Morning Gooners,
Gervinho has finally departed, he’s joined Roma. I personally wish him the very best of luck, luck that I don’t think he’ll need. He’s not a bad player, he’s just been been misplaced within our side and being asked to play as a loan striker was the beginning of the end of his Arsenal career.
Football fans are ruthless and when players under perform time after time, they want rid.
So one more out and rumour is, one has been snapped up and on his way in. That’s 27 year old French League 2 winger/striker Alharbi El Jadeyaoui who has been on trial with us. Now French journalist Mickael Martin Haim is claiming that we have signed him on a permanent deal. Not sure how much truth is in that but I guess we’ll soon hear one way or another.
One who isn’t coming to Arsenal is Luis Suarez, well according to John Henry. Mind you, back in 2010 he said that Torres wouldn’t be sold. The following transfer window he went to Chelsea. £50 million back then, maybe it will take that amount today….
Onto Steves post:
You will have noticed that I’ve put the managers name in front of the club. I suspect some may think that I’m wrong, but I have been a staunch supporter of his since he first came.
Yes I’m a Gooner through and through but I must admit I am not much of a statistics man.
Many members of this blog are statistics men and they can tell you any statistic you want to know. If I’m honest though, statistics, although clever, bore me but I understand that we all support in our own ways and use different tools to judge the way the team play and players perform.
Myself, I love to see flowing football, I love to see forward attacking passes, directness and what I love most is gifted players working their way towards goal and finishing off with the ball in the back of the net. Now that’s what I call football.
442 or 44 whatever, means very little to me, a team with 11 players working together to move forward and score goals is what counts. Players who want to play and make it look as if it really matters to them makes me warm towards a player. A goalkeeper who may have stood almost stationery for most of the game but when called on makes a save of the season. That makes me makes me jump for joy.
I am very easily pleased when it comes to football, and when my team win no matter how bad they have played, that has me punching the air.
Arsenal have had some good times during my lifetime they have also had some rotten ones but its the first fixture I checked to see the result of when I was younger and it wasn’t so easy to find out back then. I also looked for the neighbours, something I suspect most Gooners do.
Arsene Wenger is a man who will always divide supporters, while he was having good times the fans loved him, chanted his name and made endearing posters up for him, but things change when a football clubs fortunes dip a bit and 8 years is a massive dip in some supporters eyes.
I used to think that the moaning fans were the younger fans who had started supporting when Arsenal were in full stride or simply because of Arsene Wenger but I was wrong. Many are supporters as old as myself and they expect Arsenal to be the top dogs. I myself would love that to be the case but in todays game and with money no object for some clubs, you have to realise that some clubs cannot live with that kind of spending.
Arsenal football club have for as long as I can remember, been one of the biggest clubs in the league. We have our own history which compares if not betters many others, but even in the old days there were clubs that just had that little bit more and much of the time, that little extra made all the difference. Time moves on and money seems to have gone to those clubs who have had to wait a lot longer than 8 years for success but they are the clubs which now rule the roost.
You know as well as me that will not always be the case and now that our finances are said to be better I expect us to step up a gear.
Arsene Wenger, many have said that he brought to Arsenal a new way of playing football, many said he had vision. I believe he came in and saw we had problems with drunks, gamblers probably drug users and a lack of fitness that the afore mentioned brings with it.
He changed that and helped players on and off the pitch, he kept them playing a darn sight longer than they should have done because of a chance in the players diet, training and fresh ideas and new people to make sure those changes were made.
In actual fact he transformed Arsenals structure.
At the time I wasn’t aware of the changes taking place, but it all became very clear when I finally got to see the team play.
Wenger has had a few barren years, it looks like he has lost his way and his body language on match days has changed. His whole demeanour has changed and we started to see the Basil Fawlty together with the kicking of bottles, being sent to the stands and his many bans in Europe. That has made him who he is and I have taken that man to my heart.
I know that with Wenger, I get the feeling that he loves Arsenal nearly as much as me… (ha ha)
Lots of things have changed at Arsenal and I won’t go over them all but I believe for they have all been for the better. Granted, our lack of success sticks in my throat as I know it does yours but we must be coming to the end of that.
Many will say that Wenger needs to move on for Arsenal to get glory back again and I’m not going to say those stalwarts are wrong but what I would say to them is look at Arsenal and compare them with the rest of the league. Not the jumped up clubs just the run of the mill clubs and ask yourself who would you change with?
I know where my allegiance is and I still have faith in the Frenchman to win us get us back to the good times but you are the fans, you are the people that have made Arsenal who they are today.
You have a say and Arsenal would be daft not to listen.
Written by Steve Palmer.
Ps. Happy Birthday Lee. Take it steady as you are getting on a bit now…… 😉
Actually sad to se him go. He may have missed a few sitters now and then but he always created space for others with his speed and trickery
Morning all.
Good read Sp. I admire your staunch and continued support of Arsene Wenger, I really do but for me this is last chance saloon.
That is not based on our lack of trophies, it’s down to having a squad that is not capable of challenging for them
Yes he has changed our club, he’s done great things for our club but that was all so very long ago.
I hope he gets Suarez and at least 3 more top players – that’s the only way some fans will believe in him again. Some of course still wouldn’t…
That WW11 link was quite funny 🙂
Morning again,
An excellent post reminiscent of the old Sir Steve… 🙂
Its amazes me when I read comments from pundits/ex-players and executives in alliance with the dippers and the scums go on about how losing only one single player will crumble their ambition of overtaking poor old Arsenal who have no ambition… 😉
If we were to consider that those same clubs would swap their latest tin cups to be in our shoes with our plush stadium and sponsorship deals…
C’mon AW make us even more proud again by adding what is needed to the squad to push us over the line…
Great post SP,
You are right about wenger..I feel/felt the same,
I now feel that wenger has to be critized and answerable to us fans.
Good morning,
Good post steve.
“Many members of this blog are statistics men and they can tell you any statistic you want to know.” lol
ArsenalDK many will disagree with your post but I agree with your assessment of Yao Gerv.
At least unlike a few players like Chamakh and B-52 he was a better person and probably took a pay cut to join AS Roma for footballing reasons…
Gerv never stopped trying even on his worst days. He had no chance at all from day one. Many fans expected him to step into Nasri’s boot’s seamlessly but they had forgotten Nasri only had 6 good months with us before he jumped ship.
Hi Dna… I missed your post last night… hope you are well?
Dna – had a feeling the stats sentence would make a few chuckle, not Ts and Kt though 😉
Hi Rico, re stats line you know I am fair game… I may lose it a bit sometimes but I am always up for a laugh so far as that is the aim 😉
Ts Gerv is now gone the money is their to be spent on a more accomplished player, but if whoever choose not to spend, it will be a bad move.
I’m good bro, John Henry mess by night up..
Morning all, thank you for your comments and as all ways my thanks to the Lady of the house as always you have my admiration.
Although i support Wenger i feel that the feeling i am getting is that this is Wengers last transfer window to do what the fans want. Its my belief that he will, Although a very stubourn man he is not unaware of supporters feelings. I love him to death but let the fans down in this window and i feel he will undo all the good he has done in the past. Even staunch Wenger supporters have their breaking point and Wenger is cleverer than to press them to far.
statistically 6 out of seven dwarfs are not happy steve 🙂 bye bye Gervinho….u tried ur best and gave it your all but u were never quite there! If your skill and ability matched your attitudue you would be world class!
There is always a risk with Tom Fox and Dickie Law handling our transfers… they both sound like they should be reading news headlines on Fox news or CNN but hey…
Someone was willing to give them a chance so…
Look at how Baldini is handling both AS Roma and TottenScums transfers this summer. Very different to the last minute protocol favoured by both AFC and Levy.
gordon taylor PFA, £40million is a minimum offer for discussions, There is a ‘good faith’ clause in relation to serious discussions.
john henry, we are not going to sell louis, I’m unequivocal that we won’t sell to Arsenal, whatever the bid is we wont sell him to any club for any fee.
maybe suarez has a point, where is the good faith?
Pls arsene wenger go and get suarez for £51m dnt worry abt liverpool owner that is how he talk he wouldn’t sold torres but when he see £50m he sold him
Hi Keith was that dwarf stats compiled by Davide Icke? 😀
Ts’ have u ever listen to the Bergkampwondeland Podcast?
Its rumored that dick law and IG operates with a necklace around their necks and weight on their ankles, because AW determines the price range of players, don’t know how true it is.
