Wenger staying, Sagna staying & It's official, the good times are on their way back…..

Morning all,

So it’s official, the worst is over and things are really going to get better!

We have gone through a period that was very sensitive, we are coming out of it now. Everything is here to have a great future.

We have a good fan base, we have now a strong financial situation, we have good young players and a squad with a bright future with the quality of the young players we have. It is just to manage it well now.

Like so many, I have slated Arsene Wenger over the last few years. Not as a person but for being such a tight old git when it comes to signing players in the transfer window. Added to that, he’s really cheesed me off by signing players like Silvestre, Squillaci, Park, Chamakh etc etc. You know those I mean.

But, if we really are now ‘financially strong’ and Arsene Wenger signs a few cracking players this summer, then I will be the first to plonk a great big spoonful of  Crème fraîche on top of my rather large portion of humble pie.

I’ve not been quite so vocal about wanting our manager gone though, but I understand why so many fans do. He’s an easy target for our lack of success. Especially when we witness players playing out of position and some of our players appearing to lack heart week in week out.

Well, Arsene Wenger has yet again been questioned about his commitment to our club and yesterday he made it quite clear that he’s going nowhere and he’s fed up of being asked about it.

That staying depends on whether we are are doing well in his and the owners view:

I answered that question already. I respect my contracts – I believe a big club should be run where everybody does his job and I try to do my job. The only thing I can say is that I do it with a lot of commitment and a lot of loyalty. I try to do as well as a I can for this club.

I want to stay if I do well and if I consider or the club considers that I do well, that is all.

Right now, that ‘doing well’ needs to be making sure we finish in the top four, third place would be the best of course but…..

Anyway, today we can take another step to securing another season in the Champions league, if we can beat a Qpr side who are playing for nothing, well, nothing other than a place at the club. Reality is, having been relegated, most will be playing for a place at another club, none of them, if they have any kind of ambition, will want to play in the Championship next term.

This is where some will think ‘loyalty, those players should stand by their club regardless’…

Poppycock, there is no loyalty in this game, we of all fans know that. One player who I thought might exit this summer, now seems to want to stay and that’s Bacary Sagna. The Daily Mirror, well, John Cross reports that he no longer wants to join PSG. That’s good news..

Back to Qpr, they have nothing to lose any more, they will either play with freedom and play well, or they will not give a flying doo dah and just turn up because they have too.

Regardless, we have been playing with a dogged edge these days, a bit of a grit and steel and certainly a bit of attitude to suggest this group have a lot to lose.

The way they have played since the stories about them ‘playing for their future’, well it’s working for most…

Now we need the odd 2/3 who have been under performing to raise their game and make us just that little bit stronger than others around us…

One game, three points! That’s all we need for today….

That’s it folks, have a good day, let’s hope it’s a great evening…..

0 thoughts on “Wenger staying, Sagna staying & It's official, the good times are on their way back…..

  1. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to the Lady of the House and my fellow Gooners.

    Rico – I trust you and Fido had a good outing at the beach the other day.

  2. TT says:

    “But, if we really are now ‘financially strong’ and Arsene Wenger signs a few cracking players this summer, then I will be the first to plonk a great big spoonful of Crème fraîche on top of my rather large portion of humble pie.”

    This statement is wrong on so many levels.

    First of all the manager buying crap like Gervhino, Squid,Park(ffs) Silvestre et al has nothing to do with low budget and everything to do with bad judgement. That will not change with more money, the flops will just become more embarrassing.

    Secondly a manager that can not rectify tactical inefficiencies even though they have been clear for all to see for years will not be come better with more money to spend.

    Thirdly a manager that persists with players that are clearly substandard and leaves players on the bench that could do a job for us is not going to change with more money.

    I would much rather we made a new manager our biggest signing of the summer.

  3. Canadian Gooner says:

    I see that Boateng and Neita are likely to be released, which brings the total Young Guns on the drop list to about one dozen. Arsene is really cleaning house. Is this to free up money for new signings transfer fees and wages &/or to make room for more promising younger candidates within our Acavademy?

  4. Wavy says:

    QPR or Quite pathetic really are just the club to beat a slightly better than average Arsenal eleven. Seen. It all before. Easy game. Poor players out of form and formation have a moment in the sun and beat us 2-0. We are pathetic, not them, we are shamed and they are feted as underachievers who will be favourites to return next season, whilst ours is effectively on the rock – again.
    Or alternatively, the Arsenal eleven play a blinder and score 5 whilst keeping yet another clean sheet.
    I know which scenario I prefer but what will we get?
    The draw? Not under consideration, it would be a totally embassing result, almost worse than defeat!

    Morning all have a good one.

  5. frednerk says:

    Morning All.
    The buck stops with wenger in my eyes,
    he prepares the players for each game,
    he has to be accountable,for the fans discontent,
    his pay per-week is £135,000-over 7million per year.
    We all know what great times wenger has given the club.

    Empty seats around the ground,
    will maybe push the club forward,
    but is it right that the fans have to go on strike,
    because the manager,has refused to do the right thing.

  6. Canadian Gooner says:

    TT – I wouldn’t be so fast to jettison Arsene. While the jury is still out on Gervinho; Squillaci, Park, and a few others are just not good enough. Were they bought because we couldn’t afford better and Arsene took a chance on them or did Arsene have more money, but was just being cheap and shopping in the bargain basement. Some of them, such as Squillaci and Santos, had decent pedigrees with a caps for their national teams. Anyway, there seems to be a big change in the wind. I expect the club will buy three top quality players in the upcoming transfer window.

  7. W.A.T.H says:

    Morning All,

    Good post Rico, agree with a few off TT’s comments, the amount of funds available does not take away the utter dross he has bought…! As TT says very poor judgement and yes there are ones who have been good but none the less if your going to buy cheap at least buy players with heart and a decent attitude even if they are crap…!

  8. Canadian Gooner says:

    Wavy – I too have seen the same in the past, too many painful times. However, if the team haven’t always been dazzling us with their brilliance, they have shown a lot more grit and determination lately. I think it will be 1-2 or 1-3, they seem to need that kick in the arse to get them going. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we walk away with it. It all hinges on the mentallity of the two teams.

  9. TT says:

    CG We could afford better players and we could have gotten them cheaper. There where and still are very good players out there at a relatively low price.

    Our worst flops came from France because that’s were the Manager likes to do his shopping, while in the neighboring country renowned for its grit and never say die attitude was ignored for years. Germany has had better players than France for years and so has Spain.

    While the Spanish players would have commanded premium price the Germans did not.

    Its this type of narrow mindlessness that has saddled us with so much dross.

  10. rico says:

    Morning all…

    I did thank you Cg, can’t wait to go again..

    Guys, I’m not forgiving him for what he has done in the past, some of his signings have been truly awful, and persisting with who he has all too often is equally as bad.

    But, my humble pie relates to my comments over recent months when I have said that I expect little change in his ways this summer.

    Right now, and until Wenger proves otherwise, i still expect little change is the way he operates in the transfer window.

