At least that (momentum) was the mantra heading in to this match. We chalked up a first league win (of this season) the past Saturday, and scrapped for a valuable away point in what figured to be the most difficult match of this season’s Champions League group phase. Two positives, with another three points necessary to build upon the momentum started at home last week, and to continue our march up the table.
Three points would give us seven in the league and – depending upon other results – potentially up to seventh place…Certainly Arsene and the players were in little doubt about what needed to be done – momentum, momentum, momentum.
Now the momentum has ground to a dead halt and we find ourselves only three places off the bottom three – with the worst goal difference in the league – with three of the sides below us in action tomorrow…Where to from here?
If possible, we faced a team with a manager under more pressure than Arsene (prior the final whistle, at any rate). Prior to yesterday’s match, a few hundred Rovers fans – fewer than the 700 I heard were expected – staged a protest march calling for the removal of manager Steve Kean. While I am not too well versed on the Blackburn fans’ grievances, I understand that one point from the first four matches, and a string of dire performances and worse results since Kean replaced Fat Sam partway through last season are the main gripes.
In all honesty, it sounds a bit familiar…
In his Thursday afternoon presser, Arsene indicated that Ramsey was back in training and would have a pre-match fitness test to gauge his readiness to participate. I personally expected that, if cleared fit, he would start the match on the bench; but he did one better and was restored to the starting eleven. There was also a full debut for Santos at left back, and we welcomed Song and Gerv back from their three-match domestic suspensions.
So we lined up as Szczesny, Santos, Mert, Kos, Bac, Ramsey, Song, Arteta, Arsh, Robin and Gerv. Fab, JD, Gibbs, Benayoun, Coquelin, Theo, and Chamakh were our bench. No places for either Frim or Ju, as might have been expected.
We got the match off to a good start, bossing possession and play against an understandably nervous looking Rovers side. It took us only ten minutes to open the scoring, with Song providing a lovely angled ball for Gerv to finish through Samba’s legs, across Robinson and into the far corner.
We kept the pressure on and the next several minutes saw us keep play in the Blackburn end and carve out a series of half chances. On 20 minutes, however, we got a warning as Samba – Rovers obvious set-piece target – was left free in our area, only to head a Rochina kick over the top when he probably should have done better…
So far, ok, as we responded well.
First Arsh forced Robinson to save his low shot, and then Gerv had two quick chances to double our lead, drawing one difficult save from Robinson and firing the other over the top. Unfortunately, we did not get away with some slack defending on 25 minutes in. A ball in to our area was not completely cleared, Canada international Hoilett picked the ball up, and sent an excellent pass to an overweight-looking Yakubu, who rolled the ball past an advancing Szczesny, into the far corner.
During the move, we stepped up as to play Yakubu offside but debuting left back Santos apparently didn’t get the memo and stayed behind him…
From completely dominating to level at 1-1 in the blink of an eye…Unfortunately, we cannot say we haven’t previously seen that…
We tried to respond and just past the 30 minute mark, Dann came in for a hard tackle, winning the ball and cleaning Bac out in the process. The tackle looked heavy but legitimate, to me. Unfortunately, our right back stayed down for a few minutes, in obvious pain. He limped to the touchline, but rejoined the fray a few minutes later…
Ten minutes after being pulled level, we got ourselves back in front through Arteta’s first goal in Arsenal colors. As with Gerv’s goal, Song started it with an excellent pass, this time to Ramsey, who ran directly at the Blackburn defense. Arteta also ran through centrally and made available for Ramsey to pull the ball back to him, finishing high into the net…
Just a couple of minutes before the whistle, we should have made it three…Arsh started the move with a great run down the right…He picked Gerv out inside the box, but the former neither shot early, nor found an unmarked Robin for a simple tap-in, but instead held on to the ball too long, with his eventual shot blocked for a corner. Before the delivery, Robin gave Gerv some “what for”…The corner came to nothing and the whistle went soon after…
Blackburn had to make a first-half change, with Salgado coming off injured, but there were no further changes at the interval. This time, it took just five minutes for them to draw level. Ash fouled Lowe out on the right, and Rochina whipped the free kick in. Robin missed his clearing header, the ball struck the not-as-alert-as-he-should-have-been Song and rolled into the net, for an own-goal.
There was plenty not to like about this one, not least the free kick (albeit questionable) in a dangerous position, the passive and indecisive way our players waited to the free kick to reach their area instead of attacking it, and Song’s apparent lack of concentration at such a vital moment.
After such a brave, committed backs-to-wall defensive effort in Dortmund on Tuesday, conceding a goal in such a manner was absolutely infuriating!
It could have gotten worse very quickly. Just after the goal, Bac could no longer continue, so JD had to replace him, as Jenks did not make the bench. The latter’s first contribution was to fall over, and get up limping for a few seconds before shaking it off. Shortly afterwards, Formica was put clean through, but Szczesny came out quickly to make a vital block.
Kean then made a second change, replacing Rochina with Sweden international Olsson, who then burst past JD, forcing the latter to grab him for a booking. Shortly afterwards, Blackburn took the lead in controversial circumstances. Hoilett took a corner from the right, Nzonzi, who fed Yakubu, and the latter finished from point-blank range to give the hosts an unlikely lead.
Replays of the goal showed Yakubu offside – it was close, but clear. While that is a tough break for us, the defending that put us in a position to concede that goal was not…It was, and not for the first time, self-inflicted.
I wish I could say that going behind during a ten minute spell after dominating the first half was the impetus to take control and batter Blackburn…
Sadly, it wasn’t….We made a few good runs – Gerv in particular – but nobody got into position to receive a cross/pass into the box, so most of our moves ended at the flanks, with a cross to a defender waiting inside the box. Movement was generally slow and tentative, not at all the response I hoped to see.
Nor did I particularly like seeing Arsene slumped/hunched on the bench, saying nothing, and staring stonily as though he wished he was anywhere but Blackburn…Any player glancing over at the bench for a bit of guidance could hardly been inspired by a defeated looking manager and muzzled assistant…It brought back memories of a struggling, unable-to-figure-it-out-for-themselves group of players and inert, passive manager – last seasons’ images, which remain all too vivid…
Theo replaced Arsh with 25 minutes to go. Despite not starting, he at least showed willing, as he made some good runs and also put in a few decent crosses. His first contribution was to blow by Dann, forcing the latter to chop him down at the expense of a booking. Robin put the resulting free kick into the box, but only found a Rovers defender (Givet, I think)…
We went two goals down, thanks to some horribly inept defending, JD the biggest culprit. Yakubu sent Olsson scampering down the right with another excellent pass. Our centre back who had to replace our right back was already out of position, but put in the feeblest of challenges, probably thinking about his earlier booking. He probably would have been better off not bothering at all – Olsson went through it as if though JD wasn’t even there, and crossed in the box, where Kos (facing the goal) deflected the ball into the net. Two second half own-goals, made possible by some terrible positioning and concentration…
You couldn’t really make this up…
Once again we tried to respond and Theo made another good run down the right, and this time he sent a fine ball into the box…Once again, nobody was home and Rovers cleared the danger.
