persie, Walcott..and yes, even Nasri will sign a new contract extension?

    Then if this situation persists to August 31, then it proved that STan is not teh right owner for Arsenal FC to win glories, but simply just another corporate predator in the mold of “Gillett & Hicks”>

    Simply, Liveprool fans are having the last laugh at us as Stan and Usmanov is another version of “Gillett & Hicks” just out for short-term capital gain to make a handsome profits in their investments in Arsenal Holdings.

    John Hnery and Glazer Family knew that lots of initial investments upfront to build a title-winning teams will enhanced their investments like ManLeed with their £100m commercial revenues in comaprison to Arsenal’s £44m.

    And a title-winning team can only boost the bottom-line with increase in merchandise sales and command a premium in oversea trips and TV rights plus advertisement revenues.

    It is all simply economics and marketing principles.

    For the sake of paying a premium of say £10m, we let thsi sarrya ffair dragging on and upset our pre-season preparation, unsettle the squad, and worse, losing the terrace.

  60. Merlin96 says:

    Assume both Nasri and Fabregas leave this week, will this TEAM offers protection for Back-4 and with Rosicky commanding Centre??

    Team on August 14, 2011:

    ………………..Szczesney

    …Sagna…..Kosicelny……Vermaelen…..Gibbs

    ………..Song……………….Frimpong

    …Gervinho………Rosicky………..Arshavin

    ……………….Van Persie

    I feel that “Sagna-Song-Gervinho” Triangle will offer protection at right flank with an energetic gervinho trakcing back at pace.

    Similarly, “Gibbs-Frimpong-Arshavin” Triangle will offer protection at left flank, knowing that Arshaivn will never reach that fitness level to track back.

    Song-Rosicky-Frimpong will battle it out in the middle.

    And Arshaivn will take on more and more responsibility as a deep-lying striker in support of Van Persie.

    gervinho-Van Persie-Arshavin should have the vision and unpredicatbility to stretch and upset any defence with their darting runs from flanks and from deep.

    When Walcott and Wilshere are fit;
    Ramsey continues to develop;
    Ryo got his work permit;
    Wenger buys 2 or 3 more players;
    And the TEAM gells on August 14……

    KEEP THE FAITH!!!!

    Just sell Nasri and Cesc and moves on with rebuilding with players that are committed to Arsenal.

  61. arsenal fan says:

    good idea merlin but,
    wilshere would be better than rosicky at the moment…… and if both nasri and cesc leave wenger will splash the cas for sure……

  62. allezkev says:

    Will. Re: your 3.11pm.
    No, he’s not experienced enough to be a regular initially, but if AW gives him plenty of time on the pitch, from the subs bench, i think he’ll learn very quickly.
    Also, in certain games, how about playing Song and Frimpong together… A bit of payback against the agricultural opponants, who simply love to bully us.

  63. allezkev says:

    Mr Is, 3.09pm
    Yep, it seems to be an Arsenal trait.
    Not sure Wenger began it, i kinda recall the same problem in the past, whomever the manager was.
    Could it be a problem with those in charge???
    I recall PHW complaining about Dein being in his earhole about bringing in players.
    The question is, why did Dein feel the need to nag PHW???
    The answer could be the Boards tightness maybe???

  64. allezkev says:

    Some interesting team options there Merlin…
    Didn’t read it before posting to Will.
    Frimpong and Song could be an option in certain games, i agree.

  65. Will says:

    Problem is Kev, I have noticed that when we kick back against the “industrial” teams, we get booked far more than the opponents.

  66. K-TR7 says:

    The mancs have apparently agreed a deal for sneijder.we are on the other hand are chasing campbell…:( on the other hand are chasing campbell…:(

  67. allezkev says:

    To be honest KT, i’d rather see Afobe in and around the squad next season, rather than some wunderkind from Costa Rica.

  68. K-TR7 says:

    AK I really hoped that by now we would’ve bolstered the squad but it seems i was wrong.considering our collapse at the end of last season you would’ve expected us to be more proactive in the market.its really sad :(.considering our collapse at the end of last season you would’ve expected us to be more proactive in the market.its really sad 🙁

  69. allezkev says:

    KT i can fully understand your frustrations, because i also share them.
    But i’m doing my utmost to stay positive, for as with Will, i believe that AW will still bring in a couple of quality players.
    Transfers are such a viper’s nest these days, contracts full of clauses or agents trying to get a big cut for fcuk all, it all contributes to complicate what on the surface looks a straightforward transaction.