    What i am saying is, if he goes and signs 4 really good players this summer and we start the season looking like a proper squad, and one that can really challenge then I will eat humble pie….

    So my comment imho is not wrong in any way because it’s how I feel….

  11. Thorough says:

    Perfectly agree with TT. If Wenger can bench a fit Rosicky for Ramsey/half fit Wilshere, Giroud ahead of Podolski as a starter, Theo ahead of Ox/Gervinho, then what makes you think we’ll be better off with him spending more. We could buy Cavani, Belhanda and Ceasar, yet keep them on the bench while we play Schezny, Ramsey/Wilshere and Giroud in the first 11.

  12. W.A.T.H says:

    We are not direct anymore Rico and we lack that all important spine…! If he corrects that in the summer we can challenge again and thats all I ask that along with 11 players 18 if you include the subs all of whom will pull on our shirt and give 100% effort got 90+ mins and that sadly has been lacking far to often the last few years.

  13. TT says:

    I would give anything for Lehman at his prime today. He would never have tolerated the lack of commitment we have seen in the last years.

    He was arrogant because he was that good. Our pole however is just arrogant..It still baffles me why he was dropped for Almunia and we then persisted for years with arguably the worst goalkeeper we have had for decades.

  14. Jay says:

    No one seems to mention the highly paid scouts Arsenal send to watch these crap players before Wenger decides to buy them.Rowley and his assisstants such as Giles Grimandi have a lot to answer for in recommending the club to buy this rubbish in the first place.i am sure anyone with a reasonable knowledge of football certainly wouldnt have told him to buy Squillaci and Park

  15. tsgh says:

    Morning all,

    One fine post Rico… just share your veggie cream and apple pie come July 😀

    I totally agree with you there Cg.. A player like Boateng being released shows a new direction, because he was so highly rated at one time he was tipped to make the senior season squad before Miguel as a CB… the games he played under Di Canio were very positive however, the Arsenal curse struck and the injuries started occurring…

    TT I think your first post is a bit harsh… 😉

    As a football fan I can see the logic behind the purchases of Le Squid and Silvestre at that time. Remember Silvestre was even having a medical at $hitty when he received the call from AW. 3 years ago the media were calling for us to buy a experienced CB to help the inexperienced players we had in our squad like Cesc and Nastry etc.. on paper those players had won almost every thing including European trophies. But had I known is always at last… as the saying goes. They turned out to be atrocious.

    The argument that AW was daft to buy a ‘rednose reject’ does not wash when those same people claim we should have bought a ‘lazy’ Berbatov when he was leaving united after having 2 very poor seasons…

    Santos… well, that was a huge gamble because of his age and his lack of defensive discipline. Everyone keen on world football knew that Santos on his day was as good as it could get but even the Brazilians thought his defending was kamikaze-like. My only gripe is that AW persisted with him at lb when he could have been a very effective left winger. People forget, one of his goals on the last day of last season against West Brom took us to the CL.

    Gerv is frustrating but the whole Europe thought he was the best thing in France before he joined us… and guess what the likes of BVB and Shaktar all wanted him but he claims to be an Arsenal fan like most Franco-African players… and so he joined us.

    People forget how ineffective Nastry was in his first 2 years before the 6 months of great football and then he was off…

  16. TT says:

    Rico my point is and has always been that it don’t matter what money he has to spend. There is no guarantee that he will buy players that will balance the team and buying world class players will not address all our other issues, it will only make them more glaringly obvious..or can you imagine Cavani trying to head one of Sagna’s crosses? Or trying to score 3 goals when our defense has given away two cheap goals?

    This has never truly been about money it self but how you use it what you have and how you set your team up and coach it.

  17. rico says:

    Thorough, because once he did get it right.. I’m hoping he can do that again..

    And Rosicky hasn’t been 100% fit…

  18. rico says:

    Hi Wath, you know I agree with you 100% about the new spine we need and that’s all I’m kind of saying really..

    Then it’s about the here and now for me….

  19. TT says:

    He was not having a medical at Man city. It was at Sunderland. And the whole of Europe thought he was the best thing in France before he joined us….really? was that Europe that is one of Jupiter’s moons? Because none that i have ever talked to about Gervhino had any mass in him before he joined us…his team mate though was a different matter.

  20. tsgh says:

    @Thorough, I am not sure when AW benched the lil Mozart (who is my fave player btw) in favour of Ramsey (my third fave player) :-d

    If we could be honest and recollect facts… Rosicky got a ligament injury in the Euros and was scheduled to miss 6 months of the season… when he came back just before christmas he had flu and so he may not have been match fit to play when we were not playing very well anyway… he then got injured against 8 weeks ago…

    And I like Poldi but he was not putting in an effort especially against Man u,Schalke and FC Munchen he was the reason why Santos was exposed several times on the lhs because he did not track bacck 😉

    OG12 may not be clinical or world class but his commitment can not be questioned… something we lack in the team in abundance…

  21. rico says:

    Thanks Ts, I too am glad that the younger ones are being sorted, well overdue…

    I won’t be sad if Gerv goes, together with Park, Santos, JD, Chamakh, Denilson etc…

    TT – I know, just as you should know my thoughts on what has gone on and still goes on, I have written them on here many many times..

    I’m not defending Wenger one bit for all he has naffed up in the past. All i am saying is IF and that is a very big IT things change and we get back to be organised, disciplined and look like a squad that can truly challenge then I will get behind him..

    But, as I keep on saying, until that happens, I expect more of the same….

  22. Canadian Gooner says:

    TT – I’ve heard all that before. I can remember many on here lamenting when players we had been linked with had ‘slipped through our fingers’, if we ever were truly interested in them at all. Yet, many of the same players did not go on to light up their new teams. Much as Senor Fabregas has failed to shine with brilliance at Farcelona. Also, the jury is still out on whether Arsene had the money so many seem to think he had or it was just more BS from the BOD, Peter Hil-Wood in particular. But that’s an argument for another day such as the end of August when we will see if funds were available and used this transfer window.

    Arsene isn’t the only top flight manager to buy some clangers. Auld Whisky Nose has had his fair share too (e.g. Massimo Taibi, Eric Djemba Djemba).

  23. tsgh says:

    TT before you talk please know your facts ok… 😉 Unlike you I do not put on the net without having a source… if the source is accurate or not is a different debate… 😉

    Arsenal to hijack Mikael Silvestre’s move from Manchester United to City
    Arsene Wenger is reported to have made a last minute attempt to sign Mikael Silvestre from Manchester United, just as the player was having a medical at Manchester City.

    London calling? Mikael Silvestre ready to shun Manchester City for Arsenal Photo: Getty
    By Steve Wilson8:02AM BST 20 Aug 2008Comment
    The eleventh hour intervention by Wenger is sure to enrage City manager Mark Hughes who believed the deal to be a formality after the player had agreed in principle a move across the city.
    Wenger, who is keen to add cover at left back for Gael Clichy and values Silvestre’s Premier League experience, apparently made his intentions known to the player whilst he was at the City of Manchester Stadium, with Silvestre abandoning the medical to head straight to London to discuss terms.
    The French full-back has been deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after making just six appearances for the club and, despite approaching eligibility for a testimonial match, has decided his future lies elsewhere.
    The signing of a 31-year-old goes against Wenger’s tried and trusted policy of brining youth in to the club but Silvestre’s experience both with Manchester United and France appeals to the manager.
    Silvestre joined Manchester United from Inter Milan back in 1999 for a fee of £4 million and has been told by Sir Alex Ferguson that he can leave this summer without a transfer fee.

