Unimpressed With Summer Signings… Arteta is Past his Best……

Arsenal old boy Frank McLintock has been talking about our summer signings and he’s less than impressed! In an interview with The Daily Star he’s reported as saying:

I’m sorry to say it but I’m not impressed with the names Arsene has brought in.

If we’d signed Arteta two seasons ago I would have said ‘great’.

 I thought Arteta was a superb ­player who would have been just right for Arsenal and the way they play the game. But since then he’s been injured and was injured for a lot of last season as well.

I think if they get in the top four that would be their best hope. I can’t see them ever ­overtaking Manchester United with this team, or Man City.

It’s going to be really, really tough this year for Arsenal and I don’t think the fans are going to be too kind to them.

I think they’ve just got a little fed up with all the promises and everything else that has been going on at Arsenal for the past six years and because of the expense of going to the club.

I think we have all learned that no matter what Arsenal Football Club do, it will never be enough for some will it?

We have all said that we’d hoped for a M’vila, Hazard, Cahill or Mata signing to come in but we didn’t get that and now it’s time to accept the players he has bought and get behind them. McLintock professes to be an Arsenal man but writing off our players already is hardly likely to give them confidence if they read his words. Nor will it help by stating fans are going to give Wenger a hard time, starting on Saturday when we are at home to Swansea.

How he thinks that adding a German international centre half, a Korean goal scorer, two experienced midfielders, a Brazilian left back, an Ivorian winger and a future England international winger won’t make us stronger I just don’t know!

Of course they will make our squad stronger, not as strong as if we’d spent all of what we’d made on player sales, we all know that but the club didn’t do that so we have what we have.

Oh, and try telling Everton fans that Arteta is passed his best, I don’t think they’ll agree, they are gutted to see him leave.

Now is the time to support, not try and wind up the fans even more Frank…

We don’t have a bad run of fixtures up until the New Year, let’s see where this team is then before we start listening to people write them off and don’t forget, there’s always January…. 😉

Do you agree with McLintock??

Have a good day all…..

157 thoughts on “Unimpressed With Summer Signings… Arteta is Past his Best……

  1. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning all,
    Nice post rico,
    I find it hard to beleive how an old Arsenal ex player says somthing like that, if you cannot say anything positive then piss off. I have always had a great deal of respect for Frank, i have met him on several occasions and watched him play many times, but i find it very hard to hear people like Frank Wrighty and Adams and the rest, not speaking very well on The Arsenal, They all earn a good living as television pundits and i don’t begrudge them that, but as i said before if you can’t say anything positive piss right off. And when this team of has beens brings home the bacon , dont try and slide through the Emirates doors.

  2. big ernie says:

    Agree wholeheartedly with the post and we all should get behind the team and the new recruits 100% …… but the disappointing thing for fans is with the sale of Cesc and Nasri + if the 50Mil transfer pot we were supposed was available then why didn’t we didn’t get M’vila, Hazard, Cahill or Mata ……

  3. rico says:

    Morning Steve

    I couldn’t believe it either, I just dont get how he thinks we will struggle more than before, ok we lost cesc but one player doesn’t make or break a side, the mancs showed that when ronaldo left…

  4. crashcameron says:

    i agree with FM but that all these signings should have been made two years ago. instead, Arsene kept puds like Denilson and Diaby

  5. The Law says:

    Rico, you must admit that the headline does make it seem as though you’re slating the new boys before they’ve even had the chance to pull on the shirt. I know that in today’s web, a headline that says “Give the new guys a chance” is less likely to generate hits than “Unimpressed with new players” and I came here eager to see how a 6’6″, 26 year-old German international with 75 caps to his name was not impressive enough for the writer of the post, and fully expected to read some xenophobic ranting.

    Unlike Snipzy, I read the post and I am glad to see that you are willing to give the new boys a chance, which is no less than they deserve. However, you’re quite likely to get a few people who will read that headline and skip the post in the belief that the post simply backs up the headline.