We forced a corner and Robin put in a firm header which Robinson had to tip over the bar. In between corners, Chamakh replaced Song, who had a great first half, but a dreadful second – although he was not biggest culprit. When the second corner came in from the left, Chamakh pushed Givet to concede a foul and end that particular sequence…
We forced yet another corner and Robin forced Robinson into another good save. I was starting to wonder if I would ever see Chamakh score another goal in Arsenal colors, such was the downturn in his form and confidence; yet, five minutes from time, he scored a fine goal, reminiscent of a year ago, when Robin and Nik were absent, and Chamakh did the heavy lifting in the goal scoring department. Robin got the assist, putting a beautiful cross in for Chamakh, who –sandwiched between two Rovers defenders – just wanted it more.
He beat them both and smashed his header nearly through Robinson and into the back of the next. This is what we need from him on a consistent basis – welcome back, Chamakh. It has been quite a while and I hope you are here to stay this time…
That goal gave us hope that perhaps we could at least get a point from this, but we didn’t really start applying sustained pressure until we entered the four minutes of stoppage time. Then we played the way we should have the moment Song’s own-goal crossed the line.
First Theo put another great cross in for Chamakh, but this time the latter headed wide. Then Gerv did the same for Mert from the left, but German international headed over an open goal, then buried his face in his hands. Then Robin forced a tremendous save from Robinson on a point-blank shot from the right.
Finally, Theo cut in on the left, as Robinson came out to try and intercept. Theo forced the ball past the goalkeeper, but could not get enough on the shot, and Nzonzi was able to clear it with his shin. Theo had to hurdle the Rovers goalkeeper and went crashing to the ground; I didn’t see contact, and I am pretty sure Theo’s shot was away when he went over Robinson…
No penalty shout from me – and I would be quite, quite frustrated if one was given against us in the same circumstances….Speaking of frustration, the final whistle went shortly afterwards, Kean lives to manage another day – I doubt there were too many demonstrations outside Ewood after the match – and we were left to reflect (again) on what should have been, and how we contrived to get ourselves in the situation we were in at the final whistle…
So much for momentum…
For 45 minutes, we were headed up to seventh place on the back of our first consecutive league wins since – I can’t remember when – probably January or February…49 minutes after that, we’re left to stare at what is fast becoming a train wreck…
We clearly continue to have issues, and it seems apparent that the manager/coaches/players still cannot figure out how to overcome these issues…Whatever they are trying to do, results show it is not working…
I see one of our biggest problems as a clear inability to cope with in-match adversity. How many times have we conceded a bad goal and then completely fell to pieces? It happened today, certainly. Contrast that with Tuesday night in Dortmund. We were all over the place at the time, but still kept Dortmund out for 87 minutes. The longer we hung on, the more confidence we seemed to draw from it, and the better we defended.
When Dortmund finally equalized – from a fantastic, unstoppable goal – they had two great chances in quick succession to win the match; Szczesny – not our defenders – saved us then. Once we let the first goal in, it could easily have ended 3-1 to Dortmund. Think back to late last season, and you can find plenty of other examples – how about the two horrible goals that Darren Bent scored against us?
I think perhaps our biggest Achilles heel is how we are set up to play. For one, we adopted this formation to accommodate a player who is no longer with us. For two, it asks the fullbacks to do more attacking than defending and is based on keeping a high line and winning the ball as deep in the opposition half as possible. It works – somewhat – when we force turnovers in their half; it doesn’t work so fine when we then cross the ball to an opposition defender, or hit a long pass which is intercepted.
We don’t keep/use the ball well enough to make this work as intended. When the opposition regains possession and launches a quick counter-attack, we often find ourselves out of position and panicked with our central defenders exposed.
I know many people want the likes of Samba and G. Cahill here – I am at the point where I think our current set-up will make them look like absolute mugs…
That is not because I think they are bad defenders – I don’t, not at all – but because I am starting believe very few defenders can thrive in this system. We all are awaiting TV’s return; we certainly need him back, for his leadership and ability to organize but even he has had his share of nightmares playing for us. This is also the reason I don’t agree that spending extra on the likes of Cahill/Samba/Dann would make a huge difference for us. I think we already have some good defenders here. The problem is we play in a manner that consistently exposes them…
Arsene himself called the defending “unacceptable” yesterday – and this after a week where he stressed the importance of finding “defensive confidence”…Any fleeting confidence was surely smashed to smithereens yesterday. I would be quite interested to hear Arsene’s specific thoughts on how intends to put this right – after all, this isn’t a recent problem is it?
Lost in the wreckage of another collapse were some positives on the other side of the ball. We got our first goal of the season from midfield (Arteta) today, as both he and Gerv opened their scoring accounts with us. Song had a very strong first half, Gerv was dangerous down his flank all afternoon, final ball/decision making notwithstanding.
Theo was an impact sub when he came on, looked dangerous, and put some good crosses in for a change and Chamakh finally scored another league goal, his first in ten months. I think we are starting to settle attacking-wise, and hopefully some of the individual performances and contributions in this regard will show we are heading in the right direction offensively. Not that it will mean anything if we cannot sort out the defensive side…
So where do we go from here?
Back home, to get back to work, put this behind us, and hopefully do something – once and for all – to correct our defensive problems.
No need to focus on what the media says – they are going to pile on regardless, and frankly, this afternoon we gave more than enough highlight material. Nor should we/Arsene worry so much about football’s impending financial meltdown. I understand that we are disappointed we bought into M. Platini’s fool’s gold (FFP), when in hindsight we probably should have known better….
Either way, none of these issues – which our manager discussed at length during the week – are more immediate than getting our team back on track. If they are, then priorities at the club are a problem…
I wish to address the last part of this to our manager…
Arsene, I ask that you take a good, long, hard look at both where we are as a team and you, yourself. Ask yourself honestly, hand on heart, do you really have the energy and will to turn this around – even if it may mean compromising some of your principles?
If can ask yourself that, with all honesty and no reservations, and you can answer “yes”, unequivocally, then fair enough – there is a lot of work that needs to be done and not much time to do it.
If, however, you cannot answer “yes”, then wouldn’t you better serve the club by stepping aside and allowing someone else – younger, perhaps with different ideas about how the team should set up, defend and attack, the opportunity to get us back on track?
All of us greatly respect your stance on contracts and how you will not break them.
