Three players have suddenly become linked to Arsenal, two of them, Diego Capel a young Spanish winger who would fit in well and is tricky and Zapata who is a good solid center back and would be a great addition, also they are both the age that Wenger favours but for once it wouldn’t bother me, Senderos is not good enough and we don’t have a right winger.
Huntelaar ha been linked with us since he scored the first goal at the Grove at Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial, I wouldn’t have him though, he is not quick like Theo and scoring in Holland is no guarantee of scoring in England. Talking of Dennis Bergkamp, he is taking his coaching badge at Arsenal and I think that could mean he’s being groomed, also his advice may not be a bad thing.
Cesc has said he needs to start winning trophies or…. so I see that as a good thing, a wake up call if you will.
I won’t talk about Sunday’s game yet as I’m still hurting from last night, I’ll leave that until tomorrow.
Record day’s commenting yesterday Grovers 428 and counting, which I think is cracking and some great stuff on there as well, which makes the fact that when we say something like ‘Arsene has got it wrong’ or ‘we’re really pissed off at winning no trophies’ why do we get so many nutters on saying we’re glory hunters, or we should support Chelsea.
Well when I say so many, I mean about 6 out of 428 so if I let them on that would have been 434. Pedro likes to give them a chance and we had a couple of odd ones on yesterday, heck we even had a boy named Sue!
If I see anyone that’s about to abuse any of you, they don’t even get a look in and their crap goes straight to trash, I don’t even see them anymore, so apologies for the few that actually got through, they won’t again.
And for those that do, don’t bother, they don’t even get read, so in effect they are talking to themselves, which in itself is no bad thing.
Can you imagine a real Arsenal fan being happy with this season and no silverware, I have a theory, I don’t think they are real fans, I think they’re spuds pretending to be gooners, or other blogs, I know two of them are, that’s a fact.
Having said that we also get a bunch of regulars that write other blogs and they are great guys and of course welcome.
So the next few months will be full of speculation about signings, I hope if he does, he does it before Euro 2008 otherwise we’ll never buy anyone. Tomorrow we talk ManU.
Have another fun day Grovers.
Le Grove is now smart phone compatible!
Pedro
Geoff
April 10, 2008 at 09:21
Yes Odub, I think we do. Ethan I think he should have!
April 10, 2008 at 09:28
I really love Le Grove. It has added much to my day, and a big thank you to all.
Having thought about yesterdays posts, most refer to offensive signings, whereas it seems obvious that the problem lies in the defence. We desperately need defensive co-ordination. As was said yesterday, since Sol left we have been leaking stupid goals, which ultimately has caused our downfall.
Bring in TA and Keown, or even better … and I really mean this…. the man himself… George Graham
April 10, 2008 at 09:29
the for le champ
April 10, 2008 at 09:30
i mean theo
April 10, 2008 at 09:31
Am I going mad or has Geoff replied to Odub before he has actually said anything.
Wasn’t a boy named Sue Jonny Cash Geoff?
April 10, 2008 at 09:32
Morning all,
Diego Capel looks a very good player, very quick, good feet & can score. If Vela gets his passport though I don’t see it happening as Sevilla don’t particularly like us & they are very hard to deal with (I heard those exact words from a director at Arsenal, not about Capel & Vela just about Sevilla).
The fact is Wenger should already be lining up transfers especially if we don’t beat Man utd as then our season is completely over. He should be getting deals done whilst some of our rivals are tied up with the CL & league campaigns. I know the players can’t actually arrive until the summer but the deals can be struck now. The players we would go for don’t play for the bigger clubs anyway so there shouldn’t be a problem. Even Ferguson signed Nani & Anderson a year early to stop others getting them this summer.
April 10, 2008 at 09:34
huh ?
anyhow thats a god amm scary picture of eboue ! thank god its only 1 inch by 1 inch on my screen .. or it might scare the children away
April 10, 2008 at 09:34
It was Steve and we did have a Sue on yesterday so I assumed it was a boy. I replied to Odub’s comment on yesterdays post, that he did this morning, Ethan’s too.
April 10, 2008 at 09:35
GMR, David Dein was attacked by fans and needed a police escort to get to the airport in Seville after he negotiated terms for Reyes.
Ironically he needed a police escort away from Highbury when we all realised we had signed the only pikey in europe that wasn’t up for a scrap.
April 10, 2008 at 09:36
Sorry Geoff, I thought the misery had gotten the better (or worse) of you.
April 10, 2008 at 09:36
Big Raddy
i think we need another for sure .. a big CD !
but can you see le boss not going with sagna -toure-gallas-clichy ??
not to use a famous arsene knows best phrase .. but they pick themselves .
April 10, 2008 at 09:39
morning,
now i think we can all agree eboue and gilberto and lehmann and senderos needs to go and perhaps bendtner arsenal have always needed a strong centre bck and i think zapata is the answer capel on the other hand would be a great addition his pace skills everythin about him to me makes me think he wood b a great for arsenal perhaps like an overmars or somin i must say somin else theres another player arsenal keep getting linked to its diego from werder bremen and i think if gilberto goes or flamini he would b a great addition
April 10, 2008 at 09:39
geoff i think sue is a girl ..
or at least a man.. girl ! she a yank i think ..
i remember her telling her little story which i largely forget .. Zzzzzzzzz..
she frequents ACLF.. and has an arsene knows best badge so does GFL.
April 10, 2008 at 09:41
Steve, I still think Reyes could have been a great player for us if it hadn’t been for Henry’s arrogance. Reyes was young when he arrived & it was clear that Henry didn’t like him from the moment he stepped onto the pitch against Man City for his debut. The after match interview with Henry said it all, I think it was because Reyes had come in & taken his friend Wiltord’s place at the club.
How annoying was it to see Man Utd outplay a decent Roma side last night with some of their best players not even on the pitch. Rooney, Ronaldo & Vidic all out the starting 11 & Man Utd were still a class or two above. It showed the difference between them & us!!
April 10, 2008 at 09:41
Chelsae signed Alex when they had Carvalho and Treyy ( for me the best in the EPL) and MU signed Vidic. L’pool signed Aggers, who is a tremendous player and some other chap I can’t spell.
But my point is not really about personnel, it is about decent coaching !
April 10, 2008 at 09:42
oops.. Terry (what an unpleasant human being, and captain of England – Bobby Moore must be turning in his grave)
April 10, 2008 at 09:48
GMR…. SFA has said this is his best ever squad and who could disagree. I have said before that MU are a fantastic side but the other bloggers gave me some abuse.
I think MU will take the title they deserve because they are the best team in the EPL. It doesn’t make me less of a gooner. I want us to be as good – no, better – than them. And we are not far off.
April 10, 2008 at 09:49
I really don’t believe anything at the moment, what we want is signings for a centreback, midfield(unless we want Cesc to be palying every game next season-no rest) and strikers – and not be too harsh but we need a clearout of our current squad – a few only please. Bring back out Mexicans and let see how good they are.
April 10, 2008 at 09:50
Morning(again) all!!!
Big Raddy, 2nd your first comment, best blog around, and makes my otherwise dreary work day goquicker!
Cheers all.
Agree with the post, we need a personnel change across the team, and diego capel (although a diving twat) would be a good addition, and Zapata is a big lump.
Does anyone know if Keown stil does our defensive trainning btw?
April 10, 2008 at 09:51
diego capel is a left winger not right as your article states. jesus navas is right.
April 10, 2008 at 09:51
Must agree with Big Raddy. Wenger has never been any good at buying central defenders, the only decent ones he’s ever signed were Campbell & Gallas both of whom he didn’t pay for. The others are either youngsters he finds or players he converts. It seems Wenger pays so little attention to that department which is usually our downfall. Its no coincidence our CL final run happened with Keown coaching at the club, but I don’t think Wenger would have actually liked Keown’s safety first approach. He wants the players to play the ball even in the tightest of spaces whereas Keown would tell them to hoof it out & re-organise.
April 10, 2008 at 09:51
We need Benzema, Wenger please spend the money and buy Benzema. I doubt Capel after what happen with Reyes
April 10, 2008 at 09:52
yes it is shit not wining anything im from ireland and have season ticket so it costs a small fortune to watch the team but the decisions in recent weeks are hard to take maybe the odd one but i count birmingham 2(the free kick was dodgy too) boro 2 chelski 1 liverpool 3 in 3 games that is eight in 6 weeks if utd get 2 a season the ref is banned from doing there games its hard to take imagine england getting them decisions v holland (say) in world cup quarter finals envolving kuyt and babel i think the reporting would be a bit diffrent and the ref(s) would be in hidding from the tabliods
April 10, 2008 at 09:55
big raddy
fair comment .. and i actually agree !
envy is what i call it !
I envy them having a big enough squad littered with quality . AND EXPERIENCE !
They did bail out of the C.C quickly .. obviously a trophy red nose has no time for !
It even shows that the best clubs dont favor winning everything !
I s’pose my point is if they even do it what REALISTIC chance do we have ?
(of competing on all fronts currently and not letting the title race suffer ?!)
April 10, 2008 at 09:56
Big Raddy, I’m in complete agreement with you!! Man Utd are playing some great stuff but are also playing winning football. They have a tremendous squad of players, I don’t think Ferguson will be making many signings this summer, he will probably just replace anyone that leaves as thats all he has to do. His best players are all young like ours & his defenders are all in their peak. I absolutely detest saying it because I hate man utd & ferguson but I actually enjoy watching their games & they do deserve the title.
April 10, 2008 at 09:59
So if we all agree who the hell was giving you a hard time for suggesting it?!!
They managed to beat the 2nd best team in serie a without their star player and top defender. Give credit where it’s due red nose has put together a top squad.
They’re still a bunch of cnuts though!
April 10, 2008 at 10:00
Unfortunately I just dont see it happening….Maybe we need to sign a petition or something. Over the years wenger has had the same signing philosophy, he wont bring anyone in who will immediately go into the line up (his whole 6 month settling in period)…or hamper the development of his 2nd team, so even if he sells Senderos, he will have faith in the crocked Djerou (unless he gets sold too), so the next CB will be young and talented (maybe even a giant) but he will be behind Djerou. We have Vela coming back who can play on both wings, so he might end up selling eboue ( we can only pray), but then he will believe Vela and Walcott can play on the wings (behind Hleb and Rosicky). Unless a doctor says Rosicky and RvP and Eduardo can never play again, he is unlikely to even strengthen there positions. He would rather wait for them to be fit, but we have seen from this season how bad a decision that was. And unless he sells one of his front 4, he aint going to be buying a striker….
A feel depressed reading the above, because I think it will be true
April 10, 2008 at 10:01
Morning all!
Nice post this morning! That is true what you say, only a spurs fan would be content with a trophyless season!
Who is going to win on Sunday? Has anyone heard anything regarding the Flamster injury?
Did anyone see Brady walk out of the interview yesterday?
April 10, 2008 at 10:01
proper cunts odub,
morning all good post this morning, papers are alive with arsenal talk, a lot of dead wood is to be cleared, we shall see.
if man u win the CL does that mean he will retire and fuck off for good, that has to be a silver lining to that possibility
April 10, 2008 at 10:02
any thought on Lilian Thuram joining Galas in defence……………maybe just for a year??
April 10, 2008 at 10:02
what’s the point in having a blog but not allow people on who disagree with you??
for the record, just becasue i defend arsene wenger does mean i am happy with the season. yes there have been some highs (milan away) but the fact we started so stunningly well makes it all the more upsetting to leave the serason empty handed. so just because i don’t blame wenger doesn’t mean i’m not absolutely gutted cos i am.
all i was saying yesterday was that we shouyld get behind the boys for the remaindfer of the season and see what arsene does in the summer. this all reminds me of what happened at utd in 2005 when they’d gone a couple years without winning the title. peoiple blamed fergie but now look at them. I just have a feeling we are on to somethign really special down at the emirates, and with the addition of 3 world class players we’ll start winning trophies again. rememeber we are really blesses to support such a wonderful team and have enjoyed far more highs than most fans out there. yes it has been 3 seasons now but it had to happen at some point, lets hope this is the end now and next season will be MASSIVE for us!!
April 10, 2008 at 10:02
yeah pedro, it is suppose to be on news now from yesterday i didnt see it but it was all over the radio sports shows yeterday (all one of them)
April 10, 2008 at 10:03
I’ll leave MU for totmorrow.
There is no chance we will sign Benzema. Real Madrid is my bet. Though it would be great !!
Huntelaar… one has to ask why no big club has signed him up to now.
A left winger _ I know nothing about Diego – would be great. Though Ade/NB would have to learn to stay in the middle, and not drift out to the wings. However, I am sure AW will try Vela before signing a big name.
April 10, 2008 at 10:05
I guess you meant content Pedro?
Contempt is the emotion in which. we all hold Spurs fans.
April 10, 2008 at 10:07
Good spot steve!
Huntelaar is going on 25 now? That is quite old for a dutch player to still be playing for his club?
April 10, 2008 at 10:07
i fuckin knew it!!!
ferdinand will be playing on the weekend !
April 10, 2008 at 10:11
I thought exactly the same Pedro re Huntelaar. Despite being constantly linked to big clubs nobody has as yet taken a gamble on him. Man Yoo could have got hime when Van Horsefacedivingcunt left and chose not to. Bearing in mind when they want a player they get him.
April 10, 2008 at 10:11
don’t fret about it ethan, fucking hiopeless duck faced cunt.
April 10, 2008 at 10:13
this is good for a laugh !
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8008700/Adebayor-expects-changes-at-Arsenal
how about ade saying this ??? stay focused ? we need to STAY focused ?
fuck me when did he start ???
ade
” I am enjoying it here and a lot of players are happy here. But we have to stay focused and keep on going until the end of the season.”
April 10, 2008 at 10:17
ethan – I read those comments yesterday on Arsenal.com – the have faith in AW really stuck – and as for ade staying focused I wish he’d focus on another club and fuck off!!
April 10, 2008 at 10:18
jimbo
if you GET BEHIND the boys for the rest of the season ..
(sounds a bit queer if you ask me but..)
What message does that portray ? that we are happy with the end product this season ?
i say bring on the heckling ! make wenger aware that he needs to lift his game !
AND SEVERAL NOTCHES AT THAT !
If one of your children are naughty do you give them an ice cream ???
but it still means you love them
(havent you just heard that one before
?? )
April 10, 2008 at 10:19
Jimbo, we don’t care if you disagree with us, we don’t like it when you insult other bloggers, I’ve said this many times.
And we’re not too keen on the ‘Arsene knows’ brigade.
But it’s simple, if people don’t like what we Grovers do, they can go elsewhere.
We are like a big happy family.
April 10, 2008 at 10:19
saw this on Goodplaya:
10 bits of bad luck for Arsenal in last 11 games:
1) Adebayor tugged back as he goes to head in Walcott’s cross in dying seconds of Milan first leg. Could have been a penalty, not given.
Hleb denied clear penalty in first leg v Liverpool.
2) One, or possibly two penalties wrongly not given to Arsenal at Birmingham. Adebayor shirt pull and a foul on Hleb.
3) Penalty in same game against Clichy when he won the ball.
4) Hleb was denied a penalty at the San Siro. He received a yellow card for diving.
5) Goal wrongly ruled out against Adebayor versus Boro as pass was from Boateng
6) Aliadiere wrongly not flagged offside in build-up to Boro goal in same game.
7) For the first Chelsea goal. Replays clearly showed Didier Drogba in an offside position. Not given.
9) Cesc denied a penalty in league game v Liverpool.
10) Referee awards penalty and books Kolo for a tug on Babel’s shirt when the only possible tug was by Cesc, outside the box. No matter how many angles you look at it from, Toure did not have his hand on Babel.
In Arsenal’s favour: one dodgy corner v Boro, which once given was a corner like any of the hundreds of other ones Boro would have faced in a season. And two minutes against 10 man Boro after Mido was perhaps harshly sent-off for a high boot. Luck does not even itself out.
The other 3 teams can congratulate themselves and bathe in Arsenal’s demise, but the truth of the matter is, Arsenal have suffered horrendous bad luck in the run-in. Had Arsenal had even amount of good and bad luck, they would still be top of the premier league and in the Champions League semi final now.
April 10, 2008 at 10:19
well done guys on a record day -its amazing
Nearly threw up my porridge this morning when sky news Rob Curlin on sky news said Mourinho is now being considere to re[place Wenger .And the smug look on that Jabba the Hut manc supporter holmes nearly had the bowl thrown at him .Luckily Mrs mike was there otherwise !!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 10:19
Smiley!! I am not smiling. I meant 8 ) !!
April 10, 2008 at 10:20
i think the ade bashers on here are being a tad harsh. remember he wasn’t even a guaranteed first teamer last year, and if RVP had stayed fit he may not have started the majority this season. but his goals record this season is pretty impressive don’t you think? and if we hadn’t given away that ridiculous penalty on tuesday he’d be the hero again for scoring the equaliser. so i think we should lay off him
April 10, 2008 at 10:20
If we lose at O.T he should start Theo up front for a couple of games. We ‘aint going to win anything anyway so give the lad a chance.
April 10, 2008 at 10:20
Scuba and Ethan, good comment and great analogy.
April 10, 2008 at 10:23
geoff-fair enough but yesterday was the first day i ever posted here and don’t think i insulted anyone??
April 10, 2008 at 10:23
Mike Wenger is going nowhere, he’s a great manager, he just needs to spend that’s all, bring in some quality and some wingers that are wingers.
Fuck Moanrinio, he can stay in Portugal, If Arsenal ever did that, my season ticket would not be renewed.
April 10, 2008 at 10:25
Karen Brady and David Sullivan both released on bail regarding charges of conspiracy to defraud and Birmingham shares suspended.
I always knew there was something iffy about that filthbag.
April 10, 2008 at 10:26
No Jimbo you didn’t and you’re welcome, the fact that so many of you now come on means most agree with the post, but more importantly, most bloggers are connecting with each other, and they meet up, it’s great, I wouldn’t want to change that for a few bad apples.
April 10, 2008 at 10:26
ethan-no it doesn’t mean we’re happy, it just gives them every chance to try and finish the season as strongly as possible. i am sure wenger is now finally aware that he needs to strengthen certain areas in the summer without us screaming for him to do so
April 10, 2008 at 10:26
Fully agree on both counts Geoff.
April 10, 2008 at 10:26
Brady didn’t walk out of the interview but he did say in a really stern voice, ” I wouldn’t have come on the programme if I had known you would show that…and make Arsene Wenger look like like John Cleese”.
he was referring to a clip Irish TV showed of our manager that made him look silly. they had cut together a bunch of short clips that likened him to the ministry of silly walks (a john cleese character). that twat Eamonn dunphy kept shouting out, ‘Look John Cleese, HaHa, John Cleese!’.
It was disrespectful and Brady stuck up for him.
April 10, 2008 at 10:26
Ok Jimbo, you’re posting now… so don’t worry about it!
April 10, 2008 at 10:27
Jimbo – impressive goal record – no; I don’t think so. Given the chances we create that is a poor return…. he can’t pass, he can’t control the ball –
Hero on Tuesday – why? because he tapped in after Theo’s run – RvP was there, he could have done that, my Mum could’ve done that. That’s the problem he’s been made a hero for doing his job and scoring some goals ….
give him the ball bollocks!! give him 10 chances the cunt will need 10 more and still won’t fucking score!!!
Not that I have an opinion on this you understand!!
April 10, 2008 at 10:28
of course geoff and it’s great what this site has achieved (even if i don’t neccessarily always agree with you!). i just want everyone to get behind the lads for the rest of the season and leave the player bashing to shitty clubs like spurs!
April 10, 2008 at 10:28
Le Champ and Le Chump have been updated.
April 10, 2008 at 10:29
Agreed, Adebayour was never meant to become the leading goalscorer, hell Arsenal never play with a lone front man, until this season, when injuries forced Arsenes hand. But while he has got amongst the goals this season his stats are not very impressive.
2007/8
Goals 19
Goal assist 4
Shot on target 41
Total shot 88
As you can see it takes him 4 shots per goal, which is just not good enough in my book.
April 10, 2008 at 10:30
scuba-but can we criticise a player for scoring a tap in, especially after most gooners in recent years have been crying out for a player who simply is there to tap the ball in?! as i say he probably wouldn’t even be our first choice striker when everyone is fit so his record is pretty impressive in my opinion
April 10, 2008 at 10:30
Theo, Theo!
April 10, 2008 at 10:30
no his goal record for the last 11 games has been big fat 0 in the EPL !
if you call over a 1000 minutes on the pitch as a striker and scoring nothing good
then i pity you ..
But i can handle that ! what i cant handle is the CONSTANT loss of possession !the offsides ..
we play a passing game , a possession game ! with him throwing a constant spanner in the
works how on gods green earth do you EVER expect to get possession in the final 3rd???
April 10, 2008 at 10:32
Great Le chump/champ Pedro, in fact Theo’s coming close to winning it for the season, if AW starts playing him from the start that is!!!!
Agree with your comments re people getting on and meeting up Geoff, real community feel to this blog now, and some of us have benefited from other bloggers generousity in getting the odd tickets for games. Not free of course!
