Morning Gooners,
The difference to this week from last week is we are now not the only English team through to the last sixteen of the Champions League.
We were leading our Group with no defeats but now we have just suffered our first and against inferior opposition.
Paul Merson stated on television that had we played our first team we would have won this game against Olympiacos by 3 to 4 goals clear. I very seldom listen to anything television pundits say but my own opinion on this occasion, is the same as his.
A bad result but were there any positives that came out of this game? I would say not many but:
What I noticed in this game was the fact that Squillaci, Djourou Arshavin and Chamakh should never wear the red and white of Arsenal football club again. These players have had many chances and although each one of them have had a few decent games in the past, they have now reached their Arsenal sell by dates.
They are not the only players that I would move on either but Arsenal cannot afford to clear out all of the dead wood all at once however, these four need to be sold/given away sooner rather than later.
Others that have a question mark against their names are, Fabianski, Mannone and I would also add Santos!
Even though he has not been with us for too long, this man is not a left back so either move his position or ship him out.
Although this game was a one-off game, it proves that even quality like Vermaelen can look bad in this company but I am not making this assessment just on this game. The players stated are just not good enough, they on their own are weak links, they are players who don’t do the easy things simple. They make mistakes which gives the opposition chances over and over again and the sad part about it is, they are not going to get better.
We need a reserve keeper with a safe pair of hands and a cool head that has the experience to do the simple things easy.
We also need another centre back with the same attributes, a left back that will fit in from the off and know what being a left back is all about and we also need a play maker in midfield.
Add to that and as a matter of urgency, we need a quality striker!
The last two will be expensive so I wouldn’t expect them to both arrive in the next transfer window but in order to build a squad that has a chance of winning things, they will need to be brought soon.
I know many supporters have a soft spot for some of the players I have mentioned, some may think they will improve or get back to what they once were but if your truly honest with yourself you must see that isn’t going to happen. Now is the time to go forward, they have had their chances and failed too often.
Players like Frimpong, Ramsey, Coquelin and Miquel will all improve with a good team around them where the others won’t. Wilshire Vermaelen and Van Persie are quality but they need the same around them as they can’t do everything themselves.
We need change and we need it now.
Last night’s game has been ‘labelled’ as a training exercise as we had already qualified and assured top spot but Arsene Wenger did say that he would respect this competition by fielding a team to win.
Tell that to the teams who needed results from others to get through but who cares as long as were through eh?
Competitions in the past where we have fielded weakened teams have usually resulted with a few bad results after a sickening loss, as confidence takes a knock to the rest of the squad. I only hope I am wrong this time as our climb back up the league had begun.
We will have to see how it goes on Saturday when we face Everton, they need a result as well, so lets hope that last nights performance and result doesn’t knock us back…..
Written by Steve Palmer
Injury News:
Fabianski suffered a deep cut to his knee and Santos has a bad ankle injury and will definately miss the Everton game.
Titbits:
Argentine defender, Fabian Monzon is the latest player linked to us – he currently plays for French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, apparently Schalke are interested in him too.
Monzon is a24 year old, 5′ 11″ left back who plays at International level…
Morning all
Good post Steve, the only player I’d keep from your list is Santos, it’s his first season in the PL and I think he’ll only improve…
I thought Rosicky made us a bit better, he was unlucky not to score and linked up well with Yossi….
this was a run out for players that dont get moch time santos works well in main team just bad game for lot of players not used to playing together dont make more of it than it is
hi g clarke – i get what you are saying about last night but the simple things in the game let us down, and players don’t need to be playing each week together to do those things…
JD’s sloppy passing out of defence, when a hoof would do on a night like last night, Fabianski’s shocking clearance, Mannone not knowing where he is in his area so didn’t do a simple thing like catch the ball…..
Players in the conference league wouldn’t get things like that wrong…..
Add to that, the body language of Arshavin is a disgrace and the sooner he goes the better, went he lost the ball, which was more often than not, he’d look to the skies, huff and puff and make no effort to get the ball back – he needs out for our sake and his….
give santos a chance. as for the rest of them.. arshavin, chamakh, squillaci, djourou, they need to be moved on
Good post SP, I thought AA was an absolute disgrace last night, kept getting caught in posession,as opposed to trying to win the ball back shrugged his shoulders then just strolled about…
He has to be sold in Jan!!
Morning all…
Good blog Steve !!!!!
why risk santos/vermaelen last night???
Hi Josh – with you on Santos..
Morning Lee, does make you wonder why, maybe something to do with marseille, had they not won we would have been lambasted for putting out a weak side and allowing olymipiacos to win…
We should have played Merts, or Yennaris and put JD in the middle with Squilli and started with Miquel…
Wenger’s answer to the LB situation as Gibbs is 3/4 weeks away and santos is out for a few weeks…
We also have Vermaelen who can play LB…
Surely Miquel has done enough to play there, why move TV from the middle when we are looking more secure at the back?