However, contracts always involve at least two parties and situations do arise where keeping things together are not always in the best interests of both sides. I would also add that going to the other party and negotiating a buyout or mutual separation on terms agreeable to both parties is not breaking the contract; it is revising the terms as the current situation dictates…
So have a think…
Look at the game, look at the goals we have conceded, look at the goals we have not scored (when we could easily have) but more importantly, look at yourself.
Some of us believe you are the right man to take us forward, no matter what. Some of us believe you are the wrong man to take us forward, no matter what.
Many others of us want to believe you are the right man to take us forward but struggle to reconcile such beliefs with performances like today, Old Trafford, the 2011 Carling Cup Final, and Bolton/Stoke/West Brom away at the end of last season.
Only you can definitively answer whether or not you can still do this.
So over to you, Boss…
Whatever you decide, please do it in with the best interests of the club, your players and our wonderful – albeit badly polarized – supporter base at heart…
Written by Oliver
I havent had a drink for 3 weeks (since you know when), but after yesterdays result I nearly gave in and had one last night. But no I was stong and another dry night completed. Initally i said i wouldn’t drink for a month, (it was jsut to see if i could) My questin then is if I give up drinking until we win two games in a row – will I have to wait very long????
Moaning all….
And there is plenty to moan about….
Not the post though, another cracker oliver, thank you….
My view on Wenger leaving, i thought it would be a crazy decision as we have what we have in the squad and and a new manager would not have the opportunity to make his own changes but,
Our problem isn’t about what and who we have in the squad, it’s about coaching and training, certainly in the defence.
A defence minded coach (Keown) would sort our defending out very quickly, a defence minded manager would be able to do the same..
Wenger has a choice, either get help in, or do the right thing before we really are in the mire….
DJ – 2012 the way we are going…..
morning all, Dj don’t give in plz.
Rico now the moaners have right but I’m not of them. this bad defending is in my opinion lack of confidence and understanding. 2 new defenders made us look very bad. Santos had not understanding whatsoever with the rest. Even Koz and Mert looked puzzled by each other positioning.
I think we made far too many changes to the team for the formation to work. This is new team all together and need time to gel. We completely missed our summer preparation. Van persie looks like he’s sulking and moans all the time; I think he’s not happy after the departure of Nas/Fab. Ramsey is awful.
Morning all. The question that everyone should be asking themselves this morning is the same one as the board, the fans and Arsene himself have needed to ask for the past few seasons. It’s just too uncomfortable for Hill-Wood, Gazidis and yes, even the American who am told owns the club to confront. The evidence for the answer is writ large. Defensively we are a shambles and have been for some time. It is no new thing and the abject failure to confront and remedy it is what has bought us here. To continually deny the evidence when it is not so much staring, as kicking you in the face with a size 12 hobnail boot, takes us into the area of psychological denial and incompetence. If anyone can see how Arsene has dealt with the problems that he himself identified last season then let me know because I cannot see it. As soon as Blackburn had a corner and I noticed that our defense had elected not to bother to mark man-mountain Chris Samba I thought ” here we go again”. After his first free header sailed over I wondered if this would be rectified at the next corner, but oh no. Our 6 foot 6 inch centre half was marking open space. Brilliant coaching that Arsene. Really clever. I could go on but it’s a nice day outside and I don’t want to heap it on my fellow Arsenal fans. And the question I mentioned earlier? You know, the one that lingers like the sword of Damocles, above the board’s heads? Is Arsene Wenger the man to take Arsenal forward? As soon as that gets dealt with properly and conclusively we can perhaps move on. Right now it is no fun at all being an Arsenal supporter.
I loved this
“Robin put the resulting free kick into the box, but only found a Rovers defender (Givet, I think)…”
Who cares who it was that cleared it lol lol. Loved the article
Hi Osi, but why has that all not been worked on in training?
The mistakes made were school boy stuff, JD’s crazy slid out wide, Kos hhalf hearted jump for a cross, Kos facing his goal when defending and no-one getting in front of Yak when he tapped home…
School boy stuff which someone like Keown would rectify in a flash…
Like oliver says, it’s not all down to the players, it’s down to the coach….
Hi Adam, good comment…
Space – Well Wenger certainly does need to bodly go where he has never been before and that is back to Keown and ask for help…
It’s clear he has not got the ability to change the way we defend, we have been making the same old mistakes for goodness knows how long….
Osi – that takes us back to why a few on here kept going on about getting the signings made early – 9 new players in need time to gel, most of ours missed the pre season….. and two league matches….
Bottom line is he has to bring in a dedicated defence coach to drill our half decent individuals into a functioning unit. I fear he will not do that even while he pays lip service to “unacceptable defending”. Arsene, don’t just talk about it, DO something about it!!!!
Hi B’gone – spot on, he’s all talk and no do…..
It takes one phone call……
rico it’s really sad that the club allowed the transfers affect our team and now they’re paying for it.
agree osi…
how to turn it around though…. confidence must be at an all time low….
I am fan of Arsenal , I am from Kosova . I dont undestand Arsene Wengare , he must go from club.
How about you start a petition to bring back Keown or promote Bouldy to work with the defence? We know they look at these blogs so let’s show them how we feel!
okay now we have a squad that can perfectly play 442
with the wotk rate that arteta brings to the team the arial ability of pet and the pace of walcott and the height of chamak we can start winnning again…
we dont want 5-0 4-0 wins we just want wins.
with :
schezny
sagna pet kozzer santos
walcott arteta song gerviniho
RVP chamak
this team has hieght pace and creativity will suit arteta perfectly.
as well as chamak …
i m not giving up hope… we need u wenger … jus change the tacticcs we no longer have cecs … be smart not stubborn.
B’gone – they may read the blogs but i think wenger is too stubborn, he listens to no-one….
It’s not rocket science, he should be able to see all that’s wrong himself, though it seems he ignores it….
Can we please start a movement to oust the board? I don’t think we have it in us though 🙁
Kosovo une jom jom ni love the Arsenal fans Arsenal have disappointed yesterday with the chance of finding kishum to win the game, or protection of the poor who have not let us now man utd and other ekiept jan shum away and arsenal will find this problem to 1 ven for the UEFA campions ishalla Ligue o It follows the good god.
terry, we have what we have and it’s not a bad squad but the coaching is the problem…. no matter what system we play, if the defence cannot concentrate and make silly errors we are on to a hiding….
what will wenger do about it though??
4-4-2 for me though….
ESP – toothless from the ‘owner’ downwards….
For me yesterday and OT wasn’t about formation, it was all about lack of confidence and concentration. the mistake Song made in the own goal was down to lack of confidence; he should’ve challewnged for the ball before it drops on his knees, he stayed and waited. Similary DJ is lacking and allowed average player to pass him as he didn’t even existed. I don’t know if they’d be able to recover and regain confidence.