EHRC may have a say on Henry’s comments imho…
Free trade isn’t a battle that countries (or states) win or lose. It is a human right – the liberty to engage in voluntary transactions that leave both participants better off. If John wants to sell something that Mary wants to buy, it should make no difference to the lawfulness of their exchange whether they are residents of different neighborhoods, different states, or different nations.
Morning all,
8 years is indeed a longtime, but i don’t think Arsene’s exit is the answer.
We have the right manager, but we don’t have the right squad ‘yet’. Which is why i want to believe this TW will be different from the previous ones.
We may not get Suarez (i doubt that), but am sure we’ll get new players in, quality?…… not sure, but surely good enough to fit in the squad. I prefer quality tho.
No more half-baked players, Gervinho for me isn’t a finished product yet, maybe he needed more time to prove himself, unfortunately, time isn’t what we Arsenal fans can’t afford any longer.
We need quick fix players, players who can deliver, players who can hit the ground running.
I would have preferred to see Chamakh and Bendtner out the door before Gervinho, but can’t say he was ever Arsenal class really, so I ain’t crying into my cornflakes.
Or am I, another top striker bites the dust for us, if the cigar chomping yank is to be believed. I really really really hope the board and Wenger have some surprises up their sleeves, cus if we start the league with this squad depth and class we are screwed. Jackson Martinez anyone????
Morning All,
Well written piece Steve and with regards to the change in financial playing field agree with your sentiments. I actually even agree with a self sustaining model. My main grip with Wenger and the club right now is quite a simple one, and I would be delighted to be proved wrong and change my opinion like the fickle football fan I am :-). But my main key issue is, we simply aren’t making best use of the assets that we have at our disposal or appear to be demonstrating any capability to use those assets and simply improve what we have – a bit of ambition and improvement all based within the limitations of what we can afford – I think all fans would be happy with that and don’t think it’s too much to ask.
Like I say I am all for a self sustaining model, which is an improving situation with increased revenues and commercial deals. I think the trouble is, Arsenal’s definition of self sustaining is at cross purposes to mine because theirs is much more weighted to profiteering and that’s where the frustration is, especially if it comes gift wrapped in lie’s and half truths.
Rant over, soapbox away.
It might be true Dna… but I like to form unbiased views especially if I can’t influence the outcome.
IG is on the board and AW is not on the board.
When we are having AGM meetings AW sits on the far left about 6 sits away from Stan whilst IG sits on the immediate RHS of Stan.
If you were a sniper given 5 rounds to go and finish off some executives on a high table… you will know the most important persons sit in the middle and the least on the end. 😉
The might Barca lost the Real Ronaldo under similar circumstances a decade or so ago to Inter… will we play dirty enough to take the matter to court like Inter did?
Ts i can’t wait to hear the truth because it was rumored that when real hike Higuan price, DL and IG was told its best to go for Suarez because Hig dose’t worth that much.
Fenerbache!
HI.. wenger is an idiot. promises us signing as does jack all.
he cant attract players. has no intention to spend now. he is just awful.
his porblems
– speaks before he thinks
– acts too late in the transfer window
– can no longer attract top signings due to no trophies in recent times
– is not willing to splash the cash we have on big signings because he is scared he will not be able to perform and justify money spent
its all political. its sickens me.
wow
Good post SP – I agree about the accountability, but I also think that he is complicit in a massive swindle of the loyal paying fans. To me that is more of a crime than the actual on the field inadequacies, like the bad buys and bad contracts that were given to undeserving players.
I think that the fans deserve a lot better than this and hopefully we will have some good signings and not free players from Ligue 2 or castaways from Schalke.
Piece of piss with the “best squad” the mad man has ever had!
Dna- Hig was not worth over £20M imho. People say stats can be massaged but use Hig’s stats to say he is world class…
I would rather spend £25M to £30M on Michu or Benteke than Hig imho…
Steve interesting post. I have only really one comment on your Wenger summary. I am as, if not older than you and like yourself do not “” Expect “” to win things , but I have gleaned the impression that we have not really been trying to win them. Arsene has deliberately chased his holy grail of the Champion’s league to the detriment of other competitions whether this has been at his own direction or that of the board we don’t know but this has left a sour taste in my mouth and is the precise reason the the likes of John Wayne at Liverpool can hold their wins record over ours. I know that there is little financial reward for winning the lower / domestic competitions but when you read the record books they don’t itemise the winnings just the winners.
Guys i do not think that Wenger will give us something to smile at moreover,he makes sales with no replacement.First he made us look stupid by saying he would sign Higuain and now Suarez,guys if we are to support let us do it since the team is at hrt but forget a bout new signings…….Angry Arsenal Gooner
At least we didn’t get Bradford…..
Hope Fenerbache now get thrown out…..
Kuyt,Yobo,Emre & Meireles all play for Fenerbahce……..
Tsgh , I never really thought to compare Gervinho to Nasri, rather when I first saw him Glenn Helder came to mind , a bit of pace , loads of tricks , tripping himself up , scared of the goal and no end product.
Thrown out :- Money will talk, who are waiting in the wings to take their place ?
Why do u want them out rico?
Morning Rico, brudder Lee and all. Very nice post Steve from a proper Gooner.
It seems that Liverpool are looking to sneak into 4th spot by sacrificing Suarez’s career, thereby denying us his services, rather than through Rodgers’ management abilities. Strange and rather unpleasant.
I am not sure, if Suarez handing in a transfer rumour will change much but what is happening says a lot about the paranoid institution that Liverpool have become. No confidence in Rodgers’ abilities whatsoever, however they might want to portray it.
We will see how good Wenger, Gazidis and the rest are now I think. In playing the waiting game they have boxed themselves into a corner.
Morning Potter an interesting comment.
I strongly believe the board had planned for us not to be in the CL for donkey years due to the stadium move… PHW and IG both repeated it numerous times during the 8 years. I am sure TH14 was made aware of this that is why he left.
Unfortunately the board were not entirely honest with us for obvious and sensible reasons. Arsenal is ‘a PLC’, we could not have gone to the media and said this club is going to sleep for a few years but still back us until we awake. Like the Iceland financial issue no PLC or business admits its ill position until it is impossible not to.
The last 3 years AW has taken the CoC seriously in my view. Last season we played all the big guns and still fell at Bradford… some will say AW failed to motivate the players but…
Glenn Helder ha ha ha….
Hmmm, a nightmare draw in my view… we and turkish teams brings bad memories?? Hopefully the fans who make the trip all come back safely…
Are Santi and Koscielny banned for the first leg?
Morning all,
Couldn’t agree with this post more.
Nicely written.
Great job…
Yes both banned…
No apparently…
Apparently yellow cards expire at the end of the season….
Ok that is good news…
At least AW is not banned from the touch line for the first time in 2 seasons…
That explains why AW was not stressing about buying a CB…
I was expecting Sagna and the BFG in central defense.
Whatever happens in Turkey, we will smash them at the Emirates
Sorry, my sister came to see me, and thought it would be rude not to let her in 😉
Morning all.
Happy birthday Lee.
Tell you what we should do.
Tell Liverpool the offer of 40 million stands for 24 hours, and then it drops to 35.
They know Suarez is gone.
Nobody else is in for him.
They will either call us with a figure they will accept….45 million, i reckon….or play their game and possibly lose any chance to cash in on a player who does not want to be there.
If they stay stubborn, we move on.
Welcome to those just coming onto HH today, sorry for the delay in letting you out of moderation..
Hey SP, ts, rico,
I guess this may be the site where you can find most AKBs and being one of them I enjoy it.
For me he deserves one more real go at everything. A full squad of 24 good players and few up and coming players and we shall see.
Lets do it one more time.
Btw, who’s next on everyone’s wish list if we don’t get LS? And don’t say Lewandoski.
Reading some of your comments and where it was mentioned that it was thought that Wenger had not taken some competitions as serious as others i’m not so sure. In all honesty we haven’t had the team to really win through to the final of any of them as our results have shown. Many’s the time we made upto nine changes which i am dead against but when i omplained at the time many told me that we have to last all season with the squad we have and that rest time is important. Personally i thought this was crap but many supporters argued that this was the case. Many times i hear that players are tired and they need a rest this last tour of six games it was mentioned again how tired the players were. I saw at the time that i felt that was rubbish and when teams are winning they want to play even more. In todays football with all of the specialists and the massage boys and machines we have i would feel that after a couple of hours of treatment makes you feel a new man. Energy supliments and good diet and these players should be able to play 3 games a week. If you said that your kids could only play in the playground once a week because they are exhausted you would be laughed at your kids go there for nothing not 50 grand a week.
