Ok so here we go, the rumour mill kicks in to gear, already AC Milan want Adebayor, why? because they see him as a young Drogba, a handful and someone that can mix it up, precisely why we should be excited about the future, I know he has had his moments with poor first touch and missing sitters, but he has scored a lot and I remember the chavs saying the same thing about Drogba for the first two years, I honestly believe we’ll see the better Adebayor next term, I know a lot of you don’t but Wenger won’t sell him so only time will tell.
Hleb off to Barca and Milan at the same time and Wenger says he thinks he’ll stay, but mention his favourite Cesc and a firm ‘he’s going no where’ pipes up, funny that.
Flamini is looking less likely to sign, though I always believed he would, if he doesn’t know by now, perhaps it’s best to bring on Diaby, buy someone else and say goodbye to the French, Italian greedy twat.
Young Jack Wilshere had another blinder and even some of you Grovers are calling him the next Gazza, I hope that doesn’t mean he’s a mentally ill drunk, and that he is a footballing genius instead.
The list of people coming in goes on, from Kirkland to Ramos this weekend, I would like to think we’ll get a center back, winger and forward but we’ll have to wait and see, I have a feeling he knows already and will move at the end of the season, I also think Robinho is a good bet, as he won’t be playing in the summer.
Next up Derby County so that should improve our goal difference, the Champions league kicks off tonight and we can only reflect on what could have been, So a Liverpool Barca final for me, with Barca winning and proving that anyone can win the European Cup, so we’ll win it next year instead.
Anyone but the Chavs, please.
Have a rumour filled fun fest today Grovers!
April 22, 2008 at 9:33 am
“Anyone but the Chavs, please.”
include the mancunts please. At least for that purple nosed wanker..
April 22, 2008 at 9:33 am
If we get Robinho in the summer it could only be a good thing.
without talking about his obvious football ability it will give the fans a huge lift and buzz, Cesc would get a huge lift, shirt sales and merchandise would go through the roof therefore helping us financially (not that we need it) and having a player that would outshine Ronaldo in the tricks department… Priceless
April 22, 2008 at 9:34 am
how good was wilshire he reminds meof maradona (no pressure then)
April 22, 2008 at 9:36 am
Morning. Off to work shortly. Barcelona must eb the best supported club in England at the moment outside of those three cheating bastard teams. Kirkland atthe least please AW. CB not sure who. CM Essien, Gerrard. CF Huntellar. My brother called last night and told me he was watching Sultana. He was raving on about Willshire. Lets hope this lad is the next great England player so we can ram it down those media tossers throats. I want to see him play myself and hope he gets a run out in Emirates cup as Gibbs did this year.
April 22, 2008 at 9:39 am
goonerjay, Robinho outshine Ronaldo!!!!!!
You must be from the planet Zogg, dream on
April 22, 2008 at 9:39 am
“having a player that would outshine Ronaldo in the tricks department… Priceless”
What “tricks” does cuntaldo have? Could someone enlighten me. All I see is a winking wanker doing 50 stepovers and lose possession. When he is direct, and runs with pace, he could get past people. But honestly, he’s an overhyped dribbler. Temme he’s a good goalscorer, I’ll take that. He could head the ball with force, and got a good timing. But he’s just a show pony. He’s in form of his life.
Talk about trickery and dribbling, Hleb is better by miles. But “Effectiveness”, far from Cuntaldo. that’s also because Old purple nose uses the flank better. The wide players are given the freedom of direct game. Hleb plays a different game, and yes, he can’t shoot the ball FFS. Sad! Regarding his assists, the stats dont lie. But the stats miss his movement, and how he draws players and spreads the ball to Cesc, or the fullbacks leaving them to get to key positions. Had we had a better striker than Ade, his assists would have doubled by now.
April 22, 2008 at 9:40 am
Robinho or Robben. Chavs haven’t looked entertaining since Robben left. Plenty of width lots of assists and the odd goal here and there plus the diving. Like the Manc winker hard to defend against.
April 22, 2008 at 9:42 am
I dont think Ade should go, just work harder and he will be better, oh, and learn the offside rule over the summer….
Hleb - maybe he will go, and so be it if he does.
Flamster - i think he is pushing his luck, and will no doubt sign on the deadline day, if he doesn’t it can only be for money reasons, maybe he should take a long hard look at those who have left us for the same reason, what exactly have they achieved since leaving…… Naf all. (hopefully titi will this year, CL winners medal)
I watched the Young Guns last night, Wiltshere actually reminds me of Joe Cole, his size and good feet - he is going to hit the big time.
Barazite is another who looked near to the first team - first half he was really good, better that Diaby.
A lot of the reserves are not far off, Rogers, Thomas and Fonte all played well.
Good that the boss was there - no doubt a final check before getting his cheque book out, and im with you, bet he has already all but signed on the dotted line, the new players he will bring in….
April 22, 2008 at 9:42 am
Willshire like Maradonna. Now I am getting excited and Arsen knows eh. If he is half that good then we need sign nobody. Jack Willshire an English Maradona. Come On.
April 22, 2008 at 9:42 am
I watched the reserve game against West Ham last night a Wilshire looked brilliant… looks a bit small at the mo though.
Barazite also looked class… he looks like a cross between Cruyff and DB10
April 22, 2008 at 9:47 am
Ade,Alex,Flam must be stay at arsenal.While arsene signing players like villa mexes or robinho,arsenal will be stronger than red devils and get the titles
!!!
April 22, 2008 at 9:48 am
So Wilshire looked the bollox again, any others stand out?
April 22, 2008 at 9:52 am
Udub… Rogers was really good, traore was a bit off colour but still effective, Ogogo did well at right back, Sunu ran about like a mad man, Fonte was a bit quiet…. for me Wilshere was the best player on the pitch but i think Barazite will get into the frst team before young Jack because he looks like he may be able to cope with the physical side better
April 22, 2008 at 9:57 am
In addition to Wiltsheir and Barazite I thought Jay Thomas looked quite imposing - a sort of latter day Paul Davis with a bit more presence.
But all these guys are a few year soff the first time, except Barazite.
I noticed the spammers Stokes was a bit of a dirty b****rd, lots of niggling fouls and dissent. The next Rooney then ?
April 22, 2008 at 9:58 am
Jack Wilshere -couldnt see anything on youtube to get an idea of how good he is although the above comments have certainly got the juices going -at some stage the young guns are really gonna have an impact .
