No, there is too much discords and fault-lines within the team to get rid of Wenger this season.
No matter how much I detest him, he is the ideal person to pull Arsenal out of the pits he dug himself in the aftermath of 2007/08 season.
It is his “Last Chance Saloon” to blend this bunch of bottlers into a title-winning team with a few astute buys to meld experience and youth into a title-contender.
August 13 to Sept 4, 2011 will define our season as Arsenal usually flies out of the starting block from August to October before we are slammed by the Double Whammy of November Blip and Horrendous Injury List.
Perhaps with the Last of The Invincibles gone, i.e. “Hubris” gone, good karma will be restored and Arsenal got one real lucky season……
Whatever Wenger did or laid the foundation for a modern Arsenal’s “European Team” – started in 1996 – a team 100% nurtured by Wenger for 10 years, will come into fruition this season – for better or worse.
If Wenger can’t convince disgruntled players to meld as a team, and to put their personal agenda aside for the sake of the team, then it will be a repeat of 2006/07 season with us out of title race by December and worse, maybe knock-out of CL Cup in August pre-qualifying round.
To appoint a new manager now is a sure-fire recipe for disaster as players are loyal to Wenger and play Wengerball which only Wenger knows how to get the best out of ’em.
Do you know that when Wenger first took over Arsenal in September 1996, he infuriated Adams by playing 3-5-2 which Adams & Co had no clue as to how to play it?
Similarly, an outspoken Adams complained to Wenger that his 4-4-2 was not working and the defence leaked too many goals and demanded protection from MDIFIELD. That was when Wenger modified his 4-4-2 with Petit sitting back in front of Back-4 – the beginning of the “Invisible Wall” with Gilberto brilliant in that role.
SImply, we are stuck with Wenger this season – for better or for worse – and if Arsenal flopped again, then get rid of him on July 1, 2012 as a new manager will not do worse and perhaps a new beginning..like any corporation will get rid of a non-performing CEO.
I read somewhere that FY2011 will show a loss with wage bill exceeding 50% of revenues.
And if FY2011 and FY2012 show losses, then Wenger had lost his main attributes as a “money generator” and the Board will be ruthless enough to get rid of him too.
Money talks, Bullsh*t walks.
Keeping faith with Arsene Wenger is like a religion.
Yes, it is just like Religion, you don’t question the existence of God, you just believe.
You don’t question existence of Adam and Eve, you just believe and “tar & feather” Darwin as a heathen.
You don’t question scientists who demanded evidence to show there is sign of ET, you canned “Ancient Aliens” as rubbish.
It is like “Arsene Wenger Knows’ Brigade that are keeping blind faith at foot of Mt. Sinai; and us doubters are now casting the Golden Calf to find a God to worship….or is it the other way around? “Like I am dreaming of a butterfly or the butterfly is dreaming of moi?”
LIke I believe Arsene Wenger is on the verge of creating his 3rd and greatest Arsenal team, just like a perfect six-pack short of one or two.
Can’t I doubt the existence of Moses’ God where so much temptations and goodies are presently around for me to indulge in, if only I bow and kneel down in front of the Harlot mounting the Golden Calf…instead of waiting for the One and Only True God to descend from Mt. Sinai no matter how long it will take?
That is Faith, Faith in Arsene Wenger no matter how long he will take for him to descend from Mt. Sinai bringing “10 no. confirmed Transfers”…..turning a blind eye to the rapid growth of the Cult of Golden Calf around you.
Written by Merlin96
Morning all..
Got lost when when you started the religious claptrap.
Steady on Potter 😉
Good read Merlin but the last bit was a tad lost on me too but I get the gist – Getting rid of AW now would be a disaster, we’d have many players asking for transfers, we’d never be able to replace them and the club would be in a right old pickle.
He must know he’s under a bit of pressure from the fans to get us back to winning ways and hearing Gazidis say that they are ultimately responsible for him staying/going must have hurt him a bit.
Wenger out, not for me, not yet, the old Wenger back, yes please and right now…
I like your theory on Clichy…
Morning!!
How i wish i stayed around yesterday 🙂
Merlin thinks he’s a magician who can change things
Wenger Out, the board too!
Will’s comments were out of order,questioning my love of Arsenal,just because i don’t think we have a strong enough team.
He never answered any of the question’s put infront of him.
I love wenger,but im not blind.
What so any Arsenal fan who questions Arsene is now not a fan in he’s eyes.
That really has got to me….I’m not no fan who just started supporting Arsenal under wenger.
I live and breathe Arsenal.
I love the club with all my heart.
Praise the Lord brothers and sisters 🙂
Good read Merlin, should get a rumpus going again on here today.
Morning Gooners
Morning Lady Rico
Is everybody happy…?
Potter says:
July 13, 2011 at 9:41 am
Got lost when when you started the religious claptrap.
_______________________________________________
Morning all, morning Rico, morning Potter.
Sorry, I got carried away with that :religious stuff”
I am contrasting AKB & IWWT Brigade as analogous to “Moses’ followers” steadfast in thier BELIEF and FAITH; and those doubters and those who lost faith in Wenger, looking for another manager as “Golden Calf worshippers”.
And like Moses’ Followers, even I will have blind faith that Moses will come down from Mt. Sinai eventually….like Wenger must come good and overdued for one lucky season without that perennial “Horrendous Injury List” since 2005/06 season.
It is like the existence of God; you do not question but just believe in HIS existence.
Like following Wenger since 1996, I just believe he will come good with all those youngsters.
Called it BLIND FAITH; but I believe….and praying hard it will come true this season.
Regardless of what are opinions are, after all, we are “Family”..all Arsenal fans and wish the best for our club.
cheers all and have a fine day!
KEEP THE FAITH!
Sacking Wenger is simply not an option this summer…
Not happy about Chavs sniffing around Gary Cahill… 🙁
Cahill going to those financially doped dopes would really upset me big time.
I’d have to go to Confessional… 😀
Merlin, your not a Jehovas Witness i hope….. 😆
Hi again all,
Today is a new day and yesterday is to be forgotten 🙂
Greetings earthlings……… Good read Merlin…. a different spin for sure but a good read none the less….! Ak you getting ready for your physical jerks…? 😉
Rico where is that link to todays game have you got it or was that you who put it up AK…?
Morning Merlin, kev and Mr is, good to see you back 🙂
alan, one more season i think he’ll get, he won’t walk away as he honours his contracts…
Kev….I am into evangelism where we worship our Lord in our hearts; and sometimes we pray at his “home”, i.e. church.
Morning WATH, bugger – i meant to put it at the bottom of the post, I’ll go find it 🙂
http://myp2p.eu/index.php?part=sports
Todays game….
Wath, i put a link up on yesterdays comments mate.
I do hope it works or i’m buggered…
No offence intended Merlin, i just like a larf….
You have my respect [in all seriousness].
Good post btw…
Thanx Rico, it better work AK 😉 If not am gonna pamper with the treadmill so it has you doing 100mph uphill…………………..
Yes Wath, got the lycra packed for later on…
Need a few cuppa’s to wake up properly first though…
What’s everyone’s take on Cahill to Chelsea…? 😳
Wath 😆
ok rico,but i just wanted to put that out there as i missed all the fun! 🙂
allezkev,i knew we would let cahill slip.
Samba might be going shyte hart and we can relax because we have squillaci.
No probs Mr i …. 🙂
kev, not happy, not one be re Cahill, suggestion is that Everton are hoping to sign a defender to replace Jagielka, and Dawson is reported to be thinking about leaving you know where…
I’m hoping the Chavs go for Dawson…
See there is always a silver lining Mr Is………. least we got Squilli…!
I agree that getting rid of Wenger this season is not what we need but the board/owner should be looking at replacements. The problems is that none of the current set-up are “football people” so I am not sure what expertise they have when trying to find someone else. We won’t win anything again under Wenger, Nasri and Cesc will leave and we will be lucky to finish top 4 this season.