April 10, 2008 at 10:34
ethan-do you not think thst just maybe after playing the whole season as a lone striker he’s run out of steam (like a lot of the players). no one is criticising cesc for his recent lack of form are they? the fatc is up until we threw it away 8 weeks ago he was one of the main reasons why we were 5 points clear. i understand how he can be frustration at times but 19 premiership goals is a great effort for someone who supposedly cant finish!
April 10, 2008 at 10:34
What those bastards charged you for the tickets Odub! I wouldn’t have.
April 10, 2008 at 10:35
Frichie
sorry but TH14 has been doing it since DB10 left ! i think a 4-5-1 is negative but weve been playing like that since the year we almost won the C.L .. you have to pick your game however … But HELLO ? there a thing called a transfer window ??
ever heard of it ?
in december anelka was available .. but we said NO ade’s a legend ..
pretty much like your doing now !!!
you have to love people who flog dead dogs ..
bless there little cotton socks !
April 10, 2008 at 10:37
ethan- i think you have summed it up perfectly there, it was arsene’s decision not to strengthen, not ade’s. so to blame him is ridiculous. his workrate is phenomenal and again i repeat his goals tally isn’t bad either!
April 10, 2008 at 10:39
But when we blame Wenger Jimbo, the ‘Arsene knows’ brigade call us nasty names, now you seem to be agreeing that it’s his fault!
April 10, 2008 at 10:40
jimbo
cesc might not be firing on all cylinders but he doesnt loose much possession
infact he wins alot of possession from next to nothing , and doesnt disrupt our passing movement like ade ! ( also RVP wasnt injured all season ! i think he scored 6 or 7 ) and dudu partnered ade MANY times … but if your saying he has been a lone striker for 33 games .. thats 3300 minutes for 19 goals ! 3 of which were penalties ! 3 were a hat trick v’s derby or sunderland .. it leaves you with 13 goals in 3000 minutes !!
yes thats class !
April 10, 2008 at 10:41
wrong jimbo read above ..
several times if you have too
April 10, 2008 at 10:41
wait who said i was part of the “arsene knows” brigade? i admit the guy can mistakes such as not strengthening in January, but i wouldn’t lay the sole blame to him for our season goijng tits up. a combination of shocking injuries, poor refereeing decisions and general bad luck has been the main reason in my opinion
April 10, 2008 at 10:44
ethan-ok so not the WHOLE season but the majority. but you can’t really accuse me of using bad stats when you reel off those ones-in case you’ve forgotten ade has also missed a few games here and there. but i stand by the fact he appeared knackered in recent games and this contributed to his lack of goals. bear in mind he’s been rested in recent weeks and now found his form again and you should undersatdn what i mean
April 10, 2008 at 10:45
and when did he score a hat trick against sunderland??
April 10, 2008 at 10:47
ade’s stats for this season:
premiership – 28 starts 19 goals
Total – 36 starts 25 goals
is that really something to argue with??
April 10, 2008 at 10:50
Jimbo we havent really had shocking injuries! The injured players were mainly players we had back up for, it was just that the back up players have been shyte!
Rosicky – Eboue!!!! All been said b4 no more needs to be said
RVP – Eudardo(good enuff but then Martin Taylor happened-cunt) – bebndtner!
Sagna – Toure/Eboue/Hoyte, none are a patch on the blond dreadlocked one.
Compare that to say the mancs whose first choice full backs havent played all season and say Chelsea who’ve missed tosspot terry, fat frank, cech,dogba, and cashley at different stages and you begin to realise the forward planning for this season has been poor, as is reflected in 2 instances.
1. Flamini – decent player I want to keep, I’ll wait till his contract almost runs out b4 I start negotiations!
2. Diarra – good player, peanut headed cnut, but hey I’ll sell him 3 months after buying him!!!
April 10, 2008 at 10:52
Spot on Odub, but add to the Flamini story – …just like I did with Edu!
April 10, 2008 at 10:54
odub-that is the point, we’ve received shocing injuries to key players and not coped without them. you all go on about chelsea and utd, but fact is we’re 3 and 6 behind respectively. we’re hardly miles off the pace are we and lets be honest, we’re much closer than ANY of us thought we’d be at the start of the season.
April 10, 2008 at 10:54
Our injuries haven’t been that bad…
RvP… being injured is a permanent state for him, he is the biggest luxury in the premiership. 13-15 games a season max.
Rosicky is the same, although he at least managed 30 games this year.
We haven’t really lost Ade, Cesc or Hleb for any great amount of time… and Gallas has been pretty fit this year.
Its not an excuse is it? You know that you wont play with your first 11 all year… so you should plan ahead?
He didn’t so we must move on and think about the summer!
It would make my year if we beat the Mancs on Sunday! I’d like to see Ronaldo in tears again!
April 10, 2008 at 10:55
geoff-edu wanted to go end of story. although he hasn’t exactly done much since he elft has he (apart from being injured)!
April 10, 2008 at 10:55
Jimbo, its not like we’re 6 points a drift after chasing all year… we’ve capitulated in the last 13 games!
It would be a different story if we were where we are because we were not good enough, we’re 3rd because we are knackered and our squad is to thin to rotate.
April 10, 2008 at 10:57
right lads-it’s been a pleasure discussing these issues-while i may not always agree i do understand your arguments and that’s what makes football great-different opinions. but really must get on with some work now!
laters all
April 10, 2008 at 11:01
jimbo
with a squad this shallow we will ALWAYS be injury prone !!!
look at last season as proof .. this isn’t just being unlucky !!
thats bollocks …
cant you see a pattern ?
Arsene 90% of the time plays his best squad and credit too him
,but the fallout is we use our shallow 1st 11 A LOT ! and they will always be subject to injuries from december onward .. when teams like chev’s and man’ure get there steam on to finish off the business end of the season strongly we are always scraping to get a semi decent 1st 11 to start !
enough said i think
April 10, 2008 at 11:04
Geoff, Bud’s always business man first, mate 2nd! which is why he charged me that much and 4 peronis for the ticket!!
jimbo, I just dont like this idea of us being happy with being 6 or 3 points behind!! We were 5 points clear more than once ffs!! that is capitulation in a big way! almost as bad as the geordies from 10 years ago!!
What we should be looking at is, ok fine not a lot was expected of us this season, but we got to the summit and should have stayed there!!
Even during the dark days in the 80s/90s no gooner I know was happy we werent competing with the manc, ‘pool villa, forest whoever, so why should we be happy with 3rd/4th now?! because we get into the CL??!! And then do what when we get there?!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:06
I’ll re-iterate a point many of us have made several times. We knew that the team was good enough and we knew that the squad wasn’t big enough. A couple of really decent buys last summer and a couple of good squad players in January and we’d have won the league. We’d probably be in the semi-finals of the C.L too.
April 10, 2008 at 11:13
This is a really good blog today but I’m up to eyes so will catch up later – sat on my arse sulking yesterday!!!
Odub – have you tried the AISA for tickets? You can join their email listing and they always (mostly) have tickets for home/away games for cost price – sold by gooners for gooners!!
I usually have the odd ticket spare at some point so will keep you in mind for nextr season…
April 10, 2008 at 11:16
ill add to that steve , we also could have won the C.C if we used our 2nd tier for 1 EPL game and used our starters V’s spurs ! It would of set us up to defeat a chevski team who back then had alot of players missing ..
But all the arsene knew crew , said oh we dont want to win that !!!!
we just like to use this cup as a breeding ground ?
i cant remember to many people f###### ?
April 10, 2008 at 11:17
Jimbo – as I have said and ethan and others – it’s his all round game – no control, can’t pass, doesn’t link up – the point about the tap in (yes, we’ve longed for someone) is that he’s scores it and that adds to his tally but it still doesn’t make him good -
okay time to own up – I just don’t fucking like him, don’t rate him and never will! We will never agree on him!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:20
cheers scuba i’m a red member so dont get that many tickets, even tried getting some via the ticket exchange on arsenal.com, but no luck.
ethan most fans would have taken a trip to wembley in either cup instead of ending up potless AGAIN!! look how happy yht ex gooner pompey boys were?! Who wouldnt have wanted some of that?!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:20
interesting concept .. that holds some water
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=558600&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow
April 10, 2008 at 11:32
scuba
If he learned to hold the ball,pass the ball,shoot and had some footballing acumen , i could let it slip that he’s going thru a bad patch .. The truth be known he’s never looked like an arsenal finesse style player and his timing for the goal slump was a HUGE reason why we have gone off the boil ! and now are behind in points
goals win games ..
scoring more than the other team wins games ..
the defense are always going to let a few in ! thats football
the object is for our strikers to score more than the opposing team !!
i heard a rumor that senderos is going along with jens and gilberto + flamini ..
well thats a start ..
April 10, 2008 at 11:33
Ethan Gunner and co
Re more english players: Interesting, and could hold some merit, but who is there available?
April 10, 2008 at 11:36
Oh, by the way, harsh, but very true
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=558507&in_page_id=1779
Love the pic of walcotts run!
April 10, 2008 at 11:37
ethan-fair enough and as i said everyone has an opinion and their right to it. but just quickly, you mention it’s up to the strikers, but surely scoring two goals at anfield should have been enough on tuesday? it was the defence that let us down on that occassion, as they did at birmingham when the collapse began. the attackers did their job, unfortunately the defence did not
April 10, 2008 at 11:38
I think we need a quick right footed goalscroing left winger. A Marc Overmars type player would be perfect. I would love Robinho but I cannot see him leaving Madrid or his wages being within our structure.
I don’t actually think we need another striker. Unless Bendtner moves on.
Adebayor
Van Persie
Eduardo
Walcott
Bendtner
Vela
are all fighting for only two places. I would perhaps bring in a youngish striker who can come in if need be but is also patient enough to wait for the future. A quick, play on the
shoulder type of forward.
We could do with another center half but who would make way?
April 10, 2008 at 11:38
ollie
odub can help you out there !
he can bang out a list without holding a sweat !
aston villas striker . for 1 !
sounds too much like my nemisis’s name for me to repeat !
i think he would get good service from our midfield ! ( and more importantly not waste it !)
April 10, 2008 at 11:38
Ollie i have my list handy
David Wheater
Ashley Young
nedum Onuoha
Adam Johnson
Gabriel Agbonlahor
micah Richards??
mark Noble
Any of those would do nicely thank you!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:39
ethan .. you are quoting Ade from an interview .. apparently and according to the independent, he also said that “Sunday will be another big game for us” .. and then he goes on to say ” It determines whether we still have something to play for or whether we can go on holiday”.
Now, as far as I am concerned, that must be the most stupid quote coming from the most stupid forward who ever played for Arsenal.
He can go on fukking hols now if he wants to .. what a fukking disrespect for us the fans .. yet, we are not allowed to boo our players at the emirates .. even if they consider themselves on hols .. this guy is a braindead loser
April 10, 2008 at 11:39
ethan that’s just fucking scary!! just saw your post!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:41
Ollie that pic of theo running past Hyppia and Macherano, looks like some fucking miniature superhero in action!!! Class!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:43
Hi honeys, i’m home !!!!!!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:44
alo Gallas was quoted this morning s saying that the team had overachieved!!
considering that the same Gallas said in january that he believed the squad did not need any further strengtening ..
is he a complete idiot as well??
are all our players some fukking mental retards??
April 10, 2008 at 11:45
Cheers odub! Ablonghor and Micah Richards Please! What? you have to pay more than $5 mil for them? fine, ill send a scout to Finland instead!
Seriously though, they would all be good buys. Also, we need a safety net, incase Vela misfires. I doubt it will, but he might take some time re adjusting.
Oh, and if that rumour about senderos is true, we definitely need to buy some defenders. Senderos was guilty midweek, but he can and will perform, hopefully sooner rather than later.
April 10, 2008 at 11:45
Look what the cat dragged in…. part time bud…
April 10, 2008 at 11:46
Jimbo – just read your post reply to ethan re attack/defence – I was at the brum game and we should have scored 4 or 5 goals – if brum get a late pen it should make no difference – that game should have finished 4 – 2 to us at the very least.
Again it was the forwards mainly ade not taking the chances created!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:47
BB –
gallas, eboue and ade are – but then they are top of my get the fuck out of Arsenal list!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:48
Couldn’t bring myself to even read the blog yesterday, let alone comment. Spent the day doing that wierd thing called work…….. strangely satisfying as it goes !!!!!
Anyway, everything is Wengers fault. Arsenal, the economy, the fact my chicken caserole last night was horrible……… everything…….. I am honestly starting to get the early signs of detestation (is that a word? if its not, it should be I like it…….. much like ‘boobtastic’, that too is a good word to describe nice jubblies….. but I digress !!!!!)
ANyway, I don’t hate him, but he has the summer to buy back my affections or that bitch is dumped !!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:48
scuba .. Ade not passing the ball blatantly to Bendtner who was free as Ade was on his ego trip trying to beat Wrighty’s record in scoring in god knows how many games in succession
the replays showed very clearly Ade raising his head and looking across the box where he must have seen the Dane
he therefater denied that he knew where Nik was .. a fukking selfish liar
April 10, 2008 at 11:49
I was saying to Pedro yesterday about a couple of English players and was wondering how many games Parlour played in the invincibles team
As for the Arsene knows.. I pay 60 quid for the privilage of buying the most expensive tickets in the UK.. for that I expect a squad that should win trophies. not every year but be there and there abouts. Another year without anything and you will start to see spaces in the stadium.
April 10, 2008 at 11:49
Well look who decided to make an appearance, Mr ‘I’m too big to blog himself!!’
how/where you been big man?!!
BB, most of them tend to talk out of their backsides most of the time. Listen to some of them like Cesc,Theo and maybe Kolo and you get sense, the rest, whether lost in translation or not, come up with some bizzare tripe especially Gallas!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:49
scuba-they scored two goals, and were playing against a relegation threatened team who had 10 men. you telling me the defence isn’t capable of not leeting in two goals against that?? people on here keep reffering to utd and chelsea on here but look at what they’re good at-NOT CONCEDING. we all know we can score, that is not the problem, the problem has been toure underperforming since acn, senderos not being good enough, and sagna getting injured.
April 10, 2008 at 11:50
BB – no more need to be said!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:51
AN steve-no club has a divine right to win trophies-just look at our scummy neighbours down the road!
April 10, 2008 at 11:52
Damn straight Steve!
I’d like to see Agbonlahor in an arsenal shirt… maybe even Ashley ‘Gooner’ Young!
A bit of british never hurt did it?
An Steve, was it you who said about Lescott?
He’d have to be a good shout!
April 10, 2008 at 11:52
jimbo
think about all the other games that ade hasnt scored in recently..
there are more of them than the 2 you listed !
plus one of the 2 you listed was a C.L game not EPL …
I never hold any great faith that we will win the C.L !
lets face it .. every round you get thru in that competition is a bonus !
too much talent for even barca to say they have it in the bag !
April 10, 2008 at 11:52
I have missed you Odub, it weren’t easy at first, but then I put my cock in a vice and the pain took away any thoughts of anything else….. total memory loss……. the crushed penis pain though was considerably easier to take than what Arsenal had given me !!!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:52
We have no divine right to win trophies Jimbo… but we have a divine right to have a squad big enough to compete, right?
April 10, 2008 at 11:53
please dont get me started on the Ade should have passed to Bendtner debate!!
Square the ball Ade, we go 3-1 up, season could have turned out different!
Let’s not do this to ourselves again guys!
April 10, 2008 at 11:53
Jimbo, what makes you think Wenger has learnt his lesson & will strengthen in the summer?? It’s the sort of comment all Arsene’s fans make without anything to back it up!!
We haven’t won a decent trophy for 4 years now & he hasn’t strengthened in that time (I’m talking quality players of which he has signed probably 2) & as you’ve already pointed out this season with the rubbish squad we have could actually be classed as a success (not to us fans but to anyone who bought into Wenger’s vision of going 6-10 years without winning anything just so one year he can win a trophy with kids before selling them off for huge amounts & starting again). So assuming he like his followers sees it as a success then why would he buy players?? Infact his comments already have led most of us to know that he won’t be buying much this summer, he’s more interested in keeping the Lehmann’s & Eboue’s of our squad happy!!
April 10, 2008 at 11:54
ethan-we clearly will not agree on ade so i think we should agree to disagree!
April 10, 2008 at 11:56
GMR- nothign to back it up? are you kidding me? have you not seen his record whilke being arsenal manager? i get the impression from wenger that he just felt after the likes of diaby,theo,hoyte,traore etc performed so maginificently in the CC last year he felt like he owed it to them to give them the chance they probably deserved this season. unfortunately it has not worked out and this is why i believe wenger will go and strengthen in the summer. can you really deny that these players at leats deserved an opportunity to prove themsleves in the EPL? if not then what is the pooint of having a reserve team?
April 10, 2008 at 11:57
jimbo – first brum was a good free-kick – not sure it should’ve been given but it was and they scored. 2nd goal was a pen – again should it have been given; doesn’t matter it was.
I take and agree with the point about our defence overall but we’re (well I was) talking about ade not being good enough – if we had taken our chances against brum (and others) the fact that they scored twice doesn’t matter.
I know this argument works both ways but when we’re playing total football shouldn’t we be scoring 3, 4, 5 or even 6 goals against relegation teams??
April 10, 2008 at 11:57
Bud…., I dont like you mentioning me and your cock in the same post!!! i dont want to be that close with anyone!!!
Lescott is a good shout pedro, we never used to buy english because they’re too expensive, but surely none of those listed would cost more than 10-15mill?!!
Ive got a feeling our transfer record will need to be broken this summer.
April 10, 2008 at 11:58
You do appear to have strange passtimes Bud.
April 10, 2008 at 11:59
scuba-i do understand your point but looking at the table we have the 2nd best scoring record, yet the 4th best defensive record, joint with everton!i think that shows where we need strengthening!
April 10, 2008 at 11:59
can some ppl pls say our starting line up with subs next year with vela and some other guys you think tht will comemine would be
A GOOD GK
clichy gallas toure sagna
vela flamini fab walcott
VILLA VP
April 10, 2008 at 12:01
It was not a passtime Stevo, its just the pain, I love it, I must do, I support the Arsenal !!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:01
I might be wrong but I dont think Vela will get straight in next season, he’s done ok for Osasuna, but he gets subbed most games, and is still only 19.
let’s not build our hopes up re this kid is what I’m trying to say!
April 10, 2008 at 12:02
jimbo
i think you can say man U are pretty good at scoring also !
theres a player called ronaldo …
heard of him ?
they are the bench mark .. they can defend and can score !
they can grind a result thru experience ..
we are not stating them ‘in admiration’ !!!..
Envy is more the word of choice !
call a spade a spade !
And in order to win things .. (which i thought football was all about ?!)
we need to pass them ! for quality .. depth .. and consistency !
until then we will hear excuse after excuse after excuse !
April 10, 2008 at 12:03
agreed odub. i would imagine the starting 11 will be the same as this season. i mean lets face it, when they were all fit we were firing and awesome. it’s the reserves that need strengthening with a centre half, a left winger and possibly anoither striker
April 10, 2008 at 12:03
Jimbo, did you misread my comment because I asked what proof you have to back-up your comment that Wenger has learnt his lesson & will strengthen this summer?? As I pointed out we haven’t won a decent trophy for 4 years now & in that time he hasn’t felt the need to strengthen so what proof do you have that this summer will be any different, especially considering the comments he has already made over the past 2-3 weeks??
April 10, 2008 at 12:04
This is just PATHETIC
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/04/10/Champs-Lg-Ref-on-Babel-pen/
At a time when players are being forced to show respect to the Ref by not questioning their decisions, this untC comes out and says the Arsenal players didnt complain cos they knew it was a penalty…
April 10, 2008 at 12:05
jimbo – you might have picked up on the fact that I don’t have much time for gallas either – and don’t start me on his cryfuckingbaby antics at brum –
yes, we need to sort the defence out for sure – it all boils down to what everyone has been saying for the last season or so – our squad is not good enough, not strong enough, not deep enough – and who’s responsibility is that? AW, pure and simple.
We’re all agreed – even the FAKB have admitted (through gritted teeth) that we need to sign quality experienced players….
April 10, 2008 at 12:05
GMR-must have misread-i thought you meant what proof do i have that wenger will get it right.
anyway, i don’t have any proof of course i don’t. but as i said until the summer comes we will not know so to start having a go now is a bit premature. fair enough criticise for the lack of transfers last summer but to criticise for this summer before it’s begun? ridiuclous
April 10, 2008 at 12:06
Jimbo I have never said a divine right but an expectation that is backed up by a squad
As a fan which I have been since 1969!!!! my expectations have been raised by Wenger who has been fantastic. However the money you have to pay no and the amount the players are paid I do now expect, more than the 80’s and this season Wenger has got it wrong he need edto strengthen and did not. any way thats going over old ground.
April 10, 2008 at 12:07
scuba i agree it is arsene’s responsibility to ensure we have a deep and strong squad. but as i just mentioned, i beleieve he felt he owed it to the “CC 11″ to give them a go. it didn;’t work so hopefully he’ll buy big this summer
April 10, 2008 at 12:07
never liked the look of that ref from kick off!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:08
AN steve-that’s fair enough mate and we do all expect. but at least we have had a lot of success in recent years. can you imagine being a spud fan?!
