Daily Bits and Bobs

Totts performance can spur us on! The most underrated Arsenal man?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Sorry for my absence which I promise had nothing to do with Arsenal or the manager.

Belated Happy Birthday to Ray Parlour who turned 43 years old yesterday. I doubt any of us will ever forget the ‘It’s only Ray Parlour’ comment by Tim Lovejoy just before the Englishman unleashed a super shot to give us a 1-0 lead in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea a few years ago. Freddie scored a second as another double winning season was secured. Oh those days eh.

He was a real team player and he gave everyone the impression that they could follow him into the trenches, that he would not let you down.

Off the pitch as well he had his own sense of humour. He had a good, comprehensive attitude with all the players. That made him very popular in the dressing room.

Overall he was an underrated player in England. He showed that when he played in central midfield he was not only a runner, he was also a very good footballer.

Have to agree with Arsene Wenger there, Parlour was very underrated by many, but not Arsenal fans. He was always one of my favourites and I was sad to see him move to Middlesbrough in 2004 and still believe he should have stayed for one or two years but at 31, he was deemed too old. Funny how times change eh.

I finally got around to watching the NLD yesterday and I thought we played well. Eleven against eleven, we were the far better side and despite the Totts having a lot of the ball, they didn’t really cause too many problems. Once we’d taken the lead the game was ours for the taking I thought, that was until Francis Coquelin had a moment of madness. But to go from 2-1 down with ten men and fight back for a draw was positive. Finally we all witnessed a bit of fight and passion, it’s just a shame these players can’t play like that every game and not just pick and choose their days.

Anyway, all one can do now is hope that that was a sign of things to come for the remainder of the season. Mathematically, we are still in with a chance of winning the league but with Leicester in such form, expecting them to drop points is wishful thinking imo but you never know. Fingers crossed.

The FA Cup however, is a real possibility with just a few rounds left to go in the competition.

Tonight it’s a re-run of the the match we should have won comfortably the first time around and that’s without the clear-cut penalty shout.

We had all the possession but in front of goal we weren’t clinical enough and lacked imagination in the final third against a Hull side which defended with a double decker bus. Reserve keeper Eldin Jakupovic had a good game first time around and earned all the praise but let’s be honest, apart from a couple of decent saves, one of which was superb, I think we made it easy for him.

Whether Hull will play the same way in front of their own fans I don’t know but knowing Steve Bruce, I doubt he’ll play any other way because to play an open game could give us the advantage. However, just a couple of seasons ago in the final, his boys were out of the blocks fast and hit us hard twice in the Cup Final, so the midfield and defence need to be alert from the off.

Hull were on a good run when we last played them but have since hit a bad patch. Their last five games in all competitions have produced just two goals – one for and one against. Our last five matches haven’t been much better really, in fact they’ve been awful as we haven’t won one of them. A shocking statistic really.

Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin all miss out tonight and I expect Arsene Wenger will make a few other changes too but not too many I hope as we really need to win this. A home fixture on Sunday against Watford awaits the winner of this match.

Barca can wait, in fact I’d much prefer the manager played a really strong side in the FA Cup and send a second string to Spain for a tie which we know we won’t win, than to risk an exit in this competition.

As said, the right spirit was on show at the weekend and that has to be repeated until the seasons end if we are to have a hope of winning this competition and/or the league.

COYRRG’S!

PS – don’t forget it’s a 7pm kick-off….

rico

149 thoughts on “Totts performance can spur us on! The most underrated Arsenal man?”

  7. Lee says:

    Spuds have Dortmund in the Europa, hopefully the krauts kick the living shit out of them physically and mentally!!!

  9. allezkev says:

    If we’re gonna win the Barney, then we not only have to remain unbeaten domestically, but we’ll probably need to win the rest of our games…

    As crazy as it seems this mob of players can do it, despite having AW as manager.
    They just have to sort it out among themselves and ignore AW…

  11. allezkev says:

    Doesn’t change anything really Rico, I think that Arsene has lost the trust of the majority of fans…
    We all appreciate what he’s done, but it’s too much of the same old nonsense every summer, when we’re crying out for some serious ambition, and all we get are the same old promises and mendacity from the Board…

    We might as well have stayed at Highbury.