  6. stevepalmer1 says:

    Morning BigErn Cahill was 17 mill but his fee will go down in the January window, Hazard was the only striker of note they had left and he will be available next time mata’s price was too high, and we have purchased a couple of players that should be capable of doing what needs to be done.

  7. rico says:

    The Law, your comment says it all… Read the actual article and it tells the story,…

    Why should I not give them a chance, i support Arsenal…..

  8. rico says:

    hi big ernie – wenger wanted cahill i’m sure but his price for a player in his last year is something that wenger won’t spend, personally i would have tried a bit harder to get him, i’m sure moyes would have accepted 13/14 million..

    I still think Cahill will be another Chamakh, either a cheaper deal in jan or free next summer as long as we finish in the top 4…

  9. zickay says:

    It seen all the ex players are more interested in names than ability, all these ex players including Merse and except Parlour have always criticised what ever Wenger does.I guess they wanted bathroom jobs and are bitter because they have been ignored. I remember FM calling Nasri a lightweight when he was signed and Fab too small to replace Vieira.Everyone is good manager until they get into the job.I wonder why all of them are not in football management.

  10. John says:

    Shame some ex-players have to tarnish their legacy by saying cr@p like this just to earn a few pounds. Daily Star, I mean, Jeez have some respect for yourself Mr McLintock.

  11. rico says:

    hi zickay,

    i think you know the answer to that question, they aren’t good enough to be managers – unlike when we listen to keown who talks more about players hearts, i think one day he’ll be our manager…

  12. rico says:

    John, i guess with every story comes a pay cheque….

    The bit that narks me the most is how he suggests that against Swansea the fans are going to give wenger and the players a hard time, maybe he should read around the blog world as most fans are pretty happy with who we have bought.

    ok we wanted that one big one but, we didn’t get him, the big one we did get though is German 😉

  13. Austin says:

    Wat would wenger do to impress u guyz,i reckon is suffering psychologically and it’s because of statements like this..
    Feel 4 wenger.

  14. Michael carby says:

    Michael, this is the time to show the team 110% support. Give positive energy at all games. All the ex players are inciting trouble. We have the January transfer Market. And players like Rio to come in. Gooners stick together and make the emirates a cauldron of noisy support.

  15. stevepalmer1 says:

    Ex players has always made me smile,when playing they have good wages and lets face it not a bad life, get up about ten or eleven couple of hours training golf in the afternoon in their Aston’s or Ferrari’s but as soon as they finish they knock everything good about the game but still stay in the sport as critics. We talk about loyalties and being an old Arsenal Man, but in reality they are just money grabbers that have never done a hard days work in their lives, so why do we give a shit what they have to say.

  16. Mike says:

    M’Villa, Hazard, Mata are still basically kids, below 23 yrs and Cahill is relatively inexperienced on the international and european (Although he’s doing well for England now). If Wenger had bought this lots everyone one would be slating him saying he’s bought kids again and why did he buy more experienced players. It just seems that he can do no right at the moment.

  17. power says:

    have not looked at all the coments but im sure some one has said give them a chance they havent even had a game together yet.samba or cahill would of been nice and i c cahill coming to us next year maybe jan.word at the emrites is we will sign a top midfielder which would have been done this summer but the other team failed to replace.hazard i think….have a nice sunday fellow gooners

  18. rico says:

    Hi Osi,

    that’s McLintocks words, not mine – i call being 29 years old being experienced, and experience is what we need….

  19. Mr K says:

    Arsenal fans are so picky. If we signed Messi we’d
    still have people complaining.