April 10, 2008 at 12:10
obud
i agree there RE: vela .. 19 and will need time to settle !
he’s 2 or 3 years off being a regular in my opinion 22 -23
he’s a theo of last season ! if you want me to use an example.
jimbo..
not a problem ! agree to disagree .. but i think one day youll come around…
April 10, 2008 at 12:13
ethan
there’s me Odub and there’s Bud, not Obud, easy mistake to make, but if you ever saw either one of us you’d know there’s a teeny weeny difference!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:13
i got a statement that will make you laugh !
(2 or 3 years ago )
A.Wenger
we are NOT in a transitional period !!!
that still cracks me up !
April 10, 2008 at 12:13
etahn-lets just hope for arsenal’s sake you’re the one who comes around!!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:14
AN Steve – spot on mate; AW raised the bar and then failed to clear it – he will sort it in the summer or else he’ll have to go!
jimbo – we’re singing from the same hymn sheet in different ways – maybe different songs – we agree on the “he has to buy”
be a spud fan? I’d rather put my cock in a vice!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:14
Jimbo, its not ridiculous because its the same as last year, the year before & so on. If he had come out & said I will strengthen the squad this summer then fair play you can give him that chance, but when he comes out & says “My priority is to keep this squad together & the solution is not always to buy”, then thats just not good enough (they weren’t the exact words he used but very close to it).
Don’t forget he doesn’t have a DOF, he’ll go on a short holiday then he’ll be commentating for French tv on the euro’s (he won’t sign anyone playing there because he doesn’t buy based on performances in international tournaments, or so he says), then after that pre season training will start (again he won’t sign players then because he likes to concentrate on the fitness of his squad, his words again), so when exactly will he have the time to sign the amount of players we need??
April 10, 2008 at 12:18
GMR-can you not see the logic in saying”My priority is to keep the squad together”?? at the time he said that we were still challenging in CL and prem so if he came out and said “i need to strengthen” it would hardly have installed much belief in the current squad would it?? once january passed he had to make sure the current players felt they were equipped to do the job (even if they weren’t) so as not to completely wreck confidence levels.
as for previous seasons, yes last year he didn;t buy, but in recent years he has spent big on helb, rosicky, ade, reyes, sagna, eduardo so there is a chance he’ll buy again
April 10, 2008 at 12:18
Scubagooner cock in a vice now thats sound like somthing bud would like!!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:19
I know things haven’t been great of late, but can we all stop talking about putting our cocks in vices.
That’s you Bud. See what happens when you return?
The MPC have just cut rates by another 1/4 so that should cheer those of you with trackers up.
April 10, 2008 at 12:23
The tone drops by 25% the second he logs back on!! shocking!!
Steve any truth in the rumour that they might drop rates by 1% before the end of the year?
April 10, 2008 at 12:24
ha ha ha big difference between bud and odub and i never meet either of them!
there is zero chance of vela hitting teh ground runnin when he comes its not AW way i hope he does,
April 10, 2008 at 12:26
Jimbo, are you Arsene Wenger? you defend everything he does, let’s talk forwards and why we need one.
Robin, will be injured most of the season, cruciate ligaments in Europe probably, Bendtner 3 years off being ready, Theo ready now, Vela unproven and too young, Ade not great but okay, and Eduardo not back until Christmas and then could still take a year, if ever.
Lescott we could have got from Wolves for £5mil, we thought he was too expensive, Young we could have got from Watford but now they would cost a fortune, same with the City kids, they don’t need the money anymore.
Finally Jimbo, Edu was shunned by Wenger because he came back late from Brazil, but still had a year on his contract, Wenger barely played him, he was one of the best miidfield players in Europe but Wenger didn’t talk to him, the only time he tried to get him to stay was around the FA Cup final, by then it was too late.
Like Flamini we kept a key player without making him sign in his final year, that is bad business, we could have sold him and got something, but he went on a free.
It’s irrelevant what’s happened since, we didn’t know he’d get injured.
April 10, 2008 at 12:27
so being new to the site who on here is a season ticket holder? and where do you all sit? i’m east lower turnstile H block 14 lower tier. lovely seat but i think they all are??
April 10, 2008 at 12:31
geoff-have you not read my posts today? i have openly criticsed wenger and have said numerous times he should’ve bought. so not sure why you’ve randomly just decided to have a go at me, especially as i’ve not been rude to anyone on here and said i accept there opinions.
as for flamini, you telling me he was a key player when he entered his last year of his contract last June?? no course he wasn’t. it’s only been this year (after wenger convinced him to stay may i add), that he’s started to show his true quality. and wenger and the board have been trying to tie him down ever since.
April 10, 2008 at 12:31
Jimbo, i have the best seat of them all. Its called loungeroom, 65000 miles from nowhere in pitch black darkness when they can be bothered televising decent football. in other words im an aussie..
April 10, 2008 at 12:33
geoff-finally are you really criticising wengers business sense? have you seen the amounts we’ve sold players for after buying them for nowt?? and how about selling the now injury prone henry and vieira for 13 and 16 mil respectively-wasn;t the worst bit of busines in the world! so he got it wrong with edu and should have sold him earlier but we cant use that to criticise his business dealings
April 10, 2008 at 12:34
Odub, we are at 5% after today and have pretty much 1/2 priced in by year end. Can’t see them going much under 4.5%. B.O.E’s remit is inflation and too many cuts could see that going well over target. The problem is now that even when the MPC cut rates it doesn’t filter through to the mortgage lenders because they’re still paying well over libor because of the credit crunch.
April 10, 2008 at 12:37
jimbo, you’re right near me. Block J 17 row 11 in east lower. You’re just right of the halfway line I guess?
April 10, 2008 at 12:38
Jimbo, you’re sounding like a typical ‘Arsene Knows’ fan. He doesn’t say my priority is to keep the squad together as a moral booster for the players, he says it because he means it. He has said the same thing for at least the previous two summers & he keeps to his word unless he gets a decent offer for a player he’s willing to sell. Infact with how comfortable some of our starting 11 are with their places in the team, saying something like new players are needed for competition in several positions might actually have given them the kick up the arse they needed.
If its ridiculous to pre judge what Wenger might do in the summer then what you’re actually saying is that he can never be sacked, because it’s impossible to say what he’ll achieve the following year, you have to pre judge based on his words now & his actions for the past few years.
Lets face it if I didn’t pre judge & Wenger didn’t sign anyone decent, then next season if I had come out & criticised it would be someone like yourself who’d come along & say “Its easy to complain now with hindsight”, so what you’re actually trying to say is that nobody should ever have an opinion & that Wenger should have free reign to do whatever he likes for an indefinate period of time??
April 10, 2008 at 12:38
Jimbo it was the ‘keep my squad together’ bit, I wasn’t having a go, I was being funny. At least I thought I was.
The Flamini thing is easy, we knew in September he was a different player, so in December we should have said, sign or we’ll sell you, simple, that’s just good business, him going on a free isn’t.
Same deal in the CL final, we should have said, Ashley if you want to play in the final, sign this 5 year deal, if you don’t we’ll play the guy that got us here, Flamini.
That would have also been good business and probably prevented the situation we are now in as Flamini would have felt wanted back then.
It’s all just good business and that’s what this club struggle with in my book.
April 10, 2008 at 12:40
Wenger didn’t convince Flamini to stay, he tried to flog him off to birmingham. Flamini decided not to go because he only had a year left & knew he could get a better deal elsewhere this summer.
April 10, 2008 at 12:40
cheers mate, someone was telling me during the week that to curtail inflation they might drop the rate a couple more times other than the one today, which would mean 4% which I thought would never happen.
Anyway let’s not bore everyone to death with rate cuts, trackers and fiscal crap!!
wenger still gets a lot of credit for selling Anelka for a 22.5mill profit, but that was 9 years ago!!! Selling Vieira and Henry when he did was an easy decision, they wanted to leave, he had ready buyers end of!
April 10, 2008 at 12:42
Huntelaar would be a star buy for Arsenal.
How many out and out strikers do Arsenal have?
None
Huntelaar is very technically gifted, can score with both feet, and is very accurate. With the chances that Adebayor has had, Huntelaar would have shut up shop.
Why has Huntelaar not left Ajax? He stated at the beginning of the season that he wants to play another season at Ajax and earn his transfer. He only want to play for a top club aiming for trophies and that play attacking football (so that excludes Chelsea or Liverpool), not some mediocre team, otherwise he prefers to stay at Ajax.
Manyoo, Real Madrid and Juventus have all shown an interest in him.
76 goals in the last 18 months for club and country, his goal scoring record is unsurpassed, it is even better than Eduardo’s.
Unlike Adebayor, Huntelaar has been a top scorer ever since he was a young boy.
At 25 he is the perfect age for a striker. He has an accomplished club and international record, has been compared by Schuster of Madrid as a clone of Marco Van Basten.
He is the perfect candidate for Arsenal. He can score in any stadium, he is a total natural out and out striker. Pass him the ball in a goal scoring position, more times than not he will score…unlike Adebayor.
I don’t want to knock Adebayor (I know some of you love to), he has scored in 3 CL games on the spin, has had a spell of scoring in eight PL games on the spin..he is definitely above avergae, has surpassed our expectations for this season, and will probably develop even further next season.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaas-Jan_Huntelaar
If Huntelaar signs for Manyoo we shall regret it like we now regret not having signed Torres.
Get him over to London lively….
April 10, 2008 at 12:44
Turnstile H Block 16 East Lower Row 21 Seat 484 – just under club level just to right of the halfway line – almost exact same spot as I had at Highbury.
We’re the East Stand, We’re East Stand – whatever happened to that chant?
April 10, 2008 at 12:45
jimbo.. im silver member live in brighton so ‘expense’ doesnt allow anything else im afraid….
Where are reports linking Capel & Zapata can’t find anything??
Denni Bergkamp as Arsenal boss i like that!! at least get him in to try & teach Adebayor how to control a football & sum composer in 1on1 situations??….
One other thing i noticed other nite we not a threat from direct free kicks anymore? with Thierry it was a good bet we’d score… now Kolo just seems to have fun hitting ball into the wall??? we need to sign a Quaresma or someone that can put the ball in top corner!!
I was at emirates for 1st leg of Liverpool tie.. i was drinking in place called t-bird? never been there before, i saw Small & Beautiful & was going to come see if u guys were around but it was quite early & looked like a restaurant through windows?
April 10, 2008 at 12:45
Odub, they only ever cut 1/4. So a couple more cuts after today is 4.5%.
April 10, 2008 at 12:46
GMR-i’m finsing it extremely difficult to debate with someone like yourself who seems to get off on putting words in people’s mouths. all you’ve done is say things like “so you’re basically saying” or “you’re a typical wenger knows fan” or “someone like yourself”. you don’t know me in the slightest, not even through this blog as i’v only been on here for a day.
your comments about not being able to sack someone are simply absurd. as are your comments that i think no one can have an opinion. if anyone is saying that it is you who simply cannot accept mine.
with regards to pre judging, all i am saying is wait until the summer. if he fucks up and doesn’t strengthen and we go on to win fuck all again, then look into the possibility of letting him go. for the time being, we have improved compared to last season (i know no trophies but we look more cappable of challenging) so lets see if we go one further next year and cross the finish line with some trophies.
April 10, 2008 at 12:46
I’d sooner have kept Anelka, Overmars, Henry, Pires and Petit, sometimes it’s not just about money.
Do you want me to list all the shit players we’ve signed, or all the youngsters that never made it?
I’ll try shall I?
Cygan, Stepanovs, Mendes, Volts, Luzney, Sidwell, Bentley, Pennant, Larson, Muamba, Vivas, the greek guy, the two Americans, Diawara, the Argentine striker, Boa Morte, Christopher Wrey, Van Den Berg, Quincy, fuck me I could go on.
Forgive the spelling.
April 10, 2008 at 12:47
The smarter, more profitable decision would’ve been to sell them (PV4 & TH14) a year earlier!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:47
as for flamini GMR you are talking shite-the deal with brum was not going to benefit us as flamini wanted to buy out his contract. wenger convinced him he ahd a part to play so he stayed
April 10, 2008 at 12:47
I was the pissed looking bloke standing outside on my own waiting for the Grove crew to turn up Goona P. If they tell you 6 o’clock, never expect them before 7. I was bolloxed by the time the cavalry arrived.
April 10, 2008 at 12:49
GoonaP it is a restaurant, but we rarely eat, we just drink and get loud, it save queing at the bar 6 deep.
We’re outside a lot smoking, we also have a lot of fun.
April 10, 2008 at 12:49
steve-yeah just in between half way and north bank, in line with edge of penalty area.
April 10, 2008 at 12:53
I know they only cut 1/4 and we started at 5.25, I meant another set of cuts to drop to 4% by the end of the year!! Work with me here mate!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:53
jesus h christ
just heard the jens lemon kunt quotes on SSN
what a fucking kunt, he should be sacked immediately.
April 10, 2008 at 12:53
I’m bang on the 1/2 way line jimbo. Literally look down the tunnel. Had exactly the same seat at Highbury for many years, only smaller and wooden in the early days.
April 10, 2008 at 12:54
I’m being obsternate Odub. Not the first time now is it?
April 10, 2008 at 12:54
i was bang on half way at highbury, but i was behind the tunnel (i.e still east stand). still miss that place!
April 10, 2008 at 12:55
Goona P, they’re a scary lot when you do go over. bud gets all kind of tasty looking fellas come over to shake his hand every 2 minutes!! And they’re all from essex!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:56
jimbo
your kidding right ?
if you think he is arsenal class then you are truly disturbed !
April 10, 2008 at 12:57
They should sack the cunt stupid.
April 10, 2008 at 12:57
Steve i know that!! saw your nogging comment yesterday and fell for that too!! thought it was a serious post!! i should know better by now shouldnt I!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 12:57
ethan-what i meant was lets hope you change your mind as it’ll mean he’s banged in 30 goals next season to help us to the treble (i’ll wake up in a minute)
April 10, 2008 at 12:58
big tones contract runs out at pompey this summer
fucking sort it out arsene, bring him in to sort the kunting defence out and knock the shiit out billy willy.
April 10, 2008 at 12:58
I’m in the dug out Jimbo, from next season anyway! what did Lehmann say stupid?
April 10, 2008 at 12:59
they are totally unacceptable quotes, any other so called big club would get rid
he has directly had a pop at wenger and alumina again.
horrible kunt.
April 10, 2008 at 12:59
Indeed you should Odub. I have been known to mistake seriousness from joviality on the blog too. It is much easier to get a perception of the way things are intended when a comment is conveyed face to face.
April 10, 2008 at 12:59
geoff-lehmann just totally slaughtered almunia and wenger. and not for the first time this season. love the guy and thought he was magnificent for us but enough is enough, time to leave
April 10, 2008 at 13:00
he said something about wenger lying to him last summer
and he said it aint funny being understudy to a goalie who started his career at 30.
April 10, 2008 at 13:00
direct quotes from kicker magazine
will try and find the article…
April 10, 2008 at 13:01
What a silly man, time to go me thinks.
April 10, 2008 at 13:01
Must admit I’ve never liked Ade, but as he went on a crazy run at the start of the season i kept schtump for a bit. He is never going to be a top notch striker.
i know he reminds us of Kanu, but Kanu had a first touch, was consistent in that he was never going to be prolific. ade has pace and should actually be a better player, but ……UNTIL HE SCORES A HAT TRICK AT STAMFORD BRIDGE HE AINT KANU!!! AND ALSO…..I DONT LIKE THE CNUT!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:02
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3406605,00.html
April 10, 2008 at 13:03
Lehmann should have been shipped out in Jan. Big Al might not be a top goalie, but he hasnt made as many mistakes as the mad german made in the handful of games he’s played this season.
April 10, 2008 at 13:03
Scored a cracker against the spuds though Odub, I’ll always have a fondness for him for that, can’t understand a word he says though, must be the fastest I’ve ever heard English spoken!
April 10, 2008 at 13:04
and the winner at OT last year. plus a few others against the cummers. this is why i don’t get why people dont like him!
April 10, 2008 at 13:04
Yeah……… Lehman can fuck off and put his cock in a vice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:05
he has scored 2 crackers against the spuds this year.
April 10, 2008 at 13:05
‘If the trainer had told me before the season started what was going to happen, then I could have decided whether or not I wanted to sit on the bench.’
That was before your two howlers you daft bastard!
Cheers for the clip stupid.
April 10, 2008 at 13:05
Jimbo, I won’t lower myself to petty insults like yourself, if you can’t answer a simple question that I asked you originally then thats your problem. Everybody knows Flamini turned Birmingham down & Bruce himself said it last summer as he was really disappointed. It made sense for Flamini to stay & fight because signing a long term deal at Brum wasn’t going to benefit him. He couldn’t buy out his contract last summer because he hadn’t been at arsenal long enough & he had to be over 24 which he didn’t turn until march this year.
You called me ridiculous for daring to suggest that Wenger wouldn’t sign anyone, but my comments were based on the facts of the past few summers & from what he’s already said in the past few weeks, however you’re assumption that he will sign players & that he’s learnt his lesson are from what exactly??
Where have I said in any post that I know you?? So who is it trying to put words in people’s mouths?? I said you sound like a typical ‘Arsene Knows’ fan & you do, I didn’t say you was one.
Anyway you’re quite right this debate is pointless as I got away from the other blogs because of people like you. Saying things like you’re ridiculous or you talk shite is exactly the kind of immature comments I came here to get away from!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:09
ok can we stop this crap, it’s even pissing me off now!! Differing views does not neccessitate the need for name calling and insults.
April 10, 2008 at 13:10
Geoff, you should hear some drum n bass MC’s, Adebayor wouldn’t stand a chance of keeping up with the speed at which they spit lyrics!
April 10, 2008 at 13:13
GMR- funny how you said at the start of your last post that you won’t lower yourself to petty insults, and the proceeded to have a go at me with, yeah you guessed it, petty insults!
i didn;’t insult from what i can remmeber, i just pointed out you were posting things that you thought i was wityhout even knowing me.
how can you say your assumptions are based on facts? these facts are from the last few years! who knows what he will do this summer?? no one does.
if you took personal offence to anything i posted of course i apologise-i would never want to intentionall abuse a fellow gooner. but when i said talking shite i didn’t mean it offensively just so you know!
so moving on, your original question was why do i think wenger will buy yes? well i just think he will based on the teams stuttering end to the season, and also based on wenger’s record as arsenal manager. he has got it wrong on a few occasions but overall he’s been great for the club so i put my trust in him to sort it out this summer. if you think that makesm me part of the arsene knows crew then fine, but i just think he will sort it out
April 10, 2008 at 13:15
Finestcuts I’m more of a ‘one nil to the Arsenal’ man when it comes to music! I’ll take your advice on the speed of the lyrics and steer a wide berth then.
GMR and Jimbo, there’s no need to fall out here, this is the safe haven of blogs, that’s why some of those people don’t like us, because we don’t tolerate them.
Freedom of speech is fine until it upsets someone, it’s lunchtime have a glass of something nice.
April 10, 2008 at 13:15
GMR and Jimbo – Hilton hotel doing some top deals on suites at the moment
April 10, 2008 at 13:17
Lehman is a nutter, but he has always cared about giving his best .. he is a far far better keeper than our current Spanish tapas munching monkey
what a mediocre reject he is ..
listen .. also .. as far as Flam is concerned, he is from the south of France.. Marseille.. he fukked Marseille up when he came to us .. in fact we got done by some sports arbitration court and had to pay some money to Marseille .. they were really pissed off as Flam had just made it to the senior squad without being a pro in the year Marseille had a good run in the UEFA cup ..meaning he stitched his former club up .. he will have no hesitation stitching us up, surely even less considering he was about to get shipped off to some low life scum club like Birmingham
the guy will go to the highest bidder ..that and not winning trophies will piss Cesc off..so wait for his moaning to start if we dont buy or dont have success..he already mentioned about how great etoo would be with us .. he knows how to throw his little weight around and he wont hang around forever before winning trophies..
April 10, 2008 at 13:18
GMR / Stupid – Chill fella’s, its only a blog site…….. all this “Jack Johnson and Tom O’leary” raising of the fisticuffs is below you both. Take yourselves to Pleasureland guys !!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:19
GMR/ Stupid?
i get the blame for everything
April 10, 2008 at 13:19
just read it ..
so he must of been promised some C.L action ?!
well thats the way wenger usually operates !
I think he should get the last handful of games just to see if
it was a blip in form ! I think as the rest of the season is a right off anyhow ..
and the fact almunia was responsible for the 1st goal V’s liverpool at anfeild
id give him a run to prove himself ..
i think aluminas form has dipped a bit recently ..
too many long balls .. not enough distribution to the defenders .. a lot of kicking out into touch ! between him and ade .. possession has been woeful recently !
I know i might not be popular in saying it ..
but if ade can keep playing every week .. im sure we owe jens
a final attempt to prove some class ..
And i hate germans !!! my X wife was one !
bloody bitch , cow … moooo
April 10, 2008 at 13:20
That should have been GMR & Jimbo……. My sincerest apologies to STupid !!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:20
Compare the Lehman Vent to this
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=490129&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Fabianski+-+Why+I%27m+happy+with+life+in+London
Like, no games this season, and he is happy! One for the not to distant future i think!