Although we hear of the players holding out on contract signings -i’d be interested to know how much control the players really have as some are clearly not the sharpest tool in the toolbox .Surely the “greedy agents ” are the realculprits
OLd red nose said this about contract negotiations with Wes Brown
“Players of today live in their agents’ pockets,” Ferguson said. “It’s a situation which depresses me at times, it really depresses me. Wes has been with us since he was 12 but I don’t think that matters these days. Their agents live their lives for them and if you are happy to go along with that then you get the situation that you have got just now”
This must apply right across the Premiership
April 22, 2008 at 10:00 am
Barazite is definitely not far off, Wilshere still looks small (but so did Cesc) Lansbury looks close but Troare is not the answer for me on the left.
We need a left winger, and a right winger.
April 22, 2008 at 10:00 am
Should we keep a player that no-one can spell - there are three different versions above.
Seriously though Jack Wilshere was a revelation last night and I agree with Rico that the nearest comparison was Joe Cole. I can hardly believe that Jack is only 16 !!
By the way Joe is in and out of the Chelsea side and I think he is their best player - perhaps he should come to a club that would value him more.
Everywhere you looked in that Arsenal reserve team last night were terrific performances that promised much for the future. I was particularly impressed with Paul Rodgers yet another off the Arsenal Left-Back production line
April 22, 2008 at 10:00 am
another god player in the reserves is lansbury hes better than denilson IMO
April 22, 2008 at 10:01 am
Mike you’re looking on redtube, it’s a porn channel, no wonder you can’t see young Jack!
April 22, 2008 at 10:01 am
yeah mike the agents are cunts, did you see the leaked video of cesc and his agent, its a terrible reflection on the state of football!
i had better say that was a joke in case people havent seen it yet
April 22, 2008 at 10:04 am
I want Adebayor to go,He is not a quality stiker.
April 22, 2008 at 10:04 am
for some reason, I can’t post.
April 22, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wilshere is a cross between Cesc and Joe Cole…… phenominal player with Cesc’s brain and Cole’s skill…… fuck me, we could end up with 2 English players soon and if Wenger has the Cahoonies, he should blood him early in the same way he did Fabregas, as he is as good if not better than Fab was at 16……. but he won’t coz he is British……. that saying Wenger was at the game last night and watched young Jack stand out in the game, make one, score one, boss it, show skills and an eye for a pass way beyond his years and if you saw it, he made Wenger smile like a Cheshire cat !!!
April 22, 2008 at 10:06 am
i knwo we bitched about arsenal tv but this is the one reason why i am glad it exists
April 22, 2008 at 10:07 am
wilshire will be the next big thing from our youngsters, he has a footballing brain like cesc and the skill to go with it
April 22, 2008 at 10:07 am
It’s a measure of the pressure Wenger is under that the smile quickly vanished to be replaced by the now customary frown he has.
April 22, 2008 at 10:09 am
ok, I’m going to go against all my principles here and subscribe to satanta next season. I’m beginning to think I can’t live without the extra games and all the arse reserve ones , plus had to drive over to a mates to watch the fight at the weekend! Not happening again!!
April 22, 2008 at 10:09 am
“wilshire will be the next big thing from our youngsters, he has a footballing brain like cesc and the skill to go with it”
what about his pace and physique?
Any idea where I could watch young Wilshere in action? (other than Arsenal tv)
April 22, 2008 at 10:12 am
I saw that smile Bud… he looked very impressed with Wilshere last night.
I don’t think it will be long at all before we see Barazite in the first team… he has great techique and an eye for goal… in fact he’s the top scorer for the reserves this season by a long way and when you see him play it is hard to believe he himself is only 17
April 22, 2008 at 10:14 am
weren’t really worth staying up for that fight neither was it Odub? Pissed me off actually cos i paid a fortune to go and see Hatton v Mayweather and had that same ref jumping on Hattons back the entire fight every time Hatton got close to Mayweather but Hopkins did nothing but hold for 12 rounds and the ref don’t say a word… fucking yanks they’re worse than the mancs
April 22, 2008 at 10:19 am
Robinhio wont come, he had another good game for Real this weekend, Real wont sell one of their fans favourites and best players.
April 22, 2008 at 10:21 am
odub did you not have a sopcast link of arsenal tv?
if any one does please share
April 22, 2008 at 10:22 am
Chris that was really funny -for those that havnt seen it here is the link
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cesc-fabregas-show-no-more-mr-nice-guy/399220473
April 22, 2008 at 10:24 am
I don’t really think any youngster Barazite included will play a insignificant part in next years rally .. I sure only (and i hate to say it .. but it is out of context ) arsene knows ..
Who he has in mind for potential signings lets just hope Villa is the 1 .. If he was the only 1 id be happy.. But if flami leaves and hleb - +hopefully ade .. Im sure we could see 4 or 5 signings ..
Is this going to happen every year ? as soon as our best players graduate they piss orf??
Fuck we will never get anywhere ..
April 22, 2008 at 10:26 am
apart from no debts ethan, but your point is well taken,
April 22, 2008 at 10:27 am
I think Jack Wilshire plays like Hleb, even down to the low socks, if he could add some of Hlebs tricks he will be fantastic. Although he is small, i didnt see him getting pushed around by the bigger players. He is one of those small players that has excellent balance and control. I dont think he is that similar to Cesc, although he has a nice disguised pass. Barazite reminds me so much of Berbatov, the way he strolls around, has an awesome first touch, and even with a stong shot, he still has lots of little tricks and flicks!
April 22, 2008 at 10:30 am
Youre right Geoff Wilshere isnt on Red tube the porn channel -but you are !!!
I’ll chat about it to Mrs Geoffs on the flight to Spain today -that shoud ensure a good start to the vacation
April 22, 2008 at 10:34 am
12 January 2008
Arsène Wenger has been accused of hastening the decline of the English footballer in some quarters but the Arsenal manager revealed yesterday that his club could provide many of the England team for the 2018 World Cup finals. Wenger said his club’s current youngsters were the best yet – and they are virtually all English.
The Arsenal manager was not just talking about the club’s under-18s, who played in the FA Youth Cup against Burnley last night, but Arsenal’s generation of 13- and 14-year-olds who have been at the club’s academy for all their young careers. Wenger even said that Arsenal had two English 13-year-olds who were so gifted that “technically” they have “nothing to learn”.
There is a good chance that no Englishman will figure in Wenger’s senior squad to face Birmingham City in the Premier League today but he said that will not be the case in the future. The current under-18s side has lost only once in 14 league games scoring 49 goals along the way. From there, Mark Randall, Kieran Gibbs and Henri Lansbury – all English – have appeared for the senior team this season. But the word in football circles is that the younger generation is even better.
Although Wenger preferred not to name his starlets, the player about whom many are talking is Jack Wilshere, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, who turned 16 this month and has already scored 11 goals in 10 games for Arsenal’s under-18s. He is a striker who has played for England at junior level and is rated among the brightest young prospects in the country. Yesterday Wenger signed Luke Freeman from Gillingham, where the 15-year-old striker has already played for the first team three times.