    Telegraph…

  24. rico says:

    Jay, good comment re the scouts.

    I also think the coaching staff could do with a few changes, spruce things up a bit, get in 1/2 people with new ideas. That’s how Fergie keeps on winning…

    Ts – agree re Giroud. He certainly gives his all and gets back to defend, unlike 2/3 others…..

  25. tsgh says:

    The same Cavani who has scored about 5 goals since January in Serie A?

    Maybe if he was not concentrating on scoring away from home with a young model…

  26. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – Re your 10:49. You put it so well. It is amazing how many experienced players with a great knowledge of the game, much better than ours, can go on to be such poor managers. It is much easier for us to be armchair managers, even though we lack much of that frontline experience and all the information available to real managers.

  27. tsgh says:

    I am not saying he is TT… in fact I think he has no brains because his performance has got nothing to do with skills or talent or stamina… but to do with lack of learning…

    As I have said before, he is the only player I have seen score two goals in a game… poorly control a pass and then lose all his confidence within a moment…

  28. tsgh says:

    😀 Rico.. I waswas going to stop making those comments since it gets under your skin but you love it …

  29. tsgh says:

    Cg when we bought Gilberto… and Fergie bought Klerberson… I remember those 2 sexist men on the preview of the Charity Shield match between us and Manure saying on TV that AW bought the turd because Kleberson was more flamboyant… we all know who was right…

    Silva scored on his debut and we won the Charity shield…

  30. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – Thank you, Kleberson is one of ManUre’s great duds I was trying to remember.

  31. tsgh says:

    Cg another example is ‘Harry How did itHoudini ‘ who in his career has bought the same 8 players and taken them everywhere he has gone… Crouch, Jenas, Defoe, Pallacious etc… but people never question his purchases or how many clubs he has run into the ground

  32. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – The press always seem to go easy with Happy Harry and rarely take him to task because he is always free and easy with good siund bites. He just can’t keep his mouth shut. Remember his reaction when one of the press refered to him as a “good wheeler dealer”. Rico wouldn’t appreciate me using a direct quote of Harry’s un varnished Anglo-Saxon reply.

  33. rico says:

    Not at all Ts, it’s a free world and you are entitled to your opinion. Just stop picking on Walcott and Santi 😉

  34. rico says:

    Cg, i think so too. Certainly the really duffers like Silvestre, Squilli etc…

    Park will always remain a mystery, and its quite sad he never really got a chance. Wrong timing I guess, had he not gone off on loan, he may have got a few games this season.

  35. tsgh says:

    … and when the Kaiser himself says that Aw could have had the Bayern job whenever he wanted over the last 20 years and he has been approached 3 times since AW has been a Arsenal but he is too loyal to break his contract… I have nothing but respect for Arsene… whether he is as good as Mauren-ho, Pep, Klopp or Fergie is debatable but…

    Pep is going to be given £200M to spend this summer on a team that is already at its peak whilst we are hoping Aw gets given £70M and that transfer kitty will probably include first year salaries too as it always is at Arsenal…

    So when fans question why we buy £7m players… it makes we wonder…

  36. rico says:

    Harry has the press in his pocket, that’s why they all go along with it..

    And I think he was partly responsible for Pompey being in the mess they are in today…

    Anyway, who cares about ‘Arry, finally, ‘he’s going down’!! 😉

  37. tsgh says:

    SC19 is my 2nd fave player at Arsenal… ok joint 2nd with Kozzer if I am being honest… Rico 😀

  38. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. We must spend what we need, regardless of how much that might be. I very much doubt whether £70 million will be enough. Add the money from Gervinho, Podolski and some of the others and £100 million is a bit nearer the mark. Top strikers start at £25 (we need 2) and top midfielders at £20mill. Add a winger and a GK and there you go. Shop at Harrods though, not Lidl.
    No more nonsense from now. Get at it!

  39. Scott from Oz says:

    If a club buys half a dozen players in a transfer window, then sure as shooting some will fail.
    The problem Arsenal has had….and people can all blame whoever they imagine is at fault….is that our failures have not been hidden away by the successes that cost a fortune.
    Utd have one great signing this season, and the others have done bugger all.
    If Utd had not bought RVP, which would then compare to an Arsenal off season, then they would be complaining at their failed purchases.
    Of course the failures relate to the lack of spending!!
    Morning all.

  40. tsgh says:

    Hi Adam… you have been speaking with PV4 again re his 2000 interview 😀

    His Scott another valid point re 11:47;especially when people think Fergie makes no mistake in the transfer market.

    Powell was bought purely because AW was looking to buy him.. the guys career is probably over…

    Buttner may come good as a lb but the jury is still out on him…

    AW bought 4 and all 4 will get into most teams in the league…

  41. Canadian Gooner says:

    W.A.T.H – Re your 10:43 “We are not direct anymore Rico and we lack that all important spine…!” I noted the same thing; which is mystifying when we have a number of speed demons. Yet, when we have been direct, as with a few of Theo’s recent goals, we have been much more effective. Just because we can pass the ball around for exetended periods of possession, doesn’t mean we should.

  42. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Regarding Park, I’m not sure what the problem was there. Timing, competition for places, couldn’t/didn’t fit in with the rest of the squad; who knows. He is one player that Arsene went very quiet on. It reminds me of a few times buying something from a catalogue. Looked good on paper, but when it arrived it definitely didn’t look like what I wanted.

  43. tsgh says:

    @ Rico-Ramsey is 3rd… Rosicky is my first… Diaby was 2nd until SC19 joined us but his DNA needs to be accessed by Pique…

  44. Adam says:

    One of my highlights of the week was seeing look on that big lump Pique’s face as the goals went in. Lovely. But then I do have an evil streak.

  45. tsgh says:

    Cg rumours are that AW bought Park to help out Monaco financially as they were doing their best Portsmouth imitation :d and to spite Lille for not selling Hazard to us a season before Hazard signed the contract with the 35M buy out clause…

  46. Jay says:

    Historically Arsenal have never really paid huge transfer fees for players.In the sixties we came close to relegation on numerous occassions because the board were too tight fisted to buy top players.Also we all know in recent years the purchase of 2 or 3 players would have turned us into a great side rather than an average one.I wouldnt hold your breath on things changing this year lads,we have heard it all before

  47. Scott from Oz says:

    Everyone will laugh, but Ramsey isn’t my favourite player.
    Honestly 🙂
    Ever since Kozzer arrived, i thought he would end up a world class CB.
    I love the way he plays the game.
    I do love he way Aaron goes about things though, and he has carried himself with class and dignity in the face of constant abuse and criticism.
    He is a bloody good kid, and a great Gunner.