April 10, 2008 at 13:21
no worries bud, winding u up, knew it was an honest typo
April 10, 2008 at 13:22
Good I hope Cesc does start saying that, it’s what Wenger needs and Eto’o injury free would be awesome, just what we need.
However he now has to start Theo up front with one of the others, starting this weekend, without Vidic he can run rings round them.
April 10, 2008 at 13:22
That’s stupidism Bud.
April 10, 2008 at 13:23
look ffs, geoff hit the nail on the head
he was number 1 when the season started, then he got off to the worst start imaginable against fulham, and then proceeded to fuck up against blackburn, the butter fingered mug.
disgusting the way he has attacked almunia all season long, terrible team spirit.
April 10, 2008 at 13:23
Here is another version stupid
http://www.football.co.uk/arsenal/angry_lehmann_lashes_out_262994.shtml
Smae thing really, except a slightly better pic!
April 10, 2008 at 13:24
He won’t start with Theo up front. If RVP isn’t fit he’ll play Hleb off Adebayor. I’m not saying it’s right but he likes 5 in midfield in big away games anyway.
April 10, 2008 at 13:24
GEOFF-I SEE WHAT YOU’RE SAYING ABOUT THEO-HE HAS BEEN AWESOME IN RECENT WEEKS.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT HIS PERFORMANCES FROM THE BENCH (BOLTON, MILAN, LIVERPOOL AWAY) HAVE BEEN FAR MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN HIS PERFORMANCES AS A STARTER (LIVERPOOL HOME IN PREM).
DO YOU RECKON IT COULD BE BETTER TO KEEP HIM AS AN IMPACT PLAYER FOR NOW?
shit sorry about caps lock being on!
April 10, 2008 at 13:24
tell u what, fabianski might be something you know, he was incredible against the spuddies the other day in the reserve game
made 2 unreal saves.
April 10, 2008 at 13:25
Stupid, I work with Germans. They’re all self obsessed arrogant cunts.
April 10, 2008 at 13:25
lol
April 10, 2008 at 13:27
You may as well give Hleb the rest of the season off…….. he looks and is playing like he needs it !!!!!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:28
jimbo .. play Theo upfront and we will see .. but the other problem is that playing next to somebody as cumbersome as Ade, there is no proper link up play possible between the two strikers .. Ade cant play a 1-2 for nothing on earth ..
April 10, 2008 at 13:28
Steve, that explanes my chav obsessed cuz then, he’s obseesed with them! As for fabianski, he played 90 seconds in a warm up game, and that was all i needed to see! He will be something special, but only when Almunia is gone. Next season, i feel he will be second keeper!
April 10, 2008 at 13:29
Wenger doesn’t rate the FA cup, he says himself its not success. That means in nearly 12 years he has won 3 trophies that are worthwhile!! What a fantastic manager, he sure is running Alex Ferguson a close 2nd. I cannot believe how easily people fall for every word he says without question!!
But hey as long as we keep being told we are one of the biggest teams in europe (by Wenger in particular) despite never winning a decent european trophy, it should ensure that the club can charge the highest price for attendance in europe & then we can use all that money to buy quality players like Eboue & anyone else that costs peanuts!! It’s amazing that when the media link us with players we are always in competition with teams like zaragosa or sevilla or bolton etc, they never link us with players that the big clubs are after, I wonder why that is??
April 10, 2008 at 13:29
i would love to see theo play up with ade, that could really work.
just hate seeing him on the flanks, he is SO much better centrally, as highlighted by his electric dribble from centrefield the other night.
April 10, 2008 at 13:29
steve.. but the fukking Germans win trophies .. coz they fukking care about winning .. look at what happened to the English squad .. cant even qualify for Europe .. a league that gives 3 CL semi-finalists
April 10, 2008 at 13:32
Arsenal Manager 1212?
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/arsenal/arsenalnews/display.var.2187144.0.bergkamp_on_route_to_become_possible_future_arsenal_boss.php
April 10, 2008 at 13:32
Play Theo with NickB; Bendtner can win the ball; hold the ball and pass the ball – I know he hasn’t always been that great but can he do any worse than ade??
Also – mute point maybe – Theo was the only one to run over and congratulate him on his goal…..
April 10, 2008 at 13:32
GMR .. u are spot on .. we are nowhere near being a top club in Europe .. we still behave like a feeder club .. every big club in Europe knows that they can tap up our players ..look at fukking icecream Hleb by the losers called Inter
April 10, 2008 at 13:32
Jimbo I think that Theo will run at people with more confidence that the Liverpool goal will give him, that was 60 yards, through a good team.
I would give him a go, what have we to lose? we’ve already lost 3 trophies, one more won’t kill us, but if Theo has one of those games, we could be right back in it, especially if the Chavs lose to Everton away,
April 10, 2008 at 13:33
theo and bendter have always looked fucking horrendous playing together.
April 10, 2008 at 13:33
scuba .. Nik is shiit .. honestly, he is at least 3 years way from being a meaningful player .. somebody said the same over here before .. pls no fukking lame Danish dog
April 10, 2008 at 13:34
I wouldn’t get frustrated of Lehmanns comments, it’s perfectly normal to have a goodbye stab, burn that bridge to make sure you can’t change your mind afterwards at a weak moment..
He feels hard done by, and I understand why he has hit out….
It’ll scare off clubs wanting to sign him to warm the bench.
What he has done is ruthless, but so has what Wenger has done in his case, he led him to believe he’d be a key part of his plans, but was really looking to replace him at the earliest possible opportunity, at Jens’ expense.
We can also understand Wenger’s reasons…he had a bad start to the season, anmd everyone has to earn their place. Wenger somehhow led Lehmann to beliueve that he was his first choice, period. To avoid such incidents happening in future, perhaps Wenger should prepare a player mentally for the eventuality that someone may be put in their place that season, and leave it down to the player to take that risk.
Maybe it would have been better to allow Lehmann to leave last May if that was what he has had in mind, Lehmann’s match time could have been taken by Fabianski.
April 10, 2008 at 13:34
Stupid – and how many times has that been?
April 10, 2008 at 13:34
GMR- are you being serious? you don’t rate wenger?
you mention he doesn’t take the FA Cup seriously, so does that mean we don;t count it just because you think he doesn;t?
surely you take it seriously so it counts?
other notable achievements include going the season unbeaten, bringing some of the finest players ever to play football to our club, masterminding the new stadium, the training complex, prolonging the carreers of messres adams, keown, dixon and winterburn, allowing them to win another two doubles (winterburn aside).
sorry i can understadn your frustration with wenger right now, but that is taking it to far in my opinion
April 10, 2008 at 13:36
twice, i give you that.
but, it was 2 times too many for me.
April 10, 2008 at 13:37
does anyone else on here believe wenger has not done a good job for us?
April 10, 2008 at 13:37
i thkn he shold go with adeboyr and theo just off him lika an old skool inside left and rvp as the inside riight
and have diaby fab and flamini in centre mid with toure and clichy really pushing up on the flanks.
April 10, 2008 at 13:38
BB/Stupid – I’m not saying he’s the answer but I can’t say ade is shit and then say play him – can I?
I’m assuming RvP is a no-go so what have we got to lose…..can only be worth a try –
and BB; we (ME AND YOU) can slag off NB instead of ade on Monday!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:39
Wenger has won trophies, Built several Great teams, and lead us to the season that all teams dream of, and something the spurs and Mancs havent dome (to my knowledge anyway). We still have the invincibles title. albeit that was ages ago.
April 10, 2008 at 13:40
yeah geoff perhaps you are right-fuck it start him sunday i agree!
April 10, 2008 at 13:42
Jimbo he has done a great job for us, but this last 3 years, he hasn’t.
If he had invested in the last three years we may have won something, that’s why Henry left.
I’m not saying he should go, not for a second, but he should admit he’s wrong and change tact.
I think that’s what GMR is saying.
April 10, 2008 at 13:43
i think he will, but the last thing theo needs now is a good kicking off the pitch like the pikey reyes got a few years back, he was never ever the same after that and fooked off back to spain.
the wanker neville is back and he would relish the job, i’m sure.
April 10, 2008 at 13:43
geoff-i’m not sure he is saying that-he has just come out and said his overall record is basically 3 trophies in 12 years which is piss poor!
as i said i can undersatdn people’s frustrations over the last couple seasons, but take it the extremes of criticisng his overall reign in my opinion is crazy
April 10, 2008 at 13:44
Theo would have the trailer trash thicko back, he’s a lot tougher than Reyes.
April 10, 2008 at 13:44
This blog has become a monster!! You go away for half an hour, and 100 comments have been added!! Monster i tell you!
April 10, 2008 at 13:44
3 trophies in 12 years?
April 10, 2008 at 13:46
No what he’s saying is Wenger doesn’t rate the FA Cup and he doesn’t, otherwise we wouldn’t have limped out at Old Trafford so disgracefully.
That’s what he means by 3 trophies is a poor return…I think.
April 10, 2008 at 13:47
oh ok.
fair enuff.
April 10, 2008 at 13:48
yes but what i was saying is just because wenger hasn’t rated it this season, doesn’t mean it doesn;t count does it? and even if wenger hasn’t rated it all along, it still doesn’t mean it doesn’t count to the fans
April 10, 2008 at 13:48
but, and i hate to say this, wenger has generally been a very unlucky manager
you could quite easily add the UEFA cup and Champions League to his list of titles over the last decade or so.
just be undone in the cruelest of fashions once too often.
April 10, 2008 at 13:48
Odub & others -
Check this out – as I said earlier; usually have tickets for both home & away games and sold at cost price – fuck the ticket exchange Odub that’s run by AFC so can’t possibly expect that to work to your benefit!!!
This message is circulated to members of the AISA mailing list, and is intended for Arsenal supporters only. Display, circulation or distribution of this message to any other source constitutes a breach of confidence and trust. AISA welcomes and encourages the circulation of this message to all Arsenal fans but if you wish to place it in a public forum please check first by contacting us at aisa@fsmail.net If you do not wish to receive AISA mailings please send a message “REMOVE AISA” to aisa@fsmail.net
1. TICKETS
As always spare tickets are for Arsenal supporters only, at cost price or below:
MAN UTD AWAY – Two tickets together available @ £40 each. Email aisa@fsmail.net with ‘Man Utd away’ in the subject line, and make sure you include all your contact details.
READING HOME – Single tickets available @ £90 (club), £48 (upper) and £35 (lower). Will be sold separately. Email aisa@fsmail.net with ‘Reading home’ in the subject line, advising which ticket you prefer, whether you will accept alternatives, and make sure you include all your contact details.
April 10, 2008 at 13:50
stuipid-i also hate to say it but you are correct. you can also add the FA cup final 2001, the semi 99 and the CC last year to that list
April 10, 2008 at 13:51
THAT SEMI 99!!!
i will never ever forget that shit.
oh dennis
April 10, 2008 at 13:52
so basically AW could have been beyond all doubt the greatest ever!!!
And he’d have stopped those fucking mancs getting the treble!!!
April 10, 2008 at 13:53
ifs and buts
swings and roundabouts.
April 10, 2008 at 13:54
yep-unfortunately “could’ve” isn’t quite good enough!
but a few more trophies over coming seasons and he’ll go down as best arsenal manager ever (if he is’t already)
April 10, 2008 at 13:55
100% he is already.
April 10, 2008 at 13:55
cheers scuba!!
cant make the OT game but will look into others. i did google AISA earlier but couldnt download the membership form for some reason.
April 10, 2008 at 13:55
ill second that!
April 10, 2008 at 13:56
scuba.. see where u come from on Ade .. still Ade is better than Nik ..at least for now
if he plays them both, we will have a feast come monday
April 10, 2008 at 13:56
We should definitely send RVP onto the Old Trafford pitch.
I’m not satisfied with Toure playing RB though. As much as Eboue is my least favourite Arsenal player, he IS a right back, we sold Lauren because he won his place there…..
Eboue is a better RB than Toure.
My team against Manyoo from what we have available would be:
Almunia
Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy
Walcott, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb
Adebayor, RVP
Bench: Fabianski, Gilberto, Song, Senderos, Bendtner
Gameplan:
If we score first,we should try and gamble on locking the game up for a 1-0 and try and get a second on the counter-attack. Start off in full attacking flow. If we’re still a goal up at half time, switch to 4-5-1. Put Gilberto (swap him with Ade) behind Flamini and Fabregas for extra defensive cover, so 4-1-4-1 really, and leave RVP as a lone striker.
If we’re drawing or behind, leave it as it is.
Should they equalise (after we’re 1 up), revert back to 4-4-2, replace Flamini with Bendtner with Gilberto filling Flam’s position.
If we’re winning near the end, give Song 5-10 mins to add a bit of energy to the end of the game.
Senderos to go on should we NEED a defensive substitution.
April 10, 2008 at 13:56
Jimbo, when I first started following Arsenal in the mid 80’s yes I loved the FA cup, but its a total contradiction for Wenger to field weakened teams & then say he cares about it. His actions say he doesn’t care & he did say last year that it wasn’t important, so that being said why should the fans care?? He can’t have it both ways.
The amount of comments on this site & others that laugh at spuds supporters, but then we’re beginning to sound like them. Its always ‘next year’ & harping on about past achievements.
As for the so called unbeaten season (you know the one where we lost games in the CL & also lost in the FA & League cup), but the club decided to call us the invincibles despite the fact we weren’t. Yeah it was an achievement but we relied on dodgy penalty decisions (those that we now complain about) & teams like Man Utd & Chelski have still beaten the points tally that we managed to gain. More proof that Wenger is actually more obsessed with not losing than he is with actually winning.
Wenger has had the years of praise, but now quite rightly some people are questioning him. His record in europe is awful, but nobody is ever allowed to bring that up!! George Graham done just as much & was tactically a better coach. Mourinho won two titles in 4 years, Wenger has won 3 in 12 so regardless of hating Mourinho, who is the better manager??
April 10, 2008 at 13:57
We need to get off the subject of Arsene and onto something happier!
So… who has been your player of the season?
Ethan e-mailed me and said his was Adebayor…
Me? I’d go for Clichy or Sagna.
April 10, 2008 at 13:58
Finestcuts for manager!
Nice plan – of only we could use it…
April 10, 2008 at 13:59
diaby is suspended stupid.
April 10, 2008 at 13:59
only over the last 3 odd years has he undervalued the FA cup, and that is simply because he knew the finacial restictions imposed on him with the new stadium etc was going to prevent him from going for the treble (quadruple)
prior to that, our record in the cup under wenger read something like
won, semi, won, runners up, won, semi… or something very similar
April 10, 2008 at 14:00
choy – i stand corrected.
April 10, 2008 at 14:02
pedro.. try Traore or Hoyte .. both been outstanding by their non presence
finest.. where do you get the squad from?? surely Flam looks a major doubt .. and me thought we might have Sagna back .. also pls no RVP .. unless he is allowed to turn up in a wheel chair .. that poor bloke got no thighs any longer .. how can he run??
April 10, 2008 at 14:02
Sagna is my player of the season, although id be tempted to give it to Theo, just for his pace and influence on a game. But Sagns controlls the right defence, as well as the right flank, and sometimes plays as a striker! A player with an attacking frame of mind!
And with that, im off! its late over here, and i have the last day of the school term tomorrow! i need energy to think of all the last day pranks! if you have any, maybe put them up, and ill see if i can do any of them. Im already in detention, what more can a bit of fun do?
April 10, 2008 at 14:02
guys we did doom and gloom yesterday, let’s not depress ourselves even further today please!!
cesc for player of the season 2nd Theo, and Eboue for worst player actually, joint with Lehmann!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:02
Sagna – Player of the season for me.
April 10, 2008 at 14:03
Mourinho and his predecessor spent £300 million doing it though, my next door neighbour could have done that and she’s a doctor.
Sagna, by a mile, from Clichy by a mile from Flamini.
April 10, 2008 at 14:04
jimbo
you have an arsene knows best badge on !its hidden … but …
i know one when i hear one ..
use theo as an impact sub .. – straight from the wenger rose tinted text book !word for word…
ade is great because he’s score 19 goals .. (but he cant pass, cant say onside, wont pass to any strike partner he’s partnered with , 1st touch is continually the worst display ive ever seen as a top level striker for arsenal) it dont matter he’s scored 19 !!!!!!
you dont rate wenger ?? dummy out the pram !
and listen if you want some honesty every time theo’s started a game it was playing off that twat !
dudu was the same .. ade doesn’t bring any person he’s partnered with into the fucking game !
he thinks the old 1 – 2 is something you do in the toilet !
how the hell can anyone else score around him ????????????????????
physically fucking impossible
between losing possession and then hogging it , on the small percentage that he holds onto possession wise ,he always goes it alone .running into dead ends and tripping over defenders , then stands around with a fucking dumb ass look on his face like someone has stole his pram !. how can anyone work with the cunt ????
thats why he’s got more goals than anyone !!! head butting a team mate … disgraceful celebrations
that make you vomit !!! he’s a hacker plain and simple ! the only class he has is the label on his chest !
April 10, 2008 at 14:04
My other next door neighbour is Mike and he could have won the league too.
April 10, 2008 at 14:04
GMR- i think it’s safe to say the last couple of seasons the FA Cup has been down on his list of priortities. but up until that point his record in the cup spoke for itself and proved it’s improtance. we cant just discount all the cups won because this season it wsan’t as important.
we’re not sounding like spurs fans. we’re proud to be gooners and of what we have achieved VERY recently. and what we will achieve in the coming years with the players and set up we have.
the unbeaten season-never been done before or after so speaks for itself.
as for mourinho, i could’ve won the title at a time where they had unlimited resources and no one else had a penny!
record in europe – 1 CL final and 1 Uefa final. aside from that i agree not great. but look at barca’s european record-hardly outstanding either but you wouldn’t question their status would you?
April 10, 2008 at 14:06
Sugar coated Ethan!
April 10, 2008 at 14:07
ethan-when did i spit my dummy out? am i not allowed an opinion of wenger?!
April 10, 2008 at 14:08
yeah pedro
my player of the season is either
eboue – ade – or jens
can you nominate a ref ???
April 10, 2008 at 14:08
ethan-please tell me, has theo performed best as a sub or as a starter this season?
and the fact is ade will play on sunday so if you’re saying theo cant play with him then surely it’s best to have him as sub?
April 10, 2008 at 14:09
geoff..would go for Sagna .. then Flam .. then Cesc .. Clichy seems to play better when the Czech orgie boner is around
April 10, 2008 at 14:09
Sagna for me as well, just ahead of Clichy.
April 10, 2008 at 14:10
Sagna, Clichy, Cesc, Adebayor. Clichy has only just slipped behind Sagna due to a couple of dodgy mistakes (man City and Birmingham away). Adebayor has slipped behind because he has forgotten how to control, dribble and shoot. Eboue has only fallen behind my top pack because he is a fucking useless diving cunt who should be fucking shipped the fuck out of dodge and made to wear a huge fuckoff badge proclaiming “I’m a shit diving cunt”.
April 10, 2008 at 14:12
shit!! Forgot about Sagna (shame on me!!) – Sagna,Cesc,Theo in that order
April 10, 2008 at 14:14
steve- you forgot to add on eboues bade: “except when i’m actually clipped in the box at anfield when i fucking should have gone down but i didn;t cos i’m a cunt”
April 10, 2008 at 14:16
Ethan – loved it, loved it!! Couldn’t have put it any better!!
give him the ball; the cunt still won’t score
April 10, 2008 at 14:16
clichy, sagna and then cesc in my opinion
April 10, 2008 at 14:17
Yes BB Flam is a doubt, but no news is good news, which is why I’m hoping he’ll be good for O.T
If Sagna is available, get him on.
Should Flamini not be avilable….I would take a gamble on Song to start rather than Gilberto. The lad has a potential future, and Gilberto is a spent force, but because of his vast experience I’d say he makes a better sub.
Cheers for the big up Ollie. I was a 90s teenager and the school I went to was one of the last in London to keep people back for detention. I had some psycho teachers who handed ‘em out just cos they felt pissed off, needless to say I had to serve a few
Happy detention!
April 10, 2008 at 14:19
Sagna by a mile!! Clichy and then Cesc
April 10, 2008 at 14:19
it is best to start with RVP and theo !
there is no ade ..
and as to your question .. thats like saying ive only got blue smarties ..
what colour would you prefer !!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:20
what is it with people singing that poxy song during every game?!!
he hasnt scored a league goal since forever and fans still keep singing ‘give him the ball and he will score!!’ No he won’t give him the ball and he’s offside sounds more apt or give him the ball and he’ll misscontrol!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:21
BB – if he starts with ade and NB I’ll most likely be leaving at half time!
April 10, 2008 at 14:23
Odub – I hate and refuse to sing that song!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:24
all you guys who sit near me-did you hear the anti semetic stuff directed at benayoun last saturday? was a fucking disgrace and made me ashamed as the stewards did fuck all
April 10, 2008 at 14:24
scuba .. i wouldnt leave the beer tent ..
flinster .. be acreful playing Song .. no point getting that kid traumatized as well if we get another fukking hiding over there .. dont need more players marked for life by stingy bastard’s team selections in massive games
April 10, 2008 at 14:25
Why doesn’t he play Djourou with Gallas at the back for the remaining games & see how they perform together!!