Wenger said that Freeman, who is understood to have cost around £500,000, had shown “something special” in playing for League One Gillingham. With the irony of having signed an Englishman not lost on him, Wenger said he would like part of his legacy to English football to be the development of English players capable of playing in a successful England team.
“I hope not the last one [legacy], but of course a very proud one,” he said. “I have been accused of only buying foreign players and I would like to contribute to the quality of English football. I know how much the English national team means here to people. To contribute to that would be a big pride as well. At the moment it is not my first responsibility.
“I believe once the English kids get up to the level of Europe technically they will win trophies because they have a mental side that is usually stronger. You have the same problems in England that people have everywhere in the world. You just become naturally a bit softer.
“Our grandparents worked in the coalmines and the farms and that does not exist anymore. You cannot ask for the same toughness [from young players] but the motivation can still be exactly the same. Because a young kid still wants to be a star with the same intensity. Physically he is not as well-prepared as 40 or 50 years ago.”
April 22, 2008 at 10:35 am
agree that Wilshere plays just like a left footed Joe Cole. they are very similar and Wilshere is as good as Cole now at 16!! what will he be like at 20? scary.
Barazite to me looks totally ready for the first team. he is the reserves ‘go to’ man. he is super reliable and dependable, really consistent and can handle the physical side of the game. his first touch is great and he is always looking to get in on goal rather than overpass it like some of the Arsenal first team. I would love to see him used in the first team next season and I dont just mean the carling cup.
Jay Thomas will become a good play for us as well in a couple of years. he should leap ahead of Diaby.
And Nortveit also looks very good. A real defender and can play the ball as well.
April 22, 2008 at 10:35 am
Sure fucking wasnt, the executioner by backside! the guy couldnt even walk by the 9th round, and that bollox he pulled to get an extra 5 minutes was fucking pathetic! Was amusing watching Audley Harrison b4 hand look as shit as usual and then keep repeating he was coming back from having been out for 18 months, when he got knocked out Feb 07!!!! Yeah mate…that’s actually 14 but who’s counting! lol
So reading all these rave reviews about Wilshere and co gives me the impression WE WONT BE BUYING THAT MUCH IN THE SUMMER AGAIN!!!
April 22, 2008 at 10:37 am
did everyone know that Joe Cole is actually from Islington. lived just a stones throw away from where the Emirates stadium is, near Holloway road. He should have been a Gooner. how did West Ham get him??
April 22, 2008 at 10:40 am
The Cesc Fabregas show!! How funny was that?!!
April 22, 2008 at 10:40 am
he was adopted as well?
April 22, 2008 at 10:42 am
Talking of Cole, why didn’t we sign him from West Ham, everyone could see he was good.
April 22, 2008 at 10:43 am
GET DAVID VILLA HAS ANYONE SIGNED THE PETITION YET….
April 22, 2008 at 10:47 am
chris we will never be in debt cause arsene spends less than he makes ..
look at last year !!!
April 22, 2008 at 10:48 am
he was a bit greedy and didn’t like passing back then though Geoff… Wenger probably didn’t see him fitting into the Arsenal style of play… either that or he cost more than £3m
April 22, 2008 at 10:48 am
chelsea are having a clear out supposedly lets get joe cole
April 22, 2008 at 10:48 am
I will certainly be happy if the summer is spent arguing over whether Hleb goes or stays. Much rather him than Cesc. Anything to keep Cesc Transfer stories out of the press.
In fact, thinking about it, anybody but Cesc, Clichy, Sagna, and Theo really. Lets line them up. Who would I really not give much of a toss about if we sold them for good money…?
Both keepers, Willy, Kolo (i wouldnt lose any sleep), Hoyte, Eboue, Hleb, Diaby, Denilson, Bert, Flam, Ade, RVP, Bendtner…
All right, I think I would be a little upset if Bert leaves, coz he is a very good bloke and I like his attitude immensely (if not his ability). Big Phil Ive left off coz everyone should love their donkey. And Tommy has lots of class, I really hope he comes back for us. Eddie… love Eddie… we all love Eddie. Traore should stay, but he seems to come across as a bit of a berk.
I suppose, even if its clear as day that the whole squad hate his guts, Nic B deserves more time. The hatred for Nic from within the squad is getting almost comical. They really hate him, dont they?
Great to see RVP getting booted all over the park at the weekend. I dunno why, but I enjoyed that part of the game. Its what he needs. If he really fancies himself as a bit of player it will happen. And fair play to him, he got up (uninjured!), and didnt cop the strop. More manliness, less skipping around like a bit of a ponce.
April 22, 2008 at 10:49 am
would cost around 15 to 18 million pounds but well worth it
April 22, 2008 at 10:51 am
Just to back up what Ethan said… i read some stats somewhere at the end of last season that said Wengers net spend in his entire reign at Arsenal was just over £4m… then last summer and January we made some more money so in Arsene’s 11 year reign he has actually made money on his transfers which is a tad different to Chelsea’s £300m in the red in 3 years
April 22, 2008 at 10:54 am
Gidster!!! You cant be serious?
April 22, 2008 at 10:56 am
if the chavs are having a clearout, I’d go for Essien not Cole, and Alex. also heard Cudiccini wants out, how old is he and is he good enough for us to be intrested?
April 22, 2008 at 10:57 am
i’d go for both essien and cole
April 22, 2008 at 10:58 am
cudiccini would be most welcome, he was a sensation before cech came,
April 22, 2008 at 11:03 am
But won’t all the Chavscum players have clauses in their contracts barring them from being sold to othe english clubs ?
April 22, 2008 at 11:05 am
Essien for me… Drogba would be nice too but wouldn’t happen
April 22, 2008 at 11:05 am
Yeah, dead serious. Which bit though? Those players on my list? The point about those players is that I wouldnt really be upset if they moved on. Not like I would be if Clichy, Bak, Theo and Cesc moved on. I would be totally mortified if any of those 4 left. But I wouldnt be totally mortified if Kolo moved on, or if Flam did. Or RVP. Its not like I consider those players to be irreplaceable. So, from a personal level, I like Bert, I like Nic, Kolo too.. but Im not shedding tears if they go. Especially if good money arrives for them. But no amount of money would compensate for losing the other 4.
OK, Flam wont get us any money, but he aint Vieira. The opposition dont look at our line-up and think “shit, Flamini’s playing…”, so if he goes he goes, no fuss.
If Wilshere, Barazite et al are as good as people say, and if Wenger is gonna stick to his policy of promotion to the senior ranks from below (and i bet he will), with the odd astute signing like Ed and Bak, then yeah, trim that squad… nobody on my list has made themselves irreplaceable. Gael Clichy is irreplaceable.
