Part 1
The Deadly Duo…..
In the summer of 1996 after the expected sacking of Bruce Rioch who had been in charge of Arsenal for just a year, I was looking forward to having my favourite football manager at the time – Johan Cruyff appointed as our new manager.
Over the summer weeks, with newspapers claiming talks between both parties are at an advanced stage I created this fantasy of Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp teaching the rest of Arsenal to start playing football the beautiful way. I even had a little bet with William Hill because I was so certain the board will have no hesitation in going for the best manager. In my dreams none of my mates and family members who supported either Forest or United will continue to say Arsenal played boring football.
However, one August evening whilst making my way through London Waterloo station I found myself ‘confronted’ by an Evening Standard poster bearing the headline ‘Arsene Who…?’ . I was so shocked and disappointed I found myself on the wrong train heading towards Portsmouth clutching a copy of that evening’s newspaper.
As we all know now, what preceded that incident during the next nine years was even beyond my wildest imagination.
May I go back to that famous headline in 1996 again?
If any newspaper for that matter had a headline ‘Rudi Garcia who…’ or ‘Klopp who. …’ in reference to the managerial appointment for one of the big clubs in the EPL, I would bet my monthly wage that the said writer of that article would be sacked for his/her ineptness. I shall actually correct myself here; this manner of journalistic ineptness is going on every single day of the year with unsubstantiated articles quoting sources which any person with the mental age higher than a 6 year old, knows has been sourced from a vivid imagination!
So was Arsene Wenger really unknown to the media in 1996?
I did not have to do a great deal of research to discover more about him. Arsene was thanked by George Oppong Weah when he received both the World and European Player of the year in 1995 for taking him to play for As Monaco in 1988 from out of Africa. George also cited Arsene as one of the most important people of influence in his footballing career! That was not the only information that was readily available; The FA had tried to recruit Arsene as a technical director in 1995 but still these journalists said they had not heard of him?
Was that headline actually showing the journalists level of sheer ignorance or a desperate means of selling papers? I shall let you decide. Notwithstanding all the difficulties including the most horrid rumours that can ever be said about a person, this so called nobody went on to finish 3rd in his first season. Not bad going I would say?
A few years later in September 2002, when Arsene stated that ‘he was still hopeful of having a team that could go a season unbeaten in the league’, the public-school educated journalists were threatened by a man who was different to them, someone they could not understand due to his different way of thinking, someone who possessed a level of intelligence that they could not comprehend, so they set out to make him appear stupid to the British rag top readers.
To them he was fair game because they had succeeded in the past by making popular the famous phrase ‘I didn’t see it’. Wenger did himself no favours by also stating the following year that he could see big teams going under if spending was not controlled. One journalist present during that press conference jokingly asked ‘how a football club can become bankrupt with all the EPL money being poured into clubs coffers?
We all know what transpired next with Leeds United dropping from grace into the lower leagues and other clubs across Europe followed suit.
Well this is the same man who made the rest of Europe aware that ultra-rich Malaga was in financial trouble last summer by attempting to make a bid for Santi Cazorla, who had a release clause of over 45 million euros.
In February 1999 Arsene Wenger and David Dein had called for the replay against Sheffield United in the 5th round of the FA Cup. Arsenal had won the game as a result of Marc Overmars scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 win. Most people thought Arsenal’s offer to replay the game was an exceptionally generous one, and it was nice to hear the FA commenting to that effect. Desmond Lynam even made Wenger the “Man of the Day” for his attitude.
However a large proportion of the media concentrated on Steve Bruce’s moaning that Ray Parlour had failed to give the ball back to his players when their own player had kicked the ball to touch in the first place when their player was down following a challenge from Grimandi in the last 10 minutes of that match.
The media also attempted to dampen down the great gesture of offering a replay by saying that Arsenal offered a replay because they knew they could beat Sheffield United. How ridiculous; if the outcome of any professional football match was predictable, millions of people across the globe would not bother to travel long distances and pay premium fees to watch live matches.
Unlike the newspapers, the majority of football fans cannot avoid the broadcasting TV stations and their pundits. Unfortunately, the average person who owns a TV and pays their license fee plus the Sky /ESPN subscription, then has no choice but to listen to the drivel served by the majority of ex-players employed by these stations to provide their ‘lack of expert opinions’.
One prime example of a poor pundit is Paul Merson. Why would any TV executive employ or expect the viewing public to accept the opinion of a man who admits to spending £7 million on drugs, alcohol and gambling and then last year, drives his Mercedes 4×4 into the back of a lorry at over 70mph, while drunk, on a motorway at 3am and saying that he didn’t see it, is beyond me!
Some may say he is trying to make an honest living? So what about when he tried desperately in his attempt to sell copies of his autobiography by stating that Arsenal and Arsene had injected him with drugs he was not aware of during his short spell under Arsene.
It should be noted that, that in over 30 years of Arsene Wengers’ managerial career, not even a single player under his management has failed a doping test. I would say that was an act of a very desperate man!