  48. tsgh says:

    Me too Adam… I bet he was thinking he has a Bavarian DNA now….

    Talking of DNA’s… who would have thought Aladiere would go 2 full seasons without an injury finally?

  49. Scott from Oz says:

    A hypothetical one….
    If the 70 million is there, and is the amount to be spent, would we prefer two x 30-35 million players, or four x 15-20 million guys?

  50. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – Your comment regarding Powell reminded me of the number of players that Chelsea vacuumed up when Roman was being free and easy with his ‘hard earned roubles’. Many a player had their careers put on hold after moving there. Some were lucky to even make the bench on a regular basis.

  51. tsgh says:

    Really Scott? Rico thinks you have Aaron’s poster on your garage wall and in your wallet. 😀

  52. tsgh says:

    lukaku is another player who went to chelsea when he could have been the main man at Arsenal…

  53. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – I too shared your delight, especially after some of Pique’s cheap talk to the press prior to the game. I was going to say guilty pleasures, but I’m far too pleased with that result to have the tiniest pang of guilt. A case of Karma no doubt.

  54. tsgh says:

    3 or 4 £15M buys who will be rotated for me all day Scott.

    My criticism of AW has always been that he falls to have a squad bigger than 15 or 16 good players and he does not rotate enough until players are tired in December….

    Ak has commented on that before too…

  55. rico says:

    Shirt sales could probably have been just it Cg, but I doubt that worked at all. He needed to be playing to do that.

    Shame, he was a good striker when we signed him, well, for his country….

  56. Micko says:

    Hello all,
    What’s another season in the wilderness between friends.

    As for qpr and their shitty tin pot of a ground today, I can’t remember the last time we got a good result down there, remember thrashing them in the cup a few years back, time to get the top four trophy back on the road again.

  57. rico says:

    Ts – I did think that about Ramsey’s photo being in Scott’s wallet, just behind one of you 😉
    .

  58. rico says:

    I missed that wonderful sight Adam…

    I’d take a confident 1-0 Micko, and would be nice to see Southampton pick up a point today too….

  59. Adam says:

    No Sun today Rico but I have been sweeping the lawn. 🙂
    CG. Piqué really is a classless knob isn’t he?
    I think Pep to Bayern is a really interesting one though. Does he stick or twist? Will Bayern really resort to Barca-style play or will they, in classic German tradition, continue to trample the opposition?

  60. rico says:

    Nice one Ts… 🙂

    Adam, maybe a Henry for outdoor use would be better. Less strenuousness.

  61. Canadian Gooner says:

    I still think Arsene may surprise us this year. tsgh mentioned squad rotation, yet I thought there was more of that this season than previously and much of that was not dictated by injuries. Rico mentioned perservering with under or non-performing players. Yet this year they, including our team captain, sat out if they played below par. Previous seasons would have seen the first eleven always playing if they were fit; even if their temporary replacements were playing well. That must have deflated more than a few of the second string. Arsene has also released many players from the Academy, up to twelve so far this season. Even Rico lamented at the loss of some of her favourites. In past years Arsene would have retained them a year or two longer, in hopes that they would finally come good. For such obstinate person he does seem to be changing his ways.

  62. rico says:

    Good point Cg, this season players are finally being dropped. Had the squad been deeper in strength, I think one or two would have been dropped earlier, but injury prevented that.

    I think he sits on that tattoo Wath 😉

    Sorry Scott … 😉

  63. tsgh says:

    Good point and observation Cg… my bad

    Randall… Jeez now of Chesterfield via MK Dons… he was meant to be the next best left footer in the land… the new Edu but … lol 🙂

  64. Micko says:

    The ox was on a hot streak at the time as well tsgh, he seems to have gone backwards, not enough playing time.
    Can’t see pep tinkering with Bayerns style too much Adam, they have become the new mean machine haven’t they, it will be a cracking final.
    rico, ” ooh you are naughty but I like you”

  65. Scott from Oz says:

    Wath, i have got one of RVP, that way, i can belt shit out of him and not get in trouble for it!!

  66. tsgh says:

    I am always on your side Scott…

    Okay okay .. I own up I am the one with Aarons tattoo on my calf… 😮

  67. Canadian Gooner says:

    Well once again it has be great talking too you all, but our game starts later this morning. If I go now, I can get four good hours of sleep before kick-off. So, it’s good morning from me and a good afternoon or evening to you. I’ll check back after the game to see if any of you are still awake. Keep the faith.

  68. W.A.T.H says:

    I hope that “Madam” you go to Scott doesn’t think RVp on your spanking area is anyway a “hate” symbol….!

    Tattoo’s of players…. the biggest form of stupidity i reckon…!

  69. allezkev says:

    Apparently Pep Guardiola, has made Koscielny, Bayern’s next target in the summer, with Arsenal putting a £20m price-tag on him…

    Of course, the story is almost certainly the usual bollocks that we’d get at this stage of the season…

    Yet, I cannot help but worry, that Ebeneezer Kroenke would instruct Gazides to accept such a bid.

    After all, making a profit comes well before winning anything…

  70. Scott from Oz says:

    Kev, if we sell him, that will do me.
    I will drift off into the sunset and give all things Arsenal away until Stan departs….the club or the world, it matters not.

  71. tsgh says:

    Ebeneezer Kroenke… 😀

    Stan and Christine Lagarde are good will persons who are misunderstood… 😉 they don’t mind taking from the poor but claim its for the long term good of all…

    Hi Ak…

  72. allezkev says:

    Outside the St Pancras Hotel.

    Just seen the Southampton squad file onto their coach for the short trip to the Slum.

    I’m afraid that they had a 4-0 defeat written all over them…

    We gotta win at the Bush…

  73. tsgh says:

    Same here Scott a defender of his ilk is hard to find in ‘lidl’ or peckham market where we shop…

  74. allezkev says:

    Hiya Ginge/Scott.
    Have a good one Rico…

    Ginge, Boateng didn’t develop quite how I had hoped.
    Tbh he was fcuked about a bit with that waste of space Monteiro and the hopeless Angha often playing instead of him…

    I still think that he is gonna be a good centre-back.

  75. W.A.T.H says:

    Happy driving Kev…..

    Scott, I am saying nothing about your tendencies….! 😉 it must of started with that ball n chain…!

  76. W.A.T.H says:

    What’s this the quiet before the storm today…?

    Very quiet on here everyone must be off drinking driving or walking the dog..! Oh and Scotts getting spanked..!

  77. agirlagunner says:

    The game is not on here… 😥 Who honestly cares about a Wigan match?

    Hello, all. 🙂

  78. W.A.T.H says:

    Coming back or going back Scott…..

    Ts you Scott must visit the same kind of “shops”… “Establishments” 😉

    Evening AGAG… I am watching down the pub obviously

  79. agirlagunner says:

    Wow, Scott and Ginge, you guys are… erm… profound tonight.

    WATH, admit it, you own the pub (and all those crates of GG)!