Oh and by the way what you said about Adams and the 3-5-2 is not true. We played this system under Rioch and at half time v Borussia Moechengladbach Wenger suggested playing 4-4-2. We did and lost miserably in the second half. I don’t even think he was officially the manager then either!
Mr Is, i’m not really suprised about Cahill, to be honest, although i kinda thought he’d end up at Cittie when Boateng left…
£17million is a heck of a lot of dough, i never saw AFC paying that amount…
Don’t think we’ll get Samba either [sorry Rico]
I kinda think he’ll go with what he has, maybe integrating Bartley once he’s fit again…
I must admit I think Cahill ticks all the right boxes, yep he ain’t worth 17mil but he’s exactly what we need, who else could be available and who is a good seasoned prem lge player…? others may cost even more so if we’re only gonna bring in one more pls let us go get him and be done with it, it’s what we are crying out for at the back !!
Squilli… I don’t wish injury on any player in any sport but….
If he could just have a little knock, just enough to push Wenger a bit harder in the transfer window for two defenders…
Am I being cruel?? 😉
Mr Islington
If you loved Arsenal it would be through thick and thin and not just WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN.
I accept there will be times we are not at the top, after all, I was at Highbury from the 76 season onwards.
That’s the thing thou allezkev,we are a big club and are in dire need of a new centre back…Wenger talks about nasri being worth a 20 mil gamble,but what about our defence??
17 million is not a lot in today’s market,sometimes you have to pay up to get what you want.
Nor do i kev, i think if wenger was going for either samba or Cahill he would have done so by now….
🙁
“Do you know that when Wenger first took over Arsenal in September 1996, he infuriated Adams by playing 3-5-2 which Adams & Co had no clue as to how to play it?”
Rubbish. Arsenal played that way for most of the previous 2 seasons & even as far back as 1988 with George Graham, all with Adams, Bould, Winterburn, Dixon and later Keown in the team.
Wenger left that formation in place as he joined mid season and that was the formation they had been playing.
Why let the facts stop you from having a cheap shot at Wenger thou eh??
I think that Wenger has a price range, in his head, for new signings,
Approx a maximum of £20million for a striker.
Then say no more than £15million for a midfielder, and
finally a max of £12million for a defender, and top quality at that…
So when he looks at Cahill, he won’t go beyond £12million
Mate were did i talk about win win win????
I just want a team that can compete and not choke everytime the pressure is on.
I just want a team that has pride when they wear that red and white shirt.
Only 3 players really came out with any credit from last season and they were sagna,wilshere and rvp.
And do you know why????….because they played like they give a dam.
If things are so rosey,as you put it.How comes a player like denilson is questioning a club as big as Arsenal??
There is never a good or bad time to axe a manager. But I believe if Arsenal have a disappointing first half,Arsene could be out by December.If the gunners are firing but collapsed in April ,Wenger could be forced out by season end.
And what’s this about thick and thin,what because i question Arsene,i don’t support Arsenal??
I hear what your saying Mr Is, and i don’t disagree mate.
Cahill has been top of my wish list for 3 years now, i’d also love to see Benzema at AFC, but i kinda try to see things thru Wengers eyes, and we all know the stubborn old git won’t pay up…
Rico……………
Ak you might not be far from the truth with your money guide lines there mate…!
Surely thou he must realise that we are not in the old school market of doing things,you have to go with the times and by that i don’t mean splash money all over the place,but just buy the players we all know we need.
Wath, if we look at many of his signings over the last 3 or 4 years i think we can see a pattern, pricewise.
He goes for the rough-diamonds, players who just need a bit of a polish, and who can turn a profit…
Mr Is, no-one is questioning your support of Arsenal, we don’t do that here, thats why we all blog – it’s all because we love our club…
Morning all.
Benzema would be a great signing,but it’s just talk.
We could do with some more fire power,but i think theo or gervinho will play that role.
Hmmmm where does Squilli come into that equation AK 😀
I hear ya and a lot of the time that works but think we all know that once in a while you need that polished diamond to fit straight in and that would make all the difference…!
Rico im just replying to will mate.
One confused article that one.
Good read merlin.now its up to wenger to deliver.
Mr Is, again i agree mate. But i reckon he’ll look at Cahill/Samba and consider their value, he might even make an enquiry, just to find out what the selling club is looking for. And if that price is too steep [for him] then he’ll look elsewhere… Eastern Europe, South America, Ivory Coast, for a similar player at half the price.
The extra cost of British/English players means we rarely get a Brit signing, unless it’s a teenager.
Well that’s how i see it folks…
Look at utd’s defence,they are sorted for the next 10-15 yrs i feel.
Can you say that about us??
Bottom line for some of you.
We are going against clubs with unlimited resources. I am not saying they have a £50M transfer kitty every year, they have UNLIMITED resources.
You say £17M is not a lot, ok, what wages would he want? Let’s say £50k a week, that is £2.4M in the first season so that makes it a initial (first season) outlay of £19.4M on a maybe, might work, let’s see if he fits in player. Do you think we have that kind of money sitting around seeing as we are playing fair and only spending what we make?
WE ARE NOT CHELSEA, WE ARE NOT MAN CITY.
We don’t have the luxuary of playing the suck it and see style of transfer game. We have to get players that fit and for the right price and there is the other issue. Player A goes to Man City for £30M so that means clubs see that and rate all of their similer players the same. That means the transfer fee’s have artificially been raised so only the super rich clubs can play.
Rather than turn your ire and anger at Wenger, turn it on the teams who are openly cheating the game. Yes, I know, it is not real cheating but it is against the spiirt of the game in whole.
Wenger is a genius, we have moved stadium (not rented it) and kept in the top 4. Yes, right now, we don’t fully compete but open your eyes and see what we are competeing against.
Ah, i thought you were telling someone here this morning Mr Is …
Morning Kt, Kings and Savage…
Talking of whick AK the OXO cube fella from saints has all gone very quiet….!
Damn it Wath, i forgot about Squill.
That’s shot down my theory 😀
Mornin KT, following on from last night mate you gotta get me 100mtr time for Gervinho thats your stat talk for the day 😉
Hi Will
You know the other teams aren’t cheating, they have suga daddies and we don’t but come on, Cahill is within our budget – if not then maybe getting rid of a few rubbish players who are on high wages would help pay Cahill his wage…
Think how many youth players/squad players we could off load??
Apparently the fans in Kuala Lumpur love rvp and theo.when the players were introduced denilson was boo-ed by the crowd.
Will,why do you keep trying defuse the situation by bringing other clubs into it,Your using them team as a excuse as to why we are not buying.
So why do we keep being lied to then will??
Yeah Wath, don’t know what to think about Oxo, again, maybe AW has asked about him, and thought a fee in the regionof £10million [if true], is just too steep. I have to agree on that score.
Will i agree, up to a point mate, it’s just frustration at missing out.
Once the season kick’s off we’ll all be happy again…
It was a great debate last night wath away from all the pessimism surrounding the club.
That’s funny KT……… ah poor denilson…. shame, lets hope someone comes and buys him real soon….!
My son just told me ‘the link’ for our game works 😀
Happy Days…. Hope Ryo & Theo start…
I think we’ll get oxo, his daddy wants him to join us 😉
I’ll try to get Gerv’s time.
I like that about denilson Kt 🙂
10mil for a 17yr old kid is pathetic AK, I’d offer 5m if we actually really rate him and add ons for goals appearances etc etc if they want more than that then forget it…! once the season kicks off mate if could get worse 😉 Spot on KT……..!! Was good…!
Jesus, I am giving up on this.
Why am I am bringing in other clubs as to why we don’t spend? Really?
Kt, it was a good night last night as i wasn’t here 😉
That’s the thing rico,we have had many average players on high wages,when we could be putting that in to the kitty and buying some proper players.
i’m sorry im being negative to you,but last season hurt me the way the team played and they showed us Arsenal fans huge disrespect,by not showing any hunger and desire to fight hard to get out of that rot we was in.
That is the manager’s job to motivate the side and he didnt do that.They just fell apart.