Can they retire Senderos’ jersey when the season ends, I wouldn’t want anyone else to be jinxed by that c**t.
April 10, 2008 at 14:26
jimbo .. fukk off .. we are the cleanest most politicall correct team in the world .. go and fukk off you sad dikk
April 10, 2008 at 14:27
jimbo, i have my own theory on the incident with Eboue at Anfield. He never wins free kicks anymore because referees know he is a cheat. It’s like the old ‘crying wolf’ adage. If he goes down in the box everyone assumes he is diving. That’s probably why he tried to stay on his feet.
April 10, 2008 at 14:27
I see they have changed the Everton fixture to the sunday now!! Wan***s
April 10, 2008 at 14:28
BB-excuse me? you calling me a sad dick because i’ve brought to light some cunt shouting anti semetic abuse last saturday?
what the fuck is wrong with you?
April 10, 2008 at 14:28
Steve, Gerrard done the same thing only his cross resulted in a goal at the Emirates. Toure did trip him but he stayed on his feet due to his reputation & the rest is history, if only he’d gone down.
April 10, 2008 at 14:29
jimbo, nobody around me makes a fucking sound for 90 minutes so i didn’t hear much at all. Some Gooners have short memories though. Didn’t he score against the scum when we nicked 4th place?
April 10, 2008 at 14:29
GMR i tell you what form once we agree! great shout about playing djourou-looked classy last season and did well for brum this season
April 10, 2008 at 14:29
I noticed that too GMR.
April 10, 2008 at 14:30
steve-spot on mate it was him. just goes to show there are some idiots out there still (fortunately at arsenal just a minority)
April 10, 2008 at 14:32
makes me quite ill when I think who the previous incumbent of the no 6 jersey was prior to him getting it!!
out of respect Senderos should go in to AW and hand it back admiting he’s a fake impersonating a defender!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:34
Djourou can’t be any worse can he!! At least he has pace to recover whereas ponderous doesn’t. After sunday I wouldn’t mind Arsene even trying Nordveit who has been playing well in the few reserve games he’s played.
Wenger really needs to sort out the squad for next season & some youngsters can go, so he has a chance to experiment against teams like derby & reading etc.
April 10, 2008 at 14:34
Guys, just a quick note on the whole criticism of Flamini’s contract.
Last season Flamini was rarely involved, and did not warrent a new contract. I do not recall too many people moaning about him potentially buying out his contract.
He has been a revelation this season, which i do not think most fans, myself included, expected…and he has thus been rewarded a new contract.
My point is that there would not of been too many grumbles had he of gone pre-season. He has proved himself a vital player for us and therefore has been offered a contract this season!
April 10, 2008 at 14:34
there’s a difference between being happy and unfairly slagging off players and managers in a knee jerk fashion
sometimes it’s worth taking a bit of time before writing down one’s opinion, as often that heat of the moment feeling is more emotion than reason
I’m not happy but we played well at Anfield the other night, it’s no easy place to go and Liverpool are no mugs
We’re not perfect and it’s a shame we probably won’t win anything this year, but improvement has been ongoing and there’s no need for mass clear outs or doom and gloom
by the way I’m not accusing the authors of this blog of being knee jerk, however some people who jump on the slagging off bandwagon with their comments are rather guilty of it
April 10, 2008 at 14:36
Cheer up you lot!!!
Two women friends had gone out for a Girls Night Out, and had been decidedly over-enthusiastic on the cocktails. Incredibly drunk and walking home they suddenly realized they both needed to pee. They were very near a graveyard and one of them suggested they do their business behind a headstone or something. The first woman had nothing to wipe with so she took off her panties, used them and threw them away. Her friend however was wearing an expensive underwear set and didn’t want to ruin hers, but was lucky enough to salvage a large ribbon from a wreath that was on a grave and proceeded to wipe herself with it. After finishing, they made their way home.
The next day the first woman’s husband phones the other husband and said, “These damn girls nights out have got to stop. My wife came home last night without her panties.” “That’s nothing,” said the other. “Mine came back with a sympathy card stuck between the cheeks of her butt that said, ‘From all of us at the Fire Station, Well never forget you!’
April 10, 2008 at 14:36
1979-well said and is what i ahve been trying to say this morning but couldn’t put it into words like you just did!
April 10, 2008 at 14:37
There’s no way we should play Djourou……he’s been out for too long and needs to go back on loan to regain some first team experience.
Oh and my fave player this season?
Eduardo
Before anyone accuses me of going for the sorry vote…………..not at all.
He opened his account with a goal in the Emirates cup, worked his socks off in every game and hit top gear just before his tragic accident.
We all know deep down had he been available for the past few games, he would have scored and got us points.
April 10, 2008 at 14:38
pedro
if you want my real nomination its bakary by a country mile mate !!
most improved flamini – almunia ..
odub
sorry about the typo earlier .. i dont know bud on here ..
kicking in ….
it was just my dyslexia
April 10, 2008 at 14:38
jimbo .. my fukking point is that i dont fukking tolerate people slagging us off for being anti pc .. in fact, we are far too pc for my liking ..
there are 60K people in the stadium and you choose one guy to fukking hang us for being anti whatever shiit .. listen, stop bad mouthing our club .. we are the biggest softies around .. you must have some fukking hidden agenda here again .. dont trust you at all
April 10, 2008 at 14:38
I don’t think he’s trying to impersonate a defender. I know its not PC to say it but Senderos looks retarded & then you see him play & you know he is!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:39
To be fair to Phil he was looking good, a few weeks back, we all said as much, but you always knew he was a mistake waiting to happen, but two in one game in the quarter finals of the champions league are not good enough.
I remember when the sun printed a picture of Tony Adams with Donkeys ears, but I think he was quite young then, so even Tony’s been there.
Phil is old enough now though to not make schoolboy errors.
Chances of him going? nil, chances of Eboue going? nil
That’s the bit I don’t like about the boss, he won’t admit when he’s wrong.
April 10, 2008 at 14:39
Odub, LOL!
April 10, 2008 at 14:43
1979gooner, is 3 years knee jerk?? I wouldn’t think so myself!! Wenger’s had enough chances & whilst I do see your point about progression from the past two seasons the fact is he should never have allowed the team to fall apart in the first place, so that is also his fault!!
April 10, 2008 at 14:44
jimbo; didn’t hear any chants – sit between you and Steve and it was all quiet!
April 10, 2008 at 14:44
Too little too, late Paul.
April 10, 2008 at 14:45
1979
you ask for the truth and you get it here !
you have to admire it ! if you want a nazi rule both you and jimbo should go to
ACLF ! you would fit in well there , tell them ethan sent you
you can all sit around and praise how well weve done this year ..
how eboue is versatile and ade is TH14 waiting to happen .
that we were so unlucky with injuries (yet cant remember last year )
trust me .. im looking out for you !
no blood pressure would be raised
we all get what we want ..
you get delusion
and we get reality ..
everyone is happy
April 10, 2008 at 14:45
I was making so much noise I wouldn’t have heard it if they were sitting next to me!
April 10, 2008 at 14:46
BB – if you look at my post you’ll see i said fortunately at arsenal it’s only a minority. i love the fact that arsenal are well behaved fans, BUT if there is one idiot behaving like a scumbag, do you not think the stewards should do something?
April 10, 2008 at 14:49
steve-fortunately it was just one cunt who continually shouted “yiddo” every time he touched the ball. now of course i know spurs fans call themselves so could understand it if he played for spurs, but he didn’t so this was clearly a reference to him being israeli. just thought i’d sahre this in case there are any stewards reading who could do something next time!
April 10, 2008 at 14:50
ethan-i’m perfectly happy to listen to other people’s opinions, but you’re not gonna make me change mine!
April 10, 2008 at 14:50
Yeah jimbo….polite request…..if ignored, take the appropriate action.
April 10, 2008 at 14:51
Geoff, who is Paul?
April 10, 2008 at 14:52
ethan,
if you read what I have written, I’m not happy, I’m fucking pissed off!
However I am certainly not deluded.
As I have said, and said, and said, yes we need to add to the squad, yes we have our weaknesses that can be remedied.
Arsene is not perfect, far from it, we all have our weaknesses.
However this season has been a massive improvement on last year. It’s so f8cking undeniable.
We were a hair’s breadth from the semifinal, and we have been closer to the league title than we have for several years.
Good players don’t turn into donkeys overnight.
Adebayor has had a great season and scored 0.7 goals a game, a lots away from home.
The abuse he’s getting is ridiculous, compare to Torres who has scored loads of home goals against sh*t opposition and not many away at all. But he’s suddenly a world beater.
FFS get some perspective.
I wouldn’t be proud of being reactionary, it’s not big, it’s not clever, in fact it’s something one is often rather embarassed by a few days later, when one realise what a reactionary idiot one has been.
April 10, 2008 at 14:52
Ade is just a pain in the ass.Clearly overrated, and no Arsenal material.
Almunia is not a “world class” keeper. We need Akinfeev or Boruc. Please Wenger, don’t let arrogance get better of you..
April 10, 2008 at 14:53
I made him up Steve!
Didn’t really, he came on at 2.34 and he got stuck in the queue so I was being polite.
April 10, 2008 at 14:55
1979 we don’t have reactionary idiots on the blog, remember we don’t do that.
April 10, 2008 at 14:56
Fair enough jimbo, it’s never going to be completely eradicated. Personally, not being jewish I couldn’t comment on what is or isn’t acceptable because I’m not effected generally. I find it difficult to comprehend how it is o.k for 30,000 spurs fans to boast about “we are the yids” and nobody is ever ejected regardless of where they play, but if an Arsenal supporter shouted ‘yid’ at the top of his voice he’d be ejected, probably arrested for inciting racial hatred. Where should the line be drawn?
April 10, 2008 at 14:57
geoff
i read on arsenal now senderos is being sent packing come end of season .
jens – bert – and flamini are bound to follow ..
if that is correct i bet you wont see big phil again !
watch this space ..
Hey that was sugar coated before
April 10, 2008 at 14:58
1979-that’s a very good point about torres. no one is questioning his ability, yet he has scored less than ade, and as pointed out, many at home against shit opposition, plus a hat trick in the CC. and he cost 25mil!
April 10, 2008 at 15:00
1979 seeing as I’m not an Ade fan and have mentioned that a few times here, and also seeing that he hasnt scored a league goal in what 10 matches? Explain to me how the criticsm is not justified?
If this blog had been around last season I would have said the same thing… he isnt good enough to be classed as a top striker, and he never will be. He cant control the ball and he is so lazy with his runs it s untrue!!
why does the above statement make someone a reactionary idiot?!!
I’ve watche Wrighty,Begkamp,Henry,Campbell,Smith,Anelka over the years and he’s not as (and never will be) asgood as the above!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:02
Gooner7, Boruc is not world class, I watched him a few weeks ago in the Poland – USA friendly which Poland lost 3-0.
Almunia is better than him, I can’t say much about Akinfeev since I’ve never seen him in action, but with first team experience at CSKA Moscow, international pedigre and aged only 22, I’d take him as a number 3.
April 10, 2008 at 15:03
odub- i agree his control isn’t the best, but there’s no denying he scores goals. at the end of the day, he’s our striker and he’s paid to score and he’s done that with consistency this season up until he got knackered like the rest of them. a little break and suddenly he’s scoring again
April 10, 2008 at 15:03
1979, you initially came across as relatively sensible and made some wothwhile and valid points. You are now sounding like a condescending prick. Whilst it is your right not to be “a reactionary idiot”, it is ours to make that choice. So if you choose to believe that all is well and good in the camp and we have nothing to be concerned about do try to convey your opinion without being detrimental to those who have a difference of opinion old chap. It really is n’t “big or clever” to attempt to belittle anyone on here.
April 10, 2008 at 15:05
1979 gooner – no kneee jerk reaction; I just don’t rate ade pure and simple.
I didn’t rate him last season and I won’t rate him next season – even if he had scored 30+ goals he still can’t control the ball; doesn’t know what the offside rule is – watch him; he looks along the line and he still doesn’t know!! He can’t pass, he can’t link up… I feel like a fucking groundhog!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:08
jimbo .. who won the match at anfield? who turned senderos and scored an absolute screamer? who missed a sitter and scored the easiest of all? you tell me .. Torres scored 29 goals this season .. the one gainst us was a blinder .. thats more than Ade
Ade would never have scored Torres goal .. yet Torres would have scored the sitter that Ade missed
April 10, 2008 at 15:09
1979 gooner/jimbo -
Torres or ade – hmmm; let me think?
Torres – 1 chance – 1 goal against us on tues
against inter – same same – 1 chance – 1 goal
ade – oh; I fucking give up!!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:10
would torres have scored the goals ade scored at WHL? would torres have scored the goal ade scored against liverpool in first leg? there’s no doubting they have different qualities, but they have both scored plenty of goals this season, yet ade gets slaughtered and torres doesn’t. just doesn’t add up to me
April 10, 2008 at 15:10
go read the original post after the match and tell me that all the criticism of Eboue is fair.
I’m no Eboue fan but comparing him to Eddie McGoldrick is a bit OTT.
here a couple of comments after the game:
“I am absolutely enfuckingraged by that display last night.”
“We’re going backwards ffs!! back to the bad old days of finishing empty handed and finishing in the top 10 positions!!”
are these not reactionary, if not I don’t know what is?
April 10, 2008 at 15:11
BB- by the way if toure hadn’t given away that pen then ade would’ve won the match for us on tuesday and not torres.
April 10, 2008 at 15:11
Flamini leaving .. then we will get this guy from saint Etienne called Loic Perrin I reckon .. dont know much about him though ..
April 10, 2008 at 15:12
i’m entitled to my opinion (last time I checked!!) and I dont rate the guy, but as an Arsenal player, I’ll support him for as long as he stays with us (just as I supported Kaba Diawara,Christopher Wreh, Caballero,Luis Boa Morte – and every other striker that I thought was shit and turned out to be!!) And hope he becomes the next Batistuta,De stefano, pele or whoever else! But I just dont think it will happen
April 10, 2008 at 15:12
scuba-there’s no denying torres quality, but he was 25mil! they have scored similar amounts this season so that’s all i compare them by
April 10, 2008 at 15:13
You’re right, those comments are unfair to Eddie McGoldrick. At least he didn’t throw himself around the way Eboue does. Everything seems worse the day after a game so yes that does cause reactionary comments. Calling people idiots for making them though is far worse. It’s all about opinion.
April 10, 2008 at 15:14
It may be reactionary, but calling people reactionary idiots is being a reactionary idiot yourself, don’t you think?
April 10, 2008 at 15:15
steve-i wish some people would realise that on here before slagging me of constantly! just think it shows we’re all guilty of letting emotions get the better of us from time to time. but at least it shows we care!
April 10, 2008 at 15:15
Can we also take into account the appearances Torres has made as opposed to Ade. Benitez kept Torres out the team at the start of the season so he goal tally is in less matches making it more impressive.
April 10, 2008 at 15:16
You can bet though jimbo that chance for chance Torres would shit all over Adebayor. We create loads more chances than Liverpool do.
I’ll give you a scenario and you give me a truthful answer.
Torres and Ade have 5 1 on 1’s with Buffon one after the other. Who would your money be on to score most goals?
April 10, 2008 at 15:17
jimbo – point taken but I’ll bet that Torres will go on and score 20+ every season; ade won’t….. well; that’s my view wrong or right but as Steve has just said – it’s all about opinion
April 10, 2008 at 15:18
torres has scored 21 league goals in 30 games this season, ade has scored 19 in 31
not that much in it, especially considering torres has two hat tricks in recent weeks against mediocre oppsition
April 10, 2008 at 15:19
jimbo, it is good to have varied opinions. It’d all get a little boring if everyone agreed with eachother. Debates sometimes get a bit tasty but we all have the same objective untimately.
April 10, 2008 at 15:19
Steve – that was tooo easy peasy – Torres – 3 – 0
April 10, 2008 at 15:20
of course torres steve. but then give me 5 balls into the box, penalty spot length, and i reckon ade would score more headers. agreed?
April 10, 2008 at 15:21
So seeing as you’ve picked up on my comments from yesterday let me point something out to you.
When the team I support goes from winning the league one season to finishing 3/4 and battling with spuds for this honour I think we’re going backwards!! Why can’t we win back to back titles?! why can’t we compete every season instead of saying crap like ‘oh we didnt expect much this season, so we should be thankful we gave it a go!!’
The display i was enraged by was that of a central defender who couldnt defend and a right back that paniced and made a bad judgement. Even Gael Clichy came out yesterday and said it was ridiculous so was he a reactionary dickhead as well?!!
if you look back at the comments yesterday properly you will see i looked at individual players and the managers decisions were also criticised.
just one last point i’m not the kind of blogger who will drag a point on for 50 posts or crap like that so understand that this is the last post i will be addressing to you individually because I’m done.
I repeat my opinio as a fan, same as I’d have down the pub with my mates, and if any one of them was stupid enough to call me an idiot they know what would happen.
Have a good one chaps I’m off.
April 10, 2008 at 15:22
depends jimbo if swiss phil was marking if him or not
April 10, 2008 at 15:23
jimbo – 1979
i think its pointless … talking to you both …
some people just have no vision !
read what these chaps say above !
and did you say ade has scored more than torres ???
i think you need to goto bbc.com and look at the goal scoring leader board !
ade has been on 19 goals for 11 games !!!
thats 1000 minutes on the pitch .. with not a cracker to his name
how can you not be classified as’ NOT delusional’ ???
and ade has not scored against a top 4 club !
in the EPL ! He can do it against shite teams but not against
the teams we really need to beat !!!
also 1979
3 of his goals were from penalties !
3 was from a hat trick against a relegation bait team ..
leaving 13 goals from 28 starts and enough collective time to reach 30 games played
13 from 30 games is piss poor !
and then do we wish to start talking about his ball skill levels ???
jimbo said there not the best … HAHAHAHA!
underfuckingstatement of the millennium!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:24
Well said Odub, slagging your own off is not on.
So, whats been cracking?
What are we debating about?
April 10, 2008 at 15:24
Jimbo, thats in Torres first season in the premier league, you can bet your life he’ll get much better over the coming years.
April 10, 2008 at 15:24
Have a good one Odub
April 10, 2008 at 15:26
Have you seen Torres head a ball? He is just as clinical as Ade in the air. Although in fairness apart from the 2 yarder against AC Milan his heading has been good.
I think you’re getting me wrong here I rate Adebayor to a certain extent. I just think he has allowed himself to believe all the bollocks that was written. He’ll never be an Henry as long as he has a hole up his arse but Henry was a one off. He just needs to concentrate and stop being a fucking tool.
April 10, 2008 at 15:27
Goodnight Odub, have a goodun.
April 10, 2008 at 15:29
Your analysis is spot on steve, he is not our leading striker though.
So if you can get 25 goals out of RvP (That would work out at 5 a game the way his injuries go) and 20 out of your 2nd striker, you’d have a pretty lethal partnership.
Torres is top draw, GMR that is very true… he is going to be frightening next year.
April 10, 2008 at 15:32
ethan- doesn’t score against top teams? er milan? liverpool? utd last season?
and hat tricks? what about the fact torres has scored two against lesser opposition? if torres has been so good now, how bad must his stats have been at the start of the campaign?!
steve-yes torres can head a ball, just not as well as ade in my eyes.
and i do agree with you, since the praise he has gone off the boil a bit, just needs to knuckle down and get back to his best
April 10, 2008 at 15:33
pedro-yes this was my point early on. ade was not supposed to be our number 1 striker, if eddie and RVP stayed fit i believe he’d be our 3rd striker. so his record is pretty good considering this.
April 10, 2008 at 15:33
Pedro, Torres reminds me of Henry in his prime. He wasn’t really even in the game on Tuesday night, then he produces a moment of genius to score a great goal. Thats what Henry used to bring to the table for us!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:34
I think we are just a couple more signings away from bringing silverware to the emirates. There is no doubt in my mind that our first eleven that Arsene would play(if the whole squad stayed fit) would win this league even if man utd and chelsea had a fit squad all season aswell. But that hasnt happened this season and we have been very very unlucky with injuries. Rosicky for me is a key man and if Van Persie hadnt been out for most of the season then things would be so much different just now. I think if Wenger can sign a decent centre back, and a couple of wingers along with the squad he has got then next season the title is ours. We need flamini to sign aswell.
April 10, 2008 at 15:34
His stats probably were bad at the start of the season… but there is a little something called the 6 month settling in period to deal with!
Ade has been here for 2 and a half years now (Dont quote me) and he has had a purple patch… if he wants to be classed as great he needs to start scoring more regularly.
I have high hopes for him, he just needs to work on his first touch a bit.
April 10, 2008 at 15:35
Yeah his scoring record has been good… but when he says Eto’o and henry couldn’t displace him, you sense he is starting to believe his own hype.
I hope thats not true, but the dip is down to something!
April 10, 2008 at 15:36
at 25 mil he doesn’t deserve a settling in period!
look at eddie, he took about 10 weeks to get going and i have no doubt if he’d stayed fit he’d have been banging in goals like torres is
April 10, 2008 at 15:36
1979
did you just write this ?
sometimes it’s worth taking a bit of time before writing down one’s opinion, as often that heat of the moment feeling is more emotion than reason
THEN DID YOU WRITE THIS ?
ethan,
if you read what I have written, I’m not happy, I’m fucking pissed off!