Dna, who? Fenerbache?
If so they are being investigated by UEFA for match fixing I think or some other thing that could see them thrown out…
Morning Adam – I thought he opt to field? 😉
UEFA throwing out a team? Hmmm not sure…. they have not even decided what to do if Fene are found guilty.
Moussa Sow will have a point to prove after we opted for Gerv instead of him 2 years ago…
Hi s2s,
Fenerbache. A nothing team full of young Turks and mercenaries. If we can’t lump them we don’t deserve to be in the Champions League. Any of the teams in the pre-qual’s are very easily beatable..
We’ll do them in Istanbul and we’ll do them in London.
Morning all.
That’s more like it… afternoon Syg.
Hi Rico. Yes, pretty tame stuff at the Test so far. Looks like Watson has been at the pies though.
Morning Potter i doff my hat to an old un, In my opinion any competition you enter you should pull all the stops out to win it no if buts and whens in it to win it no other way in my mind if you just want to be a competeter your a mug
He’s Santos-plan….
He’s on the Santos-plan even….
Morning Ginge – Our African Football Correspondant lol
I’ve said that all along Steve re: the mega rotation of players. 1 or 2 or 3 at a push – but wholesale changes, when there are no injuries does nothing for the team and ABSOLUTELY nothing for the supporters. Stick to a winning formula with a tweek here and there.
Ts – Sky Sport have said that both them and the side from Ukraine could end up being oiked out…
He’s certainly rather lardy Adam.. Sun is shining now, so I guess Cook knew what he was doing 😉
HISTORY
19 Sep 1979 Arsenal v Fenerbahçe W 2-0 UEFA European Cup Winners Cup
03 Oct 1979 Fenerbahçe v Arsenal D 0-0 UEFA European Cup Winners Cup
21 Oct 2008 Fenerbahce v Arsenal W 2-5 UEFA Champions League
05 Nov 2008 Arsenal v Fenerbahce D 0-0 UEFA Champions League
Is that stats or historical facts Syg? 😀
So i can not even get a hello.
I am going to bed where i expect to be ignored again 🙂
Afternoon, I think we should tell Liverpool we respect their decision and no longer wish to sign Suarez. Then get on with signing what we really need which is defenders and midfielders, I would rather see us spend big on Centre back and midfield and perhaps take a punt on a premier league striker, like Bent, Benteke or Michu.
Facts Scott. Definitely Facts.
… I could add some stats to make certain players look either good or bad if you like …????
England lose first wicket at Durham.
Good read steve.its a very fair representation of how Arsenal fans feel right now.right now we have 12 foreign players which means we have 5 free slots to fill for registration and he surely has no excuse not to buy.if he doesn’t there is no defending him anymore.
evening all – interesting draw
good post Steve, good read
No AKB’s on here S2S 😉
Vernat. Liverpool and Rodgers inparticular harried us out of the Nuri Sahin deal, possibly due to his friendship with Mourinho. Whatever it was, there was something unhealthy about it…. In fact to my knowledge, we have never bought anyone of any note off Liverpool … athough we’ve bid had £10M bids for Reina and Alonso turned down.
Jim Furnell is probably our highest profile signing and he according to the history books was shit.
Rodgers is lying. There was a deal in place for Suarez, but he just didn’t forsee his club doing as badly as they did. And now he’s renaged on it. Fcuk him – Still go after Suarez.
As for Michu? Not a bad player, but not great.
Bent? Good god. Sound stats, but no.
Benteke? African mercenary who’s a one hit wonder who chucked in a transfer request ‘cos he thought he would fit into Wenger’s Arsenal, and ate humble pie when no one wanted him. Greedy bastard.
We are The Arsenal. We have the money, we should go after the best and Suarez is the best out there.
No Syg, please, no no no stats 😉
Ok Syg, but why address me?
I can’t recall mentioning facts or stats.
ktr7 you was still defending him? 🙂 You would have thought all the times Wenger’s been pushed aside by others taking his players he have learned how to get deals done wouldn’t you?
I can remember how good Diaby was in that 2-5 win in istanbul.he was magnificent that day.shame we have never fully seen him at his best for a prolonged period of time.
Anybody of a geotechnical background? just in http://www.cardgeotechnics.co.uk/about-us/career-opportunities
Sorry Scott – That was for our resident stat man, Ginge. My eyes are bollocksed !!!
Jim Furnell ???
Fumbling Jim , he was the only entertainment on the North Bank and we call Fabianski Flappy, no comparison.
To the tune of the mighty Quinn
“” Come on without ,
Come on within ,
You ain’t seen nothing like Fumbling Jim “
Latest rumours are suggesting we are looking for a RB since AW likes the look of Sagna at CB.
Why not?
Suarez as a footballer is superb like a Tevez or a Bellamy his workrate and attitude are great. I would rather see us go for a player who will stay on the pitch, and not be suspended one game in six and that is where Suarez falls down.
If we are going for the best lets go for Robert Lewandowski right age right attitude and if we have to sell him in two or three years to Bayern then we will make our money back more upside than Suarez in my view. And while we are at it lets put a monster bid in for Hummels say £65 million for both and see what Dortmund say
Lol Syg…..i gathered that was the case 🙂
how are you Scott? All good mate?
KTR7. Diaby was sound in the 5-2 thrashing.
He was also sound in the:
25 Feb 2007 Arsenal v Chelsea 1-2 Carling Cup Final
26 Dec 2008 Aston Villa v Arsenal 2-2 Premier League
02 Sep 2012 Liverpool v Arsenal 0-2 Premier League
Pity about him being average or dire in the other 174 appearances he played for us ….
potter says:
August 9, 2013 at 12:36 pm
“Fumbling Jim” …. sounds like a teenager in the back of a car lol
Gregory van der Wiel is looking for a new club …. he’d be a tidy addition to the squad
Gregory van der Wiel right age 25 decent height at 6 feet and 35 caps for Holland and should be the right price range as well. Also should have champions league experience as well with Ajax
Real Madrid is cooling off Bale , so that means they might turn their attention to Suarez.
I will say Wenger should start looking else where for another striker , I am sure we can turn Borussia Dortmund’s head concerning Lewandowski, we could get him.
Henry will not let Liverpool sell Suarez to us , as an American, he really felt insulted by the £40Mil + £1 offer.
Arsenal shouldn’t have played games they should have just offered £41Mil straight and wait.
We need to move on now.
If it’s only about losing face then go in and negotiate a deal that enables him to do that . If it doesn’t work walk away. Test Chelsea with £ 20m for Torres.
England 57 for 1 at Lunch at Durham Root out for 16
Who is the naughty footballer who has been sending text messages?
Not the best start V10..
SD, they are just trying to get Bales price down imho
THUG?
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/8862348/sterling-on-assault-charge
Oz, you are out now 😉
Depends how ‘common’ his common assault was.
I have just had a fashion and lifestyle geru, in the back of my cab, and I can reliably inform everyone, that 47, is the new 37….
I also read an interesting piece about age and amplifiers in Hi Fi Weekly (or was it Hi Fi World?)… 😉
Happy Birthday mate… 😛
😆 Kev, afternoon to you…
Afternoon all and hi Oz. We missed you mate!
The man with the ironed face says Suarez is not for sale to anyone “at any price”. Would he accept £100 million do you think?
He said the same about Torres Adam…
Thanks brudder Kev. I’m catching you and brudder Adam up….I’ll never catch Rico up!
Amazing how these people become multi billionaires.
Whatever the case, Wenger decided a couple of months ago to take a different route to Gazidis and the board. He paddled off, little knowing he was heading up Shit Creek. We will see if he loses his paddle quite soon.
You cheeky bugger Lee 😉
Adam you and Kev would make good billionaires….like Waldorf and Statler from the muppets! 😆
Or Randolph and Mortimer from trading places….
Thought I’d get away with it as it’s my buffday!
Lee. We were born without the mesmerising gift of stunning blue eyes with which we could hold our prey in thrall.
Who do we go after if Suarez doesn’t happen?
Lewandowski. Big, big bid.
Ok, I’ll let you off…..
Have you got blue eyes then Adam? 😉
£40 million + £1 would be very close to getting Lewandowski wouldn’t it?