When it comes to Arsenal, these so-called expert pundits serve nothing but gibberish as facts. One such hogwash served since 2005 is that Arsenal cannot keep their best players. Is that really the case? What these pundits fail to add is that even when we were winning doubles, players such as Anelka, Overmars and Petit still wanted to leave for no other reasons apart from pure greed!
Then there is the myth of the alleged incompetent board sitting around having tea and biscuits in the afternoon counting the proceeds from the fans season ticket revenue and not being aware that most of the teams’ star players’ contracts are months away from running out. If that was the case how would they explain the departures of Sylvain Wiltord and Edu Gaspar? Both these players left in 2004 and 2005 respectively after successful spells with Arsenal for very different reasons.
I cannot talk about the media without talking about one particular radio and their hosts; that will seem unfair. Regular posters on HH would be familiar with the man who influenced my moniker. I shall not even give him the publicity by naming him. For those not familiar with who I am referring to, his photo is posted below. Ha ha ha ha……
Talk S***e
This is a man I consider as the Abu Hamza of Arsenal F.C. As a radio show host he has made a career out of feeding some gullible factions of Arsenal fans with false information such as the team being failures for finishing in the top four yearly, whilst the board is laughing all the way to the bank. If ever FIFA decide to set-up an equivalent of The Hague for bad football journalism, I am sure there will be a few volunteers who would drag him there physically by his hair screaming to trial him for his deeds against Arsenal.
Does anyone know why every single alleged Arsenal fan who calls that show to agree with this muppet, claim to have held a season ticket for 25 years, even though they sound like they are not a day over 18?
On that note I shall end this part until next time, have a good day all.
Written by Tsgh..
Morning all, good read TSGH.Less time spent on that waste of internal organs oxygen thieving prick the better!
Morning all…
Good post Tsgh, sometimes I think it’s AW the media dislike more, and probably because of the reasons you suggest. He is intelligent, his comments about not seeing anything, his ‘moaning’ about teams who get in our faces etc etc.
Also, and maybe the biggest reason is the fact that he signed so many overseas players. Of course he was to blame for such a poor England side….
Good Morning my Esteemed Fellow Gunners.
TSGH………….I read your article with a smile on my face. And the longer I read the bigger it became. I agree with all that you said mate. An honest appraisal of how the majority of us feel.
Well done mate.
Just to set you straight. The media are against us. But with some valid reasons.
1) We have become a selling club. Now you may accept that but Arsenal have ALWAYS been one of the big 5. Its not acceptable for a big 5 club. That is something the media exploit. Stories abt players moving is because the players ARE moving.
2) We buy foreign players specifically because its easier to sell to the fans fans when we sell them for a profit. Look at the debacle with Walcott and he actually wanted to stay.
3) Arsene and Gazidis come across as holier than thou but we only make a profit by selling players. Thats why the club comes across as pretentious. Kroenke has been a disaster but we fall for it as a fanbase. Liverpool fans called out Hicks/Gillete but we don’t and blame everything else. That gives the media ample opportunity to call out hypocrisy.
I don’t need Adrian Durham to tell me what to think , however I don’t consider finishing 4th a success and I do think the board having sold the clubs soul are content to make money as opposed to winning trophies. A proactive board would be pressuring their money men to get the deals that would enable Wenger to not have to sell every year to keep the club in the black and to that end , in my mind is where the problem lies. We saw from the last set of figures that it is player sales that support their system of prudent failure.
The top players , the manager and coaches do what they can with the circumstances at their disposal . The board however :- Not good enough.
Good day Rico, Lee.
Of course he is to blame for such a poor England side. And you can expect that when Jenkinson, Shea, Gibbs, Theo, Chamberlain, Yennaris, etc make the grade he will not be lauded either.
Eversince he has been here I blame AW only for 1 thing……..the 2-8 reversal with his team choice when he could have rectified it in the summer.
Otherwise I go with him all the way.
My oh my……we are getting ruthless after all………….
Arsenal are considering dispensing of U18 coach Pat Holland just seven games into his tenure after a poor run of results amid concerns that he was failing to get the best out of the club’s youngsters.
Holland, who previously managed Leyton Orient and has held coaching positions at various clubs during his lengthy career, was appointed by Arsenal on the eve of the campaign to replace Steve Bould, who was promoted to the position of Arsene Wenger’s assistant manager for the first-team.
However, under Holland, a young side consisting primarily of first-year scholars suffered a hefty 5-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the season, before being held to a 1- 1 draw by Blackburn Rovers in their next fixture. A better run of results followed, as Arsenal won their next three matches, but they were then held to a goalless draw at home to West Bromwich Albion before enduring another heavy defeat, this time a 3-0 reverse to Reading in their last game.
It is understood that the hierarchy overseeing the youth development at the club, including Liam Brady, are concerned with Holland’s progress since assuming the role and are considering replacing him with U16 coach Steve Gatting, although such a decision has yet to be rubber-stamped.
Morning Lee, devil, potter and welcome Mark…
Oh, and I don’t listen to Durham either…..
http://arsenalblogger.com/flashback/what-did-arsenals-players-look-like-when-they-were-younger/?
I am very lucky Rico……….not only I cannot listen to Durham but it is impossible for me………..we do not get him here. 😉
Carl Jenkinson took part in his first senior England training session on Sunday.