    Anyways nice piece Rico. Just fix your headline 😉 its Unimpressed. Not uninpressed 😀

  20. goonster says:

    If he’s past his best why on earth is moyes tearing his hair out…….frank mcintosh is a spud loving turd. Tell him I said “jump off the cliff you price”

  21. MattJ says:

    I felt last season that some of our players didn;t want to win and that they lacked the passion but I feel this will change. Mertesacker is the kind of player we have wanted for years, Benayoun didn;t play for Chelsea much but he went to Chelsea from Liverpool because he works hard for the cause and I think that was a good move for us. Arteta will be injured a bit sure but that also means that the development of Ramsey and Wilshere will not be slowed down just means we have a very good creative centre mid player in there fighting for a place. Santos and Park Chu Young we lnow less about but Park looks like a very determined hard working player, the kind we really want playing for us. Also we must rmemeber the other guys w bought! Gervinho is going to be big this year.
    So we didn;t get a “Big” player who cares, big players sulk and assume they are bigger than the club we want players who will work hard, what annoyed us fans last season wasn;t just the dropping off but that the players appeared to be comfortable with the drop in form as if they expected it! I think with these buy we will do well and we can push for a cup. Also as Wenger himself has said not spending 30 million does mean we can offer RVP and Vermalean a bigger longer contract

  22. Arsenal says:

    I believe Wenger is in a position where he can’t win no matter what he does.We called for experience and leadership and of the last 5 players we signed, none are under 25, and 3 of them are international captains for their countries. And no people say Wenger has abandoned his values of youth. We might have a weaker XI this season (that is arguable however considering how we’ve reinforced our defense, and now have Gervinho), but our squad has much more quality depth. I am exited and I think we will be in the title race come January and I think Mr Wenger might just give us a marquee signing 🙂

  23. Osi says:

    rico, sometimes you can be biased and write some convincing and believable story. Writing is all about believability. Some others, though, try to write our their silly minds dictate them to write without any other considerations.

    Goonster, the same people who cried that we lost our experienced players such as pires and Gilberto who were abysmal in their last Arsenal appearances are the people who are now talking about players being past their best. Hypocrisy! on grande scale!

  24. goonster says:

    Wilshere is out for almost three months…..Lord help us. Another young player suffering for playing too many matches at an early age.

  25. rico says:

    goonster, exactly and the everton fans are sad to see him leave too..

    Mattj, big hearts are more important sometimes, agree with what you are saying – look at some of the players around who have cost big bucks but sulk – Citeh will have a few more too as the season goes on, its all well and good having a squad full of big names but with most of them comes a big ego…

  26. rico says:

    Arsenal – if reports are to believe he tried to get M’vila or Gourcoff this summer, maybe he’ll do that in Jan, it’s anyones guess but right now we have to make sure that we are in that top four at the end of the year as no matter who we want wenger to buy, if we are not looking to be in the CL, they won’t want to join us….

  27. Ben says:

    i read posts regarding other clubs and hardly see their ex-players condemn nearly every move they make, yes we miss-out on some of our top transfer targets but truth be told we got most of what we wanted, our defense is better for it and yes we have always have an attack that is capable of scoring goals, true we lost vital players in the midfield but who says Arteta is not experienced enough? By my understanding a fit Arteta is very consistent as he hardly have off-days on the pitch. Who says Benayoun is not a quality push and addition.

    Sometime I wonder if the opposition has something special that makes a section of the press single out arsenal for continuous criticism I mean the type that dampen the morale of our players, just like the one above – coming from an ex-Arsenal player (or does he work for an opposition team)?. Mind games can be very destructive and if not properly managed can ruin a team. Our team need our backing and so does the boss.

  28. Osi says:

    rico I didn’t like them as players either coz they behaved badly against us; they acted like thugs, but, I saw the retired Neville articles and he realised his better than many ‘neo-football experts’. That’s all.

  29. rico says:

    Hi Ben –

    they have just jumped on the bandwagon of other media who like to report all that can be negative…

    However, i do believe that with all the money we made on player sales, we could have bought one of two more….

  30. Osi says:

    my only doubt about Arteta is about his fitness not quality. He’s no Fab, but he’s his own man and can create goals and score ones. He’ll improve our midfield and aid possession. Ball in his feet he’s just as confident as Fab. I hope he stays fit for his start.

  31. Osi says:

    Observations: all the players we brought in have got skills that Arsenal lacked badly: they all [not Mertesacker] have got a fierce shot; shoot from distance; they all have determination; they all good at free kicks; they can all dribble and they all can pass the Arsenal way.