Miquel may just do this season what Flamoney did in 2006…..
i think the whole team dint play well djouru was unable to get the ball out of defence… the midfield could not create any space for themselves… there was absolutely no acttack from the the left wing… the wingers did not support the the wing backs…
the palyers dint want the ball at all….
our driblling was at a all time low.. arshavin has lost it… this is the first time i have criticised him. and i dont think he has a place in our team anymore… how many balls did chamak get … there was no service for him at all… and we dont play to his strngths either … when u have a striker like chamak you need 2 wingers who can get round the defence and cross the ball not dribble thier way past defenders inot the box. … our stratergy and our formation was just not right… ew should be playing long balls to chamak he controls them and lays it off to arshaivin who should be pplaying as a seond striker he can either shoot slip in a through ball or pass into wide areas when our wingers can cross from… i dono we just were awfull yesterday.
Steve , I agree with 90% of your sentiments however on the subject of Santos I am not sure. There is something about him that makes me think he is a useful squad member. As a traditional left back ala Winterburn , he’s not the same but there is something of the Sansom there especially going forward, which is the way we are set up to play. Perhaps when the right back situation is more settled then with extra pace in the middle his trips upfield will be less dangerous defensively. I would not be too hasty on getting rid straightaway.
Morning Gooners.
Morning Rico & Lee.
Great post Steve.
Difficult for me to comment on individual performances as i didn’t see the game.
Djourou has had two previously good performances vs City & Wigan. So i don’t know what happened there?
In his defence i would point to the goalkeepers.
Late last season, when his form went to pot if i recall, we had Almunia in goal. So maybe Chezzers calming influence should not be overlooked in the teams recent defensive improvement.
terry – it was a vicious circle, we couldn’t keep the ball to play and they closed down so quickly, they wanted/needed the win so badly…
when oxo got the bal, he had 3,4 sometimes five players on him, he had nowhere to go…
for me the break down in the main was AA – everytime he got the ball he gave it away or lost it and off they went again..
Chamakh tried last night but he seems frightened of the ball, as soon as he gets it he wants to get rid, he’s way off in confidence and his tumbles in the box are somewhat embarrassing at times…
I’m still amazed he didn’t get on the end of that cross from Santos, most strikers would have thrown their body at that, had it hit any part of him, he’d have scored….
Morning Potter & AK
JD was shocking at times Kev but good point about the calming influence of Ches – to be honest, none of the back four had a good game, Miquel did well when he came on…
Maybe none of them have faith in Flappy or Mannone, just like the old times with Almunia/Fabianski in goal….
its really sad to see arsenal fans like you jump on to the “we need a change” wagon. that was the second team that played and needless to say they are far from the quality our first team possess. we had a rough start to the season but a lot has changed since then. how can you even say/think that last nights result will have an effect on our everton game this weekend. every arsenal supporter knows that we have reached the last 16 finishing top of the group. thus we were able to rest our first team players for the weekend. this result means nothing and it doesn’t help to criticize players due to the unlucky series of events that occurred last night.
lots of arsenal fans look to you as an inspiration, so please try to stand behind your team at all times, leave the hating to the other clubs supporters.
As arsenal fans we must unite, and frankly if you do not like the current squad then I advise you to support a different squad because the squad we have at the moment wont change for a long while. if you do like change and big transfers then I would say that man schitty is the ideal club for you.
i love arsenal and can’t stand arsenal fans, such as yourself, that always look for something wrong in the squad.
in Wenger we(I) trust!!!
Morning all,
Good post steve, like you say there are a few players that need a rocket up their arse this morning and oddly enough most of them were the senior ones.
If you play a weakened team in this competiton 9 times out of 10 you will be found out, fortunately for us we knew it wasn’t gonna cost us last night.
As for mannone, dunno what he was thinking, any goalie’s instincts would be to catch the ball, strange one that.
Lee, just get to the point, do you want AA to stay or not, I hate people that sit on the fence.
Welcome Malcom..
Firstly, please don’t bring the ‘go support some othe squad’ here – we don’t do that, a true gooner would know that just isn’t the way to treat a fellow afc fan’ – we don’t choose to support arsenal, it’s just born in….
secondly – none of us are calling for change, we are just highlighting a few weaknesses, players who are letting the club and the manager down. If you read here often you will know and understand that most of us believe things are much much better..
Maybe you should have a look back through the archives,,,
ya i dont understand why he dint attempt for that cross… he had done something similar in one of his recent games as well… even his first touch was bad at times…
another thing is they did close us down very well… but i think we should learn how to deal with … did you see how well yossi and rosicky delt with it.
lb is gona b a big concern for us….
The experince that Frim & Coq are gaining will pay us dividends in the long run.