April 22, 2008 at 11:12 am
Have to agree Gidster, I’d build a team around those 4 all day. maybe keep Dudu as well if he got back to his form of old because his finishing is just unerring. Gilberto is a legend as far am Im concerned, I mean this guy is the brazilian captain, world cup winner ffs! He gets dropped, but comes in and just gets on with it whenever he gets the call. No fuss, no moans just does his job. Take note you greedy one season wonder cnuts!
April 22, 2008 at 11:13 am
Kolo for one!! He has been in our top three players of the season for the past 3 seasons, he has had one below par season this year, but seriously who can blame him. He is regarded as one of the best defenders in the prem, its just a pity that as a partnership Gallas and Toure dont work. Thats no reason to let him be off! not that he is going anyway. RvP is our best player by miles!! When he is fit, i dont think he has a chronic injury problem (but he is dutch, maybe he has a smoking chronic problem)
if we could have him for a full season he would be up there with Torres and Ronaldo.
To the others, anyone who watched the Reserve game, any thoughts on Diaby playing the DM role. Granted he was in a young side, and a new role, but his performance didnt scream out ‘Quality defensive midfielder’. The problem I see with him as a DM is he has lovely quick feet, but when you the last man in front of the back 4 you dont want ot be caught in possession, which he often is.
April 22, 2008 at 11:13 am
Listen Guys……. You have all overlooked who Wilshere is really like……… he is our new Liam Brady. Small but strong, great balance, fantastic skill, great dribbler, great passer and wicked left foot…… and anyone who saw the curl on the ball last night that is old enough may well remember Brady was rather adept at that !!!!!!
We’ve got the new Liam Brady,
New Liam Bra-dy,
We go the new Liam Brady…..
April 22, 2008 at 11:15 am
In a way I know what you mean about liking seeing our players get kicked and then jump up and get on with playing. I hate all that moaning. I just want to see players who want to play football. he had that hunger for the game that meant he wasn’t going to feign injury like some other players I could mention…Eboue.
the refs like reffing a game where the players get on with it as well. then if there is a bad foul in there, the ref is more inclined to deal with it properly.
April 22, 2008 at 11:17 am
a new liam brady from the liam brady factory
April 22, 2008 at 11:21 am
Frichie i actually wasn’t very impressed with Diaby last night before he got injured… not sure if it was lack of motivation playing with the reserve team but he didn’t look himself and lost the ball frequently
April 22, 2008 at 11:21 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glsaOQka-Mg&feature=related
April 22, 2008 at 11:22 am
Yeah that curler last night was very very bradyesque, just curled enough at the very last moment and caught the inside of the post. Perfection.
To those that say he is too small, i would agree that a central pairing of jack and cesc would just get overpowered. However, i think in time his ideal role will be the DB10 floating behind the main striker position. He is far far too skillfull to be wasted hugging the touchline and a bit too slight to be rucking in centre mid. The free role would see him excel.
This lad is the real deal, grovers…….. prepare for the best young gunner in a generation.
btw - wenger mentioned a player a little while ago who he said was 15 and ready techinically.. surely JW?
April 22, 2008 at 11:23 am
Diaby and Djourou got injured yesterday, JD even b4 the match started!! wtf is it with us and injuries this season?!!
April 22, 2008 at 11:24 am
My problem with Arsenal right now is that us fans are beginning to pin our hopes on players like Wilshere who is 16, Vela at 19, Walcott 19 & Cesc 20!!
We should have a first team of class players & only the very best yougsters should make it into the team. Wilshere looks amazingly talented, probably our answer to Messi & so deserves to make it through, but at the same time we have many average youngsters that should never be near the first team squad but due to lack of strength in depth they will be!!
April 22, 2008 at 11:26 am
Sorry to all those trapped in the awaiting moderations!
It is sorted now!
Your comments will flow like our football… freely…
April 22, 2008 at 11:26 am
GMR - was no that long ago a certain norvern monkey club pinned their hopes on
beckham, schole, nevilles etc - they were all around that age aswell.
cesc is living proof that if you are good enough and then mentally tough enough.. you can play at the to level at a very tender age.
April 22, 2008 at 11:27 am
i think Wenger will introduce wilshire to the first team next year sporadicaly, he is alreday training iwth the first team. him and benik afobe are the two players Wenger was alluding when he said they have technicle ability beyond their ages.
we need to be patient with this game plan as ina few years the big spenders are going to find it difficult mansum utd are having great difficluty in refinancing their loans and rae paying penal interest. their interest paymenst alone will be 60mill a year. we on the other hand have it sorted for 21 years which menas even if we only half fill the stadium we would be ok.
dont forget CARLOS VELA will be with us next year, hes had rave reviwes in spain and will light up the left side and can play in the middle. we dont need to sign any strikers, i cant believe the stick ade gets hes one pf the top srikers in europe now and his goal tally this season is excellent considering hes played up there on his own for most of the year.
whos to say his replace ment would get off the ground running and scoring goals? the team now has more understaing of each other and will eb stroger and more mentally prepared next year.
other then a replacement for the flamster and a back up CH we do not need many changes.
have faith cos ARSENE KNOWS!!!
April 22, 2008 at 11:28 am
it was the same last season as well Odub with us missing Henry, RVP and Rosicky for large parts of the season… Lets just hope Wenger has learnt his lesson and brings in some decent cover this summer
April 22, 2008 at 11:28 am
i’m excited about next season.
April 22, 2008 at 11:29 am
This is the French disease again…and we’ve seen it before. many times.
Petit, Vieira, Le Sulk, Grimandi, Aliadiere, HENRY and Diarra. They all left Arsenal in shame and FAILED! Let the “new” Le Sulk Flamini leave! WE don’t need such a player/primadonna to unsettle the team!
Good F****** riddance!
April 22, 2008 at 11:30 am
you having a larf viking?
paddy never left in shame, neither did grimandi or terry.
April 22, 2008 at 11:30 am
Dunno about Kolo at all, great servant, etc. But go and get yer videos out, go and look at last season and the goals we let in, and Kolo is not a great Centre Back. He’s a great athlete, he has a good attitude, but he aint a great defender. 2 mistakes, 2 goals for Liverpool in the Champs League, generally dire since December. God, I love him too, but its not the end of the world if he goes. Out of Utd’s, Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s centre backs I would put our 2 Centre Backs below Utds and Chelsea’s, and Carragher. I live in Pompey, and I wouldnt put Kolo above Distin. In fact, I put both Pompey’s CBs above ours.
