Not a lot today other than Cesc says the Premiership is the best league in the world, Clichy says we can still win the league and we’re being linked to defender Zapata, midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic and young Palace kid Sean Scannell, whoever they are, frankly I don’t care who they are if I’ve never heard of them.
Gallas says he has no friends at Arsenal save Theo Walcott, then went on to name the entire Chelsea squad as mates, but the translation could mean he was referring to only English kids so his options were limited.
I say time for Billy to go, he’s now in his 30’s and I really don’t think the captaincy has proved to be the Wenger masterstroke the ‘Arsene knows’ brigade had hoped for, but the season isn’t over yet so we’ll wait and see.
To all those out there that believe in all things Arsene, and yesterday there weren’t that many let me tell you what we said and what we didn’t say.
1) Nobody has said we think he should go
2) Nobody has said he is a bad manager
3) Everyone loves him and what he has done for the club
4) What we are saying is he has got it wrong, the squad is too small and too young, by bringing in fresh faces it will do the team good and give the supporters a lift.
Vieira said it, Henry said it, Gallas said it, Freddie said it, and we’re saying it, so we can’t all be wrong, can we?
It must also be said that George Graham, with less money also achieved quite a lot, Arsene isn’t the only manager that has done something great for Arsenal, we are all Arsenal fans first, this is not the Arsene Wenger show, it’s the Arsenal one, please remember that, also we have done more for Arsene’s career that anyone so let’s not forget that either.
So the message for todays ‘Arsene knows’ lovers is this, we love our manager and don’t want him to change or leave, just spend some of our money on a few world class players, you can start with Benzema, Quaresma and Ben Arfa if you want, if that doesn’t work out I will personally prostate myself outside your office with this blog rolled up and jammed up my arse, but please stop buying kids that you have no idea how they’ll turn out.
And if you do (like Theo) then play them, they have to be better than Eboue.
Have a great day Grovers and prepare to vomit when overrated Beckham gets his 100 cap tonight and joins the immortals.
He should have stopped at 50 and this circus would have stopped with it years ago.
Good to see Capello dropping big dim cheat Terry but strange to see he promoted drug taking Ferdinand as an example to the kids.
March 26, 2008 at 9:38 am
May I ask why you want Quaresma? He’s a showboater with not much end product. Not a great player to have in hard Premier league conditions.
March 26, 2008 at 9:44 am
“And if you do (like Theo) then play them, they have to be better than Eboue.”
Oh finally I’m not alone in thinking that Eboue is a pile of tosh on the right wing then!!!
March 26, 2008 at 9:44 am
He’s a super player, he was rated higher than Ronaldo back in the day… another show boater!
He has come on leaps and bounds since going back to Porto, and he is a pure winger. He would be ideal if he could start banging them in. I think he’s scored 5 this year?
Still, Ronaldo wasn’t scoring 30 goals a season at Sporting, Nor Freddie at Halmstaads… nor Thierry at Juve.
Great post today Geoff, very funny!
March 26, 2008 at 9:45 am
Why have a title that Gallas has no friends when you know that it was a misquote?
I really like some of your articles but maybe you should look at how poo Toure has been in 2008 before asking for Gallas to be replaced.
And Beakham overrated? Who would you have had instead of him then? His assists and goals for England speak for themselves.
Plus you’re living in dreamland if you think Wenger will buy Benzema or anyone worth over 12 million. He’s going senile quicker than old red nose.
March 26, 2008 at 9:48 am
Don’t agree with you about the Gallas comment. He’s been a success as captain in my eyes and I’d like to see him stay. I think it’s pretty obvious that he was asked about which of the English players at Arsenal he is friends with - and as you say the only English fellows are youngsters who would hardly be best mates with a 30+ year old.
It’s funny, I thought your article was going to be something like mine today with the headline you ran - funny how different people interpret things.
March 26, 2008 at 9:49 am
Zapata is a class player and exactly what we need.
The reason that Senderos has been kept by Wenger is that he is good in the air and in the Premiership that is a great asset. The problem is that the CL and the big Prem games (There is no way Wenger would have played him against Drogba unless there was no one else) he isn’t up to it.
Toure and Gallas are too small 6 ‘0 and 5 ‘11 to deal with the type of football on Sunday, look at most of the goals conceeded this season and will because of their lack of height or Senderos lack of pace.
Zapata has done very well for Udinese and is someone who could easily fit into our team.
Add a winger, Ben Afra would be perfect.
March 26, 2008 at 9:49 am
good morning grovers!
pedro, can u put the chelsea run in on the side bar for our reference, i had to look at chelseas website last night and i still feel ill after it, i did notice the reserve team we put out to DRAW with them, never heard of any of the chelsea boys but song traore the hoyte sisters and a couple of others played, not a good sign.
but i did perk up when i looked at the chelsea run in and i am not all doom and gloom today a lot depends on saturday, (i know we say that every week) but our title apspirations always meant beatin man u so assuming we still do that this title is still not over,
March 26, 2008 at 9:51 am
i think we should sign david villa, hatem ben arfa and cristian zapata and thats it and we will have a really strong squad.
we should be able to compete on all honours with them 3 players
March 26, 2008 at 9:53 am
franny, the jury is still out for gallas, toure has loyalty from most supporters, untill he fucks up of course!
March 26, 2008 at 9:56 am
Top post Geoff. A point I was trying to make yesterday.
I Love Arsene Wenger. He is a superb manager. That said, if the club want us to fork out more money per game than any other club in the world then we expect the odd super signing.