However I am certainly not deluded.
END OF STORY ..
IF YOU THINK ADE IS GREAT – YOU ARE thou !
are these not reactionary, if not I don’t know what is?
POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK ???
I think theres a story in there somewhere ..!
April 10, 2008 at 15:38
ethan- i appreciate everyone has different opinions but i think it’s a bit rude to keep saying we’re delusional for having ours. cant you just say you disagree?!
April 10, 2008 at 15:43
torres has scored most of his goals against shit sides at anfield
ade has scored a lot of his goals away from home
ade is better in the air, better ar holding the ball up and not a diving little cheat
overall this season I’d argue Adebayor has been the more consistently high level performer
April 10, 2008 at 15:45
Flamini’s replacement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo%C3%AFc_Perrin
have a look
April 10, 2008 at 15:46
presisely jimbo,
we’re just delusional!
the abuse dished out to certain players has been reactionary, ethan should go read what some people have written,
there are many players much worse than Eboue, I agree he’s not good enough to be an Arsenal starter at right midfield, but he has played well at times,
it’s very convenient to make a few players the scapegoats, the easy option is often not the best way though
April 10, 2008 at 15:47
1979gooner – you almost had me until you said “better at holding the ball up”…. please
April 10, 2008 at 15:48
had enough talking to the mentally retarded ..
EPL jimbo ! EPL MATE ! man U last season ? dont think they carry over points somehow!
as for he wasnt our top striker what a load of cods !
he’s 24 when do you see him to be ready at age 45 ?
he isnt 18 like theo ! and theo has 10 times more skill than ade…
i cant go on ..
beating a dead dog .. this is the mentality of the tossers of ACLF !
)
he is one of them !!! its like having a root canal !
its like getting a wisdom tooth extraction ..
its like getting an enema ( so i heard
good night all grovers ..
and 1979 / jimbo
April 10, 2008 at 15:50
ethan-you seem like such a greta bloke as well, you sure you have to leave?
did i say he wasn’t ready? no, i said he’s not our top striker, RVP is and then eddie is.
your point about not scoring against the top teams, does last season not count? he still scored against them.
April 10, 2008 at 15:50
Guys, don’t make yourself martyrs…
Who gives a fuck if you are being reactionary? Life would be pretty fucking boring if every time something bad happened you just stepped back and said,
Imagine how boring the comments would be?
So, we’re not going to win anything this year, so some players have to be blamed? Or Arsene? But neither can be blamed according to you 1979?
April 10, 2008 at 15:51
Yes Torres does indeed score lots of goals against sh*t sides at Anfield, he done that exact thing on Tuesday night!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:53
GMR .. thats a bit harsh .. even for me ..
April 10, 2008 at 15:53
pedro-1979 did not say that. he said it’s not all doom and gloom. there are postives to take from the season which there are. he also said blame arsene for lack of transfers in the summer and january and he also said some players weren;t good enough.
so not sure why you thought that?
April 10, 2008 at 15:54
GMR- as did ade!!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:54
i will say one quickie !
we went into this season as
RVP and ade as our mainstream strikers .!!!!!!!!!
dudu didnt even play until RVP was injured
so don’t tell me ade wasn’t supposed to be 1 of the 1st 11 !!!!
you are delusional and forgetful !
and comparing torres to ade is like comparing Adolf Hitler to the pope !
April 10, 2008 at 15:54
GMR… catty!
Does it really matter who you score the goals against?
Goals are goals in my book.
What if you had a player who only scored goals against great sides? Would that make them better?
April 10, 2008 at 15:56
1979 said this:
April 10, 2008 at 15:56
jimbo – I think you’ll find that ade was the preffered choice to dudu at the start of the season – he was out for the first couple of games and then in the side ahead of dudu.. check the team sheet – even when RvP got injured ade started with hleb or rosickly and dudu was on the bench – ade was first choice striker!!!
April 10, 2008 at 15:59
I agree ethan
ade has been wofeul this year 19 in 31, fucking useless, couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo could he,
doesn’t score any spectacular goals (spurs.newcastle) and can’t head to save his life,
weak and physically frail too
sell him on, let’s bring in….Anelka
he’s such a team player, such a loyal fighter…..
April 10, 2008 at 15:59
Yes but so was torres for liverpool-are you saying he isn’t number 1? eddie was on bech due to settling in period we talked about earlier. IF RVP and eddie were fit all year i have no doubt they’d be first choice pairing would you not agree?
April 10, 2008 at 16:00
I wouldn’t agree with that… it would be RvP and Ade.
One player with Craft, the other with Muscle and Aerial ability.
They were lethal at the start of the year!
April 10, 2008 at 16:00
ade scored a shit easy goal on tues – torres scored a cracker!!
April 10, 2008 at 16:01
But as someone just pointed out-a goal is a goal!
April 10, 2008 at 16:02
Indeed I did Pedro and I stand by it,
you said this:
“Eboue has been so bad, it brings a tear to my eye.
He was so fucking abysmal tonight my brother nearly burst a blood vessel screaming at the screen. He can’t pass, he can’t finish… fuck… he can barely control the ball.
Tell me. What right does he have to play at Arsenal? He is atrocious. Bring back Eddie Mcgoldrick, Chris Kiwomya, David Hillier, Glen Helder… any of those shitters would do a better job.
How is this for Arsene humour. We had Eboue and Yaya Toure on trial at the same time and we kept Eboue (The first time we had him on trial in 2004)!
What a fucking joke…
Now onto Adebayor…
Ok, how can you slate a player who has bagged so many goals for you?
Well digest these facts,
* Marcus Stewart (19 Prem goals second top scorer 1999-00)
* Kevin Phillips (30 goals in a season top scorer 2000-01)
* Chris Sutton (19 Goals 1997-98 top scorer)
His first touch is outrageously bad. Why can’t he roll a pass back?
He holds the line like a school kid? I counted him offside 3 times in the first 15 minutes.
His finishing is poor. What possessed him to try and chip it to the far post when he was played through? Thierry, Wrighty, Bergkamp, Anelka, Wiltord… Kaba Diawara would have all buried that.
That my friends is the difference between greatness and going out in the quarters. ”
You are saying Eboue is worse than McGoldrick and that Adebayor misses chances that Diaware would have put away.
April 10, 2008 at 16:02
so what is it – a goal is a goal or torres only scores against shit teams?
April 10, 2008 at 16:03
A goal is indeed a goal… he should have scored the earlier one though… if he had, that to would have been classed as a shit easy goal.
I don’t know why I am slagging Ade off, I think he is a great player.
No one likes playing against him, he causes problems, runs his ass off… he is a great asset when he is on form and he can play up top on his own… a very rare skill.
April 10, 2008 at 16:03
jimbo,
RVP and Eduardo would not work well together in my opinion,
both like to drop off a front man and link with midfield,
I believe Eduardo and Ade complimented each other very nicely, until the injury
April 10, 2008 at 16:05
scuba-you missed my sarcasm in my last post!
April 10, 2008 at 16:06
Thing is though that I genuinely don’t see any real quality is our side. You have the odd player that can produce it like Cesc & Hleb but neither do it on a consistant basis. In Cesc’ case you shouldn’t even expect him to, he is only 20 & who has Cesc got in our squad that he can learn from?? Nobody, as he is the best midfielder we have.
Our team looks so average now & whilst you can’t have all world class players, it would be nice to actually have some. At this present time its only Theo that you believe will change the game when he comes on & surely that can’t be right!! Maybe with a couple of additions it would look different but I obviously just don’t have that optomistic nature.
April 10, 2008 at 16:06
no; actually I was taking the piss ;-0
April 10, 2008 at 16:08
Flamini and Sagna are out for the Man U game .. Flam is out for 3 weeks with ankle injury
April 10, 2008 at 16:08
GMR- i do understand your view, but we could potentiall be 3 points off top spot come sunday night-we must be doing something right.
as you say with a couple great additions it will be different
April 10, 2008 at 16:12
GMR,
I think we have a lot of quality, width is the problem for me,
we have not width on the left of midfield, ever, apart from when the Clichmeister goes mental,
on the right we have width with Eboue, but his end product and decision making are not up to it
April 10, 2008 at 16:13
1979, cut and pasting what I wrote doesn’t mean I’ll take it back.
That is exactly what I feel today. Ade is out of form and all of what I said was true.
Tell me the qualities of Eboue? Why is that unfair on him… he offers us nothing.
It really does bring a tear to my eye every time I see him on the team sheet. As for the comparison to Eddie… at least Eddie McGoldrick scored a goal for us and he won a trophy.
And as for the Diawara joke… it was a joke… to sum up how easy the chance was.
April 10, 2008 at 16:16
Jimbo, I think a couple of exciting players & it could look very different, but I will be absolutely stunned if Wenger signs such players & thats what gets to me. If Vela is supposed to be our hero next season then god help us!!
As for sunday its much more realistic to think we’ll actually be 9 points off the lead. Man Utd were the better team at our ground this season & they are playing very well right now. We have only 1 win against the other top 3 this season, not a very good record really.
April 10, 2008 at 16:19
I agree ethan
ade has been wofeul this year 19 in 31, fucking useless, couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo could he,
least we agree on something ..
you forgot to state the banjo has to be inside the 6 yard box .. because if outside
the 6 yard box he couldnt hit the ball with a T -rex’es ass !
considering the lions share of chances he has had .. and being the ONLY striker
alot of the time yes ! 19 is unforgivable ..
how many has he scored in the EPL the last 10 games ??
1979 ??? answer ??? please
i thought so ! you stupid retarded mushroom !
i just read your blogs !
1 comment !
yes a raging success !
i didnt check the comment but it was probably you …
hahaha
go back to ACLF !
where your delusional visions will be lapped up like rancid vomit !
pick on odub some more .. youll get some more from me !!!
go read this jokers pathetic blogging attempts ..
your just an argumentative twat !!!
fuck @ff!
April 10, 2008 at 16:20
o lord gilberto starts.. let the hammering begin
April 10, 2008 at 16:20
I’m off chaps. Heading up to the Wirral to stay with family (in-laws not blood thankfully) tomorrow, so have a short trip to the game on Sunday. Will be back on Tuesday to face more allegations of being fickle and a reactionary idiot if we lose. Adios Gooners. Have fun.
April 10, 2008 at 16:21
1979gooner, the only players I’d actually keep are Clichy, Sagna, Cesc & Theo (because he’s showing real promise). The rest are either injury prone or just not good enough. Flamini despite being a real worker isn’t the ideal partner for Cesc, but could be a squad player as could Adebayor. I love watching an on form Hleb but again its way too few & far between that he actually performs.
April 10, 2008 at 16:21
Qualities of Eboue?
well he’s a decent right back, I seem to remember getting to the CL final with Eboue in the side.
He’s quick, he is a decent defender and he does track back well from midfield. Early in the season Sagna and Eboue did form a very good unit down the right side of midfield in an attacking and defensive way.
He used to be able to cross, remember RVP’s goal of the season and Henry’s winner at teh Emirates against the mancs, both from great Eboue crosses.
He can drop a shoulder and he can beat a man.
I will also acknowledge that his performances, especially second half of the season have not been up to scratch, there has been far too much sloppy giving away of the ball and so little end product.
He is no way near as bad as you make out though.
April 10, 2008 at 16:22
Chill ethan, remember the blood pressure. You’re not a proper supporter if you strive for better than 3rd or fourth.
April 10, 2008 at 16:23
thanks ethan,
I’ll leave you to dig your own hole, you’re doing a great job, keep the insults coming!
April 10, 2008 at 16:25
1979… One assist is poor justification for him being a good crosser of the ball!
Kerrea Gilbert crossed well for Thierry… why not put him in right midfield?
If he was a good right back, why did we sign Sagna? Why did we suffer with him so badly last year?
Anyway. I am off now chaps, it was fun debating with you.
Happy blogging!
April 10, 2008 at 16:25
Flamini unavailable will be a huge test for our team. We’ve become so reliant on him as the engine of the team that we can’t imagine life without him. Song had a great African Cup of Nations tournament, yet hasn’t had a chance to play. I hope Wenger does.
Here’s a summer sales + experience boosting line-up (Manyoo experience adds value)
Fabianski
Justin Hoyte, Senderos, Gallas, Traore
Eboue, Gilberto, Denilson, Hleb
Walcott, Bendtner
Bench : Almunia, Van Persie, Fabregas, Adebayor, Toure
April 10, 2008 at 16:26
apparently you’re also not a proper supporter if you get behind the team no matter what ain’t that right steve!
April 10, 2008 at 16:26
very funny steve,
are you saying that some of us want no better than third or fourth?
if you are then I suggest you’re well wide of the mark, but to suggest that this season’s league form has not been an improvement on lasy year’s is simply wrong,
we have pushed manu and chelsea close, and actually been in contention to win it,
so I’d guess that makes me an improper supporter for suggesting that this season has been an improvement?
April 10, 2008 at 16:29
Pedro,
I agree with you to a degree, the end product has been too poor,
however all I’m saying is that Eboue isn’t as bad as some people seem to think,
and it certainly isn’t fair to make him the scapegoat for many of the team’s failings that are not his fault
April 10, 2008 at 16:30
1979/jimbo
I think what most of us here think is that yes this season has been an improvement BUT it could’ve been so much more had AW spent some cash last summer and in Jan -
Is that so fucking hard to understand? And when some of us travel here there and everyfuckingwhere we have a right to voice our opinions!!
April 10, 2008 at 16:31
That’s not to say those who don’t travel have any less right to opinions!!
April 10, 2008 at 16:32
i dont know whats worse listening to 1979’s rants or
realizing he believes what he’s saying ..
yes steve needed my blood pressure pills ..
now just need to find that shovel ?
to dig my own hole
and bury 1979 in it
April 10, 2008 at 16:33
scuba-i also travel here there and everywhere and even have the arsenal tatoo to show my loyalty, so i have a right to voice my opinion too. it’s when people like ethan start slagging us off that it gets a little unfair and makes a mockery of the debate.
i agree it could have been so much better, but i also know it could’ve been a whole lot worse had we believed ebverything in the papers pre season, so being an optomist, i’m banking on things improving even more next season. nothing wrong with that is there?
April 10, 2008 at 16:33
I also share Ethan’s sentiments in regards to Adebayor. A reason why alot of our midfielders like Hleb don’t score is because they can’t play ‘wall’ passes with Ade with any conviction. Hleb is not a Pires in terms of sniffing out a goal but I think he would score if someone indulged him every now and then. Problem is that with Ade’s rather sizeable ego and goal record, Hleb treats him like another Henry and bows to him at every turn. To be fair though, if you put Hleb in an under-14 team he would develop an inferiority complex towards the over-grown centre-forward.
That’s the problem I have with Ade, Eboue, Senderos in the team. These players feck up Wengerball and yet all the media say Wenger has to change his philosophy. It’s not the philosophy, it’s the fact that Wenger refuses to give that philosophy a chance to work properly by filling his team with tecnically astute players.
April 10, 2008 at 16:33
Wenger is frustrated.!!!!
Quaresma-Benzema-Eto’o-Zapata=(In)
Eboue-Diaby-Bendtner-Adebayor=(Out)
We are tired of fine-fine soccer but no trophy.
April 10, 2008 at 16:35
We have gone backward in some respects. our record against the top 4 was the best last season, something Wenger was very proud of and boasted about last season.
This season it’s probably the worst when it comes to head to head top 4 clashes,
That will hit a raw nerve, so I agree with Adebayor’s statement today, there will be a lot of changes at the end of the season. If we don’t beat Manyoo, we won’t have beaten a top 4 team this season in any competition.
April 10, 2008 at 16:35
jimbo, i’ve agreed with many of your points. I admire you for remaining positive when the chips are down. I wish I could see the glass being half full as opposed to half empty. Unfortunately i’m a natural pessimist. In the cold light of day when I’m sipping a cocktail in a beautiful balaeric bar come July I might even be singing from the same songsheet. As it is i’m deeply disappointed that we have fallen short again and can’t help but feel that it could/should have been avoided.
April 10, 2008 at 16:36
What about Chelsea in December finest?
April 10, 2008 at 16:37
jimbo – rule number 1 – never ever believe what you read in the papers!!
I also hope that things will improve but we need some quality players brought in – this is old ground and you don’t disagree… I’m just not so sure that AW will make the changes – not the right changes but changes full stop!!
I bet my tats bigger than yours!!
And that’s tat not tit!!
April 10, 2008 at 16:38
steve-that’s totally fair enough, and to be honest on tuesday night i felt the same. i was truly devastated that a season that promised so much 8 weeks ago disintegrated into this. but having had a chance to think about it, i’ve found positives from the season (theo, sagna,clichy, flamini, ade) and am confident this is the start of something big down at the grove. one thing we have shown this season is we do not give up. yes we have given silly goals away but they fight (cup games aside!) till the end and that is a sign of a great side in the making. cut out the defensive lapses and we’re there
April 10, 2008 at 16:39
you have a right to voice your opinions and we have a right to voice ours,
the lack of respect shown by some, mentioning no names, to their fellow fans just because they don’t agree with their opinion is not very impressive to say the least,
with respect, if managers and clubs responded to the reactions of fans all the time, then they’d end up with no stability like Newcastle, with a load of money spent on shit expensive players to keep the supporters happy and a team that is struggling to stay in the premieership,
stability and continuity atre important, while I agree with you that this sqaud needs adding to, it does not need massively overhauling and most of our current crop are up to the task
April 10, 2008 at 16:39
Someone mentioned Mourinho earlier. Here’s my take on him and Wenger.
Wenger has had a really very bad couple of months. There is probably no finer coach in world football, but there are plenty of better managers. His match management is poor, he is repeatedly out-thought on the touchline and his team selections dont do us any favours. But… in terms of coaching and overall vision of what football and footballers should be, there is no one to touch him.
Jose is the polar opposite. Nobody improves under Jose, but tactically he is one of the best there is. He is able to instill loyalty in his players (big time johnny players too) and they will run through walls for him. He is willing to change a game very early if something is wrong, and he usually gets it right. Coaching is not about improving individuals, but improving the team’s ability to win games.
But… the fundamental difference between the 2 is…. Jose has been out of work since September. If Wenger was in that situation, Barca, Real, Inter, AC, Bayern, and probably Chelsea would get rid of their manager (regardless of compensation costs) and do everything they could do to install Wenger as soon as poss. They would fall over themselves to get him.
What Wenger needs is a proper number 2. Fergie doesnt do coaching any more, he manages his team and their egos. Quieroz does the coaching. Wenger does everything, even the things he’s not good at. Pat Rice (legend) isnt earning his money. Wenger needs Tony Adams, or as someone else pointed out, George Graham to do the things he isnt very good at. Many is the time Ive sat at half-time thinking what substitutions we could or should be making, and often the best change we could make would be to take off Wenger and bring on Georgous George….
April 10, 2008 at 16:40
scuba-you can check mine out on the online gooner! go to the gallery section and then the tattoo section-mine is middle one of top row (you can make out my stripy shirt)!!
April 10, 2008 at 16:41
I also just find Arsenal have alot of idiosyncratic players. You just look at some of them and think they’re not the full shilling. Even Clichy, one of our best players, worried me long before those two cock-ups against City and Birmingham. There is a little bit of an auto pilot feel to some of our players when they should adapt to situations better.
April 10, 2008 at 16:44
Yes December you’re right Steve, I confused that for a second with lastseason’s 1-1, with our lack of wins it just seems like we’re never winning anymore.
So we’ve got 1 more point against Chelsea than last season.
I hope to see this lineup on Sunday:
Almunia
Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy
Walcott, Fabregas, Song, Hleb
Ade, RVP
Subs: Fabianski, Gilberto, Denilson, Bendtner, Senderos
April 10, 2008 at 16:45
Gidster – I asked yesterday what did PR do and nobody replied – SweetFA me thinks.
Like and agree with your post – so would moanrhino and AW be the dream ticket?
April 10, 2008 at 16:49
Ok Grovers two bloggers today have to be the same person, they seem to have come on just to cause rows, so I’ve binned them.
This site is for like minded people to have fun, not to argue for the sake of it.
It sure as hell isn’t to agree with me, but when people try and ruin everyones day, it’s time to stop.
So that’s what I’ve done, they can come back if they behave like bloggers and not like spanners.
I think you know who they are so I’ll leave it at that..
April 10, 2008 at 16:50
GEOFF- are you talking about me?
April 10, 2008 at 16:52
ok so apparently not as my comment appeared! i was gonna say i hope not cos i feel i’ve contributed to a decent debate today!
April 10, 2008 at 16:53
jimbo – you really are paranoid; chill
April 10, 2008 at 16:53
Yes I am Jimbo, I’ll let you on but stop the arguing, you have mentioned the word opinion about 150 times today, it’s time to get on with people not to piss them off.
April 10, 2008 at 16:53
got para cos my last few posts have taken a while to appear!