The finance breakdown on Le Grove showed that we don’t have as much money as we think we do. We might be able to flog Denilson for cheap, but taking a hit on the fee or getting rid of his wages works out to the same thing – it’s just a waiting game, like everything else.
Who have Chelsea signed – I’m not sure there’s been anybody?
Chill Will, please – it is as it is with the other clubs, we are not them – all we are asking wenger to do is buy a proper central defender to stop us conceding silly goals…
Not some non PL unready cheepie…. like Squlli
I have doubts though that those Malaysians think theo is lewis hamilton.no such doubts about rvp though,he showcased his sublime skills by smashing the crossbar several times…its got to be him.
Rico, i also hope we get Oxo, might have to wait until Aug 31st though… 😉
Wath, when the season kicks off i’m sure you’ll be Mr Positive 😆
Rico it was very enjoyable last night.some good debate.
I am chilled Rico, I am not the one that brought this crap up again.
Now he is the reason I mention other clubs.
Cahill wants to leave Bolton, Chelsea or Man City are now around so Bolton knows they could get top dollar for a player not really worth what they are asking and because those two teams are now around, Cahill’s price is artificially raised to a stupid price thus pushing us out.
Do you really think Cahill is worth £17M?
Will, are you gonna be watching the game later on?
Because i dont want to know about them clubs,there spending money like any other club in there postion would do.
So if the jabba one and kronke spent bundles of money,would you really be complaining????
The fact is Will,we are not asking him to buy every player in the world,us Arsenal fans are more relistic than that.
The team needs strenghening and when we are told we will buy and we don’t,it’s frustrating mate.
Two questions on Cahill:
1) Why did City supposedly withdraw their interest?
2) Why have Chelsea not signed him up already if they’re interested?
Mr Is, i think AW’s recent tatic of buying cheap but paying big wages comes with certain risks, ie if the player doesn’t develop as with Denilson.
Clichy was cheap, as was Diaby, Song,Eboue etc…
The risk backfires when AW tries to move on players who haven’t come up to scatch…
According to Gooner Talk Szczesny is set to be offered the no.1 shirt when Almunia departs.
cahill is worth no more than 12m…but when it’s a need you have to pay up.
Is jordan henderson worth 20m???
Is andy carroll worth 35m????
They needed players and understand to keep up,they have to strengthen.
Is that right Sav? When did Cittie withdraw?
I think the delay with CFC Sav has been down to their Managerial situation…
Savage,i would say city have many centre backs and brought that Stefan Savic guy for 6m???.
Rumour today has it,Chelski are now in for him??
KT that is great news and a massive boost to Chezzer…
That boy could be a record breaker?
The change of scenery will work wonders for the players after all the negative environment surrounding the club.we’ll also make lots of cash in Asia.
And debt?
On City, all the headlines said that City withdrew – you don’t have to believe that, but I know you guys are running on headlines, and it would be supposedly obvious to go for proven premiership talent rather than cheap foreigners.
On Chelsea, they got their manager weeks ago and still have done nothing.
The point is clearly: this is not just a money issue.
KT,I agree could be the best thing for them,
Something Arsenal have really never done before.
Id be happy to go with chezzer next season,he’s learning fast.
In my opinion he’s better than Hart.
So Savage, do we blam £17M of our transfer and wages fund on basically an average centre back?
In other words, if Cahill was that obvious a target, the other teams would have snapped him up like they’re trying to do with Nasri.
AK, like him lots but would still like an older keeper brought in as cover, really surprised we didnt go for Friedel seeing as he was free, a yr or two around Chez would be good for him and not a threat but old experienced back up…! Maybe we keen the mad kraut for another season to help the young keepers and while he does his coaching badges..?
Kt, 373 comment yesterday, one of HH’s best, good on you all I say 🙂
Will would you say cahill is average then??
It is indeed AK.although i think fabianski is the more talented of the two but szczesny is the more confident which is vital for any defence.o but szczesny is the more confident which is vital for any defence.
Yes I would. Does he start for his national side? Has he been snapped up by a big boy before he was 22? Or, is there a dearth of centre back talent at the moment and he looks (in the press driven world) the best of a decidely bad bunch?
Good Will and no, i don’t think Cahill is worth 17 million, that is what being british does and the fact that the clubs with lots of money with their suga daddies have paid over the odds because they can afford to…
As pointed out, Carroll is no way worth 35 million, Henderson 20 million, it’s crazy money and its all because it has been allowed to become that way.. Sugar Daddies, Sky Sports etc have done that to the game..
And with all the money coming in, loyalty has gone – it’s sad but it’s the way it’s become…
I still think that we too will soon have a mega rich sugar daddy….
Sav, CFC have signed Lucas Piazon from Sao Paulo.
KT, know anything on him???
Savage,i like that we get some cheap unknowns and make them into stars.but what about buying experience when it’s needed.i.e a signal of intent??
A warning shot to the other clubs that we are the Arsenal and we are still here.
Cahill hasn’t broken into the England team because of Ferdinand and Terry, the two boys from the much loved clubs of Chelsea and Manure
They are both on the decline and Cahill, Dawson, Richards along with a few others will soon be taking over…
So Rico, you see why Wenger is a genius, we are playing with clubs who can afford to spunk £20M on a maybe and with clubs who can lose £100M a summer.
I honestly suspect Cahill is not as good as people are saying. Notice ManU went for Jones at the same price instead, while City went for a foreigner, when money is no issue for them. Chelsea also went for Luiz last season instead of Cahill.
Cahill is on the fringe of the English team, while Koz is on the fringe of the French team, and the French are better than the English. I don’t want to overly defend Koz, but I do smell a rat in the works.
Ian wright never really played at international level,was he average then??
I’m sure we’re all agreed one thing:
Wenger can do a better job of training and organising defence. Bringing in new staff is not necessarily going to solve the problem – Djourou is a tall boy and he missed headers.
Going to Asia may be the best thing we’ve done for years.the likes of nasri can now see from a broader spectrum how massive our club is and how much love for them there is and maybe they’ll appreciate more what doning the shirt means.
Ian Wright played in a system that was designed for him to score. Yes he was a great poacher but ask Kevin Campbell what he thinks.
Savage i hear what your saying and i feel Kos still has a lot to give us…I watched him alot last season and yes HE DID make mistakes…he has a very good understanding of the game and i was impressed the way he led the side.
I feel cahill would be a great signing and just what we need,he has leadership quality’s and think he would improve a great deal playing at a higher level.
man u won de premier league despite dat, they ve already sighned three quality players,Arsenal came fourth but ve only sighned 2 (carl jenkinson,Gervinho) or i mean one (Gervinho) Wenger is busy commenting on other clubs financial spendings,has he finnished de transfers ? maybe he has maybe he has not!
If wrighty was average,then my eyes have been lying to me all these years.
Hear Hear KT.
That bit of video of the boys training was fantastic.
The response of the Malay fans made me chuckle…
They were so excited.
Savage i rarely mention Cahill as i’ve always been clear regarding him.he is a decent player but a tad overrated in my opinion.if we sign him well and good but i don’t think he is that good.
People were screaming for mertesacker last year and wanted him bad,but he is slower than a game of chess.
I would be more happier with cahill or samba…the reason being that they know the Epl.
Mr Is
Agree – none of us expect AW to go off into each and every transfer market and buy three world class footballers every time. What saddens me and frustrates so much is seeing how much talent and quality has left us during wengers reign, all of which he turned into the great players they bacame (bar one/two)
But while watching them leave or be sold, apart from TV, AA and Eduardo since Henry left, who has he bought in to really make us all stand up and take notice?
I totally understand why he buys who he does most of the time but i just wish every once in a while we bought a proper player in too, just one to pick the squad up like AA did that january, a player who we know really could make a difference to what we already have…
We have a great crop of players, all we need is a top draw defender and a goal scorer to make us truly great again…
Ok, a keeper, winger and DM would be perfect – but i know we are unlikely to get them….