  12. rico says:

    Reckon he’s lost the trust of the players too Kev as something doesn’t appear right..

    Agree re Highbury, especially when the whole idea of moving was to be a force in the league. Hasn’t really turned out that way… Yet…

    Summer of change I hope and I’d love him to get three FA Cups in a row to take with him…

  13. rico says:

    Ian Wright:

    “Two years ago Arsenal lifted the FA Cup and it was seen as the saving grace for Arsene Wenger,”

    “Now it’s being used as a stick to beat him with — almost viewed as an ‘also-ran’ competition not worthy of even winning.

    “That, in my book, is the most ridiculous insult for a competition which still deserves its place as the best in football.

    “The Gunners may have been second rate too often when it comes to the title race, but don’t put winning the FA Cup in the same bracket.”

  14. allezkev says:

    Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger angrily snapped back at the critics who believe he should be out of a job.

    Arsenal’s recent slump in form has seen Wenger’s role at the Emirates Stadium questioned with fans, pundits and ex-players all lining up to take shots at the Frenchman.

    But a visibly emotional Wenger hit out ahead of Tuesday night’s FA Cup fifth round replay at Hull City, insisting no-one should doubt his ability.

    From Daily Mail

  15. allezkev says:

    He said: ‘Look I have worked here for 19, 20 years and I’m always sitting here having to justify that I’m good enough to do the job.

    ‘I have no problem to cope with everything but I find that a bit boring in the end.

    ‘I always have to convince you that I am good enough. I have worked for 35 years at the top level.’

    ‘I cannot influence the behaviour of the fans. How can I do that? You (the media) are the guys who speak to the fans.

    ‘It’s not me. I am not on Twitter. I don’t invite anybody to go out to dinner and be nice with them.

    ‘I work and work and work and work. If it’s not good enough, someone will tell me one day. That’s all I can do. I do not worry about what you say about me or what fans say about me.

    ‘I try to do my job in a proper way and with full commitment.

    ‘After that everybody has the right to have an opinion.

    ‘You do not make a decision if I continue my job or not.

    ‘What I find just boring is always sitting here after 19 years to face, “Do you think you are good enough?”.

    ‘I don’t know. I am humble enough every day to question myself, to accept my mistakes, and believe me I do that.

    ‘If I am not (good enough) somebody will tell me. There is no coincidence that the people who own the club tell me to be here for 19 years. Do you think they are more stupid than you or me?’

  18. allezkev says:

    I’m not sure that people questioned AW, well maybe when he first arrived, but not after 97-98…

    He’s only been questioned since we moved to the Emirates and even then not for the first few seasons…

    The Board are happy for entirely different reasons, so it’s disingenuous to use them as a reason for his longevity in the job.

    Once the majority of fans turn in the stadium, see how loyal the Board will be then?

  21. Wavy says:

    I’m here, Rico!
    Winning tonight 0-2
    And we’ll all wonder what the drama was all about first time round, I hope.

    Glad to see you back. Hope you’re hail and hearty, and all is well in your world.

  27. goonster says:

    Why don’t we let one rip from outside the box ffs. Why do we have to always pass it around all game every game. Don’t these guys get dizzy playing in circles? My word watching arsenal is so infuriating. Grrrr

  35. goonster says:

    Lol 😀 theo just goes from bad to worse 😀 I still rate him though. With a different materials and different tactics he ll be a beast.

  43. goonster says:

    We look so drab rico. I can’t find the spark. The spark previous arsenal teams had. The spark that got you off your chair when we have the ball close to the opposition’s box. Every other arsenal team had it even GG’s but not this one. We re so predictable.