The Arsenal defender has been tipped for a call-up to Roy Hodgson’s squad – perhaps for next month’s friendly against Sweden in Gothenburg – and he was given a taste of what to expect at London Colney.
Jenkinson was drafted into the England squad for the day but will not travel to Warsaw for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Poland.
Speaking ahead of the international break, Hodgson said: “On this occasion, we decided to… keep Jenkinson up our sleeves, but he’ll be very much in our thoughts when it comes to the next friendly match.
“After speaking to Arsène [Wenger] I am also conscious that his rise has been meteoric. He’s only 20 and it’s nice to temper things a little bit, but he wouldn’t be out of place in the squad.”
…………….
After Arteta and Cazorla, Jenkinson is the third best passer (with a high percentage ratio of successful passes) in the present AFC side.
Good morning Dev, Rico and all…
Pass on the Graduation Hat to TSGH Rico!!!!!! 😉
Wonder if that is Bould’s work?
devil, that was only because england were training at the Emirates…
Dev- I never understood the Holland appointment in the first place! I thought someone like Paul Davis would have been better as a gunner too.
Morning Tsgh, another goodie 🙂
Cheers Rico a very nice touch with the ‘deadly duo’….
This writing is no way an endorsement of the board, Gazadis or Wenger. I know most fans are going on about purchases ie falcao etc because of the reported 35m we have. When PHW made that statement we all immediately stated that was very stupid of him, because we knew most will take that as a gospel.
What bothers me the most is than Liverpool have a shirt sponsorship deal worth 125 million whilst ours is worth just over 20 million. I know most people feel as Mark feel but personally I look at it that without selling we will hardly break even annually.
I think people get your view with your comments Tsgh 😉
Re the sponsership, ours are soon due for renewal aren’t they, I bet we get a much better next time round….
Reading all the crap about Guardiola is making me laugh. I do honestly feel that the next manager is already pulling the strings himself. I think that all that is happening with the club is all Bould’s work. AW is there now in the role that DD had when he was the manager. Now although he is there in name as manager I do feel that he is letting the club being run by Bould and Gazidis.
Remember that AW is an economist.
Remember that he is a wizard in spotting raw talent, turn them into players before selling them to fail elsewhere (some exceptions yes but percentage wise how many have gone to have a better playing life)
Remember that there has been many changes (some of which we might be unaware of) during this summer.
I feel that AW will sign another contract in 2014, but only to take the flak from Bould until he has established himself. AFC today is the club AW created. Up till 2006 AFC was the club that Chapman built. So I do not think that AW will up and leave the club and his foundations to be enjoyed by someone who hails from outside.
So Rico………imo you are right in assuming that much of what is happening at the club is Bould’s work.
That’s how I see it too devil – Bould is learning the trade by AW’s side, AW will sign a new contract and then by the time he retires, Bould will be ready.
Maybe someone like Bergkamp will come in alongside him, or Henry…
SPOT ON
I agree to rico & Dev; I guess that is why old Tony is not pleased. 😉
AW will never retire Rico. He will stay on in one capacity or the other. Maybe he will be made a technical director with the club who oversees all that goes on at the club. He will leave the club yes….when his days in this world are over.
Not pleased Tsgh, he’s all bitter and twisted 😉
watch it Rico.. he is a legend. 😀
Kozzer on Suarez
“He’s a cheat, always pulls the shirt and gives
little kicks. You always want to give him a kick but you have to be careful not to be sent off.”
Morning all ….. fantastic post Tsgh.
I suspect that day will be when Usmanov buys SK out devil, then he can let Bould spend the money 😛
And he always will be Tsgh, just a bitter and twisted one 😉
Kos is spot on….
Hi bondex
Thanks Bondex & Dev ….
TA wanted to a crack at managing the club. However the club already has implemented its way forward and laid a blue print plan for the next 5 to 10 years. The building of the foundations is very difficult and its the most important part of building. Now that the foundations and columns have been erected its only the paintwork and finishing which is to be done and its already started.
And as I said………..no one from outside is going to enjoy what AW has constructed. And I am sorry to say that TA06 is an outsider. Yes TA06 is and will remain part of AFC History. But he is a part of the Chapman legacy. SB, while a player of the Highbury era, is already part of the AW legacy who will propel AFC forward in the foundations laid by the proffessor.
Incidentally, the last Arsenal managers since Bertie Mee have played in the following positions…………
Wenger………..defender
Rioch…………midfielder
Graham………midfielder
Howe…………Defender
Neill………….Defender
Bould is also a defender.
It seems Les Bleus can’t win a match without crocked diaby playing…lol
Capoue has gone ahead of M’Villa in the national side. Its a shame because now his potential transfer fee would go up by 2-5 million.
Adams is too young for the Chapman era devil 😉
TSGH……….I have been harping for ages now that Capoue is a better holding midfielder than M’Vila
I was banging the drum for him long before the toilet rags started mentioning him.