  32. rico says:

    Same with Yossi Osi, both are quality but their fitness is not the best, at least they are used to this league though…

    Mad Jens reckons Merts will be good, once he gets used to life in the PL….

  33. EastSidePaul says:

    Dear Rico, I just read the headline and nothing else, and feel like I should make a comment on you not supporting the team booo on you!

    I have always had a lot of respect for Frank as a double winning captain how couldn’t you! But it seems like a lot of our past players like to have a go. Mers because Wenger gave him the boot as soon as he could. Maybe Wright is somewhat bitter about the way he left also, same with Vieira. I found Vieira’s snub during the summer very disrespect-able, for a club that made him everything he is today, to turn us down in lure of money is shameful.

    The one player who has never had a bad word to say about the club is Mr. Henry, and I cannot wait to see the day he is back in a coaching role, a true Arsenal legend! (Something our double winning captains should take note of)

  34. Osi says:

    ESP you’re right they all bitter, plus they don’t have a critical mind; they just follow the suit [mother media]. I like Keown though, he seems resistant to media pressure.

  35. rico says:

    Hi ESP, i see you are in a good mood this fine sunday morning….

    Add to Vieira, the fact that he tapped up Nasri and persuaded him to join the northern chavs…

    I don’t think we will hear a bad word from Cesc either, and what about another real gent in DB?

    I think you could have hit the nail on the head, bitter and twisted, same with GG, it wasn’t the clubs fault he got caught taking a backhander….

    Henry and Keown 🙂

  36. Osi says:

    rico I think the story of Wilshere injury is exaggerated; Wilshere didn’t say that anything serious was wrong with him when spoke on radio, he seemed to suggest that the boot will stay a while as Wenger is cautious but nothing else.

  37. EastSidePaul says:

    Do not want to see wilshere out for 3 months. Our players tend to be made of glass, or made into glass when they arrive, there must be something wrong with our medical staff. No other club has this many injuries so frequently. I heard a while ago that the Emirates pitch is very hard and is the source of many injuries, but I couldn’t see that being allowed to happen.

    I hope we don’t hear a peep from Cesc, I wonder how the fans will react when we play them in the knockout stages this year?

    Was very disappointed with Vieira, can understand the chip on his shoulder. Without the club he would have been a second string nothing player, he owes us at least some loyalty.

    And in my view Arteta will be a better player for us than Cesc (of the last two years that is). Here we have a player who is out to win and show exactly how good he is on the big stage, while all Cesc did was hug and kiss Barca players in the tunnel before a major champions league game, back heel them a goal and spent the rest of his time “injured”. Ins’t it oh so surprising that the pesky problems he had at Arsenal seemed to have completely disappeared over night in spain! must be that warm weather!!

  38. rico says:

    Osi, good and he’s not tweeted anything as far as i can see, something which he normally does if there is any news…

  39. rico says:

    ESP – too many players play too many games imho – especially when they are young and their bones are still growing.

    That’s when it was clear to see how much depth we lacked, Jack hardly had a break last season…

    Cesc’s head hasn’t been with us for a long while, we should have let him go last summer imho – now he’s gone maybe we will start playing as a team again and stop all the focus on one player..

    We were the same when Henry played, everything was always about him and such a big deal was made when he didn’t play…

    It’s a team game and we need to have a ‘team’ attitude and approach and once all players are back, I’m sure we will…

  40. EastSidePaul says:

    Its no surprise that the major media have picked it up, they tend to steal anything credible from the blogs, they are themselves just ginat blogs with a printing press.

    I’m sure if enough of the blogs ran that Arsene Wenger is now a born again Christian you’d see it pop up as genuine news in the Daily Mail.

  41. K-TR7 says:

    Hi all.good read rico.im so pissed with how our signings are getting slated left,right and centre before even playing.i saw an article where our business was rated at C while the spuds at A 😮 it would be so much sweeter if we were to shock ’em all.