Sav, they don’t work on defensive training…!! So a defensive coach would help massively…! wenger doesn’t think it’s necessary..!
Haha, wath, I do believe they train defense – that silly concept was another Myles Palmer invention (rico take note), but they don’t do it well enough.
They certainly don’t seem to look as if they work on the defensive side of the game….
Name me the last at his peak world star we bought.
All this talk highlights another issue: “flavour of the month” players. Every season one or two players become the “obvious” solution for all our woes.
Hangeland
Carlton Cole
Joe Cole
Obafemi Martins
Harry Kewell
Ryan Babel
etc.
They have a good season and then go into obscurity. Cahill could be a star for us, but he might just be a FOM (flavour of the month).
Not haha at all sav I know for a fact they don’t….! no idea who ur myles palmer is and dont care but they do not practice defensive set piece training…!
Savage, the FOM list is where Chelsea and Man City buy their players 😉
is it because we play zonal,when it comes to set pieces why we have problems??
Or do you think it’s more of a height thing.
I just don’t know how we can be so bad.
That goal we conceded at stoke from the corner was disgraceful.
Saying Arsenal don’t train defense (and that you know it for a fact), is probably the dumbest comment I’ve seen on Arsenal blogs in the last 10 years.
KT, when i look at the response our club gets around the world, it makes me think back to 4th December 1973…
A chilly Tuesday evening, when i watched Charlie George [my hero] and Brian Hornsby score our goals in a 2-2 draw with Wolves…
The attendance………13,482……
Will Arshavin :).
Last season we conceded 54% of our goals from setpieces but on the other hand we conceded the fewest goals from open play among all teams in the league.against city/mancs/chavs we conceded only 4 goals in 6 games.this is further enforced by the fact that we conceded the fewest shots (343) in the entire league.However,due to our vulnerability in setpieces/deadballs the opposition only needed a shot or two to score.this was also coupled by the fact that most shots the opposition get against us are during counter attacks when we’ve pushed lots of our personell forward and most likely result to goals.Arsene has to work on those 2 aspects and our goals conceded tally will drop.
I like the term “FOM” – I think I’m going to use it more often, just like Grove got the whole Marmite thing going, and Arseblog got the Interlull word, and Myles Palmer started this thing about “Arsenal don’t do any defense training”.
Well thats entirely up to you fella… I know what I know…! you dont believe me thats up to you…! there’s a huge difference playing defence against attack than having a defensive coach drilling the back four on defending set pieces…!
Of course we do defensive training and have improved some what,but what about on set pieces.
K-TR7, agreed – we have to do more work on defense, and especially set pieces. That’s obvious to even the hardest AKB.
I’m hoping that we get some stability with having one keeper for the season, improving our communication. Having TV back will also help I think, as he’s aggressive and good in the air.
WATH, I give you an opportunity now to tell us how you know “for a fact” that Arsenal don’t train defense…
I’m all ears. Or eyes.
The last true world star who was at his peak was Sol Campbell and before than, Bergkamp.
Look at the players we all look back on with absolute fondness.
Henry – Signed from the Juve bench as a relative unknown.
Vieira – Signed as a 19 year old unknown stagnating on the AC bench
Pires – Signed from Marseille and admittedly, he was probably the best known of the lot.
Ljungberg – Who?
Petit – Any of you follow his career before Arsenal?
Overmars – Was thought past it because of injuries buut I will give you, well known.
Do you see where I am going with this?
It matters not how I know sav………. believe it or not is not my problem am just telling you..!
I think we do setpiece training on different scenarios/permutations we are likely to face.what fails us the most is that we fail to adapt to different sitiuations during a deadball/setpiece that we had not trained for.this is clear to see as we seem to not know how to track runners into the box during setpieces resulting in free headers.this is where a commanding CB is essential as he can adapt our tactics depending on the different sitiuations we face.as of now nobody takes charge and we suffer as a result.
Gilberto
Eduardo
Arshavin
Gallas
This will make you laugh, Squllaci, he was playing for France when we signed him and 29 years old is peak for a defender isn’t it
😆 😆
1) We don’t have that animal who is will to take everyone out to clear the ball.
2) We don’t have a “voice” in the box organising players so opposition players can make runs and no one goes with them.
3) We don’t fight hard enough for second ball, how many times have you seen the ball bounce on the edge of the box only for the opposition to get it straight back.
4) We have no out ball as we have everyone back.
Kt, i think that defender has to be one that isn’t afraid to put his head where attackers feet are either – JD is our best in the air but even he gets beat too often… That’s where i thought Samba would be a good buy….
TV is a bit of a tiddler but boy, he has a leap on him…..
Rico, Gallas I will give you.
Ok we all know that,but what about the likes of:
Denilson
Silvestre
Almunia
Cygan
Stepanos
Reyes
But no is saying it’s a bad idea to get cheap unknowns,but sometimes you have to buy ready made replacements when it’s needed.
I’d also like to see us improvise how we take our setpieces.in the CL final i remember one setpiece in particular that pedro nearly scored from.we have very intelligent players and we should improvise more.
Will so you agree there is a need to buy 🙂
KT, we are not drilled on set pieces corners or free kicks, yes they do them BUT there is no coach to drill the back four !! they have a formula and that they stick to and thats how they train…! No since Keown helped out on 05/06 has anyone actually drilled the back four or worked solely with the back 4 as a unit…! sorry back 5…!
Guys, I have to apologise but I do get a tad aggressive in my defense of Arsenal.
Nice one WATH. I also know for a fact that aliens from the planet Cycophsenees are running Stamford Bridge. I won’t prove it, you must just believe me, your choice.
Will, on your points
1) I’m think TV is an animal
2) I’m hoping Chez gives us more voice
3) Agreed, it’s a problem, I lost half my hair pulling it out
4) Are you sure on the out ball problem? I think getting it back to our midfield is one of our strengths, but getting it to further forward is our big issue.
Kos won 51% of his aerial challenges compared to vermy’s 73% in his first season despite kos being taller.that could partly explain why we struggled during setpieces last season.however,kos is better on the ground than vermy as he is a better man-marker.vermy was ruthlessly exploited at this aspect by the likes of rooney/messi and we conceded as a result.kos fared better though.its a tough juggling act for Arsene and thats why he said we need a variety of size of players.
totally believe you re the chavs sav… great point…!
So what do the stats tell you KT,
TV n Kos, TV n JD or JD n Kos…?
Basically our defence let in so many goals from corners and set pieces last season because the defenders were not good enough regardless of whether they were coached or not! There was nobody who took charge when we were defending set pieces/corners and organised the players concerned also Song as our only defensive midfield player showed he is not up to the task. Our only decent defender was missing for most of the season and that did not help matters. If Fabregas does go to Barcelona then hopefully Wenger will make Vermaalen captain as he can then organise the defence with authority. I really thought Wenger would bring some new experienced defenders into the squad as a priority after his commmments at the end of last season but guess I should have known better. We have now lost our regular LB and all that has happened is the purchase of an unknown defender from Charlton. If no CB or LB is bought before the end of August we shall continue giving away stupid goals next season.
Will no problem mate.we all love Arsenal.
Will we all share the same passion….Arsenal.
I never thought you were being aggressive mate.
I get really wound up defending Arsenal and some has even turned into punch ups.(bad i know lol)
But i cant keep making the same excuse’s year after year.
4) Are you sure on the out ball problem? I think getting it back to our midfield is one of our strengths, but getting it to further forward is our big issue.
That is what I mean, sometimes the best defense if to bosh it up field but we can’t do that as we have no one up there to fight for it so we have to fiind a pin-point pass with pretty much, 20 players in and around our box.
I would have Nasri or Cesc halfway between our 18 yard box and the halfway line and then Theo on the halfway line. That means the opposition need to leave at least three defenders back.
W.A.T.H them stats say we need a new centre half 🙂
Mr Is now that was my next question to our resident stats man, KT you got anything on Cahill and Samba from last year on headers and tackles etc etc be interesting to compare..!