April 10, 2008 at 16:55
even if it was you
April 10, 2008 at 16:55
sorry geoff but i don’t think people here have a problem with me?! and i’m not posting as anyone else (check my IP addres). i’m getting on fine with people, steve even said before he’s agred with a lot of things i’ve said!
seriously if you’re not allowed to have an ….. on here then what’s the point? i must be in the wrong place but i thought this was a blog to share …..’s and debate things?
April 10, 2008 at 16:55
Mourinho would never get a job at Arsenal.
The board wouldn’t match his wage demands, he has no consideration for the clubs future, he busts transfer records. He’s a sugardaddy manager.
The football he produces for that money is high class Bolton stuff, so nope, he’s not suited to Arsenal.
Besides he loves Chelsea, and Chelsea will always be in his heart…..nobody who has ever made such an admission is qualified to take the reign at the Emirates.
We’d probably be better off with a coach who has a winning pedigree in another league top league in their country… French, Croatian….Chinese, any country in the world as long as it’s in their top league..Someone who has a consistent recent record of winning trophies and titles for their team.. Someone who has a track record of bring new players through. Someone who has 10 solid years of management in football with a consistently record over that time….that would be the perfect candidate.
April 10, 2008 at 16:59
Jimbo it’s not public domain, if it was I’d have all sorts of weirdo’s saying what they like and I can’t have that, at the same time if you keep arguing with people they’ll go somewhere else and I like all my Grovers.
You made your point this morning get a new one.
April 10, 2008 at 17:00
Is avram grant’s football MORE boring than Mourinho’s? its got to be. christ almight. I think they dont have the players at Chelsea to play any other way than bore the opposition to death. I heard Kenyon earlier saying that Grant hasn’t taken them to where they want to be yet. I think he will go if he does not win one fo the big two and even then he is on borrowed time next season.
As for the Liverpool-chelsea semi, the only ’semi’ I will be seeing that night wont be on the telly.
April 10, 2008 at 17:00
Time to get things in perspective I am as frustrated as anyone about this years shortcomings but I still believe Wenger is the best man for the job. The football we played earlier in the year was as good as it gets for me and I am sure Wenger was suprised at the early season quality. Injuries and luck have not been on our side this year and it is obvious we have run out of steam at the business end of the season. Arsene will already know this and I am sure will be looking to strengthen the side in the summer. I cannot see big name signings and that frustrates me but would a big name coming in upset the dressing room I have the feeling there will be 3 or four new faces with Gilberto and Lehman moving on Eboue will stay no doubt as back up for Sagna as it seems he is popular in the dressing room and is a handy squad player. I am impressed by Diaby I think he is quick and commited and we will shortly see the best of him. I would not have a clue who to expect through the door in the summer but I am sure Arsene has a good idea we will of never heard of them most likely and wont until they sign on he dotted line Arsene has done a great job and whilst I personally would like to see some silverware soon I am happy to be patient and would rather a bucket load of important trophies come our way in the next few seasons.
April 10, 2008 at 17:04
sorry i’m new to this site. now i know we can only talk about a certain subject for one morning i’ll refrain from repeating myself and letting the debate drag on throughout the day
April 10, 2008 at 17:04
Finest – my comment was just tongue in cheek ftr
I think someone is needed to help AW whereas if I read your post right it sounds more like replace AW?
April 10, 2008 at 17:06
Diaby keeps being touted as the next Pat Viera…….I hope he’ll live up to that comparison one day. The signs are there, but he’s still got a long way to go.
April 10, 2008 at 17:06
Here is the link for that Dunphy/Brady thing. It shows more than the clips on Youtube and the whole thing is hilarious not just the John Cleese bit. Souness really slates Senderos, so does Dunphy. Click on the clips on the right.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0408/cl_tues_av.html
April 10, 2008 at 17:08
pandemonium…. we’ve all gone bonkers!!!
good evening people.
April 10, 2008 at 17:11
Ok Jimbo good, now you understand the rules of engagement. Difference of opinion fine, arguing not fine.
April 10, 2008 at 17:11
ScubaGooner, nope, I’m pro-Wenger all the way, I believe he’ll sort things out by the time his contract expires. He’s had his cage rattled and he’ll come up with the goods for next season.
There have been plenty of factor’s beyond Wenger’s control this season, but I’ll think he’ll learn from that, be better prepared, correct what’s in his power to and hopefully we’ll start next season as we have this one….and finish in a similar fashion.
April 10, 2008 at 17:11
Scoob… depends on whether you can tolerate The Special Twat… the reason none of the big clubs have moved for him is because he is insufferably obnoxious. However, he was dead right in his comments about Wenger recently, even if he does make his point in the most repulsive way possible.
Personally, having supported Arsenal for 30 years, I dont mind going several seasons without winning a trophy. No new news there… What I dont like is being in a position where its ours to lose… and then losing it.
April 10, 2008 at 17:14
I dont think we need a new manger he just needs a bit of help T.A sounds perfect for the defence I dont know what P.R does just take the bllocking from A.W when it goes wrong me thinks
April 10, 2008 at 17:14
fair enough geof–as long as the rules about abusing people apply to everyone (inc regulars) i’m cool with that!
April 10, 2008 at 17:16
1979 this one is for you, I know you weren’t the same person, I see the addresses, I was being sarcastic, all you’ve done all day and previously is take the high ground and argue with others, you made your point so move on.
This is not an argument site, it’s a site for like minded people, if you’re not one then don’t come on.
This is a place for people to let off steam, not wind people up, you’re welcome back if you stop.
April 10, 2008 at 17:20
Good call Terry but will it happen? he’s done a great job at Portsmouth hasn’t he?
April 10, 2008 at 17:20
Gidster – no; I couldn’t tolerate the that cunt for one minute, I asked the question tongue in cheek.
Whilst I understand where you’re coming from; can’t agree with going several seasons without winning a trophy – said earlier AW raised the bar and now we expect, DEMAND that he keeps us there…..
We’ve been in that “ours to lose” position before and lost it – I just hope he reacts and makes the changes… only time will tell.
April 10, 2008 at 17:23
TA made a comment recently -Times or Telegraph – that AW was just keeping the seat warm for him!! I think he would want to come back – he was/is Mr Arsenal afterall – what about him and DB10 for the future?
April 10, 2008 at 17:29
SCUBA-if that happened and it worked it would be unbelievebale-BUT if it didn’t work i’d be gutted that the last thing those two legends did for us was be crap managers!
April 10, 2008 at 17:36
hmmmm…….never considered the downside to that – fair point.
I think the risk would be worth taking though…..
Maybe keep AW locked in a cupboard upstairs for any emergencies though
April 10, 2008 at 17:37
yeah i guess it could be a risk worth taking-it worked for graham after all! surely AW, with TA and DB at his side would be the most phenomenal combination-adams for the defence, dennis for the creative players and wenger for everything else. would be a dream!
April 10, 2008 at 17:43
Hi lads
I just like to say that i am a big fan of the blog, been reading it since new year & it’s almost becoming part of my daily routine .
First of, i agree with most people here regarding AW, the man has done a great job & no one can deny that, but he needs to wake up & smell the cofee!
He needs to spend serious money on at least 3 world class players, CB, Winger & classy forward. otherwise we’ll be fighting likes of Everton & Spurs for 4th next season.
The ciniq side of me feel he doesn’t want to spend the cash so he would have no pressure put on him ( must deliver if you spend big), there’s not point building a big stadium if you don’t have a geat team. (they go hand in hand)
April 10, 2008 at 17:43
I have often though about TA and DB together as a management team but the TA record as a manger has been poor and has Dennis got the personality?
The fact that we are talking like this is interesting
Still feel fed up when will it get better have had work mates treat me as if someone has died, keep telling time is a good healer
April 10, 2008 at 17:44
This is for you 1979. First of all, you weren’t arguing with me today, you were arguing with just about everyone else, so my opinion doesn’t matter.
Secondly we can criticise Arsenal and the manager as it’s our football club and this is not the Soviet Union under Stalin, if we didn’t talk Arsenal, there would be no blog.
You have your own web site, why don’t you concentrate on that?
We have a happy blog here and your input was threatening that, so I took you off.
As I would anyone that was upsetting the flow of this site. Jimbo is back on as he promised to follow our rules of engagement, which are clearly written at the top of the page.
I also said if you stopped acting in a high handed manner and stop looking to irritate you were welcome back on.
Threatening me is not the way forward and it’s not very smart for someone who has taken the moral high ground all day.
April 10, 2008 at 17:48
Welcome to Le Grove Abdenor, I have to agree with everything you’ve said.
if only that cheque book would come out eh!
April 10, 2008 at 17:50
geoff-in fairness the blog has been pretty good and interestting today and personally i feel everyone has contributed to that in their own way (inc myself and 1979). i understand you have regulars but i don’t really i’ve upset anyone and i certainly haven;t been as abusive as some people have been towards me. i like the concept of this site (i.e. a break from the norm where everyone can have an opinion), but it did feel today like cos we’re the new guys and we had a different opinion we were treated harshly by yourself. anyway just thought i’m mention that to you to see what you thought.
tomorrow is another day and at the end of the day we’re all gooners who want the best for the team, we just show it in different ways!
April 10, 2008 at 17:51
466!!! Fuck me another record breaking day despite the aggro
AN Steve – I think TA has learnt alot under Harry but you have a valid point. DB – he’s apparently a great guy with fantastic personality; I think he’s seen outside as the Iceman but within the Highbury walls he was well respected by all the team/management/backroom and not just for his skills – I think his personality would surprise a lot of people….. I think he’d be a better choice than TA if I had to choose one or the other
April 10, 2008 at 17:55
well I am off back onn the road for a couple of hours SCuba proberbly right DB10 would be very interesting as he is the AW mould.. ie got brains
But the TA maybe trained up now I suppose could do it
as Harry hill would say teher is only one to find out FIIIII….
April 10, 2008 at 17:55
jimbo that would be a great idea AW TA & DB lighten the load for Wenger.We might have to kidnap tony from pompy Geoff
April 10, 2008 at 17:55
right guys was a pleasure-will be back tomorrow to discuss more gooner related topics!
have a good night
April 10, 2008 at 17:55
Jimbo as you said tomorrow is another day, same goes for 1979, but I have to keep order as I have people that have been blogging for a lot longer than a day. And I don’t want to lose them, and it was getting argumentative.
Start afresh tomorrow.
Scuba you’re right on both counts, a record breaking day and the Iceman, I think he’ll start to have a say on all sorts, including influence on transfers, dare I say?
April 10, 2008 at 17:56
Geoff, I think that your appraoch is even handed , i have only recently began bloggin here , the rules seem clear and fair enough to me.
I like the fact that I can be truly open about my current feelings without reprisal or blinkered ridicule.
Keep up the good work !!!!
April 10, 2008 at 17:56
Jimbo – I’m new as well the secret is to make the point and move on – I haven’t agreed with every comment on here by the regulars but I make my point and then move on – BB and I disagree totally about Gilberto; today we had a lovein about ade, and so it goes…read some of the previous posts and comments not everyone agrees word for word…
April 10, 2008 at 17:56
Terry I’d have them both, Dennis and Tone!
April 10, 2008 at 17:56
I have noticed comments go through the night for the real insomniacs
April 10, 2008 at 17:58
I bet you had to look that up didn’t you, insomniac!
April 10, 2008 at 17:59
fuckin right cant spell tha complicated word
April 10, 2008 at 17:59
Has TH14 made any comments about CL since our exit ?
April 10, 2008 at 18:04
Whats up chaps?
just got in and seen Flam’s out for 3 weeks!!! Oh well we’ve got Gilberto to fill in.
Doesnt 3 weeks mean he more or less misses the rest of the season? If so has he played his last game for the arsenal?
April 10, 2008 at 18:05
No; he should be back to say his farewells at Sunderland
April 10, 2008 at 18:06
What do you think Flam is worth a week?
April 10, 2008 at 18:10
I don’t know Patdig, but surely this is a great opportunity to see what Diaby can do in the middle, I think he has Viera qualities, or even Hleb, trying something strange, like playing a center midfielder in the center, it may work!
April 10, 2008 at 18:13
Personally I am still mourning the lose of Diarra , I would love PV4 to be re-incarnated in Diaby. Not sure Hleb could cope as we would still need to shoot .
April 10, 2008 at 18:13
I dont think he’s worth anymore than cesc or Gallas. What are they on?
people bang on about how dynamic he’s been and all that, but if he starts holding us to ransom, I’d show him the door, shame we wont get a penny for him now aye!!
Good player but I prefer the old make up when we had 6 footers all round the park! intimidated the fuck out of people when Vieira,Petit and co came running at you!
I remember harry redknapp once saying he watched arsenal come out against his team once they were all bigger and fitter, and would win anything from a 100m dash to a wrestling or football match!!!
looks like he’s modelled his team on that doesnt it?!! he’s got big lumps all over the park at pompey hasnt he?!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:18
Odud he isnt worth the same as CESC , no way , he is versatile , but for me he is replaceable.
In essence he carries water well !!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:18
Good post guys. My net fucked up yesterday so I wasn’t able to visit the Le-Grove. I read a post on arsenalanalysis.blogspot, still there were ARSENE KNOWS comments going on which is beyond me. It is clear that Arsene had the opportunity to strengthen the team in January but all he did was to sell DIARRA and sign a fucking 15 year old. The team really got tired afterwards and let the title slip. There, I have to say ARSENE DIDN’T KNOW. The most ridiculous thing is Arsene knows brigade even support Eboue saying he was the best fullback in the road to final against barcelona. I hope that cunt fucks off to AC milan as their have been rumours that they want him and clear the way for our amazing THEODONA. I bet my life Eboue couldn’t have make that run in all his life which THEODONA made after just 7 minutes on the pitch.
Today we are linked with another 20 year old. Capel. I’ve seen him I don’t think he’s something special. Ben Arfa is much better than him. As for Zapata I haven’t seen much of him. I would prefer a big commanding Centre back along with Gallas. As for Toure although he is a very good all-round player he is not gr8 defensively. How about signing Cannavaro(keep on dreaming) although he is not big he’s the most astute defensive player along with Nesta. Imagine having a back four of:
SAGNA-CANNAVARO-NESTA-CLICHY(AGAIN keep on dreaming)
Also replace that fucking cunt ADE with some quality. RVP and ROSICKNOTE make me sick. My friend told me yesterday that their medical bills are much more than their wages but ARSENE loves charity so he won’t dump them and bear all their medical bills along with wages. My friend a cunt so is Arsene.
GO GO THE ARSENAL, UP THE LE GROVE
April 10, 2008 at 18:18
Sorry Odud meant to say that means i agree with particularily about Harry.
April 10, 2008 at 18:19
Its time to see if Diaby can begin to fill PV4’s shoes; we’ve heard the hype but now I like to see if its going to happen.
As Geoff rightly says now is the ideal opportunity; it’ll also give us some insight to what AW thinks about him too.
He ain’t a left winger that’s for sure
April 10, 2008 at 18:19
Odub sorry to keep spelling your name wrong
April 10, 2008 at 18:22
Diaby is been missued on the left, better in the middle and agreed he has got a touch of PV4 about him!
Patdig dont worry about it mate! I’ve been called a lot worse things in my time see above!!!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:24
Good post guys. My net fucked up yesterday so I wasn’t able to visit the Le-Grove. I read a post on arsenalanalysis.blogspot, still there were ARSENE KNOWS comments going on which is beyond me. It is clear that Arsene had the opportunity to strengthen the team in January but all he did was to sell DIARRA and sign a fucking 15 year old. The team really got tired afterwards and let the title slip. There, I have to say ARSENE DIDN’T KNOW. The most ridiculous thing is Arsene knows brigade even support Eboue saying he was the best fullback in the road to final against barcelona. I hope that cunt fucks off to AC milan as their have been rumours that they want him and clear the way for our amazing THEODONA. I bet my life Eboue couldn’t have make that run in all his life which THEODONA made after just 7 minutes on the pitch.
April 10, 2008 at 18:25
Today we are linked with another 20 year old. Capel. I’ve seen him I don’t think he’s something special. Ben Arfa is much better than him. As for Zapata I haven’t seen much of him. I would prefer a big commanding Centre back along with Gallas. As for Toure although he is a very good all-round player he is not gr8 defensively. How about signing Cannavaro(keep on dreaming) although he is not big he’s the most astute defensive player along with Nesta. Imagine having a back four of:
SAGNA-CANNAVARO-NESTA-CLICHY(AGAIN keep on dreaming)
Also replace that fucking cunt ADE with some quality. RVP and ROSICKNOTE make me sick. My friend told me yesterday that their medical bills are much more than their wages but ARSENE loves charity so he won’t dump them and bear all their medical bills along with wages. My friend a cunt so is Arsene.
GO GO THE ARSENAL, UP THE LE GROVE
April 10, 2008 at 18:28
holy shit its goona make 500 posts well done le grove
April 10, 2008 at 18:31
Goodnight all!!
Sagna, Cannavaro, Nesta, Clichy – it’ll be dreamland tonight…. can I include Kaka and bring DB10 back for another 3 seasons?
Oh how I wish!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:31
Diaby could become thenext Vieira. But for me after his toe broke he got too much injury prone and we cannot rely on him for a whole season as our main man.
April 10, 2008 at 18:31
to me Diaby looks a bit like Muntari..good shot and can take people on.. he aint no Vieira as me thinks he lacks defensive mindedness .. Wenger said the same .. still doesnt make him a left winger .. rather an offensive central midfielder
April 10, 2008 at 18:34
ill have the 500th thanks very much,
April 10, 2008 at 18:35
Sod Cananvaro! too short!! Metzelder,Richards,Wheater yes….Nesta HELL YES!!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:36
that’s typical you isnt it chris??!! 2 comments all day, and just ‘happen’ to pop up for post 500!!! glory hunter!
April 10, 2008 at 18:36
Diaby on the left is the equivelent of a criminal offence in footballing terms, the guy is about as central a midfielder as you can possibly get, i’d much rather Traore played there or even Walcott. I know Wenger transformed Henry from left wing to central striker and Petit from left back to central midfielder, but his experiments this season have been baffling. theres Diaby, Eboue, he’s used Bentdner left wing. Eduardo left wing, Toure right back, Van Persie played left wing against Chelsea. Is it Wengers’s ego or stubborness making him do this, i swear he’s on a one man mission to prove to the world he can win things by not spending money and unless he swallows his pride and splashes the cash we can kiss goodbye dreams of winning the title and keeping players like Fabregas and Clichy.
April 10, 2008 at 18:37
What about that moody spud Berbatov, would you want him or not ?
April 10, 2008 at 18:37
le grove is too much right now i cant keep up mate, and there is a lot of fakers spoliing it all,
April 10, 2008 at 18:41
I know!! I got the hump earlier luckily i could leave the office early or i would have had to put up with some cnut telling me i’m an idiot!! I come here for light hearted banter not to be insulted, I doubt he’d pull the samething in a local pub and leave with his teeth intact!
Anyway Geoff’s in charge of all that!
April 10, 2008 at 18:42
Ade,barbitov,torres,eto’o….pick one?!!
April 10, 2008 at 18:43
Cant want them all
1 Torres
2 Eto
3 Ade
4 Berba
April 10, 2008 at 18:44
Ideally though
Messi
Riberry
A young Bobby P would be my dream
April 10, 2008 at 18:46
you are wise young patdig!! lol
not a lot of world class strikers about at the mo is there?! We’ll see what the Euros bring.
messi, borjan young and exciting talents to add to the list.
April 10, 2008 at 18:49
Agreed problem with the Euros is that I will start dreaming again , only probaly watch all the best talent head to Barca ,Real, Spam U, Scouse land, Chelski and probably Bayern Munich , before it heads our way .
Never mind I am sure we will sign a 12.13,14 & 15 yr old. Still here’s praying Vela can come through
April 10, 2008 at 18:50
lol i’d rather have world class defenders than world class strikers next season.
April 10, 2008 at 18:51
Sorry forgot to add AC , Inter,Juve , Ajax and QPR to my list
April 10, 2008 at 18:58
Anyone want to see Lehmann start over almunia?
almunia has been great this season but if ronaldo gets past our defense would you really want almunia the person to try to stop him for the weekend?
All you need to do is watch Lehmann against argentina in the World cup in 06 to find that answer.
Id LOVE to see theo and RVP start against man u. adebayor wasting chances makes me fucking sick. He would be a great back up but just the fact that he just cant put it a way enough should let the start over him.
and we need a tall quick center back like Mertesacker or even sergio ramos who can basically play any position and the back while still come forward to help the attack.
i think eboue should be kept but as a backup rb and we should sell hoyte.
traore, for only 18, is good so we should hang on to him.
and for flamini… He is NOT worth over 60,000 a week. he isnt that quick and he is 5′10 so he isnt that big. we were linked with miguel veloso at the start of the season and that would be an amazing signing because he can defend AND score.
for the weekend id like to see diaby start with cesc in the center with hleb and (sadly the only “rw”) eboue, because there is basically no other person to go there unless he brings in gilberto and pushes cesc out, but then cesc has no say in what happens in the game.
Hopefully we will see the good german back in goal.
April 10, 2008 at 19:10
Why is there suddenly a lack of comments?