  48. goonster says:

    What I don’t get is why we persist with this tippy tappy crabby footie when we lack serious ball players. The likes of fabregas nasri hleb and tr7 fits this style. Not Sanchez theo Ramsey ozil and aoc. We have a team as fast as the Jamaican Olympic relay team yet we pass it around all day when we should be blitzing teams. Imagine a front line of theo Sanchez and aoc. Set up to play one touch counter attacking football. With ozil elneny and santi feeding them. We ll roll teams up in the first 20 minutes. It’s really sad seeing us fall so low. We have the players. We have three skill set just lacking application.

  51. goonster says:

    JM Walcott is what he is. An enigma. He divides opinion but shit he is not. He’s not everyone’s favorite but who can blame him. All hair career he’s never had a stable role in the team or moulded into a CF or winger. Theo’s ineptitude is all down to coaching. He can’t play center forward my ass. So defoe is what then?? Or agureo?? Please.

  56. potter says:

    Difference between Theo and the other two is in anticipation . Too often when the half chance presents he is caught on his heels. he doesn’t move to the ball , unless it’s played into him at pace he gets lost. However that’s not fully his fault when the ball takes so long to get to him.

  60. goonster says:

    Hi Potter because the ball is always released a fraction too slow. Why pass it out of the defense? When one ball over the top and we re one up. We both know theo is a limited player but play to his strength. Theo has not yet scored 100 goals for arsenal since 2006!!! That’s an indictment on the coaching staff. We have a speed merchant yet we pass the ball around and he gets closed down by the time the ball gets to him. It’s all down to tactics Potter my man. A different team a different manager and we ll be lamenting why we didn’t pay Southampton what they wanted for him all those years!

  61. scottfromoz says:

    Stan, Theo’s ineptitude is down to two things, coaching and his own lack of a football brain.
    Where you are totally wrong, though, is blaming Wenger, as the damage was done at the Youth level.
    The only thing Wenger can do is tailor our squad and tactics around Theo-please don’t have us believe you’d want that.

  63. scottfromoz says:

    Oh and Bale has made It, but then he is not a player basing his game purely on speed.
    He knows how to play football and that’s been evident since day one.

  76. allezkev says:

    Watford won’t be easy, but Koscielny, Ozil, Coquelin, Welbeck, Bellerin, BFG, Gabriel and hopefully Ramsey will be back.

  83. allezkev says:

    Well Rico, it can’t help to have Alexis, Giroud and Walcott scoring again….

    Welbeck would still be my main man in EPL games

  86. rico says:

    Certainly didn’t look something small Kev, nor Gabriel. The latter signalled straight away that he needed to come off..

  90. allezkev says:

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger speaking to BT Sport: “It was a shock as we lost our two centre-backs in the game and then we lost Aaron Ramsey.

    “Mertesacker is not serious, just a little concussion, and I think Gabriel looks all right but for Ramsey I am little bit more concerned.

    “It’s a thigh injury, but apart from that we have played well.”

  91. Wavy says:

    Doubt we will see Ramsey again until the Cup Final.
    Gabriel, 3 or 4 weeks minimum with a hamstring.
    BFG, has a bit of a swede above his eye, so long has he isn’t brain damaged, I’m sure he will be available for Sunday.
    The defence will be much as it was tonight.
    Bellerin, Merts, Chambers, Monreal or Gibbs. Imo.
    Ospina, without the option, but who would suggest ‘the option’ Ooooooooo…spinal has been a very very able,deputy for Cech.
    Midfield and up front as we finished tonight would be interesting and probably good enough to win the game.
    Who knows what Wenger will do? I’m damned sure he hasn’t a clue……yet!

    Good win to night with the intervention and first assist from Meyler, without his brilliant cross we would not have had such a comprehensive win. He really set us on the way.

    3 in a row? Don’t bet against it.
    Premier league champions? Keep your money in your piggy banks!

    Nite all. Sweet dreams.

  92. Micko says:

    rico, where you been gal, we’ve been worried about ya !