  42. Osi says:

    There are not any news channels, websites, papers media in general we rely on for correct information. Big papers and channels are fed rumours and the idea to separate fiction from facts has become alien to them. There are not quotes or source anymore, just pure rubbish.

  43. goonster says:

    Just what we need right now, another player cut down by the injury ninjas. And have guys noticed how the best player of the last season seems to be the one injured in the new season. Last season it was vermaelin now its wilshere…..its a worrying trend!

  44. terry says:

    we dont need mvilla he is a very good player but not really required by our club, who we need right now is creeative midfileder sumone like gourcuff or marvin martin
    gotze is a incredible player if we could get him nothing like it
    hazard what more should i say every arsenal fan wants him

    i think if we could also get a left winger sumone like malouda, he would add a lot to our team

    schezny

    sagna pet vermy santos

    frimpong wilshare gotze

    hazard RVP malouda

    we dont need players like diaby(7m), rosicky(2m), djouru(6m), squillachi(2m), chamak(7m), almunia, denielson(4m), nikki b(7m), arsahvin(10m) thats like 9 players. at least 45m

    we buying in just 4 players.
    gotze: 35m
    hazard: 30m
    cahill: 5m
    malouda: 5m
    total of 70m – 45m= 25m

    total players:
    schezny, sagna, pet, vermy, santos, frimpong, wilshare, gotze,
    hazard, RVP, malouda, ramsay, song, coquellen, young, afobe, mayachi, AOX, fabianski, walcott, gerviniho, lansbury, arteta, gibbs, kozzer, cahill,

  45. Joaquim moreira says:

    Good morning…
    It could make the forecasts that will get along. All hypotheses are possible. The “if” of the past no longer play. For my part. wish you the best and if necessary, improved in January. It does not get defeated!

  46. Davi says:

    Agree with the post. Even if Arteta and benayoun don’t perform as we hope, the other signings will give us a much stronger platform to face the other sides, and with them we stand a much better chance of winning any game than we would have before. A back 4 with sagna and santos, with 2 of mertesacker, kos and TV is a convincing line-up that will give us some experience to fall back on. If one of Jenkinson or Gibbs has to come in, we can feel confident that they can do the job as long as they have these experienced CBs to help them – I believe even coquelin can work as long as he is around experienced players to help him through. In short, these new signings can really help the “youth project” to succeed because the bulk of the responsibility can be shouldered by experienced players, as it always should have been.
    Gervinho is also a convincing signing, he looks like a great player in the making, and I really can’t see Park not succeeding. He may not score 100s of goals, but his workrate and skill will help drive us forward. I can see him being somewhat similar to Kuyt, but his skill level is higher, so he could be a better version.
    I will be surprised if arteta, in particular, doesn’t improve the 1st team. His set pieces alone, coupled with Mertesacker, give us another threat going forward, that has been missing for some time, plus he is an intelligent and skillful footballer – and intelligent, skillful footballers tend to compliment van persie, and even theo walcott very well.
    Lastly, let us not forget that fabregas contributed almost nothing to the side last year. There was a very brief spell where he, nasri, walcott and van persie were all on amazing form, linking together and destroying teams, but it was broken up very quickly, just before one of the barca games – but that aside he really did nothing. So ignoring him, the only significant loss from last season is nasri, who has been replaced by gervinho, arteta, benayoun and even park, who could all take his position. It’s actually becoming hard to see how we are weaker than last season at all now (although wilshere’s injury is a worry).

  47. adam says:

    Seeing how weak were at Old Trafford and in the previous 16 Premeir League games just two wins from the last 15 and we have already lost two one to Liverpool our rival for 4th spot and United our suppossed title rivals 8-2 . Plus we have drawn one to Newcastle , so much for avenging the 4-4 then!
    With Cichy, Fabregas and Nasri sold on top of this nonsense . So by default it’s difficult to see how any signings would not make us stronger. There is nothing like creating a problem and then claiming the credit for solving it. Wenger laughably did this when winning our Champion League qualifier that we only played down to his own incompetance.
    I agree with Frank though that these players that he’s just signed are not good enough . They are just panic buys when we needed cool judgement and better ones earlier . Instead Wenger as usually fussed about like an old hen fretting over its chicks rather than getting on with the job that he’s paid millions to do.
    While he’s got fools like you supporting him though he will be with us for ever. Come back and tell us about it all in January,when I predict Wenger will be panic buying again with the African Cup impacting on us and the usual supensions and injuries kicking in.