Morning Rico and all. Who comes in to manage the club next, with whoever at their side will depend on who owns the club. I can’t see Stan selling while we are doing ok. As for the press? Well, if we like an article about Arsenal such as who they are thinking about buying or how much money is sitting in the infamous war chest, waiting to be spent, we quote it. If though, it is yet another critical, mean-spirited pile of irritating crap, we slam it. As for Durham? – Glue is what I say.
Tsgh, when is Capoue’s contract up, maybe AW is waiting…
The AFC between 1925 and 2006 at Highbury is all the AGE OF CHAPMAN Rico.
The AFC from 2006 and the move to the emirates onwards will henceforth be known as the AGE OF WENGER.
Good post. I agree that generally there does seem to be a media agenda with Arsenal but I think we have to put it in some perspective so as to not all appear like paranoid conspiracy theorists. As always I think there is a middle ground (which is what is great about HH) and Mark’s comment at 9.55 I think gives a fair balance and analysis to the argument. As a club we have, to some degree, provided the ammunition to the media but after that it is all about the extreme over-reaction and hype that they serve up.
I would include, in the term media, the papers and journalists, radio presenters, pundits and other bloggers. If anything the more annoying are the blogs of so called Arsenal fans who go off on one extreme without any thought or reasoned and balanced analysis. I think second for me are the smug pundits, particularly the ex players. It is due to them and the rest of the whole F.A heirarchy as to why I have gone from being a dedicated England fan through the late 80’s and nineties to not caring at all. Weirdly I almost hope for Englands failure these days, as I think these pundits, the F.A and all those fans that swallow what they say, deserve it for having the head so far up their a–e in an arrogant belief that England should win a major tournament, just for being good old passionate Engeeerland the founders of modern football. It’s strange how small incidents that could be easily missed sometimes stick in your mind but a little example that sticks in my head that most people wouldn’t necessarily put together is one involving Shearer. I am not having a go at him and I don’t even think he is the worst offender as a pundit. He, almost with his head in his hands, gravely pointed out, after being humiliated by Germany in that world cup game, that something serious needed to be done with English football, a major restructuring at grass roots. I then thought of all the times on MOTD that he fawned over a great defensive display against Arsenal by say Stoke, going on about how that was the way to play Arsenal by lining up with 2 banks of 4, and how they thoroughly deserved getting something from the game for such a dogged display. It struck me how hypocritical he and other pundits are in demanding some sort of football revolution in this country while applauding this type of football during the domestic season. Have you ever heard a pundit say, “well yes they scrapped something out of it, but is this really the standard of technique we want to see in our league”. No never. No pundit is brave enough to go down that route and until they and the hierarchy do then English players will be behind.
Anyway sorry I digressed but my point is relevant to this post in that AW has frequently bemoaned this type of football and the economic issues of current sugar daddy football. The bandwagon at one point was to limit foreigners in the EPL, to allow English players more of a chance, rather than these nasty technically adept foreigners that were harming our young players chances and therefore the future success of the England team. AW said that this would just lower the standard of the EPL and not improve the England team as all it would do would be to force teams to have inferior English players in their ranks. I agree with him on all the above points but the English media don’t. I actually think he makes them nervous and uncomfortable by revealing some home truths that are too close to the mark. He challenges everything that is deemed to be great about good old passionate, overly physical English football. It is far easier to bury your head in the sand and just talk about doing something about grass roots football when we have had a national disaste, and then forget about it 2 months later when you are analysing a great effort by some defensive physical outfit that made up for inferior technique with great English spirit and effort. I think it is largely AW that gets to them and by way of association Arsenal as a whole institution. It is far easier to portray AW as that moaning annoying foreigner than agreeing he may have a point, however difficult it is to stomach and by association, and support of AW, we become, in the eyes of the media, pundits and therefore large sections of other football fans, those over pampered moaning stuck up fans from the south.
Morning Adam. Wouldn’t the best time to sell be when we are doing well??
maybe he does not want to sell Rico.
Good morning all,
Of course the footballing establishment hate Arsene Wenger, almost single handedly he tore apart the cosy relationship between club owners, the press and the FA who were pedalling the nonsense about the excitement of English football.
It was Wenger who demonstrated the lack of technical ability in English players, It was Wenger who ripped up the training manuals and introduced proper diets for the players. It was Wenger, alongside David Dein, who demonstrated that football clubs could be run as self-financing institutions.
Yes it was Wenger who fielded a side containing not one England qualified player, what he did field was a team of technically superior, fitter, professional players who were certainly not likely to go out on the night before a match, p**s it up at a nightclub and round off the evening with a drunk driving charge.
Arsene Wenger demonstrated to all and sundry just what a tawdry, second rate sewer football in this country had become.
devil, i was teasing really 😉
Morning Gb & JW…
Back very shortly…..
One item of fact.
Stan Kroenke has never, ever sold a single share in any of his sports franchises.
bdw………….for those who were wondering where I was galivanting at the beginning of September in Italy, enjoy the following youtube vid…………
This is where I used to take my daily walks. In scenery like this….football will seem like a distant dream miles away.
Gooner B I agree with everything at 11:10. It will be interesting if someone wrotw about the relevance of St George’s Park when we still maintain this view of how football should be played.