I must walk Fido and water two peoples gardens along the way, thank the Lord both families are back tomorrow…
Back in a bit…
Hi Scott… you are gone already?
I know a bunch of young guys who hang around with Sterling and his likes in dodgy parts of town. 😉 Believe me young English players are….
Lee, thanks mate…… 😆
The man with the ironed head….
Cracks me up every time….
I had a chuckle too 47!
SYG – I agree. Tough draw vs Turks. If we cannot beat them we do not deserve to be in CL.
Afternoon all, 3 down in the cricket, not so good…
We signed anyone yet? ha ha ha
Glad it’s not the other Turkish side a117
Hi everyone,
Happy birthday Lee.
I read on a site that we have to have our 25 man squad in by the 12th. So unless our future new signings are on the list, the squad we have now is the team to play the playoffs. They say the list can only be amended by 1 player.
New signing by Monday then Brad 😉
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico….
Sir Stevo, your posts are always an absolute pleasure to read…
Thanks for another great post…
I have been mulling over some ideas for a post, mainly aimed at slagging off that repulsive club Liverpool… Watch this space?!
Fenerbache, great ‘facts’ SYG, I kinda had a hunch that our record against them was a good one….
Glad you avoided the stats SYG…. Zzzzzz 😉
Jim ‘Fingers’ Furnell… Unfortunately I do remember him…
Hard to believe that he kept Bob Wilson out of the team…
Jimmy Carter (a Gooner) didn’t he come from that loathsome Anfield mob?
Afternoon Kev, just trying a slice 😉
Carter :- I forgot about peanut.
Rico, don’t be so cruel…. 🙁
😉
Gervinho gone eh, visits to the Mangal with Lee, will never be the same… 🙂
It just doesn’t have that old magic eh Adam??? 😉
Still, we’ve still got Bendtner and Park to get our teeth into, in between the kebab… 😀
Well that’s my tea break finished…
2 toast and a Kit Kat, but sadly, no lemon cheesecake… 🙁
Lata 😉
Sorry Kev 😉
No Rico. I have no idea what colour my eyes are as there are no mirrors in my house due to my Vampirism.
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/365826999815639040
Florian Thauvin, conspicuously absent from the first day….
https://twitter.com/lequipe/status/365858402691334148
🙂 Adam, I’ll let you know one day ….
I’m pretty cheesed off about them signing Capoue…
I agree Rico.
Wenger is looking more like a busted flush every day. Are you still confident that he will turn this transfer window round?
Didn’t we try and sign Florian Thauvin in Jan? Certainly reports suggested such…
No Adam. And I don’t think we have a cat in hells chance of signing Suarez…
What time today does Suarez ask for he’s transfer like he said on Tuesday god I hate this saga.
Yes. The whole thing has descended into a fiasco again hasn’t it?perhaps the scenario I outlined weeks ago is actually going to be played out after all. If so, the fans at the Emirates will once again pay for the privilege of watching millionaires playing out their mind games. The only positive thing will be that we should be well into end-game with something new and different in sight. The downside is that we are going to be dancing to one man’s tune.
Ivan Gazidis, 10th June 2013: “This year we will strive to get our transfer business done early.”
Five working days left until new season.
Lets just go and buy from Dortmund or Anzi as they need the money, i am so tired of the Suarez saga and having been on the other side of this with Viera, Henry and Fabregas i just want it over. Lets hope Arsenal have told his agent not official written transfer by today deal is off.
I know he is 32 now but I would not mind seeing Eto sign as he had proved he can perform at big clubs and on big occasions. And should be capable of two years or will he be a bit like Morientes when he went to Liverpool and was just that bit past it?
Thauvin was given extended leave it appears…
People keep referring to the torres saga to try to justify why he (henry) would sell to us but two things first
1.Torres had a buy-out clause of £50 million,so if we really want to get him we would pay £50 million -ish and am not sure Arsene and sons are ready to do that.
2.Henry didnt ask what Chelsea were smoking at the bridge.
They Believe the best position they can get this coming season is fourth and their main threat is arsenal so why sell him to arsenal.if it were another club like say manCity,then lads from fenway group would have taken him there.
Gjoe, that’s what the newspapers wrote, not sure the player said he would…
Lee – blame his side kick, he let IG down… Did my card arrive in the post by the way?
Good Evening Lady, Sir, Gentlemen and Ladies.
Happy Birthday Lee. Belated????
Have we signed Marica yet? Because that is what I have been told.
I am getting fed up of the Suarez situation. Is he the only feking striker in the world?? There are others.
Shrek. Torres. Huntelaar. maybe Messi or Ronaldo???? 😉
Or is the Suarez situation just a smokescreen??
Lenz – makes Henry sound more desperate and worried inmho..
Evening Devil – you and me re Suarez. I’m starting to wish we’d walk away and go get another striker. Like Rooney….
Surely, if Rooney goes anywhere, it will be to Chelsea.
This is a horrible first day at the Test Match.
We should have fielded first Adam….
I’m not convinced Adam. Man U might think we aren’t too much of a challenge to them, whereas Chelsea are…
And, all depends on Rooney, if wants to be the main man again, going to Chelsea wouldn’t be the place to go surely…
The reason he wants out is suggested to be he’s fed up with playing second fiddle to RvP.
We’d be perfect for him.
Miguel has joined Leicester – surely that means a CH is coming in?
Can’t see it Rico. Rooney will have a say and he says Chelsea. Sad to say, I couldn’t blame him.
Cricket-wise, I think we are seeing what happens at the high levels of pro sport. The players tend to just do enough. The Ashes are won and you can see that the English players can hardly be bothered. They know this is a shit Australian team and just can’t get up for it. I have seen it before.
Rico. It SHOULD mean a CH is coming in but with our manager, toss a coin.
Is Darren Bent still available???
Kev. I am waiting for Wenger to say, ” Darren Bent is a player I have always admired”.
What about Adi Akinbiyi, is he still playing???
Kev. 🙂
Hiya Kev.
why dont you take a chance to play centreback? Or centreforward?
😉
Kos is suspended , TV is injured , Sagna will have to in the middle with Mertesacker with Gibbs and Jenkinson outside. Is Monreal fit yet ? one injury at Villa and we are 3 at the back in Turkey.
Hi Coach…
Yes Adam, I know, sadly. 🙁
What about Ray Hankin, is he still available?
Potter. It’s all part of our leader’s cunning plan.
It’s time to unleash Park perhaps!
Adam stop imitating Baldrick.
I still say that Shrek should be the first choice and Torres 2nd.
Or Bendtner at centre back , he probably thinks he is one of the worlds best there too. A whole new career path is opening for him.
Who says Rooney says Chelsea though Adam?
Rooney says it Rico.
Re the cricket, I just think we should have fielded, I don’t think the players aren’t up for it…
Exactly Potter, and we always an injury away from the same old situation…
Boo!! The old SSP is back, I see. 🙂 🙂
It’s not too late to sign an important player just yet. Hope springs eternal blah de blah. But the fans will be up in arms for sure if we remain in stasis. 😉
Hello, all! 🙂 🙂
Happy birthday, Lee!! Have a smashing one!
When Adam? I have not heard him say that… Nor have I seen an interview with quotes from him…
Not being pedantic here though…
Hoorah, we have been having a worry agag… 😉
Holidays again?
I don’t think anybody’s up for it, including the crowd. It has been monumentally boring. The series has really. No players have really dominated consistently, apart from sporadic bits of quality. Root, one good day, Bairstow- average and a moody Pietersen, Cook out out of sorts, Trott too. No, not for me. Big players respond to a challenge and this has been dull and poor. Bit like Wenger really.
General opinion is that Rooney wants to play for Mourinho at Chelsea. His last big move. Seriously, why would he want to play for Wenger and Arsenal when he sees what is going on over there? Or what isn’t going on.
A mad few weeks, rico. I resigned from my job; last day at work yesterday!! So yes, I’m indefinitely on hols. 😀 Howdy?
Hello, Adam. 🙂 I still trust AW to make a few purchases to make happy bunnies of us all. 😀
Potter, Bendy at CB would not be a bad option.
Better still why NOT???
his head alone should fill the area between the goal post and crossbar since it is so inflated that its impossible for the opposition to score.
Nicolas Anelka anybody?
Hi Agag.
A lady of leisure eh? 🙂
Keep believing. I am on the verge of losing what small hope I had.