  48. ranju says:

    Arsenal were a club in crisis and facing a relegation battle on the basis of our start. Only clubs like Nottingham Forest loose that heavily to Man U & end up being relegated. We’ve already lost to Liverpool & Man U. It’s hard to see how we can get any kind of result against Chelsea or Man City on the basis of our start so far. We can say the same about even Spurs realistically. The signings Wenger has brought make sure that we might compensate those defeats by at least cungering up some wins against the other Premiership teams. Even if we still had Fabregas & Nasri, we’d still needed to buy new players to challenge for a top four finish. Wenger can no longer be be naieve enough to think we can achieve what have in last few seasons by not making big signings. I’m not talking about winning silverware by the way. Our rivals are so strong with such spending power, it’s gonna take a lot more than what we’ve got and what Wenger’s done so far to challenge, so my fellow fans, be realistic about what we can achieve.

  49. Loh says:

    Frank Mcintalking-crap!!! I don’t really care if he is an arsenal legend or whatever…. the fact that he jumped to conclusion without even looking at how the players we signed will do is just so negative and is definitely not helping the team!! Give the guys a chance everyone!! I am getting really frustrated seeing people being so negative!

  50. ranju says:

    I do however see players like Chamakh benefiting from the new signings as they’ll suit his style of play especially Arteta.

  51. goonerfan87 says:

    Good post rico, glad to read good positive articles. Ive got respect for frank mclintock as i know he was a gooner and played well for the club, although i never saw him play only on replays of old! I don’t agree with him but were all entitled to our opinions, still harbouring hope this team can do well. The groubdwork is there we just need to prove it. Cone on u gunners!

  52. EastSidePaul says:

    Well thats Wilshere’s season over.

    “I can confirm I will be out for around 2-3 months! I am working hard in the gym to stay fit and I am gutted but I will be back stronger!”

  53. graffikviolenz says:

    Just wanted to say, I like the post and I’m really happy with the majority of the comments… Glad to see a little positivity about, personally I think all the signings are positive. It’s clear that Wenger wants young players and wants the young players we’ve already got to come through and succeed. He’s brought in experience by hook or by crook, and you can’t knock the choices. leading up to the deadline it seemed that he was sniffing around for mature loan deals, we all know what money he’s supposed to have, and we all know he’s not one to waste it, so I’m inclined to believe that his main targets are more likely to be arriving in the January window and in the meantime he’s making up numbers with experience and proven quality and effort.
    A pundit’s a pundit… every football fan has an opinion but how many pundits have gone on to become successful managers or win 3 league titles in England 2 doubles got to the final of the champion’s league, unearthed world class players who no one has ever heard of consistently.
    Trust in Wenger is critical, and those who dis him run the risk of losing one of the world’s greatest managers. It’s not like he would be out of work too long so go careful. I think the prospect of coming near replacing him is a far more serious concern.
    Personally I have a feeling we’ll be seeing M’vila and Hazard wearing red and white before the season’s up, in the meantime I can’t help thinking that the additions of Benayoun and Arteta will really help in the guidance of Ramsey, Wilshere, and Frimpong in a way that I couldn’t imagine happening with Eboue or Nasri. They are both clever and experienced and this is a very big last chance for them, they haven’t come for money so expect genuine commitment.

    Come on you rip-roaring goal-scoring gooners

  54. allezkev says:

    Why is it, that our medical team seem incapable of healing our players..?
    A straightforward injury suddenly becomes career threatening as soon as our physio’s get a hold of anyone.
    Gary Lewin… Please come back…

  55. EastSidePaul says:

    -Kev

    I agree, there is something majorly wrong with the medical team, they seem to take the smallest knock and turn it into months out, where as other clubs seem to be albe to superglue their players and have them playing the next week.