That Gallas thing was lost in translation as he was commenting on the upcoming England v France game, not on who his friends were. He mentioned that at Chelsea it was good to catch up with Terry, Lumplard, Bridge and SWP.
March 26, 2008 at 9:57 am
the mirror are being very respectful to do do and arsenal, is that a first?
March 26, 2008 at 10:10 am
Morning chaps,
Good post Geoff, drawing a line under the comments made yesterday was a good touch, and you’re right we support Arsenal FC not AW!
If AW is to break the habit of a life time and buys accomplished players in the summer, I hope he does it before the Euros when values will shoot up based on 2,3 half decent performances! Unless he buys South American and English!
Question is what English players would we want, the ones that are available that is!
Anyone else hoping Theo gets 10-15 minutes tonight for England? That’ll be the only reason I’ll be watching, and not to see that twat get 100 caps!
March 26, 2008 at 10:12 am
I hope Bentley has a blinder and he doesn’t get off the bench, that’d make me laugh.
I was slightly surprised with Geoff’s change of stance, isn’t he usually an ardent Beckham lover?
March 26, 2008 at 10:13 am
I agree with a lot of what you’ve said but just because you’ve not heard of them doesn’t mean that they’re bad players does it ? Had you heard much about Sagna a year ago ? Unless you’re an expert on Ligue 1 I’d guess not but what a player he’s been for us this season. It could certainly be argued that most of Wenger’s most disappointing signings have been those that have come in with a big reputation like Wiltord, Reyes and even arguably Gallas.
Also, I know I’m being pedantic but if you’re going to laud Vieira for his comments then at least spell his name correctly.
March 26, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hi, back from a cold but sunny Italy, and I take full responsibility from the Chelski fiasco…. I left my lucky scarf at home. I know it was dumb, and I apologise wholeheartedly.
March 26, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hiya Raddy. I wondered where you’d got to.
March 26, 2008 at 10:17 am
It is spelt correctly?
Yeah, Geoff… I thought you loved Becks? haha!
Chris, what do you mean about the chelsea thing in the side bar?
I don’t think it means they are bad players, but it would be nice to actually sign a player we all knew was a good player!
I guess the only thing I can say in defence of of the Zubachavic is that we didn’t know about Vidic and Serbia are a good team theses days.
I don’t quite share the same disdain for Gallas as you Geoff. Big Phil and Willy G worked well… maybe we can put Kolo at right back while Sagna gets fit?
March 26, 2008 at 10:21 am
I don’t see him mention anywhere that they’re bad players itsupforgrabsnow. I think he was merely pointing out that he found it quite difficult to comment on any of them as he hadn’t heard of them.
March 26, 2008 at 10:24 am
As to buying big name players,; well part from DB10 and WG (oh and Sol), tell me a WORLD class player at the time Arsenal signed them, since the 60’s (Alan Ball).
It just isn’t going to happen. Though I agree that we desperately need some more depth in the squad, we have been unfortunate with injuries during the season.
Will Vela be the ‘real deal’? Will Merida ? Can the Bendtster really step up? AW obviously thinks so..
March 26, 2008 at 10:27 am
Eboue can go back to RB cant he? At least until he moves to Juve or Real or whoever the hell he claims wants to buy him!!
On the long run if Flam does leave, there’s no harm in moving Kolo into centre mid where he can make his trademark runs with much more ease, and move Big Phil back to CB.
March 26, 2008 at 10:29 am
Or does he raddy… confirming admiration for great players yesterday would indicate maybe he is changing his stance!
I don’t want £30 million players… I’d just like a few more signings in the mould of Robert Pires (24), Freddie Ljungberg (23) and Marc Overmars (25). All established players for there clubs when we signed them.
We should be competing for the Essien’s and the Tevez’s of this world.
Oh, and welcome back Raddy… still no bud though? I’m thinking of starting disciplinary proceedings. He gets Le Champ once and now he’s too big for Le Grove… his attitude stinks of Adebayor…
March 26, 2008 at 10:29 am
Thing is though Raddy, Man Ure and Chavski have also had big injuries and been able to cope because their managers are fully aware that to win the league you need 16 world class players. Beyond our first 12 we are into a pool of players who are either past it or not ready for it.
March 26, 2008 at 10:31 am
I don’t think Kolo is adept at linking up with the Fab. He just isn’t sharp enough. As a defensive shiled sure he could play CM, but Flam is a quality player in this position and I do not believe Kolo would be. Should Flam leave, Denilson may well be the answer. He is still growing as a player.
Though I would prefer Essien to join WG !!
March 26, 2008 at 10:33 am
Gallas has no friends off the pitch either if you go by the remarks from Gunners all over. He is NOT and NEVER will be a real AFC man. He is a loud mouth and has little respect for the AFC way. He belonged with Chelski and given hlaf a chance would go back like a shot. I for one would welcome it immediately. He is vastly over rated as a centre back . Big Tony & Steveie B, must be sick of seeing the amount of high balls he buggers up . If you just add up the points we have dropped which were 100% down to his mistakes this year it is shocking, its around 14 !! If Arsene wants his great squad tto actually win something again he must make the defence airtight as per George G……..if he had done that when Tony retired we would have had at least another two titles and probably 3 cups…….PLUS the best squad ever.
As for the rumours…yes we read them all and pray that at least one is true, but they never are. I remeber reading 18 months ago in the French press that AW wanted the unknown Benzema and could have got him and Arfa for £8 mill the pair. As usual he wanted then for £1 mill each….now they will sell to the Manures and Chelskis and Spanish for £20 mill each………says it all.