ESP, i don’t think it will be too long before the fans start to voice their concerns…..
Maybe even the Bolton game….
ESP we should at least and demand the board to come forth to explain who was responsible for this summer’s mess.
oliver made a good comment in his post about Wenger’s body language and how if players look to the bench for inspiration it cannot be good to see him motionless, sulking.
Why isn’t he or Rice off of their butts and encouraging/advising from the sideline?
Everything seems so negative….
Got to pop off for a couple of hours, back after lunch….
Hello I jom ni Arsenal fans, jom jom Kosovo By not realizing that what Arsene Wenger Club osht duker ber ton of heart that is SHKON YN Club of heart. I ask you to change the game formula wengerit After that I will be so great in crisi
From now on I’m lobbying for Osmanov to take over
-Osi I will lobby with you for that! Board out, Osmanov in!
Rico I really hope we do something soon, I think we should have been signing for the board to step down at the end of last season.
I really fear for us this year.
I wil put all d blames on AW.Where on earth would a coach be sitting on d bench while is players playing rubbish. AW should learn hw 2 stand and talk 2 is players wen they are not playing wel. The likes of Mourinho,Guadiola,AVB,even Alex Fegurson stands and comm.with their players.
A very well thought out and concised article, well done. Like many of the long standing supporters, we all would like our great manager to succeed, he has dona fantastic job. i went to my first game in 1961, and have held a season ticket for some 17 years, yes I travel as much as possible to attend matches.The Arsenal are a massive club in the Middle East .Arsene appears to have lost his way, his youth projest whilst producing some great players, has failed as far as the results are concerned. The summer rebuild was not well planned or executed.
Players have to be bought early to integrate them in the team, irrespective of who leaves,this was manage very badly, even if buying late, saves a few pennies. Arsene seems unable to delegate responsibility, has become a bit of a control freak, this is not good for any organisation. The reasons why do not win or play well are becoming illogical and lame. Anyone who plays football can see the high line and the defence has been a problem for three or four years, why has this not been addressed? We all wish for our great club to start winning, but Wenger has now to make enormous changes in coaching,staffing, his approach to the game. He now has to delegate responsibility, the club have to communicate openly with the supporters, its our club. Do we have money? why did so many directors such as Dein, Bracewell-Smith, the late Daniel Fiszmans estate and even Peter Hill-Wood make such huge fortunes, from selling their shares in the so called self sustainable model, after cashing in on the asset value of the new Emirates Stadium.This demonstrates hypocrisy at the highest level of the club. Meanwhile the supporters are treated as fools, paying the highest prices, and yet the Directors take our money and plead poverty! Knoenke does not understand football, and his main goal will be to make money quickly and get out. we the real supporters have to find a way to own our club. Wenger as the article stated now has to decide,what his future is, If he wishes to stay then he must make big changes in the organisation on and off the field. Up the Gunners.
🙁 ;( 😐 :@ ;>
I’m agree with the post.
yesterday, we start lost when Sagna was replace.
The problem will not be in the defence but in the midfield. There are lot of space between the defence and the strikers. We must be much more close and united. This year (2011) has been awful. Of course we have conceded own goal, off-side goals, players sent off and not good luck in others ocasions. Like I wrote yesterday, the scores and the results aren’t the confidence and the reality of the match.
Unfortunatelly. the League is lost. Like i have wrote a few weeks ago, we must be carefull for not be relegate this year. I’m not joking. It’s the reallity. We can not be anoother River Plate.
WENGER OUT, BOARD OUT – STOP WASTING TIME.
Hello all, good post oliver,
So blackburn were bottom of league, their manager about to be lynched by a baying mob and what happens, his players rally round and he gets a reprieve, our shower just throw the towel in.
Its hard to describe how I feel today, just real fed up i guess.
ESP, who’s your money on today ? c’mon the kingdom.
Good post Oliver, sensible and not knee jerk in the slightest and it’s what many of us have been saying for years not months or weeks. How can anyone let a club go from the invincibles to this…??
I agree with JM, the club is incompetent from top to bottom, the buck starts and finishes with a pathetic owner a board with no ambition and a manager who has been allowed to turn a football club into his own little play thing.
O.O and Jordan Gooner, sorry for the delay all first posts go into moderation, Totally agree JG, they have milked the club dry given us lie after lie and now show no ambition nor intent…! they call themselves the custodians off the club, what a joke. As u say hypocrisy of the highest level.
Great post oliver.These are all we can do..
Wath,
Wenger has been fantastic for Arsenal but people have to stop using the past to justify his future, he’s paid to win football matches which he hasn’t been doing very well for a while now, its not just about what he’s done for us in the past but what he’s doing in the here and now.
We are like a club in free fall at the moment, someone needs to pull the cord before its too late.
Totally agree Micko, have the utmost respect for what wenger has done BUT thats history its finished, someone who was the manager of the invincibles to the manager of what he’s serving up at the moment is a joke. The board are to blame big time they’ve led us down the garden path and have lined their pockets doing it, we’re the ones that hurt when we lose we suffer all week and care and seems they don’t give a fuck…! Is the wenger the future Micko…? I’d answer a big NO….. We’re stagnant and need new fresh ideas and that means a new owner and board and manager if I answered hand on heart.
Hey Micko, Dubs in Croke Park? Hard not to see a screw job going on there! Would like to see Kerry beat them though!
Let me steal a quote from The Dark Knight “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain”
Sums put Wenger nicely I believe.
How you are able to do it, oliver, I don’t know. 🙂 So early into the season, and already, a failure. If we are to have any hope of playing CL next year, players (that should have been bought in the summer) definitely need to be bought in the January trf window.
Everyone at our club is paid top money; so they have no business faffing about and not getting the job done. Grrrr.
Hola, WATH. Hey, Micko and ESP.
ESP, kerry all the way.
Wath, it will be interesting to see how the board reacts in the summer if we don’t qualify for the champs league, they like their sheckles,that’s all they seem interested in, it will make a large hole in the coffers.
Hello agag, I know i’m in danger of sounding like a parrot but i really don’t think wenger will buy anyone in the january transfer window, he loathes it.
Problem is Micko if the stories are true the Kingsland rd profits that were to go to player purchases have now been set aside to offset us not qualifying for CL next season, doesnt that tell you all you need to now about the board and the new owners ambition and vision for the club…?
Allo AGAG, how’s you sexy, I saw u were a little upset last night…. 😉 You need to let off some steam. We’re run by a bunch of people happy with mediocrity who are all after the shekle yet don’t care one bit like the fans do and thats a sad fact.