What does everyone think about the rumour of Metasacher (probably spelt wrong)??
On the one hand I think he would be a shouter at our defence and has pedigree but on the other hand could his pace be an issue and could he be another Squillaci?
Yeah i would like to see them stats also…let’s see how they stack up and they were at smaller clubs.
Tv and kos for Europe,JD/Tv for the PL and Squilli/denilson for anywhere but Arsenal.
Gooner sam,he would be more like squillaci for me.
As i said before,he is too slow for the premiership.
I would like to see
Tv and a brute in the centre and JD as the DM.
We conceded 13 goals from deadballs compared to 18 by Bolton.this is 30% and 32% of total goals conceded by the 2 teams.Cahill however won 73% of the aerial challenges he was involved in the best in the league.
Last season I read two separate reports:
1) Chelsea have a problem defending set pieces.
2) Liverpool have a problem defending set pieces.
I’m not saying our position is inexcusable, but sometimes the response is overboard.
Long as they take Diaby with them KT 😉
Spot on again Kt, our set pieces are naff!…
Good on ya Will
We all love em you know 🙂
I’m sticking my neck on the line….Cahill is the man we need.
Welcome martin90, sorry for the dealy, first comments go into moderation, you are free now…
Blackburn conceded 14 goals from deadball 24% of their total goals conceded.samba won 64% of his aerial challenges.
Who was 2nd and 3rd KT…?
M90, i think we all pretty much agree on the defender situation, it’s now down to who will wenger buy to sort it out, or at least try to sprt it out….
Mr Is, i’m with you on Cahill and if not him Samba – I honestly don’t think we can afford to look outside the PL or even maybe the Championship??
In open play we conceded 24 goals (55%) compared to Blackburn’s 39(66%) and Bolton’s 35(65%).
On a different note, I am getting fed up with blogs and so called Arsenal fans bitching about the tour saying we are too far from home just before the start of the season. These were the same people bitching that we don’t go on oversea tours thus losing out of money.
Seems to me that at the moment, Arsene and Arsenal can’t win.
Is that why you are not overly keen on Samba or Cahill Kt?
We have to look at the players in front of the defence, ours are better than theirs 😉
Arsene wasn’t keen to go that far either Will, but he gave in…..
Will, I hadn’t heard any complaints about the tour. I think it’s been a nice change. I’m pretty sure that Wenger doesn’t 100% agree with it though – the tone of his interview when asked about it wasn’t completely convincing.
Rico i don’t either.
I like the look of sakho and subotic,but i feel we wont get thoose.
I feel cahill is worth the money,even if it is over price.
Look at when we tried to sign xabi alonso and put in a 15m bid and they wanted 17.
Remind me what did he go for the season after that??
Arsene and Arsenal would win if the club had better PR,Made a signal of intent in the market and brought players that we need.
So it si probably safe to say that we will only get one defender (if any), so who would be the best to plug our gaps? Gary Cahill – faster, good challenges but not a physical pressence / tall for set pieces. Or Samba, good at set pieces, tall, a physical pressence but not that quick??
PS. I bet you Squiggle plays next year and is the reason that we either lose an important match or get knocked out of a cup!
I think the tour’s good as reach’s out to our overseas fans,that can only be a good thing for the club.
Look at Kos, ok i am not sold on him but many fans think he will become top draw but right now we can’t afford the time for a defender to settle in and become good/great…
I’d look at the Championship, see which defence leaked the least goals, then find the ugliest most brutal b*****d in there and sign him up 😉 Cheap as chips…
That is of course if Cahill/Samba are not on AW’s shopping list…
Alonso went for a lot less didn’t he?
Mr Is – that takes us back to what we were told at the end of the season about doing a lot of business and early so we were all waiting… ok, as mike pointed out yesterday, wenegr has since back tracked somewhat and said he is happy to wait but me, i just wish he’d have said that in may then we all wouldn’t be worrying quite as much…..
Stan didn’t waste much time in getting us in Asia, I think it’s got to be better than Austria, something new – it’s just what the squad need….
Alonso went for 30m didnt he???
Qpr had the best defence i beleive and there defenders are poor. 🙂
That’s the thing,why does he and IG try mug the fans off??
We are not stupid,Just be a bit more honest with us.
Oops, i got that wrong about Alonso big time, don’t know why i thought he went for less 😳 (its a woman thing and money) 😉
Amen to that Mr Is…
What about Scott Dann, is he as good as some think??
12 Million would secure his signature….
wath i don’t have those stats at the moment but i’ll find them.what i can tell you is kompany won 73/104 challenges while jagielka won only 46 aerial challenges all season.ou is kompany won 73/104 challenges while jagielka won only 46 aerial challenges all season.
Narsi is the most accurate shooter in the league with 65% of his shots on target.ith 65% of his shots on target.
Rico no sweat at all. 🙂
Scott dann had a great season playing with a very well organised and drilled team.
Would be intresting to see how he does with a team that plays a high line.
I would have loved kompany,really good all round defender.
How’s the score, isn’t the game on now?
Any probs try;
http://www.eplsite.tv/stream2.html
Talking of nasri, he doesn’t start in this friendly, Ryo does though….
Alcaraz of Wigan was also a standout performer last season winning 104/171 challenges he was involved in.
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY 😀
1-0 ramsey pen
Who scored that one then my stream is up and down…
I should have F5 oops, thanks Mr 🙂
rambo
Now you are here Kev, yes 😉 😉
I see we are having thee usual ref decisions.
How tall is he Kt, is he a big ruthless player who will not give up on anything??
Got to pop off can you believe, back for the second half though….
Can’t stream here at work – and .com is down and won’t load for me. What’s the starting XI?
Ches, Jenkinson, Kos, Tv, Song, Rambo, Walcott, Gibbs, Ryo, Chamakh and A.N Other who I can’t see.
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN 😀
Jenkinson is doing ok
who got the second AK? I cant seethrough the plume of smoke…
Walcott
Vermaelen is the nuts….. Ryo is doing well.
COYG…….
Very very encouraging, considering the opposition and the jet-lag.
Now for some different players in the 2nd 45…
Going to miss teh second half as I am off to the gym.
I’m giving the gym a miss today Will, maybe i’ll take Wath with me tomorrow, i think he’s desperate to get into some lycra 😆
Rosicky4Walcott
Frimpong4Jack
Mannone4Chez
Djourou4Kos
Boo, Theo Theo Theo 🙂
Come on Tomas, start the season as you mean to go on, show us all you still have something in your big toe 😉
Rosicky4Walcott
Frimpong4Jack
Mannone4Chez
Djourou4Kos
Vela4Chamakh
Ur missing JJ with the lycra AK 😉
What is that No15 doing wearing out shirt….??????? disgraceful..!
Traore4Gibbs
Squill4TV5
Denilson4Song
Wath 😆
You not bench-preesing bungalows AK?
Vela lob…. :d
That boy is just class in front of goal….
Vela is at again.
nice finish!
Lee, roll me one 😀 3-0
that’s the new striker sorted…. 😉
they’ll be a knock at the door AK in 5 mins…
Police? 😀
RVP, AA,Nasri & Sagna on….
Vela i take it for the 3rd??
Denilson didn’t last…?
Vela should have made it 4….
Nasri trying to show the rest of the world what he can do???
going for it a bit much aint he??? 🙂
I ain’t sharing my crops with no cops!! (lol)
Arshavin has a lot of fans!!!
Boo! Hello, all.
Afternoon agag, where?? 😉
Lee 😆
😆 even…
In KL. Haha.
RizLee… 😆 😆
Agag, you see game?
Guys/gals, in case you didn’t know, the asia tour matches are free viewing on afc.com, good picture 🙂
I didn’t fly out, AK. 🙁 Just watching the dotcom stream. 🙂
Rico, you could of waited until it finished to tell us…… 🙂
I only just realised Lee 🙂
RizLee, Erick (aka Weeds) also has a patch devoted to “crops”. 🙂
Is sad to see Rosicky the way he is,he is well past he’s sell buy date now.