Sadly I see us yet again and for the foreseeable future ending the season as the best footballing side to finish second or third every year.
March 26, 2008 at 10:34 am
Well said Steve,. We need a larger squad. Investment in youth is all very well but these ‘transitional ‘ years are painful.
Roll on 2010..
March 26, 2008 at 10:36 am
thank god at least someone agrees that our George Graham was as successful or even more than Mr Wenger.Can the current group of wenger produce a night like Anfield 1989.please I don’t want to hear about beautiful football anymore.I need trophies every season.To hell with wenger’s beautiful football which brings us misery every season.Wenger gave me more disappointments than happiness.By the way he won his seven trophies because of some world class players.Give half of those players to Graham and Iam sure we will win something every year.
March 26, 2008 at 10:37 am
yeah what’s up with Bud?! And our old mate Ray the swedish gooner?! Unless of course they are one and the same as previously claimed by Bud!
Kolo started his arsenal career in that position and he did a more than decent job, so I wouldnt be worried if he got moved forward. Don’t think Denilson’s got the defensive know how to do the same though, nor would say Diaby.
Now if Essien did decide he’d had enough of being 4th/5th choice with the chavs, well!
March 26, 2008 at 10:44 am
He should sign Benzema and Arfa in a secret deal before the chavs and mancs do, eboue is just a right back and not a bad one, but not a winger.
All those players that left last season, I forgot to mention Ralph, now there was a player.
March 26, 2008 at 10:45 am
The dirty bastard is probably attempting to get Le Champ award at some other site. What’s the odds on a picture of him with Princess Ann saying ‘Up Le Arse’ appearing on a rival site? Fucking mercenaries are everywhere.
March 26, 2008 at 10:46 am
I loved Ralphie and his mad eyes.
He looked fucking mental that day at O.T.
March 26, 2008 at 10:46 am
I just emailed bud and told he was a lightweight blogger!
March 26, 2008 at 10:50 am
Queresma is a good thought. Whats his price tag roughly? Oh, and how about Nasri. Hes pretty good….
March 26, 2008 at 10:51 am
All three AW title winning teams had Vieira didnt they?
March 26, 2008 at 10:52 am
Sorry asked that bcos having an arsenal conversation in office with a chap who claims he wasnt in the last one.
March 26, 2008 at 10:54 am
pedro, in the Gooners V’s Mancs side bar, i.e. the run in, its a handy visual aid for what might be!
March 26, 2008 at 10:56 am
He fucking was me old china. The fact he scored in the game that clinched it should give the game away.
March 26, 2008 at 11:00 am
That’s what I thought!!!! Cheers pal! 2-2 shyte hart lane the mad german gives away a pen in the last minute, all coming back to me now! I’ve just won myself a pint, ha ha!
March 26, 2008 at 11:03 am
Pedro- Ljungberg, established before he came to arsenal???
Not likely.
I know where we are lacking, and tbh I think Wenger does too, but he’s not just going to start spouting off about how he needs to bring in at least 3 new faces in the summer now is he? That would completely wreck the confidence of the team.
And he’s a sly fox- he’s got people lined up don’t you worry.
And I don’t see anyone complaining about the signing of Sagna last summer.
He signs WORLD CLASS PLAYERS WITHOUT WORLD CLASS NAMES.
Vela will be qualiteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and i’ve been hearing v v promising things about Nordveit from the reserves, so maybe he will be our 4th CB…
Even if flam leaves we’ve got Diaby and Song waiting in the wings as well.
Benzema will never happen. Ben Arfa maybe 10% more likely but still doubt it.
And despite what everyone is saying, Beckham has my utmost respect. A top class professional. You have to respect him (if only for his Greece free-kick) and he deserves the 100. But that’s it after, time for him to move on.
March 26, 2008 at 11:05 am
Chipo… I meant 23 and a grown man type of thing. A ready made player instead of a kid.
Ljungberg ripped England apart and we snapped him up.
We say Wenger has players lined up every year… he never does!
March 26, 2008 at 11:10 am
Of course he does!
He’s got his little minion Gilles Grimandi sniffing around all the little kiddies
March 26, 2008 at 11:10 am
I watched a bit of the rezzies v’s the Chavs and Nordveit and Song were outstanding. Doesn’t mean they are ready for regular first team football does it?? The bitch’s team has won every fucking game but would you call Julie fucking Fleeting into the first team??
March 26, 2008 at 11:11 am
Screw the unknowns we should sign top players not sperm donors, give me someone who’s ready now, how many IVF’s do the chavs or the Mancs sign, eh?
As for Beckham Chipo, what about being sent off and costing us against Argentina? jumping out of a tackle against Brazil and scuffing a penalty against Portugal? I used to go to England games before that self obsessed cunt came along.
He was more interested in his haircut than in the team, Since he’s been around we’ve gone down the shitter, 1 free kick and it got us a draw at Old Trafford against Greece! Fuck me!
Give me an Adams, Butcher or Robson any day.
March 26, 2008 at 11:12 am
I have seen abit of Kuzmanovic. He is a very promising player. Central midfield player with skill + a good shot. Very similar to Aquilani who we were linked with. Maybe a cheaper option. Fiorentina play a very similar style of football to us.