That’s exactly my fear too, Micko. 🙁 We seem to have headed into a freefall. Overly-cossetted palyers who have no sense of accountability. A manager entirely too stubborn for our own good. An impotent owner. A stupid board.
Boo, WATH. I trust your liver is well, sir? 😉 I am only marginally less upset now. I let off some steam, don’t worry. 😀 Some silly purchases sorted that out. I was looking for online retailers of backbones/spines to send our defenders, I couldn’t find any though. Shame.
News to me Wath, didn’t know that, it really is about time Kroenke came out and said something for the fans, I don’t think that’s too much to ask for is it.
It could be worse agag, we could be playing tottenham and chelsea away next month !
Anyway, i’m off down the pub for a swift half, kerry play dublin in the final today, its the biggest game of the year in Ireland, its football but not as we know it.
U can’t buy players commitment and passion AGAG but buy the manager some tactical nous may make a huge difference…!
There are better organised defences over hackney marshes and even at schoolboy level, it’s not rocket science…! basics that a 6million a yr manager cant perform…? We aint been in free fall since 04 but we definately been in decline since then and who’s to blame..? If the club are looking at 4th as a good season how far have we lowered our expectations and ambition…! Pathetic, as previously said, a new broom to sweep clean and that starts at the top…!
Afternoon guys and gals, i am still angry…
Wath – how can we have gone from the invincibles to what we are today??
One man’s stubborness, that how…..
Hope ur team wins Micko and you enjoy mate… Enjoy that swift half or ten !! I am dreading the yids away…!
Haha, those games do not even bear thinking right now, Micko. Have fun, Micko!
I agree, WATH. Even a blind man can see that we need strengthening AND experience in a fair number of positions; why can’t our Board? Such tightwads. And AW has much to answer for, he coaches this shambolic lot.
We have little to no ambition, I think it is safe to say. And the move to the Emirates blah blah blah as an excuse for not buying has worn thin.
A board that let him do what ever he wanted as well Rico cos he’s lined their pockets…! The board tell the manager what to do or should do yet this lot have let him have free reign…..!
The board are accountable for not running the club in a way that the manager is accountable. They are guilty of gross neglect. A new manager would not make the slightest difference in my opinion with such a patheric board. We’re miles behind other clubs with offfield revenues what has Gazidis done since he’s been there..? what do our highly paid execs actually do..?
Boo! Where ave you been, rico? Like you, I am still angry. The fare the serve is not easy to swallow. 🙁 🙁
It stinks Wath, I have been one to hope that Wenger changes and turns this around but I cannot see how he can do that, not now.
I also think now that the players have lost a bit of faith in him too, something was said at h/t by PR during the BD game, whatever it was made us play much better in the second half, players seemed to know what they were meant to be doing. They defended strongly and held on, we would have won but for a wonder strike that on another day could have gone anywhere…
Yesterday all they needed to do was their job, they didn’t and what kind of management help was shown from the dugout.
Nothing, a sulky man looked over, what does that do for morale….
I’m done with him and all those who’s pockets he lines…….
My brother is staying with my Mum agag so I popped over to say hello – he’s a Manure fan, typical eh…..
Wath, what do the board actually do anymore, wtf was PHW doing in Germany with his crutch in hand? Other than keeping Wenger company in the stands….
That couldn’t have been fun, rico. 😉 I still haven’t restored my Chav/Manc buddies on FB. Ahaha. That AFC keep on losing and that their clubs keep on winning do not make for good friendship. 😀
You are right about AW’s body language. Surely the players pick up on it, and mimic the defeatist post, however subconsciously. I still want to strangle our own goalers though. Grrr.
I don’t know what Gazidis is there for, tbh. He has no personality and no desire to improve our lot. He’s a s bad as PHW.
I don’t know what any of them do agag, I wish someone could tell us…
Anyone watching the totts v the dippers 😮
Gazidis speak with fork tongue now seems he’s happy to pass the buck to wenger on a shit summer in the transfer window…! is he jusy covering his own arse… why as CEO does he not “TELL” wenger what to do !! why is wenger not told to manage the team and leave the rest to the board and to him as CEO…? cop out…!
I wasn’t going too but it’s on in the background sound on mute cd’s playing…. still 1-0..?
I don’t get that either Wath.. Transfer target list, pass to CEO and say go sort these deals out….. Simple but not for our lot….
I think it all started to go wrong when DD left, too much time was wasted in not finding a replacement, Wenger had to do it all and he won’t let go…
He should be told to FO and go sort his own house out and get it in order instead of poking his nose into everything else, he is a manager, nothing more, nothing less…….
3-0 – dippers down to 9 😉 I hate both clubs so don’t give a toss today……
Don’t think for one minute that I like the scum more, it just means i fecking hate the dippers…..
Lardy arse has scored…..
Hello again.
Two important things:
a) Arsenal did not know how to predict and can not “live” with the rise of Chelsea and with the arrival of Totenham
b) AW and the board can not read the numbers and results since the fateful day we lost the Carling Cup did not notice a lack of confidence, lack of personality and the need for new blood to a team composed of players with some years “house” that had nothing in hand to show when they left the football. And for these players and for players who want to level with Arsenal, one can not be said that the goal is to be 4,
There are four teams in the monetary playing to be champions, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham both going to be the first 4.
D is 5 to 12 ° may be included Arsenal …
Liverpool down to 9. 3-0 to spuds… Moneybagsbyor got one.
i really think all our short comings are down to David Dein’s departure, that why I would like nothing more that for Usmanov to take control reinstate Dein and kick the board to the curb, along with the coaching staff, medical staff and Wenger’s yes man Pat Rice.
Afternoon Gooners. I am just enjoying a couple of cool pints of liquid refreshment.
But i have to say Oliver, that your post was of the highest order sir. I thought it was a 10. Well done. Cheers. 🙂
yes,Liverpool has 9 players now.
Is a team that does not convince me. But of course we have a defeat wth them
AK greetings mate……… Hope ur good bet ur right looking forward to Bolton on Sat lol…….
If it was a tenner to get in I wouldn’t give a crap or moan one little bit… BUT…!
Hi JM,
I’m not sure the Totts are that good, the dippers had to be down to 9 before they could get their second, now thay have four…
To be honest, right now i see us struggling to make any european competition….
4-0… adebayor again. Another good weekend for us in all senses…
ESP, have you been peeping at my post for tomorrow re DD 😉
Rico, i thought you said Lady Arse had scored…! 🙂 🙂
Wath, how are ya doing stranger. Good to see ya back. Bolton, hmm. I’ll enjoy it whatever..