I’d still rather him than denilson Mr Is….
But yes, it’s sad….. If only his problem had been sorted out years ago….
only winding you up Ricolicious..
Me too,but we should give someone else his place or get rid aswell.
Tomasz!!!!
Job done…. A good start..
and then he goes and scores 🙂
I know lee, i thought it was funny 🙂
Rosicky just shut me up, good man 🙂
Manchester City have responded vigorously to claims by Arsene Wenger that their commercial deal with Etihad Airways calls into question Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Wenger’s argument is that the rules will be rendered meaningless unless Uefa’s analysts decide that City’s income from Etihad is in excess of the sum a club of their size could reasonably expect. Wenger said, ‘It raises the real question about the credibility of Financial Fair Play. That is what it is all about. They give us the message they can get it around in by doing what they want. It means Financial Fair Play will not come in. It is as simple as that.’
Arsenal’s medium-term strategy (and that of Liverpool) is premised on the assumption that the Financial Fair Play rules will be rigorously enforced. Arsenal struck a naming rights deak for their stadium with Emirates in 2004 worth far less than City’s new sponsorship: £100m over 15 years, which also included shirt sponsorship for eight years.
City said yesterday, ‘The financial details of the agreement between Manchester City and Etihad Airways remain confidential and figures being speculated about are not accurate. Manchester City is a proactive member of the European Club Association [the Uefa body that succeeded the more exclusive G-14] and is working actively and with transparency with regard to Financial Fair Play. In light of these facts, recent comments about the partnership by some observers are unfounded and regrettable.’
http://www.footballeconomy.com/content/city-hit-back-wenger-war-words
_______________________________________________________
Then why don’t “Gillett & Hicks” Mark 2 offer £400m SPonsorship to Arsenal FC?
We have two billionaires and why cna’t they arranged this kind of sponsorships for Arsenal FC, which will also enhance their investments via successes on the pitch?
E.g.
Wal-Mart signs a 10-year £100m Sponsorship to Arsenal FC.
Usmanov xxx Mining Co signs a 15-year £300m Sponsorship to Arsenal FC.
Pity, our two billionaires are no better than Gillett & Hicks whose wallets are as tight as a duck buttends.
Pity, with an avearge of £30m new sponsorships per annum from Stan and Usmanov, Arsene Wenger can enhanced Nasri’s salary to keep him, plus leftovers to buy 2 or 3 experienced players without counting pennies and bargaining like a merchant in a bazaar.
Well done Boys. What a great player that Rosicky 😀
Rosikcy!!
I told ya!
He maybe one of our key men this season!
I still don’t think scoring a goal warrants a change of heart from me. 🙂
So did we learn anything new from todays game??
Hi Merlin,
I think Wenger has a point, but I don’t honestly see what it’s got to do with him, this is why other managers get annoyed with him – he should talk and concntrate only on us, leave the rest of the teams to worry about themselves….
Monday 8pm on Channel 4, there is a programme on called ‘How to buy a Football Club’ – it’s an under cover operation about some of these so called ‘fit and proper people’ buy their ‘toys’…
Should be very interesting 🙂
Where is Will 😉
Mr Is, in a word, no……
They said Nasri was superb???
On Nasri, I was thinking back to Roy Keane on the last year of hsi contract and demanded Ferguson paid him for what he was worthed, i.e. £50,000pw, which was huge then and almost equivalent to today £160,000 to £200,000pw.
Ferguson refused and started to hunt around for a replacement.
To his horrors, he discovered that it is more expensive to buy a replacement than to pay Roy Keane £50,000pw.
And if it is what Nasri wanted a £140,00pw 5-year deal, then it is daft nt to pay him that as finding an equivalent replacement maybe more expensive than paying Nasri what he wanted.
And of course, there is always an option to sell him in 2012 if Ramsey and Wilshere continu their rapid development to nail down a regular starter slot in 2012.
Perhaps that was what Wenger was thinking that it is far more expensive to replace Nasri than to bow down to his demands and pay him what he wanted???
A decent workout is all that we saw today Mr Is, pitch was pretty poor so players will be aware of that too but it’s a good run out and a great PR match….!
TV was the captain from the off…… I like that idea but i know it was only because RvP didn’t start….
“Did we learn anything from today’s game?”. Yes indeed.
Our back line still looks vulnerable.
Rosicky was a pleasant surprise and would be a huge unexpected boost to our team if he stays healthy and returns to form (the whole tonsils thing)
Myiachi can dribble. He’s got some creativity.
Frimpong plays it to safe. But only lost the ball once.
Vela looks slow, even though he’s supposed to be fast. Maybe he just needs to get fit – he looks a touch thick.
Did I mention our back line looks fragile.
Overall, a good first game. Got a little boring in the second half, but it was exactly what a preseason friendly should be.
Best goal in my opinion was Walcott.
Afternoon folks,
Winterburn said that it’s all about fitness levels, but…
We learnt that our defensive problem hasn’t gone away…not a question of pace, but of reading the game and adjusting position accordingly… Djourou caught too much; strangely enough Squillaci showed how it’s done, but then had his usual headless-chicken moment.
We learnt that Mannone has to develop a greater awareness, (that 6second free-kick was stupid) and that Denilson is all-but finished at Arsenal.
Oh and we learnt that Nasri is worth a hell of a lot more than 22.2 million 😉
But the I suppose we all already knew all that.
Rico,
That is what is so annoying about Wenger poking his Gallic nose into every pies oblivious to his “house” burning down behind him.
He will be called a hypocrite if and when he suddenly spurgled £30m to £60m to buy 2 or 3 more experienced players that this young team needed desperately.
Abu Dhabi City is none of hsi business and everybody is longing at this sourpuss as if he is getting in his excuses for another trophyless season in 2011/12.
There is no way that Abu Dhabi City will be penalised under Financial Fair Play rules as that £400m are transparent and above board.
Abu Dhbai city should retort that “lookee, you have Gillett & Hicks oweing Arsenal FC, why don’t ask that Wal-Mart heiress to cough up £400m sponsorship or that rich Russki to cough up another £400m sponsorships…like what Abramovich did by spending £800m and counting since he bought CHelski?
And you think Glazer Family is FFR-compability with their fundigns via junk bonds?
As least you can said that ABu DHbai city is all “internally generated funds from their owners” and debts and borrowings like ManU, Real or Barca.
That is, Abu Dhbai CIty is better managed than Arsenal financially with their owners willing to put money where their mouths are…by garnering mega-sponsorship deals.
Whereas Arsenal….counting their pennies with their “holier than thou” attitude as if Arsenal FC have the divine rights to win titles and trophies simply that they count and scrounge penneis better than any premiership clubs and marquee European football clubs.
Put it this way, Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan in the 80s decided to scrap their youth policy and revert to buying ready-make super-stars to dominate Italian League and Europe in the 80s.
So it is nothing new on the policy that Abu DHabi City is now pursuing for football successes as they are merely emulating Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan, Perez Real “Galactico” policy and Abramovich’s CHelski.
Hi Doc and Mike
So our defence is still dodgy then, I hope Wenger noticed that as well as we all did….
Defence?
Perhpas it was the first competitive game for the Back-4 and we cannot expect ’em to gell instantly.
Will Kos-TV partnership work?
Kos is a superb man-marker but poor in the air.
TV has a superb leap and win headers, but poor man-marker.
Perhaps Kos needs to have a 6′ 5″ partner who will win headers all day and will not be out-msucles like TV.
More and more, if Wenger buys a 6′ 5″ CB, I see TV at the left flank with his defensive steel and no-nonsense tackling.
Does Frmpong has an Engine like Flamini?
I read sometimes back last season that Frimpong can run all day long and still has plenty in reserve..true?
Merlin,
I’m not really up on all the financial stuff with our club or any others really (mind you i care very little about the others) but i read something about how this City deal has managed to bypass the FFP rules – although I am not sure why?