Every summer in the last 3-4 years anytime the EPL fixture list is released. The evening standard and metro to an extent single out the Stoke Vs arsenal fixture. This year the whole article was about how Christmas had come early for all football fans.
When you go and watch any semi-pro match on a weekend across the country, must fans will moan when a team strings more than 4 passes together. Most prefer Poo-lis’s route one tactics. In my work place ask any true stereotypical England fan after an England match what they thought about it and they will tell you it was boring but we won at least. That says it all.
Tsgh,
What worries me about St Georges is who is going to coach the coaches? We certainly don’t want dinosaurs like Allardyce and Redknap involved, but where are the modern thinking coaches to come from.
JW- that is exactly my thought. where are the young English managers with the right footballing mentality? Pearce, or Southgate?
Maybe Glenda and his tarot cards.lol
The barca youth system is a carbon-copy of Ajax’s and Johan Cruyff. Even though Johan Cruyff won things, his main emphasis was on pure football. However, people like Alan Hansen say it is all about winning not how you win.
Tsgh, interesting what you say re England fans reponses. I believe you are saying that those that still remain as dedicated English football fans don’t want to see a change to a more technical style. They like it as it is. Are these types of fans with their love of our current football in the majority? If they are what would be refreshing would be to poll / survey all football fans in the country on this subject. If the majority did go towards this way of thinking rather than a rethink on our style of football then we could all stop harping on about the national teams deficiencies. There would have to be an acceptance that we will never cut it at national level and are always destined for the Q/F’s but no more than this. It would be better to come clean rather than pretending we should do something about it.
I for one am an optimist and slight romanticist, and believe that there is a blue-print out there, ( I already have one in mind), that would allow us to blend English and Spanish / Brazilian style and produce a very potent hybrid that could win an international tournament. Instead of just trying to copy other nations directly and play catch up, why don’t we devise a style of play that is a new and unique blend, and actually have the rest of the world look at us and say we need to copy what the English are doing. There would have to be some acceptance of certain changes but maybe not as much as people think. We have however been talking about this since the 90’s when we were banging on about looking at, and going down the route, of the French with their Clairfontayne academy. And here we still are some 17 years later discussing the same national faults, so I would agree with you Tsgh that there is a sub-concious unwillingness to let go of what we have and change, but I don’t think many football fans in this country even recognise that they are like this so still talk about how we need to improve while secretly hating the idea of any change that would allow this. Anyway off for a bit.
A different worrying thought. I said before the Chavs match that our win percentage when we kick-off at 12:30 is very low about 20%. Well, kozzer has said he doesn’t not like early kick-offs. In my opinion many of our players do not like it either judging from the way 7-8 players do not turn up until the last 10mins whenever we play at that time .
AW and Bould would have to address that because we can’t be losing every match played at 12:30.
Gooner B i could not have said it any better re 11:55.
I think the FA efffed- up when they rejected David Dein recently. He tried to bring Wenger to the national side in 1995 but most of the FA board preferred someone like Venables.
A Guus Huddink or Rijkard will be good as a technical director or development manager but you need to know the right ‘handshake’ to be in that position.
Winning does matter and in the end trophies in the cupboard will count at the end of the day. However they way you play is also important, because at the end of the day it is the way you play which will pull you through. At the end of the day if you have laid the foundations properly it will enable your future a lot.
Failing to plan is planning to fail. So managers who simply see to the point of their noses are simply planning for the short term. A system like the one AFC play is harder to teach, hence the direct and in their faces attitude. It will win you games yes but only in the short term. It wont win you games in the longer term.
Dinosaurs who promote the old type soccer will soon start filtering down the lower divisions for slowly bit by bit these managers are all being replaced. One only needs to see that in the EPL there is already…….Mancini, Ferguson, Wenger, Vilas Boas, Jol, Roberto Di Matteo, LAudrup, Martinez, Moyes, etc etc. That is already nearly half the EPL.
You might say Moyes and Fergie are British. Yes…….but they are not Engish and certainly both their teams, whether you hate rednose or not, have produced good soccer and sometimes as the game of football should be played.
However as I said, the top seven teams in the current EPL table do not have an English man managing them. And bit by bit the old ones will fall by the wayside……….until they are replaced by new technical and tactically sound managers who play football the right way.
Hi Rico. Could very well be.
Great post,mate.
Hi there.
Have to agree with GoonerB in that the so-called ‘experts’ just love it when the Stokes of this world get a result against us by parking the bus and using route 1 tactics. These same ‘experts’ then troll out the same old line every time England fail, saying ‘we need to go back to grass roots’ blah, blah.
Maybe if they stopped glorifying ‘good old fashioned English football’ and started to really appreciate what AW has done for the game instead of banging on about how ‘he hasn’t won anything for 8 years’ and he ‘won’t spend big on superstar players’, then we might actually learn something.
As we all know, Arsenal’s lack of trophies has coincided with the vulgar, money is all era of Chelski and Man City, yet AW is derided by the media for not buying big and selling his best players. Let’s face it, as long as the financially doped clubs are allowed to operate without restraint, then it is impossible for properly run clubs to retain their best players. Whatever we offer them, some Oligarch or Sheik will simply offer more. It is a sad indictment of the modern game that a man trying to play the game the right way on an uneven playing field is not given the respect he deserves.