Both are still learning their trade and both will be fine players, hopefully both for Arsenal.
I don’t see them as attacking m/f so when they play as a pair the team relies on the wide m/f’s and whoever plays in the hole.
Where was the goal threat from our team last night?
That’s what worried me at kick-off.
A badly out~of~form c/f. A talented m/f who gives the impression that he’d like to be anywhere, other than in this Arsenal team. A nkvice winger and a bit~part loanee from CFC. Not a lot of goals in that lot imho.
Micko, I’ve crossed him off the Christmas card list….
I’m still a little puzzled over the Santos saga…
Apparantly youth defender Martin Angha was picked to go with the squad.
But due to a mix~up, didn’t qualify.
But if he had have gone, we can assume that Miquel would have started at left~back.
Santos had to go as Angha could not.
But Santos didn’t have to start!
Morning Micko –
I just laughed at that Mannone gaff, what else could I do 😉
Hey ricco,
Apologies for the go support another team comment, twas rather uncalled for. its just that as arsenal supporters we all know by now that we are not a club that buys big or already developed players and we have a stubborn (still great) manager that believes in giving every player a fair chance to develop and prove himself in the glorious red and white shirt. I’m probably just a born optimist but i really do see most of yesterdays players as future starts, and yes i do include DJ in that statement.
I do admit that I don’t often read this blog-spot and it was rather harsh of me to come out attacking like that. however, i do feel that there are a some arsenal fans that tend to always want new signings after a bad game. we should pick ourselves up from that defeat and realize that we do improve with every game.
i predict a top 3 finish this season with this current squad.
Thanx for the warm welcome…
To be honest AK, we really didn’t threaten their goal too often, AA had a chance, Chamakh maybe one or two and Frimpong was unlucky with a shot. Yossi had a chance that some may think he should have left for AA who was in a better position but in his current form, i’m not sure he would have buried it…
Yossi and Rosicky imho worked well…
Frimps could have easily seen red late on, he just needs to get rid of his naughty side but him and Coq are definately the future, just hope the latter stays patient and waits for his chance, I fear he believes he is ready to play each week and may want to go elsewhere to make that happen….
Good to see you come back Malcom…
We do need a couple of new additions, we all have a wish list but aren’t daft enough to believe we will get who we want, however, equally important sometimes is getting the bad eggs out of the basket and we have more than one.
Last night watching Arshavin was embarassing, how many of our younger players would have thought the same, and would have been desperate to get the chance to have played.
The younger players gave their all, but some of the older heads in the side let themselves down – and they are the players the younger ones look too.
If the likes of AA can’t be bothered, give another younger player a chance instead….
Morning everyone of the Gunner’s faith.
Good post Steve. Some points I do not agree but 95% agreeable.
Hiya AK. How’s life???
Micko…..I agree with you…people should be black or white on AA. I want him out. ASAP. His attitude stinks. And the sooner he goes out the better for him……the more he stays the more we hate him.
Chamack did not do well yesterday. But was he given the service?? I am a bit cross minded about him. But at least he tries unlike Arsh. Chamack has a good attitude.
Miguel should continue to play at left back. He was good.
Djourou missed the calming influence of Chesney as AK said. And probably also the instructions of Merte and Kos. TV05 was so cheesed off that he went up front. But with Arsh AWOL or sulking off there was no service from AA. And such great was his sulking that the greeks left him alone and went to concentrate on OXO. he was surrounded by 3 or 4 players everytime he got the ball. At least this will serve Oxo, Frimps, Coq, Miguel, for the future. It will also help Djourou in his development as right back. I say we should stick him there. The first goal was a comedy of errors and a freak. So not much to blame for that. But Mannone, Squilli, and Arsh have to go. Their demanour stinks.
Benayoun should be kept. He is a calming influence and will have the same effect that Gilberto used to have. Pity he was forced to leave early. He should have been kept.
The lack of a calming influence was visible last night and it was obvious Coq and Frimpong struggled in midfield from time to time with the tempo of the Greek pressings game. Djourou was pretty bad last night, and even TV5 made a few clangers at the back. I would be tempted to go with Miquel at left back on Saturday and leave the other 3 alone from last weekend.
We still need a goalkeeper to back up Chezzer and I’ll be damned if it didnt look like Fabianski was Verminated on purpose. Did anyone else think Mannone looked like he was playing in slow motion?
Morning Dg, couldn’t you just see on TV’s face how cheesed off he was…..
Hi SoCM – you reckon TV took Fabianksi out on purpose?? 😮
To say that Fabianski was injured on purpose is an insult to the newly found team spirit.