  80. tsgh says:

    😀 wath. Now that is a can of worms you do not want to open

    Former UK deputy PM 2 jags Prescott is going Leeds United fans one for his club’s Hull City promotion to the EPL…

  81. tsgh says:

    Giving… I meant

    He is thanking Leeds fans for Hulls promotion.

    He says he will buy them a pint…Wath you better get in there….

  82. allezkev says:

    Cheers Wath, quite busy today, thankfully.

    Hull and Cardiff up, good, two more interesting away games for me next season…

    Brighton would be good from the play-offs…

    Hiya Shopping Buddy.
    How’s the economising going???
    I’ll have to join you for a couple of months… 🙁

    No Cobra today Rico? 😛

    Lata

  83. agirlagunner says:

    For some reason, rico, I always think of you when I see Spam cos you said you used to eat that. 😛

  84. agirlagunner says:

    What have you been spending on, Miister Shopper? It’s coming along okay-ish. But it is quite depressing, to be honest. 🙁 😉

  85. tsgh says:

    Isn’t it funny how the man who self appointed his miserable self as the chief critique of arsenal team got relegated today…
    Posh fans must loathe having Ginger Durham as a fan…

  86. rico says:

    San Miquel in the fridge Kev, chilling nicely for later – it was on offer an Aldi 😉

    I did agag, used to love it. But then I was about 11 years old 😉

  87. rico says:

    Hull are back in the PL. Thankfully no orange man with them, but another of Fergies mates in Bruce…

    Pompey relegated ts??

  88. rico says:

    ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski.

    SUBS: Mannone, Vermaelen, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Gervinho.

  89. agirlagunner says:

    My internet is so pathetic. Grrr.

    San Miguel is a Filipino beer, rico. 🙂 Too little too late for Reading…

  90. rico says:

    That’s a first Scott 😉

    I thought it was Spanish agag …. Shame about Reading, by my sister and brother-in-law are there watching so I’m really pleased they get to see their team win…

  91. rico says:

    I didn’t see it Ts 😉

    Pressure is on the team now – have to win this if they want top 4…

  92. DutchGooner10 says:

    Common lads!!! 4th and a minimal point gap up for grabs today.

    ESPN Rico? LOL You always dump a channel for the next deal. Next month it will be SKY.

  93. rico says:

    Spot on Micko….

    Dg, am hoping to dump Sky totally soon, as soon as BT get the posh coverage in the area i live 😉

  94. Micko says:

    Roberto Martinez quoting mental strength in his after-match interview, who does he think he is.

  95. Scott from Oz says:

    The prick imitating a scuba wearing ape dives as if his leg is broken, then gets up and scores a world class goal two minutes later.
    The wrong welshman had his leg broken, because his arsehole deserves it.
    I loathe the guy, and i detest the spirit, or lack of, in which he plays he game.

  96. rico says:

    Craig Burley comment: ‘If they can’t beat this helpless bunch, then Arsenal don’t deserve to be in the top 4’

    Totally agree…..

  97. DutchGooner10 says:

    Toots score?? What a load of tripe. Bale player of the season what a joke.

    Rico are you going fiberglass??

  98. tsgh says:

    Theo and bale making 200th league appearance today… theo 61 goals; Bale 54 goals with 25 of bales’ goals coming this season…

  99. DutchGooner10 says:

    Twitchy already looks agitated. “Un-nhil tou the Arfenal” he says if you’re a skilled lip reader. Okay highly skilled than.

  100. Scott from Oz says:

    ‘Arry is going off.
    He still thinks they can avoid relegation.
    Then, he was never much good at counting 🙂

  101. rico says:

    Me too Lewis…

    This is awful. carry on this way and Qpr will surprise us…

    Over confident and too relaxed…

  102. rico says:

    Lewis. I have to agree re Podolski, so much so, I’d say get him off and play Walcott central with OC on the right…

    Rosicky is having a quiet day too, they all need Wengers wise words at H/T 😉

  103. tsgh says:

    Bad or decent half… just when you think our forwards are up to something we have tippy tappy play in key areas… Poldi at CF needs pre-season… if Gerv was playing we would be discussing missed sitters …

    we haven’t beaten them at the Loftus Road for over 22 seasons we need a 2nd goal

  104. tsgh says:

    Townsend is a scum.. I bet he has received a call from Levi guaranteeing him a place in the squad if he scores against us…

  105. rico says:

    In my head Ts, I was thinking that Gerv could do better than Pod. Now that worries me 😉

  106. devilgunner says:

    Good evening Lady and Gentlemen.

    Nice post Lady. a bit of writing which can put the mind at rest. 😉

    It is only a team like us to make it seem as if one team is only playing and we do that for 15 minutes. Then we suddenly remember that QPR are there also and we let them in the game so that the ball would be distributed fairly.

  107. tsgh says:

    He has received criticism from his own players and former coaches and legends such as Matthias summer this season…

  108. devilgunner says:

    I am back from a thumping today. Went to see one of club’s young ones in action and although we played quite well and kept possession we finished the game on the wrong end of a 1-5 scoreline. They had, what, 7 shots in the whole game. And they scored 5. We had twice as much and scored only one. C’est la vie.

  109. rico says:

    Bloody right it is Ts, sign of desperation I guess… 😉

    It’s not working for a couple of players, we need changes and put this game to bed, before Qpr score!!

  110. devilgunner says:

    I would go for 4-4-2 With Podolski and Theo as a twin combo.

    Leave Ramsey and Arteta as centre.

    CAzorla on the left and get OX on the right.

  111. eastsidepaul says:

    Is it an acceptable time for Wenger to make a change yet?

    Why is walcott taking every set piece….. Has he found an Arsenal player with one yet?

  112. tsgh says:

    A few players are tired… I know one or two players are special but this much needs legs not brains at this stage imho…

  113. devilgunner says:

    We are overplaying each move. It ends up with the QPR players getting behind the ball and either forcing a throw in or driving our players into blind alleys.

    We should take a leaf out of their book and play more directly. I am yawning.

  114. devilgunner says:

    bdw….one of our favourite teams has been promoted to the premier lge………Hull it is. yippppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 🙁

  115. allezkev says:

    Even in his pomp, Wenger was useless at making substitutions.
    Of course we had a great team then, and all he used to do was bring on Kanu or Suker or Wiltord or RVP.
    Any idiot could send on a couple of forwards.
    But tatical changes?
    Forget it…

  116. devilgunner says:

    Kev is always right.

    When you think he is wrong just slap yourself, look in the mirror and remember the above. 🙂

    how are you habib.

  117. tsgh says:

    at least he has swapped TR07 and SC19’s position so that Monreal gets help on the lhs…

  118. tsgh says:

    we definitely need a couple of forwards next season…

    where from though? Even Benteke will be an upgrade… imho

  119. devilgunner says:

    I cant say that today we have been crap. Imo we have been worse in other games………..but is what we saw today a fair reflection of what Arsenal should be? Shouldnt we aim higher? We should be more proud of our team.

    Loose if we must. But at least go down fighting………not this shit of playing style.