A couple or three pints Wath and the world looks rosey…
Bolton… You might not be saying that at the end of the game AK 😉
before, we play versus Sherewbury on tuesday
Hiya Kev, i feel like i need a few more than a couple… 😉
agag scoring, is she hiding something from us all 😉
Don’t u mean dozens AK…?
city wins 1-0 at Fulham…
Im still numb and shellshocked 🙁
If the mancs beat the chavs its a Manc league this year. 5 games in and we’re out of it already thats a fact our season is now damage limitation and finishing as high as possible I suppose.
Like a post a few moments ago: both Mancs, chelsea a nd Tottenham will be in the four fist positions.
Another off-side goal for MU…
For the 5th to 12th-Liverpoll,Stoke,Bolton,Fulham,Everton,Villa,Newcastle and sunderland or Arsenal
Wath, avoiding the bottom three is our aim….
How’s u KT, unfortunately I’m not numb or shellshocked, am resigned to the fact we’re a very average team my problem is more with the club from the top and thats whats resulted in this situation and a manger who’s been allowed to become far to powerful and to set in his egotistical ways with no challenge and he’s never questioned not brought in to be accountable for results and performances…!
Sadly Kt, i am getting used it….
with this performance we only can reach 30/31 points at the end of the League. And that’s is the relegation.
Chelsea just won Meireles, who replaces Michel, and is must more stronger.
Cesc had 3 assists and 1 goal yesterday.he is creating chances and barça are taking them.we on the other hand waste chance after chance…
Cesc is playing with gay and proud. It’s the difference
Cesc is now surrounded by class players !! Not part of a team with 1 or 2 class players…! Huge difference..!
What am trying to say wath is that cesc did create loads of chances for us that we missed.at barça they are bloody clinical.if we had their cold blooded finishing we would’ve scored 7/8 yesterday 😮 .
of course but also the motivation is completely different.
Agree JM, hence my avoiding relegation comment… i just don’t see how we are going to buck up and get better – simple simple defence problems cannot be resolved by an attack minded coach….
If we had a ‘arsenal footballing’ board, they would tell wenger to employ someone to stop this rot
Cesc is sorely missed, KT. 😥
They play with 3 proper players who can also finish KT, we have RVP up front on his own….! we aint Barca we need to stop replicating them simple as that, basics are we cant defend, stop pissing about and get back to 4-4-2 the midfield needs to protect the back four to start with and we play as a unit not a shambles…! the spine is weak so how can we play this pathetic formation that mr stubborn refuses to change…? delusional…! square pegs round holes as usual and he is so inflexible…! Been going on for yrs..!
Kt, we scored three goals, that should have been enough – had we been able to defend, it would have been….
sort the defence arsene, sort the bloody defence…. and by that i mean the midfield too, it’s great going forward but they need to be organised enough to break up the oppo attack as well as make our own breaks….
WATH, ow but true.
rico, the way we are playing, relegation is not unlikely. 😮
The chavs are getting torn apart 😮
Sunday sport news:
a) Arsene Wenger is interested in hiring Ousmane Drame, advanced 19 years of Padova (Italian Serie B), to Arsenal.
However, the club will have both English competition, as Fiorentina have also shown interest in promising young French
b) The Barcelona forward a proposal equates to 5 million pounds (5.7 million euros) for the hiring of Gary Cahill, Bolton.
The central defender for 25 years is in final contract and is seen as a safe option to help solve the problems of the last stronghold of the Catalans, caused by injuries to Puyol (already recovered) and Pique.
Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal were interested in hiring Cahill closed in, but never agreed to pay the value of the termination clause set at 17 million pounds (19.4 million euros).
Ay, Torres. We missed out on a great one in him. (Not that he was even remotely in AFC’s plans) 😉
yes, rico and we can’t forget how we scored versus Swansea.A completely hilariant goal. If we draw that game, he have just 2 points…
I was eventually dragged from the Rose & Crown, Old Romney.
A very good pint and lovely food in your in that area….
Last night Wath i was in a black mood. but a couple of pints and the world looks a different place. 😀
Mata is playing well for CFC, grrrr.
Hahaha. So Rooney smiles smugly, takes his pen… And misses it. 😀
I fear the worst for the NLD…
AK, try some GG next time with some fruit juice. Guava or cranberry. Niiiice.
Mata is a extraordinary player.
One goal off-side (again..). Penalty? hummm… but it is !?? However, where is the red card or at least the yellow one to the defender?
I start to understand why in the top of sent off and yellow card players
JM, did you say that Cesc was gay……. 😀
Did i miss something????
Agag, how ya doing [blimey i nearly said sweetheart, not very PC, but very Cockney 🙂 ]….
Agag, i can’t handle spirits, beer & wine for me…. 😉
Rico, how ya doing today? Listening to CFC. At least they’re having a go, unlike our spineless mob… 🙁
JM – we can buy who we like but all the time they are not taught how to defend as a unit, nothing will change…..
Off course not. He plays with joy, pleasure, gladly, happily in Barça
Agian JM, spot on re swansea – a gifted goal, albeit AA still had to score from an acute angle, but hardly a reasurring win…
we are heading into torrid times….
kev – nah, i am catching up on masterchef – thought i might learn a thing or two…
Unlike Wenger, I don’t mind learning a new thing or two…..
JM, I was thinking the same thing myself; re: Cesc is gay. 😀
You’re missing out, AK. 😀 And blogs are not very PC. Although Lady Rico’s is cuss-free (almost), and that’s a welcome change from other blogs where every other word is bleep-able.
rico, Chelsea are losing but heads have not dropped. They are, unlike our lot, trying. And Torres is muy guapo. 😳
Masterchef Rico….. Those guys know how to enjoy their grub.
Makes me hungry just watching them… 🙂
Torres, tut tut.
Can’t handle gin Agag, sorry….
But after yesterday, i think i may have given it a try… 🙂
Sounds like Chavs should have got a result…
MU have players on the line at the goals-poles in the corners… another save for one of them
Have we managed to stay out of the bottom three, didn’t think I would ever have to ask that question, its all becoming a bit surreal.
After 5 games, Arsenal are 4th from bottom…..
Doesn’t make ya feel proud……. 🙁
Crap weekend kev, that’s the best way I can express it.
yes, and if we won yesterday we are now in the 11th…
spineless is an understatement kev….
agag, i am seriously thinking about taking the moderation off – but i don’t want anyone to be offended here – what do you think, there could be a few come on with really naughty words these days 😉
masterchef is one of my favs kev, just wish more pescatarian’s would get on there… 🙁
Mick, the atmosphere at the Bolton game could be a bit corrosive. If we struggle or go a goal down it could get a bit nasty….
The Board haven’t the balls to take personel criticism… I’m dreading it to be frank!
afternoon all…thanks for taking the comments ricco…
something has to give. these problems have been here virtually the entire calendar year – we just cannot continue like this…
FLAMING HENRY, there, can anyone follow that.