  56. Micko says:

    Our medical staff don’t know that arses from there elbows, it’s as if they’re filming carry on doctor down at the emirates these days and it ain’t funny.

  57. Joaquim moreira says:

    hummm… I wrote a week ago, we need a central back, a left back, a central forward and 3 midfields players. Miss one midfielf player…

  58. EastSidePaul says:

    – Micko

    You watching the hurling? I know of no other sport in the world were you can hit the referee in the face, cut his nose, and not even be cautioned.

  59. Micko says:

    He looked a bit worse for wear didn’t he, everyone likes to have a laugh at the referees expense, its human nature.
    Cant believe the weather up there, its raining cats and dogs here.

  60. EastSidePaul says:

    Great weather down here also, Kilkenny foul the ball every chance they get, would like to see Tipp beat them.

  61. mog says:

    barca vice president josep maria bartomeu has said the cesc valuation by arsenal was right. (60m euros = £53m) and they got a bargain. piss taking or wot.

  62. EastSidePaul says:

    -Mog

    Everyone knew Cesc’s value apart from Arsenal apparently. We were nicely robbed for one of Europe’s best midfielders.

  63. Micko says:

    Yeah and it’s not like he was still under a 3 year contract or anything, anyway I’m over it.

    ESP, someone just said they saw the Tipps team bus just turn up !

  64. rico says:

    Hi all, sorry for those just let on, all first comments go into moderation, you are free now and comments will go straight on now…

  65. rico says:

    Re Cesc’s valuation, Wenger said that Barca had got him cheap, he said that on the open market we would have got a lot more for him but as he only wanted Barca they were stuffed….

    Barca knew that too and took the p**s

  66. Micko says:

    Rico, its not for the feint hearted and should come with a government health warning.
    Did you see LJW could be out until december !

  67. EastSidePaul says:

    15 a side, Hurling sticks in hand, 1 point over the bar and 3 points for a goal, and very little rules it would seem sometimes, Its the fastest field sport in the world.

    Video is a bit lame, but you’ll get the idea!

  68. K-TR7 says:

    Mertsacker had 9 yellows and 2 reds in 221 bundesliga games.he went for 5 seasons without even receiving a card.in his 75 games for Germany he has collected only 1 yellow card.for a defender that lacks pace he must have very good positioning.

  69. Micko says:

    TR7, very good positioning or very long legs ?
    Impressive record, look forward to seeing his 1st yellow against swansea, it’s a no brainer.

  70. rico says:

    I think i have seen it before ESP, i played hockey and lacrosse but that looks a bit like micko describes, do you play esp??

    Dangerous 😉

  71. EastSidePaul says:

    -Rico

    Yeah i did, I played up until I was about 16, then gave it up to play Football (or as we call it, soccer). Was always much better at football, not a very popular choice in schools here!

  72. rico says:

    You are in Ireland? I didn’t know footie was called soccer there, is it still not so poular even though the country has produced so many good players…

  73. Micko says:

    Yeah, save him for the champs league quarter finals in the new year
    Someone needs to keep diaby company anyhows.

  74. allezkev says:

    Well Barcelona can crow all they like about signing Fabregas for £35million and now saying he’s worth £52million.
    What they overlook,is the fact that they had to pay £35million for a player who shouldn’t have cost them anything…
    What’s Spanish for ‘Mugs’…???
    JM….?

  75. K-TR7 says:

    Terry and vidic have no pace at all.pique isn’t the quickest but is regarded as the best CB despite playing in a high offside line.i’ve seen puyol play at RB against Ronaldo several times but he never got beat for pace even once as he would anticipate anything that comes down that flank.lets hope mertsacker proves to be an absolute bargain.