OK, so Man City won the league last year (unconvincingly) and Chavski won the Champions League, but these victories are hollow given the unlimited funds spent to acquire them. Ironically, Chavski miraculously managed to win the Champions League whilst playing like Stoke. Maybe there is hope for England after all!
Afternoon guys, guess who’s internet crashed again 🙁
It is because Wenger is French, and aside from the initial defenders he inherited from Graham. His teams have had a French African spine.
He is partially blamed for the Englands team consistent demise.
He is an economist who is clever.
These are the main reasons AW and Arsenal are detested in the English Media and applauded in the French Media.
Afternoon all,
TSGH top read. I was absolutely oblivious to the knowledge of serious reconnaissance about Cruijf taking reign at Arsenal.
Devil Stunning place re video. Tranquil scenery and jaw dropping works of nature. I can only imagine the mountains you will move in your head when confronted with a view stripped from hectic signals and the constant society demands of expressing one’s personality. Thanx for sharing. Extends and enriches my list of things to do in life. 😉
Ergh, was it yours Rico?
Hi a11730 – have to agree there…
Afternoon Dg, I didn’t give Cruyff a thought either…
Yes Adam, mine. It happens too often but we did have a bit of funny weather earlier, very dark etc.. Then the electric went off and on in a flash and it seems to upset the internet.
Does so annoy me…..
Must be the only downside to living in the country? 🙂
Talking about going beyond dogmatic boundaries re Wenger. See this human meteorite. I can’t think of a better analogy, appropriate to grasp the change in aspirations he’s brought.
🙂 Adam, I’m not that far into the sticks….
Dg, i saw that guy, he was meant to do the jump last Thursday I think but the weather conditions were not favourable to him. Bet he’s glad it’s over and done with now….
Welcome Dan and Cent – sorry for the delay in letting you out of moderation… Hope you come back..
That was quite a dive by Felix but I reckon Bale could do better.
Adam 🙂 I suddenly had the image of Felix bumping his big toe while steppping out, falling to earth at the speed of sound grabbing his foot in agony.
I reckon that Durham could easily break the record and would like to see him try it without oxygen or a parachute. It would be best for everyone I think, for this to happen.
He missed the large “X” marked in the field though……
I’d like to pack durham’s chute….as he pulls the rip-cord an anvil falls out, Tom & Jerry-esque!!
So who was taking the video of Felix diving? That technology should be brought to the EPL asap to catch the diving scums out.
I am always suspicious of this kind of feat. 😉
Rico He broke several world records including most live views on YouTube. 8 Million saw him jump real time. Now in my profession it’s unprecedented media exposure having 16 mln eyeballs watching a 20 minutes guerrilla commercial for a brand. So well done Red Bull.
Poor Felix’s surname…
Or Suarez Adam…..
Adam- lol on the moppets comment. I bet he is saying that Felix is a failure for going 24 miles above earth and not going to visit heaven. 😀
Hi there Dg10
Hi TSGH LOL re failure not visiting heaven. So true.
😆 Lee, they miss the ‘X’ on ‘I’m a celebrity too’ 🙂
I couldn’t watch it Dg, just in case….
Just off to walk Fido, back in a short while….
Talking of diving how come no one is talking about Ashley young.He is in the wrong sports. He could have been an Olympic diver
Just a prelude peeps to what our little prince will be doing to the standard of English players qualified as talents. Take a bow son. You gem. (Sorry for the happy go lucky teenage chart music.)
Take a Bow son…andy gray style.lol.
I can’t wait for his return
Afternoon all,
The same Adrian Durham who claimed Eduardo’s leg break wasn’t half as bad as what most of us Gooners made it out to be stating it was a clean break and that he was back playing within 12 months, if that had happened to someone on a Sunday morning they would have had their leg amputated.
May a thousand flea’s infest his arse-hole.
Boo….
hi Micko,
My apologies for the post not being up to your standard. 😀
Its the same man my gunner friend re Durham.The man who claims arsenal fans are a disgrace to football because we still support our team through thick and thin. Notably, he supports Peterborough but goes to the emirates whenever he can to have free hospitality sandwiches.
Tsgh – Scott was always referring to Young, and has Fergie had a word with him about his diving?
Talking of Scott, haven’t seen him for a few days, nor Kt…
Hi Micko, the very same ‘man’….
Tsgh 12.07, is that the kind of handshake where the index finger tickles the palm of the other persons hand, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
rico, think Scott uses the International breaks to catch up on his sleep.
You expect me to answer that?lol
Scott found the hidden treasures buried in the outbacks.lol
That would explain his absence Micko, he sure needs to catch up, don’t know how he survives on such little sleep…
Micko 🙂 quite an apt description, many things in life depend on the right handshake. Like surviving the Bronx asking for directions.
red Nose will never tell ashley to curb the diving! manure ended the 49 game unbeaten ran with a dive orchestrated in pine studios.
talking of unbeaten run, juve need to lose next saturday otherwise it will be a 47 game run. Just saying
That my friends is your daily Arsenal… 😀
Catch up later. I m off home
Dutch, or using a cash machine surrounded by skin-heads.