‘A big test for Blatter’ are the headlines, maybe wenger has a point, it seems he is not alone but again, he should stay out of others affairs and if asked about them just say its got nowt to do with him…
I read that Frimpong said if the club tried to sell him he would beg, go on his hands and knees and plead for the club to change their mind….
He has what we all ask of players, I bet Jack would be the same…
Now that is rare…..
As for his engine, if it’s as big as his afc heart, i bet he could run all day ……
Frimpong just needs to build confidence. I liked the look of him, but too many 3 yard passes to Nasri, and too many defers… definitely one to watch though.
As for the back four… I still believe it’s all about maturity and reading the game; we’re not doing it and getting caught too square too often; against today’s opposition we didn’t get punished, but against top quality i.e.pl players we’ll suffer.
I know i might be going against the flow here, but i didn’t see the defence looking a total catastrophe.
AK,
I think catastrophic is far too strong, but don’t forget the quality of opposition.
We kept a clean sheet with something like twenty-two players swapping positions, so it’s not all doom and gloom by any means.
Just that when we did get it wrong, it was the same old same old.
It is very simple Rico.
Etihad Airways are owned by Abu Dhabi Government and not Sheikh Monsour, the owner of ManC.
Where is the conflict of interest?
If Arsenal Holdings is so stupid to lock itself with a 15-year £100m sponsorship from Emirates in 2006, whsoe fault is that?
WIth inflation, perhaps what Emirates paid that £100m in 2006 worthed £400m in 2011 price?
Now, if Sheikh Monsour owns Eithad Airways, then that is a different story.
That is, FFR rules can be easily over-come by any football clubs when they ahve similar connections liek CITEH.
E.g. if Real is intimidated linked with say SPanish Government, is that any rule to stop SPanish Government, say Ministy of Sports from signing a £400m for naming rights of Bernabeau Stadium?
Similarly, there is no rule to stop rich BArca fans to form a consortium and arrange a £400m “interest-free” loan to BArca, in exchange for equity (shares) in Barca.
And also, there is no rule to stop Stan and Usmanov to provide a £400m sponsorship to Arsenal FC from their various associated companies.
I thought Vermaelen looked good, Gibbs did ok, Koscielny was competant and even Jenkinson did some good stuff.
2 weeks into pre-season, a long journey, lets not be hyper-critical here folks.
rico says:
July 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Monday 8pm on Channel 4, there is a programme on called ‘How to buy a Football Club’ – it’s an under cover operation about some of these so called ‘fit and proper people’ buy their ‘toys’…
Should be very interesting
Where is Will
I shall watch that program with interest.
I think that is where i got muddled Merlin, i thought the Sheikh Monsour owned the airways and that is why wenger was a bit twitchy….
Merlin,
I wasn’t gonna talk about this today, because I vehemently disagree with everything you say about Arsene Wenger, and feel some of your comments are an insult to him, to me as a supporter of Wenger’s skills and methods, and to the club, but…
I think you’ll find that Etihad is owned by Monsour’s brother.
As for Wenger’s comments… If I had voted for a system that was being circumvented before it even got off the ground, I think I’d have something to say about it too… more power to him.
But let’s not turn this into a rerun of yesterday…we kept a clean sheet today, we’ve got another match Saturday…life’s great 😆
Good point allezkev. But I think we are all so nervous about the defense that we are really catching every little mistake.
I guess the point is that in the EPL a couple of the mistakes by Gibbs and Djourou would have cost us. Verminator looked solid.
Merlin96 says:
July 13, 2011 at 4:39 pm
It is very simple Rico.
Etihad Airways are owned by Abu Dhabi Government and not Sheikh Monsour, the owner of ManC.
Where is the conflict of interest?
Sheikh Mansour is the Abu Dhabi royal family, Eithad is a state owned company. Conflict.
kev, perosnally i take nothing from that game other than it was great to watch our team again, great to see so many fans in asia seeing the team they love through their own eyes and not a screen, to see the squad together and start to build towards a new season…
Jet lagged, naughty temperatures and humidity to endure, they would have had a real fitness test… It did what it was meant to do….
Thought Miyaichi did some encouraging things, Ramsey was steady in the Cesc role, Jack was, well Jack, early days i know and i accept the opposition but a clean sheet and four goals, blimey, what do we want???? 😕
Fair points Rico, it was what it was, our first pre-season… It was Barnet vs Arsenal , only in Malaysia. But i still try to look for the positives, just like Mr Positive himself…. 😆
Good run out for fringe players to impress Wenger.
If Wilshere and Ramsey start to dominate mdifield and devleop good chemistry….well…….
Nasri?
Hard chocie – Cesc or Nasri as no matter what Wenger had said publicly, he will make a hard-headed decision to sell one of ’em.
If during this pre-season training and Nasri continues to impress and improves, then Wenger may decide to sell Cesc and persuade Nasri to sell a new deal, plus making him the FULCRUM of this 2011/12 team.
Perhaps this will be what Nasri’s EGO wants – be the new “main man” and a £140,000pw 5-year new deal.
AK,
Agree with you on Miyaichi, with Walcott one side and him the other and Ramsey spraying passes left and right it bodes well (asssuming we ever get him approved).
And yes. you’re quite right, it is early days, but these are the days that will convince Wenger which way to go, and I do think we need somed added maturity in the back four.
Sorry Kev, i think i may have sounded very negative, i didn’t mean too – i guess i was talking about long term 😉 I thought a few of ours looked pretty up beat, Jack, Aaron, Theo – i guess i just meant that we can’t judge them, not just yet 😉
Oh, and Ryo – i so hope he gets a work permit, very promising young man there….
From what I saw, Ryo needs runners.
Will, did you see my earlier comment about Channel 4 ….
Yes Rico, I said i am looking forward to seeing that.
The Eithad deal shows that owners need to be vetted.
Sorry Will, i didn’t see that 🙁
I also didn’t see your comment about Citeh – i’m off to wikki a few things….
They are vetted Will…. That’s why i’m also looking forward to that television programme.
What are the “technical” issues preventing Ryo from getting a visa? I keep hearing that they are having a problem getting him one due to technical reasons, but I can’t seem to find out what those are.
The technical reason is……..We are not Man Utd.
Fair points Mike, i think we’re singing from the same hymm sheet mate.
No probs Rico, i know the score [4-0 :)]… lets see how the boys are playing when we face Benfica 😉
Will, you are so right mate….
Kev, Man Utd seem to hget every kid through it.
Ferguson must have the Home Office in his pocket Will
The home office is one thing, but I always thought it was FIFA who grant the special talent VISAs.
Not sure about that Doc, i thought it was down to the British Govmt to grant a work permit…? FIFA maybe can recomend, but i’m not sure they have any real power .
Highly unreliable quote that turned up in a google search. I think it was a comment buried somewhere on a BBC article. Sorry can’t site the source, but I lost the URL during the copy paste. Anyway, this sort of makes sense so I thought I would post it:
” … the Home Office has the rule that if a player plays 75% of his international games in the past 5 years then he is eligible. For younger players / players who have blossomed quickly they might ask FIFA if the player is an exceptional talent as ONE avenue to see if the player is worth a Visa. I’m sure they use professional scouts to determine this as well. “
Cheers Doc, that’s interesting…
In that case, Ferguson has FIFA in his pocket… 😉
I for one put in a request that Rico, et all do a blog about this someday soon to clear up all the questions. Silva, was “betrayed” by FIFA shortly after Wenger’s remarks on England not getting the World Cup. Now Ryo has issues, when he clearly is a “special talent” – but for some reason ManU gets whomever they want. And even we got Denilson on special talent.
I suppose the more Wenger plays Miyaichi, showcasing his talents, the more chance we’ll have of a positive response from FIFA.
KT is your man for that Doc, he’ll know how many the Mancs have been awarded/refused, in comparison to AFC and the other big clubs.
It’ll be interesting to see the difference.
Not only that, but how many ‘Visas’ the likes of Barca, Real, Ajax, etc, get as well.