  76. allezkev says:

    KT. You don’t play 75+ times for the Jerries if you can’t play. Vermaelen will watch his back while Per gobbles up all the agricultural airborne stuff.
    Bring it on.

  77. SD-London says:

    Matlock or whatever is name is should be thanking his stars that Wenger didn’t give us the similar end of the season lines:

    We dont need to buy because we have talented young players.

    Then maybe Matlock would have gone on an hunger strike.

  78. rico says:

    Spot on Kev, he’s a good signing, would have even better if Cahill had joined too 😉

    Not too long then… Will you get to the Ems for the Swansea game?

  79. allezkev says:

    Yes Rico. Really looking forward to seeing all the new faces.
    Haven’t seen Lee on here for a few days…
    Holiday i hope?

  80. EastSidePaul says:

    -Rico,

    Yeah we have a national sport called football here, so real football becomes soccer!
    Another great sport we play once a year is compromised rules, half Gaelic football half Ausie rules football.

    Ireland Vs Australia. I think they may have cancelled it, it was just two teams beating on each other, very entertaining!

  81. rico says:

    Lee was around on DD of the transfer window, i might just email him though, thanks Kev..

    You lucky thing going to the game, shame jack and gervinho won’t be playing…..

  82. K-TR7 says:

    This season we are using the zonal marking system to defend corners.so far this season it seems to be working well.Barça who have the shortest team in Europe conceded 3 goals from 137 corners last season employing the same system with one of those being the own goal they conceded against us.however unlike our system they don’t put men on the goalline in order for them to create an offside trap after the first clearance.just though i would share this info with you guys.

  83. rico says:

    Kt, i think a lot depends on where we are in the PL come January, if we are mid table, we won’t get any of the players we hope for i’m sure…

  84. Micko says:

    Wenger hates the january transfer window, he makes no secret of it, I see it the other way round, if we are flying no-one will come in, if we are stuggling he may bring in 1 new face and that will be it.

  85. EastSidePaul says:

    – Rico

    I’ll share with you a Hurling story from my youth! My dad played until he was 40, and I remember when I was about 6 or 7 after one match on a Sunday morn, wondering around the pitch after the game was over looking for his front teeth as he had caught a hurl in the mouth and lost all his upper front teeth! He wore a face guard from then on!

  86. EastSidePaul says:

    – Micko,

    Exactly!
    I just saw a tweet from Wilshere saying that people were giving the medical staff stick. So I wonder does he have a look around the sites from time to time?

  87. rico says:

    Kt, i’m a fan of man to man marking, that way, the oppo doesn’t get away….

    one on each post and tight up the backsides of the others….

  88. rico says:

    Micko – Wenger hates both transfer windows, the thought of spending gives him nightmares 😉

    The January one, well he dislikes that so much as he’s the real Ebenezer and it’s that time of year 😉

  89. rico says:

    Night Micko…

    I reckon afc have a team looking around all the blogs, sure of it – not that it seems to make any difference…

    I think quite a few players follow the blogs on twitter, LG, YG’s and theres another aswell who i think is followed…

  90. EastSidePaul says:

    Ah we found enough!
    Yeah, its good fun.

    This international lull feels like its gone on longer than summer! 🙁

  91. rico says:

    Tell me about it, it’s awful, just after all the frenzy of the transfer window, everyone wants to see the new players in action and wham bam, international two weeks ….

    Crazy time for the games to be played imho….

  92. rico says:

    Anyone else getting fed up with seeing Walcotts comments in the news??

    It’s about time he shut up and concentrated on playing well for Arsenal instead of creeping up to Capello…..

  93. K-TR7 says:

    Cameroon have failed to secure automatic qualification to the ACN next year.their only hope is they get the 2 best runners up spots available.is they get the 2 best runners up spots available.

  94. rico says:

    I’m heading off for today, catch you all tomorrow – one day nearer to proper football being back 🙂

    Night all….

  95. K-TR7 says:

    Nigeria,libya,sudan and Tunisia are more likely to get those 2 spots rico.basically cameroon are out.Ghana are basically through.

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