And this RVP thing… I know a lot of fans who think the same way as you, but what do you base your assessment on that he’s “our best player by miles”? He can hit a mean free kick, he plays the occasional good ball (1 against Reading, a beauty, but 1), and he can score goals if given opportunities. Ive never had the feeling that he’s a 25 - 30 goal a season man, he’s brittle, he loses his head when he gets kicked (which is why I enjoyed seeing him taking some lumps at the weekend), he’s wild, he has 1 anonymous game for every game he does something. Where do you get this idea that he’s so great? He’s done some good bits for us. The occasional highlight. So has Roque Santa Cruz. So has Joe Cole. So has David Bentley. Do the odd good bit isnt enough. Show me a run of 10 games that RVP has put together where he has been the best player on the pitch. I can show you that for Cesc. I can show you that Gael is the best left back in the league. I can show you what Bergkamp was like in his first 3 seasons for us. Henry? RVP isnt in their league, he’s pretty good, but he doesnt show me that he’s the new king of the grove.
April 22, 2008 at 11:31 am
amazing how life changes so quickly - 6 months ago we were all monaning about what a massive miss kolo was going to be when he goes the the ACN.
now what?
April 22, 2008 at 11:31 am
I have moaned at Ade this year for missing chances and being lazy, but jhe has never been prolific before, so this year is a great improvement. IF, and it is an IF, he improves again next year as he did for this year, yes, he could become one hell of a player…….. but please god, will he just shut his trap and work on being an up and coming player rather than keep piping off like he thinks he is the real deal !!!!!!!
April 22, 2008 at 11:34 am
Stupid, Kolo came back from the ACN worse than he ever was for us, dont know why, but he’s never been the same since. I suppose playing next to a bloke with the most ridiculous haircut ever doesnt help does it?!!
April 22, 2008 at 11:35 am
I was quite looking forward to the ANC. We needed to see Big Phil play in a settled back 4. And he was good, 1 cracking, massive-stupid-oaf own goal aside. And then Kolo came back, and Big got the shaft, and they’ve both been cack ever sincee. Bad management from Wenger, a case of bowing to the hierarchy.
April 22, 2008 at 11:36 am
Stupid, the mancs may have pinned their hopes on the players you mentioned, but firstly the league wasn’t anywhere near as tuff as it is now & secondly they didn’t win things until they supplemented that squad with quality like Stam, Cantona & Schmeichel.
April 22, 2008 at 11:42 am
fair point GMR.
odub - my take on kolo is that is has not been 100% fit since he got back from the ACN. If you can remember, he got injured in the first game out there and there was talk he would miss the whole tournie.. then with the healing hands of the some witch doctor he was right as rain…. but i’m not too sure he has not just carried this thigh issue since then. He is certainly no pansey and not one to complain.
go back to the begining of the season and see how rock solid him and billy were.
a good summers break, and hopefully the french, spanish and dutch teams get knocked out early from euro 2008 and lets see what the experince of this season coupled with a couple of world class additions to the squad does.
i for one am a very excited gooner. the dejection of the last 3 weeks has almost gone.
the glass is ALWAYS half full
April 22, 2008 at 11:44 am
what makes RvP a great player??? The fact that he can score from anywhere, he doesnt need the ball on a platter for him, he just hits it. I admit you cant show 10 games of consistency, because he has not had a chance to play 10 games in a row. He picks up injuries, but lesser players have come back from injury and gone on to play injury free. Each season i expect him to play a whole season but he doesnt. I have faith that he will get over all his problems.
It is a great shame that in the 4/5 years he has been with us he has only made 130 odd appearances, but scored some cracking goals
Current club totals
Apps As sub Goals
Total (Club) 132 (49) 42
League 86 (32) 27
FA Cup 8 (2) 3
League Cup 8 (1) 5
European/Others 30 (14) 7
April 22, 2008 at 11:44 am
What i wouldn’t give to see this on our left wing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChwH7hcfz8
April 22, 2008 at 11:45 am
the way kolo got skinned by gerrard in the frst leg for their goal told me he was not 100%
no fucker as slow as that cunt could ever skin a fully fit kolo, no chance.
gerrard is hardly a speedster.
April 22, 2008 at 11:54 am
Thing is though, Ade’s goals record is better than RVPs. Ours is not a hard team to score goals for. Torres would have scored 30 goals for us this year. So would Drogs. RVP wont ever score 30 goals in a season for us. He will probably score 10 blinders, but we wont win a league title with him as a our first choice up front. Being able to score screamers is not what being a great player is all about. Doing the right thing with the ball when you have it is what a great player does. Thats what Bob did. Bob would go for a screamer if it was the right thing to do. If holding on to the ball was the right thing to do, if standing still was right, if playing someone in was right, if going backwards was right… it didnt matter, a great player will always choose the right option. RVP doesnt do that, he is a highlight reel, a luxury player, he is everything that people used to say when they criticised Ronaldo. Show pony, not a team player, he wont like the rough stuff, plays for himself… shame that Ronaldo proved them wrong. Over to you Robin.
April 22, 2008 at 11:59 am
Well considering RvP is the only player in the team that knows how to take a free kick, and get a good in swinging corner that beats the first man, i think he is invaluable to the team. He sorted his team play out 2 seasons ago. Fact of the matter is we have not been able to see him at his best for the last 3 seasons!
April 22, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Gidster… i would bet my house that if RVP were to have a season without injury he would prove you wrong… the fact that he has spent over a season injured in the past 2 has had a major effect on him.
Remember last season he scored more than Henry having played less games. He was our top scorer having only played half the season
April 22, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Sorry Frichie, we’re gonna have to disagree on RVP. I dont think he’s a bad player, but Ive seen nothing from him to suggest that he’s going to turn into a truly world class striker for us. Ive seen some great strikes, but Ive also seen him get absolutely bullied out of games by good (and average) centre backs. He can hit a good dead ball, but he can also blaze good chances high and wide because he likes to show off. He doesnt have enough physical presence or vision to be as good as those that have gone before for us.
Tell me truthfully, would you put him up there with Brady, Bergy, Rocky, Thierry, Bob, Anelka, Wrighty… I would even say Overmars, Petit, Freddie, were bigger and better players for us.
I can see why you might think RVP has the talent to be “our best player by miles”, but perhaps that shows us how few truly world class players we currently have. Lets be honest with RVP… would Utd, Chelsea, or any other big club move a mountain to get him to make him their main man? I dont think so…
April 22, 2008 at 12:24 pm
RVP is the bollox nuff said, if he can start for Holland every time they play he’s good enuff for me, he just needs an injury free season and he’s back on form. Please remember the wonder volley V charlton last season, what a goal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3YkKWm33b8
April 22, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Dont compare him to Henry by bringin up Henry’s last season for us as a meaningful comparison. Henry’s last season was dire, he was a busted flush. If you are honestly comparing RVP last year to Henry’s Arsenal career and saying that RVP is ahead of Henry… then go to Youtube… RVP is not in Henry’s class.