Laters Tsgh, part 2 could see you pull it off yet.
TALKING OF HANDSHAKES. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY COACH. ADIEU SALUT!!!
Alex Song. What can you say about him and his mouth? Speaking to the Barcelona Magazine, he has been talking about the 2006 Champions League Final which saw Barcelona defeat 10 man Arsenal and it’s clear that he’s sucking up to his new employers.
Song said
I was in Paris for the Champions League Fina in 2006. I remember it well, because Messi was in the players tunnel, and he wasn’t playing either. Barca deserved to win. It was a good experience for me, even though we lost. We didn’t get some things right and that was why we lost. And Barca had a great game.
Let’s not mention the sending off and Almunia now shall we Alex?
The piece then goes on to talk about how Barcelona have won two more Champions League finals since then while Song only experienced disappointment with Arsenal and ‘nothing in the way of silverware’ before quoting Song again, who says
I have come to Barca to win. It is a team that despite having won everything is still hungry for titles. That’s why I signed. Because I always want to win and this team is on another level.
Funny how all these players, who re so desperate to win, can’t see that they were part of the sides that weren’t winning at Arsenal and maybe had something to do with that.
The piece then states ‘Alex Song has come to Barcelona to finally start winning trophies’ before rambling on a bit more about Arsenal [funny how you never hear about the years Barcelona went without winning any trophies, and they didn’t even build a stadium].
Song did, however, remember what Arsenal and, in particular, Arsene, had done for him by saying
I am who I am thanks to him [Wenger]. When I came to England he was a big help to me. I was just 17, not 25 like I am now. Wenger was like a father to me. It was very hard for me at first because I have left my family behind in France, and so he treated me like a son.
The piece then claims that when Song first arrived in England he only ate bread and butter and was so desperately homesick that he hardly left the house because he didn’t know anyone. He added
I have a great relationship with Wenger. I want to thank him for believing in me. I want to give him back everything he gave me [how exactly Alex? By leaving?] I’m sure he’s happy to see where I am now and the kind of player I have becomes [yes, Arsene loves to work hard and look after players for them to leave when they finally make the grade]. He always said ‘do you remember your first touches of the ball when you came to Arsenal? They’re not the same as they are now.’ And I’d answer ‘you’re right. They are certainly not the same as they are now.
I’m not the same age as I was when I arrived at Arsenal. Things have gone much better here. The food is good. I like what I have seen of the city and we have a great team. It’s all perfect.
There is nothing I like about Barcelona, even their magazine is arrogant and as for you Alex, if this is how you repay someone, I’d hate to hear how you’d go about it if you didn’t believe you owed them everything.
Courtesy to LadyArse.
Safe journey Tsgh…
Shut Up Alex Song – what a plank, if winning trophies for him means doing that from being on the bench or watching, then good luck to him…
I thought footballers actually preferred to play the game each week….
Micko re supremacist Klu Klux Clowns 😉
Mannone wishing he’d kept quiet??
Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone has dismissed claims he is looking to return to Italy.
The 24-year-old has impressed for the Gunners this season while deputising for the injured Wojciech Szczesny.
But despite reports Napoli are interested in the Italy U21 international, Mannone insists he is happy with Arsene Wenger’s men.
“I want to make it clear, because there have been unfounded rumours, that my contract is not ending in 12 months,” Mannone told Arsenal Player.
“I’ve got a few more years and I’m happy to be at Arsenal right now. I’m looking at the present and my future is not in doubt.
“I want to stay at Arsenal as long as I can, I don’t want to move to any other club.”
Hi again,
Excellent DG10 re Alex i/v. I saw that earlier and it told me straight away, they guy couldn’t see the bigger picture on the pitch and it seems he can’t do that either in real life. He can do all the ass kissing he wants but next year he will be sold to one of the Siberian clubs where the racist will chance him down for his laziness.
He may win the La Liga this year but his photo will probably be cropped out for his lack of contribution.
Off for dinner….
DG10 any suggestions on nice plays to visit with family in Amsterdam in November?
TSGH re Song real plonker. He doesn’t realize memory falsification occurs when you justify emotions you want to experience in the here and now.
Will get back to you on Amsterdam. Have a smartphone?? Asking cuz London has a city app, don’t know if Sin City has one. 😉
Still no news on Theo then…
Hello again
This is the official global city marketing of Amsterdam. Direct, informative and family friendly so you’re able to discuss options with all members.
http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/what-to-do
Hi. Thanks DG10 . that is very useful.I have a smartphone.
Your boy TW is out for 2 weeks me think. And contract situation, he is going so lets move on I will say
Rogers will probably sign him in the new year. RApparently fulham never received an official bid for Dempsey.
Until he’s gone Tsgh, I have hope….
They tapped Dempsey up didn’t they, and that stopped any Liverpool move. Shame he ended up where he did…
TSGH search on Amsterdam City Maps in the app market. There are many but find the app from TripAdvisor. Extensive points of interest, off line navigation map, updated weekly, clean intuitive interface and more important completely FREE.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
I dont know how reliable this is but I had rumours that PHW and AW do not see eye to eye.