Not even for one second it crossed my mind that TV05 injured Flappy on puropose. That is a libelous comment SoCM
Hi Rico. I saw TV05’s look. he was really cheesed off. But tbh, if you see an attitude like AA it even puts off the mice from the cheese let alone a professional. The sooner that certain players are let off from the squad the better. It would have been far profitable if AW put a new youngster in Arsh’s place. He would have learnt something. As it I told AK yesterday….we were playing with only 6 to 8 players.
I don’t believe it either, no way would TV do that to a fellow player, let alone one of his own….
Agree there Dg, I had a few choice words at the television last night and most were at AA…. And i am usually such a calm person 😉
Off for an hour, walkies time….
Afternoon guys, am sick to my stomach. Why did santos travel? You know what’s ticking me off? The fact that we ll be playing all our known “CBs” for the time being! What is kozzer or worse still vermalin picks up an injury. We head into the busy Christmas period without any recognized left or right back! Who lives like this? Lord God give me strength.
Last night Chamack was on of our best players and that is the truth- everyone likes to be down on the guy but last night he tried hard with very little service and picked up an assist as well as being possibly our only out.
Djourou is a CB not a right back and now guys want him shipped out after one very bad performance at RB when out whole team was in chaos. Guys are very harsh I must say.
Talk of Santos not being good enough is stupid this is a guy Wenger and Guus Hiddink rate highly I take their opinions over your anyday
Thanks for all your comments, and i have taken them all in, My comments on Santos as many of you have said maybe a bit hard , but i have to say that i didn’t just say that he should be moved on, i did also suggest he’s position could be changed, In my eyes he is not what we are looking for in a full back, i’m sorry but thats how i see it. I have not knocked the first eleven, i an knocking whom i consider second stringers, and i don’t think some of them are good enough. The positions i called for is only for the benefit of the squad, And to be accused of knocking The Arsenal, i take a bit hard. this team need changes , whether we like it or not ,some players are not good enough, no point in being tippy toes about it, sort them out and move them out, a quality team is only as good as its players, and at present we carry to many hasbeens.
Byron…..straight on the nail’s head. As I said…..Chamack had no decent service since Arsh was crap while Oxo was overcrowded.
Santos is a great player. Albeit I prefer him on the wing not at left back. He can give a different dimension to the team if he plays on the wing.
Djourou is I feel a good right back in the making. He started as a DM….went to CB and is now applying his trade at RB. I feel that his mobility and ability to bring the ball out of the defence on the flanks shows that yesterday’s game was a good part of the learning curve.
Hi ya DG is your butt frozen yet? Oh I forgot you are the devil…..you never get cold!
Quiet old day…..see ya pals.
Afternoon Gooners.
Harping back to the Santos scenario, and accepting that it’s always easy in retrospect, maybe Miquel at left~back and Santos at left~mid was an option and an opportunity lost.
As i wrote earlier, i didn’t see the game, so i don’t know if Arshavin or Benny played in the hole?
How’s the traffic AK?
Good morning!
The yesterday game, returned us to the recent past. Some interesting points: a) In one week, two Greek clubs defeated two English clubs. PAOK and Olympiakos have won the “noisy neighbors” and Arsenal. Do not forget that Greece is the European Championship. b) I said it before: a team must have confidence in their goakeeper. Not only in their qualities as the ability to organize the defense and read the game differently. Fabiansky and Manon are not included in this number. This was the biggest nightmare of the previous season. A goalkeeper today, must have these characteristics. c) AW has long since ceased to be the fastest player with the goal in sight and self-confidence. Missed these features, a player becomes complicated, no ideas, confused and skeptical. Therefore, also lost his place in the team. Is at the end of the line. In January or at the end of the season trying to sell it to the Zenit if they want him. (cont.)
So with that in mind, i wonder if the situation with Arshavin is not just a case of ‘He doesn’t give a shit’ but more of a confidence thing?
Yeah, i know that having 80k going into your bank account each Friday can dull the pain of rejection.
But i don’t suppose he’s enjoying the role of being the squad ‘Aunt Sally’.
Hey, hiya Lee.
I’m in the Mc’Ds car park at Canary Wharf having a cuppa & catching up.
You still busy?
Oh agag, before you ask, just tea no rock cakes or burgers or anything. 🙂
Tea break over.
Rico still avoiding me. 🙂
Thanks for info last night Lee.
I ended up listening to Smooth Radio in the end.
To smooth my frayed nerves.
cont..d) Chamack is a case study. It hasn’t speed, is not quick to perform, beyond the physical contact, protects the ball well, it is reasonable in the air, does not make a shot on goal, it is technically reasonable, does not respond, no fiber for scoring and he hasn’t sharp for finish and not “hunger” for scoring golas. Lost in the play area without extremes, is easy to spot a player is a player who does not create problems for defenses, allows opponents are facing the game, with more time to think, to play, to impose. Everything is made predictable and joyless. It is another player to sell in January or at the end of the season.
e) Defence: as in the beginning of the season. In addition to what I said about the goalkeeper, defense complicated. It is true that players are in positions adapted. But opponents are limited to take advantage of defensive errors to score and disorient even more defense. Lack trust, rapport and a voice command. Only squillacci is end of line in my opinion.
f) Santos is the difference between a full.back defender (“defesa esquerdo”) and a left defender (“lateral esquerdo”. is an excellent left defender (“lateral esquerdo”), but not a good full back defender (“defesa esquerdo”)..