    Job done tonite, just a shame we couldn’t take the tie seriously first time around !

    As usual I’m with Scott, Walcott has only been with us for 10 years now, it’s not fair blaming dear ole Arsene for extending his contract every 3 years, Southampton really should have be investigated for selling him to us for such an absorbent amount of money and not coaching him properly in the first place but just because that doesn’t suit your opinion Scott you choose to ignore it lol ………….zzzzzzzzzzz

  94. Wavy says:

    Have a bet then Micko! Just give me 10% for the steer not to!

    If I had any bottle at all I’d have a punt on the EPL. Sadly I prefer the contents of the bottle as I can’t face the failure of a ‘punt gone wrong’.

  96. ScottfromOz says:

    Micko, Maybe you should apply for Arsene’s gig.
    Even in this backwoods country, your FIFA 16 exploits ate legendary.
    Micko for manager!!!!

  99. Lee says:

    Walcott’s 54 goals in 10yrs is pathetic and there is no way he should of been put on £140k pw….. another terrible decision from le senile one!

    Take Marco Reus from 2012, 98 appearances 46 goals…..

    Griezman from 2009 244 appearances 83 goals….

  101. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, exactly why Theo has been extended and upgraded is beyond me.
    It’s hardly the argument I made though, but it seems our resident FIFA troll missed that lol
    I’ve said for ages Theo teases us, and is no better than he was 5 years ago, but again, the legend ignores that as well 🙂
    Morning all.
    AO,MI.

  103. rico says:

    There’s a poll in The Mirror today which asks whether AW should leave in the summer. Over 2000 votes and the ‘out’ is leading by 2%….

  104. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, he makes a bloody good point.
    Wenger deserves respect, if nothing else, and plenty show none.
    It shows their true character.
    Demanding him be sacked is one thing, but the shit we read, the name calling, INCLUDING people on here, at times is disgraceful.
    I’ll agree right now Wenger should finish up at seasons end, and I actually said the same thing after we won the 2014 cup, yet I still manage to attract the trolls saying I do nothing but defend the man.
    Naaaah….I defend his right to respect, if nothing else.
    AO,MI.

  111. rico says:

    I’m having one tomorrow Scott 🙂

    I too think the name calling of AW is unnecessary but like most, I hope he walks away at the end of the season and he’ll have to walk imo, because there’s little chance of the board/Kroenke sacking him.

    The perfect scenario would be to win the double and wave goodbye…

  112. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, that would be sensational.
    Yes, he will have to walk.
    Stan is a disgrace, a non event.
    I’ll take any bets on the next manager NOT lasting 2 seasons, unless it’s Dennis.
    I won’t be happy about it, but that’s what will happen, I reckon.

  113. Lee says:

    So was the bloke at the KC Stadium a fan just expressing his view….. nothing wrong with “Wenger out” if that’s his view.

  114. rico says:

    I still think Henry is being set up to take over Scott, hope I’m wrong though..

    Still, we won’t know just how silent and hopeless is until AW has gone because I’m sure that any new man coming in will want assurances of having money to spend before agreeing any deal…

  116. Lee says:

    Double what you been smoking??
    Obviously depends who the next manager is but I’ll do that bet with you all day long Scott!

  117. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, i never said those showing banners shouldn’t offer their opinion, or aren’t entitled to it.
    I said they’re a disgrace, imo.
    Do you condone people calling him the French C**t which is a popular term among Wenger detractors.
    Sorry, but some of the crap people say about the man says more about them than it does Wenger.
    Anyway, everything I post here is simply my opinion, as is the case with everyone, and we are all entitled
    Rico, it will be very interesting times when Arsene leaves.

  119. Lee says:

    Well it’s a fact the money is there, it’s in the accounts and £115m has been spent in the last 2.5 seasons…..it’s just Wenger can’t find any players that would be an upgrade on what we have.