Now I’ve got nothing to do again
April 10, 2008 at 19:12
Berbs for sure… he is the most classy player Ive seen in our league since Bergkamp. Putting aside the Spuds thing, and our deep rooted love of the Berg (Henry was great, but Bergkamp is Cult..), I think Berbs is as good as Bergs… he is of the required class to make us great… Cesc to Berbs would give me a much warmer feeling than Cesc to RVP or Cesc to Ade currently does…
April 10, 2008 at 19:20
Berbs would suit our style best .. as he can play too..Etoo is very much a goals obsessed man without too much cares about interplay .. doubt though whether that spuds cunt would come to us . he really looks like a sulking dick..what about raiding west london for our own Nik?
April 10, 2008 at 19:28
Chris and Odub, the problemo was dealt with, tomorrow will be irritant free!
April 10, 2008 at 19:39
just checking if I’m still barred?
April 10, 2008 at 19:46
1979 Gooner, read what Geoff said.
If you can comply, welcome back… if not, well…
I’m off for half hour, so comments might be slow getting through.
April 10, 2008 at 20:00
A thought just ran through my head. What if some club offered 25 mil or some massive sum for Adebayor. Would Wenger turn it down? Could there be an Adebayor fan out there willing to splash 20m + on him? I have a feeling some club could make an offer he could not turn down. Or maybe Newcastle, they don’t mind getting ripped off. Can you imagine Kevin Keegan rubbing his hands together and rejoicing that he’s got Adebayor?
Oh and shit, I’ve just thought of the most evil touch….some club buying Henry and Adebayor together….Kevin Keegan would love that.
April 10, 2008 at 20:04
Drogba is going, so Chelsea could get him to play alongside Anelka.
April 10, 2008 at 20:06
For me make a statement and be serious ETO’ , Ronaldihno, either one would be great and the money obssessed board would get the money back on shirt sales alone, can you imagine the buzz around the cluc on the first day of the season .
But The reality is scrooge wenger will not sign either and another crop of south american 15 year old paper boys will be signed and loaned out to our spanish feeder clubs for 10 years until they get a passport!!!!!
Finally I just heard the funniest thing for a long time on sky sports news, That Useless fat dirty bastard Grame Roberts said that spurs are a big club with big plans for a new 55,000- 60,000 stadium ,which he says they will fill, and in his thick concussed stupid head says that there as big as arsenal if not bigger.
REALITY CHECK STUPID , mOST OF THE SPUD FANS THAT GO HAVE NEVER SEEN A CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM,
EVEN IN OUR SHIT SEASON , THIS YEAR THEY ARE 30 POINTS WORSE OFF THAN US AND HAVE NEVER PLAYED IN ANY EUROPEAN CUP MATCHES FOR 40 YEARS .
ROBERTS YOU ARE A KING SIZED PRAT STICK TO TALKING ABOUT SECOND RATE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL.
April 10, 2008 at 20:11
Sven would pay top dollar for Adebayor as welll……he bought Benjani…, Shin likes big names (which is why he got Sven as manager)…..
Harry would as well, but he’d want a discount, he can have Eboue, Gilberto or any other bits of dead wood.
Steve Bruce of Wigan likes Arsenal didn’t make it’s/ past it’s as well.
Plenty of clubs to flog the dross to.
April 10, 2008 at 20:23
Get Ronaldinho.
We don’t remember only the trophies, we also cherish dennis bergkamp, Henry, or Pires. Like that, we need great players. So, please Bring Ronnie. First, we need David dein back at the club. He will get us the Henrys, Pires, Dennis bergkamps, and the Vieras. (Remember that all four players were all playing for their country, and proven talents before joining arsenal, compare that to this team!? None. So it’s high time we get proven talents than wait for our Arrogant old man to groom, and grow talents)
April 10, 2008 at 20:27
I wonder how many of those on loan and in the youth team will come into the first team next season. Maybe Wenger will buy a striker to replace (temporarily Eduardo), someone for Rosicky (plus he might decide to keep him), and just promote from within. Stick with the same players, Buy to replace the above 2 and any others that may leave could be promoted from within. I could see that as a possibility, so less senior players such as Denilson , Diabyand Song could take senior positions, and those that were on loan + reserves couild take their place.
April 10, 2008 at 20:39
Arsenals future maybe??
/Mannone/Fabianski/Almunia
Eboue/Sagna, Senderos/Toure/Nordveit/Gallas/Djourou, Clichy/Traore
Walcott/Vela, Fabergas/Denilson/Diaby, Flamini/Denilson/Song, Hleb/Diaby
Van Persie/Adebayor/Eduardo/Van Persie
I think Justin Hoyte, Rosicky and Gilberto could be the two most likely to go, and to replace those who replace them, i think those coming back from on loan who have done well will get those slots.
Maybe Huntelaar or Eduardo in front in future, and the rest could keep their roles, so Denilson busier, taking Gilberto’s role and taking on the matches he would.
Wenger can replace all those he has sold from within and maybe buy for key positions, I can’t wait to see who he buys and sells.
April 10, 2008 at 20:42
We’re NEVER gonna get Ronaldinho, lets get serious…..these are not the kinds of players he buys. He buys players like Eduardo…..Huntelaaar maybe.
He hven said himself that Ronaldinho is no longer considered the best in the world. Wenger doesn’t buy a player after their peak.
There are up and coming players who are performing better than Ronaldinho, and available for less.
April 10, 2008 at 21:18
It would be nice to get him! Fallen star turned great again under Arsene… but signing him would be the most unarsene thing ever!
Give me a young Eto’o or a young Zidane! Dreamland I know!
Although I am getting good vibes about Gourcouff for this summer, he seems to fit the bill, young… played for a big club so would appreciate some playing time and a 2nd crack at the whip and he’d be relatively cheap.
We shall see though!
Great days blogging chaps!
Till tomorrow!
April 10, 2008 at 21:56
Good day Grovers and good night!
April 10, 2008 at 22:45
I may have no taste in players but I reckon N’Zogbia could do a job for us.
Quick, great left foot, good engine and could give us some width down the left.
He’d be a french Ray Parlour type with a tad more class (sorry Ray).
April 10, 2008 at 23:44
Huntelaar is several orders better than Walcott. He would be an impact player straight away.
All I know is Wenger needs to spend a little more money than usual otherwise it’s going to continue being good not great teams that scrape by into the top 4, play pretty deep into CL and fizz out every year.
A 1 year run like that for a smaller club would be great, but Arsenal has to expect more of itself.
April 11, 2008 at 02:15
“Can you imagine a real Arsenal fan being happy with this season and no silverware.” I’m sorry but that’s a ridiculous comment. Saying that fans are not real fans (real fans being a hilariously over-used and made-up concept), if they do not vent anger just because we havn’t got any silverware. The only people I’ve heard obsessed about shiny cups in their trophy cabinet is spurs, some of who’s fans genuinely believe winning a cup that no real team takes seriously makes them better than us. I’d much rather be “always the brides-maid never the bride” than marry the fat ugly girl who noone else wants despite the fact if they wanted they could have her.
Our performances as a team and as individuals has improved greatly from last season, and will continue to do so. We’ve got more point already than we got in all of last season, and are much closer to Utd than we were this time last year. No Arsenal fan will be celebrating this season’[s achievements, but fans should be happy and contented in the knowledge we would have won the league already had it not been for a ridiculous number of injuries to the squad, not to mention diarra’s tantrums meaning we had to sell him. The squad on paper was and still is very strong. The only real area with a lack of good cover is out wide, and with rosicky out so much that has hit us hard.
In terms of the size of our club we are a big club, but we shouldn’t expect to beat a team like Man Utd who are the biggest club in the world, and Chelsea who have probably the most expensively assembled squad in the world. However we were still on our way to winning the title, despite our best forward by a fair bit in van persie being injured nearly all season, our main central midfield back up being injured (denilson) or leaving (diarra), and our main goal threat from midfield (rosicky) being out for most of the season. The Eduardo injury was an injury and incident too far, not just because we were already stretched, but also with the impact id had on the minds of young players already exhausted from having to play non stop because of injuries and such like.
If we win on sunday our incredibly young, tired, and injury hit squad are still very much in the title race, and have only gone out in the champions league due to poor refereeing mistakes. Arsene will make signings in the summer, but there is no need whatsoever for wholesale changes, we have an incredibly talented young squad who for most of the season were the top team in the country, and will only get better.
April 11, 2008 at 03:55
A
I’d much rather be “always the brides-maid never the bride” than marry the fat ugly girl who noone else wants despite the fact if they wanted they could have her.
-does that mean you think chelsea as a bride is ugly ?
(currently he’s the 2nd best looking guy on the block !)
-or arsenal so UGLY it couldn’t get past the 1st date ??
dont worry odub we gave 1979 some bollocks !
i was especially nasty
You have to be stone wall crazy ( or american ) to come on and debate the trash
he was ranting on about , like A said
“Can you imagine a real Arsenal fan being happy with this season and no silverware.” I’m sorry but that’s a ridiculous comment.
I agree with that 110% , trying to find solace , or a silver lining in this season is just pathetically stupid .. I dont think he realizes that this is just another photo copy
of last season minus freddie and TH14 .. And that its just another year thats past
with the same old BS excuses re-hashed from the previous season before ..
And most people are sick of it ..
Also to back ade and eboue is just naive and shows that for a man who runs a blog how
ridiculously 1 eyed the man is ! No footballing acumen what so ever !
11 games with no goals in the EPL ! and during these games we’ve gone from 5 points clear to 6 point in the red !!! HELLLLLLLLOOOOO?
Spelling it out, for me would just be going over old ground . But its not just ade’s lack of goals .. its his touch and refinement as a player . Im not saying he’ll NEVER be any good . Because whilst there are people like flamini around , you can never 100% know
that any one player will always be doomed to fail forever! but currently yes !
SO FUCKING ADMIT IT !
Even if the cunt scored 2 goals a game with touch like his has id still ride him !!!
Because its UN-Arsenal !!!
Enough said on ade ! and never get me started on the topic
because unlike some i blame his lack of goals and lack of touch for ruining this season in the final stretch ! 100% I blame wenger for playing him also !
and wenger for never starting theo up front !!! UP FRONT !!!
I want to see theo as the spear head for 1 game (with no ade in the team !)
I want there to be no excuses for theo not to receive the ball !
just to see what he does with it …
I cant believe wenger is so stupid for not trying it !
and i believe that RVP and theo upfront
is 100% the way to go !
We all know RVP is a point and shoot style of player the old 1 – 2 ..
pass off ,get into space to get room
playing ade with RVP is just bollocks ..
might as well play with 9 men !
Every fucker is wondering why RVP isnt scoring ! and thats because
ade’s turned into a ball hoggin – coughing monster !!!
No possession = NO CHANCES TO SCORE !
END OF !
April 11, 2008 at 04:25
some arsenal ”fans” are very very fickle on ere. goin on like our club is in some sort of crisis wot rubbish! we have over achieved this season no one in the world of football gave us a chance at the start of the season. its has been thrilling watching arsenal this season, real edge of the seat stuff, but football can be cruel. you need alot of luck 2 win silverware, clearly we have not had alot of that with injuries and real bad decisions going against us. i no its not all about luck and i also no our squad lacks depth but com on who could predict rvp being injured for most of the season, rosicky out for this long or eduardo breaking his leg…. no 1 could! these are key players i could go on about injuries but i wont. dont get me wrong i no the team havent helped because of the lapses in defence and not shooting or killing teams off when they should. but those of you calling for AW`S head should be sectioned he is a great manager, i mean who would you replace him with? dont say jose cuz he would have to bankrupt the club. i have faith in wenger and i trust him with our club, we just need 2 or 3 quality signings. IM PROUD OF MY TEAM, IM HURTING LIKE HELL BUT MY CHINS HIGH MAN! for all the good fans on here rememeber ”ARSENE KNOWS”
April 11, 2008 at 05:24
HOPE ARSENE READ THIS:
SELL OFF VIRUS EBOUE, SENDERROS, GILBERTO, LAME-MAN, TRAORE, HOYTE, DIABY.
GET THEO AS EBOUE PERMANENT REPLACEMENT. READ: THEO WALCOTT.
EBOUE IS A VIRUS, SOUNDS LIKE A VIRUS (IE. EBOLA).
BUY BENZEMA, BEN ARFA, ZAPATA, MODRIC, RIBERY, VAN DER VAART, HUNTELAAR.
PISS OFF MANURE, CHEL$EA, LOSERPOOL ONCE AND FOR ALL NEXT SEASON.
TRANSFER FUNDS ARE GOONERS’ MONEY, NOT YOURS ARSENE.
DO IT OR JOSE MOURINHO WILL DO IT.
ARSE UP, ARSENE!
April 11, 2008 at 05:43
dazza
your obviously an aussie ! wot do you know about football .. oh i mean soccer
what part of over achieving has happened in your eyes ?
the fact that we where 4th last season and now are 3rd ?
Im pretty sure wenger told us the squad was GOING to improve
this season .Please justify your OVER ACHIEVING STATEMENT !
. We still need to qualify for C.L football .
We still dont have any squad depth , We still have won nothing …
We still are getting excuses from arsene ..
How on earth did we over achieve ?
Did you expect us to get relegated ?
Blinded by rose tinted arsene know best glasses !
April 11, 2008 at 06:21
GUYS..SPEAKING OF GETAFE’S LOSS AFTER OUR LOSS..IT’S SAD TO WITNESS THE SLOW DEMISE OF BEAUTIFUL GAME..LIKE SOMEONE HAD SAID, THE GAME BREATHES BARELY ONLY BECAUSE OF MANAGERS LIKE WENGER..
April 11, 2008 at 06:22
We over-achieved in the sense that everyone was writing us off at the beginning of the season, and yet we are still, barely, in the run for the premiership.
We did well in the Champions League, and we definitely deserved more had it not been for Benitez’s policy of having his squad take drama class, and swimming lessons; though it was incredibly “ridiculous”, to quote Clichy, to have conceded those goals.
I have to admit that the last few weeks have been horrendous, but we did over-achieve. However, I do agree with most of you on this blog that Arsenal should be aiming for more, and not a humble remark of: “We over-achieved by not fucking up like everyone else expected us to”.
April 11, 2008 at 07:45
We need good quality, strong, pacey, skillfull, experience worldclass player’s in additon to our squad now, in order to succeed accordingly. Adebayour is a fucking shitte. Just get rid of this bastard. Sell injury prone Robin as well. Please, get Karim Benzema & Robinho to replace this two useless strikers upfront. Offload, injury prone Rosicky & move back Ebue to the right back position as Sagna’s backup, then bring in Quaresma & Ben Arfa to the right as well as left side of our midfield to complete our midfield engine with Flamini & Febregas. In defence, just bring in Micah Richards to partner Toure with Sagna & Clichy makes a perfect defence unit. Almunia can be our number 1, without doubt. Lehman, Fabianski, Gallas, Ebue, Sanderos, Djourou, Traore, Hleb, Denilson, Song, Vela, Eduardo & Walcott will be our quality subs.
Players to offload : Adebayour, Robin, Bendtner, Rosicky, Diaby, Gilberto, & Hoyte to make some $$$ millions to add to the transfer kitty allocation to buy the player’s as listed below.
Player’s to buy : Benzema, Robinho, Quaresma, Ben Arfa & Micah Richards in order to compete in BPL & Europe as well.
My Dream Arsenal team :
1.Almunia
3.Sagna 5.Toure(c) 2.Richards 22.Clichy
8.Quaresma 16.Flamini 4.Febregas 12.BenArfa
7.Robinho 11.Benzema
Subs :
24.Lehman – GK
10.Gallas – CB/LB
27.Ebue – RB
13.Hleb – M
19.Vela – M
9.Eduardo – S
32.Walcott – S
cHEERS
April 11, 2008 at 08:03
ever since the famous back five, bergkamp, pires, vieira & henry left i keep telling myself the kids are allright.
who am i kidding here?
but then again these so-called kids are actually seasoned campaigners cesc, clichy, toure, senderos, denilson, ebola. ,ade, sagna (sure he’s new but he looked like he’s been there for ages)
and theo’s case is the most disturbing , i mean the boy is waiting to be unleashed and all arsene does is use him sparingly. how the hell is he going to improve?
arsene will continue to buy & train kids, recalling those on loan, blood out the ones at the academy through the carling cup, yadda- yadda…
arsene has yet to win anything with his philosophy of developing talents.
will we see another repeat of this year’s champs league disaster? i certainly hope not!
i am wishfully hoping that we can still nick the title…
c’mon gooners, even spuds have won something this season, ffs!
April 11, 2008 at 08:08
That proves my point that people can come on here that don’t agree with the masses, providing their points are reasoned debate and don’t insult the majority.
If Arsene truly knows we would be winning more than the Emirates and Amsterdam cups.
April 11, 2008 at 08:15
Go Ethan , Dazza sorry I have to agree, what exactly does Arsene know? I am not proud to get bashed by all and sundry including pathetic spuds who beleive winning the league cup is the best thing ever, by the way is that where you want us to end so starved of succes than any old shite tin pot will do?
April 11, 2008 at 08:47
Robbbb
that was just the media , drumming up henry’s departure ..
We have never been out of the top 4 since arsene has been king ..
over-achieved ?? more like stabilized AGAIN
Dazza got that spiel for the gallas interview i knew that , straight word for word vomit
gallas said it so it must be right ??? right ?
As for 1979 geoff ,
he was pretty rude to odub ..
it got my back up !
i know him from my time at another blog .
he is just argumentative git ..
and he’s the sort of person who just needs to
prove everyone wrong .. he will go thru archives of things you’ve said in the past
and use them to discredit them …
Instead of having a laugh he’d rather be a preacher – converter ..
I know a few like that .. you feel like your always on the defense ..
justifying this and that ..
Thats why Le grove is a breath of fresh air .. People saying it ..as it is..
no sugar coated wenger sweets here !
Just who isnt preforming / who is , good opinions on what should be done and an unbiased view of the club in general !
Who isnt frustrated with the club recently ?
i just question how these guys like them can rationalize the sort of things they say
????
its got me fucked ???
happy with a mediocre life ??
of not winning a cracker for the past 3 + years ..
delusional – insane – unpassionate freaks of nature !
why watch football to begin with ?
go fly a fuckin kite !
So far i like what i see and well done to you and pedro .
.
Plus bring on the arsene knows brigade !!! ..
I used to feel like 1979 did last night in reverse !
can you imagine me and 100 – 1979’s !
NO NEED TO COMMENT GEOFF !
but i realized you can speak til the cows come home but those people are just blinkered from common sense !
April 11, 2008 at 08:49
Over 500 posts !!
And all by people who care. I don’t agree with much of it, but people are entitled to talk bollocks !! Healthy discussion is the only way to teach.
I still think Huntelaar is not the answer.
Now for some positivity. We can still do theis. We have the chance to go to OT and win . We can do it !!
And tell me, if we were to win the league, what would all you guys say about Wenger? For me , he would still be the manager who was mistaken by not buying in summer, and not having a good enough defensive coach
April 11, 2008 at 08:57
Thanks ethan, you summed it up, I’ll be spending a paragraph on him in todays post, he’s so wrong, I even let him back on as he had a reasoned comment, arguing is not on though.
Raddy we never said there was anything wrong with Wenger other than strengthining the squad and spending money, so we won’t change regardless.
Eboue on and Theo off, tell me why?
That’s the point, reasoned discussion, people get on the bandwagon that we don’t like something and they all come out of the woodwork.
Go see how many people read his blog.
April 11, 2008 at 09:13
big raddy
Im not against Huntelaar
until he gets here adapts .. its a pretty hard call for anyone to make .
who thought that baptista would flop so badly ..
reyes didnt set the world alight either .
This is always the risk of bringing in foreign players to the EPL ..
he could be just the dynamic we need .. or he could be just another baptista ..
I dont want to use the phrase arsene knows but if anyone knows about scouting
wenger would be in the top 5 !
and i think i can safely use the phrase that arsene knows better ..
and im happy for him to make those judgment calls ..
but i will say it will either make him or break him next season !
April 11, 2008 at 09:34
the worry is that we will probably be dissapointed again with getting hopes up again in the summer and not signing anyone , can see it happening and then how we all gonna feel . pretty pissed off ? you know how stuborn arsene is , do you really think he will want to seen as being wrong with his policy , if this the same situation next year and the same has happened , i think he will come under some serious pressure.
prepare for being linked with everyone , getting exicited and hardly signing anyone .
franc ribery ring any bells ? i thought he was coming last summer , shame he did’nt.
April 11, 2008 at 19:41
Fantastic speculation. Wenger stated several acquisitions will not be bought.
He will buy ONE experienced central midfielder to replace the leaving Gilberto
No one else will be bought. He believes in this team and buying will halt progress of those he has. This is alien to his philosophy. I can accept this to a point. I am not clammoring for buy buy buy. But please God buy someone tricky for the wing or all us gooners will be as frustrated next season when we draw all those matches in next season league and find one too good in the CL.
April 11, 2008 at 23:13
can see wenger keeping faith with eboue on the right
gilberto won’t need replacing cos he’s not playing anyway, besides, song will come in more
i get the feeling he’ll bring in a striker. ade has been playing on his own. rvp’s body isn’t up to an entire season. bentdner hasn’t convinced. if ade gets injured we’re screwed.
are you sure it won’t be huntelaar?