This is the best information I’ve been able to find so far:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/581349-arsenal-question-to-arsene-wenger-are-work-permits-worth-it
Anyway, I’ll stop hijacking this thread with my obsession over Special Talent visas. Now what we we talking about… oh yeah, this is not the season for Wenger to go. Agreed. ‘nough said.
Seems Man Utd get more than their fair share of exceptional talent visa’s.
My wordpress crashed guys 🙁 🙁
Everyone seems to have gone 🙁
still working here. about an hour or 2 ago, new comments were taking a very long time to post though.
Evening all,
Good read Merlin, hope Wengers religious, he must of had a little prayer and we got 4 goals, May take it up myself if we keep on scoring loads. Bartley sounded as if he had a solid game. hope that doesn’t mean what i think it might mean.
Hi Doc, mine crashed and kept having an error 504 message, then the laptop did a few funny things and off it it went…….
Hi Steve,
bartley didn’t feature, he didn’t travel with the squad, you mean Squilli don’t you but you just couldn’t bring yourself to type it 😉
Evening all.
I could not post here.
Hi Kt, Will
Glad it wasn’t just me then Will….
So, have we found out if ManUtd get more visas than us?
i ment the new guy
Not as far as i know – but i bet we all know the answer…
Jenkinson – yep, he did ok but he’s only back up for sagna right now…
i must have asked this question 3/4 times in the last wekk but i dont think its ever been answered by you fine folk –
Where does that leave Eboue??
Xavi has been very disrespectful to AFC-AW…its about time someone told him to shut his mouth.
Eboue is the new Flamini.
Jut been reading that Kt, Arsene isn’t happy is he – nor should he be, maybe Stan will finally throw his toys out and shut Barca up….
When asked about this latest development, the Arsenal manager was not pleased, and replied: “I cannot comment on every comment [involving Fabregas]. What is important is Cesc has a contract with Arsenal, and we want to keep him.”
Wenger also did not mince words about Xavi’s comments.
“A mutual respect should stand between the two clubs”, the manager said. “Xavi has been very disrespectful to Arsenal football club.”
Lord help us then Will….
So, Ade is joing Madrid, is they really a chance of us getting Bnzema??
And, are we really still after Hangleland??
Barca have used their entire budget on Sanchez.they can’t afford cesc so they should shut up.
Xavi using barca’s official website to lure cesc……classless prick & a classless club!! Fucking disgrace….
No chance rico.Mourinho said he wants 3 strikers.ade isn’t a benz replacement.
We should charge them with tapping up.
I can see us one day,out of the blue receiving news that nasri has renewed his contract.its just a gut feeling.
Lee – totally agree…
I thought as much Kt…
Will, we should have done that two years ago…
Guys, that’s me done, have a good evening…
Catch up tomorrow i hope…
Take care all
Nighty night
Graham hunter is now saying cesc is so desperate to leave that he would join city.d join city.
That’s where our board need some bollox….fucking give to the classless pricks!!
That’s where our board need some bollox….fucking give it to the classless pricks!! *should read!*
Even if Cesc stays, it can not be a good thing that he, the Captain, is missing out on the Asia trip while the rest of the team lives and plays together for a week.
A few players (and Wenger) have said in interviews on Arsenal.com how its different from London where they go home after practice … how they are getting to know each other, bonding, etc etc.
Graham Hunter is a turd….
Evening everyone, where’s Mr Positive 🙂
KT, Barca are skint, i’m just sick and tired of hearing about those wankers sounding off.
Cesc will just have to lump it…
Imagine, lumping it on 110k a week, what a nightmare…
Doc, that sounds great.
Maybe Wenger is banking on getting Nasri away from all the crap over here, in order to persuade him to sign a new deal?
Seriously, Gazidis needs to come out and say that the talk coming out of Barca is akin to tapping and we would like Uefa to look into it.
I still think nasri will sign AK.
Guess whose back training at London Colney…..???
One guess each…….:)
KT, i’m not sure about Nasri, but i’m more optimistic now, than i was a week ago mate…
Ok, it’s Sol Campbell
I think i would take sol over squilici
I hope this is correct, but Arsenal will play the winners of the Champions League qualifying match ;
Panithiakos vs OB Odense
Check out; http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedcl2011.html
Looks like an unwelcome trip to Greece is in the offing.
Unless the Danes can save us a few air-miles… 🙄
From what I saw in today’s match – two proper experienced centre backs and a decent LB are definitely a priority. I have a feeling that Wenger never studies the defence at all so that is why we leak so many goals fromsetpieces/corners!
MikeB says:
July 13, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Merlin,
I wasn’t gonna talk about this today, because I vehemently disagree with everything you say about Arsene Wenger, and feel some of your comments are an insult to him, to me as a supporter of Wenger’s skills and methods, and to the club, but…
I think you’ll find that Etihad is owned by Monsour’s brother.
As for Wenger’s comments… If I had voted for a system that was being circumvented before it even got off the ground, I think I’d have something to say about it too… more power to him.
But let’s not turn this into a rerun of yesterday…we kept a clean sheet today, we’ve got another match Saturday…life’s great
___________________________________________
MikeB, no offence taken.
Please wait for 2 more of my articles still being vet by Rico.
if I can recalled correctly, there was an attempt by oen fmaily to buy 2 no. Division clubs. They overcame the problem by the father keeping Club “A” and the son owned club “B”.
There is no rule or law that said siblings cannot owned separate clubs; and there is no way that collusion can be proven that the brothers’ have conflict of interest.
And any accountant can prove that Emirates 2006 15-year 100-mil stadium naming tight is equivalent of Eithad Airways 2011 10-year 300-mil naming rights is the equivalent of 2006 price.
E.g. how much was Kolo paid in 2006 – 50,000pw? – in contrast to what he is gettign at CITEH now…160,000pw?….which is triple of his Arsenal salary?
And if PHW & Co failed to secure more than 100-mil naming rights, then it is their ineptness and has nothing to do with Eithads Airways and Board of CITEH who are better negotiator than Eldemann??
Nobody cna prove “conflict of interest” as there is no evidence..merely hearsay.
@ Merlin: “any accountant can prove that Emirates 2006 15-year 100-mil stadium naming tight (sic) is equivalent of Eithad Airways 2011 10-year 300-mil naming rights is the equivalent of 2006 price.”
Im not trying to start a fight here, but no accountant would agree to that statement. I have a background in finance but I don’t even need to run the numbers to tell you these are not remotely equivalent, even taking inflation into account (while simultaneously ignoring events in the global financial markets). Your example (Kolo’s wages) has no bearing on the pricing of naming rights – there are completely different economic drivers behind player salaries and corporate sponsorships and marketing budgets.
I’m not saying that Man City got an above market deal, but it doesn’t pass the glance test and the conflict of interest seems pretty self evident, whether it can be proven or not.
Hi Doc, no offence taken.
The more diverse views over, the fun is this forum.
Fire away Doc and present your case without fear of offending moi.
I am learning lots too, by reading such a wide range of views and opinions over here…cheers.
But hey, it is a free market and if that is what EIthad Airways wish to pay for naming rights (and pumping more direct “foreign investments” into UK Economy), why should FA and UEFA interfere with this “Free Market” practice?
Morning All
Wenger say:
‘Will I spend money to make us stronger – Certainly’
Hoorah…..
Morning Rico,
Merlin,
great attitude; like it a lot, and its because of people with your healthy respect of other’s opinions that I enjoy this site… not all have that 😉
Merlin, Doc,
I’ve just been looking back at some of your comments and trying to figure how the hell you guys manage to post at so many different times.
You either live in a time zone that I can’t figure… or you suffer from incurable insomnia. 😆
Morning Mike
New Post is up, see you there on a bright sunny cheerie morning 🙂
“Merlin, Doc, I’ve just been looking back at some of your comments and trying to figure how the hell you guys manage to post at so many different Times.”
Ha. Well I can’t speak for Merlin, but in my case it’s probably because I switch time zones a lot. Was in France last few weeks, now in New York. Will be in Las Angeles in next few weeks, then back to UK.