You are on a cricket downer Adam 😉
I’m good thanks agag, as I hope you are. Resigned eh, well I hope your next working venture doesn’t demand so much from you….
Off to get dinner now….
Mel Charles???
Alan Skirton???
Alf Common???
Haha, on Bendy, Dev. 🙂
Adam, I wish. 🙁 Will have to look for a new one, soon. 😉 I realized only very recently why people should be saving for a rainy day. 🙂 Haha.
Agag will be setting up her SHOE COMPANY.
The advert will go something like this……………
Shoe Comfort
by AGAG
Ronnie Rooke
David Herd??
Oh I forgot, we sold him to Man Utd.
Silvestre for CB
Alf Kirchen ( nice bloke ),or Joe Baker my first hero.
Hey, Kev. How are you, sir?
Dev, I don’t have many comfortable shoes, if I’m honest. Haha. 😀
rico, I hope so, too. But I guess it’s called “work” for a reason. 😉
From Calciomercato.com…………..
Hayley McQueen, presentatrice della catena televisiva britannica Sky Sports, ha commesso un simpatico lapsus parlando di Jose Mourinho. Descrivendo il manager del Chelsea, la McQueen ha detto che ha “fame di sesso” al posto di “fame di successo”. Un errore che ha tenuto a retificare immediatamente subito dopo. In inglese, d’altronde, i due termini si somigliano molto.
Hayley è la figlia di un ex difensore della nazionale scozzese, Gordon McQueen, che in carriera ha giocato anche per Leeds e Manchester United.
Hayley McQueen, Sky Sports TV presenter, has committed a lapsus when talking about Jose Mourinho, describing him that he is “Hungry for SEX” when in reality she wanted to say he is “Hungry for Success”.
Hayley is the daughter of former United defender Gordon Mcqueen…..
What will Missus Mourinho say about this unknown side of her hubby???
We all make translation cock ups when we speak another language, I nearly bought an old bull ring near Tarragona and there was an old flea dog guarding the place. My wife and I decided not to go ahead and I told the agent that one reason was because the place was full of prostitutes not fleas.
I got my Putas and my pujas mixed up.
Should read Flea ridden dog.
Potter. They might need you to sort out this Gibralter business.
Russian fans went crazy from Wenger.
If Wenger doesn’t buy Suarez – they will give to everyone $ 200.
Lol. Nice photo Suarez + Wenger
http://s61.radikal.ru/i174/1308/a6/3efe89b3deec.png
I do not think that Wenger will be able to do it.
Hi Agag, a lady of leasure now, hmm, shopping 24/7…?!!!
Alf Kirchen, wasn’t he a farmer in Norfolk in later years Potter?
Joe Baker, I missed him by a few seasons…
John Radford and George Graham were the strikers when I first went…
Alf Kirchen , yes lived in Norfolk and was honory chairman of the Norfolk Arsenal supporters club. I met him a couple of times when i was a member. Really nice man also played for Norwich I think.
Good Evening to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Sir Steve – An excellent article – I agree 100%. If Rico was serious with her AKB’s remark @12:28 p.m., this could be my last post.
Unfortunately I fear that the Arsene Out Brigade will prevail if we have a slow start to the season, something we are prone to do. If Arsene does goes, many will realize all too late what he has done for the club.
The financial situation in football is changing rapidly due to the world financial situation. This is being masked by the success of the financially doped teams like Abu Dhabi Citeh, Chelski, Monaco and PSG. While teams such as Coventry, Glasgow Rangers and Malaga are more representative of the deap debt many many teams are in. Anzhi Makhachkala has put their entire first team in the shop window to reduce their operating budget by 65%.
If we do manage to buy Suarez, which I doubt, for 50+ million; he will be worth a hell of a lot less when he forces his way out in a season or two.
Does WATH remember Ronnie Rooke????
Evening all…..
When ever I talked about Joe Baker my dad would start on about Ronnie Rooke , he was even before my time.
Evening all…
Hi Cg, indeed another oligarch chances his mind when the tax investigators come to town… 😉
I am wondering if Samba will be making his way back…
Super rich owner Suleiman Kerimov decides to pull the plug on his pet Anzhi Makhachkala experiment, leaving players, staff and fans out in the cold.
They say breaking up is hard to do, and the good folk at Anzhi Makhachkala are about to find out if that’s true.
For the last few years in particular football supporters, players, coaching staff and media have watched in a kind of glazed awe as mysterious billionaires have swerved into town in their million euro sports cars and opened suitcases full of money to buy up clubs, big and small, in all corners of the football playing World.
Occasionally these new-wave owners with their billions of dollars earned in often shady circumstances (There’s a reason Roman Abramovich has armed guards discreetly around him) have their motives, tactics and intentions questioned by the media. However this does not happen very often. Perhaps media members are afraid of being banned from the interview room.
Either way, the increase in individual billionaire owners, buying clubs both big and small seemingly on a whim has expanded exponentially and basically without check in the last five years. Every so often a warning sign pops up that maybe, just maybe, having a volatile billionaire come in and buy up your football club isn’t the most wonderful thing after all.
Fans, players and staff are finding that out right now at Anzhi Makhachkala.
29 mins gone and Seville are 2-0 up against Moyes… ha ha ha
Manure 2-0 down to Sevilla
hiya Ginge.
are you seeing Moyes United?
Indeed my good buddy…
I have never seen a Scotsman look so nervous in my life… 😀
I am watching Bayern.
a sight much better
BM are 2-0 up
Keep an eye on Medel the DM I have been raving about… he’s like a pitbull…
Ginge – Thanks for posting the Anzhi article. I was looking for something similar.
I see Arsenal and Chelski have been linked with Anzhi’s Samuel Eto’o. I can’t see it myself as the article I was reading said he was on 20 million Euros per year after taxes (384,615 per week). Few teams can afford that sort of wage and like Bendtner many of those mercenary players will not want to take a pay cut.
Wasn’t that David Cassidy Ts 😉
I think its Stoke Rugby Football club next………………
“Hull City AFC today announce that they will be called ‘Hull City Tigers’ from this day on.” With a real emphasis to simply call themselves “Hull Tigers.”
Checking the calendar quickly, nope, it’s not April 1st. Is this for real?
Sadly it is. Since 1904 the newly promoted Premier League side have been known as Hull City Association Football Club but now Egyptian Chairman Assem Allam has decided to wipe away that 109 year history.
He has chosen to do so for “commercial reasons” and admitted he cannot force the clubs fans to use the new name. But Allam, who saved Hull City from administration in 2010 following a deep financial crisis after being relegated from the Premier League, owns Hull and can do whatever he wants. Clearly.
ok.. I just switched to that. I can’t see Noivdvet
2-1 Munich
😀 Rico
Dante own goal…
ManU look as porous and rattled.
Dev, that is football bizniz for you…
I can’t see Eto coming this way either. I wouldn’t mind Denisov though…
Denisov sounds too much like someone else we signed 😉
Cg, I can see other millionaires looking at their investments again.. its a bottomless pit imo, football philanthropy.
I had to double check the spelling just to make sure… 🙂
He is the Russian no. 7 who excelled in the euros and WC. I can’t believe he left cska as a free agent and joined Anzhi… I guess it is all about money for these lot.
According to Moscow Times:
The days of making marquee signings are over for soccer powerhouse FC Anzhi Makhachkala after its billionaire owner cast aside the club’s high-spending transfer policy in favor of developing local talent.
Suleiman Kerimov bought Anzhi in January 2011 and went on to shell out about $180 million annually on star signings like Samuel Eto’o, Willian and Christopher Samba. In doing so, Kerimov turned the club from his native Dagestan into one of the most ambitious in Europe.
The club even bought the now-retired Brazilian world cup winner Roberto Carlos a $2.3 million Bugatti Veyron for his 38th birthday.
However, the club’s annual budget will now be cut to somewhere between $50 million and $70 million, Kommersant reported Thursday.
The reason for Kerimov’s change-of-heart has been the source of widespread speculation. A statement on the club’s website said Anzhi’s spending is being curtailed to take into account FIFA’s financial fair play rules, which were brought in to stop clubs spending significantly more than they earn.
Anzhi’s disappointing results at the start of the season have been touted as another possible factor. The club has bagged a mere two points from four games and sits in 13th place in the standings.