AK, yeah still busy…
Arshavin last season seemed to me, to be unfit ,which affected his play, he has never regained that fitness and has been used as a replacement, he has not got the attitude or the speed or the talent that he showed when he first came, it happens to all players but it stands out more when the game is played at the pace of the premier league, as happens with a lot of older players he will become a star again in the lower leagues or a foreign league. His time is over, time to move on, a player that could have been so good but never delivered what he could have.
I agree SP, but AW never really played him in his preferred position did he?
Your probably right there Lee, but he did once have the talent to cope.
Afternoon guys and gals….
Look on the bright side, wenger said if we get any injuries he’d buy in the transfer window 😉
Santos is another that thinks he’s a winger but has no pace or the stamina to get back to his position, great going forward but causes unnecersary problems at the back. Walcott see’s himself as a centre forward but plays on the wing, what should be best for the team, one answer buy wingers and buy a centre forward. if first team players are not happy in their positions we will never get the best from them.
Hi Rico we need a LB wenger will probably buy a midfielder, I can’t belive him at times
Vertonghen plays across the back line and also DM…so he ticks a lot of boxes and wont break the bank!
Hi Steve, me neither…
Buy Vertonghen – Simples 🙂
Hi Byron – agree that Chamakh didn’t get a lot of service but when he did get the ball it was like a hot potato, he couldn’t get rid of it quick enough….
His confidence is rock bottom….
I know contracts are an important part of a footballers life but they can also be a bit of a bind as well. Most of our troubles are contract connected.
Good afternoon everyone, Djourou is a liability, very indecisive and when he does make his mind up, its often a very poor choice, Arshavin just looks like he doesn’t want to play football anymore, I have never seen a play would couldn’t be bothered as little as him on the pitch. Chamakh, if you told me he had never played football before coming to Arsenal I honestly wouldn’t question you! He really does nothing, has nothing about him, and doesn’t seem to want to be in a situation where he could score!
Mannone… Its just Arsenals way I guess, only such clownery would happen at Arsenal, what he did will be on the blooper reel for years to come. I know he is young and inexperienced, but he is a professional, paid to play football.. I would expect that time of reaction from a reserve keeper that came on in Sunday league.
What Steve said, we need, and more. Last night showed us that we have some decent up and coming players, and a lot of has beens… and lets not forget we have two more has beens on loan..
HI Paul, people think i am digging the players out, but how can we keep seeing these mistakes without saying anything. My life i would love to say that they all played well but at the moment i can’t.
In the real world Steve, some of our players would be sacked…. Blow the contracts 😉
Hi Esp, I can’t disagree with that – sadly though we have been saying the same about a few of them for too long, surely Wenger has to have seen enough of some of them by now….
Exactly Steve, its what we want as fans, perfection. Its not obtainable, but its what we strive for!
We see the mistakes being made week in and week out, the team is doing well at the moment, last nights game meant very little, but mistakes where made, and seem to be made by the same offenders each week!
It will take very little to turn that squad into a squad of winners, trim the fat and bring in several quality players.
And i think thats where our frustration comes from, we can see its so close, but the measurements are not being implemented for it to happen!
I don’t know Rico, I have always thought the Wenger is too close to see what is really going on, some of these players should have been gone quite some time ago.
I feel that the club has become a tad stale, as I have said before, I would like to see a new board, new coaching staff and a new number two beside Wenger (I think Bergkamp would be a good choice!).
With Usmanov’s money we can be competitive and still be profitable, no more losing players because we couldn’t afford the extra 3 million, or losing them because we can’t meet their wage demands.
I certainly wouldn’t disagree there Paul. Last nights performance must have been one of the worst i have seen. And some of those players have been with us for a long time, all i can think is they must have good contracts, because if i were running things they would be long gone. I like to give players the benefit of the doubt, but only for so long.
good read rico…
we do as a team still pay for the very very poor handling of this summers transfer activity…nazidis and wenger really made a mess of that,one would think that top managers like wenger and a hard working man like nazidis at least in his own words,should have done far better…we have started to become a team but remember we threw away two months of preperations…
yesterday djourou was a walking disaster…mannone seemed like a gotti man,arshavin doesnt seem to bother as long as his pay check is in the bank,just awful,chamakh isnt Arsenal quality….where is park ?..if he is reckoned to be worse than chamakh..oh my..
benny seems to be getting back to his best…
and to be honest im not convinced that Our Beloved Arsenal is in such a great shape..seems more like we’re building a bubble who may implode at *any given sunday*…
so far wenger hasnt proved anything this season im still a Gunner who wants him and the american gang out of Our Club…asap…
Saturday line-up: Szes- Djourou Met Koz Vermaelen? or Koz Met Vermalen Miquel? or Koz Met Squil Vermalen? or djourou Squil Met Vermaelen ? or Djourou Met Vermalen Miquel? …
Trouble is though Esp, we are stuck with the current board and Stan won’t let AU help out with the money – so unless the current board decide to cough up again in Jan, I see us stuck with a few..