  70. stevepalmer1 says:

    evening all just had a look at your previous comments about frimpong would you say he is better than Diabr would you say he is better than Denilson would you say he is beter than Eboue if your answer is yes to any of these then he’s ready for the team now loaning him out is a waste if his good enough he is ready. i suggest we use Jenkinson and Bartly and Trayore as well as i believe they are beter than what wev’e been used to, he may buy one more but i would have thought that would be it

  71. allezkev says:

    Hey Stevo, i was saying as much to my lad on the phone a couple of hours ago.
    Denilson has gone,
    Bendtner almost gone,
    Eboue ditto,
    Almunia ditto,
    Diaby on his last year i reckon,
    That has to be a good thing.
    All of them replaced by players who’ll give 100%.
    OK, some of them might have a few rough edges, but i’m gonna enjoy watching those edges getting smoothed off. because at the end we might just have a team of players who actually look as if they ‘care’…

  72. rico says:

    Hi Kev…

    Well, you wouldn’t believe it, the Dr she saw today didn’t like the look of the bruising on her other foot/ankle so he had it x-rayed…

    Yep, broken metatarsal and she’s been walking on it for 8 days… Two plaster casts now but she’s allowed to carry on walking on it!!

    Bloomin long old afternoon though.. but on the brighter side, i think i have convinced her to eat Quorn Fajhitas 😉

  73. allezkev says:

    Bloody hell Rico, you know i had a hunch you was ‘involved’ as you was away so long.
    Your Mum needs a bit of protein, good for bones 😉

  74. K-TR7 says:

    AK I hope you are right.am not that positive.i haven’t even watched a single minute of our preseason because of that.im not looking forward to the season to be quite honest 😐 the season to be quite honest 😐

  75. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening rico, tell her to lay off the carrots bloody dangerouse veg that and buy her a big Steak

  76. stevepalmer1 says:

    Evening KT, our youngsters are there we need to feed them in now the injection will be exciting. and their as keen as mustard.

  77. rico says:

    😆 Kev and Evening you Steve, all she wants is a roast potato, told her she’ll have to wait until sunday 😉 She might get the steak then too Steve…

    Re Frimpong Steve, I think he’s better than Denilson and Eboue – but Diaby is a tough call, I can’t remember what he plays like 😉

  78. rico says:

    Hi Kt, i’m not confident wenger will do much before the end of the window either but i sure have fingers and toes crossed….. I want to be eating that humble pie when the 1st sept arrives…

  79. stevepalmer1 says:

    Hi AK, I am looking forward to next season, i hope Wenger will be brave enough to use them, those rough edges will come off pretty quick, we’ll have the odd Fcuk up but but were used to them.

  80. allezkev says:

    I don’t know if it’s reverse psychology [er]… but Steve/Rico/KT, i am really looking forward to the season.
    My lad has already told me that i’m going to the Swansea game…lovely. I told him we’d have 7 points in the bank by then… 😀
    Don’t know if i’ll have egg on my mush, but sod it, i can’t wait for the season to start.
    Dover tomorrow, get in….

  81. Siena says:

    Hello Rico.

    It became very clear in the end that what could have been a very special season for the Gunners instead, clearly indicated some shortcomings and a “familiar story” emerged.

    I don’t take heed of anyone out there in the media world or even other Arsenal bloggers when it comes to the transfer market, speculation or otherwise.

    There is only ONE man who is in charge of Arsenal’s transfers and that is of course AW, and it is only his official word that is of consequence to me.

    During the ‘Close Season’ as has occurred there has been some turnover of players and some new signings come in and also an existing squad member going to Manchester City.

    The key words as far as club expenditure goes Rico, I am aware that Arsenal still has a young squad, they “don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water” so sayeth Ivan Gazidas. The important factors to be considered are identifying which parts to keep and which parts the club needs to turnover, and how Arsenal can achieve that within their financial capabilities.

    Arsenal is first and foremost a social and cultural institution but at the same time in order to fulfil its responsibilities, to be that and to be the best that it can be and to deliver on its values and to deliver the excellence that they expect, it also has to be a good and sustainable business. The reason, the real objective that many Arsenal supporters’ are really only interested in is ‘What Occurs Upon The Pitch’ but at the same time it is also vitally important not to devalue the importance of the club’s social and cultural responsibilities.

    The short-term and the long-term is what the club does today, and the ability to sustain that over the long-term relatively easy to be a hero in the short space of time but not so easy to keep that going. Because Arsenal have a self-sustaining model, it’s important that Arsenal develop their revenue streams and Arsenal are well behind other clubs in revenue, like Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, these clubs are who Arsenal are expected to compete against in revenue.

    On the revenue side Arsenal have to make sure that they act in a responsible and sustainable way, and on the spending side again competing with clubs that spend far more than Arsenal including those clubs but also clubs who have a totally different dynamic, Manchester City or Chelsea or others. It is critical for Arsenal to make spending as efficient as they can make it. Arsenal are not perfect but they are pretty good at efficient at spending as well…which no doubt is a subject of debate lols.