The recent fall in price of Kerimov’s 17.2 percent stake in Uralkali, the world’s biggest producer of potash fertilizer, could also have swayed the billionaire. The 30 percent drop in the company’s value cost Kerimov $375 million.
Whatever the motivation behind the change in Anzhi’s approach, the club’s emphasis will now be focused on youth and plans are afoot to build a soccer academy in Dagestan.
The club’s former coach, Gus Hiddink — who was on a $10 million per year contract — left in late July, and it is odds-on that some of the club’s most expensive players will follow him out the door.
In terms of its spending, the club was second only to Zenit St. Petersburg, which is owned by Gazprom. The club’s policy was geared toward winning the Russian Premier League and challenging for European titles.
So it is Rio’s testimonial??? wow
Ginge – I think it shows that lots of money helps, but that you need more than money.
Poor old Rene Meulensteen fired after only 16 days as coach.
What’s going to happen when they can’t sell many of those overpaid mercanery players? If this or administration/bankruptcy happen to a few more clubs it could start a real domino effect.
All of Rednoses assistants bar Brian Kid have not had a career after old trafford.
From Steve Maclaren, Queiroz to Walter Smith…
Most will moved to St Petersburgh…
The rest will, well get visited by some henchmen and told to make a run from Russia 😉
Dev, your boy Kruse looks a player.
One of the things I have noticed with those who call themselves AKB’s is that they are very arrogant, divisive and use very odd arguments. We went through them all at several times during last season.
If you point out that the squad is inadequate and some of the enormous monies from the Emirates should be used to strengthen, which is what the move was all about in the first place, you get the Sugar Daddy clubs quoted ad neuseam. The message is always, “Beware, one day Abramovich and whoever else, will get bored with their toy and move on”. This is accompanied by a virtual finger wagging across the Internet but it misses one important point. Nobody here, who believes that the squad is inadequate is advocating that route. Nobody. We don’t want the bloody Anzhi model or the Chelsea model or the Man City one either. All we want is for proper money to be spent on strengthening the team. It’s all I have ever wanted. Not doing it is dumb. We have seen what happens when you don’t year after year. Gazidis knows we need it, Kroenke and the board do and even Wenger does.
Neither I, nor anybody whose views I respect on here wants Arsenal to spend so wildly and stupidly that the club’s future is put in jeopardy.
If the crowd give Wenger and the club some grief it will be because they have failed again in the market. It is directly or indirectly why we have lost so many great players over the years and we want it to stop. Arsenal must become truly competitive gain.
Ginge – Maybe that’s what kept Auld Whisky Nose going so long, he sucked the life out of his assistants.
As for those players visited by some henchmen, will that mean more Bendtners on the loose in Europe.
The sad part of it is is that these clubs willing to pay well over the odds for player’s fees and wages have skewed the market for all the clubs.
Morning all.
Apologies Oz…..by he time Rico let you oit of moeration, i had fallen asleep 🙂
Hope all is well mate.
Adam, being someone who defends Wenger, but is not an AKB, i ind he opposite is the case.
Those wanting him out are invariably the ones starting the abuse and insults…hence my short career on Le Grove 🙂
Maybe…probably….it is those with the extreme views, whichever side of the pitch they are on.
I am one of those Adam. I don’t want spending like Chelsea, Man City etc etc – we don’t need to. All we need to do is spend what we do have on great players and not average or one’s who may be fantastic in 5 years time.
Arsenal needs now, Arsene Wenger needs now!
If we don’t get that NOW, we will fall further and further into decline, and that will destroy our club….
Oh, and Wenger has, for the first time in my opinion, left himself open to the criticism he will no doubt cop from fans.
It is all on him, and though i won’t boo the man or side, i will not defend the lack of action on transfers, because this time he has no excuse.
Wow- 2 great German penalty takers miss penalties in a week.
Alaba good penalty…
More B-52’s on the lose moving westwards….NATO will be concerned. lol
The Russian market was Barca and RM’s dumping ground. Its now Monaco I guess…
Hi Scott
When Chelsea and City spent millions after millions, they had to. They were a poor, very poor club with average players. Results proved that.
We are not and have never been where they were under Wenger, but each season we only had to sign two top players and we would have stayed at the top, but instead we cast aside our greats and replaced them with ‘maybes’ and that’s why we are where we are now…
It’s poop or bust stage for our club imho…
Scott – I’d never boo AW either but I get what you are saying re this time….
Adam – I don’t argue with much of what you say. However, the sugardaddy teams have skewed the market for world class players.
I think Suarez is a world class striker, but I don’t think he is worth 50+ million. Many clubs seeing these prices are jacking up their prices to match. I don’t think it can continue for much longer before the market collapses like the housing market in the US.
I do want and expect Arsenal to buy a few players before the window closes, but I fear it wont be the big names that many fans have been hoping for and want.
I don’t think the clearout of the squad was done so much as to make room for new signings, but to cut the fat from the wage bill so the club could susrvive an economic downturn. Time will tell, but I fear that Arsene may be sacrificed in the meantime.
Good Morning Scott, how are things in the Land of Wonder?
Timing is all important in everything.
I have thought we being financially prudent waiting for the right moment to spend and hopefully take the PL by storm.
With our main rivals all having new managers, i can not help but think now is that time.
I will be astounded, more than anything else, if we do not spend up this time.
CG, i get what you are saying, but we have spent years not spending awaiting the bust, but this surely is a time to pounce..
Things are pretty good down here CG.
Work for a few hours then label and bottle our latest beer, a Bergkamp Bitter!
That goes with our Highbury Heavy Ale and Pires Pilsener.
Next up, Thierry gets a run!!
How are things up north?
If i disappear, have a great evening all…i will be shooting out for work soon.
How can u defend the indefensible, arsene wenger has brought so much to this club, but now the guy is ruining it, his inactivity in the transfer market is costing us season after season, he’s a stubourn old man set in his ways, if he bought the players he knows we need then we’d be a force, but he ain’t, so time to go
Cg, for sure they have but we aren’t broke, we have at least £100 million to spend, we were made promises and those promises aren’t being kept right now….
£100 million = 4 top class players, if not more. No-one is suggesting we just go and blow £50 million on a player who isn’t worth £50 million but for what Suarez would give us, I’d say he’d be worth very close to that mark in todays world…
Todays world is very relevant, Rico.
What a strange world it is 🙂
Still, it is a wonderful one!
Scott – I’m praying it’s all about saving two months salary!
All I know is before Roman came along Chelsea were finishing in 4th place and in the CL places, whilst Shitty got given a free stadium funded by tax payers… even then $hitty had a lucky escape when Thaksin went into exile with a new owner at the right time.
We have not had any free pass at any stage, whilst other teams including Psg have all had bursaries along the way.
I do not see it as life or death at all. The club is having all the investments they need now; the fanbase is growing to a global club. Surely that can’t be a bad thing…
3-1 Seville Ha ha ha
The club will definitely spend… that I am certain. We have never gone through a summer transfer window without spending… if we don’t then I will be joining you all.
But that’s life in football Ts, it’s changed because of Sky Sports, rich owners etc etc. Don’t we have a rich owner too?
We have money but Arsene won’t break the bank, that’s the big issue and it’s wrong..
We don’t need to spend what Chelsea and City needed to to make us a great side, we just need to spend what we have right now.
That would be enough to make us as good as them, but will he??
Scott – Things are good here. We are having an extended record breaking run of warm clear weather. Not the oppressive heat that other parts of North America have been getting, just great mid-twentie degrees (Centigrade).
I’ve been busy with the family lately and my older son is hosting a family barbecue tomorrow, so I get to visit the grandchildren who are growing like weeds.
I should have more time to visit the House next week.
P.S. What variety of beer does Thierry get?
How can you be so sure Ts?
The Gunners have placed a bid of £40m + £1 for the Uruguayan, which the player believes triggers a buy-out clause in his contract if it comes from a club who have qualified for the Champions League.
However, Liverpool say that is not the case and owner John W Henry is adamant the player will not be sold to Arsenal for any price.
And Wenger says that, if Liverpool are not willing to sell, then there is nothing more that Arsenal can do.
Speaking at a press conference in Helsinki, he said: “There is nothing to add to what I said already about the transfer of Suarez.
“If it will be done, it will be done in a respectful and amicable way with Liverpool.
“I didn’t read (Henry’s) statements but we’ll be faithful to the way we want to behave.
“To make a transfer happen, you need the agreement of three parties – the buyer, the seller and the player.