Rico, has wordpress changed a few things. It looks a bit different…
Well, you are always about, rico. Anything too abusive, and I’m sure you’ll send the poster to the rubbish bin. Give it a try. 😉
AK, baby steps. Gin now, GG tomorrow. 🙂
It all feels pretty hopeless at the moment. 🙁 I don’t see the Mancs or the Manchavs running out of steam any time soon.
I think Bolton will be a tell tale sign of how fans feel kev..
Micko, the worst kind of weekend, always is when we lose and we lose all too much these days 🙁
Hi oliver – super write up and the last bit sticks with me, but can AW answer the question or will he yet again bury his head in the sand….
Sign of the times kev, maybe wenger is losing the dressing room, the players don’t have the belief, anyone can see that, remember the days when we would go a season unbeaten at home, will it be a full house against Bolton.
it’s up to him ricco…
this is not just about him. what is good personally for arsene wenger may not be healthy for the institution that is arsenal football club…we never should be in a situation where the discussion about the club is secondary to the discussion about the man, but it is what it is…
but if we continue exactly as we are, the financial losses will be huge, and we will be ill equipped to regain our prior status…that, in itself, will force some sort of reckoning….
Micko – i think he has already lost it….
i and i know all fans have gone from never anticipating a loss to never expecting a win…..
sad times…..
oliver – i don’t think it is all down to wenger, it’s about the whole lot at the top – i had hoped when stan took over he would set his stance by appointing a new team – but no, he has just carried on in the same way – useless, gutless and all he cares about imho is making money on his shares and selling for a profit…..
in this atmosphere, what do you think the pressure is going to be like on what is almost certainly going to be a very young and inexperienced side for tuesday’s league cup tie? should our kids have to deal with such a spotlight this early? of course not – but failing to get a result against the shrews is just going to add to an already toxic atmosphere…
i agree that we have many problems at the club – and the majority shareholder and the people he installed look like anything but the solution at this moment…
but the immediate issue is sorting out the squad, improving results, and putting the players into match situations where they can actually perform and look their best…that area is solely arsene’s responsibility…
president truman had a sign on his white house desk…it said, simply “the buck stops here”….
no point in trying to pass the buck regarding the team and tactics…that is all on arsene…whether he is making every decision, or is blindly loyal to people who are not performing…
i think the CC will be a different kettle of fish – if wenger makes it clear he is playing the ‘kids’ i don’t think the fans will be hostile at the ems on tuesday – also, if the prices reflect the team selection, it could be a very different set of fans who go to the game…
The Bolton fixture however, could be a very different scenerio….
but sorting out on the pitch is part of the overall problem oliver,the board should be asking AW questions, they should be looking to help him out – we all see our defensive failings – they should be suggesting he gets help, telling him to get Keown for example, not sitting on their arses watching it all go on and go wrong……
Arsenal are a club, not just a one man show…..
Did anyone see the Torres miss 😀
Evening all,
Didn’t like the post at all, questioning Wengers thoughts for the future and questioning he’s desire is like stabbing him in the back, he buys players as supporters asked, he plays them and gets the rough end of the stick from referee decisions, supporters seemed pretty happy with our new signings, maybe not the players that they had asked for but suitable to do the job at a realistic price, injuries to key players, one in defence and one in midfield has hurt us more than we could realise, suspensions to key players has also not helped, and you now question the manager, is it his fault that key players get injured, we are getting the rough end at the moment, decisions going against, but that is how football goes, half a dozen games and you want change , we ask for loyalty from members of the Arsenal staff, pitty the loyalty is lost in supporters.question your own loyalty first.
The different scenario is not have an important match in the middle of the week
However, we have one… every score is possible now.
Moreover, we can’t say now we are unbeaten at home and away. Besides, we are beaten playing 10 to eleven and 11 to 11. And the rest: own goals, players sent off, many yellow cards,injuries,offside goals, ridicolous goals, a gift for win a game,a different team every game, players played for us in the starting of season and for the oponent size in a few weeks, new players comming, everybody upset,…
agreed…but if the person who needs help won’t allow help to be provided, well….the options are clear…
i think many of us are deeply concerned that arsene – stubborn at the best of times, by his own admission – is so intransigent that he will bring the club down with him before he concedes has has gotten some things wrong. if that is the case, we cannot allow this to happen…
hi steve – i don’t think oliver is questioning the players wenger has bought or the players we have- its about getting the best out of them that is in question….
do you really think wenger is doing that?
steve, you don’t like the post, no problem at all….that is your opinion and i will respect it. nevertheless, that is how i feel…
arsene is a man, a mortal, just like all of us…the day we cannot question – even reproach fellow men, will be a sad day indeed…
the fact of the matter is that something is horribly wrong at our club – results themselves bear that out – and arsene, as the public face of the club and the manger is the person would gets the first questions…
JM – yes, we have another important game on tuesday, no doubt we will see a very youthful side turn out too and that may be a blessing in disguise right now..
But, as you say, anything could happen in that game against shrewsbury, no longer are we a team to be feared….
i am more loyal than you can ever possibly know…
this is where i get confused with fans – just because our manager is is called into question by a fan, that fans support for the club is also called into question…
Why??
Arsenal are a football club, a club we fans have supported through many many managers, and not one manager is bigger than Arsenal, they come and go – but we fans remain loyal to Arsenal through it all…
Not to any one manager but to one club……
evening rico,
When Wenger gets all the players available fit,, and can call on them to play we can question his actions, but at the moment, and since the start of the season, we have had players suspended or injured, waiting for visa’s to be confirmed many reasons that we cannot field our first eleven, i am pretty sure he still does not know his first eleven, as they have not been available to him, we may even not qualify for champions league next term, the first time in what is it fourteen years, And a few games into the new season and we question the managers intentions, i know what his intentions are to field what players he has and try and get a result, he will continue as he always has to try and do the best for Arsenal football club, he doesn’t need anymore pressure as the whole of football wants to dig him out, but a little support from supporters could certainly be welcomed by him of that i’m sure
Evening Gooners.
Hi Steve, how are ya?
Oliver, howdy doody…
Rico, are you watching X Factor???? 😉
steve – we have three players out, that is all….
he chose not to include ryo, jenks, rosicky, ryo, park etc etc…
Diaby, TV and jack are injured, that as far as i know is it and Jacks injur is down to him probably being overplayed last season – GPS showed him to be in the red but still he was played, who’s fault is that??
Be honest – that side should have won yesterday but yet again sloppy defending and lack of concentration cost us….
Not the quality of player on the field….
The Carling Cup may come at an opportune time for all of us i reckon.