Totally agree about AW being to close to players, if only he could be more ruthless, that’s about all that’s missing from his qualities, and his reluctance to change tactics when clearly it’s needed….
And his inability to spend money, i’m sure there is more 😉
hi tomstoned, thanks but the credit goes to Steve Palmer today..
We are in a much better situation than we were in the summer, the confidence in growing but for me, matches like last night expose the frailties of the squad – we have a large squad but too many in that squad aren’t good enough to step in when we need them….
Hi JM – Kos Merts TV Miquel for me
Or, if AW wants to play TV at LB, drop Song back into defence and play Coquelin in the DM role…
You guys read AVB comments at the press… 🙂
Anelka is off to China it seems….. I would tell you the club but I cannot spell it 😉
I wish Anelka good luck, a 500 grand buy for us from PSG and we sold him for 22mill he never reached the heights he did with us but i wish him well, Nasri will turn out the same but that was a cool 22mill. not bad for Arsenal players eh.
Shanghai Shenhua
Any body know how long Santos’ll be out ?
That’s the one Steve 😉
I wish him well too, his last pay packet…. He was good for us, to this day i wish he’d stayed and stuck his fingers up at his brothers…….
God I hate to see DJ in arsenal shirt… (not any time soon atleast..)
Hi STV – 2/3 weeks i think….
good post stevepalmer1
im sorry for the mix up ….
agreed rico but honestly haven’t wenger besides from the early part of his career at The Arsenal,made these mistakes….always it seems like we are not more than 2-3 players short of being really good,he’s got the money now…why not fix that prob…or is it that he just doesnt see it ?
sticking with players like senderos,almunia,squillaci,bendtner,denilson,chamakh,etc..
and selling far better players,well it seems that wenger isnt that untouchable as some seems to think..wenger is full of mistakes and i do not think that winning is that important to him,he would rather be praised for being the best in discovering new great talent,and well nobody can argue he is a master of that..but he is letting The Arsenal down at the same time,sport is about winning,nobody remembers the losers ..harsh but that is the reality of it all..
i’ve said it many times keep wenger and let him manage the youngsters…but he is proving beyond any doubt that he doesnt have the mentality or the cynical strike that is needed to be a winner..
Hi, Ricfo..
Hope he’ll comeback soon. Second the writer’s view abt Squill Arsh Chamark and Djoru.
Very stupid opinion about santos in my eyes. Even in leftback he performed fairly well imho..
Sorry Rico, I msspelled.
i’m not sure wenger didn’t try to get rid of some of the dross in the summer tomstoned but no clubs wanted them – had he done so, i think we would have seen 2/3 more signings in before DD
January will tell us just how much wenger has changed if he has, he’s started building, he needs to continue next month……
No probs STV
Its Santos first season so i’m not giving up on him yet, he is a bit too attack minded sometimes but he’s getting better imho – also, i’m not sure he was wenger 1st choice LB, I think it was always going to be Gibbs but yet again, injury forced the change..
As many have said, the best option would be to get Vertonghen, he can play anywhere across the back and would solve our defensive probs in one foul swoop – and he’s not too expensive…
Hi Tomstoned no probs mate we all have our own opinions, Wenger confuses me as well, I normally support all he does, but he has in the past held on to players to long and he is still doing it now. i don’t think its to much to ask, after a bad game, for a bit more quality, i would have thought he would have thought that too
Yes, the Versatile Vertougen.. He can play anywhere in defence and as DM.Santos could be moved to left mid then. Overall it would be a great addition but will Wenger ? I remember we spent 2 months in off-season asking this question 😉
We will be spending 31 days in Jan wondering the same STV…
Steve, re your 5.04, no need for that sort of language mate !
Goodevening folks 😯
The one positive from last night is that Wenger cann’t bluff us by saying we have a strong squad and no additions are needed. Last might was dire in the extreme . We need to get rid of the hangers on and bring in fresh talent.
Hi Micko, thats that rico getting at me.
Rumours are doing the rounds that Nasri wants out of Citeh….
Oi Oi Micko 🙂
Evening smudge – exactly….
Three weeks out for Santos 🙁
But for Steve 🙂
Looking forward to the basel vs manUre game tonight, would be good to have a laugh at their expense.