“We know what we want to do. The player, if I look at the statements, (does) as well. Liverpool at the moment do not agree. If they change their minds or not, I don’t know. We’ll respect that.
“We are looking at possibilities to strengthen our squad. Suarez is one of the targets. If he’s not for sale, he’s not for sale, we have to accept that.
“Every club has its own way of dealing with things, we have our way and we respect all the other clubs.”
Hiya, ginge and CG. 🙂 🙂 Howdy?
Kev, hardly. Must find work soon. 🙁
The transfer window is doing my head in, rico. 😉 I keep looking for other things to do (that’s not housework, haha) but invariably get checking on our transfer (in)activity. Tut tut.
As you all say AW is the one not spending the money due to his obsession, I expect someone on the board to grow a pair to make a desperate move during the international break.
When IG made his comment earlier in the window I said on here I did not expect any major signings until the CL draw at least.
I work on the principle that men are creatures of habit especially those in charge of our club. They are definitely as predictable as a thieving janitor… lol
Hi Miss Agag.. how was your vacation?
CG, apparently he endorses Kronenbourg, so something alone those lines i reckon.
If you like, i can send you some labels.
Whack them on a local beer, nobody will know different but they will be one offs, i guarantee that.
Ginge, i still have faith we will spend, i really do.
I just hope the signings are well thought out, well planned transfers, because there is no excuse for last minute deals.
Rico, you may be right on the age issue.
Lets face it, even after we get him on the last day, he still has plenty of weeks to gel with out guys on the training paddock.
Ok, i am off.
Later, guys.
Ps….English mates, Rico will soon have some of our labels for anyone interested.
We do one new brew every 3-4 weeks, and each has a unique label, never to be reproduced.
Cheers guys.
And mine agag, and mine 😉
Night Scott…..
Later Scott
Problem is they can’t sell the STs and can’t fill the stadium any more, no matter how many Thais are walking the streets of Bangkok wearing Arsenal shirts.
This is because their marketing strategies are more successful than their fans perceive the team to be.
The club are losing hardcore fans by the day.
Rico – “…, but will he??” That is the big question.
I think he will spend, but it may not be enough for many fans who are expecting the likes of Suarez. I think Liverpool have mis-handled that case from the start.
I can see the likes of Bender/Gundogan/Kondogbia, Williams and Cesar; but I fear he will not get a top class striker. Maybe if UnReal fail to get Bale from Totts they will buy Suarez and allow Benzema to come to Arsenal.
Hi and bye, Scott. 🙂 Keep on working on those brews!
Ginge, not been hols. 🙁 Turned over my work to around half a dozen people. Made me realize how overworked and underpaid I was. 😉 Haha.
Part of what you say Adam, could be the very reason Wenger wants one big signing.
For the same reasons an electorate votes the same breed of people into political power every term, football fans will always buy STs if they can afford it.
I strongly believe fans who buy or choose not to buy STs’ are influenced more by their financial situation than how their teams perform on the pitch… at least that is what a survey by forbes said.
If one does not have a job you are not going to buy a ST just because your club is doiung a double or treble. imho
An the fact that the club managed to extend the ST renewal date says it all imho..
So why bother going after Suarez in the first place Cg if you belief is right?
Why not be more proactive in other places and for other players?
The season starts in one weeks time and our squad is weaker than it was when the season ended.
That’s hardly something to convince fans…
I’d be appalled Adam, if we do not bring in anyone. We are crying out for quality reinforcements. Surely, the club can see that. We can start with Suarez. 😉
Scott – Have a great day mate.
Sister AGAG – The transfer window is doing all our heads in. I’ll be glad when it’s over, no matter who we do or don’t buy. Then we can concentrate on watching the team play.
Oh.. Agag I feel for you. 🙁 I went through something similar recently… I was off ill for 2 weeks due to fatigue,all due to my boss with his 6 figure salary telling me he can’t recruit because he can’t find people with the right security clearance and nationality to help…
No Ts, I disagree, I know fans who have plenty of money, they could buy 5 or more ST’s a season, it’s not about a seat, it’s about who that seat allows you to watch…
And some, many who have been an ST holder for many many years aren’t bothering because our club is letting them down…
The reason the ST renewal date was extended was purely down to fans not renewing.
The club is so desperate, it’s mailing fans to invite them on board..
It smacks of desperation to me….
Adam
How can you be an hardcore fan and give up on the team you may be angry about the way the team is run. But when your an Arsenal fan your hooked if you move to another team you weren’t an Arsenal hardcore fan.
Rico. It might be, but the fans who go, have seen and heard his spiel before. The reason they are not renewing is that they simply don’t believe it any more. They have voted with their feet and it has been very painful for them to see what has been happening. They haven’t done it because they are a rabid Wenger haters.
The club needs a change of dynamic for me.
On that note, I am off for the night.
Night all.
Gjoe, Adam didn’t suggest going to another team, just not renewing an ST…
Night Adam
I’m off too, early start for me and a long day..
Nighty Ts, Cg, Gjoe, agag and all….
Have a good one….
Fair enough Rico, you are referring to one particular demography i.e Arsenal with the average fan earning £40k a year according to ‘the eye’… whilst I am referring to the whole footballing world as a whole based on Forbes survey.
The reason why only 40k fans will see a Milan derby…
Maybe the regular fan who comes here has a comfortable life but people are struggling globally but we can have an English galatico but most teams are broke and people can’t afford their tv subscription like in Spain and Portugal then only 1 or 2 teams compete. I love football first… 😉
Night…
Gonerjoe. Thank you for that kind advice. Obviously next to you I am not a hardcore fan. Please let everybody on the site know that fact.
That’s why I resigned, ginge. 😉 I had become very unhappy with what I was doing; and it rankled that certain people made sooo much for doing little to nothing at all. Pffft.
CG, I’ll be happy to see the back of this trf window, too. Happier still, with a marquee signing. 😉 We all would be. 😀
Goonerjoe, nah! Adam will give up his red trousers sooner than he would change clubs. Which is to say, never. 😀 He loooves his red pants.
Rico – Arsene was hoping the 35 and 40 million bids would have been sufficient.
Obviously they are not and Ayre, Henry, Rodgers, et al are hoping that they can reintegrate Suarez into their squad and he can help them to get a Champions League spot. A massive gamble on their part, but it shows how desperate they are to get back into Europe.
As for your other questions, you know as much as I do. It’s all guess work.
As for our team being weaker than last season, I don’t see it. We have a few short term injuries with Monreal and Vermaelen, but Monreal is back in training. We have Ramsey and Wilshere coming back into full fitness and showing their promise and skills once more. Some of our other players are having a proper pre-season for a change and we haven’t lost any major players.
Adam – Goog Night. I`d liked to continue our discussion another day, hopefully early next week.
`
Sister AGAG – I can identify and sympathise with your job situation. I went through a similar time, but I had a family to feed and couldn`t resign.
However, I did learn to appreciate the popular definition of stress. Stress – the tension created by suppressing the urge to choke the life out of someone who truly deserves it.
We have not had the same team together for more than 1 season since 2006. People underestimate that. The reason Rednose buys 4 players but only 1 player plays more than 25 games and he is called a genius…
I am with you Cg, I know I cheese off one or 2 people but I will be optimistic until Jim White says the TW is over… even then this is my club… those who wanted change because Liverpool did not achieve as much as they think it should, well 4 years and counting out of the CL spot.
The same guys who said AW bought the likes of Gerv are the same ones who will be calling any under-performing new players deadwood if they failed to live up to fans expectations. I rather we got things right this time round.
Evening all, Reading your comments i see were on the subject of ST’s and why some are not renewing. Arsenal have been intouh with ST holders who have not renewed their tickets as they value their support and they also realise that should they give up their tiket they may not get another for some time should they decide to ome back, This is a gesture to loyal fans who have supporte over the years as they would put all unsold tickets on the market. Of ourse Ginge is right as Adam is right for different reasons Adam understands that some of the supporters that he knows well are fed up with Arsenals policys for the last few years where Ginge is also right that fans may have been in financial difficulty. I dont believe that either of these things is such a bother for The Arsnal as i am on the waiting list and no body has been in touch with me about tickets. If there are empty seats at the stadium for the opening games you can bet your bottom dollar that the seat has been paid for.
Indeed SP1, at work we have corporate tickets for London clubs… that says something doesn’t it?
I get to use it 2 or 3 times a season whilst even none footballing fans use the tickets as a coupon to a national trust site to entertain foreign visitors.