A team of young, hungry players eager to do ‘a job’ on Shrewsbury…
We all need a lift, and i’m hopefull that Oxo, Ryo, Benik [if fit] and the like, can put a smile back on our faces…
Evening Oliver, perhaps that comment of mine was from the heart and not the head and i apologise, anyone that writes the amount of Arsenal posts as you do should not really be questioned, but i feel that given a little time, things will fall into place and hopefully get back to normality.
steve, the best i can explain my position is that i give him plenty of support. i have backed him to the hilt previously, and i am perfectly entitled to question him, if i see fit…nobody can take that right away from me, just as i do not begrudge your right to interpret questioning/criticism of the manager is lack of support for the club – i don’t think you could possibly more wrong with that interpretation, but nothing – absolutely nothing – prevents you from interpreting it that way, and i will always respect that…
again, i interpret this problem as more than just the first five games into the season. i – and many others – think there have been issues with how we defend, how we utilize certain players, how we are unable to concentrate for a full 90 minutes (as pointed out by, arsene himself yesterday), how we cannot seem to get bad results out of our system, for a while now…if we praise arsene for everything wonderful he has done at the club, surely we are entitled to question him for things he has apparently been unable to fix…i’ll answer that myself – “yes, we are”…
again, nobody is infallible, least of all arsene, least of all me. scrutiny is a part of life, particularly in high-profile, high pressure jobs…we fans are asked to “take the good with the bad”, which we try to do…why should arsene be exempt from that?
Evening AK, carling cup as you say may just be the tonic we need.
Sorry steve can’t blame lady luck for 6 yrs of wenger playing youth project and taking apart the invincibles brick by brick poor tactics stubborn game plan and trying to be what we are not, we’re way off being a decent side and the board and him are to blame this isnt a 5 game season comment its 3/4 yr comment and six months ago you were saying exactly the same if now worse. For me thank for what you’ve done but he needs to go but first and foremost for me the board needs to go before he does or nothing will change.
As our logo says
Where its ok to disagree.
steve…steve…steve….you are pefectly entitled to question me and you are perfectly entitled to take a dim view of the post…i respect that and always will…i’ll say it again – if arsene is flawed, i am far more flawed than he is…
if arsene digs us out the mire and restores us to our positions, then i will be the first to hold my hands up and say that i misread everything on september 17, 2011…but we have problems that have been around a lot longer since the summer, and i think that questioning the manager about why some of these things are so difficult to resovle is more than reasonable…
also, there is huge difference between honest criticism and abuse…you have not mentioned the latter once and i am very confident that you do not think i am abusing our manager…i absolutely have no time for those who do such to our manager and players…
Steve, we need a win AND a good performance.
We are in danger of allowing the doom & gloom to envelope us all. So a good 4 or 5-0 is, as you say, the tonic we all need.
And if we have to rely on the Kids to deliver, then i’ll drink to that [actually, i’ll drink to anything :)]….
The X is recording kev, going to watch in a bit – just watching one man and his dog, incredible what those four legged ones can do 😛
spot on steve – we can all disagree, its all about own own opinion….
Four legs Rico, quick Arsene, sign him up… 😀
Evening Wath, i must admit Wenger has gotten me quite irate at times, but as you have said you believe that this has been going on for 3 4 years, i’m sorry Wath but we have been in the top four for all of those years, and it doesnt matter what team other supporters support they would still like that record, we had a bad end to last season, we are having a bad start to this season but not enough for me to question Wengers intentions
i am catching up on your posts, steve and no worries…i think i got defensive – fallible man that i am – when seeing my support of the club questioned…my bad there – i try to be above that, and failed on that occasion…
if anyone wants see what supporters at each others throats looks like, visit some of the other supporter blogs…here it is – as steve just said – ok to disagree…not so everywhere…
hi kev, hi wath….if nyg lose tomorrow night, my mood will really be bad….
Wath, hi again mate. Now i recall you earlier in the summer, having quite a few misgivings about the way things were going.
So, have your worst fears been realised, or is it worst than even you expected…
😆 kev, so will i drink to a 5-0 win on tuesday, and anything else 😉
also steve, i think i questioned arsene’s energy and will to turn this around more than his intentions…at least that is what i intended in what i wrote….if that didn’t translate as such, fair enough…
Oliver, you’ll need a few Moosehead beers i reckon…
kev – some of those sheepdogs certainly have more control of 20 sheep that Diaby has of one ball 😉
Cheers Rico, 😀 I’ll get em in….. 😉
moosehead – i love that beer….
In fact, i am going to get some but haven’t seen it for sale around my way in years…..
Maybe not – £40 for 24 bottles, no chance 🙁
no beers for me, kev…least of all on a sunday…
Rico, there’s a green label and a red label, if i’m correct. One a bitter, the other a lager….
I get frustrated with football i must admit, i sit there and watch United today have two men in an offside position and still get awarded a goal when everybody and rico’s dog can see its offside , i see them get awarded a penalty, in my eyes it never was, thats the kind of decisions we get against us, just gets me down thats all.
Oliver, we need to get you over here, down the Holloway Rd, and get you on a bender… 😀
£40 for the lager Kev 24 bottles, that was my fav – the bar where i worked years ago had it, and Elephant Beer 😮
Maybe i will stick to Lidil’s own 😉
Yes, I am kidding 😉
it is frustrating sometimes steve, but yesterday we had a good ref, no issues really – i don’t think theo deserved a pen and the yak goal offside was marginal, cms in fact –
we were the authors of our own destiny yesterday…..
Rico… wow, that is expensive. I know it comes a long way, but i want a beer, not shares in the company…….
Anyway, i am done for the day, off to watch the x factor…
have a good evening/night all
til tomorrow…
nighty night….
Goodnight boss. See ya tomorrow
Maybe your right about yesterdays result rico, but i quite enjoyed that game not the result of course but the way we moved the ball around and chances taken, I have been in the same position that Kosi found himself in, the ball comes at you so fast and you only see it for a split second and you can’t get your feet to do what you want them to do quick enough, i don’t blame them for that. but i did find it encouraging to see our new men fitting in and it has made me hopefull for the future.
Nte Rico
Sorry AK was having a chin wag and a drink with a mate, nope not really worse than what I expected just about the same mate.
I think as has been said a few times Steve when you look at the end of the season its not just the start to this season is it..? being in the top four isn’t what it’s about either for me its about all the lies from the board the money thats vanished the team wenger let go and never replaced and a board that has allowed him to run the club in a way that he’s just not accountable. I can handle mid table been there done that but not when I get charged the most in european footie to watch mediocrity. I dont question wengers intentions at all i question his tactics his ego and his stubborness but above that I question the boards ego and ambition cos I think htey have absolutely zero…!
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