Went to see basel a few seasons back when they needed to beat the young boys to win the league, a fantastic little stadium with a shopping centre built underneath, they also built a seperate railway track for the away supporters which pulls up at their end, I must admit I was very impressed, why can’t we think of doing things like that ? Basel went on to clinch the league that night.
The next day we crossed the border into france to see Colmar, its where arsene wenger grew up, his parents had a restaurant there up until a few years back, its a beautiful little town which missed all the bombing during the second world war, i better stop there before i bore you all to death.
Rico, is’nt it too soon.? .
I wonder how these people gave citi that sort of a game in cc! Squill looked like a 45 yr old yesterday.
Thats a very good point smudge. But again our squad was never been that good qualitatively since the emirates move, yet he kept telling that.
Perhaps they will take a couple of mill for him Rico
Hiya folks. How are you all???
Rico……is it true about Na$ri??? Where did you hear it???
Blimey if its true he is quicker than the Adewhore. Or did someone offer more money???? Maybe he does not like the manager???
You reckon Basle can win Micko?
STV – you would have thought so….
Rico, I think they have a great chance, man u are there for the taking, having said that they always seem to pull it out the bag when it matters, basel’s home kit is the spitting image of barca’s, they might be able to do a double bluff and shuffle on them, here’s hoping.
Come on Basel… get inspiration from Crystal palace !!
Lets hope old red nose looks like Basil fawlty by 9.40 tonight 🙂
Back in a bit, i’m hungry….
Smudge, or maybe even a face like kevin costner when he was told the final cost of Water World !
I hope they do Micko – oh how i would laugh…
Who to watch, Citeh or old red nose …..
Hi folks. you all ok????
Hi Dg, good thanks, you??
Hope you will be cheering on both manchester sides tonight… 😉
I am fine. just a small cough that wont go away, but on the whole I am ok.
Where did you hear that bit about Nasri wanting to leave shitty????
Yossi wants to stay beyond the summer, I hope he does too….
Someone posted it on HH facebook site, don’t know if it’s true…
Basel will be up for this, i didn’t realise they can go through if they win….
What’s the score guys…..hope fergusc*nt and his bunch of lying cheating bastards get dumped into the europa league and let’s see that short hairy arsenal hater gary neville squirm. Oh happy day. Evening good people.
Evening Goonie. Arrivederci al piu’ tardi possibile!!!!
Sex is always better when Man U get beat 🙂
Come on Basile!!
Hello Devil, its not the cough that carries you off, it’s the coffin that they carry you off in !
Take tomorrow off, that will make you feel better.
both matches 0-0 gonnster….
don’t you like fergie 😉
Too much damp air on the training ground DG 🙁
1-0 Basel 🙂
Humidity is very high here in Malta. And I cant even drink wine at the moment. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Smalling is injured and De gea looks like he’s Almunia’s brother in goal 😉
So far so good 🙂
That’s not so good Dg
Have you tried taking it by intravenous devil, that’s a handy tip i got off lee !
hello
Benfica 1-0 too. Benfica will be the fist of his group (Man U. group).
I’m follow the citeh…
I think Manure have found a referee that doesn’t want them to progress….
Hi JM, what about Napolli, are they winning?? Hope so…
These guys can take united tonight if they keep their nerve.
How did rooney missed that, even arshavin would have scored from that close 😉
Yeahhhhhh……..manure is going down.
Shaqiri is looking good for basel, he’s always being linked with a move to england.
He’s a good singer too Micko…..
Ok – I will close the door behind me 😉
I’m done for the day guys, catch you all tomorrow….
Nighty Night
Hi AK when you get here later 😉
Doesn’t he go out with barca’s pique???
Silva good goal for rag heads!
Always knew Pique was a poof well spotted Lee………..
I know it’s fantasy but Aguero would be the bollocks for us!!!!
Shitty ahead….bummer.
Wath, did you know pique used to be a gardener before he took up football, he packed it in as he kept getting pete stuck up his arse.
Pique, he was one of the pricks trying to put barselona shirt on Fab’s head….. Tosser!!!!
Lee, and gobs on people and thinks its hilarious……scum.
Uphill gardener, I heard!
Yeah I remember that, dirty fucker!
Nice one Micko 😉 Subtle mate……
Yep can’t stand the wanker Lee….
Relax Stan Napoli winning means shitty still going out as far as I am aware…??? anyone confirm that..?
Yeah Napoli win the rags out!
Thanx Lee 😀
manure going out in europe? Now that’s what sweet dreams are made off*huge grin*
How’s shrek’s mob getting on?
Vidic out long term……
Goonster, i have it from a reliable source that they will drop into the europa cup.
Neville redknapp & souness a prile of pricks on SS2!!!!