  120. Lee says:

    I think it’s a disgrace the way the fans get treated by Wenger, charge the fucking apex for tickets and serve up a mediocre weak team that always shits itself when we need to win.

  123. scottfromoz says:

    Wenger doesn’t set the prices…..
    Other points, he’s guilty.
    As I said, no issue with his critics if they offer a decent argument.
    Plenty can’t so resort to abuse.

  129. scottfromoz says:

    Hey, blame those who allow him to have a say.
    I mean, if I told my boss how to run his business, he’d tell me where to go.
    I reckon most would.
    Stan must also leave for us to prosper.
    Watching the replay as I missed the second half…more injuries than goals lol.

  130. Lee says:

    A decent argument would be wanking off in the PL for 12 years……

    Doing the same thing season after season expecting a different result…..

    I can go on and on but have lost the will tbh.

  136. rico says:

    Scott, as much as I detest Kroenke, I’m 99.9% sure he’d have given AW more than £10m to spend last summer.. That was the final straw for me.

    Relying on Rosicky, Arteta and Flamini was a dreadful decision to make.

  137. Lee says:

    Brudder.

    What time did Mrs A. get home from the K.C Stadium?

    It was her holding the “Wenger out” banner wasn’t it????

  138. rico says:

    Morning Adam.

    Well I guess Stan gave AW a new contract two years ago at a time when really, the best thing for the club was to to part company with with him.

    But on the pitch, yep, it’s all down to the manager and the pathetic performances put in by some of the players…

  139. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, if you recall, I was as filthy as anyone on the lack of spending at the time.
    I’m not defending his job now.
    Saying he shouldn’t be the victim of abuse and insults from people with a lack of class is not defending his position.
    Saying Stan is the biggest issue is not defending Wenger.
    Blurred lines everywhere, I’d say.

  140. Adam says:

    My feeling (unsubstantiated) is that Kroenke has very, very little to do with the day to day running of the club and only gets involved where strategic decisions are concerned.
    Rico. Completely agree. That decision was made on incredibly shaky foundations. Didn’t we all, well most anyway, question what would happen when the injuries started to bite? You could see last night, the limitations that Wenger has in personnel.

  143. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, I’d say your assessment if Stan is spot on.
    Does that make him less complicit, though?
    I’d say no, but then again, as long as we make a profit…..

  144. Adam says:

    The berating of Stan seems to me to come from a sense of frustration with Wenger. How many who seem to blame him, congratulated him on the two FA Cup wins? After all, if he is the architect of our woes he must also be the same for our successes.
    Also, the plight of Man Utd must have given Ivan and the board serious pause. The question as to who replaces Wenger is still the ‘biggie’.
    My feeling is that opportunity knocked with Pep and Arsenal chose to ignore it.

  146. rico says:

    Just why I care so little for Stan Adam. I’m more for a hands on approach and if I were him, I’d want to be a lot more involved and know when or next PL title is coming from etc etc.

    And I certainly wouldn’t have given AW a new contract two years ago without knowing what his aims were…

  148. Adam says:

    Rico. Businessmen at that level, operating on a different continent probably rely very heavily on local management ie the board. I would suggest that, as the whole Wenger regime has been ticking along nicely, from a business point of view, his involvement has been minimal.
    That will certainly change when the time comes for a new regime though I doubt Stan has founded his empire on taking decisions he knows he is ill-equipped to make.

  149. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, the same amount who constantly berate Wenger, yet congratulated him, I’d say.
    The same amount who cheered on the Invincibles, sing 49, 49 Undefeated then call Wenger a French C**t??
    Numbers can be funny.
    Nah, I’m frustrated with Wenger, but the point I continually make is that Stan is THE person in prime position to change the entire clubs future, yet won’t, so how anyone can say he is not guilty in all of this is something I don’t understand.
    Not totally at fault, but guilty.
    Plenty blame Wemger for everything.
    Logically speaking, it’s a ridiculous stance, just as the one taken by those who say he’s never wrong.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

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

Continue reading