    Yes, the team I had to oversee today lost 1-5. but I am still proud of the way they played. They all gave their best.

  120. tsgh says:

    was that GG in charge today? 1 nil to the arsenal, 1 nil to the Arsenal…

    thank goodness

  121. devilgunner says:

    Very uncharacteristic of AW to play with three centrebacks while NAcho and Bac go up the flanks.

    Phew. game over.

    at least 3 points. at least we have the points. the others still have to play the games…………..they need to win them though.

    tomorrow its the chavs against manure. Come on Red nose’s boys. hammer the chavs.

  122. rico says:

    Esp, considering our previous record there, some would say it was a good win…. 😉

    That really should have been 3/4 – 0

    But right now, 3 points we wanted, 3 points we got….

  123. tsgh says:

    credit to SB and NB… for the first time in 15 years our defence looks better than our forward… AW forward coach… sort it better yet spend some fcuking big money!

  124. tsgh says:

    A 22 year old record broken.. at least we have broken a record unlike being victims of a record… 😉

  125. tsgh says:

    I am wondering how SYG and lee will be feeling about the performance…

    Scott your boy Scez saved us…

  126. rico says:

    Ts – surely you are not praising Steve Bould… 😉

    Ches was my MOTM… His save was awesome…

  127. tsgh says:

    Rico.. I have been praising SB post every match over the last 3 matches…

    I am not biased just honest… 😮

  128. rico says:

    But three points Adam… We need them to get the summer of to the best start….

    Right now though, I need to have a toastie. back in a bit…

  129. devilgunner says:

    Has anyone noticed that if we win our last two games this will be the third best season since the INVINCIBLE season of 2004.

    yes we do moan……….but at the end of the day the table has the final say.

  130. Micko says:

    Personally I think the team showed great character and mental strength again today, it can’t be easy going into so many games knowing you have to cling on until the 93rd minute to get the 3 points, oh for a proper goal scorer.

  131. tsgh says:

    Interesting dev… this team are pulling in the save direction finally… good observation

  132. allezkev says:

    Well, we know that Ferguson has no love for Benitez, so I’d back ManUre picking up 3pts…

    As for finishing in the top four?!

    Tbh, I’m reaching the stage where I don’t give a shit either way…

    Looking forward to the Wigan game though…
    Not so much for the football, but for the pre-match meet with Adam and Lee…
    Roll on the summer and the Ashes…

  133. tsgh says:

    Both Micko… I always said that if Spuds lose points before day 38.. Sissoko may have a point to prove against us…

    Anyone watching Jovetic…

  134. Canadian Gooner says:

    The team made hard work of the game, but a win is what we needed. Although we’re back to W.A.T.H’s earlier point.

    W.A.T.H says:
    May 4, 2013 at 10:43 am
    We are not direct anymore Rico and we lack that all important spine…!

    Hopefully the club address his concerns during this transfer window.

  135. tsgh says:

    Hi Cg we may not have a spine but we have the core that can develop into a core

    Again Ramsey and Arteta and Sagna run their socks off.. those midfield two remind me of the Petite-PV04 duo

  136. allezkev says:

    Loic Remy, how was he for you lot…..?

    Impressed???

    Underwhelmed???

    Not bothered either way??!!

  137. allezkev says:

    Ginge, gotta say, with the best will in the world.
    You simply cannot compare Arteta & Ramsey with Vieira & Petit…

    And with that bombshell, lata amigos

  138. tsgh says:

    Ak… Remy is an option… he was tipped to become a TH14 but his injury record is suspect… he is within the grade B price (strikers) range that we can afford…

    What I do like about Remy is that he never gives up when things are not going well…

  139. devilgunner says:

    I would only take Julio Cesar from QPR.

    Remy????? No thanks.

    Taarabt???? surely not

    Samba………heaven forbid.

  140. devilgunner says:

    ts…..you are right about Remy. He is grade B price. We cannot afford grade A prices.

    But there are B+ strikers which we can afford.

  141. Adam says:

    The application, desire and motivation within our team is so bad I personally find it very depressing. I don’t buy into the 3 points argument at all because it encourages complacency. Yes, if CL qualification is the only important thing then ok, but as I have been saying for a season now, this team is very average and nowhere near good enough. Everything with Arsenal these days is about vague promises for tomorrow. Today was a shameful display considering what was at stake.

  142. devilgunner says:

    I saw him today. He is ok. but not good enough.

    Theo over him any day and every one knows how I rate Theo. A player but never a footballer.

    Yes Remy tries a lot and never gives up. But that is the only upgrade he can give.

    Why are spuddies after Damiao and we are not?

  143. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – Yet, I can remeber a number of posters on here were moaning and gnashing there teeth that we had missed out on or hadn’t gone in for Samba. Funny how a little distance from the situation can alter your perspective.

  144. devilgunner says:

    Adam has succinctly explained what I had been saying earlier. Yes, if qualification is the only thing at stake then ok………but should a team boasting Cazorla, TR07, Podolski, Theo (?) Ramsey and Arteta play such crap?

  145. Adam says:

    CG. I agree. Downgrading of expectations has been a feature of Wenger’s latter years. You see it here every day.

  146. devilgunner says:

    CG you are right. But when you compare his present contribution and attitude to the days he spent at Blackburn you will realise why my perspective has changed. At the moment I would find it difficult to change the Merte+Kozzer combo. No not even for TV05.

  147. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – I don’t disagree with your 7:57 pm post, but I think three good buys this summer could fix a lot of the teams deficencies. Maybe I have ny rose coloured glasses on, but I hate to be negative before the transfer window has even opened. It makes the summer even more nerve wracking. We’ll have to compare notes in August.

  148. Adam says:

    CG. In general you make a valid point but Wenger has to pull his socks up too. What did he say at half time to encourage such a shocking performance. I think he has been very lucky.

  149. devilgunner says:

    you are right again Adam. Only one of them is AFC quality. and as you said……..Downgrading of expectations has been a feature of Wenger’s latter years…………however I still think that a team boasting those players should serve up better dishes for a meal.I am not expecting a Barca style soccer. But fucking hell……..more commitment and better mental technique at least.

  150. Adam says:

    DG. I can’t disagree with any of that. I watched the game with an ex-PL captain that I grew up with. You should have heard his take on Wenger and Arsenal. He is a Gooner by birth but captained another London PL team. He didn’t pull any punches.

  151. tsgh says:

    “Inter suggested that I reduce my salary,” the 32-year-old told Sportv News. “But no player in my situation would have done that.

    “I am not a hypocrite and I can talk openly about this. It became a tough situation for both parties… he was on over 150k allegedly and declined to reduce his salary… after Inter got into debt to give the players what players allegedly want… trophies

    Do people realise Caesar lost his place to Samir Handanović and he has made mistakes that has cost QPR too…

    He is on 90k at QPr… he will need to take a pay cut otherwise he would be earning more than SC19 😉

    In Brazil he lost his place to Gomes one time… the spuddie… lol

  152. Adam says:

    Anyway, I am pleased with the points but totally pissed at another horrible performance. Off for the night.
    Have a great evening everybody.