I should tell you as well, I never like Henry as a bloke, always thought he was a dick, a bit prescious. But no, RVP does not measure up in any way to Henry. RVP is a firework, but Henry was a laser beam…
April 22, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I think RVP at his best is awesome but we have not seen him at his best often enough. he is out for a long time and then its taking him 5 games to get going again. so the period between the end of those 5 games and his next injury are the only times we have seen the real RVP and I would guess that thats been only something like 20 games in 2 seasons. keeping him fit is the key to success. one more big injury and I would seriously cut my losses with him.
April 22, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Well my feeling is that if RvP had been fit this whole season, 1 we wouldnt have seen as much of Ade, and 2 he would have doubled the goals as Ade with the amount of chances he gets given.
April 22, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I wouldnt compare the 2 either, RVP back to full fitness and 5 straight years of left footed genius maybe, but not yet.
April 22, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Gidster - I take umbridge with anyone that calls DB10……. Bergy (it just sounds far to gay to bestow the great man and I ask you take that back, or ‘by the Beard of Zues’, I shall request you go and support the Mickies who put a “ey” on the end of every name for some bent reason !!!!!!!!!!)
April 22, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Stupid, I agree with you about Kolo. He hasn’t been running at full pace for a while now, I mentioned it on this site a couple of weeks ago but I just thought he had lost some pace. The way he came off on saturday would suggest he is actually carrying an injury (probably a groin injury which needs an op). If that is the case then hopefully he’ll be sorted for next season, it would also explain why Wenger didn’t want to put him back to central defence where he has to do a lot more jumping!!
April 22, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I thought Kolo looked good against Reading, but as a defensive midfielder not a center back, we need a new big, nasty one, like Tone or Bouldy were.
April 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I wasn’t comparing RVP to Henry… just stating a point that he scores goals… Gidster said he would never be a 20-30 goal man but last season wasn’t it 14 goals in half a season?
April 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Fair Enough Bud, Bergy does sound a bit close to Berby and Fergie… wouldnt want to associate The Iceman with those 2…
But there’s a good example. I would rather have Berbatov than RVP. Or any of our forwards. Even with the haircut…
April 22, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Lets not mix our words, but that prick from the Lane is too much of a Sullen Sulky Cunt and I wouldn’t want him anywhere near our youngsters !!!!!!
April 22, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I think Flamini is a dead cert to leave now. Apparently he was a Juventus fan as a kid & they have officially entered the race to sign him. I genuinely hope Wenger doesn’t play him again this season unless he signs the new contract because we need to start getting the squad together for next season. Playing players that won’t even be here is pointless as they won’t want to get injured so will lack commitment & maybe another player can show what he is capable of!!
April 22, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Someone earlier said Gerrard was not known for being quick, ha ha, Gerrard is rapid, make no mistake that at full pelt he is very quick indeed so not completely unbelievable that he skinned Toure.
RVP is a classy player but he hasn’t done anything yet to be bestowed with a tag. He has always been that ‘next year’ player. Like, ‘oh next year Van Persie will be amazing, just wait.’ then it never happens. This coming season is the only season he has left to claim his stake as a top drawer player.
Adebayor is funny, I have never seen so much division when it comes to a player, since maybe Wiltord. Torres has come out and said he has been surprised and impressed with Ade, Terry and Ferdinand have both listed him as one of the hardest strikers to mark, the AC Milan boss was claiming he was the most dangerous player to have to mark and Henry said he would take Arsenal into a new era. Pretty good plaudits. But then, we fans, just see a pony with no first touch, no sense of timing or positioning and an awful conversion rate. I personally cannot see he being the Arsenal player we want him to be, but a lot out there rate him so highly. It’s bizarre.
April 22, 2008 at 12:57 pm
13 goals in 30 games in 2006/2007… its a good record. Struggling to think of too many assists. Look, i think he’s good, but not great. If you offered me David Villa instead, yes please… so that says to me, there are other options. If you ask me if he is the man to pin the future of our club to, I’d say no way.
The argument over his presence in the dutch team is a fair point. However, who is he keeping out? Horseface? Van Basten doesnt like him. Huntelaar is their main man. Any other world class Dutch strikers out there? Robben plays up front for them in a 3 when he’s fit. Venegoor of Hesselink was in the last dutch squad. In fairness to RVP, I think he’s better than VOH, u huh? But its not a long queue…
April 22, 2008 at 1:00 pm
thing is with Ade he does all the things that oppositions hate and that his own fans also hate! he is bloody hard to mark or get the ball off. he big and strong and can score goals with head or feet. he is very creative. these are the things that the opposition see and do not like to play against. Arsenal fans just see the missed chances. I dont think Arsenal fans understand what makes Ade such a hard player to play against. you ask any manager in the world and they would say they’d rather be playing with him than against him. perhaps Arsenal fans have been spolit for years now with Wright and Henry taking the vast majority of their half chances.
Players like RVP and Eduardo can be marked out of games if the oppo defence is playing well - I can tell you now, you will never have Ade in your pocket - no matter how good you are, you will never mark Ade out of a game. thats worth something.
April 22, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Gidster i understand what you’re saying mate but you also need to remember RVP isn’t an out and out striker… he plays more of a DB10 role and bergkamp was never a 30 goal a season man.
I wouldn’t call him a great YET….But it is possible, the ingredients are there
April 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm
gazzap… John Terry marked Ade out of the game at SB… i don’t remember him having the ball in that game
April 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Juve said of Flam, “This is an important player who we have been chasing for some time.” thats not what they told wenger when they spoke to him a couple of months back.
jay, Terry could not mark Ade out the game. we should have beaten chelsea that day. they could not cope with Ade and our other players. had it not been for our weak defence and Terry’s cheating they could not have beaten us.
April 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm
gerrard - rapid quick?
are you sure pal?
April 22, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I do believe it’s game over re Flamini, please see link below….
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=668534
April 22, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Arsenals wage structure doing us massive favours once again!
Well played Arsenal if that is true…
April 22, 2008 at 1:16 pm
sickens me the number of times we have lost top players like this.
no other so called big club has ever had this, we fucking get it every season.
big issue with the club, but anyway fuck it.
diaaaaby oooooooooerrrrrrrr ahhhhhhhh diiaaaaaaaaby
April 22, 2008 at 1:19 pm
There’s no need to mark ade out of a game; half the time he’s fucking offside, the otherhalf he’s busy chasing the ball after a fucking awful first touch….
Other players big him up and the silly cunt is dumb enough to believe…
Seriously; if he’s the answer it must have been a pretty fucking stupid question!!