March 26, 2008 at 11:13 am
Let’s hear some starting line-ups for next season—
—–Frey(?)——- happy with Almunia but think we could do better…
Sagna–Toure–Gallas–Clichy — quality 4, just need more depth…
Rosicky— Flam/Diaby — Cesc —- Hleb — obv Rosicky wont be fit so Vela.
—–RvP——-Ade——- Hard pressed to change that front 2
Theo, Vela, Song all v close to starts too
p.s. what the hell has happened to Denilson??????
March 26, 2008 at 11:13 am
Steve,what not even Faye White?
March 26, 2008 at 11:16 am
Geoff, fair game mate, i never said i liked the guy, just respect him.
As far as i’m concerned this is his last game for ENG and i’m glad it’s all over, but he deserved the 100.
March 26, 2008 at 11:16 am
Yeh maybe stick Faye White on the bench
March 26, 2008 at 11:19 am
Chipo, there is noway on the face of God’s earth David Beckham can be mentioned in the same breath as the other 100 caps+ gang - Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton,Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton!!!
That’s what annoys me about the whole ”he’s joining the elite 100 club crap!”
March 26, 2008 at 11:21 am
I remember after the last home game last season the bird team all walked round with their trophies and there were a couple of hotties amongst them. The rest looked like Russian bodybuilding dykes after a hormone replacement frenzy.
March 26, 2008 at 11:28 am
Right, I am back, but I expect after what you arte about to read, you would rather I went again, but here goes…..
I LOVE GALLAS……….. SIMPLE AS THAT !
He only says and reacts as us supporters do………. so he is emotional and does stupid things, don’t we when we have lost or dropped points where we shouldn’t?
Didn’t Theo need a kick up the arse? (I remember all of us saying he was shit and not what we thought he’d be and had no tricks and was predictable)…… hold on, isn’t that what Gallas said !!!!
Didn’t we all sit in silent solace after drawing with Birmingham to a last minute goal from a fucking stupid mistake and have that feeling compounded with the injury to Eduardo?
Don’t we all thing we need some big players to complement our “young” (not so fucking young anymore if honest!!!) squad ?
And if you want a captain to be nice to a bunch of under performing players that are throwing away our chances of glory, you are all fucking mad !!!
And I know Gallas has made a few errors, but no more than anyone else. If you are a Manager at work and you make a mistake, it doesn’t mean you have to stop managing your team !!!!!!!
And before all you lot start giving it the “Gallas is Captain and not a supporter and should act more responsibly, I have 2 words “FUCK OFF”. I would give anything for Ade to have the passion of Gallas, I would give anything for our midfield to show the pain he shows !!!!!!!!!!
Arsenal’s problem is not Gallas and to really spit in the eye of the Arsene Knows brigade, I do not believe it is the defence, I honestly believe it is every other area but the defence………… our midfield is nothing better than average AT THE MOMENT and our forward line, Ade in particular, is fucking lazy and useless…….. our problem is GOALS…….. if we score more than the opposition, we win, it’s simple. We score a couple and the oppositions heads drop, we score 2 goals and if the opposition get 1 back, we are still winning……….. you do not need to be a mathematician for fucks sake……..
Another thing, our midfield and forwards are losing the ball too much, our defence is put under pressure too much……….. if you throw a ball at a hoop 10 times, you are gonna get it in more times than if you throw it twice !!!!!
I think Wenger is a Cop-Out for blaming the defence, when goals is the problem, he just does not want to admit his tight arsed lack of movement in the market for a good Winger or 2 and another striker has cost us the league………. It is all Wengers fault, not William Gallas’s, and people need to start seeing that and soon !!!!!!
March 26, 2008 at 11:29 am
Yeah they aint in the team for their looks mate! Saw White play for England for 60 odd minutes with a broken nose last season! nice!!
March 26, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hey Bud you don’t like him in an unnatural way do you?
And wasn’t he the one that said we have no ambition so Wenger made him captain as a reward, then he shut the fuck up? or am I imagining that?
March 26, 2008 at 11:35 am
Hmmmmm, mature answer to a reasoned argument !!!!
March 26, 2008 at 11:37 am
So is that a yes?
March 26, 2008 at 11:43 am
I’d suggest part of the problem with Arsene not signing big names may be a habit he’’s built up since the Highbury days when money was tighter.
He had no option but to buy on the cheap and develop potential. Now we are told the funds are available he perhaps has trouble changing his mindset and because he has total control over all football matters no one dares to suggest an alternative.
Is the same situation occurring at The Theatre of Snores with ‘ole 65% proof nose ?
My opinion is that he has failed to address our lack of depth repeatedly and to a degree even taking into account unforseeable events such as Eduardo’s disasterous day at St. Andrew’s.
On another note I’m quite hacked off that Adebayor started against the Chav’s. For FS it’s blatant to anyone above the age of 6 that his form has gone down the pan and he’s been strolling in the comfort zone for weeks.
And the hell was the point in bringing on Bendtner for the last 2 minutes? Tactical nous - I don’t bloody think so.
March 26, 2008 at 11:46 am
Aguero For Arsenal.
I Can’t Wait For Vela and Cunt Eboue To Go To Juventus.
March 26, 2008 at 11:51 am
iqwoo, i take it you mean you cant wait for vela to return? give the kid a chance
March 26, 2008 at 12:14 pm
To say GG achieved a lot with little money is quite irrelevant in reality. At that time, there was no monsterous transfer budgets for any team. GG was not competing against oligarchs et al. It was a totally different era, an era where wenger would have done incredibily well in. Pure management as opposed to the Playstation type Championship Manager that exists in the real world now. By that i mean… its not that diffiucult to build a supreme squad if you are handed a blank chequebook.