  153. devilgunner says:

    But why the downgrading?

    What can AW stand to gain with this?

    BM and Juve both built their own stadiums. And both were successful on the pitch. And they still managed to balance thebooks.

  154. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – I think Arsene has finally seen the light. Although he talks like a politician, there is an undertone of resignation in his press conferences. He seems chastened like someone who has come realize, or been made to realize, he needs to change his approach. I think we’ll have confirmation one way or the other before the new season starts. If he hasn’t changed, he will need a skin as thick as a rhino and a bodyguard.

  155. tsgh says:

    Dev because Bayern bring in £321 million a year in commercial revenue… more than 3 times what we bring in…

    and they got nearly 100 million free from the Bvaria council to build the Allianz. Highbury & Islington wanted us to pay them to build a stadium… 😉

    Juve are cheats so that is not a fair comparison… and they got relegated too

    maybe the bayern hockey team are the reason 😀 🙂

  156. tsgh says:

    Bayern continue to lead the Money League in terms of commercial revenue, with an increase of €4.8m (3%) to €177.7m (£160.5m) in 2010/11. While Real Madrid have narrowed the gap in terms of commercial revenue from €22.1m to €5.3m (£4.8m) in 2010/11, Bayern appear well placed to enjoy continued commercial revenue growth. The Bavarians recently extended its kit sponsorship agreement with Adidas, worth a reported €25m annually, for a further eight years until 2020.

  157. devilgunner says:

    Cavani and Jovetic are displaying the same signs as TH and Cesc did when they wanted to go. They are disinterested. They know they are going to leave. So why should they give a shit (they ask themselves).

    That is an attitude I find despicable and an insult to the fans who pay their wage.

  158. Canadian Gooner says:

    DG – Unfortunately those players attitudes are a reflection of our own societies where many have no personal standards, only those that are imposed on them.

  159. tsgh says:

    cavani stats… 30 games all starts 23 goals 2 assist … only 5 goals since January

    OG12 stats…. 33 games (10 subs) 11 goals 4 assists

  160. tsgh says:

    😀 Devil any time I questioned some of our ex-players attitude some think I am a conspirator…

    Cavani has other things on his mind… he needs money cause he may have a big divorce to settle after getting caught 😉

  161. tsgh says:

    Dev I know you are not a big fan of ligue 1 but do you think Capoue’s form is to do with him wanting out or just what it is?

  162. tsgh says:

    FC Hollywood…

    CG I thought you might like this…

    …. This is the same Effenberg who was asked in an interview about his €5m salary. “Five-and-a-half million,” he interjected, by way of correction. Effenberg loathed Lothar Matthäus, the Bayern midfielder, and Matthäus loathed him – their public battle was a feature of the 1990s – and then there was the goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who caused uproar in 2003 when he walked out on his pregnant wife to take up with a nightclub hostess.

    There has long been an element of the devil about Bayern. Uli Hoeness, who is now the president, has admitted that during the 1980s he would aim pre-match jibes at the opposition in order to drum up interest and help to fill the stadium; Bayern no longer have that problem. More recently, Franck Ribéry was charged with having sex with an underage prostitute and Philipp Lahm made headlines when he criticised Jürgen Klinsmann’s managerial tenure in his autobiography.

    …. There is the unmistakable feeling that many English fans do not fully comprehend the scale of Bayern. When the continental giants are considered, it is two from Spain and three from Italy that spring to mind before anyone from Germany. Yet Bayern is the club whose elite status is underlined by their four European Cups, their commercial pre-eminence and their massive fan base.

    They ought to have had more titles at Europe’s most rarified level. The romance that clings to United’s last-gasp 1999 Champions League final victory over the Germans obscures the reality that it was a brutally unlucky result for Bayern, while the midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger tells the story of how Chelsea were apologetic en route to beating them in the final last time out.

  163. rico says:

    No offers for a match report then 😉

    Night Adam… Yes, crap performance but three points and if we want to attract/sign the better players, we need CL football…..

  164. tsgh says:

    Bayern Munich’s commercial income of £161m is higher than total revenue at MCFC (£153m) and about the same as THFC (£163m).

  165. rico says:

    That’s me done for the day. Off to watch a load of old garbage on the TV ….

    Nighty night all, stay safe and catch up tomorrow,…….

  166. tsgh says:

    I am content with the 3 points though…

    what ever happens between now and then… it is a shade too late. AW and the board should recognise we need a bigger and better squad…

  167. Canadian Gooner says:

    tsgh – Good one. Unfortunately, too many players want to emulate the FC Hollywood persona rather than the efficient FC Bayern Munchen persona. As long as many of us idolize players strictly for being good at playing what is essentially a children’s game rather than a complete person, things wont change. If wewstern society were to be judged on the ‘content’ and ‘quality’ of its television programming we’d all be damned.

  168. devilgunner says:

    Gd nite Lady.

    cu tomorrow.

    I am watching the Roma -Fiorentina game. It is an open game and not a cagey affair. But if Jovetic springs to life I presume it will be more interesting.

  169. Canadian Gooner says:

    Well it is a beautiful warm afternoon here. I have to pick up an anniversary card for my younger son and his wife and i need to tame my jungle of a garden. So, it’s good afternoon from me and a good evening or morning to you all. Keep the faith.

  170. devilgunner says:

    But if we were one of the most serious clubs as we portray to be with financial prudence then we should be up there with BM. But then again………why are we lagging behind?

  171. tsgh says:

    Dev.. Bayern have always had history and bought big… that is why they have won 4 european cups…

    we have history but have been cautious in the past even before AW… we will catch up if we make the right moves going forward…

  172. tsgh says:

    Players like Sammer, Kaizer and Matthias have won world best players awards we have Brady and maybe TH14 to show for it me think

  173. tsgh says:

    FC Bayern
    Founded: 1900
    European Cup Winners: 1974,1975,1976,2001
    Cup-Winners Cup Winners: 1967
    UEFA Cup Winners: 1996
    German Champions: 1932,1969,1972,1973,1974,1980,1981,1985,1986,1987,1989,1990,1994,1997,1999,2000,2001,2003,2005,2006,2008,2010

    21st Century European seasons:

    2000 – Champions League Semi-Final
    2001 – Champions League Winners
    2002 – Champions League Quarter-Final
    2003 – Champions League 1st Round
    2004 – Champions League 2nd Round
    2005 – Champions League Quarter-Final
    2006 – Champions League 2nd Round
    2007 – Champions League Quarter-Final
    2008 – UEFA Cup Semi-Final
    2009 – Champions League Quarter-Final
    2010 Champions League Final
    2011 – Champions League 2nd Round
    2012 – Champions League Final

    21st Century League positions:

    2000 – 1st
    2001 – 1st
    2002 – 3rd
    2003 – 1st
    2004 – 2nd
    2005 – 1st
    2006 – 1st
    2007 – 4th
    2008 – 1st
    2009 – 2nd
    2010 – 1st
    2011 – 3rd
    2012 – 2nd