    Its about a balancing act, in putting the best on-field team that Arsenal possibly can whilst adhering to the club’s ‘Sustainable Financial Model’. It was against that background of balance and that of the move to the new Emirates stadium that Arsenal took a decision on ticketing prices. There have only been 2 price rises in 6 years, there’s been no other club that has taken that approach. There was a fan reaction, but when looked at in context it was a reasonable and responsible decision.

    Just to give you a couple of facts…the utilities in the stadium in the last 2 years has gone up 100 percent, Arsenal’s Electric has gone up one-third, costs are going up dramatically and Arsenal understands that they are going up in people’s lives, Arsenal does not ignore that and are sensitive to it. It’s unrealistic however, for Arsenal to hold ticket prices absolutely steady forever and at some point they have had to take an inflationary increase It was done because of that self-sustaining cycle where their revenues drive what they are able to put upon the pitch for the fans to watch.

    Arsenal’s ticketing approach needs to be more flexible and more sophisticated and they are devoting a lot more resources to that but it is a difficult task because a lot of it is technology driven and takes time to develop. Arsenal also has a broader drive with respect to revenues so that they can have less reliance on the revenue that they have at the stadium and more flexibility than they have on ticket revenue so Arsenal have been investing in their commercial side and they are beginning to see some green shoots there.

    Arsenal are working very hard during this ‘Closed Season’, AW’s commitment remains very strong, they need to acknowledge the failings that Arsenal had even though they were close in the PL last season.

    There are and will be some new signings and departures but that as a club what is important that while there maybe some disagreements along the way, and differences of emphasisies, from points of balance that Arsenal would reach, its important that all involved in the club stick together and do not fall victim to a lot of the public attention that has been made to Arsenal’s failings this year.

    Finally, with the onset of the UEFA Financial Fairplay Regulations about to be enforced as of 2012/2013, I say that Arsenal as far as obtaining a licence to participate in UEFA competitions, will be a ‘Given’. They have been cited by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee who have just released their Report into Football Governance and Arsenal Football Club are an exemplary example of how a football club should be managed – They are a credit to themselves and to their supporters’ both on the ‘Domestic Scene as well as Upon the Global Estate. They have the right to be proud of their achievements to date…Lets hope this up and coming season we will see a trophy or two.

  82. K-TR7 says:

    Am afraid i’ll miss the start of the season as things stand.everytime i think of Arsenal nowadays i feel ;>

  83. rico says:

    But sienna, all we want is a CH and one or two others, not bankrupting players either…..

    As for the FFP rules, clubs will find a way around it…..

  84. stevepalmer1 says:

    Thats a good write uo Siena, and agree with you that were being run the right way, Wenger stated that he would work hard and sort our problems at the back, he and Mr Gazides acknowleged that we were vulnurable in that area and was endevouring to rectifi, you sound as if your in the know, what do you know of his intentions there

  85. rico says:

    Fab Kev, looking forward to hearing about how good Lansbury played….

    Kt, Thats not good….

    😛 Lee and seems she is getting the same kind of after care too 😉

  86. allezkev says:

    KT, no mate, how many games you gonna miss?
    What a bummer…
    SP/Lee, yeah i remember JM saying that. Is he a Benfica fan?

  87. rico says:

    Siena,

    maybe you would like to think about writing a post for HH?? Would be good to read more of your views..

  88. allezkev says:

    Gotta say, in all seriousness Siena, do you really think that FFP is the panacea a lot of people seem to think it’s gonna be?
    I kinda think that with the finance that Man City, Chelsea, PSG, Malaga, Real, Barca et al have to throw at lawyers, that thereis bound to be a bucketfull of loopholes for those financially doped clubs to exploit.

  89. Will says:

    K-TR7 says:
    August 2, 2011 at 9:50 pm
    Am not sure AK/Rico.i’ve lost my enthusiasm in arsenal and football in general.

    I have lost my love for the game. It is no longer the game I know.

  90. rico says:

    Guys, i’m done in for the day, there’s a pillow with my name on it calling me 😛

    You all be good and catch up tomorrow sometime….

    Nighty all…. Sleep Tight…

  91. allezkev says:

    KT, sometimes it only takes one signing to get everyone buzzin again.
    Look at a couple of days ago, when Stan was getting everyone at it over Mata.
    You’ll be ok mate

  92. allezkev says:

    That’s me done.
    Wath’s on the GG
    SP is on the vodka
    Rico is on the Ovaltine
    I’m on the hot chocolate.
    Night you gooners

  93. Will says:

    Yes and the fact that the players are over-paid pansies and chairmen are totally out of touch, in fact, the entire game is out of touch.

  94. rocastle says:

    You know sometimes theres nothing better than waking up in the morning and finishing off last nights takeaway?

    Thats what I did with Siena’s post, I goy half way through and I was stuffed!!!

    Not a bad thing, very good post!

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