April 22, 2008 at 1:20 pm
we are going to lose him for no reason. Juve are offering £3m a year. thats only £57k a week. we can stretch to that. to replace Flam will cost upwards of £12m. that equals 4 years of Flam’s wages just to replace him, not to mention what we have to pay his replacement. Arsenal should offer £60k to show they are serious and then let Flam decide.
at least something might happen now that Juve have actually offered the flamster something to compare.
April 22, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Stupid, Gerrard is very quick. He has a proper engine on him…he is no walcott or henry but he is big and strong and fast and that is why he can beat players when he is dribbling. Definitely as quick as toure in a flat race. People just don’t associate gerrard with pace because he plays CM and has so much more to his game but when he needs to he can jet.
Flamini is a goner for sure. No way back from it being this far. He would’ve signed by now if it was going to happen. It’s a bit rubbish but I’m not crying over it. Flamini having a great season has been a bonus but none of us ever thought he’d be 1st team this season. Just a shame we let Diarra go…he really was the answer.
Great chant;
To the tune of Michael Jackson’s ‘Blame it on the Boogie’:
“Don’t blame it on Henry, Don’t blame it on the injuries, Don’t blame it on the referees, Blame it on Eboue!”
Heard at the Emirates during the 2-0 victory over Reading.
April 22, 2008 at 1:25 pm
LOL - superb chant
brilliant!!
April 22, 2008 at 1:26 pm
brill chant. bit bad on Eboue but bloody funny.
April 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Man goes to the doctor and says ‘I have a problem. Everytime I masturbate I can’t help singing ‘COME ON TOTTENHAM!’
.
.
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.
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.
.
Wait for it
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.
Doctor says ‘Don’t worry, lots of wankers sing that.’
April 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I heard that but couldnt figure any of it apart from the Eboue bit at the end!! Quality!
April 22, 2008 at 1:32 pm
TH14’s sense of arrogance… haha… like the song.
April 22, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I would be quite happy to see Diaby and Song battle for the DM spot, while having Gilberto to come off the bench to tighten things up if need be. We need Arsenal to get back to scoring 1-2 goals in the first half, none of this nil nil or one nil down at half time crap!
April 22, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Lets be right Flamini and Hleb are talented players and we all would like them to stay but at the end of the day nobody is bigger than our club and no matter who you are you cant hold us to randsom.
No matter how these players play for us we still shout there names but all they seem to do is come in make a name for themselves and then F*CK OFF
They have all done it - Anelka,Overmars,Vieria,Henry,Hleb???Flamini????Hartson only joking
We cannot hold on to these players Fabregas will be next whether this year or next mark my words, we need to bring in World Class players to keep our talents here and stop being a feeder club
April 22, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I think we should think one up for Flamini.
Here’s my amatuer attempt.
What’s wrong Flamini
Not earning enough money
You’re starting to piss off the prof
And now us, so fuck off
April 22, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Flam is being offered 55k by Arsenal, as far as I know, 67k from Juve which equates to a touch under a million euros a year.
12,000 * 52 = 624,000
At today’s exchange rate you’d get 780, 994.01 euros .
Of course Arsene can afford to pay him that, but it’s a matter of principle. He can make a player on offer on paper with a deadline by which to respond. That player can then show that to any potentially interested manager. To get his services they must make him a superior offer, with no transfer fee to pay it’s a golden deal for anyone who gets his signature.
In this situation it’s too late now, Flamini should have got an extension on his contract when Wenger persuaded him to stay. It’s easy to look at it in hindsight. If Flamini stays it would be against expectations but even though he is a good player, there are better than him out there.
I also believe that generally in life it is better to let people go if they want to than convince them to stay, let him walk if he wants to, there will be many players eager and zealous to take his place.
For the purpose of giving the guy an academic chance to stand by his statement that he wants to stay, I won’t say goodbye until April.
April 22, 2008 at 1:43 pm
If he does go to Juve the game in the emirates cup will be interesting
April 22, 2008 at 1:47 pm
He wouldnt play if he knew what’s good for him goonerjay.
so that means their midfield would be Flam and Sissoko wouldnt it?!
April 22, 2008 at 1:48 pm
finestcut..its always the same .. we let all our players leave and win fukk all.. the way Wenger runs the club now borders irresponsibility..you can only deny the changes in life for so long
its pointless that Wenger still longs after the old days whilst the marketplace has changed completely
let people go.. lets just let everybody go and promote another crop of youngsters who will do well and then go once they can command better wages and careers
it quite frankly sucks
just read what ANR wrote about a journalist’s predictions for transfer targets this season and he is supposed to be an insider
April 22, 2008 at 1:49 pm
well if he does go and plays in the emirates cup we’ve got a bit of time to come up with a nice little chant to let him know how we feel
April 22, 2008 at 1:52 pm
No, Flamini will not play for Juve in the Emnirates Cup - strategoc injury time.
I did see him on the bench on Saturday - not sure if that means anything one way or the other.
April 22, 2008 at 1:55 pm
He will be put to shame at the Emirates cup…LOL!
I remember reading at the beginning of the year that he (well his agent) wanted a contract in line with his “new” status in the team in the same bracket as William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas, those two names were mentioned as being in the highest bracket (possible 100k), Wenger could easily have offered him 60/65k, but i think if anything it has backfired on Flamini, cos his agent has possibly gone to Juve saying they only offering 55k, and they have thought great we only have to offer him 10k more to make it look attractive. There is no way Juve were going to buy him and put him in the +80k bracket.
April 22, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I say fuck him! juve arent going to suddenly go from struggling to qualify for the CL in serie A to winning the league above the 2 Milan clubs and Roma just because he’s joinning them!
I’m with finestcuts, if they want to leave, show em the door, we’ve got enough pull to get a replacement, he aint Vieira is he? And no matter how good anyone thinks he’s been, he has not and NEVER will be as good as PV04 of Manu Petit.
April 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm
yep that would be interestin. hears something interestin, we have apperantly offered 16mil for amauri and a £2.75mil a year deal n their president is considering the offer. dont no maybe jus paper talk
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=89191
April 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm
BB, we lock valuable players into contracts to secure their services. You can’t do a last minute job on the cheap with the billions floating about in the transfer market.
Besides, has Wenger completely lost the plot? I don’t think so….if he didn’t have another solutiion he would be forced into raising the stakes, in other words Wenger has made Flamini an offer of what he believes Flamini is worth to the club. Market forces and players looking for more money have never been things managers can put up a floodgate against.
The only way we can fight market forces is to develop our own players.
The only way to secure a player’s services is to pay the market price.
The market price always wins, supply and demand. Wenger must believe he can allocate those resources in a more productive way if he isn’t willing to match the market price, and he’s made more good transfers than bad, especially in recent years.