Wenger is a stubborn man, but i really think the shackles on his transfer budget have been firmly on for tha past 4 seasons and they are clearly coming off this summer. He is not the type to stab his employers in the back and moan about lack of funds. He has a certain class about him.
Never forget AW has more intelligence than every other manager in the league, if we end up potless again this year, he will spend. But at least the kis can say he gave them every chance to perform with having to buy in made players. He stuck by his squad when many a top manager in his position would have blown 20-30 large in the january window.
Lets give him a litle credit. Form is temporary, CLASS is permanent.
March 26, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Our downhill slide did not begin at Birmingham, it began when Ade cut his hair. Since then his form, and the team’s in general, has gone down the pan.
Bring back the corn rows please Ade!
March 26, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Stupid is right.
Stupid is not stupid.
Neither is Arsene
March 26, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Stupid, that simply is not true.
He has had a huge financial backing over the last 4 seasons. You only have to look at the annual reports to see it.
It is fact that he has been cash rich for a long time, every summer the board have to come out and defend themselves against the press who claim they are skint.
Wenger doesn’t spend through choice. We have a cash surplus of 70 million this year, last year it was 60 million… etc. The board were not as restricted as they originally though, mainly due the the increase in property prices… and the potential sell off of the Highbury flats.
Wenger is an intelligent guy, but no one ever gave a team a trophy for having a manager who is fluent in 9 languages, or has 3 degrees in economics. We are a classy outfit, lets back that class with some trophies.
I am sure he will revert back to how he used to do it… youth mixed with experience.
March 26, 2008 at 12:43 pm
when do the clocks change in the UK?
March 26, 2008 at 12:48 pm
this weekend.
March 26, 2008 at 12:52 pm
THis coming Sunday Choy
March 26, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I think Beckhan should get is 100 and then Fuck off cos if he doesnt the story will just run and run and run every time there is an England game .Any way apparantly he is gonna purchase galaxy when his curent contract finishes so that should keep him busy over there
Big Raddy you do have to keep blogging please cos during your absences -it aint been good
Hope Theo does well tonite anything to finally bring him up to speed -and fingers crossed -no injuries
Pedro yout point of youth combined with experience is well made .I also like the point about getting the type of players you described in your 11.29 post -in other words strengthening the team as emphasised by Big raddy . I think the one off mega bucks superstar is too high risk cos of injuries - just going off the boil -and private life ego tripping stuff and there are many examples of that around
March 26, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I was just wondering if any Arsenal fans know if we have signed Yoan Gouffran.On wikipedia and a few other sites it says we have signed him and he will come to us in the summer.I don’t know if any of these are true or not.
Which two of this players would you pick?………………………
1.Hatem Ben Arfa
2.Benzema
3.Quaresma
4.Micah Richards
5.Zdravko Kuzmanovic
6.Yoan Gouffran
7.Robinho
8.Nikolay Dimitrov
9.Cristian Zapata
10.Bafetimbi Gomis
11.Gio Dos Santos
12.Samir Nasri
March 26, 2008 at 1:33 pm
wenger must know that a small squad that has very inexperienced fringe players is not as good as a large squad with more experienced fringe players. the latter gives you more chance of winning trophies. So why would he prefer to not spend money that has been there for quite a while in preference he collects a load of unproven and undeveloped kids. It is his vision and he is being stubborn but he is playing with OUR club. this is the club we fund via season ticket money. wenger needs to get in the real world and compromise a little bit. the premier league is one of the hardest in the world to win. he is a great manager but it seems as if he is needlessly trying to win it with one arm tied behind his back. All very noble if you do win but when you go 4 years without a trophy you start thinking why on earth aren’t we buying one or two super class players with the £70m we have. thats all we need - two big signings.
March 26, 2008 at 1:33 pm
When George Graham was about, Liverpool and ManU were the oligarchs, fuck me Ferdinand cost £28mil as did Veron, and the Mancs bought those two before Abromovich came along.
It’s bollocks to say that we have the most intelligent manager as allowing Flamini to be in this situation to me is stupid, and as far as stupid goes, he told us ages ago that stupid is what stupid does, his words not mine.
Pick the bones out of that one.
March 26, 2008 at 1:52 pm
where did arsenal get carlos vela from ,is he loaned?
March 26, 2008 at 1:53 pm
i read arsenal sign yoan gourffan if he is there we have 5 fowards and carlos vela ??
March 26, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Welcome back Bud.
Geoff, Man.United have always spent loads of cash. It ceased a little when they had that amazing flock come through i.e Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt, Sharp etc (notice I missed the Neville cunts?), but that was done on a sound financial footing because they generated loads of cash through having the largest support and being a global brand. We are now in a position to do that although it was inevitable it would take some years to catch up. This was my point yesterday, we as a club still have the small club mentality and if we’re ever going to be considered with the elite we have to drop that mindset.
The fans have it and the management have it. How many times have you heard Wenger say that he lost interest in a player he was looking at signing because Man Yoo were in for him?
As I have said many times, if the club are expecting 60,000 fans to pay top dollar week in week out then they’ll have to delve into the coffers and buy some big names. It’d be very interesting to see our hardcore support if the wheels came off. I went to the Arsenal in the early-mid eighties and it was around 26,000 for shitty games.
.
March 26, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Carlos Vela was bought from Celta Vigo and is on loan at Osasuna.
March 26, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I have wankers claw after all that typing.
Stop provoking me.