Also spoken about is AKB’s for some that may not know what that stands for its Arsene Knows Brigade which actually means that they support everything Wenger says and won’t budge. I honestly think that all Arsenal supporters realises that no one man knows everything and most supporters realise that without new additions we will suffer and none of us wants that. Wenger is pushing it up till now but fail to sign anybody and even the AKB’s wont save him. I love the man but everybody is driven to a limit.
CG, I’m close to penniless now, and almost fully reliant on the kindness of Other People. Ha. But I really couldn’t muster any enthusiasm about work. So there. Love your definition of stress, btw. 🙂 Must file that away for future reference. 😀
Hiya, SSP?? Caught anything? 🙂
Ginge, we live in hope. 😉
Good night, rico! 🙂
Steve – Again, a great article.
Living at a great distance from London I don`t have the option of taking a season`s ticket. So, I rarely comment on them, but I do wonder if many of the long-term holders that are giving up theirs may not regret their actions in the near futureÉ
Adam
I am not saying your not as big a fan as I am what I disagreed with is that a hardcore fan can just walk away from Arsenal. I am not talking about just buying a season ticket I am talking about walking away all together.
That is the spirit Agag… without hope where would humanity be?
I am sure something better will come up…
Evening Agag, if your still there sorry to hear about your misfortune you were too good for them anyway and i’m sure someone with your work ethics wont be looking long 🙂
Evening Ginge, yeh corperate tickets sticks in my throat too look at the olympics
You have a point Gj, I have a colleague who is a pompey fan and he still goes to see them now and holds a ST…
I met a fellow gunner on the beach in Penang.What he said doesn’t surprise me or gunner fans. The gunners indulge in too much fancy soccer with a thousand passes made before a shot is made.This gives defenders time to regroup.
When Drogba scored his second goal there was only the German defender to beat. When Arsenal attack ,they are confronted by the whole team. So is it any wonder the gunners find it hard to score with their tip tap and dance soccer?
The speed of attack is avital ingredient and the gunners have failed .And that is why Wenger ‘s record against MU is so poor.
It won’t surprise me were he to leave in the middle of the season.
The game has changed and he has failed to keep up with the changes.
Steve – I just wish we had more information on who is actually making andéor sanctioning some of these decisions for the club. Knowing Arsenal`s penchant for confidentiality though, I doubt we ever will.
While I understand the angst of many of our fans &
supporters, I don`t share their level of despair and panic.
Thanks CG, glad you continued with your comments wouldn’t want to lose a blogger like you mate. 🙂
Agag bugger all 🙂
SP1, all the big banks have fine seats at the Erms… I even got 2 tickets for fulhams games sometimes which I kindly turn down… it wil cost me more going there than taking my family out for dinner…
I also know a proper London gooner who didn’t renew his ST last year citing lack of signings but I know it was more to do with his ex taking him to court for more money and the fact that the ex-wife has moved 120 miles away with her new bf so he can’t see his kid as often plus the cost of travelling over..
Tsgh
I think Adam thought I was having a go at him I wasn’t it was he’s statement that a hardcore fan could walk away. I just don’t think they can I know I can’t and what I’ve read from all of Adams posts I don’t think he could ether.
Ginge – It is funny you should mention Pompey as I think they have the best supporters (not fans). Even when their team is being trounced, they are still in there chanting and chearing their team on. Alas, I think they may be a dying breed.
CG, Natural wasteage all clubs lose st holders every year thats why theres a waiting list. sometimes a batch of supporters pack up together and one would natrally think theres a problem. When we buy the players we need which i think we will those seats that look empty will fill up pretty quick
Gonerjoe – I can`t and wont speak for Adam, but things can get a bit testy at times on here, yet civility does prevail. That is why many of us are on here regularly, even ones like me who seem to be swimming against the current of popular opinion at times.
Lets face it going to the match is not cheap nowadays and if you live some distance even dearer, I have noticed that when i go it seems to be dearer every time thats why i’m glad that television covers most Arsenal Games plus we have guys and gals on here that often posts a link should it not be. Blinding
G joe. Adam has purchased 2 season tickets for him and his Mrs he wont be going anywhere mate.
He’s one that will still be making comments when he’s in his box
SP1
That’s good because I never said he would I just disagreed with statement on hardcore fans.
Mrs has just gone up and gave me a wink so its good night from me as well thank you for all yor feedback nighty night 🙂
The statement
Steve – Some good may come from it. Maybe you`ll get that call and before the season starts and you`ll be a new season ticket holder for the new season.
Anyway, I have things to do. So, I will bid you all a good night fellow Gooners.
Keep the Faith!
I think you are a bit harsh on Adam… I don’t know him personally and I guess we have our difference in opinion but I gather him, kev and Lee go to most of the games so it takes a bit of dedication.. some fans/supporters wear their heart on their sleeves so in my view it is not a measure of love or loyalty… 😉
Night Cg, SP1, Gj and Agag…
same time same topic of discussion plus a 3-1 win ove
3-1 win over the oilers… it should read
FA now wants the 2022 world cup played in the winter. Good night all.
Just because you, or any supporter of any club, gives up their season ticket, that action doesn’t mean they are less of a fan than someone else…
There are supporters on here, who have never had and probably never will have, season tickets.
Does that make them lesser fans?
People’s circumstances change, be they personal or maybe in employment terms.
We all have decisions to make in terms of how and where we spend our disposable income.
Value for money obviously comes into those decisions…
Currantly, are Arsenal value for money?
Does our manager go out every season, with his priority being to give the fans what they want?
As Ferguson always did for the ManUre fans…
Or is he more interested in his own personal crusades?
That is to prove a point and win either the EPL or CL on the cheap?
That’s me done, night Gooners…
Morning Lee
Despite what the club say
I would think the waiting list has been pretty much decimated.I know two people that put unborn children on the list expecting a longish wait , that have had the offer this time.
Moaning Kev and moaning Housers!
8-2 today would be handy today! 😉 Arsene may do another supermarket sweep?!?! 😆
Morning Lee, Potter and all…
Not if it gets us another Park and Santos….
I think the cupboard may well be bare now though , just the broken boxes and dented tins.
Morning all, Talk is that the desert world cup is maybe being switched to the winter where premier league fixtures will be thrown up in the air. Blatter and his cronies should be made to hand their brown envelopes back and resign.
For the life of me I cannot understand why we’ve been so inactive in the transfer market?!?! The squad is weaker than last season and we’ve done sweet f.a about it……beggar’s belief! The Emirates will be a frosty stadium.
Forgive me for asking Lee but where are we weaker
Dented tins full of broken biscuits ….
Exactly, we have had the clear-out, now we need to replace a few otherwise our squad is going to remain very very fragile…
Morning Sp
Just to take the opposite position in the interest of debate , Nigel Winterburn repeated on the radio yesterday that in contract negotiations Wenger highlights who he wants and the money men are left to deal with the agents. Then of course he had Dein but could it be that Gazidis and Law despite their bluster are actually not very good at negotiation.To be fair the extra £1 was an insult and a reasonable increase on the supposed buy out clause might have been received better and not put their backs up so much. After all both sides want to save face if they had not antagonised so much, chances are we might have got an agreement.We should have got Stan to have a yankee word with Henry and reached a deal around £44 to 45 million.
Morning Rico Potter and anybody else thats viewing. To be quite honst i felt that Manchester United’s bid for Van Persie was a derogatory Bid but we accepted it. A 30 goal a season player and it proved he was with his tally last season when Torres went for 0 mill. When you bid you offer what you believe the player is worth and of course if you can get it cheaper you do.
50 million 🙂
£41 million would have made more sense…
Sp, for a guy into his last year of contract and considering his age, I thought it was a fair price tbh…
Morning all,
Your point at 9:16 is what I also both Tom Fox and AW have said in the past but a lot of people believe the opposite so…
It is funny how the likes of Robson and Wright say everything is to do with AW but on the other side od the fence Keown, Parlour and Winterburn are stating things as they are. I know who I will believe.
Bet this will make you play well, lads! Leading Dutch club offer car wash by bikini beauties as man-of-the-match award.
New post up now…
Thats what i like about this site Rico we dont all have to agree 🙂
Switzerland apologises to Oprah Winfrey for “terribly wrong” treatment in handbag shopping racism row
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/#ixzz2bYLyNA2U
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
🙂 Sp…
Morning all.