April 22, 2008 at 2:10 pm
We hate Flamini, We hate Flamini, you aint worth the money, so fuck off to Italy! (to the tune of we’ve got Cesc Fabregas)
April 22, 2008 at 2:10 pm
is this why we never win trophies anymore? market prices are being paid by people who want to win .. I am seriously doubting whether winning is part of Wenger’s strategy any longer??
the man lost the plot a while ago me thinks
April 22, 2008 at 2:14 pm
This is my problem with youth, players like Flamini are crap for 3 years an Wenger persists with them, and we suffer because we win no trophies as we’re being patient.
Then through bad management in my opinion let their contracts run down, they then realise their potential and fuck off for nothing.
Then we bring in new mediocrity in Song, Diaby and Denilson, so if and ever they become good they’ll fuck off too.
That’s why I’m fed up with the experiment, bring in some ready mades and tie the potentials in to contracts, that way if they do fuck off, at least we’ll see some dosh for them.
April 22, 2008 at 2:19 pm
You getting worked up about nothing, we dont have a serious problem with this, just the odd big bollocks cunts that think after 1 good season they have a right to demand higher wages. I can only recall 2 other players leaving because of the wage structure and that was Edu, amazing how well his career panned out after that! and that CrapWifeCheatingCunt, i forget his name!
Who else?
April 22, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I think wenger thinks he is still living in 1995. times have changed but he still lives in this world where he thinks he can develop a bunch of teenagers to play passing Ajax style football. its all a bit blue sky thinking for me. sure grow some talent but you have to supplement it with quality rather than relying on youngsters who aren’t ready. I think wenger was too stubborn to recognise the 2 or 3 weak spots in the team and solve the problems with money.
The prem is now the hardest league in the world to win. the other top teams have 15 world class players IN THEIR PRIME. man u dont have a bunch of 20 year olds. they have one or two at most. thats why there are going to win the title and the CL double.
Fergie does not let his players get to the last year of their contract. see the 3 England players he signed on long term contracts this week. he gets them tied to the club nice and early and if they dont sign he sells with 2 years to go so he can make some money. players dont leave man u on a free.
Wenger needs to grow some balls and lay the law down and start managing like its 2008 not 1998.
April 22, 2008 at 2:20 pm
i am excited to see the team for derby. i cant see him starting all the top players so maybe walcott will finally get his run in a striking role. with rvp then have bendtner as a sub.
sad to see mad jens go if he doesnt start though, its been fun mate.
someone young should play in midfield, someone with flair who could really keep the game at our pace because our players are just too tired.
so
fabianski
eboue-toure-gallas-clichy
hleb-cesc-denilson(over gilbert,because he vcould be the future)-and someone like lansbury or even traore maybe.
or end it with a bang and go
fabianski
eboue-toure-gallas-clichy
cesc-gilbert/denilson-hleb
walcott-ade/bentdner-RVP
and have walcott and rvp play a little behind one of our tall boys
and see if we can win bigger then 5-0 this time
however it works out, against a below-par derby team with the season basically over with nothing to play for but respect its going to be intresting and your gonna see someone from defense score my prediction that is
clichy’s first goal maybe? the fuckin lad deserves it honestly
atleast 3-0 to the arsenal!
April 22, 2008 at 2:21 pm
A lot more local yoofs coming thru the system with a sense oe belonging, loyalty etc might reduce the amouint of times we have to go thru this. But then again Cuntley Cashley was a local lad thru the ranks!! WE CANT WIN!!
April 22, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Eh Geoff, Pedro please delete one of the above comments, didnt mean to say it twice!! cheers!
April 22, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Yeah we can Odub, we pay players the market price, win the Premier and Champions league, simple. Then it’ll be the problem of other clubs.
April 22, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Finestcuts with the current management team and board of directors, there aint no chance in hell of us paying the going market rate in players wages! FACT
April 22, 2008 at 2:27 pm
don’t tell flamini….
its the team that makes him look good… he’ll realize that soon.
April 22, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Well this talk can go on for years, its well and good having youth coming through, but once the 16/17year olds start hitting 18/19/20, they cant just be playing for the reserves, so what happens they go on loan for a year or two, some get played others dont, the ones that play full seasons come back and think fuck that, i have xxx in front of me, i might as well cut my loses and goto Birmingham (poor Larrsson, Muamba, Hey! Brums best players, could have played for Arsenal, but now going to the Championship). If we go buy quality all over the pitch in the 25/26 bracket, we will have them in the team for what 4 years, thereby blocking at least 3 generations of youth players that will end up going on to other clubs! What would you think if Jack Wilshire in 3 years time decides to leave because there are too many players in front of him??
April 22, 2008 at 2:31 pm
BB, Steve Stammers the journalist that Myles from ANR was talking about is indeed very close to Arsenal & has in the past had scoops. Whether he knows who Wenger’s targets are is a different matter but we’ll see.
Who said Wenger must have a replacement lined up for Flamini?? You must be kidding, he seems to go around oblivious until a player leaves. He spent one whole summer chasing Baptista after selling Vieira despite the bloke making it clear he didn’t want to come to us & then when he finally signed for Madrid Arsene comes out & says that was his main target & he didn’t have any back-up plan!! Thats poor management by anyone’s standards.
April 22, 2008 at 2:35 pm
thank god we did not get baptista!!!!
April 22, 2008 at 2:36 pm
The best youngsters come through regardless of who’s in front of them. Bojan, Messi & Iniesta managed to get into Barca’s side despite having massive players ahead of them.
Thats where Arsenal should be now. Only the very best kids should come through.
April 22, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Anytime a top player hits form, he’ll be chased by big clubs.
If a player sits on the bench for too long, they’ll want a chance to play somewhere.
It’s impossible to keep everyone happy, not even the mighty Milan could turn down 30m for Shevchenko.
And why is it that we’ve managed to hang onto top players over the years? Because Arsenal is one of the clubs almost every player would love a chance to play for.
Wenger does pay market price for players who are indispenseable.
Such as Henry, Campbell, Fabregas
Besides I would want us to be a club which has a glass jaw, we need to have a model of constant rejuvenation such as PSV and Ajax, they make millions of euros in the transfer market every and are still competing at the top of the Dutch league.
I believe we already have the formula for that to work at Arsenal, we have quality all the way through the team, we won’t drop out of the CL spot for the next decade and we’ll win some silverware along the way.
April 22, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Besides having a journo like ANR makes things better, you give him a few genuine scoops, then feed him some pulp, such as Wenger’s transfer targets knowing full well he’ll print them. People will think they know something while Wenger’s beavering away doing the real deals, the art of war is diversion.