March 26, 2008 at 1:59 pm
geoff…i assume you are joking about veron and ferdinand?
in case you are not, gg was sacked back in jan 1995
veron and ferdinand were purchased long long after gg.
in the days of gg ( 1986-1995 ) what was the biggest money purchase by manure and liverpool please geofff?
March 26, 2008 at 2:01 pm
ok thanks
March 26, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Stupid, I didn’t say in the days of GG, someone said that no one spent big before Abramovich came along, I said bollocks ManU and Liverpool did long before. Hence Veron and Ferdinand.
Vela was bought from Gaudalahara or someone in Mexico by us and we loaned him to Celta Vigo, then Salamanca then Osasuna, now his 3 years are up he’ll get his Spanish passport and come to us.
March 26, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Don’t live up to your moniker stupid.
March 26, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Geoff Says:
March 26, 2008 at 1:33 pm
When George Graham was about, Liverpool and ManU were the oligarchs, fuck me Ferdinand cost £28mil as did Veron, and the Mancs bought those two before Abromovich came along.
—-
are you sure geoff? cos the first line of your post above does not back this up
March 26, 2008 at 2:06 pm
didnt gg break the record for a goalkeeper, seaman 1.3m- and british transfer record for wright, 2.5m?
March 26, 2008 at 2:06 pm
nice touch steve
March 26, 2008 at 2:07 pm
havent seen anything anywhere re the gourffan story, any sources quoted or is it the sun again?!
March 26, 2008 at 2:09 pm
FYG Man Yoo have always bought the best players from around the league. They were never put off by transfer fees or wages. Stapleton, McGrath, Pallister, Ince, Robson, Keane Cantona, Saha, Van Horseycunt, Veron, ferdinand, Rooney the list of players they have purchased at the highest price because at the time they were the best in the business is endless.
March 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm
How many players have we bought that were doing very well at the top level and we’ve literally forced the club to sell?
March 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Who can actually put a figure to the biggest transfer fee outlay by Arsenal, Manure and Liverpool during the gadaffi era please?
You may be very surprsied.
March 26, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Only kidding stupid, I get provocative when bored
March 26, 2008 at 2:14 pm
no problem steve.
March 26, 2008 at 2:15 pm
thanks mike and odub.. at last we get to watch the games a bit earlier.
March 26, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Stupid said this
To say GG achieved a lot with little money is quite irrelevant in reality. At that time, there was no monsterous transfer budgets for any team. GG was not competing against oligarchs et al.
I said
ManU were spending huge amounts before Abromovich came, I cited Veron and Ferdinand, I also said that Liverpool and ManU were doing it large in George’s day.
March 26, 2008 at 2:18 pm
choy, are you in Asia?
Just guessing, not being presuptuous or anything.
March 26, 2008 at 2:19 pm
*presumptuous
March 26, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Stupid you obv know the answer so why dont u just fkin say it and save us the time & effort! =]
March 26, 2008 at 2:21 pm
geoff, in your post at 133pm
you say in the days of GG, manure and lpool were the oligarchs…. how so?
how much more than us did they spend, with their oligarch status back then?
again… you will be very surprised.
March 26, 2008 at 2:22 pm
God, this is like trying to guess why the missus has got the fucking hump….
March 26, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Well I can end this now by proving you wrong stupid. £30 million for Veron, why? because he’s the most expensive player bought by one of those clubs and Gadaffi is still in power.
The reason I say they were Oligarchs is they were the ones who spent money we could only dream of.
March 26, 2008 at 2:25 pm
lol, geoff gadaffi as in GG
March 26, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Steve..
Me “ok, what’s wrong ?”
Missus “nothing”
Me “but it’s obviously something”
Missus”well if you don’t know it’s your fault”
Me “so what is it ?”
Missus” nothing”
and so on…ad nauseum
I’ve been there loads of times : (
March 26, 2008 at 2:26 pm
AGAIN
gg left in 1995
veron signed back in july 2001
March 26, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Was it because you came home pissed again Steve?
March 26, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I wasn’t talking about George Graham, I was talking about pre Abramovich, I’m not saying it again, if you want to ask me the same question, go and look at the previous 15 answers I gave you.
March 26, 2008 at 2:29 pm
lol @ Steve
Slightly off topic, but just wondering what you (mostly intelligent!) people think about the fact that Israel are currently in the European section for World Cups and the Euros, whereas its border countries like Jordan and Syria have to qualify via the Asian route…. Surely it would be more beneficial for Israel to play in Asian qualifying, as they would have a better chance of making it, or do you think it is a move from FIFA to avoid potential security issues?
March 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Geoff Says:
March 26, 2008 at 1:33 pm
When George Graham was about, Liverpool and ManU were the oligarchs
——–
so you did not post this at 133pm today geoff?
March 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Yes steve.. Indian gooner .. hehe…
March 26, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Possibly Geoff.
charybdis, it’s a conversation repeated in households all over the world constantly.
March 26, 2008 at 2:36 pm
chipo, why the fuck are they in the eurovision song contest while you are at it!
March 26, 2008 at 2:37 pm
notts forest spent more than manure and liverpool during the GG era btw.
March 26, 2008 at 2:38 pm
chipo, it’s a major gripe of mine. Israel is Asia, end of. The fact that they play in European competition and are even in the fucking eurovision is a cop out from all concerned. Asia don’t want them so fuck you is the general consensus.