Someone who works in catering in one of the lounges mentioned, he has never seen both of them having a chat. Is the reason due to the close relationship between Dein & Wenger whilst PHW actually hates Dein.
You off to Amsterdam Tsgh, stay away from the cake 😉
If true, makes one wonder why PHW is ‘allowed’ to speak with the press, AW does like to keep all things close to his chest.
He has already said that he probably won’t spend that £35 million PHW said he has to spend in jan
‘Arsene who?’ You asked at Waterloo Station.
One answer could have been: Arsene Wenger, who when manager of Monaco won the French league and the French FA cup. For Arsene fans nothing special about that.
Had we met at Waterloo Station that evening and you had asked me that question I would have replied.
Arsene Wenger who when manager of Monaco persuaded one G. Hoddle, the most skilful player of his generation to leave his home in N17 and play for Monaco where he won his only league championship medal. I find it strange that Arsenal supporters at the time were ignorant of this fact.
Spud supporters have many reasons to hate Wenger, the first reason is the stealth of Hoddle. Then coming to Arsenal where he stole Sol from them.
I get tired of Arsenal supporters accusing football journalists of being ignorant when the supporters themselves had to read the papers and follow reports on radio and TV to answer the question: ‘Arsene who?’
I rejoiced when I heard the news that Arsene was coming. If he could persuade the likes of Hoddle to play for him at Monaco who would bring to Arsenal? The answer to that question is as they say ‘history’ and what history!
Cakes? Are you trying to say I am on the chubby side? 😀
I want to go somewhere for the weekend in Nov
PHW is just a figurehead who signs letters anually.lol. the reason why I suspect something about it is he is always going on about AW not wanting to speak what he has to try to undermine him.
No Tsgh, the ‘funny ones’ 😉
If not Amsterdam, how about Prague, I am told it’s pretty special…
If that is the case with PHW, Kroenke is treading a dangerous game allowing this to continue..
Although AW does seem to be made of strong stuff, I suspect he just laughs at PHW
TSGH
Besides the Amsterdam app from TripAdvisor another superb one is Triposo Travel Guide.
I suspect your referring to mushrooms.lol.
I wouldn’t mind Prague but not up to me so considering all venues.lol
I take it you are a Venice type of lady. 😉
colario
Read the post again, Tsgh refers to the headline in the newspaper saying ‘Arsene Who’
It was not he who wondered who Arsene Wenger was…..
Triposo? Thats news.
I dont have an Android fone so…
🙂 Tsgh – I’m not a big traveller, I seldom get beyond Bracknell …..
Mushrooms indeed, and not in garlic butter either 😉
Haha Colario. I am aware of Wengers history. Since you wikipedia your response you would have found Glenda not the only British player he signed. Mark Hateley who played against Maradonna in 1986 was also signed by him from Italy.
Bracknell is an old patch of mine including wokingham and Arborfield…
Rico you are not one of the youngsters who try mushroom around the town square? 😉
Arborfield, now that is a blast from my past…..
Ha ha re town square, not me, i don’t even know where that is 😉
Think I’m going to call it a day, Corrie on the planner calls me 😛
Night all, have a good evening and catch up tomorrow….
Small world lady..
Colario, everyone knows Rixy was better than Hoddle.
To answer the question posed, imho, the Press/Media hate Arsenal the most.
Their dislike of Wenger is generated by their antipathy to him, for turning Arsenal into a club that is admired worldwide for it’s playing style and financial prudence.
The ignorance of the vast majority of sports journos and pundits is well-known and a national embarisment.
Their tactical ineptitude is quite staggering.
Wenger cannot help being condescending when in the company of British journos, it must hurt his brain having to descend several levels in order to communicate with them.
As for Adrian Durham, well he basically sums up what TalkRubbish is all about.
I really don’t need to add anything to what has been said before about that craven radio station.
I ignore it totally.
Why any company should wish, by advertising on TalkRubbish, to associate with such a disreputable radio station, simply beggars belief…???
The Pat Holland rumours certainly suprised me.
I was quite suprised that he was given the job in the first place…
To me, it was a no brainer…
Steve Gatting, end of…!
Morning all….
Good morning..
it’s quiet tsgh……
Morning all
I know. I shall be away the later this morning so I thought I will sign in first …lol
Good news is JW10 is going to be playing in a game behind close doors
Hi Bondex
morning bondex.
is that tonight tsgh?
Yes. But I am not sure who against
Whats up with the Santos rumours? Does he want to go back to Turkey because he can not drive?
Thanks, not sure on Santos, possibly not happy as he’s not playing…
Everton away for Jack, Bak and Frimps….
That should be a stern test for the trio
New Post up….
Certainly should be a good test, I so wish these under21 fixtures were televised….
On Wednesday against Chelsea
Maybe he won’t play tonight then??
Oops, it’s not tonight, its next monday the u21s play everton….
It seems that Pat Holland has gone…
More to that than meets the eye methinks?!