1 nil down at H-T
45 mins 2go Micko fingers crossed
If Napoli win they’ll be 2 pts in front of shitty!! 🙂
The draw still puts shitty out though eh Lee…?
Unfortunately….. Aguero & silva that’d do?
I’d take Silva all day long Lee the fella is pure class….. proper footballer
You think Valencia lost villa silva and mata all fucking good players!
Yep and we think we lost good players……….
Shitty have scored 67 goals in 24 matches all competitions….
Lee, That’s nearly as good as RVP 😀
Who’s the one you miss the most over the last 10yrs?
That’s easy Lee,
DB10 end of…….!
Me too and TH14 second….
Didn’t think of it like that…. Valencia lost them think who we’ve lost in the same time frame!!! Napoli just scored!!! 😆
I’d say in order
DB10
TA
TH14
I’d settle for a 22/23yr old DB10 and TA in the team now….!
Did you guys say”vidic out long term”
Did you guys say”vidic out long term” what happened?
TA 3rd for me but fuck all in it…. Gokan inler weren’t we linked with him?
lol it’s pretty quiet at the shitty stadium can only hear ze germans singing now
Just heard it earlier on the commentar Stanley…
Yep we were linked with Inler a few times…!
Yipeeeeee……manure unraveling…..christmas has come early for me you guys. Break out the champagne good people. Am celebrating.
Well thanks mr inler… 😆
with those scores both Manc out of CL. They go to the europe League.
Stan, a bit to go yet stay patient… don’t jinx things….
Lescott looks like a Klingon!!!
2-0 Napoli!!!! Ha fucking ha!!!!!!!! 😆
lets hope so JM 😉
Sorry WATH, Napoli by 1 point as it stands…..
NapolI has a second. Game set match.
Wish Basel would get a 2nd 😉
Yeah!!!!!!
So least so far the blu half in Europa lge lol 😀
That French buck toothed $ grabbing twat just fucked free kick up!!!! 🙂
If we can avoid madrid/barca…
Please red the half now!!!
Oh fuck 2-0 Basel!!!!!
Next round we will avoid them KT but still a few cracking teams finishing 2nd as well mate…!
I expect a bit more humility from you guys, it’s not big and it’s not clever taking the pish out of the northern monkeys.
Sweet time tonight guys!! 🙂
AC & Lyon are 2 that spring to mind….
Stan…….. Now you can get the champagne out lol
F’kin love it…….. 😀
Europa league not so bad lol just ask the yids…….
Napoli would be a very hard game so to Zenit….! You all know we will get a shit draw…!
Mancs got 1 back….5 mins to go…..
Sorry Micko I’ll refrain for all of 30seconds then while I look back and sympathise with em…….
Will i fuck……..
lol……….. 😀 😀
3mins…
WATH you liar there’s no way you can refrain for 30 seconds!!! 😉
Napoli-zenit ? you are wrong. The draws will be raffle.
If carlsburg did night’s of European football tonight would be up there…..
Laugh, laugh, i nearly fell off my chair.
Night all….. Night Manchester!!! 😆
I’m absolutely devastated………… gutted
😀
😀
😀
😀
Ooops lol
Mancs to the League europe with Ajax, Olympiakos, Porto, Valencia…
GET IN!!!
Nite lee, do ya want an alarm call in the morning, laters.
JM, we finished log leaders next round we can only play teams who came 2nd in their group !! only quarter finals are free draws…!
Cheers Lee….. sweet dreams…….. lol
Imagine stoke vs the mancr in Europe :D:D
Wath, a pig just flew over my house, catch you tomorrow.
Happiest day of the day….good night guys. Am off for a few soda. See ya.
Not a pink pig I hope Micko 😉
Cheers fella…!
Soda is good 4 u Stan 😉
The mancs would’ve finished last in our group.
So we play one of the following
CSKA Moscow
Zenit
Lyon
Basel
Levekusen
AC Milan
Napoli
Some bloody good teams there for sure, for me we don’t wanna travel to far so no Moscow or Zenit we crap against russian and ex soviet block teams so no thanx…!
I am thinking what shit excuses the papers will make for the mancs 2moro KT…..!
Yeah WATH…..I can’t wait
Am off to have a drink to calm my disappoinment 😉
Cheers all.
The new fragrance from Manchester…
Channel No. 5
Night WATH….calm down AK
WATH, CSKA and Zenith is not so hard now. In that season they start again in season and the weather is completely different from now. Lyon is veriy difficult. Milan too. Napoli maybe better. Basel has now high level of confidence. Leverkusen come from the stop of December/January month… and the question is all of them want Arsenal or Appoel….
What a great night.
Goodnight Gooners.
Don’t get cheeky Staninho… 🙂
Morning Lee.
Morning Rico.
GET IN……..
The new fragrance from Manchester…..Chanel 5 eau de toilette!!!!
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