March 26, 2008 at 2:40 pm
chipo,
here is some “facts” about the isreal question
http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isra-intres.html
March 26, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Forgot about Eurovision, now i’m even more annoyed! It just seems completely and utterly unfair to me…
Great article just out on VitalArsenal: http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=505246
And Stupid you’re like a fkin stuck record mate GET OVER IT
March 26, 2008 at 2:44 pm
ok, lets all miss the point.
and kiss arse to keep the peace.
lol
March 26, 2008 at 2:44 pm
chipo, the fuckin won it once, remember dana international
March 26, 2008 at 2:46 pm
haha yeh the tranny? classic.
chris all that link does is chart the history, it never actually explains WHY the switch was suddenly made from Asia to European qualifying?
March 26, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Trying to forget chris.
March 26, 2008 at 2:47 pm
i’ve been away for about 30 minutes, come back and we’re now on the flipping eurovision song contest!!! That slow a day is it?! As long as we don’t start discussing Terry Wogan’s dodgy voice overs we’re good!
March 26, 2008 at 2:48 pm
You can’t say tranny in this day and age. Or baldy.
It’s folically challenged and bollockly challenged.
There, much more p.c.
March 26, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Steve I’m bald and I prefer cue ball sod folically challenged!
March 26, 2008 at 2:54 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_national_football_team#cite_note-0
i should have just checked wiki in teh first place
or
http://eng.football.org.il/Association/AboutAssociation/Pages/default.aspx
has anyone seen teh irish eurovision entry, you will!
March 26, 2008 at 2:55 pm
awaiting moderation, i’m a fucking regular you fuckers, is there a cunt fest going on pedro/geoff, do share!
March 26, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Chipo, the way I read the link was that the Arab-Moslem bloc ousted Israel from the Asian Fed. Presumably they joined the European Fed as the only alternative open ot them.
March 26, 2008 at 3:01 pm
just seen this on arsenal.com:
“Despite injury, Tomas Rosicky has been chosen for the Czech squad that travels to Denmark for a match on March 26.”
What the fuck?
How is this allowed to happen?
March 26, 2008 at 3:04 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_national_football_team#cite_note-0
March 26, 2008 at 3:05 pm
They get their own physio to tell him his injured.
Cunts.
Odub, is that why you never remove the hat?
March 26, 2008 at 3:13 pm
That beggars belief!! How have AFC as a whole allowed him travel to fuck knows where to do fuck knows what?!! And RVP has also been called up, 3 weeks after returning! Be prepared for more injuries by the end of tonight guys! Apparently France are playing 2 games AGAIN, which means all our french lads will probably play! Great!
Steve, only way I can keep the cranium warm!
March 26, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Where do all you lads sit at Emirates?
Im block 8 behind the goal, row 18
March 26, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I’m only a red member so I could end up being anywhere - if I can get a ticket at all. Looks like it won’t be again till next season though.
March 26, 2008 at 3:28 pm
mate I’m a lowly red member, get the odd tickets via the guys on here and other mates. I’ve had the pleasure of just one game off arsenal.com this season!
Think I sat near where you are for the Villa game some weeks back, there was some woman with a drum banging away like a maniac close by!
March 26, 2008 at 3:29 pm
charybdis1966, were you the camera man for paul jewell, you naughty boy
chipo, sky setanta or online, best seats in the house!
March 26, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Row 11, green quadrant chipo. Opposite the tunnel.
March 26, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Odub, i’m sure that super strength guiness would have warmed the dome the night I saw you.
March 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Always have a hat mate, extra strength guiness only goes so far!
I dont actually see the point of being a red member, I get more tickets off mates than I do off Arsenal! I also pay to be on the flipping ST waiting list!
March 26, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Chris, my camera work is far too shakey for the “Jewell job” ha ha.
Odub - being a Londoner all my mates were ManU/Liverpool fans so no chance of any tickets there. I have no other choice but Red membership - I wish I had alternatives.
March 26, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Don’t fret too much. If we go another few years without winning anything there will be an influx of tickets. As I have said before, we have quite a few Jonny come latelys who’ll fuck off if they don’t see success. Even now i’m noticing more empty seats around me for ’smaller’ games. It appears they are too selfish or too loaded to pass their tickets on.
March 26, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I study in grade XI. All this and the previous year my studies were going superb along with Arsenal’s superb performances. But as my board exams came near which r being held in may. Arsenal’s performance fucked up and so as my studies. My sundays and saturdays are nowadays shit and in the aftermath my following 2 days r shit too wondering what the fuck was toure doing in the 2nd goal conceded, how could ADE-BARCA-REAL miss the chance aginst wigan which even I can score, who should be signed for the next season in order to improve our chances of winning the league. I hope I don’t watch CL matches from now so that I can pass my exams with flying colors but I know I can’t do this. Don’t tell me we r again being linked with unknowns. We need some ready made players not future stars. I wonder what BECKS will be doing on the ground today I’ve recently heard he’s taking classes for cutting grass. Is it he will be the groundsman, i thought France ussually hire French as their groundsman.
March 26, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Steve, that pisses me off - why deprive others of the option to watch ? My boys would watch any opposition as would I.
Suppose it is an ill wind, if we don’t win anyhting for a while - at least we’ll get rid of the glory hunters.
March 26, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I remember on 2 different occassions me and the missus were at the emirates last season and ended up on 1 occassion next to a family of 5, where the 3 kids spent the whole game playing their fucking PSPs, and on another occassion next to some girl who filmed Henry for 10 minutes on her mobile and left!!!
And these people get tickets how?!!!!