    European Cup Record

    1970
    1st Round – St Etienne 2-0, 0-3 (2-3)

    1973
    1st Round – Galatasaray 1-1, 6-0 (7-1)
    2nd Round – Omonia Nicosia 9-0, 4-0 (13-0)
    Quarter-Final – Ajax 0-4, 2-1 (2-5)

    1974
    1st Round – Atvidaberg 3-1, 1-3 (4-4) 4-3 penalties
    2nd Round – Dynamo Dresden 4-3, 3-3 (7-6)
    Quarter-Final – CSKA Sofia 4-1, 1-2 (5-3)
    Semi-Final – Ujpest Dozsa 1-1, 3-0 (4-1)
    Final – Atletico Madrid 1-1 replay 4-0
    WINNERS

    1975
    2nd Round – Magdeburg 3-2, 2-1 (5-3)
    Quarter-Final – Ararat Erevan 2-0, 0-1 (2-1)
    Semi-Final – St Etienne 0-0, 2-0 (2-0)
    Final – Leeds United 2-0
    WINNERS

    1976
    1st Round – Jeunesse Esch 5-0, 3-1 (8-1)
    2nd Round – Malmo 0-1, 2-0 (2-1)
    Quarter-Final – Benfica 0-0, 5-1 (5-1)
    Semi-Final – Real Madrid 1-1, 2-0
    Final – St Etienne 1-0

  174. Micko says:

    Kev 7.47, I’d be happier with a remy martin, infact pour yourself a large one tonight and have tomorrow off.

    Adam 7.57, but that’s all it is about this time of the season, the displays mean nothing now, get 6 points from the next two games and it will define what kind of summer we have.

    Tsgh, you should take up German mate……..seriously.

  175. Adam says:

    Micko. Fair point except we’ve been shit most of the season and today’s performance was in no way unique. No change=no change.

  176. allezkev says:

    Cheers Mick, I think i’ll take your advice, that is, have Sunday off. Not sure about the Remy Martin mate.

    Shaun Maloney of Wigan, looks a player…
    Not big wages or a big fee either I reckon…
    Maybe he should change his name to Jean LeMaloney, then Wenger might notice him?!

  177. allezkev says:

    There definately seems to be an element of ‘grinding out results’ over the last few games.
    Makes me wonder if Wenger has relented and allowed more input from Steve Bould.?

  178. Lewis says:

    I used to play football with Maloney at school, he was always sub as he was a bit of a ponce. Turned out to be a bit of a player!

  179. allezkev says:

    Can’t help but think, that Wenger is more aware of his vunerability than at any time since he has been Arsenal manager…

    Even he must have noticed the lack of concern shown by the fans, about his future. Not least the lack of urgency shown by the club itself.

    10 years ago we were all shitting ourselves as he entered the last year of his contract. The Press were full of ‘will he, won’t he’ stories concerning his future…

    Now, no one gives a fuck…

    Even someone as one-eyed as Wenger, couldn’t have failed to notice the change in attitude…

  180. Micko says:

    Agree Adam, but that’s where we are with this team, the performance wasn’t unique as you say, it was the norm, it’s another season I’ve written off.
    I don’t care how we win the last 2 games as long as we do and just pray the penny finally drops.

    Ok, time for my bunk.

    .

  181. allezkev says:

    Well if he’s a ponce Lewis, it doesn’t say a lot for some of our mob… 😉

    That’s me done, night all…

  182. Scott from Oz says:

    Overall, our performance was good.
    I know most disagree, but it was.
    What is lacking??
    Well, it lacks that final killer pass, and that guy on the end to put it in the back of the net.
    If Cesc were back, and a top, top striker, right now we would be first or second, without a doubt imo.
    I have been saying all season we need a DM, and i would still like one, but our entire team is defending AS A TEAM, and this making our back 4 look better.
    They were copping unfair criticism as we had too many bludgers, and they were being overwhelmed game after game.
    No, it is the finishing touch where we lose it now.
    Aaron tries, but is no Cesc.
    Santi, for all his creative play, is not one for that pass that nobody bar Cesc can see and deliver.
    Get Cesc in and Cavani, and we will rule the world.
    Well, we will be competitive again 🙂

  183. Adam says:

    Morning all. The Sun is shining its golden head off this morning in London and this has taken the edge off last night’s garbage performance. At 7.14 PM Lewis asked if we even deserved CL football and I couldn’t agree more. After watching the 2 CL semis in the week and seeing what commitment and motivation could achieve I was absolutely staggered that Wenger could get nothing more out of the team last night.
    I don’t see any point in pointing out the obvious dearth of quality or singling out individuals but, when we stink, we really stink. With three games to go and a desperate need for the team to concentrate and apply themselves to what was, let’s face it, a really very, very ordinary QPR that have already been relegated, we play like that? If Ches hadn’t made that excellent save we would have got only a single point and might even have gone on to lose that game. Wenger was running to the 4th official to complain about throw-in decisions and did nothing to alter the course of the game which showed that he rarely makes a tactical decision during the game and that our bench is lightweight.
    If you want to say it was all about the 3 points then, in a sense, I cannot disagree. Personally, I think the bigger picture is about a lot more than that. But that is just my opinion.
    Have a good day.

  184. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. That’s alright then. Everything will be fantastic after they are won. 🙂
    I recommend Gooner’s Diary this morning. I have always enjoyed Bernard’s writing.

  185. Adam says:

    I should also add that his last paragraph comprises one of the single longest sentences I have ever read. Sometimes the rules must be broken for dramatic effect. Bravo!

  186. rico says:

    I’m just accepting it because we are where we are right now and nothing can change until the final game is done and dusted.

    I really want us to stay 3rd Adam.

  187. Adam says:

    So do I Rico but, if as we all somehow believe, that things are changing, the penny is dropping or has dropped, that Wenger has seen the error of his parsimonious ways, that Kroenke has released the funds, that Gazidis has monitored the Arsenal blogs and not enjoyed what he has read, that the empty seats have caused boardroom unrest, that Usmanov’s looming and bulky presence has caused a boardroom hiatus, or whatever flavourful excuse is topical this week, then I see/am seeing a far, far bigger picture. Now that was a long sentence.
    We all want to believe that which justifies our stance on where Arsenal are heading and we all desperately want a return to playing great football and winning. No sensible person desires negativity. Unfortunately I am programmed to believe the evidence of my own eyes and what I am seeing is a million miles away from where I think Arsenal should be heading. But, that is purely a personal opinion and carries no more real credibility than anybody else’s views.

  188. rico says:

    Will anyone honestly believe that what Arsene Wenger and his players dished out yesterday was anything other than awful?

    Actually, I think I know that answer Adam….

    I guess I am just sick of moaning and with just two games left to endure, I only care about the six points on offer and us making sure we win them.

    Whatever is planned for the summer, is no doubt known by Gazidis/Wenger as we type and we can hope and pray for change, but we’ll only get what they have planned.

    I hope AU makes a bid and succeeds, again, until the season is closed, nothing will change….

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