March 26, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Odub, I reckon it’s people who are involved with Corporate Hospitality who get these tickets.
F*** the fans who care about their side - it’s all about catering for the highest paying market sector.
March 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm
There is a guy in front of me who has 4 seats. I think he has been there twice this season. The rest of the time 1 or 2 are taken and sometimes all of them, sometimes none. It really fucks me off as i’m in a block of season tickets and you get the same faces all the time. You can tell half the time he has given them to friends who don’t give a fuck what’s happening in front of them and spend most of their time getting hotdogs or pissing. They may as well have gone to McDonald’s.
March 26, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I actually sat around 2 Barclays twats at Highbury once who said they would have rather gone to see a West Ham game because the game they were at was so boring!!! And no one around them said anything, because they all looked like they’d got freebies as well!!!
March 26, 2008 at 4:15 pm
next seasons kit
http://bp1.blogger.com/__2aUIT7YIl4/R-j6clAh5MI/AAAAAAAAACA/Np6W0QL9Hs8/s1600-h/kits.jpg
March 26, 2008 at 4:23 pm
They look like leisure shirts to me. The first is like ‘98.
Happy memories.
March 26, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Got a fact !
Wenger believed in his own “Wenger Knows” hype and fucked up…….. end of !
Should have spent money then we would in all probability would have still been top of the league and go on to win it !
March 26, 2008 at 4:29 pm
he fucked up bud, for sure
March 26, 2008 at 4:35 pm
just hope he was joking when he said he didnt need to strenghten for next season.
March 26, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Yep it pisses me off too. Im still at uni up in Leeds, and i still try to get to every game. My dad lives in Oxfd and obv cant get to every game either, but when we cant go obviously we give them to proper gooners who appreciate it. I think its just lazines tbh, i understand ppl pulling out last minute, but this shouldnt be 1/5 of the stadium! And what’s with the attendance ALWAYS being over 60,000? It blatantly isnt, apparently AFC released some rubbish about the attendance is the amount of tickets sold…. utter bullshit.
Im not saying i dont mind people going to games who arent die hard fans- we were all that once- im just saying if you arent even enjoying yourself, dont come back. and for gods sake dont buy a season ticket!!!
March 26, 2008 at 4:37 pm
If he doesn’t buy, I’m not renewing my season ticket in block 55 North East corner over the North bank.
Oops I already did, bollocks.
Off to a meeting guys, good blogging!
March 26, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Have a good evening chaps.
March 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Chipo, I went to Leeds Uni back in the late 80’s.
Henry Price building for 2 of the 3 years.
I wish Wenger would do something about our thin squad. Please - theChavs/ManUre will run off with everything if we’re no tcareful.
March 26, 2008 at 4:51 pm
have a good one fellas, enjoy Arsenal V England tonight!
March 26, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Spot on Bud. Anelka was the man we needed and he wanted to come. AW’s pride stopped the deal, ( and The Sulk’s brothers rep.) Had we signed him, Ade would have had to get of his arse and give us all what we know he is capable of, and we would have at least 6 more points.
Stupid.
But then so is continuing to play Eboue.
March 26, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Is there life in Le Groveworld, or am I a lonely Gooner pissing in the wind?
March 26, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Keep on Pissing Raddy, you are alone !!!!!
Well, you will be by the time you read this……… going home on time for the first time in weeks……… like Arsenal, I have given up !!!!!!
March 26, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I am here Raddy!
March 26, 2008 at 5:58 pm
hey, it is good to talk…
March 26, 2008 at 6:00 pm
It is indeed… I’ve missed out on a good days blogging!
Fucking meetings… what a shocker.
So I saw some talk of Eurovision? The European Fed… and some other random shit going on!
England are playing tonight… how could I forget!
Is sagna playing?
March 26, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I don’t know. Over here we are getting the Denmark/Czech game. So I will get to see Big Nic and perhaps Mozart, who is in the squad.
Fucking cold here, which should guarantee an injury or two. Say goodbye to the remainder of Mozart’s season, should he play.
March 26, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Gottago. Hope Theo gets a game tonight, it is great that he is in the squad.
Will be back and in fiery form domani
March 26, 2008 at 10:24 pm
apart from the lack of depth(when injuries happen), there is no competition for places. People like Kolo, Adebayor and Hleb can have many OFF days and still retain their place in the side.
March 26, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Just to go back to the original post today from Geoff ..all good points but what raised my spirits was finding someone else who sees through all the hype that has been David Beckham for the last 10 years. He was always just an ordinary footballer, never anything special, a good free kick and the ability to jump 6ft in the air if anyone tried to tackle him. And what fucked me right off was that as his hype grew the refs used to award a free kick when he didn’t even get touched. This man should never have reached anywhere near a hundred caps I totally agree with you Geoff. Mind you someone else above named some of the other 100 club players and I will throw a spanner in the works here by saying that I would also say the same about Bobby Moore ..he was an ordinary plodder of a defender …and yes we beat Germany in the 66 world cup but if you really want to look back on class footballers who could marshall thier sides and had more skill coming out of their little toenail than Beckham has coming out of any metatarsil he cares to break ……. look no further than Franz Beckenbuer (though may have spelt it wrong). Good post Geoff.
March 27, 2008 at 8:11 am
Thanks Mark, I liken the Beckham lovers to the Arsene know brigade and the Emperors clothes, now he’s talking about the next world cup the deluded arsehole!
March 27, 2008 at 9:22 am
I thought BECKSY was FAB last night !!!!!!!!!